Sorry for waiting so long to update this story. I am really really grateful for all the reviews, follows, and favorites this story has gotten. I hope you all like this next chapter. Thanks for reading.

They arrived home a little after 9 am and Kate was exhausted. Castle helped her into bed, brushing a strand of hair from her pale, tear-stained face. She had been crying most of the night while he held her. He decided to crawl in next to her, letting her snuggle into his chest as her breathing evened out.

He felt his own silent tears slide down his cheeks as he looked at her. He couldn't even imagine how painful this must be for her. He was having a hard enough time and he hadn't experienced half of what she had. He kissed her hair, closing his eyes and willing sleep to come.

They slept until a little after noon, which was good considering the doctor had decided to put her on a few days off of work and strenuous activity to protect the other two babies.

Shockingly, Kate had no dreams as she had had the night before. As they both awoke, she looked at him with a sad face.

"We need to call Lanie and the boys," she said, knowing it was time to tell their closest friends, "And Alexis and Martha too."

He nodded, knowing she was right. "Would you like me to call?" he asked, stroking her hair as she sat in-between his legs, head resting on his shoulder.

"Please," she said, knowing she couldn't make those calls, "Invite them all to come over in a few hours."

He nodded, grabbing his phone. "Why don't I go whip up some lunch for us too," he said, getting up.

She nodded. "Nothing heavy," she said, her stomach still feeling a little sensitive, "I'm going to shower."

"Alright," he said, helping her up, "Call if you need me."

She nodded, heading for the bathroom as he went to the kitchen, dialing Lanie's number.

"Hello," the medical examiner answered after three rings.

"Hey Lanie," Castle said.

"Hey writer boy," she said, "How is Beckett? Javi said she looked pretty bad yesterday."

"She'll be alright," he said, grabbing out the ingredients for chicken soup, "Would you and Esposito be able to come over around three?"

"Is Kate up to having people over?" Lanie asked, knowing when her friend was sick, it took a while for her to get better.

"Yeah," he said, "She asked me to invite you guys over."

"Alright lover boy," Lanie said, "See you then."

"Bye," he said, hanging up the phone before beginning to chop the ingredients for the soup. Once they were chopped, he added the vegetables to the bottom of a pot, beginning to sauté them as he called Ryan.

"Hello," the detective's voice rang over the phone.

"Hey," Castle said, "Are you and Jenny free around three?"

"Yeah," Ryan said, "That's just after Olivia's nap so we are free."

"Would the three of your be able to come over?" Castle asked, stirring his pot.

"Is Beckett up to that?" Ryan asked, "She was obviously sick yesterday."

"She's doing better," Castle said.

"Alright," Ryan said, "See you guys then."

Castle hung up, adding some chicken stock and spices to the pot he was stirring. Once that was done, he put a lid on it, dialing Alexis's number.

"Hey dad," the young woman said when she picked up, "What's up?"

"Hi sweetheart," he said, "I was wondering if you could come home around three for a little get together."

"Is everything alright Dad?" Alexis asked, noticing the slight stress in her dad's voice.

"Yeah," he said, "I… we just want you to be here this afternoon."

"Alright," she said, "I'll be there."

"Thanks Sweetheart," he said, "How's school been going?"

"Good," Alexis said, "I've been busy, but good."

"Oh good," he said, smiling thinking of having two more children to have conversations with one day, "I need to go. I'll see you soon. Love you."

"Love you too, Dad," she said, hanging up.

Just as Castle took a bag of pre-grilled chicken out of the fridge, Kate walked out of the bedroom dressed in a clean pair of pajamas.

"Hey," she said, sitting down at the bar stool, "Smells good."

"Chicken soup," he said, adding the chicken into the pot of vegetables. She smiled tiredly at him as she watched him stir the pot.

"Did you call everyone?" she asked as he handed her a cup of water.

"Everyone except my mother," he said, "However, she is in the Hamptons and told me not to bother her unless it was absolutely necessary. I figured we could just tell her when she gets back."

"I guess," Kate said, closing her eyes and letting her head rest in her hands.

"Are you alright?" he asked, coming around the island and gently rubbing her shoulders.

"Just not feeling 100%," she said, "But Dr. Riley said that's normal after... Plus, I just got over the flu."

"I know," he said, kissing her cheek, "How about I get you some chicken broth and you can eat."

She nodded, putting her head up.

"Why don't we eat on the couch," he said, ladling the soup into bowls and grabbing a sleeve of saltines and a bottle of PowerAde. He brought them to the couch where she was wrapped in a blanket.

The doctor said her fever might stick around for a few days, but she should be better in about 5 days. He handed her a bowl of soup and they both ate in silence, just enjoying each other's company and closeness.

After a few minutes, both of them finished their bowls and he carefully took them to the kitchen before rejoining her on the couch.

"I love you," he whispered, stroking her hair gently as she placed her head on his chest.

"I love you too," she said, turning to kiss him on the lips.

"Kate," he said suddenly as she looked into his eyes, "I need you to know I'm here for you. Not matter what, I am here for you. You can tell me anything."

"I know," she said, kissing him again, "And you can tell me anything too."

He nodded, pulling her close.

"I need to get ready," she said a few minutes later, "It's almost two-thirty and I'm still in pajamas."

"You look gorgeous," he said as she got up, "Besides, no one will care how you look."

"Thanks," she said, smiling at him with fever glistening eyes, "But I at least want to put my hair up and put on a different shirt."

"Alright," he said, getting up and going into the kitchen, "I'm gonna whip up some artichoke dip and a fruit salad."

She nodded, disappearing into the bedroom. Her stomach was still a bit sore and her nausea hadn't gone completely, but she felt better than she did the day before, physically at least. Emotionally, she was running on empty. She was aching for her lost baby, terrified for the other two, and fearing telling her family and friends the news.

She grabbed a shirt out of the closet, opting to keep on the yoga pants she had pulled on after her shower. She changed before going into the bathroom, grabbing a hair tie off the counter and braiding her hair quickly.

As she turned to leave the bathroom, she noticed the pair of pajama bottoms that had been ruined the day before. She hadn't seen them earlier, but now it was like a punch in the gut. She leaned up against the wall, sliding down it as tears overcame her. Her sobs were loud enough for Castle to hear in the kitchen and ran as fast as he could into the bathroom.

"Are you alright?" he asked, seeing her on the floor, "Are you feeling sick again?"

She just pointed a shaking finger at the pajama bottoms, sobbing. He immediately understood, sitting down next to her and wrapping his arms around her, kissing her head as she cried. He didn't even know what to say. Nothing seemed enough to say to her at this moment. He knew they still had two babies left. He knew she knew this too, but he also knew she needed to be allowed to grieve. He just held her as the sobs broke off and eventually stopped all together.

"I love you," he said, holding her to his chest, "Never forget that."

She nodded, giving him a watery smile as they got up. He handed her a washcloth which she ran under cold water to bring down the puffiness the tears had brought to her eyes.

"I look like such a mess," she said, wiping her nose which had started to run during her break down.

"You look gorgeous," he said, kissing her cheek. Just as he did that, the doorbell rang and she dried her face, ready to face her friends and family with the news.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Let me know what should happen next. How will everyone react to the news? Will Kate be able to tell everyone? Let me know what you want. Thanks again for reading.