Chapter 34 - Whole Wide World

"Agghh, I'm never drinking again."

A beat of silence.

"Or have hot, wild, fantasy sex when you're plastered?" Rick smirked and waggled his eyebrows. "Thank you, by the way."

She groaned and turned on her back away from him, a hand covering her eyes.

"Shut up, Castle."

"What?" He turned on his side closer to her, a large grin adorning his features. "Really, thank you. You have no idea how long I've had that particular fantasy."

Kate lifted her hand and glanced at him, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Why am I not surprised?" She muttered. After a few moments she started to sit up, clutching the sheet to her chest.

Her husband also sat up, his brow furrowing. "Whoa, where are you going?"

She turned to look at him, her face pale, hair in disarray and eyes a little dull.

Nonetheless, still beautiful.

"Rick, even though I find your body irresistible and even though I love you, I don't have the energy or stamina or desire for round three right now." She slid her feet onto the floor, her legs feeling wobbly from exertion. Orgasmic exertion. "And I really do have a headache."

He chuckled and gently pulled her back into bed. "Castle!"

"I'm flattered, Babe, but I'm not looking for round three. Just – stay here, I'll go make you something to eat and get you some aspirin, okay?"

She sighed, feeling the insistent pounding against the inside of her skull. "'Kay."

He placed a smacking kiss on her cheek and climbed out of bed, pulling on his boxers. Kate laid back down, an arm slung over her eyes.

"Lizzy?" She asked softly, still a concerned mother.

Rick smiled tenderly as he watched her, hung-over and grumpy and naked in his bed. His wife. Wife. Mother of his child. He walked over to her side and sat down, a large hand on her sheet-clad thigh. Drawing soothing, pleasant, distracting patterns.

"I'll go check on her. I'm sure she's fine, though. It's only seven now."

Kate removed her arm and smiled tenderly. "Thanks, Honey."

He leaned down and kissed her softly. "Sure thing... Snookums."

"Castle," she whined, a weary laugh bubbling out.

"Or would you prefer Snooki? You're both pretty good at partying."

Kate started to laugh, but it soon turned into a grimace. "Ow, my head. Stop that." She turned onto her side and dragged a pillow over her pounding head.

He was wearing a shit-eating grin. "Whatever you want, Officer Beckett."

Another groan. "Shut up."

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He was humming. Well, actually whistling and humming and even singing a little.

I've got you under my skin.

You have no idea, Frank Sinatra. No. Freakin'. Idea.

He made pancakes (thank you so much) and was currently searching for some of the strongest aspirins they had. His mother's experience and pharmaceutical expertise would come in handy right about now. He should call-

And there she was.

In yoga pants and her black uniform shirt she stripteased out of oh-so-slowly last night (or this morning). He's never, ever going to forget Officer Beckett. Now they just needed to get her a sexy nurse outfit...

Hot damn.

Her hair was still in disarray, eyes squinting against the light and brow furrowed adorably. She let out a yawn and rubbed at her eyes.

"Why the hell is it so bright in here?" Kate grumbled.

He pursed his lips to keep from laughing. "Hey. I thought you were gonna stay in bed until I brought you breakfast."

"Mmm, your singing lured me," she shot back, plopping down on the stool and dropping her head in her hands. "Castle, everything huuurrrttsss," Kate whined, sounding oddly like a toddler about to go crazy.

He threw back his head and laughed. When he glanced at her, she was glaring at him with glassy, red eyes.

She looked like an angry little girl. That was what he was reminded of. He imagined a tiny, foot-stomping Kate, brows furrowed, arms crossed and jaw set.

Too cute.

Was Lizzy going to be this adorably cross with him in the future when he teased her? He couldn't wait to find out.

"This isn't funny."

He smiled broadly. "It is."

"You're an ass."

He chuckled again, walking over to her with a plate of pancakes. He slid the plate in front of her and pressed a kiss against her temple. "Am I an ass now?" He whispered into her ear.

Kate's lips quirked. "No. Just annoying." She turned to him, draped her arms over his shoulders and kissed him soundly. "An annoying, wonderful, infuriating, handsome husband."

"And unforgettable sex god," he murmured, his lips against hers.

She chuckled softly. "Yeah. You rock my world, Mr. Castle."

"Such a fan girl, Mrs. Castle."

"Your fan girl," she murmured before kissing him softly again.

"Eat your pancakes. I'll make us some coffee," he whispered before releasing her.

She sighed. "'Kay."

They ate in silence for a few moments before Kate suddenly jerked her head up and looked at him with wide eyes.

He immediately knew that look.

She started to get off the stool. "Shit, I'm so out of it, I didn't even check! Lizzy-"

"-Is fine, Kate. Still sleeping. She got to bed later than usual last night."

She relaxed and returned to her seat, a little deflated. "Oh."

"Don't worry, Mommy, I've got the baby monitor right here."

Kate smiled at him, lifting an eyebrow; heat suddenly in her gaze. "Thanks, Daddy."

Oh hello, look who's back.

"You're such a tease."

She leaned forward, biting her lower lip. "And you're such a stud."

He swallowed hard. "Officer Beckett, if it weren't for your hangover, we'd be having round three on the kitchen counter right about now."

She laughed and then winced. "Damn it, Castle!" She lifted a hand to her head, her eyes shut tightly. "Can I get my pills now?"

Rick stifled a laugh and nodded. "Yes, Dear."

"Remind me to never ever go to a bacholerette again. Ever."

He smirked and handed her two tablets and a glass of water. "Yes, Dear."

She popped the pills in her mouth and gulped down the water, fixing him with another deflated glare.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

"No, of course not." His grin grew wider, belying his statement.

She punched him in the arm. "Liar."

"Ow. Okay, fine. So I find it a little amusing that my always-in-control-by-the-book-type-A detective wife got plastered. It's funny."

"Well, I'm glad to be your source of entertainment."

So sour.

"Babe, at least you weren't caught drunk and totally naked on a police horse... while a group tourists snapped pictures of your family jewels."

Kate rewarded him with a chuckle. "Oh, I'd pay good money to see that."

Rick flashed her a dirty grin, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "I bet you would... perv. But you don't need to though." He stepped closer to her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "For you, it's an all access pass. Anytime - free of charge."

She returned a slow, sly smile. "Mmm, good to know." She kissed him, but broke away before her eager husband got carried away. "But, I think, Kitten, that I'm gonna take a rain check on that free pass for now." She patted his cheek. "I'm going to take a shower and then come and lounge with you and my daughter for the rest of the day while recovering. Sound good, Mr. Castle?"

He was grinning goofily at her. "No complaints here, Mrs. Castle."

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"Look who's up, Mommy."

When Lizzy saw her more sober and freshly showered mother, she squealed and desperately held out her chubby arms to Kate. The littlest Castle was dressed in her pink Unicorn shirt and baby jeans, wearing a beaming four-tooth grin dimpling her round, rosy cheeks.

An adorable, fat, little cherub.

Kate laughed, feeling her heart flutter a little at her baby's delight in seeing her. She walked over to Rick and scooped up her daughter, squeezed her and gave her a smacking kiss. Lizzy's only response was to burrow into her mother's embrace, her baby hands grasping Kate's shirt tightly.

Oh, how was she ever going to be able to go back to work?

"Hey, beautiful girl. Did you and Daddy have fun last night?"

"Of course we did. We always have fun. Isn't that right, Sweet Pea?" Rick said with a grin, pulling off his shirt and walking to the bathroom. His wife wasn't paying attention to what he was saying as she followed him with her eyes all the way, unable to help herself. She had him twice already, but felt her blood stir again.

"Stop checking me out, perv. Our daughter is present."

Kate blinked and huffed out a laugh; caught with her hand in the cookie jar. A very nice cookie jar. With broad shoulders, strong arms and a gorgeous, gorgeous ass.

Mmmhmm.

She sighed and glanced at her daughter, who's tiny baby hands were still clutching at her shirt; her head nestled in the crook of her mother's neck. A little clingy today, a little subdued. Kate frowned and brushed her fingers across Lizzy's forehead, but finding nothing out of the ordinary.

Huh.

She kissed her daughter's head and hugged her tighter. "Come on Sweetie, let's go get you some breakfast."

Fifteen minutes later Kate was sprawled out on the carpet next to her almost one-year old, watching her baby play happily with Snuggles, as always, close by. The little girl gave occasional shrieks of delight and babbled as she flailed her arms around excitedly, fluffy toys held in each one. Her earlier subdued mood and clinginess apparently gone.

Kate propped up her elbow and rested her head in her hand, her mind starting to wander to images of Lizzy, Little Esplanie and the two Ryans playing like this or running around on the beach in the Hamptons or dressing up for Halloween-

"Oh, what's this? My two girls playing without me?"

Kate turned around and grinned at her husband as he sank down next to her. "Wouldn't dream of it, Daddy," she murmured as he leaned over her. His eyes darkened slightly and his grin grew wolfish; residual arousal still present after their night of fantasy sex.

"Good to know, Mommy." He gave her a slow, lazy kiss befitting of a Sunday morning. "Sweet Pea, get ready for the... tickle monster!"

He leaped over his wife and grabbed his baby girl, tickling her sides and stomach and blowing raspberries in her neck. Lizzy shrieked and giggled, her little hands on her father's cheeks. Rick turned on his back, his shoulder brushing against Kate. She watched them, a large smile blooming over her features. She moved closer to his side, molding into him and laying her head on his shoulder. Rick, with a beaming mega-watt smile, glanced at her as Lizzy bounced excitedly on his stomach. Kate returned a smile and leaned up to kiss his cheek.

She loved watching him being a father. Absolutely adored it. Adored him. Her daughter, her family.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you."

"Mmm?" He responded distractedly, still tickling their squealing little cherub baby.

"Lizzy is getting a playmate."

Rick whipped his head around, his eyes wide and his lips parted in surprise. What now? It couldn't be, could it? Kate was on birth control and they'd been using-

"Not me, you idiot," his wife grumbled, half-annoyed and half-amused.

Oh. Yeah. Duh. She was totally plastered last night. Completely out of it.

He gave her a sheepish smile. "Oh, right. Sorry." He was feeling bizarrely disappointed. He knew there was no chance of another one soon. Absolutely not on the cards. Kate was going back to work soon and Lizzy wasn't even a year old and he had books-

Wait. Lizzy was getting a playmate?

"Lizzy is getting a playmate?"

Kate smiled and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, Castle... Lanie is pregnant. She told me last night. And I had to cover for her-"

"-Hence your state of... cheeriness." He grinned.

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah."

"Took one for the team, huh?"

"Totally. She owes me big time... But providing Lizzy with a playmate makes up for it."

Wow. Lizzy was getting a playmate. He was going to be-

"I'm gonna be an uncle!"

Like a kid in a candy store. Adorable, adorable man.

His wife laughed and gave him a sweet kiss. "Yes, Writer Boy, you are going to be an uncle. Congratulations."

"That's awesome!"

"I know right?"

He let Lizzy crawl over to her toys and turned his attention to Kate.

"They're going to be great parents."

Kate sighed and slowly traced a hand over his chest. "Yeah. I know." She let out a laugh. "Lanie says that Esposito is so excited, he already went out and bought a football."

Rick laughed. "Sounds like something he would do."

"Mmm."

They lay in silence for a few moments, their attention on Lizzy who was playing contently next to her parents. "You remember the first thing I bought after we found out? Even before we knew she was a girl?" His voice was soft, reminiscent.

A smile slowly spread over her features. "Yeah." Kate lifted her head to look at her husband. "That ridiculous little cop outfit."

"Ridiculously cute little cop outfit. It's the perfect costume for Halloween."

Kate rolled her eyes, her smile growing. "You're going to use our daughter as bait to get candy, aren't you?"

"Of course not," he huffed. "I'm using her and my irresistible charms."

"You're only allowed to use those irresistible charms on me, Castle," she murmured before kissing his jaw.

"With pleasure, Officer Beckett," he whispered into her ear, placing a kiss high on her cheekbone.

"And I assume you would like to have a repeat performance of Officer Beckett on Hallow's Eve?"

His grin grew devilish. "Not just on Hallow's Eve, my dear Detective."

"On your birthday as well?"

He grinned at her.

"And Thanksgiving."

"Labour Day."

"Independence Day."

"Valentine's Day."

"Anniversary."

She nodded. "Anniversary."

They grinned at each other.

Kate fiddled with the buttons of his shirt, lifting an eyebrow. Sexy, sultry minx of a woman.

"So, Mr. Castle, do you only want Officer Beckett or should I whip out my naughty nurse outfit on occasion?"

His eyes nearly popped out of his head. "You- you have a... a naughty nurse outfit?" Breathless with excitement, his voice pitching higher than usual.

Kate laughed and patted his cheek. "Soooo easy, Castle."

"Tease."

"Stud." She kissed his pout away.

He groaned. "You're killing me."

"You love it."

"I do." He agreed easily, smiling at his wife. "And I love you too."

Just then a baby hand slapped against his face, grabbing a fistful of his cheek. Rick snatched his daughter and lifted her up, little baby giggles bubbling out.

"And you too, Sweet Pea!" He placed a smacking kiss against her round, rosy cheek. "You're getting a playmate, baby girl!"

Kate laughed. "She already has one."

Rick turned to look at her, mischievous glint in his eyes. "And so does Mommy."

She returned a sly grin. "Mmhmm. I really like my playmate."

He leaned brushed a barely-there-kiss against her lips. "Good, because can Kate come out and play?"

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And I'm in
So totally wrapped up

Emotionally attracted
So physically active

So recklessly I need you
So desperately sure as the sky is blue

Baby I love you
I love you

Title is a cute Wreckless Eric song 'Whole Wide World' and the lyrics at the end from Martina McBride's song 'I love you.'