A/N: Loved all your reviews and death threats, guys, however weird that may sound. I'm really glad you guys are enjoying this as much as I am. This one is a shorter chapter because I felt like this part should stand on its own. Hope you like it.

Disclaimer: Castle is not mine, otherwise they would be making babies already.

At the end of the tunnel

Chapter 8

Kate felt like she had just been punched in the stomach. The second Mr. Davis announced Jake's condition, she felt oxygen being expelled from her lungs and a whole new incapability to breathe suddenly take over. She could hear her blood rushing loudly, implacable through her veins and a pounding headache made her close her eyes against the pain. And still, she couldn't breathe.

He was going to take her children away from her.

Oh, god, she couldn't breathe.

She felt her lawyer touch her shoulder and ask her something but she couldn't make out what it was. It felt like she was underwater and everything was happening in slow motion and the sounds that reached her ears were distorted.

He wanted to take her kids away. Her babies.

God, no.

"Detective Beckett," she finally heard Garrett Bishop's voice cut through the fog she seemed to be immersed in. "Kate, here, drink some water." Suddenly a tall glass of water appeared in front of her and she accepted it gratefully, taking a sip.

She felt an overwhelming need to cry.

"I…" She tried to say something, anything, but the giant knot taking residence in her throat was making it hard to even breathe. Swallowing hard, she pushed through. "I'm sorry."

"No worries, detective. This caught me by surprise as well." He gave her a sympathetic smile. "But we'll get through it. Your kids already live with you, right?" He questioned and she nodded. "We're going to keep it that way, alright?"

"Alright." She took a deep, shaky breath in order to calm down her still erratic heart. "What… what are my chances here, Mr. Bishop? And please, be honest."

"I'd say they're good. The only thing we have to worry about is your work hours, but I'm sure we'll figure it out."

Yeah, just what she thought. Her dangerous job with crazy hours was going to make her lose her kids. God, what was she going to do?

She thanked him and excused herself to leave. She needed to get out of that office, suddenly feeling claustrophobic, as if the walls were closing in on her. She still couldn't believe the son of a bitch had actually done this. He had told her he didn't want custody. What the hell was he playing with here? He barely spent any time with Alex and Olivia as it was. Did he really want to hurt her that much? So much that he would be willing to jeopardize their children's happiness along the way just so he could get to her?

This was ridiculous. If she didn't know any better, she would think this was his petty, childish jealousy showing through, but he didn't love her anymore – that much was clear. His long list of affairs only proved that further, so what the hell was he playing at?

Stepping into the elevator, she leaned her head back against the wall, closing her eyes and willing those stubborn tears to disappear. She would not cry. She refused to, at least for now. Jake had just left and the probability of her running into him in the lobby was still high. The last thing she needed was for him to see how much this had affected her. It was bad enough that he had seen her nearly catatonic state when his lawyer delivered the news. She hadn't even seen them leave.

Kate shook her head, fumbling through her purse in search of her phone. She needed to talk to Rick, hear his voice. Deep down, she knew how desperate and pathetic it all sounded, but at that moment she didn't care. He had been her rock through this and she needed him in whatever capacity was possible then. Finally closing her fingers around the device, she quickly scrolled through her contacts until she found his name and pressed the call button. It rang three times before he answered it.

"Kate," His voice was warm and that overwhelming need to cry returned with full force when she heard it. "How'd it go?"

"Rick…" She managed to get out, her voice shaking. She bit on her lip hard as the door opened and she stepped out of the elevator. She would not cry. She refused to cry.

"What is it? What's wrong?" He asked urgently and she had to take a deep breath to try and say something. "Kate, where are you?" He interrupted her attempt at saying something coherent before she could even try to.

"I'm leaving Garrett's office." Her voice was so small and laced with defeat. She suddenly felt her strength leave her and exhaustion started to take her over.

"Alright, I'm almost there. Wait for me. Okay?" He told her and she agreed with barely a whisper. "Hang in there, babe. I'll be right there with you."

She had to swallow hard at the endearment and felt the first tear escape her eye and slide down her cheek. Brushing it away quickly, she took a deep breath again, trying desperately to get her emotions under control. She couldn't let that bastard get to her. This was exactly what he wanted and she was just handing it over to him just like that. He wanted her emotionally unstable so he could just come in and destroy her life, but she was not going to let him do that.

Barely five minutes had passed when she felt someone touch her shoulder. Flinching away from it, she turned around startled.

"Rick."

His name spilled out of her lips with a choked sob and the next thing she knew, she was wrapped in his arms as he held her tightly. He let her cry it out for a few minutes, running his hands gently in soothing circles on her back. She felt like someone was squeezing the life out of her heart and her chest ached and she couldn't stop the tears that were rolling freely down her cheeks. She gripped his shirt tightly, holding onto him as if he was her lifeline.

"I'm sorry." She apologized after a few minutes and felt him shake his head, before placing a soft kiss to her forehead.

"Don't be." He told her gently, brushing the remaining tears away with his thumb. "Want to talk about it?" He asked and she pulled away slightly to look at him.

"He wants custody of the kids." She answered in a small voice, her throat closing up again. "That's his condition to sign the divorce papers."

"Oh, Kate." He pulled her into his arms again and she went willingly, craving his touch at that moment to soothe the pain in her heart. "We're not going to let him." He whispered against her hair. "Okay? We're going to fight for them. He's not taking them away." He pulled away and framed her face with his hands. "We're going to get through this." He murmured, kissing her tear stained cheeks.

"I just…." She had to stop for a moment and swallow hard. "I don't understand why he's doing this. He'd said he didn't want custody. But ever since he found out about you, he's been acting like a jealous son of a bitch. And he has no right to." She seethed out through gritted teeth. "He actually accused me of replacing him. That I was scheming to banish him from the kids' lives. It's ridiculous."

"Is he using me against you?" Rick asked, taken aback and she nodded. "Oh, babe, I'm so sorry. I never meant to cause so much trouble. I mean, if you want me to…"

"No." She shut him up with a finger to his lips. "Don't apologize for this. I don't…" She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before continuing. "I need you. I don't want to do this alone. I can't."

"Kate, hey," He brushed her hair behind her ear and gave her a small smile, seeming to have come to a decision. "I'm in love with you. I'm not going anywhere."

Kate looked at him with wide eyes, speechless.

"What?" She gasped, her heart hammering her chest.

"You don't have to say anything, Kate. I just, I wanted you to understand that I'm not going anywhere. I'll be there for you in whatever way you want me." He told her earnestly and she reached out to cradle his cheek, a warm feeling spreading through her from her chest out.

He was in love with her.

How did that even happen?

"You're entirely too good to me." She framed his face, his stubbly cheek scratching her palms, and touched his lips with hers in a chaste, but so layered kiss. "I love you too." She whispered, resting her forehead on his, feeling his warm breath tickle her chin.

"Yeah?" His smile was infectious and she felt her lips tug up in a wide smile.

"Yeah."

A/N: Thoughts?