Genre: Drama, Crime, Romance, Family, Humor
Rating: M for sexual situations and language
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured on the show Castle, they belong to the creator of the show, ABC, and the others who do own them.
A/N #1: As it says this is the Epilogue so the story has come to an end. But I do have the next story ready to post so if anyone would like to read it look out for it in a few days!
A/N #2: It was great to get the feedback I did for the last chapter so I will get to my thank yous for them right now! Guest (It was so nice to see that you think this story has been outstanding as well as the story. I do try my best with it. And you're very welcome for these stories, I'll continue to post them- I can't stop writing them, lol, too much inspiration to make me want to stop- if people keep wanting to read them!), TORONTOSUN (Glad to see your comment that Julia doesn't need to win to be a winner to her family, speaks to how much they love her which of course I like to show when I can. And I was really happy to see you enjoyed the love scenes at the end. Also not surprised you thought it was great that Alexis came to be there for the holiday, was hoping I'd get that reaction!) and vetgirlmx (Happy to read you thought the chapter was very nice. And I'm glad you could tell that they had a good day, definitely tried to convey that in the end. I'm not surprised that for you it wasn't a surprise that Julia and Peter got first place, lol, since I did write about them practicing so much. But great that I could surprise you with Alexis showing up at the competition and staying for the holiday. And I had to laugh at what you said but you're right, the Castles are definitely good a surprises. Great that you loved how Eliza was so eager to play with Castle and Beckett, and you got what I was trying to do with her. I was having her okay with them going on vacations but missing them still, wanted it to show her personality though Julia's like that too, lol. And you made a good point about Alexis taking some attention from Castle and Beckett for Eliza, lol. Really pleased to see you can't wait for their Thanksgiving celebration and now you don't need to wait to read anymore!). Thanks so much for the reviews, I really appreciate you all taking the time to write them and send them to me I loved reading them as well! And I wanted to say thank you to all of you who read the story, favorited it, followed it and reviewed it. And for anyone that does the same with this story in the future thank you for doing so!
A/N #3: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Lifelong Passion by Paul McCartney, from The Fireman (Paul McCartney and Youth) album Electric Arguments.
Make My Lifelong Passion
Stepping out into the hallway Alexis waved to her stepmother that she could see coming out of the master bedroom. When Castle appeared behind her she walked over to them and said softly, "Good morning. Happy Thanksgiving."
"Happy Thanksgiving," Castle and Beckett said together. The latter started to speak saying, "You-" before there was the sound of a utensil clattering on a plate or bowl.
"Are the girls in their rooms?" Beckett asked and then hurried to check for herself before Alexis could even answer.
"They're downstairs love," Castle said when he heard the girls speaking to each other. He took her hand when she walked back to him and they went down with Alexis. As they reached the kitchen he said, "Well… you two are ready to go riding it looks like," since Julia and Eliza were both dressed though Julia's hair was still mussed from sleep.
"And go get the tree!" the toddler cried out happily.
"I remembered when I woke up that we were going to go get it," Julia said. "Was it gonna be a surprise?"
"No," Beckett said, shaking her head as she took two of the bowls of cereal that Julia had been filling. "Thank you for getting your sister dressed. For now can you get your brush so I can take care of your hair?"
"I'll help Dad with the breakfast now," Alexis assured Julia when she looked to them. "Go so we can leave as soon as we're done."
"Are Gram and Grandpapa gonna go too?" Eliza asked.
"Your gram needs to stay," Castle said, getting a dish he'd managed to prepare after his and Beckett's walk the day before. "I have some dishes she needs to get out of the oven for our dinner. But your grandpapa will go."
"And the tree?" Eliza then said.
"I'm going," Jim said, smiling slightly when the others all jumped a bit and turned to him. He smiled a little wider for his youngest granddaughter and picked her up, kissing her cheek tenderly before he carried her into the kitchen. "You got ready quickly."
"They were already up," Castle commented to that.
"I wasn't all the way," Julia said, coming down. She had seen her grandfather descending as she was going upstairs so had already said good morning to him then. She smiled as the others said that to him as well and then said, "It's fun Grandpapa."
"I'm sure it will be," Jim said. "Breakfast is ready?" When his daughter and son in law nodded he said, "What about Martha?"
"I'm here, late again but I did make it in time to eat," Castle's mother said as she walked over to the kitchen table. She hugged Eliza as the toddler ran over to her and then went to where Beckett was finishing brushing out Julia's hair. "You're excited kiddo, I can tell," she told the little girl as she kissed her cheek.
"I am," Julia said with a giggle. "I hope you don't mind staying."
"I told you I don't," Martha said. "Make sure your parents pick out a good tree."
"Go and sit," Beckett ushered her daughter, setting aside the brush to take back upstairs later. She then joined the rest of her family at the table and as they began to eat she brought up the subject of what the girls wanted to do with their sister.
That discussion took up the entirety of the meal as Julia and Eliza would suggest things to Alexis to see if she agreed with them. By the time they were finished and in the foyer Castle said, "I don't know if you have time to do all of what you said today."
"We have more than today," Julia pointed out.
"That's true," Castle replied with a smile. "Okay Mother you know what to do-"
"You set the alarms on my phone and have even written down the times," Martha interrupted him. "Underlined three times each," she then said in an aside to her granddaughters who laughed. "And I will make sure to take everything out of the oven."
"But not at the same-" Castle started to say.
"Rick," Beckett said in a jokingly stern voice. "Let's go before it's too late."
"Alright we'll see you Mother," Castle told her before they walked to the garage.
"Well it looks like it's just you and me Macca," Martha said to the Wolfhound. "Why don't we see what wine will pair with our turkey even though you can't drink it?" With the dog's tail wagging she led him to the wine where she began to look around, making sure her phone was nearby for her son's call later that morning for the first dish.
The thud of the horse's hooves on the ground competed with the sound of their heavy breathing and finally Beckett had to concede that it was time to slow them down. As soon as she had begun to do that with Alex she wasn't at all surprised when her husband followed her lead and she smiled at him before they had their horses at a walk. "Did Julius want to?" she asked. "And by the way I love my saddle."
"So do I and no he didn't want to," Castle said, since he had a matching saddle. "And I'm sure Alex didn't either."
Beckett merely smiled at her husband and told him, "He responded though."
"You've got him well trained," Castle said easily. He then looked to her and said, "Is that what people say about me when they talk to you?"
"Why would they compare you to a horse?" Beckett said, rolling her eyes in mock annoyance. "And stop doing that."
"I'm just saying," Castle replied though he had a hard time fighting his smile at her reaction to his question.
"If you ever come home with ribbons then we'll need to talk," Beckett said with a smile. "I wonder if we should stop," she then said after they'd been quiet for a while.
"I don't know," Castle said, glancing behind. "We'd be waiting for a while."
Beckett nodded, since she knew he was right, and she then smiled saying, "They're probably going to spend the whole time talking."
"Yeah I wouldn't want to come in between two sisters gossiping," Castle said. He couldn't help but feel a rush at the sight of his wife laughing and tried to focus on their conversation before he hurried over to pull her off her horse. "You don't think so?" he finally had to say to distract himself fully.
"Julia's a little young to be doing that," Beckett replied, shaking her head though she still smiled at him. "They're probably just talking about… anything."
"I wonder if Alexis is going to mention Louis…" Castle mused.
"Rick," Beckett said a little warningly. "They're just friends."
"That was back when I last asked her if there was anything more between them," Castle said. "Which was a while ago since you won't let me ask anymore."
"You don't need to," Beckett replied. "If she wants to tell you anything about it herself she'll tell you. I know she won't appreciate being goaded into talking. Leave her alone about it." She then studied her husband and said, "Do you not like Louis?"
"No he's a great guy," Castle was quick to say. "I've told you that before love." He then frowned and said slowly, "It's just that…"
"She's a woman now Rick," Beckett said gently, having an idea of how he wanted to finish that. She then opened her mouth to speak but hesitated before telling him, "Would you want to talk to my dad at all?"
"I already have," Castle replied. He could feel his wife staring at him at that and he told her, "It was after we got back from Europe, the night we stayed over in the city before we came home. He said it's difficult to let go of your little girl but if you know she's found the right man it makes it that much easier." He then smiled as he said, "And he mentioned that since Alexis and I were close she wasn't going to be out of my life; like you aren't out of your dad's life."
"That was an awkward conversation wasn't it?" Beckett asked him.
"It was," Castle replied. "But he made some great points."
"She'll come home Rick," Beckett told him with a smile.
"Yeah," Castle said absently. They continued down the path before he then said, "Should we race the rest of the way?"
Since they couldn't really race; their horses too evenly matched and he meant instead that they would gallop; Beckett glanced at him as she was able to discern what he was really asking and said, "We're almost there, so no I'm not getting down to walk."
"You never do," Castle replied, looking disgruntled though he was only joking.
Beckett only shook her head as they'd done that many times before and she told him, "I'd like to ride, winter is… nearly here," as she looked up at the grey sky. "And if the paths ice over like they did last year then I want as many chances to ride as I can get."
"What do you think about riding tomorrow?" Castle asked her.
Thinking over that Beckett smiled and said, "I think that would be great. Just us?"
"It's just us now," Castle said. "I figure we'll leave the girls with Alexis and our parents and go back home… possibly before lunch."
"Possibly," Beckett said with a slight smirk. When her husband asked her what that look was for she told him, "I'm not going to make love in these woods."
"At this time of year?" Castle said, pretending to be offended. He laughed when his wife pushed at him and told her, "No I just think we should ride as much as we want."
"Alright but we might be a little tired after tonight," Beckett replied.
Castle was quiet before he reached out to take her hand and told her, "I wasn't thinking of waking up that early." He was surprised when she didn't respond to him, thinking she would tell him he was being too presumptuous, and he said, "Kate?"
Letting go of his hand Beckett smirked at him again and said, "I was thinking of what I might like to have you do to me." And with that she set off at a gallop, not surprised when he very quickly caught up to her. She wasn't surprised to see a trace of frustration on his face before she turned her attention back to the stables where her father and Eliza were waiting for them to return.
At that same moment Julia and Alexis were at the halfway point of the trail and were slowing down their horses from the trot they'd put them in; which was as fast as the little girl was allowed to go without her parents with her.
"I hate wearing these," Julia said, indicating her helmet.
"It's safer to," Alexis told her, wearing one herself. "Whenever I rode with Louis and Erin I had to wear one too."
"So… do you think you like him?" Julia asked softly, bringing up a subject she always wanted to ask her big sister about but never had the chance to since they hadn't talked alone together since before the end of summer.
"I…" Alexis began to say before she paused. She looked at her sister and said, "You're only nine-"
"Almost ten," Julia cut in quickly. "You can talk to me 'lexis I'll listen."
"I know but I'm just not sure if you would understand," Alexis said. As soon as she'd spoken that though she felt guilty and she then hurried to tell her, "Since you don't have boyfriends yourself." She wasn't surprised when Julia made a face and she wanted to ask if she would prefer the idea of a girlfriend but held back. Instead she said to her, "But I'm a little afraid of starting anything with Louis because he's from another country."
"You want to though? Date him I mean?" Julia asked.
"I would," Alexis replied.
"Then date him," Julia said. "You'll be in England for a while so once you finish there you'll know if he's… the one? Is that what they call that?"
"Yes," Alexis said with a laugh.
"Oh, does he like you?" Julia then realized she should have asked first.
"I think he does," Alexis replied. "I'll see though when I go back and after my finals are finished if he really does."
"Good," Julia said. When her sister looked at her questioningly she replied, "I want you to be happy like Mommy and Daddy are lucky to be," with a shrug.
"I don't know if there are many people who can be that lucky," Alexis replied. "But as long as you're happy with the person you're in love with…"
"And in love, that has to be there too," Julia said before she and her sister started to laugh together. "But I like him, he's nice."
"He is," Alexis said before they continued in silence for a little longer. Something came to mind and she said, "When are you riding in a competition yourself?"
Smiling Julia said, "I don't know, classes are over so I have to wait until spring."
Alexis was about to speak when her little sister started to talk enthusiastically and she turned to her in amusement.
"I wish there was one, I would love to be as good as my mommy," Julia said. She glanced at her sister and said, "What?" at the expression on her face.
"I'm a little jealous of you," Alexis said, though she was smiling at her sister.
"Why?" Julia said in surprise. "You can learn to do more than just ride too."
"It's not that," Alexis replied. "You want to be like your mom don't you?"
"Sort of," Julia said shyly. "I don't want to be with the police like she was," she said, looking troubled then at the thought since she was well aware of why her mother had become a detective. "But she's… not afraid and strong and I want to be like that too."
"You are," Alexis said reassuringly. "And if you want to ride like she does you're on your way to that."
"Thanks," Julia said. She opened her mouth so she could compliment her but paused. Thinking for a moment she then said, "You'll be a really good doctor."
"Thank you," Alexis said.
"Why are you jealous of me though?" Julia then said.
Though she hadn't wanted to explain in detail Alexis said, "I wish my mom was a little like yours."
Studying her Julia said, "You didn't lie and your mom is really mean is she?"
"No," Alexis said. "But I wouldn't really want to emulate her."
Julia was a little confused by that word but then recalled their father telling her what it meant and said, "But you still love her."
"Oh of course," Alexis said, about to leave it at that before Julia's stare at her let her know that she couldn't. With a sigh she then said, "I just wish I could talk about her like you talk about your mother."
"You could," Julia said though she was hesitant in that.
"Look, we're back," Alexis said, relieved to see the stables as they neared them. "And Dad and Kate are back too."
Julia laughed as she said, "Of course, they probably rode really fast to get here."
"More than likely," Alexis said. She followed Julia then to the building where their horses had been housed and saw their parents with Jim outside one of the corrals.
"Lizzy's riding a pony," Julia said, seeing that a second before her big sister had.
Beckett heard that and she walked to the two smiling as she said, "How was it?"
"A nice ride," Alexis answered first. "The fastest we rode was at a trot."
"I thought you might take it easy," Beckett said. "Want to get down?"
"Yes please," Julia said. "I wanted to see Lizzy."
"Come on," Beckett said, turning as she heard footsteps behind her. She saw that it was Castle and she smiled at him as he glanced at her while going over to his daughter. Turning back to Julia she helped the little girl off the back of her horse and handed over the reins of her Morgan mare to a stable hand.
"Mommy, they're going to get someone new to help with the horses?" Julia asked as she held her mother's hand while they waited for the man to take Alexis' horse too.
"Yes, why?" Beckett asked, looking down at her.
"Can I do that?" Julia asked.
"Oh sweetie," Beckett said, laughing softly.
"You're a little young," Alexis answered.
"She's right," Castle said quickly as the little girl quickly became indignant. "You can't work when you're nine."
"And we wouldn't let you if you were old enough," Beckett said gently to her.
"I don't have experience enough?" Julia asked, knowing what that meant.
"We don't want you to get hurt," Beckett said before she kissed her.
"One day I will have enough," Julia was quick to say.
"Of course and then you can work at whatever stables you want to," Castle said as they were making their way over to the corral.
"I wouldn't want to work wherever," Julia said firmly. "Just here where our horses are."
"Then we'll see when you're older," Castle said with a nod. He smiled as Julia threw herself at him and hugged him before they leaned against the fence of the corral.
"How was your ride?" Jim asked as he looked at his granddaughter next to him.
"Fun but it took a while," Julia replied before she peered in at her sister.
"You'll be able to gallop on your own soon," Jim said, running his hand over the back of her hair as he smiled at her obvious frustration.
Inside the corral Charlie was telling Eliza, "Go ahead and slow her down Eliza… wonderful. Ready to get off."
Looking at her family the toddler then made a slight face before saying, "No."
Unable to help laughing Charlie said, "I'm afraid your parents want you to."
Beckett watched hers and Castle's youngest dismount with the stable owner's help and then walked over to them. She smiled at how serious Eliza looked when she stepped out the gate which Castle opened for her. She wasn't surprised when she then rushed to her and hugged her tightly saying, "You were doing a great job sweetie."
"Thank you Mommy," Eliza replied, smiling widely at her. "Did you have fun?"
"We did," Beckett said, picking her up, kissing her and handing her to Castle.
"We did too," Julia said, going to her father while he was holding Eliza.
"Can I go again?" the toddler asked.
"We don't have time," Castle said, jumping when his phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket. He took it out and said, "Love, the dishes?"
"Your mother knew Rick, she didn't need you calling and texting her to tell her," Beckett replied.
"I would have just called her," Castle protested. When he saw the looks his wife and daughter were giving him he sighed and said, "Anyways since that's set, we do need to get the tree remember."
"Oh," Eliza said in surprise as she'd forgotten again. "Yeah let's go Daddy."
"We are right now," Beckett said with a laugh as Castle gave their daughter to her dad. "We'll meet you at the cars," she then said to the others. When they were alone she and her husband turned to Charlie and she asked, "How are the stables doing?"
"No one's left," the owner replied, looking up at them. "Those that have come riding the past week let me know they knew I was being set up. The stables are just fine."
"Good," Castle said. "We'll see you tomorrow. If you're going to be here."
"I might," Charlie replied, reaching over and shaking their hands. "Happy Thanksgiving."
"Happy Thanksgiving," Beckett said, her husband echoing her. She led the way back to the parking lot where their family was waiting and as Castle helped the girls into the back she took her father aside. "You don't have to go Dad; we can take Alexis."
"I'm fine Katie," Jim assured her, knowing what she was concerned about. "The girls are worried too."
"They are?" Beckett asked, glancing over to the car.
"They said the same thing you did, I don't have to go if I don't want to," Jim said with a nod to her question. "And I told them the same thing I'm going to tell you; it's time."
Beckett sighed and said, "Alright but if you want to leave the farm you can, no one will get mad at you for that."
"I'll keep that in mind just in case," Jim said. He looked at Alexis who was walking over to them and asked, "Ready?"
"They're ready," the young woman said with a smile, motioning with her thumb over her shoulder to the car.
"We'll meet you there," Beckett said, squeezing her dad's arm before she went to the passenger seat of the car where Castle was waiting. "Really?"
"They're getting into the other car," he told her. "Quickly."
"It's going to need to be," Beckett said before she kissed him. As he'd said it was a brief one and she was soon inside as Castle was heading out to the tree farm.
"Grandpapa," Eliza said once they were there and she was out of the car. "There are the trees!"
"I see," Jim said, smiling slightly as he saw the field. "So this is where you get them."
"Since Julia had her first Christmas here in the Hamptons," Castle said. "Ready?" He glanced at his father in law as the others all said that they were and took Beckett's hand since Julia and Alexis were leading the way. When he realized what he had just thought in his mind he turned behind them to Jim and Eliza and said to the toddler, "You don't want to run ahead with them?"
"I'm kay Daddy," Eliza replied, smiling at him widely.
"You can go with your sisters," Jim said.
"I can?" Eliza asked slightly hopefully.
"Go," Jim said with a quick laugh, pushing her ahead of him.
Beckett glanced at her father then after Eliza rushed after her sisters and she smiled at him before turning forward as the three ahead started to look at the trees. "Remember we need to at least somewhat agree on the tree," she told them as Alexis and Julia were walking around one tree together while Eliza waited for them, watching them.
"We will," Julia said confidently. "This one isn't good."
"She's right, there are too many holes in this one," Alexis told them.
"Keep going," Beckett said. "Should we split up?" she then asked her husband.
"We'll have a better chance deciding all together," Castle said. "It won't take us too long," he assured her.
"I'm not worried about that," Beckett said wryly.
"Dinner will be ready Daddy," Julia told him. "But now we have to get the tree."
With that they walked down the aisle they were on, eventually moving to the next one over before they paused at one after Eliza did so first.
"This is good," the toddler said, beaming at her family as they gathered around her.
After walking around the tree for a while Castle and Beckett shared a smile before they looked at Julia and Alexis.
"I agree, it looks great," the young woman said, looking at her sister.
"Yeah let's get it!" Julia said exuberantly.
"I'll be right back," Castle told them, squeezing his wife's hand before he left them.
Beckett watched him go before she turned back to the girls who were talking about where they wanted to put the ornaments and with a smile she went over to them telling them, "You need to wait until we start hanging those you know."
"I know," Julia said. She was about to speak when her sister said, "Me too," and she turned to Eliza with a smile. As she was looking back to her mother she paused when she saw her grandfather was slightly turned away from them, glancing at another tree. "We're just talking, I don't think she remembers where everything is," she said to Beckett quickly before going over to Jim.
"I was looking at this one," he said to Julia when she slipped her mittened hand into his own. "But your tree is a lot better."
"Yeah but what are you going to do when we decorate?" Julia asked him in concern.
"I'll watch," Jim assured her. "There's your dad," he said quickly so she wouldn't ask him again if he was okay.
"They're not annoying you are they?" Beckett said to her father as they all stepped aside so the worker could cut down the tree.
"No I think this is my fault," Jim said. When his daughter's head turned quickly to him he explained, "I should have made an attempt the first Christmas…" keeping his voice low as he looked at Julia.
"You did," Beckett reminded him gently. "It was just too soon," she told him softly.
"And you're here now," Castle said, coming over to them as he'd been able to hear their conversation. "Ready?"
"Yes we do have to get dinner," Beckett said, smiling at her husband when he rolled his eyes at her. She squeezed his arm in passing and walked after their daughters as the two men followed her while they all followed their Christmas tree back to their cars.
"What do you think Gram?" Julia asked eagerly as she saw Martha stepping out onto the patio.
"Well…" Castle's mother began slowly.
"Wait until we get it inside and set up Mother," Castle said, slightly laughingly. He and Beckett got the tree down from the roof of the car they'd driven back in with the girls and they carried it together inside to the family room. "Okay who has the stand?" he called.
"I do," Alexis said, having remembered where they kept it and carrying it from the foyer closet. She put it in front of where Beckett was cutting the strings around the tree and held Eliza back when she ran forward.
"I wanna hug the tree," the toddler whined.
"When we get it set up," Castle said, a little absently as he and Beckett were bringing it up and over the top of the stand.
Julia felt Eliza squeezing her hand tightly as they watched their parents getting the tree secure finally though it took a moment as it nearly leaned to the side when they let it go the first time. "That's it! It's perfect!" she said quickly when they stopped.
"She's right," Martha said when everyone else looked at her. "I think it's the best tree yet."
"It does look very nice," Jim said, standing the furthest away from them.
Beckett met her father's eyes but before she could say a word she could hear the buzzer for the oven ringing and she followed her husband as he sprinted over to the kitchen. "He wants to make sure the dinner is as good as it can be," she said in amusement to the others.
"Sorry this is the casserole," Castle explained to his wife as she walked over to him. "And it's time to get the turkey set."
"I'll get it started," Beckett replied. "I want to take the girls on a walk with Macca-"
"Great," Castle told her, interrupting her as he put another dish on the bottom shelf of the oven.
"Go to the Foster's home to say hello and so Alexis can see Dani-" Beckett then continued after giving him a quick glance.
"Awesome," Castle said, interrupting yet again.
"Rick!" Beckett said, looking to him. When he just smiled at her she sighed before finishing with, "And take them to the playground."
"I like that idea too," Castle said, joining her with the turkey and stuffing. "Well…" he then continued as he looked out the window.
"How's your knee?" Beckett asked as she watched him studying the clouds outside.
"I thought it was getting the tree set but now I know we're going to get some snow for sure," Castle told her, getting the weight off his knee that he couldn't ignore was aching anymore. When she put her hand on his back he looked at her questioningly and watched her lean over to him. "I'll go put it on now," he told her after they'd shared a kiss.
"I'll finish here," Beckett said. "Dad," she called after Castle had left for the stairs.
"I stepped out at the wrong time," Jim said, coming out from the office. "Your medals?"
Beckett was about to reply when she heard the sudden thud of footsteps coming down the stairs. "Rick don't-" she began.
"ThankyouforthereminderJim!" Castle called as he hurried back over to the stairs out of the office, Beckett's medals clanking together in his hand.
Looking back at his daughter Jim told her, "I'm still not sure."
"He's not immature constantly," Beckett said, smiling at him.
"Knowing you I would assume he isn't," Jim said in response. "And you love him."
"That helps," Beckett said with a nod and another smile. Finishing with the pan in front of her she then said, "He told me about the conversation you had; about Alexis."
It took Jim only a moment to recall what she was referencing before he nodded quickly and told her, "He has no father and he needed my advice."
As she was busy getting the turkey into the oven at that moment Beckett didn't have a chance to answer until the door was closed and the timer set. When it was she told her father, "I'm glad you did because there's only so much I can tell him. From my point of view I'm giving him Alexis' side… to a degree. So thank you for talking to him."
"Do you think she might like your cousin?" Jim asked.
Beckett considered that before a brief smile crossed her face and she said, "I think she might. And if it went that far you know we'd only be related by a foster relationship."
"I know," Jim said before he turned to Castle who'd come down to the bottom of the staircase.
Walking around the counter Beckett watched as her husband took Julia and Eliza in his arms and she called to them, "Does anyone want to go on a walk with Macca?"
"I do! Can we see Mari and Dani?" Julia asked, giving her father a last squeeze before she turned to her mother as they reached the kitchen.
"I was planning on it," Beckett said. "Martha, the turkey is cooking and that's all that's left so you could join us."
"Far too cold," Castle's mother replied with a smile on her face. "Go and enjoy your walk."
"You will play later Gram?" Eliza asked hopefully.
"Of course kiddo, I'm counting on joining in on your games," Martha said, smiling again at how eager and relieved the toddler looked hearing that. "Go but buddle up."
"Help me Gram," Eliza said exuberantly.
"No me Gram it takes me long to get ready 'cause I'm bigger, I need help," Julia said as they were all making their way over to the foyer.
"No Jules, I am smaller," Eliza said stubbornly.
"Yeah but-" Julia began.
"Girls," Castle said once and warningly. When the two turned away from each other he said, "Are you fighting?"
"No Daddy," Julia said hurriedly.
"Yeah Daddy," Eliza said. "But who helps us?"
"I'll help you Julia," Alexis said. She wasn't surprised when Eliza groaned in disappointment and she smiled telling her, "I'll help you next time okay?"
"Kay," Eliza replied before she turned her attention to Martha who was holding out her coat.
Once everyone was bundled Beckett said to Martha, "We'll be back, I know Rick is going to want to be here before they turkey needs to come out."
"You put the-" Castle started to say.
"The potatoes next to it, the stuffing, apples and carrots too," Beckett interrupted. "It's ready."
"So is the ham?" Castle asked.
"Richard," Martha said with a sigh, though shortly after she exchanged a smile with her daughter in law. "Go and have fun," she told her family as they were all leaving then for the door out to the backyard. She waved goodbye to all her granddaughters before she turned and went back inside, heading straight to the bottle of wine she'd chosen for herself for dinner and pouring out a cup of wine to enjoy while she was alone in the house.
Walking down the beach Alexis ran with her sisters over the sand alongside Macca, watching them jumping next to the dog and crying out to him repeatedly before they reached the Foster's home. "How old is Dani now?" she asked.
"Nearly ten months," Beckett answered as they stepped up to the patio. She saw the family's dog Lily barking and she waved to David. "Sorry we wanted to bring Alexis to say hello," she explained. "And to say Happy Thanksgiving."
"Becca honey, it's the Castles," David said before smiling at Beckett. "Sorry."
"Again, it's easier to say," she replied, rolling her eyes as Castle turned to her.
"Happy Thanksgiving," Mari said at the door first. She hugged her best friend and Eliza then and said, "Did you eat?"
"No we're going to play real quick," Julia explained. "Did you eat?"
"No," Mari said. "Mommy-" she started to say as she turned to her mother who was hugging Beckett.
"Yes you can go with them on their walk. I know you guys aren't going to take too long," Rebecca said before her daughter could ask. "Right?"
"Right and your parents?" Castle asked, stepping aside so Jim could shake David's hand.
"They had to stop at the market; they decided to go together," Rebecca said.
"More our mothers made our fathers tag along," David said.
"We'll take… an hour at most? Maybe an hour and a half," Beckett was saying to Rebecca though she was looking at Dani who Alexis was still holding. "If we're running late just call."
"Great, hold her I'll get Mari's things," Rebecca said, leaving them.
Taking her goddaughter and unofficial niece Beckett kissed Dani's cheek and said, "How has your Thanksgiving been going Dani?"
"Mama," the baby gurgled, trying to grab Beckett's necklace that was visible between her scarf and coat.
"What are you doing tomorrow?" Julia asked her friend as Rebecca came over with Mari's coat.
"Gonna stay with my grandparents," Mari said. "So I can't play."
"Me too," Julia replied. "With my grandparents. Maybe later?"
"We'll have to see," Beckett and Rebecca said at the same time.
"I think they're right," Castle said, sharing a momentary smirk with David. "But we can figure out when you'll play after today later."
"Stay with them and listen to the adults," Rebecca said to her daughter once she had finished with her outer layers. "And have fun."
"Thanks Mommy," Mari replied, sharing a kiss with her. She then went to her father who'd taken Dani from Beckett and hugged him before kissing her little sister and David. "Bye Daddy, Dani, I'll be back."
"Have fun like your mom told you," David said, smiling at her.
With a final wave to the rest of the Fosters, Castle and Beckett were last out of the house and down to the beach as Jim followed the girls, Mari and Alexis while they walked with Macca. They went as far as the street entrance near the park and then made their way up to it once they'd gotten off the sand.
As soon as they'd reached the playground Julia cried out, "First one to the slide gets the first slice of pie!"
Watching as Alexis followed the girls Castle shook his head and said, "I'm not sure what she meant by that."
"It doesn't mean anything," Beckett said. "Unless she's planning on sneaking a slice and in that case I think we have to keep an eye on them."
"We can do that when you two are finishing with the meal," Jim said as he walked by them to join his granddaughters and Mari.
While they were watching her father talking to Eliza on the bridge to the other half of the slides Beckett turned to her husband and asked, "Are you alright?"
"The brace is definitely a help," Castle replied, nodding his head. "But it's going to snow… soon," he began, trailing off when he looked up at the sky.
"Then you should go play with them," Beckett told him. When he looked to her she smiled at him and took Macca's leash that he was holding saying, "Go."
"But you-" Castle started to say.
"You two go," Alexis said, coming over to them. She couldn't help smiling at the shocked looks her dad and stepmother gave her telling them, "They want to play with you."
"And you 'lexis!" Eliza cried.
"Dad?" Beckett called.
Jim came over to them and said, "I reminded them we'll have all day together tomorrow so they want you to join them." He took Macca's leash and sat down on a bench before the dog sat at his feet. He looked on while his daughter and son in law joined the three girls, Alexis following them. He smiled to see how much Julia and Eliza were having fun and he nearly forgot they needed to get back home before he felt something wet and cold on his cheek.
"Oh… there we go," Castle said, having felt the same thing on his face. "Love?"
"We need to go girls," Beckett told the three. She was going to say something else when they all groaned in disappointment before she turned to her husband.
"Sorry, it was too hard to resist," Castle said as he'd groaned too.
"Let's go home," Beckett said, trying to fight her smile as she was shaking her head. She picked up Eliza as Alexis and Castle got Julia and Mari and they climbed down from the slides before they walked quickly back towards home, trying to get back to the Foster house before the snow fell any harder.
Her neck arched back so her head was resting on the shower wall behind her, Beckett tried not to lose her grip on the back of her husband's head as he was sucking almost desperately at her pulse. Finally he moved away and she could relax but it didn't last for long as he was suddenly crushing his lips against hers. She grasped tightly to him again as she responded to his kiss and they kept that up for as long as they could until they were gasping for air. "We need to… to stop," she said as she looked up at him and could easily tell what he was holding himself back from doing.
"Yeah we've been here long enough," Castle replied, reaching behind her to turn off the water. It was no mean feat that he was able to let her go and to try and compensate for that he was grabbing her towel once they'd stepped out, drying her off before she did the same for him.
Going out to the bedroom ahead of her husband Beckett thought they had turned their focus on dinner which was nearly finished when she was suddenly grabbed and drawn back against her husband. "Oh god, Rick you-" she began before he was trying to open her towel. "Wait, stop," she said quickly. She breathed out a little in relief when her husband had done so and she then turned to him saying, "I'm… desperate too but-"
"We need to wait for tonight," Castle said, calming down when he looked at her. He sighed and said, "It was so tempting."
Smiling as he was pretending to sob while he said that Beckett leaned up and kissed his cheek before saying, "I know but later I promise we won't hold back."
"Great," Castle said, taking her hands before he kissed them. He let her go and stayed away from her, going to where he'd set her clothes on the bed before their shower. He kept his attention focused on dressing though it was hard not to glance over at her from time to time. He was finished before she was and since by then she was fully clothed he kissed at her neck covered by her sweater before he told her, "I'll go check on the girls."
"And the turkey," Beckett said, smiling at him. She turned to share a brief kiss with him and went over to the bathroom to finish preparing while he left their room.
In Julia's room Castle stood at the doorway of the bathroom, watching as Alexis was picking up Eliza. "Do you need any help?" he asked his daughter.
"No we're good Dad," the young woman replied, drying off her little sister hurriedly.
"Better get the turkey before it burns," Julia said teasingly to her father.
"Are you sure you don't need my help," Castle said. When all three of them shook their heads no he couldn't help laugh slightly before he left the room, going downstairs to the kitchen where he found his father in law. "It's not burning is it?" he asked, hurrying over.
"No I'm standing here in case the timer goes off," Jim replied. "Martha told me I should do that."
"I'm not surprised," Castle said in amusement. The timer did go off at that point and he pulled the pan out, setting it aside to cool before he started to get the other dishes out.
"You finished," Beckett said, coming over to where her father and husband were talking to each other, the island crowded with dishes.
"Yeah you just need to carve the turkey… come on, one year," Castle said before she looked at him.
"I'm not that proficient," Beckett said simply. "You can do it Rick, as always."
"Alright," Castle replied. He took the knife he'd set down next to the pan and proceeded to carve the turkey while Beckett got the platter ready for him.
"I think we're all ready," Martha called as she came downstairs with Alexis and the girls. "These two are very hungry."
"It must have been all that playing they did," Jim said, hugging the girls as they rushed over to him and hugged him. "You both look very pretty."
"Thank you," Julia and Eliza said at the same time, giggling before they went to look at the island as best they could see it.
"Where's the pie?" Julia asked as their father came over to them then.
"Looks like I was right," Beckett said in amusement when her husband looked at her.
"No pies yet you two," Castle said. "You need to set the table."
"It's a holiday," Julia said though she was joking as her father handed her some utensils.
"The napkins are on the table," Beckett called, watching the girls go over to the dining room.
"Why do I come with you?" Eliza was asking her sister as she followed her around the table.
"Because you were supposed to get the napkins for me," Julia told her with a smile. She watched her run back to the pile and said, "Can you fold them?"
"They are," Eliza replied, showing that someone; likely their father; had made them into fans almost.
"Then put them on the other side," Julia directed. She helped when the toddler was having a little trouble keeping the shape of them and then said, "We finished."
"No plates? And cups Jules," Eliza told her.
"They're in the kitchen," Alexis said, standing in the doorway. She smiled when her sisters turned to her and said, "Come on, we're all ready to get our food we're just waiting for you."
Rushing back to the others Julia and Eliza went to their parents and they were served first, talking with the others excitedly before they went to the dining room with Castle and Beckett.
"You're not sitting down yet," Castle told Eliza as she tried to get on her chair. "You need to wait until we're all here."
Looking for a moment as if she would protest that the toddler stopped and then allowed him to take her hand as they went back to the kitchen. She leaned against a cabinet as she watched with Julia as all the adults got their food. She glanced over at her sister at one point and then tugged her hand saying, "Pies?"
"Come on you two," Martha said to them with a smile as she stepped up to them. "You need to eat the meal first before you get to dessert."
"We weren't really gonna sneak," Julia said as they started to go to the dining room. "Mommy and Daddy would have found out."
"We all would have," Alexis said.
When they had gathered around the table Castle raised his glass and said, "Here's to us together tonight, Happy Thanksgiving."
"Happy Thanksgiving," Beckett said with the others as they began to tap them together. She squeezed Castle's hand then before she turned to Eliza who was next to her to help cut up her turkey and ham. She watched the toddler use her fork to pick up a piece of the latter and held her other hand away so she wouldn't use that too. "Remember not to use your hands," she said, squeezing the one she was still holding before letting go.
"Except for the bread," Julia pointed out, biting into her roll. When they were quiet for a while she suddenly giggled and when she saw her family was looking at her said in slight embarrassment, "What are we going to talk about? We already talked about school yesterday when we had dinner."
"She's right," Jim said. "There's not much to say concerning that."
"What about your book?" Alexis asked.
"We're on pause with it again," Castle replied. "With the case, competition and trip; not in that particular order; we didn't really have time to work much on it."
"Except discuss where we were," Beckett added. "And where we wanted to go from our last sentence."
"When did you do that?" Julia asked.
"Oh don't say during your trip," Martha then added. "You were supposed to be resting not talking business."
"We had some opportunities," Beckett said to her mother in law with a smile. "And it was not a problem to do that either."
"When do you think you'll write again?" Jim inquired.
"Probably once these two are back in school," Castle said, since he and his wife had discussed that already. "We'll see how we feel."
Doing her best to hide a smile; but not really succeeding; as everyone else looked at her Beckett said, "More than likely we'll write then."
"See we found something to talk about," Castle said to Julia. "Although now we have to think of something else."
"Dancing!" Eliza suddenly exclaimed.
"No, horses," Julia said eagerly.
With some laughter Castle let the little girl say what she wanted to about horses and from there they were able to talk through the rest of the meal about varying subjects. What took up most of their time ended up being a discussion of what they would do the rest of the time they were there together at the beach house as they cleaned up and then made their way to the family room to get started on the tree.
"Girls," Beckett said to her daughters. "You know how this goes now."
"Yeah," Julia said, glancing at Jim. "Lights and then ornaments, oh, first the star and then the ornaments."
Watching as his granddaughters came over to him Beckett's father said, "You don't want to get the first box ready?" as they leaned against him.
"It's kay Grandpapa," Eliza told him. "We have to wait."
"Oh I see," Jim replied with a nod. He then looked on with them as Castle and Beckett were plugging in the lights to test them.
"We're lucky," Castle was saying as they searched the bright, multi colored strands.
"You say that every year," Beckett said. "Come on, we need to get started or we'll just be doing this tonight."
"That wouldn't be too bad," Alexis couldn't help saying. She smiled at her father when he looked over to her and then bit back a laugh when Beckett pulled at the cords in his hands to follow her, making him nearly stumble.
"Mommy knows how to do this best," Julia said softly to her grandfather as Beckett was going around the tree, playing the lights on the branches carefully.
"She does," Jim replied with a nod, the déjà vu heavy for him in that moment. He felt Eliza hugging him tightly and he turned his head, kissing her temple gently before they watched the two around the tree again.
Since their tree was so tall it took a little time to get it covered with the lights and Castle took care of the last bit at the very top. Once he had he put up the star and when that was set he turned to the girls as Beckett was opening the first box of ornaments.
Jim was a little startled when almost at the same time the girls were hugging him tightly before they went over to their parents. He could tell they were concerned for him but he kept silent, just watching them take the first of the ornaments over to the tree. He glanced over to his daughter, wondering if she was remembering as he was. He could easily see his wife and daughter in their apartment, putting up their last Christmas tree they would have as a family.