Chapter 8
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"Hello?"
Kate walked into the suspiciously quiet Castle residence. She placed her keys on the counter and was just about to wander upstairs when she heard a distinct giggle coming from Castle's study. She pushed open the door and was impressed to find it transformed into a gigantic fort.
"We're in here, Kate," said Alexis, poking her head up from the far end of the bookshelf.
Kate took off her shoes and crawled towards the voices, passing various sectioned off 'rooms' and colourful decorations. "Were you trying to hide from me?" Kate asked when she finally reached the pair.
Zoey giggled and nodded.
"Well, I probably wouldn't have found you if somebody hadn't been giggling," Kate tickled Zoey, causing her to burst into peals of laughter. "C'mere, silly girl," she said laughingly, pulling Zoey into her lap.
"Have you been here all day?" Kate asked Alexis.
"Yeah, I didn't really want to go outside today – it's so hot," Alexis answered, "So, Zo and I decided to build a fort."
"This is really one amazing fort," said Kate.
"Dad's a pro. When I was little, he used to make the best forts."
"Where is your dad?" Kate asked.
"Oh, he went out to pick up some ice cream. We ran out."
"You suddenly had a craving for Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia?"
"Yup," Alexis grinned, "I told dad to pick up Brownie Batter, too. That's your favourite, right?"
Kate laughed, "Yes."
Just then, they heard the front door open and close.
"Hi Kate!" Castle yelled, having spotted her shoes and then just as loudly, he asked, "Alexis, are we foregoing bowls?"
"Yes! Just grab spoons, dad," Alexis yelled back.
"ICE CREAM!" Zoey said as loud as she could manage, trying to imitate their yelling.
Castle crawled into their little nook a minute later, armed with three different kinds of flavours and four spoons. "It's eight o'clock and it still feels like a thousand degrees out there," he said, wriggling in the confined space until he could sit cross-legged comfortably.
"Try running after a suspect in it," replied Kate, wryly.
Kate took the Brownie Batter carton out of the bag while Castle was jabbing at the vanilla to try and get a spoonful for Zoey.
"What do you say?" Kate asked Zoey once Castle was triumphant.
"Thank you," she mumbled, spoon already in her mouth.
"You're welcome," Castle answered.
Kate took another couple of spoonfuls before asking Castle, "Do you want to trade? I could help Zo."
"No way. I've already carved out a promising hole. Besides," he looked at Kate, eyes glinting mischievously, "I like cherry."
Alexis' eyes flicked back and forth between the two adults who looked like they were having an intense staring contest. "Did I miss something?"
"Nope," said Kate, a little too cheerily.
They went back to discussing the day and eating ice cream until they all felt a little sick. They ended up lying side by side, staring up at the glow-in-the-dark stars hanging above them.
"Mommy?" Zoey was cuddled up against Kate and she wriggled a little to look at her, "Sleep here?"
"Where?" asked Kate, drowsily.
"Fort."
"You want to sleep in the fort?"
"With Lexi."
"Uh yeah," said Alexis, who was lying beside her, "She's been asking about that all day. Having a sleepover in the fort."
"I don't think that's a good idea…" said Kate. "We should probably just go home."
"Please, please," Zoey begged.
"She can totally stay," said Alexis. "I don't mind. And it's actually really comfortable in here. We just need a few more blankets."
"But then tomorrow I have to come back and pick her up…" Kate had the day off on Sundays.
"You can stay too." Castle's voice drifted over from the other side of Alexis.
"We're all going to sleep in here?" Kate asked, amused.
"Well, I'm not," said Castle, "As much as I love sleeping on the floor, my bones are old and require a mattress."
Alexis laughed. "You can stay in the guest bedroom, Kate."
"Or in my room," Castle quipped, "Whichever you prefer."
"Dad!"
"Castle!"
"That was scary the way you both said that at the same time," said Castle.
"So?" Alexis prompted. "Are you guys staying?"
"Please mommy." Zoey pushed her face close to Kate's, innocent grey eyes staring pleadingly at her.
"Yeah, please mommy," Castle echoed in the same tone.
Kate rolled her eyes. "You guys are incorrigible."
"I don't think Zoey knows what that means," said Castle. "Yes or no works better."
"Okay, fine," Kate said, "Yes."
Her response was met with cheers from the other three.
Kate propped herself up on her elbows and looked over at Castle. "I don't know why you're cheering, Castle."
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Castle whistled when he walked into the kitchen the next morning. Unsurprisingly, Kate was already up and by the sounds coming from his study, so were Zoey and Alexis.
"I'm surprised you didn't come into my room last night, Detective," Castle teased, purposely placing a hand on Kate's waist and leaning around her to pour himself a cup of coffee.
Kate leaned back into his touch and placed her mouth right up against his ear. "Too bad you didn't come into mine," she whispered, "I decided to sleep naked last night."
Castle's jaw dropped, clearly stunned. Kate smirked and took the opportunity to slide away from him.
"Breakfast?" she asked, coolly.
Castle grinned and turned around. "Oh, you're good."
"You have no idea."
Before Castle could come up with a response, Alexis and Zoey came out of the study, still in their pyjamas.
"What's for breakfast, dad?" Alexis said, sitting down on one of the chairs at the counter and lifting Zoey up onto her lap.
"Whatever you want," he replied.
"I kind of want pancakes." Alexis looked down at Zoey, "What about you, Zo? Pancakes?"
Zoey nodded enthusiastically.
"Pancakes it is," said Castle, already gathering the ingredients and placing them on the counter. "Regular, chocolate chip, or blueberry?"
"Blueberry," said Kate just as Alexis responded, "Chocolate chip."
"All three it is," Castle said.
Kate rummaged around in the fridge. "I'm going to cut up some fruit."
For the next half hour, Alexis and Zoey watched with amusement (well, Alexis watched with amusement and Zoey just laughed when she did) as Kate and Castle alternatively yelled and scolded each other for doing what the other thought was wrong.
"Kate, don't cut up the apple that way," Castle said.
"Why not?"
"If you slice it the other way, you can get a star shape."
"I don't really care."
"Well, Alexis does."
"No, I don't," Alexis replied immediately.
"Traitor," said Castle. "When you were little, that was the only way I could get you to eat apples."
"Really?" Alexis said, surprised. "I don't remember that."
Kate rolled her eyes but she ended up slicing the apple around the middle, anyway.
And then a few seconds later…
"Castle! That is a ridiculous amount of chocolate chips."
"Why do you care? You're not eating it."
"That really is a lot, dad."
"Why are you taking her side all of a sudden?"
"I'm just saying," Alexis shrugged, "I like my pancakes to have the right ratio of chocolate chips to pancake."
"You guys are killing my creative spirit here," said Castle but he still ended up spooning in some more batter into the chocolate chip mix.
And a couple of minutes after that…
"You know, there is another sink, Castle."
Castle pressed the side of his body right up against hers. "But, I like to share."
She slapped his hand when he tried to reach for one of the grapes she had been washing. He retaliated by splashing her with water.
"Augh, Castle! Stop! You're making me all wet!"
Castle grinned, "That's what –"
She shoved him away. "Do not finish that phrase."
"Yeah, dad," Alexis piped up. "There are children in the room."
A/N: Sorry for the tiny hiatus! I'm back on track now (and a few pounds heavier after all of that holiday food...) I hope you guys are still reading! Please drop a review if you've got the time :)