Chapter 38

Kate found herself feeling better with every word her husband spoke. She looked up to find him urging her on to open up the card and read what's inside. She nodded and put on a smile and opened the card to be faced with a handwriting that looked like a lot of effort had gone into making it look presentable, but it was adorable none the less.

"Mommy, daddy, thank you for being my parents."

Rick laughed at that

"Don't laugh, its sweet" Kate argued

"Still, it's funny" Kate whacked him playfully on the arm. And they continued to read.

You gave birth to me, and made me a big girl and you make me breakfast every day, and dress me up and play with me, and read to me, and put me to sleep, and hold me when I'm sad, you make funny jokes and let me sit on your shoulders, you buy so many toys for me and you gave me a little brother too, whom I love so much, you make me laugh and you love to love me. I love to love you too.

Thank you for always being here for me mommy and daddy. I know I'm sometimes really naughty and stubborn and I make you angry, and I'm sorry for all those times, but I love you very much. And I want to be with you forever because with you and Avril and Alexis and Jamie, we make a perfect family, just like the picture I drew for you on this card.

I love you mommy and daddy, soooo much! Happy anniversary! Love, Kaylee.

PS. Daddy, what does P.S. mean? Also, I once heard grandpa Jim say I'm a miracle baby, I asked him what it meant and he said that when something special and unusual happens, it's a miracle. Mommy you're special to me, does that make you my miracle?"

Kate put the note down and took a deep breath to calm her rush of emotions. This was not how she thought desert would go. Here she was, feeling utterly blessed to have a wonderful husband, and children who sing their praises. She felt unworthy but lucky all at the same time.

"What did I tell you, you're everything to her." Rick said.

Kate simply turned, held his face and kissed him, and whispered "thank you, for giving me Kaylee, and Jamie, and Alexis. I've made my mistakes while raising them, but having you beside me has helped me grow and I couldn't have asked for a more perfect partner than you"

He kissed her back and whispered "Always" with that charming smile.

Kate then took Kaylee's card in hand again to read it once more when Rick cleared his throat.

"You have one more daughter you know?" he said, pointing at the last card on the table.

She laughed "I know, I saved the best for last" she teased.

"Hey!" he whined "no differentiating between our children"

"Relax, I'm pulling your leg"

"I can't feel it" He said and placed his hand on her knee again, and began moving it higher, sliding the dress higher

"Rick, behave yourself" she said to him.

"We're in a secluded part of the restaurant Kate. No one's going to disturb us now until I call for the bill. How about we get started with a little something- something, you know, just a warm up" he wiggled his eyebrows.

"Hold it big guy"

"I'd rather you would!"

"Oh my god!" she blushed. "Rick! Get your head out of the gutter!"

"Then where would you like it?" he teased. "Oh, I know. Between your…"and even before he could finish that sentence, he felt her fingers pinch his ear and twist it

"Apples, Apples!" he yelled in pain and when she let go he rubbed at his ear

"No fair" he said with a grumpy face. She smiled to herself, proud at her ability to control him that way.

"What's not fair, is you making these tempting sexual innuendos while we're having a perfectly good time here"

"So you admit it? I tempt you?" he asked.

"All the time, that's how we landed up having two amazing children of our own." she replied.

It brought a huge smile to his face. They were being sappy tonight. Sappy and honest, ever since they sat themselves down, and what she had just said made him all warm inside.

"We did make two very good looking babies you know. We have awesome looking genes" he said.

Kate laughed out loud. He wanted to ask her something, something that's been on his. Now would be a good moment, but he was afraid of how she'd react.

Rick then reached out and picked up the last card they had to read. And said "how about we read Avril's card now, the daughter who inherited all of your beauty."

Kate chuckled.

"It's true, she's got all of your features. Her hair, her eyes, her strength, her bad-ass attitude, and there's no evidence to show she's Will's. That makes me happy"

Kate kissed his cheek. "It makes me happy too"

They opened up the envelope to find the front of the card decorated with a collage of her best pictures with Kate and Rick. And many more of her with the entire family. But the picture in the center was the star. It was the one they had clicked the day Rick and Kate got married. The picture shone out from the rest because of the glitter outline she had put around it. It made them smile.

Kate took the card from his hand and opened it to read what she had written

"They say angels come to you in your darkest hour, to guide you with the light of love. I met an angel one day at a library, an arch angel precisely. ;) And he married my mom. That day, all those years ago, was the beginning of a life that's been filled with nothing but happiness and love. It was that day forward that I began to learn what love was really about. My life before that was nothing but a search for what love really was.

You two, showed me what true love really is, and you show that to all four of us each and every day through your actions, through everything you do for us and everything you give us and I don't think you even know how much we love you for it. Dad, you've been my father long before you married mom, in fact, I think you've been my father ever since that moment I opened up to you about the problems we were having at home with Will. Mom, that means, you have no one else to thank but me, for bringing Rick into your life"

Kate chuckled at that, and Rick said to her "She has a point" they continued reading.

"Anywho, you're the one who made him stay, so I guess you get some credit too ;)"

Kate poked Castle in the arm teasingly.

"Thank you for staying dad, any other man would have seen a young troubled teen and thought 'who cares' but you did. You did care, and then you cared even more for my mom, and that makes you an angel in my eyes. Thank you for making us family, and for adding to an already crowed loft. Home for me, is wherever you two, Alexis, Kaylee and Jamie are. You guys mean the world to me. Mom, you've been my idol ever since I was able to watch you and understand your every move. You've played the role of both parents for me for a major part of my life so far and I couldn't be happier that you're celebrating another year with the man you love the most. I know you made a lot of sacrifices for me mom, but I want you and dad to enjoy our little gift to you this anniversary, without questioning us about it. It's truly the least we could do. I love you both more than I can say to you personally. So don't ever bring this letter up again , I'll probably deny I wrote it. I'm not usually the sappy kind, and you know it.

Happy anniversary mom and dad! Love, your favorite daughter (wink wink) Avril"

Kate laughed. Rick pulled his wife closer to him and placed soft kissed along the side of her face.

"Gosh, I really need to thank Avril for coming into my life, she brought me to you. And I can't even imagine my life without you now" Rick said.

"She's another something." Kate said with a proud smile

"She's a gem. I feel proud to call her my daughter" Rick said.

Kate fed him the last spoon of his chocolate mouse and then said "Rick, I want to see them."

He smiled and said "looks like a trip to your dad's place is in order then." he called out to a waiter and asked for their bill.

I hope all of this is not too sappy for you guys :O I'm trying to keep the kids in character :)

Review maybe? :) Please