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: Really nice seeing the feedback for the last chapter so I'll start on my thank yous for that! TORONTOSUN (I was really pleased seeing you liked how it was just Castle and Beckett in the last chapter. And I'm glad you said always for the second half!) and
Mb (It was great to see you thought the last chapter was a wonderfully written update. Not surprised you mentioned Castle and Beckett making it to Adare finally since it let them relieve their built up tension and passion since they were waiting to be together again. And I was really happy to see you thought it was worth it for both of them too! I wasn't surprised that you were laughing at the tape measure along with her telling Castle about how she told the other two about the measurements and them being impressed with him and Beckett, lol. Actually Louis and Alexis are moving into the house across the street from Castle and Beckett's, sorry if that wasn't clear in this chapter! I had to laugh at you mentioning Castle and Beckett having round number infinity and beyond, it did happen, and interesting you said so jealous, but I can see why someone would be! You're welcome for sharing the first half of the chapter! And it was great that by the end of the chapter you thought it was a wonderfully written anniversary celebration for them. It was so nice to see you thought it was full of passion, need and as you said an all encompassing love. You're welcome for the second half too!).
Thank you for the reviews, I loved reading them and appreciated 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 She's Given Up Talking written by Paul McCartney, from his album Driving Rain.
Back At School Again
Studying her reflection in her bathroom mirror, Julia sighed and let her hair fall past her shoulders. She gathered it up in a ponytail but frowned before she shook her head and then picked up the large comb that she had on the counter next to her sink and parted her hair down the middle. She proceeded to braid the sides of her hair and tied the plaits off with a black band each, studying the affect in the mirror once she was done.
"Way better," Julia breathed to herself once she had nodded to her reflection. She then went out into her bedroom, starting to change out of her pajamas and into her school uniform. When she was finished, she made sure her skirt was straight, and her polo shirt tucked in neatly. She smiled at herself before she twirled around to allow her skirt to flare and then rushed to her desk. She pulled out her diary, getting ink into it and hurriedly beginning to write in the time she had left before breakfast.
August 30th, 2021
Welcome home Evangeline!
I'm finally home from vacation and I'm so sorry again that I decided to wait to write the day before the soccer game, the 3rd. But I just didn't really have the chance to write since the end of the trip was so busy. And I don't have a ton of time now, but I wanted to finish about the trip and then wait later to write about today, I'll mention that later.
So we went to the game in Vigo on the 4th, so much fun and the beach we went to during the day was even more fun. We went to Madrid the next day and until we went to England on the 9th we went around Madrid, it was only three days- Sunday we rested since some places were closed- just places like the Plaza Mayor or shopping malls, streets to take pictures and just being relaxed tourists as Dad called it.
We were so happy to get to London since we stayed at the Savoy hotel this time and they have a pool. But on the 10th we got to walk around the city and voted all together about what museum we'd go to and we all chose the British Museum though some of us had been there already. And it didn't matter because I loved seeing the objects there were. And we got to swim when we eventually got back to the hotel.
On the 11th we headed out on the train where we had fun watching the countryside and I told Mari it felt even more familiar by now. She agreed, even though she hadn't been as many times as me. When we got out to White Mount the McColloughs were there waiting for us and it looks like Arthur and Ella have grown a ton though we just saw them in February. We stayed there until the 23rd and it was very relaxing since we didn't go that many places. We went out to the town of course; I got some books at the store there and we went to the pub that Mom and Dad went to in February when they had their case.
Oh, I forgot to say that when we got to White Mount, I got to move into my new room there. I'm leaving it the same color since it's a beautiful azure blue and it reminds me of Jamaica when we went years ago. It has a huge bed and it's a four poster, but it has no curtains or anything like that. It also used to be a box bed and has a shelf in front and on the sides where I put my slippers before I walked around to get into the bed. It's a really pretty darker wood which the dressers are too, the couch by the super tall windows is a darker grey color and it looks really pretty. Anyway, Brennan and Clara were worried I wanted another frame, but I told them that I loved it and don't change it at all. And it has a really big bathroom with a beautiful tub, it's more modern in the shape since they worked on that room too. There's a shower so big you could fit a party in there though me or Mari just took a shower. Then the closet, it's as big as Mom and Dad's in their room there and I couldn't believe that it was mine. Mari stayed with me so at least I didn't feel like I didn't belong! We both loved it and hope we can go back there soon already!
Of course, Mom and Dad left for Adare on the sixteenth, but they played a lot with us kids especially when we were swimming. Their anniversary was the next day, the seventeenth (I can't remember if I told you Evangeline, but Mom and Dad told me they picked their wedding date as that number because that's the number of both my birthday and Mom's and now it's Josa's number too), and they stayed together until the nineteenth when they got back to the manor. They were super happy you could tell, and I hope they still go to Tahiti this year!
We got back, got the dogs and Carlow and we were all happy to be home and we got used to the time change. This past weekend was so much fun, we (my family, the Fosters, Davises and Darnley and Nkosis) got together and helped 'lexis and Louis move into their house across the street. It's all painted and ready now and they're settled in there and I wish I could write more about the colors they picked (and we picked too) but I really don't have the chance right now.
So I normally don't write in the morning, but I have so much to say obviously, now and later. And that's why exactly I'm going to write again later tonight. It's the first day of school, my first day of eighth grade and Lizzy's first day of second grade. And then there's Eve who's in tenth grade, she's a sophomore now, Jake is in ninth so he's a freshman. Oh, there's also Dani and Maddy who had Kindergarten today, only the morning class but they're going to go to the Darnley's house (I asked Mom why they aren't calling it the Nkosi-Darnley house but she explained it was the same reason why everyone calls our group of family- except Grandpapa of course- the Castles though Mom doesn't have that last name and I guess it's okay though it's kind of opposite since there are more Nkosis than Darnleys but that's Trevor since he likes Patrick's last name, but never mind, I better hurry it's got to be time for breakfast soon). What was I talking about? Oh, I remember, they're going to the Darnley home until either David or Rebecca can get Dani. But they should have a ton of fun playing together.
So here's my schedule that I got in the mail last week and my schedule for today:
First Period- US History, this one I'm excited for since I still read my Dear America books, my teacher will be Mr. Welter and according to Jake he's a little strict, mostly about remembering important dates but I find that pretty easy already.
Second Period- Algebra I (I'll have Geometry II after Christmas break since I tested well on that one, Mom and Grandpapa are really proud of me though math still isn't my favorite). Mrs. Everett is the Algebra teacher and I'm not sure yet who's gonna be my Geometry teacher, not until I go back after Christmas.
Third Period- English (I already have the book we're going to read there first. It's an Agatha Christie novel but one I haven't read yet, And Then There Were None. Mom wasn't exactly sure I should read it since I'm only 12, but Dad told her I read her books already and they made me promise to discuss the book with me when I need to and I will, I know already there's gonna be murder, but I'm interested to see what there is in this one). Ms. Aston is the teacher and it made Dad laugh though Mom kinda smacked his chest to stop him; not to hurt; since she's a fan of his books, but she's a fan of Mom too and I rrrrreally wonder how that's going to go today.
Julia was dipping her pen into her ink bottle before she heard footsteps running to her and she smiled as her little sister was rushing into her room. "Hey Lizzy," she told her before the little girl was speaking rapidly.
"Is this on straight?" Eliza asked hurriedly, pointing to her polo shirt.
"Yeah, but it needs to be tucked in remember?" Julia asked her.
Letting out a groan of annoyance Eliza asked, "Why?" though she was tucking in her top.
"That's the rules," Julia said. "That's good," she then said when her little sister was looking at her questioningly. "Bye," she said laughingly as her little sister was rushing back out. She got more ink in her pen and read where she had left off before going back to her schedule for school.
French- this one I'm really excited for this year since Madame Marceline does what we did with Skye and Mary, has days in Paris to help us learn to speak it and not just grammar.
At this point I'm going to have lunch and luckily Mari and I will be together for that since we have the same lunch this year. We'll meet Lizzy if she wants to spend time with us on the field up by the middle school playground, but she might just stay this year down there.
Spanish- Mom and Dad are worried about me having this and French at the same time, but I told them I feel a lot more comfortable with Spanish now since we spoke it a lot in Spain. I just hope Ms. Pantoja is nice, she's a new teacher so Eve and Jake don't know how she is.
Science- This semester is biology and next semester is going to be Astronomy; we're allowed to choose between three different sciences if we pass and since I plan on doing that, I'm going to pick Astronomy. Mr. Matsuoka is the teacher for biology and Astronomy and he's one of the coolest eighth grade teachers. He was born in Japan; in Osaka; and he speaks Japanese in the class so I hope I can remember what I heard in Japan even though it was so long ago!
Study Hall- I'm not really sure how much homework the teachers will give today, I want to be hopeful and say they'll definitely be nice and not give us much more than reading, but we're going into high school next year and I'm sure we're supposed to get ready.
So that's all my classes Evangeline, and Mom's calling us, so I'll have to stop here. But don't worry, I'll definitely tell you all about what happens later. Wish me luck!
"Julia!" the girl heard her mother calling up the stairs.
"I'm coming Mom, I just need to put my diary away," Julia said back, hurrying to get it into her desk drawer. Once it was set, she rushed out of her room and nearly flew down the stairs to her mother who was playfully scolding her as Josie in her arms was laughing.
"Julia, you're lucky you didn't roll down the stairs," Beckett told her daughter.
"I know, that was swell right?" Julia asked.
"And you sound just like your dad," Beckett said, rolling her eyes though she was smiling soon after when she felt Julia hugging her. "You had time."
"I know but I wanted to make sure I got here in time, so I didn't have to rush later," Julia replied. She squeezed her mother again and kissed Josie's cheek before they walked to the kitchen table where the others were gathered.
"You made it," Castle said to the girl. He laughed when she made a face at him and put the tray on Josie's highchair for his wife before he said, "How're you two doing?"
"Good," Eliza said before eating half of a mini chocolate chip pancake he'd made for their breakfast.
"I'm fine," Julia said in amusement when the rest of her family looked at her. "I'm excited for my classes."
"How come you don't have P.E.?" Eliza was asking.
"Because we have dance," Julia replied easily. "And that's plenty of exercise."
"Do you two know what your teacher will be having you practice at all?" Louis asked, he and his fiancée there for breakfast to see her little sisters off to school before they had work.
"Not yet," Julia said. "She might ask who wants to join me and Peter for competitions."
"Think anyone will do that too?" Alexis asked her.
Shrugging Julia replied, "Who knows. I wish someone would, it's weird being the only two practicing for competitions."
"You both are the best there," Martha said.
Smiling across the table at her, Julia said, "Thanks Gram; we do our best."
"You'll have to let us know if you have trouble with Spanish and French sweetie," Beckett eventually told her second oldest after they'd been focusing on their food for a while.
"I'll be fine Mom," Julia said earnestly and smiling since it wasn't the first time her parents had talked to her about that since she'd gotten her schedule.
"Also let us know if Ms. Aston favors you or asks about our books," Castle said.
"She won't Dad," Julia replied, smiling since she wasn't surprised he was mentioning that. "I'll be fine," she told her parents firmly. "And I'll tell you how everything goes, I promise."
"Alright, you better finish or Mari's going to walk without you," Castle said, watching her finishing off her oatmeal.
"I'm almost done," Julia said in mock annoyance. Since that was the last of her food, she wiped off her mouth and then kissed her father's cheek before taking her bowl and plate to the sink.
"She's leaving already?" Jim asked as he looked at his watch.
"She is, she and Mari are going for a quick run around the school to make sure Mari can get to her classes today on time," Beckett explained.
"Oh, will she walk with us?" Jim asked.
"Back home after dance class," Eliza said, beaming at her family when they looked at her.
"She told us already," Castle said. "And we're fine with it; the school isn't far and she's heading to thirteen years old already."
"What he's trying to say," Beckett said, taking Josie out of her highchair and putting the baby on her hip. "Is that she wants independence, and this is the first step." She glanced at her husband before she smiled and said, "Though he thinks it's too much."
"Not too much, it feels too soon," Castle said.
"I said Daddy," Eliza said, going to him and wrapping her arm around his waist. "That Jules can walk me to school too."
"Not going to happen," Castle told her firmly. He then smiled as the little girl giggled before he picked her up to share a quick kiss with her. "Hey, you're set?" he asked as Julia walked back down the hall with her backpack in hand.
"I just called Mari, her parents want us to head over to the school now," Julia said slowly.
"That's fine," Beckett said, glancing at her husband.
"Your mom's right," Castle said quickly. "You don't want to be late the first day."
Julia then moved to say goodbye to her grandparents first, not surprised when they wished her a good day at school. She thanked them before heading to Louis and hugging him quickly saying, "Have a nice day at work."
"You're a bit jealous, aren't you?" Louis asked teasingly.
"Very," Julia said before they were laughing. "Say high to Queenie and Helios for me." She turned to her sister and hugged Alexis tightly telling her, "Will you have dinner with us?"
"I'll see, so will Louis," the young woman replied. "But we'll try the best we can, and I want to hear about dance class too."
"I'll let you know," Julia said, smiling when her big sister nodded. She hugged Josie then, the baby saying, "Joos!" before she kissed her cheek. "You're so close Josa," knowing that was meant to be her way of saying Jules at that moment. She turned to Eliza, about to joke about them not seeing each other for ages when her sister was speaking first.
"I'm gonna stay at the downstairs playground," Eliza was saying in a rush and with a smile. "For today."
"That's fine, I thought you were anyways," Julia said, smiling at her. "Since Mari and everyone else are at the middle school too." She shared a hug with her little sister before she said, "I'll pick you up like we did last year?" She smiled when her sister was nodding rapidly and said, "Then have fun before then."
"Thanks," Eliza said. "See you later!" she called as her big sister was walking over to the entry with their parents.
"Did you grab your lunch?" Castle asked Julia while she was putting on her shoes.
"Yep," the girl replied. "I'm ready, I have all my books and supplies I needed to get."
"Then I hope you'll have a great day," Castle told her. "And I love you."
"Thanks Dad. I love you too," Julia replied with a smile, hugging him tightly. After she had done so she turned to her mother though she watched with her as Castle was walking down the hall. "Is it that serious?"
"No," Beckett said. "Come here," she then told her. "Now it is safe for you to walk, but I want you to have this now you're doing it on your own."
Taking the small bottle that fit in her hand, Julia saw it read pepper spray and said, "You think I might need it?"
"No, but I want you to have it if necessary. You've been trained of course," Beckett told her. "But I like you have more than just that."
"Like a gun?" Julia asked.
"No," Beckett said. "Though I can see what you mean. And promise me you won't use this unless it's absolutely necessary."
"I promise, thanks Mom," Julia said, tucking it into the smallest pocket of her backpack. "I better go."
Stopping her, Beckett wrapped her arms around her daughter tightly and told her, "I love you sweetie."
"I love you too Mom," Julia replied immediately, pressing closer to her mother when she kissed the side of her head. She pressed her face against her mother's shoulder, feeling the comfort in her embrace and the familiar scent of roses. "Will you and Dad write today?" she asked as they let go of each other.
"We'll start our Moor and Green book, but don't worry about us," Beckett told her firmly though she was smiling. "We'll be there for dance class."
"Thanks," Julia said, hugging her mother again.
When they parted again, Beckett said, "And I want you to have a great day too, especially in French and Spanish."
"I will, bye," Julia said.
"Bye sweetie," Beckett said, stepping out onto the porch after her daughter. She watched Julia walking to the door in the front wall and nearly jumped when she felt a hand on her back.
"It's really hard not to follow her out," Castle commented.
Beckett smiled and said, "I know, but I'm not going to," before she leaned her head on his shoulder as they watched Julia step out onto the sidewalk.
"Mari!" Julia called to her friend when she looked down to the Foster's home.
"Hey!" the girl replied, hurrying up to her. "Are you ready? I'm ready to go."
"Take it easy," Julia told her with a wide smile. "We're heading over there right now." They turned to walk in the direction of the school, and she was about to speak before her friend was asking her about her schedule.
"When's your Study Hall?" Mari said.
"You know it's last, same as it is for you," Julia told her firmly. When her friend nodded, she then said, "Don't worry, I was nervous too."
"I try to remember you'll be there too, and at Study Hall," Mari told her. "We can sit with each other, right?"
"Of course," Julia replied. "Though I don't know how much help I'll be able to give with your homework."
"You won't need to," Mari said with a soft laugh before they were walking over to the last street they needed to cross for the school.
Once the crossing guard had stopped traffic, Julia went hurriedly across with her friend before they went straight to the middle school once they were past the Academy's gates. "Okay, first you have class in 103," she said, taking her friend's schedule. "Good thing that's easy, since we go in at 100 and 101."
Walking up to that classroom, Mari nodded and she and Julia were going around the building though they only looked out the window in a door to the outside on the first floor for when her P.E. class was that day. After they'd gone everywhere, she hugged her friend quickly and said, "Thanks so much."
"Will you remember?" Julia asked, speaking hurriedly since it was nearly time for the first bell to ring.
"Definitely," Mari said. "I'll see you in the cafeteria."
"Yep, I'll get a table since I'm closer with my French class," Julia told her.
"Okay, see you then," Mari said as the bell rang.
Julia waved to her before she went up the stairs to her history class, making it in good time and getting a desk in the front. Peter was soon sitting next to her and she smiled at her dance partner asking, "How was summer?"
"Fun," the boy said, smiling back at her. "Spain?"
"Awesome," Julia replied before they were laughing. "Where's your schedule?"
"Here," Peter replied.
Setting hers down on her desk, Julia studied what they each had and smiled since the list corresponded in a couple places with their history, Algebra, English and French classes. "I didn't know you signed up for art," she told him.
Shrugging Peter said, "Remember I want to be an architect too. I asked my counselor and she said I needed Art III for high school and it's good to learn drafting. She also said I'll learn to draft on the computer to make models in high school."
"Hopefully you like it," Julia told him, giving his schedule back. "Mind if I ask how your mom and Clive's dad are doing?"
"No, they're fine," Peter said, smiling as he knew she would ask him that. "And they're happy too, I think Mom's going to ask Isaac and Clive to move in with us."
"Think they will?" Julia asked, knowing the Lennoxes lived in a townhouse.
"I hope so, Mom's really in love with Isaac," Peter said. He then said softly, "And he's really nice."
"He is," Julia said with a smile. "So is Clive."
"Yep," Peter said.
With her partner speaking so quickly, Julia looked behind her at the doorway to the classroom and smiled seeing that Dawn and Ava were walking in. She and Peter were talking to them and Tristan who also had the same class before the last bell rang and they turned to the teacher as he was starting the class. She was relieved when Mr. Welter turned out to be nice, but he was upfront about needing them to remember dates. She was glad that at the end of the class he only assigned them to read the first chapter of their textbook which was about the Native American tribes that lived in New England before the Europeans had arrived.
"That wasn't too bad," Peter said, he and Julia the only ones who had math next.
"No, I'm pretty good with dates luckily," Julia replied.
"That's because you read all those diary books," Peter replied. "Cheater."
Laughing, Julia nudged him before they were glancing at some eighth grade boys they didn't know who teased them about being boyfriend and girlfriend. "I wish they'd stop that," she said in annoyance while Peter was rolling his eyes.
"I know, they're so stupid," the boy said, shaking his head as they stepped into 216. "Just because we dance together."
"It sounds like it's the same as Derek and Skye on the show," Natalie said, smiling at the pair when they greeted her eagerly. "Let me see your schedules, and have you seen all the others?"
Julia wasn't surprised that Natalie had math with them and science with her and Tristan. She was relieved she had some classes with all her eighth-grade friends; Dawn taking Spanish with her. Math luckily went quickly for her though she was half relieved half disappointed that she had a worksheet for homework. She mentioned that to her friends before they were both laughing and Peter was speaking first.
"I was hoping the same thing, it sucks to have homework the first day, but what can you do?" the boy told them. "See you later Natalie."
"See you at lunch," Julia said before the girl left for her next class. They went downstairs for their English class and she said hello to the teacher with Peter as they sat in the front before the woman was walking up to them to her surprise.
"I hope you two will enjoy the class this year," the teacher was saying. "And I just wanted to let you know that we'll be doing some creative writing."
"Cool," Peter said, looking at Julia to see her reaction.
"He's right, it is," she replied, smiling at the teacher. "Do you know who my parents are?" Julia then asked, wanting to get that over with.
"I do," the teacher said. "And I know who you are as well."
"You've read her books?" Peter asked.
"I read the newest one, but my sister has read your younger children books; she's an elementary school teacher in Oyster Bay; and she loved them for her class," the teacher answered.
"I'm glad she did," Julia said, blushing.
"Then I hope you don't mind me saying that I hope you continue to write," the teacher replied.
"We're writing the newest one," Julia said shyly. "It's going to be in Vegas but that's all I can say, my parents don't want me to spoil it for anyone."
"That should be exciting," the teacher said.
After their teacher had excused herself, Peter leaned over and said, "Think she'll pay more attention to you now?"
"I hope not," Julia replied, knowing her mother had been worried about that. She turned her attention to the front of the room as more kids were coming in, the teacher looking at a notebook on her desk until the bell rang. She was pleasantly surprised when Ms. Aston didn't give her any more attention than she should have and that they spent the rest of the time left to the period reading the first chapter of their first book that year.
"I wonder if that book is going to get better," Peter said to Julia while they were heading to French together.
"It should, I've read a couple of books by her before so it should be thrilling," Julia replied. "Are you ready for French?" she asked her partner.
"Oui," Peter said before they were laughing and walking into the room.
After that class started, Julia realized time was passing quickly since the teacher had them speaking in French to introduce themselves. She had fun translating what the others were saying and was glad they hadn't had to work on verbs though they had to work on the first set of exercises in the book they were given by Madame Marceline for the year. "I'm glad it's lunch, I'm starving," she said as they were leaving the classroom.
"And we have Study Hall, so a freebie period," Peter said.
"Hey guys," a voice called suddenly.
Turning, Julia smiled when she saw it was Clive with Mari rushing after him, exchanging an amused look with her partner as the two were trying not to run and get stopped by a proctor in the hall. "How was it?" she immediately asked her friend once they were walking down the hall behind their dance partners to the cafeteria.
"Okay, I feel weird having to run around," Mari said honestly. "And P.E. was even weirder," she added as she'd had that her second period.
"You changed really fast right?" Julia asked. When her friend nodded, she then said, "How was French," that being her first class that day.
"Fun, you were right, Mrs. Martel is super nice," Mari replied. "She complimented me too," she added, blushing.
"Well your French is good," Julia said, playfully nudging her. "History and Science?" she then asked as those were Mari's last two classes.
"Good, I'm going to like history," Mari said. "And science is fine but I'm just too hungry now to worry about it."
Julia laughed before they walked inside the cafeteria and she went to the counter where she could reheat her food. Her family had had Dim Sum for dinner the day before and she and Eliza had been given leftovers along with their big sister and Louis. When she had her heated food, she thanked the worker and went over to a table where Peter and Clive were already sitting. Mari joined her with reheated pizza slices and after Tristan, Natalie, Dawn, Ava and three new people to their group were sitting with them they started to talk to each other about their summer before one of the newest to the group was talking to her and Mari.
"Your vacation sounds like it was really fun," the girl, Nydia said.
"And you actually went around there with Paul McCartney," one of the boys, Declan, stated.
"We did, but that was a surprise for all of us," Julia said.
"Even Skye," Mari reminded her friend before they started to laugh.
"What're you guys going to do next summer?" the other boy, Stewart asked.
"No clue, our parents take care of everything and we just go," Mari said.
"She's right, but it should be something pretty cool to see," Julia said.
"And next you have your sister's wedding, don't you?" Dawn asked.
Since they had finished eating, Julia wasn't surprised when the boys were soon after leaving them. She turned her attention to the girls who had stayed with them and said, "Want to walk around the field for a while? I'll tell you whatever you want to know." She wasn't surprised when they all agreed, and she looked at Mari in surprise since she would be there the next month.
"I don't mind," Mari said with a smile to reassure her friend as they made their way up to the playground and fields.
"Okay," Julia said with a smile before they were walking around the field and she was answering her friends' questions about what Alexis and Louis had planned. She smiled when the other girls made her and Mari to promise to tell them about the actual wedding when they got back from Lake Placid. After that they were splitting up and she was walking with Mari alone, telling her friend about her English class.
"I'm not surprised," Mari told her with a smile when her friend had finished. "You're a good writer."
"Thanks," Julia said. "Oh, but she did mention something when the bell rang."
"What?" Mari asked.
"She said she loved the clip of us dancing with Lizzy; Good Morning?" Julia told her.
"Oh, I forgot your dad posted it on your parents' site," Mari said. She saw the sudden realization appear on Julia's face and smiled at her before telling her, "You forgot too?"
"More than you did," Julia said before they were laughing. "I wonder if anyone else saw it," she said.
"We'll find out," Mari told her with a smile.
"I wonder if my parents are writing," Julia said suddenly after they had walked in silence for a while.
"Probably, you said they needed to start their next Green and Moor book," Mari reminded her.
"That's true… I guess it's because I'm thinking about my book," Julia said. "I have to finish that up soon."
"It'll be great," Mari said, smiling widely at her.
"Thanks," Julia said, wrapping her arm around her friend. They shared a brief hug before they hurried to rejoin their other friends as they were calling for them to join them for the rest of their lunch before they would return to classes.
The shade of the tree covering her allowed her to see the bodies on the beach in the distance. The water was calm, small waves lightly lapping at the foot of the body that was underneath the other. She took a step, then a second, the scene coming more and more into view before she soon made out the fact that both were completely naked, clothes in a pile mimicking the one their bodies were making.
Turning, she had only taken one step when she was being grabbed tightly and raised, making her scream out, "Paul!"
"What do you think?" Castle asked his wife when she handed him back his laptop.
"I think it works," Beckett said, smiling at him. "But I wonder about the being raised and screaming part? Maybe just have her being grabbed and yelling his name. Also remember this scene since we're using it later."
"I will," Castle promised, putting in what she had suggested. He then said, "What now?"
"We need an intro to them arriving at the resort," Beckett said.
"Are you sure you're okay with it being Hawaii?" Castle asked her.
"I am," Beckett said, as they'd had trouble getting the location for Moor and Green's honeymoon. "Let me start."
"Go ahead," Castle said. He looked at Josie, taking her nap after lunch in the bassinet they'd brought into their office, since he'd expected his wife to write on her own as he had. He was startled when Beckett suddenly started to speak and tell him what she was writing while he turned to her to make sure he was paying attention to her start to the story.
"Stepping away from the windows looking down on their plane, Green turned to her new husband and smiled saying, 'Better?' 'I'm not dignifying that with an answer,' Moor pretended to grumble. 'I think I'm just tired after the reception,' he tried to explain to her as they were leaving the terminal their plane had landed at Lihue Airport on Kauai. 'And the drinking,' Green told him. She smiled when he narrowed his eyes at her and she reached for his hand, squeezing it. 'It's been a long week,' she told him gently. 'And now we have two full weeks to relax-' 'Consummate the marriage,' Moor said jokingly," Beckett was telling her husband before she paused in her writing when her husband snorted in trying to suppress his laughter and she glanced up at him.
"That line definitely came from me," Castle told his wife.
"It did," Beckett said. "Should I keep going?"
"Please," Castle replied, gesturing to her. He listened to his wife writing Moor and Green to their resort that they were making up for the book before he began to join her in getting the pair settled and introducing the characters they had planned out for the story before lunch. They had Moor and Green in their room finally after having a lunch with the characters in the resort and he was just about to suggest they start the love scene they were planning to put there when his wife closed his laptop. "Hey," he told her.
"I saved it, don't worry," Beckett replied. She watched her husband in surprise when he was getting off the floor where he'd been sitting next to the bassinet and she let him pull her onto his lap once he was on the couch next to her. "We can do something else much better while we wait for Josie to wake up," she said to him with a smile.
"What if our parents try to visit us?" Castle asked her jokingly.
"Then they'll see us, turn around and go do something else," Beckett said easily. She had her arms wrapped around her husband's neck by then and they were easily moving towards one another, kissing deeply before they were slowly parting and she murmured, "We have a lot of time."
"I know," Castle said, though neither of them was all that aware of how long they had until they were going to wake Josie up at two. He knew he could easily look at his watch, but decided it was too hard when his wife was drawing him into a second kiss. They completely lost track of time, dueling with their tongues and pressing their lips hard together, holding tightly to one another and gasping for air. When he thought they might need to stop to get some air he was kissing Beckett again, not wanting to stop just yet. But before they could get too much into that kiss they were jolted apart by a cried, "Mama!" and turned to look at their baby girl before she was speaking again.
"Up!" Josie said while she was standing in the bassinet.
"I better get her," Beckett said, smiling at her husband and cupping his cheek for a moment.
"She's very demanding," Castle commented, moving to sit on the edge of the couch as he watched her getting Josie out of the bassinet.
"Like her father," Beckett teased him as she went to sit next to him, setting the baby on her lap.
"Hey," Castle said jokingly though he soon leaned over and kissed the top of Josie's head. He then cupped Beckett's cheek and drew her over to him before they were kissing deeply. It was brief and once they had parted he said, "Is that okay with you?"
"Ama… ba… Dada," Josie said, looking at her father when he was speaking to her.
"That's a yes," Castle said, turning his attention to his wife before he leaned over to her.
"Richard," Martha said, stopping the two. "I'm very sorry," she told the two with a smile. "But I was waiting to see if you're ready to go yet?"
"What time is it?" Castle asked, looking at his watch in shock. "It's almost two thirty," he said in disappointment to his wife.
"I know," Beckett replied, smiling as she had checked her own watch. "We better get ready."
"Joos!" Josie said as her mother stood up.
"We're going to see her and Eliza right now," Beckett assured her before her husband was stopping her.
"When we get back," Castle started to say. "What do you think about spending the rest of the afternoon and dinner on the beach?"
"We can," Beckett said as she looked out the nearest window that looked down at the beach. "I'll have to get Patrick and invite them."
"The Fosters too," Castle commented.
"What about Brad?" Beckett asked.
"I better text him," Castle replied. "But I'll do that before the dance class starts."
"Are you ready to go Dad?" Beckett said with a smile as her father was coming down the foyer stairs.
"I am," Jim replied, having been on his computer in his room after resting in bed for nearly an hour. "I got an e-mail for the fall issue," he then said.
"When is it due?" Martha asked.
"The middle of next month," Jim replied. "So I'll head out tomorrow since today was the first day of school."
"Which is almost over," Beckett commented though they were leaving the house since Josie was in her stroller.
"It is, but I really hope they had a good day," Martha said.
"I think they will, it depends on Eliza's teacher," Beckett said, sliding her arm through her husband's.
"We'll be able to ask her soon," Martha said before they crossed the first street.
Beckett nodded in agreement to that, and she turned her attention to the sidewalk, watching the other parents walking to the Academy as well, smiling as she thought of their daughters nearly leaving their schools.
"You know you don't need to come with me," Julia said as she and Mari were leaving the Study Hall room.
"No but I want to," the girl replied firmly.
Julia was going to speak but knew her friend wasn't going to let her push her to the studio, so she merely nodded and they walked together to the elementary school building. She waited before she soon spotted her little sister and called out to her before Eliza was jogging to her and immediately exclaiming about her first day of second grade.
"It was so much fun!" the little girl cried out.
"You like your teacher?" Julia asked with a smile.
Nodding her head rapidly Eliza said as her sister took her hand, "Miss Cusick is so nice. And she was teaching us with games for the first day."
"Did you have a spelling bee?" Mari asked her while they were walking through the quad to head to the high school.
"Yeah, a little one," Eliza said. "I got third place, I forgot there were two ls in yellow."
"That's not too bad though," Julia said. "Tell Dad, he'll be happy you did so good the first day."
"I will," Eliza said before they were entering the high school building and walking to the dance studio. She gasped when she saw their family and waved at them before they were hurrying to the girls' changing room and getting dressed in their practice outfits. She was doing so as fast as she could so she could hurry out to her parents, hugging her mother tightly and telling her the same she had told her big sister.
"Great job," Castle said when Eliza told them about the spelling bee.
"Really?" the little girl asked in surprise. "I forgot how to spell a word."
"Spelling bees can be tough," Castle said, smiling at Julia since she had joined them a while before. "So the fact you got that far was really good."
"What about your day sweetie?" Beckett said to her second oldest.
Smiling, Julia said, "I'll wait until we go home; that way I have more time to tell you."
"Julia, Eliza," Grey said, smiling at the girls when they turned to her with wide eyes. "I'd like to talk to you and Mari."
Glancing at her friend, Julia saw she looked uncertain as well and she glanced at her family for a moment before she walked to the barre with the others before their teacher was speaking to them.
"What do you think's going on," Castle asked his wife as they were watching the teacher with the three.
Shaking her head Beckett said, "I was going to say a competition, but she didn't call Peter or Clive over."
Castle nodded, only having the time to do that before he looked at the dance floor as Grey was starting the class. He smiled when the teacher greeted her students, and they were doing the same back before she was telling the students they were going to see a special dance first. He glanced at his wife and saw she was smiling slightly before he heard the dance teacher calling Julia, Mari and Eliza up.
Beckett was kissing the side of Josie's head because the baby was squealing when her sisters and Mari began to dance to Good Morning, as they'd had while they'd been in Spain. She was smiling at the three, since she could tell they were enjoying themselves a lot and was glad they were able to do it again. When they had finished, she applauded with everyone else before she said to her husband, "I'm glad you posted the video."
"I'm glad you let me," Castle replied. He smiled at his wife when she rolled her eyes before they were turning their attention to the class as Grey was telling them they'd be going through ballet steps. He looked at Quentin but saw the little boy was looking at Eliza before she was nodding at him. He was about to comment that the boy seemed to be okay with the idea, but Grey was instructing the kids to stand at the barre. He watched the little boy as he was practicing with Elia next to him and another boy that was two grades ahead and saw he seemed to accept dancing the basic steps. He reminded himself to ask Eliza about it when they were back home before he watched the rest of the class which focused on ballet steps until Grey was dismissing them.
"Why were you moving around so much?" Becket said to her husband when the kids were in the changing rooms.
"Because I was going to comment that Quentin was okay with ballet this time around," Castle commented.
"I think he's gotten used to it," Beckett said with a smile as she wasn't surprised he'd been thinking that. "Ms. Grey had them practicing all last year remember."
"True," Castle said, nodding his head though he was doing that for Josie's sake while she was watching him with wide eyes. He leaned over and kissed her lips gently before he said, "We'll go home soon, don't worry."
"Dada," Josie said, reaching for him.
Taking the baby, Castle said, "I guess she's okay."
"I think so," Beckett said before she turned to Rebecca who was sitting next to her, touching her arm. "Rick had the idea of spending the rest of the day on the beach and dinner."
"Interesting, is that an invitation for my family?" Rebecca asked her with a smile.
"It is," Beckett replied. "The Davises are coming too but Brad's going to be a little late since he's working until six."
"Sounds fun, and David will be off in a half hour and he'll be glad to come. What about the Darnleys?" Rebecca asked.
"I texted Patrick, they'll come over as soon as we're back," Beckett said.
"Which means they're there already," Castle said, leaning over to her. "How was Mari's day?"
"She said she was able to get to her classes on time," Rebecca replied. "And she enjoyed them too."
"Good thing, Julia was worried she was nervous," Castle commented.
"She was, but more about being late for her classes," Rebecca said. "It's why I told her to ask Julia about going early today, to show her around."
"It was a great idea Mom," Mari said, smiling when the others looked at her as she was walking with Julia and Eliza to them.
"And really easy too," Julia commented before she was smiling.
"Were you able to get to your classes okay?" Martha asked as they were getting up.
"Sure, I knew where everything was," Julia replied. "And since I didn't have to run from going outside for P.E. it was even easier!"
Laughing, Beckett said, "At least you have the beach now for exercise."
"The beach?" Eliza asked with a gasp.
"We're going to swim the rest of the day and have dinner there too," Castle said.
"What's for dinner?" Eliza said to her father as she was taking his hand while they left the school.
"We're not sure yet," Beckett admitted. She laughed with the other adults as the girls were gasping in mock horror and said, "I know, but we should all decide together."
"What about Brad?" Rebecca asked her.
"We'll have Lily to ask," Castle said. "Luckily since I don't know what he wants."
"You're not his husband," Beckett teased her husband. She laughed softly when he made a face, and they were walking together back to their houses. Since their house was first, they were telling the three Fosters they would see them shortly after on the beach. Once they were in their house, she asked the girls, "Homework?"
"Read for history and a math worksheet," Julia said.
"That's it?" Beckett asked in surprise.
"Yeah, but the other classes promised that we were going to have some tomorrow," Julia replied. "But I do have Study Hall first tomorrow… so does Mari so we just worked on our French homework and read our own books."
"Alright, Eliza," Beckett said, turning to the little girl.
"Nothing," Eliza replied, smiling at her mother.
"Then go change into your bathing suits," Castle told them. When they were rushing up the foyer stairs he turned to Beckett and asked, "Josie?"
"I'll change her-" she began to answer.
"I will," Castle interrupted her.
Studying her husband, Beckett then said, "You will, and we'll take her to our room and take turns." She then turned to their parents and said, "Will you be going swimming?"
"I'm fine, I won't change," Jim began. "So if you want us to take Josie-"
"We'll be fine with her," Beckett said with a smile. "We'll be down as soon as we're ready."
Watching their children and granddaughter go up the stairs, Jim turned to Martha and said, "I thought they would see right through me."
"It's why I let you say it and not me Jim," Castle's mother said slightly laughingly. "They would have seen right through my ruse."
Upstairs in Josie's room, Castle took her and was quickly changing the baby into her bathing suit. "There, now enjoy today since we won't have too many chances until the pool room is finished up next year," he told her as he put her on his hip.
"You make it sound like it's next September or something," Beckett told her husband laughingly before they were leaving the room.
"She knows what I mean," Castle said in mock exaggeration. "She's a smart ceann beag, and you're looking forward to school, right?"
"No," Josie said, smiling and then laughing when her parents were. She squealed when they kissed her at the same time before they were taking her into their room. She was on their bed with her father, and she looked at him with wide eyes before saying, "Mama."
"Mom went to go change," Castle said, laying down next to her while she was watching him. "But don't worry, she'll be back and you can stay with her. And since I have the chance, I'm going to take a nap," he told her, closing his eyes and playfully snoring as loud as he could. He was pleased when the baby was laughing and he saw; since he hadn't closed his eyes all the way; that Josie was reaching out to him. He opened his eyes and saw the baby's wide smile before he told her, "You know you're so much like your mom when you do that."
"Ah ma," Josie said.
"I know, though you have my eyes I still see her in you," Castle said seriously before the baby was gurgling and laughing. He smiled and then told her, "Now you know I'm talking about when she was your age, getting close to seventeen months."
"Dada," Josie said, reaching for him.
Sitting up, Castle picked her up and nuzzled her nose with his own as the baby was laughing and he told her, "And I love you sweetheart, so much."
"Dada," Josie repeated before she pressed close to him.
Kissing the top of her head, Castle held her tight before he looked behind him at the bathroom door since it was opening. "Hey love," he said when he spotted his wife walking out.
"Hey, I'll take her," Beckett said, reaching out for the baby. Once she had Josie on her hip, she reached for her husband to stop him and pulled him to her for a kiss. It was gentle at first, but they moved at the same time to deepen it and once they had she was holding onto him the best she could with her free arm. She had no idea how long they were doing that, only that she was panting for air when Josie lightly patted her cheek. "You better go," she told her husband with a smile.
"Yeah, I'll be right out," Castle replied, turning to head to the closet and then the bathroom.
"Luckily," Beckett said to Josie as soon as they were alone. "I know you won't tell your daddy about this, but I heard everything he said to you."
"Yes," the baby replied.
Beckett laughed and gently kissed her before she said, "And I was very happy to hear it. But you should know sweetie, when I look at you and hear your laugh, I see your daddy in you." She smiled when the baby seemed to grow serious and her eyes a little wider, making her tell her, "I do, so don't stop smiling and laughing okay?"
"No," Josie said.
Finding herself laughing again, Beckett wasn't sure how she could help it as the baby's forehead had started to furrow at her word. She kissed Josie again and then turned to the bathroom door as it opened.
"Okay, are we ready to go?" Castle asked his wife, kissing Josie before her.
"We are," Beckett said, smiling at the kiss. "And we should hurry," she added since they could hear their middle daughters crying out to them before they were hurrying to the door to leave and join the others of their family to head down to the beach.