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: I just want to make a note that I'm not a songwriter, so I don't have the song here for that reason. And the Hoedown examples I just did the best I could, lol, I'm not a comedian either!
A/N #2: It was great getting what I did for feedback for the last chapter, so I'll get to my thank yous for that! TORONTOSUN (Very happy to see you thought the last chapter was great writing!) and
MB (It was really nice to read that you thought the chapter was a fantastic filler one. And I'm glad you thought it was so good seeing Castle and Beckett both relaxing and having Skye and Mary join them going through the museum. And I did have them join in since I wanted to show them enjoying each other's company so great that you noted that and relaxing too. And I'm not surprised you were laughing at Castle's enthusiasm with the dinosaur exhibits if you get excited about those too. I do as well and definitely thought Castle would be, lol, so I had to write that in. And I was pleased to read you mentioned the love scene in the shower and Castle and Beckett reveling in each other as you put it. You're welcome for sharing the first half of the chapter! It was nice to see you thought the second half was fantastic and amazing too. Happy that you loved the flashbacks. And not surprised you would love more about Castle during the war, that one I have to work up to since writing battles isn't my thing, so I'll need to think that one over. And I can't remember if I wrote the reaction to them hearing that Castle was hurt, I'll have to look into that one, lol. I'm glad that; and agree with you; that Castle and Beckett's passion, love and need to make love is continuing from their past life, their souls reconnecting as you put it. You're welcome for sharing the second half!).
Thanks so much for the replies, I loved reading them and appreciate the time taken to write them out and send them my way!
A/N #3: The title of this chapter is nothing to do with a song, it's a phrase Paul McCartney says in the documentary movie In the World Tonight.
Cut To Abbey Road
"Everything set?" a voice said, making Beckett look up from her camera.
"Paul," Beckett replied, hugging him as soon as she'd set down her camera. "I'm so glad to see you."
"So am I," the singer replied with a smile. "Greeted your other half, he says you're doing well."
"Did Nancy come with you?" Beckett asked as she looked over to the booth.
"She did, she's talking to Rick," Skye said as she walked out into the studio. "He's itching to show her pictures," she commented.
"We can see right now," Paul said as he saw the hesitation on the writer's face. "In fact, I'm eager to see how your girls are." While they were heading to the booth he said, "Does she know about the concert?"
"She does, and she's eager for it," Beckett answered. She paused and then asked, "Are you performing at all?"
"No, I'm aware of it though," Paul answered. They'd entered the booth by then and he said jokingly to Castle, "She wants to show us pictures too."
"Oh good," he replied with a smile. Castle stood up as he took his phone out of his pocket and raced to open his pictures before he came to the folder he had for the girls. "Here's Josie, I took that the day before we left," he said as the first picture was of Beckett holding the baby.
"She's so cute," Nancy said. "And her eyes?"
"Looks like she's following her father," Paul commented with a smile.
"She is," Mary commented.
"Is everyone ready?" Paul asked.
"They are, but they're relaxing," Mary replied.
"There aren't that many pictures," Castle said quickly, going to the next. "All three girls," he said. He then swiped through the rest of the pictures that he'd taken recently before he told the couple, "They're growing up really fast."
"Kids always do that," Paul said. "Even though you don't want them to. Alright band, photographer, time to get to work," he said, clapping his hands together.
"Have fun," Castle told his wife as he pocketed his phone.
"Thank you," Beckett said with a smile, squeezing his hand. She then walked out into the studio after the three, smiling at Giles Martin when he called that he wanted to see her pictures. She had promised him that when they'd greeted him and she reminded herself to before she turned her attention to where she'd left her cameras.
"Shall we focus on the bass first?" Paul said to Skye.
"Sure, but I'll ask you again," the investigator said. "Two bassists?"
"Which is why we're testing," Paul replied simply. "So you lot hold on and we'll run through the first two verses to see how this will be."
"You're sure you don't want to have Raj play?" Skye asked quickly, not surprised when the singer shook his head.
Beckett, having been absently listening to the discussion as she was getting her first camera, realized she needed to ask Paul if he wanted her to take pictures starting then. She was debating if she should when he called her name to start with.
"Kate," Paul said. "You're taking pictures now?"
"I was just going to ask," Beckett replied with a smile. "And if you want me to I can."
"Go ahead, I suppose just the two of us," Paul said, looking at Skye.
"It's why you wanted her to come here," the investigator replied with a smile.
"True, so just take shots while we're working," Paul said quickly. When the writer nodded he turned to Skye so they could begin.
As soon as Paul had turned away from her, Beckett had taken her first picture of the two bassists looking at one another. She took a few more of them while they played though she couldn't help listening to the music and she found she was enjoying it even with just the deeper notes.
"Nice," Mary said, applauding with the rest of the band when they had finished.
"Thanks," Skye said.
"You want to suggest something," Paul commented, watching her with a smile.
"I did, what if we went into C instead here…" Skye said before she was playing where she was talking about.
Castle watched his wife walking around the two, trying to do so as slowly as possible so she wouldn't interrupt their conversation. He felt Nancy touch his shoulder and he looked at her questioningly.
"She's as serious as they are," the singer's wife commented.
"She is," Castle replied. "She's been a little anxious about this; since it's going to be on a full album."
"I'm sure the pictures will be good," Nancy said.
"They will," Castle said before something came to him. He got the producer's attention and asked, "She's not interfering with the recording is she?"
"Oh no, as long as she doesn't start running she's fine," Giles answered.
Castle nodded and sat back quickly as he could hear Paul calling to the producer and listened as the man played back their two recordings.
"Quite nice the second one," Barry said.
"Good, and that brings me to you," Paul said. He laughed with the others when the drummer playfully sat tense at his set and said, "Play with us and we'll add in Mary and Jackie so we can have the music for us."
Beckett was walking around the room taking pictures of everyone, all together and individually before they were taking a break over an hour later.
"How're you doing?" Castle asked his wife as she came into the booth.
"My legs are screaming at me to stop," Beckett replied with a smile as she moved to sit next to him.
"How're they coming out?" Castle asked, nodding to her camera.
"Really well," Beckett said. She went to the pictures and started showing them to her husband as he was nodding.
"All good?" Skye asked, sitting on the other side of Beckett. She saw the last few pictures and she smiled saying, "Nice."
"What about this album cover?" Castle couldn't help asking as the singer was walking over.
"Well, I'm thinking a shot out there," Paul said, nodding to the studio. "Since this time I stayed here in Abbey Road to record it. And I'd like to have my bass leaning against an amp with a painting high up in one corner."
"A painting?" Beckett said reluctantly.
"You don't think so?" Paul asked.
"I'm wondering if you should put two of your guitars on an amp with that amp against the wall," Beckett said, speaking a little more rapidly as she got more into the idea. "And have it viewed from the ground with people standing around… if that makes sense." She made a slight face and said, "But I'm not sure if the people being plural would make sense. Maybe it should be just you."
"True," Paul said as he was thinking that through. "Why don't we try both."
"N… now?" Beckett started to say as she was startled.
"Of course," Paul replied. "And then we'll get to our vocals."
"Okay," Beckett said as she looked at her husband with wide eyes. When he smiled at her and gave her a quick thumbs up she couldn't help smiling herself before she walked back out to the studio.
Castle was relieved he'd done that as his wife was busy getting everything ready with Skye and Paul before she was taking two pictures. He wondered what they'd look like and he expected them to come back in though the singer was soon talking about working on vocals.
"Just a few pictures with these," Paul was saying to Beckett. "And you can rest."
"Sure," Beckett said as she'd expected that. She got her Pentax camera first and as they were doing the background vocals she took a few shots of the group since they were all singing them. When they had stopped and Paul and Skye were on their own at a microphone she walked over to them and said, "Does this usually go this quickly?"
"No, but her band is very professional," Paul said.
"We don't have your experience," Skye said in amusement. She then said, "But we'll see about these vocals."
Beckett nodded and she waited for the two to begin singing, taking shots of them for a while until she was satisfied with what she had. But right when she had thought that Skye was messing up on a lyric and she wasn't surprised when the investigator groaned heavily in her frustration.
"Sorry," Skye told the singer. "I always forget that one," she added as she was picking up the lyrics she had near her. She hummed the music as she was reading and she nodded before saying, "Alright, we can try again."
"I'm heading into the booth," Beckett told them. When the two nodded she hurried back into the room and sat with her husband.
"Did you use your roll of film?" Castle asked his wife as he took her hand.
Nodding, since Skye and Paul were singing then, Beckett waited to hear if the former would mess up again on the same lyrics as before. But she managed to get through it and the two finished the song before Giles was playing back what they'd recorded.
"I don't know," Skye said, looking at Paul.
"We need another voice on the chorus," the singer said with a nod.
"Who has better pitch for that?" Skye asked him. She wasn't surprised when Paul was thinking that over and she smiled before she playfully called out, "Mary!"
"Why didn't she go out in the first place?" Castle couldn't help asking the rest of the band while the three in the studio were talking.
"I could have," Raj said. "But I think Paul was leaning towards a more feminine tone to make the song sound different from his usual recordings."
"That's true," Castle said, recalling the fact that the singer usually had male vocals with him. He watched with the others as they sang through the song again, Mary joining though they had to work through it a few times. The last instance he watched his wife suddenly get up and race into the studio and he was startled for a moment before recalling her need to photograph.
"Alright, I think we're good," Paul said once they had listened to their last recording. "Time for lunch."
"Fab, I'm starving," Skye said. "What'll we have."
"I'll see to it," Paul said.
"Mind if we jam?" Mary asked before he could go.
Beckett smiled seeing the singer waving over his shoulder before she said to the two women, "That was really good."
"I hope so," Skye replied.
"Has he talked about a music video for this one?" Beckett asked while the others from the band were coming in.
"He has, he was almost going to release this as the first single but we convinced him not to," Mary answered.
"The fans might not have enjoyed that," Barry said.
"Your daughters would have," Beckett told Skye and Mary.
Laughing the former said, "You're right but I think we're okay with this being… the second?"
Surprised at the way the woman had trailed off, Beckett turned to find Paul was coming inside and she smiled saying, "Is it too soon to ask what you had in mind?"
"For what?" the singer said.
"This song's music video," Jackie replied.
"Oh… oh no, that's Skye's job," Paul replied. He then smiled at the investigator rolling her eyes and said, "You've got quite a lot of good ideas."
"I suppose, but I'll ask the whole band too," Skye said wryly. "Lunch?"
"It's why I came here," Paul replied. "Here's a menu to a local Mediterranean vegetarian place that's close, they'll deliver so please write down what you'd like."
Beckett was writing down hers first, noticing her husband's order easily, when she heard a phone making a text alert sound.
"Very unprofessional," Mary said jokingly to her wife.
"Oh hush," Skye said before she was grabbing it from her pocket. "I'll mute this once we're working on the second song," she told the others.
"What is it?" Beckett said, as her husband and Nancy came into the studio.
"It's from the studio that puts on Whose Line back at home," Skye replied with a smile. "They're asking me to join for at least two episodes."
"They're that sure of what you can do?" Barry asked.
Beckett smiled as Skye laughed before she nodded and she was tempted to ask if the investigator felt she could do it when her friend was talking first.
"They saw what I did on Ellen," Skye was saying. "And I can do a bit of improv music if it's short."
"Greatest Hits?" Castle asked.
"I don't know, I won't know until I go in to film," Skye said. "And no I'm not practicing Hoedowns."
"Too bad, they're hilarious," Barry commented.
"For us all," Skye was quick to say. "Now let me see if lunch is here."
The group laughed before the rest of the band and Paul were talking about the jamming session that they would be preforming once they finished lunch.
Beckett was taking pictures of Paul and the band as they were performing their jamming session for the past hour to try and get another song. She'd been using her different cameras through the session and as the group came to the end of their fully instrumental song she set down her camera and applauded them once Giles had spoken to them.
"You liked it?" Skye asked her with a smile.
"I did, they did too," Beckett replied, nodding over to the booth.
"Oh, they're here," Skye said as she glanced to the window and saw two extra people there. She waved to them and took off her Fender bass before she went to the first man who stepped into the studio.
Standing back as the rest of the band and Paul were greeting the two men as well, Beckett glanced to the window into the booth trying to see her husband. She knew that he'd likely already talked to the men and she smiled before Skye was saying her name.
"She was on the show; her and her husband. Also the photographer here," the investigator was telling Brian May and Roger Taylor. "And they're the parents of Julia Castle before I forget to say."
"Nice to meet you," Beckett said with a smile to the two men as she shook their hands in turn.
"Stella's here," Paul said suddenly, looking from the window to the booth.
"You're the one Skye and Mary want to be in the video," Roger Taylor said as the singer was leaving them.
"Yes…" Beckett said slowly.
"No, visually I can see why they asked us to agree," Brian May said. He smiled and then said, "It seems like a painting?"
"That study of Cardinal Richelieu," Skye commented. When the two men nodded she smiled and said, "It feels like a direction you'd go in… if you were a trio."
"Basically," Brian said with a nod.
"Hullo again," Stella said as she walked into the studio. She had to greet everyone so she quickly gave the garment bags to the three women and started shaking hands.
"Come on," Beckett told her husband as she walked past him.
His eyes widening at that, Castle was going to ask her if she was sure when he realized she was. And since he had the box with her hat he knew he needed to get that to her so he raced after the three women to one of the two rooms they could use to change in. He was about to comment she wasn't really going to surprise him when she took the hat box from him.
"I know usually I surprise you," Beckett said with a smile at her husband. "But I didn't really want to change by myself."
Castle started to open his mouth to say she could have changed with the other two women but he quickly got what she meant. "Are you going to need help putting on anything?" he asked, startled when his wife immediately began smiling.
"There is a chair over there," Beckett told him, nodding her head towards it.
"Sure," Castle said before he was rushing to the chair to sit.
"And close your eyes," Beckett said sternly. She couldn't help smiling when her husband did that right away and she then turned her attention to the outfit that was in the garment bag. She was able to change rapidly, studying the mirror in the room though she couldn't see her entire body. She breathed out quietly and then turned to Castle saying, "Alright Rick, you can look."
Opening his eyes, Castle smiled once he'd taken in what his wife was wearing and he stood up saying, "You look incredible."
"Thank you," Beckett said. "Is it what you expected?"
"From what they were talking about?" Castle asked. When his wife nodded he said, "Not really, but it does fit the video… Why I don't know but I feel like it does."
"No, I got it," Beckett said, nodding her head with a smile. She looked back at the mirror and then said, "I still have to put the hat."
"Do you want me to close my eyes again?" Castle asked.
"No, I need to hurry," Beckett said as she went back to her clothes. She pulled out a hair tie and pulled hers back into a bun before she was reaching for the hat box, taking it out before she paused.
"I almost thought it was going to be a top hat," Castle couldn't help commenting as he watched his wife pausing.
"Me too," Beckett replied with a nod. She then smiled and said, "Luckily there are pins for this."
"Any help?" Castle asked her as he watched her walking over to the mirror.
"I've got it," Beckett replied before she set the cap on her head and pinned it in place before lowering the veil on it.
"Nice," Castle said. "Freddy would love it," he couldn't help saying.
Beckett smiled at him before she said, "Let's go."
"Sure," Castle replied though she was already leaving. He followed her out and said, "You guys look great," as Skye and Mary were already in the hall.
"He's right, you do," Beckett told the two women with a smile.
"Thanks, I think everything fits," Skye replied, looking down at her outfit. "But we need to check with the designer herself."
"Fantastic," Stella said when the three walked in. She hurried to Beckett first and had her hold out her arms, checking to make sure the sleeves of the black, mid-thigh length coat weren't too tight. She touched the military details on the front and nodded saying, "How does it feel walking?"
"Good, it's a good fit," Beckett said honestly.
"I'm really glad, chest?" Stella then asked.
"Not too tight," Beckett said.
"Trousers?" Stella asked her.
"They fit, anything else?" Beckett said, asking that question at the end with a smile on her face.
"I just want to make sure that nothing is wrong with the veils," Stella said before she was looking at the other two women. "For all of you."
"Mine's fine," Beckett answered quickly.
"So is mine," Skye added, her wife nodding in agreement rapidly.
"Okay, let me just check you two," Stella told the investigator and her wife.
Mary was wearing an outfit that was the same as Beckett's, while Skye's coat had a little more embellishment than the other two and was nearly ankle length. They were all wearing the same hat as well that was black fabric cupping over the back of their heads and with veils that covered Mary's right eye, Beckett's left and just barely covered Skye's hazel eye. They had all put their hair up and once Stella seemed satisfied with their appearances she nodded before looking at the two from Queen.
"I think it looks great," Brian said first.
"He's right, the veil touch looks like something Freddie would enjoy," Roger said with a nod.
"Would you sing a bit now?" Brian then said. He smiled at his bandmate when the married woman looked at each other and looked back at them saying, "Just a bit, and move so we all know what it will look like."
"And you can see if you're still comfortable," Stella added.
Beckett couldn't help becoming uncomfortable at that as she still wasn't sure what she'd do. But Skye was whispering into her wife's ear and she waited for her to come over to her.
"Don't worry," the investigator told her seriously. "Just stay still and if the singing makes you do anything then… go ahead; we're not filming after all."
Nodding her head, Beckett glanced at her husband who smiled at her encouragingly before she turned back to the others as Skye was touching her arm.
"So stand here," the investigator said. "I had the idea of me walking over to you two, so you'll stay here before I walk to you." She paused and made a face before saying, "Not sure why I said that twice but there you have it." She then turned to Brian and Roger and said, "I'll walk quickly, since the video's supposed to be more about us standing together."
"We've left everything up to you and your band," Brian said.
"Okay," Skye said before she saw her wife and Beckett were smiling at her. She took a deep breath and then began to sing the first verse, walking to the pair as she was doing so. She began to move according to what she thought would work with the lyrics, not really dwelling on it until she reached the end of the verse.
Beckett smiled at the applause once Skye had stopped and she and Mary were quick to join them. When they'd stopped she, the investigator and the doctor were hurrying out to change before they were coming back to the studio. Since her husband was sitting in the booth she went to him before they turned their attention to the studio.
"You wouldn't mind us chiming in if needed would you?" Brian was asking.
"Not at all," Skye said, looking to see the rest of the band was shaking their heads. She turned back to the two before she started to ask about the guitar playing before Brian was talking again.
"You're sure you don't want to play at the end of the concert?" the guitarist inquired.
Smiling, as the two men had asked her that before, Skye said, "I think it's better to let Mary play the bass." When the two men nodded she got her guitar ready and they waited for the men to sit before they started to play the music for Killer Queen.
"Is she still nervous about singing?" Castle murmured to his wife as the band was discussing a bit in the song in the studio.
"Of course, they all are," Beckett said. She then smiled and said, "But they're eager."
"I would be surprised if they weren't," Castle said, smiling with his wife before they looked out to the studio as the band was starting up again.
"I don't know why I'm surprised," Beckett said to her husband as they walked into the room.
"I know, I don't either," Castle said in a jokingly serious tone of voice. He chuckled briefly when his wife pushed him slightly, though they had to focus their attention on getting onto the massage tables. Once they were set he turned his head to her and said, "Good thing you convinced Skye and Mary to do this too."
"I had to, you could tell they were getting extremely tense with every song," Beckett replied, sighing in relief as the masseuse was getting some tension in her shoulders. "But everything's ready."
"Including your outfits," Castle said, wondering for a moment what the two women working on their backs were thinking of their conversation.
"Yes," Beckett said simply, hoping he wouldn't say anything else.
"Are you looking forward to dinner?" Castle then asked her to change the subject.
"Of course, though I wonder why they wanted to stay here at the hotel," Beckett said as they were eating at another one the Savoy had.
"It's supposed to be really good, and they're tired," Castle said.
"More than likely," Beckett said.
"Hey, what about the Whose Line news?" Castle asked her, turning his head back to her.
"I know and thank you for not pushing her to sing that hoedown example," Beckett replied in amusement.
"I'm eager to see those episodes," Castle said seriously.
Beckett nodded in agreement before she closed her eyes to continue enjoying the massage before she recalled when Skye had finally given in to Paul and Brian asking about her improv skills. She couldn't help smiling as the Mary and Raj had taken turns and they'd had a lot of fun with what had been sung.
"Alright, alright," Skye said in mock annoyance. "I'll go ahead and do it but don't think I'm eager to."
"We know already," Mary said, kissing her wife's temple. "Let me get your suggestion."
Beckett smiled at the investigator's annoyed huff; knowing she didn't mean it; and she said, "You said you've done this before."
"Yeah, but it doesn't mean it gets any easier," Skye said.
"How do you expect to do it on the show?" Roger asked her.
"Sheer luck," Skye said, exaggerating her accent before they all started to laugh. She then felt her wife's hand on her shoulder and looked up at her saying, "Let me know grá."
Pinching her playfully, Mary then said, "It says artist."
"Sure," Skye said. "Grá," she then told her as she slid over slightly to make room for her on the piano bench. She waited for her wife to play the introduction to the music for the improv game and then started to sing her four-line verse without looking at the others who were gathered around the piano.
I went on a date last night and he was quite a guy
Not that tall or talkative I guess that he was shy
But he was an artist and he was quite a man
His name was Andy Warhol, his soup was in a can
"Soup was in a can," the rest of the band and Paul sang together as Skye was starting to laugh.
"Don't patronize me," the investigator said laughingly. "It wasn't that funny."
"No, it was," Beckett said. "I know Julia would laugh at that."
Skye smiled and then said, "Thank you, let's hope I can do that in a more demanding circumstance." She took a sip of water from the bottle she was holding and said, "Who's next?"
"Me," Mary said immediately, handing her phone to her wife.
"Library," Skye commented, looking with the others at Castle and Beckett.
"Yeah, we're not singing," Castle said jokingly.
"No, go ahead grá," Mary told her wife. She thought while her wife was playing the intro that time, closing her eyes, and when it was time for her to sing she opened them as she did so.
Walking through the shelves I saw a lot of books
I found that I wanted them by hooks or by crooks
But when I reached out to one tome I made a huge mistake
I was not at the bookstore I was trying to make a cake
"Trying to make a cake," the band sang together before they were dissolving into laughter.
"Sorry," Mary said, shaking her head though she was still smiling. "I tripped up on the end there," she said.
"No, it's still funny," Skye told her wife. "Raj?"
"I can't say I won't mess up," the pianist commented before he was nodding to Skye.
"Flying on an airplane," the investigator told him.
Raj took a deep breath before he nodded and said, "Go ahead. Don't kill me."
Skye made a playful face at him before she then started to play the music again and they watched Raj as he began to sing.
Flying across the world I have a real good time
I love to go to Paris and meet a handsome mime
But when we went to leave I found we had to part
The only passport that he had was all in his heart
Though they tried to sing the last bit of the last line the band was laughing with the others too hard and they had to calm down before they were applauding Raj.
"Now you are all patronizing me," the pianist said laughingly.
"Is that all?" Skye asked, looking around.
"I'd like to try," Paul said when everything else was silent.
"Don't worry if you can't get anything," Skye said quickly.
"She's right, we were doing this quite a while before any of us could do anything fully," Barry commented.
"Well… I'll try," Paul repeated.
"I have a suggestion," Mary told him. "Italy."
When the singer made a face Skye asked, "Would you want another suggestion?"
Shaking his head Paul said, "You can go ahead and play the music," to the investigator.
Beckett shared a glance with her husband as Skye began playing and then turned to Paul as he began to sing.
Pasta, Romans, gladiators find this country home
You can visit the…
When Paul trailed off the others were laughing and he said, "I couldn't think of it for long; a lot more difficult than just writing a song."
"That's alright," Skye said. "You had a good start. But now I think we can move on to the next song."
When the others agreed Castle took Beckett's hand and they walked together back into the booth to watch as the band was recording I Want to Break Free.
"Are you awake?" Beckett asked her husband as the masseuses left the room.
"I am, why?" Castle asked, looking at her.
"Just checking," Beckett said, standing up first before she grabbed her robe and pulled it on. "Are you still planning on having the manicure?" she then asked.
"Men's manicure," Castle said in response. When she looked at him pointedly he couldn't help smiling and said, "I am. Do you think Skye and Mary are done?"
"They should be," Beckett said. "They got the same massage that we did."
Castle nodded as she was going over to the door and he hurried to follow her before they were meeting an employee who led them to where Skye and Mary were sitting in chairs.
"Hey, how was it?" the investigator asked when she and her wife noticed the pair.
"Really nice," Beckett answered first.
"But I think the more important thing is how you two are doing?" Castle asked.
"Relieved that it's over," Skye said.
"She's right, we've been anxious about the song," Mary added.
"I don't think you needed to worry about it," Castle said. "The lyrics were great."
"Don't say it was because of Paul, you guys wrote too," Beckett told them in a rush as the women were both opening their mouths to speak.
Skye smiled before she shrugged one shoulder as she was placing her other hand into hot water. After they were all soaking their nails she said, "I hope you two haven't packed yet," smiling as the other couple looked at her in confusion.
"No, but why would that matter?" Beckett asked.
"We don't want to seem too slow," Skye commented.
"You were spending the day recording," Castle said, speaking in Irish so the workers with them wouldn't understand.
Beckett laughed softly as Skye just shrugged before she said, "Are you ready for the concert?"
"Have you notified Julia?" Mary said then.
"Not yet," Castle said. "When we call them tonight we'll tell her."
"How will she react?" the doctor asked them.
"I think she'll be excited," Beckett said. "And then probably nervous since she loves that song too."
"And Peter?" Skye asked. "He's involved as well."
"He'll be the same as Julia," Castle said easily. When the two women nodded and then leaned back he said, "No asking if they're interested in each other?"
"No, we've seen them around each other," Skye said.
"And they hate people thinking that about them too," Mary pointed out. She then frowned and asked, "Do you want them to like each other?"
"No, no that's not what he meant," Beckett said in a rush. "We're just used to people wondering that about them."
"I would say it's silly, just because they dance together," Skye said. "But then again they all thought there was something between Derek and I."
"That always happens," Mary said. "And if Julia's going to join the cast of the show then she'll have to get used to that."
"That would be great if the show was still on then," Castle said.
"How would that work though?" Skye then asked. "Since she'd need to be in LA."
"I don't think we need to worry about it now," Beckett said with a sigh. "And if she does get to that point it's up to her in the end."
"I was just going to say if she needed a place to stay while on the show," Skye then began with a smile. "She can definitely come to our home."
"Oh… thank you for that," Castle said after he and his wife looked at each other.
After Skye nodded the employees came over to them and started to work on their hands so they were quiet until they were finished and Mary and Beckett went over to the driers.
"Why didn't you get at least a clear coat?" the doctor was asking her wife as Skye and Castle were sitting with them.
"I don't know… I suppose I just didn't want to," the investigator replied. She then smiled and said, "But yours look great."
"Thank you," Mary said as she'd gotten a polish in a blue-grey color.
"And yours," Skye said.
Beckett smiled, since the investigator was looking at Castle, and shook her head before she looked down at her own nails. Since she was waiting for the night of the ball to paint them a color, she'd opted for a clear coat and knew her husband was going to wait to say anything about her nails later. She shook herself from her thoughts after a while and then said, "I think we're done."
Removing her fingers from the dryer, Mary studied them and said, "Yeah, we're good."
The four got up then and headed to their changing rooms, putting their clothes back on and meeting at the bottom of the stairs that led up to the spa.
"We'll see you very shortly," Skye said, looking at her watch.
"We only have time to change," Mary said in obvious disappointment.
"What did you want to do grá?" Skye asked her in amusement.
"A bath," Mary said as if they should have realized what she was talking about.
Beckett laughed with the others and said, "We'll see you in an hour," though they were walking together to the elevators. They got a car to themselves and headed up to their floors, she and Castle soon walking onto theirs.
"What?" he asked after they were in the living room of the suite.
"I have to admit I'm already going to miss the suite," Beckett replied.
"We'll have to try and get this same one," Castle said, studying her. "When we're back."
"If you can," Beckett said with a smile, knowing her husband was serious about that. She went up to him and kissed him gently on the lips saying, "I enjoyed that."
"Me too," Beckett replied with a smile. She then kissed him again and said, "But I would have preferred working on you."
"Me too," Castle replied as he nodded in mock seriousness. He leaned down and kissed her that time before he told her, "And I would have gotten your back set if they'd let me."
Smiling again Beckett said, "I would have loved that. Maybe when we're at White Mount one night."
Castle nodded rapidly that time and he then leaned down, kissing her a little deeper than they had before. He was soon after slipping his tongue into her mouth and they caressed at one another for a while until they were slowly parting. "You're a goddess," he murmured.
"Hmm, thank you," Beckett said with a slight smile. "Sheik."
"Kate," Castle couldn't help breathing as he leaned over, kissing her deeply that time. He tried to remind himself that they didn't have much time but it was difficult as he was enjoying himself greatly. But eventually he and his wife parted and he couldn't help sighing before he said, "We need to go don't we?"
"Yeah, I don't want to make the band late," Beckett said, letting go of him at the same time he did her. "Since we really don't fit in."
"Don't fit in?" Castle asked, walking after her to the bedroom. "You're the band's photographer and you're going to be in the video with Skye and Mary."
Sighing Beckett said, "Let's just get ready."
"Sure," Castle said quickly before they headed over to the closet to get their clothing. He did his best not to look at her as she was changing, finding he had finished rapidly himself. He went over to the bathroom to comb his hair and he was done with that in time to watch his wife braiding her hair.
"Any objections?" Beckett asked as she put her braid up into a bun.
"Not really," Castle said. When she looked at him questioningly he said with a smile, "You're beautiful," watching her walk over to him. He wrapped his arms around her as she was doing the same to him before she spoke.
"Thank you," Beckett said. "And you look great yourself. But you're missing one thing."
Castle was a little startled at that but then realized what she was talking about and he reluctantly let her go though he was soon hurrying to grab his glasses. "Now?" he said.
"Perfect," Beckett said before she was laughing as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him. She made herself stop as he stared intently at her and then smiled before saying, "You need to take it easy Rick."
Breathing out hard; as he knew she was right, Castle nodded and said, "Then let me just do this."
Beckett prepared herself for her husband's kiss as he leaned down to her but before their lips could meet her text alert was sounding. Sighing as her husband closed his eyes tightly she brushed her lips against his and then went over to grab it on the dresser. "It's Julia," she said with a smile as she read the message.
Taking the phone, Castle read the message and was soon smiling himself as it said, Is it okay if you call us once you're at White Mount? He then looked up at her and said, "What do you think?"
"I'm surprised," Beckett said. "Since they wanted to hear about today. I think they're remembering were leaving tomorrow, but I don't know… I think we'd be able to make it by nine."
"So no?" Castle asked. He smiled when his wife shook her head firmly as she was texting and waited with her for the responding message which soon arrived.
"If it's okay then we'll talk to you in a little bit," Beckett read.
"I have to ask, why is she texting in school?" Castle asked.
"She might be at the beginning of Study Hall," Beckett replied after she'd texted back they'd talk to them then.
"Oh that's right," Castle said, nodding his head. "I forgot about that. But," he started to say as he looked at his watch. "Oh no, it's her last period; lucky."
"Come on," Beckett said once she had her things ready to go. "Now we are going to be last."
"I'm ready," Castle said hurriedly as he walked after her to the door of the suite. Since they weren't going outside they didn't need their outer layers and were walking out into the hall before taking each other's hands on the way to the elevator. When they were in a car he said, "Think we'll pick anyone else up?"
"Maybe Skye and Mary," Beckett said, glancing at the numbers. "The others were in other sections they said."
"Right, they said-" Castle started to say before the car was slowing down and stopping.