Bellapaige… hahahaha…. Tiny little blue-eyed Castle babies shall take over the world!
Quick request for readers: I'm looking to broaden my musical horizons. What are the top love songs that make you think of the C&B relationship? Let me know in the reviews please!
Disclaimer: Not mine, as usual.
The mid-October air was crisp, but enjoyable for Kate. Like any native New Yorker, she loved the fall more than any other season. Fall in the Hamptons was certainly something to behold. She'd been only once before, but it was still late summer. Now, with the multi-colored leaves starting to fall from the trees and the taste of hot apple cider on her lips, Kate felt truly at peace.
She held her little girl in her arms, Grace wrapped snug in a pale yellow long sleeved onesie and a knit cap. The cap was adorable, a gift from Lanie at Kate's "You Have a Baby Shower." She was tickled that her best friend had gone to such lengths to make her feel as normal as possible, as loved as possible.
They'd surprised her at the loft with a dual gender shower, one that Castle and the boys could attend, shouting "Surprise! You've got a baby!" when she walked through the door. It was unexpected, ridiculous and exactly what she'd needed. Alexis delighted in organizing the event, complete with gifts, refreshments and a giant cake sculpture made from diapers. She smiled as she thought about that day. Although it wasn't a traditional baby shower, she supposed in some ways it was better. Afterall, her loved ones got the pleasure of doting on the actual baby.
Kate smiled as she thought back on the shower. She held baby Grace more tightly to her as she watched the waves hit the shore. "I'm glad you got up to enjoy the sunrise with me, my love." Kate spoke softly to her daughter, pulling the knit cap further down to keep her head warm and protected from the breeze. She smiled as she examined the diamond ring, now resting on her left finger and sighed. It certainly had been an eventful week, and she was surprised how willing she was, how right it felt.
Monday morning they'd driven out to the Hamptons. It was partially a celebration of Kate's finally being able to get around without assistance devices. In addition, they decided that Grace needed a room at the house. They wanted it to be finished before November because decision was made to celebrate Thanksgiving that year together. Family and friends were planning to join together in gratitude for the lives that they lived.
Kate had been willing and eager to head the room design, picking the color scheme and furniture, selecting the toys and stuffed animals. They'd hired professional painters to take care of the walls prior to their arrival, waiting for the room to be dry and free of fumes before they came to work. The light purple walls were later covered with flowers and butterflies, giving the room a garden theme.
By Wednesday afternoon they were putting finishing touches on the room. While Alexis watched the baby downstairs, Castle and Beckett worked through the afternoon with the goal of having their daughter sleep through the night in her very own room. They fastened large letters to the wall over her crib, spelling out GRACE. Kate had a smile on her face, loving how the room had come together.
It was a labor of love and she was so very glad to have been a part of the process. She wiped her hands on her jeans, her hair pulled into a messy bun with tendrils hanging sloppily around her face. She wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her arm and as she took the now finished room in she sighed, "It's perfect."
"It is." Castle agreed. "I couldn't imagine it any better." He smiled at Kate, stepping behind her, pulling her into his arms and wrapping his arms around her stomach. She relaxed against him, clasping her hands to his where they rested on her stomach.
Beckett could sense the tension in his body, a hesitation that confused her. She remained in his arms for a few moments, giving him the chance to speak whatever was on his mind. Needless to say, she wasn't surprised when he cleared his throat and began to speak.
"Kate, you asked me once about my father. You asked me how I felt about him not being around." Kate swallowed nervously. The last time this was a topic of conversation she'd accused him of not being open with her it had nearly ended their relationship.
She waited silently, unsure of what to say on the topic. "I told you that I didn't really feel much of anything because I didn't know what I'd missed." She nodded against him, waiting for him to continue.
"That's still true. Asking my about missing my dad is sort of like asking someone who has never been to Disney World to talk about what they're missing. Sure I could have some idea, but I really wouldn't know because I'd never experienced it. So, I really don't feel a whole lot of loss or regret, aside from maybe the idea of what my father could have been like."
Kate's face filled with confusion, he still wasn't really sharing anything, "Castle, what do you want me to say?"
"I want you to understand how little his loss impacts me so that you'll understand and respect what I'm going to tell you next." He explained.
"Ok…" She spoke, waiting curiously for whatever was on his mind.
"Thinking about what I did miss with my father crosses my mind from time to time, but it is pretty fleeting, Kate." He paused and turned her body in his arms, keeping his arms around her waist but allowing for them to face one another.
"I don't take a lot of time to miss him, but you? The thought of losing you? What I went through during those long, terrible months when you just seemed to slip further and further away, when the hope of you opening those beautiful eyes and smiling at me again was nearly gone…" His voice broke, tears welling up in them.
"When I didn't know if I would ever be able to see you smile again, Kate. When I didn't know if you would ever hold our daughter… I nearly died. I nearly died every day for seven months. Each day it nearly killed me, waiting for you to come back to me, watching your body change in such a beautiful way and not being able to share it with you." He swallowed back the raw emotion and pulled himself together.
"I'm telling you this because I never want you to question what I would or wouldn't do for you again. If you need to talk about being open and honest, here it is, I don't function without you. The person I was before you is gone. All that I am here today, Kate… it's because of you. I never want to lose you again."
Tears slipped down her face as she listened to his confession, "Castle, Rick…I don't want you to think that I question your dedication. I'm sorry that I ever did. I promise you that I'm not going anywhere. I don't work without you either." She traced her fingers across his jaw and pressed her lips against his.
He pushed her back slightly, "Kate I'm going to say this again …I am going to marry you. I know it doesn't have to be now, but…" Her finger pressed to his lips and silenced him. She gazed at him with a bright smile on her face and tears brimming.
Beckett stepped back and while holding his gaze intently, pulled the ring from her right finger and slid it onto her left. "Isn't this where you intended it to be in the first place, Rick?"
He laughed, pure joy filling his features as he pulled her into his arms once again.
"Always." He answered, pulling her against him and capturing her lips in a tender kiss.
"What a breathtaking view." His voice startled her from her musings, causing her to smile as his presence filled her with warmth in the early morning breeze.
"I love watching the ocean first thing in the morning." Kate agreed as he approached.
"Oh, the ocean. Yeah, that's pretty too." He quipped, kissing her on the neck and grinning to inform her that the view he was interested in was her.
She elbowed him jokingly, but reached for his arm to catch him before he could back too far away. He leaned in and captured her lips, feeling her smile against him.
"Good morning to you too." He spoke.
"And to you." He leaned in to place a kiss on Grace's cheeks. The little girl simply stared at her father, her bright blue eyes captivated by his presence. Kate rested her head against his shoulder, stroking her finger down Grace's chubby little arm and stopping at her palm, where the infant grasped her mom's finger.
"So, you're really going to marry me?" He asked her lovingly.
"hmmm. I think I am, Mr. Castle." She smiled as he kissed her lips again.
"Then we can get started on siblings for Gracie." He spoke, leaning back down to kiss the baby's soft cheek.
"Let's just focus on getting this one a little older, ok? Maybe sleeping reliably through the night? Eating solid foods at some point? Perhaps even toilet trained?" Kate suggested wryly.
"Well, if you don't remember the first time, I just thought we could rectify it with another…" He reasoned teasingly.
"Well, I certainly don't object to practicing with you, Rick." She arched an eyebrow at him suggestively.
"You know, Detective Beckett, they say that practice makes perfect." She could feel his hand reach around her to grasp her bottom firmly.
"Is that what they say?" Kate asked, leaning in for another kiss, grabbing his bottom lip with her teeth and teasing him.
"Indeed." He informed her.
"Well then, why don't we put Grace to bed for her morning nap?" She suggested.
"Yeah?" The innuendo in his question was clear.
"Well, Mr. Castle. I'm nothing if not a perfectionist." She grinned mischievously at him before adding,
"We're pretty spectacular, but there is work to be done to perfect the technique, don't you think?"
"Oh, Kate" he agreed, in a serious tone, "I definitely think so."
They kissed once again and laughed together, Kate holding Grace securely against her body. Taking her lead, they turned away from the ocean and headed back towards the house. Their fingers laced securely as they carried their baby girl, ready to face their future together.
The End.
Thanks for sticking with me as I crushed the writers block! Also, thanks for the twitter suggestion! Find me as Addison Sperry. Promise to get back to both Lucy and my other story "Ultimatum" soon :) Remember to review and add those love songs please! Thanks!