Author's notes: The title to this chapter is a deliberate dig at fan fic net.

When I started this chapter, I realised that it's been two years since I started writing An Unconventional Mom. When I wrote the original on-shot, I had no intention of turning this into my own universe; I had no experience in creative writing, let alone having the courage to delve into the world of fanfiction; and had never written anything other than reports and university assignments.

But I'm so glad I've allowed this story to evolve and travel its natural course; and you, the reader, have been instrumental in how this story has developed with your reviews, challenging me to make each chapter better, asking questions and demanding answers.

As I wind down through the final few chapters, it's only fair of me to let you know, there are three chapters, along with an epilogue left to write, and trust me, it's been a very emotional experience allowing this story to end. There may be some down time between chapters, because I need to get them right. This chapter for example has been rewritten three times before I finally sent it to my Beta, and even after I sent it to them, I'd rewritten the ending….again. I would hate my story to 'jump the shark' after investing so much time and emotion into it.

To my beta 41319always41319, wow, you put with so much from me, but I've come to rely on not only you editing my work, but being frank and truthful with me. It's thanks to you, that I'm able to tell the story I want to tell, while keep in all the fluff.

Finally, just a reminder, that while this is my own universe, An Unconventional Mom still sits within the cannon, with occasional very vague reference to season eight.

And one final note: a quick web search will give you all the information you need to know on not only how to adopt an adult, but how you can stop it. I'll leave the rest up to your imagination.

Chapter 23: Two for One

Richard Castle sat staring at his laptop screen, the blinking cursor tapping out the same message, blink repeat, blink repeat, over and over again.

Writer's block…..writer's block…..writer's block…, it tapped out like some pubescent antagonist drumming out Morse code.

'Babe?'

Castle looked up to find his heavily pregnant wife leaning against the door frame to his office. Beckett raised a brow at his look of arousal.

With her grey sweats slung low on her hips, a white tank she'd given up trying to pull down over her baby belly, one of his button downs, and her hair tied up in a messy bun, Beckett felt tired, cranky, and her back was killing her. Right in this moment, sex was the furthest thing from her mind, but to Richard Castle, Katherine Beckett was the most glorious sight on the face of the earth.

'Wondered where my shirt went to,' he murmured, not even hiding the arousal in his voice.

'And?' Beckett asked, shifting her weight to her other hip, readjusting Castle's dress shirt she'd sequestered as a robe.

'Do you hear me complaining?' Castle chastised lightly. 'Have you finished destroying the kitchen?' he asked, realising he hadn't noticed the loft had gone quiet from Beckett's current war with the pantry and refrigerator.

'Have you finished Heat Storm or your great American novel?' Beckett replied indignantly.

'Touché,' he sighed tiredly while scrubbing his face with his hands.

Richard Castle had found out very quickly that living with Kate Beckett, while challenging on a normal day, a heavily pregnant Kate Beckett on maternity leave in the full throws of nesting, however, was a force to be reckoned with.

Add into the mix their eldest daughter preparing for her upcoming psych eval, the Castle loft was a hormone enriched environment at the moment. Thankfully, Richard Castle was an expert at navigating the minefield of female hormones.

'I'm sorry I woke you this morning,' he heard Beckett apologise quietly as she slowly shuffled towards him. 'I just have this incessant need to redo everything I've already done just in case I've missed something,' Kate justified. 'I need everything done before this little one arrives.'

Castled looked at his wife and felt guilty for not seeing the exhaustion written on her face. A week out from her due date, Kate's slim frame was struggling to carry the near fully grown bulk of their daughter, making life unbearable for her along with everyone else around her.

'Sweetheart, you have nothing to apologise for,' Rick assured, shifting his chair back from his desk.

Holding his arms out, Castle placed a loving kiss on his wife's belly before helping her settle in his lap. With her left arm slung around his neck, he felt her sink into him, allowing Rick to support her weight. 'So we're still not mentioning her name, then?' Rick asked, finding it totally ridiculous Beckett didn't want to even utter the name they'd decided on.

'Do you trust Alexis isn't lurking around somewhere?' Beckett asked with suspicion. 'My kid made me promise she wouldn't know her sister's name until the moment she meets Mouse for the first time, even if she is driving me crazy with her incessant guessing.'

'Then, why don't we just tell her?'

'No, Rick. I made a promise to her, and I'm keeping it,' Beckett emphasised. 'Besides, it's become one of our things,' Kate smiled tiredly, remembering back to a morning earlier in the week. Alexis had come off nightshift, but was too wired to sleep, so mother and daughter spent the morning watching trash TV and talking.

'Dianna,' Alexis asked from where she was stretched out next to her mom on the couch, her top tucked just below her bra while blowing her stomach out.

'No. What the hell are you doing?'

'Nothing,' she yawned, looking from her stomach to her mom's. 'Lois?'

Beckett rolled her eyes at her daughter's antics. 'No.'

'River?'

'That's cheating,' Kate giggled.

'Why's it cheating?' Alexis asked, patting her tummy before sucking it back in and pulling her shirt down.

'Cause you're not allowed to cross universes,' Beckett informed.

'Are there rules to this game now?' Alexis whined and leaned over until her head rested on Kate's shoulder.

'You know, your dad and I are happy to tell you your sister's name.'

'Don't wanna know till I meet her,' Alexis slurred as she struggled to stay awake.

'Baby, go to bed.'

'Promise you won't tell.'

'I promise,' Kate murmured.

'One of your things?' Castle asked with a knowing smile, bringing Beckett out of her thoughts.

'For so long, the relationship between Alexis and I was so tense. I had this fear that when it came to the two of you, I'd always be on the outside looking in, never on the inside.'

'Kate…,'

'It's why the little things she does are so important to me,' Beckett stressed. 'Whether she's coming to me for a heart to heart and a hug, constantly trying to guess her sister's name, or any of the other idiosyncrasies Alexis' developed towards me; because they're mine and hers…and I'm….,'

'Making your own memories with her,' Castle finished softly.

Kate nodded and looked down at her belly, caressing the growing life inside. She felt such love it made her heart hurt. 'Our baby's had that from the moment she was thought about, let alone conceived, and she'll have the memories we create together for the rest of her life,' Beckett shrugged. 'And I never want Alexis to feel on the outside when it comes to me and this little one.'

'Beckett, you adopted my kid, you don't need to justify your actions to me. Just as Alexis doesn't need to justify hers; whether it be still living at home, or her ever increasing walks of shame,' he shuddered. 'And as her father looking in on the relationship you've built with his daughter, it's clear Alexis' been making up for everything she missed out on with Meredith, with you.'

Beckett nodded in agreement. 'I know, she told me that after her session with Doctor Burke the other week.'

'See?' Rick exclaimed.

'See what?' Beckett asked in exasperation.

'If I'd suggested she go see Burke after the thing….'

'The thing? Is that what we're calling it now?' Beckett laughed.

'You have your coping mechanisms, I have mine.' Castle protested, and pouted when his wife rolled her eyes at him. 'But my point is, she'd have just rolled her eyes and whined yes dad while completely ignoring me, but Alexis will do anything for you,' he grumbled into Kate's neck. 'So did anything survive in the kitchen this time?' He asked and groaned when Beckett pinched his ear.

'I hope you and my kid don't want breakfast,' was all she said and snuggled further into her husband, almost purring as he massaged her lower back.

It hadn't been lost on Rick that since the adoption was finalised; Kate had become overly possessive of their eldest while Alexis was now treating Kate just like she treated him; a mixture of love, exasperation, and being taken for granted.

'So you'd make me suffer through a surly, hungry daughter as well?' Castle griped and grabbed his wife's hand before she could torture his ear again. 'I hope she brings something home with her then.'

'She's not home? I thought she was off today,' Beckett asked. 'Was wondering how she slept through the noise.'

'She was catching up with Kevin this morning before he starts his shift, remember? She told us last night.'

'Babe, I can't remember what I did five minutes ago. Don't expect me to remember a conversation I had with my kid last night. I thought baby brain was just an urban legend,' Beckett grumbled, but she hugged her husband tightly when he pulled her close.

'God, I love you so much,' he murmured reverently, resting his head on his wife's shoulder and burrowing his face into her neck.

'Back at you, babe,' she murmured, holding Castle tightly.

Rick shifted back so he could look at his wife. 'Can you hand me that envelope over there,' Castle asked, pointing to the large envelope on the desk in front of his wife.

Beckett reached out to grab the object, and immediately noticed their lawyer's logo in the top left hand corner.

'Is this Alexis' birth certificate?' Kate asked, not even hiding the excitement from her voice as she ripped the envelope open.

'Too bad if it wasn't,' Castle teased as he watched his wife remove the enclosed document. 'Henry sent a messenger with it over yesterday.'

'Then why am I only seeing it now?' Beckett demanded, not hiding her irritation.

'Well if you'd stay awake for more than half an hour at a time, you would've,' Castle grumbled, and escaped his wife's retribution thanks to Kate studying the document she was holding.

Rick watched his wife gently trace the raised lettering on the parchment.

Name: Alexis Harper Beckett Castle

Father's Name: Richard Edgar Castle

Mother's Maiden Name: Katherine Houghton Beckett

Castle looked back to his wife, when he heard her soft sniffles. 'Kate? Hey, sweetheart, what is it?' he asked, having become an expert at dealing with his wife's hormonal mood swings. Today's offering had just gone from obsessive, compulsive, and cranky, to teary and emotional.

'She's finally officially mine.'

'Yes she is,' Castle confirmed. 'What else is going on in that beautiful brain of yours,' he asked, placing a loving kiss under his wife's left ear.

'Nothing….everything…I'm so over these freaking hormones turning my brain to mush, the kitchen's a mess, I can't sleep, my back's killing me, but I can't wait to meet our daughter,' Beckett sobbed, looking down at where Castle was caressing their youngest daughter. 'How can you be so in love with someone you've never met?'

'I was in love with you before I met you.'

'That doesn't even make any sense,' Kate laughed through a sob. 'You and Alexis have put up with so much, and now she can't have breakfast,' she cried irrationally, looking back towards the general direction of the kitchen.

'So it's okay for me to go hungry though, hu?' Castle teased, pulling Beckett in close. Rick gently rocked his wife while she composed herself. 'Sweetheart, Alexis doesn't care what state the loft's in, she only cares that you're here,' Rick assured as he took their eldest daughter's birth certificate and placed it back on the desk before passing his wife a tissue from the box sitting next to it. 'It's all either of us care about.'

'But what about when she moves out,' Kate asked, blowing her nose and handing the snotty tissue back to Castle. 'She won't be here anymore.'

'That's generally the idea,' Castle nodded in agreement while screwing up his nose as he disposed of the offending object.

'I'll never see her,' Kate sighed.

'Beckett, you both live under the same roof now and only see each other every other day.'

'Yeah, but she's here, not where ever she's going to be….and I'll miss her, and worry about her, particularly when she makes it into the academy,' Kate admitted softly. Castle didn't miss the certainty in his wife's voice.

'Please tell me you see the irony of this conversation,' Rick moaned, groaning when Beckett slapped him on his arm. 'Kate, we spent the first six years together with you telling me I needed to let my daughter grow up, be her own person, and to let her go. You've spent the past two years helping her mature into the independent and strong woman I've always wanted her to be,' he said, and moved back so he could look at his wife. 'While it took a little longer than expected, our job with Alexis is done. It doesn't mean we stop loving her, or worrying about her, but it does mean we need to let her go,' Rick soothed. 'Besides, we're going to have our hands full with this one, especially if she takes after you,' he teased.

'Shut up,' Kate mumbled. Listening to her husband's explanation, the rational side of her brain acknowledged that Castle had essentially condensed all the advice she'd given to him about his concerns regarding Alexis over the years into one sentence.

The irrational side, however, the part of her brain currently ruled by raging hormones and out of control emotions as the birth of her youngest rapidly grew closer, was struggling to let go of her eldest. Of course being adding to the mix was her eagerly wanting to meet her baby. 'I know, it's just…it annoys me to no end that the pre-baby me would've been front and centre in sending our daughter on her way into the world. Hell, if it wasn't for the relationship we have now, Alexis would've moved out the other year when she first wanted to, and I worry that maybe I've held her back in that respect.'

'Seriously?' Castle asked incredulously. 'Beckett, Alexis, while scarily intelligent and mature in nature, has never made the wisest of decisions when it's come to her future,' Castle admitted. 'Honestly, it wasn't until you gathered up all the bits and pieces of her life and helped her put it back together that Alexis finally had a direction, finally knew what she wanted to do with her life. Babe, why do you suddenly doubt yourself?' Rick asked and winced as his wife started to shift in his lap.

'Need to stand up,' Beckett groaned while trying to move out of Castle's lap with her legs running in mid-air like some morbid version of Wile E Coyote.

'Beckett? Kate?' Rick sighed as he helped Kate into a standing position before standing himself.

'Castle, I'm not doubting myself,' Beckett argued as she turned and waddled back towards the living room.

'Beckett, where are you going?' Rick asked as he followed his wife.

Stopping short when he reached the living area, Castle surveyed what was once the perfectly organised kitchen. Walking up behind his wife, Rick gently wrapped his arms around her and pulled Kate back against him. He sighed in relief when Beckett allowed her weight to sag against him and placed her hands over his where Castle was currently caressing her baby belly.

'I'm scared,' Beckett whispered. 'I hate feeling so out of control.'

'I know.'

'I don't know how to do this.'

'I know.'

'I want my mom.'

'I know.'

'I love you.'

'Love you more.'

'Not possible.'

Kate closed her eyes and leaned back against her husband. It was almost as if Castle was trying to absorb all her fears and anxiety about the approaching birth of their daughter. Yes, Beckett had done the reading, the pre-natal and birthing classes, had been assured by Colleen and her cardiologist that she was healthy, her body able to tolerate the impending stresses of labour and delivery, but none of that made up for the fact that she desperately missed her mom and would give anything to be able to curl up with her while listening to her loving assurance and advice.

'I've been giving Alexis everything I wanted from my mom,' Kate said, the epiphany profound.

'I know,' Rick soothed.

'Is there anything you don't know?'

'Apparently not. Did you know that the art of nesting is actually thought to be the brains way of diverting a woman's thoughts away from her fears and anxiety about giving birth, and that it has absolutely nothing to do with getting a home ready for the newest member of the family,' Rick informed, his soothing voice calming Kate.

'You've been consulting Doctor Google again?' Kate asked with a watery smile.

'Actually, it was Alexis, referencing Doctor Google, when she was trying to not only understand your behaviour, but how to help you.'

'And what did the good doctor suggest?' Beckett asked as she wiped the tears from her face.

'The best way to help a heavily pregnant woman while she's nesting is to stay out of her way.'

'That's my girl,' Beckett smiled, once again feeling the warmth of maternal love for her eldest. It also gave her an opening to ask her husband about Meredith trying to stop the adoption. 'You know,' Kate sniffed, moving out her husband's arms and turning to face him. 'We haven't spoken about Meredith yet.'

Castle closed his eyes and sighed. 'No, we haven't,' he acknowledged, looking back at his wife when he felt her grab his hand.

'Come on, my kid isn't home, and you owe me a conversation,' Kate said with finality and waddled towards their bedroom, tugging her husband behind her.

Taking the lead as they moved through the doorway, Castle sat on the bed and helped Beckett sit, allowing her to settle between his outstretched legs and lean back against him. 'Comfortable?' he asked when Kate sank back against his chest.

Pushing her weight back into Castle's chest, Beckett bent her knees and placed her feet flat on the bed, alleviating the pressure from her back. 'Now I am, so let's talk. I've done my own research, and there's only two ways Meredith could've stopped my adopting Alexis, and I'm not a gold digger,' Beckett said adamantly.

'Well, that's one way, what's the other,' he asked cheekily, already knowing the answer.

'Castle,' she warned.

'Yeah, I couldn't believe that one either,' he smiled and rested his head on his wife's shoulder, gently caressing their baby while trying not to laugh.

'God you're gross,' Beckett admonished. 'What's so funny?'

'Nothing, it's just the way you so eloquently paraphrased what Henry told me when I asked him how Meredith could stop the adoption,' Rick smiled. 'It's the reason he wanted the paperwork finalised in front of a judge, so he could present any evidence to the contrary if needed,' Castle sighed as he concentrated on the seriousness of the conversation.

'Henry's dealt with both Meredith and Gina over the years, and while a small part of me will always love Meredith because she gave me Alexis, the woman will always put herself first,' Castle conceded. 'Henry was contacted by Meredith's lawyer the night before our court date. She was going to claim you were not only a threat to Alexis' inheritance, but you were putting her in danger.'

Beckett sat quietly, trying to rein in her anger. Kate realised the phone conversation she'd overheard Alexis having with Meredith the day before the court hearing must have been the catalyst.

While she and Castle's ex-wife would never be considered friends, they'd developed a tentative truce for Alexis' sake. Beckett would never kid herself about the type of woman Meredith is, and this proved that her gut instinct was right once again. 'I can't believe the woman would stoop so low.'

'Oh, yes, Meredith would stoop that low. Needless to say, between your dad and my lawyer, her claims weren't even considered by Judge Berkowitz.'

'Yeah, but Castle, that doesn't explain what you meant by the arrangements you made.'

'Kate…..'

'No Rick, we promised, no more secrets.'

Rick sighed and rested his chin on his wife's shoulder. 'Meredith was told that if she didn't back off and allow the adoption to go through, her alimony would be cut off, and she'd never get another cent out of me.'

'What do you mean by that? I thought the alimony stopped when Alexis turned twenty one,' Beckett asked in confusion. Having been taken step by step through Castle's estate over the years as part of her being Alexis' guardian and power of attorney, Kate was well aware of the arrangements made for both Gina and Meredith.

'It did,' Castle confirmed. 'Legally I was well within my rights to stop paying her any money at all, but she'd somehow spun a sob story to Alexis, strategically waiting until after I was found, knowing both Alexis and I would be emotionally drained. So not only did I have to deal with everything that happed with my disappearance and our failed wedding, but I also had my daughter begging me not to cut her mother off,' Rick sighed. 'It was the lesser of all the evils at the time, and something I didn't want to have to deal with, so I just told my lawyers to keep the current arrangement until notified otherwise.'

'Castle…'

'I don't care, Kate. I didn't care how much it was going to cost me because the only thing that matters is you and my little girl,' he stressed. 'And nothing was going to stand in the way of my daughter getting the mom she's wished for her whole life.'

'So how..'

'It's taken care of. Meredith was offered a lump sum in exchange for not only allowing you to adopt Alexis, she also had to sign documents taking away any right to pursue my estate, Alexis, or you for any money in the future, along with a confidentiality agreement.'

'And she just happily signed her daughter's life away?' Beckett asked incredulously. However, her husband's silence was all the answer she needed.

Kate sat in silence as she felt the movement of her youngest. It was almost as if Mouse was offering her mom comfort. Her heart broke that her daughter had once again been abandoned by the woman who'd given birth to her.

'Babe, it's done,' Rick soothed, knowing exactly where his wife's thoughts had gone. 'Alexis is yours now, and you never have to worry about her being abandoned again.'

Beckett nodded and wiped her nose on her shirt sleeve before leaning back to place a kiss under her husband's chin.

'I hope you're going to wash that before you give it back.'

'Castle, I have your baby growing inside me, and you're grossed out about my snot on your shirt?' Beckett grumbled. 'Seriously?' she asked as she felt her husband shift uncomfortably behind her.

'What can I say? I have my stunning wife in my lap. I'm nothing but a mere male after all,' Castle whispered salaciously.

'Babe, there's nothing mere about you,' Beckett giggled.

'I know, right?' Rick agreed and blew a raspberry into his wife's neck, causing Beckett to squeal and try to pull away.

Beckett rolled her eyes and shifted until she could cross her legs Indian style and leaned back against her husband. It was one of the few positions she found that would support her belly and back. 'You're also still a nine year old on a sugar rush,' she reminded him and closed her eyes. This morning had been an emotional roller coaster ride, and Beckett was exhausted.

'So, this apartment sitting Alexis has been doing,' Rick started while gently massaging his wife's shoulders. 'It was an ingenious idea asking Sophia to call Alexis, by the way.'

'Oh God, Castle right there,' Kate groaned when her husband found the spot. 'I can't believe it's worked as well as it has,' Beckett agreed.

'So, when do Sophia and Nathan make the big move Down Under?'

'January, after the holidays.'

'Is she having second thoughts?' Castle asked, noticing the wistful tone in his wife's voice.

'No, Sophia's really excited, but I know she's going to miss her mom and dad. It's why she's been spending most weekends up in Boston lately.' Kate said softly.

'So do you think we should talk to Alexis?' Rick asked, leaning back against the cushions again.

Beckett turned and rested her forehead against her husband's chin. 'Babe, let her come to us, okay?' Kate requested. 'You know if she makes it into the Academy, Alexis will be moving straight into the dorms, and she probably just wants to get a feel for the place before she makes a final decision.'

'Very sensible,' Rick murmured.

'Yes it is,' Beckett agreed.

'She gets it from me, you know?' he grinned cheekily before cupping the back of his wife's head and pulling her in for a sensuous kiss, cutting off whatever smart remark she was going to make.

Shifting back to look up at her husband, it took everything in Beckett to regain her composure again. 'Castle, I think you've got that backwards,' Kate grinned cheekily. 'You get your rare moments of sensibleness from our kid.'

'Where the hell's all the food!' they heard their daughter yell, having missed hearing Alexis come through the front door.

'I believe that's your queue,' Castle said as he helped his wife move to the side of the bed before he stood.

'What happened to Doctor Google and staying out of my way?' Beckett complained while taking her husband's outstretched hands.

'Two words, Alexis and hungry, you do the math.'

'Seriously?' she whined, waddling towards the living area.

'Alexis Harper Beckett Castle, were you born in a tent?' Rick heard his wife yell and shook his head. Beckett had been looking for an excuse to yell their daughter's full name, and Alexis must have unwittingly provided one.

'I highly doubt it. Could you see Meredith giving birth in anything less than five stars?' he heard Alexis reply, debating as to whether he should hide out in the bedroom, or go and rescue his daughter. 'What happened to the kitchen?'

Right, daughter it was, he thought to himself and walked towards the living room.

'What did you do?' he asked when he found his wife in his daughter's arms.

'Nothing, I just brought home bear claws and decaf. Why, what did you do?' she asked, stepping back from her mom and moving to the bench to open the box of fresh pastries, the heavenly smell of warm buttery goodness and calories filling the kitchen.

'Nothing,' Castle whined as he crossed the kitchen to retrieve three plates from the cupboard next to the sink.

'Mom?' Alexis asked and then proceeded to giggle at the way Kate was almost salivating.

Rick grabbed one of the pastries and placed it on a plate before handing it to his wife.

'God, I love you,' Beckett groaned.

'Love you more.'

Beckett looked from her plate to her husband. 'I was actually talking to my kid,' Kate clarified before turning and shuffling towards the table. 'Come on Alexis, I wanna hear how things went this morning.'

'I was actually talking to my kid,' Rick mimicked and picked up the remaining two plates. 'She was my kid first.'

Placing her plate on the table, Beckett lowered herself onto the dining room chair with as much grace and dignity as a woman who was a week away from giving birth could. 'Thanks baby,' Kate smiled when Alexis placed her cup of decaf in front of her.

'Welcome, mom,' the young woman murmured and bent down to place a gentle kiss on her mom's forehead before moving to sit on the opposite side of the table. 'Thanks, dad,' Alexis said as her father placed a plate in front of her, her stomach rumbling with hunger.

Taking a seat next to his wife, Rick felt her entwine her fingers with his, his breath catching at the look of adoration Kate was giving him, before she looked back towards their daughter.

'So, how'd you do this morning?' Kate asked before taking a large bite from her pastry treat. Beckett not only wanted to know how her daughter had done on her mock interview with Ryan this morning, she also wanted to catch up on the latest gossip from the precinct.

'You didn't tell me Detective Ryan was the master of subterfuge. I walked into the briefing room, ready for my practice interview, only to find that Kevin had arranged Sergeant Radley from downstairs to interview me. Man, that guy's scary.' Alexis laughed as she pulled her bear claw apart. 'But, you'll be happy to know, I got through all the questions successfully without my brain freezing,' she said proudly and popped a piece of pastry in her mouth. 'Mmmmm, mef a goomf.'

'Do you want to try squeezing a little more in there next time?' Castle teased his daughter, but couldn't help but laugh when Alexis rolled her eyes at him. 'So do you think you're ready for the evaluations?'

Alexis nodded, swallowing the mouth full of pastry. 'Yeah, the written test's fairly straight forward. It's your standard psychometric testing, and honestly, they're just looking for your baseline personality type,' she explained before taking a mouthful of coffee. 'It's the oral psych that determines if you like to pull legs off flies or have a secret BDSM fetish,' Alexis shrugged and waggled her eyebrows at her mom when Castle choked on his coffee.

'Actually, Alexis, the NYPD has no regs on how kinky your sex life can be,' Beckett clarified and saluted her daughter with her coffee cup. 'So you and Henry are safe.'

'He'll be happy to hear that,' Alexis said in mock seriousness, passing her father a napkin.

'Seriously, not cool,' Castle rasped, wiping his mouth with a napkin.

'Sorry, dad,' Alexis smiled. However, her demeanour screamed the exact opposite. 'But honestly, with the tutoring Kevin's been giving me and constantly stepping up the training, while I'm still nervous, I think I'm prepared enough to sit through a full panel. Only time will tell, I guess.'

Both Castle and Beckett took in the young woman sitting before them. Gone was the insecure girl always looking for reassurance, terrified of being pushed aside and replaced by her baby sister, or worse, abandoned by Kate. And in her place emerged a young woman who exuded confidence, resilience, and acceptance. A woman who felt safe within her family and knew regardless if she made it into the academy, medical school, or ended up on a completely different path entirely, Alexis could face it head-on.

'What?' Alexis asked. Your staring's getting creepy.'

'Nothing,' Rick said. 'It's just.. you're all grown up.'

Alexis rolled her eyes. 'Dad, I will be twenty three next month.'

'That's not what I meant.'

'I know what you meant,' Alexis replied shyly. 'And speaking of growing up and turning twenty three next month, I've decided, that you and mom are quite capable of living on your own now and don't need any further supervision from me. Regardless of what happens over the next few months, I'm ready to move into my own place next year,' she informed as she got up to retrieve her satchel from the base of the stairs. 'And as you've probably already guessed, the apartment sitting I've been doing has been for Sophia.'

'Didn't have a clue, Beckett?'

'Nope, never crossed my mind.'

'Seriously guys, give it up,' Alexis admonished as walked around to her parents' side of the table. 'Anyway, I found this great wallpaper sample online last week, and Grams was able to pick up the sample book and colour charts I wanted, so I stopped by her studio on the way home to pick them up.' Alexis grunted as she pulled a large book from her bag. 'And dad, can you move over,' she asked, raising a brow at her father when he didn't move.

'Fine,' he huffed.

Sitting between her parents, Alexis waited for her dad to clear the plates and cups out of the way before opening the wallpaper sample book to the page she'd marked. 'Mom, I know it's going to be a while before Mouse can stay over, but I was hoping you'd help me decorate the spare room for her?' Alexis asked, giving Kate a soft smile when she heard her mom gasp in surprise. 'I was thinking the walls would be a soft yellow, and that would go perfectly with this boarder I've fallen in love with, and I think it will suit Mouse perfectly. What do you think?'

'How'd you…'

'Told you I'd figure her name out,' Alexis murmured, and turned to her dad when she felt him squeeze her shoulder.

'Be back in a minute,' Castle informed, before rising from his seat and heading towards his office.

Looking back to her mom, Alexis watched as Kate gently traced the slightly raised pattern, the soft pastels of yellows, greens, pinks, and whites of flowers and vines intertwined like a magical Monet fairy garden.

'Wait, is that….'

'Yes,' Alexis nodded. 'There are tiny field mice hidden throughout the garden.'

'How'd you even find this?' Kate asked, pulling the book closer to her.

'It's amazing what you can find doing a Google search. Although, word to the wise, when you type in lily and mouse, be careful what links you click on,' Alexis giggled.

Beckett just closed her eyes and shook her head with a wry smile at her daughter's statement. She could only imagine what Alexis may have stumbled upon before going back to studying the boarder sample. 'It's almost a waste to use this up around the cornices,' she said, imagining how the endless fields of lilies would look in her apartment's spare room. 'If we used this in the centre of the wall, we could then have a sky and field theme to go with it,' Kate suggested. 'And I can just imagine your sister naming all the little mice as she discovers their hiding places,' she added fondly.

'So you're okay with me making the spare room into Lily's?' Alexis asked. 'Oh, mom, please don't cry,' Alexis panicked. 'What can I do? Do you want me to get dad?' she asked, handing her mom a napkin.

Kate shook her head. 'I'm okay, sweetheart,' Beckett sniffed. 'My hormones have been on overdrive lately.'

'Are you sure? Do you want a glass of water or something?' Alexis asked.

'Baby, I'm fine, I promise,' Kate assured as she tried to get her emotions under control. 'I've just been overly emotional today. I'm just not used to feeling so out of control, that's all.'

'Okay,' Alexis smiled in relief. 'You know I'm here if you need anything, don't you? Please don't not ask because you're worried about bothering me,' the young woman stressed. 'What?' Alexis asked at the look her mom was giving her.

'It amazes me at times how our lives have come full circle,' Kate said in wonder. 'Two years ago I was assuring you that you weren't being a burden when you needed me, and now you're the one reassuring me.'

'It is pretty amazing, hu?' Alexis nodded and quickly glanced at her mom's belly before looking to Kate again. 'Besides dad and Grams, you're best thing that's happened to me, and I'm thankful every day that you became my mom,' she whispered shyly. 'I don't even want to imagine what my life would've been like without the relationship we have now.'

'I have, and it's a dark and lonely place,' Kate admitted, shifting in her seat.

'Do you need to stand up?' Alexis asked, moving to stand so she could help her mom.

Kate shook her head and pointed to her coffee, which was annoyingly just out of reach. 'Want my coffee.'

Alexis giggled. 'Here you go. I bet you can't wait for the real stuff again, can you?'

'One of the many of things I'm looking forward to, even if it is in moderation while I'm breastfeeding,' Kate sighed after taking a large sip.

'What else are you looking forward to?' Alexis asked curiously.

Beckett made a show of thinking about her list. 'Well, apart from actually meeting your sister face to face, I can't wait to put my own shoes on again, or shave my legs. Your dad's been….'

Alexis stuck her fingers in her ears. 'La la la la, please, don't finish that sentence,' she shuddered.

'I was going to say helpful,' Kate groused.

'Doesn't matter. It still puts a mental image in my head that I'll need to wash my brain out with bleach to get rid of,' Alexis giggled as Beckett rolled her eyes. 'So, apart from personal grooming, what else?'

'I'm not going to miss having to pee every five minutes, having to cross my legs when I laugh or cough, the heartburn, or any of the other really weird stuff that happens to your body,' Beckett groused.

'Thank you for giving me the PG-13 version of that,' Alexis smirked in appreciation. 'I've done a lot of reading online, but I still don't want to actually hear about it.'

'Where's your sense of adventure?' Beckett giggled.

'Protecting itself so I can make you a grandmother one day,' Alexis laughed at the way her mom was shaking her head in the negative. 'I love Lily's name,' Alexis smiled softly. 'Your mom's favourite flower; it's how Lily's name represents a thing of beauty and her heritage. It's perfect.'

'Thank you. So, how'd you finally work it out?' Beckett asked.

'Oh, so I'm just supposed to tell you?' Alexis sassed before turning serious again. 'You don't mind me turning the spare room in Lily's?'

'Baby, I'd love nothing more than to help you decorate, but you haven't actually told me or your dad you want the apartment, yet.' Kate laughed at her daughter's oversite. 'I hope you don't mind that I asked Sophia to call you when she first spoke to me about packing up?' Kate asked, but she already knew her daughter had figured it out.

'You know, I've always wondered how your cousin got my number,' Alexis teased her mom and looked up when she saw her father approach the table carrying a large envelope she recognised and one she didn't. 'But, I honestly can't thank you guys enough for giving me my space, and letting me work through this on my own.'

'And you're sure this is what you want?' Castle asked, taking his seat next to his daughter again.

Alexis nodded while she watched her father remove the paperwork from its casing. Last August felt like a life time ago.

'But if I'm going to be honest with you, I was hoping you'd love it as much I as do, so when you were ready to move out, it would save you the time and hassle of finding somewhere to live,' Kate held her breath and waited for Alexis's reaction.

Alexis had sat silently as she listened to her mom. 'Wait, so you're offering it to me to rent?' the redhead asked in confusion.

'No I want you to buy it,' Kate clarified.

Alexis nearly spat her beer out at her mom's statement. 'Kate I'm a third year college graduate on a part time intern's wage….how am I supposed to buy this? I couldn't even afford the rent!' Alexis laughed.

'I understand why you love that place so much,' Alexis turned to her mom and smiled.

'So what made you make up your mind,' Kate asked, smoothing her hand over the border sample again.

'Well, as you know, I love making pro and con lists,' Alexis said, and stood to move back to her original seat on the other side of the table again, allowing her dad to move back next to her mom.

'Really?' her dad asked cheekily. 'Never noticed, Beckett?'

'Had no idea.'

Alexis rolled her eyes and shook her head at her parents' antics. 'Anyway,' she continued. 'After the fiasco with Pi, I already knew what I didn't want, and mom, even though your apartment ticked all the boxes on my list, I needed to make sure it was right for me. This is a huge decision, and I had to make sure I was making the right one.'

Castle felt his wife squeeze his hand. He was so proud of how his daughter had matured. 'I can't tell you how happy I am to hear that sweetheart,' Rick smiled.

'So how did you come to your decision?' Beckett asked.

'Well, there were two main criteria,' Alexis began explaining, reaching down to her bag to pull out a large note pad before sitting up again. 'Guys, staring, creepy, remember?'

Rick leaned over to his wife. 'Staring's creepy,' he teased.

'Castle, it's only creepy when you do it,' she sassed back.

'I thought you like me staring at you,' Rick pouted and placed a quick peck on his wife's lips.

Alexis watched the interplay between her parents. Part of her adored that they were so in love and the other part, however, was completely grossed out. 'Would you like me to come back?' she groused.

'Castle, lists, remember?' Beckett giggled against her husband's lips before sitting up straight again. 'Sorry, sweetheart,' Kate apologised.

'Sorry, Pumpkin. You were going to tell us your criteria.'

Even though Alexis knew her list backwards and forward, she referred to her notebook for a few extra seconds of thinking before looking back to her mom and dad. 'I honestly can't say that one was more important than the other. They actually go hand in hand,' Alexis explained. 'While I want to move into my own place, I don't want to move out for the sake of moving out,' she justified. 'I've watched my friends live month to month, and most of them are happy renting like that because they're in school or travelling, but I want permanency. I want my own home.'

Beckett could feel her emotions well up again so she took a deep breath in an attempt to quell her tears.

'Mom?' Alexis asked in concern.

'Hormones, remember?' was all Kate said and squeezed Castle's hand tighter. 'Sorry, baby, keep going.'

'It's okay, sweetheart,' Castle assured his daughter when Alexis looked to him. 'Your criteria, permanency and having a home.'

Alexis nodded. 'Yeah.'

'And my apartment met those two?' Kate asked, cursing the hoarse tone in her voice.

'Yes, it does,' Alexis affirmed; her smile lighting up her face. 'Apart from looking after the apartment while Sophia and Nathan have been up in Boston, Sophia's been wonderful in encouraging me to visit at various times of the day….and every time I walk through the door, I just get this overwhelming sense of peace and calmness. It's….it's home, and I understand why you loved the place so much.'

Beckett held her arms out to her daughter. 'Come here,' she said. 'I wanna hug the hell out of you.'

Alexis stood and moved to where her mom was sitting to lean down and hug her mom. 'I can't thank you enough for giving me this opportunity,' Alexis whispered.

Leaning back, Kate cupped her daughter's cheeks. 'Remember our conversation last year? You've worked so hard for this, and I can't tell you how happy I am that you love the apartment.'

Alexis placed a kiss on her mom's forehead before standing and moving to her dad. 'Kate's right, sweetheart,' he whispered as he hugged his daughter. 'This is not charity, sponging off your old man, or any other disparaging thought that's probably gone through your head over the years,' Castle assured, allowing his daughter to stand. 'Kate and I had our lawyers draw this paperwork up last year while you were in Europe,' he continued as Alexis moved back to her seat. 'I'll leave it with you so you can go through it. All the information you need's in here, and I know you'll understand most of it,' Rick smiled as his daughter straightened up with pride. 'Then, when you're ready, we'll make an appointment to have the transfer of title finalised.'

'Thanks, dad,' Alexis nodded and pulled the pile of paperwork towards her.

'While this will be your property, it's going to remain as part of the family trust,' Rick cautioned.

Kate nodded in agreeance, her mind going straight to Meredith, and the various ways the woman could try to weasel her way back into Alexis' life.

'Dad…'

'No Alexis, this isn't up for discussion or negotiation,' Rick warned. Alexis was not used to hearing her father's stern tone. 'I know you're an intelligent young woman,' Rick continued at his daughter's look. 'But your Grams, despite her idiosyncrasies, is a very intelligent woman as well, and she's proof there are times when your heart overrules your head. I never want you to be in the position you found yourself in with Pi ever again. It's just the father in me,' Rick justified. 'Kate and I would never forgive ourselves if we didn't do everything in our power to protect your future,' he stressed. 'We've also ensured that your sister's future is secured, along with any brothers or sisters who come along in the future.'

'So just to be clear,' Alexis said. 'If I do this, if mom's old apartment becomes mine, I'm allowed to live my life, my way? You'll give me my space and not just turn up every day?'

'Can there be a weaning period?' Rick asked.

'Dad, hopefully I'll be moving into the dorms at the Academy in January. You won't need a weaning period.' Alexis sighed. 'Fine, you can have a month from the time I move in,' Alexis suggested.

'Two, and you get to see your sister every day.'

'Deal,' Alexis agreed. 'And you won't make a big fuss about Henry staying over?'

Castle swallowed loudly, and shook his head. 'Deal, but I still get visitation rights to him.'

'Deal,' Alexis giggled. 'And when Lily's old enough, she can stay whenever she wants.'

Both Castle and Beckett nodded. 'Deal,' her mom said. 'But, we also expect you to visit at least once a week,' Beckett added.

'And be available for babysitting, birthdays, Christmas, Halloween, school plays, and any other life changing events,' Rick said.

'Deal,' Alexis said. 'I haven't checked the strata rules yet, but can you have pets?' Alexis asked her mom.

'I was allowed to keep your dad.'

'Good, I want a cat, maybe two, to keep each other company.'

'You guys do know I'm still sitting here?' Castle chastised.

'Of course,' Alexis nodded, but Beckett could see there was something else on her daughter's mind.

'Honey, is there anything else you want to get out in the open?'

Alexis hesitated.

'Pumpkin, you know you can talk to us about anything.'

'I know. I'm just trying to work out a way to say this without sounding weird.'

'Just blurt it out like I do,' Rick shrugged.

'Dad, that's not helping,' she sighed.

'Baby, you know we won't judge you,' Kate assured.

'It's not that it's weird, it's just…..I want to be there when Lily's born….I mean not when you're giving birth, but I want to be the first person to hold her after you and dad. I want to wake up with her on my birthday, be here for her first Christmas. I just want to be selfish with her for a little while.'

Castle smiled fondly at his daughter. 'You're finally getting everything you wanted since you were a little girl and you want to experience it before moving out.'

Alexis nodded, thankful her dad knew what she was thinking. 'Yeah, I guess I want to try to pack twenty two years into a few months.'

'Sweetheart, it's not weird,' Kate assured. 'I can tell you, if my mom were here, I'd be curling up with her every day; hanging onto every piece of advice she gave me, and at times, wanting to hide away in her arms, okay?'

Rick moved closer to his wife and pulled her close, before placing a loving kiss on her forehead.

'Okay,' Alexis smiled, thankful that her mom knew exactly what she was feeling.

'Speaking of mom's,' Rick slid the second envelope over to his wife. 'This was delivered to the loft yesterday,'

Kate picked up the envelope and passed it over the table towards Alexis, her mom's watery smile already confirmed what Alexis was hoping for.

Taking the envelope from her mom, Alexis carefully removed the enclosed document. 'Finally,' the young woman sighed dramatically. 'Now I have all the documentation I need to submit for the psych evals,'

Looking from her daughter to husband, Kate struggled to contain her growing irritation at the smug 'I told you so' grin on Castle's face.

'Don't look at me,' Rick shrugged. 'She's yours now too, remember?'

Beckett turned back to her daughter. 'That's it?' Kate asked in annoyance, causing Alexis to look up from her new birth certificate.

'That's what?' Alexis asked.

Beckett raised her trademark brow. 'I thought you'd have made a bigger deal out it?'

Alexis cocked her head to the side. 'Why? You officially become my mom two weeks ago; this is just the piece of paper that says I can take you for granted from now on,' she sassed with a cheeky grin; but her humour quickly evaporated when Alexis saw the hurt look on her mom's face.

Beckett stared at her daughter, trying to convey all the hurt emotions she was feeling. Looking down to where she was caressing her baby belly, Beckett deliberately shielded her eyes from Alexis. 'I'm okay,' she assured her husband softly, when Rick leaned down ensure his wife was alright.

Quickly standing and moving around to Kate, Alexis mentally kicked herself for teasing her mom. 'I'm so sorry,' the young woman apologised, as she knelt down on the floor beside Kate. 'Of course this is a big deal; it's a huge deal,' she emphasised, looking up at Her mom. 'And I was so stupid to say I can take you for granted now…..' Alexis stopped her rambling and looked from her mom to her dad. 'Wait a minute….'

'Gotcha,' Kate smirked, before letting out a very un-Beckett like giggle. 'Oh my God, Alexis, I can't believe you fell for that,' Beckett laughed.

'I can't believe you did that to me,' Alexis pouted, but felt so relieved that she hadn't upset her mom.

'Good to know I can still one up you,' Kate teased, and looked to her husband when she felt him move away from her.

Castle stood and leaned down to place a loving kiss on his wife's forehead. 'Your deviousness makes me love you even more,' he murmured.

'Still doesn't mean I'm going to protect you from the redheads,' Kate teased, and reached up to gently smooth out her husband's lip as he pouted.

Castle reached up and held his wife's thumb to his mouth, playfully nipping at her skin. 'Do you need help with the kitchen?' he murmured.

Beckett shook her head. 'No,' she said, cursing the blush she could feel creep over her cheeks. 'You need to stop procrastinating, and get back to writing,' Beckett reminded, while raising a playful brow at her husband.

Nodding, Castle gently placing a final kiss on his wife's forehead, before standing and playfully ruffling his daughter's hair; where Alexis was still kneeling on the floor next to her mom.

'Dad,' Alexis whined, as she ran her hands through her hair, trying to straighten her now messy bob.

Becket was slightly taken aback by her husband's lack of argument, as she watched him make his way back to his office! and looked down to her eldest, when she felt Alexis gently lay her head against her mom's belly.

'Mouse isn't moving much,' Alexis said, as she concentrated on her sister.

Kate gently carded her hands through her daughter's hair. 'She doesn't have any room left to move,' Beckett sighed. 'So we're back to Mouse again?'

'She'll always be Mouse to me; because that's our history,' Alexis smiled loving up at her mom, before getting up from the floor.

'Yes it is,' Kate agreed, as she used the table to help stand, before shuffling to the kitchen.

'Lily-Mouse,' Alexis giggled, and started collecting the empty plates and cups before moving towards the sink.

'And when she outgrows Mouse?' Kate asked; sorting through the pantry items spread all over the bench.

'She won't,' Alexis smiled knowingly.

Beckett turned to her daughter. 'How do you know that?' Kate asked.

'Because I'll never outgrow being called Pumpkin and Baby,' Alexis shrugged.

'Really?' Kate asked, not hiding the scepticism from her voice. 'So when you're fifty, you'll have no problem with your dad calling you Pumpkin,'

Alexis shook her head. 'Nope, because dad calling me Pumpkin and you calling me baby will always remind me, how much I'm loved; just as Lily will always know how loved and cherished she is when I call her Mouse,'

Looking her daughter standing across the kitchen from her; Kate not only struggled to contain her emotions, she also realised that even though she and Alexis didn't share DNA, Kate still helped create this beautiful and compassionate young woman.

'…..Earth to Captain Beckett,'

'Sorry?' Beckett asked realising her baby brain had zoned out again.

'I asked; do you want help sorting out the kitchen?' Alexis repeated.

'Yeah, I'd love that,' Beckett smiled. 'You can bring me up to speed on all the gossip,'

'Good, and do I have some juicy gossip to tell,' Alexis giggled. 'I'll just go change and be right back,'

Kate watched her daughter race towards the foyer, picking up her bag and slinging it over her shoulder on the way. As Alexis ascended the staircase, Beckett felt her youngest move, and gently caressed her belly. 'If I helped create your sister, then you're gonna be just as perfect,' Kate whispered to her youngest, before going back to sorting out the pantry items, waiting for her daughter to return.

And for the first time in the past few weeks, Kate felt the overwhelming feelings of anxiety start to subside; because she knew she could do this.