Genre: Crime, Drama, 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: Okay, just have to note again that I'm not a medical doctor, so there's no need to remind me of that of course, did the best I could with what I wrote concerning that!
A/N #2: Was so great to get the reviews I did for the last chapter, had wondered at the response I'd get, so want to get right to the thank yous. Beckett-Castle4ever (Very nice seeing your reaction to the family moments, I thought you might like them. Glad that you thought they had a cute Christmas too. I had been wondering what readers would think of Castle giving Beckett her mom's rocking chair so to see that you liked that bit I was pleased to see that you enjoyed reading that moment! Also was happy to see that you enjoyed when they went to look at the lights. So great that you enjoyed the love scene at the end between Castle and Beckett, always like seeing that in reviews, lol!), vetgirlmx (Made me laugh a bit to see what you said about the way they celebrate Christmas, but glad that you think they celebrate it so well! And with them being so tightly knit, what happened with the past case and their wanting to be a family legally I figured they'd be close. Plus it is Christmas too, lol. But glad to see that you did notice that they were so close of course. It was nice to read you liked the gifts that they got, those can be hard to make up, lol, I think I've said before, unless you have something in your mind. And actually, Alexis and Julia getting up first to look at the gifts was a tradition me and my sister had when we were little, so had to include it here. So great that you liked that though. And of course I was so happy to read that you enjoyed the gift of the rocking chair, and said it was thoughtful, I definitely thought it would be myself, so had to write it. It was nice to read that you liked seeing Julia with Mari, yeah, that takes me back to my childhood too and my friend from then, lol, so you're not alone there. Had to laugh at what you said about starting a poll, it would be interesting to see what people think. But I was so pleased to see you thought both halves of the chapter were good. Same with you wanting to read the next one, lol, really want you to read this one too, which you can now!), life's a mystery (It was nice to read that you enjoyed their Christmas and also thought that both halves were great chapters!) and lilchristy32 (Really great that you were able to get caught up with this story. And I have to admit I laughed a bit at your reaction to everything that's happened so far, lol, but I am glad you had that response you did, was very nice getting to read that. The same with you thinking with all of that the universe in my stories got much better, definitely liked reading that! I was happy to see you too enjoy Christmas and you could see yourself having traditions like the ones in the chapter too, kinda wanted readers to think that. And so great that you want to see what'll happen next for the family, expanding as you said. Now you don't need to wait to see what happens next of course!). Thanks so much to those of you who sent me reviews I did love reading each one and I also am thankful for the time taken to write each one before they were sent to me!
A/N #3: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Can't Stop Thinking about You by George Harrison, from his album Extra Texture (Read All About It).
So Much More
"Morning love," broke through Beckett's sleep, and she sighed deeply as she turned onto her back. Blinking her eyes she looked up and was able to see her husband with their daughter, sitting on the edge of the bed next to her. "Morning," she said, smiling at them. She then frowned and groaned in frustration as she pushed herself up, remembering it was the thirty-first of March. "Happy Birthday Rick," she told him with a sigh as he propped up her pillows behind her. "I was going to wake up early and get you breakfast in bed…"
"That's alright, maybe my birthday next year," Castle reassured her, kissing the back of her hand. "Or Father's Day if you're not too tired," he commented as he pressed his hand to her abdomen. Though since Beckett was nearly nine months by then, the baby wasn't kicking so much, but he still rested it there. "Okay?" he asked, studying her closely.
"Tired," Beckett said simply with a shorter sigh. She smiled then as Julia came over to her around from the other side of the bed, wrapping her arms around her neck. "Hmm, morning sweetie. Am I up late? You're all ready for school," she asked.
"No, I told Daddy to get me ready so you won't have to worry," Julia said. "But can you brush my hair still?" she asked with a wide smile as her mother stroked her sleep tousled hair.
"Of course," Beckett said. She looked over at the clock on her nightstand, and then said, "Let's eat breakfast first, and then I'll do your hair while your daddy and I finish our book."
"You're done?" Julia asked, looking at both her parents with wide eyes.
"We will be," Castle said. "Just a few more paragraphs and we'll be set." He helped Julia off the bed before moving for his wife. "Good?" he asked.
"It's not as easy as it used to be, but I can still get up," Beckett said. Pushing herself up, she sighed as she stood, putting her hands to the small of her back. She smiled as her husband's face was a mask of concern and said, "I'm fine, really."
"I know," Castle said quickly. "Just want to make sure." He leaned over and kissed her then, but kept it quick before telling her, "We'll get breakfast ready while you're getting dressed."
"Father's Day if I can," Beckett said, smiling as Castle did so to her. When the two had left, she went to the closet, rubbing the lower curve of her abdomen, yawning as she felt like she'd barely gotten any sleep though she'd been trying to get back some kind of energy to get through the day.
"Julia," Castle said, looking over at his daughter as she was leaning against the shelf in the division between the kitchen and the breakfast nook. "Sweetheart," he said a little louder.
"Oh, do I set the table?" Julia asked, looking up from her book. When her father nodded, she tucked her bookmark between the pages she was on, and then started to try and sneak it to the table.
"Sweetie," Beckett said as she walked down the hall in time to catch her.
"Sorry," Julia said with a sigh before she went to set it back on the shelf. Hurrying to get the forks and napkins, she glanced at her mother, who was leaning against the island, hoping she was okay as her father turned back to her.
"I made your omelet the way you like it," Castle told her as he was putting it onto her plate. "Not hungry?" he asked as he saw her make a face.
"Not really," Beckett said. "I'll try and eat some though," she promised before she took the plate. Sitting with Julia at the table, she smiled as the little girl laid her napkin on her lap and folded her hands together on top of the table. "You're growing up Julia," she couldn't help say, brushing her fingers over her daughter's cheek.
"I'm still little," Julia said quickly.
"But now you're six," Castle said, coming over with his omelet and hers. As he sat at the table he remembered Julia's birthday they'd celebrated on the fifteenth, since her birthday was on a Tuesday that year. Since Beckett didn't have all that much energy they'd had Mari over to spend the night from Saturday to Sunday, letting them "camp" in the living room with a tent he had. The two girls had spent a long time watching movies on her tablet until they were asleep, and on Sunday his mother, Alexis and Beckett's dad had come to spend the day with them. The Fosters and also their Precinct family had come over as well, which had been a lot of fun as they hadn't been able to see the latter since Christmas.
Beckett was recalling that day as well at the same time as he was at the reminder that their daughter was six. She remembered spending the day with Lanie and Rebecca, and she suddenly sighed in obvious relief; not realizing she had done so loudly until her husband and Julia looked at her in surprise. "Sorry," she said, laughing slightly. "I was thinking about managing to convince Lanie not to have the baby shower. Such a relief," she groaned as she rubbed her face slightly.
"I was a little surprised you managed to," Castle said. "But why don't you want to do that?"
"I've been to a few baby showers, and… I just can't see myself doing what you're supposed to during them," Beckett said, shaking her head. "Oohing and aahing at the gifts… and really, we don't need said gifts," she said with a shrug. "We've gotten everything we needed, and people have sent a baby gift along with our wedding gifts. So… I just want people to come and see the baby, not a shower."
"You're lucky Lanie understood," Castle told her.
"She knew how I felt already, the last baby shower I went to was for a mutual friend of ours," Beckett explained. "So she wasn't too surprised I asked. I was surprised that Rebecca backed me up; apparently she hadn't wanted a shower, but her mother insisted on it."
"Do you need to have a shower?" Julia asked.
"We don't," Beckett said firmly, looking down at her omelet then. She pushed around the piece she'd cut off it with her fork put didn't pick it up as her husband spoke.
"I was remembering that day when you talked to Lanie too," Castle said.
"When we had my little party?" Julia said with a smile. When her father nodded she giggled saying, "That was fun."
"Next year we'll do something better," Beckett told her.
"But I liked what we did," Julia said. She then pursed her lips together a little and said, "Can we go riding if there's no snow still?"
"We'll see how the weather is," Beckett replied, since the little girl had been able to start her riding lessons a week before as the weather had warmed up slightly. She hadn't been too surprised; neither had Castle; that their daughter took quickly to it, and one of their birthday gifts to her had been a pair of equestrian boots that she had absolutely adored. She'd loved her other gifts as well though she'd worn her boots through the rest of her birthday. "But that would be nice, I want to ride again, badly," she said, looking down at her abdomen. "I feel like I haven't moved at more than a snail's pace for months."
"The baby will thank you for that I'm sure," Castle said, reaching over to take her hand as she put her fork down. "You don't want to eat any more?" he asked as she hadn't taken another bite of her omelet.
"Not really," Beckett said. "Save it for my lunch, I might be hungry then."
Castle nodded and as he stood up he leaned over, kissing his wife's temple before he took her plate to the kitchen. He smiled as Julia immediately jumped up to help him, taking her own plate and glass to him at the sink. "Thank you sweetie, I can get everything else," he told her before he leaned down to share a kiss with her. "Go brush your teeth and get your backpack. And get your brush too," he called as she started to run down the hall.
"And don't run!" Beckett called, shaking her head as Julia slid to a stop; which was why she had run so she could do that. She stood up then as Castle was coming back to her and she sighed as she told him, "I might take a nap while you take her to school. I couldn't get comfortable last night… at all."
"I know, you were tossing and turning for a while," Castle commented, getting the rest of the items off the table. "But you did sleep right?"
"I did, but for how long is anyone's guess," Beckett said with a shrug. "We'll meet you in the office," she told him then, tugging on the collar of his shirt to bring him down to her. She kissed him deeply before she pulled back, smiling when he seemed frozen in place. "Wake up love," she told him.
"Yeah, I'm up," Castle said quickly. He watched his wife walk to the office then, and once she was out of sight, he shook himself, going to the sink to wash everything up.
"Mommy?" Julia asked when she walked into the office to find her mother leaning back against the couch, her eyes closed. "Are you sleeping?" she was whispering, inching up close to her.
"No, just resting," Becket said, smiling as she watched Julia place her hand flat on her stomach. She couldn't help it and she cupped her daughter's face in her hands before leaning down to share a kiss with her.
When she pulled back Julia was a little worried when she saw the tears on her mother's cheeks and said, "What's wrong Mommy?"
"I'm fine," Beckett said hurriedly, trying to stop crying but unable to; as she'd found herself doing more and more through her pregnancy. "I just was thinking I'm so lucky to have to you sweetie."
"We both are," Castle said, handing her his handkerchief then so she could dry her eyes. "Good love?" he asked his wife, watching her.
"Yeah, just my hormones again," Beckett said. "That's one thing I won't miss; being a faucet for salt water," she commented, shaking her head. "So where are we?"
"We are with Moor and Green at the bar, the Bantry Bay," Castle said. "Tapping their glasses together," he read for his wife to remind her. "Moor and Green downed their shots before he called for another, watching as Green turned her glass upside down. We were going to have a conversation there."
"Just a comment on how they work well together, since it's their first time," Beckett reminded him then, brushing Julia's hair.
"Alright," Castle said. "Looking at her new partner of three days, Green told him, 'So it looks like we're set.' 'I guess we are,' Moor replied. 'Though you didn't really need to threaten him with your gun; I guess you and I are both unorthodox.'"
"What's that mean?" Julia asked.
"It means you don't do things like other people do," Beckett replied. She then said to her husband, "Green's reply was simple and quick, 'I think you're a bad influence on a good cop.' Moor shot a glare at her, but all she did in response was smile benignly at him, getting off her stool to throw on her jacket."
"'Hot date tonight?' Moor asked, watching her closely," Castle picked up, typing furiously. "'No, girl's night now we've got this done,' Green replied, nodding to the shot that had been refilled in front of her partner. 'Sky and I are going out to the Egyptian, a series of old silent movies; like we watched when we were kids.'"
"And so we come to the end," Beckett said with a slight sigh as he paused and she had a hard time thinking of what might happen next. "Are your endings difficult to get?"
"Hmm, very, unless I've thought about them in advance; like Storm Fall and Hamptons Heat," Castle said. "Something about the very end of a series makes it easier. How about adding Green saying, 'Night Moor, if you drink yourself under the bar I'll have O'Day and Garcia pick you up if we catch a case,'" he told Beckett, putting emphasis on the word case as he was actually writing body; not wanting Julia to hear that.
"'Thanks for looking after me Georgie, you're the best,' Moor said sarcastically. When she just rolled her eyes as her cheeks slightly flushed; in anger he knew from years of experience; he murmured a goodnight before watching her leave. Turning back to the bar, he picked up his shot glass…" Beckett told him quickly. She thought for a moment about how to word that and then quickly got the very ending of their first book. "He raised it to the bartender, the muted light turning the amber liquid golden as he told the man, 'To partners.' The glass slammed on the bar, upside down next to its pair as the upside down image of Moor followed the same path as Green; walking into the night that made his distorted figure in the glass vanish."
"Perfect," Castle said as he hurriedly typed that and then saved the document. He let out a little sound of exhilaration before going over to the love seat he'd bought for his wife to sit on when the desk chair had become too uncomfortable. He pulled her up and said, "Kate, we've just written our first book together."
Smiling at the enthusiasm on his face and in the tone of his voice, Beckett wrapped her arms around her husband tightly before he kissed her. Since Julia was still with them, it was very simple, but no less meaningful; as she'd urged him to hurry with their writing as her fears of writing well had pressed her to get it done. But since it was over, she felt a heavy sense of relief and she smiled at Castle when they pulled away from one another and she asked him, "We don't have to write another one for a while right?"
"We'll have a break before we try to get our next book ready," he assured her.
"I'm so happy for you Mommy, Daddy," Julia said, hurrying to them and wrapping her arms around them as tightly as she could. "I hope Alexis will like the book," she said.
"And Martha, and my dad," Beckett said. "Send it to them tonight," she told her husband as Julia let go of them to go look at the computer screen to see the words they'd been saying there. She turned to Castle and hugged him tightly again, feeling him responding quickly before she suddenly let out a groan of pain, staggering against him as something in her abdomen clenched tightly.
"Kate?" Castle asked, watching her. When she reached down to her stomach he quickly helped her sit back down on the couch and looked at his watch as Julia rushed to him, clutching at his arm while he was holding his wife's hand.
"Yeah, I think that's it," Beckett said, breathing deeply and watching him timing with his watch.
"What's wrong?" Julia asked, her voice nearly high pitched as she watched them with wide eyes.
"The baby might be coming," Castle said in a calm tone. "She'll be okay," he said quickly as the little girl whimpered suddenly and he and Beckett looked to her.
"It's gonna hurt you Mommy," Julia whispered, tears on her cheeks.
"Come here," Beckett said, holding her other arm out to her. She smiled a little when the little girl rushed around Castle to climb up next to her, and she held her close as she breathed in and out as she'd learned in the Lamaze classes she and her husband had attended. She wasn't sure how long it took, but as another pain gripped her and she squeezed Castle's hand tightly, she hoped it wasn't less than five minutes.
"Eighteen minutes," he told her simply. "Do you want to go now, or wait?"
"Now, if my water breaks here?" Beckett asked with a slight laugh as the pain was eking away slowly.
"Okay, Julia, you remember what we told you," Castle said, getting his phone as Beckett let go of his hand. "Go straight to the Foster's home, don't run, but make sure you hurry," he told her seriously.
"I'll see you later sweetie, I promise," Beckett said, kissing and hugging their daughter tightly. "I love you so much."
"I love you Mommy, and the baby," Julia said, trying to be brave as she shared a kiss with her mother before getting down. "And you Daddy," she said, throwing her arms around him.
"We'll be alright," Castle assured her before he kissed her too and then left the office in a rush. He called Rebecca's number, since he knew David would have headed into their office already, and put it to speaker.
"Hey Rick, the baby's coming?" Rebecca asked as soon as she'd picked up.
"Julia's heading to your house," Beckett called out to her.
"Alright, I'll take her to the hospital and call the school," Rebecca told them both. "Good luck."
"Thanks Rebecca," Castle said simply before he hung up the phone. "Let's go love," he told his wife after he quickly sent a text to a group he'd made earlier in the week. He then checked his watch and said, "Want to wait for the next one?" seeing it was nearly the seventeen minute mark.
"No, get me to the hospital now," Beckett replied as she made him help her up. She just managed to reach his car; which he'd taken to parking outside to be ready to go since two days before when her doctor had confirmed that Beckett herself had been right and the baby was turning; previous to her next contraction starting and she had to wonder which had been worse, getting shot in the heart, or going through that pain centered in her womb. She decided not to bother to figure it out at that moment, and was relieved to find that she and Castle were on their way when she'd recovered. "I'm really glad you're pretty calm," she couldn't help telling her husband.
"I can't help if I'm in a panic," Castle said simply as he turned down a street. "You're doing pretty well."
"We'll see what happens when I actually start pushing," Beckett said. "Did you hear from them yet?"
"I just got about three messages, I'll check once you're settled in your room," Castle replied. The hospital was only five minutes away from their home, so he was soon pulling up to it, hurrying outside and calling to the nurse coming up to them with a wheelchair, "My wife is in labor."
"He would have known once I stepped out," Beckett couldn't help tease her husband as he helped her out. Sitting back in the wheelchair, she squeezed his hand tightly as they went inside, and she found herself having another contraction as they were able to finally make their way to the fifth floor, going into the maternity ward.
"Her first and second contractions were eighteen minutes apart, this last one was at about sixteen and a half minutes," Castle was telling another nurse who had run to them.
"Alright, ma'am," the nurse said, leading the way to a room. "I'll have your husband get you changed, and-"
As Castle was helping Beckett up from the chair, her water suddenly broke and she leaned against him, groaning at the shock of it. "You have that gown?" he asked the nurse.
"Yeah, I'll go ahead and get Dr. Hargrove," the woman said quickly before handing the white fabric in her hand to him.
"See? Didn't want that happening at home," Beckett said with a sigh. "I just hope this doesn't take a long time. How long did it take for Alexis to be born?"
"Ten hours," Castle said as he helped Beckett get undressed. At her loud, deep breath in reaction to the number he brushed his lips against hers gently saying, "I'll be right here the whole time with you Kate."
"Not once you get me in the bed," Beckett told him. When her husband looked at her in surprise she smiled as they walked to the bed and she told him, "The car."
"How can you think of the car at a time like this?" Castle couldn't help laugh as he helped her up after raising the back of the bed.
"I just did," Beckett said. "Give me your phone," she told him before he could leave.
"Right, I will be back," Castle said, brushing his lips across hers again as he handed her his phone.
Taking that kiss gratefully, Beckett watched him go and she leaned back, about to look at the texts he had received when the phone suddenly started to ring, her dad's name on the screen.
"Katie," Jim said in surprise as he had expected his son in law to answer. "Are you alright?"
"I'm… hold on Dad, I'm at the hospital, they're coming in with some equipment," Beckett said quickly, seeing her husband coming in right after the nurses. "My dad," she told him as she handed him the phone.
"Jim? Yeah, she's doing alright," Castle said before he had to pull the phone away from his ear as the nurse that had brought them to the room was talking to his wife.
"Dr. Hargrove is currently in an appointment, but she's wrapping it up so she'll be in momentarily," the nurse said. "She instructed me to check you, see how far you've dilated."
Beckett wasn't surprised when Castle rushed to her side to take her hand and seeing the phone in his other hand asked, "Is he still on?"
"Oh, sorry," Castle said, startled to remember he'd been on the phone. "Jim-"
"Call me back when things have settled down," Beckett's father said quickly. "And tell Katie I'm on my way to get Martha and Alexis."
"Right, bye," Castle said before he hung up. "He's leaving right now," he told his wife. "Is he still planning to stay with us?"
"He is," Beckett said rapidly as the nurse was writing something on a clipboard.
"Only around two inches," the woman told them. When Beckett suddenly groaned through her gritted teeth, she looked at the machine monitoring her contractions and nodded when it eventually subsided. "Would you like an epidural?"
"Please," Beckett replied, nodding. When they were left alone in the room she breathed out saying, "I was trying to figure out earlier which was worse, these contractions or getting shot."
"I hate to ask if you've decided on that," Castle said, getting a chair to pull up next to the bed for when he wanted to sit.
"I passed out after the shot, this…" Beckett said, putting her hand on her abdomen. "I'd say this is worse, but with a much better end result. So you got messages but I didn't have a chance to look at them since my dad called."
"Yeah, should call him back first…" Castle started to say before his phone was ringing. "It's, wait, Rebecca sent a message while we were on our way here, Julia's there."
"Good, who's calling?" Beckett said, smiling at that.
"Alexis," Castle said. "Hey kiddo," he answered, putting the phone on speaker.
"Dad, are you at the hospital?" Alexis asked.
"Yeah, where are you?" Castle asked.
"Waiting for Jim and Gram, they're going to pick me up," Alexis said. "How's Kate?"
"I'm fine, relatively speaking," Beckett told her.
"Oh, then good luck," Alexis said. "I really hope it doesn't take too long."
"We'll see," Beckett commented. When Castle's daughter had hung up she said, "I'd like them to come in to see me if they have a chance."
"Julia too? She might be a little scared…" Castle started to reply to that when he saw the next contraction hitting his wife. He held her hand tightly as he murmured the breathing pattern she'd taken, to make sure she tried to keep to it, until she was slowly relaxing. "Should I see about getting you the epidural?"
"Too soon," Beckett said with a slight smile. She sighed and said, "The texts?"
"Right," Castle said quickly before he went back to his phone. "First one we got was from Lanie, Tell Kate good luck, will try and get out later today or tomorrow to see the baby, let me know when it's here," he read. "Multiple exclamation points on that one."
Laughing softly Beckett said, "I expected that. I wonder if the boys will come now or wait until we're back home."
"The next message is from Rebecca; so Lanie was pretty quick," Castle said. "The one after is from Ryan, they have a case so they're going to try and come out when they can, but probably won't today. And he says he'll be bringing Jenny."
"Yeah," Beckett said, shifting on the bed a little. "If knowing I was pregnant at the wedding didn't make her want a baby herself, seeing ours will definitely push her into overdrive to get everything set for them to start trying."
"They're nearly set aren't they?" Castle asked, sitting down then as he quickly answered the two texts and then put his phone in his pocket.
"They are," Beckett said, looking around the room. "So ten hours," she said before looking at her husband.
"Each pregnancy is different," Castle reminded her quickly.
"I know, I'm just hoping I'm not going to end up going past that," Beckett said. "But what we were talking about earlier, I do want to see Julia before I go into full labor," she told him.
"She'll be scared, especially if it's later and your contractions are closer together; and you haven't had the epidural yet," Castle warned her.
"Then have Alexis come in with her," Beckett said simply. "She'll feel better with her big sister here."
"Okay," Castle said before his phone rang. "Mother," he said in greeting. "I'm hoping you're on the way?"
"I am, am I on speaker?" Martha asked. When Castle told her yes she quickly said, "Kate, remember to breathe evenly and deeply, just like we practiced together, and if you need to break my son's hand, feel free to do that."
"Hey," Castle protested jokingly as Beckett laughed behind her hand. "I need that hand to help me type. Oh, really quickly, let Jim and Alexis know we finished our first book. And Julia is at the Fosters, so pick her up there."
"Alright, is she having a contraction?" Martha asked as her son's voice was clipped and in a rush.
"She is," Castle told her, standing then and holding Beckett's hand with his free one. When his mother said a quick goodbye before hanging up he put his phone back in his pocket, covering his wife's hand with that one, watching her as she finally relaxed. "Good?" he asked her.
"Now, yes," Beckett said before he let go of her. She watched him go into the bathroom that was attached to the room, and smiled when he came out with a washcloth. "Already? I thought I'd be pushing before it came to that," she told him.
"Do you feel warm?" Castle asked. When she nodded he then said, "Ice chips?"
"No, I'm good," Beckett assured him. When he set aside the washcloth she took his hand, entwining their fingers. "I really want to see her."
"They'll be here soon," Castle assured her as he knew she was talking about Julia. He studied her face then and asked, "What is it?"
"I wish she was here…" Beckett said, cursing her tears as she seemed to instantly start to cry though she had no control over that.
"Would you want her here with us while you're actually having the baby?" Castle asked.
Thinking for a moment as he handed her another handkerchief; not sure how he'd managed to get a second one into his pocket; Beckett said, "No, but… I just want her here to see her second grandchild; her first biological grandchild. There is something momentous in that."
"There is," Castle said. "And what's great about your dad is that I know he'll love Julia and this one both equally."
"My mom would have too," Beckett told him with a small smile as she finally managed to stop crying. She watched as her husband pressed his hand to her abdomen, low as they both knew the baby's head was there. Reaching down she covered his hand with her own as he squeezed gently before he was leaning down to kiss her sweetly, gently on the lips.
"Are you ready Jules?" Alexis asked her sister, squeezing her little hand in her own.
"Yeah, is the baby gonna be born while we're there?" Julia asked, looking a little pale.
"No, they wouldn't let us in if your mom was that close to having the baby," Alexis assured her. She stood in the doorway until her dad and Beckett turned to them and said, "Someone's wanted to see you."
"Mommy," Julia breathed out, hurrying to the side of the bed. She grew concerned when she saw her mother's face was a little strained, but when Beckett took her hand and gripped it tightly she smiled, feeling a little better about how she was doing. "Are you kay?" she asked.
"I'm doing fine," Beckett murmured, nodding to Castle who picked her up. She leaned up as their daughter leaned over in his arms, sharing a kiss with her before telling her, "It shouldn't be too much longer now until your brother or sister is here."
"Kay, I hope so," Julia said. "Will I see it after?"
"You will," Beckett assured her. "For now stay with everyone in the waiting room and don't worry about me, your daddy is watching me closely, so are the doctors and nurses."
"So things are okay?" Alexis asked, unsure of what else to say as she took her sister from her dad.
"Well, except for the fact this has been going on for hours," Beckett said simply. "But besides that, I'm doing well according to my doctor. Take care of her?" she asked, nodding to Julia.
"Oh of course," Alexis said firmly.
"Can 'lexis come and see the baby too?" Julia asked. "After?"
"She will, since it'll be her brother or sister too," Castle said, studying his wife closely as she turned her head away from him. "Okay, why don't you let your gram come in? That way Jim can say hello too?" When the two had left he squeezed Beckett's hand saying, "They're getting much closer."
"More intense too," Beckett sighed. "Luckily the epidural is doing its job." She then turned to the door and smiled saying, "Hi Martha."
"Oh Kate, you look… Richard, give me that washcloth," Castle's mother nearly snapped at the end to her son.
Smiling a little wider as her mother in law brushed her forehead with the damp cloth, Beckett said, "Thank you, I'm okay. I just had a contraction."
"Still, it comforted me to have that when I was in the same situation," Martha said simply. "But you're close?"
"Closer, my doctor is going to come in once my dad leaves to check on me," Beckett said.
"You're a brave woman Kate, you'll do very well I'm sure," Martha said. "And again, my son's hand is there for support."
"As opposed to just me," Castle said, amusement in his voice though he'd tried to sound annoyed.
"You too," Martha said, relieved when Beckett laughed a little. "Better to laugh than to scream," she told her. At the perplexed expressions she got, she explained, "The nurse assisting when I was in labor said that, and while I was pushing it didn't work beforehand it was a big help."
"He's been keeping my mind off the contractions," Beckett told her. "When he can of course."
"Of course," Martha agreed. "I'm going to go, let your father come in, but know we're anxiously awaiting the new arrival," she told her, squeezing her hands in her own.
"I know, thank you Martha," Beckett said, watching her go. "I didn't expect her to be so concerned," she told her husband when they were alone.
"Probably because she can sympathize with you," Castle said. "And is worried too, for you both."
Nodding, Beckett saw some movement in the doorway and looking over; smiling as she saw it was her father. "Dad, come in," she said, seeing he too looked troubled.
Going over to the other side of the bed, Jim took his daughter's hand, holding it tightly as he said, "I know you're probably getting asked this constantly, but are you doing alright?"
"I'm okay Dad," Beckett assured him, not too surprised at the question.
"Any idea how much longer?" Jim asked.
"Not really, but she's getting closer the doctor tells us," Castle said. "You want me to get you some more ice chips?"
"They're not that melted," Beckett said, knowing he wanted to give them some privacy but not really needing him to do that. "Keep an eye on Julia," she told her dad. "I think she's a little scared now she's seen me."
"We will, we're trying our best to keep her busy," Jim assured her. He then squeezed her hand and told her, "Your mother would be so proud of you Katie, as am I."
"I still have a little ways to go, but thank you," Beckett replied with a slight smile. "I love you Dad," she said, knowing she was nearing another contraction and not wanting him there.
Leaning over, Jim kissed the top of his daughter's head and said, "Good luck," talking to Castle as well. When his son in law nodded to him he went to the door and then heard Beckett groaning. Turning he saw that she was sitting up, bracing her body as her husband was urging her to groan as he had one arm around her, holding her hand tightly. He left then as his daughter's doctor came over and he went back into the waiting room, seeing Martha was waiting for him.
"How is she?" she asked in concern.
"She was having a contraction when I was leaving," Jim said, not realizing her worry was for him as he looked a little shocked. "She looked to be in pain still…"
"It's likely she was uncomfortable," Martha assured him. "She'll be fine, she's very strong."
"Right," Jim said, shaking himself. He then briefly smiled as he told her, "Your son was helping her though."
"He's concerned too, but deep down," Martha said. "We-" she started to say before she looked and saw their granddaughter was staring at them. "Well Julia, what would you like to do now since you're finished with your picture for your mother?" she said, nodding to Jim so they could focus their attention on her.
Back inside the room, Beckett looked at Castle and said, "Didn't need her to tell me that."
"You can feel it?" he asked her.
"Pretty much," Beckett said, not realizing she had a determined look on her face as her doctor told her she was nearly at the last stage of labor. When she was suddenly kissed on the lips she looked at her husband in a little surprise asking, "Why?"
"Because you're beautiful love, and stronger than I am," Castle said. "I'd be weeping like a baby if I was in your position."
"Apropos," Beckett said wryly before she then became serious. "I still have some trepidation about this though."
"Of course, but you're not alone and we'll all be helping you; even me, the one without any kind of medical degree," Castle said, hoping to get her to at least smile. When she laughed a little he was pleased and he leaned down, kissing her again as he couldn't help it. Taking her lips gently, he slipped his tongue into her mouth to briefly brush together with hers before slowly pulling away to rest his forehead against hers. "I love you Kate," he told her seriously.
"I love you too Rick," Beckett said in the same tone, squeezing his hand that still had hers, feeling his support in that simple touch which she knew she was going to need and which he would willingly give to her without hesitation.
Going back to the bed some time later, Castle glanced at the doctor and nurses before he turned his attention to his wife. "How're you feeling love?" he asked her, brushing her still damp hair back from her forehead.
"Sore," Beckett said, opening her eyes then as she squeezed his hand at the same time. "Very sore and exhausted, but I'm doing a lot better than before."
"You did a great job," Castle said, squeezing her hand tightly looking over again.
"It sounds like I did," Beckett said, following his gaze. "Good set of lungs," she commented as their baby's cries were a little shrill still.
"I know," Castle said, laughing slightly. He was going to say something else when the doctor turned to them, their baby in her arms.
"Congratulations," Dr. Hargrove told them as she settled the baby in its mother's arms. "A very healthy baby, at six pounds and fourteen ounces." She smiled as Beckett was staring at the baby, and Castle was leaning over the bed doing the same thing.
Not even aware that the doctor and nurses had left, Beckett whispered, "Oh Rick, she's beautiful."
"She is," Castle said a bit tearfully, reaching down to brush the back of his finger against their daughter's cheek. "Look at this hair," he said in slight amusement while he touched some of the dark hair already at the top of the baby's head.
"That she got from you," Beckett said, laughing softly.
"Was it worth it?" Castle asked suddenly.
Looking up at him, Beckett said simply, "It was," before she touched his cheek and he leaned down to kiss her. When they parted, she looked down at their daughter; tears filling her eyes as the baby's eyes were open, staring at them. "Hello sweetie," she whispered, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "Should we name her?" she suggested to her husband, looking at him.
"I think that would be a good idea," Castle agreed. "Unless you want to call her sweetie all the time?"
Rolling her eyes though she was still smiling, Beckett said, "I was thinking we could divide her names between us."
"The first and middle?" Castle asked. At her nod he then asked, "Sure, what am I taking?"
"Do you mind the middle name?" Beckett asked. At the rapid shake of his head, she then told him; though she was looking down at the baby; "I've always liked the name Elizabeth. And I know it's common but-"
"No, actually I was thinking of that name too, thinking of what names you might like if we had a girl," Castle told her. "Though it was that and Linda."
"Linda?" Beckett asked since she'd never thought of that name.
"That was a wild card choice," Castle said simply. "But no, I like Elizabeth."
"And her middle name?" Beckett asked as he ran his hand over the baby's head.
"Johanna," Castle said, looking at his wife to see her reaction.
"You… you don't want to use Martha, because-" Beckett started to say though she was incredibly touched; and had thought of using her mother's name beforehand, but was unsure of what her husband would say. At his brush of his lips against hers she was quiet and she said, "Alright, so," as they turned their attention to their daughter. "Elizabeth Johanna Beckett Castle," she said when the baby made a noise as she shifted in her arms within the blanket swaddling her.
"It's a pretty name," Castle said. "Do you think," he then began. "I could hold her?"
Beckett quickly moved to place Elizabeth in his arms after he'd taken the railing on the left side of her bed down. She watched as Castle cradled her while she fixed the edge of the blanket that had pulled out from the rest of it slightly. "A long name though," she said with a smile. "She didn't really need to have mine."
"We already talked about that, so I'm not going to insist she keep it since I know you want her to have it," Castle told her as he sat on the edge of the bed facing his wife. He glanced into Elizabeth's eyes and then looked a little thoughtful as the baby moved again.
"What's wrong?" Beckett asked.
"Her first name is a little long," Castle said. "I think you agree with me don't you?" he asked the baby who was slightly pursing her lips.
"So you want to call her something shorter?" Beckett inquired.
"A nickname," Castle said, knowing she was thinking he wanted to change her name. "What do you think about the name Eliza?"
"If you're asking her I don't think she'll answer," Beckett said in amusement. "But I like it."
"Eliza," Castle repeated to the baby. When she merely shifted slightly in his arms he bent over to kiss her forehead saying, "I love you already little Eliza."
"We should tell them," Beckett said with a smile, feeling a rush of love for her husband and their daughter. "But bring them in two by two."
"The sisters and then the grandparents?" Castle asked as he transferred Eliza back into her mother's arms. In the process one of her arms came loose from the blanket and he took one, kissing the back of her tiny hand before he went to Beckett. Kissing his wife deeply, he allowed himself just enough time to slip his tongue into her mouth to caress hers before pulling back.
"We're not going anywhere," Beckett said with a smile as he was cupping the back of Eliza's head.
"I'm aware of that," Castle commented. He then looked intently into his wife's eyes and said, "I love you, for carrying her, giving birth to her you know."
"I do, and I love you for being her father," Beckett said. She wasn't too taken aback when he kissed her again, but he was much quicker than the previous one, and she smiled to herself, knowing he'd literally had to tear himself away to go. "You're a very lucky little girl Eliza," she whispered to the baby once they were alone.
"Richard, is the baby-" Martha said, the first to see him as he came out into the waiting room.
"The baby is here, and it and Kate are doing fine," Castle said, not surprised at their relieved looks.
"Is it a boy or a girl?" Julia asked, tugging on his hand.
"Your mom wants to see you now, and she wants both of you to meet your sibling," Castle said, talking to both Julia and Alexis. "When they come out you two can come in and see them," he told his mother and Jim.
"Why didn't you just tell us what the baby is Dad?" Alexis said as they walked through the door and went to wash their hands.
"Because I want it to be a surprise when you see it," Castle said. "Ready?" At Julia's enthusiastic nod, he led them into the room saying, "See, they're fine."
Walking over to the bed, Julia could see the baby had dark hair, but couldn't tell if it was a boy or a girl. "Mommy?" she asked as she looked at her mother and could see she was smiling at her.
"Meet your sister," Beckett said, looking at Julia and then Alexis. "Elizabeth."
"It's a girl!" Julia squeaked out in a whisper.
"She is," Castle said, sharing a smile with his wife and daughter at her reaction.
"And her name is Elizabeth?" Julia then said. When her parents both nodded she said, "That's so pretty."
"What's her full name?" Alexis asked, stepping closer to the bed to see her baby sister.
"Elizabeth Johanna," Castle told her.
"Ooh, Grandpapa will be happy to hear that name and me too," Julia said with a wide smile on her face. "Can I hold the baby?" she asked then.
"Put her on the bed," Beckett said to her husband. Once Julia was sitting on the space next to her she put Eliza in her arms and watched as Castle made sure that she was holding her the right way. "And actually your daddy and I are calling her Eliza," she said.
"I was thinking about calling her Lizzy," Alexis commented as she was leaning over and letting the baby take her index finger. "Like I call her Jules," she told them, nodding to Julia.
"Can I call her that too?" the little girl whispered.
"Definitely, she'll probably call you Jules too when she's older," Alexis pointed out.
"Good," Julia said simply. She looked at the baby, who was just staring at her and she asked, "Does she have Daddy's eyes?"
"We won't know until she gets a little older," Beckett said, since Eliza did have blue eyes, though they were a very deep blue.
"She's so pretty, and tiny," Julia cooed to the baby. "Hi Lizzy, I'm your sister, your middle sister, Alexis is our big sister."
Castle squeezed Beckett's shoulder at that and then said, "Can Alexis hold Eliza now?"
Nodding, Julia then leaned down and pressed a kiss to her sister's forehead before letting Castle take her. As soon as her arms were free, she wrapped her arms tightly around her mother. "Are you kay Mommy?" she asked earnestly, looking up at her.
"I am, tired, but glad that your sister is here," Beckett said before sharing a kiss with her daughter.
"Me too," Julia said as they watched while Castle was giving Eliza to Alexis.
"Jules is right," the young woman said as she stared at her little sister. "She is adorable. And her hair, it's like yours was when you were born Dad."
"I know, very messy," Castle joked. "So now you've got two sisters."
"I know, jackpot," Alexis said, smiling as she heard Julia giggling at that. She then kissed Eliza's forehead before handing her back to Castle. Going over to the bed she squeezed Beckett's hand once and said, "I'm glad you're okay."
"Thank you," she said with a nod. "So am I. But you should probably let your grandmother and my dad come in to see Eliza."
"Don't tell them her name or that she's a girl," Castle said as Alexis helped Julia off the bed once the little girl had shared another kiss and a hug with her mother. He was going to give Eliza back to his wife when she stopped him.
"I know your mother will want to see her as soon as she comes in," Beckett said with a smile as she checked to make sure Eliza was okay.
"Is that the baby?" Martha said a few seconds later as she came to the doorway, Jim behind her.
"It is," Castle said, glancing at his wife when his mother rushed to him.
"It's a girl," Beckett said as she saw her husband wasn't going to say yet.
"I knew and she is beautiful," Martha exclaimed as she took the baby's hand.
"What did you name her?" Jim asked, hugging his daughter carefully.
"Elizabeth Johanna," Beckett told her father. "I picked her first name, he picked her middle name," she told him, squeezing his arm.
"It's a lovely name," Martha said, looking at Jim as Castle was doing the same.
"She's right, it is," Jim said with a nod to his son in law. "She'd be honored you chose her name."
"There didn't seem to be another choice that would fit her," Castle said honestly with a slight smile. "But we're calling her Eliza, since Elizabeth is a little big for her."
"Oh, I've always loved that name," Martha said. She studied the baby and nodded telling her, "I think it suits you Eliza, very nicely."
"You can hold her," Beckett said.
Martha was very quick to turn to her son and take Eliza in her arms. Holding the baby close, she studied her closely and with a smile she said, "She looks quite a bit like you did when you were born Richard."
Putting his hand on his mother's back as he could hear the tremor in her voice, Castle said, "It's the hair, I told Kate."
"It does look like yours," Martha said in agreement, managing to keep her tears from falling. "But it will be interesting to see her as she grows old, to see who in the two families she favors."
"We'll have a lot of time for that still," Jim said with a slight smile. He turned to Beckett and asked, "How're you doing Katie?"
"Very well," Beckett reassured him. "Hold her," she then urged.
"I will, I just wanted to check on you," Jim said before he went to Martha, taking his granddaughter in his arms. Looking down at Eliza he couldn't help smiling, though it was slightly bittersweet as he couldn't help think of his wife who he knew would have fallen in love with the baby the second she had seen her; as he had just done himself. He didn't say a word to her as he could tell that the baby was going to fall asleep, instead he leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
Taking Eliza, Beckett murmured gently to the baby, a mix of Irish and English that came to mind, and held her as still as possible since she was sleeping.
"We'll go back home now since it's getting late," Martha said in a whisper. "Did you say goodnight to the girls? Julia and Alexis I mean."
"I did," Beckett said, since she'd managed to say goodnight to Julia before.
"I'll go out now," Castle said. "I'll be right back love."
Watching them leave after Martha and her father had hugged her, Beckett turned her attention to the baby, smiling as her tiny head was turned towards her. "I love you so much sweetie," she whispered, brushing the backs of her fingers along Eliza's cheek. "I have already…" She was quiet before she then told her, "You're in a wonderful family you know," not caring that she was talking to an hour old baby that wasn't really going to understand her. "Your daddy, sisters, grandparents, they all love you already. Especially your daddy." She couldn't resist and she pressed her lips to Eliza's forehead again, remembering when she had her in her arms right after she'd been born, the baby's cries heavy. But she had been absolutely beautiful to Beckett, and even then she still was to her as she kissed her again, murmuring an I love you in Irish against her cheek.
"Okay, I love you sweetheart," Castle was telling Julia out in the waiting room as he held her against his hip. "Your mom and I both do you know."
"I know, and I love you Daddy," Julia said simply, a wide smile on her face. She shared a kiss with him and then asked, "Are you gonna stay with Mommy all night?"
"I'm sleeping in the room with her," Castle reassured her. "And Eliza will be okay," he said quickly before the little girl could ask. "We'll come home tomorrow too."
"Kay, I can't wait," Julia said in excitement. She shared another kiss with him, kissing him on the cheek as he set her down saying, "I'm so happy Eliza is here."
"Me too," Castle said, ruffling her hair to her giggle. He then went to Alexis and hugged his older daughter tightly saying, "I love you too Alexis, so you don't think I'm going to focus on Eliza more than you two."
"Oh, don't worry, I knew you wouldn't shut the two of us out," his daughter told him. "But three girls?" she teased her dad slightly.
"That's fine with me," Castle said before she kissed his cheek. "Make sure she's okay," he said, nodding to Julia who was watching them.
"We're going to have a camp out in the family room like she did during her birthday," Alexis said. "But on the couches this time, to celebrate."
Laughing a little, Castle nodded and said good night to her before hugging his mother and shaking his father in law's hand. He waited until they left before he returned to his wife, seeing that she was kissing Eliza's fingers clutching at her finger. "She woke up," he commented, getting his phone out of his pocket.
"She woke up," Beckett replied. "And good idea, we have to text them."
"We do," Castle said, opening his camera on his phone. "Ready?"
"Ready," Beckett said with a smile, waiting for him to get the right angle as he sat next to her. After he took the selfie and showed it to her she commented, "I really wonder what Lanie will say."
"I wonder if she'll come over too," Castle said as he was quick to send out one text to the three. "Tomorrow since it's too late today."
"We'll find out," Beckett said. When she felt him getting on the bed next to her she looked up at him with a smile and took his kiss, not surprised at it. She parted her lips to his searching tongue, curling her own around it for a moment before they pulled away at Eliza's sudden sound that nearly sounded like a coo. She looked down with him at her and leaned against him while he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. They remained like that until his phone started to vibrate, and they started to read the messages of congratulations from their friends.
"Okay love?" Castle asked, coming out of the bathroom dressed in the pajamas he'd packed in the bag he'd brought with them.
"Yeah, I do have to wonder if I'll really be leaving tomorrow," Beckett said. "Even though I know my friends did that, I am sore in so many places I can't imagine walking. But I do want to go home." She lay back as he was folding his clothes to put away and then asked, "What about the carrier?"
"Mother and your dad will bring it with them tomorrow," Castle said. He sat on the bed next to her and took her hand, squeezing it. "This day's been a little…"
"Surreal," Beckett told him with a smile. "I agree, it has been. But the most important thing, we have our baby girl."
"We do," Castle said. He then looked at her seriously and told her, "You outdid your gift to me for my birthday last year you know."
"That's a gift we gave each other," Beckett told him simply, entwining her fingers with his as they were both smiling at one another.
Castle leaned over and kissed her once before he leaned back and then said, "You know it's funny, Alexis was teasing me about having three girls, but I get the feeling she was afraid I was disappointed."
"She and I talked about that," Beckett said simply. When her husband looked at her in surprise she said, "Around Christmas. She had asked you want you wanted and you said you didn't care, but she was concerned having another girl would make you… not frustrated but…"
"No, I understand," Castle said, comprehending how his oldest daughter's mind was working. "And there's a part of me that's not too surprised she was worrying about that," he said with a smile. "But if she sees me with Eliza she'll understand I will love my girls."
"Hmm, she will," Beckett said. She then smiled after they were quiet for a moment saying, "We have a lot of friends."
"Yeah," Castle said, knowing she was remembering calling May and Rebecca and then hearing from Skye as well since they had texted as many of their friends besides the boys and Lanie as they could; the ones whose numbers or e-mail addresses he had on his phone. "We're going to have a lot of visitors, I hope you're ready for that," he told her.
"I am," Beckett said. She then straightened the blanket on her lap and told him, "You know I was a little… on edge at the thought of being a mother to a newborn."
"I had a feeling you might be still," Castle said. "But you'll do great; you've done research, talked to friends, my mother and also your dad which I thought was a good idea. But now you're not worried about that?"
"No," Beckett said with a smile as she shook her head. "I fell in love with Eliza the second I held her, fell in love with her yet again actually. And I want to raise her; with you; to see what our baby will be like," she told him a little seriously.
"Me too. One thing I'm hoping for love," Castle told her. Before he could say anything though, she was pulling him onto the bed, making him watch her as he wasn't sure she'd be okay with that. But he lay down on his side as she did saying, "You're not pressed up against the railing?" looking behind her.
"I'm fine, what were you hoping for?" Beckett asked, cupping his cheek.
"What I told you before when we were still in Ireland, that she'll look like you," Castle said. He wasn't surprised when she laughed and he said, "I can hope."
"We'll see," Beckett said. "Especially since she has your hair already. But you love her," she said, studying his face.
"I do, really deeply already, and it hasn't even been a full day since she was born yet," Castle told her, taking her hand and kissing the palm tenderly. "I love Eliza, and Julia, and you, our little Hamptons family."
Beckett couldn't stop herself from smiling at that; as he'd taken to calling the four of them that before Eliza had even been born; and she leaned up slightly to be able to kiss him. She kept it very gentle and brief before they were parting from one another, but her lips were still aching with his touch against them as she stared into his eyes. "No, stay love," she told him when he started to move to get off the bed.
"I can't sleep here," Castle told her though he hesitated. "It's too crowded."
"It's not," Beckett said. "And you have the cot right next to the bed, so if you fall over you'll be on that at least."
"Oh geez, thanks," Castle said sarcastically, loving her laugh at that. "Kate?"
"Hmm?" Beckett asked, looking at him.
"I love and adore you… my love," Castle said, wrapping his arm around her side.
Leaning over to meet him when he came to her for a kiss, Beckett reached up to brush her fingertips against the bottom of his chin, feeling his hand pressing on her back slightly in response. When they parted she ran her fingers over his lower lip, smiling as he was quick to kiss it. "So even now…" she asked with a smile.
"Of course, but I'm not going to act on it," Castle said simply before he brushed his lips against hers. "You should get some rest, after what you went through today." He then suddenly grinned and when his wife asked him what he was thinking about he told her, "I'm remembering how you were cursing in three languages while in labor, I'm surprised you picked up swearing in Irish so quickly."
"You always pick up those words the fastest," Beckett told him though she was smiling. "And it was better than swearing at you wasn't it?"
"Oh, I'll agree with that wholeheartedly," Castle said, nodding his head. When his wife shook her head at his response he leaned over and kissed her once more. But he kept it short, murmuring to her, "Night love."
Beckett kissed him quickly before telling him, "I love you tooRick.My love." She wasn't surprised when he took her lips at that and she was quick to respond to him as she slid her fingers through his hair. She had a sense of regret when he pulled away, and she sighed saying, "You tempt me too easily."
"That goes both ways," Castle told her. "But for now, let's get some sleep; we have tomorrow and taking Eliza home." He leaned down and shared a final kiss with Beckett; a very quick press of their lips before he was soon falling asleep. But just before he did, he found he was thinking a little further than the next day now they had Eliza with them and they had just finished their first book. But that was all he could think of before he was losing himself to sleep, getting rest after the day he and his wife had had.
Though Beckett was heavily fatigued from giving birth, she felt almost too tired to nod off. Opening her eyes, she looked at her husband, seeing he was already asleep, and she gently brushed her fingers along his lips. Her thoughts went to their baby, and she had to wonder what their future together would hold for them as they were parents with two daughters and writers with their first book under their belt. But that was as far as she could speculate, and she was finally able to close her eyes and fall asleep.
Though they didn't know that they'd been thinking the same thing as they'd gone to sleep, Castle and Beckett would come to remember their thoughts the next day as they prepared to return home with Eliza. Since neither of them could know what would happen to them and their family, it wasn't something that concerned them since all they wanted was to keep Julia and Eliza safe. But it was what they were looking forward to, going through their marriage being as profoundly in love as they were with each other and raising their daughters together.
