Sorry for the long wait, I have just been really struggling with personal problems and my internship but I am ok now :) This chapter is quite a fluff fest, I am sorry to the people who were expecting angst. I hope you enjoy and let me know!

"Kate, please just go and sit down! I can handle it!" Castle begged his wife.

Kate looked over her shoulder at her in pajamas clad husband and shook her head as she broke an egg against the edge of the cooking pan that was sputtering with heated butter filling the apartment with its pleasant scent.

"Come on husband, let me make you breakfast. I am your wife now" she said with a grin and held up her hand with the new and shiny wedding ring on her finger.

Shivers went down his spine, the realization of them finally being married was still exhilarating to him to this day, even when weeks had already passed since their wedding day. But he wouldn't let himself get distracted so easily

"But you are 9 months pregnant! You shouldn't be on your feet" Castle said frustrated as he tried to take over the cooking.

"So? I feel fine!" she said as she threw the eggshells in the garbage disposal after cracking another egg and bumped her hip against his to give him no space to interfere. "just sit down, please, it's just eggs you can do the rest I promise," and looked at the mess she had already made in the kitchen "even the cleaning up" she chuckled.

"Fine" Castle sighed

"So do you want these scrambled?" she asked as she poked the eggs with her spatula.

"Whatever you prefer" he said as he sat down on one of the stools at the kitchen table and observed her.

Even when making eggs she managed to look so elegant and poised, it baffled him. He smirked at the sight of her enormous over 9-month old bump that was barely covered by her (rephrase that his) shirt with an apron stretched tight over the mount of her stomach, the knot behind her back clearly straining. She wore sleep shorts that in bed would bunch up at her hips, the fabric pushed down by the curve of her stomach which combined with a tank top (that hadn't been able to cover her entire stomach since month 8) resulted in a large piece of naked skin that he was always very tempted to kiss whenever she was awake, or to wake her up with… Which was Kate's favorite thing to get up to nowadays. Then when got out of bed she'd always grab a discarded shirt of his and wore it like she was doing now, standing in the kitchen, with his shirt covering her entire frame making it look like she didn't wear anything underneath which turned him on more than he was willing to admit. Not even caring that down her long gorgeous legs there were fuzzy slippers at her feet.

Castle smiled as he got off his chair to prepare the rest of their breakfast by setting the table and making toast.

Kate had a smile on her face. Even though she was more than annoyed that their child was overdue and everything in her body was aching because of it, she promised herself to just enjoy this little alone time she still had with her new husband before their little one arrived.

Kate turned the fire down and scooped the eggs onto their plates and walked, ok full on waddled, to her husband and placed the plate in front of him. Castle expected her to sit down but she didn't yet instead she just stared into nothing as her eyebrows knitted together.

"How are you feeling?" Castle's asked, interrupting her thoughts, as she felt his warm hand against her protruding belly.

Kate smiled at him but she was still frowning as she laid her hand on top of his "I don't know, but I think today is the day"

"Are you having contractions?!" Castle gasped

"No, no. Nothing like that I just feel," as she let go of his hand and took her apron off "different"

"Good different, I hope?"

Kate nodded "yeah definitely"

Castle gave her his most radiant smile, making him look almost childlike and grabbed the stool next to him, patting the seat. "well then you'll need your breakfast, come on"

"Come on, baby, don't you want to come out?," Kate sang. As she was, again, refolding all of the onesies, socks, blankets, bibs and other baby stuff for the hundredth time since she was on maternity leave "life isn't so bad out here, I promise"

Nesting seemed the only thing that would calm her nerves about her impending motherhood now that she was on maternity leave, missing the distraction her work provided.

She sighed and sat down in the rocking chair that was placed in the corner of the, now finally finished, nursery and used her royally sized stomach as a surface to fold the tiny pieces of clothing on that piled up next to her.

She held up one of the onesies, her favorite, the material was so soft between her fingers and the little horizontal blue stripes and the wooden buttons across it made it simple yet so damn cute. It was a gift from her father and the first piece of clothing their son had gotten.

She bit her lip. Of course thinking about her dad becoming a first time grandfather made her think of her mother. It was hard that her mom wasn't there to share her personal stories and wisdoms with her, especially now she was so close to the birth and she was getting anxious. Not that she didn't get enough (unsolicited) advice from her chirpy mother-in-law, but her heart was still aching.

She swallowed down the lump that had formed in her throat and quickly folded the last piece of clothing before absent mindedly looking out of the window caressing her stomach, her son was clearly making his presence known by kicking her in the ribs and other unpleasant places and she slowly felt her eyelids droop. Fatigue taking over.

"Hey are you ok?" a sudden voice came from her left which made her jump up in her chair.

Kate swallowed and rubbed her eyes "yeah, yeah I guess I drifted off"

"You were crying" Castle said in a soft tone.

Kate frowned and wiped her wet cheeks "guess I was" she answered with a faint smile.

"You know you can talk to me right?"

Kate smiled and grabbed his hand that was still placed on her shoulder and squeezed it gently "I know, I just miss my mom"

"I'm sorry" he whispered.

"Really, it's ok," she sighed, and looked at the framed picture of her mother with herself as an infant in her arms that her father had brought her to hang in the nursery "she would have loved this baby so much, you know"

Castle nodded as he pulled one of the pieces of baby clothing from the folded pile and played with the buttons as he admired the small size of it, in awe that his soon to be born son will fit in them.

"I can't imagine she wouldn't," he breathed out, "this baby has already wrapped me and everyone else around his tiny fingers and he hasn't even been born yet" he said smiling and kissed on top of his wife's head, picking up the remaining pile of baby clothes and putting them back in the many drawers.

Kate sighed "you're going to let me be the 'bad cop' in this whole parenting thing, huh?" and stuck out her arms for him to grab and pull her out of her chair. Castle took her hands in his and got her onto her feet, a little wobbly but she found her balance.

He held her close, his arms wrapped around her waist, he shook his head before placing a tender but firm kiss on her lips "I won't. We are partners, we're both in this and this baby is going to love you as much as I do" he whispered after breaking the kiss, and rested his forehead against hers.

Kate smiled "that's a lot of love"

"I am just happy I get to do this again with someone-," he paused and then faintly smiled "with someone I actually truly trust and love"

Kate placed her hand on his cheek "thank you for being here, for returning to me… to us" she said and kissed him again "for being my husband" she added whispery

"always"

"I thought you said today was the day" Castle smirked as he put his book down and pushed his reading glasses on top of his head. He used to be ashamed of his glasses until Kate told him he looked very sexy in them and now wore them around the house more than needed, not in the precinct yet though, knowing the boys would tease him mercilessly.

It was late in the evening and they were both lounging on the bed, Kate was lying next to him with her back towards him and sighed out "don't tease me, tell your kid to come out"

Castle laughed "now he is my kid huh?," Kate just replied with a grunt "and how do you propose I'd do that?"

"I don't know, give him an eviction notice or something" she grumped and struggled as she slowly turned around to him.

Castle glanced at the bedside clock and leaned in towards his wife's belly

"Ok buddy," he said "you still have two hours before this day is over and your mom loves you very much but she is getting a little stir crazy so it is time for you to move out," Castle could see her belly move which looked a bit alien like, not that he would tell her that "your room is ready, we are ready and your mom has folded your clothes over a hundred times now,"

"Castle!" Kate laughed and gave him a playful slap against his arm

"- and she is getting aggressive towards your poor old man so what do you think, huh?"

Kate was still laughing as they were both waiting for a response but this time they weren't met with any movements.

Kate sighed "nice try babe, it just made him fall asleep, I guess I was wrong, today isn't the day" as she placed her hand on her aching back, trying to relieve herself from the aching.

"Tomorrow" Castle smiled encouragingly and gave her a peck on the lips.

Kate sighed "I'm going to sleep"

"Castle!" Kate exclaimed as she grabbed his arm, her nails digging into his flesh.

"What? What!" he jumped up after being ripped from his dreams so abruptly

"Look at the clock!"

Castle rubbed his eyes as the light of the red number pierced his eyes "11.55" he said still oblivious.

Kate slapped his chest "don't you get it! I was right! Today is the day!"

"Today is – oh my god!" he now exclaimed and pulled the blankets off and turned the lights on as a big wet spot had formed around his wife's lower body.

"You're in labor?" he said excited being entranced by the image in front of him

"Yes! Now help me get out of bed I am soaked"

"Oh yes! of course, of course!" he said and jumped out of bed and got to her side as he helped her up

"Help me out of my clothes" she grunted as she felt a sudden contraction hitting her.

Castle nodded and kneeled before pulling her pants down as she dug her nails into her shoulders

"This is normally way sexier"

"Castle, please" she breathed out as the contraction finally ebbed away

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I joke when I get anxious" and quickly grabbed new underpants and some freshly washed sweat pants for her to wear.

"I know," Kate said forcing a smile as he helped her step into the pant legs "but please, I need you now"

Castle stood up "you're right," he said as he leaned in to kiss her "I am sorry but Kate,"

"hmm?"

"we're having a baby" he whispered.

Kate smiled, before her face turned into a grimace after another contraction hit her "- and very soon too" she said through gritted teeth.

"We still need to decide on a name" he said picking up the hospital bag they had packed and prepared months ago.

Kate nodded "Whatever happens Castle,"

"What?" he responded, and helped her get her coat on

"No, Cosmo"

Castle laughed, "ok no Cosmo," as he grabbed his keys "ok, we're ready, let's go!"

"Castle… you're still in your pajamas"

"oh, right"

Next chapter I promise there will be a baby born! I just wanted to take my time and dedicate a whole chapter to it. Thanks for reading! x