Disclaimer: I do not own Castle, does one need to do this for every chapter or is it enough to just post it on the first?

The timeline is a little skewed, I'm setting up the things in Watershed as if they happen on the 10th of May rather than the 13th which is when the show aired. This then fits with Mother's Day, which was on the 12th of May in 2013.


Tomorrow is Mother's Day; I will tell him then. This will be my first Mother's Day with the little peanut on the way. She was exhausted, she was only about 8 weeks along give or take, and she had never been so tired.

Dinner with Alexis had been great, they had quickly moved on with the conversation away from the obvious engagement and on to the very cute barista at the café down the street. Alexis was smitten and it appeared from a distance that the barista welcomed the attention.

After dinner the two Castles had taken care of the cleanup, noting that Kate was about to pass out at the table.

"Is she all right?" Alexis sounded a little worried.

"She's fine, just had some bug today, it totally wore her out." Rick replied, not as much worry in his voice as there had been this morning.

"Kate, sweetheart," he stroked her cheek and she smiled and leaned into the touch.

She hummed and stretched as she stood up. "Time for bed?" she asked and headed for the bedroom. He just nodded slowly and watched her as she went.

She was already asleep when he came to bed.

She woke up early the next day, still a little groggy – but on a mission. Rick was still sleeping and didn't stir when she snuck out of bed and into the bathroom. Morning sickness had not hit her yet so she quickly showered and got dresses, then hurried to the kitchen and grabbed some saltines and a bottle of water. In hopes of keeping the crackers down, she only had a couple and a small sip of water. Having read online that you should not get too full, and to not drink liquids with food.

Please be good for mommy, Kate thought. We need to get things just right for daddy. This is kind of his day, he's finally going to know you exist.

She snuck out and got in her car, she had planned what she would need for the big reveal.

She was walking through an aisle full of clothes for newborns, she had first thought of buying something that said something lame like I 3 dada written on it, but the one she bought was just too perfect to pass on.

She had done some research before heading out and was happy to find that everything she wanted to buy was available and that the embroiderer was quickly done.

As she looked through the baby department she called Alexis, who answered on the second ring.

"Kate," her voice quizzical, "are you all right, you were gone this morning, didn't answer you phone and dad got worried."

"Is he there right now?" Was all Kate said back.

"No, he went to check if you went to the precinct," Alexis told her, still sounding a little unsure.

"Great," Kate breathed, "I wanted to ask if you were willing to join me in celebrating Mother's Day – for your dad."

Alexis laughed on the other end, "did he put you up to this?" Alexis asked, still laughing.

"No, why do you ask?"

"Well, he has made some claims throughout the years that he deserves it, seeing as he raised me by himself."

"Of course he would do that," Kate now laughing with Alexis at Ricks expanse. "But what do you say? Are you in?"

"Sure," Alexis said, then added, "sounds fun."

"OK, I'll talk to you later and let you in on the plan." Kate was smiling now, "bye, bud."

Her plan was coming along great. She had made a mental note to come back here and buy more things for her little peanut. She decided it looked a little suspicious to come home with bags filled with baby clothes.

She finished her shopping and got everything as she wanted it for the reveal. She had done some research before heading out so it was done quickly.

"Where are you?" Rick said as he answered the phone, obvious worry in his voice.

"Well," she thought for a second, "on my way to see my mom, want to come meet me there?"

"Yeah, you sure?" Rick sounded as if he was incredulous at the offer.

"I think it's time she meets my husband to be." Kate smiled to herself at her choice of words, he will be my husband soon.

When Kate arrived at the cemetery, Rick was already waiting for her in the parking lot with a bouquet of pink roses. Without a word Kate walked over to him and hugged him tightly, he always knew how to make her fall in love with him even more.

They walked hand in hand towards her mother's grave.

"Hey mom," Kate began out loud, "just wanted you to finally meet Rick, your future son-in-law."

"Hey there, Mrs. Beckett," Rick said as he lay the flowers at the base of her headstone. "Good to finally get an introduction," he continued, "I've heard so much about you, and I'd just like to thank you for raising such a wonderful person. She truly is extraordinary."

Kate wiped a tear that ran down her cheek, "Thank you, Rick."

She had bought her mother a card for the occasion, she didn't know what would be appropriate to write in it, so she kept it short and simple.

Happy Mother's Day,

Love Katie and peanut.

Kate believed her mother was always with her, watching over her, so it needed no further explanation.

They drove back in silence, her head too full of memories of her mother and thoughts on future memories she would never be a part of. It broke her heart.

"You miss her," Rick said, not a question, but a statement, as he wiped away a tear she hadn't realized she had shed.

It was now time to get the feast ready, "Hey Mr. Mom," Kate giggled, "want to help me get everything ready for a Mother's Day for you?" this earned her a very funny look and her giggle turned into a heartfelt laugh.

"Shouldn't I be free of manual labor on my day?" He said as he started helping out.

"I'll let you sit back and relax on Father's day," she shot back and blew him a kiss.

When Alexis was finally home, she helped bring all of the food onto the dining room table before they dug in. Kate had managed to keep her crackers down all day, and was very ready to eat some real food.

When everyone had finished eating and they had moved to the living room, Kate and Rick sat snuggled on the couch. Just as she sat down Alexis suddenly stood up as if the chair was a hot plate and walked to her purse and then back again, handing over a gift to her father, before sitting down and getting comfortable.

"Happy Mother's Day, dad." She said it with a smile.

On the card was a scribbled poem along with some generic hallmark phrase or saying. The poem made Rick laugh softly, so Kate read it over his shoulder.

Roses are red,
violets are blue.
Who needs a mother,
when I've got you?

Kate smiled, but felt sad for Alexis. Kate had gotten 19 years with her mother, granted Alexis' mother was alive, but wanted nothing to do with raising this wonderful, smart, beautiful girl in front of her.

Rick had ripped the wrapping paper off his present, and was staring at it with a loving look in his eyes. Alexis had given him a photo of the three of them, taken at his birthday party, in a frame that had the word family on the plaque.

Kate caught Alexis' eye and gave her a warm, loving smile at the gesture.

"Thank you, Alexis."

When Kate pulled out 3 identical bags, she surprised both Rick and Alexis, this was going to be fun.

She started by handing Alexis and Rick their bags but told them to not open them yet. She had written Ricks card yesterday, she had been thinking about how to tell him for a while, for that reason alone, the card read like a letter.

Dear Rick,
We are at a time in our partnership, our relationship, that is full of new beginnings. We have a lot of questions that need answers and decisions to be made.
With that, I hope that you know, that I know that you are a wonderful man, and that I love you with all of my heart.
I decided to throw you a mother's day celebration for a couple of reasons, most important one being that you deserve it.
You are an amazing father, proven every day by the fact that you raised a wonderful, smart, caring daughter that loves you so much. It makes me love you just a little bit more every time I see it.

Yours, always.

Kate

She watched him read the card and as his eyes found hers, she let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding.

"Always…" He smiled.

It's now or never.

"Alexis would you open yours?" Kate turned to face her.

Alexis took out a light blue adult size footie overall, confusion plastered across her face.

"Ahh, thanks Kate," Alexis had looked at her as if she believed Kate had lost her mind.

"Look at the back," Kate said with a chuckle.

On the back it read,

Alexis Castle
Est. 1993

Still confusion shone from Alexis' eyes. She took out her own greyish brown one and turned it around revealing,

Kate Beckett
Est. 1979

She finally looked at Rick, who had his hand in his bag and about to pull out his own navy one.

"Let's see yours," Kate smiled, waiting.

This is really it, he will know in about 5 seconds.

He pulled out his own and unfolded it, as he did, his jaw dropped to the floor. Rick looked at the green tiny footie pinned to his own, spotting the words written on the back he gasped.

"Really?" He stood up, "REALLY?" He was getting so excited.

"Really." Was all she said and then laughed nervously.

"What's going on?" Alexis obviously surprised by her father's outburst.

"We're having a baby?" Rick whispered, still looking at Kate.

"That's what the doctor said," Kate replied with a smile, her hand purposely resting on her stomach.

"This is so exciting!" He exclaimed, completely thrilled. "Best Mother's Day ever!"

"Wait, what?" Alexis questioned.

But before Kate could elaborate, Ricks dropped his footie and took Kate in his arms and soon his lips were on hers, spinning her around.

The green footie in plain view, just under Ricks name on his navy one, were the words,

Baby Castle
Est 2013

"You really are extraordinary, Katherine Beckett." He breathed, still holding her in his loving embrace.


I love the fact that you read what I write, and would like to thank you for that.

I seriously considered a lavish party, skywriting and whatnot, to have him guess it. Let's put it like this, I explored all options on this reveal, but ultimately decided that intimate was the best way to go, and felt that a mother's day for Rick was a funny way to do it.

For it to work as a mother's day gag, Alexis had to be there. I however always felt that she should be part of the reveal. In early drafts she was helping Kate surprise Rick, but I know for a fact that Kate would always want to tell Rick before anyone else. So I scrapped that idea and went with Alexis being a close second.

I hope that this does not disappoint you, I know that I wrote that Kate wanted it to be epic. But in Kates mind, all of them being there together was part of what made it epic.