A/N: Don't sweat the short. More is on the way. This just seemed to need it's own.
A/N #2: To the Ryanites... I am not trying to make him a clown. I just think he is the kind of guy who would be so in love with his wife that he would be oblivious.
A/N #3: Sorry pervs. No smexy in this one... but... very... VERY soon.
"Woo hoo hoo!" Esposito shook his hand as Beckett walked up, trying hard to hide the smile threatening to break free. "We got us a hottie here!" He pointed at Kate, raising his voice. "Hottie detective here! Where are the cameras?"
Kate slugged him in the shoulder; laughing when he made a little 'oof' sound. "You're such a girl, Espo. Wait... Girls are tougher."
"Ha ha." The Latino grinned at her. "Where's your boy, anyway?"
"Her boy?" Ryan blinked at them. "Did I miss something?"
"Everything, bro. Everything."
"Eh." Kate shrugged; indicating behind her with her head. "He's off being a world famous author. You know how it is."
"I should be so lucky." Espo grinned at her slyly. "So... explain the dedication to me?"
Kate blinked. "The dedication?"
He held out a copy of 'Heat Rises'. Looking at him suspiciously, Kate slid her hands across the cover and opened it.
She wasn't prepared.
It wasn't poetry.
It wasn't a declaration.
It wasn't a lot of things.
What it was...
...was just one word.
Always.
Her eyes filled and Esposito looked away. He could handle a lot of things from his boss.
Tears weren't one of them.
Scratching his forehead, he patted her awkwardly on the back. "You uhm... you okay?"
"Yeah... yeah." Kate breathed in deeply, pulling the emotions wracking her body back into check. "I'm good." Six weeks in and she was already losing it?
Hormones were a bitch.
Smiling gamely, Kate looked around. "Where's Lanie?"
"Bathroom." Esposito shrugged. "Expensive champagne has it's own costs I guess."
"I'm going to go check on her." She smiled at him wanly, making him watch her until she disappeared into the crowd.
"Dude." Ryan followed his line of sight. "What did I miss?"
Kate slammed into the bathroom harder than she intended; throwing the door back to bang loudly against the wall. Luckily, there was only one other woman in there with her; a blonde who's eyes widened almost comically before she rushed back to he party.
"Now I know that has to be you." Lanie's voice echoed in the stillness. A moment later, the gorgeous black woman stepped out of one of the stalls, washing her hands and then patting her hair as she studied her reflection in the mirror. "What's up, Kate?"
The detective blinked at her. "What's up?"
"Yeah." The M.E. shrugged, raising her eyebrows. "What's up?"
"Uh..." Kate's eyes narrowed. "My endorphins?"
"Yeah?" Lanie walked towards her friend, gripping her arms tightly. "And that changed nada. You are still you. I am still me. Just because you have a little Rook inside you..."
Kate smacked her on the arm, smiling when Lanie laughed.
"Honey... what are you so afraid of?"
Beckett looked at her friend. "Tomorrow?"
Lanie smirked. "You are the biggest bad ass I have ever met." Her grin couldn't be wider. "And you are going to be the best Mom ever."
Kate gasped, tears streaming down her face as she tried to catch her breath.
Lanie wrapped her arms around her friend, holding her tightly until she stopped shaking.
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