Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured on the show Castle, they belong to the creator of the show, ABC and the others who do own them.
A/N #1: I was happy to get the feedback for the last chapter so I'll get started on my thank yous for that! TORONTOSUN (It was great to see you thought the last chapter was very good writing!) and
Mb (Glad you liked them enjoying themselves at the park. And I'm not surprised you thought it made sense that Marie might take after Skye in investigating for the NTSB but I'm also glad it does too, lol. Great you thought it was good she had the curiosity and spark seeing what her mom does and looking into it too. I laughed at you saying it helps knowing the park as well as Skye and Mary do, I know it that well to so you're definitely right about that. And not surprised you're still jealous of the great vacations, lol, I am too definitely. Great to see you thought the second half of the chapter was nicely done. And I was glad you loved seeing them together, relaxed and enjoying themselves along with them having fun together too. It was great to read you loved Peter, Julia and Eliza were being recognized for their dancing and Julia's writing too. I'm not surprised you thought the flashbacks were nice of Castle and Beckett early in their relationship, that was fun to write. I was pleased seeing you thought the chapter was nicely done you said it twice, great to hear! And thank you, have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family too! You're welcome for sharing the second half of the chapter!).
Thanks for the reviews, I enjoyed reading them and I appreciated the time taken to write them out and send them my way!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Pretty Boys written by Paul McCartney, from his album McCartney III.
The Camera Loves You
"Mommy, Daddy, do you know where we're going to take the pictures?" Eliza asked her parents when the car stopped.
"No, I asked Skye, but she doesn't know either," Beckett replied.
"Is it a surprise?" Peter asked.
"No, they might not have chosen where they're going to have it yet," Beckett answered.
"Hello, hello," Skye said once they'd stepped out of the car next to the Castles.
"We just saw you," Castle told her jokingly. He laughed when she stuck her tongue out at him and then said, "We're ready if you're wondering."
"She is," Mary commented. "And Stella called her, we're going to the Rose Garden."
"Why am I not surprised," Castle commented.
"You don't like the idea?" Skye asked him while they were walking to the entrance of the Huntington.
"Oh no, I do, I'm just saying I'm not surprised," Castle replied. He then smiled and said, "Any clue to the clothes?"
"Why would she tell me that?" Skye asked jokingly.
"Just saying," Castle said with a shrug.
"Come on," Beckett told him, taking him by the arm. When they got to the ticket booths she wasn't surprised someone was there to meet them and lead them through to the gardens.
"Ms. McCartney is down this path," the man told them.
"Great we know the way," Skye said with a nod. When they were on their own she said, "I thought there would be tents."
"For changing?" Marie asked.
"Yeah, looks like we're changing out in the open," Skye commented.
"I don't think they believed you grá," Mary told her when none of the kids reacted.
"Yeah…" Skye said, pretending to be annoyed before she smiled as Iris hugged her tightly. They were nearing a group of people there before someone walked to them and she said, "Great to see you again."
"Likewise," Stella said, hugging her first. She did the same with Mary, Beckett and Castle before she turned her attention to the kids. "How do you all feel about posing? They grew up a lot," she said, telling the last to the parents.
"We know," Castle said. "And we're ready to go, but we're still curious about where you're making us change?"
"They're letting us off the restaurant here," Stella answered. "And I'd like the kids to pose first; so they won't get rambunctious."
"We can go with them?" Beckett asked.
"I'll join you so I can tell you what I want for Josie," Stella replied.
"I thought it was just wearing one outfit," Castle said sharing a look with Beckett.
"I'd like her to be with you while you're wearing your gowns," Stella said, about to say more when the two were speaking first.
"You do?" Castle and Beckett said at the same time before they were looking at each other.
"I can't say I'll use it for sure," Stella answered. "But I'd like to attempt it." When the two nodded she said, "Then we can start."
"We'll be back," Beckett said.
"There's a separate area for the men," Stella called after them since someone working with the photographer had walked to the group to lead them. She was about to turn to Jim and Martha to greet them when she heard a familiar voice calling to her behind them.
"Will you be okay?" Castle asked Peter when they were shown to the room they'd be using.
"Sure," the teen replied. "Um… there's no one else here for this right?"
"Let me check," Castle said in amusement before he opened the door and peeked inside. "No, just us."
"Does that make you mad?" Peter asked.
"No, you?" Castle asked.
"No," Peter said slowly.
"Do you know what we're talking about?" Castle said in amusement. He watched the teen rush inside before closing the door with a chuckle, turning to find his father-in-law and Paul behind him, making him jump. "Hey… great to see you made it," he told the singer.
"Odd conversation," Paul said.
"I think he just thought of the idea of having kids with Eve," Castle said. "Which is weird, I hadn't intended to do that, but I know he was referencing I'll be the only guy…"
"Hold on, hold on," Paul said, stopping him. He smiled when the writer looked startled and explained, "She's already done a photo back in England for her boys' clothes; what she has for Peter are the most recent items she made."
"Hi," Peter said, stepping out then. "How does it look?" he asked the three.
"Here," Castle said, fixing the collar of the polo shirt. "Comfortable?"
"It is," Peter said. "The shorts are nice too. I love the pockets," he added while he was studying them, looking up when Beckett's father was directing a question to him.
"How do you like the outfit?" Jim said.
"It's nice, the material is really soft," Peter said, looking down at himself again. "The shirt," he added quickly.
"Come on," Castle said, trying to see where the photographic equipment was. "I'm sure the girls are ready now." He walked after the teen, his father-in-law and Paul walking with him and he said to the singer, "Get everything set?"
"Yeah, dinner reservations are ready," Paul replied. "And I really hope you don't mind."
"I think Skye and Mary wanted to stay in and cook," Castle said. "Kate and I will help them, but I think we're all ready to stay in tonight."
"Tomorrow," Paul said.
"Is Saturday," Castle answered. He smiled at the way the singer frowned at him before he said, "Sorry, I tend to do that."
"That's alright, I have to," Paul said. "Will Julia mind us heading to dinner with Stella tonight?"
"No," Jim said before his son in law could answer. "But you were asking about tomorrow."
"I think that's still the plan; Skye and Mary want to take us to the Promenade and Pier," Castle replied.
"Not us, the girls," Skye herself was saying when they were meeting the four. "Hopefully you don't mind that."
"No, just making sure," Paul said. He smiled at the girls and said, "You all look ready for summer."
"You're not cold are you?" Stella asked, having walked to them swiftly. She smiled when they all nearly said no at the same time and then said, "Any problems with the fit?"
"We weren't sure about Fleur's pants," Skye said, not surprised the designer hurried over. "If you wanted them that long," watching Stella moving the fabric before she spoke.
"They're supposed to be rolled up," the designer replied. "Cuffs," she added. "Anything else?" she asked, looking at the others. When the girls were saying no she went to Peter and checked on his shirt before Stella said, "Okay, come with me and we'll go to Emily to see where you'll stand."
With the others starting to walk, Castle rushed to his wife and took Josie from her telling the baby, "You look very pretty sweetie," since her outfit was a tunic top and leggings. "She must have been thinking of your eyes," he added, the leggings a near cobalt blue. He kissed her cheek and said, "What do you think?"
When the baby didn't say anything, Josie was smiling since her parents began to laugh and she said, "Go pay?"
"Play," Beckett said before glancing over where the others were gathered. "I think you are."
Castle looked at his wife in surprise before she was pointing down the garden and he saw some of the kids using wands to blow bubbles already. He turned his attention to Josie while they were starting to walk already and he said, "I think you get to blow some bubbles," before she was replying immediately.
"Want go Dada," Josie said.
"Right now," Beckett replied before they were hurrying to join the others.
"I think," the photographer said as Castle was putting Josie down on the grass. "You should let the baby go wherever she wants." Emily smiled and said, "As long as she stays here," since Josie was trying to go to the rose bushes near them.
"Wait Josa," Eliza said, hurrying over to her and taking her hand.
"Flow," Josie protested.
"After this, I promise," Julia said, joining her little sister to get the baby's hands and pull her back.
"Let her try to get bubbles or something like that," Stella said. "My kids would be distracted by that when they were little."
"She's right," Paul said.
"We can do that," Eliza said.
"The rest of you guys do what you'd like," Emily said, talking to the other kids.
"We don't have to pose?" Peter asked, trying not to let the nervousness seep into his tone though he wasn't successful.
"First time doing this?" Emily said. When he nodded he said, "Don't worry, these pictures are going to be whatever we can get of you guys doing. We'll get something."
Watching the kids starting to play with the bubble wands, Stella couldn't help calling to them, "You can talk."
"Good thing she said," Castle murmured to his wife.
Nodding, Beckett was smiling as she watched Josie, her big sisters distracting her with the bubbles they were producing waving the wands around. She glanced at the photographer, wondering how long the kids would have to continue before she was speaking to them.
"Okay, that's enough kids," Emily called. "Great job, I think we have a lot to choose from."
"Do we have to change?" Kathleen asked.
"You should," Stella replied. "But Julia and Josie will have something else to change into shortly."
"They can change back into their clothes they were wearing when we came in," Beckett said quickly. "I'll take them."
"And change into your first outfit," Stella said rapidly. "They're marked with your names and number."
Nodding, Beckett picked Josie up and took her with the others as they made their way back to the changing rooms. "Sweetie," she directed to Eliza while they were starting to change. "Can you hold Josie when I'm done with her?"
"Yeah, does that mean we can stay here and see what you're gonna wear?" Eliza asked rapidly.
"Yes," Beckett said with a smile. She got Josie back in her regular clothes before handing her to Eliza who'd finished. "Are you okay?" she directed to Julia after taking off her clothes.
"I am, a little nervous about the gown," the teen replied. "Mine… you're sure she won't have it have a bust or anything?"
"We're sure, I told her," Skye called from the other curtained off area in the room.
Laughing with her mother and sisters Julia then said, "Then I guess I'm not anymore," turning to Eliza as she spoke.
"Lucky," the little girl said. "Are you Mommy?"
"No," Beckett said with a laugh. "Help me," she said to Julia.
Pulling up the zipper on the back of her mother's dress she said, "It's really pretty fabric Mom."
"And what you don't really like," Eliza said.
Smiling as she turned to her daughters Beckett said, "It's why I'm not taking this back." She turned to the garment bag the dress had been in and pulled out the jacket in it, studying it for a moment.
"Are you going to wear that?" Julia asked her.
"I have to," Beckett replied though she wasn't looking forward to it. After slipping it on she turned to her daughters and was surprised to find Julia and Eliza were whispering to each other. "No?" she asked them.
"I think it's beautiful," Eliza said.
"And we both agreed, you need a hat," Julia said.
Smiling, Beckett shook her head and said, "I don't think so."
"What if Stella wants you to?" Eliza asked while her mother took Josie from her.
"Then I will, but let's see what she wants," Beckett said before pushing the sheet aside.
"Ah, I was wondering what they were talking about," Skye said as the four stepped out. "And they may be right Kate; a hat wouldn't be that bad."
"Again; it depends on Stella," Beckett said firmly before they were walking outside. She wasn't surprised the designer was there and she was checking over the outfits she, Skye and Mary wore before she spoke.
"You all look great," Stella told them. "But I wonder about you."
Beckett wanted to ask about the jacket but held back before the designer was going into the changing room and she did her best not to groan before her husband was walking out to them. She immediately hurried over to him when he was smiling and stopping her as she took his hand.
"You look beautiful love," Castle said.
"Thank you, you look great," Beckett replied.
"Where's Stella?" Castle asked, looking around.
"Getting me… another jacket," Beckett said, startled.
"You didn't ask her to get it?" Castle asked in surprise.
"No, to be honest I'm not sure about wearing one anyway," Beckett replied with a slight frown.
"It's not that bad," Castle told her. "But you know what you could wear with that ensemble? A nice hat. What kind I don't know but…" he began to say before he trailed off realizing his wife was laughing.
"Sorry, Julia and Eliza said the same thing," Beckett replied. She was going to say more before she noticed Stella had disappeared inside the building again. "Okay, maybe not…" she started to say.
Glancing at his wife when she groaned and turned away Castle told her, "Do you have to necessarily wear that?" As she turned to him he suggested, "Hold it?"
"I'll ask her," Beckett said with a heavy sigh before he was taking her hand and kissing her gently.
"Either way you look amazing," Castle told her seriously.
"Thank you," Beckett replied. "And I meant what I said about you," she added, smiling at him before they were kissing gently. After they'd parted they walked to the others and she spoke seriously with Stella about both the jackets and hats. She tried the other jacket on and the hat at the same time before the designer was nodding.
"I see what you mean," Stella told her. "Maybe not the jacket but I would like the hat to be included, it seems like it goes well with the fabric." She studied it and the writer before she said, "Go and get your makeup done, we'll test that with Emily."
Julia waved to her parents with her little sisters after they looked to them and was turning to her grandparents to ask them about looking at the roses before she froze. She realized her eyes weren't playing tricks on her and let out a joyful cry before running down the grass.
"Julia-" Martha started to say in surprise before she cut herself off while the teen was throwing herself at the man in front of the group and speaking happily to all of them.
"What are you doing here?" Julia asked. "I'm happy to see you but…"
"So Skye didn't tell you?" Zak asked.
"Nope," Julia replied before she went to Aaron and hugged him quickly, doing the same with Billy and Jay. "So really, why?"
"We went to the Million Dollar Theater," Zak said. "That was our last investigation of the season."
"And you called Skye?" Julia asked while she walked back to the others with the men.
"I did," Aaron said. "I wanted to see her again; have her come to the theater with us but she was busy."
"We all were," Julia replied before they'd reached everyone else. "Look who's here," she said with a smile.
"Hi," Eliza said, holding her hand out to Zak.
"You can hug him you know," Julia whispered.
Zak was about to speak when the little girl threw her arms around him and squeezed, making him laugh before he embraced her and watched her stepping back. "You got taller," he said with a smile.
"Thanks, Josa did too," Eliza said. She looked at them and said, "You're okay."
"I was going to say," Julia said, nodding in agreement.
"You've made it, great," Skye said, walking quickly to them.
"That's… not an outfit I expected on you," Zak said, pausing to tease her.
"Give over," Skye said in a teasing tone before she was hugging the four men. "But I wasn't expecting you to get here so soon."
"We were bored," Billy said.
"Oh, that means you were," Skye said to Zak jokingly. She watched her wife, Beckett and Castle greeting them and said, "How was it?"
"Good, I'm not saying anything else; you need to watch the show," Zak said.
"We'll talk about that, but we have to go so I really hope you don't mind waiting," Skye said.
Beckett wasn't surprised when the four men were shaking their heads before they were hurrying to go to Stella and Emily before they were beginning to take their photos. She was relieved when she only held the hat against her leg so the bodice design with the white and blue floral material wasn't blocked. The next two pictures went swiftly, and the outfits were ones she enjoyed more, the first a tunic top in a deep blue with white embroidery at the neckline and hems of the sleeves with white Capri pants. The second was a white graphic t-shirt with horses in grays and pale blues with a looser jacket she pushed the sleeves of up to her elbows and jeans the designer had for the summer line. After those two outfits were set, Julia was walking with her and Eliza back to the changing rooms and she said, "It's time sweetie."
"I know," the teen replied simply before her mother was hugging her tightly and speaking again.
"You'll look great," Beckett assured her. "Want to change first?"
"Sure," Julia said softly.
"You'll look great Julia," Skye suddenly called.
"Are you helping Mary?" Becket asked in surprise while she and her daughter looked at each other, wondering what the two women were going to do.
"You must not have heard," Skye said, amusement. "Stella wants me to wear this suit she designed so I'm with you… I guess so it doesn't look like Rick's with you both… which is great because I don't want people thinking that."
"B-" Julia started to say before her mother was speaking over her.
"I appreciate that," Beckett said. She smiled at her daughter and murmured to her, "They want to be sure people know they're together."
"Mama!" Josie said.
"Is she mad?" Julia asked, turning immediately to the baby.
"She just wants attention," Beckett said while she picked up the baby. "Start sweetie."
Julia nodded and took off her clothes while she listened to her mother distracting Josie before she said, "I don't need you to help me put it on."
"I didn't think I did," Beckett replied in amusement before she looked up at the sound of the dress rustling.
"It is pretty," Julia said, smiling at her mother before she was adjusting the sleeves.
"I have to put you down," Beckett said to the baby. She kissed her cheek and after setting Josie down, went over to Julia and zipped up the back of the dress. Making her turn around, she smiled at her daughter and gently hugged her saying, "You look so grown up."
"Thanks," Julia said, feeling pleasure at her mother's words and embrace. She squeezed her back before pulling away and telling her, "Change so we can see yours now."
"Alright, keep an eye on Josie," Beckett said, turning to the baby. "Sweetie," she said in amusement before Julia was speaking quickly while she walked over to her baby sister.
"My shirt isn't for you to wear," Julia told Josie teasingly. She wasn't surprised when her sister hugged her, and she returned it before their mother was calling to her. "It looks really beautiful Mom," she told her while she zipped up her dress. "Josa agrees," she said when she spotted the baby next to her.
"Thank you, let me get Josie ready," Beckett said in a rush. She easily got the baby changed into the sundress Stella had given them and carried her out to the entrance of the room where they met the McDouglas women.
"Nice, you three look great," Skye said first.
"You too," Julia said hurriedly to the investigator.
"Oh you like it?" Skye asked, turning playfully. She then slipped on her blazer that went with her women's cut tuxedo and said, "At least the bow tie is loose again."
"I'm not surprised," Beckett told her.
"We'd better head out, Stella and Emily will be waiting for us," Skye replied before she was the first out.
Julia frowned then, as she'd wanted to ask the investigator if the GAC men would be staying with them that day before she heard Skye talking to her father.
"They're on their way out," the investigator said to the writer.
"Stella's being patient," Castle said when she and Mary passed him. "You look great."
"Thank you," Mary called.
Turning back ahead of him, Castle sucked in a breath when he spotted his wife first and stepped forward before Julia was tugging back Josie. "Girls-" he began before Beckett was grabbing him. When he turned to her he was startled as she was pulling him down to her but went willingly before they were kissing deeply. Wrapping his arms around her he was pulling her close before they were slowly parting and he said, "You look incredible."
"So do you," Beckett said with a smile, speaking in Irish as he had. They brushed their lips together and she told him, "We need to stop though; I don't know what the girls are doing," not surprised Julia was pulling Josie out.
"We're just waiting," the teen said, smiling at them. "So we can go?" she asked before she was gasping as her father gathered her and Josie into his arms.
"You two look beautiful," Castle told them while he gently squeezed them. "And too grown up."
"Change?" Julia asked with a smile.
"No, get your makeup done," Castle said swiftly before the teen was giggling, her baby sister following. He kissed the sides of their heads and told them, "But we should go before Stella's calling us." After Julia took Josie's hand he went to his wife, taking hers before they were following their daughters.
"I see you Rick," Beckett said, glancing out of the corner of her eye at him. When he merely nodded she laughed briefly and turned her attention to the tent set up for hair and makeup before they were taking turns. She held Josie on her lap while the makeup artist was only making sure the baby wouldn't need anything before turning her attention to herself. While the woman was touching up her makeup she wasn't surprised when Josie started to pat the flowers that made up the fabric on her dress and hugged her a little closer. She was enjoying the gown as the sleeves were capped and the bodice was hugging her skin though the fabric was incredibly light. The floral pattern was in paler blues and yellows though she wasn't surprised when Josie touched the blue ones since they were more prominent, and she smiled at the baby before Julia walked up to her and was talking quietly.
"I don't have to put that much makeup on do I?" the teen was asking.
"You better not," Castle said, having heard that.
"I'll tell them," Beckett told Julia firmly. She was finished soon after and she let Castle take Josie before she stood. While Julia and Mary were sitting down she turned her attention to her husband, gently fixing the lapel of his blazer for his lighter grey suit.
"You like the color?" Castle asked her.
"Of course," Beckett replied with a smile. She then turned towards their daughter to check on her and said, "I didn't say-"
"Mary did," Skye interrupted. "Bit occupied?"
"Quiet," Beckett said in slight embarrassment since she'd told her daughter she would speak to the makeup artist.
"I don't mind," Castle said, watching Skye walking away from them before he turned to his wife with a smile. He was about to speak when she stopped him, tugging him away from the tent to his surprise before she stopped them at the end of the arbor of roses and explained why she'd done that.
"I would have done this before we went in there," Beckett told her husband. "But since I didn't I'm just going to do this," before she was embracing him tightly and pressing close to him.
Relieved Josie had insisted staying with her big sister, Castle held his wife tightly to him before he pressed a kiss to her temple. "I half want you to keep this dress," he told her.
Laughing softly, Beckett shook her head and said, "It's not my type."
"That's why I said half," Castle replied, pulling away when he could hear voices in the distance. "I guess that's it for that."
"For now," Beckett said simply. She wasn't surprised when her husband squeezed her hand in passing and they went to the McDouglases and their daughters to go back out to the garden.
"Skye?" Julia said as she walked over to the investigator.
"What's wrong?" she asked immediately.
"Nothing, I'm just wondering about Zak and the others," Julia said.
"They finished filming their season," Skye said simply.
"I know that," Julia replied. "But… are they staying or just for the day?"
"You know, I didn't ask them," Skye said.
"Mum!" Marie protested.
"Alright," Skye said with a smile. "Sorry, I was going to ask them to make sure about tomorrow. But they're staying with us."
"At your house?" Castle asked, walking by them and pausing.
"They are, there's enough room," Skye commented.
"We're sharing," Billy said.
"Beds?" Peter said slowly.
"We have air mattresses," Mary added as they were gathering outside the Desert Garden they'd just walked through. "So we just needed two rooms for them."
"I like it better than a hotel," Aaron replied. "Unless you guys are going to throw a party," he said to the kids, smiling when they laughed before Iris was responding.
"No, we'd get in trouble," the little girl said with a smile. "So we'll just sleep."
"And apparently we're going out tomorrow too," Peter said.
"You know already," Eliza said.
"Yeah, just teasing the grownups," Peter replied before he was laughing when the little girl reached out to give him a high five.
"Are you coming with us for that?" Kathleen asked the four.
"Someone mentioned we needed to relax after our season filming," Jay said.
"And I'm not turning from that," Skye said teasingly before her wife was quickly adding to that.
"Neither am I," Mary said.
"I think we have to listen to them," Billy said with a smile.
"Yeah, we're staying," Zak said. "Though just until Monday."
"That's fine," Skye replied, not surprised to see her wife shrugging next to her out of the corner of her eye.
"So… I see buildings up there, are we finished?" Zak asked.
"Hey, what about a gift shop? There's gotta be-" Aaron started to say before someone was grabbing his arm.
"There's one more thing," Eliza said, pointing.
"The house… I thought it was closed," Jay commented before they began walking to it.
"Surprise, it's open," Skye told the four men.
"Are we doing an investigation?" Zak asked.
"No," Beckett said, not surprised when everyone turned to her. She was distracted then by Josie tugging on the bottom of her blouse and put the baby on her hip before she said, "We've been in here before. There isn't much."
"She's right," Skye swiftly took up.
"Maybe residual footsteps but nothing negative or demonic," Castle added.
"That's a big maybe, I don't think I ever heard anything," Julia said, not surprised when the four men turned to her. "They could be there though, sometimes you feel like someone's watching you… Mrs. Huntington I think in the upstairs rooms and dining room. But I would leave them alone, they're happy with things the way they are."
"Really?" Billy asked.
"They loved art and donated the house and property to the public," Mary said. "It was in their will."
"You'll be able to tell," Eliza said.
"How're you doing?" Zak asked while they walked up to the front of the house going around it to do so.
"I'm good," Eliza said in confusion.
"I think he meant in your abilities," Peter whispered to her.
"Oh! Um, fine, Jules has more than I do I think," Eliza said a little shyly. "She saw a girl in Hawaii and fainted," she added, not surprised when her mother was talking to the men quickly.
"It was brief," Beckett said. "And she was fine after."
"Yeah, and it was a Hawaiian woman," Julia said, letting her parents explain where they'd been when it had happened.
"I've heard of that place," Jay said. "And it wasn't negative."
"Nope," Julia said immediately. "More she surprised me, and I lost control. But my grandmothers were there and that's why I woke up pretty quick after that happened."
Looking at the teen's mother, who nodded, Zak then said, "I'm glad you're okay."
"Thanks," Julia replied, not surprised when they began walking through the first floor of the home. She smiled at the men's reactions when they got into the dining room and she told them, "You sense it too."
"Yeah, it's hard not to," Aaron said first. "They had money."
"A lot of money," Castle said. "His uncle was in the railroad business back in the eighteen hundreds of this state."
"And he inherited," Zak stated. When the writer nodded he glanced at Skye and Mary before they were both sharing a look and smiling.
"We've kept something back," Skye said. "And I'm not blaming my wife, but she doesn't want to relive it."
"I thought you said there wasn't anything negative," Zak said immediately as he started to frown.
"It wasn't, it was overwhelming," Skye said.
"She let Mrs. Huntington jump her, take her over," Mary said. "It was after we were engaged but before our wedding. We were here on our own and in this room when it happened. I had no idea it did, only that Skye was going from here, to the staircase and to what had been her bedroom when she was alive."
"I was fine, but we had to go down to the first floor in the elevator and I had to rest outside," Skye said. She looked at her wife and said firmly, "I was fine; it was rougher when Freddie did it," not surprised when Billy was saying why that was.
"He was a lot more energized," the man said.
"Which isn't a surprise," Skye commented. "But I'm fine now so we should keep going."
"Grá," Mary told her wife while they were waiting for the others to leave the room first.
"I am fine," Skye said firmly. "So don't worry."
"I'm not, I just want to make sure you won't do that again," Mary replied.
"I'm going to try not to if she makes an appearance," Skye said while they were catching up to Castle and Beckett. "Don't give me that look," she said teasingly to their friends. "I don't think she'll be showing up really, too many people."
"I'm more worried for Julia's sake," Beckett told her.
"Oh I was aware of that already," Skye said. She watched Beckett taking a picture of one of the sculptures they'd come up to. "But you don't have to worry."
"What-" Castle started to say before the sound of the investigator's phone sounding her alert interrupted him.
"It's a weather alert," Skye said. "Damn, we'll have to hurry through here," she told the writers and her wife. "That storm they said was weakening seems to have picked back up; it'll get to the house in an hour."
"So we're leaving?" Zak asked, having walked back to them.
"We can keep going but we'll have to walk a little faster," Skye replied before they were going after the rest of the group.
"Should we tell the kids?" Castle asked his wife while they were eventually making their way up the staircase.
"Once we're finished here," Beckett said with a nod. She kept an eye on the girls while they were going through the rooms on the second floor and was relieved when they were fine once they left the house. She wasn't surprised they were but as her husband squeezed her hand she smiled at him aware he was thinking the same.
"Gift shop!" Aaron said. "Please tell me there's one."
"Yeah," Marie said when they'd calmed down after laughing. "But it might be a little fancier than places you go for lockdown."
"Will they have coffee mugs?" Aaron asked.
"They do," Jim said.
"Candy," Aaron stated. He pretended to frown when the kids were shaking their heads before he said, "Postcards," smiling when Julia was first to respond.
"They have those; I got them last time we were here and sent them to pen pals," the teen said.
"Great, let's go," Aaron said before he was looking around.
"This way," Fleur said with a smile before she was directing him.
"Can we see what you get?" Eliza asked, walking with Aaron.
"Yeah, help me out with the mugs and postcards," he told the kids.
Castle wasn't surprised when they were promising they would, and he laughed at the way Zak was shaking his head. He felt his wife's hand slipping into his own and he squeezed it firmly before he set Josie down to let her walk in between them until they were walking inside the store.
"And there it is," Billy said, stepping up behind the kids where they were standing under the patio.
"The storm?" Ivy asked him.
"Yeah," Billy replied. He was about to speak again when there was the loud rumble of thunder and he tried to calm the two youngest as Iris and Eliza cried out and ran inside the house.
"It's alright," Beckett said when Eliza was clinging to her.
"It was loud Mommy," the little girl said.
"I know, but it's just thunder," Beckett said.
"Oh, lightning too," Zak said at the flash outside.
"No ghost stories," Skye told him teasingly while she locked the sliding door after the rest of the kids had walked inside.
"Where's Josa?" Julia said suddenly.
"You don't have her?" Castle asked his mother.
"No, she wanted to look out the door," Martha said.
"Josie," Beckett called, hurrying to the stairs. Looking up she didn't see the baby and then hurried down the hall to the entry while her husband and Zak were going out to the patio. She soon spotted the baby, looking out the bay floor to ceiling windows in the living room while she was holding onto one of the armchairs there. "Sweetie," she said, hurrying over to her. "I found her," she called back so her husband and the paranormal investigator would go back inside. "You're supposed to stay with us," she told her youngest while she picked her up.
There was a flash from lightning and Josie cooed before she told her mother, "Light Mama."
"I saw sweetie," Beckett told her, kissing her. "You're not scared." She smiled when her daughter's response was to stare at her, and she kissed her temple before walking to the family room.
"Hey, why didn't you tell us you wanted to leave?" Castle said, trying to hide his relief the baby was okay as he took her from his wife. Kissing her gently he asked Beckett, "What was she doing?"
"Looking outside at the storm," Beckett answered.
"Really," Castle said, turning to the backyard. "She hasn't been crying," he said when there was lightning and thunder after that.
"No, I think she's interested," Beckett replied with a smile.
"Like you Katie," Jim said. When the others were quickly looking at him he explained, "She would do the same when there were storms. Her bed was next to the window in her room, and she'd spend nights watching the lightning and rain."
"I did that too… sorta," Eliza said before she frowned.
"I wouldn't worry," Martha said, squeezing the little girl's shoulder. "Most are scared by thunder and lightning."
"I used to be," Iris said, raising her hand.
"You aren't still?" Eliza asked.
"Little bit," Iris said before she felt someone hugging her tightly and smiled before her mother spoke to her tenderly.
"You're allowed you know," Mary said with a smile, squeezed her against her side.
"What are we going to do now though?" Ivy asked after making sure her twin was okay.
"You have some indoor games you know," Skye said, watching them.
"Are you starting dinner?" Castle asked the investigator.
"I am," Skye replied.
"You mean we are," Mary said. "You'll be okay girls?"
"Yeah," Marie said, already walking to the hall closet with her twin.
"What do you guys have?" Peter asked.
"Basically the same games Julia has," Kathleen said, smiling at the teen.
"I'm not surprised," Julia said, smiling back at her. She turned her attention to the games inside the closet and said, "Which one though?"
"I figured we'd get one for the smaller kids to play too," Marie said. "And one for us older kids?"
"You think your parents would be okay with that? All four of them?" Peter pointed out.
"Well…" Marie began to say.
"Why not just get the Connect Four game? We can have a tournament or something," Peter replied.
"Or just take turns with the younger kids before we go?" Kathleen asked, startled when Julia snorted.
"Sorry," the teen said quickly. "I was just thinking of Lizzy, there's no way she's going to want someone to help her."
"That's true, Ivy and Iris won't," Marie said to her sister. "Can you guys help us carry this?" she then said before they were all grabbing a side and going back to the family room.
"You have that game?" Eliza asked eagerly when she spotted it.
"Yeah, we thought it was great when we played it at your house," Skye called from the kitchen.
"We'll watch them," Jim told his daughter since he could see she wanted to go to the kitchen.
"Thank you," Beckett said before she was walking over to the island.
"No you don't need to help," Skye said.
"Are you sure," Castle said, stepping up behind his wife and lightly touching her back. "You look to be making individual pizzas."
"And we'd like Josie to get to bed before ten," Beckett said jokingly.
"Alright, fine," Skye said. "But we're doing this under duress because we're short on time."
"What do you need?" Castle asked, going to the investigator.
"Don't start tossing those around Rick," Beckett told her husband teasingly while she went over to Mary where she was chopping vegetables.
"Hey, I'm not that bad," Castle said as he started on rolling out some dough for a crust.
"You want to tell that to the ceiling back at home?" Beckett asked him.
"It came down," Castle replied. "Though I did have to brush off the flour I didn't get it to stick." He then realized Skye was looking at him and asked, "What?"
"That sounded dirty love," Beckett called him, focusing on dicing the tomato Mary had given her. She set down her knife when she was finished and then cried out shortly when her husband was gathering her into his arms, kissing at her neck. "Rick," she finally managed to say while she was laughing. "Stop we have to finish, remember Josie?" she told him.
Pretending to groan in annoyance, Castle shared a brief kiss with her before he went back to Skye. "I can make a smaller one for Josie right?" he eventually asked when they were nearly finished.
"Yeah, just split that one in half," Skye replied. "We'll use it in the future for… something."
"How do you know what we all want?" Zak asked, leaning against the island.
"Because I remembered the last time you four had dinner over," Skye said with a smile.
"Did one of them ask you to make these?" Zak said as he nodded to the three others on his cast.
"No, I figured the kids would like it too," Skye said firmly. "Though Aaron was talking about getting a slice."
"We went to New York," the paranormal investigator said in a mock complaining tone. "Though I'm so glad we get to have your pizza again."
"It'll be ready soon," Skye said.
"Where did you go in the city," Castle said. He paused as he put the crust for Josie's pizza on the pan Skye had for him and said, "I'm assuming you investigated in NYC."
"We did," Jay replied. "One If By Land, Two If By Sea."
"We've heard of it," Beckett said.
"I definitely have and that it's supposed to be haunted," Castle said. "Please tell me you had someone from Hamilton join you."
"Can't spoil it," Billy told him. "But it won't be long before the episode is on."
"Are we going to go somewhere with you again?" Eliza asked. "Can I go somewhere with you?"
After they'd stopped laughing Beckett said, "Let's wait and see sweetie." She happened to glance at Zak then and was startled seeing he was looking at the others on his crew before Skye was calling to her daughters.
"Girls go and set the table," the investigator said. "The pizzas will be ready soon."
"I have the salad grá," Mary told her. "We have a few dressings in the fridge and vinegar and oil."
Not surprised when the kids were hurrying to get everything ready, Beckett turned to Josie who'd come over to her and she picked her up. "Are you hungry?" she asked the baby once she had her on her hip.
"Eh," Josie replied, hugging her mother around the neck.
"We'll eat soon," Castle told his wife.
Turning to him Beckett asked, "Do they have the chair set up?"
"It's ready," Castle replied. "I can get your stuff."
"Not my salad," Beckett pointed out teasingly to him. She kissed his cheek in passing before they were talking with the other adults until the oven timers were going off. She wasn't surprised at the scramble from the kids to get ready before they were gathering around the dining room table, smiling at Aaron looking back and forth at everyone. "Surprised?" she asked him.
"Yeah, this is a long table," the paranormal investigator commented.
"We've had large parties," Skye said.
"And her dad really loved having parties in the first place, so he made sure the dimensions were big for a table this size," Mary said, squeezing her wife's hand.
"And that too," Skye said before they were starting to eat.
"Mummy," Fleur said then.
"Yeah?" Skye replied. "Is your pizza alright?"
"It is, but what about Grandda?" Fleur asked.
"He and Pablo will be with us tomorrow," Skye said, smiling when her five daughters were all talking at the same time before Mary calmed them down.
