This is me basically vicariously living through Castle and Beckett because there is nothing more I would love to do than this, except instead of Canada it would be Scotland. Or Ireland. Though I wouldn't say no to Canada.

Anyway, if you really do want to drool over the islands mentioned in this, feel free to visit

www . privateislandsonline islands / james-island#

www . privateislandsonline islands / whitestone-islands

www . privateislandsonline islands / shelter-island-estate

www . privateislandsonline islands / motukawaiti-island


I love that sometimes, only occasionally, you are happily to actually go along with my crazy hare-brained ideas. And quite frankly, this one is brilliant.

Huvafen Fushi island, located on the North Malé Atoll, has to be one of the most luxurious places Kate has ever seen. The island itself is relatively small, but there are forty or so houses that help make up the resort extending out from it, a long walk of wooden pathways connecting the main hub of the resort to the circle of wooden huts. There's certain times during the day when the sea recedes slightly and lets the guests walk the whole circumference of the resort, providing they didn't mind getting their feet wet.

They've been here for three days, though it's only now that they've had the time to do it. Kate can already feel the sun browning her skin, can't help but enjoy the warmth of the Maldives compared to the cold chill of New York. Castle is wondering to and fro between the edge of the lagoon and the ocean, picking up shells and bits of coral before returning to her side, gushing about how absolutely wonderful this place is.

"What would you say if I bought one."

Kate stops mid step, the warmth of the fine, white sand leaching into the soles of her feet. "Bought one what?"

"An island. Just a small one. You know, like a holiday home… but bigger."

"We have the Hamptons. I think that's enough holiday homes."

"That's only one!"

"My dad's cabin. Two."

"Not big enough."

"Not big enough?"

"No-where near big enough for a family, Kate." Kate bends down to slip off her sandals, not quite so content with getting her shoes wet, like Castle, who quite happily splashes through the shallows without a care that his canvas shoes are soaked through. "Think of how much space they'd have to run around, all the fun activities we could do."

"This sounds like you've been thinking about it a while."

"Well, I wasn't thinking an island, per se. Not at first. But being here… it's secluded, and private and it's perfect. And I know I'm not so fussed about the privacy. I'm used to it, but I know you, and I know how protective you're going to be over our kids, and I think being able to escape the real world, and all the paparazzi and stuff would be great. And it would be big enough for very large family getaways. The Ryan's, Esposito and Lanie, my mother and Alexis, your Dad. It'd be perfect."

Kate kicks her feet through the water, turning the idea over and over in her head. Really, it's ridiculous. The house in the Hamptons is fairly secluded, their own garden cut off from neighbours and any nosy public eyes, the beach is co-owned by their row of houses and she knows Castle trusts them. And the cabin is surrounded by dense woodland, in the middle of no-where, accessible only by a dirt track. It's either that, or trekking through miles and miles of trees, each one similar to the other. Get lost, and you'll be lost for days, or weeks. Maybe even months.

"You've already looked, haven't you?"

"You were asleep, and I … wasn't."

"Okay… what did you find?"

"Well, there's the Whitestone Island, in British Columbia. But from what I can tell it's not that big, and-"

"I thought you said you were thinking small."

"Well, yes, just not that small. And then there's Motukawaiti island, in New Zealand. And I looked at Shelter Island, in Montana, on Flathead Island. And that place is amazing, Kate. I'm not even kidding, it's like… royalty."

"How much is it?"

"Um…"

"Castle…"

"Eighty million dollars."

"Oh my go-"

"I know, I know. Ridiculous. Though I could afford it."

"You're not that rich."

"With the next book deal I will be. Anyway, that's beside the point. It's not even my favourite."

"What's your favourite?"

"James Island, British Columbia. Just off the coast of Vancouver. Seven hundred and eighty acres. Miles of beach. A golf course. A proper eighteen hole golf course.And miles of track, both inland and on the coast. Bike rides, and running and we could invest in golf carts-"

Kate steps up onto the wooden platform running the outer circle of the island, slips her sandals back on. She shouldn't be indulging in his fantasy. Really, she shouldn't. They don't need an island. They don't need an island with a golf course and miles of beaches.

"You're thinking about it, aren't you?"

"No."

Her hesitation gives her away, and they both know that he knows, but he lets her get away with it. He catches her hand, the silver metal of her wedding band pressing into the flesh of his palm. "I already own part of the moon. What's an island in comparison?"

"Oh, yeah. Sure. That's just…"

"Kate, if you don't want to…"

"It's not that. It's not. It's just… all of… this. The money you have that you can just throw it away, do anything you want. I know you helped Dad pay for the wedding, even though you both solemnly swore that you didn't, and you're flying almost everyone out just for New Year, and paying for their rooms, and the whole honeymoon was paid for by you and then you can buy a house or an island, or the moon-"

"I don't throw it away, Kate. The house I bought because I wanted us to have our own place. Something that we could make our own, instead of you just shifting all your stuff into the loft… I wanted us to be able to create a space together. And the moon… okay, that was just fulfilling a childhood wish, but it's not throwing money away. And the honeymoon, I wanted you to have one of the most memorable weddings ever. I didn't want you to regret-"

"I wouldn't regret marrying you even if we were standing in the middle of a dilapidated old factory. I don't care about location, or whether you took me on a honeymoon to Chicago. All that matters to me is being married to you."

He kisses her, forcefully and demanding, and it leaves her breathless and wishing they were already back at their little wooden hut with the cool ocean breeze from the balcony over the sea washing over their bare skin. It's barely been an hour since they last untangled themselves from the bed sheets, but there's something about the place, and him, and the rings on their fingers that leaves them both in a semi-permanent state of lust.

"I can find a smaller island. The Whitestone one is-"

"No, no, I like the sound of James Island. It sounds amazing."

"Are you sure? I know it's kind of crazy."

"I'm used to you being crazy, Castle. Believe me."

"So if I put in a call, talk about prices and stuff, you won't hold it against me?"


He didn't plan on actually buying the island. He didn't. Just enquiring about price (way more than he expected, and it would eat into a good half of his next book deal, plus a lot of his savings, but it'd be so totally and utterly worth it, right?) and possibly looking around, but then he may have been persuaded into paying a deposit. Oops.

"Everything okay?"

"Um. Yes. Everything is… great."

"You sure?"

"I may have done something stupid."

"You didn't…"

"I may have put down a deposit on James Island."

"Well, we almost practically agreed on it, didn't we?"

"Technically, yes…"

"So?"

"It was more than I expected."

"How much more?"

"More than eighty million. It would wipe out a lot of the book deal. I mean it's not… we'd still have enough money to easily get along, but…" He runs a hand through his hair. It sticks up at odd angles, and he could probably do with getting in the shower, or going for a swim. "Ugh, I don't know."

"It'd be worth it in the end. Really, don't you think?" Kate pulls the Castle's laptop towards him, still open on the page for the island. She scrolls through pictures; of the main house, made predominantly of glass and wood; a large barn, which could so easily be converted; patio's and the golf course, a swimming pool. It's not hard to see why Castle loves the place already. The scenery is amazing, mountains and open stretches of grass, miles of track that are perfect for early morning jogs, or bike rides. Maybe even a horse. No, that would probably be unfeasible.

"You want to buy it, don't you."

"Well, it's not like you can back out now."


"You guys actually bought an island?" Esposito is, understandably, completely gobsmacked. "You are on your honeymoon, and you buy an island in Canada?!"

"What's wrong with Canada?"

"Dude. Canada is cold. Could you not at least get one somewhere slightly warmer?"

"Well, I was going to invite you on family holidays, considering it's big enough for everyone. The main house, and then there's all the other houses dotted around. Plenty of space for everybody without being disturbed. Do whatever you want." Castle shrugs, leans back on the soft cotton sofa, acting like he couldn't care less about Esposito's opinion, "but maybe now I'll conveniently forget you."

"Javi, it's an amazing place. You'd love it." Kate interrupts, bringing their drinks over to the table.

Esposito twists his head towards her, eyebrows raised in consternation. "And you let him get away with it?"

"Actually, I quite like the idea of it. It's private, secluded. Acres and acres of space. And a golf course."

"Golf?"

"Eighteen holes, my friend. All for me. Shame you find Canada too cold. I thought we could have a game or too. But, never mind. I shall have to survive on my own."

Javi opens and closes his mouth, stumbling on his words and trying to back pedal. "I – well – you know, maybe I could…"

"Wear a coat?"