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:Even though the last chapter was so short, I was very pleased seeing I still got a little feedback for it so I'll go ahead and get to my thank you for that! MsNYC (It was great reading you thought that chapter was very thrilling, exactly what I wanted in so little a space writing!).
Thanks so much for the review, I loved reading it and I appreciate the time taken to write it out and send it my way!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Little Miss Pipedream by Matthew Murphy, from the band The Wombat's album The Wombats Proudly Present… A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation.
Foggy London Town
"Rick?"
"Yeah?" Castle asked, looking over at his wife as she walked from the closet over to the bed.
"Did you finish unpacking?" Beckett said.
"Of course," Castle said with a smile as he was on the bed watching the TV in the room.
"Everything you need until we go to White Mount," Beckett stated instead of asking.
"Everything," Castle said. "Did you want to go?"
"I'd like to," Beckett replied, smiling herself.
"Okay," Castle said, turning off the TV and moving to get off the bed. He slipped his shoes back on before he went to grab his coat as he glanced outside the window next to their bed. It was the fifth of February and he and Beckett were in London, staying in the Savoy hotel until the ninth when they'd head to her cousin's for the Valentine's Day ball that Sunday. They had arrived an hour before to their hotel and had rested for a bit after having to wake up early for their flight at seven in the morning. "It doesn't look too bad," he said as they could see some remnants of the fog from that morning.
"I think this is just on the river," Beckett said as she'd come up to stand next to him.
"Probably," Castle said with a nod. He then smiled and turned to her saying, "Did you send the picture?"
"He has it, but the girls are still in school," Beckett replied as she'd taken a picture of the view from their suite's living room. It had a river view and they were also able to see the London Eye, which they were planning on heading to once they left.
"He could have shown it to Josie," Castle commented.
Smiling Beckett squeezed his hand before she said, "He may have."
"We'll see her soon," Castle said as he helped his wife with her coat.
"Is this for me or you?" Beckett asked him teasingly.
Castle pretended to think about that but he didn't do it for very long as she was laughing. He started to smile and he then leaned over, kissing her firmly on the lips before they slowly parted sometime later. "Let's go?" he asked to distract himself.
"Yeah," Beckett said shortly as she wasn't unaffected herself. She reached for his hand and they left the room together before walking hand in hand to the elevator. "You never told me about dinner," she pointed out to him once they were in the car and heading down to the lobby.
"It's nothing special," Castle said.
"Smart casual?" Beckett guessed. She rolled her eyes with a smile as he tapped his nose and then said, "Here?"
"Simpson's in the Strand," Castle told her as the car was stopping and they stepped out into the lobby. They nodded at the employees who greeted them and once they were outside he hailed a cab and told the driver the London Eye before they were setting off down the street.
Taking pictures of the architecture as they were stopping every so often, Beckett was startled when they reached the giant wheel fairly quickly. She was first out of the cab and waited for her husband before she said, "Should we have tea?"
"A drink," Castle told her. "Wait," he said as he realized what he'd said, shaking his head. "I mean in the room we could unless you want to grab it somewhere."
"No, the room is fine," Beckett said before they took each other's hands and started to walk so they could pay for their ride.
"What time are we calling them?" Castle asked her.
"What time is dinner?" Beckett replied easily.
"At seven," Castle said, watching her to see her reaction.
"We are in Europe," Beckett said with a smile as she knew why he was watching her. She squeezed his hand and then told him, "But that's fine, we can call them at nine when they're back from dance class."
Castle started to open his mouth before he paused and then nodded saying, "I was figuring that out the wrong way."
Smiling, Beckett nodded and said, "It'll be four."
"Yeah… I wish we could have brought them," Castle told her.
As her husband was paying for admission, Beckett studied her camera before she went over to him once he was finished. "I know love," she told him in Irish as they were in line. "But we'll see them this weekend and then go home with them."
"That'll be great," Castle said.
Beckett smiled and squeezed her husband's hand tightly before they were getting onto one of the pods with other people. They went off to the side so they could be on their own and they watched as they were slowly rising into the air. "He'll make sure that he tells us if she does anything," she told him, referencing her father.
Turning his head to look at her Castle said, "We'll hope she'll wait for us," since he knew she was hoping as he was their youngest wouldn't do anything for the first time without them there. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders before they turned their attention back to their view and he watched her photographing as they rose above the Thames in front of them.
"Love?" Beckett asked her husband as they paused in the entrance to Harrods.
"Yeah?" Castle said as he turned to her.
"I think we should take our tea here," Beckett told him.
Smiling Castle said, "Brennan would be glad to hear how you said that." He then became thoughtful and said, "Skye too."
Rolling her eyes briefly Beckett then said, "Okay but what do you think?
"I agree, I'm a little hungry too," Castle commented. "Hopefully we can get a table at that tea place."
Nodding, Beckett walked with him through the department store before they found the place and were lucky to be shown a table inside. As they looked at the menus she said, "What about the fruit platter?"
"That's fine," Castle replied with a quick nod. "Rooibos?" he then asked. When she nodded he waved down a waiter and ordered their tea and fruit before they were left alone and his wife was touching his hand.
Beckett didn't say anything, placing her hand on his hand letting him entwine their fingers before she murmured, "I'm glad we decided to do this," speaking in Irish.
"Me too," Castle said in the same language. He was tempted to kiss her but decided he needed to wait until they were more alone as there were people around their table having tea as well. "So tomorrow are we set?" he asked in English.
Smiling, as they'd already agreed on visiting the National Gallery, Beckett nodded before their waiter was coming back with their tea and fruit. She watched him pour their cups before they were alone again and she said with a smile, "Did you want to go to the British Museum?"
Shaking his head, Castle set aside his spoon he'd just used to stir in honey and told her, "I'm looking forward to it. But we will bring the girls back right?"
"Of course," Beckett replied. "Since I do want them to go to the Natural History Museum; they want to."
Castle smiled as he was thinking of how their daughters had told them to go to as many museums as possible in the time they had in the city before he said, "I should have expected them saying they wanted us to take them after."
Beckett finished drinking her sip of tea and then ate some apples off the plate before she told him, "I wasn't surprised really, but we'll have to come back soon I think."
"When?" Castle asked her in confusion.
"That I don't know," Beckett replied with a sigh. "Maybe they can come while we're in Adare," she said after thinking that over.
"Maybe," Castle said. "But do you think they'd want to come without us?"
"That's what I was thinking myself," Beckett told him honestly. She then smiled a little and said, "But we'll ask them."
"What about the Portrait Gallery?" Castle asked.
"Julia yes, but we might wait for that when the girls are older," Beckett replied. "That way Josie could appreciate it. Maybe."
"I think her sisters will make sure she does," Castle said in amusement. He smiled when she sighed but then nodded before she said, "And you." That made him laugh; though he tried not to; and he hurried to calm down before he told his wife, "You too Kate, I think we're both agreed that we should try to get her to appreciate the arts." When his wife merely smiled at him he suddenly grew serious and he told her, "I love you," in Irish.
"I love you too Rick," Beckett told him with a smile. They held hands for a while but soon realized that they couldn't really get to the fruit or their teacups, so they let each other go. They finished their snack in silence before she said, "What were you planning on getting here?"
"Nothing really, I just wanted to look," Castle said. When his wife looked at him he quickly told her, "I didn't intend us to come just for you."
"It's weird to say but I'm glad you didn't," Beckett said with a smile, waiting for him to pay before they got up from their chairs and they left the restaurant to head to a store for her first.
"Have you heard from her yet?" Castle said, speaking in Irish again as he followed her through some displays of Stella McCartney's clothing.
"I have," Beckett said with a smile. "She'll be there the day before the ball for the photoshoot."
"Good thing Skye told her about the greenhouse," Castle commented.
Beckett turned from a pair of trousers she was holding and asked, "Are you ready?"
"Not really," Castle said honestly. When his wife glanced at him he nodded and told her, "Seriously."
"Rick," Beckett said, draping the trousers over her arm and turning to him and pressing her other hand to his chest. "It's not that much different from posing for a magazine."
"Yes," Castle said slowly. He saw the frown forming on his wife's face and he told her quickly, "I want to make sure this goes well for you."
"It will," Beckett said, smiling as she could tell that he was serious. She reached for his arm and squeezed it gently before telling him, "I don't think you could really mess it up."
"Well… I'll try not to," Castle replied. He squeezed her hand before he watched her turning her attention to the pants she held already. "You like those?" Castle asked her.
"I do," Beckett said as she folded them again. "Where will you sit?"
"I'll wait by the dressing room," Castle replied easily before they walked together over to the doorway. He leaned against the wall outside and waited for her, wondering if she would show him the trousers as she wore them.
"No peeking," Beckett said when she stepped up to the doorway to find that he was looking in.
"I'm not," Castle said. "I wasn't sure I'd get to see."
"I'll show you at the room," Beckett said easily.
"Sure," Castle replied as he followed her over to the registers. "I couldn't-"
"I'll take care of it," Beckett interrupted him before she went to pay. After she had the trousers in a bag she then went to the exit before she told her husband, "Now you."
"That's it?" Castle asked in surprise.
"That's all I really wanted," Beckett said firmly. "Come on," she told him.
Though he was about to protest, Castle then said, "What am I getting?
"Whatever you want, but I would like to see you in something from Tom Ford," Beckett replied as they went to the nearest escalator. After they'd gone to the right floor she said, "But it's up to you."
"I know, let me see what he has," Castle replied, taking her hand. "Though really I don't need anything else… I don't need anything at all."
"I didn't really need those pants either but I still got them," Beckett commented. She laughed softly when her husband laughed himself and she said, "Since I liked them."
"Okay," Castle said with a nod. "Let me look and see what I can find."
Beckett stayed behind while her husband was looking around at what that section offered, glancing at a few things before she paused when she heard her phone letting off a text alert. Taking it out of her pocket she read her message and smiled at it before her husband was calling to her softly as he approached her. "It's from Skye," she said, knowing he was guessing she had a text.
"Got in, see you at Abbey Road, leave us be," Castle read under his breath. "I guess that's a polite way of telling us to bugger off as she'd say." He looked up at his wife and asked, "Going to answer her?"
"Yeah," Beckett said simply before she was taking her phone back. She typed in, Good to hear, we're all on our own, before showing that to her husband who laughed shortly.
"Nice, at least you let her know you weren't offended," Castle replied.
"That was my reasoning," Beckett replied with a smile before she pocketed her phone. "Did you find anything?" she asked him as she looked at what was in his hand.
"This shirt," Castle replied. "I tried it on," he said. "Quickly, so I'll be right back."
"Take my bag," Beckett told him before he was leaving her to pay. She followed him, watching before he walked back to her and she said, "What now?"
"The girls?" Castle said quickly.
"Yes," Beckett replied with a smile. "And I'd like to give Alexis something too."
"Ralph Lauren?" Castle said. When his wife nodded he said, "Good choice."
"You saw the same thing," Beckett replied with a laugh. She then walked over to the escalator again and they went to the section they'd seen and she stopped at the cotton shirt she'd seen on a mannequin passing by. "Will she be okay with white?" she asked to make sure.
"Yeah, it's good to wear at work right?" Castle said, ending with a question of his own.
"Okay, then we have something for our oldest," Beckett said before she was suddenly gasping when her husband gave her a quick hug.
"Sorry, I just love hearing you say that," Castle said as he let her go.
"I like saying it," Beckett said, smiling as she was touched by that. "Pay?" she asked him as she folded the short sleeved, collared shirt with the familiar polo player logo on the chest.
"I will," Castle replied before they were going to do so. "Julia?" he asked when they'd finished.
"That I'm not sure about," Beckett said before they were going to where they knew were clothing for young girls. She glanced at everything there was before going back to a dress she'd spotted.
"Luckily she doesn't mind cherries," Castle commented as it was patterned in those. "And Stella."
Beckett smiled and then said, "That's what I was thinking myself." She then looked around with him at the items for Eliza's age and said, "I was hoping Stella would have something for her."
"I think she might like this," Castle said, holing up a caftan that had a print of tropical leaves.
"That'll be good for Spain," Beckett said with a smile. "We're going to beaches."
"Great, that just leaves Josie," Castle said. "You look."
Beckett couldn't help laughing at the way he'd said the last so quickly but she turned her attention to the baby clothing they'd reached, studying the items for nine months and older.
Watching his wife pause when she picked up a dress Castle smiled and said, "Almost ten months."
"I know," Beckett breathed out. "And no I can't believe it."
"Neither can I," Castle said. When she turned to the dress and seemed to be studying it he said, "It's pretty. And it'll be good for Spain too; lots of flowers."
Beckett smiled at him briefly before she said seriously, "It's Dolce and Gabbana."
"Well…" Castle began before he paused. "She wouldn't have anything else by them. And it's a special occasion," he told her.
Sighing Beckett said, "I know, and it is beautiful." She smiled again when her husband was nodding and she gave him the floral print dress so he could pay that time. When they'd finished she said, "Is that it? My dad, your mom?"
"Is there anything you want to get for them?" Castle asked.
"I think… well your mom has been talking about a purse," Beckett said. "I know," she said, holding her hand up to stop him from talking. "She always does but she showed me the black Gucci one she has is losing the strap."
"Purse it is," Castle said. "Though what is this for?"
"Because we left them for a week," Beckett said. "That's what you said."
Castle couldn't help chuckling and said, "Okay, let's go."
Beckett nodded and they went up a floor to the section with purses and she looked around for a Gucci bag in black as she knew her mother in law would want it to replace her old bag. "This one," she finally said, picking it up.
"Alright," Castle said as he looked it over. "She'll be really happy. And your dad?" he asked as he followed her over to pay.
"I think we can get him some coffee," Beckett replied. "Really good coffee."
"I'll look," Castle said since he could tell a good roast with his nose.
After they'd paid, the pair went upstairs together to the foodstuffs where Castle walked around the selection of coffee. He sniffed at a few packages before he finally said, "This one from Columbia is good, your dad likes a really dark roast."
"Alright," Beckett said with a nod before they went together to pay again. "Now," she said after they were walking to an escalator.
"Yeah… I was thinking," Castle began. "Would you want to walk for a little towards the hotel before we take a cab?"
"That would be nice," Beckett said, knowing already he was thinking of her camera. She leaned over and kissed his cheek as they'd paused by the front doors and told him, "Hopefully you'll enjoy the walk in the cold."
"It's not too cold," Castle said easily. When she looked at him he said, "I have a good coat on; nothing corny." He wasn't surprised when she laughed and they put on their gloves and scarves before they were stepping outside. They started down Brompton Road in the direction of the hotel before his wife was stopping him to his surprise before she quickly explained why she'd done that.
"I did want to take pictures," Beckett said as she was getting her camera. She got the strap ready before they continued down the street and she took a few pictures here and there. They stopped near a park when they felt too cold to continue and she quickly hailed a taxi before she and Castle went the rest of the way in that to the Savoy.
"What did you want to do now?" Castle asked his wife as they stood in the lobby for a moment to warm up.
"We could go swimming," Beckett said. "Which I know is what you want to do."
Giving her a playful frown Castle said, "You don't know me."
"Which means I do," Beckett said with a smile.
"Basically," Castle said, nodding his head in agreement with that. He smiled when she laughed and then took her hand, leading her over to the elevators so they could change and start swimming.
Breaking the surface of the water further down from where she'd entered it, Beckett looked behind her though she didn't have to do so very far as her husband was next to her. "When we talk to them tonight," she began as they started to tread the water together. "We have to mention this."
"You don't think they'll get too jealous?" Castle asked.
"They know already about the pool," Beckett reminded him.
"So what you mean; instead of mentioning it," Castle began. "Is that we'll reassure them that we'll have gone swimming like they urged us to do." When his wife merely smiled at him he gave a fake growl and leapt at her though she was already swimming away from him. He went after her for half of the pool before he moved to swim side by side with her. They stopped in the shallow end of the water before standing and walking, sitting on the second step in before he said, "We don't have to do this every day, do we?"
Beckett smiled and shook her head saying, "No, they said at the very least once."
"Oh, nice of them to allow us that at least," Castle said in amusement. "Why were they so eager for us to swim here though?" he asked.
Biting at her lower lip briefly, Beckett told her husband the circumstances of her conversation with their daughters two days prior. She had been with them in the family room; playing with Josie; when Eliza asked her about the Savoy.
"You and Daddy are gonna be at a fancy hotel in London aren't you?" Eliza said.
Looking at her second youngest in surprise, Beckett looked over at Julia who burst out laughing for a moment before she said, "I told her that the Savoy was really old and fancy. But… why did you ask that Lizzy?" directing the question to her little sister.
"Does it have a swimming pool?" Eliza said to their mother.
"It does, indoor like White Mount," Beckett said. "So you two will get to swim at White Mount."
"No Mommy," Eliza said, shaking her head firmly. "I want you and Daddy to go swimming at the Savoy," she then said with a wide smile, not surprised her mother looked confused.
"Why?" Beckett asked finally.
"That way you can play Marco Polo and you can kiss!" Eliza said eagerly, laughing with her mother and sister when Josie squealed.
"Sweetie," Beckett said once they had calmed down. "It's going to be a public pool and part of the hotel's spa; we can't really do that."
"I didn't tell her to do that," Julia said quickly.
"But you agree," Beckett stated simply. When her daughters both beamed at her she sighed heavily and then said, "Alright I-" before she stopped when she noticed Josie was crawling to her. She picked her up and said, "We'll do our best to swim but remember we have some museums we're going to. And Abbey Road."
"That's fine, I think Lizzy just wants you to swim at least once," Julia said.
"Will once be enough?" Beckett asked Eliza.
"Yeah," the little girl replied with a nod. Eliza watched Beckett hold Josie closer and nuzzle her temple with her lips before she asked, "Mommy?"
"Yes?" Beckett said, looking at her.
"Will Josa miss you and Daddy a lot?" Eliza said.
"I think she will," Julia said before their mother could reply. "But it's only for a little bit."
"Are you going to tell her that for us?" Beckett said with a smile as she was watching the two.
"Yep." "Yeah," Eliza and then Julia said at the same time.
"Thank you," Beckett said with a laugh.
"Mommy," Eliza said suddenly. When her mother was looking at her she quickly said, "Will you promise to swim once with Daddy?"
Beckett opened her mouth to speak when she saw the way her two daughters were staring at her. She closed it for a moment and then told them, "I promise."
"Oh! You have to make sure Daddy does too," Eliza said.
"Promise or swim?" Julia asked her sister with a frown.
Shrugging the little girl said, "Swim?" as she looked at her big sister questioningly.
"I think Mom knows that Dad needs to be with her for that," Julia said simply.
"She's right," Beckett said, wondering if she should tell the two that they were adorable. "And we'll try the pool at least once. Is there anything you two want from while we're in London?"
Shrugging her shoulders Julia said, "We're going to be there soon."
Beckett glanced at Eliza, and seeing that she was holding herself tense asked, "Then would you like something sweetie?"
"A toy," the little girl burst out saying.
"Just a toy?" Beckett asked her.
"Yeah, you know what to get for me Mommy," Eliza said. "You and Daddy."
"We'll see what we find," Beckett said in amusement. She set Josie down, letting her sit up before she let the baby's sisters start playing with her again, rolling a plush ball towards her to her laughter.
"That doesn't really surprise me," Castle commented when his wife had finished.
"Or me, though Julia there was a little bit of a surprise," Beckett said. "She seemed very subdued."
"Well… she was really bothered by that boy asking Mari to the Valentine's Day dance they were going to have at the middle school," Castle reminded her.
"But she's not going; Rebecca and David were very quick to tell her she was too young," Beckett said. "And I reminded Julia that Mari didn't even want to go; she told the boy no."
"Then is something else wrong with her?" Castle asked, watching her.
"No," Beckett replied. "But she's maturing; she's not being that pushy." She then shrugged and said, "Though she did remind me about the promise when I went to check on her the other night before we put her to bed."
"No, she is maturing," Castle replied. "You'll notice that more. But I really have my doubts she'll stop."
"Probably not," Beckett said in amusement. "Should we keep swimming?"
"Sure," Castle said. "I'll follow you." He wasn't surprised when she raised her eyebrow at him and they ducked under the water at the same time to begin their laps around the pool for nearly ten minutes.
When they stopped in the shallow end eventually Beckett stood and then rubbed the water away from her eyes with her hands before she said, "No racing?"
At first Castle was going to say yes but he paused as he studied her before he then said, "We should probably wait to do that for the girls."
"You don't think it would horrify them?" Beckett asked teasingly.
"Oh," Castle said then. When his wife looked at him questioningly he said, "Speaking of the girls…"
Beckett let out a cry of surprise when her husband jumped at her and they went under the water shortly after which cut her off. When they resurfaced and were standing she wasn't shocked when her husband was glancing at her slightly uncertainly. She moved to him, wrapping her arms around his neck before they were kissing gently. It was brief and when they'd parted she asked her husband, "What is it?"
"Was that because you wanted to or because the girls would have wanted that?" Castle asked her.
Beckett studied her husband for a moment before she leaned into him and a second later he did the same and they kissed again. "Are you sure yet?" she asked him as they looked at one another.
"Maybe…" Castle said slowly.
After they'd kissed briefly again, Beckett didn't say anything as she merely raised her eyebrow at her husband questioningly. When he shook his head, she rolled her eyes; though she didn't mind; and kissed him again. She was about to ask him if he was sure again when he was suddenly crushing his lips to hers. She responded to him as quickly as she could before their tongues were meeting just past her parted lips. Tasting him she tried to tell herself to not get lost in her husband since anyone could come into the room, but it was a lost cause as she couldn't help herself.
Eventually Castle pulled away and he murmured against her swollen lips with his own, "Don't hit me but I was sure before you asked."
Smiling, Beckett told him, "I was aware."
"I adore you Kate," Castle told her seriously. He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers before he said, "Thank you for that."
"Don't, I was doing that selfishly," Beckett said, smiling again. She wasn't surprised when he kissed her and after they parted she said, "But we should stop."
"Yeah," Castle said regretfully. He let her go and then said, "How much longer do you want to swim?"
"Not that much longer," Beckett said. "I could use a bath."
Castle paused at that and then asked her, "On your own?"
"Of course not," Beckett said firmly before she went under the water and swam away from him. She shortly after heard her husband coming after her and she smiled inwardly before she made her way to the other end of the pool to turn and start on the other half of her lap with Castle soon swimming side by side with her.
"This was a really great idea," Castle told his wife.
"It was," Beckett said, smiling. She then sighed and shifted slightly before she told her husband, "We do need to wash up soon."
"Yeah but we have plenty of time for that," Castle replied, rubbing his hand up and down her arm before he leaned down to kiss her shoulder.
"Did you want to?" Beckett asked, looking back at him.
"Not now," Castle said, shaking his head slightly. "Maybe later tonight. If you'd like to," he added quickly.
"I would," Beckett said, glancing back at him again with a smile. She reached back and placed her hand on the back of his neck before telling him, "But you can kiss me a little."
"Definitely," Castle said before he was leaning down and kissing at the side of her neck. Since it was exposed by the bun in her hair, he was able to go over all of it before moving to the left side and pausing.
"Help me," Beckett said with a smile as she already knew what he wanted with that pause. She turned with his assistance and once she was on his lap she cupped his face with her hand before telling him, "We'd have to be careful."
"I know but… we'll enjoy tonight a lot more," Castle said. He glanced up at her and seeing the expression on her face shrugged and said, "That's more for me."
"I had a feeling," Beckett replied with a smile. She leaned down then and they kissed each other deeply as she cupped his cheek again. When they were parting she smiled before she felt his hand rubbing up and down her side. "Careful," she told him seriously, trying to fight what she felt at his touch.
"It's really… difficult," Castle said slowly, making sure he was staring up at her face instead of at her body. "You're… amazing Kate."
"So are you," Beckett replied seriously.
"Are you sure?" Castle asked.
"I prefer men love," Beckett said, unable to help smiling at that statement. "So what I want you have."
Nodding Castle told her, "I'm really glad." He studied her before he shook his head and then said, "We'd better… do something else."
"Let me sit like I was before," Beckett told him. With his help she was soon sitting in between his legs, her back to his chest, and she smiled at his arms wrapping around her. She was pleased when they did so tightly and she reached up to them before she then sat in silence. She was nearly dozing off after a while before she was jolted a bit when her husband started to speak.
"I- were you sleeping?" Castle said, interrupting himself when he felt her shake once.
"Almost," Beckett replied. "What were you going to say?"
Kissing at the side of her head, Castle said, "I was going to say I think we should start washing up but maybe we should keep resting."
Smiling Beckett said, "We can rest a little more."
Nodding against his wife's head so she would feel it, Castle relaxed against the back of the tub before he tightened his arms around her slightly. They were quiet again and he could see why she had fallen asleep before he moved his right hand to rub up and down her arm.
"Trying not to fall asleep?" Beckett asked with a smile at the touch.
"Yeah," Castle said honestly.
"We should start now," Beckett replied, still smiling as he let go of her shortly after. She moved to turn and face him before she leaned over to him at the same time he was doing that to her. After they'd kissed she moved to take some water out of the tub before turning back to find that he was holding her shampoo.
"I wanted to make sure I could wash your hair," Castle said.
"You could have just said," Beckett replied in amusement as she reached for the showerhead attachment.
"True," Castle said before he was watching her wetting her hair. He couldn't help reaching up as she was doing that, running his hand over her hair after the water. When she'd turned off the attachment he brought her to him and kissed her, doing so sensuously as he let both his hands run over her hair down to her back before he clutched at it tightly. They were kissing a few more times before they slowly parted and he said, "Do you still want to wash your hair?"
"Of course," Beckett said with a smile as she had an idea of what was going through his mind with that. She waited for him to lather up her hair before she said, "You'll rinse right?"
"Definitely," Castle said firmly before he took the attachment from her. He ran the water over her head until the soap was gone and he allowed his fingers to run through her locks at the end before he grabbed her conditioner and lathered her hair again. "I wonder if you want to rest again after," he told her before he started to rinse again.
"No, we need to get going," Beckett replied. "We didn't get here that early."
"That's true," Castle said with a nod.
"Did you want to?" Beckett asked him as she watched him turn off the water.
"Sort of, but you are right," Castle said. "We have to make it for our reservations and come back to talk to the girls." He paused as she was rinsing his hair and waited until she was finished before he said, "It's too bad we can't take the opportunity."
"I'm not surprised you think that," Beckett told him with a laugh. She got his shampoo and proceeded to lather his hair while he was running his hands up and down her sides. "Don't," she told him though she was smiling at him.
"I can't help it," Castle commented. He then smiled at her and told her, "I guess that's why we're not staying." He had to wait to see her reaction as she was rinsing his hair, and when she'd finished he stopped her from grabbing his conditioner before she was grabbing his wrist and speaking.
"Yes you can kiss me," Beckett said wryly as she knew what he was thinking.
"Do you not want to?" Castle asked her in slight concern as she was lathering his hair with his conditioner.
"Oh I do," Beckett said easily as was gently rubbing his hair. "But," she then began as she grabbed the showerhead. "It makes things far more difficult," she finished as she started rinse off his hair.
"Yeah," Castle said, only able to say that as he was doing his best not to get water on his face. When she had finished he sat up and helped her with a washcloth before they were focusing on washing his body. That done he then reached for her, pulling her close and kissing her passionately on the lips. He hadn't forgotten that they needed to be careful, but he couldn't stop himself as they were rubbing their tongues together before they slowly parted. He was left a little breathless by her smile and he said, "I can't…"
Beckett was expecting the kiss her husband gave her and she was quick to respond to him as their hands were sliding around each other's body. When they'd stopped again she then said, "We better move."
"Probably a good idea," Castle said with a nod. He stopped her from getting up and moved around her in the tub before he could stand. He grabbed one towel rapidly and then stepped out to dry before he turned to his wife with another towel. "I wish we had more time," he said to her as he was finishing drying her off.
Nodding her head, Beckett decided it was better not to respond to that or else they'd be late to their reservations. She had a sudden thought about that dinner but she had to push it aside as her husband was letting her take the towel. Wrapping it around herself she turned her attention to getting dressed and she asked him, "Are we doing this in front of each other?"
"Sure," Castle said. When his wife gave him a look he raised his hands and said, "I don't intend to do anything."
Taking a moment, Beckett realized he was serious and she finally nodded before she said, "Alright, but we should dress a good distance away from each other." She couldn't help laughing when her husband nodded and she reached out to him, squeezing his arm before they walked out to the bedroom.
Changing on either side of the bed, Castle and Beckett were quiet as they were doing their best not to stare at the other though they were soon covered by their clothing. Beckett finished first and went into the bathroom, drying her hair further until she could brush it.
"You look great," Castle said as he came in shortly after.
"Thank you," Beckett said with a smile, looking at his reflection in the mirror. "And you do too."
Nodding his head, as he was combing his hair, Castle was finished soon after and he said, "I'll wait for you."
"I'm done," Beckett said quickly as she'd been putting her hair up into a ponytail. When she had turned to her husband she smiled as he was holding his hand out to her and she took it before they were heading out to the entry of their suite where their shoes were. "Did you want to go anywhere after we eat?" she asked him.
"If it's not that late after dinner?" Castle replied. When she nodded he picked up the room key on the table by the door and said, "I think just one of the bars here in the hotel. For a nightcap." He studied her and then said, "If that's alright with you," wondering if she'd be okay with that.
"It would be," Beckett assured him. "I know you want to try them."
"Just one," Castle said quickly. "The American Bar."
"That one?" Beckett asked in surprise.
"Yeah, reading the description they have drinks based on photos of celebrities. It would be interesting to try," Castle explained as he waited for her to indicate she was ready to go.
"It would," Beckett said with a smile as she got her ID from her wallet. Her husband was holding out his hand to her and she handed it to him before telling him, "We can, but after dinner."
With a simple nod of his head, Castle took her hand and they left the room holding hands until they were in the elevator. "I kept forgetting to ask you, what time do you want to get started tomorrow?" he asked her as they were alone descending to the lobby.
"Oh… I think we should wait to see how things go tonight," Beckett replied easily though she was speaking in Irish. She smiled when her husband's eyes went wide and she said, "We're not in a rush."
"No," Castle had a chance to say as the doors were opening at that point. He took his wife's hand again and they walked together to the restaurant before he started to search the seating inside. "Oh good, they managed," he couldn't help saying under his breath, unaware his wife could hear him.
Glancing at him, Beckett turned back to in front of them, looking around the restaurant before she spotted two familiar faces. "They're joining us?" she asked her husband with a smile.
Castle smiled quickly at wife before he told the maître d' that they had found their party and they were led over to where Skye and Mary were sitting. He'd allowed Beckett to go ahead of him and he watched her go straight to the investigator as the women were standing at the sight of them.
"I'm so glad to see you in blue," Skye said jokingly as she and Beckett embraced.
"Something told me to wear it," she said with a smile as she was wearing her navy-blue women's cut suit. When they'd let go of each other, Beckett asked her friend, "Stella?"
"Of course," Skye replied, raising and lowering her eyebrows a few times, hers black. She turned to Castle and hugged him quickly asking, "You too?"
"Sure," he replied jokingly. "But I am glad we got the chance to do this."
"We wanted to make sure," Mary said as they were soon after sitting down on either side of the booth. "By the way," she said to Castle. "How did you see us?"
"Your wife," he said. "She was arching her head."
"I wasn't so sure the booth was a good idea," Skye commented with a smile. "But this is nice now we're here."
"Do you two know what you're getting already?" Beckett asked the two women.
"Yeah, the Beef Wellington," Mary answered. When she saw the way her wife was looking at her she smiled and said, "I made up my mind."
"That sounds good," Castle said, having looked at the menu. "What wine?"
"It's from South Africa, really good with beef like this," Skye answered. When their waitress came over they ordered both their drink and food and once they were alone again she was about to ask how their flight had gone when Beckett was speaking first.
"You guys didn't sleep on your flight?" she was saying to the two women.
"We did, we were just resting to be honest," Mary said. "Watching TV." She glanced at her wife next to her but couldn't continue as their waitress came back to pour wine for the four of them. "She's been napping," she commented, nodding to the investigator once they were alone again.
"I've been nervous," Skye said, rolling her eyes. When the other two studied her she said, "It's more recording the two Queen songs."
"Two?" Castle asked. "I thought it was one?"
"They want us to make a video for I Want to Break Free," Mary said, a wide smile on her face.
"Apparently someone filmed us performing at Busch Gardens," Skye said wryly. "So they asked us to make a video and the band all wants something like the original."
"Cross dressing?" Castle asked.
"Yeah, Raj got the idea," Skye replied. "But this is still early stages too." She scratched her cheek for a moment and asked, "Should I ask?"
"I think so, it is their daughter and you need their permission," Mary said with a smile as her wife was talking to her.
"Well…" Skye said jokingly.
"What do you need Julia for?" Castle said.
"Brian and Roger want Julia and Peter to dance to one of their live performances on a screen behind them," Skye replied seriously. "The Jive."
"She'll want to," Castle said, looking at his wife.
"Of course she will," Beckett said, smiling. "And she can because it would be cruel to stop her. Peter however…"
"Yeah, we'll talk to his mother," Mary said.
"She is going to the ball right?" Skye asked.
"She is, so are Clive and his dad," Castle said.
"Ah, the whole gang together," Skye said, exaggerating her accent before they laughed. Their food was served at that point and they settled down to eat before she was saying, "I'm glad they're going too."
"So are we," Beckett said. "But the four kids thought they were going to have to perform," she said before they were laughing softly together. "But Brennan and Clara enjoy large parties. There is something I wanted to ask you," she said then. "Why are they having you do so much."
"We asked them the same," Skye replied.
"Several times," Mary added.
"I thought at first they wanted me to perform with them like Adam Lambert but it hasn't gotten to that point," Skye said.
"You can't though," Mary said firmly to her wife.
"She's told them that," Skye told their friends with a smile. "They just want me to sing, especially for the tribute. Remember they saw me on DWTS."
"Sorry to ask again," Beckett commented.
"It's understandable," Skye said with a nod, cutting her small piece of Beef Wellington. "But I think that'll be it. And I just want to get the vocals right."
"You will," Beckett told her. She wasn't surprised when her friend shrugged her shoulders and she smiled before she then turned to her food before Castle was bringing something up.