Genre: Drama, Crime, Romance, Family, Humor
Rating: M for sexual situations and language
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured on the show Castle, they belong to the creator of the show, ABC, and the others who do own them.
A/N #1: As it says this is the epilogue so this story is all done. I have another one ready to go so if anyone wants to read it look out for it in a few days!
A/N #2: Very happy to get what I did for the last chapter so let me go ahead and get to my thank yous for that! Guest (Glad that the last chapter was what you needed for the big storm; I'd heard about it so I'm glad it could give you some entertainment through all that. And it was really nice to read that Castle and Beckett's passion and love for both each other and their family will keep you warm which you would need of course! Very welcome for posting!),
Guest (Great you thought the last chapter was so, so good. And also glad you love that I mix the family moments with the loving and hot; as you put it; Castle and Beckett moments. I do like to get a good balance so please to see you thought I have everything well balanced with that! I'm happy to read that you think this is a fantastic series, great to know! And you're welcome for posting!),
TORONTOSUN (It was great to see you thought there were very good and exciting moments of every through the whole chapter as you said. And also nice that the fact that the girls wanted to see everything was very refreshing!) and
vetgirlmx (I was pleased to read first off that you thought it was a very fun chapter. And great that you love how much fun they have going to zoos and aquariums and that you think it's a little contagious. Actually I'm basing it off myself, lol, what I remember of visiting the zoo when I was little so great that worked out so well writing like that! I'm not surprised that you want to hear about what Martha and Jim talk about more in detail when they have their dinners together. I haven't thought about putting it in but I might think about how I can do that, see what I could put in there too, lol, since you're right they can talk about their kids' stories even the embarrassing ones without them there to stop them. And glad to see you're sorry it's ending also that you thought it was a really great one. Nice to read that you can't wait to see what they do next and now you don't need to anymore!).
Thanks so much for the reviews, I loved reading them of course and also appreciate the time taken to write them out and sent them to me!
And thanks to those of you who read, reviewed, favorited and followed the story and who will do that in the future for this story as well, very grateful for all of that!
A/N #3: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Put It There by Paul McCartney, from his album Flowers in the Dirt.
All That Matters In The End
Tiptoeing into the room with her sister Eliza looked at the bed and whispered, "Did he wake up?"
"Shh, not yet," Julia told her. They walked around it carefully together and they climbed up on their mother's side before they leaned over their father and she said first, "Wake up Daddy!"
"Wake up!" Eliza then cried out.
Jumping a little Castle somehow managed not to throw the girls off of him and he opened his eyes to see that they were watching him with twin smiles on their faces.
"Happy Father's Day!" the girls exclaimed at the same time.
Castle didn't say anything, not surprised when the two looked concerned, sitting up before he let out a fake growl and threw his arms around them to their shrieks of surprise. "That was the best way I could have gotten woken up," he told them as he embraced them tightly.
"You're welcome," Julia said with a smile. "We surprised you?"
"Definitely," Castle said. He then realized the two were on the bed and his wife was missing. "Where's-" he started to say.
"Here," Beckett said, coming into the room then with two mugs of coffee in her hands. She smiled when her husband was watching her closely and she said, "Happy Father's Day love."
"Thanks," Castle said, taking one of the mugs from her. He then pulled her to him and kissed her tenderly and quickly on the lips before they slowly parted. Remembering their daughters were there with them he turned to them and said, "Come here, I didn't get a Father's Day good morning kiss from you two." He embraced them in turn before sharing a kiss with them, kissing Julia last. "How're you doing sweetheart?" he asked her, running his hand over the back of her head.
"I'm okay," the girl said softly.
"You'll do great," Castle told her seriously. "And since it's Father's Day I have one command."
"Command?" Beckett asked him with one eyebrow raised.
"Yes," Castle told her simply. He then turned back to their oldest and told her, "Dance to have fun for me, I want to see you smiling… well in those dances when you can smile. But otherwise just enjoy everything okay?"
"I'll try my best," Julia said.
"Thank you," Castle told her before kissing her forehead gently. He started to bring his coffee up to his lips when his wife stopped his hand.
"I have breakfast ready," Beckett told him with a smile at his obvious surprise. "It's outside; I just brought the coffee to wake you up a little more."
"Let's go," Castle said quickly before he and Beckett waited for their daughters to get off the bed and they went together after them to the kitchen table. The table was set and he sat down at his spot, the girls on either side of him as his wife sat next to their youngest after she'd served the oatmeal he'd requested for breakfast the day before. Once she was ready he picked up the spoon in his bowl and they began to eat in silence together for a short time.
"Is Gram going to be here in time to go to the competition?" Julia finally asked.
"She will," Castle assured her. "I guess the party after the play went on longer than she expected."
"More than likely," Beckett said. She looked over at the girls who were watching her and she said, "She's getting everything done she wants to before we head to Ireland."
"I can't wait," Julia said excitedly. "We'll get to go with Mari, Dani, Marie and Kath."
"And your sister," Beckett reminded them.
"Yeah," Eliza said.
"But she was already gonna come with us in the first place," Julia explained.
"Oh then I guess that explains why you forgot her," Castle said teasingly. When both girls glared at him he smiled at his wife and said, "They look just like you."
"Finish," Beckett urged him. "We have to be ready to go soon."
At that Julia suddenly became nervous again and she went back to her oatmeal, biting at her lower lip before her sister talking distracted her.
"Do I have to go back to school when we come home?" Eliza was asking her parents.
"You do," Beckett replied knowing she meant in the fall. "Don't worry," she said as the little girl's shoulders slumped. "You'll enjoy Kindergarten."
"I did," Julia said quickly to reassure her. "It was fun and you get to learn more stuff."
"But I know the alphabet now," Eliza protested.
"There's more to learn than that," Castle told her.
"You will like it," Beckett said. She then looked at Julia and asked her, "Think you'll enjoy sixth grade?"
"Eve said it was alright," Julia said with a shrug. "And there is the camp week we have."
"That's not for a while though," Castle said, still unable to believe his and Beckett's oldest was heading into her last year of elementary school.
"At least I can look forward to that," Julia said. "That's how I say it right?"
"Right," Castle said with a slight laugh. "Come on I think your mom is telling us that it's time to go," he said as she was standing up and taking her bowl with her.
At that moment, as the family was clearing the table, the door opened and Martha stepped in. She smiled at the others and then said, "I see I made it just in time."
"You did," Beckett replied as the girls hurried over to the grandmother. "But we need to hurry."
"The costumes are ready," Julia said, looking back at her mother. "Ms. Grey has them."
"She does but you have to get ready for them first," Beckett reminded her.
"Let me take them," Martha told her son and daughter in law. "Since I'm ready." She went over to the stairs after Beckett had nodded but then paused and called to her son, "Happy Father's Day Richard."
"Thanks Mother," Castle said, looking over at her from where he was cleaning up bowls at the sink.
"I could have done that," Beckett told him.
"I know but I can get this finished quickly," Castle said. He thought that she would go to their room to get ready herself but when he glanced over at her he saw that she was leaning against the counter next to him. "So…" he said, a little unsettled by the look in her eyes since he knew they needed to focus on their oldest at that point. "Your dad?"
"He's coming back home with us," Beckett reminded him.
"Yeah," Castle said slowly since they would be returning to the city on Thursday to leave for Dublin with the Fosters and McDouglases. "Well at least we know now that Rudy and Lambert are coming to the wedding."
Beckett smiled and nodded before she waited for him to finish drying off his hands. Once he had they walked together over to their room and though they spoke about the competition she couldn't help recalling the end of May when they had gone to the train station at the Hamptons to say goodbye to the Beaches.
"There they are," Castle said after he and his wife had stepped into the station and he spotted the family with Rocco and Dally.
"Kate, Richard," Rudolph said with a smile when he saw the two coming up to him. He bounced Sydney on his hip a little and said, "Your daughters?"
"Julia's practicing," Beckett explained as Ms. Grey had taken Julia and Peter to practice at the studio where she and Castle had their lessons; Eliza with them as well as Mari and David.
"Tell them we said hi," Stephanie said a little shyly.
"We will and they did too before they left," Castle said, smiling as Beckett was taking Sydney. "So you're all set?"
"We are," Rembert replied. "But we're really going to miss it here."
"Remember you still have friends here," Beckett told him and his siblings as he handed over the baby to her husband. She then looked over at the entry to the stations and spotted people walking out from a train that had just arrived. "Excuse me," she said to the others with a smile before walking over to the people. She neared them and then started to run when she saw who she was looking for. When Darnley met her halfway she cried out for a second before he whirled her around once to her laughter. "Every time," she told him after he'd set her down.
"It's fun," Darnley replied before they hugged one another normally. "How're you doing?"
"I'm fine, you?" Beckett said, moving back and cupping his face with her hands for a moment.
"Better, Trev is an amazing husband," Darnley replied, looking at her closely.
"Yeah, Rick helped me too," Beckett said. "But he's with the Beaches now."
"Which one is Rudolph?" Darnley asked, looking over at her husband and the people with him.
"The one with the white streak above his ear," Beckett said, as the young man had it in his black hair.
"Ah that would explain it," Darnley said. When he saw his friend was looking at him he explained to her, "I'm assuming that's his boyfriend and girlfriend with him and if they are then he's looking around nervously. I did the same for a long time."
"Come on," Beckett told him, pulling him by the arm.
Stepping up to Darnley once he was close Castle shook his hand warmly and said, "Great to see you again."
Nodding the man said, "I had to help Kate out." Darnley then turned to the Beaches as Beckett was introducing him to them. He smiled at the children and who he remembered she had said was the oldest of the siblings. At the baby's name he reached down to her as she was in Rudolph's arms. "She's adorable," he told the young man. He nodded to Dally and Rocco before he then turned to Rudolph himself and said, "Has Kate told you about me?"
"A little," Rudolph replied, glancing at her nervously.
"Then why don't you walk me around the station? I've never been here before," Darnley replied.
Watching the two walk off; the baby still in Rudolph's arms; Beckett turned to her husband and said, "He'll be alright."
"I know, you had a good idea talking to him," Castle said before they turned their attention to the others and began talking with them until they needed to get on their train into the city.
On the platform Beckett and her husband said goodbye to Rocco and Dally first before turning their attention to the siblings. They went to Rudolph last and once her husband had shaken his hand she then embraced him herself. "Good luck, keep in touch okay?" she told him after letting him go.
"We will," Rudolph replied with a smile. "And so you know, Lamont and I will go to your wedding if we're still invited."
"You are," Castle and Beckett said at the same time before they looked at each other.
With a smile Darnley said to the family, "I'll see you guys on the train if you'll save me a seat." Once they were gone he shook Castle's hand and said, "Sorry this trip is so short. But I'll be there for the wedding too."
"I think you need to be or Kate is going to have some issues with that," Castle said, nodding to his wife.
Rolling her eyes as Darnley smiled at her Beckett said, "You already RSVP'd the invitation so we're expecting you and Trevor there."
"I'm not taking it back," Darnley promised before he hugged her tightly. "Try and let me know how your trip goes."
"I don't think I'll be able to," Beckett said with a soft laugh. "But when I have the chance I'll e-mail you."
"Great, see you in Ireland," Darnley said.
"Give my love to your kids and husband," Beckett said, not surprised when he squeezed her to him one more time.
Walking with his wife to the train Castle watched as Darnley, on the step up to the car, leaned down to whisper in his wife's ear before she gave her friend a look. He was tempted to ask her what that was about but decided not to try.
Beckett watched Darnley get onto the train and she and Castle waited for it to leave before they took each other's hand at the same time to head over to the dance studio so they could watch their daughter practice.
Breathing out a little as her mother zipped up the back of her dress Julia said, "You think it's okay?" as Beckett made her turn around to face her.
Studying her as she straightened the green forties style dress Martha had made for her oldest Beckett told her, "It does bring out your eyes."
Blushing a little Julia said, "Gram always does that. But at least she made some stuff in blue."
"She did," Beckett said, having her daughter turn around again. She began to brush out her hair and then put it up into a bun before setting the hat that Martha had found at a store in the city to go with the dress. "Are you happy to be dancing this one first."
"Kinda," Julia said softly. She looked up at her mother; since she was facing her; and smiled saying, "How do I look?"
"A lot like your mother," a voice said behind them.
"Daddy?" "Rick?" Julia and then Beckett said at nearly the same time.
"Hey, didn't expect me I guess," Castle said with a smile as the girl rushed to him.
"Not really, how did you get back here?" Beckett asked him.
"My name," Castle said simply. When he looked down at Julia he wasn't surprised to see her rolling her eyes and he said, "I begged them to let me back here and they did."
"Hi Rick," Peter said coming over to them.
"You look great," Julia said with a wide smile at her partner.
"You too, you look like you're from that time too," Peter said.
"I'll be taking them for their makeup," Ms. Grey said as she came over to join them. "You can head back out to the seats."
"Can I meet you over there?" Julia asked her teacher. When the woman nodded she then turned to her parents and said, "Thanks for coming back here Daddy."
"I wanted to give you one last hug," Castle said before he pulled her to him.
Julia beamed at him and she held onto him as tightly as he could, feeling his unspoken support in that. She then went to her mother and embraced her hard saying, "Will you come back to help me?"
"Of course," Beckett said, knowing her daughter had asked that in her nervousness as she was already aware. "Now go and break a leg. Also have fun."
Smiling as her mother emphasized the last sentence Julia thanked them both and then walked over to the table where the other competitors were getting their makeup done. She smiled at her partner, trying not to become too nervous as she knew it was nearly time for them to dance.
Outside next to the dance floor Beckett looked at her husband as they sat down and said, "It was nice of you to do that."
"Well besides figuring she'd need the extra support I did want to see her," Castle told her seriously.
"And that's why she loves you," Beckett said with a smile as she took his hand and squeezed it quickly before Eliza came over to them.
"Is Jules kay?" the little girl asked as her father picked her up and put her on his lap.
"She is, still a little nervous," Castle replied, speaking to his mother and Beckett's father as they were sitting next to them. "But she'll be ready to dance."
"I wish Mari was here to watch," Jim commented. "It would have made her feel a lot better."
"She'd rather Mari be better for the trip," Beckett said as her oldest's best friend had caught a cold two days before and was at home with her family to recover before they left for Europe.
"That's true," Jim said after considering that. He glanced at his son in law and saw that he had his phone out and asked, "Alexis?"
"No, he's filming to send it to her and also Rebecca; so she can show Mari of course," Beckett answered with a smile.
"So at least she'll get to see it then," Jim said with a nod.
Beckett wanted to comment on that but the emcee for the show stepped out into the spotlight on the dance floor. She shared a glance with her husband; both of them looking slightly anxious; before they looked back out.
"And first today we have from the Hamptons Dance Studio Peter Watterson and Julia Castle, dancing our first Samba," the man said before he walked off the stage to the applause.
"Why first?" Castle mumbled to his wife.
Stepping out to the middle of the floor Julia was wondering the same thing as her father was though she couldn't know it. She stood with her hands on her hips, waiting for the music to begin and trying not to look over at where she knew her family was sitting to see her mother.
"She looks more like you now," Castle was able to say to his wife before the music began.
Beckett didn't have a chance to reply but didn't care, watching her daughter soon walking away from Peter before the boy ran to her. After Julia had finally turned at his tapping her on the shoulder she smiled as she was able to tell very quickly that her oldest was enjoying the steps as the two made their way across the dance floor. She held her breath at the moment she knew that the Samba roll was but the two managed to get through it without any issues and she was applauding rapidly at the end.
Breathing heavily Julia finally let herself look at her mother and seeing her clapping loudly; though she couldn't hear that; she smiled and glanced to the rest of the family. They were all applauding as well and she could tell her father was whistling which made her laugh before she and Peter hurriedly left the dance floor together to head backstage.
When she reached her daughter Beckett wasn't surprised to see that she was looking around for her and as soon as she was close she hugged her tightly. "You did a wonderful job sweetie," she said, reaching for her hat.
"Thanks, we really tried our best," Julia told her with a smile before they went behind a screen.
"What's next?" Beckett asked as she went to the outfits in garment bags hanging there. She was aware already what that dance was but she wanted to try and distract her as much as she could.
"It's the Foxtrot," Julia said. When her mother pulled out her dress out of its bag she told her, "They're gonna call me the green girl," since it was a deep green color.
"They won't," Beckett replied easily. She helped her daughter out of her dress and once the Foxtrot one was on her she had her oldest turn to her with a smile and said, "You look great Julia."
"I'm glad you like it," the girl said with a smile. She turned around again so her mother could take down her hair and after it was loose she turned back to her, breathing out heavily. "I'm ready."
"You are, come on let's get you to Peter," Beckett told her before she took her hand, pulling her out from the screen.
"There he is, I'm going Mommy," Julia said, seeing her partner was changed then. She embraced her one more time before she rushed over to Peter before they began to practice immediately.
"She's good?" Castle asked his wife when she was sitting next to him. He had to keep his voice down since there was another dance going on then but she could still hear him as she gave him a quick nod. The dance ended and he said, "Is she still nervous though?"
"She is but there's not much I can do for her," Beckett replied hurriedly as that dance was the last one before Julia and Peter went again. "She won't stop until she's dancing."
Castle nodded, looking over to the emcee as he was announcing their oldest and her partner. He smiled at the sight of her costume; very close to Beckett's the year before; and he squeezed her hand next to him as the two on the dance floor began to go around in their steps. He recognized the ones he and Beckett knew from their lessons but he knew that Julia and Peter were way ahead of them in their quality.
Beckett was thinking the same as her husband, smiling at the way Julia and Peter were clapping their hands together to the song which was the one her oldest had been hoping to use. They would clap their hands and then clap them against each other before Peter spun Julia and they went back into their hold. She smiled as she could tell by the one on her daughter's face that she was enjoying it immensely.
Feeling his hand being taken Castle looked at his wife and shared a smile with her before they glanced at their youngest. Eliza was bouncing a little on his lap in her excitement and he quickly kissed the side of her head before looking back to the dance floor. When Julia and Peter finished shortly after he applauded with the others and then watched as Beckett left him again to help Julia.
"Mommy next is the Jive," the girl was saying as her mother appeared backstage again.
"Okay, let's get your dress," Beckett said hurriedly. She then grabbed it while Julia got the crinoline skirt that would go underneath it. As soon as her daughter was out of the Foxtrot dress she helped her into the skirt and once it was straightened she put the dress over that. "You look very fifties," she told her with a smile.
"I hope so!" Julia said in mock anxiety. She then smiled at her mother and said, "You like it right?"
"I do," Beckett said, studying the floral pattern on the dark blue fabric. She then looked at her daughter and asked, "What about your hair?"
"You'll see when I go out," Julia explained.
Beckett was surprised for a moment before she they embraced yet again and she kissed the side of her daughter's head. With that done she led her out to Ms. Grey and then went back to her seat. She was slightly surprised when she saw Rudolph with his sister Stephanie behind her husband and she smiled at them as she made her way over to her seat. When the dance that was being performed ended she turned around and said, "I'm glad you could make it."
"I'm glad too, we had to rush," Rudolph said.
"When's Julia dancing?" Stephanie asked.
"Soon," Castle answered before the next dance started. It was from the last couple so he luckily wasn't wrong in his reply. When he saw the dress that Julia had on he smiled and leaned over to his mother next to him saying, "It came out great."
"I hope you'll think they all are," Martha said.
"I have so far," Castle assured her quickly.
Touching her husband's arm Beckett turned her attention to Julia once he had and they held each other's hands while their oldest began to dance once more. She smiled at the one that soon appeared on the girl's face and she murmured to her husband, "She's feeling better."
Castle nodded and then watched the two finish their dance with Peter dipping Julia. He applauded rapidly and said, "She's relaxing slightly finally."
"I'll see how she is now," Beckett told him, squeezing his shoulder in passing. She turned to Rudolph and said, "Come on she'll want to see you."
"Are you sure?" the young man said, looking startled. "Isn't she changing?"
"Come on," Beckett assured him before they left together and she led the way backstage.
"Mommy… hi Rudy!" Julia said before she saw him. "You got to come?"
"I'm here with Stephanie and we saw your last dance," Rudolph said as she hugged him briefly. "You danced great and your family all thought the same too. I could tell."
Laughing slightly Julia then asked her mother, "Am I still changing?"
"You are," Beckett assured him. "Come on you have the Waltz next."
"So," Rudolph said as the two disappeared behind a screen. "What do you get if you get first place?"
"A big trophy for the studio at my school and then Peter and I get little ones," Julia answered as she put on the dress she'd worn to her school's sock hop. "But it's just nice to know all the practice we did worked."
"I can tell that it is," Rudolph said. He playfully whistled when the two came back outside and said with a smile, "You look fantastic Julia. And your dad's okay with you dancing this one?"
"He's seen me dance this with Peter before," Julia replied, shrugging her shoulders. "And I don't really like Peter that much… not like that he's my friend."
"Then that might be why you're still dancing it," Rudolph replied. "Okay, I better let you go but we'll talk after right?"
"I hope so," Julia replied. When he'd told her to break a leg she smiled at him before he left them. "Thanks for bringing him here," she told her mother.
"I knew you'd want to see him," Beckett said. "Your sister loves your dances so you know."
Julia smiled and said, "I hope so; she saw us practicing a lot."
"She does," Beckett assured her. "Go on and dance, I'll see you after your Waltz." When her daughter nodded she then went back outside, sitting with Castle and hearing Rudolph behind her telling his sister about what it was like backstage when they had the chance in between the dances.
"So that helped her?" Castle asked quickly after the last couple danced together.
"I think so," Beckett replied. "And I told her that you were enjoying the dances sweetie."
"Jules' dances," Eliza said firmly.
"Right I told her that," Beckett said with a smile. She leaned over and kissed the top of her daughter's head before she sat up straight as Julia and Peter were being announced. When she saw the way her oldest was moving, the extension of her arms and how she seemed to float through her steps she couldn't help the tears that pricked the back of her eyes. The smile on her face felt wide as she could see the sheer enjoyment on Julia's face before the two stopped and she waved slightly at her daughter when she did the same to her.
"Go love," Castle said with a smile, watching the exchange between her and their oldest.
Beckett kissed his cheek hurriedly before she got up and went backstage, not surprised to find her daughter there waiting for her. "Oh Julia," she told her with a smile. "That was a beautiful dance."
"Did Daddy mind it?" Julia asked.
At first she thought that the girl was asking that because of what Rudolph had said but Beckett then realized that it was because the two had been dancing more in hold. "Believe me he didn't mention it," she assured her. "He looked really happy to see you were too. And you did a wonderful job."
"Thanks," Julia said before they went back to the screen. Her mother helped her in her Argentine Tango dress and she hugged her tightly before she left and she went over to Peter.
"I was gonna ask," the boy said after he looked at her. "Who was the guy that was with your mom?"
"His name is Rudolph. He used to live back home," Julia explained. "My mom and dad helped him on their last case."
"Oh… so he's a friend?" Peter asked.
"Kinda," Julia said slowly. "He lives here now in the city so we haven't seen him or his brothers and sisters for a while." Before her partner could say anything to that they were being called and they hurriedly walked out to the dance floor to begin their next dance together.
Through the rest of the competition and when she went backstage to help Julia change Beckett was relieved that the girl was becoming more and more relaxed. After the last dance from the last couple she sighed and said, "I hate this part."
"Did you ever ask if you could go back to her?" Jim asked as he'd heard that.
"I did but since it doesn't take the judges too long to add up the scores…" Beckett replied.
Walking out onto the stage then Julia was surprised when the dance teachers were staying behind but she couldn't ask Ms. Grey why. She stood with Peter in a line with the other kids, trying not to let her nervousness get the better of her.
"So we have the scores all totted up for our competition today," the emcee announced. "And I'm happy to announce that in third place are Harold and Lila from the New York City East Dance Studio."
Castle tried not to sigh in relief at the fact that his and Beckett's oldest hadn't been announced as they applauded for the two. But he then became a little more worried as he wasn't sure if the two would place at all.
Beckett, looking at her husband, gently squeezed his hand before they listened to the emcee speak again. When the pair in second weren't their daughter and Peter she bit her lower lip, very concerned at that point but waiting to hear who was in first before she began to consider how to comfort Julia.
"And in first place is Julia and Peter from the Hamptons Dance Studio," the emcee said.
"How did we do that?" Peter asked Julia when they both suddenly slumped for a moment before they then recovered.
"I don't know," the girl replied with a laugh, letting him take her hand before they walked together to the emcee where a man was standing next to him with the trophies on a table. She waved to her family before she got her trophy and watched as Ms. Grey came out to take the bigger one.
"You did wonderful again," Grey told her two students after the emcee had closed the show and people in the audience were leaving.
"Oh look," Peter said, pointing over to Julia's family.
"Oh they made it too!" the girl cried out spotting Esposito and Lanie shaking her father's hand and hugging her mother. "Ms. Grey," she told her, turning to her.
"Go ahead," the teacher told her.
Rushing to her family the best she could in her Flamenco dress she'd worn for the Paso that had been last Julia threw her arms around Lanie first since she could reach her more easily. "I almost forgot you were coming to watch!" she exclaimed.
"I'm so proud of you honey," Lanie said as she was hugging the girl back. "You did a great job with those dances."
"Thanks, we practiced really hard," Julia replied before she hugged Esposito after giving Lanie her trophy. She hugged her family then, going to her mother last and embracing her saying, "Thank you so much Mommy."'
"I just helped you change sweetie," Beckett replied though she was stroking Julia's hair after taking it down from the bun she'd put in it.
"Still," Julia said seriously. She smiled up at her and said, "Did Eliza like it?"
"Yes!" the little girl said firmly. She hugged her sister again and told her, "I liked all the dances and they were good."
"So we're all in agreement I believe," Martha said.
"Mommy," Julia then said, "Can we go home now?"
"We can," Beckett said. "After we get you changed." She took Julia's hand and they walked together backstage before reaching the screen.
"So are they eager to leave?" Lanie was asking Castle and Jim.
"Julia has a calendar and is counting down to our trip," Beckett's father said with a smile. "So I think they are."
"I wanna see Mommy and Daddy get married," Eliza said, tugging on Esposito's hand as they were standing together.
"I think you will," he replied. "And you should enjoy Ireland too right? I heard you were going around."
"Yep and we're gonna see more," Eliza said, nodding her head. She then looked back up at him and asked, "Are you gonna go?"
"We are, we want to see that wedding too," Esposito assured her. "You've got everything ready bro?" he directed to Castle.
"We do," Beckett answered before her husband could. "We just need to get to the manor."
"Walk with us out to the car," Castle told the others. "So we don't need to stop talking."
"Do you really need to go back?" Stephanie asked Julia and Eliza.
"Yeah we have to do some stuff before we go on our trip. You can't go with your brother?" Julia said in response.
"Oh, I don't know…" Stephanie began.
"We'll see," Rudolph said with a smile as he looked at Castle and Beckett and saw the former was nodding and the latter was smiling at him.
"But for now," Beckett then said. "What are you doing?" she asked Esposito and Lanie.
The rest of the walk to the parking for the building the group talked among themselves until they were at the car and spoke for a while. Before they could split up the others promised to see the family heading for the Hamptons before their departure out of the country later that week.
Standing at the windows in hers and Castle's room Beckett was smiling down at the girls who were running around the sand on the beach with Macca. Her father was with them and she was glad to see they were having so much fun. "She gets so nervous," she told her husband.
"I know," Castle said, coming out with his trunks and a shirt on.
Looking over at him Beckett smiled at his choice and said, "Julia will love seeing that."
"It's comfortable," Castle said as he was wearing the Revolver shirt he'd gotten in Vegas. "Ready to go?"
"I am," Beckett said. She let him take her hand before they then walked together down to the door to the yard and she made him stop.
"What's wrong?" Castle asked her.
"I'm just wondering if you're sure this is what you want to do," Beckett said simply.
"I am and I'm also really glad your dad came back with us," Castle told her.
"Me too," Beckett replied. She wasn't surprised when he leaned down to her, kissing her on the lips, so she was quick to respond. They didn't do that for too long soon going outside to join their daughters and her father at the water as he was standing with them in the breaking waves.
"So what do you two want to do before your parents get here?" Jim was asking his granddaughters.
"Why can't we go in?" Eliza asked, peering up at him.
"Because you don't have your vest on," Beckett said. She smiled when the girls whirled around to look at her and Castle and she said, "Nice try though."
Eliza playfully pouted before she went to her father and said, "Can you put it on me Daddy?"
"I think," Castle said, taking her with him back to the blankets and umbrella. "We can do that together."
"Why?" Eliza asked.
"I think you're getting big enough to be able to learn to do it yourself," Castle replied. He helped Eliza with buckling the straps before he nodded and said, "Was that too hard?"
"No," the little girl replied, shaking her head. She then hugged him and said, "Thanks Daddy." When she turned to the water Eliza saw that her mother and sister were already swimming out and she sighed saying, "I wanted to go too."
"They're probably going to swim out a little far," Castle said. "But we can stay here and watch them."
"Kay," Eliza said, taking her grandfather's hand as she was already holding her father's with the other.
When she and Julia had resurfaced Beckett smiled at her daughter and said, "Feel better now?"
"Yeah but I'm worried about Mari," Julia replied.
"She'll be alright," Beckett assured her. "She just needs some rest."
Julia nodded and tried to remember that her mother was right though it was difficult. "I kinda wish I could go see her," she confessed.
"And then you might get sick," Beckett told her gently. She leaned over and kissed her cheek before saying, "You'll see her before we leave. So for now let her rest and she did see your performance remember?"
"I know," Julia said. She glanced back to the shore and said, "Can we go?"
"Let's go," Beckett replied, smiling at her before they ducked under the water and began to swim back.
By the time the two had rejoined them Castle was with Eliza and his father in law up to Eliza's chest in the water. "Have fun?" he asked his wife.
"Of course," Beckett said. "Do you want to go under?" she asked their youngest.
"Yes please," Eliza said immediately.
"Okay on the count of the three," Castle started to say.
"The next wave," Beckett told him quickly. They were watching it and she then called, "Now."
Ducking under the water Julia opened her eyes and was just barely able to see the rest of her family before they resurfaced. Since there were only five of them there she recalled something and was going to speak when her sister did so before she could.
"Are we gonna swim in Ireland?" Eliza was asking hopefully.
"Of course," Castle said. "Beaches, hotel pools…" he said before he began to trail off. "Probably rivers too."
"I'm not sure about that one love," Beckett said, smiling at him.
"Can I swim with you now Daddy?" Julia asked him.
"Of course I… wait," Castle said as he froze. When the others all asked him what was wrong he said, "I completely forgot Kate that we were going to go to the family fun center." He was startled when in response a smile just spread across her face in response and he said, "Love?"
"We weren't going to swim all day you know," Beckett said, glancing at the girls as they were giggling.
"What, did everyone know about this but me?" Castle asked in mock annoyance.
"I didn't," Jim told him.
"We decided to surprise you with the rest of the afternoon there," Beckett said with a smile.
"So we can go all through the place?" Castle asked her.
"We can," Beckett replied as the girls were looking over at her.
"Okay then let's go," Castle said jokingly though he was helping Eliza onto his back.
"We'll be back Dad," Beckett told her father with a smile before they then swam together out into the water.
"I forgot to say, thanks for this surprise," Castle said as they swam slowly together. "Wait you're not going to have a fake birthday party with hats and all of that at the restaurant there right?"
"Rick," Beckett said simply, rolling her eyes playfully.
"Great, I wanted to pick where we go to dinner," Castle told her. When they stopped and tread the water he waited for her to nod before he said, "The Studebaker would be great."
At the gasps of their daughters Beckett couldn't help smile and she told him teasingly, "You're sure you're not picking for them."
"Very sure," Castle said. When he was suddenly splashed he spluttered and then said, "Why?" to Julia who'd done it.
"I was trying to get your attention," she told him with a smile. She giggled as he pretended to lunge towards her though he didn't really do it since Eliza was still hanging onto his back. "How come Gram didn't come today?" she then asked.
"You heard her, she wanted to spend a few more days in the city to see her friends and a little more shopping," Castle said.
When their daughters looked at them Beckett told them, "I have my dress already for the ball."
"When did you get it?" Eliza asked.
"The day I went into the city to spend the night at Lanie's," Beckett reminded her.
"So Lanie's seen it," Castle commented.
"She won't tell you what it looks like," Beckett said simply, giving him a look.
"Let's go," Eliza said suddenly. When the others looked at her she said, "I wanna go play."
"It's up to you," Beckett said as she looked at her husband with a smile.
"I'm with her now that I know," Castle said. He then joined them in swimming back to shore and said, "We'll definitely find a beach in Ireland to spend time on this summer."
"There's always tomorrow," Beckett reminded him as they really didn't have any plans at that moment.
"We can do that Daddy," Eliza said eagerly.
"I was gonna ask if I can ride my bike to Dawn's house," Julia said shyly as they were walking together up to Jim who was on one of the blankets.
"You can," Castle and Beckett said together. They smiled at each other before the latter nodded to him and he turned to their oldest saying, "You can go ahead and do that but we'd like you here for dinner."
"Sure," Julia said with a nod. "I just want to play with her and say goodbye."
"What about Mari?" Eliza asked while their parents and grandfather were packing everything up after Jim was told they were going to go.
"She's gotta get better," Julia told her. "And she will soon. Plus we're probably gonna play while we're on vacation. On the beaches and everything over there."
"Come on you two," Beckett told the girls with a smile as she'd been listening to them.
"What about our hair?" Julia asked.
"You're going to get your baths now," Beckett said.
"Are you giving it to us?" Julia said. When her mother nodded she glanced at her father and when he looked at her questioningly she said, "I thought you would do it."
"No she's insistent that she does it," Castle said simply. He smiled at his wife and then took the folded blankets and umbrella in its case up to the house, following his wife, daughters and father in law as Macca preceded them all.
Inside Beckett took the girls to Eliza's room and gave them a very quick bath while she was listening to the two talking together about the dance competition. She helped Julia get dressed first before she took Eliza out to where Castle was waiting. "They're all yours," she told him with a smile.
"Alexis texted me," he told her, holding onto her arm to bring her close to him. "She wants to talk to us before we go."
"Did she see the video?" Julia asked, blushing a little.
"She didn't mention it but it's likely," Castle assured her. He then wrapped his arm around his wife and brought her close.
"Rick-" Beckett started to say in protest before he was kissing her. At first she was going to pull away to make it short but when his tongue flicked to her lips she couldn't stop herself, her own reaching out to brush against him a few times.
Sharing a smile with her little sister Julia leaned against her sister's bed as their parents slowly parted. She had to admire the way they could make one another look so dazed and she wondered for a moment what it would be like to be kissed in that way. But before she could think about it for too long the two were soon looking at them and she waved with Eliza as Beckett hurriedly left after saying she'd be back.
The girls were quiet then as Castle helped Eliza get dressed and they shared a few glances, trying not to smile or say anything before they went over to the top of the stairs when they were both ready.
"Mommy you look so pretty," Julia said, rushing over to her when she walked to them.
"Thank you," Beckett said. She watched her oldest go downstairs with her little sister and then turned her attention to her husband. When she saw that he was looking down at her chest she said, "Want me to change?"
"No," Castle said immediately. "I have to wonder why so…"
"You picked out the shirt love," Beckett told him teasingly before she then went down the stairs. She wasn't surprised at his reaction to her Beatles shirt that he'd chosen for her since it was very tight. But she'd suddenly felt a desire to tease him and she tried to ignore the idea of what might happen later as she went into the family room where her father was with the girls on the couch. "Is she ready?" she asked, turning then as she knew her husband was behind her.
"She is," Castle said, having recovered a bit quickly after she'd left him. He'd texted Alexis then on the way down the stairs and since he had her reply he went to the TV and turning it on smiled when his daughter appeared on the screen.
"Happy Father's Day Dad, Jim," Alexis said to the two. She then turned her attention to her sisters and said, "You guys are quiet today."
"Hi 'lexis!" Julia and Eliza said at the same time.
"Hey," Alexis replied with a soft laugh. "Congratulations Julia."
"You saw the video?" Julia said shyly.
"Videos," Alexis corrected her. "Gram just recorded one dance at a time and you were fantastic. You and Peter."
"Thanks, we did our best," Julia said.
"Did you have fun though?" Alexis asked.
"I did," Julia said with a smile. "I love getting to wear the costumes."
"I'm not surprised," Alexis told her. "And you Eliza?"
"I didn't dance," the little girl said quickly.
"I know but did you enjoy watching her dance?" Alexis asked with a smile.
"Yep I liked all the dancing and the costumes," Eliza replied. "And then everyone went to see Jules."
"I'm glad to hear that," Alexis replied. "What did you do after the dance?"
"We came home and then went swimming really quick," Julia answered.
"Why quick?" Alexis asked.
"We forgot to take your dad to the family fun center," Beckett answered before anyone else could say anything.
"That's where you're going next?" Alexis asked. When her little sisters nodded she then said, "Sounds like it'll be fun."
"When are you gonna come home?" Eliza asked then.
"School doesn't start for me until the thirteenth of October," Alexis said. "So I invited Louis to come home after the trip until the beginning of the month."
"You're welcome to, both of you," Castle said as his wife gently squeezed his arm so he'd answer.
"Thanks," Alexis said gratefully.
"What're you doing now?" Julia asked.
Smiling the young woman said, "I'm waiting for Louis to come and get me."
"Just Louis," Castle stated instead of asking.
"His parents and sister are here," Alexis told them. "They're letting me go to dinner with them."
"Why wouldn't they?" Castle asked. "If Louis was here I'd have him come with us too."
"Thanks Dad," Alexis said. Before she could speak again she jumped as her text alert tone rang and she looked down at it saying, "They're right outside. Let me say goodbye to you guys really quick." She looked at Jim and said, "Have a great rest of the day Jim and again Happy Father's Day."
"Thank you," Jim said with a smile. "Have a great dinner."
After thanking him Alexis said to her sisters, "I love you Jules, Lizzy. Be good for the rest of the day for Dad and we'll talk tomorrow too okay?"
"Kay, love you 'lexis," Eliza said before her sister could.
"And I love you too," Julia said quickly. She smiled and then said, "I'm happy you talked to us."
"Me too," Alexis said since she'd had more and more trouble calling her family back in the states since things were getting serious concerning her school work as the end of term neared. "I'll see how tomorrow works out. Dad, Kate love you and I'll see you when I can. But before I go…" she said as she hurriedly texted her boyfriend. "Kate?"
At that Beckett held her hand behind her and took the box her father handed to her and she then gave it to Castle.
"Happy Father's Day Dad," Alexis told him.
At that Castle hurriedly opened the snaps on it and he smiled at the sight of the bow and arrow set inside. "From England?" he asked her.
"It was but thank Kate for the idea," Alexis said. "I found the set after she suggested it." She smiled at the sight of the kiss that her father gave his wife and said, "Hope you like what they got you; you too Jim."
Castle thanked his daughter quickly then before he said goodbye to her with the others and he turned to his wife saying, "Really?"
"Mmm-hmm, Brennan loves archery and he has the set that's a year older than this one," Beckett said, standing up. "Let's go."
"I guess I'll have to try this out later," Castle said with a mock disappointed sigh. He smiled when the girls gave him a glare and he said, "I'm kidding, I want to go as much as you do. So tomorrow we'll play with this," setting the box down on the bookcase behind the couch.
"I think you mean you will Rick," Beckett told him as they were heading to the foyer to grab their shoes.
"Exactly," Castle said as he slipped on his shoes. He then had a thought and told her, "And you too, you can try it out."
"Thanks," Beckett said. She let her husband squeeze her hand as they followed their daughters and her father out to the garage. She squeezed him back and they went over to the car with their family to head out for the rest of their afternoon.
