Kate Beckett woke to the smell of coffee, the faint sound of her Mother-in-law humming in the kitchen, the hiss of a frying pan, and the soft creak and patter of the little feet from the floor above her, in the nursery. A sliver of light slid from behind the curtain and fell across her face. Kate pulled the bed sheet up over her shoulder, closing her eyes tight, not willing to wake just yet. The bed dipped as he sat beside her, the dark smell of coffee intensifying.

Castle placed the cups of coffee on her nightstand. He was still dressed in the t-shirt and boxers he had slept in. He ran comforting fingers down her arm, pulling the bed sheet down with them. Rick leant down and kissed the exposed soft skin between her collar bone and neck, "Morning, Sleeping Beauty." He pulled the bed sheet down to the base of her spine, and rested his large, familiar hand on the dip of her waist. She shivered.

Kate huffed audibly, burying her face further into the creases of her pillow in an attempt to shut out the light.

Castle chuckled, "Or am I talking to the Dragon." He bent over her again, this time he brushed her hair from her face and left a warm kiss just below her ear.

"You've been reading too many bedtime fairy tales." His wife murmured shuffling closer to his warm form, her eyes finally fluttering open, she wiped away the sleep.

"Sorry I had to wake you." Rick said breathily, sliding his hand further round her waist as she propped herself up on her elbows. Kate's chest brushed his as he traced words on the silky skin of her back.

"I can think of worse ways to wake up Castle." She smiled, slipping her arms around his neck and reeling him in for a slow kiss. Kate savoured the feeling of his body pressed against hers. Rick's free hand went to her neck, his thumb stroking her jawline. Even after nearly 8 years he could still make her heart do little jumping-jacks in her chest.

Castle drew away a little, smiling, his eyes still shut, "I love you, so much."

Beckett answered the statement with another chaste kiss, before drawing her lips away reluctantly, still holding him close "Just not enough to let me sleep?"

"The boys have got to go to Kindergarten in an hour, and then we've got to go straight to work." Castle smiled sadly.

"Best make the most of the moment then," Kate bit her lip, slipping a hand into Castle's dark hair. Their lips met again, this time for a deep yearning kiss. It took all of her willpower to stop herself from tugging his t-shirt over his head.

"Mommy?" Joey's voice drifted over from the doorway. Kate released her husband and sat up to meet her son's teary green eyes.

"What is it Baby?" Kate asked worriedly and motioned for the little boy to come and sit on the bed. Kate moved to the right, allowing Castle to sit on the bed next to her.

Joey crawled up to meet his parents, "My finger hurts." His bottom lip was trembling slightly. He sniffed.

"Oh, Sweetheart, come here." Kate sighed empathetically pulling her baby boy in for a cuddle. He showed her his bleeding finger.

"Aw, don't worry buddy." Castle stroked his son's head, "How does a Spiderman band aid sound?"

Joey nodded holding his finger up, Kate kissed his tiny palm, cradling him like he was still only three hours old and not three years. By the time Castle returned to the bedroom, Alex had also snuck in and was tucked under his mother's other arm.

Castle admired the scene in front of him, suddenly picturing Kate holing another small blanketed bundle between the twins. The image was so unexpected Castle stood in the doorway in shock. Did he want more kids? Did she? They had said two was enough, but Castle had begun to think … maybe?

"Castle?" Kate prompted him, and Rick came out of his daze and put on a smiled.

He leant over Joey and put the Spiderman band aid on his chubby finger, then kissed it softly, "All better,"

Rick's heart fluttered as the little boy wriggled away from Kate and put his arms around his father's neck and whispered, "Thank you, Daddy." Rick marvelled over the two little people he and Kate had made, placing a hand over Joey's back as he held him; looking into Alex's bright eyes as Kate stroked his fine dark hair.

"Kids, Alex, Joey, I made chocolate pancakes!" Martha's sing-song voice broke through the silence of the cuddle. The boys scrambled, practically falling out the bed in eagerness. Romping out of the bedroom as fast as their small legs could carry them.

An hour later Beckett and Castle were kissing their small sons goodbye at the gate of 'Georgina Hart's' preschool. Kate watched as their identical little backpacks bounced on their backs. They turned round as they reached their pre-school teacher and sent their parents simultaneous adorable toothy grins. Kate waved; it was still hard to imagine not seeing them until the afternoon. She didn't know then, she wouldn't be seeing her baby boys for a lot longer than that.

The day crawled by slowly, with Castle easing it on with teasing as much as possible. There was an open-and-close 'the boyfriend did it' case and a truck-load of paperwork. Castle made it clear he was bored and Beckett was not oblivious to the only reason he was still there was out of loyalty. He did a little paperwork and was happy to ferry it around. Castle brought her one last coffee before he left at three to pick-up the twins.

"I'll see you later," he said, fighting the urge to kiss her, "I'm cooking."

Kate hummed at the thought of dinner, "I won't be late." She promised. He slung his coat over his back and walked to the elevator. Beckett rubbed her temples, settling back down into her work. Organising and shuffling as she pressed the end of her pen against her lips.

It was 3:27 when he called her. She picked up expecting a question about dinner, but his voice full of panic, the words caught in his throat, he could hardly believe what he was saying. She was flooded with emotions at his broken words, the waves dragging her under, as she gasped for air, tossed in a sea of horror, "Kate, Alex and Joey, they're missing."

Savour this moment my friends, the next chapters won't be as quite as fluffy. The last sentence has put you on edge hasn't it!? I'm sorry about that. But you guys knew what you were in for when you read the story description! OH! And it'd be cool if you guys reviewed… by the way … ;)