April 25, 11:45 PM


I am now nine months pregnant and a week overdue. The baby has made herself at home inside me, and at my doctor's appointment yesterday, it was decided that if nothing happens anytime soon, my labor will be induced. The baby doesn't have a name yet because Alexis called dibs on that a long time ago refuses to say anything about it before the birth. On the bright side, we finally finished putting the nursery together yesterday…

The only thing that has me concerned about the baby is that she refuses to change positions the way that she should by now. Instead of pointing her head downward, she's completely on her side, happy as a clam and has shown zero intentions of even turning over.

This baby also happens to be the most rambunctious on of the four I've carried to date, and she kicks me morning, noon and night.

Sleep hasn't been my friend.


The ringing of my cellphone startled me out of sleep and my body's abrupt reaction woke the baby up. Thinking it was play time, she immediately started bouncing around, making me moan in discomfort as I sat up and turned on my bedside lamp. My movements woke up Castle, but he just watched me as I answered my phone with a sleepy yawn.

"Hello?"

"Katie, it's Amaya."

Hearing my stepmother's voice this late made me sit up straighter.

"Are you and the kids okay?"

"We're fine, but it's about your dad. He's just heard some news."

"About…?"

"A nurse from Green Pines Hospice just called."

"My Oma and Opa Beckett live there."

"The nurse informed us that your Oma and Opa just passed away within an hour of each other."

"Oh…"

"I'm sorry about it."

I didn't say anything, so she tried again.

"You with me? Your tone was detached when you spoke."

"Well, it was their time because they were both one-hundred-and-one years old, plus they never liked me, and vice versa." I arched my back slightly as the baby kicked. "Let me talk to dad for a minute."

The rustling of bedsheets was heard on her end of the line and then my father's quiet voice was in my ear.

"Katie…"

"I'm so sorry about your parents, daddy."

"You're just saying that to be polite; I still remember how they always talked to you in German you when you were a kid even though you never had a clue what they were saying."

"One of my earliest memories is of mom surprising them by telling them off in German."

Dad gave a soft laugh. "She said to their faces that they were being rude, and that she wouldn't stand for it."

"What did I do? That part's fuzzy…"

"Even though you'd been crying and didn't quite understand anything, you interpreted your mother's sharp tone well and stared my parents down for emphasis, with your little hands on your hips. You looked like your mother's clone on that day, and you still do."

The blood in my face immediately rushed to my cheeks. "You're making me blush!"

"But I only speak the truth about those memories." He paused for a second. "Go back to bed, Katie."

"Okay." I agreed. "Rick and I will come visit tomorrow."

"See you then. Good night, baby girl. I love you."

"Good night, daddy. I love you, too."

Hanging up the phone and turning off the light, I laid back down and snuggled closer to Castle. He brushed my hair out of my face.

"Your grandparents just passed away?"

"Yeah, but I don't feel as sad as I should because we never got along."

"How is Jim taking it?"

"He's feeling a little shocked and I don't blame him, but I think he wanted to hear my voice. At least Amaya is taking care of him; I'm so glad they have each other, and sometimes I can't believe that baby Keiko just turned one in January or that my parents just had their one year wedding anniversary last week."

"Oh, how time flies." Castle kissed me and pulled the blankets back over us. "We should get some sleep before the kids make their way down here at six o'clock sharp."

(Almost every morning without fail, all of the kids come down and snuggle with us for a few more hours of sleep)

"Do you think they'll outgrow that phase when the baby comes?"

"I hope so."


April 27, two days later


Because my grandparents had both been over a hundred years old, and didn't have much in the way of possessions, meaning that it only took a day to sort out their affairs and get a burial in order. We didn't make a big deal about it because for as long as I remember, dad never forgave them for disliking mom because just she was born and raised in the Bronx, hailing from a poor-as-dirt German-Russian immigrant family. (Oma and Opa were straight-up German) The way my dad saw this whole thing, he just wanted get everything over with as quickly as possible.

On a gesture of good faith and friendship, once the rest of our family and friends heard about what happened, they all came to stand with us, even though they hadn't known my grandparents at all.

My dad was deeply touched by the number of the turnout to the point where he couldn't put his thanks into words, but Martha assured him that he didn't have to say anything because we all understood.


The burial is over now, but I haven't been able to get off my folding chair without having some kind of awful immediate pain in my back. I'm no stranger to backache during pregnancy, but whatever this is, it hurts more than it should and I literally cannot move a muscle.


"Kate, are you stuck? Do you need help?" Castle asked warily.

"No, but my back hurts like hell if I try to move." I winced as the lightly elbowed me in the side. "Don't ask how or why, but I think my back seized up."

"Then let help you stand."

"No!"

"Then at least let me bring the car to the edge of the parking lot!"

"Rick, I said no!"

"Mom, what's the matter?"

A new voice had joined the conversation and we looked over to see Alexis, Jessica Rose and Melissa walking up to us to see what was going on. When all three of them are in the same vicinity, they have a tendency to travel in a pack.

"What happened here?" Jessica was talking now. "Did Kate get hurt?"

"Her back seized up," Castle told them. "And now she's afraid to move."

Melissa looked at me with sympathy, extending her own hand. "My back did that when I was pregnant with Kitty because my scars would flare up. If it makes you feel better, I can help you to your car, instead."

Her tone of sincerity sat well with me, so I took her hand and let her pull me to my feet. Just as I'd suspected, the pain was very intense and I let out a few choice curse words as I regained my center of gravity. Melissa made me laugh a little when she told me that she'd sworn filthier and louder, but in Spanish when she had been the one in pain. On my other side, Alexis was happily spotting me, prepared to catch me if I teetered at all, and bringing up the rear were Castle and Jessica, the latter of whom had assigned herself the task of carrying my crutches.

All of that walking hurt, and although I was proud that I got as far as I did, there was a point when I stopped and let out a breath because of how much pain I was in. That was when both of my parents and my doctor-friend, Emily Ryan, caught up with us.

"Come on, Katie." Dad tried. "If you don't want Rick to bring the car closer, then let someone carry you to it. I'm sure that even Calvin or Jeffery could do it."

I shook my head. "The baby is acting really weird right now, and I won't risk compromising her."

"That's good thinking because we don't need either of you in distress." Emily clucked, slipping into doctor mode as she gave my belly a few methodical prods. "Has the baby changed positions?"

"No; it feels like she's stuck."

"Where are her head and feet?"

"Here and here." Leaning against Melissa, I touched a hand to either side of my belly. "I'm a week overdue now, but everything checked out fine at the last appointment! Why hasn't she changed positions yet?"

"I won't be able to tell you that or even why you're in so much pain until we get you checked out at the hospital."

"Not until I'm in labor!"

Amaya approached me now and looked me square in the eyes. "Kate, you are one of the strongest women I've ever known, and there will never be enough words to tell you how much I love you like I've known you forever, or to even convey how proud and honored I am to call you my stepdaughter, but there's one thing I definitely know how to say."

"What's that?"

"You are stubborn! I admire you, love you and cherish you, but you are very stubborn!"

I was a little taken aback because even though Amaya is only five years older than me, there she's never afraid to address me in the authoritative tone of a parent.

"Gee, thanks. Having one of my most domineering traits pointed out is just what I need right now."

"Katherine Joy, has occurred to you that you could be in labor now?"

Instead of giving a verbal response, a cry of pain escaped my lips as the baby finally changed positions. Instead of bring relieved, I grew even more worried because she was facing the wrong way altogether and the pain was enough to make my back hurt worse. I couldn't stop the tears, and the next thing I knew, I was falling to my knees as everyone around me sprang into action. Amaya caught me and sat with me on the slushy ground, making soothing noises as she rocked me in her arms. All air of scolding had evaporated.

"You two going to be okay, sweetie." She held one of my hands in hers. "If you have to, squeeze as hard as you can."

I did, and having a place to channel the pain made it slightly easier to talk. "She's changed positions, but her feet are pointed towards to birth canal now. Fuck, this hurts! Amaya, I think you were correct about me being in labor!"

Not blinking an eye at the bad word or even saying 'I told you so,' my stepmother placed a tender but comforting kiss on my forehead. "Someone is calling 911, so help is on its way, and when the ambulance does come, Emily and I will both ride with you to watch over you and the baby. How does that sound?"

"Like a lovely plan." I grit my teeth when when a spasm of labor pain rippled through my abdomen. "Why does it hurt so much?"

"I promise we'll find out soon, precious. Just hang in there and keep squeezing my hand."

Her words were the last ones I heard before passing out.