Genre: Drama, Crime, 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: Really glad to get the feedback I did for the last chapter so let me get to my thank yous for that! TORONTOSUN (Glad to see you like the way Castle and Beckett like to be involved in the girls' school; figured they would be those kind of parents; and they're involved in what they do there!) and vetgirlmx (Too bad you missed when the first chapter was posted but glad that you still enjoyed that one a lot. And great you saw how cold it was to do that to a person because that's what I was aiming for! And I believe you're right, the last person was Julia's birth mother so great you're wondering what they poisoned her with. Not surprised you figured they'd have fun with the dance class and Julia would be helpful, lol, figure she would. Great I could surprise you with Mari coming along too but I figured since her parents were there too she'd go. And pleased to see I could also surprise you with the dance class being next to where the car crash, I was hoping I'd manage that! And glad you liked that I had that happen instead of them being called over to the scene. Not surprised you figured it was shocking for Julia and that it might make her more curious, lol. Great you think it's shaping up nicely already and that you can't wait to see what happens next and now you don't need to wait for that anymore!). Thanks so much for your reviews, I loved reading them both and appreciate the time taken to write them out and send them to me!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Devil's Radio by George Harrison, from his album Cloud Nine.
Like A Weed It Spreads
Feeling something stroking her abdomen Beckett slowly opened her eyes before she realized that it was her husband doing that. "Rick?" she asked softly, her voice still sleepy.
"Morning," Castle said, looking at her intently.
"Let me wake up first," Beckett said as she pushed herself up then. She rubbed her face with her hands before she then looked at her husband. "You're…" she started to say.
"Here," Castle said quickly, pulling the covers off of them.
The sight of the extent of her husband's arousal woke Beckett up enough for her to say, "You're…"
"You don't have to," Castle said. "I just need you… badly I have to admit."
Beckett smiled then; as she knew why her husband was talking that slowly and saying what he was; and she told him, "I don't think you need to admit anything, that says enough. Now if you kiss me I'll wake up a little more." She was expecting her husband's kiss and held onto him tightly as they began to duel with their tongues the second she had begun to respond. Feeling the way that he was holding onto her she felt a little sorry for him as she knew then he had to have been waiting for her to wake up for some time. She waited until they pulled away before she said to him, "Do we have time for you to work me up to it?"
"I think the question is do you want to be worked up to it?" Castle responded with a question. He was slightly startled when his wife leaned over and kissed him in response to that but soon knew that was his answer. So he reached in between them and proceeded to stroke at her breasts, feeling her moaning immediately against his mouth as he was working over them with both hands.
As her husband was touching her Beckett decided to get involved herself and she began to touch him in turn. She gently ran her hands over shoulders, down around to his chest though it was a bit difficult to reach it with his hands on her own. She was smiling then and that ended the kiss before she asked, "How much time?"
Leaning over Castle grabbed his phone and showed her the time before he said, "Should I apologize."
"No but we need to hurry," Beckett said, smirking at the same time so he wouldn't think that she minded that. There was no surprise when; in reaction to her words and that expression; her husband was laying her down on the bed again as they kissed each other deeply. They were moving their groins against each other so they could work up her pleasure at the same time as feel one another which they did so rapidly.
Castle wanted to ask if his wife was ready but he held back for a little longer until she was moving away from him. "Can I…?" he then asked her hopefully.
Smiling at his hopeful tone Beckett said, "Please." And together they moved him until he was sliding inside of her. She cried out softly as he was rigid with his own arousal and she was more than ready for him. "Rick…" she breathed out in pleasure.
"I know you feel… amazing," Castle groaned heavily.
"Hmm… so do you," Beckett said. "But," she said once they were fully coupled together. "You need to start or we won't have any time." She was relieved when her husband didn't say anything to that, instead just thrust against her roughly. She let out a cry as the first one struck her hard, pleasure intense through her body that made it feel as if it was burning heavily. When she recovered slightly and was used to her husband's frantic pace just enough she moved to meet him. The second they were even she grabbed him and kissed him deeply before they were nearly fused head to toe as by then she'd wrapped her legs around him.
It didn't take very long before Castle and Beckett were climaxing, their arousal and their thrusts pushing them to it quickly. It was no less enjoyable and they were calling out each other's names repeatedly until they petered off and slumped against the bed, breathing heavily in their pleasure and feeling their bodies still throbbing against each other.
"Oh… hard to hate those," Castle groaned when he felt he could speak.
"I know," Beckett said. She was going to talk when suddenly her husband moved them around and she smiled saying, "You're still hard."
"Yeah…" Castle began slowly. He loved the laugh he got from his wife then and leaned over, kissing her tenderly before pulling back. "It'll go down."
"What if I don't want you to do that?" Beckett asked him. When he looked at her; stunned; she nodded over to the clock on her nightstand and told him, "We have time."
"What do you have in mind?" Castle asked. He was slightly startled at her kiss then but scrambled to respond before they pulled away and he said, "Another one?"
"It needs to be fast," Beckett said with a nod. "But," she began as she carefully pulled away from him. "Like this."
Castle watched her press her front against the headboard and he was nearly racing to join her, moving together with her before they were coupled together once more. Sighing he said, "You feel amazing Kate; still."
"You said that already," Beckett said, biting at her lower lip as she felt pleasantly full again. "But… I agree, you do too… fuck me Rick."
And with that they began to take each other as hard and roughly as they could, trying to go fast. They were able to do so even though they'd just made love and when they'd finally stopped Castle slumped against Beckett's back and they managed to find the strength to kiss one another though she needed to turn her head back towards him.
"Wait," Beckett said, needing to stop the kiss. She moved with him then at her direction to the middle of the bed where she sat on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck before they proceeded to kiss again. She was slightly startled when her husband made that very quick before kissing her once more. Then she got what he was doing and they kissed that way before they stayed apart. "We have time," she told him softly, her lips aching for his again very rapidly.
"We do," Castle said, kissing her deeply then. He was pleased when she responded immediately and they held onto each other tightly. They only stopped when they needed to breathe and they both kissed slowly and gently.
"Hmm, thank you," Beckett murmured to him.
"For what," Castle said in surprise.
"Waking me up like that," Beckett answered. "I enjoyed that… greatly."
"Oh… I did too," Castle said before they kissed again. They were jolted apart by the alarm on his phone and he sighed before he realized that his wife wasn't moving. When she nuzzled his nose with her own he smiled and said, "Hard to stop isn't it?"
"No I was wondering if you'd let me take Julia for a short walk down the beach," Beckett said. "With Macca."
"Go, you don't have to ask permission-" Castle started to say. "Oh, yeah I'm fine with breakfast."
"My dad or Martha will help you with Eliza," Beckett said. She got up then and sitting on the edge of the bed as he stood next to her said, "Eliza?"
"Yeah… well," Castle started to say before he trailed off again. "I'm not sure. Let me think of something while I'm cooking."
"I will too," Beckett replied. "We'll talk once we're back."
"Right," Castle said. He was tempted to kiss his wife then but held back as she was going to her clothes. Dressing himself he waited until they were finishing in the bathroom before he was grabbing her, pulling her against him. "Kate," he murmured, looking deep into her eyes.
Beckett didn't say a word, merely giving him a smile before he was leaning down and kissing her deeply. She did the same to him, holding onto him as tightly as she could before they needed to breathe. She was reluctant to stop the tangle of their tongues as they rubbed against each other but they had to and she said, "I'll get Julia."
"I'll be downstairs," Castle said.
"No, come with me," Beckett told him. She smiled when he nodded rapidly and together they went out of their room and down to Julia's. She was relieved to see that the girl was fast asleep still and waited for Castle to stand next to her before she leaned over and gently shook their oldest's shoulder. "Morning sweetie," she said when Julia quickly opened her eyes.
"Mommy, Daddy," Julia said, her eyes focusing on them both, a smile on her face. "Time for school."
"Not yet," Beckett said. "Want to take a walk with me before breakfast?"
"Yeah that would be great," Julia said immediately, sitting up.
"Wait, I'm going to start breakfast," Castle said. He leaned over and shared a kiss with her before saying, "Sleep alright?"
"Oh yes, I dreamt I danced… and danced and kept doing that," Julia said with a smile to her father.
"Good," Castle said before he kissed her temple.
"We'll see you before we leave," Beckett told her husband. She wasn't surprised when he kissed her cheek in passing and after he'd left with Macca she said to her daughter, "You'll need to wear something else for the walk."
"I thought so," Julia said, getting off the bed and hurrying over to her closet. She paused and then looked at her mother who told her it was sunny so she grabbed a t-shirt and pants she wore to play. As Beckett sat on the edge of the bed she changed next to her after putting her clothes on the mattress before she went into the bathroom to get her brush.
"Before I do that…" Beckett began as her oldest was handing over the brush. She took her daughter into her arms and kissed the side of her head saying, "I love you Julia."
"I love you too Mommy, thank you," the girl replied with a slight smile. When they parted she said, "Can you braid my ponytail?"
"Of course," Beckett said. "But," she then told her. "You can keep your ponytail. Just because I have one doesn't mean you can't put your hair like that."
"No I'd like a braid," Julia told her seriously. "Thanks," she told her as she turned around so her mother could brush her hair.
As soon she had finished with Julia's hair Beckett stood with her and they left for the stairs before telling her, "I'm sorry about waking you up a little early."
"No that's okay," Julia said softly. Once they were at the bottom of the staircase she told her mother, "I don't mind doing that for this."
"Just for today," Beckett told her. They went down the hall to the kitchen where Castle was looking through the fridge and she told him, "Did you decide what to do?"
"Omelets but since I need to wait for you two-" Castle began to say.
"We won't be taking that long," Beckett interrupted him.
"Still, I'll make some fresh orange juice before I start on those," Castle said.
"We'll be back soon," Beckett told him then as Julia went around the island to hug him tightly. She watched him walk over to her and she smiled before saying, "Again, not that long."
"I think Julia would have an issue if I didn't at the very least say goodbye," Castle told her.
"And me?" Beckett asked, raising her eyebrow.
Castle leaned over then in response and kissed her on the lips gently before he said, "And you too. Have a great time and watch Macca."
"We always do," Beckett said simply though she was smiling at him. She squeezed his arm gently before she took their oldest's hand and they left the house with Macca in tow.
"So how far are we going?" Julia asked her mother as they were walking down to the sand, the Wolfhound walking ahead of them.
"Not far, I figure a little past the path to the street will be good," Beckett told her daughter. "We don't have that much time."
"That's okay," Julia said. "Anywhere is fine," she then said.
Beckett nodded and then said, squeezing her hand, "I also wanted to sit for a little bit."
"We can talk right now," Julia told her, not surprised she wanted to do that.
"I would rather sit down for that," Beckett said. She was relieved when her oldest nodded and then led the way down the beach until they had reached a log that a resident; who was also a sculptor; had placed on the sand for a bench. "So," she said after she and Julia had sat down. "You're sure you slept alright?" she asked her.
"I wasn't lying," Julia replied. "I did dream about dancing. I kinda forgot about what happened after the class last night." She then looked thoughtful for a moment and said, "I wonder when she got hurt… if she did."
"Sweetie?" Beckett asked in surprise.
"Well if someone hurt her then when did it happen? Right before she went to drive?" Julia asked.
"You don't have to worry about that," Beckett said, still taken aback.
"I'm not worried," Julia said in slight exasperation. "I'm wondering."
"Again you don't have to it's for the police to investigate," Beckett told her firmly.
"But I want to know now," Julia said firmly. "You couldn't stop Daddy from wanting to find out."
Beckett sighed and said, "I should have known."
"Known what?" Julia asked in slight confusion.
"You'd be just like your daddy," Beckett said with a small smile. "And again we don't even know if someone hurt her."
"But if someone did, you'll try and find who it was right?" Julia asked earnestly. When her mother studied her she said, "That really bothers me."
"I had a feeling it did," Beckett said, wrapping her arm around her shoulder. "And if we're asked to join a case then we will."
"Thanks," Julia said before wrapping both her arms around her mother and pressing close against her side.
"You want to go with us if we investigate don't you?" Beckett eventually asked.
"I know I can't but… I wish I could help," Julia said.
"You can help us by paying attention in class," Beckett replied. "Since you need to learn as much as you can."
"So I can help you?" Julia asked, looking up at her mother. She had spoken jokingly but she was startled when Beckett smiled at her and she said, "Really?"
"No… well I mean you never know," she replied. "I never thought a civilian would be helping me with my cases but he did."
"And you married him," Julia couldn't help adding.
"That too, that I really didn't expect," Beckett said with a smile. She wasn't surprised when her daughter giggled and said, "But you probably won't be helping us on cases." She then looked down at her oldest and asked, "Did you want to?"
"Kinda… sorta," Julia said. She then grew somber and said, "Does that ever bother you?"
"Seeing the victims?" Beckett asked. When her daughter nodded she then said, "It would when I first started but I had to learn to not let it."
"Was…" Julia started to say before trailing off. "Grandmama was…"
"She was," Beckett said, knowing that she was asking if her mother had been the first murder victim she'd seen. She wasn't surprised then when Julia embraced her tightly and said, "It hurts," honestly. "I told your daddy this but every time I go to a crime scene I'm back at that first one again."
"Why do you still do it?" Julia asked.
"Because we feel we need to find justice for the victims," Beckett answered.
"Why did you stop being a police officer?" Julia asked her then. "Because I remember something happened to you when you said you stopped. What happened?"
Beckett shook her head and stood up, taking her daughter with her, before she said, "When you're a little older-"
"I'm ten now Mommy, not a little kid," Julia interrupted.
"Another time," Beckett said firmly. She saw the angry expression on her oldest's face but was relieved when she didn't say anything else. "Come on, we need to head back home now."
Julia was annoyed but then sighed as she knew her mother wasn't going to tell her what exactly had happened. As they walked down the beach with Macca ahead of them again she said, "It was to keep us safe?"
"Yes," Beckett said firmly. "We wouldn't risk your lives."
"But it's just me and Lizzy," Julia said. When her mother froze she told her, "I guessed 'cause 'lexis and Gram didn't move with us. Or Grandpapa either."
Sighing Beckett said as she turned to her daughter, "We're safe here sweetie, that's all you need to know okay?"
"Okay," Julia said softly before she hugged her mother. "I know you and Daddy will do that and I'm glad you do."
"We're your parents sweetie," Beckett said, hoping she didn't notice how firmly she spoke. "It's what we do."
Julia nodded and then said, "Speaking of Daddy," as they took each other's hands again to walk back home. "Wanna tell me a story about you and him?"
"I think so," Beckett said with a smile.
"You can pick the story," Julia said hurriedly when her mother didn't continue. "I don't know what to ask about."
"Okay I think I have one," Beckett said slowing down then. "I want to tell this before we get inside," she said when Julia looked at her questioningly. "It was the first time I'd gotten sick after he and I started to date."
"He was worried wasn't he?" Julia asked her mother with a smile.
Beckett nodded and then started the story beginning with, "I had texted him that there wouldn't be any cases as I was sick and hadn't gone to work. He called me right away and I had to assure him it was just a cold but very soon after; as I was dozing on my couch; I felt someone brush their lips against my forehead and I opened my eyes very quickly. But I seemed to know it was your father and wasn't concerned as I asked him why he'd come over risking getting sick himself."
"I don't care about getting sick," Castle told her honestly. "I think that Gates might be ecstatic it if I was too sick to come in." He took his girlfriend's hand and said, "How do you feel?"
"It's just a cold but I can't seem to drag myself to my clothes to get dressed," Beckett replied as she sat up and he was swift to help her. "I should get some water."
"Why don't I make us some tea?" Castle asked.
"I could get it," Beckett said, starting to get up.
"No, no," Castle said, stopping her. "You need to rest so I'll get it and join you."
Beckett knew she couldn't really protest that anymore, especially as she watched her boyfriend head over to the kitchen. While he was making the tea she asked, "Did you tell your mother what you were doing?"
"I did because I'm not really planning on heading out until you're better," Castle replied. He smiled at her and said, "So it's likely I'll get a cold too but I don't care."
"Mind if I take care of you myself?" Beckett asked him.
"I'd love that," Castle said. He smiled when she laughed at his emphasis of the word and then said, "But you might have to work."
"I'd still check on you," Beckett told him before the kettle began to whistle on the stove. She waited for him to prepare her tea and then his own before she was taking the mug, drinking it deeply with a sigh before she said, "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Castle said simply, watching her. He smiled as she took another sip and settled back against the pillows behind her a little more. "Are you cold?" he asked as the apartment felt chilly.
"Yeah I couldn't bring myself to get up and get to the stove," Beckett said with a sigh. She watched him get up then to turn it on before he returned to her and she said, "You surprise me sometimes."
"Because I'm doing this?" Castle asked her as he returned to where he was sitting next to her.
Beckett nodded before she then said with a slight smile, "Also because you came."
"I'm not sure how your exes were but really none of them took care of you or at the very least checked on you while you were sick?" Castle asked.
"They checked, I didn't want them over," Beckett replied with a slight sigh.
"Okay," Castle said, watching her finish her tea. "I think you'd be more comfortable in bed."
"Oh?" Beckett asked, glancing at him.
"That's not a come on," Castle replied, not surprised that she'd said that. "I mean literally you're likely going to feel better there."
Though she wanted to protest it Beckett didn't stop her boyfriend from picking her up and carrying her over to her room. After he'd laid her down and helped her prop up the pillows she watched him coming back and forth to her with the tea and then an overnight bag. "You know I am glad that you're here," she told him, smiling at him when he looked at her in surprise.
"I want to kiss you but I get the feeling you wouldn't let me do that," Castle said as he sat next to her on his usual side of the bed.
Beckett studied him for a moment before she then brought his hand up to her face, leaning into his palm as he cupped her cheek. "This will have to be enough," she said, then looking up to him. "For us both."
"I know," Castle replied. He then smiled at her and said, "Mind if I join you?"
"No I was hoping," Beckett replied before she then held up the covers for him to sit next to her. As he wrapped his arms around her she settled against his side and smiled as he began to stroke her hair. "I'm still not sure what you're going to do while you're here."
"I'll think of something," Castle replied simply. He couldn't help himself then and turned his head, kissing the top of her head before he said, "For now…"
Beckett couldn't help smile and she said, "Nothing much for you to do is there?"
"Now I realize that you should get some sleep," Castle said.
"And you?" Beckett asked, looking up at him.
"I might join you," Castle replied. "Seriously," he said when he saw the slightly doubtful look on her face.
"Okay," Beckett said.
When his girlfriend's voice sounded exhausted Castle pressed a kiss to her forehead and he told her, "Goodnight Kate."
"Goodnight Rick," Beckett replied with a smile. She was feeling much warmer then and she soon closed her eyes as he was rubbing her upper arm, falling asleep in his embrace as she heard him murmur that he loved her.
"Welcome back," Castle said, opening the door to the kitchen as his wife and their daughter walked down the patio to him. "You've got just enough time to get changed," he directed to Julia.
"I'll come back," the girl said, quickly hugging her father before she then went over to the stairs.
"What is it?" Castle asked when he saw the expression on his wife's face.
Beckett took him fully into the kitchen and told him about what she and Julia had talked about, finishing with the story she'd told their oldest on the walk back. "I wasn't surprised she figured things out," she said in the end.
"But not fully luckily," Castle said as he could tell that troubled her.
"True," Beckett said, letting him embrace her tightly. She leaned against him for a moment before she then said, "She asked me when we reached the house if we'd tell her about the case; again if there is one. She wants to know what happened."
"I recognize that," Castle said. "I've had it so many times before myself."
"So have I," Beckett said with a nod. She let go of him as he did the same to her and then told him, "We have to keep close to our phones."
"And we will, we always are," Castle replied with a nod. He then heard the sound of footsteps on the stairs and told her quickly, "Your dad got Eliza ready and my mother slept in a little, that's her."
"I recognize her footsteps," Beckett replied as she went to the stove where there was a line of plates next to it. She started to take them to the table, knowing already which omelet went to which person and she smiled as her mother in law walked past her. "Good morning Martha."
"Good morning," Castle's mother said with a smile. "I heard you went on a walk with Julia, she seems to be doing well."
"She is," Beckett said reassuringly, taking the pitcher of orange juice for her husband as he was then making coffee. "But if it turns out that was a murder she wants to know who did it."
"Hmm, I've heard that before," Martha said, looking to her son. She then said, "But will you tell her?"
"We've done that before," Beckett replied before her husband spoke.
"And we will, just no details," Castle said firmly before he nodded towards the stairs to Beckett as she was looking at him.
"Of course," Martha said then when she heard the footsteps.
Since Jim and Eliza were with Julia the others turned their attention to greeting them; knowing already that Beckett's father had checked on the girl. They gathered then around the table to eat, Castle last to sit down.
"For you love," he told his wife, kissing the side of her head.
Beckett smiled at the sight of the blooming rose in the foam and squeezed his hand tightly before she let the girls see the top of her mug. "So," she then said as they started to eat. "Someone was asleep when we got back from the class."
Castle; remembering they needed to think of something to tell Eliza about what had happened; looked at his wife in surprise before she shook her head slightly. "That's true," he then said with a smile at the little girl as she looked between them. "But I think you don't really want to know."
"Yes I do!" Eliza protested after she'd eaten a bite of her omelet. "Tell me Jules, you can say it better!"
Laughing slightly Julia then began to talk about the class, telling her sister as much as she could recall that happened before she stopped at the very end of the class. "So it was a lot of fun," she said.
"Are you gonna go to more dances?" Eliza asked then.
"She will," Castle said then, smiling at the girls who'd looked to him and Beckett. "As long as she wants to go."
"Even if it's on a school night?" Julia asked hopefully.
"Even then," Beckett answered that time, not surprised she looked so hopeful. "Next time we're learning the Foxtrot along with more of the Argentine Tango," she then said to hers and Castle's parents.
"What about the Waltz?" Jim asked.
"They learned it kinda fast," Julia piped up then before her parents could answer, smiling at them. "So she's gonna keep going with dances."
"Are you gonna practice?" Eliza asked then.
"I was wondering," Julia said then to her parents a little shyly. "Could you practice with me and Peter?"
"I, we had a feeling that you would ask that," Castle said, looking over at his wife with a smile. "And yes, next time we can do that we will."
"Are you worried about your competition again kiddo?" Martha asked.
"A little, we just danced and now so soon again…" Julia said. She frowned before she then said, "At least it's not going to be in the city this time."
"Keep thinking about that," Castle said since Julia and Peter were going to be dancing another competition; smaller that time; at the beginning of June. "And you've got a lot of time to practice."
"I know," Julia said with a smile before she finished the last of her orange juice.
With the others finishing as well the family began to clear off the table before cleaning up from their meal. The girls; after taking their plates and cups; started to dance together while the adults watched. They were dancing the Waltz since Eliza knew it well and continued before Rita and Macca started to bark and race around them.
"Okay," Beckett said with a laugh at the scene the girls and dogs made. "We need to go so get your backpacks and shoes on." Since she was finished she then went after the two to the foyer, helping Eliza with her shoes as Julia could get her own on.
"You and Daddy will get to hold on to each other," Eliza said. "Your next dance."
"I'm looking forward to it," Beckett said, smiling at her earnest tone. "Don't worry."
"The Foxtrot is kinda easy Mommy," Julia said as she had her backpack on the space next to her mother on the bench. "You just learn the box step and you go from there."
Nodding Beckett watched as Julia proceeded to show that to her before Eliza was joining her sister. She smiled at the two before she looked over to her husband, father and mother in law who were walking over to them with the dogs. "They're giving us a preview love," she told her husband.
"I can see that," Castle said. "Looking forward to trying that for you sweetheart."
"We need to go," Beckett then told them. "The dogs?"
"I've got it," Castle told her before he then turned his attention to Macca and Rita.
With the dogs in their harnesses and leashes the family then left the house together for the Foster's house. When they reached it they waited for the entire family to walk out to them, Julia hugging Mari tightly before they headed over towards the school together.
"How's Mari?" Beckett asked Rebecca as they were walking together ahead of their husbands.
"She's fine, I think seeing Julia so brave before we left was enough to calm her down," Rebecca answered. "And Julia?"
"You can see she's doing well," Beckett said, nodding ahead to the girls who were laughing together at something then. She lowered her voice and said, "She's bothered by what happened though, she wants Rick and I to solve the case."
Nodding Rebecca then said, "I guess that she's your daughter, definitely. And I'm talking about both of you."
"I had a feeling you were," Beckett said with a smile. They were reaching the school then and she watched her friend take Dani from her father who'd held her on the walk and she then watched Julia and Eliza go to Martha.
"You don't have to tell me to pay attention," Julia was saying to her grandmother, looking at her grandfather at the same time. "Mommy already said and I will… I have to."
"We're very glad to hear that," Martha replied. "Then I suppose all I have to say to you both is have fun and Eliza we'll see you after school."
"Kay, thank you Gram," the little girl replied.
After Castle's mother had kissed the two goodbye Jim took them in his arms and embraced them tightly saying, "I guess I'll say the same and hope you have fun today. And we'll play a little after your homework Eliza."
"Good," the little girl replied with a smile.
"Thanks for holding the dogs so they could come Grandpapa," Julia told him.
"Not a problem, they're well behaved," Jim said, looking over at the dogs who were sitting with Castle then. "Go on before you're late," he told the two after kissing them both. "We'll see you after school."
Saying goodbye to their grandparents the girls hurried over to Castle and Beckett who took them by the hand inside the elementary school.
Eliza, as soon as she had told her mother that she was going to take her into her classroom, turned to Dani and took her hand. "Have fun with your mom and dad. I have to go to school now," she told the baby seriously.
Watching as Dani giggled Beckett smiled and then said, "She said she will and she hopes you do too."
"She's right," Mari said quickly when Eliza looked unsure. She then hugged the little girl as she came over to her and said, "See you at recess."
"You have to dance," Eliza said then. When she saw Mari was looking at her in surprise she explained, "I didn't see you and Jules dancing last night."
"Okay," Mari said with a smile before she let her go and watched the little girl go over to her big sister.
"We'll dance then," Julia said. "But really fast since we won't have any time to play."
"Kay, thank you," Eliza said when they'd parted from their hug. She nearly squealed in pleasure as she was scooped up in her father's arms. She hugged him tightly around the neck and said, "Will you stay with Mommy?"
"I will," Castle promised her. He smiled and said, "I have to since we do work together. Have fun and you'll tell us what happened when we see you right?"
"Yeah," Eliza said, nodding her head firmly. She shared a kiss with him before she was set down on the ground and then took her mother's hand.
Once her daughter's backpack was set Beckett told Eliza, "You know that we all want you to have fun but also pay attention."
"So I can learn," Eliza replied with a smile.
"Exactly," Beckett said, unable to help smiling herself at the beaming grin her youngest gave her. She shared a kiss with her and said, "Have a good day sweetie."
"Thank you Mommy, you too," Eliza replied.
Watching the little girl hurry over to some of her friends who were playing with blocks Beckett then stepped out to the others in the hall. Upstairs she said, "Think Julia can go over after class?" to Rebecca and David.
"That would be fine," the former answered as the two girls smiled. "But not for long?"
"It depends on what we end up doing today," Castle said, glancing at his wife.
"Then we'll wait and see what happens when they get out of school," David said, glancing at the girls.
"I guess we need to say goodbye," Julia said with an exaggerated sigh to her friend.
"At least we have recess and lunch," Mari said with a slight giggle before they hugged. With that done she went to the door of her class with her parents and sister, waving goodbye to everyone else.
"Quickly," Castle said as she walked with Julia to her room. "You're running a little late today."
"Not that much but I know the bell's gonna ring soon," Julia said before she hugged her. "So my class…?" she began to ask both her parents.
"We'll try our best like always," Castle assured her before he then hugged the girl tightly. "Have a good day too."
"I know," Julia said with a smile. Embracing him tightly she said, "Will you tell me if you have to work?"
"You'll know," Castle said after Beckett nodded to his glance. "But if we don't have the chance to make it we do want to hear all about it."
"I'll tell you," Julia promised before a final squeeze and she then went over to her mother. She hugged her as tightly as she could saying, "Thanks for the walk… and the story."
"You're welcome," Beckett replied. She resisted the urge to kiss the top of her oldest's head before saying, "I'm sure you guessed but we want you to have fun too."
"I knew," Julia replied. She hugged her mother a second time more tightly as well before she then hurried over to the door to head inside.
Leaving the school then to meet the Fosters and their parents where they were waiting for them Beckett went straight to David and asked, "Have you heard anything from Brad?"
Not surprised at her questioning the mayor shook his head and told her, "He wouldn't call me first. He'd call you-"
Looking at the pocket where he knew his wife's phone was Castle said, "That'll be Charlie now."
"Were you watching Whose Line? lately?" Rebecca asked him as Beckett was getting her phone.
"The other night, caught that game," Castle said quickly before he was turning his attention to his wife.
"Brad?" Beckett asked as she answered the call.
"Yeah are you with Rick?" the chief asked.
"I'm here," Castle said quickly.
"Okay I'd like you two to come in," Brad said. "Thayer discovered the accident was the result of a murder and I need you two in on this one."
"Crazy MO?" David asked to let the man know that he was there.
"No," Brad said. "The victim; it's Yvonne Radcliff."
Breathing out deeply David said, "I would have demanded you asked the two to help you if you told me that before."
"We'll be there as soon as we're back home to get our car," Beckett said. After the chief had said goodbye she said, "The Radcliffs? I want to make sure it's the family we all know."
"The," David said simply as they continued walking, that time a little faster. "I think…" he began. "Yeah she was their second child out of six."
"Six child?" Jim said in surprise.
"The Radcliffs are old Hamptons society. The vic's father is Samuel and he got his money via his family's architecture business; they built skyscrapers in the city. His wife is Clementine McCaffrey and her family was a rival company to the Radcliffs so it was a kind of… union though the two aren't involved in the building," Castle hurried to explain to his father in law.
"The thing is," Beckett added. "Is that Mrs. Radcliff is Samuel's fifth wife."
"His second and fourth wives passed away, the first and third he divorced," Martha added as she knew the man well since she'd nearly become his third wife when her son was twelve. She'd declined the proposal though as Castle had never liked the man and had begged her to keep living in the city though she'd known it for an excuse to get her to agree with him. "The current Mrs. Radcliff has given him the most children though."
"How many does he have exactly?" Jim said slowly.
"Twelve," Beckett said. "The first five are from his first four wives, the rest of them are from Clementine though the baby they adopted after she asked her husband."
"So they're a topic of gossip," Jim said, a little surprised his daughter knew as much about the family as she did.
"When they tell you things themselves it's hard not to know all about them," Rebecca said wryly. "And so you know Jim, Samuel is seventy nine and his wife just turned thirty nine."
"How old was the victim?" Jim said, startled.
"Twenty-two," Castle said as they reached the Foster's house. "The vic was a twin and Samuel… the story goes he just barely waited for Clementine's eighteenth birthday to marry her and she got pregnant very shortly after."
"I don't envy you the case," Jim said. At the slightly surprised expressions from his daughter and son in law he said, "There's likely going to be a lot of… issues there."
"And that's why Brad's got them working with him," David said. "We'll see you guys later, he'll update me about this case."
"Hopefully you'll be able to see the dance class," Rebecca said to Castle and Beckett. "We'll be there."
"We'll call if we won't be," Castle replied before watching them go. As they then walked down the sidewalk he said to his and Beckett's parents, "We'll call you as well and try to make it."
"Don't worry we'll be fine," Martha said.
"Would you want us to have Mari come over instead?" Jim asked.
"Could you?" Beckett said in relief, feeling her husband's hand on her back briefly.
"We will," Jim assured her before they went into the house.
Once they'd said goodbye to their parents Castle and Beckett then left in their car for the ME's which Brad texted them to meet him at. "Okay?" he asked his wife as they were near the building.
"Yeah I just really didn't want to involve myself with this family," Beckett replied as her husband was taking her hand. "Even with a case."
"I have to wonder how they'll react to us there," Castle said before he had to let go of her hand to park.
"I'm sure we'll find out," Beckett replied before she then got out of the car.
"Julia?" Brad asked.
"She's fine," Beckett said shortly, not wanting to talk about that though.
"She wants us to solve the case," Castle added, glancing to his wife. "And to tell her too."
"We'll be able to," Brad said, looking to Beckett as well. "But I'm sure you want to get started now." When they both nodded he led the way inside to the autopsy room where Thayer was writing on a clipboard.
"Castle, Beckett," the ME said when he looked up at them. "Not surprised you're here though I was told you were there last night."
"What do you have?" Beckett said.
"Cyanide," Thayer replied simply. "But why you're here is that I finally figured out when exactly she was given the fatal dose," he added as the couple looked at him in surprise.
"Alright," Brad said with a nod, wondering why he hadn't continued after that.
"This wasn't the first dose she was given," Thayer began, going to a file on the counter behind him. "From what I could get with the testing she was being dosed for the past… three weeks," he said as he read a paper before handing that to the chief.
"They staggered it," Beckett said, she and Castle looking over his shoulder.
"They did," Brad said musingly. "So something obviously happened to trigger that and it was before she got into her car."
"She was coming from her place?" Castle asked.
"No, her father's," Brad said. "We were able to track her to a store and she made some phone calls." He then turned his attention to the ME and said, "Anything else?"
Castle was startled when the ME became a little grim and he glanced at his wife, not surprised she had her attention on Thayer. So he turned to him, trying to brace himself for whatever the man was going to say.
"I don't know if it's relevant," Thayer finally said. "But she had an abortion performed on her about a month and a half ago."
Brad glanced at Castle and Beckett, seeing that they were surprised but not commenting on that. "Please tell me that's it," he then said to Thayer again.
"That'll be it," the ME said then with a slight nod.
"Wait, wait," Beckett said, glancing at the chief. "Did she have anything in her stomach?"
"No," Thayer responded. "Though she did have the remnants of some type of nut, I'd guess almonds."
"Ironic in some way," Castle commented.
"Alright we need to look into our vic now," Brad said. "If you get anything else let me know," he then directed to Thayer.
When they were outside Castle said to his friend, "What about talking to her parents? And did-"
"The station," Brad said firmly. "Her parents will be there and we'll speak with them."
"What about all her siblings," Castle said slowly, looking at his wife.
"I had the same thought when I found out who she was," Brad told him. "And already we've been searching for them. When I called you we found out that four of the eleven are here in the Hamptons; and the baby but of course we're not talking to her."
"Oh, that'll help us out," Castle said quickly.
"It will," Beckett said. "But he's right; we should head to the station." She then turned her attention to the chief and said, "We'll meet you there."
"I'm just wondering," Castle said to his wife after he'd given her the keys and they were inside the car. "It's a lot of siblings to deal with of course."
"Of course," Beckett replied. She then said, "Did you think…"
"Yeah I had the idea too," Castle said in distaste. "How many brothers does she have?"
"They're even," Beckett reminded him. "Six boys, six girls including the adopted baby. But you really think that baby could have been one of her brothers'?"
"I don't want to and we might be jumping the gun… disgustingly," Castle said. "But… there is the fact that this isn't the first time this happened in the McCaffrey family."
"We should tell Brad, he probably doesn't know," Beckett said.
"Neither did Mother or I and out of our group we've come here the longest," Castle said, nodding his head. "Not counting David and Rebecca of course."
"They only heard it as rumor," Beckett replied. "Which you know it still is."
"Still…" Castle said.
"We'll tell him," Beckett said. She drove the rest of the way to the station and after she'd parked she got out first calling to Brad, "There's something we need to discuss."
"Are her parents here?" Castle asked when they were close.
"They're on their way," Brad said. "What is it?"
"Let's go to your office," Beckett said. She wasn't surprised when he looked a little unsure but then led the way inside where she and her husband went over to the office while he was talking with some of the officers in the bullpen.
"I think," Castle said. "He might know already," he finished with after a pause as he saw that his friend was gesticulating wildly and they could hear his muffled voice since the door was closed.
"You two knew about this too," Brad said as he came inside. "How do we know if it's true?"
"You can't know," Castle said. "Mrs. Radcliff will never agree to a DNA test and she has no aunts or uncles to test against her father's."
"I wonder if we might put the idea aside," Brad then said after looking thoughtful for a moment. "I think we should because you two are looking about as sick as I feel talking about this."
"What do we know that doesn't deal with her family in that way right now?" Castle asked.
"There was a dinner last night," Brad said. "You know as I do that the Radcliffs… this branch of them, has been largely symbolic with regards to the architecture business. But it turns out the second oldest of Mrs. Radcliff's sons was going to take over the company as CEO."
"Rudolph," Beckett said.
"Yes, I saw in his information he plays polo so I knew you'd know them," Brad replied. "How is he?" he then asked.
"I don't know him that well," Castle said since his wife turned to him for that. "But he was a nice guy. Your expression of doubt is making me question that now."
"This is in the information on his uncle that stood out to me, so it's not Rudolph…" Brad said as he handed the file in his hand to Beckett.
"Brian McCaffrey is on his third marriage," she read. "And his second wife died suspiciously."
"It was never determined if it was murder or accident," Brad said as Castle's gaze turned to him with wide eyes. "She fell off a cliff at Yosemite and there were no witnesses. Mr. McCaffrey contends that she slipped and there is some evidence of that but it can't be said for certain it was or wasn't."
"I get the feeling you're going to look into this family for a while," Castle said. "What about his first wife?"
"They divorced," Beckett told him as she'd seen that in the file. "Is someone talking to her?"
"Hutchinson," Brad answered her. "But this was a dinner party."
"What time did it start?" Beckett said.
"At seven," Brad replied. "So I figured the poison was delivered via drink."
Before Castle and Beckett could say anything there was a knock on the door and Bernier stepped inside at the chief's gesture. "The Radcliffs are here and they've been sent to the interview room," the officer said.
"Thank you," Brad replied. "I'd like you two to go with me," he said to Castle and Beckett. "But Rick?" he then said to his friend.
When her husband made a motion of zipping his lips together Beckett rolled her eyes and said, "You want a woman's touch?"
"Don't hit me but yes, I'd appreciate it," Brad told her with a smile. He wasn't surprised when he got a roll of the eyes that time and said, "Come on."
Inside the interview room Castle saw the Radcliffs were sitting together on the couch there and they were holding hands tightly, looking down at the ground. He went to stand a bit behind his wife as she sat on one of the armchairs.
"Mr. Radcliff, Mrs. Radcliff," Brad said to the two once he was sitting. "Thank you for coming to speak with us, we are very sorry for your loss."
"You were there weren't you?" Radcliff asked gruffly. He started to cough and then waved off his wife saying, "You were there when her car… crashed."
"We were next to the store where that happened, yes," Beckett answered.
"Was she… did she suffer?" Clementine Radcliff then said.
"How did our little girl die?" Radcliff asked before anyone could answer that.
"She was poisoned," Castle said.
"W-when?" Clementine stuttered.
Watching the older man stroke the back of his wife's hand Beckett resisted the urge to turn back and look at Castle. She then recovered from that and said, "We're not exactly sure," hoping that Brad wouldn't look at her at that lie. "But we suspect it was some time in the afternoon."
"Could it have had anything to do with our party?" Radcliff asked.
"Who was there?" Brad asked.
"Everyone from the company and others," Radcliff said simply. He then said, "I can't really give you their names my memory isn't… all that good these days."
"Is there someone we could ask that would have a full list?" Brad said.
"Of course, my aide Kurt Lawson," Radcliff replied.
"Do you know if anyone there would have wanted to harm you and your family?" Beckett said.
The couple looked at each other and shook their heads before the chief asked about the household staff the three of them knew they had. When they didn't receive any names, as apparently most of the staff was like family to them, Brad then asked about the vic herself.
"No she never had any boyfriends… we weren't sure what was holding her back," Clementine said, smiling at her husband before it slipped rapidly off her face and her chin started to wobble. "I thought she'd do the same I did…"
"Then a friend or co-worker?" Beckett asked.
"Oh… you know our children; except for Rudy; don't work," Clementine replied.
"How many of your children were there at your home?" Brad asked.
"All six of our children together," Radcliff said after his wife suddenly burst into tears. "The last time we'll get to do that…"
"Then if you didn't notice anything suspicious with the people you already know," Beckett said gently once Clementine had calmed down. "Was there anything suspicious going on outside of those people?"
"No things were… great," the woman said softly, her voice hitching with her sobs.
At that point Brad gave Radcliff his card before getting up with Beckett so he could lead the couple out. He wasn't surprised when the couple behind him stayed in the room and he then turned his attention to asking the Radcliffs if they knew where their other four children were.
"They're both heartbroken," Castle said to his wife.
"They are," Beckett replied. She looked out to make sure that Brad had disappeared with the vic's couple before she led the way to the break room. "But if they're telling the truth about it not being someone they know or the family then we'll turn to her and her life."
"I was thinking the same thing," Castle replied quickly. "And I get the feeling Brad's going to be looking at that at the same time."
"If he hasn't started already," Beckett said, watching her husband then finishing the first cup of coffee. She took it and took a sip before glancing over to the doorway where the chief was coming inside. "So?" she asked simply as he paused there.
"I have Wade and Hill looking into the family and their social circle," Brad told them as Castle was looking back at him then. "And I also have Hutchinson beginning to look into our vic herself."
"Just her?" Castle asked in surprise.
"Some of the social circle is from the city," Brad then said.
"Ah, we'll be calling the boys I'm sure," Castle said to that.
"When will you need to?" Beckett asked.
"If we find out anyone left here for the city last night," Brad said.
"Just let me know," Beckett said simply as she knew that she was going to need to with that.
"Okay the murder board is in my office, let's go," Brad said shortly.
"I'll… make one more cup and join you," Castle said, looking at the one he'd finished for himself. "Brad?" he asked, holding it out.
"We'll join you when he's finished," Beckett said with a slight smile to the chief as he looked a little startled. When they were alone she said to her husband, "I wonder why they came here."
"You were thinking that too," Castle said in response before his wife nodded. "I'm sure we'll go to the house, we would have to since it's likely the scene of the poisoning."
"Guys," Brad said as he came back to the doorway. "We'll go right now."
"Right now?" Castle said, looking down at a just finished cup of coffee for a second time.
"Right now, I got a call from Radcliff's aide," the chief replied. "He still has the RSVPs for the party and will show them to us now."
Going out to Brad's squad car Castle and Beckett were quiet until they were on the way to the Radcliff's and the former spoke first.
"Have you been there before?" he asked.
"No," Brad said. "Nothing at the house that would call us in. And I never really had any dealings with the family outside the house."
"Clean records?" Beckett asked in slight surprise.
"Almost," Brad said. "In the city yes but outside, no. Some DUIs and car accidents."
"I think Radcliff keeps his children on tight leashes," Castle commented from the back.
"Since most of them don't work and still live at home that sounds like an apt assessment," Brad said to that. "But wouldn't they have poisoned their father instead of their sister?"
"Does he have a favorite?" Beckett said to that.
"The baby," Castle said quickly. When the two in the front glanced back at him he said, "I know but remember I did play with Rudolph."
"After game parties?" Brad asked.
"Just drinks," Beckett said. "And if you were going to ask I didn't go to those; just the teams."
"Which I was sure to always protest," Castle said. "But he would talk about how his father looked at the baby as a fresh breath of air for him. And he adored her even though she wasn't his."
"So sibling rivalry doesn't really make much sense," Brad said thoughtfully.
"Not at this moment," Beckett replied. "What about the aide himself?"
"Yeah he had to have gone to the party," Castle said.
"How'd you know that?" Brad asked, looking back at him for a moment.
"That's my gut," Castle replied, raising his eyebrows at his wife.
At that point the three reached the home and they waited for someone to answer the intercom at the gate and once it opened for them Brad drove them directly up to the house. "I think," he said once he'd turned off the car and no one moved. "We should notice how everyone is reacting, the staff and any of the siblings that are here," he told the two.
"We were going to observe already," Castle said. "We'll follow you here."
"I think you mean," Brad said as they got out of the car then. Once the door was closed behind them he looked across the roof of the car and said, "You follow Kate while she waits to see what she should do."
"I observe fairly well," Beckett said simply as the two men then glanced at her.
With that they walked up to the front door of the house where the butler was just opening the door. "Good morning I am Leon, you are Chief Davis?" he asked.
"I am, these are my consultants Ms. Beckett and Mr. Castle," Brad replied. "We're here to see Mr. Lawson."
"I was informed, I'll take you to him," Leon said with a nod, walking inside of the house.
While the butler was closing and locking the door behind them Castle asked, "Does the household staff know what has happened?"
"Oh yes we are… devastated," Leon said, his expression becoming one of sadness. "Miss Yvonne was well loved in this home; she was kind to us all."
Beckett motioned to her husband not to question the man when he stopped abruptly, not surprised when Castle merely nodded. She walked with him as they went behind Brad while they were led further into the house before they soon reached the office where the aide; who she recognized from the city's magazine; stood up from his desk to greet them.
"Thank you Leon," Lawson said to the butler with a nod. "Chief Davis," he said, reaching across the desk to shake his hand. "Mr. Castle, Ms. Beckett."
"Please, you mentioned that you had the list for us," Brad said.
"I do," Lawson said, looking at his desktop before picking up a piece of paper. "Here, this is everyone that was there last night."
"No one crashed the party?" Castle asked while Brad was looking at the names.
"Oh no, I would have gotten the bodyguard that escorts Clem… Mrs. Radcliff when she goes out to the city to escort them out," Lawson replied. "And there's also the fact that they needed to get in via the intercom."
"This is the complete list?" Brad finally said then. When Lawson nodded he then said, "Were you at the party as well?"
"Yeah of course," the man answered swiftly.
"And you noticed nothing wrong during the pre-dinner…" Castle started to say before he realized he didn't know how to finish that.
"The appetizers," Lawson replied. "And drinks as well. And no, I didn't notice anything there."
"I'm wondering if I can use your computer here," Brad told the man.
"I… okay," Lawson replied, surprised. "Would you excuse me? I could use something to drink." When the chief nodded for him to go he started to walk over to the door before he stopped and said, "Would you like me to ask for anything?"
"We're fine," Beckett said, with a nod to him.
Castle watched the man leave before he looked to his friend saying, "Really?"
"Really, I need to check three names I don't know already," Brad said simply. He sat in front of the computer and then said, "I wouldn't normally do this but since Radcliff isn't here I need to talk to Lawson."
"We can wait," Beckett said simply, going over to her husband as he'd stepped right up to the desk. Together they watched the chief typing on the computer and then reading, doing so three times before he stood and went to the doorway to look out before he closed it to give the three of them some privacy she quickly realized as he then turned to them.
"There are two names on there," Brad began, keeping his voice low as he was still standing near the door. "That caught my interest and I searched them. Lamont Rocco and Derrick Caldwell."
"We know Rocco already," Beckett said, sharing a look with her husband. "And what's he doing here?"
"That was my thought exactly," Brad said. "The ex CEO who resigned somewhat in disgrace…"
"He was never implicated in the deal for the counterfeit materials though was he?" Castle asked.
"No and that's likely why he was there," Brad said. "And as for Caldwell, I know him because he's dating the founder of the charity he's donated heavily to; the HPWF."
"The widow's fund?" Castle asked. When his friend nodded he then said, "Has he ever been a problem?"
"Oh no, it's not bribery," Brad said. "Because I talked to him after I became chief and he told me his father was a cop but was shot when he was two."
"So what does that mean exactly?" Beckett said, looking at him in slight confusion.
"He's alright and I would hate for him to be involved," Brad replied.
"Uh… Brad that still doesn't explain why he stood out to you," Castle said, looking at his wife again.
"Just his name isn't going to do it and not exactly because of the charity," Beckett added.
The chief sighed and then said, "He's proficient in herbs and… would know how to work with cyanide."
"And he would have access to the vic since the founder is a close friend of Mr. Radcliff," Castle said. "Sorry," he added when he saw his friend looked a little dismayed.
"Alright, I'll ask Lawson about them at the party and then we'll go find them," Brad said after a moment's hesitation.
At that moment when the chief opened the door the three saw that the aide was walking down the hall. He stopped in surprise at them before he continued until he had reached them. "Is there anything you needed?" he asked.
"I'm wondering about Mr. Rocco and Mr. Caldwell," Brad began. "Did you notice anything about them at the party last night?"
"Oh… you know Mr. Rocco did kind of get my attention now I'm thinking about it," Lawson replied after looking thoughtful for a moment. "It didn't really catch my attention but he was talking to someone near me about slipping a dissolving capsule of some kind of poison into a drink. Granted I thought he was kidding but…"
"And Caldwell?" Beckett then asked.
"Nothing with him, he's been here before since he was trying to date Ms. Yvonne and works for the company," McCaffrey said.
Thanking the man Brad led the way out of the house before he said goodbye to Leon. As soon as they were outside he was on his walkie-talkie, Castle and Beckett quiet as they got into the car. "They're looking to see where he is," he said.
"It might not be him-" Castle started to say before the radio crackled to life.
"Okay," Brad said after Wade told him their suspect was at one of the local hotels. "At least we know where he is, let's hope that he'll talk," he told the two as he started the car and headed down the driveway to leave the compound swiftly.
