Disclaimer: I do not own Castle

AN: Hey guys, hope you're all still with me on this one. I'm sorry I've been away so long. Work and college keeps me tied up most of the time. Since it was the weekend, I found some time to write and here's what I ended up writing.

I also wrote a one-shot called 'The Right Direction'. You could check that one out after you're done reading this.
And don't forget to leave me reviews. would really appreciate it. :)

Chapter 15

Rick Castle rarely woke up earlier than his significant other. Today was one of those rare occasions. He looked at his woman, sleeping soundly beside him, and he watched her with awe. The soft rays of light that were fighting to make their way through the closed blinds, were dressing her skin. But they were no competition to the glow she already sported. Kate Beckett was a beautiful woman, and nothing, no amount of nature's beauty could stand to compete against her. She'd run circles around them at any beauty pageant.

Rick smiled at the thoughts that were filling his head this morning. He wished he could wake up before her everyday this way and watch her, admire her when her guard was down, when she was at her most vulnerable state. He hadn't realized how long he'd been watching her, until she suddenly stirred awake, and her eyes first caught his.

Her face showed confusion at first, on finding him staring and smiling at her that way. But then it immediately relaxed and she closed her eyes for a few seconds again, not wanting to wake up yet.

"Hey" he said

"Hi" she replied, with her eyes still closed. And then with no thought, she scooted closer to him, and snuggled into his side.

"What time is it?"

"Why does it matter? You don't have to go anywhere today" he said excitedly.

She hummed lazily, and he kissed her head. Twice, thrice. She looked up at him with a smile.

And he kissed her lips. It was a beautiful start to a beautiful morning, lazing in bed with his beautiful wife.

She kissed him softly, taking her time to appreciate his lips. Her hand moved lazily on his chest, reveling in the soft cotton of his V neck t-shirt.

"Did you sleep well?"

"I did. What about you?"

"I woke up early, but it was worth it, to get to watch you"

She chuckled and hit him playfully. "Really? You were watching me sleep? Castle I'm not really my best when I'm unconscious"

"Au Contraire, You haven't watched you sleep. You're prettier than sleeping beauty."

She smiled appreciatively and kissed him again: a reward for always making her feel so precious to him.

"What time is it? Are the kids up?"

"I didn't check, but being Kaylee's first birthday, I think they're already up, making plans for the day"

"Yea, Alexis did say they were planning a big birthday bash"

"And Avril said she invited almost everyone."

Kate sat up and tapped his thigh. "Come on, let's go wake Kaylee."

He sat up and put his arm around her and said with a naughty smile "can't we spend a little more time in bed?" he began softly kissing her neck. She closed her eyes. He knew just how to tempt her.

"Hmmm... Rick..."

"Come on, lie down, there's still time until we have to wake her" he urged.

Kate kissed him hard and fast on the lips, her hands caressing his body in ways too sinful to miss. And he gave back equally. But just before things could get a bit more heated, there was a knock on the door.

"Mom, dad, Kaylee's awake!" said Avril.

Kate smiled and said "Coming sweetheart."

She then looked at Castle and said, "Let's continue this later, alright?"

He nodded, and she got out of bed quickly, put on her robe and tidied her hair a bit. He watched her intently, staring at how beautiful she looked this morning.

"What are you waiting for? Aren't you coming?"

He was brought out of his trance. "Ah yes..." he said. He quickly got up, slipped on his robe and they walked out together to find Avril and Alexis sitting at the kitchen island with Kaylee.

"What time did you guys wake up?" Castle asked his daughters.

"Oh, we were up an hour ago, too many things to do before the party tonight" Castle nodded in understanding. Kate reached out and carried Kaylee in her arms

"Hey Kaylee, Happy Birthday honey!" she said to the little girl, and placed a kissed on her head, a long, lingering one. She held her close and cuddled her, in her mind, wishing only the best for her little baby. Castle came up behind them and he kissed their baby too.

"Hey, big girl! Happy Birthday! Mommy and daddy bought you a lot of gifts! Do you want to open them up now?"

The little girl giggled excitedly and clapped her hands and Castle did the same with her. Kate laughed.

Just then, Kate's phone began to ring. Castle took Kaylee from her so that she could see who it was.

"Who is it?" he asked when she saw the caller id.

"It's Doctor Kacey"

"Why is she calling?"

"I had messaged her yesterday, telling her I had left my scarf at the clinic that day when I went to see her about flu. She's probably calling to tell me she's sending it over" Rick nodded and Kate excused herself to take the call.

The girls sat themselves down for breakfast, while Castle started the coffee and got to preparing the waffles for breakfast. Alexis and Avril were so excited for the party, they told Castle about the cake they had ordered and about the guys who would be coming to decorate the place in the afternoon, and the DJ, who by the way, happens to be super-hot.

Castle seemed a little uncomfortable with that last fact, but he dismissed it. He served the kids breakfast and then looked at his watch. It had been 10 minutes since Kate was on that call. He wondered what was up. When she came back in, he noticed her demeanor was a little changed.

"Everything alright? What did she say?"

Kate sat down beside the girls on one of the stools and said with a smile "Oh nothing, she has asked her assistant to drop my scarf off at the precinct. I told her I won't be there today, but she can send it over anyway"

"That's all you guys discussed?"

"Yea... Why?"

Castle grew suspicious, but he didn't let on. After they were all done with breakfast, Rick and Kate freshened up and all of them sat together in the living room to let Kaylee open up her presents. The little girl felt overjoyed to unwrap her gifts, in fact she seemed more excited about the act of unwrapping the shiny paper, than finding out what's in it.

She was sitting on her Mommy's lap, while her daddy and elder sister Avril were sitting on the ground helping her sort out all her gifts. New toys, clothes, stuffed animals, and more toys. Alexis was clicking pictures, one after the other, capturing the funniest and cutest of moments.

And when Castle brought out the last gift, and they opened it to find a mini laser tag kit for the toddler, Kate's laughter knew no bounds. In fact, she laughed so hard when Castle took Kaylee from her arms and gave her a little speech about how laser tag is an important aspect about the Castle family tradition, and how he is ever so happy, to have her become a part of it today, Kate almost fell off the couch laughing.

And Rick smirked at his ability to create that beautiful sound of laughter from her lips. Avril ridiculed his silliness and Alexis snapped away when Kaylee took the tiny laser gun and aimed it at her daddy.

After a while, Rick and Avril left to go get the cake for the evening, and Alexis had a few more calls to make. So Kate finally took the opportunity to sit down with her baby girl and just spend some time with her.

She carried her up to her room, and after having settled in their little sofa in her room, she spoke softly to her baby girl.

"Mommy love's you so much Kaylee... You know, this time, last year, I was out there putting you in the line of danger… I wasn't thinking straight." Kate wasn't sure how much Kaylee would understand from what she was telling her, but she needed to do this.

Her eye's moistened at the memory of Kaylee's birthday.

"Mommy did a lot of stupid things, but even after all of the stupid things I did, I was rewarded with the most beautiful gift a woman could ever have. You." she kissed her little baby.

"I put you through a lot of pain, and I don't think I'll ever forgive myself for it, but I made a promise to you the first time I held you in my arms, and I want to remind you of that promise today."

Kaylee stood on her mommy's lap, her hands giving her support by holding on to her mommy's shoulders. She put a finger on her mommy's lip and stared at it with awe. Kate took her hand in hers and kissed her tiny palm and said.

"Protecting you from any harm has been my life's mission since the day I first held you Kaylee. And nothing will hurt you as long as I can do anything about it. I love you more than my own life, you should know that." The little girl smiled. And it warmed Kate's heart.

"I love you" she said to her. It was a line she was sure Kaylee understood, because she immediately leaned in and kissed her mommy's nose. Kate chuckled and a tear rolled down her cheek.

Immediately Kaylee wiped it off her face and shook her head in the negative. Letting her know that she shouldn't cry. Kate kissed her some more and they just cuddled together for a few more minutes, the little girl, snuggling closer into her embrace, after all, it was her safe place, the protective arms of her mother, arms that held her in a cocoon of Love that only kept giving and giving. And as Kate softly whispered soft sweet nothings in her little miracle's ears, Little Kaylee, found herself falling asleep again.

Kate had never felt this much love for a baby before, of course she loved Avril and Alexis just as much. But Kaylee was her little angel. And she would do anything to keep her happy.

Thanks for reading. Leave me a review with your thoughts? :)