'Shane, do you feel funny having a birthday now that you are a papa?'

Jojo looked up from where she was playing cards with RJ, all the while keeping a weather eye on her niece who was lying on her play-mat with Castle stretched out beside her.

'Nah, it's really cool,' he said with a grin, winking at the young girl. 'It means I get more presents.'

'That's greedy,' RJ said without looking up from his hand. 'Jojo, put your cards down now.'

'Okay!' Jojo put them all on the table, then began to type in the numbers on her little calculator. 'Oh man, I got one-nine!'

'That's nineteen, Jojo, and that's okay. That means you might still win!'

'Oh yeah!'

'RJ, are you teaching your little sister blackjack?' Shane asked incredulously. 'She's four!'

'No, it's called twenty one. I'm helping Jojo with her numbers, now that she is in junior kindergarten,' RJ explained, then looked up as Alexis came over to sit with Shane. 'Tell him, Lex.'

'Oh, yeah, Dad taught them how to play twenty one to practice their addition.' She gave Shane's arm a squeeze, cuddled close. 'I learned how to multiply by playing cribbage.'

Shane felt the tips of his wife's fingers running up and down his arms, squirmed a little; he knew what was on her mind.. He turned to her, murmuring in her ear,' You feeling alright?'

'Mm-hmm, just..a little tired,' she whispered back with a smile. 'How much longer do you wanna hang here?'

'We're not running off just so we can-'

'Shane, whispering in front of people is rude,' Jojo chirped as she gathered up the cards, pinning her brother-in-law with a look.

'Sorry, bumblebee, just asking Alexis about a surprise she has for later.'

'Ice cream?' RJ asked. 'Alexis always likes to surprise you with ice cream.'

'There might be ice cream involved.'

Alexis' tone was so sweet and light that Shane nearly had a coughing fit as he dreamed up fizzy misty visions of Alexis in black silk lingerie and very slowly licking a spoon of cold white cream. Instead he took a breath, looked at Beckett coming over with a tray of coffee cups and the silver pot that meant hot chocolate for the little kids.

'Thanks again for the spread tonight, it was nice to have a birthday party that I can remember for once.'

'Did you have to much champagne?' RJ asked innocently. 'Dad had that happen once or twice.'

'Okay, surprise gift time.' Castle turned the conversation out of that dark and dangerous forest, reached for the envelope on the coffee tray, passed it to Shane. 'Kate and I figured you could use this given you have a new little one at home.'

Shane took the envelope, though what his parents-in-law could give him beyond tickets to see Silver Bullet with his wife at Madison Square was a bit of a mystery. He discreetly tore the paper, scanned it, then looked at Alexis. 'It's a night at the Plaza.'

'What?'

'For tonight, look.' Shane showed her the booking slip, saw her eyes go wide. 'I have no idea what to say.'

'You guys have been through a lot in the first few months of being parents,' Becket explained with a smile, 'and I remember Dave did something like this for Lanie after Finn was born, they had just a night away for themselves to be with each other. So happy birthday Shane.'

'But what about Petra?'

'We'll look after her here tonight,' Beckett reassured her. 'We'll drive to your place after we take you to the hotel, get what she needs.'

'I...I don't know what to say,' Shane stammered, sincerely floored Castle and Beckett would do this for them. They clearly meant to give them the time alone to make love without the possibility of being interrupted by the baby, which seemed more than a little weird. Then again, both Castle and Beckett obviously knew they had that kind of relationship given that they were married and had a newborn. Rather than dwelling on the potential ickiness of it, Shane rose to give Castle and Beckett each hugs. 'Thanks just doesn't seem to cut it.'

'Trust me, it will do just fine in a few hours from now.'

After a slightly tearful but short goodbye to their daughter Shane and Alexis made their way to the Plaza where they were all but treated like royalty, a feeling which didn't go away when they saw their room - suite, really. There was a parlour with a gas fireplace and kitchen that held a full stocked fridge of fruit and cheese, champagne, ginger-ale, cider, and other tasty snacks Shane knew had been put in there at Castle's request.

In the bedroom was an ocean of a bed, more champagne along with a bouquet of tulips which happened to be both Shane and Alexis' favourite flowers and tonnes of candles on the tables and sideboards nearby.

'They thought of everything,' Shane murmured, setting down his hastily packed overnight bag, taking Alexis' for her as well. 'There is only one other time I can think of when my birthday was even better.'

'Oh?'

'Yeah.' Shane took Alexis in his arms, gave her a tender yet smouldering kiss. 'The first birthday I had with you.'

She giggled, hummed a little. 'Wait until you see what it is in this bag, then you'll really lose your mind.'

She held up her overnight tote, disappeared into the bathroom to change. The moment the door shut behind her, Shane whipped off his jumper, shimmed out of his jeans so he was in his birthday boxers - the blue silk ones covered in exploding fireworks - while he popped open the bottle of bubbly.

'Shane you ready for this?'

'Yes, I am.' Shane flopped on his side in what he thought of as the Burt Reynolds pose, holding two glasses of champagne, then felt all his blood drain into his lap when Alexis stepped out of the washroom. 'Well happy birthday me.'