Hey guys :) Thanks for the kind reviews in the last chapter. I originally planned to have this up yesterday but it took on a mind of it's own, and I couldn't find a place to stop. The next chapter will definitely be when they tell the boys and Lanie's reaction :) Which will be uploaded later tonight when I get back from work. But for now enjoy this chapter :)

The part in italic's is a flashback and also no I don't own Castle, but I do own a really cool Castle Jacket :)

Rick opened his eyes to discover that Kate wasn't beside him in bed, he softly yawned before sitting up and stretching. He looked around the room setting his eyes on the clock, it was only eight, considering Kate had been sleeping in it was early for her. He looked around once more and noticed the light was on in the ensuite bathroom. He stood up and walked towards the door, opening it he discovered Kate sitting with her back to the wall, her head leaned backwards and her eyes closed.

"Kate?"

She opened her eyes and looked at him. "I hate you." She said.

"Why? What did I do now?"

"I can't believe you even have to ask." She said.

He looked at her and sat next to her. "Morning sickness?" He guessed.

"Yeah."

"Well it would have happened sooner or later."

"I vote for later."

"Well you don't get to decide." He smiled softly.

"Can you go fetch me a glass of water?"

"Sure." He said giving her a soft kiss on her head and heading downstairs for a glass of water. When he came back upstairs Kate was lying on the bed under the covers.

"Feeling any better?"

"Do I look it?" She asked looking at him.

"You want me to answer that?"

"If you treasure your life then don't."

"Well it's a good job I don't then." He joked.

He set the glass on the side cabinet and moved to sit next to her. He reached a hand a stroked her hair softly

"Why don't you go back to sleep for a couple of hours and I'll wake you to see if you feel like breakfast?"

"What will you do for a couple of hours? If you forget you're lost without me."

"Well in case you forgot we have a party to throw tonight."

It was approaching the magical holiday of Christmas and they had both agreed to throw a party at the loft for the team, Lanie, Jenny and the captain's wife. Rick of course had gone overboard and was currently in the middle of putting up all the decorations he could find. They had put up the tree the week before, of course Alexis and Kate weren't doing it right. After an hour of trying to decorate it they gave up and left Rick to his own devises.

"No Kate it doesn't go there." Rick told her as he walked to her side.

"What do you mean it doesn't go there?"

"Well there's only one thing I could mean when I say it doesn't go there."

"Well where does it go then?"

He picked up the ornament from off the tree branch and then moved it to the other side.

"I'm sorry but is there a reason it goes there?"

"Because it simply does otherwise the tree would look odd."

"I'm sorry but it doesn't already?"

Rick looked over to Alexis who had just put on a present ornament on one of the branches. "Alexis really? You've been decorating this tree for how many years?"

"Obviously not as many as you dad."

"My own daughter can't even decorate it! What is the world coming too?"

"Alexis what do you say we make some hot cocoa and cookies while we leave the Grinch here to the tree?" She asked looking at Alexis.

"That's sounds like a good idea."

Kate nodded. "Grinch decorate the tree."

Rick looked at her. "You were talking about me weren't you? How evil can you be?"

"Much more." She grinned. "Now you do what you do best, while me and Alexis go make a mess of the kitchen."

"Just try not to mess it up too much that I don't recognize it." He said as they walked off. For the next hour all he heard was the squealing off Alexis and Kate as they managed to get every countertop imaginable covered in flour and in their hair. Although he did have a good time with Kate getting it out of her hair afterwards.

Kate smiled at the memory, what made her smile even more was that the next Christmas they all spent together would be with her children.

She came back to the present and looked at Rick answering his question. "How could I forget? All Lanie has been talking about for the last fortnight is how wasted she's going to get." She chuckled slightly.

"Oh great. Well I'm going to go and hide the good stuff and let you sleep."

"Okay." She smiled. She leaned her head against the pillow and let her body relax.

Checking the time again it was still early, he guessed that Alexis would be up within the next hour and according to his mother who was on her way home for the holidays would be there in a couple of hours also.

"Sleep well Kate." He whispered setting a kiss on her forehead.

He walked downstairs and looked around the room, in the corner was the tree that had been put up, hanging from the ceiling were various decorations. Lights were hung around the windows and trailed down the length of the hand rail. He thought he had done a pretty good job of decorating this year although Kate thought he had gone overboard. He walked into his office and sat down at his computer, thinking now was a good time as any to start penning out the next Nikki Heat novel.

Not less than an hour later he heard footsteps, he saved his current document and walked into the hallway.

"Good morning Alexis." He said watching her reach the last few steps.

"Good morning dad." She greeted.

"So are you ready for tonight's big fiesta?"

"I'm always ready." She laughed.

"Well that's true you do come from a family of con artists and actresses."

Alexis looked around the room. "Where's Kate?"

"Oh she's not feeling well so I told her to sleep for a little longer."

"Oh right." She nodded. "So what time is the party starting?"

"Well we told everyone to be hear around six."

"Right well I'll be back by four."

"Wait. Where are you going?"

"I'm going to spend the morning with Paige maybe seeing a movie, then me and Ash are going to spend some time with his parents before we come here."

"When did you tell me this? I can't remember you saying anything."

"Well I told you last week, I told Kate yesterday and you yesterday to remind you."

"Now at any of these times was I writing or having Kate sit next to me?"

"Yeah."

"Well there's your problem, you know I zone out."

"Yeah sure. I'll just tweet you or send you a message next time okay?"

"Well that would work better for both of us. Which reminds me I'll have to tweet my fans wishing them a happy Christmas."

"Sometimes I wonder how you managed to become a highly successful author with your kid like attitude."

"Sometimes I wonder how you managed to suppress you're childhood years."

"You've had enough adventures for the both of us."

"God you're kids are going to be so normal. Don't you just want to go and have an adventure of your own."

"Who say's I haven't already?"

Rick looked at her and sent her a glare. "Go! Have fun before I change my mind."

"Okay bye dad. Love you."

"Do you need any money?"

"No I think I'm good."

She opened the door and squealed loudly.

"Alexis? Are you okay?" Rick went to the door and stared. "Oh it's just you."

"What a lovely way to greet your mother."

Alexis reached across the space between her and Martha and wrapped her arms around her. "I didn't think you'd be back until later."

"Well I got an earlier flight."

Martha returned the hug with enthusiasm and looked to her son. "Don't just stand there come and give your mother a hug."

"If I must." He joined them both and when they all released each other Rick looked at her bags.

"So how long are you planning on staying for?"

"Just until the new year, my show goes back on the road after."

"Well I guess I can put you up for that long." He said casually.

"Well it's nice to know you've missed me."

Rick chuckled slightly. "Of course I have."

"Well gram's we'll catch up later because I'm on my way out."

"Oh okay then." Martha gave Alexis one last hug before giving her a quick kiss on her head and walking into the loft.

"Bye sweetie have fun, don't cause too much trouble."

"Yes dad."

"Don't talk to strangers either."

"Shouldn't I tell you that?"

"Yes, but I have to act like the responsible adult now your gram is back."

"Since when had that ever happened?"

Alexis shook her head at the pair and with one last goodbye she shut the door and headed down to meet Paige.

"So what's a woman have to do around here to get some breakfast?" Martha asked looking around.

"You know where the kitchen is mother." He laughed.

"You're right I do. Now unless you want me to raid the liquor cabinet I suggest you start on breakfast."

"Well I wouldn't want that now would I."

He moved into the kitchen and turned on the stove. "Pancakes okay?"

"They're fine."

Kate came down the stairs a few minutes later as Rick was putting some panckaes on his mothers plate. Martha looked up and smiled.

"Good morning Kate, how are you today?"

Kate looked at Rick, he simply looked at her and shrugged his shoulders. "Good morning Martha. I didn't think you were flying in until later."

"Oh well you know me, why bother waiting around when there's a perfectly good flight in the morning."

Kate laughed. "Well in answer to your question I'm better than I was this morning."

"Feel like breakfast?" Rick asked turning back to the batter mix.

"I guess I could have a few." She nodded sitting down.

"Morning sickness finally appearing?" Martha asked.

"Yes, I was up half the night and then this morning."

"I didn't hear you get up." Rick said turning to face her.

"That's because you sleep like a log."

"Not normally."

"Since when do you do anything normal?"

"That's true." He laughed.

"Has Alexis gone already?" She asked seeing no sign of her.

"Yes she left about half an hour ago."

"So when does this great party start?" Martha asked.

"Around six."

"Great that gives me just enough time to shop."