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: As it says this is the epilogue of the story and I do have another one so if anyone wants to read that it'll be posted in a week!
A/N #2: The lyrics in this chapter are from the songs Play the Game written by Freddie Mercury, from the Queen album of the same name; and A Kind of Magic written by Roger Taylor, from the Queen album of the same name.
A/N #3: I was really pleased getting the feedback for the last chapter so will go into my thank yous for that. TORONTOSUN (So great to read that you thought the songs I chose for the last chapter were great since I think that myself!) and
Mb (I was really pleased that you thought the last chapter was nicely done. And I'm especially glad that you thought the lineup and the songs too were really good for a concert. I have to agree, lol, it's one that I would love to see in person or on TV, I wish it was real too! You're welcome for the first half of the chapter! And it was nice to read too that you thought the second half was wonderfully written. So pleased to see that you could visualize everything, especially the dances since I don't, lol. Not surprised you mentioned how Beckett was going to have amazing pictures during the concert with official and personal ones too since I was aiming for there to be personal ones too, lol. I also wasn't surprised that you thought it was nice that their city family was there too. And again, not surprised you mentioned Tyson still being quiet, well, everything involved with him I mean. And I agree, with that news it'll still be making Beckett and Castle nervous since I you said they know he's still obsessed about him and will try to get his revenge. You're welcome for sharing the second half of the chapter! I noticed the show was being shown on Lifetime while looking on my guide, it's also still being shown on ABC late Saturdays and Sundays, so it's still on though I still watch my DVD sets of it since I need it for my writing! Happy Halloween to you too!).
Thanks for the reviews, I loved reading them and am grateful for the time taken to write them out and send them my way!
Also wanted to say thanks to everyone who read, reviewed, favorited, followed and anyone who might do any of that in the future, it's greatly appreciated!
A/N #4: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Thank You Darling written by Paul McCartney (his wife Linda may have written it with him, but I couldn't find that information), from the Wings album Red Rose Speedway.
Want To Thank You
"How're you doing?"
"In relation to what?" Skye asked.
"After the concert yesterday," Beckett said in amusement.
"Well, I'm not tired, sleeping in helped quite a lot," Skye replied, smiling at her friend. "And now I can rest. No investigations, no concert coming up."
"There is the one for George," Beckett said, not surprised when her friend was scoffing quickly in response to her.
"That's not for another two years," Skye said simply. "So we have a long time for that."
"Do you think they'd want to repeat that format? For other singers or bands?" Beckett asked her while she was going to the timer quickly.
"I talked with Mary about that last night," Skye said. "We had a chance to talk with the rest of the band, before they were departing quickly, about if we'd do more than this one and George's. They were all for it and I completely agreed, but of course it depends on who asks us."
"Any you're hoping for?" Beckett asked.
"They just did," Skye said with a smile. "No, as much as I loved singing last night, I'll take tributes for anyone. We love singing the songs and playing and it's great practice in general." She watched her friend for a moment and asked, "How'd it go?"
"Good," Beckett said, hanging the pictures she had just developed.
"You and your dad are lucky," Skye couldn't help saying. She smiled when her friend looked back at her when she'd finished and she told her, "That Rick suggested this."
"He likes encouraging me with my photography," Beckett explained. She wasn't surprised when the investigator shifted on the chair she'd sat down on and then said, "I know, it's because he had nothing with his father."
"Yeah, it makes sense," Skye replied. "But let's move on because I wouldn't like to become that maudlin while it's Thanksgiving."
"We can go," Beckett said in amusement after she'd checked on her pictures. She followed Skye would and she watched her friend walking out from underneath the second story the pool room had before she said, "They've been doing really well."
"They have," Skye said before she turned to her friend. "What about the Shiva and Parvati art Rick gave you for your wedding?"
"It'll go over there," Beckett said, pointing to a slight niche in the wall to the right. "You'll be able to see it from the pool."
"Rick's decision?" Skye asked.
"His request," Beckett answered with a smile. She then said, "Come on."
"Yeah," Skye said. When her friend glanced at her she told her firmly, "I'm going to ride the slide once you have us back over."
Laughing Beckett said, "This won't be a water park; you can go on it as many times as you'd like. Just don't shove the kids out of the way."
"Good point," Skye said before they were walking into the kitchen where Castle was greeting them.
"Hey, how was it?" Castle directed to them both before asking his wife.
"They came out great," Beckett said, heading to him. She shared a quick kiss with him before she went to the sink to wash her hands as Skye was asking him a question behind her.
"Is everyone outside still?" the investigator said.
"They are," Castle said with a nod, opening the stove and pulling out the rack so he could baste the turkey. "You're going to join them, right?" he asked.
"Are you looking to be alone, or do you not want me to help?" Skye asked.
"The latter," Beckett answered, covering the cranberry sauce simmering on the stove. "Because you really don't need to help us out."
"Someone does," Skye commented easily. She then turned with them to the small TV screen hanging under one of the cabinets and said with a smile, "Well, if you don't want me to help here, perhaps I can get your daughter and take care of her."
"She sounds like she needs her diaper changed," Beckett said, listening to Josie's whimpering on the TV. She turned from the screen and was a little startled to find her friend was leaving them and waving over her shoulder.
"Let her aunt take care of her," Skye was saying. "And I've done that for Marie and Kath."
"You forget they were still in diapers," Castle said.
Nodding, though she knew her friend and Mary had worked on getting the girls ready to be able to go to preschool once they had them back in LA, Beckett said, "What do you-"
Castle knew he shouldn't have but he couldn't help himself and was kissing his wife deeply. After they were parting, he was smiling and said, "I'll control that more once we're surrounded."
"Which is going to be soon," Beckett pointed out in amusement since she could hear the door to the backyard opening and voices.
"Very soon," Castle said when he realized he'd heard Rebecca and Darnley in the talking.
Beckett nodded and walked to the short hallway to the door, greeting the new arrivals warmly as everyone was taking off their outer layers. She had to wonder how Skye was doing with Josie, since she wasn't sure how the baby would react alone with the investigator.
"Well Josie," Skye was saying in the baby's room. "It appears as if you do need to be changed."
"Cha," Josie said.
"Cha-cha?" Skye said, exaggerating her voice. "Oh no, no, no, no," she said, shaking her head and relieved to see the baby was smiling. "You can't dance yet." She laid Josie down on her changing table before telling her, "But I know your sister will teach you as soon as you're old enough."
"Dance?" Josie asked.
"Right you are," Skye told her with a smile as she was holding her gently in place. She grabbed what she needed quickly and then turned her attention back to the baby and changed her, humming gently while Josie was watching her with wide eyes. "There," she said once she'd finished. "Good as new. But you'll need to wait to change for dinner; I'll let your mum or dad do that." She settled Josie on her hip and headed to the stairs leading down to the hall on the first floor. She smiled looking at the baby while she spoke a few things before she looked back down and saw her mother was there. "She's all set. She did need a fresh nappy, but I took care of it," she told her friend.
"I knew," Beckett said, smiling at the baby. She took her and held Josie close before kissing her gently saying, "Thank you though."
"Not a problem; you'll recall I did that with all four of my nieces," Skye said.
"Mummy!" Iris called.
Nodding to her friend after she'd nodded to her, Beckett went to the kitchen where Julia was talking to her father a little sternly. "What's going on?" she asked to get their attention.
"We're discussing what she's doing right now," Castle said before they looked at their second oldest who was soon speaking with a wide smile.
"Hi Josa," Julia said, going to their mother and taking her hand. She kissed her cheek and was about to speak when Josie was first.
"Jules go," the baby said.
"Okay, but go where?" Julia asked, unable to hold back her laughter.
"Here," Josie said.
"Do I need to take her?" Julia asked, unable to help her laughter.
"No, Jim," Castle said, seeing his father-in-law standing by the columns that marked the transition into the kitchen.
"Can we let her run around?" Beckett's father asked them.
"Of course," Castle said first. "But watch she doesn't run around here."
"I'll keep her in the family room with the others," Jim said with a smile while his daughter was nodding in agreement.
"Do you need our help at all?" Alexis said, walking down the hall then with her husband.
"I think we're good right now," Castle said, looking back to the kitchen. "But if you could set the table with Eliza that would help."
"Later though," Beckett said quickly, getting the corn meal to make cornbread from the pantry. "It's too soon still."
"She's right, we're eating at a quarter to six," Castle told them.
"But you have a lot left to make, don't you?" Alexis asked.
"It's simple stuff," Castle said reassuringly. "We'll be fine with what we have left now Julia's here."
"Mind if I stay here with you?" Mari said, coming down the hall from the family room.
"You wouldn't want to play with everyone else?" Julia asked though she meant Marie and Kathleen.
"I'm good," Mari said.
"Should I go back?" Julia asked her mother with a slight frown.
"If you're worried about them then I could," Mari said.
"Don't worry," Skye said, having walked down the hall around the three. "Mary and I want to spend time with our girls; we've been busy with work and the concert lately. And your girls want to watch Josie."
"What're my parents doing?" Mari asked.
"Helping watch all the kids," Skye said reassuringly. "Since we have Maddy and Keo there along with your little sister."
"Will you tell them I'm helping in the kitchen?" Mari asked the investigator as she was heading back to the family room.
"I will, don't worry," Skye called back.
"Mari!" Julia said in protest.
"What?" the girl asked simply, having expected that reaction.
"You're a guest, you're not supposed to help," Julia replied firmly.
"We talked about that already sweetie," Beckett told her daughter. "And if she wants to help, we can't really stop her."
"You didn't really need my help did you?" Mari asked as she went to the sink with Julia to wash her hands.
"No, but we don't mind extra hands," Castle replied with a smile. "Come on girls, you can work on the mashed sweet potatoes if you don't mind her help, Julia."
"No way," she said quickly, smiling at her friend. After her father had gotten the sweet potatoes for her and Mari, Julia started peeling them with her friend's help.
Beckett, mixing the batter for the cornbread, smiled at the two talking about the rest of their time off before school started again the next Monday. She was just pouring out the batter in the pan she'd gotten ready when her daughter was asking about the next week.
"Are you going to do anything special next week?" Julia asked her mother.
"We'll have to see," Beckett said, looking at her husband with a smile. "But we're ahead on writing so we should spend a little time with Josie."
"I'm not surprised," Castle said, smiling back at her. "But we have to wait and see what we do in the end Julia."
"I know, I was just wondering since it's back to normal," the girl replied.
"How boring," Mari said jokingly.
"Careful you two," Castle told them while they were starting to cut the yams.
"We are, we stopped cutting," Julia said, playfully making a face at her father. She then turned her attention back to her yam, looking at her friend who looked suddenly thoughtful. "What's wrong?" she asked her.
"Nothing's wrong," Mari said quickly. "I'm just thinking of next year now. There's a lot coming up."
"I know," Julia said, forgetting for a moment her parents were listening. "The pool will open up and we can go swimming in a blizzard, I'll turn thirteen, you'll turn twelve. Josa's gonna be two and of course Lizzy is going to be seven. Then there's the road trip which I can't wait for."
"You really have to tell me about turning thirteen," Mari said.
"I promised that I would," Julia said seriously. She looked at her father in surprise when he was picking up the cutting board they'd finished using and said, "Oh… did you and Mom want to talk?"
"No, we're busy making sure everything is getting set," Beckett said before her husband could reply.
"She's right," Castle said. "Now you can work on the apple pie."
"Want to help me?" Julia asked.
"Yes," Mari said eagerly. "Are you making the dough from scratch?"
"Yeah," Julia said. "Wait though, it's okay if we make dessert?"
"The boxty is going to be ready soon," Beckett said with a smile as she looked over at them from the counter next to the stove. She was just finishing mixing the ingredients, putting them into the pan she set on a burner, before she said, "We'll start working on the desserts now."
"What else are you making?" Mari asked interestedly as Julia had told her to stay there while she grabbed what they needed for the crust.
"Pumpkin pie, though that we're using canned," Castle said. He smiled when he noticed Mari was very obviously looking between the two of them and said, "Kate's taking care of that."
"Grandmama taught her to make the crust," Julia said, coming back with the containers they kept flour, sugars and spices in. "And Mom taught me."
"Mom taught me that too," Mari said with a nod.
"Are you going to be able to help me? What if your Mom taught you how to do it differently?" Julia asked.
"You can start on the apples," Beckett said. "Peeling them and cutting them, it won't take Julia too long to be able to help you."
"Yeah, help me and I'll hurry to help you," Julia said.
"Smart aleck," Beckett told her daughter teasingly. She laughed softly seeing her daughter beaming at her and she turned her attention to the boxty which was just finishing. She got it off the stove and set it in the warming oven before she tasted the cranberry sauce.
"Not yet?" Castle asked, going to his wife.
"No," Beckett said. "I hope you have a timer for it," she told him before he was taking her wrist gently. She watched her husband lean down and lick at the sauce that was still on the spoon, and she said, "Rick," gently.
"Yeah, it needs more time," Castle replied before he was leaning down to his wife and kissing her. He hadn't forgotten the fact their daughter and Mari were behind them, so he had to regrettably make it quick before they were parting. "I'll start on the roasted veggies," he told her.
Julia, watching her father nearly running for the pantry, looked at her friend and shook her head before she looked back at her mother. She saw Beckett had gone to wash her hands and then said to her friend, "Know what side dishes we have?"
"No," Mari said, going along with the distraction as she could tell her friend's parents needed that.
"Could I tell her Mom?" Julia asked carefully.
"Go ahead," Beckett replied with a smile, aware of what the girls were doing.
"First are the mashed sweet potatoes," Julia said, going to the stove and checking the ones boiling.
"Is it ready?" Mari asked, as they gotten everything for the pie ready waiting for them.
"Now it is," Julia said. With her mother's help she poured the pot into the colander in the sink her mother had gotten ready for her, though she realized that year she'd done it on her own, Beckett watching her closely.
"Here's the masher," Beckett said. "And you have the spices."
"I remember Mom," Julia said with a nod. "You can start the pie."
Leaning over and kissing her daughter's cheek, Beckett walked to the hallway and called, "Eliza."
"Oh! I get to go make the pie with my mommy!" the little girl said, hearing her mother. She got up and nearly ran to the hall before she slowed down. "Hi!" Eliza said eagerly to her mother.
"Come on, we need to start baking the pie," Beckett told her. She wasn't surprised when her daughter nodded, and she directed her to the sink. As Eliza was doing that, she walked to Castle, cutting up the vegetables he'd prepared and asked gently in Irish, "Are you fine?"
"I am," Castle said rapidly. "Don't worry, I just couldn't wait."
"I could tell," Beckett replied.
"Did you mind?" Castle asked her.
"No," Beckett said easily. She was going to say more, but their daughter was calling to her and she had her husband lean down to her to kiss her before they parted, and she turned her attention to Eliza.
After getting the sweet potatoes set, Julia turned to the crust and she glanced at Mari preparing the apples for her. She focused fully on her baking then, trying to remember the recipe without needing to look at the paper but she had to glance at it a couple times before she was ready to get it into the dish.
"Are you going to do anything special with it?" Mari asked, having finished with the apples she'd cut, sprinkled lemon and a tiny amount of sugar onto.
"Just pinch it around the sides," Julia replied with a smile. "Nothing fancy."
"I meant a top," Mari corrected her.
"Oh, no," Julia said, making sure her crust was smooth enough.
"Hey," Mari said. "You didn't say what sides we were having."
"The sweet potatoes," Julia began with, not surprised when her friend was crossing her eyes. "We've got the boxty Mom made, Dad's making the roasted veggies-"
"Which ones?" Mari asked.
"Carrots, pumpkins, squash, red potatoes, turnips and parsnips," Eliza answered before her sister could.
"She's right," Julia said when her friend looked at her. "And there's au gratin Brussel sprouts, fried green bean casserole, creamed kale, cranberry sauce, stuffing, colcannon, gravy and cornbread."
"Sounds good," Mari said, nodding. "And turkey and ham?"
"Those too," Castle said, sliding the pan with the vegetables cut up, herbed and oiled into the oven. "And we have so much since there are so many of us. Are you two ready to bake the apples?" When they nodded, he was walking to them and helping them with the apples to bake them on the stove before he let the girls spoon it into the crust. With that baking he looked around and said, "I think we're almost finished Kate."
"We almost are," Beckett said, wrapping up the pumpkin pie with Eliza. "We just need to get the mouse ready to put on the pie once it's cool."
"What can we do now?" Julia asked.
"You can go back to play," Beckett said. "Actually, you should tell everyone they can change for dinner if you don't mind," she said as it came to her, not surprised when her daughter responded quickly.
"Nope, but are you sure we're done?" Julia asked.
"You two are," Castle said. "Make that the three of you."
"But Daddy-" Eliza said in protest.
"I'll tell you when we can finish up the pie," Beckett said gently. "The pie needs to finish in the oven and cool."
"We'll tell everyone Mom," Julia said as she went over to Eliza. She was about to start walking down the hall when she paused and asked their parents, "Do we need to take a shower?"
"That would be nice," Beckett said before looking at Mari.
"I already did," the girl said. "Changed and everything. But you're talking about the McDouglases right?"
"We are," Castle told her.
"I'll tell everyone who needs to change Dad," Julia said before they left.
"The turkeys are done," Castle said. "And ham too." He wasn't surprised when his wife hurried over to help him with it and once they had the meats in the warming oven as well he said, "I can give Eliza her bath."
"Unless she wants me to do that," Beckett said.
"Do you think she's at that point?" Castle asked in surprise.
"Oh, no not that," Beckett said quickly as she realized what he was thinking. "Her choice."
Nodding, Castle leaned over and kissed her lightly before he said, "I'm not that happy though."
"I realize," Beckett said, unable to keep the amusement from her voice since she was aware he was referencing the fact they couldn't shower together. "But for now-" she started to say before looking over at hallway as their parents were leaving the family room.
"Our guests are staying in there," Martha said first.
"Patrick and Rebecca said they would watch anything in the kitchen if you needed them to," Jim added.
"The pie," Beckett said before she called to her friend.
"Yes," Darnley said, hurrying out into the hall.
"A timer is going to go off," Beckett said before looking back at the oven. "I think in about ten minutes. It's the pumpkin pie and it needs to cool down."
"Counter or fridge?" Darnley asked immediately.
"I'd put it in the fridge," Castle suggested to his wife.
Nodding Beckett said, "Set it in there. Thank you."
"Not a problem," Darnley said before the McDouglas family was heading upstairs. "What're they going to do?" he asked.
"They'll use the shower in Alexis' and Louis' room," Castle said. "Since those two came from their house."
"We're taking our youngest three into our room," Skye said. "Quick bath and then we'll head for the shower."
"Are you giving Josie a bath?" Martha asked her son while she was holding her youngest granddaughter.
"In our room," Beckett said. "And we'll take showers after. So we might be a little later."
"We'll take care of the table," Alexis promised her parents.
"Thank you," Beckett said before she was taking Josie. After she and her husband were upstairs, she said, "Will you grab her things?" She wasn't surprised when his response was to kiss her and then Josie's cheek before she watched him go.
"Mama? Dada go," the baby said.
"I know, but he'll come right back," Beckett told her gently, kissing her before heading into the bedroom. She went straight to the bathroom and started to undress Josie before she had her stand in the shower and rinsed her off before Castle was coming inside to the baby's eager cry.
"Dada!" Josie said.
"Hello ceann beag," Castle replied with a smile. He then said to Beckett quickly, "Alexis said she would help Eliza with her bath." When his wife nodded, he turned his attention back to Josie and asked, "Are you ready for your bath?"
"No," Josie said.
"She is," Beckett said, smiling as she was taking the baby over to the tub. She wasn't surprised when her husband stopped her and watched him turning on the water. Setting Josie down since she'd begun to move her legs, she held the baby's hand but wasn't surprised when she was letting go of her.
"Hold on Josie," Castle said as he wrapped his arm around her quickly. "Your bath is going to be ready in a second."
"Dada," Josie said. "Up."
"Hold on," Castle repeated before he turned to the tub and turned off the water. He took off her bath robe and handed it to Beckett before picking the baby up and setting her into the water. He looked over at his wife as she had come to sit across from him and said, "Which one of us?"
"Go ahead, you're holding her," Beckett replied easily. She smiled when the baby walked over to her, making her reach over and hold her hand saying, "Don't fall sweetie."
"Mama sa," Josie said then.
"I don't think we can let you swim," Beckett told her. "This is so you're ready for dinner."
"Mama," Josie said.
"Come here," Castle said as he brought the girl over to her. He started rinsing her hair, not surprised when she was complaining at the water before he set it aside. He let Beckett take hold of her and then washed her hair before he was washing her with soap.
Smiling while the baby was taking some of the bubbles off her Beckett said, "Sweetie, don't eat those," blowing them gently off her hand.
"You're all done," Castle said after he'd rinsed the baby off. "I'll get the towel," he told his wife before he got up and grabbed it from the counter. He let her dry Josie off before he was taking the baby, wrapping her up securely in her bathrobe. He walked out ahead with her before he was setting her down on the bed saying, "You're first?"
"Yeah," Beckett said, speaking absently while she was setting down another towel. "I'll take care of the tub."
"You don't have to," Castle said, turning to her as he was gently drying their youngest's hair.
"I know, but I'm not going to let the water sit there," Beckett replied. She kissed the top of Josie's head before sharing a brief one with her husband, heading into the bathroom.
"Okay," Castle said, turning his attention to the baby. "You're all dry but I'll have to comb your hair after you're dressed."
"Ha," Josie said.
"Hair?" Castle asked her.
"Har…" Josie said.
"Good enough," Castle replied, leaning over to her and kissing her gently on the lips. He turned his attention to getting her dressed, making sure she was comfortable in the tunic dress before he carefully combed her hair as he'd told her he would do. Once he had finished, he let her crawl on the bed for a little before he stopped her and told her, "You're going to fall off you know."
"No Dada," Josie said before she was sitting up. She watched her father set aside the things on the bed with her and was going to stand up when he stopped her, scooping her up into his arms to her laughter.
"Okay, thank you for not crying," Castle told her seriously, kissing her cheek. He was about to continue when he heard the door to the bathroom opening and he glanced over at it, seeing Beckett stepping out before she was speaking to him teasingly.
"This isn't what I'm wearing," she told her husband, wrapped up in her towel.
"I figured," Castle said before she went into the closet. He turned to Josie and said, "Well, what do you think?"
"Mama," Josie replied.
"I know but do you think she's going to wear a dress too?" Castle asked her. He smiled when she laughed, and he kissed her cheek before cuddling her close to him and rubbing her back gently. As she sighed, he kissed the top of her head and said, "Do you think when you're older you'll help us out with dinners?" He wasn't surprised when the baby looked up at him and he smiled before he said, "Okay, it might be way too soon to ask you that, but it was a lot of fun with your sisters joining us."
"Jules," Josie said.
"Yeah, her and Eliza too," Castle said. "Though you were with Alexis."
"Less," Josie squealed.
"Hopefully she won't want to go to her right now," Beckett said with a smile when she was walking into the bedroom. "I'm almost done Rick," she said.
"Sure," Castle said, taking Josie after her into the bathroom.
"She's not bored?" Beckett asked her husband.
"Why would she be?" Castle said in amusement.
"Mama," Josie said.
"See? She's having a lot of fun," Castle commented. He looked at the baby with her and then said, "Well… I would say it's more impatience to go to you."
Beckett, glancing at the baby, smiled at her husband before she hurried to finish with her hair and makeup before going over to him. Taking Josie, she was kissing her cheek and telling her husband, "We'll wait for you outside."
Nodding, Castle watched her leaving the room, hesitating before he knew he needed to hurry and get ready himself, going to the shower as soon as he was ready.
"Come with me sweetie," Beckett said to Josie once they were in the bedroom. She set her daughter down and took her by the hand, leading her to the windows looking down on the ocean.
"Mama," Josie said, leaning against the window they were standing in front of. "Wawa." Her mother was about to reply to that when she interrupted her by squealing suddenly and reaching for her.
"Here sweetie," Beckett said, moving to sit down on the floor with her. She wasn't surprised when her daughter immediately wrapped her arms around her and she shared a kiss with her telling her, "I love you, Josie."
"Love, Mama," the baby told her mother seriously.
"Thank you, sweetie," Beckett replied, hugging her tightly. She kissed her gently on the cheek and then said, "We'll be able to go swimming soon."
"Swi," Josie started to pronounce.
"Close," Beckett said with a softly laugh, hugging her and pulling her close. After she had kissed her again, she looked back at the same time the baby had when the door to the bathroom opened.
"I'm not wearing this to dinner," Castle said before he hurried into the closet, his towel wrapped around his waist.
Beckett smiled while Josie was laughing and she turned her attention back to her, gently brushing some of her hair off her forehead. "Do you think your daddy is silly?" she asked, not surprised when the baby was smiling widely at her. She watched Josie start walking away and she stood up as well, going after her before Castle was walking into the bedroom and making the baby squeal and walk over to him.
"Dada!" Josie said.
"I see you sweetie," Castle told her, reaching for her and picking her up. He threw her above him a little, smiling at her squeal of joy and then kissed her before telling his wife, "I have to give her back to you."
"Don't worry," Beckett said, already reaching for their daughter. "I'll follow you."
"It's not much of a show though," Castle said to Josie.
"I don't think she cares," Beckett said in amusement.
"I don't think so," Castle said, shaking his head laughingly. He went into the bathroom, combing his hair after he was sure it was dry. He put his glasses on and turned to Josie who had been speaking and babbling to him while he'd been doing that. "Are you hungry?" he asked her.
"Hum," Josie said.
"Oh, we better tell Skye," Castle commented. "She wants her to sing."
"Let's go," Beckett said, unable to help speaking laughingly. She wasn't surprised when her husband nodded, and they left their room to meet the rest of their family at the top of the stairs.
"Josa looks so cute!" Eliza cried first.
"Could I take her down?" Julia asked.
"Go ahead," Beckett replied, handing the baby to her. She watched the others head down and looked at her husband asking, "What?"
Castle didn't respond to that verbally, instead he leaned down and took her lips with his own before he gently slid his tongue across her lower lip. She was parting them both quickly and once he was there, he rolled his around her tongue before they were gently rubbing against one another. That went on for a while and once he pulled away from her, he breathed to her, "Goddess."
Smiling, as her husband was gently playing with the bottom of her light blue sweater, Beckett brushed her lips against his and told him, "Sheik."
Castle couldn't help kissing her again, and he did so deeply, clutching at her tightly while he felt her fingers grasping his shoulders. When they parted, he said, "We're leading this dinner aren't we?"
"We're supposed to," Beckett said with a smile. They leaned into each other instead of letting go, only brushing their lips to each other's before they were finally moving to go down the stairs.
About to head down the first step, Castle was a little startled when his wife was holding onto his arm gently to keep him in place. "What?" he asked, looking at her.
"Come here," Beckett told him. She gently pulled him down to her so they could kiss again but she kept it quick telling him, "Tá cuma iontach ort," which meant 'you look amazing.'
Brushing his lips to hers, Castle told her, "Teastaíonn uaim tú anocht."
Taking her husband's kiss, Beckett wasn't surprised it was deeper as he'd told her 'I need you tonight.' When they parted, she murmured, "Mise freisin," which meant I do too.
Castle was kissing her lovingly then and once he pulled away, he said, "Now we should go, before we stop and see them at the bottom of the stairs."
"Good point," Beckett said with a smile. Before her husband could let her go, she gently fixed the lapel of his navy blue shirt and let him go fully, taking his hand so they could go down to the kitchen.
"I'm worried," Castle said.
"Why?" Beckett asked with a smile.
"No one's come over to tease us," Castle replied.
"They're keeping the kids calm," Alexis said, smiling at her parents when they turned to her.
"Good point," Castle said. "Will you help us get everything set up?"
"He means me, he's carving the turkeys and ham," Beckett said in amusement.
"I don't mind," Alexis said before she went over to the ovens to assist Beckett.
"Hey down there," Darnley called from the doorway of the family room.
"It's ready," Beckett said in amusement. "But we're getting the food for our kids first," not surprised when David was commenting on that.
"Oh good, they wouldn't calm down about that," the mayor commented.
"Stop it," Rebecca told her husband, playfully flicking her fingers on his arm. "We ate a light lunch."
"We did that as well," Joseph said. "Trevor and Patrick assured us it would be a feast."
"I think it is," Darnley said.
"He's right," Skye commented. "Quite a lot of food. You do know we can't take any on the plane, right?"
"We're aware," Beckett said, squeezing her husband's arm before he could say anything. "But you are staying, and we can eat then." She wasn't surprised when the investigator nodded before going to her wife to start getting plates. She herself turned her attention to getting one of Josie's plates and the food for the baby who was walking with Castle at that moment.
After everyone had gotten their food, the kids were sitting together around the lengthened kitchen table, the older kids in charge of the younger ones. The adults, including Alexis and Louis, were gathered around the dining room table that also had its leaves added to it. Josie and Keo were with them, Dani allowed to sit at the kid's table after her big sister had promised to keep an eye on her.
"No toast?" Mary asked.
"Just Happy Thanksgiving," Castle said before he was laughing with the others as they could hear the kids from the kitchen calling that out to them. They were saying the same and after they'd tapped their glasses together, they started to eat. He was relieved when the others were complimenting him on the turkey, and he nodded before he looked at Josie who was in between him and his wife.
"She likes it," Beckett told him, having seen him looking at her.
"I see that," Castle said. "The sweet potatoes too," he said, quickly getting her spoon so she wouldn't pick that up with her hands. "You'll have to tell Julia."
Gently wiping the baby's face at that point, Beckett said, "And you."
"I know, she learns really well from her mother," Castle commented.
Smiling when Darnley was loudly agreeing with him, Beckett said, "Did you want to go riding again before you head back to LA?" directing the question to Skye and Mary.
"I'd rather ask the kids about that before we decide on anything," the investigator said, her wife nodding in agreement.
"What're you planning?" Castle asked David since he'd noticed the mayor sharing a look with his wife.
"Brad and Lily want to host a party on Saturday," David said first.
"All day," Rebecca added. "Though really it's whenever you guys want to go if you do."
"That would be fun," Castle said. "For the kids."
"You're thinking of Josie and Sophie," Beckett said in amusement.
"I might be…" Castle said before he trailed off. He smiled when his wife rolled her eyes but took her hand, squeezing it gently before he turned his attention to his food again.
"I'll have to call Lily tomorrow," Beckett said. "Did you agree to it already?"
"We did," Rebecca answered, since the writer was talking to herself and her husband.
"And we did too," Darnley said.
"Did everyone know about this but us?" Mary asked jokingly.
"They weren't sure about it," Nkosi explained. "But they talked to us, and we assured them we'd go too."
"Wait," Skye said suddenly. "This isn't for my birthday, is it?"
"Partially," Rebecca said, sharing a look with her husband. "The other part is because you're here for it."
"Okay… no gifts though," Skye said. "There better not be gifts."
"There may be," Beckett said. When her friend gave her a mock glare she shrugged and told her, "We knew you'd be here; granted it's a week until your birthday but still."
Sighing Skye said, "Then I have to go along with it." She pretended to jump when nearly everyone around the table said, "You do," at the same time and started to laugh with them. "Alright then, I should tell you now that I half expected something like this, so don't worry."
"That and I don't think you'd be able to tell our girls they couldn't go, once they find out about this," Mary added. "So thank you. And we'll tell Brad and Lily that once we see them."
The conversation went to the next big vacation the families were taking, Spring Break, and once they'd talked about where they were planning to go, they were getting up for seconds before they were finishing the meal.
"I know I talked about hosting this dinner," Darnley said to Beckett when they were left in the room with their youngest kids. "But I see why they enjoy having it here."
"Are you talking about the table or the food?" Beckett asked with a smile.
"The table," Darnley said seriously. He then laughed with her and said, "I mean the space."
"If we had the space the kids would be with us," Beckett pointed out to him.
"Yes, but I think I'm okay with that," Darnley said. "Can you imagine how loud it would be if they were here at the same table?"
"We're going to be in the same room right now," Beckett said.
"Some of them are going to be gone for now," Darnley said, since Louis, David and Skye had gone to start washing the dishes.
"Dada," Keo said then.
"Hold on a second little prince," Darnley said. He took his son from the booster seat he'd been on and said to Beckett, "I'm kind of wondering about something."
"Okay," she said, looking at him questioningly.
"Your pool," Darnley began.
Laughing Beckett said, "We'll let you come over, I told you that."
"I know, but how are you going to open it? You're going to have a big party or something, right?" Darnley explained.
"Rick wants to," Beckett said, standing to get Josie from her highchair. She set the baby on her lap once she was sitting again and kissed the top of her head before saying, "But I kind of want to have it just us first. And then invite you guys for a Saturday so we can have lunch and dinner."
"Nice, I can't wait for that," Darnley said before he looked with her when Eliza was walking into the room.
"Mommy!" the little girl said eagerly as she raced to her mother.
"Yes sweetie?" Beckett asked with a smile.
"Desserts?" Eliza replied with her own question.
"Later, we just ate a lot of food," Beckett said. "You can't be hungry now." She smiled as the little girl was pouting before she rocked back and forth on her feet and finally spoke.
"No, I'm hungry for dessert," Eliza replied.
"We'll have it eventually sweetie," Beckett said.
Eliza huffed in annoyance, but she was soon smiling when her little sister was laughing at the sound, and she moved to hug her. "So we're going to play?" she asked their mother.
"We will," Beckett replied. "But you know you have to agree on what to play."
Frowning for a moment Eliza asked, "Are we going to be able to all play at once?"
"I don't think so," Beckett said in amusement. "But we'll figure it out once we go."
"I'm assuming that's now?" Darnley said.
Beckett was about to respond to that before they looked at the doorway and saw some of the kids were hurrying by. "I think so," she said in amusement before she got up and carried Josie after the others to rejoin the rest of their group so the kids could start playing.