June 2, 2017

Kate was physically ready to have the baby. Her due date was twenty days away but she grew increasingly worried that her body simply could not handle anymore. Beckett would never admit that to Castle because it would just worry him. Despite her best efforts to take things easy, work was hectic. The precinct was being slammed with new cases, which seemed to happen every year as the weather warmed up. For the past few weeks, Beckett hardly sat down at her desk, she was constantly consulting or working cases herself to keep detectives from getting burnt out.

But the truth was, she was burnt out.

It was Friday, and she had the entire weekend off. Kate slumps down in her desk chair, and slips off her shoes. Beckett yanks at her dress uncomfortably as the fabric bunches around her ever-growing belly. Beckett's wardrobe now consisted of four work dresses, a skirt and Castle's t-shirts. The baby, their daughter, as Castle so lovingly refers to her, is particularly active when Kate seems to be hungry and lets her mother know it is time to eat. Some nights, Kate eats a pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream after dinner and she can feel her daughter swimming excitedly around inside of her. Strawberry cheesecake ice cream seems to get the best of both of them.

Beckett leans back in her chair, taking a moment of rest before she would have to embark on her journey home. The mere thought of getting up seems all too much as she spent the entire day following up on cases. Kate can feel her eyelids growing heavy, and before she can stop herself, she falls asleep on her desk.

Beckett wakes up to a gentle caress on her cheek. "Kate, it's time to go home, honey," Castle's voice urges her.

Kate opens her eyes to meet her husband's blue ones staring back at her. He is on his knees beside her desk so that they are eye level. "I fell asleep," she states dumbly. Beckett can feel the baby going nuts, so it was past dinnertime.

"I was worried. I texted you, thinking you were working late but when you didn't answer, I called your work number. When there was no answer, I called Espo, who was still here, he broke into your office to find you asleep. I got here as fast as I could," Rick mumbles sweetly.

Kate knows that if he could take her pain and exhaustion away, he would. He would take it upon himself. He told her as much when they had been shot. He would do anything for her. "I'm sorry to worry you," Beckett says softly, sitting up in her chair.

Castle comes up behind Beckett, using both of his hands to rub circles on her back. "No need to apologize," he assures her.

Beckett swivels around so that they are facing one another more comfortably. Castle holds out his hands to help her up and she does so—nearly collapsing into his arms. Rick chuckles as he wraps his arms around his wife. "You have to take an easy, Kate," Castle urges sweetly.

Kate already knows this. Her maternity leave would be here in less than two weeks—she had to push through. For her precinct.

Beckett sighs into her husband's chest. "I know," she admits.

Before she can plead her case, the baby kicks so hard that Kate is sure Rick could feel her. "Poor girl, must be starving—it's nearly eight," Castle says half-jokingly.

Beckett takes a step back from Castle. "Take me home," Kate responds, holding out her hand.

When they arrive home, Castle heats up Beckett some leftovers while she lays on the couch staring into space. Beckett's thoughts are on the baby—their baby girl, who would be here with them in less than a month.

Kate worries she won't be a good mother. She worries she won't be around enough to be a good mother. She is already working too late and too much. Those thoughts are quickly remedied by visions of Rick standing above the cradle they already have set up in their bedroom. He already has so lovingly thought of every last detail—from the nursery, to toys, to little folded onesies.

Kate is pulled from her thoughts when she hears Rick. "You alright?" he asks, taking a seat beside her while handing her a steaming plate of food. Beckett's stomach grumbles in response.

Beckett looks down at her food—tortellini—one of her recent favorites. She buys herself time by stirring the bowl. "I am scared," she admits. She knows that her husband will offer her the reassurances she needs.

Rick doesn't answer right away but scoots closer to her. Kate instinctively curls up beside him. "Me too," he responds.

Beckett doesn't hide her shock as she turns to him. Unlike Kate, Rick has done this before. He has been an excellent father to Alexis. Seeing the way they light up around one another is one of the reasons Kate fell for him in the first place. It was one of the reasons why Kate wanted to have children with him. "What on earth are you nervous about?" Kate wonders incredulously.

Castle stares into space as a slow smile forms on his face. It never occurred to Beckett that he may be just as nervous about the birth of their daughter as she is. Kate takes a bite as she waits for an answer.

"Every parent feels this way—we want to raise wonderful human beings and we want to give them these stable, happy homes but sometimes, most times, life has other plans. I didn't necessarily want more children after Alexis, until I fell in love with you. The whole thing was scary—I know I say I am an expert with babies, but the truth is, I was terrified with Alexis. Hell, I still am. I know it sounds sort of—primal—but when I met you, when we got together, I knew I wanted kids with you. I want my children to have you as their mother. I have no doubts about you. This baby is so lucky to have you. Despite that I am doing this with you, and despite how thrilled I am, I am starting this process over many years later. So yeah, I am scared. I am scared something will go wrong. I am scared I won't be enough," Castle manages to get out, his speech gravelly.

Beckett sets her food down and puts a hand on his cheek in order to get him to face her. "When I met you, I remember thinking that I had never met someone like you before," Kate starts before Castle interrupts.

"I was that much of an ass?" Rick asks teasingly.

"No, let me finish. You had all outward appearances of being an ass, but you have this depth to you. I began to see the way you truly are: your kindness to strangers, your easy way of making people laugh, the way Alexis loves you. The way you love me—despite everything. When I met you I didn't want kids but just like with so many other things, you changed my mind. When we got married, I wanted you to be my child's father—I wanted that, with you. You're enough for Alexis. You're enough for me. You'll be enough for his baby too," Kate tells him firmly.

Rick looks Kate in the eyes for a millisecond before he reaches in and kisses her firmly. "Then what are you scared of?" he asks as the kiss breaks.

"Me," answers Kate.

Castle tucks a stray hair behind Beckett's ear. "Oh, Beckett. Did you not hear what I just said?" he asks.

Kate doesn't answer, she simply rubs circles onto the palm of his hand. Perhaps because she needs to hear him say it again—that she will be a good mother, that he wants to do this with her. "It seems we have confidence in one another going into this, just not ourselves," Kate points out with a laugh.

Rick puts a finger under Kate's chin, forcing her to look at him once again. "I love you. God, I can't say it enough. This little girl will love you because you are brave, and warm, and passionate. We will be fine. We are doing this together, right? You and me," Castle insists, his eyes staring into hers—urging her to see how sincere he really is.

"You and me," Beckett echoes.

"Always," Castle confirms.