"What're you going to do now?" Julia said to Mari as she was leaving her bathroom.

"Mind if I read?" the little girl asked.

"No," Julia said with a smile before they looked at the doorway to her room as her father stepped in. "We got ready Dad."

"Just checking," Castle replied. He then said, "Diaries?"

"Diary," Mari said as Julia was shaking her head. "I don't have mine."

"We should have told you about staying the night earlier," Castle said with a frown before the girl was speaking rapidly.

"Don't worry," Mari said. "It's just one night and I'll have more to write tomorrow."

Smiling, Castle said, "I don't know if your parents would be happy about that. But good luck," not surprised when Julia was talking to him laughingly.

"Shouldn't you tell her not to try and do that?" she said.

"Shh, don't tell them," Castle directed to Mari.

"I won't," the girl said, laughing herself.

"We'll be back sweetheart, but hurry and write," Castle urged his daughter.

Nodding, Julia turned her attention to her diary she had ready before she recalled something and said to Mari, "What did you want to do?"

"I'll look at one of your travel books," the girl said, heading to one of her bookcases.

Watching her take the Europe travel guide she had, Julia smiled and said, "I love that one."

"Me too," Mari said, grinning at her. She went to Julia's bed, petting Macca and JoJo on the way before she was sitting up against the headboard, eagerly opening the thick tome at random and starting to read about places in Germany.

Julia, watching her friend for a moment, smiled before she then turned to her diary fully and began to write the date and hurried with the entry.

February 1st, 2022

Happy February Evangeline! It's a new month but I have something… I guess big that happened to me today, so I'd better start.

Up until French everything was normal, but while I was sitting in the class, I felt like something was wrong and I looked up in time to see Matthias shooting through the board and I didn't have a chance to stop him before he was inside of me. He jumped my body and he was controlling me and I never felt so angry before. I was able to get him to tell me what was wrong, and he said that someone had told the police to look at Chloe for his murder.

I couldn't control my body and he made me run out of the classroom before I was able to get control and got him to stop on the landing of the stairs. I have no idea how I didn't fall, but I didn't, and Peter caught up to me. He started taking me to the nurse's office, me begging Matthias to get out of me, when we saw Mom, Dad and Skye in the quad. I ran to them and luckily Skye got to me first, held me and got Matthias to go into her. But the thing is we almost collapsed, and I felt so tired Mom had to help me stand.

Julia nearly jumped when arms wrapped around her from behind and glanced back at Mari before her friend was speaking gently.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Yeah… why?" Julia said.

"You kept starting and stopping," Mari replied. "I thought you were writing about Matthias."

"I was," Julia said with a quick nod. She then said, "I have to, but I guess I'm just reliving it."

"Maybe you should stop," Mari said worriedly.

Looking at her diary, Julia sighed and said, "I will, sorry about worrying you."

"That's okay, I was already," Mari said. She laughed when her friend exaggeratedly rolled her eyes before she gave her a quick hug again and went back to Julia's bed.

Getting some more ink in her pen, Julia looked at where she had left off and was just about to start writing when her mother knocked on the side of the doorway. "I'm still writing in my diary Mom," she said in a rush as Beckett walked inside. "I don't have too much left though," she added, startled for a moment at her mother's smile before she was responding to her.

"It's not that," Beckett replied. "I wanted to check on you."

"Oh, well I'm fine," Julia said slowly.

"Are you getting annoyed we keep doing that?" Beckett asked, gently running her hand over the back of her daughter's head.

"A little, but I know why you are," Julia replied. "Did Skye and Mary go to bed?"

"No, they're downstairs," Beckett replied. "Did you want to talk to her?"

"Just wondering," Julia replied, shaking her head. She smiled when her mother kissed the top of her head and said, "I'll be finished soon."

"Then you and Mari can talk, you have time until you need to go to bed," Beckett told her.

"Good," Julia said firmly, not surprised when her mother laughed softly and squeezed her shoulder before she left them. She went back to her diary and then started to write, beginning another paragraph.

That's all I'm going to put about that though, it's really hard to think about and I don't want it on my mind all the time. But I am okay now, Mom and Dad brought me home from school when that happened, and we stayed home the rest of the day. If you're wondering about Matthias' case, I looked at some pictures of guys who went to a show he was performing (I found out they were adult shows, but he was with a woman who was his girlfriend, but I can't understand why you'd do that in front of people). He looked with me, and he recognized one of them but I'm not sure what happened after that. All I know is that Brad went to see him… I think, Mom and Dad wouldn't tell me, but I hope they do soon.

Julia realized something finishing that paragraph and she got up to head to her bed as Mari was looking up at her and speaking in concern.

"What's wrong?" the girl said.

"I need to tell you what happened," Julia said. She hesitated and said, "But you can't tell anyone else; at all."

"My parents?" Mari asked.

"I… they might know, but don't tell them," Julia said after thinking that over. "Just wait until they say something to you." When her friend nodded seriously, she told her what had happened with the case and her looking at the pictures. "So I'm hoping they'll tell me what happened… if anything did."

"Matthias?" Mari asked.

"He's here," Julia said. "He's looking out the window," she added, pointing over to where she could see the spirit holding his hands up to the glass. She smiled as he turned to her and then looked back at Mari saying, "You can't see him."

"No, but that's okay," the girl said. "He's been nice?"

"He has," Julia replied. "Hear that? I don't blame you for what you did, you're a great cousin trying to protect Chloe."

Thank you, Matthias said. But you should go back to your diary.

"He wants me to go back to my diary," Julia told her friend.

"Then he's really nice," Mari said in response. "Since he wants us to spend time talking before your parents come."

Listen to her, she's right, Matthias said. And a good friend.

"Alright, I'll go now," Julia said with a smile at her friend's words and the spirit's. She went to her desk and quickly got more ink in her pen before she said in her mind, 'Did you have a good friend?'

Yes, he was one of the troupe, Matthias said sadly. His name was Raymond. Well… he's with the old troupe I was in.

'Were you angry at each other at all?' Julia asked.

No, he just thought I was crazy to leave, Matthias replied.

Julia was about to speak when Mari behind her was calling her name and she turned around before her friend was speaking gently.

"I hate to ask again, but are you alright? You're not writing," Mari said.

"I was talking to Matthias," Julia said. "Hold on," she then told her. When her friend had nodded, she turned to the spirit and asked him, 'Do you think he would do anything to you? Or ask someone to do that?'

No, Matthias replied.

'Sorry, I had to ask,' Julia said. 'My parents would ask.'

I thought they might, Matthias said. I better go.

Before she could stop him, the spirit was suddenly gone, and Julia shivered before Mari was getting off the bed. "It's okay," she told her friend hurriedly. She then explained what had happened and what they'd talked about before she said, "He seemed really unsure."

"Then you think it could be his friend?" Mari asked, squeezing her friend's arm.

"I don't know, but I will tell Mom and Dad if the guy I saw isn't the killer," Julia said firmly, nodding her head. She watched Mari pull the ottoman she had over and said with a smile, "Now I feel bad."

Shaking her head, Mari said, "Don't worry, I just want to be here if you need me."

Julia smiled at her friend before she went back to her diary and considered her last sentence before she started writing almost furiously to finish.

But the best thing was that once school was over, Mari could come over like we had planned already yesterday. It was so nice since we still went swimming and she loved the pool room, everything about it. Swimming was fun but I'm running out of time, so I need to hurry. We had dinner, pizza, and after I found out that Mom and Dad had asked Mari's parents if she could spend the night and they said she could! So she's sitting next to me now since I was talking to Matthias a little and she was worried about me.

I'm going to stop here since we have a little bit of time until we need to go to bed, and I want to talk with Mari! So goodnight, Evangeline and I'll write to you tomorrow!

Watching Julia putting her stuff away, Mari smiled at her and said, "Are you done this time?"

"I am," Julia said, smiling herself since she knew her friend was teasing her. When her desk was clean, she and Mari went to her bed and sat together before she said, "I really hope I don't have a nightmare; since I don't want to wake you up."

"That's what I'm here for too," Mari said firmly. She then smiled and said, "It's okay if you do… if you do."

Nodding, Julia sighed and said, "I just hope I can help Matthias… that they solve the case."

"We'll try our best," Beckett said, she and Castle walking into the room.

"Mom, I talked to Matthias just now," Julia said quickly, sitting up on her knees once she saw her parents.

"About what?" Castle asked in surprise. As Julia told them her short conversation with the spirit, he shared a look with his wife before he said when she finished, "We looked at Raymond and cleared him. Definitely cleared him since we found out earlier today he collapsed hearing about Matthias; he was in the hospital."

"Will he be okay?" Julia asked in concern.

"Yeah, but he's definitely not a suspect," Castle told her.

"Oh good, I didn't want him to get upset," Julia said before she looked back and forth between her parents. "I know you probably don't want to tell me, but what happened with the man he recognized in the picture?"

Beckett sighed and then said, "I don't know if we should really say."

"It's okay," Mari said before she and Julia were suddenly gasping at the same time and her friend was speaking in a rush.

"He's not dead, is he?" Julia asked.

"How-" Castle said before his wife was grabbing his arm.

"He is," Julia said, looking at her mother.

"Yes," Beckett said. "But that's still being investigated so we're not sure if this even has anything to do with our case."

"Will you tell me if you find out?" Julia asked.

"Yes," Beckett replied as Castle was looking to her to answer. "But for now you two don't really need to worry about it."

"I figured," Julia said. She then said, "You will let me help him, right?"

"When the case is over," Beckett replied with a nod. "And now you two need to go to bed."

"Really?" Julia asked in disappointment.

"Yeah, want to check my watch?" Castle asked, holding out his arm.

"No," Julia said with a soft giggle. "I believe you, I'm just disappointed."

"Who isn't?" Castle commented. He laughed when his wife, having stood up, reached over and lightly pinched his earlobe. "I'll say goodnight," he told her quickly as he stood up. Leaning over to Julia, he hugged her tightly and said, "If you need anything at all tonight just wake us up."

"I won't," Julia replied.

"I'll be here too," Mari said quickly.

Squeezing the girl's shoulder, Castle said, "Thank you for that Mari. Night and we'll see you in the morning."

"Night," Mari said slightly laughingly.

Turning back to his daughter, Castle wrapped his arms around her tightly telling her, "I love you sweetheart."

"Love you too Dad," Julia replied. They shared a quick kiss and she said to her mother while she was sitting next to her, "Will you be okay?"

"I will," Beckett replied, startled when her daughter shook her head firmly while wrapping her arms around her before she spoke seriously.

"Don't worry about me," Julia said. "I'm fine."

Cupping her daughter's face, Beckett searched her eyes before she leaned down and pressed her lips to her forehead. "I know, but I am your mother remember."

"Then don't worry that much?" Julia asked. She smiled when her mother started to laugh and hugged her again before they shared a kiss. "I love you Mom," she said.

"I love you too sweetie," Beckett said, smoothing her hair gently. She then reached over to Mari and gently squeezed her shoulder saying, "Thank you for staying with her tonight."

Nodding Mari said, "You're welcome, and I need to, just to make sure." She glanced at Julia and then added, "I'm worried about her too."

Glancing herself at her daughter, Beckett wasn't surprised when Julia was pressing her lips together and she said, "But we'll let her be."

"Thank you," Julia said before she hugged her mother tightly. Once they'd parted, she said, "Night."

"Good night girls," Beckett said, getting up and pulling the covers over the girls. When she was sure they were set she walked to her husband and holding his hand they left the room, closing the lights on the way.

"Okay?" Castle asked his wife, looking at her while they were making their way back to the pool room.

"Yeah, she's been fine," Beckett replied. "But I want to tell Skye about Weller," she added, looking at her husband in surprise when he looked a little contemplative. She was about to ask him what was on his mind when he answered her before she could speak.

"It's funny we're still calling him Weller," Castle said, reaching to his wife and wrapping his arm around her waist.

"We don't have that connection," Beckett said simply.

"Very true," Castle said, nodding before they were entering the room. "Wait," he said suddenly, stopping.

Jerked back slightly, since her husband had still been holding onto her, Beckett asked, "What did you forget?"

"Did you want tea at all?" Castle asked her.

Shaking her head Beckett replied, "I'm good." She couldn't help smiling as he started them walking again and asking the two women if they wanted tea as well.

"I'm fine, I'd like to head to bed soon to be honest," Mary said first.

"She's right," Skye said. "I want to be prepared for tomorrow."

Waiting for her husband to pull back her chair for her, Beckett then said, "Good thing you brought that up, Julia told us something when we went to tuck them in." When the investigator raised her eyebrows in obvious inquiry, she quickly told her what the girl had told them.

"Does that mean anything?" Mary asked her wife when she leaned back in her chair.

"I don't think it has to do with his friend from the troupe," Skye eventually said. "But I would venture a guess he may be recalling something that stood out to him."

"You couldn't call him to ask what it is?" Beckett asked.

"No, when he wants us to know he'll come to… hopefully either you or me," Skye said.

"Do you think you can talk to him now?" Castle said.

Skye looked down towards the floor to her left before she closed her eyes tightly and soon felt her wife taking her hand.

"Okay?" Mary said as soon as her wife was sitting up straight and looking at them. She wasn't surprised when Skye was nodding before she was speaking quickly to Beckett across the table.

"He only told me Baker Creek Pharmacy," the investigator replied.

"No date, no time?" Castle asked, looking at his wife.

"No, he was very abrupt," Skye replied. "I think he's trying to figure things out."

"Will he be able to? I don't know if we'd be able to find much with the name," Beckett said, though her husband was on his phone, and she knew he was texting Brad.

"I'll have to wait and see," Skye said. She then sighed and said, "But hopefully he could start."

"Not now," Castle said. When the three women looked at him, he explained, "He's home and he told me he'll have someone look into it tomorrow. But he said to tell you to beg Waller to try and get more. That box was made almost a year ago."

"I remember," Skye said. "I'll take him with me tomorrow," she added. "And be very firm with him about not going to Julia until we're finished."

Beckett was a little taken aback when the women suddenly stood and asked, "You're going to bed?"

"I want her to get some rest," Mary said. "So I hope you two don't mind."

"We don't," Castle said. "And I'm going to grab some water," he told his wife when he was standing as well. "Do you mind?"

"No, I'm going to swim actually," Beckett said, standing then. She went to Skye and hugged her tightly before she said, "Hopefully he'll remember."

"Believe me, I'm saying the same," the investigator replied. "Have fun in the pool."

"I will, goodnight," Beckett told them, watching them go. She was about to turn to the pool when her husband grabbed her arm before he was speaking quickly.

"I'll join you," Castle said. "But wait for me? I won't take too long."

"Alright," Beckett said, sitting back down.

"You do realize she saw through you," Skye said to Castle once they were inside the house.

"Oh quiet," Castle said laughingly. "She doesn't know what exactly though," he told her.

"You're grateful for that aren't you?" Mary asked him with a smile as he was getting something from the desk built in next to the fridge.

"Very," Castle said, nodding his head. "Night you guys," he said to the women as they were laughing, smiling himself.

"Night," Skye said with her wife before they went down the hall to the foyer stairs to avoid waking up the kids. Once they were inside their room Mary took her arm and she looked at her questioningly.

"I want us to take a bath grá," the doctor said firmly.

Her eyes widening at her wife's tone, Skye said, "I'd be happy to, but why are you insisting?"

"I didn't want you to protest," Mary explained.

"I'm not," Skye said, smiling at her. She squeezed her hand and said, "But we have a long time," not surprised her wife was immediately beginning to shake her head before she spoke lovingly to her.

"Not that, I want you to rest," Mary said.

"Which explains the bath," Skye commented. She laughed softly when her wife nodded and then glanced at the door to make sure she'd locked it. Her attention moved to Mary, her wife gently tugging on her hand and pulling her over to the bathroom before she was closing that door. "Will you undress me?" she asked.

"I said rest," Mary said teasingly.

"Just making sure," Skye said, reaching for her shirt she'd worn to swim. She removed that and her trunks before glancing at her wife who was standing where she'd been, watching her. "Mary-" she started to say with a frown.

"I'm getting the water ready," the doctor replied. "And you'll wait for me." When her wife didn't move after that she said, "Alright."

Watching her wife take off her sundress and then bikini Skye said, "I'm glad we went swimming in DC."

"Me too," Mary replied, smiling at her before she took off her bikini. She glanced at her wife to make sure she was doing the same before they rinsed off quickly and she went to the tub. Once it was filling with water she said, "It's a bit small."

"Not too bad," Skye replied, bringing over more towels and washcloths. "Thank you for this," she said.

Smiling and turning off the water Mary said, "Before we've started?"

"Yes," Skye replied, stepping up to her and kissing her tenderly. After they'd parted, she watched the doctor slip inside the water before she was following her. She wasn't surprised when Mary was wrapping her arms around her and she leaned back with a sigh saying, "Yes."

Smiling, Mary kissed her wife's shoulder and said, "Will you let me wash you?"

"Of course," Skye said, moving up slightly.

"Easy," Mary said softly. "I just wanted to make sure I could," she explained.

"And me?" Skye asked.

"Of course," Mary told her, echoing her purposefully. She smiled when her wife laughed and held her a bit tighter against her saying, "But a little longer okay?"

Nodding, Skye closed her eyes and said, "I remember." They sat in silence for a while before she said, "Are you okay staying here tomorrow?"

"Don't worry grá," Mary said gently to her. "I know you needed to come here. And we'll be back home soon."

"We have to make it up to the girls," Skye murmured.

"We will," Mary said soothingly. "Disneyland remember?"

"Still," Skye said. "We're coming back for the ball… we should take them to San Diego."

"And we will, Spring Break," Mary said. She smiled when her wife turned to her and said, "Surprise?"

"What did you do?" Skye asked, sitting on her knees and turning to her wife.

"I got the house for us," Mary replied. "I tried to get Liam and Pablo to go but they want to stay. So we won't be able to go to the Hyatt. Better?"

"Yes," Skye said slightly laughingly. She brushed her lips to her wife's and said, "We'll have to plan everything."

"With the girls," Mary said firmly.

"With them, but I'm glad we have that set now," Skye said as her wife had asked her to let the doctor plan the trip.

"Me too," Mary said, pulling her gently to her. They kissed lovingly before they slowly parted and she murmured, "Let me wash you grá."

Moving out of her wife's way, Skye watched her prepare one of the washcloths before she let her wash her. She felt more and more relaxed at Mary's touch until she had finished.

"Are you okay?" the doctor asked.

"I am, just don't make me move," Skye replied. She smiled when her wife was laughing and was about to reach out of the tub before Mary was gently taking her by her wrist before she was leaning into her and murmuring against her lips.

"You said you didn't want to move," Mary told her.

"But I do need to wash you," Skye pointed out. She brushed her lips to her wife's after she let her go and she proceeded to wash her. They sat in the water a little longer, but soon got up to hurry and dry before they dressed. After she brushed her teeth, she was about to grab her hairbrush before her wife was doing that.

"Come on grá," Mary told her, taking her hand with her free one. She pulled Skye to the bed and climbed on it while her wife was sitting on the end of it. Smiling when her wife sighed in pleasure she said, "When you finish this case, I'm going to give you the longest massage I ever have."

"No you won't," Skye said immediately.

"But I would if you wanted me to," Mary said. When her wife inclined her head once she laughed softly and leaned over, kissing the back of her head tenderly before she finished brushing through her locks. She was about to get up once she had finished, but Skye was doing so first and getting her brush back.

"Sit on the edge of the bed," the investigator told her wife as she went into the bathroom. She set down her brush, grabbing Mary's before she went onto the bed, combing through her hair.

"Grá," Mary eventually said, realizing through her haze of enjoyment of her wife's ministrations that she wasn't making any kind of noise. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm sorry," Skye said hurriedly, finishing. She let Mary take her brush back and then said, "This case… there's something about it that's really bothering me."

"Want to talk about it?" Mary asked in concern.

"It's nothing I could really add to what I've already told you," Skye replied. "I'd speak to Matthias-"

"You don't need to," Mary interrupted her. She kissed her on the lips lightly but then said, "Brad is at home right now, he knows the name of that pharmacy. And as for Matthias himself, you'd say he needs to figure this out right?"

"Yes, I wasn't going to contact him for that reason," Skye said with a smile. She shared a kiss with her wife and then said, "Let's go to bed."

"Good, I was going to force you," Mary replied with a smile as her wife was laughing. She followed her onto the mattress and said while they were sitting up, "Want to call the girls again?"

Looking at the clock on the nightstand, Skye shook her head and said, "We've spoken to them already, let them play until they need to go to bed." When her wife was wrapping her arms around her, she was about to ask her what she wanted when Mary was speaking a little hesitantly.

"Want to póg a little?" she asked.

"I didn't think you'd ask," Skye said, wrapping her own arms around her wife. They leaned into one another and were kissing deeply as they held onto each other and she couldn't help herself, slipping her hand underneath Mary's pajama shirt.

"Rose," the doctor said, softly laughing as she pulled away.

"Not even that?" Skye asked.

"Not right now," Mary said. They kissed quickly again, and she pressed her cheek to her wife's shoulder telling her, "But that was nice."

"We really need to go somewhere on our own," Skye told her wife as they were holding onto one another. "What would you say to Santa Barbara at the end of the month?"

"I wouldn't mind," Mary said. "But I kind of get the feeling you knew that already."

"I have to make sure of course," Skye said. "But at the end of the month and just go Friday and come back Sunday."

"That's fine with me," Mary said firmly. She pulled back so she could look at her wife and asked with a smile, "Should we plan it?"

"Do you really want to?" Skye asked immediately with her eyebrow raised.

"No," Mary replied before they leaned into each other and kissed deeply. They were holding onto each other tightly again before they had to stop to breathe and once they had she smiled and said, "Now we better lay down," looking at her wife as she was nodding and then commenting on that quickly.

"Though I really don't want to," Skye began while she took off her glasses. "You're right."

Taking the frames from her wife, Mary put them down before she turned off the lights and turned back to take Skye's gentle kiss. Moving to lay down together, she waited for her wife to do so first before she was following, and she pressed against her side. "I love you grá," she said softly once they were settled.

"I love you too Mary," Skye replied. They kissed again and lingered though they were very gentle in that and once they parted, she nuzzled her lips against her wife's. Laying back down she held her tightly, her eyes closing while she let the feel and scent of Mary next to her help her, almost smiling in pleasure at the sensations going through her while she fell asleep.


"Hopefully that didn't take too long," Castle said while he was walking into the pool room and to his wife.

"No-" was all the time Beckett had time to speak because her husband was setting a folded piece of paper in front of her. She smiled at him once he was sitting and she said, "I had a feeling."

"I'm not surprised," Castle said. "It's the first half of my Valentine's Day gift to you. Take a look."

Beckett opened the paper and read it before she looked up at her husband and said, "This is for real?"

"It is," Castle said. "As long as you want to go; I can cancel it if you'd want me to."

"Don't," Beckett said firmly. "I want to go. But there is something I have to ask…"

"They know," Castle said with a smile since the paper was a copy of plane tickets to Las Vegas. He had them arriving the night of the eleventh and returning the day after the holiday. "I asked them before I got the tickets and they were fine with it," he added.

"Any conditions to that?" Beckett replied.

"That I give you a gift that's not this trip," Castle said.

"Eliza?" Beckett asked after she'd laughed softly. When her husband nodded, she shook her head and then said, "I hope they didn't say what it had to be."

"No," Castle replied. "I have something already though."

"So do I," Beckett said, watching her husband with a smile while he took her hand and brought it up to his lips, kissing the back. "What else?"

"I give you a kiss as soon as we wake up Valentine's Day," Castle added.

"Not a surprise," Beckett commented, laughing briefly when her husband was kissing her hand again.

"And I take you to at least two museums," Castle said. "Julia," he and his wife said at the same time.

After they'd calmed down once they'd been laughing for a bit, Beckett said, "I wouldn't mind that, but we're leaving Valentine's Day to stay in the room, right?" She was startled when her husband looked a little uncertain then and was about to ask him what was wrong when he was speaking rapidly to her surprise.

"Are you sure?" Castle asked.

"Yes," Beckett said firmly. "If our girls are giving us the chance to have a… I almost said weekend. A few days off to ourselves then we should take advantage it. Did you not want to?"

"Don't worry, I definitely do," Castle said earnestly. "It's just our accommodations… it's not a room."

"Did you get the villa?" Beckett asked in surprise. When her husband nodded, she tugged on his hand to make him lean into her before she kissed him.

"I'm guessing you don't mind that?" Castle asked.

"No," Beckett replied. "And since it has three bedrooms…" she started to say questioningly.

"I thought of that," Castle said, knowing she thought of them making love in those other beds. "But others use those when we've been there."

"You meant to say when we go back," Beckett told him in amusement. She smiled when he nodded and she kissed him again before she said, "I can't wait for it. But did you tell our parents."

"I had to check with them after the girls," Castle said, nodding once.

"Did they demand the same as the girls?" Beckett asked with a smile.

"Mother said she agreed we should do the same," Castle replied. "Your dad seemed embarrassed, but he told me after to let you choose what to do here and there."

"That does sound like Dad," Beckett said, smiling slightly still. She saw her husband looked like he was about to speak, and she urged him saying, "Tell me love."

"To be honest I was going to tell you that next," Castle said seriously.

"I'm not deciding the whole trip," Beckett told him.

"Then we're deciding together," Castle said. When his wife nodded, he smiled at her and said, "Great, when do you want to do that?"

"We'll have the twelfth to the thirteenth?" Beckett asked him. After he nodded, she thought for a moment before she said, "Well, if you're taking me to two museums I'd love to go to the Clark County one again."

"I was going to suggest that," Castle said. "And the other?"

"The Mob Museum," Beckett said.

"Really? We're going to be on vacation," Castle said teasingly.

Reaching over to cup her hand over her husband's cheek, Beckett told him, "I know you want to see it as much as I do."

"I agree with those museums, don't worry," Castle told her hurriedly. "What would you think about going to the big cats in the Mirage and the aquarium at Mandalay Bay the second half of the day we go to the Mob Museum?"

"That would be nice," Beckett said. "I'll bring my camera." She was surprised when he kissed the back of her hand and said, "You like the idea."

"I'm just eager to go with you," Castle said. He held up his other hand and told her, "Not just Valentine's Day," not surprised when his wife pushed it down gently before she started to speak.

"I had a feeling," Beckett assured him. "But we have a few things before that you know."

"I know," Castle said with a quick nod. He then smiled and said, "At least we have the ball this week."

"Are you just saying that because I'll be wearing my gown?" Beckett asked him, a slight smirk.

"Partially," Castle said, leaning over towards her. They shared a deep kiss, and he was tempted to pull her onto his lap before he hesitated, slowly pulling away.

"What's wrong?" Beckett asked.

"Maybe we should swim," Castle said. He watched her stand up and was surprised when she walked back towards the house. "Where're you going?"

"I want to take our tickets back to the kitchen," Beckett explained. She smiled when her husband hurried to her before she let him take the paper and she went to a lounge chair to place her sundress. She went to the middle of the deep end of the pool before diving in and resurfacing near the grotto, swimming back and forth before she noticed her husband standing at the edge.

"You couldn't wait for me?" Castle asked her teasingly.

"No, I did want to go to bed soon," Beckett replied.

"True," Castle said. "Watch out, let me get in." He smiled when she swam towards the grotto and dove in before he was resurfacing next to her. "Swim?" he asked her.

"A little," Beckett replied before they were lapping the pool together. They did that for a bit before she stopped and made him do so as well before saying, "I think that's enough." She couldn't help smiling as her husband was nodding and she leaned over to kiss him before swimming to the grotto. When they were inside and sitting, she said, "Why don't you plan?"

"Because it's great to listen to you doing it," Castle replied with a smile. "But I did plan half of that one day."

"You did," Beckett said with a soft laugh. She leaned over and gently brushed her lips to his before he grabbed her and pulled her to him to kiss again. They were doing so passionately, and he couldn't stop himself before he was pulling her onto his lap. "Rick," she breathed since they had to stop, not surprised when he was replying quickly.

"I know, but…" Castle said, trailing off and shaking his head before he moved to kiss her gently on the lips. After they parted, he said, "Do you want to stop?"

"We should," Beckett said gently. She brushed her lips to his and then said, "I want to wait for Valentine's Day. But there are two problems with that." When her husband looked at her questioningly, she couldn't help smiling and told him, "I remembered, the ball and just being in Vegas. One day isn't going to be enough."

"Then… we fool around?" Castle asked.

"Yes," Beckett said simply before she leaned into her husband and kissed him hungrily on the lips. She wasn't surprised when he responded swiftly to her, and they were clinging to each other. When she needed to breathe, they pulled away slowly and she smiled telling him, "We'll have to."

"Definitely," Castle said before they were kissing again. That time they were far gentler and stopping he said, "We better go."

With a brief nod, Beckett got off his lap and went back out to the pool, swimming with her husband across so they could walk out. Once they had dried off and dressed again, she went to him and took his hand saying, "I want to check on Julia."

"I thought so," Castle said. "So do I," he added hurriedly. He smiled when she did before he kissed her, and they went back inside the house. Allowing her to lead the way, he watched her while they went down to Julia's doorway, peering inside. He immediately saw she was asleep, she and Mari laying on their sides facing each other, and he squeezed her hand gently before leading her down the hall. They checked on Eliza and Josie before heading to their room and inside he closed the door after them asking, "Are you okay?"

"I am, now I'm a little more certain she is," Beckett replied, smiling at him. "I'm going to take a shower but in Vegas…"

"We'll have that bathtub," Castle commented.

Beckett laughed and leaned over to her husband so they could kiss before she went to get her pajamas. "Unless," she told her husband as she was about to go into the bathroom. "You think we might be able to control ourselves." She watched the expressions on his face at that before he sighed and responded.

"I'd love to, but I don't think I could do it," Castle said.

Biting her lower lip slightly at the way her husband's eyes trailed over her body, Beckett took a moment before she told him, "I couldn't either. I won't be that long."

Watching her go, Castle quickly went to the closet to get his things to be ready when she finished. Since she was still showering when he had he quickly went over to the fireplace, lighting it before he sat on one of the armchairs. Playing a game on his phone, he lost track of time and he was nearly jumping when his wife placed her hand on his shoulder. "You finished?" he asked when he saw it was her.

"I am," Beckett said in amusement since it hadn't been difficult to see his reaction to her. "Thank you for the first."

"Enjoy," Castle told her, turning off his phone and standing up. He kissed her tenderly on the lips in passing before he grabbed his stuff, heading into the bathroom and not realizing she was watching him.

Smiling at her husband's rushing figure, Beckett looked around the room before she went around to the other side of the fireplace and to the bookcase there. She looked over the photo albums and smiled before taking one out, heading back to the armchair her husband had been sitting on. Tucking her legs under herself she opened the book and started to peruse the pictures there until she heard her husband opening the door. "Set?" she asked him with a smile as he walked out to her.

"I am," Castle replied. He looked down at the photo album and smiled slightly telling her, "She's okay."

"She is," Beckett replied, since it was pictures from when Julia was four and five, after she'd adopted her. "But things were a little simpler." She let her husband take the book out of her hands and watched him putting it away. She turned off the fireplace and told him while he walked to her, "It is early," not surprised when he was reacting to that in a rush.

"We're just going to go under the covers," Castle said. When his wife looked at him in surprise he hurriedly explained, "You turned off the fireplace."

"I'd like to sit for a little," Beckett told him gently.

"Great, let's go," Castle said rapidly.

Beckett couldn't help laughing and was about to head around the bed to her side when she felt her husband taking her hand. "You changed your mind?" she asked him.

"No," Castle replied hurriedly. He led her purposefully around to his side, helping her in getting off her robe. He then turned down the bed for her and watched her climbing on the mattress before getting his own robe off.

"Don't take off your glasses," Beckett said with a smile as she watched him joining her.

"I wasn't going to, not if we have a little time," Castle said. He sat up then and was about to pull the covers over his legs when his wife was stopping him by climbing on his lap and sitting down firmly. "Love… it's not that I don't like this, but it's a risk," he breathed out while she wrapped her arms around him and leaned against him.

"I hope you mean for us both," Beckett said with a smile.

"Of course," Castle said. He watched her for a moment and said, "You're not going to move."

"I don't want to," Becket said firmly. "Do you?"

"No," Castle said instantly before they were leaning into one another and kissing. He pressed gently on her back, holding her firmly against him before they were stopping, and he went to her neck. He kissed at her gently a few times and moved back so they could look at each other. "No?" he asked with a slight smile as she remained still, not surprised she was cupping his face with her hands before she spoke.

"No," Beckett replied before they leaned into one another and then proceeded to kiss again. She could feel her husband's hands on her back, and she was tempted to pull off her dark blue shirt when he was taking her wrists gently. "That's why we couldn't take a shower together," she told him, trying to smile but unable to because she was panting.

"I did agree," Castle replied. "But this…"

"You'd have to move me," Beckett said quickly. "But don't… please."

Wrapping his arms around his wife again gently as she pressed against his chest, Castle held her close before he began to caress her hair. "If we're just doing this, I think we'll be okay," he eventually said.

Beckett couldn't help beginning to laugh before she calmed down as much she could telling her husband, "For a little longer."

"You didn't have to," Castle said quickly as his wife was moving off him. When she cupped his cheek with her hand, he grabbed it to kiss the palm a few times and said, "Are you sure about the abstinence?" When she was just staring at him, he said, "I take it that's a yes."

"It is," Beckett replied. "But don't worry, I'm torturing myself with it too." She saw her husband was watching her and said, "We should go to sleep." She was a little startled when he didn't respond to that, just gazed into her eyes and she couldn't stop herself, throwing her arms around him and pulling him down to her so they could kiss passionately. Castle's hands were moving around her, pulling her shirt up and she was stopping him before he was gently nibbling at her earlobe for a moment before he whispered to her.

"Make me stop love," Castle told her huskily. "Or I'm going to end up tearing off your clothes."

Beckett gently pulled her shirt down and wasn't surprised when he moved away from her, laying on his back. Sitting up, she fixed her clothes and said, "Will you be okay?"

"Yeah, just give me a second," Castle said before he realized his wife was getting up. He watched her in surprise before he saw she was turning off the room lights until the ones on their nightstands were left. Feeling a little calmer while she turned off those, he sat up himself and took off his glasses, handing them to his wife. "You were serious about the fooling around idea, right?" he asked her while she climbed over him to her side of the bed.

"I was, we'll need it," Beckett said. She laughed softly while her husband was nodding in response and kissed him tenderly on the lips. She began to pull away when he was pulling her back and they kissed a second time before slowly parting. "Hmm, I love you Rick," she told him.

"I love you too," Castle said. "Goddess."

"Sheik," Beckett replied before they were kissing yet again. After they parted, she told him, "Again, we'll need it."

Castle chuckled for a moment before they brushed their lips against each other, and he laid down with her before pulling the covers over them. "At least it's not that long until the ball."

"No," Beckett said, settling against his side and firmly in his arms. "But there's a lot left until then." She wasn't surprised when her husband made an annoyed sound before she said, "Hopefully we'll have everything set."

"Hopefully, night love," Castle said.

"Goodnight," Beckett replied with a smile. They shared one more kiss and she laid back against him before she closed her eyes. Her interrupted stimulation kept her from falling asleep quickly, but with her husband caressing her back and calming her she soon found her repose held securely in his arms.