Genre: Crime, Drama, Family, Romance, Humor
Rating: M for violence, language and sexual situations
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: Okay, so this is the Epilogue of the story, which means it is completed of course, but I do already have the ninth story of this series ready to go. So it'll be up in a few days if anyone wants to read it!
A/N #2: I was very happy to get what I did by way of feedback for the last chapter, so let me get straight to the thank yous! vetgirlmx (Was glad to see you liked the chapter, both halves of it. And wasn't surprised what you said about Julia picking up on something happening to Beckett. I would have said in my reply to your last review that you were right, lol, but didn't want to give it away yet. And I don't know how long it takes before parents have to stop making stuff up to their kids, but hopefully not before they turn ten, as I'm with you, wouldn't want to have to write Castle and Beckett doing that with Julia just yet. And thanks for noticing when Julia was asking what she was like when she was a baby, wasn't sure it would get a mention from anyone. But I had thought of Julia asking that 'cause kids do ask their parents at some point about that, and had the idea that Beckett would be prepared for that, so was glad to see you liked that. Relieved that you're not surprised it's Castle that's struggling with what happened to Beckett, I had wondered what readers would think of it so was nice to read your reaction to that. Lol, I had to laugh at what you said about them almost being interrupted by Julia. Really, I swear I would have had them go to Beckett's room if I hadn't had Julia come out, lol, and locks would have been employed too, so I agree with what you say about locks, they need to be used and they will be in my stories I promise, lol. Not too surprised you want to see what they do with their time now they're finished with the case, and you're right, they did earn the break. But glad you want to read more of this story!), wendykw (Wasn't too surprised reading your review, or that you want them to be open too. I would imagine a lot of the readers of my series are thinking the same too) and pcol22 (Happy to see you enjoyed the last chapter as well. And I was glad to explain why he picked out Beckett, I was glad to have remembered to do that, lol, or else I'm sure you would have wondered. Did love seeing that you want to read more, always am happy to see that!). So thanks to those of you again who sent me a review, loved reading them and am so grateful for you taking the time to send them to me, as always!
A/N #3: Want to say thank you to everyone who's been reading this story- and who will read this Epilogue as well- plus those that favorited and followed, and the same to those who sent me reviews as I was posting it, I definitely appreciate all of that! And thanks to anyone who might read or review this story in the future, will appreciate that too I assure you!
A/N #4: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song The Answer's at the End by George Harrison, from his album Extra Texture (Read All About It).
Often In Your Heart
"Now what do I do?" Julia was asking as Castle set the last item on the tray in the kitchen.
"You can wake her up," he replied as he knew she had been wanting to since they'd started making breakfast. "Don't forget your flowers," Castle said quickly as he got them from the counter.
"Thank you," Julia said as she ran to him to take them. She beckoned him down to her and when he was close enough, kissed his cheek quickly before hurrying to Castle's room; she and her mother staying there the night before. She slowed down inside the bedroom, seeing her mother was still asleep and on her side, facing away from her. She padded over the carpet, trying to be as quiet as possible before she reached the other side. "Mommy," she whispered, touching her arm through the covers.
At the sound, Beckett's eyes blinked opened quickly and she looked at her daughter, a little worried before she saw that Julia had a wide smile on her face. "Morning sweetie, how come you're up?" she asked as she sat up when the little girl started to climb up on the bed.
"'Cause it's Mother's Day," Julia said a little shyly. "This is for you Mommy. I bought it all by myself for you," she then said, her tone serious as she handed her mother the little vase of lilies of the valley and lilacs.
"Oh Julia, these are beautiful," Beckett said tenderly, touched at her daughter's gesture. "And you painted the vase yourself I see," she said when she saw the light blue vase had a green pattern on it. "Is that why you went with Castle to that place without me?"
"Yeah," Julia said, nodding her head. She watched as Beckett set the vase on the nightstand before gathering her up in her arms. She hugged her mother back tightly, snuggling into her embrace and feeling safe and warm as she always did. "I love you Mommy," she said, looking up at her. She became a little concerned when she saw the tears in Beckett's eyes and asked worriedly, "Are you sad or happy?"
"Very happy, and I love you Julia, so much," Beckett said, kissing her daughter's temple. She got her emotions under control and then said, "What's Castle doing?"
"He's waiting for the right time to serve breakfast," he said, coming into the room then with the tray in his hands. "Happy Mother's Day, I'm judging by the expression on your face Julia started it out pretty nicely."
"She did," Beckett said with a smile as she looked at the flowers next to them. "Am I eating on my own?" she asked as Julia moved so Castle could set the tray on her lap.
"No, but I can't bring everything at once," he answered.
"Do you need me to help?" Julia asked.
"Stay with your mom, I can handle the last two plates," Castle said, starting to turn to go. He was a little startled when Beckett grabbed his hand and he leaned over as she was pulling on the sleeve of his robe before they kissed. He had to wonder what their daughter was looking at then, but forgot about that as he and Beckett parted slowly and he looked into his fiancée's eyes, feeling a thrill go through him as they were half lidded in desire.
Opening her right eye just enough to see shapes in front of her, Julia whispered, "Can I look now?"
"Yes," Beckett laughed softly. "Did you help him with breakfast?"
"Yeah, he let me help with pancakes," Julia said quickly. "I told him to make them with lots of strawberries 'cause those are your favorites."
"He knows, but thank you for reminding him," Beckett said, running her hand over the back of Julia's head. "Are you excited for today?"
"Yes, but you need to be," Julia said, a slight frown on her face at that.
"I am, don't worry I am," Beckett replied. "But," she continued. "While this is Mother's Day, I want you to know I'm celebrating you too sweetie, because without you I would not be a mother."
Smiling shyly at that, Julia stood up on the bed and hugged her mother around the tray, kissing her cheek noisily before Castle came in.
"Hey come on, no standing on the bed," he said teasingly as Julia giggled and got on her knees again. "Sit down straight, or the chocolate's going to go all over the place," he told her as he handed her a plate, he went around to his side, sitting next to his fiancée before they began to eat.
"No paper?" Beckett asked with a smile after a while.
"I don't want to be rude," Castle said as they heard a noise coming from Julia.
"Sorry," Julia said sheepishly as she took the strawberry she was getting chocolate sauce off of out of her mouth.
"Eat the strawberry too," Beckett said in a slightly firm tone of voice. "So how are you with your book?" she directed to Castle.
"I'm okay," he began slowly. "I haven't written since last Friday, but rereading where I left off I know where I want to go next with things."
"Any closer to the end?" Beckett asked.
"Not really, I might have to go back and rewrite the beginning with Nikki arriving at the Hamptons. The opening isn't doing it for me," Castle said.
"Can I ask something?" Julia then piped up as the two were silent.
"Go ahead," Beckett said as they turned to her.
"When can we go to the Hamptons?" Julia asked.
"In a few weeks," Castle said. "Are you excited to go?"
"Yeah, I like the beach, it's right outside my window," Julia said happily.
"That was a great room to put her in," Beckett said. "Why didn't Alexis take one of those rooms?"
"Well it's only a beach house, and she's mostly outside when we go," Castle said with a shrug. "Same with my mom, though with her it was because her windows face west, so she won't get the sun in the mornings. I was thinking Julia."
"About what?" the little girl asked.
"When your mom and I get married, the beach house will be yours too, not just mine," Castle said.
"Really?" Julia asked, eyes a little wide.
"That's what happens when you become a family," Beckett said, wondering why that had startled her almost as much as it had their daughter. But she realized that she hadn't thought of that part of when she and Castle got married, since she hadn't been thinking that much about his possessions that she would partly have as his wife.
"Okay?" Castle asked when his fiancée suddenly shook.
"Yeah, sorry, just got a chill," Beckett said, pushing aside the quick shock hearing herself referring to herself as his wife. She had never really done that before, more comfortable using the phrase when they were married still. "What were you going to say after that?" she asked to keep him from worrying about her.
"You can decorate your room however you want sweetheart," Castle said to their daughter. "Actually, you can check out the room next door, see if you like that one better."
"No, I like that one, it's close to your room and the stairs and the door outside," Julia said quickly.
"No surprise there," Beckett said with a smile.
"You know that applies to our room," Castle said.
"How much could I decorate it?" Beckett asked slyly, looking at him out of the corner of her eye.
"Um, oh boy, I should have thought of that before I spoke," Castle said, looking concerned though he was only kidding.
"I don't want to change everything Castle," Beckett said simply. Smiling since their daughter was watching them and looking to be very close to laughing. "I would like to add some things of mine to decorate the room. But there is one thing I'd like to do that we'd need to agree on." When he shrugged after she paused, she then said, "The walls."
"Ah, yeah, that was my designer, she said purple and yellow evoked Rome… I think the emperors which made it masculine," Castle said.
"And you went along with it?" Beckett asked.
"Pretty much, really, I could have cared less since it was a summer home. But you know, since it's not going to be entirely my room anymore," Castle said. "I think you're right, the Lakers colors need to go."
"I didn't even think about that," Beckett said, laughing slightly as she held her hand up to her lips. "Did you?"
"Not until just now," Castle said slowly, not surprised when Julia laughed out loud. "What color or colors should we use?" he asked her.
A little surprised at the question, Julia bit her lower lip and said, "It's your room."
"True, then I should probably ask your mom huh?" Castle said. He smiled and reached over to ruffle her hair when she nodded seriously before looking at his fiancée.
"I think we have time to think about it," Beckett said. "In fact," she continued as Julia looked to be disappointed. "We should wait until we're actually there to talk about color choices. But I'm pretty sure I know what you'll choose."
Smiling widely, Julia said, "Yeah, the prettiest blue there is. And maybe green too."
"We'll see when we go, your mom's right," Castle said. "But that sounds like a nice color scheme. Now though, we're supposed to meet your grandfather at the museum."
"Did you manage to get the vase into your mom's room?" Beckett asked as they finished up their food.
"He did," a voice said from the doorway. The three looked up to see it was Martha, and she smiled as her son got off the bed, setting his plate on his nightstand.
"Happy Mother's Day," Castle said, kissing her cheek. "So I take it you liked the flowers?"
"I did, it was a little bit of a shock though," Martha replied. "To wake up suddenly and find the aroma of roses in your room. But it was a beautiful bouquet."
"Alexis and I picked the colors," Julia said as she hurried over to them after her mother had taken her plate. "Happy Mother's Day," she said while Martha was picking her up.
"Thank you darling and they were gorgeous roses," Martha replied. "I'll have to call Alexis later to thank her for the flowers too."
"I really wish I could have ordered her a ticket home, but unfortunately-" Castle started to say as he went to the bed to take the tray from Beckett since they were finished eating.
"She's nearing finals and she has a lot of last minute things for her classes," Martha said with a slight nod. "I know, but I'm seeing her at the end of the month, so I'm looking forward to that."
"Are you going with us or meeting us there?" Beckett asked as Castle and Julia left then with the tray and plates.
"I'll be tagging along with you. How are you doing?" Martha asked as Beckett walked up to her.
"Okay, I'm focusing on Julia, I just hope my dad will be okay," Beckett said. "I'm hoping if he and Julia go off together in the museum for a little it might help him."
"It should, I don't know who wouldn't be cheered immensely by Julia," Martha said, smiling with Beckett as they could hear the little girl laughing in the kitchen. "I should go get ready."
"I should check on them," Beckett said before they left the room. She went to Castle, who was at the sink with Julia sitting on the counter next to him. "Having fun?" she asked, seeing the water spots on the front of Julia's pajama shirt.
"Castle turned a fork the wrong way," the little girl giggled.
"And ended up getting myself more than her, so don't worry about her," Castle said.
"She needs to get dressed though," Beckett said, smiling as their daughter immediately held her arms out to her. She took her off the counter, but before she could go she grabbed the shoulder of Castle's robe, and pulled him down to her. Their kiss was gentle and quick, and as she walked away from him she ran her hand across his cheek before heading up the stairs.
Staring after her, Castle nearly dropped the plate he held in his wet hands, and he quickly turned his attention back to the sink. But he couldn't help but feel relieved that not only was Julia nearly talking as she normally did, but Beckett had come out of her near attack by the killer stronger than before. He shuddered as he couldn't help remember the fact that her kissing him was happening more often after that case, hoping she was feeling the same need to do that as he was since he didn't really want to stop doing that with her, enjoying it immeasurably.
"Okay, so we've got a lot to see," Beckett was telling Julia after they had walked into the Plaza entrance of the Met. "So you need to stay with us, and we'll all pick one collection like we always do, alright?"
"Can't we see everything like we did the first time?" Julia pleaded.
"I don't think we have time kiddo, but we should see some wonderful works still," Martha said.
"There's my dad," Beckett said, letting Julia run to him. "Hey Dad," she said, smiling as she went over to him as he was hugging his granddaughter.
"Happy Mother's Day Katie," Jim said, hugging her next. "How has it been so far," he said, asking more because Julia looked eager to tell him.
"Pretty nice, I had breakfast in bed and Julia gave me some beautiful flowers," Beckett said with a smile as her daughter hugged her. "But we have a lot to see, so we should go."
"I think," Castle said as the three walked up to him and his mother and they'd exchanged greetings. "We should look at the newest exhibit first," looking closely at his fiancée to see her reaction.
"Yes we should," Beckett said, meeting his gaze and not breaking it before they turned to go to the first floor. Eventually Julia was walking in between her grandfather and Martha, so she and Castle were alone. She turned to him saying, "I'm okay with this Castle, remember I said I wanted to come."
"I know, just making sure," he replied, squeezing her hand quickly before letting it go. They had to walk through the Greek and Roman art to get to where the Mucha exhibit was being held, but since Julia loved looking at the vases and sculptures it wasn't a wasted walk through the displays. "Good thing we cleared her camera," he commented to his fiancée as they were watching their daughter set up a shot of a sculpture of the goddess Minerva.
"I know, I have to wonder though how she's going to react seeing Mucha's art in person," Beckett said, looking over at the special exhibits room. She was surprised then when Castle placed his hand on her back for a moment, before walking to where their parents were with Julia, looking at some vases. When he walked back to her after speaking with them she said, "We're going ahead aren't we?"
"Pretty much," Castle said with a smile. He watched Beckett wave to their daughter, chuckling under his breath when Julia only briefly waved back before turning to another sculpture. They stepped into the room, and he watched Beckett closely as the first thing they saw on the opposite wall were the four seasons. He swallowed a little dryly himself as he remembered their victims, and Beckett, all as the four women in the lithographs.
Beckett squeezed her fiancé's arm, as turning to him she could tell he'd been unsettled. When he looked at her she smiled and said, "They are beautiful."
"That's true, I think we should take a closer look," Castle said with a nod. They walked together to the pictures, and as he looked at them he commented, "He was committing sacrilege, seeing these up close… Mucha was a genius."
Smiling again, as she'd hoped the actual pictures would help Castle forget about the imitation the killer had tried to present as art, Beckett leaned against him as she pointed to the picture of winter and said, "You can see the way she's holding the bird much better this way. Keeping it warm."
Glancing at her, Castle saw in that simple comment, she had put the incident behind her. He turned back to the picture, looking down it from top to bottom and said, "She must be warm, the snow looks so realistic."
"It does," Beckett said, wishing she could kiss him in that moment in the knowledge that they'd be okay.
"Mommy, we saw these on the computer!" Julia whispered as she joined them suddenly.
"I know, they're pretty aren't they?" Beckett asked.
"And tall, taller almost than you," Julia said to Castle with wide eyes.
Laughing, he picked her up so she could have a better view, and quickly asked a guard if she could take photographs of the pictures in the room. "I guess I should put you down?" he asked as the man had nodded that it was okay.
"Please, I want to take pictures of all of the pictures," Julia said eagerly.
"Just like you and your mom," Jim said as Castle was helping the little girl get all four pictures in frame before they took each one individually.
"I know, Castle's a fan too," Beckett said. "And you slightly."
"I will admit, he's a great artist," Jim said, looking troubled. When his daughter asked him what was wrong he nodded to winter and asked, "That doesn't bother you?"
"What Carisbrooke was trying to make me into was an abstract idea," Beckett said simply, glancing at Julia to see that she was closer to the pictures and hoped she couldn't hear them. "That woman in the picture? She was a model who posed for Mucha. Carisbrooke wanted to possess us and make us his by painting us. But Mucha never owned his models. So Carisbrooke was a sick, twisted man. Mucha is an artist and an amazing one too."
"Well said," Martha commented. "And this Carisbrooke must have been a poor imitator."
"Very much so," Castle said. "Should we keep going around the room?" he continued with quickly as Julia was coming back to them.
"I want to see more," Julia said excitedly. She took her mother's hand as they walked around the other posters and pictures from the artist before stopping at a set of four. "These are so pretty," she said, the set one of the different times of the day. "I know why you like him, he's good. Very good at drawing girls, they look pretty."
"Spoken like an art critic," Castle said as they went down to the next picture. When they had circled the entire room, he said, "Are we sticking together now, or splitting up?"
"Depends on where we all want to go," Beckett said as they stood outside the room, back in the Greek and Roman art. "Sweetie?"
"I wanna see the art from Asia," Julia said.
"That we could go to first," Castle commented. "Since it's on the third floor. You Kate?"
"The European art," Beckett replied. "The later time period though, and you? Let me guess, the Arms and Armor section?" She sighed when Castle nodded with an eager look on his face, and she patted his cheek before they laughed slightly, and she turned to their parents. "Dad?"
"Photographs," Jim said, smiling since he knew his daughter was aware that was where he loved to go.
"And I would love to see the Egyptian art," Martha said before anyone could ask her. "So where are we going to first?"
"Let's start on the top floor, since the Asian art is on both the second and third, and then work down to this floor again and see the Egyptian art last. For you Mother," Castle said.
"Thank you Richard," Martha said with a smile as Julia came over to her and took her hand.
Leading the way to the elevators, Castle kept finding himself reaching over to Beckett, wanting to take her hand. But he knew she wouldn't really want him to do that, unsure of who they might see there at museum; or who might see them. But he wanted to point out to her that them all being dressed up pointed to the fact that they had gone together; since she'd wanted to use the story that they had met there unexpectedly in case that happened. Though he couldn't really touch her in any way, he consoled himself with watching her a few times, until she turned to him as Julia was looking at a green basin that looked like a cloisonné bracelet.
"Castle," Beckett said as he turned to a jade carved figurine, not looking at her. "I'm wondering if I should ever wear a dress again," she whispered as she pretended to need to lean over against him to look at the figurine in more detail. "If you keep doing that."
"No, I can control it, but you know, I told you that you looked great," Castle said quickly.
Smiling as he was sincere in his tone, Beckett stood up straight and tossed her hair over her shoulder as she walked over to the next items. "To be honest, I didn't choose this dress, Julia and I picked ours out for each other as she begged me to do," she told him when her fiancé was standing next to her.
"She likes doing that," Castle said in amusement. "Well, that's another possible career she could have if she doesn't dance."
"Like that'll happen," Beckett said under her breath, wryly.
"I know, but she made a great choice," Castle said, eyeing her pale blue dress that hugged her body in places that made him realize he probably shouldn't stare at while they were out in public. "And you know you did too."
"Thank you, that was the only dress I could get her to take much interest in," Beckett said, shaking her head with a smile as she could remember the shopping trip easily. "So it kind of defeated the purpose."
"Or it made your picking something for her ridiculously easy," Castle pointed out. He squeezed her hand before he went to their daughter, picking her up as she was looking at a carving of a water buffalo with a boy next to it. "Having fun?"
"Yeah, I'm taking lots of pictures," Julia said with a smile. She then grew serious and asked, "Do you like seeing this?"
"I do, don't worry, we'll see the section I chose soon enough," Castle said as he walked to the next room after the others. He smiled when Julia saw a box with a dragon on it and watched her take a picture. He kissed her temple and held her as they walked through that room and when they got to the next one, set her down quickly as he knew that it was her favorite; the room containing robes. He looked to see his fiancée looking at one that was white, and he went to her saying in a low voice, "I like yours a lot better."
"I know, and so do I," Beckett said. She then whispered something to him and when he looked at her with wide eyes she merely smirked a little before walking away, knowing she definitely had his attention with her demand for her final request for the day that only he was going to be able to fulfill.
"I have to say, you have to admire a painting of horses," Martha was saying, walking up to Beckett where she was standing in front of the painting of a horse fair. "Especially with them in motion."
"I know, I always wished I could sketch when I was younger, watching the horses at the stables my mom and I rode at, there was a lot of raw power in their movements," Beckett replied, looking at the painting. "And I wanted to draw that but, never was that good." She glanced to the side to look for Julia, but saw she was with her dad when Martha spoke, getting her attention.
"He's in the next room from this one," she said, smiling at Beckett's surprise. "Go, we were planning to take Julia with us anyway."
Smiling and squeezing her arm in thanks, Beckett walked through the room, glancing only for a moment at the paintings, before reaching her fiancé in the next room over from where his mother had thought he was. "You got pretty far ahead," she said as she neared him in front of a painting that looked like a castle.
"I did, I wanted to let you have a second with them," Castle said.
"Is something wrong?" Beckett asked, knowing he was lying.
"Just wishing Alexis was here," Castle said. He was a little surprised when Beckett took hold of his arm, leaning against him, and he glanced around for a moment before covering her hand with his own. "But she's almost done with school; I'm hoping at least I'll get to see her for Father's Day."
"Who knows," Beckett said with a slight smile as she immediately got an idea hearing that. "Maybe you will." She wanted to say more, but Julia suddenly came into the room and she and Castle turned around, letting go of him as a couple was entering the room behind their daughter. "What's wrong sweetie?" she asked as she reached them.
"Can we go see the pictures now?" Julia asked eagerly.
"Yes, we're close enough already," Beckett said, since they'd gone through pretty much the entire section she'd picked out. She saw that her dad and Castle's mother were walking up to them, and said, "We'll head to the photographs now, someone's pretty eager to go."
"Which is a surprise," Castle said as they headed to the first room. "Since you can't take pictures of them."
"That's okay, I like looking at them," Julia said simply.
Surprised when their daughter let go of hers and Castle's hands, Beckett watched the little girl go back to her grandfather and she smiled, knowing she had done that because they shared a love of photography. She felt fingers brushing against hers and she bit at her lower lip for a moment as they walked into the darker room and she paused, letting the others take the lead before she decided to chance it, slipping her hand into his.
A little startled that she'd taken his hand, Castle squeezed hers gently as they walked up to Julia and Beckett's dad who were looking at a photograph of a column in the fog. "We should go ahead," he commented.
"Dad, we're going to the next room," Beckett called to them. When Martha nodded, watching the two, she and Castle headed to the next room, having to go through a special exhibit room first. There they had to let go of each other, and when they reached the room they paused, looking at the first set of photographs before turning and leaving. "Well, she still got to see some new pictures," Beckett commented quickly as they went back to their family.
"Yeah, I wasn't expecting largely nudity, but, I did like that first one," Castle commented.
"Was it because she was naked, or the light from the water that was reflecting off her face?" Beckett asked with a smirk.
"The light, she looked a little like she was hunched over in pain," Castle said. He saw the look on his fiancée's face and said, "Believe what you want, but I'm sticking to that."
"Okay," Beckett said simply. They had reached their parents and Julia by then, and she let Castle tell her dad about the new photographs in the other rooms. "Sweetie, I think we should head downstairs now, and check out the sections that Castle and Martha want to see."
"Kay, what first?" Julia asked eagerly, not caring they weren't going to see the other two rooms.
"The armor first," Beckett said. "Unless, Martha-"
"Oh no, no, unlike Richard, I'm patient, and the Egyptian art brings us very close to the gift shop," Martha replied.
"Are you gonna buy something?" Julia asked as they headed to the nearest staircase.
"I saw a beautiful scarf, that will be a wonderful accent and something for you," Martha replied. She smiled when Julia wrinkled her nose and asked, "You don't want it?"
"Yes, but… Mommy, Castle, is it okay?" the little girl asked them.
"It is sweetie, just as long as it's not really over the top," Beckett said, smiling at Castle's mother so she knew she was joking.
"Thank you," Julia said happily before they came to the entrance to the Arms and Amor section. She hurried over to Castle then, and as they stopped in front of a display with masks from Japan, she took a picture saying, "Why don't you and Alexis wear those?"
"Because those were to scare your enemies," Castle said. "Alexis and I only fence, which is more of a competition, not to hurt each other. Come here, I want to see the other swords again, especially the ones from the Middle East, remember the jewels on the hilt of that one?"
"Oh yeah! They're sooo pretty and they sparkle," Julia said eagerly.
Walking through the different rooms in the section, Beckett became separated from the others and was standing in front of a display in the last room before the entry to the American art section they'd walk through to go to the Egyptian art. She was looking at a shield that had a scene painted on it when someone walked up next to her. Glancing out of the corner of her eye, she was a little disappointed it wasn't Castle, and was about to walk away from the man before he suddenly turned to her; making her swear in her mind at her bad luck as he proceeded to quickly chat her up.
Walking away from Castle, Julia went into the next room, and saw that her mother was talking to a man. She pursed her lips, and then hurried over to her, wrapping her arms around her mother's side as the man cut off in mid-sentence, looking down at her.
"Okay sweetie?" Beckett said, running her hand over Julia's hair.
"This is your… daughter?" the man asked.
"She is," Beckett said with a smile. She nodded as the man quickly made his excuses and left them, saying, "You know Castle might be really happy you did that."
"I am," he said suddenly behind them. "Though I don't think you needed to worry sweetheart," Castle said as Julia turned to look at him. "Your mom would have been able to take care of him. But my mom wants to go to the Egyptian art, so let's go okay?" Since Martha and Jim were ahead of them, they followed through the American art until they reached The Temple of Dendur and Julia broke away.
"Does your mom really like Egyptian art?" Beckett asked.
"She does, one of the first plays she did was Antony and Cleopatra," Castle said. "So she has a connection to Egypt as she put it; Cleopatra especially."
Looking through that room, Beckett watched their daughter closely as they came to the next, where there were sarcophagi, and wasn't surprised when Julia hurried back to them. She wasn't concerned, knowing that the little girl was not scared of them, only wary. It was only after they left behind that room after looking at another with reliefs in it that she and Castle were left alone as Julia went to Martha who was looking at some jars. "Are you going to ask?" she asked with an arched eyebrow.
"Oh, I don't really care about the guy, like I told Julia, you would…" Castle started to say before he trailed off at her expression. He cleared his throat and then said, "Okay, so I was slightly jealous, but that was before I caught sight of what you were doing with your left hand."
"Rubbing my finger?" Beckett said, never losing that habit though she still wasn't wearing the ring that much; not even wearing it at that point. "Well, at least that simple action reassures you better than me saying anything," she commented wryly as they went to other exhibits.
"That and the fact that you prefer the ring there doing that," Castle said with a slight grin. He looked around them, and then quickly squeezed Beckett's hand before they followed their daughter and parents through the rest of the large section. When they were near the last room, he wasn't surprised when Beckett's dad stayed behind with Julia, but was when his mother waved them inside.
"We'll meet you at the gift shop," Jim said. "Since this is it for the Egyptian art."
"Don't buy her something extravagant Dad," Beckett said quickly.
"That means you too Mother," Castle said, before the three left and he shook his head. "Whatever she wants to buy, it'll be slightly extravagant," he commented as they went into the room, which was an offering chapel from Egypt. It was dark inside, and he could swear whenever he went into it, there was a very eerie sensation, not negative, but he knew Julia could sense it too, and didn't blame her for only looking at it from the doorway.
"I know, but the best part is, Julia's not getting things all the time," Beckett said, looking at a carved image of a man plowing with what looked like a ram in front of him. "No one here," she commented as they were surprisingly alone though there were a lot of people at the museum that day.
"We are," Castle said slowly, looking up towards the ceiling as he spoke. He smiled when Beckett playfully punched his arm, and he took that hand, squeezing it tightly. "Okay, so I'll admit it, I was more than a little jealous of that guy, you do realize that you're attractive right?" he finally said as they looked at each other.
"I would guess, you still won't stop staring at me," Beckett said, slipping her hand from his and stepping close to him. "And here I thought it was my legs you kept ogling, but it seems to be more than that."
"Hey, that dress is really nice," Castle said simply. When Beckett rolled her eyes he grabbed her upper arms and pulled her to him for a kiss. He had to make it incredibly quick, because he could hear people outside the room getting nearer. But he made the most of the time he had, plunging his tongue almost desperately into her mouth. Luckily she was right with him, and they tangled together for a moment before they hurriedly parted, and grabbing her hand, they almost ran from the room. He was frustrated, but he had to laugh at the feeling he had; as if they were a couple of teens that had been sneaking around together.
Though they weren't holding hands for too long after leaving the room, Beckett squeezed his arm as they went into the gift shop, seeing their parents with Julia. "So," she said, hoping she wasn't brazenly displaying any after affects of that rough kiss. "What have we gotten for her?"
"This Mommy, look, it looks like one of the pretty eggs," Julia said, holding up a box that was blue and shaped like an egg, decorated like a Faberge egg.
"That is pretty, is that what you wanted to get her?" Beckett directed to Martha.
"It is, I thought it would be perfect for her room," she replied.
"Don't forget to say thank you," Beckett said, kissing her daughter's temple.
"Oh don't worry, she did and many times too," Martha replied.
"Come on Julia," Castle said, holding his hand out to her. "Let's see if we can find something in the books for you." He was surprised when she tugged on his hand, pulling him over to the art supplies, but then recalled her saying she had wanted to get oil pastels. "Good thing you brought me over instead of your mom," he commented as he picked up a set with soft pastels.
"Her mom is right behind you, and again, you're cleaning her up after she colors with those," Beckett said, watching them. "Julia?" she said then as she looked at what Castle was holding. When their daughter was looking at them she quickly said, "These are soft pastels, not oil. Is that okay?"
"Yeah," Julia said eagerly.
Sharing a look with her fiancé, Beckett took her to the books with Castle trailing behind them, and they helped their daughter pick out a set, books about different artists, paintings and other things related to art that they decided together she should have since it was educational, and had different artwork than the museum had. Joining their parents, she watched as Julia helped Martha pick out a scarf, smiling as the little girl was somehow able to draw her dad and then Castle into the decision, before she herself added her opinion. She felt her fiancé's fingers brush against her arm, and she looked to him before they turned away from each other, knowing he felt the same in that moment. The desire to go back to that moment they'd kissed raging within her before she could get it under control and turned her attention back to their family.
Shaking out the blanket that he'd been carrying for them, Castle laid it out on the grass, watching as Julia jumped onto the middle of it and lay down. "Going to take a nap?" he asked as he and Beckett joined her, sitting on either side of her.
"No," Julia giggled as she sat up. "Mommy, can I take off my shoes?" she asked pleadingly.
"Sorry sweetie, those need to stay on," Beckett said. "And we can't stay too long, we need to go back and give Martha her gifts before we go."
"Grandpapa said he's giving you something," Julia said, watching Castle taking something out of the bag they'd brought with them to Central Park.
"I think it's a little too soon Castle," Beckett said as he handed Julia a sugar cookie. "We just ate."
"Not really," he protested. "But you liked that lunch right?"
"You know I always love it there, and this time was no exception," Beckett said simply. "Smaller bites Julia," she said gently as she pulled the cookie out of the little girl's mouth. She leaned over when she didn't protest, kissing the top of her head before taking the cookie Castle had bought for her.
"So what is he getting for your mom? You never said," he asked as Julia finished her second bite of cookie.
"I don't know, Grandpapa said it's a secret but you will like it Mommy," Julia said.
"Of course, just like I loved your flowers and vase, that was a very beautiful gift," Beckett said.
"That's not your present," Julia protested.
"No? Then I'm eager to see what is, because I loved those two," Beckett said, smiling as Julia looked to Castle. "When will I be getting it?" she asked, smiling when Castle looked at her in surprise.
"After dinner," Julia said seriously, not noticing the exchange between her mother and Castle. "I wish it was windy," she said, looking up at the breeze that was just barely ruffling the leaves on the trees above them.
"Next weekend we'll take your kite," Castle promised her. "I just hope it'll be windy then. So I guess you liked the cookie?" he asked since she was handing him the napkin she'd used.
"Thank you," Julia said, giggling as she stood and he pulled her to him with one arm for a hug. "Now what do we do?" she asked, looking to be impatient as they were still eating their desserts.
"Now is fine," Beckett said simply when Castle looked to her.
"Okay, your mom and I bought this for you so you could play with it today," he said, taking something out of the bag.
"Bubbles!" Julia squealed. She hugged Castle, kissing him on the cheek to say thank you, and then hugged her mother tightly.
"You're welcome sweetie," Beckett said after they'd shared a kiss. "Castle, I said a smaller bottle."
"Oh, must have misheard that, I thought you said not a smaller bottle," he said, laughing when she shoved him. "Need some help?" he asked as Julia was trying to take the cover off the top of the bottle. He finished off his cookie and opened the bubbles for her, reaching in to get the wand. "Have fun," he said.
"Are you gonna take pictures Mommy?" Julia asked as she saw her mother had her camera in her hand.
"I am," Beckett said. "But I'm not telling you when."
"That's what happens when you mute the shutter noise," Castle commented as they then watched Julia blow some bubbles, reaching up with her other hand to try and catch them on her fingers. "Here," he said, standing up. "Remember last time what I showed you?"
"Yeah," Julia said. "Show me again?"
Castle kissed the top of her head and took the wand, blowing some bubbles and catching one on the end. He blew out a large bubble and then handed the wand and bottle back to the little girl.
"Hold this," Julia said suddenly after she got some of the solution on the wand. She then spun around, laughing as with her first turn; she saw the bubbles that had come out. She then fell, dizzy at how fast she'd spun twice, and giggled as her mother picked her up, setting her on her lap. "I'm kay, I was too fast," she assured her mother.
"Then just rest a little bit until you stop spinning," Beckett said with a smile. She looked up at Castle, surprised when she saw he'd sat on his knees next to them, and had Julia's camera in his hand. She smiled wider as she thought he'd likely got some good pictures of them, and she stood up after their daughter had. "Let me sweetie," she said, not surprised when at the same time, Julia was handing the wand to her. She blew out some bubbles, and then watched the little girl jumping to catch them as they fell.
Julia noticed one bubble on her white dress, the shimmering colors covering the black branches and leaves of light blue flowers, and popped it quickly before she begged her mother, "Can I take off my shoes now?"
"Alright," Beckett sighed, not surprised when the little girl immediately sat on the blanket and almost ripped her sandals off.
Wriggling her toes, Julia jumped as Castle tickled the bottom of her feet and laughed saying, "Are you gonna take your shoes off?"
"Not this time, but apparently your mom is," he replied, sounding surprised as he looked down at Beckett's heels she'd thrown on the blanket next to him. "I wasn't expecting that."
"Obviously not," Beckett said as Julia jumped up and tugged at her hands. "What is it sweetie?"
"Can I climb a tree?" Julia asked eagerly.
"I don't want you getting your dress dirty today," Beckett said gently. "And you're tired of the bubbles already?"
"No, Castle-" Julia said disappointedly before she turned to him.
"Sorry sweetheart, your mom's right, don't want you getting your dress dirty either," he said. "But," he told her. "Next weekend if we fly the kites, we'll make sure you're wearing clothes you can climb trees in." At Beckett's loud clearing of her throat he quickly said, "Uh… if you're mom's okay with it too of course."
Smiling at Castle's wide eyes, Julia hugged him and said, "I wanna take pictures now."
"Of what?" Beckett asked as she sat down with her fiancée.
"Of you, you do the bubbles now Mommy and I'll take pictures," Julia said excitedly.
Sharing a look with Castle, Beckett took the bottle that their daughter gave her, and once Julia had her camera, proceeded to blow some bubbles, knowing without looking that she was taking pictures whenever the camera let her. She watched as her fiancé put his finger underneath one, and then handed him the wand.
As he was taking it, Castle realized that where they were in the park, they were pretty much alone, and at the same time no one was walking down the path. So taking the chance, he pulled her hand until she was leaning against him, and he kissed her deeply.
A little startled, but understanding why he'd done that, Beckett pulled back before she paused and they turned at the same time to their daughter. "Julia," she and Castle both said at the same time when they saw she was giggling behind her camera.
"Let me see," Castle said, standing up and going to her. "Oh, and she fakes a left," he said jokingly as she ran from him. He started after her, but Beckett was soon scooping her up in her arms as the little girl laughed wildly and he hurried to them, sharing a kiss with Julia before kissing her mother briefly. He and his fiancée were a little stuck after they parted, gazing at each other before Julia buried her face into her mother's neck, and they turned their attention back to their daughter, their hands clasped together between them as they went back to the blanket.
Holding the gift in her arms tightly to her, Julia walked up to Martha who was sitting on the couch and shyly handed it to her.
"Is that for me?" Martha asked with a smile as she looked up at the little girl.
"Happy Mother's Day," Julia said with a nod. She put her hands behind her back and was biting at her lower lip as Martha unwrapped the paper.
Pulling out the picture frame, Castle's mother smiled and reached out to pull Julia to her for a hug. "Thank you darling, it's a beautiful picture," she said, knowing the little girl was nervous about it.
"Let me see," Castle said, sitting next to his mother. He took the frame and smiled at the photo in it; it was of his mother and Julia at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco; as he looked at Beckett who was on his other side.
"I know, who do you think helped her get everything together?" she said with a slight smile.
"And Mommy wrapped, but she let me help," Julia was saying.
"You did a wonderful job, thank you both," Martha quickly commented.
"And this is for you Mother," Castle said, handing her a white wrapped box.
When she saw the light blue box that his mother uncovered, Beckett leaned over a little to look at her fiancé, shaking her head as he smirked slightly. She then turned back to his mother to see her reaction, bracing herself for it.
"I was beginning to think Richard," Martha said with a smile. "That you hadn't heard me at all," watching Julia touch the plume of feathers on the peacock that was at the top of the lamp she pulled out.
"You might want to thank Julia," Castle said honestly. "Though I was planning on getting it for you, she reminded me of the fact that you liked it so many times that there was no way I could forget or not have heard as you said."
"Then thank you," Martha said as she kissed her son's cheek before kissing Julia's. "Both of you, and so now I can see why you like Lladros so much Kate, they are beautiful."
"They are, do you have a place for it?" Beckett asked as she took the lamp.
"Right on my dresser," Martha said. "Though now you and Alexis are the only ones without one… does your father have any?"
"He does, of Don Quixote; that book was one of a number of reasons he wanted to go Spain," Beckett said simply. "But I don't think you need to worry about Alexis, or him."
"Right, I bought her one of the god Ganesha playing a sitar," Castle said. "Really hoping she'll like it."
"She will, it's pretty," Julia said, going to him as Martha left to put her lamp away.
"And… wait, you said him, you mean me or your dad?" Castle asked, looking at his fiancée. "You bought me one?" he asked in surprise.
"I helped her pick it out," Julia said eagerly.
"It's a late birthday gift, it was on backorder, but it should be here in a week or two," Beckett said.
"And? Do I get to know now what it is or are you going to make me wait?" Castle asked when she didn't say anything else.
"I'll go get my tablet Mommy," Julia said eagerly, jumping off his lap and running to his office. She brought it back and watched her mother pull up the picture of the figurine, going over to Castle as she handed it to him.
"This…" he began before he smiled widely. He leaned over and kissed Beckett deeply, but quickly saying, "It's perfect. I wonder if it's okay to keep this at the beach house."
"In our room? Of course," Beckett said simply. "You were right sweetie, he did like it," she then said to their daughter.
"But you saw it first," Julia protested.
"What are we talking about… oh, a polo player, you should get that," Martha said, coming up behind them and seeing the screen of the tablet.
"She already did Mother, did you talk to her about that?" Castle asked.
"Oh, so that's why you asked me about him wanting to play polo," Martha said to Beckett knowingly. There was a knock at the door, and she went to answer it saying, "I wouldn't let him play when he was young because I didn't want him to get hurt riding horses. So kiddo, when are you going to start learning?"
"She has a point," Beckett with a smile before his mother called to her. "Dad, hey," she said, standing up when she saw him. "I thought you were going to come over tomorrow night instead?"
"I found it," Jim said, shaking his head. "Though you would think I'd know better than to put this on the shelf where my shirts are basically the same color as the box. Happy Mother's Day, Katie."
Taking off the lid, Beckett took a deep breath and looked up at her father before she hugged him tightly with one arm. When she pulled back, she took the picture out of the box, and said, "I've never seen this one before."
"I thought it was lost, but your mother had an envelope of pictures with the stuff we found for Julia," Jim said, smiling at his granddaughter who was hugging him as Castle and Martha joined them. "I forced myself to look at them, and found that. I remember taking it when you were about five or six months old."
Taking the picture, Castle knelt down a little to let Julia see it, and smiled when the little girl did too seeing her mother as a baby with her grandmother, outside at what he guessed was Central Park or a park somewhere in the city. "It's a great picture," he said, looking up at his fiancée and her dad.
"It is," Martha agreed, able to tell as her son had that the two were a little emotional.
"I made copies," Jim said, taking an envelope from under his arm and handing it to his daughter. "These are from one of my old cameras; I knew your mother had developed what we had. Because it wasn't until you were born that I used that camera again after high school to take pictures of you. And of course it breaks as soon as I finished the second roll of film with it."
"Of course, thank you," Beckett said. She squeezed his hand and looked at her fiancé before Castle and Martha took Julia to the kitchen. "Are you okay?" she asked in a low tone of voice once they were alone.
"I am," Jim said simply. "But you?"
Glancing over at Julia sitting on the counter as Castle spoke to her; Beckett looked back at her dad and said, "Yeah, I'll be alright. But what are you going to do tonight? Because you could always eat with-"
Shaking his head, Jim interrupted her saying, "Dean Guildford asked me over to his club tonight. We'll play some chess together and discuss our kids and grandkids."
"Come over tomorrow," Beckett urged him. "For dinner with us."
"Where will you be?" Jim asked. "Here I'm guessing from the look on your face. And I'll come, I'll be happy to." He then looked over at the kitchen and said, "Julia, I'm going to go, but your mom invited me for dinner tomorrow, so I'll see you after school."
"Kay, I can show you my homework," Julia said, running over to him to be picked up. She hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek saying, "I love you Grandpapa," in a serious tone of voice.
"I love you too Julia," Jim said, kissing her before he set her down. He nodded to Castle and Martha, saying goodbye to them before he hugged his daughter. "I hope the dinner goes well," he told her.
"It will," Beckett said with a smile before she walked with him to the door. "Take care tonight Dad."
"I will, love you Katie," Jim said before he left.
"Love you too Dad," Beckett said before Castle suddenly walked past her. She watched him in surprise before he closed the door carefully behind him. She turned to Martha and Julia saying, "I guess he wants to talk to him privately."
"Very likely," Martha said. "Come with me Julia, and tell me what you think of where I put my new lamp."
Once the two were upstairs, Beckett turned to the door as Castle walked inside. "What is it?" she asked him immediately.
"It's a mix of your mom and what happened to you," he replied in a low voice, looking around for Julia.
"She's upstairs with Martha. Is he okay though? Because if he's not-" Beckett started to say.
"He is, but he's nostalgic with today and you being a mother now he feels…" Castle started to say before he stopped to try and figure out how to explain it. "He doesn't feel old, but he knows now you've really grown up and aren't exactly his little girl. Does that make sense?"
"It does, and I guess it's something I should expect when Julia gets older?" Beckett asked.
"Definitely," Castle said. "I wasn't expecting to go through it a second time, but that's alright."
Reaching out and taking his hand as she grew serious, Beckett said slightly hesitatingly, "Maybe if-"
"Mommy?" Julia said then as she came down the stairs. She ran to her and asked softly, "Can we look at the pictures?"
"Why don't we wait until you go to bed?" Beckett asked.
"Kay," Julia said eagerly. "Now what?"
"Now we can work with your pastels you got," Castle said. "Let's draw something for your mom okay?"
Beckett smiled as she followed the two to the coffee table, sitting on the couch behind them as she watched them prepare a picture. She leaned over eventually and kissed the back of Julia's head before running her hand over Castle's, resting her hand on his shoulder as she listened to them planning together.