Walking up the aisle, the figure turned to the left and stepped up to the organ saying, "Ma'am, I'm sorry but I'm going to have to ask you to stop."
Finishing the hymn she'd been playing, Skye turned around and facing the person said, "I have permission."
"You," they breathed out roughly. "Get out of this church."
"Why? I would imagine I have every right to be here right now," Skye said, seeing the others stepping inside the church behind the killer.
"Sinner," they snapped. "You're filth and unclean and-"
Getting up from the bench, Skye walked down and stepped right up to the murderer though they stepped back as she said, "I haven't broken a Commandment though." She waited for them to react to that but when they only pressed their lips together, she said, "I wonder how exactly you even had your son Mrs. Weller."
"I'm a virgin," the woman said firmly.
"Not really," Skye said. "But I'm not surprised you're going with that delusion. You were only sixteen, you hated your son."
"I loved Matthias," Mrs. Weller said angrily. "But he turned into his father, he performed unclean acts with a woman he wasn't married to. In front of people. I had to help him before he would end up in hell."
"So you bought those lozenges and your brother's chemistry notes helped you," Beckett said, the woman whirling around and seeing them standing in the aisle together to block her off. "Poisoned them and gave them to your son since you knew he'd need them."
"Andrea Weller," Brad said, bringing out his handcuffs. "You're under arrest for the murder of your son Matthias." He nodded to Castle for him to take the books the woman was holding and placed the handcuffs on her wrists. "And for the murder of his friend Leone Manaudou."
"Don't worry," Beckett said while she woman was glaring at them. "We know you murdered him because he lost your suit against your ex-husband."
"And if you hadn't tried making him the patsy you might have gotten away with it," Castle added.
"Sinners! You're all sinners especially you!" Weller snapped at Skye.
"At least I didn't murder my own child," the investigator said before Brad was leading Mrs. Weller down the aisle. She was about to say more when Castle and Beckett suddenly left them, and she and Darnley shared a look before they hurried to follow.
Julia, waiting next to Hutchinson still, was about to ask the officer if things were taking too long when she heard the doors of the church opening. She straightened up, seeing her parents coming out and she wanted to run to them but held back since she thought they'd want her to remain. But she soon realized why they were first outside when Brad was walking out with a woman who Matthias was reacting to shortly after.
That's her! She did it! the spirit said angrily.
'Who is she?' Julia asked, not surprised at his response.
The one who killed us, Leo nearly growled
'At least they have her arrested,' Julia pointed out. 'I know they'll make sure she'll go to prison.' She was relieved when they were calming down and she looked at the squad car where Brad was helping the woman inside. She breathed out in relief when the door was closed and looked at her parents as they were standing with her by then. "I'm fine," she said.
"What about Weller and Manaudou?" Castle asked.
"They were angry, but they're happy watching her going right now," Julia said. "Who was she?"
Sharing a look with Castle, Beckett turned back to their daughter and said, "Weller's mother."
Gasping, Julia put her hand to her mouth and she turned to Brad's car before it drove away. She looked back up at her parents and then asked, "What're we doing? You're not going back to the station?"
"No, Brad told us we could go help them," Skye said. "And Kate? I hate to tell you, but I can't help Leo anymore."
"I had a feeling," Beckett replied. She wasn't surprised when the investigator looked startled and then said, "After what happened earlier. But can she?"
"If we go to your house," Skye replied easily. "And have Gage come with us," not surprised when the two looked at her questioningly before their daughter was speaking suddenly.
"They want her to come," Julia said. "Can she?"
"I'll call Brad," Castle said.
"I'll drive, go with you guys if you don't mind," Darnley said.
"Isn't it almost time for Maddy and Keo to get out of school?" Beckett told him. When he looked at his watch she said, "Just drop us off and you can head home."
"Alright," Darnley said. "You'll be careful?"
"I will," Julia promised since he was talking to her. She got into the car, not surprised when her father had Skye go to the passenger seat that time. "I really am okay now Dad. Now that I saw… the killer going in the back of Brad's car."
"Which is why I want the chance to sit with you," Castle replied, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
Julia smiled and then leaned against him before she watched as they drove from Southampton back home. She thanked Darnley for the ride before getting out of the car with her parents and Skye and waved, watching him leaving though he only went to his driveway. She sighed and said, "We have to wait for Sonia?"
"Let me call Brad once we get in," Castle told her before they were walking in.
"Grá!" Mary said, coming outside.
"Mary what are you doing outside without a coat?" Skye said.
"I'm going to hurry you in," the doctor replied. She hugged her wife tightly before she said, "Is everyone okay?"
"We are," Julia said.
"And you," Mary said. When she saw how startled the little girl appeared she told her, "Skye texted me. But you're feeling stronger?"
"She will be once we go into the house," the investigator told her wife pointedly.
"Okay, okay, Martha and Jim are waiting in the entry with Josie," Mary replied.
Beckett wasn't surprised when her father and mother-in-law went straight to Julia since she had texted her father what had happened at the school. After he handed her Josie once they'd finished, she said, "We're fine, we arrested the killer and the case is just waiting for Brad to file charges."
"Which he will," Jim said.
"He will," Castle said. He knew his mother and father-in-law were waiting and said, "It was his mother."
"It had to do with what he was doing in his performances," Beckett said.
"She was extremely religious," Skye added, feeling her wife squeezing her hand before Martha spoke.
"Are you okay darling?" Castle's mother said, squeezing Julia's shoulder.
"Yeah," the girl said with a nod. Julia smiled when her grandmother embraced her then and she quickly returned it before she stepped back, and her grandfather was helping her with her coat. "I really am okay now," she replied with a smile though she was helping him in taking it off.
"But I want to help you with this," Jim replied before he was hanging the coat.
"Thanks," Julia said before she watched her parents. When they were finished, she wanted to remind them about calling Gage, but her father was already getting his phone out.
"Come and sit with us," Martha said to Julia, getting her attention.
"We should," Skye said as she watched the girl looking back at her father. When Julia nodded, she led her over to the family room before Josie was starting to speak.
"Gram down," the baby said.
"Alright," Martha replied, setting her down with a kiss to her temple.
Hearing footsteps, Julia rushed over to the doorway and asked, "Will she come?"
"Brad's bringing her right now," Beckett said with a nod.
"What about Mrs. Weller?" Skye said with a slight frown.
"She asked for a lawyer," Castle explained. "Luckily Brad recorded her confession… and the church's security system too."
"For now rest until you need to start," Beckett said to her daughter. She then said to Skye, "Where are you going to do this?"
The investigator didn't answer, and Julia was surprised when she was looking at her and she turned around to look at the two men who had stayed with her after the killer had been arrested. 'Does it matter? The pool room is nice but it's up to you,' she said in her mind.
Your grandmothers suggested it, Leo said. He smiled and then said, From what they told me it's a little like my pool.
'A little,' Julia replied before she looked at Matthias who was answering quickly.
I don't care, as long as I can see Sonia, he said.
"I think we should go to the pool room," Julia said, glancing at Skye who nodded.
"They should be here soon," Castle replied. "Oh," he said suddenly to his wife. "You need to call Patrick."
"Paperwork?" Beckett asked. At her husband's nod she got her phone and texted her friend before she heard Josie crying out to her sister.
"Jules," the baby said, walking from their grandmother. She wrapped her arms around her and said, "Go to bed."
"No," Julia said with a soft laugh. She leaned down and kissed the top of her head, embracing her back, and said, "I'm okay."
"But you will rest," Castle said. He wasn't surprised when Julia glanced at him and he said, "We heard from David and Rebecca, because of what happened they know you and Mari will want to spend time with each other, so she can spend the night."
"Did you tell them I said thank you?" Julia asked.
"We did, and you're not going to be doing that for a while," Beckett told her firmly.
"I know, but this weekend…" Julia said.
"You still can," Beckett said in mock annoyance. She was about to speak when she heard the chime for the gate and said to Skye and Mary, "The station is barely five minutes away."
"We forgot," the doctor said since she and her wife had exchanged expressions of surprise.
"Hi," Gage said to Castle after he'd let her and Brad inside. "I… Thank you for letting me come over."
"You were needed," Castle said, turning to see everyone was coming down.
"Was anything explained to you?" Skye said after they'd greeted the performer.
"Just that you were going to help Matthias and Leo," Gage replied before the chief was speaking hurriedly when the others looked to him.
"I explained to her what was going to happen," Brad said. "I thought I would need to so she'd know."
"I think we should begin," Skye said. "Are you ready?" When Julia nodded, she went over to the girl and said, "I'm only going to be there if I need to help."
"I had a feeling," the girl replied. Julia then asked, "What about my parents?"
"That's up to you," Skye replied.
"We'll go," Castle said as Julia turned to him and Beckett. "When we're finished, we'll come back out," he said. He was about to follow the others when he paused and said, "Patrick's coming."
"With lunch; he said Bethany made Gatsby sandwiches," Beckett said, waiting for a moment.
"I'll let them in," Brad said.
"Okay," Skye said, leading the way into the pool room. "You need somewhere where you'll be alright once the process is over."
"Up on the second floor?" Julia asked.
"One of the daybeds?" Skye replied. When the girl nodded, they led Gage to the elevator and as they went upstairs, she said, "All you'll need to do is talk to the two, she's just helping them realize they're allowed to pass."
"And then they'll be okay?" Gage asked.
"Yeah, they'll be able to visit you, they might check on you," Julia said before glancing behind her as her parents were walking over to them. "They will once in a while." She frowned a little and said, "But not in a weird way," turning with the others to Gage when she laughed tearfully for a moment.
"That sounds like Matthias," the performer said. She then turned to Julia and said, "Whatever you need me to do, let me know."
"I will," Julia said. She was surprised when Skye gently led her around to the end of the daybed and she said, "I'll start?"
"Go ahead," the investigator replied with a nod.
Julia nodded and turned to look outside before she closed her eyes, calling to the two men and asked which of them was ready when they stood on either side of her.
Beckett had to hold herself from going to her daughter watching her during the process. She was relieved Skye was there but wished she could help Julia in some way because her daughter seemed to be shivering at the end and Skye and Gage were helping her sit down before she collapsed.
"Kate," the investigator called to the writer. When Beckett had hurried over Skye said, "She managed to help them both. But that likely took a lot out of her."
"I'm okay," Julia said.
"Not exactly," Castle said, leaning down and kissing the top of her head. He watched the girl lean into Beckett and wrap her arms around her while they sat together. "Are you going back to the station?" he asked Gage.
Shaking her head the performer said, "Chief Davis said we can go back to our rooms, including me. I'm going to call a cab."
"Maybe you should go back with Brad," Skye said.
"Oh no, I'm going straight to my room and crying for a week," the woman said though she'd already done so while standing with Julia and Skye.
"I'll stay with her," Beckett told her husband when he turned to her. "But I'd appreciate if you'd bring the paperwork for me," she said before he was quickly responding.
"Of course, I'll be back," Castle replied before he went after Skye and Gage to the elevator.
When she was sure the others were gone, Beckett turned to her daughter and gently pressed her lips to the top of her forehead. "It was too much," she said.
"No," Julia said, knowing her mother was asking her. "But I'm surprised I could really do that." She sighed then and said, "I'm just glad that they're okay." Feeling her mother gently caressing her hair she then told her, "But I should be able to get up and walk around."
"Are you hungry?" Beckett asked.
"A little," Julia said. She then smiled a bit and said, "I kind of wish I was at school."
"You will be tomorrow luckily," Beckett replied. She felt Julia hugging her a little tighter before she said, "What is it sweetie?"
"Thank you for taking me with you," Julia replied in a whisper. She wasn't surprised when her mother just looked at her and she then said, "How could she?"
Sighing, since she realized what was wrong, Beckett replied, "Your dad and I have always tried to understand that, but we never can. In her head he was doing something akin to a crime… she thought she needed to punish him."
"I really hope she goes to jail," Julia replied.
"Brad will do his best to make sure she does," Beckett said. She then heard voices below them and said, "I think I need to finish my part in the case."
"Wait," Julia said as her mother was going to the railing. She stood, though her mother was trying to stop her, and said, "I love you, Mom. You're definitely the best."
"Thank you, Julia," Beckett said, embracing her daughter tightly as she was doing the same to her. "I love you sweetie."
Julia smiled before they let go of each other and she walked with her mother to the elevator, feeling a great weight lifted off her shoulders as she had finally helped the two men find peace. Thinking of Mari coming over and staying the night filled her with elation, and she squeezed her mother's hand before they were descending to meet her father and the chief to end the case.
