Authors Note: Again, my apologies for taking so long with this. I've been a busy girl the last few weeks. Ah, such is life.

Thank you to alwayscastle2 for reading this through for me. Check out her new story Ledge of Love it goes AU at Knockout, and as per usual, its amazing.

Reviews are love, leave some!

-Krystle

Chapter 9

"When we touch,when we love

the stars line up

the wrong becomes undone

naturally, my soul surrenders

the sun and the moonlight

all my dreams are in your eyes"

Rick has been stuck in the office for the better part of the morning, he's had a stroke of inspiration for his latest Heat novel. Kate walks into the office, and places a kiss on his head, letting him know that she's going out to lunch with Lanie, and will bring him back something to eat.

He pauses long enough to stand up and give her a proper goodbye kiss. "Are you going to tell her?"

Kate grins. "I thought you wanted to tell everyone together?"

"Do you really think Lanie will let us live it down if she wasn't one of the first to know?"

"Good point," she chuckles. "Yeah, I'll tell her. If you're sure."

"Honey, she's your best friend. This is the moment all best friends dream about," kissing her softly once more, he smiles. "Tell her."

Kate hurries out of the office and grabs her things before leaving the loft. She debates between driving and walking the six blocks to the Mexican restaurant she's meeting Lanie at. With one last look towards the underground parking structure, she decides that fresh air, or as fresh as it can get in this city, would be nice and starts walking up the crowded city sidewalk.

Walking up Crosby, she pulls out her phone and sends Lanie a text, telling her that she's about ten minutes away. The busy people of New York pass her by, all going about their daily lives. Its not an often enough occurrence that she gets to see her home through the eyes of a citizen instead of through the eyes of a cop. It's a refreshing change of pace for her. Something she's sure she's going to be doing a lot more of in the future.

Turning right on to Spring street, she can make out the form of her best friend standing in front of the Chipolte restaurant. Their usual lunch of Chinese didn't sound appealing to Kate, for reasons unknown to her friend.

Lanie is quick to wrap her in a hug which is returned just as quick. "Girl, you have been back home for almost three months, and we're just getting around to our lunch date."

"Yeah," Kate says, smiling. "Sorry, it's been crazy. Getting back home, and settled in the loft, going back to work."

Lanie nods, "I hear that. The psycho's of this city aren't resting thats for sure."

The two walk into the crowded restaurant and continue their small talk about work. Lanie fills Kate in on what she missed while she was away on her honeymoon. Thankfully, much to Kate's appreciation, Lanie leaves out the explicit details of her and Espo's newly reaffirmed love life. She doesn't want to think about her best friend and 'brother' between the sheets.

After they've received their food, they find a table off in the corner by the window. Kate's not usually one for people watching, but as a woman walks by, clearly pregnant and holding on to the arm of the man next to her, she can't help but smile. She wants to be that girl.

"Kate!" Lanie's voice breaks through the thoughts that were running through her head, and she snaps her attention back to her friend. "Where did you go just now?"

"Sorry, Lanie," Kate says, taking a bite out of her burrito bowl. "I just have a lot on my mind, that's all."

"Well, you can always talk to me," Lanie says. "I mean, I'm not married, but I have been known to give you some pretty damn good advice."

Kate laughs. "Yes, you have."

"So, what's bugging you, honey?"

Kate takes a deep breath, and holds her hands out for Lanie's for support. She glances down at her lap to calm her breathing, when she looks back up, she's got tears in her eyes. Before Lanie can even ask her what's wrong, she smiles at her friend.

"I'm pregnant."

"No!"

"Yes!"

"Really?!"

"Yes."

"How?"

"Um, you're a doctor, Lanie, shouldn't you know the 'how'?"

"Girl, get up!" Lanie stands, pulling Kate up with her, hugging her once again. When they pull away from each other, they're both a sobbing mess. "How far?"

Kate smiles, "Nine weeks."

"And Castle?"

"Thrilled. He's already talking about fixing up one of the guest rooms into the nursery. I had to physically restrain him the day we got it confirmed from buying out all of FAO Schwartz and Babies 'R' Us."

"Between him and the guys, this kid is going to be spoiled rotten."

"Oh, I'm sure," Kate smiles, placing a hand on her flat stomach. "But, I can't bring myself to care. Oh!" Reaching down for her bag, she rummages through one of the compartments before producing a white envelope. "Here."

"What's this?" Lanie asks, taking the envelope. Kate gestures for her to open it, and she does. She pulls out an ultrasound photo, and the back of the picture reads 'Baby Castle's first picture. To: Aunt Lanie'. "Girl, you're gonna make me cry again."

"Well, Castle and I would be honored if you would be our children's Aunt - and Godmother."

"And that's gonna do it, Kate!" Lanie smiles a watery smile. "Of course I will."

CB

Kate walks into the loft an hour later, a take out bag in her hand. Dropping her keys in the bowl by the door, she toes off her shoes, and drapes her coat across the back of the chair. The loft is unusually quiet for this time of day. Alexis is back at Columbia, Martha is at the studio, but Rick usually has music on when he's home alone, just for background noise. Looking into the office, his chair is empty.

Changing her route, she heads for their bedroom, stopping in the doorway. Sprawled out on the bed, hugging her pillow close, his nose buried in the fabric of the pillowcase, is her husband. She puts the bag of food on the dresser and walks around to her side of the bed, watching him for a moment longer before she carefully lays down beside him. She gently maneuvers her pillow from his grasp and replaces it with herself. She rests her head softly on his right arm, and wraps his left around her waist; cuddling deeper into his body.

Her right arm wraps around his back, as she tangles her leg between his. She leans into him further, and kisses his neck softly. She feels him take a deep breath, and his arms tighten around her; he's aware of her presence now. Her hand rubs up and down his back, sneaking its way underneath his t-shirt, the warm skin of his back welcoming.

His breathing changes, and she grins. "Hey sleepy head."

"Hey," he whispers, kissing the top of her head, before he tilts her chin up to capture her lips with his. "How was lunch?"

"Good," she answers, kissing him once more. "Lanie's thrilled."

"I had no doubt," he smiles, bringing his left hand down between their bodies to raise her shirt and rest on her abdomen. "This baby is going to be so loved by everyone."

She nods. "It's crazy."

"What is?"

"How much I love this baby already. The moment we found out, I knew I could never feel this type of love for anyone again. When we heard the heartbeat last week - I knew that I would do anything for him."

"Him?"

"Mothers intuition?"

Rick kisses her again. "As long as this baby is healthy, I don't care what it is."

"Me either," she smiles. "But I've always dreamed of a little boy who's just like you."