Two-shot, set near the end of season 4.

Disclaimer: I don't own Castle or the characters.

Beckett startled awake to a loud knocking on her door. She rolled over, grabbing her phone to check the time and wondered who would be wanting to see her at 4 o'clock in the morning. Figuring it was probably important, she got out of her bed and made her way to the door, hoping it was something she could deal with quickly so she could return to bed. Looking through the peep hole, she was surprised at who was standing on the other side of the door and quickly unlocked and opened the door to greet her guest.

"You need to talk to my father," Alexis said by way of greeting, looking tired but with a look of determination in her eyes.

"Alexis? What on earth are you doing here so early in the morning? Your father will be worried about you," Beckett replied, gesturing for the young girl to enter.

"You need to talk to him," Alexis said again after Beckett had closed the door and followed Alexis further into her apartment.

"Look, Alexis, he's-" Alexis cut her off.

"No, you have to talk to him, he's changed and I don't know why and I want him back to how he used to be," Alexis said, almost desperately. She missed her father and wanted him back. Not that he'd technically gone anywhere, he was still there for her like he always was but Alexis could see he was unhappy and wanted to help.

"I don't know what happened either," Beckett said, looking down, not wanting Alexis to see her like this, hurt and confused without Castle by her side.

"Then go talk to him," Alexis replied determinedly, not backing down. She'd come here for a reason and she was going to get the detective and her father to talk no matter what.

"Alexis, it's not that easy," Beckett answered, getting desperate herself. She wanted to know what was wrong with Castle and wanted to help Alexis but she didn't know if she could, not wanting to hear from Castle that he'd moved on and didn't want her any more, that she'd waited too long.

"Yes it is, something happened between the two of you and you have to talk him."

"I don't know if there's anything I can do," said Beckett, placing a hand softly on Alexis's shoulder, trying to comfort her in some way, she could see that she was getting upset.

"My father loves you and I know you care about him too," replied Alexis, looking up at Beckett with some new found confidence.

"I love him too," Beckett whispered, close to tears now but not wanting to cry in front of Alexis. She loved Castle but wasn't sure if Castle still loved her back.

Alexis looked up at her, shocked, "then go tell him."

XXX

"Alexis, where have you been? I was going to call the police," Castle said as Alexis came through the loft door to find her father worriedly pacing the living room, phone in hand.

"Relax dad, I'm fine," Alexis replied as she was pulled into a bone crushing hug. He'd come out of his study for a glass of water and noticed the light upstairs on. Going to investigate, he'd discovered Alexis missing with a note in place of her in bed saying she was fine and would be back soon. Of course Castle had panicked anyway but luckily he'd only discovered her missing ten minutes ago so his panic hadn't escalated to calling the police just yet although he was about to call Ryan and Esposito to ask for help.

"Beckett?" Castle asked as he pulled away from Alexis, noticing Beckett walk through the door after his daughter and not being able to hide his surprise. His shocked expression quickly changed to one of indifference and he turned his attention back to Alexis.

"Where have you been? " he asked, wondering why Beckett was with her.

"I went to go talk to Detective Beckett," Alexis replied, not wanting to lie to her father, she never could anyway.

"At five in the morning?"

"It couldn't wait until morning."

"And what did you have to talk about that couldn't wait?" he asked but he had a feeling he already knew the answer to that.

"She can tell you, I'm going back to bed," Alexis answered, quickly kissing her father's cheek before she smiled at Beckett and disappeared up the stairs.

As soon as Alexis was gone, Castle turned around, not saying a word as he walked towards his study and not acknowledging Beckett's presence.

"Castle," Beckett said as Castle walked away and when he didn't turn back, she spoke again, slightly desperate, "Castle, please."

Something in her tone must've broken through Castle's walls because he turned to look back at her, "thank you for bringing Alexis home."

"Of course, but that's not the only reason I'm here," she replied. She was going to do this now, there was no point in delaying the inevitable, her heart was going to be broken eventually so why not now?

"Then what is?" Castle asked, scrubbing a hand down his face, the bags under his eyes more prominent because he hadn't slept at all tonight anyway.

"I need to talk to you."

"You don't have to, I get it. You didn't say anything before but I know now, I know you don't care and I don't care any more either," Castle answered, some of the hurt slipping into his voice but he couldn't help it. He was lying of course, he was still deeply in love with her, he cared so much and she didn't care for him and that hurt so much but he was going to try get over her. He almost laughed out loud at that thought. He was even trying to lie to himself, there was no getting over Kate Beckett.

"Castle, what are you talking about?" What does he mean she doesn't care? She cares more than she ever has about any one else, doesn't he know that?

"I'm over you," Castle said before walking into his office and closing the door behind him, not sure how much longer he could hold up the nonchalant facade.

"No," Beckett choked out, the word barely a whisper. He couldn't be over her, he couldn't stop loving her, she didn't think her heart could handle that. Was she really too late? Is that why he'd been pulling away recently, decided he no longer cared, no longer wanted to be with her so he'd given up trying, not caring how he acted towards her? The tears fell then, she couldn't stop them and she wished desperately that she knew what she'd done to change his mind. She loved him but it looked like he didn't love her any more. And that broke her heart.

Thoughts?