A/N: Thank you guys so much for putting up with me telling the stories of my original characters. As a small token of my appreciation, here is a Caskett-filled chapter for your enjoyment.
Kate follows the hallway into the living room, her heels clicking on the hardwood. She takes in the group of kids on the couches and chairs, smiling as they gossip and half-listen to the movie playing on the TV overhead.
"Okay, we're about to leave," she announces. "So, Austin is-"
"-with Cade at his church lock-in," Mia finishes.
"And Liam is in his room with Jackson," Danielle says.
"There's money on the counter for pizza," Saccone continues.
"Don't answer the door or the phone," Finn says.
"Don't add to the population. Don't subtract from the population and don't call you for bail money," Ethan adds.
"Seriously, Mom, it's like you don't trust us!" Corinne scoffs.
They all laugh, and Kate shakes her head at how comfortable her kids' friends feel in their home.
"Alright, alright. I get it. You guys know what to do," Kate waves them off.
"We'll be good, Mom," Mia nods.
"Babe!" Kate calls to her husband, looking up at the open catwalk. "Are you ready?"
"I'm coming, I'm coming! Shesh, you are so impatient," Castle says as he comes downstairs.
"Ew, Dad!"
"Dad, seriously?" His daughters scold him.
"What?" He asks, turning to take stock of himself. "What's wrong?"
"Burgundy for spring? Come on, Dad! Can't you wear something lighter?" Miyana says with a disgusted look.
"I know you have Spring colors in your closet!" Finn agrees.
"You're right. I should change," Castle agrees quickly, turning again for the stairs.
"No! Nope, you're fine," Kate stops him with a hand, directing him instead for the garage door. "My poor metrosexual man. I can't believe you're worried about what a bunch of teenagers think!"
"But, Kate, they do have a point. It is spring; I should be in pastels."
Kate rolls her eyes at him, barking out a laugh. "Babe, you're fine! I think you look great in that shirt." She seals her comment with a kiss. "It's one of my favorites."
"Oh, really?" Castle asks, wriggling his eyebrows. "Maybe I should wear it more often." His even deeper kiss earns them groans and gags from the kids.
"At least buy her dinner first!" Ethan says making everyone laugh.
"Alright, we're going," Kate says.
"Don't wait up," Castle continues.
"We won't! Love you," Finn says.
"Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad! Love you!" Danielle calls, bending backward over the arm of the couch.
"Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad!" Ethan, Corinne, and Saccone all call.
"Love you!" Kate's call is the last heard as the garage door closes.
[][]
He takes her out for Thai food in the city at a little place he discovered about a year into playing cop with her.
Then it's drinks at The Old Haunt where he runs into an old friend who regals them with stories from the good ole' days.
"Do you actually remember him?" Kate asks when they finally break away.
"Not even a bit," Castle replies, causing Kate to quickly hide her bark of laughter.
They end the night pressed close together on the dance floor of a downtown club, the electronic beats, flashing lights, and other people surrounding them.
[][]
He needed this night off. Needed a quiet meal with his wife. Needed to spend time with her out of the house; away from kids and jobs. Getting to feel her pressed against him as they grinded together on the dance floor was an added bonus.
The garage door motor is loud as it comes down and Kate waits until it's fully closed before entering the house. She sets her purse on the bench in the mud room, her tall heels discarded during the ride home means she's shorter than him now.
He takes advantage of their height difference by pulling her into him, his hand teasing at her side, toying with the waistband of her panties through her dress. He hears her suck in a breath and it makes him laugh.
"Hush. You can wait five more minutes, you hormonal teenager," Kate scolds him, smacking him lightly in the stomach.
He listens. He'd wound her up enough at the club and in the car driving home.
The main floor is dark and quiet; the nightlight over the stove their only guide. One dog is locked away in his crate for the night, the other, undoubtedly, is upstairs sleeping with her human. Pillows strewn all over the floor and a forgotten sweatshirt in the corner of the couch are the only remains of the kids' movie night.
Upstairs, the hallway nightlight is on, and he can faintly hear a movie playing in the boys' bedroom. They turn towards their bedroom and he closes the door, locking it for extra safety.
"Help me?" Kate asks, reaching for the zipper of her dress.
He pulls it down as slowly as possible, kissing every new piece of exposed skin as he goes. Her neck, shoulder blades, the nobs of her spine.
He may be past the age for dirty-floor club sex, but he'll never be too old to make love to his wife.
