Kate Beckett was doing something she truly thought she would never do. Shopping for maternity clothes. After the ordeal with Loksat and surviving the shooting it was a miracle she was still alive, let alone pregnant. She had bought a few things but quickly realized her belly was growing faster than she had thought it would. She seemed to pop almost overnight. She was twenty weeks and they had just found out they were having a girl. She grabbed a few items off the racks and as she was heading to the dressing rooms she heard someone call her name.

"Kate?" A woman's voice called, "Kate Beckett?"

Kate turned around, "Krya?" She said in surprise

"I thought that was you." Kyra Blaine Murphy said, "I'd ask how you are but I can see.."

Kate smiled, "Yeah, you too." She noticed Kyra was pregnant as well, "Is this your and Greg's first?"

"No, our second." She explained, "We have a daughter, Maggie. You? I assume you're..."

"Married?" Kate finished for her, "Yeah, three years."

"Do you keep in touch with Rick?" Kyra asked, "Is he still shadowing you?"

"You could say that."

"Hey, I'm supposed to meet Greg in a little while for coffee. Would you and your husband like to join us? If you're free."

"Um, yeah, I'll just try give him a call. After I try these on." This should be fun Kate thought, just to see their reaction

"Okay." Kyra said, "We're meeting at Java Loft. The one on seventy fifth and Lex."

"We'll see you there." Kate said and headed for the dressing room

/

Kyra and Kate ending up heading over to Java Loft together after finishing at the maternity boutique. They walked in and spotted Greg waiting for them at a table. They stood in line for a moment to get their orders. Kate got a decaf vanilla latte and Kyra opted for hot chocolate.

"Hi Honey," Kyra said and kissed him on the cheek

"Hey." he said, "Detective Beckett. Good to see you."

"It's actually Captain Beckett now." Kate said, "It's good to see you both, too. Quite a coincidence running into Kyra."

"Yeah, we just moved here from L.A." Greg explained

"So, you said your husband will be here?" Kyra said to confirm again

"Yeah, as a matter of fact there he is." She said as Rick entered the coffee shop

Kyra and Greg turned to look behind them then back to Kate in surprise, "You're kidding! Why didn't you say something?"

Kate smiled mischievously a twinkle in her eye "Well, I was going to but when you invited us for coffee I thought I'd have a little fun with it."

"Hey Babe," She said once Rick reached their table

"Hey," He replied back with a kiss, "Kyra, Greg, it's good to see you both."

Kyra and Greg looked at each other, then back at Kate and Rick, "Spill it." They said in unison

Kate and Rick laughed, "It's a long story but suffice to say she was powerless against my many charms." Rick teased

"You're still peddling that story, Babe?" Kate teased back

"You couldn't fight it and you know it. You wanted me from the start."

"You see what I have to put up with." Kate said but then became serious, "The truth is I finally realized how foolish I had been."

"So was it after our wedding? Did that inspire you?" Kyra asked

"Uh no. Actually, it took a lot longer than that." Kate replied, "Getting shot not being the least of it."

"Oh my god!" Kyra gasped, "You were shot?"

"Yeah a little over a year after your wedding." Kate explained, "I was chasing after the people who killed my mother. But it still took almost a year for me to get my head on straight. After hanging from a thirty story building and almost falling to my death I finally realized what was really important." She took Rick's hand and smiled

A silence fell over the table

Kate turned her smile to the couple across from her, "It's okay, we finally got them. All of them but I was shot a second time. Last year. In fact, we both were."

"I...wow." Kyra said

"Yeah, wow." Greg echoed then offered to change the subject, "So, Rick how are things on the baby front?

"Wonderful." Rick said, "We're having a girl. You?"

"We find out next week." Greg explained

"Oh, Krya said you have a daughter." Kate chimed in, "Any pictures?"

"Of course." Kyra pulled out her phone and went to her photos then handed it to Kate

Kate and Rick smiled as they looked through the pictures of a pretty dark haired girl with Greg's eyes and Krya's smile

"She's gorgeous." Kate said as she handed the phone back, "So since you've done this before any advice for a first time mom? Rick loves to through out all kinds of advice but..."

"It's different." Kyra finished for her, "Well, you can probably plan on your daughter being twice as stubborn as you are. You will be shocked when you see yourself in her. But there will be those wonderful moments. Like cuddling after bath time when she smells so sweet. Reading her a story. It's the most amazing,challenging, difficult thing in the world."

"And she will be amazing." Rick said, "Like she is at everything."

Kate laughed, "You're just trying to make up for forgetting my favorite ice cream last night."

"Hey, I did make you a smorelet this morning."

"Those things are disgusting." Kate replied, "But I can't help craving them."

"Smorelet?" Greg questioned

"You don't wanna know." Kate said

Greg laughed, "Well, last time with Krya it was double cheeseburgers but now it's Thai food."

"Which ends up giving me heartburn."

"You only have it then?" Kate said, "I have it all the time."

"Yeah, your belching is adorable." Rick teased

"Uh huh."

"I still can't get over the two of you." Kyra said, "But I knew when he dedicated his book to you. I told you he only does that for people he really cares for."

/

Later that night they were getting ready for bed. Kate came in from the bathroom to find Rick reading in bed.

"So, that was something seeing Kyra and Greg." She said as she pulled the covers back and joined him in bed

"Yeah, I think it'll be nice them living here now." Rick observed

"Oh, you think so, huh?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" He asked

"Nothing." She said opening the book she had taken off the nightstand

"You're jealous?" He said, "Seriously?"

"Did I say that?" She asked

"Kate..."

A smile crept across her face, "I'm only messing with you, Castle." She told him, "I think it will be nice if we can hang out with them. I mean, when you think about it almost all of our friends are cops or something related. And I love them but having another couple removed from all that to spend time with would be nice. Plus our kids will be the same age. They could do play dates."

Rick looked at her for a moment in awe, "You are amazing, you know that."

"Yeah, yeah." She said

"No, I mean it. I know deep down there's a part of you that's scared about being a mom. But you will be great. You're already thinking like a mom."

"I am scared, Castle. But if we can survive an assassin's bullets the kid here will be a piece of cake."

She gently caressed her belly

Rick placed his hand there feeling soft flutters, "I suppose we should name her, huh?"

"Yeah." She said, "Any ideas?"

"I do have one." He replied, "After your mom."

"Castle, that's very sweet but I want her to have her own identity." She explained, "How about Johanna as her middle name?"

"Okay, any idea on a first name?" he asked

"You know what name I've always thought was pretty? She asked, "Lily."

"Lily Johanna Castle." He let it roll off his tongue, "I think it's perfect. What do you think, kid?" He caressed her belly again and felt a more discernible kick

"I think she approves." Kate said placing her hand over his

He looked at her tenderly, "I love you both so much."

"Me too, babe, me too." She replied, "And you know what?"

"What?"

"I can't wait to meet her."