I ran my fingers through Rick's hair as he talked to our unborn child. I should have known that I had no reason to be nervous. Rick was a great dad and even though this happened a lot quicker than I intended, I was truly okay with it. I also knew that he was also, I could tell just by his voice that he was already in love with the little one, just as much as I was.
"I love you, Rick Castle," I said softly as he turned to look up at me.
He surprised me as he stood up and swept me into his arms. Rick kissed me stopping any protest as he then carried me up to his bedroom. He placed me gently on edge of the bed then dropped to his knees to unbutton my shirt easier. Rick slipped it off my shoulders, making sure not to touch my arms. He ran his hands around my back and pulled me close into a kiss. I finally broke the kiss so that I could reach down and unbutton his shirt while he nibbled and kissed across my jaw, down my neck, then across my collarbone. His hands unsnapped my bra which I sent flying before they came back around to work on my snap and zipper of my jeans. Once, I was nude, Rick gently eased me back onto the bed, and quickly stripped his clothes before he stretched out beside me, holding himself up on one arm he looked at me for a moment before he spoke.
"You are so beautiful." He then leaned over and began to lightly kiss me. He started at my shoulders and kissed his way all the way down my left side before starting at my foot and working his way back up. I was pleased that he didn't focus only on my belly. I was happy to be pregnant and I knew that he was over the moon happy about it but we were still Kate and Rick before we were Mommy and Daddy, especially here in bed.
"Rick, I need you."
"You first," he mumbled into my ear as his fingers found the one spot that he had missed while kissing me. "I want to watch you as you come apart in my arms."
Soon, under his talented fingers and his watchful stare, I called out his name in delight. I was still feeling blissful when I noticed that he had reached over to the nightstand for a condom when I stopped him.
"We really don't need to use those anymore, Rick," I said with a smile.
"That is true, my dear." He tossed it back into the drawer with a smile. He rolled back to me, and slipping his legs between mine, he kissed me. My arms wrapped around his shoulders then slowly eased down his back. I thrust my hips up at him to let him know that I was tired of waiting.
"Still impatient, I see," he chuckled. I just thrust my hips again, finally taking him inside me. We both groaned. Other than the first unexpected time in the interrogation room, this was the first time we didn't use a condom and it felt so much better. Soon, I was lost in blissful surrender again but not before I noticed him joining me.
"So, what do you want to name the baby?" he asked as he traced his hand over my belly when we finally caught our breath.
"Goodness, Rick. Let me go to my OB first before you have the baby born and grown up," I said as I relaxed in his arms, my back to his chest.
"So, you aren't sure," he asked. "I know that false positives are possible."
"No, I'm sure," I commented as I put my hands over his and I could feel him relax beneath me. "I have an appointment with my OB on Monday but the doctor at the ER confirmed it today."
"So that is why it was so easy to get you to the ER today," he said giving me a light tickle.
"That's true. I figured that I would just get Lanie to bandage up my arm but once I saw all the splinters and such in my vest over my belly, I got scared." He squeezed me tighter and kissed me on the top of the head. "I'm going to talk to the captain on Monday after my appointment and see about taking desk duty."
"What are you going to tell him about why you want to do that?"
"I don't know yet. I should tell him but I kind of want to keep this to ourselves for a little while."
"You know, people will find out eventually," he said with a smile.
"I know, but just for a little while. I just found out myself for sure this morning."
"When did you suspect?"
"Yesterday afternoon. I was talking to Lanie and she mentioned getting Esposito a crazy tie for their one-month anniversary. I realized that I, uh, was two weeks late," I said a bit embarrassed.
"You don't have to be embarrassed talking about girl things to me. I raised a daughter and live with my mother."
"I'm just not used to talking to guys about that."
"You can talk to me about anything, Kate."
"I know," I replied honestly. We fell silent for a few minutes before he reached back over to his nightstand for something.
"Speaking of talking, I know that I said that I would give you a couple of months before I asked but I think now will be a good time, Kate."
"Are you asking me to move in with you?" I asked with a smile.
"Not exactly," he said causing me to spin in his arms to look at him. I looked into his blue eyes and saw just how much he loves me. "I was wanting to do something befitting the name of Castle but Mother once said women didn't like that so um, and well this might not be the best timing but, um, I love you, Kate Beckett."
"I love you, too, Rick," I said amused at his problems with speech all of a sudden.
"Kate, you're making me a daddy. Would you be willing to make me a husband also?" he was holding a ring.
"Oh Rick." I looked at him stunned.
"You just told me you are pregnant and I don't want to you think I am only asking because of that and-"
"Shut up, Rick. I think your timing is fine. Of course, I'll marry you." I leaned around further and kissed him as he slipped the ring on my finger.
"So you are proposing but not asking me to move in," I said jokingly.
"Well, I was hoping that kind of will happen when we get married," he said. "But yes, you can move in anytime."
I elbowed him lightly under the pretense of looking at the horseshoe shaped ring more closely.
"It's a beautiful ring."
"I had it specially made for you. It's to go with your mom's ring. If you want it, that is. You don't have to, I can buy you something else."
"No, Rick. This is perfect. I love it."