I don't own Castle - ABC Studios and Andrew Marlowe do. I'm just borrowing the characters for a while to play.

I am not making any money from this; it's just to freeshare with my ff friends.

"I turned down the role. Turned my back on fortune. And, it was the best career move I ever made.

For an even greater role came my way. The part, perhaps the greatest role that I have ever played…"

Martha Rodgers: Once Upon A Crime

The lullaby

July 2024

...

Kevin Ryan loved being a dad. From the moment his first-born had been placed in his arms, he had delighted in the role and promised the tiny little bundle he would always be there for him and make time to spend with him, and any siblings he may have, despite the pressures of his job.

The detective had seen the jaded officers who placed all of their energies into the job role to the extent of missed family events, with the result that they had lost their families and had to continue alone.

Kevin had done alone in the three year wilderness between Jenny and Alexis, and he felt the loss of his family would be a price he would be unable and unwilling to pay, despite his allegiance and dedication to his job. So, he ensured that there was always time between cases for family time, even if he was tired out. Of course, it helped that he worked closely with two, sometimes three, like-minded individuals, who were just as dedicated to the need for family-time as he was.

Spending time with Connor, and later Aiden as well, was one of the true joys of his life. Of course they also spent time with Lex, as a whole family unit. His intense adoration of his wife had not dimmed in any way. In fact, if it were possible, he would say it had grown even stronger as the days continued. So yes, there were times the whole family spent together; but he had to admit there were also times when boys needed to be boys and he delighted in the occasions spent just him with his sons.

He had always been a hands-on dad as well. Had delighted in sharing with Lex the caring for and changing and feeding of the tiny little beings so dependent on their parents for their every need; rather than leaving all that to his wife, and not taking an active role until they were old enough to walk and talk and play. Basically he relished his role, and felt he played it extremely well. He knew his part to perfection and although his boys continually surprised him as they grew and developed, he nevertheless always knew how to cope and handle any eventuality.

But now, as he gently rocked his latest newborn and softly crooned his favorite Irish lullaby into the tiny shell-like ears, he knew that he needed to adapt his role to encompass another slightly different type of relationship. Molly Mae Ryan had unblinking 'Ryan' blue eyes fixed on her father's face as he sang to her. They were slightly unfocused, as befit a young lady barely three days old, but even so they held a wisdom all their own, and Kevin was convinced she knew exactly who was holding her and singing to her. And also knew that she would only have to ask and she would receive, seeing as how her dad was already completely besotted with her.

He could already feel the protective instincts swelling inside him, and knew it would be hard for him to not make her wait forever to have the freedom to do as she wished in her life. It was a double standard, he knew. And one he had always thought he would not enact, but the thought of her ever being at risk terrified him far more than it did even for his beloved boys. He felt a new respect for his father-in-law as he suddenly appreciated the restraint Castle had shown with not decking him for sleeping with Alexis after only one date.

There were many things Molly would be able to join with her dad and brothers to do, but he thought he would like sometimes to do things with just her. To build the relationship with his daughter that Alexis had with her own dad. In fact, if he used Castle as his role model he wouldn't go far wrong in building a wonderful relationship with his beautiful Molly Mae.

He realized that his daughter's eyes were starting to droop, so he lowered his voice for the last chorus of the lullaby

"Too ra loo ra loo ra, too ra loo ra lai,

too ra loo ra loo ra, hush now don't you cry.

Too ra loo ra loo ra, too ra loo ra lai,

too ra loo ra loo ra, that's an Irish lullaby."

Molly was now fast asleep, so he quietly rose from the rocking chair, and with the practice of experience laid her gently down in her crib without disturbing her. One last kiss to her tiny silken cheek and he turned for the door to go back to bed, but stopped in his tracks as he found his wife watching him with a soft smile on her lips.

"You are supposed to be sleeping," he said to her softly.

"You've been so long, I wondered where you had got to. Do I have to be jealous of my daughter?" She raised her eyebrows and gave him a smirk.

"Well, I must admit to being totally besotted. But don't you worry my love, you've only dropped to number four. Not bad after seven years of marriage!" And he smirked back at her.

She softly laughed. "Well if I'm only vying for positions with Molly and Con and Aiden then I think I'm still safe and secure. So now what? Going my way back to bed?"

He laughed now at her quip. "No sweetheart, going OUR way as always!" And he kissed his wife and took her back to bed leaving their precious Molly Mae to her dreams of Irish lullabies.

…

AN: "Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ra" features in the 1944 classic film "Going My Way" starring Bing Crosby.

A HUGE thank you to Firestar385 for beta reading, Americanizing and generally correcting this work. Any remaining mistakes are mine!

Please let me know what you think. All constructive criticism is welcomed - I haven't written in quite a while and the only way to improve is to take on board other people's comments. I hope you will enjoy the reading journey as much as I am enjoying the writing one.