Frozen Love (A Castle Fanfiction)

One Year Later

Rick's POV
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As I drove toward the precinct with Brayden in the back seat, listening to him play with the dangling toys which hung from his car seat, I thought about the thousands of times I had seen the last car seat lay empty in the back and imagined him laying there, wide eyed and grinning. Never had I ever imagined a car wreck would render that car seat useless. I just prayed that another didn't plague this replacement. I hoped the universe was not that cruel.

When we got to the precinct, Brayden in my arms instead of taking the car seat, we both strolled in through the front doors and up to the bullpen only to find that Kate and the boys were standing at her desk with Gates. My brow furrowed for a while as I walked up, but only when I reached her desk did I realize the conversation was pleasant. Kate saw me first, looking from her boss a moment only to say, "There are my two big boys!"

"Hey," I answered as she reached out for Brayden and he merrily went to her. "What's this all about?"

Gates answered, "You wife was just telling us about the twins and showing us the ultrasound."

"You decided to tell them," I asked, not used to seeing her like this at work.

She shrugged. "I had to eventually."

"And, let me guess, the boys wanted to see what two aliens look like," I questioned.

Espo replied, "Are you sure they're even human? I mean, they look like monsters."

"Nothing like either of you at all," Ryan agreed, looking at us with a smile that didn't quite put the right mood into his words. He was happy. Beyond happy, actually. I don't know that anyone else could tell what it was, but I could tell by the way he was watching the picture that this smile must have meant good news from the fertility doctors. He was ready to be a dad. I could see it in every ounce of his being.

Finally, I asked, "So, are you ready to go?"

"Yeah, just let me grab my coat," Kate answered.

Espo then spoke up before Kate could pass him, "So, are you going to hand over my godson or am I going to have to take him from you?" Beckett rolled her eyes, smiling at her collegue's foolishness and handing our son over to him.

As Kate walked away and could no longer hear us, Gates spoke up. "So I guess congratulations are in order, Mr. Castle."

"Thank you, sir," I nodded, smiling back at her kindness.

She then adjusted and said, "You're a very lucky man."

"I know," I smiled, watching Espo coddle Brayden as he played with his uncle's tie.

"Well, I'll leave you boys to your fun. Just don't forget you still have work to do."

"We won't," Ryan assured her. She then turned and disappeared.

As Kate strolled back, I asked the boys, "So, you both are planning on being at the apartment by seven, right?

"Meaning before seven is perfect," Kate told them.

"Lanie will have me there by six thirty," Espo answered.

"And Jenny is coming by as soon as she gets off so we'll be there shortly after that."

"Good," Beckett replied. "Now, give me my birthday boy."
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When the boys got to the loft at the agreed time, Lanie stole B away and whisked him off to the couch. Jenny and Ryan soon sat beside the other two with Kate as I finished things up in the kitchen. My mother and Alexis had joined together with the others, leaving only one seat empty. Jim never did show up.