The television in the corner flashes images, spreading light across the otherwise dark office. The blankets of falling snow have dampened even the lights from the world outside the windows. The rest of the loft is dark and silent. Everyone gathered together in the comfort of this room. The silence floats through the space. Only the soft sounds from the movie are interrupted by the occasional snore can be heard.

An all night, cold winter night, during a blizzard, movie marathon had sounded like a good plan when he suggested it earlier. He will make any excuse for a marathon. And who knows when the storm will pass. It is warm and cozy in the loft. They do have junk food, Netflix and hours of no possible body drops to kill.

When he suggested they try to stay up all night and binge watch all of The Walking Dead she thought he was crazy. "Let's pretend we're back in our twenties. It'll be fun Kate." He's got a couple years on her and minus a few all nighters spent in front of the murder board years ago she doesn't do all nighters. Not just for fun anyway.

The things she does for her husband. She really does love that man. Forget the fact that she was awoken by their easily excited dog at five this morning when he just had to go out. Said dog is now lying across their legs passed out. Then it was a full, but boring, day of paperwork only to come home to prepare dinner alone and get the supplies together in case the storm knocked out the power.

Not that Rick didn't have his fair share to deal with today. He was also awake with her early this morning, with their unhappy 18 month old. He spent the rest of the day wrangling the sick little boy finally getting him medicated and passed out in the cot he keeps in the office after their brief dinner. He shouldn't have had the energy to even contemplate one movie let alone a marathon but he's a nine year old on a sugar rush.

The problem isn't how excited he got or that he convinced her she would love the show. No the problem is now she's hooked to the dumb show, zombie's really Rick? She can't stop watching. The thoughts of just one more episode stopped running through her head three episodes ago, about when he passed out on her.

It's like her all night reading days only worse. This show is intense in ways she never would have guessed. It has her asking herself very dumb questions. Like, how many more seasons of this are there? How many days off would she have to take to finish it all?

Ok now she's being ridiculous. She really needs to just get some sleep. It's a miracle Alexander hasn't woken up yet and as much as she wants to punch Rick for falling asleep on her she can't blame him. At least one of them will need to be rested tomorrow if they are going to survive another fever-riddled day.

Finally looking away from the screen as the credits roll, Kate heart leaps at the sight of her husband. He had insisted on making a palate on the floor to make things more comfortable. She didn't know that meant dragging every pillow, blanket and soft surface to the floor of the office. She's surprised their mattress is still on their bed.

She has to admit it is like lying on a cloud. Seeing him wedged down with his head smashed between a couple of pillows, mouth open, she's happy he did it. He looks like his son when he sleeps. Relaxed face, child like smile around his eyes, slight drop of drool in the corner of his mouth. She loves him.

She wants to close his mouth right now to stop the random snores but can't bring herself to do it. Why wake him? Oh wait, this whole thing was his idea.

There are of course better ways to wake a sleeping Rick Castle. It is one of her favorite games to play. Which way to do it this time? Soft kisses, roaming hands, a swift tug of the ear?

She decides to go the route that will lead to a happy Castle when he wakes. She leans over his head pressing her lips first to his forehead, mapping a course across his face to his lips. When she finally seals her lips to his, she knows he is definitely awake. He responds quickly pressing a hand to the back of her neck to keep her there.

She pull away when the next episode starts behind her and her attention is pulled from her sleepy husband to the drama on screen. If she were to look over at him she would see the pouty lip sticking out as he rolls to face her. Did she really leave him hanging mid make out for a TV show?

"What the hell Kate?"

Ripping her eyes from the screen quickly she looks at him before going back to the screen. "Shh Castle. It's on."

Now he's really confused. Why did he get woken up from a very realistic dream of the two of them against a zombie army to be ditched? Oh the binge watching idea. The Walking Dead. Now he remembers. He fell asleep on her. Not cool. When did he get so old?

Pulling himself up next to his wife, who pays him no mind, he brackets her with his legs and pulls her back against his chest. She wraps her arms around his, giving one a quick squeeze, never missing a bit of the show. He knew she would get hooked. And she says she doesn't believe in zombies. His wife is a nerd; he loves her more for it.

If she's going binge watch so will he. With a quick kiss to her neck he tries to catch up to which episode she's on. He must have slept a couple hours from what he can tell. With his vast knowledge of the show he's easily caught up and into the show.

Neither of them is aware of how many episodes or hours pass before they are being startled by the soft whimpers of Alexander. Looking at each other they agree to pause the show. Kate is startled when she looks out the window to see a much brighter than the one she remembers looking at out the window not that long ago. It couldn't have been that long right? Have they even moved in hours?

When she struggles to stand on numb legs she has her answers. Barely making it over, she lifts Alexander from his cot and takes him into the bedroom to start another morning with her family.

Rick watches his wife and son leave the room. He really is a lucky man. It's not until they are out of the room does he take stock of himself. He's startled when he realizes just how old he might be getting. He yells through the open door, "Kate, I can't feel my butt."

She's laughing as she comes back in the office carrying a much happier Alexander with a wide smile on her face. "Come on Daddy. Wake that gorgeous ass of yours up. This little one needs some breakfast. He's still go a little fever so I don't think we're going anywhere today. Maybe we can get back to our marathon after?"

She has a soft smile and how could he say no to that. He brushes a kiss across her lips as he moves to push them all out of the office. She hands him Alexander as they make their way, moving to start prepping their food while they rest in one of the stools at the counter.

He places a kiss to the boy's head and while he is cooler than yesterday it's clear he's still sick. Poor kid. But it's never too early to teach him the healing powers of cuddles and TV with his parents and the dog. It's not Temptation Lane and probably not kid appropriate but if Kate wants to watch The Walking Dead, they are watching it. Every family needs it's own traditions.