Thank you again for your kind reviews and follows. My little universe seems to have taken on a life of its own, and I'm enjoying being taken for the ride.

While I've used PH Dead as inspiration, I wanted to explore Kate and Alexis pushing the boundaries of their new relationship, in particular Alexis coming face to face with Captain Becket. I've always looked at Kate like a superhero, there's Kate and there's Detective Beckett – or Captain Beckett now. And I love adult Alexis. She's sassy and smart and when did she grow up?

I've double and triple checked and I still don't own Castle.

And finally I have to thank 41319always413419 for being my sounding board, beta, giving me a hurry on to find inspiration and pointing out my shocking spelling {{{blush}}}.

Chapter 10 – Alexis verses Captain Beckett

'You're off early this morning,'

Alexis let out a squeak of surprise as she spun to face her mom; the young woman had been so busy trying to sneak out of the loft she didn't see Kate sitting at the dining room table.

'Um…yeah I have an early shift at the morgue,'

'Really? That's funny because when I was talking with Lanie yesterday she told me you were rostered off today,'

'Oh? I must have gotten my days mixed up, I was sure I was on today,' Alexis blushed.

'Sit,'

'No its ok I'll just…'

'Sit,' Beckett's voice brokered no room for argument as she stood and pulled out a chair for her daughter.

The young woman moved over to the dining area and slowly sat down as her mom repositioned herself on the other side of the table. Swallowing nervously, Alexis realised she wasn't sitting with her mom; she was sitting opposite Captain Beckett. 'Ok I can do this' Alexis thought, I mean after all this was her mom, facing off against Captain Beckett wouldn't be that much harder would it?

Both women sat watching each other in silence; the faint ticking of the clock in the living room and the soft noise of traffic from the street below despite the double glazing of the windows were the only audible sounds in the loft.

Captain Beckett continued to stare as Alexis began to fidget. The young woman stilled her movement however when she realised what her mom's intentions were, but the silence continued.

'Think very carefully about what comes out of your mouth,' Beckett suggested as Alexis went to speak.

'You know I'm an adult don't you?' Beckett inwardly smiled; it didn't matter how many suspects she'd interrogated over the years, one thing remained the same. The guilty always opened with an argument.

Silence.

'I'm over twenty one, and you can't tell me what to do,'

Silence.

'You know what, this is stupid. I don't have to sit here and justify my actions to you,'

Captain Beckett just quirked a brow as she challenged Alexis to get up and leave.

'It was dad's idea OK?!' Alexis exclaimed as she finally caved into Beckett's silent interrogation tactics. 'He just wanted to help you because he misses you. And it's not like Detectives Ryan and Esposito were having any success,' Alexis challenged. 'I mean come on, how did those two think for a second they could pass as college students? I mean they're too old…to be college students that is' Alexis argued. 'And when you think about, if it weren't for my help you'd have never solved the case,' Alexis felt very satisfied with her response, however her smug smile quickly changed to one of guilt when she saw the hurt and anger on her mom's face.

'Alexis, there are not enough ways to describe how stupid and dangerous your actions were!' Alexis startled in surprise as Beckett exploded. 'And I don't care if it was your dad's idea because you're supposed to be the sensible one in this family,' she yelled, cutting Alexis off. 'Your dad is not a cop Alexis! He's a private investigator with a piece of paper from the internet….that's the modern day equivalent of getting your PI licence out of a cereal box!'

'Hey that's…'

'I ask the questions,'

'But…'

'No you don't get to talk,' Beckett slammed the table as she stood and began pacing.

'If I can't talk how am I supposed to answer your questions?' Alexis challenged.

Beckett stopped midstride and looked pointedly at Alexis. 'Don't get smart young lady; you're in enough trouble as it is. I ask the questions, you answer, got it?!' Beckett demanded as she slammed both hands on the dining room table and stared her daughter down.

'What?!'

'Take it or leave it,' Beckett stated while she took her seat again.

'Fine,' Alexis huffed as she crossed her arms in defiance and slumped back against her chair. 'But can I at least talk with my mom instead of Captain Beckett?' Kate was taken aback by Alexis' request, not realising how easily she'd slipped into her alter-ego.

Kate sighed in frustration as she collapsed back against her chair, allowing her head to fall against the headrest. 'Remember a few weeks ago when you asked if I minded that your dad was re-opening his PI business and I told you to ask me in a couple of weeks?' Kate asked as she straightened herself again and looked at her daughter.

Alexis was trying her best not to smile because even at the time, she knew exactly what was going to happen when her dad went back to being a private investigator. 'He was just missing you, we both were' Alexis shrugged. 'And why am I in trouble? I've done nothing wrong,'

Kate pinched the bridge of her nose trying desperately to keep the impending headache at bay. 'When did you start working with your dad?'

'Well that depends,' Alexis hedged. 'Officially or unofficially?'

'Alexis…'

'Unofficially, before I went to Europe with Paige,'

'What…Alexis that was three months ago!'

'What's the big deal Kate; I've already solved more cases than dad…'

'Stop deflecting…..wait…what? You've investigated on your own…Alexis….' Kate once again stood up and started pacing.

'I've been careful and only picked cases that were fairly easy to solve, and well one thing led to another and now I've been helping dad out on my days off from the morgue,' the young woman shrugged.

Kate could only drag her hands through her hair as she tried to calm herself. Being a parent sucked balls. If she couldn't handle being worried sick about her twenty two year old daughter, how was she going to survive having an infant? 'Whose idea was it for your dad to teach at Hudson?'

'Dad's,'

'And whose idea was it attending the frat party,'

'I'm pretty sure it was dad's or mine...I can't remember…..but the costume was all me,' Alexis sassed at the exasperated look she was getting from her mom.

'You expect me to believe your father would allow you to leave this house and walk into a building full of testosterone fuelled, drunk college frat boys looking like some Victoria's Secret model!?' Kate exclaimed.

'Really? I looked that good?'

'That's beside the point,'

'No it's not…..and what is the point mom, because I get the distinct impression this isn't about me turning up to a frat party dressed in a skimpy costume,'

'Honey,' Kate sighed. 'This is all still new to me so can you please just stop being so…..infuriating,' Kate growled because she could no longer hide her frustration from her daughter as she flopped down in her chair again.

Alexis looked at her mom with sly humour tinged with sympathy; she was finding it was just as much fun messing with her mom's head as it was her dad's. 'What's still new to you? Cause if this is you still learning how to interrogate people; I'd hate to see what you're like when you're experienced,' the young woman teased.

'Ahhh!' Kate yelled at nobody in particular, and Alexis could no longer hold in her laughter; how the hell had Castle put up with this from his daughter for twenty two years was beyond Kate. 'Can you just stop being a smartass long enough for us to have a serious conversation please,' Kate begged as she allowed her forehead to fall onto the dining room table with an audible thud.

'Sorry Kate, but you've gotta admit sparring with me is a challenge. Remember, I've had twenty two years worth of practice on dad,' Alexis giggled.

Kate's face was curtained by her hair as she lifted her head enough to frown at her daughter. 'Not funny,' she grumbled as she sat up again and tucked her hair behind her ears before scrubbing her face with her hands. 'I'm still getting used to this whole parenting thing and you scared me OK? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you, but I'm just worried about you,' Alexis smiled softly at Kate; the young woman wasn't used to having anyone other than her father and Grams apologise to her. 'And I'm pretty sure I just channelled my mom. I vowed and declared when I was young that I would never do that to my kids' Kate smiled sadly.

Alexis could feel the sting of tears at her mom's confession but held them at bay. 'So what's really going on Kate?' Alexis asked her mom with concern. 'You've been out of sorts for the past month and I don't just mean with your promotion. I keep expecting you and dad to tell I'm going to be a big sister….are you pregnant?' she asked hesitantly as she tried to hide her excitement.

'No….I thought I was,' Kate answered sadly. 'I was going to tell your dad tonight…. I was going to do a test….but….I guess it was just the initial excitement and my promotion, and then being on the run and getting injured….,'

'Are you sure you're not, I mean….oh,' Alexis replied when she realised what her mom meant. 'I'm sorry,'

Kate gave her daughter a sad smile. 'Thank you baby girl, but I guess on the bright side, it just means a lot more trying huh?'

'And way to go ruining a moment there mom,'

'I'm also hurt and upset that you and your dad didn't tell me you were working together,' Kate said seriously. 'I thought we were all past keeping secrets from each other,' Alexis could feel the blush of embarrassment and shame creep up her neck as she looked away from her mom. 'For so long I felt like an outsider when it came to the relationship between you and your father. You had this whole history together that I wasn't privy to, and I respected that. But it's our history now because you're my family, and I'll admit that it hurts that you didn't trust me enough to tell me; particularly after everything you and I have been through recently.'

'I didn't do it deliberately, I promise…we've all been so busy lately and I know that's no excuse,' Alexis stood and moved to sit next to her mom. 'But we can go for days without seeing each other. Honestly, it's one day a week, if that. Dad just really needs someone to keep all the administration stuff up to date and run interference on all the Castle groupies; which, let me tell you, is really gross,' Alexis grumbled. 'And occasionally, he needs to be kept out of trouble. Honestly Kate, I don't know how you did it for so long.'

'Practice, patience, and threatening to shoot him,' Kate answered as she looked towards her daughter. 'Are you sure you're not taking too much on, I mean you must be working seven days a week….sweetheart you've been here before,' Kate couldn't hide the worry in her voice as she looked at her daughter with concern.

'I promise Kate,' Alexis assured. 'I have three permanent shifts a week at the morgue, one day with dad, and a couple of hours at the cat shelter on weekends,'

'Just so long as you're not working yourself to the point of exhaustion, promise me ok?'

'Yes mama pot, baby kettle promises not to overwork herself,' Alexis sassed as Kate gave her the 'brow' which just made the young woman giggle.

'Just promise me you'll be careful, and you know you can call me at any time if you're worried or get into trouble,' Alexis nodded and grabbed her mom's hand. 'So are you enjoying everything you're doing?' Kate asked.

'I am actually,' Alexis smiled. 'I love the morgue and working with dad, but in different ways. I have to admit, if I had to choose, I do love the PI side more.'

'Really?' Kate smiled. 'So you want to be a PI like your dad?'

'Oh God no Kate, I love the investigation side, not all the other crap that goes with it,' Alexis looked down at their joined hands and took a calming breath before looking back to her mom again. 'Were you serious about helping me if I wanted to enter the police academy?' the young woman asked hesitantly.

'Is that what you want to do? Because it's a big decision and not an easy path,'

'Since when have I done anything the easy way?' Alexis teased as her mom tucked a stray lock of hair behind the young woman's ear. 'But seriously, I'm pretty sure it's the path I want to take. It's been a real eye opener with this time off from college. I've learned so much about myself over the past couple of months. The path I thought I wanted last spring isn't what I want. And I know I've already thanked you, but I couldn't have done it without you.'

Kate smiled proudly at her daughter, but in the back of her mind, she was worried about how to help Alexis approach her dad about it. 'Ok, first things first, we need put a plan together,' Kate suggested. 'Obviously you didn't just wake up this morning and decide to join the NYPD…..or maybe you did,' Alexis giggled at her mom's humour. 'Let's see, it's seven thirty now and I need to make a move, what have you got on for today?' Kate asked with a pointed look.

'Dad needed help with some new program he's trying to install…..seriously don't ask, but Lanie texted me to ask if I could be on call today as they're down an intern,'

'OK so barring me being stuck back at the Twelfth tonight or you stuck wherever you're going to be, how about we grab dinner and talk more, just you and me? We're overdue for a catch up anyway,'

Alexis smiled in appreciation because her mom always knew the right thing to say. 'Sounds perfect,'

At that moment, both Kate and Alexis' cells vibrated. 'Well on that note, the boys have a murder to solve and need to get to the precinct,' Kate said as she rose from the table.

'And so do I….I've been called in,' Alexis smiled as she waved her phone at her mom.

'Great you can ride in with me,' Kate moved to grab her keys and weapon from the kitchen counter, and in the space of thirty seconds, Alexis was once again standing in front of Captain Beckett. 'What?' Kate asked.

'Nothing it's just….you're like a superhero,' Alexis smiled. 'You just went from mom to Captain Beckett…it's taking a little while to get used to,that's all,' the young woman shrugged.

'Hey,' Kate murmured as she moved to envelope her daughter in a hug. 'I'm still your mom whether I'm disguised in my secret identity or I'm Captain Beckett and I love you OK?' Kate felt Alexis laugh into her neck and the young woman squeezed her tightly.

'OK…love you too,' Alexis whispered as she shifted back. The two women smiled warmly at each other before Kate moved toward the front door.

'OK kiddo; let's go solve a murder,'

'Sounds like a plan,' Alexis couldn't contain her excitement at finally getting to work with her mom.

'At least you do what you're told,' Kate sassed as the two women exited the loft.

Standing side by side waiting for the lift, Alexis shoulder bumped her mom. 'I'm so sorry about not telling you about working with dad, you didn't deserve that, and I promise I won't keep anything from you again,' she said sincerely.

Kate placed a gentle kiss on her daughter's forehead. 'Apology accepted baby girl,'

Alexis felt the familiar feeling of warmth flow through her, she loved it when Kate called her baby girl, it made her feel loved and cherished by the woman who'd become her mom and best friend.

'You OK?' Kate asked at her daughter's silence.

'Oh yeah, it's just….I love it when you call me that,' Alexis blushed. Kate smiled and squeezed her daughter's hand in response as the lift doors opened.

'We missed your birthday again,' Kate said sadly.

'Meh, I'm kinda getting used to it now. It seems to be the time of year for life and death situations,' Alexis teased. 'Dad was missing and returned last year, you went missing this year...just please don't go missing together next year, or if you do remember to take me with you,' Alexis laughed.

'Yeah, well, we need to celebrate this year since we forgot your twenty first completely last year. How about we have a girl's day out or something,' Kate suggested.

'Can we go to the shooting range?' Alexis asked hopefully.

'I was thinking more along the lines of a spa and lunch, but if that's what you want,sure,' her mom laughed and Alexis smiled in excitement.

Beckett answered her cell as the two women descended in the lift; and once again Alexis watched her mom morph into Captain Beckett as the older woman spoke to Detective Esposito about the murder scene. Apparently it was 'Beckett flavoured'; whatever that meant.

Waving at Eduardo when they exited the lobby, Alexis looked down at her cell. ***Sorry dad, got called in. Going into work with Kate*** the young woman replied to the text from her dad wanting to know where she was. ***Not fair :-(*** Alexis laughed at her dad's response as she climbed into the cruiser.

'What's so funny?' her mom asked.

'Dad's jealous because I'm going in with you,' the young woman smiled before she sobered again.

'Hey, tonight we'll start putting a plan together, and when you're ready and have all the facts, I'll help you approach your father OK?'

'Thank you,' Alexis smile. 'By the way, what's a Beckett flavoured murder?'

'They're the weird ones,' Beckett smiled with morbid enthusiasm.

'Like the murder you arrested dad for,'

'Exactly like that,' Beckett replied as she merged into the morning traffic.

'Today is going to be an interesting day,' Alexis thought to herself. And she couldn't wait.