So here we are, everyone! It's the conclusion of this installment of the Crumbsverse, but not to worry because there is not one but TWO new stories headed your way quite shortly - by popular request the Alexis/Shane relationship story and Beckett's first case back on the job. I would like to dedicate this chapter to my two most faithful and ardent fans, the two FF-writers and fellow citizens of Twitter-opolis who always encourage me to keep going even when I feel very low and am ready to call it quits - Ariel119 and NCISchick, your support means more than I could ever say. Thank you for being such wonderful fans and friends :) you're the best, and for the rest of you, keep on reading and reviewing and adding me and the Crumbsverse to your favourites!

One year, Beckett thought, as she stood over her son in his crib and watched him sleep. One year since she'd spent the night sweating and panting her way through what she was told was actually a rather easy labour to bring this beautiful bit of heaven into the world. So many things he learned and seen and done. She thought of all those little moments with him, from the first time she'd held him in her arms to watching him crawl, his first words and steps. And there were so many more to come.

RJ stirred, rubbing his nose against his beloved stuffed bunny and stretched as he blinked his eyes open. When he saw his mother standing above him, he offered her a charming grin.

'Mo-nin, Mumum.'

'Morning, birthday boy.'

'Bur-day.' RJ's grin widened. 'Me bur-day. I big.'

'You are indeed.'

He held up his bunny for her inspection. 'Omeo bur-day too?'

'Is that his name?' Beckett leaned on the rail. 'Did bunny tell you his name is Oatmeal?'

'Uh-huh.'

'Well, then we'll have to make sure he gets his own little carrot cake, won't we?'

RJ nodded, then scrambled to his feet. 'Daddy!'

Beckett glanced over her shoulder and saw that Castle was standing in the doorway with the video camera, capturing the moment on film. He was still sleep-rumpled and his hair was sticking out at right angles to his scalp, just like the little man in the crib. 'Of course, it's our resident paparazzi. Can you wave hi to Daddy?'

'Hi Daddy! Me bur-day!'

'Yes it is, December second and it's RJ's first birthday. You are one year old today, can you show how many that is?'

RJ examined his hands and pointed his index finger in the air, and both parents clapped excitedly for him; they were joined shortly by Alexis in her warm-looking robe and Shane in flannel sleep-pants and a t-shirt who also made cooing noises over the birthday boy.

'What's the big man want for breakfast?' Shane asked RJ; he knew the tot loved it when he treated him like a grown-up. Ever since Thanksgiving when RJ had given him crap over kissing Alexis and not even buying her flowers, Shane had found that talking to him man-to-man was always the most effective way to communicate with him. 'Eggs Benedict? Baked Alaska? Shrimp and grits?'

'Panakes an' ships!'

'Pancakes with chips?' Alexis asked, making sure she understood him and RJ bobbed his head like a sparrow drunk on worms.

'Panakes an' ships!'

'I'll see what we can do.'

She and Shane headed downstairs with Castle while Beckett picked RJ up out of his crib and put him on the changing table, chatting to him while she changed him. Once dressed, they headed for the kitchen. Not surprisingly, Shane and Alexis had the con while Castle put a little pile of presents on the living room table. At each place setting there was a napkin and a juice glass printed with Bugs Bunny. The kid loved rabbits, which Beckett prayed was a subtle prediction for her son's teenage years. She also made a mental note never to let the boy watch Watership Down, as she watched RJ put Omeo on the table beside his spot and give him a little kiss on the cheek before going over to Alexis and patting her legs.

' 'Mell yummy, Less,' he told her. 'What 'mell yummy?'

'That would be the bacon Shane is making and I am working on your pancakes, little bro.' Alexis set her spoon down, then settled RJ on the counter so he could see what she was doing. 'First I started with some flour, then we're going to add these ingredients.' She pointed to the little bowls of sugar, salt, baking powder and vanilla. 'Think you can help me?'

'I big, I help Less.'

Beckett watched as her children - the one she'd met and the one she'd made - put their heads together as Alexis told RJ what each thing was and got him to repeat it before dumping it in the bowl. She made no effort to wipe away the little tears of pride and utter joy that had gathered in her eyes and spilled over in seeing them together. She swallowed tightly, took the napkin Castle offered her as he continued to video them together.

'It's alright, Mom,' he murmured to her. 'We've got quite a pair there, don't we?'

'Yes we do.'

A few hours later, the domestic bliss of RJ's birthday morning was replaced with the jubilant cacophony of a child's birthday party. Everyone was there, from the usual suspects to the newbies of Daniel and Andrea; Castle had invited them when he'd learned from Beckett the depth of Andrea's sisters' nastiness and refused to take no for an answer when they tried to protest He knew it had been the right call when he saw RJ zoom over to hug her in greeting and say his thanks for making him better after his bout of strep throat.

'Annie fisty?' he asked, tugging her hand towards the table where various kinds of drinks and snacks were set up. 'Where Dan?'

'He had to go to work, sweetie, but he says hello and happy birthday.'

'Danks.'

'I got it from here, RJ, I think Mommy is ready for you and your friends to play the next game,' Castle laughed, steering his son in the direction of the other little ones. 'He's taking a page out of Tessi Esposito's book, making sure everyone has a snack.'

'He's a great kid. Oh, I brought this.' Andrea held out a little wrapped box. 'It's a Peter Rabbit sippy cup. Daniel and I picked it out after you mentioned at the hospital he likes bunnies.'

'He'll love it, I'm sure. How's the wedding planning going?'

'It's coming. I've spoken with my mother and it has been made very clear to her that she can come to the wedding and give me away but neither of those two little...well, I can't use those words at a one-year-old's birthday party, so let's say those two individuals aren't welcome at any of the wedding related parties.'

'Understood. I'll be sure to make a note of that when we have your Jack-and-Jill next month.'

Andrea looked at him with such gratitude she thought she might burst. 'You guys are too much.'

'Here.' Castle passed her a paper-cup of punch. 'Take this and let's go join in the reindeer games.'

He made his way over to the mat where the kids were playing a junior version of Twister, and for a moment, he watched Beckett with their beautiful boy. A year, he thought, since he'd watched his warrior queen fight her way through labour and bring that gorgeous miracle into the world. He remembered the look of pure joy on her face as she'd uttered those immortal words. I did it, I had a baby, she'd cried to him, and the moment Andrea herself had put him in Beckett's arms, he'd fallen in love all over again.

'Daddy!'

Castle shook himself from his sentimental daydream as his son wandered over and gave him a squeezing hug around the knees. 'What is it, big guy?'

'Love you.'

'I love you too.'

'Iss-deam now?'

'Soon.'

When it was indeed time for cake and ice cream, and everyone was crowded around to sing to the little man of the day, Castle had his mother snap a picture of the five of them - himself, Beckett, Alexis and Shane all helping RJ blow out the candles on his cake - and made a note to print and frame it right away so Beckett would have the photo to put on her desk at the precinct on Monday morning.

R&R&Enjoy