Dead. Paul and Miranda Vail were both dead. Killed by Paul's boss because his wife didn't pick the right group of balls in the lottery. Luckily their son Benny had been in the custody of Castle and Beckett. However, the little boy was now, officially an orphan. Logically, Beckett knew that it wasn't their fault, but part of her wondered if they had waited too long. If she had only worked faster.

Castle tried to tell her that it wasn't her fault. That the only one to blame was Paul's boss. Arriving home that night, Kate saw Martha and Alexis with little Benny. Her heart broke for the tiny baby. He had managed to work his way into her heart in just a few short days. Now he had lost both of his parents. It just wasn't fair.

After celebrating Thanksgiving, Castle went in search of his wife. He found her sitting in their bed. She had her head resting on her knees and she was deep in thought. Climbing into bed beside her, he asked her softly, "What's wrong?"

Beckett continued to stare straight ahead, but said nothing to him. He put himself directly in her line o sight and gave her a funny look. She laughed sadly, but shook her head softly, "Nothing..."

"Why don't I believe you?"

She shrugged, "Don't know."

Castle knew her. He knew all of her tells. He knew when she was happy. He knew when she was upset. He knew when she was sad. Right now, he couldn't quite read her. All he did know was that for whatever reason, she wasn't being completely honest with him. She had something on her mind. Something that she wasn't quite ready to share with him. It bothered him. Mostly because they had agreed to always be honest with one another.

He took her into his arms and hugged her tightly. Then he asked, "Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?"

She pushed him away and got up off the bed. She walked into the bathroom and shut the door. He sighed and decided that he would give her a moment and then he would follow her. However, before he could make his way into the bathroom, he heard Benny crying. So, he walked out into the living room to rescue his mother and daughter.

"Benny my man! What seems to be the problem? You have these two beautiful ladies here doting on you! You should be on top of the world little man."

Alexis smiled at her father sadly, "I think he misses his mom."

Martha agreed, "Yes Richard. What's going to happen to him? Is he going to go to a foster home?"

Castle sighed, "I'm not sure. Kate told me that we have him for tonight. I'm sure that we will have to surrender him tomorrow. It was only supposed to be temporary after all."

Unknown to the others in the loft, Beckett was standing in Rick's office. Listening to the entire conversation. She had known that the custody situation with Benny was temporary. She had even admitted that she wasn't a baby person. What she hadn't counted on was falling in love with the temporary charge. Sure, they had no reason to keep him, but she couldn't bring herself to give him up. Seeing Rick with him was like getting a glimpse into what the future held for them. She could see him with their own baby. But what if they could be more for little Benny? What if they could be his family? Would Rick agree to it? Or would he call her crazy?

Maybe she was crazy. She wasn't mother material. She'd been afraid to even hold him earlier, but the longer they had him, the more at ease she felt.

Walking out into the living room, Benny saw her and suddenly his tears stopped and he had a watery smile on his face. Beckett walked over to Castle and took the baby from him. Almost like it was the most natural thing in the world for her. She kissed the top of his head and whispered, "It's okay sweetheart. I've got you."

Alexis, Martha and Castle were rendered speechless. She looked completely comfortable with the little boy. She was talking to him and then she walked him over to the piano and played a few notes for the baby. He cuddled up against her and he let one of his hands play with her hair. Kate closed her eyes and wondered how on earth she was ever going to be able to give up this sweet little boy that she had fallen in love with in only a matter of days. And the real question was did she want to?

Once the got Benny into bed for the night, Castle and Beckett climbed into their own bed. Beckett rested her head on Castle's chest and he stroked her hair. He kissed the top of her head and asked, "Do you want to tell me what's going on? Why you were so upset earlier?"

Beckett shook her head softly, "It's stupid really."

"Kate..."

She closed her eyes and swallowed hard. Then she managed to whisper so very softly, "He doesn't have anybody Rick. He's lost both of his parents. How is that fair? What if he goes to a family that won't love him? I..."

Castle sat up and turned to face her. Then he asked, "What are you saying Kate?"

She took a deep breath and then stood up next to their bed and looked down at her feet. What was she saying? Did she really want to take on this responsibility? Were they ready for it? Would Castle refuse because Benny wasn't their baby? She didn't think he would. It was apparent to anyone that saw him with baby Benny that he loved the little guy like he was his own.

Kate finally whispered, "I want to take him Rick. At least until they find him a good home."

That wasn't what she wanted to say really. What she wanted to say was that she wanted to give him a home. She wanted them to take him in and wanted him to take Castle's name. Wanted to raise him as if he was her own child. Wanted to be the one to encourage him when he was taking his first steps.

Wanted to be everything for him.

She could tell that he knew there was more behind her mood, but he said nothing. Instead he smiled at her and asked, "Are you sure that's it?"

Kate sighed loudly and told him, "Of course Rick. I'm not ready to be a mother. Not yet."

Damn. Why couldn't she admit the truth? Admit that she felt a kinship with the tiny baby currently sleeping in their guestroom upstairs. Sure, she had only lost her mom, but she knew how hard it was to lose one parent. Poor Benny had lost both of his.

She would call Social Services in the morning and see about having Benny placed with her and Castle. In the meantime, she would try and work up the courage to ask Rick about making Benny a permanent member of the Castle household.

She pulled him towards the bed and they climbed in together. Kate remained awake long after he fell asleep. She gave up trying fall asleep and walked upstairs to the room that Benny was currently sleeping in. She stood over the sleeping boy and looked down at him. He was so small. So helpless and he had no idea that he was all alone in the world. It broke her heart into tiny pieces.

Knowing that she should let him sleep, but unable to resist the pull of holding him, she gathered him in her arms and found her way to the rocking chair that Castle's mother had put in the room. She moved it closer to the window and sat down in it with Benny. He didn't stir. Except to snuggle closer into Kate's embrace.

Kate closed her eyes and fought back tears, but she knew she was unsuccessful. She wiped a tear off of her left cheek and took a deep breath. There was no way that she was ever going to be able to let him go. She was never going to be able to surrender him to strangers. People that might or might not love him unconditionally. Like she did. Like she knew Castle would. She had no idea where these feelings were coming from. Maybe it was a sign that she was ready to be a mother. It was time. Heaven knows that she wasn't getting any younger.

All she knew was that Benny belonged here. Belonged with her and Castle. Belonged with his Grandma Martha and his big sister Alexis. Of course she still had to find the courage to bring this up to Castle. Had to find a way to tell the man that she loved that she wanted to take in a baby that had lost the only parents he had ever known.

She breathed in the scent of his baby powder and lotion and it just felt right. Like this was something that she was meant to do. It was in that moment that Kate Beckett fell deep and hopelessly in love with Benny. She knew that she would never be able to surrender him. She would do whatever it took to keep this child in their home.