A/N: THANK YOU for the continued interest in this story! It makes my day :) Also, I've decided to start adding dates to each chapter because the last thing I want is to confuse people. I may go back and update earlier chapters, too. I really should have done this since the beginning, but I didn't think of it. Anyway, the following list of dates will be posted before a new chapter to help as a reference. Additional dates may be added if they are significant, but for now, I think those are the only two you need to know.

***Chapters do NOT always go in order***

January 11, 2015 - Joey was born

June 20, 2017 - Gage was born

As always, enjoy! :)

***AUTHOR'S NOTE UPDATED 2-16-2013***

It was pointed out to me that I made an error with Kate's promotion. There are two ranks, Sergeant and Lieutenant, between detective and captain, so it is not at all plausible for Kate to go from detective to captain. I like to think that Kate is rather ambitious and on the show, she has been a detective for a while, so I've decided to go so far as to make her a Lieutenant by 2021 before the start of this chapter. Thank you to the anonymous reviewing for keeping me honest! :)

The Year 2021

Hey Babe, I'll be a little late tonight.

Castle read the text from his wife for the thirtieth time. It had come hours ago, when dinner was almost on the table and two little boys were griping about being hungry. Dinner had come and gone and there were no updates from Kate. Which was fine, Castle told himself. He'd spent enough time shadowing Kate to know the demands of her job. Still, she'd given him no context, nothing to tell how long she'd be. So, he'd gone on with the usual routine with the boys, but a feeling gnawed at his insides that something was off. Since becoming a mom, Kate was as diligent in her work as ever, but also considerate of her kids. If she was going to miss putting them to bed, she'd let Castle know in advance so the boys weren't left wondering if Mommy would be home before they went to sleep. After Joey and Gage had bathed, brushed their teeth, and put on pj's, it was time for books. Usually four books, but sometimes the boys got away with more since they were just as enthusiastic about stories before bed as Castle was. Although they loved when Kate read to them, there was no mistaking that they much preferred their father for this. When Castle settled onto the couch, Gage had already grabbed three books. Joey noticed how many Gage had and wanted just as many books of his own choice to be read.

"Whoa, boys." Castle shook his head, smiling in spite of himself. "I don't think I can handle six books tonight."

"Four?" Joey quickly jumped in with an offer, ready to bargain.

"Sure. Both of you put one back."

Gage quickly dropped one on the floor unceremoniously and climbed up next to Castle with his top choices while Joey considered his carefully.

"Five?" Joey tried weakly.

"No, buddy." Castle chuckled. "It's getting late. Just put one off to the side and we can read it tomorrow night."

Joey finally relented and sat on the other side of Castle, placing his choices in his dad's lap.

"Alright," Castle picked up one of Gage's. He opened it and began to read aloud as Gage's head fell against his arm. The boys' eyes were glued to the colorful illustrations as Castle's voice filled the room, taking on a different tone with each character along the way, engrossing both boys in the story further. They were quite a sight, all three huddled together on the couch and that was how Kate found them when she walked in the front door.

"Mommy!" Gage was the first one off the couch, running to meet her in the kitchen.

"Hi, Monkey!" She scooped him up, his arms and legs clinging to her tightly in typical Gage fashion. He held on so tight, she didn't even need to hold him.

Now Joey was at her side, burying his head into her side and trying to get a hug in, but Gage was making it difficult. Kate rubbed his back with one hand, giving him a half-hug.

Castle watched her curiously as he sauntered into the kitchen. There was something in the way she was smiling, the way her voice had an airy quality to it. And then there was whatever she was trying to hide behind her back.

"What's going on?" Castle asked, a half-smile playing at his lips and curiosity turning the gears wildly in his mind. She could see it, the way he'd caught on to something, and she wanted to continue this little dance, wanted to play with his insatiable curiosity a bit, but it was late and the boys needed to go to bed soon and if she was being brutally honest, she was all too excited to keep this to herself much longer. Wordlessly, she drew her arm out from behind her back to display a bottle of Champaign. Castle quirked an eyebrow.

"What are we celebrating?" Castle asked slowly, his mind racing with thoughts of what important events or anniversaries he could have possibly forgotten. She read his expression and laughed softly.

"Relax, Rick, you didn't forget anything." She took a deep breath, smiling excitedly, letting the moment build up a little.

"Well, lieutenant, I'd be very interested to know what's got you so…"

"Not lieutenant." She corrected him, seeing he'd given her a perfect lead-in. He stopped and puzzled over her words. "Captain."

Realization hit him like a slap across the face. "Captain?" He asked, his own smile beginning to match hers.

"Yes." She felt almost giddy now and the look of pride in her man's eyes didn't help any to calm her down. "You're looking at the new Captain of the 12th, effective once Gates moves up."

"That's great!" He threw his arms around her, sandwiching Gage between the two of them. Then he kissed her, letting her feel just how thrilled he was.

"Ew."

Gage's voice was in their ears and his little hands suddenly pressed their faces apart. They broke away rather reluctantly, but laughing.

"Come on, Rick." Kate handled him the bottle she'd picked up on her way home. "What do you say we pop this open and have a toast?"

With both hands free, she squeezed Gage extra tight and made him suffer through many kisses all over his face for interrupting her and Castle. He was laughing when she finally set his feet on the ground and knew there was no way he and Joey were getting to bed on time tonight, but it didn't matter. Tonight was special.

She grabbed two Champaign glasses from the cabinet and two small plastic cups. Castle gave her an inquiring glance.

"Just a little for the boys, too." She answered. Joey and Gage perked up. They'd probably hate it, but they didn't know it yet.

With everyone with a drink in hand, Castle raised his high. "To Captain Beckett."

The sound sent a chill down Kate's spine. It hadn't really sunk in until Castle said it.

Joey, doing his best to keep his expression serious, raised his free hand to his forehead and saluted Kate. "Captain Beckett!" He repeated in a gruff, militaristic voice. They laughed and clinked their glasses together. Kate took a sip and watched her boys follow her lead.

Gage's sour expression nearly made Castle choke on his drink. "Ugh!" Gage set his cup back on the counter. "That's yucky."

Joey was much more discrete in his distaste for the Champaign, but Kate noticed the fraction of a frown on his face and his subtle way of sliding the cup next to Gage's abandoned drink. Her eyes met Castle's and they shared a look that spoke volumes. Here, with their boys, they couldn't be happier celebrating Kate's news.

"Mom," Joey piped up. She turned to listen, her hand going to rest affectionately on top of his head while he looked up at her. "Are you going to read books with us?"

"I'd love to." She beamed. Before long, it was all four on the couch with Joey snuggled up next to Kate, who was tucked comfortably into Castle's side while Castle settled both Gage and the books in his lap. Castle glanced suspiciously at the pile in his lap.

"Ok, how come there are five now?"

Joey tucked his face against Kate's arm, struggling to not look guilty. Kate met Castle's gaze, silently pleading with him. He couldn't believe it. Kate was rarely the push-over, but tonight found Castle having to make the call.

"Alright, fine, we'll read five." He agreed.

"Yes!" Joey shouted.

"If Joey gets three, I want three." Gage piped up.

Castle sighed and Kate was all smiles. It was still a while before any of them got to bed.

Reviews! :)