A.N. I think this chapter is going to clarify a lot of unanswered questions and (hopefully) bring in a massive influx of reviews. I really hope you enjoy reading this chapter and I promise to have the next one done soonish.

It had been a month since Kate's week of sick leave ended and she returned to work, trying to bury herself in the case as if nothing was different.

But things were different. Castle was even more vigilant on her. He made sure that he drank his coffee in the break room and had a breath mint afterwards so she wouldn't get sick. He made sure that she kept hydrated and that she ate the dry crackers that he would bring for her. In one respect it was really sweet, but in another, it was infuriating. Kate could take care of herself and she didn't need him to baby her.

"Kate?... Kate?..." Castle called, knocking her out of her little daydream. She didn't know how long he had been calling her name, but judging by the frustrated look on his face, it had been a while. "I think it's time for your nap."

"Castle, I'm not a child." She snapped.

"I know you're not, Kate." He soothed. "But you're tired and we're not getting anywhere with this case. Have a power nap and come back to it with fresh eyes." Kate's shoulders slumped as she gave in. "Come on. I'll help you up." He said, rising from his chair and grabbing her under her arms to help her up.

"I can do it myself." She protested weakly.

"I know you can." He smiled.

Ryan and Esposito exchanged confused glances as they watched the pair walk into the break room and Castle proceed to sit down only for Kate to lie herself out with her head in his lap.

"What the hell is going on with them?" Esposito asked his partner.

"I don't know man, but I don't want to get in any trouble. Just focus on following up that lead." Ryan told his partner as he picked up the phone and held it against his ear.

Castle's hand absentmindedly ran over Kate's barely noticeable swollen belly. Almost immediately after feeling it, Kate took his hand in hers and moved it off her belly. Gates still had yet to be informed of Kate's pregnancy and Kate wanted to keep it that way for as long as possible. As soon as Gates was in the know, Kate would be on desk duty so fast it would make her head spin.

"Stop thinking Kate. You're supposed to be resting." Castle chuckled, threading his fingers through her hair.

"When do you think I should start telling people?" Kate asked, her hands absentmindedly drifting to her belly.

"I'm sure that the boys know that something is going on but I'm not sure about Gates." Castle leant down and placed a delicate kiss in her hair. "We'll tell them when we hear from the doctor. She said it would be any day now."

Castle and Beckett stayed like that for a few hours and, after not hearing from them for quite some time, Ryan and Esposito walked into the break room, where they had last seen the two, only to find the pair fast asleep together. Kate had made herself comfortable on Castle's lap while Castle's mouth was wide open as his head rested against the back of the couch. Taking in the cute scene, the duo's gaze finally settled on Castle and Beckett's interlaced fingers sitting relaxed on Beckett's belly.

"Eh hem." Ryan cleared his voice noisily. The pair, startled, sprang apart so fast Kate almost landed on the floor face first, had Castle not have quickly caught her.

"We, err, got a lead on the case." Esposito said awkwardly.

"What?" Kate asked, but then recognition sprouted over her face. "Oh, right. We'll be right there." Castle proceeded to get up and turn to Kate, offering her his hands to help her off the couch. Once up, Kate walked out of the break room and sat down on the edge of her desk, staring at the murder board, trying to focus. The boys looks at her with confusion at her sudden demeanour change.

"She's really wiped from the stomach bug. She'll be more herself in a few days." Castle clarified. The boys seemed to take that as a logical explanation and nodded with sympathetic expressions.

They rarely saw their boss sick and they didn't know what to make of it. The pair quietly followed Castle out and returned to their respective desks to pick up where they left off.

After catching a break on the case, the boys were following up leads while Castle fidgeted uncontrollably, knowing the call of the results would be coming any day now.

"Castle." Kate called, his head snapping to her the second his name was called, looking back at her with worried eyes. "Castle, stop fidgeting." She reprimanded him, gently placing her hands on his, stilling his knee from jittering up and down. Castle's eyes followed her hands, her thumb gently caressing the soft skin on the back of his hand, before looking back up to her trying her best to smile at him.

They both jumped as the phone rang loudly, both looking over at the offending object in nervousness and anticipation. The phone rang a second time, forcing Kate to remove her hand from Castle's to answer her phone.

"Detective Beckett." She answered.

"Ah, Ms Beckett. This is Doctor Susan Johnson."

"Right, could you hang on a minute?"

"I guess..." Beckett had already put her phone to her chest, walking towards the break room, Castle in tow behind her. After shutting the door behind him, Kate removed the phone from her chest and put it to her ear again, Castle leaning in close so he could hear the conversation.

"Sorry, you were saying." Kate said into the speaker.

"Right." The Doctor confirmed. "Well, I received the lab reports today, I'm sorry for not being able to get them for you sooner. I know you wanted to get them as soon as possible, and I asked my friend if he could speed up the process but he had several other tests before yours in some court cases and..." Kate let out an irritated and frustrated sigh.

"Well I guess I better get to the point." The Doctor said, sensing the irritation in her patient's voice. Castle and Beckett both braced themselves for the news, unconsciously intertwining their fingers, gripping tightly.

"The results came back, and they were a match to the donor."

"Wait, so that means..." Said Castle, trying to connect the dots.

"Yes Mr. Castle. You're the father."

Castle dropped to the floor, unconscious.