The fact that so many of you are still with me, a year and half after I initially posted what was supposed to be just a one shot in May last year, is truly wonderful, and I love you all so much for still reading.

Thank you again for your kind words and follows to my last chapter. As many of you have come to realise, each chapter tends to deal with one subject, and when I write, the outcome is based on whatever mood was in when inspiration strikes. So this chapter is essentially a much needed family break for everyone, reader included, before the next chapter, because Chapter Twenty will finally take Alexis where I've wanted her to go since starting this story.

As always, my Beta 41319always41319 has once again waved her editing genius magic over this chapter, and I will always be grateful, the day she PM'd me offering to beta for me.

Chapter 19: Green Toes

'Rose?'

'No.'

'Donna?'

'No.' Reclining on the recently installed corner lounge on the veranda of their Hamptons home, Beckett would have to thank Rick for finding such a comfortable piece of outdoor furniture, in private of course.

'Sarah-Jane?'

'No.'

Kate sighed and shifted her feet which were currently resting in her daughter's lap, and wiggled her toes in contentment, causing Alexis to click her tongue in frustration.

'Keep your feet still,' the young woman admonished with a giggle. 'Martha?' she continued.

…...silence…..

'Amy?'

'No.'

'Clara?'

'Seriously kid, are you just going to recite Doctor Who companions?' Beckett teased while trying to look over her baby belly to see what Alexis was doing.

Kate was enjoying a rare weekend of being pampered, and that pampering currently included having her toenails painted by her daughter. Beckett couldn't even see her toes these days, much less paint her nails.

'No, I wasn't just going to recite Doctor Who companions,' Alexis whined. 'Firefly was next, followed by Star Trek,' the young woman informed with a cheeky grin, concentrating on the final coat of nail polish. 'Besides, you guys won't tell me what you've narrowed Mouse's names down to, so what am I supposed to do?' Alexis justified and sat back to admire her handy work. 'Perfect,' she smiled.

'I'll have to take your word for it. I'm the size of a house and can't see my feet anymore.'

'Oh please,' Alexis sighed dramatically. 'Mom, you're absolutely stunning and you know it, but how about a selfie instead?' Alexis asked and pulled her cell from her pocket. Snapping a quick photo, Alexis held her phone up to Kate.

Beckett looked incredulously from the photo of her toes to her daughter. 'They're bright green!' she exclaimed.

'Mojito Madness, to be exact.' Alexis corrected, her Spanish accent leaving a lot to be desired, and balanced the small bottle of polish on her mom's expanding baby bump.

'Madness is right,' Kate laughed, dislodging the bottle. Alexis gasped, and sighed with relief when her mom managed to catch it before it hit the decking. 'How am I supposed to walk around with green toes?' Kate asked, placing the nail polish on the windowsill behind her.

'The same way you walk around with normal toes, I suppose,' Alexis teased and ducked as her mom threw a cushion at her, just missing her mother-in-law who'd stepped out from the house.

'Alexis, darling, please don't throw things,' Martha rebuked her granddaughter, continuing on to the dining table at the end of the veranda, a bottle of wine in each hand.

'But I didn't…'

'Darling, you don't expect me to believe it was Katherine do you?' the matriarch asked as she bent down to retrieve the cushion. 'Here you go,' Martha chastised, handing the offending object back to her granddaughter before disappearing into the house again.

The young woman looked at her mom in disbelief. Kate wasn't even trying to hold in her laughter. 'You got me in trouble,' Alexis whined.

'Yeah,' Beckett teased with a waggle of her eyebrows. 'Sucks to be you.'

Alexis couldn't help but smile at her mom. Taking in the way Kate was currently draped across the couch, feet still resting in Alexis' lap, fingers drumming on her baby belly to a silent rhythm only she could hear, the redhead was happy to see her mom free from the stresses of her job and the city.

Kate stretched her neck out, repositioning her head on the armrest of the couch, and closed her eyes with a contented sigh. Thinking back to the morning Rick had mentioned coming up to the Hamptons house for the Fourth of July weekend, Beckett remembered the disappointment on her husband's face when she informed him she was on call that weekend. As it turned out, Alexis had also been rostered on, so the small family made alternate plans for the third weekend of the month.

Breathing deeply, Kate took in the clean, salty air, the sound of the ocean waves, and the clattering and friendly banter coming from the kitchen where her husband and mother-in-law were making lunch. She was so glad she'd said yes to the short break, and she and Alexis desperately needed some one on one time together.

Now, all Kate needed was her father to make it up this afternoon, and the weekend would be perfect. He'd mentioned having good news about a request she'd asked him to look into, and felt a flutter of nerves at the prospect of her hopes becoming a reality.

Beckett's attention turned to Rick's heavy footsteps, closely followed by the clacking of her mother-in-law's sandals. 'Mother?' She heard her husband ask, his voice sounding close to the dining table.

'Yes, Richard?' Martha replied, hearing the clinking of glass and cutlery.

'Ah, nothing,' Rick sighed.

'Oh, for heaven's sake Richard, it's non-alcoholic,' Martha chastised.

Kate's feet bounced as her daughter giggled. Turning her head in the direction of her husband and cracking an eye open, Kate smiled fondly at the way her husband looked like a little boy being reprimanded by his mother. Returning to her previous position, Kate closed her eyes again, relaxed further into the couch, and allowed her body to sink into the cushions.

'Take a picture Castle, It'll last longer,' Kate suggested when she sensed her husband staring at her.

'Roger that.' Kate heard the click of his phone followed by his receding footsteps back into the house.

'You okay?' Kate asked at her daughter's silence.

'Perfectly,' Alexis purred. 'The warmth and fresh air are amazing.'

Beckett could feel her daughter's breathing slowly even out, but didn't want Alexis to drift off just yet. 'Have you given up on guessing names already?' Kate asked.

'Well, it's no fun when you won't even give me a hint.'

'Okay, here's a hint. Her name will represent a thing of beauty and her heritage.'

Alexis looked towards her mom, but Kate's face wasn't giving anything away. 'Johanna?' Alexis asked, voice hesitant, but finally getting up the courage to talk about the proverbial elephant in the room.

Kate opened her eyes and looked at her daughter, her smile soft, but sad at the same time. 'Not Johanna. Your sister deserves her own name, her own identity, just like you when your dad chose your name.'

'Good,' Alexis smiled and relaxed back into the couch. 'At least, now, I have a clue….I'll figure it out.'

'I'm glad you decided to come up with us.' Kate tickled Alexis with her foot and felt her daughter squirm. 'I know that coming out here during the summer has always been important to your dad. He was really worried you wouldn't come this year.' Kate reached down and located her daughter's hand, squeezing it tightly. 'He has this crazy idea this will be our last summer together,' Kate admitted.

'Why would he think that?' Alexis asked with confusion and turned her head to look at her mom.

'Because you're always reminding him you're an adult, and now he's worried you think you're too old to worry about family traditions anymore.'

Alexis looked guiltily towards her father who'd just reappeared from the house carrying dinner plates and napkins. 'There was a time I was convinced I was too old and too mature,' Alexis confessed and looked back to her mom. 'I thought being an adult also meant having to leave your childhood celebrations and traditions behind.' Alexis stretched her legs out in front her, rolling her ankles in an attempt to wake her feet up. 'But I've come to realise, I need them as much now as I did when I was a little kid.'

'I'm happy to hear that because you're never too old for opening presents on Christmas, Easter egg hunts, and trick or treating. Your dad's proof of that,' Kate smiled as her husband walked back towards them.

'Really, Beckett,' Castle sighed dramatically. 'And here I thought, it was my ruggedly handsome looks that had you falling madly in love with me,' Rick grumbled as he walked passed his wife and daughter. 'And I can hear your synchronised eye-rolling from here,' he complained, before disappearing into the house again.

Alexis waited for her father to be out of earshot. 'It doesn't bother you?' she asked. 'That dad still loves to celebrate those things like a little kid?' she clarified.

Kate shook her head and looked at her daughter. 'It used too, but that was because I refused to allow myself to celebrate holidays or traditions. But you know your dad. He has this wonderful way of making everything magical without making you feel stupid or childish.'

'Yeah, he does,' Alexis smiled and motioned for her mom to move her feet. 'It's funny how I never really appreciated it until I was an adult,' she admitted while she crawled up and lay down beside her mom. Rolling onto her back, Alexis accidently kneed Kate in the side. 'I'm so sorry,' the young woman apologised, sitting up to check to make sure Kate was okay.

'Oh my God Alexis, I already have one kid who takes great delight in kicking me at random, I don't need two,' Kate exclaimed while rubbing her hip, ensuring to over exaggerate the movement.

Alexis looked at her mom in concern, worried she'd hurt the older woman, but the glint in Kate's eyes told the young woman her mom was teasing. 'Don't scare me like that,' she said, holding a hand over her heart. 'I thought I'd hurt you and Mouse.'

'Baby, it'll take more than a knock to the hip to hurt either of us.' Kate rubbed her belly and shifted, trying to find a more comfortable position.

'Are you sure I didn't hurt you?' Alexis asked still not convinced her mom was telling the truth.

'Sweetheart, I'm fine. Your sister, on the other hand, won't stop using my bladder as a trampoline,' Kate groaned and sat up so she could lean back against the armrest of the couch. 'That's better, isn't it little one?' Kate soothed and sighed in relief at the pressure being relieved from her back.

Alexis relaxed back next to Kate and rolled onto her back, mirroring her mom's former position. Closing her eyes, the young woman sighed when she felt her mom card her hand through her hair. 'It's so peaceful out here,' Alexis murmured. 'Thanks for talking me into coming up with you guys, because honestly, I wasn't going to.'

'I know,' Kate soothed. 'However, I also know you. You've been in desperate need of some time off, but as usual, you're too stubborn to admit it.' Kate felt her heart skip a beat when Alexis opened her eyes and smiled affectionately up at her.

'I can only hope to be half the investigator you are when I grow up.' Kate rolled her eyes at her daughter's statement. 'But I also suspect Lanie's spoken to you as well.'

'Lanie may have mentioned her concerns in passing,' Kate admitted. 'And Henry may have said something to your dad.'

'Seriously? It's getting kinda creepy how well they're getting along,' Alexis whined while rolling her eyes.

'I think it's sweet.' Kate's sly smile belied her statement.

'No,' Alexis challenged. 'You probably advised dad to keep the daughter close, but the boyfriend closer in some evil strategy to keep an eye on me, hoping I didn't realise that's what you guys were doing.'

'And the student becomes the master,' Kate sighed in satisfaction. 'But,' she continued before her daughter could interrupt. 'Your dad and I have also noticed you've been trying to hide your anxiety the last couple of weeks. Between work and training, you're exhausted, and now you're stressing yourself out over the psych evals coming up.' Alexis squirmed as she listened to her mom. It was both comforting and disconcerting that Kate had come to know her so well. 'Alexis, at some point in time, something's gotta give, and I don't want it to be you, not when you're so close to achieving what you set out to achieve.'

Alexis blushed and pushed herself into a sitting position next to her mom. 'The joys of living with a police captain and private investigator for parents. Mouse, you don't stand a chance,' she mumbled to her sister as she placed a hand over her mom's baby belly. 'And what about you, do you take your own advice?' Alexis challenged.

'I have your dad.'

'That's not an answer,' Alexis grumbled.

'You're right, it's not an answer,' Kate agreed. 'But I am trying…...Oh,' Kate exclaimed when she felt a harder than normal kick and grabbed her daughter's hand, holding it in place just above her belly button.

'Wow, you weren't exaggerating about Mouse bouncing around in there.' Alexis closed her eyes, and laid her head on her mom's shoulder, still in awe at feeling the distinct movement of her baby sister. 'Do you think babies get bored? I mean it must get kind of monotonous being cramped up in there for nine months?'

'I have no idea, you'll have to ask your sister when she's born,' Kate sassed.

Alexis looked at her mom, her expression clearly stating 'what?' That was not the answer the redhead was expecting.

'Well you asked,' Kate shrugged and looked out over the ocean.

'Yeah….and you're right,' she conceded. 'But all of us needed time away from everything, not just me,' Alexis clarified and looked up when she heard her Grams.

'Yes darling, I'll let them know,' Martha yelled as she walked past the two women, carrying a large pitcher of water. 'And how's your pampering going, Katherine?' the matriarch asked after placing the jug on the table, proceeding to set out the plates and napkins her son left in a pile at one end of the table.

'Wonderfully,' Kate smiled and stretched out her back. 'Alexis has been spoiling me rotten.'

Martha stopped what she was doing and turned to look at the two women reclined on the couch. Her granddaughter was resting against Katherine, giggling in wonder every time she felt the movement of her sister. It was a sight the matriarch had almost given up seeing. 'Yes, it's amazing how a good pedicure makes you feel,' Martha agreed, voice suspiciously hoarse, and then spied her daughter-in-law's toes. 'Oh my…..you do realise your toes are bright green, don't you?' Martha asked in concern.

'Mojito Madness,' Kate corrected and elbowed her daughter in her side when she heard Alexis snigger.

'Yes, well, madness is right. Lunch will be another ten minutes or so.' And with that, the older woman continued on to the house.

Kate tuned to Alexis, brow raised, which only caused her giggling daughter to laugh even harder. 'I don't want green toes,' Beckett whined.

Alexis couldn't contain her chuckling as she reached over her mom to the basket containing nail polishes in a rainbow of colours. Pulling out the bottle of polish remover and cotton wool, Alexis held them out to Kate, challenging the older woman to take them. 'Here you go,' Alexis sassed.

'Seriously?' Before Kate could rebuke her daughter further, she saw her husband gesturing to her through the kitchen window. 'If you'll excuse me, I desperately need to pee thanks to your sister bouncing on my bladder,' Kate grumbled, struggling to stand. 'We'll pick this up later,' she warned before padding into the house. 'Yes mom,' was the last thing she heard before entering the living room.

Making her way to kitchen, Kate smiled when she saw her father talking with her husband and mother-in-law.

'Oh Katie, look at you.' Jim walked to his daughter, and wrapped himself expertly around her pregnant belly, drawing Kate in for a hug.

'Dad, you just saw me last week,' Kate laughed and sank into his arms, allowing her father to wrap her in a hug.

'Doesn't matter if I saw you yesterday.' Jim squeezed his daughter tightly before stepping back. 'You look so much like your mom.'

'Daddy….'

'What?' he defied.

Kate shook her head. 'Nothing,' she said, remembering her promise to herself to allow her father small doses of over indulgence. 'I'm so glad you could make it up.'

'Wouldn't have missed spending a couple of days with my family for anything.' Jim took his daughter's hand and led her over to the kitchen bench that was scattered with paperwork.

Kate took in the legal documents spread out over the counter. 'So this can happen?' she asked.

'Katie, I was surprised at how often it does happen,' Jim informed. 'And Rick, I gotta hand it to you, your lawyer, Henry, is worth every cent you pay him,' the older man confessed. 'While I knew, in principle, Katie could file the paperwork, I had no idea where to start. According to your lawyer, because Alexis is over twenty one, you don't need to involve Meredith.'

Rick wrapped his arm around his wife's shoulder. 'So what happens next?' he asked.

'You'll need to speak with your lawyer to work out the particulars, but you just need to complete the paperwork, make a court date and it's done.'

'And that's it?' Kate couldn't hide the hesitation from her voice.

'Katie, nothing has to change,' Jim assured.

'Beckett?' Rick asked in concern.

'Castle, we haven't even discussed this with her,' she said before turning to her husband. 'What if she says no?' Kate asked in alarm.

Rick pulled his wife to him and buried his nose in her hair. 'Well, we won't know unless we ask,' he murmured.

'Richard's right, Katherine,' Martha assured, holding up a stern finger to halt her son's smart remark. 'Jim, why don't we go and finish setting the table. We can send Alexis in while we're out there,' Martha suggested and thread her arm through Jim's, leading the older man outside.

'Castle?' Kate panicked. 'I mean it, what if Alexis says no? I'll have ruined everything.'

Before Rick could try to calm his wife, Alexis strolled through the living area and into the kitchen. 'Hey guys, you didn't tell me Jim was coming up this weekend,' she said, continuing over to the sink to pour a glass of water.

Kate felt her stomach churn, and rubbed a soothing hand over her belly. 'He didn't know if he could make it, so I didn't want to say anything.'

'Well I'm glad he could,' Alexis smiled before downing her glass of water. 'Grams said you wanted to see me?' she gasped, having drained the liquid in one go and placed the empty glass in the sink.

Kate moved out her husband's arms and walked over to her daughter. 'There's something we….I want to talk to you about,' Kate corrected, led the young woman back to the paperwork on the bench, and stood on the other side of Alexis.

'What's this?' the young woman asked with suspicion, her heart rate increasing. 'Daddy?'

'Sweetheart, it's not what you think,' her father assured his panicked daughter.

'Kate?' Alexis asked, turning to her mom, voice trembling.

The fact that the young woman had called her by her name was not lost on Kate. 'Oh Alexis, I'm sorry, I've really screwed this up, haven't I?' Kate asked miserably.

'Screwed what up? Please, will one of you just tell me what's going on? What're these documents for?'

Rick reached for the paperwork on the bench, but felt his wife place her hand over his, stilling his movements. Kate looked at her husband, gaining strength from the loving nod he gave her. Smoothing out the documents, Kate handed them to Alexis.

Alexis took them, not even trying to hide her trembling hands, and silently read the cover sheet. 'Really? You can do this?' the young woman asked, her eyes pleading as she looked from her dad to her mom.

'Apparently, it's quite common,' Castle advised, and Beckett couldn't help but roll her eyes.

'Alexis?' Kate asked, concerned at her daughter's silence. 'I know I didn't talk to you before I approached your dad….'

Alexis shook her head, her throat clogged with tears, making it difficult to speak. 'But it can really happen?' Alexis asked, turning to her mom, not even hiding the hope in her eyes. 'You can adopt me, even though I'm an adult?'

'Actually, it makes it easier because you are an adult, we don't need to involve Meredith,' Kate explained, soothing her daughter's hair from her face. 'But it would be the right thing to do for us to discuss it with your mom…if you said yes of course.'

'Daddy?'

'Pumpkin, this is your decision, but we'll both support you regardless of your answer.'

'Baby, you don't need to give us an answer now….'

'No…..I'm just overwhelmed, that's all.'

Both Rick and Kate watched their daughter place the documents back on the bench and smooth out the folds in the paper as if it were the most important job in the world.

Castle reached around his daughter and squeezed his wife's shoulder, trying to ease Beckett's panic. 'Sweetheart, we didn't mean to spring this on you,' Kate apologised.

Alexis shook her head. 'I um…..this is what you want?' the redhead asked, turning to her mom. 'You really want to adopt me?'

'I want this more than anything,' Kate assured. 'But ultimately it's your decision, and I'll support whatever decision you make.'

'So, if I say yes, what happens next?'

Rick watched his wife relax in relief, allowing her to take the lead. 'We complete the paperwork and make a court date….I mean it'll be slightly more complicated than that, but that is the first step.'

Alexis looked down at the adoption paperwork, still trying to get her head around the fact that Kate not only wanted to adopt her, but actually could. 'So I'll be yours, for real?' she murmured.

'You're already mine,' Kate said, not evening trying to hide the possessive tone in her voice. She looked towards her husband, confident in challenging him to disagree with her.

Castle just looked at his wife, his expression a mixture of adoration and wonderment. He's still in awe at how this stunning woman had come to love his little girl like her own when his baby girl's own mother had rejected her for the bright lights and empty promises of Hollywood. Where Meredith had continually broken his daughter's heart, Kate Beckett had somehow put it back together again.

Alexis had been too busy reading through the adoption paperwork to notice her parents' silent conversation, but looked down to where her mom's belly was resting against her when she felt the movement of her sister. Suddenly everything made sense.

From the first night Alexis met a young Detective Beckett, after she'd arrested her father on suspicion of murder, she and Kate had been on a roller coaster journey, in parallel with her dad and Beckett's, up to very this moment.

Through the heartache and animosity, betrayal and mistrust, the cautious truce and tentative friendship, and finally forgiveness and love, Alexis knew in her heart, this was the reason she and Kate's relationship was now so strong.

The young woman closed her eyes and listened to the whispered bickering of her parents, her mom's worry she'd ruined everything along with her dad's reassurance she hadn't. In that moment, Alexis realised that Kate had struggled with the same doubts about their relationship as she had. Suddenly, all of her fears about her relationship with Kate, and her place within her family, vanished. The realisation so cathartic, it left Alexis breathless.

'Why didn't you tell me?' Alexis asked, turning to her mom, and continued at the confused look Kate was giving her. 'Why didn't you tell me you've been as scared as I have? You're always assuring me I have no reason to be jealous or doubt our relationship….but I've never…..'

'Baby, you do assure me, every single day.' Kate moved to cup her daughter's cheeks, knowing what Alexis was going to say. 'And even though your dad barged his way into my life, I invaded yours.' Kate looked discretely over her daughter's shoulder to her husband, whose eyes were suspiciously moist. Rick nodded before moving the bench where he'd been preparing lunch, a sign that her husband was giving her and their daughter a little privacy.

'Mom…'

'No, Alexis. You asked me why I never shared my fears with you,' Kate said, grabbing Alexis' hand and pulling the young woman with her. 'Sorry, I desperately needed to sit,' she apologised while climbing onto one of the kitchen stools.

'Wouldn't you be more comfortable on the couch?' Alexis asked in concern.

Kate shook her head and rested against the back rest of the stool, sighing in relief. 'I'll be honest Alexis, I've shared my fears with your dad and Lanie, especially during the early stages of your dad's and my relationship,' Kate admitted. 'You know your dad. He was always trying to reassure me that you were okay with our relationship, but for a long time, I could always feel an underlying animosity from you towards me.' Kate reached out and stilled Alexis' hand from fiddling with the documents on the bench. 'And your feelings were justified,' she assured. 'But just as you continue to struggle with me abandoning you, or being replaced by your sister, I constantly worry about doing something that will make you hate me again,' Kate admitted, her voice trembling.

'What? Oh mom….' Alexis gasped and looked at her mom. 'I didn't think….I mean….you're really worried I'll hate you again? Why?'

'Because I have the same irrational fears and insecurities about our relationship as you do,' Kate confessed.

Alexis sat in stunned silence and looked towards her dad. He'd stopped placing the sandwiches he'd made onto the serving platter and was leaning against the bench, looking at his wife and daughter.

'Thank you for telling me,' she said and stood up so she could hug her mom. 'I'm sure we'll have our fair share of arguments in the years to come, and there will be times we probably won't like each other very much. I mean, what's a mother-daughter relationship without the occasional angst and drama to keep us on our toes?' Alexis teased, squeezing her mom tightly before moving back. 'But just as you keep reassuring me you won't leave me, and that I'm not being replaced by Mouse, I could never hate you, not after everything you've done to show me how much you love me.'

'And I do love you, so much.' Kate squeezed her daughter's hands before resting her head against Alexis' shoulder as the young woman wrapped her in another hug.

Alexis rested her head atop her mom's. 'You do know this is forever, right?' the young woman teased.

Kate closed her eyes and clung to Alexis, nodding in acknowledgement.

'Like forever and ever and ever.'

'Alexis,' Kate sighed and sat up.

'Yes mom, of course I want you to adopt me,' Alexis laughed at the exacerbated look on Kate's face.

'Really? Yes?' Kate gushed and reached for her daughter's hand.

'Of course, yes,' Alexis giggled. 'It sounds weird though, doesn't it? You're going to adopt me.'

'Well, a little…'

'So does this mean I'll have two birthday's now? 'Alexis asked, interrupting her mom. 'You know, one for the day I was born, and one for the day I'm adopted…oh and of course two birthdays means more presents, and do you think Mouse will be jealous? Or maybe I could share my second birthday with her…'

'Seriously?' Kate groused and rolled her eyes as she stood up. 'You can work that out with your dad, I need to pee, for real this time.' And with that, Kate padded off towards the powder room opposite the kitchen.

Alexis waited for her mom to close the door to the powder room before walking over and standing in front her dad. 'I hope you realise what a massive step this was for Kate, not only wanting to adopt you, but having the courage to talk to me about it,' Rick advised.

'Why did you say yes?' Alexis asked. 'You've never been one to hide your concerns over losing me, whether it was me leaving home, or my relationship with Kate, and now with Henry.'

'No, I haven't,' Rick agreed. 'But there was a time, not that long ago, where Kate would have just gone behind my back and I'd have been left to pick up the pieces.' Blushing, Alexis looked down and felt her dad place his hands gently on her shoulders, encouraging her to look at him.

'And that's it?' she asked, not even hiding her disappointment at the mundane reason.

'No, of course not,' Rick chastised lovingly.

'Then why did you say yes?'

'Because of the reason she gave me.'

'And?'

'Sorry, but that's Kate's story to tell, so you'll have to ask your mom,' he smiled cryptically.

'Dad,' Alexis whined when he turned back to the bench to finish preparing lunch.

'Alexis,' he mimicked before sucking the pickles off his thumb from the sandwich he'd just placed on the platter, screwing his face up at the tanginess.

'Stop being so….you,' but the young woman couldn't help but laugh, even though she was frustrated her father wouldn't tell her the reason he'd said yes.

Rick turned to his daughter, placed his hands on her shoulders, and stooped down to her eyelevel. 'Think of how much practice you'd get trying to interrogate it out of her.'

Alexis just raised a brow. 'Why wouldn't I just ask her?'

'Where's the fun in that?' he asked, standing up straight again and turning back to the bench.

'I now understand why people wonder how I turned out so normal,' Alexis groused.

'She's got you there, Castle,' Kate teased as she exited the powder room.

'Daughter? Go,' Rick grumbled, passing the platter of sandwiches towards his daughter.

The young woman took the tray. 'Dad…'

'No, I can't even be in the same room with you right now,' he huffed, exaggerating his play acting.

'Castle,' Kate teased.

'No, you can go too. I need a moment alone to compose myself from the traitorous actions of my wife and daughter.'

'I suggest we make a run for it,' Alexis giggled.

'Couldn't agree with you more,' Kate agreed and picked up the fruit platter that was sitting on the bench.

'We'll meet you outside dad,' Alexis called as she and her mom walked out of the kitchen.

Rick looked out of the kitchen window and watched Alexis place the tray of food on the table before she was engulfed by her grandmother. He could hear his mother's exuberant voice from here, gushing in excitement before she moved to her daughter-in-law.

What made him truly happy, that made his heart content, was watching Jim move over to Alexis. The older man wrapping the young woman in a hug, and Castle could tell from here, his daughter was sobbing, finally giving in to the overwhelming emotions.

He watched as his mother released Kate and rushed over to the pair, Alexis waving her grandmother off, but thanking her for the tissue that'd appeared from nowhere.

But what made his throat constrict, made it difficult to breathe, was watching his wife fuss over their daughter, smoothing her hair off her face, making the young woman laugh at something, probably teasing Alexis about her blotchy face and snotty nose.

He smiled lovingly at his wife when she caught him staring at her through the window and felt the blush creep up his neck at the suggestive look she was giving him. Nodding when she gestured with her head to hurry up and join them, he took a deep breath to compose himself before picking up the cheese platter and heading out to the veranda.

Taking a moment to absorb the sights and sounds of his family, Rick thanked whoever was responsible for sending Katherine Beckett to him, for giving him and his baby girl the family they'd been searching for.

Kate looked up and smiled at her husband as he placed the cheese platter on the table before taking his seat next to her. Reaching out and squeezing his hand, Beckett made sure every emotion she was feeling was clearly visible on her face for her husband to see.

'…book and venue and of course we'll need to go shopping for a new dress. Alexis, darling, are you even listening to me?'

'Grams, I don't want.…'

'No, I won't take no for an answer…'

Kate and Rick smiled at each other as they listened to the bickering between Alexis and Martha. 'Mother,' he said before turning his attention to the older woman.

'Yes, darling?' Martha asked, turning to her son.

He smiled lovingly at his mother. 'Why don't we wait for the court date before making any arrangements,' he suggested. 'And with Kate's delivery date just over two months away, wouldn't it be best to keep any celebrations low key?'

Alexis sighed in relief at her father's intervention while passing the fruit platter to Jim. 'Thank you,' she mouthed before picking up her sandwich.

Martha looked between her son and Katherine. 'Of course, darling,' the matriarch sighed.

'Grams…'

'No, Alexis, your father's right,' her grandmother assured. 'It's just….it's a joyful occasion that should be celebrated,' Martha justified. 'So Richard, once you've sorted everything out with your lawyer, Katherine and Alexis can let me know what they want to do.'

'That sounds perfect, Martha,' Kate agreed. 'Now, I don't know about anyone else, but I'm starving.'

'Mom, you're always starving.' Alexis startled and laughed as Kate kicked her under the table.

Martha looked at her son as he watched the bantering between his wife and daughter with affection and blushed when Richard caught her staring at him. 'You did good kiddo,' she mouthed before taking a sip from her wine glass.

Rick raised his glass to his mother with one hand while taking his wife's hand in his other, squeezing gently, and looked over to his daughter who was updating Jim on how her recruitment was progressing. Alexis sensed her dad's eyes on her and quickly turned to smile at him before turning her attention back to Jim.

Rick felt Kate lay her head on his shoulder and leaned down to place a loving kiss on her mass of curls. Taking a cleansing breath, Rick took a moment to absorb the sounds of his family's conversations along with the fresh, salty air. 'Thank you,' he murmured to his wife.

Kate lifted her head and graced her husband with an amorous smile. 'You can thank me later,' she purred sensuously. 'Right now, I wanna eat,' she said ravenously as she picked up her sandwich and took a large bite.

'Mmmm, me too,' he murmured before turning his attention back to his sandwich, missing the flush of his wife's cheeks. 'Oh, by the way, you do know your toes are green, don't you?' Rick informed and turned his attention to his daughter's laughter.

'Yeah, I do,' Kate grumbled. 'My daughter's going to rectify that for me this afternoon, aren't you Alexis?'

Alexis sobered immediately. 'Yes mom, I am.'

There was a moment of silence as the two women looked at each other, both aware that once the forms had been filed and approved by the courts, they would finally be mother and daughter in every sense of the word.

'Well Kiddo, here's to mothers and daughters and green toes,' Martha said, raising her glass and breaking the silence. A chorus of 'green toes' and laughter reverberated around the table.

'Love you,' Alexis mouthed to her mom.

'Love you more, baby girl.'