"Do you think you might want more kids?" she blurts out.

He is kind of shocked by the topic. "I mean, I haven't really thought about it, but, yeah. I mean, someday. Whenever your ready."

Kate feels relief flood her body, and she relaxes. "What would you say if I said 'I think I'm ready'…to start trying, anyway?"

Rick pulls Kate's body to him, pressing a kiss to her lips. He pulls away with a huge smile on his face. "I'd say, 'What brought this on tonight? And 'let's get started'."

Kate leaned into Rick for another kiss and says, "I've always known that you are an excellent father to Alexis, but watching you with Jack tonight made me realize how badly I want to have a baby with you – to raise a child with you. And, as for part two? I agree."

Friday, September 18, 2015

Since their discussion on Rick's birthday, Kate and Rick have actively been trying to get pregnant. She stopped taking her birth control and is currently waiting to see if two pink lines are going to appear on her latest home pregnancy test. This is the first one she has taken without Rick at the apartment for moral support – he's at physical therapy.

"Lanie, I've got an idea."

"Imagine that." Lanie can't help but give her best friend's husband a hard time. She's been doing it the whole time she has known him—since before he was her best friend's boyfriend.

"No, it's a good one!"

"What is it, Castle?"

"It's for Kate's birthday. I mean..You know what happened last year, so I want this year to be nothing but positive."

Lanie knows how much it hurts Castle that the wreck that put him in a wheelchair happened on Kate's birthday. He doesn't talk about it a lot, but he has opened up to Javier a couple of time. Naturally, Javi talked to his fiancée about it. "Okay. What do you have in mind?"

Over the past few months, Kate has watched Rick get his hopes up while they are waiting for the test results. For the past four months, she has watched him try to hide his disappointment when each test has been negative. She doesn't want to make him go through that for a fifth time if she doesn't have to.

Rick is making great progress in therapy. He has regained feeling in his legs and no longer uses a wheelchair to get around the apartment, instead utilizing a walker. When he leaves the apartment, however—unless he is only going to therapy—he still uses the chair. He has returned to the precinct only a couple of times since the accident but is itching to be back there permanently.

Kate has accompanied Rick to therapy a couple of times but Rick has insisted that she not miss any more work because of him, so Martha or Alexis usually go with him. Today, both Martha and Alexis were busy, however, and Kate was at work. Lanie had the day off, so she volunteered to drive him. They should be getting back pretty soon, so she needs to hurry.

Lanie pulls into the garage under Rick and Kate's building. She parks the car and gets out to help Rick up to the loft. While they are walking to the elevator, Rick asks Lanie again, "Promise you won't say anything to Kate? I want to surprise her."

"Don't worry, Writer Boy. I'm not going to do anything to mess up your plan. I'll talk to Javi, and we'll work with Ryan and Captain Gates to figure out the details. I'll let you know if anything changes."

"Thanks, Lanie. For everything." He looks at his wife's best girlfriend. "I know she's talked to you a lot, especially since the accident. She's always happier and more relaxed when she gets home, so…thanks."

"I'd do just about anything for that girl, and you know it. Let's get you back upstairs. Kate should be getting back pretty soon."

The timer on Kate's phone goes off, and she stands up to walk into the bathroom. As Kate reaches the counter, her body tenses up, and she closes her eyes and says a silent prayer. She opens her eyes to look at the test, releases the breath she didn't know she was holding, and feels the tears start flowing down her cheeks.

Two pink lines.

It's positive.

She runs to the kitchen and grabs a Ziploc bag and, then, back to the bathroom. She puts the pregnancy test inside the Ziploc bag and searches the apartment for some wrapping paper or a bag. Kate finds the perfect bag in one of the upstairs closets. It has cute cartoon foxes on it, and she thinks it is properly "baby-ish" without giving away what's inside.

As she makes her way back to the bedroom, Kate turns off every light in the apartment, so Rick won't know she is home when he gets back. While she is fluffing up the tissue paper in the bag, she hears Rick's key in the door.

"Thanks, again, Lanie. I've got it from here."

"No problem, Castle."

Kate hears the door shut and lock before she leaves the bedroom.

"Babe?"

"Kate? What are you doing here?"

"I finished my paperwork early and didn't have a new case, so Gates went ahead and sent me home. I haven't been here long." She waits for Rick to reach her side and greets him with a kiss. "Go sit on the couch. I've got something for you. I'll be right back."

"Will you be coming back in less clothing? 'Cause if so, I can come help you." He wiggles his eyebrows at her, and Kate rolls her eyes. She can't help but smile, though.

"Hate to disappoint you, but I will be wearing this same outfit when I come back."

Kate disappears into the bedroom, calling out to him, "Maybe later, though. We'll see." Kate moves slowly to allow Rick plenty of time to get situated on the couch.

"Ready, Castle?"

"Always."

Kate walks out of the bedroom with the bag behind her back. "Close your eyes."

"Ooh…kinky."

"Babe, please?" Rick closes his eyes and feels Kate sit down beside him and rest something very light on his lap. "Okay, open your eyes."

"What is it?"

"You have to open it, silly." Kate rolls her eyes again.

Rick pulls out the top piece of tissue paper and peers into the bag. The test is still covered, and he pulls out another piece, revealing the top of the Ziploc bag. He reaches in and pulls the bag out. The bottom of the bag has tissue paper taped over it, so he pulls a piece off of one side.

Rick thinks he knows what he is seeing, but he needs confirmation. "Does this mean…?" He looks at Kate and can see the tears welling in her eyes. She nods her head, and he pulls her to him, pressing a firm kiss to her lips. Without putting much distance between them, Rick whispers, "I love you, Kate."

"I love you, too, Rick."

She feels him place his right hand lightly on her stomach as he says, "I love you, too, Little One. Always."