From this point on, Steve no longer needed Castle's guidance through the Bluetooth earpiece. Explaining to his team and the Honolulu Police Department why he had taken the risk of confronting a dangerous fugitive without backup—resulting in a shootout where he had no choice but to fatally shoot Wo Fat—was now his responsibility.
Having served as an officer of the law for so long, Steve had mastered the art of presenting a believable story. It would be an insult to his experience if anyone doubted his ability to convincingly justify his actions. After all, he was a graduate of the Annapolis Naval Academy, a former intelligence officer, and a Navy SEAL commander with six years of secret missions under his belt.
Steve's reputation for decisive action and minimal words played in his favor. When his colleagues and the police arrived on the scene, they did not suspect any personal motives behind Wo Fat's death. Instead, they congratulated him on eliminating another dangerous criminal.
Meanwhile, Castle and Harry in New York finally relaxed as they watched Steve expertly deflect any potential suspicions with a few well-chosen words. Their mission was a success.
Before Beckett returned home from work, Castle and Harry had tidied up their makeshift command center. Harry monitored Jarvis as the AI guided the satellite back to its original position. Castle retreated to his study, pondering how long he should wait before revealing to Steve the whereabouts of his mother, who was currently hiding in Japan.
He knew that Doris McGarrett was no ordinary woman. Who knew what complications might arise once Steve found her? Nevertheless, Castle had made a promise and had no intention of breaking it. The only issue was finding the right moment to share the information.
For now, though, Steve had enough on his plate. Despite the flawless cover story, no one could predict how the aftermath of Wo Fat's death would unfold. When Jameson, the governor of Hawaii, learned that her close ally had been killed, would she be relieved that Wo Fat could no longer spill her secrets? Or would she lash out at Steve in retaliation?
Castle decided it was best to let Steve handle things on his end and to wait for him to reach out when the time was right.
Castle was considering taking some time off to relax when Beckett returned home. Overjoyed, he went to greet her, wrapping his arms around her. However, he immediately noticed something was off.
"You okay? You don't look so good," he asked with concern.
Beckett, always poised and composed, gave him a sultry glare despite her obvious fatigue. "You perverted jerk…" she teased as Castle's hands roamed playfully.
Castle's senses heightened. "Seriously, what's going on?"
Beckett slipped out of his embrace and pulled something from her bag—a pregnancy test.
"Congratulations, Richard Castle. You're going to be a father again," she announced with a playful smile. "I wasn't feeling well at work today. I thought it was just exhaustion, but Renee dropped by and suggested I take a test… and here we are."
Castle froze as if struck by lightning. For a man who had lived nearly eighty years across two lifetimes, the news that he was going to have a child of his own for the first time left him speechless.
Beckett knew her husband well. She was fully aware of how much he loved her and how deeply he cared for children. Seeing him dumbfounded brought a warm smile to her face. This reaction, to her, was proof of just how important she was to him.
She stood silently, watching Castle, her earlier exhaustion giving way to joy.
Thankfully, Castle's mental resilience kicked in after a few moments. He suddenly pulled Beckett into a tight embrace, overwhelmed by a sense of belonging he hadn't felt since arriving in this world. For over two years, he had lived with a subtle detachment, as though life were a game he was merely participating in. Even though he had friends, family, and responsibilities, there had always been an underlying sense of disconnection.
But now, all of that evaporated. He had something real—something that truly tied him to this world. He was going to be a father.
Holding Beckett close, Castle stared at the pregnancy test, marveling at the two bright lines. Both of them were too emotional to speak. The unexpected arrival of this new life had shaken them to their core in the best possible way.
Beckett had already processed her emotions earlier at work, so she was calmer now. Castle, however, was still reeling, his thoughts scattered. He wasn't sure what to say or do.
For several minutes, they stood together, holding each other in silence. Eventually, Castle snapped out of his stupor, realizing that Beckett needed to rest. He gently guided her to the couch and sat her down, his expression filled with a mixture of joy and anxiety.
"Okay, now that you're pregnant, we need to figure out your work situation," he began, pacing nervously. "Should you transfer your duties? Or maybe resign? I mean, you need to rest and take care of yourself. Maybe it's best if you step down as captain… but then again, can Espo take over right now? The 12th Precinct is doing so well under your leadership. I don't know if we should hand it off to someone else just yet…"
Beckett burst out laughing. Seeing Castle so flustered and rambling was a rare sight. It was both endearing and hilarious. He continued pacing, muttering under his breath about prenatal care and workplace responsibilities, completely caught up in his own thoughts.
Finally, when he started debating the pros and cons of various candidates to succeed her as captain, Beckett decided to intervene.
"Hey! Renee already checked me out. The baby won't arrive for another seven or eight months. You really want me to stay home that entire time? Come on, Castle. I'm pregnant, not disabled!"
Castle turned to her with a serious expression. "You don't get it, Kate. If you were doing any other job, I wouldn't be this worried. But you're a cop—a police captain! You're going to work every day surrounded by danger. How am I supposed to be okay with you going to the precinct while carrying my baby?"
Beckett rolled her eyes, both exasperated and amused. "Castle, I'm the captain. I'm not out there chasing suspects or handling fieldwork anymore. Most of my job involves sitting in my office, signing paperwork. It's no different from any other desk job."
Castle frowned. "But it's still the police department. You never know what could happen. I just want you to be safe."
"I'm not quitting," Beckett said firmly. "I'll keep working for as long as I can. I'll take maternity leave when the time comes, but until then, I'm not staying home. I have too much to do."
Castle sighed, realizing he wouldn't win this argument. His mind raced as he came up with a new idea. "Okay… how about I go to work with you? Like the old days!"
Beckett couldn't help but laugh again. "Seriously? What would you even do? I'm not in the field anymore. There's no reason for you to hang around the station."
Castle grinned. "Maybe, but I think it'll make both of us feel better."
Beckett shook her head, her heart full of love for the man who would do anything to protect her. Life was about to change in ways neither of them had expected, but together, they knew they could handle whatever came next.
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