A/N: Just to make this clear for the Blue Bloods fans, I totally ship Jamie and Eddie when it comes to the actual show. 3
Disclaimer: I don't own Castle or Blue Bloods
Tuesday morning dawned bright and clear. Alexis hung around the loft with her dad and Kate until about ten o' clock before she went upstairs to take a shower. She let her red hair dry naturally, and the result was a sort of wavy quality that appeared carefree, but not careless. She put on a pair of jeans and a comfortable, casual button down, which she paired with silver ballet flats. Alexis wasn't a fan of makeup, and it didn't exactly seem practical to wear any on a casual first date in the park. Alexis grabbed her shoulder bag and went downstairs.
"Hey, Lex," Castle said.
"Hey." He turned and appraised her.
"Where you headed?" he asked. Alexis smiled, rising up on her toes to kiss his cheek.
"Meeting a friend for lunch in the park," she replied. "I don't know what time I'll be back." Castle nodded, refraining from asking any of the numerous questions that rose to his lips. His daughter was still his baby girl, as she would always be, but she was twenty years old now, and he had no reason to think she was in danger. If she wanted him to know whom she was with, she would tell him. So, he just smiled back at her, pressing a quick kiss to her head.
"Okay. Love you," he said.
"Love you, too, Dad," Alexis replied. She waved as she left the loft, closing the door quietly behind her.
Jamie was waiting for Alexis by the Central Park carousel. He was wearing dark jeans and a kelly green polo, having spent an inordinate amount of time deciding on his choice of clothing. A single white daisy rested on the railing next to him. He was aware that he barely knew Alexis, but there was just something about her that he couldn't shake. He was attracted to her, obviously. But there was something more, something that he was drawn to on a deeper level. Maybe that came from having studied her for so long in the coffee shop before she came over to speak to him. He liked that, too; the fact that she had approached him. She was fiery and independent, plus she was smart. The fact that she'd come to a coffee shop to pleasure read Tolstoy told him that much. Jamie was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice the subject of his wandering mind approaching until Alexis leaned against the fence next to him.
"Oh, hey," he said. The blush that rose to his cheeks made Alexis smile.
"Hey," she said. "Penny for your thoughts?" Jamie smiled shyly.
"You, actually," he admitted. Alexis laughed.
"Good things, I hope," she said.
"Of course." He reached for the daisy and handed it to her. Alexis smiled.
"A daisy," she remarked as she took the flower. "My favorite." Jamie smiled.
"Good. I'm glad. I'd like to say that I somehow knew that, but it was a lucky guess," he said, making Alexis laugh again. They turned to watch the carousel. Small children were being lifted onto ornate carousel horses, complete with ribbons in their manes and heads turned up haughtily, hooves raised elegantly, as if they were prancing in such a manner that conveyed a proud confidence. Cozy couples cuddled in booths fashioned to look like sleighs, and teenagers laughed raucously as they switched horses mid-ride. Jamie glanced at Alexis.
"You want to ride with me?" he asked. She shot him a bright smile that conveyed a hint of childlike innocence and nodded. As she effortlessly pulled her hair back and tucked the daisy neatly into the bun, the childlike essence faded seamlessly into an elegant maturity. She followed Jamie through the ticket booth and they climbed onto the carousel. Jamie let Alexis pick first and then chose the black horse beside her caramel-colored one. Alexis admired the easy, graceful way with which Jamie pulled himself up onto the horse. Some men would've looked ridiculous astride a carousel horse, but Jamie's lively ease seemed to carry over into everything he did, carousel-riding included. As the traditional carousel music began to play and the ride slowly began to spin, Alexis smiled at Jamie.
"Did you come here with your niece and nephews?" she asked.
"I did a few times," he replied. "Nicki loved it here when she was small. Jack and Sean actually outgrew it pretty quickly. Well, they pretended to, at least," he added with a grin.
When they got off the carousel, they wandered across the walking path.
"Hungry?" Jamie asked lightly. Alexis nodded. "You good with Bella's?" he inquired, and Alexis nodded her head again. Bella's was an American restaurant that resided in the park, serving burgers, hot dogs, and various other American foods. Jamie and Alexis chatted aimlessly as they made their way to Bella's on foot. He reached for the door when they arrived, pulling it open and stepping back to hold it for her. She smiled gratefully, a warm, tingling feeling spreading through her limbs.
A gentleman.
Jamie followed her inside and stood next to her.
"You want to eat in here or outside?" he asked her.
"Outside," Alexis said right away. Jamie grinned. A woman after his own heart.
"Outside," Jamie reiterated to the waitress, who nodded and led them through the restaurant, up a set of dark wooden steps, and through a door into the warm early April sunshine. The waitress seated them at a two-person table near the edge, where they could see the park below. After taking their orders, their waitress walked away.
"So, how much rule-breaking actually occurs in the Reagan household?" Alexis asked. Jamie laughed.
"Rule-breaking?" he repeated, and Alexis nodded.
"More than you would think. My brother's never been exactly known for being the most compliant person. He's a good guy, but he's got a hot temper and when he sets his mind to something, everybody else better get out of his way."
"What about you?" Alexis asked. He paused to consider the question, resting his head on his hand for a second.
"I don't usually break the rules, but I think I would-I know I would, because I have-if it were important enough. If it was for the sake of someone I love." Alexis smiled at his answer, deciding that she just might have a catch in Jamie Reagan.