Welcome to 2016 and another new year in my Unconventional Mom universe. I know I keep saying thank you for the wonder reviews and support. But I can't express how much I appreciate your kind words, favorites and follows.

Unfortunately for Alexis, the NYPD has put a spanner in the works by freezing all testing at the moment, and she'll need to wait a little longer before applying to the Academy. Yes I've spent a lot of time researching the entire recruitment process, which is not dissimilar to the recruitment process in Australia. I have to thank my niece who I helped tutor through her entrance exams and interviews when she joined the Victoria Police last year, for her insight into what it takes become a cop. And a good friend of mine who's a Homicide Detective here in Melbourne; who just rolled her eyes at me when I asked if she spends her days kicking down doors. It was very...Beckett flavored.

And again, this chapter wouldn't be possible without my beta 41319always413419. You keep me on the straight and narrow, and suggest alternative scenes that won't change the story I want to tell, when something doesn't flow in the right direction. And while I thought I had a good grasp on where to put commas and full stops, alas I still suck at that bit.

Chapter 13 – There Are No Secrets

Kate looked up from the mountain of paperwork spread over the dining room table when she heard the front door open. Watching on with amusement, Kate had to stifle her laugh, as her daughter silently crept through the front door, boots gripped in her left hand, and taking extra care to gently close the door, ensuring no one heard her come home.

Taking a discreet moment to observe her daughter, Kate couldn't help but admire the beautiful young woman Alexis had grown into. Even in her Levi's and overcoat, Alexis was gorgeous. The baggy t-shirts, jeans, and waist length hair of Alexis' teenage persona were long gone, replaced by Stella McCartney, Burberry, Helmut Lang, and a sexy as hell shoulder length bob. The young woman's obsession with Jimmy Choo and Gucci hadn't gone unnoticed either.

'You know Alexis, you really need to work on your surveillance skills before engaging in any stealth like activities,' Kate teased, shaking her head at the way her daughter had jumped in fright.

Alexis just rolled her eyes at her mom's smug expression before dropping her boots and bag to the floor. 'And you need to stop scaring the bejeebers out of me,' she complained, removing her overcoat and scarf before placing them in the hall closet.

'Where's the fun in that?'

'You still suck,' Alexis grumbled. 'I didn't think anyone would still be up,' the young woman shrugged.

'I'm struggling to get my head around budgetary reviews, KPI expectancies and performance appraisals. What's your excuse?' Kate challenged with a raised brow. 'And don't leave your stuff at the door,' her mom cautioned before going back to the report she'd been reading.

Alexis mumbled something unintelligible, but bent down to pick up her boots and bag and dumped them at the base of the stair case as she walked towards the dining room table. 'And don't just leave them at the bottom of the stairs either,' Kate warned without lifting her head from the file in front of her.

'Yes mom,' Alexis whined, but felt a strange sense of comfort from being chastised by her mom.

Alexis walked over to the dining room table and flopped down in the chair next to her mom and looked over the various documents and folders spread haphazardly over the table's surface. The young woman glanced at her mom, who continued to make notes on the document she'd been working on.

The corner of a photo peeking out from under a file caught her attention, and Alexis gently pulled the picture out from under its hiding place. 'Your mom was so beautiful,' Alexis murmured while softly tracing the outline of the older woman's face. 'And you were just so adorable in pigtails,' she teased.

Kate looked up from her paperwork and watched on with affection. It was almost like Alexis was memorising every aspect of the scene on the page. 'That was taken about a week before she died.' Alexis looked towards her mom when she heard the older woman's soft voice. 'Every year since I was a little girl, my mom and I would go ice-skating at the Rockefeller Centre. Occasionally, my dad would join us, but it was mainly something my mom and I loved to do together.' Kate took the photo from Alexis and looked at the two women smiling back at her. 'So you're home late.' Kate placed the photo to the side and turned to look at Alexis.

'Can we talk,' Alexis asked quietly.

'Of course we can.' Kate shoulder bumped her daughter, and Alexis smiled, bringing her knees up to her chest and resting her head on her mom's shoulder. 'Is everything okay? I don't need to go out and shoot somebody do I? Ruff them up? Demand their intentions?'

Alexis lifted her head and looked at her mom with a raised brow, in perfect imitation of her mom. 'Seriously?'

'So how's Henry?' Kate gave her daughter a sly smile, knowing she'd catch the young woman completely off guard.

'How'd you….I didn't….no one was….' Alexis spluttered.

'No one was supposed to know?' Kate teased. 'Kid, did you think I made Captain because of my supermodel good looks and rapier wit?'

'Um…'

'It was rhetorical question. Seriously Alexis, you can be as gullible as your father at times, you know that?' Kate grumbled.

'Am not,' her daughter argued, but Kate could tell by Alexis' knowing smile she'd taken the jibe in the loving way it was meant. 'And yes, I went out with Henry tonight,' Alexis confirmed. 'I just didn't want it made into a big fuss,' she blushed.

Kate smiled lovingly at the way her daughter was fidgeting. 'So is this a beer or hot chocolate and marshmallow talk?' Alexis watched as Kate stood and stretched languidly. Her mom's graceful movements reminded the young woman of the elegance and agility of the many felines she'd observed at the shelter.

'With extra marshmallows please,' Alexis requested, standing up and following her mom to the kitchen. Pulling out one of the kitchen stools, Alexis sat and watched Kate move around the kitchen with practiced precision, and was once again hit by the warmth and comfort of coming home.

'That serious, hu?' Kate asked, reappearing from behind the fridge door with the milk.

'Yeah,' Alexis admitted, watching her mom reach up to the cupboard above the refrigerator to retrieve her secret supply of marshmallows. 'You do realise dad and I know where you keep your stash don't you?' Alexis teased.

Kate just rolled her eyes. 'Of course I do, but you're too smart to touch them and your dad's too scared.' Kate placed the packet on the bench and bent down to grab a saucepan from the cupboard under the stove.

'Where is dad?' Alexis asked.

'Hey, out of those!' Kate exclaimed, swatting her daughter's hand away from the marshmallows, but not before Alexis successfully grabbed a handful of the soft sugary treats and stuffed them in her mouth. Kate just shook her head and smiled at Alexis' childish delight and poured enough milk for two mugs into the saucepan. 'He's visiting my dad.'

'My mis me misting or mab?'

'Wanna stuff a few more marshmallows in your mouth and try again?' Kate grumbled. 'And I have no idea why he's visiting my dad.' She'd tried to pry information from her husband as he'd left earlier in the evening, but Rick had assured her it was just a social visit.

'Have you noticed that dad's been spending more time than usual with Gina lately?' Alexis asked with apprehension, her fingers playing with imaginary crumbs on the bench.

'Well, she is his editor.' Kate could tell her daughter wasn't convinced by her answer. Hell, even she had no idea why Rick had been having more meetings with his ex-wife lately.

'Yeah, but he's up to date on the next book,' Alexis argued. 'And now he's gone to see your dad….it just doesn't sit right with me.'

Kate looked over from where she was stirring the warming milk, and took in her daughter's worried appearance. 'And I'm sure there's a perfectly rational explanation,' Kate assured. 'You've been playing PI for too long, looking for things that aren't there.'

'Maybe,' Alexis sighed.

'Not maybe. Definitely.' Kate took the saucepan off the stove, and carefully poured the hot milk into the two waiting mugs. 'You need a double shot?' Alexis nodded, watching on as Kate squeezed the thick chocolate syrup mix into the hot milk. 'What?' the older woman asked when she felt her daughter staring at her.

'Nothing…it's just the way you stir the milk, or any drink for that matter,' Alexis smiled. 'It's this weird little ritual you have that I find amusing, yet oddly comforting,' Alexis shrugged.

'Stir it three times clockwise then three times counter clockwise, it was the way my mom used to make coffee or hot chocolate,' Kate reminisced, her voice tinged with sadness. 'And on the rare occasions when she'd make a pot of tea, my mom always had to spin the teapot three times clockwise, and three times counter clockwise. I still have no idea if it makes any difference to the taste of the tea, but I loved watching my mom in the kitchen.' Kate gave her daughter a tender smile, and Alexis realised she'd be sharing stories like this with her children at some point in the future.

'My mom would always use my grandmother's best china tea set, and make up a tray with cookies, or if I was really lucky, she'd have baked a cake. Then we'd sit in the living room and sip tea like English ladies of leisure, talking about everything and nothing.' Alexis heard the waiver in her mom's voice, and waited as Kate took a moment to compose herself. 'It was amazing how many problems we solved over a mug of hot chocolate or a cup of tea.' Kate smiled sadly, trying to hide her tears from Alexis.

'Oh mom..' the young woman whispered, so quietly Kate nearly missed it.

'No, Alexis it's okay, really.' Kate was trying desperately to stop her tears, but failing dismally as she scrubbed her face with her hands. 'January's just a hard month you know? Every year I expect it to get a little easier, and every year, I'm right back in that alley.' Kate let her hands drop when she felt her daughter's hand on her shoulder. Alexis pulled her mom into a hug, softly whispering apologies while rocking them both back and forth. Kate wrapped her arms around her daughter and clung to her. 'It's been seventeen years since I last saw her, and it hasn't gotten any easier.'

Alexis thought back to the week she'd just spent with Meredith, and even though their relationship was more of a close friendship than mother and daughter these days, Alexis couldn't imagine never seeing her mother again. Couldn't imagine how Kate dealt with the anniversary of her mom's death every year. Alexis felt her mom give her a tight squeeze before releasing her and stepping back.

'Your hugs are as good as your dad's, you know.' Kate whispered, voice hoarse.

'Must be one of those hereditary things,' Alexis shrugged, passing her mom a napkin from the holder at the end of the bench.

'Yeah must be….I'm sorry for losing it like that.'

'No Kate, please don't apologise,' Alexis pleaded. 'You're the strongest person I know, and I know you see this as a sign of weakness.' Kate blushed under her daughter's scrutiny, distracting herself by throwing the soiled napkin in the trash and moving back to the mugs on the bench. 'Thank you for sharing your mom with me.'

Kate looked up at Alexis in surprise. While her mom had come up in conversation, Kate realised she'd never actually talked about her mother with Alexis. 'You're welcome.' Kate smiled gently, passing Alexis her mug of hot chocolate. 'It's something I need to remember to do more often. So, you wanna sit on the couch and talk?' Alexis nodded, and Kate followed her daughter to the living room.

Kate placed her mug on the coffee table and sat down, watching on as Alexis sat at the opposite end of the couch. The older woman noted the protective way her daughter was sitting, her head resting on her knees where she'd folded her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around herself. 'So, how's Henry?' Kate smiled as Alexis blushed.

'I really like him,' Alexis admitted. 'We've spent the past month talking on the phone, but with the holidays and everything, we wanted to wait until the New Year before we went on an official date.'

Kate suppressed a sigh of relief as Alexis unwound herself from her protective position and stretched herself out. 'And,' Kate laughed, encouraging her daughter to continue.

'What? You and dad didn't do a background check on him?' Alexis teased.

Kate rolled her eyes, but couldn't help the playful grin she was giving Alexis. 'I can assure you I didn't. I can't vouch for your dad though,' Kate patted the empty space on the couch next to her, encouraging Alexis to move closer.

'I don't know if we'll ever be able to have a relationship though.'

'Why not? Alexis, you guys barely know each other….what?' Kate asked when she saw the impish grin on her daughter's face.

'He's a huge fan of Nebula Nine and hates Firefly.' Alexis sighed dramatically. 'At least we have Doctor Who and the Walking Dead in common,' Alexis said cheekily.

'Kid, get over here,' her mom grumbled.

Alexis shuffled up the couch until she was resting against her mom. 'He dropped out of medical school to become a paramedic.'

'Isn't it usually the other way around? EMT decides to go to medical school?' Kate asked.

'Yeah, I know hu?' Kate waited for her daughter to continue, figuring this story was leading to what the young woman really wanted to talk about. 'His dad had a heart attack the year before last. They were out to dinner when his dad collapsed in the middle of the restaurant.'

'Is his…'

'Oh yeah his dad's fine,' Alexis confirmed, resting her head against her mom's shoulder. 'Henry told me if it hadn't been for the EMT's, his father wouldn't have made it to hospital. He went to medical school because he wanted to help people, make his parents proud. But then he realised that he wanted to be a paramedic instead, wanted to ensure people had the best chance of survival. Like they helped save you,' Alexis whispered.

Kate placed a loving kiss on her daughter's crown. 'How did his parents take it when he decided to drop out of medical school?'

'Not very well, but once they realised this is what he wanted for his life, they supported him unconditionally.' Alexis snuggled further into her mom. 'He's still open to the idea of going back to university in the future, but right now he's following his heart and his passion.'

'That's good to know. You need the support of your family when making a life changing decision like that.'

'Kate?'

'Yeah, baby.'

Alexis sat up so she could face her mom. 'I'm ready to tell dad I want to join the academy. Talking with Henry tonight made me realise I've been selfish and unfair, not only to dad, but to you as well.'

'Alexis…'

'No Kate, I have to. My whole life, dad's always been supportive of me unconditionally, even when he didn't agree with my choices. And it hasn't been fair of me to hide this from him because I'm scared of what his reaction will be. And it wasn't fair of me to ask you to hide this from him.'

Kate soothed her daughter's hair behind her ear, a loving gesture that was second nature to her now. 'I'm so glad you've come to that realisation. There were so many times I wanted to just shake you and make you tell your father. But I also knew you had to come to this decision yourself.' Kate pulled Alexis into her arms, and the young woman relaxed against her mom.

'I don't want to do this on my own,' Alexis whispered. 'I want you and dad to be part of my journey as well.'

'Oh baby girl, you won't be alone. Sure it's going to be exciting and tough and painful, and at times, downright terrifying, but your dad and I will be with you every step of the way.' Alexis squeezed her mom tightly before sitting up straight again. 'So when do you want to tell your dad.'

'Tell me what?'

Kate was sure when she looked back on this conversation; she and Alexis would laugh at the way the young woman looked like a startled deer caught in headlights. But right now, all she could see was the trepidation on Alexis' face. The older woman watched as her husband removed his overcoat and hung it in the hall closet before making his way over to his wife and daughter.

'Don't leave your stuff at the bottom of the stairs,' Rick chastised, bending down to place a kiss on his daughter's forehead. 'And what are you smiling at Mrs. Castle?'Rick asked, placing a loving kiss on his wife's lips before she could respond.

Kate was left slightly breathless. Her husband brushed his fingers lovingly across her cheek before standing and moving away. 'She's already been reminded.'

'So, who wants to tell me what?' Rick asked, sitting on the coffee table opposite his wife and daughter.

Kate gave Alexis a look of encouragement, and took the girl's hand for moral support. 'Dad….you know I love you, and that I wouldn't do anything to deliberately hurt you.' Alexis began.

'Oh God, you're pregnant,' Rick said with alarm, but from the 'are you serious' look on his wife's face, and his daughter's raised brow, Rick was thankful he'd jumped to the wrong conclusion.

'That's the first thing that pops into your head?' Alexis questioned, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. 'Getting pregnant would require me having sex, so no, you don't have to worry about becoming grandparents…yet.' she smirked as her dad stuck his fingers in his ears and started chanting no no no no no to himself.

'Castle, seriously. Give her a little more credit than that,' Kate chastised.

'I'm sorry sweetheart. Please continue.'

'Thank you, dad. As I was saying, I love you, and I love working with you. I've learnt so much from you over the past six months.' Alexis blushed at the loving look her father was giving her. 'And not just about being a private investigator, but about myself as well, and what I want from my life.'

'I've loved having you work with me too sweetheart, but I get the feeling that's not what you wanted to tell me.'

Alexis looked to her mom. 'My internship at the morgue ends in June…..and while I've loved working at the ME's office, I have to make a choice about what I want to do with my life.' Alexis looked hesitantly towards her dad.

'And I take it, you've made that choice?'

'I have,' Alexis nodded. 'I want to join the NYPD, dad, I want to become a police officer.' Alexis closed her eyes and waited for her father's angry reaction, but it never came. 'Dad, did you hear me?' Alexis asked, opening her eyes again to look at her dad. 'I said I want to become a cop.'

Rick looked towards his wife, then back to his daughter. 'I know,' he sighed.

'What do you mean you know,' Alexis looked accusingly towards her mom. 'Did you tell him?'

'No Alexis, I didn't tell him. Castle?'

'Did you two really think you could keep this from me?' Rick questioned, looking between his wife and daughter. 'I knew the two of you were up to something, but it wasn't until I took a message for you, Alexis, from the Recruitment Office last month, that I finally realised what was going on.' Rick just let his sentence hang.

'Dad…'

'You know, at first I was angry, so angry at both of you for keeping this from me. Alexis I know you're an adult now, but I thought you would at least tell me you were thinking about joining the force.'

'Castle, we didn't….'

'And then I was hurt,' Rick admitted, cutting his wife off and looking directly at his daughter. 'I was trying to work out when I stopped being your go-to guy.' Alexis felt the sting of tears at her father's admission. 'Was wondering if I'd made a mistake in giving you too much freedom with my daughter?' Rick questioned, looking directly at his wife.

Kate expelled a breath, she felt like she'd just been punched in the stomach. 'Rick no…'

'Please dad,' Alexis begged, cutting her mom off. 'I asked Kate not to tell you, and that's on me. Kate didn't keep anything from you deliberately, so please don't be angry with her.'

Rick gave his daughter a curt nod of acknowledgement. 'I happened to mention in passing to Gina the other week about what was going on. And do you know what she told me?' Alexis shook her head in the negative, but Kate suddenly understood her husband's behaviour of late.

'What did Gina say, dad?' Alexis whispered when her father didn't continue.

Rick was looking at his wife with such love, such adoration. 'Gina essentially kicked me up the arse and told me to get over myself,' Rick smiled. 'Reminded me that you, Kate, are the love of my life, my wife, and that you're only looking after my….our daughter's best interest.' Kate blushed under the scrutiny of her husband, and was thankful when Rick turned his attention to their daughter. 'Gina also reminded me that I'd gone to great lengths to shield Alexis from her when we were married, and not to make the same mistake with Kate. Reminded me….that this is what I'd been searching for since the day Meredith left us, someone who needed us, as much as we needed her.'

Kate gave her husband a watery smile, her hand clutched over her heart. 'I love you' she mouthed.

'Dad…'

'No, Alexis. Let me finish, and then we'll talk okay?' Alexis nodded, feeling comfort at her dad's gentle tone before sagging against her mom. 'Kate, I know you tried your best Captain Beckett interrogation skills to find out why I was going to visit your dad tonight, and you probably have a pretty good idea why, now.' Kate nodded and briefly looked away, taking a discrete moment to wipe the tears from her cheek. 'I've also had many a long conversation with mother over the past few weeks.'

Alexis looked at her father in confusion. 'I don't understand dad, why did you need to speak with Jim, and what's Gram got to do with any of this?'

'Your dad was seeking their council,' Kate answered.

'Kate's right, sweetheart,' Rick confirmed. 'It's one thing to tag along with Beckett playing cop, worrying about my wife and partner twenty four hours a day, but it's completely different when your daughter wants to follow in her mom's footsteps.' Alexis felt the blush creep up her neck at her dad's statement. It was the first time Rick had referred to Kate as her mom. 'Sweetheart, I know how to be the partner and husband of a cop, but I have no idea how to be the father of one.'

'Oh dad…' Alexis felt nauseous from the guilt she felt. By not telling her father, she'd taken away his chance to help her, to support her. Taken away his opportunity to get used to the idea that his little girl wanted to become a police officer.

'I went to talk to Jim, to find out how he handles his daughter being a cop. Mother and I have conversed on occasion about my dalliance with law enforcement, and she's been known to voice her opinion….very strongly. I guess I just needed guidance on how to do this.' Rick shrugged and looked down to where his hands were clasped between his knees.

'Dad….I didn't mean to shut you out, or keep anything from you,' Rick looked up to see the sincerity on his daughter's face as Alexis leaned towards him. 'I broached the subject with Kate late last year, one thing led to another, and it kind of just snowballed from there. But Kate was just helping me get all the facts before I came to you.'

'I know sweetheart. It's how you've always been.' Rick conceded. 'Even when you were a little girl, you were always so serious and mature, wanting to know all the facts before making a decision. I guess I'm just not used to you going to someone else for help, and I'll admit, I was jealous. I'm not used to sharing you.'

'Dad…'

'Rick…I'm sorry if I've overstepped my bounds here…'

'No Kate, please don't apologise. It would be hypocritical of me to say that you're what I want for my daughter in one breath, but then deny you in the next. I'm still getting used to the fact that my little girl is all grown up,' Rick admitted. 'And if we're being completely honest Kate, you've been helping me raise her for the past eight years.'

Kate rose from the couch and moved towards her husband. Bending down, she gently cupped Rick's face between her hands and kissed him soundly. 'I'm so in love with you,' Kate murmured, her forehead resting against his.

'Love you more,' Rick whispered back. Kate straightened up again and moved to sit back next to her daughter. 'So Pumpkin, you want to be a cop,' Alexis nodded at her dad's statement. 'Officer Pumpkin, definitely a name befitting one of New York's finest,' Rick teased, and his wife and daughter just rolled their eyes at him. 'Do you two practice that when I'm not around?' Rick grumbled.

'Are you sure you're okay with this, dad?' Alexis asked with concern.

'Honey, you're an adult. You don't need my permission to do anything anymore…..not that you ever did need my permission to do anything.'

'Dad I'm trying to be serious here, can you please stop joking around,' Alexis sighed in frustration.

'Alexis,' Kate soothed, placing a calming hand on her daughter's arm. 'This is a lot for your dad to take in, so please cut him some slack.'

'Sorry, I'm sorry dad, I have no right to snap at you,' Alexis apologised.

Rick stood up and moved to sit on the end of the couch and reached over to take his daughter's hand. 'Sweetheart, I'm going to be honest with you, the thought of you becoming a cop scares the hell out of me…no please let me finish,' Rick begged as Alexis went to interrupt. 'But I'm also very proud of you. You came to me nearly a year ago, worried about having no direction in your life. You didn't know what career you wanted, or how to find your passion. And do you remember what I told you?'

Alexis gave her dad a tremulous smile. 'That I would find my passion, or it would find me,' she whispered.

'Or it would find you,' Rick repeated, squeezing his daughter's hand, and looking towards his wife who had her arm around their daughter, her fingers playing with the short hair at the base of Alexis' neck. Looking back to his daughter, Rick saw his little girl, desperate for her daddy's approval. 'Baby I'll support you no matter what, okay? Please don't ever doubt that.' Alexis let out a sob of relief as she moved into her dad's outstretched arms.

Alexis clung to her dad, murmuring words of thanks and apology. She gave him one last squeeze before she sat up again. 'Thank you dad,' she said, wiping her cheeks with the sleeve of her top.

'So, when do you think you'll sit the civil service exam?' Rick asked.

'Kate and I have discussed this.' Alexis looked towards her mom, grabbing her hand for support. 'We were thinking mid-March.'

'But?'

Kate squeezed her daughter's hand and looked towards her husband. 'But with the backlog of applicants, there's been a freeze on any new testing. My sources have told me they're hoping to start the application process again mid-year. With Alexis finishing up at the ME's office at the end of June, it'll give her time to practice the prep exam until the next round of testing dates are announced.'

Rick looked at his wife in confusion. 'You can't just slip her in like you did with Kevin's Sergeants exam?'

'Babe, if I could I would. But they've cancelled all testing through to the end of March at this stage.'

'Okay, so you sit the initial exam, then what?'

'Well, if I pass….'

'Which you will,' Rick smiled.

'If I pass, then it's a waiting game until I'm contacted by the Department. There are six stages I have to successfully progress through before being considered for the Academy. From what Kate and the guys down at the recruitment office have told me, it's about a four to six month process from start to finish.' Alexis explained.

'And what do you plan on doing while you're going through the recruitment process,' her dad asked, but he already knew the answer.

'I'm hoping I can still work with you,' Alexis hedged.

'I'd like nothing better, maybe you could apply for your PI licence while you're at it,' her dad smiled. 'So how do you think you'll do with the recruitment process, are there any areas you're worried about?' Alexis blushed and looked down as her mom giggled. 'I take it from that reaction, there is.'

'Alexis is worried about the physical,' Kate explained.

'That's because I suck at everything remotely associated with physical activity,' Alexis justified, and then turned and smiled lovingly at her mom. 'But Kate's offered to help train me.'

'Well, it sounds like the two of you have this all sorted.' Rick stated. 'I take it this means you'll still be living at home for a while longer then?' Rick asked Alexis. He didn't even hide his delight at the prospect of having his daughter at home for a while longer.

'If that's okay,' Alexis asked shyly, looking between her mom and dad.

Alexis watched as her parent's had a silent conversation, and felt trepidation at the prospect that they wanted her to move out. 'Of course it's okay sweetheart, this is your home,' her mom soothed, wrapping her arms around her daughter. 'If you're successful in making it to the Academy, you'll be living on campus for six months. You've got plenty of time to worry about where you want to live.' Alexis nodded as she snuggled further into her mom's embrace.

'And I think that's conversation for another time,' her dad said, standing up and collecting the half-finished mugs before walking to the kitchen. 'I think it's time we all headed to bed.'

'Your dad's right.' Kate murmured.

'Don't let him hear you say that, we'll never hear the end of it,' Alexis teased.

'Never hear the end of what?'

'Nothing,' both women said at the same time.

'Jinx,' Alexis laughed as she sat up and rose from the couch while Kate scowled at her husband and daughter.

'I'll let you finish off the marshmallows,' her mom said by way of removing the jinx.

'No fair, I was gonna have so much fun,' Alexis teased, before letting out a yawn.

'Come on kid, go to bed. And don't forget to take your stuff upstairs.'

'Yes mom.' Alexis sassed and hugged her mom tight before moving to hug her dad. 'Night dad, I love you.'

'Love you too, pumpkin.'

Rick and Kate watched as Alexis stopped to collect her bag and boots before making her way up the stairs. 'Oh Alexis,' Alexis stopped halfway up the staircase, and turned to look at her dad. 'You didn't tell me how your date with Henry went.'

'Seriously, is nothing secret in this family,' both Kate and Rick heard Alexis grumble as she continued up the stairs.

Rick turned to his wife and pulled her in for a sensuous kiss before resting his forehead against Kate's. 'I'm so sorry,' Rick murmured.

'Sorry for what?' Kate asked in confusion.

'I'm sorry for being a jealous, territorial father. I had no right to talk to you that way,' Rick admitted. 'Between Alexis becoming an adult, and the relationship she's built with you, I have this irrational fear she doesn't need me anymore.'

'Oh, babe.' Kate wrapped herself around her husband, clinging to him. 'Rick, that's never going to happen,' she soothed.

'How do you know?' he asked petulantly.

'Because even as an adult, I still need my dad, the same way you still need Martha, despite your protests to the contrary.' Kate felt Rick nodding against her neck.

'Thank you,' he murmured, pulling his wife flush against him. 'Thank you for taking care of her, for loving her.'

'Always.' Kate moved out her husband's embrace and took his hand, leading him to the bedroom. 'Now how about we finally make good on that promise of a sibling for….'

'Lalalalalalalalalala,' Kate laughed as Rick pulled away from her and stuck his fingers in his ears. 'You do not speak the names of children, parents, or small fury animals as you lead me to the bedroom to have your way with me. Deal?' Rick whined.

'Deal, now quit your bitching and let's go make a baby.'

'Yes dear.'