After a week of anxiously waiting and planning, Saturday had finally arrived. The only other person who knew that the baby was a girl was Martha, who was helping them decorate for the baby shower she was throwing for her daughter-in-law.

After some consideration, they'd decided that everyone would be invited to spend the afternoon and the evening at home with them in the Hamptons. This offered them the perfect backdrop of a crisp fall afternoon at the beach, as it was still quite comfortable despite being mid-October in New York. Although swimming wasn't on the agenda, the first part of the shower would be held outdoors.

They decorated the inside of the home with pink and white balloons, fresh pink and white roses, complete with baby's breath, and signs that read, "It's a Girl!" A variety of dessert refreshments were set about, on the table, as well as a fountain that produced a light pink liquid. Martha had even seen to stocking the home with white and pink porcelain cups, bowls and plates. They were exquisite.

As Kate watched Martha work her magic over the living room of their beautiful home, she carried Christopher in her arms. He was dressed for the occasion as well, wearing a collared shirt complete with a deep brown and light blue vest, a pair of khaki pants, socks and tiny brown sneakers. On his head was an adorable light blue baseball cap, lined with brown to match the vest he was wearing.

His eyes lit up at the sight of the balloons as he tried to reach for one. Kate wasn't too eager to let him get his hands on one though, as she was afraid that it's popping might traumatize him. Instead she took him to the backyard, where Rick had a soft blanket laid out. In fact, there were several blanket's laid about, each pinned to the ground with a small stake for stability against the wind.

There were also tables lined up, complete with chairs scattered about for those who didn't want to sit on the blankets. Rick Castle had spent the morning preparing a picnic, complete with an assortment of finger foods, for their closest friends and family. A stereo had even been placed outside to provide soft background music.

The one thing that Kate noted above all else was that all doors and windows to the inside were completely blocked off. Nobody was able to see indoors. Additionally, a privacy screen had been erected in the entryway to prevent anyone from rounding the corner and peering into the rest of the house should their guests need to use the bathroom.

Further, she noticed that for all the decorations inside and outside, there was absolutely nothing pink outdoors. Nothing had been provided outdoors to indicate the sex of their child. In fact, they'd informed their loved ones that the baby continued to be stubborn and would not reveal its gender.

With their fib accepted by friends and family, they were able to set up the surprise they'd prepared. Kate smiled to herself, cradling Christopher in her arms and kissing his cheek, as she thought about how exciting it would be to reveal their secret.

She was pulled from her thoughts as the first car arrived. Ryan and Jenny stepped out, carrying a large wrapped box along with their overnight bags. Martha gracefully accepted the gift and directed them to leave the bags on the porch and head to the back.

The next to arrive was Jim Beckett, who embraced his daughter warmly and felt her swollen belly. He then directed his attention to the boy in her arms, taking him from her immediately. From the moment Jim was introduced to Christopher he was smitten. He was over the moon that he would have a grandson to spoil and that he wouldn't have to wait.

He didn't wait ether. Several of the boy's outfits and toys were compliments of grandpa. Christopher also became a required participant in their routine Saturday breakfasts, as Jim enjoyed the quality time with both his daughter and her new child. He couldn't have been prouder that she'd stepped up to the role so willingly.

Soon Esposito and Lanie joined as well, also leaving their bags on the porch and heading to the back yard. Gates and her husband were next to arrive, handing their gifts to Martha and making themselves comfortable with the others in the backyard. Finally, Alexis arrived, who was led to the bathroom by her grandmother and threatened to within an inch of her life to not venture further.

When she joined the rest of the group in the back Martha came outside as well. Being the hostess as always, she greeted everyone and directed them to join her around the center table. There rested a cake, a beautiful three tiered cake that was decorated with alternating yellow and light green ribbon. On the top of the cake was a Stork, carrying a yellow bundle in its beak, tiny baby head and legs sticking out either side of the bundle. Across the bottom was a ribbon that read, "Special Delivery."

The Cake was impressive, and everyone seemed to enjoy the appearance it. Castle took his wife's hand in his own and pulled her closer to him. Once she was next to him he placed his arm around her and got everyone's attention.

"We have a confession to make." He spoke to them, waiting for all of their suspicious eyes to fall on the pair of them.

"We may have found out what we are going to have at the doctor's appointment earlier this week afterall." Kate added, smiling as she made her own confession.

Eyebrows rose, as everyone simply glared at them, not seriously angry, but in disbelief that Castle had been able to keep the knowledge to himself. He spoke again then, "We wanted everyone to be here together when we told you what we were having."

"So," Ryan began, "What is it?"

"Alexis?" Kate turned to the girl, "you are going to be the big sister to this baby, as you are to that one." She motioned to Christopher, who still resided in her father's arms.

"We thought it only right that you do the honors." She handed the girl a knife.

"The cake batter has been dyed the color that corresponds with the gender of our baby." Castle explained. "Alexis, why don't you cut the cake and let everyone know who will be added to our family?" He softly requested of his daughter.

She smiled brightly, all hurt of not being told before everyone else wiped away by having the honor of revealing the secret. As she cut into the cake she bent the knife slightly and gasped when she saw the pink crumbs on the knife. She then screamed out in excitement, turning to both her dad and Kate.

"Really?" She asked, the knife still embedded within the cake so that nobody else could see the color. They nodded to her, Castle rubbing circles over where his infant daughter was growing inside his wife.

Alexis then dug further into the cake, cutting a slice and holding it for everyone to see. Claps and congratulations could be heard as everyone reacted to the news. With that, they were invited inside to enjoy the baby shower and reception.

Later that afternoon both Rick and Kate invited Gates and her husband to go on a walk with them. As the two couples strolled down the beach they discussed their own children, two daughters who were now grown and starting families of their own. Castle and Beckett listened as they wove funny tales about the catastrophes that their daughters would get themselves into when they were little.

"I miss little babies." Gates wistfully spoke, more to herself than to anyone else in particular. She turned to the younger couple and gave them a warning,

"You treasure these little ones because they grow up so incredibly fast."

Rick replied with a smile, "Don't I know it." He spoke while thinking of the red-headed college student currently watching after Christopher.

Kate decided to speak up then, bringing the conversation to their purpose for asking them to go on a walk with them.

"Well, Castle and I have been talking about after the baby comes, about raising Christopher and our daughter." Gates and her husband nodded at them as they continued to walk down the shore.

"Given the line of work I'm involved in, that we're now both involved in, we think it is necessary to name God parents for both of the children. Afterall, had Christopher not had his biological mother's will to protect him, who knows where he would be." Kate shuttered to think of anyone else raising the boy, who was her son now.

"Yeah, we thought it was critical too, especially because I was in the field when our children were growing up." Gates spoke.

"Exactly," Beckett agreed.

"We would really like the God parents to not be in such a dangerous position day in and out, and given that you are both in administrative positions now…" Kate spoke, looking to her husband for support.

He took her hand in his own and continued for her. "We would like to ask you both to be the God Parents."

Gates smiled widely, tears building in her eyes. She looked to her husband and they smiled warmly at eachother. Obviously in agreement, they nodded.

"Of course we would." Was the answer, spoken by both of them at the same time. Kate hugged her mentor gratefully and comforted with the knowledge that their family would always be taken care of.

Through the following week, Kate's 21st, she and Rick fell easily into a routine. She would go to work, where she was on desk duty, and help her team out with their current case load. As she stared at the murder board that Friday morning, she was hit with another flutter. They'd been coming off and on over the past week and she wasn't sure what it was. Assuming that it was gas pains, she ignored the sensations in the past.

Just as the boys approached, Gates behind them for an update on the case, she felt the flutter again. Although this time it was forceful. She gasped as she laid her hand on the spot where she felt it and looked down at her stomach.

"Everything alright Beckett?" Esposito asked. Ryan wore a similar look of concern but Gates only smiled.

"Is this the first time you've felt her kick?" She knowingly asked Kate.

The reality of the situation dawned on her as she broke into a grin and nodded affirmatively. "I've been feeling strange flutters for a little while now, but didn't think anything of it. It didn't occur to me that the baby was kicking the whole time." Gates grin grew even wider,

"Yeah, the bigger she gets the more she'll feel like a ninja." The older woman commented.

At the smirks on the boys faces Kate simply stated, "Do NOT mention ninjas and our daughter in the same sentence when Castle's around! Do you understand me?

"Loud and clear" Ryan stated, with a wicked expression on his face.

She glared at them both to assert dominance and intimidate them, but even as she tried she was distracted again by another series of kicks. She grabbed the hand of the nearest person, who was Esposito and placed it on her stomach.

"Do you feel that?" she asked. He pulled his hand back quickly, looking mildly freaked out by the fact that her stomach just kicked him.

Moments later his phone rang, which he answered swiftly. "Yo. We got a body in Central Park."

He and Ryan began to walk away, as Gates reminded them, "update me when you know something." The nodded to their boss before turning to Beckett, and Ryan called "you coming?" There was no danger in going to the scene since CSU was already there, so she followed them to the elevator. Before she made her way out Gates yelled to her, "Crime scenes are ok for now Beckett, but remember-No takedowns! You're technically on desk duty, even if you haven't filed your paperwork yet!" She nodded and hurried to catch up with the boys.

They stood over the body as Lanie provided them with the details she'd gathered from the murder victim, a 39 year old who lived on the Upper East Side. They hadn't even been there 15 minutes when she heard his voice,

"Hey! What did I miss?" Castle asked excitedly.

"Castle, what are you doing here?" She asked, accepting the cup of coffee she knew to be decaf.

"I'm helping solve crimes and bring murderers to justice, Kate. I'm saving New York, taking down one scum bag at a time, "he spoke animatedly while gazing into the distance, as if he were narrating his own superhero story, "With my smokin' hot partner of course." He added with a grin.

"and a baby…" She spoke disapprovingly and motioned to Christopher before continuing, "Castle, you brought our SON to a crime scene?"

"So what, he's not looking!" He motioned to the boy, who has snuggled into a baby carrier that was strapped to his father's chest. He's got no context for it anyway. She rolled her eyes at him.

"How did you know where I was anyway?" She asked.

"I might have mentioned it when he called me." Ryan guiltily spoke up before adding to his defense, "I didn't know he was going to bring the baby though."

She sighed, "OK, BUT NO MORE CRIME SCENES WITH OUR CHILDREN!" She raised her voice forcefully and pointed at him.

He mumbled, knowing that it was going to get him in trouble but not caring, "well, you brought our daughter." He pointed accusingly to Kate's pregnant belly, aiming to keep a serious expression on his face. This earned him a glare from both Kate and Lanie, as the boys tried to stifle their giggles.

As if aware that their conversation was about her, the baby growing inside of Kate decided to make her presence known yet again, with a series of kicks to her mother. The look of surprise on her face and her hand flying to her stomach had Castle to her side in a moment's time.

"What is it?" He asked, the worry evident in his voice.

She simply took his hand and placed it where hers had been, waiting for the baby to kick again. Within seconds she did, causing a gasp from Rick. "She kicked! She's kicking?" He asked, the excitement present in his voice.

At that moment Kate heard it, and she was sure next time she got him alone she was going to murder Kevin Ryan for it. She heard the detective softly singing, "Everybody was kung-fu fighting…"

Both partners broke out into a fit of laughter while Castle and Lanie looked at them in confusion. Beckett simply stared them down until they quieted, before changing the subject back to the matter of her husband bringing their infant son to a crime scene.

"Keep bringing our children to crime scenes and you're going to pay for their therapy Rick; and there will be lots of it I'm sure." She spoke.

"It's a good thing we're rich then, right?" She tried to glare at him again, but the façade was becoming more difficult to maintain. Before she completely broke and laughed she swore to herself, and to him that their conversation was not over.

After finishing up at the scene they took a walk through the park together to get lunch. Holding hands was ok when they were one on one, but no couple things were acceptable at work; according to Kate's rules for maintaining professionalism at the workplace. Still, now that they were starting a family things were going to have to change again.

She was pulled from her thoughts by a ringing on her cell phone. "Hello?" She answered to her OBGYN.

"Hi Kate." The doctor spoke.

"Hi, do you have the results from the amniocentesis?" She asked hurriedly.

"Actually, yes. That is why I am calling. Can I see you and Rick in my office as soon as possible, your results revealed some abnormalities and I would like to discuss them with you." Kate's heart stopped as she reached out to grab Rick's wrist.

"Abnormalities?" She asked, hoping the doctor would elaborate.

"How soon can you be here? I would really like to speak to you both in person and run a few more tests."

With a foreboding feeling, Kate answered, "How soon will you see us?"

A/N: Be prepared. If you weren't prepared, go back and read the descriptor of this story. It will be an interesting ride, and I promise not to leaving you hanging :)