Hour 18

As we are kissing on the lounge chair on my balcony I hear my phone ringing. I pick it up: it's Alexis "Hi dad! Just giving you guy a heads up, we're coming in to get some bags. We decided to go to the Hamptons: you have way too many things to talk about."

And I hear my mother on the back: "And I bet other things are on the To Do list."

"Argh Grams! Too much info! Minor in the house! Daughter of the guy you're talking about in the room! Either way dad, we should be there in maybe five minutes, so, get presentable enough to wish us a good trip."

"I appreciate the sentiment sweet child of mine, but there is really no need for you guys to leave the city." To this, I get a pocking finger on my shoulder. What the? I turn around and Kate is looking at me with this amazing face that says: why would you deny us the perfect opportunity to be alone?

"No dad, it's fine! Most of my friends are going there anyways, so, you know, I really wouldn't mind. Plus, we can go for a few weeks, you guys join us whenever you are ready and we come here with enough time for me to get ready for college"

"Alexis, are you sure? Cause there's really no need…"

"Dad, we'll talk when we get there, but it really is fine"

"Ok, see you in a few!"

"Castle, don´t get me wrong, I love your daughter and your mother, but is it too selfish from my part to just want a few days alone with you? I just… I feel we have such a long time to make up for, that the whole idea of, I don't know, 72 hours alone together before you leave for the Hamptons or wherever it is your going to this summer sounds like a really good idea to me…"

"Kate, first of all, it's not selfish. I'd actually be worried if you didn't expect for us to have some quality time together, just the two of us. Secondly, I wouldn't mind that at all, I just don't want for my daughter to feel unwelcome in her own home. Even if she chooses to live in campus or near Columbia, I'd still want for her to know she can always come to the loft and call it home. And last but not least Kate, if you don't agree to come to the Hamptons with me, I might have to force you to do so"

"No Castle! That's your time with Alexis. Who knows how many more summers she'd allow you to string her along? There's nothing I'd want less than to come between you and her"

"That's the thing Kate. You wouldn't come between us! You'd become a part of us. As far as I'm concerned, you are a in this picture for the long run Beckett, which means, you'll be with us for many summers to come. So why not start now?"

"I'll leave it up to them. Either way, can we have our three days? Please? Pretty please?"

"We sure can!" And with a flourish, I get up and string her along "They'll be here any minute now. If we're there to greet them we might avoid some snarky comments from my mother. But don't hold your breath on that…"

Chinese actually arrives before mother and Alexis do but that doesn't go as planned: "Really dad? Chinese at four?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Guys, did you forget we met for brunch? We left you alone for a few hours, and you buy Chinese? Popcorn, homemade cookies, toast or cereal, I mean, even ice cream would make more sense than Chinese!"

"I guess we lost track of time! I was hungry, felt like lunch time, ordered in! I wasn't really checking the clock every few minutes you know…"

"Yes dear, we do know! Come on Alexis, let's get some bags. Darling, order us a car would you?"

Fifteen minute later, all for us are seated around the table, sharing Chinese, cookies, toast and I'm pretty sure there'll be some ice cream later.

Alexis is the one who actually invites Kate to the Hamptons (I figured it'd be my mother). "So, Kate… do you have any plans for the next few weeks? I mean, do you think you could get a few days off and maybe join us in the Hamptons? I think it'd do us all good to share a few days over there…"

"Uhm… I'd like that a lot Alexis, but are you sure you wouldn't mind? I mean, it's you last summer before college and I figured you'd like to share it with you dad and Martha…"

"But you coming doesn't mean we wouldn't be together, it means my dad would actually be there with us and not going crazy over the fact that two minutes went by since the last time he spoke with you. Trust me, with this new development, I really can't imagine my dad accepting to spend more than a few hours with you out of sight. Besides, if I'm going to trust him to your care, I'll need to make sure you're capable of doing so, and trust me, he's as demanding as a nine year old on a sugar rush!"

"Hey! I'm right here!"

"Yeah Castle, eating Chinese and thinking about having ice cream at four in the afternoon!"

"But ice cream goes hand in hand with Chinese!"

"No one said it didn't. Now, go get us all some bowls of ice cream while we adults talk things over."

"Yes Beckett!"

"Hump, Kate darling, you are much better with him that we thought you'd be! Now, you\re free to refuse to come with us, but know we'd all love to have you there!"

Thank you mother! My time to participate: "Yes we would! How about we give you guys a few days to get settled and we go up there some time mid-week?"

"More like, how we give you guys a few days alone and we wait for you guys on Wednesday around dinner time? You might dream of me as you little girl dad, but I'm not that little! Have fun, talk about all those things you've been avoiding to talk and we'll have a nice welcoming dinner ready for you guys."

"Alexis, that sounds great, thank you!"

"No Kate, thank you. My dad and groceries in the Hamptons, so not a good idea! If you think this is crazy, you should have seen him last summer: whipped cream and caned cheese was all he'd eat."

"I was too sad to eat anything else!"

"I'm sorry for that Castle. Well, Castle family actually. I know my decision to go away hurt all of you, and I'm sorry I left and went silent for three months."

"As long as you're here to stay now Kate, we can live with a summer long mistake. My son is lucky to have you, and so are we. Now, should we go Alexis and leave these two love birds to clean this mess and whatever?"

"That we shall!" And without missing a beat, we are kissing goodbye and they're off the door before I know it. I make a beeline to where Kate is standing and take her by the waist to give her a hard, long and maddening kiss. We kiss for a few minutes but when I start kissing her neck she pushes me away.

"Cleaning first, whatever after!"

"But Kate!"

"No buts Castle. Cleaning then whatever."