A/N: Sorry it took a little longer than normal but it's Spring Break week so... Yeah. :) For anyone who was concerned though, I promise you all I'll never abandon a story. The next chapter shouldn't take long. It's been planned since early on and and should be a fun one with a bit of a twist.
Beckett looked longingly at the black high heeled boots on display in the window. Between the pregnancy and having been shot she'd had to give up her beloved heels for the time being and it wasn't something she was happy about.
"Beckett let's go" Lanie's call echoed back to her from farther down the road where the ME was waiting with Alexis and Martha.
The women had made a day of their shopping trip. They'd already picked up several bags of maternity clothes to help see Kate through the remainder of her pregnancy and the girl's had talked her into going to check out a nearby baby boutique.
A small grin took over Kate's features as she caught up with the women and the four made their way into the boutique dominated by pastels.
"Ooh this is so adorable" Lanie squealed, making a beeline for a pale green onesie with an elephant on the front.
The others quickly joined her at the racks of clothing showing off the items that they particularly liked or disliked.
Kate found herself drawn towards the furniture section. She hadn't talked yet with Castle about a nursery or what they were going to do after the baby was born, but just seeing the cribs and matching rocking chairs helped her imagine what it would be like when she was spending so much time in that room with her child.
"It's beginning to become real, isn't it darling?" Martha asked gently as she approached Kate from the side.
"Mmm" She nodded in agreement reaching out absentmindedly to flip over the price tag on one of the cribs.
Martha noticed the way the woman paled slightly and placed her hand on the younger woman's arm.
"Don't worry about it dear, Richard will insist on paying for the nursery anyways what with it being in the loft and all."
"In the loft?" Kate asked, turning away from the display to face the older woman.
Martha met her confused look with one of her own "You are moving in permanently aren't you?"
Move into the loft permanently? Now? The thought was daunting, but then again, wasn't she already living in the loft. As much as she didn't want to admit it, the idea did make sense. Kate did want to marry Castle some day, but no matter what happened between them she would never keep him from his child and moving in would be a step in the right direction.
"We haven't really talked about what's going to happen once I've been fully cleared yet." She finally revealed and it appeared to be enough as the woman gave her a knowing smile and excused herself to speak with Lanie.
Move in with Castle. Wow. A year ago she never would have imagined that she would be considering moving in with Richard Castle and being pregnant with his child. Now she was actually excited about the prospect. She found herself wondering if he would ask her or if she would have to bring it up herself.
Shelving the idea for a later time, Kate made her way back over to the clothing, a small shirt that read "Daddy's Little Man" catching her eye. She stopped and ran her hand reverently over the shirt, resting the other on the small bump that was forming on her abdomen.
"Are you doing to find out what you're having?" Alexis asked, noticing the shirt that had caught the detective's attention.
"Hmm, I'm not sure yet, we haven't discussed whether we want to know or be surprised yet." Kate admitted. "I kind of think I'd like to know so we can be more prepared but we have a couple more weeks yet before we can find out."
"I can't imagine that Dad wouldn't want to know." Alexis agreed.
"That's true, your father is rarely a patient person."
Both women grinned at each other as they continued to peruse the clothing.
"Do you think you're going to have a boy or a girl?" the red head asked a moment later.
"I'm kind of hoping for a boy, but you're father wants a girl so that she can be just like you" The woman said with a gentle smile.
Alexis gave her a surprised look before turning away shyly.
"Would you rather have a little brother or a sister?" the detective returned?
"Well, a little sister would be great, but I think I'd rather have a little brother first." The teen answered slyly.
"First?" Beckett gulped. It was her turn to look at the girl, surprised.
Before either woman could say more Lanie and Martha joined them again, "Alright girl, let's get a move-on we have one more stop yet to make today." Lanie informed them.
"We do?" Kate asked, looking at her best friend in question.
"Yep we do, but I think for this one it's best if just you and I go on our own" The ME informed her friend.
Alexis seemed confused for a moment before a look of horror washed over her face "Oh, ew, yeah no thanks I'll meet you guys at home later." The teen told them before surprising everyone and hugging the brunette and taking her leave.
"I too have some other errands to run and will leave you two ladies to the remainder of your shopping, there are some things about my son that I don't need to be aware of." Martha then left the now thoroughly embarrassed detective and the gleeful medical examiner behind.
"Come on" Lanie said and all but dragged Beckett down the street to Victoria Secret.
"Lanie, I'm already pregnant, and I haven't even been cleared yet, why do I need lingerie?" Kate grumbled to her friend.
"Oh you hush. You'll thank me in a few weeks when you are cleared and you're ready to climb that man like a tree."
"Who says I'm not now" Kate muttered under her breath but the surprised look that her friend shot her meant that she hadn't mumbled quietly enough and the other woman must have heard her.
The next words out of her mouth erased all doubt, "Well then, we really need to make sure you have enough outfits to last until you can wow writer-boy when he can think straight enough to notice a week later."