Anonymous Prompt: Maddie receives the wedding invite and calls Beckett up

The day had been long, but fulfilling, with a closed case and the weekend off. When Kate got to the loft, Castle was writing and hadn't packed for their trip to the Hamptons. So even though she was exhausted, she began gathering their belongings.

It wasn't long before her phone rang. She saw it was her friend Maddie and decided to put it on speaker.

"Hey Maddie, how are you?"

"Becks!" her friend sounded very excited, "I just got your wedding invitation! I'm so happy for you two! It's great to see you've finally come around and decided to work on those Castle babies! You know they'll be adorable, right?"

If Kate could fall through the floor and into oblivion, she would. - Of all things for Maddie to bring up - She threw down the clothes she was folding and turned the speaker off. "Yeah, I know," she answered quietly as she held the phone to her ear, "but you don't have to be so... loud about it."

"Oh, can he hear me?" Maddie asked, "Hi Rick!"

"NO, no, not anymore," stammered Kate, just as Castle walked into the bedroom. She could tell by the smile on his face that he heard.

"Hi Maddie,'" he said, loudly, as he came up behind Kate and wrapped his arms around her waist. It really would have felt comforting, if Maddie wasn't on the other end of the line. "Yes," Castle continued, "she finally convinced me to strap on the ol' ball and chain."

Kate wanted her gun. Immediately.

"Oh, isn't he great!?" her friend obviously heard him again and was overly amused at this situation, while Kate wanted to just... she didn't know what she wanted to do.

"You could say that," she dead-panned. Yeah, he was great. Just great.

Maddie laughed, "Well, anyway, I've got to get back to work, but I had to take a moment to call when I saw your invite. I'll see you at the wedding! Congratulations, Kate!"

"Thanks," she said, then set her phone down when the call ended.

She turned around, still in Castle's arms, and said, "You know how badly I want to shoot you right now?"

His smile burned her even more, and she was sure he could tell. She wanted to shoot him, kiss him all over, and melt into a puddle on the floor at the same time. "Probably about as badly as you did when we first met. I know that hasn't changed, since I enjoy driving you crazy so much."

Castle leaned toward Kate, touching his forehead to hers, and she closed her eyes as she relaxed into him. She opened her mouth to speak, but he started first.

"Besides," he added, "we've got all weekend to perfect our work on those adorable Castle babies. Simon did say we're having three, so we should get started."

Kate smacked him on the arm and went back to folding and packing clothes, ignoring how amused he was at the entire situation. She should just wait to tell him, but then, this really was the best time. "How do you know we haven't already?"

Castle stood, frozen in place and slack-jawed. "Wait-wha-?" He moved as if to sit on the edge of the bed and missed, laying out completely on the floor. "Are you-?"

"Yeah," she answered, smiling. "You heard me. Why do you think I actually ate that s'morelette this morning? Now, help me pack. The sooner we get to the Hamptons, the sooner we can... celebrate.

He stumbled as he tried to get up, and was on the floor again. "You ate two - oh my God I should have understood then - a Castle baby?"

Kate nodded and watched him stumble again as he tried to regain his footing. "You're catching on."

She had to admit, Castle looked so cute while he was flustered and giddy. After he managed to regain some control of himself, he turned toward her, smiling, with his eyes so warm, so full of love and happiness, and maybe a few tears.

"I'm gonna be a Daddy again," he whispered as he held her close and kissed her on the cheek. "This is so awesome!" he squeaked.

"Yeah, it really is," she agreed and melted into him, hearing the rhythm of his heartbeat when she laid her head against his chest, and quite possibly falling a little deeper in love with him.

Okay, maybe a lot.