Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed after the last chapter and to those of you who are still with this story – it means the world to me! My hand is still healing, and I appreciate all of the well wishes you guys have given me. It's getting there! There are just a few chapters left in this story; I can't believe we are almost to the end. Thanks so much again, I hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 53.

"Do you think they'd mind if I cancel?" Kate asked her husband as she pulled their duvet over her head.

He laughed to himself a moment before he followed her under and held the duvet up like a tent so he could see her face. "I know you're tired, Babe, but you already told Lanie and Jenny that you'd join them for a girls day. You'll have fun, I know you will."

She scowled at him, and then seemed to come up with a different approach. "If you help me get out of it, I could make it worth your while," Kate wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

Rick chuckled as he threw the covers off of them. "I have no doubt of that. But," he paused to look at his watch. "You only have half an hour before the ladies get here to pick you up. As much as I would love to stay in bed with you, I think we've got to get up."

"Fine," Kate grumbled as she got out of bed, but it was mostly for show. She was tired, more so than she ever thought possible, but a day with the girls would be nice. Maybe she would even be able to get home early…

Rick smiled at her over his shoulder and she knew he could read her mind.

"What are you gonna do today?" she asked.

He pulled on his deep blue dress shirt, which was one of her favorites, and shrugged. "Well, since my gorgeous wife is busy today, I thought I'd head over to Black Pawn. You know, make an appearance since I haven't gone in for awhile."

Kate frowned. "Do you need me to go with you?" He looked at her with question in his eyes and she continued quickly. "I mean, we're writing partners right? If you have to suffer through boring meetings I should go with you."

Rick beamed at her. "Even though I never helped with any of the boring paperwork?"

"Even though you never did." Kate rolled her eyes.

"I appreciate the offer, love, but this isn't anything like that. I just need to go in and take a look at the most recent sales numbers. I promise you that when it comes down to our first book together, you will be included in every boring meeting you want to attend. I'll even bring the meetings to you if you're too busy with the babies at home."

"You would do that?" Kate asked as a tear slid down her cheek. She was ready for her hormones to settle back down. Katherine Castle was not one to cry at the drop of a hat, and yet, throughout this pregnancy, that was exactly what she did.

Rick crossed the room to her quickly. "Of course I would. I would do anything for you, you know that." He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

Kate nodded silently.

"I laid out a dress for you. Lanie texted and said you were going to The Dutch for brunch, so I thought you might like to wear one of your new dresses."

Kate smiled at her husband and looked at the dress he had placed on the bed. He had insisted on taking her shopping for more maternity clothes while they were in the Hamptons. She had protested at first, but, after seeing her rapidly growing belly stretching out the majority of her shirts (even the maternity ones), she had given in. Rick had chosen a simple blue dress that matched his own shirt. The number of times they had accidentally matched their clothes in the last few weeks was quite ridiculous and here it was again. But, Kate didn't mind. In fact, she liked it.

"You've got us matching again," she said as she pulled the dress over her head.

"Do I?" Rick asked, and Kate could have sworn she heard something in his voice, but when her head popped out of the top, he was looking back and forth between their outfits, clearly trying to understand how they had done it again.

Kate expertly did her hair and make-up with periodic checks of her watch. She knew her time was limited, so she curled her hair carefully and applied a soft pink lip-gloss to finish off her look.

"You're glowing," Rick told her as he appeared behind her and kissed the top of her head.

She looked in the mirror. It was true. There was an underlying glow to her skin that had nothing to do with the make-up. Before she could respond though, the doorbell rang. Kate turned around and caught Rick by the arm before he could leave the room to answer the door. She pulled him to her and caught his lips in a dizzying kiss that had him blinking, clearly dazed when she pulled away.

Kate tossed a smirk over her shoulder as she crossed their bedroom and was pleased to see that her husband had still not quite recovered. Somehow though, by the time she made it to the front door, he was right by her side.

"Right on time ladies," Rick said with a smile as he moved back to leave the women space to enter the room.

"We've got a reservation to keep," Lanie informed him.

Jenny nodded. "Yes we do. Do you have your coat?" she asked Kate.

Kate nodded as Rick pulled it out of the front closet and held it open for her to shrug into.

"Alright Mr. Writer-Man. Kiss your wife goodbye. You'll see her later," Lanie told him.

Rick laughed and did as he was told. You didn't argue with Lanie Parish. Especially a pregnant Lanie Parish. Mere seconds later, Kate had been ushered out of the house and Rick was left standing alone. He looked around before he seemed to shake himself out of his daze. Rick looked at his watch and realized he had to get things done. He didn't have much time.

"I thought we were going to The Dutch?" Kate questioned as their car drove past the restaurant.

"We were," Jenny began.

"But, we changed our minds," Lanie finished.

Kate furrowed her brow at her friends. "Okay…what are we doing then? Because if you don't feel like doing anything we can just go back home…I am feeling pretty tired this morning."

Jenny shook her head. "Oh no you don't. You're not getting out of girls day that easily."

"We just figured you would be tired," Lanie added. "So we thought you'd be more comfortable if it was just us. We had a nice intimate brunch catered to Kevin and Jenny's house for us. That way we can relax, then maybe go to the spa or shopping depending on how you feel."

"Do you still have things to you need to buy for the babies?" Jenny asked before Kate had a chance to respond.

Kate looked back and forth between her friends and felt the tears well up in her eyes. Damn those emotions, she thought. "Guys, that was so sweet of you. I love the idea of just being comfortable at your house rather than going to a restaurant. And yes, I do still have some things on my list for the babies. Maybe after sitting for a bit I'll feel up to some shopping."

All of a sudden the car slowed to a stop. The three women in the backseat exchanged confused looks.

The driver turned to face them. "I'm so sorry. It appears we have a flat tire. If you'll give me a few minutes I'll have it changed and we'll be on our way in no time."

Lanie nodded to him and he got out of the car. "If it's not one thing it's another," she sighed and they followed him out of the car.

Kate was glad that they were having an uncharacteristically spring-like day for March. With this weather, standing outside was nothing. In fact, she considered talking Lanie and Jenny into eating their brunch on the Ryan's back patio when they got there. They watched as their driver wrestled with the tire, clearly embarrassed to be struggling so much.

He had just managed to get the spare tire on the car when his face fell.

"What's wrong?" Lanie asked.

"This tire seems to have a hole in it as well. I'm so sorry," he apologized. "I'll call another car to come pick you up. I'm so sorry about the trouble - "

"It's okay." Jenny laid a careful hand on the man's shoulder. "We can just call one of our husbands to come get us. Do you want to call Rick? Or should I call Kevin?" she asked Kate.

"Rick is probably on his way to Black Pawn right now, if he's not already there. Do you mind calling Kevin? Is he off today?"

"He is actually. He and Javi were going to go bug Rick when he was done with his meeting. I'll call him."

Thirty minutes later they were finally en route to the Ryan's house and Kate was feeling more exhausted by the minute. She leaned her head over to rest on the window next to her and watched the houses go by. Kate let her mind wander to thoughts of her children in the future. She saw a mom and dad playing outside with their children, drawing with chalk on the sidewalk. The mom appeared to be teaching the children to play hopscotch while the dad watched from the side, video camera in hand. It wouldn't be long until that would be how Kate spent her free time – with her children and husband.

"Kate, we're here," Lanie said quietly as she nudged Kate with her arm.

Kate's eyes focused on the door in front of her as she pulled herself out of her thoughts. She smiled at her friends and followed them up the steps to the front door.

"Oh I forgot something in the car," Jenny said. "Kevin, Lanie, will you help me? Here, Kate, why don't you take the key and go on in. We'll just be a minute."

Kate just nodded. It was a testament to how tired she actually was that she didn't overthink the situation. She just turned the key in the lock and pushed open the front door.

"Surprise!" The shouts came from all around the room. Kate staggered backwards as she looked around at all of her friends and family smiling at her. There were two signs hanging in the entryway. One read, It's a boy!, while the other read, It's a girl!

Tears filled Kate's eyes and flowed down her cheeks as she took in the rest of her surroundings. The room looked…like a beach. There was no other way to describe it. There were lawn chairs, beach blankets, even a sandbox. There was a giant sun in the corner and then there was…Rick, smiling sheepishly at her from across the room.

She crossed quickly to him. "Did you do this?"

He shrugged. "I just helped a little. It was Lanie and Jenny's idea to surprise you. I just helped with the theme and in getting you here," he teased quietly for her ears only. It all made sense. The flat tire and everything had been done to delay their approach.

"You brought Florida to me," she whispered to him and he grinned at her.

"Do you like it?"

"It's perfect." That's when she caught sight of the cake in the corner. It was huge, and made to look like a sandcastle with the word, Congratulations, written across the bottom tier. There were various baby toys in pink and blue scattered on each tier and it was so realistic that Kate half expected to find out it was in fact made of sand.

She turned to see Lanie and Jenny watching from across the room. Kate opened her arms and her friends crossed over to her. She enveloped them in her arms. "Thank you guys so much, this is absolutely amazing."

"We can't take all the credit," Jenny began.

"Much as we'd like to," Lanie winked. "This man right here did a lot of it," she said as she pulled Rick into the hug and smacked a wet kiss to his cheek.

They all laughed. "Now, what do you say you go mix and mingle?" Lanie asked Kate. "I'll fix you a plate."

Kate thanked her friend and entwined her fingers with her husband's as she led him across the room to greet her stepdaughter, mother-in-law and father who were huddled next to the cake.

"How did you all manage to keep this a secret from me?" she asked the small group.

"It was Richard, Darling," Martha explained. "He threatened us."

Alexis rolled her eyes in a way that was much like her stepmother and laughed. "He did no such thing. He was just a good example. Normally Dad can't keep a surprise quiet to save his life. But he was determined."

Rick shrugged nonchalantly when Kate grinned at him. "You were so disappointed that we couldn't take our vacation yet, so I thought if Lanie and Jenny were going to throw you a surprise shower, the least I could do would be to help bring the vacation feel to you."

"Annnnd," Lanie added dramatically as she came up behind Kate. "We are all in for this wonderful vacation you came up with."

Martha nodded enthusiastically. "A little fun, a little sun, you know we're all there."

"Dad?" Kate asked as she looked at her father.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world, Katie Bug."

Rick enveloped Kate in his arms and rested his head on her shoulder. "Are you hungry?"

Kate felt the rumble of her stomach along with the familiar movement of her children. "I think the babies are hungry too."

Rick held up a finger and was gone before Kate could blink.

Alexis laughed. "I think he's a little excited about this part. But then again, it's Dad. He's excited about all of it."

Kate shook her head with a grin. "Like a nine-year-old on a sugar high," she said mostly to herself, but everyone else chuckled at the sentiment in her voice.

Before she could open her mouth to speak again, Rick was back. Kate narrowed her eyes in question when he handed her a picnic basket.

"What's this?" she asked.

"Open it," Rick told her as his smile stretched to reach his twinkling eyes.

Kate looked at everyone as they watched her. She pulled back the lid to reveal a delicately packed meal. Inside were all of her favorites – in miniature. There were tiny chicken salad sandwiches, baby corn, cherry tomatoes, little wrapped packages with cheese and crackers, and even cookies that had been shaped to look like swaddled babies. Kate felt the tears prickle in the corners of her eyes as she gazed up into her husband's sparkling blue ones.

"You made me a picnic!" she said as a tear trickled down her cheek.

"And…" he said expectantly.

Kate looked at him, and back at the basket with a smile. "You didn't think I missed the fact that everything is 'baby', did you?"

Rick laughed. "Once a detective, always a detective I suppose."

"And look," Lanie pointed out, gesturing out at the room around them.

Kate hadn't noticed before. But, there were picnic baskets on every table.

"I know how much you love to picnic on the beach," Rick told her. "So I thought you would enjoy it if we could bring that to our own little island paradise right here in New York City."

"It's perfect." Kate leaned over and kissed her husband. "You really are the best husband. You think of everything."

She turned in his arms and watched their guests move around the room. Captain Gates and her daughter poked around in a picnic basket, while seated in rather comfy looking lawn chairs and Jenny and Kevin had moved on to a drink station and were now sipping on beautiful looking drinks complete with pink and blue umbrellas balanced inside. If Kate didn't know any better, she would have thought they really were at the beach.

"Is that actually a - ?"

Rick smiled at her and saw where she was pointing. He nodded. "Yes, it is."

Sarah Grace was sitting, playing in a sandbox with a woman who looked just like Kevin Ryan. It was quite obviously his mother. This shower truly was a family affair, and Kate couldn't have been happier.

"You're going to spoil our kids rotten, aren't you?" Kate asked her husband, the golden specks dancing in her eyes.

"Who, me?" Rick gasped dramatically, eyes wide.

"Alright you two," Lanie interrupted. "You better dig into that picnic basket of yours so we can start playing some games!"

Kate smiled and sat in one of the lawn chairs. Yes, they were every bit as comfortable as they looked. It wasn't until she bent down to reach into the picnic basket that she noticed a scattering of seashells on the tables. Kate pulled Rick onto the chair beside her and wrapped his arms around her.

"Thank you. Rick, really. This is amazing. I couldn't have asked for a better shower. You've given me my own island paradise."

He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "For you, Kate. Anything."

She knew he meant it.

Not even ten minutes later, Alexis bounded over.

"Are you ready to play some games?" The redhead asked excitedly.

"You are most definitely your father's daughter," Kate laughed as she moved the basket to the side and let her stepdaughter pull her to her feet. "I take it you were in charge of games?"

Alexis nodded with a grin. "I know you've been tired lately, so I only planned a few, but they should be fun."

Kate hooked her arm through Alexis' and allowed herself to be led to the center of the room. "I'm sure they will be."

Alexis shot a sideways glance at her stepmother and bit her bottom lip. "Don't kill me," she whispered before she turned her attention to the rest of the room. "First, we're going to play guess the Mommy's measurement…"

Kate raised her eyebrows. "We're going to what?"

"Everyone's going to be given a measuring tape so they can guess how big around your belly is! Whoever is the closest, wins," Alexis grinned mischievously.

"Okay," Kate sighed with a soft laugh. "I guess it's time to see how huge I've really gotten."

The guests entertained themselves, walking around, wrapping the tape around their own bellies in order to help their guesses. When they had finally finished and actually measured Kate's belly, they found that Jenny had been the closest.

"Unfair pregnancy advantage," Esposito complained and everyone laughed.

"Okay," Alexis began again. "We're going to see who the most artistic person is." She moved over to a table and grabbed a bag of white onesies. "Everyone gets their own onesie to decorate, and at the end, Kate will pick which one she likes best. You have twenty minutes. Ready. Set. Go!"

That seemed to get everyone moving. There was a mad dash for supplies, and Kate couldn't help but laugh at the enthusiasm of her family and friends. She even saw her dad hunkered down in a corner working thoughtfully on his design. It took her a moment to notice that Rick was in on this game as well as he sat at a table, carefully making sure no one was able to see his work.

She decided to entertain herself by getting a glass of orange juice, complete with a little blue umbrella. Alexis came over and joined her.

"You're not going to make one?" Kate asked as Alexis poured herself a glass of juice.

"I already made one at home. I figured since I came up with the game it wouldn't be fair if I was judged, but I still wanted to make one." Alexis leaned up against the table and smiled as her dad looked quickly around to see how everyone else had progressed.

"Do you have it here?"

Alexis nodded and reached around to pull a bag out from under the table.

Kate opened it and saw there were two. On one, Alexis had written in pink, And though she be but little, she is fierce, and on the other, she had written, Let him sleep for when he wakes he will move mountains.

"Alexis, honey, these are wonderful. Thank you so much. And thanks for helping with the shower. That really means a lot to me." Kate pulled her in for a hug.

"I just wanted to do one for each of them," Alexis shrugged. "I had fun with it."

"You're not the only one," Kate laughed as she gestured to the people who were working furiously to complete their projects.

"Time's up!" Alexis called after a few more minutes. "Markers down!"

Kate was given all of the onesies without knowing who had done what. She looked them over, and was pleased to see they were all entertaining. There were police cars, fire trucks, ballet slippers and books, each one seemingly more artistic than the one that came before it. It was the last one she came to that really caught her eye.

Someone had drawn a police car next to a badge, with her number on it, with NYPD written above the two drawings. It was beautifully done, and quite realistic.

"While they are all amazing, I think I'm going to have to go with this one," Kate said as she held it up.

"That's mine!" Captain Gates said as she walked forward.

"Are you trying to tell me something, Sir?"

Captain Gates shrugged with a smile. "I'll just say this, the offer still stands. If you ever want to go back to work, the door is always open."

"I appreciate that, I really do," Kate told her, but as she looked over at her husband and down at her belly, she knew deep down, that she wouldn't be going back to the precinct any time soon.

"What do you say we cut the cake?" Rick asked as he moved in to steer Kate in that direction. When he was close enough he whispered, "It's okay, I know you didn't want to pick mine and show favoritism."

Kate laughed. Rick's design had been obvious, Baby Heat, complete with a badge, cop car, book and pen. She had loved it, but he was right, she knew it was his and didn't want to disappoint the rest of the guests, so Kate just shrugged with a playful grin on her face.

"I have no idea what you're talking about Mister Castle," she teased.

"Uh huh," he chuckled knowingly. Rick moved over to the giant sandcastle cake and raised the knife to cut it.

"Wait!" Kate called as she held up her hand to stop him.

He looked at her questioningly.

"I just want to take a picture." She held up her phone and took a few shots before she was satisfied. "I want to remember this. All of it."

Rick nodded in understanding. "Don't worry, there's a photographer over there," he indicated a woman in the corner that Kate had not even noticed. "It's her job to make sure we don't see her, but she's been taking pictures ever since you got here. She's going to make a nice album for you so we can show the twins one day."

Kate looked at her husband, the shock clearly etched all over her face. Just when she thought he was done surprising her, he pulled off another one. She fought back the tears that were threatening to escape as she moved to hug him. Kate buried her face in his shoulder and let herself be held for a long moment. When she pulled away slightly, she looked into his eyes and saw pure joy radiating from her husband.

"Thank you. Thank you for being a constant surprise and the best thing in my life. I love you."

Rick kissed her forehead. "I love you too. Always. Now, what do you say we let them eat cake?"

Kate laughed. "That sounds perfect." A perfect shower complete with family and friends. What more could she ask for?

Thanks to BurningxRedxCaskett for the read through! If you're on twitter, feel free to follow me - livewritealways – As always, thanks for reading, please share your thoughts! xoKristen