A/N Okay, Kate and Castle have been married for six months. This story doesn't follow a specific timeline. It's not set in any particular season. Josh and Kate were married for three years.

I had changed one of the chapters because somehow my saved file got changed and I didn't notice it. Sorry for any confusion.

Castle walked around for nearly and hour before he found himself back at the loft. He walked inside and saw his mother sitting on the couch watching tv. She looked up at him and asked, "Is everything okay?"

Obviously the anguish he felt was reflected on his face. Although, if he was truthful with himself, his mother had always been good at reading him. Even when he thought he had his emotions under control. He shook his head and whispered, "Kate..."

"Okay. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that this had something to do with Kate. Is she okay? The baby?"

Castle felt his heart drop at the mention of them. God. Kate must hate him for getting her pregnant and breaking up her marriage. Everything that had happened to her had been all his fault.

Hearing his mother clear her throat he went to look out the window and he whispered, "Kate..."

"Okay. This has something to do with Kate."

He nodded, "She told me that Lillian is my daughter. At least she thinks she is." He took a deep breath and whispered, "I...apparently we slept together while she was married to Josh."

"Oh."

"I don't remember it and neither does she. Apparently we had too much to drink and one thing led to another. I destroyed her marriage.. If it hadn't been for me they would be happy and married and.."

Martha shook her head, "No. Don't you dare think that. What happened, happened for a reason."

"She's going to hate me mother."

Martha smiled, "She doesn't hate you. She loves you. Her marriage wasn't meant to be. She could never hate you."

"I hate myself enough for the both of us. I felt sick to my stomach when she told me what I'd done. Why wasn't I strong enough to resist temptation? I've loved her for years, but..."

Martha smiled at her son. He was a good man, but sometimes men were a bit clueless. She finally asked, "Do you love her or Lillian any less?"

Castle shook his head, "No, but what if she...what if she can't love me mother?"

"She will Richard. I've seen the way she looks at you. She loves you. So very much. She loves that baby and..."

"It was a mistake and..."

"No! You stop that right now Richard Castle. That baby is a blessing and she is what brought the two of you together. She isn't a mistake Richard. She's a beautiful baby girl that has two wonderful, loving parents. Parents that would do anything for her. Sure, you don't remember the night she was was possibly conceived, but that doesn't matter. Because in the grand scheme of things, she's your daughter and Kate is your wife. You were willing to raise her before she was born. When you thought she was Josh's daughter. Why does that have to change now that she might actually be your biological daughter?"

"I should have respected Kate and not forced myself on her and..."

"Who's to say you forced yourself on her? I know Kate well enough to know that she isn't one to be forced to do anything she doesn't want to do."

"We were drunk and..."

"Drunk or sober. It doesn't matter Richard. Stop blaming yourself. Unless she tells you otherwise, take this for the gift that it is. The two of you might have made that beautiful little baby girl. Nothing else should matter."

Castle smiled and nodded, "You're right mother."

"I can be on occasion. Now, you need to go back to the hospital and be with her. I will hold down the fort here."

Castle nodded and kissed his mother on the cheek. Then, he hurried out of the loft and headed to the hospital. When he got to Kate's room, he heard their daughter crying. Loudly. He heard Kate trying to sooth her, but apparently the baby wasn't in the mood to be soothed. He walked over to the bed and held out his hands. Kate sighed and handed the baby over to him.

She whispered, "I've fed her. Changed her, but she's still crying. She hates me.. My daughter hates me..."

Castle laughed and started talking to their daughter. Then he noticed the problem. She wasn't swaddled in the blanket. He knew that newborns would sometimes fuss if they weren't bundled tightly enough. Apparently Lillian was one of those babies.

He smiled and talked to his daughter, "Daddy's here sweetheart. Lets get you bundled up and see if that works."

Castle quickly bundled her up tighter and her cries died down to whimpers. Until they finally stopped altogether. He laid her in the bassinet and smiled at Kate.

Kate looked at her husband and smiled. He had come back. She whispered, "Can we talk?"

"I think that would be a good thing."

Kate smiled and took his hand in hers. Then she whispered, "First of all, I'm sorry for surprising you with the news. I should have waiting until I knew for sure. Lanie is running tests and..."

Castle groaned, "Lanie knows?"

Kate nodded, "She's the one that told me about that night. I don't remember any of it Castle."

Castle sighed, "Neither do I."

"I don't remember it, but I don't regret this Castle. If she's your daughter, it wasn't a mistake. She could never be a mistake. Something so beautiful could never be a mistake."

Castle let out a breath and told her, "I thought you would hate me. I broke up your marriage and..."

Kate stopped him, "No. Josh did that. That's all on him."

"But if we hadn't.."

"If we hadn't slept together then she might not be here. I can't regret that we might have created her. Together. I could never regret that. I know that she's only a day old, but I love her so much Castle. And maybe I love her a little more knowing that she might be your daughter. Instead of the daughter of a man that's so self-centered that he can't love a tiny little baby. You were there for us when we needed you most Castle. You offered to raise her. The baby of another man. I don't know many men that would be willing to do that."

"I love you Kate. I've always loved you. From the first time we met."

"I think part of me loved you also. It just took me a long time to realize it."

"You saved me Kate. Saved me from a life of loneliness."

Kate shook her head and whispered, "I don't know if I would have survived without you. Being alone and pregnant."

Castle shook his head, "You would have. You're strong and..."

Kate smiled, "You make me stronger. You and your love for me. It's always there. Even when I don't particularly deserve it."

"Kate..."

"No. I need to say this Castle. I know these last few months haven't been easy on you. I've been an emotional wreck. I've said and done some things that would send most men running the other way. And you stuck by me through it all."

"I love you Kate."

Kate nodded, "I know you do. I don't deserve you. Don't deserve your love, but it's unfailing and constant. I don't think I can ever repay you."

"You do Kate. Every single day. I love both of you. So, so much. I reacted badly. I felt sick to my stomach. I know what it's like to have an unfaithful spouse and to think that I was the cause of your marriage breaking up... It killed me Kate."

"Stop..Just stop right there. You weren't responsible for what happened between Josh and I. I thought I loved him, but I realize now that I was using him. Just as much as he was using me."

Castle was confused and asked, "Using him for what?"

"To hide from my feelings for you. I've loved you for a long time. Probably since before we met. I read every single one of your books. Multiple times."

"I always knew that you were a fangirl."

Kate laughed, "Probably your biggest fan."

"But you hated me when I first met you."

"I didn't hate you Castle. I hated who you appeared to be in the press. The playboy. The ass who only cared about having a blonde on each arm."

"It was all fake you know. For the press and to sell books. I'm much more of a family man." He looked over at the sleeping baby and whispered, "This is all that I need. All I've ever wanted."

Kate laughed, "I know that now. But back then, I was hiding from my true feelings. Josh was a convenient hiding place. I wanted you, but my head told my heart that you weren't good for me. So, I married Josh, but never fell out of love with you. I was never able to forget you."

"Oh Kate..."

"So maybe that night wasn't so wrong after all." She pointed at the bassinet and whispered, "Because we have her and I wouldn't change that for anything in the world. Not to save a failing marriage or keep a man that couldn't love a woman that was pregnant with his child. You stepped up when I needed you most Castle. That's the sign of a real man. He steps up and is there when he's needed most."

Castle looked at her with tears in his eyes. Then he whispered, "I love you and no matter what the tests show. Whether she's my daughter or not, I love our daughter. And that's what she is. Our daughter. I will love her no matter what. I just don't want..."

His voice faded and she looked at him. Then she whispered, "What don't you want?"

"I don't want you to hate me."

"I could never, ever hate you. You gave me her. The most wonderful thing that's ever happened to me Castle."

"You really think she's mine. Don't you?"

Kate nodded, "I do. She has your eyes."

"All babies have blue eyes when they are born."

Kate shook her head, "No. They have blue eyes. Her eyes...Her eyes are the same color as yours Castle. The same eyes that Alexis has. The same eyes that I've been staring into for years. I know those eyes."

"You noticed my eyes?"

Kate laughed, "It's impossible not to Castle." She put her hand on his cheek and continued, "It was the first thing I noticed about you. Those big beautiful blue eyes. Bright and beautiful."

Castle turned and kissed her hand. She smiled and asked,"Are we okay?"

He nodded and whispered, "We are okay. I just panicked and.."

"And?"

"And wondered if you would hate me because of this..."

"Never. I love you." Then she smiled and whispered, "Always..."

He returned her smile and whispered, "Always..."

They sat together in silence for the next few hours. Taking care of their daughter together and becoming even stronger. He knew that no matter what the test results showed, he would always love Kate and Lillian. They were meant to be and nothing could take that away from them. Nothing...