Chapter 3

Beckett woke up and looked beside her to see Castle laying on his back still sound asleep. She smiled, she never thought she would be in a relationship with Richard Castle but he never stopped trying and for that, she could never repay him for. She glanced at the clock on his nightstand to see it was already eight in the morning. Slowly she slipped from the bed; quietly shut the door as she walked into the living room and found Martha and Alexis at the counter in the kitchen talking with a smiling Kayla on her carrier on the counter. Beckett still felt awkward about the two women knowing she slept with Castle. This was his mother and daughter for god sakes. She gave a small smile as she walked over to check on Kayla.

"Good morning." Alexis smiled at Beckett.

"Good morning." Beckett returned the smile. "How was she last night?" Beckett wondered as she looked at the bright-eyed baby in her carrier.

"She was good. Only cried twice to be fed and changed." Alexis told her. "She seems like she's a different baby than what you described." Beckett nodded.

"Must be the Castle air." Martha laughed making Beckett smile brightly at the older woman. "Kate, dear, would you like something to eat?"

Beckett shook her head. "No thank you, Martha. I actually need to get back to my place for Ryan and Jenny to pick Kayla up." Martha smiled as she looked at Beckett as her gaze fell to the baby again, before she looked at Alexis. "Is all her things still up in your room?"

"No, Gram and I brought everything down this morning. Figured you and dad would want to have her down here." The young woman explained. The three felt as if they were not talking about a baby that Beckett was babysitting but a baby of her and Castle. Beckett just nodded knowing she needed to get moving before things flew through her mind and she lost control over filing them away.

Beckett thanked Alexis and was about to turn to gather what they needed to take when Castle leaned on the counter beside her. "Good morning ladies." He smiled and rubbed his eyes.

"So what are your plans for today?" Martha asked her son.

"Well I figured I'd help get everything back to Beckett's so Ryan and Jenny can get Ms. Kayla." He said and looked at Beckett. "Then the rest is up to Kate." Beckett looked at him confused. "What? You had a hard weekend babysitting the little terrorizer, it will give you time to think of how to rub it in Esposito's face." He grinned making her smile and shake her head.

"I guess the bet was called off since I took in help from you and your mother and daughter rather than me doing it like I told him."

"Why? You babysat, you were just smart enough to get some extra hands rather than pretending you knew everything. Which I really thought you were going to do." he shrugged earning a glare from her.

"I was. Until my neighbor started complaining." She rolled her eyes at Castle's bright grin. She wanted to smile but she was determined not to let him see her amusement. "Well if you will be accompanying me and Miss Kayla we better get going soon so we can get there in time for them." Castle nodded. "I'm going to get dressed. You watch her." She stated, giving a slight tone to her voice at the end as if commanding him. he gave a small pout as she walked back towards his bedroom where she left her bag.

"So, Richard, are you and Beckett on better terms?" Martha asked with a knowing smile.

Castle gave a small smile. "We are." He nodded.

"We, dad!" Alexis scolded.

"Not like that." He rolled his eyes at his daughter making her laugh. "We straightened a few things out and are on better terms."

Martha gave him a suspicious look. "From what I saw last night, better than that." Castle shook his head but could not hide the small smile creeping to his lips.

"We are dating." He confirmed. "So she'll be over a little more than she usually is."

"And you'll be doing the walk of shame in the morning." Martha added with a smile making her son give a fake chuckle.

"More like Beckett doing the walk of sha-."

"Castle." Beckett scolded as she walked back over. Martha and Alexis tried to hide their smiles as Castle jumped and froze as a small child who knew they were in trouble would. He glanced at her as she put her hands on her hips and fixed him with a glare. "If anyone is doing the walk of shame it will be you." She said making Martha and Alexis laugh as Castle felt a smirk creek to his face. "Go get dressed so we can get to my place before Ryan and Jenny." Castle nodded and started towards the bedroom stopping to kiss her cheek effectively silencing her. After a minute, Beckett glanced at Castle walking into his bedroom before she walked closer to the counter.

"You'll have to get used to that every morning." Martha smiled at Beckett who gave a nod with a small smile.

"Dad's very affectionate." Alexis added

Beckett nodded, as he smile grew a little wider. "I know how he can be. I'm just not used to it is all. Guess I better get used to it fast."

"Richard knows you well enough to know how much you can take." Martha smiled.

"He really does love you." Alexis told her softly. "He has for a long time."

"Even if it took him forever to do anything about it." Martha rolled her eyes. "I'm just glad you two are finally done playing that little dance." Castle opened the door and started over to them dressed in a dark blue button down and blue jeans. Martha smiled at Kate as she watched Castle button the last few buttons of his shirt.

"Okay, you ready to go?" He asked and watched her nod. "You get the bag and baby I'll grab the abominable sleep thing." He said making Beckett shake her head as Martha smiled and Alexis rolled her eyes. Alexis looked at her watch before sliding from the chair.

"I have to meet my friends. I'll see you guys later. Bye dad." Alexis kissed Castle's cheek

"Bye pumpkin." He said before going to grab the pack and play as Alexis turned to Beckett.

"Bye Kate." She kissed Beckett's check then her grandmother has and left. Martha watched as Beckett processed what happened before she gave a small smile and turned to grab the diaper bag and the baby carrier.

"Welcome to the Castle family." Martha said softly making Beckett smile at her before following Castle down to her car. They put everything in, fastened Kayla into the car and headed to her apartment.

After a few hours, Kayla started to become fussy and Castle carried her over to the couch where he has with her laying on his chest. It was only a matter of moments before both Castle and Kayla were sound asleep leaving Beckett to watch them and wonder what it would be like if the baby lying on his chest was their child. She smiled thinking about someday having a family with the man she, only four years ago, couldn't stand and now she couldn't live without. There was a soft knock on the door making her snap from her thoughts. Beckett walked over and ran a hand over Castle's head as she leaned down to his ear.

"Castle." She said softly, earning a soft grunt. "Ryan and Jenny are here. Wake up." She saw his blue eyes slowly slide open, as there was another knock on the door. She walked over and opened the door as Castle stood up setting Kayla in her carrier. Both Ryan and Jenny stopped staring at the sleeping baby girl.

"She's still alive right?" Ryan asked making Beckett roll her eyes.

"Of course." They walked over and looked at her.

"How..." Ryan trailed off before looking at his boss. "She is never quiet. How did you get her to sleep and why do you look so wide awake?" Beckett gave a small smile.

"I asked Castle for help." Beckett admitted making Ryan and Jenny look at Castle missing Beckett's loving look she was giving him. "She started crying a little after you left and nothing worked so I called in some help. He used his tricks and she's been good the whole weekend."

"The whole weekend?" Ryan looked over at Castle again. "You didn't drug her or anything right?"

"No." Castle furrowed his brows at the accusation. "Just have to know the Castle tricks." He grinned. "Try putting her in her carrier and then putting the carrier on the washer while it's running. That pretty much did the trick for her."

"And sleeping on your chest." Beckett added. "He had her asleep in minutes when he had her lay on his chest." Ryan nodded.

"We can't thank you enough." Jenny said with a small smile.

"Now you can shut Javi up." Ryan laughed making Beckett smile.

"Maybe not as much as I thought I would. I did get help after all." Beckett looked at Castle. "Maybe I'll just make him have Castle follow him around for a week instead of all the paper work." Beckett grinned at the helpless look Castle was giving her.

"Now that's not fair, he's supposed to do my paper work too." Beckett smiled at her friend. "My paperwork and Castle for a week?" Ryan offered gaining an offended look from Ryan.

"That might be a little too much punishment." Beckett laughed a little as she looked between Ryan and Castle. "I'll have him do your paperwork for a month."

"Sounds good to me." Ryan grinned as Jenny smacked his arm with a disapproving look. "What? A bet's a bet. Especially at the precinct." He explained making her roll her eyes. "we better get her home." He said not wanting anymore grief from his wife than she was already going to give him.

"Thanks again. I don't know what we would have done without you." Jenny told Beckett.

Beckett shook her head. "It was mostly Castle's doing."

"Thanks Rick." Jenny smiled before she took the diaper bag and carrier from Ryan as he grabbed the pack and play.

"See you tomorrow, bright and early." Ryan said as he was leaving.

"Bright and early." Beckett confirmed before shutting the door behind them. She turned to Castle who was still by her kitchen counter watching her. "What?" She asked as she walked over to him.

"You wouldn't make me follow Esposito to punish him really. Right?" He asked as if worried. She smiled at him as she reached out wrapping her arms around his waist.

"sometimes, Castle…" She trailed off before he leaned down to kiss her.

Castle pulled back to look at her. "What do you want to do today? It's your choice after all." Beckett leaned forward, resting her head on his chest.

"I want to just relax. It's been a long time since I could just relax." Castle pulled her tighter to him, wrapping his arms around her.

"Then let's relax." He said low before walking to the couch where he sat with her curled up against him, flipping through channels to find something good to watch.

Beckett woke up to her alarm buzzing in the other room. Lifting her head she realized she, Castle had fallen asleep on the couch, and it was now time for work. Beckett put her hand on his chest as she leaned a bit farther away. "Castle." She said trying to wake him. "Castle." Again no response. "Rick." She said a little louder making his eyes fly open and he jumped forward making Beckett laugh as he looked around alarmed.

"What? What's wrong?" He asked, rubbing his eyes.

"Is that all it takes to get you moving?" Beckett smiled as he glared at her.

"You don't call me Rick unless it's something serious." He told her making her smirk at him. "Guess I should get used to it though." He mused as she shook her head.

"You'll always be Castle." She told him. "Unless you do something stupid…. Or wont wake up." She smiled as she kissed his cheek and hurried into her room to be changed for work. "Castle, come on. I'll stop by the loft so you can change and we can head to the precinct." Castle nodded and followed as she drove them to his loft, waited in the living room for him to change and make coffee before they were on their way to the precinct.

"So what are you going to do to Esposito?" Castle asked as they climbed into the elevator.

"I'll just have him do Ryan's paperwork for a week." Beckett shrugged as the doors closed. "I had help; I cheated a bit on the bet so I'll go easy." Beckett turned and kissed Castle before pulling away just enough to look in his eyes.

"What was that for?" He asked.

"To last until we are done work." She told him before he quickly pulled her in for a deep kiss leaving them both breathless as the doors opened and they had to go back to work. "Good morning, Espo." She smiled as he just looked at her. Ryan smirked as he looked at his partner.

"Hey, yo, you cheated. First of all you call writer boy to help and then you get a neighbor calling the police cause your disturbing the peace-"

"What?" Ryan looked at Beckett as she shrugged.

"We fixed that problem and there were no rules against getting help. You just didn't think of it." She said making him open his mouth once before shutting it and looked at her, not happy she won. "I've decided to go easy on you this time. This just goes to show you not to bet against, for or on me." She said with a playful look at the detective before he turned and went to sit down at his desk.

"Aw, come on. Can't you make him do a little extra paperwork or something? What about sending Castle after him?" Castle looked between the two as Beckett looked at him and shook her head with a smirk.

"That would be too cruel. Castle stays with me for now." She told him before he shrugged and went to his desk while she sat at hers and Castle took his usual seat.

"Like you could ever get rid of me." Castle said low making her smile as she dipped her head, letting her hair fall to cover her smile from him as she started on paper work and he sat quietly playing games on his phone while he waited for them to be off the clock so they can share another kiss like in the elevator.