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 lyric in this chapter is from the song It's a Hard Life written by Freddie Mercury, from the Queen album The Works.
A/N #2: It was really nice getting the feedback I did for the last chapter, so I'll get right into my thank yous for that! TORONTOSUN (I was happy to read you thought the last chapter was very good writing!) and
Mb (It was nice to see you thought the last chapter was a great update with Castle and Beckett celebrating their passion and love. And I was glad to read you though it was hot, sensual and uninhibited since that's definitely what I was going for! Not surprised that you loved that they were still making sure they got in touch with their family at home, but of course I'm happy you think that! You're welcome for the first half of the chapter! It was great that you thought the second half had more of Castle and Beckett being hot, sensual, playful and loving. Not surprised really that you're jealous of how they'll celebrate their anniversaries, lol. You're welcome for the second half!).
Thanks so much for the reviews, I loved reading them all and I appreciate the time taken to write them out and send them my way!
A/N #3: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Somebody to Love by Freddie Mercury, from the Queen album A Day at the Races.
Work 'Till I Ache In My Bones
"This is where we'll dance," Peter said.
Turning from the arena they'd just entered, Julia frowned and said, "Why did you sound so somber?"
"Somber? Nah, just saying," Peter said before he was laughing when his partner playfully shoved him aside.
Julia rolled her eyes, though she wasn't surprised he was in awe as they'd finally arrived at Madison Square Garden for the rehearsal of the tribute concert. It was the twenty-third of November and she wondered if they would be spending the whole day there before someone starting to speak was getting her attention.
"Hey, hey, no injuring the dancers," a voice said.
"Paul!" Julia cried before racing to the singer. She slowed down before she reached him, hugging him tightly as he was doing the same to her. "I'm so glad to see you!" she exclaimed after she pulled away.
"I feel the same," Paul said. "Look at her," he said, looking over at Skye and Mary walking up to them. "She's shooting straight up like a weed."
"I noticed," the investigator said with a smile. "And I'm glad you all could make it," Skye then directed to everyone else who'd come over to where they were standing.
"Why am I last?" Beckett asked with a smile as her friend was hugging her.
"Because I have to talk business with you," Skye replied. They let each other go and she told her friend, "But like I said I'm glad to see you again. How've things been going?"
"Good, we've been looking forward to this," Beckett said. "And Thanksgiving."
"The girls are too," Mary said with a smile while they looked over at the kids playing with each other already. She then turned to Castle and said, "Josie?"
"Mama," the baby said immediately.
"She's good," Beckett replied with a smile. "Where is everyone?"
"Backstage right now," Skye said. "But we came out since we'd heard you were arriving."
"And the rehearsal?" Castle asked her.
Glancing at him, Skye looked serious for a moment before she smiled and then said, "We're going to start soon, but our photographer needs to be ready."
"I am," Beckett said.
"Who's Josie going to?" Castle asked his wife.
"Wherever she wants to go," Beckett replied, watching him setting the baby down.
"I'll keep an eye on her," Jim told his daughter when he walked over to them and took Josie's hand.
"I'm ready," Beckett said, taking her Nikon camera out of the bag she gave to her husband.
"Alright then," Skye said. "We're all going to be out here, practicing the set all in one go." She then called to Julia and Peter and once the two were with them she said, "Derek's here but he's been talking with the people from ABC right now about camera blocking."
"Is this still a dress rehearsal?" Julia asked.
"It is, your costumes are backstage," Mary told them. "And they want you to try them on of course before you practice your dances."
"So we'll see the set?" Castle asked.
"You have to, Kate's taking pictures all through this," Skye said before she turned to her friend and reached into the pocket of her blazer.
Taking what she soon saw was a pass on a lanyard, Beckett asked, "We need these?"
Shaking her head Skye told her, "It's for you, you're taking the pictures just before the concert starts for us."
"With the press," Beckett said slowly.
"No, backstage shots after that and once we're all ready and waiting to begin," Skye explained. "If that's alright for you."
"Unless anyone else has a problem with that," Beckett replied. When her friend shook her head no, she asked, "Are you thinking of professionally posed shots?"
"That came from Brian and Roger," Mary said. "But not that seriously posed, just a shot in front of a piece of artwork that's backstage."
"I have no problems with that," Beckett said. "Where am I sitting?"
"I told you she'd figure it out," Paul commented.
"Of course," Skye told him before she turned to Beckett. "First row, they'd like to attempt taking pictures where you'll be positioned during the show today while we're rehearsing."
"I signed the contract," Beckett said easily. She then turned her attention to the settings on her camera before she heard her daughter crying out eagerly.
"Derek!" Julia said as she went over to the bottom of the steps that led up to the stage.
"Hey, I was hoping you two had made it," the dancer said with a smile when he saw the pair waiting. "You two have grown."
"Yeah, we've heard," Peter said jokingly. "Will we be okay dancing though?"
"Of course," Derek said. "Especially since Ms. Grey told me you've been practicing constantly the last two weeks."
"We have," Julia said before she looked behind the dancer and gasped.
Watching the girl, Castle shared a glance with his wife as several familiar faces appeared on the stage and were making their way down. Brian May was the first to walk over to them, shaking Beckett's hand first before his own and then calling to everyone who was milling around on the free space to the right of the end of the stage.
"I'm sure you're all wondering who is here with us," the guitarist said. "Some of them are with us for the performance and one is going to be your photographer."
"This is Kate Beckett," Skye said first, gesturing to her friend. "The photographer of the VIP book and also tomorrow with the concert."
Nodding to the others as they greeted her, Beckett tried not to become too star struck though it was difficult as she recognized all the performers and the people that were going to be speaking in between some songs. She wasn't sure if she would be able to explain why, but she brought her camera to her face and took a shot of them looking towards Brian when the guitarist was speaking.
"And you'll need to meet our dancers," Brian said. "Derek."
"You know their names," the dancer said in mock annoyance. Derek smiled while the others were laughing and told them, "These are Peter Synod and Julia Castle. I think you'll recognize them since I choreographed dances for them on Dancing With the Stars."
"Where are the other two?" Ringo asked, waving at Julia when she'd begun doing that to him.
"Right there," the girl said quickly as her friend had come to the city with her family.
"What about the others?" Skye asked.
"That's what you're supposed to do," Roger said jokingly.
"Alright then," Skye said quickly, introducing the Castles, Fosters, Davises, Lennoxes, Synods and Darnleys. "And of course, our kids are here," she finished with. "With my dad and step-father. So we're all bloody well introduced and I'm stopping here since you lot need to take over."
"Unless they know who they are already," Raj commented.
"We do," Beckett said with a smile.
"Okay, then we'll get right to the rehearsal," Brian said.
"Where are you going first?" Castle asked his wife as the other performers were going over to the chairs in front of the end of the stage.
"Up there," Beckett said. "Unless they tell me otherwise."
"We won't," Adam Lambert said, walking by them. He smiled as they looked at him in surprise and told him, "I know, but Skye said."
"I was supposed to tell her," the investigator said jokingly, putting the strap of her Rickenbacker bass guitar on. "But yeah, head up with us though you can go back down if you'd like."
"I'm ready," Beckett replied before her husband grabbed her arm gently.
"Do I need to follow you?" Castle asked.
"I should be alright," Beckett assured him. "When I need to switch, I'll wave."
"You can come up on stage," Mary told the pair. She smiled when Beckett looked at her, obviously startled, and said, "I know, but it's a rehearsal-"
"Dress rehearsal," Castle and Beckett said at the same time.
"Right," Mary said. "But they asked for you to have other cameras so they'll be fine with it, just watch out for the cameras."
"I will," Castle said before he and Beckett went up to the stage.
"Ma'am," a stagehand called.
"Yes," Beckett said quickly. She wasn't surprised when the man was telling her where the cameras on the stage would be going though she wouldn't have to worry too much about them since they were just using it to check shots. She made sure she could step in front of any if she had to before the man was giving her a piece of paper. Thanking him, she gave her husband the set list and told him, "Happy now?"
"Hey, I wasn't the only one that wanted to know," Castle replied teasingly, tucking the paper into the bag.
"Wait, let me see that again," Beckett told him. She smiled when her husband was hurriedly grabbing it for her and took it to see what song would be first. "I'll have to keep checking this," she told her husband.
"I don't blame you," Castle said with a nod.
Walking to the stage, Beckett stepped out to the part of the stage shaped like a guitar neck and took a few quick shots of the O'Dells and Adam. She took another of the 'audience' and then hurried to stage right before the band and singer were beginning with the opening song. She was walking around the edge of the stage, taking as many pictures as she could before the song was over and she turned swiftly to take one of the audience.
"Do you have enough space on your camera?" Skye asked.
"I have more cards," Beckett replied. "Did you think I'd wouldn't?"
"Just making sure," Skye replied with a smile since her friend had spoken in amusement. "You'll take pictures of our speakers, right?" she then asked.
"I was hired to," Beckett said before she hurried to take some of Rami Malek, the first speaker for the night. When the actor finished, she couldn't help saying, "Beautiful speech."
"Thank you," Rami said with a nod.
"That's quite a compliment," Skye said with a smile. "Since she's one half of the writing pair here."
"I know that," Rami told the investigator. "You kept telling me."
"He's read your books," Skye said.
"I've enjoyed them," Rami said as Beckett was looking at him. "But I didn't want to bother you while you were working."
"How many?" Beckett immediately said after thanking the author.
"How many what?" Skye asked nonchalantly while she was taking off her guitar.
"You know what I mean," Beckett said quickly.
"Now, now," Skye said jokingly. "You're confusing Rami here."
"Not really," the actor replied easily. "I know what she's talking about."
"Lucky you," Skye said before she burst out into laughter at the glare her friend gave her. "I'm sorry, but they were told about you before and most of them recognized your name. So they called me, and I told them yes you were half of the writers of the Moor and Green books and the Mill Valley series. Some of them would like you to autograph books they have for them."
"I'm fine with that," Castle said, smiling at his wife when she whirled around to look at him.
"He's right, we don't care," Beckett said before someone was calling to the actor and Skye.
"Great," the investigator said with a smile, giving her guitar to one of the equipment managers that were helping all the performers for the concert. "You two can do that once we're finished here," she added, not surprised when they nodded. Skye then took a microphone once her guitar was off and said, "Julia's coming up."
"I saw," Beckett replied with a quick nod. She smiled when her friend squeezed her arm gently and turned her attention to following the investigator.
Hurrying after his wife Castle said, "Should we tell Julia?"
"I think Derek has already," Beckett said since she could see the dancer with a sheet of paper talking to Julia and Peter.
Castle, following her gaze, saw the same and smiled a little before he turned his attention to Skye while the investigator was singing over the microphone.
"I don't want my freedom!" Skye sang. She laughed when the others were applauding and crying out, hearing her daughters. "Hold on, I'm not starting yet," she said in mock annoyance since the band was starting to play.
"You should get on with it," Jackie said in the mic in front of her.
"Alright," Skye said before she counted them in quickly.
Julia smiled while she watched her mother taking pictures of Skye as the investigator was walking from the top of the tier leading down to the first row. She couldn't help laughing as Skye sang while placing her hand on Taylor Swift's shoulder, before she walked further down and sang to the camera that was following her. She glanced at her mother, seeing Beckett was still photographing Skye, but she had switched to her Pentax camera at some point. A little surprised the song was eventually ending, and the investigator hadn't gone back to the stage, she breathed out and said, "Are we going?"
"Yes," Derek said, motioning to Peter before they were leaving.
Waving to their daughter, Beckett said to Castle, "I can't follow her."
"I don't think she'd want you to," he said honestly.
"You can go," Skye commented. When the pair looked at her, she smiled and said, "Go on, she'll expect you to."
"Thank you," Beckett said, both to her friend and Castle while she was taking her Nikon camera. Hurrying backstage, she was a little surprised when the workers were directing her where to go before she soon reached the room where Julia was slipping into.
"Mom?" Julia asked in surprise when she heard her mother calling to her.
"Do you mind?" Beckett asked.
"No way," Julia replied, beaming at her before they were stepping into the dressing room. "Did you see?"
"I did, you have a few costume changes," Beckett told her with a smile, her daughter's name having been on the door. "And there's your first."
"Okay," Julia breathed out. She undressed, letting her mother help her with the underskirt to her dark green polka dot poodle skirt. She wore a plain white t-shirt, the ends of the sleeves rolled up slightly and waited while Beckett tied the fabric that matched the skirt around her neck. She was going to ask her mother how she looked when Beckett was taking her to the mirror against the wall at the same time she spoke to her lovingly.
"You look beautiful sweetie," Beckett told her.
"Thanks," Julia said a little shyly. She then looked up at her mother and said, "I better get going."
"I know, but before we go…" Beckett said, hugging her daughter from behind tightly. She wasn't surprised when Julia turned immediately towards her and wrapped her arms around her. They embraced one another firmly before she let her go and said, "Break a leg sweetie."
Nodding, Julia followed her mother to the door where they were met by Peter and Genevieve. "Your mom could come backstage?" she asked her partner.
"Yeah, once I was finished changing I let her see," Peter replied. "Though it isn't much of a costume."
"It goes with Freddie," Julia said immediately, not surprised when a woman and man were walking down the hall to them.
"We'll head back out," Beckett said since she knew they were likely the costumers. She and Genevieve left then, and she said to the woman, "When were you going to tell us?"
Looking startled, Genevieve saw the writer was looking at her left hand and she breathed out before saying, "We were going to tell you after the rehearsal… I forgot to take it off."
"When did Isaac propose?" Beckett said with a smile.
"Last Saturday," Genevieve said with a smile. "After we'd had dinner with the boys."
"How are they feeling about the engagement?" Beckett asked.
"You assume I said yes already," Genevieve said.
Shaking her head Beckett told the woman, "I don't assume, I know."
"I did say yes," Genevieve replied with a smile. "And they're happy."
"Ms. Beckett," someone called out from the stage.
"We better go," Genevieve said quickly.
Nodding, though she knew there had been a lot more to say, Beckett hurried out to the stage, and she went to Skye. "So how will this work?" she asked.
"You need to go to the end of the stage," Skye replied before she took off her glasses and rubbed at the bridge of her nose.
"Are you alright?" Beckett said in slight concern.
"Yeah, just trying to work everything out," Skye replied. Glancing at her friend, she wasn't surprised Beckett didn't appear to buy that and she told her, "Moving and everything," to try and explain.
Beckett was about to tell her there was something else wrong, but someone was calling to the O'Dells, and Skye hurried to leave. Turning to her husband since he'd walked up to her, she wasn't surprised when he was mentioning their daughter just as Julia was walking out.
"Is she ready?" Castle asked his wife. He was startled when she merely smiled at him and nodded behind him before he turned to see she was. "Hey sweetheart," he told her when she had reached them.
"Hi," Julia said with a smile. "What do you think?" she asked, spinning once.
"You look great," Castle told her seriously. "Are you ready to dance?"
"Of course," Julia replied eagerly. "I better go."
"Kate," Skye said, walking over to her friend. She smiled when the writer looked at her questioningly and told her, "You need to stay on the end of the stage."
"Are they trying the hologram?" Castle asked.
"They want to do a full run through," Skye replied with a nod. "So I hope you won't have a problem with that."
"I should be fine," Beckett reassured her. She then turned her attention to her camera and adjusted it before she was hugging Julia after Castle had.
"Break a leg," he told their daughter. "And don't worry if anything goes wrong."
"I know Dad," Julia replied with a smile. "Gram already told me." She hugged her parents rapidly again before she headed to where Peter was standing with Derek. "Are you nervous? Even now?" she murmured when the dancer left them for a moment.
"Yeah," Peter said, shaking his head. He then said, "But I'm just trying to remember all the steps."
"Me too," Julia said in agreement before they were turning their attention back to Derek.
Beckett couldn't help taking pictures of the three as they were walking to the other side of the stage, and she continued when the first song her daughter was dancing to began. She was relieved she would be able to watch it the next night and she was applauding with the others after the song was over. She went to her husband, taking out the set list before she grabbed her Pentax.
"Oh," Castle said after he'd looked at the list himself. "Good choice."
Rolling her eyes, Beckett smiled and told him, "I didn't think there was another choice for the song," as Skye would be running through Love of My Life with John Legend. She watched while a piano was raised onto the stage, and she walked over as the investigator was motioning to her.
"We're going to be calling to our little audience here to join in," Skye said once the next speaker had finished. "So if you could get pictures of that as well, I think they'd include it."
"I will," Beckett said after shaking the singer's hand quickly. She didn't have a chance to talk with him, someone calling for the song to start. Stepping back, she got her camera ready and then proceeded to take shots, focusing on John Legend at the start since he was beginning the song. She took a few shots of Skye, playing her acoustic guitar and eventually turned to the audience, snapping a few of them singing back to Skye and the singer's urging to join in. She moved to her Nikon camera with the second song John and Skye were singing together and then changed the setting on the screen for a more sepia tone.
"Hey Mom," Julia said, going to her mother after since she had been dancing with Peter and Derek for that song.
"Hey, you didn't mention your costumes to us," Beckett told her. Before her daughter could respond to that she said quickly, "Pose sweetie."
Though she was a little embarrassed, as John walked up behind her mother, Julia did so quickly and said, "I didn't really know what costumes I was going to have either."
"That was a great dance," John told her.
"Thanks," Julia said, blushing deeply. "And you sang great on that song, I didn't know you could play the piano for that."
"Just for this one," John replied before he excused himself.
Smiling, Julia turned to her mother and said, "How did they come out?"
"I'll show you later," Beckett told her before her husband was walking over to them and speaking to them both quickly.
"They're talking about getting lunch," Castle said.
"From where?" Beckett asked.
"Katz's," Castle replied.
"Alright, our usual," Beckett said before she watched her husband left them.
"Who am I sharing with?" Julia asked.
"I think Eliza," Beckett replied. "Though he didn't tell us when we're eating."
"Soon," Barry said while walking by them. "As soon as it gets here," he added with a smile as the two had asked, "What?" at the same time.
"Are we practicing still?" Julia asked him.
"Green Day will, they're up next after the video," Barry said.
"I have to go change," Julia said.
"Into another costume or your street clothes?" Beckett asked.
"Street," Julia said, trying to recall the set list. "My next dance isn't for a while."
"Go ahead," Beckett said. She was a little startled when her daughter squeezed her hand and she asked, "What's wrong?"
"I know you want to go with me," Julia said, smiling. "But you have to work."
"Are you trying to make me feel better?" Beckett asked teasingly.
"No, I'm just saying, and I'm okay," Julia replied. "I don't need any help so don't worry."
"I won't, but go quickly please," Beckett said. She smiled when her daughter waved her hand over her shoulder while she was leaving, and she turned her attention to Skye since she was calling her over. Shaking the hands of the men in the band, she felt a little strange doing that, but only because she was a fan of their songs. She then went to get ready to start photographing them when they were starting their first song, going around the stage and getting the feeling she was getting good shots since they were all energetic. When the band was singing the next two songs with the O'Dells, she was setting up shots with Skye and Billie Joe Armstrong while they were performing off each other.
"Okay, so they should be good with that," Skye said after they finished the second song.
"Hopefully," Raj said. "I'm starving."
After laughing with the others, since they'd heard someone calling that lunch was there, Beckett walked to her husband and gave him her camera before she asked, "Doing okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Castle said. "You?" he asked.
"Good," Beckett replied. "I could use a break though."
"I don't blame you," Castle said before they were heading backstage with everyone else so they could have their lunch together.
Watching as Julia was raising her arms, Beckett took a picture before she said to Skye and Brian, "Are you sure you want the kids here?"
"We do," the guitarist said with a smile. "Freddie would have loved seeing what they could do." He frowned at the same time Beckett was before they were turning and watching Skye walking away from them. "Is she alright?" he asked.
"I think so," Beckett replied. "Excuse me," she said, walking to the investigator.
"I'm fine," Skye said, smiling at her friend when she walked up to her. "Just thinking of how I want to play this."
"Grá?" Mary said, walking over to them.
"Are they ready?" Skye asked immediately.
"They are," Mary said.
Beckett watched the doctor take her wife aside before they were talking to each other in Japanese. She glanced at her husband as he was walking up to her and said, "I'll just use my Pentax."
"Sure, what about Skye though?" Castle asked her.
"I don't know," Beckett said, frowning as she looked at her friend. "I've been keeping an eye on her, and I feel…"
"Unsure?" Castle asked.
"Unsettled," Beckett corrected him when she realized the word she wanted to use.
"Have you talked to Julia?" Castle said.
"No," Beckett said slowly while she looked over at her daughter who was wearing a hat that had a bunch of daffodils on it. She hesitated for a moment, wanting to talk to her but since her daughter was obviously having so much fun, she found she couldn't do it. So she shook her head and said, "I better go."
Castle nodded to her before he watched her heading to where they were about to film another music video for the tribute. It was mid-afternoon by then and he had to admire the kids for managing to stay eager to watch the dress rehearsal. Julia and Peter were doing the best out of the kids since they were practicing their dances here and there. He was still amazed at how good Julia was and how confident she was dancing, knowing already she was enjoying it greatly as well. He shook himself when people were calling for quiet and the kids were watching eagerly to wait for their cue to start. As the filming of the video progressed, he smiled while the kids; except for Josie and Sophie; were playing around as they'd been told to do.
His attention going to his wife, Castle was still smiling watching her taking pictures of all the performers as well as the kids, since that song was going to be sung by the entire group. He was surprised when the filming went relatively fast and he said to his mother, "Why aren't they getting cranky?"
"Do you want to risk them getting that bad?" Martha asked in response.
"They can't hear me," Castle said in mock annoyance.
"Dada," Josie said.
"I know, we're almost finished," Castle told her, leaning over and kissing her cheek gently. "One more song."
"Is the piano ready?" Skye called.
"It is," Adam said as he was walking onto the stage after her. "Are you okay," he said while he watched her leaning against the piano.
"Just a bit off balance," Skye said, taking the mic from a worker. "Test, test," she said. "You're sure you don't want this one?" she asked the singer.
"No, I'm good," Adam said with a smile. "I get a break."
Rolling her eyes and smiling back at him Skye said, "And next tour it's right back to work for you."
Beckett, having been photographing the two, watched the investigator turn away before she was tapping her foot on the floor. She wanted to talk to her friend, but Mary was walking over and speaking to her wife briefly before she was getting her camera ready as Skye was soon counting Queen in. She started taking photographs, but after the first few verses, she realized something. She couldn't speak, so she lowered her camera and gave Skye a look, the investigator hurriedly shaking her head before continuing to sing.
"Julia?" Mari asked, squeezing her friend's hand. They'd been with the others below the stage, and she had noticed Julia was shifting while Skye was singing. She tugged her friend's hand and tried to talk to her again when Julia was speaking softly so only she herself would hear.
"Something's wrong," she said.
"What?" Mari asked her.
"I don't know," Julia replied her eyes never leaving the stage as the song was getting closer to Brian's guitar solo.
Beckett took a picture of Skye before she set down the camera, her sense of foreboding too great to ignore. It hit her suddenly that she hadn't been imagining things, the investigator very obviously mimicking Freddie Mercury which she was surprised she was so obviously doing since Skye hated the idea. She looked over at Mary and seeing the distress on the doctor's face she was about to step forward when Skye was clutching at the side of the piano.
"All right…" the investigator sang before she suddenly jerked forward and staggered against the piano.
'NO! Freddie, Freddie!' Julia cried out in her mind before her hands were flying up to her mouth while Skye was collapsing.
"Skye!" Mary cried as the investigator managed to slow her fall to the stage.
Since she was closest, Beckett was nearly tossing her camera aside as she hurried to see to her friend. Gently helping her onto her back, she felt something cold rush through her before she was turning her attention back to Skye to make sure the investigator was alright at the same time the others were coming up to them.
"Here, here!" Julia said, forgetting her need to speak in her mind. She wasn't really paying attention to that though, holding out her hand before she felt she could lead the singer with her.
I didn't mean to, he was telling her as she was running.
"She knows, don't worry," Julia told him before they came to the hall around the outside of the arena for that level. She felt it was safe to stop and turned to him saying, "You have to go, I hate to say it 'cause I know you've been here this whole time… but Skye needs to finish."
Do you really think they'd make her? Freddie asked.
"Well… maybe not," Julia said.
Tell her she was doing wonderfully, I'll be watching from up high tomorrow, Freddie told Julia. And I'll see your dances too.
"Thanks Freddie," Julia said. "And I'll tell her, she'll say it's not your fault." She watched the spirit of the singer fade as he was smiling at her before she suddenly moved to the wall she was closest to.
"Julia?" Mari asked, walking over to her.
"Yeah, he was just… took a little from me to talk," she replied. Julia sighed in relief when her friend was hugging her tightly and she did the same to her before she said, "Skye?"
"Hey… oh no…" the investigator said while she was opening her eyes shortly after Julia had run out of the arena. "No, don't call for anyone!" she said, starting to sit up after she heard a yell for someone to call 911.
"Easy," Beckett said, trying to calm her down with Mary.
"She's right, you passed out grá," the doctor said with a slight frown at her wife. "What happened?"
Sighing, Skye said in Irish, "Léim sé chugam," looking at her wife, Beckett and Castle since they would be able to understand her saying he jumped her.
"Jumped…" Castle started to say before his wife was reaching out and grabbing his arm. "Are you okay though?"
"I am now," Skye said.
"Here," Jackie said, handing a bottle of cold water to Mary.
"Drink slowly," Beckett told her friend.
"Yeah, much better," Skye said. "I've been a little-"
"What are you talking about?" Adam interrupted her. "I've heard you talking about spirits jumping you before Skye."
"I can tell them," Julia said, coming up the stairs to the stage, Mari with her.
"I don't know if you should," Skye said. "Has he left?"
"He has," Julia said before she explained what had gone on.
"You… speak to him. To Freddie," Roger said.
"I have," Julia replied, nodding her head.
"It happened after we performed Radio Ga Ga on the show," Skye said while she stood up. "But he was a bit spotty."
"Recently he's been able to appear," Julia said.
"What do you mean by jump exactly?" Taylor Swift asked.
"He took over my body," Skye explained. "He didn't mean to…"
Shaking her head when the investigator was looking at her, Julia told her what the singer had said before she told the others, "It was the performance and watching everyone." She knew she needed to tell Skye what Freddie had said about watching the concert but decided not to say anything about that around the other performers.
"But you're alright?" Castle asked.
"I am," Julia said hurriedly, hoping her friend wouldn't mention her needing to lean against the wall.
"I am as well," Skye said. "Let's go ahead and run through the song again."
"I don't know if we should," Brian said.
"I'm fine to sing," Skye said reassuringly. "So let's run through and we'll have a rest before tomorrow night."
Beckett grabbed her camera, checking to make sure she hadn't damaged it going to Skye, relieved that it wasn't. She double checked to make sure it was ready, and turned her attention back to the performers, keeping an eye on the investigator to make sure she was alright as they began the song over again.
"Alright, alright," Skye said to the others with a slight smile. "I told you I was fine and I'm serious about that."
"I don't think you can blame them," Liam told his daughter. "You passed out."
"For a moment," Skye replied. "And I'm well enough to go on the rides."
"Rose-" Mary said slowly.
"I am, but if you're all worried let's go on the less intense rides," Skye told them.
Agreeing to that, Beckett turned to her husband and said, "I know what you're going to ask," smiling when he shortly after began to speak.
"You do?" Castle asked her.
"Yes we'll go on the Cyclone, but that's going to be later," Beckett said.
"Thunderbolt?" Castle asked.
Beckett was smiling at that and said, "Fine, but Julia's probably going to want to go on that one too."
"If she's tall enough," Castle commented.
"We'll see," Beckett said.
"Hey, if I am I'd like to go!" Julia said, having been listening to them.
"That's going to wait," Castle told her.
"Hopefully not too long," Julia said jokingly before she turned her attention to walking with Mari and Adam. "So… you came with us," she said to the singer.
"I did, I love amusement parks," the singer replied. "And I haven't been to this one for a while."
"Have you been to Cedar Point?" Julia asked him.
"You've heard?" Adam asked.
"Yeah, Dad… my dad," Julia started to say before she corrected herself. "Wants us to go one day. He said if we ever go to Ohio we'll go."
"Do you know where I was born?" Adam asked her. When she nodded hesitatingly, he laughed and squeezed her arm saying, "Don't worry, anyone can find that out. Now to answer your question, I have been. A long time ago too but it's fun. If you're that eager for the roller coasters here, you should have fun." He turned to the other girl with them and asked, "Are you eager for that at all?"
Mari felt like her face was on fire as she shyly nodded before saying, "We've been on a bunch of roller coasters," before she had to leave them because her father was calling to her.
"She doesn't have a crush on me, does she?" the singer asked.
Shaking her head firmly, Julia said, "She knows you have a boyfriend. She just thinks you're cool." She thought for a moment and then said, "Sorta like we look at Skye."
"Oh, why thank you," the investigator said, walking up to them. "Just wondering if any of you will be heading on this one?"
"I think I'll pass," Adam said before they were looking at Julia.
Pouting her lips, the girl turned to her mother and asked, "I need to go?"
"Not really, Eliza's going but she's taking Maddy and Dani," Beckett said. "At her insistence."
"I'll stay off," Julia said, hurrying over to Mari.
"They're close," Adam said to Skye and Beckett while they were waiting for the sixteen going on the ride to get on the Seaside Swing.
"They've known each other since they were three and four," Beckett said.
"She forgot to mention that they live next door," Skye said with a smile. "The Castles and the Fosters."
"And he's the mayor," Adam said.
"He is," Beckett said.
"Nice connections," Adam told her.
Laughing softly Beckett said, "I know, but he became mayor way after we moved into our house."
"And he's Chief Davis," Adam said.
"Hello there," Brad commented, waving his hand slightly.
"Sorry, I'm trying to figure out the way all your families are connected," Adam said with a laugh.
"He and I were school friends until after college," Castle said, gesturing to the chief.
"We were school friends until college as well," Beckett said, motioning to Lily.
"And you guys got married?" Adam asked the Davises in surprise.
"We did," Brad and Lily said at the same time.
"But we weren't aware of the connection until years later," the former said. "After we learned Rick and Kate got married."
"I met the Fosters after I bought our home in the Hamptons," Castle said before he was waving to Eliza as she was crying out to him and Beckett. "And Kate and Julia met them once we started going and eventually moved in."
"Patrick and I were in Academy together," Beckett then said. "Though only on patrol here and there once we graduated."
"I moved back to D.C.," Darnley commented. "It's where I lived."
"I know Skye through the NTSB," Nkosi was saying. "So we became friends that way."
"I heard about the flight you three were on," Adam told them.
"We had a case too before that that involved Skye," Beckett said. "Plus, I was ordered to protect her. And we became friends."
"That's everyone I think," Castle said with a smile as the swing had stopped going back and forth.
"It is, since we need to head to the next ride," Skye commented, glancing at her wife.
"Let's gradually work up to the intense rides," Mary said, startled when her wife was shaking her head no firmly before she spoke once the kids were back with them.
"It's a lot of walking grá," Skye told her. "Might we just work our way around each section?"
"Does that mean we can go on the Cyclone now?" Kathleen asked eagerly.
"It does," Skye said. "But the rest of you?"
"Yeah, we're fine with that," Darnley said, rubbing his hands together and making Beckett burst into laughter.
Covering her mouth for a moment, she said, "Sorry, he did that the first time I brought him here."
"Mommy," Eliza said, going over to her mother. "Can I go on it?"
"You're still too short sweetie," Beckett said, hugging her as she hurried over to her. "But when you're tall enough you'll get to go on."
"Are you gonna go on with Daddy?" Eliza asked.
"I'd like to," Beckett said, smiling at her husband as he was coming over to them with Josie on his hip. "But that's up to him."
"Don't worry," Castle said quickly. "I want to." They leaned into each other and shared a quick kiss before he told their second youngest, "Want to help your grandparents keep an eye on your baby sister?"
"Yeah!" Eliza said eagerly. She then said quickly, "Will she be able to go onto any rides?"
"There are some," Castle said first.
"And we'll take her to play the games," Beckett added. She smiled when her father came over and took the baby before she said, "That should keep her occupied."
"What if we end up winning a few times?" Castle asked as he was walking with his wife over to the line.
"She'll have more for her crib," Beckett said with a smile. "Since she might not let them go. We'll see."
"True," Castle said with a nod as he was looking ahead of them once they'd stopped walking, watching Skye talking with Darnley and Adam. "Think she's okay?"
"I do," Beckett said, not surprised he was asking. "I think her resting after the dress rehearsal was good for her." She turned and glanced towards the entrance to the line and told her husband, "She wanted to come."
"Of course, but just to watch her wife," Castle said in amusement. "And then she would have screamed her head off on the ride so I don't know how Mary would have done that."
Beckett smiled and squeezed her husband's hand before she said, "Will dinner be set late?"
"Yeah, I'm surprised Paul and Nancy didn't really want to go anywhere," Castle said. He had invited everyone from the concert to dinner, but Paul and Nancy were the only ones to accept as the others were planning to go out into the city. He had decided to have the meal catered from Serendipity 3 since there were vegetarian options for the singer and his wife. "But luckily they were okay with my choice," he said.
"Luckily," Beckett said as they were walking down the line. "Rick," she eventually said once they were getting closer to the loading platform.
"Yes love?" Castle asked her as he wrapped his arm around her.
Smiling at the way he'd answered her, Beckett said, "How are we here?"
"I asked," Castle replied aware she was talking about the fact the park was open in November. "Before we met up with everyone to walk into the park. According to the person I spoke with this is for the fact the kids are off this week, part of their profits are going to Feeding America."
"Really?" Beckett asked. When her husband nodded, she said, "Oh good."
Castle smiled at that before they were heading to the front of the line eventually and they started to get onto the train. He and his wife were sitting behind Skye and Adam, and he said, "Any bloody noses?"
"Are you wanting to bet on that?" Skye asked, exaggerating her accent.
"Why not," Castle said, shaking her hand before they started to laugh, and the singer was speaking in amusement himself.
"What kind of bet was that?" Adam asked. "You're both agreeing."
"For the sake of our friendship," Skye began. "That's how we bet."
Beckett smiled when the investigator was laughing with Castle and Adam before the train was starting to move down the track. She applauded with the others before they were waving at people in line. After they'd turned to the right, they were speeding up a little and then heading up the lift hill.
"I'm so glad we could come on this," Mari said.
"I know," Julia managed to say as the lift was fast. She raised her arms when they got to the top and cried out with Mari while they flew down the drop. Once they were up and turning to the left, she was holding onto her lap bar tightly at the force of that turn. Coming around to the left they went down another drop and she just managed to put her arms up before they were going up again.
Beckett was laughing herself as her husband was letting out a fake groan at the pressure going up but didn't have a chance to tease him about that since they were going down yet another drop. After heading up again she felt her husband's hand grab hers as they turned to the right that time at the top.
"Phew, good thing we get a break," Castle told her.
"I'm not surprised you did that," Beckett said with a smile. She laughed when her husband pouted before they were turning their attention to the next drop.
Julia laughed with Mari as they went up and down another drop, smiling when her friend playfully cried out, "Too many!" She wanted to tell her she shouldn't have ridden when they were coming up and turning again, that time to the right. She loved the way the planks of wood looked around the outside of the roller coaster there but didn't have much chance to admire them because they'd made a complete turn and were going down before up again. Going down that drop, she was relieved it wasn't that much that time before they headed back up.
Turning to the right, Castle laughed when he saw Skye waving to the Cyclone sign before hearing Darnley behind them calling, "Yoo-hoo!" They were coming around to the right and the next drop, so he didn't have a chance to comment on that. He laughed when a few of them were letting out exaggerated cries at the tiny bump they'd come to before they were going up again.
After the next drop, the train was going to a right turn before going down slightly and back up, leading everyone on the train to let out exaggerated yells. They ascended into a tunnel, and then came to the break run before the loading platform where they all started to applaud.
"Anyone have a bloody nose?" Skye asked as they were getting off the train.
"I do," David said in mock annoyance, holding a handkerchief up to his nose.
"Dad!" Mari said, hurrying back to him.
"Don't worry," Rebecca told her daughter. "Head that way honey."
"I'm fine," David assured his daughter. "Just a little rough in the back." He hugged Mari to him and then checked his nose quickly. "And see? I'm all set for the next ride," he said when he saw it had stopped.
"What is the next ride?" Jacob asked.
"We'll head back to where we were and start from the street," Skye said before she froze. "Wait a minute, I'm not a Yorker, what in blazes am I doing directing us?" she told everyone in mock anger before Beckett was speaking to her with a smile on her face.
"We've been waiting to see what you would say," she told her friend.
"Well, now I've said something so let's get moving," Skye told them.
"First is The Tickler," Castle said while they were walking back to where they'd walked into the park.
"Is that the Wild Mouse one?" Skye asked.
"It is," Castle said. When they reached the ride, he turned to his wife and said, "I think I'd like to stay with Josie."
"I don't think our parents are going to go," Beckett told him with a smile.
Shaking his head, Castle said, "Still, she's not going to have that many rides to go on."
"Alright," Beckett said. "But you need to tell the girls."
"I don't think they'll mind," Castle replied.
Turning, Beckett saw what he was talking about and smiled since their second oldest was talking to Mari, Eve and Jacob and she knew the four would be going together on the roller coaster. She searched for Eliza and soon found her, calling to her, before she said, "Your dad and I are going to stay with Josie."
"Okay, but can I go with someone?" Eliza asked.
"Sure, but who?" Castle asked her.
"Um… I don't know," Eliza said with a frown, looking around at their group.
"I'm heading with Ivy and Iris," Skye said, walking over. "We could use a fourth if you don't mind."
"Go," Beckett said with a smile when her daughter gasped and turned to her and Castle.
"Thanks!" Eliza said eagerly before she hurried to Iris and took her hand.
Turning to her husband, Beckett said with a smile, "Josie?"
"Yeah, I'll go grab her," Castle replied before he hurried to the stroller and taking the baby. "We'll watch the ride," he told Josie once he had her on his hip and was heading back to Beckett. "And see if you'll want to go on it someday."
"Dada go up," Josie said.
"I think she's like her sisters," Castle commented with a smile to his wife.
"That's an assumption," Beckett told her husband teasingly. She smiled when he leaned down to her and they were kissing gently before turning their attention to the ride. At the same time, they were watching their youngest to see her reactions to the cars going around above them. She smiled and kissed the baby's cheek when Josie appeared to be amused by the ride, rubbing her back and turning to the roller coaster to see when Julia and Eliza would be taking their turns to point them out to their baby sister.