I tried. I really tried, but I just couldn't think of anything in time. I'm sorry, but there will be no April Fool's Day fic this year. Instead, take this humble offering as an apology.
Jamie Castle was light enough that when she jumped on top of her father, it didn't take the wind out of him, but it did wake him.
"Happy birthday, Dada!" She cried.
Rick rubbed his eyes as he pulled his daughter in close.
"Thank you, Cumquat!"
"Jamie, I need room to give Dada his his breakfast," Kate said from behind the young girl, carrying a tray of pancakes, bacon and other delicious things.
"You made me breakfast?" Castle asked.
"I helped!" Jamie said, smiling.
"Thank you, sweetie," Rick said, kissing her forehead before she climbed off the bed. "Should you really be carrying anything in your condition?" he asked his wife with concern.
"Rick, I'm four months pregnant, I'm not an invalid. Besides, it's a tray of food, not bricks. I think I can manage." She placed the try on his lap.
"Thank you, " he said, kissing her and placing his hand tenderly on her protruding belly.
The phone rang. Castle answered it.
"Hey, Meredith, you're on speakerphone."
"Hey, Aunt Meredith!"
"Good morning, Jamie!"
"I made Daddy breakfast!"
Meredith gasped.
"You did?"
"Well, Mommy did, but I helped!"
"Ok, Kiddo, why don't we get you dressed while Dada talks to Aunt Meredith?"
"'Kay," Jamie said, following her mother out of the room.
"Thanks for calling, Meredith."
"Actually, I didn't just call to wish you a happy birthday," Meredith said. "I wanted to apologise to you."
"Apologise? What's wrong? Are you dying?"
"Meredith laughed. "Very funny. Actually, I don't know if you remember this but back when I served you with our divorce papers, I said that you weren't a one-woman man."
"I'm surprised you remember," Castle said.
"Well, I've been thinking about it lately, and I think I was wrong. "
"Are you sure you're not dying?"
"Rick, I look at what you have with Kate, at what she gives you that I couldn't and I... I think you always have been a one-woman man, you just hadn't met her yet."
Castle smiled.
"I think you're right."
"Happy birthday, Rick."
Rick's eyes lit up as Kate walked back into his room.
"Yes, it really is."
