The Hopeful Lights of Winter
Disclaimer: I still don't own it, and I am back to being a poor student with bills, so I'm even less worth suing.
AN: Castle and Beckett try to navigate the holiday season and a fake separation at the same time. A Winter Ficathon story, and a nightly thank you gift for those involved in the Possibility4Joy project.
She wasn't sure exactly what she had been expecting to follow up their weekend, but Alexis Castle standing somewhat awkwardly at the door to her office didn't even begin to rate within the top ten.
"Alexis, this is a surprise, come on in."
The redhead entered her office, and Kate had the district impression that the girl had no idea what to do with her hands after she had shut the door and cut her off from the bullpen.
"I um, wasn't really sure if I should come here, because, well, I'm not always clear on the rules. But I made a point of saying hello to Lanie earlier, so I'm kind of hoping that people might just assume Dad and I are fishing for help on a case. But I needed to ask you something. And, um - it seemed like a bad idea to try doing that over the phone."
"Alexis, don't worry about it." In reality, Kate was a little worried about it herself but she won't make an issue of it. Alexis was hesitant enough to make her believe the girl is smart enough not to make it a habit, for now. "How can I help?"
Alexis looked down at the floor. "I um, I know that things with you and Dad are complicated right now, but he started doing some really strange things after you left this morning. More so than usual, even during all of this and I just - are you pregnant?" She asked the last three words in such a rush, they came out like one word.
Kate choked on her shock. "I'm sorry, what?"
Alexis looked back up nerves in her blue eyes. "I mean, not to judge, you're married, and it's great, but the timing seemed odd and I just don't -"
Kate held up a hand. "Alexis, I - no. What gave you that idea?"
If Alexis Castle's fair skin could go a shade paler, it just did, Beckett was certain.
"I ah, I think my dad is buying out every toy and kids clothing store in Manhattan. He was out for hours earlier, and then stuff started coming by courier. And it's starting to overtake the apartment. Excessively, even for dad. So I just though, maybe this weekend, you told him that -"
"No," Kate sat down heavily in her chair. "No. There was - Jenny is having a baby, and the other day, I was doing some shopping for her shower. I came across a few things -" or a dozen, she thought. "- I picked them up for...well for someday. And I did show your father, but it wasn't, isn't a work in progress or anything."
Alexis choked on a laugh. "Oh, I - okay. But that doesn't explain Dad hyper nesting. I don't think I had this much stuff even when I was in preschool. It's weird.
Kate sighed. "I could give him a call."
The redhead brightened "Thanks Kate. It's just, with everything, I worry," she admitted.
"Me too."
#
It took her several minutes to make the call, interrupted with one of Vikram's "might be something messages. This time she made sure to nail down the fact that it was for real. It is, but still a long shot so she wrapped up quickly and called her husband.
Not for the first time p, she thinks it would better for them both to have burners, something that would be harder to track. But when Castle picks up midway through the last ring, she shoves the thought aside.
"Hey" he said in greeting.
"Why are you on such a kiddie shopping spree that your daughter thinks I'm pregnant?" The words fell from her mouth immediately, and she can hear him sputtering on the other line.
"I what? She - no. There was a charity thing, on one of the morning shows, and they just they had thousands of kids in need and I mean, we have all this money. And when I was a kid it was different. I just, I wanted to help."
Oh, that's - her heart broke for him a little bit. "That's really sweet, Castle."
He sighed heavily. "I just don't think I can do enough, you know? There are so many, and I just want to wrap them all up in a blanket."
"You do a lot, Castle," she said, echoing his words to her without fully meaning to. "But I'm glad that you're doing this." She paused, thinking. "Can you send me some information? Maybe I can circulate it, put it up in the break room. Get the guys to take up a collection or something."
For a moment there was no reply. And then his voice was quiet. "I love you."
"Love you too, babe. So much."
Yeah, she might need to get them some burners. But, this first.