Three quick things before we started, is no need to be nasty to each other and 2,this story wouldn't be nothing without my amazing beta And should I do a prequel
Castle had her in a warm, tight embrace when they heard loud fussing coming from the baby monitor. Naturally, Kate tried to break free from Castle's hold on her, when he kissed her neck. "I'll get him." Rick got out of bed and headed towards the study, Hudson's makeshift room. Before entering, he turned off the baby monitor and headed to the kitchen to get Hudson a bottle. When he walked in, Hudson was fussing, kicking his legs, and reaching out for someone to hold him.
"Hey buddy." Rick said as he leaned in and picked him up. Hudson latched on to his shirt. Since Rick had been spending more time with him, their bond had grown. He only hoped Kate would come to her senses.
As Rick sat down in the chair, he tried to feed Hudson, but he only tried to push it away. Castle stood again, pulled out his play mat, and laid him down. "You want to be Mr. Independent today, huh little man?" He tickled him, making the little boy smile and laugh. He loved being home, sharing the mornings with his son.
Later that same day, Rick watched Kate. She was slow and tired. He could tell stress was a big part of it. Now that he thought about it, he didn't think she'd been out of the loft in quite some time. Discreetly,he shot a text to someone who could swoop her away and give her a little time to vent and relax.
There was a knock on the door thirty minutes later. "Who on earth could that be?" Kate made a b-line for the door, still in yogas and a t-shirt. When she opened the door, she was a little surprised. "Lanie?"
"Hey girl, get dressed. We're going for coffee." Lanie let herself into the loft and stood there waiting for her to respond.
"I can't, I have to take care of the baby."
"Castle can handle him! Come on, I haven't seen you in weeks. It'll only be an hour!" She held Kate's shoulders, waiting for her to answer.
"Fine." She bit her lip and went to change.
Just then, Castle emerged from the study holding Hudson. "Thank you so much. She's just been so cooped up, I think she needs some fresh air. All her stress is bottled up and I can't get anything out of her."
"I'll get it out of her. How are you guys doing?" Lanie took Hudson from Castle, making silly faces.
"I think we're doing fine, but I don't know how she feels. It's like it's the old Kate, ready to jump to conclusions and run. I don't know, Lanie, it's just weird.
"That's why I'm here. Gonna un-weird it."
Castle smiled at her. Kate returned then, and Lanie handed the baby back to Castle. "Bye." Castle went to kiss his wife, and she ducked her head slightly so his lips landed on her cheek.
She walked to the door, her head down.
"I love you." Castle commented before the door shut completely, but he got no reply, other than the click of the lock.
Lanie was shocked. That poor man was being anything but rude and selfish. He was trying so hard and Kate was acting like a nut case. She hit the elevator button and looked at Kate, who was messing with a lock of hair. "What exactly is going on with you and Castle?"
Kate barely looked at her. "Nothing."
"Kate, I just watched you duck away from him and then he told you he loves you and you didn't respond. That's not nothing."
"I don't know, he's different." Kate looked at her then, bugging her eyes. They stepped out of the elevator and walked down the street to the coffee shop on the corner.
"Uh uh, you can't use that one. Castle is the best thing that's ever happened to you, and he's trying so hard." Lanie stopped walking and faced Kate. "I don't know what your deal is, maybe its stress, maybe you're tired, or maybe you're just being irrational, but you need to get your head out of the gutter. He canceled his book tour for you, which is his job, so he could be here with you. He spends so much time with Hudson, and he loves you so much. You keep thinking he's going to leave and cheat on you? He's the one who should be worrying. But he's not, because he trusts you. Kate, he's not going anywhere and you need to prove to him that you aren't either. Do you really want Hudson in this type of environment?"
Kate just nodded at her and continued walking. She felt her stomach drop. Lanie was right. She had been so caught up in her own thoughts that she didn't realize how stupid she was being. She needed to make things right as soon as she got back. But for now, she had to sit here and try to enjoy her coffee date with Lanie, when all she wanted to do was be with Rick.
An hour later, Kate raced up to the loft, not wanting to waste a second. When she entered, Castle was on the couch writing, Hudson asleep in his play pen next to him. She walked over to him, nearly knocking him over in a hug. "I'm so sorry. I didn't realize how selfish I was being. I've just been so up tight worrying about Hudson and worrying about you traveling, I let my brain control me, but I'm not making excuses. I should have never said the things I did. You do so much for me and Hudson, and I took that for granted. And I'm sorry I made you cancel your tour. I want you to go, I know it makes you happy. And I trust you, more than you know. " She was talking so quickly, trying to get it all out. "I would never leave you, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. I love you so much. I'm sorry." She was crying, finally letting it all out.
Rick wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. "I love you too. Thank you, for all of that."
Kate pulled back and kissed him, trying to get as close as possible. "Don't thank me. It was overdue. You make me so happy, and I want to do the same for you."
"You already do." He kissed her again and pulled her to his side, where they sat watching the rise and fall of Hudson's chest as the day turned to a beautiful evening.