"Kate," Castle said, going over to the bathroom. "Okay," he said when he saw her.
"I told you I'd be out soon," Beckett said, shaking her head as she smiled at him. "And I told you this was going to be casual."
"Yeah, I got that too," Castle said as he was wearing a simple dark blue shirt himself. "But I really was wondering what you were going to wear."
"You realize we don't have the time to do anything," Beckett told him with a smile.
"I remember," Castle said with a nod. "But I'm hoping I can do this…" he said before he leaned over and kissed her deeply as he wrapped his arms around her. He held her tightly against him and kissed her a second time before they slowly parted. He smiled and then said, "I'm going to let you go."
"Are you sure you will?" Beckett asked though she was still holding onto him herself.
"Yes," Castle said. It took him a moment longer before he finally was letting her go and he breathed out hard as he said, "You do look amazing."
"Thank you, you don't look too bad yourself," Beckett replied with a smile, touching the collar of his shirt. "Let's go?" she asked.
Using that to shake himself, Castle looked at his watch and then said, "Yeah, we're supposed to be heading downstairs." He watched her finishing her light application of makeup and took her hand, pleased when she entwined their fingers together tightly. "Listen…" he told her as they were walking out to the bedroom. "Would you mind taking a bath together once we're back here?"
"That would be nice," Beckett said. She couldn't help laughing softly when her husband was obviously surprised and she said, "I know you meant nothing sexual happening in that bath. But I should ask if you're sure since we'll need to wash up."
"I'm fine with that," Castle said hurriedly.
Beckett smiled and then stepped up to him, kissing his cheek before she was going to grab her purse, slipping on her heels and stepping through the door to the hallway. "Tomorrow when we're back at home we have to check the food we left."
"I was going to say we should just go anyways," Castle told her. "We need the last things for Easter dinner and then get enough for next week."
Nodding her head, Beckett stepped into one of the cars with him before they made their way straight down to the lobby. She shared a glance with her husband before they were stopping and she stepped out first, spotting their family and the McDouglases an instant before Eliza saw them and was waving.
"We're here Mommy, Daddy," the little girl said once they had reached them.
"I see," Beckett said, hugging her to her side. "Sorry if we made you guys wait."
"It's alright, we got here just now," Skye commented. "And now we can head out."
Walking outside the hotel, the two families were heading two blocks over before Skye and Mary were leading them to the restaurant. After they were led to their table the others were looking at the investigator and her wife before they were starting to laugh.
"Look, I met people who brought me to these restaurants since I stayed in the same hotel we're at now," Skye began. "And I think they wanted to impress me."
"I think they did," Martha said as they were looking out onto a courtyard, their table on a veranda on the interior of the building.
"I agree, they did," Skye said with a smile. "Girls," she said to hers and Mary's daughters as they were looking out at the plants and flowers.
"We know Mum," Kathleen said first.
"We just wanted to look," Marie added.
"You'll be able to walk around once we order," Beckett said, talking to all the girls.
"Quite nice to have four parents around," Louis said in amusement as the girls were turning their attention back to their menus.
"I think you mean six," Alexis said.
"I don't know if you can count us," Jim said with a smile.
"Then four parents and two grandparents; still parents," Skye said with a smile.
"We'll listen," Fleur said.
"Yeah, now we have to pick our food!" Eliza said.
As they were laughing everyone was deciding what they would get and when the waiters returned to them, they ordered quickly before the kids could walk around the courtyard carefully since there were other people eating at other tables around the veranda.
"It's so pretty," Eliza said to her sister as they were looking at the different flowers and cacti in colorful pots.
"I know, it kind reminds me of San Diego," Julia said slowly, looking at the McDouglas girls.
"Yeah, the pots," Marie said first.
"Those are really pretty," Iris said.
Nodding her head Julia said, "But just the pots." She looked up at the sky and said with a smile, "It's so nice too."
"The weather?" Mari asked in slight confusion.
Shaking her head and smiling, Julia said, "This building is nice."
"Oh, I know!" Mari said eagerly. "This is so cool, but I can't wait to go home." When her friend squeezed her arm, she shook her head with a smile and then said, "Don't worry, I am having the best vacation in Mexico."
Laughing softly at her friend's wording, Julia nodded and said, "Me too," knowing that she couldn't wait to return home. They then turned their attention back to the garden, taking pictures together until they could hear Beckett calling to them that dinner had arrived.
As they were sitting down to their plates; all of them having ordered tacos; they were talking about their plans for Easter until the adults were watching the kids after they had finished and were going around the courtyard again.
"What exactly is Josie going to get for the holiday?" Mary asked Castle and Beckett as the former was getting the baby from her highchair.
"Nothing really," Beckett said first, looking at her husband.
"A stuffed animal," Castle commented, trying to be nonchalant. He laughed when she playfully socked his shoulder before he said, "Just a little bunny one since we can't really give her anything else."
"And the next year?" Skye asked jokingly.
"Please take it easy with the candy," Beckett told her husband before he could say anything. When he shrugged, she rolled her eyes before she said, "I'll have to keep an eye on him."
"He sneaks things into the baskets?" Mary asked.
"No, he puts extra eggs," Alexis said.
"She's right," Martha said quickly before her son could say anything. "He would do that constantly with Alexis."
"I love my kids," Castle said with a shrug.
"We've done the same," Mary said.
"She's right, we've had to really control ourselves with the girls, we've been tempted repeatedly to get them more than we have," Skye said. "Marie and Kath I mean."
"Understandable," Martha said. "I was the same with Richard, and he was with Alexis."
"Yes, I was with Julia," Beckett said with a smile before she was startled at Skye looking a little confused.
"What about Eliza?" the investigator said.
"I think we both ended up spoiling her," Castle said, looking at his wife as he spoke.
With a quick nod of her head Beckett said, "We did; our first child together."
"And it sounds like you're still doing that with Josie," Mary said with a smile.
"Tell me you're not doing that with your three youngest too," Castle shot back though he was smiling as well.
Skye shrugged as her wife was laughing and she then said, "Remember dessert?"
"How can we forget? They were asking us all the way back up to their floor," Beckett said in amusement.
"We're going to a place a block away, paletas as Julia was talking about," Skye said. "And they're really good so hopefully you guys will try them out."
"I'd like to," Castle said.
"Should we go?" Mary asked.
Beckett was about to say the kids were enjoying themselves before she recalled the pool and said, "I think we should, we have to get them to bed somehow."
"Now I'm wondering about those paletas," Skye commented.
"I wouldn't tell them that," Martha said.
"She's right, all of them would be upset," Alexis said, smiling.
"So would I," Louis said. When the others looked at him, he quickly said, "I'm quite keen to try them."
After the kids had been called, they looked at each other as they could see the adults were laughing together. But they didn't bother to ask as they knew they would be getting dessert then and wanted to have the chance to as they were eager to see what it would end up being exactly as they left the restaurant and walked down the street again.
"Oooh! Jules it's pal… pal…" Eliza tried to say when she could see what was inside the eatery. But she couldn't quite pronounce it and she frowned, looking at her parents and hoping they could help her.
"Paletas," Castle said.
"Pal… etas," Eliza said very carefully before she smiled.
"I saw, we can get one?" Julia asked.
"One is enough," Beckett told her firmly.
"They have agua frescas too," Mary told the kids.
"I'd like a paleta," Julia said, not surprised when all the other kids were agreeing with her. They went inside and she looked in at the freezer case where the bars were to see what flavors there were. She shared an eager look with Mari at them before she was taking pictures of the different colors before she stood up straight again and looked at her mother who'd come to stand next to her. "Are you getting one?" she asked with a smile.
"I am, the guava one," Beckett replied. "What about you?" she asked.
"What's mamey?" Julia asked.
"That's a fruit here that has a very specific taste," Skye said as Beckett was looking at her. "I'm not sure if you can taste it…" she said before she went up to the counter.
Surprised when the worker behind started getting small sample cups, Beckett said, "They're letting us try it?"
"Small pieces, they do that a lot for tourists," Skye said. "They did it for me my first time here," she added with a smile. She passed out the pieces of the paletas and once they were tasting them said, "You might not all like it."
"Wow… it's like a sweet potato with honey and… cherry?" Julia said first.
"I like it," Marie said immediately.
"Yeah, I want one too," Fleur replied eagerly.
"Alright, anyone else?" Skye said.
"It's not bad," Mari said when no one else raised their hands. "But I'd like the mango one."
"I'll have the cookies and cream!" Eliza said eagerly.
"I'll try the hibiscus," Ivy said.
"That one's really good," Mary told her before the little girl was smiling.
"I'll have… cantaloupe!" Iris said.
"Julia?" Beckett asked when her daughter didn't say anything.
"I changed my mind," Julia replied with a smile. "I think I want to get the mamey one."
"Good choice," Castle said.
"What're you getting?" Julia asked him.
"The rice pudding one," Castle said.
"I'm going to get mango," Alexis said before she looked at her boyfriend.
"Rum raisin; can't really resist that one," Louis said with a smile since he knew she didn't really like the flavor.
"We can order ourselves," Jim told his son in law when he turned to him and Martha.
"It's easier this way," Castle said.
"I'll have rum raisin," Martha told him firmly.
"The rice pudding," Jim then said.
"His mother made the best rice pudding," Beckett told her husband as they were going up to order after the McDouglases had. While they were waiting for their ice cream, she looked at the two women and said, "Mamey?" to Skye.
"I always love hibiscus," Mary said, holding up her purplish colored bar.
Having to turn to the workers as they were handing out the ice cream, Beckett soon had her guava one in hand and they left, walking back to the hotel.
"Going to let her have a chance to taste any?" Skye asked as they stopped at a street to wait for the light to change.
"I can try, I think she'll just bite it," Beckett said, looking at the baby. She put the paleta to her mouth and smiled as Josie's tongue came out, rubbing against it before she looked at her husband.
"She likes it," Castle said, seeing the baby's smile when she had. "Though I think that's it?"
"Yes," Beckett said as the light changed and they could cross. She looked over at their daughters, seeing they were happily eating their dessert before she made her way to them.
"Want to try mine Mom?" Julia asked. "You guys didn't get to taste the sample."
"That would be nice," Beckett said, taking the sweet and licking at it. She did it a second time and said, "I'm tasting peach too."
"You're going to taste a ton of flavors," Skye said.
"They don't have this back at home Mum?" Marie asked.
"Not that I've seen, and I've tried looking for it," Skye replied. "So savor it until we're lucky enough that we find it back in LA."
"Here Dad," Julia said, going over to him when they'd stopped at the last light.
After he'd tried Castle nodded and then paused before he said, "Oh… wait…"
Laughing softly Julia said, "It's okay, Skye said not everybody likes it."
"That's true, but it was interesting to get to try, thanks," Castle told her.
"Welcome," Julia said with a smile, squeezing his hand before she rushed over to Mari to walk with her until they were heading into the hotel and going straight to the pool.
Since she had a bag with her sundress, Beckett switched her dress she'd worn with the other in the bag. Setting it on the chair she had chosen, she was about to turn to the pool when she was surprised to find the kids standing with Skye. "One last song?" she said to her friend.
"I guess so," the investigator said in amusement. "I don't have my guitar," she then told everyone. "But for this song I won't need it," Skye added as she was getting her phone. She was tapping at the screen for a while before she was looking at her wife and showing her the phone.
Shaking her head Mary said, "You're on your own grá."
Smiling, Skye started the song and she looked at the kids when they were gasping in recognition.
Recalling the song herself, Beckett was reaching for her husband's hand before they were looking at the investigator as she began singing and entwining their fingers.
Now I know that it can easily happen
To someone like me
I don't want to step on anybody's toes
Who knows how to find love
Think before you give your answer
Who knows what a mystery may bring
Looking at his wife at the last lyric, Castle couldn't help bringing her hand up to his lips, kissing it quickly as Skye was continuing again.
Once in a life I'm a lucky
If I can find the kind of love
That's gonna last for me
Twice in a lifetime
Is one of those unspoken dreams
We usually reserve for fantasy
"Maybe lifetimes," Castle murmured to his wife. When she smiled at him and cupped his cheek he kissed at her hand before they were listening to the singing again.
Who knows how we find love
Stop before you give your answer
Who knows when a mystery begins
I know, I know
I know because it's happening to me
I know, I know
Twice in a lifetime
Is one of those unspoken dreams
We usually reserve for fantasy
Who knows how we find love
Stop before you give the answer
Who knows when a mystery begins
Who knows how we find love
Stop before you give the answer
Who knows when a mystery begins
I know, I know
I know because it's happening to me
I know, I know
After the music had died off Skye nodded to the applause before her wife was drawing her to her for a kiss.
Beckett didn't see the two doing that, as she and her husband were kissing themselves at that moment. It was brief and when they parted, she was able to discern that the investigator and doctor had been doing the same. Before any of the others could say anything, she stood up and told them, "We better go swimming before we lose all the time we have left." She was relieved when the kids were laughing and agreeing to that before she was following with her husband, holding his hand as she didn't want to let go just yet after the touching lyrics until they would join their children in the water.
April 2nd, 2021
Hello on my last day here in Mexico City diary! I'm showered after going into the pool twice and I have permission to stay up late enough to write in you before I pack you away in my suitcase for our trip home tomorrow. So I better get started!
Today, after breakfast, we went to Xochimilco and got onto a boat to start heading through the canals. It was so cool to get to go just for the fun of it and then seeing everything in the day again. Of course, we went another way but that was the fun part. We saw the coolest thing eventually, lily pads that we went right over, and it was so much fun to do that. I of course could sense the history of the place but this time I was taking pictures and was enjoying everything else.
Josa was so cute, she was trying to pull herself up using Mom's hand, but she couldn't really get it. Mom and Dad said she should be able to do that soon but who knows when. But at least she's okay though she was born so early. So… there wasn't much else to the trip. We ate lunch and just watched everything… no! I almost forgot, Skye and Mary sang two songs for us which were so cool. One of them was Las Brisas and I love that song; Skye sang it really well!
When we got back to the hotel, we went swimming and had fun playing together and Skye and Mary sang again. After that we were swimming again until we needed to go to bed. Then we met each other and headed to dinner at the coolest restaurant, this time it had a veranda (Dad told me what it was), like a porch on the inside and it was around the prettiest courtyard with flowers and cacti and I took a lot of pictures. We all got tacos; one last time; before we were playing together a little in the courtyard. It was the best thing, with the smell of all the flowers and the cool breeze, I had so much fun.
After that we went to get dessert and we got to have paletas, and I got to try a new flavor! It's called mamey and to me it tasted like sweet potato with honey and a little cherry. It sounds weird but it was really good and I loved getting to taste it. When we finished, we went back to the hotel and of course the pool, but first Skye sang Paul's song Twice in a Lifetime and I could tell Mom and Dad really liked it since they kissed after, Skye and Mary too. We swam after and then came up to our rooms and that was it for today!
Julia, looking at her entry, frowned for a moment before she turned to Mari on the couch when her friend was speaking before she could.
"What's wrong?" Mari asked as she was looking at her.
"I feel like my entry was really short," Julia replied.
"Well… we didn't really do a lot of stuff," Mari said hesitantly. "What did you say about the boat."
"Yeah, I thought of that," Julia replied. "And we were swimming so I can't say that much about it. Okay, let me finish up and I'll be done." When her friend nodded, she turned back to her diary and started a new paragraph.
That's really all that's left to say. I mean we packed after our shower, but it was quick and all our stuff is ready to go. There's still some time to go until bed so I'll stop here and spend it with Mari; last night in our room!
I'll try and write tomorrow diary, back at home!
Finishing the last line, Julia got up and took her diary over to her suitcase, looking at Mari as she was doing the same shortly after her. "Do you still want to read?" she asked her friend.
"No, though I'm going to miss hearing about the story," Mari said.
"At least we know Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy get together," Julia said. "Surprisingly."
"Yeah," Mari said with a soft laugh. "I'll have to go buy it when we're home. Come on."
Julia was a little startled when her friend said the last abruptly and grabbed her hand, pulling her to the bed. Once they were on top of it, she said, "What'll we do now though?"
"You don't want to talk?" Mari asked.
"About what?" Julia said.
"I'm going to camp," Mari replied.
"I know, just a little less than two months," Julia said. She then saw the expression on her friend's face and said, "You're not looking forward to it?"
Shaking her head Mari said, "I'm… not afraid but…"
"It'll be okay, you'll be with your friends in your class- the girls," Julia began. "And if you're worried about the showers remember I told you to take another bathing suit."
"I'll just miss you," Mari replied.
"I wish we were the same year," Julia said with a nod. "But this'll be good for you with your friends from your class. You'll get to play and spend time with them."
Shrugging Mari said, "I play with them now at recess."
"Well, it's just for the five days and if you do the activities it'll go a lot faster," Julia assured her.
"Okay," Mari said slowly before she nodded. She then laid on the bed and said, "It's going to be horrible at night."
"Not horrible," Julia said firmly though she knew what her friend was talking about. "You'll talk with them."
"It won't be the same as when I talk to you," Mari replied.
"It'll be fun still," Julia said. She was startled when her friend looked surprised and she asked, "What?"
"I thought you'd say it would be the same," Mari said with a smile as she was sitting back up.
"Then I'd be lying," Julia said.
"It was the same when you were there?" Mari asked.
"Yep, I didn't like it," Julia said. "I mean, sleeping in a bunk bed was cool but it wasn't home and I missed everybody."
Giggling softly at her friend emphasizing the last word, Mari said, "I don't blame you. But it did go fast?"
"Yeah, it did and it was fun in the end," Julia said. "Will you write me letters?"
"Yes!" Mari said insistently.
Julia couldn't help laughing with her before she hugged her tightly and they were soon laying down on the bed together. "But that's not for a long time," she told her friend when they'd calmed down. "We'll have to have some sleepovers before that."
"And then summer vacation; I can't wait," Mari said eagerly.
"Me neither," Julia said.
"Tell me about it again," Mari said.
"Even though we're going in a little bit?" Julia asked with a smile on her face. When her friend nodded, she hugged her the best she could; though they were laying down; and began talking about Madrid where they'd start. Though she'd told her about the capitol city already, her friend was listening in rapt attention as she walked her through what she'd seen until they needed to stop and get to sleep.
"Hey," Beckett said, looking up at her husband with a smile.
"Hey, all set?" Castle asked as she was packing her suitcase.
"Basically," Beckett replied, closing it but not zipping it up. "I just have the last-minute stuff to pack."
"Me too," Castle said since he'd finished before she had.
"What?" Beckett asked him.
"Remember we were talking about a bath?" Castle asked in reply.
"I know, just let me check and make sure I have everything," Beckett said with a smile. She made a last check of the armoire and sure all she had in there was her outfit for the next day, she closed the doors and said to her husband, "Did you check?"
"Yeah, I'm set," Castle replied.
Studying him Beckett said, "I hope you were serious about not-"
"Don't worry," Castle interrupted her quickly. "I wasn't kidding, I know we have to get everything set at the house when we get back."
"Luckily we have everything mostly ready for Sunday," Beckett said.
"And hopefully it won't rain," Castle said as he was following her into the bathroom. He took a quick look to make sure his pajamas were ready for him, and then started to undress as his wife watched him.
Before he could say anything, Beckett told her husband, "I'm serious too."
"Your turn to watch?" Castle asked. When she nodded once with a smile, he tried not to let that affect him before he pulled off his swim trunks he was still wearing. Once he was sure she was going to get undressed at that point, he went to the tub and was rushing to start it filling with water before he turned back to look at her.
Not avoiding her husband's gaze, Beckett swiftly took off her sundress and then bikini before she went over to him. "Rick," she said gently though with a slight bit of warning as he wasn't stopping staring at her.
"I've got it," Castle said, turning off the faucet before he was flipping the switch on the side. He was startled when she reached over and turned the whirlpool off and said, "No?"
"Not yet," Beckett said. "Into the shower."
Nodding, Castle hurried into the stall and they rinsed off rapidly before they were going back out to the tub carefully. "You first?" he asked.
Smirking at him for a moment, Beckett nodded to the tub and watched him climb into the water. As soon as he was inside she followed him, sitting on her knees in between his legs. "What?" she asked slightly laughingly.
"We can't cuddle now?" Castle said, raising and lowering his eyebrows.
Rolling her eyes, and smiling at the same time, Beckett said, "I'd rather do it once we're done."
"Sure," Castle said, watching her getting the attachment before she was rinsing his hair. He wiped away the water on his face once she was finished and said, "Why me first?"
"Because like you watching me, I deserve a turn first," Beckett said.
"I can't call you pervert?" Castle asked.
"No," Beckett replied easily before she leaned over and gently kissed him on the lips. She washed his hair and when she had finished rinsing him then told him, "We're staying at the St. Francis again?"
Not surprised she was distracting him, Castle nodded and said, "Yeah, I figured if we were just looking at the houses we should stay in our usual room."
"You were able to get it," Beckett said, tilting her head back as her husband was rinsing her hair then.
"I was," Castle said with a nod. "So we can go around the city once we see the homes."
"I know Rick, I wish we could do more," Beckett told him understandingly while he was lathering her hair up.
"No, I figured we'd spend a day in Mill Valley and then a day around Alamo Square?" Castle suggested. "Take lunch to the latter and in Mill Valley go anywhere there."
"That would be nice," Beckett said with a nod. "I'll have to take a lot of pictures; the girls will insist even if we tell them we're going back."
"When do you think is a good time to tell them?" Castle asked her.
Beckett had time to think about that as her husband was getting her condition onto her strands and when he'd finished, she said, "Maybe once we get back from there."
"I can't wait to see their reactions," Castle said.
"Neither can I," Beckett replied, a smile on her face. "What else would you like to do while we're there?"
"You want to talk about the itinerary now?" Castle asked her. When she nodded firmly; though her head was tilted back for him to rinse her hair again; he smiled and leaned over, kissing her forehead. "I adore you," he told her.
"Any reason why?" Beckett asked as she was keeping the water away from her eyes.
"You're excited to go," Castle replied easily.
"Of course I am," Beckett said firmly. "So where would you like to go?"
"Well… maybe for the Alamo Square day we should have that be lunch," Castle said.
"I'm fine with that," Beckett said with a nod as she let him get a washcloth, knowing he was thinking over their trip as he lathered it with her rose scented shower gel.
"So that leaves us the day we get there-" Castle began.
"What time?" Beckett asked him with a smile as she allowed him to start rubbing the washcloth over her shoulders.
"We leave at eight and get there by ten their time. I'm sure we'll reach the hotel in time for lunch… room service?" Castle suggested.
"We'll decide once we're there," Beckett said with a nod. "And the rest of the day? Chinatown?"
"I was intending to take you there; to Four Seas," Castle said, rubbing the soap over her breasts. Since he'd been serious in his promise to her, he moved around to her back once he'd cleaned the mounds thoroughly and then said, "If you'd like."
"Believe me, I do," Beckett said, leaning over and brushing her lips to his before she moved to sit on the ledge for him. "The next day?"
"That'll be Mill Valley," Castle replied. "I mean… we don't have to spend all day there-"
"I know," Beckett interrupted him. "And again, we'll see how things go."
"Then if we come back into the city for dinner, Boudin?" Castle asked.
"And the Musée Méchanique?" Beckett replied, smiling as she watched him rubbing the soap onto her legs.
"That too if you'd like," Castle said simply though he glanced up at her and smiled before he helped her into the tub where she stood. He washed her back fully and then her ass before he was saying, "So the next day we can go to Alamo Square and then…"
"We're forgetting two other places," Beckett said to him firmly. "Golden Gate Park and City Hall."
"Also the beach by Cliff House," Castle told her. "You want to use those for the other days? There's two more days after."
"Alright, maybe we'll stop some places at the park too," Beckett said. When her husband nodded, she got back in the tub and without a word started to clean him. She was as meticulous as he'd been but was careful not to do too much to his member. When she had finished, she kissed his cheek and waited on the ledge for him to refill the tub. "You know you didn't really need to do that," she said. "We did rinse before getting in."
"Too much soap," Castle replied easily before he smiled at her. When he had turned off the water, he waited for his wife to slip into it while he switched on the whirlpool. Taking her in his arms he wrapped them around her securely and said, "It's weird we're talking about that instead of the seventeenth."
Smiling Beckett said, "I was thinking the same, but we really have gone over everything with the party. And we're not doing that much in the first place."
"A year old," Castle said.
"I know," Beckett said, still smiling at the thought of their youngest. "I love you Rick," she felt compelled to say.
"I love you too Kate, for what you went through for her," Castle said.
"Luckily the pregnancy wasn't too bad," Beckett reminded him. She leaned her head back on his shoulder to look at him before she said, "And thank you for handling that time we couldn't be together."
"Compared to what you'd do giving birth I could handle it," Castle replied. When she had straightened her head, he kissed the side of it and murmured, "I have to mention something else about our next trip," wondering how she'd react to that.
"Alright," Beckett said, squeezing his left arm that was around her body.
"Even though we're going to be on our own I'm really looking forward to it," Castle said.
"Guilty?" Beckett asked.
"Slightly; just because they've wanted to go. But I remind myself we'll take them and… we should go on our own," Castle said.
Feeling her husband kiss the side of her head, Beckett smiled and then said, "I was thinking that and like you said we're taking them in May." She turned slightly before she said, "And I'm eager to go, everywhere we can."
"The building where we first lived after the earthquake?" Castle asked. When she nodded, he then said, "Sure. What about my apartment building when I moved out?"
Beckett was about to say yes when she stopped herself and then said, "Maybe we'll just drive by it."
Smiling at that, Castle leaned over and kissed her cheek before she leaned back against his chest. Wrapping his arms around her firmly he said, "I can't wait."
"I know, neither can I," Beckett said, looking at the plant in the alcove in the wall across from them. She then said, "Rick?"
"Yes," Castle replied. He realized his wife was tense, and he said, "You want to be celibate."
Since his tone wasn't angry or annoyed Beckett said, "Would it be too long until we're there?"
"It depends on if you want full celibacy," Castle said. "And if you do…"
"No, we can fool around but for that last week until we're there I would want it to be full abstinence," Beckett said.
"Don't worry," Castle assured her, kissing the side of her head. "I can see why you'd want to do that and fooling around isn't too bad."
They were silent for a while, letting the sound of the water being moved around fill the room before Beckett softly cleared her throat. "I have something while we're doing that," she said.
"Have something?" Castle asked, startled.
"I got a new kind of vibrator," Beckett said, glancing over her shoulder to him.
"Oh… great to hear," Castle said.
"Are you okay?" Beckett asked in amusement as he sounded distracted.
"Yeah…" Castle started to say before he shook himself hard. "Yes, I would like to see what you got but I am sorry your old one broke," he said, a little surer of himself.
"Are you really?" Beckett said, moving away from him so she could face him.
"I am," Castle replied with a nod. "You had that for a long time."
"To be honest I didn't have much fondness for it," Beckett commented, standing up as he had been doing. "I used it more before we were together and of course we only brought it into play with us a few times," she said. She watched him climbing out of the tub before grabbing a towel and then said, "I'm surprised you're so eager."
"It pleasures you," Castle said, drying himself off rapidly. "And it helps me to do that too," he added. He waited for her to speak again and when she didn't, he said, "Really?"
"It's sweet of you to think that way," Beckett said. "I've known a couple men who haven't wanted to really include that during sex."
"Never mind it would have helped you," Castle said.
"I wasn't sleeping with them," Beckett said quickly. "We were talking, and I never did sleep with them, not with that attitude."
"Bring it with us to San Francisco," Castle said in a rush as he helped his wife out. "We'll use it when we make love."
"Remember what that does though," Beckett told him in amusement.
"I don't care, a quickie," Castle said.
"I'll see," Beckett replied.
"Oh… you don't want to use it?" Castle asked. He was startled when she looked down at his groin; covered by his towel; and he said, "Look, I love that I can pleasure you, but I do like playing around with toys."
Taking the towel to wrap around herself when he finished, Beckett said, "Plural?"
"Wait… no, I meant that toy in particular," Castle said, following her to where their pajamas were.
"I know, I'm teasing you love," Beckett said with a smile. She kissed his cheek before they were getting dressed and said, "I'll bring it but let's leave it for later."
"First time is just us?" Castle asked her.
"Just us," Beckett said. She finished dressing and stepped up to her husband, kissing him gently before he held her to him. "Rick," she told him with a smile. "Let's go to bed." She wasn't surprised when he nodded his head rapidly and she leaned up, kissing him on the lips again before they were finishing by brushing their teeth. She headed out to the bedroom first and went to her side of the bed telling him, "If you want, I'll bring it with me to Spain."
Pausing in climbing onto the mattress, Castle studied his wife and then said, "Only if it's what you want."
"I'd like to have it in case we want to play," Beckett said.
"What exactly do you have in mind with that word?" Castle asked her slowly as he was still studying her though they were on the bed together and sitting up.
"Let me pleasure you with it," Beckett said immediately.
"Okay," Castle said rapidly.
Beckett couldn't help laughing briefly and she then leaned over to wrap her arms around him. "You know how that usually ends up."
"I do, and I'm more than okay with it," Castle commented easily.
"Pervert," Beckett told him, kissing his shoulder through his pajama shirt after.
"There it is," Castle said, smiling when his wife laughed again. He kissed the top of her head and said, "This trip was great."
"I agree," Beckett said with a nod before she smiled. "Though I didn't think it wouldn't be."
"Even with the investigation," Castle said hesitantly, not putting that into a question.
"Funny you're calling it that," Beckett told him with a smile.
"Force of habit, and they have called it that once in a while," Castle replied, rubbing her upper arm. He kissed her then and when they parted, he said, "Well?"
"Yes, though there was a lockdown I loved this vacation," Beckett said. She couldn't help laughing when her husband suddenly started kissing at her neck and she let him do that for a little bit before she carefully made him stop. They gazed into one another's eyes for a moment before they were meeting for a kiss which was very gentle. When they stopped, she brushed her lips to his quickly and then said, "We can do this."
"I want to do that," Castle said. "For hours."
Shaking her head, and smiling as well, Beckett said, "I don't think we can really do that for hours but for a while is nice."
"Hours can constitute a while," Castle said.
Sighing, but not putting any aggravation in that, Beckett said, "We need to sleep."
"I can't wait to fool around with you," Castle said seriously.
Biting at her lower lip, Beckett said softly, "Me too. But for now…"
"At least one more kiss," Castle said. He expected her to say something about that, but she was soon leaning into him and he was kissing her deeply before they wrapped their arms around each other. After a while he became frustrated and then pulled her onto his lap, knowing he wouldn't do anything more than that.
Beckett was more than a little pleased at her husband moving her and she was wrapping her arms tighter around his neck before they were slowly parting. She smiled as he nuzzled at her neck before she grew serious and they were soon moving to share another kiss. As their tongues were meeting, she wondered if they would be able to resist the temptation to just make love before they were stopping. She pressed against her husband's chest and said with a sigh, "I love you so much Rick."
"I love you too Kate," Castle replied. He held her closer and then said, "One more my love…"
Though Beckett could point out he'd said that before, she found she couldn't stop Castle as he leaned down to her again. They were holding each other tightly, feeling their joy in their touch and though they needed to go to sleep they couldn't stop just yet. They allowed themselves to indulge in tasting each other until they were slowly parting though it was done reluctantly. Slipping under the covers they wrapped themselves up in one another's arms so they could sleep deeply and peacefully before the next morning's flight.