For Jess, for being there for me.
She's been sitting in the dark room for the past hour, back against the wall next to the rocking chair. The sleeves of his sweatshirt are pulled down over her hands, fabric turned dark from tears as she swipes at the wet trails on her cheeks.
"Beckett?" comes his frantic voice, swinging in through the door. "You okay?"
She gives a watery laugh, wiping away another set of tears. "Mostly," she sighs, resting her head on his knee when he walks over to her. Her fingers curl around his pant leg. "Can't get up."
He chuckles, the nerves still showing a little.
"Don't laugh," she protests, shoving at him. "It's not funny. I tried half an hour ago and just slid back down."
Castle lets himself fall down against the wall, butt hitting the ground a little harder than expected. She tips her body toward him, cuddling into his side as much as her rounded stomach will let her. His hand coasts over her, fingertips massaging lightly.
"How's the baby doing?"
She moves his hand over to the right side, letting him feel. "We've been practicing hand-to-hand." Her eyes have slipped closed, nose burrowing into his shoulder. Her hair, longer and closer to blonde than it has ever been, tickles at his neck.
His fingers twine with hers, squeezing gently. "What's wrong?"
Beckett shakes her head. "I just wish they were here, you know? To meet the baby."
"I know," he murmurs, brushing a kiss at her temple.
She unfolds her legs, flexing her feet. "But I really did get stuck here and I kind of need to pee. Help me up?"
He uses the wall to push himself up, turning to help her to her feet. She sways into him, her stomach bumping into his with the momentum. His lips press against her forehead.
"They'd be proud, Beckett," he whispers, already tugging her toward the door. "And so very happy."
She smiles, nodding mostly to herself. "I know."
"You want dinner?"
Beckett hums, already leaving him in the kitchen on her way to the bathroom. "Grilled cheese and soup. In bed. Too tired to get back out here."
On the walk through the bedroom, she lets her fingers trail over the framed photo of her parents on the bureau. He's right. They'd both be happy.