A/N: Thank you so much to all of you that have taken the time to send me lovely reviews and encouragement. As a fledgling Castle writer your input is invaluable and very appreciated.

And to the Twists: thanks for the entertainment. ;)

Castle had expected his family to be home, but he hadn't expected them to be together in the kitchen collaborating on something that smelled strangely like Sushi gone wrong.

"Dad!"Alexis smiled, running up to hug him. His eyes widening, Rick turned at the last moment, throwing his arm around her shoulders and tucking her into his side as he kissed her forehead. "Hey, Pumpkin."

Alexis immediately knew he was hiding something.

He was devoutly grateful that she assumed it was the patch over his eye.

Her smile slowly faded as she registered the damage to his face. "What happened?" She threw an accusatory look at Kate as she reached up to touch him.

Bringing her way to close for comfort at the moment.

"I'm fine, honey." Castle smiled reassuringly as he backed away. "I just need to... I need to..." He made the mistake of looking at Kate; the flush creeping up her neck causing a matching one on his own cheeks. "I just need to use the bathroom. I'll be right back." He turned and practically sprinted for his bedroom, taking Kate's coat with him.

Alexis turned a full on glare at Beckett as Martha came to stand beside her.

"Something we should know?" The older woman asked quietly.

Detective Kate Beckett had sat across an interrogation table from some of the most heinous criminals New York had ever been subjected to, and she had never felt fear.

Until now.

Her mouth opened and closed several times as the Ginger Militia stared at her relentlessly. "I..." She took a deep breath, running her fingers through her hair. "I can't say that what happened wasn't my fault. But I can honestly say that it had nothing to do with a case or Rick being involved with the NYPD."

"Rick?" Both Alexis and Martha spoke at the same time. They were about to pounce on her when Castle returned from the bedroom, rolling up the sleeves of a blue flannel shirt; the tails left hanging out over a pair of well worn jeans.

Just in case.

"So!" His voice boomed loudly, happiness evident in his tone. "I'm starving! What's to eat?"

Both redheads looked at him like he was crazy.

"Dad! Are you going to tell us what's going on?"

Castle sighed, smiling at his precious offspring. "Yes... But after we eat, okay?"

Alexis frowned but grudgingly nodded, before grabbing Martha and heading back to the kitchen.

Kate breathed in and out slowly as Rick moved closer.

"You all right?" He asked softly.

Beckett's laughter was shaky. "I think that was more frightening than a fire fight."

Rick smiled gently. "Sorry... I wouldn't have abandoned you but-"

She held up a hand. "No, I get it. I think if you had stayed it might have been worse." Not thinking, she closed the space between them, raising a hand to his face. "Let me see?"

He nodded.

Carefully, Kate lifted the patch away from his eye, sucking in a hissing breath as she catalogued the damage.

His eye was stained red from broken blood vessels; the entire socket an angry purple color that darkened to a swollen grayish black above his cheek.

Tears stung her eyes as she touched the bruise, making him wince. "I'm so sorry, Rick."

He smiled, resting one hand on her hip as she traced his eyebrow. "I'm not." He whispered. "Small price to pay, for what I got in return."

Kate's fingers trailed down his face to cup his cheek. "You shouldn't have been the one to pay."

Rick bent down slightly, a moment away from claiming her lips when they both remembered where they were and stepped apart.

They turned to find both Alexis and Martha watching them with narrowed eyes.

Coughing, Castle smiled nervously. He frowned, turning to Kate. "What happened to the subs?"

She laughed. Leave it to him to lead with his stomach. "The boys decided you didn't need yours in the infirmary. All of it was gone before you even woke up."

"Damn, it smelled good too." He winked at her and headed to the kitchen. "On that note, what is that... Interesting scent?"

Alexis looked like she was about to say something but Martha jumped in quickly, knowing her son would explain in his own good time. She did give Kate one long, curious glance though. Something had definitely changed.

"It's Spam Maki." The older woman shifted into her charming persona.

"It's what now?" Rick's brow furrowed. "Sorry... I got stuck on the 'spam' part."

Alexis finally smiled. "Spam Maki, Dad. It's grilled spam and avocado wrapped in Nori and white rice then dusted with sesame seeds and drizzled with eel sauce."

"Okay..." He leaned closer, his nose wrinkling. "That explains the what... Now explain the why?"

"It's for my Human Studies class." Little Castle explained. "We had to choose a dish from another culture. I picked Peruvian."

"Ahhh." Castle pursed his lips. "And... Peruvians apparently know nothing about cholesterol."

"Richard!" Martha shook her head. "Where is your sense of adventure?"

"It's back at White Castle eating sliders."

"Dad! At least try it!" Alexis held out a set of chopsticks.

He took them slowly, picking up the smallest piece on the plate and making three stuttering attempts before he managed to force it into his mouth. He closed his eyes tightly as he chewed. Swallowing before he opened them again. "That's actually pretty good."

Dropping the chopsticks he picked up another piece with his fingers, bringing it up to Kate's mouth. "Try it."

Beckett's eyebrows crawled up her forehead as she looked from him to the two other women watching her closely. "Uh... Okay..." She opened her mouth, allowing him to slide the morsel in, trying not to groan when his finger trailed over her lower lip.

And that was all Martha was having. "Okay, enough." She raised a hand to them. "I am all for dramatic pause and tension building, but if you don't explain exactly what the hell is going on I swear I will bring my theater group here every night for a month!"

Castle looked at her in horror.

"Richard..."

"Okay! Okay!" He moved closer to Kate, sliding an arm around her waist. "There's been a... little change in the nature of our relationship."

A/N 2: I promise there will be love and sex in the next update. :)

Reviews are much appreciated.