Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize...
A/N: Before we begin this last chapter I have a few things to say. Firstly, the end of Season 6 ... wow... I finally watched Castle again today since then... enough said. Secondly, Thank you to all you readers who actually stuck with me and my horrible updating. Mostly though I want to thank Jessey, who, lets face it, was a very important part of this story. You were great at bouncing ideas back and forth with me while at work, and dealt with the multiple times I have changed the direction of this story. Sheryl (SJ), Because you are my best friend and even though you haven't read this (yet) you have put up with my Castle rambling about this story and everything else and I love you! Jessey and Sheryl, Because you have both dealt with my Castle rambling and out of controlness during all of season 6, also the looooong summer leading up to season 6 and also the one now leading up to Season 7 so thank you! And lastly, Aiden, My amazing nephew who I love to no extent who sits there and watches Castle with me when its on and is my amazing inspiration to write and strive to be better as a person and aunt. Sissy loves you so much Magoo!
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When they woke up the next morning, they looked at each other sleepily and asked simultaneously, "Did you make coffee?" They both laughed a little and made their way out of the bedroom, into the kitchen.
"Alexis?" Castle called out softly.
She spun around and smiled, "Dad! You're home!" She went over to him.
"Yeah. We got in late last night and didn't want to wake anyone." He pulled her into a hug and kissed her head and then moved to make Kate and himself a cup of coffee. "So what are you doing up already?"
"Well I was hungry so I figured Houghton might be hungry too when she got up ." Kate froze at the name of the little girl. Alexis didn't notice and continued talking, "Are you guys hungry? I can make more pancakes."
Castle smiled, "Sounds great, Pumpkin." He looked at Kate, "Do you want...? What's wrong?"
Kate looked at him, " Uh.. nothing." She smiled slightly. Castle watched her for a minute and then nodded some. Beckett smiled a little and looked at Alexis, "Pancakes sound amazing, thank you." Alexis finished cooking and Houghton came downstairs.
They ate in silence for a while until Houghton finally spoke up, "Did you guys get him?"
Kate smiled and nodded, "Yes we did, kiddo." She paused a minute to gather her thoughts and figure out what she wanted to say, "Listen. We're going to go see a friend of mine today to take a test, then depending on how that goes we'll know what to do with you."
Houghton titled her head to the side a little, "But I didn't study for a test. What if I fail?"
Castle chuckled a little, "Not that kind of test. Don't worry you'll do great. Finish eating and we'll get ready and go okay?" Houghton nodded and they finished eating and got ready and left.
After Lanie ran the DNA test and told them the results, Castle and Beckett along with Houghton and Jim sat in a small cafe, secluded enough, to be able to talk without being overheard. Kate and Jim had a small argument at first that neither Castle of Houghton could hear, and then the two Beckett's joined the table. Kate took a deep breath, again to gather her thoughts before speaking, "Houghton. This is Jim Beckett. Our father. Dad this is Houghton."
Jim shook her hand gently, "Nice to meet you."
Houghton smiled some and shook his hand back, "You too."
Kate smiled and leaned against Rick, who put his arm around her shoulder, "So we have a few options for you. You could go live with Dad, live with me, or Rick said you could could stay with him and Alexis, or if you wanted to move past what happened to your mom, which is totally understandable, we could find you a nice home."
Houghton looked between all of them and then looked back at Kate, "No matter who I pick I would still be able to see everybody right?"
Kate nodded, "If that's what you want, absolutely."
Houghton nodded a little and sat back and looked between everyone and bit her lip. She didn't know it would be so hard to choose. "Uh.. I don't know, Kate."
"That's okay to not know right now. You stayed with Castle, so how about you go stay with dad and see if you like it there?"
Houghton leaned closer to Kate, "But he's old, he can't take care of a kid." Kate giggled a little.
Jim responded with a, "Hey! I'm not that old, but you might be right, I am getting older."
Houghton smiled at him some and then looked back at Kate and Rick, "You said I could live with you or Rick... why can't it be you AND Rick?"
Rick and Kate exchanged a glance and Kate spoke up, "We're not married and we technically don't live together."
"Yet," Jim mumbled. Kate shot him a glare and he just smiled at her.
Houghton looked between them all, "But I want to be with both of you Katie."
Rick smiled some when she called her Katie and he looked at her, "Whatcha think Beckett? Wanna have a kid together?" Kate snapped her head to look at him and he chuckled, "We could adopt her together silly. You could move in. Or we could find a different place together for all of us." He shrugged, "You're there most of the time anyway."
Kate thought about it and smiled, but rolled her eyes at him anyway. "Okay, Castle." Rick smiled and Houghton squealed and hugged them both. Kate smiled and hugged her back.
Castle paid the bill and they all went home. Castle went into his study to call his lawyer while Kate and Houghton talked about what she wanted to do with her room.
A few months later, after filing tons of paperwork and going through everything needed for the adoption to be finalized, Houghton Nicole Storme, upon her own request, became Houghton Nicole Castle and she couldn't have been anymore excited about that matter. They were still adjusting to the changes in their makeshift family that they had going on, but for Rick and Kate everything was working out just fine.
Martha was ecstatic about the idea of another grandchild and Jim seemed to enjoy the idea as well. Alexis and Houghton had adjusted quickly to being sisters and they spent a lot of time together. It was like Houghton seemed to be the missing peace they needed to pull their family even closely together and none of them could be happier with that knowledge.
As Kate sat around on a lazy Sunday afternoon with know work, she couldn't believe how things in her life had turned out. She was extremely happy. That didn't mean she didn't miss her mother, because she did every single day. She just hoped she would be at least half the mother to Houghton that Johanna was to her. If she was able to accomplish that then she could do anything. She didn't know why it happened, and why she ended up with that case, but she was glad that she did. Sure it was going to be rough at times and she was sure that she was going to mess up being someone's 'mother' and trying to navigate through that minefield, but they would get through it just like they have always done. As long as she had Castle by her side, and he had her everything would be just fine.