Castle = 72 | Kate = 64 | Alexis = 50 | Jackson = 30 | Alexander = 29 | Elizabeth = 28 | Rick Jr. = 26 | Johanna = 24
Andrew = 52 | Andrew Jr. = 22 | Sarah = 20 | Samuel = 26 | Sophie = 29 | Jacqueline = 27 | Mark = 31 | Mary = 2 | Nathan = 24
Ages for all of you guys. I would refer back to the first bit of this story "Explanation" if you get confused as to who is who.
Chapter 2
Jo pulled open the kitchen door, balancing her laundry basket on one knee, her fabric bag holding some of her textbooks from school. After greeting everyone she directed herself upstairs to her bedroom to deposit her stuff. Forgetting to take off her jacket while she was upstairs, she made it all the way back to the kitchen with it on. Hopping up to join Sarah on the island in the kitchen, pushing the girl who was four years younger than her over a little bit.
"I hate her." Jo said, while violently pulling off her coat, everyone knew that Jo was talking about Jackson's girlfriend, Sophie. They had been dating close to a year and Jack asked if he could bring to Christmas this year. Castle and Kate said yes, wanting to properly meet this girl that their eldest son was starting to become serious about.
"Jo." Castle said from behind her.
"I thought nobody had met her yet?" Alexis signed as she questioned her youngest sibling.
"No I met her in October when they invited me to dinner." Jo began to explain.
Castle, tried to distract her from ruining a good story of figuring out who this girl was/is. "What ever happened to that young man you were seeing?"
"Castle. No." Kate looked at him apologetically, making a short slicing motion across her throat, telling him silently not tread there.
"Opps. Sorry." He whispered as walked away. Jo jerking away from his hand as he patted her shoulder.
"So you were at dinner?" A.J brought up after a moment.
As Jo removed her boot with one hand she signed with the other. "Yeah. She's so fake. Drags me to this expensive, boring restaurant, where she talks the entire time. Not to mention she's uptight. Oh and you just wait, she has this terrible throat clearing." Clearing her throat she started tickling R.J's throat. He pulled his shoulders up and shyed away as Jo's finger followed, his face cringing as she did so. "What is she digging for? Clams?"
"Make way, enormous pregnant lady coming in."
"Elizabeth!" Castle called, moving to the door to the hall.
"Elizabeth, honey?" Kate called, rising from her seat behind the desk.
"Grandpa!" A small muffled voice of, for now the youngest member of the Castle family, or clan as Jo refers to them as, she is her father's daughter, though Kate and Castle knew that their youngest daughter was completely and totally Kate, called.
"Mary! You're getting so big!" Castle grunted as he picked his grand-daughter. She is big for her age, but when you have the Castle and Beckett gene, you are bound to be a little taller.
Kate hugged her very pregnant daughter, before situating herself back down in her seat, behind the cluttered desk in the corner of the kitchen, reaching out for Castle to hand over their two year old grandchild, whom he was currently carrying over his shoulder like a sack. He gently removed the girl from her position and passed her to Kate, who showered her with kisses.
More greetings ensued, as Elizabeth began emptying the bags onto the crowded counter. Johanna, being the tease she is, looked at Alexis and used her hands to show a large invisible belly, whistling softly, before smiling and glancing back toward her older, pregnant sister.
"Haha." Elizabeth laughed sarcastically. "Jack not here yet?"
Castle, having free hands, brought Elizabeth up to speed. "Jo was just telling us about how Sophie is a... throat clearer." Jo taking the open cue and clearing her throat loudly.
Kate reached out an smacked her husband's arm, "Why do you encourage her?"
"Hey, we both know she got that from you." He rubbed his arm, mockingly at Kate, who narrowed her eyes.
"Didn't you two talk on the phone once?" Alexis asked.
"What did she sound like?" Jo looked over at her sister.
"Yeah. And a little curt."
"Did she do that throat clearing thing?" Jo asked, popping a piece of nut from the bowl into her mouth. Elizabeth, walking away at this point, turned.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." She continued. "I have to pee. When is Alex getting here?"
R.J. who had disappeared into the other room, to put something away, a few minutes before, burst through the kitchen door. Signing and whispering, "They're here!" He motioned with his head toward the door. Jo looked toward her mother and cocked an eyebrow.
Sorry for the short chapter. Next one is going to be Sophie and Jack centered. Then back to the whole family.