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 a lyric from the song Save The World by George Harrison, from his album Somewhere in England. The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Great Day by Paul McCartney, from his album Flaming Pie.
It Won't Be Long
Trying to straighten her back Beckett did her best not to groan and alert her husband to her predicament but that became moot as he stepped out to find her leaning against the wall. "I-" she started to say.
"I thought you were having some problems with your back," Castle said as he walked quickly over to her. He helped her off the wall and then rubbed her back saying, "There?"
"Yeah, thank you," Beckett sighed as he managed to find where she was feeling the worst of the aching. She placed her hand on her abdomen that was very distinctly curved out as she was just past five and a half months. She smiled as the baby was moving around then and said, "She can't keep still."
"No?" Castle asked before she nodded. He stopped rubbing her back and said, "Do you need any help?"
"I'm fine," Beckett replied before she gently brushed her lips against his. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Castle said before she went into the bathroom to change. As the door closed behind her he went over to the table where their photos were and picked up the one that had the ultrasound of the baby they'd gotten the week before. He smiled at the slightly bigger baby in it and he was studying it for so long that his wife was soon coming out to him. "Hey," he said.
"It's hard to believe," Beckett said, knowing what he was thinking when she saw what he had in his hand. "We should go get them up."
"Right," Castle said, reluctantly putting the picture down. "Are you sure you want to go to the dog park? Shouldn't we wait until after we get the new dog?"
"No, she needs to get used to us first," Beckett replied. "And you're too persuasive Rick."
"You don't mind that all the time," Castle said.
Her cheeks heating up Beckett paused with her hand on the doorknob and said, "I wasn't… quite satisfied."
"No but it wasn't that bad," Castle pointed out, reminding her of the night before. She'd been especially amorous, and he had gone along with it happily, convincing her to allow him to use her vibrator on her after their second time together. He'd wanted to experiment with her hypersensitivity and it had ended up triggering a nearly explosive orgasm from her that she'd had to take some time to recover from. "Um," he said, shaking himself. "We should go."
"Yes, but I'm already thinking about tonight," Beckett said. When an eager expression spread across his face she smiled and leaned against him, kissing him tenderly on the lips before he responded. When they finally parted she opened the door and they went down the hall to their daughters' rooms with her going inside Julia's first.
"Morning Mommy," the girl said with a smile. "Is it the nineteenth yet?"
"Yes," Beckett replied. "You didn't see check out your calendar?" she asked nodding to her daughter's horse calendar that was for January.
"I did," Julia said. "Are you okay Mommy?"
"I'm fine but we need to eat breakfast so we can go," Beckett said, sitting on the bed as her oldest hurried over to her closet to pick out what she was going to wear. "Get something warm," she suggested.
"I know," Julia replied with a smile. "How about this?" she asked, showing her mother the long-sleeved shirt she had with a horse rearing up on it.
"Sure," Beckett said with a nod before she then watched her daughter start to change. She was tempted to tell her what she needed to do when they got back home but held back as Julia was finishing and starting to speak.
"I counted how long until my birthday," the girl admitted.
"You want to turn eleven?" Beckett asked with a smile.
"Yeah and it's almost two months now," Julia said. "I wish it wasn't on a Tuesday."
"We'll do something before that," Beckett promised her as she started to brush her hair.
"Mommy?" Julia asked.
"Yes sweetie?" Beckett replied, combing through the locks gently.
"Will you still brush my hair when I turn eleven?" Julia said.
"Whenever you want me to just let me know," Beckett said. "Even when you're older than eleven."
Julia waited for her mother to finish brushing her hair before she turned around and threw her arms around her neck saying, "Thanks Mommy."
"You're welcome and that's your daddy and sister," Beckett said, standing up from the bed at the knock on the door. Going over to it she let her oldest open it before Julia was greeting Castle and Eliza and she herself took the little girl by the hand to take her downstairs after she'd said good morning to her. She followed Castle and Julia down to the kitchen where she watched her husband begin to gather what he wanted to make their breakfast as they watched.
"What are we gonna have Daddy? And can I help?" Julia asked.
"You know what you can help me right now with?" Castle asked her in response. When she suddenly moved away from him he watched her in surprise before she was going to her mother.
"Mommy you can sit," Julia said, not realizing her tone of voice was firm.
"But-" Beckett started to say, startled at her daughter's tone.
"Yeah Mommy, for the baby," Eliza said. "We can take care of everything."
Unable to help laughing softly Beckett sat down at her chair and said, "I should have expected it.
"I know love," Castle said. "Before you help me with the pancakes," he told Julia as she'd hurried back to him. "You need to help me get everything to the table so your sister can set it."
"All by myself?" Eliza asked eagerly.
"All by yourself," Castle said with a smile before he leaned over and kissed the side of her head to her giggle. He and Julia were quick to get the plates, forks and glasses to the table before he brought the girl back with him and they began to make the pancakes together though she was adept on her own by then and was doing most of the work while he helped when she needed it.
"Do you need help sweetie?" Beckett was asking Eliza.
"No," the little girl said simply, smiling at her as she was carrying the last plate to her father's spot. She then quickly set out the napkins and forks before she moved last to the glasses and got those ready. "The table is set," Eliza told her father.
"The pancakes are and now the eggs," Julia said as she took the plate with the latter over to the table.
"Any…" Beckett started to say before she saw that her husband had a plate of sausage in his other hand.
After everything was ready Castle sat down with his family and they began to eat, watching his wife as she was talking to the girls about their plans for the day. When they were finished he cleared the table with Julia's help and said, "You two are okay we're not going anywhere big?"
"Aren't we gonna tonight Daddy?" Julia asked as she handed him a glass to wash.
"True," Castle said thoughtfully though they were just going to a simpler restaurant for dinner. He glanced down the hall, seeing Beckett and Eliza were getting the dogs ready for their walk to the park, and then said, "We should hurry."
"I know," Julia said with a smile. "Mommy's okay right?"
"She is, but when she gets further along we'll help out more okay?" Castle asked her.
"Yeah," Julia said, nodding rapidly before her father finished drying the last item which was a fork and they hurried to her mother and sister.
Since Beckett and Eliza had already been ready the family walked out of the house and made their way over to the dog park that was near the house.
"There are lots of doggies," Eliza said as she looked at the enclosed part of the park.
"I know, they know too," Beckett said, whistling gently at JoJo as she was holding him, and he was pulling at his leash.
"We're almost there guys," Castle told them before they were inside the outer enclosure. There he helped Julia get Macca off his leash before he unhooked JoJo from his and last he got Rita off her own. "Go on you guys," he told the three as he opened the gate to the side of the dog park for the big dogs.
"They need more exercise," Beckett commented as they watched the three sprinting off, JoJo soon taking the lead.
"And friends," Eliza said as the other dogs were going after them. When her sister laughed she began to giggle herself and she said, "Let's go."
"Yeah," Julia said, nodding her head rapidly before they took off after their dogs.
"Watch where you step!" Beckett called as her husband was leading her over to one of the picnic tables there were. She sat down and watched their daughters walking with the three dogs when they stopped running and she looked over as he asked her a question.
"They'll like this dog, right?" Castle said.
With a smile Beckett said, "I think so, she looks a lot like Macca."
"That's true," Castle replied. "But where will this dog sleep?"
"With Eliza for now but we need to get her used to the baby's room," Beckett said. "Stay in there for a while with her while we're at home without the girls, that kind of thing."
Castle nodded before he said, "Are you ready to talk to her?"
Beckett took in a deep breath before she said, "Not particularly but I want to make sure that she knows. I want to tell her, not her teacher."
"While I'm getting lunch ready?" Castle asked.
Beckett nodded and said, "What about Eliza?"
"I'll ask her to take care of the dogs," Castle replied with a smile. "All on her own."
With a smile Beckett squeezed her husband's hand before she heard their names being called and she turned with him to see it was an acquaintance; and also a fan; they had in town. She glanced at her husband when the man asked about their next book and let him answer at first before she joined in as well.
"Who's talking to Mommy and Daddy?" Eliza asked as she watched their dogs run after others after a tennis ball.
"Oh… that's Mr. Bledsoe," Julia answered before she looked at the man. "He likes their books."
"Good," Eliza said with a smile. She then asked in a whisper, "When is our little sister gonna kick?"
"I don't know, I hope soon," Julia said. "I'm impatient too."
Eliza nodded and followed her sister as she walked over to the dogs since they had broken off from the group. She and Julia were running around the three, letting them chase them before they would go in a circle to switch it to them chasing the dogs.
Watching the girls do that after for some time Beckett finally said, "We need to get them."
Checking his watch Castle said, "See how great dogs are? They've been running around with them for an hour now."
"I just checked the time Rick," Beckett said wryly. "Go and watch out."
Giving her a mock salute Castle then went out to the girls before he stopped as they were walking to him. "Ready to go?" he asked when they were close enough.
"Yeah, are we gonna get to see the playground?" Julia asked.
"Oh of course," Castle assured them.
"But what about Mommy?" Eliza asked.
"Mommy is fine," Beckett said as she'd been able to hear them. She smiled when the little girl looked at her with slightly wide eyes and said, "I am, I've been sitting this whole time I'll walk around with your daddy while you play."
"Kay. Thank you," Eliza replied with a smile.
"Yeah, thanks," Julia said as they got the dogs onto their leashes and they were soon leaving the dog park to go over to the playground right next to it.
Tying up the dogs' leashes on a bench Castle and Beckett walked back and forth along the edge of the playground, stopping here and there to watch them running over everything. They allowed them to do that as they'd had some bad weather after Darnley and Nkosi had gone back to DC with their kids and they'd been cooped up inside up to that day. But finally, it was nearing noon and they needed to get the two back home before they headed home with the dogs leading the way.
"I'm going to go up now," Beckett said to her husband after they had gotten settled in the house and Julia had gone upstairs to do a little bit of reading that was the last of her homework.
"Yeah, good luck," Castle said, looking at her with a smile. "It'll be alright."
"I know," Beckett said, shaking her head. She then smiled back at him and said, "She'll still love you."
"I know she will," Castle replied before she came over to him. She shared a quick kiss with him before they parted, and he watched her duck into their office before she went to the stairs, kissing Eliza on the forehead on the way.
"Where did Mommy go with her book?" the little girl asked her father as she walked over to him.
"Just reading for a little," Castle replied. "Now I need to make lunch and I need you to do something for me."
"Kay, I can help," Eliza said eagerly.
"Good, think you can watch the dogs for me?" Castle asked her. When she nodded eagerly he watched her hurry to get their Christmas toys before she was throwing them for all three dogs. With a smile he turned his attention to their meal and began to cook quickly, trying not to wonder how things were going upstairs in Julia's room.
When she had reached her daughter's door Beckett knocked gently on it before slipping inside at Julia's call.
"Hey Mommy," the girl said, smiling at her as she was putting away her text book in her backpack. "I finished… what's that?" she asked as she saw the large book her mother was holding.
"Something I need to show you," Beckett replied.
"Oh… is it bad?" Julia asked, slightly concerned as her mother had closed the door behind her.
"No but something your little sister is too young to know about yet," Beckett said.
"Oh… Family Life?" Julia asked since her teacher had announced when they'd come back to school from holiday break two weeks before they'd be learning it the first week of February.
"Yes, it's a little soon but since your grandfather is coming over next week I decided to do this now," Beckett said.
"Okay," Julia stated, slightly uncertain but also curious.
"Sit with me," Beckett told her, moving to sit on Julia's bed, sliding back so she could lean against the wall. She opened the book on her lap and pausing for a moment to make sure she knew how she wanted to start she told the girl, "So the first thing you should know about is puberty."
"I know what that is," Julia said quickly. "When I start to become a lady."
"A woman," Beckett said with a nod. She proceeded to discuss the scientific part of that using the book for reference and its illustrations and pictures before she said, "But basically you'll begin to grow hair on your body."
"All over?" Julia asked.
"No, here, here and here too," Beckett told her, pointing it out on the main illustration in the book.
"In between your legs?" Julia said, her tone of voice slightly strangled.
"Not all over but yes here," Beckett said, turning the page. When her daughter's eyes widened at the picture of a woman's mound she explained, "It's called pubic hair, but it can be shaved off if that's what you prefer."
"I-I-I-" Julia started to say before she shook her head as she couldn't seem to stop stammering.
"It's okay, I know this is embarrassing but I'm a woman, so I went through this myself," Beckett said, wrapping her arm around her shoulder gently. "So ask whatever you want."
"Do you have that?" Julia whispered.
"No, I shave it but that's because it's what I prefer," Beckett said. "And of course, you know already you'll develop breasts which you've seen in paintings alread-"
"Wait," Julia said quickly as her mother was about to turn the page. "The paintings, they don't show a woman in between her legs or if they do it's smooth but the pictures here have a…."
"A cleft," Beckett said as there had been pictures of that. "And in those days, it was too risqué to show a woman's body in full detail."
"Statues are like that too," Julia said. "But they show her breasts a lot… women's breasts," she added, blushing at saying the word.
"I know but those were alright since of course you couldn't ignore them," Beckett replied. "I had the same thought as you when your grandmama told me this."
"Did you see pictures?" Julia asked. At her mother's nod she asked, "Did you feel embarrassed?" hoping she'd say yes.
"Oh, of course," Beckett replied. "But your grandmama wanted to tell me herself and that's what I want to do for you."
"Thanks," Julia said with a smile. Her mother had turned the page then and she lost her slight grin when she saw the pictures on that page.
"These are some of the ways a pair of fully developed breasts can look," Beckett said. "You won't know what you'll have yet; not until you grow up." When her daughter didn't say anything, she studied her closely and saw that her mouth was slightly open as she was studying the pictures. "You may be a little uncomfortable while they're growing but it's natural."
"Okay," Julia whispered, tearing her eyes away from the pictures though they soon wandered back down to it.
"Now there's one more thing I need to tell you about concerning puberty and it's important," Beckett said. When Julia glanced up at her she explained about menstruation; having no problems talking about that as she'd thought many times about how she would relate that to both her daughters. 'And your third daughter; you'll need to tell her too,' went through her mind. She then said to Julia as she was finishing, "Whenever you start tell me as soon as possible okay?"
"Okay," the girl echoed slowly. "But… I have to do that every month?"
"You do," Beckett said.
"But… you do that?" Julia asked.
"Not at the moment," Beckett replied. "But that's because I'm pregnant," she added, feeling slightly uncertain as she knew what she would need to explain next.
Sighing Julia said, "I wish I didn't have to."
"We all do," Beckett told her daughter. "But don't worry, you can do what you like to do still even while going through that."
"Good," Julia replied. "So… that's what happens when you don't get pregnant," she began a little shyly. "H-how does the baby get there?"
"I'm going to tell you," Beckett began. "But first you need to understand what happens when a boy goes through puberty." She wasn't surprised when her daughter's cheeks flushed an almost brilliant red, as she could understand her embarrassment, and then began to tell her about what a boy's puberty process was. When she had finished she, slightly reluctantly, allowed Julia to see the pictures that went with the chapter on puberty for boys.
"I… huh," Julia said, tilting her head.
Not surprised at Julia's slightly wrinkled nose Beckett said, "What is it?"
"Well… the statues are kinda right…" Julia said. "But," she started to say before pausing. She then bit her lower lip and when her mother asked her what was wrong she said, "We have something that goes in us and the boys have something that goes out."
"And this is where I answer your question about how a woman gets pregnant," Beckett said. She explained sex to her daughter, having studied the book closely for that to help her. When she finished she saw the distraught look on her daughter's face and asked, "What's wrong?"
"I don't have to do that do I?" Julia asked.
"No, not until you're an adult I hope and only if you want to," Beckett said.
"But what if a boy doesn't listen to me?" Julia said.
Beckett then explained about what she could do to protect herself and finally said, "Once I have the baby then I'll start teaching you more about self-defense."
"Okay," Julia whispered.
"What is it?" Beckett asked, slightly concerned by the still flustered expression on her face.
"The baby… you…" Julia said before she snapped her mouth shut.
"Now you know the mechanics of it," Beckett replied. "There's a few other things I should tell you before I explain about your dad and I," she said, not sure why she'd said dad instead of daddy as she usually did. She then talked about self-gratification, birth control and protection; she and Castle deciding Julia should know the latter two so curiosity wouldn't overcome her though they didn't think she'd want to be with a boy yet and definitely not as young as she was. But they wanted to be sure, so she told her and finally explained about the concept of making love when she'd finished.
"Oh… that's nice," Julia said a little shyly as her mother had said that Castle liked to think of it as their souls coming together as one. "You and Daddy are only with each other."
"I really don't want to be with another man again and he doesn't want to be with another woman," Beckett said with a nod. "But of course, that's something we keep private."
"Everyone does that? Keeps it private?" Julia asked. When her mother nodded she said, "Mommy I think there's something wrong with me."
"Oh?" Beckett asked, wondering what she meant exactly.
"Yeah, I think it's gross," Julia said. She sighed and then said, "It's 'cause I'm little still right?"
"Maybe," Beckett said.
"Mommy, now that I know what… sex is," Julia began slowly, embarrassed using the word. "Can I ask something?"
"Go ahead," Beckett said easily.
Nodding Julia said, "What happens when you have the same… things that your…"
"Lover," Beckett supplied quickly.
"When they're the same as you?" Julia asked in a rush.
Though she'd kept it in mind Beckett hadn't been sure if she would need to discuss same sex relationships. She and Castle had already discussed the idea with Skye and Mary and they had told her to explain an idea of same sex sex but nothing in full detail. And she recalled they'd told her to tell her oldest something else that wasn't going to be in the book they had. Shaking that away she explained what men and women would do with someone the same gender they were, not surprised when Julia looked slightly disgusted by the idea of the type of sex two men could together that she finished with though she did add that two women and a man and women could engage in that as well. She also wasn't surprised when the girl didn't say anything when she finished, waiting to see what she would when she finally started to speak.
"So… they can be together more than kissing," Julia said slowly. When her mother nodded she said, "Thank you for telling me." She thought of something and then asked, "Did Grandmama tell you about that?"
"No, your dad and I thought we should because we thought you'd want to know," Beckett said. "Since we know two couples who are gay."
Feeling her cheeks were warm again Julia said, "I thought about it when you started but I didn't think you would tell me."
"We don't think you should be kept in the dark now you're about to learn this in school," Beckett replied, closing the book. "Now do you want to look at this on your own?"
"C-could I?" Julia asked, stammering slightly. When her mother nodded she took the book and got down from the bed before she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"I almost forgot to tell you, you can't tell your sister about this or Mari either," Beckett said as Julia looked up at her.
"Or any of my friends?" Julia asked. When her mother shook her head she said, "I didn't want to anyway."
"Good, want to come downstairs," Beckett started to say. But before her oldest could reply to that there was a flurry of knocks on the door and she motioned for Julia to put away the book.
Rushing to do so Julia tucked it underneath some notebooks she had in her desk and turned to see her mother opening the door.
"Mari's outside, she wants to play with us and all our doggies," Eliza said as she was standing there.
"What did your daddy say?" Beckett asked.
"That we can play until lunch if you say it's okay," Eliza replied.
"You can," Beckett said. "Go down okay?" When the little girl had gone she turned to Julia before she was hugging her tightly.
"Thanks for telling me Mommy," the girl said before pulling away.
"You're welcome," Beckett said as they stepped out into the hall. "Will you do something for me?"
"Yep," Julia said before going to the stairs to race down them to her mother's shock.
When she got down to the bottom of the staircase Beckett looked to see that Julia was running to where Castle was standing at the side of the island. She watched as their oldest threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
"Love you Daddy," Julia told him.
"I love you too," Castle replied, relieved she'd done that as he had no idea how she would react to him after what Beckett had told her. "Have fun but please come in when we call or else your mom's going to kill me."
"We will," Julia said with a laugh before she hurried down the hall to the entry. "Thanks Mommy!" she called as she passed her.
"Be careful," Beckett said though she knew it was unnecessary. She went down the hall to her husband and said, "It went well."
Nodding Castle watched with her as their daughters; bundled up; slipped outside and they looked outside as the two met up with Mari and the Foster's two dogs already there. "Okay, now you can tell me in more detail," he told his wife as he hurried to check on the chicken he was making.
"There's not really much detail," Beckett replied. "She was stunned by what she learned, mostly the idea of pubic hair. But her reaction to that page of pictures of the shapes breasts can take was… interesting."
"Stunned? Interested?" Castle suggested.
"Both? It wasn't so easy to discern, and I wasn't about to ask her," Beckett said. "But she managed to figure out the idea of sex." When her husband looked surprised she explained their conversation then before telling him, "She was a little uneasy hearing that's what we've done," her hand on her stomach.
"But not grossed out fully because she just hugged me," Castle pointed out.
"No," Beckett said with a smile. "I get the feeling she's treating this like I did when I was told about it."
"It's science?" Castle asked. When his wife looked at him in surprise he said, "That's what came to mind when Mother told me, and I was really confused; though intrigued."
Beckett nodded and then told him the rest of what she and Julia had talked about before saying, "I'm glad we asked Skye, she was curious about that especially after I told her about heterosexual sex."
"When will she find out about that kind of sex in detail?" Castle asked.
Breathing out a little hard Beckett said, "Like Skye said, when she's a little older." She frowned slightly while her husband was mixing the chicken, pasta and Alfredo sauce together and told him, "She never asked."
"About you having sex with her father to create her?" Castle said. When she nodded he then said, "She might not want to know."
"Because it's not you," Beckett pointed out.
"I'd love to think that," Castle replied. "But she'll talk to you right?"
"She will," Beckett said with a slight smile. She took her husband's kiss, a quick one, before she said, "I'll call them in." At his nod she went over to the door to the backyard in the middle of the house and called out, "Girls, time for lunch," before she watched the two say goodbye to Mari and race up to her.
"Is it ready I'm hungry," Eliza told her mother with a wide smile.
"It is, how's Mari doing?" Beckett asked.
"Good, she lost another tooth," Julia began.
"She can whistle through it," Eliza said as her mother was helping her take off her coat.
"Your sister could do that too," Beckett said with a smile. She watched as her youngest then rushed over to the hall; guessing she was going to tell Castle about that; before she turned to Julia. "How're you doing sweetie?" she asked.
"Good, I didn't tell Mari," the girl said quickly.
"I wasn't asking that," Beckett said with a smile. "I know you'll keep your promise. But I just wanted to make sure you were okay after what I told you, it was a lot."
"Yeah but I know that it happens to everyone. But I forgot to ask, when will I get…" Julia started to say before she trailed off in embarrassment.
"Your period," Beckett supplied for her. "And don't be too shy about that word, it's a natural thing. As for your question about that it's different."
"What about you?" Julia asked.
"I was fifteen but only a week away from my sixteenth birthday," Beckett answered. "It may be very different for you."
"What about 'lexis?" Julia asked.
Before Beckett could answer Castle was walking up to them and he told them, "Fourteen but a while after that birthday."
"Oh," Julia said, blushing a little. "You told 'lexis about everything didn't you?"
"Yep, so I can answer some things too," Castle replied. "If you want to ask me of course."
"Okay," Julia said.
"We should go and eat though," Castle told his wife. "Lunch is going to get cold and the dog will get here soon."
"Can't we know what we're gonna get?" Julia asked as they went to the kitchen, seeing her sister was setting the table as she'd done that morning. "Hey, I'm supposed to do that too," she said looking at her father.
"You have off today," Castle said. "But tomorrow I expect you to help your sister out," he told her in a mock stern tone of voice that made her smile widely at him.
"I will," Julia said. She went over to her sister as their parents were getting everything in the kitchen and she whispered, "Did you ask Daddy?"
"Yeah but he went to go see you," Eliza replied, frowning. She sighed and said, "He said the doggie was gonna come soon but it takes too long."
"I know," Julia said, nodding her head rapidly.
"She'll be here soon," Beckett said, trying not to show her amusement as she and Castle could hear them very clearly. "Very soon, that's why we're trying to get you guys to hurry so we can eat." She wasn't surprised when her daughters gathered around the table once Julia had washed her hands; Eliza having done so already. She and Castle sat down, and they began to eat lunch, talking with the girls about what they could do before their new dog arrived.
"When the doggie is here we can play with her right?" Eliza asked when they were finished and all taking their plates to the sink.
"Of course," Beckett said.
"For now, you two can play in the family room while you wait for us," Castle told them. "We'll go as fast as we can." When they were alone he started to wash the dishes quickly, glancing at his wife when he handed her what there was to dry. Eventually he asked, "She's moving?" as he'd noticed she had kept touching her stomach.
"A lot," Beckett replied as she was rubbing at her stomach. She shook her head and said, "She's getting some exercise."
"I guess so," Castle said, washing the last plate which was the last thing. "Okay, they'll be happy to know how fast we're going."
Setting the plate down once she had dried it Beckett turned to her husband to reply to what he'd said when suddenly she froze, and her hand flew to her abdomen when she felt a soft tap against it. A second one and she smiled telling her husband who was watching her a little worriedly, "She kicked."
"She did?" Castle asked. When she nodded he hurried the rest of the way over to her and placed his hand on her stomach before she moved it around more to the side. Laying his hand firmly there he waited until finally he felt a gentle tap towards the top of his palm. The smile on his face was broad he knew but he couldn't help it before he said, "That was amazing, just like last time."
Beckett was smiling herself before she said, "We should tell them."
"We should but just a second," Castle said, leaning over and kissing her. He started out gently before he deepened it and held onto her tightly, feeling her abdomen pressing against him. He didn't stop until they slowly parted to take a breath and he leaned his forehead against hers saying, "I love you."
"I love you too Rick," Beckett said with a smile. "Come on," she told him, taking his hand so they could make their way over to the family room.
"I wish we can go back outside," Eliza was saying to her sister.
"I don't think they're gonna let us," Julia replied, sitting down on her knees. "It's too cold."
"And we need to get the dog used… used to the house anyways," Beckett said when she and her husband entered the room.
"What's wrong?" Julia asked, noticing her mother's pause.
"We have some good news for you," Castle said. "Or your mother…"
"No, us," Beckett said with a smile. "Your sister just started to kick." She shared a smile with her husband when their daughters cried out in joy and ran to them. "Hold on," she said, laughter in her voice as they both gently placed their hands on her stomach. "You need to take turns or else you won't feel it."
Though she was a little jealous Julia didn't say anything as she allowed her sister to go first. She knew her parents would remind her that she had felt when Eliza was kicking first and when her little sister suddenly gasped she smiled at the awe on her face.
"I felt it Mommy," Eliza said in amazement. "It was a kick." She then beamed at her mother and said, "That's m- our little sister."
"It is," Beckett said, caressing her hair.
Eliza smiled a little wider and then hugged her mother tightly before she pulled away and pressed a kiss to her stomach saying, "I love you little sister." She looked over at her big sister and said, "You can feel now!"
"Thanks," Julia said, going over to her and laying her hand where her mother directed her to. She hoped; in her mind; that the baby wouldn't stop yet when she felt a gentle tap against her palm. She smiled and kissed Beckett's stomach as well saying, "I love you too little sister." When she stepped away she then said, "You felt it first Daddy?"
"Of course," Castle said. "I was with her when she told me, so I felt her first."
"Are we gonna tell everyone?" Julia asked.
Beckett opened her mouth to speak when the chime for the gate rang; setting off the dogs and making them walk over to the door together so they could see who it was.
"Hello?" Castle asked once he'd pressed the button on the intercom.
"This is the Animal Shelter here to drop off Lady," a woman said on the other end.
"Come on in," Castle replied, pressing the button to open the gate.
"Lady?" Eliza asked.
"That's the name she has right now," Beckett said as she threw on her coat while the girls were getting theirs.
"Am I gonna rename her?" Julia asked as they stepped out onto the porch as a car pulled down the driveway.
"If you'd like, you seem to enjoy it," Castle told her.
"I do," Julia said with a soft laugh. She then turned her attention to the car and watched as he went over to it and the woman brought out a dog with reddish fur from the back of it. "She looks like Macca."
"Thank you so much," Castle was saying then.
"Good thing your dogs are well behaved," the woman replied after they'd shaken hands.
"She's all trained?" Castle asked.
"She is, good luck," the woman replied before she got back into the car.
Castle waited until the gate was closed behind the car before he turned and went up to the porch where the girls were watching him closely. With a smile he said, "Say hello to your little sister's dog. She's a Scottish Deerhound and a turned a year old on New Year's Day."
"You two can go and see her," Beckett said with a smile, pushing on their backs. She was proud of the two when they walked out to the Deerhound and let it sniff their hands before they took turns hugging her.
When the girls had finished Castle led the Deerhound up to the porch and said, "What-" before the dog was suddenly whining and pulling out of his hold.
Beckett was a little startled when it went straight to her stomach, but the Deerhound only began to sniff at it before it suddenly sat, looking up at her and panting slightly. "So, this is the baby's dog," she said, smiling at her husband as he walked up to her.
"She's smiling!" Eliza said.
"We should let the others meet her," Castle suggested.
"Wait, we need to give her a name," Julia said quickly.
"Go ahead," Beckett said, smiling as they were watching her.
Since she'd been thinking about it for a while; though she had also been waiting to see the dog; Julia took a moment before she then said, "Rose."
"Rose?" Beckett asked in slight confusion.
"Yeah, from Maxwell's Silver Hammer," Julia replied. She then sang shortly, "Rose and Valerie screaming from the gallery. Is that okay?"
"I don't mind," Beckett said in Irish as her husband was looking at her knowing he was thinking of the case they'd had that had involved the song. "And really that lyric never came up you know."
"True," Castle said. "And it is a pretty name," he said in English to the girls.
"But not just Rose," Julia said. She smiled when her parents looked at her in confusion; Eliza merely petting the Deerhound's head; and said, "Rosie instead."
"Perfect," Castle said. "I've always loved that name but don't worry we're not going to use it for the baby."
"He's right, that's Skye's name," Beckett explained. "We'll think of something else," she added, not surprised when the girl looked uncertain.
"Rosie," Julia called. It came to her and she said, "Can I take off her leash."
"Go ahead," Beckett said before she turned to the dogs that she knew were watching the Deerhound. She whistled for all three of them and watched them run out to Rosie, sniffing at her as she did the same to them. The Deerhound yipped before they were all jumping around each other, and she called to them and ushered everyone inside.
"How come the doggies are nice to each other?" Eliza asked once Castle had closed and locked the door.
"Because they've been trained," Castle explained before they looked at the dogs that were standing and just watching them.
"Does Rosie have a leash?" Eliza asked. Before anyone could say anything she added, "Can she sleep with me and Rita until the baby is born?"
"I think you mean collar," Beckett said first.
"And to your second question yes," Castle finished. "But you're going to need to let her sleep in your sister's room."
"Yeah, to protect her like Rita does me," Eliza said, looking at the Hound who came over to her and nuzzled her hand so she pet her. "Oh! We have to show 'lexis… and Gram and Grandpapa too," she said.
"Well, we were going to call them later tonight, but I think we can manage now," Beckett said, looking at her husband.
"Are you going to text and e-mail everyone else?" Castle asked her.
"I didn't last time, I just put it in my replies," Beckett reminded him. "But I suppose I should, everyone's been asking me. First though we need to go and talk to our immediate family."
"Kay, I wanna talk to 'lexis first," Eliza said.
"And that's what we're going to do," Castle assured her, looking at his watch. "Since it's almost six for her over there."
"Is she still at White Mount?" Julia asked as they walked together to the family room.
"No, they left this morning to get back to school; remember their classes start tomorrow," Beckett replied, her stepdaughter and Louis having classes on Mondays but not on Fridays. Because of that they had planned on going to White Mount every Thursday night to Sunday morning, likely because they were both planning to return to the US together when they graduated from Oxford so Louis could see his family as much as possible. Shaking herself of her thoughts she told the girls, "And you two show Rosie her bed okay?"
"Kay," Eliza said eagerly before she and Julia took the four dogs over to the beds against the corner of the room.
"She's ready and eager to see the dog," Castle said as he read the text message his daughter had sent in reply to his. He looked at his wife and said, "The baby will still be kicking the next time she sees us, right?"
"Yes," Beckett answered before she looked with him over at their dogs who were sitting on their beds. "Come on; time to introduce Rosie to your sister."
"And tell her about the baby," Julia said eagerly as they rushed together over to the TV while their father was getting it ready. She watched as the screen went blue and then changed to Alexis, who was smiling at them when she could see them as well.
A little startled at how enthusiastically her sisters were greeting her Alexis smiled and said, "You guys are happy about the dog?"
"More than that," Julia said.
"Yeah! The baby kicked after lunch!" Eliza said happily.
"She did," Beckett said with a smile as her stepdaughter looked to her.
"I'm so glad to hear that," Alexis said. "But I really wish I was there still."
"We do too," Beckett replied. "She'll still be kicking when you come home."
"You're gonna come back right?" Julia asked hopefully.
"Oh of course," Alexis assured them. "We're coming along too."
"We know," Beckett said first.
"And we're looking forward to that too," Castle continued. "You'll have to share with your sisters though."
"Though? Dad, how many times have I shared with them?" Alexis pointed out.
"Would you like to see the dog?" Beckett asked as she knew the two could go on about that for a while.
"Sure," Alexis replied. She looked on as the girls were calling to all the dogs and she quickly spotted the new one saying, "Another Irish Wolfhound?"
"Close, it's a Scottish Deerhound," Castle said.
"What's her name?" Alexis asked as she knew already they were getting a girl dog.
"Rose but we're gonna call her Rosie," Julia answered as Eliza looked at her and she knew their parents were looking at her behind them as well.
"I don't get the connection," Alexis said slowly. "At least not to The Beatles or Paul."
Julia smiled and explained the lyric from the song she'd chosen before saying, "Rosie works better for her."
"It does, she looks very sweet," Alexis replied. "I can't wait to see her in person."
"Us too," Castle said. "So, what have you been up to?"
Alexis smiled before she told them about what she and Louis had been doing since they'd arrived back in England on the tenth; going so early to get used to the time change. There wasn't much she had to relate so when she finished she said, "I feel bad swimming when you guys can't over there, but I know you won't mind."
"No," Julia said first. "But we're still jealous."
"You'll be able to swim soon, don't worry," Alexis said with a laugh. "Now tell me what you got to do until you called me."
Letting the girls take care of that Beckett shifted slightly to get more comfortable when the baby gave a slight kick. She placed her hand on her abdomen and smiled before she realized no one was talking and she said, "What?"
"I was just about to say goodnight when I noticed you," Alexis said. "She's kicking?"
"Just once," Beckett replied. "We'll talk to you soon?"
"Maybe Tuesday since I don't have a class then," Alexis replied. "But until then I love you Jules, Lizzy."
"Love you 'lexis." "Love you too!" Julia and then Eliza told their sister.
"I love you too Dad, Kate. Kate take care of yourself and the baby," Alexis told the two behind the girls.
"I will, I love you too Alexis," Beckett told her.
"Love you kiddo, have fun tomorrow in class," Castle said. When she said goodbye to them he watched his wife text her father and said, "What would he be doing right now?"
"Reading," Beckett said as she had almost instantly got a text back from her father after she had sent one to him. "But he can talk to us now." She looked at the screen of the TV as her husband got the call set up and the blue changed to her father and; surprisingly; Martha as well as both were at the loft.
"The baby kicked," Jim said as soon as he and Castle's mother could see everyone.
"Yes," Castle said slowly. "Why are you at the loft?"
"He's returning that French movie you have here Richard," Martha explained. "I wanted to watch it tonight a little marathon of movies from the director. Your text came just in time and we're in agreement. The baby kicked, didn't she?"
"She did," Beckett said, unable to help her smile as the two were just looking at them. "Just a few times but… she's getting bigger obviously."
"We're very happy to hear that and we wish we could be there," Martha said.
"She's right, I feel like coming sooner next week," Jim commented.
"Come whenever you want to," Castle told them both. "You know this is your home as well."
"Then I will join you on Friday," Martha told them.
"So will I," Jim said.
"Can you?" Beckett asked her father.
"I may be later," Jim said, since he needed to work that day. "But I'd like to get there now as soon as I can." He turned his attention to the girls and asked them, "Are you two happy?"
"Yeah, we go to feel the baby kick," Eliza said in a rush. "Got to," she corrected herself when she realized what she'd said. "Daddy did first but then Jules let me do that first," she said. Turning to her sister she hugged her tightly and said, "Thanks."
"You're welcome," Julia said with a soft laugh. "And it reminded me of Lizzy kicking the first time it was really soft."
"She'll get stronger," Castle commented. He then glanced at his wife and said with a slight smirk on his face, "She's going to be part of this family, so she'll need to spur a horse expertly."
Rolling her eyes Beckett said, "Thank you, should I start galloping when she does that?"
"Why not?" Castle said simply before she pushed him over on the couch as he couldn't help laughing. "Sorry," he said to their parents who were watching them.
"That's alright," Martha told them. "Now I notice a new face. Furry but a new face, is this our new grand-dog?"
"Yeah, that's a…" Eliza started to say before she looked back at Castle and Beckett.
"Scottish Deerhound," Beckett said first.
"Did you name her honey?" Jim asked Julia.
Nodding Julia then explained her choice of a name and told them, "I like the name."
"I do too," Martha said.
"So do I, I'm proud of you," Jim added at the end. When his granddaughter looked at him questioningly he smiled and explained, "You managed to get four names for the dogs that had something to do with Paul and The Beatles."
"Really all of them deal with Paul," Martha pointed out to him.
"Of course," Jim said. "How has your day been?"
The girls were again explaining what they'd done since they'd woken up and Castle glanced at his wife while they were doing so. As she shifted for a third time he reached to her back and rubbed the spot he knew was bothering her, feeling her relax under his touch.
"We'll let you go," Martha was saying after she and Jim had told the two what they'd done that day though there hadn't been much for them to relate. "First Kate, I'm happy to hear the baby is doing well and Richard, take care of her."
"I will Mother," Castle said with a nod.
"Thank you, Martha," Beckett said, smiling at her husband for a moment.
"I love you Katie, take care of yourself," Jim told his daughter. "And I'll agree with Martha; take care of her Richard."
"We'll be fine," Beckett said, trying not to laugh as her husband buried his face in his hands.
"Love you Grandpapa, Gram," Julia said then before they could say that to her and her sister.
"Yeah, I love you too Gram and Grandpapa," Eliza added.
"We love you two," Martha replied. "Very much."
"She's right we do love you and watch out for your mom," Jim said.
Beckett was tempted to bury her face in her hands that time but instead said goodbye to her father and mother in law before they hung up the connection. "Either they think I'm fragile-" she started to say.
"Because we want you and the baby to be kay Mommy," Eliza said, hurrying over and placing her hand on her mother's stomach.
"She's still right now," Beckett told her, wrapping her arms around her youngest. "For now," she then said to the others. "We need to give someone a tour of their new home."
"Oh yeah," Julia said eagerly as she looked over at Rosie with the others. "Want to see your new home?"
Castle laughed slightly when Rosie barked; setting off the other dogs and he calmed them down with his wife before they set off for the rest of the house to teach the Deerhound where to go. When they were back in the family room he and Beckett gave the girls Rosie's new toys before they went into the hall to watch them playing fetch with all four dogs in the time they had left before their dinner.