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: I was very happy getting the feedback I did for the last chapter so want to get to my thank you for that right now! TORONTOSUN (Yeah, gonna take time for the case to get better since it's just the beginning. And not surprised that you mentioned it being a good thing Brad is helping them, very true. And Happy New Year again though I told you that already!) and vetgirlmx (I wasn't surprised to see your reaction to what happened at the end of the chapter or your wondering if they were in a hurry. And yeah, I figured with that many it family it'd take some time to sort through everything. Great too you caught it was a convoluted family 'cause that can happen with families like that. Glad you're hoping there isn't a mistake with the murder so there won't be another murder in the family. I was really happy to see your reaction to Beckett's reaction to what the mother said and that you could imagine her having that reaction too. And yeah that would have been interesting to write with both of them there to react to that statement but I did want to write Castle calming her down. Not surprised at your comment about the mother saying that but also loving her daughter, I thought readers might have that reaction. Great to see you enjoyed the chapter a lot but not surprised you're hoping they will find more leads with more victims. Yeah, this wasn't a bigger cliffhanger but still happy to see you really want to read more which you don't need to do anymore! And Happy New Year to you and yours as well, hoping this year will be a great one for you!). Thanks so much for the reviews, I loved reading them and am grateful for 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 Paperback Writer by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, from The Beatles album Past Masters, Volume Two.

A Steady Job

"Judging by the foam that dried up here," Thayer said to Brad, Castle and Beckett. "I'd say the cause of death is the same; cyanide poisoning. They made their own capsules?"

"Is there any way you can look at the bodies?" Castle and Beckett said at the same time.

Thayer's head shot up as he looked at the two and then turned his attention to Brad.

"What're you thinking?" the chief asked them.

"Is there any sign of a struggle?" Beckett said.

"Hold on," Thayer replied before he shone a flashlight over the limbs of Trainor who was naked except for a pair of shorts. When he turned over the woman's wrists he said, "Interesting…"

"What is it?" Brad asked, going over to see he was looking at. "Wire?" he asked as he saw the thin bruises that had formed on the wrists.

"Look at Andres' neck," Castle said somberly. He watched with the others as Thayer pulled open the collar of the shirt that Andres still had on. Seeing the heavy bruising there he said, "They held her with wire while they poisoned him first."

"And then they poisoned her after they made her watch him die," Beckett added.

"There's no foam on the woman's body," Thayer said to Brad as he looked to him for confirmation of that. "So it's likely they tucked her legs underneath him once they got her on the bed."

"Then we know that someone paid her to poison our first vic," Brad said. "But why Andres?"

"Because he was here," Castle said.

"They might have gotten together after the party and the attacker or attackers killed them both," Beckett said.

"Great opportunity for them since they used him as leverage," Castle commented.

With Thayer and his aides beginning to prep the body Beckett looked over at the clothing and said, "They might have tried staging the scene."

"Then they're not professionals," Brad said quickly as he was listening to her. "Unless they're trying to blame these two."

"We should probably look over at the cyanide that was on the kitchen table," Castle suggested then. He followed his wife back out to the family room and they went up to the table that CSU had already finished with. While Brad was speaking with some of the team members he said, "What about financials?"

"We'll see," Beckett replied simply as she was studying everything on the table; items to make cyanide pills. "This was staged too."

"Yeah, sloppily done," Castle commented as he saw what she did. There were empty capsules but not the kind that would be easily filled. "I think we can say for sure that they believe they're smarter than everyone else."

"It would have to be," Brad said as he reached them. "CSU is telling me that the powder there isn't cyanide."

"Do they know what it is exactly?" Castle asked as he and Beckett exchanged a glance of surprise.

"It looks like baby powder and sand," one of the CSU team members said to them. "We'll test the sand; see if we can't find out where it's from."

"Any sign of forced entry?" Beckett asked her.

"It looks like it's over here at the spare bedroom window," the CSU worker said, leading them over to it.

Touching the sill after the worker had propped open the window after checking with the CSU workers outside it Brad said, "Not much work needed on this."

"They must have known about it," Castle suggested.

"They had to have," the woman said to them. "It's the only window that'll open silently."

"Okay," Brad said. "Any prints?"

"I have one sir," a man outside said. "We'll get it to the lab as soon as we finish up here."

"Great call me the second you get the results," Brad said. When the man and woman had nodded he then went over to Castle and Beckett who were standing in the doorway. "What do you think?" he asked them as he could tell they were communicating via their staring at each other.

"We're predicting things," Castle replied.

"More hypothesizing," Beckett added, glancing at her husband. "She'll have money in her account, a large amount-"

"Untraceable," Castle finished for her. "And they'll be here or the city."

"That's a broad-" Brad started to say in surprise.

"Not really, it's either here in the Hamptons or the city itself," Beckett said. "They'll be so full of themselves that they don't think they need to run."

"Going to the city is running," Brad pointed out as he led them over to the front door so they could head back to the station.

"No people are aware we have contacts in the city," Castle pointed out. "So I think we need to be prepared to find them out there."

"Are the boys there?" Brad asked after he'd spoken to Kirby who was standing outside the door.

"They are, we have no idea if they have a case or not though," Beckett told him. Reaching his squad car she said, "We have the fingerprint."

"We'll need to wait," Brad told them simply. "Come on, let's head back and take a look at this from the start."

Getting into the car then Beckett became thoughtful on the drive and she then said when they neared the station, "Did you check on who was there at the party and are now in the city?"

"Of course we have about… five people who returned there," Brad answered. He then parked in his spot and said, "We'll be checking on that next."

Back inside the station Castle let his wife and friend go ahead of him to the chief's office while he moved over to the break room. He made three cups of coffee as fast as he could before he joined the two in the office. "Anything?" he asked as his wife was writing on the board.

"I have a possibility," Beckett told him. She took the cup of coffee he pointed out to her and murmured a thanks before sipping at it. "It looks like Jason Reeves was at the party and went to the city. And the biggest thing is that he was well known to the kitchen staff."

"How?" Castle asked, seeing that his wife had written down the information they had on the man.

"Brad's getting that now," Beckett told him, looking over to the chief.

"Alright, thank you," he said before he then hung up the phone. "He was well known because he's a second cousin to their cook that might be retiring."

"Any animosity between him and the Radcliffs?" Beckett asked.

"Yes they're not paying his cousin all that much," Brad began while he was writing it down on the board. "And he had been talking with the half siblings of the Radcliff kids in the city, also trying to talk to Samuel when he was there visiting the cook."

"Why was he at the party? Part of the architecture firm?" Castle asked though he knew the answer already.

"A new hire," Brad said, looking to Beckett.

"Rudolph?" she said. When he nodded she then began to pace a bit and said, "Then we should look into if he signed up with the company to get money for his cousin."

"Is she destitute?" Castle asked then, walking after his wife.

Turning around Beckett glanced at him as he was in front of her and said, "That's the question."

"Guys I'm over here," Brad told them jokingly. "And no, she isn't we looked at her."

"Her name?" Castle asked, turning to him.

"Piper Reeves," Brad replied. "And she's not wealthy but from what we could determine she's alright."

"No one else at the house had any kind of financial trouble?" Beckett said.

"None that could lead to them being hired for murder," Brad answered. "You have Trainor's financials?" he asked Bernier who was coming into the office then.

"Right here sir," the officer said, handing them over.

Brad opened the file before he studied the numbers on the page inside and said, "Here it is," to the two.

Going over with his wife Castle saw the amount and he said, "That's it? Five thousand to murder?"

"He manipulated her," Beckett said absently. Not surprised when the two men look at her she explained, "I wonder if she had any feelings for her ex still."

"We can't really know until we interview her friends," Brad said.

"Family?" Castle asked.

"No, she was on her own," Brad replied. "But you might be right Kate, since it looks like they killed him first."

"Extra torture," Castle commented. "You're going to interview her friends now?"

"Stay or head out to the break room," Brad said simply.

"We'll be back," Beckett answered before her husband could say anything. With that they left together for the room the room and together went to the coffee machine to pour out another cup each before sitting down at the table.

"We're still considering the fact the poisoning might be by accident right?" Castle asked his wife.

"Oh of course," Beckett replied after she'd taken a sip of her coffee. "Though now we have a target."

"Which is chilling if it was meant to be Andres," Castle said.

"Definitely," Beckett replied. She was going to say more when she then heard someone running and she and Castle jumped up at the sight of their friend coming in.

"We got a name to go with the fingerprints," Brad told them. "Theodore Feinstein."

"He's in the city," Castle said. When the chief nodded he said to his wife, "I think you need to make a call."

"In my office," Brad said before he left.

"He's eager," Castle commented as they were following him out into the bullpen.

"Not sure what tipped you off," Beckett said simply before they then went into the office. Picking up the phone on the desk that Brad had turned around towards her she set it to speaker and dialed Esposito's number. "Javi it's me," she told him.

"Beckett hey, you're on a case?" Esposito replied. "Hold on," he then told her as he saw that Ryan was walking up to his desk. "Alright I'm on speaker so go ahead."

"Gates?" Castle asked.

"She's out in DC, conference on domestic terrorism," Esposito answered simply.

"You two are in charge?" Castle said.

"We are, so what's the case?" Esposito asked.

"Is it the woman from that big family that crashed into the building?" Ryan asked. When his partner looked at him he said, "You should read the Ledger."

"It is," Beckett said quickly before the two could start arguing about that comment.

"We need you or one of your officers to locate a suspect for us," Brad told them then. "His name is Theodore Feinstein."

"Alright we'll take a look and see what we get," Esposito replied.

"You guys don't have a case?" Castle said.

"Not at the moment, we'll call back," Ryan said before Esposito hung up.

"So who wants to guess that they'll find him dead?" Castle asked.

"I was thinking the same but really hoping that's not the case," Brad told him.

"What about the others in the city?" Beckett asked.

"That came up first; before we could finish," Brad replied. "I looked into Feinstein though when I heard about the fingerprint. He's forty and is alone and was another name up for CEO."

"It has to be Rudolph that was the target," Castle said.

"He's right," Beckett told the chief. "If the glasses with the mulled wine were taken to the parlor already filled-"

"They were," Brad said. "And it was the cook that had served the first tray."

"When did you find out about that?" Castle asked in surprise as the man hadn't told them that.

"Shortly after the call about the fingerprints," Brad said easily. He went through the papers covering his desktop before he handed one to Beckett.

"He's right, this was faxed to him not that long ago," Beckett said. "Why was Melton back at the Radcliffs?"

"After the second and third murders I had him and Wade go search anywhere they'd let them," Brad replied. "Mainly where Trainor would have been."

"Does that paper say anything else?" Castle asked his wife as she went back to reading it.

"That the butler; Leon; corrected Trainor on her serving the drinks," Beckett said slowly. "And he took the tray from her; there were three or four left of the seven; before serving everything else."

"He handed the cup to the vic," Castle stated.

"He doesn't remember," Brad said before Beckett could. "But he does recall the cook went straight to Rudolph."

"Feint or deliberate," Castle mused.

"We can't know now," the chief said then. "But we'll keep that angle in mind of course."

"So what're you going to do now?" Beckett asked as the chief sat back down behind the desk.

"Look into the rest of the names while we wait on Feinstein," Brad said. "I can handle it," he said quickly to her before she could speak.

"It's times like this that makes me wonder if you really need the two of us here," Castle said.

"It won't take long," Brad said.

"You got a list of people recently fired," Beckett said as she was looking through all the papers.

"Small list as you can see," Brad replied absently.

"What about people trying to get hired by the company?" Castle asked.

"That's the next page she has," the chief said, nodding to the paper that Beckett was holding up.

"No one was at the party," she said then. "Which I figured considering the types of people you were looking at. Any connections with anyone that was at the party?"

"If there was it wasn't easily found," Brad replied. "Do you think we should show Rudolph the list?"

"It'd be a good idea," Beckett slowly. "But bring him in for that or see him somewhere outside the Radcliff home."

"That might be difficult," Brad said musingly. "I'll call him to come in," he finally said before he started to reach for his phone. Before he could pick it up though it started to ring and looking at the ID on the screen he pressed the button for speaker once the receiver was in his hand. "You got him already?" he asked Ryan on the other end.

"We're at his place now," the detective replied.

"Is he in custody?" Beckett asked.

"He is," Esposito said. "But we already talked to him and he showed us the train ticket he had into the city. It left at twelve and he got here about two."

"Can anyone check on the station he got into there?" Brad inquired.

"We've got an officer doing that right now," Esposito replied. "You can take care of things on your end?"

"We have it," Brad said.

"He'll stay in town," Ryan said. "We asked him if he'd noticed anything about the party and he just mentioned the butler and a woman who he guessed was a maid arguing about glasses."

"That we already knew about," Castle commented.

"Can you ask him if he was able to see who the cook gave glasses to before that argument," Beckett told the two.

"He also said that the wife of the host was really drunk," Esposito said after Ryan had gone back to the suspect. "And that she was flirting heavily with him."

"What was the husband doing?" Beckett asked.

"He was mingling, even saw his wife," Esposito said. "Feinstein said that Mr. Radcliff is impotent and that his wife takes lovers. Brief lovers but lovers still."

"Do the kids know about that?" Castle asked, looking at Brad who nodded.

"Yeah, there's the rumor that the baby they have now is the child of her and a lover he said was named Jaime Wilson," Esposito said. "Ryan's back."

"He said that she went to the son called Rudolph, a worker for the company named Doug Hoover and last the daughter who's your vic," he said to the phone.

"Okay," Brad said. "Thank you for that and let us know whenever you find him at…"

"Union Station," Esposito said. "And that's all we got from him, he had to go to a family dinner today so that's why he came back home."

"We'll be in touch," Ryan said before Esposito hung up his phone.

"Did you know about that?" Castle asked the second his friend was hanging up.

"I had a feeling, I didn't know," Brad explained. "That old he might not be able to perform but what I'm more concerned about is the baby."

"Depends if you can find Wilson," Beckett pointed out absently. When the two men looked to her she explained, "If this was known within the company I wonder if we should just take a look at the past and current employees."

"Who knew that Trainor was going to be hired," Castle reminded them.

Brad thought that over and then nodded saying, "I think you two have reached the end of the day."

"Time wise or just the fact you're going to be working on procedural stuff?" Castle asked as his friend was looking at his watch at that moment.

"Both, it's a little past two thirty," Brad said.

"You're sure you won't need us?" Beckett asked.

"If it turns out I do I'll call you like I always promise," Brad told them. "Go with your daughters and you'll hear from me if you're needed." He expected Beckett to protest that again when her phone rang and he said, "It's time?"

Looking at the message she'd gotten Beckett smiled and said, "It's time you must be psychic."

"Hey that's my line," Castle said before they were suddenly looking over at the doorway as Hutchinson was running up to it. "Wilson's in the wind," he commented before the officer could say anything.

"He is, he was supposed to be at the hotel with the others but he never checked in," Hutchinson told her superior.

"Was the reservation canceled?" Brad asked, standing up.

"No sir but he was at the party," Hutchinson replied.

"If he's from the city," Brad said slowly.

"He might have lived here or knows people here," Beckett suggested.

"We need to get an APB out," Brad said to Hutchinson who nodded and then left. "I need to talk to Mrs. Radcliff; not you this time Kate."

"Better I don't," Beckett told him simply with a nod.

"Alright come back in the morning and I'll fill you in on what you need to know," Brad told the two. "If there's anything I need to tell you of course."

"Are you sure? I can go see-" Beckett started to say.

"Go and see your grand… horse being born," Brad said to her with a smile. "We can handle things and I already promised."

"Okay but if there's anything at all about Wilson call us," Castle said after sharing a look with his wife before they walked out together. "You could have protested a little more," he said to his wife as they were stepping out into the parking lot.

"I would have gotten the same reply," Beckett said in amusement. "But he's right he has a lot of help so we'd just be sitting there."

"Are you eager for this?" Castle asked as they got into the car.

"Yeah," Beckett said. "Since Charlie is letting us have the pony."

"I have to wonder why," Castle said as he started the car.

"Because he had to get me to let Alex breed," Beckett said, glancing out of the corner of her eye at him.

"I still don't know why you were against it for so long," Castle said jokingly. He wasn't surprised when his wife rolled her eyes and once they were close to the stables he reached over squeezing her hand. "How are you?"

"Fine, I would like to see Julia though," Beckett answered. She squeezed his hand back and held it until they were at the compound where she hurried to get out of the car.

"Go love," Castle said. "I'll follow you." He was surprised when she merely waited for him and he tried to lock the car behind them as quickly as he could. Once they were walking to the stable where the mare was giving birth to Alex's pony he said, "Do you have a name."

"I do, in case it's either sex," Beckett replied, her gaze ahead of them as they were walking. "But I'm not telling you until we see him or her."

"Great," Castle said simply. At the doorway to the stables he watched his wife hurry ahead of them to the stall where Charlie was looking in.

"Is Lupita here?" Beckett asked quickly.

"I am," the woman said. She looked over from where she was standing next to the mare on the floor and said, "Not much time left now."

"How's she doing?" Castle asked as the vet called his wife in.

"Well," Lupita replied.

"And why aren't you going in there?" Castle asked his friend as they looked in front the door.

"She didn't settle down with me there," Charlie replied. "You figure since she's my mare…"

"I don't think you're as much a horse whisperer as Kate," Lupita said. She smiled when Beckett looked at her in surprise and said, "How do you like my h's, managed to pronounce them."

"Yeah you're doing a great job," Beckett said, scratching the mare on the neck. She looked down at it and then saw that her sides were heaving before the vet rushed down to her other end.

"That's it," Lupita said. "Keep petting her Kate she seems to be calm with that."

With a nod Beckett did so, murmuring in Irish to the mare though she wasn't sure if it understood her as Alex did. But the horse was calm though it was obvious her labor pangs had grown steadily stronger and soon Lupita was saying she could see the hooves.

"She's doing good," the vet said calmly. "Here we go." She then helped the pony out the last bit that it needed and she and Beckett moved to allow the mare to start cleaning its filly.

Leaving the stall then to get out of the way of the pony so it could soon stand Beckett said to her husband and Charles, "Marie."

"Really?" Castle asked.

Nodding Beckett said, "I ran this by Julia already and she loved it."

"She didn't want it to be called Maria?" Castle said.

"No," Beckett replied with a smile. "What do you think?" she then directed to Charlie.

"I think it's a perfect name," the man said. He smiled and said, "Julia's aware she won't be ready to ride for a while right?"

"She knows but she'll be working with me," Beckett replied. She then took her phone out of her pocket remembering her daughter and she took pictures quickly of the mare and Marie.

"So all that's left is for it to stand," Lupita said, stepping outside. She then turned back and with the other three watched as the filly began to stand up. It took a little time before it was on its feet fully and once it proceeded to nurse she said, "She looks wonderful."

"She does," Beckett said with a smile.

"Oh I almost forgot to tell the two of you," Charlie said, turning his attention to Castle and Beckett. "Farmer Gary sold the field to me on Saturday."

"So it's free to ride in?" Beckett asked interestedly.

"We have time," Castle said to her as she had glanced quickly towards him.

"He's right, you can take the shortcut path towards it," Charles pointed out to her.

"Alright but I want to check on Marie once we get back," Beckett told him.

"Then just go to the field, we'll be taking them there," Charlie replied.

After saying goodbye to the vet and stable owner Castle and Beckett went quickly to the stable where their horses were and prepared them for their ride after getting their riding boots on.

"Go ahead love," Castle told his wife. "And this time I mean it, I know the way."

Though she wanted to protest that Beckett couldn't help herself and before she took off she kissed her husband's cheek. She felt some of the stress that had come to her after talking to Mrs. Radcliff ease off though she still worried about her daughter. Coming to the field she wasn't surprised when she saw that the gate wasn't open and she spurred Alex faster.

"Kate!" Castle said in shock when he saw what his wife was doing. But before he could reach her she was taking the fence and he decided he would have to do the same. Getting Julius to speed up a little more he jumped with him before landing inside the large field. "You scare me sometimes love," he said though he couldn't help but be relieved that she looked to be a bit less troubled.

"I think I'm allowed to do that sometimes," Beckett replied, leaning over to him since they were close. They kissed deeply before she soon pulled away and she said, "You know we can't take too long here."

"I figured," Castle told her. "But Julia wouldn't mind. I wonder though what about showing her Marie?"

"Tomorrow," Beckett said. "And then after school-"

"Don't you mean after school in the first place?" Castle asked in surprise. He then realized something and said, "She knows you love her; that we all love her."

"I just want to show her," Beckett replied. "And we'll have breakfast together."

"Okay," Castle said quickly.

"And then I'll need to do something with Eliza," Beckett mused.

"Give her her bath tonight," Castle suggested. He was slightly startled when his wife squeezed his hand tightly and he smiled at her before he let her go. He seemed to know what she wanted to do and watched her; keeping Julius still; as she galloped away rapidly.

Beckett wasn't sure how long it took her to circle the outside edge of the field but once she was back with Castle she said, "We need to go."

"Hold on," he said, getting down from his stallion. He then went to the gate and opened it, not surprised when she led Julius through at the same time she walked Alex. When the gate was closed behind him he went to her and putting his hand on her leg said, "You want to get some rest tonight?"

Smiling as he was so hesitant Beckett told him, "No and I really don't think you did either. Did you?"

"No but we'll spend time with the girls as much as we can," Castle said.

"That's usually how we do it Rick," Beckett told him with a slight smile. "Once the girls are in bed it's time for us. Or if they're at school…"

"There's a part of me that hates the case now," Castle said to that after he shuddered visibly. He then smiled at her and said, "But we have time tonight. Though you think it's going to take that long for Brad to call us in?"

"Yep," was all that Beckett said before they were then galloping together back to the stables. When they'd reached it she allowed her husband to help her down and they shared a brief kiss before turning their attention to their horses and taking care of them as swiftly as they could before they were leaving. "There," she said, seeing the mare with Marie nursing at her.

"She is cute," Castle said, smiling at the sight of the filly.

"Julia will be happy," Beckett said as they leaned against the fence together. She was startled when her husband's hand rested on the small of her back and she turned to him saying, "What?"

"She wanted an Andalusian because that's what you have you know," Castle said. When his wife gave him a look he said, "She wants to be just like you… but a dancer."

Laughing softly Beckett then said, "Though she does want to be a writer too."

'That's definitely because of you," Castle said quickly.

"And you too," Beckett told him firmly. "But I know I was the same with my mother." When he pulled her closely to him she smiled and said, "I just want her to be happy."

Leaning over Castle kissed her temple and said, "We all do and we'll do our best to make sure she is. Let's go see her."

"Right," Beckett said softly. She let him take her hand and then walked with him over to their car. She allowed him to drive that time, thinking about Julia and what she could do with her that night though it soon went to what she could do with both their daughters.


At nearly that same moment Julia was trying to complete a chasse but missed her cue and was late for it, groaning as that was the third time that had happened. When Ms. Grey started to come over to her she cried, "I just need some practice!" before she ran out of the studio.

"I'll go," Jim said quickly to the teacher as she'd started to walk over to the door. He and Martha were there with Eliza but he'd been able to see that something was wrong with his granddaughter. Stepping outside out the room he saw that Julia was leaning against the wall, her arms crossed over her chest. "You look a lot like your mom honey," he told her gently to let her know that he was there.

"I guess," Julia sighed before she stood straight. "Something's wrong, I feel worried but I don't know why. It means Mommy is that way too."

"I don't doubt you Julia," Jim assured her. "But your mom is fine, don't worry."

"You should listen to your grandpapa," a voice said then from the end of the hall. "He's right."

"Mommy!" Julia gasped seeing her. She ran to her and hugged her as tightly as she could saying, "Oh Mommy I'm so happy you're here."

"Me too," Beckett said. "Are you having a little trouble dancing sweetie?"

"A little, I was worried about you," Julia replied. She hugged her mother one more time before she then went to her father and embraced him as tightly as she could.

"Julia?" Mari asked, peeking her head out of the door. "Are you ready to dance again?"

"We'll follow you sweetie," Beckett told her oldest with a smile. She wasn't surprised when she hugged her tightly but before she could turn to go to the studio she stopped her and said, "Minerva's pony was born."

"It was?" Julia and Mari asked at the same time in joy.

"Yes," Beckett said.

"We were there to see it," Castle said, wondering why his wife was looking at him for that.

"It's a filly," Beckett answered then.

"Oh Mommy, so her name is Marie?" Julia asked.

"Yes and we'll go see her after your class," Beckett said, making a decision then. "Are your parents here Mari?"

"Mommy is with Dani… you're gonna let us come over?" Mari asked.

"Yep," Castle answered before his wife could. He wasn't surprised when the girls hugged each other tightly before they then went back inside.

"Mommy, Daddy," Eliza said happily as she rushed over to them.

"Sorry Ms. Grey," Julia was saying then to her teacher. "I'll do better now."

"Don't worry," the teacher was saying then. "If any of you ever feels the need to take a break then please tell me. Now should we go on to the Foxtrot?"

"Oh wait," Julia said. She ran to her parents and said, "They moved the competition to the city again!"

Before he or Beckett could reply to that Julia was running back to the dance floor and Castle said to his wife, "I wonder if that was influencing you both."

"Shh," Beckett replied, taking his hand before she felt Eliza doing that as well. She smiled at the little girl and then looked out to the dance floor where the students were beginning to get into hold while Ms. Grey started to play the music.

The Foxtrot lessons composed the rest of the class and while they were in the girls' changing room Julia said to her friend, "I was so bad today."

"'Cause you were worried about your mom," Mari told her. She sat down on the bench behind them and said, "Think she's okay?"

"Maybe," Julia replied, thinking about that then. "I don't know maybe she'll tell me."

"Hey Julia," Judy called from down the lockers. "Did you really get a pony?"

"Sorta, it was just born so I can't do a lot with it," Julia said. "My mom told me she wasn't gonna be ready until she's broken in. And you have to be careful or they'll get really badly behaved."

"Can you train it?" Mari asked.

"I think my mom will let me but I gotta see first," Julia told her after thinking that over for a little. She then smiled slightly and said, "I hope so! Are you ready?"

"Really ready, let's go!" Mari said, taking her backpack with her as she followed her friend outside.

As they then went out Julia saw that her mother was pacing and she became concerned again before Beckett caught sight of her. She rushed to her without a word to her friend but knew that Mari would understand. She threw her arms around her and said, "Are you sure you're okay Mommy?"

"I feel the need to spend a lot of time with you sweetie," Beckett said. "Which is why I want to go see Marie with you."

"Then let's go now," Julia said, seeing that Mari was saying goodbye to her parents while Castle held Dani.

Following her daughter's gaze Beckett said with a smile, "They're staying until eight, David and Rebecca have reservations." She wasn't surprised when Julia looked to her in surprise and said, "Your daddy called them earlier today to let them know. Let's go." And with that they headed out to the parking lot where they got into their two cars, her father and Castle's mother driving Eliza and Dani behind her and Castle with the two girls to the stables.

As soon as she was out of the car Julia went straight to her mother and held her hand tightly before she realized she'd forgotten her friend. "Mari," she then said, looking for her.

"Go," Castle said. "And I mean it this time love, we'll catch up."

"He's right," Beckett said, smiling down at their oldest. "They will." With that she then walked over with her daughter to the field where she could see the mare and pony were.

"That's her?" Julia breathed as Beckett helped her up onto the railing so she could look over the top one.

"That's Marie," she replied, looking at the filly.

"I wish I could pet it," Julia sighed as the pony looked over to them.

"Not yet," Beckett said with a smile. She then noticed someone walking over to them out of the corner of her eye and turned to see it was Charlie. "We couldn't resist bringing her," she explained to the stable owner.

"You can go into the corral you know," the man said.

"We could?" Julia asked. As soon as she asked that she then smiled and said, "As long as my mom goes?"

"As long as she goes," Charlie said before he looked over at the others who were walking to them.

"She's beautiful," Mari said, standing on the fence as Julia was doing.

"I know," the girl said with a smile looking back to her pony. It was the same color as its father and she smiled at the thought of that before she then said, "Can we?" to her mother.

"Yes," Beckett told her. "Rick-"

"I had a feeling," Castle said. "And let her tell you what to do Julia; she did the same thing in Ireland on our honeymoon."

Nodding, as she recalled the story, Julia got down from the fence and then took Beckett's hand before they went to the gate that Charles opened for them.

"Stay here," Beckett told her daughter. "Don't move alright?" After Julia had nodded she then walked over Minerva, going slowly as she murmured in Irish to hopefully remind the mare of who she was. She only took a few steps before she stood still and kept her eye on the mare as it took a few steps towards her.

"What does she do?" Eliza whispered to her father who was holding her.

"She's waiting to see if the horse will go over to her," Castle said as quietly as he could.

Beckett could hear the two behind her but she didn't react to that as she watched Minerva then make her way very slowly to her with Marie trailing. As soon as the mare was close enough to her she spoke to her in Irish saying, "Good girl come on, a little closer," holding out her hand to it.

Julia watched her mother in awe as the mare brought herself close enough to allow her to pet it. She suddenly took in a deep breath, not aware that she'd been holding it, and turned her attention to Beckett as she was backing up to her. "You can't turn your back on her?" she asked quietly.

Smiling Beckett said, "I don't want to scare her with the motion. Take a few steps with me but go as slowly as I do."

"Do you think she'll let me pet her?" Julia asked hopefully.

"We'll need to see," Beckett told her. They then began to step forward together and she held her hand tightly before she stopped Julia.

"How on earth did she learn to do this," Martha breathed as they were all watching the two closely.

"I think it's mostly instinct," Castle said, unable to help the pride in his tone of voice. He smiled when Julia started to speak in Irish; with her mother's help; and then said to Eliza, "You'll be doing this when you're older I'm sure," as she was watching in awe.

"I hope so," the little girl breathed out.

Castle was going to speak when he saw that the mare had approached his wife and their daughter and lowered its head to Julia. He was proud of the girl when she remained perfectly calm; though he knew she had to be squealing in pleasure inside her head.

"Careful," Beckett said gently.

"I know," Julia replied, smiling widely as she was gently rubbing her hand up and down Minerva's nose. "I can't pet Marie?" she asked.

"No but nice try," Beckett said, glancing over at the pony and seeing that she was nursing again. "We should let them be."

Looking back as well Julia nodded and then waited until they were outside the corral before she hugged her mother as tightly as she could. "Thank you so much," she told her seriously.

"For taking you in there?" Beckett asked, embracing her back.

"And for the pony," Julia said, looking up at her. "I'm really lucky."

"We're glad to hear you think that," Castle said, coming up to them with Eliza. "Because you are; I never got a pony when I was ten."

"Did Daddy ever ask for one?" Julia asked her grandmother.

"Of course," Martha said, smiling at Beckett as she'd glanced at her. "Though he wanted to be a knight."

Smiling Julia said to Eliza, "Yeah he did he read the books about knights."

"But I would have discovered riding was fun too," Castle said quickly to the girls. "Want to go say hello to Alex and Julius?" he then asked everyone.

"Wait, did Alex see Marie yet?" Julia asked before someone could reply to her father's question.

"No," Beckett said.

"Shouldn't we let him go inside?" Julia asked.

"Let me take him for a walk by the corral," Beckett said as they all suddenly started to walk over to the stable where their horses were. "But I don't want to let him in." When they reached the doorway she went inside with Julia and Mari following close behind and to Alex who was sticking his head out of his stall. "I forgot to tell you boy," she said to him as she rubbed his nose, holding his head as he tried to nibble at her blouse. "You became a father today. I'm taking you out to see your filly so behave."

"What do you think he'll do once you get to the corral?" Castle asked her as she was taking Alex out of the stall after she'd put the bridle and reins on the stallion.

"Look at them," Beckett said simply before she led Alex out of the stable. She led the way over to the corral until she reached it and wasn't surprised when the stallion glanced inside it. "See?" she said to her husband when he was next to her as the horse did little else but look inside.

"Do they know their offspring?" Castle asked.

"I'm not sure," Beckett said honestly. "I never thought about that to be honest."

"I hope he does," Julia said then.

"Wait Mommy," Eliza said after a few minutes and her mother started to turn back to the stable.

"That's enough sweetie," Beckett replied. "I need to take him back so he can eat."

"We can't ride?" Julia asked softly.

"Not really," Beckett said though her voice was slow.

"I think you three can," Castle said since she was looking at him. "We'll head back and order dinner on the way in one car."

"We'll fit," Martha said, smiling as she watched Dani petting Alex since she was standing next to him with the baby in her arms.

"Are you sure," Beckett said, looking at Eliza.

"We're sure," Castle said. "Don't worry we'll take care of everything just get home by…" he said as he turned his wrist so he could check the time. "Eliza," he said in a mock warning tone of voice as she was covering it with her hands. He kissed her as she giggled before pulling away and he said, "Get home by six thirty."

"We will," Beckett said with a smile. She handed the reins to Julia and after making sure she'd be okay holding Alex she went over to Castle. First she kissed Eliza before she shared one with her husband and said, "Have fun with them."

Glancing over at Dani, Castle smiled and said, "I think I will." Before she could leave him he grabbed her wrist and then pulled her to him, kissing her deeply but briefly. "Any suggestions for dinner?" he then said as she took a bit to recover.

"Chinese?" Beckett said at the same time as him. She smiled then and said, "Dim Sum please."

"Sure," Castle replied.

"Have fun," Jim was saying to Julia and Mari. "Be very careful."
"We know," the two girls said at the same time before they looked at one another with wide eyes. They were laughing together before Julia then said, "We know we need to listen to Mommy. Will you have fun?"

"Of course, we'll need to watch those two," Jim said with a smile.

"Not all of you," Beckett said as she walked over to them and took Alex from her daughter. "Have fun though Dad, whatever you do." She watched with the two girls as the others left for the parking lot and she then turned to her daughter and Mari. "We need to find Charlie," she told them.

With the girls' help they found the stable owner and had another stallion and a mare readied for them to ride which they soon did. Beckett led them down the path before she went to the side to let them pass so she could follow.

Once she'd promised her mother that she would stop with Mari at the creek Julia said to her friend, "This was so nice."

"I know," Mari said quickly. "And Dani and I get to stay so late… I wish we could spend the night."

"Another night," Beckett called from behind as she could hear them easily. "I think your parents would want you back home; especially Dani."

"This weekend?" Julia asked hopefully.

"We'll see," Beckett replied.

"I forgot to tell my parents that your dance show was in the city," Mari said after they were quiet for a little bit.

"Do you think they'd go?" Julia asked before she remembered. "Wait we were gonna spend Father's Day together."

"Your mother heard the announcement at the dance class didn't they?" Beckett called to them.

"Oh… they did," Mari said. "I hope they can get a hotel." She was going to say more when there was the text alert sound she knew belonged to Beckett's phone echoing on the trail.

"Stop girls," she told the two. She waited for them to do so and as soon they had she looked at her message. "It's from your daddy," she said to Julia. "Your grandpapa will let David and Rebecca stay that weekend we're in the city at his apartment with Dani."

"And me?" Mari asked a little shyly.

"You'll be with us at the loft," Beckett told her. "Apparently Rick called your father and he said you can be Julia's support for the competition."

"I'll say thanks to David," Julia said immediately. "That's really nice of him."

"I bet Mommy suggested it, he was just talking to your daddy," Mari said. She then realized how that sounded and she said in a rush, "But he thought it was a good idea and agreed."

Julia smiled and said, "I'm okay but…"

"Oh Julia," Mari said with a sigh. "You know how to do the dances so good already don't worry!"

"And that's why your parents suggested that," Beckett said. "Keep going you two or else we won't be able to do anything."

"What are we gonna do?" Julia asked though she and Mari started their horses.

"The rest of the trail," Beckett said simply. "Unless you want to just turn around and go back from the creek."

"No!" Julia said in a jokingly protesting voice.

Smiling as her friend laughed with her mother Mari waited until they'd stopped and asked, "What dances are you doing?"

At first Julia looked at her friend in confusion as she'd been at the class and knew but then realized why she said that. "Hold on," she told her. "We're almost at the creek."

When they'd reached the water Beckett told the girls to wait for her before she dismounted and then helped them. Leading the horses to water with them she waited until they were drinking and she said, "Tell us sweetie."

Smiling at her mother as she leaned against her Julia said, "There are six dances this time."

"Six?" Beckett asked in shock. "Oh sweetie-"

"No Ms. Grey said that Peter and I are ready," Julia said quickly. "And that's why she signed us up."

"Is everyone else okay with it?" Beckett asked, directing that to Mari.

"Yep everyone knows they're more serious about dancing than the rest of us," the little girl replied with a smile. "So no one cares that they're the ones always in the competitions."

"Do you want to still know about the dances?" Julia asked jokingly.

"Go ahead," Beckett replied.

"The Foxtrot, Argentine Tango," Julia said before she smiled at her mother.

"Yes we'll practice with you two," Beckett replied with a laugh.

"Good, you need to practice," Julia told her mother firmly. "And then we have the Viennese Waltz, Paso Doble, Jive and last the Samba."

"No Cha-Cha?" Beckett asked.

"Not this time but that's okay. We have some good dances," Julia said.

"Don't be nervous sweetie," Beckett said. "You love those dances, Peter loves those dances-"

"And so does Mari," Julia interrupted her mother with a smile.

"I do," Mari said with a soft laugh. "But I'm not dancing, that's you and Peter."

"Are we gonna go?" Julia asked after a moment.

"Do you two want to?" Beckett asked with a smile as she ran her hand over the back of her daughter's head.

"Could we go in the creek?" Julia asked hopefully.

"Take off your shoes and socks," Beckett said as Mari had the same expression as Julia's tone was conveying. She watched them take off their things and was going to continue to do so when Julia turned to her.

"You're not gonna come with us Mommy?" the girl said, turning to her with a smile.

"You want me to?" Beckett asked them. When they both nodded she then said, "Alright but we're not going to stay for too, too long."

"Think Daddy misses you right now?" Julia asked her mother.

"A little but he knows I'm coming home," Beckett replied as she took off her socks after getting her boots set aside. "And so you know he misses you too."

"Not as much as you," Julia said simply before she then took her mother's hand while her friend was taking the other on her other side. They went down to the water and she and Mari splashed in it before they let go of Beckett's hands.

"Easy on the splashing," she told the girls as she stayed near the shore to watch them.

"We know but it's warm Mommy," Julia told her.

"I don't want you riding back soaking wet," Beckett replied. "It can't be good for the saddles."

Nodding Julia turned to her friend and said, "Practice?"

"Yep," Mari said simply before they laughed together and then began to move together in Foxtrot steps.

"I'm watching," Beckett told her daughter when she paused and looked back over her shoulder at her.

Julia nodded and then smiled before she turned back to look at Mari and she said, "Maybe we should wait to dance on dry land."

"I know we're splashing a lot," the little girl replied laughingly. "So what do we do now?"

"Go back?" Julia said, about to speak before she remembered her mother and glanced back at her.

"Mmm-hmm," Beckett said. "Come on."

"Oh Mommy," Julia said as she and Mari followed her onto the sand of the shore. "What about swimming?"

"We might do that tomorrow," Beckett replied.

"What if we went right now?" Julia asked.

"Do you want to turn around from here?" Beckett replied with a question. The girls both nodded and she said, "Good because we need to get your swimming stuff Mari."

"Let's go," Julia said as they tried to dry their feet the best they could. When they had their shoes back on she went to the stallion she was riding and she rubbed its neck while her mother helped Mari up onto the mare. "Is that why Daddy ordered dinner?" she asked as Beckett came over to her.

"He might have remembered," she answered. "Up you go," Beckett then told her before helping her onto the saddle. After she was sure that her daughter and Mari were set she went to Alex and climbed up before she watched the two head back the way they'd come.

"I wish we could gallop," Mari confessed to Julia.

"Not this time," Beckett told them. "Another time and when you have a little more experience with galloping Mari."

"My mommy says the same thing," the little girl replied before she giggled softly.

"You'll have enough," Beckett told her reassuringly. She listened to the girls ahead of her again talking together about what they would do when swimming and she wasn't surprised when their conversation soon went to their weekend in the city the next month and the competition.

"Will we be able to see everyone?" Julia then asked her mother.

"Hold on," Beckett said as she said that right when they got to the stables. She helped the girls down and once they were set she told them, "Want to help me with Alex?"

"What about these two?" Mari asked, motioning to the stallion and mare.

"Thank you Rory," Beckett said to the stable hand who'd walked over to them. When they'd left she led Alex to the building and his stall where she had the girls wait outside until she was sure he'd be steady with them in there. "Okay, come on you two," she said as she opened the stall door for them. "Don't move too quickly Mari," she said since it was the little girl's first time.

"I won't," Mari said, trying not to become too nervous as she knew the horse would pick up on it.

Taking off the saddle and saddle blanket Beckett then began to rub Alex down with his brush before she watched Julia reach into the feed trough to grab some oats. "Not too much," she said quickly in case the girl was going to get some more.

"I know," Julia said quickly before she split her handful between herself and Mari. They took turns feeding the stallion before she said to her mother, "What about something to drink?"

"He has water," Beckett replied, moving around to the other side of the stallion and continuing to brush his side.

"No I mean for us," Julia replied.

"What do you have in mind sweetie?" Beckett asked a little absently.

"What about some smoothies," Julia said. "Mari didn't try that place yet."

Beckett laughed softly as she moved to Alex's neck before she said, "You're just using that as an excuse."

"It's a good place though," Julia said to her friend.

"We'll go," Beckett replied. "Alright, he's done we need to wash our hands and then go before our dinner gets too cold."

"Daddy didn't take it home?" Julia asked in surprise.

"No, he probably asked for it to be delivered," Beckett replied simply before she then hugged Alex around the neck. "Beautiful ride boy," she told him lovingly. "We'll go for a run next time and I'll do my best to make sure we jump." When Alex neighed and shook his head she laughed briefly saying, "With Julius, I promise." Another neigh and she pulled back saying, "Do you really think Rick isn't going to be there either?"

"What did you promise?" Julia asked as she and Mari stepped out of the stall ahead of her mother so she could close the door.

"That we'd run when we go for a ride next time," Beckett said as they walked over to the sink. She then thought of something and said, "You know I was thinking of going with you tomorrow morning Julia."

"I can ride Julius and gallop," the girl said quickly as she loved that idea.

"You'll have to get up early and we'll be eating breakfast together too before you go home for a shower," Beckett said. "And me too."

"That's okay," Julia said.

Beckett smiled as she shook her head and said, "Wash your hands and let's go." After she'd made sure the two had done so well enough; and her own hands were cleaned; she led them to the corral where they watched Marie for a while.

When they were inside the car heading out of the parking lot Mari said, "Think I can ask something Kate?"

"Go ahead," Beckett said, wondering why the girl sounded so shy.

"Tell me a story about Julia, when she was little and you were in the city," Mari said, looking at her friend next to her.

"Oh Mommy…" Julia groaned.

"Don't worry," Beckett said, not sure then why she had a flashback already. But she had a story so she began with, "It was a couple months after she turned four," smiling to herself as it had been very shortly after she had adopted her oldest. As she spoke about the way she and Julia had had a little tussle about her going to bed though it had been done jokingly.


Looking at the screen of her mother's phone Julia saw letters on it and said, "Mommy it says I can wake up."

"You mean stay awake," Beckett said, looking at her daughter as she poured some pineapple juice to drink later. "And no it doesn't."

"Yeah-huh," Julia protested. When her mother started to walk over to her she giggled and then put the phone in the pocket on her pajama shirt, running around the couch where she ducked down.

"Julia Beckett," Beckett told her daughter though tone of voice was teasing. "Come here so your mommy can read her message."

After a while and her mother didn't look behind the couch Julia climbed out and then handed her mother her phone. "What does it say?" she asked.

"It's from Castle," Beckett replied, taking her daughter onto her lap. "He wants to talk to me later."

"Why not now Mommy?" Julia asked.

"Because he wants to talk to me…" Becket said before her daughter was pressing the letters on the screen. "Sweetie," she said simply.

"Sorry," Julia giggled softly.

"He wants to talk when you're in bed so we can spend time together," Beckett told her.

"You and Castle?" Julia asked.

"No you and me my little one," Beckett said, kissing her temple as her daughter giggled softly. "So we will talk later and now you need to get into bed."

"No!" Julia cried before she tried to jump off her mother's lap. She then gave a squeal as Beckett stood up with her in her arms but then calmed down saying, "Do you love me Mommy?"

"Oh sweetie, so much," Beckett said. She had reached her daughter's room and sitting down on the edge of the bed she cradled her. "I was never happier than when I became a mother," she said, kissing her forehead tenderly.

"Me too," Julia said with a giggle. "Mommy?"

"Yes sweetie?" Beckett asked, gently rocking her then.

"Can we have a family?" Julia then asked.

"We have one," Beckett said. "Me and you. And if it's okay Castle too." She wasn't surprised when her daughter looked unsure and she said, "Maybe later but why don't we include your grandpapa?"

"Your daddy?" Julia asked. When her mother nodded she then said, "Kay but you and me Mommy. Forever?"

"Forever my little one," Beckett told her. She then continued to rock her as she'd paused and then hummed a song gently until Julia was asleep. Moving she then tucked her in but once the little girl was set she sat back down on the edge, facing her and watching her, holding her tiny hand in her own. And in doing that she felt her words true more than ever, wondering what forever would be like as a mother to her daughter she loved deeply.


"That's a cute story," Mari said when Beckett had finished it after they'd left the smoothie shop with their drinks. "Do you remember that?" she asked her friend.

"A little bit," Julia said. "I remember not wanting to go to bed a lot. Sorry Mommy."

"Don't worry, I did the same thing when I was your age," Beckett replied. "Drink a little so the smoothie doesn't leak."

"Okay," Julia said, sipping her drink. She saw that Mari was doing the same and she asked her, "How is it?"

"You can taste the mango and strawberries. You had this in California?" the little girl asked Beckett.

"We had a smoothie like it," she said in response. "It had dates and other things too."

"Was it good?" Mari asked.

"Delicious," Beckett said, smiling as both girls giggled. She watched them taste each other's drinks and said, "We should get home before the smoothies melt for everyone else."

After they were in the car and heading back home Mari asked, "What about Dani, she can't drink any."

"She can have a very small taste," Beckett answered. "I'm sure your dad would do that."

Giggling Mari nodded and said, "Yeah and yours too," directing the last to Julia.

"Of course," the little girl said with a soft laugh. "Dads do that." The car was quiet then and she said to her mother, "Does Daddy know I love him?"

"Don't worry," Beckett said, looking in the rearview mirror at her daughter. "He knows you weren't sure about him but now he's your daddy and you love him as much as your sisters do."

"I do… should I say that to him?" Julia asked.

"If you want to," Beckett said simply. She soon reached the gate to the house and she opened it before she said, "I wonder how he was with Eliza and Dani."

"Me too."

"Me too," Julia said after Mari had. "We'll see now right?"

"Of course, hurry so we can go swimming and let's hope your parents brought your things Mari," Beckett said as she'd texted them when they'd needed to wait at the smoothie place. With that the girls nearly flew out of the car and she took in the drinks with them so they could rejoin their families they could hear laughing together in the family room.