A/N: This idea came to me while I was in the shower this evening. So, in honor of the Royal Wedding, I threw this together. Just a quick little drabble with some Caskett cuteness. Enjoy? :)
PS- for those of you who probably want to kill me for not updating Fallout yet, I will! Trust me. I've been super busy- I was on vacation for a week a couple weeks ago and am still getting caught up with everything. So probably this weekend I'll update it.
He staggered into the bullpen that morning, feet dragging, and as usual, bearing gifts of coffee. He handed her the cardboard cup tray when he reached her desk, earning him a perplexed look from her, and then plunked himself into his chair. His back slid against the upholstery, and he slouched against the seat, limbs sprawling at his sides, dangling over the armrests and splaying out in front of him.
It was a...different side of Castle, and it made her a little uneasy, seeing him in an uncharacteristically lethargic state.
"Rough night?" she asked tentatively.
His eyelids were drooping, and he was waging a vicious war between himself and his optic nerve. He felt as though someone was hacking away at it with a knife- his eye sockets throbbing with fatigue and pain from their seemingly perpetual state of exposure.
"Royal night," he clarified with a groan.
Her eyebrow arched in intrigue.
"Mother and Alexis were giddily enjoying the Royal Wedding festivities at three in the morning with three bottles of Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice. They stayed up all night and drank all three bottles. How is that normal?" he whined.
"Says the man who kills people for a living," she shot back with an amused smile, careful not to burst out laughing at his haggard appearance as she scrawled notes on a report.
He just grunted in response.
"You don't find it sweet that a commoner can become a princess and live a real life fairytale? Live in a big castle and marry a prince?"
Another grunt.
She'd never admit it to him, but she had been awake all night, glued to her television to watch the nuptials as well, and she tried hard to stifle a yawn that threatened to blow her cover.
"Oh, come on, you didn't have to come in today, you know," she challenged. "You could have stayed home."
"I wanted to come," he murmured, head lolling back and eyes sagging closed.
"Why?" she seemed amazed that he would choose the noisy, bustling precinct over the quiet, peaceful confines of the loft.
"…like it here. I like you…" he mumbled, clearly in a delirious state.
She just chuckled at his half-asleep form and then blushed at the candid words that tumbled from his mouth.
But then her phone rang, and Castle sprang awake with a start.
"Whazhappening?" he slurred as he extended his arms to stretch.
She rose from her seat, quickly shuffling papers together into some semblance of order.
"That was Esposito," she replied. "Murder near 68th and Park."
"Mmmmk," he groaned.
She began sauntering toward the elevator, Castle still orienting himself at her desk. She whirled around, and teasingly, asked, "You coming?"
He let out another groan in response, and she began striding toward the elevator again, all the while wondering if one day she would be celebrating a fairytale ending, complete with her very own Castle.
So, whatdya think?