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: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Thriller written by Rod Temperton, from the Michael Jackson album of the same name.

Must Stand And Face

Turning around on her toes, Julia stopped and laughed when she could hear applause before she did a little curtsey saying, "You liked it?"

You look marvelous.

"Thanks Freddie," Julia replied. She was about to speak before she heard her mother calling her and said, "I have to go. But we'll probably be practicing at my dance class after school."

I'll be there, the spirit said.

"Bye," Julia said softly, sighing when the singer faded away. She went to her backpack on the bench next to her door and picked it up before leaving her room. She was careful going down the stairs, not sure if much of her energy had been taken from her with the visit. But when she reached the bottom she felt fine, and she was about to go to the kitchen when her little sister was calling her from the family room.

"Where'd she go?" Castle asked his wife as he'd looked back to see the hallway was empty.

"No idea," Beckett replied. "Josie," she said gently. "We're going to run you over sweetie."

"Wan Mama," the baby said.

"Want what?" Castle asked.

"Mama, up!" Josie said firmly.

"Hold on," Beckett said in amusement, pouring the last of the orange juice she'd made. She took the pitcher to the table and once she had she was turning to Josie who had begun following her. "Is that better?" she asked with a smile, kissing her cheek once she had the baby on her hip.

"Yes," Josie said.

Beckett couldn't help laughing softly before she looked down towards the hallway seeing Julia and Eliza were coming over. "Nice to see you two," she said teasingly.

"Sorry Mom," Julia said first, planning to continue before her sister was doing so first.

"Freddie was here," Eliza said.

"He was?" Castle asked in surprise.

"Yep," Eliza said before she faltered a little looking up at her big sister. "Was I not supposed to say?"

"It doesn't matter," Julia said quickly. "Are Grandpapa and Gram back yet?"

"Not yet," Beckett said, her father and mother in law having gone into the city the day before. Her father had needed to go to get his camera fixed and Martha to help with a former student in a play she was doing a matinee of. They were expected that morning though she wasn't surprised they hadn't arrived yet.

"What if they're not here yet when we need to go to school?" Eliza asked her mother as she and her sister had begun to set the table.

"We'll walk without them," Castle said, taking the plate with pancakes on it to the table.

"'Lexis and Louis?" Eliza then said.

"They're going to work so we'll let them have breakfast on their own," Castle replied.

"Are we still having dinner at their house?" Julia asked.

"That's the plan," Castle said, smiling when his and Beckett's middle daughters groaned in mock annoyance.

"I feel bad for them," Beckett said as she was pouring juice into their glasses.

"They said they were celebrating it yesterday," Castle reminded her.

"Are you talking about their first month anniversary?" Julia asked her parents. When they both nodded, she smiled and said, "They said, it was on a Monday so they were fine celebrating on the weekend."

"They said they were gonna give each other a little gift," Eliza said.

"Did they tell you what those were?" Castle asked as he helped Beckett getting Josie into her highchair and their daughters were sitting at the table before they followed suit. He smiled when the two nodded and was about to ask what those gifts were when Julia was telling them as Beckett was serving the eggs, bacon and pancakes to Josie first.

"'lexis got him a new pair of boots he needs at the stables and Louis got her reservations for dinner last night," she said.

"The French one?" Castle asked.

Nodding, Julia said, "He asked us if we thought she would like only that."

"We said yes," Eliza said firmly.

After she had laughed a little with her parents, Julia said, "These are really cute Dad," since he'd made pumpkin shaped pancakes.

"I did my best," Castle replied.

"Did you make coffee?" Eliza asked.

Shaking her head, Castle said, "No artwork today; I'll try to get it tomorrow love," saying the last to his wife.

"That's fine, you were making breakfast," Beckett said as she was holding her mug.

"What about after dinner?" Eliza said.

"Dada," Josie said, hitting the bottom of her fork on the tray in front of her.

Stopping the baby, Castle said, "We'll just have regular coffee." He couldn't help smiling while the little girl was pouting and he said, "I'll try tomorrow Eliza."

"Keep eating sweetie," Beckett told her. "You can't be late for school."

Sighing, Eliza looked at her big sister and asked, "What do you have first today?"

"Study Hall, remember? I didn't do my homework this weekend," Julia said. "Thank you, that way I could practice."

"You're lucky you didn't have much to do," Beckett told her with a smile. "But make sure you do your homework."

"I told you Mom," Julia replied. "They don't let us talk for that much."

"That long?" Castle suggested.

Making a playful face at him, Julia said, "That long. And I do need to finish up my homework or I'll get in trouble."

"Are you looking forward to class?" Castle asked Eliza.

"I guess," the little girl said.

"She doesn't want to do the science experiment today," Julia said.

"It's not that bad," Beckett said since the class was going to be experimenting with dissecting flowers.

"Yeah but flowers are so pretty," Eliza said with a heavy sigh.

"I know, but I think you need to learn," Beckett told her.

Nodding, Eliza turned her attention back to her last pancake and ate it while her big sister was talking to their parents.

"Are you going to work on your book again?" Julia was asking.

"Of course," Castle said. "But we're going to watch Sesame Street and teach your sister a little first."

"What's she gonna learn today?" Eliza asked eagerly.

"Shapes," Beckett said.

"Ooh," Eliza said, speaking to her baby sister with a smile. "You get to play with your puzzle."

"Pup," Josie said.

"Not really, but the dogs will be there," Julia said with a smile.

"Okay," Beckett said as they had finished eating by then. "Eliza, take Josie and play with her a little while we clean up."

"Can we walk?" the little girl asked.

"Go ahead," Beckett replied as she stood up with her husband and they were hurrying to get the plates and glasses off the table to the sink.

Helping her parents in clearing the table, Julia couldn't help humming one of the songs she was going to be dancing to at the concert the next month. She eventually sighed and said, "I really hope people don't think it's weird we're going to dance." She realized her parents didn't know she was thinking about the concert when her mother spoke while she was drying her hands.

"I doubt it," Beckett said. "It's been on social media that dancing is going to be part of the concert."

"The band did put out specifically you'd be doing that," Castle reminded her.

"You said Freddie liked it," Eliza said, having come back from walking a little down the hall with Josie.

"He does, but I worry about the fans," Julia said.

Beckett watched her daughter in slight surprise as her head abruptly turned to look to the hall and she followed her gaze. She was about to ask her what was wrong when she felt a slight chill in the air, leading her to say, "Julia…"

"It's okay, that's Freddie," Eliza said.

"It was," Julia said quickly to correct her sister. She smiled at their parents when the two looked at her and said, "He just wanted me to stop questioning myself."

"Oh, that would make sense," Castle said.

"And there's time until the concert too," Beckett said.

"That means we have to go to school," Eliza told Josie.

"Exactly, let's go and get ready," Castle told them. They walked together to the entry, and he got Josie's jacket while Julia and Eliza were saying goodbye to the dogs.

"Do you two have everything, lunches, books?" Beckett asked once they were all wearing their coats.

"I do," Julia said with a nod.

"Me too," Eliza replied.

"Then we can head out," Castle said with a smile before they were leaving the house. He was last to lock the door and last out of the door in the wall to make sure that was locked. By the time he had turned around Mari was with them, and they walked down to the Darnley-Nkosi home where they picked up Darnley and Maddy.

"Good morning," the carpenter said with a smile at his friend. "How're things going?"

"Well," Beckett replied, sharing a quick hug with him. When they parted, she said, "What about you?"

"Great, I got a little done on the carving board, so Trev and I are going to spend time with Keo," Darnley replied.

"Teaching him?" Beckett guessed while they were walking alone together. She smiled when her friend nodded and then said, "You'll be okay after Keo is in preschool." She wasn't surprised when he shrugged and she asked, "Is Trevor painting?"

"Giving it a shot," Darnley replied. "At my urging, I just hope he doesn't get too frustrated and give up like he did in the past."

"He is listening to music, right?" Beckett asked since the investigator had been trying to find a hobby to indulge in when he wasn't needed by the NTSB. Her friend had told them his husband had painted but had grown tired of it since he had never really shown his work to anyone but his parents and Darnley. But she and Castle had seen his landscapes done of outside Cape Town and D.C. and they'd said he had talent and with more urging from his husband he'd decided to try again.

"He is," Darnley said.

"Did you mention an art gallery showing?" Beckett asked.
"Sure, but he said that you needed to show along with your father; not just your father," Darnley said.

Beckett rolled her eyes before she said, "We'll see."

"Now you're sounding like Trev," Darnley told her. He wasn't surprised when she gave him a look and he shook his head before asking, "Where's your dad?"

"Still in NYC as far as I know," Beckett said. "Though I'm getting the feeling they could be close."

"Too bad they didn't say goodbye to your girls," Darnley commented.

"I know, but they'll see them at dance class," Beckett said with a shrug.

"Okay," Darnley said. "I need to take her, so I'll see you at the gate?" he asked while they walked onto the grounds of the Academy.

"We'll see you," Beckett said with a smile. She then turned her attention to her family while the kids were saying goodbye to each other quickly before Darnley took Maddy inside the elementary school.

"I'll see you at lunch Lizzy," Julia told her little sister. "Have fun in class."

"I will," Eliza replied, waving at her sister.

"We'll see you after school," Beckett said as her second oldest had turned to her.

"I know, have fun with Josa," Julia replied with a smile before they hugged each other quickly.

"We will," Beckett said. "Have fun and pay attention."

"I will," Julia said before she took Mari's hand and they hurried together to the middle school building. When they reached the library for their Study Hall period, they got their favorite table by the windows and got their things ready before the bell rang so they could talk until then, her friend doing so first.

"How're you doing?" Mari asked.

"You waited until now to ask?" Julia said in response instead of answering. When her friend nodded, she explained what had happened that morning, speaking in French and English when she wasn't sure of how to translate a word into the first language.

"I'm glad he's telling you not to worry," Mari said when her friend had finished. "Because you look really good."

"Thanks," Julia replied, feeling a little relieved her friend her said that. "But I need to not worry about that now."

Looking at the clock, Mari smiled and said, "What do you want to ask me?"

Scooting a little closer, Julia whispered, "Did you get the e-mail from Marie?"

"Yeah, what do you think?" Mari replied in a whisper as well.

"It's amazing," Julia said. "She's gone on a date already."

"Not much, they only went to the arcade at the family fun center with her sweetheart's parents," Mari said.

"Better than nothing," Julia said. She giggled softly when her friend pursed her lips and she said, "At least they had fun."

"Yeah, it does sound like it," Mari replied with a nod. She opened her mouth to speak when the bell suddenly rang and she sighed before saying, "Never mind."

Laughing with her friend, Julia immediately turned her attention to her homework to start working on it and complete it before the bell rang at the end of the period so she could read her book she'd brought with her. She couldn't help thinking of her parents at that moment, smiling to herself as she thought of them watching TV with her baby sister before she got her French homework to finish that first.

"I'm coming," Castle called as he hurried down the hall.

"And you're spilling her juice," Beckett commented wryly as she watched him rushing up to her.

"It can't," Castle said.

"Don't try it," Beckett said quickly, reaching out to stop him from doing that.

"I wasn't," Castle replied.

"Dada," Josie whimpered, reaching up for her sippy cup.

"Here," Castle said, quickly handing it to her. He sat down next to her and Beckett, watching the baby drinking from her cup. "Should we start?"

"We should," Beckett said, taking the cup Josie had set down to stand up. She watched her husband hold the baby while he was keeping the remote out of her way. "Sweetie," she told the baby. "You need to sit; we're going to watch your favorite show."

"Sab," Josie said.

"Yes, Sesame Street," Castle said, starting the show. He shared a smile with his wife as she looked at the TV when the theme music started and watched with her while the show began. He then turned his attention to Josie; glad she was smiling so much until the show was over and his wife was talking to their baby girl.

"Did you like that show?" Beckett asked her.

"Mama," Josie said with a smile before she laughed.

"I'll take that as a yes," Beckett told her husband when she glanced at him with a smile. She then turned her attention to Josie again and saw the baby was walking to the coffee table. "Hold on sweetie," she said with a smile, hurrying to meet her. "We'll play with you right now," she said, taking the foam shapes they'd set there.

"Here," Castle said, reaching for them. He then started the juggle three of the shapes and smiled as Josie was laughing at him doing that.

"Show off," Beckett told him. "Stop though, we need to teach her before we have to write."

"Yeah," Castle said quickly. He let the shapes drop, smiling at the way Josie was squealing and then told her, "Which one is the square?"

Looking at her father, Josie smiled when he urged her to find the square again before she sat down and reached for a shape.

"Not quite," Beckett said, the baby having grabbed a pyramid shaped foam piece.

"That's it," Castle told her when Josie had gotten the square.

"Now you need to let go," Beckett said laughingly as she gently took the shape from Josie. She kissed her forehead and said, "You did a good job though sweetie. Which one is blue?" asking that since Castle had laid out all the shapes in front of them.

"Ba," Josie said. "Boo," she then said.

"Oh!" Castle said, pretending to jump and making his wife and their daughter laugh. "You scared me."

"Dada," Josie giggled, standing up and reaching for him.

"I know," Castle said, kissing her gently on the lips. "But you have to find the blue one."

"Boo," Josie said again, looking down at the shapes. She picked up the blue one and said, "Boo!"

"Right," Beckett said, taking the baby into her arms and kissing her tenderly. "Good job sweetie. Can you find the ball now?"

"Ba-ba," Josie said before looking down at the shapes. She picked up the ball and then dropped it on the ground, laughing before she went to Beckett.

While the baby put her arms around her neck, Beckett kissed her tenderly before she said, "Want to try to find something else?"

"Should we?" Castle asked.

"Colors at least," Beckett said with a smile at Josie. She kissed her again and then said, "Find what's red sweetie."

Josie looked down at the shapes before she picked up a pentagon shaped piece and took it to her father, "Dada, up!"

"That's the red one," Castle said, nodding his head with a smile. He kissed her before he said, "What about one that's yellow?" He and Beckett were then having Josie give them the other colors until the baby seemed to tire and sat down before picking up the shapes. "Well," he said to his wife as they looked at each other. "Should we head in to write?"

"You really want to ask me?" Beckett teased him.

"Not really but I know you're expecting me to," Castle said simply. He smiled when she laughed before he was startled at her shaking her head.

"I think we can wait a little," Beckett said. "Let her play a little more."

Nodding, Castle watched Josie with her for a short time before he turned his attention to his wife. He kept glancing at her before he reached for her hand which made her look to him. He wasn't surprised at her surprise, and he was about to speak when she moved closer to him.

"What's wrong?" Beckett said.

"Nothing," Castle said, reaching for her and wrapping his arm around her waist.

"Rick," Beckett said simply.

"I had to," Castle replied.

"We have to watch Josie," Beckett reminded him.

"We are," Castle said, leaning down to her. He was relieved when she responded to his kiss, and he held her with both his arms before pulling her tightly against his chest.

Beckett couldn't forget Josie, but she was enjoying the kiss greatly until her husband pulled away. "Wait," she said, trying to stop him as he was leaning into her again. But before she could say anything else, her husband was kissing at her neck, and she closed her eyes tightly at the sensation before she heard something. "Oh Rick… you need to stop," she breathed out.

"Josie?" Castle asked, doing so to ask that question. When his wife nodded, he turned to see the baby had started to walk away from them, and he was quiet as they were watching. He bit back his laughter when Josie was walking around the other side of the table before Macca got up and literally herded her back to them.

"Good boy Macca," Beckett said with a smile as the Wolfhound sat down.

Josie turned to the dog and wrapped her arms around him before she said, "Mas."

"I guess we need to start writing now?" Castle asked his wife.

"That would be helpful," Beckett replied before he was kissing her suddenly. She moaned briefly in surprise before she was focusing her attention on kissing him deeply before they were parted, and her husband kissed at her neck again. That time she didn't stop him, instead the sound of the gate opening did, and she said, "Rick, stop they're back."

"Wh-" Castle started to say before he realized who she was talking about. He couldn't help groaning and said, "Okay, I guess I should have thought of that in the first place." He waited for his wife to get up, watching her grabbing Josie before they went together to the garage where their parents were getting out of Jim's car. "Welcome back," he called to his mother and father in law.

"Gam!" Josie called.

"I see you kiddo," Martha said. "But I need to get my things first."

"How are Julia and Eliza?" Jim asked his daughter.

"Good, they were asking about you to walk to school with you," Beckett said with a smile.

"We will tomorrow," Jim said with a nod as they got their suitcases.

"What about Alexis and Louis?" Martha asked.

"We haven't seen them since Saturday," Beckett answered.

"Oh good," Martha said with a nod. "I was telling Jim I hoped they'd still do that since Alexis told me what she wanted to give him; he did need those boots."

"I guess they told everyone but us," Castle commented to his wife while they walked back into the house.

"Alexis told me about Louis' boots," Beckett replied. She smiled when he pretended to frown and said, "It wasn't that she didn't want you to know, she wasn't sure."

"Oh, well… I guess that makes sense," Castle said. He then turned to their parents when they were in the foyer and told them, "We were about to write for a little before we got lunch. So if you want to take Josie then go ahead but-"

"Sorry," Beckett said when she took her phone from her pocket after handing Josie to her husband. She looked at the number calling and saw it was Brad before she motioned to Castle. "Brad?" she said to the chief once she had answered. "Hold on a second." Once her husband was with her, they went into the living room and she put the call to speakerphone before saying, "Rick is here with me, what do you have?"

"There's been a murder at the Rowland Haunted Manse," Brad said. "I'll text you the address and I'll fill you in when you're here."

"We're leaving right now," Beckett said as her husband was leaving to tell their parents. She was about to say goodbye when the chief was stopping her, surprising her greatly with his request.

"Bring Patrick with you," Brad said.

"We will," Beckett said once she'd shaken herself. She looked at her husband once she'd hung up before she told him what his friend had told her.

"I guess it begins now," Castle said. "Hopefully he'll be able to come."

"He didn't sound like he had plans," Beckett said as they were moving to the entry, meeting their parents and Josie on the way. She went straight to the baby in her mother in law's arms and kissed her tenderly before saying, "We'll be back soon sweetie. Have fun with your Gram and Grandpapa."

"Mama," Josie said, reaching out to her.

Taking the baby into her arms, Beckett hugged her tightly and kissed her again before handing her to Castle while she hurried to grab her red coat.

"Listen to your mom," Castle told the baby, kissing her and holding her close to him. "And don't make too much trouble for your grandparents."

"Dada go," Josie asked.

"Yeah, but we'll try and hurry with this case okay?" Castle asked, laughing when she shook her head. He kissed her again before handing her to his mother and said as his wife gave him his coat, "Thank you love. We'll try to get to the dance class but please tell Julia we wanted to make it if we don't."

"She'll understand," Jim said. "And don't forget to have lunch."

"We won't," Beckett said, unable to help smiling at her dad reminding them. She hugged him quickly and did the same with Martha before she and her husband were heading into the garage.

"I suppose we shouldn't be very surprised," Martha commented when their children had left them. "It's been some time since they had a case."

"Katie was telling me they were enjoying the time off," Jim said as they went back upstairs. "The time with Josie."

"I would feel the same," Martha said.

"I'll unpack as fast as I can," Jim said.

"Take your time," Martha said a little absently since her attention was on their youngest granddaughter.

Jim smiled as Josie was laughing at her grandmother and then went into his room so he could have his time with the baby.