Alexis smiled at the top of the stairs and shook her head, they were adorable. Holding onto the ramp, she glided down the stairs, saying, "Dad. I know you've got, hum… other things on your mind," to which Rick and Kate shared a chastened, slightly panicked look before Alexis continued, "But we talked last week. I told you I'd come home a bit after my last exam."

"Right. Yeah. -" Rick said and looked at his wife for confirmation. Kate smiled knowingly and nodded. They had been, in fact, informed. They really had no excuse. She could maybe blame the hormones. Rick, though, had absolutely no excuse.

"And your last exam was…" he continued.

"Yesterday."

"Of course. And you told us that already," he added and Alexis nodded. "We knew you were coming home, Pumpkin."

"Sure you did," the girl answered sarcastically as she went to her dad for a hug.

Kate approached the pair, shyly picking up her coat from the entrance floor beside her husband. "I'm really sorry for that, Alexis," she said as she placed her hand on her shoulder and gently squeezed it. She did feel extremely guilty. Had the girl made herself known only a couple minutes later, who knows what she would have walked into?

Pulling away from her dad, Alexis laughed, "It's fine Kate, next time I'll put a note on the door. 'Beware, Daughter Inside'"

They all laughed, but Kate's was forced. This was mostly her fault, damn hormones driving her crazy. Things like this shouldn't happen. She knew Alexis was coming home today, she should have remembered. She didn't want the girl to feel like an intruder, especially now, with the baby on the way.

Rick grabbed his daughter by the wrist and pulled her into another warm embrace, "Seriously though, we're happy you're home. I've missed you."

"I've missed you too, daddy," she said as she snuggled up to him.

Kate smiled at the picture of the pair. She hung up her coat and closed the entrance closet, heading towards the living room. She wanted to give the father-daughter duo their much needed cuddle time. Law at Columbia wasn't treating the younger Castle gently. With her full course load, extra-curriculars and boyfriend, she had her hands full, and the ever so perfectionist, Alexis didn't seem to find enough hours in a day. This meant she hardly ever came home during the week-ends, and never had time during the week.

Kate slumped into the couch, grabbing the remote and turning on the news. She laid her head down, on the back of the couch and closed her eyes. The 4 am body drop, really had taken a toll on her body.

Only a short nap. Not even that, I'll just close my eyes for a couple minutes. They won't notice.

She didn't get a couple of minutes. The monotone voice of the lady on screen hadn't even begun to fade when Kate felt the cushion shift beside her. She turned her head and opened her eyes. She smiled as she was greeted by her step-daughter's contagious grin.

"I don't get a hug?" the red-head asked playfully.

Kate bit her lower, lip, "Alexis, of course you get a hug. I just wanted to leave you and your father your little moment." Kate opened her arms, "Come here." She pulled her into her arms and whispered into her ear, "I've missed you too, Lex."

"And I've missed you," she whispered back.

Running her hand through the girl's hair, Kate explained softly, "Alexis, I'm really sorry I forgot you were coming home today. I don't want you to be uncomfortable coming back, ok? It's just the case, the hormones, everything's driving me crazy."

Alexis muffled a laugh, "Yeah, crazy for something alright. But, ewe. Yeah. No. Ewe."

"And, you don't want to hear about that. Right."

"No Kate, seriously, you guys are adorable. Just he's my dad and hum… Some things I still don't want to see. Some things I don't even want to think about," the girl shivered as she said it, "But I hope I manage to find something resembling what you guys have when I'm old-er."

"Nice save there, young one."

"Yeah…" Alexis's smile grew wider, "So, how's my little bro doing? Still cozy in there?"

"Nice change of subject, there."

"I know. Baby bro, here for the save," she winked.

"He's doing quite well. Has all his parts, been growing well."

"Hey, buddy. I've missed you too," she said as she approached her hands to Beckett's grown abdomen, "May I?"

"Sure, Alexis." She took the red-head's hand and placed it on the spot she could feel Malcom was asleep, because yes, the damn name did seem to be sticking.

"So you're staying until Tuesday, right?"

"Yeah, 2 days. Zach has his last exam on Monday. Then on Tuesday, were flying to Missigauga, spending a week with his family and everything."

"Ohhhh, a week with the in-laws. It's getting serious, am I mistaking?"

"No. It is. We're doing good, he's really an awesome guy."

"I'm really happy for you. I even think he has your father's seal of approval, so that's saying something."

"Talking about me behind my back now, are we?" asked Rick behind them.

"Maybe we are," answered Kate turning around, smiling.

He accosted his chin on the back of the couch between both their heads and sprung one arm around Alexis, on around Kate, strategically setting his hand over her bulging stomach, gently caressing it, "So how are my 3 favorite people doing?"

"Good," they both answered smiling and rolling their eyes.

"What about grams?"

"I rephrase, how are 3 of my favorite people?"

Castle hurried back to her desk, two steaming cups in hand. The boys had come and left already. They were hardly ever there, Esposito and Ryan were always the ones on the field. Castle would be lying if he said he didn't miss it at least a little, the adrenaline, but he was here and he was with her, so he really didn't mind.

Beckett had sent them away to scout an airport. She had had a lingering feeling. The short answers they had given her, their evasive tones, she had the feeling they were hiding something, but that was nowhere near enough to order them in for an interview. So the boys would just have to rattle the cage a little, see what would shake out.

He stared at her, on the phone, behind the huge pile of paperwork stacked on her desk. She smiled at him.

There better be a lead somewhere in those files because that smile of hers will dissipate fairly quickly.

He sat down in his chair and handed her, her cup, purposefully letting their fingers linger.

"Thanks," she mouthed.

His eyes inquired as he, in turn, mouthed "Who?"

"It's Lanie," she whispered, a hand covering the receiver, before continuing on with her conversation.

"No, I can't."

"Lanie, I'm not being stubborn and purposefully difficult. They're not here, so I can't send them right now."

"They're investigating, it's what we do. Can't you just tell me over the phone?"

"You want who?"

"I know I can't, Lanie. Formaldehyde's not good for the baby, you told me already."

"Yeah."

"I know."

"Yes, mom."

"I. Know."

"God, please stop, I'll send him. Okay?"

She hung up, and turned around. Castle was trying not to show his amusement. He had only heard one side of the conversation, but he could imagine the other.

"Castle, you're up. Lanie wants to show you something," she groaned.

"Alone? Seriously?"

"She found something during the autopsy. The boys are at the airport and I can't go. Your turn on the bat, rookie, don't mess it up."

"Rookie?"

"Just go Castle," she added as she fished out the keys from her pocket and threw them at him.

"And I get to drive your car, this day keeps getting better and better," he added with a smile as he hurried to the elevator.

She watched him hop away. He was such a child. It wasn't like she had never let him drive her car before.

"I'll be right back, boss!" he yelled before the elevators closed in front of him.

Yup. Boss.

She eyed the huge pile of files before her as she sat back down. She picked up the first file. It was Mr. Franklin's recent client list, but it was the one right underneath that caught her attention. She jumped, surprised to find it. She really had though he was a middle class, honest man, but as it seemed to turn out, not so much. She laid the client list aside and picked up the other file. This ought to be good.

She smiled as she began to read. This was it. This was the lead she needed. She continued reading, now devouring the pages, on after the other. Castle couldn't get back fast enough.

Turns out adding Alexis was really hard.

Thoughts? Comments? Complaints?