Title: One Love In A Lifetime
Disclaimer: I do not own Castle, Andrew W. Marlowe and ABC do.
First of all a big thank you to my beta, Beckett NYPD for being the best beta! To AllusionToAnAllusion and xRavenDollx for letting me bounce ideas off of them time and again. Special thanks to everyone who added my story to the story alert list, reviewed (especially aero09, rokerroar, AllusionToAnAllusion, and kenarik for the suggestion).
Author's Note: The story has reached the end; there will a few mentions of Mike.
Genre: Romance/Angst
Rating: T
Beta'd by: Beckett NYPD
Epilogue: Life Goes On
Although Kate had initially opened up to Rick the night she told him that she was pregnant with Royce's kid, the next day she closed up again.
She only did this because she remembered how Will had broken her heart when he chose his new job over her and how Royce's greed clouded his judgment. The last thing she wanted was for Rick to hurt her as well.
Seeing Kate build up walls to protect her heart again frustrated Rick. However, Rick knew now was not the time to push Kate's buttons for it might push her further away.
Over the next three weeks Montgomery, Ryan, Esposito and Lanie found out she was expecting and all of them winced when they found out who the father was. Nevertheless they were all supportive of her, even her father (although she heard Jim muttering on the phone about how his little girl had been hurt).
Shortly following her twelfth week check up (in which she was in awe when she saw the tiny baby developing within her), she had a lawyer (recommended by Montgomery) Ileana Courst draw up papers for Mike to sign away his rights to the kid. She requested the lawyer visit him in her place.
A week later, Kate received the results of the signing. She was at work, working on the murder board when her phone rang.
"Beckett," was Kate's instant reply.
"Detective Beckett? This is Ileana Courst calling about Mr. Royce signing away the parental rights."
"Yes?"
"I am pleased to announce Mr. Royce has signed away his rights to your unborn child."
Kate let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.
"Thank you Ms. Courst for all of your help."
"Not a problem, have a good day."
"Thank you, you too."
Once she hung up the phone, she was surprised Mike had immediately agreed to sign away the rights; she thought he wouldn't and would put up a fight.
-x-
Her pregnancy had been progressing well and she was glowing beautifully and everyone at the 12th along with Rick, Alexis, and Martha all noticed.
Each time Kate looked in the mirror and saw her growing belly she couldn't help but place her hand on her stomach and gently rub small circles. She was determined to make single motherhood and her career work hand in hand and be the best mommy to her little boy (mother's intuition kicked in telling her it was going to be a boy). Although she was affected by how the little boy might look like Mike in the future, she made a resolution to be the best mom ever.
Then one day her dream of making single motherhood work with her career came crashing down.
On a beautiful Saturday morning in mid April (with a rare occurrence with Lanie's day off), the two of them decided to have Alexis over at her new place (which was not far from her old place) for a girl's day.
When the food was eaten and they had chatted, Kate excused herself to go to the bathroom (at seven months the unborn tyke had been kicking on her bladder a lot as of late). She had also been experiencing abdominal cramps and sporadic bleeding (she had written off as stress; even doing desk duty was stressful sometimes), and lower back pain in recent weeks. As she walked she felt movement in her stomach and then a major cramp. Kate put her hand on the nearest wall to steady herself, and when all was calm she headed towards the bathroom only to faint and pass out.
Lanie and Alexis had been chatting when they suddenly heard a thump. Alarmed both headed in the direction of the sound, and were shocked to see Kate lying motionless in a heap on the floor and worst yet she was bleeding.
"Kate!" exclaimed Lanie as she rushed to her best friend.
When Lanie realized Kate wasn't responding to the gentle shake, she turned to Alexis.
"Alexis quick call 911 and ask them to send over an ambulance ASAP."
Alexis nodded and went to call and wait for the ambulance. As the ambulance drove away (with Lanie going with Kate to the hospital), Alexis made another quick call to her dad.
-x-
Later that night while in a room at St. Vincent's surrounded by flowers and sympathy gifts (sent by her crew, Montgomery and family and Karpowski when they heard what happened) Kate couldn't feel anything; she had lost her baby. Lanie along with Alexis never left Kate's side. Ryan, Esposito and Martha had stopped by to visit her. Rick hadn't showed up yet because of three consecutive meetings with Black Pawn, his publicist and agent as well as several PR events.
At the emergency entrance, Jenny was one of the first nurses to help assist the doctor on duty; Lanie knew with Jenny assisting, Kate would be taken care of.
Jenny had heard about Kate's pregnancy from Ryan about her plans to carry the baby full term and raise the child on her own.
As they were checking her vitals and stabilizing her, the doctor in charge, Dr. Leon Jilsten had Jenny look up whom Kate's ob-gyn was and had her contacted immediately.
An hour and half later the ob-gyn, Dr. Nguyen performed immediate removal of the deceased fetus despite pleas from a semiconscious Kate. It took both Dr. Nguyen and Jenny to convince her that it was be harmful to her health if the fetus wasn't removed right away. Kate gave in and insisted Jenny be there as support.
-x-
By the time Rick got out of his meetings and did all PR events, it was 8pm and he saw that he had missed calls from numerous people and had many voicemails; he picked one at random and listened.
"Dad..." began Alexis in teary voice.
Rick panicked when he heard the sadness in his daughter's voice.
Oh no my little girl is hurt! What if it's serious?
Before he panicked further, he decided to finish listening to the message.
"…I am at St. Vincent with Lanie. Dad, Kate lost her baby. No one has been able to get through to her. Please come as soon as you can."
Oh my word, Kate lost her baby, I have to get over there now!
Rick hailed a cab and gave the cabbie the address to St. Vincent the moment he hopped in.
Due to the miraculously light traffic, Rick reached the hospital in the shortest time possible.
He stopped in the florist shop that was still open and purchased a vase of flowers with a spring mix.
He then headed toward the nurses station.
"Excuse me, I am here to see Kate Beckett, she was brought in earlier today."
"I am sorry sir but visiting hours are over. You are going to have to wait till tomorrow," began the stern looking nurse.
"But it is urgent."
"I said," began the nurse but was cut off.
"Jeanne, it is ok I had Richard Castle's name authorized with Dr. Jilsten earlier," spoke up Jenny.
The nurse unfazed by Rick's full name gave both Jenny and Rick a glower but complied.
"She is in room 502."
"Thank you," said Rick and darted but not before mouthing it again to Jenny.
Jenny smiled as Rick took off.
No sooner had he gotten close to her room he heard, "Dad!"?
He turned around and there was his little girl giving him a bear hug.
"I am so glad you could make it. Kate is despondent and won't talk to anyone, not even her father could get through to her. You are probably the only person who might be able to."
"I will try my best," said Rick; he knew now was not the time to be his nine year old self.
Before Rick knocked, he heard Kate crying on and off. He knocked but got no answer, so he cautiously went in.
Sensing someone was in the room she blatantly said, "Go away."
"Kate?" Rick called out gently, "it's me."
When Kate heard her best friend, she slowly turned around to face Rick. Once Rick saw Kate looking desolate, forlorn, mournful, and sad his heart went out to her. The strong willed Detective Katherine Beckett now seemed so vulnerable.
Rick set aside the bouquet he brought, and moved closer to Kate's bedside.
He tenderly placed his hand on her tear-streaked face and soothingly wiped away the fresh tears. He then lay down with Kate and lovingly took her into his arms hoping she wouldn't fight him. It took the gentleness of Rick's embrace, and his soothing calm voice that got Kate to finally let go and she cried her eyes out.
"I lost my baby boy Rick, I lost my son," Kate said in between her hiccups and sobbing.
Once she got out her words, she continued to sob into Rick's shirt making it soaking wet, but Rick didn't mind; all he cared about now was Kate's well being.
"Let it out Kate, just let it out."
An hour had passed and Kate's crying had subsided. Rick continued to hold her close when he heard her say something.
"I even had a name picked out for my son," Kate whispered.
"You knew?" asked Rick quietly.
"Yeah from mother's intuition early on and from the sonogram confirmation at my sixteenth week ultrasound."
"What name did you pick?"
"Rafferty Emilio Beckett."
"The name has a nice ring to it," said Rick as he repeated the name to himself.
A few minutes had passed and Kate spoke up.
"Rick, would it sound absurd to want to bury Rafferty?"
Rick contemplated his answered and said, "No, I don't think so. I have a suggestion to make. It is up to you if you want to."
Kate looked up at Rick waiting for what he had to say.
"When you are cleared to go home, let's see if we can get the hospital to release the body and then if you want we can give Rafferty a private burial with just the two of us."
Kate looked at Rick and smiled a little.
"Would it be okay if we buried him next to my mother?"
"Anything you want Kate, anything you want," Rick replied solemnly.
Kate acquiesced somberly. She then closed her eyes and let the emotional drain lull her into a fitful slumber.
A short time later, both were asleep. They were still that way when Lanie and Jenny checked in on them. They smiled and quietly closed the door and left knowing Kate was in good hands.
-Three years later-
Katherine Castle was enjoying a delightful Saturday afternoon watching her and Rick's five-month-old twins enjoy their tummy time.
Since getting discharged from St. Vincent, Rick convinced Kate to stay with him so he would be able to take care of her while she recovered her physical and mental wellbeing.
Several months since burying Rafferty next to her mother, Kate received a revelation Rick had been keeping from her.
-7.5 months since the miscarriage, November 2011-
It was after Rick and Kate had cleaned up after the annual Thanksgiving dinner and her father had gone home and both Martha and Alexis were out of the house.
Once everything was put away, Rick holding another bottle of sparkling cider led Kate to the living room. Rick finally got the courage to confess his feelings.
Following a somber moment, Rick had poured them each a glass of cider; Kate spoke up, "Okay, Rick what is going on?"
Rick took a deep breath and began.
"Kate, there has been something I have been wanting to say for a long time, but the timing was never right."
Kate looked at Rick waiting for him to continue.
"Kate, there is no easy way to say this but I love you. I have since from the first time I signed a book for you. What I didn't know then was how extraordinary you are. I might have outwardly stood by you when you were with Mike, but it tore me to pieces when you were in a romantic relationship with him, and I felt even worse when you got engaged to him.
Rick paused briefly when he saw the look on Kate's face and then added, "I am saying this now because I want you to know that I want to be the one for you."
Kate who was still shocked at Rick's declaration of love, smiled a little. Even though she had been feeling something for Rick for sometime now, it wasn't like she was going to admit it at the time.
Instead of telling Rick how she felt about him, she did the next best thing; she put down her glass on the coffee table and then reached over and pulled Rick in and gave him a brief kiss on the lips and then an affectionate embrace.
Rick knew he had achieved what he had set out to do, show Kate how much he cared about her.
She couldn't have asked for a better life; a loving husband, an adoring step-daughter, a caring father and mother-in-law, a great career, and supportive co-workers and last but not least her and Rick's two babies, fraternal twins Johanna Harmony and Alexander James Castle.
Yes, she knew when they were old enough she would take Johanna and Alexander to visit their late grandmother's and late older half brother's grave.
However, for now Kate is content in that she had found her one love in a lifetime with Richard Castle.
A/N 2: Thanks for reading the conclusion to "One Love In A Lifetime". Reviews are appreciated!
A/N 3: For the story Mystical I have run into a figurative wall so it may take me awhile to finish that story.
