I know that some have felt this story has veered off course, but honestly it's all about life and love and family and make Benny a part of that family. It's very rarely easy or predictable. I'm sorry if I've disappointed any of the readers of this story...

The following morning, Kate woke up and realized that for the first time in a long time, she didn't feel sick to her stomach. She sat up in the bed and when the room didn't start spinning, she thought that maybe the worst of the morning sickness was over. She threw her feet over the side of the bed and waited for her stomach to revolt. When it didn't happen, she stood up and wandered into the bathroom.

The following morning was the day that the bottom fell out of their world. Kate was called into the precinct because a body had dropped. She had kissed Castle goodbye and promised to call him later. Castle had mumbled a goodbye and rolled back over to go to sleep. He woke a few hours later and was surprised at how late in the day it was. Benny was usually awake by this time of the morning. In fact, he never, ever slept past ten and it was almost noon.

Castle hurried up the stairs and he noticed that Benny was still sleeping, but the tiny boy was covered in a fine sheen of perspiration. Castle was immediately alarmed and hurried over to the boy. He immediately knew that there was something terribly wrong with him. He picked up the thermometer and after taking his temperature, it was 103.4. Terribly high for a baby as young as Benny. So, he picked him up and hurried downstairs with him. Not bothering to get him dressed for the day.

He dressed quickly and left a quick note for his mother and Alexis. Telling them that he was taking Benny to the hospital. He barely remembered to grab his cell phone as he hurried into the elevator.

He got into the parking garage and buckled Benny into his car seat and hurried to the hospital. He called Beckett's cell phone and prayed that she would pick up.

When it went to her voicemail, he cursed out loud and left a hurried message, "Beckett, it's Castle. I'm on my way to the hospital. Benny's very sick. I don't have all the details yet, but just get there as soon as you can."

Castle barely remembered the rest of the drive to the hospital. He pulled up to the Emergency Room and threw his door open and hurried out. The guard started to argue with him, but when he saw him carrying Benny, he knew that something was seriously wrong. So, he motioned for Castle to go inside. Telling him, "I'll move your vehicle for you."

Murmuring this thanks, Castle hurried inside. Practically running up to the nurses station, Castle told them, "I need help. My son is very sick. He's running a very high temperature and he hasn't woken up since I put him in the car."

That was when Benny's tiny body started shaking. The nurse looked at him and immediately went into action. She grabbed the baby from him and hurried behind the ER doors. Leaving Castle standing there wondering if he would see his son again and if this whole thing was his fault. He should have woken Benny earlier in the day. Maybe if he hadn't overslept then Benny wouldn't be here in the hospital.

He was pacing back and forth when he heard someone call his name, "Richard! Where is he?"

Castle walked over to his mother and engulfed her in a hug. He took a deep breath and told her, "They took him into the back. He's been back there for about ten minutes."

"Where's Katherine?"

"I left a message for her and..."

That was when he heard his name, "Castle..."

He turned towards his wife and they embraced in the middle of the waiting room. She whispered softly, "What's wrong with him Castle?"

Shaking his head, Castle told her, "I don't know. They just took him back."

Beckett nodded and hugged him again and then she whispered, "He will be fine Castle. He has to be."

The next few hours were some of the longest hours of their lives. They paced back and forth. Held each other tightly and basically waited for any information on their tiny son.

Martha had gone downstairs to the cafeteria to grab coffee for them when the doctor came to talk to them, "Benny Vale's family?"

Castle and Beckett hurried forward and Castle took the lead, "That's us! We are his foster parents."

The doctor nodded and went on to explain what was happening, "Your son is a very sick little boy. He has been having seizures off and on for the past few hours. At first we thought they were caused by the fever. Now however we aren't so sure. I have called in a specialist. He's in town for a conference and..."

Castle looked at the doctor and asked, "What do you think is wrong with him doctor?"

The doctor swallowed hard and finally told them honestly, "We believe that your son has epilepsy."

That was when the world stood still for Castle and Beckett. They simply stared at the man and Beckett finally asked, "When will you know for sure?"

"Like I said, there is a conference in town this week. The world's leading expert in epilepsy is here in town. I've called him in for a consultation. He will be here within the hour."

Beckett nodded and then asked, "Can we see him?"

"Of course. I'll take you to him. If you'll follow me."

Castle grabbed his wife's hand and they followed the doctor into Benny's room. Seeing him attached to all the wires made Castle loose his breath for a moment. He walked over to his son and whispered, "Everything will be okay little man. I promise, mommy and I will do whatever we can to make you well."

Beckett nodded and leaned down to kiss him on the forehead. Benny's eyes opened slowly and he smiled at her. She smiled and whispered to her son, "Mommy's here for you Benny."

The boy sighed heavily and closed his eyes. Then, he started shaking and another seizure overtook his small body. Castle had never felt so helpless in his life. He wondered if they were going to lose Benny before he became theirs.

They were there for almost twenty minutes when the man that would prove to be a God send walked into the room. Neurologist James Wheless walked into the room with a small smile on his face and an air of confidence about him. He introduced himself to Castle and Beckett and asked Benny's doctor, "What are his symptoms?"

The doctor started naming the symptoms and Doctor Wheless nodded and told Benny's parents, "I want to keep an eye on him over the next twenty four hours. The seizures can be caused by the fever. However, I'm not entirely convinced of this. I want to do an MRI and get a look at what's going on inside Benny's brain. And we will perform blood tests to determine exactly what is going on with him. We will do everything we can to find out what's going on."

Nodding, Castle told the doctor, "Do whatever you need to make him better or to get the answers that we need."

Nodding, the doctor gave instructions to the nurses and doctors gathered around. Doctor Wheless started issuing orders and soon left the room. Leaving Castle and Beckett wondering if their dreams of a life with Benny were all for nothing.

It took days, but Benny finally started feeling better. His fever was gone and he was even smiling at Castle and Beckett. When Alexis visited him, he was all smiles and played peek a boo with his sister. It was all quite bittersweet. He was throwing kisses and smiling and it was hard to think that they were all waiting on a diagnosis that could change their lives forever.

That news came after Benny had been in the hospital for almost a week. Doctor Wheless had stayed in New York in order to find out the cause of Benny's seizures. He came in early in the morning and smiled at the family.

He shook hands with them and pulled out his report. He had a smile on his face, but everyone in the room knew that he was there to tell them something that would change their lives forever. He smiled at Benny and the small boy smiled back and thrust his blocks towards him. The doctor took a few moments to play with him. Then, he turned to his parents and told him, "We know what's wrong with him."

Castle found his voice first and asked, "How bad is it?"

"It's not as bad as it could be, but he does have epilepsy. The good news is that it can be managed with medications. And when he's older I want him to come to our hospital in Memphis. Then we can see if he's a candidate for surgery. However, most of the children I treat are able to lead normal lives with medications."

Kate finally asked, "Will he have a normal life? Will he be able to have children and go to college? Is this a death sentence?"

"It can be, but in ninety percent of the cases I treat the children go on to develop normal and fulfilling lives. They go to college. Have regular careers and very successful jobs and lives."

Alexis nodded and hugged her brother tightly. She kissed his head and tickled his belly. Causing the little boy to giggle and squirm in her lap.

Castle and Beckett were told that the nurse would come in to tell them about the medications that he wanted to try first. They would see how he tolerated them and they would go from there. Doctor Wheless told them to contact his office and they would put him in touch with a local specialist. Then, when Benny was old enough they would travel to Tennessee to have further tests done. For now, his seizures could be controlled with medications.

When everyone left the hospital room that night, Castle and Beckett sat beside Benny's bedside and watched as he slept. Neither said much, but Castle smiled at his wife and she smiled back at him. Then, she leaned over and kissed him softly and whispered, "I love you Richard Castle."

Smiling, Castle whispered, "I love you. Any regrets?"

Shaking her head, she whispered, "None."

"Me either."

"Good. Because I wouldn't change a thing about this. Any of this."

Castle leaned over and kissed her again and they held each other while they watched their son sleeping.

When they woke the following morning, They smiled down at Benny, but noticed that he was having yet another seizure. Doctor Wheless had told them that the medications would take time to work their way into his system.

The hardest part was that because they weren't his real parents, they didn't know what truly caused the epilepsy. It could have been hiding in him from the time he was born and something could have triggered it suddenly. Doctor Wheless assured them that it wasn't anything they had done and it was all out of their control. That sometimes these things just happened.

Castle looked at Beckett and asked her softly, "You're in this with us right?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You still want him."

She took her husbands hands and nodded so very slowly, "I wanted him the moment we knew his parents were gone Castle. I love him. I love how he smiles when we walk in the room. I love how he calls me mama. I love how he calls you dada. I can't imagine giving him up. I won't give him up because of this Rick."

Smiling, he leaned over and kissed his wife and then told her softly, "I won't either, but I just wanted to make sure that we were on the same page here."

Kate looked at her husband like he had grown another head. How could he doubt that she still wanted to adopt Benny? Why would she give her son up simply because he had a serious illness that he couldn't be held responsible for?

She loved her son and nothing would change that. She knew that she would move heaven and earth to make the dream of adding him to their family a reality. Putting her hand on Benny's forehead she leaned down and kissed him softly and whispered, "You are my son and we are going to take you home with us. Whatever we need to do to make you a part of our family we will do. Your father and I have a special word. We said always and now that includes you Benny. Always."

Castle smiled at her and repeated, "Always Kate. Always Benny."

Smiling at her husband, she stood up and hugged him tightly and laid her head on his shoulder. Smiling at the love she felt for him and the son they were working so hard to make a part of their growing family...

Thoughts?