I'll Still be Loving You
by Castlefan6
Authors Note: Thisis my AU version SEQUEL to Dinner Date, Please read that before starting this. This story picks up without any time lapse and continues with Kate and Rick as they forge ahead as a Couple and concludes the story arc started when Rick left suddenly.
I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only
Chapter 14
Previously
"Great, We're coming with you, I mean Cricket knows all the healthcare professionals in London, and I'll be with Kate while you work, so I need to know how to be sure her and my little brother or sister are OK?" Alexis said in a tone that Rick knew there was no use arguing with her.
"Alexis, I'm thrilled you want to come with me, but I mean don't waste the last days of your stay here to come with me, I mean,"
"MOM, can I call you that to because, it would confuse the baby if I called you Kate and they called you Mommy, Alexis said as she turned Red, "Get used to it Mom, you're going to get taken care of, it's final, We'll be back later as they started to leave the room.
Cricket whispered, "Congratulations Kate, Alexis has a great point and I'd love to help anyway I can" as Kate whispered, "Thank you" and smiled,
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The Loft
6:00 AM Next Day
If Kate had thought that Alexis wasn't serious about taking care of her she was sadly mistaken. When Kate awoke the next morning, Rick was already out in the kitchen making breakfast, as she observed through the office door. Alexis was by his side, working in tandem as they had done for years, but it was the conversation that stirred emotions from deep within Kate,
"Dad, I did some research last night, well Cricket helped too, I didn't know but she had been pregnant and delivered a baby boy when she was married. It was so sad to hear that her baby died of SIDS when it was just a few weeks old. She held up well, but I could tell it really hurt her, so I think we need to be sensitive to that going forward.
She was really happy for Kate and you, she said that I was going to have a beautiful brother or sister, and for me to not let anything happen to either of you. She really loves our family Dad, she's really sweet and it makes me wonder why all the bad things happen to such sweet people, it isn't fair."
"Thanks for telling me Alexis, I had no idea, I knew she had been married, but I didn't press for details, I didn't feel it was appropriate for our working relationship. How terrible that must have been for her and her family, I just can't imagine." Rick whispered sadly,
"I know Dad, one minute you have a healthy baby, the next they're gone, it just isn't fair." Alexis said with tears in her eyes
Rick turned, wiped his hands on a towel, and pulled his daughter in for a hug, "Hey, Hey, Pumpkin, it's OK and we both know that life isn't fair. You would hope that good people are spared the bad things in life, but sweetie, if we had no bad, no loss, we wouldn't know how grateful we should be for all we do have. Remember our talk about why I limited your allowance, and the reasons why we help others?"
"I remember Dad, you said that you were raised with virtually nothing, which made you appreciate everything you have, and that you recognize that our possessions aren't really ours, we only borrow them while we're here.
I think you said the mark of a man is not how much he has, but how much he has given away at the end of his life. I didn't really understand it then, but I'm glad I wasn't raised like a rich brat, Thank You Daddy, one of the best things you ever did for me and I didn't even know it" as she hugged him back.
"Daddy I know Kate and you are solid, I just hope she doesn't mind me butting in to take care of her and my little sibling, I mean she's independent and it's going to take getting used to. I'm sorry in advance for hurting her feelings, but I have worried about her since you two met.
I used to lie awake at nights, especially when your phone rang thinking the worst that something had happened to her, I don't know how we could take that, so I hope she doesn't get angry or upset with me, it's only because I*"
"Love me Alexis? I love you all too Sweetie, and I know I can be a real B. I can't even blame the hormones yet, but Sweetie, you do what you have to, and I'll say I'm sorry now, because know this, I may be pregnant, but my first daughter is right here taking care of me, if you'll have me" as she pulls Alexis into a hug, tears in both of their eyes.
"I'm sorry but I overheard some of your conversation, Thank You Alexis, you're far more mature than girls your age, hell even I wasn't this mature at your age. We'll spend a girls day afternoon after the doctor with Cricket if she would like, just us three and have our girl talk" Alexis smiled, I'm sure she would love that Mom,
"She's right Kate, I would love it, and please I know you are feeling that we have to tip toe around the death of my child, but it's OK now. I can talk about it without freaking out, I can't go through life breaking down every time I see a baby.
Andrew's death was unpreventable, even if I had been awake 24/7 his little lungs never fully developed, and he fell ill and died three weeks after we brought him home. My husband and I fought, blame was abundant from both sides, till finally we lived in the same house, but the marriage was as dead as our little boy.
Then the legal incident, and I finally divorced him and changed my name back to my maiden name. I hid from the real world in work, and now that I see what a family looks like, it makes me sad that I didn't fight harder or look for other avenues besides work to relieve my pain or so I thought it was doing." Tears had formed in her eyes and Kate pulled the young lady into a hug,
"Hey, you have a family, us, and it's about to grow by one, so what say we have breakfast, and after the Doctor we three ladies will spend the afternoon shopping or talking OK?" Kate reassured her,
"Lovely Kate, that will be just lovely" Thank You Cricket whispered.
Dr. Teresa Manning OB/GYN Office
8:50 AM Next Day
Kate had changed into one of those silly gowns that no matter how you tried, something was showing, as Alexis helped her get ready for the dreaded internal exam. Rick and Cricket were waiting patiently in the outer office, once the exam was done, then Dr. Manning would be able to talk to them all with more confidence. She had ordered a battery of tests, blood, urine, and sonograms from three different angles.
Other information was gathered from questionnaires and tests such as;
Blood pressure, height, and weight
Medical and/or psycho social problems
Date of last menstrual period
Methods of Birth control
History of any abortions or miscarriages
Hospitalizations
Current Medications
Medication allergies
Your family's medical history in general
Kate had discussed with Rick, but not Alexis about a pregnancy she had at age 20, which terminated naturally, forcing her to have an outpatient D &C procedure, (dilation and curettage procedure). She had become pregnant after getting drunk and going home to her on again off again deadbeat boyfriend. As soon as the word pregnancy was heard, he was gone, never to be heard from again.
The only other ones to know about it were Lanie, and Captain Montgomery who approved her sick leave as pneumonia and kept it quiet. Kate knew that she needed to tell Alexis, especially if she wanted a complete and accurate plan for a healthy delivery for the baby, Alexis would need to know should anything happen.
As Alexis retrieved a warm blanket, Kate asked the nurse for a few minutes alone with her daughter,
"Thanks Alexis, Sweetie, there's something I need to tell you, and I don't want it to change how you feel about me. It's just some medical history, your Dad knows the details, but I lost a baby when I was 20 years old, it wasn't meant to be. I didn't want you to fall over or hate me for keeping secrets when we talk to the Doctor in a few minutes"
"Oh my God Mom, are you OK, I don't need to know the details just that you are OK, it won't affect this pregnancy will it?" she asked with tears in her eyes
"I hope not Sweetie, that's why I need to tell the Doctor about it, and I didn't want you to find out in anyway except from me, I lost it naturally, had the D &C and went back to work in two weeks, everyone thought I had pneumonia, Captain Montgomery and Lanie covered for me. I told your Dad, but I wanted you to know as well,"
Just then a knock on the door, and a younger looking female, rather petite, and very full of positive vibes came in, "Good Morning, I'm Doctor Manning, and unless I screwed up and sent the wrong person to the outer office, you must be Kate Beckett." She smiled
"You would be correct Dr. Manning I'm Kate, this is my daughter Alexis, her Dad is the one waiting in the outer office with his assistant. I would be more than happy for him to have to put his feet in these darn stirrups, but I have the feeling we wouldn't get accurate information she laughed.
"Oh, so you've had previous pregnancies I see," Dr. Manning said matter of fact glancing at Alexis and then at Kate's patient profile.
"Yes, Doctor once before, but not with this young lady, it was 13 years ago, I lost it at 11 weeks and had the D &C the next day. My daughter is my fiancé's blood daughter, I just got lucky to get a package deal" Kate smiled as Alexis continued to hold her hand at the head of the bed.
"So, no other pregnancies till this one, I saw the note that Lanie sent me last night, that an incident occurred about 13 years ago, so I think we have that covered here. Let me do the internal exam, then we'll review your labs as your Husband rejoins you and we can go from there, how does that sound?"
"Great, let's get this fun part over with" Kate grimaced
A few minutes later, and several pats on the hand from Alexis, Dr. Manning finally said,
"OK Kate you can get dressed and unless you have objections we can discuss the plan with your husband and daughter in the outer office, just come on in when you are dressed."
Twenty Minutes Later
Outer Office Dr. Manning's Office
Kate and Alexis had been back in the outer office about ten minutes with Rick taking over the hand holding from Alexis, as they waited for the doctor to come back in.
"Hi All, I'm Doctor Manning, you must be the fiancé, and you the assistant, Rick and Cricket, is that correct?" Once again in such a bubbly cheerful voice it was infectious
"That would be us" Rick laughed,
"Good, Everything looks fantastic, a couple of things we need to focus on is Kate's weight, I'd like to see her gain about 5-10 lbs. before our next visit, and then begin this regimen of Vitamins and supplements. You have a three-month supply, and a DVD for instructions included, but you can always get more if needed.
I see that one big question is Travel, to the UK? Is that correct?"
"Yes, I have a temporary assignment that will keep me there about 3-5 months, so we were wondering if it would be possible, without interfering with the Baby or Kate's health for her to join us." Rick said pleadingly
"I see, and do you know anything about the health system in London, Rick I me*"
"Begging your pardon Doctor, I'm Cricket and I have a friend who is an OB/GYN at St. Bartholomew's in London. Her name is Doctor Kate Harris, and she's been published."
"You are friends with Dr. Harris, I know of her work and have met her at a few seminars, so if Ms. Beckett approves we can co-op on his during the time you are away. I would like you home at the start of your 7th month without fail, just to avoid any pitfalls." Dr. Manning said smiling
Kate is beaming with joy, fully expecting to be missing her Husband to be once again, but now to hear she was going, she was delighted.
"I'll call Dr. Harris and let her know the plan, if she is too busy I am sure she has an associate who can watch over things till you are home Kate, so enjoy London, and please remember to follow the instructions for your supplements and pre-natal vitamins"
"Rest Assured, Doctor Manning she's in good hands and she can't just bat her eyes at me and get away with things like she does my Dad" Alexis laughed,
"Great, Alexis, Call me with any sign of trouble or if there is any mix-up with Dr. Harris, have a great trip all", and she was out of the office on to her next patient.
"Lets go home and get ready for our Girls lunch then one last dinner to celebrate tonight, I promise I'll be good, even with the brown water you try to pass off as my coffee," Kate laughed as she kissed Rick, and pulled Alexis tightly,
Alexis smiled and said "Yeah, let's go home Mom, Dad, Sis" and out the door they went.