I am so profusely sorry for the lack of updates. Inspiration is a fickle bugger! But here I am at a strange airport, halfway through my 3 hour layover, typing away! This chapter is a little different, setup wise. I think you will like it though :) I had a couple requests for a five and a half month update, so here it is!

ooOOoo

It hadn't been a month yet. It hadn't even been two weeks.

New Years had passed quickly and uneventfully. Kate hadn't felt like going out so Castle cooked dinner and they fell asleep in front of the fireplace before the ball dropped. Plenty of pillows and blankets were involved for obvious reasons.

Much to Kate's delight – after a week's vacation – the precinct was bustling with murder suspects and witnesses. And she was allowed to interrogate, no matter what Castle said. During a routine questioning, however, Kate managed to become distracted. With Castle in the observation room, she turned to face him and smiled brightly, eyes wide open in amazement. Immediately he left the room at the same time she struggled out of her seat. They bumped into each other in the hallway.

"Rick! It kicked! I felt it kick!" Kate exclaimed. "Here feel," she took his hand and rested the palm against her stomach, right above her belly button.

They waited for a minute.

"I don't feel anything," Rick grumbled quietly, his disappointment clearly showing through his eyes.

"It hasn't even been a minute, you big baby. Give it time. There is a baby in there waiting to kick his Daddy."

Kate could feel the baby squirming inside, unknown to the excited daddy standing in front of her. She moved their joined hands a little to the right and pressed down slightly.

One moment Rick's face was blank, the next his eyes shined and his lips curled upward. Pure joy was radiating from his face, a proud daddy he was. Kate watched in amusement as the baby gave them a few more kicks before retreating. She knew Rick had been waiting for this day forever. The jealously he'd been exuding over the past month was almost intolerable. She had to put up with his never-ending pouting day after day. Now, when she looked into his eyes she saw that jealousy quickly leave him, replaced was a sense of wonder and accomplishment. They made the life growing inside of her. She was carrying it, but he helped create it. And he was supporting her through everything.

"It kicked! Oh my God, it kicked… I – I could feel it! Wow," he ended his jumbled sentences chocked up on emotions. "Kate," he said reverently. "Thank you. Thank you. This is amazing. I love you so much."

"I love you too."

Rick dropped his head and cupped Kate's stomach with both hands, "Hey little one, it's your Daddy! I'm so proud of you. Giving me a few good kicks, it made my day. Alright, you be good for Mommy, she's gotta go interrogate the bad guys."

Kate had completely forgotten about the suspect in the interrogation room. She didn't want to go back in and deal with the details of a gruesome murder. She wanted to stay with Rick, go home and take a bath, or go talk to her mother.

"Esposito!" She yelled over the bustle of the precinct. "Take over. I'm leaving early."

An hour later Kate found herself standing in front of her mother's headstone in the brutal winter weather.

"Mom, the baby kicked," she expelled with happiness. "An honest to goodness kick. Rick could actually feel it! It happened at work and I just had to leave and come here, despite the rain and mush covering the sidewalks. Rick is having a cow in the car, by the way," she chuckled. He never learned.

"I want to stay longer. I want to share this whole experience with you. It really is quite amazing. I mean, I know you know, since you were pregnant with me. This is just so crazy. My connection to this little one growing inside me is overwhelming. I wish I could share that with you. Somewhere deep inside I know you are watching over me, keeping me safe and helping me find happiness. I want to believe that. With all my heart.

"Love you, Mom. I'll be back soon, I promise." With her sentiments left behind, Kate began to turn back towards the car. Before she could get very far the baby decided to give a light thump for its grandmother. Kate instantly felt warm tears roll down her cheeks. "The baby says 'bye and I love you too'," she cried softly, wiping the tears with her sleeve.

ooOOoo

I hope to maybe have another chapter - Six Months - posted a little later today. We will see. Please, leave a review and let me know what your thoughts! Much thanks!