AN: OK so it's been what, two weeks, since I've updated this, sorry but life got in the way. But I was writing this instead of doing my Physics work… not to sure that was an amazing idea, but hey, what can I say? This chapter wanted to be written, and it's the longest chapter I've written, hopefully it'll tide you over for a couple of weeks until all my school stuff is over…

Oh, and slight time jump again…

Anyway…

-Enjoy :D

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

Chapter 16

It was the middle of February, Kate was due in two weeks and she was starting to feel like the side of a house. She pulled herself out of bed and dressed slowly; it was her last day at work before she went on maternity leave. As Kate sat in the walk-in robe awkwardly pulling on her flats she looked longingly at the power heals she had given up months before, she was looking forward to the day she could wear those again.

As she walking into the precinct at nine that Friday morning (as she had been forbidden to be there any earlier) with Rick at her side it was eerily quite. So quite that she suspected something, though her baby crazed mind could figure out what.

The boys were sitting at their desks filling out paperwork and both offered a "Good morning Beckett, Castle" as they walked past. Kate mumbled a greeting back at them and made her way to her desk. Rick helped her with her jacket and into her chair, which she had given up complaining about. She pulled into her corner desk, which had been there after Christmas and she had to admit was easier to use, and started the long process of tying up loose ends before she was out of the office for six months.

By the time lunch rolled around she was finished with her paperwork. She stood slowly and, after glaring at Rick so he wouldn't follow her, made her way to the break room, any excuse to stretch her legs and move around. Kate wasn't really paying much attention to anything but the strain in her back until she heard Lanie call her name as she entered the break room. She faltered, what was Lanie doing up in their break room?

As Kate looked around she saw a smattering of streamers around the room, and not only was Lanie there, but also the boys, Captain Montgomery and some other officers who they worked with regularly.

"Lanie." Kate hissed, and the woman in question approached her with some trepidation. "I thought I said no parties!"

"No." Lanie replied coyly. "You said no baby shower, and this isn't a baby shower. This is a 'you're leaving us for a while' party."

"I'm not going to get out of this, am I?" Kate asked the room in general as she noticed the scatter of food on the table and discreetly placed gift bags around the room.

With the resounding "No" that she heard from around the room Kate made her way to sit down and noticed that Rick had followed her into the room, so she turned to him.

"You knew about this." She accused.

"Nope," Rick replied, his eyes wide as he noticed the layout of the break room. "I had no idea this was happening."

"Ok," Kate said sounding deflated, and then lowered her voice so that only Rick could hear. "But I'm not opening any presents."

"That's fine." Rick told her. "We'll just have lunch with everyone, collect all the presents and open them at home." They then moved towards the table and Rick pulled a chair out for her which was followed by a chorus of 'awww's from the female population of the room.

When lunch hour was over Montgomery stood and clapped his hands twice to get everyone's attention. "Lunch is over people, back to work." He said, and then turned his attention to Kate and Rick. "And Beckett you have my permission, no make it an order, to go home now and relax. Castle go with her and make sure she does."

"Yes, sir." They both said, and Kate continued addressing not only the captain, but also the boys and Lanie. "If not before hand I'll see you guys a week from Tuesday." And decided to continue after their confused looks. "You know, the hearing."

"Right." Montgomery said. "I'll be there, now go home." He finished as he headed back to his office. Kate was then enveloped in a hug from Lanie, patted on the shoulder by both Ryan and Esposito, after which Rick gather the presents as they made their to the elevator.

As the elevator doors opened Kate paused to look back across the bullpen, a tear in her eye. She was going to miss it, sure she'd be back, but she was still going to miss it. Rick cleared his throat from inside the elevator and Kate stepped inside. She turned and watched as the doors closed and the bullpen was removed from her sight. This really was the start of the rest of her life.

-!-!-!-

The following week was a week full of complaints from Kate. Her back hurt, her feet hurt and her ankles were swollen. Not only were her ankles swollen but so were her fingers, so much so that she had to take off her engagement ring and hang it around her neck. She was sick of 'relaxing', she was sick of Rick letting her do practically nothing. She was sick of being pregnant.

In the past week she had gone through the double sets of everything baby related. She had repacked her hospital bag three times and she had watched Rick assemble two cribs. By Monday she was actually looking forward to their day in court the following day. What was happening to her? She never looked forward to court.

-!-!-!-

Kate was leaning heavily on Rick as they made there way through the courthouse and encountered Judge Markway.

"What are you two doing here?" He asked them.

"We're here for the Davidson case." Kate told him.

"Ah, yes, that one did cross my desk, but for obvious reasons I had to pass it on." He told them. "Knowing most of the government's witness list is considered biased." He finished with a chuckle before bidding them farewell before they progressed to the courtroom.

Kate was just settling herself on one of the uncomfortable benches outside the courtroom door when Ms Ashlee Wright, government lawyer, walked up to them, followed closely by Dr Witherby. Kate started to stand before Ms Wright waved her off, and put down her briefcase.

"Ms Beckett," she said. "It's fine, please stay seated, when are you due?"

"It's Detective Beckett," Kate told the woman. "And Friday." She finished, absentmindedly rubbing her swollen belly.

"Congratulations." Ms Wright said, and then turned business. "Mr Castle, you'll be up first. Followed by Detective Beckett. Then Detectives Ryan and Esposito, respectfully. Then Dr Witherby, you'll be up last. Any questions?" She asked. Everyone present shook their heads, Ms Wright continued. "I'm saying this just as a formality, but you have to stay out side of the courtroom before you testify." She picked up her briefcase and headed for the door, she stopped before she entered and said, "The bailiff should call you in about fifteen minutes Mr Castle."

Captain Montgomery walked up and greeted them just as the courtroom door was closing behind Ms Wright. He was introduced to Dr Witherby and the group made polite conversation for about ten minutes before the bailiff made his way out of the courtroom.

"Mr Castle?" He asked, and continued when he had Rick's attention. "You're up. Follow me please." Rick stood, squeezed Kate's hand slightly and followed the bailiff into the courtroom.

The twenty minutes that Rick was gone felt like an age to Kate. She started fretting as soon as the doors had closed behind the two men. When this became obvious Lanie and Dr Wetherby both took a seat, one either side of Kate, reminding her that stress wouldn't be good for her or the babies; a fact that Dr Witherby had been trying to get her to understand for weeks. Finally the Bailiff appeared again.

"Detective Beckett. Follow me please." He said before turning back towards the door.

Kate stood slowly, with the help of Lanie and Dr Witherby and started her slow waddle towards the doors then down the isle of the courtroom, smiling slightly at Rick as she passed him.

Kate made her way to stand in front of the witness stand, as she had so many times before, and turned to face Ms Wright, awaiting her instruction.

"Raise your right hand." Ms Wright told her and Kate did as she was told. "Do you sware to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"

"I do." Kate replied.

"Please take a seat." Ms Wright told her, and Kate slowly made her way to the witness seat.

"Detective Beckett." Ms Wright started once Kate was seated. "Can you please describe to the court the altercation between the accused and Mr Castle on the 12th of December."

"Sure." Kate began. "Mr Castle and I were at the precinct. I had been putting the first pieces of information that Detectives Esposito and Ryan had given me onto the murder board. They had just come back from the crime scene, brother of the victim in tow, although I didn't even know who it was until they were headed back to the elevator to show him out."

"And who was the brother of the victim Detective Beckett?" Ms Wright asked.

"Dr Davidson." Kate stated.

"Please continue." Mr Wright said.

"As I was saying, I didn't know who the brother of the victim was until they were leaving. I was sitting at my desk and just happened to look up when they walked past and was shocked that they hadn't told me who was coming in."

"Why is that?" Ms Wright asked.

"Because I was previously in a relationship with Dr Davidson." Kate stated.

"Continue."

"As soon as I noticed who it was," Kate continued. "I called Detective Esposito over to me and we had a hurried discussion, until I became slightly hysterical and stood from my chair. It was at this point that Dr Davidson noticed that I was there at that I was pregnant."

"How far along were you then?"

"About six months." Kate replied, and continued when Ms Wright nodded her head at her. "Then Dr Davidson noticed Mr Castle, who was standing right behind me, place his hand on my arm and before I could really comprehend what was happening Dr Davidson had punched Mr Castle in the face."

"And then what happened Detective Beckett?" Ms Wright asked.

"Detective Esposito grabbed hold of him and hauled him away," Kate told the court. "But after that I'm not really sure as I was rather concerned for Mr Castle."

Ms Wright looked at Judge Blake, "No further questions Your Honour."

"Mr Slain?" Judge Blake asked.

"Thankyou Your Honour." Mr Slain, the defence attorney, said then stood from his chair. "Ms Beckett." He started, before Kate cut him off.

"It's Detective Beckett." She said to him.

"But you're not currently working, are you?" He asked.

"Objection." Ms Wright said, standing. "Relevance."

"I'll get there Your Honour." Mr Slain said.

"Overruled. Answer the question please." Judge Blake said.

"I'm on maternity leave." Kate said.

"So, Ms Beckett." Mr Slain said again. Kate was just opening her mouth to correct him again when Judge Blake intervened.

"Mr Slain." He said harshly. "You will treat the witness with the respect she requires, address her with the correct title, or you will no be permitted to question her."

"Yes Your Honour." Mr Slain replied, a glare evident in his eye when he continued. "Detective Beckett, when did you find out you were pregnant?"

"Objection, relevance?" Ms Wright asked again.

"If you would let me get to it Your Honour." Mr Slain said.

"Overruled. Answer the question Detective." Judge Blake said.

"I found out I was pregnant in early August." Kate replied.

"And how far along were you at this point?" Mr Slain asked.

"About six weeks."

"And it is not true that you broke up with my client in late May, about six weeks before you found out you were pregnant?" Mr Slain said, doing the quick math in his head.

"Yes." Kate said tersely, she could see where this was going and she would shoot him down.

"So isn't it possibly that the baby you are carrying is my clients?" Mr Slain asked.

"No." Kate replied bluntly.

"No?" Mr Slain asked, clearly not the answer he was looking for.

"No." Kate said again in as formal a tone as she could muster. "It was at least three weeks before Dr Davidson and I broke up that we were last intimate." Kate finished.

"No further questions Your Honour." Mr Slain said, slightly dazed, his client has all but assured him that she was carrying his child, and yet she so bluntly told him that the baby wasn't his client's.

"You may step down Detective Beckett." Judge Blake said and Kate stepped down from the witness stand, making her way back out of the courtroom. As she passed him, Rick rose from his chair and followed her out, one hand at the small of her back.

-!-!-!-

Kate had been restless the whole time Esposito and Ryan had been inside the courtroom, she couldn't seem to keep still. The two came out after Ryan had testified and told them that a fifteen-minute recess had been called. Kate groaned, it seemed something was out to get her that day.

She kept pacing.

Dr Witherby was starting to get slightly worried, she could see all the signs that Kate was starting to go into labour, but Kate wasn't one that would believe her until her waters broke. soon enough the bailiff appeared again.

"Dr Witherby." He said. "Please follow me."

Dr Witherby started towards the courtroom door until she heard a voice. "I don't think that's gonna happen." Lanie said, and continued when Dr Witherby was looking at them. "Rachel, we need to get Kate to the hospital, her waters just broke."

AN: and I know it's mean to leave a chapter like that, but it had to be done. So there will be one more chapter, then an epilogue, which I've had planed for a while…

Press the shiny button and let me know what you think! :D