Each time I see the shooting range scene from the first season of Castle it sticks with me for days! Wouldn't our adventurous, playful Caskett couple replay that scene in some form or fashion? I mean, there are soooo many options! Here's one take on it involving Kate's birthday, about 5 years into their marriage, with a bit of target practice in the bedroom.
Hope you enjoy! Rated T+ for reasons you'll likely find if you decide to read this little one-shot! ;)
Happy Birthday Kate: Don't Shoot!
"I think I'm having a case of deja-vu." Richard Castle adjusted the gun in his hand and stretched out his arm toward his target then held his breath.
After a pregnant pause he breathed out and tried to loosen his shoulders.
"It's not a duel, Scaramouche. Here," Kate pulled her body flush with his back, wrapped her arms around him and let her hands slide down his muscular forearms.
Castle chuckled but sucked in another quick breath.
"Shutup, Castle. Now listen," she wrapped each of her hands around his corresponding extremities. "Square up to target," she slid her knee in between his, encouraging him to turn his hips and spread his legs slightly. "Feet shoulder distance apart," she nudged his feet with the foot she had stationed between his legs.
Then she turned her focus back to aligning his hands. "Okay, gauntlet your right fist in your left palm…"
"Oh!" The sound of the weapon firing caught them both off guard slightly. "Oh, damn it, shot too soon," Castle commented flippantly as they watched the ammunition fly waywardly through the air, completely missing the target.
Then, he waited for his wife's response.
Kate grinned, her face beside his ear where she could nuzzle it with her nose, nip the shell with her front teeth and whisper sweet nothings if she so chose. Instead she commented somewhat softly, "I thought you only did that our first time, when you were overly excited to have my body wrapped around yours…" she tried to give her voice that sexy tone but both of them began to shake with laughter.
Castle bent forward with the plastic dart gun dangling against his thigh as he thought back to their first stint at the gun range.
Kate had been proud of herself for teaching her then-less-than-wanted shadow something about shooting a gun. Castle, on the other hand, had praised his mother for the acting skills she had given him all those years ago.
Until he put three bullets directly into the heart of the paper target, Kate Beckett had no clue the millionaire novelist was well-versed in handling a pistol.
Now, five years into their marriage, here they stood, laughing, in their bedroom about that first encounter.
"So did you seriously pull the trigger on accident?" Kate asked when the two of them began to catch their breath.
Rick nodded as he turned to face her, standing at the foot of their bed. "I was happily surprised to have your arms around me," he admitted honestly. "I could feel the heat of your body next to mine," his eyebrows went up as he remembered and he sucked in a long breath before casting his eyes back down into hers. "That first shot, I didn't mean to shoot it. I'm just glad my line came out so casually. Your retort was on point," he smiled down at her and snagged a quick kiss from her lips.
"You know, we could still just cuddle, Castle…" Kate recalled her reaction to his accidental shot.
"And you smiled," Rick let his thoughts hang there, in the air, for a moment.
Kate smiled at him and tiptoed up to place her own kiss against his lips. "Try again," she smiled with a nibble on her bottom lip.
She held up three more suction cup darts that went with the toy gun Rick was still holding. He grinned as he took one of them from her fingers and loaded it into the make-believe weapon.
The bedside table probably wasn't the best place for the cardboard target that held images from his Nikki Heat book covers. Toy guns weren't necessarily the optimum way to advertise his written works, but since converting Detective Heat into a comic book character, Castle and his muse weren't against the idea.
So, when their four-year-old daughter decided to test the toy, the Castle family acquired several sets.
"You're gonna have to switch her over to laser tag soon, you know that, right?" Kate mentioned as Castle cocked the base of the dart into the muzzle. "Otherwise she's gonna be running around here shooting you with these things and they can hurt," she warned.
Rick swished his head from side to side. "We'll wear goggles so we don't put an eye out," he held the blue plastic up in front of his face and again began aiming at the target.
"There will be no running around the house with these," Kate said a bit more definitively and Castle sighed.
"Yes, Mom," he deadpanned, rolled his eyes and then stretched out a single arm and closed one eye to try and line up his shot.
"Are you kidding me?" Kate veered from her safety discussion and again stepped behind him to wrap her arms around her husband. "That is not the way I taught you, Richard Castle."
This time she hugged in closer, letting her thin-lace-covered chest press up against his naked back. The custom negligee her husband had ordered for her birthday was proving useful on many, many levels. Kate smiled when she slid her naked leg between his and he shivered.
Rick's breathing slowly grew heavier as he felt that same, thin lace press against the silk of his boxers.
"Is it coming back to you now?" Kate asked with her chin perched on his shoulder. This time her sultry voice got her point across as her lips glanced across his ear and she raked her teeth across the tender skin. Again Rick shivered at her touch.
"Something's coming," Rick managed to push from his lips with a growl.
As he tossed the loaded gun somewhere else, he turned around in a haste and threw his wife onto their bed.
Kate squealed and laughed as he dove in beside her and immediately began ridding them of the few scant pieces of clothing they were wearing.
—-
Over the next couple of hours their clothes came off along with sheets and blankets dumped onto the floor. Kate had happily let Rick have his way with her more than once and he had enthusiastically made it worth her while.
Both had rolled off the bed at one point when Rick tried to dangle his body off the bed to pick up their dart gun. He had refused to let go of his wife as he began sliding and then… the two of them were laughing, kissing, tickling each other and playfully wrestling on the floor.
When Kate pinned him to the carpet in a fit of laughter, Rick insisted they move back to the bed.
That's exactly where they were, Kate perched, precariously naked, straddling her husband's waist. The laughter continued in the sexy ruse of wife trying to disarm husband. But every move made their bodily reactions intensify, naked heat sliding against a hard, purely natural weapon.
Rick fully planned to hit his intended target - again - with that weapon.
"Give me the gun," Kate insisted.
"Take it," Castle's smile waned slightly as he opened his palm and released the toy.
Kate had his wrists pinned on either side of his head. Her body was stretched against his, her hips moving of their own accord.
Her eyes met Castle's and in the next moment the gun was forgotten. Kate lowered her lips to his for a kiss that sent a lightning bolt of heat through both of them. She shifted her heated center in a practiced move that pulled his hardness to her entrance. He watched as her eyes closed and moved his own hips to seat himself fully inside her.
"You are soooo hot," Kate's face nestled into the crook of his neck as Rick began the familiar movement that brought them both so much pleasure.
"I like this gun - ah, yes…yessss - pistol whipped," she muttered and Rick licked his lips before smiling again.
Kate's pleasured hums always spurred him on, especially when their bodies began moving in sync. Her 'more' and 'yesssss' began to reach a fevered pitch and a less-than-quiet level when -
"Mommy! Daddy! Where are you?"
"J.B., wait, don't go in -" Alexis's voice called behind the little girl who was apparently headed toward…
"...there…"
The bedroom door opened widely as Rick and Kate's dark-haired daughter ran into the room.
Somehow, almost as though they had practiced it, Kate rolled off of Rick, pulled something - was that the comforter? - over their naked bodies and sat back up in a split second, ready to receive their unexpected guest.
"J.B.! Alexis! What are you two doing here?" She greeted their daughters.
Alexis was a bit impressed. Her father and stepmother were obviously in the heat of the moment - more than that, they were in the fire… Besides the blush on her stepmother's cheeks, and other areas of her body most likely, Kate transcended from spousal intimacy to Mom in a split second..
Johanna Beckett Castle crawled onto the bed between her parents. She glanced at her father who had yet to find his voice, trying to let his body come down from the high he didn't quite reach this time around. And then the dark little eyes focussed on her mother.
"Why you guys still in bed? It's like…it's…like 14 o'clock in the daytime," her young voice made Kate smile. The girl's innocence had no clue of what she had interrupted. Nor did she care.
"14 o'clock, really?" Kate watched the little face that was very similar to her own. "So why are you and Lexis here at 14 o'clock? I thought you guys had a whole day of fun planned."
"And night," J.B. added as she crawled onto her mother's thankfully-covered lap.
Kate adjusted them, sitting herself up more comfortably against the headboard while trying to keep their daughter's focus on Mom's face.
Rick was quietly but frantically looking around for his -
"Want these?" Alexis mouthed at him and made a putrid face as she picked up her father's underwear from the floor. The mid-20's Castle daughter held the clothing item pinched between her index finger and thumb, cringing as she took just two steps closer to her parents' bed and flicked them at her father.
Rick gave the young woman a grumbling glance and then shoved his boxers under the covers and somehow maneuvered them over his toes, legs and into place covering his…manhood.
So what if they were on backwards, at least he was covered.
"J.B. wants to spend the night at my apartment. I'm good to go but I thought this would be a… safe…time to come get her jammies and toothbrush. Is there a safe time when we leave the two of you alone?" The redhead looked at her father and stepmother with a bit of a judgemental eye.
"Hey," the little girl's voice interrupted the interrogation. Johanna leaned off her mother and reached toward the plastic gun that was under her father's shoulder. "Why's my gun in your bed?" She held it up and looked toward her big sister.
"Uh, give me that, J.B.," Alexis insisted. "Probably need to sanitize this," she commented.
"Alexis!" Kate laughed and grinned at the woman who was more than just a step-daughter to her.
Alexis offered a half grin, pulling up just one corner of her mouth until Rick added, "She's not wrong…"
His eyebrows raised as Kate looked at him. ""Member, double the weapon, double the fun?" He made a gun symbol with his thumb and index finger and then held his hand over his crotch.
"Oh, yeah," Kate bit her lip as she let the words drawl from her mouth.
"Ewwww!" Alexis exclaimed as she dropped the toy on the floor and looked back and forth between Kate and Rick.
Both members of the couple shrugged their shoulders, raised their eyebrows and grinned.
"You would think I would know what the two of you mean about private birthday celebrations by now," Alexis took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"Happy Birthday, Mommy!" Johanna turned back around to face Kate, apparently unaffected by the adult conversation happening around her. "Daddy, are you gonna get Mommy a present? You can't have my toy. When is Mommy's birthday party? Wexis," J.B. turned to address her big sister, "I need to get Mommy a present."
All three adults listened to the child. All smiled at her and waited for J.B. to complete her thought - as rambling as it was.
"Your child," Kate looked at Rick as she put her hands on their daughter's cheeks and leaned her face forward to nuzzle noses with the girl.
"Mommy, you need a birthday party," Johanna insisted. "You gotta have cake and ice cream and presents. Not a birthday without that," she explained. She looked at her father. "Daddy could we get a clown that makes shapes outta bah-woons?"
Kate spoke up before Castle could answer, "Well, Sweet Pea, I already have the only clown I need. Your Daddy has that job all wrapped up," Kate giggled when Castle stuck his tongue out at her.
"Wexis and I can go get cake and ice cream. Then we come back and have a party with you. But we need to call Gams and Papa," Johanna sounded as though she had planned the event in just a few moments.
Alexis hesitantly stepped a little closer to the bed and looked at her little sister, "J.B., I think Mom and Dad want to have a private birthday party today. What if we get your jammies in your suitcase, a couple of books to read at bedtime tonight, then you and I will go shopping for a present for Mom. We'll make party plans for tomorrow night, what d'ya say?"
Kate and Rick looked at their oldest daughter with an admiration that was well deserved. Alexis offered them both a knowing wink and an understanding smile.
Kate watched her redheaded daughter for a few extra seconds. She and Alexis had formed a bond, years ago, and their love for one another had grown from that. They were more like sisters except for the fact Kate had married Alexis's father.
The wife/mom just hoped that the smaller girl who was still sitting on the bed would end up much like her big sis.
"Thank you," Kate offered quietly to Alexis who held out her arms and waited for J.B. to stand up and walk across the bed.
Alexis put her little sister on the floor and pointed to the door. "Go pick out some books. I'll be there to help you in a minute, k?"
"Kk," J.B. responded but rounded her father's side of the bed first. She stood for a moment just looking at her father. Rick couldn't read her mind but was awed and had to smile at the look his younger daughter had on her face.
"What?" He finally asked for her thoughts.
"It's Mommy's birthday, today?" J.B. wondered.
"Yeah," Rick answered his youngest.
"Are you at least gonna take her to the zoo or something? Mommy doesn't like staying in bed all day long you know," she exaggerated to make her point.
"Really? And how do you know this, Miss Princess Castle?" Rick dared to ask.
"Cause Mommy likes action. She gets outta bed and goes to work and gets the bad guys. Kinda makes you look bad, Dad. You stay in your underwear in bed like 20 hours a day," J.B. raised her eyebrows as she spoke to her father.
Kate and Alexis both snickered at Young Miss Castle.
"Pwease tell me you at least got your underwear on, Daddy," she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Oh my God!" Rick looked at the older females in the room, "Do you see that? That is Beckett 2.0. Shakin' me down, callin' me out!" He addressed his youngster again, "Little Princess, I am doing exactly what your Mom wants to do today. She's the reason we are still in bed at 14 o'clock in the daytime and playing with your toys…in our bedroom." He noted how Alexis and Kate were both showing him similar body language as Johanna was.
The young girl sighed, again, much like her mother. "Daddy, what are we gonna do with you?" She shook her head and then smiled at him.
Rick reached out and grabbed J.B. under her arms. He easily lifted her up and held her next to him while he landed a ticklish kiss on her cheek. Johanna giggled and squirmed until he put her feet back on the floor.
"Daddy!" the little voice warmed Rick's heart, as did the smile on Alexis's face.
"Go get your stuff together, Princess. Have fun with Wexis tonight and call Grams and Papa. See if they can join us here for dinner tomorrow night. I'll make Mom's favorite and we'll have cake and ice cream for dessert, okay?"
J.B. looked toward Kate. "Is that what you want Mommy?" she asked sincerely. Kate smiled and nodded.
"Hey, J.B.?" Kate called before the girl got to the door. "Just so you know, it's okay to spend the day in bed every now and then, alright?"
"Even with, Daddy?" The girl's eyes scrunched in slight confusion.
Kate held the comforter up to make sure her chest remained covered as she leaned over and placed a kiss on Rick's cheek. "Especially with Daddy," she answered with a smile.
—-
The three adults watched Johanna wander out of the room toward her own. When Rick and Kate looked back at Alexis, she still had her hands crossed over her chest.
"What?" Rick asked again, this time of his older daughter.
"Does this happen often? Bedroom interruptions? I mean, how often do you - wait, nevermind, I don't wanna know…forget I asked…" she rambled.
Rick looked at her and smiled, "Wexis are you jealous?" He began and then wiped the smile off his own face. "Wait, stop, nope…not a question I want to ask you. I don't want an answer to that or any explanation at all on that topic."
Kate watched the interaction and placed her hand over her lips to hide the smile.
"Just maybe, lock your door?" Alexis suggested, earning a playful eye roll from her father. "No need for her young mind to be warped like mine was!"
"Hey!" Castle retorted. "The front door was locked. You have a key and let yourself in. Maybe call first," he offered.
Alexis breathed in and out shallowly. "I swear. No wonder I have a little sister. Should I expect more younger siblings?"
Kate and Rick looked at Alexis with consideration written on both their faces.
"Well not if we keep getting interrupted," Rick stated. He laughed as soon as Alexis rolled her eyes and turned her back.
"Thank you for letting J.B. stay with you tonight," Kate offered sincerely.
"Anytime," Alexis responded easily. "And Happy Birthday Kate…Mom," she added quickly.
Kate smiled widely.
The happily married couple stayed in bed until Alexis left their room and closed the door behind them. Kate was surprised when Rick immediately got out of bed and locked the door. He picked up the toy gun from the floor and tucked it gingerly into the waistband of his boxers.
"Yeah, we'd better plan on sanitizing that…" Kate grinned at him but also climbed out of bed and reset the target on the bedside table.
Both Alexis and Johanna noticed that their parents hadn't made a move to come out of the bedroom when they were ready to leave the apartment again. Alexis shook her head hoping the door was locked now. Johanna looked up at her big sister and took Alexis by the hand.
"Mommy and Daddy have fun together, don't they, Wexis? Is that cause they're in love?" She worked to make the 'l' sound the way it was supposed to.
Alexis looked at her little sister, nodded and grinned. "That's exactly why."
She paused momentarily before letting the front door close behind them. Even with the bedroom door closed and her father's office between them she could still hear the married Castles giggling.
And she was almost sure there was some kind of weird foreplay happening at the sound of Kate's voice, "Square up to target…feet shoulder distance apart… Okay, now gauntlet your right fist…right about there…but don't shoot too soon…"