A Wonderful Life

Post 8x22. AU. Katherine Beckett's belief of the magic and wonderment that Christmas brought, had died when she'd lost her mother, nevertheless, Castle was determined to make sure they had new traditions and it was trough her children that Kate believed again. . Set in the same universe as my other Castle stories.

Hi guys! So I just rewatched ep 5x09 and I so needed to write a story in which Kate's kids make Christmas so worth for her as much as Alexis's made Rick's. Using all the kiddies in my other stories. You don't really have to read them all to understand as this could be a stand alone.

I own nothing. Except for my mistakes.

Chapter two : Christmas Eve Part I

Kate Beckett was an expert on chaos. She had that many children to keep on her toes, plus she had Rick who was most times worse than the kids. Right now she was thankful all she had to deal with were four kids. She and Rick pushed the strollers along the mall. They had gone to Toys R Us first. Keeping a close eye on the triplets. Her boys on itself were so different even though they were identical. Jake was all about cars and spaceships, Reece who had taken a liking to reading ever since Castle had began teaching them was all about music and books. He'd probably end on the same path as his daddy. And JJ was all about animals. He wanted to take care of every living being that came into the door, every time he saw a mouse or a bird all he wanted to do was tend to it.

And most times she and Rick would agree to it. And then told JJ the little buddy had to go home to someone because he couldn't stay with them.

The house was already a bit too crowded.

They had to give up the loft when the boys had come home and Wash had come into the picture.

They now lived in a house in the suburbs, just outside the city, while Alexis and Scott had taken on to the loft. With just Gracie and Scott and the soon to be little one they were having, the loft suited them just fine. Even Martha had moved in with them. She said there was a lot less noise at heir house.

Well at this point Kate didn't know quiet.

"Daddy, can we walk round?" JJ asked. They've been in the stroller long enough and were getting tired.

"Yeah mommy, can we?"

"There's Santa!" Jake said, his little finger pointed at the setting where other children had began to gather. JJ made a face, he was terrified of Santa. Poor little guy, he hid his face against the stroller.

"Can we go?" Reece asked.

"Please!" Jake echoed. "Nate too!"

"I'm not. Can't go. I'll…" JJ said.

"Don't worry buddy, Daddy will go with your brothers and you and I will stay right here." Kate told him. She took him out of the stroller as Castle was dragged along by Jake and Reece.

Kate watched from afar, JJ's face was now buried in the crook of her neck.

"It's okay baby, you do know that Santa is really nice, don't you?" JJ nodded. "He wouldn't hurt you."

"He's scary mommy…" Truth be told she had also been traumatized by Santa as a child. She didn't think there was something wrong with the man, but she didn't have one single picture with him.

It seemed like forever until it was finally the boys's turn. Castle handed Nate to Santa and stood next to Jake and Reece as the picture was taken.

The boys were ushered out of the line, followed by Rick who held the baby.

Then all hell broke lose. Jake broke into a run, Kate saw him disappear in the midst of heads. Her eyes wide. She quickly saw Castle had managed to get a hold of the other boy.

"Rick!" She called.

He made his way to her and quickly spotted Jake on the ground, crawling his way back to them. Kate got a hold of Reece.

Her husband suddenly turned all serious.

"Jake." The little boy was not looking up at him. "What did we say about running?" Jake's little lip quivered. "You know you could have been lost, don't you? There's a lot of people here." Jake looked over at Kate for help but she seemed to be of no use.

"Sorry." Jake said, his eyes shining."I'm sorry daddy."

Kate glanced over at Rick.

"Baby, you know how dangerous it is if you get lost and daddy and I wouldn't be able to find you, do you how sad we'd be?"

Jake nodded. "Yeah. I'd be sad too."

"No running buddy, that's the rule." Kate said lowering herself to his level. She glanced at Rick. "Or we'll have to go home."

"Do we have to?"

"Unless Jake wants us to leave." Jake's eyes widened.

"We're leaving?" Reece asked.

"No, please daddy, I'll be good Kay? Promise."

"Kyan, be careful buddy." Scott called as he trailed behind the boy and Lily who giggled along as he played around with his wheelchair. "You don't want to hit people."

"I won't." He said. "Dad says I could do racing if I want to,"

"Yeah and I'll be his trainer." Lily said proudly. "See? He just has to be faster."

"No, not here guys. You could cause an accident." Scott said. Alexis and Martha eyed the kids suspiciously.

"What's going on?"

"We want to do racing!" Lily said with a wide smile.

"Of course you do sweetheart." Martha said. "But if I see either of you bumping into someone, I'm going to act like I don't know you and call the mall police."

"Grams!" Alexis laughed. Gracie looked at the other two curiously. "Not the police."

"Now you two, better stop that. You don't want to get in trouble do you?"

"No," Lily said. "Ky, we could go to jail."

"No we can't, there's no jail at the mall,"

"Actually…" Alexis said. "There is."Kyan glanced at her. "And you two could miss Christmas dinner. And presents."

Lilly's eyes went wide. "Now let's get a move on and find your parents."

"Alexis." Kyan said in all seriousness. "You said we could get ice cream."

"Yeah, when we're done shopping we can, remember?"

"Are we almost done?"

"Almost."

"Alexis?"

"Yeah Lily?"

"Did you get a picture of your tummy taken like mommy did. Is that how you know you're having a girl?"

"I did," she smiled. It looked like Alexis was keeping the family tradition of girls.

"Wish one of the boys was a girl." Lily said suddenly. "There's too many boys."

"I hear you kiddo."

"That's why mommy and I have girls time, cause she says Its ours. Are you going to have that with the new baby?"

Alexis smiled. "Of course."

"Good, boys are sometimes too much. Sorry Scott," The man laughed.

"Nah that's okay Lil, I think I'm pretty used to it by now. Right Ky?"

"Yeah sorry too Ky, mama's just says so."

"Well I for one think you are right." Martha smiled.

"Grams?"

"Yes Lily?"

"Did daddy have that with his daddy since he was the only boy?"

"Well actually…"

"Grandpa Jackson is a spy Lily, he had to save the world."

"I know that, but mommy was a detective and she saved the world too and played princess." She said logically.

"Even so, Grandpa Jackson is in another county."

Alexis glanced at Martha.

"Is that why he never gets home for Christmas?"

Martha's heart sank.

"Lily, why don't we..,"

"There's Daddy!" Without knowing they had all ended in the same spot. "Daddy."

"There they are. How was baby shopping?"

"Daddy did you know Alexis is having a girl?"

"Yes."

"How come you and mommy didn't have more girls?" She asked.

Rick glanced at Kate. "Because….we already had the most amazing two girls in the world."

Lily smiled. "You're right mommy, boys are clueless."

Kate and the girls giggled.

"Kate's kid indeed huh?" Alexis told her dad. "I'm so glad I'm having another girl,"

"Just wait until you're confident enough, then you'll get a boy." He said amused.

"Daddy?" Lily asked as they were getting ice cream. "How come Grandpa Jackson never comes home for Christmas?"

Rick's question took him off guard. "I honestly don't know Lil, he's busy I guess."

"Being a spy," Kyan retored quietly.

"Yes but we're not supposed to talk about that." Rick said.

"So you don't know where he is?" Lily asked expectantly.

"Not at the moment, no."

Lily bit her lower lip. "Then I know what I'm asking Santa for, this Christmas. I'm gong to ask him to bring your Daddy to spend it with us."

"That's really sweet Lily but.."

"Dad, that could actually work; Santa has magic." Kyan said proudly. Kate glanced over at Rick.

Uh-oh.

They made it home in record time. Rick had instantly gone to keep himself busy. Kate took care of the kids putting Nate and the boys down for a nap after they had come down from their sugar rush.

"Babe? Are you okay?" Kate had come from the boys's bedroom.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Because of what Lily said." She told him.

"The only thing I don't want is for her to be disappointed. Where did that stuff come from anyway? She's never asked much about him before."

"I guess she just began to notice there's one person missing in the picture."

"Yes, but my father?"

"She's just being sweet."

"She's being all mini Beckett, that's what she's doing, it's scary."

"Don't be funny Rick, I want you to talk to me."

"Not right now, I have to finish this, we have people coming over."

Kate sighed. She had to do something.

"What's wrong sweetheart?" Martha asked as they set the table.

"It's this whole Jackson thing. Do you know why Lily asked about him?"

"Well she was talking about how you and her have this special 'me and mommy time' and I guess she wondered if Richard had that same thing with his dad because he was on his own and didn't have any siblings,"

Kate smiled. "Yeah she's been asking a lot of questions, like how come Nate wasn't a girl and why my Mom isn't here either."

"Oh Katherine."

"We've tried talking to her but she's seven…"

"Yes, I remember when Richard was that age, he used to ask me all sorts of questions, some that I was wiling to answer more than others."

"Right. But know she's asked Santa for Jackson."

"True."

"And that just isn't possible. We don't even know where he is."

"I don't even know if he's alive."

Kate looked into the other woman's eyes and saw only pain.

They had seen Jackson just a handful more times since. He had met Lily once, but he hadn't even laid eyes on the boys, although for all they knew he kept tabs on all of them. "We have to do something Martha, the last thing I want is for Lily to be disappointed on Christmas."

"A letter?" Scott mused. "You want Lily to get a letter?"

"It's the only thing that makes sense. We can't make that man come here, he might be dead for all we know."

"She has a point."

"Have you asked dad what he wants to do?"

"He's avoiding the subject." Kate said.

"I'm guessing this isn't the way he wanted Christmas to go." Alexis pointed out.

"Merry Christmas girl!" Lanie smiled as she hugged her best friend. "You don't look like you've given birth to that many Castle babies."

"Hey Lanie, Merry Christmas." Kate said. "You look beautiful."

It was so nice to have Espo and Lanie join in the celebration, Ryan and Jenny had gone down to meet with his family. They would be missed for sure.

"Auntie Kate!" A ball of fire by the name of Leo almost tackled Kate down. "Mama said Santa will know where I am even if I'm not home, so I brought my Pj's, cause we might be here too long. "

"Well she's right . Almost likea sleepover." " Kate smiled. "Why don't you go find Lily and the boys? I think they're watching a movie."

"Kay! Later!" He bolted off as soon as Kate put him down.

"I swear that boy is taking more and more after Javi, it's kind of scary."

"Yeah well, I think it's sweet."

"Scary and sweet."

"Tell me about it, I have to deal with Castle times 3!"

"You two talking about me?" Espo said with a smile. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas." Kate smiled as she hugged her friend.

"Uncle Javi!" Jake chipped in. Each of the boys were wearing a matching outfits and if you'd never seen before it would be incredibly hard to tell them apart.

"Whoa." Javi smiled. "Which one are again?"

"Jake!" Lanie and Kate said in unison.

"I knew that!" He called from the end of the room as he carried the boy back to join the group of children.

"Where's Castle?" Lanie asked.

"In the kitchen," Kate led her friend over to greet Rick."He's gone into Christmas mode." Kyan was sitting in a chair with his tablet. "Look who's here buddy."

"Hey Ky." Lanie smiled. "You helping your daddy?"

"No. Scott told me I should wait for dinner so I'm in the Kitchen that way I get to be the first one to get it."

Kate glanced at her friend. The two smiled.

"You're a smart boy," Lanie turned to the man behind the stove. "Hey Castle."

"Oh hi Lanie, sorry I'm a little behind on my cooking." He said quickly.

"I can see that. Anything I can do to help?" She offered.

"Actually there is." Just then the bell rang and Kate went to get it again. It was her dad.

"I'll leave to it then". Kate said, they had not heard her.

"Dad." She kissed his cheek.

"Hi Katie, Merry Christmas." He wrapped her into a hug.

"Merry Christmas Dad."

Suddenly Kate heard a loud crash and Lily came running into the hall. "Mommy!"

"Would you excuse me?" She smiled. "Boys!"

Yes. Kate Beckett was an expert in dealing with chaos.

So! I updated my three stories this weekend. Hope to get a new chapter by the end of the week!

Thanks for reading and don't forget to review!