A/N: To the fandom...thank you for giving me a place...

Family Practice

Sequel to Medical Attention: Balancing life in a blended family can be hard enough, but when a pipe dream becomes a reality, can they survive with all pieces intact?

Epilogue

'To the extraordinary KB

My love

My wife

This is for you.

Always.'

"I can't look."

Her husband whined, pacing around the kitchen before placing the newspaper in her hand.

They had been in the middle of making breakfast when the thud of the paper delivery sounded outside the front door. Rick had nearly jumped out of his skin, rushing to grab it, but after flinging the door open to reach for the Times; he completely froze. His fingers seemed useless as she watched him fumble with the pages, his nerves apparently shot.

She hadn't ever seen him like this with his medical practice. He had confidence in that career. The stress of publishing his first novel, however, had left him treading in uncharted territory.

He didn't need to worry though; the book was amazing, even if she was biased in her opinion.

"Man up, Mr. Castle," she laughed, snatching the paper from his hands and opening up to the page that was causing him such anxiety.

"Kate, you're not playing fair. You know what it does to me when you call me that."

"Well, it looks like I'll be calling you that for many years to come." A smile split wide across her face, the joy laced in the tone of her words. She knew he didn't have anything to worry about. Sales were through the roof.

"Wha – really?"

"Number one, Babe!"

"How? I'm – on the New York Times' list? For my first…" His words failed him. He was left standing there speechless, mouth open, before he woke from his daze, pulling Kate against him in a life affirming hug.

"I never doubted you would be." Kate reached forward on her tip toes, grazing her mouth against his. "I'm so proud of you."

"I could've never done it without you," he said, skimming his hands down her sides and squeezing her hips.

He was always so grateful, yet never fully appreciative of his value in his own accomplishments. Rick's self deprecating personality around her was different from the public image that everyone else saw. He was confident and strong to the world; yet Rick had allowed himself to be vulnerable around her.

He never believed how truly talented he was.

"You wrote it all by yourself," she hummed, scratching her nails through the fine hairs at the base of his neck. "You."

"With you backing my play, every step of the way." He brushed his knuckles under her shirt to graze the bare skin of her stomach, dropping his voice low to lean closer into her warmth. "Do you know how amazing you are?"

She sighed, falling forward into his touch.

"Only amazing because of you."

"Guys, seriously," Alexis whined, clearing her throat from the kitchen table across the room where she was sitting with Liam and Charlotte. "Some of us would like to eat breakfast and keep it down. You're making me a little nauseous."

Heat flared on her cheeks, as they both jumped apart and turned toward Alexis. They had lost themselves in the moment. Wasn't the first time that happened to them and probably not the last time either…

The kids will probably need therapy someday because of it.

"Sorry, Pumpkin. Kate gets carried away sometimes," Rick teased, glancing over his shoulder at Kate, before walking toward the table to join the kids.

"Yes, it's totally my fault," she replied dryly, tossing a kitchen towel at the back of his head.

"Mommy, please bring the bacon. Charlie is starting to cry for it," Liam stated, innocently, clearing a spot on his plate with his fork. A perfectly bacon sized spot.

"Yes, your baby sister who doesn't eat solid food is crying for bacon," she joked, carrying the final part of their meal to her hungry family.

"Or maybe it's my bacon eating monster of a brother," Alexis added.

"Maybe?" he giggled.

"Good try, Buddy. But I agree, your mom makes the best bacon," Rick said, reaching for a piece from the plate and handing it to their son. She probably should start making some more shortly; the two of them could finish that plate by themselves. It was usually a fight for her or Alexis to snag a piece at all.

Maybe a slight exaggeration.

But not really.

"So, Dad. Are you going to be famous now?" Alexis asked, quirking her eyebrow with her question as Liam followed his big sister and did the same.

"No," Rick chuckled as Kate scoffed at his answer.

"Probably…" she disagreed.

"Kate."

"Don't give me that look, Rick. Your first novel and it's already top of the charts?" He needed to be more realistic with what he could achieve. She shook her head and took a sip of her freshly made latte.

She had no doubt that someday soon she'd have to fight the fans off with a stick.

Well maybe not a stick, but it could be useful on certain days.

"That doesn't necessarily mean fame."

"No, but Paula has you scheduled for enough interviews to have fangirls everywhere drooling." She laughed at the idea of all the little Richard Castle groupies waiting to get a glimpse of the brilliant man behind the words. "Just in time for the cross country book signings…"

"Which I'm still not looking forward to," Rick grumbled, taking a bite of his omelet. He had demanded they make his special smorlette creation, but had eventually conceded to the traditional western variety.

"I don't necessarily love the idea of you being gone that entire time, but you know we're going to meet up at the end of it in L.A. for our vacation."

She didn't want to admit to him that the only way she could handle that long away from each other was the promise of the family trip. They barely spent a day without seeing each other.

Weeks?

Totally foreign territory for their family.

"That's going to be a long two and a half weeks before you guys fly out." He reached forward and squeezed his daughter's hand before Liam held out his hand for a high five.

"We'll miss you, Dad, but that's what Skype is for," Alexis said, a slight smile forced on her lips. Kate knew how concerned his eldest was about the book tour, but she seemed to be holding it together for his sake.

"Yeah, Daddy. We can see you on our computer."

Kate grinned at Liam's statement. What Alexis said was never anything but the truth in his mind.

"Obviously, our tech savvy kids will make it work until we're there with you. We're behind you, one hundred percent. Just make sure you have security there to keep the hoards of women in line," she shot with a wink before biting down on soft pink of her bottom lip, holding back a laugh.

"And if not…" Rick teased, his eyes daring.

"Tell them your wife is a scary cop."

"Not scary. Hot," Rick corrected, his eyes running down her, heating her skin with his stare. He had a smug smile on his face, knowing exactly what he was doing to her. Rick complimenting her shouldn't affect her the way it did, not after all this time.

It shouldn't, but it had.

It always would.

The fact that he still found her hot after having two kids. She loved him more every day for it.

Alexis coughed, fake in every way, snapping Kate from her internal musings.

"Children still present," she grumbled into her orange juice.

Damn.

Black Pawn threw a press party to celebrate the successful launch of Heat Wave. Both Gina and Paula had promised it would be low key, only a few members of the press and then mostly people working with or for the company. However, after an hour of being here, he had shaken way too many hands and forced way too many smiles.

He had completely lost track of Kate in the process.

His eyes traveled around the room, in search of his wife, but instead of finding her in the crowd, he noticed Paula making a beeline toward him.

"So Ricky, are you ready to give up being a doctor?" she asked, taking a large gulp from her champagne flute. Her question didn't entirely set in at first as he watched all the party-goers laugh and chat, all seemingly happy with alcohol flowing freely.

Perhaps he had been a little buzzed as well, the only reasonable explanation for the delay in realizing what his agent said.

"I don't think it's something I could ever entirely give up," he said, his words warm and honest. Medicine would be a part of him, no matter where life took him.

All this could go away in a flash, but he could always go back to his practice and be there to help his patients.

"Even for a three book deal?"

His jaw dropped, unable to control it as his mouth just gaped open. There was no way that could be right. After he just released his first book? They had mentioned it on a contingent basis, but it was never a sure thing. In fact, he had been told by Gina that it would be rare if it would happen.

"Three books?" he sputtered.

"The contingency deal is gone." He squeezed his bicep, downing the rest of the glass. "You're on your way up in the publishing world and Black Pawn wants to make sure they're around for it."

He needed to have more of a game face when it came to news like this because he was sure he looked foolish standing there wide eyed. The news sparked across his skin like electricity.

Astonishing.

"That's – wow. I'm shocked."

"So can I close the deal?" she asked, pushing him on the chest, partly to shake him out of his own thoughts.

"Paula, three books is amazing. Seriously, I'm nearly speechless, but I have to talk to Kate first."

"Or you could just buy her something pretty and tell your wife how much money you're going to make."

"No. It's never about the money with her."

Money was useful, of course, but she never wanted flashy gifts. All she cared about was keeping their family secure and happy. The rest was details to her.

Plus, he wouldn't ever do this without her. Rick needed her to be part of this decision. This would affect their family dynamic, their day to day. He'd be surprised if she didn't continue to be supportive, but she needed to know before the official go ahead was given.

"It's always about money," Paula scoffed. He bit his tongue. Tonight wasn't the time to bicker with her about her assumptions.

Not worth the time or the energy.

"I think you should go and enjoy the party," he suggested, a smile tight on his lips.

"I'd like to tell them tonight."

Rick nodded. "I'm going to find Kate." He didn't agree with her approach to some things, but he appreciated her eagerness to get work done.

"Hey, Mr. Castle. Enjoying the party," Kate growled into his ear, her lips brushing against his skin.

Spinning around to face her, Rick's face was glowing as he wrapped his arms around the soft black satin hugging her hips.

"I was looking for you," he said, leaning down to press a kiss against her lips, far too brief for her liking, but soon enough they'd be wrapped in each other's arms in the privacy of their bedroom walls. She could hold out until then, as long as he could behave.

"You're a natural with all these industry types." She cupped her palm along the freshly formed stubble on his jaw, soothing her thumb against the tired purple skin underneath his eye. With the launch this week, Rick hadn't had as much sleep as he should. Hopefully he could allow his body to relax tomorrow.

"Fake it until you make it, right?" he asked with a laugh.

"You're not faking it, Rick. Like I said, you're a natural."

She could tell there was something he needed to say, something he found out tonight. His body was buzzing with it.

"I hope so." His smile grew, crinkling his eyes along the way. He was elated. "They want to finalize the deal, Kate. Three books."

"Three – three books?"

"No longer contingent. Officially three books," he said with a nod. His grin never faltered.

"Oh my God! Rick! That's amazing!" she shrieked, reaching forward and wrapping her arms around his neck, pressing her mouth hard against his.

"So you're really okay with me doing this for longer? More books? More parties and press?"

His hesitation. His concern. That made her love him even more. He was excited about the prospect of really turning this into a career, but he still wanted, needed her blessing.

He was too good to be true on most days.

"Babe, as long as you're happy," she said, carding her fingers through the stray strands of his hair. "The kids and I? We're happy. You constantly give yourself to everyone else and it's time for you to live your dreams."

Rick sighed, leaning against her palm and relaxing in the feel of her caress.

"I love you Mrs. Rodgers."

"And I love you, Dr. Rodgers." She pressed her body closer, needing to be as close as possible; her mouth seeking his. "But right now, it's time for you to be Mr. Castle."

"Only if you'll be my Mrs. Castle."

She hadn't ever considered herself Mrs. Castle, but if he continued to be a Castle in the public, maybe she should as well.

"I'll be your wife, no matter what name you use."

"No matter where life takes us," Rick murmured into her ear, leading them to the dance floor to join the other couples swaying to the song beat.

"It's about the journey."

Tonight with him.

It was perfect.

"Our story," he said, a smile never leaving his lips and frankly it had never left hers either.

"Of our family."

The End

And that's all for this little tale...

I hope you all love this family as much as I do, as I plan to revisit this universe again in the future.

Thank you for reading and reviewing and all the messages of love. They mean more than you will ever know.

To my lovely beta squad...you make my words readable to others. Thank you for that and your friendship.

Until next time...

xoxo