Hi welcome back! To the reviewer who pointed me to the fact that in the previous chapter (chapter 4 called Blue) that just one strand of blue hair doesn't have much effect is of course right. Dumb mistake that has been fixed. I am Dutch so sometimes mistakes get through so I apologize. Hope you guys still enjoy. x

Life in the Castle household was hectic. There was no doubt about that. Two teenagers and their loud friends, Martha walking in and out of the place like she still lived there, Alexis and her husband (and their toddler Benjamin) dropping by whenever they could and then there was of course Kate's busy job and Castle's book signings and events that kept the apart more than they liked. And even though it could be a bit much. They wouldn't trade it for the world. So, to have a bit of normalcy, they decided early on to always keep Sunday evening free so they could have a little 'family' time before the week started again which used to be filled with board games and such but quickly turned into them lounging in front of the TV as the kids got older.

Castle slowly felt his eyelids droop. He didn't have the energy anymore to stay up all night with his family and a yawn escaped him. He already mentally prepared himself for the teasing that would follow but his teenage children were both too entranced by the TV. Castle smiled. Since the day Alexis announced that she was expecting her first child with her husband and Castle showed some signs of his old age everything was followed with a teasing 'grandpa' and he would pretend to hate it. Way too proud of his grandchild to even care.

Kate looked up at him. A small smile on her face. Castle could still get so taken aback at how beautiful his wife was, telling her every day how she just got more beautiful with age in which she always responded by 'don't lie to me, Castle' but he knew it gave her a confidence boost.

They were nestled on the couch. Castle's broad frame hugging her into his chest warming Kate's back as she laid stretched out on the couch, half cuddled into his side where Castle would lazily stroke her hair. Smiling, at the few grey hairs that formed at her temple that she desperately dyed brown but he loved them. For him their grey hairs were a token at how far they had come together. Not just a sign of old age.

"It's ok if you want to go to sleep, I'll be right with you. Just need to finish this – " she softly said, squeezing his bicep that held her in place against him.

Castle slowly nodded "yeah that would be nice" and lazily kissed her lips and gently pushed her off him so he could get off the couch. His joints popping as he stretched his limbs.

Always checking on his very distracted kids before heading to bed. Castle walked past his son who was entranced by the TV and ruffled his hair "Night Thomas"

"Night dad" he said semi-annoyed as he popped another popcorn into his mouth.

"And goodnight to you, honey" Castle said as he then bend over to kiss his youngest on the top of her head.

"Night dad" she also answered distracted by the TV, suddenly wincing when her father brushed his hand alongside her head. The blue streaks in her hair slowly taking over her natural hair color.

Castle frowned, noticing the sudden change in his daughter's posture "what's wrong?"

"it's nothing you just pulled my hair" Emily answered and nervously smiled.

"I barely touched you…"

Emily shot a look at her older brother who just shook his head and mouthed 'oh shit'.

Kate looked up from her phone "Emily? What's going on?"

Castle pulled his daughter's hair to the side and gasped "what. Is. that?"

"it's a piercing" Emily answered dryly

"Yes I can see that!" Castle exclaimed, pulling more of her hair to the side so he could take a better look at it.

Kate had jumped up and walked towards her daughter and husband. The upper part of Emily's ear was all swollen and red. Clearly infected.

"Emily! Why?" she gasped

"Because you guys don't let me have one…" Emily sighed "it's just an ear piercing!"

Kate chose to ignore her answer and took a better look "it looks infected" she sighed

"It's fine!" Emily whined

"It's not, we are going to take this thing out right now" Kate said as she hoisted her daughter from the couch

"Did you do it yourself?" Castle questioned, looking at the infected pierced ear of his daughter.

"no, I am not stupid"

"Then who?" Castle asked, irritated by tone in her voice.

Emily sighed "Jenna"

"Oh clearly you are not stupid because you let another 15-year old pierce your ear…" Castle grunted.

Kate's cop senses quickly noticed some movement in the corner of her eye "Thomas, and where are you going?" Kate called out as she saw him slowly making his way out of the living room

"I um…" the 17-year old stammered

"you knew about this?"

Thomas shrugged and nervously combed through his dark hair with his fingers "I just, yes, but I-"

"it's not his fault mom" Emily said. Not wanting her brother to get in trouble as he had already warned her this could happen.

Kate sighed and laid her hand on her husband's shoulder to calm him down a bit. She knew he couldn't stay rational in these kind of situations and when it came to (rebelling)teenagers she was the go-to. "Let's just take care of the infection first ok" she breathed out, pulling on her daughter's arm.

"Thanks mom" Emily said, relieved. Following her into the bathroom.

"Don't thank me just yet, we are not done here" Kate answered with a stern voice. The same voice she used when she questioned suspects that made criminals almost pee their pants in interrogations but didn't have that much effect on her teenage children.

Next chapter tomorrow!