A/N: I don't own any of this.

Well, we've come to the end of Everything After. Thank you for all the reviews, alerts, and favorites

...

Detective Beckett was exhausted. She had spent the last week chasing a man who had brutally killed two children. Images of their small lifeless bodies kept bombarding her thoughts. She shook her head in an attempt to loosen their hold on her. It was a little past ten. Both of her babies would be fast asleep by now. She was going to have to sneak in to each of their rooms anyway. After a day like today she needed to see them.

Kate unlocked the front door, carefully sliding her heels off. The lights were low. The loft was eerily quiet. There was no way Rick had already gone to bed. She walked into the kitchen setting her purse and keys on the island. Letting out a long sigh she turned looking for her husband. Her eyes landed on an intricate web of sheets and cushions covering half of their living room. She laughed softly. Rick was such a big kid. She really couldn't have asked for a better father for her kids.

After stashing her gun in the safe and grabbing a glass of wine she went to investigate. It took her a minute to find the opening. She ducked her head inside and felt a lump materialize in her throat. Castle was lying in the middle of the fort with Liam curled into his side and Gracie sprawled across his chest. They looked adorable all clad in their PJs, all three sound asleep. She set her wine on the coffee table and dropped down to crawl in there with them. She stretched out along Rick's open side digging her toes into his calf. He startled awake, looking over at her with sleepy eyes.

"Hey," he whispered.

"Hey, you." she said as she rubbed a hand up and down her baby girl's back. Rick snuck his arm around her waist pulling her closer and then placed a soft kiss to her mouth.

"Momma?" Gracie stirred, turning her head toward Kate.

"Hey baby girl, are you cozy?" Kate said quietly, trying not to wake Liam. She nodded and reached for Kate. Grace wrapped her arms tightly around her mom's neck. "Thanks baby Momma needed a hug," she said locking eyes with Rick.

"I love you," Gracie sighed against Kate's neck. Her daughter's tiny little voice broke the last of her resolve and tears started falling. She hugged the girl tightly to her chest.

"I love you too baby," she choked out. Gracie had already fallen back asleep. Castle gently lifted the three year old from Kate laying her down next to her brother. He covered them both with a heavy blanket then motioned for Kate to follow him out of the fort. She had barely stood up when Rick's arms encircled her. He just held her for a long while as she cried. Twenty minutes later she finally pulled herself together. Rick grabbed her wine from the table and then laced their fingers together tugging her behind him. The slipped into the office and carefully shut the door behind them.

"I told the kids they could sleep down here tonight," Rick explained in a whisper. Kate smiled knowing their close proximity was for her benefit.

"Thank you," she said softy.

"Bath?"

"As long as you're in it," she said with a small smirk.

"Duh," he replied leaning down for a quick kiss. "I'll get it started. Can you get me a glass of that please?" He asked pointing to her wine.

"Yeah," she replied. Then pushing up onto her toes she pressed another soft kiss to his lips. Kate quietly made her way into the kitchen to pour her husband some wine. She made a quick stop at the fort again, crawling back inside just to make sure the kids really were OK. They were cuddled up close together. She sidled up to them. Gracie had her thumb in her mouth, her face nuzzled into her blankie. Liam had a protective arm across his sister. She smiled at them, brushing the hair from their foreheads and kissing them both.

"Mommy?" Liam was looking up at her worried.

"Hey buddy, just wanted to say goodnight." She whispered.

"Did you catch the bad guy?" He asked quietly.

"Sure did."

"Good," he mumbled, already halfway back asleep. "Love you."

"I love you too."

Kate was startled slightly to find Rick watching her when she emerged from the tent of sheets. She handed him his glass of wine.

"Better?" He asked nodding toward the kids.

"Much," she nodded. "It's really comfy in there. What's underneath those sleeping bags?" she asked. He looked away quickly.

"Castle...""Their mattresses," he mumbled.

"Seriously?" He shrugged his shoulders.

"I knew you'd want them close," he said sheepishly. "I'll put them back first thing tomorrow."

"You realize they are going to end up in our bed right?"

"Nah, they'll be fine," he assured her.

...

Kate sighed and leaned back into Rick's chest.

"How'd it go today?" Castle asked as he pulled a loofa across his wife's stomach.

"It was awful, but we got him."

"Good. I'm sorry I wasn't there," he said softly. Kate laid her head on his shoulder bringing a hand to thread through Castle's hair.

"How long until Grace starts preschool?" She mused out loud, eliciting a low laugh from Rick.

"Why Detective? You miss me bugging you at work?"

"Yes, I really do," she sighed.

"Do you know what today is?" he asked her, dropping the loofa and pulling her closer to his chest.

"Mmmhmm," she hummed as Rick started trailed kisses down the column of her throat.

"Oh yeah?" He asked amused.

"Yes, I noticed the date today while doing paperwork. Ten years ago, today, you started annoying me," she teased.

"Hey!" he protested, playfully squeezing her hip. She laughed and then carefully turned in the tub, careful not to spill any water onto the floor. Kneeling between his thighs she took his face between her hands.

"Best thing that ever happened to me," she whispered before covering his mouth with hers.

...

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