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: So nice receiving the feedback that I did for the last chapter and first one, so I'm get into my thank yous for that! TORONTOSUN (Happy to read you thought the last chapter was great writing as always!),
MsNYC (I was really glad to see that you thought the love scene in the first half was tastefully written. And I was happy you loved the flashback, but I wasn't surprised you did of course, lol, still loved reading that! I wasn't surprised to see your reaction to the cliffhanger in the second half, or that you're hoping that Castle and Beckett get there quick. And where Brenton makes Beckett uncomfortable is in chapter 12 so hopefully you'll see where that happens. I was pleased to see you thought it was a great update and writing as usual too!),
mobazan27 (I was really happy seeing you thought that prologue was titillating, and it compelled you to continue which is what I was aiming for. And considering what happened in that chapter I wasn't surprised you weren't feeling good about what was going to happen) and
Mb (It was great seeing first off you thought it was a wonderfully written update! I had to laugh at you commenting about Castle and Beckett at the start of the first half of the chapter, but I was glad you'd said that too. I do see them as being loving, sensual and hot as you said. And I was happy to see you liked the flashback and thought that no matter what time they're in Castle and Beckett are so loving and sexy. So pleased to read you loved the songs too in the chapter! You're welcome for the first half! Really happy to read you thought the second half was another fantastic update! I wasn't surprised you mentioned there were more questions but only partial answers for the case, lol, there'll be answers more though, don't worry. But I have to admit that I'm happy to see I have you stumped about the who and the why as you put it since that's my aim! I was also pleased that Brenton is to you a person who makes your skin crawl as you put it. And that you feel there's something off about him and the situation with him since again, what I was aiming for! I had to laugh at your mentioning I was evil with the cliffhanger, but I like to throw those it, make it more interesting of course. Happy to read you thought it was a fantastic update. You're welcome for the second half too!).
Thank you so much for the reviews, loved reading them all and I 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 I Live for You by George Harrison, from the 30th anniversary edition of his album All Things Must Pass.
Give My Love
Running down the path towards the stables, Castle and Beckett had no problem finding where exactly her cousin and what appeared to be the latest victim were as other stable hands were running to one of the buildings as well. When they came to the entrance they peered inside and found Brennan at one of the indoor corrals that were there, kneeling next to a body.
"Hold him steady; he's been spooked," Brennan called. He looked back and when he saw his cousin said to her, "Thank you for calling for help so quickly."
"Did you see who attacked him?" Beckett asked once they were close.
"Who? He was kicked," Brennan said in confusion before he realized what had happened. "The radio went out?"
"It broke up," Beckett explained, kneeling on the ground on the other side of the unconscious man. "What happened?"
"I was with him," Brennan said, nodding to the stable hand. "We were trying out Darby here, we may sell him. One of the cars the workers was driving on the path backfired and made him kick out and unfortunately Duckworth was here."
"Where?" Castle asked.
"On his chest," Brennan said before he called out to the others, "Did someone call for an ambulance. I want him taken to hospital."
Nearly jumping when Duckworth's eyes flew open and he groaned, Castle knelt and helped his wife and Brennan as the man was starting to kick.
"Easy, easy Fred," Brennan said soothingly. "You've been kicked and fell and hit your head. But you'll be alright. Just keep calm."
Breathing heavily as he had stopped moving, Duckworth looked around and said, "Darby?"
"A bit spooked from… it was Lunney's car wasn't it?" Brennan said, looking at the others.
"It was, he was heading to Swindon for more supplies after the procedure you did for the abscess," one of the other stable hands said.
"We're having an ambulance coming," Brennan replied. When Duckworth started to protest he said, "It's a precaution, don't worry."
Hearing a siren in the distance, Castle stood up and went to the entrance, spotting flashing lights. "They're almost at the drive," he said.
"They'll come down the back path," Brennan replied. He turned back to Duckworth and asked, "How do you feel?"
"Head hurts," the man replied. "My chest too. I wouldn't have been behind him if-"
"I know, we weren't expecting it and you were about to come over to help," Brennan said before looking over and seeing his wife was running in.
"Are you alright?" Clara asked, going over to Beckett and kneeling next to her.
"I'm fine ma'am," Duckworth replied as she laid a blanket over him.
"They're nearly here," Brennan warned his wife.
Nodding her head Clara said, "Good, but what happened."
No one had a chance to explain that to her as the ambulance workers were coming in with a stretcher. Brennan explained to them what happened as they were getting Duckworth ready to move.
"Some heavy contusions," the man of the three workers said. He nodded and said, "About the shape of a horse's hoof. Here."
"He's been breathing fine," Brennan told them as Duckworth tried to stop them from putting an oxygen mask over his mouth.
"It's a precaution sir," one of the two women told him.
After Duckworth had relaxed and was on the stretcher the ambulance workers were taking him outside into the snow that had recently begun falling Brennan ran after them, talking about the hospital they'd be going to.
"Can someone get a hold of Lena? Let her know about Fred," Brennan said while the ambulance workers were getting the stretcher in the back of the vehicle.
"She's not livin' with him anymore Mr. Brennan," another stable hand murmured to him. "They're separated."
"Right… I'll call his family," Brennan said with a frown before he turned his attention to one of the ambulance workers.
"Good thing we didn't try to call Mercer," Castle told his wife.
"I know," Beckett said with a quick nod. She then went to Clara and asked, "His wife?"
"Lena Hobbes," the woman replied. "She's a maid here and they used to be married but they've gotten a divorce… they married a bit young I think."
"What're you thinking?" Castle asked his wife in French in a low voice when she came back to him.
"I'm not sure," Beckett said, shaking her head. "I feel like I've heard that name before."
"Yeah, it does seem familiar," Castle replied. He then said, "But should we call Mercer."
"Why don't you let us know what's going on?" a voice said behind the couple.
"How long have you been there?" Castle asked Skye as she'd been the one to talk.
"We got here just as they were getting him on the stretcher," Mary explained. "He wasn't attacked by someone was he?"
"No," Beckett replied, quickly explaining what had happened.
"Hmm, well I hope he's alright," Skye said as they were watching the ambulance leave with the others. As Brennan and Clara turned to them she said, "Does he have family?"
"He does, I'll need to call them," the former replied.
"Thank you, Clare," Brennan said appreciatively.
"What will you do?" Beckett asked her cousin as they were walking away from the road.
"Check on Darby now," Brennan replied. "Why?"
"We need to call Mercer," Beckett said as they were remaining at entrance to the stable. She and her husband quickly explained what they'd talked about while they'd been in the house still and when they finished she said, "I have to wonder about other… outlaws."
"No, I can see why you'd think that," Brennan said. "Though I agree with you Kate; would they all need the money to be coerced into doing that?"
"We'll see what Mercer says," Castle said.
"Mind if we join you?" Skye asked.
"Let me know what he says when I see you later," Brennan said before he was going into the stable quickly.
Walking back up to the house Mary said, "I'm surprised the attacker was that good at hiding themselves." She wasn't surprised when the others were looking at her and she explained herself saying, "I know, but again this is a very small town."
"What about a tourist?" Castle said.
"I don't know if they'd be that good at finding the places where each body was left," Skye commented. "And isn't tourism down a bit right now?"
"They're still here but I guess they looked at everyone who's here," Castle admitted.
"I wonder if at this point they've looked at every last person," Beckett commented, looking at her watch.
"Most likely," Skye said. "Would you mind if we go to our room for this call?"
"Let's try ours," Castle said. "We're tucked back more than your room."
"That's fine," Mary said before they were going into the house. They headed up the stairs and she and her wife were following Castle and Beckett over to their room.
"You'll leave it on speaker right?" Skye asked as Beckett was getting her phone ready.
"Yeah," she answered absently as she was dialing the constabulary's number.
"Mercer," the man said once he answered.
"It's Castle and Beckett," the former said. "With the McDouglases and we had a thought we wanted to share with you."
"I almost thought you were about to ask if I had anything," Mercer replied.
"Do you?" Skye asked.
"No," Mercer replied. "We've been looking into associates of Nieman to see if they have been approached for the other two attacks but no one has mentioned it."
"That's what we were going to get in touch with you about," Castle said looking at his wife who smiled at him.
"I'm not surprised. Since we don't have anything from that I have only one thing left to do," Mercer said.
"Which is what?" Mary said in confusion.
"I'm going to need to look into everyone that's there at White Mount that lives at the manor," Mercer replied.
"You haven't yet?" Castle couldn't help asking, not surprised when his wife lightly smacked his chest with the back of her hand.
"No, they were the least likely to be the attacker," Mercer said. "But I've got a few officers here starting to look at them and I'll join them after I hang up with you. So please let me call Brennan if there's anything."
Castle and Beckett were quick to explain what had happened with Duckworth and where the man was at that moment, sharing a surprised look when the constabulary was silent for some time before he was soon speaking.
"If Lord Cotswold hadn't been with him I would have been a little suspicious," Mercer finally said. "But I'll call the hospital to check on him later, in case I need to speak with Mr. Duckworth."
"I'm wondering if I could ask something," Castle said.
"Okay," Mercer said a little uncertainly.
"What about any tourists that are staying in town?" Castle then asked.
"We've just finished looking into that," Mercer replied. "Gorman had the idea since of course they visit the pubs in town. And we have everyone accounted for." He hesitated then and said, "As well as you and the other guests at the manor."
"You haven't looked at the workers before?" Beckett said in surprise.
"We were going to move on to them," Mercer said. "I'm assuming where you assist there are a number of officers there for help?"
"Yes," Beckett said, smiling briefly at her husband when he squeezed her hand. "Sorry, I'm used to the station back at home."
"It's alright, and a valid question as I'm assuming you've never assisted the police here in England," Mercer said. When the all four of them said no he was startled but recovered before he asked, "Is there anything else for the case?"
"Not at the moment," Beckett said after she had looked around at the others and saw they were shaking their heads.
"Then thank you for informing me about Duckworth and if I don't speak with you all again tonight then I'll be calling Brennan tomorrow," Mercer told them.
After they'd said goodbye to the constabulary Castle asked the two women, "How did you get dried off so fast?"
"We're still a little wet," Mary replied. "So we're heading to our room for a very hot bath."
"Though it's an interesting idea," Skye commented. "Just because they're here doesn't mean they couldn't have gone into town." She then sighed and said, "I suppose he'll find the shifts for everyone and he'll be back at square one." Shaking her head the investigator then said, "We'll hope for no further attacks."
Murmuring as the two left, Beckett said, "I guess we're set for now."
Nodding Castle said, "You'll keep your phone on you?"
"Of course," Beckett replied. She looked at their paper they'd been writing on before Brennan had called on the radio and she said, "Should we finish?"
"There isn't much left," Castle said though he was following her to the table. He looked at where they'd left off and then wrote down about the people at the manor and tourists before saying, "I guess there wasn't anything with them."
"He would have mentioned it," Beckett said. She took the paper her husband held out to her and shook her head before saying, "I'm not sure this will help us that much."
"No but at least we have it should we need it," Castle said. "Put it away?" At his wife's nod he took the page back and went to the desk, leaving it there since it would be out of the way. "We have a while until dinner," he told his wife as he stood next to the table. "Would you want to go back to playing pool?"
"No," Beckett said, standing up. "I'm getting a little tired of it."
With a quick nod, Castle was hurriedly taking off his coat as they still had them on. "Swimming?" he said.
Beckett was thinking about that for a moment before she shook her head and let him take her coat. She watched him setting it by the credenza next to the door and when he turned back to her she waited for him to approach her. She took his kiss that he gave her and when he wrapped his arms around her she was quick to wind hers about his neck. It was brief and they were soon pressing their foreheads together before she murmured, "I have something better in mind," not surprised he was pulling her to the bed as soon as she'd finished speaking.
Turning over, Castle reached for his wife when his eyes flew open before he noticed the bathroom door was closed. He sighed and then lay on his back, looking up at the ceiling before he heard the door opening and turned to find his wife was walking over to him. "You always take my shirts," he said in a mock annoyed tone.
"You'd insist if I didn't do it before you could say anything," Beckett replied, watching him sit up. Standing next to the bed as he was watching her she said, "Should I give it back?"
Studying her, though he'd been gazing at her for a while by then, Castle smirked and said, "I think so." When she reached for the buttons he then said, "And by back I mean back on the floor."
Stopping and giving her husband a look, Beckett wasn't surprised when he didn't really react to it and she rolled her eyes playfully before she opened the shirt. She was pleased to have remembered to only button two on the shirt as she enjoyed the way her husband's eyes noticeably darkened at the sight of her body. She made sure he noticed his shirt in her right hand and then tossed it aside before she said, "Good?"
"Much better," Castle said seriously.
"Pervert," Beckett said with a laugh. She joined him on the bed under the covers and said, "But I enjoyed doing that a lot more than playing pool," before she lay against his side. She wasn't surprised when he kissed her and she was hurrying to respond though they weren't doing that for long before they slowly parted. As she studied him she was about to ask what was wrong as he suddenly appeared thoughtful when he was talking before she could.
"Would you mind if I told you something?" Castle asked her.
"You're remembering some things?" Beckett said, smiling as he was looking down at her. She bit her lower lip at his nod and then said, "Go ahead, I'd love to hear what you're… is it more than one?"
Nodding rapidly Castle said, "Yeah but this one is in 1916… August."
"You don't need to remember the date exactly," Beckett said as her husband was obviously trying to recall then.
"No, I got it, it was the twenty-eighth so we weren't heading back to school just yet," Castle said.
"What're you doing?" Beckett asked as he was starting to move.
"I was going to check the day," Castle replied.
"I don't know if it matters; if we weren't back in school," Beckett said though she didn't try to stop him as he was getting his phone.
"A Monday," Castle said though he soon sounded confused.
"What?" Beckett said, surprised at that.
"We were at Ocean Beach, all six of us," Castle replied.
"Well… I don't remember if my dad had the club going every night," Beckett said. "And maybe in the summer he had it less, if people were going out for vacation."
"True," Castle said with a nod. "But we were out in a boat your dad borrowed from a friend, just a little away from where we had blankets set up." When his wife pressed closer to him he kissed the top of her head before beginning with them in the boat.
"Easy with the oars boys," Jim said to the two as they were rowing.
"Why couldn't Rosie have come?" Junior complained. "She's better at this than all of us."
"You know she gets seasick," Kate told her brother, smiling as he and Rick were rowing them.
"Alright lads," Jim told them. "We'll stop here and cast our lines."
Watching her brother toss over the small anchor, Kate took the fishing pole her father handed her and quickly cast the line over the side before she watched Junior and Rick doing the same. Her father watched them to make sure their lines were alright and they sat in the water, rocking in the slight waves. She settled herself in for a long wait before she was suddenly needing to hold onto her fishing pole with both hands as it was being pulled.
"Steady," Jim said, about to reach over to help her.
"Let me help," Rick said since he was sitting next to her. He grabbed the fishing pole under her hands and together they managed to pull the fish up and out of the water.
"Wonderful," Jim said as he took the fish and set it into the basket they'd brought. "We'll eat well today. Well done lass."
"Thank you Da," Kate said with a smile.
"Are we going to head in?" Junior asked.
"Can't," Jim said simply. "There're eight of us and we can't manage on that fish alone since your ma wants to fry the fish."
"I've got the other," Rick said suddenly as he was pulling at his fishing pole that had nearly been yanked out of his hand as he'd been talking to the others.
"Watch you don't pull too much," Jim told him, watching him.
"Got him," Rick said triumphantly as he got the fish, slightly smaller than Kate's.
"Bit of a shrimp," Junior chortled.
"It'll feed us," Kate said reassuringly.
"Don't worry, I'm not in a competition with you," Rick said, smiling at her.
"Let's head in everyone," Jim told them. "Lads?"
After they had the oars in hand and the anchor was up, Junior and Rick rowed back to the beach where the others were waiting for them. As soon as they were near land the two young men jumped out, Rick slipping and the water going over his head before he could recover.
"Rick!" Kate exclaimed as she watched him surfacing.
"I'm alright," he said as he walked up to the boat. "I slipped on the sand."
"Did it collapse on you?" Jim asked him.
Nodding Rick walked towards the shore and then helped Junior in getting the boat up on the sand where they pulled it with Patrick's help. Once she could step out he reached out his hand to help Kate step down on the sand. He then helped the other two in getting the boat up enough so it wouldn't float back out to sea and went with them over to where Jim was handing the fish to his wife.
"They look perfect," Johanna was saying with a smile. "Katie, help us with the fish."
"Yes Ma," Kate said, smiling at Rick briefly before she went over to them.
Rick felt a little awkward, watching the others working on making lunch and stoking the fire needed for cooking. He turned towards the ocean, watching the waves for a moment before he heard Johanna calling out to him.
"Come along Rick," she said. "It won't take very long to fry our fish. Our vegetables are ready as well."
"I thought you'd be hungry," Rose said teasingly to him once he was with them.
"I'm starving," Rick said. "Just wanted to watch the sea."
"I'd like to go one day out to sea," Mary said. "But my mama and papa would never want to go again."
"They were in steerage?" Johanna asked the young woman. When she nodded she said, "I would agree with them, it's horrendous bellow in the ship. You're never so happy for land."
"Still, to see other places," Rose said. "It must be wonderful."
"Where would you want to go?" Junior asked her.
Smiling Rose said, "Paris."
"I wish we could send you there," Jim said with a frown. "Not with the war going on there it'd be much too unsafe."
Sighing Rose said, "I'd forgotten. But there can't be a war forever Da."
"No, but for the time being we'll have to be happy here in America," Jim said. "Maybe we'll take a trip down to Santa Cruz."
"I'd enjoy that trip," Junior said enthusiastically. "Would love to go over to the boardwalk again."
"We will, one day," Jim said, speaking quickly as Kate was dishing out the fried fish onto plates.
"Don't be forgettin' the vegetables Junior," Johanna admonished her son as he was grabbing his piece of fish.
"Wouldn't dream of it Ma," the young man said with a wide smile.
After they had their fish and vegetables that had been cooking in a pot, the group started to talk about the next year of school the children would be attending. After they had finished and had doused the fires they'd used the younger six were throwing a baseball to each other before Junior ran into the water to catch a throw from Patrick.
"Sorry," he said, helping Junior up and unable to keep the laughter from seeping into his voice.
"Some friend you are," he replied, though a smile soon appeared on Junior's face. "Lucky I caught it."
"Come on," Rose called to the two as they were walking into the water. "Let's keep playing before we have to go home."
Tossing the baseball to Rick, Junior hurried back onto the sand to continue the game before Johanna was calling to them.
"At least you weren't the only one to fall in accidentally," Kate was saying to Rick as they walked after the others to her parents.
"Still planning to swim?" Rick asked her.
"I'd like to," Kate said with a brief frown. "I'll have to ask Ma about that. Rosie's dying to go though so I suppose we might be able to."
"It'll be fun," Rick said. He smiled when she glanced at him before she was smiling back and he took the apple that Junior was throwing to him and they sat on the blankets to eat and watch the ocean in front of them.
"It's very weird my family didn't say anything about us," Beckett said. "It was a more than a little obvious."
"We were still young," Castle said, rubbing his hand up and down her arm. He turned his head and said, "And I wasn't sure about what you'd think of me. Again I was only there by the charity of your parents."
"Who did accept you as part of the family," Beckett reminded him. She kissed his jaw a few times before she said, "Though that got lost as we got older and of course you were a really good friend."
Castle couldn't help laughing and said, "I guess they would have to think that. Luckily it happened before I proposed to you."
Nodding Beckett looked at her husband and saw he was looking up at the ceiling before she said, "What?"
"No, it's something I've thought before," Castle replied quickly. "And mentioned to you. I'm really glad that you didn't mind how quickly I proposed."
"It wasn't as if you asked me randomly," Beckett reminded him. "You did plan it. And remember; I was already pregnant with Eliza so it was better you did."
"No regrets?" Castle asked her.
"Are you talking about then or now?" Beckett asked, raising her head.
Seeing the slight smile on her face Castle couldn't stop himself and he drew her down to him so they could kiss. When they parted he cupped her face and said, "I think I have your answer."
Leaning down so she could reach him, Beckett brushed her lips against his and told him, "I was happy then and now as well. Here."
Castle was a little startled when she moved and lay on her back but he recovered quickly before he was moving to get on top of her. He kissed her as soon as he was and gently slipped his tongue into her mouth before they were tangling together furiously. He wasn't sure what she wanted exactly and he was careful not to move too much before they managed to get themselves to stop. "What-" he started to say.
"Quickly," Beckett said simply. She wasn't surprised in the slightest when her husband kissed her then and they were dueling again. She wrapped her arms around him tightly and they were soon coupled as he suddenly moved to sink into her body. She broke off their kiss with a moan of pleasure at the sensation and once their hips were pressed together she sighed.
"Don't worry," Castle said reassuringly, knowing she was expecting him to thrust instantly. He kissed her gently before they slowly parted and he said, "I love you Kate."
"I love you too Rick," Beckett said with a smile. They kissed again and shortly after she was clutching at her husband as he was starting to move. They parted and she focused her attention on what he was making her feel. She immediately had to bite her lip, the friction between them was rough as he was picking up speed immediately and she had to trail her fingers up through his hair. He wasn't stopping and she was doing everything she could to keep from losing all her self-control. When she finally broke she was crying out his name, soon cutting herself off as her pleasure was quick to take over. When she shortly after felt him joining her she was clinging to him, waiting for her body to fall over the edge before she felt everything within her going still. "Rick…" she breathed once he had stopped above her and was breathing heavily against her shoulder. She couldn't help shivering slightly at that since her skin was moist with sweat and she was about to get his attention before he was kissing her again.
Though he knew they should stop, that she likely had planned for them to get ready for dinner though it was still a couple hours away, Castle couldn't stop himself and he leaned down to her. Taking her lips with his own he reached down to her, grasping her side before he slid his hand down to her ass though he could only hold it by the side. When they parted he stared into her eyes, feeling her fingers gently rubbing along the edge of his hair on the back of his neck. He was going to speak; to ask her if she was alright with it; but looking into her eyes again he knew what she wanted and he leaned down, kissing her passionately.
Beckett could feel her husband beginning to move against her body and she did her best to not break off their kiss since he was rubbing against her clit deliberately. "Oh… please…" she gasped as he was moving away. She watched him moving back slightly before his hand disappeared in between them. When she felt his fingers rubbing against her still swollen clit she breathed out his name before she was moving her hips in time with the rhythm he was using.
"Can I have you love?" Castle asked, moving away his hand so he could gently caress her breasts.
"Please," Beckett gasped as he then began lightly rolling her left nipple in between his fingers. "Fuck me Rick, I want you."
"I want you too love," Castle replied huskily before he was leaning down and kissing her again. He didn't let that last for very long and moved away so he could start thrusting and once he had his pace settled he was quick to kiss her again. He became a little lost at that point, concentrating on her as much as he could until they were orgasming a second time, very closely together.
Hearing their panting Beckett took a little longer to recover before she was kissing at his temple and saying, "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Castle said. Since he felt he could he very carefully withdrew from her and lay on his back, making sure he took her with him before she was pressed against his side again.
"Do you have another one?" Beckett asked after they'd been silent for a while.
"I do but… we should go?" Castle asked her.
Beckett smiled and said, "Yes, tell me after our shower."
"Sure," Castle replied before he let her go. He watched her getting off the bed and hurried to follow her before they were going into the bathroom and then the shower.
Beckett wasn't surprised when her husband was gathering her into his arms as soon as they were under the water and she took his hungry kiss. After they had stopped she brushed her lips to him before she murmured she loved him and they kissed again. Once they stopped she wasn't surprised when he nuzzled against her throat before going to her ear, whispering as she tried pressing closer against his body at what he told her.
"You're a fucking goddess," Castle was saying. "I really don't know if I'm going to be able to stop."
"It's alright if you don't," Beckett replied with a brief smile.
Pulling back to look into her eyes Castle saw she was serious and he breathed out roughly before he kissed her again. When they slowly parted he stared at her, thinking of what he wanted to do exactly, before he finally acted on it. He wasn't surprised when she gasped at him picking her up, or when she went along with him and leaned back against the wall he'd taken her to. Once he was sure she was ready he moved just enough to slide inside of her and before she could say anything he was kissing her deeply. While she was distracted with that he began to move, thrusting carefully and keeping with that as he wanted to make love to her.
Beckett had to close her eyes tightly as the pleasure she was feeling was intense even with him being so slow and gentle. She did her best to move with him though it was difficult with how she was angled. Eventually she stopped trying, knowing she wasn't going to be able to continue without exhausting herself. Luckily her husband had no issues in continuing for her and she was orgasming sometime later with him following, grasping at his back tightly as they were calling out to one another. It nearly felt like the waves of ecstasy were a little stronger and she found she was trembling slightly. When her husband set her down she smiled at him and said, "Now we should stop."
"We will," Castle said, taking her over to the water. They washed each other's hair and bodies, neither of them keeping from caressing one another doing that. He found he couldn't stop himself and he leaned down, kissing at her breasts once they'd been rinsed of her body wash and suckling at one until she was pushing him away from her.
"I can't help myself," he told her seriously.
"I know, but I don't want to spend the rest of the day here," Beckett said firmly.
Though he wanted to say they still had some time, Castle knew she was right so he simply nodded before they moved to continue. When their shower was over he was out of the stall first, getting his wife's towel and drying her off.
"Go," Beckett said in amusement as her husband was continuing to dry her though her skin was free of any water. She wrapped the towel around herself and walked into the bedroom to go straight to her clothes in the closet, turning when she heard her husband behind her.
"Are you dressing for dinner?" Castle asked her.
"I get the feeling it'll be more casual," Beckett replied, knowing what he was asking. "Like last night." When he nodded she made sure he went to his clothes but she couldn't help watching him a little longer than she needed to. She bit at the inside of her mouth as he was taking off his towel before she quickly shook herself and turned her attention to her own clothing.
As they were walking out into the bedroom a short time later Castle asked, "What do you want to do?"
"Finish," Beckett said simply. "And will you go to the fifties?"
Taking in a deep breath Castle hesitated for a moment before he said, "Yes."
Beckett couldn't help laughing at his reaction and said, "Then we'll stay here for that."
"That's fine," Castle said hurriedly before they went to the bathroom to finish. He was following her back out to the couch they had in the bedroom and asked, "Would you want some tea?"
"I think I'm good," Beckett said. When he followed her, she reached out her hand to him and led him the rest of the way to the couch where she sat first, looking at him expectantly.
"It is from the twenties, but what I'm recalling now is from 1924," Castle told her as he was watching her reaction.
"That's fine," Beckett said.
"You don't mind we're not going to be together then?" Castle said to make sure. When she shook her head once he then said, "It was Julia's second birthday, on May twelfth but it was a Monday."
"I remember," Beckett said. "You came later in the afternoon, after your shift. So you were living at your apartment then."
Nodding Castle said, "But we were going to spend a lot of time with Julia of course. And I'll start where I got to the house."
Hitting the doorknocker against the front door, Rick stepped back and waited before he realized he could just hear squealing. He couldn't help smiling as he knew who that was and once the door was open he said, "Hello Julia," as she was in her mother's arms. He reached out to her and took her from Kate saying, "And Happy Birthday to you sweetheart."
"Rick," the toddler said carefully.
"She's gotten better at that," Rick said as he stepped inside the house.
"She has," Kate replied, smiling at him. "It's great to see you again Rick," she then told him as she was closing the door behind her.
"He's here Ma," Junior was calling back into the dining room as he walked into the foyer. "Glad you could make it," he said, shaking his friend's hand. "Now we're ready for our outing."
"Patrick and Mary are here?" Rick asked, taking off his hat and letting Julia hold it.
As she carefully took the hat from her daughter, Kate said, "They are, they arrived not long ago. But we're about to go to the park."
"It's alright," Rick assured her with a nod. He set Julia down as she kicked her legs and was quick to take her hand before the others were joining them in the foyer. He greeted the rest of Kate's family and her siblings' sweethearts before he said, "Where will we go in the park?"
"To Mountain Lake," Kate replied as she handed Julia's coat to her brother. "She wants to feed the ducks."
"Oh, the bread," Johanna breathed before she left the entry.
"How's the dinner going?" Rick asked.
"Good, but you know Ma," Rose said first. "She wants to make sure everything's perfect. It will be."
Rick couldn't help chuckling before he turned his attention to the woman as she was coming back.
"Make sure you share the bread with everyone you can little one," Johanna told her granddaughter with a smile as the toddler was staring up at her before she smiled. She leaned over and kissed the top of her head before saying to the others, "I'll expect you back within an hour."
"We'll be here Ma," Kate assured her. She had her coat on and once she was sure her daughter's hat was firmly on her head before she got her own, she stepped out onto the porch with Rick and her daughter. She was going to ask if he minded going to the lake with her and Julia when he was speaking first.
"Did they agree to come along?" Rick asked, nodding back towards her siblings.
"Not exactly," Kate replied. "They want to go off on their own."
"At least I'll be there to help you," Rick said as he was smiling down at Julia.
"She's not that much trouble," Kate said, unable to help smiling. "Are you ready?" she then said, turning and looking at her brother and sister as they were at the door.
"Ma was talking to Mary," Rose said, walking out to them. "We'll only be taking a stroll around to the lake."
"You're going at all?" Rick asked her in obvious surprise.
"It is our niece's birthday," Junior said as he was walking outside with Patrick and Mary.
"Let's go before we're late for Ma's curfew," Rose told them.
Heading down the stairs they split up into two cars, driving north to Mountain Lake Park before they were walking down the trail.
"How're things going with the club?" Rick asked his friend as they were nearing the lake with Julia.
"Swell, the last party was a smash and we nearly had to turn people away," Kate answered. "Julia, please," she told her firmly as the toddler was trying to run from her hold.
"Let me take her," Rick said seriously. He picked the toddler up and held her in front of him saying, "I'll toss her to the lake."
Kate shook her head as she smiled while her friend started to run with Julia under his arm, her squeals of joy loud. She walked after them and said when Rick had stopped at the shore of the lake, "Did you change your mind?"
"I believe I have," Rick said, looking at her.
"Duck Mama!" Julia squealed when she saw her mother was with them.
"I see, will you stay still now?" Kate asked. She smiled when her daughter nodded seriously and she motioned to Rick to set her down. She grabbed some of the chunks of bread her mother had prepared and handed them to Julia. She and Rick were watching her feeding the ducks before she said, "How have things been for you?"
Knowing she meant his work, Rick nodded and said, "Swell, there have been some cases and we've been lucky to find…" He broke off before he could say a word that she wouldn't want the toddler to hear and finished with, "The mugs that did it."
"Do you mind doing that now? Instead of being on the streets?" Kate asked.
"On patrol?" Rick said to her. When she nodded he shook his head and said, "I'm doing more there."
Kate smiled for a moment before she needed to turn her attention back to her daughter as she wanted more bread. She was about to jokingly ask him if he had a sweetheart by then before she heard voices coming up behind them.
"What?" Beckett asked when her husband stopped and stared at her.
"Why would you have asked me that," Castle said.
"I'm wondering how you knew I was going to do that," Beckett said.
"I didn't finish yet," Castle said before he was looking at her questioningly. "And you told me later when we talked about that day."
"I needed to know," Beckett said with a shrug once she had thought that over. "I didn't want to know, but I had to."
"I was the same way," Castle said. "Luckily we didn't date anyone before we were together."
"And yet it took us twenty years to be together," Beckett said.
Castle nodded before he said, "Want me to continue?" When she nodded he then said, "Okay, so there isn't much with the rest of that visit. We used up the bread and then decided to head back to the house to play there so we wouldn't pass that hour we had from your mom." He wasn't surprised when she smiled and he couldn't help it, leaning over and sharing a brief kiss with her before he continued.
"Try and catch them," Kate told her daughter with a smile. She turned to Rick and asked, "Are you getting dizzy yet?"
"No but I'm afraid I may," he answered before smiling at her. He handed her to pan of soap and tube he'd been using to make bubbles before watching her starting to use it.
"I know what you're thinking," Beckett said immediately as her husband had trailed off. "And you're a pervert."
"I couldn't help thinking that," Castle said. "Or wanting you to be kissing me." When she merely squeezed his hand he then said, "But we were distracted as your mother was calling you inside and I stayed in the backyard with Julia."
"Would you like to blow some bubbles?" Rick asked the toddler. When she nodded he hurriedly set aside the tube and picked up the wooden dowel that Junior had fashioned with a metal loop at the end for his niece. He helped her get the solution over the loop and showed her how to blow bubbles before he let her take over. He smiled as she was oohing at what she was able to make and looked up at him. "I know, you're doing swell," he said to her encouragingly. When she suddenly grew serious he asked, "What's wrong?"
Julia held her arms out to Rick and once she was on his hip she wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly.
Feeling the toddler cuddle close to him Rick smiled widely and set down the pan of solution before he said, "Should we go inside after your ma?"
"Mama?" Julia said. "Wan Mama," she added.
"Alright, we'll go," Rick said, unable to help laughing. He kissed her temple before he went up the stairs to the kitchen and said to Kate when he saw her getting something from the pantry, "She wants to come in."
"Oh good," Kate replied as she wiped off her hands on her apron before taking it off. "Your dinner is ready honey."
"What are we having?" Rick asked the toddler.
When her daughter giggled and patted her friend's cheek Kate said, "Baked ham with Ma's rolls and deviled eggs."
"My favorite too," Rick said seriously to the toddler who giggled again.
Taking in a breath, Kate was hurriedly smiling as she couldn't help becoming affected by the way her friend and daughter looked at that moment. She shook herself as Julia was calling to her and took her from Rick so they could wash up for dinner.
"You know," Beckett said when her husband stopped. "I had a similar moment watching you with Alexis."
"Similar?" Castle said, appearing to be confused.
Beckett smiled and explained what she'd been thinking watching him comfort their oldest after the protest bombing before she said, "It's weird, I wasn't at the point where I was ready for children. And of course thought it was sweet how you were so caring but…"
"It seemed familiar to you?" Castle suggested when she didn't continue.
"Maybe," Beckett replied slowly. She then smiled again and said, "I guess I liked seeing you could be an adult."
"I was waiting for that," Castle said in mock annoyance before he was bringing her hand up to him for a kiss. He kissed the inside of her wrist before he told her, "Keep going?" At her nod he said, "We ate dinner; which was really good of course; and then had her cake that you'd made on your own. I think you did that for all our kids' birthdays."
"I did," Beckett said once she'd thought that idea over. She then smiled and said, "It was something I loved to do for them; and you."
"Luckily we returned the favor on your birthdays," Castle was quick to tell her. When his wife smiled at her he then said, "Should I keep going?"
"Gifts?" Beckett asked in response.
"The usual, clothes and toys though I did get her some books," Castle replied. "I guess I was inclined to write before I retired." He shook his head as he'd been speaking thoughtfully and then said, "But this is after all of that, we were in the living room… parlor, whatever we called it."
"I hope you'll take food with you Rick," Johanna said, handing the last mug of coffee out to the others. "We have more than enough for several days for us."
"I will, but not that much," Rick replied as she sat in an armchair. "There's only me."
"Hmm, I worry about you eatin' on your own," Johanna replied. "You must come back here more often."
"I'll try, but there are some days I have an evening shift and I'm too tired to go anywhere but my apartment," Rick answered.
"As long as you try," Johanna said with a nod.
About to respond to that, Rick turned with the others to Julia as she was suddenly starting to cry and he smiled seeing Kate was scooping her up. "Too much of a party for her," he said.
"I think so," Kate replied with a smile, taking her daughter to her mother first. After everyone had said goodnight to Julia she told them, "I'll be back."
"Oh, Julia's doll," Rick said, quickly noticing the gift from Kate to her daughter. He picked it up and was going to hand it to her family before he saw they were all in conversation and he frowned before he turned to leave and go up the staircase. When he neared the toddler's room he could hear Kate humming and he smiled before entering.
"Oh, thank goodness," Kate said seeing him enter. "I thought I'd have to come back and would wake her up. Thank you," she told Rick sincerely.
"You're welcome," he replied, nodding to her. Rick watched Kate set the doll next to Julia; who was fast asleep by then; and as she was tucking the toddler in he couldn't help feeling an ache in his chest that he started to ignore. Luckily she was getting up and turning to him so he would be distracted. He followed her out to the hallway and opened his mouth to speak after she'd closed the bedroom door before she was interrupting him.
"Don't say you need to go home yet," Kate told him.
"No, I was just going to say she's a wonderful girl," Rick told her with a smile.
"She is," Kate said before they went to the top of the stairs. "And she's my little girl."
"She is," Rick echoed her with a smile, squeezing her arm. "And I love being her uncle."
Kate did her best to merely smile before she was heading back down to the parlor where everyone was still talking. "She's asleep," she said, hoping her tone wasn't showing her disappointment with Rick's comment. She quickly shook herself of her thoughts and smiled at the others saying, "I hope my coffee is still warm."
"It is," Junior said, handing her her mug. "Ma was just offering us some cake."
"Oh not again Ma, thank you," Kate said.
"I may be persuaded," Rick told the woman as she turned to him. "It was swell Kate, no one can beat you making chocolate cakes."
"Thank you," she replied as she stood. "I'll get it Ma," Kate told her mother quickly as she hurried to the kitchen.
"We wanted slices too," Junior said. "I'd better tell her."
After they were sitting again the group discussed the news in the city and the next dinner the club was going to have. When it grew too late for him Rick said goodnight to everyone, thanking them for having him over before he went to the front door with Kate.
"I'm relieved it's been warmer," she said as they stepped out onto the patio.
"Yes, unfortunately that means the criminals will come out more often," Rick replied, smiling at her. He then reached out to her and squeezed her arm saying, "I was happy to come Kate. Not just to see Julia but the rest of you."
"We were happy to see you," Kate replied seriously. She then smiled and said, "You'll listen to Ma and come back."
"I have to," Rick replied, pretending to be serious before they started to laugh together. After they'd stopped he was taken by surprise when she suddenly hugged him but he recovered before he embraced her back.
"Thank you," Kate told him, hoping the way her cheeks were heating up wasn't visible. "For the books and taking care of her."
"You're welcome, I hope I can read those books with her when I come back," Rick said, trying not to think of the way she'd felt in his arms. He smiled at her and said, "It'll be soon."
"That'll be swell," Kate replied softly. "Goodnight Rick."
"Night Kate," Rick replied, nodding his head to her before he went down the steps to his Model T. As he drove away from the curb he glanced over at her still on the porch, wishing he could remain with her the rest of the night.