Disclaimer: Anything you recognize is not mine.
"Just think of the future,
Think of a new life.
And don't get lost in the memories,
Keep your eyes on a new prize."
-Paramore, Future
He doesn't let it go.
For the next week, he's constantly making offhand comments.
"Hey, Beckett, what do you think would be some good names for our three kids?"
"I wonder if any of our three kids will be into Nebula 9. Hope not."
"Maybe you should start cutting down on the coffee, Kate. To practice for when you're pregnant with our kids. You know, since we're having three."
She'd twisted his ear for that one, gotten him to yell, "Apples! Apples!" before she'd released him and ordered him to work on his book.
And now, cuddled on his couch and watching the straight-to-DVD adaption of Heat Wave, he does it again.
"I wonder if Nikki and Rook should have three kids. After all-"
"Castle, would you please stop bringing that up?!" she snaps. "It was all just random nonsense made up by a psychopath!"
He's silent for a long moment, his fingers tightening around her shoulder like he's afraid she's going to leave. She glances up, sees hurt in his eyes, and immediately regrets her outburst.
"I'm sorry," he mumbles. "I was just joking."
"I know," she says gently, smoothes a hand over his knee. "I know. But can we just…can we just give it a rest?"
"Should we though?" he asks after a pause. "Kate, we're getting married. This is exactly the kind of thing we should be talking about."
"Castle-"
"Have you thought about it?"
She stares at him. "Thought about what?"
"Kids," he says. "With me. Little blue and green-eyed children with overactive imaginations. Watching the excitement on their faces when they open presents on Christmas morning. Birthdays. Making forts out of the couch on a rainy Saturday. Feeling the curl of a little body in your arms during a nap. Hearing them run around, pretending to fight bad guys like mommy."
"And daddy," she whispers.
He nods. "And daddy."
He can tell that she's mesmerized, eyes swirling with wonder, lips slightly parted. He wants to kiss her, wants to show her just how amazing their future can – and will – be.
"You've clearly thought about it," she murmurs.
"Maybe a little." He can't help the quirk of his lips. "But seriously, Kate, maybe we don't have three. Maybe you don't become a senator like Simon said, but our future is out there and it's up to us – and only us – to decide what we want in that future."
She slides into his lap, practically straddling him as she loops her arms around his neck. "You," she says, soft but fierce. "For now, all I'm sure of is that I want you. " She scrapes his hair away from his forehead, places a light kiss at the corner of his mouth. "But we will talk about it soon, Castle. I promise."
"All I'm asking." He nuzzles at her neck. "If you're not ready, I won't push."
She nods, smudging another kiss at his jaw before moving back to her original position at his side, eyes on the screen, content to enjoy the quiet between them. But now the air is charged with something like hope, and it makes him giddy.
"Do you think any of them will be writers?"
"Castle!"
A/N: So I'm happy to say that I'm really getting into writing these post-eps! I'm going to start trying to write one each week, even if it's short like this. The first chapter of my extended fic will be up by the end of this week as well! I'm determined, so keep an eye out or hit that follow button if you're interested.
In the meantime, as always, reviews are fantastic.
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