Change of plans and leaving a day later, so one more chapter to post. This chapter has some good news, a little UST and a lot of baby. Ch 7 is almost written and I think you'll like it. I am emailing it to myself, just in case I have the opportunity to work on it. Thanks for all of the reviews!

Ch. 6

After the agonizing crying episode, and some really great Chinese food, things settled down in the apartment. They kept the lights low the entire evening. Ethan actually hit an "awake" stage after his next bottle. Castle was holding Ethan and talking to him. The baby responded with all sorts of cooing noises and jerky movements.

Kate had finally had enough. She couldn't get into the "action" of the baby without pressing herself up against Castle, and she was pretty sure that if she got that close she wouldn't be able to hide her feelings. She said "My turn," and held out her arms.

"What? You're jealous?"

"Actually, yes. But I'm going to be nicer than you. Hand him over and follow me."

Castle did as he was told, more out of curiosity than fear.

Kate carried Ethan into her bedroom, and laid him on the bed. Then she lay down on one side of him, close enough to see him and touch him, but not so close that he rolled to her. Castle did the same on the opposite side.

"See? Isn't this better?"

"Well, this is good, Kate. And I'm always looking for a reason to get in bed with you." Kate rolled her eyes. "But I think that your behavior is a little unfair."

"How so?"

"Well, I was completely jealous earlier when you were able to calm Ethan down by holding him so close, but I didn't try to 'butt in.'"

Kate blushed, but at the same time she quipped, "There's a difference Castle. I was jealous of you. You were jealous of Ethan." Castle smirked.

It was actually a very sweet moment for all three of them; she was amazed that Castle had logged that into his memory about how to calm a baby. She would have to remember that little "trick" for later. She held Ethan in that "nursing" position for an hour and a half. She could have put him down, but she loved the feeling of having him sleep so close to her.

There was a moment when it felt awkward though. And even though she couldn't put her finger on it, Castle could. It was after they were through eating, Castle was cleaning up and Kate was leaning against a barstool holding Ethan. The one hand that had been lying on her chest moved down and grabbed hold of the edge of her t-shirt and bra. She knew it was instinct for him, that gripping reflex. But the movement plus just the smell of the baby seemed to reach down deep into her and tug. She didn't think it was something so cliché as a "biological clock ticking." She wasn't that old and had plenty of time. She was so lost in thought that she didn't notice Castle come right up beside her. He had seen the whole sequence of events.

"It's just hormones. Don't worry about it." He whispered.

"How did you know?"

"You looked flushed all of the sudden and then embarrassed. But you shouldn't be. It's completely natural." Castle looked down at Ethan, so close to Kate and fused to the pacifier in his mouth, and he felt his own heart race. He brushed his nose in her hair and took a deep breath in, before he walked to the couch in the living room and turned on the TV.

Kate blushed at the memory and looked across the bed at Castle, still enamored with the baby boy in their charge. Of course, the phone rang at that very moment, breaking her reverie.

"You stay here," Castle said, "I'll get it."

It took her a few seconds before she realized that it might be a bad idea. It could be Will. She wasn't hiding Castle from Will, but with what she knew was going to go down tomorrow night; she didn't want Will to think that it was because of Castle. It was partly due to him, but Will didn't have to know that. She listened tensely to the formalities taking place on the phone in the other room. She relaxed as soon as she realized who it was: Jorge.

"Beckett residence." Castle stated in his best phone butler voice.

"Uh, hi. This is Jorge."

"Jorge! Hello. This is Richard Castle. I'm a…a friend of Kate's. I'm just here helping out with Ethan."

"I know. Avery called me earlier and let me know that Kate had assistance."

"How is Emma?"

"She's doing better. Still unconscious, but her vitals are improving. If things keep going this well, they'll let her wake up in the morning."

"That's good news. Here, let me get the phone to Kate. I know she wants to talk to you."

"Okay. And thank you Mr. Castle, for your help with Ethan. By the way, Emma and I are both fans and can't believe you're using Kate as your inspiration. We think it's great."

"Thanks. And please, it's Rick."

Castle handed the phone over to Kate, who was wearing an expression on her face he couldn't quite place. He resumed his place on the bed, staring at the tiny infant.

"Jorge, hello." Kate said with a smile. "I gather from Castle's side of the conversation that Emma is doing better."

"She is. They are giving her one more transfusion now, but they think this is the last. Her blood pressure is steady and they extubated her a few hours ago. If everything continues on this path, they'll let her wake up in the morning."

"That's great news. How many units of blood has she had?"

"My understanding is that she went through eight units during the surgery and she's had another five since she's been in ICU. The bleeding has slowed considerably at the incision site so they think this will be her last one."

Kate's head spun at that news. She remembered Avery's words Kate, I was sliding in it. Thirteen units of blood. That's almost all that her body could hold, maybe it was all she could hold. At barely five feet tall and 100 pounds (pre-Ethan), Emma was one of the most petite women she knew.

"I'm so glad she's doing better."

"I guess Avery told you about the hysterectomy."

"She did. Jorge I'm so sorry."

"We have Emma. And Ethan. I'm sure we made the decision that Emma wanted us to make."

"I'm sure you did," Kate smiled, "I'm looking right at your little guy. He's doing fantastic."

"That's great. You're using the formula? That's going okay?"

"Avery has us mixing it with breastmilk so the taste won't be completely off. Are they saying that Emma can go right back to nursing?"

"Actually the nurses had to pump her twice after the surgery. But the production is slowing down. Of course with all of the drugs in her system right now it will be a while before she can nurse Ethan. But Avery said if we really want to go back to it, and I think Emma will, then we can get it back."

"That's good."

"I'll let you go. I want to get back in there with Emma."

"Okay. I love you guys."

"We love you too, Kate. Thanks so much for watching Ethan."

"No problem at all, Jorge."

Kate hung up the phone and looked at the bed in front of her. Ethan was still looking around wide-eyed. Castle had fallen asleep on the other side of him. Kate just looked at him for a minute. She never had the chance to just look. He was way too perceptive of when someone was staring at him. In fact, it wouldn't surprise her at all if he opened his eyes now under her scrutiny. She loved his lips. Her eyes were always drawn to lips, especially if people were talking. She never looked at Castle's though, always his eyes, especially if he was talking to her. His lips were too distracting. She remembered that kiss everyday. She wanted more of that.

Suddenly she noticed that Ethan had fallen asleep too. He was making little movements with his mouth again, like he was sucking on his own tongue. Kate lightly put her hand on his belly and closed her eyes.

She startled awake, panicking that something had happened to the baby. Looking over at the clock, she was stunned to see she slept for two hours. It was midnight. She didn't mean to fall asleep with the baby on the bed. She looked over at him and realized what woke her. He was awake; her hand still on him and she could tell he was hungry.

Ethan yawned and then started to fuss. Kate picked him up before he could disturb Rick, who had since turned onto his back and was snoring lightly, and took him to the other room, closing the door behind her. It was becoming second nature, the fixing of the bottle, feeding and burping. Kate knew she would miss it when he was gone.

Grabbing the remote to one of her favorite investments, Kate cued the iPod in the SoundDock. She had the volume low, so as to not disturb the man in the other room, but she couldn't help singing to the baby in her arms. Every once in a while she put her nose to the top of Ethan's head and inhaled. Has to be the best, most relaxing scent in the world. How can that be?

Castle woke up and for a moment couldn't remember where he was. It had happened before in his past, wilder years, but he was usually naked. Now he was fully clothed. Where am I? He looked around the room and spotted the bassinet next to the bed and the white box on the bedside table…it all came back to him. He could hear music coming from the other room and…was Kate singing?

Rick opened the bedroom door and stopped in the darkened hallway watching Kate as she crooned to the baby. She was singing a song he had never heard before.

"You would not believe your eyes

If ten million fireflies

Lit up the world as I fell asleep

'Cause they fill the open air,

And leave teardrops everywhere

You'd think me rude, but I would just stop and… stare.

"I'd like to make myself believe

That planet Earth turns slowly

It's hard to say I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep

'Cause everything is never as it seems."

Rick was mesmerized by her voice. He didn't know she could sing. The song she was singing, whatever it was, was a perfect lullaby for Ethan. Kate Beckett had surprised him yet again. She was finishing up the song and Ethan was asleep.

"I'd like to make myself believe

That planet Earth turns slowly

It's hard to say I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep

Because my dreams are bursting at the seams."

She kissed the top of his head, "Good night little one." Kate turned to take him to the bedroom and saw Rick standing there, watching her. She walked right by him and into the bedroom, laying Ethan down in the crib. When she came back out, she eyed him warily.

"How long were you standing there?"

"Long enough to know you can sing."

A/N: The song is "Fireflies" by Owl City.