"Mommy?" Noah questioned in a whisper as he tip toed into the master bedroom.

He always got confused as to which side his mom slept on, even though he came in here quite often during the night. His eyes traveled across the dark room and onto the bed to try and see his mom's hair. Since he couldn't and was too frightened to stand near the bed, definitely because of what he just dreamt about, his blue eyes began to water.

"Mommy," he stammered as his heart picked up speed.

"Mm, I think someone's calling you," Rick softly mumbled into the pillow as he turned his head the opposite way of his wife. A few seconds passed and he figured that she didn't hear him, so he sluggishly rolled onto his left side to wake her. "Kate, hun."

"What?" Kate sleepily questioned with a yawn. She answered herself when she heard Noah's distant crying. Immediately after, she propped up on her elbows and squinted in the dark to see his small figure. "What's wrong, baby?"

"He's not coming near the bed, so I think he had a nightmare," Rick responded as he rested on his back with his hands under his head.

Kate slid her legs over the side of the bed until her feet were touching the cool floor. Since her and Rick planned on not doing anything sexual until their honeymoon, which started bright and early tomorrow, she wasn't in anything too showing. So, she cautiously stepped over to Noah and squatted down before him.

"What's the matter, buddy?" she peacefully asked with a frown as she ran the backs of her fingers down his face.

"Boogey monster," Noah blubbered while he rubbed his nose.

"There's no such thing as the boogey monster. We already searched your room last week, silly," she gently murmured as she pushed his curls away from his forehead. "Aw, you really are scared," she stated after feeling how sweaty he was, which wasn't normal since they had central air. "Come on. Let's go put you back in bed, so you're not too sleepy in the morning." She delicately took hold of his hand as she stood up straight.

"No, no, no," he cried out in fear, making his mom come to a halt.

"Alright," she gave in and lifted him onto her hip. "You're going to be too big for me to carry soon." Her finger softly poked his nose before she kissed it.

"Sleep with you," he sorrowfully sobbed into her shoulder.

"Is that okay with you?" she questioned Rick who was watching them.

"As long as he doesn't pee like last time, yeah," he answered with a tired smile.

"Do you have to go potty?" she asked her son when she noticed that he had a strong grip on her shirt.

"No," Noah replied with a big yawn.

"Okay." Kate brought him over to the bed and gradually lowered him onto the mattress. She watched him instantly crawl into the middle to observe her. "Lay down, silly," she hummed as she climbed back under the blankets, but this time she made sure they went over Noah as well.

Rick let out a loud, fake snore, which made Noah's attention fall onto him. He peeked through one eye to see the boy's adorable smile.

"Don't be scared, Little Batman," he calmly spoke and ruffled the boy's curly hair.

Noah turned his head toward his mom since he felt her a lot closer than before. He giggled when she poked his nose again.

"You need to sleep," she whispered as her head sunk into the pillow. She closed her eyes for a few moments then reopened them to see him still sitting with his legs crossed. "Noah."

Seconds after hearing his name, he was curled in a ball under the covers. He ended up scooting closer to his mom, so he could cuddle up to her side and feel more secure and safe.

"Good boy," she quietly hummed with her lips against his forehead. Her arm lightly draped over his small body as she closed her eyes.

"Love you, Mommy," he yawned, which made his words sound like gibberish.

"I love you too," she lovingly responded with a large grin on her face.

"Me too," Rick added in as he rolled onto his side to face them.

"Love you, Rick," Noah drowsily announced as his eyes began to get heavier than before.

"I love you too, Little Batman." Rick slid a little closer to the boy and planted an affectionate kiss on the top of his head. "And you, my wife." He propped himself up with his elbow to be able to give Kate a quick peck.

"I love you too, now sleep," she playfully demanded, which made him let out a long sigh. "Our first adventure as husband and wife starts bright and early tomorrow, so you need to get your sleep."

"Yeah, yeah." He waved his hand in her direction as he flipped himself onto his stomach to try and fall back asleep.

Kate grinned to herself as she mindlessly slid her fingers through Noah's hair. She never wanted to cut it because she absolutely adored his curls and the way they laid across his head. Besides, he would always pitch a fit whenever she brought him to a hairdresser. Although Alexis tried to get him to cut some of it off, he never budged and probably never would.

Shortly after she stopped playing with his hair, she could hear his steady, deep breaths. The sound of them always put her into an amazing slumber, but she wanted to marvel over how big he got in such a short amount of time. And how much he resembled herself. Even though he had his dad's eyes and hair color, he looked more like her, which she without a doubt preferred. Not saying that Sorenson was bad looking, but she would rather not have a reminder of his inactive father everyday just by looking at him.

She let out an upset sigh as she shut her eyes. As much as she wanted to hurt Sorenson for not being around as much as Noah deserved, he had Rick. The most wonderful father she had ever met, who was willing enough to make room for her little boy, definitely because he could tell he was in need of a father figure.

That was the final thought she had before she fell asleep with a smile plastered on her face. Her little boy might not have his biological dad in his life too often, but Rick replaced him. And she didn't care one bit, definitely because Rick allowed it.

…..

Rick just finished packing the rest of his things in the suitcase when he realized that Alexis didn't come down from her room yet. Immediately after his thought, he sped into the living room and darted up the first set of stairs. He caught a glimpse of a nude figure, so he turned toward it.

Noah was running around the living room, butt naked. He was waving his clothes in the air while Kate frustratingly ran her hand down her face from behind the couch.

"Need help?" Rick questioned with a stifled laugh. The boy's obsession with having absolutely no clothes on was hilarious, but he would never voice that aloud.

"Please," Kate answered with an exasperated sigh. "Noah James, get over here, now," she furiously demanded.

"Wee woo. Wee woo," Noah loudly mimicked an ambulance as he ran into the kitchen. He kept circling the island until a large arm came in contact with his stomach, and he was lifted in the air. "Ah! Help!"

"I think Mommy wants you to get dressed," Rick sternly explained why he picked the boy up under his arm.

"Clothes are for humans!" Noah complained and kicked his feet in hope it would help him be released.

Kate's eyebrow shot up in confusion. "You are a human. What else would you be?"

"I'm ET!" Noah shouted with a nod as he was held arms length in the air. He noticed his mom sliding his boxer briefs to his waist, which made him squirm. "No clothes!"

"Yes, clothes," Kate carefully pulled her fingers away, so she wouldn't snap the waistband like she did the other day. Next, she slid his baby blue and yellow plaid shorts on. "Cute little boys need to wear clothes."

"I am not cute," Noah huffed and crossed his arms.

"I have to agree with your mom on this one," Rick added in, making the boy's head tilt toward him with furrowed brows.

"Only puppies are cute," Noah mumbled as he was set down. Within seconds of being in contact with the floor, his mom was guiding his head through his shirt. "Hey!"

"Hey, yourself." Kate gently ruffled his curls before she got his arms through the sleeves. After, she took hold of his hand. "Now that you took a bath, you need to eat."

"Can I eat on the stool?" Noah enthusiastically asked as he ran toward the island. Without getting an answer, he pulled the stool away from the counter and began to climb up.

"What did I say about doing it yourself?" Kate questioned while she assisted him with getting in the seat. She got a slight shrug in response.

"You're not supposed to," Rick answered as he proceeded to climb up a few stairs. "Remember last time?"

"Yes," Noah sadly muttered as he looked at his lap. "I fell."

"Don't be sad, silly." Kate delicately poked his nose, causing her to receive a smile. Her eyes navigated to Rick who was grinning at her before he went out of sight.

Rick hesitantly knocked on Alexis' bedroom door before he stepped inside. He found her nowhere in sight, which made his heart pick up speed in panic. He was ready to call Kate upstairs until he noticed a shadow under the bed.

As he lowered himself onto his stomach, small sniffles made their way to his ears. His heart plummeted to the bottom of his stomach because he knew she was crying.

"Pumpkin," he unhappily murmured. "What's wrong?"

"I don't want you to go, Daddy," Alexis admitted as new tears shed down her rosy cheeks.

"I won't be gone long at all and you will be with Noah the whole time. And Jenny, and Grams, and Papa Beckett, and Lanie."

"Why can't I go with you?" she blubbered while she carefully wiped her wet eyes.

"Because you don't like planes and a honeymoon only consists of the bride and groom. I thought you were okay with this." He attempted to reach for her, so he could pull her out and into his arms for a bear hug, but she scooted a little ways back.

"Please stay," she desperately cried out.

"Come here, Pumpkin." His heart was silently breaking and he really needed to hold her, so he could try and take her pain away. He slid a few feet from the bed, which made her eventually crawl out. "It's okay," he gently murmured while kneeling. The moment his little girl was clinging to him, his arms tightly wrapped around her. "I love you, Pumpkin."

"Don't be gone forever," she spoke which was mainly muffled because her face was buried in his shirt.

"Is that what this is about?" He planted a careful kiss against the top of her bright hair. "You think that we are going to be gone forever?"

"Maybe."

He felt her slight shrug against him. "Why do you think that?"

"B-because Mommy did," she stammered and he lightly grasped her shoulders at her reply.

"I will never leave you like that. Never," he sincerely assured as he held her teary blue eyes with his. "You are my little girl and I will never leave you because I love you too much and I can't live without you. Understand?"

"I understand, Daddy." She gradually nodded her head with a small smile.

"Good. Now, let's go downstairs to eat before Papa Beckett gets here." He pushed his hands on his knees to help himself stand. Then, he lightly latched onto his daughter's hand and walked out of the room and toward the stairs with her. "I'm glad you got dressed all on your own."

"You said I have to!" she silently giggled as they descended the steps.

"Everything alright?" Kate questioned Alexis' red eyebrows before she took a sip of her coffee while she leaned against the counter.

"Someone was a little upset that we're leaving, but I fixed it," Rick answered with a bright smile. He watched his little girl pull out of his hand and start to climb the stool beside Noah, so he sped over and helped her. "I don't want you to tip over like he did the other day."

"That was loud," Alexis replied with a frown. She noticed Noah swinging his body while eating, so she giggled. "Are you dancing?"

"Gotta eat fast. I wanna see the plane!" he exclaimed with a full mouth, which made some of his toaster strudel fall out and onto the plate.

"Noah, manners," Kate sternly demanded with her eyes glued with his narrowed ones.

Rick had to bite his tongue when he witnessed the glare Noah gave Kate before he began to finish his breakfast. He felt an elbow nudge him, so he looked toward the source.

"What?" he asked until he realized Kate was holding a small plate with a toaster strudel on it. "Oh!" he took hold of it and swiftly set it in front of Alexis. "Eat up."

Kate watched the kids eat for a split second before she grabbed hold of Rick's arm and led him away from them. She spun on her heel to face him, which made a nervous expression appear across his face.

"You're not in trouble," she breathlessly chuckled and shook her head. "I just want to know why she was crying."

"How could you tell?" Rick curiously inquired. He loved and kind of hated how his wife could easily figure things out about people within a matter of seconds.

"Her nose, eyebrows, and eyes were red. They usually get that way when she's crying," Kate answered with a slight shrug. "So, why was she upset?"

"She thought that we were going to be leaving forever… like her mom." He heavily shrugged with a quiet sigh.

"Oh…" Kate frowned before she instinctively walked over to Alexis' chair. She leaned down and lightly whispered into the girl's ear, "You're my stepdaughter now, sweetie."

The look of surprise on Alexis' angelic face made her grin ear to ear. She had to hug her small body, so she wouldn't fling herself out of the stool to come in contact with her.

"I love you, Kate!" Alexis gleefully announced. She pulled away from her stepmom with the brightest smile.

"I love you too," Kate murmured as she smoothed down Alexis' soft hair with a smile.

"And me!" Noah shouted while he stood on his stool with his arms in the air to get everyone's attention onto him. "I love all the peoples in here!"

Kate's heart was caught in her throat when she saw Noah standing. She slowly made her way to his stool, afraid that he would manage to make the slightest movement and tumble off. After she was beside him, she forced him to sit down, which got her annoyed whines in return.

"You need to stay seated when you're up here," she deeply spoke, which was mostly out of fear that he could have gotten hurt.

"That's right, Little Batman," Rick added in, getting a defeated sigh and rolled eyes from Noah.

"When's Papa coming?" Noah decided to ask since he was finished eating and he wanted to not be lectured anymore.

"He'll be here in a little bit, why?" Kate folded her arms across her chest when she saw the devious look in her son's eyes.

"So we can go to the park!" he continuously nodded until he felt a small hand on his head. He quickly turned toward the source to find that it was Alexis.

"Quiet," Alexis whispered with a playful smile as she did a little squirm in her seat, illustrating one of her little dances.

"Fine." Noah decided to start climbing down the stool, so he could go play before he left. Once his legs were hanging over the side and he was gripping onto the seat for dear life, he felt hands on his waist. "Stop! Let me do it!" he shrieked.

"I don't think so." Kate set him onto the floor and watched him run toward the toys since she told him he couldn't watch TV for awhile. "He's a little daredevil, isn't he?"

"That he is," Rick agreed from near the coffee machine. He picked up the fresh mug before he took a few cautious sips.

"I really hope my dad, your mom, Jenny, and Lanie don't have problems with him…"

"I doubt they will." Since his wife was a lot closer to him, he pulled her into his side and kissed the temple that was facing him. "He's with your dad for two days, my mother for two, Jenny for two, and Lanie for one. I bet they can handle it. Besides, he's not two anymore. If he was, then I would say that they couldn't," he chuckled while shaking his head at the memories of Noah's terrible twos phase.

"Alexis, will you keep an eye out for him?" Kate questioned with a loving smile.

"Yup! If he's bad, I'll spank him!" Alexis nodded before she took another bite of her toaster strudel.

"Not that extreme, Pumpkin," Rick chortled as he rested the side of his head against Kate's.

"I'll keep him in line," Alexis lowly said, something she picked up from Kate whenever she disciplined herself or Noah.

"She's a keeper," Kate softly whispered, only loud enough for Rick to hear. She felt his arm tighten around her waist, which made it obvious that she made his heart clench, and in a good way.

AN: Thoughts?