Genre: Drama, Crime, Romance, Family, Humor
Rating: M for sexual situations and language
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured on the show Castle, they belong to the creator of the show, ABC, and the others who do own them.
A/N #1: The title of this story is the name of a song by Paul McCartney, released as a single by Wings. The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Mama You've Been on My Mind written by Bob Dylan, the version that I've taken from is performed as a demo by George Harrison.
Color Of The Sun
Rolling over onto her side Beckett felt someone in front of her but it didn't really register and she simply held onto who she thought was her husband. But shortly after that they gave a giggle and she realized it wasn't him. A responding; slightly smothered; laugh led to her rapidly recall what day it was and why exactly her daughters were there with her. Thinking that she should get the day started she opened her eyes then, knowing already the girls were watching her closely.
"Happy Mother's Day!" Eliza and Julia said together when they saw their mother was looking at them.
"Thank you girls," Beckett said, about to sit up. She was slightly surprised when Eliza stopped her from doing that and with a smile she said, "You don't want to get up?"
"No, stay comfy with us Mommy," the little girl told her seriously.
"Really?" Beckett said. When the girls both nodded she smiled and said, "Then can I have a Mother's Day kiss?"
"Yeah," Julia said, leaning over first from where she was on her knees next to her mother. They shared a kiss and she then watched her sister share one with their mother before she said, "Daddy's making breakfast."
"I had a feeling," Beckett said, reaching up and stroking Eliza's hair before she then reached over with her other hand and cupped Julia's cheek.
"Are you happy Mommy?" Eliza asked, resting her chin on her mother's shoulder.
"Oh of course," Beckett replied. "So what are we going to do today?"
"Daddy said it was your pick," Julia answered with a smile.
"Your daddy is very silly," Beckett said jokingly. "He knows already what I'd want to do." When her daughters just looked at her Beckett laughed softly before she then said, "I want us to go riding. We just need to ask your grandparents what they want to do."
"They'll go," Julia said firmly. "But I hope they're okay watching us."
"I think I want you two to come with me," Beckett said. She heard footsteps coming down the hall and she looked up to see her husband walking inside so she then said to him, "With us."
"Happy Mother's Day love," Castle said as he came to her with the tray in his hands. Setting it down once Beckett was sitting up with the girls out of the way he then leaned over and kissed her deeply on the lips. He didn't let it last for too long, moving away to say, "You enjoyed your wake up?"
"Of course," Beckett replied.
"Tomorrow Daddy will wake you up," Eliza told her mother seriously.
Laughing with his wife Castle said, "I'll be right back with the other tray," before he left the room quickly.
"How can I ride Mommy?" Eliza asked when her mother looked back to her and her sister.
"Do you mind riding with your daddy?" Beckett asked her.
"No," Eliza said seriously. She smiled when Beckett laughed softly and she then leaned against her saying, "We love you Mommy."
"She's right we do," Julia told her seriously. "A lot."
"And I love you two too," Beckett replied. "I hope your gram won't mind us riding together."
"She won't," Castle said, coming into the room. He sat down on his side of the bed and once the tray he was holding was set over his lap they began to eat. "So what did you decide to do today Kate?" he asked after they'd been silent for a while.
"You heard already," Beckett replied, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye with a smile.
"Oh so they influenced you," Castle said jokingly.
"No we didn't," Julia protested. "She said herself that she wanted to go."
"And we will," Castle said.
"But what about your mom?" Beckett asked.
"And Grandpapa," Julia reminded her.
"I think he'd be okay going," Beckett said quickly. "But-"
"She'll go on up to the stable house," Castle said. "To visit and I'm sure… Eliza's going with us?" he then said. When his wife nodded and their youngest nodded rapidly he smiled and said, "Or she might go out to shop."
"Likely that," Beckett said with a smile. She looked then at their daughters and said, "You two are a little quiet."
"We're listening," Julia said. "You liked your coffee right?"
Beckett nodded, since she was still smiling, remembering the abstract pattern in the foam before she asked, "Did you two suggest that?"
"Yeah I said it was pretty," Eliza said. She then giggled and said, "And Daddy was working hard."
"Not that hard," Castle said reassuringly to his wife. "You know I'm used to making this."
"I know," Beckett said before she reached over to him and cupped his cheek. They kissed tenderly but didn't stop until they'd exchanged a third one and she said, "How are we not grossing you out?" directing that to the girls.
"Because we see it all the time," Julia said simply. "And if it makes you happy we're not gonna stop you."
"Why do I get the feeling you're saying we should let you do something that makes you happy and not stop you," Castle commented.
"Like riding?" Julia said slyly.
"Oh good," Beckett said in a mock relieved tone of voice. "I thought you might say eating cupcakes or… swimming at night."
Giggling with her big sister Eliza said, "You have to say no, you are grownups."
"Very true but since riding is very healthy I say we go for as long as we can," Castle said. "Or as long as your mom says is okay."
"Thanks," Beckett said. "Okay let's go before we lose any more time," she told the girls as they had finished eating by then.
Getting off the bed the family went downstairs together where they found Jim in the kitchen drinking some coffee with Martha. After the two mothers had been told Happy Mother's Day Castle and Beckett discussed their plans with their parents before Jim spoke once Martha said she would head out to shop.
"I think I'd like to go with you," Beckett's father told the two.
"You want to go riding?" Beckett said in surprise.
"I would, I think I'm a little jealous of you all getting to ride," Jim replied with a slight smile as the girls hugged him tightly. "I could right?"
"Of course," Beckett replied.
"There are some good mares that you can ride," Castle commented. "So I think we should head out, see how our family ride goes. Mother?"
"No, no," Martha said quickly. "I'll leave the riding to the rest of you but I hope you girls with take a walk with me on the beach when you come home."
Once the girls had assured their grandmother they would Castle and Beckett took them upstairs to change. When they were ready they met Jim and Martha in the garage where they said goodbye to Castle's mother before she drove out in the other car.
"So what mare is Grandpapa going to ride?" Julia asked. She then gasped and said, "What about boots, he doesn't have boots!"
"They have them at the stables he can use," Castle said.
"No they don't," Julia said in response, frowning.
"I think your parents have an old pair of your father's?" Jim said, directing the question to his daughter.
"You'll see when we get there," Beckett said before she looked back out the windshield to watch them nearing the stables.
When they had arrived Jim helped his granddaughters out before he went to where his daughter and son in law were putting on their shoes on the other side of the car. "These were yours?" he asked as Beckett handed him a box.
"They're for you Dad," she told him with a smile. "I bought them for you two years again, thinking maybe you would ride but…"
"Look and see them Grandpapa!" Eliza said eagerly as she and her sister gathered on either side of him.
Taking off the lid Jim wasn't surprised when he saw less expensive boots than the ones she had and he nodded his thanks to her and Castle before he sat down to put them on. He was smiling the entire time as his granddaughters were watching him, knowing they were making sure he was putting them on correctly. "Okay we're ready," he said, smiling at everyone.
"Not you Julia, come here," Beckett said.
With a smile the girl sat down and then switched her shoes for her boots before she reached up to her grandfather's hand. "Can I ride with you?" she asked him.
"I'll be riding with him," Beckett told her gently. "It's safer and you'll ride with your daddy and sister."
"I'm gonna go with Jules?" Eliza asked with a smile.
"Eliza," Beckett said in a mock stern tone of voice before the little girl giggled. She then smiled and said, "We won't be galloping today so you know girls."
"We know," the two said at the same time, smiling when their father pretended to jump.
The owner of the stables was walking out to them and after they had greeted him he asked, "Hello Mr. Beckett, you're going to be riding today?"
"I am," Jim said with a nod. "Is there a horse I'll be okay riding?"
"Oh of course," Charlie said with a smile. "Sapphire I think."
"I was thinking that," Beckett said. "And Venus for Julia?"
"Yeah she's here," Charlie said. "I'll help you out."
Walking over to the stable Beckett said, "Do you mind waiting for us to get Alex and Julius?"
"I'll grab Venus," Charlie told her. "Julia can hold her."
"Yes I can," Julia said quickly, smiling when her parents looked at her.
"Don't walk around with her," Castle said firmly. When Julia nodded he and Beckett went to their horses and got them ready before they stepped out with them.
"She's very gentle," Charlie was saying as he led the white mare up to Jim. "Kate?"
"I'll be helping him," Beckett said, handing off Alex to her husband. She then went to Sapphire and took the reins, leading her and her father over to the stepping stone. She then said, "Do you know how to get up?"
"I remember the lessons from your mother," Jim replied. "You'll hold her steady for me right?"
"Of course," Beckett said with a quick nod. "But first…" She smiled when he held his hand out to the mare and once it had his scent she nodded to the saddle.
Julia held her breath, as her sister sucked in a breath of air, while they watched their grandfather mount the horse. But he was soon set and she followed her father as they followed Beckett leading the horse outside the stable. "Okay Grandpapa?" she asked.
"I think so," Jim said.
"Good enough to take the reins?" Beckett asked her father. When he nodded she gave them to him and said, "Keep still, she won't move until you direct her to."
"Go ahead and help Julia," Jim said.
Hesitating for a moment Beckett then went over to the girl and helped her into the saddle and then went to Castle, taking Alex as Eliza held her hand. "Ready?" she asked him once he was in his saddle.
"Of course," Castle replied. He took their youngest from her but held onto Beckett's hand before he kissed the back of it. "If you want me to go with your father I will."
"Maybe halfway," Beckett said, looking over at their youngest before smiling at her. She was tempted to kiss him but instead went over to Alex and climbed up on top of him. Going to her husband she said, "You'll follow."
"I figured," Castle said simply before he then went to Julia as Beckett went over to her father.
After giving him a brief instruction on how to ride Beckett waited for him to spur Sapphire to a walk before she was following him and soon caught up with him. They came to the trail and said, "Was there any reason why you wanted to join us?"
Watching his daughter looking behind them; knowing she was checking on Eliza; Jim said, "I felt a little left out. So I took the chance to join you."
"I'm glad you did," Beckett said with a smile.
"Me too," Julia said from behind them.
"And me," Eliza said hurriedly, smiling as her mother and grandfather looked back at her.
"So this is where you and Richard ride," Jim said as they'd gone down the trail a little more.
"It is," Beckett said. "But Julia has ridden with us too."
"That's right," Jim said. "And she enjoys it."
"Yeah I don't think you need to really ask," Beckett said with another smile. She then said, "And of course Eliza's been with us."
"I won't ask how she enjoys it," Jim said to her. "Do you ever stop?"
"You know already," Beckett said before she then realized why he'd said that. "Oh, you know-"
"I remember but I'm a little concerned," Jim confessed.
"Don't worry," Castle said from behind them. "Sapphire was the first mare we let Julia ride here."
"Yeah she was and she was really good, she's gentle Grandpapa," Julia said.
"I rode her too," Eliza then said.
"She has but we've led her," Castle said as Jim looked to him and then Beckett in obvious surprise.
"You're getting her ready?" Jim asked his daughter, smiling. At her nod he then said, "Just like your mother but of course we needed to since you were horse crazy… since you were at least a year and a half."
Beckett glanced at her father then and said, "Really?" as she hadn't heard that story.
"Your mother first told me about the McCollough blood when we took you to FAO Schwartz for the first time," Jim replied, speaking a little louder as he knew those behind them would want to hear. "We took you to the stuffed animals and you just smiled and smiled at the stuffed horses."
"Did you get her one?" Castle asked, relieved when Beckett smiled back at him since he'd thought she was going to be embarrassed.
"Not at first," Jim said, he laughed momentarily when the girls gasped before continuing. "You started to cry when we were walking away and your mother turned to me after stopping abruptly in front of me and she told me, 'Jim it looks like my mother was right, we McColloughs are horse crazy and Katie is the same. You should prepare yourself.'"
"For what?" Julia asked.
"The need to ride so constantly, be around horses and handle them… better than anyone you've seen," Jim said. "And there I'm quoting your mother directly," he said to Beckett.
"She said that to me too, when I was around six," she replied with a nostalgic smile. "We… oh we're at the stream, let's stop." Beckett watched her father closely as he carefully pulled the reins on Sapphire and she was pleased when the mare soon after came to a stop. "Alright," she said as she got off Alex. "Luckily they have a stone for people who dismount here so I'll hold onto her for you."
"Wait," Julia told her father as he'd come over to help her down. She watched her grandfather come down then and smiled slightly before she slid into Castle's arms. "Thanks," she told him.
"You're welcome, go I'll take care of her," Castle said, knowing she wanted to go with Eliza over to Jim. He watched the two girls surround his father in law and smiled slightly before he led the horses to the water with Beckett who was holding Alex and Sapphire as they drank.
"What?" Beckett asked her husband looked at her once he was next to her and didn't stop staring at her.
"I'm just wondering if you want to go anywhere else," Castle commented.
"I don't know yet," Beckett replied. "I'll think about that before we get home." She smiled when he merely nodded and she then reached over to him.
Castle was pleased at the sight of that and instead of taking her hand he was kissing her, deeply. He didn't know what had made him forget the fact that his father in law was there along with the girls but he did and feeling Beckett responding to him knew she had as well.
"If you live with us Grandpapa that happens a lot," Julia told him as they'd glanced back to see her parents kissing.
"I'm going to ask you two again," Jim told both girls. "You don't mind."
"That wasn't a question Grandpapa," Eliza said.
"He meant it to be one," Julia told her little sister quickly. "And no Grandpapa, we don't mind."
"We want them to kiss," Eliza added. She then smiled and said, "They have to."
"I remember you saying that before," Jim said in amusement.
"Are they looking at us?" Beckett was asking her husband then as they'd parted finally.
"No," Castle said a little breathlessly, as she was. "Looking at the water. I have to let you go don't I?"
Beckett nodded, relieved when her husband did so and she kissed his cheek tenderly before they went down to join the three.
"Mommy! Can we go down in the water?" Eliza asked eagerly.
"Why don't we leave that for another time," Beckett said, running her hand over the back of her youngest's head. "And take the horses back?"
"Kay," Eliza said. "I wanna put my feet there."
"We could do it at home if your mom would like to," Castle commented. He smiled when his wife looked at him and he told her, "Up to you though, right girls?"
Glancing down at Julia and Eliza who were nodding Beckett laughed softly and hugged them to her tightly saying, "Thank you and we will after lunch okay?" When they nodded again she then said, "Then let's head back to the stables."
After the horses were grabbed it took the group a bit to get back on them, Castle and Beckett last once they were sure that Jim and Julia were set on their mares. That time when they started off they switched so Castle was riding next to his father in law while Julia was with Beckett.
"So is this a good Mother's Day Mommy?" Julia asked after they'd gone down the trail in silence for a bit.
"Oh of course," Becket replied. She smiled and said, "I'm just happy to spend it with you and your sister."
Julia looked at her mother and said, "What about after…"
"You're just like your daddy," Beckett said with a smile. "He wants to know what I pick to do next."
"It's exciting to hear," Julia told her, giggling a little after.
"I'll tell you when we finish with the horses," Beckett said simply. She then glanced over at her oldest and said, "There is something we're going to do before that though."
"Oh?" Julia asked in surprise.
"You'll see," Beckett assured her before she smiled at Julia's obvious impatience in her expression. They spoke then to Castle and her father, Eliza a little quiet until they'd returned to the stables. After Charles had come out to help her father down she dismounted to help Julia. "We're taking Alex to the corral," she told the others.
"Who's we Mommy?" the girl asked.
"Come on," Beckett said simply to her with a smile before she led her over the corral with Alex in tow.
"Kate?" Castle asked as he handed Eliza to Jim and then slipped inside after them.
"My dad's story reminded me of something," Beckett replied before she then turned to Julia. "I want to see how you handle Alex."
"Is that a good idea?" Jim asked as Julia gasped in delight.
"I can handle him still," Beckett said simply with a smile to the girl who was trying to be serious.
"What do I do?" Julia asked her mother when she didn't say anything.
"What do you want to do?" Beckett asked. "I'm leaving it up to you."
"I want him to walk after me," Julia said quickly.
"Then you need to go up to him first," Beckett said, taking her hand and leading her to the stallion who was standing calmly near them. "Let him get your scent so he knows that you're going to be working with him right now."
As she'd seen her mother do numerous times Julia held her hand out to the stallion, trying not to giggle at the lips of the horse brushing against her palm. She then slowly began to pet him, going to his neck before he nudged her with his head. She knew; from seeing Alex do the same to her mother; that he was accepting her and she then whispered, "Now?"
"Call his name and start walking," Beckett said simply, stepping away a little more until Castle was next to her.
"Alex," Julia said as firmly as she could. She began to walk, whistling when the stallion didn't follow. Soon after he did and she smiled widely, not risking looking back though as the horse was soon even with her.
"How…" Castle started to say.
"She needed to get a little older," Beckett replied, keeping her voice low as they watched their oldest walking around.
"You'll need to wait a little honey," Jim said to Eliza who was watching her big sister in awe.
"I know but… look," the little girl breathed.
Jim smiled, seeing his daughter in her tone, and he then kissed her cheek before turning his attention back to Julia.
Stopping then the girl was more than a little relieved when Alex did the same and Julia then turned her head to her mother, wondering if that was all they were going to do that day.
"Come on," Beckett said, helping her up onto the saddle. "Take him into a trot, nothing more," she told her seriously. "Go around twice and then stop in front of your daddy and I. Okay?"
"Yeah," Julia said, nodding her head rapidly. At that point she then began to ride, nudging the stallion's sides and relieved she still had her helmet on since she knew her parents wouldn't have let her ride without it. But her attention soon went to Alex, making sure he didn't try to fight her control which luckily he didn't. She wasn't able to get him to stop right in front of her parents; as she'd been hoping; but close enough so she smiled at them.
"So I think you could do what I do," Beckett told her daughter with a smile as she was helping her down. "But you'll need to learn with me okay?"
"Sure," Julia said eagerly as she followed her mother to the stables. She then thought of something and asked her, "Who did you learn from?"
"A little from your grandmama," Beckett replied. "But then I taught myself the rest."
"At Stanford?" Castle asked her.
"May and I learned together," Beckett said. "Essentially."
"Trial and error?" Castle asked her then.
"Mostly," Beckett said before they were taking their horses into their stalls. She smiled at Julia who was inside with her and Eliza who was in the window being held by Jim. "So now you can know, I'd like us to go to the park," she told her daughters.
"Really?" Julia asked in surprise.
"Really," Beckett replied. "But not too long since we need to get lunch."
"What is it?" Eliza asked interestedly.
"Am I going to be allowed to give an opinion?" Castle called from Julius' stall.
"Yes love," Beckett called to him.
"Well… really it's your choice Kate," Castle then said.
Smiling Beckett glanced in the direction of the other stall before she said, "I feel like Japanese."
"You've been eating that more and more," Jim told his daughter in amusement.
"We liked it there," Eliza told him matter of factly, giggling as Alex was snuffling around her hair. "A-lex noo," she said though she was giggling again.
"Alex," Beckett said simply before clicking her tongue twice. When the stallion looked back at her as she was finishing combing him down she spoke to him in Irish, not surprised when he snuffled against her shoulder.
Julia sighed as her mother pressed a kiss to Alex's forehead and said, "I wish I could be like you are with horses Mommy."
"I don't think you need to worry," Castle said, standing next to Jim as he cut an apple in half. "That McCollough blood runs strong through you." When he had the apple split he realized no one was saying anything and then said, "Yes?" as he looked inside the stall.
"Too Star Wars Rick," Beckett replied, a slight smirk on her face. She then leaned over to take the apple and shared a quick kiss with him before she said to Julia, "Want to feed him?" She was startled when the girl hesitated and she asked, "You don't want to?"
"What if he starts thinking I'm his rider?" Julia asked softly.
"He won't," Beckett replied. "Go on."
Julia, reassured by her mother's tone, quickly took the apple half and fed it to the stallion before she pet it. "Thanks for letting me ride today."
"He says your welcome," Beckett replied with a smile as she watched the girl petting at Alex's neck. "Come on, we should get going before we lose all our time to play."
"Yeah we're gonna go to the playground!" Eliza cried with a gasp. She giggled when Alex whickered in response to her and said, "Sorry Mommy."
"It's okay, go ahead and feed Julius sweetie," Beckett told her.
Stepping out into the stable Julia watched as her mother followed her and smiled when Castle murmured into her ear.
"I don't think so," Beckett said, smiling at her husband as he'd begged for another kiss. "Later… tonight," she began to say before she corrected herself.
Taking her hand Castle kissed the back of it lovingly before they took Julia; who was just staring at them and beaming; to the sink to wash their hands. Jim joined them with Eliza and they soon went out to the car where he said, "You want to drive."
"You know where the playground is," Beckett said simply with a smile. She then squeezed his hand tightly before they got in the car. She listened to the girls talking together about their ride in the back and shared a smile with her husband before they reached the playground. "Hold on Eliza," she said as her father had the little girl out rapidly.
"Are you gonna come with us Mommy?" Eliza asked hopefully as she stopped immediately.
"I am, you Rick?" Beckett asked her husband as he walked up to them.
"I don't think you need to ask," Castle said. He smiled at Eliza when he held her hand out to him and took it before they rushed to the gym.
"Easy you two," Beckett said, rolling her eyes as she and Julia were following at a more sedate pace. She then looked back at her father and paused before saying, "I forgot to ask, what are you going to do here?"
"I'll watch," Jim said. "Go ahead."
Julia led her mother then up the stairs to the slide where Castle and Eliza were waiting for them. "You could have gone by yourself," she said to her little sister.
"She wants you to go first," Castle told his wife.
"I don't need to sweetie, go down the slide," Beckett urged the little girl.
Though she was a little hesitant to go Eliza finally nodded and then sat down at the top of the slide. Pushing herself down she cried out heavily before she realized she was coming off it into her grandfather's arms. "Grandpapa!" she cried out in joy, hugging him around the neck.
Jim saw that Castle and Beckett were peering down at him with Julia and he called up to them, "I realized I needed to help you out with her at least. If that's okay with you honey."
"Yeah," Eliza said, nodding her head rapidly before she kissed his cheek.
"What do you want to do now?" Jim asked her.
"Watch them go now," Eliza told him.
"Alright," Jim said before stepping back so they could watch the other three go. He wasn't surprised when Eliza wriggled to be let down which he hurriedly did before he then watched her run to her mother.
"Did you get scared Mommy?" Eliza asked her excitedly, jumping up and down.
"Easy sweetie," Beckett told her, unable to help laughing. "And no, I went on this before remember."
"Yeah," Eliza said, hugging her tightly.
With that Beckett took the little girl back on the jungle gym where they went on another slide with Castle and Julia. When they had been there for some time just following their daughters around the equipment she and Castle then took them to the swings where her father joined them.
"When can we give you your gifts Katie?" Jim asked his daughter as he watched them swinging with a smile next to him.
"I suppose I have to accept them," Beckett said jokingly, looking at her daughters as she spoke. "But after dinner."
"Good, that's when we thought it was the best," Julia said, not surprised when her sister nodded in agreement with her, sitting on their mother's lap.
"Oh really," Beckett said, looking then to her husband.
"We're not telling love," Castle told her simply. "You'll just have to find out."
Beckett smiled and nodded before she slowed down her swing, holding on tightly to Eliza as the little girl was snuggling close to her. She gently stroked her hair before saying, "Are you tired?"
"No!" Eliza exclaimed before she looked up at her mother. She giggled when her mother laughed and said, "I'm hungry."
"I know," Beckett told her. "Why do you think I stopped?" she then added as she was still by then. "Rick, Julia," she told the two who she knew were racing. "Stop that you're going to fly off."
"No I won't!" Julia said.
"Yeah, she's fine," Castle replied.
"Rick I'm looking at you," Beckett replied. She smiled when he made a face at her and she then picked up Eliza, waiting for them to stop so they could get back to the car.
Hurrying down the hall Eliza grabbed onto the pocket of her mother's jeans and said, "Can I have a kiss Mommy?"
"Sure," Beckett said, picking her up. She held the little girl above her slightly and then kissed her cheek before sharing a kiss with her. "Why did you want to do that?" she asked her as she carried her back to the family room where everyone else was.
"You should be with us," Eliza told her seriously. She smiled when her mother did and then said as Beckett sat down with her still on her lap, "So you can be happy."
"Don't worry," Beckett replied. "I am. And your daddy will be here soon I promise."
At that moment Castle was walking inside the house with their lunch and he smiled at his wife's words before he then cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.
"Yay, we can eat!" Julia said. She laughed when Castle playfully frowned and then stood up to go over to him with her sister. "We are glad you're back Daddy."
"Lots happy…" Eliza said. She then giggled and said, "Very happy."
After everyone was standing up the family went together to the kitchen table where they began to eat the bento boxes that Castle had gotten from a local Japanese place. They began to talk together about their plans for after the meal and Martha reminded the girls about their promise to walk with her.
"Mind if I join you?" Jim asked.
"Oh no of course not, we'll need your help since we'll take the dogs with us," Martha replied.
"The dogs too?" Castle asked, studying his mother.
"You could hear me Richard," Martha told him simply with a slight smile. "You and Kate can…"
"We'll be using the bows and arrows," Beckett said simply, not surprised when her husband looked to her.
"Exactly," Castle said quickly, smiling at her. He was wondering if they'd actually be doing that but didn't comment as they finished eating.
With everything cleared up and the dogs soon ready to go Castle and Beckett were saying goodbye to their daughters and parents before they looked at each other.
"Come inside love… my mother's going to be glancing back at us and I don't want to prove her right," Castle told his wife.
Beckett closed the door and then moved away from it before her husband was following her. When she turned back to him she was ready for him and wrapped her arms around him tightly as he held her and they began to kiss. She was relieved when he was passionate and they were soon dueling together for some time before slowly, carefully they pulled away from each other. "Hmm, I was serious though," she told him.
"Just a little more, I get the feeling Mother's going to wait to give us some time," Castle said.
"I hate to keep asking but you're sure she's not worried about our relationship?" Beckett asked before she was titling her head back so her husband could kiss her neck exposed by her ponytail.
"I'll tell you again," Castle said jokingly. "She wants to make sure we stay in love… I wonder if she's spent too much time with the girls."
"Don't worry Rick, just kiss me," Beckett told him simply, wrapping her arms around him tightly. She took his kiss that came to her rapidly after she'd spoken and she cupped her hands over the back of his neck while he held her close against his body. She shuddered when he then moved down to her neck again and began to kiss around her racing pulse. "I was serious about tonight," she wanted him to know.
"I was aware," Castle replied as he raised his head. "And whatever you want Kate, just tell me." He was pleased when she brushed her lips against his before he just held her, murmuring into her ear.
"Hmm, it's tempting," Beckett told him a little teasingly as he'd asked if she just wanted him to hold her in bed later. "But we did that for… a while."
"Three nights," Castle said, making sure his voice sounded strained. He laughed when she rolled her eyes but then leaned his forehead against hers before he said, "I was hoping you'd want that tonight."
"I do," Beckett said before they kissed again. That lasted for a while before they finally parted and then seemed to be forcing themselves outside so they could in reality be playing with the bows and arrows when the rest of their family returned from their walk.
As Castle was getting their target out first he expected Beckett to reach in and grab the box with their arrows and saw her hand moving in to do that. But when it suddenly stopped he looked up at her and asked, "What is it?"
"I changed my mind," Beckett said. She tried not to laugh when her husband let go of the target before just as quickly grabbing it before it fell and she said, "I surprised you?"
"Just a little," Castle replied. "So what do you want to do?"
"Their kites," Beckett replied. She watched as her husband's gaze went to the trees in their yard and she smiled saying, "It's a good day for it."
"And they have been asking for that… are you sure?" Castle asked her.
"Mmm-hmm," Beckett said simply as she went over to the other box where the girls' Indonesian kites were. She pulled out Julia's kite which was a hummingbird and watched Castle grab Eliza's butterfly. "Also-" she started to say as they walked down to the sand.
"They'll be like little beacons for our family… guiding their way home," Castle said in a British accent before sighing. He laughed as Beckett pushed him; just barely; and said, "What that wasn't going through your mind?"
"No it'll let them know I decided to do something other than the arrows… or someone stole their kites," Beckett answered before she smiled at her husband. She wasn't surprised when he stopped her from getting the string ready to launch the kite and she leaned into him, kissing him deeply just before he could do so first. She let go of the string holder eventually and wrapped her arms tightly around him, feeling Castle's hand on her back, holding her close. When they stopped; not sure when that was exactly; she smiled and said, "They're likely close."
"So that leaves us two options," Castle commented. "One we fly the kites or two continue this and show my mom that we're doing very well." When she just looked at him he nodded and said, "Kites it is."
"I wasn't kidding about tonight Rick," Beckett said as he handed her the string holder. She smiled when he paused and took the opportunity to run her fingers along his before she then kissed his cheek and they turned their attention back to the kites.
"Look," Jim said to the girls who were ahead of him and Martha, walking with the dogs. "Someone had a good idea with their kites."
Seeing them Martha was about to speak; recognizing immediately whose they were; but when he put his hand on her arm she stopped. "He's right, it must be the perfect wind for flying kites," she said, trying not to smile though it was difficult.
"They… they're ours!" Julia said after a moment.
"Yeah, that's my butterfly!" Eliza cried out. She wanted to run home to see if it was their parents flying them but looking at her sister she sighed as Julia shook her head a few times. But finally they were there and she cried out, "Mommy, Daddy!"
"Hey you caught us," Castle said jokingly. "We were going to fly them really fast and then put them away."
"No you didn't," Eliza told him a little sternly.
"I don't teach her that love," Beckett said, unable to help laugh heavily at the look her husband gave to her at their youngest's tone.
"True," Castle said before he turned to Eliza. "Want to fly?"
"Yes please," the little girl said, beaming at her father.
Julia went to her mother and smiled at her before shaking her head when she handed her the string holder. "I'll watch you fly it," she told her.
"Why don't we fly it together?" Beckett asked. "Like we did when you were younger."
Julia nodded and hurried to duck under her mother's arms to stand in front of her. She took the handles of the holder before Beckett's hands covered her own and they watched the kite above them. She wasn't sure what made her think of her sister but she then looked over at Eliza, relieved to see that she wasn't watching them in jealousy. She turned her attention then to her mother, looking up at her the best she could see her. She smiled when she saw she was looking at her and smiled widely before saying, "This was a good idea."
"It was," Castle said. "So what's the plan next love?"
"Give us a little… time," Beckett said as she and Julia were then rushing to pull the kite so it wouldn't fall to the ground. But it was falling and she watched as Eliza's soon did the same. "I guess you two wanted to stop too?" she asked Castle since she knew it'd been him that had brought the kites down.
"I just remembered; the water," Castle said then.
"Oh," Beckett said, smiling at Eliza as the little girl gasped out in pleasure at the reminder. "Then that's what we're going to do next."
"Do you really want to Mommy?" Julia asked as Castle was getting the kite string.
"Rick what did you tell them about today?" Beckett asked her husband.
"He just said we should do what you want," Julia was quick to say. "But we really want to Mommy."
"Yeah," Eliza said, wrapping her arms around her mother as tightly as she could, pressing her cheek against her side. "You wanna go with us?"
"I do," Beckett said, her heart melting at the look her daughter was giving her. She picked her up and hugged her before she decided on something saying to Julia, "Come on sweetie."
A little startled Julia hurried to follow her mother to the two chairs and once she sat she knew why she'd called her after her. She hugged her mother tightly as Eliza was doing the same on her other side. "We said we love you right Mommy?" she asked.
"Of course," Beckett said as she looked at her daughters, holding them close still.
"We wanna say that more," Eliza said. She then looked confused and looking at her big sister asked, "Again?"
"Yep, we love you," Julia said, smiling with her then at their mother. They kissed her at the same time on her cheeks and as Beckett embraced them tightly again she felt very happy and as always, safe.
Castle, watching the three, remained away from them until his wife was looking at him. He glanced at their parents coming back out of the house then before he smiled at his family and walked up to them. "So we're going to take a break?"
"No," Julia and Eliza said firmly.
"Why not?" Castle asked. "You're sitting with your mom and we can put up our feet…" He couldn't help laugh with Beckett as the girls moved away from her and then to him.
"If we're going to the water you two need to take your shoes off you know," Beckett told them as they looked at her. She was startled when they suddenly plopped down on the ground right where they were standing and began to pull them off. "Okay," she said, reaching for her equestrian boots she was still wearing.
Castle followed suit and together they then headed with their daughters and parents to the water where the girls immediately went in past their ankles. "No further you two," he told them quickly.
"Kay," Eliza said, kicking at the water and giggling as her sister was jumping up and down as if to get out of the way.
"Okay?" Castle asked his wife then while his mother and her father were joining the girls further in the water.
"It hits me sometimes," Beckett replied slowly. She smiled at her husband then and said as he took her hand, "I just feel amazed that I'm a mother still… I spent so much time in my life alone that to care for them, love them…."
"I got that way with Alexis," Castle said. "And I'll do that with them too," he added, smiling at the girls who were chasing each other playfully around their grandparents. "And Alexis though she's a little old for that."
"No she isn't," Beckett said simply as she'd seen those moments when her husband just needed to hug his daughter. "She doesn't push you away, unless you're doing that at a bad time."
"True…" Castle said slowly. He smiled at his wife when she kissed his cheek and he wrapped his arm around her waist before he said, "So should we join in?"
"I think so," Beckett said as at that moment the girls were coming up to them. "You want us to go with you?"
"Yeah," Julia said. "Can we look for shells?"
"Sure," Castle said, taking her hand while Beckett was walking ahead of them with Eliza.
The four began to look down at the sand, trying to find any shells as Jim and Martha watched them.
Whenever they found a shell Julia and Eliza would race back and forth together in front of their parents, pretending to argue over who would put it back in the water. Finally they'd stop and whoever had found it in the first place would toss it back, laughing together before their parents gathered them to head back inside.
"Are we gonna dress up?" Eliza asked her mother as she carried her into the house since her feet was clean.
"No I want us to have a very relaxed dinner," Beckett told her. "Speaking of that, are you sure?" she said to her husband.
"Very, I can handle this love, you and the girls play," Castle told them with a smile as Eliza was waving at him. He leaned over and kissed her cheek before doing the same with Julia. He left them, surprised when his father in law followed him and he told him, "You don't need to help."
"I get the feeling cooking for six of us is going to take some time," Jim replied. "So I'm offering my assistance to help you; not that I feel I have to."
"Okay," Castle said with a smile and a nod before he then turned his attention to the fridge where he took what he was going to be making out.