"Lilah, Lilah." Kate whispered softly, gently stroking the hair from her sleeping child's forehead. "Lilah Baby, wake up for me, Angel." The little girl's eyes fluttered open and Kate smiled as the clear blue crystals found her.

"Momma?" Lilah asked quietly. Kate smiled.

"Hey Baby. You gotta get up Baby; momma's got a surprise for you." The little girl considered her mother for a moment.

"Ups?" She asked lifting her arms to her mother. Kate chuckled before carefully picking up the toddler and holding her close before sitting her on her hip.

"Close your eyes, Baby." Kate murmured against her daughter's hair. "Close them up nice and tight and no peeking okay?" She watched as she scrunched her eyes up and nodded. Kate smiled and pecked her tiny button nose. "Good girl."

Kate carefully walked down the stairs and into the office before perching on the desk chair, gently turning her little girl to face the computer in front of them. She smiled and leaned down to speak into her daughter's ear.

"Okay, Lilah, open up." The little girl's eyes opened and it took her a moment to recognise what was on the screen before her.

"Dada!" She cried happily, making her father laugh on the monitor.

"Hey Baby girl. Oh Lilah, you look so pretty, Sweetie. Your eyes shine brighter that Times Square, Honey." Rick whispered in awe. Kate chuckled when her baby girl blushed.

"You're not home." Lilah assessed sadly. Rick's smile faded.

"I know, Sweetheart. I'm sorry, Baby, I tried so hard to be there, but daddy had to stay here." Lilah's chin trembled. "Hey now, no tears my Darling. Momma's there and daddy loves you so much. Don't you worry your pretty little head about it okay? I'm right there if you get lonely. Just get momma to play you one of the stories I recorded for you. If you close your eyes Baby it's like I'm right there with you." Kate gently swayed them both from side to side, comforting her little girl.

"Don't like it."

"Oh, Sweetheart I know. Daddy doesn't either. But Cutie, I'll be home real soon." He smiled at her gently. "You know if I could get home to you I would. I'd walk if I had to Lilah."

"Miss you dada." Kate heard her husband swallow as emotion clogged his throat.

"I miss you too Lilah, so so much Honey." Rick murmured thickly. Kate subtly tightened her hold on Lilah's tiny body, holding her like she knew Rick wanted to. "But be good for momma okay? And don't miss me too much. Two more sleeps and I'll be home. We can do whatever you want, okay?" Lilah nodded, her chestnut curls bobbing with the movement. "And I made momma promise not to say it so I could be the first, so, happy birthday my big girl." Lilah giggled at Rick's huge smile.

"I'm three dada." Rick chuckled.

"I know." Rick gasped. "You have to stop growing! You'll be as big as your sister soon." Lilah giggled.

"But Lexis is really big." Kate and Rick both smiled.

"Baby, I'll be home before you know it okay?" Lilah nodded solemnly.

"I'll save you cake." She told him seriously, making her parents laugh, even as they both fought tears.

"I'd expect nothing less." Rick smiled. "Now Baby, it's really early and you must still be sleepy." Lilah yawned as if to prove his point. "Why don't you let momma put you in the big bed for a little while?" Lilah nodded sleepily.

"Love you dada." Rick chocked on a sob when his precious baby girl leaned forward and kissed the monitor.

"I'll be right back, handsome." Kate murmured and waited on Rick's nod before scooping up her half asleep little girl and gently tucking her in safe and warm in their bed. She quickly returned to the desk and gave her smile a soft smile.

"I'm so sorry I'm not going to be there Kate." Rick apologised. Kate shook her head.

"If you could be, you would be Rick. I know that." She sighed, gently resting her left hand on the tiny swell of her abdomen. "You missed your son kicking for the first time." She told him regretfully. Rick shut his eyes as a traitorous tear ran down his cheek.

"Oh Baby I'm sorry. I wanted to be there, you know I did, but Paula and Gina insisted that I stay until the end and..."

"Shhh, Rick it's okay." Kate soothed gently. "I know. I just miss you is all. Your little girl isn't the only one listening to those CDs every night." Rick sighed.

"Oh Kate." She shook her head.

"I've already forgiven you. Just come home soon okay? I miss you." Her voice cracked on the last word as tears fell down her face. "I'm sorry." She sobbed.

"I wish I could hold you Kate. I wish so much that I could hold you right now." Kate nodded.

"I know. You realise I'm not letting you out of this house for the rest of the week when you get home right?" Castle chuckled thickly.

"I wouldn't dream of trying to leave. I've gotta go, but I'll call you later okay?" Kate nodded.

"I love you Mr Castle." Rick smiled, holding his hand up to his screen. Kate gently laid her hand to cover his on her monitor.

"I love you back Mrs. Castle. I'll be home in two days, I promise." Kate smiled gently.

"I'm counting the hours, Love." Rick smiled and blew her a kiss before disappearing from screen. Kate took a moment to breathe before curling back in bed with their daughter, breathing in her soft warm baby scent, calming herself enough to fall asleep in his absence.

Only forty eight more hours.