Disclaimer: as always I am just a humble fan, not in any way an owner of anything Castle related.
As she was leaving work on Friday, she was struck by sudden dread. Why did I agree to tell everyone about the baby at the same time? This is going to be one hell of a party and I can't even drink to get through it, why did Rick invite so many people. I would have been fine with just our closest family and friends. There were almost 200 people coming and we invited 238, it's crazy for an engagement/ letting everyone know you're pregnant party.
She didn't sleep very well that night, she was nervous and it didn't help that Rick wasn't there to calm her down.
Kate was packing for the weekend, looking for something nice to wear to the Sunday brunch tomorrow with Rick, Alexis, Jim, Martha, Lanie, Javi, Kevin and Jenny. I need to start buying maternity clothes. She settled on a loose fitting purple shirt and a pair of boyfriend jeans that she could still button.
"Alexis, honey?" she called up the stairs, "are you ready to go?"
"Give me five minutes," she called back.
"Do you need any help?" Kate asked as she walked up the stairs towards Alexis' bedroom.
"No, that's ok," she sounded a little nervous, "I'll be down in two minutes, just need to find my blue blazer"
"OK, I'll just call Lanie and see if she and Javi have picked up Kev and Jenny." She said as she descended the stairs and dialed the phone.
Instead of a greeting, Lanie simply said, "we are outside the Ryan residence, we will be leaving in 10 minutes."
"Great, thanks," she smiled.
Alexis was just walking down the stairs as Kate hung up and they too, were ready to leave.
The drive to the Hamptons was uneventful, the weather was beautiful and it looked like a good day for a party. When they pulled up in the driveway the valet took their bags inside and then parked the car in the garage.
When Kate walked into the house, she was speechless. Rick had transformed the house from beautiful to absolutely stunning, there were flowers and decorations everywhere she looked, without being over the top.
"Ah, if it isn't my favorite trio," Rick said as he greeted Kate and Alexis, pointedly running his hand over Kate's stomach.
"Do you have everything?" He asked Alexis.
"Yes, got it all, everything I might need," she blushed a little as she took her bags and went to her bedroom.
"What was that about?" Kate asked suspiciously.
"Nothing, what do you mean?" Rick said, "can't a father check on his daughter?"
"Sure, he can," Kate said. "I should go shower and get ready for this party."
"All right sweetheart, I'll see you in a little bit." He kissed her temple and asked one of the servers to carry her luggage.
After she had showered, Lanie and Alexis came into her room and they all got ready together. They had done each other's hair and makeup and with 45 minutes to spare, they only had to put on their dresses and go down to host the event with Rick.
"Ugh, I swear," Kate complained as she tried to find a comfortable way to put on her dress.
"What is it honey?" Lanie asked.
"It's nothing, this dress is just so uncomfortable," she grunted as she put on the dress, getting a little frustrated with it.
"How so? Maybe we can fix it," Lanie mused.
"No, it's just squishing my boobs," Kate said, she had now put on the dress and was stunning.
"Well they are looking a little fuller than usual," Lanie said absentmindedly, Kate glanced at Alexis, startled. As if on que Lanie looked at Kate, "You're pregnant and you didn't tell me!" Lanie half laughed, half screamed.
"Shhh, I'm sorry I didn't tell you," Kate said sheepishly, "but could you please not tell everyone else!"
"I'm supposed to be your best friend …," Lanie started.
"You are, you really are my best friend," Kate interrupted her, "but I wanted to wait until my first
trimester was over before I told anyone."
"Alexis knew," Lanie argued. It had been obvious by Alexis' reaction, or lack there off that she had been in the know.
"Alexis is my kid, and the big sister," Kate shot back. "Seriously the only people that know are Rick, Martha, my dad, my doctor and the three of us in this room. Unless anyone overheard you earlier."
Alexis had stopped dead in her track at Kates words.
"The plan is to tell everyone at the party, but I wanted to tell you in private beforehand," Kate said apologetically, "I just didn't know how and then you guessed it, so," she took a deep breath, "now you know."
"Wow," Lanie said, "this is amazing, congratulations sweetie. When are you due?"
Kate smiled, ran her hand over her barely there bump and sighed, "little peanut is due December 23rd."
Lanie pulled Kate into a hug and Kate couldn't help it, she felt her eyes brim with tears. Damn these hormones, I'm going to ruin my makeup.
"This is really amazing, honey," Lanie said into Kate's ear.
"Lanie, could you give Alexis and I a minute?" Kate said as she let go of her best friend. "We'll be right down."
"Sure thing," she said as she walked out of the room.
"I saw that look earlier," Kate said as the doors closed, "I'm sorry if I freaked you out …"
"No, no you didn't," Alexis lied, then amended, "well, maybe a little."
"I know I'm not your mom …," Kate began.
"Kate?" Alexis interrupted, "you are the closest thing I've ever had to a mother, I mean I've always had grams, but that's different. You have been by my side for the last five years, even when you didn't have to, even before you and dad were together. I'd be lucky to have you as a mother, and my little brother or sister in there," she said, pointing at Kates bump, "are so lucky to have you as their mother."
Kate had no words, so she just walked over and hugged Alexis with all the love she had in her body, tears streaming down her face.
"I love you," Kate whispered, "thank you."
Alexis pulled out of the hug and looked at Kate, they would both need to fix their makeups.
"I love you too, Kate," Alexis smiled.
When they had calmed down and fixed their makeups, they went downstairs just as guests were starting to arrive.
An hour after the party started Rick pulled Kate up on stage, it was time for the announcement. At this moment Kate wished she could drink, she found that she was not a fan of standing in front of 200 people to tell them she was having a baby. She felt it was a little too personal to share with so many people, but it's not as if she could hide it forever. She knew she would start to show soon, so it was time. Plus Rick was so excited!
"Hello everyone, and thank you for coming out to celebrate with us tonight." Rick began.
"Most of you know the story of how I met this extraordinary woman next to me," he said and tightened his grip on her waist for a second. "What most of you don't know is that according to my fiancé, she couldn't stand me when we first met, we all know this is a lie, because here we are." He laughed, "I don't believe you can go from strong dislike, to married in 5 years, I think that deep down she wanted me all along."
"You're right, Rick," she joked, "I wanted you-, to stop being an ass." There was laughter in the crowd.
"Well, sweetheart," Ricks smile was mischievous, "the joke is on you tonight." He kissed her lightly.
"You see," he said to the crowd again, "my wife to be and I had planned to surprise everyone with a pregnancy announcement," there was a gasp from the crowd, "but after my birthday, where she totally fooled me, I told her I would create an epic surprise for her."
What did you do, what did you do, what did you do? This is so bad, I don't like surprises, he knows this. Crap.
"So this engagement party slash pregnancy announcement, is actually our wedding." He looked at Kate and smiled.
Oh, my God. I don't have a dress, I can't get married in this, what about vows, or music or … who knew this was happening?
