Hello all! Once again there aren't enough words to tell you how happy I am that you've all taken such a shine to this story. This is a little bit of a heads-up, this chapter plus (at least) the next two are intertwined with chapters out of BOGO baby. You'll see what I mean once you start reading! Enjoy!

'Am I crazy for doing this?'

'No, Kate, I think it's very cute.'

'But he's so little.'

'And he's got you and me to protect him.'

Castle leaned over and kissed her cheek just before the elevator doors binged open and they walked into the Homicide floor of the Twelfth Precinct. The looks on everyone's faces were not what Beckett had expected - she'd anticipated snorts of derision that she'd let herself become a mother, maybe even a crass comment or two but instead all she saw were gooey looks of happiness and sweet coos for her little boy.

'See RJ, this is where Mommy comes to work,' Castle explained to the infant strapped to Beckett's chest. 'That's where Daddy makes her coffee every morning, or tea, whatever she's feeling.'

He looked up saw the two-headed monster hard at work and grinned as they caught Esposito's eye, then Ryan's.

'And you remember Javi and Kevin, don't you RJ? They're the ones who are going to teach you all about football fantasy leagues.'

'Hey, how's the little prince doing?' Ryan allowed the cop to switch off for a moment as he looked down at the newest Castle. RJ was a looker, no question and was staring back at the detective with bright and curious blue eyes as he squirmed a little against his mother. He gave a little gummy smile and waved his arms. 'He's getting big, Kate.'

'He's three months and fifteen days old,' Beckett told them proudly, 'and he's already trying to roll over in his crib, and he loves when we play on Daddy's Smartboard together, all those bright shapes and colours. Where are you on the Benson file?'

'That's impressive, you're a cop and a mom all in one sentence,' Esposito teased her. 'CSU sent over their report, no hairs matching our vic on Miller's sheets but plenty from an unknown third party, and the markers indicate it's the same sweetness who was boning him in his bed sans raincoat.'

'So Benson's ex has an alibi that checks out?'

'Looks like.'

'Hmm.' Beckett furrowed her brow, looked down at her son. He'd been her little shadow when they'd been playing the Mat-Leave Mysteries game and she knew it would give her boys something to tease her about if she talked to her son. 'Which means we need to figure out who the mystery lady is to corroborate, don't we? Can you say corroborate RJ?'

'Don't mind me,' Castle added, reminding them all he was actually still there. 'I'm just here to look pretty and be the proud daddy, and to give you these.'

He handed over snapshots of himself, Beckett and Alexis in various combinations with RJ at home. They passed them all around, let the detectives keep a few for their own family albums, and as they did so, Castle could see the far-away look in Esposito's eyes. As a man who'd been there before, he knew there was only one thing that put such a look on a brother's face.

'Espo? Yo, you in there bro?' He snapped his fingers under his friend's nose. 'You're awfully spacy. Dreaming about more baby-making with Meredeth?'

'Something like that.'

'Well look alive, because there comes Montgomery with his read-the-fine-print-on-the-badge face on. Not cool.'

Esposito glanced over and cursed inwardly. 'Sir, happy Saint Patty's.'

'Save it, Detective, I need you and Ryan down on Thirty-First and Seventh, stabbing outside the Garden. Weaver's already there waiting for you.'

'Yes sir.'

The detectives headed out and Montgomery crooked a finger at Beckett. 'Detective a moment?'

She nodded, shot her husband a confused look behind the captain's back but followed him into his office. The door closed behind them, and a little to Beckett's surprise, Montgomery held out his hands.

'Let me see that beautiful boy,' he said warmly, and held RJ against his shoulder gently. 'How is our newest rookie doing so far?'

'He's three and a half months, sir, and loves Billy Joel music at nap time.'

'Ah, like any true New Yorker should.' Montgomery reached into his desk drawer, passed Beckett a small box. 'From Liz and my boy and myself for you, Kate. You were a hell of a cop even when you were pregnant.'

Beckett lifted the lid and saw a little gold pendant shaped like an old-fashioned police badge, only instead of where there should have been a badge number was the word 'mama'. 'It's beautiful sir, thank you so much.'

'I figured a lucky charm would be a good gift on Saint Patrick's Day. Now go jay-walk or something and see if it works.'

That night, everyone was a little Irish at their annual party, Beckett thought, and it confirmed for her that she'd done the right thing asking Ryan's sister Kelsey to babysit for them at her house. Looking around, it seemed everyone was in a party mood, full of cheer, and some definitely more than others.

'I hope my man remembers he's on call tomorrow,' Honey-Milk giggled to Beckett as she watched her husband give rather grandiose hugs to Meredeth and Esposito who'd just arrived, then froze. 'Oh what's he doing now,' she groaned - Ryan had found a chair and was standing on it, then stuck his fingers in his mouth and whistled shrilly, bringing everyone's attention on him.

'Excuse me, partygoers, I have a small anouncement to make. If you see my partner Javier Esposito and his wife Meredeth tonight, these fine people right here,' he said, pointing grandly to his friends, 'do not give her any alcohol because it's not right for a pregnant woman to drink!'

Beckett and Honey-Milk both gasped, turned to each other. 'You were right!' Beckett exclaimed. 'Come on, let's go save her before Ryan breathes too much on her and gives the baby alcohol poisoning.'

They fought their way through the crowd until they were in front of the proud parents-to-be and gave Meredeth excited hugs.

'Yea you, Mere! This is so great, Tessi's going to be a great big sister. Any idea yet when you're due?'

'Well...' Meredeth trailed off, did the math. 'My ovulation sticks said right around the time when Duncan was born was optimum for me to conceive, so that's January twenty-six, so roughly...' She counted on her fingers. 'About Hallowe'en or so?'

'Oh, we might be having trick or treats in the maternity ward! Have you told Tessi yet?' Honey-Milk asked. 'She's younger than Dell was so she will probably not have a lot of that sibling rivalry thing you might get in an older child.'

'No. We're waiting until we have the confirmation from Harvey on Monday, plus we need a day or two to figure out how to tell a not-even two-year-old she's going to have a little brother or sister.'

'Well, let's get you a drink and toast the little cutie's imminent arrival.' Beckett looped her arm through Meredeth's, then stopped her. 'Oh dear.'

'What?'

'That.'

The three women followed Beckett's pointed finger to where Castle had stood up on a chair like Ryan, Guinness draft in hand.

'Everyone, have a good time tonight, stay safe and remember, as is evidenced by our procreating friends Mere and Javi, you don't have to be Irish to get lucky!'

Sometime much later, when the guests had gone, and the hosts were tucked into bed, Beckett sighed happily, her ear against her husband's chest.

'So excited for those two, they've hit another home-run for the stork derby.'

'Looks like all that batting practicing they do has paid off.'

'I could go for a little batting practice myself,' Beckett said fluttering her lashes. 'Emphasis on the practice.'

'Well then.' Castle shifted, twisted so he could kiss her. 'Batter up.'

R&R&Enjoy