A/N: A couple of people have mentioned not receiving emails when I post a new chapter - I'm not sure why, if you're following it then you should be notified when I update but if you're not then I'm sorry, but it's not me :(

Thank you for your reviews so far :)

"Oo, that'll be Charlie and Ethan, you want to get it, Beckett?" Castle asked, looking across the kitchen bench to her.

Beckett recovered from the shock quickly enough and headed over to the front door with a smile. They were having a family dinner - Charlie, Ethan, Martha and Alexis, as well as Jim, were joining Castle and Beckett to celebrate finally getting together. It had been Castle's idea, obviously, but seeing how happy it made him was enough for Beckett to agree, she couldn't say no when he got all cute and excited.

"Hey guys," she grinned as she answered the door. "Come on in." She opened the door wider to let them in, giving her sister a quick hug.

"We brought a bottle," Ethan said, "um..shall I give it.." He suddenly looked slightly uncomfortable, as if he didn't really know what to do with the wine.

Castle seemed to have cottoned on to his discomfort from over in the kitchen. "You can give it to Kate," he called, and Beckett could hear the grin in his voice. "And ignore her if she tells you she doesn't actually live here."

"I don't live here," Beckett whispered, rolling her eyes, but taking the wine from Ethan anyway.

"Well I knew that, but I didn't want you to think I was being rude by not giving the bottle to you but giving it to Rick," Ethan explained with a laugh.

"I don't know though, Kate," Charlie interrupted with a grin on her face. "That's the second time you've answered the door here now."

"Oh shut up, Charlotte," Kate muttered back, "or I'll be moving in just to get away from you."

Castle grinned to himself - Kate hadn't been quite as quiet as she had hoped, he'd heard her little comment about moving in. He had been wanting to ask her, but at the same time he didn't want to scare her away. Since they'd got together, they'd spent pretty much every night with each other anyway, but he knew she'd refuse saying it was too quick. Four years of foreplay hardly counted as too quick, in his opinion but he knew Kate Beckett, knew he needed to tread carefully to keep her on side.

"Can I get you guys a drink?" He offered, choosing not to let Kate know he'd overheard. As he was busying himself with making drinks, the front door opened again and his mother and daughter entered, just Jim to arrive now and they were all set.

"So," Jim began, "to what do we owe the pleasure of a meal here tonight?" He had just arrived and Beckett had cornered him with Castle before Charlie got the chance to ruin the surprise.

"Well dad," Kate said nervously, "I actually need to tell you something.."

"Oh Katie, are you pregnant?" Her father asked and she could have sworn she saw a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

"No dad, of course I'm not pregnant!" She exclaimed, her cheeks flaming. Castle chuckled and she hit him in the side, getting him to shut up. "Why on earth would you think I was pregnant?"

"Well..you're not drinking for a start and I know it's not because of me..and when you said you had something to tell me, that was where my mind went.."

"Right, well no, I'm not pregnant," she confirmed categorically.

"I think what Beckett was trying to say is that we have something to tell you," Castle suggested. "You see, Beckett and I..we're together now." He looked at her with a smile, seeing a look of pure lust in her eyes that made him want to throw everyone out and have his wicked way with her.

"I..oh, that's fantastic!" Jim beamed, "I'm so happy for you both!"

"Thanks, dad," Kate smiled. She couldn't remember being this happy; her sister was home for good and she'd found herself an amazing boyfriend. Her father was ecstatic to have his two daughters back together again and she was in love with the most brilliant man. What more could she want? "It's fairly recent but uh..the guys at the precinct found out the other week and I didn't want to tell you over the phone so I waited until tonight."

"Oh that's fine, sweetie, whenever you were ready! And are you sure you're not pregnant?"

Oh sweet Jesus. "No dad, I am one hundred percent certain that I'm not pregnant, okay? Why the sudden interest anyway?"

"Oh well, Mark that I work with, his daughter has just had a baby and you should see him, Katie, he's the most adorable little thing and it got me thinking about when you were going to give me some little grandchildren, I'm not getting any younger you know!"

"I think you've got a few years left in you yet," Kate replied drily. "Anyway, why are you pestering me to give you grandchildren - you do have another daughter, remember?"

"But Charlotte has always been so..flighty. I always envisioned you having children before her," Jim mused. "But whenever you two are ready, just don't leave it too long!" He laughed, walking away to join the rest of the group.

"Sorry about that," Kate groaned, burying her face in Castle's neck. "I didn't think he'd say anything like that.."

"Don't worry about it," Castle laughed, "I'm sure he's getting to that stage where he wants grandchildren..you know, I'm up for it if you are?"

"Not funny, Castle," Beckett scolded, poking him in the chest before turning and walking back into the living room.

"Who said I was joking?" Castle muttered, and he knew from the glare Kate gave him that she had heard. He noted that she didn't say anything though, that was interesting..

"I still can't believe you've quit your job, Kate," Charlie brought up over the main course. "Doesn't seem right my sister not being a cop."

"Tell me about it," Kate smiled. She was starting to miss it a little, it had been nearly two weeks since she'd resigned and the novelty was starting to wear off. Castle had been amazing and not pressed her to make any decisions about her future, which she was extremely grateful for. It wasn't that she thought she'd made the wrong decision, she still stood by what she'd done and wouldn't change it even if she could, but she was wondering what to do next. She didn't know how to be anything but a cop and she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to be anything else.

"How's the new book coming along, dad," Alexis interjected, swiftly changing the subject. She had sensed Kate's discomfort at talking about her job and helped out a little. Kate shot her a grateful smile and looked to Castle for his answer.

"Oh not too bad," he waved off, "it's getting there." It wasn't, really. He'd been too busy spending every free moment with Beckett while they could, only actually writing when he couldn't sleep. He didn't blame her, it was him that came up with the ideas of what they should do while she wasn't working, but he really did need to get writing soon or Gina would be on the warpath again. Looking up, he saw the other members of the table were engrossed in conversation, so took the chance to have a quiet word with his girlfriend.

"Espo and Ryan have been calling me, you know," he said lightly. "They're harassing me to convince you to come back to the 12th."

"I know," Beckett grinned and Castle looked shocked. "Oh come on, Castle," she laughed. "I might have quit my job but I'm still a detective. You think I didn't hear you on the phone to them the other morning?"

"I thought you were asleep," Castle muttered, looking slightly offended that he had been caught out.

"Well maybe you should check harder next time," Beckett teased. "I quit for a reason, Castle, I'm not throwing all of that back in just so I can go back."

"Far too stubborn for that," she heard him mutter but he was saved by Alexis asking what they had for dessert.

Beckett helped clear away the table and brought fresh plates out behind Castle with the dessert, not missing Charlie's smirk. "Looking very at home, aren't you sis," she teased.

Kate was about to retaliate with a smart ass comment but Castle got in first. "Good," he said, "I want her to feel at home, she spends just as much time here as I do and I wouldn't want her to feel uncomfortable!" He looked to Beckett before turning back to the table. "I'm working on getting her to move in," he said in a stage whisper.

First giving her father grandchildren and now moving in - was he trying to kill her? "You better start putting the toilet seat down then," she shot back to laughs from the rest of the table. Castle didn't miss her almost-agreement though and he couldn't help but lean in and plant a kiss on her lips.

"I'll start using a different bathroom if it means you'll move in," he whispered.

"I'll think about it, Castle," Beckett promised, which seemed to be good enough for him. Moving in? Wow that was quick! Or was it? She knew how his brain worked, to him they'd practically been in a relationship since the day he started following her around at work, it would only feel natural to him to ask her to move in less than a month after they got together. She'd bring it up with Charlie later, but she already had a feeling Charlie would be packing Kate's things when they got home.

Charlie and Ethan left not long after dinner, heading out to meet some of Ethan's friends for drinks. Jim and Martha stayed for coffee, before both leaving too - Jim heading back home and Martha to goodness knows where, Castle didn't want to ask.

"You are staying tonight, right?" Castle asked Beckett, suddenly looking very anxious.

"If you want me?" She replied. She had clothes here, Castle had made space in his wardrobe for some of her things, just made it easier, they didn't have to go back to Beckett's apartment just to get a change of clothes that way.

"I always want you, Kate, always," Castle murmured, pulling her into a tight hug.

"And that's my cue to leave," Alexis laughed. "I'm heading over to Paige's dad, I'll see you tomorrow?"

"You're not going because of me, are you?" Kate asked in a panicked tone. The last thing she wanted was to push Alexis out of her own home. "I can go back to my place if it makes you-"

"No, Beckett," Alexis interrupted. "Paige's parents are away for a few days so I said I'd go and keep her company. But you never have to worry about that, as long as the two of you keep it in the...bedroom when I'm here."

"Too much, Pumpkin," Castle shouted, clamping his hands over his ears. "I'll see you tomorrow, have fun with Paige." He was still talking far too loudly.

"See you later, Alexis," Kate smiled, still laughing at Castle. "Hey, you wanna go shopping soon? I need a new pair of shoes and I wondered if you wanted to join me?"

"Sounds perfect," Alexis grinned, "can't wait."

"How many pairs of shoes do you need," Castle grumbled.

"No such thing as too many shoes, dad," Alexis told him. "Bye guys!"

"That was nice, inviting Alexis out like that," Castle said. "She likes you, you know, you don't have to take her out shopping."

"I want to," Kate defended. "She's been so amazing to me and about us, and I like spending time with her, she's a great kid."

"I love you," Castle blurted out. Well, how could he not? Not only was she great with Alexis when they were both here together, she actually wanted to spend time with her without him as well.

"I know you do," Kate said softly. She felt the same but now wasn't the right time. She had no freaking idea what she was waiting for, but she knew she'd know when the time was right to tell him.

"And of course I want you to stay," he reminded her, "wouldn't have suggested you move in otherwise." He grinned at her and she couldn't help but smile back. "But I'll shut up about it now, I'm still a little bit in shock that you didn't flat out refuse, not going to make things worse!"

"I really will think about it," Beckett said, "just give me a day or two."

"I can do that," Castle agreed. "What can we do in the meantime though?"

"You could start by taking me to bed.." Beckett suggested seductively and he beamed at her. Perfect damn woman.

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