The New Normal

Nine years ago; Beckett would have never thought this would be her life. Home early from work. Castle in the kitchen making dinner. Kat, JJ and James Royce were off coloring at the kids' table that was in the living room. Beckett sitting at the island counter with Johanna Martha working on homework together.

All those years ago; the thought of being a wife and a mother was the furthest thing from her mind back then. Nine years later the one thing that Beckett didn't think she wanted was actually what she wanted once things with her mother's murder was squared away.

"Dinner is almost ready."

"Okay. We're almost done here."

After that Beckett and Johanna Martha finished the homework they had been working on. Beckett helped her daughter off of the chair.

"Go wash up for dinner." Beckett instructed.

"Okay Mommy."

"Take your sister and brothers with you; so they can wash up too."

Johanna Martha nodded.

Beckett watched as her sons and daughters made their way to the bathroom to wash up; a smile came to Beckett's face.

"Want to get us some wine?"

"Sure."

Once Beckett had the wine poured for the two of them; she made sure the table was set for dinner.

The kids came out of the bathroom just as Castle put the bowl of mixed vegetables and as Beckett set the kids' drink at the place at the table where they sat.

"All washed up?" Beckett asked as the kids came to the table.

"Yes mommy." the kids said in unison.

Castle and Beckett helped the kids into their seats before they took their own seats. Beckett helped James Royce into his. As she helped her son into his seat; Beckett remembered a sweet moment from a few years ago. She remembered when James Royce walked for the first time.

James Royce has walked for the first time a few months after his first birthday. So he was a late walker just as he had been six days past the day he was expected to arrive when Beckett was pregnant with him.

"What are you thinking about?" Castle asked.

"JR's first steps." Beckett said as they took their seats.

"Oh."

The duo smiled as the family dinner got underway that night.