A/N: Please forgive my tardiness. Apparently I needed to go and get married. Seemed important so I ran with it. ;)

(Fixed the 'you're' issue lol)

Chapter 43

Before Kate could react, the doorbell rang.

Castle blinked, the moment lost. "Who.." He had just turned towards the door when Beckett grabbed him and pushed him up against the refrigerator; holding a finger to her lips as they craned their necks to watch Alexis rush down the stairs.

She opened the door with a huge smile to find a matching one on Tabrett's face. "Hey."

"Hey yourself." She looked Alexis up and down, taking in the knee length board shorts and the rash guard she wore. "Sexy." She smirked.

Castle tried to pull away but Kate increased the pressure of her arms, mouthing the words 'Stay put!'

The redhead tilted her head to the side. "You were the one that said I couldn't surf in a mini skirt."

"Yeah but I was hoping for more of a bikini type deal, Gidget."

"It is so sad that I get that reference. And anyway..." Alexis took a step closer. "You haven't seen what I've got on under this."

Kate could sense Castle moving even before he did and pressed her entire front up against him to hold him still. She gave him a look.

A look that said that if he screwed up this moment? He would have some very lonely nights ahead of him.

"Is that an option?" Tab took the older girl's hand.

The redhead grinned. "Let's see how well I surf by late afternoon."

There was a moment of silence and then. "I'll hold you to that. And to me."

Beckett rolled her eyes. Okay, so he was right... she was a female Castle. But considering how deeply in love SHE was? She could hardly fault the girl.

"I can work with that." The redhead smiled.

"'Kay."

Alexis faltered for a moment.

The similarity was...

...Something she would need a lot of therapy to deal with.

But right now...

Right now she was going surfing.

The Australian looked at her keenly. "You all right?"

Alexis laughed softly, squeezing the other girls fingers. "Better than."

"You ready then?"

"Yup. Let's go."

Tabrett looked around. "Don't you have to tell your family you're off?"

"Oh, right." Alexis leaned to her left slightly, calling out, "Dad? Kate? We'll see you later!"

The two 'adults' leaned their foreheads together and tried not to laugh.

"Okay, Pumpkin." Castle finally answered. "See you later."

Kate made it until the door closed before she started laughing.

"What?" Castle threw her a wounded look.

"That kid has got you down." She smirked at him.

"I seem to recall that there were..." He pretended to count on his fingers. "Two... of us standing here."

Beckett moved in close to him. "Yeah, I know. And I want to say... Thank you for that." She blinked. "I love her, Castle."

The writer swallowed.

For once in his life... he couldn't find the words.

A/N Infinity: Coming soon! More Caskett! More Esplanie! Stay tuned!

And please review if you have time! Thanks to those that have!