"Castle," Beckett sat up suddenly, her pyjama pants soaking wet.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Castle asked, forcing his body awake at Kate's urgent tone of voice.
"I think my water just broke," Kate said. Pain suddenly sliced through her body, "Oh, God!" she hissed, her body clenching up.
"Ok, it's ok. Let's get you out of bed," Castle said, his mind travelling back to the night Alexis was born.
"No, Castle, I can do it myself," Kate said, stubbornly swinging her legs off of the side of the bed and standing up with a small grunt of exertion.
Castle was by her side in an instant, holding her waist and helping her to the front door.
"I can walk on my own," Kate pushed his hand off of her, "I'm not dying."
"Ok, just trying to help," Castle said defensively.
Kate let out a small cry of pain as another contraction forced its way through her body.
Castle winced, "You ok?" He pressed the down button to call the elevator.
Kate spoke through clenched teeth, "Do I look like I'm ok?"
"Right. Sorry," Castle pressed the elevator button again, cursing at how long it was taking to arrive.
Finally, the doors swung open with a ding. Kate and Castle rode it down until arriving at the parking garage.
"You wait here and I'll get the car," Castle said, scrounging for his keys.
Kate closed her eyes and breathed heavily, "Hurry the hell up."
Castle jogged to the car and climbed in, racing to where he left Kate. He held the door open for her as she got into the car, her stomach protruding through her extra large T-shirt.
Castle put the car back into drive and took off, racing towards the hospital. "We should have taken the squad car," Castle remarked. "The sirens would have come in handy."
"Castle?" Kate said.
"Yeah?" he responded, turning his head towards her expectantly.
"Shut up," she said, her eyes closed.
"Right," Castle drummed his fingers on the steering wheel.
The emergency sign of the hospital glowed blue as Castle roared up beside it. "We have arrived!" he announced.
Kate could barely complete a convincing eye-roll as her body shook in discomfort.
Castle helped her out of the car and called for a nurse.
"You put me in a wheelchair and I swear to God, Rick," Kate threatened.
"Yes, she's been having contractions about 6 minutes apart," Castle spoke with the nurse, ignoring Kate's complaints.
"Hi, Kate? the nurse introduced herself. "It looks like your baby is ready to come out, so we're going to have to take you in to the maternity ward right away. I'm going to have to seat you in a wheelchair, is that alright?"
"It's fine," Castle answered for her.
Kate fixated her best death glare onto Castle as the nurse quickly brought over a wheelchair. She sat in it, and gasped as her baby knocked on the door once again.
"You're doing great," Castle said, stroking her hand.
"Don't patronize me," she retorted. The effect was lost as her voice wavered at the end of the sentence.
Arriving at the delivery room, the nurse efficiently settled Kate into the hospital bed. After checking that everything was in order, the nurse left with a clipboard to bring in the doctor.
Castle stroked Kate's hair. "How's it going?"
"I'm ok," she breathed. Her green eyes looked up at him, "It's really happening, isn't it?"
Castle grinned, "Yeah, it is."
"What if I'm a terrible mother?" Kate asked, panic suddenly washing over her.
Castle's heart broke, "Oh, Kate. You're going to be the most amazing mother the world has ever seen," he smiled at her. "Ok? You'll be fantastic."
Kate nodded, and swallowed. "Don't leave, ok?"
Castle nodded, "I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere."
Kate shook her head, "No, I mean you can't leave. You can't leave me with this baby. You have to be here. Do you promise?"
Castle smiled and knelt down beside her. "Always."
A tiny wail pierced the delivery room, and the Kate fell back against the bed, thoroughly exhausted.
"Say hello to your little girl," the doctor smiled, handing the baby to her dad.
Castle held his daughter in his arms with the biggest smile on his face. He studied every inch of her, pleased to note that she had his nose and her mother's sparkling eyes.
The little baby opened her mouth, about to let out a wail as Castle shifted her in his arms.
"No, no," Castle comforted. "Shh. I'm here. Daddy's here." He looked into the little girl's eyes and whispered gently, "I'll never let you go."
"Can I see her?" Kate asked, breaking the moment between Castle and his second daughter.
"Of course," Castle said, still fixated on his little girl. "Let's go see mommy." He gently placed the baby into Kate's arms.
Kate gently pulled the blanket down away from her daughter's chin. "She's beautiful," Kate whispered.
"She takes after her mother," Castle said, kneeling down beside her.
"I wish my mom were here to see this," Kate bit her lip.
"I know," Castle held Kate's hand, rubbing small circles on her palm. "But your dad and Alexis are on the way. This little one didn't give us much warning," Castle fingered his daughter's small fist. "So they're hurrying."
"What about Martha?" Kate murmured.
"She'll be here tomorrow. She's flying in from LA, remember?"
"Mmhmm," Kate stroked her baby's hair. "I remember."
"What are we going to name her?" Castle asked.
Kate furrowed her brow. "I don't know. I thought you had a list?"
"I threw it out. Figured I'd meet her first," Castle said. He thought for a moment, "How about Riley?"
Kate scrunched up her nose, "I don't know..."
"Ok... Abigail?"
"I like Emma," Kate suggested.
Castle looked at the sleeping baby girl wrapped in her mom's arms. "Perfect."
Kate looked from her daughter to Castle and couldn't help but smile. A little family. Her little family.
Castle cleared his throat, "I've been trying to decide on a good time to bring this up, and I wanted to ask you something, Kate."
She looked at him, confused. "What is it?"
"Apples," Castle said loudly.
Kate cocked her head with a grin, "I don't..." She broke off her sentence with a gasp as three nurses came into the room, their arms filled with different items. Roses, two fizzling glasses and a violin.
"Castle," Kate breathed.
"I fell in love with you the moment I saw you. Every day your smile would bring me more joy than I knew existed."
The violinist started playing.
"You are my light, my angel. You inspire me to be more than who I am. When I look at you, I see the love of my life. My one and only. My forever," Castle smiled softly. "Kate Beckett. Would you make me the happiest man in the world, and marry me?" Castle pulled out a ring, it's shape simple and elegant.
Kate put her hand to her mouth in shock, tears welling up in her eyes. "Yes, yes of course I will," she broke out into a smile.
Castle's heart swelled as he leant over and kissed her, the nurses clapping behind them.
Castle placed the roses beside her bed and handed her a glass of bubbly liquid. "It's sparkling cider," he winked.
"Castle, I don't know what to say," Kate said, staring at the ring on her finger, then at the slumbering child in her arms.
"Don't say anything," Castle smiled, leaning over to kiss her again.
Kate broke away, "I love you."
"I love you," Castle smiled, a twinkle in his eye that she'd never seen before.
Kate raised her glass, careful not to jostle her daughter. "To forever."
"To forever," Castle agreed.
The glasses clinked together, locking a silent promise into place; never to be broken.
A/N: And that's the end! I hope you all enjoyed my story, and if I could make a request for anyone out there who's been reading to leave a review and let me know if this was a good 'Castle' fic. It's my first time writing Castle and it's certainly been a learning process! If anyone had any particular likes/dislikes regarding the story, characterizations, etc. Please let me know so that my next Castle fic will be a success :)
Thank you again for reading! And to all my reviewers (you know who you are), I give you a special thank you. Your comments kept me motivated and made me smile!
Until next time