I kinda couldn't keep this chapter in

I tried to hold off, but I REALLY wanted to post so...

Enjoy!

"Ma!" Kate removes her hand from her clammy head and groans. The swirling feeling in her stomach has momentarily settled and she's to weak to puke, but if she doesn't go now, she'll suffer for it later. Her head moves slowly from where it was laid on the counter top and immediately the fatigue hits her. her eyes land on the bumbling red head that's constantly calling for her, but this stomach flu is really beating her down and she has no energy left.

Rick is at a meeting for the latest Derrick Storm book and she has time off, so she offered to watch Alexis, but now she;s halfway regretting it because the child has been sitting in the high chair for an hour and a half now and she's on the brink of fussy. He said he'd be home at 9:00 and it's... 8:27. Good. She can handle that. only 33 more minutes. Come on Kate. Pull it together!

She's able to pull herself long enough to run to the bathroom. After her stomach is completely emptied, she comes back to her little girl. There's another strange feeling in her stomach and she doesn't know whether it's the sickness or the fact that she now has a daughter, but she ignores it anyway.

"Momma! Ma, mamamamama ma mo mama ma muh muh muh muh mama!" Alexis babbles on and although she'll never get tired of that word, she would rather the girl not wear it out while it's still knew. She only just said it two days ago! But Kate just smiles at Alexis and goes to the fridge. Their out of strawberry banana, so she takes out whole strawberries and whole bananas and drops them into the blender. Just pressing the button and holding the lead feels like running a marathon right now and the sight of the blended food makes her stomach churn. She's thankful there's nothing in there.

Once the food is done, she drains it into a bowl and goes to feed Alexis. The girl happily eats, yet spills some while trying to shout her new word: Mama! After she gets her baby cleaned, she changes her into a new onesie and places her in the bouncer. Kate lounges on the couch while Alexis bounces happily and she feels a bit better. She looks at the clock and sees that it's 8:50. Ten minutes and she'll be able to sleep. She feels herself dozing so she gets up and sits on the floor in front of Alexis. She watches the girl play and smile her wide gummy smile. The girl giggles and that brings back sweet memories for Kate. The first time she heard Alexis' laugh was one of their happiest days.

She and Rick had just began dating and had... consummated the relationship the night before. The morning after, they were caught up in each other on the kitchen and Alexis had smiled and then giggled uncontrollably. Rick and Kate were shocked thoroughly, but then became excited and took every chance to make her laugh again. Obviously, Rick was better, but Kate had her moments and the wide smile her little girl gave her always melted her heart. It was always those blue eyes...

Uh oh. Kate became overly clammy and started feeling as though she would faint. She peered at the clock again and saw it was 9:00. Rick would be here any moment! She just had to keep her... eyes... op... . It was too late. She blacked out. Just before her head met the ground, she heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps in the hall.

Meanwhile, in the hallway, Rick stopped and smiled at the house. His home. He, Alexis, and hopefully soon, Kate's home. With a giddy step, he thrust his keys in the door and stepped through. He dropped his bags, including the gift bag for Kate and Alexis. He really loved splurging on his girls. Any chance he could surprise them and make them smile was a chance he wanted to take. His meeting had been boring and torturous and, right now, he just needs a snuggle from his family. His family.

Best. Phrase. Ever.

Rick walks further into the house and sees Kate's feet poking out by the couch and Alexis' back to him in the bouncer. He smiles and heads over to where they are. "Hey pretty gi-" Rick's sentence cuts off as he sees his beautiful girlfriend, whom he's pretty sure is the love of his life, sprawled out on the floor in front of Alexis. She's pale, her forehead is sweaty and she's unconscious. She looks like a ghost that just came from the gym. He crouches down to her and checks her pulse. It's fair, but not as strong as it usually is. He picks Alexis up and calls down to the doorman.

Eduardo comes up immediately and Castle hands him Alexis to put in the car. He then picks Kate up, wraps her in a blanket and carries her to his car. Rick rushes to the ER and once their she's rushed off to the back. He sits there for what seems like weeks but is only minutes, waiting for news. His baby girl starts to fuss and he knows she senses something wrong so he makes her giggle then sings her a lullaby, trying to soothe her. It works and she quickly falls asleep and curls into the cradle of his arms.

Sitting there, in the white and blue room of the ER waiting station, he reflects in his life. Reflects on why everything good that happens to him has to be savagely ripped away. His mother, Kyra, Meredith, and now...

No. No this won't happen again. Kate is everything to him and so is Alexis. They are constants in his life and he won't give them up. Kate will be okay and as he looks down at his sleeping little girl, he is reminded of the night he met Kate. She came to his rescue, saved his little girl and made both their lives better. She won't leave now. She can't. They still need her. They will always need her. He's pulled from his thoughts by four words that could determine the rest of he and his little girl's life.

"Family of Katherine Beckett."

Honestly...

I have no words for this chapter so... yeah.

Love Always, XOXOX