A/N: So I'm going to try and not get mad at the reviewers talking about how a deaf person could not be in the NYPD. Just want you to know, I did some research and it looks like, as long as they can pass a hearing test, along with all the other tests that they have to do, they can be accepted into the academy. We all know Kate is a pretty badass cop so with her hearing aid which is pretty powerful I don't see why she could not pass the test. Castle is the fully deaf one. He can't hear a thing so I see why he wouldn't be able to make it. Anyways, bear with me and this idea. I don't conform to the norm. I am always doing something weird and or different.
She's all dolled up; her hair is down to cover up her ugly hearing aid she hated so much. She loved that it helped her hear but hated that it had to be so big and bulky. Slipping on her other high heel, Kate stands and pushes a strand of hair behind her ear out of her face before going out of the bedroom and searching for Castle. She finds him in the living room on the couch attempting to play through "The Last of Us", on his PS4. She's not sure if he's doing a good job or not but by the look on his face she can assume he's not. Not wanting to startle him and make him lose his game Kate reaches over and flicks the lights on and off. That gives him time to pause his game before turning and looking over at Kate. Walking closer so he can see her signs clearer she smiles setting her little purse on the arm of the chair.
'Dinner,' She starts, waving her hand to get his attention again.
'Look at me!' She pouts her hands signing to him. He wants so bad to get back to his game. He'd not been doing so well, but he'd played this scene so many times he was getting better, and he felt he was so close to beating it.
'L-a-n-i-e' She finger spells trying to keep his attention.
'Be home tonight' She adds as he waves her off.
'Go, go have fun' He signs back watching Kate sigh and walk off towards the front door. She makes her way out and down the elevator and to the lobby. She hails a cab and gets in it. Pulling out her phone she shows the cab driver the address of the restaurant she was to meet Lanie at. He nods and pulls out onto the street into traffic. It does not take them long to be at the restaurant thankfully. Getting out she pays him and heads inside to get them a table. It's a pretty light night seeing as it's only a Tuesday and not any major holidays coming up. Being seated, she pulls out her phone and types on it to show the waiter.
'My friend will be here soon' She writes showing it to him. He nods and grabs out a piece of paper to write back to her.
'DRINKS' He writes in big bold letters showing it to her. Reaching for the wine menu she points to the one she wants and then points to the one she knows Lanie likes to order. The man nods and Kate thanks him as he walks off to go get their glasses of wine. Moments later as Kate is engrossed in her phone she gets a text message from Lanie. She thought it would be her texting that she would be late, but no, it was a simple, 'Hello! Look up!' Kate chuckles softly before the text registers in her head, and she looks up. Her eyes grow big as she jumps up and runs over to hug Lanie.
"Hi!" Kate shrieks as she hugs her friend before sitting down. Opening the text app, Lanie makes sure Kate has hers open as well.
Lanie: So happy to see you outside of work LOL. What are you up to?
Kate: Yeah me too. It's so nice! Nothing much, just been teaching Martha and Alexis more signs. Alexis is getting it, but Martha can't seem to catch on.
Lanie: Oh, sounds interesting. I know it can be hard sometimes.
Kate: Yeah I can understand that.
Kate: Oh BTW I got you a glass of wine, I hope that's ok.
Lanie: Yeah sure, I could use one after the day I had.
Kate: Good, Oh and I told the waiter you were coming so he should be out soon to ask what we want. You tell him I want the chicken?
Lanie: Yeah sure, I just need to decide what I want. Any good ideas?
Kate: The ravioli is good!
Lanie: Oh yes! I remember, I think I'll get that!
The waiter comes back out and Lanie orders for the two of them. He'd handed them their wine and left, leaving the two to continue chatting. The two are getting stares. It's not normal to be in a fancy restaurant on your phone the whole time. Kate's used to it though. When her and Castle go to dinner, the two are signing back and forth the whole time. She knows some people are curious; She knows some people are mad because the hand movements out of the corner of your eyes can be quite distracting. Despite the occasional giggle from Lanie, the pair is pretty quiet. It's nice though for the rest of the restaurant because they are are not the noisy couple in the back corner jabbering on and on about nonsense.
Kate: Can I ask you something?
Lanie: Shoot.
Kate: I was thinking about talking to Castle about kids.
Lanie: You want kids?
Kate: Yeah? Is that a bad thing?
Lanie: No no, I'm happy for you. I think this is great, and you should go for it!
Kate: Really?
Lanie: Yes really. Do it, girl.
Kate is blushing now as s he looks up at Lanie. She never thought her friend would agree to such a big thing, but she was happy.
Kate: Thank you.
Lanie: Welcome. Anytime.
The food arrives for the two, and they put down their phones for a moment so they can take the food on the plates in front of them. They can chat and eat, but Lanie wants to give her friend some time to actually get some food in before going back to chatting on their phones. Finishing up half her plate of chicken Kate reaches for her phone and unlocks it opening up the chat app/
Kate: I'm scared Rick won't think we are fit to be parents. You know, with our situation.
Lanie: Oh come on woman, you and Castle will make great parents.
Kate: You mean it?
Lanie: Yes, I mean it. I really do.
Kate sets her phone down and sighs as she reaches for her fork. Lanie's right, but Kate has had a habit lately of second guessing herself. Being a parent shouldn't be all that bad, the part that kills her though is not being able to hear her child cry for the first time. Not being able to hear her child's first word. Seeing as the couple was not born deaf, they know their child would most likely be born hearing. If Kate and Castle had been born deaf, there would be about a 50 percent chance the child would be born deaf. Finishing her meal, she looks up at Lanie sighing softly.
"Sorry." Kate says shifting uncomfortably in her seat as she puts down her fork.
'Don't-Worry.' Lanie signs to Kate reaching over and taking the woman's hand.
'You go home I know you tired.' Lanie signs letting go of Kate's hand and getting up to give the woman a hug.
'You go, I got this.' She adds after hugging Kate and letting the woman get up. Kate waves a goodbye and leaves getting herself a cab and heading home. She wanted to talk to Castle about it but she was scared. Scared he'd say no to something she really wanted, but why would he say no? He's got one daughter already, it's not like he's never had kids before. This wouldn't be new for him. Castle had been a great dad the first time around. She just had to see the facts and be ok with them. Be ok that she would make a great mom, that she had all the help in the world around her to make this something she wanted.
Once home Kate had planned to talk to him but things crept on her and she decided to give her self a few days before she sat down and talked with him. Besides, when she walked in the door sleep almost took her over and she fell asleep next to Castle on the couch as he played his video game. Not even waking her up Castle carefully lifts his sleeping wife and takes her to bed. Stripping her of her clothes he tucks her in and climbs next to her in bed. She's still dead asleep as he cuddles close and falls asleep. He had hoped Kate had had a good dinner and couldn't wait to talk to her about it in the morning.