Pretty

Disclaimer: I own neither Castle, nor Firefly.

Alexis Castle's life was a mess. She'd dropped out of Stanford after a messy break up with Ashley before the first semester had even ended. With no reason to remain in California she hadn't hesitated in running home to New York. Her family had welcomed her home with open arms and no recriminations, but now Alexis found herself adrift, her preferred universities unwilling to admit her until the next year, leaving her with seemingly infinite spare time.

Today was a prime example: Alexis had come to the 12th Precinct in hopes of having lunch with her writer father and his are they/aren't they muse/detective/whatever. But as with everything lately, her timing sucked and almost everyone she knew at the 12th were out chasing leads. Everyone except Detective Ryan who was resting a twisted ankle and following a paper trail.

Alexis sat beside his desk, nursing a cup of coffee, unconsciously mirroring her father's most common position by Beckett's desk, her mind full of regret over the recent months. Also like her father her mouth started speaking without her brain being an active participant, "Detective Ryan, do you think I'm pretty?"

Without hesitation or a break in his concentration on the files in front of him, Ryan replied, "Were I unwed, I would take you in a manly fashion."

"Because I'm pretty?"

Kevin looked up at Alexis and smiled charmingly at her, "Because you're pretty."

Alexis smiled back at him, her fist since the break up.

Both their smiles vanished as they realized who else was now standing nearby. Castle and Beckett were both glaring at Ryan, although it seemed that Castle might be writing a new death scene in his head. But it was the look Kevin was receiving from his new wife that worried him most, the look that promised the matter would be discussed later. At length.

A/N: I don't think this was ever really gonna be a part of anything, just a scene steal that wouldn't leave me alone.