"Maybe we should kiss a little."

June 2016

Kate wakes to the soft rustle of bedclothes and the padding of large, undainty feet on the floor. Her eyelids flutter but she stays perfectly still, her back to the man and emanation of sound, hoping she can feign sleep a little while longer.

"Bah!"

She startles, but not enough to appear awake though she has to bite the inside of her cheek to keep the smile in check. Someone's awake early and like her - she thinks proudly - eager to start the day.

"Shhhhh."

She grins further into the pillows, her expression hidden by the fact she pretty much fell asleep on her face last night, passing out almost instantly the moment she was done with him.

"BAH!"

"Shhh." Kate can hear the smile in Castle's voice as he hushes their son. The image of his strong arms and large hands cradling the boy to his chest so clear in her mind that she doesn't even have to open her eyes to see. But god, does she want to.

Somehow Kate finds it in herself to resist, just a little longer, to let whatever is about to occur play out. She's spent years learning that timing is everything and the best things in the world are worth waiting for. Especially when it comes to Castle.

"Baaaha!"

"Shhh. Mommy's sleeping. Now is not the time to start entering rooms like your grandmother."

She doesn't laugh but she wants to. Her fingers clench underneath her head, holding on tight and waiting. The feeling in her chest this fiercely protective and unbelievably proud thing that seems so animalistic as it roams around and circles her heart.

Pride in what they have, what they are together. Her family.

The little boy does something that clearly delights him because he lets out a squeal - an angelic siren call of mischief - just as Castle yelps, "Ow! God, those Beckett genes kick in early."

He must have his little fists tight around Castle's ears again, he's been fascinated with them, standing on his father's strong thighs and bouncing, grabbing for the nearest source of stability.

Usually she soothes his pouting face with her own soft caress, telling their little boy to be nice to daddy, whispering in his ear that she will be too, later.

She hears her husband yelp again, stifling laughter with a slow inhale and he shushes both himself and the baby, muttering under his breath all the while and Kate can hear their son mimicking him. Chattering away in a steady stream of nonsense and she won't call it mocking, not yet, he's too little and cute and able to get away with it, but another wave of pride washes through her and every ounce of her strength is focused on staying deadly still and waiting.

Kate feels the bed dip when they settle at her back, Castle's legs skimming her thighs when he scooches up and tries to balance their wriggly kid and himself without waking her.

Kate knows he's gonna find it hard, since the boy started crawling he's a complete worm. Arms and legs and that lithe little torso instantly made of water as he slips through your grasp to pool on the floor and make a baby break for it.

Castle jostles her, shoves, pokes and huffs enough that she wonders if he already knows she's awake, or if he just wants her that way, but Kate remains frozen, her chest a steady and rhythmic rise and fall that gives away nothing.

She feels the bed bounce and hears an ooff of sound escape Castle's chest.

"Yeah, you jump up and down buddy, but if you want a little sister let's not jump on that again, okay?"

"Bah!"

"Good boy." He chuckles and she's so in love with the way he talks to their child. No baby blah blah or gobbledygook, just his soft voice and an adult ramble. He carries on a conversation as if any second their son will pipe up and tell him the most amazing things. She can't wait until he does.

"Mommy's tired, huh?" She hears Castle comment, his words jerky as the boy leaps again. Her husband whispers to the boy quietly and the lowering of his tone slowly brings the baby's leaping to a stop, a conspiracy forming at her back.

"It's a shame Mommy's asleep because if she was awake we could show her what we've been working on."

"Abah."

"Exactly, but I'll let you in on a little secret, mommy's faking, you can tell because her cheeks are lifting, look."

Kate can't help but smile wide, grinning as she slowly falls onto her back, eyes still closed.

"Maaumu."

"Mmhmmm, exactly and that's where you should kiss her, right on the curve of her cheek, you know why?"

"Umamama."

"Because that is the sweetest part, the softest part of mommy's smile." Castle's fingers brush through her hair and she rolls as close as she can get, her eyes opening slowly to look up at her boys. "That's where we should kiss to let mommy know we love her the most."

Kate smiles and pushes her hair back from her face, stroking a hand up Castle's arm to brush her thumb across the sock-less foot of her little boy. Tiny fat toes squidgy under her fingertips.

"Blow mommy a kiss." Castle whispers proudly, dropping his eyes to his wife with a smile, and the little boy lifts his hand to his face as Kate inhales in surprise, wondering when he learnt to blow kisses. She catches Castle's eye but he only nods her back towards their son, smiling in anticipation as the little guy captures their attention.

He makes a smacking, sucking sound against the palm covering his mouth and "Mmmmmaaaaaaaaahhhs" loudly, grinning as his chubby little hand dances away from his face and he looks to his father.

"Good job, buddy."

Kate smiles widely, sitting up and taking the little boy from his father's hands and she laughs, delighted when he reaches for her face, lips popping apart like a fish as he gets closer.

He giggles every time she laughs, and he does it again, delighting in the happy sounds that emanate from his mother when his toothless grin collides with her skin.

She catches at his little body, squishes her fingers into his sides so he squirms, and pulls him down with her onto the bed, letting herself fall backwards as she holds the wiggling infant above her head.

He comes for her again, gummy and aiming not quite proper kisses at her face, wet and slobbery when she nuzzles into his neck, and she can't help but laugh louder and tease, "You kiss just like daddy."

"Not exactly like daddy." Castle growls and she shivers, goosebumps racing over her flesh as he tips into her and the three of them tumble lower in the bed. Castle claims her lips, diving in quickly, hotly and feeding from her mouth with a delicious laziness, just to prove a point.

Right up until their son thumps him on the head and squeals in delight as they pop apart laughing at his antics.