As Kate was putting the finishing touches on her makeup, she heard Rick come into their bedroom from the kitchen and smiled as she heard him talking.
"Alright, Bex, I'll give you 5 minutes with her, but anymore than that and she's not gonna want to leave. And we want her to leave. Because then we can have parties all day."
Kate laughed quietly as she twisted the cap back onto her mascara while Rick kept talking.
"Oh, no parties? Well, alright. I guess we can watch Elmo all day."
Kate shook her head and turned off the lights as she made her way out of the bathroom, stopping when she saw what was waiting for her.
Rick was lying on the bed in his pajamas with their daughter sitting up on his chest looking at Rick's face. Becca was still in her pajamas, simple pink footie pajamas with a teddy bear on the front.
"It's nice to see you've brought another lady to our bed so soon after I've started working again." Kate joked as she sat on the bed and pulled Becca into her arms.
"You know how it is. I have a reputation to uphold." Rick joked back with a playful grin on his face.
Kate leaned down to give him a quick kiss before standing up and leaving the room with Becca in her arms.
"Hey now! Where do you think you're taking my guest?" Rick called as they left.
"To change her diaper, since you were to busy playing to do it." Kate called back.
"He's so silly, isn't he, Bex?" Kate asked her daughter.
Becca cooed back and Kate smiled again. After she changed the infant's diaper, Kate grabbed some clothes out of Becca's dresser and brought them back over to the changing table, where Rick was pretending to eat his daughter's toes.
"If you keep doing that she's going to start thinking we're cannibals." Kate said as she nudged him with her hip.
"You're such a fun sucker." Rick complained as he stepped behind Kate and wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her head.
"But you love me." Kate said easily.
"That I do." Rick said.
Kate managed to get a squirming Becca into a gray onesie and was about to start putting a black skirt on the little girl when she felt Rick's hands creeping up her waist to her chest. Kate dropped the skirt and grabbed Rick's wrists and pulled his hands away from her body before putting them back on her hips.
"No groping in front of the baby." Kate said as she tried to keep the smile off her face.
Rick sighed behind her, but it was more of a playful thing than anything else. "It's not like she's even going to remember it." Rick said.
"Maybe not this time, but then you're going to keep doing it, and one day she will remember it." Kate said as she pulled the skirt up around Becca's waist.
"Why are you putting her in a skirt?" Rick asked. "You know she's going to start crying until I take it off."
"Because I know you plan to go to the store in a bit, and that means you're taking her with you. And if one more person says how cute our son is, I'm going to be pissed." Kate replied as she lifted Becca from the changing table and settled the little girl on her hip.
Rick laughed behind her and placed a kiss on Kate's neck before allowing her to slip from the room. Kate made her way down the hall, stopping in the bathroom to grab a black sparkly bow, and proceeded to the kitchen.
After she set Becca down in her high chair, Kate grabbed a bib that proclaimed "I Love the NYPD!" And threw it to Rick.
"I think I'm a little big for this." Rick teased.
Kate stuck her tongue out as she got Becca's cereal ready. "I'm sure we can find one to fit you." She said with a smile as she brought the food over to where Rick was sitting next to their daughter.
Rick rolled his eyes but didn't say anything as he put the bib around Becca's neck.
While Rick fed Becca, Kate gently brushed the baby's hair before securing the clip and finishing her hard work with a kiss to her daughter's head. As Rick finished feeding Becca, Kate finished buttering the bagel she'd put in to toast and took a bite, not really paying attention to her food. Rick slid the dishes across the counter to Kate, who rinsed them and put them in the dishwasher while Rick gently cleaned Becca's face before removing the bib and leaving for a moment to put it in the laundry room.
When Rick left, Becca started whimpering, so Kate put her breakfast down and lifted her daughter form the high chair and held her close to her chest while she started humming and rubbing Becca's back with one hand.
"It's alright, little girl." Kate said gently. "He'll be right back, ok?"
Becca curled herself further into Kate's embrace and held tightly to her shirt, making Kate smile down at her daughter, even as uncertainty started entering her mind.
"Hey." Rick whispered from behind them, winding his arms around both Kate and Becca. "Everything ok?"
"Yeah. She just wanted a hug is all." Kate answered quietly as she tried to keep the doubt out of her voice.
"I was talking about you." Rick murmured into Kate's ear. "I know she's fine, she's got a wonderful mother."
Kate rolled her eyes at how cheesy her husband could be sometimes, but answered anyway. "I'm fine, Rick."
Rick turned Kate around to face him, and his face told Kate that he didn't believe her at all. "You don't sound fine, Kate. What's going on?"
Kate sighed and shook her head. "It's stupid." She finally mumbled.
"Kate." Rick warned. "Remember when we said we were going to tell each other everything, even if it was stupid?"
"Yes."
"Start sharing." Rick prompted with a small smile.
Kate sighed again before she finally opened her mouth and started talking. "I'm just starting to wonder if I should even be going back to work."
"What?" Rick asked, not having really expected that response.
"It's just, I'll have crazy hours again, and I probably won't make it home until after she's asleep most nights. And I was watching this thing on TV where a mom was working crazy hours, and when she was finally awake at the same time as her kid, her kid didn't even recognize her, and I don't want that to happen to me." Kate got out in a rush.
"Kate, honey, that won't happen."
"Rick-"
"Shh, let me finish. We agreed that after 6 months, you'd go back to work, and I'd stay home with Becca, right?"
"Yes."
"And after a year, I'll start coming back to the precinct a couple days a week, and Mother and Alexis will fight over who gets to watch her for the other days."
"I know, but-"
"Kate." Rick said, trying his best to make his expression stern. "I will send you hourly updates, ok?"
"Ok. Wait, no. Because then it's like I don't trust you, and I do. I trust you completely, especially with her."
"I know. But I also know that if I don't send you updates, you'll start freaking yourself out about crazy things, and you'll find some reason to come home early, and then you going back to work at all will be pointless."
Kate sighed. "Alright. God, I'm being stupid, aren't I?"
"No. You're being a mother. You're not supposed to want to just run back to work and leave your kid alone." Rick said with a hint of bitterness in his voice.
Kate cringed slightly, remembering the things Rick had told her about Meredith's mothering style. "Sorry." She whispered.
Rick smiled at her and gently cupped her cheek. "Don't be. It's over now. You're not like that, for which I am extremely grateful."
Kate smiled back and leaned in for a chaste kiss before pulling back and looking at the clock.
"Shit. I have to go."
"And you say no groping in front of the baby. She's going to pick up cussing."
"Whatever." Kate said with an eye roll. "I can deal with a daughter who cusses. I don't know that I can deal with one who thinks it's normal to grope other people."
Rick laughed along with Kate. "Alight, I'll give you that one. Come on, give me the baby." He said, making grabby hands toward his wife.
Kate sighed and lifted her daughter slightly higher so she could look into Becca's eyes.
"I love you, Bex. Be a god girl, ok? I'll see you when I get home tonight." Kate hugged her daughter and kissed her head before handing her to Rick who settled the baby and followed Kate to the door where she was pulling on her favorite leather jacket and grabbing her bag. Rick handed her a travel mug full of coffee, which Kate took with a grateful smile.
"Drive safe, ok? And call when you're on your way home."
"So you can get all the girls out?"
"Something like that." Rick teased.
"I love you, Rick."
"I love you too, Kate." Rick said as he kissed her one last time. "Now go. There's a little girl who wants to watch Elmo."
Kate laughed before kissing them both once more and finally leaving the apartment.
When she finally arrived at the precinct, Kate tried not to blush as just about everybody welcomed her back, and a few of the other female officers told her how great she looked.
She was lucky enough to get an elevator to herself and she used the ride up to homicide to clear her mind and focus. Ryan had texted her the night before with a body drop, but told her not to worry about coming in until the morning. When the elevator doors opened, Kate stepped out and tried to make her way inconspicuously to her desk, which would have worked better if Karpowski hadn't picked that moment to let everyone know she'd arrived.
"Oo, someone's looking HOT, Detective Castle." She called out, the smile on her face telling Kate that she was happy to have the other woman back at the precinct. Kate's suspicions were confirmed when she was pulled into a hug. "It's good to have you back, Detective Beckett. There have been way too many boys around here since you left."
"It's good to be back." Kate replied as she pulled away. "And really? Detective Castle?"
"I could have said Detective Heat, if that would have been better." Karpowski teased.
Kate was about to respond when a familiar voice had her turning around.
"There's our girl!" Esposito exclaimed as he and Ryan came out of the break room. "You're looking nice, Beckett!"
"Watch it, Espo. Wouldn't want me telling Lanie you're hitting on a woman who's spoken for, would you?" Kate teased as Esposito pulled her into a hug.
"I missed you, chica." He whispered into her ear.
"I missed you too, Javi." Kate replied before pulling away and giving Ryan a hug as well.
When greetings had finally been finished, Kate dropped her back on the floor by her desk and sat down. She was about to turn on her computer when she noticed a present sitting on her desk.
"What's this?" She asked.
"It's a gift." Ryan responded.
"I see that. Who's it from?"
"Us." Esposito replied, gesturing between himself and Ryan.
"Am I going to want to open it here?" Kate asked, only slightly nervous.
"Yeah. It's for your desk." Ryan stated.
Kate gave them one last skeptical look before picking up the parcel and carefully unwrapping it. She opened the box, and gasped when she saw what was inside.
"Guys... thank you so much." Kate whispered as she picked up a picture of Rick, Becca, and herself. It had been taken when they'd had their friends and family over a few weeks ago. Becca was resting her head on Kate's shoulder, and Rick was standing behind them with his arms wrapped around Kate, one hand resting on Becca's back and the other resting on Kate's hip. They hadn't known the picture was being taken, and Kate was looking down at Becca while Rick had his face turned and was kissing Kate's cheek.
"Lanie wants you to know it's form her too. She also expects to see you at some point today." Esposito said with a smile.
"Thank you." Kate said to both of them. She was about to ask about the case when her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and went to her messages, where she saw that Rick had sent her a picture. She clicked on it and her smile grew even wider when she saw Becca sitting in a shopping cart with a smile on her face. Rick's message underneath told Kate that they were at the store and then they'd be heading out to the park for a bit.
"You've got yourself a cute kid." Esposito said after Kate showed him and Ryan the picture.
"Real cute kid." Ryan confirmed.
Kate nodded before locking her phone and putting it away. She took a deep breath and turned to face the rest of her team.
"So, what do we know so far?
Three hours later, Kate was caught up with the case and Ryan and Esposito were tracking down a suspect. She glanced at the clock and decided that her lunch break would be best spent in the morgue with Lanie.
As soon as she walked through the doors, Lanie was pulling her into a massive hug.
"I was wondering when you were going to get your butt down here!" Her friend exclaimed.
"I was going to show up sometime today." Kate said with a smile.
Lanie waved Kate over and gestured to an empty slab. Kate rolled her eyes but jumped up on the slab and got herself comfortable.
"So, what's up?" Kate asked.
"Oh no. We're not talking about me."
"We're not?"
"Hell no! You're the one that just had a baby!"
"Yes, and you've seen her. Every one of your days off, you come over to our house and spend the day with her." Kate reminded her best friend.
"True, but I haven't had a day off in a month." Lanie said.
Kate rolled her eyes. "Alright. What do you want to know?"
"It's more like what do I want to see! I know you've got pictures all over that phone of yours! Javi was telling me about Writer boy's updates."
"Man, Lanie. Writer Man." Kate said with a smile.
"Whatever. Let me see the pictures."
Kate sighed but pulled her phone out. Lanie jumped onto the slab next to Kate and smiled as she looked at the pictures. In addition to the first one, Rick had sent a picture of the two of them at the park, one of them back at the house, and another of Becca sitting in Rick's lap, the black skirt gone, and a goofy grin on his face. The accompanying text read: 'I told you she'd want it off.'
"Oh, she's just too cute!" Lanie exclaimed. She took Kate's phone and started going through her pictures, gushing and cooing at nearly every one. Kate allowed her mind to wander, thinking about what Rick would be making for dinner, since he'd promised to make her dinner for her first day back at work.
"OH MY GOD!" Lanie shrieked, yanking Kate back to the present, just in time to catch her phone as Lanie dropped it.
"What?" Kate asked, concern evident in her voice.
"I did not want to see that!" Lanie cried, gesturing wildly to Kate's phone.
"Wha- oh." Kate said as she turned her phone over and looked at the picture Lanie had seen. "Yeah, you probably didn't want to see that." Kate said with a grin sliding across her face.
"Ya think?" Lanie said. "What the hell did I just see?"
"Umm, well, you see, it was right after I told him I was pregnant, and uh, he was really happy... so we uh-"
"You know what, never mind. I don't want you to finish that." Lanie interrupted, causing Kate to sigh in relief. She loved her best friend, but that didn't mean that she wanted to talk about the sex between her and her husband.
Lanie shook her head. "You know, I'd complain about that." Lanie said, gesturing to the phone in Kate's hand. "But I don't think I've ever seen you happier."
"Wait, what?" Kate asked, blindsided by Lanie's observation.
Lanie rolled her eyes. "Honey, he makes you happy. Scratch that, he makes you giddy. Or as giddy as you ever get. You love him."
"Well, yeah." Kate said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"The way you talk about him," Lanie shook her head. "It's like you've never seen him do anything wrong. And that says a lot, because we both know how much he used to piss you off."
Lanie gave her friend a serious look before continuing. "And don't even get me started on that baby. You know, I always thought you'd never have kids, partly because of your mom, and also partly because you were so devoted to your job."
"But?" Kate hedged.
"But the way you talk about your little girl, and even just the way you look at her, or even pictures of her, it's like you've always wanted kids."
Kate just looked at Lanie for a moment before speaking. "Alright, I'm lost. What are you trying to say?"
Lanie cracked a smile. "I'm trying to say that I'm happy for you, Kate. You've finally got what you've wanted for years."
Kate smiled, and looked down at her lap. "I do, don't I?"
"Yeah, you do. Now, get back to work so you can get home to your family." Lanie said as she pulled Kate off the slab.
"Alright, I'm going!" Kate exclaimed as Lanie practically shoved her out the door. Just as the doors were closing, Kate heard Lanie yell out, "And you better have me over for dinner on my next day off!"
Kate laughed and shook her head as she walked out of the morgue and made her way back to her desk.
By 5:30, Kate was done. Esposito and Ryan's suspect had confessed, so their case was solved. It had turned out to be nothing more than a fit of jealous rage, caused by the victim telling her boyfriend that she was leaving him. Kate was helping clean off the murder board while Ryan and Esposito were taking the suspect to booking. When they returned, Kate was siting at her desk getting the paperwork she'd need the next day ready.
"Yo, Detective Beckett." Esposito called across the bullpen.
"Yeah?" Kate asked.
"Go home." Ryan said with a smile.
"I will, as soon as I get this done."
"Nope." Esposito said. "That's not how it works. I used to do it for Ryan, but I'll do it for you too. Once a week, I stay late and get everything ready for the next day. You two go home and see your kids."
"Espo, really. Rick knows I won't be home until 7 or so. I can stay and-"
"Are you really telling me that you don't want to go home?" Esposito asked as Ryan tried not to smile.
"Of course I do, but-"
"Then go."
"Trust me, Beckett." Ryan cut in. "I tried telling him the same thing when he first offered. But then I realized that I needed the one day a week to get home early. Jenny and I put Lizzie down early, and we used the time to just talk."
"So that's what you're calling it these days." Esposito cut in with a sly grin.
"Anyway," Ryan continued. "It was really nice, and we really needed it."
Kate sighed. It was becoming clear that she wouldn't win this argument. And she really wouldn't mind having a little time to just sit on the couch and talk with Rick.
"Alright, Javi. I'm going." She said.
"Damn straight. Just remember, give Bex a kiss from me."
Kate rolled her eyes. "I always do." She said with a smile.
"Come on, Beckett. I'll walk you to your car." Ryan said with a smile.
Kate pulled her jacket on and grabbed her bag before walking to the elevator with Ryan while she asked about his own family.
After Kate had started her car, she pulled out her cell phone and called Rick.
"I can't talk long, my wife is going to call when she's on her way home." He joked when he picked up.
"Hello to you too." Kate replied.
"Hi. I wasn't expecting you to be on your way home so soon."
"Well, what can I say? Javi basically demanded that I leave early, he said it was something he did for Kevin, so he's gonna do it for me too now. But only once a week."
"Good to know. You hungry?"
"Yeah. Did you eat already?"
"Bex was hungry, but I haven't eaten yet. I'll have something on the table for when you get here though." He said.
"I'd appreciate it. Is Bex with you?"
"She's sitting on my lap right now. She'll definitely need a bath tonight though."
"So you spend all day having fun, then leave me with the dirty baby." Kate joked in mock exasperation.
"Essentially, yes." Rick replied, and Kate could hear the smile in his voice.
"Good to know. Just make sure she stays awake until I get home."
"I will, don't worry. You shall have your bath time." Rick promised.
"Don't be a jackass." Kate warned.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm nothing but a perfect gentleman."
"Right. I'll see you when I get home, Pinocchio." Kate said.
"Drive safe. I love you."
"I love you, too."
When Kate walked in the door, se could smell Rick's homemade spaghetti sauce coming from the kitchen, along with the sounds of Rick talking to Bex.
"Honey, I'm home!" Kate called, smiling at the domestic sound of the simple sentence.
Rick came down the hall holding a slightly squirmy Becca with a smile on his face.
"Isn't that supposed to be my line?" He asked as he handed the baby over to his wife before leaning in for a kiss.
"Dinner's almost ready. Go wash up, and it should be done." Rick said with a smile.
As he was walking away, Kate lifted Becca slightly and sniffed at her bottom, wincing when she was met with an unpleasant oder.
"I swear to God, Rick. The next time you greet me by handing me a stinky baby, you don't get sex for a month!" She called down the hall as she passed the kitchen.
She heard a utensil of some kind clatter to the ground, followed by Rick's response.
"Bring her in here. I'll change her and you can finish dinner!"
"Don't bother, writer boy. Finish what you started. I'm just warning you."
Kate carried Becca in to her bedroom and set her on the changing table.
"But the thing is, Bex, that I can't tell him no sex for a month, because that means I don't get any either. And let me tell you, sex is wonderful. But you won't find that out for yourself until your 40, right?" Kate whispered conspiratorially.
Becca cooed and squirmed happily as Kate finished resnapping the gray onesie she'd been in earlier.
"Although, I guess he was right about the skirt. It figures I'd get the kid that liked being in as little clothing as possible." Kate grumbled to herself, but Becca's happy gurgling and sweet smile made it nearly impossible for Kate to really be annoyed.
Kate leaned down suddenly and blew a raspberry into Becca's stomach, causing the baby to make a noise that sounded eerily similar to Kate's own laughter.
"Stop eating the baby and come eat some real food." Rick said from the doorway.
"If you insist." Kate said as she lifted Becca into her arms and walked past Rick into the hallway, giving him a pat on the butt as she walked by.
When she got to the kitchen, Kate sat down at the table and settled Becca on her lap, perfectly happy to hold her daughter while she ate. Rick joined them seconds later and shifted between eating his own dinner and watching his wife and daughter.
"Lanie wants to come over this weekend. She says it's been too long since she's seen Bex." Kate informed her husband.
"I was wondering why she hadn't been by. I'll get some pizza and have Mother and Alexis come over too."
Kate smiled at Rick before continuing to eat.
"So, did anything interesting happen at work today?" Rick asked.
"The case was actually an open and shut case, just a fit of jealous rage."
"Try not to sound so unhappy with an easy case." Rick teased.
"Whatever. I went down to see Lanie for lunch."
"And?"
"And she saw the picture on my phone from the night I told you about Bex." Kate said, pausing in her eating to gauge Rick's reaction.
Rick paused with his fork halfway to his mouth. "She did?" He asked.
"Yep."
"So on your first day back, you decide to show off some pictures of your family, and that's one you go with?"
"She stole my phone after I showed her the updates you sent me. She was going through my pictures looking at Bex, when that one popped up."
"How bad was it?"
"Well, at first she tried having me explain what was going on-"
"Oh God. Kill me now, please." Rick said as his face reddened with memories from that night.
"Can't. I'm a cop, remember. Besides, I was trying to tell her without actually saying what we did-"
"Which I appreciate." Rick cut in.
"And she finally decided she didn't want to know. I only got as far as saying you were very happy when you found out I was pregnant before she stopped me."
"Oh, thank you, sweet baby Jesus." Rick whispered, finally able to finish his last bite of dinner. When both he and Kate were done, Rick stood and took their dishes to the sink where he rinsed them off and put them in the dishwasher.
While Rick was cleaning up, Kate took Becca into the bathroom and started the water for her bath. While the tub filled, Kate undressed Becca before gently setting her in the water, turning off the faucet when she deemed the water level high enough.
She was halfway through washing Becca's hair when Rick finally joined them.
"I see you started the fun without me." He complained as Kate carefully rinsed Becca's hair.
"You snooze, you lose." She teased.
Rick stuck his tongue out at Kate before taking over and washing Becca's body while Kate and Becca played with the bubbles.
As they washed Becca, Kate asked Rick about their day, laughing when he told her that Becca had cried and cried at the park until he took off her skirt.
"That sounds like my girl." Kate said fondly.
When Becca was sufficiently clean, Rick pulled the plug and allowed the water to drain before handing Kate Becca's frog towel. Kate dried off the little girl before carrying her back into her bedroom. While Kate put a new diaper on Becca, Rick pulled out Becca's footie pajamas that were decorated with various frogs. Kate put Becca into the pajamas before carrying her daughter back into the living room.
Rick sat on the couch and put his feet up on the coffee table, allowing Kate room to lay down with her head on his lap while Becca laid down on Kate's chest.
"How long do you think it will take tonight?" Rick asked.
"Not long. She was half asleep by the time I got her pajamas on." Kate replied as her fingers absentmindedly traced patterns on Becca's back.
Rick's fingers started threading through Kate's hair, and she quickly found herself falling asleep. She slowly sat up, making sure she didn't wake up the now sleeping baby and after a subtle head nod, lead Rick into Becca's room where she gently kissed her daughter's head and allowed Rick to do the same before placing the baby in her crib. After starting the music box Alexis had given them as a baby shower gift, Kate and Rick left the room. Kate made her way to their bedroom while Rick went through the rest of the house and turned off all the lights and made sure the doors were locked. When he returned to their bedroom, he quickly pulled on his own pajamas before going to stand in the doorway to the bathroom and watching as Kate finished taking her make up off.
"Seriously, Rick. What's with the staring. It's still creepy."
"Maybe. But I'll still do it." Rick replied as he switched places with Kate and started brushing his teeth while she pulled on her pajamas. When Rick finished, he turned off the bathroom lights and came back into the bedroom to find Kate wearing a sports bra and a pair of his boxers.
"God, you look hot." He said as he took in her toned stomach and muscled calves.
"Yeah. It just took 5 and a half months of working out to make sure that when I went back to the precinct I didn't look like a blob." Kate said with a grimace.
Rick shook his head, but refrained from commenting, knowing that what he was going to say would only annoy Kate.
"Did anyone say anything when you got to work?"
"Karpowski made a big deal, but a lot of the other women mentioned that I looked good." Kate answered as she crawled into the bed and curled into Rick's side.
"And the boys?"
"Both said I looked good. They actually got me a present. Well, them and Lanie."
"What was it?"
"A picture of you, Bex, and me."
"Oh?"
"It's actually a nice picture. I'll snap a photo of it tomorrow and send it to you."
"I'd appreciate it." Rick said as he leaned down to kiss Kate's head.
"Would it make me an old woman if I wanted to go to sleep now?" Kate asked after a few minutes of silence.
"No." Rick replied.
Kate nodded and snuggled under the covers more, pulling Rick down with her so she could lay her head on his chest.
"Goodnight, Rick." She murmured as her eyes started slipping closed.
"Until tomorrow, Kate." Rick murmured back.
"I love you." She whispered, kissing his chest softly.
"I love you, too." Rick replied as he kissed her head one more time; but Kate was already asleep.