Year in Time

Part 3

August 1, 2014 — First Check Up
      It's been four days with their baby girl and she can't believe how much she loves her. She's sitting against the headboard of her and Castle's bed at 2:47 in the morning, nursing Avery and staring into her soft blue eyes. It still blows her mind that a week ago, she was still in her belly and it blows her mind even more that she and Castle created this little girl. Castle stirs next to her which grabs her attention, "Hey." He says tiredly, "Hi." She responds with sleep still in her voice.
      "Why didn't you wake me?" "I wanted you to get some sleep." She responds, "No, we do this together." He insists as he sits up with a yawn. "She okay?" He asks. She nods, "Just hungry." She whispers. "I'll change her diaper when you're done." He offers and she nods. A few minutes later, Avery detaches from her breast and Castle opens the changing pad before placing Avery on it to change her diaper while Beckett fixes her shirt. Once Avery's diaper is changed, Castle stands and cradles her in his arms as he gently rocks her back to sleep.
      Beckett smiles as she watches her husband with their baby. She knew he was a good father, of course she did. But watching him father their baby was a different level of love she felt for him. She grabs her phone and snaps a picture which captures his attention, "I thought we don't take pictures of each other in the bedroom." He reiterates her rule when she once found out he took pictures of her while she was sleeping. "This is different. This is you being a dad." She argues, "But you yelled at me when I took that picture of you the other night." He throws back.
      "I was nursing our daughter! My boobs were out!" She laughs. "I wouldn't have shown anyone." He says and she rolls her eyes. "So you're telling me that if I scrolled through your phone right now, I wouldn't find that picture?" She questions with a raised eyebrow. He looks at her and ponders how to answer, "I plead the fifth." He says and it makes her chuckle. He lowers Avery into the bedside bassinet. Once she's settled and content, he crawls back into bed and pulls his wife towards him. He presses his lips to hers, "You drive me crazy, woman."
      Later that morning, after they've eaten breakfast, showered, and gotten Avery ready; they make their way to her pediatrician's office for her first check up. They're settled in the waiting room while Beckett fills out the paperwork when a nurse walks out, "Avery Castle." It still sends jolts of excitement through both of them when they hear their daughter's name. They follow the nurse back, "I'm Nurse Erika. I'll just be weighing your little one before Dr. Crane comes back to see her." The young woman introduces herself to them.
      "If you could undress her and place her on the scale. She's not going to like it, but keep her onesie off for Dr. Crane since he'll be performing a physical." Castle takes Avery's onesie off so that she's in her diaper when she's placed on the scale. She lets out a squeal at the chilliness of the metal and then begins wailing. It breaks Kate's heart to hear her little girl in distress, "Okay, you can lift her." The nurse says. Beckett just that and grabs her blanket out of the diaper bag to wrap her up in.
      They're guided back to an exam room where they're informed that the pediatrician will be in shortly. Kate settles on the bed with Avery whose starting to calm down. "You okay?" Castle asks knowing this is all a new experience for his wife. "I don't like hearing her cry like that." She answers, "I know, but she's fine now. Look at her." He whispers as he places his hands on either side of Kate's hips. She looks down at her, "She's so perfect." Beckett whispers. His hand tucks a curl behind her ear, "Like her Mama." He whispers back making her blush.
      A few minutes later, Dr. Crane, a middle-aged man with a soft smile walks in. "Hello, I'm Dr. Edwin Crane. I understand this is Ms. Avery." He says. "Yes, and I'm Rick and this is my wife, Kate." Rick introduces them. "Nice to meet you. When was Avery born?" "July 28." Kate answers, "And how much did she weigh when she was born?" "She was 7 pounds 8 ounces at birth and 6 pounds 12 ounces when we left the hospital." Kate answers. "Alright, well she's 6 pounds 14 ounces now which is perfect. I'll just perform a physical exam today and then I'm going to send you home with some forms to fill out about your family's medical history to bring back at your next appointment."
      Beckett lays Avery on the table after unwrapping her from the blanket she was swaddled in as Dr. Crane checks her from head to toe. Once he's done, he steps back allowing Castle to get her dressed, "Well, congratulations, you two have a very health four day old. Here are those forms I was talking about. Just bring them with you to her one month check up. Any questions?" Dr. Crane asks.
      Both of the parents shake their heads as Beckett places the forms in the diaper bag, "Then I will see you in a couple of weeks. Have a nice day." Dr. Crane says before leaving the three alone. Once she's dressed, Rick gets her into the car seat and then they exit the room to schedule her one month appointment before making their way home.
Part 3! I know this one is a little shorter, but there really is no big storyline with this work until later on.