"Oh grá," Skye said with a sigh. "Do I really need to?"
"Yes, into the tub," Mary told her firmly.
Skye was about to ask her wife if she would join her when she was pulling her polo shirt out from her trousers. "I might get the wrong idea from this," she said.
"Later," Mary said, leaning over and brushing her lips to hers. "Right now you're getting into that tub."
"Alone?" Skye asked, removing her shirt herself.
"Alone," Mary replied, testing the water quickly.
"Mary," Skye groaned in annoyance.
"Yes?" the doctor asked easily.
Shaking her head, Skye got the rest of her clothes off before she turned to her wife saying, "No?"
"No, you're going to relax right now," Mary said, pointing to the water.
"I'd relax with you," Skye said. When her wife just looked at her, she sighed and said, "Fine, but you owe me later."
Mary didn't say anything, just watched while her wife got into the bathtub and she said, "Soak for a little okay?"
"You… would you stay with me?" Skye asked her.
Reaching to her, as her wife's voice was a little strained, Mary nodded and said, "Of course, I was going to let you decide."
"Thank you," Skye replied leaning against the back of the tub.
"Do you want to talk at all grá?" Mary said after she was sure her wife was relaxed.
"Are we having a session right now?" Skye asked with a smile.
"I think we are," Mary said, smiling as well since she would do that with her wife after some of her investigations. She grew serious and said, "Start love, what's wrong?"
"I'm remembering the crash I lost my father in," Skye said, sliding down so the water was touching her chin. "And hating myself."
"You hate them all for surviving?" Mary asked gently.
"Not hate, I didn't want any of them to die," Skye replied hurriedly. She then looked above her and said, "I was… jealous? They'll hopefully go home and continue their lives. But again, I hate myself since that makes me incredibly selfish."
"It's a natural reaction," Mary told her.
"Yes," Skye said. "I know but I wanted to hear you say that."
"And now you have," Mary replied. "Anything else?"
"The kids," Skye replied. "All those kids…"
Moving from the stool that was in the bathroom for the vanity, Mary sat on the edge of the tub and held her hand out to her wife. "They'll have their families grá," she told her gently.
"But I wasn't able to find out what's going on. Someone is probably sabotaging these planes and…" Skye began before her wife stopped her. "I know, but…"
"You're not psychic grá, and you have Trevor and the others to help," Mary said. "When you need it."
"Thank you for appealing to my vanity as an investigator," Skye said, smiling.
"You're welcome," Mary said easily. "And I'm so happy seeing you smiling."
Shaking her head, Skye said, "Wash my hair?"
"Gladly," Mary replied before she looked on while her wife was ducking under the water. She then got her shampoo ready and proceeded to wash Skye's hair lovingly, letting the darkened brown strands run through her fingers as she soon rinsed it off. "Could I brush it when we finish?" she asked.
"Of course," Skye replied, her eyes closed as she was melting under her wife's ministrations.
"And then you'll take a short nap," Mary said. She smiled at her wife's opening eye and told her, "Or just try and doze."
"Okay," Skye whispered when her wife was running her fingertips over her bare shoulder. She was tempted to ask if they could do some kind of fooling around but knew they didn't really have the time. She then turned her attention to the feeling of her wife washing her hair with the conditioner and she soon said, "I don't need to wash with soap."
"You wanted to, that you need to do on your own," Mary replied. "I need to get some water."
Nodding, since she knew she couldn't really ask her wife to wash her, Skye turned her attention to the washcloth and soap her wife left for her and cleaned her body. When she had finished, she stood up in the tub and noticed there wasn't a towel near her, calling out, "Grá."
"Hold on," Mary said, hurrying inside the room. She smiled at her wife and said, "You look beautiful right now."
"No glasses," Skye pointed out to her.
"You'll have them on after you rest," Mary replied easily before she dried her body off. She was meticulous before she was finished and she then said, "Stay in your towel."
"For my nap?" Skye asked in surprise.
"It would help you be a lot more comfortable," Mary said easily. She watched her wife start working on drying her hair and once she was finished, she walked with her to the bedroom. "I'll be on my computer for a little," she told her. "I'll let you sleep or doze for a half hour."
"Thank you grá," Skye said, taking her hands before leaning over and kissing her lips tenderly. They lingered for a while and then parted before she smiled at Mary motioning to the bed and she removed her towel before climbing on the bed. "Night."
"Night," Mary replied, raising her hand to her lips and kissing the back and then fingertips. She pulled the bedsheet over her wife before setting Skye's glasses on the nightstand before she left the room, closing the door behind her. Leaning against it for a moment, she breathed out a little roughly and then shook herself, walking over to the couch before she got her tablet on the coffee table in front of her. She didn't really keep an eye on the time as she was playing a few games but soon noticed it, getting up and going back into the bedroom. When she reached the edge of the bed, she saw her wife sleeping peacefully and was relieved they'd spoken though she hadn't been fully sure about doing that. She was about to reach down to Skye when she saw her wife's green and hazel eyes open before she was smiling and then speaking.
"You haven't been standing there the whole time have you?" Skye said.
"No, I came in to wake you up," Mary explained. "How do you feel?" she asked, grabbing her wife's glasses and handing them to her as she sat next to her on the side of the bed.
"Good," Skye said, sitting up and forgetting she was naked as the sheet covering her fell to her lap. She took her glasses and after they were on, ran her fingers through her hair before looking at her wife. Seeing the way she was staring at her she asked, "What?"
"Nothing," Mary said quickly.
Glancing down at herself, Skye said, "I'm comfortable."
"Yes," Mary began slowly. When she saw the way her wife was looking at her she said, "Would you be able to stop staring?"
"No, but do we honestly have the time for that?" Skye asked her. She was startled when her wife suddenly stood up and watched as she was taking off her clothes. "Mary…" she began.
"Don't worry grá," she replied. "I'll just take off my clothes," Mary continued before she stopped. She moved then and climbed onto the bed, kissing her wife deeply as she was on her hands and knees next to her. They rolled their tongues around each other for some time before they were slowly parting and she said, "Good for now?"
"I guess," Skye said, pretending to sound resigned. She then reached for her wife before they were kissing passionately, and she ran her hands around her body before she reached for the clasp of her bra. "This is ridiculous, why are we waiting?" she asked as her wife was leaning back and looking at her.
"Because we'll have a lot more time," Mary said sternly though she was helping her with getting the lingerie off her body.
"True but let's at least…" Skye started to say before she trailed off.
"What? Touch?" Mary asked her with a smile. When Skye's response was to lean over to her and kiss her, she was wrapping her arms around her wife in return before they were moving to lay down together on the bed. She was on her back and she asked, "Is this what you want tonight?"
"One way," Skye replied.
Mary smiled before she reached up to her wife and pulled her down to her, kissing her slowly before they parted. "Should we continue?" she asked.
"Of course," Skye said before they were kissing each other at the same time. Their tongues tangled for a while until they were breathless, staring into each other's eyes. "We should stop," she told her. She closed her eyes tightly when she felt her wife's fingers between her legs and gasped out to her, "Yes, I'm aroused but if you keep going we won't stop."
"You're including me in there?" Mary asked her wife with a smile.
"Yes!" Skye gasped as her wife was lightly playing with her clit. She grabbed her wrist before moving it away and holding her, kissing her hungrily. They were doing that a second time and when they parted she said, "We have to get off the bed."
"Sure," Mary replied since she was being pushed to start making love with her wife. They got off the bed and she went to the closet first before she was looking at her clothes and her wife kissed her shoulder before she turned as her wife spoke.
"What will you wear?" Skye asked her.
"This one," Mary said, taking a dark blue and black polka-dot dress from a hanger. "And you?"
"One of my suits," Skye said simply. She reached next to her wife and took out a blouse before getting the rest of her clothes. "I'll be back out in a second," she said once she had her underclothes.
"Alright," Mary said.
"Do you need the bathroom?" Skye asked when she reached the doorway, looking back at her.
"No, I'll be fine," Mary said, knowing her wife was asking if she needed to clean herself at all. She watched her closing the door and breathed out roughly before she forced herself to dress. She got everything on and zipped her dress up as much as she could before Skye was walking out. "You look beautiful grá," she told her.
"Thank you," Skye said, smiling back at her. "Zip up?"
"Please," Mary replied before she turned to her. She checked to make sure the sleeves were okay before she turned around to face her wife. She wrapped her arms around her and said, "I am sorry about that."
Shrugging Skye said, "Nothing I haven't done before. Now, later on you will owe me."
"Okay," Mary said simply. She smiled at the way her wife's eyes widened and she leaned over, kissing her tenderly before they pulled away from each other. "I need to put on makeup," she said as she was letting her go.
"You don't have to," Skye said, following her into the bathroom.
"You just say that because you want to kiss me again," Mary told her in amusement as she started with her makeup.
"Partially," Skye replied. "And really I don't think you need it to look beautiful; you are."
"Thank you," Mary replied easily before she was paying attention to herself and finishing.
"Okay?" Skye asked, having brushed her hair and put on light makeup and lip gloss.
"Yeah, let's go," Mary replied before they were walking to the door. She took her wife's hand as they were walking to the elevator and she said, "Think we'll meet them on the way down?"
"Maybe," Skye said before they were stepping into one of the cars that had opened. She looked up at the numbers, wondering herself if they'd meet the couple as they started down to the lobby before they were slowing down at one that made her smile just before the doors opened.
"Rick," the voice said, cutting into his nightmare. "Rick, please. Wake up."
Shaking himself, Castle opened his eyes before he saw his wife was staring down at him. "Kate," he said, reaching for her as he was sitting up.
"I know, I'm here love," Beckett told him, hugging him as he was nearly gripping her. She let him do that for a while before she asked him, "Do you want to talk about it?"
"I was going into the plane and you…" Castle started to say before he shook his head and then pressed his face into her neck.
"It's okay," Beckett said gently, caressing the back of his head.
Castle lingered for a bit before he pulled away and told her, "It is… did I wake you up?"
Shaking her head Beckett said, "The alarm went off."
"We need to go?" Castle asked.
Nodding her head, Beckett gently smoothed down the bits of her husband's hair that were sticking out still and she told him, "We do, but are you good to get ready?"
"Yeah," Castle said, nodding his head. "But first…" he said, pulling her to him before they started to kiss. He made it sensuous, needing it at that point before their tongues met inside her mouth and were gently rubbing together. When they needed to part, he said once they had, "You… please promise me we'll sleep in this bed tonight."
"Of course," Beckett said, startled. But she shook herself and then told him before he could speak, "We can make love if you'd like."
"Are you up to that at all," Castle said, studying her closely.
Sighing Beckett moved to sit on his lap as he was having her move to do so and she told him, "I really try not to think about it but the baby in that carrier…"
"I saw," Castle told her quickly, holding her close against him. "And the kids on that plane was… it was horrible to see. I'm so glad we called the girls after that." He studied his wife and caressed her hair lightly saying, "Would you want to call them again now?"
"No, no, I'm fine," Beckett said, reaching up to her cheek as she hadn't been able to stop the tears in her eyes. She let her husband gently brush those tears away with thumb and once she had she laid her head on his shoulder before telling him, "I never want to do that again… though I would if I was needed."
"That's one of the many, many reasons why I love you," Castle said, wrapping his arms around her tightly. "You're selfless. And an amazing mother," he added.
"Thank you," Beckett said. "Would you?" she asked him, raising her head.
"I would," Castle said. "Especially if you were there; someone has to look out for you." He took the gentle kiss she was giving him and when they were apart again he told her, "You love me?"
"I do," Beckett said. "And I'm glad you helped out even though that fuselage wasn't structurally safe."
"Are you kidding? It could have started to collapse and I would have gotten those kids out," Castle replied. "I wouldn't have run out even at a creak."
"It did," Beckett said.
"And I didn't run," Castle said simply. He smiled when she did, and they hugged one another tightly before they were moving. He followed her to the walk-in closet they had and asked, "A surprise?"
"No," Beckett said with a smile, finding she felt much better at his eagerness. "My blue-lace dress. Go change in the bedroom," she told him.
"Why do I have to?" Castle asked jokingly. He smiled when she playfully pushed at him and he left with his clothes before changing out of what he'd worn to nap in. While he heard clothes rustling, he was about to ask her if she'd wear the dress later for him when she was calling out to him playfully sternly.
"Let me choose what I want to wear later for you," Beckett said.
"I was just going to say that same dress… with nothing under it," Castle replied, looking over at the doorway to the closet though he couldn't see his wife.
"Pervert," Beckett said before she walked into the bedroom. She smiled as her husband stared at her and then went up to him so she could start tying his tie which he'd been about to do.
"You-" Castle started to say as he put his arms around her. "Love your dress?" he asked as he felt it was open.
"I know, I forgot to get my hair ready first," Beckett replied easily as she pushed the knot she'd made up fully to his chin. "Let me do that before I have you zip me up," she told him.
"Sure," Castle said, staring at her bare back as she was walking away to the bathroom.
"Rick," Beckett told him as she was aware already of what he was doing. "Put your glasses on and don't forget your jacket."
"I…" Castle said before he looked down at the bed seeing his blazer was still there. He picked it up and threw it on before grabbing his glasses from his wife's nightstand. He was about to walk over to the bathroom when his wife was walking out and he hurried up to her, zipping the back of her dress. "You look amazing," he told her as she turned around to face him.
"Thank you," Beckett told him, fixing his lapels before she wrapped her arms around his neck. She shared a kiss with him before they parted and she said, "You look great."
"Good," Castle said. "I'm hoping that'll help you later." When she merely smiled, he said, "If you want to."
"I'd like to," Beckett replied. "To…" she began before she trailed off. She wasn't surprised when her husband was hugging her tightly to him and she responded as they remained in their embrace for a while.
"I know," Castle said as his wife pulled away a little from her. "It's why I'm hesitating a little."
"And why you asked?" Beckett said.
"I don't think I did ask," Castle said after he'd thought about that for a moment.
"Without a direct question," Beckett commented. When her husband looked at her in confusion she laughed and leaned into him, brushing her lips against his. "I want to be with you Rick, let you take me over," she said as she let him go to get her heels. When she walked with them to the chez lounge she saw the way he was watching her and said, "Shoes love, we're going to be late."
"Yeah," Castle replied before he went to his shoes. He sat next to his wife as they were putting them on at the same time and he told her, "It would be great for you to do that for me too."
"I will," Beckett said, cupping his cheek as she stood before she walked over to the bathroom.
"Wait-" Castle began as he stood himself.
"I didn't put on lipstick yet," Beckett replied as she was quickly putting some on. She walked back out to him and said, "Let's go."
"I'm ready," Castle said as he knew she was checking too. He followed her to the door; grabbing one of the room keys on the way; and they stepped out into the hall before walking down to the elevators. "Skye and Mary?" he asked his wife.
"They might have gone already," Beckett replied.
"We're not that late," Castle said in mock complaint. Before she could tell him anything in return, one of the elevator doors opened and he said, "See?"
"Get in," Beckett told him in amusement. "How're you doing?" she asked Skye as the doors closed.
"I'm alright," the investigator replied. "I was relaxing, had a bath and a nap so…"
"We took a nap," Castle said. "But how's everyone doing?"
"Trevor might know," Skye said. "I haven't really had a chance to call anyone yet."
"Hopefully he told Patrick about Proulx," Beckett commented.
"I'm sure he did," Mary said. "Since he'd want Patrick to be finished with this case as soon as possible."
Beckett only had a chance to nod as the car was stopping and they stepped out, walking to the restaurant and seeing the two men waiting outside. She went to Darnley and hugged him tightly saying, "Spent time with your kids?"
"The whole time until we got ready," the detective replied with a smile. He then grew serious and said, "Trev told me about Proulx, and I called his office to find him. He's at the Corbin Field battle this week." He and his husband then explained the recreation and the ball at the end of it before he said, "It wasn't really a battle; more a skirmish but because it was so close to here and before Gettysburg it's a bigger deal in this area."
"Would you mind if I didn't tag along?" Skye asked. "I'd like to head to the hospital to see Kip and focus on our investigation."
"Trev?" Darnley asked his husband.
"I'll need to join her," Nkosi replied, nodding his head. "Since we have to complete our investigation more than ever," he said as he handed his phone to his fellow investigator. He watched her studying the screen before she was nodding herself and he started to ask what she thought when she spoke first.
"They needed to," Skye was saying. "So I'm glad to see that news." She looked at the others and explained to them, "They've grounded Potomac Airways planes until further notice. The 777 coming in today was the last plane they had out of the country, the others are at various airports around the country and here as well."
"What about the flights already scheduled?" Castle asked.
"They'll send them to other airlines, they're in a group with a few others," Skye said.
"Will you investigate them?" Beckett asked.
"We will," Nkosi said when Skye looked at him. "But I do have some non-investigation news. I was able to find out that all the passengers are going to recover, including the ones with more serious injuries."
"That's great news," Beckett told her friend, squeezing her shoulder.
"It is," Skye said. "And we'll go in to meet with some of them soon."
"Maybe tomorrow if we have time," Nkosi said. "But I think we should head in for dinner… if you guys would like to?"
"He's hungry," Darnley said with a smile. "But he's right, it's time for our reservation."
The group walked into the restaurant before they were led over to their tables that were pushed together for the six of them. After they'd sat around in their chairs, they ordered some wine before they looked out at the view of the marina that was outside for a little.
"What should we talk about?" Darnley asked them when they turned their attention to their menus.
"Our kids," Skye said firmly.
"She's right," Beckett said. "We really don't need to talk about the cases."
"They're right," Castle commented. "All the kids we know."
"Isn't that a lot?" Nkosi asked.
"We have time," Castle said. "Once we order," he then added quickly as he could see the waiter coming over to them.
When they were alone again Darnley said, "We did talk about our kids didn't we?"
"Basics," Mary said with a smile.
"Wait, before we do that," Nkosi said, touching his husband's arm.
"Oh, that's right," Darnley said. "Thanks for reminding me," he told his husband before he looked at the others. "I just wanted to say you three look really good tonight."
"Thank you," Skye said. "But credit goes more to Mary and Kate; they're the ones that suffer wearing dresses," she added, smiling when her wife playfully pushed on her shoulder.
"Credit," Beckett said in amusement.
"Well?" Skye shrugged before she squeezed her wife's hand. "But thank you for the compliment."
"You're welcome," Darnley said before he glanced at Castle who seemed to pick up what he was thinking quickly before he was speaking.
"I already complimented Kate," he was saying. "But you do look nice," Castle then directed to the other two women who were sitting on the other side of his wife.
"Thank you," Mary said. "But you don't have to compliment us the entire meal."
"Great, which kid first?" Darnley said, playfully clapping his hands together.
"Should we start with the youngest?" Skye said, looking at Beckett next to her.
"Josie's getting standing on her own down," she said simply. "And talking more and more," Beckett added.
"Babbling?" Nkosi asked.
"She is but I really think she'll start talking soon," Castle said.
"I hope it's not while you're down here," Darnley said, looking guilty then.
"Don't worry," Beckett assured him. "I doubt she will."
"You think she'll say mama?" Darnley asked her.
Shaking her head Beckett said, "More than likely dada," smiling at her husband. She then looked back at the others and told them, "He's trying to make me bet with him on which she'll say first."
"And you're not going for it?" Darnley asked her.
"No, what's the point," Beckett asked in return. When her friend merely smiled at her she rolled her eyes and said, "We're not betting, really it's up to Josie. Now Marie and Kath?"
"They're good, we're hoping to get home soon," Mary said.
"Their turn to go to camp?" Nkosi asked her.
Nodding Skye answered saying, "They're excited but they said already they'll miss all of us."
"They're set with their little sisters?" Darnley said.
"They are luckily," Mary said after taking another sip of wine. "But we assured them the week would go quickly, since it's only five days."
"Not even that," Skye added. "And they'll get to go horseback riding a little and canoeing, so they'll have fun."
"Is the camp on a lake?" Castle asked.
"No, they have an artificial lake," Skye said. "It's still fun."
"Isn't Mari going to camp too this year?" Darnley asked.
"The week before Memorial Day weekend," Beckett said. "Julia's dreading it though she doesn't say anything to Mari."
"So she'll enjoy it more? Mari I mean," Skye asked. When her friend nodded, she smiled and said, "I'm not surprised she's trying to do that."
"How was Mari when Julia was at camp?" Nkosi asked.
Beckett told them about how the little girl had come to the darkroom with her and their talk before she said, "I'm not sure. I'll talk to Julia and tell her she can go to the Foster's home if she wants, Rebecca and David wouldn't mind. And do you guys realize we just went backwards?"
"That was you that brought them up," Skye told her teasingly.
"I remembered about their camp," Beckett said jokingly. She then said, "Keo?"
"He's good, learning more and more words," Nkosi said first.
"Are you teaching him Xhosa still?" Skye asked.
"Of course," Nkosi replied with a smile.
Their food was being served then, so the couples waited until they had everything set and had eaten a bit before Darnley was talking, bringing back their conversation to their kids.
"Are you still teaching your kids French and Spanish?" the detective asked.
"I hope so," Skye said before she smiled and picked up her wine glass. "I spent a long time as professor to those girls."
"We are, remember Julia's taking French right now," Beckett reminded her though she was telling everyone that.
"In middle school?" Nkosi asked.
"They offer two years there," Castle said with a nod. "And another four into high school. It's what I did."
"So did I," Beckett said before looking at her friend sitting next to her.
"I did, also Spanish for six years," Skye said easily.
"Did you even need to go for that long?" Darnley asked her.
Smiling at her wife Mary said, "She breezed through those years."
"I did," Skye said with a sigh. "My French professor thought I could be a language teacher as well."
"You should," Castle told her. He wasn't surprised when the investigator looked at him questioningly and told her, "When you retire."
"I'd prefer to spend time with my family," Skye said. "But it's an interesting idea."
"Keep it in mind," Nkosi said, smiling when his co-investigator laughed briefly.
"So Keo is doing well?" Beckett asked her friend and his husband.
"He is," Darnley replied with a nod. "Luckily so far he and his sister get along well."
"Does Maddy look out for him?" Mary asked.
"A little, she's still so young herself," Nkosi said. "And Maddy is doing very well herself, she loves school and has a few friends."
"Now Eliza," Darnley told her.
Laughing Beckett said, "She loves school too."
"School and her dance classes with her sisters," Castle added.
"Think she'll dance as much as Julia does?" Darnley asked.
"I don't know, she loves it but Julia's dedication is…" Beckett started to say before she trailed off as she wasn't sure exactly how she wanted to word it.
"Unparalleled?" Castle suggested. When his wife nodded, he said, "But for now they're dancing together. She's also been writing a little."
"Already?" Skye said with a smile on her face.
"Already," Beckett said, nodding her head. "But just little ideas here and there. She's learning."
"Has she let you read them?" Nkosi asked.
"Of course," Castle said. "But it's funny, she's given the papers she writes on to her mom first."
"She said she wanted me to read them before I gave them to you Rick; you were writing before me," Beckett told him easily, finishing her trout dish then.
"True," Castle said. "But she's good for her age, she needs to learn but I told her to keep writing to do that."
"We both told her," Beckett said. "Your youngest three?" she said to Skye and Mary.
"Fleur's doing well," the doctor said first. "She'll have nightmares here and there, but they've lessened by quite a bit."
"And the twins?" Castle asked.
"Good, like I mentioned before they're loving living in Santa Monica. The museums, the Promenade, our pool. No snow," Skye said, smiling at the other two couples. When Darnley rolled his eyes, she smirked at him before looking at Castle and Beckett saying, "That brings us to Julia."
"She's doing great, though like I mentioned she's not looking forward to Mari going to camp," Castle said first.
"But she's remembering our vacation in San Francisco too," Beckett added quickly. "Sorry," she said to the two men sitting across the table.
"It's alright," Nkosi said. He then said, "We'll have to try and go another time if you'll invite us."
"Whenever you can go with us we'll go," Castle said.
"Maybe around…" Darnley started to say before he paused.
"I would do what we did, wait for an in-service day for the kids' school and go on the Thursday before," Beckett explained.
"Oh yeah, that would work out really well," Darnley said.
"Maybe later in the year we'll try," Nkosi said, his husband nodding in agreement.
"We'll definitely try," Darnley told the other couple. "But what else about Julia? Your next book with her?"
"Yeah, she's working on it," Castle replied. "Mostly her since she wants to try and write as much as she can."
"This one's taking place in Vegas?" Mary said.
"Julia had the idea for solid gold chips being stolen and Macca's on the case," Beckett answered with a smile. "From what she's shown us it's coming out nicely."
"We have written a little with her with this book since she's needed a little information from Kate," Castle said. "But I get the feeling soon enough we'll be able to let her write completely on her own."
"Will you have it published under only her name?" Skye asked.
"We talked with her about that," Beckett said. "And she said she didn't want to do that; not for this series."
"And boy did we argue with her about that," Castle said.
"It took a while for her to tell us why she still wanted our names with a book she would write on her own," Beckett explained to the others' startled expressions. "She said she was afraid no one would want to read a book just by her yet."
"And we promised we'd let her books have our names until she was ready to either put her name first," Castle added. "Or use her name by herself."
"It might be putting her name before yours," Skye commented.
"Yeah, we thought the same," Beckett said with a smile. "But we'll send you a copy as we have before once that's ready."
"And before you ask about our books, I'll stop you there," Castle said. "Defy the Laws of Nature is finished printing and we'll be getting copies later on this month."
"That's what I kept forgetting to ask you," Darnley said, slapping the tabletop with his hand. "Where did you get that title?"
"Seven Seas of Rhye," Skye said. She smiled when the others looked at her and said, "Really, I'm not surprised you picked it."
"They told you the plot?" Nkosi asked her.
"Kate let me know a little about it, the honeymoon and the case at the resort with the storm going on," Skye said.
"And that's enough," Castle commented.
The group all started to laugh together before Darnley and Nkosi were paying for the meal and they got up to leave their table. When they were outside the restaurant some of them were looking at their watches before Skye was talking first.
"It's not all that late," the investigator started with. "We could go to the new bar they opened up."
"They opened a bar?" Castle asked.
"Yeah, on the other side of the lobby," Mary said. "We looked at it the other night. They have pool tables and it's exclusive to guests or people with guests," she ended with, looking at Darnley and Nkosi last.
"That sounds like it would be great," the former said first. "But do we need to buy a drink?"
"We might need to get one, but they have tea," Skye said.
"You looked at the menu?" Castle asked her.
"We did," Mary answered for her wife. "It's with the room service menu and they have a tea set you can get."
"That'll be on us," Skye added. "And also be dessert, there are some French pastries with that tea."
"We better go," Darnley said. "Or else we'll just stand here."
"He wants to play," Nkosi commented.
"I can tell," Skye said with a laugh. "Alright, let's go, get our table and our tea and dessert."
Walking in a group they went into the bar and were allowed to pick out a pool table after Skye and Mary had ordered the tea set for them. They chose one that was back in the bar so they would be on their own and got their cues before Darnley was getting the pool balls.
"How are we going to play with six of us?" Mary asked.
"We'll just try to sink as many balls as we can," Darnley replied. He then said, "And I'm not going first."
"Should we go by age?" Mary asked. "Youngest to oldest?"
"I'm so glad you said that," Skye said in amusement as the others were nodding in agreement with that. Since she was the youngest by two weeks, she walked up to the table and leaned over it, hitting the cue ball before watching the triangle split apart. "You're up," she told Beckett as she hadn't managed to get anything into the pockets.
The game continued then and as it did Darnley was the winner just as their tea service was being served at the booth the table was next to.
"I think I really need to not play next time," the detective was saying.
"That's not fair though," Beckett said as they were watching Skye soon pouring out the tea in all six cups.
"Not for me but it is for you guys you know," Darnley told her. "Then let me skip games," he said.
"That's fine," Nkosi told his husband. "Come and get a dessert, we can't linger for very long."
Darnley laughed and then reached for a mini-éclair that was covered with what looked like raspberry syrup. He bit into it and said when he'd finished eating the bite, "Wow, is it like being in Paris?"
"It is, you should try the macarons," Castle said. "Exactly like they were over there."
"I'm guessing there's a French pastry chef here," Mary said before she sipped at her tea.
"I just got an idea," Beckett said suddenly, going to her friend.
"Yes?" Darnley said to her.
"Play on your own right now, or with one of us," Beckett replied.
"On his own," Nkosi said. He smiled when his husband glanced at him and said, "You seem like you would want the practice."
"If you don't mind," Darnley said after a moment of hesitation. He couldn't help smiling at the others saying almost at the same time that they wouldn't, and he said, "And you won't take all the desserts."
"They did give us six of everything," Skye said.
"Okay, I'll do it," Darnley said easily as he then raced to his pool cue and the table after to begin setting everything up.
Beckett was smiling at her friend's eagerness before she looked over at his husband, catching his eye. She wasn't surprised when Nkosi shook his head quickly but couldn't help still feeling disappointed at the fact her friend couldn't get a pool table. But she shook herself and focused on Darnley as he played and swiftly before he walked over to his cup of tea and the desserts.
"Did you even enjoy that?" Castle asked the detective as he popped the other half of his pistachio macaron in his mouth.
"Of course," Darnley said once he'd chewed and swallowed. He sipped some more tea and said, "Don't worry, I loved that and thank you for letting me play. Now I'd like to watch you guys playing."
"So you can eat our desserts?" Nkosi teased his husband.
Shooting a look at him, Darnley then said, "Let's divide this."
"Yeah," Castle said. "That way we can focus on playing."
As they were splitting up the desserts left Beckett said, "I hate to ask, but what time do we need to start with you tomorrow?"
"You'll need to wait for me to talk to Jodie," Darnley said. "And tell our boss and see what we'll do next; I'll call you. But don't expect me to call you before nine."
"If you need to…" Beckett said.
"Yeah, I will," Darnley reassured her. He then turned his attention to the pool table where he got the pool balls ready and said, "I'm looking forward to this."
"We're not a show," Skye told him teasingly.
Darnley laughed and then said as the game was beginning, "Are you two still going to Adare for your anniversary?"
"Of course," Beckett said, going to where he was sitting on the edge of the seating for the booth. "You did get my e-mail about our fifth-year anniversaries?"
"I did and we decided that we'll go," Darnley told her.
"He's right, I'm sorry it took us so long to decide on that, but we were busy with work," Nkosi said.
"You said," Beckett replied. "I told you it was okay. And we have your answer."
"Are you okay with that?" Darnley asked as she walked to the table for her turn.
"Okay with what?" Beckett said in surprise.
Darnley waited for her to take her shot and smiled when she sunk the fifteen ball into a pocket. He waited again for her next one and when she missed, he was about to explain to her when she was talking first.
"You mean the wedding being that small?' Beckett asked. When her friend nodded, she smiled and said, "I'm looking forward to it. In fact, this is the dress I'll be wearing for those wedding ceremonies."
"You were in white," Skye told her teasingly.
"That was then," Beckett said.
"Speaking of weddings," Darnley said. "We forgot the oldest of the kids, Alexis. How's their wedding planning going?"
"Good, they basically have everything set," Castle said, looking at his wife.
After taking her turn, Beckett turned back to the others and said, "They just need flowers, a cake and Alexis' dress."
"What's Louis wearing?" Nkosi asked.
"A suit, he and Alexis don't want it to be that fancy, so I think it extends to what he's wearing," Castle replied.
"What about Alexis' dress?" Mary asked.
"She's going to splurge on that," Beckett said with a smile. "She isn't making this a hippy, seventies bohemian wedding. She just wants it simplistic and I'm sure her dress will reflect that."
"They should be getting our RSVP soon," Darnley said.
"Maybe tomorrow, Wednesday perhaps?" Nkosi said. "We mailed it on Friday last week."
"Ours should get there Wednesday for sure, we sent it the same day," Skye said.
"You're not going to tell us your reply?" Castle asked.
"I think you know already," the investigator said.
"True," Castle said with a nod.
"We're bound and determined to go," Darnley said as his friend looked at him.
"Good," Beckett replied before she turned her attention back to the game and they played until her husband had won.
"I feel like taking a quick walk around outside," Darnley said. "Anyone want to join me?"
"I'm good, you're not going to smoke, are you?" Beckett asked.
"He does this," Nkosi said. "But he doesn't smoke. We've thought about it and we both believe it's because he smoked cigars in his past life. It will be a very short walk, so we'll return to play. I'll go with you Patrick."
"Do you mind if…" Castle started to say to his wife.
"No, go ahead," Beckett said with a smile.
Watching the three men leave Skye said, "Well, we have the table should we keep playing?"
"I think so," Mary said, going to the table to grab the triangle and start racking up the balls.
"Kate, you're first," Skye said when her wife had finished, and she'd walked over to her.
Glancing at the two as she was preparing to break the triangle, Beckett smiled and said, "I should have gone with them."
"I thought I could chance it," Skye commented since she had cupped her wife's ass and squeezed it firmly.
Beckett waited until she had taken her shot before she said, "You thought I wouldn't be able to see that?" in amusement.
"Again, I was chancing it," Skye said, walking to the table. She cried out briefly when her wife slapped her ass and said, "You're going to pay for that." She did her best to focus on her options but her mind kept straying to Mary and she missed horribly. "Damnit grá," she said teasingly.
"I think that's her plan," Beckett commented while the doctor was going to the table to take her turn.
"Maybe," Mary said before leaning over the table.
Glancing at her friend before she ended up ogling her wife's ass, Skye suddenly began laughing and said as both women looked at her, "Sorry, it looks like us three pairs will be making love tonight."
"Thank you for saying that in Irish," Beckett said in slight embarrassment.
"What makes you say that?" Mary asked her wife while they waited for the writer to take her turn.
"Just the way we're all looking at each other," Skye replied. "Us, Patrick and Trevor are exchanging lingering glances. And you're looking around for Rick yourself Kate."
"It's likely," Beckett said with a sigh. She missed her second turn and said to the two women, "Is it weird to be doing this? Laughing, enjoying ourselves… any kind of intimacy after what we saw and did earlier?"
"It's not," Mary said before her wife could reply. "You all have to cope with the trauma of what you did getting everyone off the plane and that's by relaxing, by laughing. And of course, sex does help relieve stress and if it's making love…" She paused to spread her hands wide and said, "That's even better." She then switched to Irish and nodded to her wife telling Beckett, "I intend to pleasure her senseless later," looking at her wife to see her reaction.
"Mary!" Skye said. "Really?"
"You don't want me to?" the doctor replied simply.
"They're coming back," Beckett said as she'd been looking towards the entrance of the bar. "You should talk about that later."
"There's nothing to talk about," Mary said.
Beckett glanced at the investigator to see if she would respond to that, but she wasn't too surprised that Skye was merely smiling at her wife before they turned their attention to the men. "How was the walk?" she asked her husband when he walked up to her.
"Nice, it's not that cold," Castle told her. "How'd your game go?"
Looking at the table Beckett said, "To be honest we forgot about it."
"You should finish it," Darnley said. "Whose turn is it?"
"Mine," Beckett replied as she walked over to it. She was able to hit three of the pool balls into the pockets before she missed with the eight ball.
"Eight ball side pocket," Skye said before she hit it in. "You were close," she said to Beckett.
"I think it was more I set that up for you," Beckett replied before she laughed as her friend merely smiled at her. She squeezed her arm and said, "Who wants to play another game?"
"It should be the last one," Nkosi said.
"True," Castle said as he checked the time.
Picking up her husband's arm, Beckett saw it was only a little after eight fifteen and she was about to ask the others how they wanted to play when Skye was speaking first.
"We should have another all-together game," the investigator commented. "Since it's the last one." She glanced at Darnley and said, "That includes you Patrick."
The detective was about to protest before he nodded and said, "Fine I guess I can do that. But if I win…"
"I think we're all expecting you to," Nkosi told his husband. He laughed as he rolled his eyes before he told his husband, "Go get your cue."
"See how he pushes me around?" Darnley said to Beckett jokingly as he walked to the other cues.
"I saw," she replied. "But you realize I know you do the same right?"
"What about you and Rick?" Darnley asked after he'd nodded in agreement to what she'd said.
"It's the same," Beckett said as her husband was watching them.
"No protests?" Mary asked the writer.
"Oh no, it works both ways," Castle said before he paused. "That didn't sound dirty did it?" When the others said no he said to Skye and Mary, "What about you two."
"The same," the two women said at the same time before they were laughing with everyone else.
They turned their attention to their last game until Darnley, unsurprisingly, won yet again before they were putting everything away and leaving the bar.
Skye and Mary said goodbye to the four and left them first before they were going to the elevators as the other two couples were watching.
"I'm so glad we were able to do this," Beckett told Darnley as she hugged him as tightly as she could.
"Me too… crap," Darnley said when they'd let go of each other. "I forgot to tell you guys about tomorrow; dinner."
"My mother is going to make Gatsby sandwiches for us all," Nkosi said.
"We'll go," Beckett said. "And I'll text Skye," she told him, getting her phone. She texted her friend before she got a message back immediately and she read it saying, "They'll go. So you have that set now."
Darnley laughed before he hugged her and then let her go to shake her husband's hand. "We can't wait for you to see Maddy and Keo, they want to see you again."
"And we want to see them," Castle said. "Mind if we Skype with our family while we're over there?"
"Oh no, Maddy would love to see your daughters again," Nkosi said.
"Then we have that to look forward to," Darnley said.
"Definitely," Beckett replied before she and Castle said goodnight to the men. She watched the two as they walked to the lobby doors before her husband took her hand and they headed to the elevators. As they were going up to their room, fingers entwined, she hoped her friend would be alright, knowing something was wrong she couldn't help him with but hoped his husband could once they were home for the night.