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 very pleased to get the feedback I did for the last chapter so I'll go right into my thank yous! TORONTOSUN (Happy to read that you liked how the chapter was based on Julia, it was fun to write so that was nice to see!),
Guest (Really nice to see you're enjoying this story along with the series. You're welcome for them!) and
Mb (I was glad that you thought the chapter was a nicely done update too. And I thought you'd meant intriguing so I'm glad I was right. Really pleased you said it was good Julia was able to help Adam and Tamara have another chance to connect before she helped him cross over. The same for you saying it was good that Skye was able to coach Julia too with what she knew about doing that process. I wasn't surprised you loved Beckett and Julia's talk along with the memories they had, I enjoy writing it so I was really happy about it too! You're welcome for sharing the chapter!).
Thanks for the reviews, I loved reading them all as usual and I appreciate the time taken to write them out and send them my way!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song She's My Baby by Paul and Linda McCartney, from the Wings album Wings at the Speed of Sound.
Of The Evening Tide
"Julia?"
"Yeah Mom?" the girl said, turning to her mother while she was walking around the couch to her.
"You're not mad are you?" Beckett asked her as she sat on the floor in between her second oldest and her husband.
"No," Julia said with a slight smile. "I thought you might keep me here anyways."
"We just wanted to make sure," Castle commented from where he was playing with Josie. "Hey, get back here," he said teasingly to the baby.
"No," Josie told him, laughing as she held onto the side of the coffee table. She squealed when he pretended to grab at her before he took her hand and she ran around to him. "Dada!"
"Josie!" Castle exclaimed.
Laughing with her mother as her baby sister squealed again, Julia turned back to her French homework and said, "I hope Lizzy's not mad."
"She's not," Castle said simply.
"Your grandpapa texted me and told me she was fine with coming home," Beckett explained. "She wants to."
"Yeah, just so you know now we're not leaving until four like we planned," Castle said. He heard the chime of the gate opening outside and smiled saying, "There they are, how are you on your homework?"
"Good," Julia said. "I finished French and Math and all I have left is English."
"Is that reading?" Beckett asked. When her daughter nodded, she smiled saying, "You know what to do."
"At least let me say hi to everyone," Julia said in mock protest.
"After they come in," Beckett said.
"You didn't let your mom finish," Castle told her jokingly.
"Hello!" Martha called out.
"Eliza don't run," Beckett called as she could hear the little girl starting to.
"Sorry Mommy," she said before hurrying around the couch and to Julia. Eliza hugged her big sister tightly and said, "Gram told me what you did. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm good," Julia said firmly so her sister would be sure. She hugged her back before letting her go and then said, "Sorry about dance class."
"Ms. Grey canceled it," a voice said, making Julia look up to the doorway.
"'lexis!" she said eagerly, getting up and hurrying to her. Embracing her tightly she pulled back and asked, "You finished already?"
"I did," Alexis said. "I had only one appointment earlier this morning and I finished." When they let each other go finally she asked, "You're really okay?"
"I am," Julia said with a smile since she could tell her big sister was genuinely concerned.
"Eliza," Castle said then. "Why don't you change out of your uniform."
"Oh, okay," Eliza said. "I'll come back!" she said before leaving.
Julia wasn't surprised when Alexis was asking about the case and listened to their parents explaining what they'd found out. But she was startled when they looked at her after that and she said, "Do you know what I did?"
"Gram texted me," Alexis replied. "But she just said you were helping a spirit?"
Explaining everything in more detail to her sister Julia eventually said, "I just rested here, and they didn't want me to get tired again at practice."
"I don't blame them," Alexis told her. "And you'll go back tomorrow?"
"She will," Beckett said with a smile since Julia had immediately looked at her to answer.
"But we'll be watching her while she's practicing," Jim said.
"Okay, I'd say I will too but I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it," Alexis said.
"'lexis!" Eliza cried as she walked into the room.
Laughing with the others as Josie was doing so first, Alexis then asked, "What is it?"
"Will you come for dinner?" Eliza asked. She then turned to the others and asked, "Can she come for dinner?"
"That's fine," Martha said quickly as she saw her son had turned to her.
"It is, but Louis?" Jim asked.
"I'll text him, see what he says about coming over," Alexis replied.
"Now that we have everything set," Castle said, looking over at Eliza.
"I have homework," the little girl said, pretending to pout. She went over to the coffee table and said, "I need to make a drawing for English."
"Oh yeah?" Castle asked.
"Yeah, we're reading Farmer Boy," Eliza reminded him.
"That's right," Castle said with a nod as he let Josie go to walk over to her mother. "What do you need to draw?"
"What we think is gonna happen in the chapter about Almanzo's birthday," Eliza replied.
"What're you going to draw?" Julia asked.
"I think sledding," Eliza said. She looked at their parents and asked, "Do you think it's cheating 'cause I read the book already?"
"Did you tell your teacher that?" Beckett asked. When the little girl nodded, she smiled and said, "She didn't say it was unfair?" At Eliza's shake of her head she said, "Then you're fine sweetie." She wasn't surprised when her second youngest smiled before she turned to Julia who was standing up and speaking at the same time.
"I'll be back," she said to everyone. "I don't have to read too much and then I'll be finished with homework," Julia said, obviously gratefully. She went over to the parlor and started to walk around the room as she read. As she had said it wasn't much and she finished when her father appeared at the hallway. "I finished Dad," she told him.
"I was just going to ask if you wanted a snack," Castle told her.
"That would be nice," Julia said. "Want me to help you?"
"Get your stuff set for tomorrow," Castle told her as he wrapped his arm around her when she joined him. "And if I'm in the kitchen then you can help me out." He let her go and watched her go back to the family room before he turned to the kitchen. He cut up some vegetables and got ranch for everyone, nearly finished when he heard footsteps and looked up to find it was Julia. "Want to get some drinks for everyone?" he asked her.
"Sure," Julia said, returning to everyone else again.
Castle, finishing up the last of the veggies, was a little startled hearing the girl saying, "Mom, I could get everything by myself," looking up to find his wife was walking down the hall with their daughter.
"Yes, but you'd be going back and forth for a while," Beckett pointed out. "This way we'll be quicker. What do you want to drink love?"
"I'll just take some water," Castle replied.
Nodding, Beckett helped Julia with the drinks, sending the girl over to the family room with Josie's sippy cup and Eliza's cup, both filled with apple juice.
"How is everyone?" Castle asked.
Rolling her eyes, though she couldn't fight the smile that spread over her lips, Beckett said, "Fine, you weren't gone that long." She glanced down the hall and then said to her husband, "Did you want to leave sooner?"
"Did you?" Castle asked.
Sighing, Beckett said, "I've been debating it in my mind, but I don't want to leave the girls."
"But you want to go and be alone; even if we're just sleeping when we go to bed," Castle said. When his wife nodded, he said, "That's what I've been thinking too."
"Maybe pull back our departure time to three-thirty?" Beckett asked, since they'd been planning to leave as soon as they'd gotten back from the dance class if they'd finished the case.
"I think that would work," Castle said. "But we have to ask the girls first."
"Of course," Beckett said with a smile before she saw Julia coming over to them. She handed her two glasses before taking the last two and they went with Castle back to the family room. She sat with her husband on the couch and watched the girls as they were eating the veggies and talking together about what they wanted to do.
"You two aren't going to eat?" Martha asked, quickly noticing they weren't grabbing anything from the plate.
"Not really," Beckett said though she was grabbing a carrot. "Rick has some trail mix for the drive."
"Have some too Daddy," Eliza said, giving him a celery stick.
"Thank you, but this is mostly for you guys," Castle said. "And did you decide on what you wanted to do?"
"Could we play a video game?" Julia asked.
"The driving one," Beckett said firmly.
"I wasn't going to say to play the Switch," Julia told her hurriedly.
"Good," Castle said. "That would be way too much for you."
"For today," Beckett said as Julia was frowning a little. "If you feel you're better you can go back to everything tomorrow, but they'll keep an eye on you like we talked about already."
"Okay," Julia said.
"What, you're not going to protest?" Alexis asked her little sister with a smile.
"I'm lucky they don't make me stay the rest of the night sitting," Julia said, smiling herself when her family had all begun laughing. She helped her big sister in getting the things for the game and they were just about to start it when their father was getting their attention.
"Girls, we were talking about leaving a little earlier than we'd planned," Castle said.
"Now?" Eliza asked.
"No," Beckett said. "In about a half hour."
"Oh, that's okay," Eliza said.
"She's right," Julia said, glancing at her little sister and then at their parents. "That way you can spend a little more time at the house."
"Thank you, we'll try and come back earlier too," Castle said.
"Don't!" the three oldest said at the same time, making their father jump slightly.
"Do!" Josie then said.
Laughing with the others while Beckett cuddled the baby and kissed her cheek, Castle then said, "We'll come back when we want, you can't make us."
Eliza stuck her tongue out at Castle before she said, "But you don't have to."
"We know," Beckett before her husband could speak. "But we'll come back when we want to, likely after breakfast. And remember Patrick and Trevor are coming with us so they'll want to go back to their home too."
"Want me to text him for you?" Castle asked his wife, seeing her trying to keep her phone away from Josie.
"That would be nice," Beckett said. She watched the girls starting to play the racing game Castle had and then looked at her husband when she got a text back.
"They're fine with it and they'll be over here five minutes before," he told her.
"Tell them we'll see them then," Beckett replied.
"Sure," Castle said absently as he was already texting.
Turning her attention back to Josie, Beckett said, "Should we get her a dress this year Rick?"
"From Tahiti?" Castle asked, finishing the message and sending it.
"You should," Alexis said since she wasn't racing at that point.
"I was going to agree," Castle told his wife.
"Get it in blue!" Julia said, exclaiming as she had her eyes on the race.
Beckett laughed softly and then said, "We were planning to sweetie."
"Oh good," Julia said, turning to them when they were finished. She let her big sister take the steering wheel console and got up to go to the couch.
Handing Josie to her husband, Beckett wrapped her arms around Julia once she was sitting next to her and said, "Okay?"
"Yeah, I just wanted to spend a little more time with you," Julia said.
"Thank you," Castle said, laughing at Josie grabbing at his nose. "And thank you Josie," he said jokingly, taking her hand and pretending to bite at it as the baby was laughing heavily.
Rubbing Julia's arm, Beckett looked down at her daughter and said, "You'll spend time with her while we're gone right?"
"I will," the girl said seriously. Julia looked at her father and seeing him raising and lowering Josie in front of him laughed when he had her stand on his knees. "Tap dance Josa," she told him.
"Jules," Josie said, smiling at her sister.
"I know, it should be fun, do it," Julia urged her.
"Okay, okay," Castle said before they were laughing together, and he kissed Josie gently before setting her back on his lap. With his free arm he wrapped it around Beckett's waist, holding her close while he tried not to focus on the anticipation he was starting to feel as their time to leave neared.
"We're all set," Darnley told Beckett after he walked over from the car.
"I saw," Beckett said with a nod before turning her attention to her father. "Thank you, you too Martha," she said to her mother in law.
"Don't worry darling," Castle's mother said. "We'll treasure the time and make sure they don't miss you too much."
"She's right," Alexis said.
"But we will still," Eliza said hurriedly.
"We know," Castle said with a laugh. He then turned his attention to Josie, taking her from Alexis and hugging her tightly.
"Dada," the baby said before they parted.
"I love you sweetheart," Castle told her seriously. He kissed her tenderly and told her, "We'll call you later."
"You can wait for tomorrow," Julia said in a rush. She smiled as her parents looked at her and said, "Really, we talked about it and that's fine. But make sure you call us tomorrow."
"We will," Beckett replied with a smile before she watched her husband hug and kiss Josie a second time. Taking the baby, she did the same thing immediately and kissed her tenderly before she said, "I love you too sweetie. We'll see you for sure tomorrow."
"Lo," Josie said seriously as she was staring at her mother.
Kissing her forehead, Beckett said, "Thank you Josie, have fun with everyone and don't make too much trouble."
"Yes," Josie said before she smiled. "Mama."
"Uh-oh," Castle said. "Sounds like she's serious about that."
Laughing, Beckett said, "I think she'll be good."
"We'll make sure she is Mommy," Eliza said before she watched Josie being handed to Jim. She knew she was next, and she hugged her parents at the same time saying, "I'll miss you but have the most fun you can have there."
"That's the plan," Castle said with a smile. "But we love you Eliza."
"And you don't need to be told to be good," Beckett said teasingly.
"Oh no Mommy," Eliza said seriously. "I know already. And I'll help with Josa too."
"Good," Beckett said. "Love you sweetie," she told her.
"Love you Mommy, Daddy," Eliza told them with a smile. She shared a kiss with them both, watching them turning to Alexis which surprised her for a second before she remembered they wanted a little extra time with Julia after what she'd done that day.
"We could move in," Alexis was saying to her parents, hugging her mother first.
"That's okay," Beckett told her.
"She's right, we're not going for that long and your gram and grandpapa can handle the girls with Julia and Eliza's help," Castle said.
"Still," Alexis said.
"Girls," Beckett said as her oldest was looking at her two sisters. "They need to work."
"We weren't going to ask them," Julia said quickly.
"Yeah, they have to decide," Eliza added.
"Then you have that all set," Beckett said.
"We do. Have fun and love you," Alexis said.
"Love you too Alexis. We'll text you," Beckett told her oldest.
"Thank you, Mom, I'll answer back as soon as I can," Alexis told her with a smile before she turned to her father. She hugged him tightly and said, "I love you too Dad. And please have fun."
"Yeah, I already promised two of my girls that, so I think I'm set," Castle said, laughing when she gave an exaggerated sigh. "I love you Alexis, don't work too hard."
"I won't," the young woman replied before they went to the front of the house to wait there as Julia turned to her parents.
"I'm good, so you don't have to worry about that. I really want you to have fun," Julia implored them.
"We will," Beckett said. "But we have to worry about you."
"It's definitely a requirement," Castle commented.
Julia smiled at him before she turned to her mother and hugged her as tightly as she could saying, "I love you Mom, have fun until we talk to you tomorrow."
"We will," Beckett replied. "And I love you too. Have fun with everyone and make sure you help when you can."
Nodding, Julia shared a quick kiss with her mother before she went to her father and hugged him tightly. "Love you Dad," she told him.
"Love you too," Castle replied. He shared a kiss with her before he said, "And with all the helping promise you'll play games with your sisters."
"Of course," Julia said. She hugged her mother one more time before hurrying over to where the others were waiting.
"Sorry about that," Castle said to the two men who were still waiting.
"It's okay," Nkosi said first.
"He's right, if you'd been at our place you would have seen the same thing," Darnley said before they were getting into the car.
"Are the kids okay with you going?" Beckett asked.
"They are, they were promised trips to the park and finding shells on the beach," Darnley said with a smile. "So while they didn't want us to go, they wanted to go there."
Beckett smiled before she was waving to the girls as they were backing up until her husband was turning them around. When they were on the street outside, she said, "Did you guys have anything to eat?"
"No, you said you were going to have something," Darnley said.
"I hope you don't mind trail mix," Beckett said, giving the two men bags her husband had gotten ready. She smiled as her husband was letting out a mock annoyed growl before he was responding to what she'd said in mock irritation.
"It was the easiest thing to grab," Castle said. He couldn't help laughing with the two men before he said, "And now I'm realizing it was a stupid choice for me."
"Not really," Darnley said. When the writer glanced back at him briefly, he said, "She'll have to feed you."
"I didn't do that on purpose," Castle told his wife in a rush, feeling a little relief when she started smiling at him.
"I don't mind Rick," Beckett said, feeding him a little of the trail mix. She wanted him to nip at her fingertips or take them in his mouth, but he merely thanked her and she ate a little herself to ignore her disappointment. She looked at the view outside before Darnley was getting her attention behind her.
"When we get there, what are you guys going to do after you unpack?" the carpenter asked.
"We didn't have anything planned," Beckett replied. "Maybe just relax?"
"After that case? That would be nice," Darnley said.
"He told me what you found out," Nkosi said. "And I can't believe she would hate her son that much."
"He looks a lot like his father," Castle commented. "Looked," he corrected himself. "And the two of them weren't that happy."
"I think it's more Mr. Dalton wasn't," Darnley said. "It's a shame Tamara's mother isn't alive still."
"That's an assumption," Beckett told him.
"Yes, but they could have had a couple dates," Castle said.
"Maybe," Beckett said in agreement before she turned to look out the window. They had long since finished the trail mix and said, "Did Rick tell you at all what time dinner would be?"
"No, why, it's late?" Nkosi asked.
"A little, not until seven," Beckett replied.
"Seven!" Darnley exclaimed. As his friend looked back at him, he said, "Okay, seven it is."
Beckett smiled at the way her friend grabbed his husband's hand and looked out the window. She was thinking of the time she and her husband would have in their room and glanced at him before she realized he was turning. She smiled and said to the backseat, "We're almost there."
"I can see why the owners had the party they did," Darnley said, looking around. "This place is super isolated," he added.
Turning left at the end of the driveway, Castle looked at his wife when the carpenter whistled and said, "I should have bet with you."
"You thought Patrick would have that reaction?" Nkosi asked them with a smile.
"I did," Castle said.
"I knew he'd appreciate it," Beckett said. "Whistle or not was never part of the discussion."
"Fine, it wasn't, but I knew there would be something," Castle said. He parked along some other cars and said, "Looks like everyone's starting to arrive."
Beckett smiled, since there weren't that many, and she squeezed his arm briefly before they got out along with Darnley and Nkosi. The men wouldn't let her go to the trunk and she said, "You know my suitcase isn't that heavy."
"I'd like to be helpful," Castle said.
Rolling her eyes, Beckett turned her attention to watching them empty the trunk of the four suitcases and garment bags as she was smiling. She took the two her husband handed to her and said, "So we'll meet you for dinner?"
"Yeah, at the top of the stairs?" Darnley said.
After she had nodded, Beckett walked with her husband before they were stepping inside to find the Kemps were there waiting. She greeted the two before they were checking in and Darnley was doing the same for him and Nkosi.
"Dinner is at seven," Beatrice Kemp said. "Everything in the back is open since we have no snow."
"And it's great to have you back," John Kemp added.
"Thank you," Castle said before they were heading through the entry and to the staircase.
"This house is nice," Darnley said.
"It's a mansion," Castle commented as they started up. "It belonged to the Sachs family. Actually, I should say they're the family that built it."
"The Sachs as in carriage makers and then aircraft makers?" Nkosi asked.
Nodding Castle said, "They are, John's father bought the place and worked on it to make it the B&B it is now."
"Nice," Darnley said. "Where's your room?"
"Down this way," Beckett said, nodding to their left.
"Okay," Darnley said. "Then we'll see you later."
"Bye," Beckett said with a smile, watching them walk down a few more doors before stopping at one. She felt her husband touching her arm and she smiled at him, turning to walk down to their room at the other end. After he'd opened the door she walked inside first and told him, "Did you want to do anything before dinner?"
"Relax like we talked about," Castle said. "Did you want to do something else?" he asked in a little surprise.
Motioning for him to lock the door, Beckett led the way into the bedroom and told him, "I was thinking about starting now. But…"
"But…" Castle echoed as he went to her and took the garment bags off her arm.
"I'd like to wait still," Beckett said. "So what we can do… I don't know," she told him, a little startled her tone was more frustrated than she'd meant it to be. But her husband was reaching for her, taking her hand before he spoke gently, and she smiled at him a little so he'd know she wasn't mad.
"Why don't we unpack," Castle began. "I can make coffee or tea," he continued, nodding to the brewer. "And we can sit and talk… or read. Whatever you'd like."
"Tea sounds nice," Beckett said. "And reading?"
"I have some books," Castle said. "Not those books," he told her in a rush.
"I didn't think you meant those," Beckett said in amusement. She saw her husband was hesitating and asked, "What is it?" in surprise.
"I only brought one," Castle said.
"I know," Beckett told him easily. When he looked at her, startled, she smiled and said, "I was right there Rick."
"Oh," Castle said. "Did you see which one?"
"I did," Beckett replied. "The 365 one, and I don't blame you. You're saving our Kama Sutra for Tahiti." At his nod she said, "It's fine, we haven't used the 365 book that much. Let's unpack."
"You're not going to ask at all about the reading part?" Castle asked her.
"Why don't we get my tablet," Beckett suggested as he was hanging the garment bags in the closet. She went over to her costume and took the bag off, checking to make sure her costume wasn't too badly wrinkled.
"Does it need to be ironed?" Castle asked his wife.
"No, we're fine," Beckett said, glancing at his suit. She couldn't help smiling and said while her husband was putting her suitcase on the bed, "Julia was asking if you'd bring the hat."
"Look, I know that in Singing in the Rain he wore that kind of hat but that was a weirdly long dance sequence," Castle said as he went to get his suitcase set.
Beckett couldn't help laughing and then said, "But it's accurate."
"Fedoras were too," Castle grumbled.
Beckett smiled at him but turned her attention to her things and started packing them, eventually telling him, "I really don't have anything Rick."
"We don't need anything," Castle replied firmly as he was aware she was talking about any lingerie. "Just that."
Looking at the positions book he'd tossed towards her, Beckett smiled briefly and picked it up, setting it in the drawer of her nightstand. "True, but Tahiti will be different," she said as she turned back to him.
"Don't torture me, we have a lot left until we go," Castle said in a feigned tense tone of voice.
"I'm thinking the same love," Beckett told him with a smile. "But we have right now. Remember? The trip you were afraid I wasn't too enthusiastic about since we had the other trip so close to it."
"I'm more assured you are now," Castle said.
Smiling briefly, Beckett turned her attention to her suitcase which she had emptied, zipping it closed and letting Castle take it for her before she went out to the main room of their suite. She went to the brewer and looked at the options for it, calling eventually to her husband, "Rick, they have Earl Grey and-" before she cut herself off as he was wrapping his arms from behind her around her waist. She was about to speak before he leaned down to her and proceeded to kiss at the side of her head before he began murmuring into her ear.
"We couldn't kiss a little?" Castle asked her.
"Póg?" Beckett replied with a smile. She felt her husband nod in response, and she said, "We could but we'd be playing with fire you know."
"With our clothes on?" Castle asked.
"Which come off easily," Beckett said.
"Not really," Castle said.
Turning to him Beckett said, "I'm kidding love." She raised herself up on her toes and brushed her lips against his before she said, "I'd love that, but we can't do that for long."
"I realize, and we'll have your tablet so…" Castle started to say before he trailed off. He leaned down and kissed her tenderly before they slowly parted and he said, "Earl Grey sounds perfect, is there honey?"
Smiling at him changing the subject, Beckett looked at the credenza the brewer was on and said, "There is, go sit. I'll take care of everything."
"Sure," Castle said though he hesitated for a moment. But he knew his wife was serious and she was going to get the tea already. Going to the bedroom he grabbed her tablet from the nightstand and went back to the turret and the couch there. Turning it on he called, "Mind if I start playing?"
"No, but I won't take that long," Beckett said. She got the first cup of tea ready before the second was set and she walked over to her husband, seeing he was staring at the screen of her tablet intently. "Are you going to stop?" she asked him.
"Yeah," Castle said. He stopped the app he was on and set aside the tablet to get his mug. He took a sip and said, "I feel weird."
"I know," Beckett said with a smile as she'd been watching him. "We were running around for the case and now we're here." She grew serious and said, "I was worried about her."
"Skye did mention she would be drained," Castle told her, scooting over to her and wrapping his arm around her. He was a little startled when she suddenly began moving and he took her mug before she sat on his lap. "It's why she needed you."
"She was better after we'd been laying in bed for a while," Beckett said.
"What did you talk about?" Castle couldn't help saying.
Beckett smiled and told him what she knew Julia wouldn't mind him hearing, and she told him when she'd finished, "It was like doing that with her again when she was little. Though back then she liked to talk about horses and dancing… dogs too."
"Sounds like Alexis," Castle said. He watched her finishing her tea before she took his mug and set them both on the coffee table in front of them. When she turned back to him, he said, "Like Eliza too. We just need for Josie to get a little better at talking and she'll follow her sisters."
"She does already," Beckett said a little absently, gently brushing his hair back from the sides of his forehead. She realized what she'd said quickly, and she reached down, covering her husband's mouth with her hand before she told him, "Don't say it."
"But you set it up so nicely," Castle said in a mock whining tone.
Shaking her head, Beckett leaned down and brushed her lips to his before pressing her head to his. "Rick?" she eventually said as they'd been sitting there for a while.
"Yeah love?" Castle asked, running his hand up and down her arm gently.
"Why do you want to wait?" Beckett asked before he was smiling and kissing her. She wasn't surprised at the kiss, that it was so gentle, but was that it was brief and was about to call him on that; intending to tease him; before he spoke a little huskily while he stared into her eyes.
"Because Patrick and Trevor are here and I know you want to spend time with them too," Castle said.
"You think we wouldn't be able to stop for dinner?" Beckett asked though she was speaking seriously.
"No," Castle said. "I know it's only been two days but…"
"It's long enough," Beckett said in amusement. She wasn't surprised when he nodded and then said, "Remember when I gave you the trail mix in the car?" At his nod she leaned down to him and kissed him lightly before moving away to tell him, "I wanted you to… bite at my fingers like you do, suck on them… anything."
Castle had to take a moment before he could respond to that, since he was thinking of what that would have been like and it led him to say, "Even with Patrick and Trevor there?"
"I was that desperate," Beckett replied with a nod.
Studying his wife, Castle said, "How do you feel about needing that?"
Beckett was a little startled he'd said that, but it quickly came to her he was thinking of her past relationships. "It doesn't scare me if you're thinking that," she told him.
"No, but it's not something you were really needing," Castle pointed out.
"And I'm enjoying it now," Beckett said, cupping his cheek with her hand. She leaned down to him and lightly brushed her lips to his before she pulled back to tell him, "And it's going to take forever to get to tomorrow," before she closed the gap between them and they were kissing again.
That time, Castle and Beckett didn't try to stop themselves, allowing their kisses to continue without too much time pausing. They were alternating between gentle and passionate, lingering and going quickly, just enjoying each other in a simpler way until they would need to stop and join the other guests at the home.
"Hey Kate," Castle said, knocking on the door.
"You can come in," Beckett called to her husband. "It's unlocked." She smiled as he pushed open the barn door and said, "Good change?"
"Very, we can both fit," Castle told her. He kissed her shoulder through her blouse and asked, "Ready?"
Beckett smiled at him briefly before putting on some lip gloss and she said, "Now I am."
"Do you want to text the girls at all?" Castle asked as he led the way back to the bedroom.
"Josie's asleep and I'm sure Julia and Eliza are playing some game with Alexis," Beckett said.
"Think it's a video game?" Castle asked. He was startled when his wife smiled at him and said, "What?"
"I told my dad and your mom not to let them play that," Beckett replied. "Once today was enough."
"It is," Castle said quickly, in case she might think he wanted them to play again. "But when we go back, I'm playing with them at some point."
"I expected it," Beckett said, putting on her blue Stella McCartney jacket. "We need to go," she said as her husband stepped up to her. She wasn't surprised when he wrapped his arms around her and was quick to place her hands on his chest to stop him before he was speaking rapidly again.
"I know, I know you put your makeup on but… you do look amazing," Castle told her.
Beckett moved and gently took her husband's hand before telling him, "Thank you, and you look great yourself." She entwined their fingers at that moment and told him, "We need to go but you can continue that later."
"Great," Castle said, slightly startled when his wife tugged his arm and pulled him over to the door. "Hopefully we're not too late," he commented. "Or too early. We never mentioned to Patrick and Trevor what time we'd meet at the stairs."
Since she'd opened the door by then, Beckett said, "Neither." She smiled when her husband looked at her in confusion and nodded outside.
Spotting the two men at the top of the stairs, talking to each other, Castle said to his wife, "Let me lock the door."
Smiling again while she let go of his hand so he could do so Beckett went over to them saying, "How's your room?"
"Really nice, it's got a fireplace which I was not expecting," Darnley said first.
"Not a lot of the rooms do, but a few of them have those," Beckett said.
"You said yours did?" Nkosi asked.
"It does," Beckett said before her husband was walking up to them.
"How's your view?" Castle asked as they turned to start going down the stairs.
"Great," Darnley replied. "The land goes far back."
"It does," Beckett said. "We've walked out there."
"Not that far," Castle said. "Though we actually did when we were here for the party before."
"You said you'd been looking around for the suspect right?" Darnley asked.
Nodding her head Beckett said with a smile, "So we didn't really have the chance to look around."
"By the way," Darnley said, smiling at her. "That is one nice jacket."
Beckett laughed softly and said, "Thank you, I thought you might comment on it." Darnley only had a chance to smile at her as they were entering the dining room and they gathered around the table, sitting in a row as the other guests were coming in and sitting as well.
"Do you recognize anyone?" Darnley asked.
"Not really," Beckett replied, realizing she didn't as she was watching the others sitting. "Just the Kemps," she said, looking at him with a smile.
"They seem nice," Nkosi said.
"Rick thought when we first came here they were homicidal," Beckett said in amusement.
"Hey, circumstances didn't really say anything else," Castle said.
"Was it night?" Darnley asked.
"It was," Beckett said in amusement. They had to turn their attention to the Kemps since they were entering the dining room and she smiled at her husband quickly when he took her hand as John Kemp was starting to speak.
"Welcome everyone to our Halloween celebration," the co-owner said. "The party is in two nights, but we appreciate everyone wanting to stay with us for a few days. So cheers to our group and our get together."
Saying cheers with the others, Castle tapped his glass against his wife's, and they drank their wine before the food was served. He looked at the squash soup and said to the others, "I almost forgot it was fall."
Giving him a look, since the table had small pumpkins and squashes, Beckett said, "Nice try."
"I had to try some comedy," Castle said.
"Are you drunk?" Beckett asked teasingly, keeping her voice low.
"One sip," Castle said, nodding his head.
Doing her best not to laugh, Beckett turned her attention to her soup and started to eat before she heard Beatrice Kemp starting to speak to the guests near her.
"We have a catering company staying here, they'll provide all three meals until Saturday morning," the woman was saying with a smile. "And they're catering desserts for the party of course."
"You're not having a murder mystery party?" Castle couldn't help asking.
"No," John said, smiling down the table at him. "Just a party and dancing, hopefully that's enough."
"It is," Castle said reassuringly.
"Are you sure?" Darnley asked jokingly.
"I am," Castle said, narrowing his eyes at the carpenter. He couldn't keep that for long, laughing before they returned to their soup. Eventually he said to his wife, "Did you want to walk around outside at all after we eat."
"I think we'll pass," Darnley said after sharing a look with his husband. He then looked at his friend and said, "Sorry."
"Oh, don't worry," Beckett said with a smile. "You don't have to come with us everywhere."
"Oh, thought I did," Darnley told her with a smile. He glanced across the table before he grew serious and leaned into his friend saying, "Did you notice-"
"I did," Beckett interrupted him. "And I'm not paying attention to it." She moved to let one of the waiters take her bowl and felt her husband touch her arm. "Don't worry," she told him quickly when she saw the slightly concerned look on his face. "And don't start anything."
"I won't," Castle said quickly. He wanted to say more but their main course was being served so he was quiet. After he'd taken a few bites of the chicken he said, "Too bad Lily isn't here."
"I was thinking that myself," Nkosi said with a smile. "It's a shame they couldn't come. The Fosters too."
"Everyone else has work," Castle said.
"I'm so glad you made it," Darnley told his husband.
"Me too," Nkosi replied.
As they were continuing to eat, Beckett wondered if it was strange that no one else was trying to talk to them though two younger men were glancing at her. When they had finished their dessert of a dome of pumpkin mousse, she mentioned that to her husband and wasn't surprised when he nodded in agreement before leaning into her to reply.
"I wonder if they're awed," Castle said. "Celebrities in their midst."
Beckett tried not to laugh and then said, "The ego is a little unflattering love."
Castle shrugged and then said, "Just making a point." He wanted to kiss her, but everyone was there and starting to get up from the table. "Want me to get our coats?" he asked her.
"Please," Beckett said. She smiled as her husband literally rushed out of the dining room and said to Darnley and Nkosi, "Would you guys mind staying with me for a little?"
"Not at all," the latter said first.
"He's right, we'll keep you company," Darnley said with a grimace.
"Ubhuti omkhulu," Nkosi said in a teasing tone.
"Does that mean big brother?" Beckett asked, admiring his use of the Xhosa language. When the investigator nodded, she laughed softly before she spotted her husband at the top of the stairs. She turned back to the two men and said, "Thank you for the company."
"Doesn't he have a bum knee?" Darnley asked in concern.
"He wouldn't be doing that it if it bothered him that much," Beckett commented with a smile.
"Mind holding that for me?" Castle asked, handing his coat out towards the two men.
"I'll take that," Darnley said in amusement while he watched the writer holding his wife's red coat open for her.
Beckett was tempted to tell her husband he hadn't needed to do that, but decided it wasn't necessary. She slipped her arms through the sleeves and started buttoning it as she watched him getting his coat.
"Are we meeting for any meals tomorrow?" Darnley asked the couple.
"I think we should just settle on dinner," Beckett said when her husband looked at her.
"Okay, goodnight, see you tomorrow," Darnley said.
After Nkosi had said the same; though not as quickly as his husband had; Castle said, "Surprised?"
"Of course," Beckett said, watching the two nearly racing up the stairs together. "But if he doesn't want to comment on that then we should go before it gets any colder." She wasn't surprised when her husband took her hand and let him lead her to the door to the backyard. Since he'd held it open for her she walked out first and stepped onto the path leading to the property's backyard, waiting for her husband to join her.
"How far do you want to head out there?" Castle asked once he was with her.
"Not far," Beckett said, looking at her father's watch. "Hopefully it doesn't rain."
Glancing above them, Castle could make out the stars and said, "It said it was supposed to," before he was being tugged by the hand. He looked down at his wife before they started to walk and he entwined their fingers, holding her close to him the best he could before she was speaking with a slight smile on her face.
"We should have put on gloves," Beckett told him.
"Yes, but we just need to go in sooner," Castle replied.
"Or you just wanted to do that," Beckett said in amusement as her husband had raised her hand to kiss the back of it.
"The idea occurred to me," Castle said, laughing briefly when she playfully nudged him. "But we shouldn't really stay out for that long."
"True," Beckett said. She smiled and said, "This is nice though."
"Are you sure you don't want to go anywhere at all the next two days?" Castle asked her.
Shaking her head Beckett said, "I'm very sure. We can walk around outside during the party." She paused and when her husband had stopped walking as well, she told him, "Though one of us will have to grab our meals."
"I'll do it," Castle said quickly. "All of them." His wife was about to speak, and he hurriedly stopped her saying, "I don't mind."
"I was going to say I'm glad you're offering," Beckett said. "You'll be quicker than I am."
"I hope so," Castle said.
"I noticed them too," Beckett replied as she'd noticed some women glancing at her husband as well. "I thought it'd be couples here."
"I know, I guess they're coming with friends and…" Castle said before he trailed off and shrugged.
Beckett nodded before she had to walk in front of her husband as the path narrowed but they weren't letting go of each other. Once they were walking together again, she stopped him and said, "This is far enough."
"Sure-" Castle started to say, thinking he'd turn back the way they'd come when she was wrapping her arms around him. He was quick to hold her, pulling her against him before he leaned to her and kissed her deeply while they were gripping one another tightly. When they slowly parted, he pressed his forehead to hers and said, "We couldn't do this a little back in our room?"
Smiling, Beckett leaned up so she could brush her lips to her husband's and told him, "I was planning on it." She grew serious and told him, "But it's going to have to be a little."
"We can always tell ourselves we need the rest for tomorrow," Castle commented. He wasn't surprised when his wife pulled away from him and he said, "We're going back?"
"We should," Beckett replied before they let each other go and he took her hand. He entwined his fingers with hers again and he said as they walked back to the house, "What do you think they're doing?"
"Eliza should be in bed now," Beckett said. "And Julia changed and waiting for bedtime."
"Diary?" Castle asked her.
"Maybe," Beckett said, smiling when her husband let her go and wrapped his arm around her once they'd reached the path widening again, holding her tight to his side.