"Daddy, daddy, daddy!" I hear the voice of my three year old pulling me out of my sleep. I look over to see that Kate has gone. I moan and open my eyes just a millimeter more to see Hanna looking me straight in the eyes.

"It's still early sweetie. Do you know where mommy is?" I ask her as I sit up and kiss her forehead.

"Work, she give me kisses," she says, yawning a bit. I smile as I think of how every time Kate has to leave in the mornings, she always gives Hanna a kiss before she goes.

"Oh, I see," I say as I stand up and pick her up. Hanna's hair is in her natural waves, just like Beckett's, but Hanna's eyes are my blue. Her face is angelic like Kate's but Hanna is just as childish and adventurous as I am—with a little of Kate's spark.

"Pancakes, daddy?" Hanna asks sweetly.

"How could I say no?" I ask her as we head towards the kitchen.

While I'm making breakfast, Alexis calls and we talk for a good twenty minutes before Hanna insists on talking to her sister. When Hanna gets off the phone, I serve her the pancakes and she loads on the syrup, I shrug and grab the phone—dialing Kate's number.

She answers on the first ring. "I knew you were going to be calling me soon Castle," she says, I know she is smiling by the tone of her voice.

"You know you should be on maternity leave already, you're six months pregnant and running around the city with a gun Kate. I worry," I say in a hushed tone so Hanna won't hear.

"Castle, they are only calling me in on more minor cases, I don't go anywhere without back-up and I'm never the first one in," she says is a reassuring tone. "This case is almost closed up—we think, Espo has got a major lead," she adds.

"Okay, just promise me you're being careful. I wish you would have told me, I could have dropped Hanna off at daycare," I tell her.

"Hanna hates daycare, you know that. We agreed that we wanted to raise our children, not any nannies or full-time daycare," she says, I can hear her typing. My mind rests easier knowing she is safe at the precinct.

"I agree, but a few times a week would not hurt her. I miss bugging you all day," I tell her, laughing a bit as memories spin in my mind.

Kate laughs, light and easy. "We worked on a case together a week ago Castle," she reminds me.

"I know, just be careful. Are you going to be home soon, or by dinner?" I ask.

"Ryan is bringing a guy in now, and if he's our guy I'll be home in an hour. I'll be home by dinner," she says.

"Don't work too hard," I warn her.

"You know me Castle, love you, see you later. Tell Hanna mommy loves her," she says, laughing.

"Love you too, and will do. Bye," I tell her. I hear a brief bye and we are disconnected.

Hanna has gotten syrup in her hair, and I whisk her off to take a bath. As I scrub her hair, she plays with a toy boat.

"Daddy is the new baby a boy?" she asks, as she splashes me in the face, giggling as she does so.

I rub my eyes, and smile as I think of having another child. "Mommy and I don't know yet," I tell her honestly, we both decided for it to be a surprise—even though I really do want to know, Kate doesn't. What other surprises in life are there? she always says when I bring it up.

"Well, boys are weird," Hanna says bluntly.

"I'm a boy, and I'm not weird," I retort back.

"Daddy, you are the weirdest boy ever. You have superhero pajamas," she says, giving me an annoyed look—that mirrors her mother's exactly.

"Would you be disappointed if it were a boy?" I ask her curiously.

"Maybe," she says, shrugging as she splashes me again. "Do you want boy?"

"I don't care, a boy would be amazing, but I love you and Alexis so much that another girl would be great too," I tell Hanna, as I lift her out of the tub.

Kate gets home just as I am putting on Hanna's PJ's; she missed dinner and the park. I can't help but hide my disappointment. "I'm sorry Castle," Beckett says as she hugs me. "I'll put Hanna to bed, come on sweet heart," she says, holding her arms out to Hanna.

Hanna excitedly jumps into her mother's arms and immediately starts babbling about her day. I head towards the master bed room and call Alexis again. Alexis is living only an hour away, has a big fancy job and a serious boyfriend, but I make a point to call her at least twice a day. She appreciates it; she says it reminds her of home. Eventually, she hopes to move back to the city.

Somewhere in the middle of the phone call, Kate walks back into our room and takes a shower, by the time I'm off the phone Kate is pulling on one of my t-shirts—the green material protruding a bit because of her baby bump. She gives me a timid smile and she climbs on bed towards me. I put down the book I've been reading and turn to her—letting out a long breath. With her wet hair and subtle expression, it reminds me of that first time she showed up at my door, kissing me endlessly. I know I can't stay mad at her.

"You said you'd be home by dinner," I inform her.

"Castle, I'm sorry. It took longer than we thought with the questioning and the paperwork," Kate says, her eyes soft—making it so much harder to stay mad.

"I know, I just wish you were here instead," I tell her truthfully. Kate has changed a lot since Hanna came into the picture, works a lot less and I have to appreciate that.

"I know, I wish I was too," she says. I open my arms to her and she nestles in my chest—her head on my shoulder and her legs slung over mine. I place a hand over her round stomach and kiss her gently.

"Hanna today said that boys are weird—especially me," I tell her as I chuckle lightly.

"I know she told me, she told me about your whole day," Kate tells me warmly.

"What will she do if it is a boy?" I ask humorously.

"She'll love him, she loves everyone," Kate says confidently.

"What about names, have you thought of any?" I ask her, even though we don't know the sex, we still discuss both boy and girls names.

Hanna was named after Johanna, Beckett's mother, Kate agreed that naming our daughter Johanna would cause too much pain—every time she said Johanna it would be more hurt. They were two different people. So we decided to shorten it into Hanna. In the end we decided on Hanna Alexandra (after my real middle name and Alexis in a way) Castle.

"Well, I have been mixing them around in my head; I love Lilah, Grace, Nora, and Scarlett. For a boy I love the names Nathan and Oliver," Kate says, as she draws circles on her stomach.

"I love them all, especially Scarlett and Grace. For the boys I love Nathan, but what about your father or Roy, what about naming a son after them?" I ask curiously.

"Well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, who knows maybe we'll come up with something else," Kate says as she draws in for a kiss.

"We defiantly have time," I say, deepening the kiss. Kate reaches for the waist band on my boxers and time seems to freeze. Just Kate and I. My heart sours and my mind goes quiet.

"But now, it's just you and me," Kate says as she nibbles my ear, laughing.

"Don't tease me woman," I tell her as I pull of her shirt and bring her closer to me.

Did you like it? I'd love to continue, it just depends how well this one does. Let me know what you think, if you want me to continue. Thank you for reading.