X~~~~X

Castle had found his way into the guestroom way after midnight, after finishing a whole chapter for the latest Derrick Storm adventure. He had contemplated sleeping in his own bed, but had quickly given up the idea. There was no way he would get any sleep knowing Kate was upstairs.

He sneaked in as quietly as he could and slipped under the covers, hoping not to wake Kate and she only stirred slightly, scooting closer to him without really waking up or opening her eyes. Castle aligned his body next to hers, mesmerized by the way they fitted together as if they were meant for each other and took in a deep breath. She smelled fresh, exotic and like cherries and his arm sneaked around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest so he could bury his nose in her hair. He sighed deeply and followed her into dreamland.

He felt her lips on his forehead and hummed in response, feeling her warm fingers dancing through his hair, massaging his skull.

"It's still early," she mumbled, "go back to sleep."

He grunted and snuggled back into the pillows, hearing her leave the room before sleep took him under once more. It didn't last long though, staying in bed without her was becoming less appealing by the minute and so he finally pushed back the covers to go and look for her.

He found her in the kitchen, struggling with his coffee machine again, and heard her swear quietly. He heard her hiss, her fingers flying to her mouth trying to soothe the pain she apparently had inflicted on herself.

"Need some help?" He asked, approaching her with a grin and watched her startle slightly before her features relaxed again when she saw it was him.

"God, please," she sighed, already holding out her cup to him, which he took from her hand, giving her a kiss in return before shoving her gently out of the way to get the coffee going.

"What is it with you and this coffee machine," Castle asked with a big smirk on his face, his eyes dancing with mischief.

"Don't ask me," Kate retorted, leaning against the kitchen counter, pointing her index finger at Castle's expensive espresso machine, "it hates me."

He chuckled, holding out the now filled and steaming cup to her, "I don't think it's possible to hate you," he said, his smile softening as he settled against the counter next to her, their shoulders touching.

"Castle," she sighed, a slight warning evident in her voice, but he didn't care, it was the truth after all.

They enjoyed the quiet morning in content silence for a while, drinking their coffees and both lost in their own thoughts until Castle finally broke the spell surrounding them.

"So we tell them over breakfast?" He asked, glancing up from his coffee cup to see her nod.

"I'm nervous," she admitted quietly after a moment and Castle put his coffee down to wrap his right arm around her shoulders, effectively pulling her into his side.

"No need to," he told her softly, "they will be thrilled."

"That's what makes me nervous," she said and then had to laugh at herself, feeling stupid, because really why would that be a bad thing?

"It's okay to be nervous," Castle reassured her, "it's a big step, but it will be fine. Trust me."

"I do," she breathed, pushing up on her toes to place a soft kiss on his cheek.

Castle reached for the cup still clutched between her hands and placed it on the counter next to his, before his arms circled her waist. He pulled her close, his lips finding hers without hesitation, as if this intimacy they shared wasn't still quite new to them. Kate deepened the kiss as his hands sneaked under her shirt, travelling up and down her bare back, while hers ran through his hair. She pulled him closer and before Kate knew it she found herself pressed against his fridge, the cold steel at her back in stark contrast to his hot body crowding her front.

"God, Castle," she moaned when he pressed his knee between her thighs and she knew they had to stop before they totally lost control of the situation.

It took all her willpower to push him away, panting heavily as she rested her head against his chest. When she finally found her voice, her words were firm and steady, "Call your mother."

"Huh?" he looked adorably confused, still trying to get a hold of the arousal singing through his body and evident at his lower parts.

"You and I are going out tonight," she told him, leaving no room for any arguments, as if he would challenge Kate on her decision.

Castle grinned like an idiot, "Yeah?"

"Yes," she stated.

An hour later they all sat at the dining room table, Alexis and Jamie between their parents, oblivious to the nervous glances that passed between the adults. Neither Kate nor Castle knew how to begin.

"Uhm," Castle finally took the lead, wanting to get it over with, "Jamie, Alexis?" He waited for his daughters to look at him and was momentarily distracted from his task when he saw Jamie's face smeared with peanut butter, "There's something we need to tell you." He finally got out, his voice unsteady.

Alexis immediately looked worried while Jamie just kept looking at him, blinking with her big blue eyes.

Castle reached for Kate's hands, needing something to hold on to and taking strength from the soft squeeze she offered him.

"Daddy?" Alexis' worried eyes met his, "is everything alright?"

"Yes Pumpkin," he quickly got out to reassure her, "everything is fine."

He looked at Kate, but she looked about as helpless as him. Why was this so complicated?

"It's – What we want to say is – Kate and I -," he stuttered. "We are … ." He sighed, this was not going well.

"You and Kate are dating?" Alexis frowned, since her dad didn't make any sense to her.

"Yes," a rush of air left his lungs and again he glanced at Kate who was now leaning forward across the table.

"Is that," Kate took a deep breath, "is that okay for you?" She asked, looking from Alexis to Jamie, the younger one of the sisters looking as if she wasn't completely sure what was going on.

"Will you move in?" Alexis asked, eyeing the two adults across the table with a hopeful expression.

"Uhm," Kate looked at Castle, she had expected a lot of questions but this hadn't been one of them, "Alexis, I don't ...," Kate didn't know how to answer her question. She couldn't, it was way too early in their relationship to even think about moving in together, but she couldn't just throw that back at Alexis.

"Not right now, Pumpkin, but Kate and Jamie will probably spend more time at the loft with us from now on," he glanced at Kate to see if she was okay with this, glad to see a tentative smile on her face telling him she was.

"Yay!" Alexis exclaimed, grinning brightly.

"I think she is okay with it," Castle chuckled, bumping his shoulder into Kate's.

"Jamie, Baby Bird, do you understand was this means?" Kate addressed her daughter who was grinning but evidently had no idea why. "Do you know what it means that Mommy and Daddy are together?"

The girl cocked her head, looking from one parent to the other, "Kissy?" she asked and the seriousness and thoughtfulness on her face made Castle chuckle.

"Our kids are too smart for us," he laughed and nodded at his younger daughter. "Yes Jamie. Kissy, kissy like Mama Bear and Papa Bear."

His answer seemed to satisfy her as she returned her attention back to her peanut butter sandwich. Alexis was already occupied with her pancake as well, both children obviously not very impressed with their parents' revelation.

Kate and Castle looked a bit dumbstruck as they watched the girls ignoring them.

"Is it just me or was this way too easy?" Castle whispered.

"I think they have been onto us," Kate shrugged, her lips lifting into a smile.

"Yeah," Alexis got out with her mouth full of pancake and after swallowing down she stated matter of factly, "you guys were kind of obvious, especially you Dad."

Kate blushed in various shades of red while Castle's mouth opened and closed several times without releasing any words.

"And you think you're so cool," Alexis smirked at him.

Indeed, their kids were too smart for them.

Castle was nervous, very nervous. He kept pacing through his living room, causing his mother to roll her eyes.

"Richard!" She called out to him, "Would you please sit down. You are giving me a headache."

"Shouldn't she be here by now?" He asked, ignoring his mother's request, looking at his daughter instead.

"Dad, she still has 15 minutes," Alexis rolled her eyes, looking like a mini version of Kate.

He let his fingers run through his hair again which had taken him thirty minutes to get them just right and glanced at his watch. Alexis was right, with a sigh he dropped down between his girls on the couch.

He knew he shouldn't have let her out of his sight. But Kate had insisted to go back to her apartment to change and since their daughters wanted to see them both all dressed up, they had agreed for Kate to come back to the loft and pick him up.

While Kate was at her place Castle had made reservations at a small Italian restaurant not far from his place. He had listened when Kate had requested nothing fancy and while he wouldn't let her pay for anything tonight he knew she didn't feel comfortable with his wealth. So he thought it would be a good idea to go to a place she might be able to afford herself. After all tonight wasn't about showing off his money, that was not the reason she was with him. Tonight was about them. Finally just about them, without any interruptions.

When he heard the knock he was up from the couch and at the door in record time, swinging it open with the biggest smile on his face.

There she was, standing on his doorstep with a shy smile on her lips, her curls pinned up on top of her head, eyes sparkling and the open front of her winter coat revealing a simple but yet stunning, skin-tight midnight blue dress. She looked radiant.

"Wow," he breathed unable to form any coherent thought.

"Hey," she greeted him, stepping closer.

"Wow," he said again.

"Richard!" His mother's scolding voice rang out from inside the apartment, "Where are your manners? Don't let the girl stand there, invite her in."

"Uh, yeah," he stuttered. "Come in, sorry."

She stepped past him, walking over to Martha and the girls on the couch. They all lifted big eyes at her.

"Kate, Darling," Martha sighed, clasping her hands, "You look simply stunning."

"Thank you Martha," Kate replied, blushing slightly.

"You're so beautiful," Alexis said in awe, "Isn't she Dad?"

She turned to find Castle still staring at her and all he usually managed to hide from her was there in his eyes, the extent of his feelings for her. Kate's heart started beating so fast and so loud, she was sure everyone in the room was able to hear it.

"Yes, she is Alexis," he spoke softly. "She is."

"Mommy, pretty," Jamie grinned up at her mother, redirecting her attention, "Daddy too."

"Yes," Kate agreed, sitting down between Jamie and Alexis where Castle had sat just minutes ago, "Daddy looks pretty good himself."

Castle and Kate looked at each other from across the room, the energy between them palpable and Martha had enough.

"Okay you two," she sighed, "stop making goo-goo eyes at each other and get out of here."

They made their round of kissing everyone goodbye, before Castle held out his arm for Kate.

"Shall we?" he asked, his eyes dancing with happiness and excitement.

She placed her arm in his, letting him guide her to the door and with one last wave at their family they stepped out into the hallway and were finally – alone.

X~~~~X

AN: I'm going on vacation on the weekend for a week and a half, yes I know -again-so I'm not sure when I'll be able to post the next chapter. But I will have some time to write so you won't have to wait until I'm back.