"Good evening," the teacher said, standing with the man in front of the eight couples there. "My name is Jane Grey and I'll be your instructor for the class. With me is my fiancé Francesco Paloma and he'll be assisting me."
As soon as she'd heard the word fiancé Beckett glanced at Julia who was standing a little back with Mari. But there was no expression on her face in reaction to that and she said quickly and quietly to her husband, "She knew already."
Castle glanced at their daughter quickly himself and saw what she had. But he didn't have the chance to reply as he had to introduce himself with Beckett.
"I know some of you are wondering why there are two girls here," Grey said then. "But they're in my class at the Hamptons Academy and are here to watch their parents." She then turned her attention back to the couples and told them, "So we'll be beginning the first dance today, the Argentine Tango." She wasn't surprised when one of the men raised his hand and said, "Yes?"
"Is that slow or quick because I watched some dances from Dancing With the Stars and it wasn't very slow," he asked.
"It depends on your music," Grey replied. "And with that I'll let you know now we'll be dancing to the slower kind as it'll be easier to teach you."
"Will we be learning what they do?" David asked, nodding back to the girls.
Smiling Grey said, "I'll need to see. So please, get into hold as you normally would dancing in a formal situation and Francesco and I will walk around to make sure your form is correct. Julia, Mari? You can help us with this," she said to the girls.
When she and her friend had nodded to their teacher Julia stood up and then walked over to her parents. "I don't think I really gotta help you," she said. "Daddy," she then said sternly as her father was playfully slumping his right arm that was holding Beckett's.
"Thank you sweetie," Beckett told the girl. "Check on Brad and Lily for us."
"Oh, okay," Julia said, having forgotten about the couple. She hurried over to them but suddenly became shy as she saw that the chief's left arm was too low on his wife's back.
"Is something wrong?" Lily asked the girl, seeing Beckett motioning with her head to her.
"Please tell us I don't want to embarrass her," Brad said with a reassuring smile to Julia.
"Oh, well your arm should be up a little more," she said, trying to tell him that with more confidence than she was sure she had.
"Here?" Brad asked. When she nodded he said, "Thanks you'll help us again right?"
"Sure," Julia said before she rejoined Mari towards the back of the room. They watched together as their teacher instructed them on the moves, not surprised when everyone had an issue; mostly the women needing to do the mirror opposite of what their husbands were.
"I think I need to help my mommy," Mari whispered to her friend.
"I'm gonna help mine… and Lily too," Julia said, getting up then from the chairs they'd been sitting on.
"Oh good thing you came sweetie," Beckett said when she spotted hers and Castle's oldest. "I never asked how you do this."
Julia smiled and then said, "The best thing is to copy me. Watch me do these steps." She had her father let go of her mother and then stood next to her before she began; hoping Beckett wasn't going to get embarrassed doing that. "Step forward, then since Daddy's other foot is gonna be the one doing it you need to move your right like you're sweeping the floor."
Beckett tried not to smile at how adorable her daughter was; as serious as she was explaining the steps; and instead mimicked her. She tried to be as graceful as Julia was but couldn't help feeling a little uncomfortable as other couples were watching them since they were the only ones doing that. She then glanced to her left as she saw someone moving and it wasn't her husband. "You too?" she asked Lily.
"Me too, I don't know how you do it Julia," the woman replied.
"I've been dancing for a while," the girl said shyly. "Try it again now with Daddy," she told her mother. "And you with Brad."
Putting his arms around Beckett again Castle did the steps with her once more, not surprised when she was able to do much better mirroring him. "You're a great teacher you know," he said to their daughter.
Smiling Julia said, "She learns really fast."
"Oh that's definitely true too," Castle said, nodding his head in agreement. He laughed when Beckett pushed his left shoulder and then stopped when Grey and her fiancé walked up to them.
"You're doing a good job Julia," Grey said with a smile to her student. "You remember how I teach you in class."
"It's hard to forget," the girl said, blushing a little at the compliment though she appreciated it. "And it's easiest to learn the steps that way."
"I'll agree with that," Beckett said.
"So you two are set?" Grey then asked. When the couple nodded she and her fiancé went to stand in front of the class again and she said, "Alright let's add another three steps to those two but first we'll learn them separately before putting them together."
The cycle began again as Grey and Paloma taught the three steps which were basically three steps forward though they also both flicked their feet. It took more time then to teach those steps and then even more to put the two sections together. By the time the majority of the couples could do them all together Grey was calling for their fifteen minute break and the couples gathered around the tea that was soon brewing, talking together.
"So you dance this all the time," a woman who'd introduced herself as Lauren Sprague said to Julia and Mari.
"We, we dance a lot of different dances," Julia answered as Mari was clutching at her hand tightly.
"I read in the Report you and your partner won first place in the city," Justin Courtenay said.
"We did," Julia said, blushing then. "We… practiced a lot."
"It's what Ms. Grey always tells them," Castle commented, squeezing his daughter's shoulder gently to let her know he and Beckett were there if she needed them.
"Is anyone going to practice these steps at home?" another woman asked.
"We will," David said for himself and Rebecca.
"Our daughter will definitely make sure we do," she then said, smiling at Mari.
"The same for us," Beckett said, pulling Julia to her side and squeezing her shoulder.
After everyone had a cup of tea; including Julia and Mari; they split up and the Fosters followed the Davises and Castle and Beckett while Julia went to ask her teacher a quick question.
"She's so serious," Lily said to Beckett as she was sitting next to her.
"She's definitely like her mother," Castle commented, smiling at his wife. "Dedication," he said to the others.
Beckett didn't comment on that but just glanced at her husband before turning to their daughter who was hurrying back over to them carefully. "Is it still too hot?" she asked her daughter.
"No and Ms. Grey is gonna start on another dance after you dance all the steps again," Julia said eagerly to her mother.
"Which one?" Mari asked before any of the adults could.
"The Viennese Waltz," Julia replied.
"Shouldn't she have started with that one first?" Brad asked.
"You weren't doing that bad," Lily said in mock exasperation to her husband. She smiled and said, "They should have you two show us that, I know you're good at it Mari."
"That was the first dance I learned," the little girl said with a smile.
"And you're good at it," Julia said to her friend earnestly. "Would you dance if Ms. Grey asks?"
"Yeah," Mari said, nodding.
"How was Eliza when you left her?" Rebecca asked Castle and Beckett.
"Fine, did Dani protest you two leaving?" Beckett said.
"No I was just wondering since she's old enough to feel left out," Rebecca replied. "Oh how was your time working?"
"Good," Beckett replied. "Don't," she said quickly as she noticed that Lily was looking over at her.
"You didn't get to do much did you?" the woman then asked with a slight smirk.
"We got enough done," Beckett said, relieved that her daughter was busy talking with her friend. "And you?"
"Enough," Lily said. She laughed slightly when her friend rolled her eyes before she said, "We had to, it was both our days off."
"Oh don't look at me," Rebecca said when the two women looked over at her. "We both had work to do and watch Dani too."
"Tell us how she's doing," Lily replied.
"She's fine, what about your godson?" Rebecca asked Beckett.
"I got a picture of him from Ryan today," she answered. She had her phone with her so she soon opened the picture of the infant and handed it to the women.
"He looks like his brother," Lily commented.
"Of course that could change when he grows up," Rebecca said with a smile. "You've seen Ruby."
"And she's adorable but it's just her eyes," Lily replied.
"I'm not saying anything," Beckett said with a slight laugh. "You don't know how exactly things will go when they grow up."
"You think Eliza would end up with Rick's eyes?" David asked then as he and the others turned their attention to them.
"Not possible," Castle said quickly. He knew; without looking at his wife; that she was uneasy at that and then said to change the subject, "I think we're nearly finished with our break so we should finish our tea."
Beckett reached over to her husband and squeezed his hand tightly in thanks as the others were telling them that they'd finished already. Shortly after he was proven correct when Grey called for them to come back to the dance floor. She held onto Castle's hand tightly as they stood in a line with the others, waiting for Grey to begin their next lesson.
Castle had to admit that he found the Waltz a little more enjoyable to dance since he remembered the steps from Julia practicing. He also couldn't help enjoy holding onto his wife tightly as they were doing the groups of three steps together around the floor until they'd finally finished their first class. "Do we need to leave right now?" he asked Beckett as other couples were going out the door.
"No, we can talk for a little," Beckett said. "Mari doesn't need to go to bed yet either," she added as they watched the girls talking to Grey.
"Think you'll stick with this?" Rebecca asked, coming over with David and the Davises.
"I will," Beckett replied with a smile. "It's surprisingly fun."
"They must have talked to Grey," Castle commented jokingly. "She figured you'd enjoy the Waltz with me."
"All of us husbands," Brad said.
Laughing as Lily punched her husband on the shoulder Beckett said, "It's something different to do. What about your kids?"
"We're picking them up soon," Lily answered since her friend had been talking to her and her husband. "So we're going to have to go."
"You-" Castle started to say before Julia and Mari came over to them. "What'd you two talk about?"
"Just how we're going to dance the Argentine Tango next time," Julia said with a wide smile on her face.
"You suggested it?" Beckett asked in amusement.
"We both did," Mari said first.
"And she said we needed to still work on it," Julia said. "So-"
Before Julia could finish speaking there was what sounded like a slightly muffled explosion next to the studio and the girls screamed as a few of the women still left there cried out.
"What was that?" Julia asked her mother.
"Stay with them," Beckett said as Brad was taking off for the door and Castle wasn't too far behind. She rushed after them and stepping outside saw that in the empty store to the studio's left there was a gaping hole where the window was. "Are they alright?" she asked as when she'd reached Brad with her husband he was already looking into the car that was amongst the debris inside.
"No she's-" Brad started to say before he cut himself off. "Julia get out of here, there's too much glass!"
"I have shoes… she's dead?" the girl asked, just barely able to see the woman slumped across the front before her father was picking her up. "Daddy! Put me down!"
Going outside Castle didn't stop until he was inside the dance studio and he was about to talk to her when he saw that Beckett was with him. "Julia we told you to stay here," he said firmly.
"I know but… I wanted to see what happened," the girl said softly. She turned her attention to her mother and said, "You have a case now don't you?"
"We don't know," Beckett said. She then took her daughter by her arms and told her seriously, "Stay here with them okay?"
"I will, sorry," Julia said before she then whispered.
"It's okay, this was going to happen at some point," Beckett said, giving her daughter a brief smile. "But we'll come back to get you as soon as we can."
Once he and his wife were sure that Julia would remain with the Fosters and Lily, Castle followed her over to the other store, not surprised to hear sirens in the distance. "So she's dead?" he asked.
"Dead and judging by the foam on her lips… poison? But that's just a guess," Brad said as he walked up to them. "I may have to start a case."
"Do you want us with you?" Beckett asked.
"Tomorrow," Brad said. "It's just going to be canvassing and finding out who the vic is. Depends on Thayer to see if we do have a case of course."
"You don't want us to help you at all?" Beckett said. "We can interview."
"I'd rather have uniforms on that," Brad said, knowing she wouldn't mind the decision. "And I know all of us weren't witnesses in the studio…" When Castle and Beckett shook their heads; to indicate that they hadn't seen anything; he nodded and said, "You can ask that of everyone inside and if they didn't see that car approaching let them go."
Nodding in agreement with her husband Beckett headed back inside the studio with him and she wasn't surprised when he just looked at her. "Can I have everyone's attention," she called out. "On behalf of Chief Davis my husband and I need to ask if anyone here was able to see anything outside before that crash."
"What about everyone outside?" one of the men asked.
"I saw the car," Grey said then, her voice soft and then trembling. "It was speeding and… it-"
"Hold on," Beckett said quickly. "We'll talk with you first. But I can ask now did anyone else see that car?"
When no one raised their hands Castle nodded and said, "Then you can go home and I'd advise you to do so; nothing you can do here."
"What about who was in the car?" the same man who'd spoken earlier asked.
When neither Castle nor Beckett said anything to that the people exchanged looks before glancing at the girls. Before they could leave Grey told them their next class would be that Thursday and she watched them go with the others.
"Is there somewhere we can talk to you?" Beckett asked the teacher.
Leading them to her room at the back Grey began, "I didn't take much notice of it."
"You see a lot of cars like that," Beckett said to put the woman at ease.
"I do but then I noticed it because it turned very quickly to the left, to the other building," Grey added. "I didn't have enough time to react."
"It wasn't driving straight to us?" Castle asked.
"It was drifting," Grey said after she'd obviously tried to remember the moment. "But there's a turn to go to more stores so I didn't have a chance to really think they were going to hit us. To call out or anything."
"It happened too quickly," Beckett said reassuringly. "That's all you noticed?"
"That's it, is it true?" Grey asked softly. "The driver is dead?"
"They were," Beckett said when her husband looked to her to answer.
"Julia didn't see anything did she?" Grey then said in concern.
"I don't know," Beckett said, looking at Castle. "We need to go," she said to the teacher though she was directing that to her husband.
After they'd left the room Castle went to the Fosters and Lily while Beckett went to the girls and took them aside. "You can go," he said to the three. "But I'm not sure what you're going to do."
"Get the kids and go home," Lily said. "Don't worry, I've done this before. What about Julia?"
"She'll be fine… I hope," Castle replied slowly, glancing over at her.
"We're going," David said to his wife. "Once I talk to Brad."
Since Lily was staying with Rebecca, Castle went over to his wife and said, "Okay?"
"We should get home," Beckett said, holding her daughter. Julia had just shaken her head at her when she'd tried to question her and she knew her oldest was trying to keep Mari from hearing anything.
"Daddy needs to talk to Brad doesn't he?" Mari asked her.
"He'll be quick," Castle said. He watched her then go over to her mother and he said, "Julia-"
"Not here," the girl said firmly. She looked up at her parents and said, "I don't want Mari to hear."
"We'll wait until we're home," Beckett assured her. "Stay with your Daddy?"
"I will," Julia said softly. She smiled a little when her mother cupped her cheek and she watched with her father as she left. "Did you see?" she asked him.
"It doesn't matter," Castle said.
Julia nodded and then realized she was trembling a second before he did as he then wrapped his arms around her tightly, holding her close. "Why?" she whispered.
"We'll find out," Castle said. "She could have been sick, not hurt."
"Oh… really?" Julia asked. But then she thought of something and said, "What if she wasn't, you will help Brad right?"
"We will," Beckett said. "Come on, we can go home."
"David?" Castle asked.
"I'm right here," the man said as he walked up to them. "And it depends on Thayer, you'll find out in the morning."
"Have they identified her?" Castle asked.
"Not yet," David replied. "Again, in the morning."
"Let's say goodbye here," Beckett told her husband. She wasn't surprised when he nodded in agreement with her and they led their daughter to the Fosters and Lily. "We should get out of here," she said to them. "There's nothing we can do."
"She's right," Lily commented. "And I need to see my kids."
"We need to see Ruby," Rebecca commented. She wasn't surprised when her husband and Castle then distracted the girls as they left the studio and she whispered to Beckett who was in between her and Lily, "What is it?"
"There was a woman in the front of the car, dead," Beckett said as softly as she could. "You'll read it in the Report tomorrow I'm sure."
"Can you tell if she was murdered?" Lily said.
"She had some foam still on her lips," Beckett replied softly, knowing the two would keep that mum. "So it's not for sure if we'll be doing anything yet."
"Still, good luck with Julia," Lily replied.
"Why did she go with you?" Rebecca asked.
"Because she's like her parents," Lily answered before Beckett could say anything.
"Partially," Beckett said with a slight smile. "We'll see you tomorrow," she then said as they'd reached hers and Castle's car which was first of the three. She hugged her friends and then did the same to David before they suddenly heard someone running towards them.
"I wanted to catch you before you left," Brad said when everyone was looking to him. He hugged Rebecca and Beckett with one arm before shaking his friends' hands and then looking to the girls. "Will you be okay?" he directed to them both.
"Yeah it was scary but at least we're not hurt," Julia said.
"She's right," Mari added. "Will you… will you find out who hurt her if someone did?"
"We'll do our best," Brad said reassuringly. "And I'll call you after you take your girls to school," he then told Castle and Beckett. That done he went to his wife and hugged her tightly before telling her, "Tell Jake and Eve I'll kiss them goodnight when I get back."
"I will, do your job honey," Lily said as she told him that when he had to work at night.
"It's okay," Mari said to Julia when their parents told them to say goodbye to each other. "You're not gonna get hurt."
"I know," Julia said, whispering as her friend was doing too. "But it was scary, I was afraid you were gonna get hurt."
"No I was okay," Mari told her as she hugged her. "I hope you can sleep tonight… make sure Macca is close; he'll protect you."
"Yeah keep Lily close," Julia told her seriously. They hugged one more time and she felt a little better as she got into the backseat of the car. She leaned back so she wouldn't have to see the police cars and ambulances and she said, "Nobody outside was hurt? Really?"
"No everyone was okay from the class," Castle said. He was hoping with the reminder that Julia would talk about the class instead of thinking about what had happened. But there was no surprise when she didn't and the rest of the drive back to the house was silent. "We have to tell our parents," he murmured to his wife.
"When she's in bed," Beckett said simply before they were getting out of the car.
"Hello," Martha said as the three came into the house then. She was startled when they were all very serious but before she could comment on that Julia was suddenly speaking.
"Mommy and Daddy danced really great," the girl said, smiling then. "And they liked it too; Mommy wants to go back for the next lesson."
"That's good to hear," Jim said, studying his daughter. He had the feeling that something had happened but knew she and Castle wouldn't want him questioning them with Julia there.
"And she helped us too," Castle then said.
"Me really, I had some trouble with the steps that mirrored Rick's," Beckett added with a smile. "But for now you should say goodnight sweetie," she told her daughter. "It's late."
"I know," Julia said, smiling genuinely as she felt better being at home. She went to her grandmother and hugged her tightly telling her, "Night Gram, I love you."
"I love you too darling," Martha said. She shared a kiss with her and then said, "Okay?"
Nodding Julia hugged her one more time before she went over to Jim and embraced him just as tightly as she'd done with her grandmother. "I love you Grandpapa, thank you for staying this week."
"I had to, since they want me to use all those days off," Jim said with a slight laugh. "But I'm glad I'm here too, very glad. Listen," he then said, not surprised when his daughter looked startled. "If you have any trouble sleeping tonight, tell me okay?"
"I will," Julia promised.
"Good, I love you too honey," Jim said, sharing a kiss with her.
"We'll be in the kitchen," Martha commented before she and Jim left to walk down the hall.
Going with her parents upstairs Julia was delighted to see Macca there waiting for them and she hugged him tightly around the neck, burying her face in his fur. She was pleased when they didn't say anything to her and she went with her mother into her room to get ready while her father stayed outside. Finally when Castle was walking in she said, "I don't know why I did that."
"You were curious," he said simply. "I would have done the same thing."
"Get into bed sweetie," Beckett said gently to her daughter. Once she was sitting up looking at them she asked Julia, "What did you see?"
"A lady lying across," the girl answered. "But that was it before Daddy picked me up."
"Okay," Beckett replied. "You-"
"I know Mommy," Julia interrupted. She then looked at her father so he'd know she was talking to him too and said, "I shouldn't have gone to see but I was wondering what happened. And I was scared too… for you both."
"We were okay," Beckett said, hugging her quickly as Julia's voice began to become distorted with tears. She wasn't surprised when Castle then joined them and hugged their daughter at the same time she was. "We know what to do in those kinds of situations and of course Brad was there," she added.
"That's true," Julia said. She looked at her parents and then said, "I gotta sleep?"
"You do," Beckett said with a smile before letting her husband take her place.
Leaning over then Castle hugged Julia tightly before saying, "I love you sweetheart, sleep tight tonight."
"I will," she replied with a slight smile. "Thanks Daddy, I love you too."
Once her husband and daughter had shared a kiss Beckett sat down next to Julia and embraced her saying, "If you have a nightmare come to us okay?"
"I will," Julia promise. "I love you Mommy. You… you're really good at that… what you do with Brad and Daddy. So are you Daddy."
"Thank you," Beckett said, smiling as Castle ran his hand over their daughter's hair. "And we do try our best. But for now I love you too and sleep tight."
"Night," Julia said, lying down. She watched her parents leave the room and as soon as they had she was whispering to Macca, helping him under the cover so he was laying next to her while she scratched at the top of his head. She wasn't sure she was going to be able to sleep but then thought about how it had been teaching her parents to dance. She'd also been able to dance a little of the Viennese Waltz with Mari to demonstrate the steps and she thought of that too, smiling until she finally fell asleep.
"Oh our poor baby," Martha said when Castle and Beckett had told her and Jim what had happened at the class. "But she didn't see much?"
"Not enough to leave that much of an impression," Beckett said. "But it still startled her, which isn't a surprise. And she's alright."
"How can you tell?" Jim asked in surprise.
"She's been asleep for at least forty minutes," Beckett replied. "If she hasn't had a nightmare yet; she won't tonight."
"Mommy powers?" Castle asked his wife.
Beckett couldn't help the slight flush on her cheeks but she merely inclined her head once to him. "I can tell," she then said to their parents in explanation. She then smiled and said, "She's remembering dancing with Mari."
"Oh so she demonstrated for you as well," Martha said. "I hope she is remembering; she does like to lead."
"She does," Castle said, glancing at his wife. He wanted to ask her why she had mentioned that but with their parents there he knew she wouldn't want him to. But he didn't have to wait long for the chance to talk to her as their parents were saying goodnight to them; both assuring them they'd watch the girls if it turned out they had a case the next day. "Kate-" he started to say.
"Come on," Beckett said as she took him to the coffee machine. She was pleased when he quickly started on two cups for them, handing her one before they went together up to their daughters' rooms. Since their cups were left behind at the credenza against the wall near the top of the stairs she was able to fix the covers on Eliza before scratching behind Rita's ear. She had to smile at her husband nearly mimicking her actions though she didn't say anything when he had rejoined her, pulling him over to Julia's room. Her smile became a tender one as she watched their daughter sleeping peacefully, holding onto Macca next to her. She normally didn't let them sleep with the dogs like that but she knew it was needed that night. So she merely fixed the little bit that Julia's sheets needed before patting the Wolfhound on the head.
Castle knew what his wife was thinking and he agreed with her fully, scratching the top of their dog's head before running his hand gently over Julia's hair as he'd done with her little sister. They left their daughters to sleep then before he took her hand and after pausing to get their cups of coffee again they went into their bedroom. He closed the door as Beckett walked ahead of him and waited for her to turn to him.
"Lock it; you don't know how it might be the rest of the week," Beckett told him. She smiled as he was quick to do that before joining her over in front of the fire that he soon lit and put very low. "I said what I did because they know she loves to dance with Mari."
"She does love to lead; Mother was right," Castle said, nodding his head. "Do you think they might be guessing about her? She never talks about boys… only Paul and Derek and they definitely don't count."
"No," Beckett replied, shaking her head. "They might have the idea that she could be gay but they're not going to label her as that until she tells us."
"So she'll be okay," Castle said.
Knowing then that he was talking about what had happened after the class Beckett said, "Like I said she will be." She then smiled and said, "She's a brave girl."
"Oh she is, I agree completely," Castle told her with a nod. "Can't help worry about her."
"Neither can I," Beckett said. She finished her coffee and said, "Let's let her sleep."
"I agree," Castle said with a nod. He set down his empty cup before he watched his wife walk around to him before he held his arms out for her to sit on his lap. As soon as she was set he was grabbing her, holding her tightly to him the second they began to kiss deeply and passionately. He had no idea how long they were doing that but finally they stopped and parted. He planned to ask if she wanted to go to bed when she spoke before he could and he let her do so gladly.
"Are you sure?" Beckett asked with a slight smile. There was little surprise when her husband was suddenly kissing her roughly and she responded, holding onto him as tightly as she could before his hand suddenly grasped her right thigh. "Hmm, wait," she said, pulling away from him.
"You… come on," Castle said, groaning exaggeratedly as he let his head fall back on the armchair.
"I'm not comfortable in these leggings," Beckett said simply. "I'll be back."
"Should I be ready?" Castle asked her as he hurried to stand up. He hissed out through his clenched teeth when she just glanced over her shoulder at him and once she'd disappeared into the closet he looked around, not sure what exactly he should do. Luckily he was quick on his feet and he soon pulled down the covers of the bed to get them out of the way before he turned on the lamps on their nightstands. He then pulled off his clothes and climbed onto the bed covering himself with the bed sheet before he heard the door to the closet open.
"Oh, I'm surprised," Beckett said as she stepped out and saw the state her husband was in. "I thought you'd want me to undress you."
"It'll take less time," Castle said as he'd moved over to the edge of the bed as soon as he saw her come to his side. He tugged on the sash to her kimono and opened it, smiling as her nude body was revealed to him.
"What?" Beckett asked, a little startled when his smile dropped off his face.
"You," Castle said in amazement as he just stared at her. "You're so beautiful and…"
"I'm yours," Beckett finished as his hands came up to run down her sides. She bit her lower lip as he reached up and gently began to stroke her breasts and she whispered, "How?"
"Here," Castle said, standing up then. He helped her out of her dark blue kimono and once that was set on the table behind their bed he picked her up as she'd waited for him. "You protest but I think you enjoy me doing that," he said once she was set in the middle of the bed.
"I may," Beckett said simply and with a slight smirk. But that very rapidly disappeared as her husband's lips were taking her own and she allowed him after that kiss to touch her, his lips going over her body until she was crying out to him. She had no idea how long it took him to get her to that point but when he sank slowly in her eager body she felt as if it had taken ages. Holding onto him tightly once he was coupled fully with her she then moved her legs and breathed to him, "Fuck me Rick."
Though he'd needed little encouragement for that Castle began to thrust since he had her permission, hard and rough. Her legs were high up around his sides, as high as she could comfortably place them, and he was getting deep within her. Thinking that he suddenly lunged his legs against her and when he next sank into her body he felt a thrill as Beckett called out his name in surprise and complete delight. He was feeling what she was expressing, she was tight and extremely wet with her arousal and it was making him literally dizzy. "Kate… you… you know I'm yours too," he told her.
Beckett knew that was a warning and she was prepared soon after for him turning them around. She landed on her knees and pulled Castle up with her before she started to move. She began with rocking back and forth, deciding to work up to anything faster as she wanted to let Castle control them still. Since they were so close to each other she leaned down soon and kissed him, their lips crushing together until they were stopping. "Do you think," she began, unable to help smiling. "We're going to last long?"
"If we didn't stop," Castle replied, trying to keep his gaze on her though it very quickly after drifted down to her breasts.
"We can take a break," Beckett said before she watched him bow his head as soon as she'd spoken. She gasped softly at the first touch of his lips on her right breast, watching him soon drifting around the skin before he finally went to her nipple. Her hands came up quickly and proceeded to hold him by the back of his head as he nuzzled the taut nub with his lips and she was soon crying out. His tongue snaked out and flicked to her, setting off a jolt that raced through her entire body. When he took her nipple in his mouth a sigh of relief escaped her lips and she tried to keep her eyes on him while he sucked at her carefully. She couldn't stop herself and started to move, going as fast as she possibly could before he was groaning against her skin. She couldn't blame him for that; crying out herself; the friction between them was very strong and they held on to one another tightly as he moved to her other breast.
Castle felt a little bad that he was so quick with her mound but when she kissed him hard as he pulled away he knew she didn't mind in the slightest. He held her tightly and stroked her body, whatever he could reach of it. When they parted he stared at her intently, watching her before he suddenly held her and braced himself. Her cry of joy as her back hit the mattress made him move harder once they were set in that position and he could feel her legs wrapping around his waist that time. He loved that she very quickly began to move with him and they were building up on their friction again. His eyes were nearly rolling into the back of his head as he focused on what she felt around him and he hissed her name out a few times before she drew him down to her lips.
Beckett was fighting with her pleasure as it was becoming a little too much for her to handle when her husband suddenly stopped. She breathed out roughly in her joy and said, "You're too much."
"I'll have to say the same for you… I can't stop wanting this though," Castle told her seriously.
"Neither can I," Beckett said and with that she tried to thrust against him, soon feeling him doing the same. They met each other and she gasped as she could feel that she wasn't going to be able to last much longer. But before she could warn him Castle was slowing down before he stopped completely. "How much longer?" she asked him.
Shuddering in pleasure at the aroused tone to her voice that also was a little frustrated Castle leaned down and kissed his wife firmly on the lips before he said, "Do you want to stop?"
"This won't be the last time tonight," Beckett breathed out, breathless suddenly looking into her husband's nearly black eyes. She kissed him then and they began to thrust against each other as hard as they could without a word that they were going to start. She held onto him tightly, wanting to feel him as much as she could until suddenly she cried out and then managed to say, "Fuck me harder! Oh god I'm going to come!"
"That's it Kate… I want to fuck you again already," Castle nearly growled to her. "Come for me and I won't stop until you tell me."
The rough tone of her husband's voice was enough to let her allow herself to fall over the edge. She did so gratefully as there was little she could do to fight her natural need to orgasm but came to the realization in the midst of her ecstasy that she was the only one doing so. "Oh… Rick…" she gasped as she knew what he was going to try and do next while he remained still within her and she found she couldn't wait for that.
It was a nearly impossible task to remain still while his wife was thrashing almost back and forth, her sex greedily trying to take his release from him, and Castle wasn't sure how exactly he'd managed to do it as she was calming down. But as soon as she'd stopped he moved above her slightly and reached for her clit in between them, rubbing at the still swollen nub gently. Her gasps and moans were highly arousing and he was nearly groaning at how much he was throbbing in reaction to her. Finally he could feel that she was sufficiently aroused and he began to thrust again. He knew he wasn't going to last long and he whispered that to her before she told him sternly to come. Not one to deny his wife when she used that tone of voice he reached the pinnacle of his pleasure and groaned heavily as he continued to thrust in her while she was going through her own orgasm, body throbbing out of control though in slight relief.
Holding onto her husband tightly as he began to slow down eventually Beckett stroked the back of his head, feeling him shudder once before he came to a stop completely. "I was serious," she told him.
"Thank you," Castle breathed out heavily. "That wasn't enough…"
"Hmm it wasn't," Beckett replied, kissing his temple. She watched him move then as he left her and lay on his side, laughing softly as he took her with him. "If you didn't want to you could have just stayed."
"True," Castle said. "But still." He smiled when she rolled her eyes and then watched her press her cheek to his shoulder. He then sighed and said, "I really wish tonight could have ended differently. At the class I mean."
"Me too, I wish this wouldn't happen to us," Beckett said with a sigh of her own. "At least not while our daughters are with us."
"This is essentially the first time this has happened," Castle said. "Though Julia was…" He trailed off, not wanting to remind his wife about what had happened when they'd first met their daughter.
"She doesn't remember Rick," Beckett said simply.
Seeing his wife looked thoughtful Castle rubbed her shoulder and said, "What're you thinking?"
"She's alright," Beckett began then. "But I want to keep an eye on her; both of us."
"What if it affects her?" Castle asked.
"Then we should take her in to see Dr. Lodge," Beckett answered.
"Oh, she's not going to like that," Castle said, since their oldest had eventually come to hate seeing her Hamptons psychiatrist as she'd gotten older.
"I hope she doesn't need to, it'll be a great sign," Beckett said before she then sighed and turned onto her stomach so she could rest her chin on his chest.
"What're you thinking?" Castle asked gently as he stroked her hair in the same way.
"Just wishing that she hadn't come after us," Beckett said. She then turned her attention to her husband and said, "When that happened to you did you change?"
Knowing what his wife was referring to by that Castle said, "Being only eight I didn't suddenly become an adult… that's probably why I act as I do sometimes."
"Defense mechanism?" Beckett suggested as she reached down and with her fingertips caressed his lips as he continued to speak.
"In a way, I probably don't want to let go of my childhood before that moment," Castle replied. He then told her, "Mother was terrified what it was going to do to me but it just made me write. In very, very messy script but it was therapeutic." He looked at her and then said, "She might do the same but yeah, we need to keep an eye on her." Studying her then he said, "You want to check on her."
Nodding at his statement Beckett got up and went to the dresser where she slipped on a nightgown. As she threw on her kimono she said, "After we should distract ourselves."
"I leave that up to you," Castle said, going to her and pushing aside her hair so he could reach her neck.
Sighing in joy as her husband kissed the side of it Beckett then said, "You're not finished."
"I know," Castle said before he then tied his robe closed he'd put on over his pajamas. "Come on," he said as he took her hand and led her out to the hall.
Going to Eliza's room first Beckett remained in the doorway with Castle, watching their youngest sleeping peacefully with her stuffed horse and Rupert doll on either side of her. When they went to Julia's room she was relieved to see that their oldest was asleep as well and while they watched her she didn't move much; at least not to indicate that she was in distress. She let him lead her back to their room and once they were back inside told him, "She's a tough girl."
"She's just like her mother," Castle said seriously. He smiled when his wife did and he leaned over, kissing her gently on the lips before he felt her untying his robe. "Already?" he asked.
"Everyone's safe," Beckett said simply. She wasn't surprised when her husband nodded to that and she then pulled him over to the bed before they took off each other's robes. "I want you Rick," she told him as he made her lay back on the bed, still in her nightgown.
"So do I," Castle said, his voice rapidly growing husky with his rising arousal. "I love you Kate," he then said as they began to undress one another slowly.
"I love you too," Beckett said once the nightgown was discarded and she was bared to him again. She drew him down to her and murmured, "Take me lover."
With a slight shudder at her command Castle then began to do exactly as Beckett had said with her full approval. They made love roughly and for some time, not caring how long it took exactly as they were more concerned with sating their desire and need for one another that never really seemed to go away to their absolute gratification.
