Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured on the show Castle, they belong to the creator of the show, ABC and the others who do own them.
A/N #1: Really pleased to see the feedback I ended up getting for the last chapter so I'll start my thank yous for that! TORONTOSUN (I was glad you liked the reference Beckett had about the staring is creepy, lol, I do like throwing back to early stuff like that for them!) and
Mb (It was really nice you thought the last chapter was a great look at them celebrating Halloween with their costumes from the 40s. And I wasn't surprised you laughed and Castle and Beckett remembering their special way taking the kids out trick or treating since you're right, of course they'd remember that! I was glad you thought that it was nice how they went down to the bowling alley, I thought it was time to put that in, lol. I wasn't surprised either that you mentioned Alexis getting closer to the twins being born and I did like the way you put it, making their grand entrance into the world. So pleased you thought the first half was nicely done. You're welcome for the first half! I'm not surprised Julia and Eliza looking at their candy haul took you back, lol, it did for me too. And yeah, you definitely learn who has the good candy as you grow up, lol. I was pleased to see you liked Julia's diary entry, I also thought it would be a fun thing for her to list what everyone was waring. And I had to laugh at you saying it went boom to Castle and Beckett celebrating in their special and intimate way. You're welcome for sharing the second half of the chapter!).
Thanks for the reviews, I loved reading them and appreciate the time taken to write them out and send them my way!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Beautiful Day written by Bono, from the U2 album All That You Can't Leave Behind.
The Heart Is A Bloom
"Will you be alright?" Castle asked his wife as he was putting on his scarf.
"Of course," Beckett replied. "I just hope you won't have any trouble with Josie."
"We won't, she'll walk with us," Julia replied. "And Dad will carry her if she won't."
"I figured," Beckett said with a smile.
"You'll keep an eye on Alexis?" Castle asked while they were walking to the front door.
"I will," Beckett assured him, not surprised he was concerned about their oldest since she had been slowing down more and more while they were going through the first week of November. It had been a week since Halloween that day; the seventh; and though the girls were going back to school that Monday, she and Castle had decided to hold off on writing until after Thanksgiving to make sure they were there for their daughter. "I'll be there for the dance class later so you know," she told the girls.
"We know," Eliza said. "Have fun here though."
"We will," Castle said before his wife could speak. "But you two need to get to school now," he told them firmly.
"Your father's right," Martha said. "Though are you sure you'll be alright?"
"We'll be fine," Beckett said, not annoyed by the question since she was aware everyone was concerned about Alexis. "Get the girls to school." She wasn't surprised when they were saying goodbye to her, and she waved to the girls since Josie was doing so to her. After they were through the door in the wall, she closed and locked it before she made her way to the game room.
"I'm really annoyed," Alexis said as soon as her mother was in the room.
"You'll be able to walk around soon," Beckett assured her, aware of what her oldest was talking about. She then realized her oldest was shifting and she asked, "Are you uncomfortable?"
"No, I… wanted to ask if you would do something for me," Alexis said after she'd stopped herself from moving.
"Go ahead," Beckett replied with a smile.
"Would you… brush my hair for me?" Alexis asked obviously hesitatingly.
"Of course," Beckett said, standing up before her daughter was stopping her.
"And braid it too?" Alexis said in a rush. She was relieved when her mother smiled and nodded, and she leaned back watching her getting her brush and a hair tie.
"Anything special?" Beckett asked.
Shaking her head Alexis said, "Any braid is fine." She then moved to sit towards the end of the bed on the side before she said, "Is that okay?"
"I was about to ask you if it was alright I sit here," Beckett said with a smile. When her oldest nodded she then began to brush out Alexis' red locks saying, "Hopefully you won't mind your dad and I being here with Josie once they're back."
"You'll show her Sesame Street?" Alexis asked, her eyes closed. When her mother said yes, she replied, "I don't mind, I've enjoyed watching it again," before Beckett was speaking with an obvious smile behind her.
"You're preparing?" she asked.
"Starting to," Alexis said. She took her hairbrush once her mother had finished and then said, "It changes your life, doesn't it? Becoming a mother."
"Oh, it does, but believe me it is worth it," Beckett told her. "Though I know how you're feeling, it's a little daunting to be aware of that change."
"But you got through it," Alexis said.
"Three times," Beckett replied with a smile. She finished braiding her daughter's hair and gently hugged her from behind and said, "I know you'll be a great mother." She was a little startled when she heard a sudden sob and asked in concern, "Alexis are you-" before the young woman was turning to her and wrapping her arms around her. Concerned, she held her oldest and gently rubbed her back, murmuring to her until she could tell the young woman was a little calmer. "I hope you're not that scared," she said while Alexis pulled away from her.
"No, I… I couldn't help thinking that I wish you were my birth mother," the young woman replied, trying not to cry again. "I h… Meredith is lacking so much compared to you and if you and Dad had been my birth parents, I would have had an amazing childhood."
Grabbing a tissue from her oldest's nightstand, Beckett handed it to her before she said, "We can't change-"
"No, you don't understand," Alexis said, grabbing her hand tightly and interrupting her. "I've been going through so many memories of our past life with you as my birth mother, and it's been torturing me."
"I'm so sorry," Beckett said gently, watching her oldest drying her eyes.
Shaking her head Alexis said, "You were young when I was born so I'm aware you and Dad being together wouldn't have worked." She threw the tissue in the trash bin near the bed and said, "But I can't help wishing." She then smiled and told her mother, "Did you ever realize I wasn't exactly being truthful about why I wanted to call you mom instead of ma?"
"I had a feeling, but I didn't want to ask," Beckett said, taking her oldest's hands. "I appreciated you wanted to." She was a little surprised when Alexis suddenly wrapped her arms around her again, but she was soon smiling since the young woman wasn't crying that time.
"I love you Mom," Alexis told her a little tearfully.
"I love you too Alexis," Beckett said seriously. She then had her lean back and told her, "Thank you for that."
"It needed to be said," Alexis replied before she was reaching down to her stomach. "I want these two to know I love their grandma."
"So do I," Beckett said before her eyes were widening slightly when her oldest was groaning and leaning into her. "Alexis?" she asked in concern, though she soon had an idea of what was going on and immediately looked at her father's watch. She waited until her oldest wasn't holding onto her tightly anymore before she said, "They're ready now."
"Yeah, that was a contraction," Alexis said, breathing heavily. She watched her mother standing up and was about to ask if it was a good idea to leave when she was making her get back on the bed. "What about the hospital?" she asked.
"I want to get an idea of how far apart they're going to be," Beckett said, looking at her father's watch. "Also I'd like your dad to get back to help me."
"True," Alexis said, breathing out and putting her hands on her abdomen. She was waiting, trying not to become too tense before she felt the wave of pain beginning in the small of her back again.
Holding firmly to Alexis' hand, Beckett gently caressed her hair with her other hand until the young woman was calming down. "I'll call him to see where he is," she told her oldest, getting her phone before she paused as the ringing sound for the door in the front wall sounded. "Never mind," she said before her daughter was clutching at her hand tightly.
"Don't leave me alone, please," Alexis pleaded.
"I won't," Beckett said swiftly in reassurance. She waited for the sound of the door opening before she called out, "Rick."
Racing down the hall, Castle found his wife holding their oldest's hand tightly and he asked, "Contractions?"
"Sixteen minutes," Beckett replied.
"Okay, it's time to go," Castle said.
"Her bag," Jim said, grabbing it from the credenza. "Should we get the girls?"
"Please," Alexis said before her parents could respond. "I want everyone to be there… Louis."
"I'll call him now," Martha said while her son was picking Alexis up in his arms. They left the room then and she watched Beckett open the front door before she called, "We'll see you at the hospital darling."
"You're sitting with her?" Castle asked his wife.
"I am," Beckett replied before she sat next to their oldest in the backseat. "Take it easy love," she then said as she grabbed the handle for the door, not surprised when he was responding immediately.
"I will, I just want to get her there," Castle said before his wife was closing the door. He hurried to the driver's seat and got in, making his way to the hospital as soon as they were out of the driveway.
"Will Louis take that long to get there?" Alexis asked her mother.
"Your gram was making the call while I was leaving the entry," Castle told her. "I would say ten, fifteen minutes," he added. He glanced in the rearview mirror and watched her nod before he looked back out the window. Since it was a little later in the morning there wasn't much traffic, and he was able to reach the hospital in good time. Pulling up to the front he called as he exited the car, "My daughter is in labor."
"I have a chair sir," a nurse said, hurrying out to the back of the car.
With the man's help, Beckett got Alexis settled before she told her husband, "I'll meet you in the waiting room." She wasn't surprised when Castle merely nodded before getting back in the car to park it. She had to turn her attention to Alexis because the young woman was going through another contraction and held her hand until they were inside and going to the maternity ward. At the room her daughter was given she helped her stand before the young woman was groaning when her water broke. She helped her out of her clothes and into the gown the nurse handed to her before she had her oldest settled on the bed while she was speaking in embarrassment.
"I was hoping that wouldn't happen," Alexis said.
"That happened to me when I gave birth to Eliza," Beckett replied, getting the sheet over her. "I was out in front still when I was in labor with Josie."
"So it's not that embarrassing," Alexis said.
"Especially since you can't control it," Beckett told her with a smile. She wasn't surprised when her oldest was grabbing her hand a little tightly and said reassuringly, "Louis will be here soon."
"Yeah, I just… I want him here now," Alexis replied before she was hearing jogging outside.
"It sounds like he is," Beckett said with a smile, squeezing at her hand before they were looking at the doorway when Louis walked in.
"Are you alright?" the young man asked, obviously looking agitated.
"Now I am," Alexis said, reaching her other hand out to him before her mother was squeezing her hand and standing up.
"You'll do wonderfully," Beckett assured her daughter, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her forehead. "And we can't wait to meet them."
"You both will be first," Louis said while she was making her way to the doorway.
Glancing back at the couple, Beckett smiled at the sight of her son in law giving a fervent kiss to Alexis and she left the room. Seeing her husband standing at the desk in the waiting room, she said, "Alexis is fine, her water broke so hopefully it won't be too much longer."
"And she'll be okay giving birth," Castle said while he was allowing his wife to lead him to the chairs.
"The doctor hadn't come in yet," Beckett said before she paused when she spotted Dr. Hargrove.
"Is it weird if she's the one that delivers the twins?" Castle asked.
"No," Beckett said slowly while they were sitting down and then waving to the doctor when she did so to them. "I think the doctor who was with me for my three births was with Alexis…"
"Right… I guess he was from San Francisco," Castle said slowly, recalling from their past life. "But at least she'll be in good hands."
"She will," Beckett said, taking his hand again and squeezing at it gently.
Castle was about to ask if their oldest was alright when he saw one of the elevator doors was opening before the rest of their family was walking out. "They're going to be worried," he murmured to his wife.
"Speaking of," Beckett said teasingly before he was frowning at her briefly. She turned her attention to their daughters, picking up Josie and saying to the girls talking at the same time, "She's fine and the twins haven't been born yet."
"So that means she isn't okay," Eliza said, the concern obvious in her tone.
"The doctor went in to see her and there are nurses," Castle said, speaking rapidly when his wife was giving him a pointed look. "And Louis of course, we forgot about him," he added, frowning slightly. He looked at Julia and Eliza when they laughed a little at his expression and he made them come to him before he hugged them saying, "She'll be well taken care of."
"She didn't want you to go in with her Mom?" Julia asked.
"No, and that's fine I only had your dad with me when I gave birth to your sisters," Beckett replied. When the teen nodded, she said, "You wanted to come?"
"Yeah, I couldn't pay attention if I knew 'lexis was going to have the twins," Eliza said seriously.
"I'm not surprised," Beckett said, reaching for her and bringing her into an embrace with her free arm. Pressing a kiss to her forehead she warned the girls, "This might take a little time."
"We know, we brought our homework," Julia said.
"We would have been here sooner, but the teachers were giving the principal their assignments," Jim explained.
"Luckily they allowed them to leave," Martha added. "Do you think you'll be able to finish your homework?"
"Yeah," Julia said, seeing her sister was nodding her head rapidly. "Should we start now?"
"That would be a good idea," Beckett said before she watched as the two girls were getting their things out of their backpacks.
"Are we going to have lunch here?" Eliza asked.
"More than likely," Castle said. "But don't worry, their cafeteria food is pretty good. They need to cook for patients too."
"Is 'lexis hungry?" Eliza then inquired.
"She can't really eat right now," Beckett said. "And she won't want to either. Don't worry sweetie, she'll be fine." She made sure Eliza was nodding before she turned to her backpack, and she was looking at her husband. "You should go on your phone," she told him.
Smiling at her, Castle said, "I'll pass, I might help Eliza if she needs my help," adding the last in a rush since their second youngest was glancing at them.
"Mama, I want to play," Josie said.
"Oh, I brought her bag as well," Martha said.
"She has a bag?" Eliza asked, startled.
"We packed it just in case we'd be here in the day," Castle said.
"Oh, what would have happened if the babies were born at night?" Julia asked.
"You would have stayed at home," Castle said.
"Don't give him that look," Beckett told Eliza teasingly. "You would have needed to sleep." She watched the little girl nodding before she turned her attention to her homework again. Looking at the bag for Josie, she pulled out a book and said, "Mind if I read to you first?"
"No," Josie said firmly before she settled against her mother and looked at the book she was holding in front of them both while she read.
Since Eliza didn't need much help, Castle was watching his wife and listening to her reading though he glanced every so often at the nurse's station. When she finished, he said, "I noticed the counting bears are here."
"So are her Duplo bricks," Beckett replied.
"Awesome, I was hoping you'd give the green light," Castle said, smiling when his wife rolled her eyes before he was getting the set at the same time Josie cried out.
"I want to play," the toddler said eagerly.
"We will," Castle assured her.
"You better put the bricks on the table," Beckett told him.
"Sure," Castle said, moving the container and dumping the contents before Josie was on kneeling at the table to start putting the brightly colored blocks together. "I guess she's on her own," he told his wife.
Reaching over to him, Beckett squeezed at his hand and told him, "I think she wants to be."
"We'll play with her," Julia commented. "After we do our homework," she added hurriedly when her parents turned to her.
"Don't worry, we figured you would," Castle said. "But don't rush."
"I won't," Julia said, looking at her grandparents. She saw her grandmother was on her phone and her grandfather was reading a book before she turned her attention to her math homework she wanted to finish first.
Watching Josie putting together blocks, Castle and Beckett were appreciative of her efforts when she was showing them before they joined her until her sisters could take over in their wait.
After they'd eaten lunch between eleven and twelve, Castle and Beckett were watching their three daughters playing together when they looked up and spotted Louis hurrying down the hall.
"Stay with Josie," Beckett told the others while she and her husband stood up and hastened to the young man.
"Is she alright?" Castle asked, trying not to let his voice become too loud with his concern and scare the girls.
"She's getting closer to actually giving birth," Louis said rapidly. "But she's stressing herself out, she wants you there with her, Kate."
"Of course," Beckett said before she was turning to her husband.
"Go, if you'll be able to help her I want you in there," Castle said firmly before she was embracing him. Responding to her he said, "I'll talk to the girls. Go."
Kissing his cheek, Beckett turned to Louis and they were hurrying together back to the Alexis' room. She washed her hands quickly and went straight to her oldest's side while Louis went to the other. Holding her hand with both of hers she said, "I'm here Alexis, relax okay?"
"I couldn't… I kept remembering before," Alexis said.
Nodding Beckett said, "I was too."
"Alright Alexis," Dr. Hargrove said while she was checking on the young woman. "I hope you're ready now." When Alexis nodded, she then said, "Hello again Kate."
"Will she be okay?" Beckett asked after nodding to the doctor.
"As long as she listens to my instructions," Hargrove replied.
"I will," Alexis said.
"Then when I tell you to begin pushing, please do so," Hargrove said.
"Was Dad mad that you came in here?" Alexis asked after she'd nodded to the doctor.
"No, he urged me to come," Beckett said, gently caressing her oldest's hair. "I think he wants you to have extra help."
"I'm not surprised," Alexis said with a smile before it was dropping off her face. She groaned and began to shift before her husband and mother were stopping her. She began to push while Hargrove was telling her to, her mother and her husband holding onto her hands and allowing her to squeeze at them. When she was permitted to stop, she was breathing heavily and soon felt her forehead being dabbed with something wet. "Thank you," she breathed to her mother. "How long do I have to do this?"
Smiling Beckett said, "They're in a hurry so hopefully you'll keep doing as good as you are now."
"Am I?" Alexis breathed.
"You are," Hargrove said reassuringly. "And she's right, these two are in a hurry."
Turning her attention to Alexis when the doctor was telling her to begin pushing again, Beckett made sure she was dabbing at her daughter's forehead and face when she stopped. Since she didn't have a clock to look at, she had no idea how long the young woman was pushing, but finally Hargrove was telling them the head was crowning and Louis on the other side of the bed was talking to her reassuringly.
"You're nearly there belle," the young man was saying, squeezing her hand before he kissed her cheek. "And then we'll see who wanted to be here first."
Beckett watched Alexis nod and she said, "It'll go quickly now."
"And then the next," the young woman breathed. Looking up at her mother, Alexis smiled and said, "I wanted to do this."
"I'm not surprised," Beckett replied before her oldest was beginning to groan again. She looked down at Hargrove when, after Alexis had been pushing for a little, there was the sound of a baby's cry.
"It's your son," Hargrove said with a smile, standing fully and showing the baby to the three.
"He's beautiful," Alexis breathed, looking at him before he was handed to a nurse. She leaned back fully and breathed to her husband and mother, "He's okay."
"He is, carrying on like that," Louis agreed, smiling when his wife breathed out a laugh before he kissed her gently on the lips.
"He is," Beckett said when Alexis looked at her. "Relax though, you don't know how much longer until his sister will join us."
Nodding, Alexis settled back on the bed and reached up to her hair which had loosened from the braid it was in. She was staring over at the side of the room where her son was, when she was rising up off the bed again at the contraction that went through her.
"Five minutes?" Louis asked his mother-in-law.
"Don't let him lord it over her," Beckett said with a slight smile before they turned their attention fully to Alexis while she was pushing again. It didn't take long before the baby was born, and she was smiling at the sight of her crying as loudly as her twin brother. She turned her attention to her oldest and said, "You did wonderfully."
"Thank you," Alexis replied weakly. "I want to hold them," she then said, trying to speak as firmly as she could before her husband was responding soothingly.
"You will Lex," Louis reassured her. "Our little girl just needs to be cleaned and taken care of before we can hold them."
"Are you leaving?" Alexis said, turning to her mother who was straightening up next to her.
"I am, you two deserve to be alone with your babies," Beckett explained, setting aside the washcloth she had been using. Turning back to her oldest she pressed a kiss to the top of her head before telling her, "I love you, Alexis."
"I love you too Mom," she replied quickly. "We'll ask you and Dad to come in first."
"And we're sure about it," Louis said rapidly.
Smiling at them both, Beckett said, "Then just let us know when you want us to see you." She squeezed Alexis' hand that had been holding hers and let it go before she went around to Louis. Sharing a brief hug with him she congratulated them both on becoming parents before she was leaving the room. Stepping out to the waiting room she wasn't surprised when her husband was glancing her way before he rushed out of his chair to her, speaking before she had a chance to.
"Are they here?" Castle asked his wife in a hurry.
"Yes," Beckett said, unable to keep the amusement out of her tone at the way he'd worded that. "And all three of them are fine. Even Louis… even though he was a little pale when the first baby was born." Smiling to herself for a moment she shook her head and then told him, "We're grandparents love."
"I guess we are," Castle said, squeezing her hand before he pulled her into his embrace. They held each other until their daughters were approaching them and when he turned to them, he saw their parents were there as well.
"Are the babies born?" Eliza asked her mother hopefully.
"They are," Beckett said. "And everyone's okay." She couldn't help laughing when the girls were exclaiming, and she and Castle calmed them down.
"Did they name them?" Julia asked.
"They probably are right now," Beckett answered.
"When will we be able to see them?" Julia then inquired.
"They want us to go in first," Beckett said, indicating herself and her husband. "And after I'm sure they'll want you to go in. But give them time, they've only been parents for… five minutes."
"How far apart were they?" Martha said.
"Five minutes," Beckett replied with a smile. "And I think they want to tell you everything else you're wondering."
"You didn't ask?" Jim asked his daughter in surprise.
"I felt the need to let them be alone with their family," Beckett replied, not surprised when he nodded in understanding. She turned back to the girls before Josie was holding her hands up to her while she spoke.
"Mama I am the baby," the toddler said.
"You are," Beckett said, picking her up. "But Alexis and Louis have two babies now."
"Two?" Josie asked, her eyes wide.
"Yes, twins," Castle said. "And that means you're an aunt now."
"Me?" Josie giggled.
"Us too," Julia said.
"Yeah, we're all aunts," Eliza added. She then said, "That means Erin and Ella are too, right?"
"And Arthur an uncle," Castle told them. "We better go sit until they're ready for us."
"It won't be that long," Martha said when she spotted Eliza frowning.
"I hope not, I want to see the babies really soon," the little girl said.
"Were you guys putting something together while I was gone?" Beckett asked, spotting the bricks on the table.
"Yeah, Josa wanted to make a building," Julia said in obvious amusement. "But… it's kind of weird."
"It would never pass the standards in California," Castle commented, smiling when his wife laughed briefly.
"Let me see the building," Beckett said, setting Josie down.
"I don't know if it's finished yet," Eliza said, picking it up.
"Well… we have to stay for a little longer so I'm sure she'll want to keep building it," Beckett replied with a smile.
"Are we going to stay all day?" Eliza asked.
"That depends on Alexis and Louis I think," Martha commented. "But I would imagine they won't have us stay that much longer."
"When does 'lexis get to come home?" Eliza said.
"Their home," Beckett reminded her. "And more than likely your sister will be allowed to go home tomorrow."
"What about the twins?" Julia asked, having easily noticed her mother hadn't mentioned them.
"They need to see how they're doing," Beckett explained. "I'm sure once we go in to see them, they'll know how they are."
"How much longer?" Eliza asked, looking towards where the rooms were.
"Easy," Castle told her. "We'll have to wait for when they're ready." He wasn't surprised when his wife gently squeezed his hand and returned the squeeze before he said, "I think Josie wants to get back to the apartment building anyway." Once the girls had turned their attention back to the bricks he told his wife, "I'm impatient too."
Smiling at her husband speaking in Irish, Beckett replied in the same language, "Me too." She glanced at the hallway and then saw their son in law was walking down it before she touched his arm. Standing with him as the young man motioned for them to stop, she said, "Everything okay?"
"The doctor was very pleased with their development," Louis replied. "Though we did tell her Lex's doctor moved the original due date to the end of this month."
"Will they be able to go back home tomorrow?" Castle said.
"Yes, but we were advised to wait until the end of the week to have the rest of you all over at the house at the same time," Louis said. "So come for dinner on Saturday."
"We have to wait that long?" Eliza asked in disappointment.
"To be safe," Louis explained before he turned to his in laws. "I hope you're ready to come see them," not surprised when his father-in-law was responding swiftly.
"We've been ready," Castle said. "Is she okay to see us though?"
"She's much stronger now," Louis said while he was nodding his head. He smiled and then said, "Now she can hold them." Looking at his sisters in law he told them, "She'll want you three to come next."
"She saves the best for last," Martha said when the young man then glanced at her and Jim.
Smiling when the girls were laughing, Beckett kissed the three of them quickly and said, "Listen to your grandparents. And your big sister," directing the latter to her two youngest.
"We will," Julia said, giving Eliza a look when she was pursing her lips.
"Yeah," the little girl finally said.
After they'd left their family, Castle and Beckett were walking after Louis, glancing at the young man before he said, "So you're happy?"
Stopping abruptly, Louis asked, "Am I walking weird? Please don't say I'm strutting," adding the last in a rush.
"No, but you're a little more… bouncy," Castle said. "The pride is obvious."
Laughing briefly Louis said, "I can't help it."
"I understand," Castle said before they were starting to walk again, Louis going with them that time. When they entered the room, he couldn't help pausing at the sight of Alexis on the bed with two swaddled newborns in her arms. "Alexis," he told her with a smile, walking inside with his wife and their son in law.
"I hope they told you I'm fine," Alexis told her father firmly.
"They did," Castle said. "And seeing you now I see how right they are." Reaching the bed, he kissed her forehead and said, "You look beautiful."
"Thank you, Dad," Alexis replied, smiling at him. "Did Mom tell you who was first?" At the shake of her father's head, she smiled a little wider and told him, "He was. But she wasn't far behind."
"That was the only thing I told them," Beckett said.
"That's fine," Alexis said. "And now you want to know their names."
"That would be nice," Castle commented. "I don't want to keep saying 'hey kid.'"
Laughing briefly, Alexis said, looking back and forth between her parents, "We named our son Finn Alexander."
"Alexis-" Castle started to say with a frown.
"No, it's tradition and I talked about it with Jules and Lizzy, and they were fine with us using the name," Alexis interrupted him firmly.
"You mean they knew already?" Castle asked in mock annoyance.
Alexis was about to answer but paused when her son made a soft noise, and she smiled before kissing his forehead. Raising her head, she then said, "I didn't tell them I was going to use it for sure. I told them I might once we saw him and they said I could if they wanted to."
"It's a great name," Beckett said, gently touching the baby's shoulder.
"And our granddaughter?" Castle asked.
"Emma Abigail," Louis said.
"That was your mother's middle name too," Castle said.
"You don't mind?" Louis asked.
"After you gave your son my family's middle name? I'd be evil protesting," Castle said. "And they're both great names."
"You can hold them now," Alexis said. "Since I can tell you want to," she added before her mother was leaning over first as she spoke.
"Obviously," Beckett told her with a smile, taking Finn. Making sure her grandson was alright in her hold she looked on while her husband was taking Emma. "I hope you two are prepared tomorrow night," she said.
"Dr. Hargrove talked to me," Alexis replied with a smile. "And we looked into everything we could about the best way to handle twins so… we'll do the best we can." She watched her parents for a moment and then asked her mother, "So did I fulfill your request?"
"You did," Beckett said, looking down at the feathery red locks on Finn's head. "But like your sisters having your dad's eyes, it wasn't required."
"Oh I know, but I was aware it was going to happen anyway," Alexis replied while she squeezed her husband's hand which had taken hers.
"So… should we switch?" Castle asked his wife after they'd been holding the twins for a little longer.
"I'll help," Louis said, walking over to them. He held Finn while his father-in-law was giving Emma to Beckett and let him hold his son. "We were thinking of calling her Emmie," he commented as he made sure the blanket around his daughter was secure.
"I'm not surprised," Beckett replied. "But can we all call her that?"
"Of course," Alexis said. "The nickname was just so Jules would feel closer to me you know."
"I do," Beckett said, watching while Emma's eyes were opening. She smiled at her granddaughter's gaze though it wasn't focused for long, and her eyes were closing again. "Alright, I think we better let the others come in," she said after a few more minutes. She let Louis take the baby and watched her husband going to their oldest.
"They're beautiful sweetheart," Castle said seriously while he was handing his daughter Finn.
"I agree," Alexis said, smiling lovingly at the baby. She felt her father hugging her gently before she told him, "I'm fine."
"I know, that's a thank you for making us grandparents," Castle said, glancing next to him at his wife since she'd stepped up to the bed.
"He's right," Beckett said with a smile. "Even though you thought he wouldn't want it yet. Speaking of grandparents, did you get in touch with Brennan and Clara?"
"I did," Louis replied. "But I have to call them again, say them not coming until this weekend really works."
"They couldn't leave?" Castle asked.
"Not with Erin having school and all," Louis said with a nod before he looked at his wife pointedly.
"What's going on?" Beckett asked, surprised when her oldest rolled her eyes.
"I haven't gotten in touch with Meredith," Alexis muttered, taking her son's hand gently.
"You'll have to," Castle said, getting out of the way of Beckett so she could give Emma to their daughter. "She does deserve to know."
"And when she gets here?" Alexis asked.
"That you have to discuss with her," Castle said. "She knows she's not welcome at our house."
"I think us being able to tell her how little sleep we've gotten might help," Louis commented. "And I'll handle her the best I can."
"And me," Alexis said pointedly.
"Right… I was going to handle it for you," Louis said before he was explaining why he'd said that.
"We'll let the girls come in now," Beckett said since the two were smiling at each other. "And after your grandparents see them?"
"You don't need to stay," Alexis said swiftly. "Unless… you're not going to make them go back to school, are you?"
"No, they've done their homework for the day already," Beckett answered.
"And I think they've been talking about doing everything we have at home," Castle said.
"If you were going to ask if I was okay with it that then yes, I am," Alexis said. "I'm in no shape to do anything at the moment and I wouldn't want my sisters to have to wait."
"They won't," Beckett said in amusement before she was leaning into the young woman. She hugged her warmly but was mindful of the babies and started to pull back before her daughter was stopping her.
"You know you called me sweetie while I was in labor," Alexis said.
"I realized," Beckett said. "You don't mind?"
"No, remember how I eventually started calling you mom?" Alexis asked her. "Same thing."
Kissing the top of her daughter's head Beckett said, "We'll come in again before we leave and be here tomorrow when you get released."
"She's right," Castle said swiftly when he realized his daughter was going to protest. "We don't have much else to do."
"And we can write once you're home," Beckett added.
"Alright," Alexis said. "I'm assuming this is because we won't see you until Saturday?"
"It is," Castle said. "You're going to have to get used to us being a little greedy about spending time with them."
"We expected it," Louis commented, smiling when his wife laughed.
After telling the two goodbye, Castle and Beckett walked out to the waiting room, not surprised when their daughters were meeting them before Julia was speaking first while her little sisters were watching her.
"Can we go in now?" the teen asked.
"Yes, you two need to stay with your sister going to the room and coming," Beckett told them.
"You're not gonna come with us?" Eliza asked, startled.
"That's a little too many people in the room," Castle answered.
"And Josa?" Julia asked.
"We're trusting you to keep an eye on her," Beckett said, not surprised when her second oldest was nodding firmly. "And your sister is in room 103."
When the three weren't leaving them, Castle couldn't help laughing and he said, "You can go now, you should hurry so your sister can get some rest once we go home."
Though she wanted to make sure they weren't going back to school, Eliza let Julia take her hand and Josie's before they were walking down the hall. Outside the room they quickly washed their hands at a nurse's instruction before continuing. The room wasn't that far down, and she gasped seeing Alexis holding two babies while they stood at the threshold. "They're really here," she said.
"Hello to the pair of you too," Louis said jokingly. "Come inside though and meet your niece and nephew."
"We're really aunts now," Julia said, picking up Josie when the toddler was trying to pull away. "Don't worry, those babies are our family now," she told her as she went to the bed.
"I am a baby," Josie said in protest.
"Of our family," Julia said firmly. "But these two are their babies."
"She's right," Alexis said, smiling at the sight of Josie obviously thinking about that.
"What're their… I mean which one was born first?" Eliza started to say before she corrected herself.
"Our son," Louis answered before his wife burst out laughing to their surprise before she spoke once she had calmed down.
"I'm surprised at you Lizzy, I know you want to hear what their names are," Alexis explained.
"Well… I didn't want to say it that fast," Eliza replied. "But… what are their names?"
"His name is Finn Alexander," Alexis said after sharing a look with her husband.
"Oh so you did use it," Julia said with a smile.
"Finn?" Josie asked.
"Yeah, that's his name," Louis said when his wife looked at him pointedly. "It's from Irish legends though the name was spelled f-i-o-n-n."
"So his is f-i-n-n?" Julia asked. When her sister nodded, she then said, "How did Dad react to his middle name?"
"He was touched," Alexis said. "And very happy we continued it."
"Good," Eliza said firmly. "What about our niece?"
Smiling at how firmly her sister was speaking, Alexis answered by saying, "We named her Emma Abigail."
"Oh, that's a pretty name," Eliza said immediately.
"She's right," Julia agreed. "Is there something special about her name?"
"Her middle name is my mum's middle name," Louis explained.
"Oh, that's a pretty name," Eliza said.
"Are their last names just going to be McCollough?" Julia then asked.
"No, Castle-McCollough," Alexis replied. "I hope you're ready to hold them," she then said, not surprised at her sister's immediate reaction.
"Of course," Julia said. She waited for Louis to get Finn and she held her arms out before she had her nephew in her arms. "Hello Finn," she said to the baby with a smile since he was looking at her before he opened his mouth and turned his head.
"He's really cute," Eliza said, looking at the baby. "Can I hold them too?" she asked the two.