The weight from his bag on the bed is what jolted her awake, her eyes popping open and looking around. Her smile was soft as she looked at him, her arms stretching over her head, hair fanned out over the white pillow case. "You leaving?" She asked him, her voice heavy with sleep.
"Yeah, I should go soon." He placed the small white coffee cup on the table on her side of the bed. "Decaf, just in case."
She let out a groan as she sat up, whether it was a groan of pleasure of exertion he wasn't sure. She grabbed the cup and took a sip, her smile growing as the warm beverage traveled down her throat. "Thanks, babe. But the decaf may be jumping the gun just a bit."
"But you can't tell it's decaf, right?" He wiggled his eyebrows as she rolled her eyes, settling himself near her knees. "Just like last time."
"Castle, I'm not even sure there is a this time. We have one positive and one negative. That's why I'm going to the doctor tomorrow."
His stomach sank as she spoke, upset that he'd have to miss the appointment. "You're sure you can't postpone it?" His hand fell to her flat abdomen, wishing he could feel the life he hoped was growing within.
She put the coffee back on the table, her hand catching his and playing with his fingers. "I tried, but there isn't another opening for two weeks. The earlier I know, with my job, the better. I don't want to put myself on restricted duty because of a hunch, I'll go insane."
"Yeah, that didn't go so well last time." Especially towards the end. Castle had avoided the office, leaving the boys to deal with her snippy comments and mood swings. He got enough of it at home. But it had all worked out in the end. He got to put together the perfect nursery for Oliver, and got to finish his novel before the sleepless nights began. "Will you call me when you find out?"
Her eyebrow raised, her teeth sinking into her tongue as she laughed. "Is that how you want to find out?"
"Maybe not. Stupid book signing." He had negotiated with Black Pawn. He wouldn't have to do long tours while Oliver was still young, taking some of the burden off of Kate. But he still had to promote the book, which meant smaller business trips. Like the one he had to take for the next three days that made him miss her first doctor's appointment.
She stuck out her bottom lip, pouting with him as she leaned up to kiss him. "If there is any reason to schedule later appointments, I'll make sure we plan them a little better."
He sighed, his forehead resting against hers. "Okay." He pressed one last kiss to her forehead before getting up, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "I have to go. I love you."
"Love you. Have a safe flight." With that she flopped back down into bed, her eyes closing as her head hit the pillow. Oliver would be up in about two hours, she'd need all the sleep she could get.
He learned it was hard to concentrate on people when he knew his wife was at her doctor's office. It was even harder when he knew that it meant that their family might be expanding. He kept misspelling his fan's names, and staring off into space. It was driving Paula nuts. "We can't keep giving these people new books because you spelled 'Tom' with a 'U'. What is up with you?"
"Sorry," he grunted out, rubbing his eyes, "Is there any chance I can take a quick break? Just let people know that if they are in line, I will sign their book." He spun his phone on the table as he looked up at her for permission.
"Is everything alright?"
He shrugged. "There's something going on at home, maybe, or maybe not, and I can't stop thinking about it. I would feel better if I could call my wife really quick."
Her hand went to her brow, relieving herself of the headache he always managed to give her. "Fine. you get ten minutes."
"Thank you!" He hopped up, holding a hand out to stop the next person in line. "I'll be right back!" He ran to the break room, an area they'd set up for him, his phone already calling her number.
"You really can't wait to find out?" Her voice teased him from the other end, his mood lightening as he heard her familiar voice.
"I know I can, but I don't want to wait! Did you find anything out?" He was pacing in the break room, his hand in his hair.
"The doctor hasn't come back in yet. I'm still just as blind as you are, babe." He sighed, sinking into one of the metal chairs and opening a bottle of water. "While you're pouting, would you like to talk to our son?"
He smiled at that, and sat up a little straighter. "Yeah, put him on."
He heard fumbling on the other end, but the cheery voice of their son came through loud and clear. "Hi Daddy! I'm keepin' Mama comp'ny!"
"That's good, Oliver. You have to keep Mom company whenever I can't be there."
"I know." Castle heard the door open, a female voice talking to Kate but he couldn't make out the words. "Daddy, when will you come back?"
"Tomorrow, buddy. But I'll read your bedtime story tonight."
"Okay!" He could see his son's face light up in his mind, his toothy grin bringing a smile to his face. "Want to talk to Mama again?"
"Yes please! I love you, Ollipop!"
"Love you!"
Castle heard voices and rustling as the phone was handed to Kate. "You still there?"
"I am, do you know anything yet?" He knew she would kill him if he continued to be persistent, but he couldn't make himself stop.
"I don't. They just apologized for the delay and told me that it would be any minute now. But wouldn't you rather hear in person?"
"You're right, you're right, I know. I have fans to get back to anyway."
"Don't sign any chests." He could tell she was smiling. He could hear the slight lilt of laughter in her voice.
"No promises." Her gasp made him laugh, and he had the sinking suspicion that even if she did know, she wasn't telling him anything. "Love you."
"Love you too." He waited for the click of her phone before chugging his water and returning to his fans.
He left on an afternoon flight the next day, one that would get him home just in time to put Oliver to bed. By some miracle, his bag was first on the conveyor belt, something that would never happen again, and he got to be on his way home faster than usual.
When he opened the door, he saw Oliver poke his head over the couch, his smile wide on his face. "Daddy's home!" The boy hopped down from the couch, launching himself at his father's legs. "I missed you!"
Castle leaned down and picked the boy up, his exaggerated grunting making the boy laugh. "And I missed you! Did you have fun with your Mom?"
On cue, Kate appeared when he mentioned her, Oliver's bedtime book in her hands. "Of course I did, Daddy! I had to keep her comp'ny!"
Kate kissed his cheek, her arm wrapping around Castle's back to complete the embrace. "You did a very good job of it too. but now we have to get ready to sleep."
Rick placed the boy down and pulled his wife in for a proper embrace, her body melting into his as they pressed their lips together. She pulled away, her hands on his shoulders and a hint of a smile on her face. "Let's put him to bed, and then we can chat, okay?"
He only nodded, following her to the living room where Oliver was waiting patiently. In his lap he held some papers, his hands covering them so they couldn't be seen. His grin was wide and his feet were swinging back and forth. He looked up at them, his hazel eyes meeting Kate's. "Now, Mama?"
She chuckled, kneeling down and running her fingers through his hair. "I guess so, baby."
Oliver thrust out the papers, or photos as Castle could now see, his eyes mischievous as he handed them to his father. "We took these for you!"
"Thank you." He sat, turning them so they were facing the right way. Oliver was seated in his room, holding up a chalkboard sign. In the first one he was smiling. Don't worry, Dad, I had fun today! The sign read, Kate's perfect handwriting tilting slightly upwards. He put that picture downlooking at the next one in the sequence. Oliver was holding the same sign, this time his tongue sticking out and his eyes squeezed shut. Mom let me see the babies! His gaze shifted to Kate, his heart beating faster as the words sunk in. "Did I read that right?"
"Well don't stop now, look at the next one!" She laughed, her hand covering her mouth.
He did flip to the next one, Oliver raising one eyebrow this time, the sign lopsided in his hands. Yes, you read that right. He discarded that picture in the pile next to him, the last photo confirming everything. Oliver's hand was held up in a triumphant fist, his mouth open. This time, an ultrasound photo was taped to the board, bold letters above it announcing, It's twins! His mouth dropped as he looked between his son and his wife. "Twins? Not just one, but two?"
She laughed, sitting beside him and planting a kiss to his cheek. "Identical twins. Two little boys or two little girls to love, and grow with, and to drive us insane."
He was still surprised, the words not quite sinking in. Oliver was bouncing up and down, waiting for a reaction while he wrapped his head around the new information. Two days ago they weren't even sure she was pregnant, and now they were having two babies. It was all so exciting. He turned his head to meet her eyes (oh how he hoped they'd have her eyes), pressing his lips to hers, his hands running through her hair. He kept it calm, the little one in the room preventing him from trying to take that kiss any further. But when they pulled apart, they both had smiles on their faces that weren't going away anytime soon. "I can't wait."
Prompt: Beckett finds out that she is having identical twins, and wants to tell Castle in a creative way.