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: The lyrics in the chapter are from the song Sat Singing by George Harrison, a rejected song from the original track listing of his album Somewhere in England.
A/N #2: I was very happy to get the feedback I did for the last chapter, so I have to quickly get to thank yous for all of that! vetgirlmx (Lol, yeah, you were right about the investigation going away with Bracken of course. Not surprised you're glad it's over of course, I knew readers would be with that. And I was really glad you liked the way Julia reacted to seeing Castle and Beckett's faces, and yeah, since no one knew and could tell her it's the reason she was so shocked by them. And I was worried you might demand why she wasn't asking about Carlotta; Julia; so to see that you were hoping she wasn't was a relief 'cause I couldn't write that out. And had to kinda laugh at what you said about what Martha said, it's not pressure, lol, I can understand why it might be thought, but trust me when it's not! And not surprised either that you mentioned the funerals, 'cause yeah, it's going to be difficult of course. I'm also not too shocked you want them to buy a new place, since as you said, it's getting them closer to being married. Also not surprised you're glad they're done with both the case and the investigation into Beckett, since you're right, both were stressful! And so glad that you want to read the next chapter and now you can!), life's a mystery (Really happy that you liked the chapter of course, love seeing that first off, lol. And not surprised that you liked that things were getting all sorted for the last chapter.), pcol22 (Was nice seeing you too thought the last chapter was a great one. And yep, everything's finished now; have to admit your wrapped in a nice little bow comment made me smile. And do love seeing you're looking forward to the next chapter, and now no more looking, you can read it!), sammysgirl78 (Was very happy to see that you enjoyed the chapter, again, I do love seeing that first off. And glad that you thought Julia's reaction was honest, wouldn't want to write something bizarre or unbelievable, and glad that I could write what you expected. I'm not surprised that you too are enjoying that they're looking for a new place, thought you might. And the same with you liking the whole family tucking Julia in, that I really had expected you to enjoy, so loved getting confirmation on that. Sooo happy you mentioned Castle and Beckett talking on the roof. And that you caught that Beckett was opening up more to Castle, again, had to show that she is growing more and more, especially considering they're on their way to getting married, lol. And I'm glad that you're kinda sad the story's almost over, lol, 'cause it does mean you liked it so I did like hearing that! But don't worry, there's of course more to come! Of course, not shocked that you're glad to investigation into Beckett is over, and that it means no more stress for her and Castle about maybe losing Julia. And it made me laugh again to see you do know when indeed you'll next post. But I love seeing that, since of course, means you want to read more. And now that Friday is here, you can read more of course!), bayand (Did like seeing how you described the last chapter, since actually that's what I was aiming for comforting and calming, but loved seeing the beautiful in there too! And what you said about my writing, I have to admit, I got tears in my eyes, never heard my writing described in that way so it touched me and was a great compliment. But I am glad I can make you feel the emotions, I think it's because I write the emotions as I make myself feel them as the characters would, so I suppose that method really works. So I have to say an extra thank you for that. And I'm really happy you can't wait for the next chapters, now you don't have to wait anymore for this one!) and Beckett-Castle4ever (Nice to see again that another reader liked the chapter, happy reading that first off. And not a surprise either that you too were glad that Beckett doesn't have to worry about the investigation and that she gets to keep Julia. Also that now she doesn't have to worry about Bracken anymore. So happy you enjoyed the family moments, I do like knowing that readers enjoy that since those are my other favorite parts to write, lol, other one being Castle and Beckett alone. And you too don't have to wait anymore for the next chapter, hoping you'll enjoy this chapter too!). So thanks so much for those reviews, I loved every one of them, and I am so grateful that you all took time out of your days to write them out and send them, as I always am!
A/N #3: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song That Day is Done, written by Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello, from Paul McCartney's album Flowers in the Dirt.
She Sprinkles Flowers In The Dirt
"So you honestly think we'd find a better place than where we're going today?" Beckett asked her fiancé as she handed him one of the mugs of coffee that she'd made.
"I do," Castle said. "I mean, we shouldn't just limit ourselves to this one building. What if something happens before we can buy it?"
"But five bedrooms is expensive Castle," Beckett pointed out to him. "So we're likely to find buildings a lot more costly than this one."
"Let's just look, keep our minds open to the possibility of other places," Castle said.
"Alright, but watch the prices please," Beckett said, looking at him.
"Look, here's one in Midtown," Castle said. "But…"
"Too far from her school," Beckett finished for him. "But a better price than Riverside South. Look at the link." She frowned when she didn't see any floor plans for any of the apartments the building had and a small amount of pictures. "We'll put that down as maybe," she commented, writing on the pad of paper she'd brought into the room when Castle had suggested looking at other buildings when they'd woken up.
"Okay, then going back, too expensive…" he said, scrolling down the page. "Expensive… this one looks nice but it's in DUMBO…"
"Too far, why don't we set a price?" Beckett said.
"I don't think we need to worry about rent," Castle told her as he took a break from scrolling to sip his coffee since his other arm was wrapped around Beckett's shoulders. "I keep writing books and getting royalties, and you have a paycheck, we'll be good."
"I don't get paid that much," Beckett pointed out to him wryly.
"No, but we'll still both contribute," Castle said. "But really Kate, I'm not saying let's buy a place in building that's… seventy-five million, that's over the top. I just want us to get a good place for Julia and Alexis that we can afford."
Sighing, Beckett said, "Alright, but after seeing all these starting prices, I'm feeling better about Riverside now."
"Still have another two and half hours," Castle said. "Should we keep looking?"
"Yes," Beckett urged him. "But, put in the same price that Riverside starts at."
Nodding, Castle did as she'd said, and then commented, "Not many places, there's that DUMBO building again, and ours of course."
"It's not ours Castle," Beckett said with a slight smile before she leaned her head on his shoulder. "Take a look at the Amsterdam Fifth Avenue," she said, seeing the building.
"Well, the floor plans are interesting," Castle commented as he brought them up.
"And the layouts are nice," Beckett said. "But it's right next to a hospital, I don't think I want Julia right next to one, even if it is by the park."
"We can look at Tower East," Castle said. "It's less than Riverside." He clicked on the link and said, "Near the East River; I was hoping for closer to the park."
"And it's a little far from Julia's school too," Beckett said. She tilted her head as he brought up the floor plan for the five bedroom apartments and said, eyes wide, "Two master bedrooms."
"I think we'd have to give that to Julia, she'll be living with us longer than Alexis likely will. Though she's welcome to stay longer if she needs to right?" Castle asked his fiancée as he opened the pictures.
"She is, because we're seeing now how expensive even one bedroom apartments can be," Beckett replied. "Well," she said as he was clicking through the pictures. "It's nice, so another maybe?"
"If anything happens with Riverside, then we'll need to look at the pros and cons of these two," Castle said. "And we might have to put the price up slightly more."
"If it comes to that, then alright," Beckett said as he set aside the laptop. She was going to speak when she heard a knock at the door, and since it was open she looked with her fiancé to see it was their daughter. "Come in sweetie," she said, smiling as she set aside her empty mug. She took Julia into her arms as she climbed up to her, kissing her cheek. "How did you sleep?"
"Good, what were you doing on the computer? A game?" Julia asked.
"Just looking for anymore apartments," Castle said, kissing her. "But we're going to hold off for after we go look today."
"It looks nice," Julia said. "But what's bill… billards?"
"Billiards," Beckett said. "I'm surprised you didn't ask earlier, it's a game that I'm sure if we move there your daddy will teach you to play."
"We'll, I could, but I'd have to get her a stool so she could reach the top of the table," Castle pointed out. "I'll show it to you on my tablet; I have a game for it."
"Kay," Julia said. "When we move, do I have to leave my stuff at home?"
"No, we'll take most of our stuff with us," Beckett replied. "But not everything since Castle and Alexis will be moving in with us."
"For now though, I think we should have breakfast. And tell them Kate," Castle said.
"We… oh, we forgot to tell them," Beckett said, suddenly remembering what he was talking about. She slid off the bed as he did, and grabbed Julia before carrying her out into the living room. "First, what's for breakfast?"
"Crêpes," Castle said simply.
"Alright, but don't lose track of them, you remember what happened last time," Beckett said warningly.
"I remember," Castle said. "And since it's my breakfast too, I'll be careful. That being said, I think I know what Julia can do for us."
"Set the table?" the little girl asked.
"That I can do," Alexis said, coming down the stairs. "Gram?"
"She's not back yet if she's not in her room," Castle commented. "So you might be on your own with your sister."
"Fine with me, but she looks to be slightly impatient right now," Alexis pointed out, nodding to the little girl who was frowning at them.
Pretending to jump in fright, Castle smiled when Julia lost her frown at that and said, "Okay, so I guess you want me to tell you what you can help with." When she nodded her head furiously he said, "You can help your mom with the orange juice."
"I can?" Julia asked as Beckett was getting oranges from the fridge.
"You can, luckily it's a newer juicer," she said to her daughter as she cut the first fruit. "Watch your fingers," she said as Julia set the half on the top and pulled down the lever to squeeze the juice out.
"In the meantime, what about this?" Alexis asked, holding a USB drive.
"Music?" Castle asked, mixing the crêpe dough in a bowl quickly. "Our music list?" he then was able to guess.
"Go ahead," Beckett said. "I think she wants to hear it," she commented, nodding to Julia who was bouncing as she was waiting for her to clean the juicer.
"Ah, in order," Castle commented as a song by Sam Cooke came on after Alexis had gone to his office.
"No, I put it on shuffle," Alexis said as she came back to them. "We know the list by heart now."
"This one's first!" Julia cried after squeezing another orange.
"It is- the crêpes," Beckett said, laughing as she was interrupted by Castle grabbing her.
"I have them," Alexis said, smiling as her dad started dancing with his fiancée. She had to smile wider at Julia's expression watching them, and quickly set aside a crêpe before turning off the stove to stand with her sister.
"I guess we need to get used to an- audience! Castle!" Beckett cried as he suddenly dipped her.
"Good morning all," Martha said, at the door then. "And to your fiancée as well Richard, whom I am assuming is there in your arms."
"Morning Mother," Castle said, helping Beckett back up. He shared a kiss with her before letting her go, and going back to the stove asked, "Are you joining us for breakfast?"
"I am, because I am absolutely famished after my night of watching the special Shakespeare in the Park performance. Rafael was brilliant, and afterwards everyone had me recite some of my lines of Midsummer's Night Dream," Martha said, letting her son kiss her cheek before she squeezed Beckett's arm.
"The one with the fairies and donkey?" Julia asked as Martha came over to her and Alexis as they continued making orange juice.
"It was," Martha replied, kissing both her granddaughters.
"They liked it right?" Julia asked. "'Cause they should."
"Don't worry, they liked it so much we went out to Le Circe and spent most of the night reciting lines from their next play, Taming of the Shrew, it was a wonderful night," Martha said. "As for now I will change into better clothes for the park; we're still going to fly her kite aren't we?"
"And get a rowboat, Dad and Beckett called for us," Alexis said.
"Just in time too," Beckett commented, preparing Julia's crêpes as she liked them.
"And will you be joining us after your house hunting?" Martha asked.
"We're bringing lunch," Castle said. "But there's something we wanted to tell you all; we'll have to tell your dad later."
Nodding, Beckett then said, "Castle and I are going to head to the Hamptons a little earlier, on Tuesday morning after breakfast."
"We were just talking about that, weren't we girls?" Martha said, squeezing Julia's leg.
"We were," Julia said with a nod. "And we'll go two days later to be with you too."
"Right, so you're okay with that?" Beckett asked, kissing her temple.
"We are, and we thought you could use the peace and quiet after this case," Alexis said as she took the full pitcher of juice to the table. "And before the fireworks on Friday."
"I can't wait for those," Julia said eagerly as Martha helped her down to help her sister set the table.
Squeezing Beckett's hand in relief that their family was alright with them going ahead early, Castle kissed her shoulder before she stopped him, kissing him on the lips. He whispered to her, laughing when she swatted at his shoulder as her cheeks grew red, and they hurried to finish the crêpes for themselves and the others as the table was ready for breakfast.
Sitting around the table, the conversation turned to their holiday that week, and Julia kept making her mother and Castle promise to let her stay awake for the fireworks. When she had finished eating first, she ran to the windows, looking out at the sky to make sure it wasn't going to suddenly rain, and Alexis had to grab her to get her to help clear the table.
"Julia," Castle said as the little girl ran around the living room, dodging her sister.
"It's cabin fever," Beckett commented as they had started to clear the table themselves.
"It is a gorgeous day," Martha said.
"Sweetie," Beckett called out. "You know you might get hurt."
Julia ran to the couch and jumped up on it, giggling and breathless before saying to Alexis, "Sorry, I wanted to run," holding her hands out to her sister.
"I know, but at least you stopped," Alexis replied, picking her up. "But come sit with me by the sink."
"We have it," Castle called.
"No, you two need to get ready and go," Martha said. "Look at the time."
"She's right," Beckett said, kissing Julia as Alexis set her on the counter. "And I have to-"
"We'll take care of Julia, go," Martha said, ushering Beckett over to her son.
"I think she wants us to go," Castle said as he took his fiancée's hand and they walked to his room.
"So do I," Beckett said with a smile before they disappeared inside as he closed the doors behind them. She didn't comment on that, and instead grabbed her clothes she'd had to bring from her place the day before. When she'd changed and had put her hair up into a ponytail, she was looking at the mirror above his dresser, breathing out slowly.
"What's wrong?" Castle asked, noticing the slight sigh as he came out from the bathroom, ready to go.
"No, I'm just wondering, what's this realtor's going to think when he sees us?" Beckett asked, gesturing to her nose which was still bruised though slowly fading and less visible under her makeup.
"Well, your cuts are pretty much gone; thank Julia for that," Castle said.
Smiling as she recalled as he did the way their daughter insisted on putting ointment on each of her cuts the day before, Beckett said, "It does look a little suspicious though, both of us with bruised noses."
"I don't know," Castle commented, looking at himself in the mirror. Since his bruise was deeper it was still there, but he could tell it was already starting to lighten in color. "He might think we're into some super rough sex," he continued with a shrug.
"Are you?" Beckett asked, giving him a look.
"We talked about that already Kate; no," Castle said though he knew she was teasing him. "So, we're ready?" he asked as he went to her.
"Almost," Beckett said, turning to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him deeply before he responded, holding her against him.
Skipping into the room, Julia giggled softly when she saw them; looking down at her kite she was holding until she peered up at them. "Hi!" she said when she realized they were looking at her in slight surprise.
"Looks like she's ready to go too," Beckett said, smiling at her fiancé. She shared a quick kiss with him and then went over to their daughter saying, "Is your kite ready?"
"Yeah, I got to pick my shirt," Julia said proudly as they walked out to the living room where Martha was coming down the stairs.
"Something bright and festive," she said, smiling as Julia nodded in agreement.
"That was a good purchase," Castle said. "It suits her Mother."
"As long as Julia likes it," Martha said. "Now you two better leave if you don't want to be late."
"She's right," Beckett said. "Okay, so you know what we always say, be good, listen to them and-" she started to tell Julia before her phone gave a chirping noise.
"I picked that sound," the little girl told Castle and Martha with a pleased smile. "What is it Mommy?"
"Your grandpapa," Beckett said, reading her text. "Do you mind if he tags along?" she asked Martha, turning her head to Alexis after who was coming down the stairs.
"We can have a lunch with the whole family," Julia said eagerly.
"That's fine, I'll call him now, let him know where we can meet him," Alexis said.
"Okay, we're out of here," Castle said, kissing Alexis' cheek before picking up Julia and making her legs swing out to her squeal before he kissed her cheek. "Have fun before we get there, and let's hope the wind waits for me and your mom to join in okay?"
"I'll tell it to wait," Julia said, a smile on her face before she kissed his cheek.
"We'll take pictures," Beckett said quickly as she took their daughter from Castle. "I remembered sweetie, and I'll let your daddy tell you about what we see, he describes things better than I do."
"Embellishes," Castle commented wryly. "If you want to know what the apartment actually looks like, better ask her."
"I'll ask both of you," Julia said after sharing a kiss with her mother. "Go! That way you can see it."
Saying goodbye to Martha and Alexis, Castle and Beckett headed out, holding hands until they reached the lobby, catching a cab to the building. It was a short trip since it was fairly close to Castle's building, and as they got out and as the taxi left they looked around the area.
"Didn't realize we were this close to the river," Castle said, since they were across the street from it.
"It looks like a good neighborhood," Beckett said, glancing down the street. "We did pass a park too, half a block away. We can take Julia there."
"I just hope the DiMaggio isn't going to be a problem," Castle replied, nodding to the highway that was also across the street.
"It should be soundproof inside, and let's try to get above the tenth floor," Beckett said before they went to the entrance. She looked around the lobby, until someone called her name and got her attention. "Mr. Hill?" she said.
"Yes, welcome to Riverside South, I couldn't help notice you were taking a look outside, if you're worried about the highway, the building is fully soundproof, so it shouldn't be a concern," the man said as he shook first Beckett's and then Castle's hands. "Are you looking together?"
"Actually I'm just here to give her advice," Castle said simply.
"Okay, then if you'll follow me, I'll let you see the apartment on the thirty-seventh floor," Mr. Hill said. "Unless you want a specific floor?"
"For just looking that's fine," Beckett said as they followed him to the elevators. "Are there different floor plans for the five bedroom apartments?"
"Just one and all the bedrooms will have river views," Mr. Hill told them. At the thirty-seventh floor he led them to apartment 37H and opened the door saying, "This floor is unoccupied, so we're holding the open house here and I'll be up and down with other people looking through. Just let me know when you're done."
"Thank you," Beckett said before she and Castle walked into the foyer. "Oh wow," she said as he closed the door behind them. "This makes me nervous Castle."
"We'll worry about price when we need to," he told her. "For now let's just look."
Nodding, Beckett let him take her hand, and they walked towards the living room when she saw two doorways to their right. "Washer and dryer here," she said. "With a closet and a bathroom."
"And this'll be the library," Castle commented, getting his phone out of his pocket.
"So you could do laundry and write," Beckett teased him. When he looked at her she merely smiled, before looking away. "It's a nice room," she said as they stepped into the library after he'd taken a picture. "We could put all our books in here, not just yours."
"I'm wondering if I should leave them at the loft," Castle commented. "The walls would look pretty bare."
"Your mom would find something to put on them," Beckett said as they avoided the window. "You want to see the living room's view first?" she asked as she noticed him doing that.
"You too," Castle said simply before taking her hand again. When they went back into the living room that the foyer was attached to, he whistled and said, "Julia would love this," as he took a picture before they went closer to the windows.
"I have to wonder if she'd enjoy this window," Beckett said, standing in front of the floor to ceiling window.
"With the view of the river I don't think she'd mind the height," Castle said. "This should be the kitchen," he told his fiancée as they went to the next room through a wide doorway. "This'll be nice for Julia," he commented. "She can run through easily. And we can put the dining room table in there, so serving food is easier."
"It is," Beckett said, scanning the family room that was in front of the kitchen. "What do you think?" she asked after her fiancé had snapped a picture of the room from the doorway and they went to the kitchen.
"This is really awesome," Castle said, looking at the two sets of burners. "Though I'd like to see if they have the black cabinets," he murmured to himself as he was looking through the cabinets. "A pantry," he said, looking over at his fiancée. He was a little startled to see her looking out the window, and he went over to her, seeing her eyes on the river. "Okay?" he asked, putting his hand on her back.
"I am, just thinking about what this would be like if we lived here," Beckett said. "I'm having a hard time seeing it," she confessed after she was quiet for a moment.
"I know, but maybe when we get closer to the wedding and buy a place; maybe here, maybe somewhere else; it will feel more real," Castle suggested. When she smiled he said, "Come and look at the kitchen, I hope you might help me with holiday dinners here."
"I might be persuaded," Beckett said with a smile as she looked at the stove and other appliances. She nodded when he showed the pantry off to her and she squeezed his hand saying, "Take a picture of this?"
"Of course," Castle said. "Imagine this morning in the kitchen, and how it would be here… Still hard to do," he said as his fiancée nodded. "Okay, I would guess the next room will be a bedroom," he told her as he led the way out the door and down the hall.
"The master bedroom," Beckett said, looking around. "It's…" she tried to say before trailing off as they looked around the large room, the bed at the corner where there were windows looking out on the river view. "This is amazing," she finally was able to say.
"I know, a lot of room for a fairly big bed," Castle said, letting go of her hand to watch her walk over to the windows. He smiled when she didn't react to what he'd said, and he went after her, wrapping his arms around her. "We could have a lot of fun in bed in the mornings here love," he murmured to her, running his hands over her abdomen.
"Stop," Beckett said though she was smiling widely. "We could do that anywhere."
"Sure, but not with this kind of view to look at once we calm down," Castle murmured, kissing at the side of her neck.
"Hmm, don't move us here yet," Beckett sighed, suddenly growing serious. She finally made him stop and turned back to him saying, "We should continue, we don't need other people coming in seeing us."
"You make a valid point," Castle said with a nod. He held his hand out to her and together they walked to a doorway to a room that was not the bathroom since they'd spotted that walking in. "A study," he said quickly. "I could write here."
"And I could yell at you to come to bed because you're taking too long to finish a chapter," Beckett said with a smirk. She stepped inside and said, "If you're willing to share, I'd like to have my computer here," pointing to where there was space for another person's work area.
"That would be great," Castle said. He wrapped his arm around her waist and they went to check out the bathroom quickly. "Big shower; room enough for two… big tub; also room enough for two."
"So are you judging our room by its compatibility with our sex life?" Beckett commented, pretending to sound serious.
"Sure, and it's love life," Castle said as he let her go to let her lead the way back into the hall to see the bedroom across the way.
"You're so serious about that," Beckett commented absently, seeing another closet where there was a washer and dryer. "From my experience, men prefer calling it sex and have done with it. They think calling it making love makes them less macho."
"I think I've proved I've got nothing lacking in machismo," Castle said simply as he took a picture of the bedroom before they went inside. "And if I didn't, tell me to get out of your bed and never return."
Biting on her lower lip, Beckett turned around and said, "A little inappropriate talking about this in our daughter's room."
"It's not hers yet," Castle said. "Tell me love."
"I'm addicted to you Rick, so I believe if I did tell you that, I'd seek you out and defeat the purpose of said words you want me to speak," Beckett said.
"Fuck Kate, there's a lot of reasons I love you, and one of them is this, your wanting me as much as you do without me having to coax it from you," Castle said, swallowing roughly at her words.
"Language C-" Beckett started to say when he kissed her, cutting her off. She knew they needed to continue, but they were alone and would be able to hear the realtor letting anyone in. So she took the chance, and kissed him back as deeply as she could before they parted. "It'll be much better when we share one bed," she murmured, their lips brushing together. "And stop shuttling back and forth."
"I know," Castle said, nuzzling her lips. "Soon though." He finally let her go with a great deal of reluctance, and said, "For now, should we continue?"
"Yes, I hope Alexis doesn't mind this would be Julia's room," Beckett said, knowing the mention of their daughters would bring them back to what they were doing.
"I don't think so, the closets aren't that big," Castle said. "Wait, closet," he said abruptly as they were leaving the room after checking the bathroom. He took her hand and went back into the master bedroom to look at what would be their walk in closet and whistled saying, "Much better than what I have now."
"Me too, and it would fit us both," Beckett said. "Okay, let's take a look at the next one, Alexis' I think."
"Yeah, I think we should give Julia the other one since it has that wall length window, she'd put her bed there, and while it's not as big as this room, I don't get the feeling our daughter would mind," Castle said as they looked it over.
"I think she'd agree with you, but we'll talk to her about it if we buy a place here," Beckett said. "Alexis will like it here right? I know how long home has been the loft; I hope she doesn't think we're stealing you from her."
"She doesn't, she told me she just wants to live with her little sister once Julia is her little sister; to have a family," Castle said as they went to the next bedroom. "She was three when I divorced her mother, so I'm guessing her memories of a family are brief if she does have any. And I don't think we ever quite were a family when I was married to Gina."
"I hope we can give her that," Beckett said. "But she had you and Martha still."
"Remember my mother didn't live with us immediately, she was around to take care of Alexis," Castle reminded her. "I really wished I could give her a mother and father who were happy with each other and siblings, but since it never worked out, I don't blame her for wanting that. Plus I think she does love me as her father," he said with a shrug as his fiancée was looking in the closet in the room. "So, who'll have this room?"
"Who else? Your mother," Beckett said with a smile. "It'll be her second home if she doesn't want to give up the loft; though I don't see her doing that." As they went to the last bedroom she said softly, "I don't know if I've told you Rick." When he turned to her she said, "I do love Alexis, she is probably the best stepdaughter a woman could ask for, marrying a man with a child already. I really got lucky she doesn't outright hate me."
"She loves you too in a way… does that sound bad? Because I'm not trying to make it sound like that," Castle said, thinking that over.
"No, I understand, she loves me because I make you happy, and because I'm the mother of her soon to be sister," Beckett said. When her fiancé nodded, looking surprised she smiled and said, "I took psychology too, so I can understand what she doesn't say and how she acts."
"You make a good point," Castle said as they peered into the bathroom outside the last bedroom. "Okay, this isn't too small for your dad is it?"
"If all he does is stay here, I think he can manage, it's still a pretty good size," Beckett said with a smile.
"And that's it for the apartment," Castle said. "So are you still nervous."
"You have a good accountant right?" Beckett asked.
"I do, we'll look at what we can do with both our paychecks, but I'm telling you Kate, I could buy this place right now," Castle said.
"Then we'll look around still but… I want this apartment badly," Beckett finally confessed. She laughed when Castle nodded rapidly in agreement to her as he wrapped his arms around her when they were in the entry. She shared a kiss with him before saying, "We should go, it's early for lunch, but I wouldn't say no to Stefano's if we went now."
"Stefano's in the park, another reason why I love you," Castle said, taking her hand and kissing the back of it tenderly. "Let's go tell Mr. Hill you're interested but need to wait and see."
Nodding, Beckett followed him out into the hall; luckily the realtor was just getting off the elevator with a family. She spoke to the man quickly as Castle held the car for her, and after he'd given her his business card they took his advice to look at the amenities. There was the pool; which they agreed when they saw it would be perfect to use year round with their daughters; the billiards room and screening room. There were a couple terraces they spent a while at, talking about how they wanted to paint the white walls in each room if they bought the apartment, and when they finally went outside they felt things were different, that they really had a future they weren't just talking about. She took Castle's hand as he was hailing a cab, and squeezed it momentarily, suddenly eager to show their family what they'd seen and their plans for their possible future home.
Draping his jacket over his arm, Castle took the pizza boxes that his fiancée was holding before they walked away from the cab they had taken from Stefano's to Central Park. "Alexis said they're near Strawberry Fields," he commented as they walked down the path nearest to them.
"That doesn't surprise me," Beckett said. "Julia always wants to go there though it makes her sad."
"Should we really have explained what happened to John?" Castle asked her as he fished in his pocket for his phone.
"She wanted to know," Beckett said. "I just wish my dad's friend didn't live at the Dakota, the one we went to see the day before Father's Day."
"I remember," Castle said with a nod. "But she did see Yoko in the lobby. I'm surprised she never thought Yoko broke up the band."
"Are we going to have that argument again?" Beckett said with a mockingly suffering sigh.
"When you're a pre-teen, and you have a few… negative experiences with girls, you tend to think they're all like that," Castle said, defending himself. He smiled when she rolled her eyes and said, "No, we don't need to, but she's smart."
"She is; now what's the text?" Beckett asked, gesturing to his phone.
"They're actually near the carousel, under some trees, my mother apparently insisted they have shade so Julia wouldn't get worn out," Castle said.
"You know you always tease her about how she raised you, but I get the feeling she wasn't that bad a mother," Beckett said, as they headed in the direction of the carousel.
"She wasn't, but it's not easy having just a mom, one who's an actress," Castle commented. "But you know, she's my mother, so I do love her. Not to be sappy, I'm just saying it so you don't think I'm heartless."
Laughing, Beckett squeezed his arm briefly as they went past the carousel to where there was a large clearing. "There they are," she said, seeing Julia in her cream colored peasant tunic.
"Mommy!" Julia cried, looking down from her kite that was she was flying with her grandfather. She handed him the string holder, and ran over to them, hugging her mother tightly before Beckett picked her up. "How was it? Was it pretty? Are you gonna buy it?" she asked, babbling.
"Easy sweetheart, we'll talk about it while we have lunch," Castle said as Jim came over to them. "But did you have fun?"
"She did, we took her for a ride on the carousel before we flew the kite," Beckett's dad said. "Alexis went with her."
"Where are they?" Beckett asked, handing her daughter to Castle.
"They went to get drinks for us all," Jim replied. "We were supposed to be sitting on our blanket, but someone couldn't resist trying to fly their kite one more time," he said to his granddaughter teasingly.
"Sorry, but it was fun, now I'll sit down," Julia said. "They're here!" she suddenly called, making the other three jump at how loud she was. She smiled and said, "So they see us."
"You went to Stefano's?" Martha asked as she and Alexis reached the others.
"We couldn't resist," Castle said. "Also we were pretty early when we got out of the building, Kate suggested it."
As they got the paper plates and drinks ready before they started to eat, Castle and Beckett stayed quiet on the subject of the apartment besides his mention of the building. But finally when they'd taken a few bites, Alexis was the first to speak.
"Well? Is it a good place or what?" she asked them.
"I don't think you can look at the pictures I took yet," Castle commented, sharing a smile with his fiancée. "But it's a great building, there's a park really close to it, plus where we are right now we're not too far from it."
"Is it really right by the river?" Julia piped up.
"Pretty much across the street, though the DiMaggio is in front of it. But, if we get a place there, we'll try and get it on a floor higher than the first ten," Castle said.
"And what did you think of it," Martha asked her son's fiancée, who'd been quiet.
"I thought it was great, but we can't really think we're going to get it," Beckett said. "Though at the moment is at the top of our list of places."
"Are you gonna look at more?" Julia asked.
"We'll see," Beckett said, smiling as Castle shook his head no.
"Oh! Mommy, Castle, I got another song," Julia suddenly said after they were quiet for a moment.
"Another? Didn't we just get the list cut down to where we wanted?" Castle teased her as he tickled her.
"She's really eager for this one to be included," Martha said.
"Alright, then don't tell us what it is, just play it," Castle said. "We'll see what we think."
Julia turned to Alexis, when her sister played the song on her phone, and watched her mother and Castle eagerly to see their reactions. "Do you like it?" she whispered when it had finished.
"I remember listening to that song with you before," Beckett said, getting her phone out after she'd finished her slice of pizza. She took the little girl on her lap, and opened the lyrics to the song, reading them before she handed her phone to Castle.
"Wow, you know, Paul's an amazing love song writer, but people shouldn't discount George," Castle said, knowing the moment he'd finished the last lyrics what his fiancée thought of the song. "The moment that I lose my mind, you come into my heart and say, I'm always here for you to love, surrender to me, let me stay. That's powerful stuff."
"Getting an idea for your toast at the reception?" Jim said as they all watched him thinking over those lyrics.
"No, I just wish could write that well," Castle said. "Though why I would want to write songs I don't know."
"For Mommy?" Julia suggested. She was a little confused when everyone started to laugh at that and she said, "I meant you should Castle."
"We know sweetheart, and you make a good point, but I don't sing," he pointed out to her. "But, I think we've decided on what we want to do with this song concerning the wedding," he said, looking at his fiancée.
"We have, I think sweetie, we need to replace Something, or just move that song to when we're eating and play this one," Beckett said. "Because that is a better song to dance to."
"Good, I like the song, I picked it 'cause what he says at the end," Julia said, taking her mother's phone from Castle's hand. She played the final verse, and began singing with it as the others turned from the little girl to eventually Castle and Beckett.
I feel such joy and call your name,
You're ev'rything my eyes could see.
I'll gladly kiss it all goodbye,
Stay ever in your company
Clearing his throat in slight embarrassment at the stares they were getting, Castle said, stammering a little, "Good, good job singing Julia." He wasn't stammering from the embarrassment though, more because the song's lyrics made him glance at his fiancée in a little bit of desire, wondering if she felt the same. He almost had a jolt when she turned to him, and he could see that in her eyes, making him take a long drink of his soda as his throat was suddenly parched.
"Thank you, but it's a good song, those are perfect words for you and Mommy," the little girl said seriously.
"So we're that transparent?" Beckett said, discomfited by the stares, but able to hide it better than her fiancé. But she found herself slightly more embarrassed at their reaction to each other at the lyrics, since she had to wonder why, it wasn't the first time they'd found a song they could relate to together.
"Pretty much, you don't mind the Sri Krishna in there at the end do you?" Alexis asked, a slight smile on her face.
"Not at all, it's a nice touch actually, though I want to guess he's singing the song to Krishna?" Castle asked his daughter.
"Most likely, that's how most of his songs go," Alexis replied.
"We'll be dancing to this one later," Beckett said. "For now, Julia, do you want to fly your kite one more time before we go?"
"Can I have another pizza?" Julia asked, looking down at the slices left.
"She was running around while we were getting things ready," Jim explained.
"Split a slice with me and your mom," Castle said, picking up the last one with sausage on it.
"How do you do that?" Julia asked interestedly, leaning over on her mother's lap to watch him cut the slice into three thin ones. "Thank you," she said when she had her little slice. She ate a bite and then said, "I really wish I could see the house Mommy."
"Tonight after dinner," Castle said, catching his fiancée's eye. "We can look at the pictures I took. Jim you're invited as well, since I'm sure Kate wants you to see the room that would be yours when you go there."
"And we want to have dinner with you too," Julia said quickly.
"That too," Castle said with a nod. When they had finished eating, he went with Julia out into the clearing, holding her kite as her mother was helping her with the string holder. "So I guess we're on our own?" he asked as the others were still at the blanket, finishing their drinks and watching them.
"They had to watch her until we got here," Beckett said with a smile. "Let them take a break."
"Okay, ready?" Castle asked. When Julia nodded swiftly he laughed and then held up the kite, letting it fly up on the breeze. "Watch how much slack you have," he called as it started to dip down. It went back up, and he walked back to Julia and Beckett, watching with them as the kite went high up before drifting back down when the gusts of wind died down slightly. "Not bad, you-" he started to say.
"I'll get it! Grandpapa said that was my job," Julia cried before running down the grass to the kite.
"Are you sure?" Castle asked when their daughter was out of hearing range.
"Yes," Beckett said simply. She wasn't surprised when he reached out to her, squeezing her hand lightly before they helped Julia get the string wound up and Castle was taking the kite again, going in front of them ready to hold it up to the wind.
As Castle let the kite go, Julia started to run, giggling when he called her name and ran after her. She knew, since her mother was wearing heels, that she couldn't chase after her and that was why she'd taken off. She dropped her kite; which had fallen to the ground by then already; crying out as Castle was able to reach her. "It's not fair, my legs aren't long!" she laughed as he carried her back to her mother, blowing teasingly on her cheek.
"Good thing, it's a little hot to be running around in the sun sweetie," Beckett said as she carried the kite back to the blanket. "Please tell me you have her bubbles."
"Right… here," Jim said, distracting Julia with his hand before he pulled the tall bottle out from the bag Alexis had brought with them that had Julia's hat and sunscreen.
"Ooh, is that something Great-Grandpapa did?" the little girl asked her mother, giggling.
"It is," Beckett said with a smile as her dad opened the bubbles and handed the wand to her. They were all studying Julia then as she blew a few bubbles before she then said, "What are you thinking about sweetie?"
"The song," Castle said, as Julia started to hum before her mother had finished her question.
"Yeah, it's a pretty song," the little girl said with a sigh as she handed the wand and bottle to her mother.
"You want to dance darling?" Martha asked.
"Yes please," Julia said. She went to her sister and said, "Play the same song we played for Mommy and Castle."
When the song started yet again, Castle watched the little girl swaying as Beckett blew a few bubbles in her direction, and he smiled with her as she danced to the music, humming again. He took his fiancée's hand that was freed when Alexis took the bubbles, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders when their daughters were then both dancing, Martha taking over the bubbles. He kissed her temple, not caring that moment about anyone seeing, the moment making him want to be as close to his fiancée as he could. And as Beckett squeezed his hand hanging over her shoulder, he felt it in the reassuring pressure of her hand as Julia and Alexis sang together, wide smiles on both their faces as they began to do so.
"I'm not sure about this Katie," Jim said as he and his daughter walked down the path.
"I need her close right now Dad," Beckett said gently. "I can't explain it, I just want to know she's there, that she's having fun and being a kid even while we're here."
Stopping then, Jim looked down and sighed saying, "It's been a long time."
"I know," Beckett murmured as she looked at her mother's tombstone. "But she would understand."
Smiling slightly, Jim said, "She would. You know we talked about it once."
"About my having kids?" Beckett asked, looking up at him.
"Not necessarily. More we discussed having grandchildren, though you were young still and we didn't want to think about you having children," Jim replied. "Your mother wasn't ready for that and neither was I. But we were hoping in the future we'd have a grandchild to spend time with, and spoil, I'll admit," he said, smiling again, briefly, as his daughter glanced at him at that. He fell silent then, and looking at his wife's name sighed and said, "When you said you were going to adopt Julia, when I asked if you were sure about doing that, it was more because I wasn't ready to be a grandfather without your mom with me. But Julia…"
"You know Castle told me that I needed Julia once," Beckett said, putting her hand on his arm. "As much as she needed me, I think we both did."
"She's been… a joy," Jim murmured. "You would love her Johanna, she loves you, so much," he directed to his wife's tombstone.
Wrapping her arms around her dad, Beckett hugged him tightly and said, "I'll give you some time alone." She went back to the path then, looking towards the playground the next block over, though it was out of view from the cemetery that her mother had been buried in. She took her aquamarine pendant from under her blouse, and ran her fingertip along the faceted top of the blue stone. She then did the same to the three diamonds next to it; finding herself wearing her engagement ring on her necklace more and more often since she and Castle had been up at the cabin. She wondered what Julia was doing with him then, hoping she was enjoying her time playing with him, hoping she wasn't wondering still what she and Jim were doing though she'd asked numerous times since they'd arrived.
"Katie," Jim said somberly, touching her shoulder. He smiled when she slowly turned to him and said, "I'll be at the entrance."
Nodding, Beckett went back to the gravestone, and once her father was out of sight, she murmured, "He's never going to take another mother away from another daughter Mom. I protected your granddaughter, my fiancé and our lives together. I just hope that's enough, but I swear I'll never forget you. Julia and Castle will make sure we don't. Dad was right, she loves you so much." She felt a little odd speaking; she didn't usually do it; but something in her felt that she needed to say it aloud. She looked down at her mother's ring she held in her hand, and she sighed as she studied it.
Finally, Beckett brushed away the tears that had fallen down her cheeks without her realizing, and when she felt she was ready, turned to go to the entrance. The walk calmed her down, so she was more than a little surprised to see her fiancé and father watching Julia at the planter at there, picking flowers. "Why are you here?" she asked Castle.
"She didn't want to play," he replied simply. "I tried telling her you'd come back, but she kept saying she wanted to go with you." He then said hesitantly, "I brought her here because she was serious Kate."
"Sweetie-" Beckett started to say to her daughter.
"Can I go and see Grandmama, Mommy?" Julia interrupted her, coming over to them with her arms full of flowers.
"How did you know what we were doing?" Jim asked his granddaughter, since she'd been so focused on picking the flowers and hadn't spoken to him.
"Mommy has Grandmama's ring," Julia said simply. "Celia told me she goes with her mommy and daddy to see her grandma. Can I see her and give her these?"
"You don't need to sweetie, I know it'll make you sad," Beckett said quickly.
"I wanna tell Grandmama I love her," Julia said softly.
"Come on," Beckett said. She put her hand on her daughter's back and was going to start walking back to the entrance when she paused, seeing her father and Castle were staying in place.
"We'll stay here, better you go alone," Castle told her.
Beckett smiled slightly at him before she took Julia into the cemetery, watching the little girl to make sure she wasn't getting scared. But she was surprised when her daughter wasn't looking around them, instead staring straight at the path, a determined sort of expression on her face. When they reached Johanna Beckett's gravestone, she said softly, "That's her name Julia."
"It starts with j like mine," the little girl said, smiling up at her mother a little. "Johanna," she murmured to herself, looking down at the dates. "Is that her birthday?"
"Mmm-hmm," Beckett said, not reading it since her daughter knew that already. She avoided the date of her mother's murder and said, "You remember your grandpapa and I told you what your grandmother liked to say."
With a nod, Julia whispered, looking up at her mother, "Can I give these to her now?"
"Go ahead, but tell me when you want to go okay? Don't stay because you think you need to," Beckett said, brushing a lock hair off her daughter's cheek.
Julia nodded again, and she started to step towards the gravestone when her mother called her name. She turned back to her, and was surprised when she draped a silver chain over her neck before cupping her cheeks. "Thank you," she whispered.
Watching as the little girl walked up to the marker then, Beckett felt her breath constrict in her chest. Her daughter was too young to be laying down the flowers she thought to herself. But there was nothing that could be done, only hope that there was somehow a way her mother could know Julia, could see her and watch over her. She had never really felt like her mother was with her since she had been murdered, but the soft breeze blowing against them at that moment made her feel that sense of calm she'd had before learning that the IA investigation into her had been dropped. She knew what Castle would say if he was with her, but she shook the idea that her mother was there with them, turning her attention to the little girl as she was starting to speak.
"Hi Grandmama," Julia said quietly. "Mommy and Grandpapa said you know who I am, so I won't say. But… I miss you Grandmama even if I didn't meet you ever." She picked up the ring her mother had put around her neck and smiled saying, "I feel like you are here, and you are watching me, Mommy and Grandpapa. We're happy but we miss you a lot a lot. I hope you can see that Mommy is happy now, she has Castle and they're gonna get married and I'm gonna be their little girl. But I wish you were here, 'cause the wedding." She frowned as her chin wobbled when tears filled her eyes, but she finally said, "If I ever get a little sister, or a brother, I'll tell them about you 'cause you're still my grandmama." Sniffing she then said, "I love you Grandmama, I miss you lots."
Beckett was nearly in tears herself as Julia turned and walked back to her, burying her face against her abdomen as soon as she'd reached her. She felt her daughter shaking once, and she leaned down, picking her up as Julia's sobs escaped. "She loves you too sweetie," she told the weeping little girl. "As much as we do." She wasn't too surprised when Julia didn't respond to that, and she turned to leave, not saying a word to Castle or her dad when she reached them at the entrance.
Jim was about to move to comfort his granddaughter, but wasn't really that surprised when Castle rushed to Beckett and Julia. He smiled slightly as Castle touched the back of the little girl's head before murmuring a few words to them both. When his daughter's fiancé looked back at him, he nodded and followed them to the curb, hailing a cab as Castle was speaking to Julia with Beckett, both of them trying to calm down their daughter. He felt that sense of them being cared for then as he watched the writer dry Julia's cheeks and squeeze Beckett's arm, and he knew he'd have no compunction in letting them marry and become their own little family; they would be happy and that was all he wanted for his daughter and granddaughter.
Looking over to the door as it opened, Alexis jumped up from the couch when she saw Beckett walk in first, her dad behind her with Julia in his arms. "What's wrong?" she asked, feeling like there was something the matter with the way the little girl was limp in his hold, knowing her sister wasn't taking a nap.
"It's okay, she's a little exhausted, she was crying for a while," Castle said as Jim closed the door behind them.
"Did she find out what you were doing?" Martha asked from the kitchen where she'd been pouring herself a glass of wine.
"I went to see Grandmama with Mommy," Julia said softly, turning her head from where she'd been looking over Castle's shoulder. "Can I go down?"
"Sure," he replied. Before he put her on the floor he kissed her cheek, letting Beckett do the same. "What do you want to do now sweetheart?"
When Julia shrugged, Alexis suggested, "Why don't we look at the pictures Dad took at the apartment Jules?"
"Can we?" the little girl smiled a bit at that.
"We can," Castle said, when Beckett nodded to his questioning look. He headed to his office with the others following him, and sent his pictures to his e-mail, opening it on the TV. "Okay, so first is the foyer from the front door," he began.
Beckett smiled as her fiancé seemed to be enjoying the others being enthralled with his "tour" and she couldn't blame them. She supplied a few comments when she needed to, but she was watching hers and Castle's daughter, seeing that she was slowly cheering up, though she kept her grandmother's ring on her thumb, rubbing the black stone at the top.
"This'll be your room Julia," Castle said. He smiled when he saw the genuine awe on the little girl's face and said, "It's slightly smaller than the room we want to give your sister, but we didn't think you'd mind too much with the view."
Shaking her head Julia said eagerly, "I think it's perfect."
"Also, Alexis, Julia's room would have two closets-" Beckett began to say, wanting to bring up something that had bothered her when she'd seen the room.
"That's alright, looking at that picture of what's supposed to be my room, the closet looks fine by me," Alexis commented, smiling as her dad's fiancée turned to see the picture on the screen.
"Then never mind," Beckett replied with a smile.
"That will suit me nicely," Martha commented, seeing the next picture was a different room.
"That'll be yours if we move there," Castle assured his mother. "And this is the guest bedroom slash your room Jim."
"Like she said, it'll suit me nicely," Beckett's dad said with a nod.
"Can you paint the walls?" Julia asked shyly as Castle started closing his TV.
"You can," Beckett replied. "And if we did move in there, we'd need to get furniture, so it won't look exactly like that."
"Have you been furnishing it in your mind already Kate?" Martha asked.
"Yes, though I'm trying not to since we don't know yet if we'll move there," Beckett replied as she took Julia's hand and led her out into the living room. She was a little surprised when her daughter tugged her hand, and looking down saw that she was trying to take off her mother's necklace. "You don't want to wear it anymore sweetie?" she asked as she helped her.
Julia didn't say anything, only followed her mother into Castle's room before saying, "I don't wanna be sad; Grandmama wouldn't want me to be would she?"
"No," Beckett said, smiling. "But she knows you won't stop missing her."
Nodding Julia then asked, "She likes Castle right?"
"I'm hoping," he said, coming inside the room then. "Sorry, I wanted to talk to you about dinner," he said quickly when Beckett looked over at him. "And this is my room too of course."
Smiling Julia said, "Are you gonna cook?"
"Yep, and I also want to talk to you, to see if you wanted to help Alexis with a salad," Castle asked. When Julia nodded rapidly, he smiled and said, "She's waiting in the kitchen for you." When their daughter had left, he looked at his fiancée and asked, "What happened?"
Taking a slight breath, Beckett explained what Julia had said at the cemetery, and wasn't surprised when he wrapped his arms around her tightly. "We have a wonderful little girl," she murmured.
"We do, I just wonder… why is it that she loved your mother so quickly, even though she's only seen her in photos?" Castle asked.
"I asked her psychiatrist about that, and it's because she's my mother," Beckett said. "You know how much our daughter loves me, knowing that my mom is to me what I am to Julia herself, she loves her in that way though she's never had grandparents until I adopted her."
"That makes sense," Castle said. "Are you okay?" he then asked, posing the question slightly hesitantly.
"I am, just, feeling like I've done all I can," Beckett said. "And hoping my mother would understand that."
"She does, she has to Kate; that calm you were feeling Friday morning? That had to be your mother," Castle said. He was surprised to hear the slight laughter from his fiancée and asked, "What?"
"I was thinking of you saying that exact thing earlier when I was feeling the same when we visited her; Julia and I," Beckett explained.
Nodding Castle said, "It's her, she loves you both, and would want you to be happy."
"I know," Beckett said, going to her nightstand and setting her mother's ring inside her engagement ring box. As she walked back to her fiancé, she handed him her ring she'd taken from her necklace, watching as he slipped it on her finger. She let him pull her into a kiss, pleased to not feel any kind of hesitation from him as she responded gently to match him.
Pulling back, Castle murmured, "Tomorrow."
"I know, tomorrow will be difficult, but just, be there with me when we see Isabella," Beckett whispered as they pressed their foreheads together.
"I will," Castle replied. He let her go but before she could walk away he quickly said, "I was thinking, if it's possible, I want us to look out for her." He was a little surprised at first to see the pleased expression on his fiancée's face, but then realized when she hugged him tightly why. "You had that same idea?" he asked.
"Yes, since I was holding her in front of the cabin. I couldn't just leave her without thinking of her again," Beckett said softly. "I wonder if her aunt and uncle will be okay with that."
"More than likely," Castle said. He took her hand then, leading her to the living room before he told her, "For now, let's just forget tomorrow, watch something with me tonight alone?"
"As long as it's not porn," Beckett said right before they stepped out into the room. She nearly laughed as her fiancé froze in mid-step, and she squeezed his hand before walking away.
Shaking his head slightly, Castle went after her, relieved at her smile as she went to their daughter, kissing her cheek. Julia's giggle in response was a kind of reassurance, and he smiled as he watched them, feeling their happiness as he walked a little faster so he could join them, talking to the little girl and her mother about their dinner menu that night as Julia listened in obvious fascination as he used all the descriptive words that he knew to make her smile again, the sight filling him with joy.
Hearing the whispered words, Beckett smiled as Castle spoke to their daughter, telling her he loved her though she was asleep. She squeezed his arm in passing before going to kiss Julia on the cheeks before brushing her lips across her forehead. "I love you too sweetie, I hope you have wonderful dreams tonight," she couldn't help saying. Julia had been put to bed hours before by all of them again; her father staying later once more as he had Friday night; and she hoped that would help the little girl sleep. Though she knew, as she stood up from Alexis' bed, her running around the park in the summer sun likely helped greatly as well. "Night Alexis," she said softly to Castle's daughter who was coming in.
"Night, see you in the morning," the young woman said, kissing her dad's cheek. When they had stepped out into the hall, she closed the door and went to her desk, sitting down to go onto her tablet, using a new app her dad had found after dinner, to paint the walls in pictures of rooms. She smiled when she looked at her first attempt, a deep peacock blue, and then shook her head, the sextant on the dresser of her Hamptons bedroom muted in the color. She began to use different colors, finding two she liked before she went on another app, playing a game quietly as she looked up at her sister, making sure she slept peacefully.
"So, what was it you wanted to watch?" Beckett was asking as she walked from Castle's room to his office, changed into her pajamas. When he nodded to the TV screen she laughed slightly and said, "The Rutles?"
"There's no way Julia will be able to watch this, Eric Idle made it," Castle said. "But George is in it, I just felt like watching it since this pops up after we watch the three Python movies."
"Then play on Mr. Castle," Beckett said teasingly, sitting on his lap.
Castle smiled at that, and played the movie, holding her securely to him, watching her reactions as much as he was watching the movie. He was relieved when it was in fact a comedy, and he and Beckett were laughing every once in a while. "See? George," he said jokingly, nudging her in the side as the singer appeared on the screen.
"I see," Beckett whispered, shaking her head though she was enjoying seeing George Harrison pretending to be a reporter. When the movie finished shortly after, she sighed as Castle switched to the news.
"Too depress-" Castle began to say before the anchor said the name Bracken.
"Details are still unknown in the death of the former senator, but it has been leaked to this station that Bracken was using two hit men to try and murder a woman, speculation hints that she may have been raped by-" the woman was saying.
Changing the channel, Castle flipped to a random one, and sighed, seeing it was the show that he, Beckett and Julia had just started watching, about an aquarium company in Las Vegas. "Sorry," he said. "I should have remembered, and it's the top of the hour."
"Don't worry," Beckett murmured as they turned their attention to a subject a lot less irritating to her. She rested her head on her fiancé's shoulder, sighing as the two men who owned the company were joking with each other. She wasn't annoyed, just emotionally tired though she wasn't that sad. She wrapped her arms around Castle's neck, and pressed close to him as he stroked her hair and they watched the episode, not caring they'd seen it already.
Turning off the TV during the ending credits, Castle started to speak, but noticed that his fiancée had fallen asleep at one point. Smiling slightly, he picked her up after setting aside the remote, telling himself to stop enjoying how she felt a little delicate in his arms as he went into his room. Just as he was though, she suddenly woke up and he told her quickly, "You fell asleep; I'm taking you to bed."
"Just as long as you don't want to do anything else besides sleep," Beckett said, wrapping her arms around him the rest of the way to the bed.
"No, I'm kind of drained myself, I say it was that same sun," Castle said, going back to close the door to his office. "But that was a lot of fun," he said as he had seen his fiancée sit up in bed.
"It was, I'll have to remind my dad to take her kite," Beckett said musingly.
"What're you thinking?" Castle asked, sitting on the side next to her.
"Nothing bad, just remembering they seemed to be really okay with us going to the beach house earlier than them," Beckett said.
"They agreed with us wanting some time alone," Castle said. "I think our parents would like us to stay together you know."
"I do, my dad's always been worried about me dating," Beckett commented with a little smile as Castle climbed over her to get under the sheet covering her lap.
"What?" he asked as he soon sat up with her. "He wanted you to date even when you were sixteen?"
"Please, that convent threat I told you about concerning my bike? He used it many times before. Apparently my grandfather told my mom that all the time," Beckett said, smiling slightly at the memory.
"Kate, can I ask you something?" Castle said a little hesitantly then, watching her.
"You can, but remember, depends on the question for you to get an answer," Beckett replied.
Taking her hand, Castle wasn't really surprised when she looked startled at his serious expression and asked, "Is it enough?"
Beckett smiled and said, "It is, I've done everything I can do stop him from killing. And it was either going to turn out I put him in jail for murdering my mother, put him in jail for another crime, or kill him. I did what had to be done, and I'm still alive, I have you, and we have Julia. There won't be any more investigating my mother's murder, I know what happened, and whoever judges Bracken now, they know too."
Reaching up then and cupping her cheek, Castle studied his fiancée's eyes, and saw the conviction of her words there in the brown depths. He leaned over then, kissing her gently, tenderly before he pulled back and whispered, "I find myself looking forward to the Hamptons a lot more."
"Hmm, me too," Beckett murmured as she kissed him quickly on the lips. "For now though, sleep?"
"Yeah," Castle said quickly before they slid fully underneath the thin sheet. He pressed against her back as she lay on her side, and kissing her shoulder he murmured, "I love you Kate."
"I love you too Castle," Beckett replied, turning to share another kiss with him. She guessed that he was feeling the same, as they were both a little rough at first with one another. But they finally parted, and she felt him relaxing before she allowed herself the same luxury. Her eyes closed and she found herself reaching that dim line between consciousness and sleep, one thing she was aware of before she slipped past into slumber was Castle's arm around her, holding her through the night.