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: Great to get the feedback that I received for the last chapter so will get to my thank yous for that! vetgirlmx (Happy to see first off that you thought it was a very, very nice chapter. Not surprised you were laughing at Castle thinking that their suspect might be dead, or that you thought he could be as well, lol, thought that might happen. And the fingerprint will be addressed later on to let you know. I had wondered what you might think of the birth of the filly since I know you are a vet so you have to have seen that happening. I've seen it too but way back in school when I took a vet sciences class but I still remember what it was like. And it can be beautiful and definitely impressive I agree with you on that. I couldn't not have them take the girls to see the pony, lol, that would be cruel since they knew about the future pony ahead of time. Really happy that you enjoyed the flashback and you're right, things have changed from them big time; it's why I put those in to remind readers and myself too, lol, how far Julia's come since those days. But I'm really happy you like how things are better now, great to hear. And not surprised either you were worried Julia was going to ask about her birth father or that you're not looking forward to that subject coming up; if it ever does. But very pleased seeing that you can't wait to read more of this story and now you don't need to anymore!), TORONTOSUN (It was great to read that you liked how Brad was in reaction to Castle and Beckett when they get in the mode when they're investigating as you mentioned. And really happy to see you always like the moments Beckett has with Julia like in the chapter since I love writing those myself!) and Mb (Hello again! And thank you again for trying to catch up with my series; I know it can't be easy especially with everything you've got going on when you mentioned it. I appreciate you trying to do that with my stories even with all of that! You're very welcome for continuing to write my series; just to let you know I'm writing the twenty-eighth story of the series so I'm still going with it. And yeah, I see Castle and Beckett strong apart but I always knew that as long as they were together they would be, as you said, unbreakable. As long as they were together too, lol, can't see them really apart it just wouldn't work to me. Very happy that you see they're still strong, passionate a loving with each other as I can't write them not being that way with one another. And also that they're the same with their family and friends. So happy you think it's beautifully written, means a lot to hear that! You're very welcome for posting the stories here, I'm glad to do so!). Thanks so much for your reviews, I enjoyed reading each one of them 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 Sat Singing by George Harrison, from the rejected track listing of his album Somewhere in England.

The Sun Has Sunken Low

"No Dani you don't eat that," Eliza was saying to the baby as she took the foam block that Rebecca had given to them in the baby's diaper bag. "Daddy she ate it," she told Castle who was with her along with Jim.

"That's what babies do sweetheart," Castle told her with a smile. "I don't think you're going to have much luck stopping her."

Sighing Eliza said, "Should I give it to her?"

"Go ahead or she's going to cry," Jim said.

Though she had some misgivings Eliza did so and then watched the baby chew a little on it. "How old is she now Daddy?" she asked.

"Sixteen months," Castle replied. "Well not quite, at the end of the month she'll be that old."

"So what is she?" Eliza asked.

"Fifteen months," Jim replied. He watched as Eliza got up then and went to him making him ask, "Are you bored playing with her?"

"Little bit," Eliza replied as her grandfather wrapped his arms around her. "I wish she played with me."

"She will if you don't stop," Castle told her as he'd gone quickly to the floor to be with Dani. "Come here and let's build something with her."

"Go on," Jim told Eliza as he saw she looked a little hesitant.

"Kay," the little girl said, joining her father. She watched Dani as they were building a tower, surprised when the baby turned her attention to it. "Do we use that?" she asked Castle uncertainly as Dani held out the block she'd been chewing on to her.

"Have her put it down in front of our tower," Castle said. "It's the entrance."

After she'd done that Eliza said, "What about Mommy and Jules?"

"They'll be here soon," Castle said. "You're not jealous are you?"

"No I can't go yet," Eliza said.

"But I'm sure you soon will kiddo," Martha said, coming into the room. "If you're anything like your parents; which of course you are; then it will be soon."

"I hope so," Eliza said. She then noticed out of the corner of her eye that Dani was reaching out for the tower and she tried to tell her to stop before the baby knocked down what they'd built.

"Babies do that all the time," Martha said, wondering if the little girl was going to get angry.

"I did that?" Eliza asked after she giggled as Dani was looking at her with wide eyes.

"All the time," Castle commented as he grabbed the baby when she then started to crawl to him. "You should ask your sister she'll tell you."

Eliza smiled but her attention was then distracted when Dani started to stand up with Castle's help and she began to babble. "Does that mean Mari?" she asked her father as the baby had said, "Ma-ee."

"It is, she's looking for me," the little girl said as she came up to the doorway with Julia.

"Mommy!" Eliza cried as Dani was squealing seeing her sister.

Picking up her youngest Beckett said, "Did you have fun with Dani?"

"Yep but she doesn't play a lot," Eliza replied though she was smiling widely.

"Well she's still little so you need to let her grow up just enough," Beckett replied.

"We did build a tower," Castle said as Mari was holding her little sister.

"But she knocked it down," Eliza quickly added when her mother set her down on the ground.

"We still had fun," Castle said quickly to his wife before they kissed each other.

"A lot," Eliza said firmly, nodding her head.

"So now what?" Julia asked her parents.

"Dinner?" Eliza asked.

"I thought you wanted to go swimming?" Beckett said to her oldest.

"Oh yeah," Julia said with a gasp.

"I almost forgot too," Castle told his daughter. "David came over with your swim things Mari."

"We'll get changed," Beckett said, taking the baby from Mari.

"I can carry her," the little girl protested.

"Up the stairs?" Beckett asked with a smile.

"Oh," Mari said. "My parents won't let me take her up those."

"Probably better to be safe than sorry," Castle said, coming up behind them.

"Mommy we can change ourselves and help Eliza," Julia said when they'd reached her room.

"Are you sure?" Beckett asked her seriously.

"Yep, super sure," Julia said before her mother started to laugh.

"Alright as long as you're okay with it," Beckett said as she set down the bag with the Foster girls' things on the bed. "But if you have any problems-"

"You can ask me darling," Martha said as she and Jim had gone upstairs as well.

"We will," Julia said before looking at her parents.

"We'll hurry," Castle said before he took his wife's hand and they left. When they were in their room he asked, "Did she ask about the case?"

"No," Beckett said in surprise as she realized that.

"Really?" Castle said as he looked at her with slightly widened eyes.

"Yeah… well I guess we know how to make her happy again," Beckett said. "And before you ask I didn't get anything from Brad."

"I would have too," Castle replied simply. He then watched her begin to take off her clothes before she paused in only her bra and panties and he said, "Something wrong."

"Rick. Clothes. Now," Beckett said in a stern tone. When he merely sat down on her edge of the bed with a smile she sighed and said, "That doesn't work anymore does it?"

"You need to say my last name; the first doesn't work that well," Castle replied. But when she gave him a look he jumped and said, "And away the clothes go."

Beckett shook her head though she was smiling at the same time as she couldn't help it at the slightly panicked expression on his face. She then got into her bikini and waited for him to finish which he did soon after before they left to check on the girls to make sure they were alright.

"How long are we gonna swim?" Eliza was asking her big sister after she and Mari had changed while she herself was watching Dani.

"I don't know," Julia said as she turned to let Mari zip her sundress that she was wearing over her bathing suit. Turning to do the same for her friend she then said, "Are you gonna take that one to Ireland?"

"Mommy said I will," Mari replied. "So I don't know why she packed it."

Julia shrugged before she heard footsteps approaching the room and she looked with her friend and little sister to the doorway before Castle and Beckett appeared. "Ready?" she asked before either of them could say anything.

"Yes," Beckett said, going over to the bed and picking Dani up. "You're ready right?" she asked Eliza who had reached out to her.

"Yeah," the little girl said. "You can't carry me too?"

"I think she'll have a hard time," Castle said. "And you don't want her to hurt her back," he added as he picked her up. "Let's go before we lose daylight."
"That's not gonna happen for a while," Mari pointed out as they left the room.

"Then let's go before dinner gets here," Castle said. He wasn't surprised when the girls laughed and then glanced over at Dani to see what she was doing. A smile appeared on his face when he saw the baby was curling her fingers around a lock of his wife's hair and he wanted to comment on that but Eliza was then struggling to get out of his arms as they'd reached the end of the stairs.

"Where's Martha?" Beckett asked her father since he'd been waiting for them at the end of the stairs.

"I'm here and ready to lounge by the pool," Castle's mother said coming down from the stairs.

Walking out together to the pool Beckett set Dani down on a lounge chair and took off the baby's sundress that had been in the bag with her bathing suit. "Mari…" she started to say, looking before the little girl was suddenly next to her. With her watching her little sister Beckett waited for her husband to come over to her so he would unzip her sundress. With that off she took the sunscreen her father handed to her and then began to get the girls covered in it.

"We're ready now?" Castle asked then when he saw everyone was finished. When Beckett merely picked Dani up he said to the three girls who were watching them, "I think that's a yes… whoa sweetheart."

"Daddy!" Eliza cried out when her father held onto her as she almost started to run.

"Eliza," Beckett said as she turned back.

Sighing the little girl relaxed and let her father help her into her vest before she asked, "When can I stop wearing it Daddy?"

"When you're really good at swimming," Castle said.

"I had to wear my vest for a while," Julia told her sister. "So you have to too."

Though she was frustrated Eliza finally shrugged and took her father's hand before they followed the others to the steps. "Can I jump?" she asked her parents as Beckett was sitting on the first step with Dani standing in front of her.

"Why don't we wait until we get our feet wet?" Beckett suggested. She smiled when Eliza didn't seem to register that she was going to wait, instead turned her attention to Dani, kneeling on the step in front of her.

While Julia and Mari were going off the steps into the water Castle sat next to his wife, watching as Eliza was trying to teach Dani to splash just the top of the water with her hands. "She might not get it," he warned his youngest.

"I know," Eliza replied simply as the baby was splashing them all fully and laughing wildly. "She likes it."

"I think so," Beckett said with a smile as she then watched her father swim from the other end of the pool to them.

"Grandpapa!" Eliza said, going to him. "Wait," she said as he held her. "What about Gram?"

"I'm fine darling, go swimming with your grandfather," Martha called from the chair she was sitting on.

"Let her rest sweetie," Beckett told her daughter. She took Dani back onto her lap as her father left with Eliza and she wrapped her arms around the baby before saying, "This was a good idea," to her husband since he was still with her.

"I guess we should thank Julia for thinking of it," Castle replied, looking on with her as the baby reached out to grab at the water. He then thought of something and said, "What're you going to do tomorrow morning now she's seen Marie?"

"We're going to ride," Beckett replied. "Wednesday morning will be you and me."

"Oh really?" Castle asked in slight amusement.

"Yes," Beckett said firmly. She then glanced at him and said, "Unless you don't want to go."

"Don't answer for me," Castle told her teasingly. "How much would we be able to ride?"

"A bit," Beckett said. When her husband looked at her in slight surprise she then said, "I'm not sure, we need to see when we get to that day."

"Alright you're okay with her?" Castle asked. When his wife nodded he then dove into the water carefully before swimming away. He avoided the others in the pool before he then reached the deep end and then came up to hold onto the edge looking back. He was startled when he saw his mother was taking Dani from Beckett before his wife stepped down into the water and started to swim towards him.

"I wasn't expecting that," Beckett said once she was holding onto the edge of the pool.

"I guess she thought you'd want to swim," Castle said before they looked over at their daughters who were in the shallow end with Jim and Mari. "Should we talk to her about the case?" he asked his wife in a low tone of voice.

"I don't think so," Beckett replied. "Unless she asks we shouldn't talk about it until the case is solved." She looked back from their oldest and said, "Come on."

Castle was a little surprised but then he ducked under and followed her over to the girls and her father. "Hey, you guys don't seem to be swimming," he told the three teasingly.

"We're playing first," Eliza said.

"I guess so," Castle replied before the little girl was then climbing up outside of the pool, Macca rushing to her. "Where's Rita?" he asked before he turned and then saw that the dog was near his mother who was sitting on the outside of the pool.

"Daddy," Eliza called to get his attention. "I wanna jump!"

"Go ahead," Beckett said, giving a quick smile to her husband. "I can catch you too." She wasn't surprised when the little girl jumped out then and she waited for the water to cover her head before she then picked her up quickly. "Good?" she asked Eliza who was wiping the water off her face.

"Yeah," the little girl replied with a wide smile. "Why don't you jump?"

"I would have to go to the end," Beckett replied. "So I'm fine for now."

Nodding Eliza then made her mother let her go and she swam over to Julia, holding onto her back. "Can we go to the end?"

"Not you sweetie," Beckett told her before she went to them. "But we can play a game."

"I wanna swim first," Eliza said firmly.

"Then we better get started," Castle said. He went to the girls and took Eliza on his back before swimming out to the middle of the pool, turning to find Beckett there. "Is this a good spot?"

"Who's swimming back with her?" Beckett asked him.

"You Mommy," Eliza said, pointing to her.

"We can go too," Julia said, swimming over with Mari.

"Alright go ahead," Beckett said, watching as Castle got their youngest off his back. "No racing you two," she said to Julia and Mari.

"We won't," Julia said with a laugh.

"Not with Eliza," Mari added. She splashed her friend back when she'd done so to her and once they'd stopped they waited for Eliza and Beckett to start swimming before they followed the two to the steps.

"She seems to be very fascinated," Martha commented.

"Eliza was the same way," Beckett said, letting Dani take her hand. "Do you want to go back to your chair?"

"Oh no we're doing wonderfully here," Martha said. "But I get the feeling that we don't have much longer."

"She's right," Castle said as the others looked at him since he was looking at his watch. "We've got twenty minutes so let's make the most of them."

"Let's get the ball to play with," Julia told Mari quickly before they were getting out.

After playing a little volleyball with the girls Castle and Beckett ushered Julia and Mari to the steps where Beckett picked up Dani.

"Enough you two," Beckett said firmly to her daughter and Mari who were begging to go back in. "We've been swimming for a while."

Sighing Julia said, "What do we do now?"

"Take showers and clean up so we don't need to do it later tonight," Castle said. He wasn't surprised when the girls looked pleased at that idea and then rushed into the house. "I'm good like that," he told his wife.

"Stop smirking," Beckett said though she was smiling at him. "Can you-"

"Don't forget about us Katie," Jim said, interrupting his daughter.

"You need to change too," Beckett replied.

"It won't take us very long," Martha then said. "You can get Dani ready while you wait for us."

"Alright," Beckett said, seeing her husband wasn't going to comment on that. "Girls go on inside."

"I'll wait out here," Castle said. When his wife looked at him he merely smiled back and said, "Yes?"

Rolling her eyes as she didn't really want to comment on that Beckett then ushered the three in front of them into the room and she said, "Do you mind if one of your grandparents gives you your bath today?" directing that to Eliza.

"Nope," the little girl said with a wide smile.

"Okay," Beckett said as she set Dani down on the bed. "Can, oh thank you Mari," she said when the little girl put the outfit that her sister had been wearing next to her.

"Daddy can come inside," Julia said then.

"You two need to go into the shower," Beckett said simply.

"We should hurry," Julia told her friend.

"Not that quickly please," Beckett said to them with a smile as she was taking the bathing suit off the baby. She glanced at them as they took their clothes into the bathroom and then got some towels before the door closed.

"Mommy?" Eliza said when she and her mother were alone with Dani who was soon dressed. "How come I don't take a shower too?"

"It'll be too crowded," Beckett said. "There's your grandpapa," she said when there was a knock outside. "Go with him and let him help you with your bath."

"Have fun sweetheart," Castle said to Eliza as she passed him to go to Jim. He wasn't surprised when she quickly hugged him before taking her grandfather's hand. "Kate," he then called as his mother walked up to him.

"She's ready," Beckett said as she stepped out, handing Dani over to her mother in law. "And they're taking a shower," she said with a nod to the room.

"Oh, I should have called in there," Castle said while he and Beckett were walking to their room. "Alexis texted me she's going to a study group tonight so she'll try to get to us tomorrow."

"Did you tell her what happened?" Beckett asked.

"She texted Julia's phone and she'll talk to her via that if she wants to," Castle replied. "Do you think we should let her?"

"A little," Beckett said. "And I'll text Alexis to let us know if she needs to stop."

"Talk when they take a break you mean?" Castle asked. When his wife nodded he then turned his attention to the door to close it, looking at her questioningly. His eyes widened when she nodded again and he said, "You-"

"No not yet," Beckett said. "Just so we can move around."

"Okay," Castle said with a nod. He followed her over to the bathroom and undressed with her though it didn't take him long to do that. Smiling he then watched her take off the bottoms of her bikini and he said, "Are you alright?"

"I am," Beckett said with a smile as she waited for him to turn on the water. "Frustrated."

"Oh?" Castle asked her.

"I wanted a longer ride," Beckett replied simply before she then stepped into the stall. She smiled when he followed rapidly and as soon as he was there with her she wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him deeply before he began to respond quickly after.

When they'd parted Castle pressed a few kisses to her neck before he then said, "If we get up early enough on Wednesday…"

"We'll see how we are after tomorrow night," Beckett said simply. She wasn't surprised when he stared at her but she brushed her lips against his telling him, "Let's finish."

"Sure," Castle said though he was a little delayed in that response. He helped her washing her hair and allowed her to help him, a little surprised when she had them wash each other at the same time. Though he guessed she did want them to hurry it was pushing him and he had to struggle a bit to not go too far. Luckily he was able to keep himself under control enough to step out of the shower with her. But when she glanced back at him he said, "I'm not apologizing."

"I wasn't expecting you to," Beckett said with a slight smile. "I just want to get back to the girls."

"Sure," Castle said. When she gave him a second look he said quickly, "Of course I want to too."

"Good save," Beckett told him teasingly before they then began to dry one another off. They went out to the bedroom and she dressed before she said to her husband, stopping him before they got to the door, "You should probably calm down."

"No I'm alright," Castle assured her. He then took her hand and after he'd kissed the back of it told her, "Let's go."

With a nod Beckett let him lead the way but as they were going to Julia's room she told him about the story that she'd told Mari as they were going to the smoothie place. "That really took me back," she said as they stopped in the doorway.

"I can imagine it would," Castle replied as they looked at the empty room. "Think they're hungry?" he asked her.

"Probably but they know they're not going to eat until dinner gets here," Beckett said. They went together to the stairs to find the others and she told him, "She doesn't remember too, too much of that night."

"Are you okay?" Castle asked then as he realized what she might be thinking with that.

"Oh I'm fine, I prefer that to her remembering further," Beckett said simply and quietly. They were at the bottom of the stairs and when she saw where their family was exactly she said, "The food is still a few minutes away."

"They're thirsty," Martha said. "But what are we going to do about Dani?"

"She'll sit on my lap," Beckett answered.

"I can take her too," Castle reminded her.

"We'll see when we eat," Beckett replied.

"I was surprised that they didn't bring her high chair," Jim commented. "They seemed to have brought everything else for you."

"True but if it was David he probably wanted to get back to Rebecca," Castle said before the chime for the gate rang. At that he then hurried out to the door since that was their dinner and he grabbed it before going back to the kitchen to find that the girls were all setting the table together while his wife was getting their drinks.

"How was she after school?" Beckett was asking her father as she poured out some wine for herself, Castle and Martha.

"Oh fine," Jim replied as he got some juice for himself and the girls. "She did well with the worksheets and we played with her bow and arrow set."

"I got the arrows on the good scores Mommy," Eliza said, coming over to her.

"That's good to hear," Beckett replied, kneeling slightly so she could kiss the top of her daughter's head. "It sounds like you're getting better."

"Gram said to practice," Eliza replied with a wide smile.

"And you can practice your swimming too," Julia said, walking over with Mari.

"You all can," Castle said after he'd gotten the dishes out on the island. "So who's hungry?" He tried not to laugh too hard when the girls were soon raising their hands and crying out in response to that, Eliza jumping up and down in front of him. "Alright we'll get our food now."

Once they'd all gotten what they wanted they then went over to the table and gathered around it while Castle took Dani on his lap. At first they were quiet taking their first bites and Castle and Beckett fed Dani her food they'd gotten prepared. But soon Julia was speaking and asking them, "Want to hear about how school went for us?"

"Sure," Castle said. "Don't we always hear about it?"

"I learned how to spell book," Eliza said with a smile.

"And how do you?" Beckett asked as she carefully took the fork out of Dani's grip.

"B-o-o… k," Eliza said slowly, trying to remember. She giggled and blushed when her family applauded and she then said, "It was fun."

"Did you do anything else?" Martha asked. "She didn't tell us what she got up to today," she directed to her son and daughter in law.

"We counted and then put the numbers together," Eliza replied. "Like one and five is fifteen."

"You mean you learned how to write down the numbers?" Mari asked. When Eliza nodded she said, "That's good to know."

"Yep," the little girl replied. "And then I went with Grandpapa."

"You can keep going," Julia told her sister with a smile.

"Oh, we had lunch that was yummy and then played with the bows and arrows," Eliza said in a rush. "And saw Jules dancing."

"I think it's your turn now kiddo," Martha told her middle granddaughter.

"Yep," Julia said with a smile before she talked about her class that day and what she'd learned each subject. She, Mari and her sister talked about their recess playing together and once she had finished with her dance class up until her parents had come in she said, "So it was a nice day."

"It was," Beckett replied. "I'm a little unsure of you not having homework."

"She doesn't," Mari said. "I didn't either but I'm glad so we could go see Marie. And ride."

"What?" Julia asked her friend when she saw her looking thoughtful.

"How come you picked that name?" Mari asked.

"She wanted me to think of names of queens," Beckett said with a smile when Julia looked to her. "And I just settled on Marie."

"I like your name too and it sounds like it so…" Julia said, blushing a little.

"Thanks," Mari said, beaming at her friend.

"Mommy, Daddy," Julia suddenly said, turning to them. "You have to have a lesson… practice I mean."

"We have to?" Castle asked teasingly.

"Yes," Julia said, startled when her little sister spoke at the same time as her. "So we can practice too. And then after," she said to Mari, smiling. "We can dress up and dance."

"You want to?" Mari asked. When Julia nodded she asked, "What about our sisters?"

"Dani can't really dance," Castle said a little absently as he was watching Beckett clean off the baby's mouth as she laughed and tried to grab onto her arm. "But Eliza can."

"But I don't know how," the little girl said quickly after she'd finished eating some of the Chinese broccoli on her plate.

"We'll teach you a little of the Foxtrot," Julia said quickly. "And you can dance the Waltz already remember?"

"Yeah," Eliza said thoughtfully. She smiled when the others laughed and then picked up the last of her bao left. "What about dessert?"

"I ordered your mom's favorite," Castle said, smiling at his wife as she was sipping her wine.

"Oh?" Beckett said, raising her eyebrow slightly though there wasn't any irritation in her tone.

"Yep I was hungry for it myself," Castle replied easily. "But after dinner," he then directed quickly to the girls who were watching him; as well as his and Beckett's parents.

"Right when we finish?" Julia asked hopefully.

"After we wait a little," Beckett answered before her husband could say anything. She smiled when he glanced to her and she took Dani from him; so she could press a kiss to his cheek; and then said, "Play with the dogs a little before we dance."

"While you clean up?" Mari asked carefully, watching them.

"Exactly," Castle said.

"We'll watch them and Dani," Martha said. "If you don't need us to help you that is."

"We won't," Castle replied. "We don't have much we need to clean up."

"Mommy, Daddy can I get lunch at school tomorrow?" Julia asked them.

"I'm getting it too," Mari said quickly.

"Sure," Castle replied. "Just remind us to give you money for it tomorrow morning."

"Okay," Julia said before looking around the table at what everyone had. "Now?"

"Help us clear the table," Beckett said as Julia stood up. She smiled when her daughter nodded and she watched as she began to take her plate to the sink with Mari and then Eliza in tow.

"Or they can clear the table," Castle said. "With my help," he added with a smile when Beckett looked to him. "Stay love," he told her as he stood. He placed his hand on her shoulder and bent to kiss her cheek before he took the rest of the plates to the sink.

"Want us to get the cups?" Julia said.

"I've got it," Beckett said, walking over. "They said they're going to watch Dani love," she said to her husband, meaning their parents. "Go and play with the dogs, they're waiting for you," she then directed to the girls who were standing and watching them.

"Come on we should play fetch with them," Julia said.

"But they're gonna fight Jules," Eliza said as she hurried after her big sister and Mari to the family room where the dogs' toys were.

"Not if we throw two of them," Julia said firmly. "See? Take this one of Rita's," she said after handing the stuffed dinosaur to Eliza. "And I'll get this one that's Macca's," she said, showing her the stuffed goose she'd grabbed.

Following the two Mari asked, "What can I do?"

"Hold Rita for us," Julia answered as they went to the foyer together with the dogs running after them. "That way they know what they're gonna get."

"Why doesn't Rita go first?" Eliza asked as her sister prepared to throw Macca's toy.

"She's littler," Julia replied. "Ready?" she then said to Mari who was holding Rita by hugging her around the neck. At her friend's nod she then tossed the toy down the hall, seeing that her grandparents were standing at the kitchen watching them. She wondered what her parents were doing but then watched Macca slide a little on the floor when he approached where his toy had landed. She seemed to suddenly remember her friend and said, "Okay?"

"Yeah she wanted to go too," Mari said with a laugh as she pet Rita to calm her down. "You should let her go now."

"As soon as he comes back," Julia said. "Macca," she called to the dog. Luckily he came back to her with the toy and let her take it. "Good boy," she said, scratching behind his ears. "Now you can throw it Lizzy," she said to her little sister.

"Think they'll want to stop?" Beckett asked her husband with a smile as she watched Eliza throwing the toy for Rita.

"Yes because you know how serious Julia is about us dancing," Castle said, handing her one of the glasses that he'd finished washing. "Or are you saying that because you don't want to dance?"

"I don't mind," Beckett said. "But we should probably work on the Foxtrot."

"No Argentine Tango?" Castle asked jokingly. He wasn't surprised when his wife glanced at him and said, "We need to dance Kate."

Sighing Beckett said, "We will."

"And we will now," Castle replied as she finished drying the last glass. He handed her the towel he'd used to dry his hands and waited for her to finish before they then walked to the others who were in the hall. "You guys ready?"

"I am," Julia said quickly.

"Put the toys away and then wash your hands," Beckett told them. "We'll check on Dani and wait for you."

"How is she?" Castle asked as they went into the family room ahead of the girls.

"Doing well," Jim said, sitting on the floor with the baby. "She seems to really enjoy these blocks."

"Those are her favorites," Mari said, waiting for Julia and Eliza.

When the girls had left them to go wash their hands Beckett said to her husband, "You're not going to play with her?"

"No," Castle said. "Stop trying to delay."

"I'm not," Beckett replied.

"Are we making you uncomfortable?" Martha asked her daughter in law.

"No I'm still not comfortable with dancing really," Beckett replied. "At least not in front of people in general."

"But we're family Mommy," Julia said, coming inside and hearing that. "And friends," she added, looking at Mari next to her. "So no one's gonna say anything mean."

Beckett smiled and then kissed her daughter's forehead before she said, "Are we going to start now?"

"Yep," Julia said, smiling widely at her mother before she then took her hand.

Jim, to get them out of the way, picked up Dani when she started to whine before she started to cry. "Mari," he said, looking to the little girl.

"Here," she said, rushing over to him and giving him the teddy bear that had been with her sister's things. "Dani," she said to her to get her attention. "Wanna play?"

Cooing a little the baby took the bear and cried out, "Mama!"

"She'll be here soon," Beckett assured her as Castle was getting the floor cleared. When she was sure that the baby was alright she turned to her husband and said, "Do you remember?"

"It was only last night love," Castle said, smiling at her.

"You're both ready," Julia said to them with a wide smile as she and Mari approached them. "Get into hold."

"I get the feeling she just wants to do this because she can order us around," Castle commented.

"I have to make sure you're doing it right Daddy," Julia said, pretending to be stern. She smiled when her parents laughed and she waited for them to stop before they got into hold.

"Are we good?" Castle asked her.

"Yep, watch your arm though Daddy," Julia said. "Want to do the steps at the same time?" she asked her friend.

Mari nodded and got into hold with her before they then began to move in the box step, watching Castle and Beckett mimicking. "Now I kinda wish my parents were here."

"They might be doing the same thing we are," Beckett told her. "Or just dancing in general."

"Oh yeah," Mari said in realization. "Now what?" she asked her friend.

"Start turning around," Julia said simply, shrugging.

"Why don't you show us again how that goes," Castle suggested after sharing a look with his wife.

"Sure, let's go," Julia told Mari. She counted them off before they began to dance together and they went around the space a little carefully so they wouldn't end up hitting anything.

"Our turn next," Castle told his wife with a slight smile before they began to try and mimic their daughter the best they could.

"Don't bend your knees too much Daddy," Julia said quickly. "It makes it harder for Mommy to keep her balance."

"Now spin her," Mari said. She wasn't surprised to look at Julia and see her friend was looking at her and said, "Why not?"

"Maybe if we ever dance this," Beckett said calmly.

"You will, when you're at the end of the classes," Julia said. She then looked at her friend and said, "I wonder why Ms. Grey didn't wait until after summer to do the classes."

"I think the studio wanted us to come back in the fall," Castle said. "Now what?"

"Now you can do the Tango," Julia replied. "Just do the steps that Ms. Grey taught you okay?"

"That's it? What about you two?" Beckett asked with a smile.

"We don't need to practice it," Julia said.

"And we want to dance… and dress up," Mari said with a smile at her friend.

"Me too," Eliza said, sitting in between her grandparents on the couch.

"Alright," Beckett said as she could see her husband looking at her. "Let's do the steps and let them play."

"Perfect," Castle said before they turned their attention to what they'd learned the night before. He watched his wife as she was turning her leg over his to flick it as they'd been taught and smiled a bit before they stopped. "Oh applause, thank you," he said, bowing at their family and Mari a few times.

"Thank you girls," Beckett said. "Now come with me so we can get your dance costumes tonight."

After they'd hurried after Julia's mother Mari asked, "Are you going to wear a dress too?"

"No I have something new that Gram brought for me to dress up in," Julia replied with a smile. When they were in the library where her costume trunk was she reached inside first and said, "It's a tuxedo that a girl wore in a play someone from Gram's class was in. Like it?"

"Yeah does it fit?" Mari asked.

"Yep, a little loose but I can still dance," Julia said. "Oh I think we're gonna have to dance without our shoes."

"I don't have mine so yeah," Mari said, looking into the trunk with Julia then.

Unable to help smiling Beckett said, "It's probably better if you go without shoes."

"Good," Eliza said with a smile.

"That one?" Julia asked, smiling as she saw the Civil War era dress that her sister picked out.

"I think I'm gonna wear one like it," Mari said. "It's easier to dance with."

"Put those on over your clothes girls," Beckett said as she went to Eliza and took her dress. "They're loose enough for that."

"How long until my parents get us?" Mari asked.

"You have…" Beckett started to say before she checked her watch. "You have two hours."

"That's a long time," Eliza said seriously.

"Yes we can play a game," Beckett said with a smile. "But don't rush through your dancing for that."

"We won't," the girls said at the same time before they were ready and then headed downstairs with Beckett to show the others their costumes.

"Interesting choice Julia," Castle said as he saw his and Beckett's oldest first.

"Should I have worn a dress?" the girl asked uneasily.

"Mother," Castle said as he saw the look she was giving him. He then turned to Julia and told her, "Did you want to wear one?" She shook her head at that so he said, "Then you don't need to."

"Thanks," Julia said with a smile before her sister and Mari came into the room behind her.

"You can wear what you'd like sweetie," Beckett said, putting her hand on her daughter's back. "A dress or trousers."

"I know, I ask if I can wear those more when I dance," Julia said.

"Which…" Castle said slowly. "Means…"

Julia merely smiled at her parents, not surprised when her mother laughed as she had expected her to figure that out.

"She means she likes both," Beckett said.

"Okay," Castle said with a nod. "Like her mom."

"Whatever we feel like wearing Rick," Beckett said easily before she took his hand and they went to sit on the couch with their parents.

"You look great," Jim was telling Eliza as he was taking Dani at the same time when the baby went to him. "You're ready to dance?"

"Almost," Julia said as she went to her mother.

"Hold on," Beckett replied, handing her phone to her husband. At that moment Dani was trying to walk to her and she reached out to be able to take her, setting her down on her lap.

"Whenever you're ready," Castle told them.

"Go," Julia said, getting into hold for the Viennese Waltz with Mari. When the classical music began she and her friend began to dance before they suddenly stopped.

"No?" Castle asked in surprise. When Julia rushed to him he said in mock indignity, "You can just ask!"

Julia couldn't help laugh at her father's tone but she didn't say anything until she got to the song she wanted. "Play that when we're ready."

"Did you suggest that one?" Beckett asked with a smile as she looked at the screen of the phone.

"Yep, Ms. Grey is gonna try to use it for the competition and also for the class," Julia answered. She wasn't surprised when her friend looked at her questioningly and she said, "Just follow me."

"I know," Mari replied with a smile. When the song began to play she smiled a little wider as she knew it from listening to it with Julia. They began to dance and after trying to figure out the way they were going to move she soon relaxed and let her friend lead.

"She's good," Castle murmured in an aside to his wife.

Beckett didn't reply to that, merely smiled at what he said as she kept her eyes on their daughter as she and Mari whirled together around the room. When the song; Behind that Locked Door; stopped she applauded with the others but watched in amusement as the girls began to talk and literally ignored them.

"So you think we should spin more?" Julia was asking.

"Yeah but you have to watch it's not too much," Mari replied. She then realized there was applause; that had been going on for a while; and smiled at the others saying, "Thanks."

"Oh, thank you," Julia said as she realized herself then.

"So is that it?" Castle asked jokingly.

"My turn!" Eliza said, hurrying from the couch where she'd been leaning against.

"Okay, better you go back to the classical song Daddy," Julia told her father. "Ready?" she asked once they were in hold. She wasn't surprised when her sister nodded rapidly; though she looked a little nervous; and she told her, "Don't be scared," before the song began. She began the steps she'd taught Eliza, relieved when her sister quickly followed her lead and they were able to dance together though slowly.

"Wonderful job kiddo," Martha said with a smile as her youngest granddaughter went over to her at their applause.

"Yeah?" Eliza asked as she held onto her tightly.

"Of course," Jim said. "We're your grandparents we wouldn't lie to you about that."

"But I was slow," Eliza said.

"Because you're not used to dancing like your sister is," Castle reminded her. "So for you not being able to dance like that I think it worked out."

"Are you two done?" Beckett asked Julia and Mari as they were talking together.

"Could we try the Jive?" Julia asked hopefully.

"I think we can manage that," Beckett replied. "What song?"

Going over to her father Julia picked out a song on her mother's phone saying to Mari, "This one might be a little hard to dance to for you but I want to see if we can use it."

"Save Us?" Castle asked when he took the phone back from her.

"Yeah and I think we can try dancing the Foxtrot next," Julia said, going back to her friend and taking her hand.

"You have another song?" Mari asked with a smile.

"Yep," Julia replied before she looked over at her father. When he played the song she and Mari did their best though it was a little more difficult for her friend since she was a little newer to the dance. But they managed to last for as long as she and Peter would be dancing at the competition and when they stopped she said breathlessly, "That was so good!"

"Thanks," Mari said, hugging her. She then laughed and said, "I don't know how you do it," before they acknowledged the applause they were getting from the others.

"You learn to get used to it," Julia said with a smile. "Should we go again?"

"The Foxtrot," Beckett said quickly. "I think that was enough Jive for tonight." She then turned her attention to Eliza who'd gone over to her and Castle and she said, "I didn't forget about dessert; after this last dance."

"Thank you," Eliza said with a wide smile at her mother before they watched Julia and Mari dancing the Foxtrot to the Paul McCartney song.

"I'll take them up," Castle said after Julia and Mari had hugged each other after their dance. "Since you're busy with her."

"Let me take her Kate," Martha said to her daughter in law once her son had left with the three girls.

After the baby was with Castle's mother Beckett stood up and then went over to the kitchen to get their dessert, hurrying to pour some milk out too as she saw their dancing had taken some time. When she'd finished and had turned to the hall she saw that Julia was coming down it and she asked, "Okay?"

"Yeah but… will you and Daddy tell me and Mari about the case before she goes?" the girl asked a little hesitantly.

"Tell your sister to go with her grandparents because you're going to help us," Beckett told her simply. She wasn't surprised when her daughter looked relieved and she watched her meet her sister, father and friend at the bottom of the stairs. And it wasn't a surprise either when her husband walked over to her immediately. "I know," she told him as soon as he was close enough to hear her. "But we can tell her we've been looking into her life as much as possible and it might have been an accident."

"Stress that it's possible," Castle said. He glanced then at the girls before he asked her quickly, "What about her mother?"

"No," Beckett said firmly and slightly angry that he'd brought that up. She wasn't surprised when he squeezed her hand and she smiled a little at him to let him know she accepted his apology. They couldn't speak as by then Julia and Mari were approaching them and she turned to the two before saying, "Are you sure you want to know?"

"We do," Julia said, reaching out and squeezing her friend's hand a little tightly.

"Okay," Beckett said before she shared a quick glance with her husband. "First we're not going to tell you everything."

"We knew," the girls said together.

"And second," Castle said, unable to help smiling with his wife at that. "Don't mention this to your little sisters."

"We won't," the girls said, again in unison.

"What you need to know is that the victim was poisoned," Beckett said. She then thought of something and said, "I almost forgot, don't tell you classmates or friends about this." She wasn't taken aback when they nodded and she continued saying, "We also found out that she may have been poisoned by accident."

"Why?" Mari asked, too confused to be hesitant asking.

"Because there may have been someone in the architecture firm her brother belonged to that wanted to harm him," Castle said.

"Oh… her poor brother," Julia breathed. "Did you find anyone that could be a… suspect?"

"Maybe," Castle said. "But we couldn't find him so that's why we went to your class; we couldn't do much more to help."

"So you still need to work," Julia said. She then became thoughtful and said, "You tried to see everyone at the party right?"

"That's the first step," Castle said. "And good guess."

Shrugging, though she was touched by the compliment, Julia said, "It made the most sense. What else do you do?"

"We check with the victim's friends and also the brother's friends since we don't know which way it went really," Beckett said. She watched the two girls looking thoughtful and said, "We have more time until your parents will pick you up Mari; want to play a game?"

"Sure," Julia and Mari said together.

"Then help us by taking your glasses of milk," Castle said. "Be careful," he said when the two walked over to the family room then with the glasses in hand as Beckett held him back by his arm. When they were alone he picked up the tray and then he and his wife made their way slowly to the room after the girls.