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Alexis and I left the apartment after being stuck inside for a week. The paparazzi had left us alone after a few days. A few stragglers were the only ones following us now. We stepped out of our apartment and onto the street. I grabbed her hand and we walked down to the grocery store. Alexis and I were going to cook tonight since tomorrow my father's trial would start. Beckett, Castle, and the boys were held up in the precinct trying to build a case, so we decided that we would cook for them.
"What are we going to cook tonight?"
"I don't know."
"How about lasagna, garlic bread, and a salad?" I suggested.
"Yea, that will work. We can get Grams to bring wine since we can't buy any." She said taking her phone out. She asked her grandmother to bring the drinks as we walked into the store. I grabbed a cart and met up with her in the vegetable aisle. "She said she will bring wine and more. It's a celebration apparently tonight." She laughed as I pushed the cart behind her. I learned quickly that holding onto something while walking made the recovery easier.
She walked through the aisles with ease. We collected all the ingredients quickly and were on our way to the checkout.
"Hey, it's that Senator's son." A man said pointing to me. Alexis looked back at me. "Hey you!" I turned around and looked at him. "You're going to rot in hell fro what you and your father did to this city!" He said.
"I didn't do anything, sir."
"You're a traitor and deserve to be voted out of office. You are your father's son and worked with him the entire time." He said getting into my face.
"Maybe you need to take a step back." Alexis said coming up to stand next to me.
"Get out of here, Lady." The man spat.
"Sir, I know that my father did terrible things. But, I was trying to stop him the entire time. I never wanted to get involved in his agenda. I'm sorry you feel that way, but you have certainly been misguided by tabloids. If you'll excuse me." I said turning and leaving the situation. I pushed the cart forward and the cashier started to scan the items.
"You should have died in that alley. You corrupt bastard." The man said turning to leave.
I ignored the comment, storing it away for later. I quickly swiped my card and grabbed the bags, walking out of the store. Alexis trailed behind me.
"Jasper…" She said as we walked down the street.
"What?"
"You know what he said isn't true. People don't think that."
"It's not important, Alexis. I just want to go home."
"You can't do this. You can't just say it's not important when it is. You went through a traumatic event. Keeping all that in is not healthy."
"What do you want me to say? That it hurt my feelings." I said stepping into the lobby of our building.
"No, I just want you to tell me the truth. I don't need you to be strong for me. I need you to be honest with me. Because whatever it is, we can work it out together. Maybe you can talk to someone if it makes you feel better." She said getting into the empty elevator.
"I'm not going to therapy. I don't need therapy." My pride getting the better of me.
"Yes you do. You talk, cry, scream in your sleep. I'm worried about you. You look tired."
"Well sorry. I'm not up to your standards. I mean I did just take a beating and knife to the stomach."
"That's not what I mean and you know it." She said opening the front door.
"Then what do you mean?" I said putting the groceries down on the counter and then putting my hands on the countertop, leaning against it.
"I want you to get help. Not for me, but for yourself. It'll help you. Help us." She took a deep breath. "I didn't think that I would need therapy either. But after I got back from Paris, things changed. I had nightmares and I was scared to leave my apartment. I talked to Kate about it and she told me that she sees a therapist for her PTSD. So, I made an appointment. I let it all out and he listened, talked me through it. It changed me. It helped me understand and cope with the traumatic event that I experienced." She said.
"I didn't know you saw a therapist."
"Yea, well I haven't been in a while. I can make an appointment for you, if you want?" She asked.
I looked down to the ground and breathed out heavily, "Ok. I'll go."
She came around the countertop and wrapped her arms around my waist. She put her chin in the crook of my neck and sighed. She breathed in my scent and kissed my neck. "Thank you." Was all she said. I held her tighter against me and breathed in her vanilla scented hair, kissing the crown of her head.
"I don't know what I would do without you." I said kissing her temple.
"Me too." She said leaning back and bringing her lips to mine, sending a wave of pleasure through my body. It amazed me how she still made me feel nervous.
"Well we better get dinner started if they are going to here at six." I said looking at the clock on the wall behind her.
"Ok, you start the water."
Preparing dinner went off without a hitch. We moved around the kitchen and each other swiftly. I would put my hand on the small of her back to let her know that I was behind her. She would touch my arm to let me know where she was at. Each touch sending electricity through my body. It was all very domestic. I loved it.
Soon enough there was a knock on the door signaling our first guest. Alexis went to the door and answered it. It was Martha bearing wine and other liquors. She waltzed into the kitchen and sat down at the kitchen island talking to Alexis and I as we finished up dinner.
The second knock was heard and Martha went to answer it. It was Beckett, Castle, Lanie, the boys, and Jenny. Martha walked them into the kitchen.
"You didn't bring the little one?" I said to Ryan as he walked in.
"Nope. Jenny's mom is watching her tonight."
"You should have brought her. She is the cutest little thing I have ever seen." I said smiling.
"Can you open this?" Alexis asked as she handed me the wine bottle.
"Yes, dear." I said sarcastically.
The group chatted among themselves until Alexis announced that dinner was ready. We all sat down at the table, passing plates and bowls of food around the table. We did not speak of my father''s trial. We only spoke of funny murders, Castle's theories and how I agreed with every single one, and the wedding that was in four months. Castle noticed how Alexis and I held hands on top of the table during the entire dinner and how I absentmindedly played with the ring that was on her left hand for a change.