"We took too long," Castle commented to his wife as they approached the others.

"No, we're just ready," Julia said.

"We are walking? You told me before-" Martha started to say.

"We are and we're walking around after," Beckett said, interrupting her gently. "So if you two get tired tell us and we'll stop for a little," she then directed to the girls.

"We will," Julia said. "Are we gonna go through the casino now?"

"We should," Castle said when his wife looked at him to answer that. "But you two can't play you know."

"We know, we just like how they look," Julia said as her sister hid behind her and giggled. "Could we take some pictures?"

"Of course," Beckett said. "Speaking of which…"

With that the family left the villa and made their way over to the casino where they stopped a few times to allow the girls to take quick pictures of the games they passed before they stepped outside.

"Look at the dolphins," Eliza said, seeing the huge fountain with the figures in the water.

"I had wondered," Martha said to Jim as they waited a bit ahead of the four while the girls were taking pictures. "If they would enjoy it here but it seems they are."

"They are," Jim said as he was aware that was partially a question. "And they loved the garden and museum."

"Good," Martha had time to say before the others were walking up to them.

Going down the sidewalk Castle and Beckett ushered the girls over to Caesars Palace next to their hotel and once inside they made their way to the buffet, a short line already ahead of them.

"So girls," Castle told them. "You two need to behave here because it's very nice and we want to make sure you have a nice time."

"Is the food good?" Eliza asked him.

"It's supposed to be the best in the city," Castle said with a nod. "So don't run off when we go get food with you."

"I'm letting him have a turn telling you," Beckett said with a smile as the girls looked at her then. "He is your daddy."

"We'll be good," Julia then said quickly before they needed to go up to the register to pay. She felt Eliza's hand squeezing her own tightly and she whispered, "It's okay, I see other kids here too."

Looking ahead of them Eliza saw her big sister was right so she nodded, trusting her, and she then let their grandmother take her other hand as they were being led inside and to their table.

"So we're set to go," Beckett told the others when they had reached the table near the desserts. "Girls," she said in a teasingly stern tone as she saw their eyes were on the sweets. "You have to eat first. I'll take-"

"I want to go with you Mommy," Julia said hurriedly, watching Eliza go to their grandfather. She smiled when Beckett held her hand out to her and she hurried, taking it before they walked over to the food.

"Mind if I join you?" Castle asked Beckett and Julia. When they both smiled at him he then said, "What do you think about the crab legs? I've heard a lot about them."

"Oh Daddy," Julia said in slight distress, going to him and grabbing his arm. "Don't get that, please? We saw fish today and…"

Looking down at her and how serious she was Castle cupped the back of her head quickly and said, "Okay, no seafood today." He looked back at where his mother and father in law were with Eliza and said, "Your sister's telling them the same I think."

"Lizzy wouldn't like it if they ate fish either," Julia said as they continued on. She and her mother stopped and watched as Castle got some ham from someone cutting it and she said, "What will I get?"

"Have you seen anything you wanted yet?" Beckett asked her. When the girl shook her head she said, "When you see something just let me know."

As they continued down the food Julia breathed, "There's so much of it."

"It's why they call it a buffet, so make sure whatever you get you'll eat," Castle told her.

"Pizza!" Julia said eagerly.

"One slice," Beckett told her. "You don't want to get full."

Julia was surprised her mother was okay with her getting that but then watched as she took a slice of the veggie pizza. She let her mother get a slice of the Hawaiian pizza for her before they continued and she said, "What kind of ravioli is that?"

"It says pumpkin…" Castle said. "I think we're all trying that…" he told the two as he grabbed the spoon in the bowl of the food. He got one each for them all and they passed the rest of the Italian food before coming to some cheeses. "They have Manchego," he told his wife.

"I'm sure they got some for Eliza," Beckett said with a smile. "And here's the Asian food…" There they all got most of their food since there was Dim Sum along with other dishes and she said when they'd come to the end of the buffet, "That's enough for this plate, let's go eat."

"I saw some waffle fries," Julia said as they were going. "Can I get that next?"

"You saw those little hot dogs too didn't you?" Castle asked her.

"And the mac and cheese," Julia said before looking at her mother.

"I'll be getting that too," Beckett replied. "Oh, they're not back yet," she said as she saw their table was still empty. They sat down and after cleaning their hands they began to eat and she asked their oldest, "What do you think?"

"The pizza's almost as good as at home," Julia replied with a smile. "And the Dim Sum is sooo good."

"The lo mein is really nicely cooked," Castle commented. "Ah there you guys are," he said as his mother, Jim and Eliza came to them. He waited with Julia and Beckett for them to sit and start eating before they did again and he said, "We almost got the same thing."

"How is the hot dog?" Julia asked her sister interestedly as she was taking a bite of it.

"I think she likes it," Jim said. "We were interested in the Dim Sum," he said to his daughter as he saw what she was eating. "But our plates were full."

"Why don't you tell me a little about what you saw at the museum," Martha said.

"Tell her about the gardens first, that'll be easier than the museum," Castle suggested.

The girls began to take turns telling their grandmother about what they'd seen as they were busy at the same time eating. They had to pause when they went to get their second plates of food but didn't mind as they were still hungry and interested in getting to dessert finally.

"Alright," Beckett said when they'd had some fruit after their two plates. "We can go but the same rules apply to the desserts, stay with us."

Though they wanted to protest Julia and Eliza shared a look before they nodded and then got up with the others, going over to see what there was.

"Look at all the little cups!" Eliza gasped in a whisper. "What do we get?"

"What you'd like but only three small things," Beckett told them. She couldn't help smile at the way the girls both looked a little unsure; if they could pick out of all the choices she knew; and she said, "We're going to walk around once and then choose."

After doing so the girls soon had their choices though they were the last in their family to get them. But as they were sitting again and eating them they forgot their plan; whispering as their father had been saying something to their mother while watching them; to ask what they'd be seeing next.

"I think this was a success," Martha said to her son and daughter in law.

"It was," Beckett said, looking at her husband as he was studying one of the macrons that he'd picked up. "Rick? Rick!" she said, finally having to push him gently to get his attention.

"Sorry, it's a perfectly made piece of pastry," Castle said. "Look at this beak, and it feels perfect…"

"I think you have to eat it Daddy," Julia told him.

"It's good," Eliza said, having taken a bite out of the chocolate macaroon she'd picked.

Taking a bite of his Castle nodded and said, "You're right it's great."

Smiling Beckett finished her last dessert and once she had she said, "We definitely need to walk now."

"Yes we do," Jim said as the girls were sighing in pleasure finishing their sweets.

"No lingering?" Martha said jokingly.

"They tell you not to do that at the buffet," Castle said before he tried to glance back where they'd come in. "I wonder if there's a line."

"We'll see when we go," Beckett replied as they got up.

"Mommy, Daddy what do we do now?" Eliza asked them.

"We're going to shop," Castle answered for her. He held the little girl's hand, seeing that the line for the buffet had gotten much longer and he said, "We came at a nice time."

"We did," Beckett replied as they then made their way to the casino. Walking through it swiftly they soon came to the shops and she said, "It's a mall."

"Look at the statues," Julia said, pointing to one on their left above a restaurant.

"Since we're at Caesars Palace," Castle began as they started to walk. "Where does that mean this is going to look like?"

When she saw her little sister shrugging Julia smiled and said slowly, "Rome?"

"Exactly and you'll see as we walk through here," Castle said, watching the girls hold hands as they started to walk ahead of them. "Are they-" he began.

"They're fine," Beckett said with a smile. She looped her arm through his and held onto the upper part of it saying, "I wonder how long they'll enjoy this though."

"They will," Castle said reassuringly before he looked to the side as his mother passed him. "Oh… okay," he said jokingly as she and his father in law went to take the girls' free hands. He brought his wife closer to him and said, "At least now we know they'll be okay."

"They will," Beckett replied as they paused while the girls stopped to take pictures of a large fountain.

"Kate…?" Castle began, ending with a questioning tone.

"Ask someone," Beckett said, going over to the girls.

After he'd managed to get someone to take a picture with his phone Castle hurried to the others and stood with his family, the girls in front of him and Beckett and their parents on either side of them. He thanked the person and after showing everyone the picture said, "I'll have to text this to Alexis tomorrow."

"I hope she has fun too," Eliza said.

"She will, I'm sure your cousins will make sure she has fun at the estate," Castle commented.

"And your gram found a store," Beckett said with a smile.

"We'll wait," Castle called ahead to her. He turned to the girls and saw they were taking pictures of the ceiling; since it was painted to look at the sky; and above the shops and restaurants as there were windows and balconies to make it look like they were in Rome walking down a street.

"It's pretty here," Eliza said with a smile.

"Yeah they made it look like we were outside and everything," Julia added.

"Let me talk to Mother," Castle told his wife then as he looked over at the store she'd gone into. "And we'll go ahead so they can take pictures."

Waiting with the others Beckett then said to her father, "Do you want to go on your own?"

"I'm fine," Jim replied. "I'll stay with you."

"Good," Eliza said, taking his hand as Castle was coming back to them.

Since Martha was remaining behind to shop the five continued on without her, the girls taking more pictures until they came to a round room where there was a tall fountain.

"They have a show here," Castle commented. "But we missed it… do you want to stay-"

"Fishies!" Eliza interrupted him, rushing over to it before she abruptly stopped. She turned back to her mother and whispered, "I'm sorry."

"Apology accepted," Beckett told her. "At least you came back." She squeezed the little girl's hand before she let her go when they were close. She wasn't surprised when both girls took pictures but was when they stopped and immediately sat down on the shelf there was in front of the aquarium.

"They got tired already," Castle said jokingly to his wife. "Will you watch them?" he asked his father in law. When Jim gestured for him to go he took Beckett's hand and they went along the rest of the tank before he turned to her and said, "Tonight-"

"We have a lot tomorrow," Beckett began. She wasn't surprised when her husband looked disappointed so she quickly continued saying, "So we'll have to limit ourselves to just once."

"Does it matter how many times I make you…" Castle began.

Beckett shook her head and wasn't surprised when her husband suddenly grabbed her and she smiled before embracing him back briefly before she pulled him back to the others so they could continue as they had more to do that night before they could finally let their daughters swim.


"That's the High Roller," Julia said in amazement as she looked up at the tall Ferris wheel they saw at the end of the promenade they'd come to across the street from the Mirage. "I wondered what that was," she said to her father. "Looks fun."

"I think right now they're having parties on it," Castle said.

"Oh I don't want to go on it," Julia said, shaking her head.

"I don't want to too," Eliza hurried to say. "We went on it at London."

"Okay then we'll take a very quick walk and head back to our villa," Castle said, picking Eliza up and putting her on his shoulders while Beckett took Julia's hand before they began to walk with his mother and Jim down the street.

"There looks to be a number of places to eat," Martha commented to her son.

"There are," Beckett said, having heard that. "But there are a few you'll be able to take her," she said, not surprised when Eliza looked over at her. "Hot dogs, pizza."

"You could take her to a restaurant if you'd like," Castle said, nodding to one they were coming to.

"That looks like it's fancy Daddy," Eliza commented.

"Then you can get something else or even go to that food court at Caesars Palace we passed, it's up to you and your grandparents," Castle told her, moving her to his hip as she tapped the top of his head gently.

"What's that say Mommy?" Julia asked then.

"You can read it," Beckett replied, knowing her daughter had already done so.

"What does it say Jules?" Eliza asked interestedly, having been listening.

"It says Sprinkles," Julia said, smiling at her little sister as they were looking at the lit sign of the store. "And up higher it says cupcakes on the top."

"We'll come back here on the last day if we can," Castle told them quickly. He wasn't surprised when Eliza frowned at him and he told them, "You had a good dessert not too long ago."

Sighing Eliza said, "I like cupcakes."

"We know you do but don't worry, you'll have some in the future," Beckett said.

"They have Ghirardelli here," Julia said, spotting the place.

"Again, we just had dessert," Castle said before he realized his wife had stopped walking. "Kate?" he asked in surprise.

"They have tea," Beckett told him. "I could use some."

"Sure but do you want to go down any more?" Castle asked the others. When their parents shook their heads he smiled and said, "Okay, let's go ahead and get some tea," before they turned around to walk inside.

Julia wanted to ask if she and her sister could get something to drink but she didn't think they'd let them get hot chocolate. But as she listened to her mother order she began to smile as Beckett was asking for two small cups of it. "Thank you," she said when they stepped away from the register.

"You're welcome; we'll drink those on the way out okay?" Beckett told her.

"Okay," Julia replied, looking ahead of them at her sister who was with their father at some chocolates. "I'm surprised Lizzy isn't going crazy," she told her mother, taking her hand.

"I know but I think it's because your daddy is watching her," Beckett replied with a smile. "They're not going to take too long to make our drinks sweetie," she then directed to Eliza.

"Girls," Martha said. "Come with me so we can watch the Ferris wheel going around."

Watching them go Castle smiled and said, "Hopefully they'll come back."

"I'm sure the girls will make sure they will," Beckett said, letting him take her hand.

"Listen," Castle said as she looked up to him. "I was thinking about taking your dad down to the casino with me, you said he likes blackjack right?"

"He does," Beckett said. "You want to play with him?"

"I would," Castle replied, nodding his head.

"Just ask him," Beckett told him with a smile. "I'm sure he'd love to play," she said before her name was called and they were soon joined by their family to get their drinks.


"Would you two like anything?" a woman asked, standing behind them at the table.

"I don't-" Jim started to say.

"Two ginger ales," Castle replied. When they were alone again he said to his father in law, "I'm getting thirsty for some reason."

"So am I," Beckett's father nodded. "But did you want to stay for that much longer?"

"Not really," Castle said honestly as they'd been there for at least a half hour already. "I wanted to get to join the girls while they swim. I'm just glad that they don't mind the pool is so small."

"I really don't think they'd care," Jim said, glancing back for their dealer who'd left them for the moment to get a new deck of cards. He then said, "I'm glad you and Katie extended the invitation to me."

"Well," Castle began before he smiled. "I don't think we could have had a family vacation without you. Definitely not with just my mother. The girls would have pointed it out it would be unfair and I agree with them." The dealer returned then and they began to play once more before he said, "I hope you don't mind tomorrow night."

"Don't worry," Jim replied. "I'm more eager to spend time with Eliza. I just hope she'll have fun."

"Of course she will," Castle assured her. "So," he then said. "Kate and I are hoping that the girls will enjoy our plans for tomorrow."

Throwing in a chip Jim then said, "I don't know if I can really say if they will."

Castle laughed, since he and Beckett hadn't told their parents about their plans either, and said, "Sorry I've been going through this in my head."

"Has Katie reassured you that they will?" Jim asked him.

"You know she has," Castle replied with a nod.

"Then you should take her words to heart," Jim replied. "You two planned out this vacation well."

"You know she's usually right," Castle said absently as he gave a nod of his head. He wasn't surprised when his father in law won the hand that time and he said, "Think we should call it a night?" At Jim's nod he stood up and they left to cash out before heading back to the villa as quickly as they could to rejoin the rest of their family.


"Girls," Martha said as she was watching them while Beckett was ducking under the water to grab Eliza's mask that had slipped to the bottom of the pool. "You're not supposed to be splashing."

"How come you don't swim Gram?" the little girl asked her.

"I don't want to wash my hair," Martha said simply with a smile, reaching over to grab her youngest granddaughter and bringing her up to sit on her lap. She was sitting on the shelf at the end of the small pool and she said, "Are you getting bored already?"

"No but I miss Daddy," Eliza said as Julia came over to join them while Beckett was walking to them. "Are he and Grandpapa coming back?"

"They are," Beckett said with a smile, not surprised that she was asking that again. "They said they'd come with us to swim. Just give them a little time to play cards okay?"

"Yeah they won't have a chance to… will they?" Julia started to say before she then realized she didn't know if that was the case.

"No but your daddy and I will be going to play a little tomorrow night once you're in bed," Beckett confessed.

"How early are you waking up on Saturday?" Martha inquired.

Smiling Beckett said, "We don't have to be anywhere exactly in the morning. So we can sleep in."

"Hmm, I wonder if Jim and I might take our granddaughters to breakfast that morning," Martha said after considering that for a moment. "Since the three of us will want to hear about your night before."

"That's a great idea," a voice said from the villa suddenly, making the girls jump.

"Sorry," Castle told them with a smile as they looked at him and Beckett's father who was with him. "Can we join you or are you having a good time on your own?" He wasn't surprised when his daughters cried out, "Daddy!" and ran to him, throwing their arms around him.

"Girls," Beckett said a little sternly as she got out, reaching for her towel.

"No, it's okay," Castle assured his wife. "My trunks are under my clothes; let me change out of them."

"Come back into the pool Julia, Eliza," Martha called to them then before they rushed over to her.

"Dad-" Beckett began to say as her father was going back inside.

"He needs to change but he will be joining us," Castle told her, going over to one of the lounge chairs that faced the pool. He took off his clothes quickly as he asked his wife, "How is it?"

"Very nice," Beckett assured him with a smile. "Ready?" she asked. She wasn't surprised when he merely took her hand and pulled her over to their daughters. "Don't jump," she told him teasingly as he stepped down onto the shelf.

"The fact I can see how deep it is on the side is keeping me from doing that. And I'm remembering our pool back at home," Castle said. "I'll have to dive in there."

Beckett smiled at him as they stepped down on the bottom and she then watched while the girls swam out to them. She picked up Eliza then and held her on her hip before saying, "Want to head over to the Jacuzzi?"

"But he just got here Mommy!" Julia protested, floating on her back next to her father.

"I think she's kidding," Castle commented.

"I'll agree," Jim said, stepping down onto the shelf. He smiled as Eliza leaned over to him and he took her before kissing her temple.

"Was it fun Grandpapa?" Julia asked, going over to him.

"It was," Jim said with a nod.

"He's being modest," Castle said with a smile. He then said to the others, "He was doing a lot of winning."

"I was lucky," Jim replied.

"I however was not," Castle said before he ducked under the water before anyone could say anything to that.
"He did win a couple of times," Jim told his daughter.

"I won twice," Castle said, jumping slightly when he found his wife was in front of him.

"My dad said," Beckett replied. "So should we go play tomorrow?"

"I'll have you there," Castle replied with a smile after wiping away the water on his face. "My lucky charm."

Groaning in annoyance Beckett said, "You don't win every time I'm with you."

"You said it, not me," Castle told her with a shrug.

Beckett sighed and told him, "I'm still thinking of a way to get Javi back for telling you what I told the guards."

"I'm wondering why he didn't follow you," Castle said slowly.

"Rick," Beckett told him, patting his face with the back of her hand. "Are you going to join them?"

Castle was a little startled at the change in subject but when he looked over at their daughters he realized that they were watching them. "Oh hey, what would you like to do?" he asked, going over to them quickly. "We can't really play Marco Polo," he told them, looking around the pool.

"No but still we could play something," Julia said.

"Like what?" Beckett said, going over to them where they were standing next to their grandparents who were both on the shelf.

"Um…" Julia began.

Eliza shook her head at her sister and said, "I don't know, you say!"

"Why don't you just swim around?" Castle asked them then.

"There's not much time left anyways," Beckett said, looking at Castle's watch.

"Do we have to take a bath?" Julia asked with a sigh.

"You do," Beckett replied. "But you need to remember it's a little later for you both."

"'Cause vacation?" Eliza asked.

"Yeah so swim before we let you know it's time to get out to go into the Jacuzzi," Castle urged them, taking the little girl.

The family then swam around the small space of the pool until Castle and Beckett got their daughters out. They went together to the Jacuzzi and they sat inside of the hot water though soon Julia and Eliza were walking around the middle as the adults watched.

"So we can't know what we're gonna do tomorrow?" Julia asked, stopping and turning to her parents after a while.

"No," Beckett said with a smile. "You'll find out very soon."

Sighing Julia said, "After we get some sleep."

"Yep," Castle said easily. He smiled when the girls both sighed and he hugged them both to him saying, "You're enjoying it though, right?"

"Yeah it was fun and I liked when we saw the aminals," Eliza said seriously as she pulled back to look at him. "All of them."

"Glad to hear that," Castle commented with a smile. He ran his hand over her hair and said, "You'll love what we get to see tomorrow."

"I think it means we have to go now," Julia told her sister, trying to get closer to their father as well.

"You do but there is time tomorrow and Saturday," Beckett said with a smile as Eliza let out a heavy groan of protest. She had her husband's help in getting the girls out and she took their youngest in her arms after wrapping a towel around her. She sat on one of the lounge chairs and held the little girl to her tightly, watching her look up at the sky though it wasn't very visible.

"Are there different stars?" Eliza finally asked.

"There might be since we flew over the country a little more west," Beckett began. "But some are the same we can see at home."

"Do you want to be an astronaut now?" Julia asked her little sister with a wide smile as she looked over at her.

"No I like the stars," Eliza said simply. "Do you?"

"I told you before," Julia said teasingly before she and her sister started to laugh together heavily.

"I don't get it," Castle told his wife as he looked over at her.

"I don't think we're supposed to," Beckett replied in amusement when their daughters finally stopped laughing. Looking at Eliza as she started to yawn she began to rub her shoulders and said, "Time for your baths, so-"

"Do you think I could help them?" Jim asked.

When she saw the excited expressions on her daughters' faces Beckett smiled and said, "Yes, you can since we talked about that earlier."

With that the girls went a little more easily inside and Castle and Beckett let her father take them into to his and Eliza's room while they grabbed their daughters' pajamas to set them next to the sink.

"You're not going to join us Mother?" Castle asked as he and Beckett walked hand in hand together to the media room.

"I'm going to be taking a shower myself; very quickly," Martha answered. "I would advise you the same."

"You're thinking about tomorrow," Beckett stated instead of asking.

"Of course, we all want more time," Martha said. "Unless you're going to give them one tomorrow."

"We weren't planning on that," Castle said. "Unless they swim which means they'll need to have their hair washed."

"We might not have time to go again until Saturday," Beckett told her husband gently. "We'll rest before we get ready to go."

Castle opened his mouth to speak before he watched his mother step into her room. As the door closed behind her he said, "I guess we should take a shower too."

"I guess so," Beckett said with a smile as her husband wrapped his arm around her. They walked down to their room and she watched him lock the door before they went into the bathroom to begin preparing for bed.


While their parents were taking a shower the girls were staring at their grandfather together in the bath, their hair washed and themselves as well.

"Ready?" Jim asked. When they nodded he said, "One, two… three."

"Ooh, you did the paper!" Eliza said, her fingers mimicking a pair of scissors.

"But your sister played rock," Jim replied.

"That means you won," Julia told her little sister with a smile.

"Yeah," Eliza replied, not realizing that her sister had beaten her. "Can we play again?"

"Of course," Jim said. "But only one more time, you're going to be getting cold in there." He then proceeded to play another round of the game with them, not surprised when both girls played paper while he played rock. "Great job," he told them before he heard a knock on the door. "Come in," he said.

"Hello," Martha said, smiling at the girls as they watched her step in.

"Where are Mommy and Daddy?" Eliza asked.

"They're taking a shower," Martha replied. "But I think they're nearly finished so they'll be joining us soon. Julia? Would you like me to help you kiddo?" When her granddaughter nodded she went over to one of the two towels next to the pajamas on the counter and she then unfolded it, holding it open for Julia who soon stepped inside of it.

"Are you going to go to bed now?" Julia asked her grandparents while she and Eliza were being dried off.

"Not quite yet," Martha replied. "I'm going to read a little and then sleep."

"I'm going to," Jim said. When Castle's mother looked at him in surprise he explained, "I would imagine wherever we're going to be tomorrow will involve a lot of walking, so we need to rest for that of course."

"You make a very valid point," Martha said, thinking that over. She saw the girls were looking at them and said, "We should head to bed."

At the same time in the master bedroom of the villa Castle was covering the glass doors going out to the back with the curtains and he said to his wife, "They should be finished by now."

"They are, come on," Beckett told him as she'd finished putting on her pajamas by then. She waited for him to walk up to her and take her hand before they left together, going to her father's room to find that the girls were jumping on the bed. "Dad," she said with a sigh though there was also a smile on her face at the same time.

"I was cleaning up," Jim replied, coming out from the bathroom.

"My mother?" Castle asked, going to the doorway.

"Here, I needed to get something very quickly," Martha said as she came into the room. "I told them not to jump," she said, seeing the girls were looking a little concerned.

"Say goodnight to them," Beckett said to Julia and Eliza. "And no more jumping, these aren't our beds. And even then you shouldn't jump on them."

"Kay, sorry," Eliza said quickly.

"Sorry it's really hard to…" Julia began.

"Resist," Castle supplied.

"Alright darlings, I'll say goodnight to you both first," Martha said. "Even though you're coming with me Julia." She embraced them both tightly and said, "Goodnight Eliza, Julia I love you both. Sleep tight."

"Night Gram," the two said together.

"I love you," Eliza said.

"I love you too," Julia was then quick to add. She shared a kiss with her after her little sister had and turned to their grandfather who came over.

Hugging them Jim said, "I love you two and we'll get some rest and be ready for whatever your parents have planned for us."

"Love you Grandpapa," Julia said first since she wasn't staying in the room with him. She shared a kiss with him and said, "So you're really gonna go to sleep?"

"Of course," Jim assured her. He then turned to Eliza and kissed her before saying, "Too tired honey?"

"No I'm waiting," Eliza said with a smile. "I love you too Grandpapa." She then turned her attention to her parents and said, "Now Mommy and Daddy."

"Quickly, it's late," Castle said as he went to the girls first. He hugged them tightly and kissed them saying, "I love you girls, sleep and like your grandfather was saying you'll have enough rest for what we're going to see tomorrow."

"He's not going to give you a hint," Beckett said wryly.

Sighing Julia shrugged at her little sister before she then hugged their father tightly saying, "I love you too Daddy."

"And I love you Daddy," Eliza said, hugging him.

Beckett waited for Castle to kiss their daughters goodnight before she went over to them and embraced them together. When she pulled away after some time she said with a smile, "I love you Julia, Eliza. Sleep tight and we'll see you in the morning."

"Good," Julia said before she smiled widely at her. She shared a kiss with her and then said, "Love you Mommy."

"I love you too Mommy!" Eliza said, hugging her a little harder. "You will sleep too right?"

"Of course," Beckett said. She shared a kiss with her and said, "Do you mind your grandparents tucking you in?"

"No," Julia said, getting off the bed with her mother's help.

After saying goodnight to the others Jim turned to Eliza with a smile and said, "Come on, let's get you in bed."

The little girl nodded before she then sat on the bed before her grandfather had her lay down. "Night Grandpapa," she told him with a smile as he set her Rupert and white tiger stuffed animals to her left. She smiled wider but it didn't stay for long as she was soon yawning widely.

After he handed her her stuffed horse Jim wasn't surprised to find Eliza fast asleep and he leaned over, kissing her forehead before he got up then to get ready for bed himself.

Inside their room Martha and Julia had said goodnight to Castle and Beckett, who had left, and the girl smiled as she sat on the bed.

"Think Grandpapa took a shower too?" Julia asked as she watched her grandmother closing the curtains over the glass doors.

"I think so," Martha replied. "He went swimming too."

"I'm so excited," Julia confessed. "I don't know how I'm gonna be able to sleep."

"I'm sure you'll be able to darling," Martha said as she came over to the bed. "You don't want to nod off during the show do you?" When she saw her granddaughter biting at her lower lip she said, "Just think of how much of an insult that would be to the performers."

"I know, it's just really hard," Julia told her seriously.

"Try and sleep Julia," Martha said, helping her lay down. "And we'll get to tomorrow quicker."

"Thanks Gram," Julia told her with a smile. "Night."

"Goodnight darling," Martha replied as she covered her up. She turned off the light on Julia's side of the bed and then went over to hers, taking off her robe and slipping under the covers. She turned off the lamp after studying her granddaughter and she smiled before the room was plunged into darkness and she lay next to her to try to get some sleep as well.


"Kate?" Castle asked, going over to where she was standing in front of one of the doors to their room.

"What?" Beckett asked, looking back at him.

"Why did we get changed?" Castle asked as he reached her. "Did you change your mind?"

"Are you worried that I did?" Beckett said with a smile, closing the curtain and turning to him with her arms crossed over her chest.

Realizing what he'd sounded like then to his wife Castle said, "Sorry but I just wanted to…"

"I know," Beckett said, starting to walk over to the bed. She was a little shocked when her husband turned her to him and said, "What's wrong?"

"No," Castle said firmly. "I just wanted to tell you I only wanted to make love tonight."

Beckett was startled at the sincerity in his voice and in the expression on his face so she nodded before her husband cupped her cheek with his hand gently. "So… we can start," she nearly whispered.

"Not like that," Castle told her seriously.

Tempted to ask what he wanted to do Beckett smiled as his hand moved down to hold onto the side of her next and she whispered, "Then just show me."

"Okay," Castle replied. And as soon as she looked at him in anticipation he leaned down, kissing her deeply before her arms wrapped around him. He held her tightly to him as their tongues soon met and he groaned as she did the same and they held onto each other as tightly as they could.

Feeling her heart pounding almost wildly Beckett tried not to get too out of control then and she held onto him as closely as she could until they needed to breathe and parted. She sighed and then said, "So-" But her words were cut off when he picked her up then and she was quick to hold onto him before they made it to the bed.

"No protest that time?" Castle said with a smile as he set her down on top of the mattress.

"Not really, I thought you'd want to get started," Beckett said. "I know I do too," she said as she sat up then and cupped his face with her hands. She drew him down to her and said, "Is this what you want?"

"Is it what you want?" Castle asked seriously, gazing into her eyes. He wasn't surprised when she didn't answer that and he held onto the small of her back firmly with one arm, leaning over and kissing her deeply. He loved how she responded to him and he kept that going for as long as he could until finally they were moving away. He couldn't stop himself, going down to her jaw where he pressed his lips there tenderly, murmuring, "I love you… that you let me do this."

"Did you really think I'd let any other man see me the way you have?" Beckett asked, tensing her back a little hard as her husband's hand slipped underneath her long blue shirt she'd brought to wear at night. She sighed in pleasure as he was tenderly fingering her skin and said, "Touch me like this…"

Castle, on his knees then next to his wife, studied her closely as he was gently caressing her back and said, "They never did?"

"They would try," Beckett said simply, smiling at him through her pleasure.

"And not succeed," Castle stated instead of asking.

With a slight sigh Beckett said, "Maybe we shouldn't talk about this…"

"No it's alright," Castle assured her. "I want to make sure I can do them one better."

"You've done that consistently," Beckett said, reaching over for the bottom of his pajama shirt. "And more than just one better."

"So… so I can…?" Castle said before he let his wife take off his shirt.

Beckett had to smile at his eager tone and she murmured, "You can… do you want to try for at least two?"

"I-is that a challenge?" Castle asked, stammering in his eagerness.

"Hmm," Beckett said before she wrapped her arms firmly around her husband's neck. She kissed him before she said anything else and they soon tilted their heads to the side before their tongues met until finally they parted. Panting she waited for a bit before she finally said, "No I just trust you to do it." She smiled when he shuddered at that and said, "We'll be able to come more than once." And in the next second she was crying out as her husband pushed her down onto the bed, kissing her deeply before her back even hit it. It took a moment for her to be able to respond to him and she held onto him as tightly as she could, parting her lips for his before they were tangling and dueling together hungrily.

Things became desperate when they were getting breathless but the need to continue breathing won out and they slowly parted.

"You're amazing," Castle said huskily, staring into her eyes adoringly.

"So're you," Beckett said, still trying to catch her breath.

Castle wanted to reply to that but found that he couldn't as his wife reached up, running her hands down his chest as slowly as she could. "Kate," he groaned as her fingers focused on his nipples.

"Yes," Beckett replied before they kissed hard, though swiftly. When they'd parted she let him help her up and she gave him free rein with her clothes. She wasn't sure how exactly he wasn't tearing them off and she smiled at him saying, "Maybe we should have undressed first."

"No, it's okay," Castle said in a rush. "I'm going to fold these right now."

Beckett was quiet then as she watched her husband doing that with her pajamas placing her arm across herself as he swiftly finished. "So now," she began but didn't finish.

"Here," Castle told her seriously, smiling at her before he helped her lay down. He removed her panties then, tossing those aside, and he then let her remove the rest of his clothes. Naked he glanced down at himself saying, "I think this is going to prove that I really wanted you."

Laughing softly Beckett leaned over and kissed her husband deeply on the lips before she moved away to lie down.

Castle was startled to see her gaze was up at the ceiling and he followed it saying, "I guess you'll get a great view of my posterior…"

Beckett couldn't stop her second laugh; as there were mirrors above them; and she told him, "I will but I get the feeling I'm going to mainly be watching you, or have my eyes closed."

"Probably," Castle said. And with that he kissed her deeply before she took him by the hand; with his assistance; and he sank within her, both of them groaning out in their pleasure as he filled her swiftly. But once they were coupled he remained still, wanting to make sure that she could feel him. He heard her breathe heavily and he then said, "Kate…"

With that her husband began to thrust and Beckett closed her eyes as tightly as she could, feeling how deep he was getting. Very quickly she moved her legs to wrap them around his waist and she cried out as the next thrust he made was even deeper. "Oh… Rick… please," she was gasping out in joy.

"It's enough… Kate," Castle groaned heavily to her. "Just let me… take care of you."

Though she wanted to protest the sensation; though she had agreed to it in the first place; Beckett finally shook her head and whispered, "Just… don't stop."

"I won't," Castle nearly mumbled to her. "I'll take care of you love."

Beckett knew if they weren't coupled so tightly together and he wasn't making her feel an extreme amount of pleasure even from his slow pace she would have teased him about that. She tried to slide her legs up higher on her husband's sides but couldn't get them much further. More so because they were soon kissing each other hungrily and she held him to her tightly as he soon moved down to her neck. She could feel him mumbling against her and she whispered his name before their lips met again. She was able to feel every inch of him very deliberately as slowly as they were moving and she wasn't sure how much longer she was going to be able to last.

"Don't kill me," Castle said, pulling away from her as he got close to her breasts. He stopped a second later and was a little shocked when his wife made no protest. "Already?" he breathed out. He was further startled when her cheeks reddened as she flushed and he said, "That much?"

"What about you?" Beckett shot back though it was without much anger.

"The same," Castle replied. He then leaned down so they could kiss once more and he slipped his tongue carefully inside her mouth until finally they parted slowly. "Can I?" he asked. He felt a rush of joy when she nodded and he shifted enough so he would be able to take her left breast, kissing at it a few times before he went to the other and did the same with it.

Every touch of her husband's lips or tongue as he began to suckle at her taut nipples was as if it was a shock and Beckett whispered his name breathily before she pushed him away. "I'm sorry," she said, a little surprised at herself.

"I know," Castle said, smiling at her reassuringly. He kissed her deeply once more before they carefully pulled away from one another and he told her, "Do you want me to start trying again?"

"Trying what?" Beckett couldn't help tease him. She took his kiss then but it was soon over and she told him, "I think we should."

Castle began to move then with her and they started to thrust against each other once more but slowly, as they'd done before. He was thrilled by the way the pleasure shot through him and watching his wife closely he knew that she felt the same. He studied her with each slow move he made into her body, loving the way that she moaned and softly gasped in response to him. He leaned down to her and brushed his lips to hers, a further shock within him before he looked down at her closely.

"Rick… I'm… going to come…" Beckett whispered to him after they'd been moving and kissing one another repeatedly for some time.

"I know," Castle said, his body straining against the slow pace he'd somehow managed to stay with. "Do you want me to-"

"No," Beckett hurriedly cut him off. "Just… keep moving I want to…" She gasped when suddenly her husband placed both his hands under her hips, lifting her up as he somehow got on his knees. He thrust down hard against her and she cried out in joy as the pleasure was swift and a rush through her entire body. "I can't… I'm going to come…" she told him again. There was no chance for her husband to respond to her as her back arched and she cried out his name repeatedly as her orgasm hit her roughly. She dug her nails into his back when he kissed her and she could feel him joining her, her eyes rolling into the back of her head though they were closed already.

As he was coming down from his climax Castle soon began to try and drive himself harder down against her clit. He could tell by the way his wife was jerking back every time he made a down motion that he was managing to reach it and he continued that for a few more times before he saw her orgasm on her face. He kissed her hard and after he was losing control over his body; feeling her reacting to him by crying out into his mouth; he pulled away and pressed his forehead to hers, chanting her name as if it were a mantra.

When Beckett felt that her husband had calmed down she cupped the back of his head and stroked it tell him, "You managed to do it."

"Yes and good thing we checked the soundproofing in this room," Castle teased her; since they would do that if they could at hotels or homes they were in that weren't their own.

Beckett didn't respond to that and she said, "I get the feeling though that was enough."

"It was," Castle said as he carefully withdrew from her. He was almost frantic to grab the sheet at the end of the bed, pulling it over them both before he held his wife as tightly as he could to his side. "Not that," he said as she glanced down at him.

"Slightly," Beckett said.

"True but it'll go away with sleep," Castle told her with a smile. He then shared a deep, sensuous kiss with her for as long as they possibly could manage and when they'd parted he said, "Night my love."

"Night Rick," Beckett said, pressing her cheek to his shoulder.

"Wait," Castle said, stopping her from relaxing. When she raised her head to look at him questioningly he kissed her and once they'd parted said, "I love you Kate."

"I love you too Rick," Beckett responded, smiling at him.

The two shared another kiss, intense but still meaningful, before they parted and settled down to sleep as the fatigue from both their traveling and lovemaking lulled them. But what also helped was holding onto one another as tightly as they could while they moved into the second day of their vacation.