It was 6 AM and Kate sprung out of bed and into the shower. Rick had not seen Kate move so fast in a very long time. He got out of bed and grumbled to himself she did not even kiss me this morning. He prepared their breakfast and was surprised to see Alexis coming down the stairs.

"Hey Pumpkin when did you arrive?" Rick said almost dropping the pan on the stove.

"Oh last night I heard you snoring but I did not want to wake you. I needed more clothes. I only took a little and the girls while my size have different taste than me. Besides I wanted to see my Old Man!" Alexis said with a big grin.

Rick stopped breakfast preparations then gave his daughter a Big Hug. Kate clean and dressed stopped short when witnessing this reunion. Kate could not help but smile Rick had gotten over those crazy DNA reports and just is enjoying the warmth a hug with his daughter could bring.

"I hate to break up this little reunion but you promised me breakfast Almost Husband!" Kate said as she strode into the Kitchen.

Almost Husband? Alexis thought.

"Dad, what is going on?" Alexis questioned they just gotten engaged.

"Kate and I have decided to have our wedding in Vegas in about three weeks. We figured it would happen on my book tour." Rick said proudly wrapping his arm around Kate.

"Book Tour?" Alexis was surprised she was usually better on keeping up with her father's activities.

"Oh Pumpkin Frozen Heat is doing so well they have me on a 20 city book Tour. Starting in about 4 days the itinerary is over there Paula just confirmed and emailed it to me. I start here in NY and end here 3 weeks later. Saturday is the book launch of the Tour. I would love if all my family was with me" Rick pleaded.

"Say no more Dad I will round up the usual suspects!" Alexis said brightly.

"That is my girl!" Rick said being the proud papa.

"Kate I am so happy for you!" Alexis gave her a big Hug. "I knew your engagement would be short but this? Are you sure you do not want to tell me something else? Perhaps I might be getting that long awaited sibling?"

Kate laughed. "Not at this time Alexis but maybe in the future who knows!"

Rick stood there with much love shining in his Face and Eyes!

"Rick?" Kate asked trying to get his attention he had wandered off again.

"Huh?" Rick realized he was gone but now he was back.

"Feed Me Seymour!" Kate said with a straight face and Alexis burst out laughing.

Oh a Little Shop of Horrors! Did I say I loved you today? Rick kissed his almost wife and got busy on the breakfast. Alexis and Kate chatted as Rick got showered and shaved.

Getting to the precinct was bit later since Rick insisted to take Alexis to the new apt and the girl cajoled a ride to NYU. Kate felt she was definitely a Suburban Mom taking the kids places. A role which was to her not that bad of an experience maybe she was cut out to be a mother like Rick had always said.

Kate and Rick got up to the bull pen their suspect was prepped and waiting for Kate. But first she had to see what real evidence they had. On the murder weapon his DNA was found but no prints. Hair was found but again no prints. Then CSU found the bloody gloves Aha got you!

Kate now armed entered the room with Rick by her side. Harry took one look at Rick and his eyes when wide.

Kate ignored and address the councilor who was sitting next to his client.

"I see you have representation to day that is good. Councilor, good of you to be here your client is accused of 2nd degree murder. It looks like a crime of passion and it has no earmarks of a planned attack. So let me tell you what we know so you can advise your client accordingly." Kate said with Rick sitting silently beside her.

The Councilor motioned for Kate to continue.

"Fact we know he was the criminal mastermind behind at least 20 high end robberies. We know he paid two stooges to set up fights at these parties. This was a way to case and remove items and then place them in water tight bag and hand them off to the fence. Who would take the items and place them down the bathroom drain. Later the homeowner would notice the clogged drain and call the plumber who was recruited by your client to retrieve the stolen goods. We are not interested in that particular crime only the crime which he had committed when he saw the victim try to rape his sister in front of him." Kate stated.

At these words Harry tried to jump up be was restrained by his lawyer.

"We have evidence he was present when the almost rape occurred. He was on the balcony ready to hand the loot over to him but the victim was busy assaulting your sister. So what did you do? You burst through the window and knocked him to the ground. Instead of knocking him out you grabbed a shard of the mirror which was broken and stabbed him as hard as you could. Then you hid the loot and the bloody gloves down the drain. We have recovered both. Now Sir you can confer with your client after we leave the room signal the officer out side when he is ready to talk." Kate stated.

Kate and Rick got up and walked out leaving the two to chat.

A few minutes later the Lawyer appeared.

"My client wishes to confess but to a lesser charge." He said.

"Ok I will take it to the DA what is the lesser Charge?" Kate asked.

Aggravated Manslaughter was the lawyer's reply.

"That had a minimum of 10 years?" Kate asked to make sure the lawyer understood the plea deal.

"Yes my client understands" he said.

"Ok Councilor I will call the DA and see what we can do. Be aware he will be charged for the robberies too." Kate said.

"Yes he understands that." The lawyer replied.

"Ok I am making the call." Kate said.

Kate called the DA's Office. They sent over ADA Miller.

"Good to see you Dave." Kate introduced him to Rick and the boys.

"Ok this is what we have. It was purely a crime of passion. The suspect was seeing his Sister being brutally assaulted for a second time. He reacted by killing the suspect by plunging a shard of a broken mirror into the victim's chest. Pretty open and shut he is willing to plead to Aggravated Manslaughter. I say it is a good deal we get the full confession on the robberies and where the fence disposed of the loot and he will stand trial for robberies as a separate charge excluded from this deal." Kate said.

The ADA listened to what Kate proposed. "I think we could sweeten it a bit better. Only 10 years for all charges."

"Why so generous?" Kate asked.

"New initiative from the Governor's office on length of time non violent suspects can be given in the prison system. 10 years is the max for any non violent offender. Robberies are non violent and with our plead deal the Aggravated Manslaughter is not considered Violent either especially when he was trying to prevent a rape. Actually if this went to trial he might be acquitted of all but that is between you and me." Dave confided.

Kate wondered about this new attitude in Albany toward non violent crime.

The ADA and the lawyer drew up the plead deal and presented it in front of Harry. Kate and Rick were present when he signed the deal.

"Ok per the deal you need to tell us everything." Kate instructed.

Harry looked at Rick wondering would he look as good as his Uncle when he got out?

"Ok for the record I knew Claire was my sister when we were living as neighbors in Clear Lake. Iowa. I just knew they were my long lost sisters. I got confirmation from an unusual source in the pen a guy who knew a guy who knew a guy got beat up bad and I was the one to get tasked to take him to the infirmary. He looked like my uncle but with a difference he was pretty hairy guy. I mean not just facial hair but on the forehead and on his legs looked like he was part bear. Anyway the prison system was just getting around testing all the prisoners for the newly created DNA database. He was a match for my father his name was Lou Rodgers. He told me to take care of the kids and gave me a name and place I would meet this person. So when I got out I met this person." Harry said.

Both Rick and Kate looked at him to continue his tale. Rick noticed the story telling quality to this confession.

"I was scared it was in an abandoned parking garage at night. I told him who I was and that Lou in the Joint gave me this number." Harry recalled.

Kate motioned him to continue.

"I can remember him saying You need to protect our family son be there for my granddaughters. Then he walked away. I never saw him again. Then I let my baser instincts get the better of me. I created the fight club in the old tunnels and one time there was this kid I knew from Foster Home Jeffery Helms which came to me. He was dressed fine and he remembered I was smart. So he proposed to rip off these Rich people who would come to these underground fights. He was a very smooth talker and next thing I know I have put together a crew and we were doing good until I saw Claire at one of the parties. I tried to keep her away but she kept on coming back to every party I was doing a job. I started noticing the smooth talker also liked to have rough sex in the bathroom before I would get there. The girls were all drunk or stoned or worse but they were always gone before I got there. Until about a month ago I saw my sister stagger out of the bathroom. Then I knew he had crossed the line. That is when I came to Claire and tried to help her out. But she just saw me as the strange Boy who would not kiss her at her prom. I just knew it was wrong at the time. Anyway fast forward to the night of the murder everything was going as planned the fight began but Claire and Carrie was there! I had to take a few punches so they did not see me then the regular guy jumped in and I was free I did the job the fence had a list of items which I was only supposed to take. He always had a list. Anyway I get the balcony area and there is Carrie. I had to wait and then she left I hurried to the bathroom and I saw Jeffery fighting with Claire. She had just run out of the room when I jumped him I left the loot in the sink. I punched him and he went down I can remember his smirking face he grabbed my throat and I was beginning to black out and I felt something it was sharp so I picked it up and plunged it into his chest. We were both in the bath Tub He was dead. So I followed the plan and hid the gloves and the loot in the drain and left the way I came in and later I switched gloves with one of the fighters so it looked Like I was in the fight but I was in a different one. I got cleared by security and I followed Clair and Carrie and my Grandmother to the apt. Then I left to the tunnels to talk to my friends. Later I came back after being cleaned up and asked for Claire I know my cousin Alexis answered the door. I asked for her and I felt bad about what Jeffery did so I gave her the money." Harry said.

"Ok so what did you do with the loot? Demming asked. Rick had been so enthralled with the tale that he did not notice the Tall dark and handsome join the party.

"Jeffery had connections with many high end jewelry stores they would take the stones and melt down the items and repackage them as something new and sell them back to the same rich bastards! Jeffery got a cut both with us and the jewelry stores after an item was sold. It was a sweet deal until Jeffery got a wandering eye." Harry admitted.

Harry gave the list of the stores receiving the stolen items he also gave the location of the password protected computer which all the items were to be picked up.

Getting the computer CSU got the names and locations of dozen more robberies and the arrest of half the jewelers in Manhattan Plus 50 plumbers too. Harry was smart and never used the same plumber in any of the robberies.

Harry before he left asked one question. "Uncle do you know my real name?"

"Yes Harry it was Eric Lane Rodgers." Rick replied.

"Thanks I need to get it changed when I get into the joint. I never liked being compared to the boy that lived!" Harry said.

"Take care Eric don't worry I will take good care of the family" Rick said as he was led away in chains.

Kate and Rick walked out of the interrogation room emotionally drained but happy Justice was done. Tom Demming was the hero of the hour he was given credit for smashing the huge jewelry theft ring. Rick was a bit miffed!

"We did all the work and it was my relative too Oh I can see those headlines now! Famous Author's Nephew breaks Crime Ring! Oh I got to call Paula she needs to be ready for this." Rick said as he ran toward the elevator.

Kate was standing there as Rick ran off. Kate cracked her shoulders shut her computer down. Soon the elevator opened she climb on and pushed the basement it had been too long since she had chatted with Lanie.

Getting to autopsy Lanie was finishing up for the day. Perlmutter was in the background.

"Congrats on getting the killer. So was he as handsome as Alexis said?" Lanie asked.

"Yeah he had the same smile and blue eyes of Rick but a much younger and fitter package" Kate said sadly.

"Ooooh sounds delicious!" Lanie mocked.

"He had the same intelligence too. It was remarkable the voice were similar when I closed my eyes I would swear Rick was talking." Kate said in wonderment.

"Maybe he perfected that ventriloquism after all?" Lanie snorted.

"Oh Lanie!" Kate laughed.

"So where is Writer Boy anyways?" Lanie commented.

"Oh he is around somewhere nearby he had to call Paula to head off the PR storm" Kate said.

"Oh that is right the book tour! I almost forgot about that Alexis called me so it is this Saturday?" Lanie asked.

"Yeah it is I am not going to like being separated from Rick during the tour." Kate said sadly.

"Yeah I hear wedding bells in what 3 weeks well we have to go dress shopping! No friend of mine will be wearing but only the best for her wedding!" Lanie stated.

"Ok Lanie you convinced me!" At this point Rick poked his head into the Autopsy. He smiled brightly.

"You know we missed lunch with all this excitement!" Rick said as he entered the room all the way then Kissed and Hugged his fiancée.

"Awww" Lanie said.

"Shut up Lanie" both of them said!

"But it is so cute when you do that!" Lanie protested.

Rick and Kate gave another smooch.

"Hey Writer Boy your results are in! Your family is one strange mess DNA wise!" Lanie said.

Rick looked at the ME to continue.

"First off forget about what I said about you not having DNA with Alexis! Well it was wrong! Your sperm is exactly 49.9% that of Alexis's samples." Lanie brightly said.

"See I told you! You did create Alexis! It is strange how you didn't match with your daughter with Blood, Hair or Skin samples though" Kate said.

"Your sperm is also strange in that there were no Y chromosomes present! You would be incapable of having a son. But Daughters Well Sky is the limit!" Lanie reported.

"No Sons! Well I never really wanted a Son. Daughters are fine with me!" Rick quipped.

Kate was silent but she knew this news was bittersweet. Alexis was his but learning about no sons was a bitter pill.

Kate thanked Lanie and got a copy of all the different lab reports. Rick was silent as they left.

Rick finally spoke once in the car. "Kate are you sad that if we have children we will only be getting daughters?"

Kate thought about it awhile He was more concerned about her feelings on the topic than his own.

"I do not believe in any of this DNA predictions stuff! When we have kids we will have the most beautiful Babies no matter what Lanie and this report says!" Kate said sternly to make sure Rick knock that nonsense out the window!

"Yeah Kate they will be gorgeous won't they!" Rick in a haze of imagining their children.

Kate looked at her fiancée with much longing behind her eyes.

"Kate we have been forgetting something" Rick crooned.

"Oh What is that?" Kate asked as the fire began to grow.

"We've been slack on our practicing!" Rick supplied.

Kate heard the words but she was a bit lost then it hit her.

"Oh Yeah Rick we Have been too slack indeed! We need to remedy that right away." Kate said trying to keep her libido under control.

"Kate I am out of condoms" Rick lamented.

"So?" Kate questioned.

"You stopped taking the pill haven't you!" Rick said.

"So?" Kate challenged.

"So nothing we need practice to make you see all stars!" Rick smiled.

"I like the way you think Mr. Castle!" Kate purred as the car screeched to a halt. She really needed the motor pool to fix those brakes!

Soon they were up at the apt and shedding clothes as they bumped their way into their bedroom and in the last gleams of the day Kate finally sated looked at her ring again and smiled.