Chapter 34 – 18 Weeks
Kate made her way into the doctor's office, Castle had told her that he would be home from his meetings by 1 and that he would take her to her appointment, but he hadn't shown up, so she was left to go alone. Today they were supposed to find out the sex of their baby, together. She didn't know if she should go ahead and find out or if she should just wait until the next appointment, she wanted Castle to be here for this, like he promised he would be.
The nurse called her name, still no word from Castle, she figured that he would at least call her, or return her calls to him. Which was made her more nervous. She couldn't remember a time when he had not returned her calls or text almost immediately. It had been over an hour since he was supposed to be home, and she had tried to call him multiple times, but no answer.
The doctor made her way into the room, noticing immediately that Kate had been crying.
"Kate, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, Rick he said he would be here and I dont know what happened, but he didn't show up. He must have had to stay for another meeting."
The doctor sat on her rolling chair next to the table, taking Kate's hand in hers and giving it a gentle squeeze.
"We can always reschedule, it doesn't have to be today."
"No, I want to know."
"You sure?" the doctor asked, raising a brow at Kate.
She nodded, laying down on her back and raising her shirt above her stomach.
The doctor pulled her yoga pants down below her bump.
"Okay this gel is going to be a little cold but only for a second."
She squeezed the tube of gel on to her lower stomach and pressed the transducer into her stomach.
Kate's eyes shot to the screen where her baby had just appeared. It was amazing to see the baby, who seemed to be asleep. Calm and still, with the most beautiful heartbeat she had ever heard.
"Let me find a good position, see if I can determine the sex."
Kate watched the screen as her child's heartbeat play loudly from the monitor.
"Ahhh, there we go, perfect view."
A smile spread over Kate's face as her heart began to pound. The suspense was driving her crazy.
The doctor handed her a napkin to wipe the gel from her stomach.
"Sooo.. What is it? You're killing me."
"It's a boy." A smile spread across the doctor's face as she pulled the pictures from the printer and handed them to Kate.
"A baby boy?" She stared down at the picture in her hand. She wasn't sure if the feeling in her chest was that of happiness or sadness, Castle should have been there, he would have been rubbing it in her face that he was right.
"You happy with a baby boy?" the doctor asked jokingly.
"Extremely, I know I said I wanted a girl, but it really doesn't matter to me."
"That's how most parent's are, as long as he's healthy, right."
She smiled harder at the thought of her healthy baby boy, she couldn't wait to meet him.
"He is going to be perfect."
"Well, I'll see you back in a few weeks for your check up, I'm sure your excited to tell everyone, and hopefully Rick has something extra nice planned for you for missing this."
The smile dropped from Kate's face at the mention of Rick. She had almost forgot that he has missed it, after months and months of wanting to find out the sex and he didn't show.
Xx
When Kate walked into the loft, she sat her purse down and pulled her phone from it. There was a text from Castle.
Hey babe, Sorry I cant answer, still in a meeting, I'll make dinner when I get home, mother said she would keep Lex so we could have some time alone. Love you.
Her blood began to boil, he didn't even mention missing her appointment, or not showing up to take her. She wanted to scream at him, at anyone. She thought about calling him, telling him off, but she didn't want to fight with him, she didn't want to say something she might regret. So instead she decided to go to her parents, and after a sobbing phone call to her mother, she packed an overnight bag, leaving the sonogram picture on the kitchen counter, and bolted without a text or call to him.
Xx
Johanna came home from work and noticed the apartment was quiet, she immediately went to Kate's old room, and there she was, tucked safely into her twin size bed. She didn't want to wake her so she decided she would start dinner.
Kate woke up to the smell of her mothers cooking, after changing into a pair of leggings and one of Ricks v-neck undershirts she made her way into the kitchen and plopped down at the kitchen table.
"Hey Katie, you get a good nap."
"yeah…"
"Has he called?"
"I haven't checked, I turned my phone off when I left the loft."
"Kate, you cant ignore him, I'm sure it was an accident."
"I know, I know, I just needed time. How do you forget something this important? I know it wasn't on purpose, he would never have missed it on purpose."
"Well then you should go get your phone and call him."
She made her way to her room, pulled her phone out and powered it on. There were 3 text messages and 7 voicemails. She read the text first.
I'm on my way home, need anything?
Kate, where are you?
Baby, I'm so sorry, please answer. I forgot, I can't believe I forgot. Just call me, please, let me know that you're okay.
She didn't even go near the voicemails, she didn't want to hear him upset, so she sat on her bed, debating whether or not she should call, and then the phone started to vibrate in her hand. A picture of the two of them together in central park popped up on the screen, and before she could change her mind she slid her finger over the screen and pulled it up to her ear.
"Kate, Kate, are you there?" he was pleading, and she could hear the fear in his voice.
"Yes?"
"Kate…."
She heard him start crying, his breathing quickening as the noise came out.
"I am so sorry baby, please, I don't know how I forgot. Please tell me where you are, I need to see you."
"I'm at my parents house."
"Come home, please, so we can talk."
"Rick…. I just."
"Kate, please, if you don't come here, I'm coming there."
She sighed into the phone. He was telling the truth, he would show up and she was afraid to fight with him in front of her parents.
"I'll have my mom bring me."
And then she hung up.
She walked back into the kitchen where her mom was cooking and leaned back into the counter.
"Can you take me back to the loft, if not I'll catch a cab."
"No, of course I can take you. On one condition."
"What mom?"
"Don't make this into something it doesn't have to be. I know you love that man and I know he loves you and this baby. Don't punish him for an accident."
"I'm trying really hard not to be upset with him mom, but its our baby, and he told me he would be there."
"Accidents happen Kate, and I think that he already feels guilty enough. Lets go so you can share the news with him and then you can call your father and I and tell us."
"I can tell you now, mom."
"I think Rick should know first."
Xx
When she made it into the loft he wasn't anywhere in sight. She made her way into the bedroom, the lights were dim and the bed was covered in rose petals. There he sat, at the end of the bed, his head down, staring at the floor, she could tell that he was mad at himself.
"Rick, what is this?"
"It doesn't matter, it's ruined, because I'm an idiot." He stood from the bed, making his way to her, immediately wrapping his arms around her and pulling her tight into his chest. "Baby, I can't believe I forgot. I was so busy and just focused on one thing, I don't know how I forgot, and I don't know how to make it up to you, how to make this better."
"It's okay Rick, I know it wasn't on purpose. The only reason I left was because I needed time to cool down. I was hurt and upset and I knew that I would start a fight with you."
"I deserve it."
"No, baby, you don't. I know it was an accident. I know you wanted to be there to find out. I was just upset that we didn't get to have that moment together."
"Will you tell me what it is, I tried to look at the sonogram, but it just looked like a baby to me?" he asked cautiously. Trying not to push to much to quickly.
She nodded as a smile claimed her face, "Yeah, it's a boy."
He started to cry immediately as he found himself at a loss for words. Kate ran her thumbs up under his eyes to dry the tears away, placing a kiss over each cheek and then capturing his mouth in a passionate kiss.
When they broke apart he pulled her in tighter for a hug, "I love you and our baby boy."
"I know you do, we love you too."
He pulled away from her and walked over to his bedside table, opening the drawer and pulling something out. He walked back over to her, dropping down to one knee in front of her.
"Kate, this is what I was doing today, I was planning to propose tonight, I was making all of these arrangements. I was so busy trying to make it perfect that I forgot about something more important, and I'm sorry. I love you, with every piece of my being, and I don't want this baby to come into the world to parents who are uncommitted to one another. So this ring…. It symbolized the commitment that I want to make to you, to our baby, to our life together. Katherine Houghton Beckett, will you make me the luckiest man in the world and be my wife?"