"Rick," Beckett gently whispered into his ear.

When she didn't get a response she took hold of his shoulder and shook him a little.

"Ricky."

Still no reply. She grabbed the pillow from under her and slammed it on his face. When he jolted up straight she giggled innocently.

"What the hell, Kate?"

"You wouldn't wake up," she pouted.

Castle looked over at her alarm clock.

"For good reason!"

"Aw come on. There was a murder. Don't you wanna go see it? I heard it was gruesome."

"No," Castle replied as he hid under the covers.

"What will it take to get you up?"

Castle pulled the blankets from over his head and gave her a small grin.

"Oh no. No, no, no. Three times last night was enough for me."

"Fine. I'm staying here."

"Fine. I have work to do."

As Beckett was about to slide off the side of the bed, she was grabbed at the waist.

"Are you really-," Castle moved his hands up her bare sides. "-going to leave me alone in your apartment?"

Beckett bit down on her bottom lip once his hands were over her chest. She couldn't let him win. She didn't like being seduced. But then again… it was Richard Castle. She glanced over at her alarm clock. What would one more hour do?

Castle had a huge smile on when she turned and crawled onto him.

Beckett slowly leaned down and whispered into his ear.

"Don't think so," she smiled and quickly got up.

"That's so unfair! You can't do that!"

"Oh? I think I just did."

"Kate!" he yelled once she walked out of the bedroom.

He slammed his head down on the pillows and covered his face with his hand. She got him. She got him good. And now he had to get her back… at work. He grinned to himself and got out of bed.

"Wait for me!"

xoxoxo

"Hey, Lanie," Beckett said once she walked through the doors.

"You're so late," Lanie replied without looking up.

"No… not really. I stopped to get coffee like usual."

"Don't lie to me. You and Castle probably got a wakeup call."

"Nope. Three rounds last night was enough."

Lanie's eyes widened. She lifted her head upward. She saw her best friend's mouth scrunch up like she didn't mean to say that.

"Busted."

"Oops?"

"Three times? Girl, that means it was amazing, right?"

"Beyond that, Lanie. He just knew what to do and where to touch. It was unbelievable how many times I… yeah."

"Wow. This is the first time you have talked about sex like that."

"Sorry."

"Don't be! You don't mind when I share. Why would I?"

"I don't know," Beckett shrugged.

"Exactly. I'm more happy that it was with Castle. Finally!"

Beckett looked down at her lap with a smile. She knew everyone at the precinct wanted them together, but she was afraid and now that she made the leap, she wished she never waited before.

"So.. what do you have for me?" she changed the topic.

xoxoxo

"Stayed at Beckett's last night?" Esposito asked without taking his eyes off a folder.

"How…?"

"Lanie," Ryan answered with a smile.

"I'd be happy to let you know… I did!"

They did their three-way fist bump and smiled.

"So? How was it?"

Castle leaned in forward because he didn't want to be caught by Beckett. Definitely talking about their sex life when it just started would be bad to be caught doing.

"The whole tough cop exterior… doesn't exist in the bed," he whispered.

"Seriously?" Esposito asked.

"Seriously. She's experienced. She really knows what she's doing."

"Too bad you didn't go for her when you had that one crush before," Esposito nudged Ryan.

"Shut up. That lasted a week," Ryan blushed and went back to work.

"More like a month," Esposito mouthed.

Castle smiled widely. He loved having these two as friends. They knew how to keep secrets and give good advice, even though he didn't need any yet. They continued to talk about a video game that just came out when Beckett came walking over.

All three of them lifted their heads when they heard her heels. She smiled at them and continued to her desk.

Castle quickly got up and took his place by her.

"What do we have?" he asked.

"A young girl about twenty. Lanie says cause of death was from a blow to the head. She is still looking for a murder weapon and when she finds it, she will tell us," Beckett answered and finally let out the breath she was holding.

Castle leaned forward a little more and whispered, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. It's just… she was young, you know?"

"The young ones always get to you. I've noticed."

"Yeah well I'm not insensitive."

"Never said you were."

"Um…" Beckett rubbed the bridge of her nose then lifted her head to Ryan and Esposito. "Did you guys find next of kin?"

"Yeah. Uniforms went to get her mom. Her dad passed away last year," Ryan answered.

Beckett inhaled sharply. The mom must be devastated. She lost her husband last year and now her daughter.

"Do you want me to get you something to drink?" Castle asked her.

"Yes. Coffee. Please," she forced a smile.

xoxoxo

"You know I wanted to get payback from when you teased me this morning, but you look upset so I'll let it slide," Castle said as he unlocked his door.

"And just think, if you try and get me back… it will be way worse for you," Beckett smirked at him as she walked into his apartment.

"Hey dad. Hey Kate," Alexis greeted with a smile. "I picked out a movie."

"Sounds good," Beckett smiled back.

She made her way next to Alexis on the couch. She leaned back and closed her eyes.

"Tough case?" Alexis asked.

"A young girl," Castle replied as he got plates for the pizza.

"Oh." she turned towards Beckett. "Dad has told…" she looked over to see her father waving his arms and shaking his head. "..Nevermind?"

"What has he said?" Beckett rose one of her eyebrows.

Castle came running over and put his hand over his daughter's mouth just as it opened.

"Nothing, dear."

"Richard Castle," Beckett said as she stood up and walked towards him. "What did you tell her?"

Alexis turned around so she was facing them. She found this to be way more entertaining than she should have.

"I didn't do anything!" Castle exclaimed as he ran behind the counter so there was something between them.

"You did something and you're going to tell me or I will go home."

"I just.. That's not fair!"

"It's fair."

"I tell her what you don't say out loud. Like how you get emotional from cases like these. That's all."

"That's all? Why did you make me think you did something worse? And why did you run?" she crossed her arms.

"Well… you got up. Fight or flight. I chose flight."

Beckett rolled her eyes at him and made her way back to Alexis.

"Let's start this movie," she smiled.

Three minutes after Alexis hit play, Castle walked over to the couch and hesitantly sat by Beckett. He was afraid that she was going to do something so he didn't get too close yet. A few minutes later he figured nothing was going to happen so he scooted closer and slipped his arm around her.

Beckett smiled to herself and acted like she was putting her arm around him, but she was actually reaching for his ear. She traced his neck with the tips of her fingernails and then quickly grabbed his ear. When she yanked it, he let out a yell.

Alexis burst out laughing and shook her head.

"Men. When will they ever learn that they never get away without a price?"

"This one will never get away," Beckett smiled at him and let go of his ear.

"That really hurts," Castle pouted.

"Don't be a baby, dad," Alexis teased.

Beckett brought her hand back towards his ear and rubbed it.

"Next time it won't be your ear," she looked at him then down at his lap.

"Hey!" he shouted.

"Don't be a bad boy and that won't happen."

"Okay. I'm going to finish my essay in my room," Alexis quickly ran upstairs.

"I think we scared her off," Castle grinned and went in for a kiss.

"I don't think so."

"Why not?"

"Because you were bad. That's why."

Castle sat back feeling defeated. Before he let himself think too much, he stood up and quickly scooped her into his arms. He ignored her feet that kicked rapidly and ran into his room. He set her on his bed and smiled from ear to ear.

"You really think bringing me in here will change my mind?" she asked with her head tilted to the side.

"No, but you look really tired so I thought we could just go to bed."

"Good idea. Do you have something I could wear?"

"Here," he answered as he opened one of his drawers and grabbed a t-shirt.

When he turned around she already was shirtless and it took him a second to be able to throw the t-shirt he was holding.

"Don't even think about it because I'm exhausted," she read his look before she put his shirt on.

They both climbed into bed at the same time. Castle pulled her into his arms and smiled.

"I still can't believe this is actually happening," he whispered.

"Me neither," Beckett yawned.

"Go to sleep."

"I will once you shut up."

"Hey be nice to me."

"I love you, Ricky. Now let me sleep please."

"I love you too," he smiled and watched her close her eyes.

A couple hours later….

"Dad!"

Beckett and Castle both jolted up at the scream. They ran out of the room and upstairs. They tried to open Alexis' door, but it was locked.

Castle slammed his shoulder into the door and it flung open. He ended up falling onto the floor and scrambled to find his feet. When he was standing up, he turned towards Beckett who had her hand over her mouth.

His daughter was curled up on the ground.

"Alexis. Alexis!" he shouted and fell on his knees by her.

"Rick, she's breathing, but look," Beckett pointed.

Castle pushed his daughter's hair away from her neck to reveal rope marks. The same rope marks from the Triple Killer.

AN: There's probably a lot of errors since I wrote this just now at 2:00 a.m. so just let me know and I'll fix them. And I'm also sorry for the delay. I've had no ambition to write whatsoever. But anywho! Tell me what you think! :D