Wrapping her arms around Rita's neck as she sat next to her Eliza said, "You have to wait for us to eat and then we can play."
"You need to fill out some worksheets first kiddo," Martha said, coming down the hall to her with Sydney in her arms. "Are you ready for lunch?"
"But you didn't make it yet," Eliza told her.
"No, we're just waiting for it to get here," Martha said. The baby began to whimper and she bounced her gently telling her, "It's alright your bottle is almost ready."
"Can I feed her?" Eliza asked interestedly, forgetting about lunch quickly.
"I think you're going to be busy with your own lunch sweetheart," a voice said behind her then.
"Daddy!" Eliza cried before she froze in starting to run to her father. "Jules!" she said. "But you have school… are you sick?"
"No," Julia said with a smile as Eliza then rushed to their mother who was next to her. "I'm just here to have lunch and then we have to leave."
"Are you going to school too?" Eliza asked as she was hugging her father tightly.
"We're going back to the station," Beckett answered.
"But you said you finished the case," Martha commented, handing Sydney over to her.
"We need to fill out the paperwork," Castle said, letting the baby take his hand. "But we won't take too long."
"And Rudy and his sister and brother are gonna come for dinner too," Julia then said with a smile.
"You met him?" Martha asked as they went together to the kitchen.
"Yeah…" Julia began to say.
"He was a nice guy," Beckett told her mother in law with a look, hoping she wouldn't question that further.
"Well that's wonderful to hear," Martha said, having understood what Beckett was trying to tell her nonverbally. "And I'm sure he'll be wonderful to meet tonight; along with his siblings. So what will we be having?" she then asked to distract Eliza.
"Simple," Castle said, nodding to Beckett's father in greeting. "I was thinking just some sandwiches and a salad for us all," he continued.
"What sammiches?" Eliza asked eagerly.
"You'll see," Castle replied.
"Here," Jim then said, handing his daughter the bottle he'd been preparing. "She's been hungry."
"Can you two set the table?" Beckett asked, going over to her chair quickly as Sydney was fussing in her arms.
"No plates girls," Castle said. "Just napkins and glasses."
"We can do that," Julia said quickly, looking to her sister who nodded at her.
Feeding the baby Beckett said, "Did he tell you who it was?" as her father sat next to her.
"He said their parents," Martha told her, nodding to the baby.
"They did," Beckett replied. She watched as Julia and Eliza went around the table and said, "Their… adoptive father I guess you want to call him disowned them," with a sigh.
"Even the baby?" Jim asked in surprise.
"Yes," Beckett said, shaking her head and trying not to disturb Sydney who was staring up at her.
"So what're they going to do now?" Jim asked gently.
"They're meeting back up together now," Castle said from the kitchen as he'd been able to hear their conversation. "And I'm sure they're planning something. Love," he said, directing the last to his wife. "Rocco and Dally live in the city don't they?"
"That's where the firm is," Beckett said, nodding her head. "I had a feeling they'd be doing that too."
"How can you know?" Julia asked, standing next to her mother since she and Eliza were finished with the table.
"It's just a guess," Beckett said. "But it makes the most sense."
"Lunch is ready by the way," Castle said, finishing the last sandwich.
"Sydney is done with hers," Eliza said then, looking over at the others.
"Give me a second," Beckett said, taking the towel that Martha handed her. She gently burped the baby as the others were getting the food and drinks to the table and once she had finished she handed Sydney to Martha who placed her into the bassinet that was next to the table.
"We decided to bring it down here," Jim explained with a smile. "So she wouldn't have to go into her carrier."
"We should eat," Castle told them, looking at his watch. "Some of us have appointments."
"Daddy," the girls both said with a groan as they gathered around the table.
"Should we talk about school now?" Martha asked after they'd eaten for a bit.
"Eliza should say, she already went through her day," Julia told them.
The little girl smiled when the others turned to her and she finished eating her bite of Cuban sandwich before she talked about what she'd done at school. She skipped over recess, looking at her big sister when she had finished.
"It's okay," Julia said quickly. "You couldn't play with me because I wasn't there."
"I just played with Dana and Mari in the sand," Eliza told the others. "And we were making a castle."
"Sounds like you had fun still," Julia said. "How was Mari?"
"She missed you but she was jealous too," Eliza said with a wide smile. "She wanted to see the trees and flowers. I did too, and Dana."
"They were nice and I took pictures," Julia said. "But we can see them tomorrow."
"Why… you're right," Castle started to say before he realized that she likely didn't want to remind everyone of what had happened at the gardens. "We should go in the fall, we never did that," he then said to his wife.
"True, we can try and plan something," Beckett said with a nod. After they'd finished eating shortly after she helped her husband clean up while the others went with Sydney and the dogs into the family room.
"Okay?" Castle asked her when they were finishing.
"I am, I just hope Brad can get them to talk," Beckett replied, washing the last plate. She took the towel that her husband handed her and then proceeded to dry her hands before she said, "What about you?"
"Don't worry," Castle replied. "I'm fine… why didn't Eliza react? Oh god, is she used to this now?"
"No I think she's taking the direction of her sister," Beckett told him.
"Ah that would make sense," Castle said, taking her hand and pulling her to him.
"Do you know what time it is?" Beckett said with a smile as she wrapped her arms about his neck as he held her by the small of her back.
"There's enough," Castle replied. He then said, "Do you want to spend time with her though?"
"We don't have enough time for that," Beckett replied. "But we do have… tomorrow."
"True," Castle said. "You're sure about having them over for dinner." He wasn't surprised when she closed the space between them so they kissed and quickly responded to her before he worked his tongue carefully into her mouth. As soon as he'd pulled away he said, "I'm with Julia a little bit."
"We just need to wrap things up," Beckett said easily, not surprised he'd said that. She brushed her lips against his before letting go of him and she led him to the family room where she saw their daughters were looking down at the baby. "Girls," she said carefully.
"I have to go?" Julia asked.
"You do, if you want to walk with me," Beckett said.
"Sure," Julia said before she looked at her father.
"Don't worry, I'm fine with it," Castle told her rapidly. "But come here and give me a hug first."
Racing to him Julia embraced him tightly before she said, "Try and hurry if you can."
"We will," Castle promised.
Going to her grandparents and her sister Julia hugged them all goodbye before she then waved to Sydney though she was still asleep. "Is Daddy going to pick you up?" she asked her mother after petting the dogs in passing.
"I'll text him," Beckett replied. She smiled and then said, "Did you want him to come with us?"
"No that's okay," Julia replied with a smile. "But what about you?"
"You always spy on us," Beckett said, just barely pinching her daughter as she passed her at the door in the wall.
"No I was just going to see if you were coming over," Julia replied though she was smiling. "So what're you going to do now?" she asked as they were making their way down the street to the school.
"You mean after this case?" Beckett asked. She wasn't surprised when her daughter nodded and with a smile said, "I'm not sure… We did finish the book and we don't have anything else."
"The wedding?" Julia suggested.
"We're basically finished with it," Beckett replied. "I suppose just finish whatever we might need to do with the house before we come back for fall."
"Oh yeah the painting," Julia said, squeezing her mother's hand.
"Well I think you mean getting some of the rooms back in order," Beckett told her, squeezing her hand. "But we'll see." She then said, "There's something I wanted to ask you, what did you talk about with Rudy when you were with him?"
"I said already," Julia said, looking forward. She wasn't surprised when her mother stopped her but continued looking ahead.
"Julia, look at me," Beckett told her gently, cupping her chin. "Did he say anything that made you uncomfortable?"
"Oh no!" Julia said hurriedly. "He was uncomfortable." She saw that her mother was confused so she told her about what the young man had said about his boyfriend and girlfriend. "I don't want to have two… people to date at the same time though," she said hurriedly.
"I'm not surprised," Beckett said as she took her hand so they could continue on. "But not a lot of people do that."
"They're happy?" Julia asked.
"I would imagine," Beckett replied. They soon reached the school and she went to the building that housed the office. "Hello," she said to the secretary at that large desk. "Julia Castle is coming back to class."
"That's right," the man said as he smiled at them. "Her teacher let us know she was coming in. Just sign in for her."
After she'd done so Beckett pulled Julia to her and embraced her tightly telling her, "Have a great rest of the day. We'll see you after at your dance class alright?"
"Sure but I almost forgot to say go riding with Daddy after you're done if you can," Julia said as they parted.
"We'll see," Beckett said simply. She hugged her daughter tightly one more time before she said, "You're okay?"
"Yeah I'm just glad Rudy and all of his brothers and sisters are," Julia told her with a nod. "I wish his other sister had been."
"Believe me they'll keep her memory alive," Beckett said. "After everything that happened and if you're worried Sydney won't know her sister they'll make sure she does. Try to pay attention in class okay?"
"I will, bye," Julia said, waving at her before she let a proctor lead her to the back of the office.
When she was outside the school again Beckett texted her husband and waited for him at the sidewalk until he appeared with the car.
"She's all set?" Castle asked as his wife got into the car.
"Mmm-hmm," Beckett said simply. When he drove away from the curb she said, "I'm surprised she's doing so well."
"Likely because she saw Rudy," Castle replied. "He must have helped her. And also because we're okay."
"Probably," Beckett said, watching as they got closer to the station.
"What're you thinking?" Castle asked, having glanced at her at her tone.
"No just trying to think of what they'll say at confession," Beckett replied. "Their explanation."
"Since we already have their motive," Castle said grimly as his wife had told him about what Mrs. Radcliff had said.
Beckett wanted to comment on that but they were pulling into their usual parking spot and they got out, walking briskly together inside the building where they found Brad in his office. "So how did it go?" she asked.
"They didn't talk to me yet," the chief replied.
"They're asking for lawyers?" Castle said, not surprised to hear that.
"No," Brad said shortly. "They're waiting for you."
"For us," Beckett said in surprise.
"Yeah they don't want to talk to you but I think they want you to hear what they have to say," Brad replied.
"So observation I'm going to guess?" Castle asked. He wasn't surprised at Brad's lack of a response and he followed his wife who was following the chief.
"Mrs. Radcliff asked that you not come in specifically," Brad said as he opened the door to the room outside interrogation for them so they could go in first.
"But she wants her here?" Castle said doubtfully.
"Likely so she can gloat," Beckett said simply, sitting down on one of the chairs.
"Likely but I figured you'd want to hear what she had to say anyway," Brad said.
"Go," Beckett said, nodding to him and motioning to him at the same time. "I'm fine," she said simply to her husband. She smiled at him and told him, "Really, she's where she needs to be right now."
Castle was only able to nod to that as Brad was entering the room and he watched as Mrs. Radcliff spoke first.
"So they're here," the woman said to the chief, stating it instead of asking.
"They are," Brad said simply. "Mrs. Radcliff," he said to her so she could turn her attention to him as she was looking at the mirror. "You've waved a lawyer so I'm assuming you'd like to speak to me."
"You know already why I did this," Mrs. Radcliff told her. "If you talked to that consultant of yours."
"I'm aware," Brad said. "So talk because I honestly don't know what it is you want to say now."
Beckett glanced at her husband as he hissed then but turned her attention back to the room where Mrs. Radcliff was speaking in response to the chief's statement.
"You want to know how we did it," the woman told the chief. "I'm right aren't I?"
"We'd like to know, yes," Brad told her with a nod, leaning back in his chair.
"Then I want a deal," Mrs. Radcliff replied, folding her arms over her chest.
Beckett laughed and then stood, walking away from the window saying, "I should have known."
"She won't get it right?" Castle asked.
"No Brad's smarter than that," Beckett replied before she turned back to see the chief's reaction.
"I'm afraid we're not about to make a deal," Brad was saying. "Not when you've already confessed."
"But you need to know how I did it," Mrs. Radcliff replied.
"Not necessarily, not to convict you and Lawson," Brad said.
Mrs. Radcliff looked away and she said, "I'll talk to her, just her."
Brad glanced to the mirror and without a word stood up and walked over to the door. When he entered observation he wasn't surprised to see Beckett waiting for him and he said, "You're sure? She said she didn't want to talk to you."
"I'm sure, I'm armed you know," she told him.
Seeing that the gun was on her hip again the chief nodded and stepped out of the way for her saying, "Be careful."
"I will," Beckett replied, smiling at her husband briefly before she left. Walking into the other room she said, "I'm surprised. Unless you want to taunt me again."
"That was your daughter? When we were arguing?" Mrs. Radcliff asked her.
"Arguing?" Castle said incredulously.
"That was her," Beckett said.
Mrs. Radcliff merely gave a nod before she then said, "I guess you're luckier than I am."
"How did you find out that your daughter was gay?" Beckett asked, deciding to try and lead her away from that path where the woman could taunt her.
"I wasn't stupid, I went to that… to that woman's apartment and could hear them… together," Mrs. Radcliff replied, faking being sick. "I told Lawson that our oldest girl was a… freak," she spat out. "And he agreed with me, we had to get rid of her. I had to leave and he tried to poison her but we couldn't give her enough to kill her until Rudolph told us about that crazy agriculturist and how he had cyanide for the rats."
"So you stole it," Beckett stated.
"Of course, we had to," Mrs. Radcliff said. "And it helped that it was easy; in the middle of the day."
Beckett nodded and then said, "And you were able to get Trainor to give the final dose."
"Easy enough, Lawson gave her his money and she gave it to her at the party," Mrs. Radcliff replied.
"And Rudy?" Beckett asked.
With an awful smirk on her face the woman said, "You are close to him. He also likes women you know."
"Might be why she didn't try to poison him fully yet," Castle murmured to Brad who nodded in agreement.
"That was Lawson, I tried to tell him we could turn our son; our brilliant little boy," Mrs. Radcliff replied. "But he was adamant he needed to be gone; he was an embarrassment."
Beckett did her best not to respond to that and instead said, "So that-"
"And it was our chance to get rid of Samuel," Mrs. Radcliff stated. She looked at the expression on Beckett's face and said, "I hated him, he wanted a wife so he could display me, only Lawson understood me. Only he gave me my children, only he loved me."
"Why not murder him?" Beckett then asked.
"Because it would be too easy for you to find us," Mrs. Radcliff replied. She glanced over at the mirror and then asked, "How did you find us?"
"Your children gave Lawson away; they have his ears; and we discovered that you were there for the last poisoning before the party though you'd said otherwise," Beckett said simply.
"He was always worried our kids would give us away but I didn't think he was right," Mrs. Radcliff said.
"And everyone else you killed?" Beckett asked.
"Lawson took care of it," Mrs. Radcliff said, waving her hand slightly. "They had to be disposed of so he did the best he could."
"And it was done sloppily," Beckett told her as she stood. She then walked out of the room, not even bothering to reply to the woman inside calling to her.
"Are you going to talk to Lawson?" Castle asked when Beckett had joined them.
"I will I'm not letting either of you go near him," Brad said. "He's… psychotic."
"I'm not surprised, considering he killed three other people to just 'dispose' of them," Castle stated.
Watching the chief leave then Beckett said, "There's a part of me that almost doesn't want to see this interrogation."
"I'm with you," Castle said. "I'm surprised that you don't want to hear his version."
Beckett shrugged at that before they watched Brad bring Lawson inside the room and then settled down to watch as they began to soon speak.
"Did you talk to Clem?" Lawson was saying before Brad could talk.
"I did," the chief replied. "And she let us know you killed Trainor, Mayor and Andres on your own."
Shrugging Lawson said, "What do you do when you have a weakling? Destroy it."
Shaking her head Beckett wasn't surprised when her husband glanced at her and they then looked together back to the man as he told Brad how he'd gotten to both residences for their second, third and fourth murders, using the fingerprints they'd taken from glasses at parties to throw suspicion off them both. She wasn't surprised to hear that he and Mrs. Radcliff had planned things out when they'd decided to kill their daughter and then their son. When the man had finished and wouldn't say anything else she told her husband, "He's calm."
"Yep, definitely psychotic," Castle said, nodding his head in agreement.
As Wade came in to help Brad take the man back to a cell Beckett stood up and left the room once she was sure they'd passed by. When they went into the chief's office she said to her husband, "I want to finish with this."
"Wash your hands clean of it?" Castle suggested. When she nodded he then told her, "Then let's hope Brad gets back so we can finish."
With a nod Beckett sat down with him and they waited for the chief to return to them and give them the paperwork they'd need to fill out and complete their assistance with the case.
Walking after his wife Castle watched as Beckett climbed up on the second railing of the fence around the corral and he said, "You think you could go in?" as she was watching Marie.
"I don't want to chance it," Beckett answered. "I just wanted to see her because I know Julia will ask about her as soon as she hears we came here." She then climbed down and took her husband's hand pulling him with her over to the stable where their horses were, walking rapidly and without a word.
Castle watched his wife as they went to Alex and Julius, wondering why she was being so forceful. "Are you okay?" he said when she let go of him.
"I'm fine," Beckett told him, slipping into Alex's stall. She then began to saddle her horse, not surprised when he nuzzled at her. "Alex is ready to go too."
"I'm not surprised," Castle said. "He must sense you are."
"Or the ride this morning wasn't long enough," Beckett said simply, taking him out of the stall. "Ready?" she asked him.
"Yeah I'm good," Castle replied as he stepped out with Julius behind him. He followed his wife to the beginning of the trail and he watched her mount using a corral railing. "Kate," he said, putting his hand on her thigh. "What is it?"
"Nothing," Beckett said immediately. When her husband continued to look at her she sighed and said, "I just want to…"
Castle jerked slightly and said, "You do?" He wasn't surprised when she started to look slightly embarrassed but soon became stern. "Alright, I'll let you lead," he told her.
Beckett didn't comment on that, waiting for her husband to mount Julius before she led him down the path, spurring Alex to gallop as fast as he could. Castle was soon next to her but she didn't say anything until they were coming to the creek.
Watching his wife again Castle said, "Where-"
"The cabin," Beckett interrupted him.
"Oh," Castle said simply, not because she had surprised him but because he was thinking it over then. He watched their horses, wishing he could hurry them to finish drinking though soon after they were raising their heads. "They're finished," he said in surprise.
"They are," Beckett said. She looked at her husband and said, "Go ahead and say it."
"They have to know love," Castle said, taking her hand leading her over to Alex. He helped her up onto the saddle and said, "Especially from you."
"So you're just going along with this?" Beckett asked him.
"No," Castle replied firmly before he then got up onto his own saddle. He let her lead the way again; though he knew it well; and when he could he caught up to ride next to her. "You better hope no one comes," he commented since they were merely walking their horses.
"No one ever has," Beckett replied, glancing at him.
"True," Castle said absently before they then came to the structure. It belonged to the first owner of the property and had been storage for what everyone at the stables assumed was farm equipment. There was nothing in there at the moment but he and Beckett had used it a few times together when they could after their first time finding it during a sudden rainstorm.
Handing the blanket that she'd brought to him Beckett said, "We can't really take our time."
"I'm letting you lead in that," Castle said simply before he let her take him by the hand and pull him into the cabin with her. He closed the door behind him and tossed the blanket a little more haphazardly than he wanted to do before he was wrapping his arms around her. They kissed passionately and very shortly after that laid down together on the blanket before they were undressing each other frantically.
Beckett allowed her husband to take charge of everything, only assisting him to take off her clothes before they rushed to make love. He was rough and hard and she gave him as much encouragement as she could until they finally broke, shaking together and calling out to each other; unsuccessful in trying to keep quiet. When Castle was still above her she breathed out and said, "I needed that."
"I did too, I just didn't realize it when you did," Castle told her.
Smiling Beckett gently kissed his cheek and said, "Thank you."
"You're welcome and thank you for starting that," Castle said. He was startled when she gave him a look and he asked, "What?"
"Stop trying to delay," Beckett told him simply. She watched him withdraw from her and sighed in disappointment as he got up, helping her with him.
"What do you want to do now?" Castle asked his wife once they were dressed.
"Get back out to the horses," Beckett replied. They went outside as soon as her husband had the blanket folded again and she said, "See? You worry every time we do this but I told you they're not going to run away."
Castle reached out to his wife then and took her hand pulling her to him before they kissed deeply. He ran his hand over her hair when they slowly parted and he smiled at her before saying, "Now I think I'm going to be a little unsettled."
"Let's go," Beckett said, rolling her eyes. She turned to the horses and whistled so they'd make their way over to her before she said, "We have a little more time."
"I'm following you love," Castle told her with a smile.
Beckett returned his with a smile of her own and she then climbed up onto her saddle, watching her husband doing the same. She led them back to the path and once there she said, "I'd like to jump."
"I'm not surprised-" Castle began.
"After we go over to that new field," Beckett finished with a slight smirk at her husband.
"Yeah… good idea," Castle replied. He laughed when she rolled her eyes and he said, "I'm not surprised at all."
Tugging on the reins Beckett soon got Alex straight and she and Castle galloped together to the field where she waited for him to open the gate. "Maybe we should leave it open when we leave," she told him.
"You heard Charlie, he wants it closed behind everyone," Castle said, leading Julius instead after his wife.
"Are you going to ride with me?" Beckett asked as she watched him climb up on the top rail.
"I'll watch," Castle replied, watching as she walked Alex parallel to the fence. He leaned over so they could kiss but it was done quickly and he commented, "I think he wants to keep going," since the stallion had walked, making them part.
Not replying to that Beckett urged Alex along the fence and when they'd reached the corner she turned him to go diagonally though he was already beginning to move in that direction. She didn't look over at her husband, feeling too elated to care for the moment if he was watching her though she had a feeling that he was. She could feel the last of the stress she'd encountered from the case leaving her and she rode back to him then saying, "Sure you don't want to ride?"
"Sure," Castle said, taking the reins from his wife as she took Julius to come with her from where he was grazing. "You're going to come with me right?"
Beckett couldn't help smile widely; as her husband was looking at her pleadingly; and she nodded saying, "Let's go."
That time Castle took the lead himself, riding ahead of her until he looked over and saw that Beckett had caught up to him. He had to turn then so they could ride down the length of the field until finally he got to the other end first.
"We're not racing," Beckett said wryly after they had stopped and turned to each other.
"We never are," Castle said. "Come on, just once?"
"And if you lose?" Beckett asked, one eyebrow slightly raised.
"Then I owe you," Castle replied. He wasn't surprised when his wife rolled her eyes and he said, "Come on, for fun."
"Stop saying come on," Beckett told him teasingly. "Go," she then said, taking off and galloping the way they'd come.
Though Castle had to recover and catch up he never vocalized it as he was too focused on trying to pull ahead of her. But she'd been able to get too much of a head start and Alex was too fast so he was soon approaching her as she turned around to him. "So I owe you I think," he told her when he'd come up against her side though they were facing the opposite directions. "Just name it."
"I'll do that," Beckett said as they then made their way over to the open gate. She was going to ride through it and continue to the stable when she heard just Alex's hooves on the ground. Stopping him and doing a quick turnaround he she said, "So you wanted to ask me if I didn't break the rules every once in a while?"
"That was years ago," Castle said after making sure the gate was securely locked after them. "And I don't want to come up against Charlie."
"And yet you're fine with doing that with me," Beckett said, watching him mount his horse then.
"Why not," Castle said absently as he got his other foot set in its stirrup. "You still want to jump?"
"As long as we don't wager on this then I'm fine with that," Beckett replied as they made their way over to the corral where the obstacles were. She rode in first and said, "You first?"
"Okay," Castle replied. He then rode off and took each obstacle as he approached them until he'd made his way back to where his wife had moved to wait for him. "Well?" he asked her.
"Not bad," Beckett replied. "I didn't know you were planning to compete though."
"Trust me, I'm not," Castle replied. "I figure it's best to get your opinion."
Sighing and shaking her head; smiling at the same time; Beckett spurred Alex away from him until she set him to galloping to the first fence.
Castle held Julius still while watching his wife, unabashedly admiring her form as she leapt with the stallion over each fence. He tried not to grow aroused again as she finished with the course but as he shifted on his saddle he realized he hadn't been successful. "Nice," he told her.
Studying her husband Beckett said, "Again?"
Shaking his head Castle told her, "I'll be fine."
Again studying him Beckett then said with a smile, "Do you want to go?"
"I do," Castle replied. As they made their way over to the stable he said, "How do you think Julia did the rest of the day?"
"I'm not sure," Beckett told him honestly. "We'll be able to tell when we see her." Glancing over at him then she smiled as he looked at his watch and she said, "Want to get a drink?"
"Sounds good," Castle replied, wondering when she could have checked the time as there was more than enough for them to go to get a drink.
"I guessed," Beckett said, having sensed his unasked question.
"That sounds great to me," Castle said absently as they both dismounted in front of the building. Brushing down Julius in his stall he listened to Beckett talk to Alex and smiled at the sound before he finished, feeding his stallion some oats before he stepped outside at the same time that Beckett did. "You realize we were at work this whole time in our riding clothes?" he asked her as they went to wash their hands.
"Of course I'm sure it was interesting for everyone to see," Beckett said with a smile. "But we should shower and change before we go to the class."
"Speaking of class," Castle told her then as they were walking together to the car. "Ready for tomorrow night."
Giving an exaggerated sigh Beckett said, "I don't think I have much of a choice do I?"
"Not really," Castle replied easily. "And you should think of the fact that Julia will have that to look forward to."
"I'm aware of that," Beckett replied, pausing then so they could get into the car. "But I have to wonder what we're going to learn next and by that I mean will we keep with the Tango and Waltz."
"We're sure to find out," Castle told her, squeezing her hand before he put the car in gear and drove away from the stables.
"Do you mind tonight?" Beckett asked him as he was making his way to a coffee shop they would sometimes stop at.
"Not really, it makes sense Brad would want to have this at his home," Castle said as the chief and his wife had offered their home for dinner with the Radcliff children. He then looked at his wife and said, "Okay maybe not but I think he's trying to give the kids a sort of family environment for a night."
"And did he mention that to you when you talked to him?" Beckett asked in amusement.
"Maybe," Castle said. He smiled at her and said, "There's no issue, the food will be delivered and there's more than enough room for us all. And I think that the two youngest; not Sydney but Duncan and Stephanie; will enjoy meeting Eve and Jacob."
"They might," Beckett replied with a slight nod before she looked ahead to watch her husband park. "Can we take this to go?" she asked him across the roof of the car.
Castle opened his mouth to ask her why she wanted to do that but realized the answer and he breathed out saying, "I think we can," simply before they walked together to the door.
Sipping her drink Beckett watched Eliza outside begin to throw shells down into the water before she then turned to Jim who was with her. She smiled slightly as it was obvious to see how happy her daughter was but her attention was taken by the door closing and locking behind her. "Rick?" she asked as he came to her.
"Did you change your mind?" Castle asked her while he was walking over to her.
"No I was just watching Eliza," Beckett said, nodding out the window with a smile. She sipped the last of her drink and then went to the table, setting the cup down there and telling him, "We need to go soon you know."
"Do we?" Castle said as he turned his attention to his wife. When she literally threw herself at him he gasped out his surprise and then held onto her as his back hit the window. But that didn't stop him from kissing her back as soon as her lips were against his and he fought against her tongue the best he could until finally she was moving away from him. "We should go," he said, running his hand over her cheek lovingly.
Beckett was left a little breathless at the look on her husband's face, especially the way his eyes were almost caressing her, so she just followed as he pulled her by the hand into their bathroom. When he kissed her she was almost ready for him, responding to him just a few seconds after he had begun. It was no less pleasurable though as their tongues were soon rolling together until finally they needed to breathe. She was silent as he began to undress her and together they got her clothes off. She was soon gasping out for air as her husband cupped her breasts and she reached for his shirt to start unbuttoning it. "I…" she started to say before she stopped and smiled briefly. "This hasn't tired you out?" she asked.
"Kate," Castle said as he knew what she meant by her wording. He leaned down at that point and he kissed her gently before moving away slightly so he could press his forehead to hers. "You know the answer to that already," he told her before he felt his shirt fall open fully. Though he didn't want to he parted from her and removed his shirt before he let her open his jeans. He tossed those aside after removing them and then took off his boxers himself. While she was watching him he got an idea and pulled her to him saying, "Tonight I'm giving you a bath; that's what I owe you."
"Really?" Beckett said in amusement.
"Really," Castle said, serious to her levity. He then leaned over and kissed her as hard as he could, feeling her tongue very quickly respond to him before they were tangling around each other rapidly. He couldn't stop himself and groaned as his wife literally rubbed her body against his and he let one of his hands go down to her ass, cupping it firmly. When they finally parted he led her to the shower before he turned it on and they stood together under the water, kissing passionately.
Beckett felt as if she was burning, she was burning, the way her husband was touching her was almost more than she could stand. But finally they slowly parted and she smiled at him saying, "You can read my mind."
"I wanted the same," Castle said, holding her closer against him. He then looked down into her eyes and murmured, "One at a time." He wasn't surprised when she kissed him and after they'd parted said, "Again?"
Nodding Beckett let her husband push her back against the wall before he proceeded to kiss at her neck. She moaned immediately at the shock of his touch before he then moved quickly down to her breasts. She wanted to smile but she was becoming too involved in what he was making her feel as he was caressing at her mounds before he brought his mouth into play. She watched him flick his tongue out to the water on her skin though it was soon replaced by more. She held onto him then as he began to roll his tongue around both her nipples, gasping against the water as she was scraping at the back of his head with her nails.
Castle could feel his wife's pleasure in the way she was holding onto him and he did the best he could to stimulate her with just his tongue. Eventually he had to take her with his mouth as he knew she wasn't going to last long and he suckled at her almost hungrily until she was making him pull away. "Too much?" he asked as he raised his head to look at her.
"I want more," Beckett told him seriously. She wasn't surprised when he then began to kiss her frantically and she was trying to recover to kiss him with the same ferocity. She soon managed it but wasn't doing so for very long before he was pulling away from her. She looked into his eyes for only a few moments before he was kneeling in front of her. Shortly after she was throwing herself against the wall behind her as he pressed a kiss to her clit. She had her eyes shut tightly as the pleasure was immediate and rough and she held onto the tiles behind her the best she possibly could. But there was no purchase and she was very quickly writhing against the cool material while her husband proceeded to pleasure her as thoroughly as he could.
Loving the way his wife was reacting Castle didn't stop until finally she was climaxing, her fingers digging almost into his scalp until finally she was still. When he felt that he'd pleasured her for long enough he moved away and stood saying, "Good?"
Not trusting herself to speak Beckett merely nodded before he was kissing her and she did the same to him before she moved her hand. When he tensed up she smiled as they'd parted in his movement and she murmured, "You have to be fair."
Shuddering at the sultry quality of his wife's voice Castle said, "I do… I never said I was going to stop you. But wait… could you kiss me before you start?" When she gave him a beaming smile he pulled her tight before their lips then met and he ran his hands all around her body as much as he could before stopping. "Okay… if you want to then you can go ahead," he told her.
"Thank you for giving me permission," Beckett told him teasingly, brushing her lips against his. She then moved to her knees as he'd done with her and then took his member with her hand, drawing it into her mouth before she began. She heard the muffled sound of him hitting the wall and tried not to smile as it would impede her work. And she continued to do so until finally she felt comfortable enough to bring both of her hands up to work with her mouth.
Castle was aching, throbbing and burning all at the same time until he was sure he was going to literally explode. He was hissing and swearing a little as he tried not to hold onto his wife's hair until finally he was doing that. He watched her the best he could before she pulled away slowly until she was only holding him by one hand. "God you're… incredible," he said as he helped her stand up before they began to kiss passionately.
After they had managed to stop Beckett cupped his cheek with her hand and said, "You know you're driving me insane."
"I am," Castle said incredulously before he realized what she meant. "Please," he begged her.
"Not exactly like that," Beckett told him with a slight smile. "More when you're almost finished."
"I'll take it," Castle told her, gasping that out as she had taken him into her hand once more. He hissed heavily as she ran over his length numerous times until finally she was descending again.
Beckett began to bob her head back and forth as soon as she had him in her mouth once more and she didn't stop until she knew he was close. The second she did she was pulling away and she let her husband take over then, pushing her back against the wall before he thrust into her and they proceeded to move together though she had a much harder time doing so. Finally he broke and because he'd managed to stimulate her clit as he'd thrust within her she was right with him, crying out his name as he nearly yelled her own. When they managed to stop finally she gasped out before she had to make sure that she would be able to stand as he set her down. They kissed before she could say anything and when he pulled away from her she said with a slight smile, "Good?"
"I stand by my incredible earlier," Castle told her, kissing her jaw a few times after.
"Hmm, so were you," Beckett sighed in joy. "But we should probably finish."
Nodding as he knew she was right Castle helped her over to the water and they washed one another off until finally they were clean. He turned off the water and helped her out before he then dried her off and let her do the same for him. "This bath-" he started to say.
"I'll appreciate that," Beckett told him with a slight smile as she wrapped her towel around herself. "I'm a little tired and could use the rest. Let's get dressed and open the door for Eliza okay?"
"That would be great," Castle said, nodding his head before he then followed her out to their bed. He stopped her before she could take off her towel and brushed his lips around her shoulders before he said, "I swear the bath will be nonsexual."
Beckett couldn't help the laugh that left her lips and turned around to him before they shared a gentle kiss. She smiled at their parting and said, "I won't make you swear it but it's just as well you're saying that."
"We'll get some rest," Castle replied, wondering why she was smiling about that.
"I'm just wondering if you're going to be able to hold yourself back," Beckett told him.
"Hey," Castle said in a mock offended tone. He then leaded over and kissed her cheek before telling her, "It's hard to resist sometimes."
"Believe me when I say I'm aware of how that is," Beckett told him. "But we had a nice-"
"Great," Castle interjected before she could continue.
"Great shower," Beckett said, loving the smile on his face. "But we should probably get dressed and see Eliza."
"True," Castle said, letting her go before he followed her over to the closet. "I feel like we've been ignoring her with this case."
"Not ignoring her," Beckett said simply. "More we needed to make sure that Julia was alright."
"That's true too," Castle agreed with a nod. He took his pants and brought them with his shirt before they began to get dressed on either side of their bed. "We don't need to go to Brad and Lily's house until six," he commented. "We'll have time after the class."
"Yes," Beckett replied, finishing buttoning her shirt. "We can take them to the new place."
"Perfect," Castle said, going over to the door to open it since they were both ready. "I think we should probably go miniature golfing first and then play some games and-"
"Wait until we get there to start getting excited," Beckett told him, cupping his cheek as he'd walked up to her. She heard footsteps running down the hall and she then told her husband, "Don't tell her we'll never get her to calm down."
Nodding Castle turned to the doorway and watched as Eliza rushed in, making him laugh and said, "Looks like you had a lot of fun with your grandpapa."
"Yep," the little girl said, letting him pick her up. "Did you take a shower?"
"We needed to," Beckett replied, coming to the doorway of the bathroom. "We went riding remember."
"Are you happy now?" Eliza asked. "Now you don't hafta work?"
"Very," Beckett said. "Are your grandparents ready to go?"
"They said yeah," Eliza said, nodding her head up and down a few times. "And they said are you ready?"
Beckett smiled when her husband looked to her as he set down Eliza and then told him, "We're ready for our class but we need to get some rest first before we take it."
"Are you sleepy?" Eliza asked, watching her parents finishing getting ready then.
"No just tired from working as much as we have," Castle answered for his wife.
"When is dinner?" Eliza asked her mother as her father picked him up once he'd finished getting ready.
"It's at six," Beckett said simply, running the brush through her hair a final time.
"When do we finish with Jules' class?" Eliza then asked.
"We'll have to see what there is to do," Beckett replied easily, turning to her daughter and kissing her cheek. She then kissed her husband's cheek and said, "We should head downstairs."
Castle nodded and together they went downstairs before he was setting Eliza down so she could go to Macca and Rita who were in the foyer with Jim, Martha and Sydney. "Been waiting long?" he asked the two.
"Oh no we just got here," Martha said first.
"We were looking at the driftwood that Eliza found," Jim then told his daughter and son in law.
Eliza smiled when her mother looked at her and she said, "Can I put it in my room?"
"This is driftwood gathering time," Castle told his wife with a smile on his face.
Beckett tried not to smile as her husband and daughter seemed to have the same grins but it was difficult and she finally gave in to the desire to do so. "Yes but we need to see what it looks like before we can really say if it goes into your room yet," she told them though it was mainly directed to Eliza. "Come on so we can get your shoes back on," she then told her youngest as she took her hand. She pulled her after her to the bench and helped her in getting the shoes on.
"How're you doing Katie?" Jim asked his daughter.
"I'm good," Beckett said, hoping he wasn't going to comment on the fact that she had just yawned.
Placing his hand on his wife's shoulder Castle squeezed it to try and apologize to her for tiring her out but when she glanced up at him he saw it was unnecessary. He tried not to smile at that but then looked over at his mother who was petting Macca as he stood next to her. He had the uncomfortable feeling that she knew what he and Beckett had been up to but tried to push that aside before he said, "Everything's set now so we can focus on the classes, end of school and then Vegas." He paused in moving away from his wife as she stood and said, "But not in that order of course."
"Of course," Beckett said. When she felt Eliza tugging on her hand she said, "You'll have to tell your sister to show you her countdown calendar; I'm not sure how far away we are from the trip."
"Oh," Eliza said, slightly disappointed. She was quiet then as they walked out of the house and down to the end of the driveway. When they were finally walking down to the school she said, "Is Jules gonna be happy now?"
"I think she will," Castle said as he took the carrier his mother was holding with Sydney in it. With his free hand he took Beckett's as Eliza had hurried to her grandfather and walked with him. "We'll be alright now."
"We will," Beckett said with a reassuring smile, squeezing his hand tightly before they entwined their fingers and then continued down the sidewalk after the rest of their family.
