"It's going to be very strange without Sydney there," Martha commented as they were walking.
"It is," Beckett said. "But luckily we know she's safe." She wasn't surprised when her mother in law and then father looked at her and she said softly so the kids wouldn't hear, "Brad's going to have Mr. Radcliff watched closely until they move."
"The same for Mrs. Radcliff and Lawson," Castle added. "We're being cautious for them."
"It sounds like they would need it," Jim said. He wasn't surprised when his daughter nodded and he then said, "Are you going to keep up with them?"
Beckett smiled and said, "I slipped him the card with our information on it as we were say," motioning between herself and Castle. "So I hope he'll use it… any of them."
"Not Sydney yet though, of course," Castle commented. He wasn't surprised when his wife rolled her eyes and he squeezed her hand before they turned their attention to the Fosters once they were in front of their house.
"We'll see you tomorrow," Rebecca said after they'd said their goodbyes. "It's supposed to be a nice day so we figured we'll all walk."
"We'll be there," Beckett assured them before Castle was opening the door in the fence. They said goodnight to them one last time before they headed inside together and walked up to the house she said, "It's a little early."
Castle looked at her and he realized why she'd said it before he said, "True, I guess we can go to bed early, get a good-"
"Mommy!" the girls cried out together at the same time before they looked at their grandmother who'd jumped, making them laugh softly.
"Wow I'm shocked, usually they'd be calling me out on that," Castle commented to his wife.
Beckett rolled her eyes before she then said, "I'm teasing you girls. We can play or whatever you want to do."
Watching as the girls looked at each other Castle said, "You want to go out?"
"Please?" Julia asked first.
"Pretty please?" Eliza said after immediately.
"Alright but you don't have too much time so stay in the yard," Beckett said.
Looking to his wife Castle started to speak before he smiled and said, "We'll watch them for you."
"Thank you," Beckett replied with a smile back at him. She kissed his cheek in passing as the girls went over to the door to the backyard and then went over to their office. When she was sure the others were outside she dialed a number on her phone and waited until Darnley picked up. "Hey," she said. "Busy right now?"
"Yeah we're at my in-laws' house," he answered. "Can we talk later?"
"Sure, I'll call," Beckett told him. She said goodbye to him and smiled at her husband as she turned to find him in the doorway. "You're done?" she asked.
"They're playing with the dogs," Castle told her. "They don't need me."
"My dad is the one throwing?" Beckett asked with a slight smirk.
Not answering that Castle closed the space between them and brought her up against him before kissing her. He was relieved when she responded immediately and it became deep very quickly.
"I'm gonna go back inside," Julia was telling her grandmother in the back.
"You're finished playing?" Martha asked, letting go of her arm.
"I am, I also have to remind them they gotta practice," Julia said seriously.
"You know they're probably-" Martha began to say.
"I know and that's okay," Julia replied with a shrug before she then went over to the steps. Going into the house she wasn't surprised it was so quiet, walking hurriedly to the office where she knew her parents probably still were. She was careful when she got to the door and leaned over, peering in and she leaned against the door, covering her mouth to keep her giggle quiet. She waited, a little impatiently as it felt like it was forever, before she heard the panting breaths of them in the room. She was going to go inside when her mother spoke, making her stop.
"Is this from earlier?" Beckett asked her husband with a smile.
"I was concerned," Castle admitted. "Since your nose was bleeding and everything."
"So was yours but I knew you were alright," Beckett said, closing her eyes as her husband began to kiss at her exposed neck tenderly. "Rick," she said when he kept kissing around her skin. "Rick you might want to stop."
"Why?" Castle mumbled though he finally did, pulling away from her.
"Julia's outside," Beckett replied, nodding over to the doorway.
"I wasn't spying," the girl said, coming into the room then.
"Then how come you were there?" Castle said. He then asked in an aside to his wife, "How long was she?"
"I'm not sure but she was here for a while," Beckett replied, smiling at Julia.
"Yep," the girl said.
"How come you're not outside with your sister?" Castle then asked as he watched her lean against her mother.
"You need to practice," Julia told them simply. She wasn't surprised when her mother sighed and she said, "You need to Mommy, that way if you go over this tomorrow you won't look silly." Something seemed to come to her and she said, "It's homework."
"It is," Beckett said slowly. She then looked to her husband and when she saw that he was looking at her hopefully she sighed again.
"Come on," Julia said, taking her mother's hand and pulling her over to the hallway. "Do you want to practice the Foxtrot?" she asked them.
"Alright," Beckett said as Castle looked to her to answer. "What're we going to dance to?"
"Just a normal instrument…" Julia started to say.
"Instrumental," Beckett told her.
"That," Julia told them. She took her father's phone and then found the song she wanted her parents to practice to and she said, "You should just do the box step for now."
"Isn't that all we know?" Castle asked her. He shared a smile with his wife when Julia merely nodded and then hurried to get into hold with Beckett as their oldest told them sternly to do so. "Arms?" he asked.
"They're good but watch them," Julia said. "Do you want me to count out for you?"
"That would be nice," Beckett said quickly.
At that Julia made sure that her parents were ready before she played the music and then began to count off the steps for them. She smiled after a while and they seemed to remember how to do it and she did that for a little longer before stopping. Since Castle was looking over at her she waved and then motioned her finger to spin around.
Trying not to smile Castle then spun his wife, smiling then when she let out a slight cry of surprise. "She told me to do that," he told her as she looked at him when they'd stopped.
"I did," Julia said laughingly. "It was the best place to do it. But see? That wasn't too bad."
"No it wasn't," Beckett said with a sigh before she shared a kiss with her husband. "But no Tango please."
"No they're coming back," Julia said seriously with a nod before she looked over to see her sister coming in with the dogs and their grandparents.
"Hello," Martha said as the dogs disappeared into the kitchen to where their bowls of water for the house were kept. "I think we tired everyone out." She then paused when Eliza giggled wildly and said, "Well not me, they did," gesturing to Jim and the little girl.
"So you had fun?" Beckett asked.
"Yeah," Eliza said, going over to her and hugging her tightly. "What do we do now?"
"What would you like to play?" Castle asked.
"Can we play the toss game?" Julia asked before anyone could say anything.
"How did we forget that?" Castle asked his wife rhetorically as he went over to the family room. He went to the game cabinet but the box wasn't there and he called out, "Answered my own question."
"You don't need to yell love, I'm here," Beckett said. She smiled when her husband looked back at her and said, "Where did you put it?"
"Also how did Julia see it?" Castle commented.
"I didn't," the girl called out to them, "I heard you."
"She needs to be loud," Castle told his wife in a matter of fact tone. He expected her to roll her eyes; which she did; and he turned to the cabinet he was in front of. "Oh! Here it is," he said when he spotted the large box.
"Okay let us set this up," Beckett said as she and Castle walked out to the hallway where the others were waiting. "And then we can play." She helped her husband set it up and she said to her father after catching his expression, "The one we used to have ran out of bean bags."
"That and the paint was chipping off," Castle added. "So we decided on a new one. What do you think?"
"Is it a carnival?" Eliza asked, studying it.
"It is, see if you get it down here it says you didn't get quite high enough," Castle told them before he smiled at them.
"Can we start?" Julia asked.
"Let your sister go first," Beckett told her.
"Thanks," Eliza said before she reached out for the three bean bags that her mother held. She tossed one and hissed when it hit the board and asked, "What did it say?"
"It says close," Castle read for her.
"Try again," Julia said then.
Looking at the hole at the top of the board Eliza threw the next bean bag, crying out as it landed nearly at the top. "Close?" she asked.
"No, it says nearly there," Beckett said.
"One more," Eliza said with a smile. She took the last bean bag from her mother who'd been holding it and threw it, the bean bag ending up sliding up to the hole before it lay perched on the edge. "It didn't go in!" she protested.
"It didn't but I think it can count as a score," Castle said in amusement. "It's close enough."
Julia grabbed the bean bags and then turned to the board, throwing the three quickly and managing to get two inside. "I'm taller," she said to her little sister before she began to laugh as she was hugging her tightly. "Is anyone else going to play?" she asked as the others were watching them.
"No?" Castle said in surprise as he looked around at everyone else.
"I guess they got tired of it already," Beckett said in amusement since the girls didn't mention wanting to play again.
"I think we better think of something else," Castle said to his wife as he went to pick up the game.
"We should take that to the beach," Julia said. When they followed her father into the family room she asked her mother, "How much time do we have left?"
"About a half hour," Beckett said as she checked her watch.
"Why, you two have something in mind?" Castle asked them as he walked over to them.
Before anyone could say anything Eliza suddenly turned and walked out of the room to the hall. "Come on Rita," she said to the dog that had followed her.
"Did she just leave us?" Castle asked, pretending to be offended.
"I'm playing Daddy!" Eliza called out.
"I guess we should join her," Castle said.
"Probably," Beckett said, smiling at him before pulling him over to the hallway with Julia following them. She paused at the doorway and looked back at their parents saying, "You're not going to join us?"
"Go, we'll relax until you need to put her to bed," Martha said, sitting in an armchair while Jim was sitting on the couch with a magazine.
Beckett smiled at them before she allowed her husband to take her outside and once they were there she had to step back as a stuffed toy flew past her. "Eliza?" she then called out as Julia rushed out to the hall.
"Did you like that throw Mommy?" the little girl called out.
"Yes but it was a little too high," Castle said. "Almost hit me."
"Sorry," Eliza cried before she and her sister ran in front of the two.
"I guess we're just letting them do this until they need to go to bed," Castle told his wife as they stepped out enough so they could see their daughters playing tug of war with Rita and Macca who'd gone with Julia.
"They'll tire out soon enough," Beckett said with a smile as their daughters were leading the dogs back down the hall. She turned to look at her husband when he took her hand and she entwined their fingers before she leaned against him as they turned their attention to Julia and Eliza once more.
"I don't want to go to bed," Eliza said as her father sat down on the bed with her in his arms.
"You're not even really trying," Castle said, laughter in his tone.
"I think that means she's tired Daddy," Julia said, amused as well.
"She has to be," Beckett said, coming into the room from the bathroom. "As much running as the two of you did…"
"Should I say goodnight to her now?" Julia asked, turning to the little girl and seeing she was yawning.
"Go ahead," Beckett told her.
Wrapping her arms around her sister the best she could Julia said, "Night Lizzy, see you in the morning."
"Night," Eliza mumbled.
"Alright sweet dreams sweetheart," Castle said, kissing the little girl on the temple. "I love you," he said. When he got no reply he realized what he'd thought was her embrace was instead her falling asleep and leaning against him. "Okay," he said, carefully setting her down on the bed. "Can you-" he started to say to his wife.
"Move," Beckett told him with a quick smile. Once he was out of her way she pressed her lips to Eliza's forehead and stepped back, waiting for him to do the same. "I love you too sweetie and like your daddy said sweet dreams," she told her softly. After petting Rita, who was opening and closing her eyes rapidly, she followed her husband and their oldest over to Julia's bedroom. "What would you like to do now?" she asked her.
Going over to the bed; since she was ready to go to bed if she wanted to; Julia crossed her legs and said, "How about we play cards?"
"That's fine," Beckett said as her husband looked over at her.
"Awesome, what'll we play?" Castle asked. He was a little startled when he saw that Julia was biting her lower lip and said, "War?"
"Is that okay?" Julia asked softly.
"It is," Castle said, going over to her desk. He grabbed the deck of cards Julia had and then tossed it to his wife before he brought the chair over to the side of the bed. "But I get to be the audience."
Julia giggled softly and said, "That's fine, I was gonna tell you to stay." While she watched her mother shuffling the cards she said softly, "Could I see Rudy again?"
"You can," Beckett said. "Remember we're going to be having that dinner with them."
"Is it okay if I talk to him?" Julia asked.
"It is," Castle said. He smiled at his wife as she looked over at him and he said, "You're splitting the cards so I wanted to help you out."
Sighing Beckett said, "He's right, it is okay." She was quiet, making sure she didn't lose track of which card went to who as she went through the deck, but then said, "Why do you want to?"
Julia shifted a little and said softly, "Just 'cause he's… interesting." She then realized something and she said, "Not 'cause of his girlfriend and boyfriend I just…"
"Because you'd like to make him smile?" Castle guessed.
"No because he… was nice to me," Julia said. She picked up her stack and then said softly, "He said I looked like you."
"You do," Beckett said simply. "And if he e-mails me I'll let you talk to him there too."
"Really?" Julia asked, flipping over her first card after her mother had done so with her own.
"Yes," Beckett said firmly. "So for now," she said as they were going through their cards. "I hope you know that this game isn't going to go until the end."
"It might," Castle commented.
"It's not Daddy, it never does," Julia told him. "It takes a long time to play it."
"True and I think Macca will be happy if you go to bed," Castle said, scratching behind the ears of the Wolfhound who had sat next to him since Julia and Beckett were taking up most of the bed.
"He's always tired," Julia said teasingly, waving to the dog since she couldn't reach him. "But yeah, I'm getting tired too."
"Today was a busy day for you," Beckett told her.
"Yeah… how are you not tired all the time?" Julia asked her parents, looking back and forth between them.
"When you're older you get tired slightly less," Castle replied. He wasn't surprised when the girl looked at him in confusion and said, "I say slightly because you need to get a good night's sleep."
"I'll go to bed," Julia said in mock indignity. She then laughed softly as he ran his hand over the back of her head and she said, "But thanks for letting me play now."
"Well it's still early," Beckett said. "Luckily dark too." She then looked over at Julia and said with a smile, "What is it?" as she saw she appeared to be thoughtful.
"I'm just thinking about what the show's gonna be like," she answered, a wide smile on her face.
"I am too," Beckett said with a nod. She turned her head to look at Castle at the same time as Julia and saw he was nodding as well. Laughing a bit she said, "I think he is too."
"Oh… just four more, please," Julia said as her mother looked at her watch.
"We have enough time for that," Beckett told her with a smile. "But only four."
Nodding Julia thanked her mother and played the last four cards they could before she put her stack next to her mother's. "I guess we have to wait to see the show," she commented as she tucked her legs under the sheet.
"We will," Castle told her, walking back to her after he had set the desk chair back. He then noticed a paper face down on her desk and realized it might be her homework. "Julia, you forgot-" he started to say, turning to her.
"Oh! I was going to show you but I forgot Mommy," the girl said, jumping off the bed and hurrying over to desk and taking the paper. She then went to her mother and handed over the paper saying, "Stephanie wanted to see Mari draw and she made this after she asked if she could draw something for you."
"Looks nice," Castle said, looking over his wife's shoulder. "Too bad she couldn't make it."
"I thought that too when I saw it," Julia said, nodding her head. She looked over at her mother and asked, "What do you think?"
Beckett smiled as her oldest's concern was evident in her questioning and she cupped her chin saying, "I agree with you both, it would be a nice dress to have. But since it's not I have other gowns I can wear."
"Still," Julia said with a smile. "If someone made it would you wear it?"
"Yes," Beckett replied. "Though I don't really have many occasions to wear gowns."
"You will for your cousin's ball," Castle told her with a smile.
Sighing Beckett said, "The next time we need to go to the city I'll look around for it."
"Before we leave for Ireland?" Castle suggested.
"Probably then," Beckett said.
"I wish I could draw like this," Julia said, looking down at the paper.
"I think you're meant to dance sweetie," Beckett told her. "By the way, you want to get to our lesson tomorrow right?"
"I do," Julia said, knowing that was her mother's hint for her to go to bed. She watched her father set the picture on her desk and she said, "Think I could write something super fast?"
"Go," Beckett said. She smiled at her husband when he looked at her in surprise but she said, "I'm here to say when she's written long enough."
"I said super fast Daddy," Julia said jokingly as she was sitting on her chair. She took out her diary and she wrote the date before writing down what she had wanted to say about the day.
I was at the gardens and before we were near the end I felt weird after I saw something at a greenhouse. When I ran over there a man grabbed me and it was Rudy, the man who my mom and dad know and Sydney's brother. He was really nice though and was just trying to keep me safe. I went back to my class with him but after my teacher saw me I felt like something was wrong again and I went back to the greenhouse where I saw my daddy and Officer Enos. They were fighting with a man that turned out was Rudy's dad and my daddy's nose was bleeding but he was okay. After I talked with him and Officer Enos something was wrong again and I ran away from them, going over to a shed.
There my mommy was fighting with Rudy and Sydney's mother and I was so scared she was gonna lose but she was able to stop her from hurting her or getting away. I was really proud but scared 'cause her nose was bleeding too and when Daddy came to us his eye was a little bit bruised. It still is now. But Rudy's parents got arrested and now they can't hurt anyone else.
For dinner I went over with my family to Eve and Jake's house, it was nice but really different from ours. But I met Rudy and Sydney's brothers and sister and they were really nice to me. And then after I spent time with my family until now. Oh! I also had lunch at home with everyone too before I went back to school. And there everyone asked me about what happened and then dance class was fun too. Mommy's looking at me so now I know I gotta go.
Closing the diary Julia got off of the chair and nearly ran to her bed saying, "I finished."
"We can tell, and just in time," Beckett said with a smile though she wasn't going to let her daughter know that she had allowed her to write for as long as she wanted. "Rick?" she told her husband.
"Okay, time to go according to your mom," Castle said as Julia laughed softly at the face he was making for her. He sat down on the edge of the bed and hugged her tightly saying, "I love you sweetheart, sleep tight okay?"
"I will," Julia said with a smile before they parted. She shared a kiss with him and then watched him stand up. "I'm glad you want to see the show too," she confessed to him.
"Of course I am," Castle told her seriously. "And I can't wait for that night, going out to dinner and a show with two of my girls."
"It's okay you call me that," Beckett told him teasingly as she moved to sit next to their oldest and he glanced at her to make sure she knew. She turned to Julia and hugged her tightly saying, "I love you too Julia, sweet dreams."
"You too Mommy," Julia said. "And I love you too."
Kissing her daughter's cheek before sharing a kiss with her Beckett then focused her attention on tucking Julia in before she and Castle left the room together.
"So what would you like to do now?" Castle asked her as they went to their room.
"I'd like a bath," Beckett told him honestly. "And try to relax."
"Ah, I didn't forget I owe you that," Castle said as he took her by the elbow to take her fully into their room. He closed and locked the door behind them and said, "I'd like to relax too."
"And you think you could do that giving me a bath?" Beckett asked him with one eyebrow slightly raised.
"Why not?" Castle told her.
Beckett wanted to have a response to that but she finally just shrugged and let him lead her the rest of the way to the bathroom. "Wait, my p-" she started to say.
"Don't worry I'll get them for you," Castle said easily before he let her walk ahead of him. He went to the tub and turned on the water before he turned back to his wife to ask what oil she wanted in it. He nearly slipped back into the tub when she had a bottle right in his face and he took it saying, "It shall be ready shortly."
Rolling her eyes; smiling still; as he'd affected a British accent Beckett went over to the sinks and began to undress, setting aside her clothing until she had a towel around her. She leaned against the counter, watching her husband and waiting for him to finish and turn to her to tell her she could go to the water.
Castle kept his eyes on his wife as she walked up to him and said, "I don't need to stay."
Beckett smiled, as she was opening her towel to take it off then, and she knew the question for what it was. "You can but I don't expect you to do anything," she told him.
"I'll stay," Castle said simply as he let her get into the water without assistance. Once she was sitting he then reached down to her, squeezing her shoulder before asking, "Do you need to wash your hair?"
"I probably should," Beckett replied after thinking for a moment. She wasn't surprised when her husband beat her to grabbing the showerhead attachment and she smiled at that before allowing him to wet her hair.
His eyes on his wife as the water was running through her locks Castle couldn't stop himself, running his fingers gently through it repeatedly. "Don't get mad at me," he then began. "But I'm really proud of you today."
Smiling Beckett said, "Any reason why?"
"You were a far better mother to the R… the Beach kids than their mother was," Castle stated.
"Hmm," Beckett replied simply, slightly embarrassed by that but knowing he was right. She then shook herself as he stopped wetting her hair and told him, "It's not hard to be a better mother than she was."
"True but still, you make the effort," Castle said, getting on his knees suddenly. "I'm fine," he told her quickly when she turned to him in concern. "That's what makes you an amazing woman," he then said to her seriously. He placed his hand on the back of her head and pulled her close to him, their lips meeting very shortly after.
Though the kiss was more than a little awkward with her in the tub Beckett didn't enjoy it any less and was soon parting her lips to her husband. She tangled her tongue around his until they were nearly fighting and she could have spent hours doing that though in the end it was just barely a minute. "Come in with me," she told him breathily when they'd parted to breathe.
Shaking his head Castle grabbed her bottle of shampoo and began to lather her hair saying, "You're still tired aren't you?"
"I am," Beckett had to admit. "But we wouldn't have to do anything."
"No but it's really hard for us to resist the temptation," Castle told her. "Especially me."
"Very true," Beckett murmured. When her husband's head seemed to snap over to her she smiled and said, "I didn't say it, you did."
Castle laughed slightly and leaned over, kissing her adoringly on the lips before he pulled back. "You know what I just realized?" he asked her. When she shook her head he told her seriously, "Even with your hair covered in suds you're still attractive." He let his gaze wander down her body and nodded saying, "Insanely attractive."
Beckett couldn't let that go and she was reaching for the front of his shirt with her hand that was dripping wet, pulling him back to her for another intense kiss before they had to part. As he rinsed her hair she brought her knees up to her chest and smiled murmuring, "So are you."
"Thank you," Castle said before he then looked down at his shirt which was darker where her hand had grabbed him.
"I'm not apologizing," Beckett said, taking her bottle of conditioner from him. She placed it on the end of her hair and then waited for him to lather up a shower sponge before he began to wash her upper body.
"The one problem," Castle said as he began to go over her breasts. "With giving you a bath."
"Then let me help you when we get there," Beckett told him with a slight smirk. When he'd gone over her abdomen she stood up and watched as he rubbed the sponge over her mound reverently. She suppressed a shiver of pleasure and she told him, "I wonder if you get tired of this, I have the same body you know."
"I know and I'm well acquainted with it and am so glad I am," Castle said. He waited for her to sit down before he moved to wash her feet last and he told her, "And stop asking me that," he told her in a mock scolding tone of voice.
"I have to make sure," Beckett replied with a smile. "Because I'm happy with yours, knowing you."
"I'm not undressing," Castle said, using the showerhead to rinse off her body before he did the same with her hair last. He turned off the water and then pulled her to him by the back of her head to kiss her once more. They kissed passionately for some time and when they'd managed to tear themselves away from each other after the third one he said, "Want to lay here for a while?"
"No I want to get out," Beckett told him with a slight smile. She waited for him to stand and hold her towel out for her and she stepped into it, watching him rapidly drying her off. "Are you going to take one?" she asked him.
"I figured I'd take a quick shower," Castle replied, watching her wrap herself up in her bathrobe. "Come on," he said as he pulled her over to the bedroom. He grabbed her pajamas for her and was about to turn to where she was waiting for him next to the bed when she stopped him.
"How many times do I need to tell you Rick? I don't go commando," Beckett said teasingly.
Pausing Castle studied her before he nodded and then went over quickly to where her underclothes were before he paused again. "Which-" he began to say.
"The green," Beckett said simply.
Since that pair was on top Castle grabbed it quickly and went back to her, letting her slip into the deep green silk as he watched. "Yes I am aroused," he said when she looked at him.
Smirking Beckett let him help her then pull on her long blue pajama shirt before she took care of the looser leggings she wore with them to sleep. "Go, take your shower," she told him after they'd kissed once she was dressed.
"It'll be quick," Castle warned her since he knew she was going to talk to Darnley.
"Don't walk out naked," Beckett advised him.
"Sure, I'll grab my pajamas," Castle replied, going over to where they were to take them into the bathroom with him.
Once the door was closed Beckett texted her friend and getting a reply that he was okay to talk she called him with her tablet. "Hey, the kids are asleep now?" she asked when he appeared on the screen.
"Yep so I'm free to talk," Darnley replied.
Smiling as he left it at that Beckett then began to tell her friend about what had happened that morning with the case and everything else with the Beach kids. "I… I hope you won't get mad at me," she began to say. "But-"
"Why didn't I change my last name after my family disowned me?" Darnley asked. When Beckett nodded he breathed out and then leaned back to think for a moment before he told her, "I had thought about it but it was the name I was born with… and really it's a way to stick it to my parents. I'm sure they're aware I still have their last name. But honestly I just think of it as my own name."
"Patrick?" Beckett asked him after they were silent for a moment. "There's something else I'd like to ask you if I can."
"Sure," Darnley said, wondering what had her so serious.
In the bathroom Castle was turning off the water once he'd had enough of it, shivering as the cold from it was nearly making him freeze. But he was less aroused and that was what he'd aimed for before he stepped out and began to warm himself up, wondering what his wife was talking about with her friend.
"So your hair's wet," Darnley was saying then to her.
"Perceptive," Beckett told him teasingly. "Rick gave me a bath before I called you," she told him then.
"Nice," Darnley said. "Now I'm jealous, I should talk to Trev after we finish here…"
Beckett smiled and said, "We're not finished here though, how're Maddy and Keo."
"They're doing well, Keo's getting more aware with each day… it's awesome," Darnley said. He wasn't surprised when his friend covered her mouth to hide her laughter and he said, "You were the same with Eliza I'm sure."
"I was and still am, it's just cute to see you like this," Beckett told him. "But that's it for now, at least that I have."
"You're sure Julia's alright?" Darnley then asked her.
"She is," Beckett reassured him.
"Okay, then we should say goodnight," Darnley replied.
"We should, go find your husband and take a bath," Beckett said, smiling at him.
"Whatever you say," Darnley said, giving her a mock salute. "Say hello to your husband for me."
"Same for you with yours," Beckett said. She and her friend said goodbye to one another and she turned off the tablet before she then went over to the bathroom door. She knocked before opening it, seeing her husband was brushing his teeth. "Everyone over there is fine," she told him when he looked at her.
"Glad to hear that," Castle replied, his voice distorted by the foam from the toothpaste in his mouth. He hurried to rinse out his mouth and he asked, "Did you tell him about the case?"
Since she was brushing her teeth herself Beckett only nodded and she hurried to finish before she said, "He checked on Julia since I already told him Rudy was fine."
"He's proud of you," Castle said, looking at her.
"Yeah," Beckett said, letting him pull her to him for an embrace. She pressed her cheek to his shoulder and murmured, "I'm glad this is finished."
"So am I," Castle agreed. "Come on, let's go to bed."
Before she could respond to that her husband was picking her up and Beckett cried out slightly before she said, "The bed's not that far!"
Castle didn't say anything, merely took her the rest of the way before he set her down on his side. When she looked at him in confusion he said, "It didn't sound like you wanted to go that far."
Rolling her eyes Beckett moved to her side of the bed, sitting up as she waited for him to come over to her. As soon as he was there she was wrapping her arms around him and she kissed him deeply before they slowly parted. "I forgot to check on Eliza earlier," she told him.
"Oh, I did too," Castle said as he realized that. "Well, we better go make sure-" he started to say as he moved to get off the bed. But before he could finish his wife's hand on his chest stopped him and he asked, "Not me?"
"Don't carry me," Beckett told him. She wasn't surprised when he looked a little stunned and she leaned over, kissing him gently on the lips before she moved to stand with him following her. She stepped into her slippers that were there and after he'd gone back around to his side to get his she took his hand and went to the door, opening it. As soon as she had heard a whimper and looked at her husband before there was a cry of, "Mommy!"
Castle raced after his wife to Julia's room, letting Beckett go ahead of him once they were at the door, seeing inside their oldest was sitting up and looking terrified.
"Julia," Beckett said, going swiftly to her daughter and sitting on the edge of the bed before they embraced.
Shaking with her sobs Julia whispered, "You… were… being… hurt…" She then pulled away and looked up at her mother saying, "By that… that lady."
"It's okay," Beckett murmured to her as the girl started to cry in earnest. She looked at Castle who was watching them and nodded to the door so he would close it. She turned her attention to their daughter then to try and calm her down before she realized something. "Rick, stay in the room," she told him firmly as she looked up at him.
"Oh… sorry," Castle said, closing the door behind him. He wanted to ask Julia if she was okay with him there before he decided he knew the answer already. He hurried to the bed and sat down next to his wife, embracing them both.
"S-sorry I didn't see you at all," Julia told him, her chest heaving when she'd managed to stop crying a bit later with her parents' help.
"Better you didn't, I just wish you hadn't had the nightmare you did," Castle told her, kissing the top of her head. "But your mom is fine as you can see. I gave her a bath and we were just going to check on your sister before going to bed."
"Sorry," Julia repeated.
"You don't have to apologize," Beckett said, letting her go. She smoothed her daughter's sleep tousled hair and asked, "It wasn't too bad was it?"
"No you just got hit a couple times," Julia replied. She sighed and then said, "Your nose was bleeding really bad and that's when I woke up."
Kissing her forehead Beckett then said, "I'm alright sweetie, like your daddy said."
Julia nodded her head to that before she then said, "I'm glad I didn't wake you up."
"We wouldn't have cared if you did," Castle assured her. They were quiet for a while before he then said, "Do you think you can go to sleep?"
Beckett wasn't surprised when the girl hesitated then and she said, "Not yet?"
"No, I mean… could you lay down with me until I fall asleep?" Julia asked shyly. She was surprised for a moment when her mother embraced her tightly before she hurriedly hugged her back.
"Watch out love," Beckett told her husband when she and Julia had let go of each other.
Standing up Castle looked on when his wife laid down with their daughter and he pulled the cover back over them saying, "Can I just sit here?"
"Yeah," Julia said, smiling at him a little sleepily. She then laid on her side, facing her mother, and said, "Thank you Mommy."
"You're welcome sweetie," Beckett told her gently. She reached out and began to stroke Julia's hair tenderly, knowing from experience that her oldest found the touch comforting. And that time was no different as she watched the girl's eyes slowly close before her body relaxed. She waited for Castle to lean over her and press a kiss to their oldest's temple before she did the same. She got off the bed as carefully as she could before she tucked Julia in, making sure the entire time that she didn't wake her up.
After they'd left their oldest's room and had checked on Eliza, Castle wrapped his arm around his wife and kissed the side of her head murmuring to her, "You're a wonderful mother love."
Sighing as they were on the other side of the hall Beckett said, "I wish she didn't have these nightmares."
"You're there for her though," Castle said, closing the door after them but not locking it. "Again, more than their mother would do."
"You're assuming that," Beckett told him though she couldn't help smiling.
"No I think we all know that she wasn't interested in being a mother; it was more symbolic she had children," Castle said. He paused as she was getting under the sheet and said, "Um, I wonder if she told Radcliff not to touch her while she was pregnant."
"It's likely, with her emotional state then I'm sure she used it to her advantage," Beckett replied as she waited for him to join her. "And when it got to be too much I'm sure she went to Lawson to satisfy her."
"Likely she went to him all the time," Castle said as he went around the bed and joined her under the sheet. "Though she could have fooled Radcliff into thinking he'd impregnated her."
"It's likely he was able to…" Beckett started to say before she made a face. "Ejaculate but it's unlikely it took hold…"
"I doubt it," Castle said, wincing himself. He shook his head and said, "Let's stop or else I'm going to be physically sick."
"Okay," Beckett said, smiling slightly at him. She then leaned against him and said, "I just hope Sydney will be okay without her mother."
"She'll have Dally; if she stays in Rudy's life," Castle replied, kissing her forehead then as he held her tightly to him. "And if not she's got her big sister too… I know it's not the same but you take what you get."
At his tone of voice Beckett looked up at him and said, "Are you okay?" knowing he was thinking about his father. When he merely sighed she kissed his jaw a few times, unable to really say anything as she'd said it to him before. Stroking his hair once she pulled back she whispered, "Do you want to try and sleep?"
"Not yet," Castle said. "I guess we have a lot of baggage."
"It seems to be our thing," Beckett told him. "But," she said as she cupped his cheek to turn his head to her. "We're still in love even with all of that."
"You make a great point," Castle said before he closed the gap between then and then kissed her deeply. He stroked her hair that was still a little damp as their tongues tangled together and when they finally parted he said, "I love you," speaking seriously and staring into her eyes.
"I love you too," Beckett murmured as he carefully pulled her onto his lap. She initiated their kiss that time and as they made it more passionate she rolled her tongue around his while she'd slipped it into his mouth. Moaning as he slipped his hands under her shirt she moved hers from the back of his neck to his hair, gently scratching at his scalp before they parted. She was panting heavily and once they'd parted said to him, "Okay now?"
"Well if your idea was to distract me then you did a perfect job," Castle told her seriously.
Beckett laughed softly and moved her arms down so they were resting on his shoulders and she said as she leaned against him, "That wasn't the plan but I'm glad it worked."
Castle didn't respond to that, instead running his hands over her back and side saying, "I really need to stop touching you."
"You can't," Beckett said with a smile, knowing what he meant by that.
"I know, help me," Castle said, saying the last two words in a jokingly pleading tone of voice.
Beckett laughed outright and cupped his face with both her hands, kissing him gently before she moved away slightly. She didn't go very far before she was meeting his lips again and then again. She wasn't sure after that how many times they briefly kissed but soon they slowly parted and she pressed her forehead against his. "We should probably lie down," she finally said to him.
Nodding Castle then helped her down and once the lights were off he laid down himself and said, "What are we going to do now?"
Smiling Beckett thought that over for a moment before she said, "I think we might have to get some ideas; it's a while until Vegas."
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot about it," Castle said quickly as he turned onto his side to look at her though his eyes were still getting used to the dark.
"Even though we were just talking about it?" Beckett asked him in amusement.
"Hey, we were doing a lot of stuff after that," Castle said in mock protest. "But everything with that trip is ready so we don't need to worry about it."
"No but try to keep from telling them where we're going besides the show," Beckett said in amusement. "Or tell them about the villa."
"Yep," Castle said. "I'll keep quiet about that; I want to see their faces when they see it."
"So do I," Beckett replied, remembering he'd told her that before. She waited for him to lie on his back before she pressed her cheek to his shoulder. "And after that there's not really that much time until the summer."
"Well," Castle said, thinking about that. "Maybe we should look at our stories again," he said after thinking for a moment.
"Tomorrow," Beckett said with a smile.
"Tomorrow love," Castle said before he shared a kiss with her. "Night Kate."
"Night Rick," Beckett said before they kissed a final time. She got comfortable then against his side and once she was closed her eyes to sleep. It was soon done as she felt relaxed and her fatigue caught up with her, aided by her husband stroking her hair gently.
Pressing his lips to his wife's forehead Castle allowed himself to sleep, wondering if the bath would influence his dreams. Before he could nod off though his thoughts went momentarily to Vegas, eager for the trip with his family and what they would see once they got there. But his dreams were soon taking over and he fell into them willingly, knowing his wife was going through the same herself at his side.
