Always.

Twenty-Nine

*Two months later*

"Rick!!!" I screamed from the bathroom. I heard him running towards me.

"What is it, honey?"

I simply looked down at the puddle of water around my feet.

He swooped me up in one swift motion, and rushed me out to the car. "I'm going to go get your bag. It's going to be okay, take deep breaths. Don't stress, I've got this all under control."

He ran back in to get my bag. He was gone for maybe two minutes, but that was too long. It was my first baby, after all. I had the right to freak out.

"Rick! Rick! Hurry up, where are you?" I screamed.

He came running back with the bag.

"I'm right here, baby. It's alright, I'm here." He went around the car to the front, where he got in, and started driving.

I could already feel contractions starting.

"Oh god, Rick!" And my throat was already hurting from screaming.

"It's alright, we're almost there." He held my hand, and sped up. I don't know how fast he was going, but I didn't care. We got to the hospital quickly, and when we got there, he picked me up again and rushed me inside.

"Hey! We need a doctor! A nurse! Her water's broke!" Almost instantaneously, I was in a wheelchair, and wheeled into my doctor.

"Call my dad! And Alexis and Martha! Call everybody!" I yelled through another contraction.

"Okay, alright. I'll be right back. Will you be okay without me for a minute?"

I nodded as the contraction ended. "Just hurry."

"I will." He ran out the door to use the phone, and came back a few minutes later, with my doctor.

"I called Espo and Ryan. I told them to call everybody else, and quick."

"Thank you." I nodded

"Alright, Mrs. Castle! Looks like you're having a baby today!"

I smiled. My baby was finally coming.

"Yes." Castle and I said in unison.

"Okay. I need you to tell me roughly how many contractions you have had, and how far apart they are."

Castle spoke up for me, for I was having another. "She's had quite a few, maybe eight? And they're coming rather fast."

"Alright. Just a few more minutes, and we can get you prepped for birth!"

"Wait, what about the family? Where are they? Are they here, are they almost here?"

"Relax, Kate. Breathe. Alexis just texted me, she and Mother and here. As well as your father. In just a bit, everyone else will be here as well."

I took a deep breath. I was stressing out, and my coach said that I would need to, at least try, to stay calm. "Okay."