Request: write from a different characters point of view (like one of the boys, or Alexis, watching Castle and Beckett interact).
It was late. Not that wrapping up a case outside of business hours was unusual, by any means. But she would be lying if she said she didn't miss the stability of her father being home each and every day. The worst she ever had to deal with was the short periods of him locking himself in the office when an important deadline was rapidly approaching and he couldn't afford to procrastinate any longer. But now... he was practically a cop. In the sense that he was out on the streets, anyway. And it was all because of her...
Detective Kate Beckett was an inspiration. She was everything that, in any other woman, Alexis would look up to. She was smart, successful, motivated, strong - both physically and mentally. She dominated in a masculine work environment without sacrificing her femininity. She was unapologetically... her. A wonderful role model for any young woman aspiring to be the best version of them self. And early on in her fathers partnership with the detective, Alexis did find herself looking up to the woman. But as the years past, as she became more aware of the world she was living in, and as her father found himself in more and more life or death situations, a bitterness began to tinge their relationship. Alexis simply couldn't not blame Kate for the anxiety surrounding her fathers new 'job'.
Time after time, he would find himself in dangerous situations. And time after time, he would go back. For one reason only: he was in love. And truthfully, that was probably the part that bothered her most. The fact that he did this - risked his safety... his life - with no regard of how his actual family felt, all because of someone who had hurt him. So. Many. Times.
She had come home from college for the weekend, hoping to spend some quality time with her father. But, once again, he wasn't home. She enjoyed dinner with her grandmother, but still missed his presence. Gram had gone to bed almost an hour ago, suggesting Alexis should consider doing the same. She looked at the time - almost midnight - then toward the front door, willing it to open and for him to walk through.
She sighed, finally giving up. She pulled herself from the once-comfortable position, curled up in the corner of the couch. After having sat for too long, her legs were stiffer than usual and each step up to her bedroom felt twice as steep as usual. She reached the top of the stairs when she heard the keys turning in the lock outside. She rolled her eyes, frustrated by the timing. She turned to head back downstairs, but when she heard two voices she decided to stay put. She sat, quietly, in the dark instead.
"Are you hungry?" He whispered as he entered the loft. That was when she saw Kate following closely behind.
The woman groaned, "let's just go to bed." She grabbed his hand and tried to lead him in the opposite direction but he pulled her into him. She gave up - too easily, in Alexis' opinion - and collided into his body, resting her head against his chest.
"I know for a fact you haven't eaten since this morning." His voice was low. The pair obviously assumed everyone was asleep.
Kate mumbled something into his chest that Alexis couldn't quite hear. She then looked up with a smile, planting a firm kiss on his lips. Alexis hadn't noticed the woman's hands slip down to her fathers belt until he pushed them away.
"No?" Kate smirked and looked up through her lashes.
"Your witchery won't work on me!" He joked, pulling away from her. "Kitchen. Now."
Alexis never thought this day would come. Her father was actually using his self control. She knew it had to be in there somewhere... and she was grateful for its appearance right now - saving her from witnessing something she couldn't erase from her memory.
With their new positioning in the kitchen, it was harder for Alexis to see them. She told herself that now was a good time to leave them in peace. Instead, she slipped down two steps. She was sure the dimmed lighting from downstairs wasn't enough to make her overly visible.
She wasn't in the habit of spying. In fact, she had never really had reason to spy. Her father was always an open book. If she ever had a question - any question, big or small - he would happily answer it for her. Sure, his answers were always filtered semi-appropriately for her age... but he never felt the need to keep her in the dark about anything. Detective Beckett, however, was excruciatingly private. She kept her guard up at all times, carefully keeping a distance between herself and everyone else. Even during their closer moments, Alexis knew she had only scratched the surface.
Sure, she could see how that would appeal to someone. Especially someone like her father, who always had to push. To dig deeper. To find the truth in everything... especially in people. He wanted to know everyone's true self, not the façade they hid behind. And he loved a challenge. Detective Beckett was definitely a challenge.
They dug around the fridge, pulling out some bits and pieces to make what she could only assume would be sandwiches. Despite the late hour, her dad seemed rather... peppy. He hummed as he made his way from the fridge, to the bench, with an armful of fixings.
Kate shook her head and laughed as she reached to close the refrigerator door. The action seemed to trigger something within Castle. He grabbed her wrist, pulled her close and began to energetically waltz. They started off clumsily, stumbling around the kitchen, but eventually they adapted to one another. Castle wound down the vigour, moving at a pace the obviously exhausted detective was more comfortable with, and Kate stopped fighting, leaning into him as they stepped together. He continued to hum...
In the harsh glow of refrigerator light, it was hard to ignore. The smile on Kate's face was bright and bold. She was relaxed... comfortable... at home... and very obviously in love, savouring this moment.
Always one for dramatic flare, her father pulled away from his dance partner, holding her hand and spinning her. She happily twirled with a childlike giggle.
For years now, her father had been talking about the other side of Kate. The side of her that seemed to be reserved just for him. And, honestly, she had thought that side of Beckett had been something he had made up, something he needed to convince himself there was something more between them. But right now, watching them and how they interacted when they thought no one was looking... when they didn't have to have their guards up... she could see it too.
She had seen enough. Enough to console her fears. Enough to lay her concerns to rest... for now, at least. Was Kate Beckett the one for her dad? Maybe... maybe not. But for now, they both seemed happy. And for Alexis... that was enough.