Genre: Drama, Crime, Romance, Family, 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: As it says this is the Epilogue for this story but I do have another one ready to go so if anyone wants to read it look out for it in a few days!
A/N #2: The lyrics in this chapter are from the song Never Get Over You by George Harrison, same information in the last A/N below.
A/N #3: I was so happy to get what I did for feedback for this chapter so I want to get to my thank yous for that right away! vetgirlmx (Was pleased to see first off in your review that you thought both halves of the chapter were very nice. I was glad that you enjoyed reading about their time in the city and seeing the boys and Lanie in it again too! And it's interesting to see you find the four girls so close they're going to be like sisters, glad you like the idea though. I couldn't help laughing at what you said about the mayor though you made a good point. My idea with the way she was acting was one Castle's not with the NYPD anymore and also not living in her city anymore and two that donation that made to the charity. So figured there she could manage to be civil plus there was media so don't want there being anything negative reflecting bad on her! But I'm not surprised that you thought it was weird, I had a feeling readers would think that. I also laughed at what you said about the limo driver but you're likely right, who knows what he may have heard before them. And I did try to have them keep quiet, lol, as much as they could. And you may have been able to guess what I had next, I did hint at it a tiny bit in the last chapter. But still, I'm very pleased that you can't wait to find out and read more and now you don't need to!), Beckett-Castle4ever (I was happy to read that you thought both halves of the chapter were great. Was really pleased to see you liked them going to pick out dresses together. Also that you liked the fact that the girls were eager for their dads to see the dresses. And yeah, lol, no surprise that Castle liked what Beckett picked out as well as David liking Rebecca's choice. Was glad you could tell that they had a nice time at the party; even with other people trying to dance with them of course, lol. Was so happy to see you mentioning their ride home and also their time alone in the house, I was really glad that you enjoyed the loved scenes there! So pleased you can't wait for the next chapter which you don't have to do anymore either!) and TORONTOSUN (It was nice to see you liked how the first half of the chapter was concentrating on Beckett's dress for the night. Very happy that you liked the reaction that Castle had to her wearing it. Not surprised that you mentioned David having pretty much the same reaction to Rebecca as Castle did with Beckett. And I was really pleased to read your reaction to the second chapter and the love scenes in them it means a lot that you enjoyed them that much, lol). Thanks so much to those of you who sent me a review, I loved reading them and was so grateful to get them! And also thanks to those of you who read, will read, have reviewed this story in the past and who will review in the future, I'm appreciative of that too!
A/N #4: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Never Get Over You by George Harrison, from his album Brainwashed.
So Much Heart And Soul
"Okay, I think we're ready to go," Castle said as he finished buttoning his coat. "But I get the feeling that we're forgetting something." A look of realization appeared on his face and he said, "The cupcakes."
"Oh, I'll come with you Daddy!" Julia exclaimed as she rushed after him to the kitchen.
"Why Mommy?" Eliza asked, tugging her mother's sleeve.
"They need those for your parties," Beckett explained, smiling as she watched the two hurry back. "Are we set now?"
"Yeah, they're all here," Julia replied. "I can carry them right?" she asked eagerly.
"Sure, let's get going before we are late," Castle replied.
Letting the girls go ahead of them out of the house Beckett said to her husband, "I really hope they won't get hungry before lunch."
"It's not your fault love," Castle said reassuringly. "I should have charged my phone."
Nodding slightly; since they had run a little late before breakfast as her alarm hadn't gone off; Beckett said, "At least we weren't actually late."
"See?" Castle told her. "But they have everything for today right?"
"You checked for their Valentines too," Beckett said with a smile on her face. She couldn't help it then, yawning as they neared the Fosters and said, "Oh, I wish they would have gone to sleep last night."
"You need some coffee," Castle said. "I'll make some for you when we get back home."
"I'll definitely appreciate that," Beckett said thankfully. "Hey, just you today?" she asked Mari with a smile when the little girl hurried out of her house.
"Yeah, Mommy and Daddy are tired," Mari replied before turning and waving to her parents who were standing in the doorway to the house.
"I don't blame them," Castle said as they waved to one another. "So are you ready for Valentine's Day?"
"Yep, I have my cards," Mari replied before they started to walk to the school.
"Daddy, her cupcake," Julia said suddenly.
"Hold on," Castle said quickly as he made her stop. He reached into the container they'd placed the cupcakes in and got one out in an individual plastic holder. "This is for you to have with your lunch," he said.
"Thank you," Mari said, beaming up at him.
"Julia made sure that we made an extra one for you," Beckett said with a smile as Castle nodded to what she'd said. "So you should thank her."
"Thanks," Mari told her friend.
"I had to make sure you got one too," Julia said, smiling back at her. "Who knows what kind of cupcake you'll get in your class?"
Giggling at that, Mari put her cupcake into her lunchbox before she glanced back at Julia's parents and asked, "Your mommy helped make those?"
"She helped Eliza with hers," Julia replied. "And then we decorated them together." She then couldn't help laugh softly before saying, "You didn't think she would help us with that?"
"I dunno but my mommy is like that too, she doesn't like the cutesy stuff that people say girls are supposed to like," Mari replied.
"Neither do I," Julia said. When her friend nodded she said, "How are you gonna be a designer?"
"Don't worry," Mari said simply before they burst into giggles.
"Yeah, you and Rebecca are a lot alike in that," Castle told his wife as they'd been able to hear the two ahead of them. He was surprised when his wife didn't say anything to that, and he asked, "Okay love?"
Smiling slightly at him Beckett merely said, "I'm fine, just trying to hurry."
Castle left it at that, though he knew that she wasn't being truthful, and he followed the girls with her across the street and inside to the elementary school. "Okay, I'll take these so you can say goodbye to her," he told Julia as he took the pink box with the cupcakes for Eliza's class in it.
"Who do you want to take-" Beckett started to say before the toddler immediately pointed to her. "Then I'll be taking that box," she said with a smile to her husband.
Watching as Julia and Eliza said goodbye to each other, Castle picked the toddler up and raised her up above him slightly before he held her against his side. He pressed a kiss to her cheek and told her, "Have a great day, especially with the Valentines and cupcakes okay?"
"How do I read?" Eliza asked.
"We'll do it when you come home, while we're making lunch," Castle said, looking at Beckett as he said that. When she nodded slightly to his unasked question he turned to their youngest and said, "Yeah, then."
Giggling a little as she'd seen the exchange between her parents, Eliza shared a kiss with him and said, "Miss me?"
"As always sweetheart," Castle told her. "We'll see you later."
Taking Eliza's hand once he had set her down, Beckett led her inside as Julia started down the hall with Mari. Once she had the toddler's coat off and put away she led her over to the teachers saying, "Here's the cupcakes, does she need to give her your Valentines?"
"Yes, that way we can help them pass them out," Mrs. Hughes said, taking the bag that Eliza held out to her. "Thank you for the dessert Eliza," she told her, smiling at her.
Smiling back, the toddler replied with a you're welcome before her mother took her hand and led her towards a table where some of her friends were playing with wood shapes. "You have to go?" she asked then.
"I do, the bell's going to ring soon and you know your sister needs to go up to her class," Beckett said, smiling at her as she knelt in front of her. She pulled the toddler into her embrace and kissed her temple murmuring, "We'll be here to pick you up very soon remember. And have fun at your party."
"Kay," Eliza replied. She then smiled and said, "You and Daddy have it?"
"A party?" Beckett asked. When the toddler nodded she smiled and said, "Not exactly. We'll probably have dinner later," though she wasn't quite sure of that exactly as Castle had never told her what he had planned for their celebration. "But for now, bye."
"Bye," Eliza replied, waving. When her mother urged her to go play she smiled and then hurried to the table, greeting her friends before one of them handed her a block.
"Do you want us to go with you?" Castle was asking Julia as Beckett stepped out of the classroom.
"I need you to, I can't go up the stairs safely and carry the box too," the little girl protested.
"Well… I guess we'll go," Castle said, sighing. He laughed when Julia pushed his arm and said, "Since I'm already carrying the box, we should get going."
"Which we're doing right now," Beckett said, putting her hand on his back and leading him to the stairs as Julia went ahead of them.
"I can take them inside," the little girl told her father, trying to take the box outside her class.
"Hold on, we need to say goodbye," Castle told her quickly.
"We'll come to your class today," Beckett said as Julia turned to her. "We want to see what you'll be practicing for the competition."
"The Jive," Julia said simply. She giggled when her father whispered a yes and she said, "You like seeing that?"
"Sure, plus we know how much you love that dance," Castle replied. "And your sister will love watching too."
"I know and then she'll want me to show her how to do it too," Julia replied. A sort of determined look appeared on her face and she then said firmly, "I will this time."
Sharing a smile with her husband, Beckett said, "She might not be able to get it exactly you know."
"I know but that's okay," Julia replied. "Plus, it is good for me to help her."
"Okay, you'll have to tell your gram that we're letting you do that," Castle said.
"When is she gonna get here?" Julia replied.
"Soon," Beckett said, smiling inwardly as she recalled how her mother in law had had to go back to the city on Tuesday morning to make sure her loan for her acting studio had gone through with the bank and had stayed at the loft overnight. "You'll have to try and show her what you've learned yesterday and today."
"I will," Julia replied before hugging her mother tightly. "I'll see you there Mommy."
"You can't wait?" Castle asked as she then turned to her after sharing a kiss with Beckett.
"Nope," Julia said, smiling widely at him before they hugged and shared a kiss as well. She took the boxes and said, "I hope you do something now, for today, before you have to come back and get Eliza."
"We'll see," Beckett said, glancing at Castle.
"We have some things," he told her before shrugging slightly.
"Okay, go and have fun with your party too," Beckett urged their oldest.
"Thanks," Julia called before she then hurried inside the classroom.
"So what are these things you're talking about?" Beckett asked once she and Castle were outside the school walking hand in hand.
"I didn't have too much really…" he told her truthfully. "But I was thinking about walking with Macca on the beach. Not sure if that's romantic but it's healthy so I'm helping you…?"
Beckett couldn't help smiling at that and the look on his face as he said that and she squeezed his hand telling him, "That might be romantic."
Castle, looking at her, smiled back and he wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her close before saying, "I might have a few things besides that."
"You just want me to kiss you," Beckett replied.
"And why not?" Castle asked.
"Not yet," Beckett said. "I'll need some coffee first before that."
"Right," Castle replied as they went down the driveway to their house. "Before or after the walk?"
"Before," Beckett said in amusement as she unlocked the front door. After they'd gotten their outer layers off and had greeted Macca she followed her husband into the kitchen, sitting at the island as she watched him brew their cups. "I feel a little bad the girls aren't going to be able to see what you'll make today," she said as she could tell he was putting a design into the foam.
"You're not going to take a picture?" Castle asked, looking over at her quickly.
"That depends if I like what I see," Beckett said, smirking slightly at him.
"Oh, I think you will," Castle replied before he turned to set her mug in front of her.
Looking down, Beckett smiled and said, "What kind are these?" as there was a line in the middle with little flowers on the sides of it.
"Forget me nots," Castle said, looking into her eyes as he spoke.
Biting her lower lip slightly, Beckett took a quick picture of the cup with her phone and said, "I'll have to explain to them what those mean."
"They know already," Castle said quickly. "I reminded Julia when I told her and Eliza."
"Why were you talking about these flowers," Beckett said as Castle went around to sit in the chair next to her.
"For something," he replied, sipping at his coffee so he wouldn't have to say more than that.
Though she knew she probably could have gotten the answer out of her husband, Beckett decided not to push it, and instead sipped at her drink. They were quiet as they drank and once she'd finished she watched him take the cups and rinse them out. "So, your plans?" she asked him as he walked up to her when she stepped on the floor.
"That walk," Castle said with a shrug. "But," he said quickly, grabbing her hand. "You owe me something you know."
"Like what?" Beckett asked, raising her eyebrow questioningly.
Castle merely smiled before he was leaning down, kissing her deeply at the same time his hands pressed the small of her back, drawing her against him.
Beckett had expected it to be that but she wasn't complaining as she snaked her arms around his neck. Holding onto him she parted her lips when he suddenly slipped his tongue into her mouth, slightly startled when he only flicked it against hers once before moving back. "That's it?" she asked, trying to kiss him again and surprised when he wouldn't let her get too close.
"For now," Castle said. At his wife's look he quickly added, "I'm trying to see if I can tempt you."
"You know it doesn't take much," Beckett stated simply.
"Still, let me have that," Castle asked pleadingly.
"Alright," Beckett sighed. She nearly laughed when he gave her a chaste kiss on the lips but instead followed him to the entry as she whistled to Macca to follow them. She helped him get the dog's booties and sweater on before they got their own outer layers before walking out with the Wolfhound ahead of them on his leaf. As they headed down the beach, past the Foster's house first, she took her husband's hand and they held each other's tightly while they walked in silence at first, watching Macca sniffing around in the snow.
"Think he's trained enough to let him off the leash?" Castle asked.
"I don't think so, he's still a puppy," Beckett said simply. She looked up and down the beach as he looked at her and told him, "I know, we're the only ones here but still."
"Oh, alright," Castle said, though he was pulling her as close to him as he could while he was holding her hand. "I'm thinking; you probably are too; that we should write a little more?"
"You're only saying that because we're at a love scene," Beckett immediately replied. She nearly laughed when Castle made a face and said, "You didn't think I'd realize that?"
"I was kind of hoping," Castle told her simply. "Do you want to talk about it at all now? Or a brainstorming session."
"That depends," Beckett answered. "Are we going to talk or go through the scene physically?"
"No, talk, because I know we won't really have time for that when we get back home," Castle said, as he knew without either of them saying anything about it, that it was going to be a long walk.
"You're sure," Beckett said. When he nodded, looking serious, she smiled slightly and then said, "Okay but you need to decide if this is going to be a shorter or longer one."
"Probably shorter, only a few pages?" Castle suggested.
"That would be best, you have something planned for after this case right?" Beckett told him.
"The trip, yeah, but considering the threatened person's a CEO of a hotel in the Bahamas…" Castle said.
"I'm just glad you're here to write that scene with me," Beckett said, not surprised when her husband smiled at how she worded that. "Since I've never been."
"Yeah, well, I think we'll just focus on Moor and Green in their room," Castle replied. "But it's going to be short as well, just more detail. That one we'll definitely have to act out first ourselves of course."
"Of course," Beckett said, rolling her eyes though she was smiling. She looked ahead at Macca and said, "Will we have time to even finish it? You know I don't like leaving those scenes hanging, or getting either of the girls right after writing them."
"They can't read our minds Kate," Castle said, though he agreed with her on that last point. "But yeah, we'll go pretty quickly."
"Just don't let Moor be," Beckett said. She looked at her husband and laughed with him as they turned around then to head back home, leaning her head against his shoulder as Macca started to bark at some birds flying across the sky.
When they'd gotten inside their house and were in their office, Castle sat with Beckett on the couch there, watching her wrap her arms around her bent knees. "So," he began. "This is around the middle of the case and they've just had that sort of argument about the CEO. You're sure it should be a woman?"
"It's different from what would have happened if the situation had occurred in real life," Beckett pointed out. "Since I'd have to protect them."
"That's true, that's why I'm glad that Skye was a woman," Castle said. He laughed slightly at his wife's look and said, "Yeah, even though she was gay, and attracted to you, she was married so…"
"Attracted to me," Beckett stated. When her husband nodded she opened her mouth to speak when he did before she could.
"Think about it," Castle said simply, not too surprised when she did so before looking at him. "Does that bother you?" he asked, wondering what her expression meant exactly as he couldn't quite read her.
"It doesn't really matter since I know she does love her wife," Beckett said, smiling at him. "But we should get back to the story."
"Right, so," Castle said, wondering why she looked a little thoughtful then. "You're sure you want to?" he asked, looking at her a little closer then.
"I do, I'm just… thinking," Beckett replied, shaking her head. "So we're at the point of them going to bed together, you can go two ways with that."
"You always tell me that, we're supposed to be deciding together," Castle protested before she pushed at his shoulder. "Slower."
"Thank you," Beckett replied since she liked making him do that, knowing it teased him to no end. "Okay and second-"
"Her on top," Castle said quickly, already aware of what she'd say.
"Then shouldn't you start?" Beckett asked, since she tended to let him write those scenes while she assisted.
Castle hesitated for a moment, before he heard a knock at the door and then quickly said, "Yeah, right now," as he stood to go to his laptop.
"I wonder if that's Rebecca," Beckett said as she got off the couch.
"Wouldn't she have texted?" Castle called.
Beckett didn't reply to that, having to get Macca to the doorway between the hall and front door as he'd been barking. She then looked out the peephole and glanced back towards the office before she hurriedly opened the door.
"Hello, I'm looking for Ms. Beckett?" the man said.
"That would be me," she replied. She took the vase of flowers and after signing for them, nodded to the delivery man before locking the door. "Castle," she called, going down the hall with Macca.
"You don't like them?" he asked, stepping out immediately. "Come on," he said in slight concern as he couldn't gauge her expression. "The girls made sure I picked out the most romantic flowers when I told them about ordering this and-" he said as she set the vase on the island. He was cut off when she turned to him and grabbing his shirt in her fist pulled him against her before they kissed. A sense of relief rushed through Castle then and he held his wife as tightly to him as he possibly could while they went a little crazy between each other. Finally though, they managed to part and he breathed, "You scared me."
"I had to," Beckett said. She then glanced at the flowers and asked, "They helped you?"
"No, actually Julia was pretty insistent that I pick everything out myself," Castle told her. "You know how our daughter is."
"I do," Beckett said with a smile before he let her go and she touched one of the orchids in the bouquet. "They wanted you to have these though I'm guessing."
"That was the only one," Castle said. "You know what these mean right?"
"Yes," Beckett said, still smiling at his tone of voice. "I'm just wondering how you got lily of the valley in there and all white flowers."
"The white forget me not doesn't mean anything else right?" Castle asked her. "Just true love?"
"As far as I know," Beckett said. She then turned to him and said, "Another thing about the girls, did they see this in any way?"
"Before today? No," Castle asked. "They couldn't have because the florist put this together."
"She must love you," Beckett replied, laughing softly as she then turned.
"A picture?" Castle asked.
"Yeah, why?" Beckett said as he stopped her from leaving.
"I think you might want to hold on a second," Castle told her before leading her to the office.
A little confused, Beckett waited for her husband to grab a box and she quickly said, "Are we exchanging gifts now?"
"No," Castle said very simply. He handed it to her and said, "This one I actually had for Christmas but of course I didn't get it until last week. So… a late, late gift."
Smiling at that, Beckett reached up to cup his cheek before she took the lid off, as it wasn't wrapped. "You… how did you know?" she asked, taking out a box camera, nearly similar to their oldest's.
"I can tell you enjoy taking pictures with it," Castle replied. "But why I never got one for you before this I don't know. So I'm making up for it."
Smiling Beckett asked, "Black and white, or color?"
"Color, that I know you preferred, the film is already in there," Castle replied, following her back to the kitchen. He watched her set up the shot before she paused, "What's wrong?"
Beckett didn't answer; instead she smiled at him and shook her head saying, "Let me check something." At his surprised look she then added, "Really quick," before she headed to their office.
Castle frowned at that, and then turned to the flowers, pushing a sprig of baby's breath up before he made a noise in the back of his throat, breaking it off. As he looked at the tiny blooms he then heard a stuttering sound and looked to see his wife was taking a picture of him.
"It didn't seem right to me to break in another new camera by taking a picture of just flowers," Beckett explained, smiling as she walked up to him. "Watch out," she then told him before setting up her shot of the vase again. She glanced at her husband and seeing he was staring at her she smiled again, putting the camera down next to the vase. "Thank you," she told him sincerely.
Castle didn't reply to that, instead he gathered her up in his arms and kissed her, not surprised when she was responding to him almost immediately. When they parted for air he couldn't help himself, leaning in close to her to brush his lips against hers. Pressing his forehead to hers he whispered, "I adore you my love. I'm going to find it hard to stop doing that… you are definitely my goddess."
Feeling her cheeks instantly heating up at that, Beckett murmured, "I adore you too Rick." She tried to continue before finally saying, "And you know I feel the same."
"You can say it, I told you," Castle teased her.
"Yeah, you know already that you're Shiva to my Parvati," Beckett said, smirking at that. "I'm not going to call you a god, you think that already obviously."
"Oh, alright, at least you compared us to Shiva and Parvati, I do love hearing that of course," Castle said, reluctantly letting her go.
"I know you do," Beckett said, sharing a quick kiss with him. "But you know we should get started."
Looking at his watch, Castle nodded and said, "After you love."
Smiling at that, Beckett went ahead of him and into the office before saying, "You're the one that needs to write you know."
"I'm aware but we need to hurry," Castle replied, sitting down. "Okay, so let me start out here with where we stopped. Green was watching Moor with a strange expression on her face, but her entire mein to her boyfriend was one of uncertainty and he said to her a little more sharply than he wanted to, 'You know that I don't really feel anything for her, it's just a job Anne.'"
"We stopped there?" Beckett asked in surprise as she didn't remember leaving off so abruptly as she had never liked doing that.
"No, I'm just… there was a mistake," Castle replied. "Sorry, okay after that line. 'It's hard to know Paul, you seem to be thrown with her every time I look,' Green replied. They stared at each other and she shook her head saying, 'I should go.' And she had begun to pivot on her foot to do so when her hand was being grabbed. 'Don't do this Anne,' Moor was nearly begging her. 'I don't even like her.'"
"'How am I supposed to know that?' Green asked," Beckett then read since she was on her computer by then. She smiled at her husband when he looked at her in surprise and she continued, "'Because I love you,' Moor said simply, yet still driving the meaning of those words home before he pulled her into his embrace. I really hope fans aren't angry we haven't put one of them saying that until this book," Beckett commented as she finished there.
"Well, sometimes it takes people a little longer to tell one another that. And with the time it took for them to say it, hopefully it conveys that their relationship's a bit stronger even with them hiding it," Castle said.
"Go ahead," Beckett said with a smile. "I can tell you want to start."
"Great," Castle said, standing up and leaning over to kiss her deeply before he sat down again and started to furiously type. "Though she couldn't just leave everything at that Green found herself a little out of control of her own self, responding fervently to Moor's kiss. When they had at last broken apart she pressed close against the contours-"
"Whoa, stop Rick," Beckett said interrupting him. "Against the contours of his body?" When her husband nodded she shook her head saying, "I think we need to make the moment slightly more romantic before we turn to their bed. Try this, she pressed herself closer to his form, feeling his arms tighten around her even more in response before their lips brushed together. With their breath mixing between them, she nearly thought she sighed those same words, giving voice to what she had been feeling for so long. Telling him 'I love you too Paul.'"
"Nice," Castle said, having typed that at a rapid pace as she'd spoke. He then began typing as he said out loud to her, "The kiss that Moor gave her then was rough and a little frantic at the same time, leading her to believe that they both had been struggling with what they'd felt for one another for far more than the length of their partnership." He paused there to start another paragraph and said, "When he had let go of her, Moor led her inside his room where he laid her down carefully on the bed. Green reached up to him, cupping his face in her hands before their lips met yet again."
Beckett smiled as Castle trailed off then and continued to type though he didn't tell her what he was writing. Luckily because of the writing program they had she could read it from her computer and she watched as the love scene unfolded. She only made a few suggestions for changes and once he'd stopped at what turned out to be the end of the chapter she said, "Nicely done. You took some inspiration from the last time we made love didn't you?"
"Of course," Castle said simply before he smiled at her. He looked at his watch and said, "We have to go."
"Good timing, if you'd have gone on longer I would have given you that neck pinch," Beckett told him teasingly as she followed him over to the entry.
"Oh come on," Castle protested, grabbing his coat. "That's only for when I play video games." He wasn't surprised when his wife merely smiled at him and he breathed out roughly, once, before saying, "Again, you're a goddess, love."
"Don't kiss my ass," Beckett replied before she led the way out of the house, having gotten her outer layers on first. She smiled when she then could hear Castle running in the snow after her and she turned to him as he took her hand.
"I really don't have anything behind that," Castle told her. "It's the truth." He then said, since he knew his wife still wasn't exactly comfortable being called that, "You're going to have to show Eliza the camera."
"Well, since she'll see the vase I'm sure, she'll see the camera," Beckett replied.
"Going to let her try it out?" Castle then asked her.
"Of course," Beckett replied. "Though with supervision obviously."
"Obviously," Castle echoed with a nod before squeezing her fingers since their hands had entwined along the way.
When they had reached the elementary school building, the two waited for their daughter, seeing she was one of the last to come out in the line her teachers led.
Seeing her parents, Eliza rushed to them and hurriedly told them about the party and the cupcakes. "Every ate!" she cried as Castle picked her up.
"That's great, I knew they'd like them," he told his daughter seriously. "And did you?"
"She still has pink frosting around her mouth Rick," Beckett said in amusement as Eliza pursed her lips before he kissed them. "So I would say that's a yes."
Castle laughed when the toddler nodded rapidly to that and he told her, "Better give your mom a kiss, don't want her to get jealous."
Shaking her head at her husband at that, Beckett kissed their daughter and then said, "Did you look at your Valentines?"
"No, you read them," Eliza said.
"Didn't even open them," Castle said, pretending to sound shocked. "See, there you're like your mom, since there's no way I could keep from reading them all at once." As the toddler looked at him in slight confusion, he then said, "I really hope there's not one from a boy that says they like you."
"Rick," Beckett sighed.
"Well?" Castle said pensively before he laughed. "Strong sense of déjà vu right there."
"Alexis?" Beckett asked as they were nearing the house.
"Yeah, it eventually became a kind of game, me scanning the Valentines, making sure nothing was untoward there," Castle replied. "I don't think I'm going to be doing that with these two though."
"Not with hers, mainly because you need to get lunch. I'll be looking at them with Eliza," Beckett replied, going to unlock the door.
"Is that okay?" Castle asked Eliza as seriously as he could.
"Yeah," the toddler instantly replied, nodding her head rapidly. Inside the entry she was placed on the floor and she squealed when Macca almost immediately jumped at her, licking her cheek. "Macca nooo!" she giggled before there was a whistle and the dog stopped instantly. She beamed up at her mother as she started to unbutton her coat telling her, "Thank you Mommy."
"You're welcome," Beckett said absently, setting the blue coat out on the bench before getting her scarf, mittens and hat on top of it. Once she had her own things off, she asked her, "Want to get your Valentines for me?" She smiled when the toddler nodded her head rapidly before she went into her backpack, pulling out a bag with little envelopes in them. "These are for me," she said slowly, showing her parents though they'd already seen it.
"Looks like you got a lot, you're pretty popular," Castle said as Beckett picked their daughter up and followed him into the kitchen.
"Mommy too!" Eliza exclaimed as she saw the vase. "See? Mommy, look!"
"I saw sweetie," Beckett laughed softly, kissing the side of her head. She handed her to Castle before sitting on one of the chairs at the kitchen island and took her back once she was settled.
"So, what's on the menu today?" he asked his wife, watching Eliza with her as the toddler touched one of the tiny forget me nots.
"I'm choosing today?" Beckett asked with a smile.
"Of course," Castle replied.
"Then how about quesadillas?" Beckett suggested.
"Eliza?" Castle asked as she hadn't been listening obviously, still looking at the flowers.
"Yeah," the toddler replied before starting to reach for the camera. "Mommy," she whined when her mother took it.
"I know sweetie but let's wait to look at this until your sister's home alright?" Beckett asked, kissing her temple. "For now," she said as Eliza nodded once. "Let's see what you got."
Smiling as her mother read the short messages on the Valentines Eliza asked, "Did Daddy say?"
"Say what?" Castle asked, looking over from the stove.
"Do you mean give me one of these?" Beckett asked, indicating the small card in her hand. When the toddler nodded she smiled at her husband and whispered in her ear; though loud enough for Castle to hear, "See the flowers in front of us? That's his Valentine."
Giggling as Castle looked back at them, Eliza said, "Is it good?"
"Very," Beckett replied, taking another card out of its small envelope. "This is from Penny."
Castle listened to his wife reading and as he finished up she was getting to the second to last one. "So," he said after he plated the food and got their drinks as well while she finished the last one. "Looks like you are popular, just like your parents… no?" he asked Beckett, sliding into the question at the look she gave him.
"No, people think she's nice," she corrected him.
"Oh, that's what I meant," Castle said quickly. "Your mom's right, you're really nice so your classmates like you. I bet they like to play with you at recess."
"And Julia," Eliza insisted as her father carried her over to the table.
"I'm sure they do," Castle said, chuckling slightly under his breath. He kissed her temple before he set her in her high chair as Beckett was bringing the plates to the table. "I hope you two will enjoy these," he said as he looked at her.
Smiling at him, Beckett said, "I have to admit, I almost thought that you were going to cut these into heart shapes."
"I nearly did," Castle said, getting the last plate and helping her with the drinks. "If we'd been up in time I could have made heart shaped pancakes for you guys."
"Another day," Beckett replied simply as they sat down to begin to eat.
Since Eliza was busy with her quesadilla, Castle and Beckett talked to each other quietly until they had finished lunch. Once their youngest was set down to the floor they watched her suddenly take off, Castle hurrying after her to make sure that she would be alright.
"Kate," he called from the family room.
"What?" Beckett asked, hurriedly setting the dishes and glasses in the dishwasher before she went to him. When she stepped in she wasn't too surprised to find Eliza running on her hobby horse and she said, "Sweetie, you need to take a nap now."
"No!" Eliza said simply before brushing past her.
"Should we let her run around a little?" Castle asked, though his tone was hesitant.
"A little being the key word there," Beckett said, though she didn't sound too sure either.
After a minute more of letting Eliza go back and forth down the hall, Castle went to her and stopped her by grabbing her shoulder. He wasn't too surprised when the toddler burst into tears, starting to kick her legs as he picked her up.
"Eliza," Beckett said firmly, going to him and taking the horse from him. "You know you need to take a nap and now or else we'll miss your sister's dance class."
Castle sighed when that wasn't enough to get the toddler to stop crying and said, "Think we should resort to more drastic measures?"
Beckett was about to protest that they hadn't been trying for long enough to get their daughter to calm down; when she realized he was right. From the way Eliza was crying, she knew from experience that they would have to work with her to get her to calm down. "I think you're right," she told him, nodding as they started to go up the stairs together.
Starting to calm down then, Eliza looked around in surprise as she found that she was in her parents' room. "Mommy?" she asked, tears still on her cheeks.
"We'll let you sleep here with us," Beckett replied. She had to smile when the toddler looked at her in surprise and she stepped over to her, gently drying her cheeks before kissing her forehead. "And I know you're wondering why, but that's because someone's a little too excited," she explained.
"I had cakes," Eliza sighed as her mother took off her shoes. She then looked concerned and said, "My horsie?"
"I'll put him out to pasture," Beckett said, nodding to Castle.
"Okay, so for now-" he said, going to the bed as his wife set the hobby horse against the dresser by the door. "Eliza," he said as she held onto his neck and wouldn't let him set her down.
"Mommy too," the toddler insisted.
"Come here," Beckett said, going over to them and taking her. She smiled when Castle reached over to her free hand but she stepped away saying, "Sorry, but she really needs to get some sleep."
Looking at his watch he had to admit that she was right, so he grabbed a blanket as Beckett lay down with Eliza. Once they were settled, Castle moved to join them, getting his shoes off first. Shaking out the blanket over them, he said, "Are we all warm?"
"We're also asleep," Beckett whispered to him quickly.
"Oh, sorry," Castle replied in a whisper as well as he could see she was right; their youngest had fallen asleep. "How did that happen?" he asked his wife.
"I don't know," Beckett replied, smiling slightly. "And I don't really want to question it, I'm just glad that she's asleep." She watched him reach over to her then and smiling said, "Still can't help yourself."
"Not in the slightest," Castle replied with a slight grin before he ran his thumb over her lower lip. He smiled wider when she kissed it and then moved his hand away saying, "You set your alarm right?"
"I did, get some sleep love," Beckett told him.
"Night Kate," Castle said, smiling as he knew she was going to sleep herself.
"Night," Beckett whispered before closing her eyes.
Castle wasn't surprised when she quickly nodded off and he finally closed his own, falling asleep as fast as she'd done.
"Hello Macca," Martha said, entering the front door. "Where on earth is everyone," she said, surprised when her son and daughter in law didn't come to the entry. "Richard? Kate?" There was no answer and she looked upstairs before leaving her suitcase and starting up. She went to Eliza's room first, thinking they were putting her to sleep or getting her up, but found that the room was empty. Frowning slightly she went to Castle and Beckett's room, freezing in the doorway when she saw that the three were asleep on the bed. She smiled at the image they made, Eliza in between her parents and she carefully left before she woke them up.
Beckett felt like she had just closed her eyes when her alarm suddenly went off and she groaned a little in response as she turned onto her back to get her phone.
"That wasn't a long enough nap," Castle said, having woken up at the same time as her. "Looks like it was enough for you," he said to Eliza as she was suddenly getting up onto her knees.
"Hello everyone," Martha said, appearing in the doorway then.
"Gram!" Eliza cried, trying to stand up.
"Oh, hold on darling," Martha said as she walked quickly over to the end of the bed. She picked up her granddaughter and shared a kiss with her before Eliza proceeded to kiss at her cheek repeatedly, making her laugh briefly. "I think she's happy to see me."
"I think so, hello Martha," Beckett said, smiling as she sat up.
"How is your Valentine's Day going?" Castle's mother asked.
"Pretty well, though we need to hurry," Castle said, going to her and kissing her on the cheek. "Julia's going to be ecstatic to see you."
"I had to make it in time for her class," Martha said simply. "I'll get this one ready; you both take care of yourselves."
"Changing?" Castle asked once they were alone.
"No, just my hair," Beckett said. "You?"
"The same," Castle replied before he followed her over to the bathroom.
After they were all ready and then bundled up to go the four walked to the school, though Eliza was sitting on her father's shoulders, leaning against the back of his head. Inside the dance studio, they were a little surprised to find only Mari and Ms. Grey talking together there.
"Good afternoon," Grey said, smiling at them. "Martha it's wonderful to see you again. Julia was telling me you might not be able to make it back from the city today."
"I had to try," Martha said as they were sitting down. "What will we be seeing today?"
"I'm afraid you'll have to wait to see," Grey replied. "Julia," she said then as the little girl was one of the first students out from the dressing rooms.
"Gram!" Julia cried before she took off at a run to the steps, hugging Martha tightly. "Oh, I'm so happy, we get to try on our costumes today so you get to see now!"
"I can see," Martha replied, sharing a kiss with her. "Stand up, let me take a look at you kiddo," she told her.
"Why the glasses?" Castle said, smiling as he thought Julia looked incredibly grown up in her fifties style green dress.
"My song," Julia said. "I'm not saying," she told her father rapidly before he could ask. "You'll hear it."
"Come here sweetie," Beckett said. "What about the others in the class?"
"It's a costume day," Julia replied. "But it's okay Mommy, they know Peter and I are gonna compete this time; remember last time it was May and Dylan?"
"That's true," Beckett said with a slight nod. She then smiled at her, hugging her tightly as she told her, "You look so pretty Julia but grown up too."
"I thought the same thing," Castle said.
"That's bad?" Julia asked, smiling as she did though.
"You know already your daddy and I don't want you to grow up just yet," Beckett replied. "But if you have fun dancing…"
"Alright class, let's get ready," Grey called as the others; also in costumes; were coming out to the studio.
When the song for the Jive began Castle said, "Ah, yeah, that would explain her glasses."
"What's the song?" Mari asked.
"It's called Judy in Disguise, Julia didn't tell you?" Beckett asked, sounding a little surprised at that.
"No, she wanted it to be a surprise," Mari said. She listened to the song for a moment and then said, "Oh, that's why she wore them, it says glasses."
Julia; knowing her family and friend were watching her; did the best she could to tune them out as she and Peter performed the song that Grey had choreographed for them. At the end with her partner having taken her glasses at one point, she grabbed them and then walked away from as he pretended to stay still in surprise. She giggled when she then hurried back to him and said, "That was good!"
"Yeah, see, I told you we would get a lot better," Peter replied. He then glanced over at her family and guffawed when he saw them.
Looking in the same direction, Julia couldn't help but blush when she saw her mother, father and grandmother all had a big 10 on their phone's screens and she said, "Thanks, I wish you were the judges."
"Okay," Grey said, having laughed behind her hand at that. "Come on everyone; let's get back to practicing. I can see some people as still having problems with a few transitions into the kicks and flicks. Julia, Peter you had an almost complete one, so everyone back to your starting position," she told them, clapping her hands together.
For most of the remainder of the class the dance teacher instructed her students in the Jive before letting the rest of the class leave to get changed. While she was talking to Julia and Peter, Castle, Beckett and Martha watched the others leaving until they were the only two students left.
"Do you mind- hello," Grey called to Peter's father who'd entered the studio. "I'm going to have them go through their Samba; in these same clothes so they won't need to change; do you need to get them home or somewhere else?"
"No, she can practice," Castle answered for Julia.
"Same with Peter," the boy's father replied.
"Okay, I'll get the song, remember, the roll needs to happen at the line only love can get you… okay?" Grey told them. She then counted them in and played the music, watching the two going around the dance floor.
Smiling as she could tell Eliza was looking on in complete enchantment on his lap, Castle kissed her temple before they reached where the Samba rolls would be. He wasn't sure how it had happened but Peter had grown just enough for them to do that move once. And watching the two pivot by their hips he saw that they had gotten pretty adept at it for their age; though it wasn't a perfect roll as Julia had told them when she'd spoken about practicing it.
"More tens it looks like," Grey said, nodding to the stairs.
"I would have done that too," Peter's father said.
"Alright you two go ahead and change, tomorrow we'll practice the Foxtrot so the whole class can work together," Grey said.
After Julia was back outside with them she went straight to her mother, smiling widely at her asking, "What did you think?"
"I think," Beckett said, buttoning her coat. "You are a dancer sweetie." She smiled when Julia threw her arms around her tightly and she hugged her back, smiling wider when she heard her daughter whisper, "I love you Mommy." She kissed her temple and murmured back, "I love you too Julia." She then pulled away from her when she heard someone whimpering, smiling when they looked and saw that it was Eliza, looking a little impatient. "I think your sister wants to tell you something."
"I liked it," Eliza said when she was holding her sister's hand.
"I'm glad," Julia said. "How much would you have given my Jive?" she asked as they were leaving the classroom, smiling as Mari took her other hand.
"All," Eliza replied as she held up her hand.
"Me too, tens for both of them," Mari added.
"Thanks, I'm just glad we got those rolls pretty good," Julia said. "I hope it's enough!"
"We've got more time until that kiddo," Martha said. "So you'll have plenty more chances to work on it."
"That's true," Julia replied, nodding before she then asked her friend about her Valentine's Day class party.
When they had reached the Fosters, Mari turned to Castle and Beckett and asked, "Can she come to the door with me?"
"Eliza, come here sweetheart," Castle said as Beckett nodded. He picked up the toddler as they watched Julia and Mari head to the door. "Ah, their Valentines," he commented as he could see them exchanging envelopes.
"Yep," Beckett said, smiling slightly as the two hugged before Mari went into her house as Rebecca had opened the door.
Hurrying back to her family, Julia said, "Rebecca said hi."
"So are you going to open that now?" Castle asked, nodding to the envelope the little girl held tightly in her hand.
"Not yet, at home," Julia replied.
Castle wanted to comment on that when Beckett touched his arm and he glanced at her before they continued over to their house. He had to wonder though, what it was about their daughter that was making his wife act so strangely and he only hoped that he would have a chance to talk to her about it and soon as the need to know was driving him crazy.