"How pretty," Autumn said with a smile.
"And impressive, we told them to make this yesterday," Isaac said.
"Luckily we kept it simple," Genevieve said as she watched Beckett and Lily moving everything from the tray to the table, including the knife to cut it.
"Who's cutting?" Beckett said.
"Mom," Peter and Clive said at the same time.
"I was going to tell you two to do it," Genevieve said, standing up. When they both shook their heads seriously, she smiled and told them, "Thank you." She looked at her husband, unable to help laughing because he was shaking his head as well, and she turned to the cake while he moved to stand next her, their sons on her left.
Sharing a look with her husband, Beckett smiled at the family's obvious excitement before the architect was pulling the slice out and the boys were yelling at the same time as the older kids.
"A GIRL!" they all exclaimed since the cake was pink.
"Congratulations," Castle said, watching Isaac to see his reaction. When the man turned to Genevieve and kissed her lovingly, he breathed out quietly and felt his wife's hand on his arm.
"I was thinking the same," Beckett whispered to him. "But they're all happy."
Turning back to the four, Castle saw she was right as Genevieve was leaning down and kissing her sons briefly before urging everyone to sit back down. "I forgot to get drinks," he said suddenly. "What would you guys like?" he asked everyone. Getting their orders he went quickly to the kitchen and was surprised when Isaac was following him before the computer programmer began to speak.
"Are you okay?" Isaac asked.
"Yeah," Castle said, startled at the question.
"I saw the look on your face after we saw the inside of the cake," Isaac explained. "You looked worried."
Castle frowned and said, "It's just… a case I've heard of it doesn't matter."
"When it deals with a gender reveal I think it does," Isaac said.
"I know what he's talking about," Darnley said as he walked inside the kitchen. When the writer looked at him in surprise he explained, "Kate told me." He turned to Isaac and explained the case, not surprised the man looked more and more horrified. "Yeah, I was the same way when she told me about it. But I can see why you were thinking of that one," he finished with, saying the last to Castle. "You never know with some guys."
Seeing the annoyance on the programmer's face Castle said quickly, "I didn't think you'd be like that, but I just wanted to make sure. That case… scared me."
"It did," Beckett said, calling the men's attention to her. "When we found out Josie was a girl," she explained to Isaac. "So he's right when it isn't you. Just the fear we'd know someone who'd be so hung up on a gender…"
Nodding, as he wasn't surprised she trailed off, Isaac said, "I just wanted a healthy baby. And we do."
"You have a picture?" Darnley asked, grateful for the change in topic.
"We do, but Genevieve wanted to wait to show it," Isaac said.
"I better get started on the drinks," Castle said. "They're all waiting for us in there."
"And the kids are going to want drinks," Beckett said, setting the trays she'd brought with her on the island. "You guys can head back, I'll help Rick."
"I don't think we can argue," Darnley said, holding his hand up before Isaac could say anything. "We better go so your wife and my husband aren't wondering why everything is taking so long."
Watching the two men go, Beckett turned to her husband and said, "What just happened?"
Explaining up to the point where she had come in, Castle said, "I really shouldn't have thought of that, but it just came to mind," when he finished. He thought his wife would be annoyed, but she reached out to him and gently squeezed his arm before she spoke.
"I'm not surprised, I know how much that affected you," Beckett said. "But next time we're at a gender reveal try and hide that. It obviously will scare the parents."
"I figured," Castle replied, finishing pouring milk for the kids. "Now I'm ready."
Beckett smiled and picked up the second tray before she led the way to the pool room. She and her husband passed out the cups or mugs; as he'd made coffee and tea; and she asked Genevieve, "Do you want to pass out the slices?"
"Would you mind?" the architect asked.
"No," Beckett said, taking the knife from her before she started cutting for everyone. Sitting down to her own slice she smiled at Josie next to her and said, "I think she enjoys it."
"Sophie too," Lily commented in amusement. She then said to Genevieve and Isaac, "Have you two thought of names at all?"
"A few," the latter said.
"We're not totally sure yet," Genevieve added. She smiled and said, "But now we can finish up her room."
Watching Isaac nodding in agreement, Julia was tempted to talk to Peter and Clive since they'd been talking to their parents while they'd waited for drinks. She talked to her friend while they ate their slices and went to the pool with the other kids for the last bit of swimming they'd do that night. Standing on the zero-entry portion with them she was about to ask the two what they thought when Peter was talking first to them all with a smile.
"I know what you want to ask us and we're really happy," the boy said. "You heard us when we saw the cake."
"We heard all of us," Eve said. She smiled when her boyfriend laughed and nodded rapidly before hugging him and she kissed his cheek saying, "I'm so glad you're happy."
"We get one of each?" Peter asked her, motioning to his little brother.
"Exactly," Eve replied, nodding. "And Sophie will get that when she's older."
"There's more though isn't there?" Julia asked as she watched her dance partner. She smiled when Eve looked startled and then said, "I'm guessing really."
"She's right," Peter said in amusement. He then turned to his brother and said, "I was hoping it'd be a girl; for Mom."
"Oh yeah, I thought that too," Clive said. He then hesitated for a moment before he said, "Did she want a daughter?"
Thinking about that for a moment, Peter then said, "I think so, but she really was serious about just a sibling for us."
"Cool," Clive said. "I'll be back."
Watching his brother leaving the pool, Peter was surprised when he went to their mother and hugged her tightly. He turned back to his girlfriend and became startled as she hugged him again before she spoke gently.
"Go, I can tell you want to," Eve told him, watching him hurry out of the water. She looked at the two girls with her and said, "Okay, ask."
Laughing with her friend Mari said, "How are things going?"
"Good… as good as they can be when we're as young as we are," Eve said in obvious annoyance. She wasn't surprised when her friends were exchanging a look and she told them, "We can't be alone. My dad won't let us, and his parents won't either."
"It's awkward?" Julia asked.
"Well, it might be just I want to sit with him alone and hold hands or kiss for a while," Eve said. Seeing the two exchanging yet another look, she sighed and said, "Now what?"
"Don't get mad at us," Julia said gently. "We're just wondering since we're not dating yet."
"Sorry," Eve said, unable to help smiling when the two were shrugging their shoulders. "Then go ahead and ask," she told them, looking back and seeing the boys were talking to their parents before Mari was speaking a little shyly.
"Have you kissed really hard yet?" she asked.
"No," Eve said, knowing what her friend meant. "But I'd like to," she said softly. She glanced at her two friends and said, "You're not surprised?"
"No," Julia said as the girl was directing that to her. "You obviously like him a lot and I can see why you'd feel so restricted."
"I hate being so young," Eve commented.
"I don't blame you," Julia commiserated with her.
Sighing Eve said quickly as Peter and Clive were coming back to the pool, "I hope you guys; if you date this young; won't be as frustrated with your boyfriends."
"We had to go see Mom," Peter told the three with a smile. He looked at Jacob and said, "You okay?"
"Yeah, just listening to the conversation," the boy said, nodding to the three girls.
"Jake," Eve said quickly.
"I'm not saying anything," Jacob replied easily. "But I think we should swim over to the grotto." He just stared back at his sister when she glared at him and said, "Seriously, we'll fit won't we."
"We will," Julia said, trying not to laugh at the way her partner and his brother were looking very perplexed. "We should go," she added before they were getting into the water and swimming.
"Should we say anything?" Brad said when he saw where the kids were going.
"I don't think you should," Alexis said. She smiled when the other parents looked at her in surprise and told them, "They're not going to do anything with everyone else there. I'm sure they'll talk a little before they go on the slide a few more times."
"I'd leave them alone," Beckett said with a smile since Brad still didn't appear to be certain. "They'll be fine." She watched Lily speak to her husband and then turned her attention to Josie to take the baby into the small pool before she needed to go to bed, Castle following her swiftly.
February 4th, 2022
Hello Evangeline! I'm having a sleepover tonight, so you know what that means; this is going to be very short.
First was school, but that was normal (thank goodness though after the beginning of this week of course!) and so was dance class though it was ballet.
After we came back to the house and I did my homework really fast before the party started and then everyone started to come.
I guess this'll be super fast because what can I say about swimming except we did that and everything else we could at the pool? But the biggest thing was we found out what Isaac and Genevieve's baby was! They were going to do a milkshake thing but when they found out about the party, they decided to bring dessert and it was a cake. Genevieve cut into it and when she pulled out the slice the cake was pink! So they're having a girl and Peter and Clive are going to have a little sister! I wasn't sure how they'd feel but they were really excited hearing about it. When I asked Peter about that later he said he had wanted a sister so his mom wouldn't be the only girl in the house for a second time (it was him and his birth father before the end of that marriage which they don't have happy memories about of course).
After that we just swam for the rest of the night until the younger kids needed to go to bed. Mari and Eve are here, so that means I'm going to end here of course. And of course they're staying tomorrow so I might not have too much to write about, so I'll go ahead and stop here. Night Evangeline and see you tomorrow!
Finishing her diary, Julia put everything away and hurried to her bed which she jumped on to as her friends were laughing and pretending to complain at her leap. "Sorry, it looked like it would be fun," she said when they'd calmed down.
"I'm sure it was," Eve replied. "And you didn't write for that long."
"I didn't have that much," Julia said.
"School?" Eve asked.
"She doesn't write that much," Mari said before Julia was suddenly jumping off her bed. She shared a confused expression with Eve before they were getting up together at the same time and hurried to the doorway, looking towards the stairs before she heard talking and saw Castle and Beckett were coming up.
"Where's Julia?" the former asked.
"I think she went down the hall," Mari replied, pointing in the other direction.
"She did," Beckett said as she saw her daughter coming out of the guest room Skye and Mary were in with the two women.
"I asked them to sing a song," Julia told her family with a smile.
"We don't mind," Skye said. "Remember I never got the other requests." She was about to speak once they were gathered in the room when Mari was doing so first and rapidly.
"It's okay, we were swimming," the girl said.
"Then do you have one now?" Skye asked, sitting on the edge of the bed towards the end while her wife joined her.
"I thought you said you asked?" Mari asked her friend.
"I think she's talking to you two," Julia said with a smile.
"Oh," Mari said, looking at Eve and seeing her shaking her head. "Not really, what song did you ask for?"
"Sinkin' Soon," Skye said, smiling as the three girls giggled at Castle's sudden laughter.
"I'm glad we closed the door," Beckett said in amusement.
"Sorry, it was funny… though probably better you didn't sing it while we were at the pool," Castle said. "A little grim."
"It's all in fun," Skye said. "And why doesn't it surprise me you know that song."
"Julia," Beckett said in surprise as the girl had rushed off the bed and to the door. She looked with the others as they could see her knocking on Alexis and Louis' door before her oldest was opening it.
"I forgot she was a fan," Skye commented since the song was by Norah Jones.
"Is it alright if we come in?" Louis asked, he and his wife stepping in.
"It is," Beckett said, watching her son in law close the door.
Alexis was going to sit on the bed by her sisters when her husband took her hand and led her to the armchair he'd moved. "Louis," she said when he was pulling her to sit on his lap.
"Yes?" he asked simply.
Sighing, Alexis sat down and seeing no one appeared to be disgusted, said, "Jules didn't tell me what you were singing," before the investigator replied with a smile.
"Sinkin' Soon," Skye said. "She mentioned you'd like this one?"
"I do, not my favorite by her but I do like the song," Alexis said.
"Are you going to start?" Beckett asked.
"Of course," Mary said while she was getting her phone ready. "It is time for bed after all."
"And you've sung this before?" Louis asked.
"Have," Skye replied with a brief incline of her head. "For the girls but I'll explain that after. Have you heard this?"
Julia looked at Eve; since the investigator had asked her that; and smiled when she shook her head. She had wanted to tell her it'd be a great song when the music was starting, and Skye and Mary were singing together for most of the song.
We're an oyster cracker on the stew
And the honey in the tea
We're the sugar cubes, one lump or two
In the black coffee
The golden crust on an apple pie
That shines in the sun at noon
We're a wheel of cheese high in the sky
But we're gonna be sinkin' soon
In a boat that's built of sticks and hay
We drifted from the shore
With a captain who's too proud to say
That he dropped the oar
A tiny hole has sprung a leak
In this cheap pontoon
Now the hull has started growing weak
And we're gonna be sinkin' soon (we are)
We're gonna be sinkin' soon
We're gonna be sinkin' soon
Everybody hold your breath 'cause
We're gonna be sinkin' soon
We're gonna be sinkin' soon
We're gonna be sinkin' soon
Everybody hold your breath
And down and down we go
At the last verse, Julia could feel Mari next to her swaying in time with the music and she smile at her friend before they turned back to watch the two women singing again.
Like the oyster cracker on the stew
The honey in the tea
The sugar cubes, one lump or two?
No thank you, none for me
We're the golden crust on the apple pie
That shines in the sun at noon
Like the wheel of cheese high in the sky
Well we're gonna be sinkin' soon
"Should I have picked that song?" Julia asked after they'd applauded for the two. She wasn't surprised when Skye and Mary looked at her in surprise before the latter was speaking first.
"What do you mean?" the doctor asked.
"You said you sang it for your girls," Julia replied.
Smiling, Skye said, "Don't worry, we'll think of the girls anyway. And remember we're going back home after the ball."
"Will you be able to see them?" Mari asked.
"The flight's at eight forty-five," Skye said, she and Mary having discussed that with Castle and Beckett since they'd have to leave the ball early. "We get back in LA at eleven so not really. But we'll check on them of course before we go to bed; surprise them in the morning."
"Cool," Julia said with a smile. "But… doesn't the ball start at seven?"
"Six," Castle said. "It goes on for a while since they have a little charity auction too, but we never stay for that. Bad memories."
"What?" Eve asked in confusion when the others were laughing.
Explaining her father being offered for a charity auction Julia said to him, "You never went on that date, did you?"
"No, it turns out the woman who won was bidding because she was having problems with her husband," Castle said. "I spoke to her very seriously and she agreed to have a coffee with me, and we parted ways after that." He looked at his wife and said, "I have no idea what happened to her."
"Neither do I," Beckett said with a shrug. She was about to ask Skye and Mary why they'd sung the song to their daughters when hers was speaking in a hurry first.
"Why did you sing it for them?" Julia asked.
"Ivy and Iris were told by their sisters about our ability to change tones and pitch," Skye said.
"They wanted us to prove it, so we sang that one to show it since it's easier to do it that way," Mary continued. "And they enjoyed it."
"That was really good," Louis said.
"We'll see you guys tomorrow," Alexis said, getting off her husband's lap. "Night."
After they'd said goodnight to the two and the McDouglas women Beckett said, "You have a little more time girls, we'll come back when it is."
"Thanks," Julia said happily as she'd thought it was time for bed. She was even happier when her father closed the door behind him, and she turned to her friends. "Okay, I have a question for you," she said.
"Go ahead," Eve said with a smile because the girl was talking to her.
"Have you touched yourself yet?" Julia asked, not surprised when her best friend gasped, and their friend was responding in obvious shock.
"Julia! How can you ask me that?" Eve said.
"I just wanted to know yes or no," Julia said, holding up her hands to calm them both down. "You don't need to say anything else."
Eve hesitated before she sighed and said, "Yeah, I have." She wasn't surprised when Julia nodded while Mari looked like she wanted to say more. "Yes?" she asked. When the girl shook her head she said, "Go ahead."
"But… isn't that none of my business?" Mari asked.
"Depends on your question, I get the feeling it's not too bad," Eve said.
"Just… when did you do that?" Mari said, knowing she was blushing deeply. She thought Eve would respond first when Julia was doing that instead and luckily backing her up.
"I was wondering that too, but I didn't want to ask," Julia said.
"I'm not surprised," Eve said. "And it was before Halloween last year. I just was laying in bed and it kind of just happened."
"So are you looking forward to next weekend?" Julia asked. She laughed with her friends at her obvious change in subject before she said, "I didn't want to go any further than that."
"Neither did I," Mari said, Eve nodding in agreement to her.
Laughing when the others were looking at her, Eve said, "I am, but we're just going to the family fun center."
"Still, your first Valentine's Day together," Julia said. She paused for a moment and said, "What did your parents do for their first?"
"Went to dinner and my dad gave her a bracelet; they'd been dating since September the year before so…" Eve said before trailing off. "It was simple. Yours?"
"Dinner and dancing at a club," Mari said.
Smiling, since she was expecting them to turn to her next, Julia quickly said, "My dad accidently gave Mom's boss the earrings he meant for her by slipping them in her blazer pocket. But they said they had dinner after the end of their case and that was enough for them after that."
"Did he get in trouble?" Eve asked. She looked at Mari and said, "You knew this already?"
"I thought you'd want to know," the girl said before they turned to Julia, and she was laughing before responding to their looks.
"He did but she just told him she didn't like pranks," Julia replied. "But it was close, my dad wrote a little note he put inside." She wasn't startled when Eve looked at her in surprise and she said, "He was lucky and hadn't put Mom's name."
"Then why didn't he just give it to her instead of hiding it?" Eve said in what sounded like exasperation.
"They were having a sort of contest," Julia said. "That they'd give the better gift."
"So he lost," Eve said.
"Definitely," Mari said. "Tell her what your mom gave him."
Smiling, Julia said, "A drawer in the dresser she had at her apartment."
"That is a good gift," Eve said. "He didn't have a place for his clothes before, did he?" When Julia and Mari shook their heads she smiled and said, "Yeah, that's a great one for them. But why compete for gifts? Isn't the idea to say you love the person you're with?"
"Grownups are weird," Mari said, not surprised when the young woman nodded in agreement with her. She realized Julia hadn't done the same and asked, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," she said, shaking herself. "I was just thinking, my mom wasn't really ready to say I love you to my dad by then. She did it almost a month later."
"Really?" Eve said. "How long had they been together."
Counting quickly Julia said, "Ten months." Seeing the startled expression on the young woman's face she nodded and said, "I know. But you have to remember my mom was afraid of being in love after what happened to my grandmama."
"That's true," Eve said. "I'm glad she did in the end though."
"So am I," Julia replied. "And my sisters," she added. "What about you and Peter? Anything new?"
"Nothing, we do what we can when we can see each other," Eve said. "And I'm getting him some chocolates; the peanut butter kind he likes," she added.
"You know if you keep dating him you can get better gifts," Julia said.
"When you're older," Mari added.
"I hope," Eve said, laying back.
"He's nice?" Julia asked with a smile.
"He is, he's a little more comfortable now but still acts like a gentleman," Eve said before looking at Julia. "I think I have you to thank for that."
"It isn't me, it's more he had to learn that dancing with me," Julia said.
"But you helped him with that," Eve said firmly.
"Okay, but it's how he is too," Julia said.
"That too," Eve said, before they were laughing together. At the knock on the door she looked over to it and groaned with the other two before Beckett was walking inside, Castle behind her speaking laughingly.
"You knew this was going to happen," he told them. "But I'm not surprised. Just remember you have tomorrow too."
"It's okay," Eve said when Julia and Mari turned to her. She got off the bed and told them, "I knew you guys had an earlier bedtime."
"We're younger," Julia said as she moved to let Mari get up.
"That doesn't matter," Eve said firmly. "I don't mind."
"Or we could stay up to your bedtime," Mari commented.
"And make your parents mad?" Beckett asked teasingly. She couldn't help laughing when the girl merely shrugged and said, "Into bed," holding up the covers for her.
After she had slipped underneath once her friend was sitting on the mattress, Julia said to her father, "Thanks for tonight, it was a great party."
"I know," Castle said. "And you're welcome for it, but I really hope you'll help out with the little kids."
"We will," Julia assured him. "Just make sure you have fun at the ball."
"We will," Castle echoed him before he pulled her into a hug. "Love you sweetheart."
"I love you too," Julia replied before she shared a quick kiss with him. She watched him switching with her mom and said, "And thanks for letting us stay up a tiny little bit."
"You're welcome," Beckett said in amusement, embracing her tightly to her for a moment. When she'd pulled away, she said, "And please sleep."
"We will," Julia said after she'd giggled a little. She pulled away and said, "I love you, Mom."
"Love you sweetie," Beckett said, smoothing her hair gently. She kissed her lightly and standing up tucked her in carefully. "Goodnight girls," she said while she looked at the air mattress to make sure Eve was settled on her bed.
"Night," the three said together.
Going to her husband, Beckett let him take her hand before he turned off the light and she closed the door slightly before they walked down the hall to Josie's room. Once they'd checked on the baby and were sure Eliza was asleep, she walked with him back to Julia's room to listen before her husband gently tugged her hand. She walked with him to their room after that and once she closed the door saying, "They heard us," not surprised when he was responding to that immediately.
"I don't think so," Castle said. "Since them having more sleepovers hinges on them behaving."
"Good point," Beckett said with a smile.
Realizing her tone, Castle paused in walking to the closet and said, "You set me up."
"I wanted to see if you'd point out the obvious," Beckett replied easily as she was still smiling. She turned around before she was suddenly being grabbed and gasped slightly. "Rick," she said.
"And you expected me not to really react to that?" Castle asked her before he was kissing the side of her head. He hugged her tightly and told her, "But I don't mind the teasing."
"I'm glad," Beckett said, settling back against him. "We better get ready though," she added, not surprised when he was kissing the side of her head again before he spoke.
"Do we have to?" Castle asked.
"Yes, we're leaving tomorrow early," Beckett said.
"Not that early," Castle said in protest. He knew he needed to let her go and did so though he stayed close to her as she turned around.
Reaching up to him, Beckett gently cupped his cheek saying, "But we're agreed, aren't we?"
"Come back tomorrow night too?" Castle asked. When his wife nodded, he said, "I remember, I just wish we could do a little something."
"We have to go back to the loft," Beckett said slowly.
"I didn't mean that," Castle said hurriedly. "No, what about now?"
Beckett smiled at his concerned tone and told him, "We should get ready first."
"After you," Castle replied, following her to the closet where they changed into their pajamas. Finishing with their teeth and hair he stayed to watch her taking off her makeup, unable to help saying, "Do you even want to go?"
Smiling at him, as she was aware of what he was asking, Beckett washed her face and after she dried it told him, "I do, we were invited and all our friends are going."
"You just want to dance with Patrick," Castle said teasingly. When she cupped his cheek, he held her hand and turned his head enough to kiss her palm before he said, "I'm kidding."
"I'm well aware," Beckett replied simply. She then took his hand and pulled him with her to their bed, leaving him at his side while she walked around to hers. Taking off her robe she got on the bed and told him, "Come on love."
"Cold?" Castle asked her though he was rushing to get under the covers with her as he'd already taken off his robe.
"A little," Beckett said, turning to him and curled against his side shortly after. "Is it too much?"
"Of course it is," Castle said while he gently rubbed her back. "But imagine how it'll be once we get to Valentine's Day." He looked down at her saying, "I'm surprised you're still worried." He was surprised when she didn't look up at him and said hesitantly, "Kate-"
"No, I'm surprised you're insisting now that we don't do anything at all," Beckett interrupted him.
"Me too," Castle said, smiling at her gentle laughter. He kissed her forehead and said, "But I want it to be amazing."
"You know it already is," Beckett said. "But you're right."
"Tomorrow night… why don't we leave when Skye and Mary do?" Castle asked.
"That soon?" Beckett asked in amusement. Looking at her husband as he was pursing his lips, she brushed her lips to them before he was speaking rapidly.
"Okay, then maybe not that early," Castle said.
"I don't think the others will want to either," Beckett told him in amusement. She then asked, "You don't want to dance with them?"
"I forgot about that," Castle said before he was kissing her gently on the lips. After they'd parted, he said, "I was thinking of coming home too."
"I guessed," Beckett said in amusement. "I know you want to surprise our girls." She laughed softly and said, "To be honest I would like to too. But if they get mad?"
"Vegas," Castle and Beckett said together. He smiled while she laughed again and he hugged her tightly again saying, "You're beautiful you know."
Calming down, Beckett was startled to see how serious her husband was, and she said, "You-" before he was leaning down to her and kissing her roughly. Though she knew it was a risk, she threw her arms around him and responded eagerly. Their tongues meeting in her mouth she playfully pushed against him before he was pulling away from her fast.
Panting with her, Castle shook his head and said, "I told myself not to do that."
"I didn't really stop you," Beckett pointed out.
"I know I was telling myself that when I was getting a little rougher," Castle said. He smiled when she rolled her eyes and leaned over, brushing his lips to hers lightly before he suddenly lingered.
"Rick…" Beckett breathed when he slowly backed away from her and she could see the intensity in his eyes.
"Your lips are swollen," Castle told her huskily, trying to explain himself though he had a feeling she understood already.
"So are yours," Beckett said, reaching up and gently brushing her fingers against his hair that had fallen on his forehead.
"We need to go to bed," Castle said, his voice still husky as he was fighting with his desire. He saw his wife was hesitating before they turned to her tablet that was on when a noise was coming from it.
"Mama," Josie said tearfully.
"She's thirsty," Beckett said as she noticed her husband was looking at her. She gave him a quick kiss before she got off the bed and hurried to pull on her robe.
"I'll get the water," Castle said.
Nodding, Beckett was putting on her slippers and walking swiftly down the hall to the baby's room. "Hey sweetie," she said, walking up to the crib a little faster. "Are you thirsty?"
"Wa-wa," Josie said tearfully as her mother picked her up.
"Your daddy's bringing it right now," Beckett assured her, kissing her cheek and gently drying her cheeks off.
"Here it is," Castle said, holding her bottle. "Sorry I took so long but I wanted to make sure you had your special bottle." He followed his wife over to the rocking chair and sat on the bed as they watched the baby drink. "Milk?" he asked.
"Remember what happened last time she had some so late," Beckett said.
"Good point," Castle replied, not surprised when his wife smiled. He then looked at Josie, seeing the baby was pulling away, and he asked her, "Okay?"
"Mama," Josie said, putting her hand on the bottle.
"Any more?" Beckett replied. When the baby cuddled against her, she smiled and handed the bottle to her husband before she took Josie to the changing table.
"Is she set?" Castle asked.
"She is," Beckett said. "But I'm not sure about her going to sleep."
"Just use the rocking chair," Castle told her. "I'm sure she'll be fine."
"You don't want to?" Beckett asked him.
"Oh no, she'll want you," Castle said firmly. He put his hand on her back, leading her to the chair before Josie was whimpering and speaking to them both.
"Mama no go," the baby said before reaching to her father and said, "Dada."
"We'll stay until you sleep sweetie," Beckett told her as she sat. She cradled the baby and held her close, kissing her forehead and said, "Sweet dreams Josie."
"We love you," Castle said, kissing her forehead. He sat on the edge of the bed, watching his wife rock gently while they both gazed at Josie to make sure she would sleep. It took a little time; as the baby fidgeted at first; before she was settled down and he was relieved when her eyes were closing and staying closed. He followed Beckett over to the crib and covered Josie with her blanket while they stayed a bit longer to make sure she'd be asleep.
Turning to her husband, Beckett wasn't surprised when he let her take his hand immediately and they walked together back down the hall. She was smiling a little as he stopped with her at Eliza's room and then Julia's and she said once they were in their room, "I thought one of them would be awake."
"Yeah, Eliza," Castle said, smiling when his wife laughed. He hugged her and said, "You're an amazing woman my love."
Beckett pulled him to her and wrapped her arms around him as he leaned down slightly to kiss her. While he was holding onto her tightly, she was reaching up with her other hand, sliding her fingers through his hair before he moved suddenly.
"You have to tell me to stop Kate," Castle told her roughly as he moved her hair away from her neck. Kissing at it hungrily he could feel his wife was holding onto him with both hands and he moved around to her lips. Crushing them underneath his he slipped his tongue into her mouth so they could tangle together before she was ending the kiss by drawing back slowly. He reached up while she pressed against him, running his fingers through her hair before saying, "I love you," a little surprised to feel her shiver of pleasure before she was tilting her head to look into his eyes while she spoke.
"I love you too Rick," Beckett replied. She embraced him tighter and once they'd parted told him, "We better go."
"Yeah," Castle said simply before he reluctantly let her go. They went back to their bed, and he watched his wife while she removed her robe, letting her get under the covers first before he said, "I'll get the lights."
"Go ahead," Beckett said, knowing he was letting her have a say if they were going to do anything else. As he went around the room, she then told him, "There isn't that much time."
"Are you saying that to us both?" Castle asked with a smile.
"I think so," Beckett replied. She looked on while he took off his glasses at his nightstand and she reached for her lamp before he turned off his.
Waiting for a moment to allow his eyes to adjust to the dark, Castle moved to slide below the covers as his wife touched his shoulder to guide him. He laid down and watched her moving to his side, pressing close before he kissed her tenderly. He didn't let it last and once he pulled away asked, "Too much?"
"No," Beckett said, smiling. She pressed her cheek to his shoulder and said, "I thought of something about Vegas that doesn't deal with our bed," continuing to smile when she felt her husband's chest shaking while he was laughing underneath her before he spoke.
"What is it?" Castle asked, amusement still in his voice.
"Where we'll eat," Beckett said.
"Are we going to talk about Valentine's Day?" Castle asked, not surprised when she turned her head up to look at him.
"I know what you want to do," Beckett replied. "And I'm in complete agreement with you."
"So the other days," Castle said. He felt his wife nod and reached up to her, gently caressing her hair before he asked her, "Where do you want to go?"
Smiling, Beckett said, "I know you already have someplace in mind."
"Yes, but I'm sure you're not going to want to go," Castle said.
"A buffet?" Beckett asked.
"The one at Caesars," Castle said quickly. "But I was just remembering the quality of it so-"
"That's fine," Beckett replied. "What about a club?"
"Before Valentine's Day?" Castle asked doubtfully. Feeling his wife beginning to shake he smiled and said, "I just hope we have enough to do at night." He paused and then asked, "You want to take pictures?"
"I would," Beckett said, shifting a little before she said. "But we'll worry about that once we go."
"Yeah," Castle said before he bent his head and gently kissed her forehead. "Night love."
"Goodnight Rick," Beckett replied. She closed her eyes and let her body relax, trying not to let her excitement for their trip or the ball the next day overtake her. She turned her attention to her husband and thinking of their last visit to the city she fell asleep shortly after, satisfied being in his arms until they could have their intimacy again.
