Hey everyone:) Sorry that it has taken so long to get a chapter up, but I have been super busy with the whole moving into college and starting out as a freshman thing. I appreciate all of you being patient and I hope you all enjoy this chapter. It probably would have been up earlier this weekend but I went to a mud bog and got to drive for the first time and placed second in my class:) I really hope you all enjoy this chapter, I worked really hard on it. I'm going to try to post at least once every two weeks, but depending on school work and writer's block, I might not be able to do that. I hope you all enjoy:)

Guest 1: Thank you for your opinion. To clarify it wasn't the whole pregnancy. Only about the last three months. Kate just hadn't told her dad until that point (she was good at hiding it). Lanie and Jim wanted it to be a surprise which is why they didn't tell Kate. While he was in rehab, he wouldn't necessarily be able to have visitors all the time, plus with his withdrawals (which can be violent) they wouldn't necessarily want Kate to be there. Jim wasn't called because Kate didn't know he was sober and Lanie was more focused on Kate. Plus I don't know if Kate would have wanted her dad in the room, I know I don't want my dad in the room. I'm sorry it pissed you off, but I hope you continue to read:) Thanks for letting me know what you thought though:)

Guest 2: Thank you. I plan to keep writing this story for quite a while. This story is going to probably end up being 100+ chapters because I have a lot of ideas. I hope you enjoy this chapter:)

Guest 3: Thank you. Don't worry about the end, as I told guest 2, the end won't come for a very long time:) I hope you like this chapter:)

Guest 4: Thank you. I understand being busy, so no worries there. I hope you enjoy this chapter as well. Maybe it can be a break from whatever it is that is keeping you busy:)

Talks with Johanna

Jim and Kate shared a look before backing away. Every time they came to visit, they would take turns talking to Johanna individually. This time, it seemed Kaylie wanted to start.

"Hi Grandma. How have you been?" Kaylie waited a moment and all was more or less silent. "Okay, I'm glad everything's been quiet up in Heaven. Maybe there will be a party between now and when I come to visit again." Kaylie had long ago worked out a system when it came to talking to Johanna. Silence meant nothing much was happening up in Heaven, all was quiet. If the birds would chirp loudly that meant there had been a party. When the wind blew loudly and wildly, that meant that Johanna was unhappy with something that had happened on Earth.

"I made some new friends, and so did Mommy. Mr. Castle is Mommy's age and they go on dates. He is funny and nice. Alexis Castle is a few years older than me, but she doesn't care. She still plays with me even though I'm littler. She is really nice. I think she might be my new best friend." Kaylie smiled at Johanna's tombstone.

She glanced back towards the adults and saw that they were just looking around, not talking. Kaylie knew this meant that they both wanted to talk to her grandma about something. She turned back around, knowing she should only use a few more minutes of her grandma's time before letting her mom or grandpa take her place.

"Mommy seems happier with Mr. Castle being around. It's even better than when Mr. Sorenson was around. But…" Kaylie once again paused to glance back at her mother. "Do you think you could ask God to keep Mr. Castle around. Mommy was so sad when Mr. Sorenson left. I think he broke Mommy's heart and I don't wanna see that again. I didn't like him too much, but I want Mommy to be happy. I like Mr. Castle a whole lot more than Mr. Sorenson, but even if I do end up not liking him, I don't want Mommy to be sad like that again. I'll pray, but do you think you could talk to God directly, since you're up there with him?" Kaylie paused. Distantly she heard a bird chirp once. "One chirp for yes and two for no as always, right?" Again, one chirp was heard in the distance. "Thank you Grandma. I love you so much! I better let Mommy and grandpa come talk to you. I'll come see you again soon. I love you." Kaylie got up, hugged Johanna's headstone and walked over to Kate and Jim.

Jim and Kate glanced up as Kaylie made her way back to them. "Your turn Mommy," she said with a smile. Kate stood from where she had been leaning against the car and made her way to Johanna's headstone.

"Hi Mom. Sorry it's been so long. Well, I guess it hasn't been that long, just a lot has happened. I'm sure Kaylie told you about Castle. And yes, he is THE Richard Castle who wrote all those books you loved so much. Don't worry, the books aren't why I keep him around. At first I thought he was just an arrogant jackass that could write, but it turns out he is a wonderful man. He has a daughter, Alexis. She is ten, but she doesn't look down on Kaylie like most older kids tend to. Alexis treats Kaylie as an equal. Those two are truly amazing. Mom, I've actually gone on a few dates with him. He is so sweet about Kaylie, he even had us bring our daughters on our first date. I'm sure part of his sweetness comes from the fact that he has raised Alexis mostly on his own. Her mother isn't in the picture, at least not from what I can tell. The person who helps him the most is his mother." Kate smiled, thinking of Martha.

"Oh, and guess who his mother is! Martha Rodgers. The broadway star. You remember all those shows of hers we used to go to, right? She is so amazing in person. She's charismatic, funny, and reminds me quite a lot of you. You would have loved her, and she would have loved you.

"I really miss you mom, but it is getting easier to deal with. I haven't looked at your case in months. With Castle around, I don't even feel the need to look at it. He keeps me so busy, I don't think I would have time to look at it, even if I wanted to. Half the time I feel like I'm looking after a child when I'm around him, but then I see him with Alexis and he's still a child, but there's just this quality about him. He's a dad, and a good one. I think it's good that Kaylie likes him. If he sticks around, I think he could be a good father figure for her, especially if we continue to date. Ryan and Esposito are great male role models, but they are just her uncles and they don't have kids of their own. They are great fun and can show her what a man should be like, but I wish she had a father figure who would be around all the time for her.

"I just wish I could give her more. She deserves so much more than I could ever give her. I know you'd say the same thing as Dad and say that every parent feels that way. Everyone says that I'm a great mom and that Kaylie is lucky to have me, but I still wish I could give her more. She deserves the world and a mom that isn't as messed up as me. I'm really doing my best, but it still doesn't feel like enough.

"I wish you were still here, Mom. Then you could give me some advice. Maybe I could talk to Martha. She raised a wonderful son. If Kaylie were to turn out like Castle, though preferably more mature, I would be so happy. I don't mean a millionaire writer, I mean a well adjusted, happy adult that knows what's important."

Kate glanced back to where Jim and Kaylie stood by the car. Jim was tickling Kaylie and Kaylie was attempting to break away. "She really is perfect Mom. You would have loved her. I know she loves you. And I guess you probably love her too, in your own way.

"I would love to keep talking to you, but I gotta give Dad some time to talk with you too. I love you, so much. I'll come back soon to let you know how everything is going with Castle, with work, and with Kaylie. Love you Mom. Bye."

Jim looked up from tickling Kaylie. "Your turn Dad." Kate smiled, holding her hands out to take Kaylie from him.

"Thanks Katie-Bear," Jim replied, earning an eyeroll from Kate at the nickname. Jim simply walked towards his wife's headstone.

"Hello Johanna," he said, looking down. "God I miss you, but it is getting easier to come visit. I don't feel the urge to drink as strongly anymore. At least now I'm confident that I'll be able to resist the urge. I don't know where I'd be if it wasn't for Kaylie. No, that's not true. I'd either be in jail or with you. Neither of those options are as appealing as my life now. Don't get me wrong, I look forward to the day I join you in Heaven, but as it is, I'm where I need to be. I would never be able to forgive myself if I had left our Katie-Bear all alone. And if she had had Kaylie-Bug without me being able to be there to support her, you would never forgive me either.

"I know you're keeping an eye on all of us down here, and I'm grateful for that. I probably would have stopped going to AA meetings long ago if it wasn't for the fact that I know you wouldn't approve of me not going at least once a month.

"Katie seems to be doing well. This Castle guy seems to be making her happy. I just hope he doesn't leave like Will did. I don't want to see Katie upset like that again. Luckily Castle seems much better than Will, though I haven't met him yet. From what Katie's told me, he has a daughter and lets his mother stay with him rent free. He seems like a good guy, but until I meet him, I'm not going to decide if I think he's good enough for her." Jim glanced down at his watch.

"I'm going to have to leave soon, but I know you want to know what's been going on in my life. I've been fine. Nothing much has happened to me personally. I've gotten a few cases thrown my way, but nothing of consequence. I know you always told me that I should start my own practice, but I don't think I have the best background for that anymore. No one wants a lawyer that is an alcoholic, and I forever will be an alcoholic, even if I never take another sip of alcohol in my life. As it is, I'm lucky I was able to get this job. Most of the cases I've been given are the open and shut cases. I was talking to Rob, a colleague, and he said that if I do well on my cases, I might get some bigger ones. I like the smaller cases, but they do get monotonous after a while, you remember that, right? I barely have to put any effort into these cases, but they do help rebuild my credibility."

Jim once again glanced at his watch. "Its getting late, we should probably be getting Kaylie home soon. We will be back to visit again soon. I love you Johanna and I always will."

Hope you all enjoyed that:) Please leave me a review letting me know what you thought of it, if you found any mistakes, or if you have any questions/requests/suggestions. I welcome both positive and negative comments so feel free to let me know what you are thinking:) Thanks and love you all:)