April 1, 2017

It was killing Castle that he didn't know if the baby was a boy or a girl. Seeing as how it is his birthday, Kate is going to give in.

One time, Kate woke up in the middle of the night to pee (something she is doing much more often, now) and caught him looking up old wives' tales on determining gender. Kate pretended like she didn't see as he quickly closed out of the tab on his iPad. For the next week, Kate caught him doing odd things: monitoring her cravings and looking at her stomach from different angles. Castle even tried tying a ring to string, and holding it above Kate's belly when he thought she was napping. Rick claimed that whatever decision Kate made about finding out the gender he would respect, but Kate knew her husband. He simply can't contain his excitement.

In all honestly, Kate was anxious to find out too. She wanted to wait until the birth, but after feeling the little life inside of her kick and move about, she felt as though they've had enough surprises for a lifetime. She wanted to say he or she instead of saying "the baby" or "it"—the latter really infuriates Castle. Granted, she was six and a half months along, and really didn't have much longer to hold out, she wanted to give this to Castle. Rick has been working so hard to make sure Kate's been comfortable, well fed, and rested. He makes dinner every night and rubs her feet—Castle has become every woman's dream.

Kate took the day off, even though the boys are working a huge case. She is running errands to throw yet another surprise party for Castle. He has a scheduled meeting with Gina and the publishing company till three then Kate talked Castle into going to see a movie. After the movie, Kate will convince Rick to skip out on dinner and go home. At the loft, everyone will be waiting. Kate ordered all of Castle's favorites from a caterer and even splurged on his ridiculously expensive favorite wine. At the end of the night, she would announce she had yet another surprise and reveal a large box, and when he opened it balloons of the baby's gender would come flying out.

Kate was estatic. For Castle. For herself. For them.

Kate has entrusted the gender reveal box filling to Lanie. After running to the grocery store, Beckett is shows up to Lanie's apartment and is immediately greeted with a hug. "Girl, I am so happy for you," Lanie exclaims in the doorway, rocking Kate slightly.

Beckett feels the baby give a slight kick and she smiles. "I take it the present is all set?" Kate asks.

Lanie stands aside to display her handiwork: a large box covered in blue and pink wrapping. Kate has never felt more maternal in her life. A large part of her wants to just rip open the box and find out for herself. "I take it you're happy with the results?" Kate asks Lanie. Trying to read her best friend for some kind of clue as to what the gender is.

Lanie sighs and looks at Kate. "I don't care either way, I am just so happy for you," Lanie clarifies, beaming at her best friend.

Beckett sighs and takes a seat on the couch, still eyeing the package. Kate runs her hand over her belly, wondering how much bigger she could possibly get. "My body has been taken over," Kate says, motioning to her stomach.

Lanie falls next to her, taking in her friend. "You look beautiful, radiant even. And tonight, you will know if you are going through all this hell for a boy or a girl," Lanie encourages.

Kate sighs and returns her gaze to her stomach. She pokes at it just a bit, getting a flutter of response from the baby.

Kate rarely feels self-conscious, but when she catches herself in the mirror getting into the shower she feels like she's looking at a stranger. Her belly, that displays the scars of bullet wounds, has been stretched over her belly, making the scars look more obvious. Castle takes extra care kissing her in those spots. Beckett's boobs have also doubled in size in the last month, something in which Castle is very curious about. Still, Kate is in constant awe of her own body. A body that has survived pain and bullet holes and heartbreak. "It's just strange, the whole thing is strange," Kate concludes.

"I saw the photo of you and Castle at that book launch for his poker buddy. You looked hot, all leg and boobs—a tiny little bump," Lanie says as she pokes Kate's stomach.

"I just want him or her to be here. Then again, I could use a few more months to get used to the idea," Kate replies.

"Well, ready or not," Lanie says sarcastically as she eyes Beckett's belly.

By the time Castle gets home from his meeting, Kate is passed out on the living room couch. When he walks in, he immediately smiles and drapes a blanket over her. Rick knows her days are long at the precinct—between her job and making a baby, Castle doesn't know how she does it. Every night when Beckett walks through the door, he sees the tired look in her eyes look and the way she holds her feet as she slips off her heels (which she still insists on wearing). "I guess we can skip the movie," Castle whispers to her sleeping form.

Rick makes his way into the kitchen, grabbing something to drink and heading to the office where he planned on getting a few more chapters done but instead just surfs the internet. Kate has made it clear that they don't need to go overboard on buying things for the baby, but Castle decides what Beckett doesn't know won't hurt her—just this once. He ends up buying hundreds of dollars' worth of various baby equipment—a rocking horse (for the nursery), a bouncer, a walker, a playmat. Each of these things are gender neutral because he still does not know what they are having—despite his not so conspicuous desperation to know. Perhaps they will have another child and they could even reuse the stuff—this is a thought that Castle hasn't even broached with Kate. Now that they have come this far, Castle already knows that he would be more than open the idea of having more children.

Castle ends up looking at baby clothes. He didn't mean to do it, but somehow, he's looking at teeny tiny onesies and can't help himself. He comes across the baby girl clothing and can't help but remember with Alexis was little. Alexis. Castle begins to wonder how much of Alexis' infant things he still has. Without thinking, Castle gets up and walks past Kate on the couch to go upstairs to Martha's old room. That room had the largest walk-in closet, but also has a few storage bins for things Castle can't bring himself to get rid of.

When he opens the door he immediately sees a large package right by the door. It has various prints of blue and pink covering the box—and seems to be obnoxiously big. Castle begins to wonder if it is an early baby gift from his mother, seeing as how he rarely steps foot in the room, it would be a great hiding spot. Curious, he walks over to the box and picks it up—it is light, very light. Castle is puzzled when he hears his name being called from downstairs. He must have woken her up as he went upstairs, he never was light on his feet. "Beckett, do you know why my mother put this in here?" he calls from where he stands.

Castle hears Kate approaching and is greeted with his wife, who stands in the doorway, looking visibly upset. "Oh, Kate, what's wrong? I am sorry I woke you," Rick says immediately.

Kate shakes her head. "It was a surprise," she tells him quietly, motioning to the box. "You never come in here," she adds.

Rick looks from Kate to the package and back again. "A birthday gift?"

Kate strides forward, reaching up and wrapping her arms around Rick's shoulders. "You weren't supposed to come in here, I wasn't supposed to fall asleep, we should be at the movies right now," Kate whispers to him, looking at him seriously.

Castle laughs at her and kisses her as a way of saying he doesn't care that she fell asleep. He can't help but smile as he feels the swell of her stomach on his. "So, what is my gift?" he asks curiously.

"Something you really wanted," Kate answers with a smile. The way his face lights up makes her want to make love to him right there.

"A Segway?" he asks excitedly, craning his neck to look at the package.

Beckett deflates a little and is again reminded that she married a child. "No, that, Castle is the gender of our baby," Kate reveals as she watches his face morph from seriousness to elation.

"Are you for freaking real?" he asks her quickly, as if he can't contain herself. "I thought you didn't want to know?" he adds.

Kate shrugs and drops her arms, grabbing his hand instead. "What a better 48th birthday gift than this?" she asks, leading him towards the package.

Rick can't wipe the smile off his face—even as he is reminded of his age. "I am going to be one of those old dads, aren't I?" he asks her, only half-joking.

Kate looks at her husband seriously. Kate sees the lines around his eyes that come out when he smiles, the few (few) gray hairs interspersed in his hair, and remembers the way he has to catch his breath when he exerts himself because of the shooting—all of these things don't remind Kate of his age, they are what make Castle himself. "I still think you are as sexy as the day I married you," Beckett assures him.

Castle growls softly and gathers his wife in his arms, kissing her softly. "This is the best birthday gift I've ever gotten and I haven't even opened it yet," he whispers in her ear.

"I think we should…now. I had a whole thing planned, but I think it should be just us," Kate decides aloud.

Castle looks at her excitedly and eyes the box. "Are you sure?" he asks again.

Kate nods adamantly and takes a step towards the box. "You can do the honors," she says softly.

Castle steps towards the package and the couple stands over it, looking at one another. "I love you," Castle announces before kissing his wife.

"Here goes nothing," Castle replies as he takes a deep breath.

Kate bounces a bit, too anxious about what is about to happen. Rick happens to have his keys in his pocket and uses them to make a slit in the cardboard. In her heart of hearts, she knows that they will be completely thrilled either way.

Castle holds the box closed for just a second longer until he pulls the flap back and small, pink balloons come flooding out.

Before Kate can even register the meaning, she notices Castle has tears in his eyes. In a single bound, he reaches Kate and she collapses into his arms. "It's a girl," Kate cries as Castle takes her off her feet. They stay like that, together, for a few moments before Castle loosens his grip on his wife and kneels down, embracing Kate's bump.

"Hello, baby girl," Castle whispers, planting a kiss on Kate's clothes belly button.

Kate no longer cares about a party or how the surprise had been ruined, all she cares about was that they were going to have a baby girl.

Eventually the pair falls into each other's arms on the floor in Martha's old room. They talk about who she will look like and they argue about names. Kate can feel the excitement in the room and sees how happy Rick is. It makes all the tiredness, stress, and uneasiness slip away. They both forget about the not so surprise, surprise party and aren't reminded until Alexis arrives two hours later.

Together, they announce to their friends and family that they are expecting a girl. Castle can't stop smiling and Beckett can't help but share his joy.