I'm cooking dinner. Bring Alexandra and Lilibet. Come soon. This was a text Alexis received from Kate a little bit later. Fun was ahead.

"Allie," the redhead told her girlfriend. "Kate just texted me. She is making dinner. And... She told me to bring you and Bette over soon."

Alexandra made a musing sound. "I like her style. Please tell Kate we're delighted to come."

So Alexis promptly sent Kate a response. We're in. But don't let Gram be in charge if you're baking something.

We learned our lesson after last time. Don't worry now ;)

Alexis called out to the toddler whom was fast becoming her child. "Bette: please come here!"

The little girl dismounted a rocking horse and hurried over to her mothers immediately.

Alexis addressed her once more when she drew level. "You, me, and mama are going to my house for dinner!"

Lilibet's mouth dropped open in surprise. "Really?"

Alexis showed her a recent picture of her loft kin. "This is the rest of my family now."

Lilibet regarded the picture. But then she turned sharply to Alexandra, proposing an idea. In Gaelic.

Alexandra told her in English, "That is a kind-hearted idea. Run it by Lexie."

Emboldened, Lilibet looked Alexis in the eyes as she pointed to the picture. "Can we get presents? Please? Now?"

Alexis realized Lilibet was initiating a transitioning tactic so she said, "You bet. What should we find?"

Lilibet immediately began to talk at her.

Alexis just felt pleased. Never had she known a normal relationship with Meredith. Building her own with Lilibet was important to her. Even if she was flying blind.

Alexandra brought up the rear as she carried their bags, coats, and the day's shopping. But she didn't mind. For she was on Cloud Nine.

Rain fell hard outside by the time they arrived at the loft's front door. Driving conditions were also not ideal. This led Alexis to wonder if her family would stay over.

But she said to Alexandra, "How are you?"

"Super excited." Alexandra kissed her before pointing downward. "Check on the little one."

Alexis crouched to Lilibet's level and pointed to the bags Lilibet was holding. "Remember what is for who?"

Lilibet stood straighter. "Yes!"

"Very good. Just ask me if you want me to hold you."

"Okay." Lilibet blew her a kiss. "Thank you. I love you."

And Alexis finally knew in that moment that she had a new daughter.

"I love you, too." Alexis kissed Lilibet on her forehead. "Never forget."

Lilibet trilled, "Okay!" and even gave Alexis an extra hug.

The teenager found Alexandra staring at her with heart eyes when she drew level with her once more.

"I love you. And you are already doing a great job as a mom."

She kissed Alexis again. Before gesturing towards the door.

"Shall we?"

Alexis called out to her family as they entered and put their things away, "We're here!"

"In the kitchen!" Castle responded. "All of us!"

"Okay!"

Alexis picked Lilibet up when she signs of wanting to be held.

But she let Alexandra steer them to the kitchen.

"Hello, everyone!" Alexis greeted them when they reach the area. "It just started raining when we got into the lobby. But other than that... Today has been the best day!"

Castle was delighted. "Terrific. We can't wait to hear."

Alexandra stepped forward. "Thank you for having us over."

"My friend," Castle bowed theatrically to her. "Our house is yours."

Kate chimed in, "I thought it was time all of us have a normal evening together. Alexandra, do you and Bette eat meat?"

"We do." responded Alexandra. "Thank you for asking. Bette has an epilepsy issue, but neither of us have any food allergies."

Kate took the former part of her statement in stride. "Wow. Thanks for that health tidbit. We'll remember."

Martha chirped, "Spaghetti and meatballs are to be served. Richard made a salad. Lemonade is chilling in the refrigerator. French bread is baking in the oven."

"You cooked?" Alexis blurted in surprise.

"No. Katherine did all of it... But maybe I should check on our food…"

Martha momentarily turned towards the stove to regard it.

Castle and Kate both seized her distraction to silently make gestures of discouragement. With vigor.

Lilibet yelled out, "I have presents now!"

She had successfully read the room. And reacted.

But her words brought Martha's attention back to the present.

"Do you, darling?" she asked she asked her.

"Yes!" Lilibet said happily. "For everyone!"

The older adults were charmed. Lilibet had gotten stuffed plushies for them. Each was quite on the nose.

A toy sock and buskin theater mask for Martha.

A stuffed police dog for Kate.

A stuffed copy of Stellaluna for Castle.

"Thank you so much, Bette." Castle told her in affirmation. "We love the presents."

Kate and Martha nodded supportively.

"Did you pick them, yourself?" Martha asked. "You did a wonderful job."

Lilibet just beamed.

"We gave her no hints." Alexandra added. "The choices were all her."

Amazed, Castle said to Lilibet, "We have presents for you!"

Lilibet blew him a kiss. "Thank you, avó!"

Alexandra spoke swiftly. "My whole family speaks Gaelic. 'Avó' means grandfather. It's what Bette calls my dad."

Alexis asked Castle, "What do you think about it?"

Castle was very sincere. "I know what I love it."

Alexis breathed a quiet sigh of relief. So did her other half.

Castle spoke spoke now to Lilibet. "You're the first person to call me avó. It's a neat name."

Lilibet actually saluted Castle before turning her gaze on Martha to call out, "Avoa!"

The old woman arched an eyebrow. "I suppose that means 'grandmother,' then?"

Alexandra nodded. "Yes. Very good. Bette calls my mother that."

"Hm. I like it." Martha proceeded to wink at Bette when the little one blew her a kiss.

Kate asked Lilibet, "Do you have a name for me?"

Lilibet giggled as she replied, "Hi, Kate."

"Hello." Kate took Lilibet into her arms when the girl made signs of wanting to be held. "Wanna go see presents now, sweet one?"

Lilibet leaned against her. "Yes."

Kate began talking to her quietly as they made their way to the breakfast nook table. Gifts were upon it.

Castle beckoned to Alexandra. "There's also some things for you. Come on."

Alexandra soon fell into step beside Castle. She even accepted a smoothie from Martha when she was offered one.

Both Ryans received gifts pertaining to what they liked.

Coloring books and crayons for Lilibet, as well as a new stuffed unicorn. A handsome journal and pen set for Alexandra. Even a lifetime Broadway theater pass.

They had remembered what Alexis had told them about her family's likes. And excelled.

Martha joined her granddaughter when she noticed her hanging back. "Are you pinching yourself?"

"Yep. I wasn't expecting... this..." she motioned towards the scene at the breakfast nook.

Martha didn't miss a beat. "Your father has been planning this gathering all day. And Katherine."

"Woah. Really?"

Alexis pointed to a toddler booster cushion that Lilibet was perched atop of. "And what's the story there?"

"Katherine insisted on procuring practical items for Bette's visits. She also got her a fancy stepping stool. It's on the other side of the kitchen." Martha informed her. "As I understand it, Katherine wants to bake with Bette later on."

Alexis felt dazed for what felt like the hundredth time that day.

Martha indicated the scene before them. "Your family is beautiful."

"Gram..." her words had caught Alexis' attention.

Martha turned mischievous. "What? I knew from the start that they were going to be in your life. Permanently. Am I wrong?"

"No..."

"Katherine has also been piecing things together. Your father is almost there." Martha shrugged and motioned for Alexis to follow her. "But he's been distracted because he's been excited about shopping for Bette. He even got some of your old books out of storage."

"Dad does love kids a lot." Alexis recalled. "Has he always been that way?"

"Oh, yes. Come help me sort ingredients for my next smoothie. Tell me something about your day."

The rest of adults joined Alexis and Martha at the kitchen island when Lilibet felt secure. But Alexandra could see the writing on the wall.

Indeed—

Opposite Alexis and Alexandra, Castle asked, "Are you two… together?"

Kate immediately gave him a shove. "You couldn't even make it an hour!"

"Yes, dad. We are officially together." Alexis watched Martha pass Kate a ten dollar bill. "Pretty obvious now, huh?"

"Yes. And I am very delighted for you both." Castle said kindly. "Of course… This also means that Patterson owns me fifty bucks…"

"What?" Alexis cried as she sank on to a bar stool. "You told Patterson?"

Castle started backpedaling. "Technically, no: Patterson asked how you were. I said you were being squirrelly about something. But then he told said to talk, or play cards. Not both."

Kate nodded. "It's true."

Alexis made a time-out sign with her hands. "Kate, you play poker with dad's author friends now?!"

"Patterson invited me to play that night." Kate confirmed. "You fell asleep early. I checked."

Alexis began winding down. "Oh. That sounds right."

"Wait a minute!" interjected Alexandra. "When we say 'author friends,' are we saying James Patterson?!"

"Gold star you." Alexis told her.

But Alexandra accidentally spat out the sip of smoothie she'd just taken. Alexis' confirmation had jolted her.

"Oh, my God." she squeaked upon recovering. "I am so sorry."

Kate tossed her a dishtowel. "You're okay, Alexandra. This level of kookiness is just scratching the surface. I can't believe I've gotten used to it. Just stick with me."

Alexandra cleaned up her mess. "Okay…"

Castle smirked. "Your comical reaction is how I feel about mother's… creations."

"Hey!" the matriarch shot daggers at her son. "You said you liked them!"

"Uh…"

Kate laughed at her fiancé. "Not bailing you out on this one. Good luck, babe."

Alexandra spoke to Martha. "I do a lot of smoothie blending at home. Bette helps. And loves it."

Martha lit up. "How charming."

Martha looked quickly to Alexis. "I love her even more."

"Good thing she's a keeper." Alexis kissed Alexandra on the cheek. "But I guess I should enlighten her about one more thing…"

Unsure if it could get any more zany, Alexandra rubbed her temples. "Don't tell me. James Patterson is your godfather."

"Oh, that's a hole in one!" Kate crowed.

"What?" Alexandra sputtered.

"It's true." Castle added. "He's also the reason Alexis got her first name."

Now Alexandra sat on the stool beside Alexis'. "What?"

Alexis nodded. "It's true. But no one believes me."

"I do. Don't worry." Alexandra looked back to Castle. "Is there anything more? Do you have moon property?"

Castle perked up. "Yes!"

"I was kidding!" Alexandra protested.

Kate rolled her eyes. "Rick isn't."

But a new line of thought was catching up with Alexandra. "Hey… Would there be room for us?"

To her inquiry, Alexis yelped, "WHAT?!"

Kate quietly echoed a mantra to herself. "This is my family. This is my family…"

Lilibet continued to color.

Alexis watched in bewilderment as Alexandra began to engage Castle in serious talks about moon property, while Kate watched them in thinly-veiled amusement.

DING! The oven timer sounded.

Martha said to no one in a singsong voice, "I'll get it!"

And she did. No need to let the food burn.

Martha had been right about Kate wanting to bake cookies with Lilibet. Unsurprisingly, Lilibet felt ecstatic. Being with her new friend was fun.

Alexis and Alexandra observed. Up to a certain point.

It happened when Kate pulled one very particular ingredient from the refrigerator.

Just the sight caused Alexis to recoil.

"What's wrong?" Alexandra asked her.

The redhead pointed. "Look."

Alexandra immediately had a sympathetic wince: Kate had pulled out a box of strawberries and uncovered them.

"Oh, no…"

Kate paused when she saw the apprehension. "What's up?"

Alexis laughed nervously. "My kid seems to find strawberries revolting."

"Oh." Kate realized with a jolt what her future stepdaughter meant. "Got it."

But before she could rectify the situation, she had her own small bout of queasiness. Fleeting.

Noticeable.

The strawberries quite suddenly smelled bad to her, too.

Kate found it odd. She loved strawberries.

And this was not the only oddity of late for herself. She had been craving celery as of late. Constantly.

But strawberries? Quite the unexpected turn…

Martha had been watching from nearby. She immediately realized the leap Kate was in the process of.

"Bette," Martha covered up the strawberries and put them away again. "It looks like we have to do something else. Do you like blueberries?"

"Yes." Lilibet looked up from fixing a wrinkle in her cooking jumpsuit. "I do!"

"Excellent." Martha handed Lilibet a small box of the fruit from her stash of smoothie materials. "Why don't you give these to Kate?"

Taking great care, Lilibet took the box and presented her offering to Kate. "Here!"

Feeling better, Kate took the blueberries and thanked Lilibet. She resumed explaining the process of their project. Lilibet gave her her attention. Totally. It was as if nothing had happened.

Castle had been watching.

The scene reminded him vividly of Meredith's pregnancy. It had been… emotionally traumatic. But one thing he vividly remembered was that she had always been absolutely nauseated by strawberries.

Alexis being put off by strawberries was one thing… But Kate?

She had been craving celery lately. And spicy food. Sometimes both, together. He'd also seen her put hot sauce in her oatmeal just that morning.

What if…?

But Castle's musings didn't last long.

His offspring called to him on her way to the living room. They were off to play Scrabble. And wanted a third player.

Alexandra beat Castle in Scrabble. Her final word, 'updates,' gained her an extra one hundred and five points.

Castle felt dismayed. But he still helped clean-up.

Alexandra soon found herself drawn to the window on the far end of the living room that overlooked the street.

Her car was down there. Very secure. But… The rain had not stopped.

Her home wasn't a long drive off. It was getting there that would be a chore.

"Hey." came a voice. "What are you doing all the way over here?"

Kate had joined her.

Alexandra gave her friend a smile. "Just thinking. Is this the part where you tell me to watch my back if I ever hurt Alexis or the baby?"

Kate nodded. "Yep. I think this would also be the part where I'd remind you that I'm a cop, but… It doesn't exactly have a lot of weight because your brother is on my team."

"Hm. I guess that's true." Alexandra looked at her. "I've got four older siblings. Jenny is as good a fifth. Each of them has unknowingly told me over the years that they will haunt me when they die if I ever break the heart of anyone I date."

"Wow." Kate said in surprise. "That is one way to drive it home."

Alexandra went on, "Alexis is too important to me to hurt. I recognize that Meredith was absent. And that she broke her heart more than Pi did. My goal is to just be there. Provide for Alexis and the baby. No matter what it takes."

"Thank you for your honesty. Alexandra, you've had my respect since day one. But now you have it completely." Kate told her seriously. "I have one more thing..."

Alexandra looked at her. "Yes?"

"According to Rick, that," Kate pointed to the rain. "Is to become a storm. We insist that you and Bette stay the night."

"Oh… We couldn't impose…"

"You're family now. There is more than enough r—"

WOOSH!

The sky outside suddenly opened up even more. An epic downpour had begun.

BOOM!

The lights flickered before going out. Kate arched her eyebrows at Alexandra.

"Okay." the blonde capitulated. "We'll st—"

But Alexis called out from across the room, "Allie! Can you please come here?"

She parted from Kate's company.

Alexis was on her feet, holding Lilibet. The child was trembling in fear. All the abrupt change had frightened her.

"Bette wanted me to hold her." Alexis explained when Alexandra drew level. "I've comforted scared kids before. But... Not in this kind of situation…"

Alexandra checked on her daughter. "How are you doing? The sky elephants are just having some fun in the sky circus, remember?"

Lilibet nodded in response. But when the noise outside happened again, she burrowed against Alexis even more. Her trembling increased.

Alexis looked to Alexandra for help.

But Alexandra said, "You've got this. Bette trusts you. Deeply."

So Alexis looked down at the trembling child again. "I have lots of blankets and flashlights upstairs. How about we make a blanket fort? Get you ready for bed? I'll read to you."

Lilibet sat up straighter. "Yes, mommy."

Alexis' heart jumped into her throat. "What did you call me?"

"Mommy." the little girl said seriously. "Mama's there."

She gestured to Alexandra before giving Alexis a kiss on the cheek.

"You are mommy." Lilibet hugged her again. "I love you."

Alexis rubbed Lilibet's back and kissed her on the top of her head. "I love you, too. So much. Let's go upstairs."

"Okay, mommy."

Alexis carried her towards the stairs. They were in their own world. Alexandra hurried after them. But not before stopping to collect a stack of picture books which had been set out earlier.

Kate watched them from afar. Alexis' family was beautiful.

But… What Kate didn't realize was that her hands were plastered over her lower middle. Just where a baby would be.

Martha noticed.

She patted Kate's hands knowingly. "All in due time."

Kate redirected her attention to the redhead. "Pardon?"

"Katherine, I saw Alexis' reaction to the strawberries earlier. And yours."

Kate said nothing. But she hadn't moved her hands from her middle.

"I also remember that Meredith could not handle strawberries when she was pregnant with Alexis. At all." Martha looked at Kate. "And I couldn't, when I carried Richard."

Kate only just kept her cool. "What did you prefer?"

"Celery." Martha didn't even blink. "And I won't pretend I haven't noticed that you've been eating the stuff a lot lately."

Martha touched a hand to both of Kate's again.

"Now come on. Let's make sure that Richard doesn't go overboard with candles. And forget that flashlights are a thing. Again."

Castle had been bustling around this whole time, lighting candles to illuminate the living area. While also tersely muttering that he would buy a generator for the building if that was what it would take for this kind of thing not to happen.

Kate followed Martha away.

But her head was up in the clouds.