Finally an update! Still pretty fluffy, but I hope you guys enjoy it!
It had been a long day. Two book signings and a fancy-shmancy dinner later, and he was sitting in his hotel room, reading a James Patterson novel. Well, at least trying to wanted to call Beckett so badly, but it was almost four-thirty in New York, and he didn't want to wake her or the baby. Castle smiled gently, thinking about the last time he had tucked his daughter into her bed. She had been such a fussy little baby when she had been born, and he remembered Beckett had had a hard time adjusting to having a little human around.
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"Kate?" Castle pushed the bedroom door open, frowning as he saw his wife sitting on their bed, cradling a sobbing little Hunter in her arms. He grew more concerned when he saw the tears pouring down Beckett's cheeks, and moved to sit next to her. "What's wrong, love?"
"S-she won't sleep!" The detective cried, and Castle, in turn, gently took Hunter and held her close to his chest.
"Shhhh, Hun, you and mommy need some rest." He crooned, looking up and smiling gently at Beckett, who wiped her eyes gently and tried to smile back. The little girl's cries started to fade to whimpers, her watery eyes looking up into her fathers.
"There we go, good girl." Castle whispered, and he passed Hunter back to her mother. Beckett sniffed, looking into the little girl's face.
"Why won't she settle down with me?"
"She's only two months old, Kate. She's fussy."
"But you can always get her quiet." She sighed, adjusting the baby to one arm and leaning into Castle's chest. "Am I doing something wrong?" Her face had fallen considerably, and it was breaking Castle's heart.
"No, sweetheart, Hunter loves you. You're her mommy." He put her arm around her and pulled her in closer.
"She just doesn't wanna sleep because she wants to stay with you." Kate snorted.
"That's bullshit, Rick. But thanks." She kissed him gently, and he smiled, stroking his daughter's cheek.
"You're an amazing mother, Kate. You really are. And look at this amazing little creature we made." Castle put his thumb in Hunter's little palm, and she clutched it eagerly, her face scrunched in concentration. "Don't forget that, okay?" He kissed Beckett's cheek, and she smiled gently. "Okay." She replied, pulling the baby close as she leaned in for another kiss.
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Being away from them was so hard. He was so close to calling a cab and jumping on a plane back home. Everything around Castle reminded him of his family. Even that day, at the early morning book signing, a woman holding a baby around Hunter's age had appeared in front of the signing table. Halfway through his signature, the toddler began to wail, and the woman, looking rather embarrassed, had apologized to Castle. He had smiled and told the woman that it was quite alright, that he had a daughter at home that was around that age. A wave of homesickness had overcome him, and he had had to leave for several minutes. God, he wanted to be at home helping her get to sleep. He wouldn't care if she was bawling half the night. He just wanted little Hunter. And Beckett. He wanted her so badly. That was it. He couldn't do this anymore. Picking up his phone, he dialed Gina's number. When she picked up, he began immediately. "I'm getting on the next flight home, Gina. I don't care about the tour. I need my family."
R&R, xoxo