October 27th, 2021
Hello Evangeline! I have a lot to write about though I'm not waiting for Mom and Dad to come and tuck me in; but I'll explain that later.
First today was school of course, well, I should say that Mom and Dad left early today for their case, so it was just Gram and Grandpapa taking us to school. So once school started, I went through Math and English and was a little bit into French when Madame got a call and she told me Mom and Dad were there to check me out. She said for an appointment which was a big surprise, but I tried not to let her see I was since I had a feeling already why they were doing that. I talked to Peter and he was able to get my homework for the other classes we share, and Dawn and Natalie texted me about those classes I have with them.
Mom and Dad were waiting for me in Administration and I was so happy to see them since they told me they solved their case. Remember Adam? Well, they found out who murdered him and unfortunately it was his mother with his brothers helping her. The way Mom and Dad told me, his mom was possessive of his dad and she didn't want to be pregnant with Adam so everything was blamed on him, including the fact that his dad gave him money for the restoration company he was running now. It's all such a stupid reason to kill your own son but I guess she really did hate him. And I'm so, so happy that Mom and Dad are such great parents!
The reason they took me out of school is because Mom knew she wasn't going to be able to help Adam move on and I don't blame her. If you don't know your abilities like she doesn't it wouldn't work. I really thought about why Adam wanted her to do it, but Mom thinks it's because she was working on the case, I wasn't. Though- I almost forgot to say- it was a good thing Adam came to me because I saw the logo for his company on his shirt and that helped Mom, Dad and Brad. But we went to his sister's house, and she was really nice. Really sad, but it makes sense.
I suppose I could go into detail now about the process, but to be honest it was basically talking to Adam, assuring him he could see his sister again and that we all wanted him to have the peace he would be getting. Watching him going with his dad's mom, I had to close my eyes tight because the light was so bright when it enveloped him. And then I opened them I was in Dad's arms, apparently I fainted for a little bit and they were both super worried. I was okay, a little drained but I'm all better now. We had to stay a little longer, Adam's dad wanted to meet Tamara and once he did, they hugged. I was worried to be honest; he was going to be mad at her or she would be mad at him. But I really think not having Adam hurt them both a lot, so they have that to help them with each other.
Julia, finishing the ink that had been in her pen, sighed as she looked over what she'd written so far before she was about to get more. Before she could dip her pen in the ink bottle, her phone rang and seeing it was Mari hurried to answer it before her friend was speaking first on the other end.
"Sorry, I just wanted to see if you wanted to talk," the girl said.
"I'm writing my diary right now," Julia said. "And then my gram is going to come in and I have to try on my costume one last time."
"I told you, you got taller," Mari told her friend teasingly.
"She's just checking," Julia said in mock annoyance. "Once I finish that I'll call you and we can talk until we need to go to bed."
"You mean I need to go to bed," Mari said.
"Whenever," Julia said. She smiled when her friend laughed and did the same herself before she said, "I'll text you before I call."
"Okay," Mari replied. "I'll talk to you then."
"Okay," Julia said before they hung up with each other. She was smiling, as she wasn't sure if they'd be really able to talk yet, and then turned her attention quickly to her pen, filling it with ink before she was writing again.
After we came home, I ate lunch with everyone… well, of course Lizzy was at school and 'lexis and Louis were at work. So it was just the six of us. But it was nice to have some food, I felt like I was getting more energy back. After lunch I got to get Josa to sleep for her nap and it was nice to get to do on my own. And she was tired, so it didn't take very long. I know you're wondering Evangeline why Mom and Dad didn't do that, they forgot to pack for their trip, so I took care of her with Gram and Grandpapa. I went over to their room after that and since they'd finished packing, I got onto the bed with Mom and we were just laying there, resting for me so I'd get even more energy back.
That was a really nice time, Mom and I just talked together, about everything really, I would be here all night writing what it was exactly. But it reminds me so much of Mom and I when I was little, though when I was, I talked about dancing and horses and dogs. It probably wasn't that fun for Mom to listen to about the dancing and dogs, but that's why she's the best mom, she let me and didn't say it was boring. I do love her a lot and I'm glad we got that time together.
Once we got up, I needed to do my homework and I got to finish it before Lizzy got back home, since Mom and Dad didn't let me go to dance class just in case. Luckily Ms. Grey canceled the class so at least I didn't miss anything! So like I said, I finished my homework in time for when Mom and Dad wanted to go. We said goodbye to them, and they left for the bed and breakfast they're staying at until Saturday since they're having a costume party Friday night. I was so, so glad they went, and I hope they're happy right now!
As for us, we went back inside, and Grandpapa called for dinner and we got to have Italian! He ordered us a little flatbread to have with some chicken alfredo and it was super yummy. But I'm a little out of order, as soon as Grandpapa called Mari came around to the back of the house to see me. Peter told her at lunch what had happened, and I had to explain what I did. She hugged me really tightly and I had to tell her over and over to make sure she knew I was fine. I asked her over to dinner, but her parents said tomorrow she can come over, tonight they wanted to have dinner all together. I don't mind, plus Mari called me while I was writing to you Evangeline, and she wants to talk with me. I have to finish here (I'm going to really soon) and then Gram is bringing in my costume for a last check since Mari told her earlier that it looked like I was taller.
So that was today, it was a busy day, not sure about tomorrow since Mom and Dad won't be here but I wouldn't ask them to come back home for anything. While I was with them, I could tell they wanted to be together; they were giving each other their special looks. And because of that it's a really good thing they're going to Tahiti! But I promise I'll write, even if it's just a couple paragraphs about classes and after dinner playing with Mari. So night Evangeline, see you tomorrow!
Blowing lightly on her page, Julia tilted her diary to make sure the ink was dry before she was satisfied and started putting everything she'd used away. After she had stood up from her desk, she was going to get her grandmother when she was walking in, making her smile as Martha spoke shortly after.
"I hope you're finished kiddo," Castle's mother began. "Because… oh, you are."
"I just put everything away Gram," Julia said as she stood up, going over to her. She touched the striped fabric and said, "Do I change now?'
"Do you have your pajamas ready for after?" Martha asked. When her granddaughter nodded, she gave her the costume before she closed the door. "Now," she said, turning back to her. She stopped there as her granddaughter was taking off her shirt and she smiled when Julia looked at her questioningly.
"What's wrong Gram?" she asked.
"I thought you were going to change in the bathroom," Martha said, going to her when she realized her granddaughter wasn't going to take off her leggings. She helped her with the dress and once it was set on her she nodded and said, "I'll have to let it down."
"But…" Julia started to say before she rushed to her closet. She saw what her grandmother had and said, "How am I growing so fast?"
"You're growing kiddo," Martha said. "And you know that you'll continue to do so for another few years at least." She saw the frown on Julia's face and asked, "You don't want to?"
"Oh, I do," Julia said firmly, shaking herself. "But I don't want to be that tall, not taller than Mom."
Martha smiled, since she had heard that from the girl before, and said, "You might be, it usually turns out the children are taller than their parents."
"I know, but I'm hoping that's not me," Julia said. She then smiled and said, "I forgot to say Gram, thanks so much for the dress."
"It's comfortable?" Martha asked her.
"Yeah," Julia said, swaying back and forth. "Mari and I learned the song."
"Oh really?" Martha asked. "Are you going to sing it instead of trick or treat?"
"No," Julia said with a soft laugh. "We're gonna sing it at the party, because we know someone isn't going to know it at all."
"True," Martha said. "Let me darling."
Julia nodded and then let her grandmother take her hair out of the ponytail she'd set it in. "Is it okay I don't have bangs?" she asked when Martha had stopped.
"It is," she replied. She placed her hands on her second youngest granddaughter's shoulders and said, "But you look like a movie star."
Julia blushed a little and said, "Thanks Gram. But I just want to be a dancer."
"Some dancers were movie stars too," Martha said. She laughed softly when her granddaughter pretended to tap in her socks and said, "Though I imagine you want a far quieter life."
"Well," Julia said as her grandmother helped her with her dress. "I'd love that," she said. "But I want to dance on Dancing With the Stars too."
"Of course, how could I forget?" Martha asked. "Change into your pajamas… or at least put on a shirt okay?"
"I will, I'll be back out," Julia said, going to grab her clothes
"Did you brush your teeth?" Martha asked.
"I will right now," Julia called before closing the bathroom door. She smiled when she heard her grandmother laughing again but turned her attention to finishing changing. Once she'd done so she brushed her teeth, trying not to go too fast with that. When she had finished, she walked out to Martha who was sitting on the edge of her bed. "I don't need to go to bed yet," she told her.
"No, but I think you should get set in bed anyway," Martha replied.
"Mari called me while I was writing in my diary," Julia said. "She wants to talk before we need to go to bed."
"Alright, as long as you promise to go to bed after," Martha said. "Your mother won't be very pleased if you're tired when they call."
"I know, and I'll go to bed after the phone call, I promise," Julia said.
"Then come here darling," Martha said. As her granddaughter hugged her tightly, she rubbed her back and said, "Don't rush into growing up."
"I try not to but it's hard," Julia said.
"I remember that myself when I was your age," Martha said, letting go of her. "But you have time to be a child still… your abilities notwithstanding."
Nodding Julia said, "I'll still play with Mari and my sisters after dinner… we should play something for Josa first."
"Good girl," Martha said. "I love you and sleep tight Julia."
"I love you too Gram, thank you for my costume again," she replied. Julia watched her grandmother leaving then and she said goodnight before she was alone in her room. Reaching for her phone, she dialed Mari's number before she realized she was supposed to have texted her first.
"Hey!" Mari said, obviously smiling when she answered. "You didn't text."
"I know, I completely forgot," Julia said, shaking her head. She then smiled and said, "But I guess you can talk right?"
"Yep, Mom will come in and tell me when I need to stop," Mari said. "She said I have twenty minutes."
"Oh, that's not bad," Julia said.
"I know," Mari replied. "So how are you?"
Smiling herself, as she had been expecting that question, Julia said, "I'm fine, much better and ready to go to dance class tomorrow. I just hope Ms. Grey doesn't cancel." She and Mari talked about what their dance teacher was thinking of doing for the class, but she wasn't surprised when her friend hesitatingly asked her about what had happened to her earlier that day.
"So… so you really helped the spirit that appeared to you yesterday at my house?" Mari was saying.
"I did," Julia said.
"How did that feel?" Mari asked.
"Weird, but that was more because it went super-fast," Julia replied. "But really it was just telling him to go with his grandmother. That way he could move on and he did go with her. Oh, I forgot, his sister helped by talking to him with me."
"Are you sure you're okay?" Mari asked her.
"I am," Julia said firmly. "I'm not going to do it again and I got a ton of rest today. And more now once we go to sleep."
Since she could tell her friend wanted to change the subject, Mari said, "Did your parents call you at all?"
"They just texted that they got to the B&B okay," Julia replied. "They'll call us tomorrow."
"I wish my parents could have gone," Mari said.
"I know, and Brad and Lily so they could have been there all together," Julia replied in agreement. "But I don't think it matters that much that they are there."
"Yeah, I know my parents will go on their own somewhere," Mari said. She yawned and smiled when her friend was laughing softly telling her, "Oh don't start."
"It is kind of getting later," Julia said. "But I don't feel that tired."
"You should rest though," Mari said.
"What are you, my mother?" Julia said teasingly.
"No, but your mom will ask," Mari told her.
Snorting, Julia was going to comment on that but then started to laugh when her friend was doing so. When they had calmed down, she said, "I missed having lunch with you."
"Me too, so I really hope we have lunch and dinner together tomorrow too," Mari replied.
"You never told me what you did," Julia said.
"Nothing just talked with Dawn and Natalie and the rest of our group," Mari said. "The boys ran off to get a baseball and throw it so us girls walked around. The usual." She was surprised when Julia didn't comment on that and was about to ask her friend if she was okay when she was finally speaking.
"I wonder if we should try and do that tomorrow," Julia mused.
"You wouldn't want to practice with Peter?" Mari asked, since her two friends had been doing that for a while at lunch.
"I think we could use a break," Julia said.
"Oh, your parents want you to take it easy still don't they?" Mari asked.
"Yep," Julia replied, popping the last letter with her lips. She smiled when her friend giggled and said, "Want to do that or something else?"
"They had jump ropes today," Mari told her.
"They brought them back?" Julia asked eagerly.
"They did. Should we do that instead?" Mari asked instead of answering.
Julia was about to say yes immediately but hesitated before she sighed and told her friend, "I have to text my parents. Actually, let me call them now."
"Um… are you sure you should?" Mari said hesitatingly.
"Oh, ew Mari," Julia said. "But I was thinking the same thing."
"Hey," the girl said since she'd thought she'd disgusted her friend. Mari shook her head, smiling at the same time, before she grew serious as something came to her. "We have to stop talking, don't we?" she asked.
"Yeah, but I'll see you tomorrow, at lunch and Study Hall," Julia said. "And cross your fingers tomorrow at dinner."
"I will," Mari said. "And I'll see you to…"
"Is it raining?" Julia asked, looking towards the windows in her room. "Oh, it is, maybe it won't be once we have to go to school."
"Well, I'll see you anyway," Mari said.
"Yep, night Mari," Julia said.
"Night, see you," the girl replied.
Hanging up, Julia looked at the time and saw she had about ten minutes before bed. She hesitated for a moment though, not sure if she should call or text her mother since she didn't want to scare her parents. Finally, she decided texting was better and she went to her messages typing, I'd like to jump rope with my friends after lunch tomorrow, can I? and sent it, waiting for her mother to respond.
"Here," Beckett said, handing her brush to her husband. "I'm not sure why you want to do this."
"It's relaxing," Castle said. "You did tell me that your… self… Really?"
"We've been toeing the line," Beckett said simply.
"Not that badly though, if you consider how things usually go with us," Castle commented.
"True," Beckett replied. She waited for her husband start brushing her hair and then smiled briefly before growing serious and saying, "I wonder how Julia's doing."
"Your dad did say he'd text if she got weak again," Castle said. He wasn't surprised when she didn't say anything and asked, "Do you want to call Skye?"
"No, she's home by now and-" Beckett started to say before her text alert sounded on her phone and she literally dove for it. She read the message and closed her eyes before her husband was touching her shoulder gently while he spoke in concern.
"Who is it?" Castle asked.
"Here," Beckett said, letting him take her phone. She watched him reading the message and wasn't surprised when he laughed. "Let me call her," she said.
"You might scare her," Castle said.
"I'll take the chance," Beckett replied. "I wanted to check on her anyway." She took her phone back and dialed their daughter's number, putting on speaker just as Julia was speaking rapidly.
"Mom, I'm fine I just want to-" the girl started to say.
"Easy sweetie," Beckett told her quickly and firmly to stop her from speaking. "I know you're okay, we read the text. But I did want to see how you were before you went to bed."
"Oh… I didn't want to scare you," Julia replied.
"You didn't," Beckett reassured her. "But really Julia, how are you?"
"I'm fine," Julia said. "I played with 'lexis, Lizzy and Josa and I didn't get tired." She paused for a moment but knew she needed to continue so she then told her, "I am tired now but-"
"That's because it's almost your bedtime," Castle said.
"Hey Dad," Julia said, smiling. "How's the B&B?"
"Nice," Beckett said first.
"Do Patrick and Trevor like it?" Julia asked her.
"They do," Beckett said. "But we've stayed in our rooms mostly, unpacking and resting."
"Are you tired after the case?" Julia asked.
"Slightly," Castle said. "But really it's why we're here. We unpacked, had some tea and just talked and played Scrabble on your mother's tablet before we got dressed for dinner."
"Who won?" Julia asked interestedly.
"We both did," Beckett said, glancing at her husband.
"We had time for two games," Castle said. "So luckily that tie happened."
"You're not going to play a third, are you?" Julia asked.
"We always could," Castle told his wife.
Rolling her eyes, as she was smiling at the same time, Beckett then said, "We'll see what we do, we might just get some sleep to hike a little tomorrow."
"Cool, are you going to take pictures?" Julia asked.
"I don't have my camera," Beckett said, since she hadn't brought it. "But I might try to take some pictures of the trees on Saturday so we can focus on our hike."
"I can't wait to see them," Julia said, knowing her mother would use her phone to do that.
"Okay sweetie," Beckett said, seeing her husband holding his wrist up to her. She nodded quickly at him before she said, "You need to get sleep for school tomorrow."
"I know," Julia said with a mock frustrated sigh. "Oh!" she exclaimed as she recalled something and was about to ask her mother when she was answering her before she could have said a word about it.
"You can jump rope, but if you're feeling weak at all, or dizzy-" Beckett started to say.
"Then I'll stop," Julia interrupted her. "Thank you so much. So… goodnight?"
"Yes Julia," Beckett said slightly laughingly. "It's later for you already."
"Only a couple minutes," Julia mumbled jokingly. She smiled when she soon after heard her parents laughing and said, "Okay, night Mom, Dad. I love you."
"We love you too," Beckett said.
"Night sweetheart," Castle said.
"Bye," Julia said before hanging up her phone.
Setting her phone aside on her nightstand, Beckett looked at him and said, "I guess Skye was right."
"She's done that process for a while," Castle reminded her. "Several times."
Nodding, as her friend had told them she'd helped spirits in the same way at least ten instances, Beckett said, "But she didn't start until she was seventeen."
"Julia's only five years away from that age, it's not much difference," Castle pointed out.
Briefly inclining her head, Beckett said, "Want to go back to Scrabble."
"Not really," Castle said.
Studying her husband as he was speaking slowly, Beckett said, "Either you want to tell me a memory or… my diaries?"
"The second," Castle said, moving around her to get the tablet. "If that's okay."
"It is," Beckett said in amusement. She was opening the device and waiting for it to start up she hesitated before she said, "Would you mind if I chose?"
"No," Castle told her quickly. "I was planning on doing that anyway."
Beckett smiled at him before turning her attention to getting to her diary entries before she looked at the table of contents. "This one is on March 13th and-"
"After we found out about Julia's crash?" Castle interrupted. When his wife nodded, he said, "Are you sure you want to read that one?"
"I do, I've been wanting to for a while," Beckett said. Her husband moved with her then to lean back against the headboard and she leaned against him before he wrapped his arm around her. Once she was settled, she then proceeded to read but paused for a moment.
"What's wrong?" Castle asked her in a little concern.
"No, it's my writing," Beckett replied.
Looking at the pages, since his wife was showing it to him, Castle quickly spotted what she meant as the handwriting was obviously shaky. "Kate-" he started to say.
"No, it's alright," Beckett hurriedly reassured him. When he nodded hesitantly, she then started over again, trying not to think of her fear when she'd written the entry a little over seventy-seven years before.
March 13th, 1944
The worst news, what I have been fearful of receiving since she left for the WASPs program. It's Julia
I've had to stop and compose myself because I was weeping for my little one and didn't want those tears to ruin the ink. But Rick called me from the Presidio and told me about the telegram he'd been given about Julia. Her plane has crashed, but she was lucky to survive and she's in the hospital. We've been unable to reach her, and Rick is trying his best to get in touch with her superiors to see when she can come home.
"I think I stopped there because I didn't have much information and I hadn't heard from you," Beckett said.
"Is this where I start to talk?" Castle asked her.
"If you want to," Beckett said in amusement.
"I do," Castle replied before he began when he'd come back from the city that day.
"Here," Rick said, handing his wife his hat. He took off his military coat and hung it before he was embracing her tightly. He wasn't surprised when his wife was sobbing and said, "I heard from the doctors, she's broken her legs and her left wrist."
"But she's going to recover?" Kate asked, pulling away and wiping her tears from her cheeks.
"She'll be swell love," Rick said. "But," he said with a heavy sigh as he let her go. "She won't be coming home for at the very least a month."
"A month?" Kate said, her anger swift.
Nodding, and not surprised in the slightest his wife was already enraged, Rick said, "She's on a list for transport, but she'll have to be on a plane and a plane won't be ready for her for a month at least. It might even be longer." He watched his wife whirl away from him and knew she was likely cursing in Irish in her head. "But I have a plan," he told her.
Turning back to him Kate said, "A plan?"
"I talked with the brass and they'll designate me a diplomat," Rick said.
"Diplomat?" Kate asked in confusion.
Nodding, Rick then said, "I'll have to stop at a few bases, dropping off top secret documents but I get the gasoline and I end up in LA."
"You…" Kate started to say.
Nodding Rick said, "I've been given leave to go down, drop off the documents and come back. If I happen to bring my wounded daughter, who's an Army pilot, home… then I happen to bring her home." He wasn't surprised when his wife threw her arms around him and he hugged her tightly in return before he said, "But I need to leave in a jiffy Kate."
Before she could say anything, Kate was kissing him deeply before her husband was responding. "You'll have to be careful," she told him when they parted.
"I was given permission to take my time," Rick said. "We'll have to start."
"We had to tell the three youngest after that what had happened and they helped us in getting the car ready with everything I needed," Castle said. "I don't know if you really want me to talk about the trip down."
"You told me about it after you came back," Beckett said. "So you don't need to. But I was worried about you not stopping."
"The quicker I got her the sooner she'd be back home," Castle said with a shrug. "Did you write any entries while I was gone?"
Looking at the tablet, Beckett nodded and said, "The next night once I was sure the girls were asleep. They were worried."
Nodding Castle said, "Read it to me?"
Beckett smiled and said, "I was planning on it."
"Sorry," Castle replied. "Impatient."
"I'm not surprised," Beckett said in amusement. She smiled at him when he kissed her shoulder before she said, "It's not that long of an entry but you'll understand why once I start this." She smiled as he merely nodded, before turning her attention back to her tablet and reading the next night's entry directly since he was aware of the date already.
Rick is on his way down to Los Angeles already to get our Julia. I am glad he's gone so quickly, but it sickens me to think of him driving all night as he doesn't intend to stop until he has our daughter. I'll have many sleepless nights until they're home with us.
"You weren't kidding," Castle told her with a nod. He then smiled a little and said, "But I remember you looking exhausted once we had Julia set. I had to make you catch up on sleep… after we were reacquainted with each other."
"I know, that was at my direction," Beckett said with a smile.
"Are you okay Kate?" Castle asked his wife seriously as he gently took the tablet.
"I am," Beckett said. "It just scared me seeing her collapse like she did earlier."
"It did the same to me," Castle replied. "I'm glad I have long legs."
"Me too," Beckett replied, smiling a little at him. She watched him turning off her tablet and said, "It's still kind of early love."
"It is," Castle said. "But you know we can keep doing this."
"Memories?" Beckett asked.
"Not that life," Castle said. "But I'd love to hear about you and Julia now."
"Haven't you heard about everything now?" Beckett said with a smile.
"I can't have heard about every last night you two had together," Castle said. "Tell me something, even if it was mundane, a regular night."
Beckett became thoughtful, though it took her a little to recall something she was sure she hadn't told him, and she said, "Okay, you want mundane I can give you that. But it was still meaningful to me." She wasn't surprised when he was responding to her quickly, smiling at what he said so fast she almost had to ask him to repeat it.
"If it's our daughter then of course it is," Castle said. When his wife pressed her face to his shoulder he was startled and was going to ask if she was okay before he realized she was laughing. "What?" he asked in amusement.
Calming down, Beckett couldn't keep herself from smiling and she said, "You said that so fast."
"Oh," Castle said before he realized she was right. "I wanted to reassure you I was fine with mundane; I really want to hear it."
Beckett nodded before her husband was leaning down to her and kissing her gently. He pulled away shortly after and she smiled before she said, "It was nearly a month after I'd adopted her, so you realize why you weren't there." At his nod she continued with, "We were inside my bathroom, I was doing my best to get her to accept she had to take a bath."
"But I'm not dirty Mommy," Julia said to her mother firmly.
"How do you know?" Beckett asked her with her eyebrow slightly raised.
"Because," Julia replied.
"Because why?" Beckett replied. She did her best not to laugh at the way her daughter was pondering her answer to that before she put her hands on her shoulders. "Sweetie-" she started to say.
"Take a bath with me Mommy," Julia interrupted. "Like in the movie," she said hurriedly.
"Movie?" Castle asked.
"It was a Japanese animated movie," Beckett replied. "I can't remember the name right now, but the father was having a bath with his two daughters."
"I remember," Castle said after trying to recall it. He then said, "Keep going."
Beckett smiled, knowing her husband had been planning on asking her what she'd done and was only stopping himself so she could continue.
"I don't know sweetie," Beckett said.
"But the daddy did it with the girls in the movie," Julia said.
Since her daughter hadn't been that scared of the three in the bath, instead laughing at their antics in the movie since they'd pretended to go crazy in the water, Beckett sighed and said, "Okay, but we're not going to do this all the time okay?"
"Kay," Julia said happily.
"And that means you're taking a shower first," Beckett told her.
"Yeah," Julia said, nodding her head rapidly.
Beckett laughed and hugged her daughter before she said, "Okay, we need to rinse off in the shower as usual."
"Are we gonna wash our hair? I can wash your hair Mommy!" Julia said eagerly.
"Alright," Beckett said, wondering how exactly that would go. "I need to get my pajamas for after."
Julia nodded and watched her mother bringing her small pile of clothes before she said, "I can't help you get dressed Mommy."
"Come here," Beckett said with a laugh once she'd closed the door to the bathroom, helping her with her shirt, skirt and leggings. After her daughter was naked, she wrapped her up quickly in her robe and then took her braid out of her hair before she was undressing. With her daughter watching she was expecting some kind of question or more than one but was a little startled when Julia just looked at her. "What's wrong sweetie?" she asked as she pulled her robe on, wondering if she should have put on her bathing suit for the bath.
Julia shook her head and hugged her tightly, pressing her cheek against her mother's stomach before she said, "You look like the art there is."
"Thank you, sweetie," Beckett replied. "But now we need to rinse off okay?"
"Yeah," Julia said. She helped her mother with her robe and watched her mother take off her own. They stepped into the shower and she rinsed off with Beckett asking, "Are we gonna wash our hair here?" after her mother made her step away from under the water.
"No, just rinse it out," Beckett said before she rinsed her hair quickly. She wrapped a towel around Julia and did the same for herself before getting the tub filled.
"Mommy?" Julia asked as her mother took off her towel when the water was ready.
"Here, you need to go inside first and then I'll follow," Beckett said. "Stand out of the way for me and I'll sit down."
Nodding Julia got into the water before she said, "Mommy, will I have those when I'm a lady?"
"You will," Beckett said, having been waiting for her daughter to ask something about her breasts. "But that's not for years," she said firmly, smiling as her daughter giggled. She slipped into the water and she leaned over, kissing her cheek saying, "But for now you can play."
"With the bubbles?" Julia asked eagerly. At her mother's nod she squealed before she got some on her hands and put it over her face before Beckett was speaking to her gently.
"Be careful not to put it in your eyes sweetie," Beckett told her, smiling.
"No, I have a beard," Julia said, pretending to pat at it.
"Very nice," Beckett said.
"But I need to shave it off Mommy," Julia said seriously. "I can't dance and have a beard."
"I know," Beckett replied, smiling at her before kissing the top of her head. "Do you want me to help you?"
"Yeah," Julia said, nodding her head rapidly. She smiled when her mother used her index finger to run it along her cheeks first and she giggled as her mother ran it down her chin. When her mother took the bubbles off under her nose she asked, "All clean?"
"All clean," Beckett said before her daughter hugged her. She returned it and kissed her temple before saying, "Keep playing sweetie, you have a little more time left."
"Kay," Julia said.
Beckett was surprised when her daughter remained still and was staring at her. "What's wrong sweetie?" she asked her.
"Can we play?" Julia asked.
"What do you want to do?" Beckett asked her.
"I learned a hand game," Julia said.
"Then teach me," Beckett said. She wasn't surprised when it was a chant, she herself had played when she was a little girl but didn't let that on as she let her daughter teach her. They did that a couple times and once they'd stopped, she said, "Okay sweetie, time to wash our hair."
"Are you first?" Julia asked.
"No," Beckett said firmly. She smiled when Julia giggled and shared a kiss with her before she started to wet her hair again.
"The rest is standard," Beckett told her husband.
"How did she do washing your hair?" Castle asked, holding her a little closer to him. As she'd spoken, she had paused and climbed onto his lap, pressing against his chest while they held each other.
"Good, she didn't really need to do much but since I'd washed her hair so many times before…" Beckett said. "And it was fun to do, but we only did it a few times after that."
"Is that my fault?" Castle asked.
Beckett laughed softly and said, "No, I wasn't really used to doing that. I never did that with my mother." She pressed her lips to the corner of his mouth slightly and said, "Plus I had you to take baths with."
"I knew it," Castle grumbled in mock annoyance. He smiled when his wife laughed softly and then leaned over, kissing her lovingly before he asked, "Is that it?"
"No," Beckett said simply. She brushed her lips to her husband's when he looked at her in surprise and said, "We hadn't gone to bed yet." She smiled when her husband nodded seriously, and she continued after she and Julia were out of the tub and dressed in their pajamas and robes.
"Stay still sweetie," Beckett told her daughter gently as she was brushing her hair.
"You pull on my hair," Julia said.
"I know, but you have tangles and that's why I need to brush it," Beckett told her with a slight smile.
"Oh," Julia said. She hissed a little when her mother pulled the brush through her hair and got a tangle before she finished. "Can I do the same for you Mommy?" she asked.
"Tomorrow," Beckett said apologetically. "I need to run the blow drier."
"I can hold it," Julia said.
"You should be in bed," Beckett said.
Reaching for her mother's hand, Julia asked her, "Can I stay with you Mommy? Sleep in your bed? I don't have to go to school."
Beckett hesitated for a moment, on the verge of saying no, but decided it wouldn't hurt. She also had to admit that she wanted to keep her daughter with her after spending so much time with her. Shaking herself quickly she said, "You can, but tomorrow you're going to your bed."
"I know, we get to have a sleepover!" Julia said.
Beckett laughed at her daughter's exuberance and then said, "We do," before she turned her attention to her hair so they wouldn't be too late getting the little girl to bed. She combed out her hair and brushed it while blow drying it, her daughter watching her the whole time. She looked down at her when she was nearly finished and was about to ask if she was tired when the little girl was speaking first.
"You're very pretty Mommy," Julia told her.
"Thank you, sweetie. So are you," Beckett said, putting her brush and blow dryer down so she could kneel and share a kiss with her daughter. She picked her up and said, "You need to go to bed now."
"But-" Julia started to say in protest.
"I said you need to go bed, not sleep," Beckett told her firmly.
"Oh… kay," Julia said, smiling at her. When her mother set her on the bed, she quickly tucked her feet underneath the sheets and said, "Where are you going Mommy?"
"I need to brush my teeth," Beckett replied while she took Julia's robe and set it aside. She went back into the bathroom and had just started doing that when she heard her daughter's bare feet on the wood floor. She had to hurriedly finish, and by the time she stepped out to the bedroom she saw Julia was back on her bed, "I forgot about Stitch," she said with a smile as she saw her daughter's stuffed toy in her arms.
"I almost did," Julia replied, hugging it tightly.
"Move over sweetie," Beckett said with a smile. She took off her robe while her daughter was doing that and then got underneath the covers with her. She embraced her daughter fully before she turned off the light on her nightstand.
"Now we have to go to sleep?" Julia asked in disappointment.
"We can talk a little," Beckett replied.
"About what?" Julia said with a smile.
"Anything you want," Beckett said.
Julia was smiling wider before she then began talking to her mother about going to the park and playing and having a picnic as well. She wasn't aware her mother was smiling lovingly at her, holding her closer as she listened intently until she was soon falling asleep.
"It was a nice night," Beckett said. "She fell asleep soon after that," she then told her husband as she turned her attention to him. "But… I loved it, even though she was essentially telling me what we were going to do the next day."
Smiling, Castle pressed his lips to his wife's temple and said, "Kids'll do that. But it wasn't anything that was going to cost you much or hurt her so…"
"I know," Beckett said.
"What's wrong?" Castle asked her as he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"I just…" Beckett started to say before she trailed off slowly. "To be honest Rick, we're almost going to sleep and we have two full days together."
"Okay," Castle said, knowing what she wanted to turn the focus to them. "Then should we go to bed right now?"
Beckett was going to say no when realization hit her and she said, "This is wrong."
"What?" Castle asked, startled.
"This," Beckett replied, moving to get off his lap. She got off the bed shortly after and then took off her pajama top before tossing it to the dresser. "We don't need them," she told her husband.
"We don't but we were going to wait for tomorrow…" Castle started to say.
"We are," Beckett said. She wasn't surprised when her husband was obviously hesitating and she told him, "See it as an exercise in endurance."
Sighing, Castle said, "Alright, but still, I don't like it."
"You think I do too?" Beckett asked him pointedly.
"Good point," Castle said with a nod. "But I wonder if I should leave my boxers on at least."
"No," Beckett said, not letting much time pass after he'd spoken to answer that.
"Kate-" Castle started to say in some consternation since he wasn't sure about his self-control.
"Rick," Beckett interrupted him. "It doesn't matter if you have a wet dream, come all over me tonight or in the morning. It's happened before."
Giving another sigh, because that was exactly what he was concerned about, Castle nodded since by her tone of voice he knew she really didn't care. He moved to get off the bed before he was pulling off his shirt while she was getting the rest of her clothes off. He hesitated a little at first when he was left in his boxers but took them off as his wife was watching him. Naked he moved to slide under the covers with her and wrapped his arm around her, holding her to his side while she got settled.
"Rick," Beckett said.
"What?" Castle asked in surprise.
"Would you relax?" Beckett told him with a smile. "You're tense. And we didn't even turn off the lights yet."
Looking around, Castle realized that they hadn't and he said, "You did want to just talk right?"
"I did," Beckett said. "But love, we need to talk about this."
"I know, it'll go down," Castle said.
"Not that," Beckett said gently. She wasn't surprised when her husband looked down at her and she asked, "You don't want to sleep like this?"
"I do, I really do I just don't want to get off," Castle said. "Really hard to resist."
"Do you want to stay up all night?" Beckett asked him with a smile.
"No, okay, I see your point," Castle said. "It's the celibacy."
Beckett gently brushed her lips to her husband's and told him, "It's understandable. But again, we're not going to sleep yet." She wasn't surprised when her husband nodded, and she pressed closer against his side before he was speaking quietly with his lips pressed against her ear.
"What should we talk about my love?" Castle said.
Smiling at his tone and the way he held onto her, Beckett tilted her head up to him and kissed him before she said, "We have to be careful."
"I know," Castle replied. "Then let me ask you if I could read one of your diary entries." When his wife shook her head no, he was startled but said, "Okay, then… do you want me to tell you a memory?"
"I think you're going to have to be careful with that one too," Beckett told him in amusement. She leaned over to him and brush her lips against his saying, "What if we just went to sleep?"
"I agree," Castle said. "Though I really thought there was something that was safe. But I know-"
"Not while we're naked," the two said together.
Smiling at his wife, Castle leaned down to her and kissed her lovingly before telling her, "I love you Kate."
"I love you too Rick," Beckett said. She sat up as he slipped out of the bed and was startled seeing he was moving to where his clothes were. "What are you-" she started to say.
"I'm getting these so I can get dressed and go get breakfast," Castle replied.
Beckett nodded, watching him grabbing his shirt and pants before he set them in a pile on the dresser. When he started to turn off the lights she smiled as he was facing her and said, "Will you be able to fall asleep?"
"I won't know until I'm laying down," Castle replied. He took off his glasses and said, "I'll try not to wake you up in the morning," as he got into bed then. He kissed her lightly on the lips and said, "You need your rest."
"Isn't it more you?" Beckett asked as she raised her eyebrow slightly.
"Well it might end up being you on top; who knows how the selection process will go?" Castle said.
Beckett laughed briefly and said as they were laying down, "You're such a pervert."
"I do my best," Castle said.
Shaking her head and still laughing softly, Beckett turned to kiss his shoulder and said, "Let's sleep Rick, or we're not getting to tomorrow any time soon."
"Good point," Castle told her. He shared a kiss with her before he nuzzled his nose to hers and told her, "Goodnight my love."
"Goodnight Rick," Beckett said with a smile. They were kissing then, a little longer than they had been before, and she was relieved that they soon parted since she was tempted to let that go on for a while. She settled against her husband's side again, smiling to herself about their anticipation for the next day and she closed her eyes to see if she could fall asleep before it got too late.
Holding his wife, Castle felt her body's weight relaxing against him and he knew she was sleeping. He pressed his cheek to her forehead, smiling to himself as he was letting her even breathing lull him into sleeping himself, knowing they were both still feeling a deep sense expectation for the next day and finally returning to their much desired intimacy.