A/N: I don't own Castle…this takes place post season 8. Lanie and Espo finally get it together and get engaged. Kate is pregnant with Lily. First chapter will probably be short but it's just setting things up.
/
The past several months had been whirl wind. Loksat, the shooting at the loft. When Martha and Alexis had returned to find Beckett and Castle dying on the floor it looked like they wouldn't survive. But somehow they did and things were turning around. Rick was back to writing and Kate was back to being Captain. Adding to that, the wonderful news of their longtime friends, Lanie and Esposito, becoming engaged. Tonight was a celebration. The bachelorette and Bachelor parties. Kate was in the kitchen getting the food out for her and the girls while Castle was getting ready for a night on the town with the boys. He came in from the bedroom and joined his wife in the kitchen.
"I think you've got enough food for the entire block here, Beckett." He looked at the spread she had laid out on the counter
She turned around to face him, smiling, "Well, well don't you look dashing."
"Eh, I clean up pretty good."
"Hmm…" She mumbled, "And you would be surprised how much food we can eat. Besides I'm sure you can find it in your stomach to eat any leftovers."
He smiled at his wife taking in her appearance. Hair hanging loose, no makeup, dressed in a white v neck t shirt and yoga pants, her baby bump now unmistakable. He thought she was the most beautiful creature on the planet.
He walked up behind her and put his arms around her as she arranged some of the food on the counter, "Just don't wear yourself out." he said as he gently caressed her abdomen
She turned in his arms to face him and wrapped her arms around his neck "Babe, I'm not climbing Mount Everest. Besides, you weren't too worried last night about wearing me out."
"Touché, Mrs. Castle, touché." He said with a lopsided grin
She leaned in and kissed him deeply, pulling back, her eyes were moist
"Hey, what's with the tears?" He asked
"I know. I'm not a sentimental person, right?" She replied, "Maybe I'm just hormonal."
"No, really, you?" He joked
She gave him a smirk, "I guess it's after everything that's happened I'm just so…"
"Pregnant?"
"No." She said in a mock scolding tone, "I mean, we have so much to be grateful for. We survived, we're back to doing what we love."
"I'll say." He quipped, giving his eyebrows a wiggle
"Castle, you are a real pain." She said, "I mean our friends are getting married…and this baby. I guess I never thought it would be like this."
"I love you." He says softly, "and our little peanut." He caressed her belly again
"I love you, too." She echoes, "Always."
They kissed again, not even hearing Martha and Alexis come in the door
"Don't you two have a room for that?" Martha asked
They pulled apart self-consciously, "Gosh Mother, we kinda thought this was our place and we didn't need one."
Alexis looked at her watch, "You better get going, Dad."
"Yes, I guess I must." He looked at his wife, "Don't get too wild, Mrs. Castle. Remember, you save the rough stuff for me." He gave her another kiss and a wink as Kate just shook her head
"Bye, Kiddo." Martha said
"Bye, dad."
Martha turned back to Kate and Alexis, "Well girls, shall we get this show on the road?"
/
The parties were in full swing. The girls having an old fashioned slumber party and the boys hanging out at a sports bar knocking back a few.
"So Javi, are you sure you're ready for this?" Ryan asks him
"Oh yeah." Javi replied, "I've been waiting my whole life for someone like Lanie. I just wish we had figured it out sooner."
"Sooner is usually better." Rick adds as he takes another drink of beer
"Yeah, this coming from a guy who followed his wife around like a puppy for four years before they finally got off the stick." Javi quipped
"Hey, I said usually. With Beckett I had to take things slowly." Rick said, "Be stealth with my charm and wit."
"Uh huh."
"Well, you two had that finish each other's sentences thing down from the start." Ryan said
"Yeah, what's your secret, man?"
"Oh, I'll never tell."
/
Back at the loft, the girls were doing their kind of partying and eating, lots of eating.
"So Lanie, how does it feel to finally bet getting married?" Jenny asked from her spot on the couch, "I mean really feel?"
"Well, I must admit I'm nervous, excited and scared all at once."
"Yeah but you've got a good one, Lanie." Kate assured her
Lanie smiled, "Yeah, he's okay." She joked
"Yes but what we really want to know is how's the sex." Martha blurted out after one too many drinks
"Grams, I think you've had enough." Alexis said, "It may be time for you to go to bed."
"Nonsense." She said waving Alexis off
"Sorry, Lanie." Kate muttered
"It's alright." Lanie said, "Javi and I have no problems in that department."
"That's wonderful, darling." Martha said, "A healthy sex life is important. Right, Kate?"
Kate blushed, "Uh well, I suppose so."
"Oh come on girl, you sit there all pregnant." Lanie said, "You and writer boy can't keep your hands off each other."
Kate blushed again thinking about their bedroom antics from just that morning as the others laughed.
/
The morning sun streamed in and the loft was still and quiet. Jenny and Lanie were asleep on the sectional sofa, Martha and Alexis upstairs and Kate in their bedroom. A harsh knock woke everyone and Kate poked her head out of the bedroom and looked at Jenny and Lanie
"Who the hell could that be this early?" Lanie mumbled
"I don't know." She came out tying her robe and walked to the door
She opened it to find two men standing there she didn't recognize, "May I help you?"
"Yes, we're looking for Richard Castle."
"He's not here right now." Rick and Ryan had crashed at Epso's for the night, "I'm his wife, can I help you?"
"You must be Captain Beckett." The older man said, "I'm Detective Jansen and this is Detective O'Malley, sex crimes division of the 31st. We need to speak to your husband."
"What's this about?" Beckett asked as Martha and Alexis came downstairs and joined the others
"We need to talk to your husband about a rape that happened in the vicinity of Champs Sports bar last night." He says and the women all look at each other
TBC