A/N: just a short one for those who wanted Gates' reaction to the news!

Coffee and Tea

Part II

Captain Gates hung her head low, nodding slowly as she processed the news. She was hard to read, which Kate found surprising. She had never worried about masking her disapproval of Castle in the past. Why now?

"This is out of my hands now, Detective. I'm sorry." She looked back up to Kate, face still stone cold.

She took a deep breath and nodded. She knew what was coming next. Goodbye Castle. They had talked about this. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing. He could focus on his writing, pump out a Heat book or two before the baby's arrival. And then, once Kate was ready to return to work, he would become a stay-at-home dad anyway... so really they were just starting that process a little early.

"I could act like I didn't know about the relationship... but you can't hide a child. We have to go through the proper channels."

The statement brought her from her thoughts. She wasn't sure what surprised her more - the fact that Gates knew, possibly this whole time, or that she wasn't instantly kicking Castle to the curb.

"Uh, Sir?" She stopped short of asking an actual question.

"Obviously I will do everything I can. But unfortunately, that's really not a lot." Gates pulled a notepad from her desk drawer and began scribbling notes down. "I'll write a letter, recommending you continue to work together. But chances are, it will be disregarded."

"I - uh..." Her captain looked up to her once more, impatiently waiting for her to just spit it out already. "Thank you, Sir."

She placed the pen down on the pad and leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "You seem confused, Detective."

Kate smiled. She probably should have paid more attention to what her face had been doing this whole time, but she was too distracted by Gates'... acceptance. And the kind of confession that she - everything by the book, Iron Gates - had possibly known about the relationship this whole time and just let it slide.

"I guess I just made the assumption that you would see this as an opportunity to rid your precinct of bothersome writers." Her smile grew tenfold when Gates' stone cold demeanour cracked and a smirk broke through.

"The thought did cross my mind. However..." She looked out the glass pane to the bullpen, to observe the writer - who was sitting at his chair, nervously bouncing his leg and fiddling with his coffee cup - before continuing. "He's grown on me. He's proven to be quite the asset at times."

Kate joined her captain in observing Castle. As if he could sense her eyes on him, he moved his focus from the cup in his hands, to meet her eyes. He couldn't help but smile. His eyes drifted along until they met the Captains. Her stare - more of a glare - gave him flashbacks of high school, sitting in the hallway, waiting for the principals lecture. His smile dropped as he sat up straighter.

"You tell him I said that and I'll have your badge."

"Your secret is safe with me." She laughed.

Gates waved her hand, dismissing her as she went back to writing her notes. "Oh, Detective?"

She stopped, hand hovering over the doorknob. "Yes, Sir?"

Gates smiled, "congratulations. I'm very happy for the both of you."