I forgot to say last chapter: You can vote for your favorite name if you want to. I have one in mind but I'm not set on it yet.
Kate and Rick discussed names with each other but they want to keep the name a secret till the baby is born for others. So they are not telling us in this chapter.
I have a question too. In Germany we sometimes start our birthday celebrations the day before our actual birthday. Guests can congratulate and give presents at midnight. We call that „celebrating into your birthday". Like with the New Year… Is that something you do in the US?
But even if not, I think Castle would do that anyway… because this way he can have celebrations for his birthday for two days ; )
O-o-o-o-o
March, 31st 1999
„Are you sure you are up for this party?" Rick asked for what felt like the thousandth time.
„Yes babe, I'm sure. I'm feeling much better. You are not going to cancel your birthday party just because I've felt a little under the weather this morning. You've been talking and planning and decorating for this party for two weeks. I would feel terrible if you would miss it because of me" Kate explained.
„But…" Rick started again. But before he knew it Kate had fisted her hands into his shirt and pulled him down to press her lips to his.
„No but" she mumbled against his lips. „You're having your party. No argument."
„Yes ma'am " he joked. He kissed her another time before they pulled apart and he went over to his dresser to get some clothes.
He still had to prepare some things for the party since he hadn't done them this morning when he woke up to the sound of Kate vomiting in his bathroom. He'd rushed out of bed to hold her hair and stroke her back. She had looked awfully pale and he had been worried sick. He'd wanted to drag her to the doctor immediately but Kate had insisted that she was fine, that she just had to get some more rest. She told him that she'd just been lucky that she hadn't felt sick because of the pregnancy yet. Thankfully she hadn't had morning sickness most days but that morning she'd woken up and felt nauseas.
He reluctantly had agreed to not call for an ambulance. But he'd still been worried when they were back in bed and Kate had looked totally miserable. She'd promised then that if she were in any pain she would tell him and he would be allowed to take her to the hospital. But she wasn't in pain and after he'd gotten her a tea and a heating pad she'd fallen asleep in a half sitting position.
When she had woken up in the early afternoon she had felt a lot better. She'd walked into the kitchen just in time to stop him from cancelling his birthday party. He'd agreed to have his party if she promised she was feeling better, eat the soup he had made her and stay in bed till the party actually began to get some more rest.
She'd fulfilled all of his requests. Even while she had to suffer through great boredom while laying in bed alone. But she'd done it because she wanted him to have his party and enjoy it and not worry about her. She felt great and well rested and totally ready to face a room full of strangers now but he was still worried.
With his fresh clothes in hand he turned towards her again. „Just…" he started and he looked so worried and insecure and his eyes where shining with so much love that Kate couldn't be annoyed at his overprotectiveness anymore. „You tell me if you are not feeling good, right?"
She closed the short distance between them, put both her hands on his cheeks and lifted to her toes. „I promise" she said and gave him a sweet kiss.
„Okay" he finally smiled again. And Kate rewarded that smile with another kiss before she released him. His guests were coming soon and he really should get dressed. Kate would slip into her outfit as soon as he was out of the bedroom. She'd bought a new dress and new underwear. Both were necessary since her old clothes were getting too little for her ever growing belly. None of her dresses fitted anymore.
„I'm going to finish getting the food ready" he said once he had fished buttoning his dress shirt. „You take all the time you need to get yourself ready. And call me if you need me."
Then he was out of the bedroom, the door closed again. Kate smiled while she shook her head. He was just too sweet.
She pulled the new dress and underwear out of her duffel bag. Now that the moment was there she didn't know if she really wanted to wear that. The underwear wasn't the problem. It was tiny and didn't cover much but only Rick was going to see it. She didn't feel too insecure about her body anymore in front of him. He told her every day how beautiful he thought she was and that seeing her belly grow was the most gorgeous thing he'd ever witnessed in his life. He'd even talked her into making a few photos of her belly each month to document the baby's growing.
No the underwear was not the problem. She would definitely wear it. But she didn't feel so sure about the dress. Like the underwear it was red. A color that she knew he liked her in. He'd complimented the red pullover she'd been wearing last week about ten times in one day. He said it made her hair shine brighter, went well with her skin and eye color and was just incredibly sexy. That's why she'd bought that dress. It was the exact same shade of red. So she was sure he would just love it. It was tight too. And short. And lace.
And those three things were exactly her current problem. Well, not exactly. If she were going to have a romantic dinner in the loft just with Rick the tight lace wouldn't be a problem. But it wouldn't be just the two of them. She was going to meet all of his friends. His famous author friends, his friends that were about to climb the career ladder of New York politics, the people from Black Pawn, his editor and his agent and who knows who else was going to be there tonight.
Did she really want to be introduced to all those people with a short curve-hugging dress that didn't only showed her ever growing belly but would drew attention to it? It wasn't that she was ashamed. Not at all. The more time she spent with Rick the more excited about the baby did she become. She was looking forward to have a family with Rick. To move officially in with him (they hadn't talked about that yet but she was sure that they would soon), to have a baby with him and to (maybe?) marry him someday.
But she'd always loved her flat stomach. Aside from her long legs it had been the part of her body she was the proudest of. And now her stomach…wasn't flat anymore. And that made her uncomfortable wearing tight clothes. And she didn't want to wear anything she felt uncomfortable in while meeting people whom she wanted to leave with a good first impression of her.
She sighed. With regretful eyes she carefully folded the dress again to put it back into her duffel bag. She was a little disappointed in herself. It was a sexy dress. She used to feel comfortable in sexy clothes but not right now. Not with so many strangers around her.
She opened Rick's closet where she stored a lot of clothes already and pulled out black pants and a pueple blouse. That would be good enough. It wasn't a black tie event. So she didn't have to wear a dress. She was pretty sure that Rick didn't expect her to wear a dress. She'd wanted to surprise him with the red dress…
She looked over to the duffel bag again. She could wear it tomorrow when they were going to have dinner with her parents and his mother. But that wouldn't be the same. Tonight he wanted to show her off in front of his friends. She knew that. He was that proud of her. And he was that proud of her being pregnant with his child…
She bit her lip in indecision. Should she or should she not wear the dress? He was so proud of her being pregnant. Maybe she could be proud too? Could she pull it of looking proud with that dress on? Or would she just look insecure and uncomfortable?
She was torn back and forth. Then she heard the first knock on the loft's front door. She looked down at herself, still in only her new red underwear. Her belly looked huge. She was almost six months pregnant. There really was no reason that strange people had to see every curve of her body like it would be the case with the red dress. They were going to see that she was pregnant in anything she would wear. And she was fine with that. But they didn't need to see every curve. She could wear the dress for their next private home-made dinner. If it still fit then…
With a last regretful glance at the dress she took the black pants from the bed and started to put them on.
O-o-o-o-o
Rick had just put the last of the finger-food out of the oven when the first knock sounded trough the loft. He went to open the door and greeted Paterson, Connelly and Cannell.
„Come on in" he opened the door wider and his author buddies came in. „You can hang your coats here" he pointed towards the closet in the hall.
„Thanks for the invitation, Castle" Connelly said.
„Yeah, thanks" Paterson agreed. „But when can we await the invitation to your next book release party, Rick? It's been almost a year."
„Come on Paterson, let the boy have a break. It's his birthday" Cannell spoke up.
„Thanks Cannell" Rick said. „But actually, I've had a new idea. It's going to be amazing. You'll see. I hope that I can get it done before July because after that I don't know how much time I'll find to write" he smiled with an secretive glint in his eyes. Only a few people knew that he was going to be a father and most of his guests tonight weren't in that circle.
„Why's that?" Paterson asked. „What's your excuse this time? Let me guess. You can't wear your lucky writing socks in summer because it's too hot then?"
„Haha, very funny, Paterson" Rick replied with a mock glare.
Then there was another knock on the door. And another. And another. And another.
He kept greeting his guest and soon the loft was packed with people who were talking and eating and laughing. Rick wasn't able to leave the door for some time since he had to greet all his guests but when almost everybody was there he was about to walk towards his bedroom. Kate still hadn't emerged from there. Surely she couldn't take this long to get ready, right? He was a little worried again. Maybe she didn't feel good anymore and didn't want to come out and find him because of all the people?
His path was crossed by several people. He didn't want to talk to them right now but he had to at least tell them that he was going to be back in a second. He was almost at the door to his office when he was stopped again.
„Rick!" Bob called. „There you are"
„Ah, hi Bob" Rick said, looking at him for a second but then he was anxious again to get to Kate „Would you mind waiting a minute? I just have to check on my girlfri…"
Before he could finish that sentence Kate came out of the office. His jaw hit the floor. She looked absolutely stunning. She was wearing the most beautiful dress he had ever seen. It was red lace and was hugging her body perfectly. She looked so beautiful he almost forgot to breathe. She searched the room for a few second, her shoulders a little tense. When she found him she gave him a soft shy smile.
Bob all but forgotten Rick hurried to join her. He almost stumbled over his own feet. When he was close he gave her another once over before he pulled her into his arms.
„You look so very beautiful, Kate" Rick breathed, almost unable to speak.
Kate smiled. His reaction was worth all the uncomfortableness she was or maybe wasn't about to feel meeting so many people. She'd been dressed in the pants and the blouse, had done her hair and her make-up and had been about to leave the bedroom when she'd caught sight of the heating pad that was still laying on the bed. She thought about all the things he did for her, what a perfect boyfriend he was and thought that the least she could do was wear the red dress for him. Because she knew he would love it.
„Just for you" she told him and kissed him. She didn't have to get up on her toes this time since she was wearing red high heels too.
„I love you" Rick whispered, his guests all but forgotten. Thankfully most of them were busy chatting anyway. But Bob was watching them. An amused smile forming on his lips when he finally figured out where he'd seen Rick's girlfriend before.
Bob let out a chuckle when he relived the conversation he had had with Kate. At the sound Rick and Kate pulled away from each other, both blushing slightly.
Rick cleared his throat, a little embarrassed that he'd forgotten about the party and his friends but not really sorry.
„Kate, may I introduce you to my friend Bob Weldon" Rick gestured towards Bob. Then his hand found it's resting place on Kate's lower back. „And Bob, this is my girlfriend Kate."
„It's a pleasure to meet you again, Kate" Bob said and watched confusion and then recognition flicker in Kate's eyes.
„You are kidding me, right?" she asked incredulously. Bob just laughed and shook his head.
Rick looked between them with confusion. „What's going on? You know each other?"
„I wouldn't call it that" Bob said. „But we certainly met before"
Kate sill stunned, asked „So when you were talking about this guy you wanted to introduce me to you were actually talking about…"
„The one and only. Yes" Bob confirmed her thoughts.
„Could one of you explain what you are talking about please?" Rick asked, still looking between his girlfriend and his friend.
„You remember that basketball game I wanted to go see with you? When you flew out to California to search for your Mystery-Woman? Guess who sat beside me during the game" Bob laughed.
Rick gaped at Bob when his brain connected the dots.
„You are kidding me!"
„No" Bob shook his head, laughing.
„He even tried to get me to meet you" Kate told her boyfriend.
„But she said no" Bob added. „Said she wasn't looking for a relationship. I remember thinking ‚too bad' because I thought the two of you would fit together."
„We do" Rick grinned happily.
„I'm glad" Bob said. „Congratulations by the way" he added with a look at Kate's belly. Rick beamed at him.
„Thanks" he said with a luminous smile. Kate blushed a little but smiled shyly. She liked Bob. He was a nice guy.
„Bob!" a female voice called and a beautiful woman with dark skin color and a yellow dress came towards them. „There you are. I've been looking for you everywhere." Then she caught sight of Rick.
„Oh hello Rick, nice party. But I'm still waiting for some music to dance to" she gave him an expectant look.
„Yeah, I know. I'm putting music on soon" Rick replied and then turned to Kate. „Kate, this is Bob's girlfriend Lanie. She's studying medicine"
Kate wanted to shake her hand but the other woman pulled her into a hug.
„I don't do handshakes" she explained. „It's nice to meet you, Kate. I can see why Rick was so desperate to find you. You look beautiful. And ,oh my goddess, that dress is amazing. Where did you get it from by the way? We have to go shopping together!"
Kate was a little overwhelmed. Lanie definitely liked to talk and made friends fast.
„Um…" Kate started.
„Oh sorry, you probably have to go meet Rick's other friends. But I'll make sure to find you later so we can plan our shopping drip" Lanie grinned at her. Then she looked around and exclaimed „Oh, look Bob, it's Jonathan and Sarah. Let's go say hello. See you later, Kate."
With that she walked away and pulled her boyfriend with her. Kate watched them a little dumbfounded, then shook her head.
„Are you okay?" Rick asked. „I know Lanie can be a little overwhelming when you first meet her."
„I'm good. And yeah, she seems to be a handful. But I think I like her" Kate replied.
„Good. Because I don't think that you have a choice. You just have to come to terms with being friends with her" Rick laughed. „If I recall correctly that's how she and Bob got together too. Lanie just decided some day that they were together now. Bob of course didn't have a problem with that. He says that they are having fun but that the both of them know that they probably will break up as soon as anything isn't fun anymore."
„They don't love each other" Kate said. She'd observed them when they'd talked and had thought that then too.
„No, they don't. I don't think I could ever have a relationship with someone I don't love but since they are okay with it…" he shrugged.
„Love you too" Kate replied and lifted to her toes to kiss him. He instantly responded to her kiss.
„Aw, don't you two look cozy" a voice interrupted their kiss. They pulled apart and Kate looked at the dark-haired woman.
Rick cleared his throat. Damn, he had forgotten again that he wasn't alone with Kate tonight. Maybe this party wasn't that great of an idea. He just wanted to keep kissing his girlfriend without interruptions.
„Hi Paula" he greeted the woman. „Kate this is Paula, my agent. Paula, this is my girlfriend Kate."
They shook hands. The smile Paula gave her was obviously fake and in return Kate's was forced too. She grew a little uncomfortable when the other woman let her gaze slowly wander down her body. Kate straightened her back and hoped it would make her look confident.
Paula turned to Rick with a huge smile that didn't reach her eyes. „I didn't know you had a girlfriend, Ricky."
„Yeah, well, I do" he said and looked at Kate smiling proudly.
„And she is pregnant" Paula observed. „How is this going to affect your work?"
Kate shifted uncomfortably. She didn't like it when people were talking about her as if she wasn't there or when they ignored her. But Rick worked with her and Kate didn't really now what to say.
„Yes, she is and we are very happy about it. As for my work, we can talk about that another time. I'm having a party here. And if you'll excuse us know, there are some other people I want to introduce to Kate." He then took her hand and pulled her away from Paula.
„Sorry about that" he apologized.
„It's okay" Kate said. „It's not your fault that she doesn't like me."
„I don't think it's you she doesn't like. I think it's the fact that I have a girlfriend in general. Not long after Kyra and I broke up I went on a book tour with Paula and we slept together once. It was a mistake, I wasn't over Kyra then and I hadn't any feelings for Paula."
Kate nodded. She'd gotten the impression that Paula might be jealous of her. Her new knowledge supported that theory.
„Come on, I want to introduce you to my writer buddies" he said and tugged at her hand.
In the next hour she met so many new people that she couldn't even remember all their names. But she liked most of them. His writer buddies had been nice and funny, told her to keep him out of trouble. His editor had been very nice too. Gina had congratulated her to the pregnancy, told her that she thought that Rick was a good catch but said that children weren't in her life plan. Kate had seen that she found Rick attractive (how could a woman not?) but that unlike in Paula's case there weren't any feelings. She'd met a few college friends and a high school friend of Rick. And a police detective he'd befriended when he'd done some research in a cop bar. Roy had been one of his friends she could imagine being friends with too.
Yeah, her head was full of names now and she was happy that she was able to take a break now from all the introductions. Rick was currently using the bathroom and Kate helped herself to some food. She contemplated if she wanted to take her plate full of delicious food out to the living room or if she wanted to stay in the kitchen and eat in relative silence.
She choose the kitchen. While she liked Rick's friends she wanted to take a pause from all that small talk.
She had eaten about half of the food on her plate when someone made her way towards her. It was a red-headed woman in her mid fifties. She was wearing a colorful dress and a bright smile. She made her way through the crowd as if she owned the place. In front of Kate she stopped with a luminous smile.
„Hello there, darling. It's so nice to finally meet you" she exclaimed and before Kate could reply she was pulled into a warm hug.
When the woman released her, Kate asked confused„Sorry, but do we know each other?"
„Not yet, darling, but we will soon" the woman said. „Allow me to introduce myself: I'm Martha Rodgers. Richard's mother."
Kate's eyes widened. She wasn't anything like Kate had imagined his mother to be. Not that she had thought much about what his mother might be like now that she thought about it.
Rick hadn't said that his mother would be here tonight. Kate had thought that she would meet her tomorrow for lunch before they were going to have dinner with his mother and her parents. She'd been incredibly nervous about this dinner. She hadn't yet met his mother but Rick had wanted to invite her parents for his birthday dinner too so Kate had thought that she was meeting his mother for the first time the same day her parents would meet her too. But now she was here.
„Mrs Rodgers, it's nice to meet you" Kate said politely.
„Oh darling, please call me Martha" the older woman smiled at her and Kate felt instantly better. She'd felt a little uncomfortable with all these semi-strangers around her. But Martha made her somehow feel like she belonged here, like she was welcome, right where she should be. Kate liked her.
„You look gorgeous, by the way. Richard wasn't exaggerating when he said that you were beautiful. And I'm impressed by your dress. Not many woman are confident enough to wear such a dress when pregnant but I have to say that you look absolutely stunning. You make being pregnant look sexy."
Kate blushed. „Thanks, Martha. I, um, actually haven't been sure if that's what I should wear but, um, Rick said he liked me in red so I bought in on a whim last week." her cheeks turned a darker shade of red. Internally she cursed herself. Why did she have to tell this to his mother?
„Oh I'm sure Richard loves it." Martha said and winked at her. „He probably has been wishing he could kick all this people out all evening so he can really appreciate it."
Kate choked on her own saliva and was sure her face was now as red as her dress. Had Rick's mother just really hinted at them having sex later. This was awkward. Very very awkward. What was she going to say to that?
Kate was still searching for a reply and stuttered when Rick came towards them, noticing Kate's flustered state.
„Don't scare my girlfriend away, mother" he chastised but gave her a kiss on the cheek. Then he looked at a still speechless and crimson Kate.
„What did the two of you talk about? I guess you did the introductions?"
„Just Kate's outfit and your appreciation of it" Martha shrugged like it was the most normal thing in the world. „And yes we did."
„Mother" Rick groaned in embarrassment. To Kate he said „Sorry, my mother can be a little blunt."
„I'm under no illusion that the two of you don't have sex" Martha said.
Kate blushed and stuttered some more.
„Please, just stop mother" Rick pleaded. „And, oh god, please don't talk about these kind of things when we are having dinner with Kate's parents. Actually I think you and I should have a talk about the things you are not allowed to talk about tomorrow."
„Oh Richard, don't worry. I'll behave" she made a dismissive gesture. „Anyway, you are a beautiful woman, Kate. It's a beautiful dress. And pregnancy looks good on you. Now, if you'll excuse me. I have a gentleman friend I plan to dance with and entertain later waiting in the living room."
„To much information, mother" Rick called and then groaned again before turning to Kate who still looked a little dumbstruck. But then she slowly started to laugh.
„Wow, your mother is unique" she laughed, shaking her head. That's not how she'd envisioned her first conversation with his mother to go.
„That's one word to describe her" Rick muttered. „Sorry again. I didn't even know that she was going to be here tonight."
„It's okay. I like her. She just caught me of guard when she started hinting at our sex life. And if you could tell her that that isn't the best topic for dinner with my dad tomorrow that would be great."
Rick let his head fall into his hands, shaking it. „Oh god, this is going to be a disaster. How could I ever think that letting my mother meet your parents is a good idea?"
Kate patted his shoulder. „It's going to be fine."
Before Rick could reply someone in the living room started to count down from 10.
„10" someone called.
„9" more voices said. Kate looked down at her watch in surprise. And in fact it only were 8 more seconds till midnight.
„8" Almost everybody was counting now. Kate didn't join in. She just looked at Rick who was smiling.
„7"
„6"
„5"
„4"
„3"
„2"
„1"
„Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Rick, happy birthday to you" everybody was singing. And when the last tone of the song left Kate's mouth she closed the distance between them and kissed him.
„Happy birthday, babe" she said when they pulled apart. People clapped. And when Kate released him from her embrace he was surrounded by people who wanted to congratulate him.
Kate stepped back into the living room that was now almost empty since everybody had joined Rick in the kitchen. Kate watched him with a smile. He looked happy in the midst of his friends. Every now and then he caught her gaze over the shoulder of the person whom he was currently accepting a congratulating hug from.
„You know, when Richard told me that you found him and that you were pregnant I was a little worried that you just wanted his money for the child" Martha was suddenly beside her and speaking. Kate turned to look at her. „I was worried that you had gotten his hopes up so high and feared that you were going to break his heart. But I'm not worried anymore. I can see in your smile and in your eyes that you love him just as much as he loves you."
Kate turned to look at the object of discussion. He was laughing about something. The melodious sound of his laugh carried through the room and Kate could see his eyes sparkling in joy.
„I really do" she replied, still looking at Rick.
O-o-o-o-o
Rick closed the door behind his last guest. He looked around. The loft was a mess. But he would clean that in the morning.
He was feeling too happy now to clean. Too full of joy. He loved parties, he loved being the center of attention for a while.
Kate was collecting plates that where everywhere. Rick approached her and took them out of her hands. He put them down on the coffee table.
„Let them be. I'll clean that in the morning. Let me have one last dance with you" he asked.
„There's no music anymore" Kate pointed out.
„Doesn't matter" he said and pulled her into his arms. She came willingly and they swayed together.
„You still have to unwrap your present" Kate spoke into the silence.
„I thought you were going to give me my present in the morning" he wondered.
„Yeah" Kate agreed. „But there is one present I want you to unwrap tonight. It's best opened with the zipper in the back. And as for the location of the unwrapping I would suggest the bedroom if you don't mind."
Rick's eyes widened and darkened at the same time.
„That's the present I've dreamed of unwrapping all night long" he stated.
„That was the whole purpose of that dress" she said. „So what are you waiting for?"
He kissed her passionately and then pulled her through the office into the bedroom and closed the door behind them.