24
She was awoken far too early by a tap on her door. Never one to linger in bed, she got up, despite her tiredness, and called for Lanie to come in.
"You seem tired. When did you get to sleep?"
"Uhm, about six, maybe. What time is it now?"
"Half past nine. But you have a visitor."
"I have a what?"
"A visitor. It's Alexis. She's waiting downstairs; I told her you would love to have tea with her and that you would go down to the bookshop when you were ready. She seemed happy to browse."
Kate stifled a yawn. She really did want to go back to sleep. She hurried to dress; Lanie helped her in the interest of speed, and washed her mouth out while she attacked her hair with a comb. It took almost half an hour for her to be presentable; Lanie left to prepare some tea and cakes and Kate hurried down to see her young friend.
"Good morning," she said with a wide smile when she saw Alexis. "How are you?"
"I'm very well. I just wanted to come to thank you so much for being there yesterday. You made it so much more tolerable, and I had a wonderful evening with you as well."
"You're very welcome. Thank you for inviting me. I can't say tea with those girls is really my cup of tea, but any time spent with you is a pleasure, Alexis."
Alexis grinned. "It's so nice of you to say so."
"Won't you come up and have something to eat or drink?"
Kate realised she had absolutely no idea if her apartment was in a fit state to receive visitors but it was too late now. Alexis wouldn't judge, anyway.
They sat together in front of her fireplace, sipping tea and eating cake. After Alexis had let out another gushing thank you, they began to talk about books again, but Kate could tell Alexis had something else on her mind.
"Just ask," she said to the girl. "I won't be offended."
Alexis bit her lip. "I actually have two questions."
"Go on."
"The first is... What happened between you and my father? I almost didn't notice but... something happened, didn't it?"
"We... decided to remain just friends," Kate told her. Alexis sighed.
"I thought so, but Sara... you two seem to work so well together. He's only been close to marrying again once in my whole life and I don't like to think of him alone. I mean I'm not saying you should marry him and of course I don't know how you feel but..." she trailed off, feeling as though she had gone far too far already. Kate was nice, though.
"I know what you mean, and it makes perfect sense that you want your father to be happy. But I don't think he would be happy with me as any more than his friend."
Kate was almost expecting a 'why not?' but Alexis didn't give her one. Instead she asked if she could ask her second question. Kate nodded.
"Are you Lady Beckett?"
Kate almost dropped her teacup. She could laugh it off. She could persuade Alexis to put it all down to childish fancy. It would be easy, just as it would have been easy to do with Rick.
"Yes," she said simply. "And I am very sorry not to have told you before-"
"Don't be! I understand. Secrecy keeps you and other people safe. I would never have worked it out but I saw so much of you and you were so good at fighting, and then yesterday Dad said your name and he was clearly upset and he stared with 'Ka' before he changed it to Sara. And I just knew. I like you so much and respect you so much for it – and don't worry, you can trust me completely."
Kate nodded. "Thank you," she said slowly. "And thank you for working it out. I like you a lot, Alexis, and it was very difficult not being able to tell you. In a way you've solved the dilemma for me. I didn't want to put you in danger and I am worried about that, but I very much hope that between us, your father and I can keep you safe."
Alexis laughed. "I don't think I need to be kept safe. Especially by my father. Have you seen him fence?"
Kate laughed with her. "You're right. You are very good – but some people are better, and some people can outnumber you or catch you unawares. It's one thing being able to win in a fair fight – it's quite another being able to defend yourself against attackers who will go to any means necessary to eliminate you as a threat."
Alexis nodded soberly. "I know. And... I was wondering..."
She didn't finish, but Kate knew what she had been about to say.
"I would love to teach you things, Alexis. And now that you know, we can tell your father that you do."
"Is he helping you? With your work, is he helping you when he goes out at night?"
Kate chuckled. "He's not as sneaky as he thought, then. Yes, he is."
"Can I help you?"
Kate sighed. She had known this was coming too. "No," she said. "I won't let you put yourself in danger. You're so young, you have your whole life ahead of you-"
"You're young too, and you also have a whole life ahead of you! Why should you be allowed to risk it and not me? And why should you decide whether I can or can't do something good, something to help people."
"You can help people, Alexis. In that way of course you can help. But putting yourself in danger... there are a very specific set of reasons why I do it. I can't stop your father helping me – he's older and stronger and, I hate to say it, but he is an adult and though you are intelligent and sensible, you are still a child."
Alexis bit her lip again, clearly trying to contain her anger, but she wasn't stupid, and she did understand where Kate was coming from. She didn't agree, though.
"My father is all I have," she said, "apart from his mother, and while I love her... Look, I need him. Just take care of him, okay? And... I think you're wrong. You shouldn't be allowed to decide for me just because of the path you've chosen to take with your life."
Kate took her hand. "I don't want to, and of course, I can't. Not really. But I hope you'll make the right choice for yourself."
Alexis sighed. She was incapable of being angry for long, and she was having tea with her idol! She just didn't want to be in a bad mood.
"Is everything... I mean, I've heard a lot of rumours. I know some of them can't be true, but..."
"Are any of them?" Kate finished for her with a laugh. "Yes, I would say that some are true. Tell you what. You ask me what you want to know, and I'll tell you."
Alexis shook her head. "That's the kind of thing my father would love – but I don't think you told him he could do that, did you? I think you're tricking me. You know I won't ask."
"Perhaps I am a little. I don't eat men, if that makes you feel any better."
Alexis laughed. "Lots better. What about girls?"
"I don't eat them either."
Alexis invited Kate back for dinner and she happily accepted. The idea of visiting the Castle household was so much more relaxing now that they all knew who she was. She hated having to hide her identity. Alexis left at about eleven and Kate went to bed; she was exhausted and would have to be up for a lot of the night. She packed a bag with her 'night' clothes and weapons and for once took a carriage to Richard's house. Richard greeted her awkwardly, but he seemed happy.
"Alexis told me," he said rather proudly. Kate didn't blame him. She would be proud of a daughter like that too.
"Which makes things simpler," she said.
"I suppose," he said, raising one eyebrow, "but at the same time, it doesn't really. Now she'll want to help all the time."
Kate thought of Sally, alone in her room above the bar, pregnant with a child who was likely the product of rape.
"I think I know of something she can help with, that she'll want to help with," she said.
"How was last night?" Richard asked.
"I found who I was looking for?"
"A murderer?"
"No. Someone I think I can help. You'll meet her tonight."
Richard just nodded; Alexis had appeared and they didn't want to peak her curiosity further.
"You're talking about work. It's alright," she said with a smile. "I will not force you to tell me about it. Shall we go into the parlor?"
Kate and Richard followed her into the living room. The evening passed with mainly polite conversation. Kate felt freer, but she was also tired and stressed, so aside from some playful joking with Richard, she didn't think she was a great addition to the family that evening. Alexis was happy she was there, though. And now that her identity was revealed they didn't have to wait until Alexis went to bed to begin getting ready to leave. Alexis left them to it, saying she would read upstairs before going to bed.
When they were left alone again Richard took an involuntary step towards Kate so he was just inches from her, and brought his hand up to stroke her tired face.
"You look drained," he told her. She leaned into his hand for a moment before moving away.
"I am tired," she said, "but I'll be fine."
She took out her clothes and felt him behind her again, undoing her dress. She protested but he stroked her shoulder.
"I'm not going to do anything. I just know it's hard to do this on your own. They don't seem to be designed for independence."
Kate chuckled. He helped her out of her corset but the already familiar feel of his hands on her skin was too much for her, no matter what he'd said. She turned and folded herself into his arms, crushing her lips to his as he stayed perfectly still. Her tears wet his face as he neither responded to her kiss nor pushed her away; he simply waited for her to stop and than hugged her to his chest. It was bizarre, him being the cool detached one while she was overtaken by her passion. She stepped back and he gently wiped away her tears.
"I know we can't," she said softly, picking up her clothes and hurrying to change into them. Richard got changed too and Kate forced herself not to look at him. She bit her lip. She didn't know what had just happened. She couldn't explain it. Why was she crying? If it was just about physical attraction, why did she feel so desolate?
A/N: As always, please review! And talk to me on twitter *winks* I'm zanna_sk and I love friends. xxx
