Author's Note: The second of the two chapters dealing with Thanksgiving.

Then Came Love

Chapter 40

Thankfully, the little, ahem, disagreement between Jim and Martha seemed to have cleared the air.

Jim, with a determinedly agreeable smile, asked Martha about her current acting production, and Martha was happy to expatiate on the play and recount stories from the recent performances. Alexis chimed in with some comments on her own from an audience member's perspective and included a few affectionate words of praise for Martha's performance in the play, noting the poignance of the death scene at the end of the first act. Castle interjected with some teasing barbs about how Martha hardly needed to act at all in playing the role of a crazy granny, which had Martha feigning outrage and Alexis scolding him to be nice.

Kate had to laugh at this characteristic series of exchanges, glancing at her dad who looked mildly surprised at Castle's interactions with Martha but also amused, and felt herself relaxing yet further.

Things were back to normal, what she'd expected of the evening, with Castle and Martha good-humoredly snipping at each other.

And Jim also stepped in, expressing an interest in seeing Martha's play, an offer that had Kate smiling at her dad since she knew that her dad was not the most enthusiastic play-goer.

Martha volunteered to get free tickets to Jim's choice of any of the remaining performances before the play's run ended the following week.

"Thank you, Martha, that's very generous," Jim responded. "Katie, why don't you and I make a night of it? You haven't yet seen the performance, have you?"

"No, I haven't, and I'd love to, Dad," Kate agreed.

Martha clapped her hands together. "Wonderful. Just let me know which performance you'll prefer and I'll arrange to have two tickets left at the box office for you."

"Rick," Jim turned to Castle, "I hope you don't mind my commandeering Katie for a date night."

This allusion to Kate's relationship with Castle had Kate flushing a little in spite of herself but Castle took it in stride, smiling easily. "You hardly need my permission, Jim. I wouldn't dare interfere with Kate's decisions about how she spends her time."

"You see, Katherine, he is capable of some sense, at least some of the time," Martha inserted.

"Hey, I'm a paragon of good sense!" Castle pasted on an expression of exaggerated offense, making Kate and Alexis dissolve into laughter, as even Jim chuckled.

After that, there was very little chance of any continuing tension between Martha and Jim and Kate felt her last lingering bits of nervousness dissolving.

Martha began recounting amusing stories from other shows she had been in and then Castle chimed in with some teasingly affectionate words about Alexis when she had appeared in one of her school plays years ago.

Alexis blushed and looked tempted to crawl under the table. "Dad!"

Castle gave her a look of spurious innocence. "What? I thought you were great, the most adorable little fairy ever."

"Dad, really!"

Jim directed a smile at Alexis. "I'm sure you were charming, Alexis. And I must say hearing about your school plays reminds me of some of Katie's. Katie's third grade school play was quite something."

It was Kate's turn to blush. "Dad!" She shot him a look that promised retribution if he dared say another word about that particular incident. She had played a tree and then to add insult to injury, stage fright had made her panic and run (okay, not run, more like waddle in her tree costume) right off the stage at the first performance. The whole thing really needed to be scrubbed from her dad's, to say nothing of her own, memories.

Castle, naturally, lit up with curiosity. "Beckett was in a school play?" He shot her a look of mock reproach. "Why, Beckett, I had no idea you had any experience in thespian pursuits. How could you not have mentioned such a vital piece of your life story?"

She gave him a narrow-eyed look. "Because it was not vital at all. It was very brief and very forgettable."

"Oh, I wouldn't say that, Katie," her dad drawled. "I thought it was very memorable."

"Not another word, Dad," she gritted out. If her dad ever so much as breathed a word of the incident to Castle, she was disowning herself, she decided, and then possibly emigrating to another country and assuming a different identity. On second thought, she might have preferred it when her dad and Martha were disagreeing; at least then, her dad, to say nothing of Castle too, had been too distracted to tease her.

"Well, if you insist, Katie," her dad relented with mock reluctance. He turned to Castle. "Sorry, Rick, I'm afraid you won't be hearing the story about her school play. She does have a gun, you know."

Castle pasted on an exaggerated pout. "Oh, please, Beckett, have a heart. With my family background in theater, how can you deny me the chance to learn about your thespian past?"

"Very easily," she deadpanned. "That part of my past is strictly off-limits. Got it, Dad?" she added pointedly.

"Understood, Katie."

"Good," she nodded and hurriedly went on, "Alexis, what is your English essay that's due on Monday about?"

Alexis answered easily, good girl that she was, and then moved on to tell a story of some recent teenage drama that had roiled her group of friends recently, nothing serious, just amusing enough to easily hold the attention of the entire table. Alexis had clearly inherited at least some of her grandmother's and her dad's storytelling abilities.

Kate watched Alexis affectionately and a glance at her dad told her that her dad was as impressed by Alexis as she'd expected him to be. Everything really did feel like a family meal now, as if she and her dad too had already become part of the family.

A little tendril of wistfulness, melancholy, took root in her chest, dimming her mood, because the whole conversation reminded her of family dinners from when she'd been growing up, her parents listening to her younger self talk. Kate could picture it so vividly, imagine her mom there with them, listening to Alexis, talking to Martha, her mom trying to hide her excitement at meeting an author whose books she'd liked so much… For a moment, it was almost as if her mom was really there…

Family. The word seemed to encapsulate all that she and her dad had lost when her mom had died, all that she missed so much and wanted–oh, yes, she wanted it, but somehow, feeling the tug of Castle's family, hurt too. Because her mom wasn't there, would never be a part of this expanded family circle.

"What do you think, Kate?"

The sound of her name had Kate blinking, returning to the present, to find Alexis looking at her inquiringly, except of course Kate had no idea what Alexis had just asked. "Oh, I'm sorry, Alexis, I was distracted for a minute."

Alexis's expression briefly shadowed but then she pasted on a smile. "It was nothing important."

Kate could have kicked herself. Oh, she had been afraid of this, that she would somehow fail to be a part of such a family, that she'd forgotten how to be part of such a family, and now this seemed to be proof. "Tell me again, Alexis. I really do want to know."

"I was just wondering what you thought about Paige telling everyone what she and Taylor argued about, like she was trying to get people to take sides."

"It wasn't exactly diplomatic of her," Kate answered carefully, "but I suppose it could have been something she mentioned without thinking about it and then the rumor mill got involved and she realized it had become a bigger deal than she expected."

"She should have known that would happen. This is high school and things always get blown up like that," Alexis said in a world-weary tone that would have done justice to an old sage reflecting on past times.

Kate hid a smile. The girl had inherited some of her dad's and grandmother's sense of melodrama after all. "Maybe but people usually find it hard to think straight when they're annoyed."

Alexis made a small face. "That's true."

"Well, I think it's time for dessert," Castle interjected, changing the subject. "Alexis, will you help me clear the table?"

"Oh, I can help," Kate started to stand only to be firmly waved back into her chair by Castle and Alexis both.

"No, no, you're a guest. You sit and make yourself comfortable," Castle insisted. "Besides, I made a special treat for you and the surprise won't work if you help to carry it out."

"A special treat?" she repeated. "But you already made so much food."

"I agree. I think you've outdone yourself, Rick," her dad spoke up. "I'm not sure I have room for any more food as it is."

"Nonsense, Jim, Thanksgiving is a day to indulge," Martha inserted. "And after all, we should try the pie Katherine brought."

Her dad turned a faintly surprised look on her. "You brought a pie?" His expression changed, softened. "Oh, Katie, is it–you made your mom's special apple pie?"

She lifted one shoulder in a lame attempt at insouciance. "It seemed appropriate."

Her dad's smile became rather wistful. "It is. It does bring back memories, doesn't it?"

She managed a faint smile. "Yeah, it does." Apple pie was the special dessert her mom had made for holidays and for occasional treats to celebrate special occasions. She remembered her mom making it to celebrate Kate's getting in to Stanford, remembered the way her mom had surprised her dad with it the day after her dad had won a big case. And looking at her dad's smile edged with grief, she remembered too the way her dad had pulled her mom down into his lap to give her a smacking kiss of thanks, making her mom laugh softly as she looped her arms around her dad's neck for a moment–an exchange that had made her younger self groan and make a show of turning away.

"I'm looking forward to trying this special apple pie," Martha observed, her voice gentler than usual.

Kate blinked rapidly and turned to Martha. "It's been years since I've tried to make it so I only hope it turned out well."

"Well, it certainly smells delicious," Castle spoke up from the kitchen. "Jim, would you like some coffee or tea with dessert?"

"Some coffee would be great, thank you, Rick."

"Oh, Beckett, is that okay with you?" Castle turned to her. "And tea for you, I assume?"

"I'd hate to come between my dad and his postprandial coffee," Kate joked a little. She hadn't really felt nauseous in more than a week so she hoped she would be fine. "And tea would be nice, thanks."

"Is decaf okay, Jim?" Castle inquired.

"At this hour, I'd prefer decaf," her dad affirmed.

"One decaf coffee and tea, coming right up," Castle answered. "And for dessert, we have pumpkin pie, made by Alexis, and the apple pie, made by Beckett, as well as the special treat I made and we also have plenty of ice cream, if people want some."

"This special treat is sounding very mysterious," Jim commented. "Do you know what it is, Martha?"

Martha looked amused. "I do know but I'm afraid I've been sworn to secrecy."

Jim chuckled.

"It is silly but it's not every day Richard goes to such trouble to please a woman so I decided to indulge him."

Kate tried not to flush at Martha's knowing little glance at her.

"She's leaving out the part where I had to bribe her," Castle interjected dryly as he returned to the table. "Your coffee, Jim, and I wasn't sure what you take with your coffee." He placed a mug of coffee in front of her dad, along with a little bowl of sugar and packets of artificial sweeteners. "We also have cream or milk."

"I actually take my coffee black," her dad answered.

"Well, then, that makes things easier." Castle spoke lightly but Kate caught his rather concerned glance at her as she took in a cautious breath.

She could smell her dad's coffee and while she didn't find the smell to be a pleasant one (god, she really hoped this coffee aversion didn't outlast her pregnancy), she didn't feel actively nauseous either. She gave Castle a small nod and he relaxed. "Here's Alexis with your tea."

Alexis placed a mug of tea in front of Kate and Kate thanked the girl with a smile.

Castle returned to the kitchen along with Alexis and they came back bearing the two pies, which they set down on the table.

After another trip to the kitchen, Alexis returned with a stack of plates and was followed by Castle, who announced with characteristic grandeur, "And now, Beckett, as a special treat for you, I made my famous tiramisu."

She had to laugh softly, even as she felt an absurd, giddy thrill inside her. "Famous, huh? Funny, I don't remember ever hearing about your tiramisu."

He pouted. "I make a treat and you quibble about my use of the word 'famous'?"

"Precision in language is always to be appreciated," she pontificated but then dissolved into a laugh at his expression and on an impulse, leaned over to kiss his cheek, but only his cheek, mindful of their audience. "Thanks, Castle, how'd you know I love tiramisu?"

His eyes lit with so much pleasure she felt something squeeze her heart. He looked so… happy, just to have made her smile. "An educated guess. I figured there was no way anyone who loves coffee as much as you do wouldn't also love a coffee-flavored dessert."

"I guess you do know Katie pretty well, Rick," her dad observed.

"I'm learning," Castle answered, giving Kate a small, private smile, before turning to Jim. "Can I help you to dessert, Jim? Which would you like?"

Her dad patted his stomach with a rueful little chuckle. "I'll start with a small piece of Katie's apple pie, thank you, Rick."

Castle served Jim with his dessert while Martha helped herself to a slice of the pumpkin pie.

"And Beckett, tiramisu for you, of course. Anything else?"

"I'll try just a little of the pumpkin pie too," she agreed. After all, it was Thanksgiving.

"Coming right up." He suited action to the words and soon placed a plate in front of her with both tiramisu and a small slice of pumpkin pie on it.

Alexis helped herself to a slice of both pies while Castle took a slice of her apple pie and some tiramisu as well.

Kate watched as her dad tried his first bite of the apple pie, his eyes closing for a moment, and then he opened them to give her a somewhat shaky smile. "It's delicious, Katie-girl. It tastes just like your mom used to make it."

Melancholy flickered across his face like a drifting cloud. She knew he too was thinking about the memories of when her mom had made her apple pie, the little celebrations. She managed a smile. "Thanks, Dad."

"The apple pie is delicious," Castle agreed and then gave her a look of exaggerated reproach. "Beckett, I think you've been holding out on me. I had no idea you could cook like this."

As always, somehow, he managed to lift her spirits and she shot him a smirk. "The things you don't know about me could fill a book."

"I've never doubted that. You are a mystery, aren't you?" His tone was light but his eyes and his smile were not and she knew he was remembering–as she was–the way he'd said that she was a mystery he would never solve.

She felt herself flushing, her eyes dipping down to his mouth, before she hurriedly dragged her gaze away. She could not kiss him now, not with her dad and Martha and Alexis right there. Instead, she focused on the tiramisu. "Let's see how good your vaunted tiramisu is, Castle," she teased.

"I expect shock and awe," Castle declared in a tone of mock hauteur.

She hid a smile. "I'm not that easily shocked or awed." That said, she took a bite of the tiramisu and ooh, she might have been wrong. Her eyes fluttered closed for a moment of their own volition. She'd thought she'd tried good tiramisu before but this was redefining her definition of good tiramisu, the way the biscuits seemed to melt in her mouth, the rich cream, and all of it perfectly infused with the familiar taste of coffee. He must have used very good espresso for this–trust Castle to use even the best quality espresso in making dessert. And it occurred to her, not for the first time, how much she'd missed the taste of coffee. This wasn't the same as her usual coffee, being so much sweeter for one thing, but it still had something of the familiar taste and that, in itself, made it a special treat, just as Castle had intended. (How had he known that she missed the taste of coffee so much?)

She opened her eyes to find Castle watching her, his eyes dark, his lips slightly parted. And felt herself flush from the heated look in his eyes, the desire in them. Oh. He really wanted her. She didn't know why the thought felt like such a revelation but somehow it did–and felt her own reaction to his look as a tidal wave of heat spread through her whole body. She was flooded with memories from That Night and from more recently too, of his kiss, his touch, the heat and hardness of him against her.

The very air between them seemed to fizz like champagne. Her mouth went dry, her lungs momentarily forgetting how to function…

But then she heard a clink as Martha's fork scraped against her plate and she was abruptly reminded of her surroundings.

Castle blinked, clearing his throat a little, while Kate flushed and focused on her dessert. God, how could he do this to her, affect her so strongly that she essentially forgot her surroundings? It was… terrifying to feel so much, to be so strongly affected by someone.

"It's good, isn't it?" he asked in a voice that sounded almost like his usual cocky self.

"Almost worthy of being famous," she managed to tease.

Castle only smiled but in his look was a kiss.

"Alexis, darling, your pumpkin pie is perfection itself," Martha spoke up, providing a distraction for which Kate, at least, was thankful.

Martha's words reminded her to try a bite of the pumpkin pie, allowing her to agree, "Yes, Alexis, the pumpkin pie is delicious."

"Oh, thanks," the girl flushed a little with pleasure. "I was in a hurry making it this year so I wasn't sure how well it would turn out."

"I don't know where she gets this modesty from but it certainly wasn't from me," Castle interjected, giving Alexis a look of fond pride.

Jim chuckled while Kate exchanged grins with Alexis. "That's obvious, Castle; I don't think anyone would ever describe you as modest," she quipped.

Castle affected a sigh. "I know, it's a flaw. But what can I say, we can't all be perfect."

"Well, you're certainly far from perfect," Kate returned dryly.

Martha clapped her hands approvingly as Castle grimaced. "Very good, Katherine. I knew you'd be good for Richard. He needs someone to keep his ego in check."

Alexis threw her dad a teasing smirk. "You really do, Dad."

Castle threw Jim a look of mock beleaguerment. "See, Jim, this is why I'm glad to have you over. Otherwise, I'm entirely too outnumbered by the women in my life."

Jim chuckled. "Yes, we'll have to get used to sticking together, Rick, especially since it looks like we'll only be more outnumbered in the future."

Because of the baby. The tacit reminder had Castle's expression softening and he gave Kate a private smile. "Yeah, I guess so," he agreed. "Lucky me, always surrounded by smart, beautiful women."

He meant it too. Something seemed to squeeze her chest. And oh, the word 'always' stuck in her mind, the reminder that no matter what happened with her romantic relationship with Castle, they were going to be connected forever.

"It is going to be fun," Alexis agreed brightly, giving her dad a fond smile, before turning to Kate. "I've always wanted a sister."

A sister. Her chest felt tight all over again at the words, at Alexis's sincerity.

"And you and I, Jim, will have all the fun of spoiling the little girl without having to deal with any of the harder things like discipline," Martha interjected.

Castle's eyes met Kate's as they shared in the general chuckle. She felt a flare of almost painful hope, that this feeling, this comfortable family-like atmosphere, could last.

They lingered over their desserts and afterwards and it really was very much like a family meal, the conversation flowing freely along with the laughter. It was what Kate had hoped, imagined, might happen at this Thanksgiving and she tried to simply enjoy it without fretting over if it could last.

It was almost an hour later that Jim made the first mention of leaving and Kate offered to drive him home. Castle pressed them into taking leftovers home with them and Martha reiterated her offer to get free tickets for her show on whichever night Jim preferred. Kate found herself being hugged warmly by both Martha and Alexis in turn, while Castle, mindful of their audience, contented himself with a chaste peck on the lips. But their brief exchange of private smiles told her that he would be calling her later that evening, as he did just about every day.

Her dad waited until they were on their way to her dad's apartment before he commented, "This has been a very nice Thanksgiving, hasn't it, Katie?"

"It was nice, at least later on," she added with a rather pointed look at her dad.

He had the grace to look somewhat sheepish. "I know, Katie, there were some moments early on when I could have behaved better. But you know how I am about baseball."

"Yeah, I know, Dad, and I suppose I could have warned you that Martha isn't shy about expressing her opinions." An understatement.

Her dad looked amused. "She certainly was very direct."

She smiled slightly. "I know Martha can be rather… overwhelming on first meeting her," she began, not quite sure how to ask her dad directly what he thought of Martha.

"You don't need to worry about me not getting along with Martha, Katie," her dad answered her unspoken question. "Actually, I rather liked her, once I grew accustomed to her manner. She is certainly dramatic but she also appeared to be open-hearted and generous."

"Martha's been nothing but kind," she agreed. "Martha and Alexis both have been great." At least so far.

"But?"

She glanced at her dad, a little startled at his perception. (Like telepathy, Castle's voice commented in her mind.)

Her dad returned her look. "Come now, Katie, I know you well enough to be able to tell when something is on your mind."

It still surprised her sometimes, even after all these years of her dad being sober, after their relationship had been through so much, that her dad did know her well. She hesitated, not even sure exactly how to put into words some of her niggling little doubts. "I just… I'm not sure I know what I'm doing when it comes to dealing with Martha and Alexis sometimes."

"What do you mean? You like them and they clearly care about you."

"I guess it's just that Castle is so close to Alexis and to Martha too and, well, I've never dated anyone with a kid before." It was one thing that had been easier about her relationship with Will; Will hadn't come with a ready-made family in the same way. Will had parents, of course, but Will's parents lived in Connecticut and the relationship hadn't been a particularly close one, had been more dutiful than warm. And at the time, she and her dad had been on shaky ground so she had been, if not exactly glad, then rather relieved that she hadn't needed to be concerned with Will's family.

Castle did come with a family and, of course, thanks to the Sprout, the whole situation was different, more complicated. It wasn't a bad thing–especially since, fortunately, she honestly liked Martha and Alexis–but it did add a layer of uncertainty.

"I recognize that there are challenges associated with dating someone who has a child but I think you'll do just fine. From what I saw, you've already made a good start with Alexis. It's clear she looks up to you and cares about you already and even with the baby coming, she doesn't seem to feel threatened or at all worried about being left out."

"I think that's mostly due to Castle; I know he made a point of assuring Alexis that he would still be there for her."

"From what I've seen of Rick, that doesn't surprise me. And you know, Katie, I think you're overthinking this. I'd imagine that what will matter the most to Martha and Alexis is that you care about Rick and you do."

She flushed at this assessment of her feelings for Castle. It might be true but it didn't make it entirely comfortable to hear her dad stating it so plainly.

"Martha and Alexis appeared to be entirely supportive of your relationship with Castle and of course, you care about them too so you'll find your way. Be your usual self with them and I'm sure they'll welcome you into the family with open arms, even more than they already have."

She gave her dad a small, rather wry smile. "I think you're a little biased where I'm concerned."

"I certainly am biased," he agreed lightly. "But it doesn't mean I'm not right. Trust your old man, Katie. I haven't lived such a very long time without learning a few things."

She huffed a soft laugh, as she knew her dad intended. "You're not that old, Dad."

"I notice you didn't tell me that I'm still young," her dad pretended to grouse.

"Da-ad."

Her dad laughed and reached out to gently tug on a lock of her hair in one of his occasional affectionate gestures. "I'm happy for you, Katie. I can see that Rick makes you happy."

She flushed again. "Castle can be surprisingly sweet," was all she could say, thinking of the tiramisu he'd made for her.

Her dad chuckled a little and she glanced at him. "What's so funny?"

He sobered. "I was thinking that your mom would have liked Rick too and I can just hear her saying, 'I told you so.'"

Her throat tightened a little at the mention of her mom even as she managed a shaky smile at the sound of her mom's favorite saying. "What was she right about?"

"You, of course." His expression became rather absent, wistful, and she knew he was remembering. "This was back when you were in high school and dating that punk rocker–"

"He was a grunge rocker and his name was Dax," she corrected automatically, not that it mattered. Well, Dexter had been his name but he'd insisted on being called Dax, thinking it sounded more like the rebel and badass he'd plumed himself on being. And her younger self had thought he was so cool for it, thought she was cool for dating him. Kate suppressed a smile and a sigh at the memory of her own immaturity.

"Right, him. I didn't like him."

She couldn't help but laugh at this entirely superfluous declaration since her dad had been about as subtle as Martha was, that is, not at all, when it came to his opinions on her high school boyfriends (not that her younger self had been at all inclined to listen). "You didn't like any of my boyfriends in high school," she pointed out.

"True, but I think he might have been the worst. Anyway, one of the nights you were out with him, I was, well, expressing my displeasure with your taste in boyfriends and your mom just smiled and assured me you were just going through a phase and one day, she was sure you'd grow up and find someone who was actually good for you, someone both of us would like." He glanced at her with a small smile that slowly faded as he added, "She was right, as usual."

"Mom would have liked Castle," she agreed softly, blinking back the sudden tears pricking at her eyes. Because it was so true. To begin with, her mom would have been thrilled to meet Castle because of the way she'd liked his books, but more than that, her mom would have liked Castle as a person. Would have appreciated his humor and his kindness, his devotion to Alexis. And the thought that her mom would never meet Castle made her whole chest seem to ache.

"Yes, she would have, just like I do."

"Thanks, Dad," was all she could say, her voice quiet.

He reached out and patted her hand where it gripped the steering wheel. There was a brief moment of silence before he spoke again, his tone shifting to become determinedly cheerful, as they tried to settle on a day for them to go watch Martha's play.

~To be continued…~

A/N 2: Thank you, as always, to all readers and reviewers.