A/N #1: This is the final chapter, although there will be an epilogue. I have another story in the works, but it isn't finished, yet. I will start posting when it is complete.
A/N #2: KJ, I had to include your broken nose story. It was to good not to use.
FULL CIRCLE
CHAPTER 14: Christmas Bells and a Visit from the Stork
December 12
"Three more days," Alexis and Kate were putting the finishing touches on Lily's nursery.
"If she comes on time," Kate pointed out. "When I was at the doctor yesterday, she said I'm not dilated. Everybody has told me that first babies are notoriously late."
"Well, when she does finally decide to arrive, her room is perfect," Alexis smiled as they stood back to survey their work.
The walls were painted a pale lavender with butterflies dotting every surface, courtesy of Alexis and Jenny Ryan. Her crib, changing table, and chest of drawers were all a bright, clean white. There was a twin bed in the room opposite the crib. Castle had suggested to Kate that having the spare bed was for the nights when the baby was sick so one of them could stay in the room with her. They had both agreed that they didn't want her in their bed. The bed was covered in an antique quilt that Alexis had found at a craft show. The giant teddy bear that Jim Beckett had bought stood sentry in one corner of the room.
"Are you going with us tonight?"
"To get the tree?" Kate asked as Alexis nodded eagerly. "Alexis—"
"Please?"
Since the impending arrival of Lily, Kate and Alexis' relationship had become much closer. "If you can keep your dad from marching through miles of Christmas trees, I'll go."
"I'll keep him reined in. I promise."
"Yeah, good luck with that. I've seen him at the tree stand. He's like a little kid in a giant candy store."
"Come on," Alexis pulled on Kate's hand. "I'll make us lunch."
The two of them walked back downstairs and Kate took a seat at the breakfast bar while Alexis went into the kitchen to make them some lunch. "I saw the invitation for Black Pawn's Christmas party," Alexis took some items from the refrigerator. "Are you and dad going to go?"
"Alexis, I'm huge," Kate complained. "I don't have anything to wear to a party."
"The party is next Friday. We can go shopping to find you something. You know how much dad loves showing you off. Especially to Alex Conrad," Alexis grinned.
"Why do you think I should go? Besides to rub it in Alex Conrad's face that I belong to your dad?"
"Because it'll be your last chance to go out as a couple before Lily gets here. Besides, you and dad look great together when you're dressed to the nines. I bet we can find you something breathtaking to wear."
"Yeah, at the shop of Omar the Tentmaker."
"Would you stop? Everybody says that you look beautiful."
"Everybody?"
"Yes, everybody."
"I have to admit that my hair has never looked better," Kate caught her reflection in the toaster on the counter. Her hair was longer than it had been in years, and incredibly thick and shiny.
"Not just your hair," Alexis placed a bowl of chicken salad and some French bread on the counter before walking around to take a seat beside Kate. "You should definitely go to the party."
"I will think about it. Okay?"
"Okay."
"Besides, maybe Alex Conrad won't even be there."
"He'll be there. He has a new book coming out after the first of the year," Alexis slathered chicken salad on a chunk of French bread and took a bite. "I also read that he just got engaged."
"Really?" Alexis nodded. "To a model?"
"No. I think she's a reporter."
"Good. So, she won't weigh 98 pounds soaking wet."
"Would you stop already?" Alexis scolded her. "You're not fat."
"Remind me of that tonight when I'm trying to put my boots on to go out with you and your dad. Thank you for making lunch."
"You're welcome."
"Maybe once Lily gets here; I can get over my fear of the kitchen."
Since moving back into the loft, both Kate and Castle had gone into the kitchen only when necessary. The rest of the loft was no problem. Castle had had a state-of-the-art security system installed complete with motion detectors and a video camera in the corridor. But the kitchen was still presenting a problem. "It'll get better," Alexis assured her.
***CCC***
"Richard?" Gina called out to him as he was slipping into his coat following their meeting. "You are attending the Christmas party next Friday night?"
"I'll have to see how Kate is feeling. The baby is due any day now."
"Well, I hope to see the two of you there. Danielle mentioned that she hadn't received an RSVP from you, so I thought I would check up to see if you were attending."
"Like I just said, Gina, it's going to depend on my wife. Speaking of which, I need to go," he rushed out the door of the publishing house before his second ex-wife could stop him.
It was bitterly cold, but luckily, there was no snow. He got behind the wheel of his car and started the engine. He then pressed the button for his Bluetooth. "Call Kate," he instructed the device, smiling when he heard Kate's phone ringing.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Baby Mama."
"I really wish you would stop calling me that."
"Sorry. I am calling to let you know that I will be home in about 20 minutes. Do you need anything before I get there?"
"No. I think we're good."
"Okay. I'll see you in a bit."
She ended the call and looked at Alexis. "Maybe I should start referring to him as my Baby Daddy to see how he likes it."
"He's just excited. Gram said he was the same way when mom was getting ready to have me. Although I think mom ruined it in the end for him."
"How so?" Kate was curious.
"Mom elected to have me by cesarean, and she didn't want him in the OR with her. Dad said I was almost an hour old when he got to hold me for the first time."
"Well, I want him there for everything. I'm sorry that your mom did that to him and to you."
"To me?"
"Yeah, to you. You should've been able to bond with your dad instantly. Just like the dads on those YouTube videos that your dad insists that we watch."
"I never thought of it that way. But I ended up being the lucky one in the end. When they divorced, I got him all to myself. Believe me, I had plenty of bonding time with my dad."
"What was he like when you were young?"
"The same as he was when you first met him, only with daily visits to the park thrown in. I'm surprised sometimes that I didn't turn out to be a spoiled brat. Well, I was on occasion, but not all the time."
"I take it the Stanford rejection comes to mind?"
"I had just never been told no about anything I'd really wanted before. It was hard to accept."
The door opened and Castle walked in, closing the door and keying in the alarm code. After hanging his coat, he walked over and kissed Kate. "It is cold out there. What have you ladies been up to in my absence?"
"We finished Lily's room," Alexis announced.
"That's great! Gina was asking me about the Christmas party next week. She wants our RSVP."
"You want to go, don't you?"
"Well, I love Christmas parties," he smiled. "But I also understand if you don't feel like going. I won't go without you."
"Alexis has offered to go shopping with me for a dress," Kate smiled. "Go ahead and let Gina know that we will make an appearance."
"Thank you!" He kissed her again. "Are you going with us tonight?"
"I told Alexis that I will come with you. On one condition, Rick," she gave him a stern look. "No walking through miles of forest to find the perfect tree. I don't feel like trudging behind you in 30-degree weather."
"Okay. Now, can I go look at Lily's nursery?"
"Yes, you may."
December 19
"How are the two of you feeling?" Dr. Armstrong asked.
"Well, right now I'm glad that I'm not an elephant or a blue whale. Or a giraffe," Kate quickly added.
"You're ready for this pregnancy to be over, in other words," Dr. Armstrong laughed.
"Yes, very ready. Don't get me wrong. I love being pregnant. I just don't love this part. No one told me that I would need my husband's assistance to put my shoes on sometimes. I'm four days overdue. Should I be worried?"
"No. Most first babies are late. If you don't go into labor in the next several days, I'll schedule an induction. How have the scars been?"
"They hurt. But they always hurt. I've gotten used to it. Did I tell you that Castle tried to make me freeze to death?"
"What happened?"
"He insisted that I go with him and Alexis to look for a Christmas tree. It was 30 degrees outside. When we got home, he mentioned how excited he was to take Lily next year. Tonight, we have the annual Black Pawn Christmas party. Do you think I could possibly go into labor between now and eight o'clock tonight?"
"Anything's possible. Personally, I think the party is a good idea. It could be your last outing as a couple before baby makes three."
"I think we have baby-sitters booked for the next five years. Everybody wants their turn at taking care of Lily."
"Well, you're looking wonderful. If you don't go into labor between now and next week, I will see you on the 26th."
"You're working the day after Christmas?"
"Kate, I will probably be working on Christmas. Enjoy your party tonight."
Castle was in the waiting area leafing through a magazine when Kate came out from the back. "What did she say?" He asked, getting to his feet and helping Kate into her coat.
"It's still a waiting game. She said if I don't go into labor between now and next week, she'll see me on the 26th. I want to have her already, Castle," she whined when they left the office.
"I know," he held her as close to him as her pregnant belly would allow. "I want her here already, too. I want to hold her."
"Me, too. Come on, let's go home."
That night, standing in front of the bathroom mirror, Kate carefully applied her makeup. She audibly groaned when Lily stretched out a small hand. "Lily, please don't play 'Alien' tonight." She rubbed the small protrusion, breathing a sigh of relief when Lily retracted her hand.
"Your dress is beautiful," Castle called from the bedroom. "Where did you get it?"
"A boutique in Soho. A friend of Alexis' told her about it. Your daughter is a genius when it comes to couture."
"She inherited that from her mother. One of the few good things I can credit Meredith with. If my mother had taught Alexis how to dress, my daughter would be wearing animal prints."
Kate emerged from the bathroom in her robe. She took the dress from the hanger and carefully slipped it over her head, slowly tugging it over her torso. "I need you to zip me up, Castle," she said after she had smoothed down the front of the dress. "Lily was pulling her 'Alien' routine in the bathroom just now."
"Did she shove her hand or her foot out?"
"Her hand. Sometimes I think she's trying to claw her way out."
"It's probably a tight squeeze in there," Castle said, carefully pulling up the zipper before kissing his wife on the neck, feeling her shiver against him. "Where are your shoes?"
"In the closet. The silver ballet flats."
Castle found the shoes and brought them over to Kate. She then sat on the bed so he could help her slip into them. "We won't stay long. I know that you're doing this to humor me, and I appreciate it."
"I'm not doing this to 'humor you,' Castle. This will probably be the last time that I can dress up and be pretty for you before Lily gets here. Am I miserable? Yes. But I'm also looking forward to being on your arm."
"Have I mentioned lately how much I love you?"
"Yes. But I never get tired of hearing it," she grinned.
"I love you," he stood up and kissed her.
"I love you, too. By the way, you look very handsome tonight."
"Thank you." Castle was wearing a burgundy shirt and a white tie. "We almost match."
"Almost."
Kate's dress was a rich red with long sleeves and a flowing skirt. "Come on, we don't want to be late."
The party was being held on the top floor of Black Pawn Publishing. Kate and Castle walked into the room and gave their coats to someone to hang up in a nearby large closet. "Richard!" Gina instantly spotted them and came rushing over. "I'm so glad that you could make it! Kate, you look—"
"Huge?" Kate tried to assist Castle's ex-wife with words.
"No, not at all. You look beautiful. When are you due?"
"Four days ago," Kate answered, smiling up at Castle.
"Oh," Gina was desperately groping for something to say that didn't sound grossly inappropriate. "Well, I hope you don't go into labor in the middle of the party."
"On that note, I think I'll see about getting us some food," Castle quickly pulled Kate away before Gina could open her mouth and speak again. "You know, if you go into labor, that would be the most exciting thing to happen at this party."
"I'll see if Lily will cooperate," she whispered.
"Rick! Kate!" Alex Conrad saw them and quickly walked over with a tall brunette on his arm. "I'd like for you to meet my fiancé, Darien Walker. Darien, I'd like you to meet my mentor, Richard Castle, and his wife, Capt. Kate Beckett of the NYPD."
"It's lovely to meet you. Alex has told me all about you."
"Congratulations on your engagement," Castle shook Alex's hand. "It's nice to meet you, Darien. Kate and I are going to mingle."
"And eat," Kate added.
"Yes and eat."
"We'll catch up later."
"We will," Castle guided Kate to the buffet table. "She's tall," he whispered to Kate.
"Be nice," she slapped at him. "You got the girl. Remember?"
"Yeah, I did," he grinned, his lips meeting hers, quickly breaking apart when Kate gasped. "Lily?"
"Yeah. She just kicked really hard. She's probably jealous of us kissing."
"Or of Alex Conrad."
"Would you stop?"
Castle fixed them plates and then led them over to some small tables. "Stay here and hold our table. I'll get us something to drink."
Kate had just picked up her fork and began eating when Gina suddenly materialized in Rick's chair. "I'm sorry," she quickly apologized. "I just never know what to say to pregnant women."
"It's okay. I was in your shoes once."
"Rick wanted us to have a baby when we were together, but I was such a driven career woman. I never imagined myself with babies hanging on either side of me."
"That was also me once."
"Congratulations. I mean that. Castle was many things when we were married, but I will never deny that he is a wonderful father to Alexis."
"He's very excited. So is Alexis."
"I know. We talk occasionally. About school and boys."
"Gina?" Castle walked back over with a glass of white wine for himself and a glass of sparkling cider for Kate.
"I was just apologizing to Kate," Gina got up. "Enjoy the party."
"Okay, what did she really say?" He asked, sitting next to Kate.
"Just what she said. She was apologizing. She said that you wanted to have a baby when the two of you were married."
"Well, I think Alexis wanted it more than I did. But I wasn't averse to the idea. But Gina would've been one of those moms who would've had nannies raising our child. I didn't like that idea with Alexis, and I didn't like it for any future children."
Kate was about to say something further when she felt another savage kick from her daughter. "Wow," she sucked in a deep breath. "She hasn't moved much for weeks, and she's decided to resume kicking the hell out of me tonight."
"Are you okay?"
"Honestly, I'm not sure."
"Do you think you might be in labor?"
"Castle, I don't know. I don't know what labor is even supposed to feel like. Do you remember when Meredith was in labor?"
"No, because Meredith had a scheduled c-section. She didn't want to be in pain. If you want to go to the hospital, just say the word. How bad is the pain?"
"It's not as bad as being shot in the chest."
"Let's just sit here and relax. If you have more pains, we'll head to the hospital."
Nothing further happened while they were eating, so Kate forced herself to relax. After they finished eating, she went in search of the ladies' room while Castle worked his way through the room, chatting with other authors. "I meant to congratulate you on both your marriage and the baby," Alex Conrad caught up with him.
"Thank you. When are you and Darien getting married?"
"Next summer in Connecticut. Her parents have a home there."
Castle caught Kate's eye when she emerged from the ladies' room. "Excuse me," he quickly made his way over to Kate. "Are you okay?"
"Castle, I think we need to go to the hospital."
"Okay," he sounded much calmer than he felt. "I'll get our coats."
"You're not leaving me alone."
"Okay, we'll get our coats."
An hour later
"What do you mean I'm not in labor?" Kate shouted at the young intern that had just finished examining her.
"Exactly what I said. The pains you're experiencing are just very strong Braxton-Hicks contractions. You're two centimeters dilated, but you're not effaced."
"But two centimeters dilated is a good thing, right?"
"Well, it means you're getting close. But it isn't going to happen tonight. You can get dressed while I speak to your husband."
"When you finish talking to him, can you send him in here? I need his help getting dressed."
Castle was anxiously pacing in front of the door when Doogie Howser, M.D. stepped out. The kid looked to be younger than Alexis. "Mr. Castle? It's a false alarm."
"Are you sure? Because Kate was in a lot of pain coming over here."
"Her past injuries are the main cause of her pain along with some strong Braxton-Hicks contractions, but she's not in labor. She did say she would need your help getting dressed, so you can go in there. I'll go start her discharge orders."
When he walked into the room, he was about to make a joke about Kate's young doctor when she burst into tears. "Hey," he walked over and pulled her close. "It's okay. Meredith and I made three trips to the hospital in the weeks before she had Alexis. Lily's going to come before you know it."
"I'm so tired, Castle. I'm tired of not sleeping, I'm tired of heartburn that keeps me up all night, I'm tired of the scars pulling. I'm just tired!"
"I know. Hopefully, it won't be much longer."
"I'm tired of not being able to dress myself," she sniffled.
"Then it's a good thing that I'm here, isn't it?"
When they walked into the loft, Kate stopped as always to admire the Christmas village that their living room had become. "Next Christmas, we'll have a baby to share all of this with," he breathed into her hair.
"How do you baby-proof a Christmas tree?" Kate envisioned their one-year-old destroying this very room.
"You learn to say the word 'no,' a lot. Sit and I'll make you some hot chocolate."
"Was Alexis bad?"
"Her first Christmas, she was two months old. However, the next Christmas she was Typhoon Alexis. She set out to destroy everything in her path. I didn't get any writing done until after the tree came down because I spent her every waking moment keeping her distracted and away from the tree."
"It's funny how I dread that and yet look forward to it all at the same time."
After making hot chocolate for both of them, he came over and sat beside her on the couch. "Do you want to watch more birthing videos?"
"No."
"Do you want to watch 'Aliens' or 'Jurassic Park?'"
"Hell no."
"Do you want to just sit here and enjoy the Christmas tree?"
"Yeah," she rested her head on his shoulder.
December 22
Kate wasn't sure what had awakened her. Something felt different. She felt for her cell phone and looked at the time. It was almost six o'clock. She curled up closer to Castle, smiling when she felt his arms wrap around her as much as they were able. She was exactly a week late. Dr. Armstrong had assured her that there was nothing to worry about. Jenny Ryan had told her that Sarah Grace had been born after her due date. There was nothing to worry about.
Kate had a different theory. Kate had decided that Lily liked taking up residence in her body, shifting her organs around to make more room for her growing body. Kate was convinced that Lily was going to weigh close to 20 pounds by the time she was ready to come out. She wasn't giving birth to a baby, anymore. She was giving birth to a Thanksgiving turkey.
Her thoughts were interrupted by everything tightening. 'Great,' she thought. 'Just what I need. Braxton-Hicks contractions at six in the morning.'
"Are you okay?" Castle's voice was gravelly with sleep.
"Yeah. Braxton-Hicks. It's always Braxton-Hicks."
"Are you sure?" He quickly sat up and switched on the lamp. "I mean, you are a week late."
"Thanks for reminding me. She's never coming out, Castle. I'm sure of it."
"She's going to come out," he smiled. "Maybe we should time the pains."
"Yeah, I guess. But I don't see the point."
"I'm going to make coffee. If you have another pain, note the time and how long it lasts," he turned on the stopwatch app on her phone.
By eight a.m., they were both sure that this was indeed the real thing. Kate placed a call to Dr. Armstrong. "How far apart are the pains?"
"Right now, about 12 minutes apart. They're not lasting very long. Maybe 15 or 20 seconds."
"Okay. Just relax and take it easy. You don't need to head to the hospital unless your water breaks, or the pains are five minutes apart. And Kate?"
"Yes?"
"Don't eat anything heavy."
"Okay."
"I'll see you and Rick in a few hours."
By-midafternoon Kate was miserable. She had been shot three times, but nothing could've prepared her for the feeling of a small human trying to force their way out of her body. "I want drugs, Castle. Lots and lots of drugs," she moaned through another pain.
"I thought that we agreed—"
"Drugs, Castle," she glared at him. "Morphine, Percocet, Vicodin. Illegal stuff."
"Yeah, I'll get right on that."
"Next time, if there is a next time, you're doing this."
"Duly noted."
Castle was glad that it was just the two of them for the time being. He had sent Alexis to the P.I. office, promising to call her the minute they left for the hospital. His mother had wanted to come to the loft, but Castle had begged her not to. She had promised to drop by once her afternoon classes had finished. Castle wasn't sure Kate could handle his mother right now. He wasn't sure that he could handle his mother right now. "Distract me, Castle. Tell me about Alexis."
"When they handed Alexis to me for the first time, I was scared by how little she was. I knew that babies were little, but she was like holding air. She was so quiet," he smiled at the memory. "I remember just staring at her and she was staring back at me. I couldn't believe that Meredith and I had made this little person. I promised her that she would always have two parents that loved her, no matter what."
"I told Alexis that when I saw her for the first time at your book launch party, I wondered when she'd start her career of petty crime. Especially after I read your file."
"I still don't see how Meredith and I created this person who is so mature beyond her years."
"Alexis promised me that we'll allow Lily to be a child. Until she's four or five, anyway," Kate took a breath and motioned for Castle to start the stopwatch.
As if on cue, the door opened, and Alexis rushed in. "I couldn't stay at work one more minute. Kate, how are you feeling?"
"Tired."
"It's cold outside. I think it might snow later."
"I need more distraction," Kate motioned at Castle.
"Uh, uh-"
"Seriously, Castle? When we first met, I couldn't get you to stop talking. Now that I want you to talk, you don't have anything to say?"
"When I was six," Alexis began, looking at her father, "my friends Paige and Taylor were here for a sleepover. Dad was playing tag with us—"
"Alexis, stop! Don't finish telling that story! It was embarrassing!"
Kate smiled before focusing her attention back on Alexis. "Ignore him, Alexis. Please continue."
"We were playing tag and dad was trying to tag me. Only he overshot and ran past me straight into the wall. He broke his nose. There was blood everywhere. I had to call Gram because dad needed to go to the emergency room."
"You ran into the wall?"
"Yeah. It was cool afterward because I looked like I'd been in a prizefight. I had to have surgery a few years later because I couldn't breathe through my nose, especially at night."
"This is what Lily has to look forward to?" She motioned at Castle to start the stopwatch.
"Not just tag. Hey, Kate?"
"Yeah."
"You're at the five-minute mark."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Alexis—"
"I'll get your bag."
11:47 p.m.
"When my contractions were five minutes apart, I thought that I'd come up here and have her within an hour, maybe two. It's been seven hours. Where is she?"
"She'll get here, Kate," Dr. Armstrong assured her.
"Castle?"
"Yeah?"
"We're never having sex again."
"You'll change your mind," he looked at the doctor.
"I won't."
"You will. I'm going to go update everybody."
"Update them on what? Nothing's changed, Castle!"
Dr. Armstrong smiled after Castle quickly fled the room. "Kate, believe it or not, you're on track. Lily is tolerating the labor well. Hopefully it won't be too much longer."
Castle took a breath upon leaving the room. He didn't know how to comfort Kate. He knew that she was anxious and scared, but so was he. He walked down the hall to where their family had gathered to wait for Lily's arrival. "Richard, how's Katherine?" Martha asked.
"She's doing okay. She's more than ready for Lily to get here."
"Do you have any idea how much longer?"
"No."
"Can I go in to sit with her? It'll give you a chance to get some coffee."
"Yeah, she'd probably enjoy your company."
Dr. Armstrong was exiting Kate's room when Martha approached. "Doctor, is it all right if I go in and sit with Kate?"
"Yes. She's anxious. Having someone with her who's been through it would probably be a comfort to her right now."
"Thank you."
Kate looked over at the door to see who was coming in. "Hi, Martha."
"Hi, kiddo," Martha walked over and sat down. "Did Alexis French braid your hair?"
"Yeah. Right before we got here. I didn't know it was going to take this long. I've walked, I've rolled around on my exercise ball. She doesn't want to leave. Did it take a long time when you had Rick?"
"Honestly, I don't remember most of it. I had pains and I went to the hospital. They gave me something and then it seemed like minutes later they were shouting at me, telling me that I had a healthy son. The rest is a blur. Believe me, Lily wants to see you as much as you want to see her."
"You're anxious, too?"
"Oh darling, I love being a grandma. I didn't think I'd get the opportunity a second time. I'm very anxious to meet my new granddaughter."
December 23, 1 a.m.
Kate was never in her life so happy to hear that she could finally push. But no one had warned her about how much pushing was going to aggravate the scars from the shooting. She was screaming from the agony of the scars pulling and the feel of Lily slowly making her way out into the world. "I can't do this, Castle. It hurts too damn much!"
"You can do this," he whispered against her neck. "This is the culmination of everything that has happened to us since last May. This is a fuck you to the doctors who told you that you or Lily would die. Once she's here, I'm going to invite every one of them to come in here so you can thumb your nose at them. You are extraordinary. I've never seen you back down from a challenge. Don't start doing it now."
"Come on, Kate. Let's do this," Dr. Armstrong looked up from her position at the end of the bed, causing Kate to suddenly burst into hysterical laughter. "What's so funny?"
"Bill Cosby was right. You look like Johnny Bench."
"I don't get it, but okay. Deep breath, and push!"
It was another 45 minutes of hard pushing before Castle finally saw Lily's head slowly emerging. "I see hair," he whispered against her neck. "She's almost here."
Kate thought that she was going to rip apart when Lily's head finally delivered, her angry squalls filling the room. "She's pissed off at us."
"A few more pushes, Kate, and you can finally hold her."
Kate felt Lily's shoulders emerge, and then it felt like the rest of her just slid out of her. "Is she okay?" Tears were blurring Kate's vision as she tried to look toward the end of the bed.
"She looks perfect," Castle kissed Kate's cheek as Dr. Armstrong held up their wet, slippery baby girl for both parents to see. The doctor smiled as Kate reached out for Lily. With Castle's assistance, Kate managed to bring the baby up to her chest, still attached to the umbilical cord. "You did it. Hello, Lily."
Once she was placed on her mother's chest, Lily got quiet, her unfocused baby eyes trying to take in her surroundings. "Oh my god, you're beautiful," Kate kissed the top of her head, breathing in the scent of her newborn daughter.
"Daddy?" Dr. Armstrong held the hemostat out toward Castle.
Castle blinked back tears as he cut Lily's cord, severing the connection between Kate and their daughter.
"Kate, we need to get her cleaned up, then you can have her back."
"She's okay, right?" Kate anxiously watched Dr. Armstrong hand Lily off to a nurse, who quickly wiped her down before taking her over to be weighed, measured, and have drops put in her eyes.
"Kate, she's perfect."
Once she was out of her mothers' arms, Lily began crying again. Cries that got louder with every indignity the nurse was putting her through. But once she was swaddled, the crying stopped, and Kate soon found herself with her daughter back in her arms once again. "I take it that she's staying with you."
"I'm not letting her out of my sight."
"We need to bathe her and get her into a diaper. After that, she's all yours. While she's gone, Isabelle will help you clean up and get your bed changed."
"While they're doing all that, I'll go tell the family that Lily is here."
It was another half an hour before Lily was brought back to Kate. By this time, the family had entered the room. "Katie, she's gorgeous," Jim kissed the top of Kate's head. "She looks just like you did when you were born."
"Dad, would you like to hold your granddaughter?" Kate smiled at her dad.
"I thought you'd never ask," Jim carefully removed the baby from Kate's arms and nestled her in the crook of his arm.
Everybody 'oohed' and 'aahed' over Jim holding the baby. "When are you bringing her home, Kate?" Alexis asked.
"Probably tomorrow."
"How are you feeling?" Martha asked.
"Better now that she's out. Now that I know that she's really okay."
The rest of the family took turns holding the baby and taking pictures. But they could also see that Kate was starting to tire. Everybody hugged and kissed one more time before leaving the new parents alone with their new baby. "I'm a mom, Castle," she smiled at him.
"Yes, you are. Now the real adventure begins."
A/N #3: There will be a short epilogue to wrap everything up.
A/N #4: The Bill Cosby/Johnny Bench reference refers to a routine on 'Bill Cosby: Himself,' where he's talking about the birth of one of his children.
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