"You're sure we can't get a shake?" Julia asked her mother jokingly. She wasn't surprised when Beckett glanced at her and said, "Just kidding. But we're getting dessert tomorrow," not surprised her mother was quick to respond to that.
"Yes, do you really think I'd be able to stop your dad from ordering?" Beckett asked in amusement.
"Hey," Castle said jokingly. "But we'll have something small after lunch, a savory snack later in the afternoon and a dessert after dinner."
"Really?" Eliza asked with wide eyes.
Beckett couldn't help laughing and said, "He didn't tell me but that's fine, we just have to make sure about your choices."
"What if we're with Adam for the savory snack?" Julia asked.
"We'll talk to him," Castle said firmly.
"Too bad his boyfriend can't come with us," Eliza said.
"I know, but they'll come together another time," Beckett said.
Watching her sister nodding, Julia tried not to roll her eyes at Eliza not understanding before Peter was touching her arm. "Okay?" she asked.
"Yeah, your sister though…" the teen said.
Looking over at the highchair, Julia did her best not to laugh when she saw her baby sister was asleep and slumped over. Shaking her amusement she said, "Will she be okay?"
"Of course," Martha said. "I'll be taking her back to my room right now."
"We were going to keep her with us Mother," Castle said. When she turned to him in obvious surprise, he smiled and said, "We're not going to be out for that long."
"We need to get some sleep," Beckett added. "But you'll be able to take her to your room tomorrow night once she's asleep," she said before Eliza was speaking worriedly.
"I thought you said she could stay with us in our room," the little girl said.
"She will, we'll pick her up when we go back to the hotel," Castle said with a smile.
"But for now," Beckett said. Her husband was getting his card back and they were getting up from the table where they'd eaten dinner.
"I think we're going to head back to the hotel," Paul was saying. "Get our rest for tomorrow."
"Good, there's gonna be a ton of walking," Eliza said.
Laughing, the group went outside and said goodnight to the couple before they were turning to start walking when Eliza was exclaiming.
"Josa's up," Julia said before her sister did.
"Now we can go get her a hat, right?" Eliza asked eagerly.
"If we go straight to the store," Beckett answered, not surprised when the little girl was nodding rapidly. They set out to the store at the end and once inside she told her husband, "Do you want to take her?"
"We can't go with you?" Julia asked in surprise.
"Did you want to?" Castle said in response. When the three nodded he said to Peter, "I thought you'd want to walk around and look at everything," not surprised when he was responding rapidly.
"I do want to get something for my sister," Peter started to say. "Clive too, but I might wait to get it inside the parks."
"Parks?" Julia asked.
"Yeah, Dad likes Iron Man," Peter explained. "I was going to get him a shirt."
"Good idea," Beckett said, smiling when her husband was nodding. "Okay," she then said. "We'll look around but help Josie pick her hat first."
While they started to walk Jim asked his daughter, "You're not just going to get her a regular hat?"
"I don't think she'd want that," Beckett replied with a smile before she saw they were approaching the hats and headbands. She was holding the baby and she said, "Sweetie?"
"Mama?" Josie asked immediately.
Glancing at the kids when they were laughing briefly at the baby's question, Castle told her, "Do you want to get a hat?" He wasn't surprised when Josie was merely nodding and he said to his wife, "She might not stay up long enough."
"I noticed," Beckett said. "Do you like any of these hats sweetie?" she then directed to the baby.
Castle, watching her, wasn't surprised when Josie didn't say anything, was merely looking at the selections in front of her. "What do we do?" he asked his wife.
"What about this one?" Julia said, walking over to them. She had a headband in her hand and said, "I figured this would work better."
"What do you think?" Castle asked, holding it up to the baby and watching her studying the blue sequined Mickey ears.
"Mine," Josie said.
"Okay," Castle said, watching his wife while she was taking the baby to a display to distract her. "You guys want hats?" he asked them.
"We can get some?" Eliza asked.
"Headbands, yes," Castle said, not surprised when his daughters hurried over to the display. He turned his attention to Peter and said, "You realize that applies to you too."
"I have some money…" the teen said slowly.
"For your family, this one let us treat you to," Castle replied.
"Food?" Peter said.
"I wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth," Martha said.
"Thanks," Peter said after he thought about that for a moment. "I already found one," he confessed before his partner's father was speaking.
"Go ahead and grab it," Castle urged him.
Taking a headband, Peter said, "I always liked him," since it was of Baby Yoda with the ears sticking out.
"It's a nice hat," Castle said, laughing before he took it. "Did you find one already?" he asked Julia in surprise.
"Yep," the teen said easily before she showed him the headband she'd found. It had a sequined blue Minnie Mouse bow in between the ears, those decorated with symbols of Disneyland. "It reminds me of the backpack I have," she told her family.
"I was going to say," Castle replied before he took it.
"What do you think of this one?" Beckett was saying to Eliza a little further down the hats.
"No, I think I like this one," the little girl replied, taking one down from the display. Eliza pushed a button and squealed when the ears lit up, clear with Mickey balloons inside. She smiled when Josie laughed and reached for one of the ears and asked her mother, "Do you like it?"
"For you? Yes," Beckett replied. "Go and show the others," she said. She started to walk down the store before she realized Josie was slumped against her. Looking down she made her way back to the others and set the baby into the stroller before she told her husband, "I know what you're going to say."
"Yes, but I'm not going to say it," Castle said, not surprised when she was rolling her eyes. He smiled and then showed her the ears Peter had gotten telling her, "I would so get this one if I were younger."
"I'm not surprised," Beckett said. "Are you getting one?"
Shaking his head Castle said, "I thought about it but I'm good. You? Girls could pick one for you."
Smiling Beckett said, "No, and you want them to pick the girl-iest one for me."
"We wouldn't do that," Julia replied. "Are we walking together?"
"Yes," Beckett said before she saw her father was taking the stroller.
"We're going outside," Martha told them.
"Hey, you guys got headbands," Marie said to Julia and Peter.
"Yeah, we don't have our hats," the former said.
"Jealous?" Kathleen said.
"No," Peter replied, rolling his eyes.
"Let's keep going," Castle told them.
"Did you walk through the entire store already?" Beckett asked Skye while they were starting to walk.
"No, just over there," the investigator replied, pointing out the area to the right of the hats. "Nothing much but the girls do love looking of course."
"Do you know the stores in the park that well," Beckett said. She wasn't surprised when her friend was looking at her in confusion and she was about to speak when the investigator was first.
"You're looking for something for Josie then?" Skye asked.
"No, Peter wants to buy stuff for his family," Beckett replied.
"And the baby?" Skye asked. She smiled when the writer gave her a look and said, "Just making sure. But is he looking for anything specific?"
"I'm not sure about the others but he mentioned he wanted to get an Iron Man shirt for his dad," Beckett explained.
"I'll talk with him," Skye said with a nod. "It helps if he wants anything specific like that, otherwise I'd just look at the stores on Main Street."
"You can ask him now," Beckett said. She wasn't surprised when Skye appeared startled before she nodded behind her friend.
"Ask me what?" Peter said in confusion when the investigator looked at him.
Explaining what she had told Skye, Beckett said, "I thought you might want to focus on the rides a little more."
"She's right," Skye replied. She then said, "Do you want anything specific for the others?"
"Mom didn't really want anything, but I know she does like Pluto a lot," Peter said first. "Clive I was just going to get a set of pens and cards with all the characters."
Seeing her partner frowning then Julia said, "Are you going to need help for your sister?"
"I think so," Peter said.
"That you might want to ask Kate about," Castle suggested.
"I'm not the only one who's gotten baby clothes," Beckett said in mock annoyance. She then turned to Peter and said, "It's not that difficult. Since you don't know what your sister will like yet I would just choose what you like for her."
"Like what I got for her in Boston?" Peter asked.
Nodding Beckett said, "Trust your judgement."
"Okay," Peter said. "But I did want to get the stuff in the parks," he added as they were walking again.
"I thought so," Skye said with a smile before they were stopping at some merchandise.
After they'd made a circuit of the entire store, Eliza went to her mother and asked, "Are we going to go somewhere else?"
"No, we need to get some rest for tomorrow," Beckett said. She wasn't surprised when the little girl was about to speak in protest and she reminded her, "Your sister and Peter have been busy," smiling when she stopped and pouted before she responded.
"They're tired?" Eliza asked.
"A little," Julia herself said, walking over to them. "We got started early and didn't really stop. But don't worry," she hurried to add to her sister. "I don't want to go to bed either."
"We'll stay up tomorrow," Castle said, walking over to them.
"Are you guys heading back?" Beckett asked Mary while they were walking to the exit of the store.
"Yeah, the girls might not like it, but they need to get some sleep," the doctor replied. She smiled and said, "Plus we're tired too."
"We've been practicing the song for a while," Skye added.
"You sang really good Mummy," Fleur told her.
"Thank you, mon petit," Skye said with a smile before they were reaching Martha and Jim.
"Where are your dad and stepfather?" Castle asked suddenly.
"Dad's leg was acting up, so he needed to stay home," Skye answered. "I invited them, but Dad said the walking won't help. But he promised to go on Friday to the Huntington."
"But that's a lot of walking too," Kathleen protested.
"He doesn't have to walk through everything," Skye reminded her. They were entering the side door of the hotel by then and going to the second floor where their rooms were close to each other. When they'd stopped near the elevators she said, "Okay, time to say goodnight."
"Do Paul and Nancy know what we're doing?" Julia asked.
"We let them know that we can go in at seven," Skye replied. "But they might wait to go at eight," looking at Eliza when she was crying out in obvious joy.
"Does that mean we're going at seven?" the little girl asked.
"It does; it's why we're going to bed so early," Castle commented.
"Okay, now I'll go to bed," Eliza said firmly.
"What're we doing?" Marie asked her mother.
"We'll go there at seven and grab breakfast on Main Street," Skye began. "We'll see tomorrow, but something we can share between us. Then we'll start with Jungle Cruise and work our way around there." She then turned to Castle and Beckett and asked, "I have your permission?"
"We told you," Castle said first.
"That won't be fair for Paul and Nancy though," Kathleen said.
"They said they would try to be with us when we go to the park," Mary responded. "But it is early so that was just a warning."
"Hopefully they make it," Julia said, not surprised when her friends were nodding. That made her think of something, and she asked, "What about Adam?"
"He'll meet us at the tunnel to the left," Mary said.
"Is he sure his boyfriend can't go?" Beckett asked.
"Yeah, said Gage couldn't get out of work," Skye replied. "And remember he's just going with us tomorrow; then he has to work."
Though she wanted to ask who exactly the singer would go with on the rides, Julia joined her family in saying goodnight to the McDouglases before they were heading to their two rooms. "What time does the park close tomorrow?" she asked.
"Ten," Castle said.
"So we're staying until then?" Peter asked, surprised when Eliza was giggling before her mother was stopping her.
"Why are you laughing?" Beckett asked.
"Because not all of us are," Eliza said. She then realized why her mother had said that before she turned to Peter saying swiftly, "Sorry."
"It's okay, I was making sure the rest of us could," Peter explained.
"We better get going," Castle commented. "We are getting up a little early; six-thirty so I hope you guys will get up and get ready in time."
"I will," Peter said swiftly since he knew that was directed at him since his partner and her sisters were sharing a room with their parents.
Saying goodnight to her grandparents and Peter; her partner sharing her grandfather's room since it had two beds; Julia waved to them before she walked with the others to their room a little further down the hall. She couldn't help yawning as they walked inside before her little sister took her hand and squeezed it, making her look at Eliza as she began to talk.
"You're really tired," the little girl said.
"Yeah, so I can't wait to sleep," Julia replied, saying the last sarcastically as Eliza giggled. She looked at their parents, getting their suitcases, and she asked, "Is Josa still sleeping with us on the couch?"
"She will," Castle said. "Though would you mind sleeping on this couch?" he asked Eliza as the other half of the sectional bordered the bed in the other half. "We'll make up a bed for you; really comfortable."
"That's okay," the little girl replied quickly. "That way Josa's okay?"
"Yes," Beckett said. "Now come here and help us with your clothes so we can unpack faster."
"I'll get the bed ready," Castle said to his wife.
"Girls," Beckett said laughingly as Eliza and Julia climbed up on the bed.
"We're not gonna jump," the former said first before she sat up. "We're just seeing where you're gonna sleep for…"
"Three nights," Julia told her sister.
"Cool," Eliza said with a wide smile. "Wait, how are we gonna go to the parks with three days?"
"One day for each park, Thursday we'll split between them," Beckett answered as she was helping Eliza down.
"And we'll go when it opens… that one tomorrow," the little girl said when her mother showed her a shirt. "And then that one Wednesday and that one Thursday," she finished, picking up her shirts. As her mother was putting her clothes in one of the dresser drawers she told Julia with a smile, "What're you excited for the most?"
"All the rides," the teen replied, smiling as well. "But I think the Star Wars land the most."
"Me too," Castle called from the other room.
Beckett watched the girls laughing at the same time before Julia was getting off the bed and starting to unpack her own clothes. Once they were finished; having unpacked Josie's clothes; she called to her husband and told him, "Unpack and get changed, we'll keep an eye on Josie."
"Sure," Castle said before he leaned over and brushed his lips to hers. He ducked into the room, unpacking his clothes, and listening to the girls talking to their mother softly.
"Am I going on all the rides Mommy?" Eliza asked first.
"I think you might," Beckett replied. "But we're not sure about the Incredicoaster."
"Oh, I want to go," Eliza told her eagerly.
"Do you remember the roller coaster?" Beckett asked. When her second youngest nodded eagerly she smiled and said, "Alright."
"What else Mommy?" Eliza asked.
"I think that's it for now," Beckett replied.
"Are you gonna go alone with Daddy?" Eliza then said.
"They will," Julia said. When her mother looked at her in surprise she smiled and told her, "I talked with Marie and Kath, they want their moms to go alone too." She frowned and said, "We're just not sure what Adam will do."
"No?" Beckett asked in amusement, not surprised the older kids had been talking about that.
"Not really," Julia replied with a frown. "Though Marie was wondering if he'd go with us… and Peter."
"Ask him tomorrow," Beckett replied. She checked on Josie and seeing she was still asleep told the girls, "Don't wake up too early tomorrow."
"We won't," Eliza replied. She smiled and said, "But aren't you super excited?"
"I am," Beckett said with a nod. "Did you two finish your homework?"
While her little sister was nodding Julia said, "I just have my reading for history… I was kind of thinking to wait until the end of the week," watching her mother before she was responding.
"That's fine, as long as you read before we head out for the day on Saturday," Beckett replied.
"You knew what day she meant?" Eliza asked.
"Of course," Beckett said, taking the little girl onto her lap. When she leaned against her she asked Eliza, "Tired?"
"A little," she replied. Sighing, Eliza then said, "When you're ready does that mean we have to go to bed."
"I'm afraid it does," Castle said as he walked out into the living room. "Shh," he and Beckett were saying hurriedly to their second oldest when she groaned. "You're going to wake up your sister."
"Sorry," Eliza whispered while they all looked over at the couch.
"Come on," Beckett told the girls when she saw Josie was fine. Passing Castle, she cupped her hand over his cheek before going into the bedroom and closing the door behind her. While the girls were changing she got her clothes ready, waiting until they were in the bathroom to change into her own pajamas.
"Mom?" Julia called.
"I'm done," Beckett said, going over to the bathroom. "You can go with your dad."
"Come on," Julia said, taking her sister's hand since she knew she was going to protest. They walked together into the other room, and she told their father, "She's brushing her teeth," not surprised when he got up before he started to speak.
"You two are all ready?" Castle asked, picking Eliza up.
"Yeah," the little girl said, pressing her cheek to her father's. "Should I get into bed?"
"Not yet," Castle said in amusement since he knew she wanted to hear him say she wouldn't have to go to bed yet.
"Good," Eliza said before her father was sitting on the couch to the side of the sleeper bed. She turned to him and said, "Daddy?"
"Yes sweetheart?" Castle asked.
"Are you gonna go around with Mommy a little?" Eliza asked him.
Before their father could respond to that, Julia was quick to explain what she had talked about with Marie and Kathleen. "You should," she urged him when she'd finished.
"I think we will," Castle said.
"Oh really?" Beckett asked, walking out into the living room.
"Yes, but I was going to say we should go to a few rides or so with Skye and Mary before we separate," Castle told her.
"We'll talk to them about it tomorrow," Beckett said as the girls were watching her closely. "For now, it's time for bed."
Pursing her lips, Eliza turned to her father and kissed him before she said, "Night Daddy, I love you."
"I love you too," Castle replied. He hugged her before handing her to Beckett saying, "Please sleep."
Giggling as softly as she could, Eliza nodded and said, "I'll try my best Daddy." She turned to her mother and said, "I love you too Mommy."
"Love you sweetie," Beckett said before they were sharing a kiss. "Who do you want to tuck you in?" she asked.
"You," Eliza said before she was glancing at her father.
"It's alright," Castle said quickly. "It's better if your mom does that, she's lighter."
Julia was going to comment on that but stopped herself and instead watched their mother get Eliza set on the bed made up on the sofa. She smiled before she felt a hand on her shoulder and turned around. She reached for her father and hugged him tightly saying, "Thank you."
"For what sweetheart?" Castle asked, rubbing her back gently.
"For letting me dance," Julia said.
"I don't think we would have been able to stop you," Castle replied with a smile. He hugged her gently before he said, "And I'm glad we couldn't, you were great tonight."
"Thanks," Julia said softly before he kissed her cheek. She did the same to him before she murmured, "Love you Dad."
"I love you too Julia," Castle replied before they were turning to Beckett.
"Come here sweetie," she said before wrapping her arms around her second oldest. "I love you," Beckett said. "And we're so proud of you."
"Definitely," Castle added firmly.
Smiling at him Julia turned to her mother, and she told her, "I love you too Mom," before they shared a kiss, and she went to the bed. Once she was under the covers, she watched her mother making sure Josie next to her was okay. "Night," she told her parents when Beckett stood back up.
"Goodnight," she told her daughters. "Sweet dreams you two," Beckett added with a smile since she could see Eliza was watching them.
"Night," Castle told them before they were responding. Taking his wife's hand, they went into the bedroom and he closed the door before he said, "You're sure you want this closed," smiling when she responded swiftly.
"I do, I'm assuming we're going to talk so I want them to be able to fall asleep and us to talk," Beckett said.
"Then let me say instead, do you want to keep the door closed?" Castle asked, watching her turning down the bed.
"No, but just open it a little once we're going to bed," Beckett said.
"What exactly are we doing?" Castle said in surprise, walking to her while she went to the large window at the end of the room.
"I'm doing," Beckett said simply, closing the curtain over it. She wasn't surprised when her husband gently grabbed her by her arms before he had her turn around. Once she'd done that he leaned down to her, and she was responding to his kiss as soon as his lips had met hers. She was a little startled when he lingered but didn't try to make it too passionate. "Rick-" she started to say.
"I'm really trying to control myself right now," Castle said as he held her tightly to him. Feeling her fingers sliding through his hair he told her, "You too?"
"Of course," Beckett replied before they were parting. She smiled a little and told him, "We do have Saturday… maybe."
"Sunday can we say for sure?" Castle asked.
"I'd like to, but we'll have to see," Beckett said.
Taking her hand, Castle led her to the bed and said, "At least you're giving me that."
"And myself," Beckett reminded him.
"And you too," Castle said, watching her take off her robe. He moved to his side of the bed and put his robe on the armchair before he took off his glasses. After his wife had turned the small light above her pillow on he went to turn off the main light and open the door slightly. Glancing outside at the girls, he went back inside before he told Beckett in a whisper, "I think they're all asleep."
"Or trying," she murmured in response. Beckett smiled while her husband was taking off his glasses and once he was on the bed she turned off the light above her before they were settling down. Pressed against his side she told him quietly, "I love you Rick," smiling at his embrace before he was responding.
"Love you too," Castle said before they were kissing.
Relieved when her husband made it brief, Beckett settled back on his shoulder before they were going to sleep.
His body jerking slightly, Castle's eyes flew open, and he looked around himself before he recalled where he was. Feeling movement against him, he breathed out in relief when Beckett pressed closer to his side. Wrapping his arms around her he pressed his lips to the top of her head before he looked at the door and then moved to slide off the bed without waking her up. Watching his wife for a moment, he was going to the door and opened it enough to slip outside into the living room. Studying the girls for a moment, he smiled and gently fixed the sheet covering Eliza. Making sure Julia and Josie were okay, he turned around and nearly jumped when he saw his wife was in the doorway.
"What's wrong Rick?" Beckett asked as she closed the door behind them after her husband had walked in with her.
"I had a nightmare," Castle said simply.
"I figured," Beckett replied. "What was it about?"
"I went to you at the hospital; after you were shot," Castle said. "You wouldn't let me go in to see you and I could hear you telling… your ex that you never wanted to see me again." He wasn't surprised when she was quick to wrap her arms around him tightly before he embraced her back.
"You haven't had that one for a long time," Beckett told him, pulling back a little to study him.
"I know, I have no clue why I dreamt it now," Castle said.
"I think I do," Beckett said. She smiled slightly when her husband looked at her in obvious surprise and pulled him gently to the bed. She had him lay down before she told him, "You're in one of your moods."
"Kate," Castle scoffed.
"Okay, it's probably not a mood, but it's a mindset at least," Beckett replied with a smile before he was responding.
"I'll give you that," Castle said. "But why do you think I dreamt that now? And why am I having nightmares?"
"You know why you had the one about the boat," Beckett said firmly. "And this one you tend to have after we've gone on vacation or shared a suite with the girls. You still can't believe we're married; have four children and we're still married."
"Hey," Castle said in mock annoyance. He smiled when she laughed softly and he brushed his lips to hers before he said, "But you're right, it's amazing to think of sometimes. But I should be dreaming about making love to you, not you turning me away." He looked at her and asked, "My subconscious fear of losing you for some reason?"
"Most likely," Beckett said before she kissed him tenderly. "But you won't."
"Good," Castle said before he yawned. He was about to thank her for reassuring him when she was suddenly kissing him, and he was frozen for a moment before responding eagerly. He couldn't help himself and he was kissing her back as eagerly before they ended the kiss at the same time, panting a little while they gazed into each other's eyes until she was whispering to him lovingly.
"I'm not telling you I love you lightly," Beckett commented. She leaned into him and kissed him again before she pulled away and said, "So you don't need to worry."
"Believe me, I'm thinking that right now," Castle replied. He brushed his lips to hers before he said, "Good night?"
"Yes," Beckett said in amusement.
"Then night and I love you," Castle said firmly.
"I love you too," Beckett replied before they were kissing each other lightly. When they had parted she said, "Sleep love."
"I will," Castle promised. "I'm thinking about tomorrow, sappy?"
"Not really," Beckett said with a smile before they were kissing. "I'm looking forward to it too."
Embracing her tightly, Castle held her to him before they kissed one last time and murmured goodnight to each other before he gently rubbed her upper arm. He felt her relaxing against him, focusing on her to try and forget his nightmare fully. Nodding off a little after Beckett had, he would be surprised the next morning to realize he'd managed to dream about his wife and their family, it was a little different from reality though he didn't mind since it didn't leave him waking up in despondency.
"Hello?" Castle called, opening the front door of the house. He was startled when there wasn't a response but locked the door behind him before he was heading down the hall. "Kate?" he said, looking into the rooms he was passing. "Girls?" Passing the parlor he was about to get his phone to call his wife before he was in front of the family room.
"Daddy!" Eliza cried, jumping into the doorway.
Jumping back, Castle laughed as the little girl rushed to him and he was quick to embrace her. "Hey sweetheart," he told him when she was looking up at him. "Where's your mom and sisters?"
"I don't know," Eliza replied, shrugging her shoulders.
"Should we go look for them?" Castle asked with a smile.
"Yeah, come on," Eliza replied before taking his hand.
Castle did his best not to laugh out loud when she led the way out of the room and down to the kitchen before he was jumping ahead at Julia and Alexis calling to them from behind. Turning to the office he said in mock annoyance, "Really?"
"Yeah, you don't mind do you Dad?" Julia asked.
"No," Castle said, hugging her before doing the same with his oldest. Taking Josie from her he asked the three oldest, "Where's your mom?"
"Somewhere," Julia answered before her big sister could.
"Somewhere?" Castle asked. "Kate," he said, looking around the kitchen. "I've been startled twice already, don't make it three."
"I wasn't planning on it," Beckett said, stepping into the hall from the stairs. She smiled at her husband's startled look and told him, "They wanted me to surprise you, but I decided not to."
"Thank you," Castle said, bringing her to him. They kissed firmly before he pulled away with her doing the same at the sound of footsteps. "Should we call them?" he asked when he found they were alone.
"No," Beckett replied. "Come on," she told him before they were walking together to the family room. "How did things go?"
"Good, we'll have another book ready to publish in January," Castle replied.
"Are you sure it's a good idea to have that many series?" Alexis asked.
"Like we said," Beckett replied with a smile as she took Josie on her lap. "We're just testing if we can do this."
"I warned Jay it might be a standalone book," Castle told her.
"And he was okay with that?" Beckett said in amusement since she wasn't sure how the publisher was going to take it.
"Yeah, as long as we continue with the other two that's fine," Castle said.
"Rick," Beckett then said, studying her husband.
"Yes?" Castle said simply.
"What else did you tell him?" Beckett asked.
"Nothing," Castle replied. He sucked in a loud breath of air when his wife lightly tugged his ear before he said, "Okay, I said maybe down the line we'd come back to the book and do one or two more."
"Just one or two?" Beckett asked him doubtfully.
"Yes," Castle replied, speaking firmly. "Believe me, I remember how hard it was writing a third book."
"Good thing," Beckett said before Julia was asking them about their plans.
"What're we going to do now?" the teen asked.
"I need to unpack and change," Castle said. He looked at his wife and asked, "What were you planning on?"
"Swimming," Beckett said.
"That was our idea Daddy," Eliza said quickly.
"I kind of had a feeling," Castle replied. "Are you ready to go?" he asked since they were all wearing sundresses. When they nodded he smiled and said, "I'll join you once I'm done." He got up and left the room, heading to the foyer where he'd left his suitcase. Taking it upstairs he walked down the hall, pausing when he saw his wife was coming to the top of the hallway stairs. "Kate?"
"Yes?" Beckett asked in amusement.
Castle shook his head before he reached for her hand and led her down the hall hurriedly to their bedroom. As soon as they were inside he closed the door and shoved his suitcase away before he gathered her in his arms. Kissing her passionately he held her closely against his chest until they needed to breathe, and he moved to her neck, kissing at it roughly. "I missed you," he told her.
"So did I," Beckett said with a smile. She stopped him and when he looked at her said, "Are you tired?"
"Not at all," Castle replied firmly before he was kissing her again. He kept that brief before he said, "The girls are on their own."
"Yes, but Alexis is more than capable," Beckett said.
Breathing out hard Castle reluctantly let her go before he said, "I'm not stopping later."
"Oh don't worry," Beckett assured him while she followed him to the bed. "I wasn't about to let you."
"I really didn't want to go," Castle said, pausing after he'd gotten the suitcase on the mattress.
"I'm aware," Beckett replied. "And I didn't want you to either. So next time you talk to Jay tell him we'll Skype."
"Good idea," Castle said before he took out a bag and handed it to his wife.
"Gifts?" Beckett asked.
"Did you expect me not to?" Castle replied.
Smiling Beckett said, "If these had been souvenirs then yes. But since they're books…" Her husband nodded before he was taking everything out and she asked him, "Did you want to give them to the girls once we're downstairs?"
"After dinner," Castle said quickly. "And I'm done." When his wife didn't respond he then said, "So you approve?"
"I do, though I hope Eliza won't want to read the book after we put her to bed," Beckett said.
"We'll have to check on her," Castle said before he slipped into the bathroom with his trunks. He changed swiftly and grabbed a shirt in the closet before he told his wife, "Let's go, I get the feeling they started already," not surprised she responded.
"Of course they did," Beckett said. When her husband looked at her in surprise she told him, "I told them they could go into the smaller pool."
"Okay," Castle replied easily before he followed her out of the room and downstairs. When they entered the pool room he started smiling at the sight of their daughters in the smaller pool, playing with Josie. "Who said you guys could start first?"
"Mom." "Mommy," Julia and Alexis said first, Eliza speaking last.
"Are you mad Daddy?" the little girl asked.
"No," Castle said, tossing his shirt on a chair. He went over to the pool and sat, taking Josie into his arms when she walked over to him. "Did you have fun with your mom and sisters?" he asked her.
"Yes," the baby replied.
"Are we going to swim in the big pool now?" Eliza asked.
"Of course," Castle said, picking Josie up.
The pool room suddenly changed, and he was going down the stairs, dressed in a shirt and pants.
"Josa's set?" Julia asked when her father walked into the family room.
"She is, your mom had a text, so I came ahead of her," Castle replied. He turned to his three oldest and said, "You guys have school tomorrow."
"It's still not time for bed," Eliza said in protest.
"She's right," Beckett said, passing her husband with a smile on her face. "And we have time to play something."
"UNO!" Eliza cried. "We haven't played that in forever!"
"Do you three mind?" Beckett asked. When they shook their heads she turned to her husband, a questioning look on her face.
"Oh, I don't mind," Castle said quickly. At her frown he pretended to jump and then turned his attention to grabbing the deck of cards before Eliza was speaking with a giggle.
"You did that on purpose Daddy," the little girl told him.
Exaggerating a gasp, Castle told her, "No I didn't!"
"You did," Julia said.
Giving a pout, Castle was soon after laughing when his wife was gently nudging his side with her elbow and since he was sitting with her said, "Okay, maybe I did but still…"
"Just shuffle Dad," Alexis replied. "You said we had to go to bed soon didn't you?"
"Don't throw my words back at me," Castle commented. He smiled when his daughters were laughing and turned to Beckett asking her, "Cut?" since he'd been shuffling while they'd been talking. After she'd done so he took her hand and kissed it before he started to deal the cards.
Castle was in his room with his wife, watching her walking over to where he was sitting on the loveseat. "They're asleep?" he asked.
Smiling at him, Beckett nodded and gave her husband the glass she was holding telling him, "I'm not surprised you know. And they are." She sat next to him and said, "You checked on them too." She laughed when he made a show of making sure to sip his Jameson before she playfully pushed at him.
"I did miss them," Castle replied. "The loft was empty so…"
"It was?" Beckett asked, sipping her whiskey before she reached to him with her free hand and was gently running her fingers through his hair.
Shuddering in pleasure, Castle told her, "Don't tease me," not surprised she was responding to that swiftly.
"Why would I do that? You don't think I missed you too?" Beckett pointed out.
Taking her hand, Castle kissed her palm gently before he pulled her closer to him and brushed his lips to hers. "I'm trying to wait until we're finished," he told his wife.
Finishing her whiskey, Beckett took his glass once he'd finished and she told him, "Now we are," before she was laughing softly at her husband pulling her onto his lap. She wrapped her arms around him tightly, kissing him back once his lips had taken hers. As she'd been doing before she was running her fingers through his hair and said when they'd parted, "I hope you don't want to wait for too long."
"Believe me," Castle said firmly. "I don't." He kissed her again, far deeper, feeling her clutching at him hard before he was moving to her neck. He felt a thrill hearing her moan in pleasure and he moved around to her neck before she was gently pushing him away.
"Not yet," Beckett said.
"Tease," Castle breathed before they were meeting again in a kiss. He clutched at her while she held onto the back of his neck until he was moving to her chest. Kissing a little eagerly at her collarbone, he felt her stopping him and he groaned heavily before saying, "Please tell me we can move."
Beckett immediately did so, getting off his lap and standing before he was rushing to join her. Smiling, she wrapped her arms around his neck before he was kissing her, and she was rubbing against him to both their groans. When her husband pulled away gently she gasped and arched into him since he was grasping her ass firmly. "Rick," she moaned before he was reaching for the back of her dress.
Trying not to become too frustrated when his wife stopped him, Castle said, "Now?"
"Yes," Beckett replied. She moved to kiss him, just brushing her lips against his before sliding her hands over his cheeks. "Come to bed lover," she breathed to him.
"Goddess," Castle told her huskily, following her to their bed eagerly with his desire matching hers.