Genre: 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. And for this story the same goes for Dancing With the Stars.
A/N #1: The lyrics in this chapter are from the songs Radio Ga Ga by Roger Taylor, from the Queen album The Works, a lyric from Love Theme from Mystery Science Theater 3000 by Joel Hodgson and J. Elvis Weinstein; Rattled by The Traveling Wilburys, from their album Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1; Another One Bites the Dust by John Deacon, from the Queen album The Game; Your Song by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, from Elton John's album Elton John; Lady Madonna by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and Twistin' the Night Away by Sam Cooke, from his album the same name as the song.
A/N #2: It was great reading about the feedback for the last chapter, so I'll go on to my thank yous for those. MsNYC (You're right, hard to beat a day at the zoo. And the LA Zoo is definitely big and a lot of fun. I was glad to see you thought it was a tasteful ending to Castle and Beckett's love making in the chapter since I definitely try to write it that way. It was great to see that you thought everyone had a good time with their day. Really happy you thought the costumes were great and like the Day of the Dead makeup so much you thought it was a great edition, I enjoyed getting the designs for those! Happy to see you thought the chapter was a great update. And of course I'm pleased to see you thought it was great writing as usual!),
TORONTOSUN (Nice to see you liked how their Halloween celebration brought out them into different characters, it was definitely fun to write. Great that you thought it was good writing!),
Emma (Great to read that you're still reading and loving the story still as well. Really glad that you think the dancing and love as well are there for readers to feel since I do try to write that as much as I can. You're welcome for the story!),
Mb (I was glad to read that you thought the love scene with Castle and Beckett was a great way for them to start their day and that you thought it was mind blowing sex too. Lol, and I agree, it's so them. Not surprised you mentioned them enjoying Halloween since I like writing them celebrating that holiday. And you're right, zoos are great even if you've been to them or if they're new since they're always fun. I've thought about getting them to Australia, but I'll see if I can work it in in the future. Happy to see you thought the first half was wonderfully written. And you're welcome for the first half too! I was really pleased that you thought their Halloween night was great for them, I did want it to be. And I'm relieved you could see their makeup that I described since I enjoyed including that for them. I agree with you that without costumes the four of them would look amazing. Really nice to see that you loved the kids' costumes of the robes and uniforms. And you got what I saw, lol, with so many of them they'd look like they were going to the school. I wasn't surprised to see you mentioning Martha's sadness with having to go back to the city once they go back and the others going to the Hamptons. Or that you're hoping that Martha will move to the Hamptons to be closer to her family. Not surprised you like regular chocolate bars those are good you're right. Really happy you thought that the second half was beautifully written. And I agree Caskett plus family and friends always. You're welcome for sharing the second half too!) and
Guest (I'm not surprised you thought the combo of the zoo and Halloween was fun, I thought it would be too so I had to write it. And interesting you're wondering about the Huntington but it's great you are since if that happens you'll enjoy reading it. And I was happy to see you loved the stories about the kids' first costumes, definitely needed to be said since it's special of course for the kids. It's funny too that you asked about Skye and Mary's memory of meeting their oldest twins as I've been waiting for a good place to put that and I might have it in the story I'm working on currently so it's nice to know someone wants to read that already!).
Thank you for the reviews, loved reading them as always and I am grateful for the time taken to write them out and send them my way!
A/N #3: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Radio Ga Ga, the information about it in the A/N above.
We Watch The Stars
"Okay," Skye said, stepping out from behind the screen. "The band is ready."
"Wow," Beckett said with a smile.
"She's right put a mustache on you and you're Freddie Mercury," Mary said. "What?" she said when the other two women in the room looked at her. "I mean that as a compliment grá."
"I know," Skye said, smiling at her lovingly. She then said, "I just hope that his fans will be okay with this."
"Including you," Beckett pointed out to her.
"And you," Mary said.
"I think we all are," Skye said with a laugh. "We'd best go," she then told them. "Nearly time."
"To dance," Beckett said simply. When her friend smiled at her she sighed exaggeratedly and said, "I need to see my daughter before I get out of here." Following the two women out into the hall she smiled at a few of the crew members on the show, not surprised when they were brief in their nods to her as it was just before the show was going to begin filming. She studied Skye and Mary in front of her, the former wearing a white military style jacket like the late singer from Queen had worn in yellow. She and the rest of the band were wearing all white though, a nod to the band's performance at Live Aid. Her daughter was calling to her then and she shook herself, smiling as she hurried down the hall to them.
"What do you think?" Julia asked. She was holding the skirt of her dress out and spun asking, "It's not weird is it?"
"No, that's how they were in the music video for the song I'm going to sing," Skye replied with a smile.
"At least we're wearing clothes," Mari said. "Under the red fabric," she added when the women looked at her.
"You wouldn't be going out without your dresses," Beckett said with a smile, the girls wearing dresses for their Paso Doble later. They were cut similarly to the one Jennifer Grey had for her second of the same dance and black. They also had strips of red fabric around them, it was both an homage to Queen in their music video for the song Skye would sing first that night and to cover their backs a bit which were cut out a little. "But you both look great."
"Thanks," Julia said, her friend saying the same. She hugged her mother tightly and said, "Before the Jazz dance Rebecca can come backstage right?"
"Yes, they'll be here in time," Beckett said, saying that to Mari. "Break a leg," she told both the women and the two girls.
"Thanks!" Julia said gratefully at the same time as her friend. When her mother was gone she looked down the hall seeing that her partner, Clive and Derek were coming over to them. "What do we do now?" she asked.
"We'll go to the Sky Box," Derek told them.
"Those dresses are cool," Peter said to the girls once they were walking together.
"Thanks, your jackets are too," Mari said, the two wearing military ones like Skye's though theirs were black and closed with red fabric around them.
"Yeah, they had awesome clothes," Clive said before they were laughing together.
"Hey, there are the little imps," Eddie said as he was up in the box already. "Your parents are here you three."
Julia smiled when her three friends rushed over to the railing to look down at the dance floor and she said to the actor, "You look really cool."
"Why thank you," Eddie replied, smiling at her. "I wanted something that was reminiscent of Bowie, but not Ziggy Stardust."
Nodding, since she was aware of what the latter name was, Julia said, "You look… stark, like everything's black and white and sophisticated." She looked down at his feet and said, "I hope your feet will be okay after your dance."
"They will be," Eddie replied as he was wearing low black heels. "If I was doing the Jive I'd have to be careful."
"We need to go," Derek said. "You'll be okay?"
"Yep," Clive said quickly.
After they'd told the women to break a leg and said goodbye to the pro dancers who were heading down for their dance in the beginning, Julia turned back to the railing and looked out over it to watch the beginning of the show. She glanced at her parents, smiling at the sight of them together and holding hands that she could see even from there. The show began, and she looked quickly at the screen with the others as it talked about the legends aspect of the theme. She smiled at the quick shots of the pairs practicing and felt Mari squeezing her hand. They shared a smile with one another before they turned to look down at the stage as the music began to play from the intro of the song. She couldn't help jumping up and down at the sound of it and the fog that was billowing onto the dance floor, nearly filling it before Skye soon appearing and walking across it to the old-fashioned microphone across from the main stage. As soon as she was there she began to sing, Mary and Jackie as well helping her with backup, including the opening two lines.
(Radio)
(Radio)
I'd sit alone and watch your light
My only friend through teenage nights
And everything I had to know
I heard it on my radio
At the last lyric, Skye detached the top of the mic from the rest of it and she held it while walking around towards the audience and pausing to sing the last two lyrics of the next verse, pointing to them in time with the beat of the second to last lyric before extending her arm for the last.
You gave them all those old time stars
Through wars of worlds invaded by Mars
You made 'em laugh, you made 'em cry
You made us feel like we could fly (Radio)
Walking to the middle of the dance floor, Skye sang while the pros and troupe dancers went around her. When it came to the first part of the chorus, Emma came to her and she sang while the pro's arm was on her shoulder before the dancers let her walk over to the steps leading up to the main stage.
So don't become some background noise
A backdrop for the girls and boys
Who just don't know or just don't care
And just complain when you're not there
You've had your time, you had the power
You've yet to have your finest house
Radio (Radio)
With the main part of the chorus, Skye was raising her hand in time with the beat and the band behind her was instructing the audience in how to clap in time with them while they sang with her. She was relieved when they followed, knowing it was a mix of fans of the song and her family and friends. She focused on the lyrics as she would need to move when they were over again.
All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio goo goo
Radio ga ga
All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio blah blah
Radio, what's new?
Radio, someone still loves you
At the beat, Skye was walking with Mary and Jackie across the dance floor again, stopping together in the middle. She sang again, the dancers coming out for the next two verses as they remained in place while they were going around them.
We watch the shows, we watch the stars
On videos for hours and hours
We hardly need to use our ears
How much music changes through the years
Let's hope you never leave old friend
Like all good things on you we depend
So stick around 'cause we might miss you
When we grow tired of all this visual
Julia couldn't help getting the chills at the way the investigator sang the third lyric of the second verse and she smiled while the other pairs were coming onto the dance floor and helping the band with the beat of the chorus when it came to that eventually. She and everyone else were clapping, starting immediately that time and going through the rest of the song.
You had your time, you had the power
You've yet to have your finest hour
Radio (Radio)
All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio goo goo
Radio ga ga
All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio goo goo
Radio ga ga
All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio blah blah
Radio, what's new?
Someone still loves you
With the instrumental and short verse, the pairs were introduced until they lined up with Skye and Derek in the middle and she sang the very last verse of the song.
Radio ga ga
Radio ga ga
Radio ga ga
You had your time, you had the power
You've yet to have your finest hour
Radio (Radio)
When the music had ended the audience was applauding, Tom and Erin talking about the songs that night before they introduced Eddie and Emma first that night, showing their intro for their Tango.
"That was amazing," Julia said once Skye was in the box.
"When are you going to change?" Mari asked her.
"At the first commercial, which is after the intro right now," the investigator said quickly. She smiled and said, "You want to see my costume, don't you?"
"We all do, we've all seen the show now," Peter said.
"You will, soon," Skye said. "Oh, right now," she said when she heard Tom speaking.
"Have you guys seen that show?" Clive asked, not surprised Julia and Mari's eyes widened at him asking that.
"I did, when she told us about it," Jonathon said. "Just one episode though."
"Did she tell you about Manos?" Julia asked with a smile.
"Yeah," the TV star said with a laugh. "And then I watched Werewolf."
"Oh, that's better," Mari said.
Turning back to the railing, Julia saw her parents were talking to her sister and the others and she waved as her family looked up at her. A bit later she felt Mari touch her elbow and quickly turned, seeing that Skye and Derek were walking into the box with their costumes for their Quickstep on.
"In the not too distant future…" the investigator sang. "Oh, thank you," she said, bowing playfully when a few of the stars and pros applauded her. "What do you think?" she asked the kids as they walked over to them to wait for their turn to go, which would be fourth out of the six couples left that night.
"It looks cool," Peter said first.
"Like you were on the show," Clive said.
"Perfect," Skye said with a slight laugh since she and Derek were wearing jumpsuits like the ones on the show Mystery Science Theater 3000. Hers was blue while Derek's was a deeper red and she suddenly said to her partner, "Are they here yet?"
"I'll check," the pro replied, leaving quickly to head over to a crew member.
"How come they weren't here at the start?" Mari asked.
"They were here, you just didn't see them," Skye said with a smile. She was about to point out where they'd been when her partner was walking back to them and talking at the same time.
"They're backstage, getting everything ready," Derek replied.
"The puppets?" Julia said. When the dancer nodded she smiled at her friends and they looked down in time for Eddie and Emma's dance to begin. She smiled at the familiar music to the song Fashion and she watched the actor to make sure he would be alright dancing in the heeled black shoes he had on. Cheering the pair on, she couldn't keep herself jumping up and down in time with music until they had stopped, and she looked over at Derek.
"Not bad," the pro said in amusement since all four kids and his partner were turned to him. "I think they'll score well."
After the pair were up in the Sky Box, Julia waved at Eddie when he glanced at her but didn't do anything else since he and Emma were talking to Erin. She held her breath as it went to the judge's scores and cheered with the others as Carrie-Ann gave them a ten, Len a nine and Bruno another ten. "That was great," she cried when the show went to Raul and Sharna and she could talk to the actor.
"She's right, it was fab," Skye commented. "How're your feet?"
"They're fine, but I'll need to change," Eddie replied.
"How much longer until you dance?" Mari asked Skye and Derek.
"A little longer, get comfortable," the latter said with a smile.
Sighing, Julia glanced down at her parents, who were watching the intro for Raul and Sharna still. She hoped time would go a lot quicker, but knew they had to let the other couples dance first. She felt Peter's hand on her arm and looking at him said at the same time as him, "Practice?" With a laugh she went with her friends to where there was space and they started to go over a few steps until they went back to the railing to see the next dance.
"Are you ready?" Mary said, going up to her wife during the commercial.
"Yeah," Skye replied, smiling at her. "Did you want to talk to them?"
"That would be nice," Mary replied.
"Go," Skye said with a laugh though she was walking over to the counter that was set up at the bottom of the stairs.
"Are you in this dance?" Kevin Murphy asked to the doctor when they reached where he and his colleagues were getting ready.
"No, her second one," Mary said with a smile. "I wanted to see how things were going."
"They're good, Crow and Servo are ready," Bill Corbett said.
"Are you sure Len will be alright with this?" Mike Nelson asked Skye.
"We told him," the investigator said. "If he was going to nag about you then you wouldn't have been asked here."
"I better go," Mary said as a crew member said there was a minute left of the commercial break. She hugged her wife tightly and murmured, "Break a leg grá."
"Thank you," Skye said before she watched her wife make her way to the stairs up to the Sky Box. "We'll see you two after the dance," she then told Kevin and Bill jokingly.
Beckett, having been watching them, felt her husband squeeze her hand and she glanced at him. When he nodded up at the box she looked and then saw their daughter leaning over the railing. She took a quick glance at the crew; to judge if she had time; when she decided to do it anyway and motioned to the girl as Julia was looking at her. When she pulled away rapidly she couldn't help smiling at Castle murmuring, "Nice," before someone was counting them back in.
"Welcome back," Tom said once the red light at the top of the camera came on. "Next we have Skye and Derek, performing a Quickstep with some very special guests."
"Is your mom mad?" Mari whispered to Julia as the intro started with a recap of the pair the week before.
Shaking her head firmly, Julia smiled as the intro then went to the pair in the studio the Tuesday the week before while they were planning the song.
"I was thinking," Skye said. "Stop it," she said, exaggerating her accent when she saw the face that Derek was playfully making. "No, what if we did a Mystery Science Theater 3000 themed dance?"
"I'm a full MSTie," the investigator said in a voice over while the pair were dancing in the studio. "A fan of the show," Skye said as the footage went to her sitting in another room. "And for some reason this song just yelled to me this theme. Luckily Derek's game to try it out."
Beckett glanced around the audience when some people started to cheer as the three men that had been on MST3K went into the studio where Skye and Derek were practicing while the investigator was describing the basic plot of the show. She smiled as the men on the stage were waving before the three were talking on the screen.
"I'm not sure why we're here…" Bill started to say.
"For the dance," Skye said, hissed behind him.
"Oh! Right," Bill said with a nod. "And we're here to dance."
"To act!" Skye also hissed before they were laughing.
The screen switched to Skye and Derek talking to the three men about the dance and their idea before they were tossing around lines. The footage changed again, and they were practicing lines, Derek leaning against the barre with the three men as Skye was at the edge of the screen watching them.
"Dr. Forester's gone too far," Bill; as Crow; said.
"We didn't want to come up here either," Derek said. "But we're part of the experiment too you know. What about next Movie Sign?"
"If you can get Skye to come with you then I'm game," Kevin; as Servo; said.
"I think we've got it," Derek said in a voiceover. "It's a strange theme but I'm ready."
"I definitely am," Skye said with a nod, the footage going to her and Derek together in another room. "And as for the Quickstep…"
"We got it," Derek said, pretending to whisper in her ear.
"Yeah, that," Skye said with a nod. She then started to sing the theme to MST3K until the music and logo for the show ended the introduction.
Castle felt his wife squeezing his hand and he smiled at her before they were turning back to where Derek was 'dusting' the counter that looked a lot like the one on the show. He was surprised that the dancer was wearing a 'Gizmonics' hard hat; the 'company' from show; but was distracted when Mike, Crow and Servo appeared from behind the counter.
"How's the movie going?" Derek asked after he'd jumped at their appearance.
Mike made an okay sign with his hand before he said, "It stinks."
"Mind if we join you?" Derek said.
"Yeah!" Servo said, jumping as Skye walked by.
"Well…" Mike started to say. "If she'll come with you then you're both in."
"Better hurry," Crow started to say as Derek tossed his duster to Mike and was walking away from them. "Before Movie Sign!" and it was there the song's music began as the dancer tossed his hard hat to Castle.
Beckett, watching him, wanted to ask if that was planned but Derek had reached Skye at the judge's table and tapped her shoulder just before Jeff Lynne was singing the first lyric.
After Skye turned at Derek's tap to her shoulder, she shook her head when he held out his hand. The second lyric had her going away from the table and Derek running after her before he spun her around to get her into hold. They stopped at the third lyric and stared at each other between the first verse and the second before they were beginning to dance.
Well, I get rattled every time we meet
I get rattled even in my sleep
I get rattled baby over you
Skye and Derek began to dance around the floor, going to the other side of it before they moved back towards the stage, doing that for the entire verse until they reached the third one. At the first lyric they were spinning twice until the second where they were raising their hands that were holding each other and they danced normally the very last lyric.
I get twisted, I get turned around
I get twisted and I'm up then I'm down
I get twisted baby, over you
With the first lyric of the third verse Skye and Derek were stopped and they began to kick their feet in between the other's legs. They kept that up into the second lyric and then started to spin before they reached the counter where Mike and the 'bots were watching them, moving in time to the beat of the song. Derek took the hard hat that Skye had still been wearing and tossed it to Mike before they were off again to the middle of the dance floor. On the second to last lyric they began to make exaggerated steps forward in time with the singing; moving their joined hands back and forth too; and on the beginning of the very last line sung Skye was jumping up as Derek kicked in between her legs before they were dancing away again.
Well baby, baby, baby won't you save one night for me
Baby, baby, baby is there something wrong with you
Baby, baby, baby this is out of my control
It may look like nothing's wrong but deep down in my soul
I'm twisted- shaken- rattled
I get rattled baby over you
There was a brief instrumental then and Skye and Derek were going around the dance floor until they were near the stage and the counter. When the last verse began they were moving their feet in unison; staying still; before they kicked their feet in between each other's legs. That continued into the second lyric before they were dancing together in front of the counter until the very last lyric of the song. They spun around and before letting go and they stood at the counter, leaning against it sideways so they could be seen while they were looking at Mike.
Oh, I get shaken, I'm torn up by the roots
Yeah, I'm shakin', way down in my boots
I get rattled baby over you
I get rattled baby over you
Yeah, I'm rattled baby over you
"Are we in?" Skye asked while the music was still playing but lightly in the back.
The music stopped as even the 'bots were looking at Mike until he finally said, "Okay you're in," moving his arms at the same time.
Before anyone could say anything, an alarm began to ring and red lights flashed before everyone at the counter was yelling, "Movie Sign!" and they went to the stage or; in the 'bots case; ducked behind it. The audience began to applaud, and Skye and Derek hugged each other before she was giving a quick one to Mike.
After she'd thanked Bill and Kevin; who were sitting on the steps; Skye let her partner take her hand and they hurried to Tom at the judges table, waiting to see what Len would say first.
"That was a very good Quickstep," the British judge told them. He waited for the audience to quiet down; as they were applauding; and he continued, "I was warned about your… TV show, but despite that you had very good choreography. Your body contact was a little…" he said, motioning with his hands. "Wonky but still good."
"Bruno," Tom said.
"If this is what the show was about then I need to binge watch," the judge said before he was laughing. "You had excellent footwork, very good choreography and you enjoyed. Every. Minute," he ended with, hitting the desk with his palm.
"Carrie-Ann," Tom said though the audience was applauding.
"I agree with Bruno and I loved that you were able to include that storyline though did those really work together?" she asked.
"It was still fun," Skye said with a laugh once she straightened after being doubled over for a moment.
"Okay, let's get your scores here," Tom told them.
"They did really well," Peter whispered to his friend in the Sky Box as the dramatic music played.
Looking on while the judge's names were said, Julia held her breath as Carrie-Ann gave them a ten, Len a nine and Bruno a ten. She was cheering with the others before she said, "That's a good start."
"She's tied with Eddie," Mari said, her friends nodding in agreement.
"What do you think?" Julia asked Mary who'd been silent next to them. She was startled when the woman didn't say anything, merely watched as Skye came up the stairs towards them first before she was wrapping her arms around her wife. Her eyes widened when the doctor kissed her wife roughly on the lips and she smiled at Mari before Derek was calling to the two.
"I'm about to fall off the stairs," the pro said. "Sorry," Derek said as the women turned to him.
"I'm sorry," Mary said. "It was great grá," she told her.
"You guys need to prepare," Derek then said while the two women were talking to each other quietly.
"Two more dances?" Clive asked.
"Two more, one more quick practice once Skye and I get changed," Derek said.
Watching the Sky Box, Beckett waved with the others as the kids were doing so and she looked at Eliza who came over to her.
"Did they go to practice?" the little girl asked her mother.
"They did," Beckett said.
"Sit sweetheart, the show will come back soon," Castle said. He made sure she was alright next to him and then leaned over, kissing his wife's cheek gently. After he pulled away he felt her hand taking his and they sat back, slightly impatient for their daughter's dance after the last two of the first half.
"Remember to hold your lines," Derek was telling the kids, on the dance floor with them before the show came back from commercial. "And watch the skirts girls. Break a leg," he managed to say before a crew member was counting down.
"Break a leg!" Eliza cried, just as the show was airing.
Julia bit at the side of her mouth in her laughter, and she did her best to look serious while she watched Tom in front of them introducing them.
"Tonight," the co-host said after he'd welcomed the audience back. "We have another special performance from the Hamptons troupe, dancing the Paso Doble to a song from the band Queen."
Feeling her heart starting to pound a little heavily, Julia listened to the music closely as they knew the show had shortened it so they wouldn't be waiting to start their steps. While that music was playing she and Mari were holding their skirts out and they walked towards Peter and Clive to the beat. With the first lyric they were meeting and hooking arms with their partner before they were turning to face each other, and the girls moved their skirts back and forth while the boys were moving their feet to the first two lyrics of the first verse. They stopped at the third lyric and got into hold, dancing their way towards opposite ends of the dance floor until they spun and let go of each other at the last lyric.
Oh, let's go
Steve walks warily down the street
With the brim pulled way down low
Ain't no sound but the sound of his feet
Machine guns ready to go
Facing each other, the two pairs started to dance towards each other while they stomped their feet. Doing that for the first two lyrics they got back into hold and started dancing back to the middle of the floor for the rest of the verse.
Are you ready, hey, are you ready for this?
Are you hanging on the edge of your seat?
Out of the doorway the bullets rip
To the sound of the beat
Dancing together for the first two lyrics, spinning and moving their feet at the same time, Julia and Mari put one hand on their partners' chests, pushing them back until their backs were hitting each other. At that point the girls spun away before the boys were grabbing them and they danced side by side in a circle together for the rest of the chorus.
Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust
And another one gone, and another one gone
Another one bites the dust
Hey, I'm gonna get you too
Another one bites the dust
The music sped up and the pairs were spinning in place before they were dancing back towards one another. When they were near one another they danced around each other in a circle leading them to the last lyric. There the boys spun the girls and let them slide out as the verse slid into the next one quickly. They helped them up swiftly and then began dancing together again, back and forth until the end of the verse with various Paso Doble steps. When they had reached the end, the pairs were back together and though the song jumped to the very last lyrics of the song they didn't stop.
How do you think I'm going to get along
Without you when you're gone?
You took me everything that I had
And kicked me out on my own
Are you happy, are you satisfied?
How long can you stand the heat?
Out of the doorway the bullets rip
To the sound of the beat
With the first two lyrics of the last verse, Julia and Mari stood side by side as they had been at the beginning and they repeated dancing towards their partners. They were moving their skirts back and forth while the boys were doing the same steps with their hands in fists and their arms up by their ribs. At the third lyric the pairs came back together and spun away from each other before they danced into the fourth lyric. With the last two of the chorus they were dancing back towards each other to prepare with the very last lyric of the song. There the boys dipped the girls and they stopped, Julia and Mari holding their arms above them before the audience was applauding.
Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust
And another one gone, and another one gone
Another one bites the dust
Hey, I'm gonna get you too
Another one bites the dust
Oh, shooter hey, hey, all right
Beckett was standing with everyone else in their group as soon as the music stopped, applauding as hard as she could. When Julia and the other kids went over to the judges table she waved, pleased when her daughter saw her and did the same back to her. She waited for the response to die down so they could hear what the three at the table had to say, hopeful when she saw the smile on Len's face.
"Very nicely done," the British judge said. "You had very nice lines and it's a shame that you aren't being judged, I'd give you a ten."
Julia and Mari were holding onto each other, jumping up and down repeatedly in response to that before they hurried to add their thank yous to their partners'.
"That was adorable," Carrie-Ann told them. "But you were very mature," she added quickly, laughing when the four kids wrinkled their noses. "And you had nice lines like Len said."
"That was fantastic, have you all been to Seville?" Bruno asked. When only Julia raised her hand he said, "You are quite devilish," taking on a coy tone.
"No, Irish," the girl said, blushing and ducking her head when the judges all laughed at the way she shook her head. She was laughing though and when she raised her head Tom was thanking them once Bruno had said he'd loved the dance before he had them read his lines to introduce Eddie and Emma's next dance. While the intro was playing she rushed to her parents and hugged them, her friends going to their parents as well, saying, "That was weird."
"You take after your dad," Beckett said wryly.
"Believe it or not I agree with her," Castle commented when Julia looked at him. He kissed her cheek and then said, "Time for you to go?"
"Me too!" Eliza said happily.
"Yes, all of you," Beckett replied. She shared a quick kiss with her husband and said, "I'll be back."
Nodding his head, Castle watched them go before he felt his mother touch his arm and he smiled at her for a moment before he watched his wife go with their daughters and the others up to the Sky Box.
Julia was relieved they were being allowed to watch Eddie and Emma's Quickstep and she smiled as they did well, getting the same score they had for their first dance. Shortly after she was rushing with her mother and sister to the dressing room, Rebecca and Mari joining them. "This is going to be so cool," she said to her sister while she was getting out of her dress and her sister was taking off the one she was wearing.
"Yeah," Eliza replied. "Mommy will you come with us?"
Beckett smiled, as she'd been expecting that, and said, "I can't sweetie, I'm not really part of this dance like I was last week."
"How come?" Eliza asked.
"Skye wants Mary to be with her," Julia told her sister firmly.
"Oh… you too Mommy! You can go too," Eliza said in a rush.
"Another time," Beckett said soothingly, kissing the top of her head. While they'd been talking she'd helped the little girl dress and once she was done she looked her over, studying the pair as Julia had finished as well. "You both look cute," she said.
"Why are we in the seventies again?" Mari said, walking over in her costume.
"That was Skye's idea," Julia said, rolling her eyes as they were wearing summer clothes from that era. She and Mari had peasant blouses on and bell bottom pants while her little sister had a floral print dress. She and the other kids would all be wearing skin tone slippers, since it was supposed to take place outside in the summer. "I wonder if the others are ready."
"Hopefully," Beckett said before she went to the door to open it at a knock there. She was surprised to find it was Skye and Mary and was about to ask why the former had changed when the investigator started to let her know.
"Unexpected development," Skye began. "We have permission to perform a song and we'll be doing that as soon as Raul and Sharna finish up."
"The whole band?" Beckett asked.
"Yes," Skye said slowly.
"No, technically it's all of us," Mary said when her wife looked at her.
"But I'm here to ask… well I suppose it's up to the two of you," Skye began. "If you'll stay with the kids."
"We don't need to be watched!"
"Grá."
"We're not babies," Peter, then Mary and last Julia said.
"Oh… I suppose I flubbed that up right well," Skye began. "Sorry," she told the kids and the two women still in the room.
"Where will Derek be?" Rebecca asked.
"You'll see," Skye said. "Head up to the Sky Box. We'll see you," she told them.
"It's gonna be a romantic song, isn't it?" Julia asked her mother as they stepped out to watch the two women leaving hand in hand.
"I think so," Beckett replied. She turned to the girls and said, "Let's go," as the boys were walking down to them. "And we'll see you for your Jazz dance." She shared a quick hug with her daughter before she and Rebecca saw the kids off down the hall. They hurried back to their seats, sitting during the commercial to find that Skye and Mary were at a grand piano that had been placed on the dance floor close to the main stage.
"What's going on? Another performance?" Castle asked his wife once she was sitting next to him.
"Yeah, I think they just got permission for the song," Beckett explained, noticing Derek and Sharna talking with the pair at the piano before the show was coming back.
"We have a second special performance tonight," Tom was saying. "Performing the Elton John hit Your Song, ladies and gentlemen The Rambling O'Dells."
Beckett shared a look with her husband as the investigator began playing the piano, her wife sitting at the end of the bench with an acoustic guitar in her hands. The rest of the band was on the stage and they were playing together as Skye began to sing. Her husband took her hand, holding it tightly and she smiled at him while they listened to the lyrics.
It's a little bit funny this feeling inside
I'm not one of those who can easily hide
I don't have much money but boy if I did
I'd buy a big house where we both could live
If I was a sculptor but then again no
Or a man who makes potions in a traveling show
I know it's not much but it's the best I can do
My gift is my song and this one's for you
Julia was smiling widely at Derek and Sharna dancing together at the beginning of the second verse, but she eventually turned her attention to Skye and Mary. Though the investigator had to sing into the mic in front of her she was looking at her wife and she sighed as the two were staring at each other. She then recalled the boys and glanced at them, relieved they didn't seem to be too bored with the song while Skye soon after began the chorus.
And you can tell everybody
This is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world
"Look at Mommy and Daddy," Eliza whispered to her sister.
"I see," Julia said with a smile as their parents were sitting as close together as they could. She then looked at Skye and Mary, seeing they were looking at one another but that was it. She felt a little bad for them and looking at the older McDouglas twins, she wasn't surprised to see the slight frowns on their faces. She nodded to Mari murmuring that she felt bad for the two women too, but Skye was starting to sing again as Derek and Sharna came to the piano and stood at the end to watch her.
I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss
Well a few of the verses well they've got me quite cross
But the sun's been quite kind
While I wrote this song
It's for people like you that keep it turned on
When the next lyric began, Skye tried to look at her wife the best she could though Mary was only able to glance back at her. She smiled at her when their eyes met, as her wife knew she sang that particular verse for her.
So excuse me forgetting
But these things I do
You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue
Anyway, the thing is what I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen
Hearing Skye emphasize the words 'sweetest eyes' Beckett was smiling as she knew for sure then how much the song was personal for them. But her attention was distracted when her husband entwined their fingers and she leaned against him while Derek and Sharna were dancing again as Skye sang the rest of the song.
And you can tell everybody
This is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world
"Oh, I got the chills," Mari said when the music ended.
"Me too," Julia said with a smile, the McDouglas girls agreeing. "At least they got to hug now," she said to the girls while their mothers were embracing.
"Yeah, they're not gonna like performing now," Kathleen said jokingly. "But we're going to be dancing soon."
"Are you ready?" Peter asked, speaking to the ones that hadn't been on before.
"I am," Eliza said. "I have my slippers," she said to everyone, showing them her right foot.
Julia wanted to say that those weren't really slippers, but she decided it didn't matter as they were turning back to the railing and watching the next dance while they waited for Skye's and Derek's next turn.
"You're not doing the Charleston," Mary told her wife.
"No but I have to do something," Skye said simply.
"Nervous?" Mary asked. When her wife nodded she pulled her to her and embraced her for a moment, not doing so for too long as they were waiting for the show to come back so they could start. "You'll do great," she said seriously.
"Thank you grá," Skye replied, smiling down at Iris who'd taken her hand.
"Are you ready Mummy?" the little girl asked.
Hearing one of the crew members calling that they were returning, Skye told her, "I think I need to be. We all do."
"Go," Castle said to Eliza as the little girl was with him and his wife. He sent her off to the others that were gathering, in time for Tom introducing them. He smiled with his wife as the kids were running around Mary with Skye and Derek before it went to their practice footage.
"We're going to be joined by extra guests this time," the investigator said as she and Derek were in the studio. She gestured to the side and the camera panned that way to show the kids and her wife on the steps before they started to wave.
The footage showed Derek teaching Skye the dance and then them practicing with the kids where they needed. It then showed the city of Las Vegas and Derek spoke in a voiceover saying, "We're headed to meet with a dancer in the Love show. We want to get an idea for the steps we want for our dance."
Beckett smiled at her husband when the footage showed the kids practicing with the dancer in Las Vegas on the Love stage. It then showed Skye practicing with Derek on the stage and she wasn't surprised when the investigator was saying, "This is a more… ambitious dance and my old injury is starting to act up." The mention of an old injury did startle her, and she looked over at her friend to see she was smiling back at her slightly.
"It's from when I was six," Skye was saying, the footage having gone to herself in the studio with Derek. "And it's never left me."
"Do you need to leave?" the pro asked, watching her sit on the floor with her leg stretched out.
"No," Skye said with a smile as her wife walked into the room. She watched her come over to her and said, "She knows what to do to help me."
As Skye and Derek were shown practicing again, the investigator was saying, "But I want to dance with my family, and the girls' friends, so I won't let my leg slow me down; not when Derek and I have come so far."
The logo went over the screen as the music played and as the pair were running in front of a set of a stoop of brownstone in NYC with the kids the announcer said, "Dancing Jazz, Skye McDouglas and her partner Derek Hough."
"Kids!" Mary said, stepping out from the door. "Come back in, it's time for supper."
"Not yet Ma!" Derek called back before the music started to play. They began to run in a circle, Mary stepping over to them and pretending to scold them before the first verse began. He grabbed Skye while the other kids paired up and they then started to stomp their feet as they'd learned to do in Vegas. They did that for the first two lyrics before Mary was pretending to gather the other kids, leading them over to the steps of the stoop so he and Skye could dance on their own. He picked up Skye and helped her into the splits before she was jumping up and they twisted back and forth until they reached the next verse shortly after.
Lady Madonna, children at your feet
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet
Who find the money when you pay the rent
Did you know that money was heaven sent
Julia, Peter, Mari and Clive hurried over to the pair as the second verse began and to dance the same steps, doing their best to keep up with them. Skye and the girls were being lifted slightly before they were moving away from the façade a bit until they stopped, and Skye and Derek danced a few steps with them kicking their legs and spinning a few times, bringing them to the end of the verse.
Friday night arrives without a suitcase
Sunday morning creeping like a nun
Monday's child has learned to tie his bootlace
See how they run
There was an instrumental there, and the kids ran over to Skye and Derek to dance with them, the foot stomping they'd learned and shortly after they began to alternate between spinning and a few steps that took them eventually back to the façade.
The kids took Skye and Derek's hands, running around in a circle together before the pair went inside of it and they danced there for the verse which was only two lyrics.
Lady Madonna lying on the bed
Listen to the music playing in your head
With the next verse all the kids paired up and they danced in a triangle formation, Skye and Derek at the head of it. The kids, after they all took turns turning with their right leg up in the air, broke off and started clapping their hands together as the investigator and her partner danced side by side to the façade while they were holding hands.
Tuesday afternoon is never ending
Wednesday morning papers didn't come
Thursday night your stocking needed mending
See how they run
With the very last two lyrics of the song Derek picked Skye up and he spun her before she bent backwards and did a flip, standing up and they started clapping their hands together as the other children were doing around them.
Lady Madonna children at your feet
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet
With the music extending after those lyrics, the kids all danced again, their steps stomping their feet, when Mary called, "For the last time, supper!" Everyone stopped for a moment before the music started up again and they raced up the steps and through the façade before Mary, who'd followed them, went inside the doorway and pretended to look outside before she nodded and slammed the door with the very end of the music.
Castle and Beckett were quick to stand up yet again to applaud, smiling as the kids all ran out of the façade and down the steps. They waved to their youngest as she was first out, and Julia before Skye and Derek were paying attention to the judges while Bruno was called on to give his opinion of the dance.
"That was very interesting," the Italian judge said. "A lot of children here. But the amazing thing was that you were all in sync as we were watching them as well. That was a huge risk you took Derek."
Nodding the pro said, "They were eager to learn."
"So a ten for you children," Bruno told them. "And excellent dance you two," he said to Skye and Derek. He turned to Eliza and asked her, "How old are you?"
Blushing deeply, the little girl hid her face behind her sister's arm and forgot to answer the judge.
"She's five," Julia said quickly, smiling at her little sister's reaction.
"Does she dance?" Carrie-Ann asked.
"She's learning in my class too," Julia said. "Our class," she corrected herself, motioning to her partner, Mari and Clive.
"Keep learning," Carrie-Ann said.
"They're not learning," Julia said, nodding to the McDouglas girls.
"Carrie-Ann, why don't you go ahead next," Tom said.
"Yeah, your daughters aren't learning to dance like these five are," she said. "And they were able to keep up with mom. That was very sweet. Now as for the dance itself…" Carrie-Ann began before trailing off.
Skye couldn't help leaning her head towards the judge, feeling Derek doing the same as she was hoping it would be positive feedback.
"Was fantastic! A summer night and a lot of fun!" Carrie-Ann said in an almost sing-song tone. "You had great synchronicity, just the two of you, and you executed your lifts perfectly. How's your leg?"
"It's fine, thank you," Skye said with a nod before Tom turned to Len.
"It was very well done," the British judge said. "I'll agree with Bruno that it was amazing to see the children all with you in your moves. Fantastic choreography Derek, I enjoyed it."
"Go ahead and head up to the Sky Box," Tom told the group.
"Do I go too?" Eliza was asking her sister.
"Yeah, come on," Julia said, glad that their parents were motioning her little sister on. She held her hand while they went and once they were up in the box she wasn't surprised when Erin started talking about how many of them there were before she was talking to Skye herself.
"You have nearly your entire family here," the co-host said. "How does it feel to dance with your daughters?"
"Great, it was so much fun to learn this dance with them involved," Skye replied. "And of course, I loved getting to dance with my wife involved too," she added, wrapping her arm around Mary's shoulder.
"We can tell you enjoyed it, all of you," Erin said. "Let's get your scores."
Beckett felt her husband squeezing her hand and she smiled at him before the announcer was saying, "Carrie-Ann Inaba." as the music had begun.
"Ten!" the judge said, holding up her paddle.
"Len Goodman," the announcer said as Skye and Derek were hugging each other.
"Ten," the British judge said quickly.
Hugging her wife that time, Skye wrapped her arm around her partner, the other around Mary, as they waited to see what their last score was.
"Ten!" Bruno said, standing up as he held his paddle.
While Erin was talking about voting Skye was hugging her partner, wife and the kids before it went to Tom who was talking about the next dance.
"Now do you rest Mum?" Marie asked.
"No, we have to practice the marathon," Skye said with a sigh. "And you lot all need to change."
"Come on," Mary said, smiling at her wife when their daughters groaned and started to protest.
"Will you help me?" Eliza asked her sister as they went backstage.
"No, she will," Julia said. She smiled when her little sister's head whipped around to look ahead of them and at their mother who was there. She let her hand go so she could run to Beckett and followed, pleased when she was praising their efforts in the dance before they went to the dressing room to change yet again.