Genre: Romance, Family, Humor
Rating: M for sexual situations and language
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured on the show Castle, they belong to the creator of the show, ABC, and the others who do own them.
A/N #1: I was happy to get the feedback for the last chapter, so I'll go ahead and get to my thank yous for that! MsNYC (I was glad to see you love Beckett's and Jim's relationship. I figured that after all they've been through they would be close, especially since Beckett wears her father's watch. But not surprised you can appreciate their relationship. I wasn't surprised that you were that Castle didn't want to hover around Beckett while she took a nap. And you thought the same as did, that she would have been a little annoyed if he had done that. Great you thought the first half was a great chapter. And I'm really happy that you love and enjoy how Alexis is like a granddaughter to Jim! I laughed at you saying Beckett was excited with that kiss, but you're not far off. I'm not surprised you mentioned that Jim and Martha were funny with their discussion about that, lol. I'm really happy you think Alexis is a great sister and doubly, so you wish that she belonged to Beckett. I'm so glad that you said Julia's diary entries are the cutest since I like putting those into the chapters. And great you think it's cute that Julia wants to be a writer, I think that's a pretty good word, and great you like it. It was nice to read that you thought the love scene at the end was very tasteful and said it was as usual! Happy to see you thought it was great writing as usual too. Your comments about the baby being here soon made me laugh but it's nice to know you're so eager for that!),
TORONTOSUN (Nice that you thought it was great writing for Easter. And glad you liked how happy the kids were with everything they did. I was pleased you liked how Castle cared for Beckett in the chapter since I wanted to show him doing that!),
Mb (I'm glad that you thought they had a beautiful Easter with their friends and family. And I figured even the older kids would love the Easter egg hunt, so I agree with you about that! Nice to see you laughed at Brad and Castle hovering over Lily and Beckett. And the same about their kids following dad's example. And I did laugh at you said they were loving driving their wives and a little crazy but in a sweet way, though I did agree with you about that! Great to read you thought they had a sweet Easter. And you're very welcome for posting the first half! Nice that you thought the second half was again beautifully written! And not surprised you thought it because the family was all together. And I'm not surprised you mentions Martha and Jim's banter when Castle and Beckett were being them as you put it. And not surprised you thought the kiss was so them, lol. Nice to see you think Martha and Jim are quite the pair, and best grandparents too, I try to write them that way the best I can. I'm not surprised, with Jim talking about moving in soon, that you're wondering how and when Martha will move there too. Great you're hoping Luis gets the job so he'll be near the others and Alexis can look for a job there herself. Really happy you thought in the love scene Castle and Beckett were hot, passionate and loving, and truly loving too! You're very welcome for the second half. And I agree, Caskett always!) and
vetgirlmx (I was happy that you thought the chapter was very fun, but not surprised you thought that since they had an Easter party. I was glad you thought it was sweet they had eggs for Alexis, Jim and Martha, I wanted the kids to want to include them, lol. I wasn't surprised you're really happy that Jim is staying with them for almost a month, since you mentioned that you were worried he'd be in the city when the baby was born. I did have to laugh at you mentioning him going back and then moving back in, not surprised you're still excited about that! Nice to read you loved how everyone reacted to that. Ah, I'm not surprised you caught Julia was acting about the show as she is before competitions. But I'm glad you think she will be perfect if she's going to be on the show. Oh, and I wasn't surprised either that you aren't Julia's backup plan for her career is to be a writing, but glad you mentioned it's not a surprise since she is one. And nice to see you think she'll be an amazing writer when she's older. Not surprised you're waiting impatiently to see what happens next and I'm glad you do, now you don't need to wait anymore!).
Thanks so much for the reviews, I loved reading them all and I'm very grateful for the time taken to write them out and send them to me!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Summertime by George Gershwin, the versions I have taken from are sung by Sam Cook; from his album Portrait of a Legend: 1951-1964; and Paul McCartney; from his album CHOBA B CCCP.
With Daddy And Mommy Standing By
"Come here you two," Beckett said, reaching out to the girls as she watched them finishing putting their shoes on.
"I wish you could come with us Mommy," Eliza told her.
"Don't say that!" Julia hissed a little to her sister.
"It's alright," Beckett said, glancing at her husband with a smile. "I'll walk with you again as soon as the baby is born."
"She's right," Castle said. "For now, your mom needs to take it easy."
"I'm sorry Mommy," Eliza said, realizing he was right.
"It's okay," Beckett said with a smile. "Today though you can walk with your dad, grandpapa and sister."
"Kay," Eliza said. "But I'll miss you Mommy."
"I'll see you when you're home for lunch remember," Beckett said gently.
"I'll see her at dance class," Julia said when she saw the sideways glance her sister was giving her. "Right?"
"We'll see you there," Beckett said. She then took her daughters into her arms and embraced them at the same time. "Have a great day, pay attention and of course have fun too," she admonished them, smiling at the end.
"Thanks Mom," Julia said after she and her sister had stopped giggling.
"Yeah, rest too Mommy," Eliza told her seriously.
"I will," Beckett said with a smile as the girls had taken to telling her that since she'd had to stop walking with them to school that past Monday morning.
"It's Friday, right?" Julia asked.
"It is," Beckett said as Eliza went to Alexis to get her backpack on. "And we'll go to the family fun center later."
"Good," Julia told her. "Oh, I put some of my jelly beans into my lunch box."
"From your Easter eggs?" Castle asked.
"Yeah, they're still good, right?" Julia asked in concern.
"Easter was only five days ago," Alexis commented.
"She's right," Beckett told her oldest. "And that means the jelly beans are fine. You're going to share, right?"
"Yep," Julia replied.
Beckett shared a kiss with both her daughters before she hugged them in turn one last time. She stood up from the bench in the entry while Julia got her backpack on and went to her husband.
"Don't be annoyed at me but have you taken your vitamins yet?" Castle asked his wife when he reached her.
"I will," Beckett assured him. "As soon as you go. On Monday we're taking the car," she added. She wasn't surprised when her husband glanced over at the girls who were talking to their big sister and grandfather and said, "I'll ask them later."
"Fine by me," Castle said. He then said to Alexis and Jim, "I'll meet you on the sidewalk."
"Are we gonna be late?" Eliza asked her grandfather worriedly.
"Not unless we leave now," Jim replied. "We'll be back Katie."
"We won't take that long," Alexis added.
"I know, bye girls," Beckett called to them, smiling at what her father and stepdaughter had said since they'd basically said the same thing since Monday. When her father had closed the front door behind him she turned to her husband and said, "Quickly."
"I know," Castle said, wrapping his arms around her tightly. He then leaned down enough to kiss her, trying not to get too out of control with that as his wife responded immediately holding onto him. "We'll have to think of something to do when we get back," he said after they'd slowly parted.
"Later," Beckett said. "Go before you make them late."
"What'll you do?" Castle asked.
"Read," Beckett said.
"We'll be back," Castle told her, squeezing her hand warmly.
Beckett squeezed back before she let him go and went after him to the door so she could lock it behind him. When she turned around she was amused seeing that the dogs were all in the entry staring at her. "Alright you guys," she told them. "I need to walk to the kitchen so do not crowd around me." She wondered why the dogs would tend to stay close when the girls were being taken to school but guessed her husband would tell her that they were trying to protect her. Shaking the thought from her head she walked as quickly as she could to the kitchen.
"Easy Macca," Beckett told the Wolfhound as it was nosing the palm of her hand while she was looking for the vitamins she needed to take. She found them and set them down before flipping through the small journal she'd bought at the start of her pregnancy to make notes each day. She got to the day she needed; the seventeenth; and glanced at the previous entry. "I'll have to tell Rick I'm basically taking these at the same time," she said to the dogs. When they just watched her, she smiled and got a glass of water.
After she had finished completely and ended by marking the time she'd taken the vitamins Beckett made herself a cup of tea before going to the family room. She stood, holding her cup of tea at one of the windows, tempted to walk down to the beach as she'd done on Tuesday. With spring there for good it had been a nice walk though she had only gone to the chairs to sit there. She tried to push herself to go out but remained in place as the desire to go couldn't really make her move.
When she'd brought her mug up to her lips a bit later Beckett was startled when it was lukewarm already and she realized she needed to use the bathroom. Rolling her eyes, she went over to the downstairs restroom, having to push the dogs away from it when they all tried to crowd in with her.
"You guys wouldn't have been able to move in there," Beckett told them when she stepped back out. "But there's room back in the family room, come on." Leading them over to it she sat on the couch and picked up the book on the coffee table to start reading it. She got to the page she had left off on but when she tried to read the first sentence her attention quickly wandered off. She groaned heavily and snapped the book shut muttering, "Again," as she hadn't been able to move forward in the book since she'd last read the week before.
Setting aside the book Beckett stood up and went back to the window saying to the dogs, "I should take you guys outside but…" She smiled at her herself before she told them, "I can imagine Rick telling me to wait for him. So we'll do-" With a slight gasp she interrupted herself and placed her hands on her stomach as she felt a sharp pain around her lower back. "Oh," she managed to breathe out as her contraction continued. "I wondered if you were going to join us today little one." She didn't know how she had managed it, but she made her way back to the couch before she felt Macca nudging against her stomach and she reached down, holding onto his leg as the pain was strong. While it continued she wondered where her husband was by then and hoping he would get back to her soon as she grit her teeth to withstand the constant pain.
"Dad!" Alexis called to her father as he was a good distance away from herself and Jim. "I'm sure she's fine." When he didn't indicate that he'd heard her she said to her step-grandfather, "He's going to keep doing this; even when it's just you two going to the school."
"It's good exercise," Jim said with a slight smile.
"I guess," Alexis said as they were trying their best to keep up with him.
When he reached the door in the fence around the house Castle could barely wait for his daughter and father in law to reach him. He had no idea what was bothering him but when they'd crossed the street in front of the school after dropping the girls off something had come over him telling him he had to get home immediately. He opened the door the second they were close enough and ran down the driveway though Alexis was calling out to him.
"Something's wrong, he wouldn't react like this if it was just a feeling," the young woman said.
"I thought so," Jim said with a nod before they ran after him.
"Kate! Kate!" Castle yelled once he was inside. He heard the dogs barking and saw JoJo at the family room before he took off for it. "Love," he said in concern as he quickly took in the sight of her sitting on the couch. The fact that her face was awash with pain and one hand clutched at her stomach clued him in on what had happened, and he rushed the rest of the way to her. "Kate," he said slowly, holding her hand tightly.
"It's my first… my first contraction," Beckett breathed out as the pain eased off. "That lasted a while… I don't know how long though." Opening her eyes, she looked at her husband and then glanced to her right asking, "Did I hurt Macca? I held onto his leg."
"No, he's running around your dad," Castle said, looking at the dog after he'd taken a quick look at his watch. "Should we go?"
"No, time it and then we go," Beckett said. "I'm okay," she said then to her father and stepdaughter with a smile. "This is normal."
"I thought so," Alexis said. She went over to the couch and though she didn't know if her stepmother would want her there, sat next to her and held her right hand while Castle had her left. When Jim sat on the coffee table she smiled slightly at the way they were gathering around Beckett, waiting to see when exactly her next contraction would begin while her father continued to time it. She was going to ask her father how long it had been a while later when her stepmother was suddenly reacting vocally and letting them know they didn't need to wait any longer.
Though she didn't want to Beckett cried out a little in her pain as the contraction began again and she clutched at the hands she was holding before she realized the one at her left was her stepdaughter's. She tried to let her go when Alexis grabbed it again and she tried to speak when the young woman did instead.
"It's okay, you're not hurting me," Alexis reassured her though she was a little startled at how hard her stepmother was holding onto her. When her grip was easing up she; and Beckett and Jim she could see; looked at her father to see what he would say.
"Fourteen minutes," Castle said.
"Time to go," Beckett said, panting a little as she was recovering.
"Definitely," Castle said as he and Alexis helped her stand up. "And I managed to send the e-mail to everyone, so they know," he told his wife.
"Wait," Beckett said before her husband could have her start walking. "The girls."
"I'll get them," Jim said reassuringly before they walked together out of the room.
"I'll go with him," Alexis said, letting go of her stepmother so she and Castle could go through the doorway. She was startled when Beckett looked back for her and she raced to catch up to them. "I'll reassure Lizzy," she told her stepmother.
"And Julia, she's been worried this whole time," Beckett said before they reached the entry.
"I'll tell her you'll be fine," Alexis said with a nod. They walked out together to the car her father had in the driveway and she and Jim told Beckett they'd see them at the hospital with the girls shortly. She stood next to her step-grandfather while they watched Castle pull out of the driveway quickly and they turned to the house to get to Jim's car. As they were near the porch he touched her arm and she glanced at him, not surprised when he asked what he did.
"How's your hand?" Jim asked.
"Okay," Alexis replied, looking at it. "She had a tight grip."
Jim nodded and said, "I was lucky her mother didn't break my hand while she was going through labor." After his step-granddaughter had directed the dogs back to the family room he stepped into the garage ahead of her before he paused for a moment and said, "Don't mention that to them though."
"I won't," Alexis said with a nod. "Hopefully they'll get there quick enough."
"They should be there already," Jim said with a slight smile before they got into the car so they could head right back to the school.
"Rick," Beckett told her husband as she could tell they were getting close to the hospital. "If my water breaks in here…"
"We're there," Castle told her as he pulled up to the entrance and then stepped out as soon as he'd turned it off. Seeing a nurse hurrying down to them with a wheelchair he called out, "My wife just went into labor."
Beckett let her husband help her out of the car and just as she was stepping onto the curb she groaned as she felt a gush of liquid between her legs. She was a little embarrassed but then said to the nurse, "Now you know for sure."
"Not the first time this happened here honey," the woman said. "Don't worry."
"Her first and second contractions were fourteen minutes apart. I'll park the car love," Castle told the nurse before telling Beckett about the car. When she nodded he literally jumped into the car and parked in the first spot he saw that wasn't marked for someone else. After he had gotten out he grabbed her bag from the backseat and then jogged over to the entrance. He knew from their previous visit where he needed to go so he found his wife quickly, seeing she was talking to the nurse inside what was going to be her room.
"Oh good," the woman said when she spotted Castle. "Can't get her to change."
"She's waiting for me," he said hurriedly as he knew she might be getting close to another contraction.
"I'll alert your doctor ma'am," the nurse said as she handed Beckett's arm over to him. "And will you want an epidural."
When she'd nodded Beckett watched the nurse leave and turned her attention to her husband. "I guess it was better my water broke anywhere but the car."
"Someone was cleaning it off," Castle said as he helped her take off her blouse. "But these pants…"
"Yeah, they need to go," Beckett said, still embarrassed. She then groaned when her contraction started up right at that moment and she held onto her husband as he ended up needing to undress her and put her into the hospital gown the nurse had given her all on his own. She wasn't sure how she got on the bed but once she was there she clutched his hand, wondering how long it was going to last as she wanted to ask her husband a few questions.
"I don't have a timer but that might have been just slightly less than fourteen minutes or the same amount," Castle told his wife.
"She might be in a hurry," Beckett said, placing her hand on her stomach at the thought the baby was exactly two weeks from the due date her doctor had said. Shaking herself of her concern thinking that she asked, "Has anyone answered yet?"
Taking his phone out of his pocket Castle saw he did have some texts and he nodded saying, "Patrick's fast typing."
"What did he say?" Beckett asked before he was handing her the phone. When she read his message, a simple 'I'm coming up now,' she sighed and said, "I hope he can do that."
"I don't think he would say that if he couldn't," Castle said with a smile as he watched her reading the texts he'd gotten in that time.
"Everyone replied that you sent to," Beckett commented. "You even sent one to Paul?"
"And Nancy," Castle said quickly. When she looked at him he smiled and said, "We told them we were expecting, and they seemed okay with that."
Beckett laughed and shook her head saying, "So according to this Patrick and Skye are the only ones coming this second and Brennan… what time is it?"
"Eight forty-five," Castle said, checking his watch. "For them it's almost two."
"Then they'll be leaving soon," Beckett said with a smile. "With Louis, tell Alexis when you see-"
"Who else? You said everyone answered," Castle said in surprise when his text alert noise chimed then.
"They did, these are second messages," Beckett said in amusement. "The first was from Lanie; she's calmed down from freaking out," she said jokingly. "And she and Dylan can come out here tomorrow; they're both working and she says Kevin and Javi told her to tell us the same… Rick we do not have enough room for all of them."
"No but the Fosters and Davises do," Castle said firmly. When she looked at him questioningly he explained, "I talked with Brad and David, asked if it turned out everyone was going to rush out here if they'd mind taking in our guests since we only have the two rooms. They talked about it with Lily and Rebecca and they're fine with that. You know they know a lot of the same people we do."
"True," Beckett said with a smile. "Alright, so everyone from the city is coming out…"
Taking his phone quickly out of her hand Castle pocketed it as he'd had a feeling it was about time for another contraction. He held her hand tightly with his own, watching her groan as she clenched her jaw and he gently coached her through her breathing while he hoped she could hear him through the pain.
It felt like it had taken forever but finally things cleared up for her and Beckett looked at her husband when he let her go. She was startled but he was returning with a tissue he'd gotten wet and sponged her forehead. "Should ask for a washcloth," she told him with a slight smile.
Castle was going to respond when her doctor walked in and he quickly stood up straight, throwing away the tissue as she was speaking as soon as she was one step within the room.
"Good morning," Dr. Hargrove said with a smile at the two when they looked at her. "It looks like your little one is eager to enter the world."
"She is," Beckett said, shifting slightly on the bed.
"Have you been timing them?" Hargrove asked Castle.
"These last two were about… fourteen to thirteen and a half," he answered while he studied his watch. "They're still apart but her water broke outside."
"I was told," Hargrove replied, nodding her head. "Let me check on you Kate and see how things are shaping up right now."
Beckett squeezed her husband's hand gently while the doctor was examining her and when she had moved away she asked, "Am I alright?"
"You're fine," Hargrove said. "You're just starting so you're just starting to dilate of course." She picked up her tablet she had brought in with her and made a note there saying, "And we'll see how things go."
"Do I need to time the contractions, or will the machine do that now?" Castle asked.
"It will," Hargrove said. "I'll check on you in about twenty minutes but if anything happens you know where the call button is."
"Thank you," Beckett called to the woman before the doctor left. "Where is everyone else?"
"I'll check; what about my mother?" Castle asked as he hadn't been able to read the texts yet.
"There she is," Beckett said with a smile, watching him quickly answering his phone that was ringing.
"Mother are you calling while driving?" Castle said jokingly once he'd answered.
"There's no one here and my phone is in between the seats," Martha said. "Am I on speaker?"
"You are Martha," Beckett called with a smile.
"Kate, are you alright?" Martha asked.
"I'm at the beginning of everything," Beckett said, not surprised when her husband was slightly laughing next to her. "I was just checked on by my doctor and we're going to let the girls come in to see me."
"Of course, well I'm on my way and I should be there by nine-thirty," Martha said.
"We can't wait to see you," Beckett told her mother in law. "But drive safe."
"I will," Martha said. "Good luck and let me know if she's in a rush."
"We will," Castle said with a slight laugh. "Bye." After he'd hung up he told his wife, "Do you want to answer the texts?"
Beckett started to open her mouth to ask if he would check if their family was there when she realized there had been some time since the last contraction and it would likely start soon. "I will but they have to be here by now," she said.
"Just a little more time," Castle said as he handed her his phone. "That way we can have them come in before the one after the one coming up."
"Mind answering them? I'm afraid of crushing your phone before I can stop myself," Beckett said, smiling a little at him.
"Not a problem," Castle said with a nod. He began to answer the texts, reading out the two new ones from Skye and Darnley which told them they were on their planes. "They're fast," he commented.
"No surprise about Skye," Beckett said, her hands gently rubbing over her stomach, sighing as there was still an ache in her lower back. "But I guess we shouldn't be surprised about Patrick either."
"I guess not," Castle said with a slight smile. He turned his attention back to his phone, texting as fast as he could and keeping the messages simple as they were both waiting for the next contraction. He managed to finish just in time, reaching for his wife's hand to hold it as she had groaned his name. He was startled watching her closely since he could tell it was a little more intense that time. He timed it; though he didn't need to; and waited until she was calming down again before he was going to make a comment about the time before she was doing so herself.
"That was longer… shorter and longer," Beckett said with a sigh as her husband used a washcloth; he'd found in the bathroom; to sponge off her forehead. "Go now because Hargrove needs to check on me after that."
"I'll be right back," Castle said, setting aside the washcloth and then hurrying out.
Beckett; distantly hearing her husband talking to the doctor at what she guessed was the nurse's station; settled back against the bed as she hoped their daughters would be there and that they would be okay knowing the baby was close to being born by then.
"Think we're gonna talk about camp?" Peter asked Julia as she sat down at her desk after talking to Ava.
"Yeah, it's Friday and she talked about it last week," the girl replied. Julia then smiled and said, "Are you excited for it?"
"Very," Peter said.
"Even though we're not going to have dance classes?" Julia asked. When he nodded she laughed and said, "Me too." The bell rang then, and she sighed before turning her attention to the front of the classroom where their teacher was stepping up to the whiteboard there.
"Alright everyone," the teacher said to her students. "I'm going to take roll, say here or present as usual." She held the list of the students and was about to say the first name when the phone in the room rang. "Hold on a second," she told them.
Julia shared a look with Peter as the teacher spoke in a low voice after answering and she soon sounded concerned. She knew something was wrong but had to wonder what it was that had to do with the school as her teacher hung up.
"Julia?" the woman said with a smile. "You need to take your backpack and lunch and head down to the main office."
"How come?" Julia couldn't help asking as she slowly stood.
"They'll tell you there," the teacher said.
Waving quickly to Peter; who was looking at her with wide eyes; Julia did the same to Dawn and Ava before she hurried to her backpack and lunchbox. When she went downstairs to the entry to the elementary school building she was startled to see her sister there with one of her teachers. "Lizzy?" she asked.
"I have to go… do you?" Eliza asked.
"Yeah, I can take my sister," Julia told the woman.
"Go ahead," Mrs. Hughes told her. "We were waiting for you. Have a nice weekend."
After they'd thanked the woman together Julia took her little sister's hand and stepped outside. As they were making their way to the building that held the offices and entry to the three schools when the gates were closed she paused with a gasp and said to Eliza's scared expression, "I know why we're leaving now! I bet the baby is going to come!"
Eliza gasped herself before she said, "But she was gonna be born on May Day."
"The baby probably decided to come here early," Julia said after thinking that over. "Ooh I hope Mom's okay; and that Dad is with her at the hospital and not here." She wasn't surprised when her sister nodded and they walked faster together, trying not to run into the lobby once they were there to find out who was picking them up to take them to see their mother.
"Hey, you two," Alexis said with a smile when she saw her sisters. When they ran the rest of the way to her and clung to her, asking about their parents and the baby, she did her best to calm them down before saying, "Dad is with your mom at the hospital. Your mother is in labor and will have the baby and when I last saw her she was fine. And as for our baby sister I have no clue how she is yet; we need to wait and see. Now come on we need to get going because I know your mom wants to see you before the baby is born." She was slightly startled when the girls didn't say a word, merely took her hands before she led them outside. When they walked she had her answer; as they were going quickly and just barely acknowledging the goodbye from the secretary at the main desk.
"Hello girls," Jim said as he'd been waiting in the driver's seat for the girls. "We're going to the hospital right now." He started the car and drove as quickly and safely as he could. "Here's your dad's car," he told them as he parked next to it.
"Will we go in to see Mom right away?" Julia asked.
"Soon," Alexis said. "Leave your lunch," she told her. "We'll eat at the cafeteria."
Julia nodded and took her backpack with her sister to the trunk so they could put them away there. She didn't really look around them as they entered the hospital, just remembering going to wait for Eliza to be born before they reached the familiar waiting room. When their grandfather and sister went to the nurse's station she said to her little sister, "It was just like this waiting for you."
Eliza smiled a little and asked, "Why didn't you know about Mommy soon?"
"Sooner?" Julia replied. When her sister nodded she said, "'Cause Dad was supposed to know." Alexis was walking back to them and she quickly took the chance to ask, "Can we go see her now?"
"Not yet, the doctor is checking on her, but Dad will come out to get us," Alexis said.
"What about Gram?" Eliza asked.
"She's on her way," Jim said. When the girls looked at him he sat down and then took Eliza on his lap as she went over to him. "Your father sent an e-mail to everyone to let them know and she told me she would drop everything and come out here."
Julia nodded; as her sister was doing; before she then leaned against the back of her chair, hoping the wait wouldn't be that long. She eventually turned her gaze towards where she knew the rooms were and it seemed like ages before she saw Castle. "Dad!" she called, jumping down from her chair and racing to him.
"Your mother's fine," he reassured his daughters as Eliza came over to him and Alexis was behind the little girl. He hugged Julia and Eliza tightly telling them, "We're just waiting for the baby to be born so she wants to see you now. And you brought Julia a change of clothes, right?"
"Before we drove to the school," Alexis assured him as he'd asked her that. She hugged her father tightly and said, "Tell her-"
"She wants you to go in with them," Castle interrupted.
"She does?" Alexis asked in slight surprise.
"She does," Castle said. He turned his attention to his father in law and told him, "You can go in to see her after them." When Jim merely nodded he took the girls' hands and walked with them into the room where Beckett was, not surprised to see Dr. Hargrove stepping out as they came close since he'd asked her to check on his wife.
"Hello Eliza," Hargrove said when she saw the four.
"Hi," the little girl said shyly though she knew the doctor was the one who'd been there when she was born. "Is my sister kay?"
"She will be," Hargrove replied, smiling slightly. "Be careful with your mother though."
"We will," Julia and Eliza said together. They were then allowed to go into the room and they rushed over to the bed saying, "Mom!" and "Mommy!" at the same time.
"Girls," Beckett said with a smile as she watched them. "Put them on the bed," she directed to her husband as she smiled at Alexis.
"At the same time?" Castle asked in surprise. When she nodded he then helped the two on the bed and watched his wife hug them as she'd raised the bed more. "Love you should probably go back a little bit," he said.
Though she wanted to tell him she was fine Beckett did as he'd suggested and then said, "I'm sorry to take you out of school but you need to be here to see your sister."
"We want to be here," Julia said swiftly.
"Yeah, we have to see her," Eliza said. She then realized that the beeping sound she'd first heard was actually in the room and she looked over at the side of the bed before she gasped. "Mommy," she said before she burst into tears.
Sharing a look with his wife and then Julia and Alexis, Castle was about to ask the little girl what was wrong when he realized she'd seen the machines her mother was hooked up to. And she likely recalled them from when he'd been in the hospital which led him to say, "It's alright sweetheart, they need those there so they always know how your mom is doing," watching Beckett embracing their youngest tightly.
"He's right, and they're also monitoring the baby too," she said. Hearing Eliza sniffing she kissed her temple and said, "So we're being watched carefully."
"I see Mom," Julia said with a smile as her mother looked at her then. "Does it hurt a lot?"
"Not too much now," Beckett replied. "So I'm fine and your sister is fine."
"We should get going," Castle said when he saw his wife looking pointedly at him. "Actually… want to get some ice chips with me girls? For your mom?"
"Go," Beckett told them with a smile. "But before you go I love you two so much and later on I'll have your little sister here to meet you." She shared a kiss with them both and hugged them tightly before telling them, "I love you Julia, Eliza."
"I love you Mommy," Eliza told her.
"I love you too," Julia said firmly. She and her sister hugged their mother tightly and carefully, one after the other again, before Castle helped her down and Alexis helped Eliza.
Alexis, remaining where she was, watched the three leave the room before she turned to her stepmother. She was about to ask if she was going to have a contraction soon when Beckett's hands latched onto the side of the bed and she began to groan heavily. She was tempted to run after her father but finally took her hand so she could hold onto her for the time being. She watched her, her second time seeing her going through a contraction and she was startled to hear her stepmother nearly whimpering Castle's name but kept quiet until she was relaxing slowly on the bed. She was going to ask her if she wanted her to run out and get him when Beckett was holding up her hand before she answered her unasked question.
"I should have sent you with them," she commented.
Shaking her head Alexis said, "Dad would have been furious someone wasn't here with you; not after your first one."
"Did he say anything to you?" Beckett asked, shifting around on the bed. When her stepdaughter helped her with the pillow at her back she thanked her and then settled against the bed.
"No but I got the idea he wanted me to stay when he looked back at me," Alexis said. "This is… uncomfortable."
"To say the least," Beckett said with a smile as she knew her stepdaughter was unsettled by the sight of her going through the contraction. "But," she said quickly as she took Alexis' hand. "Don't let this scare you too much whenever you become pregnant." She couldn't help smiling a little wider when the young woman shifted on her chair next to the bed and she told her, "Don't be too embarrassed, I know you want to have kids."
"Don't mention that to Dad," Alexis said.
"I'm sure he's aware," Beckett said simply. When her stepdaughter nodded she told her, "And he'll appreciate you'll only want two."
"Will your dad?" Alexis asked. "Or does he know already?"
"He doesn't care," Beckett said with another smile. "It's my decision and I'll of course remind your dad about that whenever the time comes for you and your husband to announce the news." She moved a little then; in a futile attempt to ease the aching in her back; before she said softly and with a slight smile, "I'm looking forward to having little red headed grandchildren to spoil."
Alexis wasn't surprised when her cheeks instantly began to burn, and she stammered slightly as she replied, "Y-you don't know that I'm going marry s-someone w-"
"Do you still say I love you to each other?" Beckett asked simply. She smiled fully when her stepdaughter nodded, and she squeezed Alexis' hand saying, "I stand by what I said. But not yet."
"Oh no," Alexis said seriously, shaking her head. She stood up as her father came inside with the girls and said to the two, "We should go that way your grandpapa can see your mom."
"When can we come back?" Eliza asked, going to the side of the bed and taking her mother's hand.
"When your sister is with us," Beckett promised her with a smile. "I don't know when that is but you three will be the first to see her."
Castle quickly helped first their youngest and then oldest onto the bed so they could hug and kiss their mother. He wasn't surprised when they both told her to stay safe and he hugged them each after he'd helped them down. "She'll be alright," he told them. "We're all watching her."
Beckett, embracing Alexis then, let her stepdaughter go telling her, "Does Julia have extra clothes?"
"She does, I'll take her to change right now," Alexis said. "And we have things for them to do while we wait." She leaned down and kissed her stepmother's cheek saying softly, "I hope you'll be okay."
"I will be, thank you Alexis," Beckett told her, cupping her cheek momentarily before letting her go. When they were alone she looked at her husband, waiting for him to ask the question she could so easily read on his face, and was relieved when he soon after began to talk.
"Did you have another contraction?" Castle finally asked, sure the girls wouldn't hear them.
"I did," Beckett said. She then made a sound of annoyance and said to her husband's puzzled look, "I forgot to ask Alexis if her hand was alright; I was holding onto it again."
"It's fine," Jim said. When his daughter and son in law looked at him while he stepped inside he smiled and told them, "I asked her as we were hurrying inside the house to come here." He hurried to his daughter on the other side of the bed and hugged her tightly asking her, "How are you Katie?"
"Good, things seem to be progressing normally," Beckett said. "But I have to warn you…" She cursed herself in her mind for not saying it right away when she'd seen him, but she couldn't stop the contraction that had come upon her and she was left to go through it with her father watching. She felt him holding her hand but tried to pull it away as she had the thought her rings would cut him in some way. But the pain was very swift to take over and she forgot about it until finally the unending waves of it stopped and she was breathing heavily. "Dad-" she began as she recalled him.
"I'm alright," Jim said, hoping he wasn't showing his dismay at his daughter going through that. "And your mother worried about her rings too; but we all have two hands luckily."
Laughing softly Beckett said, "Good thing. And I hope Martha gets here soon."
"Why?" Jim said in surprise.
"They're getting closer," Beckett explained. "She's in a hurry."
"Do I need to go?" Jim asked.
"No," Beckett said, holding onto his hand. "But…" she said with a sigh as she knew he couldn't stay for too long. "You should help Alexis with the girls," she told him.
"I know but we'll still be here after the baby is born," Jim said.
"When my mom gets here," Castle said as he watched the two embracing tightly. "Tell her to come right in."
"I will," Jim said, reaching across the bed. He shook his son in law's hand firmly saying, "Stay with her."
"Unless she needs me to get something I will," Castle replied with a smile before they let go of each other's hands and he watched him go. When they were alone he took the short chance they had and kissed her firmly on the lips. She responded quickly, and he was relieved she did as he'd had no idea how often they'd be able to do that that day and wanted to make sure he kissed her at least once. When they'd parted he told her, "I love you," in Irish.
"I love you too Rick," Beckett replied with a smile, squeezing his hand tightly before they turned to the door as they could hear her doctor nearing the door for another checkup on her and the baby after that contraction.
"From what Jim said I thought the baby would be in your arms already," Martha said as she almost seemed to fly into the room. "How are you Kate?"
"Not at my best," Beckett said a little weakly. "I'm surprised they let you in," she commented as she had just come off another contraction.
"And you're later than you said," Castle added though he was speaking a little absently as he was carefully sponging off his wife's forehead.
"Construction and then traffic," Martha said in annoyance, waving her arm. She waited for her son to step out of her way and she took her daughter in law's hand. "But other than that, how are you both doing?"
"Coming along well… if you came straight over here the baby is a little quicker this time," Castle answered before his wife could say anything.
"He's right," Beckett said, taking the cup with ice chips he was handing her. She slipped one into her mouth and once it was mostly melted she told Martha, "But I've heard that after the first baby it can go quicker."
"So have I," Castle's mother said. "And I'm just here to check on you; you don't need people hovering over you."
"Patrick and Skye are coming out here," Beckett said.
"I think he's close to landing but she's still in the air," Castle commented as he was studying his watch. "He's waiting for her, so they might be a while still."
"Brad and Lily and… all of them aren't here are they?" Beckett asked.
"No, just us," Martha replied. "Are you expecting them?"
"They said they'd come later today… if the baby is born by then," Castle said.
"It will be," Dr. Hargrove said after knocking on the door. "Ms. Rogers," she said to Martha.
"Can you guess at all?" she asked the doctor.
"Not very long, two more hours? Three," Hargrove replied as she looked at one of the machines before making a note on her tablet.
"I'll go," Martha said, knowing from experience that the woman needed to check the dilation. She leaned over and pressed a kiss to the top of Beckett's head saying, "Good luck darling, we're eager to see you both here."
"Thank you, Martha," Beckett said with a smile. She then lay back a little more and waited for the doctor to check her after her mother in law was out of the room, looking up at her husband. She watched Dr. Hargrove closely to see what the woman would say once she had finished checking.
"I'll stand by what I said," Hargrove told the two. "You're dilating nicely. No pains different than the ones with your contractions?" When Beckett shook her head she then said, "Alright, I'll be back in another half hour unless you need me here."
After the doctor had left Beckett leaned back and said, "Should we bring them back?"
Castle shook his head and said, "You should just relax when you can. We'll have them back when the baby is born. After."
"I knew what you meant," Beckett said with a slight smile. She sighed and then closed her eyes to rest them, but suddenly jolted awake as a contraction began. She wondered how long she'd been asleep but knew it hadn't been long and instead tried to work her way through the pain until it finally tapered off.
"Ice?" Castle asked her immediately. When she nodded he gave her the cup and said, "So now we wait."
Beckett smiled; since she couldn't talk yet; and nodded before she was able to ask him to tell her how it had been when he'd dropped off the girls at school. She listened to him and dozed off a few times between the early contractions before it passed noon and things became more intense. After one contraction she fell back against the bed and said, "You-" before Dr. Hargrove walked inside. "Oh, thank you," she breathed out. "I felt like I needed to push on that one."
The doctor didn't respond, instead checked on her before she said, "It's time, I'll be back with the nurses."
"Is féidir liom a rá leat rud éigin?" Castle said to his wife.
Smiling slightly, as he'd asked if he could tell her something, Beckett said, "Lean ar aghaidh," which meant go ahead.
"Tá mé chomh leithscéal as seo," Castle said humbly, taking her hand with both of his and kissing her fingers gently. When she frowned; as he'd said he was so sorry and 'for this;' he quickly added, "An pian," specifying the pain.
Beckett moved her hand from his grasp and then gestured him down to her so they could kiss. She used that time to think of what she could say to his statement and then told him, "Smaoinigh sé ar mo grá dhuit," telling him to consider it part of her love for him. "Ach cad mé ag smaoineamh ar tá sí," she then added, saying but what she was thinking of was her; meaning the baby.
"Go bhfuil ár ngrá a cruthaíodh," Castle said, stated that it was their love that had created her.
"Sappy but yes," Beckett said with a smile before she was closing her eyes tightly as her next contraction began and she was trying not to push though her body was screaming to her to do so.
Castle, looking at the doctor and nurses that were hurrying inside, waited for his wife to calm down before he quickly told her as seriously as he could, staring into her eyes, "Beidh mé grá i gcónaí leat Kate," saying that he would always love her.
"Feicfidh mé grá agat i gcónaí ró Rick," Beckett whispered as seriously as he pressed his forehead to hers, that she would always love him too. She took his kiss then, cupping his cheek lovingly before she quickly stroked his tongue with her own once before they slowly parted. Dr. Hargrove was coming over to him, so she mouthed an 'I love you,' before she smiled when he mouthed back, 'love you too.' She turned her full attention to their baby at that point and everything she would need to do so they could finally see her, feeling anticipation rising in her as she thought of those nearly nine months finally coming to that much desired moment.