Chapter 7: Chapter 7
A/N: So yes, I seemed to have brought on Kate's Braxton Hick's a bit early as some of my reviewers tell me. I had looked it up, but I just calculated wrong, so sorry about that. Here's a short chapter to last you until the weekend.
"A girl's day out really?" Kate asked.
"Yes! You're a pregnant woman! You must have aches and pains. I would know, Richard was no walk in the park." Martha exclaimed.
"I don't know, I mean, what if Castle –"She started, sounding unsure.
"Dad will be fine Kate, come on, you need this. Besides, it'll be fun." Alexis chirped.
It was true, being 26 weeks pregnant does take a toll on your body. Going to the spa with Martha, Alexis and Lanie wouldn't hurt, but still she was unsure. She looked at Alexis who was waiting for her answer, with such hopeful eyes and Martha who was watching her with knowing eyes and she just could not bring herself to say no.
"Okay, sure." She agreed.
"Yay!" Alexis squealed, wrapping her arms around Kate and hugging her tightly.
"Was that?" She pulled away from Kate, looking curiously at her belly.
"Yes. She just kicked. She seems to like the idea." Kate laughed.
"I've never felt that before." Alexis said shyly, reaching out and looking up at Kate for permission. Kate nodded and Alexis rested her hands on her belly, feeling the baby kick again.
"Doesn't that hurt?" She asked.
"It does sometimes, but other times it's not so bad and you get used to it, I guess." She explained, feeling her baby dance around in her belly. How she found space to be moving about so much, she had no idea.
"That's so amazing." Alexis said in awe.
"Come on dear, let's give Kate her space, I'm sure she's tired after such a long day of work." Martha said, gently pulling on the girl's arm.
"Oh right! Of course! I'm sorry Kate, I didn't mean to keep you." Alexis apologized.
"That's fine Alexis, I'm waiting on your dad anyways." She smiled.
"Okay. Goodnight Kate, see you for out girl's day out tomorrow." Alexis beamed as she followed her grandmother out of the room.
"See you! I'll give Lanie a call now, tell her the plans." She called.
"That would be marvellous dear!" Martha called back.
"What would be marvellous?" She heard Castle's voice question.
"Richard dear! You're home!" Martha greeted him.
"I am. Miss me?" He asked, she couldn't see him, but she knew there was that smug look on his face.
"Not really, but perhaps Kate did. She's waiting up for you." Martha jerked her head towards the bedroom.
She bit her lip and sank down under the covers, waiting for him to enter the room, which of course, he did.
"Hey" He whispered coming over to her.
"Hey yourself." She smiled as he placed a tender kiss on her forehead.
She loved these moments, these moments when she felt so loved and she felt so much love for him and their baby. It had been another drag day at work again, he had been there of course, but then he had to leave to meet with his publishers to sort out his book deals. She got home around nine and was met by Alexis and Martha who were cooking up a storm, they ate dinner and watched a movie. Around 11, Kate was getting tired, so she excused herself.
She was in bed reading a book when Alexis and Martha appeared at the door, visibility excited, telling her about their planned girl's day out. She was a bit apprehensive at first but then she figured it wouldn't hurt, so she agreed. Now he was home and she could take comfort in his presence and love. She loved the way he looked at her, although she was getting bigger, he still looked at her like she was the most beautiful thing he had seen, which he tells her all the time. She loves the way he talks to their baby, telling her stories about her mom and how she saves the world. She loves when he tenderly rubs the cream the doctor gave her to reduce stretch marks over her and she loved when those gentle touches turned into something a bit more heated.
"How you feeling?" He whispered into her hair.
"I'm okay." She smiled.
"Good." He smiled back, "So again I ask, what's so marvellous?"
"Oh, they wanna have a girl's day out tomorrow. You know, me, your mom, Alexis and Lanie." She told him.
"That's a great idea. I know you must be sore, this would be great for you Kate." He said warmly.
"Yea, I told them I'd call Lanie and tell her the plans."
"You do that, I'm gonna get ready for bed and I'll be right back." He kissed her forehead again before making his way to the bathroom.
Smiling, she reached for her phone and dialled Lanie's number.
"Hey girl, what's up." Lanie answered on the third ring.
"Hey Lanie, I didn't wake you did I?" She asked.
"Girl, please." Lanie retorted, "What can I help you with?"
"Well, Martha and Alexis want to have a girl's day out tomorrow, you know, spa, lunch…" Kate told Lanie as she watched the bathroom door, waiting for Castle to return.
"Oh, girl that sounds fabulous. I'm there." Lanie agreed immediately.
"Great! Meet us here at say, 10?"
"Will do." Lanie assured.
"So, how you feeling?" Lanie asked.
She had been asked that question so many times today, but she figured being this pregnant, she should just expect it. She smiled as Castle emerged from the bathroom with a lopsided grin on his face.
"I'm good Lanie, really good." She smiled, watching him as he made his way to his side of the bed and got under the covers.
"How's the father-to-be?" She questioned.
"He's ummm –" She lost her train of thought when he began to gently suck on her neck, her head automatically tilting to giving more room.
"Kate?" Lanie called.
"Yea, Lanie, I umm, I gotta go." She breathed.
"Ohhh girl, I get you. I'll see you tomorrow." Lanie cheered.
"Yea, tomorrow Lanie." Kate breathed before she disconnected the call.
"Lanie's on board?" Castle mumbled into her neck.
"Mmmhmm." She closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensation of Castle's hot mouth sucking on her neck.
He began trailing kisses up and down her jaw, causing her to shiver with want.
"Castle" She choked out.
"Mmmm?" He murmured, biting down on her neck before soothing it with his tongue.
He positioned himself closer to her and began inching his shirt down her shoulders, kissing as he went.
She threaded her fingers in his hair and tugged him to her lips. Their lips crashed together and parted immediately, his tongue roaming her mouth, swallowing a moan that rose from her.
Gently, she pressed into him, pressing him down until he was lying down and she hovered over him, due to her large belly, they didn't fit together as usual, but it still worked.
Taking over, she reached down to pull at the hem of his sleep shirt, he rose up, giving her space to tug it over his head. She leaned back down and placed wet kisses all over his chest.
He pulled his shirt over her head and his large hands roamed her back, she wasn't wearing a bra, so her hardened nipples grazed his chest, making him moan into her.
She lifted a leg over him so that she was straddling him and reached down to tug off his boxers, leaving him completely naked.
"No fair." He pouted.
"No one's stopping you from taking off mine big boy." She purred into his ear before pulling it into her mouth to nibble lightly on it.
He groaned as he dipped his fingers in the waistband of her panties and tugged it down, so that they were now naked and pressed together. She continued kissing all inches of his chest and neck.
"Kate, I need you." He rasped.
"You need me where Castle?" She said in between sucking hard on his neck, determined to leave her mark.
"I need to feel you around me." He gasped as she bucked her hips into him.
She reached down to line him up with her entrance and in one swift move, she pressed down on him, her head falling back as he entered her.
She would never get tired of that feeling, every time they made love it was like the first time. She looked into his eyes and saw nothing but love there and she knew that's all he would find in hers. They began to move together, driving each other closer to their release. Their movements were in sync as they always were, working together to achieve a common desire.
By ten the next morning, Lanie had arrived and the girls headed out for their girl's day out, leaving Castle to execute his plans for the day.
It was around 12pm when there was a knock on the door. He looked up from his computer. Right on time. He stood and made his way over to the door, opening it.
"Mr. Beckett." He greeted.
"Please Rick, call me Jim."
Castle nodded, "Jim. Please, come in."
Jim nodded and stepped into the loft.
"Would you like anything to drink?" Castle asked, a bit nervous for this particular meeting.
Jim made his way over the couch and took a seat, watching him as he made his way into the kitchen.
"I'm fine." He responded and waited until Castle got himself a bottle of water from his fridge.
"So Mr. Castle, you had something you needed to ask me?" Jim asked.
Boy, Castle thought, this man really did get to the point quickly. Castle figured that in order to do this, he couldn't beat around the bushes and he had to come right out and just ask.
"Mr. Beck – Jim," He started, clearing his throat, cursing himself for sounding so nervous, "I love your daughter, very much and I want you to know that I would never do anything to hurt her or the baby."
"I know." Jim stated.
"I know Kate is an independent woman, but I love to take care of her and I love being old fashioned, so I'm just going to ask." Castle closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Would you give me the blessing to ask your daughter to marry me?" He opened his eyes and looked at Jim, waiting for some reaction.
Slowly, a smile spread across his face.
"Rick, I know Kate loves you, more than anything and I know you would never hurt her or her baby and that would do anything for her." He said.
Castle nodded, "I would."
"I appreciate the fact that you asked me, although Kate probably doesn't think this is necessary. It takes a lot to ask the father for his daughter's hand in marriage and I admire that Rick. I know you're a great man and I know you'll keep my Katie safe and properly loved, as well as her baby. So in answer to your question. Yes. Yes, you have my blessing to marry her and make her the happiest woman in New York." Jim smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Castle smiled, "Thank you Jim."
"Of course, who am I to say no?" Jim laughed.
Castle laughed, feeling happy. He had done it, the last step. Well not the last step, that was asking her to marry him. He had spoken to everyone about it already, Lanie, the boys, his mother, even Alexis and they were all on board and excited for him and now that he got her father's blessing, the next thing for him to do was ask her to marry him.
He was going to ask her to marry him and he couldn't wait.
End A/N: Yes, it's a short chapter, because I just wanted to get that out of the way and I'm as tired as I don't know what … So there's that. I hope it was okay. Leave me a review? Thanks.