Hello my darlings, here is the next installment, I hope you enjoy it!

Also, I just wanted to say how proud I am of our Mr. Fillion who has finally changed his mind on the ability of a Caskett romance to WORK!

Now he can join Stana in shipperdom :D

Anyway, back to the story, tehe...

...

"So, future Mrs. Castle, you seem to be relishing in the upbringing of our little girl", Castle smiled, wrapping his arms around Kate from behind while she was standing in front of their mirror, cleaning off her makeup before bed.

"I'm loving it", Kate grinned back as he swayed her gently.

"You're beautiful at it", Castle told her sincerely.

Kate twisted her head so that it rested on his shoulder. "So are you. I can't wait until we have one together."

"Me neither, although I'm glad we've got a running start with M.J. Skipping the diapers and the middle of the night feedings was definitely a good idea for a control test."

Kate laughed. "I wonder if ours will be as gorgeous as her though."

Castle sighed happily against his future wife's neck. "Yeah she is pretty irresistible."

Kate spun around then and locked her arms around Castle's neck. "I know someone else who is pretty irresistible", she told him with a sparkle in her eye.

"Oh yeah?" He smirked back.

"Mm, especially in that shirt you know I love so much."

"I'll tell you a secret", Castle whispered to her, leaning in to lick her ear gently.

"Mm, what is that?" Kate sighed.

"I wore it to impress Max."

Kate laughed so much that Castle had to keep his arms around her just to hold her up. "You are such a doofus sometimes", she told him. "I love you."

"I love it when you love me."

"What about when I love you... multiply", she breathed into his ear, making him shiver.

He sighed deeply, heatedly. "Especially so."

Kate grinned, leaning in to kiss him deeply, groaning as he swirled his tongue around hers and brought his hand to her face, stroking her cheek with his thumb.

He brought his other hand to the small of her back, rubbing small, soothing circles on it.

They pulled away just to breathe for a moment, before Kate leaned forward into him and rested her forehead against his, her nose bumping against his. "Come on", she said softly, taking his hand and leading him to the bed.

She sat him down on the edge of the bed and climbed onto his lap, straddling him, grinding against him, causing him to huff in frustration.

"Ugh, God Kate."

She continued to tease him, running her tongue along his brow and kissing every inch of him that was exposed to her already.

Kate pressed herself into him and began running her hands down his back, fingers stroking seductively.

"Mm, that feels so good", Castle told her.

"Hmm, if I knew this was all it took..." Kate began, until she heard Castle make a noise of protest.

"I have never once heard you complaining about doing all those other things, Miss Beck-ah um, M.J... HI!"

Castle's eyes were wide as Kate leapt off him quicker than lightning and spun around on the bed to see the little girl standing at their bedroom door, her little Rocket toy buried in the crook of her arm.

"M.J sweetie... are you OK?" Kate asked.

Mikayla shook her head, looking somber.

"What is it little one, did you have a bad dream?" Castle questioned her, any feelings of lust he had felt before quickly dissipating.

Mikayla nodded.

"Oh come here baby", Kate beckoned her, opening her arms out to the little girl.

"You're OK M.J, everything is alright", Kate said softly, rubbing her back soothingly.

"Do you want to sleep with us sweetheart?" Castle offered her lightly, his mouthing twisted slightly.

Kate could tell he secretly hoped the answer would be no.

But they were parents now. Libidos took a side step and protective instinct took priority.

Mikayla nodded quickly and Kate pursed her lips. "OK honey bunch, climb in."

Mikayla turned around and clambered up the king size bed, crawling under the sheets, tucking herself in.

"You wanna get the lights babe?" Kate asked Castle sweetly as she climbed in beside Mikayla.

"Of course my darling", he replied with a small bow, making Kate chuckle.

When Castle turned away from them, he cursed silently as the blood very slowly moved from the formerly inflamed area.

He flicked out the light and returned to the bed where he made some space between himself and the other two in the bed, feeling no tiredness whatsoever.

When Mikayla let out the cutest little yawn though, both Castle and Kate couldn't help but smile. And any heat that had been in the room a few minutes earlier, turned to pure warmth. Pure warmth and pure love.

The three of them slept soundly, side by side.

...

When Castle woke the next morning, the bed was empty beside him. He rubbed his eyes and clambered out of bed, feeling slightly disoriented. Checking his wound as he did every morning, he realized it had completely healed up.

He felt good as he bounded out of his room and went to the kitchen to find Kate and Mikayla sitting at the breakfast bar. "Good morning lovely ladies", Castle said cheerfully.

"Well, good morning to you too", Kate smiled as he kissed her on the cheek.

"Someone's in a good mood", Kate told him as she placed a plate full of pancakes in front of Mikayla.

"Yes I am, check this out", Castle lifted his shirt to show Kate the wound. "Oh that looks really good."

"I know, I think I might be losing the bandage tomorrow."

"Aw yay, good work body", Kate smiled as she patted him on his side.

Castle laughed and turned to Mikayla. He gasped quietly. "Are those pancakes? You lucky girl!"

Mikayla grinned toothily and took one of the little pieces in her hand.

"Uh uh, remember what I said sweetie", Kate reminded her in an authoritative yet kind tone of voice.

Mikayla pursed her lips and picked up the little plastic fork next to her, stabbing a piece of pancake with it.

Kate smiled. "Good girl, now you can dip it."

Mikayla bit down on her lip in concentration as she dipped the pancake into her small bowl of maple syrup.

"Mm, maple syrup", Castle groaned.

"None for you Mr. Castle, you may have some boysenberries though", Kate told him firmly.

"But the maple syrup is the best part!" He whined.

"Boysenberries are good for you", Kate gave him a smile and handed him a can of boysenberries.

"Kinda defeats the purpose of having pancakes", Castle pouted.

"I could make you some oatmeal instead."

"Boysenberries will be lovely", Castle smiled quickly.

Kate shook her head with a grin.

"M.J would you like some apple juice?" She asked the little girl who had successfully smeared half the amount of maple syrup she'd been given, over her face.

She nodded again and Kate went to get her some from the refrigerator. "You know what M.J, I think you're a really polite girl. It must be strange for you to think the words in your head, but not be able to say them. I keep going to tell you to say please and I know you can't. I'd like to figure out a way for you to at least say please and thank you."

"Maybe we could assign body parts", Castle suggested, half-jokingly. "Right hand: Yes. Left hand: No. Right elbow: Please. Left elbow: Thank you. Belly button:..."

"Rick, I think we get it and can you really imagine M.J walking down the street pointing from her hand to her elbow?"

"People might think she's making up a really cool new dance", Castle grinned, ruffling Mikayla's hair.

M.J scrunched her nose and Kate laughed, nodding in the child's direction. "Yeah I think it's a little silly too. Don't worry, you'll get used to these kind of suggestions when you're around him."

"Hey, excuse me but not all of my suggestions are-"

"Darlings I'm home!" Martha breezed in through the front door.

"Mother, how was your conference?"

"Abysmal! First, it began with Morgan Foxton, that dreadful, spiteful witch from The Atlantic, talking about the many failed transitions that women have made from acting to producing. Then, the President of the ATC reminding us that women of a certain age are less likely to..."

Martha's rant stopped abruptly when she noticed Mikayla sitting at the breakfast bar.

She took a shaky step backwards, her eyes wide. "Uh... Richard, Kate... darlings, is there something I should know?"

Castle stepped toward his mother. "You buy a cell phone and then never take it anywhere. Honestly, mother", he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "This is Mikayla Johanna Ramirez, and she is living with us. Kate and I are fostering her."

"You're not a foster parent", Martha said, still staring at the little girl.

"No, but Kate is."

Martha looked from Kate to Castle, her lips slowly turning into a large smile.

Finally, her gaze fell back to Mikayla. "Well, aren't you just darling!" She sat next to Mikayla. "I'm Martha, it's very nice to meet you." She smiled at Mikayla who waved to her shyly.

"Ah!" Martha slapped her own knee. "She's simply the cutest thing! Oh darling, don't you remember when Alexis was this age? Oh, that was such a lovely time. Well Mikayla, you and I are going to have some fun together."

"Uh, Mother, your version of fun will have to be vetted by Kate and I first, M.J is not technically ours... I mean, by law."

Castle's heart broke as he saw Mikayla's face fall as she registered his words.

"That's not to say we don't love her to bits and pieces", he amended as he attacked her with kisses around her head and cheeks.

She giggled and squirmed against him.

"What is your favorite color M.J?"

Mikayla leaned forward and pressed her finger to Martha's lips, then held it up in front of her.

Martha blinked in surprise.

"I think she is telling you her favorite color is pink", Kate smiled.

Martha nodded and then leaned toward her son. "But doesn't she speak?"

"Mother!" Castle scolded her softly and Martha grimaced.

Kate stepped forward. "No she doesn't speak as such, but she has ways of communicating, if only the recipient is willing to listen right sweetie pie?" Kate directed at Mikayla.

Mikayla looked up shyly, picking at her pancakes, popping a fluffy piece in her mouth.

"Well, no matter what, we're still going to have a wonderful time aren't we kiddo, hmm?" Martha smiled at the young girl.

Mikayla nodded with a small smile.

"Alexis should be home soon, what do you say we go and clean you up little monkey and then we'll all go to the park?" Kate smiled at Mikayla, picking her up of the stool and into her arms.

Mikayla made a small noise of approval, following it up with a bout of joyous laughter when Kate shrieked "Oh, you're a sticky little stick insect!"

Castle watched them leave the room with a smile of wonderment on his face.

"Uh oh, I know what that look means", Martha muttered.

"What look?" Castle's brow furrowed.

"That look of sheer contentment and utter belief that you'll be together forever."

"What?" Castle chuckled. "Of course I believe Kate and I are going to be together forever mother, we're going to be married soon."

"I'm not talking about Kate darling, I'm talking about that dear little girl you've gone and got yourself all attached to there."

"Mikayla needs a stable home, and Kate and I are able to provide one so... I don't see why we shouldn't be getting attached."

"Darling, this is somebody else's child. How long do you think it's going to be before the poor girl wants to go back? She's not from your world, she's not used to the life your fame brings. It's not normal and sooner or later, if she's not bothered by it, then you can bet social services will be. You certainly can't encourage her to drink champagne at one of your book signings when she's barely fourteen."

Castle shook his head. "Mother I know what I'm doing with M.J. You didn't see the situation she was in before, anything has got to be better than that. Believe me, unless M.J becomes unhappy here, I'm not letting anyone take her... And I plan on making her so happy she never wants to leave home."

'

"Oh darling, one day you'll learn that there are certain things a young woman needs that she must acquire outside of her childhood home."

"Yeah, that's a lesson I'm learning right now as a matter of fact", Castle frowned.

Martha raised her eyebrows. "Ah yes, where exactly is Alexis... or don't I want to know?"

Castle shrugged. "She's fine. She's with her very well brought up, albeit very greasy boyfriend Max."

"Oh that charming young man from the bank, the son that lovely banker?"

"You've met him?" Castle groaned.

"Yes, I was there when he and Alexis met."

"What were you doing at the... Oh, Mr. Davenport?" Castle narrowed his eyes at her, smirking.

Martha threw her hands up in surrender. "We were strategizing my next loan."

"Is that what they're calling it these days?" Castle shot back.

"Shush. Not that it's any of your concern but Gregory and I are rather kindred spirits. His love of theatre and my influence in the New York theatre scene have made for some wonderful evenings out."

Castle pursed his lips, containing a retort. "I'm very happy for you mother."

Martha tilted her head, eyeing him. "I may be wrinkled and old and a grandmother twice-over, but that does not mean that I cannot have a social life."

Castle smirked, staring at her out of the corner of his eye.

"What?" She questioned him with narrowed eyes.

"You just referred to yourself as M.J's grandmother."

He kissed his mother on the cheek and chuckled. "Now, now, you mustn't go getting attached there Mother."

...

"Blow not getting attached, I love you, you beautiful little girl!" Martha hugged M.J tightly to her and kissed her fervently on the head as Mikayla giggled.

They were playing at the park and were sitting on the edge of the sandpit.

"Mother you've got sand in your hair", Castle laughed.

"Oh forget the sand in my hair, Richard we're having fun here can't you see?"

"I can see very clearly", Castle smiled.

"Look what we've got", Alexis called out cheerily as her and Kate arrived carrying two ice creams each.

Alexis handed one to Mikayla as she leapt out of the sand to take it hungrily.

"Don't go running around while you eat it sweetie, it's dangerous. Good girl, you sit down next to Martha and eat it, OK?" Kate requested of the girl who complied instantly and gladly.

Kate handed the other ice cream to Martha and Castle looked extremely put out. "Ahem, where is mine?" He asked Kate accusatorially.

Kate tilted her head as she approached him wrapping her lips around her own ice cream. "I thought we could share. I won't each much and you're on a diet, which you've already broken today with those pancakes."

"But they were the healthy kind!" Castle protested.

"Just trying to take care of my man", Kate told him with a coy smile.

Castle took the ice cream and swirled his tongue around the cool sweet strawberry, smoothing it. He sucked and licked on the cold treat while staring at Kate, watching her eyes darken.

"And what if I want to take care of you?", he said in a low tone.

Kate's breathing quickened and she flushed. "So inappropriate", she spat.

Castle smirked. "I think this is a very good idea actually Katherine, thank you."

Kate shook her head. "You are so too much sometimes."

"Yup, that won't change if I lose weight, darling."

Kate chuckled. "No but it'll be a little more bearable for your poor wife."

Castle's eyes widened and he smiled warmly. "Do you think you could say that again?"

Kate's brow furrowed then she grinned widely. "Your poor wife?"

Castle sighed as he stepped into her, lacing his fingers between hers. "My poor wife... My beautiful, incredible, extraordinary, remarkable, poor wife."

Kate smiled placing her hand on his cheek and leaning in to kiss him lightly. "My sappy husband."

They turned to see Alexis and Martha swaying Mikayla left and right on a boat swing, all laughing happily.

"And our family", Castle said softly.

Kate leaned into him, smiling softly. "Our beautiful family."

...