"Kate!" Castle screamed but only a faint sound was heard. No, no, no this can't be happening, Castle thought to himself as he began crawling in a failed attempt to reach the SUV. The SUV that had his wife. The SUV that had his PREGNANT wife. He watched in horror as it pulled away and left his sight. Darkness began to creep over him and thoughts of failure flooded his mind. What kind of husband is not able to protect his pregnant wife from this kind of harm? He had failed her and the defeat had already invaded his chest. He would get her back though. He would die before he let her suffer pain and agony and god forbid something happened to their child. He would never forgive himself. That life was too precious, as was Kate's.
4 HOURS EARLIER
"Castle. Castle!"
Castle ran like his life depended on it to their bedroom. Ever since they found out she was pregnant he had been extremely protective and fearful at almost every moment. Fear struck across his face until he saw the look on hers. She stood by their bed in just a plain black bra and matching black panties with her hands gripping her swollen belly. Castle was transfixed with her beauty in that moment. She was glowing and he was in absolute awe. The mother of his child could not be more beautiful.
"Castle!" His trance was broken. "The baby! It's…It's kicking!" This was the first time she had felt this small action from their little bundle within. "Quick! Come feel!"
He rushed over never willing to miss one moment of the miracle growing inside of her. Their faces suddenly showed the same joy and excitement as they shared this moment of love. Indeed, their little unborn miracle was definitely making its presence known.
"Wow." That was all Castle could come up with, suddenly speechless in that moment. Never in a million years would he have pictured this moment happening. Never did he think he would be so utterly in love that nothing else in the world mattered. Never did he think that he would have this strikingly stunning and strong woman as his wife, as his lover, as the mother of his child.
The moment was suddenly over when they both realized, they had an important appointment that they were now running late to. "Babe, get dressed so we aren't too late. We've waited so long for this and I'd hate to miss it now."
Kate glared at him. "Castle, don't 'babe' me. Don't think that just because I'm pregnant, you are allowed to slip that name by. And we're fine, perfectly on time."
Castle glanced down at his watch still unsure. Soon enough they would get there.
"This traffic is going to kill my patience." Castle was actually driving for once but in this traffic he wished he was in Beckett's charger with the light and sirens blaring. Honestly, he was unsure if that would even help.
"Relax, Babe. We will be there soon."
"Oh so you can 'babe' me but I can't 'babe' you?" He grinned over to her mischievously trying to prove his point.
Kate smirked at his comment. "I was just getting you back, but as I see that you probably enjoy it too much, I will have to come up with something much less manly for you, Kitten."
"Oh don't even go there. That is way worse than babe and you know it. Can't you just accept that I love you so much that I want to coddle you and call you sweet, sweet names?"
"Castle, if we put as much energy into picking a name for our baby as we do picking nicknames for each other we would be set for this baby as well as many others yet to come."
"There's no sense in trying to pick a name when we don't know if it's a boy or girl. That time could be spent doing more exciting activities." He moved one hand to her thigh while she let a small giggle out because she knows it's true. They love their sexy times with each other and would hate to give them up. He continued creeping his hand up her thigh, causing her to blush. He knew she liked it but he also knew that they can't do anything about it right now as they were about to arrive for their appointment.
"Castle, it's not nice to tease." She was giving him a shy yet seductive look. "Especially when you know how I've been lately with my pregnancy. I already wanna jump you and take you to bed all the time. Don't make it harder for me."
"Oh, believe me. I am not complaining. If I knew pregnancy was gonna turn you into such a sex goddess, I would have knocked you up much sooner," Castle stated matter-of-factly letting a sly grin show across his face.
She rolled her eyes at that but that usually just turns him on more.
They arrived at the office and checked in at the front desk. Many pregnant women were scattered around the waiting room in various stages of pregnancy. Some with men by their side and some without. Kate thought to herself how grateful she truly was to have this man by her side through this. She couldn't imagine doing this alone. Pregnancy would have been close to impossible if he weren't constantly there to fulfill her many needs. Labor would have been a nightmare without him. Raising his child with no father would just have been heartbreaking. She let out a sigh of relief as they sat down together. "I love you."
"I love you too. Now I hope you're ready to see our son or daughter."
"Believe me. I was ready before I even thought I was ready. And for the record it's going to be daughter. I can feel it." She really couldn't explain how she felt this but she knew without a doubt that they would be having a little girl.
"We'll see about that. Someday I would like to have another boy join the family. Too many females in my life already. We need a boy to even out the numbers a bit."
Kate smirked. "You don't usually complain about my presence. In fact most of the time you quite enjoy it."
"Trust me. I will never get sick of you and your wickedly hot body. I'm already looking forward to making baby #2, #3, and #4."
"Oh really? Well we will see about that after this little bundle comes." With that she placed her hand in his and led them to her stomach as the baby started kicking again.
The nurse called them back into the patient room. She took Kate's vitals and then welcomed the doctor who brought with her the ultrasound machine.
Kate looked up at Castle with a stunning smile on her face. Castle couldn't help but to smile back at his wife. They are only moments away from finding out what they are having. With Castle right by her side and their hands intertwined, they could not possibly feel any closer than this moment now.
"Well it looks like you two are more than ready for this." The doctor was smiling as she instructed Kate to lift her shirt. "This will be a little cold." Kate tensed a bit as the cold gel was spread across her blossoming belly. The doctor took a few minutes to find a good view of the baby causing Kate's nerves to heighten. The longer the doctor took, the more Kate's mind was jumping to horrible conclusions. Castle saw the fear start to spread across her face and squeezed her hands to reassure her.
After what seemed to them to be hours but was really only a few minutes, the doctor broke the silence. "Ok everything is looking normal so far. The baby looks to be developing properly and is just the right size for this stage of development. Let me see if I can get a good shot to determine the sex." She moved the scope more across Kate's belly pushing down harder than Kate would have liked.
The suspense was building quickly. Both Kate and Rick had been waiting for this moment since the day they found out they were expecting. Kate smiled as she looked over at Castle. Their hands were still together and his eyes were anxiously studying the screen trying to get a clue as to what they were having. Kate already felt the urge to cry and they hadn't even found out yet. She was just too overwhelmed with the joy of being Castle's wife and carrying his child. How did she get so lucky?
"Congratulations! You are having a baby girl!"
Immediately Kate started to let a few tears slide. Castle came forward and they're lips met for merely a few seconds. "You were right babe, it's a girl. God I love you Kate."
She was so emotional she couldn't help but to let that 'babe' slide. "Don't you know by now to always trust my instincts? I'm almost always right. And I love you too Rick." She laughed but still couldn't control the tears that kept falling. They were having a little girl. Together. They were in this together. He wiped her tears away with a slow brush of his hand cherishing this moment of happiness. Nothing could have made this moment more perfect.
"And what do you think you're doing?" Castle was staring questioningly at Kate as she slipped into a pair of leggings and a tight workout shirt that highly extenuated her growing belly.
"Going for a quick run…" He shot her a concerned look that told her right away that there was no way in hell he was going to allow that. He barely let her out of his sight, let alone do something as intense as running. He was convinced that running while pregnant couldn't possibly be safe. "Uhh fine, I mean a walk. I'm going for a walk." She groaned trying to make Castle feel bad about his strict protectiveness over her.
"Sure you are. Don't lie just to make me feel better." Even he couldn't deny how unbelievably sexy she looked in her tight fitting outfit that revealed every curve she had. As much as he's loved post-run sweaty Kate, he would not allow her to risk injury to herself or their baby girl. There would be plenty more times when he would experience post-run sweaty Kate. But for now, he would have to sacrifice.
"Well then join me...for my walk." She knew Castle would feel more at ease if he joined her so he would know for a fact that she was just walking. Personally, she liked that Castle felt the need to protect her and their baby. Usually she would hate to be taken care of and seen as a fragile being, but she felt differently about it when she knew his child was inside her. They both knew she was more than capable of taking care of herself, but Castle stepping up was extremely sweet and comforting. Of course she would never admit that to him. His ego was big enough as it was and definitely did not need to be fed further.
He was lost in a daze, still thinking about all the times they've had sex right after she had returned home from a run covered in sweat. "Sorry, um what?"
"Walk, Castle. Let's go on a walk together. But first can you grab my shoes and help me get them on? I can't quite reach my feet anymore."
He smiled at that request, allowing it to truly sink in that she was indeed getting bigger. She was getting bigger because she was pregnant...with his child. After they had first found out, it took a while for her to start showing. Once her belly showed the first signs of swelling, it had seemed to never stop growing. Now she had reached the point of struggling to perform everyday tasks due to her size. Accepting help had never been one of her strengths but for the sake of their baby, she was trying.
She sat on the bed waiting patiently as he searched the closet for her shoes and boy did Kate have a lot of them. He went row by row scanning over the numerous pairs of high heels and boots before moving to dig through those scattered everywhere on the floor. No running shoes seemed to be anywhere.
"Kate, how do you find anything in here? There are heels everywhere and...Ahhh now these are sexy. Kate why have you never worn these before?" He came out with a brand new pair of shiny black leather boots with five-inch heels and some leather detail going up the sides. "These would look great with those black skinny jeans that hug your ass oh so nicely. Oh! And your gun holster around your thigh to bring the whole outfit together! Damn, you would knock the criminals dead with one look. Hell, you would knock me dead with one look."
"Castle, I'm pregnant. Does it look like I'm going to be strutting around in those boots anytime soon? And the last thing I need is more criminals hitting on me. I already have to deal with you and your wandering hands that seem to have a mind of their own. Besides, do you really want all those criminals to have the luxury of seeing me in their deepest, darkest fantasies? That luxury is reserved for you and only you. I am a one-writer girl, remember?" She couldn't help but give him a sexy smirk knowing very well that they had both been the subject of each other's fantasies for many years even before their intimate relationship had started.
He had never been able to control himself when she did that sexy I know you can't resist me smirk. And right now was no exception as he stumbled over her shoes and leapt over to her on the bed. Crashing his lips onto hers, he laid her back. She gasped at the sudden moment but definitely wasn't complaining about the feelings that were now surmounting thanks to his skillful tongue. A moan escaped her lips as she opened for him to deepen the kiss further. Castle's hands reached beneath her shirt and across her lower back causing her hips to jerk upward into him. She could already feel his arousal growing against her as he nipped at her ear and kissed her lovingly behind it.
She was breathless but managed to speak. "Run…" was all she could get out before he silenced her with his mouth against hers.
"Walk," Castle replied as his body pushed hers further into the warmth and comfort of the mattress. "Later." He was now the one seductively smirking at her in hopes that sex might distract her from her insistence to go on a run. "Haven't found your shoes anyways." He moved his mouth down her neck leaving kisses on her soft glowing skin. Her skin burned with desire underneath his gentle touch. He knew her all too well and it showed in situations like this. All the secret places on her skin that made her gasp and squirm with desire when touched, he knew. That was one of the things she loved most about him; He always took the time to learn and observe so he could selflessly put her desires before his.
His hands grabbed at the hem of her shirt and she leaned forward some so he can remove it. Even in a sports bra, Castle could clearly see the effects of pregnancy on her breasts. They were already more plump and getting more so every day. Definitely no complaints were coming from him though. He loved everything about her changing body even when she didn't. Seeing their child grow inside her stomach day after day was magical and emotions swarmed him as he kissed her stomach like he did every night before falling asleep.
"Pants...off." She barely got the words out in between her rapid breathing. Castle began to unzip his pants as she removed her bra. Still stepping out of his pants, he once again started planting kisses on her neck. He stopped at her breasts and couldn't help but to stare in awe of what lay before him.
"Kate, you are so beautiful." He took one breast into his mouth lavishing her with his tongue. He was sure to be gentle in light of her pregnancy, knowing that they had been extra tender lately. Her moans turned him on even more as he continued on to the other to provide the same gentle treatment.
"God, Castle. Don't stop." Pregnancy had heightened her senses and right now they were shooting bursts of pleasure in every part of her body. She could feel her wetness soaking through her panties and her patience was suddenly wearing thin. If this walk did happen she would definitely need a new pair of leggings for it.
Castle was on top of her with just his boxers on and she needed her leggings off now. She started reaching for them but Castle, sensing her struggle with getting them off from her laying down position, took actions into his own hands.
As he stared into her dark and seductive eyes, he slowly peeled her leggings down her endless, slender legs leaving her in nothing but her cream colored panties. He moaned in appreciation as he saw her wetness seeping through. Without any more hesitation he removed her final piece of clothing. Crawling above her, he helped as she moved further up the bed so her legs were no longer hanging off.
"I want you now Castle!" She had never been one to take things slow in the bedroom. But being in bed with the world's most selfless lover meant that her plans were usually ignored. He spread her wide, allowing him to see her fully and glistening before him. Not wasting another second, he dove down covering her with his tongue. Her back arched in surprise and he had to brace her hips with his hands to keep her still.
"Fuuuuck, Castle." She couldn't stop herself from moaning his name over and over with a few expletives mixed in as well. He was truly a man of many talents, and what he did with his tongue was one of them. It should almost be a crime that he had this much talent in his tongue, his hands, his fingers...she could writhe under his touch screaming his name all day. If only that was an option.
He circled her with his tongue and gently bit down on her while she moaned in pleasure. Suddenly two fingers thrust inside her and she screamed in delight. He pumped them slowly as he continued to lavish her with his tongue.
"Cas-stle I'm so close." Pleasure was riding through her entire body reaching every nerve her body had as she prepared for her impending orgasm. With that he suddenly stopped. She whimpered at the sudden loss of contact. "What the f…" She was cut off as he flipped her over so she was now on top of him. Before she could even register the movement, he was lifting her up above him and bringing her down to envelope his manhood. She gasped as he fills her entirely and hit her in just the right spot.
They moved together in unison as they made love.
"Kate, I'm not gonna last long." His breath hitched.
"Well thanks to you, I'm all worked up and ready to go." With that she lifted off of him entirely and crashed back down forcing him to pound into her deeply. Her walls were trembling and she was thrown into pure bliss as her body racked with waves of pleasure. Castle felt her walls closing in on his length and he soon followed her over the edge. Kate could feel him spill into her as she was still recovering from her intense orgasm that was still giving her extreme pleasure.
She gently lifted off of him and fell beside him on the bed. The scent of sex filled the air and evidence of their encounter could be seen in their heavily disheveled appearances.
"So you ready for that walk?"
Of course she didn't forget, Castle thought to himself.
"Come on Castle, keep up!" Kate was a few yards ahead of Castle as she swiftly power walked.
Castle started jogging to catch up to her. "You didn't say you were going to walk like the world is going to end!"
"Stop complaining. We both need the exercise and I'm not even running."
"Yeah but you're like half a step down from running."
"I can always start running you know. Then you'll really get behind."
"Oh I can keep up with my pregnant wife all right."
"You sure about that? Weren't you just behind when I was only walking?" Kate didn't leave time for Castle to answer and instead dashed ahead sprinting. She looked back as Castle started to follow her but even pregnant, his speed was no match to hers.
Castle watched as his pregnant wife took off around the corner no longer in his field of vision. He was already feeling a cramp in his leg since it has been awhile since he had tried a full on sprint. Trying his best to catch up again, he chose to ignore the cramp. He was not happy about her sprinting while 24 weeks along and even more unhappy that he could no longer see her.
His heart suddenly stopped as a blood-curling scream of his name was shouted breaking the beautiful late-afternoon ambience. The park was mostly empty on this dreary, overcast day. Not a person was in sight as Castle took off sprinting even faster like his life, or more importantly Kate's life, depended on it.
Finally, he saw her. But she was on the ground. Alone. Not Moving.
"KATE! KATE!" He knelt beside her immediately checking her pulse. Relief came across his face as he located a pulse and saw that she was breathing. He thought for a second, what the hell is going on. Kate was unconscious but didn't appear to be injured.
Contemplating the situation was no longer an option as Castle felt a sting in his neck. A syringe had injected him with some unknown liquid and its effects were already taking over his body. He collapsed from his knees to his back and eyed two dark figures above him.
"Kaaate." He attempted to speak but it was so quiet he was unsure if any sound even escaped his lips. He felt blackness trying to overcome him but garnered all the strength in his body to fight it off. He had to fight it for Kate. Looking over to her, he heard them mumble a few words as they began to drag her away towards a dark SUV.
"Nooo, Kate!" Again he was unsure if he was even producing a sound. The dark figures were getting farther away dragging Kate closer and closer to the SUV. Castle knew that now was not the time to give in to his sagging eyelids and numb body. He managed to turn onto his stomach and crawl a few steps in their direction. Sadness filled his eyes when he saw her unconscious body being placed into the back. He was too late.
They shut the doors and started the car. He had only managed to move a few yards closer but he would never give up.
"KATE! No, don't go! Damn it Kate come back!" He was sure sound came out on that one as he caught the attention of a nearby runner who was now running in his direction.
Castle tried to speak again but nothing was clear in between his worst fears flooding his mind and the disabling effects of the drug so he just pointed in the direction of the parking lot where the SUV once was. He shuffled his hand into his pockets to try and get his phone out. Weakness was taking its toll on him and the darkness had almost overpowered him completely. Before it did, he dropped the phone in the runner's direction and spoke a very faint, "Esposito" before succumbing to the darkness.
a/n: This my first fic so I am just testing the waters here. This will be a multi-chapter fic and chapter 2 is in the works. Review please! I would love to know what you liked and what you disliked. Wouldn't be opposed to hearing a few ideas thrown out there as well. Thanks and hope you enjoyed it.