"Come here Josie," Castle said, picking up the baby to her squeal. "What are you doing ceann beag?"

"Want Mama," Josie said. She patted her father's cheek and asked, "Jules?"

"They'll be back very soon," Castle said, looking at his watch again. "Extremely soon," he added seeing the time. He was a little concerned, knowing his wife was going to the Lennox house first, but he wanted to see her again. Luckily Josie distracted him then by leaning against him and he told her, "Okay, now you want to play right?"

"Want Mama," Josie said with a frown on her face.

"I know, so do I but we have to wait for her and Julia to come back," Castle said. "Come on you guys," he said to the dogs who were in the entry. He turned to walk to the hall when the chime for the gate opening sounded and Josie was squealing just before the dogs began barking. "Hey, enough guys," he called. "It's Kate and Julia." He wasn't surprised when Macca was whining and told him, "I know, she'll come in soon." He was about to call to his father-in-law that the two were home when he was coming down the stairs as his mother was walking into the entry from the family room, the former speaking first.

"That's them right?" Jim asked.

"It is," Castle said with a smile before his mother was asking him a question.

"She still didn't tell you how things went?" Martha said.

"No, I'm assuming they want to surprise us… or they're devastated because they didn't do well," Castle said, frowning a little since he was hoping that wasn't the case. He heard the garage door closing and debated giving Josie to his mother or Jim when the door was opening to the hall leading to it. "Hey," he said, smiling seeing it was Julia first, his wife coming up behind her shortly after.

"Mama!" Josie squealed before she was set down by her father. She ran to her mother, hugging her tightly before crying out, "Jules!"

"I know, hold on," Julia said laughingly while she was hugging their father tightly since he'd grabbed her playfully for that. "I'm so happy to be home."

"So am I," Beckett said, having placed Josie on her hip. She walked over to her husband and their second oldest when he grabbed her and pulled her to him. She wasn't surprised at his kiss but wondered if he was going to make that last before he pulled away shortly after.

Castle, gazing into his wife's eyes, moved to whisper into her ear, "Tá mé chomh sásta go bhfuil tú ar ais," telling her 'I'm so glad you're back.'

"I love you," Beckett whispered into her husband's ear in response.

"I love you too," Castle said quickly in response before he let her go. "Sorry about that sweetheart," he told Julia who was smiling at them.

Shaking her head the girl said, "Don't worry, I thought that was gonna happen. I'm glad it did."

"Speaking of glad…" Castle said. He was startled when Julia merely shrugged and took her backpack she had to the bench he looked at his wife who made the same motion their daughter had.

"Julia!" Martha exclaimed when she was first to see the trophy the girl was taking out.

"You placed!" Castle said happily.

Smiling then, feeling like she was beaming, Julia nodded and said, "We got second pl-ace!" starting normally before exclaiming after the start of the last word as her father suddenly picked her up and whirled her around. She laughed and said when he set her down, "We were both surprised," letting him take her trophy.

"Does it have your name?" Jim asked.

Though her father was handing it to her grandfather to look at, Julia nodded and said, "It does. So I have a new one for my bookcase," smiling still.

"Were you able to film?" Castle asked his wife while his mother was taking her turn looking at the trophy. He was startled when she shook her head no and was about to ask why when she held up a DVD in an envelope. "They did," he guessed though he had a feeling that was the case before she was speaking.

"They had cameras there, I didn't realize it, but they look at competitions like this one for the dancing shows still on around the world," Beckett said. "So we can watch later."

"Definitely," Castle commented before he looked at their daughters as Josie was hugging her big sister tightly.

"Rick," Beckett then said.

"Yes love?" Castle asked.

"Why are you still here?" Beckett responded with another question.

"Aren't you supposed to get Lizzy?" Julia asked, walking over to them.

"Rebecca went to pick her up for us," Castle said.

"Could I talk to Mari? Tell her about the competition before we go?" Julia said quickly. "I'll bundle up," she then added.

"You don't have to," Beckett told her with a smile.

"Is… Mari's staying?" Julia asked eagerly.

"For the night if that's okay," Castle commented, unable to help smiling as well.

"Thank you!" Julia cried before she threw her arms around her parents at the same time. After she'd begun doing that, she heard the chime for the gate and said eagerly, "It's them!"

"Hello?" Castle said, having gone to the intercom.

"It's us," Rebecca said.

Castle immediately opened the gate for them before he watched Julia peering out the window by the front door before he waited to open it. He was startled to see it was just Eliza and Mari and watched his wife lean out and call to Rebecca since the passenger side window was open.

"You don't want to come in?" Beckett called.

"David's on his way back from City Hall," Rebecca said. "How'd she do?"

"Second," Julia said, laughing when her sister and best friend were gasping before hugging her at the same time.

"Congrats," Rebecca called to her.

"Thanks," Julia said with a smile.

"I think Alexis' car is coming up," Rebecca told them.

"You got second!" Mari was saying after they'd all said goodbye to her mother and little sister.

"I did," Julia replied. "I'll show you the trophy," she told her sister as Eliza was tugging her sleeve. "But wait until 'lexis is here."

"Welcome back," Alexis said, her husband with her. She hugged her mother and sister tightly before she said, "Well?"

"Second," Julia said, unable to help laughing as her sister and brother-in-law were exclaiming over the trophy she showed them before they were looking at it with Eliza and Mari.

"Please tell me you filmed the dances," Alexis said to her mother. She was surprised getting the DVD, but recovered quickly saying, "We're watching this now," not surprised when the others were laughing before her father was responding to her.

"I think we need to wait," Castle said. When his oldest looked at him in confusion, he nodded to Mari who was taking papers out of her backpack.

"You don't have that much, reading," the girl was telling her friend. "And just for science, English and History."

Reading the papers, Julia smiled and said, "I read the history chapter already. English… oh, yep, I read that one already. Science…"

"Don't tell me you read that one," Louis said teasingly.

Laughing with the others, Julia shook her head and told them, "I just have that. Do you have much homework?"

"I have worksheets like I always do," Eliza said.

"Just reading and finishing the homework for math I started in Study Hall," Mari said with a smile as Julia turned to her, aware her friend had been asking her in the first place.

"Could we do our homework in my room?" Julia asked.

"Go ahead," Beckett answered when her husband was glancing at her to answer. "I know you want to put your trophy there, but you need to let Mari unpack." She wasn't surprised when the girls were nodding immediately and she turned to her father and mother-in-law saying, "Would you mind taking Eliza to the kitchen table? I need to unpack."

"Not at all, Josie come here kiddo," Martha said first, scooping the baby up into her arms.

"Mama!" Josie cried, reaching for her.

"We can take her Mother," Castle said, going to her to get the baby since she was whimpering. "We'll come back as soon as we're finished." He followed his wife up the foyer stairs before they were at Julia's room and he said, "All set?"

"Yes," Julia said in amusement. "I was carrying it." She looked at her bookcase and said, "It looks nice there."

"Did you mark Boston on your map?" Beckett then asked after they had admired her newest trophy on the shelf with her other dance competition awards.

"Oh, thanks Mom," Julia said. "I almost forgot." She got on her bed and quickly marked Boston and said, "Another city set." Looking back at her parents she saw her mother had the suitcase they'd shared, and she asked, "Do I have anything in there?"

"Just your bathroom bag," Beckett replied. "Everything else is going into the hamper."

"What're we gonna do today?" Julia asked.

"We'll see," Beckett said before she and Castle were leaving.

"You don't want to go swimming?" he asked her once they were in their room.

"Not really," Beckett replied. "But I'd like her to go in the Jacuzzi a little later on tonight."

"After Eliza's in bed?" Castle asked.

"Dada put down," Josie said. "Put me."

"And this one?" Castle added after he'd chuckled at the baby's tone of voice and kissed her temple, setting her on the ground.

"And her," Beckett replied as she put the suitcase onto the end of the bed and opened it. "How was it?" she asked him.

"Good, they were well behaved," Castle began, going over to the end of the bed and sitting next to the suitcase before Josie went to him and patted his knees as she spoke.

"Dada up," the baby said.

"After I just set you down?" Castle said in mock frustration.

"Eh," Josie replied.

Beckett couldn't help laughing with the baby when Castle pretended to grumble before setting her on his lap. "I guess you don't mind," she told him.

"Not really," Castle said. "But they ate dinner fine, she was fine after you left though like I said she missed you," he told her, nodding to Josie. "And Eliza came to the bed last night." When his wife looked down at him he said, "She didn't have a nightmare, she just woke up and couldn't fall back asleep."

"You let her stay?" Beckett asked, getting the clothes out after she had hers and Julia's bags on the bed.

"Am I in trouble if I say yes?" Castle replied. When his wife gave him a look he said, "Of course."

Beckett smiled and shook her head before she took her bag into their bathroom, looking over to the doorway when she heard footsteps. "What did you dream about last night?" she couldn't help asking.

"You and the girls," Castle replied. "I think I thought of when Julia slept with us in the bed when we first moved in. But no sleepovers tonight."

"Of course not," Beckett said simply before she walked past him and went to bed to get the suitcase in the closet. Stepping back out into the bedroom, she was stopped by her husband and she gently placed her hands on his chest.

"Kate-" Castle started to say, taking them with his since he was holding Josie.

"I know, but I want to wait okay?" Beckett asked.

"Sure," Castle said, handing the baby to her after he'd pressed a kiss to her fingertips. He followed her out to the hall and stayed in the doorway, watching his wife with a slight smile on his face while she went inside to check where the girls were with their homework.

"Here's our popcorn," Julia said, giving the bowl she had in her hands to Mari.

"Thanks," the girl replied. "I'm so glad we can have some. But it's a lot of it," Mari added.

"What do you mean?" Julia asked in confusion.

"The movie isn't going to be that long is it?" Mari asked.

"Oh," Julia said, looking at the bowl. "Well… maybe we can watch something else."

"Why not Ghost Adventures?" Mari asked.

Giggling softly as the rest of her family was walking in, Julia said, "I don't know, Mom might not want Lizzy to watch it before we go to bed."

"Or me," Castle said, ruffling her hair teasingly in passing to get the DVD into the player.

"Or you," Julia echoed with a smile. She looked at her little sister as she sat on her knees next to her and said, "Excited?"

"Yeah, you aren't?" Eliza asked in surprise.

"I am," Julia assured her. "Just a little embarrassing" she added before their big sister was speaking behind them where she was sitting with Louis on one end of the couch.

"Are you going to be able to watch it?" Alexis asked.

"Yeah, but I might blush the whole time," Julia replied.

"Can we start it?" Mari asked hopefully.

"I'm pressing… okay scratch that," Castle said. "Kate's pressing play."

"You're taking too long," Beckett said easily before she glanced at her husband. She saw him rolling his eyes before he wrapped his arm around her waist, not surprised when he was holding her tightly. She didn't comment on it though since the others were applauding Julia and Peter being introduced.

Watching herself and Peter dancing their Tap routine, Julia was blushing deeply though she was keeping an eye on their steps to see why they hadn't gotten a perfect score. She was startled when it was over, and the others were applauding again before she turned to Mari. "Do you see why we didn't get a perfect score?" she asked her friend.

"No," Mari said in surprise. "Was I supposed to say?"

"I saw!" Eliza said, bouncing on her knees and raising her hand. "When you were turning you were a little too fast."

Seeing Julia looking at the screen in shock Beckett asked, "Do you want me to rewind?"

"No," Julia said. "I'm sure Ms. Grey will show us on Monday so the others can see the steps."

"What's next! What's next!" Eliza cried as she bounced on her knees.

"Take it easy," Castle told her. "It's on right now."

Turning back to the TV, Julia ate some popcorn while she wondered what exactly her family's reaction would be to the mistake. She glanced at Mari, wondering about hers though she had an idea what that would be as the dance began.

"Oh no," Mari breathed when she saw Peter's slip up. She waited until the dance was over to say, "He kept saying that was going to happen."

"I told… Ms. Grey and even Mom told him that it was okay," Julia said, a little surprised when her friend suddenly giggled before she was explaining why.

"I'm glad you were there to talk to him if his parents weren't," Mari said. "Is he okay?"

"I think so, he didn't really mention it and he definitely was happy getting the trophy that we did," Julia said with a smile, glancing at her mom.

"He put it on the seat next to him," Beckett said in amusement.

"And the seatbelt around it," Julia added, laughing with the others while she recalled when they'd gotten on the plane.

"Hello, welcome to the flight," the flight attendant who was there said to the four stepping inside the plane. "I see you guys did well," she said, noticing the trophies.

"Yeah, second place," Julia said, smiling back at the woman.

"Oh, that's fantastic congratulations," the woman said with a smile. "Go ahead and take your seats we'll be taking off soon."

"Do you two want the same seats?" Beckett asked the kids since it was the same model as the plane the day before. She wasn't surprised when they nodded and hurried to them. As she was going to sit across from her daughter at the four seats they had, she paused when she saw his trophy. "You're leaving it there?" she asked in amusement.

"Yep," Peter replied seriously. "Oh!" he then said. "Safety first."

Julia couldn't help bursting into laughter when her partner was putting the seatbelt around the trophy though it obviously wasn't holding it in place. "You better keep an eye on it," she told him teasingly before grabbing her mother's hand suddenly.

Beckett looked down at her daughter in surprise and then looked at Peter while she was laughing again. She did so briefly herself when she saw the boy was saluting her daughter. Turning her attention back to Julia she asked, "What is it sweetie? I need to sit."

"Sit next to me," Julia replied easily, smiling when her mother did so immediately. She set the trophy across from them before she was sitting back down, buckling her seatbelt as fast as she could so she could lean against her mother and wrap her arms around hers tightly.

"Are you okay?" Julia asked her friend worriedly.

"Yeah," Mari said, wiping away the tear on her cheek. "That was such a beautiful dance."

"She's not kidding," Castle said, smiling at Julia when she turned to him. "You did an amazing job with it."

"Thanks… I'm just glad it worked out," Julia commented.

"Of course, you got a perfect score right?" Mari said. When her friend nodded she hugged her tightly before she said to the others, "Could we watch them again?"

"I agree," Castle said. "But this time without stopping."

"Mama play!" Josie squealed.

Kissing her temple, Beckett said, "Does anyone else mind?" She wasn't surprised when they all said they didn't and she said with a smile, "Okay Julia."

"Go ahead Mom," the girl replied with a wide smile.

Pressing play after she'd restarted the disc, Beckett looked to her right and saw Castle was setting Josie down on the floor.

"She wanted to sit with her sisters," he explained to his wife since he'd seen her looking at him.

"That's fine," Beckett said quietly when the Tap dance was starting again. While the others were busy watching it she wrapped her arm around her husband's and leaned against him, her cheek on his shoulder. She wasn't surprised when he wrapped his arm around her firmly and they were quiet, watching their daughter's competition for a second time while the others were cheering or applauding Julia to her blushes as she smiled.

March 11th, 2022

Hello Evangeline! I'm back from Boston and it's a little later tonight so I'm going to have to hurry to write to you.

Julia laughed when Mari hugged her briefly from behind and she turned to her friend before she was speaking swiftly.

"I'm so glad that you got to dance," Mari said. "And you had fun with them too."

"So am I," Julia said. "But I was really nervous." She turned to see the slight frown on her friend's face and said, "Really. But now I'm finished it was fun."

"That's how you always are," Mari teased her.

Julia giggled with her friend before she said, "Okay, let me finish my diary or we won't be able to talk." She shared a hug with her friend before Mari was hurrying to the bed and sitting on it. She herself turned to her desk and her diary, writing underneath where she had left off.

The flight yesterday was really fast, so fast we just looked out the windows, once we got there we went straight to our hotel, Omni Parker House which is famous and historic. It was also really nice, the suite we stayed in had a nook with bunk beds where Peter slept that night, I stayed with Mom. We unpacked a little and then we met up with Ms. Grey before heading to Faneuil Hall… I hope I spelled that right. But it's a historic marketplace with shops and food places and the first thing we did was get our lunch. It was lobster rolls and yum they were delicious! Walking around we didn't stop at too many places, I got postcards for my pen pals and Peter got a Boston shirt and Boston onesie for his baby sister. They were simple, but the onesie was really cute of course!

After that we walked down a wharf and looked at the harbor which was nice since there were boats out. I took a ton of pictures since of course the buildings look so historic and cool. We then walked around a tiny little bit to see the other buildings and went back to the hotel. We got ready for dinner, which was there at the hotel and I was super excited since we got to try two of the things that were on the Delicious Destinations show. We got to have a roll- oh! I forgot that Ms. Grey was with us all day, it was kind weird that she was, but she is always really nice- Parker House roll and of course, delicious! We all got the schrod which is breaded fish (I'm pretending like you're someone who hasn't been there Evangeline) and has been there since 1906! That was really good, and the breading was nice, almost like fish and chips but since it was crackers… not exactly. The best thing was dessert, and it was Boston cream pie! So good and I loved the chocolate, that was amazing and the best part!

After we talked to Dad, Lizzy, Josa, Gram and Grandpapa here at home, I missed them a ton and I know Mom did too. Peter talked to his family and since we were looking a little homesick (Mom said) she let us watch an episode of Aerial America that she put on the TV. It was Massachusetts and it was really fun watching of course! After that it was time for bed and once Mom made sure Peter was set she came to the bed where I was. And it felt like old times when I was little and going to Mom's bed, we didn't talk for too long, I had to sleep of course, but I loved getting to do that again.

Looking up at the sound of footsteps, Julia smiled when her mother entered but she was soon watching in surprise when she went to sit on the side of her bed. "You-" she began to say before her mother was gently interrupting her.

"Keep writing, I'm going to wait for your dad here," Beckett replied.

"He's changing?" Julia asked. When her mother nodded she said, "I was just going to write about today."

"Then start," Beckett urged her.

Nodding, Julia turned back to her diary and made sure of where she was before she then began writing as fast as she could.

Then this morning Peter and I were super nervous because again, this competition is really big for us and we didn't know how we'd do. So we had breakfast in our room and again, we were nervous, so Mom had to push us to eat. We did… but really slowly. Luckily we weren't late getting to the hotel where the ballroom was!

I don't really want to spend a super long time writing about every last detail at the competition. But first I was asked for my autograph… I think like seven times. The others had my books, different books, and I signed them. It's still so weird! And then there was one boy that was flirting with me (I told Mom about him and she said he was doing that, bleh) and then later he winked at me getting his third place trophy, double bleh and blurgh! It was so gross.

I'll move to the dances, Tap was so fun, I loved my outfit and I'm sooo glad that Gram was able to make it. The dance itself was great, not too many mistakes but we almost got a perfect score for that! The Cha-Cha was next and oh, poor Peter, he made his mistake with timing; it wasn't as bad as it was when we first started the routine but there was a little and I needed to make a little mistake too or else we would have been way off. But I don't care, it was just a little one. Foxtrot was great, I loved my dress there too (really I loved all my costumes) and we got a really good score! Jive was next and I don't understand why 80's clothes were that popular, it's just weird… but it was different, so I guess I didn't mind that. And we got a great score there, it helps Peter and I knew the song so well!

Last was of course the Viennese Waltz and you know how much I've been writing to you about this dance. And it came out amazingly! I felt as if there was no audience, though it was hard to forget Mom of course. The song felt like it went so fast but by the time we finished I guessed we hadn't made a mistake since Ms. Grey was really happy. After that was just waiting for the others to finish up and then we all stood on the ballroom floor and waited for them to tell us who had gotten third, second and first.

If you were a person Evangeline I know you'd be glaring at me and telling me, 'Just say!' And I will now. WE GOT SECOND PLACE! I couldn't believe it, and neither could Peter, but it looks like our Tap and Viennese Waltz helped us get that and we got trophies! I have it on my shelf here at home and it's hard not to notice it since it's taller than all the others I have so far.

After I finally saw Mom again I hugged her tight and she was proud of me, and said I reminded her of her when she was my age (Peter even said I looked like Mom in the ballgown Gram made for that one). So all that made me very happy, but I was so glad to get back to the house about two hours later (good thing Skye helped us!). I was happy seeing Dad, Josa, Gram and Grandpapa and I showed them my trophy. They were really glad, and Dad even picked me up and spun me around, I didn't think he could still do that. Afterwards Lizzy came, Rebecca picked her up too, but I got a surprise since Mom and Dad told me they'd asked Mari to spend the night and her parents agreed. She's here right now, talking with Mom and I hear Dad coming upstairs so I better hurry.

We had dinner, pizza to celebrate from the parlor we always go to, and afterwards we watched the DVD I was given. I was a little embarrassed watching myself but everyone who stayed wanted to see it, so I did watch. After that we played with Lizzy and I'm writing so fast I don't know if I'll be able to read this, but I have to go to bed. Night Evangeline!

"You didn't put your pen into the paper did you?" Castle asked in amusement since he was watching how fast his daughter was writing.

"No, I was hoping I wouldn't," Julia said before her mother was talking from the bed.

"But I'm glad you were able to finish," Beckett commented.

"It's not time to go to bed is it?" Julia asked worriedly.

"No, but I'm sure you wanted to talk with Mari," Beckett said.

"Yeah, but you don't have… to leave…" Julia began to say before she looked at her friend questioningly.

Shaking her head Mari said, "Not really. Nothing happened at school so… But what did you want to talk about?"

"Whatever you want to ask me," Julia replied with a smile.

"How was the Boston cream pie?" Mari asked after she had giggled softly.

"Amazing," Julia said. "We couldn't have brought some could we?" She was startled when her mother merely smiled and realized why which led her to cry, "Mom!"

"Sorry sweetie, but I had Louis grab them," Beckett said.

"You… wait, you said them," Julia said.

"He took the second pie your mom bought to Mari's house," Castle commented. "That's why he was out on that 'phone call' for so long," he added, making air quotes.

"You did?" Mari asked eagerly.

"I did," Beckett answered with a smile. "But I told your parents they needed to wait for you before they started on it."

"Oh, thank you!" Mari cried, hugging her. She sat back and said, "How come you did that so long after dinner."

"I completely forgot about it," Beckett admitted. "Luckily the garage is cold enough they were fine."

"We can have some tomorrow right?" Julia asked and smiled at her friend when her mother nodded.

"Of course," Beckett was saying. "Especially since I know you're going to tell your sister." She smiled when her daughter made a face at her before she said, "But that's fine, she'll find out anyway."

"What're we going to do tomorrow?" Julia asked. "For the day?"

"It's going to snow," Castle said. "I'm fine," he quickly told his wife when she reached over to him and placed her hand on his knee. "I can feel it though."

"So… swimming?" Julia asked gently.

"I was going to suggest," Castle said, taking his wife's hand and entwining their fingers. "But I wasn't sure if you wanted to do that again."

"I don't mind," Beckett said easily.

"Neither do I," Julia said swiftly. She glanced at Mari and then asked her parents, "How long can she stay?"

"They said if we're okay with it she can stay tomorrow," Beckett said, watching Mari as she touched her daughter's arm and spoke.

"I think they're doing that because of Spring Break," the girl was saying.

"Probably summer too," Julia commented. She turned her attention back to her parents and said, "Are we sharing a room again?"

"I hope so," Castle said. "I already got the rooms." He laughed when Julia nearly threw herself at him and he hugged her tightly before he said, "You're welcome," to her repeated thank yous.

"She's right, I'm so glad you did that for us again," Mari added.

"I think we knew Julia was going to ask," Beckett commented in amusement.

"I was," Julia said, smiling at her friend. She then said, "I can't wait for that too."

"Going to Boston wasn't enough?" Castle asked teasingly. He chuckled when she gave him a look and said, "I'm not surprised. We'll go back."

"Mom said," Julia replied. She smiled when her father looked at her mother and said, "She told me when we were up there. What would we do though?"

"Let us get to that point before we decide," Castle said. He looked at the three, who were staring back at him, and said, "What?" slight laughingly.

"It's a surprise you haven't thought of something already," Beckett told him with a slight smirk on her face.

"Well…" Castle said simply. He smiled when the girls were laughing and he said, "I'm serious though because I think that trip would need all of us to plan it."

"But what if we don't know what we could see in all the states?" Julia asked.

"I think you might," Castle said.

Seeing Mari raising her hand, Beckett smiled and said, "What is it?"

"Will you talk to my parents about that vacation?" Mari said. "I think they'd want to go too."

"We'll talk to everyone," Castle assured her. "I'm not sure when but when we think of it we'll definitely tell your parents."

"Good, I'd want to do that," Mari said.

"We can share rooms then right?" Julia asked.

"We'll see," Beckett said. She couldn't help laughing briefly when the girls were sharing a smile, knowing they were taking that as a yes, before she looked at the time when her daughter was talking watching her.

"It's time now?" Julia asked. When her mother nodded she sighed and looked at her friend before she said, "I figured."

"Me too," Mari replied, nodding rapidly before they turned to her friend's parents while they were laughing.

"And since you figured," Castle commented as he stood. "You need to get into bed." He watched Mari doing so, sitting up, before he turned his attention to Julia and he pulled her into his arms. "I'm proud of you sweetheart."

"Thanks Dad," Julia said with a smile. She then said, "I love you."
"I love you too," Castle replied. He shared a quick kiss with her and then said, "Night."

"Goodnight Dad," Julia replied before she got onto her bed. She watched her mother sitting next to her and told her, "Happy?"

"Yes," Beckett said simply. "And while I know you are too you two need to sleep."

"I will," Julia promised. She hugged her mother and said, "Love you, Mom."

"I love you too sweetie," Beckett replied. She pulled away and told her daughter, "I told you already, but I was so proud of you, watching you."

Feeling her cheeks heating up slightly, Julia murmured a thank you before she said, "Thanks for letting me dance."

"I don't think we could have stopped you," Beckett replied. She pressed her lips to her daughter's forehead and murmured to her that she loved her before she had her lay down. Making sure the girls were warm and the covers were set over them, she joined her husband in the doorway before he closed the light.

Once her parents were walking away from her room, Julia turned to her friend and told her, "I'm really tired."

"Don't worry," Mari said quickly since her friend's tone had been apologetic. "You said you were nervous. You didn't sleep?"

"I did, but I woke up way too early," Julia replied.

"Then that's okay, at least I can stay tomorrow night too," Mari said.

"But we won't be able to have a sleepover for a while," Julia commented. She squeezed her friend's arm and told her, "I know, we have the summer but that's a while until then."

"But they won't make us stop for good just for this weekend," Mari commented.

Julia reached for her friend's arm and squeezed it to stop her before they listened to the footsteps coming up to the door. She and Mari were still, listening to who she guessed was her father before he was leaving and walk down to his room she knew. She was turning to her friend and was about to speak when she yawned widely instead, smiling when she could hear Mari stifling her laughter. "It's not funny," she said in mock anger.

"A little," the girl replied. "So I guess we need to go to sleep."

"Yeah, but I think I need to already," Julia replied. "Night Mari."

"Night Julia," Mari said.

Settled down until she was comfortable, Julia closed her eyes, finding sleep swiftly that night knowing she was going to spend the next day with her best friend and family and not worrying about the dances.

"You're not tired?" Castle asked his wife while he walked around to the bed.

"No, are you?" Beckett replied in amusement when she looked up at him from her phone. She hurried to set it aside and when she looked back, she was startled to see his troubled expression. About to ask him what was wrong, she was relieved when he was quickly explaining why to her.

"Why does that sound like you were fine last night," Castle said.

Smiling Beckett was about to respond to that before her husband was laying on his stomach, his arms around her waist and his head on her lap. She bit her lower lip for a moment before gently running her fingers through his hair. "I wasn't, but what would I really do?" she asked him. "I couldn't fly down to spend the night with you. Or leave the kids alone."

"No, I just wanted to pout," Castle said, smiling when his wife was laughing softly. He pushed himself up then and was startled when she was pulling him back with her and his head was against her chest. "Kate?" he asked in surprise.

"Are you complaining?" Beckett said immediately. When he shook his head slowly she cupped the back of his neck before she said, "I missed this."

"Good," Castle said. He winced a little to hear how his tone was so distorted, but he couldn't help himself enjoying the feel of her breast under his cheek. He raised his head and said, "You are back."

"I am," Beckett replied with a smile. She lost it when her husband reached down to her hips and grabbed them, sliding his hands beneath her pajama shirt. "Rick," she breathed before he leaned down to her. She felt a sense of relief at the kiss her husband gave her, they hadn't had a chance for more than a few brief kisses since she'd gotten home, and she'd been craving more. Wrapping her arms around her husband as tightly as she could, she held onto Castle while his tongue gently slipped into her mouth. They were tangling furiously for a while before they slowly parted, and she felt him pulling at her shirt.

Castle was relieved when his wife helped him getting her clothes off and they didn't wait for long to do the same for his clothing. After they'd stopped he followed her as she laid down, drawing him with her and he breathed, "You're a goddess my love."

"I want you Rick," Beckett moaned when her husband ducked his head to her breasts and was kissing over them. When he raised his head a little to look at her in surprise she said, "I was gone for barely a day."

Brushing his lips to hers, Castle said, "We haven't been together for a few." He kissed her a little harder before he pulled away to gaze at her saying, "We need it."

Wrapping her arms around her husband, Beckett murmured into his ear, "Then take me lover."

With that spurring him on, Castle couldn't help but follow his wife's desire and he was swift to enter her. With her assistance they were coupled, and he began to thrust, doing so gently at first so they could feel one another better. But he couldn't last long doing that with his wife's legs and arms wrapping around him tightly before he was going faster. With Beckett's encouragement, he took her as hard as he could before they were breaking close together until she was limp below him and holding onto him lightly. With a few more thrusts he was breathing rapidly and doing his best not to collapse on her before he was pressing his cheek to her shoulder. "Even…" he started to say before he had to stop.

"Wait until you can breathe love," Beckett told her husband in amusement, lightly scraping her nails against his scalp. She felt him nod and turned her head so she could kiss the top of his and said, "Are we taking all night?"

Shuddering, Castle said, "You want to?"

"Maybe not all night," Beckett replied while he was raising his head. She took the kiss he gave her and told him, "But a little would be nice."

"Technically it's still early," Castle said.

"Pervert," Beckett teased him. She cried out when he suddenly turned her around so she was straddling him and told him, "So you're deciding?"

"I would think it was my turn," Castle said firmly while his wife wrapped her arms loosely around his neck. He wasn't surprised when she laughed but he was grunting in pleasure as her sex squeezed around his length still embedded in her. When he calmed down, he saw the look on her face and was about to ask what was wrong when she was speaking swiftly.

"This was what you wanted?" Beckett asked him.

"You don't like it?" Castle asked, already aware she wasn't serious. He took her kiss when she leaned down to him and after they'd parted he ran his hands up and down her back. "I think you do," he said since she was shifting against him. He thrust up against her slightly, unable to move that much, and they were groaning together before falling into their next kiss. Their tongues dueling, they were soon grasping at one another and he was groaning into her mouth while she was slightly moving against him.

Thrusting her hips a little harder when she and her husband parted Beckett breathed to him, "We're not doing that again."

"No," Castle said, his breath coming out in pants while he put his feet on the bed so he could move with her. He was going to say more but he was focusing on meeting her rhythm. Surprised when she suddenly stopped, he couldn't help grabbing her a little hard on her sides, near her breasts and said, "What's wrong?"

"I didn't choose this," Beckett said. She had spoken teasingly, expecting her husband to respond in turn, when she gasped as he began suckling at her left breast and she held onto him tightly before he was pulling away. "Rick," she moaned when he lightly blew at her moist skin. She wanted to tell him to say what he wanted but he was repeating the same actions to her right mound. When he moved she then said, "Please don't tell me this was all you wanted."

"It's not," Castle replied before he brushed his lips to hers. He pressed his forehead to hers and murmured, "You?"

"I want to fuck your cock," Beckett said against his lips.

"Goddess," Castle breathed.

"Sheik," Beckett replied. Before he could speak or they began to move she said, "I love you."

"I love you Kate," Castle said roughly before they were kissing. It took little time before they began making love and he allowed his wife to take control, assuring her it was what he wanted. He kissed her as much as he could, wanting to be as intimate as possible with her while they were relishing in being able to indulge in their lovemaking again.