Castle tried his best to maintain a serious demeanor. "I can be your advisor! Or, if you like, you can delegate everything to me, and I'll handle the work for you. Isn't that perfect?"
Beckett gave him a look full of disdain. "Oh please, you're not trying to be an advisor. You just want to babysit me and your unborn child, right? You probably even want to take over my position as captain! What are you thinking? Do you really think you can run a police precinct? The only thing you'd manage to do is cause chaos!"
Richard 'Stubborn-as-Hell' Castle refused to admit defeat. "What? Of course not! The baby hasn't even fully formed yet. Why would I worry about that? I'm only offering to support you by taking on administrative tasks. And let's be honest, I'm actually quite capable when it comes to handling bureaucracy. Besides, if I ever run into something I can't manage, you'll be right there to guide me!"
Beckett shook her head, exasperated. "You have got to be kidding me. The people at the 12th Precinct know you all too well. The last thing I need is for you to go barging in there, making a mess of things. You're not coming anywhere near the precinct!"
Castle doubled down. "Listen, Kate, even if you're just doing desk work, being a captain can still be exhausting—especially during early pregnancy. If I help you out, it'll lighten your load. The officers at the precinct won't mind; they know me!"
Beckett was having none of it. "Absolutely not. I'm not letting you handle police business. And forget the whole 'advisor' nonsense. Only Renee knows about my pregnancy so far, and I intend to keep it that way. The moment you walk through those precinct doors, word will spread like wildfire. You are not allowed to come near the station. Got it?"
Castle obediently nodded, pretending to listen carefully to his 'boss,' but internally, he was already plotting ways to change her mind. His mischievous, scheming nature was written all over his face, which Beckett immediately noticed.
"Did you even hear a word I said?" she scolded, crossing her arms. "You are not allowed anywhere near my precinct, understood?"
Seeing that his plan had been thwarted—for now—Castle quickly adopted a docile expression. "Okay, fine. Whatever you say," he muttered.
But Castle being Castle, his next move was to organize a massive celebration.
Within minutes, all of their friends and family in New York had received a call from the euphoric writer, summoning them to the estate for a party. The reason? To celebrate the upcoming arrival of the Castle family's second child!
The first to arrive were John and Gianna, carrying their little daughter Onona. Alexis and Martha were not far behind. Both redheads were ecstatic about the news. Alexis couldn't wait to meet her future sibling, while Martha beamed at the thought of a new grandchild.
Next came Neal and Henry. Even Abraham chimed in with a promise to prepare a special gift for the baby.
Professional caterers, already familiar with Castle's spontaneous gatherings, quickly set up a feast. By the time Henry Morgan arrived with his girlfriend Jo Martinez, the estate was abuzz with laughter and lively conversation.
Beckett, now the center of attention, was surrounded by Gianna, Martha, and Kate—Neal's girlfriend. They all offered advice and support, discussing pregnancy tips and experiences. Meanwhile, Alexis took Onona to play with the estate's dogs.
This left Castle with the men, who wasted no time teasing him.
"Man, you really pulled this off," Neal joked with a grin. "Not long ago, you were talking about convincing Beckett to settle down. Now look at you—you've already got a baby on the way!"
John chuckled in agreement, bouncing Onona gently on his knee. Even he, a former assassin, was settling into domestic life. Neal, despite his charm and success, couldn't help but feel envious.
When Henry arrived, Castle made sure to drag him and Harry out of the lab to join the festivities. Gianna even gave a brief toast on Beckett's behalf, thanking everyone for their support.
Jo soon joined the group of women, while Henry and Abraham mingled with the men. True to his word, Abraham presented a centuries-old angel figurine, said to symbolize peace and harmony. He claimed it had once been blessed by an archbishop, handing it to Beckett with a wink.
As the evening progressed, Henry brought up a recent case involving a homeless man's mysterious death. Castle had helped him investigate, enlisting Esposito's assistance. To Henry's surprise, the case had been cracked with the help of Harold Finch, a reclusive billionaire.
Castle chuckled as Henry recounted the story. "Ah, so Finch got involved, huh? Yeah, that guy has a knack for these things. But hey, Henry, I have to ask—now that you and Jo are together, have you thought about, you know… starting a family?"
Henry froze, caught off guard by Castle's not-so-subtle suggestion. Abraham, however, burst into laughter. "Come on, Rick. Don't beat around the bush. Just say it outright!"
The men laughed, except for Henry, who was now deep in thought. Castle's words had struck a nerve.
Castle had learned long ago that Henry was capable of having children, despite his immortality. Yet Henry and his late wife Abigail had chosen not to, fearing the pain of outliving their own offspring. But circumstances were different now.
Castle knew Jo was ready to be a mother, and he wanted his friend to experience the joy of parenthood. He hoped to gently push Henry in that direction.
Henry, for his part, felt conflicted. Could his immortality be passed on to a child? In over two centuries, he had never dared to find out. But perhaps… now was the time to take that leap.
"Thanks, Rick," Henry said quietly, his eyes betraying a mix of gratitude and contemplation. He decided he would have a serious talk with Castle later.
For now, though, it was time to celebrate life—both new and eternal.
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