Prompt: Today is Kate's first mother's day with her baby girl. A day that must have been painful for years, is now a happy one. [ _sinetimore on twitter]

Kate Beckett Castle jerked awake with a sudden feeling of something being wrong. Her eyes were immediately drawn to her alarm clock only to bolt wide at the time. When she looked beside her to alert her husband something must be wrong, she found the sheets cold and empty. Her heart started to beat hard and she was just about to jump out of bed when a note on her husband's pillow caught her eyes. Reaching for it she couldn't help but smile at the silliness of the love of her life. To mommy, it said and she opened it feeling her heart calming down.

Good morning mommy, hope you slept well! Daddy made sure to stay with me as to not wake you up too early. Once you do come up we have a surprise for you in the kitchen though, love you mommy. /Lily

Kate couldn't stop the chuckle, fully aware her ten day old daughter had nothing to do with any of this. She put down the note and got up from bed, putting on her robe with excitement filling her bones. The sight that met her when she walked out of her husband's office and into the kitchen had her heart melting. Rick Castle was gently rocking their baby girl as he flipped a pancake in the pan. Lily was starting to fuss and Kate couldn't help but smile at her husband's words.

"Schh, princess, mommy needs to sleep."

Kate silently walked up to her family, standing on her toes to be able to peck his cheek from behind his back. His body stiffened and he turned towards her with wide eyes.

"Sorry we woke you," he immediately said with an apologizing glimpse in his beautiful blue eyes.

"You didn't," she assured him by kissing his lips.

She couldn't help but hum as they pulled apart.

"What's the occasion for all this?" Kate's question had him grinning.

"I'll simply let Lily tell you," he replied and she raised her eyebrow.

He held their baby girl towards her and she gave him a suspicious look, immediately accepting her daughter though. Kate couldn't help but nuzzle her nose into her daughter's head, taking a deep breath to fill her nose with her baby scent. Castle turned to continue with the pancakes, keeping a peeking eye on his wife. The second Kate pulled away to look at her daughter she finally saw what Castle had meant. On her daughter's clothing were the first picture taken of Kate holding their newborn baby along with the text Happy Mother's Day, Mommy.

"Castle... this is..." Kate couldn't find the words.

Her voice trembling and her eyes watering, Castle felt worried his wife was about to cry. He laid up the last pancake on a plate and turned off the stove to be able to give his family all his attention.

"Lily and I have planned a whole day for us, I thought maybe you'd want to enjoy this first Mother's Day to the fullest but... if you don't want to..." Kate looked up at him with big eyes.

"No. No, Castle, this is beautiful!" she cut him off, putting a hand on his chest.

She couldn't stop the tears from falling down her eyes, and Castle put his arms around two of his favorite women. The youngest let go of a small sound and the two parents looked down at their tiny miracle. Kate wiped her tears and smiled at her husband.

"I'll feed her, then we can eat and after that you can tell me everything you have planned for today," she told him and his smile turned into a small smirk.

"Actually, the day is full of surprises so I won't tell you anything," he teased and she rolled her eyes with happiness shining in her eyes.

Kate couldn't believe the day she'd had, it was the best Mother's Day she'd witnessed for years. Castle had constantly surprised her with hidden messages that she knew he'd written and made but were signed from Lily, who was currently asleep in her crib not far from the bed where Kate snuggled closer to her lover. She let go of a satisfied sigh, thinking back on the day with a smile.

"You know, this morning it almost looked like you weren't gonna enjoy this day at all," Castle silently whispered, not sure why he brought it up but curiosity getting the best of him.

Kate thought back at that, how she'd started crying while feeding Lily. How she'd brushed it off when Castle tried to ask her what was wrong, saying she just found this so heartwarming. Now, she raised a bit to be able to meet his eyes, ready to tell him. Knowing she didn't have to but feeling like he deserved to know.

"I'm sorry about that, it's just that I kind of... banished myself from thinking about Mother's Day after my mom died. I went miserable three Mother's Days after her death and I knew that if I kept that up it would eat me up. So I decided to forget the day even existed," Kate explained, seeing understanding in his eyes. "Seeing that picture on Lily's clothing, and the text made me realize I had a reason to celebrate it again. Not the one I had before, but a new one. And I just so badly wish my mom could see all this, that she'd be here to meet you and Lily." her voice died out, feeling a lump in her throat she knew she'd start crying again if she continued talking.

"I'm sorry, I didn't even think of that," Castle said and she shook her head, feeling her tears come, once again.

"Don't be, I love this," she promised before blinking, trying to get rid of the tears. "Damn these hormones," she muttered.

Castle chuckled and kissed her forehead.

"At least I get to see this side of you too," he whispered and she gave him a look. "Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it as much as Lily did, she's been talking about this for ten days," Castle changed the subject and drew a chuckle from his wife's lips.

"Yeah, right," she said with a roll of her eyes.

"I love you, Kate, and who knows, a couple of years from now we'll have more children to celebrate you for the wonderful mother you've become," he winked and she could see the hope in his eyes.

"Maybe," she bit her lip, "I love you too Castle, always have, always will."

"Always," he repeated, leaning down to give her a chaste kiss.

THE END

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there! Hope you enjoyed this extra-extra small one shot, written on a few hours cuz I forgot I could have written this for this special day... anyway, hope you've all had a great day and stay amazing.
Love you, xxxx