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: I was pleased getting the feedback for the last chapter that I did so I'll go into my thank yous for that! TORONTOSUN (Great to see you liked how I started the chapter with Louis and Alexis starting their honeymoon. And it was nice that you thought the second half was very good writing!) and
Mb (It was great to see you thought it was a very nice look into Alexis and Louis' first day married. And I was so pleased that you thought them talking about them wanting and having kids was good! I wasn't surprised you noticed the switching back to everyone at Lake Placid with them talking about their next vacation. And I think I messed up the wording, I meant except for California they haven't been to the other states, so I hope that clears it up! I was glad you thought it was good to see Julia thinking of Eliza and having Dani over as well when she invited Mari. I was so happy to read you love Eliza and how her personality is a mix of Castle and Beckett with Martha thrown in. I aimed for her to be like Castle and Beckett personality wise though that dash of Martha kind of slipped in without planning, lol, but I'm glad you love that! You're welcome for the first half! Nice to read that you thought the second half was another nicely done update as you put it. And I wasn't surprised you commenting that it was nice to see Castle and Beckett thought Eliza might be ready to try the archery with their supervision. I wasn't sure since I don't really play that, but I thought her age might warrant her trying it out with them. I wasn't surprised you thought it was good that Julia and Mari were good big sisters and friends and not teasing Eliza about her first attempts, I figured too the adults would tell them not to about that. I also wasn't surprised that you commented about Castle and Beckett's little competition and Julia and Mari knowing they were doing that, along with Mari's parents doing the same. And yeah, I think the competitive but in a loving way as you put it would be good for a marriage. I was pleased to see that you mentioned Beckett winning ending up being both her and Castle winning with what they did since I wanted that to be there, that they didn't really need to compete. So great you thought they both won the bet! You're welcome for sharing the second half of the chapter!).
Thanks for the reviews, I loved reading them and appreciate the time taken to write them out and send them my way!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is part of the title of the song Glad to Be Back From Paris by Jonas Hellborg.
Back From Paris
"I still can't believe Dad got us this," Alexis said.
"You can't?" Louis said. When his wife glanced at him, he said, "I wasn't expecting it, but it is something your father would do if you think about it."
"I know, I just said that because I didn't want him to do that," Alexis said.
"Which is why he didn't tell you," Louis commented. When his wife rolled her eyes, he then asked her, "Are you going to berate him at all?"
"Why would I do that?" Alexis asked. "I love this of course," she said before she and her husband were laughing together. She settled back against the backseat of the limo her father had hired for them to take back to the Hamptons from JFK that day, the eleventh of October and their return from their honeymoon. She shook herself from her sudden memories of their hotel suite and three weeks there before she said, "Hopefully there's no traffic."
"This early? I don't know," Louis started to say. "I'd imagine it'd be fairly clear." When she glanced at him, he shrugged and said, "That's my hope anyway."
Alexis laughed again and hugged him before she kissed his cheek tenderly and said, "I can't believe we're back. I feel like we just left."
"Look at Josie," Louis told her. "If she looks older than she did when we left then we haven't."
Just barely pinching him, Alexis said, "Oh shut up," before they were kissing each other. "You make a good point though… I wonder how she's doing, she's almost a year and a half."
"I nearly forgot," Louis said. He smiled and said, "She should be saying more words, perhaps names?"
"It'll be Jules' first," Alexis replied. "They're close."
"It's nice to see that," Louis said.
Alexis was about to respond to that when her husband was reaching around to her stomach and laying his hand there. "You can't mention it at home ma douce," she told him.
Smiling at her endearment, Louis replied, "Don't worry belle," calling her the endearment he'd picked up since they'd been in Paris for so long. His explanation to her had been since it was the word bonny in French and it was one he was familiar with. "I promise I won't but hopefully no one will be able to realize how eager I am."
"Hopefully," Alexis said before she looked out the window as they'd left the city and were going to Long Island. She turned back to her husband, kissing him lovingly before they did that for a while. When they stopped and had parted, she smiled and murmured, "I love you Louis."
"I love you Lex," he replied quickly. "Should we play a game?"
Shaking her head, Alexis told him, "I think I'm good."
"Then let's relax? We'll have a lot to do once we get home," Louis told her.
"I can't wait," Alexis said with a smile. Though she and her husband had been moved into their Victorian house after they'd returned from Spain, the short amount of time before the eighteenth and their time working had led them to barely have any time living in their new home before the wedding. "But we're going to my parents' first, aren't we?" she asked him.
"Oh of course," Louis said immediately. "We have to see your family; your dad would blame me."
"And then Mom would tell him to stop it," Alexis said. They started to laugh again, and she was leaning her head against her husband's before she told him, "But until we get there, I want us to work on one room. At least until the girls' dance class."
Nodding rapidly Louis said, "Alright, perhaps get everything set to rights in the kitchen?"
Smiling, Alexis said, "I thought of that myself and yes, since that's the most important room."
"And then ours," Louis said.
"And then ours," Alexis said.
They were quiet for a while before Louis took her hand and squeezing it gently said, "Think it's too soon to consider the room for our two?"
"No, because it's easy," Alexis replied, smiling again. "The first two rooms on the other side of the house; on the south side."
"Perfect," Louis replied before they were leaning into each other and kissing.
After they'd parted, Alexis settled against her husband's side, wrapping her arms around his chest and relaxing as their limo was driving east on the island to make its way to the Hamptons and her parents' home.
"Come here Josie," Castle said, reaching for the baby.
"Dada," Josie replied, smiling at her father.
"Do you want to watch Sesame Street or not?" Castle asked her teasingly since the baby had somehow gotten the remote.
"No," Josie said before she laughed. She squealed when her mother suddenly picked her up and she wrapped her arms around her neck, dropping the TV remote in the process.
"Thank you," Castle told the baby, having rushed to catch it. "Are you ready?" he asked his wife.
"Is she?" Beckett asked in amusement as they were sitting on the floor in front of the TV.
"She is, she's just playing coy," Castle replied, smiling again at the way his wife was laughing. He leaned over, kissing her gently before they parted and he turned his attention to the TV, putting the show on. Eventually, while they were watching, Josie was standing up and squealing at the different characters and cartoons they were showing. When it was over, he turned the TV off and said to his wife, "Good episode today."
Beckett smiled and said, "Of course, it always is." She looked at Josie who had walked up to the cabinet under the TV and called to her, "What're you doing sweetie?"
"Mama," Josie said, looking back at her parents.
"Come back over here," Castle said. He was going to tell her they wanted to play when he heard the chime for the doorbell at the gate outside. "I think that's them."
"Probably," Beckett said, standing with him and making sure he was okay. Once he was walking, she hurried to Josie and scooped up the baby, carrying her after Castle to the front door since he'd opened the bigger gate for the limo he'd gotten for their daughter and her husband. When it had stopped in front of the porch, she watched Louis stepping out first before he helped Alexis out and she was going to greet them before her husband was doing that first as he hurried out to them.
"I thought you'd be later," Castle told his daughter, wrapping his arms around her before she had fully stood.
"Dad," Alexis said with a laugh, hugging him back. "I'm guessing you're happy to see us."
"We all are," Beckett said, having followed her husband at a slower pace while Josie was wriggling against her.
"Oh Josa," Alexis said, turning her attention to her baby sister. She kissed her cheek and then moved to their mother, hugging her with one arm saying, "We loved it, but we're really happy to be home."
"I'm not surprised," Beckett said as they let go of each other. "And your house is fine."
Laughing softly, Alexis said, "We saw it driving in; thanks for watching out for it." She took her baby sister and said, "And we want to head over there after lunch."
"We were about to start it," Castle said, paying the driver a tip so the limo could go.
"We've brought some gifts," Louis said, sharing a brief hug with Beckett.
"You didn't need to," Castle said, having already shaken his son in law's hand.
"No, but we wanted to," Alexis said. "Let's head in?"
As they were walking into the entry; her husband and Louis bringing the four suitcases; Beckett said, "We're you able to visit any sites?"
"We did, a few of them," Alexis said, hoping she wasn't blushing though her cheeks were warm.
"Les," Josie said.
Smiling when her oldest looked at the baby, Beckett said, "They've been teaching her names."
"Off," Josie then said. "Mama," she then added in a questioning tone.
"It's alright sweetie," Beckett said, turning to the two men when Castle locked the front door.
"Where are Gram and Grandpapa?" Alexis asked.
"Your gram went to the theater," Castle said first.
"My dad went out to get pictures," Beckett replied. "At the other end of the island so he'll be home later. He didn't want to go but he got that request from Saul Albertson so…"
"No, I understand," Alexis said quickly, setting Josie down when the baby had wriggled against her. She watched as the baby walked over to their mother and said, "She's gotten better."
"She has, but I'm just glad she's not running," Castle answered while he reached for Josie.
"How're the girls?" Alexis asked when they were walking down the hall to the kitchen. They were passing her parents' office before she said, "Wait, you're not writing at all today?"
"We did before we watched Sesame Street with her," Beckett said, indicating Josie. "Your father's idea," she said, smiling back at her husband.
Louis laughed with his wife before they were turning their attention to the kitchen and he said, "She's been wondering if her sisters had missed her too much."
"They have but not that badly," Beckett told her with a smile. "They were glad you were having fun over there but wanted you back."
"I brought them a few things," Alexis said.
"And we bought them a few things for Christmas," Louis added as he sat at the island with his wife.
Setting Josie on her big sister's lap, Beckett said, "Nothing too big."
"No," Alexis said with a soft laugh, not surprised her mother had said that. "But I have something for Josa we want to give her now." She noticed her husband was looking at her questioningly and realized what she'd said. "Sorry," she told him with a smile. "I was thinking of it being in my suitcase."
"Oh, I forgot," Louis said. He turned to his in laws and then said, "You don't need any help?"
"We don't," Beckett said. "It's just going to be soup and grilled cheese."
"Sounds great," Louis said.
Nodding, since her husband was looking at her, Alexis said, "Breakfast was a long time ago." She then looked down at her baby sister and said, "I think your hair's gotten longer Josa," before their father was speaking quickly from the stove.
"Of course it did, we're not cutting it," Castle said. "We never cut your hair when you were a baby."
"I know," Alexis said with a smile since her parents hadn't cut Eliza's hair either. "It looks like it got a little lighter already too."
"I noticed," Beckett said, smiling.
"I'm fine with that," Castle said quickly since he knew the two were looking at him. He dished up the soup into a serving bowl and then said, "I'm still hoping you'll look like your mom Josie."
"Dada," the baby said with a laugh.
"She will," Louis said as he got off his chair. When he saw the other three were looking at him, he smiled and said, "It's obvious; I have seen pictures of you Kate when you were a baby. Besides her eyes of course."
"We better eat," Beckett said when her husband was standing close to her side. "The soup will get cold." She was relieved when he took the serving bowl to the table, hurrying to take the grilled cheese sandwiches she'd made. After they had the plates ready, she was setting aside half of one sandwich for Josie before telling Alexis, "You don't need to."
"I want to," the young woman said with a smile at her baby sister since she'd started feeding her the bowl of soup their father had gotten for her.
"Have fun," Castle said jokingly.
"I will," Alexis said easily, gently wiping off Josie's chin.
Beckett glanced at her husband, but he was asking the young man and their oldest about the hotel. She was glad he hadn't noticed the look on their daughter's face in her response to him as she had. She glanced at Alexis, watching her talk to her baby sister and then said, "Have you spoken to him?" in a low tone of voice, since Josie was in between them in her highchair. When her daughter nodded, she smiled at her and didn't say anything else, turning her attention to the baby to make sure she would eat her sandwich okay.
When they had finished the meal, Alexis went to her father and hugged him tightly saying, "I hate to leave but-"
Laughing and standing up, Castle told her, "Not in this case you don't, but don't worry. It's understandable; I wanted to get back here with Kate after our honeymoon too."
"Thank you, what time are you leaving?" Alexis asked while she and her husband were helping her parents with the dishes.
"At two-twenty, as usual," Castle said.
"We'll meet you outside," Alexis said though she was speaking slowly.
"Go," Beckett told the pair. "Though you don't need any help with your luggage?"
"I don't think so," Louis said when he set the soup bowl on the counter next to the sink. "Luckily they roll so we'll be fine."
"If you need anything let us know," Castle said, rolling up his sleeves. He glanced behind him at his daughter and son in law and said, "Get out of here already," laughingly.
"Okay, we'll see you," Alexis said, hugging her father quickly before she did the same with her mother.
"I'll see them out love," Beckett told her husband, holding Josie on her hip. She carried her to the entry and told them, "Will you rest?"
"No," Alexis said. "We got enough on the drive back home. We'll unpack and then take a look at the gifts for the kitchen; put them away."
"I don't blame you," Beckett replied. "But if you need to take a break," she told them.
"We will," Louis said.
Saying goodbye to them as they left, Beckett smiled at Josie opening and closing her hand at them before she closed the front door once the two were outside the wall. "Time for you to sleep sweetie," she directed to the baby. "But first you need to say goodnight to your daddy."
"Off Mama," Josie told her.
"The nap will go fast," Beckett said with a smile as they walked down the hall to the kitchen where Castle was finishing the last dish. She waited for him to dry his hands off once he was done and smiled at him when he turned to her before he was speaking first to their daughter.
"I know what you're thinking sweetheart," Castle said. "They come and eat and leave."
"Rick," Beckett said though she sounded more amused than anything else.
"And we'll see them later," Castle said to the baby. He turned his eyes to his wife and told her in mock defensiveness, "You didn't let me finish."
Beckett laughed briefly and said, "Let's put her to bed."
Nodding, Castle followed her before he realized what she'd said, "Wait, bed? I thought we were going to write a little more."
"We're not," Beckett said simply.
Castle knew immediately his wife didn't want him to say anything else, so he was quiet while they went up the stairs and to Josie's room. He let her put the baby to sleep, going over to kiss the top of Josie's head before watching Beckett put her into her crib. They stood at it, watching their youngest sleeping before his wife got his attention which made him look at her questioningly.
Shaking her head, Beckett took his hand, pulling Castle with her out to the hall before she took him to their bedroom.
"Kate you-" Castle started to say while he was closing the door behind him.
"Don't lock it," Beckett told him quickly.
Shaking his head, Castle said, "I wasn't going to. But are you sure about this?"
Beckett smiled and then said simply, "I just want you to touch me," stepping up to him and wrapping her arms around him.
Breathing out a little, Castle was swift in taking her in his arms and kissing her though he kept it brief. "It's what you want?" he asked seriously.
"What would you want?" Beckett asked as she was nodding.
Leaning down, Castle kissed her lightly on the lips before pulling away and saying, "I think I'm agreeing with you."
Smiling a little at that, Beckett gently pulled her husband down to her for another kiss and once they'd parted, she said, "You need to be sure you know."
Brushing his lips to hers, Castle pulled away and nodded before he was leaning down and kissing her passionately that time. They held onto one another tightly while they were doing that and he couldn't stop himself, slipping his hands under her blouse so he could feel her skin.
Arching her back at the sudden skin to skin contact with her husband, Beckett ended their kiss and she gasped out his name before they were kissing deeply again. She was tugging at his shirt, removing it from his pants until she was pulling away and beginning to unbutton it. She was moving to pull it off when her husband gently took her hands with his own and she watched him bowing his head to brush his lips against hers. She opened her eyes after that kiss murmuring, "We don't have time."
Though he knew they did, Castle was aware of what his wife wasn't telling him, and he moved to help her with her blouse. He wasn't sure how they agreed to take turns with each other, since they hadn't said a word, but he was soon watching her climb onto the bed naked. He followed her in the same state and wasn't surprised when they met on top of the mattress with their lips a little before their bodies did. They were intense and he wasn't sure how he'd managed to stop when he eventually did, and he smiled at her when she opened her eyes. "Love," he began with. "How did you want me to touch you?"
Beckett smiled, as she could tell her husband was controlling his eagerness, and she stopped him before they were kissing at her instigation. She felt her body aching in response to that before they were parting, and she murmured into his ear.
"That's enough for you?" Castle asked her.
"It is," Beckett replied before she took his kiss. She laid down once they'd stopped and waited for him to join her before he was pressing against her side, his arm wrapped around her. She was reaching over to touch his erection when he was stopping her for a second time. "You know I should have a turn," she said in a mock demanding tone. She was a little startled when he brought her hand up to his lips; kissing her fingertips; before he spoke huskily.
"Yes, but I think I should have a chance," Castle said, stopping and waiting for her to protest. "Then can I suggest something?"
"Okay," Beckett said slowly and in surprise as he leaned into her.
"I want us to do this sitting up," Castle explained. When his wife looked at him in slight confusion he explained saying, "Together."
With a quick nod, Beckett moved and straddled him, pressing close to him before she leaned to him so they could share a kiss. It didn't last for long before he was pulling away from her and she watched his hands coming up to her breasts, gently cupping them before he was moving down to her hips to her surprise.
Castle wasn't sure if he should remind his wife that he loved feeling her body, since he was aware she knew. Instead he reached again and cupped his hands over her ass, and he told her, "We could just-"
Beckett placed her hand on her husband's mouth and said, "No, we'll do this together like you said."
"Just making sure," Castle said rapidly.
"Pervert," Beckett said though she was talking seriously and then leaning into her husband. They kissed and she gasped when her husband's fingers were gently rubbing at her clit before she was reaching for his erection. Working at the same time on each other, she was overjoyed as they were pushing one another quickly to their peaks and she broke first with her body riding his fingers within her. She wasn't sure how long she was doing that before she was slowing down and when she stopped, she leaned against her husband.
"Good?" Castle asked her with a slight smile though he was aching himself.
"Mmm-hmm," Beckett said before she reached in between them for his length again. She carefully rubbed at it with both her hands, eventually looking up at her husband before she took him to his orgasm.
Breathing rapidly once he had calmed down, Castle looked at his wife and saw his release was on her body. "Should I protest?" he asked her jokingly.
"No," Beckett said swiftly. "You need to help me is what you should do." When her husband nodded rapidly, she was nearly smiling before she was working with him to get everything off her.
"We have time for something," Castle said after they'd kissed when they'd finished cleaning her.
"Washing off and dressing," Beckett said. She smiled when her husband groaned loudly and leaned back before saying, "You realize we don't have that much time."
"I had to try," Castle said, raising his head to look at her. He laughed briefly when she lightly pinched his side and watched her getting off the bed. "What are we doing?"
"Shower," Beckett said. "But nothing other than washing off." She studied her husband as he moved to follow her and she asked him, "Do you think you can do that?"
"I'm not a raging pervert," Castle said, holding up his finger to her. "A pervert, yes. But not raging."
"Let's get into the shower," Beckett said in amusement while she shook her head. They headed into the bathroom and she followed him into the shower stall before she turned on the water. When she turned to her husband, she wasn't surprised when he was leaning down to her and kissing her deeply. She didn't stop him, and she was holding onto him tightly as they continued for some time until they had to part so they could breathe. "That needs to be it love, she's going to wake up," she said, though not without some annoyance.
"You're right," Castle said, nodding his head. He moved to get her body wash and they began washing each other though they did so quickly. He wanted to dry her off badly and told her when he was turning off the water.
"I know love, but I can't have Josie all on her own if she's awake," Beckett replied, taking the towel he handed to her.
"I can't either, next shower or bath though…" Castle started to say.
Laughing softly, Beckett shook her head and then turned her attention to drying herself off before she went out to the bedroom with her towel around her body. She picked up her tablet, turning it on to see Josie was still asleep and telling her husband, "We have time."
"I guess she was tired," Castle commented, smiling at the baby on the screen.
"Mostly likely," Beckett said simply before she turned to go into the closet and grab her clothes for the afternoon. When she had finished getting ready, she looked at her husband as they were at the bathroom sinks.
"What?" Castle asked since he was ready and had just been watching her.
"Josie?" Beckett told him teasingly.
Breathing out roughly, Castle turned slowly before he rushed back into the bedroom to get his wife's tablet. Seeing Josie was awake he called to her, "She's up love, but still laying down."
"Still," Beckett replied as she cupped her husband's cheek in passing before she walked to the door to head down to the baby's room. When she was out in the hallway, she looked behind her and smiled at him saying, "Don't worry, she's only just woken up."
"Yeah but I still want to see her," Castle replied before they were reaching the doorway. He was startled when his wife let him go inside first and he thanked her before heading to the crib. "Good afternoon ceann beag," he said as he looked over the side to see Josie was sitting up.
Laughing, the baby reached up for him and said, "Dada."
Taking her out, Castle kissed her cheek before he told his wife, "She's fine."
"I didn't really doubt that she was," Beckett said, leaning over and kissing Josie's forehead. "Do you want to change her?"
"Yeah, I'll take it," Castle replied before he was taking Josie to her changing table. He looked over at Beckett, seeing she was picking out a sweater and a pair of Josie's pants before he said, "Though I wanted to pick her outfit."
"Too late," Beckett said with a smile as she knew he was joking. "But tell me you hate what I picked out."
"I don't," Castle said, leaning down to her so they were kissing gently.
Beckett stood with her husband and watched him changing Josie before they were taking the baby downstairs just as Martha was walking into the foyer.
"Hello," Castle's mother said to the three of them with a smile. "Have they returned yet?"
"Yes," Castle replied. He laughed and reached out to take her arm as she turned back to the front door and told her, "They're meeting us outside; they're probably there now."
"Oh… well at least they're coming with us," Martha said as she watched her son getting Josie's stroller ready. "I thought they'd be sleeping."
"They said they weren't that tired," Beckett commented before she went to the stroller to set Josie inside. "They said they were going to unpack and start going through their wedding gifts; sorting them."
"That's true, they haven't had the chance yet," Martha said with a nod. She then smiled and told them, "They're very lucky they have tomorrow off as well."
"It's why I suggested it to them," Castle said absently as he finished buckling the baby into her stroller. When he stood up, he saw his wife and mother were looking at him and he was about to ask what was wrong when the former spoke first.
"You worded that really weird Rick," Beckett said in amusement. "You suggested they take the next day off to let them get used to the time change."
"Oh… sorry I was making sure Josie was okay," Castle said with a smile before he pushed the stroller out behind them while they were stepping onto the porch. He wasn't surprised when his mother didn't wait for him to lock the front door, heading to the door in the wall to go out.
"She found them," Beckett said in amusement as she could hear her mother in law exclaiming and Alexis responding. She smiled at her husband and said, "Hopefully Eliza will be able to concentrate."
"I think so," Castle said, not surprised they weren't mentioning Julia since their second oldest would. They reached the doorway and he saw his mother was hugging Alexis and said, "Mother you're going to suffocate her," jokingly.
"Oh quiet," Martha said, shaking her head at him. "I haven't seen her for three weeks I'm entitled to it."
"It's fine Gram," Alexis said laughing. "But we should go, I'd like to see Jules and Lizzy before class starts."
As they were walking, Beckett went over to her oldest and said, "How was it?"
"Good, we've been focusing on the house and it feels a little weird since we haven't had the chance yet," Alexis replied. "But I'm so glad everyone got stuff on our list."
"It's needed?" Beckett asked with a smile.
"Very, once we have meals there," Alexis said. "We're probably going to make lunch tomorrow."
Smiling, as she hadn't missed the hesitancy in her daughter's tone, Beckett told her, "Good, you didn't need to come over and we have to write."
"Thank you," Alexis said. "But we'll come for dinner again."
"Good," Castle called to her. "I was going to insist on it." He smiled when his daughter glanced over her shoulder at him and waved to her before he was stopping when they reached the last street before the school. He was careful as there were kids just leaving, making sure he didn't run into anyone walking by them. They finally reached the high school building and went into the dance studio before he left the stroller outside. Holding Josie, he went in after the rest of his family and sat on one of the chairs before he said to his wife, "She's ready."
"Of course she is," Beckett said, taking the baby as their youngest had leaned over to her. She set Josie onto her lap facing out before she kissed the top of her head. "And she'll be ready when she's old enough to start," she added since she could see the baby was staring out at the dance floor.
"You expect her to dance as well?" Louis asked, leaning over to look at her.
"It's likely," Castle answered before his wife could. He smiled at her and then said, "She's watched them dancing since she was a baby."
"Like Eliza did," Beckett said. She was going to add the two would teach their baby sister dance steps before she was even going to school when they heard a familiar cry from the girls' changing room.
"'lexis!" Eliza cried in joy before she nearly ran to her big sister. She threw her arms around her tightly and said, "You're back, you're back!"
"I know, I missed you guys too," Alexis said with a smile at her sister's exuberance. She kissed her cheek and then let her go so she could hug Julia who had walked up to them then.
"It's been way too long," the girl said as she hugged her tightly. Pulling back eventually Julia then asked, "But you had a good honeymoon, right?"
"It was perfect," Alexis said, laughing softly when her sister nodded firmly. She hugged her sisters one more time before saying, "Hey Mari."
"Hi, I'm glad you're back, both of you," she said while her friend and Eliza were hugging their brother in law to greet him.
"How's your family?" Alexis asked.
"Good, Dani loves school still," Mari said.
"I'm sure your parents are happy about that," Alexis said, smiling when the girl nodded rapidly. She squeezed her arm before Ms. Grey was calling her students to the dance floor and they were hurrying to her.
Watching as the teacher had the children practice their tap dancing that time, Castle wondered how he hadn't noticed the girls wearing their tap shoes when they'd come out. He didn't say anything, watching when Josie was alternating between smiling and watching her sisters with wide eyes. He smiled at that but was pleased when Grey let the kids take a break. "Having fun?" he asked them.
"Yeah," Eliza said a little breathlessly.
"Take a drink sweetie," Beckett said, giving her her water bottle. After she'd taken a few quick sips she said, "You've gotten better."
"Thanks," Eliza said, smiling at her sister.
"I told Ms. Grey to let her and Quentin stand with me and Peter," Julia commented, having been standing with Alexis. "It helps. Where's Grandpapa?"
"Still out," Beckett said. "But," she added as she'd gotten a text from him while they'd been walking to the school. "He'll be back a little after we're home."
"Can I bring my shoes home?" Eliza asked then.
Knowing the little girl wanted to show her grandfather her steps, Castle said, "Are you tapping tomorrow?" When she nodded, he said, "Then you better keep those here."
"She's right," Julia said as her little sister looked disappointed. "That way you won't lose them."
Frowning, Eliza finally sighed and said, "Okay, but I want to show Grandpapa."
"Let's wait and see-" Beckett started to say.
"We're tapping the whole week," Julia interrupted her mother.
"This weekend?" Eliza asked hopefully.
"This weekend," Beckett said with a smile. She brought her over to her and kissed her cheek before sending her back since the teacher was calling the students for the rest of the class. She checked on Josie to make sure she was okay during it, not surprised the baby seemed to be enthralled. When the kids went back to change, she said to her husband, "What are you doing for dinner?"
"I'm not saying," Castle replied easily since he'd asked her to let him take care of dinner to celebrate Alexis and Louis' return.
"You need to, how are you going to make it on your own?" Beckett asked.
"It's ham," Castle said immediately. When his wife was smiling at him, he said, "No surprise?"
"Not really," Beckett replied easily before she squeezed his arm. When Julia and Eliza were walking back out with Mari, she motioned to her second youngest she said, "I need to check."
"I know Mommy," Eliza replied, handing her bag over to her. "I listened," she then added as her mother was checking.
"I know, but I wouldn't be surprised if you sneaked it in somehow," Beckett told her with a smile while she zipped it back up and gave it back to her. "Like your dad would."
"Hey," Castle said, pretending to be upset though he soon smiled as Eliza was giggling.
"Are we ready?" Martha asked.
"We need to stop at our house," Alexis said when they were out of the school.
"For what?" Julia asked in surprise.
"You'll see," Louis said.
"You brought us stuff!" Eliza said with a squeal.
"Nice going," Alexis told her husband in mock annoyance.
Laughing Louis said, "Sorry about that Lex, I had to say."
"You can show us after dinner," Beckett said then.
"But Mommy-" Eliza said in complaint.
"She's right," Castle said. "You two have homework, don't you?"
"I have a little," Julia replied.
"I do too," Eliza said dejectedly.
"Don't worry," Alexis said. "What we brought isn't going anywhere."
"Okay," Eliza said though she was still disappointed. She felt her mother hug her and she smiled at her before saying, "Sorry Mommy."
"I know, but you need to finish, that way you don't miss playing something with them after dinner," Beckett reminded her.
"Oh… that's right," Eliza said. "Then we can play?"
"Yes, but it is a school night kiddo," Martha gently reminded her.
"But we will play," Beckett said quickly when Eliza looked a little annoyed. She was going to tell her to think of something when Julia was suddenly speaking, asking her big sister about something she'd forgotten herself.
"What about pictures?" Julia said.
"We have some," Alexis said.
"Could we look at those?" Eliza asked immediately.
"The only chance we have is after dinner," Beckett told her.
"Okay," Eliza said eagerly.
"We don't mind," Louis said with a smile when his mother in law looked at him and his wife.
With some laughter, the family continued to the house where they went inside, and Julia headed up to her room so she could finish her homework. While she was finishing her math homework, she debated if she wanted to write in her diary already but heard footsteps on the stairs. She put all her stuff away before she was hurrying to her doorway.
"Are you set?" Beckett asked.
"Yeah, I checked the answers and fixed what I messed up," Julia said.
"Did you only have math?" Beckett said in surprise.
"Reading, but I finished it up," Julia replied.
"Okay," Beckett said with a smile as her daughter immediately reached for her hand. She took it and told her, "No questioning me why I'm coming to get you?"
"Well… I guess I do have a question now," Julia told her mother after looking up at her.
"They're giving us our gifts now," Beckett said.
"Oh… really?" Julia asked in surprise as they were heading down the stairs.
"They are," Beckett answered. "We have time since apparently your dad has everything ready."
"What's he making?" Julia asked as she wasn't sure what her father was going to make either.
"A ham dinner," Beckett said. She saw her daughter's surprise and said, "I know, but he's seeing it as a celebration remember."
"Me too," Julia said seriously with a nod. She smiled when her mother laughed softly and then turned her attention to the family room they were walking into.
"Oh good, now we can start," Alexis said, smiling at her sister as she motioned her over to her. "We'll pass these out by age," she then told everyone. "But I'd like to give Josa her gifts last."
"That's fine," Castle said quickly when his wife looked at him.
"Then you're first Lizzy," Alexis said, smiling when her little sister was gasping in eagerness. She handed her the first thing wrapped in a paper bag, adding a beret wrapped in plastic and two books.
"Ooh," Eliza said in wonder as she'd only thought she would have one thing. "Thank you 'lexis, Louis."
"Open the one wrapped in paper," the former urged her.
Eliza nodded and then went to the coffee table where she set her gifts, opening the beret first and putting it on.
"I wasn't sure about that one," Louis told his in laws. "But Lex insisted she'd like it."
"I do," Eliza said before she opened the paper wrapping and squealed in joy when she saw it was a t-shirt. It was stripped and had the Eiffel Tower on it, and she hugged it tightly before rushing to her sister. "Thank you! Thank you!" she said eagerly before hugging her brother in law.
"You're welcome," Louis said. "Your sister had me pick that one."
"It's a good pick," Eliza said seriously before she went to her mother to let her see the shirt.
"It'll fit?" Alexis asked her mother while she was holding it up to her little sister.
"It will," Beckett said with a nod. "You can try it on tomorrow," she then directed to Eliza.
"Thank you," the little girl said again, going back to her gifts and looking at the books.
"Hopefully you'll be able to read the one," Louis said since they'd gotten a children's book and a coloring book.
"She'll learn," Castle said.
"Okay, your turn Jules," Alexis said.
Julia watched; what she hoped was passively though she was really excited; as her sister brought out another paper wrapped flat object she knew was a shirt. She smiled when the last three gifts were books, and she eagerly opened the shirt first. "Oh," she said before she laughed. "I thought this was going to be the same as Lizzy's," she then told everyone. She showed it to them, a stripped one that had the Arc de Triomphe with people riding bicycles in front of it.
"Look at the books," Alexis said to her sister as she was watching her.
Turning her attention to them, Julia gasped in joy and she looked at the covers of all three before saying, "They're like the Dear America books!"
"They are, they're a little old but they were in a small bookstore we saw by the hotel," Louis explained. "Hopefully they'll be interesting, and you can read them."
"When are they from?" a voice said at the doorway.
"Grandpapa!" Julia and Eliza said eagerly before they were doing their best to calm down the dogs who had begun barking seeing Jim.
Alexis and Louis went to him and the former hugged him before Louis shook his hand and welcomed him home.
"I have some things for you too Grandpapa," Alexis was saying as they walked back into the room.
"You didn't need to," Jim said.
"They've all said that," Louis commented as he nodded to the other adults. "But it's a bit late; we're not about to head back to Paris to return everything."
"Please don't," Eliza said softly.
"We're only kidding," Beckett assured her. "They didn't need to get us anything."
"But since they did, we'll accept it," Castle said.
"I will, especially these books," Julia said eagerly before she was laughing with all the others. She turned her attention to them before her grandfather was calling her name and she looked up at him in surprise before he spoke.
"You didn't let me know when in history those books are supposed to be," Jim reminded her.
"Oh!" Julia said before she looked down at her books. "One is from Pompeii; another is in 1870 and the last one is about the French Revolution." She then looked at her parents and asked, "Could I take one to school?"
"For your French class?" Beckett said.
"I don't care," Alexis said quickly when she realized her mother was looking at her. "You can do whatever you want."
"And I want to show them to Mari," Julia said.
"Just take one," Beckett told her.
Julia nodded and then said to her sister and brother in law, "Thanks so much, I love everything."
"Let me see your shirt," Beckett told her. Once her second oldest had come over to her, she held it up against her and nodded saying, "Try it on tomorrow." She was surprised when her daughter merely nodded before she saw Alexis was bringing over her gifts.
"Just two things Mom," Alexis said with a smile. "But this is from a boutique I thought had your name all over it so I couldn't resist."
"This could have been for Christmas," Beckett told her.
"It could have," Alexis said easily since she already had two things for her mother from the same boutique for the holiday. She'd bought her a light blouse and sundress for spring and summer and hoped she'd enjoy it when she opened them. She shook herself then, as her mother was opening the first of the two blouses for winter she'd found.
"Oh, thank you," Beckett said, smiling at her daughter. "I do like the color," she said, as it was a blouse that was a pale blue and a simple button up. She opened the other and said, "I thought you'd get me stripes."
"I know you don't usually wear those," Alexis said, having found a navy blue long blouse that looked more like a long sleeved dress that was short. "Leggings?"
"I had the same thought," Beckett replied. She motioned her daughter over and hugged her tightly saying, "Thank you again. We were serious though."
"Blame it on her father," Louis said jokingly.
"Hey… okay so I don't usually listen either, but you shouldn't follow my example," Castle said in mock defense.
"You are my dad," Alexis said teasingly before she gave him a wrapped package. She kissed his cheek and then told him, "And I love you."
"Thank you, sweetheart, love you too," Castle replied before he hugged her with one arm. Opening his gift, he pulled out a tie and whistled saying, "Silk? You really didn't need to get that."
"We had to," Alexis said with a smile at her father as he was showing everyone else the blue tie.
"Well… since you're right and you can't return it; thank you so much," Castle told them.
Alexis and Louis then gave her grandmother and grandfather the gifts they'd gotten them, a small designer purse for Martha and a sweater for Jim, and they turned their attention to Josie's gifts.
"Ba!" Josie squealed when she saw the stuffed sheep Louis had for her first. She held it tightly before she was given a stuffed pig and she was looking at her mother while she was laughing when she started to speak.
"You're going to cover her bed in stuffed animals," Beckett told them.
"We couldn't resist," Louis said as his wife was giving her mother a children's book in French for the baby.
"Plus, they had it at the store where we got this," Alexis said.
"That's beautiful," Castle said immediately.
"He's right," Beckett said, their oldest holding a winter coat for the baby. It was a blue that nearly matched Josie's eyes and had thick fleece on the inside.
"I couldn't resist getting this for her," Alexis said to them with a smile when she gave the coat to her mother.
"It looks like the one in the Little House book," Julia said when her big sister looked at her. She then smiled and said, "For Grace." She then grew serious and said, "At least it's not made from a swan."
"I wouldn't have gotten it if it was," Alexis said firmly, nodding her head to that. "Could she try it on?"
Since she knew the moment and picture in the book that her oldest was talking about, Beckett held it out to her and said, "You bought it for her, you should put it on her the first time."
Alexis smiled at that before taking the coat and Josie to set her on the floor before she said, "What do you think Josa?"
"Apa… pey," the baby vocalized.
"It's pretty?" Eliza guessed.
"I think so," Julia said since her little sister was looking at her. She then turned her attention to their baby sister since Alexis had gotten her to let go of the stuffed animals.
"Is it okay if I zip it up?" the young woman asked their mother.
"Go ahead, but we're going to have to take it off soon," Beckett answered.
Nodding, Alexis turned back to Josie and zipped up the coat and buttoned the large ones down the front that were for decoration. Though she hadn't asked their parents, she couldn't resist and was pulling the hood up. She looked at their family and whispered, "She looks adorable."
"Cuter than Grace in the drawing," Julia quipped with a smile.
After her husband had taken a picture of Josie, smiling and lightly waving her arms, Beckett nodded to Alexis before she took the coat off and she said, "We'll save this for winter."
"It'll be here soon Josa," Eliza told her baby sister while she handed her back her sheep and pig. "But you look so pretty."
"Mama," Josie said, looking at her.
"Come here sweetie," Beckett said, holding her arms out to her. Once the baby had made it to the couch, she picked her up, putting her on her lap as they watched Julia showing her grandmother her books and Eliza her beret and book to her grandfather. She kissed the side of Josie's head before she said to her husband, "Are you going to tell me what you ended up making."
"You'll see," Castle said, leaning over to the baby and gently kissing her forehead. He then said, "I better get everything ready."
Beckett nodded and watched her husband walking out of the room before she said to Julia, "Go with him sweetie," since her second oldest was looking at her.