A/N: Hey everyone! I want to thank all of my lovely readers for your support this summer with my ficathon entry. To all the followers I gained through that story, welcome back to the workings of my mind, and I hope you enjoy this story. To those of you who have waited so patiently for me to return to this story, thank you for your patience and I hope you enjoy the next installment in this story. :)

Kate left the loft only to supply herself with the things she needed to extend her stay through the New Year.

Holiday life in the Castle household was largely idyllic. Kate was rather at ease with them, and she found herself so relaxed with this family, more so than she'd been in a while. Christmas night, Kate and Rick could be found in the kitchen, working to prepare dinner with an ease that appeared paradoxally practiced and natural.

"Bracelet looks good on you," Rick said softly. Kate smiled slightly at him.

"Thanks," she replied, glancing down at the bright roses. She wondered for a moment if he somehow knew the significance of the flower for her.

"And," he murmured in a low voice, leaning down to nuzzle her neck, "Your gift to me was more than I ever could've asked for." She smiled in spite of herself.

"So," she began, turning in a circles so that she was facing him, her back against the counter. "I want you to do me a favor."

And that's how their New Year's festivities came about. The morning of New Year's Eve, Kate got up and went downstairs to find Rick already up, scrubbing furiously at the backsplash in the kitchen with an old tothbrush. He didn't seem to hear her come in, and she watched him for a moment.

"Rick, what are you doing?" she asked. He didn't even look up.

"I'm cleaning," he replied. There was a note of panic in his voice.

"Why?" she inquired.

"Because," he sighed, "your parents are going to be here in ten hours and I have to make sure everything's clean because if it isn't clean, they'll think I'm a slob and if they think I'm a slob, they're going to hate me, and I can't let them hate me, because if they hate me, it'll ruin everything and we won't work out, which would really upset me, and I can't let that happen because Mother and Alexis and I all adore you, and if your parents hate me, we'll never be able to get married because family gatherings would be so incredibly awkward and I really don't want that to happen-"

Kate moved forward as he continued to ramble, the panic in his voice becoming increasingly pronounced.

"Rick," she began soothingly, placing her hands on his shoulders. "Rick, hey. Look at me." His words trailed off as he turned to face her. Her expression was gentle and she was clearly hiding his amusement for her sake.

"Rick, take a breath," she said. "Calm down, okay? My parents aren't going to hate you, I promise. Especially not because there's a speck of dirt on the backsplash." She smiled slightly. "You're wonderful, Rick. They're going to love you, and they will absolutely adore Alexis."

"Are you sure?" he asked anxiously.

"Of course I'm sure," she assured him.

"Okay," he relented. "As long as you're absolutely certain." Kate laughed, reaching up to pull him to her and kissing him lightly.

"Come on, let's get breakfast," she suggested. Rick nodded, and the toothbrush clinked as he tossed it into the sink.

"Jim, where's my wedding ring?"

Jim Beckett calmly reached out, the ring he'd just picked up from his wife's dresser clasped in his hand. She thanked him quietly and slid the jewelry onto her finger. Johanna turned and met Jim's eyes.

"What if he doesn't like us at all?" she asked. "Or, worse, what if we don't like him?" Her brown irises were anxious.

"Jo, you know Katie," he reasoned. "She wouldn't be this serious about any guy if he were anything less than wonderful. It'll be fine." Johanna nodded. She knew he was right. Jim was forever sensible. It had been, after all, one of the reasons she'd fallen for him. He was the brick to her balloon.

"Katie, are they here yet?" Alexis asked. Kate laughed.

"Alexis, honey, you're the one looking out the window," she pointed out. Alexis sighed, resting her cheek against her palm, her red hair falling halfway over her face.

"I know, but I just really want them to get here." Kate smiled slightly at her.

"Be patient," she urged softly. "They'll be here soon."

No sooner had she spoken did Alexis look back at her excitedly.

"Is that them?" she asked. Kate peered through the glass, the familiar forms of her parents from four floors up.

"Yes, that's them," she confirmed.

"Yay!" Alexis squealed. "Daddy!" she called.

"Yes?" Rick replied at normal volume from the kitchen.

"Katie's parent's are here!" Kate and Rick smiled at each other.

"I heard, Pumpkin. Why don't you go and tell Grams, okay?" Alexis nodded and raced off to tell Martha. When she was gone, Rick wrapped his arms around Kate from behind.

"You ready?" she asked.

"I think so," he replied. "They're nice, right?" Kate laughed.

"Yes, Rick, they're nice," she replied, rolling her eyes. "It's not like I have monsters for parents." The doorbell buzzed just then, and she felt him freeze. Kate turned, pressing her lips to his quickly.

"Just be yourself," she murmured. "They're going to love you." She smiled and took his hand as they approached the door together. Rick pulled it open and smiled at the couple on the other side. It was suddenly obvious to Rick where Kate had gotten her looks. Johanna Beckett was beautiful, and her eyes immediately struck him as kind.

"Hey," Kate said with a smile at her parents.

"Hi, Katie," Johanna said. She smiled first at her daughter and then at Rick.

"Hi," she said to him. "It's so nice to meet you, finally." Rick smiled back at her.

"The pleasure is all mine, ," he replied. Johanna laughed, a sound very similar to the sound of Kate's laughter. Rick couldn't help but smile.

"Please, call me Jo," she requested. " makes me feel my age." Rick laughed, and took Jim's hand when he offered it, giving it a firm shake.

"A pleasure, sir," Rick said.

"Jim, please," Kate's father said. Rick nodded, just as Alexis joined them, her enthusiasm having suddenly faded into shyness. Johanna smiled at the little girl.

"Hello," she said. "You must be Alexis." Alexis nodded.

"Hi," she said. Johanna reached out to shake hands with Alexis.

"My name is Jo," she said.

"Are you Katie's mom?" Alexis inquired softly.

"I am," Johanna replied. "And this is her dad," she added, gesturing to her husband, whose light eyes crinkled as he smiled at Alexis.

"Hi," he said. "I'm Jim."

"Your names match," Alexis pointed out. Martha joined them then, her flamboyant persona seeming to fill the room.

"Hello, there," she said. "You must be Katherine's parents."

"We are," Johanna replied. "Jim and Johanna Beckett."

"A delight to meet you both," Martha said warmly. "Your daughter is a gem."

"Oh, Martha, don't be ridiculous," Kate said.

"No, no, darling, the truth is the truth," Martha insisted, and Kate smiled, shaking her head.

"Well, come on inside, everyone," Rick said, gesturing toward the living room as Martha took Johanna's coat.

As Kate watched her parents interact with Alexis and Martha, she leaned briefly into Rick, who looked down at her lovingly.

"See?" she said. "I told you they were nice." He laughed.

"Well, we haven't made it through dinner yet," he replied.

"True," Kate said, seeming suddenly contemplative. "They haven't had a chance to inspect the back splash yet. That'll be the true test," she teased. He tried to glare at her, but failed miserably.

"Come on, let's join the party," she said, taking his hand and tugging him along with her.