So, I fixed a few mistakes in the previous chapter. I hope you guys still like it though.
Enjoy.
Kate pushed the door open, while carefully balancing the infant in her arms.
After 7 months of groveling, home invasion, and intrusive background checks, Kate was finally allowed to bring Alexis home. They had just arrived back from court and Kate was ecstatic that this beautiful girl was finally hers! She'd almost lost her a couple of times. There was some skepticism about her career and family history and another couple stepped forward, ready to sweep Alexis away, but she'd been able to save herself and convince everyone that she wanted and deserved to be a mother. To be Alexis' mother. She decided to leave Alexis' first name the same, but changed her middle and last names.
Alexis Johanna Beckett.
It's a bit cliche, but she figured it was honorable. Besides, she had to change the child's given middle name. I mean, cmon. Harper? Really? But all other things aside, Kate was just happy she got to this point.
Kate looked into Alexis' big, blue eyes. "Hey there, sweet girl." Alexis blew spit bubbles as Kate spoke to her. "You don't know this, but today, I became your mommy!" The girl grabs a lock of her hair and twirls it, oblivious to her mother's words. "Now, this is officially your home, our home, and no one can can ever take you away from me. I'll never let it happen." The girl just rubbed her eyes, her tell that she was tired.
Kate took it in stride. "I know it's been a long, tiring journey baby girl, but we're finally home." She bright the girl to her room and lasted her in the crib she'd already purchased. She thought about changing her into one of the many new pajama sets she had, but decided against it, letting her sleep. Kate stood at the edge of the crib for hours, watching her sleep. She didn't notice the time flying until her phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Katie! Where are you? I've been expecting you and my new grandchild for half an hour now." She quickly checked her watch to see that he was right. She'd been standing, watching her daughter sleep, for two hours.
"Sorry dad. Just lost track of time. We'll be there soon."
"Ah, children will do that to you. First day you came home from the hospital, your mother wouldn't even put you down." She shook her head fondly and smiled at the story.
"See you in a few dad."
"Oh don't bother Katie, I'm already headed up to your apartment." He hung up immediately, leaving Kate shocked. She placed her phone down and went to open the door, glad she did when she saw her father with a dozen bags on each arm.
"Dad? What is all this stuff?" She asked him while reaching out to relieve him of some of them.
"Presents for my granddaughter! 'welcome to the family' presents." With their combined effort, they managed to get all the bags inside.
"Dad, this is too much-"
"Katie, honestly, it was no hassle. Besides fitting all of this into my trunk, it was fun! I forgot how nice it could be shopping for a child. Speaking of which, where is she?" Kate walked her father back into Alexis' room.
"Dad, meet Alexis Johanna Beckett." He met her eyes in shock and she simply nodded. He smiled at her and then looked at the sleeping child.
His eyes welled. "Oh Jo, she's beautiful. You would've loved her." Kate allowed tears to skip down her cheeks, sad and happy, before leaning into her father. As they stood watching her, the girl opened her eyes. "Oh my, what beautiful blues you have!"
"Yeah, they seem to get bluer and bluer everyday." Kate smiled and picked her daughter up. "Alexis, say hi to grandpa Jim." She handed Alexis over carefully.
Her father received her and gently kissed her head. "Hey there, beautiful girl. Oh, I love you already. Maybe you'll love me soon, huh?" Alexis stared blankly at him. "I'll take that as a maybe. Now what do you say we go look at the presents I bought you?!" Jim bounced her on his hip a bit and carried her out of the room, with Kate smiling and following closely.
Across town, Richard Castle sat in his brand new office, in his brand new loft, pouring tears over his brand new mahogany desk.
He had given up his daughter, his child, no more than 7 months ago, because he was afraid she'd live a life like he did. Unfortunately, he didn't know that the same day he gave up all rights to her, he would be contacted by a publishing company who loved his first book and wanted two more like it. He had no idea they would give him a very large advance on his book sales. He was totally unaware that Meredith would land a spot in the new Jurassic Park sequel.
Basically, he had no clue that life would turn completely around.
He contacted every person he could, but they all said the same thing. Alexis was no longer his.
He tried adopting her, but was told that he had to be out on a waiting list with dozens of other children. He didn't have access to her adoption files, so he didn't even know where she was. He had given up his beautiful angel for nothing. He devoted all his nights to searching the internet and about a bazillion books for someway to get her back. It seemed to be none.
"Rick." He looked up to see his wife standing in the doorway to their bedroom. "Come to bed. There's nothing we can do. Nothing you can do." He stared at her glumly as she walled over to him, pulled him out of the chair. "Just come hold me." She dragged him back with her, having already mourned their loss, trying to push past it. Rick followed, still hoping against hope that there was some way, some possible chance.
Sorry this took so long. Any and all mistakes are mine.
Love Always, XOXOX