Always.

Twenty-Four.

I felt afraid.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Come on, let's go to bed.We have a big day tomorrow."

Tomorrow was the court date for the Josh case. I had been stressing and biting my nails all day, and I had Castle worried. I followed him into our bedroom, where we laid in bed and talked for a little bit.

"Beckett, what are you so worried about?"

"I don't know. I, I think I'm just nervous that, what if things don't go as planned? What if we lose, and Josh is free?"

"Don't worry. Everything will be okay." Castle said with a smile. And I believed him. We laid down, cuddled up and fell asleep.

*The next day*

"Kate, you ready for this?"

We were sitting in the car, which was already in the parking lot of the courthouse.

"Yeah, I think so." I smiled at him, as he got out, and walked around the car to help me out. By now, I was 6 months, and getting pretty big (twins, remember?). He helped me hobble inside, and we took our seats. Normally, I would not let him help me as much as he had in the past few months, but, to be honest, I needed it.

A few minutes later, the court was in session. Josh was sitting in the box, staring at me the whole time. Last time he saw me, I was not as pregnant as I am now. He couldn't see my belly from where he was, but he could see my puffy face.

"Your honour, I wish to ask Miss, I mean Mrs. Castle a few questions?" Josh startled me with his request, same as everyone else in the room. The judge obliged, and sent me up to the questioning stand.

"Oh, look. You're pregnant." Josh said, in a cold voice. I just sat there, with a blank expression in my face so I didn't give away any emotions.

"What would you like to ask me?"

"I was just wondering, why did you leave me?"

I looked at the judge, who motioned that I should answer. I tried to open my mouth, but nothing could come out.

"Well?"

"Because..."

"You left me for writer-boy, didn't you?"

I felt incredibly pressured, what with Castle watching. Ryan and Esposito sitting in the same room didn't help.

"No, I mean yes, or... no?" I was freaking out.

"Don't worry, I understand."

I was very confused, and I'm fairly sure he saw it on my face.

"I'm a jerk. Allow me to prove it." I suddenly noticed his expression of hot rage on his face, why I didn't notice it before, I don't know. But I didn't have time to react before he swooped down and, with incredible force, punched me right in the middle of my large, rounded stomach, in the middle of my babies.