A/N- Just a short filler chapter. It's short but important. Oh and a few of you have asked for the link to the video that inspired the story. You can find it in my profile page...

Castle watched as Kate closed the bathroom door behind her. He decided that he was going to go in, but when he heard her crying, he wondered how he was going to fix this. Obviously she wanted to marry him. How could he not have realized it sooner? So, he decided that he was going to ask her to marry him.

Martha looked more excited that he was. She hugged her son and told him, "Good luck."

Castle smiled, "I'm going to need it mother. Kate was so upset with me."

Martha waved her hand in the air and laughed, "It's hormones."

"She's happy one minute and the next she's upset at me for something I did or didn't do. I feel like I'm living with two different women. Women that look like her, but aren't."

Martha laughed and hugged her son. She was certain that everything would work itself out.

Meanwhile, Kate ran her hands through her hair and looked at her reflection in the mirror. What the hell was wrong with her? She loved Castle more than she had ever loved any other man and she knew that he loved her. So, when she found herself yelling at him, well she was embarrassed by her behavior. She needed to make this right. She put her hand on her stomach and laughed when her daughter kicked her. Hard. She swore that her daughter was taking sides and she had picked Castle's side. She smiled and whispered to her daughter, "I'll make this right sweetheart."

Castle was sitting on the bed waiting for her to come out of the bathroom. When she saw him sitting there, she walked over to him and put her arms around his shoulders. She placed a kiss on his head and she whispered, "I'm sorry Castle."

She felt him shake his head and he whispered, "I'm the one that's sorry. I.."

Kate laughed, "Can we talk? Please?"

Castle nodded and told her, "I think that would be a good idea."

Kate climbed into bed and waited for him to join her. She took his hand and laid it on her stomach. Then she put her hand on top of his. She laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and told him, "I love you."

"I..."

"Wait. Let me say this please." She felt him nod and then she went on, "I'm not sure exactly what's going on inside me. One minute I'm on top of the world in love with you and the next I'm doubting that any man can be this wonderful. I mean you want to raise this baby as your own. And after what Josh did to you... I guess I'm expecting you to change your mind. To tell me that it's not worth the risk. That you can't risk your life or the life of Alexis. I've loved you for so very long Castle. I wish that this baby was really yours."

She looked into his eyes and then she whispered, "I don't want to think what my life would be like without you in it. I need you and our daughter needs you. I love you Richard Castle. Forever and always..."

She looked at him and he was strangely quiet. She did see the tears in his eyes and then she whispered, "Say something Castle. Please?"

"As far as I'm concerned, this baby is mine. I love her just like I love Alexis. To me, they are equal. Loving you is worth all of the risks Kate. Don't ever doubt my love for you Kate. I want you in my life forever."

She smiled and kissed him so very softly. They both laughed when Castle jerked his hand away and said, "She's got one heck of a kick on her!"

Kate laughed, "She's going to be trouble. Just like her daddy is."

They kiss again as the screen goes dark.

The next morning found Castle sitting in Jim Beckett's office. He'd called him early that morning asking him if he could talk to him. He had to prepare for court that afternoon, but he could squeeze in a few minutes for him.

Castle knew that he had never been quite so nervous before. He was bouncing his foot up and down quickly when her father came into the office. He smiled at Castle and asked, "So, what do I owe the pleasure of this visit to?"

"Well Sir,I..."

Jim Beckett shook his head, "Please. Call me Jim."

Castle smiled and continued, "Okay, Jim. I'm just going to get right down to it. I love your daughter and I want to marry her. I want to raise the little girl she's carrying. I want to spend the rest of my life making sure that she's the happiest woman in the world. I want to ask her to marry me."

"And?"

Castle swallowed and continued, "Well, I would like to ask your permission to ask her."

Jim Beckett just stared at them man sitting across the desk from him. He'd been partners with his daughter for a long time. He'd seen her at her best and at her worst. He had known for a long time how deeply Castle cared for her. After a long few moments, Jim finally smiled and told her daughter's partner, "I've been waiting for this moment for years. I'm so glad you two deserve to be happy and I'm glad that you finally came to your senses."

"Is that a yes sir?"

Jim nodded and told him, "Yes. But please don't hurt her. I'm not sure that she could survive losing your trust Rick."

"That's not something you have to worry about. I'm in this for life."

Jim nodded and then stood, "I have to get to court. Thank you for asking me for my permission. Although if Katie knew about it, she would probably kill both of us."

Castle laughed, "You're probably right sir."

Jim laughed and told him, "Please don't call me sir. It's Jim or dad, but not sir. It makes me feel like I'm old."

Castle laughed, "Alright Jim. Thank yo again."

He nodded and watched as the man her daughter loved walked out of his office. Then, he took a picture of his wife out of the desk and told her, "You would like him Johanna. He's good for her. He loves her and her baby girl. Who would have guessed that she would have ended up with your favorite author. I just wish you were here to meet him."

He kissed his fingertips and then placed it against the glass. Not a day went by that he didn't miss his wife. It never got any easier. He was glad that Katie had found Richard Castle. Even more glad that she had fallen in love with him. More amazing was that the man loved the baby of another man growing inside of her. That alone made him respect Richard Castle even more. It took a special man to love a child that wasn't his. He truly believed that any man could be a father, but it took a special man to be a daddy. He believed that man for his daughter was Richard Castle.

He left his office with a smile on his face and headed to the courthouse. Happier than he had been in a long, long time.

Castle had one final stop to make. This stop made him a bit more nervous than he had been talking to Kate's dad. He walked over to the gravestone and placed the flowers he had bought after he had talked with her father. He wiped off a few leaves that had fallen onto it. Then he talked softly to Kate's mother, "I brought these flowers for you. I hope you like carnations. I know that you would be proud of her Johanna. She's a beautiful, smart and caring woman. I suppose that she's a lot like you. I wish that I could have met you. I have a feeling we would have gotten along very well." Castle took a deep breath and then continued, "I've loved her for so long now. I've forgotten what it feels like to not be in love with her. I hope our daughter is just like her. Strong and confident. Daring and bold. She doesn't back down and she never gives up. She honestly cares about the victims families. I think that's one of the reasons why I fell in love with her. I would like to think, if you were here, you would give us your blessing. I wanted to tell you that I'm going to ask her to marry me. Tonight."

It was then that Castle saw a robin fly and land on Johanna's gravestone. Castle didn't think anything of it at the time, but later it would come to have great meaning to him.

He stayed there for a few more moments and then turned and walked away. He had meant what he said to Kate's mom. He loved Kate more than he'd ever loved another woman before. He wanted her to be the woman that he grew old with. Forever and always...