While Castle was fully focused on staying home and caring for Beckett as her due date approached, the international political storm continued to intensify.
First, Turkey, after being mercilessly pressured by Britain and the U.S., finally announced that it would formally withdraw from NATO at the start of the next year, declaring that the alliance was no longer fair.
This declaration sent shockwaves across the world.
Almost immediately after Turkey's announcement, violent border clashes erupted along its western front near the Aegean Sea, as well as along its southeastern borders with Syria and Iraq. Even Kurdish militant groups in Iran—who had historically opposed U.S. influence—were now suspiciously well-armed, thanks to Britain's covert support.
At this point, anyone with a functioning brain could see what was happening.
And so, the global audience—unaffected and comfortably distant—grabbed their popcorn, sat back, and watched the drama unfold.
Meanwhile, the real reason Japan had reached out to Turkey was finally uncovered.
After Moz briefed President Benjamin Arthur on the situation, the U.S. government immediately launched a full investigation. At the same time, Castle covertly instructed Jarvis to conduct targeted intelligence gathering.
What they found was infuriatingly obvious.
After the White House attack several months prior, the U.S. had forced Japan to fully cover the costs of its stationed American troops. Instead of smoothing things over, however, this only made matters worse.
Then, Moz—acting under Arthur's orders—took things a step further.
Using the Most Favored Nation Trade Status as leverage, he put Japan through an economic wringer, draining them of resources and forcing them into deeply unfavorable trade deals.
The result?
Japan suffered significant economic losses.
Naturally, this led to growing resentment.
So when Japan noticed that Turkey—another NATO ally—was also being punished by the U.S. and Britain for defying their interests, it saw an opportunity.
From Japan's perspective, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
By secretly forming ties with Turkey, Japan hoped to band together against U.S. and British pressure.
But more than that, Japan wanted to use Turkey.
Rather than openly defying the U.S., Japan wanted Turkey to act as the frontline fighter—to provoke and engage in direct conflict with the West.
Japan, in turn, would fund and support Turkey from the shadows.
After all, unlike Turkey, Japan couldn't afford to act so boldly.
Turkey had already expelled American troops from its soil.
But Japan?
Japan still hosted multiple U.S. military bases, including the Sasebo, Naha, and Kadena installations—each packed with enough American firepower to flatten Japan in an instant.
So what choice did Japan have?
It couldn't fight back directly.
But it could fund Turkey and let them do the fighting.
And so, as Turkey and the U.S. spiraled toward open conflict, Japan quietly funneled money and resources behind the scenes.
Of course, the U.S. and Britain weren't sitting idle.
While they hadn't yet directly intervened, they were aggressively funding proxy forces to wage war on Turkey's behalf.
Britain and the U.S. poured money and weapons into:
Greece, Turkey's historical rival, which had long-standing territorial disputes over Aegean islands. Kurdish militants in Syria and Iraq, who had been fighting for independence for decades. Various insurgent groups within Turkey, aiming to destabilize the government from within.
Turkey, meanwhile, fueled by Japanese financial backing, vowed to crush the insurgents and defend its sovereignty.
The result?
The entire Middle East and Eastern Europe were on the verge of total chaos.
While the world teetered on the edge of another war, what was Castle doing?
He was decorating his soon-to-be-born son's nursery.
Unlike the rest of the world, Castle was living in his own little bubble of happiness.
During an earlier ultrasound, he and Beckett had already discovered that their baby was a boy.
This would be the first boy born among his close circle of friends, following Alexis and little Onona.
And so, in his typical fashion, Castle had already picked out a name.
"Alex."
Simple, short, and perfectly paired with his daughter's name, Alexis.
While Castle had no preference for having a son over a daughter, he couldn't deny that he was thrilled.
This was his child—his own flesh and blood.
In all his eighty-plus years of combined past and present lives, this was the first child who was truly his from the very beginning.
When he had first "arrived" in this world, Alexis had already been fifteen. While he loved her dearly, he had never experienced the joys (or struggles) of raising a child from infancy.
This was why he adored spending time with Onona—because for the first time, he could play with a baby and watch them grow.
And now?
Now, he had his own child to raise.
He was ecstatic.
As Beckett's due date approached, Castle finally realized that he needed to properly prepare for the baby's arrival.
Thus, he threw himself into decorating the nursery.
And so, while the Middle East burned and Europe fell into disarray, the man responsible for it all was blissfully preparing to become a father.
One month passed in the blink of an eye.
Every day, the news reported Turkey's worsening situation.
Encircled on three fronts, Turkey was now engaged in constant battles against U.S. and British-backed forces.
Their casualties were mounting, and the war showed no signs of slowing down.
But Castle?
He didn't care.
All that mattered to him was Beckett and their unborn son.
As her due date drew near, he forced Beckett to check into the hospital, despite her protests.
While their brand-new helicopters had already been delivered, Castle refused to take any risks.
So, three days before her due date, he dragged Beckett—kicking and screaming—into a top-tier hospital.
With the best doctors, the best equipment, and the best facilities, nothing was left to chance.
As the big day approached, Castle's closest friends gathered in New York, waiting to celebrate the baby's arrival.
Moz, unfortunately, was too busy dealing with Washington's diplomatic chaos.
Steve McGarrett, now reunited with his long-lost mother (thanks to Castle's help), was stuck in Hawaii.
But everyone else made it.
Neal Caffrey Dr. Henry Morgan and his adopted son, Abraham Even Winston, the legendary Continental Hotel manager, sent gifts.
And most surprising of all?
Castle's biological father, Sean.
The notoriously elusive former spy—who had spent decades avoiding U.S. soil—had finally returned to America.
Sean had spent years hiding in North Africa, protecting his old teammates from British intelligence.
But now?
With the Loxley Group dismantled (thanks to Castle's efforts), he had no reason to stay away.
Plus, he had one more reason to return—his grandson.
And so, after years of exile, Sean took a private jet back to New York, determined to be there for his son and grandson's big day.
While the world continued to spiral into chaos, the only thing Castle cared about was one single moment.
The moment his son would be born.
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