AN: Hey guys, I'm sorry for not posting earlier, but I wanted to write some more. I didn't write as much as I wanted these last few weeks with finals coming up, but things are getting back to normal (or so I think). I may or may not finish this story until Christmas, but I intend to. Let's see how that works out.

Until then, enjoy chapter 8! :D

CHAPTER 8

"I'm here! I'm here!" yelled Lanie when she arrived at Kate's house.

"Why are you yelling? I told you nothing is wrong, so why are you acting like something's on fire?"

"Well, can you blame me? You told me you want to talk about something, but not on the phone. That sounded serious as shit!"

"Language, young lady!" said Johanna laughing.

"Sorry, Ms. Beckett. But I panicked."

"As I said before, there's nothing wrong, but do you listen? Of course not."

"Why don't you just tell me then?"

"You're impossible, Lanie. Let's go upstairs."

"She's not going to murder me, right?" said Lanie to Johanna, only half-joking.

"If you keep me waiting I just might. Get your ass here!"

"You should go. The Beckett women are dangerous. Listen to me, I live with two of them." Whispered Jim while Johanna rolled her eyes at her husband's comment.

"Lanie, don't make me come back downstairs!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming. You're so bossy."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Take a seat, please. I will tell you something and I don't want you to pass out and hit your head, so sit!"

"Okay, you told me there's nothing wrong but you're freaking me out. Whose body do we have to hide? Just say the word and I'll do it. I'll even take the blame and go to jail. Just tell me, woman!"

"There's no need for you to do anything illegal. I'm pregnant." Said Kate smiling.

Lanie opened her mouth, but no words came out.

"I should have listened to you." She said after a few more seconds.

"I was not expecting that. So, you're-"

"Pregnant, yes."

"Oh my god, girl. You're pregnant!" she enveloped Kate in a bone-crushing hug.

"I'm gonna be an aunt! How long? Wait till the guys find out."

"Lanie. Lanie, please stop. No one is going to find out. Not yet anyway. And to answer your question, I'm around 8 weeks."

"8 weeks?" Kate saw the exact moment the realization hit Lanie.

"Rick?" Kate only nodded.

"You sure?"

"Really, Lanie?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm just excited and I can't think straight. Does he know?"

"Not yet. I don't want to do it on the phone. That's why I don't want anyone else to find out before he does. That's why I called you here because I need your help."

"That's not the only reason you called me, right? You wanted me to find out."

"Of course, Lanie. You're my best friend. You would have figured this out anyway. You know me better than anyone. I know you're just trying to get compliments. Don't look at me like that. I know you better than anyone else too, so stop."

"You should consider a career as a detective instead of a lawyer. You're good." When she saw the look Kate was giving her, she decided to stop.

"Okay, I'm done. How did you find out?"

"That's actually a funny story. Dad found out before I did, or he was suspicious of me throwing up. You should have seen him, Lanie. He looked so scared. I think he was scared because that means I grew up and I'm not his little girl anymore."

"You will always be his little girl, even when you'll be 40 and have grey hair. Wait, he didn't kill Rick yet?"

"Now that you mention it, I don't think he had time to think about it, you know. To let the reality sink in. But he's so supportive. Mom too. I think they are happy to be grandparents while they still can run after a toddler." Kate laughed but her mood changed immediately.

"Okay, what is this about?"

"What do you mean, Lanie?"

"This whole mood swings. And don't try to blame it on hormones because I don't buy it. What's going on here?" she said pointing to Kate's head.

"What if he doesn't want to be with me anymore? Or what if he doesn't want to be involved in all this? I would get it if he doesn't want anything to do with me, but if he doesn't want to be involved in this baby's life? It would crush me." Said Kate while unconsciously putting her hand on her stomach.

"Please don't think like that. You must talk to him first. But I think you don't have any reason to worry."

"You're thinking of Meredith."

"Exactly. She tried to get back with him by lying that she's pregnant and Rick was ready to jump on that if we weren't there to open his eyes. We were barely 18 and he was ready to be a father. So yeah, I think you have nothing to worry about."

"But Lanie, what if he thinks I'm doing the same thing? What if he thinks I'm lying too?"

"Will you stop with 'what ifs'? Let's see. What if he wants to be involved and he wants to be with you?" Lanie knew this was the right question by looking at Kate's face.

"That's what you're afraid of. Why is that, Kate? Please talk to me."

"I don't want to make him put his dreams on hold for me. And I don't want to screw this baby's life."

"And you won't. Kate, he can still achieve everything he wants even if you two decide to raise the baby together. And I know you won't screw the little one's life. You're already thinking of them. You're going to be a great mother."

"That's exactly what mom told me."

"She's a very wise woman, just like someone else in this room. Spoiler alert, we are not talking about you."

"Ha-ha, smartass."

"Kate, don't let fear define you. You're more than that. And you have us: your parents, me, the guys, and Rick. We all have your back, and we will be by your side for as long as you want us."

"Lanie, you have no idea how much that means to me. Thank you! I don't know what I would do without you."

"Fortunately for you, you don't have to find that out. Now we must think of how to tell Castle. You said you don't want to do it on the phone. So, I think you should go there. Maybe your mom or your dad can come with you. I think you should take your mom. If your father starts to think about it, he might kill Castle before you have a chance to tell him."

"That's not going to happen, because neither my dad nor mom is going there. If it's not too much to ask, I want you to come with me."

"You want me there?"

"Mhm."

"When you tell Castle the news?"

"Mhm."

"You sure about that?"

"Do you want me to start begging you? Please, oh please wise Lanie, come with me to LA to tell the man of my dreams the news that might scare him away from me for life."

"The man of your dreams, huh? We'll talk about that too. We have time on the way to LA, don't you worry my friend."

"That means you're coming with me?"

"You can always count on me. You should know that by now."

"I do, but I don't want to assume." Kate saw Lanie bend over her stomach.

"What are you doing?"

"Shh! Let me talk to my niece. Mommy and I are going on a girls' trip, and you're invited too, of course. You won't remember much... well, any of it, but I will make sure to tell you everything. Oh, and by the way, I'm Lanie, the coolest aunt anyone can have."

"Oh, the modesty in this room. Niece, huh?"

"Yes! That baby is definitely a girl. Just wait and see. I'll be here to tell you 'I told you so!'".

"Okay weirdo, let's go downstairs and talk about the details of this girls' trip, as you put it."

"It takes one to know one!" yelled Lanie after Kate left the room.

After a few days of planning and thinking, they got to their hotel in LA. They just need to go to Rick's dorm and talk.

"Do you think he'll be okay with this?"

"Girl, if you ask me that once again, I'm gonna smack you. And I already warned you so you can't tell me I didn't."

"Fine! I'll stop."

"Kate? Not that I don't like this surprise, but what are you doing here?" Rick asked from behind.

AN: I messed the story a little when I said Kate is 6 weeks pregnant, I didn't think that through, but I made some changes in chapter 7. Thanks to whoever told me that, I appreciate it.

If you see something that doesn't feel right please feel free to tell me.