Really quick chapter because I have class soon. Enjoy!

Chapter Forty Eight

"I can't believe you're pregnant," Kate said, as she and Lanie swept up cups, tossing them into trash bags into their opposite hands. "Like, how did that even happen?"

"Well, Katie," Lanie replied, with a grin, "when two people like each other very much, they sort of—"

"Stop, stop, please!" Kate shuddered. "I got that talk a long time ago and I don't need my kid walking out in the middle of it. It's bad enough that she's already asked me, twice, where babies come from."

Lanie cackled. "Just tell her the truth," she said. "They come from mommies' bellies."

"But then she's gonna wanna know how they got there," Kate points out; "what do I say then?"

"That daddies put them there," the darker woman replied, simply. "That's what my mama said and I turned out okay—don't give me that look, Kate Beckett; I'm fine."

"Just a little kooky," Kate murmured, laughing as Lanie tossed a cup at her head.

"Don't mess with pregnant women, girl," the shorter woman warned. "You will not win, 'specially if you make me cry. Javi will be all over your ass."

"I can take him," Kate replied, smirking.

"But can you take me?" Lanie retorted. "Because you just know I can kick your ass, even with this little goblin growing inside me."

"Lanie!" Kate snorted. "Don't call it a goblin!"

"But that's what it's doing!" Lanie retorts. "Everything I put in my mouth, it gobbles it right up and then tosses it back up; I don't think I've had a proper meal in weeks!"

"Gee, Lanie, you're making that sound real enticing," Kate deadpanned.

"Well, you don't gotta have your own, you know," Lanie replied. "You can adopt, just like you're doing with the munchkin," she nodded in the direction of the stairs, up which Alexis was likely still asleep in her room.

"I can't even adopt her until I'm legally married to her father," Kate reminded her.

"But that girl still calls you 'mommy', don't she? You might as well have given her life with all the love you two express to one another. It's sickeningly cute." Lanie stuck out her tongue and Kate laughed.

"You'll change your mind about that when you've got your own 'munchkin' to kiss and love and hug," Kate replied.

"Yeah," Lanie sighed, "after all the diaper-changing, puke-cleaning, sleepless nights are over; you're lucky you never had to go through that with baby Castle."

Kate shrugged. "I'd still like to go through it," she replied, "I mean, one day, when we're finally married and settled in a little bit."

"Girl, you are completely settled," Lanie retorted. "You should see yourself in that loft; less than two months there and it's like it's been years already. You belong there, trust me. Why wait?"

"Because…because we really should," Kate replied. "I mean, a lot of things can change between now and November, you know? What if I got pregnant and he realized how revolting I truly am? What if he's disgusted by my bulging body?"

"Impossible," a voice said behind them, startling both girls. Kate and Lanie turned, blinking up at Castle as he entered, in a plain t-shirt and jeans. Kate felt her face flush in shame as he approached, her face lowering so that her eyes traced the line of her toes in the carpet.

After a moment, she felt Castle's fingers brush against her jaw, lifting her chin up so that their eyes met. His gaze was soft on hers, understanding and calm, but she could see the slight flicker of annoyance there as well and she knew she put it there.

"I think we should have that talk now," he rumbled, low enough that Lanie could not hear, but Kate did; loud and clear.

"Okay," she said, allowing him to take her by the hand and lead her up the stairs, to their bedroom.

-X-X-X-X-X-

Castle locked the door as they stepped inside, allowing Kate to precede him to the bed, where she sat on the edge, her knees pulled up to her chin as she watched him walk towards her, his eyes slightly darker than usual, his demeanor lacking the usual youthful playfulness that she'd fallen in love with. She immediately felt the pang of longing for that specific brand of cheeriness that was uniquely Castle.

Sitting next to her on the bed, Castle kept a small gap between them and Kate felt the urge to lean into him, closing it, but she forces herself to stay still, to let the silence envelop them.

"What do you want?"

The words were sudden and deep-throated and they made Kate jump slightly, turning to her fiancé with blinking, confused eyes. He repeated himself and she sighed, shrugging her shoulders.

"You," she said, simply. "I just want you."

"Then why is this so hard?" Castle sighed. "Why is it so hard for you to talk to me about what's on your mind, and vice versa? Why does it feel like we're constantly fighting this, despite the fact that we say we both want this? What the hell is going on with us?"

Kate shook her head. "I have no idea," she said, realizing that that was maddeningly unhelpful. "But we have ten months to figure it out…together." She grabbed his hand and held it tight, smiling slightly when she felt him squeeze it.

"Then we have to talk," Castle said, firmly. "Honestly and openly about what, exactly, we want, or else this isn't going to work, Kate."

Kate nodded in agreement. "Okay," she said. "Where do we start?"

"Do you want any pets?" Castle asked and the question took her by surprise. She glanced up at him, but his face was serious.

"Maybe," she finally said. "A dog would be nice; a big dog."

"We have plenty of room," Castle added. Kate nodded.

"A husky or a retriever."

"I like Dobermans," Castle said.

"We'll talk. Kids?"

"I thought we agreed we wanted more," Castle reminded her.

"But how many more? Did we figure that out?" Castle shook his head. "So…how many?"

"Three," he said, at the same time she said, "one." They shared a look.

"Two?" he compromised.

"Deal," Kate replied, grinning. "We already have Alexis, anyway."

"True," he acquiesced. "Career? I don't suppose you'd want to be a stay-at-home mom, would you?"

"Definitely not," Kate said. "Chief Justice."

"Ambitious."

"Did you expect anything less?"

"No," Castle said, kissing her forehead. "Never. I'll support you all the way."

"I love you," Kate whispered, leaning into him, her face buried in the crook of his neck, her body finally relaxing.

Castle smiled against her hairline.

"I love you, too."

"Always?"

"Always."

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