Beckett's head lulls as Castle drives towards the airport, his excitable voice filling the car with the plans for the extended weekend ahead. Not realising her tiredness, she only catches portions of Castle's monologue and since she'd heard it all before multiple times he didn't seem to mind about her lack of response.
Despite her initial resistance and apparent disinterest, she was truly excited for the trip. It was a big opportunity for Castle and had come at such short notice that his publishers had pulled out all the stops to ensure he was on board. For such a small country the British market for crime was huge and she knew Castle wanted to break into it. However since they got together they both hated his trips to Europe and being apart. Although she loathed beaing away from work she was glad they could enjoy a trip together for once.
It had all come about very oddly. Castle had been given a last minute slot at the Brighton Crime Festival. Apparently the author who had organised the event, Peter James, also shadowed the police, although Beckett doubted that he was as annoying to them as Castle was to her. Murders didn't come up very often in Brighton so when there was a murder in neighbouring Lewes three weeks ago James was naturally on the scene. And then there were two more murders and they were solidly looking for a serial killer and so, instead of appearing at Crime Fest, James wanted to follow the case closely. As a replacement Castle had many of the organiser's attributes: experience of the police; maturity as a writer; and a passion for crime. Not being local was a minor issue and Castle was not only prepared to travel but had no committments for this weekend. His publishers called him at the precinct and Gates saw it as a perfect opportunity to give Beckett a break too.
Now that she's in the car Beckett cannot help but agree. Her vacations days have been filled with disaster and since the Hamptons she's been relunctant to take them, especially since Montgomery made a note on her file after the LA debacle and so Gates tends to check up on her if she disappears during an active case. In hindsight it probably wasn't a coincidence that Gates wanted her to go to England, a country where she has no jurisdiction whatsoever.
Castle had grown silent by now, registering Beckett's nodded head and tired eyes. Moreover he needed to concentrate on the complicated lane structure of JFK International: a maze of junctions that lead drivers to departures, arrivals, drop off, pick up, car parks and the hotel. Beckett resists the temptation to instruct him on where to go, especially after being so quiet on the journey from the precinct. To her surprise he heads not towards the car park but to the departures drop off. She opens her mouth to correct him but then they round the corner and she spots a familiar face.
"Alexis?" she exclaims, winding the window down for her to hear, "What are you doing here?" Surely Castle wasn't bringing his daughter with them? She loves Alexis but having her company on a romantic weekend with her fiancé is far from ideal.
"Dad said I could borrow the car if I drove it back from here." Alexis replies matter-of-factly. Beckett raises an eyebrow quizzically at Castle, not quite believing he'd lend his precious car to his, albeit very sensible, daughter.
"Oh yeah," he explains, "She's taking mother to the Hamptons and I figured it'd be safer than long term parking." Alexis smiles at him and he jumps out, passing the keys to her and opening the door for Beckett.
She mutters a thank you and turns her attention to unloading the bags. Alexis turns to her. "It's not the Ferrari after all" she says and Beckett has to laugh. She smiles at her stepdaughter-to-be.
"Look after his car and I'll look after him." Alexis smiles back gratefully and slams the passenger door. Castle appears at Beckett's side.
"Have a great trip!" Alexis says as she disappears into the driving seat. They wave goodbye to her and then they are alone with their luggage. Castle produces two plane tickets.
"Your vacation awaits!" Castle announces, wrapping his arm around Beckett's waist and leading her into departures, bags in tow.