AN: we're back in the present now. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Castle

Chapter 2

"I'm sorry" she said now to him, with those eyes that he couldn't ever be angry with.

"I admit I was really tired last night, but everything I did for you was with pleasure"

she smiled. "You don't have to lie Castle. I know you probably wanted to yell at me when I snapped at you"

"No, I would never."

she kissed him again then, to show him just how much she appreciated everything he was doing for her and their little baby girl.

"I'll try to keep my mood swings in check"

he chuckled. Just then Avril came running downstairs and Plopped herself on a stool at the kitchen counter.

"Good morning" she chirped.

Their attention moved to her and they greeted her too. Kate served her breakfast and then started the coffee for Castle. He sat down beside Avril and said "So, what are your plans for today?"

"Well, school's going to re-open soon, and I'm running out of clothes to wear. I think I'm going to go shopping today"

"ooo, can I come along?"

"What? Dad! No!"

"Why not?" he whined. Kate chuckled to herself.

"Because… well, I'm going with my friends"

"Ahem... You mean friend" Kate interrupted

Castle's eye's widened
"Ahhh... so there's a boy"

"What? Who said anything about a boy?" she began to panic and she gave her mom a look. And Kate smiled that mischievous smile.

"Oh come on... you can tell me if you have a boyfriend Avril"

"No, I will not."

"You told Kate"

"No I didn't"

she was in complete denial. Just then Alexis ran downstairs and kissed her dad good morning.
She went to Kate's side and kissed her cheek too and said "Good morning Kate. I'm sorry; I got in so late last night. There was some work I told I'd complete before leaving"

"Lanie would never hold it against you if you had to leave it for today" castle explained.

"Yea, I know. But I wanted to complete it"

Suddenly Kate felt a kick again, and her hand immediately went to her tummy. Castle, who always had Kate in his periphery vision, noticed her hand fly to her tummy at once.

"Are you okay?"

"Yea, she's just kicking again"

"Can I feel?" Alexis asked from beside Kate.

Kate smiled "off course honey"

she placed her hand on her belly and Alexis suddenly felt a nudge and she burst out into gasps of laughter. "Wow!"

Castle was watching the smile on Kate's face. He could never get enough of her. She was beautiful. And she was his. These two young teenagers, they were his girls too. And the unborn one too, all his. He felt proud.

He was sipping on his coffee when Alexis just got done with her breakfast and stood up and said "Okay, I'm off. Got any early start at the morgue today"

"Alexis, don't you think you're working yourself too much for this internship. Sit down, I'll make you another omelette" Kate insisted.

"No, really, I'm stuffed. Thanks. I better get going" she said good bye to them and then tapped Avril on the shoulder. "Call me when you guys are done okay"

Castle looked at Avril suspiciously after Alexis had left.
"What? We're meeting Alexis for lunch" Avril explained to her dad.

"So Alexis gets too meet your boyfriend, but you won't tell me anything?"

Kate was finding all of this very entertaining.

"Mom!" she whined.

"Let her be Castle, she'll tell us soon enough"

Castle faked disappointment. Avril finished her glass of orange juice, stood up and planted a noisy wet kiss on her father's cheek and said "Don't look so sad, it doesn't suit you"

he smiled. "Tell your mom that. She insists that she doesn't need a leave yet and that makes me sad"

Kate gave him a look. And he knew he had to keep his mouth shut.

"If there's one thing you should have learned about my mom by now, is that she is stubborn. And she's married to her job. You're just an affair" she teased and Kate laughed.

"Where did you come up with that one?" she asked her daughter.

"Well, then Mrs. 12th precinct. You're in big trouble" he sipped on his coffee.

"Why so?" she asked.

"Cause your affair, knocked you up. Now you should have no face to show the precinct."

"Anything to stop me from going to work ha?" she spoke with a smile.

"Okay, you guys can continue this after I'm gone." She went around to Kate's side and said "Mom, could you give me some extra cash?"

Rick heard her and put his coffee mug down.

"Uhhh... yea..." Kate though for a moment. She had used up her liquid cash last evening when they had stopped at the ice-cream store before coming home. She needed to withdraw some from the bank today or go to the ATM before going to the precinct.

"Why don't you take my ATM card and…"

"No. no... Wait." Rick said. "What is it? You need cash?"

"Yea, I would have given some to her, but I'm going to need to withdraw some today."

"No, there's no need for that... here. Come here."

Avril walked up to him and he opened his wallet and removed his credit card and said "here, take this. You can use this today, and I'll call my bank today and tell them to issues another credit card in my name for you"

"Rick…"

"No, Kate, don't tell me I don't have to do this. In fact, I'm surprised I haven't already given you a card"

"castle, she shouldn't have a credit card yet."

"Why not, she's old enough to spend responsibly now"

Avril kept looking on from her mom to her dad. But with a huge smile on her face. Because she knew her dad was winning and she was getting a credit card.

"No, I insist she keeps one with her at all times. Alexis has a card too. I just don't want her to ever fall short of cash if she really needs it."

"Okay." Kate agreed. She then looked at Avril. "Behave. I don't want you spending irresponsibly."

"I won't I promise." She turned back to Castle then and said "Thanks dad" and ran out the door.
Kate walked up to castle, and he turned his bar stool to face her. He took her hands and pulled her closer to stand between his knees.

"You're a good father you know that" he smiled and she leaned down to kiss him." he stood up when she pulled away and said "I know. But I love when you remind me"

"Alexis, Avril, they're both lucky to have you"

"You're forgetting this little one here"
he said and placed his hand at the side of her belly. And as if on cue, she kicked.

Kate laughed and said "I didn't forget her. She's ours."

He knew all too well why she stressed on the word "ours".

Biologically, Alexis was his and his ex-wife's daughter and Avril was Kate's and her ex-husband's daughter. Nevertheless, they both loved the two young girls to the moon and back equally.

But this little unborn child was a fruit of their love for each other. She was proof that they will always love each other no matter what. Rick couldn't wait for the day he could hold this little baby girl in his arms.

He kissed her again, this time; he pulled her closer to him and sought entrance between her lips with his tongue. She opened up for him willingly and he kissed her like he did on their first night together. It felt that way to her too.

Every time he kissed her, it felt new, refreshing; it awakened something in her that only he had power over. She was currently melting in his arms and she never wanted this feeling to ever go away.

well, what do you think? :) let me know in a review :)