Righto, let's go, new chapter, for the win!

X X X X X

Johanna followed her mother into the 12th Precinct at 9am. It was the first time in a long time that Beckett had arrived right on time, rather than being early.

"You feeling okay this morning, Beckett?" Esposito asked, checking his watch with a grin. Beckett sat down with a glare, as Johanna rolled her eyes beside her.

"That is exactly what I said this morning!" she exclaimed, giggling. She watched her mother shake her head as she switched on her computer, Johanna reaching into the bag she'd brought with her. Holding up a clear, Tupperware container, she looked to Esposito.

"Cupcake?"

"When'd you make cupcakes?" Ryan asked, appearing from the break room with a coffee and playfully pulling the box from the young girl's grasp.

"Hey!" Johanna cried, swiping at the detective and missing, as he ducked and weaved, before passing the box to Esposito swiftly. Johanna stomped over to Esposito's desk, stopping with her hands on her hips and tapping her foot.

"If you wanted a cupcake, all you had to do was ask," she scolded, holding out a hand.

"Beckett, your mini-me is picking on me!" Esposito cried, shrinking back childishly in his chair, clutching the cupcakes to his chest.

"You're such a baby!" Johanna exclaimed, a retort that got her name called sternly from her mother.

"Johanna, that's enough," Beckett said, "Esposito, give her the cakes back."

"Yes, Mom!"

As he handed the box back to the young girl, he grinned at the glare he was receiving.

"You know what, Jo," Beckett began, "I don't think the baby deserves any cupcakes."

Johanna giggled as she headed back toward her mother. Reaching up, she cupped her hands around her mouth and whispered quietly into Beckett's ear. Her eyes fell on the Captain's office, and Johanna's followed. She looked to her mother, who nodded, before she began to skip over to the office of Montgomery.

Watching, as Johanna smiled and offered the open box of cupcakes to the Captain, Beckett grinned. They'd spent their spare time that morning baking them, something they hadn't done in a long time.

"That's not cool," Esposito whinged, sitting up and shaking his head.

"Yeah," Ryan agreed, as Beckett looked up at them, "using your kid to score brownie points with Montgomery?"

"Like she needs the brownie points," Esposito muttered, picking up his ringing phone in a huff, "Esposito…"

"Did someone say brownies?"

Rolling her eyes, Beckett looked to the figure of Richard Castle, who had taken his regular seat alongside her desk.

"Nope," she added, sighing as she turned to her paperwork, "just cupcakes."

Castle sat up excitedly, looking around Beckett's desk and those of the boys.

"What cupcakes?" he asked eagerly, his face on the brink of a huge grin.

Beckett paused, looking sideways at her childish tag-along. He looked like a kid in a candy store, wondering whether his mother was going to give him any change.

"The ones my daughter is laughing over with Montgomery," she said, a smile playing on her lips as he turned abruptly. His eyes fell on the little brunette in the Captain's office, who was smiling at her elder. She had the exact same smile as Beckett, Castle noticed, and her eyes crinkled and glinted in the same way. The only difference, aside from their size, was their eye color. While Beckett's were a striking hazel, that could appear brown or green randomly, Johanna's seemed to mirror the sky. Today, both were the brightest of blues.

"That's one way to make nice with the boss," Castle played, smirking, as he turned back to Beckett. But, she wasn't listening; she was still gazing at her daughter through the glass, an indescribable smile on her lips. She watched the little girl throw her head back in laughter, noting the little gap where she'd lost a tooth two weeks ago, the little dimple that appeared in her cheek when she laughed. Johanna walked out of Montgomery's office smiling, then looked to her mother, pausing when she reached the front of her desk. Beckett still wore the same expression, which caused her daughter's head to tilt sideways quizzically.

"What?" Johanna asked, looking intently into her mother's misty eyes.

Lowering her gaze, Beckett shook her head, fiddling with the corner of the paper on her desk, before she looked back up.

"Nothing," she murmured, returning the smile her little girl was giving her. Slowly, Johanna placed the container she was holding on the desk, and moved around to her mother's side. She let herself fall gently into Beckett's arms, feeling her mother's face leaning on the top of her head.

"Am I growing up too quick again?" Johanna whispered, Beckett laughing in reply. She held her closer and let a hand fall softly through her hair, her fingers lingering on the ends that were nearing Johanna's waist.

"Yeah, you are."

X X X X X

It was nearing lunchtime at the 12th, and Johanna sighed, swiveling about in her mother's chair. Beckett had had to leave for a crime scene, but had called and was on her way back. Since she'd left, Johanna had been sitting at the desk, reading. She'd packed her very battered copy of To Kill a Mockingbird, but had chosen not to read it. She was reading that with Alexis, not herself; she had to wait until she saw Castle's daughter again before she could continue reading.

Otherwise, the only other book Johanna had was the copy of Storm Fall Castle had given her mother a few weeks ago. Beckett had already read it, and now it was Johanna's turn. So far, she'd read the first five chapters, but her hunger got the better of her. She had a cupcake to tide her over, but when the elevator dinged, and the smell of Chinese wafted her way, she realized just how starved she was.

"Mom, thank god!" she exclaimed, a plastic bag of take-out containers landing in front of her, "I'm starving!"

"Oh, it's just so tough being you!" Beckett added playfully, kissing her girl on the head before heading to the murder board to begin writing up the new evidence. As Johanna rummaged through the various Styrofoam containers, she nodded in agreement.

"It totally is," she said, grinning as she pulled out the container of fried rice, a plastic fork and dug in. Castle, Ryan and Esposito had all taken a takeout box of their own, and were chomping away when Beckett turned back around.

"What are you, nine or nineteen?" Beckett asked, walking over, directing the forkful of fried rice in Johanna's hand to her own mouth.

"Hey!"

Johanna dropped her jaw and glared at her mother, before shaking her head and returning to her food.

"And I'm nine, for the record," she said as-a-matter-of-factly, "if I'm nineteen that would make you…"

She paused for a moment, looking up in thought, before she jabbed the fork in Beckett's direction, "Thirty-nine!"

"Whoa, hey!"

Giggling, Johanna watched her mother blush, as she continued to eat her rice.

"You just got owned!" Castle exclaimed, laughing, and offering a high five to Johanna, who obliged.

"Shut up, Castle," Beckett muttered, as her eyes scanned over the murder board once more, before she sat down to eat.

"Thank you for the Chinese, Mom," Johanna said, flashing a smile from the chair she was still swiveling on, "It's yummy."

Beckett nodded and smiled in return, eyeing the book that lay, closed, on the desk in front of her. She gave a look to Johanna, who was on the brink of giggles, while a sideways glance at Castle saw a smug look. Obviously, he'd noticed the copy of Storm Fall too.

It was quiet for a moment, with not much noise other than chewing or minor small talk. A voice at the end of the hall caused all heads to look up, the Detectives and Johanna confused yet amused, while Castle's expression was fearful.

"Deep-fried Twinkie?" Esposito murmured, laughing. Castle nodded solemnly, before replacing his container on the desk and sighing.

"Richard!"

The sight of his first ex-wife and daughter walking toward him was horrifying, amusing and frustrating. The fact that Alexis was with her meant she had kidnapped her from school again, and she looked uncomfortable and eager to get away. Meredith however, was grinning and none the wiser.

"Meredith," he greeted curtly, as she paused in front of him, at least ten shopping bags hanging from her arms.

"I was on this side of the city," she explained, "so I thought I'd drop Alexis here rather than traipsing all the way back across town."

Of course, how inconvenient, Castle thought to himself, pushing the thought away as Alexis' eyes pleaded at him.

"How thoughtful of you," he said, before he saw questioning looks from his company.

"Ah, Meredith, this is Detective Ryan," Castle began, gesturing to the Irishman to his left, before turning to the Hispanic man beside him, "and this is Detective Esposito."

Meredith gave them both a smile before her eyes fell first on Detective Beckett, then Johanna.

"And this is Detective Beckett," he added, as Beckett took a step forward to shake the woman's hand, a look of disgust welcoming it.

Although seemingly repulsed, Meredith accepted Beckett's hand, then looked again to Johanna.

"Is that your daughter?" she asked curtly, noting the resemblance, "She looks far too young to be in police station."

The disapproval in Meredith's tone set Beckett's blood boiling. How could this woman criticize her about parenting when she barely knew how to do it herself? In the moment it took for Beckett to compose herself, Johanna had begun to speak, much to her surprise.

"Yes, Detective Beckett is my Mom," she said, looking straight into the eyes of the 'deep-fried Twinkie'.

"My name is Johanna," she continued, "I'm nine years old, my school is closed and my Grandpa is at work. That's why I'm here."

Johanna's tone wasn't malicious, but it was stern, and she did not stray her gaze from Meredith.

"What about your father?" Meredith asked, turning her nose up.

"I don't need one," Johanna said, eyes narrowing, "my Mom's great enough on her own."

Smirking, Meredith shook her head, then turned to a fuming Castle, "Well, it was a pleasure to meet you all."

She pecked Castle on the cheek before doing the same to Alexis, then left. All was silent as the group watched the fiery woman walk away. Johanna could see her mother trembling in anger, and Alexis was watching her, a mix of fear and remorse covering her face.

"Beckett, I'm sorry –"

"Castle, please, not now," Beckett muttered, before retreating to the break room, Castle sighing as she went.

Alexis walked up to her Dad and fell into his open arms, a sigh of relief escaping her.

"Dad, why would Mom say stuff like that?" Alexis asked, peering up at Castle, "I mean, I know she's petty, but that's low, even for her."

"Alexis, I learnt a long time ago to not put a lot of faith in the things that woman says," he said, both hands on her shoulders, "Give me a sec?"

Nodding, she watched her father walk toward the break room, where she could see Detective Beckett sitting at the table, her head in her hands.

"Hey, Lexi?"

The little voice caused Alexis' head to turn, and she smiled at the young girl before her.

"Hey, Jo," she said, "day off?"

Nodding, Johanna simply sighed as she gazed right at the older girl, her eyes soft and glazed.

"Why doesn't your Mom like my Mom?" she asked, looking over to the break room, where Castle was sitting beside Beckett, both still silent.

Alexis sighed and took the seat her father normally used. She leaned over and looked Johanna right in the eyes, noticing the slightly greener shade around her pupil, something others mightn't see. To most, her eyes were blue, but you could see the hints of green she'd inherited from her mother.

"My Mom doesn't like a lot of people," Alexis explained, "I'm not even sure how much she likes me."

Johanna gasped, her mouth wide.

"How could your Mom not love you?" Johanna said quietly, her bottom lip quivering, "She's your Mom."

All Alexis could do was shrug. Honestly, she didn't know what went through her mother's head sometimes; when she visited, she cared more about where they were going and what they were doing rather than being with her daughter.

Biting her lip, Johanna reached out and took Alexis' hand. The teenager looked up, confused but smiling at the same time. This little girl was really something, as she sighed before looking up.

From over in the break room, Castle had managed to console Beckett.

"Forget Meredith," he'd said, "you really want to think about her comments on being a Mom?"

Beckett had laughed, shaking her head and wiping away a rebellious tear. Her eyes had landed on the sight of the two girls at her desk, hands joining between the remnants of Chinese cartons.

"Look at the girls," she whispered, inclining her head. Castle looked and stopped. He could feel himself welling up at the sight, both Alexis and Johanna sitting and talking. From their equally solemn expressions, Castle figured it was about the previous happenings.

Unintentionally, he brought a hand over Beckett's and left it there, as they watched. The gesture went unnoticed by both of them, as Beckett's hand clung to Castle's, her head leaning sideways to rest on his shoulder. They were so captivated by the image of their daughters, neither were able to comprehend their contact when they snapped back to reality.

Among Castle's awkward noises, he managed to stand and began to make the coffee. He did not look at Beckett again, but continued to think about her. His face split into a wide, bashful smile, as he thought about the way their hands had intertwined, the way her thumb had gently caressed his.

Behind him, unknowingly, Beckett was grinning to herself about the same thing.

X X X X X

Well then, dearies, there is another chapter! This will probably be the last of The Little Things until after Christmas, but it's picking up a little, so maybe it won't. I don't know! I will have complete computer access over Christmas, so if I get some spare moments between the family, I'll dedicate them to you!

Merry Christmas!

Kayla x