Kate wakes up alone sometime late in the night, groggy, confused, but then the mattress dips and she feels him slipping back into the bed. "Mmmm. Castle?"

He rubs her shoulder gently. "Socks." He hands them over, oversized, fuzzy things, some pattern she can't quite make out in the darkness. "Your feet are cold."

She huffs, but tugs them on, sighing gently as his warmth settles beside her again. "Go back to sleep."

He wakes up early when a sleeping Beckett unknowingly elbows him in the ribs.

He coughs, but she doesn't wake up, just rolls back on her side. Her face is slack, relaxed, more peaceful than he's ever seen her. He can still see the scar on her forehead; it's healed well, and the bandage is off, but it's still visible against her pale skin.

His hands are still tangled in her tshirt. Castle grins. Yep. Got to second base before she fell asleep. Kate Beckett is adorable. And insanely hot.

And really, really ticklish.

He pulls back gently, holding his breath, but she doesn't wake, just sighs softly and turns her head.

He stares at her until he dozes off again.

Castle's half-asleep when he hears her voice murmuring something like shower and upstairs. He feels her press a kiss to his mouth, and just as he's about to wake up all the way, she's gone.

He emerges from his bedroom to find Alexis stirring oatmeal into some yogurt. "Hi, Dad."

"Morning, Pumpkin." He kisses her head affectionately. "You're up early on a weekend."

She shrugs. "Couldn't go back to sleep."

"Savor that while you can, sweetheart." He shuffles towards the coffeepot. "And you even made coffee. I knew I kept you for a reason."

"I thought you couldn't find a band of gypsies who'd buy me."

He shrugs. "That too."

"Dad." She looks down, and this is - new. He's not sure what to make of Alexis embarrassed. "Um - Dad -"

"What is it?"

"I - noticed Detective Beckett going back downstairs last night. In her pajamas. I didn't hear her come back up."

Oh.

That segues right into the topic he wasn't sure how to broach.

"Um. Well, yes. She slept downstairs last night."

"Oh." Alexis stared at her spoon thoughtfully. "Are - are you guys dating? Is she moving in? I mean - I know she's living here because she still doesn't have an apartment, but -"

"No, no, sweetheart. We're not - not even close to that." Castle lets out a short laugh. Yikes. "We're - taking it one step at a time. We really like each other, and I guess - that's what we're going with, right now."

Alexis seems to mull over that. His mind clouds with sudden doubt. What if Alexis suddenly hates Kate for no reason? "Are you okay with that, Pumpkin? I know it's kind of sudden."

Her face softens. "Yeah. I like her."

He chuckles. "I'm glad to hear that."

Rick's just finished pouring a second cup of coffee just as Kate appears in the kitchen. If that's not a sign, he doesn't know what is. She's in a t-shirt and yoga pants, her hair damp, her eyes bright.

"Morning, Detective." He hands her the cup, which she takes with a grateful smile.

"Thanks." She takes a long sip. "Alexis."

"Hi, Kate." Alexis munches a mouthful of granola. "How'd you sleep?"

Kate flashes a quick glance up at Castle, her eyes warm, a soft smile on her lips.

"I slept just fine."