Hey guys! I'm back with the sequel to Unemployed! I'm so excited to begin this journey with you! Still finishing another story right now, so my time will be split until that one is wrapped up. I hope you can bear with me! As always, thanks to my beta, my best friend, my partner in crime (even from across the country) burningxredxcaskett! Hope you all enjoy!

Sadly, as much as I wish I owned these wonderful characters, I do not. They are in the capable hands of Andrew Marlowe though, so I think they're better off!

Chapter 1.

Kate turned the doorknob and walked into her home. She was met with – quiet? That couldn't be right. Every time she'd left the house (which hadn't been much since the babies had arrived), she'd come back to mayhem. Babies crying, Rick racing around, each of his children tucked under an arm, and clothes everywhere.

She still didn't understand how two teeny tiny human beings went through so many different onesies in one day. But it was always something. Maggie would spit up, Xander would leak, and vice versa. It was like the twins were already ganging up on them and they couldn't even hold up their heads, let alone talk. They were going to be trouble one day soon, just like their father.

Kate smiled at this thought. Where was her husband?

The quiet was almost unsettling. In the two months since they'd been home from the hospital, there had rarely been a time when their home was filled with silence.

She moved quietly through the kitchen and into the living room, but still, her husband was nowhere to be found. She crept up the stairs and into the open nursery. Her children were both sleeping soundly in their cribs. Another rarity. It seemed as though whenever one was asleep the other was awake. Not that she would change it for the world. Motherhood was – in a word, a challenge. But Katherine Castle was always up for a challenge, especially when it involved expanding their family.

Motherhood suited her. And she loved watching her husband embrace fatherhood. There was nothing sexier than a good father, and Rick had definitely not disappointed her. He was incredible.

Kate moved back downstairs, into their bedroom, and that's where she found him. Rick was on their bed, leaning against the headboard, arms crossed. Fast asleep. His head had fallen to his chest and he was snoring softly, and he had the baby monitor clutched in his hand. She couldn't help but smile. He was adorable, and clearly as exhausted as their children.

She crossed the room, sat next to him on the bed, and softly brushed the hair off of his forehead. Rick's head popped up and he looked at her.

"Are they up? What time is it?" His blue eyes were frantic as he looked around the room, then back down at the monitor in his hand. When he didn't hear anything, he visibly relaxed.

Kate laughed and pulled him in for a kiss. "Hi," she grinned when she finally released him.

"Hey." He smiled back at her, clearly still reeling from their kiss. "Are the babies - "

"They're both asleep, I just checked on them," she interrupted as she moved onto the bed and snuggled up next to her husband.

He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer. "It's a miracle. I couldn't believe it. I just put them both in there, and they were out. We must have played hard."

Kate rolled her eyes with a laugh. "I'm sure you did. You three are gonna be so much trouble when they're bigger."

Rick peered over at her. "Us three? Okay, Mrs. Castle. I'll just let you believe that, for now. I know you'll be instigating right there along with me."

She couldn't even say anything, because she knew he was right. Playing with her children and husband was the highlight of her day.

"How was your dinner with Lanie?" Rick asked as Kate burrowed further into him.

"It was nice. She looks like she's about ready to pop."

Rick chuckled. "Baby Esposito will be here before we know it."

"I never would have believed it," Kate muttered, half to herself, half to Rick.

"Believed what?"

She was quiet a moment as she tried to get her thoughts in order. "I never would have thought that the guys and I would all have children around the same time. Hell, I never really thought I would ever have children, until you came along."

"And now look at you. Wife and mother extraordinaire! Seriously, Kate. I'm so proud of you. Doing this with you," he paused as he sought the right words. He was a writer. Words were his forte, and yet, somehow, where his wife was concerned, Rick Castle best selling author could still transform into Rick Rodgers, bumbling teenager, barely able to speak to the woman of his dreams. "It's been unbelievable. I've always known you would be a great mother, but you've managed to exceed any and all of my expectations."

Kate's eyes welled up at her husband's words. She'd doubted her ability to be a great mother, but whenever she looked into her husband's eyes, she was reassured a thousand times over.

"I think we make a pretty good team," she told him finally.

"That we do, Mrs. Castle. That we do." Rick went quiet again, and just when Kate thought he'd fallen asleep again, he spoke. "Notice anything different?"

She turned to look at him, a frown on her face. Her husband was very particular when it came to his appearance, and tended to pout when she didn't notice his haircut or when he wore a new shirt.

He smiled at her. "Not on me."

She tugged her lip between her teeth as she scanned their room. That's when she saw it. Her breath hitched and she covered her mouth with her hand.

"Rick, that's amazing." Kate moved off of the bed and pulled her husband along with her until they were standing next to the wall to the right of their bed.

They had been struggling what to do with this particular wall for ages. They wanted to do something that combined their two personalities, or their family. But they hadn't been able to agree on anything.

But this. This was so much better than Kate could have imagined. And her wonderful, sweet, thoughtful husband had managed to surprise her with it, while taking care of their young children.

Rick stepped behind his wife and wrapped his arms around her as they stood admiring their newly decorated wall. At the top, were the words, In these moments, time stood still…, while below were four pictures. In the middle was a picture of Rick and Kate from their wedding. They were smiling together, in the middle of the dance floor, as their friends and family were blurred around the edges of the picture. It was without a doubt one of Kate's favorites. The look on their faces as they grinned at each other was absolutely priceless. Below this picture read Rick & Kate with 11/02/2014 written below. There was a clock under the words, and it was set to three o'clock – the time they were wed.

To the left of their wedding picture was one of Alexis as in infant. Kate smiled when she saw the peaceful look on her stepdaughter's face. Alexis' red hair was apparent, even when she was a newborn. Her tiny body was enveloped in her father's large hands. Alexis Harper was written under the photograph with 10/08/93 written below. There was another clock under the words, this one set to five oh two – the time Alexis was born.

To the right of their wedding picture were two more pictures, one of Maggie and one of Xander. Each one of their twins was held by both Rick and Kate's hands. These had been family favorites, as this mimicked the picture of Rick holding Alexis.

Kate unconsciously nestled herself into Rick's side. She didn't know how many times a day she was grateful she didn't have to do this alone. She didn't know how he did it the first time around.

Margret Johanna and Alexander Mark were written with 04/02/15 just below each picture. There were twin clocks below each date set at two forty-seven for Xander and two fifty-two for Maggie.

The entire wall was, in a word – perfect.

Kate didn't even realize there were tears sliding down her cheeks until Rick brushed them away with his thumb.

"Do you like it?" he asked shyly.

She couldn't find the words, and instead answered by crushing her mouth to his. Their tongues battled for dominance as their hands began to roam, fighting to divest themselves of any and all clothing on their way to the bed.

Kate pushed Rick down onto the bed and nipped at his bottom lip. "I love it," she managed to breathe out. "Thank you."

He flipped her over and peppered her with kisses along her collarbone and up her neck.

At that moment, a muffled wail sounded over the monitor, alerting them to the fact that one of their children had awakened.

They broke apart with a collective sigh, but shared a grin.

"Every time," Rick said as she shook his head disbelievingly. "It's like they know and are conspiring against us."

Kate laughed as she stood and pulled on her robe. "Barely three months old and already conspiring against us? Definitely your children."

Rick sputtered in mock indignation, which only prompted another laugh from his wife.

She threw him his robe. "Are you gonna come with me? Maggie's up, and you know Xander won't be too far behind her. If we double team them, maybe we can get back to bed." Kate wiggled her eyebrows in a very Rick-like fashion and he chuckled.

He shrugged on his robe and grabbed her hand. He loved the fact that she could identify which baby was crying, even on the monitor. Kate had gotten so comfortable with motherhood. It wasn't just that she embraced it - it was so much more than that. And it was something Rick absolutely adored watching. There was nothing better than seeing his wife nestled into the rocking chair with both of their children.

That first month in the hospital had been difficult to say the least, but they had made the most out of the situation. Xander's lungs had trouble developing at first, but now he was caught up with his sister. Both babies were happy, healthy, and Rick and Kate were so glad to have them home. It was another adjustment, but one they made seamlessly.

Yes, Rick was proud of his wife. Their whole family had been great, each person relishing in every moment they were able to spend with the twins. But Kate, Kate was still glowing. She was something special.

But then again, Rick had always known that.

He followed her up the stairs and into the nursery, and smiled as she passed him his daughter. Maggie still had her father's piercing blue eyes, and now that she was in his arms, they sparkled up at him. She was perfectly content just being rocked back and forth.

Kate shot Rick a knowing look as she crossed over to the other crib where Xander looked up at her.

"You were right," he told her.

She grinned over at him. "Hearing that'll never get old."

"Don't get too used to it." Rick's eyes were teasing though, and he knew he'd say those words again. And again. But he didn't mind. He didn't mind one bit.

Thanks so much for reading, please share your thoughts! xo Kristen