Genre: Crime, Drama, 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: It was really nice to get the feedback I did for the last chapter so will get right to my thank yous for that! Mb (Hey there! Don't worry at all about not review and that you're begind. I'm not surprised at all that work, real life and also the summer are taking up some time. I've noticed that when some rolls around my readers and reviewers might go down a bit but it's perfectly understandable. I know you're still reading so it's great to know that of course! But I'm glad you think I write amazing and beautiful stories. I really have to write Castle and Beckett together fully as you put it 'cause I really think they were best friends and lovers but the show lost that a bit so I feel the need to show that and more so than we saw on the show as time went on. And of course I have to show them as loving parents, never really got the chance to see that in Beckett's case so it's why I love to write them doing that especially together. Pleased to see you enjoy all of that! You're welcome for sharing my words as you said with you, glad to do that. And I will always write Castle and Beckett and their family definitely. You're welcome again!),
TORONTOSUN (Nice to see you thought it was a very good chapter with lots of good moments. And great you thought the second half of the chapter was good writing again, hoped readers would think that so I'm happy you did of course!),
MsNYC (Great you were glad that Julia and Mari made up after their misunderstanding. And I knew what you meant, about that age kids will start to realize they're growing up and they don't want to insult another kid with something that might be considered sexual though that I had happen there wasn't of course; I knew you didn't mean that; but of course they're aware things can be taken like that around this age which is awkward of course which was what I had happen here. So it was nice to read that you understood where I was going with that! I'm so happy that you love Skye and Beckett's friendship, as well as you being glad seeing their playful side towards each other. You're welcome though I really loved writing that! I had to laugh at your reaction to the line where Mary tries to touch Skye in the Jacuzzi, but it was great you had the one you did. I never know how readers will react to the femslash moments between Skye and Mary so nice you didn't mind that. And I'm not surprised at all that you expected Castle to say something about it; also that you said it out loud. I figured that would be something he'd do, lol. And of course, happy to see you thought it was great writing as usual!) and
vetgirlmx (I wasn't surprised to see your reaction to what happened with Julia and Mari or that you could tell she was so worried. And I figure for her she'd be terrified that Mari would be mad though the others would see she wasn't going to be. And you're definitely right, growing up isn't always a pleasant experience; I remember that myself of course. I'm so glad that you're getting eager about their mini-trip though you are enjoying the current one they're on. You're right a family trip will be different from this one; and I have to admit I can't wait for you and all the other readers to read it! I'm not surprised you mentioned that the chapter was a bit different with them being more playful and relaxed; I figured since they were at the zoo that would happen, lol. And great you liked how Castle and Mary are comfortable with each other; I figured that would happen with their wives being good friends of course; and also glad you thought that was nice to see anyway though you saw it coming. I had really wondered what you'd think of Eliza playing vet so I was very pleased you loved it and that it reminded you of yourself a little; I thought there might be a bit of nostalgia with that, lol, so you're very welcome for it. And I'm so happy you can't wait to see what happens on their last day in San Diego and now you don't need to anymore!).
Thanks so much for the reviews, I love reading them as always and appreciate the time taken to write them out and send them to me!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is the title of a song written by Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne, from the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers album Into the Great Wide Open.
Learning To Fly
"That's a Lockheed," Skye was saying as they walked up to the building.
"And the other?" Castle asked as they stopped when they were close enough to look at the two jets in front of the museum.
"Convair Seadart," Mary said. When the two looked at her she said with a smile, "I've been here before too."
"Speaking of that," Skye said. She led the way inside when everyone was following her and after they had gotten their tickets she said to Castle and Beckett, "Go ahead and lead us, I would suggest going counter clockwise from here though."
"Okay," Castle said slowly as Beckett was looking at him and knew that she was going to allow him to go where he wanted. "Well I know that's a UAV," he said at the narrow white aircraft near them. "So what about that one?"
"The Firebee," Mary said.
"Remote controlled and supersonic," Skye said. "And that's all we know about it honestly."
"We've only seen it here," Mary added. "The girls loved the name."
"That would make sense," Castle said with a smile.
"Alright, next one's a plane I should have to tell you about," Skye said. "Though it is a replica."
"We saw it at the Smithsonian," Castle said. "The real Spirit of St. Louis."
"This one is nice too," Beckett said, having taken a picture of it.
"Great," Skye said absently as she was looking at the propellers on the front.
"How come you're not taking any pictures?" Castle asked as they moved on to the next plane.
Before she answered that Skye said, "It's a Sopwith Pup, from England. And I've seen these before."
"She took pictures of almost all of them," Mary said. "Except for the drones."
"Ready to move on?" Skye said, getting her camera out as they moved over towards the next room.
"You want to take pictures of these?" Beckett asked in surprise.
"I would, I can get some nice shots with them here unmoving," Skye replied since the room contained personal aircraft like Cessnas and Pipers. They were both taking a picture of a Cessna and she said, "How was your morning?"
"Same as yours," Beckett said after giving the woman a brief look. She wasn't surprised when Skye just smiled at her before they moved on. But at the reminder she couldn't help recalling that morning and how their plans to have breakfast together in someone's room had fallen apart.
Her phone ringing Beckett tried to reach over to the nightstand but had a little bit of difficulty at first as it was further than she thought it was. Grabbing it finally she pushed herself up before answering it and said, "Skye, everything okay?" as she put it to speaker while Castle sat up with her.
"Yeah, it's fine," the woman said slowly. "Listen we never really said where we were going to have breakfast and I hate to say our room is a little too… small."
"I think ours is too," Beckett said, feeling her husband pressing his lips against her back in response as they didn't want the women there after having made love a couple times since waking up.
"So, we can just grab something quickly on the way," Skye said.
"Of course, we'll meet you in the lobby at nine forty-five," Beckett said. When the investigator agreed she quickly hung up and then started to laugh with her husband. Once they'd finally calmed down she said to him, "I wonder if she really thought that we wouldn't realize they were doing the same as us."
"She might have been attempting it," Castle said. "So how much time do we have now?"
"An hour and a half," Beckett said after she checked the time on her phone.
"Good," Castle said, taking it and setting it aside before he went to her and laid her down. He proceeded to kiss her as they prepared to make love once more, her grasp of him letting him know she was ready for it as well.
Standing with her husband at the WWI era plane Beckett said, "Should we tell them now or wait until we finish?"
"Tell us what?" Mary asked as she and her wife had walked over to them in time to hear that.
"We were wondering if we might change our plans for the second museum," Beckett said first.
"We'd like to look at the Timken and then the Botanical Building," Castle told them.
"That would be nice but you've been to the Timken; no photographs," Skye reminded the two as she looked back and forth between them.
"Still," Beckett said. "I'm planning on making up for it at the Botanical Building."
"And that might have a lot of the same stuff," Mary warned.
"Do you want to go to the car museum?" Castle asked them.
"No… oh, we thought you might want to but found out we didn't really want to go," Skye said slowly.
"If you want to go back to the hotel we can always take a cab," Beckett told the woman in Russian.
"No, we just want to be out… and since the Timken is small and the Botanical is outside… thank you," Skye said.
"What did she ask her?" Castle whispered to Mary as their wives went ahead of them.
"I don't know," Mary said laughingly. "So," she said to him. "Any reason for the change of venue? You both love cars."
"No, we just… feel like being out too; it's a stunning day," Castle said looking up at the clear blue sky. "Plus, we're going to be cramped inside during the party."
"I can tell you don't want to go," Mary said. "So, I would suggest you stick to your wife like glue." When he looked at her she shrugged and said, "Some woman tried to pick up Skye at the party at the Getty; the first one; before the fire."
Nodding Castle said, "I've had to see my wife being hit on a lot at these. It never gets any easier. If I didn't know Kate would literally throttle me getting sent to jail for it I'd throttle… them. Hello love."
"Hey, you realize we can hear you," Beckett told him, her hands on her hips for a moment. "But she's right, you should stick with me."
Castle was startled for a moment as she started to walk away from him but he then smiled, going after her. When they were standing at the first plane in the next section he said, "You wouldn't mind it?"
"I'm used to you now," Beckett said with a smile. She squeezed his hand and then said, "Plus I want to be close enough to you so we can get out of there as soon as possible."
"Me too," Castle said quickly before they then started to follow the two women around that section and the WWII section. He was enthralled by the latter and was pleased to see his wife appeared to be as well, considering the pictures she took of a few of them.
"Wow," Beckett said to Skye as they stepped into a large domed room.
"I know and I forgot, you'll have the chance to see some cars now," the investigator told them with a smile as she nodded to the two that were on the floor.
The four walked around together, Skye telling them about the planes that they saw. But then they stopped underneath something cone shaped with the country's name and the flag on it.
"This I think is more your speed Rick," Skye told him.
"Of course," Castle said with a smile. "The Mercury spacecraft."
"I hate to say-" Skye began.
"It's a replica?" Beckett asked.
"A mock-up," Mary answered.
"I don't mind," Castle said, watching his wife as she took a picture of it. "But I would mind sitting in there."
"I think your height would have been a problem love," Beckett said in amusement to her husband as she looked at him.
"It would have, really, six foot two in that little thing?" Mary said as he looked at her and Skye.
"Every time I realized I was taller I knew I wasn't going to be able to be an astronaut," Castle said as they continued to the next plane. "And then the shuttle started up and I thought I might have a chance."
"That was when you were much older though," Skye commented.
"My mother knew I was going to be tall," Castle said, glancing at his wife.
"I think she just realized you would be," Beckett said since his father hadn't been that tall.
"My uncle was," Castle finished since he'd been about to tell her that before she'd spoken.
"Then that would make sense," Skye said, watching them as they went back into the WWII section.
"Have you ever flown a jet?" Castle asked as they came to the last section of planes.
"Oh no, not really," Skye replied with a smile.
"Not really? Isn't it more of a yes or no question?" Beckett asked after taking a picture of a mock-up of a Gemini spacecraft in the room.
"I suppose," Skye said. She wasn't surprised when the two just looked at her in complete confusion and explained, "I've flown some but never on my own."
"Can you do any acrobatics?" Castle asked.
"A bit, looping which you've seen me do before," Skye answered.
"Though it gives me a heart attack every time," Mary grumbled. "I'm not in the plane with her but I watch a lot remember."
"In an attempt to stop me but it doesn't really work," Skye said with a smile for her wife.
With a sigh; as she couldn't really stay mad at her with that; Mary then said, "Do you guys want to go on the flight simulator here?" pointing to the one they were near.
Beckett was about to say that she wanted to but stopped and said, "I don't think I should."
"We can pass," Castle said though he was heavily tempted to go.
"You don't have to punish yourself for my sake Rick," Beckett told him with a smile.
"I'll take him," Mary said after she and her wife shared a look.
"You-" Beckett started to say to Skye when they were alone.
"I've been on a jet, the simulator is unnecessary," the investigator said, waving her hand.
"And you can't fly it," Beckett guessed. When Skye just gave her a smile she laughed slightly and then followed her to the gift shop where her friend had said they'd meet the two.
"You're going to love this for your girls," Skye said eagerly as they stepped inside the store. "Some plane models."
"Some?" Beckett asked, stunned to find half a wall of nothing but the model planes.
"I know, it's fab isn't it?" Skye was gushing. "Ab-fab though no one ever gets that."
"Did you watch the show?" Beckett asked. When her friend looked at her she said, "I told you once my mother was an anglophile and she watched that; so did I."
"Great to hear," Skye replied with a smile. "You're going to wait for Rick, right?" When she nodded she said, "You can help me out now; Mary will let me look now."
Able to tell from both the tone and the redundant use of the word now that her friend was excited Beckett followed her quickly to the planes and looked on as she seemed to study every last one. It was amusing to hear her whispering to herself about the different liveries there were available until she stopped. "Did you find one?" she asked her. She was startled when the woman looked stunned and said, "Skye-"
"Look," the investigator said, holding up the box to her.
"Your livery," Beckett said with a smile, seeing on the 747 model was the picture Skye had done of the poppy field.
"All of them that I did for Golden State," the woman said, still looking shocked.
"Well you should get at least one," Beckett said.
Skye was going to reply to that when she spotted her wife and Castle walking over to them. With a wide smile, she left Beckett without a word wanting to show her wife what she'd found.
Beckett had to cover her mouth with her hand as she was about to start laughing at the way Skye nearly bounded over to Mary in her eagerness.
"What's that all about?" Castle asked her in surprise once he'd reached her.
"Her liveries for Golden State," Beckett said, motioning to the planes.
"Really?" Castle asked, stepping right up to them.
"Rick?" Beckett said, outright laughing when her husband nearly bumped his nose into the packaging of one.
"Sorry, I'm picking out two for the girls; Alexis too but if she doesn't want it I'm taking it," Castle said rapidly. He then realized how he sounded and paused before he turned around to look at her. "Did you want to choose?"
"No, I trust you love," Beckett said, waving her hand in the air briefly before he went back to the boxes.
"Okay, I think I have them," Castle told her as he turned to her. "The flowers for Eliza, the redwoods for Julia; since she remembers them; and for Alexis the kelp forest."
"I have nothing to say to that," Beckett said in amusement as he was looking at her questioningly.
"Great do you want any?" Castle asked.
"No grab one for yourself," Beckett urged him. She watched him look them over before he grabbed a British Airways model with a plaid pattern on the tail. "Where will you put it?" she asked after he'd shown it to her.
"I think in our office," Castle said after looking at it for a moment. "I'll be back."
Beckett was going to stop him to ask something but he was walking away so she held off until they were leaving the museum. "How was it?" she asked him as they were behind the McDouglases heading to the Japanese garden for their lunch.
"Fun but it was better you didn't go, just in case," Castle said. "We didn't take too long, did we? I wasn't sure how long we were in there."
"No," Beckett replied, shaking her head. She was going to say more when she realized Skye and Mary had stopped walking ahead of them. "What is it?" she asked in surprise once they'd reached them.
"Do you remember what the menu has?" Skye said first.
"We'll take the bowls with chicken teriyaki," Beckett said before looking at her husband.
"No that's fine," Castle said. "But the teas?"
"Peppermint; it's caffeine free," Mary suggested.
"That sounds good," Beckett said. "But why are you ordering?"
"We'll have dessert after," Mary said.
"Take this," Skye said, waiting for her wife to hand the bag that she was holding. "And go to the grass over here, pick out a spot."
"Will you be able to find us?" Castle asked as he held the bag.
"Yes, don't worry," Skye said before she and Mary got in line.
Taking his wife's hand Castle walked with her away from the building until they'd found a wide expanse of grass surrounded by trees. "I think this is good," he said when he spotted some shade.
"I'll help you," Beckett said when he began to take the blanket out of the bag. She helped him shake it out and once it was ready she set down some rocks she'd managed to find before they were sitting. She took a few pictures as soon as they were and took a final one looking up at the tree they were beneath.
"Nice," Castle said as he was watching her.
"Thank you," Beckett replied with a smile.
"You know there are a lot of art galleries in the Hamptons," Castle said.
"Yes, and I'm just an amateur photographer," Beckett said quickly. "Though I'm not surprised you're suggesting that."
"I had to try," Castle replied before something came to mind then and he reached for his phone before he talked to his wife. "Sit a little closer love," he told her.
With a smile Beckett did so and after he'd taken the selfie of them with the park slightly visible behind them said, "You should send that one later."
"I will, along with the other we'll take in the Botanical Building," Castle replied as he put his phone away. With a smile he said, "We seemed to go through that museum quickly."
Beckett was going to object at first before she stopped and then nodded telling her husband, "You're right… I guess we were thinking about going back to our rooms."
"Or we just really wanted to be outside," Castle said.
Laughing softly when her husband let himself fall onto his back Beckett turned to him and said, "Or we're just tired."
"That too," Castle said after he'd tucked his hands underneath his head. "Though I don't really want a nap."
"Now you sound like Eliza," Beckett pointed out.
"I guess so," Castle replied before he glanced up at her and saw that she was looking off to the side. "They're here?"
"They are, I realized I wasn't sure if they'd really bring out tea but I think they did," Beckett said with a smile at her husband as he sat up. "They're fine," she said as she knew he was looking to see if they needed help.
"She's right but very gallant of you," Skye commented to him as she handed one of the containers she was holding to Beckett then giving the second to Castle. She sat as her wife was pouring out tea in a thermos they'd brought with them to the park. "Salud," she said after they all had a glass filled and had prepared them with some honey.
Tapping them together the four drank before they began to eat and looked around the field they were at before Mary was talking to Castle and Beckett.
"This is where they have part of their Halloween attraction," the doctor said with a smile.
"Have you gone to those?" Beckett asked them.
"Oh no, if you hadn't noticed I'm a bit of a wimp," Mary said.
"Ah," Skye said, taking on a Scottish accent. "I am too actually… well, for that anyway. So no, we haven't gone to them; seen them on TV. Had great fun laughing at those being scared." She glanced at Castle and Beckett who were looking at each other and she said with a smile, "So I would assume you two were like that, or just you Rick."
As her husband rolled his eyes Beckett said, "It was him though we were with the Fosters too and David was the same."
"Amazing how men do that," Skye commented, picking up some rice with her chopsticks. She looked to Castle and said slowly, "Something on your mind?"
Beckett looked at him rapidly and saw he did look like he was mulling something over so she asked, "She's right, what is it?"
"I'm recalling Old Town," Castle replied. "You had a close experience with the spirit of that little girl but you were both fine. How?"
"I'd thought of that myself," Skye replied. "You don't always come out of those able to stroll down the street just fine and dandy." She set down her empty container and then said, "I think we had a symbiotic moment; though just in the idea of shared energy."
Though she really wanted to protest that Beckett couldn't do it and she sighed saying, "Explain."
With a nod Skye said, "You know we're all energy, right?"
"I believe that," Beckett said. "Basic living, our hearts pumping, breathing; all of that requires energy."
"That's what spirits require, to suck that energy from us and just one person and a weaker spirit like the girl was would still drain you," Skye said. "But both of us, that and she couldn't get it to manifest."
"How does that make it symbiotic?" Mary asked.
"We both share the same thing," Beckett answered before Skye could speak. "Your heart stopped more than once and so did mine."
"Exactly. Now this is just a guess; I don't really have anything to back this up," Skye began. She paused and then sighed saying, "I never do. But I think that we had a connection in that instant which that little girl completed trying to take our energy and we were bouncing it back and forth to keep from losing it once she left. Why that was… I guess we just realized; subconsciously of course, this had to be our bodies doing this; we wouldn't have been able to handle things without that extra energy."
"What can I say," Beckett replied as Mary and Castle turned to her. "She's right though, I realize now after the fact that we were really close to each other."
"That right," Castle said quickly. "You were."
"Then that could be it," Skye said with a nod. "I suppose in a way we were like sisters in that moment."
"Ghost sisters," Castle said. He laughed when his wife threw a fallen leaf from the grass at him and said, "You two are close."
"Fairly for being on opposite ends of the country," Mary said.
"It's funny how that happened," Skye said.
"You don't think we got that close through the investigations we went through together?" Beckett said. When the investigator looked away slightly from her she sighed and then said, "I'm not heartless; I have two daughters. Three because I do include Alexis there now."
"She does, I think they're just wondering if that could happen because you're on opposite ends of the country like Mary said," Castle said.
Finishing the last of her tea Beckett said, "It did and we'll have to see you soon. Come to New York soon."
"We'll try when we can," Skye said. She wasn't surprised when Castle and Beckett just looked at her and she laughed before saying, "We were thinking of skiing around Lake Placid, stopping by to see you around President's Day weekend."
"We're staying there once we get back to New York," Castle said. "I forgot to tell you that's where Paradox Lodge is," he then told his wife.
"I looked it up," Beckett said. "We're showing them what we can of what's left from the Olympics… if we get the chance," she told him. When he nodded she then said, "Timken?" to all three of them.
"Yes," Skye said, getting up first. "You know something I forgot to tell you about the name."
"Something to do with Ohio," Castle said quickly. "There's history with the name."
"Car manufacturing," Skye said as he was shaking out the blanket before folding it. "But it was eventually in Canton, Ohio and my mother was born at the Timken Hospital there."
"She always feels close to her mother there since she can't go to Canton," Mary said softly with a sigh as her wife had stalked away from them to throw away the containers. "It would be too painful since she does have a few albums of her mother's pictures as she grew up there. She didn't come out to Seattle until college so there would be memories."
"Is it because she only knows these things second hand?" Beckett guessed.
"Exactly," Mary replied.
"Did you ever think of going with her?" Castle suggested. "Being with-"
"I have," Mary interrupted as she knew how he was going to finish that. "And no such luck, it's too difficult for her. Maybe one day but for now we'll just remember through her albums. We should go."
Letting the doctor go ahead of them Castle said, "I think there's another connection… to a degree."
"I thought of that already when she was talking about our hearts stopping but I didn't want to bring it up," Beckett said. "And if you're going to suggest that that's why the girl wanted to talk to me besides the fact I've had a child then yes I'll agree. It makes no sense but I can't refute it for the life of me."
Smiling at the way she worded that Castle took her hand and then said, "I'm thinking we should split up in there."
"We should," Beckett agreed as they watched the museum's small building coming into view. After they'd entered they told the women that and were walking in the opposite direction from them and she found for a second time at that same museum she hated the policy of no photographs. The collection was stunning and her fingers were aching to hold onto her camera to set up the shot at each painting they stopped in front of. Eventually, as they were studying one of Yosemite with horses in the foreground, she felt her husband's hand on her back.
"I could sneak my phone," Castle said.
"You couldn't," Beckett said, smiling at his sincerity with that. "I appreciate the thought but the guards are watching everyone like hawks," she then said in Irish as the man that had been at the doorway to the room was walking near them.
"Vultures," Castle said jokingly. When his wife rolled her eyes, he smiled and then followed her over to the next one. "We'll take them to Rome," he said suddenly.
"What?" Beckett asked, startled from her gaze at the painting of ruins in the city.
"Whenever we go to Europe we're going full force with history," Castle said. "And food of course but we'll refrain from espressos with them. I know a great place close to the Pantheon that you'll love." He couldn't help his gaze going down to her abdomen and said, "After."
"Well after," Beckett said with a nod. She cupped his cheek gently before letting him go and then telling him, "I love you for that," in Irish.
"I wasn't fishing," Castle told her as he followed her to the next painting. "I was incredibly honest," speaking in Irish as she had been.
"I know when you are and that time definitely wasn't it," Beckett assured him. His hand on her back let her know that he was a little frustrated there were people around them and she saw he was trying to focus on the art as they were nearly finished though she could easily see it was difficult.
When they made their way back to the entrance Castle saw his wife looking at the rooms they were passing and he said, "They're not here are they?"
"No," Beckett said, stepping outside. She wasn't surprised to find it empty there and she quickly got her phone out before it rang with a text. "They beat us to the building," she said to her husband. "This is from Mary; they went to see the koi to cheer Skye up."
"Good idea, we should give them some space though," Castle said. After she had texted Mary that he took her hand and they walked together over to the building behind the art museum from another path on the side.
Glancing over at the koi pond in front of it Beckett saw the two women weren't there, instead walking arm in arm along the reflecting pond that extended to the street. "They're going to be there a while," she commented.
"Do you care if they don't join us?" Castle asked.
"I texted Mary that they could stay out if they wanted," Beckett answered.
"Okay, are you ready?" Castle asked. When she walked past him then he smiled and followed her, watching her in admiration as she drew her camera from her bag swiftly before they were inside the large building and coming up to the orchids along the walls. He stayed back, just watching her admiring the flowers and taking her shots before she turned to him. When she said nothing, he walked a little closer to her as she took a shot of a white flower before she began to speak as he'd expected her to do.
"What time is it?" Beckett asked.
A little startled that she would ask Castle quickly realized why and he checked his watch saying, "We were there in the field for a while, it's almost two fifteen. You want to call them?"
"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't," Beckett replied with a slight smile. "But not yet."
"I'll keep my eye on the time," Castle said with a nod before they continued down the wall until the orchids had finished. When they stepped into the main part of the building he glanced around and said, "This is creepy."
"There are people here," Beckett said wryly as she'd noticed they were practically alone. She was taking a picture underneath some palm fronds then and said, "They're not coming in here."
"I'm in here," Mary said, walking up to them. When the two looked at her in shock she explained, "She's going to do a bit of walking. She's better now, just needs to be alone. We'll meet her at the field where we ate, she's going there."
"What?" Castle asked, studying his wife as she looked down to her camera with a frown on her face.
"Would it be a bad idea if I went to her?" Beckett asked the doctor.
"Oh no," Mary said. "Just try not to talk about her mother."
"I wasn't planning on it," Beckett replied.
"But what about the girls?" Castle said quickly.
"After we talk to them," Beckett told him as she was setting up another shot. "She's serious about needing to be alone."
Castle wanted to comment but held back when his wife looked at him over her shoulder. He nodded and said to Mary, "What about you?"
"I'll go back through the Timken; Skye left after only a few paintings. I'll be back so you won't get lost when we go find them," the woman replied before she left.
"She'll be alright," Castle said to Beckett as they studied some orchids.
"She will," she replied as she took a quick shot and then continued. Beckett kept her eye on the time before she said, "Text Alexis?"
Nodding, wondering if she knew she'd spent that whole time taking pictures without saying a word to him, Castle got his phone out and swiftly texted his daughter. He wasn't surprised when she answered back very shortly after and he told his wife, "They're ready. Where?"
"Outside," Beckett said, leading the way. She had spotted the path to the right of the building and was relieved to see that it was still empty. She handed him her tablet and watched him open their Skype app, brightening the screen before their daughters appeared on it.
"Hi Mommy, Daddy," Julia said first.
"Hi! Are you coming home now?" Eliza asked.
"Tomorrow," Castle said reassuringly. "We're already preparing to go."
"Are you still arriving at five?" Alexis asked.
"We are," Castle said. "And I realized we forgot to tell you we want the dogs to come too."
"They can go?" Julia said with a gasp of pleasure.
"They can, they'll stay with us," Beckett replied. "Are you okay to get their things ready?" she then asked her stepdaughter.
"We'll help!" Eliza said eagerly.
"We'll be fine," Alexis said, smiling as Julia nodded rapidly to agree with their little sister.
"Okay since we have that set," Castle commented. "Tell-"
"Wait," Julia said then as Macca was setting his head on her lap. "Can they swim too?"
"If it's not too cold," Castle said. He paused and said, "How did-"
"We looked into the park," Alexis interrupted him with a smile. "I told them there are rivers and lakes but we didn't see any pictures."
"Good so you'll be surprised," Beckett said with a smile. "Now you can tell us about your days."
Eliza went first, going over her day before Julia took over and talked about playing after lunch with Mari along with her class and dance class.
"How's the weather?" Castle asked.
"It's getting warm again," Alexis said. "So we should have really nice weather going to the park."
"So we can swim," Eliza said firmly.
"We'll try," Beckett promised.
"What about you? Where are you?" Julia asked, glancing behind them. "It looks like a place we went to."
"The Botanical Building," Castle answered. "Your mom and I just walked through it and she took a lot of pictures."
"I did," Beckett said with a smile. "And we'll show them to you tomorrow night. But first we went to two museums."
Castle tried his best not to laugh as their two youngest daughters made oohing sounds and he said, "We went to the Air and Space Museum and then the Timken. You went with us to that last one, the small building with the paintings you couldn't take pictures of."
"Could you now?" Julia asked.
"Oh no, it was the same," Beckett replied. "But the paintings were basically the same."
"Just a few changes here and there," Castle added. "After the first museum though we stopped for lunch and ate out on the grass; very nice."
"And after now?" Eliza asked.
"Dessert," Castle said as he glanced at his wife.
"He's right," Beckett replied. "So we should say our goodnights."
"Night Mommy, Daddy love you!" Eliza cried out.
"I love you too Eliza and you too Julia, Alexis," Castle said to them. "We'll see you tomorrow in the city."
"I can't wait," Julia said. "I love you Daddy and you too Mommy," she told them both.
"I love you too Dad, Kate," Alexis added. "And we'll all be there to meet you."
"I love you three too," Beckett said, smiling at them. "And I'm ready to see you three, plus your gram and grandpapa."
"And the dogs," Castle added.
"I was going to say," Beckett said to her husband in a mock stern tone of voice. When he kissed her cheek, she smiled and shaking her head said, "Goodnight you three."
"Night!" the three said together before the screen went dark.
"Hey, finished at the same time today," Louis said as he stepped inside. He was going to ask his girlfriend what was wrong as she looked at her phone but she then motioned to Eliza. "Anyone want to take the dogs out?" he asked them.
"We'll be with you in a second," Alexis said, stopping Julia before she could join their little sister and the dogs.
"What's wrong?" Julia asked in concern.
"Your mom wants to talk to you really quickly," Alexis replied. "I'll be in the kitchen and then we'll go inside together." She paused when she saw her sister frowning and said, "What?"
"I can go outside on my own," Julia said in exasperation. "And I know how to turn off the TV too; go outside and I'll come out after."
"I love you Jules," Alexis said with a smile.
"Sorry," Julia said with a slight laugh. "But it's true; I'm a big girl now."
"Okay, okay just come straight outside when you're ready," Alexis said, squeezing her shoulder and handing her the remote.
When she was alone Julia waited for her mother to text her before she pressed the button on the remote. "Hey Mommy," she said when she saw her.
"Hi, I just wanted to check on you sweetie," Beckett replied with a smile.
"I'm okay," Julia said quickly to reassure her. She smiled and said, "Mari forgave me and she understood. Did you get the picture I sent you?"
"I did, I showed your daddy too," Beckett replied. "And we're happy to see you're okay now."
"I still wanna give you a hug," Julia said quickly.
"So do I," Beckett assured her. "Go ahead and play now before dinner okay."
"How did you know we were doing that?" Julia said in surprise.
"I guessed," Beckett replied with a smile. "I love you sweetie, see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow Mommy, I love you," Julia said before they both hung up.
Since Castle had headed back into the building while she'd spoken with their oldest Beckett tucked her tablet back into her bag and then made her way over to a stall that was on the street in front of her. Once she was ready she made her way down to the field and saw her friend leaning back against a tree trunk with her arms crossed over her chest.
"Did Mary tell you?" Skye said, her eyes remaining closed.
"No, I knew already remember," Beckett replied, handing the shaved ice cup down to her. She sat down after her bag was on the ground and she started to eat her own, watching the woman as she ate.
"You've done the same yourself," Skye stated instead of asking after they'd been eating in silence for a while.
"I still do," Beckett replied. "But it's not the same-"
"It doesn't need to be," Skye interrupted. "That pain and regret is the same no matter what." She studied her friend and then said, "Did Mary tell you to come out here?"
"No, it was my decision," Beckett said quickly and firmly. "They don't quite have the same experience that you and I do." She hesitated for a moment before she said, "Though I suppose Rick would have some."
"He would but I don't know that I would feel as comfortable talking to him," Skye said. "Or to be honest you as I spoke about this with Mary."
"And we didn't need to talk about it," Beckett told her simply.
Tilting her cup back for the rest of the ice in her cup Skye said, "No I'm better now. I know my mum wouldn't want me to mope about her so best I bring my attention to the here and now. Are they together?"
"At the Botanical Building," Beckett said with a nod. "We had already looked through it. And talked to our girls."
"How's Julia?" Skye asked.
"She's good, Mari did forgive her so they're fine now," Beckett replied.
"What're you doing?" Skye asked as her friend took her cup and set it next to the bags near them. "Oh, you saw that," she said in amusement when she saw that Beckett was holding the cricket ball in there.
"When Rick was getting the blanket," she replied. "You know you never showed me how to throw this."
"Well since we're essentially alone here," Skye said with a smile as they got up. She caught the ball that Beckett tossed to her and said, "I forgot to mention to you, we don't have a connection now like you and Julia do."
"Just because we were with each other?" Beckett guessed as they walked out of the way of the trees they'd been next to.
Skye nodded and said, "I'll show you a few times and then you can try."
"You'll catch?" Beckett asked her. When her friend nodded she then watched while Skye taught her how to hold the ball first before demonstrating throwing it though she never let go of it.
"You have a turn," Skye said finally, tossing the ball to her. "And toss it."
"You're not going to catch it?" Beckett asked.
Shaking her head Skye told her, "I'd like to see how you do first."
Though she felt awkward Beckett tried to throw the ball and watched it go further than she thought it would. "So," she said to Skye.
With a smile the investigator said, "For your first try not bad. Try again."
With a nod Beckett did so but slipped up on her grip, sending it to the right which made them both burst into laughter. Watching Skye run after the ball she was relieved to hear the mirth from her friend and then called to her, "You do know how to throw over hand right?"
"I do," Skye said, throwing it to her that way.
The two tossed the ball back and forth that way before their spouses were walking up to them and they joined them before they talked about needing to leave.
"We didn't go over to the bridge yet grá," Mary told her wife.
"We can take a quick walk over to it," Castle commented. "We're not far."
"I don't think we have time to go over the whole thing," Beckett said. "But we can be a little late for the party."
"We could but we would never hear the end of it from our agent," Castle said, unable to help smiling as the two women had looked to him to answer that.
"Half way," Skye suggested. When they agreed with her she led the way with her wife, turning back eventually to Beckett and telling her, "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Beckett said with a smile and a nod.
"She's okay," Castle stated as they let the two walk ahead of them enough.
"She is now," Beckett replied. "She already was by the time I got to her. She's just trying not to let it take her over."
"Okay," Skye said once they were on the bridge. "Here's El Prado."
"Wow that's… terrifying," Castle said as he glanced over the edge of the bridge.
"From the freeway it's nice," Mary told him as their wives were taking pictures.
"She's right; if you recall it," Skye commented, looking over from her camera. "Feels a bit like the aqueducts in Spain."
"They do," Beckett said, realizing the woman was right. "Have you gotten a shot straight down?"
"I don't think I could," Skye replied with a smile. "I don't have a problem with heights but this is a bit much."
Beckett, finishing taking the pictures she saw in the scenery, started to walk down the bridge again before she realized that while her husband was following the McDouglases weren't. "Are you-" she started to say.
"We're going to stick around here until you're finished," Skye said.
"Do you want to go to the other end?" Castle asked his wife as they started walking together.
"No, we really don't have the time," Beckett replied. "I have to get ready." They were quiet for a while before she then asked, "How long do we have to stay?"
"At least until ten," Castle said. He wasn't surprised when his wife gave a groan and he nodded saying, "I know, I had the same reaction. But maybe I can get us out of there by nine thirty… or a quarter till."
"Try," Beckett urged him before they reached the middle of the bridge and she took pictures on both sides though she had to be careful of passing traffic.
"Ready?" Castle called to her.
"Why are you still over there?" Beckett asked, unable to help the amusement that seeped into her tone as he was across the street.
"I was debating looking right over the edge," Castle replied. He then took the chance he saw he had and ran across the street to his wife. "Have you?"
"I'll pass," Beckett said with a smile. "Come on," she said as she took his hand, pulling him back so they could reach the McDouglases and leave the park to prepare for the party.