"It's sweet the way you kiss me, before our lips even touch."

Late March 2015

The darkness of the room had been all consuming, the absence of light thorough and absolute and she sighed contentedly, letting the blackness wash over her and push away the remains of her headache.

It had hit her hard and fast, the last thirty-six hours unforgiving, stressful and nothing at all out of the ordinary, yet she was tired, more so than she would call normal for her own body, weary aching limbs finally giving out and forcing her to bed.

Now, as she lifted herself up among the pillows, the room swam with a fresh wave of nausea that Kate knew had nothing to do with dull throb at the back of her skull.

Licking her lips she reached for some water only to find the glass empty and the mere idea of a trip to the bathroom for a refill seemed like too much effort to even contemplate let alone attempt. She knew every heavy footfall would resound too loudly, waves of pain swelling up with each step, crashing into her temples as the sound of her own feet reverberated around her brain.

Nope.

Slipping back into the softness of her bedding-made cocoon, Kate rolled onto her side and inhaled deeply letting the familiar scent soothe her as she tried desperately to ignore the other reason she was avoiding a trip to the bathroom.

Third drawer down on the left.

The small white and pink box she was determined not to think about kept hijacking her thought process and spinning it off on a tangent. It could change their entire life, the one they were building together and Castle was out of town for another two days, his birthday was in three and if she opened the box and -

No.

No, she thought he should be here for this next part. If her suspicion was correct - and a terrified part of her really hoped it was - she wanted him by her side. They should take the test together.

Rolling further across the bed the sound of the door opening startled her and Kate's eyes shot to the person allowing light to intrude on her inner sanctum, her neck snapping up with speed that was immediately protested by her head, eyes and stomach. Black dots swam in her vision and she clapped a hand over her mouth trying not to gag.

She absolutely abhorred being ill, hated it and swore vile vengeance, muttering curses under her breath. She slid back down slowly, waiting for the rollercoaster swirl that was battering her stomach to die off.

"Kate?"

"Mmmm?" She didn't need to lift the hand that had settled over her eyes to know that his daughter was approaching, the quiet padding of her sock clad feet was as familiar to Kate as the scent of Castle that wafted from the pillows. It was the regular background noise of family living that she had become accustomed to.

"Dad called." Alexis murmured quietly, "Wanted me to check in. Said you didn't pick up?"

Kate groped blindly and brought the phone to her face, thumbed the screen and found it unresponsive. "I turned it off." She groaned letting it slip from her hand and thud quietly on the bed beside her.

"He said he'd call again at the next hotel."

Her voice still soft, it came to Kate louder than before and opening her eyes again, slowly, she found Alexis hovering at the side of the bed, pale evening light creeping in from the office and casting her in a backlit glow. Her arms hung at her sides, the rays of light fracturing at her wrist. They splintered off in all directions making Kate aware of the glass she held in her hand and the almost tentative way she stood.

"How are you feeling?" Alexis asked quietly.

"Ughhhh." Kate slapped a hand on the bed and groaned again, but smiled when Alexis laughed and took her invitation, coming closer and setting the water on the bedside table.

"That bad?"

"Somewhere between in a cave and on a boat." The splayed fingers over her eyes parted and Kate sighed slowly, squinting one eye and scrunching her face at his daughter. "It's dark and I might throw up." She elaborated when the blue eyes that met her own were framed by raised and inquisitive eyebrows.

"Are you contagious?" Alexis leaned back, grinning when Kate huffed at the implication.

"I very much hope not." One hand fell to her stomach, unbidden, as if protecting the possibility that could dwell there, and she hid the action quickly, smoothing down the sheet in front of her.

Alexis watched the movement with sly eyes, fingers toying in her own lap as she observed and tilted her head to one side. "Dad sent me in here with kisses." She mumbled suddenly, fingers still working at her cuticles, flicking the skin almost nervously.

"What?" Kate raised herself up narrowed her eyes with disbelief, "He sent y- what?"

"Wanted me to pass them along -" she raised a hand, almost in defense " - verbally not physically." Though her cheeks flushed, Alexis smiled, dropping her head to shield her face when Kate laughed.

It felt good, but she groaned immediately when the sound echoed too loudly, palming the side of her head to keep it in one piece. "That's ..." She pursed her lips and looked for the right word. "Sweet?" She grinned, finding it less painful than laughing.

They sat in the silence that followed for a minute or two before Alexis rose to her feet. She said goodnight quietly and Kate reached for her hand, stilling her progress from the room with a gentle squeeze of her fingers.

"Thank you." Kate held the girls eyes and squeezed again, "For the water and the kisses." She didn't mean to roll her eyes but they both laughed when she did, "And for checking on me. It is - it is sweet."

She let the girl go, holding on to the small moment between them and sinking back down into the pillows. Contentment rolled over her again, pushing aside the queasy wave and Kate listened to Alexis pad from the room just as quietly as she had entered.

Dropping a hand to her stomach again she lay back and thought of all the maybes and hows of telling Castle her suspicion. She pictured his face and wondered if he'd smile, or tear up, if he would believe her straight away or if she'd have to repeat the words until they sunk in. Fingers drumming her skin as they moved slowly, Kate rolled onto her side and jumped when she found his daughter still in the doorway watching her.

"Kate?" Her voice was quiet, barely a whisper as she slipped through the door with a knowing smile.

"Mmm?"

"You should tell him on his birthday, he'd love that."