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: Very happy to see the feedback for the last chapter with the holiday season still going for some people so I'll get right into my thank yous for that! MsNYC (I was pleased to see you thought the love scene at the beginning of the chapter was very tasteful, always my aim. And not surprised you can't wait to see the video once they get to that! I am aware that you love the flashbacks, but it was nice to see you enjoyed them in this chapter! And don't worry, I know this time of year is super busy so it's understandable that you had to focus on other stuff. I don't mind at all and catch up whenever you can. But I was happy to see that you thought it was great writing as usual!),
TORONTOSUN (Happy New Year to you and yours as well! Thanks for the New Year wishes!) and
Guest (It was great seeing you thought the first half was hot, dirty, sensual and loving too with the love scene at the start, I'm glad you enjoyed it. And not surprised you're seeing they're trying to see why the victims were attacked since I've seen that stage in investigations at the start. The same with you mentioning the first real clue was with the possible video of the attack, not surprised you noticed it. You're welcome for the first half! And I was really happy to see you thought the second half was a wonderfully written update too! I wasn't surprised that you were questioning about that video being fake but having some elements of truth too with some of the people in the video being involved, it'll be answered though! And I was really happy you loved the flashback with them being married for nearly a month plus Julia's first day of school which I was pleased you thought I captured it so well! You're welcome for the second half too!).
Thanks so much for the reviews, I loved reading them and appreciate the time taken to write them out and send them my way!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Overkill by Colin Hay, from the Men at Work album Cargo.
Come Back Another Day
"Where exactly are we going?" Beckett asked her cousin as they left his car and stepped up to the sidewalk.
"To Mr. Palkis' house," Brennan answered easily. He then stopped the two and said, "I'll tell you now that he's a reverend." He held up his hand quickly as the three with him opened their mouths and told them, "He's not quite so old, in his fifties… granted later fifties but he's a child of the sixties."
"He's right," Castle said as he'd figured that out swiftly.
"Then that means he's more relaxed?" Skye asked.
"Exactly," Brennan before with a nod before they turned to the constabulary that was walking up to them with Officer Gorman.
"Thank you for coming," Mercer told them. "And meeting me here."
"He wasn't attacked that badly?" Beckett asked.
Shaking his head Mercer replied with, "Luckily no, and he only went unconscious for a few minutes compared to the two men last night."
Nodding her head Beckett said, "It's the middle of the afternoon, so they didn't have much time."
"I was going to let Mr. Palkis explain to you about it," Mercer said.
"Are you suspecting him?" Skye asked.
"He's a prankster," Brennan said when the constabulary looked at him. "But never anything so drastic. And really Corbin, you think he would attack his friends and knock them out for a prank?"
"You never really know," Mercer said. "But I'd like you three to talk to him."
"And me?" Skye asked in surprise
"I think he was talking about me," Castle said. "Would you want me to talk to his wife? I'm guessing," he said, adding the bit at the end as his wife had turned to him.
"That would be nice-" Mercer began.
"I think I should," Skye interrupted. "I can get a read on her… though my wife would have been a better judge of things."
"I wouldn't sell yourself short," Gorman said. He looked momentarily embarrassed and then said, "I heard about the A350 from France, the case," stumbling a little with his words.
"I was able to get the co-pilot to confess that he mistakenly turned the autopilot off," Skye explained for the others as they appeared noticeably curious.
"Then you may," Mercer said. "Please, let's go in and speak with the couple before we lose the rest of the day."
"Have you found anything with the attack sites today?" Beckett asked the constabulary as they walked towards the house.
"Yeah, some thread," Mercer replied. "And there's something I should tell you now; the reverend has the same marking that the first two victims did."
"Did you get anywhere with that?" Castle asked.
Shaking his head Mercer said, speaking quickly as they were walking up to the front door, "It smeared on them both so much that we can't quite get the detail of it to identify it."
"And Palkis?" Brennan asked.
Mercer didn't reply as the front door was opening and he looked ahead, seeing that the reverend's wife was in the doorway. He waved to her and was about to speak before the woman was doing so first.
"My husband spotted you approaching the home," the woman said with a slight smile. "Are you here to speak to him?"
"We are," Mercer said. "I hope it's alright that I brought-"
"Lord Cotswold," the woman said in surprise. "Oh please, come right in sir."
"It's alright Mrs. Palkis," Brennan said swiftly as he walked up to her. "We're here to help Constable Mercer. My cousin, her husband and Ms. McDouglas are here as well to assist."
"Oh… I see," the woman replied in a knowing manner. She nodded her head and told them, "Please come in."
"Molly, what…" the man in the sitting room started to say when his wife walked in with four other people along with the two men from the law.
"Please stay seated Mr. Palkis," Brennan said as the man's eyes lit up with recognition seeing him. "I'm sorry there are so many of us but I suppose we'll go back to old lordship responsibilities," he said with a smile.
Smiling in return Palkis said, "We; the lads and I; will be happy to know that." He then turned to the others and looked back at Brennan asking, "Your cousin?"
"Yes, Kate Beckett," he began. "Her husband Richard Castle and Skye McDouglas who-"
"I think everyone knows who she is," Palkis replied with a wide smile before he made a brief grimace of pain.
"Are you okay?" Beckett asked.
"Yes, bloody bump on my head won't let me smile all that much. So I hope you won't think I look like I'm grimacing," Palkis said.
"No, it's alright," Skye said.
"Please, have a seat; all of you," Palkis then told everyone, motioning with his left hand.
Castle, studying that movement, looked at his wife as they sat on a love seat while Brennan went to an armchair to his right. With the two officers standing he glanced at the constabulary to see if he'd speak first.
"Would anyone like something to drink?" Mrs. Palkis asked everyone. "A bit of tea?"
"I think we're fine," Mercer said, the others nodding.
"I could use more water Molly," Palkis told his wife.
Beckett watched Skye going after to the woman towards the kitchen and she turned back to the room just as Mercer was clearing his throat.
"I'm curious about what happened to you," Brennan said.
"The constable didn't tell you?" Palkis asked in surprise.
Shaking his head Brennan replied, "I think it's best if we hear it from you yourself."
"He's right," Beckett said, not surprised when the reverend looked at her as if for confirmation. "Please start a little before the attack." She was glad the man nodded immediately and she hoped he'd tell them where exactly he'd been as he began.
"I was walking to the Squire from here but I had only just reached the edge of town before I heard what sounded as if something was breaking branches," Palkis began with. "You know the small public garden the last Lord Cotswold put for his wife?" he directed to Brennan.
"I do," he replied. Brennan then turned to the others and said, "When Clara's mother passed away her father took a part of a plot of land that was the Darcy's and he made it into the public gardens."
"I didn't know that was for her mother," Beckett said, since they'd seen the gardens before. She turned back to Palkis as he was continuing, setting aside her request for them to go to see the garden for later.
"I entered through the street side," the man said. "And walked around to see what was going on since I'd heard some kids were mucking about last night."
"What kids?" Castle asked, sharing a look with his wife.
"The younger Post boy," Palkis said, shaking his head. "And his girlfriend, they like to run about and scare people."
Seeing Mercer making a quick gesture with his fingers Beckett turned back to the reverend and she said, "How did you know about them messing around?"
"Because I'd seen them running outside the Squire about seven," Palkis replied. "I had my pint then and then came back home… if you thought I might have hurt my mates."
"You've spoken with Sanderson," Brennan stated.
Nodding Palkis then continued saying, "So I called out a hello and the next thing I knew was a horrible pain here before I was out. I came awake in the garden, but all the way on the other side of it."
Beckett shared a look with her husband, thinking there wasn't going to be the idea of a sighting of a ghost, when the man was speaking again.
"I don't really like to admit it," Palkis said with a sigh. "But I did tell Constable Mercer and I suppose I should tell you as well. Before I was struck and at the other end of the garden that you can walk out to the woods through, there was a… I don't know what it was since it was so fast. But it looked like a sleeve but I could see the darkness through it."
"As if it were transparent?" Castle asked.
Palkis hesitated, grimacing again before he sighed and nodded saying, "Yes, but it's absolute hogwash. Spirits. I'm a man of God and I don't hold with the notion. But whatever it was… someone was in there with me."
Since she had a feeling that that was all the man had to say about his attack Beckett said, "And after?"
"Oh… I called out for help as my head was hurting badly and some townsfolk stopped for me and called the local doctor," Palkis replied with a nod.
"What about before?" Castle said.
"Before?" Palkis asked in obvious confusion.
"Did you notice anything strange between leaving your house and hearing that noise at the garden," Beckett explained.
Thinking that over, Palkis finally shook his head and said, "I was alone on the road… so there weren't any people then though some were ahead of me towards town. But they were out of my sight once I heard the noise. No other sounds either. I'm sorry."
"No, no," Brennan was quick to reassure him. "Anything will help the police, you can be sure," he added, though he was startled when the reverend looked concerned abruptly.
"Excuse me," Palkis said as he stood up though he faltered before he had straightened up completely.
"Easy Reverend," Brennan said, jumping up and steadying him. "I thought you said he wasn't badly hurt."
"He wouldn't let Doctor Linton do much," Mercer replied before they were all turning to the doorway to the dining room as Mrs. Palkis was hurrying through it with Skye close behind her.
"Gareth, Dr. Linton said to rest," she said worriedly as she rushed to him once she'd seen what he was doing.
"I'm fine," Palkis said firmly. "But are you alright?"
"Yes, please sit," Mrs. Palkis replied, speaking firmly. "Please." She took her husband's arm once Mercer had moved out of the way and then asked the constabulary, "Is there anything else you need?"
"Not at the moment," Mercer replied seriously. "But I may need to get in touch with you in the future," he said, looking at the reverend.
"Of course," Palkis said firmly. "But before you go," he said quickly to them. "Have you seen Basil and Gerry today?"
"We did," Skye said first.
"They're doing very well," Beckett said.
"You should try calling them," Brennan said though he glanced at Mercer to see if that was alright.
"I will," Palkis said, seeing the constabulary nod.
After they had said goodbye to the couple, the group left and walked to the street before Beckett turned to Mercer saying, "Does he have a connection to any pubs?"
"Directly? No," the constabulary replied with a quick shake of his head. "But," Mercer quickly continued before the others could speak. "He was found near a pub."
"Which…" Castle started to say before he turned to his wife's cousin.
"The Flying Windmill," Brennan said promptly.
"It's a beautiful garden," Beckett told her cousin.
"It is, Clara will walk through here sometimes," Brennan said softly. "She loved willow trees and these flowers," he added, nodding to the flower beds. He sighed heavily and said, "How am I to tell her this happened in the garden her father gave her mum?"
"I think she'd be more concerned about Mr. Palkis," Beckett said with a slight smile. When her cousin looked like he was agreeing with that she squeezed his shoulder and then went to the other end of the garden finding her husband was looking to the right of the exit there instead of out the space in the hedge. She squeezed his arm and was about to ask him what he was thinking before she realized what and she was about to tell him to stop when he was turning to her to speak.
"I know you don't believe all of this," Brennan told her seriously. "But these men wouldn't make anything up."
"Not even Mr. Palkis?" Beckett asked.
"I said he was a jokester, not a liar," Brennan said seriously. "And really, whether or not these men are seeing an actual ghost or not doesn't matter. The fact they have physical injuries is what we need to focus on."
"You're right," Beckett said quickly. "So we should work with that and only look at the idea of a ghost in case it relates to them being struck on the head."
"You're thinking of the Post son's video?" Brennan asked. When his cousin nodded her head he said, "I was as well… but Mercer did tell us the boy has been cleared. Well… him, his girlfriend and the Romeyn boy."
"I know," Beckett replied. She then turned around abruptly and was about to sit down on the ground before her cousin was grabbing her. "I'm fine," she said, feeling as if she was speaking from far away before they both looked over at the woods entrance where Skye was walking in.
"Same," the investigator said as she strode over to them. "Here," she said.
"What…" Beckett started to say as she took a white rose petal that her friend had been holding. She felt absurd admitting it in her mind but she felt better and stepped away with her husband.
"Oh, just toss it aside," Skye said with a shake of her head as the writer was trying to hand back the petal. "Just a momentary thing," she said.
"What just happened?" Brennan asked the two women.
"I think you need to ask me," Skye said before Beckett could speak. "And your mother in law is here. That petal I just grabbed from the floor for protection; whatever happened here you need to clear the garden. With sage," she added as Brennan opened his mouth. "You need to get out of here," she then told Beckett.
"Are they in the woods?" she asked.
"No," Skye said simply.
"But-" Beckett began.
"Not you," Skye replied. "We're heading out of here and not coming back until it's been cleansed. You don't need to," she said, adding the last to Brennan.
"What happened to you?" Beckett asked, letting her lead her out of the garden by taking her arm.
"I staggered a little; luckily no one saw that," Skye replied. They turned back to the garden once they were outside and she said, "Rick should be out soon."
"Probably," Beckett said with a slight smile. She then sighed and said, "Why?"
"I suppose since it was a malicious attack a bit of negativity seeped in," Skye answered.
"You suppose?" Beckett said as she turned to her friend. Before the investigator could reply to her, they looked over at the entrance before her husband was walking out of it quickly.
"Hey, what happened?" Castle asked as he went straight to his wife as soon as he'd spotted her.
"I felt a little… off," Beckett said honestly. "But I'm fine now."
"You too?" Castle asked Skye as he went to his wife and took her hand.
"A bit, but we needed to step outside," the investigator said. "We're fine now." She then turned towards the town before she walked towards the building that was nearest the garden, leaving the two alone behind her.
"You're sure?" Castle asked his wife once they'd turned back to each other.
"Yes," Beckett said firmly with a quick nod of her head. "Was there anything in the woods?"
"Some footprints but they're deteriorated so I suggested that the attacker was watching Mr. Palkis back down the road and came from behind," Castle said.
"Which means there's more than just one attacker," Beckett pointed out to him.
"I said the same," Castle replied with a nod. "I'm not that sure if Mercer really took that into consideration-"
"Are you fishing?" Beckett interrupted.
"No… oh, no I was saying that because I wonder if he'd trust me," Castle said. "Since I wasn't exactly with the police." He then saw the expression on his wife's face and asked, "What?"
"It's really weird to hear you saying that," Beckett said with a smile. She squeezed her husband's arm when he playfully pouted for a moment and then said, "Should we walk down the road?"
"Yeah," Castle said before he recalled Skye. "Wait-"
"I think she might have gone into the pub," Beckett said, touching his arm and nodding to the first building that led into town from that direction.
"Or should we go that way?" Castle asked her. He wasn't surprised when she tugged his hand to go in the direction of the road. They walked together down the street, splitting up when the side of road became mud.
"Anything?" Beckett asked as they continued even after the reverend's house.
"No," Castle said. "So it's the street then. Too bad there aren't any more houses here," he added as he walked across the road to her.
"Wait," Beckett said, stopping her husband before he could grab her hand. "I see everyone's out of the garden."
Turning in that direction, Castle saw she was right and they started walking rapidly back to the others.
"Where's Ms. McDouglas?" Mercer asked as soon as the two had walked up to them.
"We think she… oh no," Castle said as he looked down the road. "She's there."
"Ms. McDouglas-" Mercer began, sounding annoyed.
"Skye is fine," the investigator replied. Once she'd reached them she placed her hands on her hips and said, "And I was walking past the pub, to see any potential hiding places."
"Please don't do that again," Mercer said firmly. "I'll get in a lot of trouble should anything happens to civilians."
"Of course," Skye said with a nod.
"Did you find anything?" Beckett asked.
"No, if they hid it wasn't in between buildings," Skye said. "What about the pub?"
"Nothing there," Mercer said, looking at Gorman.
"I spoke to the people there and no one heard or saw anything," the officer began. "Only when a Mr. Fairview came inside and asked them to call the police. He and his wife found Mr. Palkis."
"And with that I'd like you to head back to White Mount," Mercer said to the other four. "We'll see what we have and should we need your help again I'll call you."
Though she wanted to say they didn't really need to, Beckett said goodbye with the others before they turned and started walking through down to reach the other side so they could return to the manor. She held hands with her husband, wondering where exactly the case would be going next without them there to investigate as well.
"Rick?"
Turning to the entrance to the library, Castle said, "What's wrong?"
"I was looking for you, are you sure you still want to go into town?" Beckett asked, walking up to where he was standing at a shelf.
"I do, I just wanted to check on something that's been bothering me," Castle replied.
"About the case?" Beckett asked, turning to set down their scarves she'd brought from their room.
"Yeah, the symbol on the wrists of the vics," Castle replied. "And it hit me why I thought it was familiar."
"Familiar?" Beckett said in surprise.
"It took me a while to get it, but here," Castle said, opening the book he'd held closed with his finger marking two pages. He held it flat on his hand and said, "The Hellfire Club."
"The caves they went to on Ghost Adventures?" Beckett asked as her husband indicated a picture of a painting.
"Yes, but to be honest it's not really the original Hellfire Club. And that was located north of us," Castle replied.
"The halo and the crucifix?" Beckett said as she looked at the founder of the other club and saw the symbols that had been marked on the three men.
Nodding Castle said, "There are some Hellfire Clubs today here in England and then Ireland. But I don't think they're like this club," tapping the painting.
"I doubt it, not if they're known," Beckett said. "Unless…"
"That's what I was thinking but really," Castle started to say as he knew what she'd thought. "This town is small; I doubt we wouldn't have heard about a Hellfire Club by now."
"Or Mercer would have heard about it," Beckett said.
"Officer Gorman too," Castle said, nodding. He closed the book and said, "I need to tell Brennan about this so he can tell Mercer and we can go."
"He's in the family room with the kids," Beckett told him before they were walking together out of the room.
"Hullo," Brennan said, seeing the two walking. He quickly stood with Helene in his arms and said, "What?" seeing the book in Castle's hand.
Explaining quickly what he'd found and showing his wife's cousin the painting, Castle said, "I don't know if that's what this symbol is supposed to be but…"
"It seems like it," Brennan said. "The nose looks a bit close to the painting."
"It's why it seemed familiar to me," Castle said.
"We were about to leave," Beckett said. "But he showed me that and you should tell Mercer."
"Don't worry," Brennan said, holding Helene out to Castle before he took the book. "He'll appreciate anything."
"So will we," Castle commented though he was speaking absently as he was gently bouncing the baby.
Texting the constabulary on the phone quickly Brennan then said, "I'll let you know if he gets in touch with me. And be careful."
"We will," Beckett said with a smile, not surprised he'd said that. She waited for her husband to give the baby back to her cousin and they said goodbye to the three before heading for the back door.
"Hello," Mary said. "Are you guys ready to go?"
"We are," Beckett said first as she and Castle were hurrying to put on their coats.
"But I realized something about the case," he said once he had on his scarf.
"Oh?" Skye asked. After the two had told her and Mary about the symbol and paining she said, "Interesting. And an odd connection really. They were said to have murdered a little person; not harm the elderly."
"A red herring?" Mary suggested.
"I had thought that," Beckett said, looking at her husband.
With a quick nod Castle said, "It would make sense since nothing is tying into the club besides that made up symbol."
"Though," Skye began. "There's another idea." She waited until they were outside and then said to the others as she knew they were confused, "They want to start another club or tried and failed."
"The latter seems more likely," Beckett said before they reached the path that would lead to the one that would take them into town.
"It does but still, something about this doesn't seem right," Castle said. "We asked Mercer, Gorman, Brennan and Clara about feuds or disputes and they have nothing. It's like… Levittown in the fifties."
"Rick," Beckett said simply.
"Then Levittown where everyone had a lobotomy," Castle said. He wasn't surprised when his wife rolled her eyes and said, "Sorry but you get what I mean."
"I know, but it can happen," Beckett said.
"Unlikely it would in this case," Mary said. When the others looked at her she'd been prepared to explain that before they climbed over the fence and started walking to town. "This kind of aggression and their cowardice in sneaking up on them."
"She's right," Skye said with a nod. "Turning them to hit on the forehead…"
"They wanted to make sure it wasn't too hard," Castle said.
"And last night they couldn't see enough," Beckett added. She smiled when the other three nodded nearly in unison and she was about to turn their attention to what they'd do in town when the investigator was speaking first.
"Were you planning on going to any of the shops?" Skye said. "Or just taking photographs?"
"The bookstore?" Beckett asked her husband.
"If you want to," Castle replied. "But…"
"You're going to the Squire, aren't you?" Mary asked the two with a smile.
"I think he wants to now," Beckett said, smiling herself. "With the possible explanation for the symbol on the vics."
"I really wonder what it would mean if it was the explanation for it," Skye said.
"What about Mercer?" Mary said then. "Would he want you doing that?"
"I wasn't planning on asking about the symbol," Castle told them quickly as they were approaching the first buildings. "But about the Hellfire Club."
Thinking that over for a moment Beckett said, "You're thinking another one did form in this area."
"I did, or it tried and failed," Castle replied.
"I guess if you word it like that," Beckett said. "But if Mercer gets mad about that you need to explain that to him."
"I will," Castle promised. "So we'll have a pint?"
"A cuppa," Skye said quickly before Beckett could answer. "A pint at lunch was enough for us."
"She's right; we're likely going to have wine with dinner," Beckett told her husband, squeezing his hand that was holding hers. When he nodded she then turned her attention to the buildings they were walking by, taking pictures before they'd reached the bookstore they'd gone to first.
"I have to ask," Skye said, stopping the others from going into the store. "What's the town gossip about these attacks?"
"Should we ask them about that too?" Castle asked his wife.
"Alright," Beckett said with a brief nod. She went into the store first and put away her camera before she was walking through some shelves to look at the books.
Castle had broken away from the other three at the entrance and looked at some of the local books before he paused and then hurried back to the front of the store.
"Where's your husband?" Skye said, coming up to Beckett who was looking at a book a few minutes later.
"I have no idea," Beckett said, not looking up from the tome in her hands. "But if I know him, he'll be looking for something about the Hellfire Club."
"I thought he would too," Skye replied.
"You didn't find anything?" Beckett asked as she was putting away the book.
"Not really," Skye said. "I wanted to walk around town and the stores."
"Did Mary want to shop?" Beckett said.
"She did," Skye replied. "We'd talked about going in the pool but she pointed out we might get tired of it before the kids come."
"How tired of it could you get?" Beckett said with a smile.
"I don't know," Skye said with a shrug. "But I did have the idea of us playing pool tonight."
"You and Mary?" Beckett asked, confused by the way the woman was looking at her.
"And you two," Skye said, nodding to where she could see Castle.
"If it's possible," Beckett then said.
"It'd keep that… brat Elliston away from you," Skye said, rolling her eyes. She was about to walk down the aisle but paused when her friend touched her arm.
"What happened?" Beckett asked her.
Skye hesitated, but when her friend said her name she sighed and told her, "When you two were out riding and Mary and I were back in the house and he approached us. Asked where you were."
"What was your answer," Beckett prompted when the investigator didn't continue.
"That you were with Rick and I had no idea what you were doing," Skye said.
"Doing or going?" Beckett asked.
"Doing, he needed to think you two were up in bed," Skye said, keeping her voice down.
Sighing Beckett then said, "I guess, but thank you."
"Not a problem," Skye said as she smiled slightly. "And if the situation is ever reversed I hope you'll do the same for me."
"Sure," Beckett said simply before they left that aisle together. She went to the right and started to look for her husband as she'd lost sight of him before she found him in the back corner.
Jumping when he felt a hand on his back, Castle turned and said, "Nothing?"
"No," Beckett replied. "Anything on the Hellfire Club?"
"You knew I was looking?" Castle asked her with a smile.
"Of course," Beckett said. "And?"
"One book but it's more on the founder of the second group; the one that had other names before they gave it the name Hellfire Club," Castle answered. "Sir Francis Dashwood."
Taking the book Beckett looked it over and asked, "Well?"
"I don't think I will," Castle replied. "Your cousin also has this book; I was just making sure it was that one before I ended up buying it."
Beckett nodded before she said, "Then we should get going."
"Skye and Mary?" Castle asked.
"Skye didn't want to get anything," Beckett explained at they walked to the end of the aisle. "Mary I'm not sure about as I lost sight of her."
"They're there," Castle said as he nodded to the register.
Turning Beckett could see the two women there, Mary taking a tote bag from the cashier there before the investigator was signing something. When the two walked up to her and Castle she asked, "A fan?"
"A fan," Skye said. "She wanted our autographs."
"Which she's happy about," Mary started to say as they were leaving the store. "Since she doesn't want all the focus on her."
"It's not my band," Skye said simply. "But it doesn't matter, she knew us both."
"I forgot to ask you," Castle said. "They have tea at the pub?"
"They will," Skye replied. "I saw it on the board near the bar earlier. But what about any other stores?"
"One more," Castle suddenly told them.
"Ah, I wondered if he'd find it," Skye said as they stopped where they were.
"I owe you," Mary said teasingly to her wife before Skye rolled her eyes to her laughter before Beckett was abruptly speak and startling them both.
"What are you talking about?" she asked them.
"You'll see shortly," Skye said. She turned to her friend and said, "We should head over into the pub."
"Rick-" Beckett started to say.
"Will know where we are, don't worry," Skye told her.
"I'll wait here," Beckett said to the two women. She half expected them to protest that but when they said they'd start walking she turned her attention back to the shop her husband had gone into. He came back out a short time later and she bit her lower lip to hide her smile before she waited for him to approach her.
"Hey, you're on your own," Castle said when they were together.
"I am," Beckett said before she was taking the small bouquet of rosebuds he was handing to her. "They're beautiful," she told him with a smile. She reached over and squeezed his hand before saying, "Thank you."
"You're welcome love," Castle said.
"How were you able to get these in coral?" Beckett asked as they took each other's hand and started to walk towards the pub.
"I asked them and they said their grower had them," Castle replied. "If that grower had been there I would have thanked them."
Beckett smiled and then shook her head before she said, "It'll be interesting to be holding these while I'm talking to the guys with you."
"True, but I wanted to get those now," Castle said. He saw the way his wife was looking at him and shrugged saying, "Before the case took over."
"Fair enough," Beckett said. "But you might have to hold it for me."
"Okay," Castle said slowly.
"I'm kidding," Beckett said with a smile before she let go of his hand so he could open the door for them. She went inside first and quickly found Skye and Mary as they were by the entrance.
"They're here," the investigator said first.
"But Mr. Worths is playing at the moment," Mary then said.
"Then we should have some tea first," Beckett told them.
"After you," Castle said to Skye.
"Oh, thanks," the investigator said jokingly before she smiled.
"Let's get a table," Mary told them. She led the way to one for four people by the windows in the front of the pub and sat on the booth seating along one side of it. "Nice flowers," she said with a smile once they were settled.
"How did you know he'd go?" Beckett asked.
"Skye saw the shop," Mary replied. "And figured you'd go at some point."
"It wasn't hard to guess," Skye said as she was reaching the table and sitting down. "Just an odd time to go now."
"That's what she said," Castle said, nodding to his wife.
"Not in the same way," Beckett explained to them. They turned their attention then to the barmaid that was bringing over their tea and they got their mugs ready before her husband was clearing his throat before he spoke.
"Kate and I were talking about something the other day," Castle began.
"Back at home?" Skye asked. When he nodded, she smiled and said, "About what?"
"Your girls," Beckett said, rolling her eyes when her husband looked at her. "But it was just in the context of them going to camp this year like Mari will."
Nodding Skye said, "I'm guessing the fact we mentioned them when Brennan was talking about their youngest reminded you of us meeting ours?" At the nods of both writers she looked at her wife with a smile before saying, "You'd like more detail?"
"A little more, if you don't want to then that's okay," Castle told them.
Sipping at her tea, Mary said when she'd set her mug down, "That's fine. We'd gone to the orphanage and as you know we had no idea who we'd adopt."
"Were twins ever in mind?" Beckett asked.
"No, we mentioned it when we told you before but we didn't mention we were fine with the option," Skye replied. "When we got to the orphanage we were walking up to the front doors and walked through a group of the younger children."