Hey guys, so here is the next chapter! Hope you enjoy!

Two weeks later and she was going stir crazy. She had gone to the doctor the day before and he said she was still looking good. The twins were right on target for their delivery next week. Kate was so exhausted from not being able to sleep and she felt bigger than a house.

Alexis had been hanging out with her for the past few days now that it was summer break and the younger woman had kept her sane during the end days of her very long pregnancy.

Castle had just run to the store to get some groceries on a Tuesday afternoon when she felt another tight pull accompanied by pain. When they had first started three hours ago, she thought they were just Braxton-Hicks contraction that she had been getting for the past few weeks. However, they started coming regularly and a little closer each time. Finally, she decided she needed to go to the hospital.

"Alexis," Kate called to the younger woman who had gone to grab some ice cream for a movie marathon the two were planning to have.

"What is it Kate?" Alexis said, walking through the door with the carton of ice cream and two spoons.

"I think it's time," Kate said, looking with some fear at the red head.

"Now?" Alexis said, "Ok. I'll grab your stuff. Let's go."

"Lex," Kate called after her as she ran from the room.

"Let's go," Alexis called, heading towards the door.

"Lex," Kate said, "Call your dad. He has the car. I'll be fine for now."

"Alright," Alexis said, picking up her phone and calling her father, relaying that Kate was in labor and that he needed to come home.

"Thanks," Kate said as Alexis hung up, "Now, I need to call my OB. It's gonna be ok."

Kate saw the fear plastered on Alexis's face, mimicking the fear she felt inside, but determined to make her future step-daughter comfortable.

"Hi, Dr. Riley," Kate said as her OB answered the phone, "I think I'm in labor. I am having contractions for about three hours and they are getting closer together. Yes, my fiancé will bring me in as soon as he gets home. Alright. Thank you."

"What did she say?" Alexis asked, still standing by the door with Kate's bag.

"She said that she will meet us at the hospital," Kate said, trying to calm herself in order to keep Alexis calm, "I'm fine. Come here."

Alexis put the bag down and went to sit next to Kate.

"It's ok," Kate said, "Are you ready to be a big sister?"

"Of course," Alexis said, smiling.

Alexis had revealed to Kate early in the pregnancy that she had always dreamed of being a big sister and once her dad had met Kate, she knew one day she would have a little brother or sister at some point.

"How long did your dad say he would be?" Kate asked, knowing it was important to monitor the babies and have them safely. One baby was a footling breech, meaning its feet were pointed down. The other was bottom first so a natural delivery was not an option.

Suddenly, a contraction gripped Kate and she shut her eyes, breathing deeply as pain coarsed through her body. After about thirty seconds, the pain subsided and she opened her eyes, noticing for the first time that Alexis was rubbing her back.

"Are you alright?" Alexis asked, looking at Kate with fear in her eyes.

"I'm fine," Kate said, "These two are just getting a little antsy, that's all."

About three minutes later, Castle burst through the door.

"Are you alright?" he asked, running to her, "Do you need anything? Are the babies ok? Do I need to call 911? Do you…"

"Castle," she said, grabbing his attention, "I'm fine. I'm not bleeding out or dying. I'm just in labor. Just take me to the hospital."

"Right," he said, "Come on. Let's go. I'll get the bag. Alexis, lock the door."

He and Alexis ran out the door, leaving Kate still on the couch. She waited a second before the door flew open, Castle coming in and wrapping his arm around her waist, leading her out the front door to the car where Alexis was waiting.

They drove the thirty minutes to the hospital, Kate's contractions coming about every six minutes and lasting thirty seconds each.

When they arrived at the hospital, Castle parked and helped her to the maternity wing, Alexis in tow.

When they arrived, a nurse hooked Kate up to monitors after getting her into a gown. Dr. Riley came in about thirty minutes after Kate arrived.

"Things are looking good," she said, smiling at Kate, easing the slightest amount of her anxiety, "Both babies have strong heartbeats. I am thinking we are going to meet these two little ones in a few hours. I need to get an OR ready and then we will begin the prep. But before the end of the day, you are going to have two new bundles of joy. They may need to go to the NICU because they are a little early and sometime with twins, it get a bit more complex, but based on the tests we have run, they are healthy. Any questions?"

"Is this going to be just like we discussed?" Kate asked, not sure if the babies coming early would have any effect on the delivery.

"Of course," Dr. Riley said, "You just get to experience the contractions for a while unless you would like something for the pain."

"No," Kate said, "I'm fine."

"Alright," Dr. Riley said, "I'll see you in about an hour when I come back to prep you."

Kate nodded, thanking the doctor. She stared up at the two fetal heart rate monitors, smiling as she saw the fast beats.

She then looked at her own, glad it was regular and strong. She had been monitored closely because of her heart damage to make sure the pregnancy didn't put too much strain on it. That was ultimately the reason she ended up on bed rest because her heart was working hard and her cardiologist and OBGYN were worried that it might end badly if it wasn't monitored. She had even had to wear a twenty four hour heart monitor a few times just to make sure everything was going alright.

"You ready?" Castle asked, smiling at her.

"More than ready," she said, smiling at him.

"Where is Alexis?" Kate asked, noticing that the red head's absence.

"She went to call my mom and your dad," he said, taking her hand, "Can I get you anything?"

She shook her head as another contraction ripped through her body. He held her hand and rubbed her taught stomach as the contraction continued. Once it finished, she gave him a small smile as he brushed a piece of hair from her face.

"We are going to be parents," she said, tears in her eyes as she looked at him. He nodded, kissing her forehead.

"That we are," he said, smiling at her.

They had both been preparing for this day for months, but now that it was actually here, it was surreal. They were going to have two little babies to raise together. Castle felt like this time, he was actually getting a family.

When Alexis was born, he and Meredith were young and both committed to their jobs, but he had been more committed to his angel than his work. Meredith, however, was barely there when Alexis was little and they never experienced things together like her first steps, first words, first sickness, first smile, first Christmas, first anything.

With Kate, he knew that this woman was sticking around and would die if she missed any of their children's firsts.

"Castle," she said, calling him out of his head, "Can you get me some more ice chips please?"

"Of course," he said, stepping into the hall where he found a nurse who helped him obtain ice.

When he got back to the room, she was having another contraction. He held her hand and when it was done, fed her some ice. They continued that way for a half an hour before there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," Kate called, just finishing with another contraction. In came Lanie and Esposito.

"Hey guys," Kate said, putting down her cup of water.

"How are you feeling?" Espo asked as he and Lanie came next to her bed.

"I'm fine," Kate said, smiling at him, "Ready to meet these two though."

"Are my nieces or nephews behaving?" Lanie asked, looking at the contraction monitor, "Are your contractions bad?"

"They are doing exactly what they are supposed to," Rick said, smiling.

"My contractions are fine," Kate said, "About five minutes apart and they last about thirty seconds, but I'm getting taken up for a C-section in about a half hour."

Lanie nodded, knowing that delivering twins naturally was not likely and with Kate's heart, it could present unnecessary risks.

"You ready for this Dad?" Javi asked Castle, smiling at him.

"Of course," Castle said, "And how about you two? Any babies in your future?"

"No way," Lanie said immediately, "We will be fine just watching Olivia and these two. No way am I pushing out a watermelon."

Esposito nodded in agreement. The two were dating, but there was no way they were trying to have babies anytime soon or ever. The smile on Kate's face faded as another contraction started. Lanie and Esposito left, promising to be back after the babies were born as Rick helped Kate through the contraction. Once it was over, she slumped against her pillow, taking a sip of water.

There was another knock just as she set her drink down.

"Come in," Rick called, helping Kate sit up. Jenny and Ryan walked in.

"Hey guys," Kate said from her place on the bed.

"Hey Kate," Jenny said, giving the woman a hug as Ryan went to talk to Castle, "How's it going?"

"Not bad," Kate said, "But I could do without the contractions. I don't know how you did this for eighteen hours."

"Sheer willpower," Jenny said, "But once Olivia was born, I forgot it all."

"Where is she?" Kate asked, noting the distinct lack of the eighteen month old.

"She's with my mom," Jenny said, "She is out visiting for a few days and we thought this might be a little too much for her, but we will bring her to meet the babies whenever you want."

"Great," Kate said, smiling.

She hoped her little babies would be close to Olivia because they were close in age and would be together a lot. They chatted for a minute more before another contraction come and Kate was once again in pain. Jenny and Ryan left, wishing them luck.

Once the contraction tapered off, Kate was exhausted, closing her eyes as Castle put a cool cloth on her forehead.

"Is this a bad time?" Jim Beckett called from the door.

"Daddy," Kate said, opening her eyes and smiling at her dad, "Come in."

He walked in and Beckett gave Castle a look telling him to get out for a while. He got the clue and left the room after greeting Jim.

"Hey Katie," her dad said, sitting down next to her, "How are the grandkids?"

"They are eager to meet you," Kate said, rubbing her belly.

"How are you, Katie-girl?" Jim asked, looking at his daughter's face and seeing so much of her mother in it.

"I'm alright," she said, "Nervous, but excited. I just want these two to be alright."

"They will be, Katie," Jim said, wiping a stray tear from her face, "They are going to be perfect just like their mommy."

She smiled at her dad, relishing in his gentle touch.

"Your mom would be so proud," he said, looking into her eyes, "She always knew you were going to be a great mom. She said it from the time you were small, would say, 'Jim, our Katie is going to be a great mother someday to some perfect grandkids for us to enjoy.' I guess I'll have to enjoy these tow enough for both of us."

Both of them had tears running down their cheeks as he spoke. This pregnancy had made Kate miss her mom more than she had before because she had no one to ask her questions to, no one to confide her doubts in, no one to hold her and tell her everything was going to be alright.

Sure, Castle, his family, and her friends were there for her, but her own mom had a way of calming her that Kate had never forgotten and never been able to replicate. Their moment was interrupted by another contraction.

Her dad held her hand through this one and rubbed her back gently.

"Thanks Daddy," she said, smiling at him after it finished.

"For you Katie-girl, anything," he said, kissing her forehead the way he did when he tucked her in as a little girl.

Castle came in just then followed Alexis and Martha.

"I'm gonna go Katie-girl," Jim said, kissing her hand, "I'll see you in recovery. Love you."

"Love you too," Kate said as her dad left. She welcomed Martha and Alexis in, receiving a big hug from each woman. They chatted for a while until another contraction kicked in and they excused themselves, promising to see her soon after sending their love.

A few minutes after the contraction stopped, Dr. Riley walked in.

"Ready to meet some babies?" Dr. Riley asked, checking Kate's monitors and nodding happily.

"Of course," Kate said, smiling. Dr. Riley sent in her nurses and they helped Kate prep for surgery, handing Rick a gown before helping Kate walk down the hall to the surgery room.

Once there, Kate was given an epidural to numb her body and placed on the table where a blue curtain was hung in front of her and an oxygen mask was placed on her face.

She waited for a few minutes before Rick walked, sporting a yellow gown, complete with booties, a hat and mask. She started crying when she saw him, not because she was sad, just overwhelmed and happy to see someone familiar amongst all the chaos.

"Starting the incision," Dr. Riley called, "Kate, you might feel some pressure, but that is normal."

As the surgery progressed, Kate felt the excitement grow. As Dr. Riley cut into the uterus and punctured the bag of water that the babies had been sharing for the past eight and a half months, she could barely wait.

"Congratulations Kate and Rick," Dr. Riley called, holding up the first baby who was wailing, "You have an adorable little…"

Oh, cliffhanger. How mean! I'm thinking one more chapter of this story to wrap it up. Hope you like it. Feedback always welcomed and appreciated!