Chapter 32 - Punch drunk love

"So, Castle, how's that foxy wife of yours doing? She still got that smokin' bod after being preggers?"
Rick gritted his teeth and kept his focus on a spot on the ground.
Don't let him get to you. Don't let him get to you. Don't let him get to you.
His lungs were burning, sweat was dripping into his eyes, his shoulder ached, his knee had a nasty grass burn and Joey Asshat was playing mind-games, making risqué comments about Kate.
His wife and mother of his child. Well, children. She was a mother to Alexis-
"You're a lucky man, Writer Boy. She's hot. Long legs, nice ass. Very nice ass," his direct opposition continued to taunt.
He dug his hand further into the patch of grass, feeling the dirt under his fingernails.
The bulky, bald-headed man was treading lightly, very lightly.
Ryan had warned him about this. He had shrugged and grinned – he could take friendly hazing and a few jibes. He was a guys' guy. He could do the shoulder clap, laugh at crass jokes and take things on the chin. Apparently, a friendly game of football didn't exist between the rival cops. Win at all cost.
But this? Targeting Kate to get under his skin? For a lousy little football game?
That was crossing a line. A major one. It had started out as a joke about him being the obedient puppy-dog tag-along, the fumbling writer, the plucky sidekick. He laughed it off; they were just trying to get to him. Somehow, however, it had become more biting. More inappropriate. More about Kate.
And if it didn't stop soon, he was going to do something stupid to wipe that grin off Officer Dipshit's face.
"Forty-two! Ninety-nine! Seventy-five!" Esposito shouted the play, his face contorting in concentration. He was sporting a busted lip and a few scrapes and bruises.
Lanie was going to kill him.
Yeah, Rick thought, definitely not just a friendly football game. He glanced at Joey Asshat/Officer Dipshit, who was still grinning at him, and felt his jaw clench involuntarily.
Yep, he was so going to do something stupid soon.
Very soon.
But if the dumbass just kept his mouth shut, then maybe, maybe he could stay cal-
"I bet she's great in the sack."
Oh.
Oh, hell no.
"Hut! Hut!"
So much for staying calm.

[][][]

"This is nice," Alexis sighed as they sat down. After a number of hours shopping, the three Castle women ended up at the small, intimate street café that Kate had discovered a few months ago while being out with Lizzy.
"Yeah, it is," Kate replied with a smile, taking Lizzy out of her pram. The 10 month-old whined and wriggled in her mother's arms. She was tired, hungry and, as a result, cranky.
"Okay, okay. Calm down. Mommy's gonna give you something now," Kate placated, rummaging through the baby bag. "You're just as impatient as your father."
Alexis chuckled, got up and took Lizzy from Kate.
"Hey Kiddo, you giving your mom a hard time?" Lizzy watched her big sister with rapt attention, her small mouth slightly agape. She was standing in Alexis' lap, bouncing up and down, babbling and groping at her sister's red hair. She was totally entranced by the colour.
Lizzy let out an excited squeal and giggled. Both Kate and Alexis laughed. A few minutes passed with each of the adult women placing their respective drink orders and the miniature one (finally) enjoying a little bit of yoghurty delight. Of course, not without getting it smeared all over her chubby cheeks.
"Oh baby girl, you're making such a mess," Kate complained with a laugh as she wiped down her daughter's face, who promptly squirmed away from her mother.
Alexis chuckled and shook her head. "Oh, you are so totally like Dad. It's kinda scary," the young red-head commented with a smile.
"Tell me about it," Kate responded with a lopsided grin.
"He's already bought her a laser tag outfit, hasn't he?"
The older woman threw her head back and laughed.
"No, not yet. But he has made her sit with him and watch Star Wars." She paused for a moment, an amused and sentimental smile blooming over her features. "They were both asleep thirty minutes into the movie." Kate had walked in on them - Lizzy on top of her father's chest, drooling all over his shirt and Rick on his back on the couch, holding his daughter in place with a large hand on her body, also drooling.
Ridiculously adorable.
Alexis shook her head and smiled. She hugged the little body in her lap and planted a smacking kiss on Lizzy's cheek, causing the 10 month-old to laugh in delight.
"Oh lil' sis, you're doomed to becoming a Star-Wars-fencing-laser-tag-playing-geek like me." Alexis placed another kiss on top of Lizzy's head. "But believe me, you'll never have more fun." Kate picked up the longing, the wistful tone in Alexis' voice. She reached out and squeezed the younger woman's arm. Their eyes met and Alexis, with Lizzy still bouncing in her lap, offered her stepmother a small smile.
"I remember when I was about ten or eleven, I begged him for Star Wars light-sabers for weeks. I was completely obsessed, just like him of course."
"Of course," Kate said with a smile.
Alexis grinned while Lizzy grabbed the necklace around her neck and tried to feed herself with it. "Anyway, on my birthday Dad woke me up at like five or six in the morning, absolutely giddy with excitement. He proceeded to drag me downstairs and into his office. I was still half-asleep, but when he pulled out the light-sabers, I totally freaked. I was so excited. We ended up playing for hours, running all over the place. He called himself the Jedi Master and me his student."
Kate laughed. "I can only imagine the two of you." She paused for a moment. "He made the light-saber noises didn't he?"
Alexis smiled sheepishly. "We both did. But in my defense, I was only ten or eleven."
Kate grinned. "You know, I still catch him sometimes - fighting off some unseen forces, complete with the noises. He still thinks he is a Jedi Master. Ridiculous man. He's even tried to get me to do battle with him. I refused, obviously."
Alexis looked down at her adorable, blue-eyed baby sister. "Well, now he has a new playmate to play with."
Kate groaned. "I'm doomed, aren't I?"
The younger woman glanced back at her stepmother. Her friend. Her confidant. "Yeah, 'fraid so, Kate. You don't stand a chance." They grew quiet for a few moments, sipping their drinks and watching Lizzy making friends with a butterfly. She was giving little shrieks of delight as the colourful insect flapped away slowly. Of course she had tried to grab the small animal to inspect it with her mouth. Everything still went to her mouth, much to her parents amusement and alarm. Just the previous week she almost sucked on a bar of soap.
The three of them sat and watched the world go by before Alexis checked her watch and glanced at Kate again. Her expression growing slightly serious.
"Hey, do you think Dad survived the game?"

[][][]

"Bro, Beckett is so going to have your ass," Esposito commented with a wry smile, his own lips busted and his cheek sporting a bruise. They were at the Old Haunt, enjoying a few beers with some of the boys in the aftermath of the game/fist-fight.
Rick glared at him with his still normal-looking eye. His was nursing his left one with his cold beer. It was probably going to black by the next day.
But it was cool and manly.
And, hopefully, his wife would find it incredibly irresistible... Nah, that was wishful thinking on his part.
"Yeah well, Lanie is going to skin you alive. At least I'm already married. You're the one getting married in a month's time and looking like that." The smirking detective's face instantly fell.
Ryan nodded. "That's true, man. I'm glad I'm not you." A large grin appeared on his uninjured face. "In fact, I'm glad I'm not either one of you." He only had a few scrapes and grass burns.
"Oh come on, I was defending my woman's honour!" Rick protested.
"I don't think Beckett would like you referring to her as your woman, Castle," Ryan replied with a grin.
"Well, she is, isn't she, Honey Milk?" The grin fell off Ryan's face. "And I made sure that Officer Dipshit knows that nobody talks about my woman like that," Rick replied with a hint of indignation.
The other man, next to the mystery writer, laughed and shook his head. "Officer Dipshit. Very appropriate, Castle," the fair-haired, 40-something John Carter commented. He paused before continuing. "Listen man, I'm sorry about him. He's a real douche. Nobody at the 34th really likes the guy."
Rick waved him off. "It's not your fault the guy is an asshole with little-man-syndrome."
The other man grinned. "No probably not. But I should have done something."
"Wasn't necessary - I jumped you to it," Rick said with a small smile. He took a sip of his beer before continuing. "Besides, I think I should be the one apologizing for starting a brawl."
John laughed. "It's not a brawl if it only involves two guys throwing punches and the other guys trying to get them off each other."
"Well, Esposito did get a punch for his troubles," Ryan pointed out.
"Just, please, make sure that Lanie knows I got into a fight to save your ass, Castle."
"Hey, I was doing perfectly fine before you intervened."
"I gotta say Castle, your not too bad for a writer," John said with a grin.
"Thank you," Rick replied with a satisfied smiled.
"Your wife taught you well."
The writer's face fell comically.
"Oh burn!" Ryan laughed.
Rick only returned a lopsided grin. "Yeah well, what can I say, she's a good teacher."
"A good boss," Esposito commented.
"A very good detective," Ryan added.
Rick smiled softly. "An even better woman." He raised his glass. "Well, gentlemen, I propose a toast. To the women in our lives."
The other three men raised their glasses. "Hear, hear!"

[][][]

An hour later...
His eye was already starting to turn to a darkish purple shade. He touched it and winced. Well, at least it was rugged and kinda roguish. Yeah, Kate would dig it.
Eventually.
He rolled his shoulder; it still felt sore and stiff. He lifted the towel that was tied around his waist to check the nasty grass burn on his knee. It was not pretty.
Rick sighed as he looked at his reflection in the bathroom mirror again.
He was getting old. The extra lines on his face, the few gray hairs sticking out - which Kate said made him look more distinguished - and the fact that his eldest daughter was finishing varsity just confirmed it.
Okay, so maybe that was a little dramatic, but still. He had to keep up with a baby girl and a young, hot, fit, extremely flexible-
Rick heard the sudden cacophony of noise and chatter, a smile automatically tilting his lips upward. He winced again and touched his eye. He idly wondered if Lizzy was going to start crying once she saw her horribly disfigured father-
Okay, so Kate was right - melodrama was his middle name.
Just as he stepped out the bathroom, he heard Kate's voice at the other side of their bedroom door. "Yeah, Lex, you can give her some of that. Thanks," she said opening the door. Rick quickly turned around and pretended to be searching for a shirt in the drawer.
"Oh, hey," Kate greeted, surprised.
"Hey," he returned without turning around to face her.
There were a few beats of silence before he felt her lanky arms snake around his bare waist. "You know, if you just waited a little longer, I could have joined you, Stud." Her voice was low, throaty and just too damn sexy. He needed a cold shower now. She placed a kiss on his injured shoulder and felt him stiffen in response.
"Hey, you okay?" From sex-goddess to concerned wife in five seconds flat - it made his head spin.
Finally, Rick turned around and smiled sheepishly at her. "Just a few scrapes and bruises, Honey."
Her eyes widened and she stepped away from him, taking in the bruised jaw, busted lip and swollen, black eye. "Holy shit! Rick, what the hell happened to you?" The tone of her voice was a combination of shock, concern and anger.
"Just a little bit of football. No big deal." He shrugged his injured shoulder and winced.
Her jaw clenched. "Castle," he heard the warning in her tone and sighed, walking over to the bed.
"It was just a misunderstanding between me and another guy. No big deal, I promise." He didn't want Kate to know about the snide and inappropriate remarks Asshat had made about her.
She watched her husband for a long moment before sitting down next to him. "Yeah, this looks like no big deal," Kate said softly, gently tracing a finger over his eye and down to his busted lip. She placed a soft kiss on his mouth. "Damn it, Rick. This is why I didn't want you to do this."
"Don't worry, Babe, football season is over for me. I was only picked for one game anyway. Besides, I can't afford to injure these babies," he held up his hands and grinned.
Kate sighed. "Too late, Rick. And, by the way, this isn't funny." She took his right hand and rubbed a finger over his bruised knuckles.
"Oh." Her brow was furrowed as she looked at his hand. He decided to lighten the mood. "But hey, you can't deny the fact that you find my injuries sexy. And irresistible. It's kinda roguish, don't you think?" She glanced back up and raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in her eyes for a moment.
Only for a moment.
"No, Castle, I prefer your boyish, uninjured face. It's kinda difficult to recognize my husband beneath all the bruises." She paused for a moment, her face etched in concern as a hand traced along his jaw. "Maybe we should get you to a doctor."
He shook his head and proceeded to leer at her, inching nearer until he felt her breath wafting over his cheek. "I only need you to nurse it better. Please, nurse it better, Beckett," he whispered leaning in to kiss the corner of her mouth. But before he could ravish her, Kate got up and walked towards the door.
Rick blinked and watched her in bewilderment. She didn't want him to kiss her.
Huh.
"Rick, if you hadn't noticed, I'm kind of upset with you right now."
His face fell and he stood up. "Kate-"
She sighed and dragged a hand through her hair. "Just get dressed, okay? We'll put an ice-pack on that eye downstairs." She paused before opening the door. "And so help me, Castle, if Lizzy starts crying once she sees you."

[][][]

Alexis scolded her father and Lizzy did cry when she saw him. After being convinced that he was indeed her father and not some hideous monster, she did calm down and became fascinated with his purple/darkish eye. So after a few minutes of relaying and watering down the tale of how he got his injuries, normalcy returned to the Castle household. He and Alexis played a few intense rounds of chess while Kate was bathing Lizzy. Later, after apologizing to his wife while she iced his eye, Rick and his women ended up in their bed, watching the Wizard of Oz. Kate and Rick were lying on each end with Alexis in between them and Lizzy snuggled on top of her mother's chest, sound asleep thirty minutes into Dorothy's adventure. A few minutes later, Alexis was also dozing off.
"They have no stamina," Rick said, brushing a strand of hair away from his eldest's face. "I'm a little disappointed. I mean this is a classic and my offspring just... fell asleep."
Kate laughed softly, rubbing her baby girl's back. "Well, knowing you, I'm sure Alexis has already seen this about a million times and as for this one-" she planted a kiss against her daughter's head. "-I'm sure there will be other opportunities to introduce her to the wonderful world of Oz."
"And Star Wars... again," Rick added and Kate rolled her eyes.
She glanced at him again and smirked. "Of course Gone with the Wind is also a necessary addition."
He groaned softly. "No."
Kate grinned at him. "Oh, absolutely. And of course, every Barbra Streisand movie."
"Don't you dare."
She shrugged and lifted an eyebrow. "What are you going to do to stop me, Kitten?"
He playfully narrowed his eyes at her. "Well, if it weren't for my injuries and for the fact that both my daughters were present, I would be tempted to tackle and pin you to the bed... And then proceed to thoroughly punish you."
She smiled and rolled her eyes.
"Of course. But how's that going to stop me from exposing our daughter to Barbra Streisand?"
"It's probably not going to stop you, but I might get a son out of the deal to do manly stuff with," he shot back casually.
Kate's eyes widened and she huffed out an incredulous laugh. "W-what?" She all but sputtered. Rick grinned in glorious victory.
She was so cute being all flustered.
"You know by pinning and punishing I actually meant-"
"-Yeah, I got that. Your mind always goes to the gutter. But how the hell did you go from that to you having a son?"
He was still grinning and she was still adorably ruffled about the bizarre turn of their conversation. It was made even more bizarre by the presence of the two daughters in their bed.
Rick sat up. "Honey, when a man and a woman love each other-"
"-Shut up, Castle," she grumbled quietly. "FYI, that is not happening anytime soon."
"What? The baby-part or the sex-"
"Okay, seriously," Alexis suddenly said, sitting up. "Please, Dad, do not finish that sentence. I've been scarred enough already."
Rick's face fell in horror and Kate burst out laughing, the sound waking Lizzy. Before she could say anything or be properly embarrassed, her phone rang. Her 10-month started to whine and whimper at being so rudely awakened.
Kate grabbed her phone. "Lex, would you?"
The young red-head smiled and took a sleepy Lizzy from her mother.
"Hey, Lanie," Kate greeted, stepping out of the room.
The three remaining Castles continued to sit on the bed. "So, a baby brother, huh?" Alexis said after a while, an amusing glint in her eyes.
"Uh, not- not yet. I was just joking. Ruffling Kate's feathers."
"I know, Dad. But that would be great. Imagine a little Rick Castle running around. That would be so adorable. Oh man, I'd pay to see you and Kate chasing after him!"
Rick chuckled softly. "I'd love that. Although, I don't know if my old legs would be able to run after another one." He grinned at his daughter. "Remember how I used to chase after you?"
A large smile erupted over the young red-head's face. "Yeah. Good times."
"Good times," her father echoed. The grew silent for a few moments. "You grew up too fast," he said sadly, tucking a strand of hair in behind her ear.
Alexis rolled her eyes. "Oh come on, don't get mushy on me now."
"What? It's true. You did grow up too fast. If I had my way, you and baby bird here would both stay little and not grow up and get to know boys and want to leave your father to go off to college and someday marry some guy-"
"Dad, you're still my number one guy. You'll always be," Alexis said before giving her father a peck on his (uninjured) cheek.
He smiled at her. "Good answer." Lizzy yawned and rubbed her eyes.
"I think it's time for someone to go to bed," Rick said, rubbing a hand over Lizzy's back. "Come Sweet Pea, let's get you to bed." He took her from Alexis and turned to the red-head. "You wanna read her a bed-time story with me?"
"I'd love to."

[][][]

Fifteen minutes later...
"What did Lanie have to say?" Rick asked when his wife returned. He was already in bed, once again nursing his eye with a pack of frozen peas.
She smiled at him, her expression soft. His brow furrowed for a moment. "What do you think?" She replied climbing under covers. "Let's just say that Javier Esposito is lucky to come away unscathed. She was furious."
Rick chuckled. "Oh man, I can only imagine. We warned him."
Kate lifted his arm and tucked herself against his side, her head coming to rest on his chest. Rick smiled and kissed her temple. "Is Lizzy asleep?"
"Yeah, Alexis and I read her a bed-time story and tucked her in."
"Okay, good. Thanks." Kate smiled as she absently traced patterns on his chest. "I love you," she said quietly, meeting his gaze.
He smiled at her. "I love you too." He pressed a kiss against her forehead. "I take it I'm forgiven?" He ventured after a few silent moments.
Kate shifted to look at him and smiled. "Yes." She leaned up and kissed him gently before returning to her original position. When she started fiddling with the hem of his shirt, he knew something was on her mind.
He always knew.
"Hey, what's up?" Rick tilted her face upwards.
Kate took a breath. "Lanie told me Esposito had gotten involved in the fight because he had to physically pull you off the other guy," she said softly. "He told her that he had never seen you that angry." Rick's eyes shifted away from hers.
"Kate, I-"
"-He told her that the other guy was saying things about me and that you snapped," she interrupted and his eyes snapped back to hers. They watched each other for a few moments. "You defended my honour, Castle." Slowly a grin bloomed over her features.
He gave her a shy, lopsided grin. "Yeah well, nobody talks about my woman like that."
Kate lifted an eyebrow. "Your woman? Excuse me, Mr. Castle, but-"
He silenced her with a hard, hot and possessive kiss; plunging his tongue into her mouth without warning.
Richard Castle the Adorable Goofball and Sweet Husband was wonderful, but Richard Castle the Commanding Man and Demanding Lover was erotic and intoxicating and, oh, just so damn hot.
"My woman," he informed her breathlessly, his lips still hovering over hers.
Kate laughed breathlessly, dropping her head to his shoulder. "Caveman."
He grinned and squeezed her. "Your caveman."
She looked at him again, trailing a hand over his cheek and up to his injured eye. "Yeah, my caveman." Kate kissed him softly. "But no more football for you, Honey. Even though I find this-" she touched his eye. "-incredibly sexy-"
"I knew it!"
"-I prefer you without the disfiguration." She patted his cheek.
He smiled at her. "Noted."
After giving her husband one more lingering, sweet kiss, Kate settled against him once more. They lay in content silence before Rick started fiddling; he had something on his mind.
She always knew.
"Something you wanna share with the class?"
He paused for a moment. "Just one question, Kate."
"Mmmm?" she responded lazily.
"After enduring such a trying day and suffering injury in order to defend your honour-" She smiled, already knowing where this was heading. "-don't I get a reward or something?"
She sighed and turned to look at him. "What do you want, Castle?"
He leaned down and pressed a kiss just below her ear, her skin tingling at the sensation. "Oh, you know what I want, Beckett." His voice was low and husky; Kate bit her lip to suppress a whimper as he sucked on her earlobe.
He pressed another kiss in her neck. "I want you to wear a golden Princess Leia bikini for Halloween."
Kate burst out laughing, slapping a hand against his chest. "You are ridiculous."
He smirked. "And you're hot and bothered right now, aren't you?"
"Shut up, Castle."
"I want you too, Babe."
"Don't call me Babe. And you're not getting lucky tonight."
"Aww, come on Snookums. I defended your honour today and got beaten to a pulp because of it."
"If you call me Snookums again, I'm going to hurt you."
"Promise?"
"Yes."
"Can we use the cuffs this time? Remember my safe word is apples."
"Get the light, Castle."
He flashed her a dirty grin. "Snookums, if you wanted to see my light-saber, you only had to ask."
Kate flashed him an equally dirty grin filled with carnal promises. Suddenly, she was leaning over him, her chest pressing against his and her knee strategically placed between his legs.
"Rick," she moaned into his ear. His mouth went dry, his pants tightened. "I warned you." She took his earlobe into her mouth. "To not call me that ever again. But you don't listen, do you? Do you know what happens to boys who do not listen?"
His breathing was ragged. "Th-they get punished."
"Yes," she breathed, her hand sneaking up to his ear.
"Apples! Apples! Apples!"

[][][]

Go on, go on, come on leave me breathless

Tempt me, tease me until I can't deny this

loving feeling, make me long for your kiss

Go on, go on

Yeah, come on...

Lyrics at the end are from the Corrs' song "Breathless".

Chapter 31 - Can't Stop

"Oh come on, Dad! You can't be serious?" Alexis exclaimed with a disbelieving laugh.
It was just past 8am on a Sunday morning with all three-and-a-half Castles huddled around in the kitchen for breakfast. They were the picture of domesticity - Kate was feeding a very awake Lizzy (complete with train noises), Rick was making coffee dressed in a robe and looking adorably bed-ruffled and Alexis was sitting at the counter eating a bowl of cereal like she always used to.
"What?" Rick asked with a bemused expression. He turned to look at his wife, who was sporting an arched eyebrow. "What?" he asked again.
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing," Kate muttered, turning her attention back to feeding Lizzy.
Rick glanced between the two women. "Wait a minute. You two-" He gestured between Alexis and Kate "-don't think I can keep up, do you?"
"We don't think so, Honey. We know you can't." Kate winked at Alexis and smiled.
He scowled at them both. "The confidence you have in me is astounding," Rick hit back sarcastically before taking a sip of his coffee. Kate sighed, shook her head and proceeded to giving Lizzy another spoon-full of oatmeal goodness… while her husband continued to pout like an unhappy six-year old.
Alexis sighed and patted her father's shoulder. "Dad, it's not because we don't have confidence in you, but because we are concerned about your wellbeing," she placated. Kate's mouth curved briefly as she listened to the girl – she was fit to be a diplomat. Just then, Lizzy shrieked and started to babble incoherently.
"See, your youngest offspring also agrees with us," Alexis pointed out with a grin.
"Nah-uh, she's on my side. You can't take her too." He turned to look at his baby girl (who was still focused on her mother's every move). "Lizzy, stay in the light! Don't let these two drag you down into their dark pits of- ow!" He exclaimed after Kate pinched his arm.
"Your daughter is right," Kate said, glancing at Alexis. "And I agree with her. It's not the best idea for you to be running around with these guys, getting tackled and Lord knows what else. You could get hurt."
He huffed and rolled his eyes. "It's only one lousy little football game. Esposito said that they just needed someone to fill in. That's all."
Secretly, he found her concern endearing and sweet... Not to mention the fact that protective Mama-Bear-Kate was extremely hot. Especially if she just, a mere hour before, indulged you in some adult morning excercise.
Hot damn.
"Yeah," Kate said, lifting an oatmeal-smeared and cackling Lizzy out of her seat. "Someone to fill in after the guy you're replacing broke his collarbone in one of these lousy little football games." Rick sobered immediately. "Esposito didn't mention that, did he?" She suppressed a smirk.
"Uh, no- no he didn't," Rick stammered slightly much to the amusement of his daughter and wife. He recovered quickly however and shrugged off the alarm. "But it'll be fine, I'll be fine. It's just football with some cops." He shrugged. "No big deal."
Kate raised her perfectly sculpted eyebrows. "Just some cops, huh? Honey, those guys work out almost every day. They're fit. You're not."
He flashed her an impossibly cocky and arrogant grin.
Why the hell did she find it so sexy?
"Babe, I am in great physical condition." His grin turned devilish. "You of all people should know that."
Kate blushed. "Castle!" Trust him to turn everything into some sort of innuendo.
The man was insufferable.
"Ew, Dad. Over share," Alexis mumbled, frowning disapprovingly.
He ignored their reprimands. "Besides, I work out… regularly."
"Oh please," Kate snorted, wiping Lizzy's hands clean with a wetwipe. "When exactly do you work out, Mr. Castle?"
His lips curved into a grin. "When the kids are asleep and you and I are alone, Mrs. Castle," he returned coolly, waggling his eyebrows at her. Kate froze and felt the heat rise to her cheeks (again).
He was on fire. He usually got worse with sexual innuendo just after he got lucky. She glared at him, cheeks burning.
Smug bastard.
Incredibly sexy, ruggedly handsome smug bastard with very talented hands and a fantastic mouth and a big-
"Ugh, I just lost my appetite," Alexis commented with a grimace, abandoning her bowl of cereal. "Seriously, Dad. You need a memo on what is appropriate to say in the presence of your children." She walked over to Kate, who was still sporting red cheeks and studiously avoiding eye contact.
"Isn't that right, little sis?" Lizzy looked up at her big sister and giggled, bouncing excitedly in her mother's arms. "What do you say, should we get you dressed and remove ourselves from possible psychological damage that could take years of therapy to recover from?" Lizzy sucked on her little fist as she watched Alexis before extending her small arms to the young redhead.
Alexis laughed. "Thought so."
Kate smiled broadly and handed Lizzy over to Alexis.
"Thanks, Lex."
"No problem... Mom," the younger woman teased with a smile before turning her attention to the youngest Castle. Lizzy was groping her older sister's hair, fascinated by the bright colour. "Come on, Adorable One, let's get you dressed. You know what I'm thinking? That polka dot shorts with the…" Alexis' voice trailed off as she and Lizzy ascended the stairs.
Rick leaned against the counter and watched the whole exchange, trying not make it into a Hallmark-moment in his head and failing miserably. He felt like enveloping all three of them in a bear-hug and shedding a few sentimental-
Oh yeah, he needed a manly football game.
"What does a girl have to do to ge some service around here?" Kate asked, snapping him out of his thoughts. Looking at her, Rick concluded that his wife was absolutely irresistable in a pair of yoga pants, a loose-fitting NYPD t-shirt that occasionally slid off her shoulder while silky, unruly chocolate brown locks framed her striking face.
He grinned and strode over to where she was sitting, arms folded and a challenging gleam in her olive eyes. Oh, he enjoyed this game so very, very much. Rick leaned in, invading her personal space and entrapping her body with his. She was surprised, but recovered well.
"Oh, all you have to do is ask, Detective," he breathed into her ear, a hand brushing her hair away from her shoulder and neck. She shivered and briefly closed her eyes.
Holy crap.
Richard Castle did seduction well, very well.
He placed a kiss just below her exposed ear and hummed. "What do you want... Beckett?" He murmured, nudging his nose against her pulse point as he breathed her in.
Kate let out a shaky breath, a rush of arousal washing over her. 'Beckett' was her version of 'Stud'. If it weren't for Alexis and Lizzy upstairs, Richard Castle would be half-naked on the kitchen counter with Kate draped all over him by now. Instead, she fisted her hands to keep her from grabbing him and doing just that.
How the hell did he make her want to lose control like that?
"Uh," she started, but lost track of her thoughts as he gently nipped at and sucked on her earlobe.
"Mm-hmm?" She could feel his grin as he trailed kisses down her neck. Smug bas-
Time to turn the tables.
She slowly let her left hand sneak in under his shirt, lightly caressing the skin just above the hem of his pajama pants. Rick jerked back at the contact with wide, dark eyes.
Kate's lips quirked. Mission accomplished.
She bit her lip and gazed at him from under her dark lashes. He clenched his jaw, his eyes growing nearly black with lust. Kate leaned up, making sure to press herself flush against him while her fingers continued to toy with the hem of his pants.
She brushed his cheek with hers before positioning her mouth next to his ear. "Whatever you have to offer... Stud." Her voice coming out rough and throaty, like when she's about to-
She unexpectantly dipped her hand inside his pants and stroked him once before quickly removing it.
"Kate," he growled, folding over as she darted away from him. She was grinning, a wild twinkle in her eye.
Cruel tease.
Brilliant, gorgeous, sex-on-legs cruel tease.
He watched her, still slightly bent over and breathing hard. If it weren't for Alexis and Lizzy, Kate Castle would be naked on the dining room table and screaming his name right about now.
He wanted to do dirty, dirty things-
"You can make me an omelette while I shower."
They were playing with fire. It was fun, but... there were kids in the house.
"Kate, come on! Don't leave me like this," Rick protested. He still didn't dare to stand up straight or to move from his position at the counter. She had rendered him incapable of doing that for at least a few minutes.
"No, no, you already got lucky once this morning and you promised me breakfast. Furthermore, you started this little game. I am merely ending it, Writer Boy," she shot back, smiling sweetly.
He narrowed his eyes at her. "You're being very mean, Detective, and it's Writer Man. Writer. Man."
She paused and licked her lips, glancing pointedly at his pants. "Oh, believe me - I know you are... Stud." And just to torture him further she slipped into a Russian accent. "You're a beeg, ghandsome man." With that she disappeared, laughing, up the stairs.
He dropped his head and groaned, viciously gripping the counter to keep from chasing after her.
'Kids in the house, kids in the house, kids in the house.'

[] [] []

You have everything I could ever want

You speak to my soul like you've known it before

And I just can't stop

Lord I can't stop myself

I can't stop

Lord I can't stop myself, now

Title of the chapter and lyrics at the end are from Mozella's song 'Can't stop'.

CASTLE!!!!!

CASTLE in one minute can't wait. Tell me what you guys thought after you watched it. Hopefully more fanfics soon. Halloween episode yay! I don't know why they didn't just air it on Halloween. Love ya all to pieces but gotta go CASTLE's starting.

Chapter 30 - Happy days are here again

He quietly shut the door and waited for a few moments, trying to hear whether there were any footsteps hurrying down the stairs. He glanced at his watch and let out a breath. 00:16. She was most likely asleep. Rick grinned and started making his way upstairs.
He was a genius.
Kate had no clue of his homecoming. His grin grew wider as he imagined her reaction - she'd probably be startled, scowl at him, punch him in the arm for scaring her and then jump his bones in a moment of frenzied passion and desire.
He couldn't wait. So couldn't wait to for the wicked ways they would have with each other...
They had made up in the week after their argument due to a heartfelt apology from Kate, a frank discussion of the-issue-that-shall-not-be-named, a few very, very steamy phone sex sessions and another couple of videos of adorable baby Lizzy exploring their home. He was impressed by his ability to keep his mouth shut about his master plan of returning home. He kinda felt like James Bond for being able to keep a secret.
Well, maybe James Bond was a bit of a stretch.
He made his way down the hallway and stopped by the nursery. First things first - he had to see his baby girl. He had missed so much in the five weeks that he'd been away. He had to make sure that she was still just a baby. His little girl. Not yet a bright, young woman finishing college-
He made a mental note to phone Alexis later. After all, she was also still his baby girl and he missed her terribly.
Must be a pea-pod thing.
Rick stepped into dark room and walked over to the cot only to discover that it was empty. He frowned and then realized that mother and daughter were probably cuddled up together in bed. His smiled broadly at the thought of finding them there. He imagined that Lizzy was sleeping on her back - as she usually did - with her little mouth agape while Kate held a protective hand on her small body. He also imagined that his side of the bed would be left open. With that line of thinking, he quietly opened the bedroom door and froze.
Empty.
The bed was empty and made up. No sign of his wife and no sign of his baby girl. He stood there for a while, totally confused and extremely disappointed. His frown disappeared and his eyes grew wide.
Panic set in.
He quickly switched on the light and scrambled his phone out of his pocket with jittery hands. When he spoke to her earlier - before boarding his plane - she had mentioned they were going to her father's just for a, quote, "quick visit". Obviously they hadn't made it back home.
"Come on! Come on!" He hissed, hoping that jedi mind tricks could get his phone to restart faster.
His heart was slamming against his chest.
The what ifs started floating around in his mind. It was in times like these that he cursed his (overactive) writer's imagination. What if they got in an accident? What if they were in the hospital? What if no one could get through to him? Or worse. What if they were kidnapped? What if the kidnappers were waiting for him to call-
Two new messages. Huh. From said kidnappers perhaps?
'Hey Babe, couldn't get through to you earlier; must be something wrong with the connection. 'Nway, just wanted to say goodnight and sleep tight. We're staying at my Dad's, our daughter is exhausted because she had way too much fun at Granpa's! I'm sending you photographical evidence. :-) Love and miss you so much. Come home soon.'
Oh.
Thank God.
Best. Text message. Ever.
He breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed onto the bed, scrubbing hand over his face. Stupid overactive imagination.
He sat for a few moments before remembering the second message and opened it. He laughed, eyes crinkling in delight as he took in the picture.
It was one of Lizzy with something - probably chocoloate - smeared all over her small mouth and fat little cheeks. And also on her tiny groping hands it seemed. She was sitting in her grandfather's lap and smiling happily.
Was that the distinctive Castle twinkle in her eyes?
'What do you get when you add togehter a curious little baby girl, a mischievous grandfather and a chocolate bar? This. FYI - we're never leaving them alone together. Ever. Two words: sugar rush.'
He chuckled at the message. Yep, that was Granpa Jim's doing alright. The kid was going to be spoiled rotten by her Gramps. No doubt. Kate probably scolded her father and then took the picture, most likely thoroughly amused and laughing at the overwhelming adorableness that was their daughter.
Rick smiled and laid back on their bed; tired, disappointed, but mostly relieved. Relieved that he was back and relieved that they were fine. He drew in a breath and glanced around. The scent of her perfume were in the sheets. Her favourite pair of slippers were on the ground next to her side of their bed. Her NYPD hoodie was slung over the chair. Her lingerie was in the drawer above the one with his underwear and socks in. Her red toothbrush was in the holder next to his blue one. Her cherry body wash took up residence in the shower. Her picture adorned his bedside table. Her heart was carried in his.
She was everywhere, even in the places he still had to discover. Surrounding him, invading him, anchoring him.
He was home.
Now he just needed his girls - all of them - together under one roof with him.

[][][]

Kate sighed as she closed the door, pushing the pram with Lizzy in it into the loft. It was still relatively early and quiet. And her daughter was cranky. The sleepover at Granpa's threw out her routine.
She sighed - it was going to be a long day.
Kate shrugged off her jacket and bent down to get her whiny little girl out of her seat. "Alright baby, let's get you out." Once she freed her daughter from the confines of the pram, she started making her way upstairs all the while talking to her mini-me. "We need to get you out of these clothes, don't we? You and Gramps got chocolate all over you, Cupcake. And we have to get you in a bath as well." She smiled and kissed Lizzy on the nose, causing the nine month-old let out a giggle. "Yes we do, baby girl. Mommy also needs to take a show-" She lifted her gaze and froze.
He was here. In their bed. Asleep, tangled in the sheets and clutching her pillow.
He came home.
Her eyes quickly welled as a disbelieving smile grew on her features. He was home. She was snapped out of her daze when Lizzy gently slapped a tiny hand against her mother's cheek. Letting out a watery laugh and wiping at her eyes, Kate walked over to her husband's sleeping form. She carefully sat down next to him while Lizzy squealed excitedly and wriggled in her arms, desperately wanting to go to her daddy.
Rick was dragged into consciousness when he became aware of a warm weight resting on his arm, wetness seeping into the fabric of his shirt and something small plastered against his cheek. He opened his eyes and were met by a twin pair of blue orbs like his own and a smiling, drooling little face. He smiled broadly, turned onto his back and grabbed his baby girl who shrieked happily.
"Hey Sweet Pea!" He held her above him while she kicked and cackled loudly before bringing her down again. "Heya baby girl!" He kissed her forehead and hugged her close to him before lifting his eyes to meet Kate's, still grinning like an idiot. "You've grown so much, Squirt," he continued to speak, kissing his daughter's chubby cheek while Kate beamed at them. Wordlessly he took his wife's hand and tugged her to him; she burrowed into his side while he wrapped an arm tightly around her and placed a kiss in her hair.
"You're home." Kate whispered with a smile, lifting her head to meet his gaze. They stared at each other for a few moments before indulging in a sweet, lingering kiss. When she heard herself moan, Kate broke away. They could celebrate his return later. After all, there was a cute nine month-old present.
He grinned and pressed his forehead against hers as Lizzy clambered all over her father's chest. "I'm home."

[][][]

That evening...
"You are so fast! Come here!" Rick laughed as he chased after his quick-moving daughter. He scooped her up and blew a raspberry in her neck, causing Lizzy to shriek and giggle.
"Told you she was fast," Kate threw over her shoulder as she continued to wash the dishes.
He quietly - with Lizzy still wriggling in his arms - stepped in behind his wife, invading her space. "Must get that from you," he murmured into her ear. Kate closed her eyes and let out a shaky breath, leaning back into him.
"Mmhmm." Was all she could manage. Rick's lips tilted slightly before he pressed a kiss in her neck and stepped away.
Hot damn.
She blinked a few times and cleared her throat. "Uh, s-so what did Alexis say earlier?" Kate asked as she turned around to face him while he placed Lizzy in her playpen. He straightened and was still wearing a self-satisfied smirk. Bastard.
His eyes flickered with excitement. "Oh, she's coming for a visit soon!"
"Really?" Kate responded, equally excited as she walked over to where he was sitting. "When?"
He beamed. "Two weeks."
She sat down, throwing her legs across his lap. "Aren't you glad you cut your trip short?"
He nodded while watching Lizzy. "You have no idea," he responded, turning back to her. A soft smile graced his features as he cupped her cheek. "I missed you so much, Kate." His tone was gentle and sincere. And there was something raw, fervent in his gaze. It made her stomach flip. She leaned into his touch and briefly closed her eyes.
"I- we," she glanced at Lizzy, "-missed you too." She paused for a moment, looking down at her hands. "Thank you."
His brow furrowed. "For what?" He asked softly, tucking a stray lock behind her ear.
"For coming home." The smallness of her voice struck him.
Rick watched her face closely, noticing the gleam in her eyes. Without saying a word he bent forward and captured her lips in a warm, uhurried, toe-curling kiss. It didn't take long for the kiss to deepen, escalate into a make-out session and eventually for Kate to end up straddling his lap.
Five weeks of celibacy - Best. Aphrodisiac. Ever.
Finally, she had the sense to break away. Eyes dark, hair wild and breaths coming in short pants. "Honey-" Rick immediately wrapped his arms around her middle and pulled her closer while continuing to place kisses in her neck and along her jaw. Her eyes slipped for a moment. "-before we, uh, continue, I think we have to get the audience-" she turned to glance at Lizzy who was still crawling around in her playpen. "-to bed. It's a little past her bedtime anyway."
He looked up at his wife, his eyes clouded with desire, and nodded numbly. "Uh, yeah. Yeah, of course." He released her and pulled a hand through his hair in an effort to gather his scattered thoughts. "You go ahead, I'll be there in a minute."
She squeezed his hand and flashed him a smile; a dazzling, carefree, beautiful smile. Her eyes shining with promise... and naked desire.
Hot damn.
"Come on Cupcake, time to get you to bed." Kate bent down and scooped Lizzy out of her playpen; she was already rubbing her eyes and yawning. "Oh yeah, someone is really tired, isn't she?"

[][][]

A few minutes later, Rick was leaning against the doorframe of the nursery and contently watched his wife as she gently cradled their daughter, singing softly to nine month-old. After a few moments, Kate glanced up and smiled at her husband as he approached them where they were rocking in the rocking chair.
"She asleep?" He whispered, bending down to get a closer look at his baby girl.
Kate glanced back at her daughter. "Almost."
"May I?" He was holding out his arms when she looked up. Kate smiled slowly and nodded; she stood and carefully placed Lizzy in her father's waiting arms.
He sat down in the rocking chair, his eyes drinking in his baby girl; engraving all the changes that had occurred; cataloging all the developments he had missed. Kate stood next to him, her attention forcused on his face while a hand absently drew patterns on the back of his neck.
"I used to do this with Alexis," he said quietly, lightly tracing a finger over his daughter's cheek. "Just sitting and rocking her quietly. Sometimes I even read to her, which she loved of course." A large, sentimental smile bloomed over his features. "She was such a curious baby - exploring everything. I had to keep an eye on her twenty-four seven."
Kate chuckled softly. "Sounds familiar... Must be your ADD-genes running through their veins."
"Or just my inherent curiosity and intelligence," he shot back, still watching his daughter.
"What you call being inherently curious and intelligent, I call being a nosy smartass."
He grinned. "Is there a difference?"
She rolled her eyes. "Probably not. Not with you anyway." She paused for a moment. "Alexis must have been a beautiful baby with the red hair, blue eyes and fair skin. I've only seen the pictures of her as a toddler. She was adorable."
He nodded and smiled. "Yeah, she was. She was a really beautiful baby. Still is. All my baby girls are beautiful." He glanced up at Kate and grinned. "The common denominator in that equation seems to be me."
She rolled her eyes as her lips quirked up. "Yeah, Castle, whatever."
"I wouldn't mind having another one of these-" He glanced at Lizzy. "-soon again, though," he said suddenly, looking at his wife. "Another one who looks like you."
Kate laughed softly, a little nervously. Her husband had that (baby-making) look in his eyes and the wheels were turning in his mind.
Whoa.
"Hold your horses, Mr. Castle. This one can't even walk yet. So don't get any ideas in that head of yours," Kate responded, lightly tapping a finger against his skull. She shifted her eyes to their baby girl who was fast asleep against her father's chest. "Actually, I wouldn't mind having a little you running around."
Rick smiled broadly. "A boy, huh?"
She shrugged and nodded. "Yeah. Change things up a little."
He chuckled quietly, carefully getting up. He pressed a kiss on his daughter's head and gently placed a fast asleep Lizzy in her crib. Kate bent down and also pressed a kiss in her daughter's soft, dark hair while whispering a tender goodnight.
"Honey, are you sure you could handle another me running around?" He asked, guiding Kate out the door before quietly shutting it.
"Who says he'll be like you. Maybe he'll be as sensible as his mother." She paused abruptly and gave her head a shake. "Uh, you do realise that we are talking about a son that we are not even trying to beget yet?"
He arched an eyebrow. "Beget? Really?"
She shrugged, entering their room. "What? You can use weird, outdated words, but I'm not allowed to?"
He leered at her, shutting their bedroom door. "Oh, you are allowed to do anything, Mrs. Castle. Anything. You. Want." He approached her slowly.
Kate flashed him a sultry, dirty grin. "Really?" He reached her and wrapped his arms around her.
"Mmm-hmm," he responded, nuzzling her neck.
"Even if it's wild and kinky?" She arched an eyebrow and chewed on her lower lip, her hands sweeping over his chest.
His grin grew delightfully devilish. "Especially if it's wild and kinky. I encourage it."
"Well, in that case, Mr. Castle, let me show you just how wild and kinky I can get after five weeks of not getting any."
He was grinning like a kid at Christmas. "Oooh! Please do-"
Before he could finish, she was on him; her long, muscular legs tightly wrapped around his waist and her hot, demanding mouth fused with his.
Phone sex just didn't beat the real thing...

[][][]

Distance makes the heart grow fonder.
And apparently libido to grow stronger.
Just ask the Castles - three and a half rounds in and still going strong.

[][][]

Your lipstick stains on the front lobe of my left-side brains

I knew I wouldn't forget you

And so I went let you blow my mind

Hey soul sister

I don't wanna miss

A single thing you do tonight

Title is a Streisand song and the lyrics at the end from Train's song "Hey soul sister!"

Chapter 29 - Shiny, happy fits of rage

"So how long before your hubby comes back?" Lanie enquired, taking a sip of her coffee.
"Two weeks," Kate replied despondently.
"Why didn't just go with him?"
Kate turned her gaze to the cup in her hands, gathering her thoughts. "That was the plan, well to join him at least for a few weeks. But with Lizzy starting the teething process, it would have been impossible. I can't hop on planes and jet off all around the country with a sick kid. It's bad enough at home."
Lanie watched her goddaughter with a tender smile. She looked at her friend again and had to suppress an amused chuckle from slipping out. Kate was comically miserable, pouting like an unhappy five-year old.
Yep, Writer Boy has definitely rubbed off on her.
"Well, she looks fine now." Both women turned to watch the miniature one who was busy sucking on a building block, drooling all over the eduational toy in the process.
It was adorable.
"Yeah, she is. She was sick the whole week, though."
Lanie turned back to Kate. "How did you cope?"
Kate sighed, keeping a protective eye on her daughter. "Slept little and soothed a lot. She was crying so much." She smiled when Lizzy let out an excited squeal, spit bubbles foaming around her small mouth. "I think she also misses her daddy."
She sighed and watched Lizzy crawl around in the playpen amongst her fluffy friends. She idly wondered about when her daughter was going to drag her to little-girl tea parties or tug on her hand to come and tuck her in while Daddy read a bedtime story or beg Mommy to push her higher on the swings. Her lips tilted upward as the images flashed through her mind. She couldn't wait to have tickle-giggle-fits with her little girl on lazy mornings, to set an extra plate for the imaginary friend, to find her staggering around in her mother's six-inch heels, to hide with her while Daddy searched for them, to fight off the monsters under her bed, to sing with her to the unborn baby brother or sis-
Whoa. Where did that come from?
"Girl, why didn't you call me?" Lanie asked, snapping Kate out of her musings.
She drew her eyes back to Lanie, who was looking at her with a raised eyebrow, and shrugged. "You have enough on your plate with work and wedding plans..." A teasing smirk slowly curved her lips upward. "Bridezilla."
Indignation and annoyance flashed across Lanie's features. "I am not a Bridezilla!" She watched her smirking friend and huffed out a breath, a reluctant smile slowly forming on her lips. "Well, even if I were - which I'm not - can you blame me with a mother like mine and a mother-in-law like Mama Esposito?"
Kate chuckled and shook her head. "I know you're not. I'm just teasing, Lane. So... how are the plans coming along?"
"Which plans? The wedding ones or the ones pertaining to the disappearance of a few select people?" The ME shot back dryly.
The two women broke out in laughter and a few moments later, the cute, miniature one clutching a teddy bear joined them with a joyful shriek and bubbly giggling.
"Oh you are just too damn cute!" Lanie bent down and plucked the giggling nine month-old out of her playpen. "I think I'm gonna steal you." Lizzy was smiling, clutching at her godmother's cheeks. "What do you say, Cupcake? You wanna come live with your Aunt Lanie?" Lizzy squealed and wriggled in Lanie's grasp before sneezing cutely causing both mother and godmother to laugh.
"I don't think her mother or father would like that very much, Lane. Even if she is absolutely gaga about you." Kate had her chin propped up in her hand, watching them with a wide grin. Lanie looked at her friend and smiled while Lizzy bounced up and down in her lap.
"No, I s'ppose not... She's just too darn precious. I know I've said this before, but you and Writer Boy seriously make the most adorable babies."
Kate's grin widened. "Well, I'm sure your and Esposito's babies are gonna be just as adorable." She paused for a moment. "You know? You two should start on one as soon as possible. Lizzy needs a playmate," she said casually. Lanie froze and slowly turned towards her friend . Kate fought the amused grin teasing her lips and arched an eyebrow.
It was a rare sight - a frazzled and rattled Lanie Parish. It was also a very, very amusing sight. Especially if you were the best friend of the woman in question; the best friend who had to suffer through many awkward comments and intrusive questions.
Just a little payback.
"Uh, uhmm, so we- we were talking about wedding plans."

[][][]

Two hours later and after tucking Baby Castle in...
"Ah, Mrs. Castle. Did you call to tell me a bedtime story?"
Kate laughed and checked her watch. "Honey, it's barely eight in Chicago."
He shrugged and grinned. "So? The time of day - or night - never stopped us before." The innuendo wasn't lost on her.
"Shut up, Castle." He didn't have to see to know she was rolling her eyes.
"Oh, it's Castle now again, huh? That's not what you scream-"
"Rick," she warned.
He smirked. "Yes Dear?"
"If you still want those sexy and lacy photos of moi, you better behave."
His smile faltered as carnal images flashed through his mind. "Yes Dear," he breathed. After recovering he spoke again. "Why haven't you called me earlier? Besides wanting to talk to you, I've been going out of my mind with boredom."
"Hence the hundreds of banal text messages you sent me," she commented dryly.
"Hey, they weren't all banal!" He could practically hear her arched eyebrow. "Okay, so maybe telling you about Crotch Scratcher Guy was. But didn't I also tell you that I love and miss you very, very much?"
She softened and bit her lower lip. "You did, every time... Ditto, by the way."
"Love you too, Babe," Rick said quietly. Her heart skipped a beat. "So, why didn't you relieve my boredom?"
And there was the whiny six-year old again...
"I had a date."
"A date, huh? Pray tell, who is keeping you company while your husband is hundreds of miles away? I'm jealous by the way."
She rolled her eyes, picking up her near-empty glass of wine and walking over to the couch. "Just Lanie. She came by earlier for some R&R. And to spoil our daugther. I swear, if I hadn't intervened, she would have taken Lizzy home."
He laughed softly. "Is my baby girl already sleeping?"
Instinctively, she glanced up the stairs. "Yeah. I just put her to bed a few minutes ago."
He sighed. "Oh. And? What is she up to?"
Kate let out that adorable little laugh that he loved - the baby of a chuckle and a giggle.
"Well, she's crawling everywhere and I'm running after her the whole time. Thank God the house is child proofed."
He laughed, the rich sound rumbling into her being. She didn't have see to know that his eyes were crinkling in delight. "I'd love to see that."
"I have her on video - I'll send it to you. She's so fast! You'de be so proud, Daddy. And the way she moves her little body? It's the cutest thing ever." Her voice sounded like the silver lining of a dark cloud, the rainbow after the rain, the sun rising in the East.
His heart ached.
"God, I miss you." The words were a breathless, yearning exhale.
She returned a sigh, placed her glass on the table and turned to lay down on the couch. "We miss you too... But it's almost over, just two weeks left. I'm counting the minutes!" She was grinning, expecting him to be doing the same.
His expression sobered.
Oh, right. That.
The silence stretched out for a few moments. Rick scrubbed a hand over his face and sat down on the edge of his bed.
He hated hotel beds. They didn't come with her in them.
"Uh, yeah. About that." Rick rubbed the back of his neck and pursed his lips.
Kate immediately tensed and sat up. "Rick?"
Honesty was the best policy. "Well, with the book sales doing so well they're thinking about extending the tour for another two weeks."
Silence.
Never a good sign.
"What?" Her voice was dangerously low. He could imagine her gritting her teeth.
Goodbye melody and brightness. Hello stormy darkness.
He flinched. "They want me to do another two weeks."
"And? Are you?" Her tone now was sharp, strained.
Uh-oh. She was pissed.
He rubbed his forehead and sighed. "I don't want to-"
"-But," she interrupted tersely. He could practically see her folding her arms defensively.
"But my hands are tied. It's in my contract."
She let out a harsh, humourless laugh. "Of course it is."
"Kate..."
She stood up and plucked the now empty glass off the table and walked over to the kitchen. "No, it's fine." It wasn't. "If Gina says jump, you ask how high."
Rick wearily dropped his head into his hand, pressing his palm against his forehead. "Kate-"
"No, no. It's fine. I get it. There's nothing we can do now, is there?"
"I can fight and try to get out of it or... you could always join me," he said quietly, hopefully after a while.
Without hesitation: "No."
Not unexpected. He sighed wearily. "Why not? I miss you."
She ignored the last part. "I'm not taking our daughter to your fangirl-orgies," Kate spat.
Wow. She was really pissed.
He gritted his teeth and stood up, feeling his own temper wavering. "Kate, you know I didn't want to do this damn book tour in the first place!"
She shook her head, anger bubbling into her voice. "And yet you are."
"Please, I don't want to argue about this again, okay?" His tone was firm, resolute, frustrated. "Book tours are part of the deal. You know that. I don't like it any more than you do."
She shook her head while putting her glass in the sink. "Oh come on, Rick! Don't give me that crap. You've been on tour for a month already!" She was furious and needed to lash out. "Let's face it - you like, no, love the attention. You crave it. You're addicted to it. You absolutely love it when your adoring fans scream your name. Just don't, for god's sake, drag me or my daughter into it!"
Silence. Complete and utter silence.
Uh-oh.
She crossed a line, caused a crack, drew blood.
Eventually when he spoke, his voice was eerily quiet and even. The calm before the storm. "Remember to send me that video of Lizzy before you go to bed."
Shit.
Kate closed her eyes, regret and remorse crashing over her like a tidal wave. "Rick-"
"I'll call you tomorrow." He sounded tired.
Before she could reply, apologize, tell him she loved him, the line was dead.
Shit, shit, shit.
Kate briefly closed her eyes and lowered the phone from her ear. She pondered about hitting the redial button, but refrained from doing so. He would need time to cool off; if she called him back now, he would explode.
And then things could get very nasty.
As if on cue and as if sensing her parents' turmoil, Lizzy's sobs sounded out through the baby monitor. Kate felt her own eyes welling up and angrily swiped at them before getting up.
"I'm coming baby girl," she called out, her voice unsteady with regret and longing. "Mommy's coming."

[][][]

She had called him again, twice. He stubbornly didn't answer. But when she sent him the video, he forgave her everything.
He watched as his baby girl wriggled and crawled around enthusiastically, exclaiming with little shrieks of delight. He smiled broadly at the sight. He could hear Kate's dazzling laughter as she followed their fast-moving daughter around. At one point she turned the camera on herself, a magnificent, proud smile adorning her face. She was utterly beautiful. She turned the camera towards Lizzy and squatted down, the nine-month old looking up at her mother with fascinated blue eyes. Lizzy gave another squeal of delight and Kate laughed, scooping her daughter up into her lap. After few moments of jostling the camera, mother and daughter came into view. Happy and beautiful.
"Say hi to Daddy, baby girl," Kate said, pressing her cheek against her daughter's head while waving Lizzy's small, plump arm. She lifted her gaze to the camera and smiled, eyes sparkling brilliantly.
His breath hitched.
"We love you and miss you, Daddy. Come home soon."
The image froze and his eyes burned. Without hesitation, he pressed play again.
He couldn't wait to see this for himself.
And in a week's time, he would.

[][][]

So be kind

And don't lose your mind

Just remember that I'm your baby

Take me for what I am

Who I was meant to be

Title is from the cute Juno song "Anyone else but you" and the lyrics at the end is from the Rent song, "Take me or leave me."