Kate looks at herself in the mirror. Her hands stroking her belly as she observes the way it looks in her reflection. It looks strange. Almost unreal. How is the woman in the mirror the same person as her? How was it even possible?

Well, she knows how but still. It feels so weird to know that the belly in the mirror is her belly. And she can't help but start to think about her mom. If she had been here she would've told her all about how weird she's feeling. And she knows her mom would've told her all about how she'd felt herself when she had seen her stomach grow with her in it.

Suddenly Kate's fighting with the tears. Goddamn these hormones, she thinks as she's letting one hand leave her belly in order to wipe away the tears from her cheeks. She can't ignore the pain in being pregnant without her mom being able to see it. But she also can't ignore the immense happiness she's feeling towards having a baby of her own soon.

She can't believe it's only five months left. Feels like yesterday she found out about her being pregnant. Then again she had missed two whole periods before actually realizing it. That's one thing she won't live down. Her husband having a small laugh at the fact that she, Katherine Houghton Beckett Castle, missed the fact that she didn't have period for two months. She who usually notices the smallest of details in a murder case missed her own goddamn period twice before noticing. To be completely honest, she found it hilarious as well. Still does.

She wonders if her mom would've teased her about it. Her dad hasn't, but he was her dad so she doesn't hold it against him. She's sure her mom would've, though. Her hands go back to rubbing her belly, thinking about the life inside her that's growing every day. The little life form who's right now the size of an avocado might've been a surprise but that doesn't change the excitement of soon meeting her. Kate chuckles. Her. They don't really know if it's a boy or a girl yet. And if she gets her way they won't know until they meet their baby in five months. But Castle won't stop pointing out every time Kate is referring to their baby as a girl. She's not even doing it on purpose. But it does feel right. If she's right she won't let her husband…

"Hey." Speaking of the troll.

Kate sees her husband look at her through the mirror and she smiles at him before she turns.

"Hi," she says and smiles even brighter when he's closing the distance between them to put his arms around her, both facing the mirror now. His hands land on her belly, caressing both her and their baby at the same time.

"How are you feeling?" he asks and she hums when she feels his lips in her hair.

"Good," she responds and he hums.

"You sure? You look like you've been upset," he says and when she gives him a questioning look in the mirror he lets one of his hands go up to her cheek to stroke away remnants of a tear.

"Oh," she breathes. "It's nothing, just started thinking how this is another milestone my mom isn't here for."

He nods, kissing the side of her head. "Thanks for telling me. I'm sure she's here though, taking it all in. Wherever she is," he adds and she nods, intertwining their fingers at her belly.

"Thank you."

His hug tightens a bit. "I love you, Kate."

"Hmmm love you too," she says as she kisses his cheek before turning her head to the mirror. "And I love you too little avocado," she hums as they caress her belly together.

"Me too, avocado, me too," he says. And they swear she feels a kick against their hands.

THE END