21. First Day of Preschool
Kate Beckett was lying in bed her head on Castle's chest and her hand resting on his stomach. She looked up and saw the clock showing that it was just past six, she let out a small yawn before closing her eyes again. They still had a little under an hour before they had to be up and getting ready to take Alex to school. She was just falling back to sleep when she heard something in the study, she opened her eyes and sat up as the door opened slowly. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness and she watched as someone poked their head through the door.
"Mommy?" She heard the small whisper.
She relaxed and twisted to face the door. "Alex?"
With what little light was streaming in through the door she caught the small smile that appeared on his face, he opened the door wider and walked further inside the room. Reaching the edge of the bed he grabbed the top of the cover before pulling himself up. Once he was on top of the bed he climbed into his mother's lap and placed his head on her chest.
"What are you doing up so early?" She asked letting out a yawn and wrapping her arms around him.
"I have school today mommy," he said excitedly.
She grinned stroking his hair. "You still have another hour before we have to be getting you ready."
"But I can't sleep, I'm too excited."
He sat up on his knees and bounced a little, a small groan came from Castle before he turned over onto his side.
Kate moved Alex onto the floor being telling him to go and wait in the living room for her, once he was out of the room she climbed out of bed and moved to grab her dressing gown. She looked across at Castle who had started to snore softly, deciding to let him rest a little longer.
By the time they were leaving the loft at eight Kate was rushing around grabbing everything. "You're sure we have everything?" She asked for what Castle was sure was the tenth time in the past five minutes.
Castle grabbed Kate's shoulders and made her look at him. "Kate, we have everything. Now stop worrying and lets go."
She picked up her purse and walked out of the loft closing the door behind her. They each took one of Alex's hands before making the small journey to his school. As they entered the building they saw all the parents' hugging their sons and daughters and crying. Most of them refused to let their children go, Kate chuckled as she imagined one of them any minute now dragging them back home.
As they reached the classroom that Alex would be spending most of his mornings in, they let go of his hands before watching him run into the room. He ran and joined a group of kids who were sat in a circle playing with the toy cars. They stood around for a few more minutes and went to hang up his coat, with one last look at him they moved out into the hallway.
Kate had told herself last night that she wouldn't be one of the mothers that stood outside all day, she was going to go outside and head to work. She took in a quick breath reaching over and grabbing Castle's hand giving it a quick squeeze. They had barely moved out of the hall when they heard the unmistakable voice of Alex.
"Mommy! Daddy!" He appeared in the door and caught their gaze. He ran the short distance to them and wrapped his arms around their legs. "You didn't say goodbye," he looked up at them.
Kate smiled before picking Alex up and giving him a quick kiss on the cheek, he giggled before wrapping his arms around her neck.
"Love you," he said before reaching over for Castle and doing the same thing.
"Have fun," Castle said setting him back on the floor. "I'll be back in a few hour to pick you up."
Alex raced off for his classroom again while Kate rested her head on Castle's shoulder.