Castle and The Originals

Chapter 41

Her fingers traced every curve, line, plane, and dimple. The emotions, even a day later, swept over her with every touch, sound, and breath. She lifted the baby up so she could again touch every inch, but this time with her lips. She inhaled the wondrous smell of her child; still so new but already emblazoned to memory; written on her soul, inerasable. She tried unsuccessfully not to shiver as warm puffs of air tickled her neck; the hair on her arms rose to attention atop the goosebumps that former in its wake.

Kate cupped the back of both Madelyn's head and bottom as the infant squirmed into her favorite spot on her mother's chest. Her pouty little mouth nestled mere millimeters from Kate's neck as uncoordinated legs and arms wiggled into place, just as Rick had once described it, like a pill bug. No doubt about it, Madelyn was cuddler just like her daddy. It hadn't taken them long to figure that out. And just like Rick, she could sleep anywhere; Kate's arms, Rick's arms, the bassinet, the end of the bed, the hard metal scale that their pediatrician had placed her on earlier that morning to weigh her. It didn't matter who or where, that kid was content. Unless she was hungry, at which point there was no consoling her; she wanted Kate and Kate alone. Pronto.

"I love you Baby Girl."

Kate's eyes floated down to see Madison staring back at her while lying in the cradle of her mother's folded legs. Only minutes ago Kate had held her youngest the same way she now held Madelyn, but Madison had wanted none of it. Like Kate, Madison wanted to do things on her own, or with her daddy. Already, at least than twenty-four hours old she had made her preferences perfectly clear to everyone. She didn't even want her mother to talk to her while she nursed, but Rick could blabber on all he wanted without so much as a furrowed brow from Kate's 'mini-me', as Alexis has dubbed her. The youngest Castle didn't want to cuddle with anyone either, but seemed content to lie anywhere, with her preferred spot being the crook of her daddy's arm so she could take in her surroundings, seemingly observing everything. That kid didn't miss a trick. Well, anything within three feet of her, since that's about as far as her newborn eyes could see at the moment. Yep, Madison was a budding Detective.

"I love you too Baby Girl. Even if you do love Daddy more than me."

"Knock-knock." Martha said.

She entered the room like always; with flare.

"Darling." Martha approached the bed and kissed Kate on the top of the head. "You look marvelous! 'Aside from new babies, new mothers much be the most beautiful creatures on earth.'"

"Thank you Martha." Kate smiled up at her mother-in-law. "I'll take that today because I'm feeling pretty good, considering."

"I can see why." Martha rubbed her hand down Madelyn's back a few times. "Gorgeous, My Dear, they are absolutely gorgeous."

Kate leaned forward as if to offer Madelyn's over.

"You can hold her..." But was cut off.

"No, no. The two of you look as if you're having a moment." Martha scooped Madison up from Kate's lap. "I'll try my hand at this one if you don't mind."

"Madison." Kate informed Martha; even though she and Rick could already tell the twins apart, whether by their faces or their cries, she knew it was going to take awhile for the rest of the family to figure it out.

"Ahh, Madison Go Bragh." With a wink Martha cradled the baby in her left arm and straightened out the material of the pink romper with her free hand; Kate refused to let them stay in those thin white t-shirts the hospital provided.

"We wondered who'd be the first to utter those words." Kate shook her head; she should've guessed it would be Martha.

"What? Richard hasn't already christened them with nicknames? I was sure that would be his go-to for this little one."

"Oh, he has. Madelyn is lovingly referred to as Half-Pint and Madison earned Lil'bit as her moniker."

Martha looked at Kate with a horrified and questioning look. "Where on earth?"

"Yeah, I asked the same thing. He said it's because Madelyn doesn't weigh much more than half-a-pint and Madison weighs just a little-bit-more."

"That child of mine." Martha said with exasperation. "Well, at least he got the rust out of the pipes this time."

Kate had no idea what her mother-in-law meant by that until she saw Martha run her pale hand over Madison's downy-soft hair.

"Did I ever tell you that every one of my siblings is redheaded just like myself?" Kate chuckled and shook her head. "I was so shocked when Richard came out with that big tow head of his that I accused the nurse of trying to give me the wrong baby."

"You didn't?" Kate hugged Madelyn tighter against her chest; slightly panic-stricken at the thought.

'Not possible.' She told herself.

"Unfortunately I did, but only for a moment; as soon as he opened his eyes I knew he was mine. Richard may not have had the red hair, but those blue eyes are undeniable." Martha nodded to Madison, who was wide awake in her grandmother's arms; completely enthralled with the flamboyant woman. "They see straight through to the soul."

"That they do." Kate dipped her head to place a kiss to Madelyn's cheek before resting her own against her baby's. "You know it's