A/N Some people are upset because I deviated from the original story. I actually didn't. I'd had this in mind since the beginning. I wasn't sure that I was going to go with it, but decided to. So, I apologize in advance.

Also, I couldn't write anything too angsty. Too much good stuff going on today...

Lillian and Kate were released from the hospital two days after her birth. When they pulled up to the loft, Kate could only smile. She was truly glad to be home again. Home with her family.

When they walked into the house, their family and friends were waiting for them. When Castle opened the door, everyone called out, "Surprise!"

Kate looked at Castle and asked, "Did you know about this?"

He shook his head, "I didn't do this."

She kissed him softly and then she whispered, "Are you sure?"

Castle laughed, "I'm not telling, but Lanie might have mentioned something about having a welcome home party for you."

He noticed the small smile that crept onto her face. She turned to him and whispered, "Thank you."

"You aren't mad?"

"Why would I be mad?"

"I know that you don't like to call attention to yourself."

She looked at Lanie as she picked her daughter out of her baby carrier. Lanie looked totally natural holding her. She smiled and told him, "These people are family. I don't like attention from strangers."

Castle pulled her over to the couch and sat beside her. He kissed her softly and she laid her head on his shoulder. She watched as the others passed the baby between them. She was surprised to see Lanie bending over to hand Lillian to Espo. The moan shook his head, but Lanie insisted. He whispered, "I don't want to break her."

Lanie laughed, "You aren't going to break her Javi. Babies are stronger than they appear."

Jenny smiled and showed him how to arrange his arms, and when he was ready, Lanie put the baby in his arms. For a moment, he forgot how to breathe. He looked down at her and a small smile crept onto his face when the little baby yawned. For a moment, Kate thought that she was going to start crying, but she smiled when her daughter seemed to snuggle deeper into his arms. She saw him relax visibly and then she saw a small smile creep onto his face.

Kate looked up at Castle and whispered, "I wish I would have had a camera to capture that. No one would ever believe it."

Castle smiled and nodded. He decided that watching their family hold the baby was something special. Something that he would remember for the rest of her life.

After everyone had left that night, Kate stood beside the bassinet watching their daughter sleep. Castle came up behind her and hugged her carefully. He put his head on her shoulder and whispered, "Are you tired?"

Kate shook her head, "I could stand here all night watching her."

Castle felt the same way. Standing there looking at the perfect little baby would never get old for him. He finally pulled her towards the bed and whispered, "You need to get some sleep. She will be up before long demanding to be fed."

Kate finally let him lead her over to the bed, but it took for about an hour to finally drift off to sleep. She was sure that Lillian would wake up and need her and that she wouldn't hear her. Castle could tell by her breathing that she was finally asleep. He smiled and made his way over to where their daughter slept. She made small sucking motions with her mouth and it made Castle smile.

As he watched her sleep, he couldn't help but be reminded of another little baby. Alexis was just as Lillian. Just as fragile looking. He had spent hours hovering over her bassinet. Watching her every little breath. He worried about her every little movement. Every time she made a noise, he wondered if there was something wrong with her.

It was only a bit easier this time. At least he knew what to do this time. He was no longer a brand new father. He had six years of parenting under his belt. Although, this time, he had a wife that he knew would help him work through any issues they might have. The first night was always the most difficult. After this, it would be a piece of cake.

The next week seemed to fly by. Lillian was the perfect baby. She barely cried. Even then, it was only when she was hungry or needed her diaper changed. Kate couldn't have asked for a calmer baby.

Lanie showed up at the loft early one morning. Kate had just finished feeding Lillian when she opened the door. Lanie smiled at her friend and asked, "Can I come in?"

Kate nodded, "I could use some company. Castle and Alexis aren't here. She had a doctors appointment this morning."

Walking over to the couch, Kate handed her daughter over to her best friend. Lanie smiled, "She just gets more and more beautiful. She looks more like you every time I see her."

Kate smiled and asked, "So, what did you come all the way over here for?"

Lanie nodded towards her purse and said, "I got the DNA results back."

"And?"

"Look for yourself. They are in my purse."

Kate shook her head and told Lanie, "I can't. What if.."

Lanie smiled, "I haven't checked the results. It's a sealed envelope. So, either you want to know and look yourself or you don't want to know."

"And if I don't want to know?"

"Burn it. Hide it. Do whatever you want. All I'm doing is bringing the results."

Kate laughed nervously and took the envelope out of her friends purse. She turned it over and over in her hand. It was a nondescript white envelope that simply read: DNA Results.

Kate captured her bottom lip between her teeth and she took a deep breath. She whispered, "I don't know if I really want to know..."

"Girl. I'm going to slap you. Of course you want to know..."

She sighed, "Will it really matter? Will I love her any less? Will Castle?"

Lanie shook her head, "No, but it will put your mind at ease. Whether or not she's really his daughter isn't the point."

"Then what is?"

"I think you're afraid that if you find out she's really his, then you will admit that you made a mistake the night she was conceived."

Kate looked at her daughter and whispered, "That's crazy. She isn't..."

"I know. She isn't a mistake, but neither of you can remember that night. Can you?"

Kate nodded, "I've tried. Over and over again. I've tried to remember that night, but all I can remember is what happened before we got to the Old Haunt and nothing else until the following morning when I woke up with a hangover. It's like I lost eight hours of my life Lanie..."

Lanie shook her head and tried to reach for the envelope. Kate held it away from her and laughed. Then she whispered, "I'm being silly aren't I?"

"Just a little bit. Look, the worst thing that happens is that she isn't his daughter. Does that really change anything though?"

Kate shook her head, "He says that he will love her. No matter what."

"And you believe him."

"Of course I do. He's proven himself over and over again. He loves her and he doesn't know for sure."

"And I know he will love her even if she isn't his biological daughter. He's a good man Kate."

"No. He's a great man. The best. He's nothing like I thought he was in the beginning. He's the exact opposite in fact..."

"Then there's nothing to worry about. Just open the envelope and see what it says."

Kate laid the envelope on the coffee table and simply stared at it. Part of her wanted to forget all about it and just go on as if she'd never asked Lanie to do the DNA test. The other part of her wanted to know. She swallowed hard and looked at her best friend. Then she told Lanie, "Maybe I should wait and let Castle do it..."

"Are you afraid?"

Kate nodded, "Yes..."

As Kate reached for the envelope, Lillian started to fuss. Kate smiled and whispered, "Saved by the bell..."

Lanie sighed and looked at the baby, "You are definitely your mother's daughter. Stalling techniques down pat..."

Kate laughed and went to feed her daughter. The inevitable delayed for now, but Kate knew that she couldn't put it off forever. So, she decided to wait until Castle got home and then they would do it together...