Castle and The Originals

Chapter 29

Rick finished loading the back of the SUV as quietly as he could. Kate was passed out in the front seat. He closed the hatch as softly as possible and made his way to the passenger door. He felt bad for taking so long in the store but after a solid week spent on lockdown they were completely out of everything. Okay, so maybe he picked up a few extra things along the way but who could blame him.

"Hmm?" Kate stirred in the seat.

"Just fastening your seat belt Love."

The moniker he'd used in the hospital had stuck. Kate didn't seem to mind it. Probably because it wasn't something you could pull out anytime or in any situation like Babe or Hon, both of which his wife despised. The heartfelt sentiment. Love, only seemed to fit during quiet soft times like this one.

He reached across her body to engage the safety device with a crisp click. He made sure to tuck the lap belt just below her belly, across her hips. The bruises from their earlier accident had almost faded but he was still careful not to pull the straps too tight. Kate snuggled deeper into the seat, instinctively turning to her left side. Dr. Candace had given her strict instructions to maintain that position when she slept; something about better blood flow to the babies. As she turned Kate pulled her knees up tucking her feet beneath her. Rick slipped her shoes off, tossed them to the floor before depressing the electronic mechanism to slightly recline the back of her seat.

Once on the driver's side Rick shifted into reverse. He turned to make sure the parking lot was clear, to his surprise Kate was looking up at him from under heavily lidded eyes. He saw the white reverse lights from a car in the opposite row of parking spaces, so he waited.

He gives her a soft smile and shook his head. "Why do you fight it?"

The back of his hand grazed the soft skin of her cheek. Kate didn't answer; only hooked her thumb with his bringing his knuckles to her lips before resting them both of her thigh. Once the lane was clear he backed out. The sun was beginning to set and the spring shower that had been threatening to fall most of the day spit its first few drops on the windshield. Rick hoped the downturn in the weather wouldn't prolong the already lengthy drive home. He mentally scolded himself for agreeing to this little excursion. He should have known it would be too much for her.

After leaving the OB/GYN's office with instructions to return to relatively normal activity while still taking it easy for the rest if the pregnancy, they'd spent the afternoon at Kate's dad's place. Around four o'clock Rick could tell Kate was slowing down, so they enjoyed an early dinner with Jim then headed out. He fully intended on going straight home but Kate was insistent on getting the much needed shopping done today. However, after picking out a few nursing bras, a pair of slippers and some granny panties, as Kate affectionately called them he could see she was fading fast. He summarily sent her to the car while he finished up the shopping.

"Do something for me?" Her voice was sing-songy from sleep.

"Anything." In his mind it sounded like always.

"I want it to be like a fairytale."

It what? Sleepy Kate was adorable but hard to follow.

"Already is Love, you're my Sleeping Beauty." He squeezed the back of her right thigh; it was all he could reach of her while driving.

Kate laughed; that high-pitched one-note laugh that he loved to hear. "The nursery, Prince Charming; the nursery."

Was she asking him to design the nursery without her?

He didn't get it. "But don't you want...?"

"I only want to see it the way the girls will see it. Please, as a gift for me...?" Her eyes were closed and her words drifted off slowly.