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 Four: Christmas

Kate watched as Rick stood frozen at the door. Jackson had barely been a presence in his life but to Rick it affected him deeply than he cared to admit. That was why he was always a dedicated parent to his kids.

"Grandpa Jackson!" Before she or Rick could react, Lily was wrapping her little arms around the older man, "You're here!"

"Sure I am sweetheart." He hugged her.

"See daddy?" Lily chiped in. "I told you grandpa would be here," As adorable as she sounded Kate still couldn't grasp how Lily knew about Jackson, let alone acted as she knew him.

"Who in the world..."Martha stood there as she spotted Jackson. "What are you doing here?"

"Well hello to you too." He smiled. "Merry Christmas"

"Martha," Kate spoke. "Why don't you take Lily into the other room." Kate instructed. Lily pouted.

"I want to stay with Grandpa Jackson." She said. "Can he stay for dinner?"

"Lily..."

"He's daddy's dad. That makes him family and family stays together on Christmas." Lily said. "Please?"

"Your mother is right sweetheart." Jackson said softly putting her down. "I might have overpushed my welcome. I just wanted to drop off some presents."

"But..." Lily stared at Rick who hadn't moved. "Daddy?"

"Go back inside with Grams Lily," Rick said. "I promise you Grandpa won't leave without saying goodbye." Lily watched as he and Kate shared a look and then danced back to the dining room with Martha.

"You have two minutes to explain why you're here." Kate said.

"It's Christmas." Jackson said simply, "It's supoused to bring people together."

"Spare me the Lifetime movie version." Kate said.

"What I want to know is, " Rick said. "Why did Lily act like she'd met you before? We don't even have that many pictures of you."

"Because she does know me, she led me to you. She was the one to convince to come here tonite." Jackson said. "I've always watched over my grandbabies. Alexis, Kyan, Lily... all of them. I might not have been around when you were growing up Rick, but I have always kept a watchful eye."

Lily had seen the man before, a couple times actually, and she reminded her of someone. Her daddy mostly, he took after him like she took after Kate.

She'd been waiting for Grams to finish talking to the lady in the store as she wandered off, her eye always on Martha as she didn't want Grams to have a fit if she'd disapeared. "You like books?' A voice said next to her. Lily looked up to stare at the man, his voice also remineded her of someone. LIly bit her lip, she wasn't meant to talk to strangers and yet, she didn't feel like he was one.

"My boy loves it too." The man said.

"My daddy writes books." Lily said. She covered her mouth quickly.

"I know he does, he's really talented. Do you want to be a writer too when you grow up?"

Lily waved her head. "Mama says I should be something different. I want to be a cop like her." Lily grinned. The man smiled kindly, "Or maybe a magician, haven't decided."

"Oh." He searched for something with his eyes. "If that's the case, I have the perfect book for you." He reached for a red one on the shellf. "This one isn't about a magician but a boy wizard. His name is Harry." Lily's eyes went wide. She'd heard about that boy from Alexis and her parents, seen the first movie too.

"I know Harry, he's very brave."

"Yes he is." The man agreed. "But there's always more to learn from books than movies, because books give us a different view of the story."

Lily smiled. "You sound like my daddy."

"If only I was like him Lily." The little girl took a step back, holding the book in her arms.

"You know my daddy? She asked.

"I do, and your Grams too." He smiled. Lily took a minute to think. "Do you know who I am Lily?"

"You're Grandpa Jackson, aren't you?" Lliy inquired.

"What do you think?"

"You went after Lily?" Kate asked.

"Went after sounds harsh, I simply wanted to see my granddaugther," Jackson said calmly.

"Since when?" It was Martha. Alexis, Javi and Lanie had also left the table now. "What are you really doing here?'

"Making up for all the Christmases I missed?' Jackson tried. Rick and Martha shared a look. "I don't expect you to understand, I don't even think I deserve you to."

"Then leave, I want you to leave," Martha said. Kate stared at her. "Lord knows the last thing I want you to do is waltz in here and break our hearts again, specially Richard's or those children." jackson sighed.

"If that's what you want." He said softly moving ahead to touch her cheek. Martha didn't move. "Rick?"

"I'm sorry," he said. "But even though I will always believe in the miracles and magic of Christmas I don't even kknow how to feel." Jackson nodded.

They hadn't realized Lily had sneaked out from Scott's care and had heard the whole thing. "No!"

"Lily..." Jackson took a hold of the little girl with a smile. "I'm sorry sweetie. Maybe next Christmas we'll have better luck." he touched her chin soflty. He moved away to grab the bag he'd been carrying. Taking out a package he handed it to Lily. "This is for you, I just want you to promise me something, you won't open this until tomorrow, can you do that for me?"

Story isn't over! One chapter left! Happy Holidays to all!