A short Caskett drabble set at an indeterminate point in the future. This is the same 'verse as my other Fic – Wedding Rhymes

Bedtime Stories

Katherine Castle smiled as she started to unlock the door to the loft that she shared with Castle, and their two children – J.J. and Hannah – It had been a long day but she was glad to be home and couldn't wait to see her husband.

Zoned out in her own little world, she paused outside the door, key in the lock, to remember a few things.

The time when she nearly murdered Castle (Pregnant – three days overdue, been suffering false contractions for nearly a week.)

There was their son's first birthday, which Castle used as an excuse to get toys that he wanted to play with.

Similarly, their daughter's first birthday. For this one, there had been a small mountain of stuffed toys arrive.

The night Castle proposed to her. (A perfect summer's night in the Hamptons, with a $10,000 ring[not that the ring had made a difference])

All of a sudden, she was startled out of her reverie by a crashing, banging, and a shattering sound from inside the loft. In less than a second, the door was open and her gun was in her hand.

She raised an eyebrow as she too in the scene.

Richard Castle was on the floor, apparently having fallen off the back of the couch, and his head colliding with the coffee table on his way down. Their two children – J.J. and Hannah, 3 and 2 respectively, were sitting on the couch. Hannah was holding a stuffed rabbit, and J.J. a rather well chewed on stuffed bear.

"Richard Castle," Kate started using what Castle referred to (in whispers with their children) as "Mommy's Police Voice". "I thought I told you an hour ago to tell our children a bedtime story and put them to sleep!"

Castle stood up, (not bleeding, thank god) Kate thought. And then she noticed how Castle was dressed. Shirt. Shorts. Pot. Cape. Sword.

He was wearing a towel as a cape, wearing one of the kitchen pots on his head as a helmet, and was waving about a wooden sword. He was wearing one of his good button up shirts which how was torn right up the side. (not that he couldn't just buy a new one, that wasn't the principle of the thing) and great, gaudy, orange and blue Bermuda shorts.

"That's what I was doing!" Castle said earnestly to Kate. "I was telling a bedtime story! It just got a little out of hand is all. I'll take the one on the left" he said grinning.

"Okay little ones," Castle said grinning. "Mommy says it's time for bed." He walked over to Hannah, who reached out and said "Piggyback?" before yawning widely.

Castle smiled and put their daughter on his back. Kate went over and lifted their son over the broken coffee table and onto the floor.

"Daddy, what about the story?" J.J. asked

"You'll have to wait until tomorrow to hear the next part in the thrilling adventures of Steven and Jacob, mightiest knights of the realm" Castle said grinning, as the family headed upstairs and into the kids room.

Kate took J.J. over to his bed and tucked him in, muttering a soft goodnight, as he snuggled down into his bed, yawned, and drifted off. She then swapped places with Castle, who had done the same for their daughter, and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead.

Walking out of the room, she shook her head at Castle, smiling. "Try to not be so... exuberant next time. And you will clear away the coffee table, and get a new one, right?"