Made Better

As the kids started to enjoy the summer; the feeling that Beckett had in the pit of her stomach after she and James Royce picked the kids up from school grew more extensive. While all four kids sat in the living room with their breakfasts on their tv dining trays and the tv on; Castle took note of his wife's somberness.

"What's the matter; Kate?"

"The kids are growing up too fast. They're not babies anymore."

"Go on."

"Come September; everything is going to change. JM will be in second grade, the twins will be in first and JR will be in kindergarten."

"Mhmm."

"That's all you can say; babe. I just told you that I'm dealing with the whole empty nest syndrome and all you say is "mhmm".

"We won't have an empty nest. They will still be our kids; they'll always need us even when they're all grown up and married. Just look at Alexis."

Beckett smiled. After that her mind slipped back to another memory.

"It's only a dress. It's not the end of the world."

"Then why does it feel like it is? Our wedding was supposed to be magical. It was supposed to be out perfect day and now it's just … falling apart."

"So we'll put it back together."

"Castle, I'm married to someone else. And I have no idea where he is, we don't have any leads, and then to make things worse the venue and now this? I mean, it just feels like all of this is one big sign."

"Well, maybe it is a sign. A sign that ours is a great love story. Because what's a great love story without obstacles to overcome? Every fairytale has them. Terrible trials that only the worthy can transcend. But you can't give up. That's the deal. We want the happy ending, we can't give up."

"And that's why I want to marry you."

As Beckett processed everything; she knew that Castle was right. He was right back in Willow Creek all those years ago.

Castle saw that everything was better with his wife. So he pulled her in to a close embrace and kissed her on her head.

"Besides you'll always have me."

"My very own nine year old on a sugar rush." Beckett said with a smile.

With that the duo shared a kiss just as the kids turned around to see what their parents were up to after they had set their breakfast dishes on the table before them.

"Ewww gross." the kids said in a playful, teasing manner.

Castle and Beckett smiled as the kiss broke.

"Oh shush; the four of you will be like this one day with your spouses." Beckett said.

After that the duo grabbed their coffees and joined their kids on the couch. This was definitely going to be a summer they would all remember.