Just a little filler chapter. Lots of Caskett fluffiness... Made a small change to one paragraph. A reviewer pointed out something that I hadn't thought of. Thanks for pointing it out. Definitely made this a better chapter...

When Kate left the hospital, Castle drove them back to the city. Against his better judgment, he drove her back to her apartment. Even though he wanted to take her back to the loft. He loved her and wanted to keep her close to him. However, he didn't want to crowd her. Wanted to give her the freedom to decide that she couldn't live without him. So, he walked her to her door and kissed her softly. Then he watched as she closed the door to her apartment.

Castle wanted to knock on her door and ask to come in and spend more time with her. So, he put his hand on the door softly and whispered, "I love you Kate. I wish..."

He finally sighed and then lifted his hand again and knocked on the door. Kate answered the door and she had a huge smile on her face. She whispered, "I was hoping that you would come back."

"You were?"

Nodding, Kate put her arms around his neck and whispered, "I want you to kiss me."

Castle leaned forward and kissed her softly. Then, Kate pulled him into his apartment with her. Then they walked into her bedroom. Kissing the entire way. Kate stood in front of him and undressed slowly. Then he whispered, "Are you sure about this Kate?"

Nodding, Kate whispered, "I am. I don't want to wait until after the baby is born to make love to you for the first time."

Castle's mouth hung open and he didn't know what to say. He finally managed to whisper, "What?"

Kate took his hand and put it on her stomach and whispered, "He is already yours. At least in every way that counts. I know that he won't share your DNA, but..."

Nodding, Castle whispered, "I love you Kate, but we don't have to do this."

"I want to. I want to give you everything."

Castle silenced her with a kiss and she took his hand and led her to her bed. She pushed him down onto it and removed her blouse. Leaving herself partially naked to him. Not for the first time, Castle marveled at how beautiful she was. Even in the moonlight she was gorgeous. Castle let his hands frame her stomach and he whispered, "God Kate. You are the most beautiful woman in the world to me. You always have been."

Then he leaned forward and kissed her stomach so very softly. Sure, it wasn't the first time that he'd done it, but this time meant so much more than any of the others. For the first time, they were together as more than work partners. They were taking their relationship to a new level. Romantic partners.

Castle looked up at her again and whispered, "Are you sure about this?"

Nodding, Castle whispered, "I've never been more sure of anything before. Make love to me Castle. Make me yours completely."

"Gladly."

They spent the next few hours making love to each other. When Kate woke the next morning, she looked at him sleeping soundly beside her. She smiled when she saw that his hand was resting on her stomach.

Kate remembered his reaction to her son moving after they'd made love for the first time. The tears that came to his eyes were something of a shock to them both. He'd leaned down and kissed her softly and whispered, "I feel like he's really mine now Kate."

Kate laughed when the baby started turning somersaults inside her. It was almost as if her son was trying to reassure him that he was his child.

Long after Castle had fallen asleep, Kate remained awake thinking about everything that had happened that night. She'd whispered to her unborn son, "He's an amazing man Peanut. He really does love us. Even when I did everything to push him away. I don't know why I was afraid of him. Afraid of this. He's been nothing but amazing to us. I don't deserve this. Don't deserve him. You are going to be the luckiest baby in the world. I thought that your father was the answer to everything, but I realized that I didn't love him. So, I ran away from him and was determined that we would be alone forever. I thought it was going to be just the two of us, but I never counted on Castle refusing to give up on his feelings for me. He's amazing Peanut. I've known that for awhile, but was way too stubborn to see it, but we are so very lucky that Castle came along and proved his love for us Peanut. So, so lucky. I hope you remember when you are older that any man can be a father, but Castle..." She looked down at Castle and smiled. His hair was sticking up everywhere and he made these little noises when he slept, but he was so incredibly handsome. She loved him so much. She leaned down and kissed him so softly and smiled when his hand reached out for her. She smiled and then she continued, "Castle is proving that it takes a real man to be a daddy. And that's what he's going to be to you. A daddy. The best daddy in the whole world..."

Kate smiled when her son kicked underneath her hand. Almost as if he understood what she was saying. While she knew that it was impossible, she liked to believe that it was true. She had fallen asleep that night with the biggest smile on her face.

She propped herself up onto her elbow and leaned down and kissed Castle so very softly. She watched as his eyes opened and felt his lips moving underneath hers. She felt him smile and she pulled back and whispered, "Good morning."

Castle smiled at her and whispered, "Good morning beautiful. I think I can get used to being woken up like this."

"You enjoyed it huh?"

"Very much so. How did you sleep Kate?"

"Like a baby."

When Kate said that, her son kicked her hard. She laughed and told him, "I think he thought I was talking about him."

"He's already a smart baby. Definitely takes after me."

Kate laughed and shook her head. Then she leaned down and kissed his again, "He certainly does."

Castle laughed, but suddenly turned serious and asked, "Any regrets about last night?"

Shaking her head, Kate whispered, "None whatsoever. If anything I feel even better about this. About us. Thank you so much Castle."

Castle turned his head to the side and asked, "For what?"

"For loving me. For not giving up on me. Even when things seemed hopeless you never gave up on me. You never once thought about giving up on me. I don't know what I've done to deserve this. I love you so much. I always have. I can admit that now."

Castle leaned forward and whispered, "I've always wanted this. From the moment I met you. I knew that one day we would be together. I just wish..."

"What?"

"Nothing. All that matters is that we are together now. I just wish that he was really mine."

"Do you love him any less?"

Castle smiled down at her and whispered, "No. I could never love him any less. He's your son and I couldn't love him any more. The fact that he's not mine makes no difference. I would like to have another baby with you though."

Kate laughed and shook her head, "Let me get through bringing him into the world and then we can talk about having more children."

Castle smiled, "You really want to have more children with me?"

Laughing, Kate smiled and whispered, "I wouldn't be opposed to it. Honestly, I would love to have another baby or two."

Castle smiled, "That sounds wonderful to me. Having a baby with you is the most amazing thing to me. I already love him and he isn't even truly mine."

Kate shook her head, "He's yours in every way that counts. You love him even though his own father doesn't. Do you know how amazing that is to me? That you love him with all your heart."

Castle smiled and whispered, "I really do love him Kate. He's not even here and I can imagine teaching him so many things. I can see myself taking him to the park and pushing him on the swings. He's going to know what it's like to be loved by me."

Kate felt the tears fall down her cheek. The words that he spoke meant the world to her. She leaned forward and kissed him softly. Then, looking into his eyes, she whispered two little words that would change everything for them forever. She looked at him and whispered, "Marry me..."