EPILOGUE

At one point in his past, Castle had told Beckett about when he was handed this tiny little person. How, when she was placed in his arms, he was instantly in love. A love unmatched by anything else before

Kate Beckett-Castle now knows that feeling herself. How can such a tiny person bring out so much love without trying or even being able to say or do anything that but just be who they are.

As a new mother. Kate is siting up in her hospital bed at Women's and Children's Memorial Hospital holding her son and just looking at him. She cannot seem to take her eyes off this tiny creature pressed into her arms

The smile on her face is lighting up the entire room "So you are the one who has been playing kickball on my bladder these last few weeks?"

As if he can really understand the comment, his mouth turns up into a smile

The room door opens and her husband enters the suite carrying a few items. First a vase of flowers. Then Also a cup of coffee and finally a book. The book has a soft cover and the words on the front are in blue "Our Baby's Story" om script across the cover

"Say hello to your daddy" Kate looks at her husband then back to the tiny infant "Richard James Castle…this is your father" Kate smiles back to the baby boy snuggled against her breast

"How are two of my favorite people doing?" He says with an almost singing in his voice

"We are doing very well, thank you, daddy" Kate responds without taking her eyes off the baby

Castle places the flowers on the bed stand. Then he sets. The coffee on the tray table next to Kate's water glass

"Can I take him so you can have some real coffee?" Rick holds his arms out toward the child

Kate is a little surprised herself when she realizes that she actually does not want to let him out of her arms. But it is only right to allow his father to hold him and she has been caffeine deprived for so long she is wanting to get at least a sip of the hot liquid waiting for her on the table.

Rick has sat beck down in the rocking chair next to the bed and is now doing what his wife was so engrossed in when he came in the room

There is a gentle knock on the door and Kate tells the visitor to come in

When the door swings open the first person to enter is the doctor who delivered the latest addition to the Castle family, Dr., Lanie Parish. She is followed quickly by Esposito and then Jennie Ryan followed by Kevin then, finally, Captain Gates

Each one is carrying a little gift for the baby. Small stuffed animals, A onesie, and some toys that will take a few years before he will play with them. One of the toys is a small New York Police car complete with working lights and a siren. They even put a 12th Precinct decal on the vehicle

As she watches the team entering her room Kate comments "Wow! Is anyone watching the city?" She has a laugh in her voice

"Yeah. But we had to bring in officers from the other precincts to cover, since I think everyone else is waiting down the hall in the family room" Victoria Gates answers

Ryan comments next "The hospital staff are wanting to know who the dignitary is that the NYPD are here in force to protect"

"What did you tell them Kevin?" Beckett asks

"OH. Personal friends of the mayor and the latest addition to the 12th homicide squad" Esposito answers

Lanie has already walked over and is standing beside Castle "Can I hold the baby?" she almost whines

Castle does not want to let go of his baby. His little boy. The child that he created along with the love of his life. He looks over to his wife and sees her smiling at her two men.

But he knows that he has the rest of his life to hold the child. To love the child. To let the child raise him just like Alexis did

"Of course" Castle responds as she reaches down to take the little boy from him

After several minutes of loving and each one getting to hold the boy that even included Esposito taking a turn, the group move to the door and tell Kate that they are giving her some rest.

Once again the parents are alone with their baby boy, who is still sleeping in his crib

Forcing herself to look away from her baby, Kate turns to her husband "Rick, you never told me the connection to all this. The killers I mean"

Castle sits down next to Kate when she finishes her comment

"I saw Marcus Vincent come in the room. He recognized me. What was his connection to all this?"

"Marcus is the father of Yolanda Bradford. He had been managing these upscale restaurants for years. During that time he met many very rich couples who had wanted children. When Rhonda Abernathy got pregnant he tried to get her to give the baby up to one of the couples. They were willing to pay anything to have a child"

Kate comments "They all had the money they needed to do that"

"Right. But she would not give her baby up. So Vincent hatched up a plan to take the baby and sell it to the couples. His son in law worked at the medical supply company and had access to all the equipment they needed"

"Right! And his daughter worked as the receptionist in a women's clinic…"

"And since she had access to the files on the women…"

"She knew who had husbands and who did not" Kate completes the thought

"So she watched the records and when the women were close to delivery like me…"

"She would go tell the women there was a problem like she came into the lobby telling me that there was something wrong with my baby"

"But we had just come from your regular doctor who confirmed everything was fine"

"I fought with her but her husband came up behind me and knocked me out"

"They stole a lot of babies and made a lot of money for several years"

"Are the guys looking into their little scheme?"

"Yes. After getting a confession from Yolanda, Gates was able to get a search warrant for the records from the women's center related to the victims. They are trying to locate family of the women…"

"Are they trying to locate the babies?"

"Yeah, but that is going to be an emotional issue. I am glad that is the job of social services…"

"…and the DA" Kate finishes

The two have just realized they have returned to their usual foreplay and both are enjoying it very much

"I am glad we can still work on this same page" Castle responds

Kate takes her husband's hand and pulls it to her chest "Thank you for coming for me"

He leans over and gives her a soft kiss

"Always"

Another finished

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