Castle slid his key into the lock of the loft door. The tumblers emitted a slight click as they released the pins. He stepped aside and ushered Kate through the door.

The loft was dark. Something was….. Off.

Kate kicked into cop mode. She gave Castle the signal to be quite and stay put. She slid her service pistol from its holster.

She started the sweep of the room checking all areas for a potential threat. She moved silently and stealthy through the loft ticking them off one by one. Sweep and clear.

She paused ever so often letting her eyes slowly acclimate to the low light level in the loft.

Castle grabbed the first thing he saw. An umbrella by the door. Weighing it in his hand and determining which end to use for a more effective weapon. He quickly assertaing the pointed end would make an effective jabbing tool. He did a test jab into the air.

Kate looked over and gave Castle the What the Hell do you think you're doing look.

He responded with a small shrug and gripped his weapon tighter. He was ready.

A faint moaning sound made both Kate and Castle freeze. They waited. Listening trying to slow their breathing, trying to calm the rapid fire of their beating hearts. . There is was again.

A moaning sound faint, muffled.

Castle's head jerked up as if to say did you hear that?

Kate nodded as if to say yip got it.

Their partnership was paying off. They knew each other well and could communicate and understand with few words.

Castle pointed to his office

Kate nodded.

Slowly they made their way toward the office. Kate was coming around the couch in the living room and Castle was coming up from the front door.

They met.

You ready? She said with her eyes.

He nodded ready!

They walked through the door.

They were standing back to back scanning the room assessing the threat.

Movement at six o clock.

The couch in Castle office appeared to be alive. A mass was moving within a comforter.

Kate signaled Castle to remove the comforter as she trained her gun on the mass.

On three she signaled with her hands.

Ready,

One

Two

Three!

Castle jerked the comforter.

He switched on the light.

A high pitched scream echoed through the loft.

Alexis! Pi! What are you…Oh god?

I'm totally getting a new couch. Castle thought disgusted.

Alexis grabbed the comforter and quickly covered herself and Pi.

Dad! What are you doing here? You were supposed to be out celebrating! Alexis exclaimed.

Kate! Is that a gun?

I know the office is off limits, but seriously Dad, are you going to let your girlfriend shoot me?

Kate said "Oh sorry". She clicked the safety on and holstered her weapon. "Your Dad said you and Pi were out tonight at a concert. We thought the loft would be empty. We heard um….noises and

"It was canceled. The lead singer has strep." Interrupted, Alexis. So we came back here.

"Hey Mister C. hey future Mrs. C." Pi said smiling.

"Stop!" Castle said almost shouting.

He lowered his voice and said with as much calm as he could muster in the moment.

"Alexis, get dressed and come into the living room."

Castle turned and headed out of his office. Kate followed right behind him. He headed straight to the liquor. Pour his self a scotch three fingers neat. He held up the bottle to Kate. She shook her head no.

He headed over to the Sofa in the living room and sank down and placed his tumbler on the coffee table. He put his head down and ran his fingers up and down his face. He didn't know if he was trying to erase the image of his daughter, no his little girl and that boy, that free spirit, free loading Pi. That son of a…

Kate came over and laid her hand on his shoulder.

"I'm going to go"

"No, Kate" Castle said clasping her hand. "I need you, please stay"

She squeezed his hand and came around to sit beside him on the sofa. She picked up his glass, and took a drink.

"In my head I know she is not a little girl anymore, but in my heart I still see her pigtails and ruffles. I want so much for her. Pi cannot be the one for my little girl. Can he?" he asked Kate.

"Castle, only Alexis can answer that." Kate spoke quietly giving him a reassuring squeeze to his knee.

"My office, Kate!" Castle visibly shuddered. "She knows that's my space. Off -limits. I just don't understand how she could do that."

"Alexis has been through a lot lately. She is trying to figure out who she is who she wants to be. She has moved into a college dorm. She's been kidnapped; she went off on her first adventure solo, fell in love. She is also dealing with her Dad, her rock, bringing another woman into her life." Kate paused to give Castle time to process her words.

He sat unmoving.

Kate tried a different approach. Men are visual creature's redirect she thought. "Castle I remember some sessions we've had on your desk, on your couch, on your dining room table. "

Castle shifted, her word's providing new images, great images recalled from his brain. He felt his resolve softening. "Kate, you are not another woman that I'm bringing home. You are the last women I'll ever be with. This is it for me. You are a part of me and a part of this family. "

"That's my point exactly" Alexis knows this is different. She has seen women come and go she knows I'm not going anywhere."

Alexis and Pi walked into the living room. Ending the conversation Kate and Castle were having.

They looked up and noticed Alexis and Pi we're holding hands.

"Dad" Alexis began rather timidly "Before you say anything I wanted to let you know. Pi and I are moving into our own place."

She continued with a little more bravado in each word.

"I, think that we should hold off on this conversation until we have calmed down."

On that note she turned and headed with Pi in tow to her room.

Castle picked up his glass and drained the contents.

Kate gently pulled him up mindful of the sore chest and said "lets get you in that bath." She knew he needed a change of scenery fast.

.