In its post-birthday frenzy, the basement playroom looks like a literal tornado has come through. Toys and books are strewn all over the floor, and nearly every piece from the costume box is either on a person or the floor or some other available surface. Liam, for example, is wearing a Spiderman costume as he sits on the floor running his Hot Wheels cars through the track he had gotten for his birthday.

All five kids seemed to be playing in peace.

Mostly.

"No, Austin!"

War of The Worlds is being waged in a corner as brother and sister fight over claim of a baby doll (of which they have at least fifteen).

"It's my turn, Nemo!"

"No it's not! We need it!"

The young girl is holding her own; trying to keep the doll for the game of House her and her sister are playing.

"Yes it is!" Austin fights back, pulling at the dolls arms, and his sister comes with it.

"No!" Finn shouts, pulling the doll out of her brother's hands in one quick motion, causing him to stumble backwards, before falling onto his bottom.

Finn sticks her tongue out at her brother before returning to her game all smug, taking to her baby and fixing its hair, while Austin's face breaks and he runs up the stairs crying.

"Mommy!" He makes his way through the main floor, checking all the spots his mom might be.

"Mommy isn't here," Castle tells his son as he passes his office. The four year old stops in the doorway, looking at his dad. "She's at work, remember?"

"I need her," Austin insists.

"Do you think I could help?" Castle asks, closing his laptop. Austin shakes his head, looking at his toes with a frown. "Can you tell me what happened?"

"No. Mommy needs to do it."

Rick sighs, running a hand through his hair; the one day he has a deadline to make on his next book is the one day his kids don't have pre-school.

"Do you want me to call her?"

"Yeah," Austin replies, perking up a bit, walking further into the office.

"Okay, come here," Castle picks up his cell phone and dials Kate. "She's at work, and might not answer so we may have to leave a voicemail, okay?"

"Okay," Austin nods, looking at his dad with the phone to his ear.

She answers on the second ring.

"Hey."

"Hey. Can you talk?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Because your son has a problem that apparently only you can solve."

"Oh," She sighs. "Is he there?"

"Yeah, hold on," Castle finishes, passing the phone over.

"Mommy?"

"Hey, buddy!" Kate smiles, leaning back in her desk chair. "What's up?"

"I was playing with it and then Nemo took it from me and she pushed me!" Austin explains in one breath, with matching hand movements.

"She took what?" On a day like this, when everyone is on her case for every little think, Kate would much rather deal with her kids' fights than with everything at work.

"The baby! And it was my turn!"

"Did she ask you for it?"

"Yes," Austin whispers, almost inaudibly.

"And did you tell her you were playing with it?"

"Yes! But she took it anyway!"

"Okay; take a breath," She waits while he does. "Why don't you ask Nemo if you can play with her? Share the baby. Or go get another one. Okay?"

"Okay," Austin says, willing to try and resolve the fight.

"Okay. And if that doesn't work, ask Daddy for help."

"Okay."

"Alright. Give the phone back to Daddy and go play."

"I love you mommy!" She doesn't get to reply, because he's gone a second later.

"Sorry; he wouldn't let me help," Castle says, once Austin has disappeared back downstairs.

"It's fine," She shrugs, thought he can't see her. "Better than dealing with all this bureaucratic Quarterly Review BS we've been doing all day."

"Ouch! Glad I'm not there," he replys sarcastically.

"Of course you are," She laughs as a uniform comes up to her and hands her a file she requested for a case they were working on. "Thanks, LT! Hey, I gotta go."

"I know. I'll see you tonight. I love you."

"Love you too. Bye." And the call ends, and she gets back to work.

[] []

After working for another forty minutes, getting ninety percent finished with what he needs to do by tonight, Castle stands from his desk and stretches, letting out a groan as his back pops. He goes to the bathroom, washes his hands before flicking off the light and standing at the basement door. He can hear the kids playing; the Hot Wheels track still running.

And, using the years of laser tag training, stealthily moves down the stairs to see what they are up to.

Liam and Danielle are in their Jedi robes acting out a lightsaber battle with their plastic versions, with the accompanying sound effects and explosions. He sees Dani get a good hit on her brother and 'chops off' his hand, to which he cries out, falling to his knees. Rick laughs at the sight wishing he had brought his phone with him to take a video of the dramatic ending.

Miyana has taken over the cars and is playing some imaginary game Rick can't figure out on one glance, but she's happy.

And Austin and Finn are playing together at the play kitchen with their baby dolls, and not fighting for once. They are obviously playing House and Austin is holding his baby teaching it how to cook, while Finn and their other 'kids' watch on, waiting for their 'dinner' to be finished.

Rick turns tail back to his office, making sure the kids don't see him and ruin the scene.

[] []

"Here you go, Mommy. This is your dinner," Austin says, handing his sister a plastic plate full of imaginary food.

"Thank you Daddy. You and Elsa did a good job," Finn comments, thanking Austin and their pretend daughter.

"See? We did good," Austin smiles down at the baby doll in his arms; the exact same one the siblings were fighting over an hour before.

Aren't siblings fun? Anyway, hope you liked this little thing. Also? This is a call for requests. What do you want to see out of this world? Message me on here or in a review or find me on Twitter or Tumblr (links in my profile) and I'll see what magic I can make.