New York City
3 days later
Martha woke to the sun streaming into her bedroom. She shivered a bit as her brain roused. She had grown accustomed to the warmth Alex emanated, when she slept next to him in the cabin. As she slid her feet into her slippers and reached for her robe, she chided herself, "Martha, you need to set the thermostat a little higher at night. Alex will never sleep here to keep you warm at night. He can't come to the city."
RCKB
Two floors above Martha's apartment, Rick was pouring cereal in Ian's bowl and adding some strawberry slices on top. Ian was standing next to his father, one arm circling Rick's leg and one arm holding Bunny to his chest. Rick looked down at his son, "Are you sure all you want is cereal this morning? I can make you eggs or pancakes. Anything you want, buddy."
"I just want Cheer-ohs with strawburries. I like when I can have strawburries on my cereal. Please, can I have chocolate milk on my cereal?" the three year old asked.
"It's please, may I have, not can I have. And yes, you may. Chocolate and strawberries sounds delicious," Rick smiled down at his son.
"Castle, what are you feeding our son?" Kate surprised her guys as she entered the kitchen.
"Ian has put in his breakfast order. What do you feel like eating? Cheerios and strawberries are on the menu, but I'll fix anything you want." Kate had picked Ian up and stepped into the space the boy previously occupied. Rick leaned into Kate for a kiss.
"I'll just have some toast and tea. If that doesn't upset my stomach, I'll grab a few strawberries," Kate answered after their kiss.
"My 'Lexi is coming for dinner tonight, right Mommy?" Ian asked with a broad smile on his face.
Kate placed Ian in his booster seat at the table and sat Bunny on the special chair they kept next to Ian just for Bunny. Rick placed the cereal bowl on the Green Lantern placemat in front of Ian, smoothed Ian's hair and placed a kiss on his head. "Yes, Alexis will be here with Brian tonight. Gram is coming, too."
"Why did Alex and Poppa stay at the lake? Don't they want to see 'Lexi? " Ian asked just before filling his mouth with cereal.
"Poppa and Alex are fishing. They will see Alexis at the wedding in a few weeks. Remember, we're going to have it at the beach house," Kate answered.
Kate and Rick sat at the table and sipped their morning beverages. Rick looked at Kate, "Is now the time, my love?"
"Yes, I think we need to tell him. Let him calm down before Alexis gets here."
"Tell me what? Is it a susprise? I love susprises," Ian bounced in his seat as he spoke, and he spilled a few cheerios off his spoon. "Sorry, Daddy."
"That's okay, buddy. Mommy and I have some news to share with you. We think you're going to like it. We are very happy and excited about it." Rick looked at Kate, and she gave him a nod to proceed. "You remember the pictures of Mommy when she had you in her tummy?"
Ian nodded and smiled, "Mommy had a big tummy, but she was still very bootifull. Right, Daddy?"
The adults both chuckled. "That's right, son. She is always beautiful. Right now there is a new baby growing in Mommy's tummy. After Santa comes to visit again, you are going to get a baby brother or a baby sister. Then you will be the big brother, like Alexis is your big sister." Rick finished his explanation.
Ian's eyes widened at the news, "Am I going to grow up already? I wanted to go to school first."
"Sweetie, no. Daddy means you'll be a big brother, because you will be older than the baby and bigger than the baby. You won't grow any faster than you're supposed to," Kate answered and managed to suppress her laugh. Rick had choked on his coffee when Ian asked his question.
"'Kay. Do I get to pick whether it's a sister or a brother? I want a brother, 'cause I already have a sister."
"Sorry, buddy. The baby is already growing and already a boy or a girl. We just have to wait and see which one. We don't get to choose." Rick rubbed Ian's back as he replied.
"Does 'Lexi know 'bout the baby?" Ian's mind was full of questions, but this one seemed most important to ask.
"No, Alexis doesn't know. When she comes over tonight, would you like to tell her?" Kate asked. "We have a special shirt for you to wear tonight. Would you like to see it?"
"Does it have Iron Man on it or Green Lantern? I'd like a new Green Lantern shirt, 'cause my one is getting small. I'm growing. I'm gonna be tall, like Daddy." Ian grinned at his parents.
"This shirt says, 'I'm the Big Brother.' We want Alexis to read your shirt, when she gets here. Don't you think that will be fun?" Kate smiled encouragingly at Ian.
"Lexi will read the shirt and know 'bout the baby. Right, Mommy? Will Gram be here? I know she's in her 'partment downstairs. Does Gram know 'bout the baby?"
"Gram does know about the baby. Mommy and I told her and Poppa and Alex while we were at Poppa's cabin. Do you want to go to the store and pick out a new Green Lantern shirt or look for one on the computer?"
"On the 'puter. They have more shirts on the 'puter than at the store. When is Gram coming to play with me?"
"We'll call her after you finish your cereal."
RCKB
Ian looked adorable in his blue Big Brother t-shirt. Kate and Rick were in the kitchen preparing dinner, while Martha read Ian a book, "Some monsters choose green. Green monsters like to hide in the grass." Martha used a high-pitched voice as she read about the green monsters. Ian tapped her on the arm.
"No, Gram. You have to talk like a snake for the green monsters. Daddy always makes the green monsters scary like that, 'cause green monsters hide in the grass."
"I see. And how does Daddy do the purple monsters? They're next."
"Purple monsters are in grapevines. Daddy says that's where wine comes from, so purple monsters talk funny like you do when you drink too much wine." Ian looked at Martha innocently. The front door opened and Alexis and Brian entered.
Rick whispered to Kate, "Alexis picked the perfect moment to arrive. I think Mother was about to glare at me."
Alexis and Brian closed the door behind them, the adults headed toward each other and Ian popped off the sofa. "My 'Lexi is here! You want to see my new shirt?"
Alexis kissed her Dad on the check and then squatted down in front of her little brother. Ian stretched the shirt away from his body. "Read what it says! Read what it says," Ian was bouncing with excitement.
Alexis laughed and then read the shirt out loud, "It says: I'm the Big Brother…but you're the little brother."
"After Santa comes, I get to be a Big Brother." As he said it, Ian stood tall and proud with a huge grin on his face.
"Oh my God. You're pregnant! Kate, I'm so happy for you. Dad must be ecstatic." Alexis hugged her stepmother. "How are you feeling? When is it due?"
"Just a little morning sickness. The baby is due in January. And yes, your Father is definitely ecstatic. We both are."
The meal was delicious. The conversation centered on babies and weddings, while Ian chattered about Iron Man and Green Lantern. Brian fit in well with the Castle clan, and the evening was delightful.
RCKB
Five Days Later
Lake George
Alex opened Martha's car door and helped her out. He had picked her up at the AMTRAK station in Fort Edward. Martha had filled Alex in on Alexis's reaction to the news about the baby. She had just started a monologue about the new play on Broadway she had seen with some of her theater friends, "It was a disaster. They should have spent another week in previews. I'll be surprised if it lasts a month."
Alex opened the trunk and retrieved Martha's luggage. Martha took the smaller bag from Alex, "No need for you to carry it all, Darling. I'm not incapable of carrying luggage."
"I want to get you in the house and alone. I missed you while you were gone," Alex smiled at her and raised an eyebrow. Martha laughed.
"I saw that expression while I was in New York. Our son uses it on his wife, when he thinks I'm not looking."
"How is Kate doing? Is the morning sickness any better?"
"That will be plaguing her for a few more weeks, I'm sure. Ian is being so cute around her. He is even more solicitous of her than his father."
"I wish I had been there to take care of you all those years ago."
Martha patted Alex on the cheek as they sat the suitcases on the floor inside the front door. "I survived. Let's concentrate on now. We can't change anything, no matter how dearly we would love to." Martha kissed Alex on the cheek, picked up her bag and headed towards the bedroom. "I need a nap. Traveling is exhausting, plus I missed my bed-warmer while I was in New York."
"I'd be happy to warm up your bed, my lady. I'd be even happier to warm you up."
After a proper welcome home and a nap, Alex and Martha worked side by side in the kitchen. Martha prepared a salad while Alex seasoned the steaks he was about to grill. Once the food was prepped and cooked, they sat at the small table on the deck to eat.
Alex raised his glass, "Let's toast to your return." Martha touched her glass to his, and they both had a sip of the fine red wine. "I may have lived most of my life alone, but now my world is empty without you here. I'm glad you were cold without me."
Martha chuckled, gave Alex's shin a little nudge under the table and replied, "Mr. Craig, that is not chivalrous of you. You should offer to buy me an electric blanket for my apartment or at least a hot water bottle."
Alex kept the banter light in tone, "Now why would I do that Ms. Rodgers? I want you to come back quickly from New York, not be comfortable and stay longer."
Martha set her glass on the table, "Alex, are you certain it's unsafe for you to go to New York? When I'm there, I miss you. When I'm here, I miss Ian, Alexis, Rick and Kate. When the baby comes in January, I want to be there to help Kate."
"I'll check with my contacts in Washington. I want to be there, too. I also want you to marry me. You know, if I get the all clear, we could do it at Christmas. The family will be in New York and we could have a little ceremony at the loft with just the family. Marry me, Martha, please."
"Check with Washington. Then we'll talk again." Martha looked at the lake as it reflected the colors of the sunset, then turned back to Alex and smiled.
RCKB
A/N: These characters just keep making this longer. Chapter 7 is in progress. Hopefully, it will cooperate and we'll be finished tomorrow.
