Firstly I have to apologise for taking so long to post. This chapter has been sitting on my laptop almost since the series final, and it's taken me binge watching the first three seasons and re-reading the previous sixteen chapters, to get any inspiration back.

My brilliant and very patient beta 41319always41319 is alive and well, and thank you to those of you who offered to help me out, and after a major re-write of this chapter and a kick up the bum from a couple of you guys (thank you), I've found my inspiration again and remembered why I started writing this fic in the first place.

While I don't own Castle, there are vague references to season eight.

Chapter 17 – Cosmousnita?...Nah

Birth certificate? Check. Two copies of driver's licence? Check. Copy of high school and college transcripts? Check.

'…..so Gina's demanding I rewrite the last two chapters, on top of the ones I already have to do, and have them to her by…..'

Money order for finger prints and photos? Check.

'….seriously Alexis, how am I supposed to meet…'

Copy of social security card? check.

'And Paula's just pissed with me….'

Copy of all employment records… Alexis clutched the folder that was precariously balanced in her lap and leaned over to where her father was seated to the right of her. The wickedly plush couch they were sitting on was causing havoc to her concentration as all Alexis wanted to do was slide down and go to sleep. Sifting through the pile of documents her dad was holding for her, Alexis' frustration grew when she couldn't find the form she was looking for.

'And then she had the gall to tell me she's scheduled a book tour for November, without even…. '

Come on, come on, where is it? 'Dad, did you remember to complete the declaration saying I've been working for you?' Alexis asked with frustration.

'You said you didn't need it yet. Are you even listening to me?' Rick complained.

'Gina hates the direction you've been taking Nikki Heat; you guys didn't tell her you were pregnant, so she's scheduled a book tour to coincide with the October release; and Paula's always pissed with you,' Alexis rattled off.

'That's not what I said,' Rick whined and looked at his watch for what felt like the hundredth time in the last fifteen minutes. 'I wish Beckett would hurry up and get here. I know Doctor Harper's stayed late just to fit your mom in, but still.'

'Dad, she'll be here. I can't see Kate missing the one appointment that's going to tell us once and for all if we're having a Cosmo or a Mouse,' Alexis assured. 'And I have to make sure I have all the required documentation.'

'Yes Pumpkin, but you also said you didn't need it until after your physical.'

Proof of residential address? Check. 'No dad, I need it for the written psych exam, which comes after the medical, but before the physical. But if I don't keep chasing you for it, you won't do it,' Alexis huffed as she scrolled to the bottom of the page she was filling in.

'Sweetheart, I don't know why you're so stressed out. You've got everything under control,' Rick reassured with concern. 'Why'd you bring all this with you anyway?'

'I brought it with me because Kate said I need to live and breathe this folder for the next few months as part of the recruitment process, remember?' Alexis reminded him. 'And I was called this morning with a date for the medical exam.'

'Yeah, but I thought she meant figuratively, not literally….wait, they've called you back already?'

'Yeah, I know. I'm as surprised as you are,' Alexis stopped what she was doing, and turned to look at her dad. 'I've been scheduled for the third week in June,' she said nervously. 'I was going to call Kate this morning to find out if this is the normal turn around, but I know she's been under a lot of pressure at the precinct lately, and didn't want to bother her.'

'Don't let Beckett hear you say that. She'll never let you hear the end of it,' her dad warned.

'Kate's okay though, isn't she?' Alexis asked, worry evident in her voice.

'Just between you and me sweetheart, I can't wait for Beckett to start her maternity leave,' Rick confided. 'While I know my life will be in constant danger living with a sidelined, grumpy, and very pregnant Captain Beckett, at least I know she and Cosmo are safe.'

'You're right, dad,' Alexis agreed, and had to stifle a giggle at her dad's look of surprise. 'Because if Kate caught even a whiff of what you just said, I'm pretty sure Mouse will be the only sibling I'll ever get,' Alexis laughed at her father's over exaggerated frown.

'Cosmo,' her dad grumbled.

'And what if it's a girl?' Alexis giggled.

'Cosmousnita?'

'Nah!' they both laughed at the same time.

Rick sobered, and looked at the stunning woman his little girl had grown into. 'Wow, this is really happening isn't it?'

'Yeah, it is.'

'But I'm not ready,' he murmured, looking down at the documents he was holding for his daughter.

'Not ready for what, dad?' Alexis asked.

'I'm not ready to let you go, yet.'

'Oh dad,' Alexis placed her folder on the coffee table to the left of her and turned to face her father.

'No, I'm just being a sentimental old fool,' he said depreciatively while playing with the paperwork in his hands. It struck him that his daughter's entire life had been reduced to a few sheets of paper.

'Daddy, it's okay to be sentimental.' Alexis smiled at the look on her father's face when she failed to dispute he wasn't old. 'And you're not letting me go,' Alexis assured softly. 'My entire life, you've been laying the foundation to ensure I had the best chance of achieving whatever I wanted to, and I'm not just talking about my education.' Alexis watched her dad lean back on the couch and look towards the ceiling, a sure sign he was trying to reign in his emotions. 'When Meredith walked out on us, you were a twenty seven year old guy left with his three year old little girl, and our world had essentially collapsed around us.'

'Alexis…'

'No dad, please let me finish,' she begged while grabbing his arm to get him to look at her. 'You didn't have to gain sole custody of me. Instead, you could've lived your life on New York's most eligible bachelors list. You built a home for us, did everything you could to provide me with a loving and safe environment to grow up in….you've always supported me, regardless of whether you agreed with my decisions or not, and you've always put me and my needs first…even when I was being an unappreciative and spoilt brat….particularly towards your relationship with Kate,' Alexis felt her throat clog when she watched her father discretely wipe the tears from his cheeks and grabbed his hand. 'And….thank you…..for allowing me to build the relationship I have with Kate now,' she whispered. 'I know that hasn't been easy for you.'

'Oh, sweetheart…'

'I know your first instinct has always been to protect me.'

'It's what father's do,' Rick whispered as he looked back at his daughter, his voice hoarse with emotion.

'Daddy…'

'No Alexis, I do what I do because I'm your father, and I want what's best for you. That will never change, regardless of how old you get,' Rick reiterated. 'Just like I'm going to for however many brothers and sisters you end up with.'

'I was actually going to thank you,' Alexis smiled softly. 'Dad, I look at you, and I see one of the most intelligent, strong, and companionate and loving people I've ever met.'

'Even if I am a nine year old on a sugar rush,' her dad smiled cheekily.

Alexis just rolled her eyes and shook her head. 'Dad….I know your childish antics started out as a coping mechanism when you were young and slowly morphed into a way to hide the real Richard Castle from the world,' Rick looked at his daughter in awe at how well she knew him. 'But all joking aside, the real you, the real Richard Castle you've only let a handful of people see, I'm proud that he's my dad, but I'm also thankful to who ever sent Kate to us because she didn't just save you…she saved both of us.'

'I know she did, Pumpkin,' Rick agreed. 'Sometimes… I wonder where I'd be if I hadn't been strong enough to hold onto her,' Rick handed his daughter back the documents he was holding for her, reached over to the coffee table in front of them, and grabbed a tissue from the box on the table to discretely wipe his eyes.

Alexis placed her paperwork with her folder on the small coffee table, and turned back to her father. 'Dad, are you okay?' she asked with concern. 'You've seemed….unsettled lately.'

Before Rick could answer, the reception door burst open and Captain Beckett strode into the waiting area, her cell pressed to her ear, resplendent in black Donna Karan that she wore like a suite of perfectly-tailored armour, and four inch Jimmy Choos.

'Ryan, I don't care what Jackson's claiming, it's our jurisdiction.' Kate walked over to where Rick and Alexis were sitting and motioned for her husband to move to the opposite end of the couch. '...no, I won't accept that.' Kate sat down in the now vacant spot between her husband and daughter and dumped her bag on the floor, but stood as quickly as a five month pregnant woman could, and began pacing the small reception area, father and daughter looking on with worry.

'….well I would like to think that two of my most senior homicide detectives have the ability to negotiate without me holding their hands…' Alexis watched her mom caress her ever expanding baby belly, gently soothing the tiny life growing inside her. The young woman wondered how at five months pregnant, Kate could still wear four inch heels and look like a Paris runway model.

'….no, you can update me in the morning. I'm spending tonight at home with my husband and kid,' Kate pressed the end button on her cell, and threw the offending object into her bag with practiced ease before pinching the bridge of her nose.

Alexis watched her father rise from his seat and move towards her mom. 'Hey,' he murmured when he caressed his wife's shoulders. Kate smiled tiredly at her husband, and manoeuvred her baby bump slightly to the left so she could wrap her arms around him. 'Bad day at the office, I take it?' Rick asked.

'Castle, I swear there are days I feel like nothing more than a glorified kindergarten teacher,' Kate grumbled, snuggling further into her husband's embrace. 'How the hell Gates put up with you for as long as she did, is beyond me,' she mumbled into his shoulder. Rick gave his daughter a mock stern look when he heard her snigger, but for once, he had the good sense to remain quiet as he held his wife and gently rocked her from side to side.

'Doctor Harper's still in with her last patient,' Rick advised as he moved back and captured his wife's lips in a loving kiss before allowing her to move out of his arms.

'Hey kid,' Kate walked over to her daughter and placed a quick kiss on Alexis' forehead while Rick sat back down again.

'Hi mom,' Alexis smiled, and in what had now become the normal greeting, gently cupped her mom's baby bulge and placed a loving kiss where her sibling was growing. 'Hey Mouse,' she whispered and lay her ear against her mom's stomach, hugging her close. 'Is he awake?' Alexis asked.

'Yes, he's awake. Uncle Kevin made sure of that.'

'You look tired,' Alexis whispered and placed another kiss on her mom's stomach before sitting back.

'I'm okay, baby,' she assured, sitting back down between her husband and daughter. 'After the day I've had, I'd be exhausted even if I weren't pregnant,' Kate grumbled and manoeuvred so she could recline back against her husband's chest.

Alexis reached over to collect her folder and paperwork from the coffee table next to her, trying to be as discrete as possible in giving her parents time alone together.

Thinking back to the previous week when her mom suggested she set up a recruitment folder, Alexis had not only been overwhelmed by the amount of personal information she had to provide, but also how to fill out the mountains of required paperwork, and what information was supposed to be submitted at each stage of the process.

Kate spent two evenings ensuring Alexis had copies of all the latest forms, compiled a list of all personal documentation Alexis had to get copies of, and helped set the folder up in order of recruitment stages and accompanying paperwork.

She made a note on the cover sheet to chase up her dad for her declaration of employment at Castle Investigations, and tucked the remaining paperwork away in their designated protective sleaves.

'You need to allow Ryan and Espo to take on more of the workload,' Alexis heard her father admonish softly.

'Castle, just because I'm pregnant, doesn't mean I'm not competent at my job,' Beckett warned.

'Beckett, I'm not disputing the fact that you're brilliant at your job,' Rick soothed softly when he felt his wife tense.

'Then what're you implying?' Beckett questioned. 'I go on maternity leave in just over two months, I have two senior detectives acting like a couple of squabbling frat boys, and not only does their behaviour reflect directly onto me, I need to make the decision as to whether I can recommend either of them for Acting Captain because if I can't, then 1PP will just assign someone,' Kate sighed.

'If Ryan and Espo are having issues working together now, what makes you think one will work for the other?' Rick asked.

'And therein, lies my dilemma,' Kate admitted.

'What can I do?' Rick asked.

'Just this,' Kate closed her eyes, leaned further back into her husband, and smiled as she felt him place a loving kiss on her forehead, just above her right eye.

Kate sighed when she felt Rick tighten his arms around her, and placed her hands over his while he subconsciously caressed their unborn child. Kate felt the unfamiliar feeling of pleasure at the possessive nature of her husband. A feeling she never thought she'd accept, let alone enjoy. And she thought back to the conversation she'd had with Deputy Commissioner Gates the day she informed her former boss she was pregnant.

'Kate, the stronger the woman, the more we need to appreciate and enjoy being taken care of by our husbands. For a short time, we need to be able let go of our control. Too many people today see that as a sign of weakness instead of seeing it as a woman being loved and cherished by the man she trusts and adores.'

To say Kate had been surprised by Gates' admission was an understatement, but on reflection, had come to realise she'd been subconsciously doing exactly what her former boss had confided in her. Not that she'd ever admit that to Castle because the man would never let her live it down.

Kate looked over to her daughter, and smiled to herself when she saw Alexis putting the recruitment folder they'd set up in her bag. Stretching out her leg, Kate tapped Alexis on the shin with her Jimmy Choo encased foot. 'Are you okay, sweetheart?' she asked.

Alexis looked to her dad and then back to her mom. 'How can you still wear four inch heels,' Alexis asked, staring at the black boots her mom was wearing.

'Stop deflecting,' Kate chastised.

'I was called by Recruitment this morning.'

'They've called you already?'

'You didn't know?' Alexis asked.

'No, I didn't,' Kate answered. 'Why didn't you call me?' Alexis scowled at the 'I told you so' look her dad was giving her where he was resting his head on her mom's shoulder. 'So when have they scheduled you for?'

'Third week in June.'

'And how do you feel about that?'

'Scared, excited, scared,' Alexis admitted with a nervous smile.

Kate got the feeling there was something else bothering Alexis, but before she could reply, a door leading to the examination rooms opened. 'Kate?' a scrub clad nurse called.

'Hi Julie,' Kate replied as she struggled to move out of her husband's embrace. 'We'll talk more about this at home,' Kate told her daughter. Alexis quickly stood and held out a hand to her mom, which Kate begrudgingly took. 'Not a word out of either of you,' Beckett warned as she stood and straightened her clothes around her baby bump, and raised a brow at the 'who me?' look Alexis was giving her.

'Come on through Kate and we'll get started. Doctor Harper's nearly finished with her last patient,' Julie smiled.

Rick stood and pulled his wife in for a kiss. 'You're stunning,' he murmured before sitting back down on the couch.

Kate held a hand out to Alexis. 'Julie, it's okay for my daughter to come in with me, isn't it?' she asked.

Alexis looked to Kate, then to the nurse. 'Are you sure?' Alexis asked while taking Kate's hand and standing next to her.

If the nurse was surprised at the young woman standing next to her patient, she hid it well. 'It's nice to finally meet you, Alexis,' the older woman smiled. 'If you guys want to come through; is dad joining us as well?'

'No, my ears can burn perfectly well out here,' he griped. 'I'll just wait until it's time for the big reveal.'

'Chicken,' Beckett teased.

'I like to think of it more as self-preservation,' Rick countered and watched his wife and daughter walk towards the examination rooms. Just before the door closed, Kate spun, poked her tongue out at her husband, and quickly shut the door.

'Okay Kate, so you're here for your…,' Julie stifled a giggle when she watched her patient sass her husband before closing the door. '….twenty week pre-natal then?' Julie asked.

Kate just rolled her eyes, shook her head, and handed her bag to Alexis as she walked towards the nurse.

'Well you know the drill,' Julie said, handing Kate a specimen cup. 'I need you to pee in the cup, jump on the scales, and then you can take a seat on the bed,' Kate took the small plastic container, and moved towards the en suite at the rear of the room. 'Alexis, why don't you sit over here,' the nurse suggested to the young woman when she noticed Alexis standing uncomfortably in the middle of the room. 'The first part of your mom's examination is pretty standard,' Julie explained as Alexis sat in the chair next to the examination table. 'I have to admit, when your parents said this was their second child, I was expecting…'

'Someone younger?' Alexis finished.

'Yeah,' Julie admitted with slight embarrassment. 'When your mom talked about you wanting to join the NYPD, I just figured it was when you grew up.'

'Don't worry, I'm used to it,' she shrugged. 'Dad wasn't much older than me when I was born, and mom….I know Kate's just my step-mother…'

'Hey, your mom's not 'just' anything,' Julie admonished. 'It takes a very special person to take on someone else's child as their own.'

Alexis nodded. 'Yeah, it does,' she whispered.

Before Julie could respond, Kate exited the bathroom, and handed the specimen jar over to the nurse. 'Please tell me you get used to this,' Kate complained and walked over to the scales.

'Honey, I've had four, and you never get used to peeing in a cup or having a small town looking at your lady parts,' the nurse sympathised.

Kate looked towards Alexis when she heard the young woman giggle. 'See what I have to go through just so you can have a sibling?' Kate groused with a raised brow, making her daughter laugh even harder. 'Seriously?' she muttered as she toed off her boots and stood on the scales.

Julie made a few notes in the patient file. 'Okay Kate, why don't you take a seat on the bed and I'll take your blood pressure.'

'How's my weight?' Kate asked while struggling to put her boots back on around her baby belly.

'A little on the low side for this stage of your pregnancy, but nothing that rings any alarm bells,' Julie assured.

'But she never stops eating,' Alexis exclaimed.

'Seriously kid?' Kate admonished when she saw the cheeky grin her daughter was giving her.

'But you don't,' Alexis teased and moved her chair slightly so her mom could use the small foot stool to climb up onto the examination table.

Julie moved over to Kate and proceeded to place the blood pressure cuff around her left arm. 'You know Alexis, one day, you're going to make your mom a grandmother, and I can assure you, Kate will have no sympathy for you, what so ever,' the nurse teased as she inflated the cuff.

'Oh Julie, you have no idea,' Kate agreed, but squeezed her daughter's shoulder to show she was only teasing, feeling the slight tingling in her arm as Julie deflated the blood pressure cuff.

'Blood pressure's good,' the nurse stated, making further notes in Kate's file. 'One thirty over seventy five,' Julie smiled when she caught Alexis, out of the corner of her eye, leaning up and trying to look at her mom's file.

Alexis sat back and could feel the flush of embarrassment creep up her neck. 'Thanks,' she murmured.

Julie collected Kate's urine specimen and walked towards the exam room door. 'If you two want to wait here, Doctor Harper should be in shortly. Are you ready for me to send dad in?' the nurse asked as she stood in the open doorway.

'Yes, we'd better put him out of his misery,' Kate could just picture her husband pacing out in the waiting room. Julie nodded and smiled before closing the door.

Alexis looked up at her mom. As hard as Kate was trying, she couldn't completely hide the exhaustion and stress she was feeling. The young woman took in the way Kate was currently massaging her temples, eyes closed tightly, in an effort to fight off whatever pain she was in.

'Mom?'

'Yeah, baby?'

'Are things that bad between Kevin and Javi?'

Kate dropped her hands and opened her eyes. 'Yeah, they are,' she sighed with frustration. 'And I'm at my wits end on what to do, short of disciplinary action or re-assigning them.' Kate looked down at her daughter and saw the hesitation in Alexis' eyes. 'I'm open to any suggestions at this point,' she encouraged.

'And you've talked to each of them, on their own?'

'On their own, together, couple's therapy…'

'Couple's therapy? Really?' Alexis couldn't help the burst of laughter that escaped her.

'The Department's version of couple's therapy,' Kate rolled her eyes at her daughter's reaction. 'Partnerships within law enforcement are often the closest and most intense relationships people can have in their lives.'

Alexis sat for a moment to digest what her mom had just said. 'And both Kevin and Javi know you're considering one of them for Acting Captain?' she asked. 'You've discussed this with them?'

'Yeah, of course I have,' Kate said with confusion.

'Well, have you thought…'

Kate watched as Alexis fidgeted, suddenly finding her hands the most fascinating thing in the room. 'Thought what?' Kate asked when Alexis hesitated.

'Have you thought that maybe neither one of them wants to take on the Acting Captaincy role, and this is their way of ensuring they're not considered,' Alexis said with trepidation. 'Maybe they're not fighting each other for the promotion, maybe they're fighting to stay together, and don't even realise it,' she finished.

Kate had often heard people say 'it was like a switch had been flicked' and this was her light bulb moment. Kate had become so bogged down in trying to performance manage her two detectives that she'd forgotten the basic principles managing people, finding out the reason for their behaviour.

'Come here,' Kate held out her arms to pull Alexis towards her before the young woman had a chance to stand up straight, causing Alexis to nearly fall on top of her mom. 'How'd you get to be so brilliant?' Kate asked while embracing her daughter.

'That'd be from me,' Kate rolled her eyes when she saw her husband poke his head around the door.

Alexis moved out of her mom's arms, and sat up next to her on the examination table. 'Dad, we've had this discussion before, remember?' she grumbled.

'You two aren't going to do that synchronised eye-rolling thing, are you?' Rick asked as he moved to the left, allowing a woman, who looked to be a little older than Kate, to enter the room.

'Synchronised eye-rolling? Sounds ominous,' the woman smiled as she walked over to the desk. 'How are you tonight, Kate?'

'Hi Colleen,' Kate smiled. 'I'm a little tired, but nothing a big bowl of macaroni and cheese and a long, hot bath won't fix.'

Rick walked over to his wife and placed a loving kiss on her forehead. 'Hint taken,' he whispered. Kate wrapped her arms around her husband's neck and kissed him soundly.

Doctor Harper cleared her throat to gain Kate's attention. 'Colleen, I'm sorry,' Kate blushed and pushed her husband to the side. She still couldn't understand how after nearly nine years, Castle could still turn her into a puddle of mush. 'Oh, I'd like to introduce you to our daughter, Alexis,' Kate gestured. 'Alexis, this is my OBGYN, Doctor Colleen Harper.'

Colleen walked over to the young woman and held her hand out in greeting. 'It's nice to finally meet you, Alexis,' Doctor Harper smiled and shook Alexis' hand. 'Between your mom and Doctor Parish, I feel like I already know you,' Colleen smiled warmly.

'You know Doctor Parish?' Alexis asked. She didn't remember Lanie ever mentioning knowing Kate's doctor.

'We met in Medical School,' Colleen informed. 'And it's still a running joke between Lanie and me, about how we ended up working on opposite ends of a human life,' Doctor Harper smiled.

'I met Colleen through Lanie…wow how many years would it be now?' Kate asked.

'Too many,' Colleen laughed. 'So Kate, how about we get you set up on the table, and then we can give Alexis a look at her little brother or sister.'

Alexis slid off the table and moved to stand next to her dad, allowing her mom to reposition herself. 'It's amazing what you take for granted before you're pregnant,' she complained while attempting to get into a comfortable position on the bed.

Rick moved to sit on the stool by his wife's head, and took her hand. 'You think you're having difficulty now? Just wait another month or so,' Rick advised.

'And you know this how, Castle?' Kate exclaimed, looking at her husband. 'When was the last time you were pregnant?'

'No, I'm just saying, when Meredith….'

'Dad?'

'Yes, Pumpkin?'

'I'd suggest for your own safety, and the fact that I want more siblings in the future, you don't finish that sentence.'

Rick looked from his daughter to his wife, to Doctor Harper, and then back to his wife. 'Have I told you today, how stunning you are,' he murmured.

'Good save,' Kate grinned. 'And not since this afternoon,' she whispered, placing a gentle peck on her husband's lips before lying back.

Colleen arranged the screen for the ultrasound so the family could see the images, and readied the transducer. 'Alexis, do you want to go sit by your dad, and then we can get started?'

Alexis moved to sit next to her father and then squeezed her mom's hand back when she felt Kate grab her fingers. 'Ready?' Kate asked. Alexis nodded and leaned into her dad when she felt him wrap his arm around her.

'Kate, can I get you to move your shirt and trousers out of the way?' Colleen asked while vigorously rubbing a tube of gel between her hands.

'Does that work?' Alexis asked.

'No,' Kate complained while pushing her trousers down her hips, exposing her rounded belly.

'It gives the patient the illusion that I'm at least trying to make them as comfortable as possible,' Doctor Harper laughed and placed a paper sheet over Kate's hips. 'So in saying that, this is still going to be cold,' Colleen warned before she squeezed the tube of gel over Kate's abdomen.

Kate startled slightly as the cold liquid hit her skin, and reached up to grab her husband's hand. Doctor Harper placed the transducer in the centre of the gel and looked at monitor. 'You ready Castle Clan?' Colleen asked. 'Alexis, say hello to your brother or sister.' Alexis gasped when the image of her sibling appeared on the screen.

'How're you doing there, Pumpkin? 'Rick asked at his daughter's silence. 'It's overwhelming, isn't it?' Alexis just nodded, unable to form any words around the lump in her throat.

Doctor Harper moved the transducer in small circles until she saw fluttering on the screen. 'Okay Alexis, let's see if you've been paying attention during your internship. Can you tell me what this is?' Colleen asked.

'The heart,' Alexis answered, voice hoarse thanks to the onslaught of emotion from the fluttering movement on the screen.

'That's right. Here, you can see the chambers of the heart beating.' Doctor Harper took a screen capture of the heart. 'Everything looks healthy and normal for this stage of development.' Colleen pressed another button, and suddenly the room was filled with the sound of a very rapid heartbeat. 'And the heart rate is very normal.' Colleen took another screen capture, allowing the family time to listen to the baby's heartbeat.

Alexis let out a sob, and her dad pulled her closer to him. 'It's so fast,' she whispered, and felt Kate grab her hand.

'A normal baby's heart rate is around 140 beats per minute,' Doctor Harper explained, turning off the volume and moving the transducer slightly to the left. 'And here, we can clearly see the head….there's the forehead, cute little nose, and a tiny set of lips.' Colleen took a couple more screen captures before moving the transducer to the right. 'And here, we can make out an arm, and there's a hand waving at you.'

'Look at the little fingers,' Alexis said with wonder and felt her mom squeeze hers in response.

'Yes, five tiny fingers,' Colleen smiled while taking more screen captures. 'Good positioning in the placenta.' Doctor Harper stayed silent for a few moments as she took more screen captures. 'And here we can see where the umbilical cord is located,' Colleen continued on with her commentary. 'The placenta and amniotic fluid look good.'

Kate looked away from the screen to watch her daughter's reaction to the images on the monitor. She closed her eyes briefly when Rick carded his hand through her hair before he leaned down to place a loving kiss on her forehead. 'I love you,' she whispered, leaning into her husband's hand as he reverently smoothed the tears from her cheeks.

'I adore you,' he murmured back, kissing her softly before sitting up again. 'How're you doing there, sweetheart,' Rick asked his daughter before placing a kiss on her forehead. 'It's hard to believe you were that small once.'

'I'm good,' Alexis answered, still distracted by watching her sibling on the monitor.

Rick turned back to Colleen and watched as she took another screen capture. 'I've got a couple of lovely shots here I'll print out for the family,' Doctor Harper said just as the printer came to life. 'Kate, are we finding out the sex today?' Colleen asked.

'Kate?' Rick asked softly when his wife didn't answer.

'It makes it all so real,' Kate replied, squeezing her husband's hand.

'Mom, we don't have to if you don't want to,' Alexis stressed, looking at Kate with worry.

Kate looked between her husband and daughter and then to the monitor that showed the tiny life growing inside her. 'I want to know.'

'Okay, anyone who doesn't want to know should leave the room now, except you mom,' Colleen teased. 'Now let's see if we can get this little one to cooperate.' Doctor Harper moved the transducer in small circles to the right of Kate's belly button, and Kate gasped when Colleen applied firmer pressure to her abdomen. 'Sorry Kate,' she apologised. 'I just need to double check something….right there….and….okay, we have a sex,' Colleen smiled and turned back to the small family. 'Last chance to leave the room,' she advised, but everyone stayed put. 'Mom, dad let me introduce you to your youngest daughter.'

'A girl?' Kate gasped and grabbed her husband's hand. 'We're having a little girl?' she wept, allowing her husband to pull her into his arms. 'I love you so much.' Kate clung to her husband, no longer able to hold back her tears of joy.

'I love you,' Rick whispered.

'You're not disappointed she isn't a boy,' Kate mumbled into her husband's shoulder. 'I was so sure we were having a boy,' she laughed.

'What? Kate, no,' Rick assured before moving back to rest his forehead against his wife's. 'Boy, girl, as long as you're both healthy, that's all I want,' he murmured.

'We're having a little girl,' Kate said again in wonder, and both she and Rick looked back at the monitor.

'Kate, everything here looks healthy and normal. How about we get you cleaned up, and then I need to go through a couple of things before we finish.'

Rick placed a quick kiss on his wife's forehead, and stood to allow Colleen to clean the gel off Kate's abdomen. 'Oh sweetheart,' he soothed when he turned back to his eldest daughter. Alexis was wiping tears from her cheeks while transfixed on the image of her baby sister.

'Thank you,' Alexis said before bursting into tears.

'Oh baby, come here,' Rick pulled his sobbing daughter into his arms and held her tightly.

'No, they're happy tears,' Alexis wept.

'I know they are, sweetheart,' Rick murmured.

Kate watched her husband and daughter while trying to wipe her tears on the hem of her shirt. 'Thank you,' she whispered hoarsely when Colleen handed her a couple of tissues. 'Hey kid, I need some of that too,' Kate said, wiping her cheeks.

Alexis moved out of her dad's arms and over to her mom, where Kate was holding out her arms. Rick looked towards the ceiling, trying to deal with the overwhelming emotions he was feeling, but looked back to his wife when he felt her squeeze his hand. He could hear the quiet whimpers of his daughter where she had her head buried in his wife's neck, and the soft murmurs from Kate as she held their daughter tightly against her, gently caressing her hand through Alexis' hair.

'Sorry,' Kate apologised softly to Colleen, knowing their appointment was probably going to run over, but Colleen just shook her head. Kate released the hold she had on her daughter when she felt Alexis start to move back. 'I love you, baby girl,' she murmured.

'Love you too, mom,' Alexis whispered back before straightening up, but keeping hold of Kate's hand.

'Kate, please don't apologise for a perfectly normal reaction, this is a very emotional experience,' Doctor Harper admonished quietly. 'And our children can struggle with the addition of another child to the family, even our adult children. Particularly ones who've been only children their whole lives, and it can trigger all sorts of emotions and fears,' Colleen explained, smiling as Alexis blushed and looked away with embarrassment. 'Alexis, say hello to your baby sister.' Alexis took the photo from Doctor Harper and stared down at the black and white grainy image.

'Hi Mouse, I'm your big sister,' she whispered, tracing the outline of the tiny life on the paper, and moved to sit on the sofa at the rear of the office.

'Mouse?' Colleen enquired as she moved back to her desk.

'Mouse,' Rick sighed in resignation.

'Do you think I'm happy our daughter's named after a rodent? Alexis won fair and square. It's not my fault you taught Alexis how to play poker so well she can beat you,' Kate reminded him while taking her husband's hand as she climbed down off the table. Once Kate rearranged her shirt and trousers, she moved into her husband's arms and held him tightly.

'I get Cosmo next time,' Rick grumbled into his wife's hair.

'Can I finish having this one first?' Kate groused.

'Kate, if you want to come on over, we can finish up.' Colleen requested while she began typing notes into her patient file.

Rick released his wife, and the couple made their way over to Doctor Harper's desk. 'Go sit down, I'll be over in a minute,' Kate murmured softly to her husband before walking over to where her daughter was still staring at the picture of her baby sister. 'Hey.'

Alexis looked up at Kate and smiled. 'She's officially Mouse,' Alexis whispered and laid her head against her mom's stomach, hugging her close.

'Mouse,' Kate sighed as she gently carded her hands through her daughter's hair. 'Why don't you come over and sit with your dad and me,' Kate suggested, taking Alexis' hand as she stood, and led her daughter to Doctor Harper's desk.

Colleen watched as the family settled in the three chairs opposite her, and couldn't hide her smile at the way Rick and Alexis fussed over Kate as she sat between them. 'Okay Kate, I need to go through some follow up questions with you,' Colleen began and looked towards Rick and Alexis. 'Are you happy with your family here, or would you prefer them to wait outside?'

'No, they can stay if they want,' Kate assured and squeezed her daughter's hand.

Colleen nodded. 'These questions may get a little squeamish,' she warned Alexis.

'I work with dead people Doctor Harper, I've got squeamish covered,' Alexis smiled cheekily.

Colleen looked back to Kate, and they shared a sly smile with each other. 'That's not the kind of squeamish I meant,' Doctor Harper said cryptically and turned back to her computer monitor. 'Well Kate, your blood pressure is good, your weight is a little on the lower side of the healthy weight range for this stage of your pregnancy, but nothing to be worried about at this time…..urine's clear, so there's no build-up of proteins or sign of infection. Are you suffering any nausea?'

Kate shook her head. 'None, I actually haven't felt this good in a while,' she admitted.

'And you're eating well?'

'Yes,' Kate, Rick, and Alexis said at the same time.

Colleen shook her head and smiled. 'Good. And no signs of abdominal pain or discomfort?'

Kate shook her head. 'No, everything's normal.'

'Excellent, have you noticed any spotting?'

Kate felt Alexis squirm next to her and watched as Alexis found the picture of her baby sister, suddenly, the most interesting thing in the world. 'No, apart from having to pee all the time,' she complained.

'That's only going to get worse, I'm afraid,' Colleen advised.

Alexis tuned her mom and Doctor Harper out as she looked down at the picture of her baby sister, and it struck her once again that she finally had a sister. She finally had the sibling she'd wanted since she was a little girl.

Tracing the outline of the tiny fingers waving back to her from the page, Alexis couldn't help but wonder who Mouse would look like. Would Mouse share her sister's and Gram's fiery red hair, or Kate's chestnut curls and hazel eyes? Or maybe Mouse would be the perfect combination of their parents. Alexis took a sharp intake of breath when she realised that she and Kate would be mother and daughter in every sense of the word because Mouse was a combination of all of them.

'You okay?' Kate asked quietly, taking advantage of Colleen updating her notes, and was taken aback by the almost angelic look on Alexis' face.

'She's a combination of all of us,' Alexis replied in wonder, putting her thoughts into words.

Kate immediately understood how important this was to her daughter. While her relationship with Alexis was as close as a mother and daughter bond could be, there was always the underlying fact that, apart from a marriage certificate and a few legal documents, Kate was no more Alexis' mother than Gina had ever been.

But this tiny life growing inside her, who was the perfect combination of Rick and herself, was also the perfect combination of Alexis and herself. Kate knew she'd just had the same epiphany as her daughter by the beatific smile on her daughter's face. 'Yeah, she is,' Kate smiled, reached over to grab Alexis' hand, and rested their joined hands over her baby bump before looking back towards Doctor Harper.

'What about the movement of the baby? Are you feeling her more often?'

'Yes, I can definitely tell when she's awake now,' Kate smiled and smoothed a hand over her abdomen. 'And she seems to be more active when she hears her dad or sister.'

'That's perfectly normal. Babies hear everything that goes on around them, and it's very common for them to recognise and react to different voices.'

Alexis leaned into her mom. 'Told you,' she smiled smugly. She giggled when her mom gave her 'the brow', and turned back to Doctor Harper. 'Dad and I should be able to feel her moving soon, shouldn't we?' Alexis asked with excitement.

Colleen laughed at Alexis' childlike delight at the prospect of feeling her sister's movements. 'Honestly Alexis, it can be any time now. I'm sure Kate will let you know,' she assured before continuing. 'Kate, how would you rate your overall wellbeing, including work?'

'I seem to have more energy, which is not what I was expecting,' Kate admitted. 'Work's been more stressful as of late. Particularly with my current role as Captain and making arrangements for maternity leave, but I can honestly say, I'd be no less stressed if I wasn't pregnant,' Kate admitted.

Colleen finished typing and turned back to Kate. 'That's good, and what are you doing to manage the day to day stress?' she asked.

'I have a great support network from colleagues within the department. And of course I have my family at home,' Kate said, squeezing Rick's and Alexis' hands. 'While Rick can be…overprotective at times, he and Alexis have somehow managed the art of taking care of me without smothering me or making me feel like an invalid. My dad and mother-in-law, on the other hand, aren't so accommodating, so it's been a difficult transition in allowing them to…..over indulge me.'

Colleen smiled and nodded in acknowledgement as she sifted through the paperwork on her desk. 'My eldest son was my parent's first grandchild. Needless to say, my parents went a little overboard with the parental affection.' Colleen found the report she was looking for and looked back up at Kate. 'But it was only in small doses, so I was happy to indulge them.'

Kate nodded then looked towards Rick when she felt him squeeze her hand, and felt the blush creep up her neck at the look he was giving her. Despite her husband's arguments to the contrary, Rick adored Martha. Again, Kate realised she would do anything to make her husband happy, even allow her mother-in-law to smother her with motherly affection and advice…in small doses of course.

'Just before we finish,' Kate looked back towards her doctor. 'Doctor Yanavich has sent over the report of your cardiac exam, and the results look very good,' Colleen smiled.

'Yes, he called me last week to go over the results,' Kate added. 'He doesn't see a problem with a natural delivery,' she hedged.

'I see Doctor Yanavich has you scheduled for a final check-up in August. If your results are as good then as they are now, then no, I don't see any problems with a natural birth,' Colleen smiled as Kate sighed with relief.

'But you still have contingency plans though, don't you?' Alexis asked, looking between her mom and Doctor Harper.

'Pumpkin….'

'Sweetheart…'

'No Kate, Rick, it's alright.' Colleen assured. 'I assumed that's why you wanted Alexis here today, so we can go through your pregnancy and birth plan together.' Kate nodded and relaxed back in her seat. 'Alexis, for every worst case scenario going through your head at the moment, I can come up with a dozen more along with the emergency care plan to deal with it,' Colleen explained. 'So while Doctor Yanavich and I will be doing everything in our power to help Kate achieve a natural birth, I've gone through the contingencies with him as well, okay?'

Alexis looked from Doctor Harper, to her dad, and finally back to her mom. 'Okay,' she said, nodding in agreement, and leaned into her mom's hand as Kate soothed the errant lock of hair that always fell across her daughter's face. 'Everything's going to be fine,' Kate whispered softly.

'So, before we finish up, does anyone have any questions?' Doctor Harper asked.

Kate looked back to Colleen. 'I'm still on track for late September?' she asked.

Colleen nodded and looked back towards her computer monitor. 'Yes, still the week of the twenty second,' she confirmed. 'And I see you've booked into Mount Sinai.'

'Yes, after researching and visiting the best hospitals, all recommendations kept coming back to Mount Sinai,' Kate confirmed.

'The birthing suites are amazing,' Rick said with excitement, and Colleen was genuinely taken aback by his enthusiasm. 'There's a giant Jacuzzi, great view, TV's a little small…..but it's also closest to the loft,' Rick added as he took in the three women's identical incredulous looks.

'That's very smart thinking,' Colleen smirked and shook her head. 'The last place you want to be caught when in labour is a New York traffic jam. So, any more questions before we finish up?' Colleen questioned again, looking at the small family.

'Nope, I'm good,' Rick answered. 'Nothing I haven't done before.' He smiled smugly

Alexis rolled her eyes and shook her head in the negative before leaning down to retrieve her and her mom's bags. 'Dad, I'm pretty sure things have changed since I was born.'

'Why, are babies born defiantly today?' Rick teased and winked at Colleen.

'Dad…' Alexis whined.

'Seriously guys?' Kate warned.

'Are they like this all the time?' Colleen laughed.

'You have no idea,' Kate groused while pushing herself out of her chair and straightening up. 'Thank you again for squeezing me in tonight,' Kate said, smiling at her daughter when Alexis stood and handed her mom her bag before the young woman pulled her cell from her pocket. 'Between our workloads, it's near on impossible to get the three of us in one place at the same time.'

'Think nothing of it Kate, I keep a couple of afterhours appointments a month for this reason,' Colleen assured. 'I see your next appointment is booked for late July, but if you have any concerns or issues, don't hesitate to make an earlier date.' Doctor Harper saved, and shut down her patient file before standing.

'I'm just going to wait outside' Alexis said after looking up from her cell. 'Doctor Harper, it was lovely to meet you,' and with that, she turned and walked quickly back to the reception area.

'Nice to meet you too, Alexis,' Colleen laughed as she watched the door close.

'Sorry about that.' Rick apologised. 'It's probably her imaginary boyfriend she won't introduce us to,' Rick grumbled.

'Castle,' Kate admonished.

'Could be worse, Rick,' Colleen assured.

'How? I've already promised Alexis I wouldn't try to intimidate him or scare him away. Besides, who doesn't want to meet me?' Rick asked in confusion.

Kate and Colleen shared an incredulous look before Doctor Harper turned back to Rick. 'Just think Rick, you could've already met him, and not approved of him,' she challenged.

'She's got you there,' Kate smiled smugly as Rick huffed. 'Besides, don't you think we should let Colleen go home?'

'Sorry, of course, how rude of me,' Rick mumbled, still preoccupied with why his daughter refused to introduce him to her boyfriend.

'Castle,' Kate sighed softly as she clasped his hand, the worry evident in her voice. 'Colleen, we'll let you go. Thank you again for staying late for us,'

Doctor Harper could clearly see Kate and her husband needed privacy. 'Not a problem Kate, take as long as you need. I still need to finish up a few things here before heading home.' Colleen moved to the door at the rear of her office, and exited the room, closing the door softly behind her.

Kate turned to her husband when the door closed. 'Rick…'

'No Beckett, I'm tired of everyone telling me not to worry about my daughter,' Rick exclaimed, removing his hand from his wife's before walking to the opposite end of the room. 'I get that Alexis is an adult, I do, but I'm still her father, and if there's some magic switch somewhere that's supposed to turn off worrying about your kids, then I'd sure as hell like to know where it is because it would make my life so much easier.'

Kate looked at her husband in stunned silence, and realised that Rick had hidden his true feelings about Alexis and her boyfriend very well. Even she hadn't picked up on how hurt he really was at being kept in the dark. 'Babe, why didn't you say something, why didn't you tell me it upset you this much?' Kate asked.

'Because.'

'Because why?' Kate asked softly, moving to stand in front of her husband.

'Because….I love seeing how happy she is with you. I love watching the way you've come to love her, the way you've guided and mentored her, particularly over the past few months. And I know she talks to you about things she's no longer comfortable talking to me about…but I just worry that…'

'You worry Alexis will follow in her parents' footsteps.' Kate finished the sentence her husband couldn't. Rick nodded, shame and embarrassment evident on his face. 'Hey, babe, look at me,' Kate encouraged when her husband refused to make eye contact with her. 'Alexis isn't Meredith,' she reminded him. 'Hey,' Kate cupped Rick's cheeks, forcing him to look at her. 'When we get home, I'm going to take a long hot bath, and you're going to make me macaroni and cheese while having a serious heart to heart with our kid, okay?'

'Okay,' Rick nodded, pulling his wife to him, and burying his head in her neck. 'Thank you,' he mumbled, and squeezed her tightly before moving back and cupping Kate's cheeks. 'I love you so damn much,' he whispered before kissing his wife reverently. Kate didn't realise she was crying until she felt her husband kiss the tears from her cheeks.

'I love you too,' Kate murmured, savouring her husband's ministrations. 'Hey, let's save this for later,' she moaned when Rick's lips found the area between her neck and shoulder, the most fascinating spot in the world.

Rick groaned with irritation, but knew his wife was right, especially considering their daughter was waiting in the next room, and would probably come looking for them at any moment. 'Later,' he promised, and Kate blushed under the look Rick was giving her before he moved away and walked towards the door. 'Beckett,' he called just before opening the door. 'How worried should I be about Alexis getting onto the force?'

'Including making it through the Academy? Very worried,' Kate answered honestly. 'She already has a couple of senior ranks keeping tabs on her.'

'Really, why…it's not because of you or me is it?'

'While there may be some slight nepotism because of who her parents are, Alexis has made her own stamp on the world. Her work at the ME's office, and in particular the volunteer work she's done with her book buddies program at the cat shelter, has definitely been noticed.'

'Our little over achiever,' Rick smiled proudly.

'Come on Castle, let's take our little over achiever home because I'm starving and want my bath.' Kate opened the door just in time to hear her daughter finishing her conversation.

'Promise me you'll say yes…no I mean it….you don't mind that I want to stay home tonight?...yeah, okay….yeah, Henry I've really gotta go, I'll talk to you later…okay, me too…bye.' Alexis pocketed her cell and turned to her parents. 'Hey, everything okay? You were in there a while,' Alexis asked in concern.

Rick walked over to his daughter, and pulled Alexis in for a hug. 'All good, sweetheart,' he whispered before placing a kiss on her crown and stepping back.

'Okay,' she said with confusion before turning to her mom.

'There were a couple things we needed to go though,' Kate assured cryptically as she walked over, thread her arm through her daughter's, and started moving her towards the reception's front door. 'But right now I just want to go home to a hot bath, and pig out on comfort food.'

'Do we have ice cream?' Alexis asked her dad as he held the front door open for them.

'Stocked up this morning. I wanted to be prepared for our celebratory pig out tonight,' he stated proudly as he followed his wife and daughter down the hallway to the lift.

'Excellent,' she giggled, and Kate was once again taken aback at how easily Alexis could morph into a delighted little girl just at the mention of ice cream. 'What?' Alexis asked when she saw the look her mom was giving her.

'Promise me you'll never lose your ability to still see the world through a child's eyes,' Kate implored as the small family stood, waiting for the elevator.

Alexis smiled warmly at her mom. 'I promise,' she whispered, and squeezed her mom's arm tightly as the elevator doors opened, allowing them entry into the empty car.

'Oh, and Demming called me this morning. He says you need to step up your cardio, and Espo says you need to do more intensive weight training,' Kate informed her daughter. 'Although, they're both pretty impressed with how far you've come since they first started training you,'

'Cardio and weights. Got it,' Alexis smiled cheekily.

'And that means hitting the gym, not Henry,' Kate admonished, and waited for the reaction she knew she was going to get.

'Seriously, mom!'

'Oh God, Beckett….really?'

Kate couldn't help the evil laugh that escaped her as she listened to her daughter whining while her husband had his fingers stuck in his ears as he chanted la la la la. Looking down at her baby bump, she gently caressed the tiny life inside her. 'Welcome to the family kid,' she said. 'You're in for one hell of a ride.'