A/N: Martha and Alexis kind of took over this chapter! Working on smut now, I promise!

Both Alexis and Martha crossed their arms, their heads swiveling to stare pointedly at Kate.

"Wow..." Beckett mumbled as she shifted uncomfortably. "That's actually a little terrifying."

Castle squeezed her tight against his side. "You may not have noticed that I've had... a certain... affection for Detective Beckett for some time now..."

Martha rolled her eyes. "If you mean you've been mooning over her since the moment you met? Yes, we know. Fast forward please."

He pouted slightly. "Do I step on your opening lines?" He nodded when his mother had the good grace to flush. She waved her hand dramatically. "Okay then! On our weekend in LA...Kate decided that maybe it was time to ...address that."

"What about that doctor you were dating?"Alexis' voice wasn't exactly cold, but it was very cautious. Her eyes widened as she made the connection. She turned to her father. "Is that what happened to your face?!"

"Technically?" Rick hedged. "It wasn't so much his fist... as it was the floor..."

"Whatever happened to the Hypocratic Oath?" Martha snarked. She looked closely at Kate. "So that's over then?"

The detective nodded.

Alexis and Martha looked at each other for a moment. The older woman's head inclined slightly and Alexis came around the counter. "Dad, can I talk to you for a minute? In the study?"

"Uh..." He looked at Kate uncertainly.

"Now?" Little Castle grabbed his arm.

Beckett shook her head as she watched Rick being dragged away. "How do you guys do that? The silent communication? Is it a redhead thing?"

The older woman didn't answer and Kate glanced at her uncertainly; swallowing at the serious look on her face.

"What are your intentions?" Martha asked bluntly.

Beckett blinked. "Wow... He really is the woman in this relationship." She muttered. "I don't intend to get him pregnant and run off, if that's what your asking."

"Kate... you know I like you, as does Alexis. You have so much more... substance than the other women Richard has been involved with." Martha took a deep breath, smiling wistfully at the younger woman. "But I know my son. Richard isn't the kind of man who does things half way. I've seen the way he looks at you...and I know... he would give up anything, short of his family, to have you look at him the same way."

Kate dropped her head slightly, "I do." She whispered.

Martha studied her for several long moments, taking in the flush on the younger women's cheeks and the glow she couldn't quite contain. Smiling, she reached out and took the detective into her arms, holding her tightly. "Then welcome to the family."

Beckett closed her eyes, savoring the contact. Martha would never be her birth mother, but she felt like a second chance anyway.

When they parted, Martha went to her son's wine chiller and grabbed up a particularly nice Shiraz. She pulled the cork expertly and poured them each a glass, holding hers up in a toast until Kate joined her.

"If you hurt him I'll kill you."

Kate snorted, laughing through her tears as she smiled at the older woman.

"Oh and, I wouldn't mind more grandchildren... while I'm still young enough to pick them up."

Castle allowed himself to be dragged into his study, watching as his daughter closed the door and leaned against it.

"Pumpkin, you can't leave Kate out there with your Grandmother."

"Why?"

He blinked. "Because... Beckett is a Detective. She deals with logic... Something that doesn't exist in your grandmothers universe."

Alexis rolled her eyes. "No I mean WHY? Why her? Why now? You've been following her around like a puppy for three years, Dad! If there was something there on her side don't you think you would have seen it by now?"

Castle gently gripped his daughters arms, recognizing the fear in her face but not really understanding it. "I have seen it! Do you really think I would still be hanging around if I didn't?"

Alexis looked at him sarcastically. "One word... Mom."

"I..." He sighed. "I know I've made mistakes. I know I haven't always behaved... Like an adult.." He held up a hand before Alexis could respond. "You're not a little girl anymore, Alexis. You'll graduate next year and go out into the world..." Castle swallowed as his throat closed in panic. "The best way I can explain it is... The heart wants what the heart wants. Fighting against it only makes it worse."

His daughter looked at him closely. "Why her?"

Rick looked down at his hands, folding them together as his palms began to ache. "That's like asking why breathe?" He shook his head. "One day, you'll come to me with a boy. You'll tell me he is your one true love and I won't trust him... Or like him. On that day... You'll understand." He touched her cheek gently. "If you are my sun... Then she is my moon." He frowned. "So I guess your gram is like Pluto... Nobody really knows what she is-"

"Dad!"

Castle dragged his attention back. "Hmmm?"

Alexis took a breath. "Does she make you happy?"

The smile that blossomed on his face was more than enough answer.

"Okay." She laughed, launching herself into his arms and squeezing him tightly.

They stayed like that until a strangled squeak drew their attention back to the two women in the kitchen.

Castle pulled the door open quickly, stepping out of the study in time to see his prized Shiraz exiting his girlfriend through her nose. Alexis' eyes widened. "Gram?" She crossed the floor and patted the detective gently on the back. "What happened?"

The older woman shrugged, tipping up her glass to empty it as her son cupped Kate's face.

"Are you okay?"

Beckett nodded, her voice hoarse as she whispered, "Fine... I'm fine. Just went down the wrong pipe."

Alexis didn't look like she believed her but Rick just nodded, knowing better than to push the issue. He pilfered another piece of 'sushi', chewing thoughtfully. "You know... His eyes brightened. "If you added caramel to this you could call it a Spam Maki-ato...!"

Beckett blinked at him. "You are seriously disturbed."

Martha rolled her eyes. "And this is news?"

Kate pursed her lips. "Actually... It's one of his more lovable qualities." She flushed when she realized what she had said.

"Just wait until he tries to feed you a s'more-lette!" Alexis smirked.

Beckett looked at her quizzically. "What is a s'more-lette?"

"On that note," Martha took Alexis by the arm. "We have a previous engagement."

Little Castle looked at her in confusion. "We do?"

"Yes! At the Waldorf. Don't bother to pack," she held her hand out. "We can get what we need on the way there."

Rick sighed, digging in his pocket for his wallet and handing his Mother his platinum American Express card. "Try to leave me something for retirement."

Martha winked. "Try to leave the loft in one piece."

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