"Here we are again, huh?"

A tired chuckle sounded from across the dimly lit room. "Yep. I thought it was supposed to be faster the second time?"

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news but that is the biggest load of BS I have ever been told. Ever."

"Kaaaate," the young woman moaned. You're supposed to be helping.

"Sorry kid, I can't lie to you. This is going to suck just as much as it sucked before. It never stops sucking."

"Can I at least have the drugs now?"

"Not yet, Alexis. You need to endure some torture before they give you the drugs. It's the rules or something," Beckett settled on the edge of the narrow bed and squeezed her step-daughter's hand.

"Dad was right. Scientists should be focusing on Star Trek technology. Then they could just phase babies right out without all the chaos."

"That would be boring." Kate pulled the young woman forward by the hands and slid in behind her. She pressed her thumbs into the redhead's lower back and grimaced at the low groan that resulted. "Remember what it was like with Emmy? That feeling of complete relief when she was born and the pain was immediately gone? The overwhelming joy that comes with it? It would be like having a pizza delivered if they just phased a baby out and handed it to you, no effort or experience to go into it."

Alexis groaned again as Kate's hands pressed up the strained muscles of her back. "I'm sure I will appreciate all that later, but right now, I'd very much like to have this baby out of me, in my arms, and I'd like to be sleeping. Or eating ice cream."

"I can make one of those things happen, if you're interested."

"Ugh. As hungry as I am, and as deeply as I am craving ice cream, I think I'll be sick if I eat anything other than ice chips right now."

"Do you want me to get ice chips?" Kate stroked her fingers through Alexis' long hair.

"No. Just stay there. That feels nice. Can you braid my hair?"

"Of course," the dark haired woman passed a pillow forward and adjusted the young woman in front of her to settle against it. The women were silent as Beckett separated hair segments and wove them into a French braid, tying it off with the elastic she kept around her wrist. Alexis hummed softly in thanks and leaned back into her stepmother's chest, her head dropping heavily against Kate's shoulder. "You're doing great, you know." Beckett kissed Alexis's head softly and wrapped her arms around her. "Your dad and I are so proud of you."

A nurse bustled in to check the readings but Alexis ignored the interruption. "Is it wrong to be proud of me too?"

"Of course you should be proud. You've had a rough few years and look what you've done with them? You raised an amazing little girl, after you both lost her dad in the most horrible way possible, while you finished school, and worked. You helped your dad and I take care of your sister and brothers, you built a family. That's not easy, but here we are."

"I didn't do any of it on my own though. You and dad practically raised Emerson while I finished school and worked," Alexis huffed.

"Helping and raising are two different things, honey," Kate soothed, running her fingers across her stepdaughter's sweat dampened brow. "You raised Emerson, your dad and I just provided free babysitting and moral support. It's part of the grandparent's contract. Besides, there's no rule that says you have to do it without help from anyone. What's the saying? It takes a village?"

"I'm scared, Kate."

"Scared of what?" Kate embraced the younger woman from behind once again, rocking her gently side to side, as Alexis panted through a contraction.

"Doing it again without you and Dad."

Beckett laughed and kissed Alexis on the head once again. "Like that will ever happen. You do know your father, right? He has trouble distinguishing between his children and his grandchildren. You're going to be chasing him out of your house with a broom if I can't keep him busy."

Alexis finally laughed, some tension leeching from her body.

"Besides, it's not like you moved to Canada. You're fifteen minutes away by cab. Lily and Emmy are going to continue their sleepovers, and your dad and I will keep babysitting, and you know your dad is probably going to call every day and try and buy you groceries at least twice a month, even if you don't need him to."

"I'm never going to get Emmy to stop eating Lucky Charms am I?"

"Not if your dad has anything to do with it."

The two women sat in silence for a few minutes, breathing through another contraction.

"You know, one of the things I wished for the most when your brothers and sisters were born, was to be able to just pick up the phone and call my mom. Even for the stupidest things, like night sweats after having a baby, or how to move their legs when they had gas, or just to cry on the phone because I was so tired I was seeing things and the babies wouldn't stop crying. I had your Gram, but her advice is always so…colorful. It was always well intentioned, but not necessarily what I wanted to hear."

Alexis chuckled softly, and squeezed Kate's hand with understanding.

"My point is, that you did just fine when Emmy was a brand new baby and you and Sam were on your own. You knew you could call your dad and I any time, for any reason, and that hasn't changed now. It's a little trickier to juggle being a mom to two kids, and being a wife at the same time, while making sure you don't lose yourself in the mix, but you still have your dad, and you still have me. No matter what."

"I know Kate. And I'm so grateful to be able to rely on you to help me raise my kids."

"Always, honey."

Alexis inhaled sharply and groaned. "They're getting closer together. Where the hell is Luke?"

"He'll be here. Your dad is driving like a bat out of hell to get them all back here. Traffic is probably pretty bad everywhere."

"Fourth of July in New York City. I'd say so. Figures this kid would pick the one day I forced Luke out of the house in the past week."

"It's his Castle genes. Terrible timing is part of his DNA."

"The kids are going to be upset they missed the rest of the picnic and the fireworks. Dad should have stayed with them in the Hamptons."

"Yeah right," Beckett scoffed. "Your dad could have been on a moon launch and he would have blown it off to get here for you. The kids stayed with your Grandparents in the Hamptons. They'll bring them home tomorrow once traffic is lighter and you are settled in with the baby. They'll be less grouchy then."

"Good plan," Alexis grunted through gritted teeth. "I think you should check with Dad. I'm starting to feel pressure. I need to push soon."

Kate slid out from behind the younger woman and helped her settle back against the pillows. "I'll get the doctor first and then I'll call your dad. Don't push yet."

"I know," Alexis grunted again, in frustration. "Can I seriously have drugs now?"

"I'll ask, but if you have to push, it may be too late, honey."

"It better not be. This fucking hurts and I want drugs."

"Alexis?" Castle shocked face came into view around the door, before he was rapidly shoved out of the way by a frazzled younger man.

"God, honey, I am so sorry I'm late. I should never have gone today. How are you? Is it almost time?"

"Luke, I love you, and I'm glad you made it, but I really need you to shut up now," Alexis moaned.

"How are we doing in here mom?" a short, balding doctor entered the room, snapping on a pair of gloves as he walked. "It sounds like we're ready to get this party started."

"If by party you means drugs, then yes. More than ready. If you could do something about this baby getting out of me I'd really appreciate that too."

The doctor lifted the blankets at Alexis's feet and Kate yanked her husband's shirt, hauling him up to the head of the bed beside his daughter. "Hold her hand Rick, you can't unsee that."

"God Beckett, that's my daughter," Castle groaned.

"And that's why you're all the way up there smart guy. Now shut up and comfort."

"Kaaaate," Alexis moaned as the doctor examined her progress. "These boys are so loud."

"I know honey, I've tried for years to figure out how to lower the volume but I haven't figured it out yet. Just focus on the boy that's still quiet, and let me deal with everything out here okay. If you want us to go, just say the word."

"No, please don't go."

"Okay, just breathe, sweetheart." Kate glanced to her husband and her step-son-in-law with a pointed look. "It's almost over and everyone is here for you."

"Your mom is correct, Alexis," the doctor stood from his perch, removing his gloves and nodding to the nurse at his side. "It's almost over. Unfortunately, that means that an epidural is no longer an option. I can offer you the mask, or a shot in your IV, but you are fully dilated and with a few good pushes it will be all over."

"I'll push, I'll push, just get him out," the redhead cried, ignoring the grimaces of the two men on either side, whose hands she crushed in her grip.

Beckett shot them both a look that clearly said 'suck it up' before nudging Luke out from Alexis side and gesturing for him to take his place behind his wife's back. Luke nodded gratefully and slid on the bed, cradling Alexis's rigid body against his chest, and Kate took the young woman's hand in her own.

"You got this honey."

"Now push," the order came from somewhere at the bottom of the bed, and Alexis' face contorted with the force of her efforts. "Excellent, Alexis. Hold aaaaand take a breath." Kate gasped on an inhale, along with the laboring woman, re-experiencing the sensations of childbirth with her stepdaughter. "And again." Both women inhaled deeply, Kate stroking the sweat dampened strands of hair from the strained forehead. "Now stop," Alexis released a gasp as her baby's head was delivered and she moaned and rolled her head against Luke's broad chest.

"It's almost over, sweetheart. His head is out, they're just making sure you're okay to keep going and then it will be over so fast. Just hang on for a few more minutes. You're doing so great." Kate kissed her forehead, while Rick tearfully stroked her hair from the other side. No matter the occasion, he would never be okay seeing his little girl in pain.

"One more good push for me Alexis and this little one will be out, as requested."

Luke sat shellshocked behind Alexis, supporting her weight with his body, while he gave her a brace to push against, Rick looked traumatised on the other side of the bed, nothing like the picture of calm that had coached her through her own labour, and Alexis stoically inhaled and readied herself for the final push. Kate squeezed her hand and smiled, ignoring the bruising she would likely have the following day. Within seconds, the angry cry of a disturbed newborn filled the air and Alexis began to weep as her body collapsed in on itself, finally relaxed after hours of struggle.

"Oh my God, you did it, Alexis," Luke beamed, planting kisses all over his wife's head as he slipped out from behind her. "You were incredible. We have a son." He frowned and turned to the cot where the nurses were attending to the newborn. "We do have a son right?"

The doctor chuckled and nodded. "You have a beautiful baby boy. A very big boy too. Eight pounds, two ounces, and twenty-two inches long. You grew a good one, Alexis."

"I felt all of it, believe me," Alexis groaned, craning her neck to the cot, where the swaddled baby was being picked up by a nurse.

"Here you go, Mommy, a perfectly healthy little guy," she slipped the baby, gently into his mother's waiting arms.

"Hi baby," Alexis stroked his cheek, smiling happily at her husband. Kate slipped her arm around Castle's waist, resting her cheek against his chest as they watched their family welcome their newest member. Luke took the baby from her arms and took his turn briefly, before, sharing a meaningful glance with Alexis. Kate watched the slight nod from the new mother, before look made his way over to where she and Castle stood at the bedside. Wordlessly he approached Kate and she opened her arms to accept the tiny bundle, surprised at being given priority over the girl's father, but Rick didn't seem disturbed. He just gazed lovingly down at the baby in her arms. "Kate, Dad, meet Beckett Samuel McKenzie."

Kate's head shot up towards her step daughter, an uncertain look on her pale face. "Alexis…" She looked to Rick, who absolutely beamed with delight at his grandson's name of honor, and he gave her a gentle nudge to release her from her state of shock. Blinking rapidly to clear the tears from her eyes, she kissed the tiny baby in her arms and handed him to his waiting grandfather before moving to the exhausted woman in the bed, and embracing her fiercely. "I am so honored."

"He wouldn't be here without you. You are the one who stayed up all night talking me through my panic and convincing me to give Luke a chance. You never had to, you could have just passed me off to dad, but you were always there, and you always listened. And here we all are."

"But your dad Alexis, if he's named after anyone it should be your dad. He's done so much more than I ever have."

"Alexis and I talked about it Kate," Castle approached his wife, and slid a hand up her back. "I thought it was a beautiful choice, and I don't need a baby named after me. Having him named after you is an even greater honor for me than having my name. You completed our family Kate. Alexis and I were doing just fine on our own, but you made us whole, and I think that deserves to be celebrated. Besides Beckett is a way cooler name than Ricky."

Kate laughed and wiped the tears from her face before embracing Alexis again. "I love you so much. All of you."

"I love you too," Alexis sniffled.

The baby let out an angry shriek from his grandfather's arms, and Alexis reached for him with a smile. "I'll try feeding him. But Kate, just so you know, the namesake thing comes with first diaper duty."

Kate grinned and stuck her tongue out at the redhead, as she stood from the bed and watched her settle the baby. "Deal."