AN: I'm sorry that it took me so long to post chapter 2 but I just finished my semester exams this week. So this chapter will continue the last one but instead of focusing on Johanna and Castle it'll focus on Alexis and Beckett. Again I'm sorry it took so long last time.

Disclaimer: I still haven't received an e-mail from Marlowe telling me that I own Castle so; I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING, except from Roy and Jo.

Kate Castle was a woman of sense, she knew even in the weirdest cases what was real and what wasn't. She had put up with her husband for over thirteen years for crying out loud. But in her mind this situation didn't make at all. She closed the door, and checking that the kids had their bag prepared, she looked at Alexis who was waiting by the elevator and they went down.

Alexis was silent during the elevator ride, she didn't want to overwhelm her mother more by asking the question everyone is asking. Kate needed space to think but she also needed the support of her family. Because they were a family not a normal family but they were there when they needed it. That was family does, stay together through thick and thin. So, when they approached the car, Alexis asked Kate for the keys, she tried to complain but failed when Alexis reminded her that Jo and Roy were riding along. She gave her daughter her keys and sat in the passenger seat watching Alexis as she started the car.

"Mom, why is Lex driving? Why aren't you driving?" Roy asked his mother as he made sure his sister was safe in her car seat. There was a silent in which no one answered the question.

"Because I don't want to drive and Lex can drive and volunteered to take you guys to Grandpa's" Kate explained as she checked if the kids were sitting properly with their seatbelt on.

"But, you don't let daddy drive" Her six-year-old reasoned, sometimes the kid was too smart for his own good.

"And…?" Alexis jumped in, trying to reason with her brother.

"Why are you driving, I want to drive too, and tell dad that mom let me drive the car before him" He told her sister which cause the two women to roll their eyes. There was no way this kid wasn't Richard Castle's son.

"Roy you can't drive" His sister informed her from the back seat; he turned his head to look to Jo.

"Why I can't drive?" He crossed his arms across his chest.

"Roy, why can't I drive, the verb goes first buddy" Alexis corrected him.

"Because you don't have a license" His mother looked back at him.

"And where can I get one of those?"

"You ask Santa for one, he can give you everything" Jo answered the question.

"I don't think Santa can give you a license" Alexis pointed out

"Yeees he can, daddy telled me" Jo defended herself.

"Of course he did" Kate muttered rolling her eyes as she watched the pedestrians on the street.

"You need to be older to drive" Alexis informed her siblings.

"Like Sarah Grace?" Jo asked her sister.

"You have to be 16" She said. The conversation dropped to an end.

Alexis was trying to park the car when Kate snapped out of her thoughts. She was on cloud nine at the moment. So she told her to stay in the car while she dropped the kids at Jim's. On the way up, she turned to the kids and in hushed tones started to talk with them.

"So, do you have the camera Roy?" He pulled out the camera from his backpack.

"We have to find the bottles that smell funny, like spies so Pa doesn't know anything" He explained the plan to Jo.

"That is, good job monster" She congratulated her brother.

They made their way up to the door, she knocked three times and Jim opened the door. He was wearing a plain t-shirt and jeans. Jo launched herself at her grandpa and Roy waited patiently to hug him, the kids ran inside so they could unpack and get ready for dinner. Meanwhile, Jim hugged Alexis and asked her if something was wrong.

"Don't worry Jim, we'll tell you in the morning when you bring them home, just enjoy the day" She assured him.

"If you guys don't mind, I'll take Jo and Roy to lunch to that place near the park and bring them home in the afternoon" He suggested.

Alexis accepted the offer knowing the time it was going to take to sort out everything at home. As she made her way to the car, she spotted a place to talk. And when she got to the car, instead of getting in, she knocked in Kate's window and told her to get out.

When they enter, the place was empty. They order two chocolate ice-creams and sat in a table. Kate checked her phone; she had a text from Rick saying that he had already called Jim.

"So, how are you holding up?" Alexis asked her digging her spoon in the chocolate.

"Not really good. I never thought that I would see her again. When she was murdered, after I accepted it I used to try to make deals with God in order to have her back. Then, as time went on I realized that no matter what I did, she was never coming back. And now I don't know what to think, the thing that most scare me is that I don't remember her. I mean I remember her, I don't remember what we used to talk about, what we used to cook or even how she liked her coffee. And seeing her at home made me realize how much I forgot about her. I used to know everything about her, I was the one who knew just by a look knew if she had a good or bad day, and now I don't know anything about her." She explained with tears on her face.

"But she is still your mom, she is still the person you remember" She assured her.

"Is she? And what if she isn't, what if she's changed so much that I don't know her?"

"Mom, you're thinking way too much about this. Even if she's changed, she will remember you. You can't give up on her just because you're afraid that she's changed" She reasoned taking a spoon-full of ice-cream.

"But she doesn't know me anymore, I'm no longer 19. I have a family of my own which she didn't know about, and above all I have moved on. I no longer miss her as much as I did before we arrested Bracken"

"Mom, do you remember the first time I called you mom?" She asked.

"Yes, you were having hot chocolate at 3 in the morning. I asked you what was wrong and you told me that you were so lost at class that you were considering dropping out of college" She smiled at the memory.

"Yeah, you remember what you told me?" She asked.

"I told you that you only fail when you give up, and you took my advice"

"So don't give up on her, she deserves a chance, just like dad gave you a second chance after you got shot and you lied to him. Now look at you, you are married and have three kids together. You should give her a chance, and if it doesn't work out, then we will sort it out as a family. But it's you decision to make" She said finishing her ice-cream.

"God, I don't get why you're so mature having a nine-year-old in a sugar rush as a father. I guess you're right, but I'll have to think about it and talk with your dad. You are ok if I decide to give her a chance right?" She asked.

"Mom, I'm ok with that. I really hope that this work out. Because after we all have been through I think we deserve it. Maybe dad was right, the universe likes you guys together" She said giggling as she saw her mother roll her eyes.

"Please don't start with that, with three kids I have enough I don't need to put up with another one. Ok, but I can't deal with her right now. I'm not ready, maybe tomorrow. Jo and Roy will be home in the morning right?"
"Right, about that, he's taking them to lunch, he said he owned them lunch or something. He will drop them in the afternoon" She got up of the booth and threw away her empty cup, waiting for Kate to drop hers.

As they got in the car, they dialed Rick; he picked it up at the second tone.

"Hey, at what time will you get home?" He asked at the end of the line.

"Um… we'll be there in twenty minutes max, did you take out the cookies?" Alexis asked her father as she remembered they had left the cookies in the oven right before Johanna rang the bell.

"Yes, I took them out, they weren't burned. Kate you there?" He asked.

"Yeah, is she still there?" She asked hoping that her mother wasn't in the house.

"She's staying over in the guest room, she is in the room now so I assume that by the time you get there dinner will be ready."

"We went for ice-cream, but we'll make space for supper" Alexis told her father "Is Johanna having dinner with us?" She asked looking at her mother who wasn't in any state to talk with her mother.

"I guess, if that's ok with Kate"

"Yeah, we need to talk to her" And that was the end of the conversation.

They got home twenty minutes later; Rick welcomed them with a hug for Alexis who then made her way to the kitchen to entertain Johanna who was feeling like the elephant in the room.

They leaned in the counter, making small talk and watching the two adults in the doorway. Rick greeted her with a hug, kissing her forehead.

"You know, you don't need to talk to her, you can just sit and say nothing while we speak to her or you can just go to bed and I'll bring you dinner. Whatever you want Kate. I'm here for you" He said looking at her in the eyes.

"I love you, I don't know what would I do without you babe. Thank you" She said leaning in and giving him a peck in the lips. He wrapped her with his arms, and let her head fall on his shoulder. He leaned so that she could hear him.

"I love you too Kate, always" He let her go and slipped his fingers through hers.

They made her way towards the kitchen, hands intertwined. They were going to have one of the most difficult dinners they had have in a long time, but they were going to face it like they always did. As a family.