"So now I come to you with open arms. Nothing to hide, believe what I say. So here I am with open arms. Hoping you'll see what your love means to me, open arms."

-Journey

Castle looked down at the object in his hands. 'Positive,' it read. He stood, already opening his arms for her. She folded herself into his embrace, still refusing to let herself cry.

"You won't do this alone, Kate. I'll be here. I know it's not ideal, but I won't let you go through this by yourself," he told her. He felt her nod into his chest. "I'll be here, always."

Castle was conflicted. He didn't want to raise another man's child, but for Kate, he'd do almost anything. Not that she had asked. But he knew that when it came down to it, she'd be alone, and she'd need help.

They had moved in with her father a few days after everything had gone down. Kate had told him that she hadn't said anything about being pregnant to her dad. At first, she wasn't sure she wanted to keep the baby. After all it was Will's child; a man who didn't love her. But then she thought about it. For weeks. It was still her baby. She'd never get rid of her own child, no matter how much pain was involved in the conception. She just couldn't imagine killing her child before he was given the chance to live. She wouldn't do it. But now she was starting to show. Just barely, and no one who wasn't her would ever notice it. But she did.

She had told Johanna. Her daughter had caught on with her morning sickness. Kate had sat her down, telling her that she had her little brother or sister growing in her tummy. Jo was ecstatic. Of course, Kate knew she didn't know the whole story. Like that it was Will's child. She just knew she was getting a brother or sister. And she was okay with that.

The divorce was going well. There were few complications that came up. Most of them had centered over the custody battle, but they came to the agreement that Johanna needed her mother, and Kate was more than capable to provide acceptable conditions for her daughter to live in. It was almost closed up, and Kate couldn't be more relieved.

Knocking on the door with Johanna's hand clasped in hers. The door swung open to reveal Castle in dark jeans and a button up that was hanging open, exposing his bare chest. Kate's eyes were immediately drawn to his skin. She just stared, her mouth hanging open. She barely heard Castle speak to her daughter.

"I think Alexis is in her room, Jo. Run up there and check," he said. Then he looked at Kate, concerned by her absolute silence. When he saw her openly gaping at him, he smirked, a playful glint forming in his eyes. "See something you like, Kate?"

Kate's eyes shot up to his, a deep blush coloring her neck and cheeks. She smiled a little ruefully. "You already knew that," she admitted quietly.

He chuckled. "You coming in for a little? What time did you tell your dad you'd meet him?"

"Noon," she answered him checking her watch. It was only eleven. She stepped into the loft.

"How're you feeling?" Castle asked her, leading her further into the loft. He was returning to his bedroom to finish getting ready. Kate froze at the doorway. Castle turned back when he stopped hearing her footsteps following him. "You know you can come in, right?"

She nodded, then answered his question, "I feel fine. The morning sickness seems to be done. Finally. I'm really tired. I haven't slept much the past few weeks. I'm showing, though." She sat down on the edge of his bed as he shuffled around his room.

"You're showing? Really?" he asked in disbelief. At her nod, he scoffed. "Kate you still look exactly the same as you did a few months ago."

She shrugged. "I notice it though." She was quiet for a few moments before speaking again. "I think it's a boy."

Castle grinned. "Yeah?"

Kate was in mid-yawn, so she nodded. "Yeah. I just keep picturing this little boy with these beautiful blue eyes," she said without thinking.

Castle stopped. Will didn't have blue eyes, did he? "Blue?" he asked her.

Kate blushed, looking at her hands, knowing that she had blown her cover. "Yeah," she said shyly.

Castle crouched down in front of her, and tilted her head to meet her eyes with his hand. "Why blue?" he asked. He thought he knew why. But he wanted to hear her say it.

She took a deep breath, keeping her eyes locked with his. She felt ridiculous telling him this. They weren't even together. But she knew he'd find out eventually, anyway. "Because of you. I know you'd be a better father than Will ever was, and I don't know. Sometimes, I just wish this baby was yours. I –"

She was cut off by his mouth, soft and warm, against hers. He kissed her sweetly, a hand finding its way to her cheek. She responded eagerly, her mouth moving slowly over his. He let his tongue run gently across her lower lip, swallowing the quiet moan she let out. He kissed her again, sweet and passionate, before pulling back to look at her. Her eyes were still closed, her left hand holding his to her cheek, and her right hand settled on her nonexistent belly bump.

He brought his free hand to settle over hers on her stomach. She opened her eyes at the touch. She found those eyes she imagined her son having, and her heart stumbled in her chest. "Castle, what are we doing?" she asked shakily.

"I'm waiting for you, Kate. I know you've gone through a lot recently, but I'm here, waiting in the wings. Whenever you're ready, just say the words, and I'll be there, by your side." She nodded, leaning in to give him another light kiss.

The energy that flowed between them was unbelievable. Castle was left speechless by her touch, his heart beating a mile a minute. Kate was no better. It didn't help that her hormones were messing with her anyway. He only made it worse.

"I need to get going," she told him after a few minutes of them just holding each other in close proximity. Castle stood, pulling her up with him. He dropped on of her hands, but kept the other one firmly grasped in his as he led her to the door. "Jo!" he called. "Mom's leaving."

A half a minute later, there were two sets of feet racing down the stairs. "Bye, Mom!" Johanna said, giving her mother a hug. Kate leaned down to kiss Johanna's head as Johanna pressed a light kiss to Kate's stomach. Kate's heart fluttered a little at the gesture.

"Be good," she ordered. Her daughter nodded, mock saluting her.

"Bye, Kate," Alexis said. "You guys should stay for dinner tonight."

Kate looked at Castle, looking for permission. He shrugged. "Okay, I think we'll do that." She opened her arms for Alexis. The girl came willingly, hugging Kate tight. Kate kissed Alexis' temple gently as she pulled back. "I'll see you guys in a few hours." The girls retreated to the comforts of Alexis' room that Johanna had basically claimed as her own.

"You don't mind us staying for dinner, right?" Kate asked.

Castle smiled, "Of course not. I was going to ask you myself, but she beat me to the punch."

Kate grinned. "Okay. After I talk to my dad, I have to go to work for a little while. I'll try to be back here for six. That sound good?"

"Sounds perfect," he answered sincerely. He came closer to her, fixing the collar of the white blouse she was wearing. "We'll see you soon." He gave her a light kiss, restraining himself from heating it up anymore.

"Bye, Castle," she said as she left the loft. He watched her get onto the elevator. She blew him a kiss as the doors closed on her. She hadn't been this happy in a long time. Her hand settled once again on her stomach. She just wanted it to be his baby.

(…)

Kate walked into the little family restaurant she told her father she'd meet him at. He was sitting alone in a booth in the corner. When he caught sight of her, he stood, a loving smile stretching over his face.

"Hi, Katie," he greeted her with a kiss to her cheek. "Where's my granddaughter?"

"She's with a friend for the day. How're you doing, Dad?"

"I'm good. Been pretty busy lately, so I haven't had time to get into any serious trouble," he joked with her. "How're things going with the divorce?"

"Really well, actually." Kate went on to explain the details of the case. "But, uhm, I have something I need to tell you."

Jim looked at her hopefully. She took a deep breath. "I'm pregnant. With Will's baby."

"Katie, I'm sorry. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled to be getting another grandbaby, but Will? I know how hard this must be for you."

Kate nodded. "I keep wishing it wasn't his baby."

Jim grinned, a little cocky. "And whose baby would you like it to be? Maybe that writer of yours? The one you've been in love with since high school?"

Kate blushed. "Maybe," she admitted grudgingly.

"How's he with all of this?"

Kate let out a deep breath. "He's been great. Too great, maybe. I never expected him to take responsibility for either one of my kids, but he has. And I couldn't thank him enough. There was a time when I didn't want this baby because it wasn't his, but he helped me see that I couldn't get rid of him."

"Sounds like a good guy," Jim thought out loud.

Kate nodded. "He is."

"Does Joey like him?"

"She loves him and his daughter. That's actually who she's staying with today," Kate admitted.

"I figured," he grinned at her. "I'm happy for you, Katie. I'm glad you've found someone who cares so much about you. Don't let him go."

"I don't plan on it," Kate told him. She checked her phone for the time. "I need to get going. I told the captain I'd be in for a half day."

Jim nodded, standing up. "Be careful. Especially now. It's not just your life you're putting in danger now."

"I know," she told him.

"Just making sure." He paused. "It was good to see you, Katie. Maybe someday soon, I'll get to meet the man you are so enamored with?"

Kate smiled. "You will, don't worry. I just need things to settle down first."

"I love you, Katie. See you soon?"

"Love you too, Dad," she said, giving him a hug. "And yeah. We'll definitely see you soon."

A/N: Thoughts?

And to all of you who are having a hissy fit over Kate being pregnant with Will's child—Relax, I have this planned out. It may be a little heart wrenching, but still.

Another point. If you're going to be rude when you review, at least sign in with a username. Don't hide behind an anonymous account. That's just cowardly.

Thank you all for reading!