Genre: Romance, Family, Humor, Supernatural
Rating: M for sexual situations and language
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured on the show Castle, they belong to the creator of the show, ABC and the others who do own them.
A/N #1: It was awesome getting the feedback for the last chapter that I did in the end, so I'll go ahead and get started on my thank yous for it! TORONTOSUN (Really happy to see you liked the story. And that you thought it was very good writing as always!) and
Mb (It was great to read first thing that you had a big smile on your face with them at the house in Mill Valley. And I had to have it for sale, lol, not surprised you're glad that they can afford to buy that house, lol. I actually am not going to have Naomi and Nico connected to their past lives, I didn't feel it really. And it wasn't so much she was expecting them but just knowing their background already from reading the letters and diaries. And I wanted to include the Alamo Square house, so it was kinda a coincidence, lol. I'm glad you loved how the girls recognized the house once they saw it and were exited about them having it and visiting it. No surprise that you were really happy that Martha had a date in the chapter for moving into the beach house with them. And the same for everyone being excited and happy about it too! And I wanted them to appear different in their past lives, but I'm not surprised you caught a bit that it would be too much, lol. And I had wanted to have the letters, diaries and pictures, I wanted written word too, so I'm really pleased you loved that that fact! You're welcome for sharing the first half of the chapter! I'm glad you thought the second half was beautifully written along with being hot too! It was nice you loved the diary entries that they had in the chapter, I wanted to show the relationship from Beckett's point of view since I had Castle's in the other story. I had to laugh at you putting how it went bam suddenly to them making love. But I was glad you said it was sexy and sensual and them being them, lol, sexy and loving. You're welcome for sharing the second half too!).
Thanks so much for the review, I loved reading them all and am grateful for the time taken to write them out and send them my way!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song S'Wonderful written by Ira Gershwin.
Can't Blame Me For Feeling Amorous
"I still think we should have had breakfast in bed," Castle told his wife as they were sitting at the table in the living room.
"Yes, but I'd like to leave soon," Beckett said. "We did tell Naomi we'd be at Alamo Square at ten and it's almost nine-thirty."
"We were tired," Castle said, smiling at his wife rolling her eyes. He leaned over to her and kissed her ear lobe through her hair saying, "I did want to do something else."
"Leave that for tonight," Beckett said, reaching over and squeezing his hand gently.
"Really?" Castle asked in surprise as he straightened up.
"I'm serious, but I mean tonight," Beckett said.
"I did move away," Castle said. He glanced at the table and asked, "Want me to sit on the other side of the table?"
"No," Beckett said firmly before they were starting to eat. They were quiet, since they were both tired after having gotten to sleep a little later, but she felt anticipation as they were putting their plates outside in the hall when they'd finished their meal.
"Set?" Castle said to his wife as she was walking up to him after getting her purse.
"I am, I checked my phone and she hasn't texted yet," Beckett replied.
"I'm wondering about something," Castle said.
"Maybe they have the week off," Beckett told him as she knew what he would be asking. Before he could reply to that she was cupping his cheek and once he was leaning down to her, they were kissing gently before she pulled away. Smiling at him she then walked out into the hall and looked back at him to see how he would react.
"True," Castle said absently as he was trying to shake himself. He was able to recover shortly after that and they walked together down the hall to the elevator. Once they were on their way to the lobby he said, "Are we still going to have that picnic?" Seeing the smile shortly after on his wife's face he asked, "What?"
"You want to do that still?" Beckett replied.
"I would like to… you do remember we did that before right?" Castle said.
Since the car was stopping by then, Beckett could only nod briefly and they were walking through to where the valet was so they could pick up their car. While her husband was taking care of that she went onto her phone to check the directions to the square.
"Kate," Castle said, having walked up to his wife though she didn't react to him. When she looked up, he told her, "They're getting the car. What're you looking at?"
"The directions," Beckett replied before they walked together to the doors leading outside.
"Have you been to Alamo Square before?" Castle asked her.
"I have," Beckett said. "But to be honest I've only ever paid attention to the Painted Ladies."
"And why not? That's usually what tourists go to see," Castle replied. "I've never been though."
"It's a nice square," Beckett told him. "And a nice little park in the middle though some parts of it are at an incline."
"No wonder Alexis and I were rolling around that one time," Castle said. He looked at his wife and smiled as she laughed briefly but he couldn't comment as their car was coming around to them. He stopped the valet from opening the passenger door and did it instead for his wife before he went around to get into the driver's seat. As he started down Powell to get to Geary, he expected her to say something but when she was silent, he said, "I only did that because-"
"You don't need to worry," Beckett interrupted him. "I didn't want him to either. Just take Geary until Fillmore; it says we need to keep right to stay on Geary but I'm sure it'll become obvious once we get there."
"Probably," Castle said. He glanced at her once they were stopped at a light and then smiled to himself before he was continuing. He managed to find Fillmore without incident, and they headed south to Hayes. As had happened the day before he could feel himself gripping the steering wheel a little tighter but soon forgot that as he was reaching the house. He immediately parked along the square itself across the street and said, "That's it."
"It is… though the paint…" Beckett started to say slowly.
"Yeah," Castle said as they were staring in surprise at the deep purple and cream of the Queen Anne house. Shaking himself he said, "I bet you they'll use the money from the Mill Valley home to paint this."
"No bet, I'm sure they will," Beckett said before they were getting out of the car at the same time. She walked around the car to her husband and said, "I'm feeling the same as yesterday."
"Me too," Castle told her seriously and quickly. He took her hand and they quickly crossed the street before they were going up the steps to their former home.
Before the two could reach the door once they had stepped onto the porch, it was opening and Naomi was standing behind it. "Hey, I'm so glad you were able to find it! Is it the house?"
"It is," Beckett said, smiling at the woman's enthusiasm and speaking first as she knew her husband was watching her for her to answer. "Hello again," she added before she noticed the man standing behind her.
"Oh, this is my husband, Nico Dorsey," Naomi replied, stepping aside so he could go up to the doorway with her.
"It's nice to meet you," Nico said, shaking their hands. "Naomi told me about you… I was surprised though I did remind her about your book."
"I'm guessing we wrote well enough about the city?" Castle asked.
"You did, we were both surprised that first time we read it since we knew you two lived in New York," Nico said. "Please come in," he added to them, stepping back into the house.
Stepping inside the entry, Beckett felt the familiar rush of déjà vu going through her as she looked around at everything. She was about to tell the couple they had the foyer decorated beautifully when Naomi was speaking first.
"Could you describe the house? You mentioned it yesterday while we were in Mill Valley," the doctor was asking hopefully.
"Do you want to take it? You lived here longer than I did in the end," Castle told his wife.
Sighing Beckett said, "I'm usually a skeptic."
"Are you still? There are pictures in the Mill Valley home," Nico said.
"No but it's still… strange," Beckett said after thinking for a moment. She then breathed out and said, "The room over there is what we called the parlor, Rick stayed there after he came back from WWI and was injured."
"I was in the second battle of the Somme," Castle replied. "And I came back with a knee injury."
"That's the family room," Beckett said, looking into the room to their left and seeing the familiar fireplace inside though it had a different mantle. "We'd open Christmas gifts there. My mom would use the parlor for having guests over or speaking alone with other people. The dining room is past that and though it was a little small we would manage to fit in there somehow. The kitchen is past that and the way to the backyard was there, we only had grass and a few flowers my mother grew."
"Right…" Nico said before he looked at his wife.
"He's stunned," Naomi said quickly. "And yes, that's completely correct. Though I guess the garage was added later, if you go to the parlor there's a half bathroom and across from the door to it is the stairs down to the garage."
"Second floor?" Castle asked his wife.
"Why don't we show you around first?" Naomi suggested. "Or… you guys should walk through first."
"Sure," Castle said, taking his wife's hand again. They walked into the parlor though it didn't take them long to see the room. When they were walking back across the entry, they were squeezing one another's hands at the family room though they both froze just past the doorway to the dining room.
"Are you guys okay?" Nico asked as he and his wife had looked to see their reactions.
"Yes, sorry," Beckett said first. "We had our wedding… breakfast I guess you can call it here. Before we left for our honeymoon." When they walked into the kitchen, she was breathing out hard and touching the counter of the island before she stepped back.
"It's okay," Nico said first and quickly. "I can only imagine what it's like for you two being here right now."
Seeing the pair were sharing a look Naomi smiled and said, "It feels like coming home?"
"Partially," Castle said, seeing his wife nodding. "We lived near Mountain Lake Park after the earthquake and for most of our lives. I didn't see this house until after I got back from the war."
"The backyard is like you described it," Naomi said as they were stepping out onto the deck.
"We were thinking of portioning off the other end of it, put a set of patio furniture and a cover," Nico said.
Catching the tone of the man's voice Beckett said, "You don't need to ask us permission."
"She's right, we just lived here," Castle added.
"We'll see," Naomi said before they were heading inside. "What about the second floor?"
"Maybe we should just describe the other three floors," Castle commented, squeezing his wife's hand.
"We kids were on the second floor," Beckett said. "Since there were four bedrooms there. We shared three bathrooms; you and my brother had one on your own," she told her husband at the end.
"It was easier that way," Castle commented.
"The third floor was my parents' room," Beckett then continued. "And the fourth was just one room, a mix of things right?"
"Yeah, Junior kept some items there he didn't want to keep at the club overnight," Castle said as he thought that over. "And it was a playroom for Julia when she was still a baby. Also, a sitting room since your mother had chairs and a table in the turret to admire the view."
"I was planning on doing that myself; once we get the carpet off there," Naomi commented.
"There'll be hardwood underneath it," Beckett said.
"We were hoping," Nico said before he and his wife were going up the stairs. "We'll eventually paint the house; this one we're okay with doing that; but the very top we're debating on what we should paint it."
Realizing there were only two sets of footprints, Naomi stopped and turned around to look at the two before saying, "You can come upstairs." She the realized why the two looked uncertain and said, "Really, we wouldn't care if you looked all over."
"Thank you," Beckett said first. "You're putting a lot of trust in us," she added as they went up the stairs together after the couple.
"We're kind of hoping you might sign your San Francisco book for us," Nico admitted as they were reaching the top of the stairs.
Seeing the man appeared to be slightly sheepish, Castle said, "We'd be glad to, especially since you let us into the house yesterday Naomi."
"I did know who you were," the doctor said.
"And you let us buy the house," Beckett added.
"I would have been cruel to say no to you," Naomi said swiftly. "I watched you while we were walking around the house. I could tell how happy you two were to have returned; I got that impression from the way you were looking around."
"It did feel like that," Castle said, looking around the rooms they were standing at. He walked to one doorway and said, "This was our room," looking back at his wife with a smile.
Going to him, Beckett peered inside and said, "It was my room first," directing it to the couple behind them. "And once we were married, we shared it when we came here. Though it was Ivy and Iris' room."
"Ivy and Iris?" Nico asked.
"Skye McDouglas' daughters," Naomi said. "Right? They showed their names on the show."
"Yeah," Castle said slowly. "Did you ever come across their kids' names? We haven't looked at everything at the house yet."
"We haven't, it might be in the garage," Nico said first.
"We only looked at what we felt like we should," Naomi said. "Remember that I told you some things I felt would be like I was spying."
"We'll have to try and look around more every time we come back," Castle told his wife. He and Beckett were then walking around the second floor, pointing out which bedrooms were which before they went to the third. They peered in at the master bedroom, admiring the décor of the couple before they continued to the very top of the house.
"We don't really need offices," Naomi said with a smile as the pair were walking around and looking out the windows. When they reached the turret she said, "I really like the idea of a sitting room. Or reading room."
"It could be both," Castle said before he turned to the pair. "Could I make a suggestion."
"A suggestion?" Nico asked in surprise.
"Paint color, though you don't need to really take it," Castle replied.
"Eggshell blue," Beckett said suddenly. When the other three looked at her she told them, "I remember the color here and that one was one of my brother's favorites." She then looked at the nearest wall and murmured, "He said it was the same shade as Patrick's eyes."
Since he was the only one who'd heard her Castle wrapped his arm around her and gently squeezed the small of her back. He turned his attention to the couple before he was telling them, "Thank you for the tour, we appreciate it, a lot," being as sincere as he could manage.
"We didn't mind," Naomi said. "Would you like to stay for lunch?"
"We did tell you about the picnic we were planning on having," Beckett said with a smile. "But it would be great if you guys could join us."
"In the square?" Nico asked.
"Yeah," Castle replied.
"Do you know any restaurants nearby where we can grab food?" Beckett said before the couple could reply to their invitation.
"It'd be on us," Castle said.
"We'll join you, if you let us make sandwiches," Naomi said.
"You already made them?" Beckett asked.
"We were going to stay in after you left," Nico said with a smile. "We have enough for dinner but we're happy to share."
"So that's a yes?" Castle said.
"It is," Naomi said with a slight laugh before they were walking together down the stairs to the first floor.
After her husband and Nico had urged her and Naomi to head across the street with their drinks and blanket, Beckett followed the doctor across the street to the square. "Have you guys done this before?" she asked once they were sitting under the shade of a tree since it was partly cloudy again.
"A couple times," Naomi said. "But we moved in at the end of summer and eventually work and weather kept us from this."
"You have time off right now?" Beckett asked.
"We do, just this week but we're enjoying it a lot," Naomi replied, looking over at a family near them. She felt a touch on her arm and looked back at the writer, seeing the slight smile on her face.
"How far along are you?" Beckett asked gently. When the doctor's eyes widened, she said, "I can tell."
"Yes, I found out last week," Naomi breathed out.
"Does Nico not want-" Beckett began.
"No, he does, he does," Naomi interrupted. "But I'm in shock still, you see I was told I'd have difficulty conceiving naturally… sorry."
"It's okay," Beckett said. "I'm glad you proved whoever said that wrong."
"Me too," Naomi said with a smile as she touched her stomach. "But I'm a little worried now if I'll be able to carry to term."
"If you don't continue to be concerned about it then you should be alright," Beckett said.
"Your pregnancies?" Naomi asked.
"Oh, I was worried myself," Beckett said, knowing the woman needed reassurances. "But I had my husband and my family and things turned out alright."
Nodding Naomi said, "I'll tell him, tonight since we were going to stay in."
"Hopefully we're not taking all your food," Beckett said, speaking a little louder after the doctor had spoken rapidly at the end of what she'd said. Their husbands were coming to them with a carrier and she said, "Yours?"
"A wedding gift; we love hiking and that's why we had wanted to stay in Mill Valley at first," Naomi said, smiling at her husband.
"Luckily we can always drive there for the weekend," Nico said before he was getting sandwiches to everyone.
"Have you guys ever hiked on Mt. Tam?" Castle asked.
"That's the name of the mountain, right?" Beckett said in surprise as the couple was exchanging a look.
"It is, but the way you said that was so confident," Nico said first. "It was kind of surprising."
"But we have, we've gone there many times," Naomi replied. "Did you?"
"We did, a lot," Castle said. When his wife started smiling at him, he said, "We're planning on coming back next weekend with our family. We might try and go up there while we're here."
"And we might have you guys come for another lunch," Beckett said.
"You wouldn't need to-" Naomi started to say in protest.
"We wouldn't mind," Castle told her. "But we'd need to see what we'll do while we're with everyone else before we have any set plans. We'll be in touch."
"What else can you tell us about Marin County?" Beckett asked. "So we know where to take our daughters while we're here."
The Dorseys then told them about the different sites around Mill Valley and more in the city itself. When they had finished lunch they remained at the square, talking about Castle and Beckett's next San Francisco book.
"That sounds like it'll be a great book," Nico was saying as they were packing up. "Though you are going to keep having it partially in San Francisco, right?"
"We will, we can't really lose our connection to here," Castle said.
"Since we spent so much time here," Beckett added with a smile.
"We'll send you a copy of it once it's ready," Castle then told him. "A signed copy," he was adding quickly.
"Thank you," the pair said together before they were starting to laugh.
"Are you going to talk to your family now?" Naomi said.
"Yes," Castle said. "We were going to take them on a tour of the house with the tablet we have."
"Bring them to the city," Naomi told them immediately. "We wouldn't mind at all."
"She's right, they knew the home too didn't they?" Nico asked as Beckett looked doubtful.
"Why don't we try and bring them Memorial Day weekend? We should have a lot more time then," Castle said, having noticed his wife's expression too.
"Sure, but we might head to Lake Tahoe that weekend ourselves," Nico said. "We'll have to give you the code to the garage if we do that."
"We'll change it once we get back," Naomi said as the pair was opening their mouths to speak.
"I think we're going to need to send you guys a lot of signed books," Castle commented.
Beckett smiled when the other couple was laughing and she said, "We are serious though, you've been… extremely nice."
"And you've been a godsend, we were thinking we'd never sell the Mill Valley house," Nico replied. He and his wife were standing up and then said, "Are we saying goodbye now?"
"We need to sign your book," Beckett reminded them. "We want to talk to our family on the porch of your house so we'll knock to go in to do that." When the two nodded she then said, "Thank you for lunch." After her husband was saying the same, they watched them going back to the house.
"What's going on with them?" Castle asked his wife.
"Don't say anything or act weird when we go back in," Beckett told him.
"I wouldn't," Castle replied in mock indignation. He then realized what it was and said, "She's pregnant?"
"She is… I didn't ask but it's likely two, three months," Beckett replied. She quickly explained what the pediatrician had told her and then said, "So don't do anything or say anything."
"Yeah," Castle said, nodding his head. "I can imagine how happy he'll be,"
"Me too," Beckett said with a smile. She was going to speak again when her phone was making its text alert sound and she looked at her husband as he was hurrying to get her tablet.
As he was getting the tablet ready, Castle said, "Hopefully they won't mind the outside of another house."
"They won't, hurry up," Beckett told her husband teasingly. She smiled when her husband did at her and she then said, "They're ready."
"So are we," Castle said as he wrapped his arm around his wife's waist.
"Hello everyone," Beckett said as she saw everyone on the screen.
"Hi Mommy! Daddy! I'm here!" Eliza said eagerly.
"We see you," Castle said with a laugh.
"Where are you?" Julia asked them.
"Alamo Square," Castle said, turning the tablet so they could see the Painted Ladies.
"Oh cool!" Julia said eagerly. "Have you walked up to them."
"No, we just finished having a picnic lunch with Naomi and her husband," Beckett said.
"They're the ones that owned the Mill Valley house?" Alexis asked.
"They are," Julia said before Eliza was suddenly exclaiming.
"Does that mean that you saw the house there?" the little girl asked eagerly.
"It does," Castle said. "Hold on a second." He and Beckett were walking together down the incline the square had on the Hayes side of it before he turned the tablet. He shared a smile with his wife at their daughters exclaiming happily at the sight of the home before he turned it back to them.
"I guess you guys recognize it," Beckett said, still smiling.
"Yes, even though the colors are all wrong," Alexis said.
"We never asked when they're going to paint the outside," Castle told his wife.
"We can before we leave," Beckett said simply.
"Did you get to go inside?" Julia then asked.
"We did, we took a tour and even though it's been updated a little here and there it's still how it was back then," Castle said. "Hold on," he then told them. "We're going to finish talking to you on the porch." He and his wife were walking across the street rapidly before they were sitting on the bench the Dorseys had put on the side of it. "Okay," he told them. "So now you've heard about our day so far, what about-"
"Wait! We didn't hear about the rest of your day!" Eliza said. "Yesterday!"
"Oh, there isn't that much," Beckett replied. She and her husband talked about what they'd done, ending with them returning to their hotel room. "Tell us about your days now." She leaned against her husband's shoulder as Eliza was telling them about her day at school before Julia was doing the same. While the two were talking about their dance class she was surprised to hear it had ended sooner than it was supposed to. "That's the third time in a row this week, what's going on?" she asked.
"I think their teacher is ill," Martha commented.
"Pregnant?" Castle said.
"No, ill. She's been staying away from the kids the last three classes, probably trying to fight a cold but I don't think it worked. So there might not be dance classes next week," Jim said. He saw his daughter and son in law looking at one another rapidly before they were turning back to them. He had to fight a smile at that, since he was aware of the plans to head back to San Francisco and Mill Valley the next weekend.
"Well, it'll be nice to have a rest," Beckett said, looking at Julia and expecting her to protest before her second oldest was saying something entirely different instead.
"Yeah, it'll be nice to have a break," Julia said. She noticed the way her mother was looking at her and asked, "What?"
"I'm surprised you're saying that," Beckett replied with a smile.
"Well… I was thinking about how I could get my homework done super early," Julia explained. "And then play."
"With Mari?" Castle asked her.
"And at home too," Julia said quickly.
"Okay, we'll see next week when you two are at school," Beckett then said. "We'll let you go now, so you can play with Josie before dinner."
"Her day was the same as always," Martha said first.
"Josa said she wants to go to San Francisco," Eliza said.
"She will," Beckett said with a smile, not surprised. "But for now, please play with her."
"I will, I'm trying to help her to walk," Eliza said. "But not a lot so you can see when she walks for the first time."
"Thank you," Castle said, unable to keep the amusement out of his tone. He felt his wife squeeze his back before he said, "And we can't wait to get back to you guys."
Beckett and Castle were saying goodbye to their family, promising to call them at the same time the next day. Once the tablet was off, she looked at her husband and said, "From the Academy?"
"We were talking about going there," Castle said knowing they were talking about where they would call them from. "And I know," he then added in a rush before she could say anything. "That you said the Conservatory instead, but it'd be fun to go just on our own once. We don't have the beach to go to remember."
"I know, but I was going to say I did want to go to Mill Valley one more time before we need to go back home," Beckett told him.
"We should leave that for the last day," Castle said.
"Alright," Beckett said. She couldn't help smiling when her husband looked at her, startled, she explained to him, "I know, but we didn't have much for that day either; the bridge and City Hall."
Nodding his head Castle then reached up to her and cupped her cheek before he was pulling her to him. They kissed deeply but weren't involved in it for too long before they slowly parted. He pressed his forehead against hers and then said, "We should go, I really want to get to the Wharf."
When they let go of each other Beckett said, "It's a little early though." She saw the way her husband looked then and said, "What did you have in mind?"
"Dessert at Ghirardelli," Castle said easily. "Split a sundae?" he asked her before she could respond.
"Alright, if we really do that," Beckett said firmly.
"We will," Castle said. He took her hand but kept her from getting up before he said, "With them not having dance class…"
"You want to come on Thursday?" Beckett asked him.
"Yes," Castle said swiftly. He expected her to say no immediately but was taken aback slightly to see her smiling. "You don't mind?"
"We've done it before and they do allow Julia to get her homework ahead of time," Beckett said. "And she can always call Peter."
"Eliza?" Castle couldn't help asking.
"That'll be easier to get," Beckett said simply before she smiled at him. "I'll call Skye about tickets," she replied. She then tugged on his hand and they kissed again, gentler that time, before they were getting up and she let her husband ring the doorbell as she held his other hand.
"Hey, everything okay at home?" Nico asked, opening the door.
"Come inside first," Naomi said with a smile as she had walked up behind her husband. "I'm guessing you guys are heading back to your hotel?"
"We wanted to go to Fisherman's Wharf," Castle said.
"How fun," Naomi said.
"Would you want to come with us?" Beckett asked.
"I think we're going to stick with staying in," Nico said.
"Then we should tell you now we might come to see you next week with our family instead," Castle said.
"When?" Nico asked in surprise.
"Friday afternoon if that works out," Beckett said.
"With your family?" Naomi asked. When the couple nodded, she smiled and told her husband, "We can make dinner."
"No, let us take you out," Castle said. He looked at his wife and said, "Boudin?" he then shook himself and said, "If you guys wouldn't mind that place," wondering what the two locals would say to that.
"No, but it's not a little strange that-" Naomi said at first.
"We'd like to," Castle said. "Since you did treat us to lunch and you've been so understanding. Not that many people would have been."
"That would work out," Nico said. "Dinner I mean, we'll get off our shifts at five fifteen and five thirty," he told them.
"We'll get in touch with you," Beckett said. "I don't know if we'll see you at all before we leave."
"I managed to talk to our realtor," Naomi said quickly. "While you were talking with your family. And she said we can start everything on Sunday evening."
"Sunday?" Castle asked.
"She's a friend," Nico said. "And she's coming over with her wife for dinner but before that we can start the paperwork. If you don't mind."
"Do you have plans for dinner then?" Naomi asked.
"We actually do," Beckett said. "But it's why we invited you next weekend."
"Thank you," Naomi said with a smile.
"Where's the copy of your book?" Castle said suddenly.
"I have it here," Nico replied as he went over to the dresser in the entry. "I almost forgot about it," he admitted.
"I'm glad you didn't," Naomi said with a smile before she and her husband were watching as the couple was signing the book.
As the pair were thanking them, Beckett smiled and said, "You're welcome. Thank you for lunch." She and Castle said goodbye to the two before they were heading to the door, promising to see them on Sunday and stepping out onto the porch. As they were walking to their car she said, "She'll tell him tonight."
"Good," Castle said with a nod before they were getting into their rental. Once they were driving, he said, "It'll be interesting to see them on Sunday after that."
"It will," Beckett said with a nod. She then smiled and said, "It reminds me of when I told you."
"I was thinking that too," Castle said, reaching over to her and squeezing her hand.
While they were continuing to drive north to the bay, Beckett was holding onto her husband's arm from time to time until he got near Lake and to the house on the corner of it and twelfth. "There it is," she breathed as her husband had parked along the curb so they could study it.
"Want to step out?" Castle asked his wife.
"Yeah," Beckett said, knowing they could walk along the side of it. She got out of the car first and after she and her husband had gotten to the crosswalk, they headed together to it before they were walking across it to the building, looking at it. They started to walk along the side of it and studied it until they reached the park itself.
"I was wondering if this would have changed too much to really be that familiar," Castle commented as they walked along the first path they came to for a little.
"Are you worried Golden Gate Park wouldn't be?" Beckett asked him as they stopped to turn around.
"A little, I mean, I know the trees are going to be different of course," Castle replied. "But I think we really should try to find where we were. Even if it's just close to it."
Beckett smiled and nodded before she leaned up and kissed his cheek before she said, "We'll try. Come on."
Castle nodded and they walked back together to the car before he was driving to Fisherman's Wharf. He parked a little south of Fisherman's Wharf, making sure they weren't too far walking distance from Ghirardelli Square.
"Nice spot," Beckett told her husband with a smile before they were taking their seatbelts off. Out of the car she went to where he was standing and waiting for her and she slid her arm through his before saying, "It's going to be a long walk."
"Are you cold?" Castle asked her.
"No," Beckett said, giving him a look. "I was going to say," she then said in Irish as they were leaving the parking lot and going up to Beach. "That I don't mind how long it'll take."
"Want me to keep you close?" Castle asked her. When she glanced at him, he couldn't help laughing and he held her close before he said, "I don't mind either." Looking at her he wished he could kiss her, but he shook it aside since they were walking through a lot of people. So he consoled himself with having her pressing close to him until they reached the smaller ice cream shop below the main level of the square. He and his wife were looking at the menu together inside before he said, "Marina?"
"No, I think we should get the Presidio Passion," Beckett told him quickly, that sundae vanilla ice cream, strawberry topping and the company's famous hot fudge.
"Great, I'll order," Castle said, leaving to do that at the counter while his wife was laughing softly behind him as she waited for him.
"Where would you want to eat?" Beckett asked him when he walked up to her.
"What about walking back and finding a spot to sit by the water?" Castle asked her.
"That'd be nice," Beckett said. When he started to open his mouth to speak again, she stopped him and told him, "I didn't really want to look through here, I don't need to."
"Okay," Castle replied easily before he was going to pick up their order as his name had been called. When he and his wife had left the shop, they were crossing to the other side of Beach and once there they went further north to Jefferson that time. They were eating their sundae a little then as it was starting to melt but didn't eat it in earnest until they found a bench at Pier 43 ½.
"Beautiful view," Beckett said before she took some of the ice cream and toppings with her spoon. She smiled at her husband and said, "I was hoping we'd have the chance to do this."
"Instead of running around?" Castle asked her.
"I knew we'd end up doing both," Beckett said before they were continuing to eat. "I do want to bring them here."
"Especially Josie?" Castle asked her.
"Especially her," Beckett replied. "Though don't forget Eliza."
"It's hard not to," Castle said, nodding his head. "What about the things we need for the house?"
"We need to find a store tomorrow," Beckett said simply. When her husband inclined his head once she then said, "We'll shop quickly."
"Yeah," Castle said as he knew they were going to get basic sheets and towels until they could order more. He then turned to his wife as she was moving out of the corner of his eye. "What is it?" he asked, watching her going to her purse.
"I brought this," Beckett told him. "If you don't mind," she said with a smile as she was holding her first diary from their past life. "Though I don't think I can really finish the whole thing."
"You don't need to," Castle said quickly. "I'll be glad to hear about anything."
Beckett was smiling again before she turned to the book, going to the second entry. "This one is really short," she told her husband. "It's the day after I started the diary."
I'm feeling ill Christie and I only just started in you. I'll come back to write to you once I'm well. Ma's calling, I must go.
"You had a cold," Castle said.
"Yeah, then Skye, then Junior and you at the same time," Beckett said as she was remembering. "And last were my parents."
"Of course, we know that from experience," Castle said. He saw she was looking hesitant and he asked, "Whatever it is I'll agree to it."
Beckett was starting to laugh, and she soon told her husband, "I just wanted to read in order for a little bit before we start walking around."
"Of course," Castle said. "I did want to go through all of them. Over time."
Smiling as her husband was adding the last in a rush, Beckett nodded and told him, "I did too. Let me go to the next one which wasn't until New Year's Eve, I wrote it right before we ate dinner." Seeing her husband smiling at her, she reached over to him before pulling on his hand so they could kiss. It was a gentle one and didn't last for long before she was turning her attention to the book again and starting to read.
I'm feeling much better now Christie, my cold is completely gone which is wonderful since tonight is going to be a family celebration. The new year is coming, and I can't wait for it since I'll turn thirteen.
Tonight we're going to be having a big dinner early since we need to keep ourselves awake for midnight tonight. Rosie and I have been helping Ma with our food, the table will be groaning with it all on top of it. We'll have ham, two different kinds of potatoes, carrots, parsnips and turnips (those last two Junior isn't very happy with, but he'll eat more carrots as always) and countless other dishes. And since we're up all night we'll have roasted apples, popcorn, pies and cookies, even though it's only the six of us here. But I don't mind one bit since everything will be delicious and we'll have much more to eat in the coming days!
Junior and Ricky want to go to the park near our home and have a bonfire but Da was very firm on telling them no. I don't think we'll ever be comfortable with fire after the earthquake. Luckily the boys calmed down about it when Da said no and they'll stay here with us. But Da did let us get firecrackers and we'll shoot them outside at midnight.
I forgot to say that while I was sick Ricky was really sweet, bringing me some flowers that are still growing even though it's been cold. He wanted to stay with me, but Ma wouldn't let him. I just hope he doesn't get sick as well.
Oh, and now that I'm well Ma will let me read books again. And I know which I'll read first, Pride and Prejudice that Ma and Da got for me (they got Rosie another book by the same author, it's called Emma and Rosie and I will exchange them once we finish with them). Ma loves this book and I hope I will too.
I'll start reading now Christie, so-
Oh no, Ma's calling me. I've taken far too long, so I need to leave you and my books for tomorrow. Happy New Year's Eve!
Smiling at her husband, Beckett said, "It's simple but the celebration was great."
"It was, but what're you going to do now?" Castle asked.
"We're not finished with the sundae yet," Beckett said. "I can read one more entry if you don't mind."
"I don't, I'm interested in what you have for New Year's Day," Castle said. When he saw his wife was looking at him he said, "I looked ahead."
"I'm not surprised," Beckett said before she was turning her attention back to the book.
January 1st, 1913
It feels wonderful to write a brand new year down though I hope I can remember to do that Christie. And Happy New Year to you!
Last night's dinner was a wonderful time, we were talking together about everything, eating our delicious food and eager to start playing games after we had finished. We ate seconds, Junior and Ricky had half of another serving of some of the food and Da had thirds himself. They were sure to compliment Ma on her cooking and were doing the same to me and Rosie since we of course helped. And I recall now that Ricky had thirds of the rolls that I made; he would have popped them into his mouth whole if Ma hadn't been scolding him not to.
Once we had cleaned up after dinner, we went into the living room and started the night with charades. It was fantastic to play since we were three of us against three of the rest and Ricky was with me and Da. Our group won the game and Junior pretended to pout though he didn't really care. Before the next game we were roasting our apples and eating them, the four of us going to the windows that looked down on Lake Street to eat them. We could see some people walking, the women were fashionably dressed though they were bundled against the cold. The skirts and colors were beautiful and though Rosie doesn't really care she loved watching everyone too.
We ate our pies and cakes after we were playing Red Rover though there weren't that many of us. We ate until we were fit to burst again, and we were dancing together, some square dances we learned for fun at school. Those we taught to Ma and Da and they were so elegant with Ma holding her skirt up just enough so her ankles were showing (we were all family so it doesn't matter). She was laughing and happy and Da looked pleased to be holding her hand. It almost made me want to sigh with delight at how they are still in love though they're not young.
But I have forgotten what I was going to say, the desserts were perfect. I greatly enjoyed my pumpkin and pear pie slices and some tiny sugar cookies that Ma has taught us to make. Ricky found the one shaped like a bell, so he was able to decide our games the rest of the night (Rosie and I came up with the idea just for fun). He was tickled at the attention he got but he was enjoying it especially since we got to play his favorites, Steal the Handkerchief and Blindman's Bluff.
When it was nearly midnight we stopped playing and sat together around the fireplace. We were eating popcorn together, listening to Ma and Da tell us stories about Ireland. I promised them one day that I would go there and Junior and Rosie agreed with me. Ricky wants to go too, he's Irish though since he doesn't know who his da is he's not sure if he is completely like us all.
At nearly midnight we were going outside (after bundling up of course) and lighting our firecrackers as soon as Da's pocket watch said that it was midnight. It was so fun to hear the satisfying hiss and pop each time and we weren't very happy to go back inside.
All there was left to the night was to go to bed and this morning I woke up when the sun was fully shining I was so tired. Junior's calling to me now to come and play and since I want to very badly I'll go. Until next time Christie!
"It sounds fun," Castle commented as his wife had stopped there before starting to put away the diary.
"It was," Beckett said. "Though we didn't really do that thing with the bell cookie for long."
"Of course not, you and Skye were going to be teenagers that year," Castle said, setting aside their cup before he was taking his wife's hand. He brought it to his lips and kissed the back of it gently before he then told her, "But the few years we did it we had fun."
Beckett nodded and then said to her husband, "That's it for now though. Want to go?"
"Yes," Castle said, studying the way their fingers were entwined. "Where though?" he asked her as he turned his gaze up to her.
"You pick," Beckett said simply.
"Could we go to the Musée Mécanique?" Castle asked. When he saw her smiling immediately at him, he then said, "You expected that?"
"It's right over there," Beckett replied, nodding to Pier 45 that was next to them. "And I think it makes sense, we can look around the stores after," she added. She slipped her hand from his and then leaned over to him so they could share a brief kiss. When they got up, they were walking together to the building with the arcade and she asked him, "What do you want to do?"
"I think we should just get five dollars and walk around together," Castle told her.
"You wouldn't want to split up?" Beckett asked with a smile as she followed him to the nearest change machine.
"No, and I'd like to play that air hockey table first," Castle replied.
Glancing at its Beckett couldn't help smiling wider and she said, "Okay, but are we going to bet anything for this?"
Castle had to pause; starting to stand up after getting the quarters; and looked at her before he said, "Would you really want to?"
"I don't know, let me think while we go over there," Beckett replied in amusement.
Though he wanted to say something about that, Castle found he really couldn't, so he merely nodded before they headed over to that table. Before he could put the quarters into the side of it, he asked her, "Have you thought of anything?"
"Yes, but I'd like to wait to tell you after," Beckett said firmly.
"Sure," Castle replied quickly before he turned to the table. Once he'd set the quarters in it, he then said, "I'll tell you after if I win. Though I'm sure you're that sure you're going to win."
"Stop saying sure," Beckett told him in mock annoyance. "Get started."
"Okay, okay," Castle said, smiling at her. They began playing then, passing the puck back and forth before they were starting to score goals until it ended with his wife winning. "Well?" he asked her as they were meeting at the middle of the table.
"I'll tell you later," Beckett replied with a smile before they were taking each other's hand and walking together to the other games and old movies. They were stopping here and there to also watch the animations before they came to one of two photobooths.
"What do you think?" Castle asked.
Studying the booth, Beckett then smiled and nodded before she said, "It's funny we've never done this before."
"I don't think we ever had the chance to," Castle replied before he was putting in the quarters and he hurried inside, closing the curtain behind him.
With the four pictures they had, Castle and Beckett were smiling normally before he was playfully covering her eyes as he was looking at her for the second. In the third Castle and Beckett were staring at one another with their foreheads pressed together. For the last picture they were kissing, not really paying attention to when the flash went off as they were taking their opportunity they had.