A/N- I haven't quite figured out what I'm going to do with Josh yet. LOL! I had fully intended to write a happy chapter, but my muse wasn't up for it. This isn't a sad chapter per say, but it has both of them wondering where the relationship is going. Each of them want the same thing, but it's complicated...

When Kate was released from the hospital a week later, she was feeling much stronger. The baby appeared healthy and strong. Castle was getting better and the bruises were fading.

Castle was finally released from the hospital after two weeks. The bruises were almost completely gone, except for a few on his chest and back. Kate would look at them and cry because of what he'd gone through. She blamed herself. If she hadn't left Josh. He never would have hurt Castle. But she knew that, if she hadn't left Josh, she wouldn't have known the love of this wonderful man laying beside her in bed. She would have had to get rid of this baby growing inside her. She would have to give up her chance to be a mother because Josh was too self centered to open his heart to a baby. Looking back, she knew that she wouldn't change it for anything. Because then she wouldn't know what it was like to love a man like Castle. She loved watching his eyes light up with absolute joy and wonder every time he felt the baby move. A baby that he didn't have to love. A baby that he chose to love. Simply because he loved her mother. So no. She wouldn't change anything about their love story.

One day, she found Castle in the study. He appeared deep in thought. He hadn't heard her come in and he was surprised when she put her arms around his neck and kissed him. She smiled and asked, "Whatcha doing?"

Castle kissed her softly and whispered, "Just thinking..."

"So you aren't doing anything."

Castle laughed at her, "Funny..."

Ever since the day he had been released from the hospital, Castle had one thought that kept creeping into his mind. He wanted to marry Kate. If he had died when Josh had taken him hostage, then Kate and the baby would be left with nothing. Oh, he knew that Martha would take care of her, but he wanted to make sure that everything was legal. He was just trying to figure out a way to ask her.

Then he wondered if it was too soon. Afterall, she had only been divorced for about six weeks. She probably wouldn't want to get married again. She had once told him that she was a one and done kind of girl. She'd had her one and it had failed. Would she want to risk it again? Especially for someone like him. Someone that had such a sordid past and a terrible track record with women.

He knew that she loved him. There was no question about that. He also knew that she loved Alexis. And the feeling was mutual as far as Alexis was concerned. No, the only question was whether she wanted to risk her heart again. She'd given it to Josh and he had thrown it away. Surely she knew that Castle was in it for the long haul. Hell, he was willing to raise another man's baby as his own.

He decided that maybe he would ask her after the baby was born. However, nothing would go as planned.

Castle forgot that he had hidden the ring in his underwear drawer and that was where Kate found it one rainy Saturday night. Kate was going through it and found the pouch. Part of her knew that she should put the ring back. That it was hidden for a reason. Another part of her was curious. Curious to know why he had bought the ring. So, against her better judgment, she opened the box. Inside was the most beautiful engagement ring she had ever seen.

It wasn't gaudy, but there was a heart shaped ruby surrounded by tiny diamonds. It took her breath away. It made her wonder why he had it hidden and how long he'd had it.

That was why she had gone into his study to find him that night. He was supposed to be writing, but instead he was staring off into space. She decided not to mention the ring. Instead she kissed him, then she smiled and asked, "Have you ever thought about getting married again?"

Castle did a double take and asked, "W-what?"

Kate bit the inside of her lip to keep from smiling. She knew that he hadn't seen that question coming. So, she repeated herself, "I asked if you have ever thought about getting married again."

"W-why? Have you?"

Kate shrugged and hoped that he would take the hint and ask, "It would have to be the right man. Someone that loves me. Someone that loves my daughter."

"You always said that you were a one and done type of girl."

Kate smiled then and turned to leave. Then she smiled and said, "Maybe I changed my mind..."

And with that she walked out of the study and hoped that maybe, just maybe she had planted the seed in his mind.

As he watched Kate leave, he could only wonder what just happened? Where had all of this talk about marriage come from all of the sudden? Was she trying to tell him that she wanted to marry him? He kept thinking about what she said about it would have to be the right man. And that he would have to love her and her daughter. He certainly fit those requirements.

He was still wondering about it when he made his way into the bedroom later that afternoon. He noticed that Kate had fallen asleep on their bed. He smiled and crawled into bed with her. Putting his hand on her stomach, he was rewarded with a small thump. He smiled as he closed his eyes. Then, he raised up her shirt and kissed the soft skin of her belly. He whispered to their daughter, "I love you so much little one. You are going to be so beautiful. Just like your mommy. I'm going to have to fight the boys off with a stick. Which means that there won't be any dating for you. Well, not until you're at least thirty." He kissed her stomach again and then continued, "I love your mommy so much. I want to marry her. But that's a secret between you and me. I'm not sure if your mommy would ever want to marry me. She really deserves better."

It was then that the baby kicked and Castle smiled. He wondered if it was her daughter's way of telling him that he was being crazy. He already loved this little girl that Kate carried inside her. He also knew that Kate could change her mind at any moment. All she would have to do is decide that she didn't want him in her life. It would kill him if she did that. Hopefully she could see that they would make a wonderful family. Right now though, she held all of the cards. Cards that could come tumbling down at any moment.

He didn't realize it, but Kate had woken when he was talking and had heard everything that he said. She felt a tear roll down her cheek when he told their daughter that she deserves better. She wanted to run her fingers through his hair and tell him that she couldn't do any better than him. A man that would raise another man's child as his own. A man that loved her despite how many mistakes she had made in the past. He had the biggest heart of any man she had ever known. She kept expecting him to change his mind and walk away from her and her daughter. Kept wondering if any man could love a woman enough to raise a baby that isn't his.

Every morning when she woke, she wondered if that would be the day that she decided that he'd changed his mind. That it wasn't worth all the pain. He had Alexis to worry about and she wondered if the risk she brought in their lives was worth loving her. Especially after Josh had nearly killed him. She'd walked on pins and needles for days. Visiting him in the hospital had nearly killed her. She kept wondering if he would tell her to pack her things and leave. That loving her wasn't worth the heartache and danger that it brought. She wondered if she would come home one day and find her bags packed and a note telling her to leave. The thought of not having him in her and her daughter's life scared her to death.

Part of her wanted to end it first. At least then she could control the time and place. She could revert back to her old ways of protecting her heart. But she knew that wouldn't solve anything. She'd spent so long running away from her feelings for him. Afraid of losing him if a relationship between them didn't work out. In the end, she'd nearly lost him. Their partnership had been seriously strained after she married Josh. She had sensed that he was on the verge of calling it quits several times.

Finally, she just had to run her fingers through his hair. Had to do something to quiet the thoughts that were running around her head like crazy. When he smiled up at her, she couldn't help but smile back. Then she whispered, "Talking to her again?"

Castle nodded and whispered, "She's the only female in the house that doesn't talk back."

Kate laughed, "Not yet, but just wait until she's a teenager. She will give you a run for your money then."

Castle hoped that she would. Because that would mean that Kate would still be in his life. He knew that he should just ask her to marry him. She could only say no. But it could scare her and he could lose her altogether. So, he kissed her stomach again and asked, "I want to ask you something Kate."

She smiled at him and said, "Shoot."

Castle knew it would be so easy to ask her, but he chickened out at the last second. Instead, he asked, "Do yo feel like going out for dinner tonight? Or I can cook if you'd rather stay in."

Kate could only stare at him in shock. She'd been so sure that he was going to ask something else. So, she shook her head with irritation evident in her voice the told him, "You decide for us. You always do anyways..."

With that she pushed him away from her and pulled down her shirt. Then, she hurried out of the bedroom and walked into the bathroom. She closed the door behind her and looked at her reflection in the mirror. He didn't want to marry her. What other reason could there be for him to not ask her. She lowered her head and let the tears fall silently in the seclusion of the bathroom. Her only witness was her unborn baby girl...