Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance, Family, Humor

Rating: M for sexual situations and language

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured on the show Castle, they belong to the creator of the show, ABC and the others who do own them.

A/N #1: With everything going on right now I was really pleased to get feedback for the last chapter, so I'll get into my thank yous for that! TORONTOSUN (It was great to read you thought the chapter was very good writing. And I'm so happy you liked the flashbacks since I had a lot of fun writing them!) and

Mb (I was happy to see you thought the last chapter was nicely done as I'd wondered what readers would think of it. And I'm not surprised you felt bad for Darnley seeing his brother at the crash site and his reaction to seeing Darnley again. But I am glad you felt it was abhorrent because it definitely would be! I also wasn't surprised you were glad that Darnley has Nkosi and their kids along with his in laws too. I was pleased seeing you loved how the two first met since that flashback was really fun to write! And I was glad you thought the bit with Skye and Mary was just as good with, as you said, them loving and sweet along with adorable both now and in the flashback starting out their relationship. I had fun writing that flashback too, lol. You're welcome for sharing the first half! Glad reading you thought the second half was wonderfully written. And I'm so happy you still find Castle and Beckett together is something incredibly sexy and loving too. And I was very pleased you thought the flashback from Beckett's suspension was a great missing piece, I'm glad the show gave us that to play with since it's great to explore their new relationship! I wasn't surprised you thought Beckett's nightmare was very vivid and disturbing, I'm glad you did since that's what I was aiming for of course! Also not a surprise you were mentioning her mind was going to people being dead though everyone survived. And yeah I was definitely going for devastating with the dream, so I was glad you got that with her seeing her daughters but then not in the passengers, then seeing Castle in fact and that he was dead. I wasn't surprised that you were glad that Castle was there to reassure her. And I thought it would be great to have them recalling the flashback since of course that'd be a great way to be calm, not surprise you mentioned her falling asleep in, as you put it, Castle's loving arms. You're welcome for sharing the second half! I'm doing well and staying safe, and I hope that you and your family are too!).

Thank you for the reviews, loved reading them and I appreciate 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 The Note You Never Wrote written by Paul and Linda McCartney, from the Wings album Wings at the Speed of Sound.

He Can Finally Appear

"Alright, calm down children," Nkosi was saying teasingly to the two. "We need to eat breakfast you know."

"Tata, I want cake," Maddy was saying firmly.

"Don't look at me," Darnley said, raising his hands as his husband looked at him with a mock glare. "You know I wouldn't mention that for breakfast. Though that does bring up a good point," he added as he was feeding some eggs to Keo. "Should we get something for dessert for them tonight?"

"The kids or all of us?" Nkosi asked.

"All of us," Darnley said quickly.

"I think Mother wants to make some koeksisters," Nkosi said. "Since she hadn't for a while and she loves giving it to them."

"And it helps the four of them enjoy them too," Darnley said. "Okay, then we're ready for tonight."

"Dada," Maddy said, banging her hand on the tabletop to get his attention.

"Yes sweetheart?" Darnley asked her.

"I wanna go," Maddy replied.

"Okay… go where?" Darnley asked, smiling when the toddler squealed with her laughter.

"To school," Nkosi said firmly. He shared a smile with his husband when their daughter wrinkled her nose and said, "You must, your grandparents will be here very soon to take you."

"Gampa?" Keo asked.

"Yes, very soon," Darnley said, finishing the last of his coffee before he was getting up. He helped Nkosi clearing off the table and cleaning their kids' faces before there was a knock on the front door. "Hold on Maddy," he said, having to rush after her as she was running to the entry. "Good morning," he said, knowing it was his in laws already.

"Good morning to you," Bethany said, picking Maddy up to her squeal. She studied her son in law closely as she hugged him briefly and was relieved the pain in his eyes appeared to be gone. Seeing her son walking up to them with Keo she knew he was the reason for that, and she said with a smile. "Is everything ready?"

"Where is Tata?" Nkosi asked.

"Waiting in front of our home, he will push the stroller once we reach him," Bethany replied.

"Okay," Darnley said before he turned to Maddy. He kissed her and told her, "Have fun in school sweetheart and we'll see you soon." He said the same to his son about seeing him soon before he watched his husband saying goodbye to their children. "I'm not sure when I'll be able to pick them up-" he started to say.

"Or me," Nkosi replied.

"But we'll try to come in time for the dinner," Darnley finished, glancing at his husband who was smiling at him. "The best we can."

"I know, since you will be with our guests as well," Bethany replied. She let them put the children into the stroller and then take it down to the sidewalk before she waved to them with her grandchildren.

Watching them leaving, Nkosi squeezed his husband's arm before he said, "We need to finish getting ready."

"Yeah," Darnley said, hurrying back into the kitchen where his phone was. He picked it up before checking for anything and he sighed before his text alert sounded.

"For your case?" Nkosi asked as he walked into the room.

"Yeah… a maintenance worker at Dulles for Potomac Airways who also has a job at Western is part of the group at Corbin Field… he'll be there too," Darnley said.

"Is it a connection?" Nkosi asked. He wasn't surprised when his husband hesitated and said, "Or one you need to investigate?"

"The second," Darnley replied. "But it's a good sign, since he's the only name."

"What is his name?" Nkosi asked.

Darnley was about to ask if he would know all the maintenance workers but stopped himself before saying, "Lanford Allard?"

Thinking that name over, Nkosi finally shook his head and said, "I don't think I have met him. Perhaps I have seen him but since the airline is so new…"

"Maybe he was there for another airline, but I have to go into the office and look into him," Darnley replied.

"This second?" Nkosi asked.

About to say yes, Darnley saw the look on his husband's face and paused before he looked at his watch. Seeing the time, he said, "Not this second, but maybe we should get everything ready."

"I'm ready," Nkosi said.

"Give me a second," Darnley said. He squeezed his husband's arm before he was hurrying over to the stairs and up to their room. He took his holster out of their closet; on an upper shelf to keep it from their kids; throwing it on before he was pulling on his blazer and heading down the stairs. "Okay, I have everything," he told his husband.

"Are you sure?" Nkosi asked, seeing his husband's weapon under his jacket.

"Yeah… oh, my spare is here," Darnley said, lifting the left leg of his trousers to show his smaller gun attached to his ankle. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."

"I hope so," Nkosi said.

"Are you sure you have everything?" Darnley said, letting his husband take his hand with a smile.

"My jacket and ID are in the entry, I'll get them on the way out," Nkosi said. "Now stop protesting and come here."

Darnley laughed out loud before he was leaning into his husband and they were soon after kissing. When they stopped, he was saying, "That's all I can give you."

"What about just this?" Nkosi asked hopefully as he wrapped his arms around his husband tightly.

Pressing his cheek to his husband's, Darnley said, "Yeah, more than enough time for that." When they finally let go of each other he smiled and said, "I have to go."

"You get to see Kate again; work with her," Nkosi told her.

"The one consolation of having to leave the house," Darnley said. They let go of each other and in the foyer he watched appreciatively as his husband was putting his ID lanyard around his neck before he put on his NTSB jacket. Fixing it gently he said, "Have I told you how proud I am of you when you wear this?"

"You have mentioned it," Nkosi said. "It means that much to you?"

Nodding Darnley took his husband's hands and kissed the backs of them before he said sincerely, "You do good work."

"As do you," Nkosi replied with a firm nod of his head. "And when you wear your uniform I feel the same."

Darnley, though he was well aware they needed to go to their separate jobs, couldn't stop himself and he leaned into his husband, kissing him gently on the lips before they had to pull apart at Nkosi's phone ringing.

"It's the Chairman," the investigator said with a sigh as he checked the number. "I'm going to assume he'll tell me to get to work," Nkosi said. "Or get the car back to the offices. I'll call him once I'm on my way. And Skye, I can't forget." He turned his attention to his husband and held him by his shoulders telling him, "I love you Patrick."

"I love you too Trev," Darnley replied, smiling. "And I can't wait to see you later."

"Me too," Nkosi replied before he leaned over, and they kissed again. They kept it brief before they were leaving the house together, going to their cars and waving to one another before they got in.

Waiting for his husband to take the SUV first, Darnley breathed out as he waved again while Nkosi was driving away. He turned his attention to his car, dialing his partner's number before reminding himself in the back of his head to call Beckett if there was anything to the new name.

"Should I ask where exactly you got donuts?" Skye asked her wife with a smile as she was walking to the table.

"The concierge is helpful," Mary replied, watching her wife sitting next to her.

"Did you use my name?" Skye asked.

"No," Mary said. "They honestly went to get the donuts. I was going to ask them to get coffee too, but I thought that was going to be way too much."

"We have it here," Skye said as she'd made it for them.

Fixing her coffee how she liked it, Mary then said, "Do you need to go in yet?"

"Trevor needs to call me," Skye replied. "And since there's been nothing…"

"I've been glancing at it," Mary said as her wife's phone was on the table. "So we can spend a little time together."

"And the conference?" Skye asked her. She looked at her watch and asked, "You said you have a session today."

"Yes, my session," Mary said. When her wife started to speak, she held up her hand and said, "Don't worry, I'm nervous but focusing on you is helping."

"You make me feel like I'm being selfish," Skye replied.

"You're not, don't worry," Mary replied, squeezing her hand before she was opening the donut box. "You enjoyed that right?"

"That day way back?" Skye asked jokingly. Her wife nodded and she smiled before she said, "I did, don't worry. Let's bring things back to now. We need a longer conversation with the girls." She watched Mary to see if she got what she was talking about when the realization spread across her wife's face and she started to speak slowly.

"We shouldn't be staying too late," the doctor said. "Even if we get back at ten or so then we'll catch them soon enough."

"I get the feeling we might," Skye said.

"You forgot about Maddy and Keo?" Mary asked her with a smile.

"I did, we're not the only couple here who doesn't have their kids with them," Skye replied, smiling herself. "But yeah, I'll text Dad and let him know to be ready for us then."

Seeing her wife was stretching then, Mary asked, "Sore?"

"No," Skye replied, giving her wife a brief look before she took a sip of her coffee. "I want to make sure I'm all stretched out for later."

"What're you doing later?" Mary asked in confusion.

"When we're back," Skye said simply. "After we talk to the girls."

"Okay," Mary replied. She smiled as her wife was looking at her in surprise and she said, "Really, I wouldn't mind."

Skye looked up at the ceiling for a moment before she said, "How are we supposed to go through today now you've told me that?"

"You'll feel better once you put on your jacket," Mary said, reaching over to take her hand.

"Probably," Skye said, squeezing her wife's hand before she took a bite of her donut.

"How is it?" Mary asked, watching her eat.

"Good, don't worry," Skye said. "Not the same as Pink Box but I'll take it."

"Of course you will, it's there," Mary replied. She laughed when Skye playfully pinched her arm and they continued with their breakfast until they were getting up from the table. "Are you okay now though?"

"I am," Skye replied with a nod. "Thank you for helping me."

"Part of my vows when I married you," Mary replied.

"I still hope to comfort you as you've done for me," Skye told her. She smiled when her wife shrugged and she then said, "Let's finish getting ready."

Mary was about to ask her wife if she needed to go when she heard her wife's phone on the table ringing. She smiled watching her running back though since she could see her, she stopped when her wife looked serious. "Another plane?" she asked in concern when her wife walked back to her.

"No, it's from Trevor," Skye replied as she read the message. "He says the Chairman wants to talk with us. I'll have to head to the main offices." She looked up at her wife and said, "It's a shame, I wanted to-"

"Walk on the Mall," Mary said at the same time as her. She smiled slightly when her wife looked startled and said, "I had the same idea too. But we'll try another time; when we're a little less busy."

"Hopefully that's soon," Skye replied. She went after her wife into the bathroom and then started to brush her teeth before they were heading out into the bedroom. "Grá? My hair?" she asked her.

"Are you sure?" Mary replied.

"Trevor will wait for me," Skye said simply. "And we have time." She moved to sit on the corner of the bed, hurrying to put her hair up into a ponytail before she let her wife take over. Mary was gently brushing out her ponytail before she started to braid it and she smiled before she felt her wife tying it off at the end. "Thank you," she said quickly as she took back her brush and went over to the bathroom to drop it off. In the bedroom she saw her wife was holding her NTSB jacket and said, "I would say thank you again, but I get the feeling you'd think I was being too repetitive."

"I would," Mary said jokingly before she was helping her wife into it. "Text me when you have lunch, if I'm going to be in my session I'll have it on silent, but I'll check after."

"I will," Skye said, pulling her braid out from her jacket. "But I'll be hoping we'll both finish soon. And good luck."

"Thanks," Mary said with a smile before she leaned over and kissed her wife's lips gently. "No, no," she said quickly. "You need to go."

"It won't take that long," Skye replied. "And you don't have lipstick on either."

Mary leaned over, kissing her wife gently on the lips before they parted and she said, "Get to work grá."

Letting out a mock frustrated sigh, Skye brushed her lips to her wife's, and they walked together to the door. She grabbed her work bag from the table before the small hall to the door and they hugged there tightly before she said, "It's selfish but I'm glad you're here with me."

"So am I," Mary replied with a smile. "Go on grá."

"I love you grá," Skye said quickly.

"I love you too Rose," Mary said with a smile before they were sharing one last kiss.

Though she was frustrated that it was so brief, Skye knew she needed to leave so she headed out the door. She had to go around a corner to get to the elevators, but she paused, waving at her wife as she was still in the doorway to their room looking out. Once Mary had returned her wave, she turned to go around to the elevators, catching one shortly after. She checked her phone after she was in a car with a few other people, debating whether or not she should text Beckett. She finally decided against it, walking through the lobby, and pushed aside her envy that her friend had the option to remain in her room with her husband until they were called to assist again.

"I'm sorry it's not going to be a nude breakfast."

"Nude? Who said anything about that?" Castle asked with his eyebrow slightly raised.

"You didn't have to," Beckett replied, sitting at the table next to him.

Seeing that she was glancing around, Castle said, "We can put the table back."

"Oh I know, I'm just wondering how I didn't hear you moving this," Beckett told him teasingly.

"There is carpet," Castle reminded her.

Smiling, Beckett placed her hand on the back of his head before he leaned into her and they were kissing gently. When they stopped, she looked at their breakfast and she said, "You better hope we don't get called in early."

Making a scoffing sound, Castle said, "It's not even seven fifty."

"You're not tired?" Beckett asked, starting on her oatmeal. She took a croissant from the basket in front of her and her husband and said, "I'm surprised you didn't get anything sweet."

"I debated that," Castle replied as he was smiling. "And to answer your question, I'm not that tired. You?"

"I'm fine," Beckett replied. "But are you sure about not being tired?"

Castle was going to tell her again he wasn't when she was holding up her spoon and he said, "It seemed like something good to have."

"After last night?" Beckett asked.

"You've got me there," Castle replied after he pretended to think about that. He smiled when she laughed and playfully slapped his shoulder before he took her hand and kissed the back of it. "But could we…?" he started to say.

"We can try," Beckett said. She laughed briefly when her husband looked at her with wide eyes momentarily and she told him, "I'm not kidding, but it'd have to be fast."

"I'm fine with that," Castle said.

"Pervert," Beckett replied.

"Of course," Castle said, nodding his head rapidly.

Beckett smiled and cupped his cheek before they were returning to their meal and talked idly about what they'd like to do for their possible dinner alone. When they had finished, she said, "I think I'd like to go out with Patrick and Trevor at least instead."

"I had a feeling you might say that," Castle said. "And I don't mind if you're wondering," he added as he could tell she was about to speak.

"We'll talk to them when we can," Beckett said. She watched as her husband was taking their bowls and plates before he was walking back to the table and she said as she stood, "Thank you for the view." When he didn't respond, just looked at her, she frowned slightly and said, "What-" before he was suddenly gathering her in his arms.

"You're wearing a camisole," Castle breathed against her lips. "Where's your bra."

"I need to wear one?" Beckett asked, one eyebrow raised.

"No," Castle said, crushing his lips to hers. He didn't let that last for too long before he told her, "Do you know I can see your nipples?" When she smiled at him, he groaned and said, "I fall for that too many times."

Running her nails gently over her husband's scalp, Beckett said, "I know but at least you got what I was trying to do."

"Then you do want something?" Castle asked.

Smiling at his hopeful tone, Beckett leaned over to him and said, "I want you."

"I want you myself," Castle said, pulling his wife over to the bed. He pushed her robe off her shoulders and once it had fallen to the floor he smiled at her saying, "You look beautiful."

"I'm not even undressed yet," Beckett said in slight amusement, though she was starting to feel aroused.

"You know it doesn't matter," Castle said before he leaned down to her and kissed her deeply. After they had parted, he was going to speak but she was tugging on his pajama shirt and he was distracted by them taking off one another's clothes. Once they were off, he was following her onto the bed and he said, "We still have time."

Shaking her head, Beckett pulled him on her and said, "I wanted to walk with you around the Mall."

"Oh… okay," Castle said, realizing quickly he liked the idea. He turned his attention back to her and kissed her deeply, lingering for a while before he pulled away. "Goddess," he breathed.

"Rick," Beckett moaned as he was kissing his way down to her chest before she was reaching to him to stop him. "Our walk," she told him as she saw the way he was looking at her.

Breathing out roughly, Castle nodded but went back to her breasts instead and took the time to suckle at both nipples until he had to pull away. "I can't resist," he told her, brushing his lips to her gently. "They're perfect."

Beckett felt a thrill going through her at the intensity in his voice and she wrapped her legs around his waist before he was entering her. She sighed in joy at the sensation of him sliding into her and she whispered into his ear, "Fuck me lover."

Castle was going to respond but shook that off before he was starting to thrust. He went fast immediately, wanting that suddenly as his wife was tight and very wet around him in her arousal. He was surprised they lasted a little bit longer than he'd thought they would, but when they broke he was groaning out her name as she was just finishing calling out his and he could have been thrusting for some time before his body was making him stop. Breathing harshly, he tried to speak but couldn't, his wife telling him not to and he relaxed against her, doing his best to get his breath back as she caressed his hair.

"Will you be up to a walk?" Beckett asked him teasingly. She couldn't help laughing when he was groaning in annoyance and she turned her head to kiss his temple. "I'm joking love. But I would like to bring things back to normal."

"This isn't normal?" Castle asked as he raised his head.

"You know what I mean," Beckett shot back, smiling at him.

"Sure," Castle said.

Rolling her eyes, Beckett was smiling before she sighed as her husband gently withdrew from her and she sat up. "I want us to be ready for Patrick calling," she said as she knew he was wondering why she'd done that.

"And you have no problems talking about another man like that," Castle told her. He was smiling as she was playfully slapping the back of her hand on his shoulder and he got up himself before saying, "You're right, we can't relax like we did last night."

"You want to mention tonight don't you?" Beckett asked him.

"Badly, but we should get ready," Castle admitted before he smiled as his wife was doing the same. He leaned into her as she was moving towards him and he said, "I love you Kate."

"Hmm, I love you too Rick," Beckett replied before their lips were meeting. It was a gentle kiss that lasted for a while and when they stopped, she said, "We'll need tonight."

"Definitely," Castle said. They moved to brush their lips against each other and then got off the bed once they'd finished. He dressed out in the bedroom while she was doing so in the closet and they met in the bathroom. "How far did you want to go on this walk?" he asked her.

"Anywhere," Beckett said. "If we're walking towards the Capitol Building and getting closer, then we need to call Patrick and head back to the hotel."

"Sounds like a plan," Castle said. Since his wife had only looked at him while brushing her teeth, he smiled at her before he was starting to do the same until he had finished. They went to the living room and he said, "Are you taking your camera?"

"I didn't bring it," Beckett said simply. "I didn't think I'd be doing that much sightseeing."

"True," Castle said with a nod. They were walking together to the front door and once they were out in the hall he asked, "He didn't send anything now?"

Checking her phone, Beckett shook her head and explained while they walked to the elevators, "I had the volume up all the way. But it's still early you know."

"Awesome," Castle said as he pressed the button for the elevator. When he looked at his wife, he saw she was looking at him questioningly and said, "I like the idea of walking around."

"Now that you've been sated," Beckett said in Irish and with a smirk.

Shaking his head, Castle was going to speak when the doors to one of the cars opened and they found themselves with a couple standing on the other side of the car. He had to wait to say what he'd wanted to, and he didn't speak until they had left the hotel and were on their way to the Mall. "I've been sated for now," talking in Irish as well. He half expected her to call him a pervert, but when there was no response he said, "You too?"

"Me too," Beckett said, smiling as they were both speaking in English. They were reaching the nearest path inside the park and she squeezed his hand as they were walking west past the Washington Monument.

"There's something I'm wondering," Castle said as they continued to walk after they'd looked at the monument for a while.

"About that?" Beckett said.

"No," Castle said, looking back quickly at the white stone obelisk. "There's so much here, especially educational for their kids, would Patrick really move by us?"

"He would," Beckett said. "I've asked him the same and he said he wants to be near me and the family that we have. He's always wanted a big family."

Nodding his head, Castle said, "I wondered."

"I have too, but he won't get that chance unless he gets the money for it," Beckett replied.

"I shouldn't have brought it up," Castle said as he glanced at her, hearing her tone of voice.

"No, it's alright," Beckett told him. "I can see why you'd wonder that." She squeezed his hand and said, "We have to work out a way to get them to Mill Valley."

"We will," Castle said with a nod, hearing the way her voice had changed. "He might be okay now. Trevor and everything. Well…" he said, trailing off when his wife was smiling at the word everything. "I should say his husband and their kids."

"Good point," Beckett replied. "But I'm going to talk to him if I have a chance."

"If there's any point you want me gone just let me know," Castle said seriously.

Beckett was smiling before she told him, "Thank you, I'll see what happens. He might not want to tell me."

"He will," Castle said seriously. When his wife glanced at him, he told her, "You're that close. Wow was my question stupid," adding the last as he was shaking his head.

"It wasn't," Beckett said, watching him. She squeezed his hand and then told him, "Though I get the feeling you knew the answer once I started saying it."

"Sort of," Castle replied, nodding his head. He then smiled at her and said, "I am glad you're getting to see him now. And there's this summer."

"Me too," Beckett said as she was smiling. "What was that for?" she asked him as he'd squeezed her hand suddenly.

"I was just thinking of Spain," Castle replied.

"Making love to me?" Beckett asked wryly.

"No," Castle said in mock annoyance. "Actually," he told her as he looked around them. "That's not a bad idea, but," he added as she was rolling her eyes. "I'm eager to get to explore there more."

"Me too," Beckett said, knowing he hadn't added the words 'with you' in case she would think it was too corny. "Sap," she said teasingly.

Looking at his wife, Castle saw in her smile she'd figured him out and he laughed before he wrapped his arm around her tightly. They reached the Lincoln Memorial and started to walk around it until he said, "When we're there could I suggest something?"

"You can suggest, but I need to hear what you want before I agree," Beckett said.

"Okay," Castle said, breathing out heavily. "What if we alternated what we did?"

Looking around them, Becket saw there wasn't someone close and she shook her head, "I don't want to assign anything this soon. The day of, a few hours before, a few minutes before. And alternate between penetration and oral?"

"Something like that," Castle said.

"You really want to make love to me there, don't you?" Beckett asked, smiling.

"A little," Castle answered.

Beckett was laughing as she made him stop and she kissed his cheek before she said, "I want to do the same with you but let's focus on this walk."

Though he didn't want to, Castle was reaching for her hand and they continued around the memorial before they were walking on the path that was north of the Reflecting Pool. He looked at the Capitol Building that was all the way down on the other end of the Mall and said, "What do you think about going to dinner at their house?"

"Their… you mean cook for them?" Beckett started to say before she realized what her husband was asking. At his nod she looked at the water and said, "I don't know if they'd let us, but we can try." When her husband nodded, she waited for a little until they were nearly at the end of the pool and said, "What are you holding back asking?"

"You know me so well," Castle said, raising her hand to his lips. He kissed the back of it and said, "You slept."

"I did," Beckett said with a smile, not surprised he'd waited to bring that up until they were out of the room. She was about to tell him about her dream of that day before he was kissing the back of her hand again and telling her about his own dream from the night before.

"I dreamt about that afternoon," Castle was saying. "After I forced you to remember it."

Beckett smiled and shook her head saying, "You didn't force me love."

"Are you sure?" Castle asked.

"I'm sure," Beckett replied. "And it did help me, if you're wondering."

"Good," Castle said with a nod. He smiled when his wife laughed and he couldn't help himself, stopping and wrapping his arms around her tightly before he shared a brief kiss with her. "It was a great week."

"Yeah, it's funny to think how easily you convinced me to stay that long when I had only intended to be there for a few days," Beckett said.

"I didn't really have to work that hard to do so," Castle replied, suddenly recalling saying something similar their first vacation in the Hamptons together though it had been for the case they'd investigated.

"I usually don't cave in that quickly," Beckett said, letting go of him so she could remind him of their walk, taking his hand.

"There haven't been that many instances of that though," Castle reminded her.

"I know, thank you for not abusing that," Beckett said. She smiled when her husband nodded and she said, "It was a nice week though."

"It was," Castle replied. He entwined their fingers and said, "And reassured me you really didn't mind me hanging around you."

"You did a lot more than that," Beckett commented as she glanced at him with a smirk.

Bringing her hand up to his lips, since that was about all he could do though he was straining to kiss her deeply, Castle kissed the back very gently before he told her, "We needed to."

"We did," Beckett said, not surprised when he stopped them, and they shared another kiss. It was brief but they'd pressed their lips firmly together, feeling her husband's still while they walked and remembering the day after she'd gone to his loft. When she glanced at Castle, she smiled and said, "You too?"

"Yeah," he replied quickly, not surprised she was recalling as well.

Beckett smiled before they turned their attention to their path, still remembering as it had been an unforgettable week and what she thought had helped to cement their feelings for each other even further so early in their relationship.