It's been a while since I wrote anything but this was a birthday gift for my bff, Educate, that I thought I'd share here. It's set after the events of the finale but before the "7 Years Later." I take the blame for any and all mistakes.


Kate checked the lock on the door and then turned out lights as she made her way to the bedroom. She paused in the doorway to admire Castle's form as he finished his sit-ups and rolled over into the push-up position. The bullet that Caleb had put in his chest had done significant damage to his pectoral muscle and it had been a long road to recovery. However, Castle had been determined that he wasn't going to stop until he had full use of his muscle and he had turned physical therapy into a launching pad for his new fitness regime. As she stood and watched him work through his push-ups, she had to admit that she was pleased with the results.

Knowing he would be a few minutes still, Kate made her way to the bathroom and got ready for bed. As she slipped off her blouse, she caught sight of the scars her own body carried of that horrible day. It had been a long road to recovery for both of them, both physically, emotionally, and mentally. Thankfully, they'd had good therapists to help with all aspects of their recovery and they'd had each other.

Slipping a short nightgown over her head, Kate sighed and dropped her clothes into the hamper. Sometimes it still took her breath away when she thought about how close she had come to losing him that day…how close she'd come to dying herself.

Stepping back into the bedroom, Kate sat on the edge of the bed and allowed her eyes to drift over Castle's back. He had changed into shorts and a t-shirt before he'd begun and Kate loved the way his muscles rippled under his clothes as he lowered himself to the floor and then pushed himself back up. There was just something about watching him doing push-ups that drove her a little bit crazy.

As she watched, he rolled back over and started on sit-ups again.

"How many do you have left?" she asked.

"Last sets of fifty," he replied.

Kate turned down the covers as Castle finished his sit-ups and moved back to push-ups. Sometimes she swore he did his exercises before bed for the sole purpose of getting her turned on. As she turned her attention back to him, she noticed his pace slowing.

"Getting tired?" she asked as she once again sat on the edge of the bed.

He paused in the up position and glanced up at her. "If I say yes, will you take over for me?"

Kate smiled at him and gracefully lowered herself to the floor so they were at eye level. "We both know you wouldn't take me up on that," she replied.

Shrugging as best he could, he once again lowered himself and knocked out five more push-ups before pausing to rest again.

"Only fifteen to go," Kate said. "You got this, baby."

Castle glanced over at her again. Baby, huh? "Just what exactly are you thinking about while I'm down here working my ass off?"

Grinning mischievously, Kate reached up and ran her hand across said ass before replying, "There is absolutely nothing wrong with your ass."

Letting out a groan, Castle lowered himself again and then pushed back up. He repeated the action three more times before Kate removed her hand. As he finished the next push-up, he noticed that she had stretched out on the floor beside him.

"Ten to go, Castle," she said as he once again paused to rest. Before he could process what she was doing, she had slid beneath his arm and stretched out beneath him. "Let me help."

"Kate?"

"Come on, Rick," she encouraged him as she stared up at him.

He slowly lowered himself again, pausing as his body came in contact with hers from his nose all the way to his feet. She brushed her lips against his as she felt a jolt from the contact. "One."

Castle pushed himself back up and stared at her for a long moment. "I'm not sure this is helping."

She merely grinned and waited for him to lower his body again. This time, she lifted her hands and ran them over his biceps as he moved, loving the feel of him. "Two."

Castle closed his eyes as he lowered himself again, certain that she was trying to kill him. "Three," she whispered as she shifted to run her tongue along his ear.

Thinking to end the torture before it could get any worse, Castle quickly lowered himself and pushed back up twice. She kept count for him but as he came down for number six, Kate shifted her hips and brushed against his rapidly growing erection. He held himself still until he heard her breathless "Six."

When he pushed back up, her hands followed, sliding under his t-shirt and caressing his sides.

He lowered himself again and she wrapped one leg around his hip, bringing him into closer contact with her heat as she locked her eyes on his. "Seven."

Castle forced himself away from her, feeling the burn in his chest and arms and a different fire in his groin.

As he lowered himself to a whispered "Eight", Castle felt Kate press her breasts into his chest, her hardened nipples giving him a good idea that he wasn't the only one affected by her game.

When he lowered himself again, Castle decided to take advantage of the situation. As his hips pressed into Kate firmly, he allowed himself to take an earlobe between his teeth. She didn't disappoint as she gave a soft moan that may or may not have been a "Nine."

Pushing himself back off of her, Castle once again paused. He looked at the beautiful woman lying beneath him with her lips parted and her eyes slightly glassy with desire. "God, I love you, Kate."

"I know," she replied as she looked up at him. "Now will you please finish so we can move on?"

Castle quickly completed his final push-up and then lowered himself until he was cradled between her thighs. Her hands moved around his neck and pulled his weight more firmly against her as she captured his lips with hers. His tongue traced against her lips and she willingly opened to him, a soft moan escaping her as he pressed his hips more firmly against her.

Her hands slid down his sides to the edge of his t-shirt and she did her best to remove the offending item from his body. His unwillingness to release her lips made the task nearly impossible and she finally forced her mouth away from his.

"Castle!"

"What?" he asked as his lips moved to her neck, his tongue tracing the spot just behind her ear that he knew drove her wild.

Kate allowed herself to enjoy the sensation for a minute before finally pushing against his chest.

When he lifted his gaze to hers, she could see the passion in his eyes and it was all she could do to keep from pulling him back down for another kiss. "Clothes, Castle," she gasped.

It took a moment for her words to register, but once they did, Castle pushed himself to his knees and pulled his t-shirt over his head. He tossed it to the side and then, realizing they were still on the floor, he got to his feet. He made quick work of his remaining clothes and then reached down to help Beckett to her feet as well.

"Where are we going?" she asked as he quickly divested her of her nightgown.

"We are two feet from the bed," he replied as he hooked his thumbs in her panties and slid them slowly down her legs. "After that little performance, I think we should take advantage of that fact."

Grinning, Kate crawled onto the bed and scooted back. "I knew there was a reason I kept you around."

As Castle joined her on the bed, he met her grin with one of his own. "I think there's more than one."

With that, he lowered his mouth to her breast, sucking a nipple into his mouth as his hand caressed the other. Kate moaned in appreciation and ran her fingers through his hair, loving the way he made her feel. When she felt him leave her breast and start to kiss his way down her stomach, she leaned up on her elbows to watch him. Not disappointing her, he stopped when he reached her opening and lifted his eyes to meet hers.

Kate watched as he used one hand to part her folds and then slowly dipped his tongue inside of her. She moaned his name as he set a quick pace, his tongue thrusting in and out of her while his thumb rubbed her clit in tight circles. It was no time before her orgasm coursed through her body, her muscles tightening instinctively around him as she screamed his name in pure bliss.

Once she relaxed, Castle placed one final kiss on her thigh and then moved back up to once again settle between her thighs. As his lips settled on hers, Kate reached down and took his length in her hand, positioning him at her opening. He broke the kiss and met her eyes as he slowly slid inside of her.

Kate sighed in satisfaction as he buried himself inside of her and after a gentle nudge of her hips, he began to move. She met him thrust for thrust, wrapping her legs around his waist, pulling him even deeper inside her body, feeling the tension build inside of her again with every thrust.

Castle lowered his head to her breast, taking a nipple in his mouth as they continued to move together. He was so close but he wanted this to be good for her too.

As if reading his mind, Kate ran her hand along the side of his face. "It's okay, I'm right there, baby."

That was all he needed. He shifted his weight, pulled her legs higher on his hips and thrust into her harder and faster until he lost himself in her. He felt her muscles clench around him and knew she had followed him over the edge.

It was several minutes later before he had the energy to roll off of her and reach for the covers.

"Have I ever mentioned how much I like watching you do push-ups?" Kate asked sleepily.

Castle chuckled softly as he tucked her against his side and covered them both. "Maybe once or twice. It sure makes working out more rewarding when you're here though."

With that, they settled down to sleep, content in each other's arms.