fembot77 asked: Castle Flash-Fiction Challenge: Beckett between contractions, Beckett during contractions

This turned out differently than I expected, but let's go with it. 1 hour writing time means no second guessing. Originally posted on my tumblr many months ago. Kiiind of AU. (Okay, actually AU.)

Business As Usual

"I'm sorry."

It's watery, whispered into the space between them, and it's all he can do not to drop to his knees at the edge of the bed. She's beautiful and soft, almost delicate in the pale moonlight, an utter contrast from the angry chaos of just a few hours ago.

"Sorry? Why are you –" He does move closer, angling the chair to face her.

"Your hand," she interrupts, swiping her fingers under her eyes before securing the bundle in her arms once more. "Castle, I broke your hand during a contraction."

A smile touches his lips. Yeah, she'd done that; she'd kept a hold on his hand throughout each contraction, her grip Iron Woman-worthy, but that final, agonizing stretch before their son made his debut to the world had overwhelmed her. She'd yanked and clutched with everything she had, bearing down on his knuckles as their son's big head left her body.

"Worth it," he whispers, resting the cast beside her hip. Guilt flashes across her face again, but he offers a short shake of his head. "Beckett, you were delivering a person at the time. I think you get a pass for this."

He'd felt the pop, but hadn't even noticed the pain until the nurse offered the baby to him. It was only after Kate encouraged him to follow the baby to the nursery that it had truly registered. When his hand ached with every strike of his foot against the floor, he'd stopped writing it off as soreness.

Kate exhales, lowering her eyes to his injured hand. He wiggles his fingers, hoping she can't see his discomfort in the shadows. He'd opted for regular pain meds instead of the heavy duty ones; he doesn't want to be loopy on their first night as a family.

"It's just a few weeks," he adds, scooting closer, cupping her cheek with his good hand. Her body lists into the contact, eyes slipping shut. "I'll be good as new in just a few weeks."

"Yeah," she agrees, clearing her throat. Her eyes pop open again, shining. "Still, I'm sorry you won't have both hands to hold him until then. It's…"

"Like your heart has left your chest and your entire being is in your arms," he finishes for her, dropping his head to watch their son's chest rise and fall with each breath.

She nods, turning her face into his hand, brushing her lips along his wrist. "That's exactly how it feels right now. He's just so perfect. And we did that. We made that."

He nods in return, shifting his weight against the bed. The motion jars his fingers, but he ignores the twinges in favor of taking her lips with his.

Beckett sighs into the kiss, whispering his name against his mouth.

"Yeah?" he breathes, pushing a short strand of hair off her forehead.

"I'm also sorry I threatened to shoot you."

Rick grins, taking another slow sip from her mouth. "You do that every day."

Her lips quirk. "Not every day. Every other, maybe."

He settles back in his chair, slipping his good hand under the baby's back. The angle is awkward, but he doesn't care; he's there with them both.

"Uh huh. You were also between contractions when you said it. I figured it was business as usual."

That makes her laugh, letting him know it's going to be okay. Broken fingers or not, it's going to be okay.