Alexis's feet tapped impatiently as she leaned against the counter. It was when her hands began to make a modern beat on the granite that Kate put her book face down and looked up at her.

Alexis noticed Kate's actions and blushed when she realized she was the source of annoyance.

"I'm sorry, Kate. I didn't realize I was doing that." Alexis sighed and clasped her hands together, preventing any other sorts of mischief they decide they want to get into.

"Don't worry about it," she replied. "Is there something bothering you, Alexis?"

The red head's eyes set on a kitchen appliance, wording the answer inside of her head. "You see," she began after a moment. "I haven't seen Lottie since last Christmas. And…"

"You missed her and you really want to go talk with her right now," Kate finished.

Alexis nodded her head. "Is that considered narcissistic of me?"

Kate laughed and slid off of the barstool. She crossed the opening to the kitchen and wrapped Alexis in a hug. She placed a gentle hand on her flames and she felt Alexis snuggle her head into the crook of her shoulder.

"Kate?" She murmured, her voice muffled my Kate's body.

She kissed the top of the girl's head and said, "I'm just glad you're happy-even after all these years- with this."

Alexis knew what Kate meant by "this". She didn't need to explain. "This", was the situation that gave Alexis a new family.

"Go. She could probably use your help unpacking."

Alexis smiled and bolted up the stairs. There's the 18-year old again, Kate thought, laughing.

Kate fiddled with things here and there. Charlotte and Alexis were busy, and Rick was teaching Mathew and James how to use his typewriter. So, in other words, they were occupied as well.

She was just about to grab down a Rubik's Cube when rounds of loud knocks filled the room. The hammer died down as Kate called through the door, telling the "visitors" that she was on her way. She opened the door and she sucked in a breath before plastered a smile on her face.

"Peter! Susan!" She took a luggage. "It's great to see you two again."

Peter began, "Its gr-"

"You know, Kate, I think you should get to the door a little bit faster. What if I had a heart attack out in the middle of the hallway and I was by myself? By the time you would have opened the door, I would have been dead!"

"I'll keep that in mind, Susan."

Kate took a look at the older women. She didn't change much since last year. Her reddish gold hair was in hot curler curls away from her face. The imperfections that came with age were covered with layers upon layers of makeup. You could say she's very cliché that way. Her blue eyes were covered with umbrellas of forest green and citrusy limes. Her cheeks were blanketed with a soft rose that bloomed when she smiled. Her lips were sketched with a dark red and fenced with a shade of maroon.

She heard different patterns of footsteps come from the stairs. They were all probably coming down. Probably a detective skill she'll never lose, she thought, making an inaudible sigh.

"Ah, now all the Weasleys are here!" Rick's voice carried through the entryway.

"Dad, you're still calling us that? Really?" Alexis followed soon after. Not waiting for an answer, she ran towards Peter. She murmured a quick "hello" to Susan on her way over. Peter planted a kiss on her lips and enveloped her into a hug. They parted and both Mathew and James exchanged a fair share of high-fives and fist bumps with their father.

"Hey, Peter. Susan. It's great seeing the both of you again!

"Charlotte? Is that you? I hope that residency program's doing you good. The bags under your eyes definitely show you've been working hard." Susan's heavy accented voice commented.

"Thanks, Susan." Charlotte said, knowing not to take her words to heart. She meant well. Everyone knew that.

With the boys' help, they made their present haul from the car to the loft in one trip. By the time they made it back, stomachs were growling and the perfume of the food became more and more tempting.

"Shall we eat?"

They sat at the long rectangular table they had bought for the holidays. When Alexis married Peter and had twins, they knew it was inevitable. It was nice, though. Its light maple color harmonized with the tones of orange and brown of the apartment.

The stuffed turkey sat in its traditional spot on the center of the table. Cheese was oozing out the sides and bright green asparagus peeked out in orderly rows under the meat. Mashed potatoes accompanied the main dish to the right; the gravy next to it in its special holiday china. On the left, an assortment of vegetables and other sides balanced out appearance of the tabletop.

"Cider or champagne?" Castle asked the table with the bottles in separate hands. After making his rounds and not being fooled by the two teenage boys on their drink choice, he took his place next to Kate and Charlotte.

His hand brushed Kate's knee. She glanced up and he smiled at her. His brilliant wrinkled smile that never failed to make her knees a little weak. He winked at her and looked back to the array of food on the table.

Silverware clanked in various patterns. A few minutes of comfortable silence filled the room before they broke into groups of small talk. Peter cleared his throat. Eyes looked up from their plates and Peter took Alexis's hand in his.

"So, as you all know, I work at the ULT Labs upstate. Well, they're expanding. For the past few months they've been building another lab in Portland." He took a breath and looked around.

Castle's face was stolid. Kate glanced at him, biting her lip. She saw a slight tear forming in his eye. He quickly blinked it away. Kate spoke up not wanting Castle to be tortured anymore. "Peter, continue or you'll kill the man."

Peter's smiling expression fell and his eyes widened when he realized what he was saying sounded like. "Oh, uh, we're not moving!" Kate saw Castle's posture loosen.

Alexis picked up where Peter left of. "The managers are moving to the lab in Portland. Peter was offered a promotion to make sure everything runs calmly in the lab Upstate."

Peter nodded and congratulations were spoken across the table. A soft "congrats" came from Charlotte, who was studying her mashed potatoes.

"Charlotte?"

"Lottie?"

She pushed out her chair. "Uh, excuse me for a minute." Leaving her chair out, she sprinted up the stairs, wiping a tear away with her sleeve.

Alexis was halfway up from her seat when Kate motioned her to sit back down. "I got it, Alexis." She hesitantly sat back down and looked at her husband. His arm rubbed comforting circles on her back and she relaxed into it.

Meanwhile, Kate went to the kitchen and grabbed a tall glass of eggnog before heading upstairs. She knocked softly on Charlotte's door. She heard a muffled "come in". Kate peered in and Charlotte was curled in a little ball lying on her bed. She looked so young. Kate sighed. Time sure did fly. She moved swiftly to the side of the bed that Charlotte faced and placed the eggnog on the side table. She saw Charlotte's lips crease into a small smile. The smile soon faded and she let out a gasp of air.

"Mom, look, I'm really sorry I just left. It's Christmas and I-"

Kate shushed her daughter.

"Cherry, you're forgiven. What's bothering you?"

Charlotte smiled at the old nickname and sat up, putting the wait of her body on her forearm.

"Did you see his face?"

Kate's brows furrowed. "Who's face?"

"Dad's." Kate's confusion was not minimized, so Charlotte continued. "Did you see dad's face when he thought Alexis and her family was going to move to Portland?"

Oh.

That.

Wait…

"Charlotte?"

Charlotte took a sip from the eggnog.

"Mom, I…I got a job…"

"That's great, Charlotte! Aren't you happy?" Kate shook her daughter a little on the arm.

"In Africa."

Kate's hand fell and she snaked it back into her lap. "Oh."

Charlotte's eyes were beginning to water. "He was so sad, Mom."

"Where would you be working in Africa?"

Charlotte sniffled. "Uh, in a newly built children's hospital off of the main one that I worked at last summer."

"That's great, Cherry! I'm so proud of you. Your father will be, too."

"But…"

"No buts. Of course he'll be sad. Hell, Charlotte, I'm sad, too. We're both going to miss you. You're our daughter."

Kate tucked a piece of her daughter's hair behind her ear and continued.

"I don't believe I've told you this before, but when I was pregnant with you, your dad wouldn't stop talking to you. He'd talk to you while we were eating, shopping, and I even caught him talking to you in the middle of the night when I was trying to sleep. I remember this because of the things he said to you. Charlotte, all he wants is for you to do what you want and what makes you happy. That's what I want for you as well. Same thing goes for Alexis."

Charlotte swallowed the lump in her throat and threw herself in her mother's arms. After a minute, they parted and Charlotte grabbed the eggnog with her shaking hands.

"How did you know eggnog makes me feel better when I'm sad?"

Kate's head tilted sideways. "Cherry. I am your mother. How dare you ask me such a question?"

Charlotte chucked into her glass and licked the drop off of the rim. A moment of comfortable silence filled the room. That moment ended as one of their stomachs reminded them of the time-maybe both of them.

"C'mon, sweetheart, we should probably be getting back. If you still don't believe me, I bet your dad wouldn't mind having this talk with you after dinner."

"Okay. And mom?"

Kate turned back.

Charlotte smiled and said, "I love you. Thank you."

The elder smiled with her eyes.

"I love you too, Kido."

They quietly took their seats and joined back into the light conversation that was flowing across the dinner table. Rick turned to Kate and she nodded her head. Everything is okay, it told him.

She repeated the same nodding motion to Alexis, Susan, and Peter. Charlotte, Mathew, and James were intensely involved in a conversation about the latest video game that had new graphics and levels. Although Kate wouldn't admit it, she was very intrigued by the new games and electronics that came out one after the other. Castle? He hadn't changed much. Still on top of the game when it came to electronics and software.

"You all are going to rot your brains with that crap."

"Grandma, we are not going to rot our brains out." Mat said, defending his hobby.

Susan's head dropped. "Don't argue with me, boy. Listen. Those silly games shorten your life span. You want to live longer, pick up a book for goodness sake."

"Mom."

"Don't 'mom' me, Peter. I'm only speaking because I want the best for my grandsons." Susan replied, defending her previous statement.

"We know you are. Thank you, Susan," Kate said.

"Thank you, dear Kate. Speaking of, I'm really interested to see where you put that lamp that I got you both last year," she said, gesturing to both Rick and Kate.

Kate folded her arms and turned her balance on Rick. She waited for an answer. He stood there, frozen. He looked like a kid who was caught stealing.

"Uh…"

Alexis exchanged a look with Peter, who then shared it with the boys. They couldn't decide if they should be worried, or on the verge of tears because of laughter.

Charlotte whispered into Mathew's ear, "This should be interesting."