AN; Thanks to those who reviewed and let me know about the weird stuff showing up when I copied and pasted this. I am using my ipad so I couldn't actually see it. I'm only able to post chapters when I have wifi which is not at my house. So I will try to update as much as possible… enjoy
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48 Hours Before….
"Castle," Kate whispered as she gently shook him trying to wake him up. "Castle," she said as she raised her voice shaking her husband harder. A groan came from the lump huddled in their bed. Kate saw Castle'a arm reach out as he grabbed the blankets and pulled them into his body. 'Seriously Castle, get up." Kate said finally getting frustrated and shoving her husband to the other side of the bed.
"Hey." Castle said as he moved into a sitting position on the bed.
"Don't hey me Castle." Kate huffed as she walked toward the bedroom door. "You were suppose to be up an hour ago helping me cook breakfast for your mother's birthday surprise. Since you got inspired late last night and and to write another chapter I let you sleep in, but now you need to get out here with Alexis and I before your mom gets up." Castle quickly thanked Kate and let her know he would be right out.
Castle excited their bedroom to find the loft's kitchen counter covered with food. "Morning Dad, nice of you to finally join us."
"Ha ha," Castle replied. "Did you guys make all this food together? You could have gotten me up to help? I mean that was the plan?"
"Castle eve if we wanted to, I don't think you were going to wake up an hour ago. I mean I barely got you up now." Kate replied as she motioned to Castle to sit on the stool next to her.
"Yeah Dad, I heard Kate shouting at you to wake up. Besides, Kate and I had this totally handled. Although, to be honest, Kate cooked most of it. I cooked the eggs and bacon, but the banana bread, pancakes, and waffles was all Kate."
"I did marry her for a reason." Castle said as he unsuccessfully tried to avoid the elbow Kate shoved into his side.
"Grams is coming down the stairs," Alexis whispered as she went around the counter to sit next to her Dad.
"Happy Birthday," the three exclaimed as Martha entered the kitchen.
"Oh my," Martha said as she looked at all the food littering the counter. "You guys did not need to do this."
"Kate did most of it," Alexis told her grandmother as she went in for a hug.
"Oh Darling," Martha said as she hugged Kate and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "You did not need to go to all this trouble for me. I know how hard you work. You didn't need to get up early to cook before you left."
"Martha, you know I love you. It was not a big deal. I just wanted to do something nice for you. And actually, Castle and I took the day off to spend with you." Kate said as her phone began to ring.
"Go ahead and pick the phone up." Martha said. "They wouldn't call on your day off if it was not important." Kate nodded at Martha and moved out of the room to answer her phone.
"Well mother, I hope we surprised you."
"Kate doing all the work and you sleeping in your bed, no you didn't surprise me." Martha said as she patted her son's cheek.
"Hey, Alexis said Kate did most of the work, not all of it.
"You should know by now you can't keep a secret from me."
"How long have you been awake mother?" Castle said as he grabbed a plate and started filling it for his mother.
"Since Kate dropped the skillet on her food when she was getting the pan out of the cabinet."
"And why didn't you go ahead and come downstairs then."
"So I could make my dramatic entrance of course." Martha replied with a wink.
Castle was about to reply to his mother when Beckett came back into the room with a frown on her face. " We have to go in Castle."
"But Beckett it's your first day off in months." Castle whined.
"To cops just got gunned down in broad daylight. I don't have a choice. Are you coming?" Kate said as she grabbed her clipped her gun to her belt.
"I'm coming." Castle said as he grabbed the car keys. "And I'm driving."
"Not a chance," Beckett said as she snapped them out of his hands. She apologized to Martha and gave her another hug. She waved to Alexis as Castle and she walked out the loft's front door.