AN: Okay guys, we're really getting close to wrapping this up. I think the next chapter could be the last one. We'll see when I get round to writing it though… Let me know what you think about this one.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

She felt a presence behind her and turned her head to see Lanie and Jim with gentle smiles that matched her own as their gaze drifted to the tangle of limbs and love that was sprawled on the bed before them.

"Thank you," Jim whispered gently, a hand on Martha's shoulder. She inclined her head toward him.

"Whatever for?" she responded with a slightly perplexed smile.

"Your son," he admitted, his eyes shining with relief. "After Katie's mother died I didn't think she'd ever find her way to being truly happy again. I couldn't see a family of her own in her future, she was just too angry, too devastated. But, now," he nodded at the bed, "now I see her future."

"Oh, Jim," she sighed, resting her hand on his with a soft squeeze. From across the room, Beckett cleared her throat.

"We can hear you know," she said, turning her eyes away from Castle and unto her father.

"You can't blame my mother for me," Castle added with a grin.

"Really, Richard?" Martha chuckled. "There's a time and a place for your humour, darling. This is neither the time nor the place. The adults in the room are trying to have a serious conversation," she winked, with a smirk at her son. Castle opened his mouth to form a clever retort but Beckett cut him off –

"Dad," she paused, trying to voice her thoughts in the most coherent manner. "You're still my family, you know that, right? I'm never going to replace you, you'll still always be my family."

"Katie," he moved from the doorway and into the room, coming to a rest beside the bed holding Beckett, Castle and Alexis. He placed a gentle kiss on Beckett's forehead before continuing. "Of course I'll always be your family, I'm just so glad to be able to extend our family. To have more people who love us – that's what life is all about." It was then that the occupants of the bed noticed the tears streaming quietly down Alexis' face.

"Alexis?" Castle asked gruffly, his tone unadulterated concern. She sniffled.

"It's just that, that's exactly what I needed to hear. We could have had that exact conversation, Dad. I worry about losing us – our little family – with you falling in love with Kate," she admitted. "Thank you, Mr Beckett," she added, turning her gaze to Jim briefly.

"Please, call me Grandpa," he replied, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. Alexis' froze for a moment before Martha's voice filled the room –

"Seriously. What did I just say to Richard about a time and a place for humour?" she announced with a dramatic eye-roll. Alexis' shocked expression righted itself into a beaming grin. Jim chuckled.

"Dad!" Beckett admonished him with a loving smile. He shrugged.

"Well, I thought it was funny. But please, call me Jim, Alexis. Mr Beckett makes me feel like a school teacher."

"Your father," Castle started, before mentally correcting himself, "our family is funny."

"Yeah," Beckett said, reaching up to caress his cheek, running her fingers along the stubble growing raggedly on his chin. "Our family are the best."

"That's not what I said," he grinned.

"No," she admitted. "But it's what you meant." Suddenly it no longer mattered that they were surrounded by their parents, that one of his arms was wrapped around his daughter, the gap between his lips and Beckett's was far too much to bare. He lunged towards her, fusing his lips to hers, fiercely. His love wasn't gentle, it was powerful, it was hungry with a tinge of desperation. She ended the kiss earlier then she would have liked to, remembering their audience.

"Castle," she warned, her tone too much like a sigh to really discourage him.

"Mmm," he rumbled against her lips. She kissed him gently once again, trying to quell the fire, at least momentarily. It didn't work. But he pulled away reluctantly and gazed at her.

"God, I love you," he grinned.

"And, I love you," she smiled, clutching onto his neck and rubbing it gently, trying to undo the tension building up there from the events of the previous couple of days.

"I'm so glad I don't have to hide it anymore," he admitted joyfully.

"Who are you kidding, writer boy?" Lanie interjected. Beckett had forgotten that she was there, leaning casually against the door with a beaming grin. "You weren't hiding a thing!" Castle groaned and Beckett threw a hand over her mouth, trying to contain the giggles that were threatening to overflow. It didn't work and soon her laughter was echoing around the room. It didn't take long before the other occupants of the room had joined her, except Castle who was wearing an expression of mock hurt.

"Oh baby, did Lanie hurt your feelings?" Beckett teased with bright eyes, still rich with humour.

"She hurt mine," Martha cut in. "You'd think the great Martha Roger's son would have better acting skills."

"Really, Mother?" Castle chided "You're making this about you?" He turned to Beckett, "did you just call me baby?" he asked with arched eyebrows.

"Not the point," she refuted.

"Totally the point!" he exclaimed.

"Er, I think the major point is that I'm still here," Alexis spoke up. "Somehow I feel like this conversation is heading towards PG-13 territory." Beckett laughed, at the words, and Castle's indignant expression.

"Behave Castle," she scolded lightly.

"Why? If I misbehave I'd be happy to let you spank me, Detective," he winked.

"Again, Castle, really?" Beckett gasped, as Alexis remarked –

"Eww, that's exactly what I was talking about!" Castle smiled at his daughter, his eyes shining with humour before responding to Beckett.

"You remember?" he grinned.

"Of course I remember – I remember that line didn't work for you the first time," she was aiming for exasperated, it came out more like laughter. Castle was interrupted from continuing the conversation further when a doctor entered the room.

X-X-X-X-X-X

The doctor took in the room before him and cleared his throat. But before he could start, Castle was pleading with him.

"Can we check out? Please. After all that's happened, I think we'd all feel a lot safer at home." The doctor's brow furrowed as he shook his head.

"Mr Castle, you've suffered considerable trauma over the past couple of days, we need to keep you here for observation overnight. I would advise the same for Detective Beckett. Miss Castle, on the other hand, is free to leave," he said quite forcefully, seeing that Castle and Beckett weren't too happy with the prognosis.

"I feel fine," Castle whined.

"You are doing well Mr Castle and we'd like to keep it that way, hence the need for observation," the doctor reasoned. Castle wasn't convinced but he dropped it, offering the doctor a tight smile and brisk nod. Beckett fought back the pout that was making its way to her face. She was sick of this damn hospital.

"How about we wait to it gets dark and bust out," she whispered to Castle. The way his eyes lit up caused a giggle to slip from her lips. "I was kidding you silly man. I'm as sick of this place as you are, but you being okay is way more important."

"I am okay," he groaned.

"Mmm," she hummed. "Technically you're not okay until the doctor says you are." Said doctor nodded in agreement.

"We'll keep an eye on your vitals and check back on the both of you in a little while, so stay put," he added, turning from the room. At the doorway, he glanced at his watch and frowned. "Also, I'm sorry to inform you that visiting hours are coming to an end in a couple of minutes."

X-X-X-X-X-X

Shortly after the doctor's visit Lanie departed, with bright smiles and big hugs shaping her departure. It wasn't long after that Jim, Martha and Alexis begrudgingly left the room. Castle and Beckett had assured them, that, being immediate family no one would have any scruples with them staying but they had headed home regardless, citing time for resting and healing, although all were aware of the unspoken desire to give the couple space to recuperate alone – but together. Alexis had been right in saying that medically they were fine, emotionally they were all still somewhat of a mess. The perks of trauma. Left alone with the thoughts of what they had endured all too clear in their minds proved exhausting and Beckett found herself drifting back to sleep, safe, warm and emotionally wrought in Castle's embrace. It wasn't long before he joined her in slumber, his eyes raking over her still form again and again until they drooped and he couldn't bring himself to pry them back open.

X-X-X-X-X-X

The first thing Castle heard when his mind found itself in the present as opposed to buried deep in his dreams was Esposito's voice.

"Thank you," he said gruffly.

"It's really no problem," Gates replied. "They are my people too. I'll see you back at the precinct later." Castle slowly drew his eyes open to find Esposito leaning against the doorway watching them.

"I didn't know Beckett knew how to sleep in," he winked, catching Castle's gaze.

"I'm awake," she yawned, eyes still scrunched tightly shut. "Shuddup, Espo," she added as an afterthought.

"What's the time?" Castle wondered, his eyes falling on Esposito's watch.

"It's about six-thirty in the morning. Doc says your vitals are good and you guys can check out," he grinned. He held up a bag, "Beckett, I grabbed a change of clothes from your locker at the precinct."

"Are you telling me I'm going to have to bribe a doctor for his clothes again?" Castle sighed.

"Oh no," Esposito shook his head slowly, breaking into a bright grin, a glint of something Castle couldn't quite distinguish in his eyes. "Stopped by forensics, they let me have your t-shirt!...You know, the bloodstains really add to it, the deep red just screams love and soul mates." Castle groaned.

"That's so not funny. At all." Beckett quaked and quivered in his arms. "What? Are you okay?" his tone was instantly worried as she shook, her entire body writhing.

"Hilarious," she choked out as her laughter spilled over, loud and unrestrained. Esposito's grin broadened.

"At least Beckett's still got a sense of humour," he shrugged. Castle continued to glare at him.

"Beckett, if you don't stop laughing I will throw you out of my bed," Castle warned. "It's really not that funny."

"It is, it is," she chuckled, pulling herself from his arms. "Fine, I'm getting up."

"I was kidding," Castle whined, grabbing her arm and drawing her back towards him.

"Nope, too late. Besides, don't you want to get out of this godforsaken hospital already?" With that Castle was stumbling from the bed, his speed negating the little coordination that he possessed. He froze, eyes on the gown he was dressed in.

"Do you really not have any clothes for me?" he pleaded. Esposito laughed.

"Nope, but Ryan does," he stuck his head out the door, catching sight of his partner moving down the hallway towards them. "Dude, what took you so long?" he asked as Ryan reached them.

"Took me forever to rummage through Castle's closet. He's practically a woman," Ryan shrugged. Taking in Castle's indignant expression he added with a grin, "that, and Martha made me breakfast."

"Give me my clothes," Castle muttered. "I know you're just jealous of my impeccable taste. Probably took you so long because you were writing down the styles of my clothes. It's okay to admit that you're envious. If you ask nicely maybe I'll take you shopping someday," he hedged with a wink.

"Just get dressed already," Ryan sighed, not really frustrated but playing it up. Ryan and Esposito deposited the bags of clothing in Beckett and Castle's outstretched arms before yanking the door closed. Castle watched mesmerised as Beckett turned away from him and slid her gown off, revealing her bare back. He wanted to run his hands over her naked skin. But he stood there, frozen to the spot with overwhelming lust as she pulled a bra on, clasping it deftly behind her back, practiced fingers securing it without a moment's hesitation. She shrugged a shirt on before tugging on pants, turning to find Castle still in his gown, mouth slightly agape, eyes clouded over. She moved to him, kissing him soundly before undoing his gown and pushing it to the floor. She pulled his shirt on before kissing him again. The movement of her hands on his back and her tongue hot and heavy in his mouth almost undid him. He wrenched her closer, running his hands under the rim of her shirt, splaying them across the skin of her back, her shirt riding up in response to his movements. She moved her tongue to his jaw, wetting a path to his ear.

"Putting clothes on, not taking them off, Castle," she moaned. He unclasped her bra in response. She giggled and swatted his hands away, doing her bra back up. "C'mon, get dressed. Then we can go home," she breathed in his ear. He pulled her lips back to his once more and kissed her deeply.

"Fine," he murmured against her cheek as they broke apart. Without releasing her, he grasped blindly for his pants and clumsily jerked them on. He secured them with a small groan.

"What?" she mumbled, lips on his jaw once again.

"They're tighter than normal," he winked.

"Typical," she moaned with a teasing smile.

"It is typical with you around," he added.

"Not what I meant and you know it," she laughed breathily, reaching for his hand and tugging him from the room.

X-X-X-X-X-X

Ryan pulled the cruiser away from the curb and into the traffic, heading in the direction of Castle's loft.

"I can't wait to go home," Beckett sighed, enjoying the fresh air, the breeze on her face as she leaned into the open window.

"Do you want me to go there first, or Castle's?" Ryan asked. Beckett didn't answer immediately and the eyes of all the men in the car turned to her. She was biting down on her lip, blush pooling on her cheeks.

"Bro, I think she was talking about Castle's," Esposito stage whispered to Ryan, shooting a grin at Beckett. She rolled her eyes at him.

"Whatever," she sighed. "Just take us to Castle's." She chanced a glance at him, the look of pure adoration in his eyes almost knocked the breath from her.

"Home," he nodded, beaming. "Let's go home." Ryan and Esposito exchanged a smirk before continuing in silence.

"Oh," Beckett startled as they rounded the corner to the loft. "We need to deal with Dunnings' brother. I completely forgot about him."

"We got it covered," Esposito declared as Ryan parked the car. Beckett nodded at the boys before moving from the car, tugging Castle after her, linking their fingers.