After a week in the hospital and no complications, Mia was released to recover at home with her family. It would still be another week or two before the tube could be removed from her ureter, and the teen was slow to move. Mia also relied once again on Kate and her new make-shift family to help her with daily activities. She was still not released to resume physical therapy.

A lot of the girl's time was spent reading, working on puzzles, writing in her journal, watching movies and sleeping. Mia still spent a lot of time asleep, as was normal for her healing body. She and Alexis were both laid out in the living room, a couch designated to each, complete with pillows and blankets for comfort. Meals were cooked and delivered to the girls and Castle and Beckett took turns keeping them company.

As expected, although Alexis was up and around within days, Mia's recovery was considerably longer. In fact, the red-head feigned a need for more help than necessary as a way to stay near the younger girl. Although she wasn't fooling anyone, Mia was grateful for the extra time with Alexis. Few things brightened her day the way Castle's daughter did. It helped Mia to feel less isolated and less of a burden. Regardless of how many times she was reassured by the adults, the girl still hated to be vulnerable and needy. It was one of many things she had in common with her mother.

Early in the third week post surgery Kate returned to work. She'd run out of paid leave and Castle assured the detective that her daughter, their daughter was in good hands. Nevertheless, it was difficult for Kate to leave. The detective was fortunate to find that her team had no murder to solve, and was able to stick close to the precinct. As a result, she texted Castle frequently on most days, checking on Mia.

Several days later, it was nearly ten and Kate was staring at her computer, lost in her own thoughts. She'd managed to go all morning without calling, without pestering Castle and Mia. However, the urge to check in was getting to her. When she was finally unable to hold off any longer Kate lifted her phone. Before she could do anything, and as if he could read her mind from across town, the device buzzed.

She's fine.

Kate couldn't help but laugh, at both the connection she had with Castle, and the relief she felt knowing Mia was in the hands of someone who loved her. He loved the teen more than she could ever know and Kate knew it was time to let the girls know the true nature of their relationship.


It was a Tuesday afternoon and Kate had taken the day off from work. Gates had been kind enough to allow it because she'd known that Mia was to have her checkup. To celebrate the tubing being removed, and Mia's entry into fully functioning health, save her regular physical therapy sessions, Castle and Beckett decided to take the girls out to lunch. It was also decided that they would break the news to both girls after their meal.

They'd told Martha over the weekend and needless to say, she'd been surprised.

"Do you mean to tell me that…that girl in there…she's my granddaughter?" Martha's eyes teared up and she covered her mouth with her trembling hand. It was a lot to take and for a moment Kate was terrified. Perhaps they shouldn't have kept the secret for so long.

"Martha, we just wanted to focus on the girls, on getting them through the surgery." Kate explained herself, trying to soften the blow. Martha remained silent for a moment more and Beckett couldn't stand the silence.

"I promise I had no idea. I would never have kept Mia away, I wouldn't have hidden my pregnancy had I known it was Rick… I just didn't know." She was desperate to explain herself while Castle simply remained silent, his hand steadily on Kate's back to show her support no matter what.

Martha looked up to Kate suddenly, as if reminded that she was still in the room.

"What?" The older woman muttered, "Of course not! Kate, I would never think that you would purposefully keep Mia from Richard. I'm just shocked. Of all the people in the world, you two found one another over 13 years ago." She stated. A few moments passed and the older woman spoke again.

"It's remarkable." Martha smiled to Kate, opening her arms to the detective.

Beckett let out a sigh of relief, nearly laughing with it as she moved into Martha's arms.

"I certainly hope you both take to heart what I've said. To have found one another, to share a child, and to come back together in your partnership- clearly you're supposed to be…" She motioned back and forth between them, indicating that they belonged together.

They both laughed and nodded, come hell or high water, nothing was going to tear them apart again.


Castle, Beckett and the girls sat in a remote corner of the restaurant, next to a large window that overlooked the Hudson River. The setting was quaint and domestic, glass table tops and white, wicker chairs. Castle thought the environment was favorable for taking about family.

He squeezed Kate's leg supportively. Her nerves were nearly driving her out of her skin and he could feel the energy radiating from her body. The warmth of his palm against her thigh seemed to help, as she inhaled deeply before letting out a long sigh.

Both girls sensed something was up, but said nothing. After their meal was completed Mia nibbled absent-mindedly on a dinner roll. She waited for someone to talk. For her part, Alexis wasn't much better, eyeing the pair of them suspiciously. Are they getting married? Did they elope? Are they pregnant? The suspicions ran through her mind one by one before Alexis finally caved.

"So is somebody going to tell us what's going on?"

"We will, pumpkin, but we need you to promise you'll listen and not freak out." Castle answered her.

Mia and Alexis shared an alarmed glance, unable to fathom what could possibly have the adults so unhinged.

As Castle moved to take Beckett's hand, lacing their fingers together, Kate began to speak.

"Mia, it's about your dad."

Mia's eyebrows shot up, "I thought you said you didn't know who my dad was." She spoke suspiciously.

Kate nodded, "I didn't know who your dad was." She was silent for a moment, but soon found the words to continue.

"I didn't know your dad. I was in pretty bad shape back then and…I didn't remember…" Kate figured that going with not remembering was more appropriate than the truth, which was fairly explicit and not appropriate for a minor. She didn't want to go into the details of such a personal encounter. The detective studied her hands for a moment, finding herself at a loss for words.

"Mia," Castle inserted, sensing Kate's hesitation, "While we were testing for kidney matches…for your transplant, Lanie discovered that Alexis' tissue was a genetic match to yours." He put it out there, allowing the girls to arrive at their conclusions in their own time.

"What does that mean?" Alexis finally spoke, clearly shocked to hear the news. "Are you telling us that we're related? How is that possible? "

Mia simply sat silently; her head shifting from her mom, to Castle and to Alexis as each spoke, taking in the information. She processed each piece of news as if it was evidence in some mystery. Alexis was a genetic match. The greatest likelihood of a genetic match for kidney transplants came from siblings. Soon reality dawned on Mia. If Alexis and I are related…siblings? She looked to Castle for a moment then, as if he was a complete stranger. In a low voice, she questioned.

"Are you my dad?" Rick paused and stared at Mia. He then nodded his head slowly, his eyes watering as he maintained eye contact with the teen.

Kate, on the other hand, couldn't take her eyes off of Alexis. The reality of the situation dawned on the red-head, her eyes growing wide as she looked at Mia anew.

"Unbelievable." She whispered. There wasn't a trace of anger in her tone; she was simply stunned.


They rode back to the loft in silence. Kate was afraid to approach either girl, giving them both space to process. She worried that Alexis would be angry, would reject Kate. She had no idea how Mia would react, and the unpredictable nature of her response was even more disconcerting for Kate. The detective couldn't help but notice Mia sneaking sideways glances at Castle, studying him in a new light. Afterall, he was her father.

"Why did you wait to tell us?" Alexis finally spoke, breaking the silence as their vehicle navigated the streets of Manhattan.

"We wanted you both to be recovered from surgery… to be well." Castle stated, staring at the road as he drove. Alexis nodded, returning to her own thoughts.

"My dad." Mia whispered again after some time, as if testing the words on her tongue.

"We had no idea." Kate offered.

"If I'd known, I would never have let you go." He stated to her.

Despite the fact that she understood, the words stung Kate slightly. She was once again filled with guilt and grief over what Mia had encountered in her young life. She didn't turn from where she stared out the window, but felt Castle's hand grasp her own. He squeezed it supportively, communicating silently to her. You did it out of love. Kate nodded. Nobody in the car blamed her. It was time to stop blaming herself.

Castle finally ventured a glance to the back seat, relieved to find that although the girls sat on opposite sides of the car, both staring out their respective windows, they reached for one another, hands clasped in the empty seat between them.


The silence was broken at the loft, where they all took a seat in the living room.

"Where am I going to stay?" Mia blurted. Both Castle and Beckett looked to her in confusion, Alexis feeling out of the unsure as well.

"If you're my dad…will I go back with Kate to the apartment? Will I stay here at the loft? Will travel back in forth? Do you even want me?" She shot questions out, one by one, before stumbling through the last part; before hitting on her true insecurity. Her voice broke with it, the vulnerability and trepidation clear in her voice.

Before Castle could move to where Mia was seated, Alexis scooted close, her arms around Mia. Soon he was on the floor, kneeling in front of where Mia was seated on the couch.

"Baby, of course I want you. I wanted you in my life before I knew you were mine." His voice was soft, gritty with emotion. "I will always want you."

"We both will." Alexis supplied before adding, "Sis."

Rick moved to sit beside Mia on the couch, pulling her into his arms and cradling her as if she was the most precious thing on earth. Alexis held her from the other side, the three solidifying their bond. Kate watched in relief, overwhelmed in the joy that Mia would have the Castles in her life. She was surprised when Alexis turned to face her, a bright and emotion-filled smile on her face. The radiating smile felt like an embrace and Kate knew in that moment that everything was going to be alright. She and Alexis shared a silent conversation, the meaning conveyed through smiles, thank you for the truth, thank you for my sister.

"You still didn't answer the question of where I'm going to live." Mia pulled back suddenly, contentment in her voice, "are we all going to live here?"

Castle and Beckett were silent as they exchanged glances. Truth be told, the partners had yet to address their relationship. Although they were together, things were still on the down low and little time had been given to figuring out the logistics.

"Oh." Mia stated bluntly, "are we still pretending you two aren't together?"

Both Castle and Beckett stared at her in shock.

Alexis simply let out a laugh, smiling at her little sister with pride and offering her a high-five. The red-head already knew, as she'd seen them kiss at the hospital, but she wasn't bold enough to call them out on it.

"You're too smart for your own good." Castle muttered to her, amusement in his voice. Kate simply blushed, a smile on her face as Rick reached for her hand.

"Well, I guess we're not hiding it anymore."


AN: I completely understand that just about every reader would have written this scene differently; some with anger and denial; others with squeals of delight and hugs. Neither extreme felt natural to me and to the characters I was writing. That said, I hope you enjoyed :)

Just an Epilogue left now