Blowback
"You can't be serious. A year long book tour for a book that none of us have read." Alexis said.
"I didn't have any of you read it because three of you endured everything that happened when it comes to the content of the new book. I didn't want to subject you, Kate or your grandmother to that again."
"What about them? They could've read it but you didn't let them." Alexis said referring to her sisters and brothers.
It was then that Castle realized what had triggered this response from Alexis. She had gone back to his kidnapping and two month disappearance in her mind when he had made his announcement just as he had gone back to her kidnapping when she was trying to get him to let her go on her school trip.
"Dad, what took you so long? School ended hours ago."
"Alexis, sweetheart…"
"I'm been really worried."
"Yes, I know. And I think I know why. Because I disappeared. But I'm back now and I'm not going anywhere. I'm here to stay."
"I just keep thinking I'll lose you again or something terrible will happen. I know it sounds crazy…"
"No. No, it does not sound crazy. I would feel the same way. Matter of fact, I did."
"After Paris."
"After Paris. I couldn't let you out of my sight. But I know that you consider yourself the adult of the family…"
"For good reason."
"For very good reason. But … but part of being an adult is realizing you can't always protect the people you love."
"Okay."
"Okay."
"Being an adult really sucks."
"Yeah. And you've spent way too much time having to be one. So…"
"I'm ordering you to be a kid."
"Don't you think I'm a little old for that?"
"I am not too old of it, so you are definitely not too old for it. Don't you think we should at least test them out?"
"Okay."
"Okay."
Castle got up from the couch and stood in front of his daughter.
"Alexis; what did I tell you after the ice cream truck case?"
"You said that you're not going anywhere and that you're here to stay.
"Exactly. And you maybe an adult whose happily married with family, but you'll always be my kid."
"I know, I remember. You ordered me to be a kid."
"That I did."
With that Castle promised to keep in touch with everyone while he was on his book tour. He also revealed that he would be done with the book tour before his granddaughters turned a year old. The fact that he was going to be around for her daughters' birthday next year amongst the other things Castle had promised made everything better for Alexis. After all was taken care of with her family; Alexis caught up with her husband and their daughters in the lobby.