CH42

Epilogue

It is now 5 years later: August, 2006

Kate was sitting alone in one of the seating areas of the living room. The one with the TV had three of the members of the house and they were watching TV. She simply didn't feel like watching so she was on her own.

Well, not completely on her own as she rubbed her almost 5th month bump. This time is was a boy and a girl and just as healthy according to Mistress Kay. Something to do with having Lycan in her she was told. Kate however had stopped listening after being told she was having twins this time. Even Paige and Irene had put in their 2 cents. Actually Kate liked being pregnant. For one thing it meant no more cramps or bloating which had come as a big shock not to mention uncomfortable. However since her hormones were out of control, it also meant one day she was happy and horny and the next she was screaming at Castle only to apologize hours later. Not to mention a bitch to everyone else in the house including Alexis, which only pissed her off even more.

Kate had just lifted her book, ...really it was Castle's book since he wrote it. He had ended the Derek Storm book series with his last book. It had been almost 5 years since his last book had been published. Three years after Alexis had been killed plus 2 more. Some of that 2 years was spent here in their home in Budapest.

His new publisher had gone all out to regain interest in Richard Castle again after his long absence. His first book back had been another Derek Storm book and it had done well but it wasn't a block buster in terms of book sales. It got good reviews, it was just that it seemed that no one was that interested in Derek Storm anymore.

There had been one more Derek Storm book which became the last one and it hadn't done any better than the previous one. The book Kate had in her hand right now and was only about half way through it, was the top selling book eclipsing anything Castle had written before. It was the most wanted book out there right now. Just a single copy was selling for hundreds on Ebay. His new publisher couldn't get them printed and distributed fast enough to even begin to meet the need.

Not surprisingly the lead character was a vampire and not just any vampire but a female vampire who fought crime in its many forms, all at night naturally.

Castle hadn't given away any of their secrets like the ability to jump. Instead this vampire could transform into a bat to travel and she had a pet wolf that was completely loyal to her and only her. The wolf could howl, bark, growl, huff, sneeze, and all of it meant something to her. It was as if the wolf was actually talking to her. It didn't hurt that it was more powerful than any normal wolf. It almost made Kate think of it as a person, but then maybe that was the appeal of it.

She was interrupted in her reflection by the squealing of her daughter as she came running around the corner and into the living room. "MAMA SAVE ME!" And made a beeline for Kate who dropped her book and got ready to be slammed into. She was giggling and smiling the entire way. It only made everyone in the house happy to see that the very first vampire child was such a happy one. She was technically a Hybrid like her parents but everyone ignored that part.

Right behind her was her husband, Richard Castle, now famous author once again. Kate instantly concluded that the morning tickle monster had gotten their daughter out of bed again. He was right behind her wiggling his fingers and laughing an evil sounding laugh.

"MAMA!" Ellie leapt for Kate who caught her in midair and brought her close to her body to protect her from the monster. "Kiss the monster away mama," Ell pleaded with Kate who soon had Castle sitting next to her breathing heavy and doing his best to actually drool.

Kate debated if she actually wanted to kiss that mouth, except her daughter begged her to kiss the evil monster away. What she did for love! So she pulled his face down to hers and kissed him. However the kiss soon got a little more intense as her hormones started kicking in. She was going to have to find some alone time with her husband later.

"Eewww." Ell covered her eyes so she didn't have to see.

"This was your idea, daughter of mine." She broke from the kiss and turned on her daughter. And then Kate got an evil idea and did her best to start to drool, wiggled her fingers, and then added an evil laugh.

Ell squealed. "OH NO! Mama is 'fected!" She got off of Kate and ran for it, not stopping until she finally found Alexis who would protect her.

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"You were gone when I woke up," Rick said.

"I couldn't sleep. It's still not that easy for me. I used to be a vampire that died when the sun came up and now I'm supposed to just sleep during the day or night depending on what is happening at the time."

"Plus one or the other won't stop kicking me." Kate rubbed her belly. Soon Castle's hand was rubbing her tummy and he touched his lips to her bump. "Be nice to mommy, she's still new at this." He hummed against her skin and went back to caressing her bump.

It took a few minutes but they actually did stop and became quiet. "I don't know how you do that." Kate was still amazed.

"It's a dad thing, you wouldn't understand."

"How are you feeling Castle?" Kate knew he wasn't sleeping well lately either.

"I can't help it, I'm scared to death. Ell is headed for her first day of school with a room full of human children."

"All of us have done everything we can so that she understands she can't talk about the vampires in her world. But that's not it is it?" Kate saw the guilty look on his face and placed her hands to cup his face. "Talk to me Castle?"

Kate saw the beginning of his tears. "This was all the further I made it with Alexis before she was taken away from me, her and mother. I'm sorry Mistress, but my nightmares revolve around this time in my life." Rick knew losing Ell at five years old would finish him.

She kissed him. "And that is why your only duty in this house is to walk our daughter to and from school each day. You're stronger than any human now Castle, plus the Lycan leader is dead. You will both be fine," she tried to reassure him. Still she had noticed the nightmares this past week.

Rick suddenly had a thought. "It's dark outside. Maybe Ell would like a game of laser tag."

"How many vests do we have now Castle?"

"Four. …why? You playing at 6 months is not a good idea Mistress." Rick didn't want her getting hurt in some stupid accident.

"I can wait until the baby is born Castle. I was thinking more along the lines of Alexis and Paige," she suggested since she was pretty sure who Ell would have run to to get away from both of them. At least until they were both "cured."

"I knew there was a reason why I loved you Mistress." Rick kissed her and went upstairs to try and find them.

"And stay off the stairs Castle. I don't want Ell tumbling down them and miss her first day of school," Kate called to his retreating from.

She laid back into her sofa and started to pick up her book again. Ever since Paige had overstepped her authority again and Kate had laid down the law on her, she had been a lot quieter lately. It seemed that Paige was a born leader. Given enough time she would likely start her own house in a few hundred years. For now she was content learning from Kate and asking Hunt a lot of questions.

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"FOUND HER!" called out a new voice which got Kate to moan and put her book back down. She waited to see who was next.

Irene showed up and it looked like she had been crying heavily. Kate sat up straighter and took Irene's hands in hers. "What happened?"

Before Irene could find her voice Sirene sat down on the other side of Kate. She looked over her shoulder when she felt hands being placed on them. It was Hunt and Kay. Whatever this was it must be big. Turning to look at Sirene proved it must be close on to a catastrophe, since Sirene also showed signs of crying heavily.

She wiped the tears from her eyes and tried to do the same with her nose. "Irene wants me to turn her," Sirene stated flatly.

Kate whipped her head around to face Irene. "You know the odds Irene. They suck! And where you were born is what, days away from here? I can't risk the baby by turning you, not that I want to." Which only left Sirene, Lord Hunt, or Mistress Kay to turn her.

"PLEASE. I love her and I'm already older than she is now and I'm only going to get older."

"And break my heart in two when I find you dead next to me after I killed you?" Sirene pleaded. "I told you once that I don't care that you'll get old. I'll push you around in a wheelchair if I have to."

"And break your heart when I die at 80. What's the difference? Die tomorrow or die when I'm 80? It'll still be broken."

"Sixty years of love, that's the difference." Sirene knew Irene was right, that it would break her heart when she finally died, but she wanted those years.

"And what happens when I die of breast cancer 10 years from now? Or have a heart attack when I'm 60? Or a stroke that leaves me barely able to do anything. You planning on picking me up and bathing me every day? Spoon feed me my baby food three times a day? Sit there and watch some lump who can't even tell you that she loves you anymore? Or beg you to end it all?" Irene had already said all these things and it only made them start crying again.

"YES!" Sirene yelled at her.

Kate didn't know why she was involved in this. Sirene was part mistress of this house. Still Kate didn't want to lose Irene either. She was the only human left that knew about them as far as she knew. It was enough that it got Kate to open her mouth and then just as quickly close it.

Kay leaned down to Kate. "Jackson and I have a plan and we've talked about it. The trick is that you three have to trust us with your hearts and Irene's life."

"What plan?" What was so good about their plan? That got Kate to twist her head to look back at them.

"Jackson and I are going to turn her. But you three need to know that if we do this, Irene won't just be a vampire, she'll be one of us. In a manner of speaking she will become our daughter and gain our heritage."

Now Kate was really confused. "I…you…I don't understand. Are you two not vampires?" Just that thought alone scared her.

"Oh we are child, we are," Kay assured her.

"We need someplace private, someplace with some space," Hunt said.

They agreed on the library. The library was mostly empty. Oh it had books alright, it was just that it had space for hundreds if not thousands of books and it even had a sort of second floor that could be reached via a spiral staircase.

"We are vampires child, just not…" Kay started and looked at her husband who nodded his head and they both proceeded to show them their true form.

Kate, Sirene, and Irene stood there with eyes wide open and their mouths hanging open as their Lord Hunt and Mistress Kay from long ago changed forms.

They both lost all of their hair and their skin was pulled tight; if that didn't make them look different, watching a pair of giant wings unfurl behind their backs certainly did.

"This is our true form, the form of true vampires. If we do this, this is what Irene will become. We were both once just like you when you were human, until our parents selected us and converted us to being vampires. The same method that we plan of using on Irene," Kay spoke up.

"I used a modified version of what we plan for Irene to convert you two. It had more risks than this version, I just wasn't ready to do that to either of you. Plus I needed my wife's permission since she is involved in this process too."

"It's part of why we care about you two so much. You two are the only ones that we used this modified process on. Hunt only used his blood to convert you using the equipment that we still have left over from our parents."

"If you're vampires, then what are we?" Kate questioned.

"All of the vampires, save for one other, are Hybrids if you will. Not true vampires in the strictest sense. In your case Katherine, and Richard too, you are the first successful bonding of our two species. Lycans and Vampires. I'm not really sure what you two and your children are capable of."

"When you bit him and converted both of you and beat the odds that both of us think were a lot lower than even you give credit for, you two have started down a path that we have no idea what awaits you," Kay informed them.

"If we're all Hybrids, what does that mean? I don't eat meat like Kate does, I can't even get touched by the sun," Sirene listed off a couple items.

"Neither can we, child. If we do this and it works, Irene is going to be just like us. Actually more like us until she learns how to change herself back into human form," Kay cautioned.

"I'll look like you. Does this mean I'll have wings too? Do those even work?"

Kay smiled. "Yes and yes. Though you will need a lot of practice to fly properly. Not that we suggest you fly often, wouldn't want you to get spotted by humans."

"So what is so different with this technique than my way of burying the both of us and sharing blood?" Kate questioned.

"The chance of success?" Irene guessed.

"My wife and I have worked out over the years that the success rate of your method is at best 20% and goes down from there quickly. The modified method I used on you two was likely closer to 50-50. This method is closer to 80%."

"YES!" Irene pumped her arm since she could see success in her future.

"The primary question is for you two. Can you live with Irene being more vampire than you are? Can you live with her having wings until she learns how to change her form to look like she used to? And Irene, can you put up with being trapped indoors while you learn to change form?"

"How long to learn?" Irene asked, not that she cared.

"Months most likely, possibly years," Hunt offered based off his own challenges.

"I can learn to work with her having wings." Sirene was finally kind of smiling.

"There is one more complication for you two. It involves you two, ...I mean I don't know, " Hunt was floundering and Kay was chuckling. "What my husband means is that you will have to relearn how to make love to each other until Irene learns how to change forms. It will not be the same."

"I can live with that." Irene saw a light at the end of the tunnel.

"80% and months without sex. I hope you know what you are asking of me, Irene," Sirene asked her.

That was enough to get Irene to launch herself at Sirene and kiss her soundly, because what she heard was a yes.

In the end Sirene gave Irene a kiss that neither of them was going to forget and watched as Kay jumped with Irene. "We'll be back Katherine, Sirene." Hunt jumped away and was suddenly right back.

"Oh, one more thing. Irene will have the power to jump so we'll all have something else we need to teach her how to do properly." And Hunt jumped away again.

"I'm going to go find my little girl, you sure you're going to be ok?" Kate took Sirene's arm in her hand.

"Yes, …no, ….Maybe." Sirene was still in shock. For all she knew Irene wasn't coming back. There was still a 20% chance of failure.

"Go watch TV Sirene. Go be with someone or follow me in my hunt for my child, just don't go find somewhere and fall apart all alone. Use us as your distraction." Kate hugged her and walked with Sirene right behind her on the hunt for Ellie.

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"Hi munchkin!" Alexis was with Paige at the pool table getting ready for a shot.

"Lexi save me!" Ell slammed into Alexis.

"Save you?" Alexis picked her up and held her with ease, settling her on her hip. "Is dad after you again?" Alexis was getting used to seeing Rick acting weird. A lot more like a 5 year old than ever before.

Ell shook her head. "Mama 'fected."

"Mama's kiss didn't make it go away this time huh?" she questioned and watched Ell shake her head. "Well, you stay with us, we'll protect you." Alexis turned to watch Paige make her shot knowing that she got to keep her sister.

"Lexi?"

Alexis turned her head to look at her sister, and instantly found herself wrapped up in the little girl's arms. "I love you Lexi!" Ellie buried her head in her neck.

Alexis couldn't help but squeeze her back. "I love you too Ellie. You're my sister." Alexis kissed the side of her head. "Have you had your breakfast yet?" she asked her and felt her shake her head.

"Let's just fix that shall we? I'll be back babe." Alexis walked past Paige, gave her a quick kiss, and started walking to the closest kitchen.

Paige had made a couple more shots when Rick showed up. "Shooting alone? You want a game?" He was instantly side tracked.

"I had a game until Ellie showed up and Alexis took her to get some breakfast." Paige stopped playing and stood there holding her pool cue with one end on the floor.

"Oops." Rick knew he had screwed up. His interest in playing with his daughter had meant she hadn't had anything to eat yet.

"They're in the kitchen." Paige pointed and watched Rick head that way.

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Paige was just racking up another set as Alexis walked in from one direction and Kate with Sirene showed up from another. "If you're looking for Ell, she's in the kitchen with dad drinking her breakfast," Alexis pointed behind her.

"Thanks sweetie." Kate hugged her and kissed her on her cheek.

"Mom?" Alexis stopped her and watched Kate have Sirene go ahead. "What's on your mind?" Kate headed back to Alexis and looked at her.

"Mom, …Was I… ?" Alexis stopped when Kate hugged her again.

"You have a piece of my heart Alexis, I love you more than I love anyone. Though it is a close thing next to Castle, Ellie and this one." Kate let go of her and placed a hand on her bump.

"That's not what I meant mom, I know you love me and I'm not jealous of dad, Ellie, or the baby. I was wondering if when I was Ellie's age if dad acted like this?" Alexis finally asked.

"You mean did he wrap his life around you when you were little? …Yes sweetie, he did." Kate wrapped her arms around Alexis again. "Castle focused his entire life on trying to make you happy when you were little. It's why the pain of losing you and his mother hurt so much at the time."

"Your father placed all of his love into you when you were little. In a way Ellie is you and this is how your father acted with you when you were her age," Kate explained. She and Castle had already talked about this at length months ago.

"I guess I'm lucky then. I would be dead if it wasn't for you and dad might have finally killed himself if not for you. Now dad has his little girl back and we all have a complete and growing family." Alexis was a little happier now than she had been before.

"Is this your way of suggesting I start finding people to convert to vampires?" Kate glared at her daughter.

"We have empty bedrooms mom. Unless you and dad plan on filling all of them with children?" Alexis glared back at her mother.

"And if we did?" Kate had no intention of doing it that way. Still these two were accidents, happy accidents but still accidents. And if she kept getting pregnant during a full moon, they just might.

"At least you won't be covered in dirt mom," Alexis teased, getting Kate to chuckle. "How is the other house?"

"We've done a lot of work on it. The basement is complete and we presently have several thousand Lycan killing rounds stored there. The shooting range is complete as you well know. Sirene has her furniture making equipment out there and she has actually sold a number of pieces. We're even actively searching for a place to rent a store where they can be sold or placed on special order. That may not happen for a few weeks yet, but it looks like it will happen." That brought a smile to Alexis's face.

"The first floor is complete, we just need to furnish it. The rooms on the second floor are also complete they just need plumbing fixtures installed just like the two kitchens that have nothing in them."

"The roof, floors, and exterior walls are all complete. That giant bush, tree whatever that thing was is gone, however no other landscaping has been completed. We as a house have already painted it twice now and did some roof repair after that storm blew through."

"I would guess that in another year all of the bedrooms, kitchen and living areas could be complete. I suppose sometime before that Sirene and I could start looking for people to convert."

"Chicken?" Alexis teased her getting Kate to start laughing.

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It was early the next day and Kate was up dressing her little girl for her first day of school. "Izgatott az első nap az iskolában?" Kate asked her.

That got Ellie to start smiling wide and nodding her head enthusiatically. "Igen mama."

"Most légy jó kislány , és emlékszem, hogy nem lehet beszélni vámpírok , hogy nagyon , nagyon fontos kicsim." Kate made one last appeal to her daughter.

"Tudom, mama ez titok." Ellie nodded her head that she understood.

Kate was proud of her. She was only 5 years old and she already spoke Hungarian almost better than she did or even Sirene. Castle, Solomon, Michael, Allie, and Jenny had the most trouble with it. Ellie was even teaching her father how to speak it and correcting him when he screwed up.

Kate hugged her and blinked back the tears. "I love you sweetie, so very much."

"I love you too mama. I'll be a good girl." Ellie crossed her heart. Kate chuckled knowing that it was something Castle had taught her.

"Ready to go?" Rick entered their private moment.

"School daddy!" Ellie was practically bouncing.

Rick walked her to school and much like with Alexis, almost didn't leave and thought about hanging around outside or even sneaking a peek to see how she was doing.

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It was a bouncing and talkative Ellie that was being walked back home by Rick as he did his best to keep up with what she had to say since it was all in Hungarian.

Ellie blew past everyone in search of Alexis the second she got home. She just had to share everything that had happened at school with her sister.

"I take it the day went well?" Kate came up to Castle and kissed him.

"I suppose since I didn't understand a word she said all the way home," Rick chuckled.

Kate patted his chest. "Maybe we should have you stay with her and learn how to speak Hungarian," she teased.

"CAN I!?" Rick instantly brightened up.

"No, Castle you may not." Kate burst his bubble. "Though maybe we can have a Hungarian class and have your 5 year old daughter teach you," Kate grinned.

"Oh ha, ha, you're enjoying this aren't you Mistress." Rick knew he wasn't.

"How do you feel Castle? You got to walk your daughter to and from school."

"Better Mistress, so very much better." His pain of losing Alexis would never leave him, but Ellie and his life now was something he couldn't even conceive of before Kate saved him from being mugged and maybe killed.

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Kate was just stepping out of the shower with a giant smile on her face after being pressed up against the shower wall and wrapping her legs around Castle as he fucked her till she climaxed and squirted all over the shower floor.

She sat down at the mirror and brushed her hair out wondering if Alexis was right. Was she going to fill the empty rooms with children? Neither of them could keep their hands off of each other.

Castle was suddenly right behind her and bent down to kiss her shoulder. He traced his fingers down each arm. It was enough for Kate to think about making love to him again. Stupid hormones.

Suddenly there was a pounding on their door. "MOM, IRENE IS BACK! And WOW you should see what she looks like now!"

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And this story is complete for now with another version of Caskett at the end. To be honest i was a little worried about how the content would be received, but since my beta readers did not ask me if i had lost my mind i soldiered on. Yes not all of the reviews were positive and i expected that, still most of the reviews were amazing.

Next up is Baby 2, which is not a true sequel to the original story, but more of a retake on a similar theme. It should be out in a few weeks after I'm far enough out in front to continue with my daily updates.