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: As it says with the chapter title this is the epilogue of the story, but I have another story to post so if anyone wants to read that look our for it next week!
A/N #2: The lyrics I have in this chapter are from the songs Happy With You by Paul McCartney, from his album Egypt Station and (Ain't That) Good News by Sam Cooke, from his album Ain't That Good News.
A/N #3: Really happy to get the feedback for the last chapter that I did in the end, so I'll get to my thank yous for that! TORONTOSUN (Glad reading you thought the last chapter was very good writing and as always as you put it. Great you like how Julia writes in her diary still because I love to write those entries. And I'm really pleased you liked the songs I picked for the story, it's fun to put some of these since I do love listening to them!) and
Mb (Great to see that you thought the last chapter was a very nice filler one! And I was glad you thought it was nice seeing how the other reacted to the house on Alamo Square since I wanted that to come out nice. I wasn't surprised you thought it was nice how Beckett and Rebecca helped Naomi out by answering her pregnancy questions. But glad to see that since I thought it would make sense as Naomi is a first time mother. And I'd forgotten I'd had Naomi's story taking a while to get pregnant as Rebecca had, so I'm glad I remembered that! I wasn't surprised either you thought it was nice with May and her family in the chapter. I was really pleased you enjoyed picturing, as you put it, the impromptu concert Skye and Mary put on with Julia and Mari dancing too. Happy to see you thought it was nicely done. You're welcome for the first half! I was really glad you thought the second half was a wonderfully written update too! I wasn't surprised you thought it was good seeing them relaxed and content as you put it back at the old and new home with their friends and family. Really nice to read you thought it was good seeing Julia writing in her diary since I do love writing her entries, lol. And I was so pleased that you thought the dream/flashback was lovely, I try to do that with those! Thanks so much for the New Year's wishes. I hope that you and your family will have a great one yourselves with great joy and health as well! You're welcome for sharing the second half!).
Thanks so much for the reviews, loved reading them and I appreciate the time taken to write them out and send them my way! And I also want to say thanks so much for the readers, reviews, favorites and followers for this whole story, I'm grateful for all of that since it definitely inspires me to keep writing!
A/N #4: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Ride Captain Ride written by Mike Pinera and Frank Konte, from the Blues Image album Open.
From The San Francisco Bay
Embracing Skye, Beckett murmured, "Why are we hugging this hard?"
"We're sisters after all," the investigator said. She smiled when they were looking at each other and Skye said, "But really, we've become good friends."
"And we were sisters," Beckett said, smiling when Skye let out a mock frustrated groan. "It's like with Patrick. I hated saying goodbye to him too."
"Understandable," Skye said. "But we're only a couple weeks from Spain."
"And we're all eager for that," Beckett said.
"You should go," Skye told her as they let go of each other and were watching their families looking out at the plane the other three families were taking to New York.
"I feel so bad you guys need to wait," Beckett said. "A long time."
"We'll sleep once we go home," Skye said, as it was nearly five forty-five in the morning. She'd gotten a call from a friend for an earlier flight earlier that morning and after the other three families had agreed to it, they were leaving Mill Valley in a hurry. "I just hope you guys will be okay with the time change."
"We're all sleeping on the flight," Beckett replied. They exchanged one last embrace before they were saying goodbye and promising to text each other. She had to hurry to get onto the plane since it was already boarding and once she was on, she went to where her husband was standing with Josie's carrier in his hand.
"Okay?" Castle asked her.
"Yeah," Beckett replied. "We're seeing them soon."
"Extremely soon," Darnley said, standing in the row behind them. When her husband had gone to the row he was going to share with Eliza he told his friend, "Have I mentioned how wildly happy I am right now."
Beckett smiled, reaching over to him to squeeze his arm before she said, "I feel the same way. But you should get ready, we need to sleep and badly."
"You said they're giving us breakfast?" Darnley asked.
"We're not taking it if they do," Beckett said. "We just want to sleep."
"Good idea. Lunch?" Darnley asked.
"That they're serving," Beckett said with a smile. "Well before we land."
"That you're going to take?" Darnley said.
"Of course," Beckett said, squeezing his hand. When he left her to go to where Keo was sitting, Nkosi watching their kids, and sat in her chair before making sure Josie was fine. Since the baby was still asleep, she got back up to look in the row ahead.
"We're fine Mom," Julia said, smiling up at her mother. She yawned and said, "We don't have to go to bed right away do we?"
"At home?" Beckett asked her. When the girl nodded, she smiled and said, "No, we'll need to get dinner ready. And it's a surprise."
"Really?" Mari asked, she and Julia becoming interested.
"Really, but it'll be back at home," Beckett said. She smiled when the girls groaned before she squeezed their shoulders and said, "Get ready for takeoff and then to sleep." As she went back to her seat, she looked at Castle across from her and was about to thank him for bringing Josie on the plane when he stopped her to speak himself.
"Is Josie okay?" Castle asked his wife.
"She is," Beckett replied. "Are you sure you didn't want to sit with her?"
"I'm sure, I think she'll be happier with you," Castle replied.
Beckett smiled and was about to speak when her husband took her hand and raised it to his lips, kissing the back of it before she squeezed his hand and then went to sit back down again. Once she had her seatbelt buckled, she turned to Josie and made sure the baby was still asleep before she looked ahead while the safety video was beginning. She checked a couple times to make sure Julia and Mari were watching it and once it was over, she said to the two, "Do you have your seatbelts on?"
"Yeah, we put them on after you left us Mom," Julia answered. She felt the plane starting to move and said to her friend, "I'm so sad we're leaving."
"But we can't wait to go home," Mari told her. She smiled when her friend nodded in response and told her, "At least we don't have long before summer."
"I can't wait for summer," Julia said, leaning her head back against her chair.
"You'll do fine on your finals," Mari said, squeezing her arm gently.
"Listen to Mari," Beckett said from behind them. "We just need to make sure you study."
Julia and Mari looked at one another and then started to laugh softly before they could feel the plane starting to speed up. They took each other's hands until they were up in the air and they watched out the window of their row as they were going above the runway.
Smiling, Julia said to her mom, "When do we need to start sleeping?"
"As soon as we level off," Beckett replied immediately.
"Oh good," Julia said.
"I know, I thought we were going to have to wait a while too," Mari said, nodding her head.
In her row, Eliza tugged Castle's sleeve and said, "Could I go to sleep now?"
"You're tired?" Castle asked with a smile.
"Super tired," Eliza said.
"Are you okay sleeping like this?" Castle replied.
"Yeah," Eliza replied with a smile.
"We better wait until you can put your chair back," Castle told her, running his hand over the back of her head. He was relieved when it wasn't that long until they were leveled out and he helped his daughter until she was fast asleep. He was startled at how fast that was and turned to his wife, seeing she was looking at him.
"She's out?" Beckett asked, looking around him at their daughter.
"Fast asleep," Castle answered. "But at least she did sleep," he said, reminding her she'd been concerned their two youngest wouldn't sleep.
"Hopefully Josie stays that way," Beckett said. "Night love," she told him.
"Night, I'll see you for lunch," Castle said.
Beckett couldn't help smiling and said, "See you then." With that she started to get her chair ready, moving it back enough so she could also see Josie asleep in her carrier next to her. Once she was set, she took a little longer than she thought she would before she realized she'd forgotten to check on Julia. She got up, but just as she was looking over the back of the chair in front of her she saw her second oldest was looking up her and smiling before she talked to her reassuringly.
"We're fine Mom," Julia told her. "We're going to sleep right now."
"Alright, sleep as long as you can," Beckett told them both.
"What about lunch?" Mari asked.
"We'll wake you up for that if we need to," Beckett said. When the two girls nodded, she smiled and then went back to her seat, laying back and covering herself with the blanket she'd had in her carryon. She made one last check on Josie and satisfied the baby was okay, closed her eyes to rest until they were closer to New York.
Looking in the rearview mirror, Darnley smiled seeing the cars turning off at the Castle-Beckett home before he turned his attention to getting his family to their home. "We're here," he said, looking at his husband in the passenger seat.
"You still can't believe it?" Nkosi asked him.
"Not really, and then we're leaving again soon," Darnley said.
"Tata!" Keo squealed in the backseat.
Turning his head to look at the door that led to the house, Darnley smiled and said, "I thought they'd be outside waiting."
"They're here now," Nkosi said, just as his father was opening the back door to get Keo from his car seat. He got out and said to his mother, "We had a very nice flight."
"Are you very tired?" Bethany asked since she and her husband were aware their family had had an earlier flight.
"Not too much," Darnley answered, coming over to her after getting the suitcases out of the trunk. He exchanged a hug with his mother in law and said, "And we slept during most of it. I just hope the kids get to bed."
"They will," Joseph said, laughing at the same time as Keo was squeezing playfully at his chin. "But what will you do now?"
"Kate and Rick invited us to their house for dinner," Darnley said. "Brad and Lily are bringing their kids over, but it'll just be a casual dinner, they're bringing… probably pizza. We're not sure yet they said they'll take care of it."
"And how are the McDouglases?" Joseph asked as he set down his grandson and they walked together inside the house with the luggage.
"They're fine, they've been home since… almost ten thirty," Darnley said, looking at his watch.
"Their time," Nkosi added quickly. He then figured out the time and said, "Since one thirty here, so they've been home for a while."
"They are lucky," Bethany said. "I just hope you will be alright after the time change."
"We will, do not worry Mother," Nkosi told her. He then said, "We need to unpack-"
"We will help you with the children's things," Bethany interrupted her son.
"Very well," Nkosi said.
"It won't take you that long," Darnley said though he was assuring his husband as well. "It's mainly dirty clothes, we'll have to do washing tomorrow."
"You don't mind," Nkosi reminded him.
"Of course not," Darnley told him. He then said, "But once we're finished we'll meet you in the family room." After they were nodding, he went with his husband upstairs once the rest of their family and when they were in their room he looked around and said, "Home."
"Don't mention that to Kate," Nkosi told his husband teasingly as he was smiling at him. "She'll say again it'll take you time to get used to it." He then grew serious after he'd opened his suitcase and said, "She was happy to move here wasn't she?"
"She was, it was necessary but she also said she was relieved she had the chance to rest," Darnley said. "Her pregnancy." When his husband nodded, he changed the subject and said, "Think they've gotten things set?"
"It's very likely," Nkosi told him. "I'm going to bet you that Mother has gotten the kitchen set."
"No, no betting," Darnley replied, shaking his head and smiling. "I know she did already. And I'm eager to see what exactly she's got there."
"I hope she'll do what she said she wanted to," Nkosi said. He and his husband looked at each other before they said at the same time, "She did."
Laughing together, the men quickly turned their attention to their suitcases and once they had finished everything and the luggage was put away in a small closet their room also had, their children were running in while they were speaking at the same time while they hurried to calm them down.
"Easy, easy," Darnley told them in amusement. "Who said that you could run around like wild animals?"
"I'm an aminal!" Maddy said before she was giggling heavily.
"I see that," Darnley said while he picked her up. He kissed her cheek and said, "Did your grandmother and grandfather go downstairs?"
"Yes!" Keo exclaimed. "Grandma wants… kitch!"
"I think he means the kitchen," Nkosi said to his husband with a smile.
"It looks like it," Darnley said. "Let's go," he then added. "We have the dinner very soon." He continued to carry Maddy and feeling her tugging at his collar looked at her saying, "What is it honey?"
"Can I go play with Eliza?" the toddler asked.
"Of course," Darnley replied. "But we need to let them have the time to unpack and rest too."
"I rested on the plane," Maddy told him.
"We need a little more," Darnley said before he was laughing because the little girl was pouting at him. "I know, but just a little more," he said reassuringly, kissing her cheek. At the bottom of the stairs he set her down before they walked to the kitchen where his in laws were waiting for them.
"What have you done here Mother?" Nkosi was asking her.
Smiling, Bethany turned and proceeded to show everything she had done while the four were on the other side of the country. When she was finished, she turned to her son and son in law saying, "If there is anything you do not like, then please tell me and we will change it."
Sharing a look at his husband, Darnley said, "I think we're good. It's set up a lot like you had in DC. So it's familiar."
"He's right mother," Nkosi said, smiling. "You did a very good job."
"Beautiful!" Keo said, smiling.
"Thank you Keo," Bethany replied, smiling at her grandson. "Now, would you like something to drink?"
"Sure" Darnley said. "No, we-" he was about to say before his mother in law was going to their fridge. He couldn't keep her from getting them some juice and he shared a smile with his husband before they were sitting at the island and talking with Nkosi's parents about their vacation as they took in finally being back at their new home.
"Are we unpacking?" Mari asked her mother.
"We need to," Rebecca told her daughter with a smile. "But remember it's not going to take that long since you're just throwing everything in your hamper."
Nodding, Mari then said, "What about Dani?"
"She'll come with us," David replied. "So don't worry, just come over once you're finished."
"I will," Mari said though she had to wait for them to go upstairs since her father had brought her suitcase. After they were at the top of the stairs she took it, pushing it down to her room which was first off the east hall of their home while her parents went into the master bedroom at the opposite end. She paused when she looked inside her room, recalling she needed to unpack and wanted her suitcase on her bed when she heard jogging behind her that made her turn around to her father coming inside.
"Hey pumpkin," David told his daughter. "I completely forgot to come and get your suitcase on the bed."
"That's okay Dad," Mari told him. "We're still going over to Julia's house for dinner, right?"
"We said we would," David told her. He then frowned and asked, "Do you not want to go? You didn't have a fight with Julia on the flight, did you?"
"Dad," Mari told him before she smiled. "We didn't, I just wanted to make sure we were going to go; because I do."
"I know what you're going to ask," David told her firmly. "And no you can't spend the night over there or Julia spend the night here. It's a school night."
Sighing Mari said, "Julia and I were kinda thinking about asking but we thought our parents would say that."
"And you were both right," David replied, smiling when she laughed. He leaned over and kissed the top of her head before saying, "I can't call you pumpkin anymore can I?"
"I… you could," Mari replied a little shyly. "But… not too much when we're not in the house."
Nodding David hugged her as she literally threw her arms around him and he murmured, "I love you sweetie."
"I love you too Dad," Mari said before she let go of him. "You can still call me that."
"Good, now I need to go and unpack my stuff or your mom will think I want her to do it," David said.
"Okay, I'm gonna write in my diary when I'm done," Mari told her dad. When he said that was fine, she hurried to her suitcase he set on her bed before leaving and hurriedly took everything out. When she was finished, she took her diary over to her desk and got her usual pen before she began to write.
May 31st, 2021
Dear Diary,
I'm home now and really happy to be since I'm here with the dogs, though they're just sleeping on the floor behind me. But I'm writing this while it's still daylight since I've got plans with my family tonight.
The flight home was very early which was really annoying since I wanted to spend more time in Mill Valley and San Francisco. I got to sit next to Julia luckily and even though we slept it was a lot of fun. We did wake up enough before we landed so we could eat lunch and then it was time to come home. I unpacked my stuff, and I came here to you to write and that's all I have for today.
Now, I said I have plans and it's going with my family to Julia's for dinner. The Davises are going to be there and the Darnley-Nkosis too, which I know Julia's mom is happy about since he didn't have to leave to go to Washington DC. We'll have dinner together and then play together and it'll be a ton of fun. Since I'm sure Mom and Dad will want me to go to bed as soon as we come back since there's school tomorrow, I'll have to wait to write in you again about tonight tomorrow. It's okay though since I'd want to play more with the others instead! So goodnight diary and I'll be back to write in you tomorrow!
Finishing her entry, Mari set her things in the wider drawer of her desk before she got up and went to her closet before she nearly jumped at the knock on her doorway.
"Sorry honey," Rebecca told her with a smile. "I came to let you know we're heading downstairs."
"Should I change for dinner?" Mari asked.
"I don't know," Rebecca said. "Your dad and I didn't. I think it's more up to you."
Nodding her head slowly, Mari looked at her closet and said, "I'll go," hurrying to her mother. They walked out together and she asked, "How much longer until we go?"
"You haven't been paying attention to the time?" Rebecca asked with a smile.
"I was writing in my diary Mom," Mari replied.
"That's true," Rebecca said. "We need to leave soon."
"Good," Mari said. She smiled when her mother hugged her on the stairs quickly before they continued to the kitchen to start getting their shoes and jackets so they could head next door, trying not to rush as she was doing that since she was eager to see her best friend already.
May 31st, 2021 5:28pm
Hello back at home Evangeline! I wrote the time because I'm probably not going to be able to write later tonight so I'm doing it now. But I should warn you, there isn't a lot to write about since we were busy with just one thing for most of today.
This morning… very early this morning, I was woken up by Mom, letting me know we had to go to the airport since we had an earlier flight than I thought we did. It turned out that Skye was able to get those tickets for us, that way we wouldn't get back to the house so late, the time change and everything. We got ready, though it was really hard since I was so, so sleepy. And then we drove down through San Francisco and though I was really tired I did my best not to fall asleep before we were at the airport. We didn't have to wait too, too long to get onto the plane and it was the best to just sleep and we did, almost the whole flight before we got back to NYC.
We came straight home and I had to unpack before I got to come here to you and I'm writing, which I mention only because I'm finally back to my fountain pen which I did miss though the trip was so fun.
I'm sure you're wondering Evangeline, why I'm writing so early. That's because we're going to have dinner with all the other families; even the Davises but they're bringing dinner so that's why. I'll tell you how everything goes tomorrow, but I can't wait to see everyone again. Especially Mari though I just saw her not too long ago.
Someone's coming to get me, so I better stop right here and put you away to get ready for our little party!
Julia had just managed to get her diary, pen and ink bottle put away in her desk before the person walking to her room came inside. "Mari!" she cried, surprised to see it was her best friend.
"Hey!" Mari said with a wide smile. "Surprised?"
"Of course!" Julia said, getting up from the table. She went to her friend and hugged her tightly before saying, "You came early."
"My parents wanted to," Mari said. "But I wanted to already. Nobody else is here?"
Julia was about to speak before she looked over at her doorway and said, "I think Patrick and his family are here," since they'd been able to hear her little sister squealing at seeing Maddy.
"Should we go downstairs?" Mari asked her.
"Yeah… I think someone's going to call me downstairs," Julia said after she hesitated for a moment.
"Probably," Mari told her before they were leaving the room. "My dad guessed we might ask to spend the night."
"He said no?" Julia asked. When her friend nodded, she sighed and then said, "Too bad, but I thought they'd say that." She saw Mari was about to speak and she quickly told her, "I haven't seen my parents since my dad put my suitcase on the bed."
Nodding Mari said, "They would have said the same thing."
"Of course," Julia replied before they were laughing while they were going down the stairs. Once they were in the family room, she saw her mother was there alone and she said with a frown, "Where is everyone?"
"Outside, I thought one of the kids had gotten hurt," Beckett explained. She then smiled at the two and said, "Are you ready to go outside?"
"Definitely," Julia said, Mari nodding next to her. They waited for her mother to join them and she then asked, "Is everyone here?"
"The Davises just got here," Beckett replied.
"Did Lily tell you what was for dinner?" Julia asked.
"She did," Beckett said with a smile. "And it is pizza."
"From the parlor?" Mari asked eagerly.
"It is," Beckett said. "Brad said they couldn't get it anywhere else."
Julia laughed and said, "Good thing, that's definitely the best one in town."
"She's right, it is," Mari said in agreement when they'd reached the door to the backyard.
Beckett laughed softly and said, "So you two are happy." When they nodded in agreement to her guess she said, "Then you'll come inside when it's time to eat." She wasn't surprised when they rushed together out of the house to join all the other kids that were there, playing already with the yard dominoes set. She walked onto the patio and went to her husband where he was standing near the steps with Josie in his arms. She touched his arm before he turned quickly to her and she was about to tease him about waiting for her when he affirmed he was doing that first.
"We decided that since she wasn't going to play, we would wait for you," Castle said.
"She was in on the decision?" Beckett asked him with a smile.
"Mama," the baby said then.
Smiling himself as his wife was taking Josie's hand and kissing the back of it, Castle said, "She was of course."
Turning her attention to her husband, Beckett reached to him and cupped his face with her hand tenderly before she said, "I'm glad to hear it was both of you in the end though." She smiled again when her husband was nodding his head firmly at what she'd said, and she placed her hand on the back of his neck before they were tenderly kissing one another.
"Hey, there are kids here you guys," Darnley said, walking over to them with Maddy.
"Yes, you're bringing yours here now," Castle commented. "Jerk," he said under his breath. Grunting for a moment as his wife nudged his side, he gave her Josie and then said, "Sorry, but for that second he is."
"I had to, there are families here," Darnley said.
"You guys are terrible," Beckett said, trying to sound stern but failing as she was unable to bury her laughter. "Come on Maddy, we can go down to the water since your daddy is being so silly."
"I wanna show Josie a shell!" the toddler cried out.
"Well, she knows how to take control," Darnley commented while he and Castle were watching her walking down the yard.
"She does," the writer said.
Turning his head, Darnley was smiling since Castle was walking after his wife, almost as if he were in a trance though he wasn't staggering. He went to his husband who was talking on the phone to Skye.
"Richard," Martha said, stopping her husband. "You're going to scare the children, please stop for a moment."
"Scare them?" Castle asked in obvious confusion.
"You're stalking your wife," Brad said in amusement.
Opening his mouth to speak, Castle then realized he was essentially doing that, and he shook himself asking the chief, "Any new cases?" He jumped for a moment when his mother started to laugh softly as she left them, and he turned to his friend.
"There weren't, just the normal round of patrols," Brad said. "It was a nice break."
"Hopefully it stays that way until we go to Spain," Darnley said as he was walking over to them, Nkosi heading down to the beach with his mother.
"You wouldn't want to try out a case here?" Brad asked.
"I did already," the carpenter said. "I'd like a little break to get started on my woodworking before that."
"Are you going to before we leave?" Castle asked.
"As much as I can," Darnley replied, nodding his head.
Castle wasn't surprised when the man suddenly excused himself and left them before he turned to Brad. "I guess he just remembered the idea of using driftwood," he commented. He was then intending to ask how Sophie was doing before the chief was questioning him about his youngest.
"I heard Josie started calling you dada," Brad said. "When did she start doing that?"
"When we got to San Francisco," Castle told him. "Anything from Sophie yet?"
"No, but her doctor said she's doing a good job with her vocalizations and we'll need to wait and see how that turns out in the end," Brad said, looking at his wife who was holding their youngest.
"Are you leaving?" Castle asked, smiling at his friend.
"Yeah, you were thinking of doing that too," Brad said before they were parting and going to their wives.
"You two looked serious just now," Beckett told him with a smile while Josie squealed and reached over to him.
"He asked about her calling me dada," Castle replied. "And I asked if Sophie had spoken at all yet."
"I was talking with Lily about that," Beckett replied, watching her husband with a smile while he was playfully blowing on Josie's cheek.
"Are they worried?" Castle asked her.
"No, they're both aware she might have trouble with some things," Beckett replied. "But for now they're just glad that she's okay."
"Understandable," Castle said, nodding his head. He then pressed his lips to Josie's forehead and told their daughter, "You know I'm really happy we're back home."
"Ba… do… ma… Mama," Josie vocalized before she was laughing.
"Does that mean she wants to go back to you?" Castle asked his wife.
Laughing briefly Beckett shook her head and said, "I have no idea, but we really need to ask about dinner."
"It's coming right now," Lily said.
"You timed it?" Rebecca asked her while they were all starting to make their way up to the house.
"We did, and we asked them to deliver around now," Brad said. "We lost track of time though so we're running."
"We're not," Lily said, rolling her eyes since her husband was carrying Sophie.
"You don't need to run," Castle commented. "We're all going the same way."
"I think he means to pick it up," Beckett said in amusement as the chief was rolling his eyes. She went up the stairs with Lily and said, "How many pizzas did you order?"
"Six," Lily said.
"Leftovers?" Beckett asked her.
"For the kids we're hoping," Lily replied.
"That's fine," Beckett said, smiling as she'd been thinking of that in the first place. After they had gotten inside, she wasn't surprised when the chime for the gate rang and she was handing Josie to her father who was next to her to hurry and check to see if it was the pizza. When it was, she was hurrying to press the button and smiling while Lily came to stand next to her. "We know," she told her.
"Are you sure?" the chef replied.
"Yes," Beckett said in mock annoyance. She opened the door as the car was coming up to the house and let Lily and Brad go outside to pay for the pizzas while she went back inside and hurried to the kitchen to start getting some plates ready for them to eat as soon as it was ready.
"How many slices can I have Daddy?" Eliza asked her father as she was walking with him to the kitchen as he and Brad were taking the pizzas.
"I think your usual," Castle told her with a smile as he wasn't surprised she was asking since she usually did when they had pizza.
"But I'm really hungry," Eliza protested.
"Just two Eliza," Beckett called to them since they were close enough for her to hear.
Breathing out roughly, Eliza nodded and said, "Can I eat the crusts?"
"I insist you do," Castle told her teasingly. He smiled when she laughed, and they soon started to get their slices with the others until they were splitting up to go to different rooms to eat in since there were so many of them.
"How was it getting back to your home?" Beckett was asking Darnley when they were sitting next to each other at the dining room table.
"Good, we didn't spend much time there again," the carpenter replied. "So it's going to be a little bit of a shock to be there all the time tomorrow." Darnley pointed his pizza crust he'd eaten down to at her and told her, "Don't say I'll get used to it."
"I wasn't going to, you knew I was thinking it," Beckett said, a slight smile on her face.
"I forgot to ask, how're the McDouglases?" Brad asked.
"They're good, they got home alright and they slept for a while," Beckett answered since she had talked with Skye already. "The girls were asking her and her mother to play some music for them."
"I'm not surprised," Castle commented. "They have their electric guitars."
"She said she's not sure what they're going to do but they'll probably end up singing something," Beckett said.
"I'm assuming she'll send a video?" David asked with a smile.
"They will," Beckett said with a nod before they were going back to their food. Eventually they were finishing, and she went with her husband to take the plates and glasses they had used for the meal until she could hear her phone giving off its text alert message.
"Is that Skye?" Julia asked as they were gathered in the kitchen and had all heard it.
"It is," Beckett said before her eyes widened when she shortly after received another text.
"Is something wrong?" Louis asked her.
"No," Beckett said slowly as she was looking at what she'd gotten. "It looks like the girls managed to convince them to sing twice."
"That's not a surprise," Darnley said in amusement.
"Could we watch it?" Julia asked hopefully.
"Hold on," Beckett said before she was answering the call she had just gotten. "Hey Skye, we're all here with the Davises and Trevor's parents."
"Hullo all," the investigator said as Beckett had turned the phone to everyone and she could see the large group, though not all of them. Skye smiled as they were all saying hello to her and she then said, "I hope I didn't interrupt you during dinner."
"We just finished eating," Jacob said. "Are you going to perform now?"
"I sent you all a couple videos," Skye replied. "And if you watch them that's all up to you. I just wanted to see how the Castles were doing but I suppose I'm checking all of you now." She couldn't help laughing as they were all assuring her they were good and then said, "Then I'll let you go, the girls have pulled us to the pool, so we'll see you in Madrid very soon."
After they'd said goodbye to the investigator, Beckett was smiling and said, "She wanted to make sure we let the girls watch it. And now the rest of the kids since she knows you're here."
"So we can watch?" Darnley asked.
"Let's go to the family room," Castle said with a smile before they were walking over to it. He helped his wife as they were getting her phone connected to the TV and once they were ready, he took her hand to lead her over to the couch so they could start the first video.
"It's on Mum," Marie was saying off camera.
"Alright, then here's Happy With You girls," Skye said, looking at her wife who was sitting on the piano bench with an acoustic guitar. She was playing her Hofner bass as they started and she was singing, her wife joining in with her where she needed to.
I sat around all day
I used to get stoned
I liked to get wasted
But these days I don't
'cos I'm happy with you
I got lots of good things to do, oh yeah
I walked around angry
I used to feel bad
But nowadays my days
Don't have to be sad
'cos I'm happy, with you
I got lots of good things to do, oh yeah
Like, hear the high clear robin sing
Walk a bluebell carpet
Watching the children playing games
Catch a moon and drop it
Hear the gentle mantle roll
On a frosty morning
See the might ocean break
Like a sailor's warning
I used to drink too much
Forgot to come home
I lied to my doctor
But these days I don't
'cause I'm happy with you
I got lots of good things to do, oh yeah
Throw a pocketful of coins in the Trevi fountain
See an ice cold running stream
Rushing down the mountain
Hear a newborn baby lamb
Calling for its mother
Watching reunited friends
Loving one another
At the instrumental, Mary was hitting the side of her acoustic guitar while she was playing, continuing until her wife was picking up the singing again and she was her backup once more.
I sat around all day
I liked to get stoned
I used to get wasted
But these days I don't
'cos I'm happy with you
I got lots of good things to do, oh yeah
Happy with you
I'm happy with you
Happy with you
Beckett smiled as the kids were all applauding while Skye playfully bowed when she and Mary had finished and she said, "I get the feeling she suggested that one."
"I think Marie and Kath picked it on their own," Julia said to her mother. "They do know the lyrics."
"Either way," Nkosi said. "It was a very good song."
Hearing the others agreeing, Castle said, "Well, they have one more song…"
"What?" Beckett asked, surprised that her husband had trailed off suddenly.
"No, should we call her when we finish this second one? Let her know how much we enjoyed it?" Castle asked.
"She's at the pool though," Alexis said.
"I was planning on just texting her," Beckett said to the others. She was going to add she was thinking of filming the kids watching and then applauding at the end of whatever song the women performed before Eliza was suddenly speaking while she was jumping up and down where she was sitting.
"Can we listen to the next song now? We only have one more." The little girl was saying eagerly.
"Play it," Beckett told her husband who was soon after getting the second video started.
"We're ready," Skye was saying to her wife as she was looking at her while Mary was playing some random chords. She then looked at her daughters; obviously off camera; and told them, "You're lucky I know how to play this in electric."
"Then start Mum," Kathleen quipped.
"Cheeky," Skye told her.
"Ain't That Good News!" Mary called out before her wife was laughing and she counted them in herself. They started to play the faster paced song together, Skye singing shortly after.
Oh, my baby's comin' home tomorrow
Ain't that good news
Man, ain't that news
My baby is coming home tomorrow
Ain't that news
Man, ain't that news
I got a letter just the other day
Telling me that she was on her way
And she wants me to meet her at the station
Ain't that good news
Man, ain't that news
In the letter she told me she still loved me
Ain't that good news
Man, ain't that news
In the letter she told me that she loved me
Ain't that news
Man, ain't that news
She said she's sorry that she left
Found out she don't want nobody else
Said she wants me all to herself
Ain't that good news
Man, ain't that news
Ain't that news
Ain't that good news
Man, I know that's good news
My baby's coming home tomorrow
Ain't that good news
Yeah, ain't that news
I'm gonna have her a party at the station
Ain't that good news
Man, ain't that news
Have a party at the station
Ain't that news
Man, ain't that news
I can't wait to get her home
Where we can finally be alone
Disconnect my telephone
Ain't that good news
Man, ain't that news
Ain't that news
Ain't that good news
Ain't that good news
Man, man, man, ain't that news
My baby's comin' home tomorrow
Ain't that good news
Man, ain't that news
Good news
Good news
Ain't that good news
Ain't that news
Good news
"That is very impressive," Joseph said once the kids had applauded.
"She's good," Beckett said, nodding in agreement since she knew the man was indicating there had been no instrumental for Skye to just play.
"Especially with Sam Cooke songs," Bethany said.
"She's right," Castle said with a smile. "She played Another Saturday Night for us. And sang," he said, adding the bit at the end when he realized what he'd said.
"As much as she protests about it," Jim said in amusement. "She seems to enjoy playing."
"She's humble," Beckett said, smiling herself. She looked at the kids, not surprised they were talking together before she said to everyone, "I'll text Skye, let her know we loved it and then we can start playing."
"Can we decide what we want to play?" Julia asked.
"Go ahead," Castle told them.
"It won't take me that long," Beckett said, going on her phone quickly. She texted her friend, Stop saying you hate to sing, we all loved what you did and the kids enjoyed it especially. When she finished, she asked, "What're you going to do?"
"We want to play Life," Julia said.
"Paired up?" Castle asked.
"Yeah… so what are the rest of you going to do?" Julia said slowly.
"We'll just talk," Beckett said, watching while the kids quickly started to get the box and set it up. She turned to the other adults when Eliza was calling to her soon after to get her attention.
"Mommy, Josa and Sophie are playing," the little girl was saying excitedly.
Her gaze going down to the girls, Beckett smiled when she soon saw her second youngest was right. Josie was crawling around in the space she had with Sophie until they were stopped by the adults' legs. She shared a glance with her husband before their baby girl was grabbing the Martha's knee and starting to stand.
"Hello kiddo," Castle's mother said, smiling at her. She then took her youngest granddaughter's hands before Martha said, "Do you think you might walk a little?"
"Abab… Mama," Josie said, looking at Beckett.
"Come here sweetie," she told her daughter, getting on her knees and reaching out for her. "I'll help you."
"Mama," Josie said, just staring at her mother.
Castle, filming the baby, was holding his breath as he wasn't sure if she would do anything that time before Julia was suddenly going over to them.
"Here Josa," the girl said, getting on her knees quickly. "Walk this way over to Mom," she told her while she held out her hands so she would have support. Julia smiled as her baby sister was doing so and she then said, "Take a step," before Josie was doing so. She held her breath and then asked her mother, "Could I let her go?"
"You can, but make sure you're close enough to catch her if she needs it," Beckett said quickly, wondering if the baby had attempted enough steps to try walking on her own. As they were all watching, Julia let go of Josie's hand and then the other before she said, "Come here sweetie."
Josie was smiling at her mother before she laughed and took a step before she tried a second one and then fell into her mother's arms.
"Good thing you got closer," Castle said, stopping his phone as he'd gotten the moment. He smiled as the kids were going over to Josie to congratulate her and got up once they were moving back to their games since the youngest were playing UNO.
"I was wondering if that was going to happen soon," Beckett said with a smile as she handed Josie to her husband.
Leaning over, Castle pressed his lips to Josie's temple and then said, "We were on a better surface."
Beckett laughed softly and said, "She still could have walked in Mill Valley."
"It would have kept her from that second step," Castle commented. He smiled when his wife laughed and shook her head a second later before they were sharing a brief kiss.
"Oh, I came over too soon," Darnley said, having been making his way to them.
"Sit down," Beckett told him in mock annoyance. She smiled when Josie laughed at him and then reached out to him which led her to say, "She knows her uncle."
"Uncle?" Darnley asked, beaming at her.
"Of course," Beckett replied. "Though the kids have never called the other adults here aunt and uncle."
"Or the kids cousins," David said. "It works out better that way."
"Are you going to let her walk anymore tonight?" Lily asked.
"I think I'll let her tell us if she wants to," Beckett replied. She then turned her attention to the baby and let her take the side of her hand saying, "Does anyone want anything to drink? Wine? Coffee?"
"No thanks, I think we're going to go to sleep early," Darnley said. "Well… early for us."
"You're tired?" Brad asked.
"Sort of," Darnley answered. "To be honest we did sleep enough on the plane, but I figured with the time change we should catch up when we can." He looked around at the others and asked, "Do you guys get much jet lag traveling?"
"Not anymore," Castle said first. "I've traveled around a lot and I learned the best thing for me is to sleep on the flight."
"If it helps you tomorrow you should do that for Spain," Louis said.
"You do that?" Nkosi asked.
"I had to," Louis replied with a smile.
"I'm really excited," Lily suddenly said.
"Of course you are," Beckett said in amusement. "But I have to ask again-"
"Don't!" some of the others said at nearly the same time since they knew she would ask if they minded her and her husband choosing the itinerary for the trip.
"We had to," Castle said, taking his wife's hand and squeezing it rapidly since Josie was suddenly squirming on his lap. "I'm assuming you want to go down?"
"Mama… bas… ba!" Josie cried out.
"What does that mean?" Brad asked before the baby was standing and taking a few steps before she fell.
When she was caught by Maddy, Josie squealed and vocalized for a little bit before she was crawling after Nkosi told the toddler to let her go.
"Hey," Eliza said with a smile when her sister sat up next to her. She hugged her baby sister, being careful with the cards in her hands, and she kissed her cheek to her sister's squeal. "Are you having fun walking?"
"Ma… bas," Josie said.
"Can you say Lizzy?" Julia said then.
"Iss!" Josie cried before she started to bounce a little.
Eliza nearly dropped the cards in her hand as she was trying to calm her sister before she was settling down against her. "Mommy?" she said, turning to her.
"Keep holding her, I think she wants to go to bed soon," Beckett said, her eyes on Josie at that moment. She was going to tell her to let her relax before she spotted the baby beginning to squirm and she hurriedly got up.
"Can we take Sophie up to?" Lily asked as she was standing herself with her husband.
"Not a problem," Castle said, as the couple had said they weren't sure if they'd let her sleep in Josie's crib or in a bassinet in the family room.
"Girls," Beckett then said to her three other daughters. "Come and say goodnight to your sister."
Eliza was first to the baby, who was looking sleepier as she hugged her carefully. "I love you Josa, sleep tight and we'll see you in the morning for breakfast," she told her sister with a smile.
"Love you Josa," Julia said, kissing her cheek before hearing her sister vocalizing. "Hopefully you can walk with us to school in the morning," she then said to the baby though she was glancing up at her mother out of the corner of her eye before Beckett was responding to her wryly.
"Not very subtle sweetie," Beckett told her. "And if it's not raining then she can come with us."
"But she's not walking," Castle said quickly, smiling when the girls were laughing before his wife gave Josie to Alexis.
"I love you too Josa," the young woman told her, kissing her cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow, we'll try to be here for dinner," Alexis added, looking at her parents who were nodding. She hugged her baby sister gently before she handed her back to their mother and said, "They're still playing?"
"They can," Beckett said, smiling at the other parents. "But we'll be right back." She led the way with her husband to the stairs until they were leading Brad and Lily to Josie's room. Once they were inside, she was giving Castle the baby and watching him kissing her on the top of the head before he pulled back slightly.
"I love you Josie," he told her with a smile since she was looking at him with wide eyes. He did so a little wider when she grabbed at his chin but did so gently before he told his wife, "She's tired."
"She would be," Beckett said with a slight nod. "She did a lot today."
"I know," Castle said, turning his attention back to their baby. He kissed her gently again and told her, "Sweet dreams Josie."
Taking the baby back as she was vocalizing, Beckett was quick to kiss her cheek before she said, "I love you too sweetie. And thank you so much for being so well behaved today."
"Mama," Josie said while she was staring at her mother. She smiled when Beckett leaned her forehead against hers and sighed before settling against her.
"Sophie's asleep," Lily said quietly to the pair.
"We'll be down once we change her and get her in the crib too," Castle said. When the couple had left, he and Beckett went to the changing table to get Josie dressed in pajamas. They both kissed her again before he watched his wife setting the baby on one side of the bed while Sophie was fast asleep across from her. Their baby was asleep shortly after Beckett had set her down and they were soon leaving the room to the babies and Max and Molly.
Feeling her husband grabbing her hand, Beckett smiled and turned around to him saying, "I knew you were going to."
"So I can?" Castle asked in response as he was smiling back at her. When her response was to wrap her arms around him, he pulled her tightly to him and they kissed gently. It didn't last for very long before they were slowly parting, and he stared into her eyes before they were leaning into each other again. That time he couldn't keep himself under control and he deepened the kiss before their tongues were meeting inside her mouth. They were tangling together for a while until they were pulling away from one another to breathe and he said, "We have to go downstairs."
Smiling, as she knew her husband was talking to himself, Beckett pressed her forehead to his for a moment before they reluctantly let go of each other. Before her husband could start walking away from her, she stopped him and told him, "Ní mór dúinn anocht," which meant 'we have tonight.'
"Is mian leat?" Castle said, asking her if it was what she wanted. At her nod he took her hands with both of his hand said, "I love you Kate. Ní féidir liom fanacht ansin," the latter meaning 'I can't wait for then.'
"Pervert," Beckett told him with a smile. "I love you too." She wasn't surprised when they were sharing a tender kiss and holding one another again before they finally managed to part and started walking to the stairs so they could go down and rejoin the rest of their family and friends for the remainder of their impromptu get together.