As Beckett said she "believes in the everyday magic of life in … the way that I feel when I hear Coltrane", this is from when Coltrane was a sideman for Miles Davis. This song is from the Miles Davis's album "Some Day My Prince Will Come". These vignettes come to mind when I hear the songs as played by John Coltrane.

This song is "Some Day My Prince Will Come". You can hear the song as played by the Miles Davis quintet on YouTube.

watch?v=fBq87dbKyHQ

This song is by Frank Churchill and Larry Morey. The version from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is found on YouTube.

watch?v=HLQ2sYxktMQ

Disclaimer: The characters are the property of Andrew W. Marlowe and ABC television. The lyrics are the property of their respective owners. No infringement is intended.

Transcriptions and other information come from dustjackets dot wikifoundry dot com.

Once there was a Princess

Was the Princess, you?

And she fell in love

Was it hard to do?

Well, it was very easy

Anyone could see that the Prince was charming

The only one for me

A/N: Pre-series

Little Katie Beckett was sitting at the kitchen table while her mother was making dinner. It was a typical Sunday evening before the beginning of the workweek. In the family room there was a TV on, a crack of a bat hitting a baseball could be heard. Jim Beckett could be heard cheering. Katie Beckett had a crayon in her hand intently coloring in the picture before her.

"Mommy," A nine-year old Katie Becket asked as she looked up from her task. "Do all princesses have a happy ending?"

"Why do you ask that?" Johanna replied putting down the knife she was using to cut some vegetables. She walked to the kitchen table and sat beside her daughter.

"Well, I was over Pammy's apartment and we watched a bunch of movies. 'Sleeping Beauty', 'Snow White', and 'The Princess Bride'. Do all princesses have something bad happen to them before they get their happy ending?"

"You watched all of them today? That was a lot of movies."

"No, mommy. We watched them when I go over to play. Pammy likes to take her Barbie's and pretend that they're in the movie. So do they? Do princess have something bad happen?"

"It depends on the princess."

"Snow White had to run away through the enchanted forest and ate a poison apple. Sleeping Beauty was put to sleep by that bad witch. And Buttercup was kidnapped and the big eels almost bit her."

"Real princesses aren't bitten by big eels," Johanna assured her daughter.

"But they got their happy ending."

"I suppose they did," Johanna continued. "But sometimes princesses have to do things for themselves. They don't always have Prince Charming or Westley to come and save them."

"They don't?"

"No," Johanna answered. "They don't. Princesses … Women can do it themselves if they put their mind to it."

"Daddy sometimes calls me his princess. Do I have to have something bad happen?"

"Not all princesses have to have something bad happen to them. Some get their happy ending without the eels." Johanna said tickling her daughter. "Mommy did. I found daddy."

Giggling Katie said, "I just had my tonsils out, is that my bad thing? Do I get my happy ending soon?"

"You're not happy now?" Johanna asked.

"Yes," Katie replied. "I love being with you and daddy here. I love my school. I love my friends at school except maybe that mean Jeremy. Sometimes he makes stupid faces at me."

"He's still doing that? I thought he'd get over that."

"Well he hasn't. He's been doing it like forever."

"I'm sure it isn't forever, Katie. You're exaggerating."

"Well maybe, mommy, but will I get my happy ending soon?"

Johanna looked at her daughter. Katie looked back with a hopeful expression.

"No honey, you have to wait until you're an adult, then you may get a chance to get your happy ending. And if you find it, hold on to it. Don't let it go."

"It will take forever for me to be an adult, mommy."

Johanna hugged her daughter and said, "It'll come sooner than you think. And one day, when you have a little girl asking her about her happy ending, you can tell her about when you asked your mommy about it.

And then you'll tell her how you worked hard to get it."

"Okay mommy, I will."

Was he strong and handsome?

Was he big and tall?

There's nobody like him anywhere at all

Did he say he loved ya?

Did he steal a kiss?

He was so romantic

I could not resist

A/N: 1x07 Home is Where the Heart Stops

Rick Castle is starting to fix breakfast for his mother and daughter when the doorbell rings.

"Mother, could you see who that is?" Castle asks as he cracks some eggs into a bowl and starts to whisk.

Martha Rodgers opens the door, recognizes the caller and says, "Darling, we have a visitor."

As Kate Beckett enters the loft she looks over at Castle starting breakfast.

As he looks to see who it is, Beckett sees Castle's shiner, "Oh, pretty butch, Castle."

"I know, right?" Castle answers. "Come, grab a chair."

Hesitating Beckett responds, "Oh, no. I just came to return your mom's jewel—"

Castle interrupts, gesturing toward a stool, "You saved my life. The least I can do is make you some eggs."

Beckett wavering, "No, really, I- I have to get going..."

Gently grabbing her arm, Martha pulls her to the kitchen bar, "Nonsense. You sit down right here. Tell us all about last night. We've only heard his version."

Sitting down at the bar, Beckett starts, "All right. Um... Shall I begin at the red carpet?"

Alexis answers, "Yes, please."

Beckett starts her tale, "So, we came to the Waldorf. Ryan and Esposito were manning the entrance."

Martha interrupts, "Those are your two handsome partners?"

"Mother," Castle growls. "No going cougar on us."

Chuckling, Beckett answers, "Yes, Martha."

"Please continue, Katherine," Martha said. "Pay no attention to this … Neanderthal."

"Paparazzi were yelling at your son for pictures," Kate continued. "Surprisingly, he didn't stop at all. I was really not feeling like having my picture taken there."

"But you looked so amazing," Alexis interjected.

"I'm sure you were the 'Belle of the Ball'," Martha agreed. "Richard, it seems you put your ego away for one night squiring Katherine there."

"Thank you mother for that ringing endorsement."

"After his third best-seller, he was always looking for a camera to pose in front of," Martha said to Beckett. "No acting genes were passed on to him but the ham was."

"Mother!"

"Oh, I believe it, Martha," Beckett teased. "I can see him preening for the camera for all those female admirers."

"Hey."

"If you deny it," Martha said. "No one will believe you."

"Alexis?"

"Sorry, Dad, Grams is right."

"Right," Castle pouted. "All of you ganging up on the cook."

"Poor baby," Martha said as she patted her son's cheek. "You'll survive." Turning to Beckett, "Katherine, please continue."

"Once we got inside there was a grand staircase down to the main floor of the ballroom. There was a soft jazz group playing off to one side. Anyway, the first person we meet is the mayor."

"Uncle Bob?" Alexis asked. "He was there? He is the nicest man."

"What am I?" Castle asked while he tended to the scrambled eggs. "Chopped liver?"

"Apparently, Castle has been talking about me to the mayor," Beckett says giving Castle a dirty look.

"Bob asked if I was writing something new so I told him."

"Richard," Martha interrupted. "I hope you've been giving good reports back to Robert. Katherine doesn't need any further trouble because of you. Lord knows you're trouble enough."

Turning around, trying to look at his back, he says, "Is there some kind of sign on my back? Or is today 'Pick on Rick' day?"

"Oh Richard, finish cooking breakfast," Martha said waving her hand dismissing his objections. "I'm sure Katherine is starving. Alexis looks a little peaked, too."

"Everyday," Kate teased. "Should be 'Pick on Rick' day, don't you think, Alexis?"

"Well," Alexis followed looking at her father. "You still haven't raised my allowance since I bailed you out for what was it? 'Obstructing Justice' and being a nuisance to Detective Beckett."

"Alright, alright," Rick said raising his hands in surrender. "Peace. Uncle."

"Thank you, Richard," Martha continued turning to Beckett. "I've tried to raise a good son. Perhaps, Katherine, you'll be a better influence on him. Please continue with your story."

While Castle starts plating up the breakfast and carries it to the dinner table, Beckett continues with her story.

"That's quite a story," Alexis says. "And that's how dad got his black eye?"

"And that line, "go ahead, I need the practice," sounds like something out of one of my old TV cop shows." Martha adds.

"The one where she played a crazy old woman," Castle added. "Hmm."

"Castle," Beckett interrupted. "Say one more word and I get out my handcuffs."

Castle was about to say something, looked at Alexis and sighed. "Yes, ma'am," He sheepishly replied.

"Come on, Castle," Beckett said smiling. "Let me help you clean the table and wash the dishes."

"You're our guest," Castle objected while grabbing some plates and taking them to the kitchen.

"No, Castle," Kate stated, taking her plate to the kitchen as well. "I think I should help you with clean-up duty."

Sensing that Beckett wanted to talk to Castle alone, Martha said, "Alexis and I will leave you to it. Come on Alexis, I need some help on a potential role."

Alexis was going to object but then Martha steered her toward the stairs.

"We'll be upstairs if you need us," Martha said.

Castle watched his two favorite ladies go up to their rooms and then turned to Beckett. "You don't have to do this clean-up."

"No," Beckett responded. "I want to. In fact, I want to thank you for going to all the trouble to get us into the MADT gala."

"It was no problem," Castle replied. "Getting justice for Susan and Joanne Delgado makes it no trouble at all."

"And thank you so much for the dress. It is beautiful."

"You're welcome," Castle said while he was thinking, "Not as beautiful as who wore it."

"What do you want to do with it?"

"I can think of some ideas," Castle thought.

"Keep it. It's yours," Castle said.

Beckett tried to object but Castle continued, "It's not Martha's style and Alexis isn't tall enough to wear it without serious modifications. And as a father, I'm not sure I'm going to like teen aged boys seeing her in that dress."

Beckett smiled, understanding how her father was when she was a teen aged girl.

"Of course, you can always loan it to Esposito. Maybe he won't stretch out this one."

"I don't think he could pull the look off," Beckett laughed.

"You're probably right," Castle laughed. "But anyway, save it for another time. Maybe a boyfriend will take you somewhere where you could wear it."

"That's not the crowd that a police detective runs around with, Castle."

"You never know. Circumstances change. Maybe it'll come in handy someday."

They completed the rest of the dish washing in silence, lost in thoughts about last night. Both of them wishing Beckett wasn't on duty at the MADT gala so they both could enjoy the evening.

Putting away the last of the items, Beckett said, "I'd better be going, Castle. Thanks for breakfast. And thanks for last night."

"You're most welcome. Last night was … eventful."

Castle and Beckett walked to the door. Opening it she turned to him and said, "I don't envy you for the pain from that shiner. Take some ibuprofen. Now rest well and I'll see you later."

"You, too, detective," Castle said as she walked to the elevator.

Closing the door, Castle thought, "Paraphrasing the Man in Black, I will rest well and dream about a particular woman."

Someday my prince will come

Someday we'll meet again

And away to his castle we'll go

To be happy forever I know

A/N: 5x04 Murder, He Wrote

Kate Beckett started to wake up and heard something unusual. She heard nothing. In her apartment, she heard the hum of the city, even if she woke up early in the morning. But now she heard nothing.

In some ways, this was disconcerting. The noises of the city were in some ways a comfort, a security blanket. When she was in the city, she knew where she was and who she is. Out here, in The Hamptons, she didn't know where she was or who she was. Of course she knew she was at Castle's Hamptons Mansion, Castle's Castle so to speak, but she was so far out of her normal element that she might as well be on the Dark Side of the Moon.

Helping the Hamptons PD solve the murder that literally fell into their laps helped her to get some of her bearings back. But, with the closing of the case, that gnawing in the back of her mind started to come out.

"Who am I?" Kate thought. "I'm just a cop and he's a best-selling author. I probably couldn't afford his electric bill on this place and he can throw $100,000 like it was chump change. He has models and actresses falling at his feet. Ryan and Espo better not tell Castle I was a model or I'll kill them."

She rolled over toward Castle seeing his resting form lying on his side facing her. His peaceful visage calmed her some of her doubts. She snuggled into the sinfully soft sheets and felt a pleasant soreness over her body.

"Well," she thought. "I should enjoy it while it lasts. And the three rounds last night were very enjoyable."

Beckett reached over to tenderly brush a lock of Castle's hair away from his face. Smiling, she thought, "He really is ruggedly handsome. Maybe, in another life, he was a cowboy of some sort."

Just then her tummy gurgled. "That's my cue," She thought.

She got out of bed and picked up the black baby doll nightgown off the floor. She smiled as she put it in her clothes satchel thinking, "This was well worth the money spent. But it didn't stay on me long last night. I suppose Castle's right, at least in his case. The cost of the lingerie is inversely proportional to how soon it hits the floor."

Beckett finds one of Castle's button down shirts and fastens just a couple of buttons. She then proceeds down to the kitchen to make some coffee.

Lately, in the city, the mornings after spending the night together had her getting up before him, sometimes an hour before he would emerge. This morning appeared to be no different.

She took her cup to the back porch to watch the sunrise and the surf. She heard a couple of seagulls squawking about something. On the horizon she could see some large ship. The oranges and reds of the clouds contrasted with the faint blue, early morning sky.

Finally, her stomach growled and she thought, "I may as well fix something."

She strode back into the kitchen and started raiding the fridge. She found some bacon, eggs, and some frozen biscuits. Also, hanging in the pantry there was an apron. She took off Castle's shirt, not wanting to stain the arms, and put on the apron. From there, she pre-heated the oven and beat the eggs.

She cooked the bacon first and then removed most of the grease and then started the scrambled eggs.

The biscuits were in the oven for a while when Castle made his way down.

"My favorite way to see you cooking," Castle said as he approached his girlfriend. "Naked except for an apron."

Kate turned and looked at her boyfriend. He was in a barefoot in a loosely tied robe, his bare chest showing through the opening. She smiled as she glanced at his face.

"I'm glad you approve, Castle."

Castle chuckled. "I more than approve, Beckett, I think we should make this a new rule. Wearing an apron only when cooking for the two of us."

"And what will the other one be wearing?" Kate asked, smiling.

"Good point. I guess I'm over dressed," Castle said as he untied his robe. Shrugging the robe off and setting it on a chair, he had nothing on under it. "Nude, of course. Any discussion?"

"Nope," She said as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Then the motion carries," Castle said as he kissed her.

Beckett plated up the eggs, bacon and biscuits and brought them to the table. Seeing Castle's attire, or lack thereof, she took off the apron and hung it back where she found it in the pantry.

Castle started eating and said, "I didn't realize how hungry I was until I smelled the bacon. Then I felt this hole in my stomach that needed filling. Thanks Beckett."

"You're welcome."

Castle pondered for a moment, then he looked at her and smiled, "We do have some unfinished business to attend to."

Dumbfounded, Beckett looked at him questioning, "What business?"

"Well, before we were so rudely interrupted with a murder, we were going for a swim. Care to go after breakfast?"

"That would be nice," Kate said. "I'll go up and put on my suit."

Castle said with a sexy smile, "No need, Beckett. Just come as you are."

Someday when spring is here

We'll find our love anew

And the birds will sing and wedding bells will ring

Someday when my dreams come true

A/N: Post-series

"Mom!" Lily Castle cried slamming the loft door behind her. "Mom! Scott's going off to Georgia Tech. Next year he won't be near me at Cornell."

Kate Beckett looked up from her reading. She was on the couch, studying paperwork that had come to her the day before and was reviewing her options.

"When did you find this out?" Kate asked. "You knew this was a possibility."

"Yeah, mom," Lily answered, tears brimming in her eyes. "He just got his acceptance letter. He debated whether to go to an Ivy League school or Georgia Tech and he settled on Tech."

"Any particular reason?"
"The engineering school he wants to get into," Lily said sadly. "Also, he's always wanted to be a 'Ramblin' Wreck'."

"Okay," Kate responded. "What's so wrong about going to Georgia Tech? It's a good school."

"He's going to be so far away," Lily cried. "Some southern girl is going to snatch him away. All those Georgia girls are so pretty. I can see them in the stands on TV football games."

"He's not that far away," Beckett said to her daughter. "It's not like he's going somewhere in California or other places on the west coast."

"He's not going to be near me," Lily sobbed plopping down on the couch next to her mother. "I was hoping we could see each other on some weekends."

"See each other?"

"Mother," Lily rolled her tear filled eyes just like her mother did to her father. "You're the one who took me to get birth control. You can't be surprised that we're sexually active."

"Just don't let your father know," Beckett said. "He'd get one of my guns and march you and Scott to city hall so fast your head would spin."

"Mother, do you think I'm an idiot? I'd never tell dad."

"Getting back to Scott going to Atlanta. You think you'd never see him?"

"Except at Christmas and maybe the summer."

"I'm sure I could convince your father to pay for the occasional flight."

"I already looked. There's very little between Ithaca and Atlanta without changing planes somewhere. And it would take 6 hours or more each way."

"And you think that there won't be much time together if you did fly."

"Yes," Lily sobbed. "Long distance romances are difficult at best. And I think I love him, mom. I think he's 'the one'."

"Oh."

"Yes, oh." Lily said, a tear going down her cheek.

"I can remember something your father said to me just before we got married," Kate said as she pulled her daughter to her and hugged her. "I was married before I married your father."

"You were?" Lily asked between sobs. "I never knew that."

"It wasn't one of my proudest moments," Kate said sadly. "I needed my ex to sign the divorce paperwork and he was missing. I was despondent. He was encouraging me because I was ready to give up."

"I understand the feeling," Lily said. "It feels like this giant weight has been put on me. And I can't get rid of it."

"Well your father said this: 'What's a great love story without obstacles to overcome? Every fairytale has them. Terrible trials that only the worthy can transcend. But you can't give up. That's the deal. You want the happy ending, you can't give up.' That's the deal, Lily. You can make the long distance relationship work if you want to. But you have to work at it. You can't give up."

"Okay mom," Lily said wiping a tear from her cheek. "That sounds like Dad."

"And I believe that you believe Scott's worth it. Don't you?"

"Yes, Mom. He's worth it. I'll try."

"Don't make me go all 'Yoda' on you," Kate teased as she smiled at her daughter.

"No," Lily said. "I heard it enough from Dad. I'll do it. I'll communicate some way to him every day."

"Good," Beckett said. "And you may succeed or you may fail, but you'll have no regrets that you didn't give the relationship a chance."

"Thanks, Mom."

"You're welcome."

Standing up and holding her hands out to her daughter, Beckett continued, "Now, let's dry those eyes and get ready for dinner. The boys should be home soon."

"Thanks for listening, Mom."

"Always."

A/N: Sorry for the long delay in posting. Thanks for reading.