The morning of Saint Patrick's Day, Esposito awoke over an hour earlier than usual. It was going to be a dogfight on the subway just to get to the station and there would be little to no help from the uniforms as they were all being used, along with the academy cadets in patrolling the parade route. At least Ryan was back now from his parental leave so he wouldn't be totally sunk and they had more than enough paperwork to keep them occupied without venturing into the urban safari of New York City on a holiday.

He groaned lightly, then reached for Meredeth only to find her gone. Concerned, as Meredeth was not a morning person in the slightest, he popped up in bed to see the light on underneath the closed door of the ensuite. What the hell was she doing up so early, he wondered, then remembered she'd been up early in the bathroom every morning since Monday - to take another pregnancy test. It was now Friday and they'd been holding their breath almost all week Esposito hadn't even told Ryan yet, nor had Meredeth told Lanie.

Swinging his feet to the floor and dreaming of coffee Esposito yawned widely, then turned his attention to his wife when she came out of the bathroom looking giddy as a little kid on Christmas.

'So?' he asked excitedly. 'We have liftoff?'

'All systems are go, Houston.'

He let out a laugh and was on his feet as she raced over to him, into his arms and he crushed his mouth to hers in an excited kiss as he felt her shudder. 'Let's have a look,' he told her, holding out his hand for the stick while keeping an arm around his wife. He turn it over and saw there was a little digital window that read Pregnant.

'That's five for five, I don't think there's any doubt.'

'I'm pregnant,' she confirmed for him, making Esposito's heart leap like a Russian ballerina. He pressed his hand to her belly, so excited to watch it grow with another child they'd made together.

'I love you so much, Mere.'

'I love you too.'

'We going to tell everyone at the party tonight?'

'I'd like to wait, only until Monday when I have my appointment with Harvey,' she told him. 'Is that okay?'

'Whatever you want, Mere, you're the mama.'

Overjoyed at the knowledge they would be parents again, Meredeth gave her husband a python-squeezing hug followed by another steaming kiss. 'I know you've got to get to the precinct so we can't really celebrate just exactly how we want to, but I'll make waffles while you're in the shower. The really good ones, the sour cream coffee cake ones.'

'You're the best wife ever, Mere,' he told her, his face shining with pride. 'You're going to be a great mama, again.'

As expected Esposito had the day from hell. He was so over the moon about his beautiful Meredeth pregnant again but since they'd agreed to keep it to themselves until Monday he was forced to keep his mouth shut and bury his face in paperwork. Not that he was angry with her for it, it was her body and therefore in his mind her decision. It wasn't even that they were hiding it from their friends, they just wanted - needed - to see Harvey first.

For the moment, the question that burned the most in his mind was the party. Castle was having a huge Saint Patty's blow-out, grown-ups only, and the year before at the same party, Meredeth had nearly drank her own body weight in Guinness and sour-apple shooters. Could they just skirt it by saying that since they were trying for another baby, Meredeth had cut out alcohol and so had Esposito to ensure good motility? Maybe, but that felt even more like a lie than keeping the happy news to themselves.

'Hey, Javi, whatcha think, has Jenny's taste in ties improved or what?'

Esposito glanced up from his file to see the truly awful emerald green silk tie that was patterned with what appeared to be marshmallows from a box of Lucky Charms. 'Remember when I said the neon bubbles on blue silk made me want to rip my eyes out?'

'Yeah.'

'I stand corrected. Are you twelve?'

'What, it's Saint Patty's, I'm Irish-American, makes perfect sense to me.'

'I'm Puerto-Rican, you don't see Meredeth picking out ties for me with the motherland flag and letting me leave the house with them on Día del Descubrimiento de Puerto Rico.'

'Actually Dell picked this one out for me,' Ryan corrected, knowing it would make his partner snort in derision and wasn't disappointed when he

Fortunately before Ryan could dig a whole any deeper, the elevator doors dinged and the proud Castle and Beckett walked in with RJ strapped to her chest in the same style of baby sling that both Meredeth and Lanie had favoured. They walked side-by-side over to Esposito's desk, as Castle explained

'And you remember Javi and Kevin, don't you RJ? They're the ones who are going to teach you all about football fantasy leagues.'

'Hey, how's the little prince doing?' Ryan allowed the cop to switch off for a moment as he looked down at the newest Castle. RJ was a looker, no question and was staring back at the detective with bright and curious blue eyes as he squirmed a little against his mother. He gave a little gummy smile and waved his arms. 'He's getting big, Kate.'

'He's three months and fifteen days old,' Beckett told them proudly, 'and he's already trying to roll over in his crib, and he loves when we play on Daddy's Smartboard together, all those bright shapes and colours. Where are you on the Benson file?'

'That's impressive, you're a cop and a mom all in one sentence,' Esposito teased her, getting in his digs while he could before it was his turn for the next seven months. 'CSU sent over their report, no hairs matching our vic on Miller's sheets but plenty from an unknown third party, and the markers indicate it's the same sweetness who was boning him in his bed sans raincoat.'

'So Benson's ex has an alibi that checks out?'

'Looks like.'

'Hmm.' Beckett furrowed her brow, looked down at her son. 'Which means we need to figure out who the mystery lady is to corroborate, don't we? Can you say corroborate RJ?'

'Don't mind me,' Castle added, reminding both men he was actually still there. 'I'm just here to look pretty and be the proud daddy, and to give you these.'

He handed over snapshots of himself, Beckett and Alexis in various combinations with RJ at home, and Esposito felt the liquid rush in his veins as he saw the pure exhilaration on their faces at being with the new baby. He couldn't wait for that once more with Meredeth, to put another picture of her and the new baby, and Tessi and a new sibling on his desk.

'Espo? Yo, you in there bro?'

'Huh?'

Castle snapped his fingers under his friend's nose. 'You're awfully spacy. Dreaming about more baby-making with Meredeth?'

'Something like that.'

'Well look alive, because there comes Montgomery with his read-the-fine-print-on-the-badge face on. Not cool.'

Esposito glanced over and cursed inwardly. 'Sir, happy Saint Patty's.'

'Save it, Detective, I need you and Ryan down on Thirty-First and Seventh, stabbing outside the Garden. Weaver's already there waiting for you.'

'Yes sir.'

As promised, the party at Castle's was a strictly grown-ups only affair, unlike Hallowe'en. Fortunately, one of Castle's neighbours downstairs had volunteered their teenage daughters looking for a little extra cash to babysit so if there was a problem they were an elevator ride away. The loft was packed and it reminded Esposito that despite being attached at the hip with Beckett, he had his own career nearly twenty-years long before he hooked up with them.

'Espo! And Lady Espo!'

Meredeth turned around and grinned. As expected, Ryan was covered head-to-foot in green and since he wasn't on-call and had the next day off, he was full of cheer and good Irish whiskey.
'Kiss me, I'm Irish,' he declared greeting them with warm, drunken hugs.

'I'd rather kiss my Puerto-Rican,' she teased him, but obliged with an innocent peck on his cheek; the vicious whiskey-breath he had made her thankful she wasn't Honey-Milk who would deal with him in the morning. He wrapped an arm around each of their shoulders, guided them to the bar.

'Come, my lass, time to get you and your man some green beers!'

Meredeth glanced at Esposito, thought of their little hitch-hiker. 'Actually, I'm good I'll just have water or something.'

'Water? Water, says you? Pish and tosh to that,' Ryan declared in his faux-brogue. 'Only reason you can't drink on Saint Patty's is if you're pregnant, so...' he trailed off, cluing into the excitement in his partner's and lady's eyes. 'No way, seriously?'

'Seriously.'

'Oh, man. Dude!' He pulled them both in for bone-crushing bear-hugs, then patted his chest. 'I have to make the announcement.'

'Ryan!' Meredeth tried to hiss but was laughing to hard to make it effective.

Looking around, Ryan found a chair and though he'd had a couple of drinks he wasn't so drunk he would risk any harm. He stuck his fingers in his mouth and whistled shrilly, bringing everyone's attention on him.

'Excuse me, partygoers, I have a small anouncement to make. If you see my partner Javier Esposito and his wife Meredeth tonight, these fine people right here,' he said, pointing grandly to the happy couple, 'do not give her any alcohol because it's not right for a pregnant woman to drink!'

Everyone at the party gasped dramatically and began to cheer, toasting the parents to be even as their cheeks burned bright red. Ryan hopped down off his perch and grinned from ear to ear while Esposito tried his damnedest to level him with a look.

'Are you happy now that you've anounced to the entire room I've been nailing my wife with a purpose?'

'Very, because I consider it a little retribution for being witness to the making-of of Tessi.'

Meredeth shook her head, and wasn't surprised when Lanie wandered over with her soft Coke, a wide grin on her face. 'Mere! Oh my god, honey, congratulations! When did you find out?'

'This morning, I took a bunch of home tests and they all popped positive, so I'm seeing Harvey on Monday morning.'

'That is so exciting! You'll have Tessi and a new little bub!' Lanie wrapped her arms around her friend, then pointed her in the direction of the bar. 'Don't worry Javi, I'll have her back in a moment.'

They didn't get very far, because Honey-Milk and Beckett had fought their way through the crowd to come over to their friends and each pull Meredeth in for a tight squeeze.

'Yea you, Mere! This is so great, Tessi's going to be a great big sister. Any idea yet when you're due?'

'Well...' Meredeth trailed off, did the math. 'My ovulation sticks said right around the time when Duncan was born was optimum for me to conceive, so that's January twenty-six, so roughly...' She counted on her fingers. 'About Hallowe'en or so?'

'Oh, we might be having trick or treats in the maternity ward! Have you told Tessi yet?' Honey-Milk asked. 'She's younger than Dell was so she will probably not have a lot of that sibling rivalry thing you might get in an older child.'

'No. We're waiting until we have the confirmation from Harvey on Monday, plus we need a day or two to figure out how to tell a not-even two-year-old she's going to have a little brother or sister.'

'Well, let's get you a drink and toast the little cutie's imminent arrival.' Beckett looped her arm through Meredeth's, then stopped her. 'Oh dear.'

'What?'

'That.'

The three women followed Beckett's pointed finger to where Castle had stood up on a chair like Ryan, Guinness draft in hand.

'Everyone, have a good time tonight, stay safe and remember, as is evidenced by our procreating friends Mere and Javi, you don't have to be Irish to get lucky!'

R&R&Enjoy!