Thank you for your continued support. We're setting up for two important continuing story points in this chapter. I promise that Operation Baby Beckett-Castle will be successful very soon, though...probably in the chapter after next.


A few days after the commendation ceremony, and the ceremonial hanging of their framed bulletproof vests on a wall in Rick's office, Kate and Rick were having breakfast at the island in their kitchen. Kate was reading The New York Times and she inwardly pulled up short when she saw a certain article. She read it and reread it, then reread it again, and her heart started pounding as the kernel of an idea took root in her brain.

"I've got some writing to do," Rick said. Kate was still staring at the newspaper with laser focus. "Kate?" he said. Still no response. "Oh, Beckett," he singsonged.

"Hmm?" she said distractedly. Finally she snapped back to attention and looked at him, blinking. "Oh. I'm sorry, babe. What did you say?"

"I said I have some writing to do," he replied. "You looked pretty intense there. What's so interesting in the Times today?"

"I'll show you later," Kate promised. "I have some work to do myself. Research, maybe a couple of calls to make."

Rick brightened with curiosity. "Our next adventure?" he asked.

"Maybe one of them," Kate replied. She leaned across the island and kissed him. "Go. Write. I promise, I'll show you later. I need some more information, and then I need to think a little, and then we'll talk."

"Okay," he said. He picked up his coffee and headed into his office to write.

Kate picked up her own coffee and headed in the opposite direction, grabbing her phone and her tablet from the bedroom and settling herself on the couch in the living room to begin her research.


"You're going to ace this exam, Kevin," Alexis said as she, Kevin and Javier concluded yet another study session.

"I'll be happy if I get a high enough passing score to get promoted," Kevin replied as he closed his textbook and notebook and wrapped a rubber band around the latest batch of flash cards Alexis had made.

"Bro, Alexis is right. You got this," Javier said seriously.

"You should listen to him," Alexis said just as seriously. "He was right about me getting into law school at Columbia."

"I just don't want to jinx anything," Kevin said. "How are the party plans coming?"

Alexis's phone rang then and she said, "Speaking of the party, I have to take this. Excuse me, guys." She answered the phone. "Hey, Brian, what's up?" She paused and then burst out laughing. "Okay, other than that, what's up?" Javier watched Alexis laughing at whatever this Brian guy was saying and felt a sharp pang in his chest that he would only later admit was jealousy. "That's terrific! I can't thank you enough for everything you're doing to help us pull this party off for my dad and Kate...Well, that's kind of you, but you're the best, really...All right. Thanks again. I'll see you Saturday night. 'Bye, Brian." Alexis ended the call and said, "The party plans are coming along great!"

"What's this Brian guy's deal?" Javier asked, trying to sound casual.

Alexis looked at Javier, puzzled. "He's the head bartender and he runs The Old Haunt for my dad," Alexis replied. "What do you mean, 'what's his deal'?"

"Seemed like more than that, the way you were just talking and laughing with him. Is he a friend of yours? How well do you know him? Are you dating him?" Javier asked before he could stop himself.

Kevin looked from Javier to Alexis and tried to school his features not to show his complete shock at Javi's line of questioning and whole attitude.

"I just met him, like, a week ago, and all we've talked about is party plans," Alexis said, wondering what was bringing this on and thinking Javier was being a jerk right now. "What about you, Javier? Are you bringing a plus one to the party? If you are, now would be a good time to tell me."

"No, it'll just be me," Javier replied.

"And it'll just be me," Alexis said. Her phone binged then and she consulted the screen, seeing a text from Lanie asking Alexis to call her. "Oh, that's Lanie. Alan has a karaoke machine and he's bringing it to the party."

"That's good," Kevin interjected before Javi could say anything else. "We'll need some way to play the backing track for our song for Castle and Beckett. And we need to rehearse that, Javi. Your place okay?" They both had the day off.

"Yeah," Javier said.

"Okay, well, I'm going to go and call Lanie. I'll see you guys Saturday night," Alexis said.

"'Bye, Alexis," Kevin said as she gathered her things and left.

"Javier," Alexis said.

"Alexis," Javier replied.

After Alexis had left, Kevin said, "Okay, Javi, what the hell was that?"

"What the hell was what?" Javi asked.

Kevin just stared at him. "You're kidding me, right? That little scene with Alexis there," he said.

Javier glowered at him. "Does the phrase 'Mind your own business' mean anything to you?"

"Javi, come on," Kevin said quietly, gently. "What's going on here?"

Javier rubbed at the back of his neck and looked at Kevin. "I don't know," he admitted quietly.

"How can you not know?" Kevin countered.

"It's complicated," Javier said.

"Because she's Castle and Beckett's daughter?" Kevin asked.

"Yeah. No. I don't know," Javier said.

Kevin shook his head, looking at Javi in wonder. "Unbelievable," he said.

"What?" Javi asked.

"I've never seen you like this over any woman, not even Lanie, and you were on and off with her for years," Kevin said. "And it's Alexis."

"It's-" Javi began.

"Don't sit there and tell me it's nothing," Kevin interrupted. "I'm not buying that. It's something, even if you don't know what it is, or even if you guys are Beckett and Castle Junior and you're too afraid to admit what it really is, for whatever reasons."

"I don't know how she feels," Javi admitted, finally meeting Kevin's gaze squarely. "Not entirely. We're really good friends."

"That's important," Kevin replied. "But at least where you're concerned, that's obviously not all it is, Javi."

Javi ran a hand over his head. "It's a friendship. It's a very good, very close friendship," he said after a long moment's pause. "But I'm wondering if it could be more."

Kevin wisely refrained from pointing out that just based on Javi's knee-jerk reaction to the mention of Brian the bartender/Old Haunt manager, Javi clearly wanted it to be more.

"There's only one person who can tell you for sure if it can be more," Kevin said, "and that person isn't me." He gathered up his study materials.

"Let's go rehearse," Javi said. "We're gonna totally blow Beckett and Castle's minds Saturday night."

Kevin let the subject drop for the time being as they headed to Javi's apartment to rehearse their song for the party. He knew that if Javi wanted to talk about it more, he would, but that he needed to figure some things out before he talked about it again...and that would mean Javi would have to talk to Alexis first.

All Kevin could do was be there for his best friend, which he would be, no matter what did or didn't happen between Javi and Alexis.


Lanie was surprised when Alexis showed up at the morgue after their phone conversation. "Alexis," she said.

"Hi," Alexis said. "Do you have a few minutes?"

"For you, anytime," Lanie replied. "I'm waiting on a tox screen to come back from the lab, anyway. Is this about the party? Because Alan is excited about bringing his karaoke machine. I don't think we'll get Kate to sing, but we might be able to get Castle up there." Noting the look on Alexis's face, Lanie said, "Uh oh. I know that look. Man trouble."

"I guess so," Alexis said, sitting down. "It's complicated."

Lanie sat down next to Alexis. "So let's simplify it."

"I'm not sure if that's possible," Alexis said, biting her lower lip.

"Hey, I went through years of Kate's denial about her true feelings for Castle, and occasionally called her out on it," Lanie replied confidently. "If you can't simplify it, I can. What's going on?"

Alexis looked down for a moment before looking up to meet Lanie's gaze. "I have feelings for Javier," she said matter-of-factly.

"You have feelings for Javier," Lanie repeated. She was about to ask who Javier was when it dawned on her, and her face went slack with shock. "Javier Esposito?" she exclaimed.

"Yes," Alexis said. When Lanie said nothing, Alexis went on, "He and I have spent a lot of time together these past few months, helping Kevin study for his sergeant's exam, and baby-sitting Sarah Grace and Nick, and just talking. He's a really good man."

"Talking," Lanie repeated as she worked to wrap her brain around the concept of Alexis having feelings for Javi. "Then it's not...I mean, nothing...well..."

"Nothing physical has happened, no," Alexis said.

"But you want it to," Lanie continued.

"Well, not right this second," Alexis replied. "But eventually...if he even feels the same way. I don't know if he does. He was such a jealous jerk about Brian a little while ago."

"Brian? Bartender Brian at The Old Haunt who's helping us organize everything for the party?" Lanie asked.

"Yeah. He called about the wedding cake, which was a great idea you and Jenny, and he said I was the best for doing this for Dad and Kate, and I was thanking him and I laughed a little on the phone with Brian, and the next thing I know, Javier's asking me what Brian's deal is, and if I'm dating him," Alexis said.

Jealousy, Lanie thought. Oh, Javi. You do have feelings for Alexis.

But Lanie knew it wasn't her place to tell Alexis that Javi had feelings for Alexis. That was Javi's place, and Javi's place only.

"It's different with Javier," Alexis continued as she looked at Lanie. "I've never been friends with a guy and it turned into something more, but with Javier..." She paused and looked at Lanie earnestly. "Lanie, I really want it to turn into something more. I at least want to see where it might go. But he was such a jerk about Brian, and I barely even know Brian!"

"Did you tell Javi that?" Lanie asked.

"Yes," Alexis replied, "and then I asked him if he was bringing a plus one to the party."

Lanie smiled approvingly. "Well played, Alexis," she said.

"I don't want to play any games. I've never been the game-playing type," Alexis said firmly.

"Then you're going to have to talk to Javi, because he's the only one who can give you the answers you're looking for," Lanie said.

"Well, not all of the answers I'm looking for," Alexis said. She knotted her fingers together nervously. "Um, you and Javi used to date," she began. "And I know that you're Kate's best friend, but you and I are friends too, at least I think we are-"

"We are," Lanie interjected.

"-and there are rules about dating your friend's ex-boyfriend," Alexis concluded.

"I have no objections to you and Javi dating," Lanie said. "Javi and I are friends, and that's all we're going to be. I've moved on."

Alexis looked relieved. "Okay, well, that's good. That's very good to know," she said. Then she looked anxious. "There's just one other thing."

"I know better than to say anything to Kate and Castle," Lanie said. "There isn't anything to tell yet, for one thing. For another, it's not my place. So your secret is safe with me, no matter what happens."

Alexis hugged Lanie. "Thank you," she said. "Thank you so much, for everything, Lanie."

"You're welcome," Lanie replied, hugging Alexis back.

Alexis released Lanie. "Well, I have a few things to think about, so I'll let you get back to work. I'll see you at the party on Saturday."

"Alan and I will be there with his karaoke machine," Lanie promised.

Alexis left then, and before Lanie had time to really ponder what might happen with Javi and Alexis, the tox screen results she was waiting on came back, and she had to get back to work. But when she returned to thoughts of Alexis and Javi later, she had to admit, it made a certain kind of sense, although if Javi did anything to hurt Alexis, Lanie herself would finish off whatever was left of him after Kate and Castle got through with him.


Kate's rumbling stomach put an end to her work. Well, actually she had finished her work a while ago; the project she had been working on since putting an end to her preliminary research on her possible next professional move was definitely personal, and just between her and Rick. That, she would save until later.

She hooked the pen inside the notebook and closed the notebook, made sure she had shut off her tablet and set it aside, then got up from the couch and stretched, grabbing the section of the Times she wanted to show Rick, snagging her empty coffee mug from the coffee table, and passing through the kitchen to rinse it out and put it in the dishwasher before going to Rick's office.

She stood in the doorway to the office and watched Rick for a moment. He was reclining in his desk chair, laptop balanced on his thighs, typing furiously. He stopped typing, scrolled up a page, read through what he had written, and, nodding in satisfaction, saved his work.

"You get to a stopping place?" she asked him.

"As a matter of fact, yes," Rick replied, looking up at her. "How 'bout you?"

"Me too," she said. Rick double-checked to make sure he had saved his work, then closed the program and powered down his laptop, connecting it to the charger. Kate entered the office and sat down on Rick's lap. "I'd really like to get some lunch, but first, I wanted to show you this. This is what had me so interested in the Times this morning." She handed him the newspaper, having circled the article that had caught her attention earlier.

Rick quickly read the article, then looked up at Kate and said, "The City Council of New York City is accepting nominations for next year's election."

"We live in District 1," Kate said. He looked up from the article to meet her gaze. "There's a primary in April of next year, and the election will be in November. I meet the basic requirements: I'm over 18 years old, I live in the district I'd be representing, I'm a resident of the state of New York, and I didn't violate the federal draft laws that were in place for World War I or II. This would be a way to get my foot in the door, but on my terms. I know the party wants me for State Senate, but I'm not ready for that yet, Rick. They may not want to admit it, but I will. Everything I know is about being a cop, which will be helpful, but I need practical experience in government. And I have to earn this, just like I earned my badge. At least, that's how I feel about it. How do you feel about it?"

"I think it's a great idea," Rick said honestly. "If this is what you want to do, Kate, I'm behind you all the way."

"I don't know if I have any kind of a realistic chance," Kate said, "and having a family with you is more important to me than this or any other job could be. But this is something I want to try for. I'm not saying it won't be grueling in its way, but it would be a lot less grueling than a State Senate campaign, since I hope to be pregnant by then." She wrapped her arms around his neck, letting one hand play with the hair at the nape of his neck. "I know I could do a lot of good for the city."

"Of course you would," Rick replied, his arms wrapping around Kate's waist. "You really care about people, Kate, and you care about the city of New York."

"So you're on board?" Kate asked.

"I am absolutely on board," Rick replied. "What's the next step?"

"I have a few calls in, but I don't think they'll get back to me much before tomorrow. I have to have signatures to get my name on the ballot, and the more the better. 450 is the minimum, but in the event any of the signatures are challenged, most prospective candidates have two or three times that many."

"You can get that easily," he said.

"I don't know about easily," she said, "but I can get it. It'll take time, though."

"That, we've got," Rick said.

"I was also working on something else, something unrelated to the City Council, but that's for later," Kate said. "For you. Well, us."

"Ooh, that has possibilities," he said.

Kate knew Rick was thinking it was lingerie of some kind. It wasn't, but she didn't want to tip her hand just yet as to what it really was, so she just gave him a coy smile. "You'll find out tonight," she promised. "How'd the writing go?"

"It went well," Rick replied. "Looking up from my laptop screen to see you engrossed in your own tablet, or writing in a notebook, helped me every time I got stuck. I got two chapters done and a third outlined." Now Rick's stomach rumbled. "And I could really use some lunch too, as you can hear."

"You wanna go out, get out of the loft for a while?" Kate suggested.

"Sure! Chinese?" Rick offered.

"Pizza," Kate countered.

"Deal," Rick replied. Kate stood up, and then they freshened up a bit before heading to their favorite neighborhood pizza place.


Her dad and Kate were out when Alexis returned home to the loft. She was doing some reading for a class when the doorbell rang. She answered it to find Javier Esposito standing on the other side, holding a large strawberry milkshake from Remy's in a Styrofoam to-go cup. "Peace offering?" he said, holding it out to her.

Alexis took the milkshake from Javier, then opened the door all the way and swept her arm, inviting him into the apartment. "Dad and Kate aren't here," she said in response to the unspoken question.

Alexis closed the door and turned to face Javier. He shoved his hands in his pockets and said self-consciously, "I was kind of a jerk earlier."

"'Kind of'?" Alexis asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Okay, I was a complete jerk earlier," he amended.

"Yes, you were," Alexis agreed mildly. "Why?"

Javier took a deep breath and then laid all his cards on the table. "Because I'm having feelings for you that are more than friendship, and the mere mention of some other guy's name in the same sentence as yours turns me into an immature jealous jerk, apparently."

Alexis's pulse and heartbeat went haywire but she tried to play it cool. "You apparently turn into an immature jealous jerk when you hear my name and another guy's name in the same sentence, or you apparently have feelings for me that are more than friendship?" she asked.

"The feelings are definite. All the evidence from this afternoon proves the other thing," Javier replied.

Now it was Alexis's turn to take a deep breath. "Well," she said, "that works out very well, because I'm having feelings for you that are more than friendship too."

Javier's pulse and heartbeat went haywire now. "You are?" he asked hopefully.

"I definitely am," Alexis replied. She looked at Javier intently now. "And I don't play games, Javier. I would never use any other guy to make you jealous. I barely know Brian. He's the head bartender at The Old Haunt and manages the place for my dad. Until last week, I didn't even know who he was. He's been a big help pulling the party together, and he was calling about the wedding cake I'm surprising Dad and Kate with at the party."

"I don't play games either," Javier said. He shifted his weight. "Having feelings for you was the last thing I was expecting, Alexis, but I'm glad it's happening, and I'm sorry I was such a jerk earlier."

"Apology accepted," Alexis replied. "And I wasn't expecting to have feelings for you either, but I'm glad it's happening."

"Me too," Javier said. "I mean, I'm glad you're glad." He paused. "So, what now?"

"You could ask me out on a date," Alexis suggested.

"A date," Javier repeated thoughtfully.

"Yeah," Alexis said. "Just, um...I don't want to say anything to Dad and Kate yet. Not until we know for sure exactly what this is and where it's going. I hope it'll go somewhere, but we need a better idea of where that 'somewhere' is before we bring them into it."

"Agreed," Javier said, with no small amount of relief. He wasn't sure how Beckett and Castle would feel about him dating Alexis, and Alexis's suggestion only made sense.

"There's just one thing," Alexis went on, looking a bit nervous now. "I, um, went and talked to Lanie after the study session."

"Lanie knows?" Javier asked, surprised. He would have expected Alexis to seek out Martha.

"I told her I have feelings for you," Alexis replied defensively. "You used to go out with her. It isn't just guys who have that 'you don't date your friend's ex' rule. I needed to know she was okay with this." Alexis gestured between herself and Javier. "She is. And she's promised not to say anything to Kate or Dad."

Javier nodded. "Well, Ryan called me out on the way I acted after you left, and he figured it out about my feelings for you. But he won't say anything either. At least not to Beckett and Castle. He might say something to Jenny, but they'll keep their mouths shut."

"We have to be the ones to tell Dad and Kate," Alexis said decisively, "but not until there's something to tell." She paused. "Do you think there will eventually be something to tell them, Javier?"

"I sure hope so," Javier replied looking at her intently.

"I do too," Alexis said, looking back at him just as intently. She paused. "So, um, about that date..."

"Give me some time to plan something," Javier said. "I will definitely ask you out after the party on Saturday."

She smiled at him, and his heart skipped a beat. "Now I have another reason to look forward to Saturday."

He smiled back. "I should get out of here before Beckett and Castle get back. Don't want to tip them off yet."

"Right," Alexis said. "Thanks for the milkshake."

"You're welcome," Javier replied. "I'll see you Saturday."

"I'll see you Saturday," Alexis repeated as she walked him to the door.

All the way down on the elevator, Javier had a big smile on his face.

And as Alexis sat down with her milkshake, her studying temporarily forgotten, she had the exact same smile on her own face.


Kate was sitting up in bed waiting when Rick emerged from the bathroom in his t-shirt and boxers. "So, is it time for my surprise?" he asked eagerly as he all but bounded around the bed and practically dove in beside her.

"Yes," she said, "but I hope you're not going to be disappointed, because it's not sexy lingerie."

Rick tilted his head, bemused. "Well, you wouldn't have been wearing it long anyway," he said. Then he noticed the notebook in Kate's hand and straightened his head. "Is this the surprise?" he asked.

Kate bit her lip, betraying her nervousness. "Yeah," she said.

Rick reached for the notebook. "May I?" he asked.

Kate handed Rick the notebook and watched him anxiously.

Kate's notebook in his hands, Rick looked down at the page, covered in her handwriting, and read it silently to himself.

1) Have and raise kids with Rick. (2-3; number not definite yet)

2) Grow old with Rick.

3) Push our kids on our swings with Rick.

4) Go to Paris with Rick. (Maybe take the kids there when they're old enough to appreciate it? Definitely go just the two of us someday.)

5) Take Rick to my dad's cabin.

6) Take that cross-country motorcycle ride with Rick.

7) Continue serving the people of New York City (and possibly New York State) in the best way I know how.

8) Get a dog. (Not sure on the timetable for this one, but a dog and a newborn at the same time, probably not a good idea.)

Rick looked up from the list to find Kate staring at him. "I can't bring myself to call it a bucket list," she said. "I'm calling it my 'Things to Do With the Next Fifty Years' list. You probably noticed you figure into most of them."

"I did," Rick replied, his voice awed.

"I only put the most important things on there," she continued as she gazed into his eyes. "The stuff that I really want to do...most of which, as you can see, requires you." A beat of silence passed, and she continued, "I never thought I'd be making a list like that. And if I ever did make a list, I sure never thought those would be the things on it. But they are." She tapped the notebook in Rick's hands with her index finger. "This is my general road map-slash-wish list for the rest of my life, but for any of any of it to really work, for any of it to have meaning, for any of it to be any good, it has to have you, Rick. I-"

Every thought left Kate's head when Rick suddenly dropped the notebook onto his lap, leaned in, framed her face in his hands, and kissed her breathless. She responded eagerly to his kiss, running her fingers through his hair.

When the need for oxygen forced them to break the kiss, Rick rested his forehead against hers. "Yes," he said softly, simply.

"Yes?" Kate asked just as softly, drawing back just enough to look at him.

"Yes, to all of it," he replied, looking deeply into her eyes. "I want to have and raise kids with you and grow old with you and push our kids on our swings with you, and go to Paris and your dad's cabin and on that cross-country motorcycle ride with you, Kate Beckett, and whether you're a Congresswoman or a State Senator or the President of the United States, I'm in. I'm in for all of it."

"For the time of our lives," Kate said, smiling as she traced a fingertip down Rick's jawline.

"For the time of our lives," he vowed.

"I love you," she said.

"I love you too," he replied, picking up her notebook and carefully setting it on his nightstand before turning back to her. Too impatient to wait for him, Kate stripped off her own sleep shirt, thrilling at the look in his eyes when he saw her topless. Then she tugged his shirt up and off, tossed it on the floor beside hers, and pulled him down to her, kissing him as breathless as he had kissed her just moments earlier.