He left when she was already on her pijamas, ready to go to bed. An hour later she was reading the last chapter of a no-so-good thriller she had started the week before when she received a text.

"Talk to you tomorrow. Taking off in 5 mins. Love you" He sent her a picture of him sitting on his first class seat drinking a glass of wine.

"Love you too. Have fun". She sent it quickly so that he would receive it before turning off the phone and decided that it was late enough to go to sleep.

She didn't sleep very well. Not that she had been sleeping well the last few months, but that night she felt strange. She woke up tired and went directly to the sofa, phone on hand, to drink her tea. She read one text that Castle has sent her the night before and felt a little more comfortable.

"Just arrived to the hotel. Is everything ok?"

"Everything's fine. STOP WORRYING. And enjoy. Not too much though. No crazy parties in that room"

She smiled, thinking that maybe he would laugh with her last text when he read it. She looked her watch and realized that Alexis had to be nearly there. She missed her. A lot actually. She had met her when she was a sweet teenager and their relationship had grown until both of them talked to each other as friends. She considered herself a bit young to say Alexis was her daughter (tough she was) but she loved that wonderful young woman as part of her family.

She was preparing lunch when Alexis arrived. The redhead hugged her and touched her belly before handing her a box wrapped up and decorated with a big golden bow.

"As you two don't want to know if the baby's a boy or a girl I I was thinking about buying some neutral colors bodies. But then I saw that and thought it was adorable".

It was. A little stuffed elephant with a yellow bow around its neck.

"I though it would match the room. But if you don't like it I have the receipt."

"Shut up" she pulled her into her embrace "It's perfect. Though you didn't have to buy anything."

"I know, but I wanted to. You sit down, I'll finish lunch. I have orders to let you move as less as possible."

"Your dad is crazy"

"Kind of. But he is really persuasive. So. Sit down. I'll call you when lunch's ready."

They ate in the living room talking about Alexis' new classes and her most recent boyfriend.

"He is nice and he takes care of me."

"So... this Michael? "Alexis nodded smiling "Is this something serious?"

"I guess so. It's time, you know? I'm already prepared to have a real relationship. I want to have what you have."

"Honey, I think is quite complicated to find a man like your dad."

"Yeah, right. but I don't mean that. I want to have someone to look at me like my dad look at you. I want to be with someone that would laugh at my jokes even when they are not funny and know that i need a hug when I'm being stubborn. I think Michael is that kind of guy".

"I'm really happy for you. But I want to meet him. And I'm sure your dad would too. Just let me give him a little heads up before."

"Sure. Ellen show has to be about to start."

"Yeah. Give me the remote. Let's see your dad".

He was fantastic. Funny and charming. As always. It was something really short, like 15 minutes or so but enough to catch everyone's attention.

"That was good" Alexis commented when the interview finished.

"Yes. I knew he would be. Hey, Alexis. I'm going to go to bed for a while. I feel kind of dizzy."

"Okay. Do you need something?"

"No. Don't worry. I'm just... wow "everything went black for a second as if she was going to faint." Wow." she repeated.

"Hey, you Ok? Sit down, come on."

"I need to pee. Do you mind...?"

"Don't even ask. Let's go."

Alexis put an arm around her waist and helped her to walk to the bathroom. Kate started feeling some pain near her stomach. That couldn't be good. She noticed after peeing that she was bleeding. Oh, god. That couldn't be good at all.

"Alexis! Alexis call an ambulance. I need to go to the hospital

"36 year old female. She's had a placental abruption." The doctor looked at her and talked to her softly. "We have to take you to the O.R., ma'am. We have to practice you a C-section right now."

"No, no... my husband... Alexis "She looked for her husband's daughter completely terrified.

She had read about placental abruption. A lot of babies died because of that. A lot of mothers couldn't have any other babies after that. She needed Castle. She couldn't go through all of that without him. 3XK? Bracken? She could handle any of that by herself. But not this. Not when she was going to be asleep and she couldn't know if her baby was going to be alive.

"I've called him but it goes directly to voice mail." Alexis took Kate's hand with both of hers and tried to make her focus."You need to go now. For the baby. Right now. I'll call dad again and tell him what happened. Everything is going to be fine."

"No, Alexis." She hadn't notice that she was crying. It was when she saw a tear falling to their linked hands when she realized it was her. "We don't even have a name. We need a name. In case anything happens to me. I need to talk to him and find a name. Call him again"

"We don't have time, ma'am. Every second counts. We need to..."

"Dad! Oh my god, Dad! We are at the hospital. Kate wasn't feeling very good and she found out that she had blood on her underwear so I took her here. They are going to take her to the O.R. to practice a C-section on her. She wants to talk to you.

Without letting him answer she put the phone on Kate's ear.

"Babe..." Her devastated tone made him understand that something was going really bad.

"Hey, love. How are you?" Stupid, stupid, stupid. She is terribly bad, don't you listen to her? He would hit himself if that would help in any way.

"I need you here".

"I'm booking a plane right now, ok? I'll be there as soon as possible."

"We need a name. In case..." She couldn't say it, couldn't talk about that with him "We need a name"

"We'll name it later. When you are tired because of the delivery. Don't think about that now"

"No. I want a name for our baby. Now. I cannot go to the O.R. without a name" She knew it was irrational and crazy and completely illogical. But she needed it. For no reason. She just needed a name.

"Ok. Ok. Yeah. A name. If its a girl, Johanna?"

"No, not like my mom. I don't want sad memories around my girl. You told me once that you liked Emma"

"I do. I love Emma."

"Ok. Emma for a girl. And if it's a boy? Richard Junior?"

"Too obvious. We would hate it in a month."

"I like Noah. Is a strong name. He survived the Flood."

"I like that one too. We got it, babe. And we can change our minds later if we want. Now relax and give us a healthy baby. I love you. I'll be there when you wake up."

"I love you too. Come home." she kept the phone on her ear, even when he had hung up. "I'm ready" she announced looking to Alexis.

"Let's go" the doctor pushed the pallet to the next room and minutes later everything went black.