Exhaustion.
Otherwise known as: tiredness, fatigue, collapse, overtiredness or, if you want to be creative, zombiness. Yeah, that pretty much was their life right now. Gone were the days of solving complex murders or going to star-studded book parties or having romantic dinners in fancy restaurants or making love for a whole night. Nope now it was all about feed the baby, burp the baby, change the baby, bathe the baby, soothe the baby, try to get the baby to sleep. And repeat cycle.
Unfortunately, Lizzy didn't get the whole sleep-thing or the please-stop-crying-thing her parents had going on. Because, you see dear sympathetic outsider, cute Baby Castle had colic. The really bad kind. And, well, it left her usually briliant parents clueless. Absolutely freakin' clueless. And absolutely freakin' grumpy. And absolutely freakin' tired. And absolutely freakin' frustrated out of their heads. So much so that you could cut the tension inside Casa del Castle between the two adult Castles with a knife. Of course that didn't help the situation with the little human being whom they both came to love with their whole hearts and minds.
Mama Castle - in a few words - was tired, had sore boobs, was tired some more, was frustrated and generally felt like a failure every time her daughter started crying for a seemingly no apparent reason. Papa Castle - in a few words - was also tired, felt completely helpless when he couldn't get his little girl to stop crying, was tired some more, and although he didn't have sore boobs, had a very serious case of sexual frustration. It really didn't help that his gorgeous wife's already alluring breasts were, ahem, enhanced. He had never in his life had so much 'private' bathroom time...
Ultimately the culmination of all these factors plus a heat wave that engulfed the city, brought them to the breaking point.
"Did you remember to buy milk?" Kate asked her husband as she searched through the grocery bags. The usually well put together detective was looking a little like a train-wreck survivor. A really attractive train-wreck survivor, mind you. Her hair was pulled up into a messy bun, her eyes had dark circles underneath them, the casual t-shirt she had on was covered in splotches of baby spit and other stains. In short, Kate Castle went from being a ridiculously gorgeous woman to merely a beautiful woman. To Rick, however, she was still ridiculously gorgeous... even with baby spit all over her.
He went to sit down at the kitchen counter and frowned at her question. "Uh, milk? Should I have?" His ruggedly handsome features were a little paler and scruffy than usual and his cobalt blue eyes were a little duller, their usual playful spark momentarily absent.
Kate lifted her head, briefly closed her eyes as her jaw clenched and let out a frustrated sigh. With the last strand of her patience, she slowly turned her head towards her equally exhausted and grumpy partner-in-life. When she spoke, her voice was steady, but her tone dangerously low. "I asked you very nicely to buy milk, Rick." Her tone was clipped as she said his name. He sighed and rubbed a hand over his scruffy features.
"Sorry, it must have slipped my mind," he said wearily with a shrug. Kate's jaw clenched even more and her actions became rigid and abrupt as she pulled out the items she sent her dear husband to buy a few minutes before.
"Great, just fantastic," she commented through gritted teeth, trying desperately to keep her cool.
Rick shifted in his seat and his brow furrowed. "I said I was sorry, Kate." His tone was a combination of exhaustion, frustration and irritation; he was also struggling to keep himself from snapping at her.
With her back turned to him, Kate continued to store the groceries. "I ask you to do one thing. One thing! And you don't get it right. So friggin' typical." Her voice was strained and low.
"Oh for Pete's sake, it's not like I did it on purpose!" He exclaimed loudly, losing his cool and throwing his arms up in the air. "Shit, you make it sound like I cheated on my taxes!"
She whipped around and glared at him. "Shhh! Keep your voice down, I just put her to bed," she hissed. He was about to respond when the sounds of their daughter's crying sounded through the baby moniter. Kate closed her eyes, pursed her lips and momentarily threw her head upwards. When she glared at her husband a few moments later, her emerald green eyes were more moist than usual and her voice more a little shakier.
"Thanks Rick. Thank you very much. I just spent more than an hour and a half to try to get her to finally sleep!" She spat, tears of exhaustion and frustration forming in her eyes. Rick immediately felt worse than a North African dictator and followed his upset wife as she stomped out of the kitchen.
"Kate, I'm sorry," he said, gently grabbing her arm and turning her towards him. "Honey, I got this, okay. Let me-"
She abruptly pulled her arm from his; her wet eyes flashing with anger. "No, I got this. Just... stay here," she said with a sigh before making her way up the stairs to their crying baby. He stood at the edge of the stairs in defeat and watched her go up.
He meandered around aimlessly, storing the remaining grocery items and straigthening things up while he listened to Kate singing soflty to their daughter in a desperate effort to soothe her. After about fifteen minutes, much to his relief, Lizzy was finally quiet again. He waited for another ten minutes before he went in search for his wife.
Fully expecting Kate to still be with their daughter, he quietly peeked into the nursery. His brow furrowed in confusion when he didn't find her there and after kissing his baby girl goodnight, Rick walked to their bedroom. He found his tough detective sitting on the bed with her head in her hands and her shoulders shaking uncontrollably as she cried silently. Rick's heart broke a little when he saw her and he made his way to where she was sitting. Like a lot of new mothers she was feeling insecure, unsure and scared. Add exhaustion to that mix and you got yourself a recipe for an emotional breakdown.
He sat down next to her and gently rubbed soothing circles on her back in an effort to comfort her. After a minute or two, her crying subsided.
"Katie, look at me." When she didn't respond, he lifted her chin in order to look at her. "Honey, look at me." Her wet, blood-shot emerald greens briefly met his sympathetic cobalt blues for a few seconds before she darted them down again; seemingly embarassed by her emotional breakdown.
"Hey... what is it, Sweetheart?" Rick coaxed softly, tenderly rubbing a thumb over her tear-stained cheek.
She blinked furiously and swallowed hard in a desperate effort not to start crying again. "I'm... just so, so tired, Rick," she admitted softly. "And she just won't stop crying." Tears were by now dripping one by one over the thresholds of her eyes. "I... don't... know... what... to... do... anymore," she gasped, the tears now flowing freely once more. "I... feel... like... such... a... failure."
Rick pulled her into a tight hug while she started to sob again, staining his shirt with her tears. He cradled her and periodically pressed soft kisses in her hair while murmuring "I love you", "You are extroadinary" and "Everything is going to be fine." After a few minutes, she calmed down and slightly pulled away from him.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly after a few moments.
Rick gave her a soft smile while he tucked a rogue strand of hair behind her ear. She smiled shyly at him and briefly locked her eyes with him. "Me too, Sweetheart, me too." He gave her a gentle kiss before drawing her in for a quick hug. Suddenly, he released her and got up, making his way to the bathroom. After a few moments, Kate could hear the sound of running water and frowned in confusion. Another few minutes later, her husband appeared again and held out a hand to her. He led her into the bathroom where soft candlelight flickered and where a warm bubble bath awaited her. Rick drew to her him and gave her a peck on the lips.
"Why don't you take a nice, long bath while I get started on dinner, hmmm? I'll bring you a glass of wine," he said with a smile. He released her and started for the door when she grasped his arm.
"Thank you," Kate responded with a soft smile. "Sometimes I don't deserve you."
He returned a gentle smile before it quickly turned into a mischievous smirk. "Can I please get that little confession on tape, Mrs. Castle?"
"Shut up," she muttered before pulling him down for a searing kiss. After breaking the kiss, Kate gently pushed her obvioulsy affected husband towards the door.
"Castle, dinner isn't going to make itself."
"I'll order some take-out," her murmured, trying to take hold of her again.
She laughed. "Well, that glass of wine isn't going to bring itself up here." He stood his ground and pouted like a six-year old. Kate decided to use her age-old winning tactic: teasing.
"Honey, the sooner you get me my glass of wine, the sooner you can watch me take a long... hot bubble-"
His eyes grew wide and before she could say 'bath' he was out the door.
She rolled her eyes and smiled to herself. "Works every time."
3:07 am.
"Your turn," Kate murmured sleepily, nudging her husband in the ribs. Their little girl was testing out her lungs again, much to her parents' dismay.
"Nah-uh," he responded, pulling a pillow over his head.
"Castle, I went last time. C'mon, it's your turn," she whined.
Still he stayed put, hoping that she would take the hint.
Kate huffed and sat up, deciding to use another tactic. "Fine, but next time I take a bubble bath, I'm locking the door."
He didn't need another incentive to get up.
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