'Come on, let's go, I don't want to miss the train!'

'Two minutes!

Eyes rolling impatiently, Beckett waited with RJ in his pram and the stylish baby bag on her shoulder. 'RJ, I pray you are prompt like your sister and know that ten minutes means ten minutes, not ten minutes plus.'

RJ just squirmed in his pram, then tracked the noise of footsteps on the stairs as Castle came bounding down in his at-home casual wear. He was freshly showered and smelled of his aftershave that Beckett had bought him for Christmas; the light rose-and-gold tone of it had her insides going loose even as she kept a stern expression on her face. 'Wouldn't it have been closer to go to Chelsea after the interview?'

'Probably but there's three problems with that. One, Esposito was off today and he and Meredeth are trying to have another baby so I'm not about to go and interrupt.'

'Wise. Let Ryan be that guy.'

'Exactly. Two, I had no fresh clothes with me and really needed a shower after being under studio lights,' he continued, locking the door and calling for the elevator.

'And three?'

'I'd have to wait for this.' He took her chin in his hand and laid his lips gently on hers, his touch light and romantic. 'Only a foolish man waits to kiss his beautiful wife hello.'

'Okay, sorry for snapping.'

'And tonight you can make it up to me in style.'

They headed out, the late February air surprisingly warm thanks to a little of the warm fronts coming from the northeast. It made the walk to the subway station fairly pleasant, if a little messy on the feet once they reached Chelsea terminal; Meredeth and Esposito's block of Twenty-Fifth Street was buried in an inch of mushy wet snow.

'Meredeth won't be too happy if I track all this shit into her house.'

'She has a dog, I think she'll understand.'

Sure enough when they got to two-seventy-one, they were greeted by the lady of the manor herself, and she waved off the slush from RJ's pram wheels.

'It's fine,' she rasped with a hoarse voice. 'It'll melt and wipe up with a towel, no worries. Come on in, the Ryans are already here and so is Shane Weaver.'

'Jesus, Mere, you sound terrible,' Castle said sympathetically. 'Are you sure you're up for this?'

'Yeah, I'm not sure if it's a late-season flu or morning sickness or what.'

'Aw, don't worry, studies have shown that even if you had some troubles getting pregnant the first time, having already had a baby makes it a little easier the second time around.' Castle knew how much Meredeth and Esposito wanted a big noisy family, so he gave her a supportive hug. 'I'm sure it's Tessi's little brother or sister giving you grief.'

'Thanks.'

Over in the living room, Ryan Honey-Milk and Shane had already gathered and were sitting in various spots. 'Kate, we save you an armchair,' Honey-Milk told her proudly. 'These two were going to hog them both.'

'Thanks Jenn.' Beckett scooped RJ up to undo his winter coat and heard Tessi's little voice floating down the stairs along with her daddy's.

'Why I no' visit?'

'Because it's almost bedtime, sweetheart, you're up late as it is.'

'Wan' visit.'

'You can say hi, then Mami will read you a story in your room before lights out.'

Meredeth nodded, held out her hands for her girl; it was hard to believe Tessi was nearly two already. She was in her favourite pjs and dragging her precious stuffed Crush with her while holding Esposito's hand. 'There's my girl,' she said with a stuffed-up nose.'

'Mami niffy?'

'Yes, Mami's a little sniffly but I'm going to get better soon, I hope.'

Tessi patted her mother's knee and then turned her eyes to Beckett. 'Hi Datie, that RJ?'

'Yes it is, sweetheart. Would you like to come and say hello?'

She nodded and Beckett took a seat in the free armchair, cradled RJ gently so that he was at eye level for a toddler. 'He's kinda sleepy too right now, so we have to be quiet,' she whispered.

'Sssh.' Tessi held her fingers to her lips. 'I dite. No' loud.'

'Thank you.'

'He bigger.'

'He is almost three months old,' Beckett told her proudly. 'And he's trying to figure out how to roll to his back.'

'He 'mart. Missin' Lex?'

Castle chuckled. 'I'm sure he's missing Alexis too.'

'Okay, princess,' Esposito said in a stern voice. 'Upstairs with Mami.'

'No, wan' 'tay,' Tessi pouted, setting her little mouth in a stubborn line. 'I good.'

'You are a very good little girl, and good girls listen to their mami and daddy. Let's go.'

'No!'

Meredeth took one step forward. 'Tessiana,' was all she said and Tessi continued to scowl but obliged her mother. She went around the living room giving good-night hugs and kisses and told Honey-Milk to 'moosh Dell an' baby' for her, then took Meredeth's hand and the two Esposito women went upstairs. Beckett watched Esposito watch them go and wondered if she got the same dreamy-eyed look on her face when she watched Castle with RJ.

'Kate, can I hold him?' Shane asked, holding out his hands and took the baby in his arms when she nodded. 'Hey, RJ, look at you little man, you are rocking some awesome pjs tonight bro.'

'Don't go getting any ideas about making one of these with Alexis,' Ryan warned him teasingly. 'I know they're cute-n-cuddly but there's a reason God invented latex, bro.'

'Yeah, that's a conversation for a few years down the road,' Shane agreed; because he was focused on the baby, he missed everyone's eyebrows winging up at the pathologist's casual comment. 'But for right now, it's so much fun to play with little brother. What you think, am I good enough for big sister?'

RJ studied the new one holding him, and blinking, he wrinkled up his face and let out a massive fart, which had them all laughing and groaning in the living room, even Shane.

'So is that a yes or no?' he chuckled, passing him to his daddy. 'What'd he have for dinner, Indian food?'

'No, just milk, but I did have spicy chilli myself before I fed him, that might be it,' Beckett replied with a smile, then glanced over when Meredeth came downstairs still looking absolutely miserable. 'Sweetie, if you're feeling crappy, go upstairs and sleep.'

'Nah, I'm just going to make some tea, anyone else want some?'

'I'll give you a hand, babe.'

Esposito followed her into the kitchen and Beckett leaned over. 'You're a nurse, Jenny, you think she's got morning sickness?'

'Oh yeah, she's got a little something cooking.' Honey-Milk flashed a wide smile as Meredeth and Esposito came back in the room. 'What time is it supposed to be on?'

'Not for another two hours, so just relax.'

They passed the time waiting for the show to start by passing around RJ for cuddles and kisses, and they all poked a little teasing at Shane when he ducked away to take a quick call from Alexis saying she was home safely from her library study group and he'd see her in a few weeks. Finally, finally, after what felt like an eternity, they saw the opening credits for the show roll on screen.

It's a Nikki Heat extravaganza on the Tonight Show With David Letterman! Tonight's guests are...Naked Heat actress Naya Rivera...special musical guests Down in Ashes...and the man behind the pen, Nikki Heat author Richard Castle!

R&R&Enjoy