Author's note: I spent the weekend at my mom's in Tacoma and didn't write during Mother's Day weekend because of it. But I know the season of Castle is over and we need more stories to get us through to the next one!

OOOOOOOOOOO

Castle knocked lightly as he opened his door, just to warn her that he was coming. She was still in bed, just ending a call on her cell and she smiled when he walked up.

"You realize you knocked on your own door, right?" she asked him.

"It was the polite thing to do," he told her, handing her a cup of coffee. "Careful, it's hot."

"Thanks." She took an appreciative sip and set it on the stand by the bed. "I just got off the phone with Esposito."

"Everything okay?"

"Yes. They're coming over later, though, if that's all right with you?"

"Sure. Why?"

"Paperwork is piling up on this," she said, ruefully. "I can't take lead investigator spot anymore, since I was shot – I can't be considered neutral. So Javier will. He'll need statements from both of us."

Castle sat down on the edge of the bed, careful not to spill his coffee on her.

"About everything?"

"Most things." She slid her hand along his forearm. "It'll be okay."

He gave her his best smile, and caught her hand with his own, bringing it up to kiss her palm lightly.

"I'm not worried," he assured her. "When are they coming?"

"A couple of hours."

"Any plans to fill that time?"

"I'd kill to get a shower."

"You can't get your bandages wet, remember?"

She scowled, but he leaned over and kissed her.

"I could give you a sponge bath, if you want," Castle offered.

Kate was surprised by the offer – or maybe just surprised that he wasn't leering at her as he offered it.

"Another of your fantasies?"

His smile warmed his eyes – and her heart.

"It wasn't, but it easily could be."

"You'd do that for me?"

"I'd do anything for you," he murmured. "I thought you knew that." Before she could blush and start feeling too gooey inside, he smiled; easing the serious turn the conversation had taken. "Besides, you shaved me more than once," he reminded her. "It's the least I can do, right?"

OOOOOOOOOOO

A sponge bath is a fairly intimate thing – if done properly. The sponge bath Castle gave Beckett was more than intimate; it was erotic. Not on purpose; he wasn't trying to arouse her, but they were so new to the physical side of their relationship that it was inevitable that his touch – even on her shoulders and back – were still exciting enough to make her heart beat faster and her breath to catch in her throat occasionally.

"You're not supposed to be enjoying it like that, I think," he told her, well aware of her reaction to his soapy cloth on her breasts.

"If it were anyone but you doing it I probably wouldn't," she replied, blushing prettily. "I could do this myself, you know…"

He pulled the cloth away from her, possessively.

"My bed, my job."

She rolled her eyes, but let him have his way. She was enjoying the attention, after all, and the fact that they could be together with no real responsibilities due to their injuries. It wouldn't last long, but she'd enjoy it while she could.

It took much longer than a normal one might have – if either of them knew how long a normal one should have lasted – and there was almost certainly more giggling and caressing happening than usual, but eventually Beckett felt clean enough to begin her day and Castle proclaimed that he'd make her breakfast and asked if she wanted it in bed or out in the kitchen.

"I don't feel like staying in bed," she told him.

"Then when you're ready, come out and join me."

He leaned over, kissed her lightly and then left so she could get dressed without any further distraction. Kate waited until he closed the door and then slowly got out of bed and started dressing.

OOOOOOOOOO

Feeling better than he had in days, Castle decided that brunch would be more homey than just a mere breakfast – and if the guys showed up or Alexis came home there would be more food than if he just made some pancakes and sausages. He opened the fridge and debated what all he wanted to make, pulling various items out to make sure they hadn't spoiled – although it was obvious his mother had done some shopping when she'd made her lasagna – or had ordered fresh from the store, which was sometimes the case. By the time Beckett came out he was chopping vegetables and sautéing some onions at the same time.

"Need help?"

He smiled a welcome as she came over.

"Chop some stuff?"

She took over the chopping and they chatted about simple mundane things while cooking a far larger variety of food for their meal than they would normally have done so if they didn't have the entire day open. Eggs, sausages, hash browns and batter for waffles were their breakfast effort, while a chicken stir fry with various vegetables and an assortment of side dishes to go with it became the lunch part of their brunch. While it seemed like overkill to both of them – although neither admitted it as they were cooking – it turned out to be just enough when Alexis returned just as the last of the noodles were finished cooking, and Castle invited the girl who had driven her home and the one who had accompanied them to join him and Beckett for brunch.

The girls accepted – Castle was a favorite with Alexis' friends – and he started waffles for Alexis while Beckett served up stir-fry for one of the girls while the other made up a breakfast burrito for herself and another for Castle, who decided he wanted one at the last minute. They were all sitting down to eat when Esposito and Ryan arrived together – and grinned in anticipation when they realized that they were just in time to be fed once again. Although both had already had breakfast, neither objected to the idea of eating again. Castle started more waffles, but the guys waved him back to his seat when the first of the batter was poured into the maker.

"I can make that myself," Esposito told him, already putting together a breakfast burrito. "You eat while yours is still hot."

More than willing to do just that, Rick took his seat next to Beckett again. He rested his hand lightly on her knee for a moment – until he realized that he couldn't eat the breakfast burrito one-handed. He gave up, and just as he brought his hand out from under the table he caught Alexis' eye and her knowing look. Slightly abashed at getting caught – although it wasn't like he was copping a feel or anything – he blushed just a little. Enough for her to grin.

Busted!

He rolled his eyes and she giggled.

Castle didn't mind. He was just glad she seemed to approve. He wanted to spend a lot of time with Kate, and a lot of time with Alexis, and in order to do that, sometimes it might overlap. He knew she liked Beckett, but he was relieved to see that she didn't mind that he liked Kate, too.

Everyone looked over to see what was so funny and Alexis ducked her head back to her plate to keep them from guessing what she'd seen. When she looked back over she saw that her dad was still watching her and she smiled again, and then stuck her tongue out at him. He returned the gesture and she wondered again why she was even considering going so far away for college when she would miss him so much if she did.

Maybe she'd look at more of the schools that were close by. Just to see.