Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance, Family, Humor
Rating: M for sexual situations and language
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured on the show Castle, they belong to the creator of the show, ABC and the others who do own them.
A/N #1: The lyrics in this chapter are from the songs Just Before The Battle, Mother written by George F. Root; Name and Address written by Paul McCartney from the Wings album London Town and You Send Me written by Sam Cooke from his album Songs by Sam Cooke.
A/N #2: With the site being down last week I was really concerned about anyone being able to review if they wanted to. So I was overjoyed to get the feedback I ended up receiving for the past two chapters and will go into my thank yous for that! Mb (I was glad to see you thought the chapter was a good filler update with the first half having more information discovered and more questions raised as you put it! And I wasn't surprised you noted them being undercover as Civil War soldiers looking into the killers, snipers and a possible kidnapping. I also wasn't surprised you were wondering if Carman killing her partner was her snapping, her plan or someone else in on it. I was glad you were wondering about Julia calling being foreshadow, since it kind of was, lol. And don't worry about a late review, I know people can be busy with work so it's okay! You're welcome for sharing the first half! I was really glad you enjoyed the beginning of the second half of the chapter and thought Mari being there was good too! It was great to see you liked both the action of them splitting up and then Carman trying to finish with her targets. Glad you enjoyed Skye using as you put it her gift and her connection with Beckett to guide her in shooting the sniper. I wasn't surprised you mentioned me leaving it at a cliffhanger, or that you were wondering who was hit but now you do know how that turned out! You're welcome for sharing the second half of the chapter!),
Mb (Not surprised to see your reaction to it being Darnley that was shot. And so happy you mentioned Beckett going with Darnley in the ambulance since I'd hoped readers would like it. You're right though, they both needed that! With the angle of the shot in my head, I thought just along the knee would make sense since Carman was above them, though yeah, painful too! I was pleased to see you could feel how much Darnley and Nkosi love each other and as you said how close their group is since I do try and convey that as much as I can! I wasn't surprised you asking if the cases were really over since Carman was dead, you'll get an answer this chapter I promise! I'm really happy that them going to the costume ball is interesting to you since I thought it would be myself, lol, you'll have to see if you're right about it being full of intrigue. You're welcome for sharing the first half of the chapter! I was happy seeing that you thought the second half of the chapter was a really nice filler update. And I'm glad you thought it was nice showing how Julia and Eliza were doing at school with their grandparents and Josie at home. I wasn't surprised you mentioned Josie getting close to talking and walking, but happy you think it's sweet she is! I'm not surprised you mentioned Castle and Beckett reassuring Julia about what happened to them since she had asked earlier if they were alright because of what she sensed. And I wasn't surprised you're glad the grandmothers are watching the family. Really nice reading that you enjoyed the flashback of Beckett and Darnley since I had a lot of fun writing that! And again, not surprised that you're wondering what they'll wear at the ball and if it's a setup for something else. You're welcome for sharing the second half of the chapter. And with this chapter with what happened with the site your review is actually early and really welcomed since I'd thought I wasn't going to get any for a while! You're welcome for the chapter again!),
TORONTOSUN (I'm not sure if this was for my author's note or the chapter but you're welcome for the update!) and
Guest (I'm happy too, it was a long six or so days without the chapter there. And glad to see you thought the chapter was so good! You're welcome!).
Thanks so much for the reviews, I loved reading them and appreciated the time taken to write them out and send them my way!
A/N #3: The title of this chapter are lyrics from the song Let's Dance written by David Bowie, from his album the same title as the song.
Because My Love For You
Hearing a frustrated groan from the bathroom, Castle looked over at it and asked, "Are you okay Kate?"
"Yes, give me a second," Beckett replied quickly before she was coming out of the bathroom. "I don't know how I'm going to be able to walk through doorways all night. Or sit to eat and go to the bathroom," as she was struggling with her hoop skirt.
"Maybe the women there can help you," Castle said slowly as he was watching her.
"I had the same thought," Beckett said. She smoothed her hands over her front and then looked at her husband to find he was still staring at her. "Okay?" she asked him with a smile.
"You look beautiful," Castle said, reaching for her hand. He paused and asked, "Did they give you gloves?"
"No, luckily," Beckett replied. "I wouldn't have worn them."
"I'm not surprised," Castle said, smiling at her. "Would you turn for me?" He wasn't surprised when she gave him a look and then said, "Just to see how it moves."
Sighing, as she had expected her husband to ask that, Beckett said, "Watch I don't knock anything over," in warning.
"I'll watch," Castle said, nodding his head as he was completely serious.
With that Beckett turned, going slowly as she still wasn't used to the hoop that held out the skirt of the dress she'd gotten. She had been pleasantly surprised at the peacock blue color of it and the black lace above the hem and around her bow neckline and along her sleeves. It was a wide skirt, and she was reaching a little frantically for it to stop it as she had finished turning around for him. "It's going to be interesting how this is going to work out," she commented.
"It will, and I'm sorry you have to wear that," Castle said.
Shrugging her shoulders, Beckett said, "There's not much I can do. And it is only one night."
"Good thing for that," Castle said before he watched as she walked up to him. "Crooked?" he asked as she was running her hands over his jacket. He was wearing an officer's uniform in the same colors their disguise had been earlier in the day though he was wearing his own dress shoes instead of historic ones.
"No," Beckett said simply before she felt her husband's arms wrapping around her before they were kissing. She wasn't surprised when it was deep, and they were soon tangling their tongues together for some time until he slowly pulled away from her. She opened her eyes as she smiled at him and murmured, "At least we can still do this."
"I didn't think the skirt was really going to stop us," Castle replied.
"What?" Beckett asked as she watched him suddenly growing concerned.
"You're not wearing a corset are you?" Castle asked her.
Shaking her head, Beckett reassured him saying, "There was one in there, but I wouldn't put it on. I don't really think I needed it anyway."
"You don't," Castle said immediately.
Beckett was smiling before she said, "Pervert."
"Really?" Castle said in mock annoyance. He smiled when she laughed, and he leaned down to her before they kissed again. When they parted, he asked, "Should we go?"
"Yes, but your glasses?" Beckett asked.
"Oh," Castle said suddenly as he realized he was still wearing them. He hurried over to the bathroom and soon after heard the fabric of his wife's dress behind him. Turning to her as she was walking through the doorway sideways, he smiled and said, "You're getting better at that."
"That's because I had to," Beckett said wryly.
"I forgot to ask you," Castle said, seeing her picking up her tube of lip gloss.
"About my makeup?" Beckett asked her husband with a smile. When he nodded, she said, "There was a piece of paper and it explained that and the corset."
"This?" Castle asked holding it up for her to see. When she nodded, he looked at it before he said, "You never wore these before."
"No, I didn't want to," Beckett replied. "Neither did Skye. We didn't need to either, but Mom hated them too."
"Yeah, I remember you telling me that back then too," Castle said before he was focusing on putting his contacts in. When he'd finished he said, "I'm set."
"I see that, let's go," Beckett said.
"You won't be cold?" Castle asked her as he followed her out of the bathroom and through the bedroom.
"No, it's warm enough," Beckett said quickly. They walked together to the mirror before her husband was taking the picture of them and she watched as he was texting it with the message, We're just about to leave, costumes are nice we love you. "Are you sending it just to our family?" she asked teasingly.
"Sure," Castle said before he and his wife were smiling at each other. He wanted to kiss her but knew they needed to go, and she wouldn't want to have to reapply her lip gloss. Instead he took her hand and brought it up to his lips, kissing the back of it before he said, "We better go see Patrick and Trevor."
"We should," Beckett said, having an idea of what he'd wanted to do by kissing her hand. But she did want to see her friend, so she was walking with him to the door where she opened it before walking sideways to get into the hall. "I wonder how Mary is doing," she commented.
"We'll find out," Castle said, not surprised when his wife nodded, and he took her hand before they made their way down to the lobby. They found the McDouglases already there and he said, "Why doesn't that surprise me?"
"What?" Skye asked though she knew he was talking to her wife.
"The color I'm wearing," Mary told her as her dress was pale blue with white lace at the neckline. She smiled as Beckett was holding her skirt in place and said, "You're getting used to it?"
"Slowly," Beckett replied. "You?"
"I have worn a dress like this before," Mary answered. "So I have an idea of what I need to do." She then pressed closer to her and asked, "Are you wearing pants under?"
"Leggings," Beckett replied after she nodded.
"I'm wearing the same," Mary said quickly. "I was going to tell you to wear some, but I completely forgot about it."
"It's okay, I was thinking about wearing them once I realized what I'd be wearing for the costume," Beckett said. "But we should go, I really want to see Patrick." She was relieved when the others agreed to that and they started to walk to the entrance to walk out onto the street where they would find a limo waiting for them. She wasn't sure about it but went into the back after watching Mary. She felt awkward with her hoop slightly sticking up but turned her attention to her husband and the others before the car was driving to the hospital.
"Oh, they must be giving me the good stuff," Darnley said. "I am tripping hard right now."
"Shut up," Beckett said, shaking her head as she walked over to him.
"I really wasn't expecting this," Darnley said. He then looked past her and watched as his husband was walking out of the room with hers. "It looks like we're on our own now."
"Why?" Beckett asked as she had seen Nkosi deliberately taking Castle outside the room.
"Because we need to talk," Darnley said. "Don't worry," he told her when her head immediately turned to look at him. "It's nothing bad."
"Then you're fine?" Beckett said as she was sitting on the chair that was next to the bed.
"Perfect," Darnley said. "I've moved my leg just a little; to be one hundred percent sure; and I think I'll be out of here tomorrow morning. And you better go back home after that."
Smiling Beckett said, "It almost sounds like you want us out of here."
"Only in the sense of you going home to your families," Darnley said.
"We probably will, so what's the news you wanted to tell me?" Beckett asked him.
"Someone came in to see me after my in-laws left with Maddy and Keo," Darnley told her. He wasn't surprised when she looked at him questioningly and he said, "My mother's lawyer."
"Why-" Beckett started to say, startled to hear that.
"My mother passed away on Saturday," Darnley said with a sigh. "It's why Toby was likely so mad at me when I got out of the plane the other day."
"Likely," Beckett said. "How're you feeling?" she asked him.
"To be honest, I have no idea," Darnley said. "She never reached out to me, though her lawyer; a friend of mine I've kept in touch with though of course he hadn't told my mother he was gay."
Beckett realized something then and asked, "Were you in the will?"
"I was," Darnley said before he handed the piece of paper he was holding out to her.
"You…" Beckett said once she'd read it. "This is millions," she said in her shock. She shook her head and said, "And stocks too. This is for real?"
"I thought the same thing," Darnley said, nodding his head. "But Josiah; that's his name; said it was legal though of course my father and brother want to fight it in court, but he said no lawyer will ever take the case since it's from my grandfather and was in his will that it would go to me after she passed away."
"Their lawyer? Or lawyers?" Beckett said.
"Lawyer, they use the same man," Darnley said. "Josiah's father. I signed the papers and tomorrow once everything is set with the bank… that money is going into mine and Trev's account."
"What're you going to do with all of that?" Beckett asked him.
"Retiring," Darnley said. When she looked at him with wide eyes he nodded and said, "It's financial security of course, but it gives me the chance to do something I always wanted to."
"Your woodworking studio," Beckett stated.
"Yeah… and I have the perfect place to do it at," Darnley told her before he was showing her his phone though he had to point it out to her on the table next to his bed.
Opening the phone, Becket was surprised to find an app already open before she realized what it was of and she looked up at her friend. "Patrick…" she whispered.
Nodding his head once Darnley said, "I looked as soon as I heard about the money being in the account tomorrow and found that listing, right when it was posted. Did you not know?"
Shaking her head Beckett said, "I thought he was going to live there forever. What did you say when you called him though?"
"That we were going to buy the house," Darnley said simply.
"Sight unseen?" Beckett asked as she stared at him.
"Not sight unseen," Darnley replied. "They have pictures there so we saw it and we loved it… well I should say there are a few things here and there we'll change but yeah we love it. I mean, ten bedrooms is a lot but we're going to make one a library… actually probably two since we only need four of them."
"I don't blame you," Beckett said. "Do Joseph and Bethany know about this?" she couldn't help asking with a smile.
"They do, we had to tell them first since of course they had to decide if they were going to move or stay here," Darnley said.
"How long did it take them to answer?" Beckett asked.
"Oh… seconds," Darnley replied, smiling when his friend laughed softly. "Now I need to know, will you mind us being next door neighbors?"
"No!" Beckett exclaimed before she got up to hug her friend as tightly as she could. "I'm so happy Patrick, you tempted me with the idea of us living close when you talked about looking at homes in the Hamptons."
"Good, I wanted you to agree to it in the end," Darnley said, nodding his head.
Beckett laughed and said, "I did when you first talked about it." She was going to say more when there was a knock on the door, and she watched as her friend called whoever it was to come in.
"Is it alright?" Nkosi asked his husband as he looked into the room.
"Yeah, come on in," Darnley said.
"We're all here," Skye said from behind the others. "We need to leave soon; the limo is waiting for us."
"Limo?" Darnley asked.
"They sent us one… Corbin is trying to make everything look good of course," Skye commented. She then smiled and said, "You look great after all that blood loss."
"It wasn't enough for a transfusion luckily," Darnley said, giving Castle a thumbs up.
"So what did you two have to talk about?" Castle asked.
Beckett watched the others as Darnley was explaining the inheritance that his mother had left him, along with the stocks in the company his cousin was running that she had owned as well.
"We always get money from that company too," Darnley finished with. "Which is great since we can take care of our family now."
"Oh, you're going to quit the police then?" Skye asked.
"No, retiring," Darnley said.
"Oh no," Nkosi said immediately when the others were looking to him. "I'll still be with the NTSB." He looked at his husband and when he inclined his head slightly he added, "With a far longer commute."
"You're moving?" Mary asked in surprise.
"Yes, but I forgot to say you two look great in your dresses," Darnley said. "And your uniforms are spot on."
"Patrick," Nkosi said firmly.
"Sorry, we're moving next door to you guys," Darnley said, unable helping smiling.
"Hector's place?" Castle asked in surprise since the detective was speaking to him.
"His last name is Ayton," Beckett said for Skye and Mary's sakes.
"Oh, I couldn't understand his name in our conversation," Darnley replied.
"He's right, I was here and it sounded like he was always saying Ator," Nkosi commented.
"When did you last watch MST3K?" Castle asked.
"That reminds me," Skye said to her wife. "We need to watch their episode of Cave Dwellers."
Shaking her head, though she was smiling at her wife, Mary asked, "Are you going to look at the house?"
"We bought the house," Darnley said, reaching out and taking his husband's hand as he'd walked around to the other side of the bed. "Well… we put in an offer I should say… or tomorrow we will."
"Have you seen it?" Mary asked in surprise.
"On the site we saw it on," Darnley replied.
"We must change a few things, like the walls, they are all white," Nkosi said. "The backsplash in the kitchen…"
"Yeah," Darnley said, snorting slightly. "It's grey, dark grey. We'll be changing that to a color that goes with the cherry cabinets there already."
"You like those?" Beckett asked the two.
"We do," Nkosi said. "We'll double check once we're there but yes, we're taking the house as it is."
"How big is it?" Skye asked.
"Ten bedrooms and eleven and three quarters bathrooms," Darnley said. He couldn't help laughing when the McDouglases looked at him in surprise and said, "The three quarters is in the addition I'll use for my new job. It'll be nice to have a shower there for the sawdust."
"A studio?" Skye asked, she and her wife aware of what Darnley had done as a hobby when he could.
"We've never been in it," Castle said as the two women looked at her. "We've only seen the outside part walking down the beach."
"It's a good size," Darnley said. "I asked him about it since I remember seeing it too. More than enough for me to work… and I plan to use a lot of driftwood." He smiled and added, "You'll have to tell the kids to try and find me as much of it as they can find."
"We will, you'll have more than enough," Beckett said. "I never asked you, when can you move in?"
"Probably later in the month," Darnley answered. He then smiled and said, "Probably before you go to Mill Valley."
"Would that mean you can come with us?" Beckett asked.
"I… I mean we could but where would we all fit?" Darnley said slowly.
"We've been talking about extending the guest house in the back," Castle said as he looked at his wife.
"I know, but you need to ask them about it first," Beckett said, nodding to the two women.
"That's fine," Skye said. "Considering you two would want to have more people over I'm not surprised you've been thinking about it."
"But that doesn't really help us for the next trip," Darnley said.
"So that means you are going?" Beckett asked him with a wide smile on her face.
"Yes," Darnley replied, shaking his head. "Again, where the heck are we going to stay?"
"We might have to ask Alexis and Louis to let you have her room," Castle said.
"That's not fair though," Darnley said quickly.
"Then we'll figure something out," Beckett said with a sigh. "We'll talk with David and Rebecca and work out our accommodations."
"And you two need to get going," Darnley then told them.
"Alright," Beckett replied though she wasn't that happy. "We'll be back in the morning."
"Breakfast? It might be late but I would so love to have it with the four of you before you go home."
"When are you going to retire?" Castle asked.
"Probably tomorrow too," Darnley answered. "Or is it resigning?"
"It depends, do you mind if it is?" Beckett asked.
"Not at all," Darnley said.
"What?" Nkosi asked in surprise as the others were looking at him.
"Did you ask him to do that?" Mary asked.
"No, no, I'm glad that he did but I never mentioned it to him," Nkosi said. "It was his choice."
"Guys get out of here," Darnley said as he was looking at the time on his phone.
Beckett watched as Skye and Mary were hugging Darnley before her husband shook his hand to say goodnight to him. She watched them leave with Nkosi before she walked over to the bed and told him, "Are you going to sleep soon?"
"It's not even six," Darnley said in a mock complaining tone. "I'll sleep sooner tonight, but I'll be having dinner with Trev and we'll discuss the house."
"I'm extremely happy right now you know," Beckett said.
"Me too," Darnley said as he was nodding his head rapidly.
Beckett laughed and said, "We're definitely having breakfast tomorrow."
"We will, and nowhere near this hospital," Darnley said. He hugged her tightly when she leaned over to him and then kissed her cheek before she was kissing his forehead. "Have a ton of fun," he said. "Also do a lot of dancing with Rick."
Laughing Beckett squeezed his hand before she told him, "I will. We'll tell you guys about it tomorrow."
"I can't wait," Darley replied.
"Night Patrick," Beckett said, still smiling at him.
"Night Kate, I can't wait to be your neighbor," Darnley told her.
"Neither can I," Beckett replied. She squeezed his hand one more time and then left before Nkosi was walking over to her. "Go ahead," she said with a smile before she watched him hurry into the room. She smiled at him before she went to the waiting room and said to the others, "We can go now."
"We're going to end up being a little late," Skye said.
"It's fine," Castle said.
"It's a Hollywood entrance," Mary said jokingly.
"Don't say that works for us," Skye said to the other two quickly. "But I'm sure we won't be the only ones a bit late."
They were walking out to the limo by then and they climbed into the back before they were driving to the field and Mary said, "How're you feeling right now?"
"I'm happy," Beckett said, smiling since the doctor had been looking at her. "And happy for Patrick because he's confessed to me that he's wanted to focus on his carpentry."
"He's really good at it," Mary said. "You know that toothpick holder we have?"
"That's his?" Beckett asked. When the women both nodded, she said, "I should have known, he does enjoy staining the works he makes."
"Do you have anything he made?" Skye asked.
"He's never given us anything," Castle said slowly.
"I don't think he's had much chance lately; he's been working like crazy," Beckett said.
"Another reason why he wanted to retire… resign?" Skye asked.
"I think so," Beckett replied. "But now… I'm just happy for the two of them."
"One thing I'm wondering that I forgot to ask Trevor," Castle said then. "What about him? His commute?"
"They don't all live in DC, most choose to since it's easier," Skye replied. "But he'll be fine and likely happy with Patrick not being in any moments like we had today."
"So will Trevor's parents," Mary added.
After they had all agreed, the group watched the view outside before they were going onto an offramp and knew they were close to the field. Once they had arrived, they got out and joined the line of people that were still walking up to the plantation home.
"They're not going to announce us are they?" Beckett said to her husband.
"We'll see," Castle said before he spotted Corbin hurrying out to them.
"I'm so glad to see you did join our party," the man said, shaking their hands. "And you look great."
"Thank you," Castle said first. He was going to ask about them being announced when the owner was surprisingly telling them about it.
"I'd like to introduce you all once we're inside; I have a microphone so you'll hear me," Corbin said to them. "Excuse me."
"Were you going to ask him about the song?" Mary asked her wife with a smile as she was watching her.
"I was," Skye replied before they were walking into the house.
Looking around as they followed the McDouglases, Beckett wasn't surprised to find the room was decorated in red, white and blue bunting along with flags and large pictures of Abraham Lincoln and the Union General from the battle. She leaned into her husband and murmured, "There's pictures."
"I know, they look authentic," Castle said. He smiled when his wife laughed softly and then said, "At some point I want to see them."
"We should go now," Beckett replied. She smiled when her husband looked at her before she was telling the McDouglas women where they were going.
"We're going to wait for Corbin, I really need to know what the heck I'm expected to sing," Skye said first.
"We'll be back," Beckett said before Castle was leading her over to the wall that had numerous photos from the time of the battle. She and her husband were looking at them and she said, "Look."
Turning to the picture that she was pointing to, Castle said, "That must have been his ancestor," as it was of a single soldier.
"It looks like it," Beckett said.
"I noticed; they have the same nose. Oh," Castle then said. "He was an officer."
"I saw," Beckett said as she was nodding her head in agreement. They walked away from the wall then, intending to go back to Skye and Mary who had just finished speaking with Corbin when a few people were stopping them to talk to them. She wasn't sure how everyone had known she had shot Carman, or that Moreno was taking responsibility, but they thanked her and said they would tell anyone who asked that she was at the field during the confrontation. "Does that seem weird?" she asked her husband when they were alone and could continue back to the McDouglases.
"No, I'm sure word got around that you're technically a civilian," Castle commented.
"It did, a few people have been coming over to let me know they weren't going to tell anyone that we were up on the hill too; just Moreno," Skye commented.
"How many people do you know here?" Castle asked the investigator.
"A few," Skye replied. "There are a number from Potomac."
"Are Dyson and Proulx here?" Beckett asked the two women.
"They just arrived," Mary said with a smile.
"They look incredibly happy," Beckett said, turning with her husband to watch them walking into the room. Dyson was smiling up at Proulx at that moment, the man laughing at something she'd said and she looked at her husband before saying, "I'm surprised."
"Give it some time," Castle said, knowing what she was thinking already. He then turned back to the McDouglas women and saw they both looked a little perplexed at what they were saying. He quickly asked the investigator, "What did he tell you about the song?"
"Just Before the Battle, Mother," Skye replied.
"That's a little… grim isn't it?" Castle asked, recalling the song.
"McRae loved it," Skye said.
"You've heard it?" Mary asked.
"He was researching the Civil War," Beckett replied before her husband could. She smiled at him briefly and said, "What do you think about singing it?"
"If it's what McRae enjoyed, then I'll do it for him," Skye said. "Are we in agreement that he was shot because he talked to the police?"
"Patrick agreed with that," Beckett reminded her. "Since the other two employees were in tents at the time of the shooting."
"Ladies and gentlemen," Corbin said into a microphone, making everyone turn to him.
Listening to the man's introduction to the reenactment and the ball marking the end of it, Castle wasn't surprised when the man was referencing the events during that year's reenactment. He squeezed Beckett's hand gently before putting his on the small of her back and watching as Corbin moved into talking about McRae.
Beckett wasn't sure what spurred her to look at Skye at that moment, watching the investigator as she was looking down at the floor. She was shaken from her musings and she turned to Corbin as he was introducing the four of them.
"I would appreciate if everyone could join me in a round of applause as thanks to Investigator McDouglas, Dr. McDouglas, Mr. Castle and Ms. Beckett for their assistance in making our reenactment safe once more," the man was saying before he was applauding as well. "And Investigator McDouglas has agreed to sing what was Mr. McRae's favorite song here at our reenactments; one he was very adept playing on the harmonica; Just Before the Battle, Mother," he finished with, nodding to Skye and clapping as the others were.
Skye walked up to the microphone herself, thanking Corbin before she looked to the band and nodded to them before they began to play. She had heard the song before herself and had recalled luckily the introductory music was longer before she could sing.
Watching the investigator, Beckett couldn't help feeling worried but she wasn't sure why she was. She had to set that aside as the investigator was singing and she felt touched by the emotions that Skye was so obviously putting into the lyrics.
Just before the battle, mother
I am thinking most of you
While upon the field we're watching
With the enemy in view
Comrades brace are 'round me lying
Filled with thoughts of home and God
For well they know that on the morrow
Some will sleep beneath the sod
Castle found he was impressed with Skye's take on the way to sing it since he'd heard that song as more of an opera. But she was singing it slowly, a little lower in pitch and he wrapped his arm around his wife's waist as Skye was beginning the chorus.
Farewell, mother, you may never
Press me to your heart again
But, oh, you'll not forget me, mother
If I'm numbered with the slain
Glancing at Mary, Beckett wasn't surprised to see the woman was biting her lower lip as she was staring at her wife in slight concern. She was glad to see she hadn't been imagining things but turned her attention back to Skye to make sure she was okay as she was singing again.
Oh, I long to see you, mother
And the loving ones at home
But I'll never leave our banner
Till in honor I can come
Tell the traitors all around you
That their cruel words we know
In every battle kill our soldiers
By the help they give the foe
"Are you okay?" Castle whispered into his wife's ear.
"I am, it's the song," Beckett replied. She was relieved when he accepted that and turned back to the investigator which she was doing as well as she sang the chorus again.
Farewell, mother, you may never
Press me to your heart again
But, oh, you'll not forget me, mother
If I'm numbered with the slain
Beckett was watching Skye's hands as they had grabbed the microphone and she couldn't help feeling uneasy though the investigator was singing again.
Hark! I hear the bugles sounding
'Tis the signal for the fight
Now may God protect us mother
As He ever does the right
Hear the "Battle Cry of Freedom"
How it swells upon the air
Oh yes we'll rally 'round the standard
Or we'll perish nobly there
Farewell, mother, you may never
Press me to your heart again
But, oh, you'll not forget me, mother
If I'm numbered with the slain
Skye nodded to the guests around the room as they were applauding her and she said, "Thank you," before Corbin was walking up to let everyone know dinner would be served shortly. She walked through the band, thanking them for their performance, before she was walking down the steps to the back of the house.
"Skye," Beckett called as she was hurrying after her.
"Hey," the investigator said with a tearful smile.
Beckett hurried across the backyard as fast as she could go before she was wrapping her arms around her tightly.
"How did you know?" Skye asked, her voice choked up for a moment.
"I had a feeling," Beckett replied. She hugged her tightly before saying, "Tell me."
"I'm tired of having to do this for people," Skye said simply.
"I was remembering that too," Beckett said, letting her go. "I don't know how you're able to do that so well."
"I do want to honor those who've been killed," Skye said with a brief smile. She then groaned heavily and sat down on the second to last step saying, "It's frustrating."
"I'm not surprised," Mary said from the top of the steps.
Looking up at her wife, spotting Castle behind her, Skye quickly wiped away the tears on her face before she said, "I'm okay grá."
"Not exactly," Mary said. "I'll take care of her."
"Are they eating yet?" Beckett asked.
Shaking his head Castle said, "They're setting the tables up and people are talking." He waited for his wife to walk up to him before he took her hand and said to the two women, "We'll be just inside."
Watching them going, Mary looked down at her wife and said, "Stand up grá, I'm not sitting down with this damn skirt."
Skye laughed, wincing inwardly at the sound of her tears there, and she said, "I know, and I'm okay… relatively speaking."
When her wife was standing Mary gently checked on her military jacket and said, "I heard what you told Kate."
"I hate it," Skye said.
"Me too," Mary said with a nod. "But you know you're doing the best thing to honor him."
"I hope he appreciates it even if I didn't know him," Skye told her.
"He will," Mary said, embracing her wife tightly. She then pulled back a little and kissed her gently on the lips. She had been intending to let her wife go but Skye was pulling her close and they kissed again. She was startled at how intent her wife was making it but understood as Skye's hands were clutching at her back. When they parted, she sighed and pressed her cheek against her wife's saying, "I love you Rose."
"I love you too Mary," Skye said. She nuzzled her nose against her wife's and said, "Dance just with me tonight?"
"Not with Rick too?" Mary asked in slight amusement though she knew her wife was likely serious.
"No, just me," Skye said.
Mary nodded, as she was well aware why her wife was asking that, and brushed her lips to hers before she said, "Then let's share a table with them at least."
"Maybe they'll have name cards on them," Skye said.
"They do," Castle said, he and Beckett having come out to them. "And they put stools for the women who're wearing dresses."
"They didn't," Beckett said quickly as Mary's eyes went wide at that information. "They're explaining to the new people how to sit."
"We should hurry for that," Mary told her.
"Agreed," Beckett said before she and Mary were walking together into the house to find their table. Their spouses were following a little behind before she murmured, "She's okay?"
"She will be," Mary said. "Try and convince her to dance with you at least once."
Though she was a little confused, Beckett nodded and said, "I'll do my best," before they were turning to a table with their names on cards on it. She saw there were two more places and was about to look at the names when the occupants were coming up to the other side of the table and greeting them.
"Hello again, do you mind us sitting with you?" Dyson said.
"No, that's okay," Mary said first.
"Did you ask to sit with us?" Beckett couldn't help asking.
"Oh, hold on," Dyson said as she saw the way the two women were looking at their chairs. She hurried to them and said, "We didn't ask, Marcus set us here… I think since we know you guys now… sort of."
"That's fine," Castle said, smiling when the co-CEO was helping his wife and Mary with sitting. "You're getting the hang of it more now," he said jokingly to Beckett as he helped her sit.
"I'll be glad to not wear hoops anymore," she replied wryly. Something came to her mind then and she said as they were being given pieces of paper with their menu choices, "Are you expected to be at the presentation of the 777?"
"No, and though they'd like me there," Skye said as her friend was talking to her. "I'm not going to; I want to go home and see our kids." She glanced at Proulx and could tell the man was having difficulty talking which made her smile and ask, "Are you wondering about our kids?"
"Just the fact that you have five," Proulx replied. "That's not too much?"
"No, luckily our oldest help with our youngest," Mary said. "And they're older already so that makes it easier as well."
"They get along?" Dyson asked.
"They do, we're lucky," Skye said. "Kate and Rick's daughters as well."
"There are disagreements," Castle said as the two looked at himself and his wife. "But in the end they're friends too." He glanced at his wife and said, "Will Potomac recover?"
"The FAA is going to remove the grounding once all our planes are checked to see if Carman tampered with bolts on the others," Dyson said first.
"It will take more time but we don't care, we just want the airlines up and running again," Proulx said with a nod of agreement with his co-CEO. "How is Detective Darnley doing?" he asked once they had ordered their choices from the menu.
"Good, I don't think he'll be suffering from a concussion," Beckett started to say.
Smiling Proulx said, "I'm not surprised you mentioned that. And I've been resting all day and I'm fine. I'll be dancing in a little."
"Nothing too fast," Dyson said, rolling her eyes. "Could you tell if he'll be able to get out of the hospital tomorrow?"
"It looks like it," Beckett said. "But we'll see tomorrow."
"So you're leaving before Friday?" Proulx asked Skye.
"Yeah, I mean it would be interesting to see the new model, but I need to head home; we do," Skye replied.
"She's not kidding," Mary commented, picking up the glass of wine she'd been served. "I have to get back to my office Monday and of course we want to spend time with our daughters."
"What will you two do when you go back?" Dyson asked. She then made a brief face and said, "Along with spending time with your kids."
"If you're asking if we're writing a book we are," Castle said. He saw the woman looked embarrassed and was about to reassure her when she was speaking before him.
"I was only wondering which book you were working on," Dyson said.
"Our next Moor and Green book will be released in September," Beckett said. "We're working on our twenties book now and we hope to finish it after the summer."
"Will you be able to?" Proulx asked.
"We will," Beckett said, not saying that it took them nearly two months give or take. She didn't think it needed to be said and instead told them, "We're glad to know you're eager to read them."
"I am," Dyson said with a nod. "I have your books," she said, sounding embarrassed again.
"Just ours?" Castle asked, pointing to himself and Beckett. When the woman hesitated he said, "Don't worry, I don't mind that. It helps you're enjoying them now since it's what we're focused on."
"I like reading history books," Proulx said as the others looked at him. He laughed and said, "It's my preference."
"Why you're not a history professor…" Dyson said with a smile at him.
"Well, my other love is the sky," Proulx said.
"I know how you feel," Skye replied. "How often do you fly these days?"
"Not much, I've been saving for a Piper," Proulx told her. He saw the investigator was about to speak again when he said, "PiperSport."
"Ah, good choice," Skye said before looking at Dyson.
"What?" the woman said in surprise.
"Nothing, I'm sorry," Skye said quickly as their food was being served. "You know, I was wondering what food they would serve."
"They try to make things authentic as possible," Proulx said.
"And that reminds me, what dances do they have here?" Castle asked.
"The Waltz," Dyson said. "And you two know how to dance that don't you?"
"We do, but luckily it's a simpler dance," Beckett said first. "If you'd like to ask about our daughters dancing you can."
"Just your oldest," Dyson said. She smiled and said, "She looked like she takes it very seriously."
"She does," Beckett replied. "She'd like to make it her career."
"Does she write the books with you?" Proulx asked in confusion.
"She does," Castle said. "She enjoys writing but she wants to dance and have a dance studio to teach along with being a novelist." He paused in cutting his turkey and said to his wife, "I never realized how much she was like Mother."
Beckett shook her head and said, "I think Martha knows already, but that doesn't really matter right now."
"Sorry," Castle said, turning his attention to the others. "Do you two spend any time in vacation during the summer?"
"We will," Proulx said, looking over at Dyson before they smiled briefly at each other.
"But I think first is getting the company back in the air," Dyson commented. "Do you guys do anything for the summer?"
"We've started to," Skye said. She smiled and nodded to Castle and Beckett saying, "Since they have."
"We like to have a big vacation; we're trying to show our daughters the world," Castle explained when his wife had turned to them.
"Where are you going this time?" Proulx said. "If we can ask."
"I didn't know I was," Dyson said teasingly. She reached over to her co-CEO and placed her hand on his arm and said, "But I am curious."
"We don't mind, unless we're going to see you guys where we're going," Castle said. "But this year we're going to Spain."
"We've been before," Skye said. "But that was a trip around Europe; this time we're going through only Spain."
"You speak Spanish, don't you?" Dyson said.
"A lot more than that," Mary said, smiling at her wife.
"Don't ask which ones," Skye commented. "We'd be here for ages."
"Are you planning on going to the larger cities?" Dyson asked.
The four talked about their itinerary though not in detail as they finished their meal. When they had they got up along with the others so the workers could take the tables and chairs out of the way as the band was sitting down at the end of the room.
"How long are we staying?" Castle asked his wife in Irish as they were walking around the room.
"Not that long, we have our flight tomorrow," Beckett said with a smile as she wasn't surprised he'd said that. "But at least we have everything set."
"I know," Castle said with a nod before he saw the band was about to start. "Dance with me?" he asked her with a smile.
"Of course," Beckett said, smiling herself before she reached for his hand. They walked out to the dance floor and she turned to him, looking at the other people there before they got into a formal hold. "Disappointing," she said in Irish.
"Definitely," Castle replied in the same language. "Maybe they'll loosen up?"
"Hopefully," Beckett replied before they were focusing on their dance as they were trying not to run into the others around them. She found she was enjoying it and as they continued to dance, she was becoming a little more unsettled by a sense of déjà vu. But when they stopped and applauded with everyone else for the band, she took his hand and said, "Let's sit out the next one."
"Sure," Castle replied before they were walking together to the wall. When they had stopped and turned to watch the others his eyes widened slightly before he said, "Well… good thing we didn't stay out there," as the people were lining up across from each other and dancing one that looked to be from the time period of the battle.
"I'm being reminded of Gone With the Wind right now," Skye said, she and Mary joining them.
"It does look like it," Beckett said, nodding in agreement. "But I hope there are dances we can dance later."
"There should be, that was in the movie too," Mary said.
"She means the Waltz," Skye said wryly, taking her hand. She then said, "Are you guys planning on staying for long?"
"No," Castle said immediately. "It's not so much the costumes but we don't know that many people."
Nodding her head in agreement Beckett was about to speak before the song was ending and the dancers were applauding again before they were suddenly looking at the end of the two lines. She squeezed Castle's hand in surprise, seeing that Proulx was kneeling in front of Dyson and holding her hand.
"Silvia," Proulx began. "I have been in love with you for years and never thought you'd feel the same way about me. We nearly lost each other in these last three days, and I don't want to risk that again. I want us to be together forever and I hope that you'll say yes to me asking you, begging you to become my wife."
"I will," Dyson replied, her voice breathy with her surprise at the question.
Beckett was clapping with the others as Proulx was putting the engagement ring in the box he'd been holding on Dyson's finger before the two were embracing and kissing. "That doesn't affect their partnership, right?" she asked Skye.
"Did it affect yours?" the investigator replied. Skye smiled when she saw Beckett was rolling her eyes before she said, "No, it doesn't affect it, it might help them… I would hope."
"Sometimes it helps to work with your spouse grá," Mary told her, taking her hand.
"Good point," Skye said with a nod before they were turning their attention to Proulx and Dyson as they had come over to stand next to them.
"Congratulations," Beckett said to the woman first.
"Thank you," Dyson said, smiling as she saw Castle was shaking her fiancé's hand. "I really wasn't expecting that."
"We weren't either," Skye said.
"But you knew there was something between Heath and I," Dyson said.
"You're aware that rumor's been around?" Skye replied. When the woman nodded, she said, "Yeah, it wasn't a surprise you weren't letting that secret get out of course. But people will be happy to know you two are together."
"Have they been betting?" Beckett asked.
"I…" Skye started to say before she stopped. She shook her head then and said, "Not that, some have been mentioning that you two should be." She looked at her wife and Beckett and said, "Trevor told me and I know some people from both companies." Turning back to Dyson she said, "Let's see that ring."
Beckett studied the single diamond ring, telling the woman that it was beautiful though it wasn't her preference since the stone had been a large one. When the next song played, she turned back to her husband and said, "It was a beautiful moment."
"Yes," Castle said slowly.
Looking over at the dancers; dancing another period one; Beckett looked back at her husband and asked, "What's wrong?"
"No, you said way back that a proposal should be public," Castle said.
Shaking her head Beckett said, "Not for me; for Kevin and Jenny."
"How does that work?" Castle asked slowly as he was confused.
"She wanted something like that," Beckett replied. "You know me Rick, why would I want to share that moment with twenty or thirty people? That's what the wedding is for."
"Wow, I am so glad that I proposed to you in the gazebo," Castle commented.
Beckett laughed softly and said, "Was that your first choice or a last-minute thing?"
"I was debating between the beach and there," Castle said honestly. "And we would be on our own; of course I knew you wouldn't want me to propose to you in public. I know you do like your privacy." He looked at his wife when she wrapped her arm around him and rubbed it along his side a couple times before pulling away her hand.
"I do," Beckett said.
Castle cursed the fact they were in public at that moment as he was heavily tempted to take his wife and kiss her until they were breathless, and their lips swollen. But he just managed to get himself under control and told her, "Me too."
"Easy you two," Skye said. "Or go outside," she added in Irish.
"Shouldn't you two?" Beckett asked teasingly as she'd seen the way Skye's hand on her wife's waist was squeezing it.
"Give over," Skye replied wryly before she and Mary were starting to walk around the room as another period dance was beginning.
"Yeah, transparent," Castle commented.
Beckett laughed softly and then cupped her husband's cheek before she kissed the other lightly. "I think we're the same," she told him.
"We are, let's walk or I'll run you outside where we'll be alone right now," Castle said in Irish. He smiled at Beckett's soft laughter and tried not to let it thrill him too much before they could return to their hotel suite.