"Can I go jumping? Can I go?" Eliza was asking.

"Yes," Beckett said in amusement. "Were you going to ask me before?"

"Yeah, did you know?" Eliza said.

"I had a feeling," Beckett replied. "You can go but we're going to have dessert first."

"Ooh, hot chocolate," Eliza said eagerly.

"And popcorn," Julia said, walking up with Skye and Mary from the water.

"How is it?" Castle asked her.

"Fun," Julia replied. "We were going on the slide."

"I'm not surprised," Beckett said. "We don't have too much time left before you need to go to bed."

"Do I have to?" Eliza asked with a sigh.

"Yes, sorry but remember we're coming back tomorrow," Castle said.

"I hope we can swim longer," Julia commented.

"You will," Beckett assured her. "It just depends on how much homework you have."

"You think you'll have a lot?" Alexis asked, watching the expression on her sister's face.

"I'm not sure," Julia said. She opened her mouth to speak again before she paused and then asked her parents, "Could we do our homework upstairs?"

"Sure," Beckett said. "But are you going to be able to do it?"

"Sure," Julia said, seeing Eliza nodding her head.

"One of us can come up here with them," Skye said.

"You would?" Beckett asked in amusement.

"Sure, I'll be a school marm," Skye replied, winking at the girls who giggled into their mugs.

"Let's wait and see what happens once you get back tomorrow," Beckett said before eating some popcorn. She then said, "But we'll try to swim as long as we can."

"Thanks," Julia said, her little sister echoing her.

"Are you gonna go on the slide again?" Eliza asked her father when they were nearly finished with their dessert.

"Of course," Castle replied. "But you know when your mom says to go to bed you need to listen okay?"

"What happens if you say it?" Eliza asked with a giggle.

"Smart aleck," Castle told her, wrapping his arm around her. "Now you can go back in the water."

"We need to clean up first," Beckett said as the little girl was about to speak. "We won't take that long sweetie," she told her when Eliza looked disappointed.

"I can take care of that Katie," Jim told his daughter.

"Are you sure?" Beckett asked.

"I am, go swimming before we head back into the house," Jim urged her.

Julia went over to her mother and was about to remind her about diving when her little sister was speaking eagerly in a burst of words.

"I can go dive now, can't I?" Eliza asked.

"Yes," Castle said, reaching for the little girl and picking her up. After he'd put her on his shoulders he said, "We're going together."

"No," Beckett said immediately, looking up at Eliza because she was gasping in joy. "If you do that neither of you will dive again."

"I think she's serious Daddy," Eliza told him.

"I think so too," Castle said. He paused to take her off his shoulders and kissed her cheek before telling her, "But that would be cool if it worked."

"Yeah," Eliza said, kissing his cheek with a giggle. They went together to the back of the grotto, and she held her father's hand tightly before they were heading up. After they were walking to the edge of the platform the rock made, she wrapped her arms around her father tightly.

"Are you okay?" Beckett asked her.

"Yeah," Eliza said. She let go of her father slowly and then asked, "Will you go with me?"

"I need to wait for you in the water sweetheart," Castle said. "But watch how far I jump out." When she nodded to him, he let her go, watching her rush to her mother to hold her, before he turned and then leapt out into the water before he was going under. He was swimming away from the grotto before he resurfaced and went back to see what Eliza was doing.

"Do you still want to go?" Beckett asked the little girl.

"Yeah," Eliza whispered before hugging her mother.

"Are you sure?" Beckett said. When her daughter nodded, she kissed the top of her head before telling her, "You don't need to."

"But I want to," Eliza told her mother as she peered up at her. She let go of her and went to the edge before she went to Beckett, holding her hands and asking, "Will you stay with me?"

"Before you jump?" Beckett asked. At Eliza's nod she said, "You need to make sure you push yourself out while you jump you know."

"I will, but stay close, okay?" Eliza asked. When her mother nodded, she smiled and said, "Okay, I'll go now," looking at her father before he called up to her.

"I'm ready for you Eliza," Castle said. "Just jump when you're ready." He wasn't surprised when she nodded before she was leaping out into the water, and he made sure she was okay since she was crying out while she was doing it. He swam over to her and once she had resurfaced asked, "Are you okay?"

"That was fun!" Eliza cried, wrapping her arm around her father briefly. "Can I do it again."

"One more," Castle said as they moved out of the way for Beckett. "You don't want to go on the slide?" he asked when the little girl was frowning.

"Yeah…" Eliza said slowly.

"Do you want to jump again sweetie?" Beckett asked the little girl with a smile while she swam over to her and Castle.

"Yeah, but then I wanna go on the slide," Eliza said eagerly. She then grew serious and said, "What about Jules?"

"Where is she," Castle said, looking around.

"She went on the slide," Alexis said, near them outside the pool.

"Is that where you're going?" Castle asked his oldest.

"Of course, we have to leave soon too," Alexis replied.

"Mommy-" Eliza started to say in obvious concern.

"We'll have time to do both," Beckett assured her. "For now if you're still going to jump, we better go."

Julia, climbing up to the top of the slide, leaned over on the railing to watch her sister jump again and said to Alexis as she was joining her, "Which will she like more?"

"You don't think she'd like the slide more?" the young woman asked with a smile.

"Who knows, now that she knows she can jump?" Julia asked. She wasn't surprised when her big sister laughed, and she shared a hug with her before she went to the other side of the slide to watch the three coming up. "Is this it for tonight?" she asked her mother.

"It is," Beckett said. "And thank you for remembering tomorrow night," she added before her daughter was laughing and responding.

"How can I not? Mari's going to get to see all of this," Julia said. "And use it this time instead of just looking." She was about to speak before she paused and then said, "You wouldn't have made us wait if they finished next month, would you?"

"No," Castle said after he and his wife shared a smile.

"Can we go?" Eliza asked, trying not to sound impatient.

"Yes, let someone-" Beckett started to say before her oldest was interrupting her.

"I'll go," Alexis said.

"Why didn't Louis come upstairs?" Eliza asked.

"He had to help with some two-year-olds," Alexis explained. "So he's a little tired."

"Oh… I hope he doesn't fall asleep now," Eliza said, looking to the other end of the pool room.

"I think he'll be okay," Alexis said before she touched her back. "I'm going to head down."

"Okay, I'll come down when you're ready," Eliza said happily. "But you have to tell me," she added seriously.

"I will," Alexis said with a laugh, unable to help hugging her little sister tightly.

Watching their daughters while they headed down the slide, Beckett said to her husband, "Were you thinking of coming back?"

"I was," Castle admitted, aware she meant that night. "You don't want to?"

"And if the girls find out?" Beckett said in response.

"Okay," Castle said, pretending to think that over before he nodded. He kissed her gently and watched her going to the slide, watching her going around before she was in the water. He smiled to himself as she waved up at him, doing the same back to her before he went to the slide to rejoin his family.


January 31st, 2022

Only able to write the date, Julia looked at the doorway of her room in surprise before her mother was walking in and glancing around. She was about to ask what was wrong when Beckett was asking her about her room.

"Is Skye here?" she said.

"No, did you think she was?" Julia asked in surprise.

"I went to see if she was in their room and Mary said she'd left," Beckett replied.

"She might be in the pool room," Julia commented.

"I'll go check," Beckett said. "Keep writing," she added.

Nodding, though she wondered where the investigator was, Julia went back to her diary before writing underneath the date.

There was a lot today, but not too much with classes really, so I'll go ahead and start with the biggest thing.

While I was eating lunch with my friends (I know Evangeline, I skipped a lot but I kind of have to or I'll never have a chance to finish this entry) Eve came and when I saw her, I noticed she had her best friend Chloe with her. And just behind Chloe was a man, a man who was wearing an old-fashioned tuxedo, but his skin was a slight shade of blue and it was weird. I mean I knew really fast that he was a spirit, but I wasn't sure why he was with Chloe.

I had to wait to ask her about it, but when I described the man to her, she told me he was her… second cousin I think but she would call him cousin. She knows what I can do, but when she realized he was dead she started to cry. She hadn't seen him since the end of last year; around when school started; but she missed him a lot. I talked to Matthias (that's his name) for a little, but he left after that when I told him I couldn't really help Mom and Dad with his case. I had to sit but that's okay, it was only for a little bit and I was fine the rest of lunch.

"I found her," Beckett said, walking into her daughter's room, not surprised when Julia was looking up at her hurriedly.

"Where was she?" the girl asked.

"In the pool room, like you said," Beckett replied.

"Is she okay?" Julia asked with a slight frown.

"She is," Beckett assured her. "She had a phone call and… didn't want to disturb us."

Julia was completely confused before something came to her and she asked, "Is Dad in the kitchen?"

"He's checking on food for your sister tomorrow," Beckett replied. "And your Grandpapa and Gram."

Nodding Julia said, "What're you gonna do?"

"Go down to him and make sure he's not stressing," Beckett said, smiling when Julia laughed softly. "Sorry about the interruptions."

"Don't worry," Julia told her mother hurriedly. "I don't think I have too much left."

"Did you write about school at all?" Beckett said.

Since she knew her mother was talking about everything but her seeing Matthias, Julia shook her head and said, "I got tired of doing it since it's mostly the same stuff. But if something different happens I'll write it."

"But not today?" Beckett asked with a slight smile.

"Not today," Julia said in agreement. She watched her mother walk over to her, smiling when she felt her kiss on the top of her head before she spoke.

"We'll be back soon, but you have a lot of time still," Beckett told her.

"Thanks Mom," Julia said, watching her mother leave. She turned to her entry, having to read to make sure of where she was before she began to write again.

I'll skip to after school, Mom and Dad were actually there though they have a case (I don't think I need to say really that their case is Matthias') at the quad but they got stuck for the day. And it was a big surprise to see them because Skye and Mary were there too! I forgot to mention Matthias told me he'd gone to her first, but she was in DC, so he came to see me. But Skye was worried and came to help so now she's working on the case too. They came to the dance class, and I felt like something was wrong with Skye, so I went to talk to her, but they didn't explain until we were back at home.

So that means I'm talking about that next, I finished doing my homework and Mom talked to me about the case. Turns out Matthias was poisoned, and he passed during his show. Now I realize why he's still here. But they started looking into the case and no one from his family, his friends or the troupes he worked with looks like they're a suspect. Mom said Skye told them how there was a notebook at the place where the show was, but once they got it, they found out someone forged Matthias' writing though not that good really. That made Skye upset, and Matthias really upset so she was off for that but by now she's spoken to Matthias, I have too and they're okay.

Now that's it for the case, so I want to write now about the best part of the day and that's our pool room was finished! All the way finished so we got to head to the room and the first thing we did was look around. And man Evangeline, the room is beautiful! We have blues and whites, though the rocks are a little off white. The slide is so cool, and the grotto is neat since there's a waterfall in front of it.

We had dinner after we'd all looked around, Skye and Mary too, Dim Sum that we took up to the second floor. We got to ride the elevator and though it's a short trip it was really fun. Dinner was even better sitting at the table, though we couldn't see much of the outside. We then had to clean up and everything but while we were doing that, Mari coming over tomorrow came up and Mom and Dad said it was fine. She can't spend the night, but that doesn't matter. I texted her and her parents said okay so I can't wait for tomorrow!

Okay, I have to end here because I'm going to have to go to bed soon and I hope to talk to Mom and Dad for a little bit. So goodnight, Evangeline and I'll write all about tomorrow!

Emptying her pen of the ink she hadn't used, Julia put everything away before she went to the doorway. Looking out on the hall she wasn't surprised there was no one there or any sign of her parents. She went to the stairs and headed down before she spotted her parents in the kitchen talking together.

"I think we're okay Rick," Beckett was telling her husband. "They're not going to be obsessed."

"But you do agree with me about at first," Castle said.

"Of course," Beckett replied. She smiled as he was wrapping his arm around her waist. "But they know better than to forget everything for the pool."

"We won't," Julia said. She giggled softly when her parents looked to her in surprise and said, "Sorry, I finished."

"And eavesdropped on us," Castle commented.

"Mom," Julia said. "Could we go to the pool room." She smiled when her mother frowned before she said, "Just to the second floor to the daybed."

"Not now," Beckett replied. "I'm sorry but you'll have to go to bed soon."

"Alright," Julia said, though she was disappointed. "Are we going to my room?"

"Exactly," Beckett said, taking her daughter's hand. "Though you can do that with Mari tomorrow."

"When?" Julia asked.

"After dinner," Castle said. He smiled when the girl turned to look at him and he said, "Just a suggestion."

Smiling back at her father Julia said, "I'll see, she might want to swim more."

"And so will you," Castle said. He laughed when the girl playfully stuck her tongue out at him, and he did the same before they went up the stairs. Once they were in her room he said, "I'm a little confused," watching Julia direct Macca and JoJo to the end of her bed.

"About what?" she asked in slight confusion.

"Your mom told you about the case," Castle explained. "So we have nothing to talk about."

Beckett gave her husband a look before she said, "Luckily we know you're joking."

"Of course," Castle said. "But what would you like to talk about?"

"Hawaii," Julia said immediately.

Laughing briefly Castle said, "I'm not surprised. But you know we're going to surprise you with a lot of stuff."

"I know, but we will get to go swimming in the ocean, right?" Julia asked.

"Of course, that was a requirement your mom had," Castle told her.

Smiling at Beckett as they sat on the edge of her bed once she was sitting on the middle of the mattress, Julia said, "I'm glad you did that Mom. But really, what else can we do?" She then said before her parents could answer, "We're going to a volcano though, right?"

"You want to?" Beckett asked.

"Yeah, I'd love to get to see some lava," Julia said. "But," she then said, becoming serious. "Is that wrong? 'Cause of the eruption there?"

"I don't think so," Beckett said as her husband was looking at her to answer. "But we'll avoid where people lost their homes."

Nodding Julia said, "Are you going to explain to Lizzy about what happened?"

"We will, we're probably going to have to," Castle said.

"Think she'll get scared?" Julia asked.

"I don't know but we'll be careful while we're there," Castle commented before he looked at his wife and saw the expression on her face. "What's wrong?"

"I'm just wondering if we should have let you watch that footage of the last eruption there," Beckett said with a slight frown.

Shaking her head Julia said quickly, "You didn't know I was going to see and… I'm not a baby anymore so I think I can know about stuff like that Mom. Plus I've been in hurricanes so…" trailing off since she was wondering how her mother would react before she was doing so soon after.

"I know sweetie, I think that's me not wanting you to grow up too fast," Beckett said in amusement.

"Kate," Castle said quietly.

"Already?" Julia said in disappointment.

"Sorry, it's time," Castle told her, holding up his wrist his watch was on.

"Come on," Beckett said, standing up. She wasn't surprised when Castle took her place after their daughter had moved to slide her legs underneath the covers.

"I love you Julia," Castle said. "And I hope you'll pay attention in class tomorrow."

"Dad," Julia said, smiling since she knew her father was joking. He kissed her cheek and she hugged him tightly saying, "I love you too Dad, thank you so much for the pool room."

"You love it?" Castle asked, rubbing her back gently.

"It's awesome," Julia said with a smile. They shared a quick kiss and she said as her parents were switching places, "I hope you don't mind if we want to use it a lot."

"It's why we made it a room," Beckett said.

"Thank you, Mom," Julia then said. "For agreeing to it."

Laughing briefly, Beckett hugged her daughter tightly and then said, "Love you sweetie."

"Oh, thanks for letting Mari come tomorrow," Julia said.

"We were going to have to," Castle commented with a smile.

"He's right, you wouldn't have left us alone about it," Beckett said, smiling herself when their second oldest rolled her eyes. "Sweet dreams Julia."

"Thanks Mom, you too," she replied, startled when her mother stopped her when she tried to lay down. Julia was about to ask what was wrong because Beckett looked concerned, but her mother was speaking shortly after.

"You won't be visited tonight, will you?" Beckett asked.

"No, I haven't sensed Matthias," Julia replied. "I thought that was weird and I asked Skye about it when you went to get Lizzy into bed."

"What did she say?" Castle asked.

"That she had called him back to her and he'd gone," Julia said. "And she asked him nicely to wait for tomorrow to join her while you guys are investigating." She knew what her mother was going to ask and managed to say, "He agreed."

"Okay, then get some sleep sweetie," Beckett told her, kissing the top of her forehead. She stood and waited for Julia to lay down before she tucked her in and said, "Night."

"Night Mom, Dad," Julia replied with a smile. She watched her parents walk to the doorway, waving a little at them before her father turned off the light. Left with the dogs, she glanced above her into the darkness, thinking of the next day and what she and Mari could do at the pool. With a smile she turned onto her side and closed her eyes to fall asleep and get to that point.


"Are you two relieved it's finished?" Skye asked.

"Very," Beckett said. She smiled and then said, "Though to be honest I thought it wouldn't be finished until it was almost summer."

"Yeah, the fact that they were able to finish so quickly was a definite bonus," Castle said. He set down his mug of tea and said, "I hope yours will finish that quickly."

"So do we," Mary said. "And I just realized something, we never told you guys what we're planning on putting in ours."

"No, but the girls were wondering," Beckett said. "Shouldn't you… save it for tomorrow," she started to say before speaking slower as Skye was putting her phone on the table they were sitting at in the pool room on the first floor.

"We can't really have that much different from you," the investigator said with a smile as the two writers were studying the floorplan and notes from the designer. "But the design is a different story."

"Caribbean?" Castle started to say slowly before Mary was laughing and shaking her head as she responded.

"We went for Hawaii," the doctor said. "We debated having it be more themed to Japan, but we decided on Hawaii since we do want to have flowers."

"And palm trees?" Castle asked.

Shaking her head Skye said, "We didn't want to have that much inside, but around the outside we'll have a few small ones. And the same flowers there are inside too, to connect it slightly."

"Are you planning on having the windows here open?" Beckett asked.

"When it's warm," Skye replied with a nod. She smiled and then said, "We couldn't help opening to the outdoors still. But the girls will be happy having that during the winter."

"So are we," Castle said with a smile, finishing his tea. They were quiet for a moment before he was asking, "Have you told Mary about the case at all?"

"I did," Skye replied with a nod. "While we were changing for dinner."

"What do you think?" Beckett asked the doctor.

Mary looked thoughtful for a moment before she said, "It's going to be difficult. You're sure it's no one else on the troupe that's still there?"

"They've looked into everyone," Castle said. "And how can you really prove they doctored a lozenge?"

"She said the ME told you it was cyanide," Mary said.

"It was a mixture," Beckett said, sharing a look with her husband. "And it nearly damaged the equipment at the ME's office. But Brad told us that Thayer's going to contact the FBI and send in another sample. He texted us," she explained when Skye was looking at them in surprise before the investigator was speaking swiftly.

"Then we're waiting for the results?" Skye asked.

"I think so," Castle replied. "But we have to find someone who had something against Weller."

"I told him I'd talk with him tomorrow," Skye replied. "But I'll ask him if anything's come to him now he's spent more time where he is."

"Is that how it works?" Beckett asked hesitantly.

"Usually," Skye said with a brief nod. She then sighed and said, "But I know what you're thinking. I just get the feeling he needs to recall his life more."

"Is he remembering his father at all?" Beckett suddenly asked.

"I saw that," Skye said before she turned to her wife. "His father left his mother when he was twelve and he's living in Arizona right now. But he's still there so he's not a suspect. Why do you ask?"

"Just… a feeling," Beckett said. She wasn't surprised when her husband squeezed her arm gently and she said, "I got that when we were going to the school."

"I'll have to ask Matthias about it," Skye said. "But tomorrow."

"Are you guys ready to go in?" Castle asked since they hadn't touched their mugs.

"We should," Skye said. "I'm tired."

"Me too, traveling and swimming," Mary agreed with a smile. "Would you mind?"

"No," Beckett said. "I'm feeling the same, get ready for that when your pool is finished."

"We can't wait," Mary said firmly.

"We can't," Skye echoed firmly. "But for now I guess we're using your pool."

"Which is fine," Castle said quickly.

"Don't worry," Beckett said as the investigator turned to her. "I agree."

"And that's why we thanked you… we did right?" Skye asked.

"You did," Beckett said laughingly. "Don't worry."

"Okay, do you need our help?" Skye asked.

"You can head to your room," Castle said in amusement. "You don't need to wait for us."

"Then goodnight," Skye said, her wife echoing her before they were leaving the kitchen.

"Do you need help?" Beckett asked her husband once they were alone.

"I'm good," Castle replied before he was turning back to the mugs. When they were all in the dishwasher he went to his wife and gently brushed his lips to hers before they headed down the hall. He had taken her hand and their fingers were entwined tightly, letting them not have to speak since they were squeezing at one another gently while they made their way up to their room.


Walking out of the bathroom in their room, Mary was about to speak to her wife when she hurriedly stopped herself and smiled before quietly moving around until she heard a slight sigh. "Welcome back grá," she told her.

"Hey, how long have you been here?" Skye said, turning to her wife in surprise.

"Not very," Mary said. "I just finished. How're you feeling?"

"Much better," Skye said seriously, moving to stand next to the bed. She shook her limbs, since she'd been meditating while sitting on her knees, and once she was stretched out, she smiled and said, "Time for bed?"

"I think we should," Mary replied with a smile. She took off her robe and said, "Especially if you're keeping Matthias with you."

"I don't want it to affect Julia; she's so excited about tomorrow," Skye said as she shrugged. She then climbed under the covers with her wife and leaned into her, kissing her tenderly. "I might call you if I need you."

"I'll be hoping you don't," Mary said before they kissed, lingering a little.

"So will I," Skye said. She then said with a sigh, "We'll see."

"Try and forget about it for now grá," Mary said soothingly, wrapping her arms around her.

"I will," Skye said. She slipped her hand under her wife's pajama shirt when Mary stopped her, and she was about to ask why she couldn't when her wife was speaking teasingly.

"I said bed Skye," Mary said.

"You're no fun," the investigator said with a mock pout. She followed her wife in laying down and once they were settled, she sighed and said, "Are you sure you're alright staying here?"

"I will be," Mary said firmly since they'd talked about it on their way to New York that morning. "I'll help Jim watch Josie; he might appreciate the break."

"Okay, if you're sure," Skye said. She smiled when her wife nodded firmly and hugged her tightly before she said, "You're sure we need to go to bed this second?"

"No," Mary replied. She turned a little more onto her side and said, "What did you want to talk about?"

"That call that I got earlier," Skye said. "It was from Paul."

"Oh yeah?" Mary said in surprise. "What did he want?"

"He wants to make a music video for the song," Skye said. "He said he's been harangued by fans to do that."

"And he wants us there?" Mary asked.

Laughing softly Skye told her, "I said the same thing to him, and he told me of course. He said he'd like to film in Ireland."

"Really," Mary said.

Smiling at her wife's obvious surprise, Skye said, "He did but then he said they weren't sure about the money. So I suggested Napa."

"In the spring I hope," Mary said. At her wife's nod she said, "So we're filming in spring?"

"Depending on how the rain is," Skye said, nodding rapidly. She smiled and told her, "But I was thinking of holding off telling the others."

"Just in case?" Mary asked her wife. After she nodded in response she was about to ask if she wanted to make a trip out of it if they needed to go when the investigator was speaking slightly absently.

"Do you think we'd manage to have time to film there in May?" Skye asked.

"You want to do it Memorial Day weekend?" Mary asked. When her wife nodded, she said, "Well… it's a shot. And they were asking him and Nancy to stay." She then said with a smile, "You said you wanted to wait and tell everyone, but if we're staying in their house? Since you obviously want to film in Mill Valley instead."

"Okay, okay, I told him we should be able to do it at the end of May and that I'd mention it to Kate and Rick," Skye said in mock annoyance.

"Is he alright with that?" Mary said.

"Yeah, he remembered them asking him too," Skye replied.

"He has a tour starting the next month, doesn't he?" Mary asked.

"Early June," Skye said with a brief nod. "So he's okay with that."

"Better tell the others," Mary said in amusement.

"I'm just not sure if they'd want to work while it's vacation," Skye said. "And they would just be watching us film so-"

Cutting off her wife, Mary kissed her gently, not surprised when Skye was holding onto her tightly. When they parted, she said with a smile, "You were starting to worry."

"Yeah, I mean our girls wouldn't care…" Skye said. She made a brief face before smiling and saying, "And Julia wouldn't mind either."

"Of course not," Mary said with a soft laugh. "But for now…" she started to say.

Letting out a groan, Skye smiled shortly after that and said, "I'll get the light."

"Thank you grá," Mary said, watching her wife get up slightly to do that since the lamp was on her side of the bed. She watched her hesitating for a moment and was about to touch her arm when the investigator was turning back to her to speak.

"I feel like I robbed you of your vacation," Skye commented.

"Ours but we'll have time for another at some point," Mary said. "The girls will make sure of that."

Laughing Skye turned off the light quickly before she said, "I know, but we'll go for longer than three days. The full week we were planning on."

"I'll hold you to that," Mary said firmly. She smiled when her wife nodded and they kissed deeply, holding onto each other tightly before they were slowly parting. "I love you Skye," she said to her gently.

"Love you too Mary," the investigator replied. They shared a gentle kiss before they were parting slowly, and she murmured goodnight to her wife before they laid down again. Holding Mary to her firmly, Skye kissed her shoulder though her pajama top and smiled when the doctor snuggled closer to her, letting herself close her eyes to fall asleep.


Watching her husband closing the door Beckett said, "You're not going to lock it?"

"I was aware already," Castle said, walking to where his wife was waiting for him. He brushed his lips to hers and said, "Though I hope we're not going to bed right away."

"We're not," Beckett replied with a smile before they kissed briefly again.

"Good," Castle said, pulling her against his chest and kissing her harder. He was clutching at her back, feeling her doing the same to the back of his neck and they were involved in that for some time before slowly parting before she was whispering as she panted heavily against his lips.

"Remember the door," Beckett told him.

"You're talking to yourself, aren't you?" Castle asked with a smile.

"Basically," Beckett said, laughing when he tightened his embrace. She hugged him back before they reluctantly let go of one another and went into the closet. They changed together and said as she was finishing, "Would you mind if I checked on Julia?"

"No, I had a feeling you would," Castle replied, taking her robe and holding it open for her. Once she was tying it closed, he grabbed his robe and said, "And I want to join you."

"We're not going in," Beckett told him.

"That one you're saying to us both," Castle replied. When she rolled her eyes, he moved to wrap his arm around her waist, and they went together out of their room before they headed to their second oldest's.

Peering inside, Beckett was relieved to see Julia was fast asleep, and she forced herself to turn and walk with him to their room. "I'm still worried," she told her husband honestly while he was closing the door.

"I know, but we'll open the door once we're going to bed," Castle promised her. He went to her and embraced her briefly saying, "And we'll be awake now."

Giving him a brief nod, Beckett let go of him and said, "Thank you love."

"That I'm saying to us booth," Castle told her. He smiled when she laughed, and he walked with her to the bathroom where he watched her tie back her hair before she was speaking to him while glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.

"You know you have to get ready too. I'm not waiting for you," Beckett told him firmly.

"I wouldn't care," Castle commented. He laughed when she looked at him and said, "I'm honest, since it'd be my fault."

Beckett laughed herself but turned her attention to washing her face which she did quickly. Brushing her teeth she glanced again at her husband while he was brushing his at the same time. She knew he'd waited to do that but didn't want to comment before she was finishing. Taking her hair from her ponytail, she said, "Here."

Castle was a little surprised when his wife was giving him her brush but got over that so he could start brushing out her hair. He was careful, though he couldn't resist running his fingers through her locks after combing through them. Feeling the silky texture against his skin he was shuddering heavily though trying not to let her know. "Would you want to read or something before we sleep?" he asked.

"I know what you're doing Rick," Beckett said in amusement.

"I can't help it love," Castle said.

"I'm aware, but you really have to be careful," Beckett said gently. She watched him as he set down her brush on the counter since he was finished, but since he was holding her in place with his other hand, she had an idea of what he was going to do. As he pressed his lips to the back of her head, she closed her eyes while he moved and nuzzled her hair with his nose. Eventually she couldn't wait and turned around in his hold before they were kissing deeply. She had no idea how long they were doing that, only when they were apart, and he whispered lovingly into her ear.

"I can't resist you," Castle told her.

"Do you want to-" Beckett started to say.

Shaking his head quickly Castle told her, "It's alright, I just needed that for a second."

"A second," Beckett told him teasingly, gently rubbing her hand up and down the back of his neck. She laughed when he nodded and hurried to calm down as he leaned down to her. They kissed deeply and lingered before they were slowly parting and she said, "Come on," since she was aware he was finished. She took his hand and led him to their bed where she sat down and told him, "Maybe we should read."

"It's why I suggested it," Castle commented.

Laughing softly, Beckett climbed across the bed to her side and turned to watch him join her. "I wonder love," she told him while he was drawing the covers over them both.

"Yeah?" Castle asked, turning to her. He was a little started when she suddenly leaned into him but hurried to respond to him when she was kissing him hungrily. He responded eagerly and held her, pulling her onto his lap before their tongues were sliding away from each other. "What about you?" he asked once they'd parted, breathing a little roughly.

"I'll be okay," Beckett said before he was kissing her again. They were clinging to one another and when he moved down to her neck she couldn't help moaning before he was almost ripping himself away from her. "Are you okay?" she asked him in concern.

"Yeah, that might have been too much," Castle said. "For both of us." He sighed in disappointment when she pulled away from him and watched her sit next to him again. "Don't stop me," he told her when he wrapped his arms around her tightly, feeling her laughing before she was responding.

"I wasn't going to," Beckett said. "But I was going to suggest we go to sleep." She smiled when he looked at his watch and told him, "I don't think doing anything else is really going to stop us."

"Right," Castle said since it wasn't hard to realize she was right. "Though if we didn't have the case…"

Cupping his cheek, Beckett took his kiss as he leaned down to her though she was relieved when he made it brief. "I would have agreed," she told him once they'd parted. She smiled as he looked at her in surprise and then told him, "Another night."

"It was a lot of swimming," Castle said.

"Which is why I suggested we go to bed," Beckett told him. She felt him kiss the side of her head before something came to her and she asked him, "Will you be okay?"

"I am, but… let me get the lights," Castle said, expecting her to respond to that. But as he got out from under the covers he was startled when she merely sat up and smiled at him. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"I am, go ahead," Beckett said, bending her knees and wrapping her arms around them. She watched her husband turning off the room light before he got the lights on their nightstand. As soon as he was stepping back slightly, she was getting up on her knees and reaching for him to stop him. "Let me," she told him, gently removing his glasses. She held them aside and leaned over to gently kiss him before he was pulling her against his chest and deepening it. When they finally stopped, she was startled because he was kissing at her neck but couldn't stop him while he moved away to murmur against her lips.

"I love you Kate," Castle told her.

"I love you too Rick," Beckett replied before they were kissing each other deeply. They didn't linger for very long that time and she moved back underneath the covers before her husband was following.

Once they were laying down, Castle and Beckett wrapped their arms around one another tightly before they murmured goodnight to one another. While they did their best to fall asleep, they pressed as close to each other as they could finding they were dreaming of one another while Monday became Tuesday.