Hey guys, I think I might wrap up this series pretty shortly. This will probably be my second last or last instalment. Sorry. Thanks for reading! You guys are the BEST! :DD

Anyways, so the wedding is over, and Kate and Rick are just about settled into married life, with a baby on the way. Alexis is just about to leave for college. So what can happen? Read on and find out :D

Disclaimer: I don't own Castle or its characters. I only own the plot of this fic :P

"Mmmm, mmmmm... Leave me alone." Kate swatted her hands around her face, trying to get more sleep. Someone was tickling her face, and she had a pretty good idea who. "RICHARD EDGAR CASTLE!"

"Yes Katie?"

"What the hell do you want? It's my day off, and you know that! Let me be!"

"But Katieee! It's Saturday! The day we wake early to make pancakes and really yummy food!"

Kate rolled her eyes at her husband's childish antics. It definitely feels weird to call Richard Castle her husband. It seems only like yesterday they met… Cliché? Definitely, but it feels that way. Now, four years on, they were happily married with a baby on the way. They got married only three and a half months ago for heaven's sake! She turned towards Rick, who, unsurprisingly, still hadn't finished talking.

"… And, it's only the third last weekend we have left before Alexis leaves for college." Rick's voice went quiet near the end, his mind wandering far away.

Kate's heart nearly broke into two at the sight of Rick. She knew that, although he may be playing the guilt card, he still loved Alexis, and she knew for a fact that Alexis being away at college was going to hit him hard. They were each other's rock, and they basically did everything together. It'll be hard for him to let his baby go.

"Okay Rick, come on, let's get up. I'm sure Lex is waiting for those pancakes you love to brag so much about, and so is this little one."

Rick's eyes positively brightened up, and his hand moved to settle on Kate's stomach, where his next little one was growing.

"Thanks Kate."

With two simple words, Rick managed to convey all that he was thinking. Kate nodded and led him downstairs, both still clad in their pyjamas. They soon set about their cooking, the smell of blueberry pancakes, bacon and eggs, toast, and all other weekend breakfast food wafting throughout the house. Soon, the sound of feet was heard and Alexis appeared at the bottom of the stairs, still in pyjamas as well, and with a bright smile on her face.

"Mmmm, yum! Whoa, you could feed a small army with this amount of food! What's the occasion?"

"You, going away Lex." Her father answered.

"Oh, Dad. You know I'm going to miss you as much as you'll miss me. I'll text you every day, and I'll call as much as possible! Plus you'll be busy, especially with the new baby, and the cases, and the weekly poker nights with the boys, and your turn with babysitting Dell is coming up soon. Besides, I won't be leaving for another three weeks, and I might come back to visit after Kate has the baby, and also at every holiday."

Alexis desperately tried to make her Dad feel better.

"EVERY holiday?"

"Yea Dad, promise. But of course, depending on classes and stuff. But definitely at Christmas and Easter, and all the fun holiday we always spend together, no matter what."

Rick moved around to hug his daughter.

"I love you pumpkin. Never change, got that?"

Alexis smiled and glanced at Kate, who, no matter how long she knew the Castle clan and was part of it, still felt like she was always intruding on the moments between her husband and step-daughter.

"Come on! Let's eat."

The trio brought the food to the table and settled down for a hearty meal, but before they could begin, the doorbell rang.

CBCBCBCBCBCBCBCBCBCBCBCBCB

"SURPRISE!"

The newly engaged Lanie and Esposito, along with the Ryan family consisting of Ryan, Jenny and Dell, were at the door.

"What are you guys doing here?" Kate asked suspiciously.

"Coming to wish Alexis the best of luck, of course!"

"And the food." Esposito said, eyeing the mouth-watering food.

Kate rolled her eyes. "Come on in, plenty for an army, I'm sure you can help us finish."

The men rushed in, ahead of the women. Lanie and Jenny let out an exasperated sigh and followed, shaking their heads at their respective partners. Kate closed the door and went to sit beside Rick.

Alexis was talking to the boys. "Thanks for visiting guys, but you do know I don't leave until three weeks later right?"

"Yeah, duhh. But we're on call for the next two weekends, so thought we might do it earlier."

"Sure… You only wanted the food."

Everyone laughed. "There's that, but… We're going to miss you a lot Alexis."

"Yeah, who's going to babysit Dell now?" Ryan playfully asked.

"Ahem." Rick and Javi glared at their team mate.

"Sure, after that last fiasco of the two of you babysitting my son? No way! From now on, you guys need supervision!"

Everyone laughed again, and the chatter continued, with everyone mainly talking about Lanie and Kate's baby bump, and Alexis's classes for college. They continued on well into the afternoon. Somehow, it didn't matter that they may have been visiting on a sad circumstance, what mattered was they were with each other, and at the end of the day, each knew the other would have their back.

Okay, so that's my end of chapter one. There's only gonna be a few more chapters.

Thanks for reading!

PLEASE REVIEW! THANKS!

Genie