"It's time."
"Time for what?"
"Now you don't know? All this was your idea," Skye told Castle teasingly.
"She's right Rick," Beckett said, kissing his cheek in passing.
"Don't tell the kids," Castle said jokingly as he took his wife's hand to stop her before she was talking to him teasingly.
"What? They're going to stampede you anyway," Beckett told him.
"Stand in front of me?" Castle asked in a feigned plaintive tone. He smiled at his wife laughing and shaking her head before he pulled her to him and they kissed briefly before he said, "Okay, come on you guys," looking at the kids before he realized they were talking together. "Once you're ready I guess," he added, looking at his wife who soon shrugged.
"We have two numbers," Julia said before they were walking to him. "I just hope it doesn't take too many times."
"It might, but don't get discouraged," Skye commented. "There are a lot of places here."
"We picked twenty-four and thirty-six… did we pick those last time?" Julia asked.
"We'll worry about that once he looks," Beckett said reassuringly before they were turning to Castle.
"Twenty-four I don't think you picked; Market House," he told them. "And thirty-six is… the Refreshment Corner, that one's better for lunch. Try again," Castle then said.
After they'd talked again Julia said, "We got five and nineteen."
"Five is Carnation Café," Castle said. He was surprised when the McDouglas kids made protesting sounds before Mary was explaining.
"It's not bad, but the girls might want to go out of Main Street," the doctor said.
"I was going to say too," Peter replied before he was turning inward with the other kids to talk about their next choices.
"You didn't ask about nineteen," Castle commented, not surprised they didn't respond for a while.
"I knew you looked already Dad," Julia said. "We got twenty-three and thirty-nine."
"Please say it's something," Skye said jokingly.
"Lemonade cart or the Royal Street Veranda," Castle said swiftly.
"What's there at the second?" Paul asked. "Though I do enjoy lemonade."
Smiling when the kids laughed at the face the singer pulled after he'd spoken, Castle turned his attention to the menu. "Just soups in a bread bowl," he said slowly.
"Another two numbers girls," Mary said. She smiled as they hurried to gather together and told the others, "It's better in San Francisco," turning to Nancy when she was responding to what she'd said.
"We agree," the singer's wife was saying. "Do you have them?" Nancy said to the kids as they were turning to them.
"Yeah," Julia said. "Thirteen and twenty-two?"
"We're going to run out of numbers," Peter commented while they were watching Castle.
"You might, thirteen is the Fantasmic dinner package at the Hungry Bear in Critter Country," he said. He looked up at them again and said, "Twenty-two is the popcorn stall at Galaxy's Edge."
"Then try thirty-four!" Julia said in frustration.
"Actually, that is an option," Castle said. "Let me check the… menu… okay, we have vegetarian food."
"What restaurant is it Rick?" Beckett laughed, the others doing the same.
"Rancho del Zocalo," Castle answered, jumping slightly when the kids were exclaiming in joy. "I guess we should have just had them pick it," he said to the other adults.
"Most likely," Martha said.
"Though we should have them pick dessert that way," Jim said.
"That would be fun," Iris said.
"After all that?" Skye asked her daughter jokingly.
"Sure," Ivy said in agreement before they started to leave Galaxy's Edge they'd finished going around before that point. "Does that mean we have to start in Fantasyland?"
"After dinner? Yes," Mary said. "But remember, there is Josie, and her bedtime will be coming up soon after dessert."
"Are we eating dessert first and then rides?" Marie asked her mothers.
"No," Skye answered.
"I think your mom means we're waiting to see how it goes," Beckett said. "Once we finish eating."
"Listen to Kate," Skye told her daughters jokingly. After they'd walked down to Frontierland she said, "Good thing we were so close."
"And you said they had vegetarian?" Paul asked.
"They do," Mary assured him and Nancy before they were walking up to the host.
After being seated at a long table outside, the group began looking at the menus though Castle and Beckett were reading it together for Josie's choices.
"I think she might enjoy the bean and cheese burrito," Castle said.
"What if it's too big?" Beckett asked. She was taken aback slightly when her husband looked up, smiled and then nodded past her. Turning she saw Peter was waving his hand slightly and she said, "You're sure?"
"Yeah, I'm going to get tacos," Peter replied. "I'll probably be hungry."
"More than likely," Beckett said with a smile. When she saw a confused look on the teen's face she said, "Your mom did warn me… so did he."
"I was a teenager once," Castle commented.
"Oh, well do I remember," Martha said. "I was greatly surprised he never ate us out of the house."
"It's why I learned to cook," Castle said before he turned his attention to his wife. "What're you going to get?"
"Their street tacos," Beckett replied. "You have to let me know which burrito you're getting," she told him teasingly while she was closing her menu and putting it down on the table before he spoke.
"Why do you assume?" Castle asked her.
"You don't think I know you?" Beckett asked in amusement. She then realized the rest of the table was quiet and she looked down it to find the others were watching them.
"It looks like we're the entertainment love," Castle said.
"I see that, you all know what you want?" Beckett asked. When they were taking turns to say yes, she couldn't help laughing and said when she calmed, "Then I guess we are Rick." She turned to him when he squeezed her hand and she returned it before she said, "And good thing, here come the waiters." She wasn't surprised that turned them from looking at her and Castle and she focused on ordering her dish and Josie's.
"Dad," Julia said. "Could we pick out dessert now?"
"Now?" Castle asked in surprise.
"Yeah, we're going to wait for the food so why don't we just pick it since we have so much trouble," Julia replied.
"Please Daddy? Mommy?" Eliza said.
"I was going to agree," Beckett replied with a smile.
"Alright but I'm going to count the number of dessert places," Castle said.
"I help Dada," Josie said.
"Of course you will," Castle said, smiling at her before he turned back to the screen of his phone. "There's only six," he told them.
"Really?" Iris asked in surprise.
"I know the other restaurants have desserts, but I picked out just dessert places," Castle said.
"Pick Jules!" Eliza exclaimed.
"The second one," Julia replied immediately once the other kids had nodded.
"That might help, the Gibson Girl ice cream place," Castle said. "Are we all in agreement about that?" He laughed when the kids were saying yes nearly at the same time before he said, "Even though we had ice cream already?"
"Did you guys forget?" Skye said in amusement.
"No, but… you don't mind?" Julia asked. She then said, "Wait, why don't we have something baked?"
"The Jolly Holiday Bakery?" Mary suggested.
"We can go there right?" Kathleen asked.
"Sure, if the others agree," Mary said before the kids were saying yes again. After they'd stopped she said, "Great, but we'll worry about that later."
"How many more lands are there now Mummy?" Ivy asked Skye.
Leaning over, the investigator kissed the side of her head before she said, "You know already, get your twin to help," not surprised Iris was speaking rapidly.
"Fantasyland, Toontown?" the little girl began before her mother nodded to her.
"We're not going in the order you said," Skye said. "So go in whatever order you want."
"Isn't it just Tomorrowland though?" Ivy asked.
"It is," Mary said. "So not too much but Fantasyland will take a while."
"Do we need to go everywhere in Toontown?" Kathleen asked.
"No, we can keep it to the coaster and Rodger Rabbit," Skye said. "Unless anyone else wants to go," she added, looking at the others.
After they'd shaken their heads Castle said, "And if we finish before closing?"
"Say we may go on just the rides Mummy, Mommy," Fleur said eagerly before either of her mothers could respond.
"We'll see," Mary answered.
"Speaking of seeing, I see the waiters coming," Skye commented before they were approaching, and the plates were being set down in front of them.
"How are your tacos?" Julia eventually asked Paul and Nancy.
"Good, you've been so attentive to us," the singer said with a smile.
"I just want to make sure it's good," Julia replied, cursing her flushed cheeks.
"And it is, I would imagine there are a lot of vegetarians here, so they'll make sure it's palatable," Paul said. "That means we can eat it and not be disgusted," he told the younger kids.
"Good thing," Marie said before they were laughing and returning to their food.
"Are we going on a ride now?" Martha asked her son and daughter in law when they were getting up after finishing.
"I think so; one of the movie rides," Castle said. He looked at his wife and asked, "Do you remember which is first?"
Beckett shook her head no and said, "I'm sure Skye and Mary will let us know," before the former was doing exactly that.
"It's Pinocchio," Skye replied with a smile. "And then Snow White-"
"Then Peter Pan and Mr. Toad," Ivy interrupted.
"There's a lot more than that," Skye replied.
"Are we going on the teacups?" Mary asked her wife.
"I'm not sure, we might save it for last," Skye said once she'd thought about that.
"What about the Matterhorn?" Eliza inquired as they were entering the land.
"That will be before dessert," Skye said.
"Why are you looking at me?" Beckett asked her friend with a laugh.
"Both of you," Skye told her teasingly. "But I wonder if we should go to Toontown and finish there before the Matterhorn."
"Probably a good idea, though what do we do after dessert?" Castle asked.
"Then split it in half," Mary said. "It's not that difficult," she added. "But we really should get to those three rides last."
"And at least there's no line here," Castle commented while they walked through the queue. "How… huh," he said when the kids were grouping together.
"Thank you," Jim told his daughter when she carefully took Josie from him.
"I think it's the four of us," Skye said, watching the others starting to get on the cars.
"At least the kids are grouping together," Mary said before Jim and Martha were in their own car with Josie.
"Which one… ah, Sneezy," Skye said while she was looking at the track. She looked at Castle and Beckett once they were sitting; she and her wife in the front row at the writers' insistence; and asked them, "You two alright?"
"Yeah, just enjoying the quiet for now," Castle replied. "No making out though."
"With someone about to come behind us? We'll do that back at the hotel," Mary said with a smile before they were going through the doors to the start of the ride.
As they'd discussed doing, the group went on the slower rides first before heading to Toontown where they went on the rides there, finding the homes were closing at that time.
"Now we can go on the Matterhorn right?" Julia asked while they were leaving the land.
"I'm eager for dessert," Paul commented.
"Calm down, we're going to the Matterhorn right now," Skye said in mock annoyance before they were walking to the ride.
Going with her family, Eliza groaned when they finished it and said, "That always goes too fast."
"We'll come on this again," Julia assured her, sitting behind her.
"Girls," Beckett said when they were at the exit and getting out. "Your dad and I talked about a spring break here-"
"We can't come?" Eliza asked, her disappointment evident.
"We're going to have one summer going through the parks remember," Castle said. "You wouldn't want to do that more?"
"Yeah," Julia said eagerly. She looked at her sister and seeing Eliza still looked disappointed she told her, "It's more than just these two parks," to remind her before the little girl was speaking slowly.
"I guess that's okay," Eliza said.
"We'll come back to these parks," Castle said reassuringly, watching as the others were joining them just outside the exit. Grouped back together he watched Julia and Eliza hurry after the other kids to walk with them while they headed to the bakery. "Good thing it wasn't that far," he commented.
"No," Beckett said in amusement. When her husband looked at her she told him, "Oh, you didn't think I'd know you were ready for dessert? I'm surprised."
"Not offended though," Castle pointed out to her. When she gave him a look he smiled before she laughed and shook her head firmly. With her looking at him again he took her hand and pulled her to him before they made their way inside. He tried to see if he could kiss her at that moment, but their daughters were walking quickly back to them and he let her go reluctantly to pick up Josie.
"Want sweets Dada," the baby said.
"Who taught her that?" Castle said to her older sisters in mock annoyance.
"It wasn't hard," Eliza said before her sister was shushing her. "What? We were going to lie?"
"Girls," Beckett said, trying her best to keep her laughter out of her voice. "You need to pick what you want."
Tugging Eliza's hand, Julia took her to the display, and they talked for a while with Peter and the McDouglas girls about what to get. "It's so hard to pick," she eventually said with a laugh.
"I know," Marie said in agreement. "I think I'm gonna try to get that unicorn cupcake," turning to her sister when she spoke quickly after her.
"You don't think that's too big?" Kathleen asked.
"Maybe, that's why I have a backup," Marie replied. "The Mickey macaron."
"I'm gonna ask for that," Eliza said. She turned to her big sister and said, "You?"
"The brownie," Julia said. "We better go… what about you?" she started to say before she turned to Peter.
Laughing the teen said, "The chocolate hand pie."
"Come tell with us," Eliza said before she was hurrying away from them.
Turning to Peter, Julia laughed with him and they went after her and explained what they wanted before they went outside with Nancy. "What did you get?" she asked the singer's wife once they had enough tables and Josie was sitting on her lap.
"The chocolate Bundt cake; Paul does love chocolate," Nancy replied.
"Did you have fun coming here?" Ivy asked a little shyly as they were sitting all together.
"Of course, the trip isn't over yet though," Nancy replied. "Are you all ready for tomorrow."
"I'm not," Peter said jokingly.
"Maybe she'll have something for you," Marie told him.
"It wouldn't be a dress," Julia said quickly to her partner.
"I know that," Peter said in mock annoyance. "I mean… if Mom and Dad say it's okay…"
"She might have talked to them already," Nancy said. She started to laugh when the kids began to clamor for her to tell them and said, "I think but I'm not totally sure; Paul would know."
"Excuse me?" a young girl said, coming over to them as the kids were all laughing.
"Can we help you?" Jim asked.
"Are you Julia Castle," the girl asked.
"Yeah," the teen replied.
"And you're her sister," the girl then said, turning to Eliza.
Her eyes wide, the little girl said, "Yeah… you saw me on the show."
"I did, you're her partner? Julia's," the girl said.
"Yep, who're you?" Peter asked.
"Oh, sorry, my name is Aria," the girl said. "Could I get your autographs?"
"Sure," Julia said after looking at her grandparents and seeing them both nodding. She was expecting to get the autograph book first and was startled when the girl gave it to Peter. She glanced at Marie and Kathleen, trying not to laugh at how flustered her partner was while the girl was speaking to him.
"I thought you were dancing so great the other night," Aria said eagerly. "Did it take you long to learn to dance like that?"
"Not really; Julia's really good though. I'm just following her," Peter said firmly.
"Thank you," Aria literally gushed before she turned to Julia. "I've read your books too, they're great."
"Thanks," Julia replied, signing rapidly. She thought the girl was going to leave but was shocked when she turned to her little sister.
"Y-you want me to sign?" Eliza asked, stammering. At the nod from Aria, she looked at her big sister worriedly and hoped she would explain.
"She's only in second grade," Julia told the girl. "She hasn't learned cursive yet so she could only print her name."
"That's fine, my friends will think it's cool," Aria said.
"Wait," Jim said before his daughter was speaking while she walked up to them.
"What's going on sweetie?" Beckett said, leaning over and kissing the side of Eliza's head before she moved to get Josie from Julia.
"She wants my autograph," Eliza began. "Aria does," she added in a rush.
"Did you tell her you can only print your name?" Beckett asked.
"She did, I don't mind ma'am," the girl said swiftly.
"Alright, go ahead," Beckett said after studying her for a moment. She watched Eliza writing carefully before she handed the book and pen to the young girl who thanked them and left. "Was she bothering you?" she asked the kids with a smile.
"No," Marie said quickly. "But I'm not sure about Julia and Peter."
"What're you talking about?" Kathleen asked her twin.
"She was flirting; with both of you," Marie said firmly.
"She was," Julia said rapidly as Peter opened his mouth. "But don't worry, she was shy too, so I don't think she was going to do much."
"Did she notice you?" Beckett asked Nancy.
"Oh no, that's the nice thing, I can blend in," the singer's wife replied.
"The… fans?" Peter said slowly.
"Except for them," Nancy said with a laugh. "Where's everyone else?"
"Inside," Beckett said, turning back. "Oh, no they're coming. Dessert's ready." She smiled when the kids were exclaiming and getting up to help the other adults and went to the table where her father and mother-in-law were before they left. "You…" she started to say before her husband was giving her the brownie she had ordered. She smiled when he'd kissed her cheek and said, "We're on our own."
"Shoot," Castle said, watching the McDouglas women sitting with them.
"Oh fine, be that way," Skye said in feigned offence, pretending to leave before her wife was speaking while she took her hand.
"Come on grá," Mary told her firmly and with a smile. "They're a little crowded over there."
"Oh fine," Skye said before she was smiling. "We should have come here sooner."
"It does look really good," Castle said, looking at his chocolate mousse dome shaped like an original Mickey ears hat. "Which of us is sharing with her?" he asked his wife.
"I will," Beckett said. She looked at her brownie and said, "I should have gotten something smaller." Turning to Mary she said, "Like that Pop Tart."
"Ah, ah," the doctor said, holding up her hand. "It's a hand pie."
"Then that," Beckett said before her husband was suddenly slipping her fork into her mouth. She narrowed her eyes at him before she finished eating her bite and said, "Did you really have to do that?"
"Of course I did," Castle replied easily before he watched her getting the other fork she had and feeding it to Josie.
"Good?" Beckett asked the baby.
"More Mama," Josie replied when she'd finished eating. "Peas?"
"Peas? With chocolate? That's disgusting," Skye said teasingly.
"She hasn't gotten please down yet?" Mary asked.
"No, her sisters are teaching her that one next I think," Castle said.
"How is it?" Beckett asked with a smile.
"Want to taste?" Castle said. "Both of you," he said rapidly. He was smiling a moment later when she took some with her fork and Josie's and fed the baby first.
"I hope she sleeps," Beckett said in amusement when the baby had taken the fork and was licking at it though most of the mousse was gone.
"We'll find out," Castle said. "Maybe we should get a cot and take her into our room."
"I don't think the girls would let us get away with that," Beckett replied.
"True," Castle said with a quick nod before he turned his attention back to his dessert. As soon as they'd finished he saw Eliza was rushing over to them and he said, "We'll go in a second, we need to clean up first."
"No, what ride are we going on first?" Eliza asked.
"Did everyone else tell you to ask?" Beckett said.
"Yeah, but… we kinda know," Eliza replied.
Smiling Castle told her, "Then why ask?"
Shaking her head, Eliza said, "To make sure." She smiled when her father laughed and hugged him saying, "Just once right?"
"Yes," Beckett replied before he could. "Now let's go." She set Josie down and then took her hand before they were walking together with the others to Small World. She wasn't surprised to hear the kids playfully bemoaning the ride and glanced at her husband before he was picking Josie up and putting her on his shoulders to her cry of joy before they were holding each other's hands the rest of the way.
"How much time do we have left?" Julia asked her mother while they were leaving Pirates of the Caribbean.
"I think enough to go on the rest of the rides," Beckett told her after glancing at her watch. "Are you tired at all?"
"Not really, I'm just wondering if we have the time for the rides," Julia said.
"Are we going to the Haunted Mansion?" Kathleen asked her mothers.
"Do you kids not want to?" Mary said.
"Not really," Julia said when the other kids turned to her and Peter.
"Yeah I don't think we should go, if we don't have enough time," the teen said. He then looked at his partner and asked, "What should I have said?"
"I think that was good," Julia said. "We all agree," she said firmly before Paul was speaking laughingly to all of them.
"I think we got that," he said. "Though I wonder if we might convince you to go on the Rodger Rabbit ride again."
"I want to!" Eliza exclaimed just as they were starting to walk again.
"Yeah, that's fine," Julia said when her little sister hurried to her.
"Why don't you take them for us?" Skye said.
"I thought you wanted us to stay together?" Beckett asked her friend.
"Maybe just for one ride I don't," Skye replied. "We might head to the Matterhorn."
"Are you going to that place by the water?" Beckett said to her swiftly in Russian.
"I was planning to… I guess we'll have to go somewhere else," Skye said.
"Why don't we just go with the kids?" Beckett said.
"You…" Skye started to say. "You know what, you're right we'll stick together." She then smiled and said, "Are you ready for tomorrow?"
"Yeah, I don't really need to prepare for it to be honest," Beckett said. She glanced sideways at the investigator and asked, "Do you?"
"No, I'm good," Skye replied. She then laughed and said, "To be honest I'm glad it's not my job."
"So am I, having it once was more than enough," Beckett said.
"I'm not surprised," Skye said with a slight laugh before she went over to her family.
"What happened?" Castle asked his wife. He was startled when she stopped him and made him lean down enough so they could kiss before he pressed his forehead to hers for a moment. "Seriously," he said.
Smiling Beckett told him, "Skye and Mary wanted to go to that water under the Monorail." She wasn't surprised to see him about to speak and she said, "I managed to convince her we should stay with the kids."
"Good idea," Castle replied.
"Easy," Beckett told him in Irish. "We'll get to the room and it won't be that late."
"Hopefully," Castle said swiftly before they started to hurry after the others to make it to the ride, just managing to rejoin them at the exit before Skye was walking back to them as she spoke.
"Glad you caught up, the kids want to sit together," the investigator said.
"Who's sitting with an adult?" Beckett asked.
"Julia, Paul asked her to sit with him," Mary said, walking up behind her wife.
"And she agreed," Castle stated instead of asking.
"Natch," Skye said with a smile before they were hurrying after the others.
"Mind sitting with me?" Castle said to his wife.
"I would have mentioned it," Beckett replied. She couldn't help laughing when her husband started to speak just as the safety spiel began and the kids were talking with it. Squeezing his hand, she didn't have a chance to speak to him again until they were going up the second chain lift. "Did you want to sit with one of the girls on the next ride?"
"Oh… sure," Castle said before speaking swiftly. He smiled when his wife was laughing again in the little time before their train was going over the other side and they were holding their hands up. He was yelling so she would laugh again until they were at the end of the ride and he said, "Promise to sit with me again."
"Of course," Beckett replied firmly.
"Star Wars next!" Eliza cried once they were walking away from the ride. She laughed when her father playfully ran after her and picked her up. "Thanks Daddy," she said.
"Wait, go on my back better," Castle told her before he set her down.
"Rick-" Beckett started to say after he'd knelt and let their second youngest climb on his back, thinking of his knee as he stood before he interrupted her.
"I'm fine," Castle said swiftly. "But you?"
"Me what?" Beckett asked.
"I don't think she's tired Daddy," Eliza whispered, her cheek pressed against her father's.
"Neither are we, let's go Castles!" Paul called to them before they all laughed and continued down the path to Galaxy's Edge.
"Is that everything?" Beckett asked Eliza, squeezing her shoulder.
"I think so," the little girl said, looking around her suitcase. "My clothes for tomorrow are out and everything, so I'm ready."
"And tired," Castle commented with a smile when Eliza was yawning.
"I don't want to go to bed," the little girl said.
"But you need to," Beckett said.
"I'm ready," Julia said swiftly when her mother was looking at her. "I don't want to go to sleep either but… I don't want to be tired tomorrow." When she saw her little sister was blinking a little rapidly she said, "The photoshoot?"
"Oh!" Eliza said in surprise. "I forgot."
"I'm not surprised," Beckett said. "And because of that say goodnight to your daddy."
Taking both girls into his embrace, Castle kissed first Julia's cheek and then Eliza's telling them, "I love you two, and I know we're done with the parks, but we have a little more time off."
"And then home," Eliza said.
"Exactly," Castle replied.
"Love you Daddy," Eliza then told him. "Thanks for letting us come for so many days."
"Yeah, thanks for that," Julia said rapidly. "I love you too Dad," she added, not surprised he hugged them again.
"You're very welcome," Castle told them. "And sweet dreams."
Telling their father goodnight with her sister, Julia went to Beckett with Eliza, not surprised their mother was squeezing them tightly. "Love you Mom," she said first.
"Yeah, I love you too Mommy," Eliza added rapidly.
"I love you girls," Beckett told them. She shared a kiss with them both and then said, "And we'll be visiting the Huntington too."
"Tea?" Eliza asked hopefully. She smiled when her sister and their parents were laughing together before their mother let her and Julia go.
"We'll find out, but most likely since Skye, Paul and Stella will be there," Beckett said. "Sweet dreams girls."
"Thanks," Julia said.
"Yeah… time for bed?" Eliza asked before they turned to Castle who was looking out into the living room and speaking to them.
"She's still out," he told them.
"Alright, come on girls," Beckett said, putting her hands on their shoulders and gently guiding them out of the room.
Though she knew their parents wanted them to get onto the couch and bed, Julia held her sister back and shook her head. Turning back to them they watched their father lean over the bed and brush his lips to Josie's head before their mother did the same. As soon as Beckett looked to them once she was done she let go of Eliza and rushed with her to the bed and couch before they were climbing on them in turn. She smiled when her mother tucked her and Josie in first; not saying anything since she knew her sister wouldn't want her to do it even though the baby was asleep. She then watched Eliza being tucked in before she and her little sister whispered goodnight to their parents. Watching them go over to the bedroom, she turned onto her side, watching Josie next to her sleeping for a little before she closed her eyes. Trying not to think about the photoshoot too much, she did her best to fall asleep and luckily did so after three straight days going through the resort.
"Well, I think we can thank the walking for that," Castle commented after he'd closed the door slightly behind himself and Beckett.
"Of course," she replied, taking off her robe. Going to her suitcase, Beckett folded it and put it away before she realized her husband was watching her. "What?"
"Tomorrow morning?" Castle asked.
Smiling Beckett said, "I won't need it." She then reached out to her husband and when he'd walked up to her she wrapped her arms around his neck and said, "We'll have the guesthouse tomorrow."
"I've been trying not to think about that," Castle said. "Not yet," he added firmly. He hugged her tightly to him before their cheeks pressed together and he murmured, "I love you Kate," before she was responding to him swiftly.
"I love you too Rick," Beckett said. She gently rubbed his back and said, "What's wrong?"
"Is it sappy of me to say this is like the greatest dream I've ever had?" Castle asked.
Smiling Beckett shook her head and said, "I know what you mean. More corny than sappy though." She laughed when he lightly pinched her side and she said, "But it isn't a dream you know." She expected him to respond but when there was silence between them for a while she pulled back enough to look at him and asked, "What?"
"I'm very much aware," Castle said firmly.
Feeling a thrill go through her spine at her husband's husky tone, Beckett took his lips when he leaned down to kiss her, sliding her hands up the back of his neck. Gently moving her fingers further into his hair, she was soon pressing fully against his body and she knew they were going to be risking doing something more than that kiss. But he was moving to kiss at her neck a little roughly and she was able to tell him, "We… we should get ready for bed."
"We should but we haven't been able to do this at all today," Castle explained before he moved to kiss her.
"Rick," Beckett breathed when he pulled away. She tilted her head back as he was brushing his lips around her neck before she felt him nuzzling her ear through her hair. "Wait," she said, stopping him regretfully.
"When we're back in the guesthouse…" Castle said, pulling back from her carefully. He smiled when he saw she was biting at her lower lip and said, "I still want you."
"I know, but you need to let me go," Beckett told him before he was responding in a rush.
"We couldn't stay like this a little longer?" Castle said.
Shaking her head with a smile, Beckett brushed her lips to his before she was walking to the bathroom. Brushing her teeth, she glanced at her husband when he walked inside after her and turned her attention back to what she was doing. It wasn't that long after she noticed he wasn't starting and she hurried to rinse her mouth out before asking him, "What're you waiting for?"
"Just watching you," Castle explained.
"Well hurry up," Beckett said teasingly. "I'm going to get into bed on my own."
"No you won't," Castle replied since she was brushing her hair. He then turned his attention to brushing his teeth, trying to do so rapidly before he was finishing and going out into the bedroom after his wife.
"Hurry up," Beckett said firmly.
Nodding, Castle moved to walk around to his side of the bed before he was wrapping his arms around her as soon as he could. Pulling her against him they were kissing deeply and gripping one another tightly. He moved to her neck, kissing at her racing pulse a few times when they'd managed to pull away from each other and he told her, "Tell me to stop Kate."
"I'm only saying it because I have to," Beckett whispered to him. When he pulled back and looked at her she cupped his cheek with her hand before he moved to kiss her again. That time they were gentler and once they were apart she whispered, "Good night my love."
"Night," Castle said.
Beckett wasn't surprised at his tone; tinged a little with regret and they kissed briefly before moving to lay down. Once she was set against his side with her cheek pressed against his shoulder she closed her eyes, doing her best to fall asleep as quickly as she could. Though she couldn't forget about their plans the next day, her dream once she reached it was about her husband. She was dreaming about one day during their relationship the summer it had begun, the second time they'd visited Coney Island at his insistence while she slept serenely in his arms.
"I'm going to tell you again Castle," Beckett was telling her boyfriend. "I'm exhausted."
"You're sure you wouldn't want to go somewhere here?" Castle asked, nodding to the restaurants they were walking by.
"I'm sure," Beckett said in amusement. "Let's just grab a pizza and head back to my place."
"Of course," Castle said before he hailed a cab. They were quiet sitting in the back of the car until they reached the pizza place near her apartment she liked, and he let her head inside while he walked back and forth down the sidewalk. It was on one of his turns he spotted his girlfriend walking out towards him and he paused to take her in. She was on her phone and the breeze was tugging at her blouse and hair, spurring him to take the two pizza boxes before she was continuing her conversation.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Beckett said. "I'm just trying to enjoy this time off as much as I can… Mind if we push that to later on Saturday? It looks like it might rain tonight, they said it was going to rain I mean so I don't really want to get caught in it… Sure, I'll call you tomorrow. Bye Lanie." She hung up and said, "That should keep her at her place."
"Are you sure?" Castle asked.
"She knows I prefer being alone right now," Beckett said. When her boyfriend looked at her in confusion she shook her head and they continued to her apartment. Just as he was setting down the boxes she heard a loud rumble and said, "And luckily they were right."
"I forgot to ask you, why two?" Castle said, getting two plates.
"Hold on," Beckett told him. "Can you put those away? I want to take a quick shower."
"Sure," Castle said, hurrying to do so while she was making her wait to her bedroom. As soon as he finished he was nearly running after her before he had to do his best not to run into her.
"What're you doing?" Beckett asked in surprise.
"I need a shower too," Castle said, wondering what exactly she would say to what was obviously a proposition.
"Alright," Beckett said with a nod before she pulled off her blouse and went into the bathroom. She heard his clothing rustling after her and she turned to him before he was gathering her in his arms and kissing her roughly. Responding to his eagerness, she caressed his back and shoulders until they were forcing themselves apart and slipping inside her shower before the water ran down them both. She closed her eyes tightly while he kissed around her collarbone and then neck before he was murmuring against her lips.
"I want you Kate," Castle told her roughly.
"Please," Beckett moaned since his hands were sliding over her body at the same time. His lips took hers again and she felt his hands on the small of her back pressing on it before he was cupping her ass. "Castle," she gasped when he pressed her harder against him.
Moving to her neck, Castle proceeded to kiss around it, going to her jaw and gently nipping at it before he moved to pick her up. It took little time for him to slide within her and they were groaning together in pleasure at the sensation. Sheathed in her fully, he kissed her hard and proceeded to thrust as hard as he could, feeling a thrill at their bodies moving together and her cries in response to him.
Calling his name while she climaxed, Beckett found her body weak once he was setting her down and she kept her arms around his neck. She kissed him deeply before he could let her go, and they were doing that for some time under the rushing water until they slowly let one another go. She let him wash her, aware in the short time they'd been together how much he enjoyed doing it. Repeating the same thing for him, she could see why he enjoyed it too and didn't stop until he was gently pulling her hand away. After taking his kiss she told him, "We're done."
"I agree," Castle said with a nod before he turned off the water and they went to the door.
Dry and dressed again, Beckett led the way to her kitchen and got a bottle of wine while her boyfriend was getting the plates he'd discarded and the pizzas. "Not both," she told him, smiling when he looked at her in surprise for a moment before he spoke rapidly.
"Breakfast?" Castle suggested.
"Spoken like a bachelor; lunch," Beckett replied, pouring out wine into the glasses she'd set out as well.
"Oh, sure," Castle said quickly before he looked at the top one.
"Your pick," Beckett said as she watched him. "You're my guest."
Bringing the olive, tomato and prosciutto one with him Castle said, "Does that count if I'm sleeping in your bed?"
"You assume," Beckett told him teasingly. She couldn't help laughing when he shrugged and sat on the floor in front of her coffee table with him.
"Sláinte," Castle told her before they tapped their glasses together. They ate and drank for a little in silence before he asked, "Can I ask you about tomorrow?"
"I wasn't intending to eat that entire pizza by myself," Beckett commented, glancing sideways at him.
"Great, it looked good," Castle said swiftly, smiling when she laughed softly. He leaned over to her, gently brushing his lips to her before she was cupping his cheek and kissing him a little harder. "What…" he started to say before he paused. "What did you want to do tomorrow if I'm staying?"
"We'll figure that out tomorrow," Beckett said firmly. "But since you have no reason to leave…" At the shake of his head she smiled and told him, "Then I think we should have dinner together too."
"We're in agreement," Castle said before he was kissing her again. When they'd parted he told her, "Do you want to watch a movie after we're done?"
"No," Beckett said simply. She was looking at her next slice of pizza while she spoke, but she still sensed her boyfriend tensing up at her word and how sternly she'd spoken it. They were quiet after that, focusing on their food and every so often touching each other lightly. Even with how gently those brushes were made, she found herself becoming aroused again. And when he was pressing against her deliberately while he proceeded to kiss around her shoulders through her blouse she literally snapped.
"The dish-" Castle started to say when she took the one he'd been about to rinse. Her arms tugging at him interrupted him, but he didn't protest as they were kissing hungrily. He slid his hands under her blouse and felt a thrill that she wanted him badly enough to raise her leg and rub against him. "Come on," he managed to nearly gasp out, pulling her with him to her bedroom. He helped her with her blouse and was about to reach for her bra when she stopped him.
"Take your clothes off," Beckett said with a smile. "You'll need them tomorrow."
Castle was about to remind her he had another outfit in the bag on her armchair in the corner when he remembered he did need both intact for two days. A second after that he realized she was thinking of being dressed the next day and he said, "Sure."
"What's wrong?" Beckett asked him. "Castle," she said firmly when he shook his head and began unbuttoning his shirt.
"I want to spend tomorrow in bed with you," he said a little angrily. "I have no idea if you do too but-" he was about to say when her hand covering his mouth shocked him into stopping before she was talking.
"I should have worded that differently," Beckett said with a smile. "You'll need those clothes for our meals."
"Okay," Castle said rapidly before he was about to gather her into his arms.
"Not yet," Beckett said with a smile. "Clothes," she then added when her boyfriend looked at her in confusion.
"Right," Castle said, looking down at himself. That shook him to move then, unbuttoning his shirt and pulling it off before he folded it carefully but as fast as he could to put it away. He then did the same with his pants and boxers before turning to his girlfriend and finding that she was bared to him before he scooped her up into his arms and laid her on the bed.
Beckett felt her desire becoming uncontrollable while her boyfriend was caressing her roughly. She returned the favor and allowed him to lay her back before she was sliding her hands down his body. His kiss then clued her in on how much he wanted her, and she was responding as eagerly as she could before he pulled away. While he was suckling at her breasts she moaned and clung to him, sliding her fingers through his hair before he was going to her lips. "Castle," she whispered before he was capturing her lips with his. "Make love to me," she begged him when he pulled away again.
"Always," Castle said before he moved and sank inside her body to her cry of joy.
Wrapping her legs and arms around him, Beckett helped him with their lovemaking, moving with him and encouraging him. She knew they wouldn't be able to stop and thinking of that spurred her to work a little harder against him, to prolong their intimacy and give ecstasy to them both while the summer storm continued outside.