As the group chatted and relaxed, the conversation naturally shifted toward Beckett. Gianna, now thoroughly familiar with Beckett, couldn't help but ask, "Kate, when do you and Rick plan on having a little one?
You know, you'll never truly understand how delightful kids can be until you have one of your own."
Hearing his wife describe having kids as "delightful," John, usually the picture of composure, rolled his eyes dramatically. Over the past year, their little one had put him through the wringer, and he had no illusions about how exhausting parenthood could be.
Gianna's suggestion to Beckett seemed absurd to John. Has pregnancy made her brain softer?
He recalled Rick's mention of the Chinese saying "pregnancy dulls the brain for three years," and seeing how Gianna's sharp wit had mellowed into warm motherly instincts, John couldn't help but wonder if there was truth to it.
Still, he preferred this version of Gianna. The calculating, ruthless heiress of the past was impressive, but the nurturing, softened woman she had become was even better.
Motherhood suits her, John thought with uncharacteristic whimsy.
Beckett, on the other hand, was visibly startled by the question.
"What? You think I'm planning to have a baby with Rick anytime soon?"
The idea of having children with Castle had never crossed her mind—at least not yet. She mentally listed the reasons: Castle himself wasn't exactly a grown-up, and Alexis's well-adjusted nature was more a testament to her own maturity than Castle's parenting skills.
She recalled incidents where Castle's approach to parenting had made her shake her head in disbelief: his casual remarks around Alexis that were entirely inappropriate for children, encouraging her to sip alcohol at 14, or the time he left $50,000 in cash in her room just because he found giving daily allowances "inconvenient."
Alexis had turned out wonderfully, but that was in spite of Castle, not because of him.
Unbeknownst to Beckett, she was underselling Castle. Both the original Castle and his "replaced" self deeply cared for Alexis, even if their parenting styles left much to be desired. When Alexis had been kidnapped by Japanese operatives, Castle's wrath had been a force to behold.
Hearing Gianna's comment, Castle immediately sprang into action. It was a perfect opportunity to win Beckett over. He had been neglecting her recently, and this was his chance to make amends. Even his rarely-active "idiotic system" kept nudging him toward convincing Beckett to have a baby.
Seizing the moment, Castle began laying on the charm.
Beckett, for her part, had never seriously considered the topic before. Castle hadn't proposed yet, but it was clear to her how devoted he was. Despite his reputation as a playboy, he had been scandal-free since they got together. Knowing Castle's history, this alone impressed her.
Gianna's playful remark lingered in her mind. She wasn't getting any younger, and Castle had clearly been planning her future, even arranging career opportunities for her beyond her beloved precinct. Though she hated the idea of leaving the police force, she knew upward mobility was inevitable.
Now that her old vendettas were resolved and she had transitioned to more administrative duties, the thought of having a child—perhaps as endearing as Alexis or Onona—didn't seem so far-fetched.
Castle, ever the keen observer, noticed that Beckett hadn't outright rejected the idea. Instead, she seemed to be seriously considering it. He subtly signaled to John and Gianna to give them some privacy, eager to press his case.
John, amused by Castle's tactics, glanced at Gianna as they walked toward their crawling daughter.
"Why'd you suddenly suggest Beckett and Rick have a kid?" he asked.
Gianna, her arm looped through his, replied with mock disdain, "Who said it was my idea? Rick put me up to it!
It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment thing either. He asked me ages ago to slip it into the conversation if the opportunity arose."
John blinked. "You two… plotted this?"
Gianna rolled her eyes at her husband. "Look at Rick, and then look at yourself. Honestly, how did I end up with you?"
John chuckled, unfazed by her playful jab. Instead, he focused on their little one, who was struggling to stand up upon seeing her parents approach.
The night passed joyfully amidst laughter and good company. Whether Castle and Beckett reached an agreement about having a baby remained a mystery. However, Beckett's radiant smile as she left for work the next morning contrasted sharply with Castle's hungover and sleep-deprived state as he slouched across from Neil.
Alexis had already driven back to Manhattan for school. Her departure left the house quieter, but she remained the shining example of a "perfect child" in Castle's circle—a testament to her own maturity rather than her father's chaotic parenting.
Neil, who had stayed the night after overindulging with Ivan and the others, couldn't resist teasing Castle.
"Rough night, Rick? You look like you didn't sleep a wink."
Castle lazily stuffed his mouth with breakfast. "Nope, just spent all night… stargazing. You buying that?"
Neil smirked but didn't push further. He had bigger concerns, particularly the British MI6's reported plans to send agents after Le Chiffre. While Castle seemed unbothered, Neil and Gianna had a lot at stake in their stock market maneuvering, and any unforeseen complications could cost them dearly.
Gianna soon joined them, accompanied by John and the ever-energetic Onona. With John preoccupied keeping their daughter in check, Gianna and Castle quickly delved into their plans.
Castle, knowing that Le Chiffre's downfall was inevitable, assured them there was nothing to worry about. He laid out the sequence of events he anticipated—MI6 would intervene, Le Chiffre would fail spectacularly, and the Skyfleet stock they had acquired during its dip would skyrocket.
Neil and Gianna listened, stunned by the depth of Castle's insights.
"Where on earth do you get all this insider information?" Neil asked, baffled.
Castle just grinned, leaving them to wonder if their enigmatic friend had even more secrets up his sleeve.
______
(≧◡≦) ♡ Support me and read 20 chapters ahead – patreon.com/Mutter
For every 50 Power Stones, one extra chapter will be released on Saturday.