So this is the last chapter, I hope you enjoy it. There's an epilogue too. Sorry it wasn't up before I went on holiday.

Chapter 19: Parents

Three fifty seven in the morning, eight days past her due date and Kate was finally in labour; had been since just after they had dinner last night but didn't want it to be false hope. She'd managed a bit of sleep in and out but as the contractions got stronger that went out of the window. She'd been timing the contractions for the past hour and they were down to about six minutes now so her water should surely be breaking soon.

She had let her husband sleep by not telling him because one of them needed to be rested. He hadn't picked up when he was awake so she left it like that. Right now though he needed to be broken out of that sleep because she'd had enough of this, on her own anyway. Squeezing the pillow or digging her nails into her hands wasn't cutting it anymore. She waited for the next one to pass before waking him.

"Rick, babe, wake up." She said as she shook his shoulder.

"Hmm, what's up?" He mumbled in response still in a sleep haze.

"Baby is coming. Time to go to the hospital." Well get ready at least, she knew that she shouldn't go before her water broke but it surely couldn't be much longer and she wanted to be ready.

"What? Has your water broken? How far apart are the contractions?"

"Whoa, calm down; no and just under six minutes."

"Okay, I'll get dressed then." That was about all that had to be done apart from get the bags to the car as everything was already packed at the door, for over a month now.

"Good." Kate waddles through to the office to write a note for Martha and Alexis, no point waking them if it is false labour, again. Further she doesn't really want people waiting outside while she's in labour. She's under enough pressure as it is.

As she stands from the desk chair she feels what she's been expecting since she woke up, the water trickling down her legs. Her water finally broke; this is the real deal then.

"Castle." She's back to being angry at him, he got her pregnant. She wanted their child no doubt about it but why does labour have to be so painful? Every woman who has ever given birth must ask that question.

"What?"

"Really is time to go." She replies nodding to the floor where he can now see the small puddle.

"Just let me get a towel." Yeah they don't want the amniotic fluid making a mess.

He gets it cleaned up, sort of, quickly.

"You ready?" Rick asked.

"As I'll ever be. Still don't fancy pushing this kid out of me."

"Sorry, I can't do anything about that."

"Let's go." Kate said, taking Rick's hand in hers as they made their way out of the loft.

Five hours later the couple are sat in Kate's room on her bed with Kate holding their son. Three hours after leaving the loft their son was born. Kate took everything in her stride not being vocal instead focusing her pain just like she was told at the classes. Rick on the other hand was at one point concerned for the bones in his hands; his wife had a hell of a grip. While she hadn't had any medication he was wishing that he'd packed some paracetamol. The doctor said that she wished all the mothers were like Kate, no complications and did as they asked.

Kate was just relieved that she and her son had made it through the labour so she could hold her healthy son in her arms. Their son Thomas James Castle. He was a big baby, eight pounds nine ounces.

"Hey, buddy. I'm glad you're here, I know boys tend to be late but you took your time." Kate said as she held him in her arm and playing with his small hand.

"He's here now."

"I'm not sure he could have grown much more inside me, I was beyond stretched."

"Maybe."

"How are you doing, Daddy?"

"Me, I'm ecstatic but what about you?"

"I can't explain it, I'm tired, exhausted, aching but at the same time jubilant, excited and thrilled to meet this person that we made."

"He's so beautiful."

"He'll be a real charmer with the girls for sure. Just like his daddy."

"There are worse things." Kate let out a yawn. "C'mon, I think it is time that you got some sleep." He says as he takes Tom from her arms.

"Hmm, sleep. That sounds nice." She replies as her eyes slip closed.

"Yeah, I'll join you." Castle places his son in the bassinet by the side of the bed then climbs back in the bed with Kate. Once he's settled she snuggles down. "Sleep, Kate." He kisses her head and is sure that he can already hear her breathing evening out. It's just a few minutes later when he joins her.

Kate and her son were to be discharged the next day.

"Are you ready to go home, Captain?"

"I wish you would stop calling me that. When I come home, I'm your wife and this guy's mother."

"Fine, are you ready to go home Missus Castle for the first time with our son?"

"Yes."

"Let's go then." Rick said as he picked up Tom who was asleep in the car seat and the other bags. Kate would try to take some of the bags but she ended up just carrying Tom's elephant.

Kate was relieved the when she walked through the loft for the first time with her son. Martha, Alexis and Jim had made sure that the place was cleaned again ready to be messed up by the arrival of Thomas.

Thomas hadn't been a scrap of trouble, he rarely made a noise unless he wanted feeding. He settled well and already paid attention to what his parents told him which pleased them both immensely.

Jim was lost for words when he first laid eyes on Thomas; after everything his family had been through getting to this point had become a dream. Thomas wasn't even a day old, his grandpa had decided that he liked being a granddad so asked his daughter before he left them at the hospital "When are you going to have more grandchildren for me to spoil?" Kate was stunned at her father's question. She'd given birth only hours earlier and he was already on for number two!

Martha was just as happy but was more vocal about it her happiness. She too had wanted another grandchild but once her son's relationship with Meredith ended and no new women seemed interested nor took care of Alexis like a parent should she doubted that a second grandchild would ever exist. Unlike Alexis there was no red hair in sight, perhaps a Beckett trait even if Rick was a brunette. Once Kate walked into their lives, even more so after her son was in a relationship with the woman, she believed that another grandchild was on the cards.

Alexis was welcoming of her little brother, she had always wanted a sibling ideally when they were a similar age but this wouldn't be the typical big sister role. They would still be able to do exciting things but seeing as Alexis was an adult they wouldn't be dependent upon another adult. She loved babies and would enjoy taking care of him but she wasn't ready for one of her own. At the end of the day she would be able to return him to her father and Kate.

Alexis, Martha and Jim were all there with everything prepared. Kate could see food adorning the dining table. Her stomach has been grumbling for the past hour so much so that Rick asked if she wanted to stop at a shop on the way home for a snack.

"Darlings, you're here." Martha exclaimed, delighted to see her son, daughter in law and grandson.

"Yep, all three of us." Rick replied, Kate looked up at him smiling. They were already so proud of Tom and were looking forward to all the times that would come. Their son would be loved by their family and friends.

This was originally longer but I had a few nasty reviews recently so I shortened it. I'm planning on posting some other stuff on Tumblr so if you've got it, follow me.

Thanks for reading.

Epilogue will be up in the next few days, I start my last year of uni next week so the workload will be full on.