December 31, 2025

Evan thumps down the stairs with Ellinore tucked under one arm, a book in his hand, and a blanket trailing behind him.

"Evan!" Avery calls to him from the spot she's already claimed on the couch. "Hurry up!"

"I'm coming, Ave," Evan says as he walks around the couch and settles in beside Castle who wraps his arm around Evan's shoulder and allows him to curl into his side.

"Dinner will be here soon," Kate says as she walks out of the kitchen and takes up her spot between Castle and Avery. "Movie time?"

Evan and Avery nod, and Castle starts the movie after making sure that everyone has something to drink and that there are plenty of snacks to hold them over until dinner arrives.

By the time that dinner arrives, they're halfway through the movie, and Castle pauses the movie while the kids follow Kate to the kitchen where she's setting out the various containers of Chinese takeout.

"Ave, do you want your usual?" Kate asks as she starts opening containers and holding them out to her daughter.

Avery shakes her head and climbs up on a barstool next to her brother who's already putting fried rice and lo mein on his plate.

"I want all the foods, Mama. Imma big girl."

Kate smiles at her daughter and holds out a container to her. "This too?"

Avery takes a whiff and claps her hands over her face. "No! That's spicy smellin' Mama!"

Kate laughs and sets the container to the side. "I know, Ave. You don't have to eat that. But you want some of the rest?"

Avery nods and leans her elbows on the counter in front of her. Evan nudges her arm and hands her the container of beef he's finished with. "Here's your favorite, Avery."

"Thanks, Evan," Avery says as she takes the beef and puts a healthy serving on her plate next to the shrimp Kate had added.

"Whoa, crazy girl," Kate says as she takes the container from Avery. "Daddy and I have to eat too."

Avery blushes and ducks her head. "Sorry. I forgot."

"It's fine," Kate says as she tugs on one of her daughter's curls. "You've got other new food to try too, remember?"

Avery nods and shifts some of the beef onto Kate's plate and watches as her mom adds one last spoonful of rice to her plate and pushes it closer to her. "Are you guys eating here or on little tables?"

Evan and Avery share a look and then scramble down from the stools to grab the little folding tables they use to eat and watch movies at the same time.

Kate chuckles softly and goes about preparing her own plate. Castle's arms come around her as he steps up behind her and she leans into him as she dishes out the food.

"Happy New Year," he breathes into her ear.

"Not the new year yet," Kate replies.

"I've got some ideas of how to ring it in," Castle continues.

"We've got two kids, Rick. One of whom may actually make it to midnight uninterrupted."

"They've got to go to bed at some point," Castle points out. "My plans can wait for then."

"Good. Cause I like the sound of you having plans."

Castle's response is cut off when Evan and Avery come hurrying back to grab their dinner and take it to the tables they've set up.

"Hurry, Mama and Daddy!" Avery says when she sees them. "We have movies to watch!"

Kate laughs as their daughter hurries off after her brother. She grabs the container that Avery had turned down earlier and hands it to her husband.

"Take your food, babe. The kids are waiting."

Kate slips out of his embrace and follows the kids into the living room and settling into the couch. Castle watches as his family gets settled again, and only realizes he's not joining them when Kate turns to look at him.

"Sorry, sorry," he says as he hurriedly throws food onto his plate and grabs a fork before walking quickly to the couch and settling in beside his wife.

"Daddy, 's it almost midnight?" Evan asks as he leans heavily into his father's side while his fingers play with Ellinore's ear.

Avery is already conked out on the couch with her feet in Kate's lap and her head resting on her pillow while Sir Rawr is clutched tightly in her arms.

"Almost, bud. Just ten more minutes. Are you gonna make it?"

Evan shrugs and struggles to sit up. "I don't know. 'M tired."

Kate reaches over and rubs her hand along his back which causes his eyes to droop again. "It's ok, Ev. You made it pretty far."

Evan shakes his head and Kate drops her hand from his back. "I gotta make it. So close."

"Are we gonna wake Avery up?" Castle asks his wife. "Let her see the ball drop?"

"We can try," she replies as the Rockin' New Year's Eve returns to their tv. "She might be down for the count though."

The three of them slip into silence as the clock ticks closer to midnight and Evan's battle against his drowsiness grows more difficult.

FInally, though, they reach the final minute and Evan seems to have hit a second wind at the prospect of actually making it to midnight. Kate gently nudges Avery awake and allows her daughter to curl up in her lap as the countdown begins.

Castle and Evan are counting along, and Kate and Avery join in with ten seconds left. When the clock strikes twelve and the ball begins its descent, Castle leans over and kisses Kate's lips gently, smiling when he pulls away.

"Happy new year, guys," Kate says as she kisses Avery's head.

"Happy new year, bud," Castle says as he hugs Evan.

"Can we go to bed now?" Evan asks and Kate and Castle laugh.

"Yeah, bud. Bedtime for you guys."

Evan stands and pulls Avery to her feet. After another round of hugs and kisses, Evan leads her by the hand up the stairs and to bed.

Kate and Castle watch their kids leave the room, and when Castle hears the doors close, he steps further into Kate's space and wraps his arms around her again.

"Is it later yet?"

Kate nods and twines their fingers together as she tugs them into their bedroom. "It's definitely later."

"Mmm. Happy new year, Mrs. Castle," he says as he kisses her neck.

"Happy new year indeed," Kate replies as she closes the door and makes sure it's locked. "A very happy new year."

This chapter is the last one for this story. Thank you to Lindsey for being a fabulous beta, and to Callie, Cathey, Rachel, and Lou for being outstanding cheerleaders throughout.

And thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed this story, all your kind words mean so much to me!