"Kiss slowly, love deeply."

November 2015

"Take it slowly." He hovered, arms full, hands annoyingly occupied and unable to aide her, he realised now she'd probably arranged that on purpose. Planned ahead, made sure he had the carrier and the bags and her overnighter so he couldn't swoop in and lift her off her feet.

"I am."

"Slower."

Kate turned on him with flared vision, fire and smoke and death to anyone in her path, "If I go. Any slower. I will be. Standing still." She bit at the words, clenched her jaw as her verbal prisoners escaped into the room, leaping from her tongue with barely restrained venom.

"I'll come back and carry you if -"

"You will not."

"I-"

"No!"

"Just-" he grimaced, spinning around, trying to find the perfect place to set down his burdens and precious cargo alike, "go slowly."

"I. Am." She gritted out through clenched teeth.

"I know just-"

"Castle, if you say it again I am going to walk over there and shoot you!"

Aha! Table, perfect! "Thats fine," he muttered distractedly, unhooking bag after bag from his arms, "just do it slowly."

"You're a condescending jackass sometimes, you know that?" Kate said with a scrunched nose that did nothing to hide her urge to laugh. Condescending yet, at the same time, a total sweetie.

His eyes twinkled, as if he heard her calling him sweetie, and he grinned at her, "Yes dear. Slowly."

"I'm not an invalid," she groused trying hard to hide the wince as she sat down, maneuvering her legs underneath her, annoyed with herself when he caught the flash of pain that darted across her face.

"I know that." Castle stood straight, his voice low and warm, suffused with pride and utterly serious when he spoke, "You're amazing." He bit it back for a few seconds but eventually he gave in and laughed at her expression. Eyes narrowed in suspicion, dark shadows beneath making her look like a panda - his suspicious panda - she looked ridiculously gorgeous today.

"Stop looking at me like that." Kate mumbled, easing back trying to get comfy, shaking her head when he threw a look of innocence in her direction. It fell on deaf ears, or blind eyes, and Kate ignored him, instead she held out her arms expectantly as he deposited bags either side of her, arranged paraphernalia and the necessary items she might need in the next few minutes.

Kate searched his face, watched the way he opened and closed his lips while moving, knowing he wanted to speak. She held her tongue as long as she could, then blurted, "But?"

He didn't deflect, or try for humor and she was glad of it, thankful even.

Castle sighed, "But you did just expel a small - but quite long - human from an area -"

"Designed to do exactly that?" She interrupted, arms up, "give me my child. Slooowly," she enunciated, defiance and no small amount of possible bodily harm flooding her tone.

Castle carefully extracted the sleeping boy from his carrier, his fingers slipping underneath the warm bundle of their son and pulling his tiny arms from the straps. He was curled tight in a scrunched little ball, mouth popping apart at the first disturbing touches, mewling in annoyance for his disturbed sleep. Castle's eyes cut to Kate's and rolled infinitesimally when she waggled her fingers, he scooped the baby up in his arms and Castle raised the boy until his lips were over his ear, "Put in a good word for me with your mother, 'k, and when you turn eighteen I'll buy you any car you want."

He moved in close, lowering their boy into her waiting arms.

Kate kissed his little head, snuffled where his cap met his tufts of spiky hair, speaking quietly, "Never side with your father and I'll teach you how to drink," she promised, settling the child against her chest and snagging Castle's shirt before he could retreat.

"No fair, I don't have boobs." He grinned, misunderstanding clearly a deliberate act, but his smile fell away the longer she held onto his shirt, pulling him in and making him lean heavily on the back of the couch so he didn't squish her or the baby.

"I'm fine," Kate swore, truthfully, her eyes wide, "tired and a little sore. I ache in the weirdest places," she smiled when he snorted, "and so gross I'll need an hour in the shower to feel vaguely human, but Castle," she tugged at his shirt collar, pulling him 'til their foreheads touched, her words a soft sigh, "I'm fine. Better than... I'm-" her eyes closed, she smiled, "I'm-"

Happy went unsaid, yet when she blinked her eyes open seconds later, they shared a look, a knowing gaze of contentment. Now they were back home, together again, with their baby safely tucked between them. Castle smiled in return, traced her jaw with one fingertip, believing her completely, "Okay."

"Now kiss me," she mumbled against his lips, "slowwwwly."