She probably should have known, Rick Castle was their father after all, but boys were not quiet. Ever. Especially when they were trying to be. If they were quiet, something bad was about to go down, so she was stuck in a permanent catch 22; unholy silence, or neverending noise. At the moment, it was the noise. Kate turned her head slowly towards her nightstand and cracked an eye to see if the terrible twosome had infiltrated her bedroom, but the darkness was still. It didn't even matter what time it was, it was half past oh-dark thirty, for her, and she was not impressed. She briefly considered reaching for her phone, to check for an accurate time, but the longer she stayed still and quiet, the more likely Rick was to think she was still sound asleep, and get up with the toddlers himself. She waited, but felt no movement from his side of the bed. The crash from the vicinity of the kitchen finally had her huffing out a sigh, and rolling over to shove him awake. If she was up, they were both up. His side of the bed, however, was empty, and he appeared to have been gone for a while. She sighed again, and considered rolling over to go back to sleep, but nature was shouting, and she needed to use the washroom. Kate slid her legs off the side of the bed and padded to the ensuite. Today was one of those days, bodyslammed into wakefulness, fearing the chaos she was about to enter, that she wanted to shoot Richard Castle for knocking her up with twin boys.

It was like the double whammy of difficulty, when it came to parenting. They never sat still, managed to destroy a room, like the little hurricanes they were, just by being in it for a moment, were constantly dirty, and she couldn't quite figure out how, and they were always into something they weren't supposed to be into. They had no fear, and unlike Lily's quiet evaluation of every situation, no apparent common sense. They could goad each other into just about any trouble, without a second thought. She had walked in the door at dinner time, the week previous, and found Jake perched on top of the play table, a leg slung over the railing at the top of the stairs, preparing to slide down. She had no idea how they had managed to work the table through the doorway of their bedroom, or drag it to the railing, but they figured it out, and who knows what would have happened if she hadn't come home at that moment. Rick had been in the office, taking a phone call from Gina, and in the five minutes he had been gone, the little monsters had prepared to face down death, yet again. She had screamed, startling Jake back down to the table, and torn up the stairs to grab a hold of them both. Rick had come running when he heard the noise, but he visibly shrunk as she descended the stairs, glaring holes through him, a boy hanging limply under each arm. She read him the riot act for leaving them unattended, reminding him that they were entirely unlike Alexis and Lily, and could not be trusted for a second out of sight. Then she found the number of a child safety company and had them boy-proof the loft. She wasn't sure she wanted to think about what the toddlers had gotten up to that she hadn't been there to witness.

Kate sighed again, brushed her teeth quickly, and returned to the bedroom. It was still dark. She groaned unhappily and reached for her phone, checking to see what ungodly hour it was, and was struck into awareness by the date stamp on her lock screen; May 16, 2023, 5:16 am. Jake and Reese's birthday. Three years ago, at 5:02 am, a squalling Reese came barreling into the world, followed six minutes later, by an equally irate Jake. They were identical, to the point that no one could tell them apart for the first two months of their life. No one but her, that is. She knew every difference in the tone of their voices, every freckle on each of their tiny bodies, every crease, every wrinkle, every direction of every hair on their head, and every twinkle in their tiny eyes. They were absolutely perfect in every way, and she knew them intrinsically. She hated how Rick pouted every time he struggled to identify one of his boys, so she made sure to dress them with subtle differences; enough that she could kiss him good morning, tell him Jakey wanted his daddy, and hand him a boy with a green pacifier strapped to his sleepers. She'd wave Reese's little hand and make a show of sticking the blue pacifier in his mouth, and all day long, Rick never stumbled. She didn't think he ever caught on to her little tricks; he never mentioned it to Alexis when she had asked him how he told them apart, but one could never tell with Rick Castle. Maybe he was humoring her, humoring him. Either way, it made him happy until the day the boys personalities grew into more than the newborn eating machines they had been for the first few months, and he no longer needed her hints. Jake was the vocal one; always voicing his displeasure with every situation, and there were a lot of situations he did not like. Reese was more contemplative, taking it all in before deciding that he hated it, or just following his brother's lead. He liked sleep more than Jake, and Jake liked to play on his tummy more than Reese had, but both boys so loved their daddy. He was their best friend, playmate, and plaything, all rolled into one. The man who had been surrounded with females his whole life, finally had his boys. And he was in Heaven.

He loved his daughters, without question, but there was something about seeing him with their sons that had her heart racing, and her palms sweating like some horny teenager. He was irresistible as a Daddy, it was a superpower, and he freaking knew it. He'd be on the floor, covered in baby drool, squealing boys crawling over him, using his chest as a drum for their tiny fists and Castle would wink at her. She melted like a little girl meeting a Disney princess for the first time. She fell in love with him over and over again every day, the last three years especially, watching him with their little boys. Her babies. She blinked back a wave of emotion at the memories. Her sweet, beautiful, wonderful, amazing boys were three years old today, and she loved them desperately. Her exhaustion gone, she strode to the door, and reached for her robe, just as it burst inward and her birthday boys spilled inside, followed by their sheepish, and apparently apologetic father.

A twin chorus of 'Mommy' rang out and Kate fell to her knees to catch the boys in her arms. "Good morning, my babies." She smacked exaggerated kisses to each of their chubby cheeks, and nibbled their tiny necks for good measure, loving the sound of their happy squeals. "I think something special was supposed to be happening today, but I just can't remember what it is. Do you remember what day it is, Daddy?"

"Hmmmm," Rick played along, scratching his chin in mock thoughtfulness. "I don't know. Do we have dentist appointments?"

"I don't think so. Oh, is it grocery day?"

The boys giggled in her arms and Reese reached out to grab her cheeks in his pudgy hands. "It's my birfday Mommy." Jake bounced beside his brother. "Mine too, mine too."

"It is?" Kate gasped with feigned surprise, inciting a new round of giggles. "No way! Why didn't you tell me?"

"Silly Mommy," Jake continued bouncing. "You never forget birfdays."

Kate reeled Jake in and leaned down to nibble his belly loudly, over his favourite superhero shirt. She was going to have to hide it soon, to ease him into a new favourite. She wasn't sure how much longer it was going to fit him, and there would be hell to pay on that day, if she didn't have a backup plan.

"Daddy's making pancakes," Reese shouted, grinning happily, and clapping his hands. "I love pancakes."

"I know you do Peanut Butter," Kate grinned, accepting Rick's outstretched hand to rise to her feet with a groan. She ignored the smirk on her husband's face, focusing instead on running her long fingers through the boys' hair. They needed hair cuts, she'd have to remind herself to make an appointment at the kiddie salon they loved, later that day. She had taken the day off to spend the day with the kids, and the boys were playing hooky from pre-school, they'd take the city by storm, lunch, haircuts and a trip to the museum. They loved their dinosaurs, all three of her boys. She grinned at Rick, and gestured toward the office. "Mommy's going to get dressed, and we'll all have breakfast."

Kate made quick work of her clothes, slipping on a pair of jeans and a pale beige sweater, running her fingers through her sleep tousled hair, and looked herself over in the full length mirror. Not bad. She couldn't go on hiding her belly for much longer, she was relieved the test results of the amnio had come in the mail the day before. It had been a shock to discover she was pregnant, nearly five months ago; two weeks after the twins were born, she had scheduled Castle's vasectomy herself. She wasn't sure how to feel about it initially, but Castle's machismo at the power of his 'boys' had her reaching for her gun the second he opened his mouth. She was 43 years old, and a mother of 3, hell she was a grandmother already, she had turned off the childbearing part of her brain and focussed on the family she had. But fate had other plans, as Rick so loved to tell her. They had kept the news of the pregnancy mostly to themselves. Their family knew, Kate had leaned heavily on Martha the past few months with the fears she had for her unborn baby. It was risky, for both mother and child at Kate's age, and she already loved their baby so much. Now that they knew everything was fine, that their baby was healthy, they would be able to share their news with everyone they loved.

Kate ran a hand lovingly over her small belly, and checked herself over once more. She took a few minutes to add the necessary concealer to the dark rings under her eyes; having children came at a price, she mused to herself; finished off with mascara and eyeliner, and strode into the office in socked feet. Her family sat in wait. At some point, Lily had emerged, dressed in a pretty, flowered tunic and leggings, her shoulder length dark hair already brushed. Her girl was nothing if not studiously responsible. Rick rose and gestured towards the bedroom before slipping away to get dressed, himself. "Good morning Tiger-Lily," Kate reached for her daughter's hand. "Did you have a good sleep?"

"Mm-hm," her daughter hummed, smiling. Kate had no idea how she and Rick had managed to create a morning person, in their child, they were both grumpy and out of sorts in the mornings, despite Kate's tendency to rise with the sun. "Mommy?"

"Yeah, Sweet Girl?" Kate stroked Lily's soft cheek, and smiled at her daughter's tentative expression.

"Are you going to the museum today?"

Kate nodded and rolled her eyes at the thump Reese made as he jumped from the couch to the floor. "You're going to hurt yourself Peanut. Be careful, please." She turned back to Lily, "Sorry Baby. Daddy and I were planning on taking the boys today, but we may end up in the hospital instead." Her voice rose in warning as another thump sounded through the office. Jake had the good sense to at least appear chastened. "Would you like to come with us? You are more than welcome to play hooky like the rest of us." Kate winked and stuck a tongue between her teeth when her daughter grinned shyly.

"Am I allowed?"

"Of course, sweetheart," Kate ran her hands through Lily's hair again, she would never get over how soft the little girl's hair had been since the day she was born. It was unnatural. "We would love for you to come with us, wouldn't we boys?" her voice grew stern again, and Reese looked at her sheepishly from his perch atop his father's desk. "It may be your birthday Reese Montgomery Castle, but that does not mean you won't get a time-out. You too Jake, so don't even think about it."

"Sorry Mommy," echoed in unison, just as Rick emerged from the bedroom, looking delicious in an open flannel button down, white tee and jeans. He cocked his head in amusement at her appreciative perusal of his body, and gave the unspoken promise of 'later' with his wink.

"Are you monkeys in trouble already? Take it easy on your poor Mommy, it's still early. You have a whole day of Shenanigans ahead." The boys giggled and clamored down from their acrobatics. "Now, who wants breakfast?"

Lily was the first out the door, bolting for the breakfast table, Jake and Reese close behind. "I wanna win," Jake shouted, veering his course as Reese cut left for the other side of the room. Kate lunged as Jake tripped and hit the floor hard on his knees. She grabbed him under the arms and made vrooming noises as she carried him to the table, attempting to stave off the inevitable crying jag, and her efforts paid off. Apparently making oneself sound like an idiot was distracting enough, and Jake forgot about his attempts to make it to the breakfast table before the others. Kate was exhausted already, and they had barely been up for an hour.

The table had been meticulously laid. Rick must have crawled out of bed long before the boys to set up the beautiful birthday spread. Sippy cups were filled with juice, giant muffins on a plate, ready to eat, and the smell of pancakes and coffee, warming until they were ready. "This looks amazing, Babe," Kate smiled at her husband, and leaned in to kiss Jake on the cheek while Reese regaled Lily with a retelling of his 'giant monster bug' dream from the night before. Lily giggled at her little brother, and held out her juice cup in congratulations for his victorious defeat over the creatures. Kate laughed softly and took her place next to Rick at the table, reaching out her hands as he handed her a steaming mug of coffee. "My hero," she inhaled the bitter scent of her favourite latte. "You're okay too I guess," she winked, and squeezed Castle's knee affectionately.

"I wanna cheers too," Jake whined, and Kate sighed, holding out her coffee mug.

"Cheers, Jakey. Happy birthday to my favourite bug champions."

"Mine was a clown," Jake corrected, turning his attention to his muffin, and Kate stifled the grin as Rick's head popped up in concern.

"What about clowns?"

"Relax, Daddy," Kate poked his side. "Super-Jakey defeated the evil clowns last night. You're safe for another day."

"Jake, my man," Castle sighed with exaggerated relief. "I owe you one, Buddy." Jake giggled and shoved a chunk of muffin in his mouth. Kate could see Castle cringe, she'd have to ask him later how many times the kid choked in a day. "So, museum later, what's on tap for the morning, guys?" He made a face at the kids as Kate yawned loudly. "We better make sure Mommy gets a nap today, or she'll be super cranky, later."

"I agree," she replied, tiredly. "Is now too soon?"

"You okay?" Castle turned in his chair, the teasing quality of his voice replaced by the concerned and doting husband she knew so well.

"Relax, Babe," Beckett leaned over and kissed his cheek, settling in to rest her head on his shoulder. "I just didn't sleep well, and it was an extremely early morning, today."

"Sorry," he murmered, against her forehead. "I tried to corral them, but they're determined little buggers, and they were excited this morning."

"Don't be sorry," Kate sighed back. "It's their birthday. They're allowed to be excited, and I can handle one super early morning a year. God, I feel old."

Rick laughed at his wife's whine. "If it makes you feel any better, you're more beautiful now than the day I met you."

"Sweet talker," she whispered, wrapping a hand around his bicep to pull her chair closer to his. "You're full of shit, but I appreciate the sentiment."

"Don't make disparaging comments about my wife, Captain Beckett."

"Sorry," Beckett smirked, lifting her head again, to kiss his stubbly jaw. "I won't do it again."

"You better not."

"Are you guys going to make kissy face all day, or are we going to do something?" Lily teased from across the table.

"Kissing is gross," Reese scrunched up his nose in distaste.

"Oh yeah?" Kate challenged, pushing herself to her feet and scooting around the table to grab hold of her firstborn son. She smacked loud kisses all over his face as he squealed and writhed in delight. "Who's gross now, huh, Bud?" She dropped a final kiss on top of his head and took a quick glance out the corner of her eye to gauge Jake's expectation of a kiss attack, but the boy was more focused on picking the blueberries out of his muffin, so she returned to her seat. Maybe they were growing out of their sibling jealousy stage. She wasn't sure why that made her feel sad suddenly. Her boys were growing up. Soon they'd be too old for kiss attacks. She was extremely annoyed at herself for becoming maudlin, and letting the damn hormones get the best of her. Being tired was not helping her situation at all. "I have a suggestion."

Rick smiled and took her hand, bringing her fingers to his lips for a gentle kiss. "And what may that be, my lady?"

"How about a movie morning? Big bed or blanket fort in the living room, birthday boys' choice."

"Big bed!" Jake bolted up from the table. "I call beside Mommy." He was off before anyone else could get a word in.

"That's okay, Daddy is more comfy," Reese shrugged. "His belly is squishy."

"Hey," Castle shouted, indignantly as the little boy made way for his parent's bedroom. Kate laughed and caressed his check.

"Poor baby. If it makes you feel any better, I'm killing the belly game right now."

Castle pouted momentarily before setting a large hand on Kate's protruding bump. "You win. You are rocking the baby belly this morning. She's a little fighter, isn't she?"

"Is it a girl?" Kate looked up to the wide eyed joy of her oldest daughter. "It's a baby sister?"

She couldn't speak through the sudden thickness in her throat. That look of pure wonder was so full of love, Kate was afraid she'd cry if she tried to open her mouth. Their Lily was remarkable.

"It is a baby sister, indeed," Castle rescued her. "What do you think about that, sweetheart?"

"It's so, so, so, so awesome," Lily crowed happily. "I get a baby sister."

Kate laughed at the enthusiasm of her almost 7 year old, she was such an old soul for such a little person. "I'm so glad you're happy Baby. I guess asking Santa for a baby sister since your brothers were born has worked out for you, huh?"

"He is magic Mommy. Santa can do anything."

"Oh Santa did something, alright," Kate smirked at her husband. "It was definitely magic."

"Are you guys coming, or what?" Jake bellowed from the bedroom. "I wanna watch Trolls."

"Again?" Castle moaned. "We've seen that movie a hundred times. Why don't we watch something else?"

"Birthday boys' choice, Daddy," Kate squeezed his shoulder, in apology.

"You're just going to fall asleep two minutes into it. You get to miss the whole thing."

"That's my cross to bear," she winked, reaching for Lily's outstretched hand to follow her to the bedroom, Castle close at their heels. She should have been shocked to see the movie cued up on the not so stowed, stowable television Rick had installed in their bedroom when she had been pregnant with Lily, but nothing her sons did came as a surprise anymore.

Kate slid back into bed, sighing with relief at the soft cushion of their bed. Jake curled himself up in her arms, pillowing his head beside hers; Lily stretched along the bottom of the bed, her head resting on her father's outstretched leg. Reese simply dropped where he was, feet resting on Kate's thighs, and his head to Castle's midsection, looking at his father expectantly, nearly purring when Rick dropped a hand to his son's back and began to scratch.

"Oh Mommy," Lily exclaimed suddenly, bolting upright. "It's perfect."

"What's perfect?" Kate sighed, the comfort surrounding her drawing her exhausted body closer to sleep.

"Just like the movie," Lily nearly whispered, her voice filled with something akin to wonder.

"What's just like the movie, Lil?" Rick asked, watching as she scooted around to face her mother.

"Princess Poppy. Just like in Trolls. Our baby is just like Princess Poppy."

"I don't understand Baby. How is your baby sister just like Princess Poppy?" The boys flew into action, and Kate curled in to protect herself from their potential for flailing limbs. When none came, she opened her eyes to see all three of her children kneeling before her, almost expectantly.

"We havin' a sister, Mommy?" Reese asked, cautiously.

"She is just like Princess Poppy," Jake shouted.

"Do you know what's going on?" Kate eyed her husband warily. "What the heck am I missing?"

"Trolls love Poppy," Jake continued, ignoring his parents. "Poppy is pretty and she dances."

"Poppy makes everyone happy, Mommy," Lily filled in. "Everyone loves her and she makes them all better, just because she's Poppy. Our baby is just like that."

Kate couldn't stop the swell of emotion from bringing tears to her eyes. She reached out and drew Lily close to kiss her forehead. "That's beautiful sweetheart." She gave Rick a silent smile, one of gratitude for their beautiful family, of pride for all they had accomplished, and of how much she loved them all. She saw him swallow back his own emotions and he yanked the boys back, covering his emotion with playfulness, dropping kisses to the boys' dark heads.

"You're great kids, you know that? We love our little Tiger-Lily, and our Peanut Butter, and our Super-Jakey, so much."

Kate reached for his hand and drew it to her belly, where their youngest daughter grew. "Don't forget our Princess Poppy."


My teeth actually hurt after writing this one, but this has been playing out in my head since the day I watched the series finale. Let's call this, tying it all together with a pretty little bow. Thanks so much for all your kind reviews. I'm having so much fun, and an insane amount of catharsis, writing the fluffy future verse of my headcanon. I actually spend a whole morning doing math, just to get it all right. ;) Having three kids myself, two of them boys, I can safely say there are days I question my sanity and my choices, and that boys are a whole new breed of crazy. Then they go to sleep and I check in on them and I could just squeeze them to death, I love them so much. Then they wake up and we do it all over again the next day. Kids are freaking hard, and mothers are imperfect creatures, who sometimes, happen to feel a little selfish and frustrated. So, this one is a lot of experience with a lot of "holy shit two boys at once is insane," for good measure. 'Cause anyone who can do that, is my freaking hero. I not-so-lovingly began referring to my mornings as the "butt-crack of dawn" after a solid four years of sleepless nights. Not even joking. From the time my oldest son was born, to the time my youngest son was 2 and finally sleeping through the night, a span of four years; I didn't sleep longer than 3 hours a night, and mornings were my Vietnam.