Genre: Crime, Drama, 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: Great to get the feedback I did for the last chapter so will go straight into my thank yous for them! TORONTOSUN (I was happy that you liked the tours I had in the chapter as they were fun to write since I've been there but my memory is a little dim as you can't take pictures at the Winchester Mystery House. So to know you liked that was really great! And I'm so happy you thought the love scenes were great moments for Castle and Beckett. Glad that you like the tour on the Queen Mary too!),
MsNYC (It was interesting to see your reaction to what happened at the Winchester, though I'm not surprised you mentioned that she's still skeptical even after what she went through there. I see her doing that because of how she was on the show. But I'm glad you think it's cool that she's sort of learning how to process, as you put it, the unknown. And I got what you meant saying you don't think she'll ever accept it. I've kind of been of two minds with that, either she will if stuff like that consistently happens or else she won't… I'm not sure yet, lol, it's something I can't quite decide. But great you gave two thumbs up for Julia and Beckett sensing something was wrong with each other in the chapter, I do like writing their connection. And I was really happy to see you're so eager to get to Skye and Mary next, lol since I also like writing them. And of course, I'm very happy to see you thought it was great writing as usual!) and
vetgirlmx (Great you thought it was a really good chapter of course. And yeah they had a lot to do today, lol. And I'm not surprised you weren't they went to a haunted house but I definitely had to include this one 'cause it's a big haunted house and I've been there and it's just… creepy the vibe you get there. But yeah, they do love doing that though they usually get into some kind of trouble with the spirits. And I figured that after so much time they'd get comfortable with the connection between Beckett and Julia as it's a normal thing as you mentioned. And glad you think it's a good thing since Julia's having nightmares. Not surprised you thought Beckett would have one too after what she went through that day. And I wasn't surprised you loved May and Luke showing up at the party, since I knew you liked them in the other chapter. That's why I had them go to the party as a surprise, the dinner wasn't enough as you'd mentioned. I was so happy to read your reaction to Paul going to the LA party since I do want readers to enjoy reading about him too. And nope, not trying to kill you, just wanting to entice you and the other readers to want to keep reading so I'm very pleased that I managed to do that with you as you said you can't wait to see that! But in the mean time I hope you'll enjoy this chapter and what I've got happening in it!).
Thanks so much for the reviews, they were fun to read and I am grateful for the time taken to write them and send them to me!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Any Road by George Harrison, from his album Brainwashed.
Any Road Will Take You
"That'll be breakfast," Castle commented as he heard the knock on the door to the suite. He went to open it and watched as two employees stepped inside with their food, setting it out on the table next to the window. He tipped them when they'd finished and were walking out before he locked the door behind them. "Hopefully you're hungry," he said as he went to the table to find Luke pouring out two cups of coffee.
"Thirsty at the moment," the man replied.
"We're not tired," May said as Castle sat down. "More we're thinking about having to go back to work."
"I guess you're jealous of us," Beckett said teasingly to her.
"Oh, wildly," May replied. "No, I need to get back anyways we're nearly finished with the last edits on the video."
"We're insanely eager to see it," Castle said as he cut a piece of his omelet off with his fork.
"Your daughter too I'd guess," May said. "I am too; I've only been watching clips up until now."
"Do you get to see it first?" Beckett asked.
"We have to watch it all together," May said. "To see if anything needs to be fixed. It's more for business, not so much for entertainment." She took a sip of her coffee and said, "Then we watch it a second time for entertainment."
"I would do the same," Castle said with a laugh.
"So how are you Kate?" May asked her friend. When she looked at her with slightly wide eyes she explained, "Just something in the way you were when we came in."
Beckett nodded, as she wasn't surprised she'd given that away, and she finally explained what had happened the day before at the Winchester and her nightmare that night.
"That's…" May started to say before her husband was taking her hand. "I'm fine," she told him. "I've had almost that same dream."
"That doesn't surprise me," Beckett said, looking at her husband as he looked startled to hear that. "I would imagine that a lot of women dream about that. But I'm better."
"Hopefully Mrs. Winchester stays here at the house," Luke commented.
"She will," Castle said firmly. "How's your food?"
"Very good," May said. "You do realize this is a fairly upper-class hotel, right?"
"You never know," Castle said before they laughed. "But it is good."
"Since we're apparently talking about food now," Beckett said, finishing her bite of her omelet. "What can you suggest in Solvang?"
"Solvang Restaurant," Luke and May said at the same time. They looked at each other with slightly wide eyes before they laughed and the latter spoke first.
"It's got some great Danish food that you might like," May said.
"Plus American if you're chicken," Luke added. When he saw his wife was looking at him he said, "What?"
Rolling her eyes May then said, "If you want an actual dish suggestion I had the Danish sausage croissant sandwich; sort of a mix of the two. Luke had the Danish style meatballs."
"There's more on the menu," the man said with a smile. "And in the end it's good."
"That's all we want to know," Beckett said with a smile at her friend. "We'll find everything else out ourselves."
"Except the address for the restaurant, I can give it to you," Luke said.
"You have it?" Beckett asked in surprise.
"I do," Luke said. "Stored with the other places I've searched but I remember the street name; Copenhagen."
"A lot of what you want to see is going to be on Alisal, perpendicular to Copenhagen right?" May asked her husband. When he nodded she said to Castle and Beckett, "A lot of stores there but you're going to like the architecture too."
"And yes, I did enjoy it myself," Luke said with a smile. "It works with the heritage of the town."
"But that's all you'll say?" Castle asked them.
"Are you two going anywhere special in LA?" May said in response as she smiled.
"There I figured we should just see what we felt like doing," Castle said to his wife, not surprised when she looked at him questioningly.
"Disneyland?" Luke suggested.
"You know," Castle said when his wife opened her mouth. As she looked at him in surprise he said, "Skye wanted us to go to the Queen Mary. But I'm realizing that's a risk."
"Rick-" Beckett started to say in slight annoyance.
"It is," Castle said. He expected the couple with them to look perplexed and when he saw they were he explained quickly what had happened to Skye on the ship. "If that happens to Kate…"
"You don't think she'd be able to shake it," May interrupted.
"He thinks I'm weakened by what happened with Mrs. Winchester," Beckett commented wryly.
"I wouldn't risk it," Luke said. He wasn't surprised when the others immediately looked at him and he told them, "I don't know if I believe that but you know what you experienced Kate. Think of your daughters; your husband; what would happen if it did something to you… something serious."
Sighing Beckett said, "Then what would we do? And I don't know if we should try Disneyland."
"That's true," Castle said, knowing she was thinking about the idea that if she was pregnant after their nights together since starting their trip it'd be a risk. "Then… I was going to say that other park she mentioned."
"Knott's?" May suggested. When the two nodded she smiled and said, "That would be too and I'd suggest you wait for that one."
"We'll find something else," Castle told her as he knew May was thinking about him and Beckett trying to conceive as well. "Wait until we see Skye and Mary; they'll know where we can go."
Since they'd finished their food at that point the two couples got up so they could clear the table. When everything was ready they decided to say goodbye to each other there instead of out at their cars.
"Keep in touch with me," May said as she was hugging Beckett as tightly as she could. "And text me when you get to L.A."
"We will," Beckett assured her before they parted. She smiled and said, "It was great to see you again."
"It was," May replied. "When you come out here again for that road trip stay longer though. And bring your girls I want our kids to get the chance to play together."
"Come out to the beach house," Beckett said simply. When her friend nodded they embraced one final time before they parted and she shook Luke's hand.
"I'll take care of her," the man said before she could say anything. "Don't worry."
Smiling Beckett said, "Thank you. And it was great to see you too."
Shaking May's hand and then Luke's, Castle said, "I'll agree with what my wife said, it was great to see you again and thank you for the lunch."
"You're welcome, watch out for her," May said, nodding to Beckett with a smile.
"I will," Castle said, smiling himself at his wife.
With that the couples left and they went out to their cars, waving to each other before they drove to the freeway and separated, Castle and Beckett heading south while Luke and May made their way back north.
"So," Castle said once they'd reached the 101. "If you see any place you want to stop just tell me."
"I will," Beckett replied. She was looking out the window as she'd spoken before she felt a hand on hers and she looked at him saying, "What?"
"Maybe we could still go to the Queen Mary," Castle replied.
"Oh, now you're remembering I wanted to go," Beckett said with a smile. "And we'll see; we need to talk to Skye about that."
"And Mary," Castle replied.
"I get the feeling she'd tell us not to," Beckett said. "But I wonder if Skye would honestly listen to her."
Castle shrugged and smiled as his wife laughed and he watched her turn on the radio before starting to play some music. He had no idea how long he was driving but he couldn't help admiring the landscape they were passing until he realized they were at a beach town. "Here?" he asked. "And how long have we been here?"
"It's been almost three and a half hours," Beckett replied, smiling at his second question. "And this is good." She watched him pull to the side of the road, past the crowded beaches they'd seen on the way, and she got out first. "I see why so many people are in the water," she said to her husband once he'd come around the car. "It's a beautiful day."
"Them too," Castle said. He wasn't surprised when his wife looked at him in confusion and he nodded over at the beach below them they could see better since they were out of the car.
Turning around to it Beckett's mouth opened slightly when she spotted the sea lions that were sunning on the sand before she stopped and smiled. "The girls are going to hate they couldn't come with us," she said to her husband softly.
"Oh, I know," Castle replied, keeping his voice low as well. "Let's go closer."
"I don't think we can go that far," Beckett said though she allowed her husband to pull her down to it. They got as close as they felt was safe; about fifty feet away from the closest animal; and she immediately started to take pictures of them until she felt her husband touching her arm. "Send that after they go home from the dance class," she told him as she turned to him.
"Why am I not surprised you guessed?" Castle said in amusement as he was holding his phone. When she just smirked at him he held the phone up and focused on them before taking the shot. As soon as he lowered his arm he bent to his wife and kissed her, doing so as hard as he could before he felt her holding onto him tightly.
"Oh god…" Beckett breathed out heavily when they'd finally parted and looked over at the sea lions.
"I don't think… they cared," Castle replied as he pressed a kiss to her temple in between his words. "I love you," he said seriously.
Smiling at his tone of voice Beckett said softly, "I love you too." They came together in a kiss again but as opposed to the one before it they were a lot gentler until they eventually parted. "Sit with me?" she asked him.
"Of course," Castle said before they sat right where they stood, facing the sea lions so they could watch them. He wrapped his arm around her when she leaned against him and kissed her temple again before he murmured, "This is great; I'd be able to stay here for hours."
"Me too," Beckett said with a smile. "But I think we should keep going."
"True," Castle said slowly. He smiled before saying, "If we didn't have another near three hours on the road I'd say let's stay."
"I would have too but don't forget we only have about an hour to Solvang and lunch," Beckett replied. She felt her husband starting to move and she reached out to him quickly to stop him. As he looked at her she leaned over to him and they kissed gently before she suddenly deepened it; wanting to desperately. Their tongues rolled together frantically for a while and when they parted she murmured, "Remember I said I love you."
"I remember," Castle assured her. He couldn't help grinning slightly before he told her, "I remember every time since the first time you said that to me."
Beckett kissed him again before she slowly pulled away and said, "Let's go."
Though he wanted to keep her there for a little longer Castle realized he wouldn't be able to and he stood with her. Walking over to the car he had to wait to get in and in the driver's seat he set up the GPS with the address Luke had sent to them. When it was ready he drove down the 101 again, leaving the beach behind as they made their way a little more inland and south again.
"How cute," Beckett said as they passed the windmill that was on the street. "Definitely in Solvang now."
"I know," Castle replied before he turned down the street the restaurant was on. He heard his stomach growling loudly and swore slightly before telling his wife, "Sorry."
"No, I'm the same," Beckett told him with a smile as she watched him. "There it is," she said when she saw the name of the restaurant they were near.
"Think you'll get something Danish or play it safe?" Castle asked after he'd parked.
Waiting until they were out of the car Beckett said, "Something Danish which I know you'll be doing."
Castle merely nodded before they went into the building where they were seated at a booth, sitting on the same side together. He read over the menu and said, "Not too much Danish."
"There's enough," Beckett replied. "You don't see anything?"
Reading the menu for a little longer Castle closed it and said, "I did."
Beckett shook her head, smiling, before she turned her attention to the menu and made a choice herself. After they'd ordered their drinks and food she commented, "We both got the same."
"It looked good," Castle said.
"Have you ever been to Denmark?" Beckett asked then.
"I did, once, a long time ago," Castle replied. "And Copenhagen is a beautiful city. Would you want to go?"
Smiling Beckett said, "Again with possible trips."
"I can't see how we couldn't talk about that here," Castle pointed out.
Beckett had to nod as he was right; the buildings were largely Danish in architecture so it wasn't hard to imagine themselves in the country. She then said, "Tell me what you're thinking."
"Something like the road trip we're thinking of taking here," Castle told her. "But through Europe."
"Continental Europe?" Beckett asked.
Castle was a little surprised at how quickly she had answered and without seeming to be perturbed. It took him a moment before he said, "We could go to the UK… and Ireland; by Chunnel and boat still counts."
Smiling Beckett said, "That sounds like a great idea and if you're wondering why my response was what it was it's because I've thought that myself."
"Really?" Castle asked, a wide smile on his face.
"Really," Beckett replied, smiling at him widely. She then said, "But that we should wait for."
"Our tenth?" Castle asked. He wasn't surprised at the look on his wife's face and he said, "I know, it's hard to believe that but we'll get there."
"We will," Beckett said, unable to help smile lovingly at him as they held hands tightly. They gazed at each other for a moment before she shook herself and said, "But I think that will be a good year for it."
"Leave Ireland last?" Castle asked.
"Leave it last and do you want to take a ferry?" Beckett said.
Castle couldn't answer as their food was being served and he waited until they were alone again to say, "It'd be a romantic prelude to the wedding."
Biting her lower lip as she didn't want to laugh at the sentiment that statement had Beckett said, "And then what, a train ride?" When she saw the way her husband's eyes lit up she laughed. "Keep that in mind."
"Thank you," Castle said appreciatively before they started on their creamed herring sandwiches. "Oh… you know I was a little unsure about this," he told his wife after they'd eaten their first bites. "But I change my mind, it works."
"The bread?" Beckett asked in amusement as she watched him studying the slice of pumpernickel on the top. "Eat Rick we don't have that much time."
"Right," Castle said before he turned his attention back to his food and took another bite.
The two were largely quiet as they were focusing on finishing their food and once they had they left together, walking down the street hand in hand.
"How far do you want to go? It looks like there were some places on Mission where we came in," Castle asked her.
"Not far, we should leave most of it for when we have the girls with us," Beckett replied. She stopped as they'd come to a store with various Danish items and she said, "Just a couple."
"Ice cream?" Castle asked.
Beckett laughed softly and said, "Why do you ask? You're a grown man Rick." She wasn't surprised when he lowered and raised his eyebrows at her and she said, "I'm getting some."
"Great, me too," Castle said before he followed her into the store hurriedly.
There were many knick knacks and other items that Castle and Beckett passed by before they stopped at some books.
"Cookbook or Solvang?" Beckett asked her husband in amusement as she was watching him.
"Solvang, that way they get a preview," Castle replied simply as he picked up the kid's book about the city.
Beckett smiled gently as she watched him flip through it before they went over the rest of the store until they had seen everything. They only had the book and she waited for him to pay at the door before he came back to her. "I saw a store down the street," she told him once they were outside.
"You were cheating," Castle said jokingly.
"You're right, how awful of me," Beckett said, not surprised when her husband wrapped his arm around her. She let him hold her close for a moment before they went to the store she'd spotted.
"Much the same," Castle said, glancing around. "We shouldn't get them one of these?" he asked as he pointed to some Danish girl dresses.
"I don't think they'd want it," Beckett replied.
Castle considered the dresses for a moment before he nodded and said, "Yeah, you're right. Want to go?"
"Yes, we need to get the ice cream now," Beckett said.
Looking at his wife Castle saw she was serious and he nodded before together they left the store and he quickly got the address of the nearest ice cream shop. He took her hand once they knew the number and went down to it where he led her hurriedly inside. "Interesting flavors," he commented as they were waiting in line.
"I'm getting chocolate covered strawberry," Beckett said.
"Me too," Castle replied. "It sounds great," he explained to his wife. "The Santa Barbara strawberries," he further said as she still was looking at him. "They're fresh. And that's another city we should go to."
"Okay," Beckett said laughingly before she nodded. When they ordered she watched her husband pick out a waffle cone before she got the same and when they left she said, "We're definitely swimming tonight," as the two scoops in the cone were large.
"I was planning on that even if we hadn't gotten dessert," Castle replied. "I really want to," he added before he tasted the ice cream.
"Well," Beckett began to say after she'd finished tasting hers as well. "If the strawberries are like this…" she said jokingly, smiling at him.
"That's what I was thinking," Castle said. "Walk back to the car?"
"Yes," Beckett said with a nod as she suddenly wanted to get to Santa Monica.
Walking back to where they'd parked their car the two ate their ice cream, leaning against the side of it to finish as they watched the people walking by and the buildings. Finishing the dessert, they climbed into the car and they were soon on the freeway again, heading fully into Southern California as afternoon approached.
"Hullo, hullo again," Skye said with a smile as she walked over to where Castle and Beckett were coming out of the car. "Nice drive?"
"Some traffic," Castle commented.
"We couldn't really appreciate that but it isn't your fault of course," Beckett told her quickly. She smiled and hugged her friend as tightly as she could telling her, "It's great to see you again."
"Fab to see you," Skye replied. "How're you doing?"
Remembering that the woman knew what had happened to her in San Jose, Beckett nodded after they'd let go of each other and said, "I'm fine now, she didn't follow."
"I'd hope so," Skye said with a slight nod. "Rick, how're you?"
"Good," Castle said, shaking her hand firmly. "Thanks for having us over."
"You didn't tell her, did you?" Skye asked in amusement.
"Tell me what?" Beckett said as she looked between the two.
"I… got us my suite at the hotel again," Castle said, glancing at the investigator before at his wife.
"Just for a night," Skye said. "You can bring your bags into the guest house."
Watching her go Beckett looked at her husband and said, "One night."
"I thought you'd want to stay in a 'home' better," Castle said, putting one word into air quotes.
"You're right but thank you for the suite again," Beckett said. "Tonight?"
"Yeah," Castle replied. "I wanted to be here when the parties and signings started."
"Okay, let's get our bags and get what we need for tonight," Beckett replied.
"We need to check in now," Castle said as they were walking to the guest house where the investigator was waiting at a door. "And… take Skye with us."
"Oh?" Beckett asked, her eyebrow slightly raised.
"I'm not spending the night," Skye called as she'd heard them. "None of that. Mary and the kids are already at the Promenade; we can walk over there after."
"I had a feeling," Beckett said to her as the investigator unlocked the door and they went inside. "Thank you," she said to her husband.
"I've thanked myself," Castle replied. He smiled when his wife looked at him questioningly and said, "I always wanted to get back to that suite."
Nodding Beckett went upstairs with him and quickly grabbed what she would need before she paused with her makeup bag. "What time was the signing again?" she asked Castle.
"At one," he replied. "Check out is at twelve but we can eat lunch on the Promenade before we head to the bookstore."
"I'll be with you two," Skye said, calling up from the bottom floor. She smiled when the two soon came down the stairs with a carryon suitcase and said, "I've nothing to do until I get called in. To tell you the truth I took off the rest of your tour just in case."
"That reminds me," Castle said as they left and he locked the door with the key Skye had given him. "What about the plans to go to the Queen Mary?"
"No," the investigator said, looking at her friend. "Sorry Kate but I wouldn't be that good of a friend if you went there."
"You think something would happen to me?" Beckett asked her.
"Aye," Skye said as they got into the rental car with her driving since she knew the way already. "I suppose I could distract any spirits that might want to make a jump on you but honestly I'd be risking myself then."
"Better not to risk that," Beckett said. "So I guess my husband is looking to you to think of something else to do."
With a smile Skye nodded before she said, "There's Olvera Street."
"I've been there," Castle said quickly. "First street in LA and they have some really good Mexican food."
"They do and there's Union Station which in itself is a sight to see," Skye replied. "But there's a problem."
"Pico House?" Beckett pointed out. She wasn't surprised when her friend and husband looked at her and told them, "I remember the episode. We should try another place; not haunted preferably."
"Let me have a think on that and I'll get back to you," Skye replied as they were reaching the hotel Castle and Beckett had stayed at when they'd gone to LA together. "This is it?" she asked her friend in Russian as they were in the lobby waiting for Castle to check in.
"It is, there are two bedrooms so we slept apar-" Beckett started to say.
"Could take both rooms now," Skye interrupted her. She laughed when her friend shoved her aside and said, "Already going through your head wasn't it?"
Beckett pretended to glare at her before she said, "I did but please don't talk about it with him."
"Why?" Skye asked, looking at her in confusion.
"I want him to be the one to suggest it," Beckett replied.
"You need that," Skye corrected her. She smiled when Beckett sighed and told her, "Can be powerful in arousing you."
"How'd you learn that word?" Beckett asked.
Shrugging Skye said, "Mary wanted me to speak authentic Russian, arousal, arousing, she liked the way they sounded."
"Okay, we're ready to go up love," Castle said as he walked up to them.
"Is that bellman you'd mentioned here?" Skye asked.
"Maurice; and he went to San Francisco," Castle said. "The Fairmont there."
"Oh, good hotel," Skye said.
"That's his protégée, Mitchum," Castle said, nodding towards the man that was waiting for them with their bag.
"This should be good," Skye said before they walked after the bellman.
Castle watched as the investigator talked to the man during their ride up, surprised that Mitchum had heard of him and Beckett; because of their previous stay and the assistance they'd provided to the LAPD. He glanced at his wife, not surprised when she smiled at him and they stepped out at their floor.
Beckett wasn't taken aback by the strong sense of déjà vu that hit her when the bellman opened the door. Though it had been eight years before she could still remember vividly when she'd walked into the suite the first time. The one difference though she immediately noticed was a vase of coral roses and she glanced at her husband who was busy tipping the bellman and thanking him for his help.
"I feel like a right third wheel," Skye said. "I'll be out in the hall."
"No," Castle said quickly, trying to stop her. But he hadn't spoken fast enough and the investigator was closing the door behind her. He sighed and said, "So."
A smile playing at the corners of her lips Beckett said, "We should go; I hate to think of her out there on her own when she's having us stay at her home the rest of our time here."
Castle nodded and he swiftly set the carryon in the bedroom where he'd stayed the time before. Going to his wife he took her hand before they left the suite and he said to Skye, "That's all the time we needed."
Smiling at them Skye said, "Let's go," before she led the way down to the lobby. They walked out of the hotel to the Promenade, texting her wife on her phone at the same time. "They're at the bookstore," she said in amusement. "I should have known. Let's meet them there."
As it was essentially the middle of the week there weren't too many people walking around and the three were able to head to the bookstore rapidly where they went inside and split up. Skye went to find her family in the kids' books while Castle and Beckett went upstairs to the fiction section. They went to the beginning of the books there and began to look together over the tomes that were available until they found something at nearly the same time and turned to show the other what they had.
"You realize we can't take back that much," Beckett said as she looked up at him once she'd read the back of the book that he'd found.
"I know," Castle replied. "Yours sounds good."
"Thank you but you can get a book," Beckett replied. "I think we should try to limit it to that though."
"So you'll just be following me?" Castle asked as he walked down the shelves.
"I should," Beckett replied with a smile as he glanced back at her. "I'm sure they'll want to go eat when we join them."
Castle looked around the fiction shelves but couldn't find anything else before he went over to the mystery books. "Did you see ours?" he asked his wife as he pointed out the tome on a stack in between two sets of bookshelves.
"I did when we came up, you walked right by it," Beckett teased him.
"I thought you were eager to look around," Castle replied.
With a smile Beckett squeezed his hand before she watched him looking around the other books with the mystery tomes. She eventually turned and walked over to where their book was, studying the cover to see how it looked from a distance. It had a set of steps on it with a mask and a dagger with blood up to the hilt on it. She wasn't sure why but when their first book's cover had been designed he'd urged their publisher to let her work with the artist who would be photographing it. She'd been a little annoyed but finally had picked out a design that the man had set up; along with a backup just in case the first was going to be turned down. She went back to Castle, recalling vividly when she'd received the first copy of the design in the mail to show him.
"Hey love," Castle said, looking up at his wife as she walked into their office. "Okay?" he asked.
"Fine, how's Eliza?" Beckett asked as he was holding their three-month-old baby on his lap.
"She's good, grabby, but good," Castle replied. He saw the manila envelope in her hand and asked, "Mail?"
"Partially; the rest was junk," Beckett replied. She pulled out what was inside, holding it out to her husband and waiting to see what he would say.
Castle didn't say anything before he took the picture and studied it as he held it away from Eliza's hand that was trying to hold onto it. Finally, he looked up at his wife and said, "This is it."
"You like it?" Beckett said with a smile that was partly out of relief.
"It goes with the story perfectly," Castle said. "I'm glad I didn't let you tell me what you were going to put on it." He held the picture of their first cover out in front of him; a line of airplanes parked at a terminal at JFK that she'd taken before they'd left on their honeymoon slightly blurred; and then said, "It goes with the title too."
"I knew you'd see that," Beckett said in amusement, smiling again at him. She watched him set aside the cover and reached over to him to take their youngest saying, "That red haze isn't too on the nose?"
"It's not so obvious," Castle said. "And remember I'd have colors on my covers." When she nodded he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close to kiss her. He started out slowly before he deepened it and he held her securely against his chest before he felt something hitting it. "Okay," he said when they abruptly parted and looked down at their daughter. "I guess she doesn't like the lack of attention," he said as Beckett kissed the baby's temple.
"I don't think that's it," Beckett replied wryly. "More we were about to crush her in between us."
"I wouldn't do that," Castle said, smiling. He leaned down when his wife looked up at him and he brushed his lips against hers before saying, "Should we head outside?"
"I think so," Beckett replied. She was about to leave the room with him when she paused and looked at the cover on the shelf in front of the bookcase. "Let me text Jay," she told her husband who was watching her.
Taking Eliza back Castle asked, "He's okay with it?"
"He will be," Beckett said seriously before she looked at her husband and they shared a smile. When she had managed to text the publisher, she set aside her phone not needing it as she walked with him outside to the beach.
"Hello, it's great to see you guys again," Beckett was saying to the twins as she embraced them with a smile. "Did you find any books?"
"A couple," Marie said first. "Did you?"
"A couple," Castle replied, holding up the bag that he had. "What are we doing next?"
"Mummy says we can go eat," Kathleen said excitedly as she rocked back and forth on her feet. She paused and asked, "How are Julia and Eliza?"
"They're fine, they wish they could have come but you all have school of course," Castle told them.
"We're going to talk to them tomorrow if you want to talk to them," Beckett said to the two.
"Okay," the twins said together. Their mothers came over to them and they went to take their hands before Skye was talking to the couple.
"Do you mind British for dinner?" the investigator asked them.
"No," Castle and Beckett said at the same time, making the twins laugh softly.
"Then follow us, we're a block away," Skye told them. After a while Kathleen; who was holding her hand; let go of her and walked over to where Castle was ahead of her. She glanced at Beckett as she slowed down to walk with her and she asked, "Two by two?"
"I guess so," Beckett replied. She knew her friend was looking at her so she asked, "What?"
"No just making sure you're alright," Skye said. She looked ahead of them and began to speak in Russian asking, "Any sign?"
"I think that's why I connected with her," Beckett said simply. She was relieved when her friend only nodded as she was a little tired of talking about herself not being pregnant yet. She felt a little awkward with the silence between them; as the others ahead of them were all talking; so she said, "What about you? Can you take a week off?"
"Oh don't worry," Skye said. "If it's big enough they'll still call me in. For now minor events will go to others at the office." She smiled and said, "Quite nice to be off."
"I remember," Beckett said. "I hope you can stay off," she told her.
"Me too," Skye said. "Not just for myself. And here we are."
Beckett looked ahead of them to a building on the corner where she saw the others were stopping to wait for them. "Ye Olde King's Head?" she asked.
"I told you it was British remember," Skye told her.
"It's really good," Mary said as she had heard that. "I would try their tikka masala."
"That's what she's getting," Skye said before they went inside with her leading the way.
"Hello again Skye," the woman behind the counter next to the door said with a smile.
"Hullo yourself Jessie," Skye replied, smiling back. "Got six today."
"Alright… family?" the woman asked, glancing at Beckett first.
"Friends, we decided to bring them here since they haven't been before," Skye said as they were walking over to the tables.
"I hope you'll enjoy," Jessie said as they were sitting around the large booth together.
"I think I'm taking your advice," Castle said as he glanced at the menu rapidly.
"The masala?" Mary asked. When he nodded she smiled and looked at her wife.
"Oh… the bangers and mash I think," Skye said. "You don't need to be following me in that."
"You do a really great Irish accent," Beckett said as the investigator was pointing to her playfully with her fork. She smiled when Skye groaned and said, "It does sound good."
"Mommy, Mummy?" Marie said.
"Yes girls?" the two women said together.
"Could we go to the beach?" Kathleen asked.
"We'll see; they'd like to come back with us home to swim before they go to their hotel for the night," Skye answered, nodding to Castle and Beckett.
"Maybe another night," Mary told the girls. "How's the suite?" she asked Castle and Beckett.
"The same as we remember it," Beckett said first, not surprised when her husband had a hard time speaking. They ordered so she held off on saying anything else until finally they were alone again and she asked, "Are you planning on going back to the Promenade?"
"I don't think so," Mary said first. "All they wanted to see was the bookstore. You two?"
"We're coming back tomorrow," Castle said first.
"We're going to have lunch here so we'll probably go around then," Beckett added.
"Then we can go home and swim," Marie said happily.
"That we can," Skye replied. "But your bedtime is still the same," she directed to the girls. "Not going to change that since Rick and Kate are here."
"At least we'll still be able to swim," Castle told them as the twins didn't look very happy at that news.
"He's right," Mary said as she looked at the waitress that was coming over with their food. "For now eat but slowly."
"We will," the twins said at the same time.
Laughing together the group turned their attention to the meal and started to eat before they talked again, discussing what Castle and Beckett would do around the city during their time there.
"I was going to remind you to leave your bathing suit here," Castle told his wife as they had finished changing into their swim suits in their room at the McDouglases.
"I remembered," Beckett said simply as she finished putting on her sundress over her bikini. "Ready?" she asked as he was watching her. She rolled her eyes when he just nodded and she went to him, grabbing his hand and pulling him after her.
"You're too rough love," Castle said before they went down the stairs together.
"Sometimes I need to be," Beckett said, smiling a little at him. They left the guesthouse and walked over to the pool. Seeing they were the first there she set her towel on a chair and took off her dress before she dove right into the deep end. The water was warm and when she resurfaced she wasn't surprised to find her husband had already jumped in himself.
"Wow, they're lucky," Castle said once he was above the water again.
"We can swim," Beckett pointed out.
"We've been busy," Castle replied. He couldn't help feeling a little guilty and he said, "But we'll spend more time with them."
"They know we will," Beckett said, not surprised at what he was feeling. She was going to speak again when she heard voices and looked over to see that it was the McDouglases. Swimming over to the steps she went up them until she was on the top one and she called to the family, "You're a little slow."
"Someone forgot where their trunks were," Mary replied, looking at her wife.
"How's the water?" Skye asked to deflect from that.
"Great," Castle said simply. "What're you going to do though?"
"Swim," Kathleen said in surprise.
"That's it?" Castle asked her.
"What else do you want them to do?" Skye asked.
"I think he wants to play with them," Beckett said in amusement as the two girls rushed over to the steps and went down them past her.
"He's missing the girls?" Mary asked as she and her wife stepped down into the water.
"Of course," Beckett replied. "So am I," she added as she stepped down into the water herself after them.
"You don't have that much time left," Skye told her, standing next to her.
"It's still too much," Beckett said, looking at her friend in surprise.
"Oh, who am I kidding?" Skye said. "I miss them like crazy myself, even if I'm only up the coast." She smiled and said, "I suppose that means we're quite good parents."
"It does," Castle said, walking over to them. "Believe me when I say that from experience."
"He's right," Beckett commented as Mary was swimming to them. "He did miss Alexis when she went on trips herself."
"How about when she was older?" Mary asked as Skye was swimming after their daughters.
"She went around to colleges," Castle replied, sitting on the top step next to his wife. "And of course I missed her."
"Might have been worse since you knew she'd need to go away for that," Mary suggested.
"That might be it," Castle replied. "Since I miss her a lot now."
"How's she doing? Just her and Louis watching the girls," Mary asked them.
"She's enjoying it I think," Beckett replied. "Rick," she said when her husband looked at her. "She does want to be a mother eventually."
"I know," Castle replied quickly. "I was about to agree with you; and thank you for saying eventually."
Mary laughed and said, "Alexis is a smart girl, I hope she'll enjoy her last year at Oxford."
"Things won't get too crazy there will they?" Castle asked Skye as she walked to them while the twins were splashing each other in front of them.
"Do you want them to or not?" Beckett said to him before the investigator could reply.
"I'm torn," Castle said simply.
"I'm sure she'll take it easy," Skye replied when they looked at her. "But you realize it's been quite some time since I was there before graduating; I have no idea what they might have after finals."
"Trust your daughter," Mary said.
"I do," Castle said. "I think I'm just eager for the year to be over; though she hasn't even started yet."
"A natural feeling," Mary told him reassuringly. "So I guess they just want to play with each other," she said as they looked over at the twins.
"Give them some time love," Skye said to her wife. "Come on; let's do a bit of swimming before they get bored."
"Okay?" Castle asked his wife when they were alone.
"I am, I'm watching them," Beckett said, glancing over at the twins. "I suppose in my way I'm working out missing Julia and Eliza."
Castle laughed slightly at the tone of her voice and he had to resist leaning down and kissing her before they heard the twins walking over to them through the water. "All done?" he asked them.
"Splashing," Marie said first. "Do you want to play now?"
"What've you got?" Castle asked them. He watched them get up and go over to a chest before he told his wife, "I'm guessing volleyball."
"You may be wrong," Beckett said with a smile.
Turning to look Castle got out of the pool when he saw that the two were trying to take something out that was tall for them. "What's this?" he asked them as he picked it up, feeling the weight on the bottom of it.
"You can't tell?" Marie asked with a smile up at him.
"We have to jump through the hoops?" Castle guessed. He smiled when the twins giggled at him and said, "Get the balls that go with this and we can get started."
Standing up as her husband was bringing the plastic disc toss into the pool Beckett looked over at the girls who were coming over with some discs. "I think you were wrong love," she said to her husband.
"I'll have a better chance then," Castle said as he took one of the discs from Kathleen.
"I hope you realize it's still throwing," Skye called as she and Mary were making their way over to them.
"Stop moving," Kathleen said.
"Yeah, we need the water to be flat," Marie added.
"Okay," Castle said as they were standing with the others. "Who's first?"
"Our guests," Skye said.
"No, the girls," Beckett told them firmly. "Youngest to oldest."
"Great I can take a nap," Castle said.
"Don't move," Beckett said wryly as she took his arm before he could walk away. She watched with him as twins took turns throwing the discs and she applauded their efforts before she asked, "Do you keep score?"
"Not really; aim is the thing we want to focus on," Mary said to him. "Plus it makes it for fun; not a full out competition."
"You try," Marie said, handing him a disc.
"Alright, look out because I have no idea where this is going to go," Castle told them jokingly as he prepared to throw the disc.
When Skye looked at her Beckett rolled her eyes before they watched him throw and she wasn't surprised when he managed to get it through one of the rings. "I don't think we need to be worried," she told him wryly.
"Huh, I guess not," Castle said. He threw the next two before he went under the water to grab them and handed them over to Mary who went next. Standing with Beckett he said, "Think the girls would like this?"
"I don't think so," she said slowly. "They might prefer having what we already have; they love volleyball."
"As long as it's in the water," Castle said in amusement.
Beckett nodded before she took the discs from Skye who had thrown and she took aim herself, getting the three discs into the loops. "Okay," she said with a smile as the twins clapped for her. "That's a fun game."
"We should stop," Skye said since she'd already gone. "And swim again; you two have bedtime soon."
Castle jumped ahead of himself into the water after his wife and smiled briefly when the twins groaned at their mother's words. "That sounds so familiar," he said as he and Beckett were in the deep end.
"I noticed," Beckett said, smiling at him. "How long do you want to stay?"
Shaking his head Castle said, "It's up to you."
"Not too long after their girls are in bed," Beckett said.
Nodding Castle ducked underneath the water with her before they pushed off the wall and swam back to the shallow end together, resurfacing and doing the freestyle until they had reached everyone else.
