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The drive back home was awkward. Both occupants in the car were silent, as they wondered how the dinner would go. Kate couldn't stand it she wanted to turn around, even though they were only spending one weekend.
"Kate, talk to me. You're thinking so loudly that I can hear you." Castle said finally unable to bear the silence.
She sighed. He didn't deserve the treatment she was giving him.
"I'm nervous. What if I'm not ready for this? What if I go there and I can't take what happens."
He wrinkled his nose. She was opening up to him about it. Soon he would be able to push a bit more.
"Kate, you'll be fine. I know you love your father and you want him to be happy. And if this woman makes him happy then you'll be happy too."
She thought about what he said for the rest of the drive home. She could handle her father with someone else.
Right?
"Oh darlings you're here. Jim just left a couple minutes ago .He said Melissa wanted him to grab some things from the store for tonight."
Kate bit her lip and shifted her weight onto one foot.
"How are you?" Martha asked holding Kate's hands and looking at her with concern.
"I'm fine Martha. Where's Becca and Alexis?" Kate asked looking around to see if they had missed anyone on their way in.
"Well Alexis went with Ashley to go look at his class schedule, and Becca just went down for a nap. That kid fights sleep like a professional wrestler." Martha said whispering the last sentence.
"Well she's two mother, two year olds like to play and get bad habits." Castle joked.
"Speaking of bad habits, I think it's time we get rid of the binky. She's too old to be sucking on that thing still."
The parents looked at each other and returned their attention back to Martha.
"We'll work on that one mother."
Just then Kate's phone rang.
"You know, my mom and I always wondered if he was physic." Kate quipped looking at the caller ID.
"Hello."
"Hey Katie, How are you?" He asked.
"I'm fine dad."
The line was silent for a few seconds as he thought what to say.
"Are you guys back in the city yet?"
"Yea we just got in a few minutes ago."
"That's good. So you're all still coming tonight right?"
His voice sounded so unsure and for a while Kate thought about saying that they couldn't make it.
"We'll be there at six, dad."
He exhaled, "Okay Katie, see you then."
"Yep Bye,"
"Bye,"
Martha gathered up her bag and coat.
"Where are you going, mother?" Castle asked as she shrugged on her coat.
"Well honey, I've barely seen Burt since you two left. So needless to say we are both very excited to see each other."
Castle nodded his head and Kate giggled.
"Wait, Eww." He scoffed, realizing his mother's double meaning joke.
"Goodbye darlings. Tell Becca grandma will see her soon."
Then Martha opened the door and made her exit.
Less than 30 minutes later, there was a yell from the nursery.
"Grandma,"
Kate and Castle both looked at each other until Kate nodded her head and ascended from the bed, making her way into Becca's room.
"Hey sweetie, it's mommy." Kate cooed unlatching the second tier bar from the crib. She had almost had a heart attack when they walked into the room only to see their 14 month old baby trying to climb out.
The girl giggled and raised her hands while bouncing.
"Mommy," Kate laughed and lifted her out of the crib.
"Hello, mommy missed you. Did you miss mommy?"
Becca nodded her head and rubbed the excess sleep from her eyes.
"Where's Daddy?"
"Daddy's in the bedroom. Do you want to go see him?" She nodded her head again and Kate walked them to the room.
Castle was already waiting for them when they entered the room.
"Becca!" he cheered already holding out his hand for the girl.
"Mommy and daddy bought something for you when we were away. Would you like to see it?"
"Yes."
Kate dug into one of the bags and took out a large teddy bear as big as her, maybe even a bit bigger.
"Thank you," she said hugging the bear closely. Then she started to run out of the room, before coming back with her binky in her mouth.
"Becca honey, it's time to stop with this. Binkies are for babies. You aren't a baby are you?" Castle asked.
She shook he head.
"Then it's time to get rid of this. Isn't it?"
He tried to pry the object from her mouth but she squealed and turned her face. And Kate gave him that look that told him to lay off. You can't break a habit after one day.
The evening came quicker than any of them expected and Alexis came home around five and they presented her with an; I pad mini as a present and girl immediately excused herself to go to her room so she could call Paige and tell her.
"Well Becca it's almost time to go to grampa's let's go get you dressed." Kate said.
The toddler ran in front of her mother giggling the whole way.
"Want to choose what you're going to wear?" She asked.
"Yes." Becca ran to the drawers and cupboard throwing clothes until she returned with a pair of stripped stockings, a polka dotted shirt and pink shorts. It made Kate immediately regret her choice.
"Sweetie you can't wear that." Kate calmly told her.
The girl nodded her head.
"Yes I can." Becca argued.
"Rebecca Johanna Castle, you are too much like me." Kate joked and the girl ginned up at her revealing her sparkling blue eyes.
"I love you." She whispered, hugging the girl firmly.
"I love you too mommy."
The mother and daughter descended the stairs together and Castle looked up and smiled when he saw them.
"Look daddy I choose out my outfit." Becca said proudly. Having an author for a father meant good speech and pronunciation. It shocked many persons when they heard that the girl was only two.
"Yes I can see that. You look so." He paused looking for the right word to say.
"Colourful," He said smiling and looking up at Kate.
"Alright it's time to go we don't want to be late." He said.
"Alexis! Come on it's time to go."
The girl exited her room already dressed.
"Right I'm ready."
"Melissa relax you're making a normal dinner, not cooking for thanksgiving." Jim attempted to calm the woman down.
Her head snapped towards him. "If I don't get this right I'm not going to be her for thanksgiving Jim."
"It'll be fine." He said messaging her shoulders.
"I hope so I don't want to mess this up, I want them to like me." She said almost in tears.
"You'll do great and they'll love you."
She turned around and gave him a brief kiss but suddenly she broke it.
"They'll be here any minute and we haven't chilled the wine yet." She yelled running for the bottle on the counter.
Jim rolled his eyes he just wanted the night to be over.
Kate always said that her grandparents were rich and not her parents but the large two storey house that was surrounded by mature gardens and a little way down a stream. He would say that they were pretty well off.
Castle pulled into the garage and parked.
"Well we're here." He announced.
Alexis got out and helped Becca out of the car and Castle took the moment to kiss Kate and squeeze her hand.
"It'll be fine." He assured.
They held hands all the way to the house.
"Hi, glad you guys came." Jim said giving the girls a hug and Castle a handshake.
He led them into the kitchen where Melissa was now taking the pie from the oven. She put the pastry down and stood next to Jim.
"Everyone this is Melissa. Melissa these are my granddaughters Alexis and Rebecca and this is my daughter Kate and her husband Richard Castle." He said pointing to everyone as he called their names.
"I like your outfit." She said stooping to Becca's level.
She turned to Alexis, "You know you look so mature and beautiful for your age."
"Thank you." The girl returned her face flushed.
"When Jim told me that you wrote books on murder, I must admit I wasn't too sure I liked it but then I read the book, and I must say you have a real gift. I went out the next day and bought all the ones Jim didn't have. I love them, and maybe some time before you leave we can sign one for me."
Castle was beaming and from the time Kate saw the look on his face she knew that he liked her as a matter of fact the whole family already liked her.
The woman walked over to her lastly and gave her a smile that made Kate's heart hurt.
"The pictures of you that I saw of you do you no justice you are just gorgeous."
Kate gave her a polite smile.
"Thank you."
The conversation at dinner was lively and everyone around the table was playing an active part in it except Kate who was observing the woman engaging her family in a story.
"So Kate, Jim told me you're a homicide detective." Kate looked up startled.
"Um yes,"
"That's lovely. You don't find a lot of people who are willing to speak for the dead."
Kate just looked at Melissa. Her resemblance to her mother was a great magnitude.
Was her father trying to replace her mother?
"This chicken pot pie is amazing Mel." Jim said after he realized that his daughter was suddenly frozen.
"Yea it is. It has a strange but delicious taste." Castle added.
Melissa blushed and looked at Jim, the affection in her eyes were clear.
"It's the cinnamon. Jim didn't think it would come out good."
"You were right, it's excellent." Jim agreed.
"I told you so."
Kate's head flew up at the four words that she said and stood up causing all eyes to turn to her.
"Excuse me." She said practically jogging out of the room. Castle had seen the tears in her eyes and was about to stand but Jim raised his hand to stop him.
"I've got her."
I know it seems like I'm rushing Becca's age but I'm doing it for a very good reason ;)
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