Well here it is. The very last chapter. Thank you again for every one who has taken the time to read this.

It took Alexis until Christmas break to finally make the choice of moving into the dorms. Beckett knew that the teenager was waiting until the end of Grey's trail and she couldn't fault Alexis for wanting to comfort of home. Nightmares still plagued Alexis and Beckett spend many sleepless nights singing the girl to sleep and building pillow forts so they could crash in the living room with Castle. Even though Grey hadn't physically scared her the way he did Beckett, Alexis would be carrying the emotional scars for a while. That's how it was. The scars you couldn't see always stuck around while the physical scars began to fade. Beckett herself was a walking example of this. But unlike the detective, Alexis wasn't letting this one horrible event rule her life. She even talked about it. Alexis had taken upon herself to get in contact with all of Grey's victims, once she was allowed, and now they met weekly over coffee or dinner to start the healing process.

By the time it came to testify all of Grey's seven victims were able to walk into the court room with their head held high and look the monster in the eye. Beckett sat with Castle as they watched proudly as Alexis told the court of her two attacks without wavering. Of course she crumbled in Jeremy's arms the moment they were out on the court steps, but she still had more courage than Beckett could ever hope to have. The jury took an hour to come back with a guilty verdict on every charge against Grey. The man barley showed a lick of emotions when it was read while his mother broke down in tears.

"You got that Detective Beckett?" Jeremy asked breaking the woman from her thoughts.

Beckett looked down at the box in her hands and smiled, "I got it." She assured and took off after Castle Esposito who was helping Alexis move into her new dorm. "Tell me again how Ryan escaped helping today?" Not like they needed it, but it would have been nice to have the whole family together. Lanie was inside already helping the redhead with decorating.

"You have no one to blame but yourself. All the pennies that writer boy put everywhere amounted to enough money for a nice little vacation for him and Jenny."

"How much did it come out to?"

"Over six hundred dollars." Esposito started up the steps to the second floor. "I think he found the last of them last week while you were out for the trail. I swear I thought Ryan was going to explode. I think he was at wits end of opening something and having pennies fall out. Did you know Castle even put some in between his cell phone case?"

It didn't really surprise Beckett. Castle was bummed when Ryan found all the pennies within a matter of two weeks that he took revenge. With the help of both his partner and wife, Ryan found pennies every time he took a step. They were in his car, his locker, his message box, drawers, coffee cups and in every place humanly possible that Castle could think of. She never really stopped to think about just how much Castle had put into this little endeavor. "Well I guess it's a good reward for the hell we put him through."

"Sad thing is he talked me into seeing that exhibit."

Laughing Beckett shouldered her way into Alexis's door to see Lanie digging through yet another box while Alexis and Castle were engaged in a very serious discussion. "I hope you're still not trying to talk Alexis out of doing this, Rick." Using his first name had the writer looking up with a guilty expression, but Beckett could read something else on his face. Something that was mirrored on both Alexis's and Lanie's. "Something wrong?"

"No." Alexis assured taking the box from the detective. "I swear there weren't these many boxes when we packed the car."

Beckett allowed the teenager to change the subject, "It does seem that way."

Castle took the box from Alexis before she could dig into it, "Why don't you and Kate see if that's it."

Together the two female started the journey back to the car, smiling at Jeremy when they past. Beckett knew that the car was empty, but just needed the excuse to get a moment alone with Alexis. "I got something for you." Beckett dug into her pocket.

"Kate-."

"Well I should say I'm returning something to you." She clasped Martha's bracelet around the girl's slender wrist next to the one that once belonged to Beckett's mother. "It was released from evidence now that Grey is convicted."

Tears stung Alexis's eyes and she fought desperately not to let them fall, "I never thought I was going to see this again."

Beckett was braced for the powerful hug and held on with just as much force. She was having just a hard of a time as Castle in letting Alexis go. In the seven shot months since that had passed, Beckett and Alexis were close as any mother and daughter. Beckett never thought she would ever get such joy out of being a mother to someone. Alexis was patient with her and never judged when she made mistakes or cancelled plans due to her job. "I know."

Wiping away the few tears that managed to fall, Alexis pulled away, "Here"

Beckett stopped her from trying to remove her mother's bracelet, "No."

"But Kate it's your moms."

"And I can't think of anyone else who I rather give it to." Beckett smiled.

"You might change your mind once you have a daughter of your own."

"Listen to me Alexis. I love you and the way I see it I would like to think that in eyes of the law of the universe that your father keeps talking about, that you are my daughter. I love you and want nothing for the best for you. I would lay down my life for yours and kill anyone very painfully and very slowly if they ever hurt you. Even a great kid like Jeremy." Beckett tucked a stray lock of Alexis's hair behind her ear. "You call and I'll be there. If that doesn't make one a mother then I don't know what will. Blood or no blood."

Alexis found herself beaming, "Your guy's kids are going to be lucky as hell."

"Our kids?" Beckett tried to brush it off as she always did when someone tried to take a friendly jab at her for her relationship with Castle. Truth be told the thought of having Castle's kid delighted her to know end, she just didn't know if she was ready for that. They had just official came out to the public and those at the station even though they had technically been living with each other for five months. So now they were just trying to take it one step at a time while dodging the unwanted attention of the press. "Come on lets go back up before your father hides himself in your closet or something."

0o0o0o0o0o0o

It was almost six by the time Castle dragged himself up the stairs towards his loft. His little girl was now officially moved out. He didn't know what to do now. There was this hollow point in his heart that he knew that would never heal. Alexis was grown up and would never again live under his same roof. Of course she would be over all the time for dinners, laser tag, and for any reason really but it would never be the same. Sighing, Castle let himself into the loft while calling out for Beckett. At least having her here would help make things a little easier. Maybe now they-. His thoughts trailed off when his foot encountered something bulky and plastic. Curious he looked down and smiled. On the floor attached to a note was a nerf pump shot gun, ammo, and a nerf hand gun. The note was in Beckett's hand writing:

Time for a new house tradition. The guns and ammo are yours. You are under attack as of now!

A nurf bullet whizzed by his head sticking to the wall causing Castle to dive forward to the safety behind the couch. Well maybe things wouldn't be too bad after all.

Well I'm sad to see this story go. I want to continue to write in this universe so maybe I might post little snippets of little ideas or scenes that I have in my head that come after this story. Would anyone be interested in something like that? Or I guess I can wait until inspiration strikes and see if I can write a squeal...