Little Secret

It wasn't longer before Alexis and Beckett were back at the loft. Alexis was still scared as hell to tell her Dad what she had just told her Mom. But telling Beckett something had always been a lot easier for Alexis despite the fact that she had a cool dad. Beckett was easier to relate to.

Beckett could sense her eldest daughter's nerves were still as high as they were before.

"You have to be calm; everything will be fine. He'll take it well. Your dad will be thrilled just as I was." Beckett reassured Alexis.

The ladies were at the front door. When they came into the loft they noticed that Martha was over. They also noticed that Jake and the kids weren't in the living room. Jake had apparently taken his sister in laws and his brother in laws upstairs to play. He had felt that the kids were too young to find out that they were going to be aunts and uncles right away.

Beckett could see Castle's mind racing as they came into the living room. Martha also sensed her son's frantic disposition.

"What's the secret?"

"All in the breathing, dear."

"No. What's Alexis' secret that she'll tell Beckett about, but not me?"

"I don't know. There are some things a woman wants to talk to another woman about."

"The New York Times praised the depth of my female characters."

"I know. And I couldn't be prouder, but this is real life. And obviously, Alexis looks up to Beckett, and Beckett's smart and strong and independent."

"So are you."

"That's sweet. I'm on the wrong side of 40 for what Alexis is going through right now."

"Forty?"

"Deflect all you want, kiddo, but I recognize the fear in your eyes. You're afraid Alexis has more Rick Castle in her than you thought."

Martha knew exactly where her son's mind had gone in the moment. Alexis sat down in the living room with her dad and grandmother while her mom got a glass of wine for herself and for Castle. Martha already had a glass with her.

"What was so urgent that you ran off with Kate earlier?" Castle anxiously asked his daughter.

Meanwhile upstairs Jake had left the door to Johanna Martha's bedroom ajar so he could hear what was going on downstairs.

"Let's wait until Mom is sitting down with us." Alexis said trying to keep her cool.

As Martha tried to figure out what her granddaughter had to tell them; her daughter in law came over with the wine glasses in hand.

"Okay she's here. Spill Alexis."

Before she spoke Alexis looked to Beckett for some encouragement. Beckett nodded and Alexis mustered up some courage.

"I'm pregnant. Jake and I are going to have a baby in nine months."

Castle was completely stone face as Martha was completely elated when she learned that she was going to be a great-grandmother. Castle was having a moment just as Steve Martin had in Father of the Bride Part II when his character learned that he was going to be a grandfather.

"Richard…"

"Dad…"

"Rick…"

The women were trying to bring Castle out of his trance but weren't having any luck.

"Babe…. say something." Beckett tried one last time.

"It's no use; he's in shock." Alexis said a bit panicked.

Being pregnant a few times before herself combined with her police training told Beckett that she had to keep her daughter calm for the sake of her daughter and for her unborn grandkid.

"Martha; keep her calm for me while I bring Rick back to reality."

"Okay darling."

Martha was curious as to what her daughter in law had up her sleeve but her concern and focus was on her granddaughter.

Beckett pulled her hair to the side as she got within inches of Castle's face. A heartbeat later and Beckett was snapping Castle out his trance with a long, passionate kiss. Seconds after the kiss; Castle was back to normal and Beckett pulled him to his office to set him straight when it came to Alexis and her news while Martha calmed Alexis down.