A/N: I was inspired by a conversation on Tumblr: that someday, Kate and Martha wouldn't need any wine to encourage them to dress up and have a tea party with young Miss Castle. The thought wouldn't leave my head, and this is what came out.
Kate Beckett Castle was glad to be home. Rick was off on a short book tour, but it was almost done. It had taken some juggling, but between her taking a few days off to hang with Jamie and Hannah, her dad and Martha watching the kids a few times, Alexis and Mike taking care of them, they had kept the kids occupied so they didn't miss their dad too much.
Today, her dad had taken five year old Jamie to an afternoon Mets game. But there was no way he could handle both kids by himself, so Martha had offered to take Hannah to her acting school in the morning, and then home to the loft. For Hannah, hanging out at Martha's school was like going to a baseball game for Jamie. She loved all the drama, the singing, the dancing. Martha had high hopes for Hannah, even at age two. Kate thought it was possible their little girl could have a future in the dramatic arts; she felt like this kid had come out of the womb with a song on her lips. Rick was horrified to think that people would be ogling his little girl.
As she unlocked the door, she heard Martha's voice. She knew why the kids adored her; she always had a happy voice, and of course, her bright hair and clothes could make anyone happy. Right now, Hannah was sitting at the breakfast bar, with a big towel around her neck. Martha had a lot of makeup spread out on the counter, and was applying some eyeshadow. Hannah already was dressed in one of her "fancy" dresses – a frilly pink number. Kate grinned at the picture the two of them made. They were so busy, they didn't even notice her put her things away in the safe in Rick's office.
"Hello, ladies! Did you have a great day?" Kate asked as she walked back into the room. Martha turned when she heard Kate's voice.
"Katherine, darling! You're just in time. Hannah and I were going to have a tea party, but Hannah had a lovely time today watching a makeup class, so, she wanted to look her best before it could begin!"
"Mama, look at me! Grams is making me so pretty!" Hannah said.
"Hannah, my darling, I am making you prettier; you are the prettiest little girl I know!" said Martha. Kate laughed at her mother-in-law.
"Yes, Grams is making you look so very pretty. Can I join in the tea party?" Kate asked.
"Yes, Mama. We have plenty of tea. Do you want some makeup too?" Hannah said.
"Well, maybe just some lipstick, since most of my makeup's still there," Kate replied. Then Martha jumped in with a suggestion.
"How about a wig, Katherine? We can see what you'd look like as a redhead, if you'd like," Martha slyly said. That's when Kate noticed the wigs on the table. She grinned at her mother-in-law.
"Why not? And we should take a picture and send it to Rick. He'll probably have a heart attack, thinking I've joined the red head brigade!" she giggled. Martha finished Hannah's makeup, removed the towel, and then helped Kate put a very red, very big wig on her head. Hannah clapped when she saw her mother.
"Mama! You look very pretty," the two year old said. Martha laughed and agreed with her. Kate checked her new look in the mirror and laughed too. She posed for a picture and quickly sent it to Rick and then Alexis. She figured she'd make everyone's day with that one. Her phone pinged with an alert. She quickly read the text from Rick and laughed loudly as she showed it to Martha.
"How much wine have you had, Beckett?" was all it said.