Okay, everyone, here's the REAL chapter 31 after Brilliantly Confused and NCISchick spotted that my word porcessor gaffed on my save function, copying it instead and let me post a weird-ass chapter. Anyways, here's to your healthy and welcome reviews!

It felt a little weird to be spending the July holiday weekend in the city, but Castle and Beckett had both made commitments to helping Meredeth and Esposito, as Esposito was working and Meredeth was still on restricted activity from doctor's orders. But tonight, they were having a night for themselves; it was their anniversary after all and that meant a kid-free zone for a whole sixteen hours.

'I'm not expecting the same spectacular over the top celebration as last year, Rick,' Beckett laughed as she did her hair while he shaved. 'But I'm sure whatever you have planned is going to be awesome.'

'I never do anything half-ass when it comes to my family.'

'I know. I think if RJ had been a summer baby, you'd have a mini carnival set up at the place in the Hamptons.'

'I still can't believe Alexis and Shane voluntarily offered to look after RJ tonight for us, even if it is at his apartment,' Castle commented, paused. 'You think this is her way of banking up good deeds so she can drop a bombshell on us and we won't get cranky?'

'Possibly, but I doubt it. She loves Shane, she loves RJ, it's like combining coconut and chocolate into one night.'

Castle pouted a little as he rinsed off his razor, patted his face dry. 'My girl in love with an older man, and spending the night with him looking after our baby.'

'She's going to be an excellent mother some day.'

'Don't even joke about that, it's difficult enough for me to think of her as a woman with needs only Shane can satisfy.'

'Honestly, Rick, you're having an easier time with it than I thought you would,' Beckett confessed as she gave her waving hair the once over with some finishing spray. 'I was anticipating having to stage an intervention if you went all Joan Crawford on Alexis like you did with Ryan and Esposito over JP.'

'These are different times. This time I got to vet the boyfriend and he wasn't some skeezy French bastard who broke my baby's heart.'

Beckett laughed as she finished getting ready, did a little twirl for him. The dress was a rich emerald green - being on maternity leave meant she could indulge her love of bright colours in her wardrobe - and perfect for a night on the town in the middle of New York summer. She stepped into her strappy high-heels of the same colour, headed downstairs where she saw Alexis and Shane playing with RJ on the floor in the living room. The baby was on his hands and knees rocking back and forth like he was trying to ramp up the energy to move forward.

'Looking good you guys,' Shane said when he looked up at the celebrating couple. 'Are you sure you're okay with Lex and I taking RJ to my place for the night?'

'I'm sure. His pram doubles as a bassinet so you don't have to worry about that, just his food, diapers, clothes and whatever toys you want to take with you,' Beckett told them. 'Okay, give us a kiss, RJ.'

Beckett went to walk towards them, then froze as RJ began to wiggle forwards towards her, his little hands slapping against the hardwood and he pulled himself along. Her mother's heart stuttered with pride as she watched her baby crawl for the first time, and she bellowed up the stairs for her husband.

'Rick! Get the camera! RJ's crawling!'

Castle came flying down the stairs, just in time to catch RJ making it the last few feet to his mommy before he stopped at her legs and clapped his hands against her ankles. He choked up more than a little when he watched Beckett bend down and scoop up her boy, cuddling him close to her body; behind her, Castle could see Alexis and Shane both swiping at their eyes at the moment.

'Oh, my boy, you are getting so big on me, aren't you?' she sighed, trying not to ruin her make-up.

'Bibibibib,' RJ cooed with smile sweet enough to charm the devil. 'Bibibib.'

'I love you so much, my little prince.' Beckett kissed him on the forehead, then handed him over to his big sister. 'Okay, we must go now,' she said to her husband, 'before I have a total meltdown and ruin my make-up and my dress.'

When they arrived home after dinner, drinks and dancing, the apartment was empty; their footsteps echoed and after having Shane and Alexis and RJ there before they left, it was a sensation akin to being at school on a weekend - a place that should be full of noise was eerily calm.

'We are alone, Mister Castle,' Beckett murmured to her husband, tossing her purse onto the kitchen table.

'That we are, Missus Castle.'

He leaned in for a kissed, keeping it light and sweet for the moment. 'Has anyone ever called you that at work?'

'Once. No, twice. One was Ryan trying to get my attention, actually, on the Valentine's Day we made our little boy.'

'What about the second?'

'The second,' Beckett snickered. 'The second time was Lanie, when I was about six months pregnant. Right before she went on maternity leave, she said to Shane it was not Missus Castle's call to make about a body and grinned because she knew one preggo wouldn't hit another.'

'Cute. Hey, what's that?'

Something on the kitchen table caught Castle's eye and he walked over, holding Beckett's hand to inspect it. There was a vase with a few sprigs of flowers in it, along with a card.

'It's from Alexis and Shane,' Beckett said, recognizing the penmanship. 'Happy anniversary, all our love and happiness. They got us a micro bouquet, that's so thoughtful.'

'A what-what?'

'A micro-bouquet. Jenny said that these are the latest trend in florals to mark an anniversary of some kind, you take whatever flowers were present, and put one of each into a glass vase like this to give as a gift.'

'Is she wedding planning for Dell and Tessi already?'

Beckett giggled, leaned in to sniff the fragrant tropical blossoms. 'No, you know her friend Andrea, the nurse from the hospital?'

'Sure, she helped deliver RJ, and her boyfriend is the Schwarzenegger-looking fellow.'

'Well, Jenny is fairly certain they will be getting engaged by Christmas and has started doing a little research for her.'

'How sweet. Maybe you could tuck one in behind your ear while we make love tonight, then we can pretend we've gone to the islands.' Castle wiggled his eyebrows. 'Or we can use some of that coconut oil Meredeth gave you for your birthday. Apparently, according to Esposito, it's very...stimulating.'

'Why would I need that when I have you?' Beckett's smile was soft and inviting as she held out her hand. 'Take me to our bed, Richard. Just like you did on our wedding night.'

It was all the encouragement Castle needed, yet eager as he was, they walked slowly up to their bedroom, and he carried her over the threshold as he'd done the night of their wedding. They slowly kissed in each other's arms and their hands roamed, searching to pop buttons and unzip zippers, at an almost lazy pace. He sighed as her lips found the sensitive spot where his pulse banged under his skin; she was in her bare feet, the perfect height for him to sniff the scent of her. Japanese cherry blossoms, he thought, sweet and soft and utterly her.

'I love you Missus Castle.'

'I love you too, Mister Castle.'

'Where do you want to go tonight?'

'Anywhere in the world,' she murmured, and though she knew the next part might sound cheesy, she spoke the plain truth, 'as long as I go with you.'

R&R&Enjoy