Prompt: After a fairly recent miscarriage, Kate and Rick are forced to re-evaluate things. More so when babysitting Sarah Grace triggers some pent up emotions from both of them.
Not babysitting but they are interacting with her.
I was going through all the fanfics I've written and I found this one that I haven't posted. I have no idea where the prompt came from, possibly CastleFanficPrompts?
It's the first time since the miscarriage that they have seen Sarah Grace and it's her first birthday party. Castle notices Kate sitting on the floor with the one year old, making faces, tickling her, letting her hold her fingers as she tries to walk. A year ago, Kate was so uncomfortable with kids, babies to be specific, but here with Sarah Grace, he can't help but think how amazing of a mother she almost was.
Kate awoke to shooting pains coming from her abdomen, and immediately rested her hands on her 5 month pregnant belly. After an hour, the pain hadn't subsided and Kate finally relented and let Castle take her to the hospital.
They left the hospital the next day with one less family member.
He was pulled from his thoughts when Sarah Grace stumbled into his legs. "Hey there birthday girl." He picked her up and blew a raspberry on her cheek. He saw Kate walking toward them as Sarah giggled. He could see the unshed tears in her eyes, knowing this was as tough for her as it was for him, probably even more so. As he was about to say something to comfort her, a few of Ryan's sisters came up to them, talking to them and the one year old. After a few minutes Castle gave Sarah away, grabbed Kate's hand and started walking toward the door.
She held back. "Castle, I'm fine." He gave her a stern look, one that said no you're not, and you know you're not, and she relented, following him out to the hallway.
They just looked at each other for a moment, Kate trying to keep it together, but seeing the tenderness in his eyes, it was impossible. She closed the distance between them, burying her face in his neck as his arms wrapped around her. He could feel her tears on his neck, her body shaking with sobs. She hadn't cried since the day at the hospital and he knew she needed this but, for her sake, he wished they were home.
Somehow, she managed to choke out, "I wanted our baby."
"I know." He rubbed a soothing hand up and down her back.
After a few minutes, Kate leaned away from him, wiping the tears from her face and his neck. "We should go back in there."
"Kate, we don't have to. They'll understand."
She sniffled and wiped at the corner of her eye again. "I know but I want to stay, we need to stay."