"I'm glad she's wearing a costume."
Looking at her daughter Beckett said, "What?" in her surprise. When her daughter smiled at her she rolled her eyes and said, "You really didn't think I'd let her have one?"
"I did but I didn't know that you would pick out the costume you did," Julia said, though she was also speaking to her father.
"No, your mom picked it," Castle was quick to say, handing his wife the new diaper for Josie since they'd given her a bath for that night and the baby's costume.
"I did," Beckett said, trying not to smile when both girls looked at her with wide eyes.
"How come you picked that one?" Eliza asked.
"Because I liked it, and your dad did and we showed it to your sister once bought it," Beckett said.
"At my insistence," Castle said quickly with a smile. "We're lucky she liked it."
"She would," Julia said. "It's all ruffles and everything, but not frilly and pink." She saw the look that her parents exchanged and glancing at her sister she then said, "What?"
"You know she might like that kind of stuff once she's older," Castle said as he watched Beckett put the baby into a shirt and pants; what she'd wear underneath her costume.
"I know, I was just joking," Julia said. "But… she might not. Lizzy didn't."
"How come?" Eliza asked before their parents could say anything.
"I think it's because you loved trying to be like your sister," Beckett said, smiling when Julia immediately started to blush. "And if she wore a blue shirt you did the next day at your insistence."
"All the colors?" Eliza said, smiling at her big sister.
"Not always, but most of the time you did," Castle replied. "And don't worry," he said as the little girl was opening her mouth. "If you didn't like those colors too then you wouldn't have wanted them." He wasn't surprised when she nodded, and he took Josie from his wife. "Now though we should head downstairs, dinner should be ready."
"Why did we have to change?" Eliza asked.
"We're having pizza," Beckett reminded her, holding her hand as Julia walked on the other side of her sister. "I don't want you getting pizza sauce on your blouses."
"At least we can wear them after," Julia pointed out.
Eliza nodded before they were going downstairs to the kitchen where they found the pizza had been delivered and she got a plate with a couple slices quickly. She went outside with the other kids and they sat together on one of several blankets that had been set on the grass to have picnics.
"Francisco will be here in an hour," Skye was telling Castle and Beckett as they were sitting with her wife on one blanket. Their parents and her father were at the table on the patio with Josie and looking at the baby said, "I remember Marie and Kath's costumes."
"It's fun to get to do that," Castle said.
"It is," Beckett said. "Just nothing cutesy."
"Marie was a pirate that first Halloween they were here," Mary said. "Kath was a lion, so… cute but not over the top."
"They chose?" Beckett asked her.
"With help from us," Skye said out of the corner of her mouth before they were all laughing together and returning to their meal.
When they had finished and everything had been put away, the older kids were hurrying back inside as it was getting darker. They changed into their costumes and went back downstairs just as the makeup friend of Skye and Mary was arriving.
"Francisco," Mary said, since she'd been friends with him first. "It's so good to see you again."
"She's right, you did a great job with that Johansson movie," Skye said, hugging him quickly. "Thank you for doing this for us."
"I don't mind," the man replied with a smile, his accent a little heavy. He shook Castle and Beckett's hands as they were introduced to him and he asked them, "Have you ever had makeup like this before?"
"I have," Castle replied, explaining about when he'd dressed up like a zombie.
"This is a little different," Francisco said with a smile. "But if you could handle that you should be okay."
"I have," Beckett said when the man turned to her. She wasn't looking at her husband; knowing that he was turning to her; and said, "Just something on my cheek one Halloween in college and I was fine with it."
"Okay, then we can start," Francisco replied.
"Go, we'll watch the kids," Liam said when his daughter looked over at him.
Leading the way into the living room; where there was still some light; Skye said, "You can go ahead and start on them."
"I need to work on you two first," Francisco said with a smile. "Since I know what I'm doing with you already."
"We'll be back," Mary said, she and her wife leaving for the bathroom that was nearby.
"Do you mind if I ask where you're from?" Castle said to Francisco since they were alone with him. "I'm having a hard time placing your accent."
"Peru," the man replied. "Most people don't recognize it."
"I don't think we've met someone from there," Beckett commented. "And if our daughters find that out our second youngest will ask if you have a llama as a pet."
"Or had one," Castle commented. "She loves the movie The Emperor's New Groove."
Francisco laughed but didn't have a chance to reply as Skye and Mary were walking back and he needed to prepare them. "Whose idea was this?" he asked as he was beginning with Mary.
"Mine," Skye said. "Since Rick and Kate weren't going to dress up this year, I thought we could go Dia de Los Muertos." She wasn't surprised when the man nodded before he was quickly applying the makeup to her wife's face. She smiled as the transformation happened quickly, and once Francisco was done she said, "Beautiful grá." She then turned to the makeup artist and shook his hand warmly saying, "You're the best."
"Thank you," Francisco said. "Now sit."
Beckett watched Skye laugh before she was sitting on the stool in the light and she turned to Mary. "How is it?" she asked.
"Fine, we've done this," the doctor replied. "Our first Halloween together but I asked someone else."
"That was a mistake," Skye said, speaking since Francisco was working on her forehead.
"Shh," the man said.
"Sorry," Skye told her quickly. She sat still, looking at her wife when she could open her eyes and once she was finished she said, "Thank you Francisco."
"You're welcome," the makeup artist said.
"We'll be right back," Beckett said quickly as she and Castle stepped up to the foyer and went to the bathroom. Before she could turn on the faucet she was startled when her husband grabbed her arm but lost that swiftly as she had expected him to do that. They kissed deeply but kept it short and she said when they parted, "What do you want to bet they did the same?"
"No betting, I know already," Castle said. He leaned over and brushed his lips to hers before they let go of each other and then began to wash their faces quickly.
When the two walked back to where they were Francisco asked, "Have you looked at the book?" since he'd handed one of designs he could do to them while he'd been working on the two women.
"Yeah, I'd like this one," she said first, showing him the picture. After her husband had shown him his choice she sat and let the man start on her. She felt a little odd with the makeup, but he was soon finished since she'd chosen a design with very little to it and moved for her husband to take her place.
"You look stunning love," Castle told his wife in Irish, not caring that the two women would understand him.
"I'll respond to that when you're done," Beckett said easily before he was being worked on. She watched while Francisco was making the design on him and she smiled seeing it progress.
When the makeup man pulled away Castle said, "Good? Not terrifying right?"
"No," Skye said in amusement. "It's just enough."
"Should we show the kids?" Mary asked her wife.
"Maybe," Skye said. "Are you sure you don't want to stay?" she asked Francisco as he was getting what he would need to clean up.
"I am, I have to get my own makeup done," Francisco replied. "I have a party I'll be attending," he told Castle and Beckett.
"Are you having similar makeup?" the latter asked.
"I am, but a full costume as well," Francisco said. He smiled and then said, "But your clothes work well for you."
"Well, where would you like to clean your brushes?" Mary asked her friend.
"I'll do it in the kitchen," Francisco replied. "That way you can show your kids."
"Okay, time for the reveal," Skye commented with a smile. She took her wife's hand and they walked with Francisco ahead of Castle and Beckett who went a little more slowly.
"This is interesting," Beckett said, pausing in the dining room where the women had a mirror. Her makeup was white over her entire face with a slightly deeper blue around both her eyes, nearly black, and the edges were scalloped in black. Her nose was painted black to resemble a skull and her mouth had vertical lines on her lips and on either side of them was a horizontal line. She had put on a dark blue blouse with thin white lines on it, her trousers black, she and her husband opting for comfortable clothes though more somber in colors. "I never answered you, you look amazing love," she told him, looking at him with a smile.
"Thanks," Castle said. "It's weird," he said. "But I like it," he assured her seeing her questioning expression. His face was white, and he had dark blue around the top of his eyes and black underneath, not scalloped at the edges. He also had lines over his lips, though his vertical ones were longer. He noticed that Francisco had darkened his sideburns a bit, shadowing underneath them to extend them. He had chosen a black shirt and trousers, and it seemed to fit the design on his face even better. "Okay, we need to go," he said, shaking himself.
Beckett nodded, and she and her husband walked quickly to the family room, seeing that their daughters were starting to walk over to the dining room. When they spotted her and Castle she smiled as they gasped and rushed the rest of the way over to them. "Do you like it?" she asked the two after they'd studied their faces for a while.
"It looks so cool!" Julia said eagerly. "You won't scare Josa will you?" she then asked.
"We'll find out right now," Castle commented as he noticed his father in law walking over with the baby. "Has she seen Skye and Mary?" he asked them.
"She has," Jim said quickly as he he'd been able to hear the question. "These are your mom and dad honey," he said to the baby, not surprised when his daughter was smiling.
Josa, staring at their faces, soon sneezed and then smiled when her family laughed.
"Well, I think you can take that as your response," Martha commented when they'd calmed down. She became concerned when her youngest granddaughter began to whimper, but Beckett was taking her in her arms and the baby calmed down.
"We're lucky," Castle told his wife.
"We are," Beckett said before she looked at him when he was scrambling to get his phone.
"We're going to take some pictures," Skye said quickly when she heard the ringtone. "Francisco's taking them and then he'll head out for his party."
Castle and Beckett were quick to thank the man before the latter murmured to her friend for a moment and they went with their family over to the TV in the family room. Setting up the Skype conversation, Castle ran around to his wife before their oldest appeared on the screen.
"H- wow," Alexis said, spotting her parents first. "Hey, sorry, I didn't think you'd have on your makeup already," she said with a smile at her family.
"It's six, time to get out to the neighborhood," Beckett said with a smile.
"Josa's not ready?" Alexis asked as she saw her grandmother handing something colorful to her mother.
"Not just yet," Beckett replied before she and Castle helped Josie into the costume. "We were busy with our makeup; we were with Skye and Mary too."
"What about them? I'd like to see theirs," Alexis replied.
"The makeup artist they asked to do this is taking their picture now," Beckett said first.
"They're in the living room I think," Castle said, glancing behind them though he wouldn't be able to see.
"The kids are all dressed," Jim said then.
"And your sister is ready," Beckett said with a smile at her father.
"Oh, she's so cute," Alexis said the second she saw her baby sister. "Is she someone's pet for Hogwarts?"
"No way," Eliza said, making them all laugh including herself.
"No, she's just a cute owlet… is that a word?" Julia started to say before she looked back at their parents.
"It is," Beckett said with a nod. She kissed the side of Josie's head as Alexis urged her sisters to tell her all about the zoo since she knew they'd be going. She then studied the baby, making sure her owl costume was okay after she'd put it on her so quickly. It had a lot of ruffles on the chest, in brown, blue, green and white with the sleeves being the same colors and ruffles too. The pants were brown and there had been booties in orange but they'd been too big for the baby so her husband had said she needed black shoes for her 'claws'. She smiled as Josie looked up at her, her head covered by a hat that had an owl face on it. She then felt her husband touching her arm and looked up at the screen.
"You like the makeup Ma?" Alexis asked, not surprised her mother hadn't heard her first question.
"I actually do, it allows me to dress up as I please," Beckett said, smiling again when her husband laughed at that. "How's the party?" she asked, since her daughter and Louis had been invited to a party thrown by the owner of the stables that night.
"Really fun," Alexis said though she was still at it. She noticed some people behind her family and said, "Skye, Mary, let me see your makeup."
"Hi," Marie said.
"Hey girls," Alexis said quickly so the McDouglas girls wouldn't feel left out. "You look ready for the Hogwarts Express, though I don't know about your owl."
"They left their pets at home," Skye said wryly as she and her wife got closer to the screen.
"Oh wow, that makeup artist is incredibly good," Alexis told the two women.
"Francisco is," Mary said, nodding rapidly. She smiled when her wife merely raised her eyebrows before they turned back to the young woman as the Castle family was saying goodbye to her, telling her they loved her all together before the conversation ended.
"She's right," Julia said while they were getting up to leave. "It's really good."
"It's why we chose Francisco this time," Skye commented. She and her wife had the same design, but the color on hers was a deep green that matched her green eye and her wife's had a blue that matched hers. They had similar eye designs as Beckett, but the colors were reversed and they had a design above their eyebrows with a small heart in black just above both. Their noses were black with lines vertical over their lips though they got smaller from the middle of them. The horizontal lines on either side of their lips connected to the color and black designs on their cheeks that descended from the sides of their faces. "We'll head out around this neighborhood first," she said once the kids had their pillowcases. "And then go out from there."
"Is that usually how you go around?" Martha asked.
"It is," Liam said.
"Are you sure that you wouldn't want me or Martha to pass out the candy?" Jim asked the man.
"I enjoy doing this," Liam replied. "And it's a bit much to walk that far around."
"And Grandda can see us at the house across the street," Kathleen said.
When they had reached the open gate in the front, the group left Liam at the chair he moved up there and sat in with a bowl full of candy. They went to the neighbor and they got the candy outside; one of the owners sitting outside the wall around the house as Liam had been; before the kids were going back to their parents.
"Look, full candy bars!" Julia said in awe.
"That's so cool," Mari said eagerly. She looked at her friend and when she saw the look on her face she asked, "What?" in concern.
"I wish your parents could have made it," Julia told her.
Shaking her head Mari said, "They were still working today. All our parents."
"Bad timing," Peter said. He smiled with the others and then told Julia, "She's right plus they're going to be able to stay a little longer next week since they worked on a Saturday this week."
"And next week is really important," Clive commented.
Smiling, as she thought of Paul's concert they'd be going to the next Friday, Julia nodded and said, "Okay, at least you got to talk to them."
"Yeah, but what about the candy?" Mari asked before she was laughing as Julia slung her arm around her shoulder and they were walking down the sidewalk again in a group.
Having been listening to the conversation Castle said to his wife, "Luckily they were able to this week."
"I know," Beckett said with a smile.
"They had to come," Skye said as her friend was looking at her. "They have tickets. I just hope Dani will be alright with Lenora," she told them.
"She will be," Beckett said, Rebecca and David deciding to have their youngest stay with the babysitter the next Friday for the concert. She felt her husband take her hand and she watched with him while the kids were getting candy at the next house and she looked over at him again.
"What?" Castle asked in surprise at her glance.
"She seems to be fascinated," Beckett told him since he was holding Josie and she was staring at him.
Castle was about to comment on that when Josie suddenly moved her arms and he and Beckett laughed before he started to speak again. His wife stopped him then, squeezing his arm tightly and making him look at her questioningly before she was telling him what was on her mind.
"I know, she's flying but don't do that with her," Beckett told him.
"I won't," Castle assured her. "I don't want her to get sick on her costume." He studied it and said, "What about next year?"
"We'll get her a new one, she'll probably outgrow this," Beckett replied, watching the kids heading up to another house.
"What about those booties that came with it?" Skye asked.
"That goes with the costume into storage," Beckett answered wryly. That made her think of something and she asked, "Have you done that with the twins' costumes?"
"We did, but only until they were six," Mary said. "They're in the attic."
"So are Eliza's," Beckett said. "And Julia's Anastasia costume."
"That was impressive," Skye said to Martha.
"Oh, thank you," Castle's mother said. "It was a joy to make since it brought the two of us closer."
While they were walking to the next house, Castle hung back with his mother and said, "Are you okay?"
"I am, let me have her," Martha said simply, taking Josie.
"Rick," Beckett said, having paused and looked back to see her mother in law walking towards her. When her husband reached her she said, "What is it?"
"She got a little emotional," Castle said, nodding ahead.
Turning, Beckett saw that his mother was with the girls and she smiled saying, "I don't blame her." She let him take her hand and once they caught up with everyone she said, "Why did we stop?"
"This is the last house on our end," Skye said. "We gather together to make sure we cross together."
"Do you let the girls run around?" Castle couldn't help asking.
"Go, if you want to reach more houses you can leave as soon as an adult is with you," Skye said to the kids besides hers and Mary's older twins. When they were walking up the short path to the house she said, "We do that since usually their friends here at the neighborhood join us."
"Why aren't they with us now?" Beckett asked.
"They didn't want to intrude since we have guests," Mary said before she noticed someone walking down to them with the kids. "Huascar," she said to the man. "Diane, how are you?"
"Doing well," the man said, shaking her hand and then Skye's. "We just wanted to come and say we've been enjoying watching you on the show."
"Oh, thank you," the investigator said with a smile, shaking Diane's hand.
"We've been voting too," the woman said.
"Thank you again, I appreciate it," Skye said with a smile. "I hate to run but-"
"That's alright," Diane interrupted her, smiling as Iris was tugging the woman's hand. "Happy Halloween," she said.
After they'd said the same to the couple and began walking across the street Beckett said to Skye, "I'm surprised no one else did that."
"Yet," Mary said. "Don't give me that face grá," she told her as her wife was wrinkling her nose. "A meno che non possa baciarlo," which meant 'unless I can kiss it' in Italian. "You know that everyone here knows what you're doing." She then turned to the other adults; as they reached the first house on the other side of the street; and said, "She doesn't want the attention."
"Tonight's for the kids," Skye said though it came out a little weakly.
"I know how you feel," Beckett told her friend in Russian.
"Heat?" Skye asked, using that word in the same language. When the writer nodded she said, "I guess I shouldn't be surprised, it's been in the news, papers, social media… everything like that."
"They're supportive," Beckett pointed out to her. She smiled when the investigator sighed and watched her go ahead to her daughters as Iris and Fleur were calling out to her. She felt her husband walk up to her and she took Josie from him, about to ask him why he suddenly had the baby when he was asking her a question first.
"Are you two talking about not taking recognition easily?" Castle said. He smiled when she looked at him in surprise and said, "I've been learning Russian listening to you."
"We should just speak that too," Beckett said though he hadn't taken to it as quickly as Irish. She then nodded, and said in Irish, "She's uncomfortable, she just wants to live her life."
Castle was quiet for a moment, thinking of how what his wife was doing with him led to her getting that same kind of recognition, but knew what she would say if he mentioned that she was the same. Instead he told her, "It's why I had her sing that song the other night."
Beckett just shook her head and took Josie from him, walking with the others again as they made their way through the neighborhood. When they'd gotten to the house on the other side of the McDouglases she checked on the baby, but she seemed fine. She also seemed to prefer being held, since every time one of them attempted to set her back in her carrier Josie began to protest with whimpers. But she watched her closely, as it was getting closer to when she would need to go back to the home.
"How far can we go?" Julia asked her father when they were walking together to another house.
"For a while, you don't have lessons or practice tomorrow," Castle told her.
"Did you forget you have that on?" Julia asked her father with a smile as he'd been about to scratch his cheek before stopping himself.
"I almost did," Castle admitted with a nod. He then hugged her tightly with one arm and said, "Having fun?"
"Yep," Julia said. "But Dad?"
"Yeah?" Castle asked. He waited for her to get candy at the house they'd come to before she returned to him and said, "What is it?"
"Could we have twenties costumes too next year?" Julia asked.
"Yeah, I want that too Daddy," Eliza said in a rush as she'd gone over to them and had heard her sister asking.
"We'll see what we can do," Castle said, looking at his wife as she was walking up to them.
"What?" Beckett asked since their daughters were rushing over with the other kids at the next house.
"You didn't hear them?" Castle said. When she shook her head, he explained what Julia had asked him and what Eliza had said as well. "It would be interesting," he said.
"It would, but we should wait and see how things are next year," Beckett replied. When her husband looked at her she said, "They might change their minds, especially Eliza."
Nodding, Castle reached over and gently pinched Josie's chin since she was in Beckett's arms. He wasn't surprised when she yawned, and he was about to suggest to his wife that she might need to go to bed when the baby was suddenly whimpering.
"We'll take her home," Jim was quick to say, walking over to them with Martha just behind him.
"Hold on," Beckett said with a smile, gently rocking the baby. "We'll have to take off the costume before I can get her to sleep," she explained to the two. "Help me Rick."
"Sure," Castle said quickly while he moved to step up to her. He took off the hat; the others continuing ahead of them; and then handed that to his mother. He got the top of the costume off the baby and said, "We can leave the pants."
"I'll take them off at home," Martha told her daughter in law.
"Thank you," Beckett said, gently rocking the baby. They were walking as well so it didn't take very long before Josie was slightly heavier in her arms. She went to where her father was pushing the stroller and set the baby down into it, careful not to wake her up before she and her husband said goodnight to her.
"We'll see you back at the house," Skye said when they'd all regrouped and Martha and Jim had let them know they were returning. After they watched them go she said to Castle and Beckett in Irish, "We were thinking of letting them head around for another half hour on their own."
"All of them or the oldest?" Castle asked.
"The oldest, our three youngest are coming back with us," Mary said first.
"And so will Eliza," Beckett said, saying her name since she was going up to a front door with the other kids.
"It's safe?" Castle asked, knowing already the women wouldn't let their two daughters go but wanting to hear for sure.
"Very, it's crowded if you haven't noticed," Skye said with a smile.
"How far will we go with the youngest?" Beckett asked when they were walking with the kids again.
Studying where they were for a moment, Skye said, "I think to the end of this block. It's been more than enough candy."
"We've gone five blocks," Castle commented. "That's a lot."
"You've been keeping track?" Beckett asked with a smile.
"Of course," Castle said easily. He squeezed her hand before they looked ahead at the kids calling out trick or treat to a home owner that was sitting outside the house. "I wish I could kiss you," he said, still speaking in Irish.
"Don't worry," Beckett told him soothingly, squeezing his hand. "We'll have time once the makeup is off."
Castle nodded before they were going the rest of the way on the block and he watched with his wife while Skye told all the kids who'd be allowed to go alone.
"But Mummy-"
"Mommy-"
"Mummy!" Ivy, Eliza and then Fleur said in protest.
"Girls," Beckett said when Skye looked at her. "You're a little too young to go off by yourselves and no we don't want your sisters and the boys to watch you. We want you to be safe."
"Plus you've had enough candy I think," Skye added.
"And it's later, they're only going twenty minutes," Mary said. "And we mean that girls, we'll come out to find you if we have to."
"We'll be back Mom," Marie and Kathleen said at the same time.
"Good, go ahead," Skye said. "You have your phones?"
"Yeah," the kids who had them said.
"Be careful, we'll see you in twenty minutes," Beckett said, her husband and the other two parents saying the same to the kids. They headed back with the four youngest and once they were at the house they watched the McDouglas girls going to Liam to show him their loot.
"I should tell you," Skye said once Eliza was rushing over to her grandparents. "We're going to have some guests on Friday."
"At the concert?" Castle asked.
Shaking her head Mary said first, "At the rehearsal before that."
"Can we know?" Beckett said when neither woman said anything else.
"That is a lot of candy girls," Liam said.
"Mummy and Mommy said we need to share with you," Fleur replied.
"Then I'll be dressing as Santa this year," Liam said jokingly.
"Are you going to England as well?" Martha asked him.
"I am, since my family is going," the pilot replied. He then smiled when Iris hugged him, and he asked, "What's the secret?"
"There are lots of Snickers," the little girl said.
"Oh, then I'm quite chuffed," Liam said, kissing her forehead.
"Girls?" Skye said. "Go on and play, there isn't much time until we're going to bed."
"B-" Iris started to say before her twin squeezed her hand.
"Marie and Kath said later," Ivy told her in a whisper. They heard their parents and Eliza's greeting someone and they turned together to see the person was walking up to the entry.
"Derek!" Eliza cried when she could see him. She ran over to the dancer and hugged him saying, "Hi!"
"Hey," Derek said with a laugh. "Wow, when you go to Hogwarts you're really serious about it."
Eliza nodded, smiling widely, and she looked at the others before she thought of her big sister. She wondered how much time was left and turned her attention to the singer while he was talking to Skye hoping Julia would return soon.
"This neighborhood was really good," Peter said as they were walking back to the house once their time was up.
"I'm glad all the parents let us go by ourselves," Clive added.
The others agreed before they were turning the corner to the house and when they were nearing it Julia studied the entrance before she realized someone new was there. "It's Derek!" she exclaimed when she saw it was him.
"Don't run," Beckett said, having been watching for the kids and spotting them.
"You came over," Julia said once she was at the house.
"I had the chance," the dancer replied. "And I was admiring the costumes here."
"Yours is nice," Clive said.
"How come a cowboy?" Kathleen asked the dancer.
"It just seemed like what I should do," Derek replied. "That and I couldn't think of anything else."
"It looks nice still," Mari said.
"Thanks," Derek said. "Are you finished with handing out candy?"
"We are," Skye replied. "We'll be heading in to look at their candy."
"Wait Mum," Marie said first. "You forgot our tradition."
"I told you, you lot were too old for that now," Skye said quickly.
Shaking her head Marie said, "They aren't."
Skye sighed, as the three youngest told her to do it, and she said, "Do you even know what that is?"
"No, but they said it was fun," Ivy said first.
"I think you're going to need to now," Castle said with a smile as they were all watching the interaction.
"Yeah," Skye replied with a sigh. "Grá?"
"I'll help as always," Mary said before they went in so they could close the gate.
"Where are you going to sing?" Mari asked the two while they went to the house.
"Did they tell you or did you suss that out?" Skye asked with a smile.
"I figured it out when you asked Mary," Mari replied.
"But I thought it might be singing anyways," Julia said, not surprised when her friend nodded in agreement with her.
"What are you going to sing?" Clive asked once they were inside.
"A Halloween song," Marie said with a wide smile.
"Ready?" Mary asked Skye as they were between the kitchen and family room.
"Take off your robes," Kathleen told the other kids.
"Do we get to dance?" Fleur asked eagerly.
"Yeah, we always try to," Marie said.
Since the girl was looking at her Julia said, "I don't know if we could dance to it if we don't know what the song is!" though she was speaking in mock indignation.
"You will right now," Skye said, nodding to her wife before she started the music.
"Oh, that song?" Julia said as soon as it started. That was all anyone could say, as Skye was beginning to sing shortly after that with her wife joining her after. She couldn't stay still for long and was glad Kathleen had mentioned taking off their robes as she and Mari were dancing, the others pairing off and even Derek dancing with Eliza and Fleur together as the two women sang while they looked on with the other adults.
I'm all dressed up with nowhere to go
Walkin' with a dead man over my shoulder
I'm all dressed up with nowhere to go
Walkin' with a dead man over my shoulder
Waiting for an invitation to arrive
Goin' to a party where no one's still alive
Waiting for an invitation to arrive
Goin' to a party where no one's still alive
I was struck by lightning, walkin' down the street
I was hit by something last night in my sleep
It's a dead man's party who could ask for more?
Everybody's comin' leave your body at the door
Leave your body and soul at the door
Don't run away it's only me
Only me
I'm all dressed up, nowhere to go
Walkin' with a dead man, oh, walking with a dead man
Ooh, ooh, waitin' for an invitation to arrive
Ooh! Walkin' with a dead, dead man (with a dead man)
I got my best suit and my tie
With a shiny silver dollar on either eye
I hear the chauffeur comin' to my door
Says there's room for maybe just one more
I was struck by lightning, walkin' down the street
I was hit by something last night in my sleep
It's a dead man's party who could ask for more?
Everybody's comin' leave your body at the door
Leave your body and soul at the door
Don't run away it's only me
Don't be afraid of what you can't see
Don't run away it's only me (only me)
Don't be afraid of what you can't see
It's only me
I was struck by lightning, walkin' down the street
I was hit by something last night in my sleep
It's a dead man's party who could ask for more?
Everybody's comin' leave your body at the door
Leave your body and soul at the door
Don't run away it's only me (only me)
Don't be afraid of what you can't see
Don't run away it's only me (only me)
Don't be afraid of what you can't see
It's only me
It's only me
Only me…
Drying off her face, Beckett looked at her reflection once she had removed the towel and said to her husband, "Better?"
"A lot," Castle said as he'd taken off the makeup at the same time. When she had set aside her towel he was reaching for her, pulling her close and kissing her intently. He was relieved when she was doing the same with him and they were involved in that for some time before they slowly parted. "It took too long to be able to do that again," he told her, pulling her out to the bedroom since they were dressed for bed.
"I agree," Beckett said. When her husband paused and looked at her, she smiled telling him, "You didn't think I wanted that myself?"
"It's odd to hear you say that," Castle said. "But for a second," he told her before they were getting onto the bed. He immediately got on top of her and kissed her deeply while they held onto one another. When they slowly parted, he smiled down at her and said, "I enjoyed it tonight."
"No party?" Beckett asked. "No costumes for us?"
"I did," Castle said firmly. They moved together, and he laid back before he wrapped his arm around her once she was settled against his side.
"I did too," Beckett said with a smile. She then said, "I'm eager for the concert."
"So am I," Castle said quickly, rubbing her shoulder. "But back to Halloween, Josie looked adorable."
"She did," Beckett said with a nod.
Castle felt her kiss his shoulder and said, "What should we do now?"
"Are we finished with Halloween?" Beckett asked him.
"I thought you might be tired," Castle told her.
"Oh no, not yet," Beckett said before she was grabbing his pajama top and pulling her onto him.
Castle went willingly, kissing Beckett as soon as he could before they were wrapped up in each other. Not letting one another go, they kissed passionately and repeatedly as they spent some time doing that. But when they settled back down they murmured to each other, not falling asleep yet to allow their slight intimacy last for just a little longer to their delight.