546. Chapter 546

After Like Father, Like Daughter

Episode 6.07

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: Like me, my daughter does not own Castle. Rating: K Time: See above.

"You're amazing, Al." Pi said with a grin. "Frank Henson is a free man because you wouldn't give up. I am so proud of you."

Alexis blushed. This wasn't going to be that easy. "I didn't give up and neither did my dad. I'd still be sitting there spinning my wheels and Frank would be dead if it wasn't for him. He figured out that the dolphin that didn't belong on Kim Tolbert's charm bracelet had to belong to the killer. He, and his friends at the NYPD were more responsible for this than I was."

Pi shook his head. "If you hadn't believed in Frank, they wouldn't have gotten involved. You were like a tiny snow flake that began an immense avalanche of justice."

Alexis giggled. "A snowflake? Is that how you see me?"

Pi nodded. "So, how did things go with Mr. C?"

Alexis took a few seconds to gather her thoughts. This was important to her. "Pi, I'm still mad at my dad for the way he treated you. The way he treated us. Don't get me wrong, he's been a great dad, but there are things in his past, like the police horse thing I told you about. And he lived with his girlfriend when he was in college. I don't understand how he can judge me, judge us like that. He's done more than his share of wild and crazy things in his life. Us living together is tame compared to what he's done, but he acts like it's the end of the world."

Pi shrugged. "He's your father. Father's act like that. Most of them anyway."

"But…." Alexis stopped for a second. "I am still mad at him, but I realized that our relationship is more than me being mad at him. He's done a great job of raising me, the more so considering that my mom basically only comes around when she needs something from Dad. And he's been doing what I just did for years now. There are lots of people like Frank who were exonerated because of my dad, and Detective Beckett, of course. And there are murderers like Alan Lane who are in prison because of my dad. I love my dad, even though I'm mad at him and I don't think he could ever do anything that would make me being mad at him the most important thing in our relationship. I'll always love him. So, I'm going to try to remember that and I want you to try to get along with my dad, too."

A grin split Pi's face. "Al, you know me. I'm the easiest guy in the world to get along with. Between you and me, Mr. C and I are going to be best buds in no time."

Alexis wasn't sure of that. "Pi, my dad can be awfully stubborn. It's going to take a lot for you two to be best buds."

"Stubborn? Let me tell you about stubborn. I was surfing on the Skeleton Coast of Namibia, in Africa. There was this English dude called George. Well, one day….."

Kate was relaxing at the loft. She was off for two whole days. She'd only be called in if the direst of emergencies arose. Naturally, today was the day that Castle absolutely had to go to a meeting at Black Pawn. She was just starting her second cup of coffee when there was a knock at the door.

When she answered it, she found Alexis there. "Alexis, this is your home. You don't have to knock. Just come in."

"It's just that I wouldn't want to interrupt you and dad if you were…." She stopped and blushed.

"If we were doing something you wouldn't want to see?" Kate finished for her.

"Exactly."

"I'm afraid your dad isn't here though."

"I know. I came to see you."

Kate began to get worried. "Why?'

"I know I thanked you there at the precinct for helping with Frank Henson's case and for helping with Dad. But there's more I want to say to you."

Kate nodded and motioned to the kitchen. "Why don't we sit and talk? Coffee?"

"Orange juice?" Alexis countered.

Once seated, Alexis began to talk. "When I first met you, I was very impressed. You were so smart, so strong, so together and you were doing something very important. You were totally unlike most of Dad's girlfriends up to then. You knew a lot about college and…stuff. Stuff I was interested in. And you didn't treat me like some annoying kid."

"You were never an annoying kid to me, Alexis."

"As your relationship with my dad went on, my feelings about you changed. Everyone knew Dad was in love with you. I can't imagine that you didn't realize it."

"I did. I knew he was in love with me. I knew for a long time."

"And you did nothing about it. I thought you were using him. Dad was your unpaid partner and helper. He helped you solve cases and you got all the credit. And you never acted like you ever liked him. I wondered for a long time why you just didn't tell Dad that you didn't love him and tell him to go. The only thing I could think of then was that you were too selfish to give him up as long as he could be a help to you. That's exactly what my Mom is like."

"Alexis, believe me, I know exactly how badly I behaved towards your dad and I wish…"

"Dad told me about your walls. I can't imagine what I'd be like if Dad were murdered and the person responsible was ever caught. I'd probably wrap myself in walls so high and so thick that no one would ever get through them. Dad has talked to me about what you went through, after your mom was killed and after you were shot. I don't know if I could have handled things as well as you did. But I understand what you did and why you did it. I know you weren't being selfish."

Kate shook her head. "I didn't handle things at all well."

Alexis grinned. "You're my dad's fiancé and soon to be wife. I'd say, all things considered, you did very well. I know how much happier he is now that he's with you. You've made an enormous change in his life and for the better. Thank you, for what you've done for dad." Alexis leaned in and hugged Kate.

Kate hugged her back. "You have no idea what your dad has done for me. Before I met Castle I was this grim, unbending machine for catching killers. I became a person again, a very happy person, because of Castle."

"I'm happy for both of you for getting together. If I had to pick the perfect wife for dad, I'd have picked you."

"That's so very sweet, Alexis."

"And I've picked Pi. Maybe not as my future husband, but he's who I want right now. I accept you and Dad. I'm happy for you and Dad, even though there were times I didn't like you at all. That's all I want from Dad. For him to accept my choice as I accept his."

Alexis took a deep breath. "Kate, Dad doesn't take advice about his relationship with me at all well. He's very stubborn that way. And right now, I don't want you getting into an argument with Dad over me. That wouldn't be at all fair to you and I don't want you to do anything that would cause the two of you any problems, but if you could…?"

"If he asks me, or if I feel I really have something to say, I'll talk to him. Okay?"

"I think I'm going to like having you as my step mom."

"And I think I'm going to like having you as a step daughter."