More than Expected

Part 63

November 15, 2014
She releases a sigh of relief as she settles into her seat on their second flight of the day. Her and Royce are on their way to New York to celebrate her birthday and Thanksgiving with their family. But something is missing. More like someone is missing. It's been days since she's heard from Rick which she's gotten used to, but as the holidays get closer her heart breaks a little more that he's not there to celebrate with them. He said he'd get a FaceTime on her birthday and a phone call on Thanksgiving.
She's more excited for the FaceTime, not only cause she'll get to see him, but because she knows on Thanksgiving her time talking to him will be cut short by their family wanting to talk to him. She smiles at the baby boy in her arms whose staring out the window, "What do you see, Bubba?" She coos. He looks back at her and smiles, "Hi handsome." She leans in and kisses his nose to which he laughs. Over the intercom, the pilot tells the flight attendants to prepare for take off which prompts Kate to get Royce settled and their seatbelts fastened.
2 hours later, Royce is asleep in her arms as she walks off the plane. She's excited to see her parents again. It's been over a month since she last saw them when they flew down to North Carolina with Martha for Royce's first birthday. She walks out of the gate and towards baggage claim where they told her they were waiting for her. What she sees when she gets there though shocks her. Not only is it her mom and dad there; it's Martha, Lanie, Jenny, Kevin, and Javi waiting for her and Royce too.
Her eyes well up with tears as she picks up her pace to get to her family and friends quicker. The minute she reaches them, Johanna wraps her in a hug, "Hi baby." She whispers in her ear, "Hi Mom." Kate smiles. Royce makes a noise as he's being crushed between the two women and they pull apart to see the baby boy has woken up. "Hi buddy." Johanna smiles as she takes the baby from his mother's arms and kisses his cheek. "Hi bug." Jim steps forward and hugs his baby girl, "Hi daddy." Kate smiles in his arms before she greets Martha.
"How was the flight, Kiddo?" "Not bad. Your grandson is an excellent traveler." Kate jokes before moving down and excitedly greeting her friends, "What are you guys doing here!?" She exclaims as she pulls them all in for a big group hug, "You didn't think we'd pass up on a chance to see you and Royce did you?" Kevin asks as she watches Lanie walk over to Martha who happily hands Royce over to her. Kate chuckles, "You came for me or the baby?" She asks, "Both, but maybe one more than the other." Lanie jokes as she kisses Royce's cheek.
It's not long before Royce is reaching out for his mother who happily takes him back into her arms. "Let's go get your bags, Katie. I have a roast in the crock pot at home that's waiting to be devoured." Johanna jokes as they all walk towards baggage claim. Once in the car, she smiles again. As much as she loves and can't wait for this new life with Rick, Royce, and whoever else may come along down the road, there is somewhere in her heart that misses the simplicity of being a child under her parents' roof.

November 17, 2014
     She wakes up when she feels a tiny hands grabbing at her cheeks. She opens her eyes and smiles when her hazel eyes meet Royce's whose match hers. "Good morning, Bubba." She smiles as she pulls her son down and kisses his cheek. There is a knock on her bedroom door and she turns her head to see both her parents enter her bedroom. "Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Katie. Happy birthday to you." They sing and Kate smiles as she accepts the plate of pancakes her mother passes to her.
      "Happy birthday, Bug." Her dad says as he leans down to kiss her forehead. "Thank you guys." She smiles. "What do you want to do today?" Johanna asks her daughter. "Um, we could just hangout maybe? I'm still feeling a little jet-lagged." She says. In reality, she didn't feel like celebrating without Rick here. "Of course. How about some Christmas movies?" Her mother asks, "Sounds great." She smiles. "We'll take the little guy so you can enjoy your breakfast." Jim says as he lifts Royce and her parents leave her alone in her childhood bedroom. She's in the middle of eating when her phone rings.
       She smiles when Rick's face flashes on her screen and she answers the FaceTime. "Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Kate! Happy birthday to you!" He greets her. She chuckles, "Thank you, babe." "Happy birthday, beautiful. What are you guys doing for the day?" He asks. "We're just going to hangout and watch some Christmas movies. I don't really feel like celebrating without my best friend here." He says. "Kate-," "Rick, please don't." She stops him from insisting she do something more exciting. "Fine, it's your birthday. I don't want to argue. How's everyone?"
     "They're all good. Royce says 'dada' about a thousand times a day. I show him your picture at night." She smiles, "I miss our little man. I miss his mommy too." "We miss you too, Rick. Only a few more months." She sighs. "A few more months and then I'll be home and we're getting married and your mine for good." Rick says, "I'm already yours for good. Getting married isn't going to change that." She jokes. "I know, but this will be official. And you'll have my last name." He raises his eyebrows making her giggle.
      "I can't wait to be a Castle officially." She says. "Me neither. Please enjoy today, okay? It's your last birthday as a teenager." "I will. We'll talk on Thanksgiving?" "Always. I love you, beautiful. I miss you so much." "I love you too. Miss you." They each blow kisses before the call ends. She knows he's right. She needs to enjoy today. It's her last birthday before she enters her 20s and possibly her last Christmas as a mom to just one baby.

November 27, 2014
     She's sad she only has two more days with her family, but she's trying not to let that distract her as she sits around the table with Martha to her left and Royce in his high chair to her right. She smiles as she watches her baby boy enjoy his first few nibbles of actual Thanksgiving food. Last year, he was just a newborn. This year he seems to enjoy the holiday. Her smile grows even bigger when her phone rings. "Is that him?" Martha asks. Kate nods as she answers the phone call, "Happy Thanksgiving." She answers. "Hi. Happy Thanksgiving." "I'm gonna pass you around and I'll talk to you at the end, okay?"
      Once he agrees, Kate passes the phone to Martha who happily steps away from the table to talk to her only child. "Only a few more months, Katie." Her mom encourages. "I know, but it's already been a few months. I feel like I haven't seen him in forever." Kate says. In reality, the days were going by quickly, but she still felt the depression of his absence kick in overdrive. She knew this is what she was signing up for when she encouraged Rick in his pursuit of the Army, but she couldn't prepare for how painful it would be.
      After the phone is passed to Jim and Johanna, Kate gets it back, "Wanna talk to Bubba?" She asks her fiancé who agrees happily. "Bubba, it's Dada." Kate tells her son. "Dada dada dada." Royce says repeatedly. "Hi Bubba. I miss you." "Dada dada dada dada." "I love you, Royce. I'm going to talk to Mama now okay?" She hears him blow a kiss and then raises the phone back to her ear. She enjoys the small talk she gets with him before he has to go. "I love you, beautiful." "I love you too, handsome." She smiles and hangs up. Next Thanksgiving would be different. Next Thanksgiving they'll be married and they'll be together.
Part 63! I'm so so sorry with how long this took! I'm at the end of my semester so things are getting busy, so bear with me please! I will update as much as I possibly can. Let me know what you think!