Chapter 14

Castle's face was sticky. His hair was sticky and so was his pillow. "I need a shower," he muttered, getting to his feet. He looked down at Beckett, her hair splayed out, full of white flecks, and love washed over him. How could anyone be such a mess and look so perfect at the same time?

Beckett stretched and opened her eyes, "Castle?"

"Just catching a shower, wanna come?"

Beckett rubbed her eyes. "I'll be there in a minute."

Beckett joined Castle to find him making vigorous use of a loofah. "This stuff is stubborn," Castle told her. "Maybe they should repackage it as spray adhesive."

"Let me help," Beckett suggested, taking the sponge.

"Only if you let me help you first," Castle said, grabbing it back.

Castle scrubbed all the white he could find off Beckett and she returned the favor, working up an impressive lather of spicy shampoo to get the goo out of his hair. Castle picked up the cherry shampoo to do the same for Beckett. As he bent over her, he inhaled the fragrance and couldn't resist kissing the hollow of her newly clean neck. Beckett arched against his body, arousing him that much more. Castle turned her toward him to further sample the taste of her damp skin, the scent of cherries overwhelming his senses. He pulled her tightly against him and she could feel his excitement rising. He took her with him. Under the pounding water they searched and found more and more, filling each other, until the explosion washed over them with the water and they rested still entwined against the shower wall.

Wrapped in towels and still slightly wobbly, they made their way back to the bedroom, where Castle took in the hopelessly un-makeable bed. "I think it's laundry time," He commented.

Beckett smirked, "Try saying that without the smile." Castle.

After they dressed, Castle did bundle up the sheets to put in the washer. He met Alexis taking a load of clothes out of the dryer. "You're getting started early," he observed.

"I've got things to do," Alexis told him, taking her basket of clothes upstairs.

Castle started coffee and was joined by Beckett, who sat at the counter.

"Did I hear Alexis?" she asked.

"Yeah, "Castle answered. "She just finished her laundry at," Castle looked at his watch, "seven thirty A.M. She's not usually that much of a morning person. I wonder what that's all about."

"She could just be out of clothes, Castle," Beckett suggested. "She didn't bring that many with her."

Castle shook his head. "She still had a lot here. There wasn't room for all her stuff in the apartment. She's thinking about something."

As if in answer to the question, Alexis came down the stairs carrying two small suitcases.

"Where are you going?" Castle asked.

Alexis left the cases by the door and took Castle's hands. "Dad," I'm going back to the apartment. "I've been on my own and I can't go back to being a little girl again."

"What are you going to do? You can't afford even that place by yourself."

"Buttons Dutton is going to move in with me. We'll share expenses."

"And Pi's things?"

"He didn't have many things. "I'm going to put them in storage for his parents."

"Alexis," Castle asked, "is there anything I can do to make this easier for you?"

Alexis gave a slightly impish smile. "Dad, you know that couch you have in storage? I think I could really use that."

Castle leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Done!"

Alexis stood on tiptoe, putting her arms around her father's neck and kissed him on the cheek. "Bye Dad, bye Kate," she said, picked up her bags and left the loft.

Castle stood rooted to the spot until Beckett came and wrapped him in her comforting embrace. Castle held on tight to his lifeline and his love.

Finis

A/N Unless an emergency intervenes, I should be able to put up the first chapter of Growth II tomorrow. I thank all of you for the reviews. They really keep me going.