When Kate climbed into bed that night, another pain shot through her stomach. This one was much stronger that the last one. She closed her eyes and after a few moments, it went away. Kate was still convinced that the pains she was feeling were simply Braxton-Hicks contractions. She decided that she would call her doctor in the morning.

Climbing into bed beside her that night, Castle could tell that she was restless. She was tossing and turning and she couldn't seem to get comfortable. She heard her hiss in pain and watched as her face showed the pain that she was feeling.

He asked, "Are you okay Kate?"

She shook her head and whispered, "I don't think so. I..."

She stopped as another contraction went through her. He jumped out of bed and put on his shirt and pants. Then he told her, "I'm taking you to the hospital."

Part of her wanted to tell him she was okay. However, another part of her knew that this wasn't normal. While she got dressed, Castle called his mother. She was out the door before they got off of the phone. Castle went back into the room and saw Kate doubled over in pain and holding onto the dresser. She was trying to remember her breathing exercises. Castle walked behind her and whispered, "I think this is the real thing."

Kate shook her head and whispered, "It's too early..."

He laughed and whispered, "She's like her mommy. She doesn't want anyone telling her what to do or when to make her appearance into the world."

She nodded and then they heard Martha come into the loft. Martha called out, "I'm here!" She walked into their bedroom and saw Castle holding Kate and whispered, "I think it's time for you to go."

Castle nodded, "I know mother. Are you good to walk to the car?"

The latest contraction stopped and she nodded. She started walking to the car and her knees buckled again. Castle decided that the only way they were going to get to the car was if he carried her. So, he picked her up and headed to the door. Martha opened the door for him and he walked to the elevator. Martha called out, "Call me when she's here!"

Castle nodded, "I will mother."

With that, they hurried off to the hospital. Martha smiled at them and then walked back into the loft. She locked the door behind her and she couldn't lose the smile that came to her face. She got up and walked into Castle's office. She looked at all the pictures that he'd taken of Alexis over the years. Then she smiled when she saw the ultrasound picture of the baby. She traced the picture with her finger and whispered, "You don't know how lucky you are little one. You are so special. Your mommy and daddy love you and so do I..."

Martha smiled and walked back into the living room to lay down on the couch to wait for news about the latest member of the Castle household.

Three hours later, Kate and Castle arrived back home. The contractions had stopped almost as soon as they arrived at the hospital. They had called her doctor already, so he met her at the hospital. After checking her over, he assured her that she wasn't in labor. It was simply very strong Braxton-Hicks contractions.

Doctor Taylor had smiled at the exhausted looking parents to be. He smiled and told them, "If you were in actual labor, you would still be having pains and they would come at frequent intervals. You would also have lower back pain."

Kate whispered, "If sure felt like the real thing. I feel so foolish. I'm sorry for bothering you."

Her doctor smiled and shook his head, "Don't be. I'd much rather you err on the side of caution. If it had been the real thing and you had waited then that could be dangerous. You're a little early and I would like to have stopped the contractions. You're only thirty two weeks. Ideally we would like to keep her inside for at least another four weeks. Another five weeks would be ideal, but something tells me that this little lady will be joining us sooner rather than later."

Kate felt her daughter moving and let her hand rest on her stomach and whispered, "I thought for sure this was the real thing. I..."

Her doctor smiled, "Braxton-Hicks contractions can feel very real Katherine."

She nodded and then she sighed. Castle helped her off of the table and steered her towards the exit. He helped her into the car and she closed her eyes. She was tired of being pregnant. Tired of her body not being her own anymore. Tired of feeling like she had been taken over by a tiny little alien. An alien that took the form of her baby daughter.

Castle drove home and he led her upstairs. When they walked in, they saw Martha had fallen asleep on the couch. Kate felt incredibly guilty for bothering her mother-in-law. She told Castle, "I feel bad for calling her and..."

Castle shook his head, "Don't worry about it. She won't be upset."

"Still I..."

Martha opened her eyes, "What? No baby?"

Castle watched as Kate walked into their bedroom. Then Martha asked, "False labor?"

Nodding, Castle whispered, "Yeah. I'm glad though. It's still very early and.."

"You were scared."

"Very. If she's born now... I'm sorry for bothering you mother."

Martha shook her head, "Don't worry about it. If you need me Richard you can call me."

"I will mother."

Castle hugged her mother and the kissed her on the cheek.

Meanwhile, Kate was standing in the bathroom looking at herself in the mirror. Part of her was glad that the labor pains had stopped. It was way too early for her daughter to make an appearance. She liked being pregnant, but hated the not knowing what was happening to her. She liked being in control and she wasn't in control of anything anymore. She whispered to her daughter, "You need to be patient little girl. Don't be like your mommy and be so impatient to see the world and meet your family. You aren't done cooking yet."

Castle smiled when he heard her talking to their unborn baby. He walked into the bathroom and took her in his arms and whispered, "Are you ready for bed?"

Kate nodded and let him lead her to the bed. He helped her into their bed and took off her shoes. She climbed under the covers and sighed softly. She felt Castle's arms settle around her waist. His fingers drew all kinds of shapes on her skin. She shivered and whispered, "How did I ever get so lucky? When my mom died, I never thought I would be happy again. I never thought it was possible. To have a family again. I keep waiting for something to happen to take it all away. I'm afraid that I will wake up one day and it will all be gone. You, Alexis and Lillian. Everything that means so much to me."

Castle kissed her on the neck and whispered, "We aren't going anywhere Kate. We love you."

Kate laughed, "She can't love me. She doesn't know what love it yet..."

"That's where you are wrong Kate."

"I'm wrong?"

She felt Castle nod against her back and then he laughed softly and whispered, "She can tell that you love her by the way you talk to her. How your hands rub you stomach. Don't tell me you haven't noticed how she gets more active when we talk to her."

"It's mostly when you talk to her..."

"She goes crazy when you talk to her. She kicks harder and does all kinds of crazy somersaults."

Kate laughed, "She does. I love her so much Castle. I just want her to be safe and healthy when she's born. I..." She took a deep breath and whispered, "I was terrified that I was really in labor. She's too little to be born now. She might not survive and..."

"Shush... She's safe and sound."

"For now. If she's like me then she's going to be very impatient. She won't make it..."

Castle turned her over so that she was looking at him. He kissed her softly and whispered, "If she's anything like you then she will be just fine. She will be strong and beautiful. Just like her mother. If she was like me, then she would stay in there forever. Heaven knows that I'm never in a hurry for anything, but she's not mine and..."

Kate shook her head and whispered, "Stop Rick..." Then she kissed him softly and put her hand on his cheek. She looked into his eyes and whispered, "I wish that she was yours, but she isn't. There isn't anything I can do to change that. I would do so many things differently. I never would have married Josh. I would have opened my eyes to the fact that you love me a lot sooner. All those wasted years Castle."

He whispered softly, "You weren't ready. We weren't ready to come to terms with our feelings back then Kate. We have many more years together."

She nodded and smiled at him, "How do you always know what to say?"

"It's a gift. Look, why don't we try to get some sleep and then I'll make us breakfast in the morning and..."

She kissed him and then they laid down in bed together. He held her while she fell asleep. Wondering how different their lives would be if they had acted on their feelings back then instead of after she had married Josh. Before he drifted off to sleep, he decided that he didn't care. This was where their lives had taken them and he wouldn't have changed a thing...

A/N- Not quite time for the baby to make her appearance yet...