Chapter 7.) Song for a Winter's Night

"Grams, I got your call," Alexis said as she came into the loft.

She paused for a moment as she looked around the place. Boxes were everywhere and Christmas decorations were being hung. She looked to her Grams who then turned to look at Beckett.

"What's going on?" Alexis asked

"I had Martha call you," said Beckett as she came over to her step-daughter. "I wasn't sure if you wanted to hear from me. I thought maybe you'd like to help."

"But earlier you had said-."

"I was wrong Alexis. I thought by ignoring Christmas that it would be easier to move on with our lives…my life and that it would make it easier to deal with. It's our first Christmas without your dad and that was hard on me. It still is but you were right."

"No, I shouldn't have said those things, it wasn't fair to you. I'm sorry."

"Alexis it's okay. You told me what I needed to hear, you were right. Your dad loved this holiday. It will always mean something different to him than it does to me but how can we honor him if we box Christmas away forever? I did that with my mom, I don't want to do that with him and I owe it to you and to your brother and sister to make this a perfect Christmas for all of us even if Castle isn't around."

Alexis smiled at her step-mom. "Thank you. And I was wrong about one thing, when I said that you weren't my real mom. I love my mom but she's never been parent material the way you and my dad have been, she's always been more like the older fun sister or crazy aunt who drops in unannounced every once in a while. You're my mom too and my dad was right to chose you."

Beckett smiled and the two of them hugged.

"I love you Alexis."

"I love you too."

"Well," said Martha, "As much as I love this little reunion are we going to leave this house a mess or what?"

Beckett smiled at Alexis, "Let's get started."

"I'll make some hot chocolate," said Alexis.

"Double chocolate, double marshmallow," asked Beckett.

Alexis smiled, "Of course."

Martha went over to put on some Christmas music and began dancing around the living room. A few minutes later Alexis came over with the hot chocolate and gave one to Beckett. She then went upstairs after hearing the twins cry over the baby monitor.

"They just needed a changing," Alexis said a short time later as she cautiously came down with her brother and sister.

"And you took care of that," said Beckett.

"Are you kidding," said Alexis, "I've been on diaper duty since the two were born, when I can anyways. And plus it's only fair since you're the only one who can breast feed."

"True enough," said Beckett. "Thanks."

Beckett smiled at Joan and Jamie. She then took Jamie into her arms.

"Hey Jameson, wanna help mommy decorate the Christmas tree?"

Jamie reached out with his tiny right arm and touched the fern leaves on the tree. He quickly pulled back never having felt anything like it before. Joan mimicked her brother's move and Alexis walked over so she could touch the tree too. Unlike her scared little brother Joan laughed. She laughed even more when Alexis brought up a branch and tickled her neck.

"This reminds me, I'll be right back," Alexis said handing Joan over to their Grams.

Martha began swaying with the child in her arms. Jamie began touching the ornaments on the tree.

"I know," said Beckett, "Shiny."

When Alexis came back down she had two small boxes in her hand. They were both wrapped with Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer themed paper.

"I had these done after the twins were born," said Alexis. "They're meant to be opened before Christmas."

They all went to the couch where Martha and Beckett sat down with the twins in their laps.

Jamie tapped the box and Joan did the same thing.

"Okay," said Beckett. "Let's see what your big sister got the two of you."

Beckett opened one of the boxes and in it was a pink framed ornament with the words 'Baby's Christmas'. In the frame was a picture of her happily holding Johanna. What impressed her wasn't so much the picture but who else was in it: Castle. He was formed in a light blue color, ghost like, similar to the ghosts Beckett had seen in the Star Wars movies.

"We learned that technique in my technology class," Alexis explained.

Beckett couldn't speak. She opened the second box which was the same thing except in a blue frame and with her holding Jameson.

"Now dad will always be watching over them," Alexis said with a smile.

Beckett's eyes began to water as she smiled. "They're perfect Alexis, thank you."

Martha too was beginning to tear up.

Beckett knew that for the rest of their lives Joan and Jamie would have these ornaments and be reminded that their father loved them and that he was always watching over them even in his death.

"What do you say we put these on the tree," she said her voice cracking a little.

The family of five went over to the tree and found the perfect place for them. The twins were then passed off to Alexis and Martha and Beckett continued to decorate the tree, the music continuing on in the background.

Glancing around the loft to see the progress; they still had a lot to do, Beckett found her eyes lingering on the wedding photo of her and her husband.

She smiled and whispered, "Merry Christmas Castle."

~END~