This is for screec, the other winner of my giveaway! I'll post the prompt again at the end, so I don't give anything away! This got long, and I want to apologize but that seems weird... Enjoy!
Sometimes, getting stuck in court all day wasn't such a bad thing. Sometimes judges called a two hour recess, meaning she could surprise her husband and children at home. She called out as she opened the door, expecting them to be eating lunch, and surprised to find the kitchen empty and music blaring from the office. She toed off her heels and followed the noise, her husband and daughter's voices melding together in a unique harmony, each backing up Freddie Mercury.
Charlotte's voice was clear above the rest of the noise. "Mama, oooh! I didn't mean to make you cry! If I'm not back again this time tomorrow."
Castle's voice joined in as she made her way to the doorway of the office, crossing her arms and leaning against the shelves so she could observe the performance. "Carry on, carry on, like nothing really mattered!"
Their five year old, Charlotte, was standing on his desk, her arms waving above her head in time to the music. Castle was right behind her, in case she fell off, but still singing along, taking the entire next verse for himself before they got into the faster part of the song.
As the music changed, Charlotte started marching in place, her head tilting back and forth. "I see a little silhouetto of a man, scaramouch, scaramouch will you do the fandango?" She twirled, one hand above her head like a flamenco dancer before she tried to make herself appear larger, her voice becoming ferocious as she sang along with her father. "Thunderbolts and lightning, very very frightening me!"
Kate laughed at the reversal for the gallileos, her husband reaching a falsetto while Charlotte attempted to meet the lower singer, her chin touching her chest. "Magnifico!" She shouted, leaping into her father's outstretched arms.
He swung her around, singing the next line in a funny voice. "I'm just a poor boy nobody loves me."
Charlotte rolled her blue-green eyes at him, twisting so she could face him to respond before moving on. "Easy come, easy go, will you let me go?"
Castle flipped her, her laughter ringing out above the music as he responded over and over that he would not let her go. He bounced each time he told her "no," the ends of her chocolate brown hair touching the ground, her face turning red as the blood rushed to it.
Charlotte's hands came to rest on her head as she kicked her legs. "Mamma mia, mamma mia!"
They sang together as Castle lowered her gently, her head hitting the ground before her feet. She twisted, landing on her knees so she could stand. "Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me, for me."
"For me!" Unable to stand by and watch any longer, Kate rushed into the room, screeching out the high note that none of them hit on key, her arms above her head as she shook out her hair.
"Mom's back!" Charlotte enthused, jumping with Kate and copying her air guitar moves as the music changed. They sang together as the music picked up, both of them with wide smiles on their faces as they enjoyed the moment. "So you think you can stop me and spit in my eye." Charlotte pretended to wipe something off her face at that line, and then tried her hardest to look angry. "So you think you can love me and leave me to die? Oh baby! Can't do this to me baby!" They were banging their heads now, their long brown hair flying. Kate was wrinkling her court clothing. She didn't care, this would always be more fun than court.
As the song wound down, she met her husband, snaking an arm around his shoulders before joining him for the ooh's. Charlotte was out of breath, her face red from exertion, her hair plastered to her face. They finished the song, letting the final "any way the wind blows," linger in the air around them. She pressed a kiss to her husband's cheek, greeting him properly before wrapping their youngest in a hug. "Hey Munchkin! Just you and Dad today?"
"Yeah." The young girl pushed her hair out of her face and wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand. "Oliver had practice and Beth went shopping with Lexi for school stuff." The young girl met Kate's eyes, her whole body vibrating with new energy. "I get to go to school soon too, right?"
Kate snuggled their youngest closer, burying her face in the girl's neck. "Yes you do, my big girl. Are you excited?"
Charlotte pulled away, her blue-green eyes meeting Kate's as she grinned. "Yeah. Beth told me I can paint pictures every day, and that we have music time. And she said she had the same teacher that I have and that Miss Berry is the best!"
Kate ran her fingers through her daughter's hair, gently untangling the snarls that developed during her dance party as they spoke. "Yes, Miss Berry is wonderful." She looked up at her husband, her hand falling from their daughter's hair. "Have you two eaten anything yet?"
"Not yet," he answered, inching toward the kitchen, "Charlotte just wanted PB&J, I was going to have some leftovers. We just wanted to do something fun before it was time to pick Oliver up from practice."
"So Alexis is going to drop off Elizabeth when they are done back-to-school shopping." Her stomach dropped at the words, her guilt washing over her, and she fought not to reveal her feelings in her voice. Back-to-school shopping had always been her responsibility, something that she did with their children to bond with them. Beth was only seven, and already choosing to go with someone else. "Will she be staying for dinner?"
"No, she said something about a well-deserved night out with Emmet, no kids." Kate found herself grinning, wondering who was brave enough to take in their two mischievous grandsons for the night. "She'll drop Beth off sometime around dinner time."
She rose, following him to the kitchen. "I have court all day and I have to touch base with the boys, but I can try to be back in time for dinner. If not, I'll be home for bedtime."
He pulled bread from the cupboard, flashing her a grin over his shoulder. "We know."
"It's my favorite part of the day." Charlotte told her, climbing up on the tall island chair, her head resting in her hands.
Kate pressed a kiss to the top of the girl's head. "Mine too, Munchkin."
As Castle made Charlotte's peanut butter sandwich, Kate pulled leftovers out of the fridge for them, spooning the food onto plates. She watched as he cut the crust off the sandwich, slicing it into four triangles before placing it in front of their daughter. "How much time do you have?"
Kate glanced at her watch, giving herself plenty of time to get back to the courthouse. "Around forty-five minutes." She took their food out of the microwave, placing the two plates at the remaining seats at the island.
"Well, if we throw this down our throats, and if Char can get herself ready, we might be able to catch the last little bit of Oliver's practice." He plopped a glass of water in front her, his eyebrows raised with anticipation.
Charlotte became visibly excited, jumping down from the chair, abandoning her sandwich, and starting to run to the other room. "Where do you think you're going?" Kate asked, her voice laced with laughter, but still managing to stop their daughter in her tracks.
"I have to get my jacket and shoes!" Her eyes were wide as she explained her actions, her little hand pointing to the office.
"They'll still be there when you are done eating." Kate's eyes travelled from the girl to her vacated seat, her eyebrows raised as she tried to make it clear what she wanted. Charlotte sighed, making her way back to her seat. "Your Dad and I have to finish eating first. Getting your jacket and shoes on now won't make us go any faster. Finish your lunch."
"Okay, okay." She emphasized her compliance by shoving another triangle into her mouth, her shoulders slumped as she ate. Kate shot a triumphant look at her husband, who was stifling his laughter. "But we are gonna watch Oliver at practice, right?" The girl looked over her shoulder at her mother, her eyes large and pleading.
It was Kate's weakness. All she needed was for one of her children to look at her like this, all doe eyed and innocent, and she would go weak at the knees, promising them anything they wanted. "Yes sweetheart, of course! But you just used up a bunch of energy, and you need to eat something, please."
"Okay! I'm almost done." Kate and Rick shared a knowing glance over her head, each returning to their own meals just a little bit faster.
Twenty-five minutes later they crashed his hockey practice, Charlotte wrapped in her green pea coat, a black knit hat atop her head. She went straight for the glass, jumping around and cheering on her brother. He skated over to meet her, the pads disguising his thin frame, waving through the Plexiglas at her, his grin wide. He pointed at Kate when he noticed her, his mouth guard disguising his words, but his eyes wide as he waved.
A whistle blowing, combined with a shout of "Castle!" made him turn around, skating back to join the rest of his team. Charlotte stayed where she was, watching the team with her nose pressed against the glass. Kate and Rick sat behind her in the bleachers, commenting to each other as they watched a few passing drills. When the kids started doing figure eights around the dots, the coach telling them not to glide but move their feet, it was time for her to go. She hugged Charlotte from behind, pressing kisses to the girl's cheek. "Alright Chipmunk, I have to go."
The girl giggled, turning to squeeze Kate around her middle, her head buried in her mother's neck. Okay. See you tonight." She pressed a kiss to Kate's cheek before turning back toward the glass, watching her brother once again.
Kate made her way over to the opening where the players made their way in and out. "Oliver!" She called out, shooting an apologetic look at his coach, who waved the boy over. He pulled off his helmet as he skated over to her, his hair plastered to his head. He leaned on the wall, his eyebrows raised at her, her own eyes looking back at her. "You guys are looking good out there." She watched as his grin stretched across his face, his dimple in his left cheek prominent. "I mean that. Tell the boys to keep up the hard work."
He chuckled then, and she was sure his chest was puffing out with pride under all the pads. "I'll give 'em hell from you."
"Good. Because if I'm coming to your scrimmage on Thursday, I expect you boys to win."
His grin grew wider as he held up a gloved hand, them meeting for the high five above his head. "Oh if you're gonna be there we'll definitely win! You're our good luck charm. You and Charlotte."
Kate chuckled, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. "Well, she'll be there too." She caught the eye of his coach, who was watching them with his arms crossed. "I gotta go! Get back to work!" She grabbed his sweaty head, pulling him toward her and pressing a kiss to his temple.
He squirmed away, his elbow pushing her away from him, and his gloved hand wiping the wet mark away. "Gross! Mom!"
Her eyes grew wide as he skated away, his blue helmet back in place as he lined up for the next drill. She glanced down at her hand, still wet from his hair, and wiped it on the back of her jacket. "Who's the gross one in this situation?" She asked no one in particular. She left the rink, her heart sinking as the feelings of inadequacy set in.
Her mind had been anywhere but the case, so she was relieved when the judge called a recess for the day before she was set to testify. She kept drifting to her family, and the strange actions of her children. Back to school shopping was her responsibility, much like the bedtime routine. She had memories of going with her Mom, trying on new clothes, talking about anything and everything. She loved keeping that tradition up with her kids, and was eager to add Charlotte to the mix. Her stomach sank as she thought of going without one of them, missing that bonding opportunity.
And Oliver pushing her away was new. She'd heard about rejection from children, mostly from Ryan when he talked about Sarah Grace, who was entering high school this year and entering her rebellious stage. But to experience it was heartbreaking. And all she could do was wonder where she went wrong.
She stayed in her office all night, getting the paperwork for their cases put together, and finishing her own reports. She left at 7:30, telling the boys to have a nice night as she ducked out, her fears still circulating in her head. It was quiet when she entered the loft, Castle alone in the kitchen washing dishes, the kids upstairs, most likely changing into pajamas and waiting for her. She kicked her shoes off and made her way into the kitchen, her arms wrapping around her husband's neck as she pressed kisses to the side of his face.
"Long day?" He asked, his wet hand coming up and grasping at her arm.
"Something like that." She let him twirl, pressing a kiss to her lips, his hands held out so he wouldn't get her all wet. His raised eyebrows begged for explanation, his blue eyes searching her face for clues. She dropped her hands from his shoulders, glancing at the clock behind him. "I have to head upstairs for a little bit, but we can talk about it later."
"Of course. I'll be here." She gave him a grateful smile, her mind still occupied as she climbed the stairs.
Charlotte and Elizabeth were gathered on Charlotte's bed, dressed in matching pajamas, Charlotte's hands in her older sister's hair as she tried to braid it. Beth was good, grimacing every once in a while when the younger girl pulled at those hairs at the base of Beth's skull. Kate sat herself in front of the seven year old, her hands reaching under her hair and fanning it all behind her. "Do mine." She commanded, grinning as she felt small fingers running through her hair.
"I'm just gonna do little braids instead of a big one." Kate felt her hair being split into smaller sections. "It's easier that way."
"That's how I learned." Kate relaxed, her back hitting the frame of the bed. "Did you have fun with Alexis today?"
"Yeah. Owen needed more notebooks and stuff than I did."
Kate chuckled. "Well, Owen is going into fifth grade, so sometimes he needs a little bit more."
"They didn't have fashion shows in the dressing room like you do." Beth's voice fell as she talked, the disappointment clear.
Kate shouldn't have been happy to hear this. But she found herself grinning as her daughter tugged on her hair, finding relief in the fact that she was more fun than their older sister at some things.
"Mumma, guess what?" Charlotte's voice came from behind them, the bed shaking as the girl bounced on her knees.
Kate laughed as Charlotte made her way down, settling herself in Kate's lap, evidently finished torturing her older sister. "What, baby girl?"
"Jacob's in my class too!"
Kate's eyes grew wide. Oh, that could be awkward. "No way! At least you'll know somebody!" She met her youngest's enthusiasm, letting the girl settle in her lap.
"Yeah, Alexis told me when we were shopping today that Jacob had the same teacher for kindergarten that I had." Beth's hands dropped from Kate's hair. "I told her that Char was in the same class too, and she thought it was pretty funny."
One of the unintended consequences of marrying a man ten years older than her, and waiting so long to start a family, was having grandchildren that were the same age as her children. They planned to stop after Elizabeth, but Charlotte had her own plans, making herself known a few months after Alexis announced her second pregnancy. Alexis had never asked her boys to refer to the younger Castles as aunt or uncle, but they knew how they were related. Kate made a mental note to talk to Miss Berry on Charlotte's first day, that way if something slipped it wouldn't be weird.
Beth left the bed, crawling over to the bookcase and selecting a book from the top shelf. Kate lifted her youngest, settling in with her again on her own bed. Beth sat down next to them, her head resting on Kate's shoulder as she handed over the book. Junie B. Jones is (Almost) a Flower Girl. Kate grinned. The adventures of Junie B. were the best, the girls in stitches each time they read. Kate opened the book and started to read.
About halfway through, when Charlotte's breathing had slowed, she folded down the corner of the page. Beth took the book and put it back in its place while Kate tucked the almost sleeping five year old in, pressing a kiss to her hair. "Mom?" She whispered, fighting to keep her eyes open.
"Yes, baby?"
"When I go to school, can I have a boyfriend like Ricardo, but better?"
Kate chuckled, lowering herself to meet Charlotte's eyes. "No. Beth didn't have a girlfriend or boyfriend, neither did Oliver, and neither will you." She rubbed noses with the giggling girl and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "No boyfriends or girlfriends until you're twenty. Unless you ask dad, Dad will make you wait longer."
"No fair." Beth called from her bed, twisting on the night light. "Dad told me thirty."
Kate laughed, heading over to meet the older girl, helping her tuck in her blankets. "That's why I said not to ask Dad." Beth giggled and squirmed under the covers, her bright blue eyes looking up at Kate. Kate kissed her too, lingering a bit longer over her as they hugged, reassuring her that she was there. "Now tomorrow I want you to show me everything you got with Alexis. And in a couple days I'm going to have to drag you out along with us just in case."
Beth nodded, chewing on her bottom lip. "Are we going to get ice cream this year?"
"Of course!" Kate's enthusiasm was louder than she had expected, but it got her girls giggling, warming her heart. "That's a back to school shopping tradition! You don't even have to ask."
Beth's eyes shone, her arms wrapping around Kate's neck and pulling her close once again. "Love you, Mom."
"Love you too, sweetheart." When Beth released her, she rose, shutting off the light and leaving the door open a crack.
She made her way down the hallway, knocking on Oliver's door twice, waiting for his grunted response before opening the door. Out of the three children, he had been the first one to fully embrace the inner geek that he really had no chance of escaping. He was curled up, his Tardis throw blanket wrapped around him, the second Harry Potter book open in his lap. "Hey, Mom." He said to her, without looking up from the book.
She sat on the edge of his bed, her hands running over the soft blanket. "Your turns have improved a ton since last year."
He looked up, meeting her eye as he grinned, the book closing on his hand. "Coach said the same thing!" He used the book jacket to mark his page, placing it on his nightstand. "When we get stuff for school, Can I look at new skates? Mine are getting tight and I want to break in a new pair before we start playing real games."
"Of course. And I want a schedule from Coach as soon as it's ready so I can plan my schedule ahead."
"I got it today, It's on the fridge."
"Perfect, thanks bud." She reached a hand out, resting it on his knee. "So I need you to be honest with me." His grin dropped, a more serious expression etched into his face as he met her eye, his gaze unwavering. "Is everything okay?"
His eyebrows knit together with concern. "Of course. What do you mean?"
She shrugged, pushing her own insecurities aside. "Nothing, I'm just worried and something seemed off earlier." He continued to regard her with confusion, his hazel eyes worried. She shook her head, pushing air out of her face. "So, are you excited to start middle school?"
He shrugged, his face falling into an emotionless mask as he answered. "It's just school. Why does everyone make such a big deal out of it?"
"It's different though!" She found his hand under the blanket, and she grabbed on, trying to comfort him. "It's more kids, new teachers, and different classes. You get to switch classes now. You get to start exploring things that interest you."
"I don't know." He dropped his head, his hair obscuring his eyes.
"What's your biggest fear?" When he didn't answer her, she squeezed his hand, making him look up at her. "I mean it, tell me your biggest fear."
His eyes searched the air around them, figuring out what he wanted to say before he spoke. "What if I walk into the wrong class? What if no one likes me?"
"Okay, really? Your friends are still all going to this school, and you have an entire hockey team that likes you. Where does that ridiculousness come from?" He shrugged, His eyes meeting hers and a whisper of a smile dancing on his lips. "I think you'll see that people will like you. You don't need me to tell you that." She made her way up the bed to rest next to him, her back against his headboard. "When I was a freshman in high school, I walked into the wrong class on my first day. I didn't know it until the teacher started talking though. When he turned to the class with a smile on his face and said, 'Hello seniors,'" she paused here, watching her son giggle at her misfortune, "Well, I wanted to sink into the floor. Instead, I jumped up, squeaked out an, 'oops, wrong class,' and ran out the door."
"You didn't!" He was laughing, his smile infectious like his father's.
"I did! I was mortified there, and mortified again when I had to explain to my real teacher why I was late." She grinned to herself, remembering the day, the chuckles from her own classmates. "But do you know what happened at lunch?" Oliver's eyes looked up at her, enraptured by the story she was telling. "Those seniors from the wrong class adopted me in a way. They sat with me at lunch, helped me find my classes, and hung out with me after school. As the year went on they brought me to events, helped me find a date to the prom, and took me out on weekends for some fun. They were my best friends. And I wouldn't have met if I hadn't walked into the wrong classroom."
"That's crazy." His head rested on her shoulder, his body snuggling into her more. And she didn't feel as put off by his exclamation earlier.
She pressed a kiss to his head. "It just shows that sometimes making a mistake that feels mortifying isn't the worst thing that could happen to you."
He was silent for a moment, his hands fidgeting under the covers. "Thanks, Mom." His voice was a whisper as he completely relaxed, his arm wrapping around her shoulders and squeezing.
She hugged him back, swinging him a bit in her arms before releasing him. As she started to get out of his bed, he reached for his book. She glanced at the clock next to him, her eyebrows raised authoritatively. "It's getting late. Lights out in a half hour."
He nodded once, his grin wide and the mask gone. "Yes ma'am. Goodnight."
She blew him a kiss from the doorway. "Goodnight. Love you."
She heard him respond as she closed the door, his voice light, and she hoped that somehow she had managed to fix whatever she had messed up earlier.
Downstairs her husband was slamming keys, hard at work on his newest novel. Making her way into the office, he met her eye, holding up a hand to stop her from talking as he finished his thought. Once the laptop closed, he folded his hands over it, giving her his full attention.
She chewed on her lip as she thought, her fears coming through in a shaky voice. "Am I not present enough? For them I mean?" She jerked her head toward the stairs, even though he knew who she was talking about.
His forehead wrinkled as he studied her, confusion etched into his face. "What makes you think that?"
"Everything." She sunk into one of the empty chairs, her knees drawn up to her chest. "First Beth goes shopping with someone else. And I know it's her sister, but that's always been my thing with them, and it was taken away from me this year. Maybe she didn't think I'd do it because I've been so busy and went with someone else. And Oliver pushed me away from him when I tried to kiss him. And I mean he really pushed me away, Castle, and wiped the kiss that I gave him away. And Charlotte, well she doesn't seem to hate me yet, but when she's here with you she has so much fun. I can't be around as much as you can, I just can't, and it won't be long until she starts to hate me too."
Castle rose from his chair and ran around behind hers, wrapping her in an embrace, his head resting on her shoulder. "Kate, you are an amazing Mom."
"You always say that." And it wasn't helping her stop the spinning in her head or in her stomach.
"Because I mean it. Kate, every night without fail you spend quality, one-on-one time with them. You've been reading to them ever since they started to like books. Oliver wouldn't let me read to him when he was younger because you always told the story better."
"I read to them. So what."
He pushed her to one side of the chair, and sat next to her. The fit was tight, but it allowed him to look into her eyes. "I'm not finished." He paused for a moment, deciding where to start. "Kate, you sing to them. You did it when they were inside you, singing whatever lullabies popped into your head. You continued it as they grew, and it enchanted them as much as it enchants me." He brushed hair out of her face, his thumb lingering at her cheek, the gesture comforting her along with his words. "You listen to them. You get down on their level, make eye contact, and listen to them, Kate. They're so lucky to have an adult who takes them seriously in their lives, because they're going to be met with people out in the world who don't. You laugh with them, you make things special for them, and they love you so much for all that you do."
"Sometimes I know that, but today seemed off. And I just can't shake the feeling that deep down, they wish I was around more."
"Kate," He started, his voice calm and understanding, "you do understand that Oliver is getting to that age where he wants to seem grown up. Grown-ups don't get kisses on their cheeks from their Moms."
She raised her eyebrows in mirth, meeting his baby blues with a smirk on her face. "You get kisses on the cheek from your Mom."
He rolled his eyes at her, breaking out in a grin that she saw every day on their son's face. "Not in public, Kate!" She laughed then, moving her shoulders so she could better cuddle with him. "But now that I am all grown up, it wouldn't bother me. I don't have the guys constantly giving me hell all because my Mom kissed me. He's at that age where that's exactly what he's going to get. It doesn't mean he doesn't love you." As he reassured her, she thought back to their oldest, her little boy curling his body into her as she told her story, making him laugh. It had just been them, and he'd been fine. Maybe there was some truth to her husband's words. "Charlotte talks about you all the time when you're at work. She knows that you catch the bad guys, and sees you as a superhero. She looks up to you more than anyone else in this world, Kate, and I'm not going to lie, but sometimes it makes me a bit jealous." She chuckled at that, her head resting in the crook of his neck. "And Elizabeth only got supplies and one jacket with Alexis today, no clothes. She said she likes your style better, and wants to get new clothes with you."
"Really?" She didn't know why she had to ask. He didn't lie to her about things like that.
"Really. Your kids love you, Kate. I just wish you could see it like I do."
She craned her head up, pressing a soft kiss to the underside of his jaw. "Thank you. I promise I'll try. But can you do me a favor?"
He pulled back, twisting so he could see her better. "Name it."
Her eyes searched his, finding nothing but compassion and love for her. "Can you remind me of this every once in a while, whenever you think I need to hear it?"
His smile was soft and reassuring, quieting her doubts the longer he looked at her like that. "Always."
Prompt: I was sent three to choose from, but I combined two of them. 1) Capitain Beckett feels guilty because her only/younger child will be going to school soon and she feels as if she hasn't spent enough time with him/her. Castle comforts her.
2)Beckett comes back from work and finds Castle singing "Bohemian Rapsody" and enjoys the show.