A week later

Beckett is at Castle's loft, like always lately, and sat on the edge of their bed, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. The evening light filtered through the windows, casting long shadows across the room. She was tense, her jaw set. She didn't even notice the sound of the door opening.

Castle walked in, a soft smile on his face, but it quickly faded as he saw her posture. Something was wrong—he could feel it immediately.

"Kate?" he asked gently, "What's going on?"

Beckett didn't look up at first. She bit her bottom lip, her fingers curling tighter together. "I —" she started, then hesitated. She shook her head slightly, as though brushing away the thought.

Castle moved closer, sitting beside her. His hand found her shoulder, warm and steady.

"Hey," he said softly, his voice full of concern, "you can tell me anything, you know that."

Beckett opened her mouth, then closed it again, as though the words were too heavy to get out. Finally, she forced herself to look at him, her eyes searching his, as if trying to find the right words. "I... I'm late."

The words hung in the air between them, weighty but not unwelcome. Castle's brows furrowed slightly as he processed her meaning. Then, his expression softened, the corner of his mouth quirking up. "Late," he repeated, his tone careful. "As in...?"

Beckett gave a small nod, letting out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "Yeah."

Castle sat back for a moment, his hand still on her shoulder, his thumb tracing small, soothing circles. "Okay," he said finally, his tone steady. "How late are we talking?"

"Almost two weeks," she admitted, her voice quiet.

Castle nodded, thoughtful. "That's... something." He paused, his blue eyes meeting hers. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Beckett let out a shaky breath, her voice cracking as she said, "Castle, what if…?" She didn't finish the sentence, but the fear in her eyes said everything.

His heart clenched, and he reached for her hand, wrapping his fingers around hers. "Hey," he said gently, "whatever it is, you don't have to do this alone. I'm here. We'll figure it out together."

She nodded, biting her lip. "I picked up a test earlier," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Of course you did", he smiled softly. "You're always prepared. Do you want to do it now?" he asked, his tone steady, careful not to push.

"Yeah", she whispers.

Castle gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Take your time. I'll be right here."

Beckett grabbed her bag and slipped into the bathroom. Castle stayed seated, his mind racing with possibilities. His concern wasn't just for the answer but for what it might mean for her—what it might mean for them.

When Beckett came back, she was holding the test, her face pale and unreadable. She didn't sit down right away, standing just a few feet away as though unsure if she could handle what came next.

Castle stood and approached her slowly. "Do you want me to look with you?" he asked, his voice soft.

She hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yeah. Together."

They both leaned in, their breaths held as they focused on the small window of the test. It took a moment, but when the result appeared, Beckett's heart dropped. A tiny pink plus sign stared back at her.

Neither of them spoke at first. Castle glanced at her, searching her face for any sign of how she was feeling. Her shoulders slumped, her eyes welling with tears she refused to let fall.

"Kate," he said gently, reaching out to touch her arm.

Her voice cracked as she whispered, "It's his."

Castle felt the weight of her words like a punch to the chest, but he forced himself to stay calm, for her. "Hey," he said, stepping closer. "This doesn't change who you are. It doesn't change us. You've survived so much, and you're stronger than anyone I've ever known. We'll figure this out together."

She finally met his eyes, and the tears spilled over despite her best efforts. "I don't know if I can do this," she confessed.

"You don't have to decide anything right now," he assured her. "We'll take it one step at a time. Whatever you choose, I'll be here. Always."

His words cracked something in her, and she let herself collapse into his arms. Castle held her tightly, his chin resting on the top of her head as she clung to him. "You're not alone, Kate," he whispered. "You'll never be alone."