A/N A small filler chapter...

Meanwhile, at the precinct, Lanie and Jenny were decorating for Kate's baby shower. Although it was actually Ryan and Esposito that were doing more of the decorating. Lanie and Jenny were telling them where to put everything.

There were streamers hung from every corner of the break room. Pink, purple and white. There was also a pinata that looked like a stork.

In one corner there were presents stacked from the floor to the ceiling. Lanie had tried to tell their friends that presents weren't necessary, but everyone had insisted. Saying that baby showers were more for friends and family to celebrate the coming birth.

Martha was on the lookout for her son and Kate. She would come running into the room every few seconds. Lanie finally turned to her friends mother-in-law and said, "Stay there until they are actually here. Please?"

Martha nodded and hurried back to her post. That was when she saw Kate's father. She pointed towards the break room and said, "Go. Help them."

Jim nodded and headed towards the others waving his hand in the air. He was used to his daughter's mother-in-law by now. He'd learned to ignore most of what she said. The woman was an actress and had a different way about her.

Esposito had managed to get himself tangled up in the streamers that he was trying to wrap together. The upper half of his body was covered in pink, purple and white. Pretty much the only thing that could be seen was his eyes. He looked at Lanie and said, "A little help here. Please?"

Lanie laughed and went to help him. Before she did though, she took a picture of him and said, "That's priceless."

Esposito gave her a look and said, "Seriously?"

That was when Montgomery walked into the break room and laughed. Then he said, "I want copies of that one for the precinct's newsletter."

Lanie asked, "We have a newsletter?"

Montgomery nodded and said, "We sure do. You should be the one to take the pictures and..."

Esposito wasn't amused and said, "Don't encourage her Captain."

"I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't torture you."

Jenny sighed and said, "We need to do more decorating and less talking guys! They will be here very soon and we aren't anywhere close to be ready yet and..."

Ryan went over to his wife and kissed her softly. Then he whispered, "We are doing fine. It looks beautiful Jenny."

She shook her head, "More decorating and less talking Kevin Ryan."

He saluted her and turned to finish hanging the streamers that he'd managed to combine. He stood on the chair and used a thumb tack to pin it to the wall in a far corner. Before long, they had the entire place looking like a streamer factory had exploded. There were baby chicks, ducks and teddy bears hanging from the ceiling.

Jenny and Lanie smiled at the end result and Lanie took a picture. Both women sighed and said, "It's beautiful."

The men simply rolled their eyes and hurried to put the leftover decorations into a bag. Then, they took the cake out of the box and put the box into a corner. The cake was simply adorable. It was a square cake. It was made to look like abc blocks. It had baby bears, rabbits, elephants and ducks and tiny little feet decorating it also. The frosting was pink and white. It was a beautiful cake.

Everything was in place when Martha came running back into the break room and said, "There here!"

Lanie told Esposito, "Turn off the lights!"

He did as she said and they all bent down so that they couldn't be seen from the elevator.

After a few minutes, they heard Kate say, "I don't understand why Lanie couldn't meet us downstairs. Why did we have to come up here?"

Castle threw his hands up and said, "I don't know. She said something about Captain Montgomery wanting to see you and.."

He managed to steer her into the break room and turned the lights on. That was when everyone popped up and said, "Surprise!"

Kate jumped and then put her hand over her mouth. She was speechless. Then the tears started and she asked Castle, "Did you know about this?"

He smiled proudly and told her, "Of course. It was my job to get you here on time."

She turned and looked at all of her friends. Then she wiped at her eyes. Trying to wipe the tears away. Ryan looked at Esposito and asked, "Why is she crying?"

Esposito shrugged and whispered, "I don't know. I thought she would be happy and..."

Kate shook her head and interrupted them, "I am happy. Oh..."

That was when she rushed over to hug her friends. They had been through everything together and having them here to celebrate the birth of her baby made her realize how much they truly cared for her.

When she first found out that she was pregnant, she had expected to be all alone. She never thought that she would not only be gaining a baby, but her friends at work would become more like family. She had never been more grateful for them in her life. Her daughter was going to be surrounded by loved ones. Extended family and friends. Maybe one day, Lanie and Javi would have kids of their own and he or she could grow up with her and Castle's children.

Kate was led over to her chair and presented with a home made crown. She asked Lanie, "Who made this?"

Her best friend smiled and told her, "Alexis did."

Her mouth dropped open and she whispered, "Alexis?"

Castle nodded, "She had the hardest time keeping it a secret. Why do you think I kept her away from you last night and took her to school early this morning?"

Kate thought back and remembered that she had been upset with him at the time. She had thought that it was strange that he didn't want her to tuck Alexis into bed the night before. She always read Alexis a story and kissed her goodnight. He'd told her that she was already asleep. He hadn't woken her until later in the morning. After Alexis had already gone to school. Walking their daughter to school had become something of a ritual for them. She'd been a bit upset at the time, but now it all made sense. He wasn't sure if he could count on her to keep the secret or not. So, he'd had to keep Alexis and Kate apart. Keeping them apart meant deviating from the normal routine that they had built up over the last few months. Routines that she had come to look forward to. Cherish even.

Kate finally whispered, "You are amazing..." She walked over and kissed him softly. Then she whispered, "I love you."

They lost themselves in each other and kissed again. Until they heard Lanie clearing her throat. Then Lanie whispered, "There are other people here you know."

Kate and Castle kissed one final time and then she whispered, "I wish we were alone right now."

Castle smiled, "Me to, but we aren't. So, go. Have fun with our friends Kate."

She held his hand and started to walk away. Only letting go of his hand at the last possible moment.

Lanie rolled her eyes, but she was in awe of the couple. They were so totally and completely in love with each other. Lanie had never seen her best friend so happy before. Never seen her so completely in love with someone. She had never been like this with Josh. She was never this happy. Never so head over heels in love with him.

The men went to sit in one corner, while the women all gathered around Kate.

Jim smiled as he watched his daughter with her friends. Then, he told his son-in-law, "I've never seen Katie this happy before. It's all because of you and your little girl."

Castle shook his head, "I don't think that's the only reason. She's expecting a baby. It's a happy time for her. Whether it's because of me or not I'm not so sure."

"I disagree. She loves you Rick. She's changed since you came into her life. Changed in the best of ways. She's more outgoing. She laughs more. Her eyes are brighter now. She's not as serious as she used to be. She's still driven, but..."

"But what?"

"But she's driven to be a better person for you, Alexis and that baby she's carrying. Before all she had was her job. Now, she has something much better."

"Better?"

Jim nodded, "She has you. She has Alexis and soon she will have a baby of her own. She has a family. Something that she hasn't had in a very, very long time. I failed her Rick..."

Castle knew that her father was blaming himself for what happened after her mother was killed. He shook his head, "It wasn't anyone's fault Jim. I for one am glad that things happened the way they did."

"You are?"

Castle nodded, "Yes. Think about it. I wouldn't have met her if she hadn't become a police officer. Wouldn't have had a reason to. The day that her mother was killed was the day that our lives were destined to meet. I have always called it fate. She never believed in fate. At least she claims that she didn't, but fate is what brought us together. I don't doubt that for a moment."

Jim looked at his daughter and smiled, "She never believed in something as wonderful as fate. For her fate isn't something she can see or touch so it can't possibly exist."

"You are a man after my own heart Jim Beckett."

"Seriously though, you are good for her Rick."

Castle smiled, "She's good for me. She keeps me grounded."

The women laughed at one of the games that they were playing. Kate's eyes were bright with laughter. Castle caught her eye and she smiled at him. He smiled back and winked at her. She blushed and turned back to her friends. For the next two hours, the smile never left her face. Castle never thought that she had looked more beautiful. He wished that he could keep that smile on her face forever. She looked younger and more carefree.

When the women were done with unwrapping the presents, Castle asked, "We are going to need three more cars to get this home."

Montgomery smiled and said, "That's already been taken care of."

He snapped his fingers and three uniformed police officers appeared from out of nowhere. They produced three huge trash bags and packed everything. Then they carried everything downstairs.

Castle smiled and took her by the hand. Then he turned her around and kissed her softly. He whispered softly to her, "Did you have fun?"

Kate nodded, "Yes. It was amazing. I can't believe you managed to keep it a secret. You usually aren't very good at keeping secrets."

Castle gave her a sideways look and said, "I can keep secrets."

"Seriously? You are like a little boy when someone tells you something is a secret. You bounce off the walls. I think Alexis is better at keeping secrets than you are."

Castle smiled at her and said, "I was able to keep the crown a secret. I..."

"I'm surprised Castle. I guess there's a first time for everything."

He leaned forward and kissed her softly. Then he whispered, "Are you ready to go pick up our daughter?"

Kate nodded and he led her to the elevator. They drove to the loft and then walked to Alexis' school. They talked about everything and anything on the way there. Castle and Kate waited for Alexis to come out of the school. When she saw her parents, she came running towards them with a huge smile on her face. She obviously saw the crown that Kate was still wearing and asked, "Do you like the crown mommy?"

Kate nodded and whispered to her little girl, "I love it sweetpea. Why do you think I'm still wearing it?"

Alexis smiled brightly and hugged her mother tightly. Then Alexis kissed her mother and said, "I love you mommy."

"I love you to. You're my bestest girl."

That was when Alexis' face turned serious. Kate asked, "What's wrong?"

"Until your baby's born..."

Kate sat down on the bench in front of the school. She patted the spot beside her and said, "Sit down."

Alexis sat beside her and Castle watched them carefully. Kate smiled, "I'm always going to love you. No matter if I have ten more children. I couldn't love you any more if you were my own daughter. And when I adopt you, you will be my little girl."

Alexis shrugged and kicked a rock on the ground. Kate saw the sadness in her eyes and whispered, "I'm never going to leave you Alexis. You are stuck with me as your mommy forever and ever."

Alexis looked at Kate, "Really?"

Kate nodded, "Really. I love you Alexis and nothing will every change that. Nothing."

Alexis threw herself at Kate and hugged her tightly. Castle smiled at them and he knew that Kate was a natural born mother. She always seemed to know just what to say. He had been Alexis' father for six years and sometimes he had a hard time finding the right things to say. Maybe it was a girl thing, but he was thankful that they had Kate Beckett in their lives. Thankful for the day that fate had brought them together as partners, friends and eventually family...

A/N Not time for the baby to be born just yet. Soon, but not quite...LOL!