AN – IMPORTANT, THIS NEEDS TO BE READ – This author wishes to advise that this chapter has jumped forward a couple of months. So this is where the important timeline explanation comes in. For purposes of this story, LA happened in late May, so this story started in early August, and this chapter jumps us forward to about the second week of December. So, having said that it is now winter, now I'm not claiming to know how the weather works in New York (because I live in Australia) but I'm hoping it's ok that I've made it snow….. it really is just for the effect of it snowing sometimes, and so we'll get Christmas in a couple of weeks…. And having said this Beckett is about six months pregnant. Oh, and if I've stuffed anything up because I don't understand the way anything works in America, I'm sorry and feel free to correct me!

Hopefully that will clear up what's happening in this chapter. And also this chapter and the next few will have flashbacks of how they tell everyone about them and the baby.

This author also wishes to acknowledge tiff098765 who gave me the suggestion for how to tell Alexis! I honestly hadn't thought of that!

-Enjoy :D

Disclaimer the characters that you recognise are not mine, I just like to have fun with them.

(Did you read the Author's Note? If not go back and take a read, it's important!)

Chapter 7

Kate stood looking out the window of Rick's loft. Our loft, she thought. As she started to think about how much her life had changed since that fateful trip to LA about six months ago. Her and Rick had spent one alcohol induced night of passion together, and as a result were together, living together, and preparing for the arrival of their offspring in a couple of months.

Kate was so lost in thought that she didn't hear Rick walk up behind her. Didn't even know that she was there until he wrapped his arms around her ever-expanding middle.

"Penny for your thoughts, Detective?" He whispered in her ear.

"I was just remembering the night we told Alexis and your mother about all of this." She replied.

"That was an interesting evening." He said, a twinkle in his eye as he clearly remembered it well.

"That it was." Kate said, as she gazed at the city lights out the window amidst the snow that was falling.

It had been a rough couple of days for Kate. She had found out that she was pregnant, told Rick and they were together, and the case they'd caught had helped either. But they had decided that Alexis and Martha should know about everything as soon as possible. So that's just what they did, after Rick had assured her that they would approve of her and the baby.

They detoured to Kate's apartment before going to Rick's loft so that Kate could get changed, and Rick had somehow convinced her that an overnight bag wouldn't go astray either.

Rick, being the curious creature that he is, started poking around her apartment, as he hadn't done so the night before. Suddenly he realised that half an hour had passed and Kate still hadn't reappeared. He walked towards her bedroom and knocked lightly on the door.

"Kate?" He questioned. "Are you all right in there?"

"Yeah," she responded tiredly. "I just don't know what to wear." She said in a defeated tone.

"Anything is fine." Rick told her. "It's just my family, and they love you already."

Five minutes later she appeared in jeans and a light sweater, a bag in one hand and her suit jacket draped over the other arm.

"Let's go then." She said, and they left her apartment and headed back to her car.

Twenty minutes later they arrived in the basement parking of Rick's building and he directed her to his visitor park, they got out of her car, but she wisely left her bag in the car. She would come back for it later if the need arose.

Kate was jittery the whole way up to his loft and Rick took her hand just before the ding that indicated their arrival at his floor, and they jumped apart. He let them into his loft and as soon as the door closed a redheaded whirlwind came rushing at them.

"Dad." Alexis said in a scolding tone. "You're late. Dinner has been sitting in the oven for ten minutes."

"Sorry." He said. "But Kate took her time getting ready. What's for dinner?"

"Oh, I made shepherds pie." Alexis told them offhandedly, walking towards the kitchen and indicating that they should follow.

"And where's grams?" Rick asked his daughter.

"Right here." The woman in question replied, coming down the stairs.

"Always one to make an entrance." Rick mumbled.

Dinner was fabulous, but no one was surprised as Alexis had always been a good cook. They were having a pleasant time and then out of nowhere Kate noticed Rick staring at her, and she nodded slightly.

"Mother." Rick started. "Alexis." But he didn't know where to go after that and looked at Kate for help.

"We've got some news for you." Kate continued, and then took Rick's hand in her own trying to gather her thoughts.

"Dad?" Alexis questioned. "Detective Beckett?" And Kate saw her opening.

"How many times?" Kate asked coyly. "Have I told you to call me Kate?"

"As many times as I've told you I won't unless you start dating my dad." Alexis answered without thinking anything of it. Kate saw it the moment the young girl realised and the expression her face was priceless, it was soon diminished by a squeal of pure joy. Alexis recovered and rounded the table.

"Dad. Kate." Alexis started, mischief in her voice. "You two finally got over yourselves and figured out what everyone else has been able to see for at least two years?" Kate couldn't decide if it was a statement or a question.

Martha just patted her son on the shoulder, "Good on you." Was all she said.

"Alexis." Her father said gently. "You might want to go sit down."

"Why?" She asked.

"Just sit, and I'll tell you."

Alexis rounded the table again and sat back down, an expectant look on her face that was an exact mirror of her grandmother.

"There's another thing we thought important to tell you." Rick started, and looked at Kate again, this was really her place to say.

"I'm pregnant." Kate whispered, eyes on the table, she didn't care what Rick had told her earlier; she was still scared.

She glanced up and saw two identical shocked expressions. It was Martha that recovered first, and let out a squeal that could have rivalled her granddaughters from barely five minutes earlier.

Before she knew it, Kate was engulfed in a Castle hug and suddenly all her worries were gone..

The young Castle coming in the front door pulled the couple out of their collective memory. She bounced up to them and gave them both a hug, it had taken Kate quite a while to get used to being hugged on such a regular basis, but she was fine with it now. After Alexis had given hugs all around, and said hello to Kate's growing belly, as she always did, she bounded up the stairs to her room. Kate followed her at a slower pace; it was the night of their weekly Russian lesson, which both women had come to enjoy.

Rick had learnt by now to leave them to their own devices during these times, so he headed towards the kitchen to start preparing dinner. While preparing their dinner he started to reminisce on how much his family had grown over the last couple of months. Specifically the latest addition: Jim Beckett. The night he had met him was still fresh in Rick's mind.

Kate had organised dinner with her father for the Saturday night after she had found out that she was pregnant. What she failed to tell him was that Rick was going to be with her. The surprise that Rick saw on Jim Beckett's face when he saw them walk into the diner hand in hand was priceless.

They sat and ordered their dinner and Kate quickly told her father that they were together. His reply told Rick that he had gathered that the moment they had walked in. After they had finished eating, and Kate had (almost) finished filling her father in on the goings on in her life she took his hand and looked him straight in the eye.

"Dad," She started. "I have some important news." She paused slightly to gather her composure. "I'm pregnant."

Jim Beckett looked at his daughter and sighed. "I knew something was up." He said. "I just didn't want to say anything."

"How'd you know?" Kate asked him.

"You're mother looked exactly the same the night she told me she was pregnant with you." Jim replied softly.

At those words tears started streaming down Kate's face and she excused her to gather her composure.

Rick noticed the exact moment that Jim's demure changed. He went from 'relaxed' to 'I'm interrogating the man that's dating my daughter' in a mere second. Rick only noticed it because the same change had happened in him a couple of times. He just sat and waited for the onslaught. He was not to be disappointed.

"So son." Jim said in his most intimidating voice. "What are your intentions towards my daughter?" And suddenly Rick felt like he was in high school again, picking up Maddy Turner for his Junior Prom.

"I love her, sir." Rick told Jim, not finding any other words to describe how he felt.

As suddenly as it had changed the first time, Jim Beckett's demure was relaxed again and Rick knew that Kate had returned.

As they were saying their goodbyes the two men watched Kate as she walked towards the door. Jim leaned over and said two words to Rick before he left.

"You'll do." And Rick knew that he had her father's approval, and that Kate need know nothing off it.

Rick had no recollection how he'd finished making the burgers that were to be their dinner, but he had. So he called his girls down with the only Russian word they had taught him; and they came, stomachs rumbling.

-!-!-!-

Later that night as they readied themselves for bed Kate thought about the face that it would be the first time that they would be sleeping in their bed. Not that they hadn't slept in the bed before, but it was now their bed in their loft and Kate couldn't get enough of the thought.

They climbed into bed and Kate snuggled into his embrace and felt content. She felt like she could handle anything life could throw at her, as long as he held her in his arms like that.

AN: So what did you think of Alexis and Martha and Jim's reactions? Did I get them right? Let me know… :D