A/N: I don't own any of this.

This will be a collection of connected one-shots stemming from my first fic Come Around to Me. It probably wouldn't be absolutely necessary to read that one first, but I wouldn't hate it if you did. ;)

...

Everything After

Kate Beckett exhaled loudly as she checked her watch.

Two hours.

She had been standing in the nearly empty bullpen of the twelfth precinct, staring at a blank murder board for two hours. This used to help. The board always worked, whether it was a case or her personal life unravelling. Tonight it was the latter. Unravelling might be a bit of an over exaggeration. She was fine. Or at least she would be as soon as Rick got back from his book tour. Just two more days. She could do it. She could wait.

Kate was pulled from her thoughts by the buzzing of her cellphone. She pulled it out of her pocket, smiling when she saw it was a text message from Castle.

They had been together for a little over six months now and she'd never been happier. She still couldn't believe how far they had come and was angry with herself when she thought about how much time she wasted. If she could go back she would have kissed him the second she woke up after taking that bullet. Or maybe even before that...

I miss you.

She bit her lip, swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat.

I miss you too. So much.

She sighed and looked back up at the empty board. What was she supposed to say to him? How was she even going to start this conversation? Everything was going great. As close to perfect as she thought possible. And now, she was going to be throwing one hell of a wrench into their relationship once he got home. Her phone buzzed again.

Question...

She shook her head, but replied.

Yes?

She waited for his response and almost dropped her phone when it came.

Why are you staring at an empty murder board, alone at nearly midnight?

She spun around and found Rick sitting in his chair, legs crossed, a smile splitting his handsome face. Something between a laugh and a sob escaped her as she closed the distance between them. He stood meeting her halfway pulling her into a tight embrace.

"What are you doing here?" She managed to choke out before his lips found hers. "I thought you weren't going to be home for until Friday?" She mumbled before kissing him again.

"Like I said, I missed you," he breathed. She could feel the tears streaking down her cheeks. "I went to the loft, but you weren't there."

"Yeah, I couldn't sleep. I've had a lot on my mind..." she sighed. And this time it wasn't just because he wasn't next to her. She gripped his neck between her palms, resting her forehead against his. She was trying to gather her courage, find the right words to make what she had to tell him less...life altering.

"Kate, what's wrong?" He said, worry thick in his voice.

"I, um...I thought I had two more days to figure out how to say this..." She mumbled to herself.

She saw the panic set on his face. His eyes swimming with moisture trying desperately to read her face.

Come on Kate, like a band-aid. Just say it.

"I'm pregnant," she whispered keeping her eyes locked on his chest. She heard his breathing hitch and tentatively lifted her eyes to his.

He was beaming.

A huge smile played across his features. His eyes were shining. He crushed his mouth to hers, completely forgetting where they were. She finally relaxed against him, her own eyes tearing up. They kissed for several minutes, almost desperately, before breaking apart.

"You're really pregnant?" He asked quietly. She bit her lower lip and nodded, a slow smile forming on her face. "When did you find out?"

"Last week..."

"Last week?" He yelped. "Wh-why didn't you say anything?"

She felt a pang of regret hearing insecurity in his voice. It wasn't that she didn't want to tell him. She picked up the phone at least half a dozen times.

"Because," she said, running her finger tips across his cheeks. "I wanted to see your face, when I told you." He let out the breath he was holding and nodded his understanding.

"Wow," he breathed, kissing her again.

"Wow," she agreed wrapping her arms around his waist. "I went to the doctor yesterday, just to make sure. I didn't have an ultrasound done, I wanted to wait for you for that. I just had a blood test and you most definitely knocked me up," she said smiling. He laughed squeezing her tighter.

"I love you Kate," he said dropping a kiss against her hair.

"Love you too," she said kissing his neck.

Castle pulled back, placing his hand on Kate's abdomen. She smiled softly at how tender the action was.

"I-" Kate began.

"Shhh..." Kate cocked an eyebrow at the look of serious concentration on his face. He stayed like that for several moments before smiling at her. "It's a boy." She rolled her eyes.

"You cannot tell by touching my stomach..."

"Yes, I can. Alexis is a girl, is she not?" He said seriously. She shook her head and pursed her lips. This was the man she was in love with. A man who believed he could tell the sex of their child by touch. A man who believed in magic, Santa Clause, and double rainbows. How in the hell did that happen?

"So-so you're happy?" she asked shyly.

"Happy? I'm ecstatic. I'm thrilled." He smiled brightly. His baby blues twinkling.

"Thank God," she breathed, resting her head against his shoulder.

"Were you really worried I wouldn't be?" He mumbled against her temple. She pulled her head back looking in his eyes.

"No. I just-we haven't really talked about it. And I know I'm living with you and you aren't going anywhere...I just have been stewing with this for over a week and I think I just was over thinking everything. Be glad you weren't here when I found out. I may have freaked out a little bit." She scrunched her nose thinking of her initial shock. He chuckled lightly.

"I bet you did," he said. She slapped his shoulder.

He grabbed her hips pulling her closer until his mouth lined up with her ear. "You are going to an amazing mother," he whispered sweetly. She felt her eyes stinging with moisture again. Damn hormones.

"Take me home," she mumbled into his neck. "I've missed you." Castle had no trouble catching her meaning. He quickly helped her with her coat then laced his fingers through hers.

As they waited for the elevator she breathed a sigh of relief. Everything was going to be fine. They'd get through this, just like they had everything else, together.

"I can't believe we're having a baby." Castle said with a naked awe. She squeezed his hand as they stepped on the elevator.

"I can't believe I'm having your baby," she teased with a grin. He scowled playfully and then finding her waist he walked her to the wall. She squeaked in surprise as he pressed his whole body against hers. He silenced her teasing with a kiss that made her knees buckle.

Oh yeah, everything was going to be just fine.