Hey guys! I plan on making this story longer, seeing as I'm trying to get myself to write almost every day this summer, so expect lots of chapters in this wonderful little Caskett journey. This is a sequel to my story "The Big Day", which followed "A Yes or No Question", but you don't have to read those two before this one, though I definitely recommend it :) Please leave me reviews to let me know what you think, and message me if you have any story requests! -Alyssa
She hasn't decided how to tell him.
There are hundreds of possibilities, but she doesn't know which one is the right one. And it has to be just right when it comes to him. She wants to make sure it's a good thing, for both of them, and has spent the past hour going back and forth in her head over the numerous possibilities of how to break the news.
They've been married for almost six months now. Their honeymoon lasted a week, which was spent lavishly on the coast of Southern France, drinking fine wine and exploring the culture, as well as taking pictures of him holding baguettes in front of various places around where they were staying. "It proves to the world I'm actually in France," he told her. "A baguette adds to the realism."
She laughs at the memory as she continues to cut up vegetables on the counter in the kitchen, preparing a fine home-cooked meal of fresh pasta for when he comes home from his meeting with the publicist.
She was told the "married life" would change her relationship, that the honeymoon period doesn't last, and that her and her husband were bound to argue more, with less of an escape. However, getting married hasn't really changed anything for them, besides the fact that they are now "officially" a couple in legal eyes. They spent four years doing an insane dance that cumulated in a two-year relationship and a 6-month engagement, before they officially tied the knot. Seven years of love and pain, of excitement and terror, of every possible emotion. They've seen each other's vulnerable sides, their weaknesses, what makes them tick. Maybe that's why being married hasn't changed anything for them: they have already gone through the intense highs and lows of a relationship that they now know how to make it work. Moreover, it was almost their seven-year anniversary of having entered each other's lives. Merely weeks until it comes.
And does she have a present for him.
She hears the *click* of the front door as it is unlocks, and suddenly panics, looking at the clock: 5:30pm. He was home an entire half hour early, and she hadn't figured out how to tell him yet. The knob turns and the door opens, and he enters the loft, laptop case strung across his shoulder, and smile on his face when he looks up and sees her in the kitchen. "Are we dining in tonight, my lovely, domestic wife?"
She quickly hides the panic away and puts a smile on her face, letting the happiness of seeing her husband after a long day overpower the sense of fear. "As a matter-of-fact, we are," she replies. He drops his laptop case on the couch and head over to the island. "I'm making pasta, seeing as you had leftover sauce in the fridge that's bound to go bad sometime soon. Figured I might toss in some vegetables this time though."
He leans on the counter across from her, contorting his face into disgust. "Vegetables? Isn't making me eat salad with it enough healthy, green stuff for one meal?"
She laughs at his childish retort, and focuses on cutting the last red pepper into tiny bits. "Well, Castle, someone's got to make sure you're eating right. And I'm pretty sure I signed up for that job," she says as she raises her left hand to wiggling her ringed finger in front of him.
He takes hold of her hand before she can drop it, and brings it to his lips for a light, quick kiss. "That you did, my fair maiden. That you did."
She smiles again and takes back her hand to put the peppers into his special tomato sauce, stirs it a little, and puts down the wooden spoon on the counter, glancing at the time as she does. "Okay, this has got another five minutes on it before I should start the pasta."
"Oh, I can think of a lot of things we could do in five minutes…", he smirks devilishly in her direction.
"Actually, there's something I wanted to talk to you about."
"Oh," he says surprised. "Well, we can do that too. The couch?"
She makes her way out of the kitchen and he pulls her by the waist toward him as she beings to walk past. He wraps his arms around her, and she answers by moving her hands to drape around his neck. He pulls her in for a gentle kiss. They both pull back, foreheads resting against each other. "I missed you today," he tells her.
"I gotta say, the precinct was a lot quieter without you there."
"Hey!" he answers, as she giggles and leads them towards the couch. He sits so she can rest her head on his shoulder, but she takes a cushion all for herself, folding her legs up so she can face him head-on.
"So," he asks, "what would you like to talk about?"
How does she start? She wants her clarifications out of the way, her doubts gone so she's left with reassurance, so she can tell him without too many worries in her mind. This isn't a time for dancing around the subject; she has to go for it directly.
"We haven't really talked about having kids."
His face is clearly surprised, a topic of discussion he wasn't expecting so out of the blue. He quickly shuts his jaw from the "o" his lips formed, and he clears his throat before speaking.
"No," he answers, "I guess we haven't."
"I mean," she starts, "you've mentioned it, sort of. Side comments here and there, but we haven't sat down and discussed it. We've been married for almost 6-months now, and seeing how everything has still managed to go smoothly, I think it's time to talk."
He pauses for a moment, looking at her unreadable face. "I agree."
"Good," she says, a bit more relaxed that he's willing to discuss. "So."
"So."
"Do you want more kids, Rick?"
He looks at her once more, a seemingly pained expression in his eyes. "Well…that's a complicated question."
"What?" she exclaims. She doesn't understand. A "yes" or a "no" are usually the only two options. But with Castle, of course, it has to be more than that.
"It depends," he starts. "On you."
"Me?" She looks at him, still confused at his earlier reply.
"Yes, Kate. You." She retains her muddled appearance, so he continues. "In all honestly, I would love more kids. At least one more, maybe two. I miss having a little munchkin running around the loft, and with Alexis off in college, it just feels too empty. I feel like I don't get to be a dad that often anymore. And I miss it. And I think you'd make a great mom. You'd do everything to make sure the little rascal is safe and happy. You'd flourish. And I think you'd love it." He pauses and looks down, playing with his hands. "But ultimately, it's your decision. I don't want to pressure you into something you don't want, Kate. I know you love your job, love going to the precinct every day, and I love that look of peace you have when you've closed a case. It's who you are. And I don't want to take that away from you."
He looks into her eyes, deeply, trying to show her that he's being serious. That he means every word he is saying. That he wants her to be happy, with or without a child, because if she's happy with her life, he will be too.
She looks back at him, seeing that he's being honest and open. That what she wants is more important to him than anything else. That he wants her to be happy. And she knows what'll do just that. She smiles as she continues to look into his shining blue eyes.
"I want a kid, too, Castle."
He blinks, and then blinks again, as if what she said were something in a dream. A smile grows across his face, one of pure happiness, because she wants the same thing he does, and it'll make her happy. "Really?" he asks, still unsure of what he's just heard her say.
"Really."
"Well, then," he starts, "I for one am all for getting started on that," and he grabs her hand and stands, beginning to pull her towards the bedroom.
"Well," she stops him, pulling his hand back so he's right in front of her. "That won't really be necessary."
He stands there in a state of confusion. What is she saying? His face scrunches as he tries to dissect her statement.
She laughs as his oblivious look. "Geez, for a writer you really don't know your way around words." She looks up at him, and pulls him onto the couch beside her, looking into his eyes. He still hasn't figured out her phrase, and she rolls her eyes at the ridiculousness that is this man. But this is it. The big moment. She lets out a sigh, takes hold of both his hands, and looks him in the eyes.
"Rick, I'm pregnant."
His jaw drops, but quickly rights itself. He processes what she's just said, the wheels grinding in his head at a hundred miles per hour.
"You-you're...pregnant?"
She smiles and nods, hoping that this is still what he wants. Hoping that even though it wasn't planned, that it came out of nowhere, that it is something good and happy that they should celebrate.
It all begins to hit him at once. Their conversation topic making sense; why she was so hesitant when talking, looking worried he'd say no. Why she's sitting across from him with a smile on her face, one that is clearly worried he doesn't want an unplanned child.
His mouth slowly grows into a wide grin, and he grips her hands tighter.
"You're pregnant. We-we're having a kid. Kate: you're pregnant!"
His smile grows and he takes her shoulders in his hands, looking happier than she's ever seen him. A weight she did not know she was bearing is suddenly lifted off her shoulders; she now knows that yes, this is good. This is something positive that's happening.
She laughs as his hands continue to gently smooth her, from her arms, to her hair, to her cheeks. She holds them there, glowing with joy at his excitement, making her even happier about the big step in their relationship.
He pulls her face to his for a long, gentle kiss. One full of love and happiness, similar to the one the shared on their wedding day. He pulls back and looks at her, searching her face for the same joy he's feeling, and upon finding it grins even wider so his eyes begin to crinkle.
"I love you, Kate."
"I love you too, Rick."
They sit there for a moment, and during their loving moment, reality slowly begins to seep back in.
She completely forgot about dinner.
"Oh my gosh," she exclaims. "The sauce!"
She motions to jump up and head for the kitchen, but he holds onto her hand and slowly pulls her back to the couch. "Nu-uh. No way. Let me worry about dinner. You are sitting on the couch and waiting patiently for it to be done."
She sighs at his absurd orders, but the grin remains on her face. "I'm not useless yet, Castle. I'm pretty sure I can stir some noodles and tomato sauce."
"Well, I'm not taking any chances. You are sitting right there until I say that dinner is ready. And that's a fact."
He looks at her once more, and then pulls her close to him, but not close enough to squeeze her stomach in between them. She answers by wrapping her arms around his neck, and tucking her face into the curve of his neck.
"Happy anniversary," she whispers.
He quickly pulls back and looks at her in a state of shock. "Wait, our anniversary isn't for another, like three weeks. I know this. It's not…right?"
She giggles at his panicked look and slaps him on the shoulder. "Off to the kitchen, my domestic husband. You've got some pasta to cook."
He looks at her for a moment longer before kissing her forehead and unfolding himself from her. He stands and looks down, one hand still holding onto hers. "Thank you, Kate. This is the best present I've gotten in a very long time."
His look lingers, but he soon moves to the kitchen. She stays in her spot, a goofy smile still on her face, as he goes around the counter and starts stirring the sauce. He's happy, she thinks. She hasn't seen him that overjoyed since she said yes to him on one knee. Since their "I do's" at their wedding. It was a look, she liked to think, solely reserved for her. And even though she was worried about the time to come, and was she worried, there was one thing that kept her going. One thought that makes it all worthwhile.
That she is happy, too.