Hi there!

I definitely had some fun with this one. Prompt: Beckett gets drunk and Castle takes care of her. Hope you guys like it!

I can't wait to start my new story! Once I get most of my beta work done I'll start. Like I said, check out chapter 10 of this story for a clue as to what my new story will be.

Thank you for all the amazing feedback I've received from you guys! It means so much.

Enjoy!

In the two and a half years they had been together, Kate and Rick had never actually gone out. Almost every night was spent at the loft, quiet, small, and intimate. It had become a routine even; wine and a movie, or late night coffee and scrabble. Whatever the situation, though, it was always small. Until tonight.

It was Friday night, six o'clock when they finally escaped the hold of the twelfth. The mid-June heat rising from the street, the two found the closest bar and happily accepted the air conditioning.

Beckett walked up to the bar, pulling Castle behind her. "I'll take a rum and coke."

"And you, sir?" The bartender asked as he moved around behind the bar.

"Just a beer, thanks. Put it all on my tab."

"Will do." The man nodded, handing both their drinks and continuing on down the bar.

Beckett and Castle made their way to a booth near the back of the bar, again, their small, intimate ways pulling them to seclusion. The two drank and talked as the little live band played through their set list.

Once Kate had finished her drink, she absentmindedly grabbed the drink menu from the end of the table. "Ohh, they have sangria. Split it?" She looked at Castle who had just finished his beer.

"Sure." He raised a hand, making eye contact with one of the waiters that was walking through the bar, ordered the sangria, and put his attention back on his girl. "I'm glad we're doing this. Nice to get out of the loft for a change."

She smiled, reaching a hand across the table to hold his. "I agree."

"We'll have to do it more often. Maybe invite the boys sometime."

"Sounds good to me." She squeezed his hand, a smile on her face.

The waiter put the glass in front of Kate and she took it willingly. As she took a sip, Castle put his hand up to ask for a drink. Kate pulled it further to herself. "Mmm, no way. I lied, this is too good to share."

He shrugged, again, signaling their waiter to bring him another beer.

Both could hold their alcohol, but out of the two, Castle was better suited. Kate's tiny frame, and lack of anything solid during the day always spelled disaster. So after three more beers, moving to the bar, and two restroom breaks, the night was wearing thin; and that was just Castle. Kate had already had two sangrias, eating all of the fruit from the second, a shot from the owner, and was now working on a beer; one that was supposed to be Castle's that she stole.

"She's drunk." He thinks, and knows even in his slightly buzzed state. But when he notices her posture change and sees the extra effort it takes to stand, he cuts himself off to make sure he can take care of her for the night.

Kate leans heavily into him, breathing onto his neck when she turns to talk to him. "Why aren't you drinking anymore?"

He ignores her question and asks another. "Why don't we head home? Call it a night?"

"No way." She insists on standing on her own then, balancing herself on the lip of the bar, and holding her beer with the other. "This is fun." She's not too gone, but just enough for Castle to know that he's going to have hell trying to get her home. Her strong will and persistence is amped up when she's drunk.

"Kate, we should really go. It's late and you're drunk." He regrets that last part as soon as he says it.

"I'm not drunk." She takes her hand off the bar and opens her eyes wider, swaying slightly. She automatically put her hand back on the bar to steady herself, but looks at Castle confidently. "Hmm, told ya!" She sticks her tongue out at him and laughs at herself.

"Yeah, you sure did." He can't help but laugh at her confidence.

"I'm not even drunk." She states again; a sure sign that, indeed, she is. Kate tips her glass back again and finishes it with one gulp. "See. Good to go, Captain."

"Since when do you call me Captain?" Castle gives her a look, his eyebrow raised, and a hand around her waist.

"Cause you're the captain, duh!" Kate looks up at him, pursing her lips.

He can't help but chuckle again. "Whatever you say." He pulls her closer to him, hoping to convince her it's time to leave. "Come on, babe, let's get out of here." He whispers in her ear, kissing her temple in hopes that it will distract her from getting the bar tender's attention again.

She straightens just a little and looks at him. "Fine." She drags out her words as her eyes start drooping. "But let's dance first!"

"Yep, time to go." Castle throws a couple of bills on the bar and tells the bartender to keep it, before wrapping a sturdy arm around Kate's waist, and leading her out the door.

Lucky enough, there's a cab just down the street to take them back to the loft. He could only imagine having to walk back as Kate leaned even more into his side.

They rode in silence, Kate's head on his shoulder. He would have bet that she was asleep, but as soon as they pulled up in front of the building, her head shot up. "Finally, we're ba-a-a-a-a-ck." She added at least seven a's to the word. She leaned for the door, making it to the sidewalk and to the front door, right as Castle paid the driver and shut his door.

He finally catches up to her at the elevator. "Where do you think you're going?"

She sways slightly, making contact with his chest. "Upstairs, duh!" She pushes the button again, her impatience growing.

"Kate, that's the down button."

She leans in to examine it, then starts laughing uncontrollably. "So silly! I knew that!"

Castle hits the right button and the doors swing open immediately. He leads her inside, making sure he keeps her away from any and all buttons.

"Castle?" She asks dragging out the a's in his name.

"Hmm?" He holds her around the waist.

"When are we gonna have babies?" She scrunches her nose, giving him the most concerned look she ever had; as concerned as she can be with her eyes like slits.

"You're going to bed." The doors open then, and he swings his arm under knees, carrying her out of the elevator.

Kate squeals, "Hey! That was a question! Babies are cool, right? We can have like seven!"

He walks straight through the door and to their room, dropping her on the bed. She's fighting to keep her eyes open now, swaying just a little even as she sits. He takes her shoes off, and then her jeans, replacing them with something more comfortable.

"I hav'ta pee." She's dead weight now that she's sat down, so he carries her to the bathroom and stands on his knees beside her. Her head rests on his chest as he waits for her to be done, and helps her back to bed.

"Castle?"

"Shh, you're okay." He squats down next to her, pushing her hair back.

"Kiss." It's barely audible as she puckers her lips, eyes all the way closed now. He leans in and pecks her on the lips before climbing into bed next to her. He gets close to her, rubbing her back until he himself falls asleep.

Kate laid in bed, her hands over her eyes. Her head was pounding, and quite frankly, she felt as though she'd been hit by a bus.

"Morning."

"I'm never doing that again." She sat with her hands still over her eyes.

"Mhm." Castle set a glass of water and two ibuprofen on the table, kissing the top of her head before sitting beside her in bed. "Need anything?"

She answers by turning into him, laying her head on his chest and breathing out slowly. At least ten minutes go by before she moves again, tilting her head up to look at him.

"What?" He asks her.

"Nothing."

Castle smirks at her. "Just can't keep your eyes off the captain?"

There's a moment of confusion before her eyes widen. She flips herself onto her side, closing her eyes again. "Oh my God."

Castle can't control his laughter as he thinks about it again. He's trying to control himself, but he finds it too funny as he rolls onto his side, giving himself a stitch.

"Go make me a coffee please." She groans.

He gets up and makes his way to the door. He knows she's already embarrassed, but he can't help himself. He stands in the doorway, leaning into the frame. "Should I mention all the kids we'll be having?"

"Go." She points in the general direction of the door, still not opening her eyes.

"Love you!" He calls out as he leaves the room to do what he was told.

She finally sits up, downing the pills and drinking half the water. "Love you too."

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