9. Welcome Back

"Mother, Alexis," Castle said later in the evening as he entered the loft.

Castle moved to his right and Beckett entered from behind him.

"Kate, you're back," Alexis said with a smile as she got up from her seat and hugged Beckett much to her and Castle's surprise.

"So," said Martha as she came over and looked at her son and the detective, "Is it safe to say you two are back together?"

Beckett looked at Castle, "There were a few issues we had to work on but I think we're on the same page."

Castle took his hand and smiled, "We're definitely on the same page." He looked at his other two leading ladies. "I have ordered pizza and salads from Authentic Terrific Nick's, should be here within half an hour."

"Sounds good to me," said Alexis.

"Can't darling," said Martha, "I've got a date tonight but earlier today I did find that potato chip fudge ice cream you like so much Richard so you can enjoy that later for desert."

"Potato chip fudge," said Beckett.

Castle looked at her, "I know what you're thinking but it's a lot better than it sounds. Trust me Beckett, it is the Mecca of ice cream flavors."

Beckett looked at him with amusement. "Actually Castle," she said, "for once you don't know what I'm thinking. I was thinking that sounds good right about now." She leaned into him a little, "It sounds sweet and salty," she said.

"Just like me," he said with a smile.

Alexis made a face, "Ew. I'll be upstairs studying. Call me when the pizza gets here," she said stopping to say bye to her Grams before making her way upstairs.

"Well you kids have fun," said Martha as she kissed her son on the cheek and then hugged Beckett. "I'm glad you're back, Katerhine."

"Me too, Martha," Beckett replied.

Martha opened the door, "Don't wait up," she said with a chuckle before leaving and closing the door behind her.

"So," said Castle, "Do you want to take a run at that ice cream or wait for dinner first?"

Beckett smiled, "Mm, definitely ice cream."

The two of them walked to the kitchen. Beckett sat on a stool at the counter while Castle went to the freezer and found the ice cream container and then got a bowl to put it in.

After it was set, complete with a spoon, he brought it over to Beckett and took the seat next to her. He took the spoon and dipped it into the ice cream making sure to also get some of the whipped cream.

"Trust me on this, Beckett," Castle said, "You won't regret it," he said as he brought the spoon to her mouth.

She opened and let him feed her and then smiled after she finished and swallowed.

"Wow, you weren't kidding, that was amazing.

Castle dipped the spoon and put some in his mouth, "Told you. Whoever created this flavor was a genius."

Beckett got up from her spot and went around opening a drawer.

"What are you doing?" Castle asked.

"Getting my own spoon."

"Why?"

"So we can both enjoy it," she said as she came back to her spot and dipped it in for another spoonful.

"But I was trying to be romantic."

"And you were," she said as she took another bite.

"But you don't want to share because of," he said nodding to her belly, "I get it. Can we at least share the same bowl?"

"Yes."

Castle smiled as he went in for another scoop himself.

"Is this what it's going to be like when you move in?"

As Beckett was going for her fourth spoonful, she stopped midway.

"Okay I caught you off guard," he said to her.

"Ya think?"

"Please? I don't want us to be like Ross and Rachel," Castle said referring to the couple on Friends who had been friends, been in a relationship, had a baby but didn't get together because of the baby only to get together when the final season ended.

"Castle, I'm not going to move in…" Beckett said as she leaned in and whispered, "Just because we're having a baby."

"No that's not why I'm asking. I mean sure it would make sense but I'm asking because when we were together before you practically spent more time here than we did at your place and I just figured it would happen eventually."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, that psychic did say a beautiful woman would move in and stay with me forever. Who else could she have been talking about? And didn't she tell you that you would meet an Alexander?"

Beckett smiled, "First off, I can't believe you're using that psychic as an excuse for me to move in with you and second, I like my place."

"It's a one bedroom apartment. Where's the baby going to sleep?"

"Hopefully inside me for the next months."

Castle shot her a look, "You know that's not what I mean."

"Castle, what do you want me to say?"

Castle took Beckett's spoon and fed her with it. "Say you'll move in with me."

"What about your mother and Alexis," she asked after she was done swallowing.

"Are you kidding, they'll be thrilled. You saw how they were when they saw you. My mother all ready loves you and so does Alexis. She's never hugged any of the other women I would bring home even when we dated a while. I know we haven't, that we've only dated for a few weeks but Beckett the past few weeks with you, before you shut me out, have been the best few weeks I've spent with anyone, maybe because it's been more than three weeks. It's been since I practically saw you."

Beckett smiled at Castle. Deep down she felt the same. Sure they had only been together a few weeks before she'd shut him out but it seemed that as important as those three weeks were, they'd had three years worth of friendship to fall back on and add to it so it amounted to more than three weeks of being in love with him and she knew he felt the same.

"Tell you what," said Beckett, "Give me till the end of the week. This way it gives you time to talk to your family and it gives me time to sort things out. No one at the precinct, not even Lanie, know we're together so it would seem really strange if I suddenly gave up my apartment especially since I'd have to change my address with HR and Montgomery would find out. So just one week."

Castle smiled, "Sounds perfect."

The doorbell rang and he got up to answer it, taking his time. "We'll hire some movers," he said to his girlfriend, "Don't want you lifting anything heavy."

"Babe, I'm not even showing yet."

"Not taking any chances," Castle said as he opened the door.

Beckett shook her head with a smile.

The guy told Castle the total, he handed him the money, letting him keep the change, and the delivery guy handed over the food. Castle closed the door.

"Hey Alexis," Beckett called out as she made her way to grab some glasses for the sodas. "Pizza's here."

"I'll be right down," the teenager called out.

Within minutes Alexis was downstairs. The three had settled at the table. Castle hadn't done much except pour the cups, getting a fourth: orange soda for him and Alexis and a glass of Sprite and milk for Beckett.

He left the pizza box on the table for anyone to grab a slice but did serve the salads. Alexis declined despite her usual health conscious ways.

Beckett looked at the salad Castle had for her. "Castle, what's in this," she asked as she looked at it, not finding it too appetizing.

"Kale, cabbage, spinach, with pieces of eggplant, pepper, cornflakes, and fat free strawberry yogurt."

"Eggplant, cornflakes, and yogurt? That sounds disgusting."

"It's healthy," Castle shot back at her.

"I want pizza," Beckett said to him.

Alexis looked amused at her dad and his girlfriend, "Why all of a sudden the health food, dad? You hate health food."

Beckett also shot an amused look at Castle. "Do you want to take this one or should I?"

"I've got this," said Castle. He looked at Alexis to his left, "I just thought we could expand our palates a bit."

Alexis laughed, "Since when?"

"Since today," said Castle not going into as to why.

"Fine," said Beckett, "tell you what, you take the first bite and I'll take the second but after that I am having pizza no matter what you say."

Castle turned and frowned, "You drive a hard bargain, detective."

"Are you chickening out," she challenged.

"And give you the satisfaction, not a chance. You throw in your glass of milk instead of the Sprite and you've got yourself a deal."

"Fine I'll drink the milk. Now eat up buster."

Castle reluctantly dug his fork into the salad, making sure to get the yogurt dressing and cornflakes. He then placed it in his mouth and grimaced before smiling.

"Not bad," he said.

"Nice try," said Beckett, "but I can tell when you're lying but a deal's a deal."

Castle got some salad on the same fork. Beckett opened her mouth, ready to receive it. She grimaced as well.

"That's disgusting," she said.

"Very," Castle replied. He reached for several slices of pizza from the box. "Pizza it is," he said as he placed two on Beckett's plate.

"You guys are too cute," Alexis said to them.

Castle smiled but Beckett hid her smile behind her glass of milk, feeling slightly embarrassed at how she and him were acting.

"Long day," Castle said much later into the night as he turned down the bed.

"The longest," Beckett said coming from the restroom and changed in some of Castle's clothes, a t-shirt and sweatpants. "Hey Castle," she said, "I know we just got back together but would you mind if we just slept instead of…you know? It's been a very long day and I'm just exhausted and don't feel up to really doing anything."

Castle smiled as he got under the covers. "Come here," he whispered.

Beckett smiled as she got in and snuggled next to him, placing her head on his chest and closing her eyes as he wrapped his arms around her, his hand touching her belly. She may have gained weight but she wasn't fully showing and yet now that Castle knew the truth, simply knowing that his baby, their baby, was inside her, was enough that he felt content in leaving his hand in that place and Beckett didn't mind at all, in fact she welcomed his touch through the fabric of the shirt. It soothed her and helped her fall asleep that much quicker.