Disclaimer: I don't own Castle.

Notes: That was mean of me I know, and I'm killing these last twenty-nine minutes before CASTLE FREAKING STARTS HECK YES by writing part of this chapter. You guys will eventually forgive me I think. Please forgive me. I love you guys. I've also noticed this weird kind of quirky thing I've done. I have no problem freely switching between Kate and Beckett, so much so that I've exclusively started using Kate. I can't make myself type Rick though, unless she is speaking to him. Does this bother you all? Also: how seriously awesome was tonight on the Caskett and Esplanie front?

You guys have been so good today, so here you go!

Castle watched Kate shift uncomfortably in front of her friend, and took it upon himself to see why. He read the caption and grabbed the paper from her, "That is what he wrote?" Castle pulled his phone from his pocket and called his publicist. He walked out of the room paper in hand.

Oh sure, leave me here. She let out a sigh and wished he would come back in.

"Kate," Lanie had gone from serious to serious, "talk to me girl."

Esposito didn't want to be around for this conversation, so he quietly and quickly placed the baby in the bassinet and ran from the room. He figured it was in his best interest to not witness whatever was about to happen. It was either going to be a murder, or a breakdown.

Alexis walked over and wrapped an arm around Kate for support and comfort, "Tell her."

"It's not true, Lanie," Kate finally admitted.

"How do you know?"

"If I said 'I just do' you probably wouldn't buy it would you?"

"No, I wouldn't, and you know it," Lanie crossed her arms, "but I also get the feeling you might be playing me now."

"When have I ever played you?"

"Really? You really want me to start listing every denial you made to my face about Writer-Boy out there?"

"They're going to retract it," Castle announced coming back in, then he noticed the pseudo-standoff.

"Lanie seems to think it's true," Kate turned away from her friend and spoke directly to Castle.

"She does? Well, that's not good."

"No, I tried to tell her it wasn't true but she didn't believe me."

"Do not make me get up out out of this bed and come smack the both of you," Lanie threatened.

"Wonder what we would have to do to convince her..." he trailed off.

"I guess we could tell her I'm pregnant."

"We could do that, yes, What do you think Alexis? Good plan or no?" Castle turned his attention to his daughter.

Alexis broke, she knew last night, but her acting skills weren't nearly as good as Martha's and she'd been dying to tell Lanie from the second they'd walked in, "Most awesome thing ever right?" She was nodding at Lanie.

Esposito stuck his head back in the room, he was checking to make sure everyone was alive. The overly excited smile that Alexis wore worried him, "Um... Is it safe?"

Lanie exploded into the loudest thing that could still be considered a whisper, "I can't believe you! I just can't! That was mean, girl! Just, cruel! I'm all strung out on hormones, and you just come in here and lead me on like that! I swear if I wasn't so damn happy for you right now I'd strangle you!"

Esposito took that as a tentative affirmative. Mostly just to make sure Lanie didn't follow through on her threat to strangle her best friend. He was utterly confused, "Can someone tell me why we're all so happy?"

Lanie ignored him intent on continuing to grill Kate, "When?"

"When what?"

"Kath-" she took a deep breath, "You are gonna make me have a stroke."

Kate took pity on her friend, "We found out last night."

"Get over here. Now," Lanie sat up to give her friend a hug.

"Can someone fill me in?" Esposito asked.

"Kate's pregnant," Alexis supplied going over to coo at the baby, "She looks just like you Dr. Parish."

"That's great! You need me to lay a beating on the guy who wrote that trash? You know there isn't a cop in New York that'd find fault in it," Esposito asked seriously.

Kate released Lanie from the hug, "Always the overprotective brother aren't you?"

"What can I say?" he stepped over to give his boss a hug, "Congratulations."

"Thanks," she gave Esposito a hug and then stepped back to stand by Castle.

The door swung open and a woman came in carrying a tray, "Oh, goodness! There usually aren't such full houses before breakfast."

"It's what families do when people have babies. They come together," Esposito said as he cleared the paper off of the tray so the woman could sit the tray down.

"Yes they do," she looked to Lanie, "I know the food could be better, but can I get you anything to go with it before I leave?"

"I need peanut butter," Lanie responded automatically.

"Aren't you supposed to quit having cravings after the baby is born?" Esposito looked at her puzzled.

"What do I look like, Javier, an OB/GYN?"

"Nope, you look li-"

"Okay, I think I'm about to hear something that is either disgustingly sweet, or just disgusting. Do I need to leave before you ruin this person I've built you up to be?" Alexis interrupted.

"Little Castle making a funny, I like it," he held his hand out to feed the birds.

She smirked and fed the birds, "Sorry, please continue." She walked over and leaned against the wall by her father.

They bumped shoulders before leaned over to whisper in Kate's ear, "I don't think your telepathy is working today. Just go pick her up."

She gave him her patented eye roll and went over by the bassinet, "Lanie, can I hold her?"

"I should say no after that little stunt you pulled, but you're gonna need the practice," Lanie grinned at her.

"You need to quit hanging around with him so much. You never used to tease me like this," she shot right back as she gently picked the baby up. "Hi there, cutie," she rocked back and forth as she spoke quietly to her, "I am your Aunt Katie. I'm going to teach you how to throw, because Lord knows your father doesn't know how to, and I'm going to tell you all of his embarrassing stories. Like the time right after he got his badge. I was still with vice, but we teamed up with homicide, you see. Your daddy, trying to prove how macho he was fell into the East River. Everyone else who saw that happen has moved on, but don't you worry. I'm going to make sure you get all the blackmail material you'll ever need."

"Hey! You swore you would never tell anyone that," Esposito's cheeks were clearly red.

Alexis tugged on Castle's jacket sleeve, once she had his attention she nodded towards Kate, "How many do I get?"

He mulled over his answer for a minute, "As many as she is willing to."

"Two is good with me," Alexis replied.

"You're practical, I'm not. I'd be deliriously happy with just this one, but you know how I like to go over the top with things," he nudged Alexis with a small laugh.