Welcome to Chapter 18. Thank you for your feedback and reviews for Chapter 17. As many of you have guessed, while I've created my own little universe, I'm still staying within the bounds of Canon. And I thank those who've read so far, and have decided not to continue because Mouse is a girl. The fact that you've stuck with me so far is a compliment I truly appreciate.

And the reviews commenting on how in character I've kept my story so far makes me very happy; because I've worked hard to keep the characters true to those we see on our screens.

Over the past couple of weeks I've had some devastating losses, and as my beautiful and brilliant beta 41319always41319 has come to realise; when I'm highly emotional, it gets channelled into my writing. So thank you for reigning me back in, and helping me rework this chapter.

So while I don't own Castle, there are vague references to Season 8. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 18 – Her Mother's Daughter

Captain Beckett quietly slipped through the doors of the Twelfth's gymnasium, just in time to watch as her daughter was slammed to the ground. Wincing when she heard Alexis groan in pain, Beckett had to hold herself back from rushing over to the young woman, knowing Alexis wouldn't want to be treated any differently to a normal recruit.

Instead, Kate caressed her baby bump when she felt her youngest. Trying to soothe the growing life inside her, Kate smiled when she felt the physical evidence of her youngest daughter against her hand. 'Your sister's alright Mouse. You need to give mommy a break so we can surprise Alexis,' Kate whispered softly while pulling the collar of her shirt away from her neck, cursing that she'd worn the synthetic garment instead of the cotton as suggested by her husband. Even at seven thirty in the morning, and the air-conditioning working overtime, the oppressive late June heat was already bordering on unbearable.

'Come on Alexis, think about what I showed you,' Detective Esposito sighed in frustration as he held an outstretched arm out to the young woman lying on the floor.

'I am thinking,' Alexis groaned and grabbed Javier's hand, allowing the detective to hoist her off the floor. 'I can't work out what I'm doing wrong.' Alexis stretched out her back and rubbed her left hip that'd taken the brunt of her fall.

'Okay, let's go through it again,' Javier requested as he positioned himself behind Alexis. 'You need to stabilise your centre of gravity in order to immobilise your assailant so they can't get the jump on you,' Javier explained, showing Alexis how to position herself. 'Right, so, let's go again,' he said while moving to stand in front of Alexis.

The young woman lowered her body weight onto her heels, just as Esposito had shown her, and grabbed the detective's right arm. Before she could disable him, Javier had once again thrown her off balance, and Alexis was thrown to the floor for the second time in as many minutes.

'Come on, again,' Javier instructed.

'Give me a minute,' Alexis wheezed, struggling to catch her breath.

'You don't have a minute, the perp's already blocks away. Now come on, get up.'

Alexis took the detective's outstretched hand and pulled herself off the floor. 'Honestly Espo, with the growing obesity epidemic in this country, I don't think I have to worry about people running anywhere,' Alexis joked as she rested her hands on her knees, hunched over in attempt to breathe through the stitch she'd developed. 'And you're too tall. Can't I just arrest short people?'

'You know Alexis, just when I think you're the complete opposite of Castle, you come out with some ridiculous theory like that, and I realise that you really are your father's daughter,' Javier groused. 'Now come on, I'll show you again.'

Beckett watched her detective demonstrate the correct stance again, and could see why her daughter was struggling to stop Espo from overpowering her. After watching Alexis hit the deck for the third time in a row, Beckett decided to make her presence known. 'Esposito, you need to remember that Alexis is not only shorter than you, but you've probably got fifty pounds on her,' Kate advised as she walked onto the gymnasium floor where her daughter was lying flat on her back and looked down at Alexis with sympathy.

'Yo, Captain.' Javier greeted as he held his hand out to Alexis again. 'Didn't see you come in,' he continued as he pulled his trainee off the floor again.

'Hey mom,' Alexis wheezed as she walked around in small circles, shaking out her aching limbs.

'You know, Captain, Alexis needs to learn how to disable someone who's gonna be a hell of a lot bigger and stronger than me,' Esposito reminded his boss as he placed his hands on his hips and looked down at his runners.

Captain Beckett sighed and bit the inside of her cheek to stop the disparaging remark on the tip of her tongue. She had to remind herself that her detective was training her daughter off his on back, in his own time. Something Kate would be forever grateful for, particularly with Alexis constantly trying to hide her disappointment that Kate wasn't the one training her.

'Agreed Detective,' Kate nodded. 'But Alexis also needs to be shown how to use her strengths. She doesn't have the same upper body strength as you do,' Kate reminded him and waved her daughter over. 'So she needs to learn how to use more of her lower body. Come here kid.' Alexis moved to stand in front of her mom and felt a thrill of excitement travel through her. 'Okay Alexis,' Kate turned and placed her hands on her head. 'I want you to disable me.'

Alexis hesitated. 'But I don't want to hurt you,' she said in alarm and looked towards Esposito for reassurance.

'You won't hurt me. Now, come and show me what Detective Esposito's been teaching you.'

Alexis could hear the commanding tone in Captain Beckett's voice and moved to stand behind the older woman. Unfortunately for the redhead, Beckett could feel her daughter's hesitance and took full advantage of it. Meaning, Alexis ended up flat on her back again, looking up her at her mom's baby bump. 'Hey Mouse,' she sighed dramatically before rolling over and pushing herself up off the ground.

'What're you sniggering at Detective?' Captain Beckett barked, supressing a smile as she watched her detective straighten up.

'Nothing Ma'am,' he assured.

'Good. Alexis, never underestimate anyone, regardless of their physical condition. Your hesitancy and indecision will end up getting you, or your partner, killed. Now, come here.' Alexis cursed the fact that she could feel the blush of embarrassment as she moved next to her mom. 'Okay, stand in front of me,' Kate requested and placed her hands on her daughter's hips, turning the young woman so Alexis' back was to her. 'Women don't have the same upper body strength as men do, so you need to learn what your strengths are,' Kate advised as she turned sideways so her hip was flush with Alexis' backside, and the young woman could feel the swell of her mom's belly against her hip. 'I want you to feel how I'm using my weight against you, where my hip is placed, where my knee is placed.'

Alexis nodded as she felt her mom's weight against her, felt the way her leg wanted to buckle as her mom leaned her knee into the back of her thigh. 'By using my lower body strength, I can keep you off balance while still allowing me use of my hands. If you do try to break free,' Kate said, encouraging Alexis to try to escape. 'I can easily disable you and incapacitate you.'

And with that, Alexis felt her lower leg buckle. She found herself face down, on the floor, with her arms incapacitated behind her. 'That is so cool,' Alexis laughed as she rolled over and sat up.

'Come on Little Castle,' Espo said as he pulled Alexis off the floor. 'Let's see you try that on me.'

Alexis stood behind Esposito and looked to Beckett for assurance she was in the correct position. 'Make sure you resist me,' Alexis requested, wanting the detective to make it as difficult as possible for her. The young woman pushed her left hip into Espo's back, stabilising herself with her right foot, and pushed her left knee into the back of Javi's knee, causing him to stumble forward.

'Good,' Beckett encouraged. 'Now go again, this time don't hold back, and don't hesitate,' she instructed.

Alexis nodded and felt a confidence over take her she hadn't felt before. Walking up behind Esposito, she pulled his right arm behind his back while pushing him forward with her left hip and kneeing him in the back of his thigh. Esposito fell forward onto the floor, but Alexis didn't lose her grip on his arm and proceeded to push his hand up between his shoulder blades and kneeled on his back. 'You're under arrest dirtbag,' she yelled while grabbing his left arm, disabling the detective. 'You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you can't afford an attorney, one will be provided to you by the City of New York,' Alexis spouted proudly.

Esposito mumbled something unintelligible, and Alexis made the mistake of leaning forward to hear what he was saying. Kate rolled her eyes and shook her head as she watched her detective overpower Alexis. The young woman found herself flat on her back, again. 'Never take your attention off your perp,' Espo reminded Alexis as he pushed himself off the floor.

'Okay,' she puffed and grabbed Espo's hand, allowing him to pull her off the floor.

'Alright you two, I think that's enough for this morning,' Beckett said and walked over to her daughter. 'Well done, Alexis, you're a quick learner,' Kate praised.

'Thanks Captain,' Alexis smiled proudly before turning to Javier. 'Thanks again, Javi, for all your help,' she said with such sincerity, the hardened detective could feel himself blush.

'Honestly Alexis, I should be thanking you,' Esposito said, and the young woman looked at the detective in confusion. 'Thank you for treating both Demming and myself with respect. Not only with the training, but for taking on board everything we're teaching you. It's been a real honour watching your development over the past couple of months.'

Alexis stood tall under her trainer's praise, and for the first time in a couple of weeks, the constant feelings of being lost and aimless weren't so strong. 'You're welcome,' she smiled. 'But next time, I'm gonna kick your ass for real,' she grinned cheekily.

'Really? You're gonna kick my ass?'

Alexis couldn't help but laugh at the detective's look of indignation. 'Well, at least I can take you down….while you're just standing there with your back turned to me….doing nothing,' Alexis teased. Beckett just shook her head and rolled her eyes.

'Father's daughter,' Espo reiterated to Beckett.

'Tell me about it,' she muttered.

'You guys know I'm standing right here, don't you?' Alexis sassed with a cheeky grin, ensuring she flashed her dimples and blue eyes at Detective Esposito. 'Well, I'm gonna hit the showers,' she announced with smug satisfaction when she watched Javier shuffle uncomfortably. 'You don't always need brute strength to disarm a larger opponent,' Alexis threw over her shoulder as she strutted away.

'Castle never stood a chance, did he?' Espo muttered.

'No, he didn't,' Beckett agreed. 'Alexis has had him wrapped around her little finger from the moment she was born.'

'Yeah, well Captain, Castle's not the only parent Alexis has wrapped around her little finger,' Espo challenged, giving his superior a knowing look. 'How're you guys going to handle two daughters?'

Kate watched her daughter walk over to the bench, grab her towel and water bottle, and head towards the ladies locker room, draining her water bottle as she went. 'If this one is half as mature as her sister,' Kate said, as she lovingly rubbed her baby belly. 'Then it'll be easy.'

'Yeah, right,' Espo sniggered. 'And thanks for your help this morning, Beckett,' Esposito said once Alexis had exited the gym. 'I couldn't work out why Alexis wasn't getting what I was teaching her, but what you showed me makes total sense.'

Captain Beckett hesitated for a moment. 'So, how's she doing?'

'Honestly, Captain?'

Kate resisted the natural instinct to roll her eyes, still getting used to the formalities that went along with being captain. 'Of course.'

Javier looked down and shuffled on the spot for a moment before looking back at his superior. 'When you first told me Alexis wanted to join the NYPD, my reaction was you were both nuts,' Espo admitted. 'I've watched that kid grow up, and honestly, I saw her pursuing a career as some stuffy lawyer, or maybe a doctor, but definitely not a cop. When you approached me to help Alexis with her fitness training, I was convinced you were both mad but figured I'd just humour her and push her until she either lost interest or realised she didn't have what it takes.'

'So what changed?' Kate asked, genuinely surprised by her detective's initial lack of confidence in her daughter.

'You forgot to tell me Alexis is a "take no prisoners" personality type,' Javier groused. 'Honestly Beckett, I've met some determined people in my time, but Alexis takes the cake,' the detective admired. 'The more I've pushed her, and I'm talking stuff she'll have to face at the Academy, the more determined she's become and the more she's pushed back,' Javier said proudly. 'Alexis' also confided in me her disappointment that, because of your pregnancy, you weren't able to train her like she'd planned, but,' Espo continued before Beckett could interrupt. 'Alexis has never once treated me like I was second best and has only treated me with the utmost respect. I know Castle raised a great kid, but Alexis has become a mini Beckett. And let me tell you, Captain, that kid would take a bullet for you.'

Kate felt an overwhelming sense of maternal love for the young woman who'd become her daughter. 'So, do you think she has a chance at making it?' Beckett asked, her voice suspiciously hoarse, but wanting her detective's honest opinion.

'Well, she made it through the entrance exam and medical with flying colours, and she's on track to run rings around the physical assessment...what, Ryan and me have been keeping tabs on her,' Javier admitted. 'So long as she makes it through the psych assessments. Hell, Beckett, in twenty years' time, Alexis will probably be Police Commissioner,' Espo laughed.

Beckett shook her head with a cheeky smile, but was genuinely pleased with her detective's honest assessment of Alexis' prospects. 'And what about you?' Kate asked. 'Where do you see yourself in the future?'

'Look Captain, I appreciate you talkin' to Ryan and me. I don't know how you worked out what the problem was between us, but you literally saved not only our careers and our friendship, but probably our lives,' Javi admitted. 'And it's not like I haven't thought about the future, but with Gates going to 1PP and you being promoted to Captain, and now going on maternity leave, everything's changing so fast,' Esposito sighed, and stared down at the gym floor. 'And for the moment, I just need stability in the familiar.'

Kate looked at her detective, nodding her head. She knew exactly what Javier meant because she'd been struggling with facing the unfamiliar herself, but Kate decided to take the chance on suggesting something to Esposito that had been playing on her mind since he'd started working with her daughter. 'Have you thought about becoming a mentor at the Academy?' she asked.

Esposito's head whipped so fast, Kate just managed to suppress her laughter. 'You been talking to Lanie?' he questioned.

'No, Lanie hasn't mentioned anything to me,' Kate shook her head in confusion.

'Then, how'd you know I've been thinking about that?' Javier challenged.

'Because I've watched you with Alexis and the junior officers who've come through the Twelfth,' Kate replied. 'You're a natural trainer. You know how to teach and instruct people, but more importantly, you know how to get the best out of people,' Kate smiled with pride. 'That's not a skill that can be taught, it needs to come naturally, and having passed your Sargent's exam, this would be a natural progression for you if you wanted to move in that direction.'

'I have to say, I've been thinking about it for a little while,' Espo admitted. 'I just didn't know how to broach the subject with you.'

'How about we set up a meeting and have a serious discussion, okay?'

'Thanks, Beckett,' Javier smiled with relief. 'I'd better hit the showers. I don't know if you've noticed, but my Captain's a real tyrant if I'm late.'

Kate rolled her eyes. 'Go,' she ordered and watched her detective disappear into the men's locker room before making her way to the women's locker room in search of her daughter.

Captain Beckett pushed her way through the door leading to the female locker room just in time to see Alexis walk from the shower area, vigorously drying her hair with a towel. Silently watching on, Kate admired the young woman's toned body, encased in a cute little purple push up bra and matching boy shorts, proof of all the hard work her daughter had been putting in to get into the best physical shape she could achieve. Kate remembered back to a time when Alexis struggled with her weight, besieged by estrangement from her father, attending school, living with her boyfriend, and working every waking hour to pay her rent.

'Like what you see?' Alexis asked cheekily when she noticed her mom standing in the corner of the locker room.

'Sorry,' Kate apologised. 'It's just, the transformation….it's like…wow,' her mom said.

'Captain Beckett, lost for words, that's new,' Alexis teased as Kate moved to sit on the bench in front of the locker Alexis was removing her clothes from, but winced when she saw the large red mark forming on her left hip from hitting the gymnasium floor.

'You're going to bruise,' Kate murmured, gently running her hand over her daughter's hip.

'I've had worse,' Alexis shrugged, looking over her shoulder at her mom. 'I was black and blue for weeks after dad rescued me in Paris,' she admitted and sat down next her mom, placing her clothes on the bench next to her. 'So what's brought you into the precinct so early?'

'Your dad was driving me nuts this morning.' Kate reached out and smoothed her daughter's hair from her face, the soft ringlets forming in Alexis' damp hair making her look much younger than her twenty two years. 'And Espo told me he was having an early training session with you this morning, so it was a good chance to see how you're coming along.' Kate dropped her hand back to her belly, soothing her youngest who was well and truly awake. 'I'm so proud of you,' Kate said with pride and smiled softly as Alexis blushed and looked down with embarrassment. 'I know things haven't gone the way you planned, and I can't train you like you wanted.'

'I'd rather have a sister,' Alexis shrugged, leaning forward to rest her elbows on her knees. She then felt her mom trace her lower back, just below her panty line, knowing Kate had found the tattoo she'd gotten on a drunken night in Berlin the year before.

'Of all the things I'd find tattooed on your back, Simon's Cat isn't one of them,' Kate laughed incredulously.

'Blame Paige, she still thinks it's hilarious,' Alexis groused, as she reached over for her summer dress in the pile of clothes next to her. 'I was so drunk I had no idea what she was getting the guy to tattoo on me. Paige refers to it as my crazy cat lady tramp stamp.' Kate heard her daughter mumble as the young woman pulled her dress over her head.

'You okay?' Kate asked in when Alexis went silent.

'Yeah,' Alexis assured as turned to her mom. 'I love my training sessions with Javi and Detective Demming, and I'm glad they're pushing me as hard as they are because I've surprised even myself,' she admitted. 'The reason I wanted to train with you, apart from the fact that you're the best, was so I could spend more time with you.'

Kate felt the now familiar feeling of maternal love for the young woman sitting next to her. 'Alexis, you don't need me to train you in order to spend more time with me,' Kate soothed. 'I know our schedules over the past couple of weeks have made it more difficult to spend any time together, but you'll be finishing up at the ME's office next week….'

'They want to extend my contract,' Alexis blurted out and continued at her mom's confused look. 'I was called into the Chief ME's office yesterday before I finished my shift, and Doctor Hamish offered me an extension to the end of August. I was going to talk to you last night, but you were asleep when I got home, and I'm pretty sure dad was trying to suppress his happy dance when I talked to him about it,' Alexis grumbled.

Beckett hid her smile behind a yawn. That explained her husband's overly happy mood when he'd eventually come to bed. 'What happened to the new intern starting this week?'

'He contracted whooping cough. I mean, seriously?' Alexis exclaimed incredulously. 'And every other candidate on the short list had already secured other internships, so I've been asked to stay on until Damien can start.'

'This is a good thing though, isn't it?' Kate asked, knowing there was something else bothering her daughter.

Alexis shrugged. 'It's nice to know I'll have stability for the next couple of months, but honestly mom, it's just delaying the inevitable,' Alexis admitted. 'And I know Doctor Perlmutter's had a hand in it. I'm sure he thinks that by the sheer law of averages, one day I'll give in to his constant nagging and go to medical school.'

Kate looked at her daughter, taking in the young woman's hunched shoulders and the way Alexis was clenching her fists, she asked, 'Sweetie, what's wrong? This is more than just finishing up with Lanie.'

Alexis turned her head to look at her mom, and Kate was taken aback by her daughter's expression. 'I'm just feeling a little lost, that's all,' Alexis admitted and looked distractedly around the locker room. 'It's the first time in my life everything hasn't been perfectly planned out. I'm not going back to school, I don't have a proper job, I still live at home; and I know I chose to put those plans on hold while I applied to the academy,' Alexis shrugged, and sat up again. 'Everything I've done throughout my life has been to ensure I got into any school I wanted, and that has kind of been thrown out the window. It's been difficult learning to live in the unknown.'

'I know exactly how you're feeling,' Kate admitted.

'I know you do….I've overheard you and dad talking,' Alexis blushed.

'Just so long as that's all you overhear,' Kate complained.

Alexis screwed up her nose. 'That is so gross,' Alexis exclaimed and ducked as her mom swatted her shoulder. 'Besides, I'm not the kid you should be worried about overhearing you and dad.'

'Oh God, Alexis, that's just…..'

'Payback,' Alexis giggled cheekily.

'I'll be honest with you, Alexis, I'm terrified.' Alexis sobered immediately and was taken aback by her mom's confession, but stayed silent. 'I've never pushed a tiny human out of me before. What the hell do I know about babies?' Kate gently smoothed her hands over her belly. 'There's so much pressure on women to be perfect wives, perfect mothers, have perfect careers…..'

Alexis sat in silence for a moment. 'Mom, you know as much about babies as I do, which is nothing,' Alexis said. 'Except they're small, wrinkly, often smelly, and can be very loud.' Alexis knew she'd said the right thing by the smile on Kate's face. 'And I can't even imagine how scared you are, but I do know one thing for sure.' The young woman reached out and placed her hand over her mom's where Kate was soothing her belly, ensuring she had the older woman's attention.

'What's that?' Kate asked, her voice suspiciously hoarse.

'You're going to be an amazing mom,' Alexis assured. 'Because you already are, and Mouse is very lucky I'm going to share you with her,' she finished cheekily.

Kate laughed and pulled Alexis to her. The stifling heat in the locker room be dammed, she just wanted to hug the hell out of her daughter. 'I love you so damn much,' Kate whispered, clutching the young woman to her.

'Love you too,' Alexis allowed her mom to hold her for a while longer. 'Okay, sweaty now,' Alexis joked, as she sat back and looked at her mom. 'And I know the fact that you'll have dad, Grams, your dad, and a whole slew of help from Jenny and Kevin doesn't make it any less terrifying.'

'I'm sorry, and where will you be?' Beckett asked, her perfectly sculptured brow nearly disappearing into her hairline. 'If you think you're getting out of helping me look after your sister, you have another thing coming.'

'Mom…'

'No, don't mom me,' Kate chastised. 'Baby, if somewhere in that amazingly brilliant brain of yours you think I can do this without you, you're wrong,' Kate reiterated. 'You're the only one I can trust to run interference with my dad, your Grams, and Jenny; stop your dad from burning the loft down; and keep me sane, all at the same time.'

'Yeah, but what happens if I go off to the Academy, or back to school?' Alexis asked. 'I'll be moving out and….'

'So what? Are you going to move out and never come home to visit?'

'No…'

'No, you're not going to visit me?'

'What? Mom, stop being silly…'

But Kate pushed on with her outlandish tangent. 'You'll be so busy with the Academy that you'll forget about me and your dad, not to mention your sister.' Kate pouted, deliberately teasing her daughter.

Alexis rolled her eyes. 'Now you're being ridiculous.'

'And someone has to show Mouse where all the best hiding spots are when playing laser tag with your dad, or where I hide the marshmallows.'

'Are you finished?' Alexis laughed. 'Mom, I know what you and dad have been doing the past couple of weeks.'

Kate looked at her daughter, taking in Alexis' confident front she was putting on. Both Kate and Rick had been discretely finding ways to ensure Alexis knew she was not only loved and cherished, but wasn't being replaced, since finding out Cosmo was actually a Mouse. 'We haven't been overdoing it?' Kate asked with worry.

'Oh mom, no. You have no idea how much I love you guys,' Alexis assured. 'I'll admit, I struggled with feelings of jealousy when we found out Mouse was actually a girl,' she blushed.

Kate could hear the embarrassment in her daughter's voice. 'Alexis,' Kate gently cupped her daughter's chin, encouraging the young woman to look at her.

'It's irrational and stupid, I know.'

'No, it's not irrational and stupid,' Kate admonished.

'Yeah, but I'm twenty two.'

'What's that got to do with anything?' Kate asked in confusion.

Alexis bit her lip in an attempt to stop the trembling. 'I'll be twenty three in November and I'm trying to become a cop,' Alexis justified. 'At what point am I supposed to stop feeling like an insecure little kid?' Alexis swiped her mom's hand away in irritation, but she was angry with herself, not Kate.

'Alexis,' Kate sighed, reigning in her frustration at her daughter's insecurities.

'I mean, I collect dead people and put them in plastic bags,' Alexis exclaimed as she stood quickly while waving her hands in the air.

Kate knew she would look back on this moment with the knowledge that she really did do everything in her power not to laugh. 'Come her, kid,' Kate tried to stop her laughter as she stood, but failed miserably. The fact that her daughter was standing in the middle of the female locker room half dressed, arms crossed, and sulking like a toddler, only made the seasoned cop laugh even harder. 'Can you imagine what would've happened if you'd said that in the middle of the precinct?' Kate justified, trying to bring her giggling under control. 'Come on kid, you gotta admit, that was funny.'

Alexis' lip twitched as she tried not to smile and scrubbed her face in attempt to wipe the redness from her cheeks. 'Yeah, it was funny,' Alexis conceded with a smile, her voice hoarse from her outburst.

Walking up to her daughter, Kate cupped the young woman's cheeks. 'Your dad and I are not going to forget about you, and you're not being replaced, okay?' Kate assured. 'And how many times have we told you to stay away from the fan sites?' she chastised softly.

Alexis rolled her eyes. 'Lots,' she conceded, and allowed her head to fall onto her mom's shoulder.

'That's right,' Kate pulled Alexis to her and felt her daughter trying to find a way to hug her back around her baby belly.

'It's getting harder to hug you around Mouse,' Alexis complained while trying to find a comfortable position to hug her mom. 'Hey!' the young woman squealed, and jumped backwards. 'Oh my God….oh my God…she moved…did you feel her move?' Alexis asked with excitement and moved to cup her mom's belly, giggling with delight when she felt more movement under her hands.

Kate struggled to hold back her tears as she watched her eldest daughter. The look of wonderment and love on Alexis' face would stay with her forever. Alexis looked at her mom in confusion when Kate removed her hands from her belly, but soon understood her mom's intentions as Kate encouraged Alexis to sit on the bench.

'Last night was the first time your dad felt her move,' Kate explained and carded her hands through Alexis' hair where her daughter had rested her head against her mom's belly.

'Hi Mouse,' Alexis giggled when she felt tiny ripples against her cheek and clutched her mom tighter. 'What's it feel like?'

'It's really hard to describe,' Kate answered honestly. 'It's like….it's almost like a muscle spasm.'

'But it doesn't hurt though, does it?' Alexis asked and smoothed her hand over her mom's belly, willing her sister to keep moving.

'No, it doesn't hurt,' Kate giggled. 'But it is weird getting used to,' she admitted.

'I think she's gone back to sleep,' Alexis murmured sadly. 'Thank you for saying hello,' she whispered before placing a loving kiss on her mom's belly. Alexis sat back while her mom moved to sit beside her again and immediately let her head drop to Kate's shoulder. 'Thank you.'

'You're welcome, baby girl,' Kate placed a loving kiss on her daughter's crown and discretely looked at her watch. 'I need to head downstairs, but you and me are free tonight so let's have a girls night in, just the three of us.'

'How do you know I'm free tonight?' Alexis sat back and looked at her mom with confusion. Kate could tell the moment realisation dawned on her daughter. 'Again?' Alexis exclaimed. 'That's the fourth time in the last two weeks!'

'Tell me about it,' Kate groused as she stood up and started to smooth the wrinkles from her shirt and trousers.

'What are you complaining about?' Alexis asked. The young woman stood and tried to fasten the back of her dress. 'You're the one who kept pestering me to bring Henry home to meet dad, so don't blame me that your husband now has a man-crush on my boyfriend,' Alexis complained.

Kate moved to help her daughter untangle herself from the garment she was trying to zip up. 'Better now?' she chastised and spun the young woman around so she could zip up the back of her daughter's dress.

'It could be worse, I guess,' Alexis conceded, turning back to her mom. 'So what are they up to tonight?'

'I believe Esposito's invited them over for a boy's night.'

'So that means dad will be coming home hyper from playing Halo and consuming too much sugar,' Alexis giggled.

'So will Henry.'

'Yeah, but I don't live with Henry, so I don't have to put up with hyperactive, overgrown man–child climbing into bed with me in the middle of the night,' Alexis sassed.

'No, but you may find your long suffering and pregnant mother, climbing into bed with you,' Kate warned.

'Fine, but if you snore, or take over the bed, I'm kicking you out,' Alexis struggled to hold in her laughter as her mom just raised a brow. 'And thank you for this morning….and not just your help with Javier.'

'You're welcome.' Kate looked at the beautiful young woman Alexis had grown into. 'You know, when you first broached the subject of becoming a cop with me, honestly, I was flattered, but I was worried you were doing it just to please me.' Kate shook her head and felt such a feeling of pride. 'But you've proved to everyone, including me and your dad, that you've got what it takes. I'm so proud of you for everything you've achieved so far and everything you will achieve, regardless of what the eventual outcome will be.'

Alexis remembered back to when she'd first met Kate, to when she'd done her school community placement at the precinct, how much she'd looked up to Kate. And now this amazingly brave and inspirational woman was her mom. 'Thanks, mom,' Alexis smiled and moved to hug her mom. 'Do you want me to grab something for dinner?' she asked as she pulled back from Kate.

Kate shook her head. 'No, we have enough food to feed a small army. You may want to check on the ice cream though,' Kate blushed.

'Okay, I'll make sure we have ice cream….oh shoot, I've gotta go,' Alexis panicked when she looked at her watch. 'Dad will be…' she groaned when she heard her cell phone ping 'Looking for me.'

'I'll see you tonight,' Kate confirmed and shook her head as she watched Alexis rush around, trying to finish dressing. 'You know your dad's not going anywhere, so don't hurt yourself trying to rush over to his office,' Kate warned. 'Can I at least get a kiss goodbye?'

Alexis stopped in the middle of trying to pull her sandal on. 'Sorry,' Alexis apologised as she shuffled over to her mom and hugged her quickly. 'See you tonight,' she said, placing a quick peck on her mom's cheek before grabbing her bag and racing out of the locker room. Kate struggled to bend down and pick up her daughter's sandal from the floor before standing and waiting. 'Forgot my other shoe,' Alexis exclaimed breathlessly as she burst through the door again.

Kate rolled her eyes and held out her daughter's sandal. 'Slow down,' Kate chastised as Alexis grabbed her shoe.

'Yes, mom, love you,' the young woman said cheekily before quickly kissing her mom on the cheek, and rushing off again.

Kate heard a commotion, followed by Alexis yelling sorry, just before Officer Velasquez pushed her way through the locker room door.

'Oh, morning Captain.'

'Morning Velasquez,' Beckett greeted.

'That kid of yours is quite the fiery one, isn't she?'

'You have no idea,' Beckett grumbled as she walked through the doorway leading back to the gymnasium.

'Takes after her mom. Good to know.' Kate heard her officer mumble and smiled a knowing smile before making her way down to her office. Yes, Alexis had definitely become her mother's daughter.