A/N: Here is the sequel to "A Handful of Words". I'm taking a social media Hiatus in February but this story is already written so there will be one chapter/day throughout the month. I hope you enjoy the journey!
Disclaimer: I do not own Castle or the characters used in this story.
A Book of Hope
For once in their lives, there was a series of fortunate events. They returned from their honeymoon after two weeks of basking in a love so deep that neither could truly wrap their mind around it. But it had been the first evening after they'd settled back into the loft that Kate gave him the best news of his life, for the second time.
He'd been unpacking their suitcases while she finished her bedtime routine when she came out of the bathroom with tears in her eyes and a huge grin on her face. It had only taken one look at her and the small white stick she carried in her hand to know. Castle had wrapped one arm around her waist while she pressed the positive pregnancy test into his other, both of them holding a part of the proof, and seconds later they were celebrating the life that they had created together, in more ways than one.
He'd planned on reading her anniversary gift to him as soon as they returned home, but Kate's morning sickness had other plans. Two months of holding her hair in the early hours of the morning and the late hours of the evening before it finally began to ease. He hated it for her, but she once again proved her strength. Never once did a complaint fall from her mouth, she just rubbed her still flat stomach, told their baby it was okay and carried on with each day.
And each day he was still amazed by the depths of her heart and strength.
Once things were finally good for her, meaning she was able to wake up each day and completely enjoy carrying the life that was growing inside her, he picked up her journal filled with things she had written to him during the time he was missing and sat down at his desk to read her words. He had just opened the cover and ran his hand over the first page, over her beautiful, delicate handwriting, when he felt her step up behind him.
"Hey, Babe, I know you're ready to dive in and read everything I wrote you, but I was just thinking maybe you could read one entry a day. As I told you before, I wrote things that I wanted for our future, hopes, but some days it was still a little hard to find those words."
He turned his chair so that he could wrap her in his arms and she came willingly, settled in his lap while he placed kisses to her temple, her cheek, and finally her lips. And then with a final press of her lips, she smiled and slid off his lap so that he could read her words.
She turned at the doorway, hovered there for a moment and smiled again when his eyes lingered on her.
"I love you," she whispered, before she left him to get lost in her hopes for their future. The smile on her face lingered as she slid into their bed, because so many of her hopes were already a reality.
Would love to hear your thoughts! xo