Card was doing very well in her advanced Biology class. Her busy schedule in being a Teaching Assistant along with her work load toward her PHD in applied biology made her happy. She was rushing to get to her office she unlocked the door and entered the cozy enclave she had made in her time at Columbia. Yes she did follow Alexis her older sister to Columbia.
There were many pictures of the growing Castle family. She herself officially changed her name to Card Alexis Castle about 2 years ago when she turn 21. She had just sat her satchel with her iPad and was beginning to read the submission of her students. It was only 2 more months then she would graduate at 22 the youngest Facility member to ever been chosen for a full professorship. Though, she was busy she made time for her family. They communicated by Skype, text or phone daily when Card could not manage to get away.
The Castle Clan as Jackson still referred to it was growing leaps and bounds. Alexis had managed to snag a man and now had a beautiful 2 year old Boy. Her Nephew Eric Castle Brown Jr. looked like her Father Rick. Card looked over at the picture of her smiling Sister with her two year old. He was born on Christmas Eve. That was a very Merry Christmas indeed. Kate had given birth the year January she came to live with them to twins a Boy and Girl they were now 5 and very rambunctious. Johanna the girl would beat up on her brother David constantly. Card had to smile of how David the younger one was always trying to hide behind either his Gramps Jim or Jackson's legs to get away from his overbearing sister. Kate was in the last stages of her pregnancy for her 3rd child.
They still lived at the loft but with the growing family Rick decided separating into adjoined apts made sense. So at the end of the Hall was Alexis and Eric Brown Sr. a soft spoken software designer who stayed at home and had frequent visits with Rick.
Next was a middle apt which housed The Grand parents and Sophie who had become a bit more sociable but still was the wary one of the group.
Finally the original Loft which had been expanded into the second apt so that the Grand parents could come and go but could close the door to the mayhem on the other side.
Card had a room there still however, she had been spending what little time left with her Fiancee Kevin Bacon. Yes it was one of the family members of The Kevin Bacon of the game 6 degree separation of Kevin Bacon. That they intend to marry in 2 months was something Card was looking forward too as the growing life in her womb. Yes she got knocked up but Kevin was a traditionalist. He wanted to marry before the child arrived. Card being sensible one declined that rushed marriage though it worked for her parents. They were married in Vegas.
The more she thought about it the pressure in the abdomen reminded her to eat. She got out her vitamins which Kevin had packed for her then the lone sandwich. She was mindlessly munching while reading and correcting the papers. Man if my tutors ever saw the English these people were using. They would have been ballistic. Card thought. She rarely these days remember much of her life or what could be jokingly called her life before Castle. In her mind those bad old days were long gone. It was hard work with the family therapist to finally break her out of the self imposed prison. It was a harder prison than her birth Mother was still in and hopefully she would stay there for another 100 years for all the damage her family did to people in the name of greed.
Card quickly searched though the papers and posted their grades. She sat back and her iPad reminded her that she had an 8 month checkup due today. Then Kevin's smiling face appeared.
"Hey Beautiful" Kevin said. He looked very much like his Famous Cousin younger self.
"Hey to you too...Daddy" Card said to the visage on the screen.
"So are you ready?" He asked as he beamed that Card called him that.
"Yeah I'm tying up loose ends here and I will meet you at the Doctor's office." Card said.
"That is great I love you. Bye now." Kevin said.
"Bye my love." Card said.
She was still contemplating eloping. It was beginning to make sense. Kevin had a way of inserting an idea which she would at first dismiss but over time she would see it his way. She was beginning to suspect this was one of those times. She got up then exited her office and took the driver service that Jackson still insisted that she would have to take. It had been 6 years since the last kidnapping attempt. She thought the older man and Sophie were over cautious but she still did as he asked.
The driver service deposited her at the entrance to her OB Gyn. She entered the building and was surprised to see her mother Kate sitting in the waiting area. She should not have been so surprised. They all used the same doctor for all the Castle births. Though, she was surprised to see Alexis with her two year old in tow coming in.
"Alexis" Card said standing up to greet her Sister. "…I did not expect you to show up how is the ME office treating you these days?"
The two Sisters hugged as Kate looked on and played with her Grandchild. He was so much like Rick with the same attitude and smile along with his bright intelligent blue eyes.
"Mom I'm glad I made it Eric thinks Number two is on the way." Alexis said.
"Really I hope so… You have been trying to increase your family for so long now." Kate said.
Not standing up because Eric Jr. had monopolized her lap. At this point Kevin came in and gave her a kiss and rub on the stomach.
He knew Card was carrying his son. Card loved the attention Kevin who did not need to work lavished on her and their unborn son.
"Kevin… I was thinking…You are right we should do what you said in the beginning."
Card whispered.
Both Alexis and Kate strained to hear the whispered conversation. They did not need to know the gist of it because Kevin grabbed her ring finger hand rose up to his lips and kissed it looking very happy indeed.
Both Alexis and Kate were called away by the nurse that left Card and Kevin in a bit of communal bliss they just gazed at each other. The nurse had to call Card's name a few times before she responded. They were led to the Exam room. The procedure was done and the doctor noted that they were in good shape for a late January / early February birth. Though, he was a bit bigger than a normal 8 month old would be so he could come early. The Doctor warned.
"I was wondering…Does Card have any travel restrictions?" Kevin asked.
"Not at this time." The Doctor replied.
"Oh that is good…See Card you could do it if you want. I certainly would not mind." Kevin said.
"Yeah but I wanted Rick to walk me down the isle…" Card said.
"Card darling we can have a renewal of the vows at anytime you wish. I just so want to say that you are my wife and hopefully before this baby was born." Kevin said.
"Yes I guess I'm being silly go make the arrangements we will leave tonight! Tomorrow we should be legally wed." Card said kissing her husband to be,
They departed since Kevin had so much to do as Card waited in the lobby for her Sister and Kate to appear.
"Card it is good news! I'm pregnant!" Alexis said being held in her Sister's arms.
"Alexis that is great news…Can you keep a secret? Kevin and I are going to elope tonight." Card said.
"Really congrats I'm happy you finally saw reason. I thought you were being totally unreasonable in delaying. I married Eric as soon as I could. I have not been happier. You will be too with Kevin." Alexis said.
Alexis hugged her Sister as Kate came up.
"So how did your visit go" she asked.
"Mom…I'm pregnant and Card is eloping with Kevin tonight!" Alexis blurted out.
"Alexis I thought you were going to keep that a secret!" Card scolded her older Sister.
"So sorry Card it just came out." Alexis said being not so sorry.
Kate smiled at her two step and foster Daughters. She did not treat them any different than Johanna only difference they were adults and Johanna was just a child but she loved them all the same.
"That is great Alexis and Card Finally! I am happy for you darling!" Kate said hugging as Eric Jr. crowded in to be part of whatever the women were hugging about. He wanted to be hugged too. Kate reached down to pull up the two year old.
"So Mom, how is my Littlest Sister doing?" Card asked as they all got in the limo.
"Well Card she is doing well and we are on track for a January birth about the 2nd week." Kate said.
"Dad must be going crazy" Alexis said trying to keep Eric Jr. occupied.
"That he is…He is finishing the last few chapters of the Tyson book." Kate said.
The two Sisters grimaced at the name of the boogie man that had plagued their family for so long. Rick had barely escaped with his life after he and Kevin Ryan were captured by that mad man. The novel was a way for Rick to come to terms with his demon.
The car stopped and everyone got out. Card rushed up to her room and started packing. She was so excited. Alexis bid everyone good bye as she entered her apt. Kate was last to enter the loft and was met with a kiss by Rick who was still using a cane to get around. The physical therapist had done wonders. At first Rick remained hospitalized after being rescued by Esposito. Espo never talked about what he found. It was gruesome. Rick being injured had no idea what was going on.
"It was better that way" Espo said.
When Kate reached him at the hospital he was a mess. Rehabilitation was grueling and Kate took a year off the force to stay with him all the way. Now it was Christmas and the spirit of the season had buoyed his spirits too especially the younger ones.
"So how did it go at the Doctors?" Rick asked.
"I'm healthy Em is healthy so it looks like early January." Kate said.
"Well Captain Beckett well done." Rick said as he kissed her again.
They were broken up by David running full bore at them. Then next was Johanna screaming at the top of her lugs with a rubber hatchet in her hand, war paint on her face and feather in her headband.
"Whoa slow down there Princess what is wrong?" Rick asked by holding his good hand out to land on her head.
She stopped and looked up at her Daddy.
"Daddy he killed my doll! He took the head clean off so I'm going to do the same to him!" Johanna said fuming.
David peeking from behind his Mother's leg let out a whimper.
"Please don't let her chop off my head!" David pleaded.
Kate looked down at the pitiful expression of terror on her son's face.
"David did you do what she said?" Kate asked.
"Uh Huh we were playing guillotine…" David said "so she had to lose her head she was an enemy of the people!"
Kate now laid her eyes on Rick.
"What?" Rick said.
"I told you. You have to keep those books of your gruesome events up high!" Kate scolded.
"You David you were not supposed to be in Daddy's office so you could read those tales!" Kate said.
"But Mommy… It is history…You always want us to learn that." David said.
Kate sighed it was hard to argue with the fact it was history. And she had encouraged her children to discover their roots. She just did not expect he would be drawn to the French Revolution and Robespierre.
"It does not matter you apologize to your Sister and go play something less gruesome! How about getting out your Jedi light sabers? Card is here you might get her to play with you." Kate said mediating a peace treaty between the warring tribes.
"Card is here? Oh Boy!" The little boy lighted up then ran up the stairs.
She was his favorite Big Sister.
"Not so fast little Man You need to apologize to your Sister." Rick said.
David came down the stairs and stood in front of his Sister.
"I'm so sorry I took off her head. But you should not let traitors live in your closet!" David said as he ran off.
Johanna did not know what to think of that apology while Rick and Kate were trying not to laugh.
"Johanna I am sure. If you bring me your broken doll I might be able to fix it for you?" Rick said sitting down in his chair.
"Really Daddy I'll go get her." Johanna said running away after Kate wiped away the war paint on her face.
They had both very intelligent children together though Kate was not really surprised. Though, it was having them want to know history was sort of a feather in her cap.
Rick was beginning to settle when Johanna brought her broken doll. He had to admit his son did do a clean break the doll did not needlessly suffer. It was fairly easy to reattach the doll's head Johanna thanked him profusely then ran off as Jackson entered the room interacting with his Grand Daughter. He did not get to enter the living room because Johanna had grabbed his hand then pulled him up the stairs.
Kate looked at Rick while placing on herself on her couch. The couch officially became her place after staying there for the full 9 month gestation for the twins. She was getting comfortable when Rick appeared to rub her back.
"Oh that feels so good." She moaned.
The back rub turned into a make out session. Rick feeling better than he had in years picked up Kate and took her to the bedroom while she squealed with delight. There he deposited her on the bed and proceeded to make love to her as if his injuries had never happened. Kate knew this was just temporary. He was not harming himself that she took pains to prevent and it felt so good!