Thanks for the reviews, favs and follows! I really appreciate them all 3

I know that there are things in this story, how small they may be, that might not be true or just simply don't exist. Most of them I just made up to make the story easier. Hope you didn't mind or got confused by it.

Here's the last chapter.

Chapter 10

Everyone was at the airport, exchanging hugs and handshakes and saying their goodbyes.

"You guys should really come to New York some time," Lanie said just before they really had to leave. "And bring the kids with you as well."

"We will, Lanie, we definitely will," Cam replied. "Now hurry up or you'll miss your flight."

They all said goodbye one more time before the New Yorkers turned around and left to go home.

Xxx

Castle and Kate were seated next to each other on the plane (how surprising). Castle remembered some funny story about him and Alexis, and he was about to tell Kate, when he saw Kate. Really saw Kate. She was turned away from him, her whole body radiating sadness.

"Kate? What's wrong? Are you okay?" She didn't respond. "Please, Kate, talk to me."

Kate turned to him, tears in her eyes. "It's just- The past couple of days have been rough and… I guess it's just sinking in on me now." She wiped away a tear and shrugged. "It's no big deal."

But Castle saw though her façade and pulled up the armrest, tugging her to him. Kate gave in and snuggled up to him, silently accepting his comfort. This triggered a memory.

* Flashback *

This day sucked. The case they were working on sucked. Hell, her whole week sucked. Kate opened the door to their loft and kicked off her shoes. As she walked through, she flung her coat over a chair and tossed her keys and bag somewhere on the table. Then she just waltzed on through the study on her way to the bedroom. She was stopped however by her boyfriend's voice.

"Kate? Is something wrong?"

As she turned around, Castle could swear he saw steam coming out of her ears.

"Is there something wrong? Are you really asking if there's something wrong? You would have known if you had been there! I worked my ass off this week and had to deal with things no one wants to deal with, but you were here, safely inside the loft, nowhere near. So yeah, you could say something is wrong!" She yelled at him, turning towards the bedroom and slamming the door behind her.

Castle stared in shock at the closed door. What had he done wrong now?

Whatever it was, he decided to let her cool off for a bit, not sure if he would continue to live if he entered now.

Kate didn't even know why she got so mad. She just… did. She stormed on into the bedroom, slamming that door shut as well. When she reached the sink, she turned on the faucet, splashing some cold water in her face. She closed it again and braced her hands on the sides of the sink. She breathed slowly in and out, and as she calmed down, she began to feel bad. She hadn't meant to snap it him like that, really. But with everything going on, it just happened.

Oh god, what had she done? Rick was probably so mad at her right now. And he had every right to be, she figured. She needed to fix this. Now.

Kate turned around and walked out of the bathroom with confident strides, but as she got closer to the door that led to Rick's study, she walked slower and slower, until she stood still in front of the closed door. She put her hand on the handle, ready to push it down. But she hesitated. What if he was really, really angry? Kate shook her head. Then she opened the door.

Castle stood up as she opened the door to his study, and he opened his mouth to say something, but Kate beat him to it. She wasn't looking him in the eyes, but she started to speak anyways.

"I'm sorry, Rick. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you like that, and I didn't mean what I said. I know you're mad, but… It's just- I've been feeling like crap the whole week, and this case is eating at me, and I missed your presence and I know that all of this isn't an excuse and you still have every right to be angry, but"

Castle shut her off by putting one hand on her shoulder, and his other under her chin, making her look up at him. That's when he saw the tears.

"What in the world makes you think I'm angry?"

"You mean you're not? But I was so… so… mean and-" a sob prevented Kate from finishing her sentence.

"Oh, honey," Castle murmured and he pulled her into his embrace, holding her tight. "Kate, you're blowing this way out of proportion. So, you've had a rough week and today it became too much. It happens. You shouldn't worry so much about it." He kissed her on top of the head and pulled back, wiping away her tears. He gave her a smile, which she returned, though somewhat watery.

"Thanks Rick. You really have a way with words."

Castle shrugged. "I'd have a problem if I didn't. I'm a writer after all." Kate slapped him playfully on the chest at this.

"How about we watch a movie? Something funny, maybe," he suggested.

Kate nodded, and Castle led her out of the study, towards the living room. He put on the TV and a movie, and then sat down in the corner of the couch. Kate, who had been sitting somewhere in the middle, snuggled up to him. Castle put his arm around her and Kate smiled. She looked at the TV, where some way too funny movie started, and soon the earlier events were out of her thoughts.

* End of flashback *

"What are you smiling at?" Castle asked Kate.

She looked up at him and shrugged. "Just a memory." She went to continue and explain, but the seatbelt signs lit up, indicating they were almost there. She just gave him a vague smile and leaned back, pulled down the armrest and fastened her seat belt.

Xxx

They'd just collected their suitcases, and now they were standing together, much like last time. Only now, the mood was better. Much better.

"I'll try to convince Gates to get us some days off, and otherwise I'll see you tomorrow," Kate said.

A chorus of 'see ya' was heard, and soon they were all going their own ways.

Xxx

Kate and Castle entered the loft and Castle called out to his daughter as he closed the door behind them. "Alexis? We're home!" He took over Kate's suitcase and then heard someone running down the stairs. But before he could turn to his left, a flash of red went past him.

Kate was a bit startled as Alexis wrapped her arms tight around her, but she quickly recovered and wrapped her arms around the girl and kissed her on top of the head.

Castle sent her a small, but loving smile and then took off towards the laundry room with the suitcases, giving his girls some privacy. Kate watched him disappear behind the door, but her attention was turned back to Alexis as she felt the girl's shoulders shaking. Her heart broke as she realized that Alexis was crying. She detached herself somewhat, and instead put one arm around Alexis' shoulder, walking towards the couch. She sat down and pulled the girl down with her, and Alexis snuggled up to Kate, still crying. Kate didn't speak; she just tightened her grip a little.

Alexis eventually calmed down and she pulled back a little, wiping the tears from her eyes and cheeks. Then she looked up at Kate, who was still patiently waiting for her to speak up.

"When dad told me that you were gone, I- I don't know, I just-" Alexis looked down at her hands and took a breath, starting over. "You mean so much to me, Kate. I've always had respect for you, even if I didn't show it. And when you were around more, I came to love you. You're the mother figure that I never really had. I mean, Meredith is my biological mother, but she was never there for me, only when it was convenient to her. And you… you always seem to make time for me. I can also see that you and dad really love each other, and we always have so much fun, and I… I can't imagine my life without you anymore. We may not be blood related, but you do feel like a mom to me." Alexis looked up at Kate again, who now had tears in her eyes as well.

"It's okay if you don't feel like that, Kate. I understand if you don't love me like that. I mean, I'm not your kid after all and-" She was cut off by Kate wrapping her arms around her.

"Oh, Alexis, you sweet, sweet girl. Of course I love you." Kate pulled back again, wanting to look Alexis in the eyes. "Look, I'd never try to replace Meredith, but if you'll accept me as a mother, I'll gladly be that person to you, okay?"

Alexis nodded, but her expression turned to thoughtful, or maybe insecure.

"Alexis? Is there something else?" Kate asked in a kind tone.

Alexis started to fiddle. She opened her mouth, but closed it again. She took a breath. "Can I call you mom?" she then blurted out quickly.

Kate's arms were around her again in an instant. "Of course you can, sweetheart."

"Thanks, mom." Just then, they heard something that sounded like a sniff. Their heads simultaneously turned towards the sound. Castle was standing there, tears forming in his eyes, but he wasn't willing to let them fall.

"Are you crying, Rick?" Kate asked.

"Maybe," he replied.

Kate and Alexis both rose and walked over to him and Castle pulled them into his arms.

"I'm so proud of both of you, you know?" he said.

The door opened and then closed again. Castle, Kate and Alexis broke apart and looked at Martha, who'd just entered. She walked over to them and hugged Kate.

"Kate, darling, I'm so thrilled to see you alive and well," she said.

Martha pulled back and studied Kate, then noticed the ring on her finger. "Oh my, Richard finally popped the question?" she asked. "How wonderful!"

Alexis, who hadn't noticed the ring yet, walked in front of Kate and took her left hand. "Oh my god, mom, you and dad are engaged? The ring is so beautiful! And how did I not notice this?"

Martha's eyebrows raised the slightest bit when she heard the word 'mom' falling from Alexis' lips, but Castle just smiled and shook his head a little. He stepped forward and put his arm around Kate's waist, pulling her into his chest. Kate smiled and held her hand up, looking at the ring sparkling on her finger.

"Yeah, he asked me while we were having dinner with the team from the Jeffersonian. It was quite romantic." She turned her head around to her fiancé and gave him a sweet kiss. Then she turned back to Martha and Alexis. "I hope that you're okay with this?" she said questioningly.

"Of course we are," they both said at the same time. Not a second after that, the doorbell sounded.

"That'll be our food," Castle said. "I figured we'd all be hungry, so I went ahead and ordered Chinese." Then he walked over to the door to open it and get their food. In the meanwhile, the three women took out everything else they needed.

Not long after, the four of them were seated at the table, enjoying their dinner while chatting and laughing.

"So dad, this thing with Tyson, it's over? For once and for all?" Alexis asked at a certain point.

"It is, Pumpkin. It is. For once and for all."

Well, that's it. The end of this story.

I know Pythagoras said something like 'Don't say a little in many words but a great deal in a few', but yeah…

Well, I hope this chapter was not too ... you know, fluffy and all. I would really like to know what you thought of it.

And thanks to you all for the reviews, favs and follows throughout this story. They really helped me :)

-xxx-