They had eventually traded her bed for her living room when she had stated she was hungry and he had immediately dialed their favorite thai place. They were now sitting between her couch and her coffee table, on the ground. Well, he was on the ground - she actually practically was in his lap, wearing only an oversized shirt and her hair back into a messy bun, while he had put all of his clothes back on. He still felt like none of it was real, but she was quick at reminding him, constantly cuddling into him like a sleepy cat - and stealing his food.

"So, I repeat, how do you wanna do this?" he asked, munching on a spring roll as she twirled her chopsticks around in her spicy noodles, a few strands of hair curling around her face and tickling his jaw when she leant into him.

She tilted her head up at him with a slow-spreading, predatory smile and a sharp eyebrow arched up. "What- this?" she asked with that sultry voice she knew drove him wild, pressing herself further into his side, her eyes travelling south and back up with a lip trapped between her teeth.

The little minx, she knew what she was doing-

She laughed heartily throwing her head back when he started choking around his roll, both of them shaking with the force of it as his throat convulsed hard.

"You're mean," he groaned with a rough coughing fit as she regarded him under thick lashes with her sticks pressed up against her rosy pursed lips, eyes sparkling with mischief.

Perhaps he'd find her cute if she wasn't so damn cruel.

"And you're too easy," she offered airily stroking a hand up and down his back in an attempt to help him find his breath back and laying a quick kiss against his shoulder. "But, I don't know, Castle. You tell me."

"I was thinking maybe- maybe you could just show up when you're not working and I guess we could try to convince them you're- or oh- I know-"

Rolling her eyes, she stuffed a fried shrimp into his mouth before he could go and on and on and-

"Ye nood to stoop putthing things in my mouthhs," he jabbed around his full mouth as her eyebrows skyrocketed, mouth opening and closing - visibly searching for a comeback.

"I'm not the one who-" She huffed with a brief shake of her head as he arched an eyebrow at her for that. Yes, do go on- "Anyway. I think you know what's the answer here, you just don't want to ask me."

"Ah, yeah. Guilty as charged." He grinned, fishing from her box while she pinned him with narrowed unimpressed eyes and brought back the box further into her side drawing an immediate pout from him. Alright, she could steal his food, but he would lose his hand if he stole hers?

"The only way that's gonna work is if I'm moving in- temporarily."

"Are you sure?"

She shrugged. "I am. I knew what it entailed when I chose to have your back. Besides, I'm supposed to help you. Partners, right?"

Yeah. Why would it be a big deal anyway, right? It's not like it was for real. He could share his home with her for a few weeks.

"Engaged partners," he added wiggling his eyebrows, receiving a cushion right into his face for that.

"What about the kids?"

"What about them?" she asked throwing him a sideway glance.

"Are you ok with this?"

"Sure, I'm- great with kids," she mumbled and cringed. Meanwhile, something in her box suddenly seemed really interesting, by the way she stared into it and swiftly changed the subject. "Talking about kids, how's Alexis holding on?"

Smooth, Beckett.

She had no idea what her role would be here, she wasn't anyone to them and she had never been great with kids to begin with. Let alone wild kids. She had figured she would just...be there and help Castle get dinner ready, do the dishes...or something.

"Eh, pretty well actually. She's excited about it," he said, touching his smile to her cheek, and nudging into her soft skin - sharing his adorable thrill with her, her skin tingling.

"Hum. What did you tell her about me? Will she be okay with that?" she answered her tone letting through most of her apprehension despite her efforts to bottle it up as her hand mechanically played with the fine hair at the nape of his neck.

"She will, she'll adore you," he said kissing her temple before retreating and getting his phone out of his pocket to check the time. "Speaking of which, I should probably get going. Alexis should be back from school now and erm, I hadn't planned on being out for so long," he said, his cheeks and the tip of his ears taking an adorable shade of pink she couldn't help stroke with a finger as he averted his eyes like a shy boy.

"Sure," she hummed with an easy smile stretching her lips at his reserve.

He jumped to his feet, grabbing her hand to help her up - watched with slightly glazed eyes as she swayed right back into him, angled his face towards her with a finger in that way she always did when she felt him slip away from her.

"I'll see you soon?"

Beckett tilted her head on a side, the corners of her lips quirking up slowly and her golden eyes crinkling with mirth like flames crackling in the dark as she loosely locked her arms behind his neck and pushed herself on her tiptoes, their noses inches apart.

"Yes, you big idiot. Kinda stuck with me now," she said her eyes so intend on him, he seemed trapped into them - physically unable to look away.

"Good," he answered as rapidly as his eyes snapped from hers and fell on her mouth.

She let him stain her mouth with a quick press of his lips before he stepped back and took his keys on his way off, her eyes never leaving his broad shoulders and his so slightly sunkissed arms - unable to stop herself from smiling like a stupid teenager when he cast her a last glance, the ocean blue of his eyes so clear and serene.

There standing in the middle of her flat, she folded her arms with a short shake of her head.

She had him

Sarah and Eden were in their bedroom - the guest room he had managed to turn into a cosy child's room before their arrival and he had left them to it. He and Alexis were getting lunch ready waiting for Beckett to drop by with her stuff and he was anxious.

"Dad, will you stop pacing - what is it about that Captain that has you so bothered?" she asked with a sneaky smirk as she sliced tomatoes to add to the sauce.

Huffing, he came to a stop in the middle of the living room and ran a hand through his hair. "I am not." He tried, although her raised eyebrow told him enough - not convincing, right.

"It's just. I don't know." He groaned taking a seat at the bar as Alexis wiped her hands on the towel and looked at him with far too knowing eyes.

"You like her, don't you," she said, her amused smirk falling into a more solemn close-lipped smile. His wise, attentionate kid.

"Would you be okay with that?" He watched as she shrugged and resumed cutting veggies, the corners of her lips easing up nonetheless.

"Sure, she sounds nice. And frankly, you need it, Dad."

He sighed at that, his hand reaching for her and curling around her wrist as her eyes shot up in question. "You're right, I do need...someone. Until not long ago, I was convinced I didn't - couldn't.

"But she changed your mind."

He let out a small laugh, his head shaking as his mind went back to that day she had dragged him to her room so easily, casting such an effective spell on him without even trying. She had so effortlessly pushed through any defenses he had spent weeks building up- had crushed and reduce to shreds any poor reasons he had given himself not to let his heart get involved. He hadn't lied, she had awoken a part of him he thought he would never recover and while it had first seemed like maybe they had a chance - the closer they had gotten the less he could bear the thought of hurting her. Still, she believed in him more than he ever had.

"That she did."

"Ew, dad."

Rolling his eyes, he stood up and circled the bar to kiss his kid's head. "I need you too, kiddo, always will. Don't you forget that."

She nodded and beamed at him, that cute smile of hers making her clear blue eyes sparkle.

Beckett had come a bit later than they had planned, still, they had lunch together, Alexis and Beckett talking quietly - partly about school, partly about her job as a Captain. He had probably watched with a dumb expression on his face as they exchanged as though they had always known each other. Beckett was so attentive and so careful in everything she said, Alexis soaked it all up with wide eyes and a nodding head and how could she not - that woman was so damn inspiring, he couldn't believe how lucky they all were. He had tried to get the girls to come down with them, but Sarah had told him they would stay up there for now, and he was okay with that. He was. If they needed more time, he would give it to them.

That's how he ended up standing in his office with Beckett walking around and browsing through his library, scanning the whole room with a quiet awe he didn't quite comprehend. He chose to let her go through whatever she found so interesting while he started spreading out the blanket over the couch when she touched his shoulder - making the muscles under the thin piece of cloth jump.

"What are you doing?"

Turning on his heels, he frowned at her as she looked between him and the couch, the lines of her face creased with confusion, the long wave of her hair now in a fast side-braid and she looked so young.

"Making..the bed?"

He watched as she chewed on her lip - that poor abused lip she kept nagging on, perhaps he just should kiss her to prevent any more-

"Castle, you're not sleeping here," she said crossing her arm on her chest, a steadfast glint in her eyes.

"I'm not?" he asked, eyes wide in puzzlement.

He was well aware that they had slept together not a week ago and that they definitely were a thing - whatever that was. But he knew Kate Beckett was a woman who needed her space and to be quite honest, he needed his probably more. He wasn't sure he was totally ready to have her in his bed - having her here was already challenging enough and-

"Don't be an idiot, you're almost just as big as that couch." She huffed as she pushed him aside to lay her suitcase on the leathered cushion.

Eyebrows shooting up, he unintentionally let out a bubbling laugh as she watched him with a satisfied smirk and a hand on her hip as she bent over the suitcase to open it - smiling at him doing so.

"Are you sure? I don't want to come out as a rude host," he said as she shook her head and stood to loop her arms around his neck, their noses kissing.

"I am sure," she let out just before kissing the corner of his lips, which quirked up under her soft lips. "Besides, I don't know that I could keep my hands off you," she added with a sly smile and lowered brows that darkened her green forest eyes - her forehead hitting his own as she arched into him in emphasis.

Swallowing hard, he let his hands dumbly fall over her bony hips - barely there at all. "Ehm, yeah. Maybe not the greatest idea."

"I'm ready when you are, Castle," she said going back to her neatly folded clothes with a much more understanding smile, her eyes gleaming with a kind light.

I'll wait for you.

She didn't say it aloud, but the soft swirl of green and gold in her eyes, and the relaxed lines of her face were enough to tell him everything he had to know - and it was enough. She was not a woman of many words; but the way she moved and held herself, every shift in the lines of her face, every changing tone of her voice, every changing shade in her eyes was worth a thousand words.

"Hey Castle, can I ask you something?"

With a hasty shake of his head that effectively shut off and stopped any more thoughts from flowing free, he looked at her where she was sitting on the couch next to her suitcase with overcautious, but curious eyes. "Shoot."

"That day you asked to consult with us, you told me you had an idea - for a new book," she started, looking up at him, choosing her words and threading so carefully, her mouth mindful of the words it let free, as though he would bolt of the room. "Have you written anything since then?"

"Uh, Yeah. I did," he offered quietly but couldn't stop himself from fidgeting - he was shifting his weight on one feet and then on the other, because that was really not something he wanted to tackle now.

"Yeah?" she asked around a sigh, her lips stretching around a small and relieved smile, her soft eyes sparkling with a new light he couldn't read.

Taken off guard by the amount of expectation and relief her gaze held, he cleared his throat and averted his eyes in an attempt to breathe past the heavy lump in his throat - perhaps she was right, bolting out of the room sounded like a good plan right about now. "Yeah, but it's honestly not much - a few chapters."

"How many is a few, Castle?" she asked arching a sharp and way too judgemental eyebrow, and how did she know him so well already. It wasn't fair, there was no way he could defend himself.

"Alright, alright. I almost have everything I need," he conceded, his shoulder slumping knowing she wouldn't let him run away no matter how hard he'd try.

Her brows dropped and creased, the lines around her mouth hardening and twitching as she narrowed her eyes and observed- as if trying to read him. "Why- Why didn't you tell me?"

Was she hurt?

"I...don't know? I wasn't sure you wanted me to."

"God, Castle. For such a perceptive man, you can be so clueless sometimes," she stated simply, the corners of her lips barely lifting into a shadow of a smile. Standing, she rested her palms on his solid chest to brace herself as she leant and pressed a kiss on his jaw line. He watched with confusion as she checked the time on her watch and patted his chest. "I've got to go, don't wait for me tonight, I'll be back late."

"Can't make any promises," he mumbled his eyes trained on her as she freed her hair from the braid and shook her head briefly with a hand in her hair- her waves falling around her face and cascading down her shoulders in a whirlwind of brown and golden splashes with a swirl of cherry blossoms emanating from it.

She shot him a look behind her shoulder as she walked out of his office, her remarkably rosy lips a striking contrast with the black fabric of her shit. "Fine. Do as you want."

He blinked, the sweet scent of her still lingering in the air and taunting him as she crossed his living room in a few confident strides; the wild curls bouncing on her back and the sharp swing of her hips holding him under some kind of a daze, his legs tied together.

She really had him.

Once he'd been able to shake himself out of his trance she had roused, he went looking for the girls who still hadn't taken a step out of their room. He had been advised not to take them outside just yet, as they were still trying to acclimate to their surroundings, so he was quite limited there. In moment like these, he wished his mother was still around. He could call her, and really, he ought to since no one had told her about the girls. But, something was holding him back and while he did feel bad about it, he couldn't bring himself to make the call.

He had told himself he would, soon. He would just wait for the girls to get better first, there was no point in adding to their rampant struggles.

Knocking softly, he pushed the door open to slip inside the dimly lit room calling both their names softly.

"Hey, girls. Wanna play a game?"

He saw a shadow move in his side vision where Sarah's bed was, and surely, the girl had stood up and was pushing her glasses up her nose and walked towards him with a shy smile. They almost looked like normal kids now; they had had a shower and were in adorable clean clothes, their hair had been cut and brushed.

"Game?" she asked as she twisted her hands and regarded him with wide but still wary eyes.

"Yes, but we have to go downstairs, is that okay?"

Pursing her lips, she cast a look to the small form on the bed at the other side of the room and looked back at him with a shrug. "I don't know if I'm allowed."

Sighing, he squatted down and closed a hand around a small rounded shoulder. "Of course, you are, why wouldn't you be. This is your home."

The girl gnawed at her lip, seemingly deep in her thoughts. "She won't like it."

"Who?"

Again, the child shrugged and boldly looked somewhere past him.

He turned his head by reflex, but didn't see what she was staring at. He knew that the camera wasn't even in that corner of the room and didn't understand what that was about but tried something nonetheless, "Your sister, you mean?"

Sarah fervently shook her head, thick locks of hair flying around her. "Nuh-uh."

Narrowing his eyes, he tried to think like she did but got nowhere. Perhaps she wasn't ready just yet.

"Okay, look, I'll just go make you girls something to eat," he said squeezing her shoulder."And you can decide when you want to join me, if you want to."

"I'm sorry," he heard her say with such a tiny remorseful voice that his heart bit a little harder against his ribcage.

"Nothing to be sorry about, kid," he said as he drew her into a hug, the girl coming all too willingly and tying her arms around his neck, her face pressed up in his neck in the same way she had done it the first time. Pushing her back, he kissed her forehead before standing up. "Take all the time you need, little birdies need their wings to grow out before they can try to fly, right?"

The giggle he got for that lit up his whole soul, his blood singing and bubbling through his veins with each pump of his elated heart with the thought that maybe- maybe he's enough.

Hope you guys had a nice week, and thank you again for the support, it means a lot.

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