Thank you guys so much for the feedback and support! As promised, here's chapter 2 on day 2. I'm gonna try to keep this going each day, and if I ever get behind, I'll make up for it, I promise! Continue to leave reviews so I can hear what you all think, and thanks again!- Alyssa
She wanted to immediately call family and friends to tell them the good news, which she had held back to relay to her husband first, but he insisted that it wouldn't do. Instead, he offered the opinion of a grand dinner on Saturday night, all their loved ones at the loft, and they could announce the news to everyone at once.
These big family/friend dinners have only been reserved for big celebrations and announcements: their engagement, the Irishman and his wife announcing their expectation of a little one, and the celebration of the precinct team working together for ten years. Every once in while members of the group dine with them, but having them all together indicates something bigger at hand. Would they be able to guess the news? Would they have no idea what was going on? He told her in the email that it was a "celebration of their anniversary", and they wanted to share it with the people who brought them together in the first place.
Within a day, all members replied saying they could make it, and he was thrilled, excited for what they were about to announce. She watched him as he discussed the RSVPs, talking about what everyone will say, what they'll be eating for dinner with every detail in order, the writer clearly seeping into reality. She smiled at his adrenaline-fueled rant, and watched him pace back and forth, as if this was the most important dinner of their lives.
She went to work the next few days, though she could tell he didn't like the thought of her chasing bad guys while carrying their child, but promised him that she'd leave the fieldwork to her partners, and she'd stay on desk duty for a few days to ease his concern. He stayed at home, writing the novel he was, as usual, extremely far behind on, but mostly so he wouldn't spit out the good news too early.
Saturday night came quickly. His daughter arrives first, coming early after insisting on helping prepare dinner, a curious glint in her eye that can only come from a Castle; suspicion, she decides, was the look-questioning the evening, as if there was something more than an anniversary celebration going on.
Her long-time partner arrives next, with her best friend on his arm, a sight she has grown more accustomed to seeing recently. Maybe there's more going on there than is being let on. She smiles as they each take a glass of wine and laugh at a joke her husband makes. If they're both happy, than she couldn't be more thrilled for them.
His mother arrives next, in all her dramatic glory, donning a sunhat and a scarf around her next, though the day wasn't sunny or windy. Her grand entrance into the room overshadows the following arrival of her own father, who, after all these years, I still getting used to the rambunctious acts and discussions that take place in the Castle household.
The Irishman and his wife arrive last, apologizing quickly for their tardiness due to the babysitter showing up late, and their son refusing to let his mother go.
With the whole party present, they decide it's time to feast, and they all take places around the extended dining table, her husband taking one end, and his mother taking the other. Before they began, his mother takes her glass of wine from the table and lifts it up, everyone else quickly following suit, and she speaks:
"Too the lovely couple on their almost anniversary; who, after too many years of waiting, finally got it right."
The group laughs, and a few "Here, here's!" follow, but she reaches over and takes her husband's hand, a soft smile on her face and a large grin on his. "To us," she says.
"To us."
They share a quick kiss as the rest of the table cheers, and everyone dives into the meal in front of them. As talks begin and laughter starts to fill the room, her partner, sitting beside her, gives her a questioning look.
"What, Espo? I got something on my face?"
He keeps the look, but nods his head toward her glass, filled not with wine, but only water. "No wine tonight?"
She had hoped no one would make the observation, but she knew him well enough that if anyone would say something, it would be him. "No," she answers. "Not tonight. I'm just a little tired."
"Mhmm," he replies. He doesn't look convinced by her answer, but goes back to his meal and his date for the evening.
She lets out a little breath she didn't know she was holding. Does he know? Could that one little change give away the secret? But he has stopped questioning, so she's not going to worry. It's worked for now. And soon, she won't need to make up excuses.
The feast has ended, and the conversation is starting to slow. The dinner has lasted almost two hours now, and the feeling of the room indicates that people will begin to filter out any minute. Both of them are socializing, but they can't get a moment to talk with each other and decide to make the announcement. She smiles at something his daughter says as her best friend laughs, but she quickly glances to him, a look of desperation in her eyes. He sees it for only a moment, but knows exactly what it's for. He excuses himself from a discussion with her father and makes his way across the room to where she's at. "I'm sorry ladies," he enters their little triangle, "but may I borrow my wife for a moment?"
"Don't keep her too long," her best friend orders, "I'm not done with her yet!"
The group laughs as he takes her away to an unoccupied corner of the room. The huddle closely, and converse in whispers. "Okay," he says, "should we do it now?"
She nods in approval. "It's now or never, right?"
He smiles and takes her hand, squeezing it with reassurance. She grips it tight back, the grin slowly growing on her face.
They walk over to the group, hand in hand, the news ready to burst from the tips of their tongues. They had decided since he was the wordsmith of the relationship, he would do the talking. He starts:
"Everyone, everyone! May I please direct your attention over here for a moment? Please? Thank you."
The group turns and looks at them, smiling at the pair approaching the crowd.
"Okay, thanks. So," he begins, "thank you all for coming over tonight. We know it wasn't planned too far ahead, but you all showed up anyway, and to celebrate such an important milestone with us is truly wonderful."
The group applauds, as excited to watch these two together as they were years ago.
"However," he continues, "That is not the only step we have taken. We have gone on many different adventures in this relationship, some ending better than others, and we're continuing to do so, every day. You have all been here for us on our journey so far, so as we take these next steps, we want your continued support in our lives."
They all continue to smile, but seem to look slightly confused as to where the conversation is going.
"With that said, we'd like to share with you our next big adventure. Kate?"
He looks to her, and squeezes her hand once more, just the push she needs to talk to the group of people she loves so dearly. She smiles as she speaks:
"I…am pregnant."
Breathes are taken in by the group, and suddenly squeals of joy erupt all through the loft. Her best friend waves her hands around, his mother and daughter hug each other with joy, her partners exchanging a knowing look, and the Irishman hands the other a twenty dollar bill as subtly as he can.
She looks to her father last.
He's smiling. But there's something more. She hasn't seen this look on him in a very long time. Not since before her mother died. He's...happy. Really, truly happy. It's not a smile of contentment or satisfaction, but one of pure joy. His eyes light up bright, and he crosses the room to meet her. He takes her by the shoulders, looking into her eyes for a few moments, before pulling her in for a soft, sweet hug.
"Congrats, Katie," he says quietly into her ear.
"Thanks, Dad," she answers, and holds him a little tighter. Of everyone, she cared most about his reaction. She realizes now it was silly for her to ever worry in the first place. Her father supports her, no matter what the case, and this is no different. Well, it is a little. He seems to enjoy it more than the other situations.
He pulls back from her and cups her face in his hand, then slightly pulling her down to kiss her forehead. "My girl," he says, and then pauses. "I'm so proud of you, how far you've come. Your mom would be, too."
She smiles once more and pulls him back to her, gripping onto him more than before. "Thank you, Dad. I love you."
"Back at ya, Katie. And I'm gonna love this kid, too."
"Hey," his mother calls out. "We know she's your daughter and all, but quit hogging her!"
They laugh as her and her father pull apart, the smile still on his face. His mother approaches her, arms dramatically spread out, a big grin on her face. "Oh, Katherine! Look at you! Congratulations, darling!"
She laughs as she is embraced once more, as she expects to be for a little while longer. The feeling in the room of wanting to leave has completely reversed to a feeling of not wanting to part. She glances over to her husband, who's shaking hands with her father, the both of them laughing and smiling at something her husband has just said. Her grin grows, glad that after all this time, after everything they've been through, the man she loves and her father can get along.
For a moment, she looks around at everyone. Those looking at her, those in their own conversations, and sees that they've all kept smiles on their faces. That whether they're talking to her and her husband, or chatting about the two of them on the side, they are all still happy.
She decides her husband was right. Telling her friends and family one by one may have been quicker, but nothing could beat the feeling of family she got from having them all support her new family's "big adventure" at once. The people here now are the most important people in her life, and they are all happy for her and her husband.
As his mother had stated earlier, it did take them many years before they got their relationship right. And everyone here had been a part of that. She realizes that they'll be like that for a very long time. Her three familys; one biological, one created, and one forged from camaraderie, will always be here for her.
And suddenly she's not scared. Or at least, not as much. Because she knows that no matter what happens next, they will always be there for her. And when this new family member comes into their lives, they will love them almost as much as she does. And she can't imagine anything better.
She reaches over to her husband and grabs his hand. He looks at her for a moment, smiles, and squeezes back. She can tell he sees it too. That this was right. That everyone is happy for them.
That this family is growing, and the people that matter most to them aren't going anywhere when it does.