"Kiss me like you wanna be loved."
April 1st 2015
He's driving her crazy and they've only been awake for twenty minutes. Kate lets him loop around her like an excited puppy, trying desperately not to roll her eyes when he trips and stumbles in front of her.
"But it's my birthday." Castle whines, darting around again, waving his arms at Kate as she fills her coffee cup with water from the faucet.
"And I hope it's a happy one." She smiles sweetly over the rim of her cup, "But I'm still not doing it."
"You'd look so hot"
"How is that an incentive?"
"It works for me."
She quirks an eyebrow at him, the narrowed field of her vision full of threat and violence and Castle starts to backtrack fast.
"Not that you don't always look hot, like right now, with your hair all wonky and my shirt on? Gorgeous! And when you wear those jeans or the leather pants with the thing and you, just you, beautiful but -"
"Castle!" Kate exclaimed, breaking his flow before he could get in the full swing of uho, my wife might be pissed at me and completely sidetrack her, "Get it through that thick head of yours, I am not dressing up as a French maid. I don't care how old you are. It's. Not. Happening."
"Getting old sucks." With a grumpy pout Castle flops down at the table, exaggerating a wince in his back, sighing heavily in her direction, looking for sympathy.
He doesn't find it.
She grins, "Babe you're not old, just maturing like -"
"Cheese." He huffs, smooshing his face into the palm of his hand, sulking.
"I was gonna say fine wine, but, sure, we can go with your word." Kate smiles again, swallows thickly and sets down her cup, bracing herself against the countertop.
"You sure you don't want to just try on the little hat?" Castle hedges, his face suddenly alight with mischief and hope. "Hold the duster provocatively for a few minutes?"
"No. I do not." Kate smiles despite herself, pushing away from the counter and taking a deep, steadying breath. "Besides, I don't think it's an appropriate thing to ask the future mother of your child."
"Well, no that's why I was asking ... wait, what?" Castle lifts his head slowly, searching her face, finding her eyes and pushing himself up to walk toward her. "Are you serious?"
She nods, her lips pinched tight as she waits for him to react.
"You're not gonna be evil and yell 'April Fools' the second I get excited are you?"
His eyes narrow, but there is joy there, anticipation.
Kate shakes her head this time, watching the slow progression of his body, legs heavy with shock, surprise, wonder. "No, I wouldn't do that." She says it quietly, pressing the tips of her fingers to her own lips and the smile that betrays her own thoughts on their news.
"You're pregnant?" He asks, stopping just in front of her, his eyes dropping to the flat surface of her stomach as if he hopes to see through her skin and confirm it for himself. "You're really pregnant?"
"Yeah." Kate laughs, "Happy birthday, Castle." She reaches for him and he laughs, beating her to it, wrapping his hands tenderly around her waist and pulling her in close.
He lifts her off her feet, and yes, he must be aging like cheddar because this is quite easily the cheesiest kiss they've ever shared. Possibly the happiest too.
Castle gathers her up and lets her slide down his body slowly. She can feel the change in him already as he shifts around her, gentle, protective.
He kisses her, long and slow and full of wonder. A little French too, even though she won't put on the outfit and his fingers drift lazily over skin he will come to know extremely well in the next few months.
They pull apart breathless, exhilarated and laughing, foreheads touching as she giggles, her eyes shining back at him, elated.
"Happy birthday." This time she breathes it slowly and full of love, reminding him and he grins. It is his birthday - one of the best ones yet - and he has to ask.
"You sure you don't wanna just try on the apron?"
It's still a no, but at least she kisses him to shut him up.