Disclaimer: Not mine.


Kate stood in the kitchen, stirring the cream into her coffee while lost in her thoughts. It was his hands coming to rest on her shoulders that brought her back to the current moment. She smiled lovingly at him, as he leaned his head into her shoulder and placed a kiss there. Their hands touched as they silently communicated their formerly repressed emotions.

"Well, it seems Mia's happy news has affected everyone!" Martha stated happily as she moved through the kitchen, catching her son and Kate having a moment.

"Um, Martha…if you could just.." Beckett began with no small amount of trepidation in her voice.

"Oh…No more said!" Martha shushed the detective, "mum's the word." She squeezed Kate's hand in between her own before adding, "although I honestly can't see why you would hide this, nobody would see this as anything but a good thing."

"It isn't that we want to hide it Martha, I just want to be sure we're giving all of our attention to the girls. They're going to need all the support we can give them." Kate clarified while Castle showed his agreement by lacing his fingers with hers.

They heard Alexis coming down the stairs first, causing them to separate. Kate went back to her coffee before pouring Castle a cup as well. The writer smiled in thanks and took a sip. He then put the mug down and looked at his watch.

"I'm going to go check on Mia." He kissed Alexis on the forehead as he passed her and headed up the stairs. Alexis squeezed Kate's arm as she passed her to open the fridge. Something had definitely changed in their relationship. Between Kate's love and appreciation of Alexis' sacrifice, and Alexis opening up to the possibility that the support and guidance from a strong female was right in front of her, the two seemed to reach an understanding. In fact it was more than an understanding, it was a bond.

Alexis took the orange juice out and seated herself at the kitchen counter. "So I've been reading up about this donation procedure." Alexis began.

Kate moved to sit next to her, sipping her coffee and listening as Alexis filled her in on what she'd learned.

"So, before we can even do the surgery I have to go through more tests." A look of concern crossed Kate's face, both for Alexis and for Mia.

"Oh, don't worry-it isn't anything extensive. I'll drink some contrast dye and they'll watch my kidneys and urinary tract to be sure that everything is healthy and in working order." Kate nodded, taking in Alexis' words and reflecting on the amazing young woman before her. She'd grown into such a wonderful person and Beckett couldn't imagine anyone she'd rather have as Mia's sister.

"The amazing thing is that Kidney donations are laproscopic now! Can you believe that? I'll be up and walking the next day, out of the hospital by day 2." Kate smiled at the girl's optimism,

"We'll be here every step of the way to take care of you both. Your dad is actually thinking about moving us out to the Hamptons after you're both out of the hospital for some rest, relaxation and recovery, although I imagine you'll be recovering at home a bit while Mia continues to recover." Alexis nodded in agreement.

"Slow and steady," came Castle's voice from above. Alexis and Kate looked up to see Mia descending the stairs, using Castle's support as she slowly made her way down, one step at a time.

While she was recovering, and her physical therapist mandated she be moving as much as possible to promote strength and healing, it was still a slow and painful process. When she finally reached the living room she allowed Rick to escort her to the couch. She was soon settled there, seated upright and listening to the options Castle was listing for breakfast.

"Omelets it is!" He exclaimed, moving back into the kitchen with a bounce in his step.

"Wow, you're happy this morning." Mia commented.

"Why would I not be? Yesterday was simply a miracle." He spoke, making eye contact with Kate briefly, just one of many miraculous things about last night, he silently communicated with her. It was plain from the blush in her cheeks that she got his subtext.


"Ok, Alexis." Mia's doctor spoke with the red-head while Castle, Beckett, Mia, Martha and Lanie all sat around.

"Once we confirm that your kidneys, bladder and urethra are functioning, we can go ahead and prepare you for the surgery." Alexis nodded and allowed the doctor to continue. They were all prepared for the fact that surgery would be quick once a donor was identified. The faster the transplant, the lower the likelihood of long-term complications for Mia.

"You're going to need to meet with a psychologist Alexis, to discuss the surgery and all the issues that come with donating, just to be sure you are aware and understand what you are consenting to do." Castle's eyes raised with concern for a moment. It sounded as if Alexis was putting her life in danger.

"From what I've read, this will have fairly limited impact on my long-term outcomes. In fact, I've read research that kidney donors don't experience any reduced lifespan or quality of life." She stated confidently. The doctor smiled at her,

"You are right. The psychological consult is more to be sure you are making a healthy decision and that you have the support you may need both before and after the surgery. You'll also need to be made aware of the risks involved."

"What sort of risks?" Kate asked, surprising both Castle and Martha with her concern and protectiveness. She felt a surge of love for both the girls, sisters as they were.

"The risks will be the same as with any surgery, allergic reaction, infections, blood clots. They're all very rare, but you still need to be aware." The doctor stated the required disclaimer.

Alexis nodded, "well, let's get the tests started."


Rick and Martha remained with Alexis for the duration of her medical tests, giving Kate and Mia some much needed time alone. While they'd had conversations in the hospital and at the loft, the topics remained fairly light or were to the point- focusing on trials at hand where Mia's health was concerned. Little else had occurred by way of deeper conversation. It was something that Kate wanted Mia to take the lead on, when she was ready. They settled into two comfortable chairs in the meditation room/chapel of the hospital. It was the most homely-looking room, with beautiful stained-glass windows and comfortable chairs that one could curl up in. They spent some time there, sipping on tea together as Kate listened to Mia talk about the coming transplant.

"So, it sounds like my chances of a normal life are pretty good-as long as my body accepts the kidney." Mia started.

Kate nodded in agreement, "your recovery is going to be harder compared to Alexis because the procedure is more complicated, but you won't be alone." Kate ensured her.

Mia was silent for a moment, toying with the tea bag in her mug as she seemed to contemplate. Still, Beckett swore she heard an almost imperceptible mumble from Mia at those words. "Mia?" Kate finally interrupted her daughter's thoughts. It was clear that the teen was struggling with something.

"It's nothing." She tried to dismiss quickly.

Kate smiled. "I am familiar with nothing, and this-whatever you're thinking now- is not nothing."

Mia looked back to her mother, a woman who just weeks ago was a stranger. It was difficult to believe how rapidly things could change. That's just it. Mia thought to herself. Things change so rapidly. So, what's to stop them from changing again when it no longer suits her to have me around? Tears stung her eyes and she had to close them in attempt to gain control of her emotions. The teen tried her best to mask the inner struggle from her birth mom. She was not successful.

In the next moment, Kate was out of her chair and kneeling next to her daughter, needing to touch her but wanting to give her space. The detective was honestly torn, wishing someone more experienced could guide her through it all. Kate took a deep breath.

"Mia" she whispered, "Talk to me."

The teen opened her eyes and averted her gaze immediately, staring at the blue and green hues within the stained-glass window of the chapel. A few moments passed before the teen spoke.

"The psychologist, the doctor who came to talk to Alexis.." Mia started.

"What about him?" Kate pressed.

"He told her that he wanted to be sure she understood what she was signing up for, that she had the right reasons and that she had the support both before and after the procedure." Mia stated.

Kate nodded, believing she understood Mia's hesitation. "Sweetheart, Alexis knows exactly what she's doing. She wants to do this...you don't need to worry..."

"I know that." Mia cut Kate off. "I know that Alexis wants to do this. I'm not worried that she will back out."

"Then what is it, Mia?" Kate pressed, desperately trying to understand her daughter's frustration.

Mia was silent again, making several attempts to start speaking- yet stopping with hesitation each time. Finally, she took a breath and opened up.

"The doctors want to ensure that there will be a support system both before and after, and while you've all been great for me-what will happen after? What will happen once I've got my shiny new kidney and the novelty of having me around wears off?" Mia's logic was borne of experience, and every family she'd been placed with tired of her eventually. The flood gates opened the moment Mia began to speak, and she found herself unable to stop talking.

"I mean, you've been great. You're so dedicated and sincere... and Castle? He's devoted and he's loyal to both you and his family... to your family." She explained, finally turning to look her birth mother in the eyes.

"But what happens when the newness is gone and you want your life back? You did not sign on for a daughter, especially one with so many issues." Mia leveled her mother with a stare. Remnants of the old Mia, the street Mia were present on the girl's face. It was clear that she was putting her walls up, preparing herself for the inevitable rejection the teen sensed, or believed she sensed would come.

Kate sighed, willing herself to keep her own emotions in check. Afterall, this conversation was about Mia, about helping the young and vulnerable girl find a secure base at last. It was not about alleviating any guilt Kate carried over the ordeal. She reached out to touch Mia's arm, waiting for the teen to gather her composure before she spoke.

"Mia. I know that you've had a hard life. I also know that just about every adult in your life has let you down...but I promise you... I promise that you will NEVER be alone again. You are here, I am here- and as long as there is breath in my body, you have a home. Do you understand me, Mia? You are home." She willed the teen to understand her, to believe her and to accept the words as truth. Mia simply swallowed back her emotions, afraid to accept such information, to hope. Sensing this, Kate continued.

"And if, by some chance, I am not here anymore, that writer upstairs... his family? They're your family now too. I know you don't believe me, and I know that there is a lot that you still need to know- but for right now I need you to focus on getting well. I need you to do so with the knowledge that we...that I love you." Mia's eyes shot back to Kate's in that moment.

The detective nodded, "Mia, I loved you the moment I saw you. I gave you away because I loved you. Had I known...Had I been given the slightest idea...I never would have let go of your tiny hands in that hospital." Kate took her daughter's hands in her own and squeezed, "I love you, Mia. I will love you for the rest of my life, for the rest of your life. This isn't a passing fancy, sweetheart. I promise you..." Kate moved to brush her hand across her daughter's jaw, swiping a tear that had fallen.

"I promise you that you are home now, and you'll never have to look elsewhere again. We've got you, Mia." The teen finally began to sob, allowing Kate to hold her as she cried. It was cathartic, as Mia sobbed for the parents she'd lost, the rejection she'd endured, the mother she'd found, the pain she'd experienced and the hope she resisted...the hope that she could call the amazing people around her home. As if reading her thoughts Kate whispered into Mia's ear.

"You're home now, Mia. You're home."


The contrast exam indicated that Alexis was completely healthy and her body was ideal to recover from losing a kidney. She spoke with a hospital clinical psychologist briefly, asking Alexis questions about the surgery, about why she was donating, about what she expected to come about from the surgery as well as life after.

"I expect to be in some pain, but I've read it is manageable. I expect that I'll not be able to drive or work in any capacity until I'm off pain medications, and I'll need help lifting more than 20lbs. I plan to be tired a lot, to need to rest a lot, but to be up and about as much as possible to speed along the healing process." Alexis recited this information to the psychologist as if she was a human pamphlet on kidney donations. The red-head continued.

"I expect that Mia will come through the surgery well and she will be around for years to come. I expect that we will both go on to live healthy lives." The psychologist nodded, taking notes as Alexis spoke.

"Finally, I expect that you want to hear if I've been pressured into this." She stated.

"Have you?" The doctor asked.

"No. I insisted that I be tested and hoped that I could help. I was relieved to find I was a match. That said, I think it is normal to feel nervous before a surgery." The psychologist finally smiled at Alexis.

"I think it is clear that you are knowledgeable and consenting. I would say that you're as prepared as anyone can be, and it sounds like you've got a great support system."

Alexis smiled, struck by how proud she was of her family, and by the fact that her family now included Kate- and Mia.


Alexis made her way back from her meeting with the Psychologist and entered the exam room of Mia's next appointment. An older doctor was speaking with The teen and Kate was holding her hand as they listened. Mia seemed different, calmer and peaceful. Alexis wasn't sure why, but was glad for the younger teen.

"So, we won't actually remove your kidneys, Mia. We will simply add the donor kidney, attaching the blood vessels to your abdomen and linking the tube attached, the ureter, to your bladder so that it can filter your blood." He was holding a model of the human kidney, along with the ureters that carried fluid from the kidney to the bladder. The doctor then turned to face Alexis, alerted to the presence of another person.

"You must be Alexis, our donor." He reached out to shake her hand.

"I'm doctor Kaplin and I'm Mia's urologist. I'm going to be supervising this procedure, from your donation to Mia's transplant." Alexis shook his hand politely, smiling and taking a seat next to her dad.

"So, I'm going to have 3 kidneys?" Mia stated. "That's not weird at all." Came her sarcastic response.

Both Castle and Beckett smirked at the girl's wry sense of humor. The doctor smiled too.

"Yeah. It takes some time to wrap your brain around." He placed the model of the human kidney, ureters and bladder back into the medical model.

"You'll both go into surgery on the same day. In fact, we'll keep you together, allowing for immediate transplant of the kidney."

"Can we keep them in the same recovery room?" Castle asked.

"Assuming there aren't any complications that should be fine, although Mia's surgery will be substantially more complicated, and her recovery time longer than Alexis'." The doctor informed them. Mia looked to Kate and smiled, as they'd already discussed her recovery.

"How much longer will Mia's recovery be compared to mine?" Alexis questioned.

"Well, she'll likely be in the hospital for a week. We'll need to monitor her to be sure that the kidney takes to Mia's body and begins to function. We'll also need to see that her body doesn't reject the kidney, and to monitor her ureter, which will have a tube inserted to prevent blockage."

"A tube?" Mia seemed alarmed.

"Think small, like a catheter. We'll remove it within a few weeks as you continue to heal. We just insert it to make sure that it remains open and unblocked as your new kidney begins to filter and create urine. Now," the doctor continued, "Like Alexis, no driving, no vigorous exercise and no lifting heavy objects for about 6-8 weeks."

"Define vigorous exercise." Mia asked carefully and Kate soon caught on to her daughter's concern. The detective soon interjected.

"As I'm sure you're aware, Mia has overcome incredible odds and is recovering from significant injuries." Kate began to explain.

"She should be fine to resume her physical therapy, lighter for the first few weeks, but back on track in no time." The doctor answered.

"Also, it will be about a month before sexual activity of any kind is recommended, but you'll have to judge based on how your pain and comfort level are." Both girls blushed, Mia assuming that the doctor was targeting the information to Alexis.

"That won't be necessary, neither will feel up for sexual activity until they're 30." Castle declared, earning eye rolls from both the girls. Although she'd never admit it, Mia was filled with warmth at the thought of his protectiveness. No man had ever been protective of her. It drove Kate's words home once again.

Castle responded authoritatively to the pair of eye-rolls,

"Hey- I'm not above resorting to a convent." This earned an elbow to the side from Kate.

Mia was the one to change the subject.

"I never imagined that I would desperately seek the day when I could raise my arm above my head, walk and pee." She was again sarcastic, but good humored about it.

"You'll be peeing like a champ in no time." The doctor reassured her with a smile on his face.

"You're going to put R. Kelley to Shame." Castle added, earning exasperated stairs from the women in the room and one very blatant, "Seriously?" From Alexis.

The doctor pressed on, clearly not getting the reference. "So, any more questions?"

Everyone shook their heads, as things seemed pretty clear. It didn't hurt that they'd spent the previous weeks reading up on the transplant process.

"Alright then, I think it is best to schedule this as soon as possible. The sooner we get you a healthy kidney, the sooner you'll be recovering and off of dialysis."

Mia nodded, trying to keep her nerves in check as she put on a brave face for the people she'd come to call family.