More than Expected

Part 65

December 28, 2014
     She stands at the front of the airport with Royce in her arms, scouring the crowd for her best friend. Lanie flew down to North Carolina to stay with her and Royce for the week so that they wouldn't be alone to ring in the new year. She was so happy and appreciative when her best friends called her the day after Christmas to tell her the news. She needed it too, some alone time with the girl whose been by her side through it all. It had been so long since they got some girl time.
      The minute she sees her, she squeals and rushes towards her. "Lane!" She yells. Lanie cheers and quickly wraps her arms around Kate and Royce, "My girl!" Lanie says excitedly in her ear. "I missed you." Kate says, "Missed you too, Girl. And I missed you too, handsome boy." Lanie coos as she tickles Royce's sides. The baby giggles, but clings to his mother. "Do we need to go to baggage claim?" Kate asks. Lanie shakes her head, "Nope, I got everything I need in my carry-on and backpack." Lanie says, "Perfect! Let's go home." Kate says as they leave.

December 31, 2014/January 1, 2015
     They're sitting on the couch with Royce in between them. Kate figured it'd be fine if he was up a little later tonight since it would just give them time to sleep in tomorrow morning. "5...4...3...2...1! Happy New Year!" They both yell and each give Royce a kiss on the cheek. He giggles and then grabs his mother's cheeks and pulls her face towards him to which she gives him another kiss. "Alright, Mr., it's your bedtime." Kate stands with her son in her arms, "I'll be out in a minute."
     In Royce's room, she sits in the rocking chair and lowers her shirt to allow him to nurse himself to sleep. Starting tomorrow she was going to try to only nurse him every other night so she could move further along in the weaning process. Her goal is to get him fully weaned before Rick comes home from deployment. Once her baby boy is sleeping, she fixes her top and stands to place him in his crib, "Sweet dreams, sweet boy." She whispers. She turns on his nightlight and baby monitor before taking one out with her.
     Lanie is already pouring the glasses of wine that Rick had bought and left for her on nights she wanted to unwind. "Little guy down?" She asks, "Yeah, he's out." She sits on the couch and accepts the glass from her friend. "Good. So, how are you, girlfriend?" She takes a deep breath. "I'm okay." She knew there was no point in lying to Lanie since she would eventually pull it out of her (either sober or drunk). "You really miss him, don't you?" "Of course I do. And I knew I would. But I didn't think it would hurt this much."
     "Everytime Royce does something, I just want to turn and call out to him or smile at him, but then he isn't there. And the holidays haven't made any of this any easier." Kate explains. "Well, there is some good news." "What's that?" "We're officially in Rick's coming home year." Lanie raises her glass. Kate smiles and clinks the glasses. "And we're also in your wedding year." Lanie adds. She nods, "That we are." Kate says, "Are we in another baby year?" Lanie jokes. Kate chuckles, "I don't know. Maybe. I've been thinking about it a lot." She begins.
     "I was watching videos of Royce on my phone from when we first brought him home and, as much as I love this stage he's in and watching him become his own person, part of me misses the newborn stage." Kate says. "Girl, you're serious?" Lanie asks shocked. "Yeah, but then I remember how hard mentally and emotionally pregnancy was for me which makes me nervous to do it again. Plus with Rick's busy schedule. I mean because of how fresh he is into his career he could very easily get deployed again or sent on a mission shortly after coming home which would leave me pregnant with a toddler on my own or with a newborn and toddler on my own." Kate says.
      "That's true. Have you talked to Rick about any of this?" "No, I was going to wait until he got home. But I know it wouldn't take much convincing; he's been wanting another one since Royce reached six months old." She jokes even though it's not really a joke. "Well, I think it wouldn't be the worst thing. Plus, you don't Royce to get too lonely. I mean, you both were only children, wasn't it lonely?"
     "It could be at times." Kate nods, "I'm not saying get pregnant the minute he gets home, but don't be scared to talk to him. Just make sure he knows it's just an idea, it's not a full blown operation yet." Lanie says. "I am going to talk to him and he knows I've been on the fence about it. I mean we definetly want more kids and we definitely want to be married before anymore come along. It's just a matter of how long do we wait before we start actually trying." She explains. "I mean it still blow my mind that you already have one." Lanie laughs taking a sip of her wine.
     "You and me both." Kate says into her wine glass. They stay up a little while longer, talking and laughing as they enjoy their wine. They separate when the fatigue sets in. Lanie is staying on the foldout couch in the living room, so Kate helps her get it situated before she herself goes into her bedroom and crawls into her and Rick's bed and dreams sweet dreams of her, Rick, and Royce and maybe a little bump forming.
Part 65! Comment what you think! Should another Castle baby make an appearance?