Days Like These 2/? by elizagoth7, R
Title: Days Like These
Characters/Pairings: Beckett/Castle
Word Count: 1,052
Rating: R (PG for chapter)
Warnings: None for this chapter
Spoiler alert: Up to 2x05
Summary: After parting ways, Beckett shows up at Castle's door.
Chapter 1
“You ready to go?” Castle asked, walking into her apartment.
It had been a week since Beckett had decided to have the baby and they had fallen into an easy routine. Even though they had decided against telling anyone for a few more weeks, Alexis hadn’t been surprised at Beckett’s sudden return into her father’s life. The three had enjoyed dinners together the rare nights Beckett wasn’t down at the precinct working. Castle had become a regular fixture among the police of the 12th again, thanks to a convenient call from the mayor. Montgomery and everyone else were suspicious, but didn’t ask as Beckett seemed happier than she had been since Castle left.
“I don’t know if I can do this,” she said, bringing her hands to her stomach, where a small bump could be felt, but not seen.
“Why not? It’s only a sonogram,” Castle said calmly, knowing the last few days had been rough. Constantly tired, Beckett found herself struggling to keep awake during the routine aspects of her job. Morning sickness had been ever present, and on the nights they had dinner, usually it was just eggs and toast.
“What if something’s wrong?” Beckett said quietly, surprised to find her lower lip trembling and her eyes filling with tears. Her hormones had manifested into mood swings that caused her emotions to change on a dime. Usually Castle was the recipient of Beckett’s chaotic moods, but when she had lashed out at Ryan for something out of his control, Castle had to keep from laughing.
Castle pulled her into his arms, rubbing her back slowly.
“Everything will be fine. I promise,” he soothed.
“I’m sorry,” said Beckett, pulling away after a moment.
“It’s okay. You ready to go now?”
Beckett nodded and Castle led her down to the waiting car. He held her hand, grasping the rare opportunity to be affectionate. She had laid down strict ground rules for how they should behave while at work, and while everyone knew or suspected they were together, they kept their public displays down to fond looks and the occasional lingering touch. Behind closed doors they were more relaxed, but still agreed to take things slowly. Beckett had refused to spend the night again, and Castle had stayed at her apartment once when Alexis was away.
The car pulled up outside the clinic and Castle offered Beckett his hand to help her out of the car. They checked in and were told to sit in the waiting room. Beckett brushed off Castle’s fussing, but refrained from snapping at him like her hormones demanded.
“Lanie knows,” Beckett said, breaking their silence.
“I thought we weren’t telling people yet,” Castle frowned, slightly hurt.
“I didn’t tell her! She’s a doctor, she guessed!” Beckett said, lowering her voice when a few people looked their way. As far as the press knew, they were back working together, but no one had proof of anything else.
“You told her not to tell anyone else, right?”
Beckett nodded and they went back to their silence. It wasn’t long before a nurse called Beckett’s name and lead them to a room in the back. Castle waited in the hall while Beckett changed into a gown, then helped her up onto the exam table. A technician appeared a few moments later, and guided Beckett through the procedure. When a grainy image appeared on the screen, she took Castle’s hand and looked up to see him as amazed as she was.
The technician pointed out the baby’s developing appendages and its still overly large head.
“And that flickering there is the baby’s heart beating. Here,” the technician said, flipping on a set of speakers. A rapid thumping filled the room and Beckett felt tears come to her eyes. Again she looked up and Castle wasn’t faring much better. She closed her eyes as he pressed a kiss to her temple and squeezed her hand lightly.
“Everything looks good,” said the technician.
“If you want a printout, ask at reception. Other than that, your doctor will schedule another scan at your next appointment.”
She looked over the scans again, making sure she didn’t miss anything and left the stunned couple alone.
“This is really happening isn’t it?” Beckett said, bringing a hand to her stomach. Castle couldn’t help but grin as he covered her hand with his own.
“There’s a real baby in there,” he said.
“Our little Thumper.”
Beckett turned and gave him a strange look.
“We are not calling the baby Thumper,” she said.
“I can’t keep calling her It. It is so impersonal. Plus, don’t get me started on the Stephen King creepiness. I would prefer not to think of our child as a psychotic, man-eating clown,” Castle defended.
He paused for a moment. “I suppose we could go with Pepe. She did kind of look like a shrimp.”
“Stick with Thumper. The last thing I need is you talking to him with some weird Spanish accent,” Beckett said, as she pulled her clothes on.
“Her,” interjected Castle.
“Him. Call it mother’s intuition.”
“Her. Call it right.”
“I think I would know better than you what he’s going to be,” said Beckett, putting her hands on her hips and fixing him with a stare.
“How about this, I’ll make you a bet. If she turns out to be a boy then I’ll let you pick his name. Anything you want and I get to pick the middle name.”
“And if he’s a girl?” Beckett asked, intrigued.
“If she’s a girl, then I get to pick her name and you get to pick the middle name.”
“Okay,” she said, pausing to think. “I’ll see your baby names and raise you.”
“Oh?”
“If it’s a girl, I’ll move in with you and Alexis. No more arguing.”
“I’m listening,” he said, stroking his chin comically.
“If it’s a boy, you have to work harder to convince me that this is a good idea.”
“Hmm,” Castle said, thinking it over.
“Deal.”
“Deal,” she said, shaking his hand.
“Kiss to seal it?” asked Castle, grinning impishly.
Beckett rolled her eyes, but kissed him lightly, then pulled him into the hallway. They stopped at the reception desk where they were handed two copies of the sonogram photo, then made their way back out into the cold.
Like it?Love it?Loathe it? Lemme know!
Characters/Pairings: Beckett/Castle
Word Count: 1,052
Rating: R (PG for chapter)
Warnings: None for this chapter
Spoiler alert: Up to 2x05
Summary: After parting ways, Beckett shows up at Castle's door.
Chapter 1
“You ready to go?” Castle asked, walking into her apartment.
It had been a week since Beckett had decided to have the baby and they had fallen into an easy routine. Even though they had decided against telling anyone for a few more weeks, Alexis hadn’t been surprised at Beckett’s sudden return into her father’s life. The three had enjoyed dinners together the rare nights Beckett wasn’t down at the precinct working. Castle had become a regular fixture among the police of the 12th again, thanks to a convenient call from the mayor. Montgomery and everyone else were suspicious, but didn’t ask as Beckett seemed happier than she had been since Castle left.
“I don’t know if I can do this,” she said, bringing her hands to her stomach, where a small bump could be felt, but not seen.
“Why not? It’s only a sonogram,” Castle said calmly, knowing the last few days had been rough. Constantly tired, Beckett found herself struggling to keep awake during the routine aspects of her job. Morning sickness had been ever present, and on the nights they had dinner, usually it was just eggs and toast.
“What if something’s wrong?” Beckett said quietly, surprised to find her lower lip trembling and her eyes filling with tears. Her hormones had manifested into mood swings that caused her emotions to change on a dime. Usually Castle was the recipient of Beckett’s chaotic moods, but when she had lashed out at Ryan for something out of his control, Castle had to keep from laughing.
Castle pulled her into his arms, rubbing her back slowly.
“Everything will be fine. I promise,” he soothed.
“I’m sorry,” said Beckett, pulling away after a moment.
“It’s okay. You ready to go now?”
Beckett nodded and Castle led her down to the waiting car. He held her hand, grasping the rare opportunity to be affectionate. She had laid down strict ground rules for how they should behave while at work, and while everyone knew or suspected they were together, they kept their public displays down to fond looks and the occasional lingering touch. Behind closed doors they were more relaxed, but still agreed to take things slowly. Beckett had refused to spend the night again, and Castle had stayed at her apartment once when Alexis was away.
The car pulled up outside the clinic and Castle offered Beckett his hand to help her out of the car. They checked in and were told to sit in the waiting room. Beckett brushed off Castle’s fussing, but refrained from snapping at him like her hormones demanded.
“Lanie knows,” Beckett said, breaking their silence.
“I thought we weren’t telling people yet,” Castle frowned, slightly hurt.
“I didn’t tell her! She’s a doctor, she guessed!” Beckett said, lowering her voice when a few people looked their way. As far as the press knew, they were back working together, but no one had proof of anything else.
“You told her not to tell anyone else, right?”
Beckett nodded and they went back to their silence. It wasn’t long before a nurse called Beckett’s name and lead them to a room in the back. Castle waited in the hall while Beckett changed into a gown, then helped her up onto the exam table. A technician appeared a few moments later, and guided Beckett through the procedure. When a grainy image appeared on the screen, she took Castle’s hand and looked up to see him as amazed as she was.
The technician pointed out the baby’s developing appendages and its still overly large head.
“And that flickering there is the baby’s heart beating. Here,” the technician said, flipping on a set of speakers. A rapid thumping filled the room and Beckett felt tears come to her eyes. Again she looked up and Castle wasn’t faring much better. She closed her eyes as he pressed a kiss to her temple and squeezed her hand lightly.
“Everything looks good,” said the technician.
“If you want a printout, ask at reception. Other than that, your doctor will schedule another scan at your next appointment.”
She looked over the scans again, making sure she didn’t miss anything and left the stunned couple alone.
“This is really happening isn’t it?” Beckett said, bringing a hand to her stomach. Castle couldn’t help but grin as he covered her hand with his own.
“There’s a real baby in there,” he said.
“Our little Thumper.”
Beckett turned and gave him a strange look.
“We are not calling the baby Thumper,” she said.
“I can’t keep calling her It. It is so impersonal. Plus, don’t get me started on the Stephen King creepiness. I would prefer not to think of our child as a psychotic, man-eating clown,” Castle defended.
He paused for a moment. “I suppose we could go with Pepe. She did kind of look like a shrimp.”
“Stick with Thumper. The last thing I need is you talking to him with some weird Spanish accent,” Beckett said, as she pulled her clothes on.
“Her,” interjected Castle.
“Him. Call it mother’s intuition.”
“Her. Call it right.”
“I think I would know better than you what he’s going to be,” said Beckett, putting her hands on her hips and fixing him with a stare.
“How about this, I’ll make you a bet. If she turns out to be a boy then I’ll let you pick his name. Anything you want and I get to pick the middle name.”
“And if he’s a girl?” Beckett asked, intrigued.
“If she’s a girl, then I get to pick her name and you get to pick the middle name.”
“Okay,” she said, pausing to think. “I’ll see your baby names and raise you.”
“Oh?”
“If it’s a girl, I’ll move in with you and Alexis. No more arguing.”
“I’m listening,” he said, stroking his chin comically.
“If it’s a boy, you have to work harder to convince me that this is a good idea.”
“Hmm,” Castle said, thinking it over.
“Deal.”
“Deal,” she said, shaking his hand.
“Kiss to seal it?” asked Castle, grinning impishly.
Beckett rolled her eyes, but kissed him lightly, then pulled him into the hallway. They stopped at the reception desk where they were handed two copies of the sonogram photo, then made their way back out into the cold.
Like it?Love it?Loathe it? Lemme know!