"Babe."
She groaned and turned over, pulling a pillow over her head. "Just five minutes more," Kate mumbled sleepily.
Rick laughed lightly before removing the pillow over her head. "That's what you said five minutes ago." He kissed her. "Now I would love it if you could stay in bed-" he planted a kiss on her jaw while pinning her arms above her head. "-and continue this line of investigation-" She barked out a laugh, a little throaty and breathless. He had the ability to turn her into a horny teenager with a flick of his tongue and a touch of his lips.
A very horny one.
"-because, believe me, there is nothing more rewarding in the morning than you, naked…and moaning…and all kinds of sexy," he said, punctuating every phrase with a lingering kiss. "-underneath or on top of me-" he wiggled his eyebrows. He kissed her again and then was suddenly gone. "But… today is your first day back and you need to get up now so that I have time to feed you before you go chasing down criminals in those ridiculous shoes of-"
Before he could finish, Kate sat up and roughly pulled him towards her, their mouths clashing, her hands traveling. He gasped when she moved a hand down to the waistband of his boxers, easily slipping inside. But before he could enjoy it, she was up and away, leaving her husband breathless and panting and wanting more, so much more.
"That was firstly, for being a tease and secondly, for disrespecting my shoes," Kate said with a satisfied smirk, feeling victorious at the dumbfounded and highly aroused expression on her sexy hubby's face. She stood at the bathroom door and pulled off her shirt, just to torture him some more. He deserved it. "And nobody disrespects my shoes, Castle." She threw her shirt right into his slack-jawed face. "You of all people should know that." With that, she disappeared into the bathroom, locking the door. Her grin widened when she heard his loud groan on the other side. Yeah, she would have enjoyed conserving water with him. So, so much.
But, unfortunately, there was no time for early-morning hanky-panky now.
She was going back to work today.
And leaving her baby girl behind.
[][][]
Little Lizzy, still sleepy and in her jammies, was sitting on the carpet while watching the purple dinosaur dance around, clutching Snuggles close to her chest and sucking on her pacifier. Usually at 6h30, she was still asleep, but when she heard the commotion downstairs she was wide awake. Small little ears and the things they hear.
Something was definitely going on - she just knew it.
"Hey, Rick, have you seen my keys?"
At the sound of her mother's voice, Lizzy squealed and kicked her little legs before turning around crawling over to Kate on all fours, leaving Snuggles behind.
Mommy trumped Snuggles every time.
"Uh, no. Sorry, Babe."
The little girl made it to her mother and immediately grabbed onto one of Kate's grey dress pant-clad legs, dragging herself into a standing position. Over the last couple of weeks or so, she had started standing on her own and giving small steps, getting closer and closer to actually walking.
Her parents were beyond proud.
"Oh, hi baby girl," Kate said with a beaming smile, bending down and scooping her daughter up. "What are you doing up, Cupcake?" Lizzy answered by tiredly rubbing her eyes and then dropping her head against her mother's collarbone, snuggling closer, a small baby hand instinctively starting to fiddle with a strand of Kate's hair. She always did that when she was sleepy.
Oh, sweet baby girl.
Her heart kinda melted as she watched her daughter, dark hair and delicate face, struggling to keep her eyes open as she clung to her mother. When she looked up, her husband was watching them with a soft, goofy smile, his hair flopping over his forehead, a dry towel draped over his shoulder. One damn fine daddy.
Mmmm. He was simply scrumptious in only his boxers and navy blue NYPD t-shirt.
Yum.
"Was she awake when you came down?" Kate asked, settling onto a chair with her baby girl still clinging to her.
"I think so. I heard her whine on the baby monitor," Rick answered, sliding a cup of coffee in front of her, leaning across the counter to peck her on the cheek. She smiled at him while adjusting Lizzy in her arms, still cradling the little girl against her chest.
"She must still be tired," Kate murmured, tracing a finger over her baby's cheek and cupping her skull tenderly.
"You want me to take her back to bed while you eat?"
Kate continued to watch her daughter, taking in every detail. "Uh, no. I just want... to hold her for few more minutes. Before I have to go," she answered softly, her focus still on her baby girl.
He nodded, understanding all too well. "Sure." He paused for a moment, drinking in the sight of his wife being a mother to his child. His chest always felt tight when he saw her like this; tender and soft and motherly. He loves bad-ass Beckett, being all hot in her high heels and with a gun, but he loves her the most when she loves his kids, his daughters.
When she's being a mother.
And she's a good one. A beautiful one. A complete natural.
[][][]
"Hey Lex," Kate answered with a grin, holding on to a squirming and shrieking Lizzy. She and Mommy were playing on the ground when her big sister called.
There was a moment of silence and then sniffling. The smile immediately dropped from Kate's face. "Lex?"
"Hi," the younger woman answered quietly, morosely.
Uh-oh. That sounded a hellavu lot like heartbreak.
Kate sighed and put her busy-body almost-one-year-old on the ground, immediately letting the little rascal scamper off to the study where her father was busy writing.
She wanted someone to play with. And Daddy was the best to climb on top of.
"Honey, what's wrong?" Kate asked, sitting down and getting comfortable. This was going to be one of those conversations, she feared.
Alexis sniffled again. "Just... everything," she said, tears in her voice. There was a beat. "Craig said that we had to take a break. But of course it means that it's over, right?"
Oh.
"Oh, Alexis," Kate breathed, feeling her chest constricting painfully. Alexis and Craig have been dating for the last ten months and he seemed to be the perfect guy for her. Kate liked him, even though Rick had his doubts. Alexis was his little girl, so no guy would ever really be good enough. But Craig was a good guy - smart, handsome, sweet. And it seemed that they worked.
Guess not.
The tears were flowing freely now. "But, I don't know, Kate. I think there may be someone else."
What now?
Kate immediately sat up, feeling anger swiftly rising because anyone who harmed Alexis Castle would endure the wrath of Detective Kate Beckett-Castle.
Or Mama Bear as she was affectionately dubbed by her husband.
"Why do you say that, Lex?" Calm down, look at the evidence, maybe there has been a mistake-
"There's this girl who's also doing a Masters in Sociology who he has been hanging out with a lot lately," the young woman answered. "They've gone for coffee a few times. And they talk constantly. Messaging each other or e-mailing or calling each other. We actually fought about it a few times."
Oh, hell no.
Kate sighed and pulled her legs up onto the couch, getting comfortable and feeling the urge to eat a whole carton of Ben and Jerry's. "Honey, I'm so sorry."
Alexis was crying again. "I... was really in love with him, you know? I... I thought that maybe he could be, you know, the one." Oh man. "I feel so stupid, Kate," Alexis sobbed.
Sonofabitch.
"Alexis," Kate said, her voice tender, but firm. "Honey, listen to me. You're young... and beautiful... and crazy smart. And if Craig doesn't know that or doesn't appreciate that... then, well, it's his loss, believe me. I know it hurts, Sweetie, but it will get better, okay? I promise you that at least. Not right away. But it will."
"It just doesn't feel like it will. This is even worse than Ashley."
"I know, I know." There was a moment of silence. "You want me and your dad and Lizzy to come over, do something fun? Like laugh at your dad on ice skates. I swear there is nothing more ridiculous than that man trying to walk on ice. He has the grace of an elephant."
That got a watery laugh out of Alexis, making Kate smile. "Uh, no. Thanks for the offer, though. I feel better now after I've talked with you. I always do... Thanks Kate," she said. "I love you."
Kate's breath hitched, her throat burning and her eyes feeling suspiciously moist. "Love you too, Lex. So, so much," she replied softly, not caring that her voice cracked. "And hey, if you need me to come over there with my gun and scare-"
Alexis laughed again and the painful pressure on Kate's heart lifted even more. "No thanks. Dad is bad enough... and he's not even the one with the gun."
"Well, I could always let Ryan and Esposito drive out there and take Craig in for questioning."
Asshole.
"I'll keep that in mind," Alexis answered softly, her voice lighter and little brighter.
Kate swallowed again. "I'm always here, you know that right?"
"Yeah, I know... Look, I have to go meet some people-"
"-For post-break-up-therapy?" Kate questioned knowingly, her lips quirking.
Alexis grinned, her tears dried up. "Yeah, something like that. Good thing I'm over twenty-one."
Kate laughed lightly. Ah, varsity. Good times. "Be careful, okay? And Lex?
"Yeah?"
"We love you."
"I know. Love you too, Mom... Bye."
"Bye," Kate greeted, slightly startled.
Holy-
Mom? Oh wow.
She was still staring at the phone when a small head of curly dark hair popped up just above the couch, a little smiling face looking up at her with twinkling blue eyes.
So much like Daddy.
Kate smiled and lifted her daughter into her arms. "Hey there, Cupcake." She spotted her husband leaning, arms folded, against the door frame. He was wearing that tender expression whenever he was watching her being motherly.
Her brow furrowed. "What?"
He pushed off the door frame and walked towards them. "Nothing." He sat down beside her, immediately pulling his wife against him with Lizzy in between them. He rubbed a hand down her arm, his eyes on their daughter who was snuggled against her mother's chest. "Just... that with Alexis. What you did... was just...," he trailed off, his throat constricting as he combed his hand through her hair.
Her frown deepened. "What?"
He looked at her, eyes brilliant and blue and adoring. "You are an amazing mother, Kate, and my daughters are the luckiest girls to have you." He kissed her, thankful and sweet and just because he couldn't stop himself any longer. He pulled back, his hand still at her cheek, rubbing a thumb over her cheekbone. After a few moments, he leaned forward again, his grinning mouth now against her ear.
"And I'm the luckiest bastard on the planet to have you to make babies with."
[][][]
Go figure.
Kate's shoulders sagged as she thought about all the things she was going to miss out on. She was completely torn - one the one hand, each time her baby girl smiled or giggled or just looked at her, she wanted to call Montgomery and just quit on the spot. On the other hand, however, she was excited about going back to work, to feel the rush of the chase, the thrill of putting the pieces together, the satisfaction of giving loved-ones closure and putting murderers behind bars.
It was gonna take some juggling to find a balance.
Rick glanced at her, puzzled. "I thought you were leaving," he said, his lips quirking as he lifted Lizzy out of her booster seat.
Kate sighed. "Yeah, I am. I just..."
"The first day is the hardest. It will get better, Babe."
She just nodded, keeping her eyes on the car keys in her hands.
He stepped closer and lifted her chin so that she could meet his eyes. "We'll still be here when you get back, Detective. I promise." Kate laughed, her eyes a little wetter than usual.
Finally she stood up and took a breath. She kissed her baby girl, who was still blissfully ignorant about what was going on. "Bye baby, Mommy loves you so much. I'll see you later," Kate said brushing a hand over her daughter's head and over her soft cheek. She then turned to her husband and leaned in for a goodbye kiss, tongue and heat; she would have to get used to those kisses again. Not her favourite by a long shot.
"Bye. I love you."
He smiled at her. "Love you too. Now go catch some bad guys, Detective."
[][][]
If we never found this love
If we never took that road
If we hadn't had the heart
We wouldn't have this home
Love, love will take you
Love, love will take you there
The lyrics at the end is from Angus and Julia Stone's lovely song, "Love will take you".
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