Note to the Readers: Another late day. I guess running late will be a theme for the week. Thanks for spending the time to read and encourage.

The reviews, favs and alerts I have been getting. Thanks to everyone; you make my life easier and brighter.

Disclaimers: No, I don't own them. Castle belongs to other more talented individuals.

It would be days before either of them was out of bed for more than an hour, but they were happy until Martha made them watch the news. Rick wasn't sure which of his ex-wives was the worst; both had used their injuries and disinterest in the world to take their stories to the tabloids. It's a sad day when you realize that the main reasons someone makes up stories to tell to the tabloids isn't for money, but for the little amount attention it gains them. Gina had the audacity to suggest Kate had faked the pregnancy, but Meredith went lower. She suggested that someone else could be the father. Ruining the arguments was going to be easy, but knowing how low they would sink…that wasn't.

Chapter 10

Moving Alexis into her dorm was uneventful and short. Much too short for Rick. Between Ryan and Esposito, everything had been carried to her room within 30 minutes. As soon as her suite mates arrived, she wanted to explore campus life more. Rick reluctantly said goodbye and hobbled back to the car. The boys must have been sympathetic. No teasing occurred even though he knew he deserved a full belly of it. On the way back to the loft, Rick called Remy's for their favorites. Espo and Ryan gladly accepted the offer to eat at the loft.

While everyone gathered at the kitchen table for the meal, the boys shared the few cases that had occurred in their absence. There was a pop and drop, an attempt at a mugging in which the mugger died and Esposito's favorite, a drag queen was murdered that looked just like Karpowski until Lanie flipped up the skirt.

"Man, you should have seen her. I mean him. Karpowski has a serious set of cajones on her, but man I suspect she has always been twice than man he was. When we began the investigation, Lanie realized he had managed to shoot himself trying to get his revolver in the world's thinnest purse. He bled out quickly. Basically it was an unintentional suicide. Dude, I was trying to set up the murder board and Karpowski is walking by. I hadn't said anything, but even she had to stop and do a double take at the photo. She was so pissed it was a dude." Esposito laughingly shared his tale.

"I don't remember you finding it funny when she popped you for laughing." Ryan said. Esposito sat quietly rubbing his jaw as if it still pained him. Kate and Castle enjoyed the diversion of having the boys there, but between Rick's aching ribs and Kate's constant leg pain they were too exhausted for company for very long. They headed out the door leaving the Castles alone.

Kate curled up on the couch. Rick put his head in her lap and handed her the remote.

"You're kidding. You will let me have the remote? Since when have you wanted me to choose what we watch?"

"Since I realized that my eyelids are heavy enough that I may not see very much of anything."

She took a better look at her husband. She could see the dark circles under his eyes had darkened. The trip and lunch may have been more activity than he should have had. She had wished she could go, but now that she sees how he faired she knows she made the right decision.

She flipped through the stations until she found FX. They were running movies they show so regularly she knew the DVD on TV part of the program as well as she did the movie. As much as she enjoyed Wolverine, it lost something on 50th or so watching. Rick watched her brow furrow as these thoughts were in her head.

"You can find something else. I like this too, but we have 100s of stations to choose from and we do know this one."

She quietly agreed and began to flip stations again until an image caused her to stop.

"We are here visiting with the first Mrs. Castle. Welcome to the show Meredith."

"Thank you Rosie. I am glad to be here."

"Can you tell us more about the current Mrs. Castle? We all know that she used to be his muse and that she was a detective of some sort, but what is she really like?

"According to Alexis Castle, my daughter with Rick she is rude, demanding and only wants his money. The detective doesn't want to have to work anymore. I bet once the child is born she divorces him and takes him for everything he's worth. From what I hear, he asked for a prenup and she wouldn't sign."

"That is interesting, but my producers have just said that we have a caller on the line that needs to speak. Caller you are on the show. Can you tell us what you have to share with the audience?"

"Mom, how could you? I have never said any of that about Kate and never would. She isn't interested in money. Oh and that prenup, she had the lawyers write it; she signed and then dad ran it through the shredder. Just because your career has faltered doesn't mean you should destroy the one happy thing that is in my life. You know what Meredith. I think I am going to start calling Kate my mother. You can be the former Mrs. Castle that lost her daughter with lies."

"Okay, I think it is time for a commercial break before the show continues."

Rick's gentle snores told her that he knew nothing about what transpired. Kate couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry. Some of the truth had been brought to the world through Alexis. She didn't want the girl to fight her battles, but she had to admit it felt wonderful having her support. Kate picked up the phone and dialed Rick's lawyer.

"Hi Ron, I need to ask you a few questions about how to deal with what is happening. You know about the pregnancy and all the rumors. Well, both the former Mrs. Castles have been throwing allegations around that upset the family. Rick's daughter just called into the local show, Rosie to correct her own mother. Is there any way we can lean on them legally to bring the harassment to an end?"

"Kate, I will look into the matter for Meredith. She seems to be predominantly upset that since Alexis turned 18 her spousal support is supposed to be coming to an end from the way the settlement was originally written. I may be able to finagle an easier path by pulling a few strings. Gina, on the other hand, should be receiving a nice cease and desist order. Rick's new publishing house has even put in a rather large offer to buy out all the rights to Rick's earlier works. Ms. Cowan will start playing more fairly once she realizes the financial stake she has in this. Rick has even threatened that his next book will be made available for free on his website for download if she doesn't start making concessions. This will take a few days to shut them down, but I am confident that you will be pleased when all is said and done. My best suggestion to you right at this moment, don't watch talk shows and ignore the tabloids. The will be in the past fairly soon."

Kate ended the call and looked at her husband again. He looked younger when he slept. She ran her fingers through his hair lightly.

"Mm. Kate. Ooh that feels so good."

At first Kate thought she had woken him, but she watched his face. He was definitely talking in his sleep. As his moaning grew deeper she came to the sudden epiphany that it was one of those dreams. One part of her thought she might ought to wake him up so that he didn't move the wrong way and aggravate a rib…the reason he hadn't experienced any physical fun with her in days, but then she began experimenting. She let her fingertips brush his cheek, and then his lips. He responded with a nibble on the finger and a louder moan. She ran one hand across his chest and writhed in excitement. The second time she did that, he react far more which ended in a stifled cry in pain. He woke panting and a little embarrassed when he noticed his current state of arousal.

"I need a pain pill and a cold shower." He stood up to go but she laced her fingers with his, and followed with him.

"Kate, I can't make love to you, not like this."

"Rick, we can and we will, but we will have to be more creative with our positions and the use of furniture."

He raised an eyebrow at her as she continued. "You know that lounge chair in your office, we haven't christened it yet and I think I figured out how this is going to work. It is high enough that I can use one leg to help, but not two so the injured one won't get any weight. You will already be at a very good angle so I will do most of the moving. We are going to take this really slow and it will be fine, but I think that pain pill might still be a great idea."

"Kate, is this you thought about while I was gone?"

"Yes. It took me quite some time to figure out where would work best. I have my answer. I am going to go grab two small pillows and I will meet you in there."

When Martha came home it was late in the evening. She went to the kitchen to pour a glass of wine when she noticed the light illuminated Kate and Rick in the study. It appeared they had resolved a problem or two. Kate was asleep lying face down on her son. The smell of sex still hung heavily in the air. She smiled to herself preparing to take the bottle upstairs with her, but the chill in the apartment caused her to sit it down. She retrieved a quilt from the closet and carried it into the study to cover her babies. No one is ever too old to need a little mothering. Kate's eyes opened for a moment as Martha covered them.

"Goodnight Martha."

"Goodnight baby girl"

Monday meant doctor's appointments. The doctor wanted to check the progress on Rick's ribs and her leg. She was given permission to no longer use crutches, but was told a cane would suffice. However, her ob-gyn required her to spend another week at home resting. Work could be brought to the loft, but she was not to spend anytime standing or walking more than necessary, not because of the foot, but to remove some of the pressure from her growing belly. Just after the accident she had spotted for a few days, but the doctor assured her that the bed rest was curing the problem. Micro-tearing had resulted from the crash. The less pressure around the babies, the faster it would heal and she could return to normal.

Rick's ribs were still in need of mending. The doctor was less enthusiastic about the idea of his return to the 12th than Kate's.

"Mr. Castle, I think you might want to spend time at home with your wife. Write, decorate, do very little physically, and heal. Another week and I should be able to let you go back to doing what you want, but right now you would only be putting yourself at risk of further injury."

Much to Kate's surprise he didn't argue. "Doc, I have plans already made. In fact, if we are done here, we are expected at home in the next hour."

Kate turned her head to look Rick in the eyes. "Are we expecting someone?"

"Two actually."

"Since when?"

"Since your nap yesterday afternoon. I didn't want to ruin the surprise."

Kate didn't like to not know what they were up to, but from the gleeful expression on his face she decided to wait until he wanted to share.

As they walked in the doorman told Rick, "Mr. Silverman asked me to let him know when you returned home. Is that alright?"

"Yes, please. Let him know I will be expecting him."

Silverman was a name Kate knew was associated with the building, but she wasn't familiar with him. "Who is Silverman?"

"Guest number 1"

She glared at him.

"He is the lawyer for the building. He negotiates all sales and makes sure that all of us keep to our agreements on noise, decorations and everything else that is in the deeds."

"Rick, we aren't selling the loft!"

"No, we are buying today."

"What?"

"Jack and Ellen Schweitzer that lived next door are divorcing; we are purchasing their space. If we cut a doorway from the hall by the study we can add a nursery on the first floor, two bedrooms on the second floor, a giant playroom on the first floor, and a significant size library for the house. There is even space to build mother her own master suite so that she can have a large bedroom and kitchen to herself if she would like to entertain."

"Who is the second guest?"

"The architect/contractor that is going to make the space fit our needs before your due date."

Tears brimmed in her eyes uncontrollably. Rick consistently rose to the occasion, finding new ways of demonstrating his love for her by making her wishes come true.

After their first guest and come and gone, there was a knock at the door. Rick answered expecting the contractor.

Gina stood in the hallway slightly disheveled. "Can I please come talk to you?"
"Why should I let you in my home, you might accuse my wife of being unfaithful or lying about being pregnant. Oh, wait, you already did that. What do you want?" He continued to block the door so that she couldn't enter.

"I think I need to apologize to your wife and I can't do that standing in the hallway talking to a door."

Kate listed from a few feet away. Rick caught her eyes and she nodded. It isn't like Gina could hurt her any worse.

He opened the door wide enough for her to step through. Kate and Rick met with Gina standing in the foyer without offering for her to come and sit. Neither felt the need for social graces in their current situation.

"Kate. I know I have been out of line. I said a lot of things to the press that were in bad faith. It has cost me my most important client and Paula, the publicist who works for me but works for Rick as well, has severed our business connections. Many of my other authors have begun to announce their departure for other publishing houses. I didn't realize my jealousy would cost so much."

Kate sighed. Her sympathy for Gina was nil. She thought of all those times Gina knew about their attraction. She even suspected that when Gina and Rick got back together for the Memorial Day weekend that it had more to do with Gina feeling like she was losing Rick to his muse than actually wanting Rick. Gina only wanted Rick when he wasn't hers to have. She still saw him as a trophy. Always would.

"Gina. This isn't going to change anything. I am still his wife." She rubbed her stomach that had a pronounced bump developing. "I am carrying his children. I haven't been with anyone else for a very long time. I don't know who you hurt the worst with your comments, but I can tell you one thing for certain, I wasn't even close to the top of the list. You hurt Alexis, Martha and Rick far more than you could ever be allowed to hurt me. I have heard your apology. I don't need it, but I have it. Now, I want you to go and leave us alone-something you should have done out of common courtesy."

Rick shook his head. He had nothing to say. He walked to the door and opened it for her. Gina didn't have to be told what they meant. She turned and left. Both noticed that even though she feigned a broken spirit, her spine was as straight as an arrow. They weren't sure what Gina had come for, but watching her walk out, they knew she had it. What had she gained by that short conversation?