Chapter 47

A/N #1: Okay, I am a dork. Martha was supposed to have one last scene in chapter 46 that makes the beginning of this one make more sense. But I had just written 3K+ words and was falling asleep on my keyboard. So thank you to meraki28 for helping me look less like an asshat. ;)

A/N #2: In regards to my random speculation of Valkyrie... Missed it by THAT much. LOL. (And if you get that reference, I love you...)

A/N #3: Mo' smut! I am a dog...

Castle watched his mother head for the stairs. He had just turned back to the magazines when her voice rang out through the loft.

"Oh, and Richard?"

He spun around quickly. "Yes, Mother?"

"The next time you feel the urgent need to... Burn up the sheets?" She waved a hand dramatically towards the kitchen. "You might want to turn off the stove... before you burn down the house. You're just lucky the opening was a bore."

The writer's eyes widened. He rushed to the range, staring down into the black sludge at the bottom of his favorite pan.

He pouted slightly. "Damn. That would have been good too." He picked up the sauce pan, stopping half way to the sink. With a sigh, he pulled open the cabinet that hid the kitchen trash and dropped it inside. "Thank goodness for bridal registries..."

"Talking to yourself, Castle?"

Rick squeaked, spinning around to see Kate smiling at him from the counter.

"Was that a scream?"

He frowned at her. "No, that was definitely NOT a scream."

The stared at each other for a few moments and then Beckett cleared her throat, holding out her coffee cup. "Can I get a bit more?"

"Yeah, sure!" Castle jumped forward eagerly, taking the cup and setting it on the counter as he restarted the kettle. The silence between them was awkward for a moment.

"Listen... Rick... I'm sorry about the thing with your mother." She smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. "I didn't mean to offend her..."

Castle snorted. "We're talking about Martha Rodgers here. It would take a bit more than that to offend her 'sensibilities'." He raised his hand to keep her from continuing. "My mother's heart is in the right place. Sadly her train of thought tends to leave from a different station." He stepped closer, kissing her gently. "Trust me, by tonight she will have a stack of torn out pages a foot high. You will get a chance to redeem yourself."

The kettle began to whistle and he moved back into the kitchen, rinsing out the french press and resetting it with fresh grounds. Opening the fridge, he pulled out the cream she loved so much. The one that wasn't available to anyone but their favorite coffee shop. And him... apparently.

When he walked back to her and handed her a steaming cup of heaven she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply before looking at him sadly. "I just..." She took a small sip, wincing at the heat before setting it aside, her lips curving into a small smile when he got a cube of ice from the fridge and dropped it into her cup. "Please know... I'm happy about where we are. I really, truly am. I just... I always thought things would go in a certain order."

"And this wasn't it?" He finished for her.

"I dunno, Castle. Maybe this is us. We always seem to do things backwards."

He couldn't help the wicked thought that flashed through his mind.

Kate recognized the look in his eyes and glared at him. "You know what I mean."

"I do." He moved into her personal space, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close in a loose embrace. "You expected normal, when you got to this place in your life?"

Beckett nodded slowly.

"Kate... what about us has ever been normal?"

She looked up at him through long, full lashes; the darkness in her eyes making him tighten his grip for a moment.

"Maybe... maybe this is our normal." He smiled broadly. "What I know is that this..." He motioned between the two of them. "This is more than anything I could have ever hoped for."

Beckett couldn't help but grin, going onto her tiptoes to press her lips firmly against his. The kiss had just become more urgent, involving hands and hips and other... more personal body parts when they heard a door open upstairs. They moved apart slowly, and more reluctantly than they were used to.

"Hey guys!" Alexis bounded down the stairs, a medium-sized backpack thrown over her shoulder. She bypassed them quickly, going to the fridge to pour herself a glass of juice, which she downed in three huge gulps. "Okay," She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "See you later!"

"Wait!" Castle blinked. "What about breakfast? I can make you some eggs-"

"Sorry." She leaned up to kiss her dad on the cheek. "We have an Exchange meeting this morning. I need to run or I'll be late."

"Alexis..." He followed her halfway to the door. "But..."

"Oh, and I'll be home late tonight. The Exchange Club is putting on a social." She shifted the backpack pointedly. "I'm taking my clothes so I can change at school and we can grab dinner beforehand."

"We...?" Castle shook his head. "But..."

"Anyway, gotta go. See you tonight."

The door shut behind her with a resounding echo, leaving the writer standing in his living room with a confused look on his face. He turned to Beckett. "What just happened?" He shook his head. "A 'social'? What..."

"Rick," Kate took his face between her hands and kissed him softly. "She's an adult. Let her be."

He snorted. "Remind me to tell you that when our kid is in the same place."

The detective inhaled sharply, her hand going to her belly for a moment before she dropped it and smiled up at him. "One of OUR kids IS in that place. But... Deal." She picked up her coffee, flipping her wrist to look at her father's watch. "Now... I am going to take my coffee back to the bedroom and curl up with the paper for an hour, before we have to head into the station." She bit her bottom lip, watching the pulse point in his neck jump. "Feel free to join me."

"Uh..." Castle tried to get his mind to focus. "Yeah... Just... give me a few minutes."

Kate nodded, taking her coffee and heading back to his bed.

With a small shake of his head, the writer reached into the pocket of his robe. He pulled out his phone, staring at it for a few moments before flicking his thumb across the screen.

Kate shifted, groaning softly as her neck popped back into place. Blinking slowly, she glanced at her watch.

"Crap!" She went to sit up, starting slightly when she saw Castle standing over her with a bed tray. "You let me oversleep!"

"With you, oversleeping is not oversleeping. It's just... sleeping." He set the tray down across her legs.

"What's this?" She looked down at the covered dishes. Leave it to Castle to have covered serving dishes.

"Breakfast?"

"Rick..." She ran her hands through her hair, even as she watched him pull away the lids, her mouth salivating.

"Fresh squeezed orange juice. Cranberry juice... not fresh squeezed because, honestly, those little suckers are slippery. Bacon, spanish omelette, silver dollar blueberry pancakes with real maple syrup and toast with fresh, real butter. Oh, both sourdough and wheat."

Kate looked at the mountain of food in front of her and couldn't help but smile. "What is this?"

"The Casa de Castle buffet?"

She shook her head. "Even if I could eat all this, we don't have time." She tried to move the tray aside.

"Yes we do."

Beckett went still, staring at him, her eyes narrowing. "What did you do?"

After several stuttering attempts he was finally able to answer. "I called Montgomery."

The detective bolted upright. "You called the Captain? Castle-"

The writer help up a hand. "I just asked him what happened. He was the one that said the case was closed. That Ryan and Espo were dealing with the paperwork." He looked at her sheepishly. "He said they could handle it. No open cases, no bodies dropping. He'll call if they need you."

Kate wanted to be mad.

But she just didn't have it in her.

"Fine, but Castle-"

"Never again!" He nodded vigorously. "Until... the next time."

When she glared at him he only smiled. "Just eat."

"Castle, I can't eat all of this."

"Try." He laid a cloth napkin across her stomach. "You're eating for two now."

"Two? This is enough for four!"

His eyes glossed over, making Beckett snort and smack him on the arm. "No, Castle. Just one."

"How do you know?"

Kate tried not to laugh and failed miserably. She patted the bed beside her. "Join me?"

"As much as I would love to," He looked at the space next to her longingly. "I have some phone calls to make. Just... eat as much as you can. I'll be back soon."

Kate nodded; watching him leave the room, her eyes brimming with love before she tucked into her breakfast.

Kate sighed and rolled over onto her back.

The half decimated bed tray had long since been set on the floor; her tummy sated, along with the appetite of the Castle growing steadily within her.

Unconsciously, her hand slid up her belly, hiking her shirt up; letting the cool air do interesting things to her nipples. She scratched at her skin lightly, her brow furrowing when she felt a moist heat against her thigh.

She went completely still as the heat and pressure moved upwards, a trail of dampness left behind. Whimpering slightly, she felt her legs shift further apart, felt strong hands grip her behind her knees as thick muscles opened her even more to the cool air.

"Rick..." She whispered breathlessly.

And then he was there; his fingers moving aside her soaked panties... His tongue sliding in deep to taste her. With a gasp, she tangled her hands into his hair.

"Rick..." It was half question, half plea and she felt the man between her legs tremble.

"Kate." His voice was deep, husky. The warmth of his breath heavy against her as he flattened his tongue and dragged it over her most sensitive flesh.

"Jesus, Rick..." Her fingers tightened, making him hiss even as he increased the pressure and speed of his tongue, slipping two fingers inside of her as he reveled in her scent and taste.

He bent the tips of his fingers, curling them slightly; his eyes slamming shut when he felt her tighten around him.

Castle opened his mouth wider, sucking harder... drawing her in between his lips so that his tongue could map every ridge.

"Fuck..." Beckett's back arched, her hips lifting off the bed, yet still he would not stop. His tongue flicking faster until whatever she was screaming no longer made any sense and she was like a rag doll in his arms.

When Kate finally stopped shaking, he slowly loosened his grip; climbing up to tuck himself in behind her. He grinned when she stared over her shoulder at him with a dazed expression on her face.

"That..." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "You..."

Castle grinned unrepentently. "Would that qualify as... speechless?"

Beckett laughed in delight.

"God, I love you."

The writer smiled. "I know."

"Castle?"

The writer opened his eyes. He hadn't been asleep so much as just lucid dreaming...

Gladly about things that had already happened to him.

Now anyway.

He felt soft skin and smooth muscles under his fingertips and shook his head, a dopey grin on his face.

"Okay... don't do the puppy dog thing right now because it kinda kills the mood." Kate complained.

Castle's eyes flashed to hers, becoming feral in a heart beat.

She swallowed "Okay... so maybe... Half and half?"

The writer chuckled. "Are you sure you know what you want, Detective Beckett?"

He watched, one eyebrow raised as the gorgeous woman slid her panties down her legs and pulled his shirt off over her head.

When she was naked, she reached out slowly... tentatively; her hands curving around his hips as she rubbed her belly against his. "I just want you."

Castle stared into her eyes, eventually finding what he was looking for; a smile curving his lips as he bent down, using his knees to push apart her thighs.

Without hesitation, Beckett wrapped her legs around his waist, tightening them maddeningly as she leaned up to capture his lips.

Only to whimper in frustration when she met only air.

Opening her eyes, Kate looked up at her lover. The tenderness in his eyes was overwhelming.

The detective lowered herself back onto the bed; relaxing her muscles as he slowly came closer.

Castle started at her forehead; kissing it gently before moving on to both of her temples, and then both of her eyes. He paused for an extended amount of time when he reached her lips; his large hands caressing her neck as his tongue mapped very inch of her mouth.

And then they moved lower.

He trailed his fingers over every inch of her skin, moving in small, swirling patterns so that there was no way he could miss even a centimeter.

And then he followed that same trail with his tongue.

By the time Castle reached his final destination, after memorizing every curve of rib and every swell of flesh... Beckett was ready to come apart in his hands.

"Rick..." She whispered.

Nodding absently, he raised himself above her; groaning when she took ahold of him and dragged him towards her.

"Kate..." More than anything he wanted to slam into her... to feel her tighten convulsively... to hear her scream his name.

But he knew... not this time.

Castle wrapped one arm around the detective, staring into her eyes as he slid slowly, reverently, inside of her. He held her tightly against him, breathing in her air as she gasped against his chest.

Then he began to move.

There was no urgency and Castle smiled at her, small electric shocks running up and down his spine as she tightened around him.

It was slow and sweet and so perfect that neither of them had the breath to make a sound when they finally came apart within moments of each other; Beckett's hands digging into his hair to pull his lips up to hers, sharing what little breath she had as she shuddered under his touch.

Kate took several long, ragged breaths before laughing. "I thought you had work to do!"

Castle waggled his eyebrows at her. "Fifteen minute break." He ran his hand down her side, detouring long enough to dip two fingers into the wetness between her legs and then suck them into his mouth, watching in appreciation as Kate arched beneath him.

He wasn't sure which he loved more.

Her reaction... or the way she tasted.

"Just wait until lunch hour!"

The detective slapped at him playfully. "Go! Do whatever you need to do." Her smile turned more sweet than sarcastic. "I want some time alone with you tonight."

The rest of the day went by faster than they expected. After breakfast... 'activities'... they had gone for a walk in the park, and then to a wonderful little cafe Castle dragged her to.

When they got home, the writer had made a big bowl of popcorn and set her on the couch with Sean of the Dead and Club Dread as he went about making more phone calls; stopping by the couch on more than one occasion for a kiss that was haze inducing.

On his sixth fly-by, Kate wrapped her fingers in his shirt and pulled him down on top of her.

"Enough." She growled.

"Enough of what?"

The detective raised an eyebrow sarcastically. "If I have to explain it to you, maybe I'm on the wrong couch..."

She started to get up, laughing happily when his arms shot out and wrapped around her; drawing her up to meet his lips.

"What are you up to, Castle?" She breathed into his mouth when they finally broke apart.

The writer smiled. "Come on, Beckett... when have I ever made it that easy?" He blinked. "For that matter, when have you?"

The detective stared at him.

"Or... you... could be really easy." His eyes widened. "Not easy, easy... just like... not hard... easy..." He blinked. "I should probably go make some more phonecalls."

"Yeah, that would be good."

Kate watched him scramble away, a slow, happy smile curving her lips.

01:10 am

Alexis slipped into the loft quietly, taking her heels off to keep them from clacking against the floor. She had just turned to head up the stairs when a voice came out of the darkness, making her jump.

A light went on, illuminating Castle, who was sitting on the couch. "I do believe this is the first time you have ever snuck in late." He blinked. "I'm not sure whether to be angry or proud."

The redhead smiled at him charmingly. "Proud?"

The writer grinned. "We'll go with that... this time." He patted the couch next to him, making her eyebrows raise.

"Dad? Are you okay?"

"I just need to talk to you sweetpea."

"Is this about Tab..." She stopped when he shook his head. "This is about Kate."

Castle nodded.

"Is it always going to be about Kate?"

The writer realized what his daughter was asking and nodded. "You, your grandmother... and Kate."

Alexis dropped her chin, nodding slowly. "Okay. Then tell me."

A/N #4: Thanks for the reviews! They mean a lot!