Back and Forth (A Castle Fanfiction)

Present and Future

By the time Alexis came back wearing a pair of beige heels that went perfectly with the dress, her brother was walking his little sister down the stairs. As Henry held Sophie's hand, giving her the ability to jump up and down endlessly in a fit of giggles, the three year old's sky blue dress flowed around with her. On the bottom step, Sophie let go of her brother's hand and ran at me with a smile so bright, I couldn't help but smile back. As soon as she was within arm's reach, I launched her up and placed her on my hip telling her, "Oh, there's my baby girl. Don't you look so pretty."

With her chestnut hair adorned with a light blue flower clip, she tucked her hands between her stomach and my side and said with a blush-filled smile, "Thank you, mommy." Her eyes stated into mine with a mix of bright blue and flecks of gold that just looked absolutely breath taking. She was so alive, just like her father.

"We're coming," Castle called from the stairs. "We're coming." He was within my sight when he said a third time, "We're coming." At the bottom step, he started a stretches out, "Aaaaaaaaaand," and when he reached me he said, "we're here."

"Well don't you just look ravishing," I said to him as I adjusted the collar of his white shirt to sit properly over his navy suit jacket and black tie.

He then leaned forward as I accepted a small kiss of affection from him, and then pulled away to hear him tell me, "I don't look half as good as you do."

"Yeah, yeah, we get it. You're married. You love each other. Can we go get this over with?" At that, Henry's father and I both have him an unamused look before the thirteen year-old questioned, "What?"

My eyes rolled as I looked back to Rick, but he continued to watch our son a moment longer. It wasn't until I told him, "Maddie called again, and insisted we be there as soon as possible, so we really should be going if you're ready."

"I still can't understand why she wanted us there to launch the restaurant, or why we all needed to be wearing matching clothes."

I then looked at him and smiled as I set Sophie down. "She wanted a ruggedly handsome, brilliant, famous author to come launch the restaurant as an attraction piece, and she wanted the rest of us there because we are her family."

Henry then asked, "Do they even have kids' food there?"

"Well, Maddie said she did, but you might have to order something kind of grown up. I'm sure the steak wouldn't be terribly unappetizing for you, and if you would rather, I know they have soup."

"So... no cheeseburgers I take it," Henry questioned.

Rick smiled and told him, "Probably not, kiddo. And please don't complain about that in front of your aunt. She's very excited about this, so if you eat what food you order, I'll buy you whatever video game you want."

"Really?!"

"You have to eat it all," Rick said, knowing how picky Henry could be.

"I promise."

I then looked at my husband, telling him, "We should probably get going."

"Alright," he stated. He then handed my thirteen month-old son to me as he pulled out the car keys. Danny looked absolutely adorable in his baby sized pale blue button up and black slacks. His gold and blue eyes stared into mine as he played with my hair, and he too looked absolutely breathtaking. As soon as Rick found the keys, he handed them off to Alexis and told her, "Why don't you take your siblings out to the car, maybe get it started if you want. We'll join you four in a minute."

Alexis then agreed without discussion and I handed my son over. As she began to walk, I called after Alexis saying, "Thank you." She nodded, and then I waited until they were out the door to ask, "What's up?"

He didn't reply with words. He simply wrapped his arms around my waist, pulled me to him by my lower cheeks, and pressed his lips against mine in a frenzy of eagerness. When I pulled away from him, I asked in a daze, "Wha- what was that about?"

He looked down at my lips and he told me, "I just- couldn't resist. You look... incredible."

A smile then dawned on my lips as I looked at him and asked, "Incredible, huh? What's up with you?" He again just studied my lips and my eyes, saying nothing, but taking me in as though he was seeing me for the first time. With that smile, with that look of adoration in his eyes, he forced me to ask in amusement, "Rick, what's up?"

His eyes brightened. "I just- couldn't help it.You just look so... gorgeous."

"Rick, the kids will be waiting," I told him as he held me close.

He then replied, "I know. But tonight when we get home... Be prepared."

"Prepared for what," I questioned with an intrigued smirk.

He then leaned in and whispered in my ear as he pulled me closer and squeezed everything his hands were holding, "Everything."

To this, a tiny knot built in my stomach as my body was stimulated. He then pulled back slightly, and this time I was to one to engulf his lips with my own. As I ran my hands through his hair and played with his lips with my tongue before he opened up to me, I could feel my stomach tightening and then realized what I had to do. Pulling back, I put an end to this adventure, taking hold of his hand with a swift motion and pulling him toward the door. By the time we boarded the elevator, he pulled me back into his arms, and then nibbled at my ear a bit as his hands wrapped around my waist and I laughed at the sensation of his touch.

~*~*~*~*~

His touch was what I woke to when my eyes peeled open, slowly making progress on taking in the world. At the first sight of light, my head rushed a bit, and the view came in to me slowly. All I knew for sure was that Rick was looking at me, hovering over me, his eyes piercing mine as he called my name. Finally, I looked at him when I could and questioned with an exhausted voice, "Rick?"