Chapter 8 - Alexis time

I followed mr Castle out and he hailed a cab the second he got out. I watched him leave before I decided it was time to drive and pick up Alexis from my dad's. On the drive there I couldn't stop thinking about the time I'd had with mr Castle. It had been... fun. Or perhaps that was the wrong word... enjoyable? Yeah, not good enough but still better than the first word that popped up in my head. Before I knew it I pulled into my dad's driveway and parked my car. I jumped out of the car and looked around, mostly to make sure no one was following me. Not that I thought mr Castle would have followed me, I was pretty good at noticing small details, he seemed like an honest guy who just wanted his daughter back. I stepped up to the door and decided to knock instead of ringing the bell  in case Alexis was asleep. It didn't take long before my dad opened up the door and greeted me with a big smile.

"Hi Katie!" he said and pulled me into a hug.

"Hey dad, she's asleep?" I asked, hugging him back.

He let me go and as he closed the door he answered my question by nodding.

"Yes, she fell asleep about an hour ago. She asked me how long you would be gone and tried her best at keeping her eyes open but soon enough she was snoring on the couch" he chuckled while we walked towards his living room.

"Thank you, for watching her. I had a really good time with my friend" I said and I could feel him watch me closely.

When we got into the living room I saw Alexis lie on the couch with arms and legs spread out. I couldn't help but adore the little girl and I pulled up my phone to snap a picture of her which I mentally wrote up I would send to the girl's father. I felt my dad keep his eyes on me and I couldn't help but get a bit nervous. I knew he wouldn't sell me out if I told him about the meeting with mr Castle but I wasn't ready to tell him, which is why I got a lump in my throat when my dad gave voice to his suspicion.

"Katie, is there something you're not telling me?" he said after a few seconds of silence.

"No, why?" I said as natural as I could.

He looked at me and I decided it was best if I met his gaze so I turned my head. I saw him looking deep into me with those typical father eyes trying to figure out if I was telling the truth or lying.

"Who was the friend you met?" he questioned instead of answering mine.

"An old friend from college" I answered, not looking away.

I could see in his eyes that he wasn't quite convinced and I was almost flickering with my eyes before he himself looked away at Alexis.

"Just..." he started but cut himself off to take a deep breath before he continued, "if you were dating you would tell me right?" he asked and glanced at me.

So was what he was worried about! Me seeing guys without him knowing! Which I kinda had but not in that way.

"Dad" I said looking at him, "when I meet a guy I promise I will let you know, besides she would probably not be able to keep it down" I pointed at Alexis with a smile set on my lips.

"Yeah, you're right... I'm sorry for accusing you" he started but I cut him off as quickly as I could.

"Dad, don't worry about it, we're cool" I said giving him a wink.

"Kate?" a whisper came from the couch and when I looked there I saw Alexis yawning big while rubbing her eyes.

"Heey pumpkin" I said low as I moved towards her.

I sat down on my knees in front of her, putting my hand carefully on her head, and she looked at me with a small smile on her face.

"You're here" she whispered relieved.

"Yeah, I'm taking you home now, you had a good time with Jim?" I asked, referring to my dad with his first name.

"Mhmm, I like it here, I like seeing old photos of you" she said and I first now looked at the table in front of the couch which to my surprise held the photographs she'd been looking at.

My smile faded a bit when I spotted a few pictures of me and my mom but I tried to shake it off as I turned my attention back to the redhead on the couch.

"Are you ready to head home?" I asked her and she nodded happily.

I got up on my feet and so did she, my dad took her into his arms to give her a goodbye-hug. Once he let her go we were in the hall putting on our shoes.

"Thanks for your help today, dad" I said as I hugged him.

"No problemo, kid" he said and I took Alexis' hand in mine before we walked out of the door.

Alexis somehow managed to stay awake the whole trip home despite her obvious need for sleep. To my relief that meant I didn't have to carry her on our way to my apartment though. Once we got inside it seemed like she had gotten her energy back because she ran towards the couch and sat down asking if we could watch a movie together. I couldn't help but chuckle at her eagerness to watch yet another movie but I shook my head.

"We need to sleep, both you and me" I said winking at her.

"Then... can I sleep with you?" she asked and I gave her a funny look. "I don't want to sleep alone" she answered my look as she looked down at her hands.

"Of course, something bothering you?" I asked and she nodded slowly.

I walked to her and she jumped down the couch and took my hand just to drag me towards my bedroom.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" I asked her and she shook her head. "Okay then, let's head to sleep" I said and we brushed our teeth before we laid down in my bed.

It surprised me that she cuddled into my side before she, a few minutes later, was sound asleep. I put my arm around her and turned off the lights before I looked up in the ceiling thinking about this whole day. What had actually happened today? Could I really trust mr Castle? Was the reason Alexis was taken away from her father because of me? Because of the murder of my mom? Had he found something I had missed? What did that have to do with anything? Why did I feel so secure around Castle? Castle? The questions continued to circle around in my head as my eyes slowly dropped and the world of reality turned black while the world of dreams lighted up.

believe

overwhelmed

try

The light shone into my room and I felt surprise running through my body when I didn't find my sunshine in the bed.

"Alexis?" I called out as I looked around my room.

I sharpened my ears and was about to get worried a certain someone had come here to kidnap his daughter, but that's when I heard small feet running from the kitchen. The little redhead ran through the door and jumped up in bed which made me let go of a surprised scream before she tackled me down on my back laughing at me.

"What are you up to?" I questioned chuckling at her action.

"Nothing" she said with a sweet innocent look in her eyes.

I narrowed my eyes at her with a small smile never leaving my lips.

"I made you breakfast" she said and I got a bad feeling.

"Alexis?" I said with a warning tone.

Last time I had let her made something like pancakes she had burnt it real bad.

"Don't worry, I made sandwiches" she said with a teeth-grinning smile.

I couldn't help but let out a relieved chuckle as I nodded my head.

"Okay then, let's go eat the breakfast you've made" I winked at her.

She giggled and threw her arms around my neck hugging me.

"Do you really have to go to work today?" she asked me quietly.

I sighed, feeling bad about leaving her because of work. I would love to stay home with her every day but I needed the money, plus I needed the justice.

"I'm sorry, but you remember that woman on the picture, the one you told me have a baby? I need to help find whoever did that to her" I hugged her tighter.

She sighed herself but I felt her nodding against my shoulder.

"I know, love you Kate" shock filled my veins when I heard her words.

I had to take a few seconds to really understand what was going on, what she had just said. But as soon as my brain caught up with her words I felt warmth spread in my soul.

"I love you too kiddo" I said and she kissed my cheek before she pulled away to take my hand and pull me out of my bed.

We came into the kitchen and I saw what she had done. She had made two sandwiches with salad, cheese and ham, and they looked delicious.