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Okay, I seriously love you guys! Y'all are awesome! And I'm sorry to update so late! Kind of struggled with this one! Hope you like it! Reviews are love.

Disclaimer: Castle is not mine :/

[Baby Shower]

July 6th, 2014 (30 weeks)

"No peeking."

Kate sighed, not liking this situation from the very start. Rick had been acting funny the past couple of days or so, always on the phone and talking with someone, with whom she had no idea, but it made her nervous. Add a blindfold and an overly giddy Rick Castle into the mix meant her nerves were bouncing off the walls. She had no idea what was going on or what was going to happen, she didn't like it.

"This is ridiculous," she groaned, stopping short in the hallway and causing her husband to run into her back. "I am not going to be dragged around to- who knows where with this blindfold on! I'm done playing. Take it off."

"No can do. You've gotta keep it on."

Kate huffed a breath and took matters into her own hands, reaching up to take the restriction off, but just before she could Rick's hands were there to stop her.

"Come on, Kate. Live a little. Please? We're almost there." They were standing about ten feet away from the front door. "I promise I'll take the blindfold off as soon as we get there, okay?"

Nodding her head in defeat, she let him lead her the rest of the way.

The couple made it to the front door, Rick hoping and praying that everyone was prepared and ready to go. Placing a hand on the handle, he opened the door and led Kate inside. "We're here."

She turned her head toward the direction of his voice. "Now can I take this stupid thing off?"

Rick nodded, but then remembered she couldn't see anything. He pecked her on the cheek. "Yes, you may."

Reaching up, Kate loosened the bandana and removed it from her eyes. As soon as she did her jaw dropped. She definitely wasn't expecting this.

"Surprise!"

The boys, Lanie, Captain Gates, Jenny, Martha, Alexis, and Jim were all standing in the middle of the living room. A large, colorful banner, which read "Congratulations!" hung from the ceiling, along with a variety of baby themed decorations that were scattered all around the loft. Everyone smiled brightly as they swept in for hugs and offers of congratulations.

It was all so overwhelming. Kate was speechless, only being able to give everyone smiles as she tried to take it all in. She couldn't believe it.

Rick watched from a distance as she was swarmed by her friends and family, a huge grin on his lips. He caught her gaze, giving her a wink and a little wave. In return he received a huge grin, which made his heart burst. He knew he had done right with this surprise baby shower, the expression on Kate's face giving him the reassurance he needed. She wasn't a big fan of surprises, but she definitely was of this one. He was sure of it.

"Nice work, bro."

Turning to the voice, he found Esposito standing next to him. "Did you expect anything less from me?"

"Well, I was surprised you didn't have a stork," he joked, nudging him in the shoulder. Rick shot him a look. "But I guess it's still a great baby shower."

Rick gave a nod of thanks before the two men joined everyone in the living room. More hugs were given as everyone began to mingle and talk.

"Katie?"

Whipping around, Kate grinned when she embraced her father in a fierce hug. "Hi, Dad. Thanks for coming."

"Wouldn't want to be anywhere else." Loosening his grip, he took in his only daughter's appearance. "You look absolutely radiant, sweetheart. So beautiful."

A pink flush made its presence known on her cheeks. Shuffling her feet, hand on her belly as she gazed at her father. "So how long have you known about this surprise baby shower?"

Chuckling, he gave her a smile that reached his eyes. "I'd say about two weeks now. Rick told me he's had this thing planned for months. He called me a few times in the past week, asking me what if what he had planned would be perfect for you."

Kate's heart swelled at her father's confession, amazed at how much Rick had done to make this party as magical and wonderful as possible. And he definitely succeeded.

Jim glanced over to where everyone else was gathered, pointing over to where Rick was standing. He was chatting with Alexis, a huge smile on his face. "He's a good man. And I know he'll make an incredible father."

Following his gaze, her eyes landed on her husband as pride and love grew within her. She was happy as ever and it was all because of him, because of his love for her and their child that was growing inside her stomach. They created a life together.

Unable to find the words she merely nodded; her emotions were getting the best of her.

"I have something- well, two something's for you." Jim walked over to the front door, picking up a paper bag from beside the closet before returning. "I'm sure Rick would want me to wait to give this to you when it's time for gifts, but I'm afraid I can't stay much longer, so I'm giving it to you now."

Taking the gift from his hands, Kate began to take the colorful tissue paper out and gasped when she saw what lay beneath. Tears began to well in her eyes, one falling down her cheek.

"Your mother had put this together right after you were born. It's your baby book."

Running a hand over the front cover of the white book, she let the tears fall freely. Written in cursive was her name and date of birth. With a shaking hand, she opened the book and smiled when she recognized her mother's neat scrawl on the inside cover.

To my dearest, Katie.

In this book holds the many magical, incredible, and most cherished moments of your first year. Through the trials of three am wake up calls to changing dirty diapers to midnight feedings, and everything in between, your father and I have been so blessed to have you in our lives.

Holding you in my arms for the first time was an experience that I will never forget. The amount of love I had felt for you, this tiny little baby, was overwhelming. And I knew that as long as I was alive you would know how much I love you.

And I can only hope that, when you're older, you'll be able to experience these special moments with your own child.

I love you so much, sweetheart.

All my love, Mommy

Wiping away the tears, she shot her dad a small smile, trying to get her emotions under control. When he had given her the gift this was not what she was expecting. Today has been full of surprises and she was sure there were more to come.

"I- I don't know what to say," she mumbled, sniffling. "This is...amazing."

"Your mother also wanted you to have this," reaching in the bag, he produced an identical book, "this is for your baby."

God, this was all too much.

More tears dropped as she stared down at the book in his hands. This book was for her, for Rick, and for their child.

Kate pulled in her dad into a hug, arms wrapped tightly around his shoulders while she cried silently. He held onto her, a few of his own tears sliding down his cheeks.

"I love you, Dad."

"Oh, sweetie," he murmured. "I love you, too."

The father and daughter eventually pulled apart, both chuckling as they wiped away the tears.

Jim kissed her on the forehead. "No more tears, okay?" Kate nodded. "Now go enjoy your baby shower, I'll see you next weekend for lunch."

Bringing him in for another hug, she pecked him on the cheek. "Thank you so much. For everything."

A sudden hand on Kate's shoulder captured her attention away. "Leaving so soon, Jim?" Rick asked.

"I'm afraid so," the older man sighed. "I've got a meeting. And as much as I'd love to stay, I really should go. Thank you for doing this, Rick. You certainly surprised Katie here."

The two shook hands. "That was my intention," he smirked before they walked to the door. "I couldn't have done it though without your help. I appreciate it."

"It was not a problem. Happy I could help. See you both soon, hmm?" And with that Jim gave them a final wave before disappearing behind the elevator doors.

Shutting the door closed, Kate gave a small sigh as she hugged herself.

"You okay?" A soft voice asked, strong arms wrapping around her middle and hands resting on her large belly. Rick pressed a chaste kiss onto her temple.

Nodding, she turned in his arms. "Yeah, I am." Leaning up, she kissed him.

"What did your dad say?" He wondered, asking the question while their mouths were still fused together.

"I'll tell you later, but," she pulled back, "for now, let's go join the party."

Lacing his fingers through hers, he nodded and was fine with the fact that they'd talk later. "Sounds good to me."

The women surrounded around Kate as she sat on the couch, asking her question after question, their curiosity a tad overwhelming. And she did her best to answer them all.

"Do you two know if it's a boy or a girl?" Lanie asked, taking a seat beside her best friend.

"We don't know actually," Kate admitted, taking the offered glass of punch from Gates. "Thank you...We want it to be a surprise."

Her words brought a gathered "aww" from all of the women.

"Well, I for one think we're having a girl," Rick stated as he stood above Kate at the back of the sofa, pressing a kiss on the crown of her head. "But someone," he looked down at his wife, "thinks otherwise. Isn't that right?"

Now, all eyes were the expecting mother-to-be, curious as to what she was going to say. The room went quiet.

She smiled, ducking her head down into her chest as her bottom lip found its way between her teeth. Looking up, she placed a delicate hand on her belly. "Uh- yeah, I think it's a boy. The two of us have been going back and forth about it for weeks now, arguing that we're both right and the other is wrong. It's a boy though, I know without a single doubt in my mind," she confidently said.

"Oh, you are, huh?" Rick questioned, crossing his arms in defense.

"Are we really going to do this again?"

"Yes, we are," he grumbled. "What makes you so sure you're right? What if I am the one who is right?"

Kate shifted on the couch, turning to face her husband before reaching out and grabbing onto his forearm, giving it a small squeeze. "If you haven't figured it out by now, then you should know that I am always right."

"She's got you there, Dad," Alexis commented with a small chuckle.

Rick gave his daughter a look, which only made her laugh more.

Snickers were heard all around as they all watched in fascination as two did their usual banter, the sight never getting old. Ryan and Esposito each gave Rick a pat on the back in comfort, the pair trying to hold in their laughter. Lanie winked at her best friend, giving her a small encouraging high-five.

He looked around the room. "You all think so? Is she always right and I'm always wrong?"

A collective "yeah" and nodding heads were his responses.

Taking a step back, he feigned a hurt look before placing a hand over his heart. "I invite you into my home and this is how I'm treated...I am ashamed of you all."

With a roll of her eyes, Kate carefully stood up and waddled over to Rick, taking his hands in her own. Running a thumb over his palm, she locked eyes with him. "We're just poking fun at you. You know that."

Shuffling his feet and nodding, he let out a sigh. "I know...doesn't mean it hurts less."

"I'm sorry," she mumbled, standing on her tiptoes and kissing him sweetly on the lips.

The feel of her lips against his made his heart beat faster, and he would have taken the kiss further but he had to remind himself that they weren't exactly alone.

Pulling away, he couldn't help but reach up and tuck a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, the pad of his thumb stroking her cheek as he did so. "Apology accepted."

"We'll stop," she promised, directing her attention to Ryan and Esposito. "Won't we, boys?"

Ryan groaned, "Oh, come on, Beckett. We wouldn't be doing our jobs if we didn't give him a hard time every once in a while."

"I didn't know that teasing me was in the job description for homicide detectives," Rick pointed out with a grin, embracing Kate in a hug and kissing her on the forehead.

"Oh yeah, it's the first rule in the Homicide Policing handbook," Esposito joked with a snort of laughter.

"No, it's not," Ryan corrected as he rolled his eyes at his friend's joke. "We just like to do it for fun. It's one of our favorite pastimes."

Esposito grinned, fist bumping with his partner. "Absolutely."

"Yeah, well it won't be so funny when you two will be the only ones who don't get any cake," Kate informed, earning smiles from everyone else but the two men. "There is cake, right?" She asked Rick.

"What kind of party would this be without cake?"

"True," she agreed, eyes turning back to the boys. "No cake for you two."

That made the boastful grins on Ryan and Esposito's faces disappear, disappointment etching their features.

Ryan pouted like a child, bottom lip sticking out. "Not the cake..."

"Ye- yeah, that's not fair," Esposito whined. "You can't do this to us, especially after everything we've done to help Castle plan this party...for you might I add."

God, they were just too easy.

Rick grinned inwardly to himself, loving to watch the dynamic between his wife and her friends.

Kate glanced up to her husband, winking at him. "I don't know, guys...I guess you could have some cake later, but I haven't quite decided yet. You'll just have to behave."

Each of them motioned to say something, but before they could Kate cut them off.

"That means no making fun of this big goofball, alright?" As she said this she slipped an arm around Rick's waist and poked him in the stomach lightly. "If you can behave yourselves for the rest of this baby shower, then you'll be able to have some cake."

Esposito gave her a mock salute while Ryan nodded his head furiously.

They were such children sometimes.

"Oh my gosh, Lanie. This is adorable!" Kate gushed later in the afternoon once the cake and drinks had been polished off as she held up the little onesie her friend and Esposito had given her; it was navy blue and had the NYPD logo on the front. "Thank you."

"Café Press is the best website," Lanie informed her friend, watching Kate as she ran her fingers over the soft fabric. "You know you can get thongs with the NYPD logo on them?"

Kate sniggered. "Well, it's going to be a few months before I can wear something so brief again, but when I'm ready I'll come to you and we can design a whole wardrobe with the NYPD logo on it, deal?"

"Deal."

Rick and Kate had received so many generous and thoughtful gifts from their friends and family. They had gotten enough diapers to last them for weeks; along with the diapers they were given stuffed animals, a Giraffe from Gates and her husband and an Elephant from Ryan and Jenny; piles and piles of baby clothes from Martha and Alexis; a stroller and a car seat, which were collective presents from all the detectives in the bullpen.

Rick watched as Kate stood up to thank everyone as they prepared to leave, giving them all hugs of gratitude.

This baby shower had gone off without a hitch. And now it was just a matter of counting down to the delivery day!

There you go!

Please let me know what you think by leaving a review! Thanks for reading! Next chapter will be posted on SATURDAY (March 16th) Until next time!

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