Chapter 61

Castle said, "Good girl. Lucy."

Castle checked the dog's license tag. "I have it Beckett." He looked over his shoulder to Kate, "His name is Jeremy Preswick."

"Your name is Jeremy Preswick." Kate Beckett informed, her tone soft and easy. She searched the man's face for a reaction, a twitch of facial muscles, as she continued, "We checked it against your DMV photo and it's a positive ID."

Jeremy digested the information, swallowed, looked at Kate who sat opposite him, and tried it out, "Jeremy Preswick." The name readily rolled off his tongue, a deeply ingrained name.

Beckett smiled, liking the sound of him saying his own name. Brightly she added, "You are 34 years old, and you live at 82 Warren Street in Tribeca. You don't really have any family. Your parents passed away a few years ago, and you don't have any siblings. But we did manage to get a hold of your ex-wife, Emma Carnes."

That news caused his eyes to widen, "Ex-wife?"

"Uh-huh."

"I'm divorced?"

"Yeah." She glanced at Rick for support but, for once, he remained quiet, which had her questioning what thoughts were going through his mind. He had previously shared with her that he was worried his divorce rate would concern Kate. It didn't right now.

She looked back at Jeremy. "Sorry. Your ex sounded pretty concerned, and we figured that would be the fastest way of putting together the details, which would be great for you and for our investigation."

"If you think it'll help." He shrugged. "An ex-wife that I can't remember."

Beckett motioned to Ryan to send in a tall, attractive blond woman. She was shy but smiled at Jeremy who stood up.

Castle's silence finished when he remarked, "Hey, some men would consider you lucky."

Meanwhile, a tall attractive blond woman named Emma approached Jeremy, "Hello, Jeremy."

"Hey. Thank you for coming. I appreciate it."

"Sure."

"So, we're divorced." Jeremy said, looking over the stranger before him, a woman he had once been married to.

She was shy, but scanned his face, "Yeah."

"Must be weird coming here to try to help me out, huh?"

"A little." She smiled.

"Please take a seat." Beckett offered then sat back down.

"So, what happened to him?" Emma asked when she pulled up a chair and sat beside Jeremy.

"That's what we are trying to figure out." Castle replied.

Beckett said, "Is there anything you can tell us about Jeremy?"

Emma glanced at everyone, her eyes lingering on her ex-husband. "Well, like what?"

Beckett replied, "Like, arr, where he works."

"Well, as far as I know, he doesn't anymore." Emma fidgeted, clearly no comfortable with the situation, "Okay, this is weird with you sitting right there," she said to Jeremy.

"Tell me about it."

She turned her attention to speak to Jeremy, "You have a PhD in economics from Wharton. Umm, you had a consulting business in channel economics and strategy. You're smart. Like, crazy smart."

Castle said, "Had a business?"

"Yeah, yeah, he sold it last year."

"Do you know why?" Castle asked.

"No. I thought it was weird. He loved the business."

Jeremy a little distracted, asked, "Why did we split up, Emma?"

"Wow," she took a breath, her cheeks colored, "I've ranted for hours to girlfriends about that."

"I'm guessing I don't come off so well in that rant."

"You were a jerk." Emma stated, her eyes remaining on his.

"Ah."

She dropped her shoulders, relaxed a little, "But so was I. I mean, the truth is we probably got married too young."

"Look, I'm sorry that I don't recognize you, but you seem incredibly nice and," he glanced over her face, "You're gorgeous, and I'm certain that it was entirely my fault that our marriage fell apart."

"See that." Emma glanced to Rick and Kate, "That's the guy I fell in love with. Funny. Sweet. Self-deprecating."

Beckett who wanted the conversation back on track asked, "Do you know what Jeremy had been doing with himself recently?

"As far as I know, he was dating the youngest, hottest women he could find, and not bothering to put the toilet seat down."

Jeremy laughed a little nervously.

"And do you have any idea what he might have been doing at the Victor Fink Gallery in Chelsea?" Beckett asked momentarily glancing between the two. They kind of reminded her of herself and Castle in that they looked good together. They complemented each other. Was a shame they hadn't made it once upon a time.

"No." Emma replied, "I'm sorry, but we haven't even spoken in almost a year." She looked awkward, a little flustered.

Beckett said, "Um, well we're on our way to Jeremy's apartment to see if it sparks anything. Would you mind coming along? You might be able to put things in some context."

"Yeah sure. Anything to help him."

"Do you find it odd?" Castle asked, swishing his drink. The ice cubs clinked against each other. He was comfortably seated on Kate's couch, a good dinner under his belt, a good Scotch in the tumbler. Best of all, he was with Kate, who was on the living room floor, motioning herself through a Yoga session. To his pleasure, she wasn't wearing much.

"Odd?"

"Mmm." He grunted.

"You and I?" She inquisitively asked.

"Haha. No," he replied. Kate poked her tongue out at him then smiled broadly.

"What do you find odd?" She inquired.

"Jeremy, not recognizing his own home, his personal stuff."

"It is odd." She morphed her body into a downward facing dog position. Rick, watched on, admired the length of her bare legs, stretching, her bottom up in the air. He'd seen her warm up, twist her limbs and torso into various shapes. It was amazing how flexible her body was.

"What is that position called?"

"Umm...Adho Mukha Svanasana … or downward facing dog." She lifted her head to see his face.

"It's um…" Rick made every effort to retain an innocent expression, particularly while his groin had its own ideas. She saw straight through him with a growl of his name.

"What?" He shifted on his seat.

"Don't you get any ideas, Castle." She pushed into her calves and gluts stretching, her butt a little higher. Her pony tail of brunette hair, dangled and bounced.

"Ideas? Jesus, Kate. You're doing yoga in skimpy shorts and that tiny top …."

"Really?"

Rick grunted, "The pony tail is really cute too." He said watching his girlfriend place her right foot near her right hand. She was quite flexible. But he knew that very well. "I don't know how you can do this after eating dinner."

"Just some light stretches, before we go to bed. Limber up." She teased.

"You're very demanding of my services," he remarked.

"Sure, Castle."

"Better limber up, Baby." He suggested with a hearty laugh.

Beckett held in a giggle, looked away from Castle so she was able to focus. His laughter almost had her tumble into his world of provoking and teasing. Couldn't help himself.

"One, two, three-" She huffed, taking ownership of another compromising position.

"It's agonizing even to witness, Kate." Unconsciously, his hand stroked his thigh, feeling quite relaxed and content. It was an evening alone with Kate that he was enjoying. Meanwhile, Kate inhaled deeply then counted to three again.

"Do you know why six is afraid of seven?" He casually asked, took a sip of his drink and waited for Kate to process his odd question.

"No." She sat her bottom to the padded mat and crossed her bare legs. With arms positioned behind her back, she grasped her own hands, then held that position. A grimace appeared then faded as her muscles relaxed. She looked at his expectant face, gave in, "Why?"

"Why, you ask." He smirked. "Seven ate nine."

She smiled uncontrollably, then frowned. "Really, Castle? That's all you got?"

"Well, I'm trying to distract my naughty thoughts, but you doing what you're doing there," he waved his hand in her general direction, "- makes it extremely hard."

"You don't say." She looked in the general direction of his hips. She observed the reaction and deservedly gave it a smirk, "You're hopeless, Ricky."

"When it comes to you, I am."

She lowered her arms to her lap, rested, her gaze remaining on her boyfriend. In response, Rick smiled his lips closed.

"They're a cute couple," he commented, "Jeremy and Emma."

"Like us." She bit back a coy smile.

"We're cute?"

"Mm." She gave a nod, looked at him through strands of loose hair, and he swore her pink cheeks blushed a little more. "Your Mom thinks we are."

"Sounds nice," he said.

"They are cute and he seems very nice, but I locked him up as our prime suspect, Castle. My gut tells me he's innocent, even if the evidence convicts him."

"Well, you found the gun in his home. It could have been planted." He lightly patted his lap encouraging her to come to him. "The Taglia painting he owns. I suspect it has something to do with why Jeremy was at the art gallery."

"Same. It's a pretty pricey painting and the only one he owns." Beckett said, "Emma said they bought that painting on their honeymoon, in Siena." She stood up, and bare footed, she stepped around the coffee table to him. He smiled and sat up when she approached.

She gently lowered herself upon his left thigh, folded her legs across his lap, feet resting on the couch. It was easy for her to be on his lap. He was physically big enough to accept her form and she loved the way his solid arms comfortably embraced her body.

"There you go," he was quite happy she was close.

Beckett quietly said, "I'm here with you. Mr Preswick is locked up until we can prove his innocence. Emma is alone, wondering what if, I guess."

"She might be." Castle, who admired Kate's bare legs, stroked the length of her thigh then said, "The guy is currently guilty of a murder he can't remember. That just sucks. I mean, if you're gonna kill someone, get caught, spend the rest of your life in prison, at least you have the satisfaction of knowing why you did it. Hatred. Revenge. Hell, maybe he even cut you off on the highway. But Jeremy won't even have that, even if we do find motive, because he won't remember why it meant anything to him."

"I'm with you, Castle. It sucks." She arched her back when his hands stroked up her skin to her shoulder blades.

"So, what next?"

Beckett smiled, glancing to each of his eyes, then softly spoke, "We, like you said this afternoon, will try to find out why he did it, tomorrow."

"Yes, I need to know. I will struggle to sleep until this case is set back on the right track."

"You really believe Jeremy is innocent?" She asked as she leaned against his body her arm over his shoulders.

"No doubt in my mind, Kate."

"Same. It doesn't fit with me that he did it."

"We'll go back to his apartment in the morning, just us. We might have missed something." Rick said, pressed his lips to her jaw then murmured, "Honeymoon."

"Honeymoon?"

"Yeah. They bought the painting on their honeymoon." He explained, "When you dream about being married, all that, where do you imagine your honeymoon would be?" He felt her body tense up and immediately gave her body a squeeze, "Don't hit the panic button. Just answer the question."

She relaxed. She curled in her body, snuggled into him more. "I don't know, Castle. I don't dwell on the marriage thing."

"Really?"

"Mm, and it all depends what time of the year we have our honeymoon."

"Whoa." He coughed. She laughed.

"There will be a perfect place for our honeymoon, Castle, whenever it happens." She kissed his cheek, bit her lip then burst out, "I'm looking forward to Paris in 2017."

He smiled. "Same."

"We might be lucky enough to find something special for us, something like their painting."

"It's a romantic story."

"I think we already have something special. You have a girlfriend and a work wife."

He laughed, "I knew that would come back to bite me in the ass."

"Let's go to bed, Castle. I'm beat."

The next morning, on their way to the Precinct, Beckett and Castle swung by Jeremy's apartment. Using the building manager's key they stepped inside, closed the door behind. In the middle of the living area, searching about him, Castle said, "There's got to be an answer here. Something in his life that makes it all make sense.

They heard some rifling in the next room and immediately fell silence. Poised, Beckett drew her gun. A door opened.

Beckett loudly ordered. "Hands! Show...!"

Emma Carnes screamed and dropped a box she carried.

"Lower your gun, Kate. Its Emma and Lucy." Rick said, holding out his arm. Items noisily fell everywhere from the basket Emma dropped. Beckett holstered her gun as Castle went to help. The dog appeared, wagging her tail.

Startled, with a hand on her chest, Emma gasped out, "Oh, that gets the heart rate going."

Beckett bent to collect the items that had fallen to the floor nearby, "Mrs Carnes, what are you doing here?"

"Getting Lucy's things. Prescription. Guess I have custody now."

Beckett holstered her gun, "I'm sorry to surprise you. We didn't know you'd be here. Are you okay?" She bent over to collect items dropped.

"Yeah. I guess I just thought for half a second that this would be a bizarre second chance for Jeremy and me. Stupid, right?"

"No, it's not stupid." Rick replied, "And to find out that he's a murderer..."

"When I saw him again, I... All those years of petty arguments that tore us apart didn't seem to matter. It was- it was like we first met. You know, I felt that thing. And then we came here, and I saw that he didn't sell it and I thought maybe he still had feelings for me, too." Emma put down the basket.

Beckett said, "Do you mean the painting that the two of you bought on your honeymoon?"

"We didn't buy it because we wanted to. We had to. We were in the artist's studio in Siena and Jeremy picked it up off the easel. He was always goofing around. The artist went crazy. It was still drying. We laughed for a week about our little love smudge. And then when I saw that he didn't sell it, I thought maybe... But I was kidding myself."

Beckett studied the picture not able to identify anything odd, "What do you mean?"

Emma pointed over the lower right hand side of the piece of artwork. "No thumbprint. It should be right here." She circled an area, "He sold ours. This one's just a copy."

"Are you sure, Emma?" Beckett asked.

"Of course, I'm sure."

Castle looked at Kate as he declared, "It's a fake."

Beckett smiled, "And we know who dealt in fakes."

"That's got to be Jeremy's connection to Fink.' Castle said. "That's got to be why Jeremy was at the gallery."

Beckett said, "And if Jeremy and Fink were arguing like Harun said, maybe it was over the original."

Castle said, "And if that's a fake, then where is the original?"

"Let's go find Bahir Harun."

It didn't take them long to find Bahir Harun. He was being picked up by a sedan on his way to the airport when Beckett intercepted. It took a bit of work on Beckett's part, discussing the pros and cons of diplomatic immunity to have Harun talk. The detective politely informed the driver and Mr Huran that immunity did not extend to a car service. Because Haran and his driver continued to play hardball, she ended up cuffing the driver so she could inspect his car. Harun objected. Beckett ignored him and popped the truck.

In the truck, she found a tube that contained a painting that she and Castle identified as the original Taglia, Jeremy owned. That find gave her a leverage to get Harun to talk.

Beckett pushed, "Mr Harun, this can go one of two ways. You can either cooperate and tell me what I need to know, or I can call the State Department and inform them that you have a piece of artwork that's at the center of our murder investigation."

Castle said, "And the last I checked, the New York tabloids could give a rat's ass about your diplomatic status. They'll just print your photograph with a headline that says, Diplomatic Douchebag."

Exasperated, Harun said, "Fine. What would you like to know?"

"There's a fake version of this painting found in one of our shooting victim's apartments. Can you tell us how it got there?" Beckett asked.

"How would I know this?"

Castle replied, "Because the fake painting is where the real painting used to be. And now you have the real painting."

"All I know is that I asked Fink to acquire it for client of mine. When he said he had it, I assumed he tracked down the owner and made a deal. But when I went to the gallery that evening, he sent me away. Just like I told you."

"That's a great story, Mr Harun." Beckett said, "But if Fink sent you away empty handed, why do you have the painting?"

"Because I got a call from a man this morning that said he had it, for a price."

Beckett said, "Who was it?"

Beckett and Castle closed the car doors. They momentarily stared at each other, then grinned.

"We did it." They simultaneously declared.

"Yes!" She turned her attention to the town car that drove away from the curbside, on its way to the airport, minus an original painting Rick now placed on the back seat. She called Esposito, putting the phone to speaker.

"Beckett." Esposito greeted moment later, "What did you find?"

"Hey Espo. It was Fink's new assistant. Darius." Beckett said into the phone.

Rick smiled uncontrollably. They almost had closure.

"We cracked the case wide open, with a bloody thumb print." He said to Esposito and Ryan who were on the other end of the call.

Beckett tapped her nails the desk top. She had lost patience with the person she was questioning, and was about to let him know it. The guy was agitated, like a cornered cat. Beside her, Rick sighed, raised his left arm and checked the time. He was probably dwelling on the time he'd never have back.

"Jesus," Rick exhaled.

"This is crazy." The man ranted.

Beckett didn't blink, didn't react.

The suspect continued, "I told you already, I was in class when Mr Fink was killed."

Beckett inhaled, "Thing is Darius, nobody remembers seeing you there."

"I sat in the back."

Castle smirked, "The naughty kids always do."

Beckett stated, "You were at the gallery the night that Jeremy confronted Fink about the painting.

"Listen, there's obviously been some kind of misunderstanding."

Kate opened her folder, rifled through the papers and pulled out a sheet with type written work on it, "Was this a misunderstanding, as well? It's a signed statement from the super at Preswick's building, admitting that he took a thousand dollar bribe from you to allow you into Jeremy's apartment so that you could switch out the paintings."

Darius Langley looked at the paper the detective left on the table between them, then shifted his eye line to the police, "I'm sorry. Should've come clean from the start. Fink wanted the painting. He told me to buy it from Preswick, but the guy wouldn't sell. So, Fink had me paint a fake and, yeah, I- I bribed the super to switch it with the real thing. It was stupid, but Fink threatened to fire me if I didn't."

Beckett leaned in, "It was all you, Darius. You switched out the paintings, you pocketed the money that Fink gave you to buy it."

"It was Fink. He manipulated me." Langley declared.

Beckett said, "No. That is just a lie. And you know what else is a lie? Your name. Darius Langley is your roommate's."

Castle said, "Pretty smart using his identity to land a job at the gallery. Well, I guess it'd be pretty tough to get hired with two felony counts of counterfeiting now, isn't it, George?"

"You got quite a rap sheet, Mr Heller," Beckett said.

Castle continued, "Hmm. One more strike, you go away for a long time."

Beckett said, "Which is why you couldn't afford Preswick calling the cops when he found out the truth. So, you shot him. And then when he went down, you shot Fink, as well."

"Think you're gonna pin this murder on me? No way. You don't got jack."

Beckett watching him get very agitated, pointed at the super's signed witness statement. "Read carefully." She demanded. "You bribed the super twice. And the second time was four hours after Detectives Ryan and Esposito brought Preswick to the gallery and you realized that he had lost his memory. You planted the gun."

Castle said, "Swing and a miss. Strike three. You're out."

For a second Kate thought Castle was going to fist pump the air. He refrained himself.

Jeremy Preswick held the original Taglia painting.

"Ah. It's a beaut." Ryan commented

"Isn't it?"

Beckett said, "I especially love the fingerprint.

"Me, too. Even if I can't remember, it still somehow feels a part of me."

Emma Carnes entered the bullpen with Lucy. "Hey, Jer. Ready to rock?"

"Thanks for coming."

"You remember Lucy?" Emma asked as she walked towards him, their dog hurrying to Jeremy.

"No."

Beckett said, "She certainly remembers you."

"Well, hey, thanks, guys. You made getting arrested for murder really not so bad. Thank you." Jeremy said.

Castle said, "So, are you two gonna...

Beckett hissed to stop him prying, "Castle."

"It's okay." Emma re-assured, "The answer is, who knows? I like him and he likes me. And right now, that's enough."

"Well, see you. I guess if I ever lose my memory again, I'll know where to come." Jeremy said. Jeremy and Emma walk down the hall together.

"Thanks again for coming." Jeremy said to Emma as they walked way.

"Of course." Emma replied.

The team watched the pair leave.

"One of them has fifteen years of baggage. Marriage. Divorce. The other is on a first date." Ryan said, "How long you think that'll last?"

Beckett smiled softly and replied, "Hopefully for a long time."

"Why, Detective Beckett, I had no idea you were a romantic." Castle teased, smiling at her.

Beckett shot back light heartedly, "I also sleep with a gun. Bet you didn't know that either." She kind of smiled at him, her eyes silently sending him subtext.

"How about you, Castle?" Ryan asked, "How long you think it'll last?"

"Well, I guess it's just the writer in me, but I'm hoping for a happy ending." Rick replied, carefully casting his eyes upon Kate, whose cheeks suddenly colored.

Kate returned to her chair. Rick grabbed his jacket. "I'll head off home," he said, "Get in a shower and a nap."

"I like naps." Kate replied slapping her lips on the 'p', and gave him a seductive glance the boys didn't catch.

Rick cleared his throat. "Well. Is that what the kids are calling it now?" He raised his eyebrows in question. "I should try a nap."

"You should." Kate replied, "I'll see you, Castle."

"Until later then." He said and sauntered off to the elevator.

Martha was seated on the couch when Castle entered the loft. He carried his coat, a little warm from taking a walk home from the Precinct. As he hung his coat, in the closet his mother called out.

"Ooh! Well, well, well. Look who's doing the walk of shame now."

Castle smiled, "I was with Beckett."

"Really?"

"Uh," he smiled, "Wrapping up a case. That's all."

"Ah. Well, you should do something serious with that girl while you're both young."

Rick chose to ignore his mother's comment when he sat down beside her. Then he replied, "You know what we're doing. How serious we are." He looked at the item in her hand, "What's going on with you? What you got there?" He pointed at a flattened dry, white rose.

"Oh. It's from Chet. Isn't it romantic?"

"Chet sent you a dead flower?"

Martha smiled, "It is the most romantic thing that anyone had ever done for me."

Castle sat up, rubbed his chain, "I've been up all night, so I might be a little slow."

"Well Darling, it's the boutonniere I gave him, prom night," she explained, "He saved it, tucked it into a yearbook, and he sent it over last night with a note asking if I would give." She paused, looked at her son, "Give him a second chance."

"Well, there's a lot of that going around these days."

Martha sighed, "And I'm scared. I mean, what if it doesn't work out? What if it does?"

Castle said, "That's the cost of living. I'm risking my heart and soul dating Kate."

"She adores you. I just don't want to ruin this, Richard."

"Me neither, Mom. Don't want to lose this one." He leaned over and kissed his mother's cheek. "I'm gonna go clean up and then pass some time, personal time with my girlfriend. Give Chet a chance, huh?"

Castle slowly cast his eyes over Kate's face that was still and quiet, thinking about how beautiful she was when she read. "Baby?"

"Mm?"

"The first flower I gave you-"

"Mm?" She suspiciously glanced at him.

"What did you do with it?"

Suspicion changed to confusion. Kate lowered her novel to her lap, "Why?" She happened to look over the living area to the books piled up on the stairs behind the kitchen.

"Interested to know, that's all."

"I'm not sure I should tell you." She replied as she unfolded herself off the couch, "Hang on a second." She hopped across the room, climbed three or so steps until she was at a pile of heavy books. Five or so books were set aside and she returned with a thick hard cover book. She sat beside Rick who inspected the cover.

"Decorating French style."

She smiled and hummed, "Was my mom's."

"She liked the French theme too?"

Kate nodded, "Castle, promise me you won't mock me."

"Why would I?"

"I know you." She opened the book to a certain page and took a gentle hold of a piece of tissue paper. She brought from it the red rose he'd given her. The flower had been pressed and was dried and flattened. She showed him and he took hold of it. Much of what had once been bright red petals were now faded to a dull antique pink color.

"Well." He mumbled feeling as though she had just given him a check in on reality about how people can cherish the smallest gestures of affection.

"What?"

"My mother was given a dried flower last night. It was the boutonniere she gave her friend Chet on their prom night," He smiled, "Like a century ago. Apparently, he saved it, tucked it into a yearbook, and he sent it over last night with a note to her."

She smiled and took back the pressed rose she returned to the paper. "What did she say?"

"Oh, it wasn't her. It was me. I now realize how much of a jerk I was." Castle admitted.

"What did you say?"

"I told her the flower is dead, that she is not. That it's time to start making some new memories."

"Mm." She stared at the flower with fondness. "Well, Castle, perhaps this flower represents the beginning of new memories for me of when we got together. Perhaps it's a reminder of that night. Our first date."

He smirked, "That date that went all night and well into the next day."

She couldn't help but smile.

Rick had a healthy sip of his glass of red wine, "We also have photos of us that night."

She nodded her agreement, "But I also have the flower you gave me."

"I've given you more. A lot more."

She laughed, "Yes, I begged you to stop. My apartment resembled a florist's shop."

The pages of the book were turned and another flower was picked up, "You gave me this one when we had been dating for a week." She smiled at his boyish antics, his expression. He then scrolled through his phone.

"March," he muttered to himself, grinned and turned the phone around. "Over all, a good month." On the screen was a photo of them. She was laying on his body her head near his shoulder, both of them looking in the camera. They were sleepy, naked on the bed. Smiley eyes, flushed cheeks.

"We were so tired that day."

"But we had fun." The phone was put down and his hand took the book from Kate's lap and placed it on the table.

His fingers combed her hair, "I will talk to Mom tomorrow about her rose."

"It was his rose forever after," Kate whispered.

"And yours came with me as the bonus."

"Lucky me." She brought herself to his lap facing him and placed her hands upon his shoulders. Her lip was bitten which Rick recognized as a clear sign she'd thought about something she was also shy about.

"What?" He asked.

"Huh?" She combed fingers through his hair, going around his ear.

"What are you thinking?"

"Oh, nothing."

"Tell me."

She smiled, coy. "I will be able show our daughter the first flower you gave me."

All air exhaled from his lungs and he flopped back on the couch in disbelief. His palm fell over his heart.

"What?" Her eyes scanned his face, confused by his strong reaction and she laughed, a little nervously.

His eyes were wide and bright, when he asked, "You've imagined us with kids?"

"I've dreamed about it." She nodded. "Occasionally."

"You never said."

"Don't really think about my dreams."

"You should, especially when they will become a reality." It was said with a good dose of confidence.

"Castle." She cooed lovingly, "Take me to bed so we can practice making babies. I need the practice."

His hands went to her waist, "Off you hop. Let's go practice." He lifted her as she stood off him.