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He blinks several times, allowing himself to wake up fully. He can feel Kate's heavy breathing next to him and he glances to make sure she's still asleep.

"Dad?"

Alexis hasn't moved, the ultrasound still held in the air facing him. Her face looks confused and she keeps glancing at Kate in the bed next to him.

"Ok I'm up, I'm up...let's go into the living room..."

He whispers softly, gently rolling himself from the bed and leaving Kate behind to sleep. She needs her rest.

He shakes himself alert and grabs his dress shirt from the chair, slipping it on as he leads Alexis to the living room.

Martha is waiting for them and wraps her arm around Alexis. They both look at him like he's grown a third head.

"Is Kate OK darling?"

His mother whispers as he shuts the door. He notices a pile of shopping bags gathered near the front door but now isn't the time to ask how much damage they ust did on his American Express.

"She's fine...but obviously we need to talk..."

He sits down on the couch but Alexis and his mother sit further from him on the opposite end. He feels like he betrayed them even though he's not sure that's the case.

"Dad, is Detective Beckett pregnant?"

He takes a deep breath and nods.

"She is...and I wanted to tell you both earlier but she needed some time to make a decision."

Martha gasps, clapping her hands together and jumping up quickly. She throws her arms around his shoulders in dramatic fashion.

"Oh Richard! Why didn't you tell me you finally told her how you feel!"

He forces a smile, sensing how awkward this conversation might end up being. He glances to Alexis and notices she's firmly planted on the couch, without a smile on her face.

"So, you're the father?"

Maybe he should have googled how to broach this subject with his teenage daughter.

"I am...I know this is a shock but you both know how much I love her..."

Alexis sighs, tossing the photo onto the coffee table.

"Yea Dad, we all know, you've been in love with her for years and what has she done for you? Ignored you after you saved her life? Avoided any discussions of real feelings? She's just strung you along this entire time and now she's having your baby?"

Her voice is thick with emotion, almost verging on tears. He hates seeing her so emotional and frustrated with him. It's rare that they fight so it's uncharted territory for them.

"Alexis that's not how it is. You know that because of her mother's case she has...things to work on."

Martha moves from Richard's side back to Alexis, wrapping her arm around her shoulder, comforting the girl.

"Darling, this is a complicated situation and it's hard to understand but your father loves Kate very much..."

Alexis shakes off her comforting grip and stands up, pacing the living room floor.

"It's really not that complicated, you're both just pretending it is as some excuse for her behavior. I like Detective Beckett but I also know that when you love someone, like really love them, you just tell them how you feel no matter what the consequences!"

Castle has to admit that her logic stings a bit. It's the exact thoughts he's mulled over for years on his own. The fact that her 18 year old brain can infer the same thing is a little disturbing.

"Alexis nothing is going to change between us, we will still do all the crazy things we did before. Who else am I going to joust with in the living room? Or have microwave Peep battles with on Easter? We know she's not going to do it..."

He nods over to his mother but Alexis doesn't even crack a smile.

"This isn't about our relationship changing, I know you'll always be my dad...I just don't want to see you get hurt by her."

He stands up and nods, validating her concerns. She has every right to be protective of him, she's watched him be disappointed by every relationship he's attempted and while he hasn't been an innocent victim in most of them, she's still witnessed the aftermath.

Before he can respond he hears a quiet voice from behind him jump in.

"I can't promise that I won't hurt him Alexis."

Kate is standing in the doorway of the bedroom, she looks tired, her hair pulled back from her face and in his clothes, she doesn't have the same authoritative presence that he's used to seeing.

She walks into the room and Castle meets her half way, grabbing her arm but she shrugs him off. He can tell by the way she's grimacing, she's probably still in pain even though she'd never let anyone know it.

"Detective Beckett I just meant..."

Alexis back pedals slightly but Kate shakes her head.

"You have every right to be concerned Alexis. You're right. I haven't been the most forthcoming with your dad about my feelings, or his. And I can't promise that I won't make mistakes along the way. But that's why I've asked to take things slowly...this is a big shock for everyone and I want to make sure no one is rushing into anything..."

Kate positions herself in front of Alexis and Castle is so grateful for her natural kindness, her compassion. The way she connects with people immediately and listens to their concerns. It's almost ironic seeing as how stunted she is emotionally but it's one of his favorite qualities about her.

Alexis and Kate aren't exactly close. Other than a few casual encounters and conversations, they've spent little time getting to know one another on a personal level.

"I didn't mean to be rude...I just want the best for my dad..."

"Of course you do and I do too. I don't know if I'll ever be as emotional as your dad but that's something I love about him..."

Love. She uses the word so casually, like it's just something she says every day.

"Do you love him?"

Castle sucks in his breath as Alexis asks the question and he's tempted to jump in and rescue Kate from being put on the spot but Kate nods almost immediately, answering with confidence.

"Always."


Kate wakes up to fingertips tracing circles on her bare stomach. She can't peel her eyes open yet, the feeling is too good so she relishes in it, her nerve endings on heightened alert. She's waiting for the familiar wave of nausea to wash over her but so far, so good.

"I can see you smiling.."

He whispers to her softly, his voice close to her ear. She widens her smile and wonders how long she's been asleep.

She didn't hear her alarm but she feels surprisingly rested. It probably helps she just spent an entire weekend sleeping for the first time in recent history.

Castle has been by her side for days and she's surprised at herself because instead of feeling overwhelmed or panicked, she misses him when he's out of the room. She craves moments like these, lying close to his body, feeling his soft touches.

Sometimes in the middle of the night she'll feel him wrap his arm around her and pull her closer, letting out as a sigh as he settles his body next to hers.

"What time is it?"

She breaks through her sleepiness and cracks open her eyes, noticing the sunlight is barely visible.

"6am...We have to meet the guys and Lanie at 7..."

He's still tracing her skin with his fingers, getting lower on her stomach, which makes it hard for her to concentrate.

They decided to tell Espo, Ryan and Lanie first thing this morning so that she could tell Gates sooner than later. She figures she won't be able to hide her morning sickness for another week.

"Do you think they will be mad?"

She tries to distract herself from his adorable morning grin and wandering fingers.

"Mad? Why would they be mad?"

She isn't sure but she has a weird feeling about telling them. Like they will feel neglected now that her and Castle...have a thing.

"They are going to be relieved that they don't have to watch us avoid the inevitable for any longer..."

He replaces his fingers with his mouth, kissing her stomach softly, moving his lips across her slightly curved skin.

"Castle there's no inevitable...we are having a baby, we aren't getting married..."

Her breath catches at both "having a baby" and "getting married". Two phrases she didn't expect to be utterly so soon into their newly found relationship.

He doesn't take her bait, just murmurs against her skin, only causing her to become more unhinged, his tongue tracing the line of her hip bone.

He locks his eyes with hers but keeps his mouth moving southward, his hands framing her waist, she tries to hang on to the last shred of sanity she has left but the minute he pulls down her minimal lace panties and nudges her legs apart with his elbows, she's gone, closing her eyes and slamming her head against the pillow with his first tease.

"Castle no...we have to shower..."

She can barely moan out the words but instead of responding, he flicks his tongue faster, her nails driving into his shoulders.

His tongue moves in a series of slow and fast circles, teasing her by moving outward to her inner thigh and then parting her again, causing her to practically scream in pleasure.

As he picks up momentum, she naturally pulls her hips upward and he begins to push his tongue harder against her. Flattened against her swollen center, dipping in and out of her with the tip of his tongue.

God he's good. Usually they never know what to do but Castle...he knows exactly what she wants.

She's never felt so turned on before, like she has no self control and could explode any minute. She wants him to go harder and faster than he possibly could, she rocks her hips against his tongue, digging her heels into his legs to generate movement.

As he moans against her, the vibration shoots through her body and she pushes his face away quickly, completely overwhelmed by the sensation.

He looks half startled but before he can say anything, she pulls him upward and pushes his shoulders so his back is now pinned against the bed and she's straddling his waist.

She rips off his boxer briefs in one movement and he's already ready, clearly turned on from tasting her, feeling her respond to him.

She has no patience for foreplay, she feels mildly guilty for taking control but she feels borderline primal, wanting him so badly it almost hurts.

She lowers herself to him almost immediately and begins rocking her hips, completely oblivious to his reaction, just feeling herself move harder and faster, her palms pressing him to the bed by his chest, using his weight for leverage.

She feels sweat roll down her back and she moans loudly as Castle grabs her thighs, holding her against him, pushing himself deeper.

One final thrust leaves her completely senseless, screaming his name loudly and clenching her eyes as a force of pleasure rips through her.

She immediately collapses onto his chest, breathless. They lay in that position for minutes, he's still inside her, his hand protectively on her thigh.

She shifts slowly, causing them both to moan from the tender sensation.

"Holy shit Kate...what was that?"

He is still panting, sounding half stunned from their encounter. She figures it must be the hormones. There's no other explanation for the savage, raw encounter.

"I'm not complaining but I can't feel my body..."

He groans to her, pressing his lips against her forehead. She pushes her body up, ignited again by the feeling of him inside her, moving slowly against him.

Her lips find his mouth and she pushes his lips open with her tongue.

"Do we have time to go again?"

She moans the only thought that is still in her head between pulling at his lip with her teeth.

"I think I'm going to enjoy pregnant Kate Beckett..."

She silences his words with a hard thrust of her hips and a bite of his shoulder, as he rolls them over with a load moan.

Breakfast can wait.
_