She wakes up in the morning to the smell of fresh bacon.

There's little feet pattering around and the hiss of the coffee machine and some Disney tune she's sure she knows by heart.

God, she loves these mornings.

Her socked feet slide her through his office and into the living room where she can see her two goofs dancing around in the kitchen, completely oblivious to her presence or the burning bacon in the pan.

She wants to call out to them, say good morning and stop them from burning the kitchen down, but they look so happy and she can't help but watch. Although, it's not too long before she catches her daughter's eye.

"Mommy!" She escapes her father's arms and makes a bee line for her mother. Kate catches her, not as easily as before she notices, and kisses her.

"Good morning my love, ready for your first day?"

"Oh yeah! I'm gonna learn so much!" Oh gosh, someone help her. She's tearing up, but she can't help it. Her baby's five.

And her five year old baby is starting first grade.

"You don't need to go to school for that. You could stay here with me! Learn all about-"

"How to set things on fire?" Rick turns, ready with a comeback for Kate when he sees her holding in laughter and his daughter raising her little eyebrow at him.

"On second thought, you may know too much already. Mama's girl." He sticks his tongue out at her.

"And proud of it!" She sticks her tongue out at him.

Kate giggles and Rick shows her his tongue too, which only makes her laugh more.

She can't believe how far they've come, how beautiful they're daughter has become. It seems like just yesterday she was looking down on a little angelic face in a supermarket aisle. Now she's here with him, with them, and she can't fathom being any luckier. She and Rick were married two days after Alexis' second birthday, not wanting to take any shine away from her party or be away from her on that day. Kate took Castle's name in everything except work, which he was fine with, and Alexis was officially adopted by Kate. She even became Alexis Harper Beckett Castle. They knew that one day they would have to have a talk with her about her biological mother and Kate dreaded the day, but they agreed they wouldn't keep it from her.

Despite the nervousness over the reveal, Kate was perfectly happy with their life and she wouldn't change it for a thing.

"Right, Mommy?" Kate looked up and found two matching sets of blue eyes looking at her, one expectant, one amused.

"I'm sorry, what sweeties?"

"I said I should bring my teacher one of your brownies. You know, to make a good imp.. a good ippreesh..." Kate chuckled as her daughters' face scrunched up and turned pink.

"Impression." Her father reminded her.

Before she can answer, there's a little knock on the door. "That's Connor and his mom." Alexis regains her large smile. Connor was Alexis' best friend since pre school and now they would both be going to Marlowe prep. "Grab your bag, hon." Alexis sprinted to the door where her shoes and nah was already waiting. She and Rick laughed as they both walked to the door, seeing their daughter's impatience. Rick opened the door finally.

"Hey Maria. Thanks for taking Alexis today." Maria, Connor's mother, simply smiled.

"Oh, it's no problem, really. " Rick looked down and watched as his daughter talked with her friend.

"Alright red, where's my kiss?" Alexis excitedly jumped into her father's arms and have him a big kiss. She then scrambled over to Kate's awaiting arms.

"Bye mommy, Bye daddy."

"Love you." They said as she walked away.

Rick closed the door and he and Kate went to finish their breakfast. They sat in silence, just eating and stealing glances at one another, until Kate spoke.

"You ever thought about having another one of those?"

"Pancakes?" He looks at her confused. Stupid idiot, he's trying to make it easier for her by making , she loves him.

"Kid, Rick. Another kid." He looks stuck between a smile and a grimace.

"Honestly... yes, Kate I have, but it's not me that a baby would grow inside. Have you thought about it?" He watches her.

"Yeah actually" she beams at him and moves closer "I mean Alexis is already in first grade! This is when it starts! When she starts growing up and... and gearing up to leave us."

"Wow. Don't try to send her off to soon!" He jokes, but the thought of sending off his baby girl... it's definitely not funny.

"I'm not, just- it'd be nice to have another one... our two." She looks so adorable when she's shy. Like he'd ever actually say no to her. So, just to assure her, he grabs her face and gives her a sweet kiss.

"I would be absolutely honored to have another kid with you Kate." She smiles lovingly at him and then her smile turns sly.

"Well Alexis is at school until three, wanna start now?" He returns her grin, then scoops her up and carries her to their bed.

"Way ahead of you." As he carries her, he can't help but think about how extremely lucky he is. "Kate? Thanks."

"For what?"

"Rescuing me, us, in that grocery store and everyday since."

"Always."

I know it's been forever, but I hope this is a good enough ending.

Also, thanks for the well wishes from everyone :)

Love Always, XOXOX