A/N: My "Fluff Friday - Mother's Day Edition" contribution via Tumblr. Posting early for the U.S. because I know it's already Friday for other fellow members of the fandom.
_
Kate entered sleep seamlessly just the same as she woke the Sunday morning of Mother's Day. Her eyes struggled to open against the sunlight, the bright beams startling her for a solid few seconds. Was it that late already? She extended her arm beside her for Rick, groped around the flat surface of the blanket, and then turned to the side table for the time. In front of the clock rested a yellow envelope with her name scribed in her husband's handwriting, unmistakable. A grin tugged up a corner of her lips as she reached for it, brow cocked and eyes thinned out for whatever came next in reading the letter she pulled out.
Good morning, you.
I know it's Mother's Day, and this is probably terribly inconsiderate for me to ask, but I need a few favors from you today. Can you do a little running around for me? I promise it won't take long. You might even have a little fun with it.
You'll figure out where to go next in these yellow envelopes I've sent out. This is your first one, and obviously, it's from me, the man whom you more than occasionally find next to you in bed. Not all of them will be though, so read carefully, and tailor your actions based on who writes to you. Micah's still six, and his handwriting isn't the best, so forgive him. (He made a point to tell me that and express it to you. He's been working on it.)
So to start off, go shower. A real one, you know, like the ones you used to take that lasted more than a couple, few minutes. Don't rush, and pamper yourself (in whatever ways you wish dear, please), then dress up in your pretty and comfortable. You're going places today, alright?
I love you
By the time she finished reading, her mouth cracked open into the widest smile. She set the letter down onto the bed and slipped into her robe before heading to the kitchen in search of energy. She needed her coffee if she would be as up and about as Rick mentioned. Striding out of the bedroom, the day hit her, and her smile grew faint until it faded completely. It distracted her for some time, but to block her musings, an aroma of a fresh brew found her nostrils, half a pot waiting for her with another yellow envelope tucked behind an empty coffee cup. She grabbed for it and tore it open, starting to pour herself a mug as she read again.
You totally didn't listen to me, did you? I'm pretty sure I said shower first, didn't I? Oh don't act surprised like we both didn't know that would happen. Sixteen years, hun. You didn't marry no fool. Okay, sometimes, but you know what I mean.
Well, if you're already here, drink away then. I got a special roast to sneak you an extra kick this morning. So chug it down, then get ready to head over to Rena's Cafe. Yes, you will be eating, so don't pack in those awful protein bars you insist on for our snack every morning. Sorry, they really are awful. I've been stashing mine in the boy's lunch.
Love me still,
Your favorite Rick
What a goofball. Her wonderful, crazy goofball.
–
She didn't think of much walking into Rena's, an absence clear in her eyes, but upon entering, her line of sight immediately narrowed over to a familiar dame across the way. She stood out, decorated in some eccentric cloth style, but the hair, that copper hair gave her away.
"Martha?" Kate called out. Martha turned to reveal herself, and they both surged toward each other through the small crowd at the front. "Oh gosh, how are you? It's been too long," she said reaching for her hands.
"Oh you needn't tell me that Katherine, I've felt it every day being away from all of you. Richard told me to come here, but he mentioned nothing about seeing you. I'm glad he didn't." They embraced in reunion, squeezing just a little tighter than either of them expected.
Sitting down for a late breakfast, they caught each other up-to-date, discussing all the missed months between them. Between bites of their heavy meal, Martha enthused about her trip with her husband, telling stories about the Orient and the adventures they encountered while often lost in translation. Kate spoke mostly of Micah, showing pictures and videos of his most recent activities: t-ball games, piano recitals, and to Martha's delight, a school play.
"My, my, what a little leading man. Please tell me you and Richard saved a copy of the whole play?" Her eyes widened and brows raised, the hope hanging off her voice. Kate giggled at her expression, nodding in assurance.
"We saved you your own copy, at home ready to be picked up." Martha closed her hands together and breathed out, the joy setting her face aglow. Kate tried to flag down the waitress with her hand before she continued. "So this world tour, is it finished? Will you be coming home to us for good soon?"
"Very soon," Martha replied. She gazed at Kate, reaching out a hand to stroke her face, a motherly warmth running under her thumb. "You seem to bloom more and more every time I see you, darling…such a gift Richard has given me."
"He's passing this off as his gift to you today?" she asked with a smirk.
"He said I'd get a surprise yes," Martha started. She reached down for Kate's hand and folded it into hers. "But I didn't mean just for today, sweetheart." At her words, Kate's eyes softened. She held them on her mother-in-law uninterrupted until their waitress came over.
"Yes?" the young girl asked.
"Can we have our check please?" Kate said as she fumbled around for her money.
"Oh, it's already taken care of." Kate exchanged looks with Martha before they returned their eyes at the girl. "You're Mrs. Castle, aren't you?"
With a quick nod, she stopped. Her lips scrunched as she slowed another couple nods before glancing back at Martha, biting her upper lip in.
"Oh he's good," Martha said before sipping her drink.
"He also told me to give you this," the waitress said handing Kate the third letter. Receiving it she wasted no time and ripped through it, revealing Rick's handwriting again.
Hi there. Turn this around after you read hers.
You enjoy breakfast with mother? I hope so. I can't tell you how many times she talked about getting to sit down with you after coming back. She almost passively demanded it, not so subtly hinting at how she barely gets to talk with you anymore. I'm not enough for her, I understand. It's okay. I just need your love right? Babe number one?
Make sure you grab her envelope before she takes off. She's gonna forget. Trust me.
"Martha, do you have an envelope like this?"
She stared at Kate's hands for a second before epiphany struck, causing her to dig away in her purse. "I have it somewhere here–yes, this," she said pulling on the corner of it. Kate chuckled to herself as another "Castle prophecy" fulfilled itself. Martha offered out the envelope while standing to leave. "Listen darling, this was absolutely lovely. Perfect Mother's Day. Unfortunately, I have an appointment in fifteen minutes a little ways out from here so I should get going. I look forward to seeing you soon." She wrapped her arm quickly around Kate before biding her goodbye and taking off.
After watching her walk out, Kate's eyes returned to the letter before her, and this time read Martha's writing. It didn't even seem addressed to Kate. Had she known what it was for?
Oh, the many memories I have of Katherine. So many cling to me, one single experience cannot possibly include all the joys she's brought to my life. However, one does stick out above the rest that's relevant for Mother's Day. Rena's Cafe.
I distinctly remember going out for dinner, all four of us, as the oven still needed some repairing after the pie incident…we ate out at Rena's, and Alexis was out of her usual range, almost on edge throughout dinner, reaching the verge of her angry tears. I watched Kate coax out the problem–not just the surface one, but the underlying cause for it, and all the feelings attached. I can't recall anymore what the issue involved…but she worked her beautifully, just gorgeously with Alexis.
I remember it always because in that moment, I realized the mother she would be for my future grandchildren. She was already there. She was there with Alexis, right in that moment. My heart raised right out of my chest as I watched her reach for Alexis' with such care and compassion. I looked on them like a little girl eyeing a cosmic eclipse for the first time. From that moment on, I longed to see her fully step into motherhood. All that was missing was a child of her own. She was already there.
Kate casually flicked away her tears, watchful of passing customers as the face of Alexis from that night surfaced into her mind. School, it had been school, she thought. That had been so long ago, even before she and Rick were married. Oh Martha…such a sweet soul.
Reeling with flutters all throughout her stomach and chest, she folded up the letter and held it to her heart, stowing it away in her jacket pocket for safekeeping. Breathing out, the fullness of her stomach became more evident as she finished off her coffee. She went to read the rest of Rick's letter with a new drive, an eagerness to continue moving in this run around he set before her.
Look under the table.
She looked around, reluctant, and bent down to look, finding yet another sealed yellow envelope taped to the underside of the table. She peeled it right off, opening it to read the next letter. This time, she read in Alexis' handwriting.
Kate -
How are things so far? I hope you know you're just getting started. Before we go any further, you need to stop by somewhere, at a place within walking distance of Rena's. Go north for a bit when you walk out the front, and you'll remember First Ladies Spa, the one Lanie religiously took us to that one summer. The staff is waiting. Look out for the next envelope there too.
With love,
Lex
"Just getting started, huh," she muttered to herself.
–
The need for the deluxe package at the spa didn't quite process until she fully immersed into it, getting treated on every inch of her to relieve those knots she accumulated running around in the normal day to day. She forced her lips together, mindful on the moans she'd surely make if she allowed her mouth to remain open. Too good, way too good. Almost better than Rick's massages, just without the happy ending.
Nearly two hours she stayed, coming back to reality only when they instructed her to. She gained back parts of her body, aware of her skin again with every bit of tension extracted from it. She stumbled around getting dressed, dragging her feet as she made her way to the front lobby to leave. She stopped by the counter to pay, but of course, she only received another yellow envelope.
"Mrs. Castle did you enjoy your stay?" The clerk asked. She just offered a smug face and gesture of the hand, her eyes steady on the familiar paper she tore through once more.
Now that you're all relaxed, it's time we have a little fun, right? There's a place in Long Island City you took me before, and we've never been back since. I think today is the perfect time to remedy that. A town car waits for you outside the doors to drive you there–I'll be waiting to team up with you against our rivals, as they're waiting as well.
See you soon Capt,
Little Castle
She racked her brain, filtering through the places she'd taken Alexis over the course of the last five years. Where? Where would she–wait. Only one place, just one stuck out.
Laser Tag.
It looked just the same when she arrived, just as extensive and just as intense comparative to their first visit. Entering the building, her eyes scanned around, cautious stepping inside. The silence led her to believe that maybe she got the wrong place, but before she could motion to leave, Alexis emerged all suited up, carrying the vest and gun for Kate.
"Hey Mama Castle," she greeted. "Mama Ryan and Private Sarah-Grace are waiting for us, as is the enemy. Are you ready?"
Kate reached for the equipment, a poker face settled over her as she slung on the vest and readied the gun. "No mercy," she hissed as they entered the briefing room. Inside, Jenny and Sarah-Grace stood by the arena door. Kate greeted and hugged them both, before signaling to all three girls with a nod. "Give them no reason, girls."
They waited on the game runner to explain the rules, then for the buzzer, and on its alarm they all busted open the door, charging for their own positions, watching out for the boys. Kate scoped out the room, her steps light and her body fluid as she ducked in and out of corners, eyes darting around in search of the enemy. Peeking out, she spotted Ryan about to shoot Alexis, so she pulled back her trigger, landing a fatal hit on his chest. He turned on his heel to spot the person responsible for his first kill, but she bounded out of sight before he could catch her.
She roamed to find the other boys, listening for the lasers shots and for the executed kills. Everyone's voices ricocheted throughout the room, all except for Espo who never failed to elude her, unscathed throughout a whole game, but with plenty of kills on her. She set her mind on pursuing him, but didn't anticipate the double team of Garett, Alexis' fiancé, and Micah.
"Mama, I'm gonna get you!" Her little boy sang when he spotted her for the first time.
Screams and shouts filled the battlefield, but not more than the laughter that broke out between all of them. Positions were given away and safe spots eliminated with ease. More than halfway through, Kate abandoned everything, swept up her son, and knelt down to proceed tickling him, blowing raspberries on his neck until he surrendered.
"Where is he, baby?" She asked still holding onto him. She concentrated her voice into his ear, keeping it hushed between them. "Where is Uncle Javi?" The little boy's face shifted in place, a grimace setting in as he stood up, pulling his mother along to reveal Espo's spot. When she spotted him, he had still tucked himself out of reach, so she lifted Micah onto her shoulders, handing him her gun to finally carry out a hit on the sniper. With one shot, her son disabled Espo, who cried out in shock after seeing his teammate on the end of the trigger.
"Micky, what're you doin' boy," he said throwing his hands up.
"I'm sorry, Mama got tuh me!" The boy pouted. When Espo stood up to see, Kate blew on the tip of the gun hanging beside her head, a sly grin and raised brow teasing him.
The boys won only by a handful of hits, but the sting of betrayal hung over them as they exited into the front. "Boy, you're dad is gonna hear about this," Espo warned as they huddled together outside.
"No," Micah stressed, his lips curved tight, dragging out the O in protest.
"Come on bud, you think mama's gonna let anything happen," Kate intervened. Espo played a glare, but a smile overtook his lips when he watched the littlest Castle cuddle up to his mom, sticking out his tongue as she did.
They all exchanged hugs before leaving, going off to their own celebrations of Mother's Day. Even Alexis made her goodbyes for the night, explaining that her and Garett would go to pick up Meredith from the airport for a late dinner. As she went to leave, she left her envelope and a kiss goodbye for Kate.
Waiting for the town car to pick them up for the next destination, she took a seat to read the letter. Reading it, she noticed Micah's eyes looking over with her, struggling to read along. She ran her hand over his head as her eyes ran over the words.
Kate -
You remember now right? You surprised me with this one weekend. You took me and dad, the boys, and Lanie, and we duked it out in a full on boys vs. girls war. I cried a whole bunch that night, only because I howled with laughter with you for most of it.
Of all the memories we've had, it's one of the simpler ones, but it still means a great deal to me. This night, you reminded me what family could feel like. I've often lost that feeling some days along the way, but you always knew when and how to bring it back to me full force, in ways just like that night. I keep those kinds of memories with me every day, and I will continue to to serve as a reminder for when I start my own family.
You know, I know it's Mother's Day, but the funny thing is that you're not a mother for me, and not for reasons you might think. We have something much different than that relationship, something more special, and it's maybe just a little better. Today, I celebrate what we have, and express my thanks to you for all you do for me. You've proven that I don't need blood to determine how much you mean to me… because that's not at all what family is. You showed me that family is whoever sticks around, whoever shows up, and whoever chooses to love both the good and bad in you every single day.
Happy Mother's Day, Kate. I love you–please don't ever forget that.
Your Lex
When she teared up this time around, Micah sprang to her aid, a wave of concern throwing him around his mother's neck. "What's wrong, why are you crying?" he asked. Wiping her eyes, she shifted him onto her lap, locking his neck with her arm, keeping him close to her.
"I'm okay, baby, I'm fine. Your sister…she's just, she's very sweet."
"Are you gonna cry if you read mine? I don't want you to if you will…"
Just as she went to speak, the car pulled up, and the driver beckoned them over. Hand in hand the two walked, got in, and proceeded back to the borough. She recollected her thoughts after they got moving again. "Where's your letter?" she asked, turning to her son.
"Daddy said not to give it till we get to the swings."
The swings?
Oh…yes. Of course. The swings.
–
Exiting the car, they both glanced over at the festival nearby. Jazzy notes spilled into her ears as she absorbed the scene before her–booths and food cars stationed around, serving goodies to all the passing people. In the distance, she noticed the swings, their vantage point perfectly aligned with the concert. Thankful she could see and hear it, Micah paid no attention, just ready for the swing set. When his eyes registered where they sat, he flew over, Kate dawdling behind to the rhythm of the music.
How long had it been? She hadn't made it out for some time, even without Rick. Maybe one other time, but the memory wouldn't clear just yet. When she took her swing, yes her swing, the years flew by in her head, images flickering in and out while she closed her eyes. She saw just the last time with Rick, when she gave him the news about Micah. Now here she was, some six years later, about to sit with her little boy.
After a moment or so settling in, he handed her the letter, swaying in his father's spot as a perfect substitute. His legs were still far too scrawny to power a good momentum, so she bumped his seat forward, propelling him into a strong glide back and forth as she read his letter.
Mama -
Thanks Mama. I'm so happy your my Mama becase your the best mama…I love you alot. Always be my mama. I don't want nobody else. They can't be you. I Just want you as my Mama, forevar! How was your day? Was it gud? I love you :)
Love,
Micah Allan Castle
Her eyes flicked sideways to see him furiously pumping his legs, admiring him as he soared towards the burning sky, advancing up and retreating back with such fervor that he might've flown if he let go completely.
When she turned the paper around, she found more writing, but this time her husband's again.
He wanted to write more, but we're still honing his skills. It took him an hour to perfect that. At this point, I'm not sure if that means me, or you leaking out. So be the gentle soul that you are if he asks you your thoughts about it. I helped on the storytelling as he, like the rest of us, had his own tale of you to share.
One memory he cherishes happened here, right on our swings. You'd taken him for the first time after school one day, and planted him on the seat, showing him how to pump his legs and swing. You didn't get to stay long to avoid getting rained out. I never told you, but when you both came home that night, he said to me, "dad, mama taught me tuh fly!"
For a while I thought it mattered so much because of how it made him feel. He talked about it more than either of us ever realized, but it hit me afterward that it had more to do about you. About you and your mom, more than about him. He'd asked me questions about her, what I knew, because you had told him that she was the one who taught you "how to fly." It stuck with him, rooted in his head. And I think he knew. He saw how much it meant to you. So it meant so much more to him.
We have a pretty damn good kid, don't we?
Instant tears, again, meditating on all of it, on her mother, on Martha, Alexis, her boys. But airy chuckles escaped her too, chest filled to the brim with such gladness, impossibly containable. When she looked back at him, she caught glimpse of her husband…his warm smile spread across her little boy's tiny face. In certain light, she spotted the profiles of Rick in him, more and more as he aged. He drove her crazy, good crazy, just as much as his dad.
Rick reaffirmed that belief when he snuck up behind her, grabbing onto her seat and plowing her forward, evoking a brief, high pitched scream as he brought her back down to level. He chuckled at the flustered look she shot at him, but her lips spread out after a moment or so.
"Hey–it's still Mother's Day, I don't want nunnathat," she pointed a finger at him, bending her head back.
"Oh you're gonna use that card? That's null and void in a few hours, you wait." She pursed her lips and tossed a glare, thinned greens piercing into his blues.
"And what have you been up to, partner?" she asked.
"Waiting for you, and geez, you took forever," he said, then planted small kisses on her lips for a few seconds. "You tired now? Ready to turn in?"
"No, actually. I'm…I'm good. I'm–I'm great," she said, a wide grin breaking into her words.
"Good," he started. "Then let's go."
"Where we off to now?"
"Micky's off to mom's, and we are off to home."
–
"Gimme ten minutes," he said stopping her at the door.
"Ten minutes?" she exclaimed. "For what–"
"You will see!" he replied, throwing his hands forward to calm her down. "Just wait–I'll-I'll be back."
She rolled her eyes playfully, waved her hand permitting him to go in without her, and waited for the length of the ten minutes. She timed it right on her watch, and without another minute to pass, she stepped in through the door, choked as she absorbed the foreign setting in front of her.
Above her, an array of mason jars hung from the ceiling, wielding candles inside them, swallowing her in a sea of golden light. The furniture had all been moved–where to, unclear initially before she spotted his study, filled with all their things–and in their place, white, yellow, and red rose petals scattered all around. They left an empty pathway straight to one red comforter, stretched in the center of the room, accompanied by a bottle of wine and a tiny book. When Rick reappeared, the music trailed in, flooding the air, replacing the silence with guitar strums and piano key strokes.
"You really couldn't wait one more minute for me to finish lighting these damn things," he asked stepping towards her. "I would've done it before I brought you, but I thought it'd be a bad day to burn the place down."
"Castle this…this is gorgeous, it's stunning, it's–"
"–what, like you?" he said moving her towards the blanket. She suppressed a smile with great struggle, her eyes searching for his, latching on with a tenderness she couldn't resist. "I sent you running around so I could get this all done and…you're surprised," his initial thought went interrupted, and added a knowing tone to his observation. He noted her gaze, still observing the room, eyes questioning the reality before them.
"I just–today was already so–I don't know," she grappled for words. "You totally spoiled me today."
"Do you know why?" She had some ideas, but none of them warranted the day's affairs, not any of it. Her lack of response led him to pull her closer, laying her back against his chest as he also reached for the tiny book. He nestled his chin onto the base of her neck, wrapping her with his arms, splitting open the book to the first page. "I know they said love keeps no record of wrongs, but I don't think they said anything about counting rights."
Her eyes skimmed through, trying to make sense of what it was that she read, but after the first two pages, clarity took command. He'd journaled little acts in her motherhood, arbitrary events that fell out of her head long before, detailing the moments and his reactions to them. She took it from him and thumbed through, both of them taking turns reading aloud the ones he pointed out, with her voice often wavering as she advanced through the entries, all the many pages he had filled.
You still don't believe me, so I'm writing it down for written record. We conceived in the storage closet at the work party, not in the Hampton's. If you're denying this to protect our child in the future, okay. You're a great mom already. But come on, you and I know the truth, hun. And honestly, if he's got a combination of our thinking skills, you know very well that he can figure it out for himself.
I caught you talking to him about Alexis today when you went down for a nap. You assured that he had a big sister waiting for him, and that she'd be there to watch over, to love, and to teach him, guiding him in ways maybe you and I can't. You're five months…but you're so convinced he knows, that he understands. I'm counting on you to be right. You usually are anyhow. Wow, there's this impending feeling of regret for saying that. If you love me you'll never use it against me in future arguments.
You're such a trooper. My girl is a damn trooper. All those hours you endured, and you're still smiling, you're still laughing and joking with me. Even all flush and sweaty. It's kinda sexy, but more beautiful. I wish I could show you just how good motherhood looks on you.
You were half asleep, but I wonder if you'll remember…you sang some random lyrics lying down on the couch with the boy earlier. He stirred a bit when he lied on your chest, but calmed down whenever something slipped out of your mouth. Those nights you spent singing while pregnant paid off I'm guessing. Now we know our weapon to assure we all can get some sleep. You know something else? Your voice is just as gorgeous even when you don't know what you're saying. I'm kinda hooked on it, hooked on you.
Kate flipped through, the years of raising their child coming back to the forefront, seeing his recordings of the heartache, the stress, the labor, the tears, the laughter, the joy, and everything else, all she did for Micah, and the family as a whole. Rick had awfully good attention skills, keen over the small things she frequently believed went unnoticed, proving her wrong each opportunity he had. She read on, baffled and in awe of every moment he captured in ink. As she furthered in the book, she landed on the most recent entry, and started out just reading in her head, but he nudged her, encouraging her to read it aloud too.
"Watching you with Micah…I can't help but think about your mother sometimes. Especially times like today. She'd have–" She cut off for a second, biting onto the words, her tongue reluctant to let them fall out. "She'd have loved to see you like this, doing the things she used to for you with her grandson.
"She's still alive though, in some way. I know her through you, in the things you do, in all the love you shower over us constantly. Your impact on every member of this family stands as a testament to the work she did on you, raising you, molding you to become the woman I love returning to at the end of each and every day. She's proud. I'm proud. Every day we are. Being me, I'm doing what I can, still trying to find ways to repay you for all you do for us. I promise, it doesn't stop with today, or tomorrow, or next week. I'll keep showing up. I'll be here, right beside you. Always. Happy Mother's Day, sweetheart. I love you."
She closed the book, and froze in place, uncertain of what to do. Exhaling sharply, and leaving a smile behind on her lips, a rush overwhelmed her for a moment. She turned to face him, cheeks glistening in the low light as her hands raised to his neck, and rubbed it to occupy the time she took to gather words. None came.
"I thought about her today. I imagine you must've too, a lot," he offered up. She shook her head as she wiped the flow of her tears.
"Not in that way though. Maybe at first, but I just…As the day went along and you spelled out everything, I just didn't put together what she did for me then, and what I do for Micah now. Me and her are one in the same."
"You're a wonderful mom, Kate. Not just for her though, but for you. She may not be here to guide you through each step, but we've made it this far right? From what our parents showed us and for finding things out on our own. For me and you being me and you. That, that is why we did today, for you," he clarified. "And I know we gifted you just words–" he started to dismiss, but she stopped him dead.
"No–no, okay? They're not just words. Words are never just words. You taught me that." She took a long breath, still having trouble doing it properly. One hand swept his hair back, her thumb grazing his jaw as she just stared into him. "I love you. I love so much, you know that?" her voice shook. "Thank you. For this–for everything."
He brought her down onto her back, one hand on her neck and his other tucked around her. His face neared hers, just barely skin to skin, the tip of his lip tracing over hers as he spoke. "Thank you for being everything."