Author's Note-It's been so long since I updated this and this chapter is so uninspiring but it'll pick up again. I'm gonna skip a little bit in the next chapter and get Kate in the precinct so that'll be better, it'll keep the story moving. I hope you enjoy this all the same. NYLF xx


Rick was trembling the entire time he, Kate and Charlie were waiting at the hospital, Kate's gentle reassurances and the fact no one had looked at him twice once Kate had explained about Charlie's fits, doing nothing to appease him.

The five year old sat quietly in his mother's lap, his head resting on her sternum while his broken arm was cradled against him, the arm farthest away from Kate reaching over to play with her buttons, a comfort thing Charlie seemed to have developed lately.

Rick sighed discreetly as a woman around her mid-thirties walked past them and glared at them both once she'd caught a glimpse of Charlie. He still had a bandage on his forehead from his fit a few days ago and there was a bruise about the size of Rick's thumb on his hip from landing on something when he fell, something none of them had noticed until today. Rick couldn't blame an outsider for thinking the boy's safety should be in question.

Kate was studiously ignoring the looks they were getting. She knew the truth and the doctors believed her; that was all that mattered. She knew, from enough on the job injuries she had experienced, delivered or witnessed, that her son's arm was broken, but the X-ray had been necessary and she knew it. It hadn't made it easier for her to hold her son down while they manipulated his wrist in order to take a clear picture though.

She could feel Rick practically vibrating beside her and knew he was scared that at any moment they would be accused of abusing Charlie. There was nothing she could do to settle him though, so she settled for gently rocking Charlie, humming a lullaby under her breath to keep him calm.

They had dosed him up on painkillers and it wouldn't be long now before they were called back to get his arm plastered. Soon enough they would be home again and she could work on comforting her fiancé while Charlie slept off the trauma of their morning.

KBRC

Within the hour, Charlie's arm was encased in a near fluorescent green plaster cast and Rick was carrying his sleeping body through the boy's bedroom door to put him down for a nap while Kate was in the kitchen making him coffee.

Rick felt his muscles finally relax at the sight of his son laying safe and warm in his own bed. Their day had gone completely down the drain and at any moment Gates was going to get fed up of Kate having to take so much unexpected time off but for now, his family was safe and at home together and that was all that mattered.

KBRC

"Here." Kate murmured, passing Rick his coffee once he had sat at the breakfast bar, running her hand through his hair soothingly before coming to stand beside him. Rick took a sip of his drink and turned to the side, pulling Kate in between his legs, his hands seated low on her hips.

"Thank you for keeping me calm today, despite how nervous you were feeling." Rick murmured, stroking her hips with his thumbs.

Kate shrugged. "My family are my priority Rick, and today you needed me to be strong for you. How often is it the other way round, babe? You need me, I'm there; you know that."

Rick leaned in and kissed her forehead slowly. "I do." He murmured against her skin. "When are you needed at work?"

Kate sighed. "Gates has asked me to be in by two if I'm done at the hospital, so I'll leave in about half an hour. You've got me till then though."

Castle smiled, turning her in a half circle before wrapping his arms around her waist, his open palms splayed on her stomach as he gently kissed the join between her neck and her shoulder, smiling happily at the little shiver that coursed through her. "I've always got you. That's what that ring means, Future Mrs Castle."

Kate smiled broadly, turning her head to kiss his temple. "That you do. And I have you. And we're being sappy." She giggled as Rick's hair tickled her skin when he shook his head.

"We're alone, in our own home and we love each other. That's not sappy Beckett." He breathed her in slow and deep.

Kate cupped the side of his head, holding it between her own and her hand. "You okay?" She whispered.

"Got a fright this morning. But at least he didn't have another fit today."

"Don't jinx it." Kate begged but Rick shook his head.

"Yesterday he had this clouded look in his eyes, like he was ill, today it was gone, he was feeling brighter, he wasn't nearly as sluggish. I think they'll settle down again. He just had a rough couple of days."

"We all did." Kate murmured, turning her face into his.

"But we did it. Just like we always do. Just like we will until he grows out of the fits." He gently tapped his fingers in a pattern across her bump. "Just like we'll continue to do even when our house is filled with three more angels. I believe in us Kate, we can do this."

Kate nodded. "I know, me too."