"How many games can we play?" Eliza asked her parents while they were walking to the games.
"We can for a little," Beckett said. "We have to head back home soon for dinner."
"And here's the first one," Castle said, pointing it out to the little girl.
"Oh, can I play this one?" Eliza asked eagerly since it was a game to spray a target with water.
"You can," Beckett said, not surprised she was asking that since the prize was a minion stuffed toy.
"Here," Castle said, taking her with him since he had the card for the games.
Staying behind with Josie, Beckett smiled at Darnley as he walked over to her and was about to ask if he was enjoying the park again when he was talking about the games.
"Remember?" Darnley asked.
"Remember?" Beckett echoed. When her friend smiled at her she rolled her eyes and said, "Yes I do remember, but we're here now and your husband is looking for you," because she'd noticed Nkosi doing so at the game.
"Oh, I better go," Darnley said, squeezing her arm before he hurried to his family.
Beckett walked to where Castle was with Eliza and said, "If you don't win sweetie don't feel too bad."
"I won't, but I wanna get one for Josa," the little girl replied.
"Here we go," Castle said as the worker was announcing to them the game was about to start. He helped her in aiming though they didn't win, looking down the line and laughing when he saw it had been Jim. "I didn't know he was playing," he told his wife.
"I didn't either," Beckett said, kissing the side of Josie's head while the baby was squealing. She went to her father and said, "You wanted to play?" with a smile.
"I did," Jim replied as he stood up. He gave Josie the doll and said, "This is for you honey."
"Ga'pa," Josie said, smiling at him.
Letting her father take the baby, Beckett held the Minion before she said, "I hope the others will hold back from getting anything else for her."
"Luckily there are other kids here," Jim told his daughter.
"Mama," Josie said, smiling at her.
"Yes sweetie?" Beckett replied with a smile of her own.
"Baba," Josie said.
"Baby," Beckett said to her father with a smile before handing Josie the minion. "We better keep going," she said then when she noticed the others were heading to the next game. She held back from playing, just watching and sticking with Josie and her father before her husband called to her at the whack-a-mole game.
"Hey, the girls were mentioning you weren't playing," Castle told his wife.
"They want me to?" Beckett asked with a smile.
"I think so," Castle said.
"Competition?" Beckett asked slightly uncertainly.
"No," Castle said quickly. "Just to play. Julia and Eliza want to play next to us too, though I told them we weren't going to compete."
"We heard Dad," Julia said jokingly. "And we don't care."
"Hey," Castle said in mock annoyance. He couldn't hold to that and smiled at the two as Eliza was giggling before he told them, "Okay, but you're staying with us, right?"
"Yeah," Eliza said eagerly.
Turning their attention to the game Beckett said, "Don't mess each other up."
"Are you talking to them or me?" Castle asked his wife while they picked up the mallets.
"You," Beckett said, smiling at her husband. She laughed when he lightly nudged her before the worker there was getting everyone's attention. The game began shortly after, and she was soon starting to hit the moles that were popping up. She was focused on the game until the bell was ringing to signify that it was over, and she looked at her score before looking around to see that the light was going off in front of Darnley before he was laughing and soon talking to them all.
"Sorry, I'm so sorry I thought one of the kids would win this," the carpenter said.
"You won a toy for your kids," Brad told him.
"That's true," Darnley said after thinking about that for a moment. He then turned his attention to the worker and asked Keo, "What do you want?" He was startled when the boy shook his head and he turned his attention to Maddy saying, "Would you like something?"
Nodding the little girl said, "The bear Daddy."
"Okay," Darnley said, asking for the green teddy bear. After they were walking away from the game he went to Beckett and said, "Any disappointment in the change in dinner plans?"
"No, to be honest I'm not surprised some of the others want to go on their own," Beckett replied since her husband had gotten a call while they'd been going around the rides. "Or that Ringo and Barbara invited Paul and Nancy out. Are you sure you guys are okay coming over to the loft?"
"We are," Darnley said quickly. "As long as you guys don't mind us there."
"We don't," Beckett said reassuringly. She looked over at Eliza when she was calling to her and said with a smile to her friend, "But that's a while from now."
"A long while I think," Darnley said in agreement.
Beckett laughed with her friend before she turned her attention to her own family as they were making their way to the next game.
"Easy," Castle said when Eliza threw herself at him. "I know, you're thirsty but this is for your sister."
"Can I go get my own water?" the little girl asked.
"Go ahead," Castle said, nodding over to the kitchen. He watched her go before he reached his wife and told her, "Here's Josie's water."
"Dada!" the baby cried, reaching out for her sippy cup. Once she had it in her hands she started to drink and then said when she'd finished, "Thak Dada."
"You're welcome," Castle told her. "Think you can add the n in there?"
"No," Josie said in response and smiling at him.
"Are you complaining?" Skye asked in amusement.
"I can't can I?" Castle asked. "She did give me an n there." He sat on the couch next to Beckett and took her hand before they were turning their attention to the kids playing. "I'm glad they're having fun," he said.
"You mean Julia, don't you?" Beckett asked her husband with a smile.
"Yeah," Castle said, feeling bad for their second oldest because Mari had gone with her family out to dinner that night. The Davises had done the same, so just the Darnleys and McDouglases were with them. At that moment they were waiting for their food to be delivered from Serendipity and he glanced around the room. "Although I will mention Alexis," he couldn't help saying.
Smiling at her husband, Beckett said, "Are you going to call them back from Le Circe?"
"No," Castle said quickly. "But tomorrow we're having… dinner, right?"
Beckett couldn't help laughing and said, "That's more up to Skye."
"We're eating at the arena," the investigator said, sitting near them and easily hearing their conversation.
"Something light," Mary added.
"And then we'll be heading out to change," Skye said.
"Grá," Mary said to her wife.
"Yes?" Skye asked. She looked down as her wife was taking her hand and gently squeezing it before she realized she was holding it in a tight fist. "Oh… sorry," she said.
"It's understandable," Martha said. "I've been extremely nervous myself before performances."
"That's not a surprise," Skye said. "But I hope I'll be able to actually perform."
"You will," Martha said confidently.
"Well… I guess I should just take some of that confidence," Skye said with a smile.
"Mind if I do too?" Mary asked.
"You guys will be fine," Beckett told them firmly.
"She's right," Julia said. "Freddie's said," she added as the adults looked at her. She then stared at Skye pointedly and was about to speak when there was a knock on the door and she said, "The food?"
"No," Castle said. "They would have texted me," he explained before getting up and hurrying over to the door. "David?" he asked in surprise.
"Mari!" Julia said happily when she spotted her friend with the mayor.
"Rebecca and Dani are in the lobby," David explained. "Mari wasn't that happy, so we decided to eat near the hotel with Dani and drop her sister off here."
"That's fine," Castle said. "But we already ordered."
"I can share my food with her," Julia said quickly.
"We'll see what we can do," Castle assured David.
"Alright, we'll see you for breakfast tomorrow," the mayor said.
After they had all said goodbye to the man, Castle closed and locked the door and said, "Okay, so now we have all our guests… what do we do?"
"I'm getting the chicken and waffles Dad," Julia reminded him.
"Yes, but that's not enough," Castle said.
"I can give her some of my omelet Richard," Martha said. When her son looked at her, she reminded him, "They are very large."
"That's true," Castle said. "Would you mind that at all?"
"I'll take some of your waffles," Mari said to her friend. "Do you care?"
"No, but are you sure you don't want chicken?" Julia asked.
"It's ham and cheese," Martha said, knowing why her granddaughter's friend was looking at her.
"Then I don't need chicken," Mari replied.
"I might give you a little still," Julia said as they walked over to where Marie and Kathleen were playing a game with her. "We have to start over," she told the twins.
"I don't care," Marie said, her sister nodding. Turning her attention to the board she said, "Well… I think I was going to lose anyways, what was the solution?"
"Miss Scarlet in the conservatory with the pipe," Julia said after taking the cards in the envelope. She was about to start splitting them back up before her friend was touching her arm and asking about Peter and Clive.
"Think they're happy?" Mari asked. "Clive and Peter?"
"They did seem kinda happy," Marie said.
"I think they're really happy," Julia replied.
"Did you talk to Genevieve at all?" Castle asked his wife since they hadn't been able to ignore the girls' conversation.
"A little, we were busy going to the rides," Beckett said with a smile. "But I did have the chance after they announced everything to us."
"Yeah, that was funny," Skye commented. "She was wearing her engagement ring the whole time."
"I noticed it going back to help Julia the first time she changed," Beckett said. "And I knew there was more but of course the kids had to go back to dance," she added as she couldn't help recalling what had happened when they'd gone to the ride after The Tickler and Isaac had stopped them.
"I'm sorry to put a pause on our trip," Clive's father told the others as they paused next to the swing ride. "But I think Genevieve and I really should share our news with you."
"We're aware you're engaged you know," Mary commented.
"She's right," Rebecca said with a smile. "The ring is hard to miss."
Smiling down at her emerald cut diamond on a simple band of silver, Genevieve said, "Kate saw it already too… backstage while I was waiting to see Peter."
"When did it happen?" Martha asked.
"Last Saturday," Peter said.
"Yes," Clive joined in. "Dad asked right in front of us."
"The boys are a little… annoyed I did that," Isaac said after he'd begun to laugh. "And as soon as I had they were racing out of the room to give us a few minutes… I think more so Genevieve could say yes or no."
"Luckily you said yes," Bethany commented.
"I know," Genevieve said with a smile. "And there's one more thing."
"Are you adopting each other's sons?" Skye asked.
"We will," Isaac said.
"We're fine with it," Peter said in surprise when he realized the others were all looking at himself and Clive.
"Yeah, we were kind of hoping," the boy said quickly.
"That's not it though," Isaac said, looking at his fiancée.
Letting him take her hand, Genevieve said as he was entwining their fingers together, "We're expecting." She smiled when she saw the unsurprised looks on some of the women's faces and couldn't help asking them, "Is it obvious?"
"Not obvious," Beckett said first.
"In the way you're holding yourself," Rebecca said. "Was that announcement before the engagement?"
"The day after," Genevieve explained, smiling at her fiancé. "That was when I found out though."
"Then congratulations twice over," Joseph said.
"When will you get married?" Eve asked.
"We're not having a big ceremony," Isaac said. "The four of us talked and we'll get married on the fourth of next month."
"It'll be at our house in the living room," Genevieve took up. "And we're inviting all of you."
"Except us," Skye said.
"No, you're invited but if you RSVP you can't come that's fine," Isaac said. "But just you guys."
"Family?" Brad asked in surprise.
"We don't have any," Genevieve said first. "We're only children and our parents were only children as well."
"That happens a lot," David commented. "But we're happy to go, I think we should. Your partner's dad is getting married," he directed last to his oldest.
"Thanks," Mari said.
"Same for you Julia," Castle said with a smile as the kids were laughing.
After the Davises and Darnleys had said the same Genevieve said, "Thank you so much. It's not going to be that big of a ceremony since we're planning on leaving for our honeymoon that afternoon."
"Did you decide where to go?" Beckett asked.
"Bermuda," Isaac said. "We discussed it and since we've both always wanted to go, we'll head there for a week."
"Who's taking in your sons?" Castle said.
"I think we are Rick," Beckett said in amusement.
"You don't have to," Genevieve said.
"I don't mind," Peter told his mom quickly.
"Me neither," Clive said before his father was starting to speak to his partner and Eliza.
"You two don't mind them being there?" Isaac asked them.
"No, Jacob's come over before," Julia said first.
"We'll let them have the guest bedrooms," Beckett said.
"Okay… for a week," Genevieve said to make sure.
"For a week, or longer," Castle said before his wife could say anything. "That's up to you guys."
"I think just a week," Genevieve said. "For now we should go back to the rides before we run out of time for the kids."
While the kids were heading to the line for the swings, Beckett went to the woman and said, "How're you doing?"
"No morning sickness," Genevieve replied. "I was lucky not to have it with Peter, but I'm sleeping until ten." She wasn't surprised when the writer looked at her in surprise and told her, "I know, I managed to make it today, but I might be paying for it tomorrow."
"The plan was to head to Central Park, wasn't it?" Lily asked. "Sorry," she said when the two women looked back at her. "I was wondering too."
"And me," Rebecca added.
Laughing, Genevieve said, "I'll have to join you later."
"You could just stay in," Beckett suggested. "Rest for the concert."
"I might do that," Genevieve said.
"You never mentioned how far along you are," Lily said. "Unless that's none of our business."
"I don't care if you know," Genevieve said with a soft laugh. "I'm going to be three months around the wedding, so I'm due around the beginning of June. And because of that we're not going to be able to head on that road trip with you guys."
"That's alright," Beckett said quickly. "But the boys?"
"We talked to them about it, and they really want to stay with their baby sibling," Genevieve said. "Isaac and I weren't really sure about that, but we pressed them about it and they didn't want to go without us. So we'll stay here and maybe go to Ocean City in August when the baby's a little older."
"And you have the beach here," Beckett commented.
"She's right," Rebecca said. "You're free to use the beach at our homes."
"I'll tell Brad and he can tell his officers," Lily added.
"Thank you," Genevieve said gratefully.
"Are you going to find out what the baby is?" Beckett asked.
"We will," Genevieve replied with a smile. She looked at the women with her, glancing at Martha, Mary and Bethany since they hadn't gone on the ride and said, "Here," as she held out her hand to them so they could look at her engagement ring.
"Mom," Julia said, going over to her mother.
"Yes?" Beckett asked.
"I-" Julia started to say before there was a knock at the door.
"There's the food," Castle said, hurrying over to open it.
"What did you want to ask sweetie?" Beckett said since Darnley had gone over with Skye.
"Is it weird that they're getting married that fast?" Julia asked.
"Not really, I think Genevieve wants it to happen before she starts showing," Beckett replied. "But more because she and Isaac want to get married."
Julia nodded and then said, "What are they having?"
"Oh, it's much too soon to tell kiddo," Martha said quickly before her daughter in law could respond to that. "But when she's a little further along you can tell."
"They'll know by then though," Beckett said. She then turned back to her second oldest and said, "So you'll need to wait and see, like the baby's brothers."
Julia smiled at Mari before they were turning their attention to her father when he was calling to them to get their food. As they were heading to the kitchen, she couldn't help thinking of their conversation with their dance partners in the line for the Coney Clipper.
"So your parents are getting married," Mari said, sharing a smile with Julia when Clive blew through his lips and Peter was speaking shortly after that.
"Just ask," the latter said to the two girls.
"Well, we know you're happy," Julia said with a smile. "But I'm wondering, do you mind being adopted by the other's parent?"
"I don't," Clive said, looking at Peter.
"And we'll be brothers," the boy said as he was shaking his head as well. "We talked about that; our parents made sure we were okay with that."
"We are," Clive said quickly. "Plus, we're going to have a little brother or sister and it'd be weird if we weren't calling each other brothers and them our… little brother or sister."
"We're waiting for them to find out what the baby is," Peter added.
"Do you want a brother more?" Mari asked.
Shrugging Peter said, "Either one, Mom and Isaac told us we shouldn't want one more than the other."
"So the baby is what it is," Clive said.
"Are you going to call them Mom and Dad?" Julia asked, hoping they knew what she was talking about.
"Maybe," Peter said slowly. "We talked about that first after they told us Mom had said yes and we saw she was wearing the ring. But… is it weird?"
"I think it's different for me," Julia said since her partner had been talking to her. "I wanted him to be my dad for ages, so it wasn't that hard to call him that. But are you sure you want to?" When Peter shrugged, Clive doing the same, she said, "You'll get used to it."
"Oh, we're almost there," Clive said. "We have to tell them about the trip next summer," he said.
"That's right, Mom said the baby's supposed to be born around the start of June, so we won't be able to go with you guys."
"Really? You wouldn't want to come with us?" Mari asked.
"No, we'd want to stay with our sibling," Peter said first. "That way it knows us and everything."
"Makes sense," Julia said with a smile before they were heading onto the ride with the others in their group.
November 23rd, 2021
Hello from NYC Evangeline!
I actually brought you here, but really I only have the chance to write tonight to you, tomorrow we're going back home, and we'll go back super later and I won't have the chance then.
Today started normal for here at the loft… well to be honest it's exactly like at home but we're here at the loft of course. Once we had finished breakfast, we headed to Madison Square Garden, which was so cool because it was empty, just set up for the concert tomorrow. I haven't been since we saw Paul there, so it was great to check out. We met up with the band, the McDouglas girls and then the singers and speakers for the concert tomorrow. And of course, Derek! I can't forget him. I ran to Paul first thing and hugged him; it was great to see him again though I didn't have that much time to talk to him because we had to start.
The first few songs were great, Skye is going to be awesome tomorrow but watching her I realized there was something wrong. I wanted to talk to her, but never had the chance. Eventually I needed to go and change into my costume for Crazy Little Thing Called Love, and it was so fun to practice that one. We danced with the hologram of Freddie, and it felt strange, since it moves well, but it was a fun dance. Going through all the music- we stopped for lunch eventually which was really good, Katz's Deli- and the dances and the talking it was great.
"Shoot," Julia said suddenly.
"What's wrong?" Mari asked her friend.
"I forgot to mention Rami, meeting him and everything," Julia said before she turned her attention back to her diary. She was about to start writing again, since she had her regular pen, when Marie was asking her about that moment.
"What're you going to say?" the girl asked.
"That he was really nice but had to hurry and practice the speech he was going to give," Julia replied. When her friend nodded, she turned her attention back to her diary and started another paragraph before she continued.
I forgot to say, I got to meet Rami Malek, the actor who played Freddie in the movie about Queen. He was nice, but we had to get the whole concert practiced and the camera people were practicing too so it was a quick meeting but so cool.
We actually ended up filming a music video while we were there, a last-minute thing that Brian and Roger decided to do. It was for the song I'm Going Slightly Mad and it was fun, but I heard Skye telling Mom and Dad that it was kinda heartbreaking since that song was from when Freddie was so sick.
Julia paused there before she said gently, 'Freddie?'
Yes? the singer responded after a moment.
'Do you mind what we did with the music video?' Julia asked.
Oh no, it was a laugh darling, and you enjoyed it so I'm quite pleased with what you did in the end, Freddie said.
'Oh good,' Julia replied with a little smile. She felt the singer leave her then before she was going back to her diary yet again.
I just spoke with Freddie really fast; he was okay with the video since we kids and the adults enjoyed it. And it was fun so yeah, that was great to get to do!
So after that was the last song to practice, Don't Stop Me Now, and watching Skye at the start of it I thought everything was even worse though I didn't know what exactly it was. But right when Brian was playing the guitar by himself, Skye collapsed and that was when I knew. Freddie had jumped her body, accidentally, and he was taking over her because she had been moving like he would in his performances. I got Freddie out of the arena and spoke with him, but I nearly collapsed if Mari hadn't come to help me back. Skye was okay, and then I was just fine myself, so we were lucky. That was the end of the dress rehearsal, and it was fun… mainly 'cause there was no audience really, just the singers and speakers waiting, and the families.
After that we headed to Coney Island and that was so, so fun! We went on all the rides, even the kid ones. Before we went on the swing ride, Peter's mom and Clive's dad announced that they were engaged; since this past weekend; and that they were going to have a baby! Luckily Peter and Clive are happy about a sibling and being each other's brothers since their parents are going to adopt the other boy… if that makes sense. So I was really happy for them both since I hope this means they have the chance to have a full family! I don't know what their sibling will be yet, but I'll say once I hear since they'll find out.
Julia paused then, wondering how much more she wanted to write before she saw her mother was coming out of the master bedroom. She smiled at her and was about to ask if they needed to go to bed yet when Kathleen was speaking first.
"Do we have to go to bed?" the girl was asking.
"Soon," Beckett replied. "Are you guys still writing?"
"I am," Julia said first, though she wasn't surprised when the other girls said they were too.
"Okay, I'll let you have a little more time but try not to take too much longer," Beckett told them.
"We won't," Julia said, smiling when the others agreed with her. When her mother said they'd be back out to say goodnight she said to Mari and the oldest McDouglas twins, "Hopefully we can finish." Not surprised the three were agreeing with her again, smiled and then started to write again after checking to see where she was.
We also played the games, really fun since we took up the games all together. I forgot (I keep forgetting stuff, but it was a long day) to say that Adam was with us for the rides but he left to go on The Daily Show for an interview, but at least I got to go on the Cyclone with him! Anyways, after the games we walked out on the beach together and got some shells with Josa, she loved watching us throwing them back into the water before we came back to the loft. Only the Darnleys and McDouglases came back with us since everyone else wanted to go on their own for dinners. I think tomorrow we're having dinner before the concert, but I hope not 'cause I don't want get sick. I'll have to talk to Mom about that.
We were playing games, the grownups talking, when there was a knock on the door. Dad got it and it was Mari on the other side! Well… Mari and her dad 'cause of course he had to bring her. She wanted to come back already, so her parents let her come back for dinner and she stayed with us. Dinner was good, it was Serendipity and we even had dessert too! After that we were playing until the kids needed to go to bed, Josa was first and she's in the crib in Gram's room. Then the next youngest, Lizzy, Fleur, Ivy and Iris were next, they're all staying in 'lexis' room. Now it's just me, Mari, Marie and Kath but we have to go to bed soon.
The concert's gonna be live, at eight, so yeah I guess we'd have to have dinner early. I just remembered that I forgot to mention what Josa's gonna do tomorrow. She'll be staying with Sophie and Miles, everyone from the city will be at the concert (they were going to come to the rehearsal, but apparently they had work, a lot of it, so we're super lucky that at least they can go tomorrow) so that means they need a babysitter and it'll be at the arena, luckily the babysitter will be able to watch the show from the room she'll have backstage. I'm not sure who it is, but Aunt Lanie knows her… I think the daughter of a friend of hers and Uncle Dylan's. I'm not sure. So, because we probably won't get back until almost twelve at home, I won't be able to write tomorrow, but the next day I'll try my best.
Oh, Mom's coming out of the bedroom, I better end here Evangeline and I'll tell you all about the concert! Night!
Finishing her entry, Julia said to her mother, "I'm finished. Is it time exactly?"
"Almost," Castle said, walking out of the room as well. "You guys better get to your beds." He smiled when the four were laughing softly and he watched them putting their diaries away before Julia and Mari were laying on the couch, Marie and Kathleen on the air mattress they'd put by the couch. "Are you guys going to talk the whole night?" he teased them after he and Beckett had kissed their daughter goodnight.
"No, I have to get some sleep Dad," Julia said.
"I'll sleep," Mari assured her.
"But what about Thanksgiving?" Kathleen asked.
Laughing with the girls and her husband Beckett said, "At least you've warned us."
"We'll sleep then too Mom," Julia said quickly.
"Okay, then goodnight girls," Beckett told them.
"Night," the four said at the same time.
"We'll see you in the morning for breakfast," Castle said. "Sleep tight," he added. He smiled when they thanked him for that and then went with Beckett into their bedroom. Closing both doors he said, "I think they're still going to talk."
"Probably, I'm planning on opening the door in a little," Beckett told her husband with a smile.
"What will we do until then?" Castle asked her as he went back over to where she stood.
"Not that," Beckett said with a smile. She laughed softly when her husband was frowning and was about to speak before he was while he wrapped his arm around her.
"I wasn't going to ask for that," Castle said seriously.
"Ask?" Beckett said with a smile.
"I mean suggest," Castle said quickly.
Leaning over to him, Beckett lightly kissed her husband's cheek and then said, "Then did you have something in mind?"
"To be honest I think we should sleep," Castle said. He saw the reaction on his wife's face and then said, "Then what did you have in mind?"
"I wanted to take a look at my pictures," Beckett replied.
"Oh… go ahead," Castle said quickly.
Smiling at him, Beckett kissed his cheek before she said, "Thank you, could you check on them?"
Looking at his watch, Castle took it off and said, "Maybe a little bit more?"
"A little," Beckett replied as she was grabbing her laptop. She settled on top of the mattress with it, starting to scroll through her photos. She knew her husband was watching her, since it wasn't hard to miss him sitting on the edge of the bed next to her, and she glanced at him saying, "Yes?"
"Did you send those already?" Castle asked her.
Smiling, Beckett said, "I did, what they'll have tomorrow, I'm not sure." She was a little surprised when her husband was studying her worriedly and she said, "Could you check on them?"
"I will," Castle said hurriedly when he glanced at the time. He got up and hurried over to the door before he peeked out at the girls. Seeing the four were laying still, he stayed there for a little longer until he was sure. Closing the door as slowly as he'd opened it, he waited to tell his wife once he was next to the bed, "They're asleep love."
"Good," Beckett replied. "I think-" she started to say.
"Kate," Castle said seriously as he placed his hand on hers. When she was looking up at him, he told her, "What's wrong love?"
Beckett hesitated for a moment before she slipped her hand away from him and went on her computer quickly before she was turning it around to him.
"When did you take this?" Castle asked in surprise as he was studying the picture.
"Right before Skye collapsed," Beckett said, not surprised when her husband was staring at the picture, bringing her laptop closer to his face. It had the investigator, but to Skye's left was a blur in the picture with the shape of an arm at the end of it and she said, "I know, if there wasn't that I'd explain it away."
"Still?" Castle asked her with a slight smile.
"Still, because you realize there could be a problem with the camera in that shot," Beckett pointed out to him.
"True," Castle said slowly before he gave her back her laptop. "Did you send that one?"
"No," Beckett said firmly. "But I did show Skye."
"When you went into the office," Castle said, recalling that after dinner.
With a quick nod Beckett said, "She needed to see it."
"How'd she react?" Castle asked.
Beckett gave her husband her laptop and pulled him on the bed with her once he'd placed it on her nightstand for her. When he was sitting next to her, she began to relate what had happened as she and the investigator were walking into the office.
"Why are we in here? You're not planning on writing, are you?" Skye asked her friend with a smile.
"No," Beckett said.
The smile dropping off her face at her friend's somber expression, Skye asked, "What happened?"
"I need you to see this picture," Beckett told her.
Walking around the desk once the writer had gone on her laptop, Skye saw what was on the screen and she breathed, "You got him."
"It's him?" Beckett asked.
"It is," Skye replied with a firm nod. "The arm here," she said, motioning to the screen. "And it shows what Julia was talking about." She then studied the writer and said, "And your opinion?"
"I can't deny that there's an arm there," Beckett replied. "And I saw what was happening to you." She leaned over and showed her some photos of the investigator during the song before her collapse. "Tell me that's not Freddie," as Skye had her right arm raised in the air and her legs apart.
"I know, slap a yellow jacket and white trousers on me then I'm Freddie for Halloween," Skye said. "Would you mind sending this to Zak?"
"No," Beckett replied, knowing the investigator would do that since Skye had the e-mail of the paranormal investigator. "Are you sure Zak's alright?"
"I am," Skye replied with a smile. "Just a little flare up of his asthma. He's okay but his doctor warned him not to fly."
"Too bad, Julia was looking forward to seeing them," Beckett said.
"Well…" Skye said. She smiled when her friend looked at her questioningly and explained, "He might come tomorrow afternoon. He's going to his doctor in the morning and then fly out here with the others, but don't tell Julia just in case."
"Sounds like he's going to fly out here either way," Beckett said in amusement before her friend was laughing and responding quickly.
"I think they're set on it," Skye replied.
Turning her head to the living room, Beckett smiled when she heard her husband calling to her and said, "I guess we better go back."
"Show Julia," Skye told her.
"I will," Beckett replied, letting the investigator leave before she was closing her laptop and heading out to the others.
"You haven't yet," Castle commented.
"No, but I'll do that once we're back home," Beckett said. "She's thinking more of her dances."
"She seems okay right now," Castle said. He then smiled and asked his wife, "Mari?"
"And Marie and Kath," Beckett replied. "I don't think she wants to show she's nervous."
"Though they have to be aware already," Castle commented. When she looked at him, he said, "She's definitely your daughter."
Shaking her head Beckett said, "I'll talk to her about that."
Castle leaned over and gently kissed her temple before he said, "Are you ready for tomorrow?"
"Of course," Beckett said. "Though I'm a little surprised they want me to keep taking pictures." She reached up quickly to her husband and gently covered his mouth with her hand telling him, "I know, you agree with them asking me, but I'm still surprised." She smiled when her husband nodded and then moved her hand before they leaned into each other and kissed gently. "We should go to bed Rick," she said once they'd parted.
"Yes," Castle replied. "But there's something on your mind."
"Did you talk to Isaac at all?" Beckett asked. "I just remembered his… Clive's birth mother."
"Yeah, while the kids were on the boat ride," Castle said. "When they went on their own." After Beckett had nodded, he then related what he had spoken to the newly engaged man about.
"Oh no, you're going to talk to me now," Isaac said with a smile.
"He is," Brad said.
Giving his friend a look, since he'd pointed to him, Castle said, "I just wanted to see how you're doing."
"I expected that a lot longer ago," Isaac said. He then grew serious and said, "But it's not a surprise. I'm good… Genevieve is a lot different from Clive's birth mother. And Peter's a good kid, he'll be a good brother for Clive."
"Is Clive ready for a mother?" David asked, having joined the three men.
"It's why we moved in with each other," Isaac explained. "To see how our sons would be and I think they're happy. I talked to Clive, and she talked to Peter privately and Clive said he likes Genevieve since she let us move into their house and gave him such a nice bedroom." He smiled a little and said, "It's a big room compared to the townhouse we used to live in, and with an en suite bathroom. He also mentioned something about being glad she shares the master bedroom with me; I guess he thought I'd get another room myself."
"He's not used to that," Castle said.
"No," Isaac said, shaking her head. He then smiled and said, "And he's glad Peter's going to be his brother; they've gotten close."
"I would imagine they've wanted a family for a while," David commented.
"I think after seeing your guys' families," Isaac said. "I mean, they've had little squabbles about video games and what movies we watch together but they seem to be sibling disagreements." When the other three men nodded their heads almost at the same time, he laughed slightly and then said, "Good to know." He was about to suggest they head over to the end of the line when the writer was talking first.
"Are you ready to become a father again? Twice over?" Castle said.
Smiling, Isaac said, "I thought of that myself." He glanced at the ride and said, "Like we said we're adopting each other's sons."
"Will he call you Dad?" Brad asked.
"I told him that's up to him," Isaac answered. "And Gen said the same to Clive, though I get the feeling he'll be calling her Mom." He looked back at the other men and said, "Peter I don't know because his birth father…"
"I'm not surprised," Castle said, seeing Brad and David nodding in agreement with him.
"Hopefully he will though," the mayor said.
"I'm hoping," Isaac said. Watching the other two returning to their wives, he said to Castle, "I was thinking of asking you for advice, but Clive's told me that Julia started calling you dad once you adopted her."
"She did, I would leave it for Peter to decide," Castle said. "But don't be surprised if he just calls you by your name; he is nearly thirteen."
Nodding Isaac said, "Gen's terrified he's going to rebel against me, but I have a son so…"
"You have better odds with that," Castle said, not surprised when the man nodded. He went back to his wife then as the man was heading to Genevieve and kissed the side of Josie's head as the ride was ending.
"I don't know," Castle said once he'd finished. "But I really hope there's a chance Peter will call him dad."
"That way all three kids have a mom and dad in that family?" Beckett guessed. She smiled when her husband nodded rapidly and she kissed his cheek before she said, "Don't talk to Peter while he's at the house."
"I wasn't planning on it. It'd be more than a little weird," Castle said. "We'll let them relax and hopefully not miss their parents too much."
"Exactly," Beckett replied before she said. "We were supposed to go to bed."
"Well," Castle began. "We can do that now you know."
"Are you sure?" Beckett asked him with a smile.
"Yes," Castle said before he turned to the lamp on his nightstand, turning it off. When the lights in the room were off, he asked, "Is your camera charging?"
"It already did," Beckett said. "All of my batteries."
"Just making sure," Castle said.
Waiting for her husband to lay down, Beckett said, "I'm sorry you can't be my assistant again."
"That's okay, I have to keep an eye on Eliza of course," Castle replied before reaching for her. Once she was settled against his side he said, "But I just hope you can enjoy the concert."
"I'll make sure I do," Beckett said. "Remember, they clarified and said just a couple pictures per song."
"True," Castle said. They weren't saying goodnight, and he was a little surprised since they weren't talking. Eventually he said, "I have to say it love."
"Say what?" Beckett asked, looking up at him and able to see him a little more in the darkness.
"Still amazing that you're here with me," Castle told her.
Smiling, Beckett said, "Is that ever going to stop?" Her husband had told her, once they were married and back to stay in the loft for a weekend, that he'd spent his nights alone in the bed thinking of her there. It hadn't all been sexual, sometimes he'd thought of them as they were at that moment, laying wrapped up in each other's arms.
"To be honest I highly doubt it," Castle said seriously, looking at her. He leaned over and kissed her gently before they parted and he said, "I love you, Kate."
"I love you too Rick," Beckett said. She gently pushed him down to her before they kissed again, a little harder, and when they'd parted she said, "Night love."
"Good night," Castle told her, unable to resist and leaning down to kiss her again.
"Rick," Beckett said when they'd parted after that. She wasn't surprised when that turned out to be all she could do, and he was kissing her again. After they'd stopped, she put her hands on his chest and told him, "We have to stop."
"But you're hating it," Castle said quickly.
Beckett couldn't help laughing softly and she told him, "I am, I'm with you on that. But I'm serious."
"I agree, but we're going to be so busy…" Castle told her.
Leaning up to her husband, Beckett brushed her lips against his and said, "We'll do more when we can."
"Thank you," Castle said seriously before he kissed her lovingly.
"Goodnight, Rick," Beckett said gently but a little firmly at the same time.
"Night love," Castle said.
Sharing another gentle kiss, Castle and Beckett were settling down again so they would fall asleep. It took them a little though, still feeling each other's lips from their kisses before they were finally nodding off and getting rest for the next day, sleeping peacefully wrapped up in each other's arms.