Chapter 41 (Epilogue)

Two years later

"Mama! Mama! Mama!"

"Hey, hey, hey…" Castle cooed softly making his way down the hallway and into the nursery where Olivia was desperately calling out for her mother. As soon as her father had stepped into the room, her eyes lifted his direction and a toothy smile grew on her face right away. She stood up in her crib and reached her arms out at her father who instantly lifted his little princess into his arms.

"Mama?"

"Mommy's in the shower, sweetie. Did you sleep all right?"

Olivia fervently nodded her dark brown curls. Outside her bedroom, she heard her brothers making noise in the room next door and Castle could still not believe how much of a deep sleeper she was. They could make as much noise as they wanted, but Olivia would sleep all the way through it. Not even an earthquake would wake her from her sleep. Castle held her in his arms as he entered Matt's room, which looked like a bomb had literally exploded and that at eight a.m. Days like these he sometimes wondered what he had gotten himself into all these years ago, but by starting a relationship with Kate Beckett, he had signed up for a disaster.

"Hey, Livi!" Big brother Matt jumped over the huge pile of building blocks scattered smack in the middle of his room. All three boys were for once playing together, without fighting, so they were allowed to get a little bit louder. Matt loved his baby sister more than any brother in the whole wide world.

"You wanna stay here with Mattie or do you wanna come help me make pancakes?" Castle wanted to know from his youngest even though he knew what the answer was going to be. Olivia cradled her nose against his neck and his embrace lightly tightened on her. "All right, pancakes it is then. She will come play with you later."

Matt was also aware that his sister needed a little bit time to wake up, just like his mother. One wasn't to mess up with her in the wee hours of the morning – especially not before her morning coffee - else way they were going to be up for a rough day. The last thing they wanted to have was a moody mother or mini toddler breathing down their neck all day long.

"Daddy! I also wanna help!" Charlie chimed in and followed Castle into the kitchen, where all three of them got dinosaur shaped pancakes ready for breakfast.

Soon Beckett caught up with them, followed minutes later by Alexis and Martha. It was only half past eight on a Sunday morning and as usual the entire Castle-Beckett household was upside down as they all gathered around the dining table.

"Mom, can we go to the skater park today? Please?"

Beckett sighed. She didn't quite understand why her son was so much into skate boarding. Ever since he had that new friend those two were hanging out constantly. She didn't mind all too much about his choice of friends, but Adam was quite a boy she needed to keep an eye on. At the tender age of ten, he was one year older than Matt, and he was free to do whatever he wanted to do, due to lack of appropriate parenthood of his single mother.

"Me too, mommy!" Charlie joined his brother.

Somehow the skate boarding fever had hit the entire family except for Jamie.

"Argh… why? I don't want to!" Jamie interjected with a pout.

"Jamie has a piano recital this afternoon. We'll all go to his recital." Beckett reminded them as two of her sons sulked away. "Show him our support."

"We can go later?"

"Maybe, Matt. You've already been to the park yesterday."

"But I wanna go today too. Adam's going to be there. Jack and Bryan. Please, mom?"

"We'll see okay. They said it might be raining later this afternoon…"

"But if it's not, we can go… mooom." Getting no concrete answer from his mother, his attention diverted to his left side, "Dad?"

Alexis chuckled to herself. Her stepbrothers could be quite something. All three of them had her father wrapped around their finger. She knew that if he was going to say yes, he was going to be in for something with Beckett, again.

"I can take them later if you prefer coming home. Oh!" There it was, Alexis thought to herself as an idea struck him. "I take all four of them to the park and you come home… to chill… do nothing… enjoy your freedom." Well that was a winning point for Castle. He knew how to work his charm and lure her into something she had wanted for so long now. "Or what about that spa… yes… I'm going to call them right away." And then he was already on the phone before Beckett could even make a move.

Matt and Charlie high fived each other. Jamie was displaying his best pout while Olivia giggled sweetly to herself in her high chair.

"Did you hear that Livi? We're going to the park!" Matt informed her happily, which of course made the little girl beyond excited too.

"Park, mama! Livi too…"

"Apparently yes…" Beckett half answered her daughter's question and half mumbled to herself.

Why did she have to have four kids? One hadn't been enough…

Seeing the desperation on the woman's face, Alexis felt the need to come to her rescue.

"I've been dying for a spa trip myself too. We could go together if you want to… that way you won't be alone… Leave dad to take care of the band."

"Well, that can't be good!" Beckett groaned, but she definitely liked the idea of Alexis and her enjoying some girl-time to themselves for once.

It would be a nice change to her daily routine of playing housewife and mother all day long. She had always loved being a mother and she still did to this day. The difference in her relationship with Castle was that he also took care of her as a woman. He was well aware of the regular breaks she needed and was always very careful in that regard. He was very skilled at finding the right balance in their relationship since she wasn't only a mother or girlfriend/partner, but also a woman. Castle always knew when it was time for a dinner-for-two, a movie, a stroll in the park… a little weekend getaway. Though leaving behind a two, a four, a seven and a nine years old was still difficult to do. He was also having troubles letting go of their children, but it was necessary for their couple. Reason all the more to love him with each passing day.

Beckett wasn't quite sure how long she had been absent minded until Castle shook her out of her daydream. The breakfast table had been cleared and Castle had just lifted Olivia out of her high chair who scampered as fast as her little feet could carry her across the room and chased her older brothers down the hallway leading to the bedrooms.

"You were like miles away from this place. Is everything all right?" Castle pondered, grabbed a sponge and proceeded to clean up the table.

Beckett's eyes diverted onto the engagement ring still resting on her finger. After two long years they still weren't married. They had discussed it a couple of times, but since Beckett didn't feel ready, Castle simply let the issue rest. He had almost lost her once… and their beloved baby girl, so he wasn't going to push her into something she didn't feel comfortable with. They were a family after all. One crazy patchwork family with three different family names, but neither really seemed to care. Everyday life had caught up with them and time was flying real fast.

"I want us to get married, Rick." Beckett said in one trait.

Castle stopped abruptly in his movements and literally stared her down as if she had just grown two heads. His expression showed nothing but befuddlement, so Beckett repeated her words.

"Really?" He just couldn't help himself. The situation was beyond him. Why? How? What? Now? Why now? Why all of a sudden? Out of nowhere? "I mean… really?"

Beckett looked up at him and spoke with all honesty, "Yes, I want to marry you… as soon as possible…"

"Oh… okay… wow…" Little by little a smile itched at the corner of his lips and soon a wide grin was written all across his face. He pulled the chair next to hers out and sat down, grabbed her hands and said, "Of course…"

"I love you, Rick and yes, I want to marry you. I want us to get married, because I'm ready! I want us to be a family… all of us… as crazy as this sounds because we are already a family. We've been a family all this time, but…." Her gaze went back to the ring. "I want this to be official. I know we are quite the pair. We have our good moments and bad moments, but seriously, who doesn't?" Beckett half laughed, half sniffled at the running nose and tears. "But I love you… and Martha, and Alexis as if she were my own. You're the best father I could ever have wished for my boys… They love you so much… and of course there's Livi… she's… she completes us. I don't know how to say it, but I feel like this is something I have to do… and I want to do it… I'm ready. I want to be your wife… that is if you still want to…"

"Kate…" Castle sighed, but he was left speechless, and all he could muster was a languish long kiss to her lips. "How on Earth could you possibly think that I wouldn't want you… I need you… of course I still want you. God, I love you so much…" He pulled her into another long smouldering embrace that left them both breathless, "And I love our bunch… I love our babbling munchkin to pieces. She's a mini-you."

With children in the household their moment was cut short as per usual, as the boys stormed into the room, arguing. It took both adults a second or two to come back to brutal reality, but they still couldn't help the grin smeared on their faces.

"What's going on? Why are the two of you smiling goofily?" Matt asked, still as astute as ever, catching on feelings and subtle glances faster than any other children.

Without missing a beat, Castle spoke, "Because your mother and I are going to get married."

"Really… like for real?"

"Yes, like for real, Matt."

"Oh, that's awesome!" The boy exclaimed giddily. With his brothers and little sister in tow, they stepped up to the happy couple as the eldest wrapped his arms around Castle's neck. "You're going to be my real dad, now, aren't you?"

"I am already, Matt."

"Yes, but I mean for real 'cause you guys are getting married."

Castle noted Beckett's eye roll at her son's excitement. Ever since Charlie had proclaimed Castle as his dada, both Jamie and Mattie had quickly followed suite. Although it had taken some time for Beckett to get used to it, she eventually came around the corner. All three knew – at least Jamie and Matt understood better – that Castle wasn't their biological father. Charlie was still a little bit young and all he could rely on was pictures of his real father. Beckett knew that to her two eldest sons, Castle will always be their father to their eyes. She could understand their point of views and fully respected them. They were still young and some day they would fully understand. She only wanted the best for her three boys and hoped to have made the right decision for them.

"Mommy?" Jamie mysteriously had forgotten everything the brothers had been fighting about just seconds ago and clung onto his mother as so very often.

"Yes, Jamie?"

"What's it mean what Matt said?"

"Remember when Rick gave me this ring?" Of course Jamie shook his head in the negative, "Well it was a promise for us to some day get married, and now I want to get married. We are going to get married."

"Like in the movies?"

Beckett had to chuckle lightly at her son's cuteness, "No, not really, but I will be wearing something white, even though… yeah, never mind..." Some things were better left unsaid, or unexplained in this case. "Yes, like in the movies, Jamie."

"Wow…" Charlie exclaimed, having listened to every single word while sitting in his mother's lap.

"And Livi can be the flower girl, right? I ain't gonna be a flower girl, that's for girls" Matt made it loud and clear, which made both adults laugh out loud.

"In a pink tutu, Matt" Castle teased, but Matt was wise.

"Haha, funny dad! I said I ain't gonna wear it. Forget about it."

"I want to be a flower girl!" Charlie chimed in, even though he clearly had no idea what they were actually talking about. Charlie was nosy and constantly needed to know everything, and he always wanted to be part of everything. At the tender age of four he still was Beckett's baby boy.

"If you want you can be a flower boy, Charlie, and Livi will be the flower girl."

Charlie's gaze went across to his sister, "You're the flower girl, Livi and I am the flower boy."

Olivia looked up at her father and clearly she was too young to grasp a word they said. She would have to go along with whatever the adults would pick for her anyway. She joyfully clapped her little hands, then held them out to her father, who planted a loving kiss onto each of her hands.

"'iss, dada" she babbled sweetly, which to this day still melted Castle's big heart. Castle held onto her hands as she stood up from the table and onto his lap and wrapped her father into a tight hug. "'attie, too"

Matt welcomed his baby sister into his arms – he was a strong boy after all – hugged and kissed her before gently setting her back down onto the floor.

"Come p'ay, 'attie wif 'ivi!"

"In a second, Livi."

All set of eyes were directed onto the young toddler standing in the middle of the foyer, who curiously was wondering to herself what happened to her usual very hectic family. Everything was quiet, the clock was ticking on the wall… it was quite an unusual silence in the Beckett-Castle household. But years ago Olivia had been the missing piece of the puzzle. She was the glue holding them all together. The impending Beckett-Castle wedding was going to be the frame of said puzzle.

"So we can go to the park this afternoon, right dad?" Matt shook his father out of his trance.

"Yes, Matt. And, Jamie, before you say anything, you may take your bike, all right? We'll get Charlie's too, just in case."

"Cool, thanks dad!"

Matt gave Castle another long bear hug before the four disappeared again in the back.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Castle requested from Beckett once the room had gone quiet once more.

"Sorry… I still get those moments when Matt calls you dad, or Jamie… it's… you know…"

"I know, Kate. Come here…"

He pulled her into an embrace as they stood that way for a while in the kitchen. Neither of them needed to speak out loud what they wanted to say because they no longer needed words for it. It was a mutual silent promise to one another to love all of their five children equally and without boundary. Beckett was an amazing mother to his daughter, just like Castle was an amazing father to her sons.

"What do you say we get married on Livi's birthday? It's next month… I'm pretty sure we could…"

But Beckett's head shake stopped his thoughts, "No… not on Livi's birthday, Rick. That's her day… only hers. It's the day when she was born. I can see why you would want it but I don't, otherwise it will be about us. I want and insist for each child to have their birthday. It is their day… ours will be ours… all right? It could be a few weeks later, just so we can everything ready, and you know I want a small ceremony. Nothing fancy… Just us as a family…"

Castle smiled down at her, "Anything you want, Kate." and sealed his words with a kiss.

Castle stood anxiously near the 'altar'. His feet felt itchy and he could barely wait to become Beckett's husband. He glanced sideways where a couple of his friends stood and on the opposite side where his mother, his daughter and another handful of women – mostly Beckett's female friends - stood. He flashed them a brief supportive smile, silently wondering why it took so long for the ceremony to eventually start. In reality it hadn't taken long at all, but to Castle is felt like half an eternity. It just couldn't go fast enough.

As soon as the song the couple had chosen echoed through the room, all pair of eyes went to the back, knowing the bride was going to step in any second. First though, it was Olivia's turn to lead the service. Clad in a satin lavender long dress with a dark purple bow tie at her back, she appeared in the middle of the twenty feet short lane. A matching purple and white hair band adorned the top of her head and completed her attire.

At the view, Castle's heart melted with love for his little princess as she stood there without moving an inch. Alexis was softly calling out for her, hoping to guide her with her words down the lane. Unfortunately Olivia misinterpreted everything and the moment her eyes met her father she instantly called out for him in her usual cute and innocent way,

"Dada!" Her face lit up, as she hadn't seen him since this early morning and started sprinting down the lane. Her long dress got in the way, making her topple forward and land flat on her belly. Her cry erupted right away, but as usual Castle sprinted toward her even though he was aware that either Alexis or his mother would care for her. It was too much for his heart to handle at his point as he lifted her up and cradled her against his chest.

"Shh… sweetie. It's okay…" He repeated numerous times in order to appease her cries as big tears rolled down her chubby cheeks and heavy sobs wrecked through her body.

Worried about the well-being of her daughter, Beckett also showed up in the hall. As if on cue, Castle turned around and their eyes locked, but the moment Beckett found her daughter in his arms, an inaudible sigh of relief left her lungs. Her eyes still silently begged for an explanation and Castle knew he needed to let her know everything way all right. She understood his reassuring gaze and that's when realisation sank in… Beckett looked stunning in the wedding gown she was wearing.

Castle carried his daughter the few feet toward Beckett.

"Daddy's right over there, sweetie… So all you need to do is just to go down the alley and up to Alexis. Can you do that for daddy, huh?"

In the meantime her crying had subsided, but she still clung to her father for dear life when he wanted to set her back down. Beckett got down on her knees, trying to calm her daughter down, but nothing seemed to work and before all of this could end in a disaster, Castle got back up, with his daughter in his arms.

"It's okay…I'm good…" Castle reassured Beckett with a smile. "Let's just get married, okay?"

"She can't have her way, Rick…"

"She fell and hit her forehead, Kate. I'm not going to leave her in this agony. I don't mind carrying her, all right? You just go back there… and let's keep going…"

Beckett sighed. She knew Castle meant well, but Olivia again won her battle. She was daddy's little girl and Castle of course made sure she knew that. At the age of two, Olivia managed the pulled lip like a pro already.

"I love you…" He spoke, dropped a kiss to Beckett's lips.

In lightening speed Castle was back on his original spot in the front. The music took over and it was the boys' turn to stroll down the path in respective order: Charlie, Jamie and Matt, who was guiding his mother arm in arm before handing her over to Castle. They exchanged smiles and the minister performed the short ceremony. Beckett spoke her vows and then Castle.

"Wait…" he said at the end of his speech as both the minister and Beckett flashed him a curious glare, before he motioned for all three boys to step up. With his little munchkin still in his arms, Castle knelt down to be at the same eye level with them.

"Charlie, Jamie, Mattie" He paused to make sure either of them was listening to him, but they had been taught well and knew of the importance of being quiet during this special occasion, "I promise to be a patient and loving father to you, caring for you and providing for you as my own. I promise to be your strength and your emotional support, loving you with all my heart forever."

After a long while Castle's gaze finally went up at Beckett when he heard her sniffle. All three boys looked up at their mother too and instinctively they knew she wasn't crying because she was hurt, but because she was happy; utterly happy at what Castle had spoken out loud. It was the greatest promise she had ever heard in her entire life.

The tall writer stood up, his eyes never leaving Beckett's. The minister briefly rasped his throat, asked them if all things had been said. At the nod of their heads, they exchanged their rings with trembling hands before he declared them husband and wife. Then it was time for the kiss. Castle leaned his head down onto hers where their lips met and they shared a brief yet tender kiss.

"I love you, Kate", he breathed against her lips, right before Charlie let out a snickering sound.

"Shh… Charlie!" Matt shushed his younger brother down in a reprimanding way.

A silent smile grew on the adults' faces. They sure didn't have much time on their own with four children in the house. Even the briefest of moments was always cut short. Both were glad though as Matt's word didn't end up in an argument between the boys.

Beckett's left hand that rested on his upper arm trailed up to caress over his freshly shaven and smooth cheek. Castle didn't want this smile to vanish ever again when she returned his love for him. Her gaze next diverted onto their restless daughter as she gladly welcomed her into her arms.

"Ma-ma, shoe!" Olivia babbled softly as she leaned forward to point with her finger to the ground.

Matt had already been careful to pick it up and handed the lost sandal at Castle who strapped it back onto her feet. Soon all family members and friends gathered around the happily married couple, exchanging their congratulations. The ceremony had been finished off with a dinner for the entire family and very close up friends. At the early hours of the night, the couple had to literally carry four very sleepy children to bed, but that wasn't much of a problem for once. As soon as they had hit the pillow, the couple knew they were off for the night and hopefully till late morning.

"Hello Mrs. Castle" a soft voice was calling out for her.

Beckett turned her attention from her sleeping toddler onto the tall man, her husband, casually leaning against the door frame, yet with a very suggestive grin smeared across his face. She couldn't help the smile forming on her lip and the butterflies rising in the pit of her stomach. Every time… she thought to herself.

Not seeing her move, he walked up to her to wrap both of his arms around her slender waist. She was still wearing her gown, but he was already wearing nothing but his boxer shorts. The heat radiating from his muscular chest didn't help the warmth shooting through her body as his embrace lovingly tightening around her frame.

"I've been waiting for you, but one would think I'd have learned my lesson by now." He half teased, half spoke with sincerity. Beckett didn't comment his words. Instead he reached for his hand and lifted the one holding her wedding band to bring it up to his lips. "I love you, Kate Castle."

She grew a faint smile, "I still have to get used to that one."

He returned her smile understandingly. A long silence settled between the newlywed as they mutually held onto each other, both their gaze resting on their sleeping daughter. Their breathing was in sync as well as their thoughts, as they travelled years back to the joyous day Olivia came into this world. Twenty-five months ago to the day… Time was indeed flying fast…

One month ago, at the end of the day, after they had celebrated Olivia's second milestone they had briefly struck up the conversation on another baby. Castle more so than Beckett, but at some point they came to the realisation that their family planning was complete. And with their wedding today, they finalized the whole.

"Can't she stay this small for another couple of years?" Beckett sighed with a protruding lip. She sure was going to miss to have a baby attached to her hip, after all she had spent over nine years of her life that way. Among those she had lived three years though pregnancy. It was the beginning of a new era to her with Matt entering his teens and soon hormones were going to soar through the household.

"I'm afraid she won't…"

Beckett hid her face against his chest, but Castle instantly felt the moisture against his skin.

"Hey…" he cooed softly and tilted her head, as she fought to dry off her rolling tears. "We both agreed we were through with it…"

"I know… it's just… I mean, you're right. We both agreed that four would be enough. Sorry, five, with Alexis. And it's true. I mean… it's not that I don't want another one. It's a lot of work, and… I guess I'm just a little bit wrapped up in the moment. I'm going to miss being pregnant, having a baby… you know… It feels like a new start to me. All of this. In a good way of course…"

Castle chuckled softly to himself. "Kate?" he called out before kissing her sweetly, "Is that what you want? Another baby?"

"No!" Her negative reply wasn't meant to be hurtful or anything, and Castle sensed that. It was a clear statement of her feelings and insight on the subject at hand. "I love you, Rick. I really do, but…Wha-… What?" she stuttered at his long glare.

"I know you do, Kate. You don't have to be worried. It's your right and I fully accept your choice. I'm all right. I have a beautiful daughter going off to college next year. I have three amazing sons and you've graced me with the cutest and sweetest little baby girl I could have ever wished for. That's more than I ever dreamed of. Last but not least, you're my wife now… we are married… and that makes me the happiest man alive, Kate. I couldn't possibly ask for more. We don't need another baby to prove our love for each other… I know you love me, and I also know that if we weren't to have already half a house full we would probably have another one. Last month I was giving you the option, letting you know that I was okay if you ever wanted to add another sibling to Olivia, but that doesn't mean we have to. I'm not a believer, but God knows – and I do too – how much you love babies. You're like all over them as soon as you see one. I can literally see your ovaries skip a beat at the view of one."

Beckett laughed whole heartedly at his words. He was right though, in every way. She had never thought of herself of becoming one day mother to four children, but one went with the other and before she knew it, there they were and it was amazing. Her life was amazing and she didn't want to trade her life with anyone else at this very moment, nor ever.

"I would love to have more babies with you, Kate, but I really feel like my life is complete. Our life is complete. I love every single second of it with you. When I look at Matt, I see you. When I look at Jamie, I see you, and when I look at Charlie, I see you. Livi is our bonus price, topping it all. She's all you, Kate. I love all of my kids and I am so grateful for having those boys in my life. That vow I made to you and them today, I tend to stick to that promise. To love you for as long as I'm alive, till death does us part."

Tears kept rolling down her cheeks over and over again at the deep love Castle felt for her. Not a day went by without him showering her with his love and devotion. She was very lucky to have found him and never intended of letting go of him ever again. She once did and it was still her worst nightmare to this day. But he had been patient, supportive and so much more that it always left her speechless.

"I love you, Rick." She kissed him fully, unsure what else to add at her overwhelming feelings cursing through every fibre of her being. "I love you… I don't know what else to say or to do… I love you, that's all…"

He brushed a few dark brown curls out of her face once they managed to take a breath in between heated kisses, sweet nibbles and frenzied touches, "Make love to me as my wife." He told her sincerely, yet bluntly.

She laughed into his kiss, "I think I could do that…."

With those last words she intertwined their fingers and pulled him carefully out of the nursery. Her long gown swayed across the hardwood floor as he followed her into the master bedroom where the door drifted shut behind them.

The happy End

A/N: I would like to thank every one who has stuck with me through this fiction. And a special thank you goes of course to all the ones who have reviewed some or even each chapter! They made me laugh, they made me cry, however they also spurt me on to either write more or progress in my writing skills! It has been three months since I finished writing the fic, and as very often I happen to miss the characters I have created, but I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

What am I up to now? I am currently busy working on 3 fics. "Katie and Rick" is unfinished (I know) :o( , "Beloved Amy" still in progress, and then there is another one not yet posted, but if I have a moment I will put up an excerpt. The title of the third one is "Wish upon a Star".

For now I am unable to let you know when the next story will be finished. I am working on all three of them at the same time. I have a very busy week schedule so that I only have time during weekends to write and those are also filled with real life (house chores, cleaning, you name it because I don't have time for that on week days that go from 7am till 10pm). It is mission impossible... I hate it, alas there is nothing I can do. I wish I had more time or ideas to write faster.

Anyway, whomever has read all of my ramble deserves an award LOL. Thank you so much! I would love to see some of my followers read/review onto my upcoming stories! Patience is needed though =)

xo, NancyErin