Authors Answers to Reviews: "Smo" is short of Cosmo. The boy made it up himself. It caught on. It's his name, sorry if you don't like it. It's how a little one I know says Cosmo, just drops the Co.
Kevin Ryan is the sweetest guy in the world! Everyone has asshat moments, this happened to be one of them. Ryan has more to say, don't worry, and it's not bad! The confrontation came down to the heat of the moment. Ryan's reaction was heat of the moment and pent up emotion. Adoption: this Ryan in this story along with Jenny want the experience of birth and pregnancy
I am NOT making it seem like boys are better than girls at all! Sorry if you think that! I love little girls. I love stories of Castle-Beckett little girls. With this story, it just happened. Both Castle and Beckett, all the characters really, want little girls, but with the Castle boys everything was a world wind after all three births mostly the second and eventually they got caught up with it. Kevin wanted a boy simply because people often want both genders in a set of children.
I and Ryan both know Kate's body and Kate and Castle's decision for more kids has nothing to do with him and is solely their decision.
This is AU: Ryan and Beckett aren't very personal about the topic of family building, but they're just closer in a different way in this story. Castle loves the name Cosmo, Cosmo's Kate's fourth baby. My middle brother was solely named by my father because my Mom was so tired. Castle cheated a little, but he added James for Jim. I always avoid two important names when naming Castle children, Alexander and Cosmo. I wanted to risk this little thing on this one.
Kate was chipper the next morning. Her mood was helped by a peacefully warm and nude flex worthy of a husband asleep next to her. She rolled to rest on top of him for a minute before kissing his neck and jumping out of bed. She threw on some lounge wear and tiptoed to the kitchen. Kate waited for the morning murmurs of her four boys or maybe even Castle. As most mornings, Smo flopped out of bed and danced down the stairs in his footy pajamas.
"Hello, Cosmo!" Kate beamed. Smo beamed back at her and climbed onto a stool. He gripped his doggy stuffed animal in his hand with purpose.
"Hello!" he chirped back. Kate's heart still remembered that flutter from first time he replied to her at nine months. Boy were Castle and Kate proud. That was until he only said Hello and rarely Mama and Dada and Smo until he was eighteen months.
"Do you want some pancakes, Cosmo?" She flipped some on the stove.
"Smo loves pancakes. Yes!" Kate stared at him. He glared at her with those perfect green eyes. He didn't hate the name Cosmo, but he preferred Smo. After all, he did name himself Smo and he's Castle's son.
"How many, Smo?" She picked up a piece of pineapple. He gasped loudly and reached for the pile of pineapple eagerly. She grinned. She knew she could sway him from pancakes to fruit. Cosmo and Joe were the ones she would persuade to eat healthier without knowing. Nico was too picky and Jack was too smart. Cosmo was easily distracted and Joe just was easy to persuade, that being said he could do the same to you.
"Who are da pancakes for, Mama?" he asked happy with his plate full of fruit and toast.
"They're for Daddy." Kate tilted her head along with Smo. He mirrored her for a second.
"Nico and Jackie too?" Smo shoveled food into his mouth.
"We'll see. Do you want one?" Smo shook his head. He pulled at his footy pajamas. "Want to get dressed?" Smo nodded his head. He seriously looked to his food as if trying to choose which would be better. "Let me turn this off." She skipped around and hauled him off the stool.
"Are we gonna wake Nico and Joe, Mama?" Smo blabbered as she half carried him up the stairs. He danced on his tippy-toes and talked about clothes.
"All right, fashion-boy. Colors for the day." She twirled to his closet. Smo tapped his finger with his chin as she pulled his suit off him.
"Yellow!" Kate pulled out a bright yellow sweater. "No! No! No! Red!" Kate rolled her eyes and pulled out a red t-shirt. "Yay!" She moved her hands toward his pants that are closer to sweatpants. "No! No!" She turned to the legging type pants. "NO!" Kate quickly snatched some dark shade jeans and ran over to him not fond of the thought of three woken boys.
"Inside voice, Cosmo James," she scolded. "Shoes?" she'd normally wait till they'd go toward the door, but with this kid it took hours to get them on before leaving. Plus he had a certain preference for shoes. The one child that got her shoe love.
"Blue?" He narrowed his eyes. She narrowed her eyes. "Boots? No! George's!" Kate nodded smiling. She reached for his blue Jordan's with the black Velcro tongue. Smo sighed in happiness and pointed his feet to her.
When they got downstairs, Jack had taken up the couch wrapped in his blanket. "Morning, Jack," Kate softly called out. Jack turned to her barely.
"Morning." He yawned. Kate noticed the pancakes had a dent in them. She frowned. Too big for just Jack. The moment her sense went on alert, arms wrapped around her waist and she was yanked back roughly to a bare chest. Castle kissed down her neck. Smo wrinkled his nose and chucked a strawberry at Castle. He ducked behind Kate.
"Smo, throwing isn't nice."
"You make funky noises when Daddy does that." He groaned and threw his head back in frustration. Kate blushed deeply. Rick was taking advantage of the low hem line of her shirt. His hands messed with her. She twisted in his arms trying not to make "funky noises." She finally ripped out of his arms and turned the stove back on glaring at him.
"Good morning, Beckett." He smacked his lips against hers. Smo's smacking lips after getting something sour. "Can I have smo?" Castle motioned to the pancakes.
"Not funny, Daddy," Smo stressed. "You can have smo of dis." He held his plate up grinning ear to ear. Kate rolled her eyes.
"Now you got him started." Kate grumbled.
"But you love it!" Castle grinned.
"She does." Jack strutted across the room in his baseball gear. Kate's upside-down smile turned into a full out grin. He didn't have a game today. "Fashion and puns. That's Mom and Dad." Jack smirked into his chest and sat down next to his brother. Castle laughed loudly. "Pancakes?" Kate covered a plate. Smo smugly smiled to his mother. Castle joined their eldest in eating pancakes liked starved men.
The morning came to a full halt when they heard two pairs of feet hit the stairs. "Breakfast!" Was shouted by two identical voices. Kate leaned to the side trying to figure out who was a split second faster.
Nico jumped to the fruit and Jonah jumped to the pancakes. Kate smirked. They'd dress themselves in swimsuits, one with a button down, one with a sweater, and both wore their favorite socks. Nico had on blue flame socks and Jonah had on bright orange monkey socks. "Clones," Castle stated. They looked up at their father.
"Daddy," they responded. Their blue eyes met when they were synced. They smirked and sat together.
"They're not clones," Jack lectured. "They're identical twins." His d was off. Kate nodded to him thinking the same.
"They too are! I don't know them difference." Smo raised a fist.
"Yes you do." Jack rolled his eyes. "Nico has cowlicks and is shorter and lighter. Jonah is bigger and has a little darker hair at the top and his hair is more of a bowl cut that's thicker." Kate and Rick nodded. Kate tried not to add personality into question.
"But Nico is quiet and … decisive. Jonah is athletic and a good listener."
"You paused," Smo pointed. Castle sweated. Nico's head raised. His eyes weakened.
"There are a lot of choses to choose from in differences between your big brothers." Kate's hand fell over Nico's.
"You mean the clones," Smo corrected. Jonah stared at the hand. He covered Kate's hand with his own.
"I can eat more donuts!" Nico raised his chin.
"I can run faster!" Joe shouted. Kate bowed her head and Rick grumbled. Now started the size up. Kate added four pancakes to Nico's plate to match Jonah's and they all sat back. Kate got her phone out and texted Alexis.
"I love Castle Twin Battle!" was her response. Kate grinned. She kept her phone handy to text the finally picture. After they both downed four pancakes, the rest of the strawberries and pineapple, and did thirty push-ups each, they crawled over to each other. Castle had the video tape rolling with a smirk. Nico and Joe pushed their foreheads together and growled at each other from their chests. Kate snapped the picture while Castle pushed closer for the sound.
"Castle Twin Battle winner, the growl." Kate laughed. It looked like they were smiling at each other with love. Smo tackled Jack to the ground nearby and squealed with laughter when he was thrown onto the couch. Kate snapped another picture. "Brother Battle, begins. How many more days till Hamptons vacation?"
"Wish I was there. Sure I'll see the videos from Dad later. Three days till Hamptons. Don't forget to pack the nail polish, sundresses, hairspray, and tanning lotion." Kate let out a breath of relief. She could survive three more days until she got her girl fill.
Castle had dropped the camera and joined the wrestling match. Kate thought about it, tiptoed to it, and finally jumped in on top of Nico. Limbs scattered and whacked into each other. Kate was punched in the breast about three times before she finally rolled to the front door arm style. No one followed, but she still covered her chest. Castle joined her ten minutes later. "Groin?" she asked looking down.
"Hair," he whimpered. Kate chuckled. "Pelvis, head, breast, hips, or belly?" She hated that the boys got so many places on her.
"Boob, three times in a row," she whined.
"Want me to massage?" He wiggled his eyebrows. Kate looked to the boys. Smo grabbed a couch cushion and flew onto Joe. Nico flipped from head to toe to smack Jack in the leg.
"How much time do you think we have until someone bleeds or cries?" she whispered. Castle turned to watch for a second.
"If I take Joe and you take Smo in a hug battle, we'll have twenty. If we let it play out, we have five." They both nodded and set off for their assigned battler. Kate folded Smo into her and crushed him a little.
"What are you doing?" he shrieked. Castle crushed Joe into him.
"Hug battle!" Kate shouted. Jack and Nico jumped each other. Smo screeched, even after Kate crawled away and had Joe hug battle Smo. Hug battles were simple: loudest gets the toughest and most hugs. Smo often won, or if you were smart lost. Nico took over and they knew it'd be passed on the Jack shortly then to Joe and finally landing back to Smo.
The couple ran into their bedroom quietly and locked it quickly. They got away with fifteen minutes of adult play before there was a shout of pain. Kate dashed into the room. She helped Joe off the floor and over to the kitchen. "What've we got?" Castle shouted pulling Nico into his arms.
"Nose bleed. It's clotting." She kissed Joe's head. He leaned into her crying hard. She wrapped an arm around him and rocked back and forth slightly.
"I in't oo id on purpose!" Jack stumbled. Rick turned to him.
"Say it again," he softly asked.
Jack swallowed and took his time saying, "I didn't do it on purpose." It still held urgency. Nico shook in Rick's arms. Rick rubbed the boys back. Jack fell onto the couch.
"We know, Jack. You'd never purposefully hurt someone," Rick replied. Jack moaned. Cosmo crawled onto the couch and awkwardly patted Jack's back.
"Bleedings done!" Kate announced. Joe leaned his head on her chest, but she kept a few paper towels close by.
"Should we get Lanie's medical advice?" Castle quietly asked.
"He's fine. Just a nose bleed. It doesn't hurt, does it?" She gently pressed on his nose. There was little to no reaction from Joe. Kate nodded an affirmative and walked with him to the couch. "Go write, Castle. I've got it."
"Are you sure?" She nodded happily.
…
Kate had Smo clabbering her, Nico begging to watch a movie, Joe who had recovered from his little injury and was riding circles on a tricycle, and Jack making noises for a race rack. She was close to her limit, but Rick was writing. She looked longingly at her phone on the coffee table. She wished it to vibrate with Alexis news, or a playdate wish, or an idea for an adventure in February. After ten minutes of wishing, her phone buzzed. She nearly knocked Smo to the ground grabbing it.
"No, Mom!" all four boys were in agreement. Like their father they knew a buzzing phone meant business.
"Just a text!" she exclaimed when three hands reached for the phone prepared to chuck it across the room. They all moaned. "From Uncle Ryan!" She scrolled through it and felt her heart rise. She sighed heavily and kissed Smo's soft hair. She texted with him for a minute before rising. "We're going to the park! Castle, want to come to the park? The Ryan's will be there."
Castle was out of the office and ready to go by the time Kate had two boys with shoes on, including the one who started with shoes. He helped with the other two, they took a stroller in case, and hauled their clan to a park in the middle of the homes. Jenny wasn't there, it happened to just be Ryan, Sarah Grace and JJ. JJ engaged the twins and Smo in play while Sarah Grace and Jack danced around each other looking for an activity. Ryan calmly, with his head down, sat on an empty bench. Castle didn't even have to push Kate in his direction.
She sat down next to him mirroring his position. "I'm sorry," his voice was strong.
"Thank you." Their heads raised. Kate fiddled with her phone and Ryan twiddled his thumbs.
"I went overboard, Kate." He cracked for a second. She let him pull it together. Her hand did land on his forearm. "I don't know what took over me. Javi said you were pregnant and I just saw red."
"It's okay. We all have those moments." Kate turned to her feet. Ryan never really had to apologies before. He was the one who followed the rules and was genuinely nice.
"Not me," he whimpered. Kate turned to him with a gentle smile. He screwed his face up.
"I know that. After your lecture," she used the word carefully. She could see he wanted to correct her with something more childish. "I knew you were putting all the years of frustration on me. That's okay. Esposito would have had a breakdown if you did it to him. Jenny probably wouldn't have talked to you. Castle wouldn't have stopped crying for a month. I can handle it."
"You know it's all your decision!" he jumped in. "I was completely wrong to say otherwise. You're not too old. You're healthy. You could have babies for many more years. You could have ten and you wouldn't be harming any of them, because you are good parents." He needed to get these words out. "You have nothing to do with Jenny and I. We chose the route we chose. We talked adoption, but didn't want it. You getting pregnant, is something that's good." He even managed a smile. Full of tears, but still.
"Ryan, it's okay. I've seen how happy you get each time you find out we're pregnant. I know you love my kids." She was trying hard to convince him. He didn't seem to be taking it.
"I hurt you, though." He tucked his chin against his neck like a little boy.
"You brought things to my attention. I am getting older. I do have many blessings that I could be looking over. I have a dangerous job. Castle does have his hands full." Ryan squished his eyebrows together fighting emotions. He knew he should have asked her to come to his place. He felt so weak crying. Kate's hand rubbed his shoulder like a mother would do with her own child. "You also gave me the strength to talk to Castle about everything."
He looked up at her with hopeful blue eyes. She nodded. "I wouldn't be here without him helping me understand what you were trying to say, Ry."
"Can he translate for me?" Kate laughed.
"If you want him to." She looked over at Castle who was halfheartedly pushing Cosmo on the swings. Castle's eyes quickly diverted to the child.
"I'm so sorry, Beckett." Ryan huffed at himself. "I never even asked how you felt about all this."
"All this?"
"You being pregnant." He looked her dead in the eye.
"I'm not pregnant!" Kate shot backwards. "Ryan, it was an idea. A thought. I'm not pregnant."
"But if you were," he pushed. Kate bit her lip. "Would you want the baby? Boy or girl? One or more? Too many kids or not enough or just right?" Ryan was getting his spunk back. Kate rolled her eyes at him. "Tell me."
"You know I'd want the baby. Girl." She smirked. "I see you with Sarah Grace. I see how beautiful, smart, collected, angelic she is. I want one. I really want one. But I can't tell Castle that. He'd feel bad. He had has a girl. And having all boys has made my relationship with Alexis stronger. I love that. And I love that Alexis is still Daddy's Little Girl, but I want a baby I can dress in pink and purple dresses. With bows in her hair that isn't a practical joke." Kate's eyes glassed over with dreams. Kevin smiled slowly.
"You can always take her for a spin you know? She's surrounded by your boys."
"But she has cousins that are girls, right?" Kate leaned in making sure Sarah Grace wasn't being deprived.
"Yes. An abundance of girl cousins. SO many nieces." His eyes went wide. "All princesses and flowers. Only a few tomboys. I'm sure your girl will be both. Making a balance somehow." Kate's heart swelled with the idea of her girl.
"Daddy, I want Uncle Castle to push me but he says I'm too big." Sarah Grace was not happy. Kate stalked over without a second glance back.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Richard Castle?" she started.
"What'd you talk about? Is he okay? Are you okay?"
"Apologies to Sarah Grace!" He sulked over like one of their children, got on his knees in front of the bundle of cuteness, and apologized from his heart.
"Can I be pushed?" He comically nodded his head. "Can I get chocolate?" Castle searched his pockets. Ryan waited. Castle came up empty handed. "Then…" She stumbled. She didn't know what to do now. She'd never gotten the candy asked for, or did and gave it back. "Carry me?" Rick turned his back to her. "Pony!" she added. Sarah Grace jumped onto Castle's back and giggled with all her might when he made horsey noises.
"Good with girls," Ryan mumbled. Kate felt like he was being her mother or worse, Lanie or Madison.
"I know." She raised her chin. "Why do you think one more appeals to me so much?" With that she chased after Cosmo. Ryan grinned ear to ear happy with their conversation.
Author's Note: I needed to answer those questions in case more people had the same thoughts, which is seems that they do. I risked a lot of things with this story, Ryan's personality changes that could always happen after the years of torment he went through, Kate's personality, choosing to make it a big deal that they had so many of the same sex of children, and Cosmo's name. All these risks came to bite me in the butt. I'm not sure if people like the storyline as much as I do. I know there are rifts in it, or angst. This chapter has more "fluff" in it, but hopefully resolves some issues. I love the criticism, and that people seem passionate maybe. But if I don't get a review that asks me to continue or that this was an enjoyable read, after my fluffier chapter, I might just stop the story here. I think it's a good ending place. I know there are followers, but that can mean many things to me. You could just see following as a "like" button or you could genuinely want the story to continue. So just tell me to keep publishing the Four Boys stories or to let the story end here for the world.