All things considered, Beckett thought as she made her way from her car to her home, the day was far more productive than she'd anticipated it being. They'd gotten far more out of Aurora White than she'd thought, and when she'd said all along proved to be true when they'd checked out her alibi - according to the security tapes delivered from the Hammond home security system, she'd entered around twelve-twenty the day of the murder and had left with Elaine at twelve-forty-seven, Elaine returning just before two. Further, Aurora's meetings, credit card, cab and condo-building security tapes all confirmed she was in meetings before curtain then returned home and stayed there until the next morning.

So who the hell had been sneaky or skilled enough to bypass the Hammond's security system in order to get ? And if Elaine Hammond had indeed been dropped off by the cab at the intersection of Thirty-Sixth and Fourth, where the hell had she gone?

Those were the two questions she and Esposito had to answer, Beckett decided, but not tonight. Tonight the boys were coming over with her hubby for poker night, and she had a feeling despite the good humour Esposito would still be asking for the reassurance he was a good husband.

Perhaps giving Castle a reminder heads-up would be the nice thing to do, she thought, opening the door of the loft. For now, she let it slide as she walked into the warmth and the smell of freshly baked cookies. RJ hadn't gotten to his baking on his snow day like he'd wanted so apparently he was making something today.

Smiling, she didn't say anything right away as she loved listening to her children's voices in conversation as she came home.

'No, see we have to let them cool, Jojo.'

'But they yummy now!'

'They're too hot and they're supposed to be really crunchy cookies.'

'Oh. Dip in milk?'

'Well, all cookies are good for dipping in milk,' Beckett called out and her grin widened when she saw RJ and Jojo scamper over from the kitchen and catch her on either side for a great big hug.

'Mumum! You home!' Jojo made a little 'mm-mm' noise as she rocked her mother around the knees. 'How work-a day? You cashin' mo' baddies?'

'We thought we might have the baddie who helped the killer but it turns out she couldn't have helped the killer,' Beckett replied and RJ's eyes were brightly serious.

'That's okay Mumum, that means you know for sure who didn't do it, right?'

'Fo' shoo,' Jojo echoed, then looked over at her father who had removed his oven mitts and was coming over to kiss Beckett hello. 'Daddy, see? Mumum home! Now cookie time!'

'Ah, no, no spoiling your dinner, remember? We're going to Alexis' house tonight for supper while Daddy has his friends over for cards-night,' Beckett reminded her children as Jojo helped her with her mittens and RJ with her coat. 'She made Jamaican chicken for us.'

'It's not too spicy, is it? I remember what Meredeth's green chilli tasted like, that was just scary.' RJ gave a shudder, made a zombie-face. 'Why does my sweetheart like food like that?'

'I like pissy foo' too,' Jojo piped up, making Beckett blink.

'One more time, young lady?'

'Pissy! Mean way hot, like buff-ah-lo shickens,' Jojo explained, and RJ giggled.

'Jojo you are trying to say spicy but you are saying a bad word,' he told her, and led her away trying to help her pronounce it properly while Beckett just shook her head at Castle as he took her in his arms and kissed her.

'Hello Detective.'

'Hello Writer. How were the tots?'

'RJ has finished his math and Jojo helped him colour in some sheets for social studies so homework is done, and we had something small since dinner is later for everyone tonight. And now for the mid-evening dessert.'

Castle took her by the hand and pulled her towards the stairs, making Beckett splutter a little.

'Richard, we can't just go banging away because we want to, what if the kids walk in?'

They paused outside RJ's room where he was trying to decide with Jojo what things to take to play with at Alexis' house. 'RJ, Jojo?' he said. 'I need some alone time with Mumum for about twenty minutes or so, think you can handle that and not interrupt us?'

'Uh-huh, we have something to do here anyways, it's little kid stuff, very important,' RJ told them in a tone that mirrored the one Beckett used on her husband when she felt he was being a child poking into her work and not actually helping. 'Go be alone together.'

'Ah-Shay, what this one?' Jojo held up a book she'd never seen. 'We bring it?'

'Sure.'

'See?' Castle continued to pull his wife towards their bedroom, kicking the door shut with his foot. 'They are well occupied and I want some sexy times with my wife so I have a clear head for cards.'

'You know RJ will figure out what we're doing, right?'

'He's a smart kid and maybe it's better if he knows things like this early on so we can be open and frank when it comes time for the other talks he'll need in about five years time.'

'Mmm, talking about our boy going through puberty, you do know how to push a girl's buttons, Richard,' Beckett teased him, then sighed pleasantly when she felt his hands go to her waist to tug up her top. 'Now that's more like it.'

'Wanna play good-cop-bad-cop?' he murmured, her shirt flying over his shoulder and his hands busy tugging down her bra straps.

'Not enough time. Tonight, after poker night and- don't say it.'

'I said nothing.'

'My ass.'

'Oh, Detective.' Castle slipped her trousers over her hips, cupped her bottom in his hands. 'Your as that has born our children is a very very sexy one I just have to have.'

The heat zipped into her body as his hand drifted up her back, around to test the weight of her breasts against his palm. He felt her stiffen against him when he flicked her already taut nipple with his thumb, grinned as he kissed her lips, her jaw, her cheek until he caught her earlobe lightly in his teeth. She gasped, fingers curling into his back before they moved like lightening to his chest and flipped open his buttoned shirt. When he was naked to the waist she went for his pants, but instead, Castle boosted his bride up in his arms and carried her to the bed, her knees bracketing his hips while he knelt before her and slowly peeled away his jeans.

'That's quite a show you're putting on, Rich,' Beckett murmured, stroking her hands over her stomach, up her ribcage to her breasts; the movement had him licking his lips in anticipation.

'I love watching you touch yourself, Kate.'

'Just like this?' She left one hand on her body, let the other slip down between her thighs, gently move back and forth. 'What about this?'

'No, no more of that or this won't even be a quickie, it'll be a blinky.' Beckett's chuckle was low and musical as she let her hand fall away, only to be replaced by his, as Castle watched her with his blue eyes so intense they were nearly black. He watched her hand thump lightly on the sheets, her eyes close halfway before they opened wide once more as he slipped his own hand between her thighs.

It was amazing to watch, the way the layers on his cop fell away until she was just his wife and he just her husband, and Castle lowered his mouth to hers. 'I love you Kate.'