When they'd made it to the giraffes Castle and Beckett joined their daughters at the fence, watching one of the animals with them as it came closer.

"Is it a baby?" Eliza asked in awe as it seemed to study them.

"A little bigger than that," Jim said calmly as he and Martha joined them.

"It is adorable," Castle's mother commented. The giraffe stuck its tongue out then and she added, "Not that though."

Alexis, laughing, said, "How do you think they reach the leaves Gram?"

"Still… don't ask me to feed it," Martha replied, smiling then as she had turned her attention to the girls who were staring, spellbound, at the animal.

"Alright," Beckett said after they'd spent more than a few minutes watching the giraffes and a few zebras that walked by. "We need to go, there's a little bit more left to see."

Looking up at her Eliza bit her lower lip a few times and then held out her hand for her mother to take. She smiled when Beckett squeezed it after they were walking and she did the same to her before they came to a building. "More!" she cried before trying to keep her voice down.

"There's a baby giraffe," Julia pointed out enthusiastically to her family.

"It is," Castle said. He smiled when the two girls squealed as it looked at them and he watched its mother saying, "I guess it doesn't mind us," when it started to walk to the railing in front of them.

"What do they say?" Eliza asked Julia.

A little confused by that question it took the little girl a moment to realize what the toddler meant and then she said, "I think they just want to see who we are."

"Our names?" Eliza suggested.

Smiling Julia said, "I don't think they know names. But they know smells and they knew we're not going to eat them."

"No," Eliza said seriously. She then looked over the railing and said, "I don't wanna eat!"

"Don't worry," Castle said, putting his hands on their shoulders. "They know that. But we should probably leave them to their meal," he added as a worker was putting out some food.

Watching some red pandas after the giraffes Julia said to her parents, "We're almost done aren't we?"

"It's almost four, we've been here for three hours," Castle replied first, looking at his watch. "Not long enough."

"It feels like it was short," Julia confessed. "I liked it though," she added quickly.

"Not all the zoos are going to be like San Diego was," Beckett replied.

Nodding Julia then told them, "Thanks for bringing us." She looked behind them at the enclosure where there were emus and ostriches with the giraffes in the distance. "It's a cool zoo," she finished finally.

"I'll agree completely," Castle said, putting his arm around her. "But you and I are playing basketball in the pool and you are going to lose."

Julia sighed at her father's tone of voice and said, "We're not that good Daddy."

"I know," Castle said with a sigh that matched hers though he was smiling. "But as long as we don't play against your mom we'll be about even."

"Let's keep going," Beckett said wryly, watching the two.

Walking by the last few animals the family stopped last at the meerkats to watch them running around their habitat. When they could get the girls to leave they headed into the gift shop.

As they watched the girls ahead of them Beckett slipped her hand into her husband's, squeezing it gently while they watched their daughters talking about the stuffed animals there were to get. She shared a smile with him before at the same time they squeezed one another's hands and let go to join Julia and Eliza's conversation and help them decide what to pick out.

"Wait," Castle said, trying to run. "You-" he slipped at that moment on the bottom of the pool and fell underneath. He wasn't too deep, so he straightened up immediately and seeing Julia's and Eliza's expressions from where they stood said, "I'm okay. But you need to stay there Eliza."

"I will Daddy," the toddler replied.

"Can I jump?" Julia asked.

"Not yet," Beckett replied, swimming over from the slide she'd gone on. "Let your sister go first."

"Which she can do now," Castle commented, motioning to Eliza as he was treading the water.

Leaping off the side of the pool Eliza closed her eyes and when the water covered her she felt her father and her vest helping her back up. She let him take her away from the side so Julia could jump and she asked, "Good Daddy?"

"Very you're getting great at that," Castle said, kissing her temple before he handed her over to Beckett. "So are we good?" he asked.

"I wanna jump more," Eliza said, giggling when her father groaned in response.

"I'll take you," Beckett said, pushing her husband playfully with her free arm. She swam over to the middle of the pool where she could stand and helped her youngest onto the edge. "What is it?" she asked as she saw Eliza looking behind her out the windows.

"Rain Mommy," Eliza said, standing up and starting to hurry.

"Don't run," Beckett said swiftly before she pulled herself out and followed.

"So we made it in time," Castle said, hanging onto the edge with Julia who had jumped in.

"It looks like it," Beckett said, taking Eliza's hand to go back to the pool.

"Come on," Castle said, holding his arms out to his wife.

"I think that's a no Dad," Alexis said, entering the pool after getting some water to drink.

"It's… oh, right, come on in then," Castle said as he glanced at his daughter and then at his wife. Seeing the expression on the latter he quickly stepped aside to let her slide in after sitting on the edge. "You're-" he began to say before Beckett was wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him. Since they were surrounded by their daughters he expected it to be short, and it was, only just managing to respond to it in time before they parted.

"Are you ready sweetie?" Beckett said, turning from her husband to their youngest who was still standing on the edge, watching them.

Giggling, as her father looked slightly shocked, Eliza nodded her head rapidly and then jumped into the water, feeling her mother picking her up. "I wanna kiss too," she then told her.

Sharing one with Eliza and then Julia, Beckett turned to Castle and said, "So what now?"

"Now we're done with jumping?" he asked, clearing his throat slightly as he recovered.

"I think so," Beckett said, looking at their daughter. "What do you two want to play now?"

"I'll race you Jules," Alexis said suddenly to her sister.

"Sure," Julia said eagerly. "Don't make sure I win though."

"No way, you're going to have to work today little sister," Alexis said, jokingly taunting her. She laughed when her sister launched herself at her and she caught her, falling back in the water. "And you guys?" she asked her father, stepmother and Eliza.

"I don't know, I think we should take some time on the slide again while they're busy swimming this way," Castle said, gesturing to the two so they would take the shorter length of the pool.

"Okay," Julia said. "But only a couple races, after we can go on the slide right?"

"I agree, we need to go on it as many times as we can before we leave tomorrow," Alexis said.

"What about tomorrow?" Julia asked her parents as they started to leave with Eliza.

"We'll talk about that later," Castle said.

"There's still a good deal of time left in today," Martha said from where she and Jim were sitting at the steps. "Don't be in such a hurry for tomorrow kiddo." She smiled when Julia rushed to them and threw her arms around her saying, "Though I'm excited for tomorrow too."

"Another adventure?" Julia asked, beaming.

"Of course," Martha replied.

"Good luck honey," Jim said as Julia hugged him next.

Kissing his cheek the little girl replied, "Thanks, I'll try." Julia went back into the water and started swimming to where her sister was waiting.

Standing at the top of the slide with her parents Eliza bent her knees and cried out as they watched Julia and Alexis start to race together back and forth. She giggled when Alexis managed to reach the edge they'd started from and called, "Good job."

"Who, me or 'lexis?" Julia asked with a wide smile as she looked up at them.

"Both," Eliza said.

"She's a diplomat," Castle commented. "Are you ready to go down?" he asked the toddler.

"Come and go on with me," Eliza called to her sisters who were talking together, feeling suddenly jealous of them.

"You can go with Alexis," Beckett said as the two looked up at them. "But that's if they want to go."

"We were just talking about that," Alexis said before she and Julia climbed out. "And we had enough racing."

"Not because she won but because I'm going to get tired really fast," Julia said before they went up the stairs.

Sitting down on the top of the stairs Alexis brought her sister over to her and once she was sitting between her legs she held onto her with one arm and then pushed down so they took off.

Watching the two Castle made sure that Eliza came up out of the water with her sister. She soon did and he waved down at her before Julia was calling to him to watch her go down after them. "After you love," he said when they were alone.

"See you down there," Beckett told him in amusement before she sat and pushed herself over onto the slide. After she had resurfaced she watched her husband join them in the water and once he had reached her said, "They're going on again."

"Do you not want to?" Castle asked, looking past her shoulder to see that Eliza was with her grandparents at the other end.

"I guess she's done," Beckett said in surprise as she watched their youngest sit on Jim's lap.

"Great, come on," Castle said, taking her hand before they swam to the steps. "We're going to make some tea-"

"Not yet Daddy," Julia said in protest as she and Alexis were starting to walk around to the slide. "For dinner."

"Then how about some water?" Castle said. When the little girl didn't respond to that he stepped out with his wife and they walked to the kitchen where he got two glasses.

"So you're thirsty?" Beckett asked when he handed her one.

"Not really," Castle said, standing closer to her. He leaned over and kissed her briefly telling her, "You shocked me."

"I have to try to do that," Beckett said with a smirk on her face. "After all these years."

Castle didn't respond to that as he knew she was aware she didn't need to try to do that deliberately. He leaned over then and took her lips gently, tenderly before slowly slipping his tongue past them. He felt a quick thrill when their tongues met shortly after and when they parted he pressed his forehead to hers, holding her closely against him. "Okay?" he finally asked.

"In reference to what?" Beckett asked with a smile, pulling away from him a little to be able to look at him.

"Today," Castle said simply.

Beckett didn't answer that at first and looked over at the window near them, watching the rain falling down along it. "I'm good," she said, turning back to him. She pressed her lips against his before taking another drink of water and taking his hand.

Going back out to their family Castle saw that Julia and Alexis were standing at the windows along the other side of the room, looking out at the storm. "Is it like it was last night?" he asked them once he was with them.

"No thunder and lightning," Julia replied, hugging him tightly before she turned to look back outside. "But it's pretty isn't it?"

"It is," Castle replied.

"You didn't mention too many times if it was raining when you and Kate were here," Alexis said.

"It did," Beckett said, walking over with Eliza who'd wanted to go with them. "On and off, we didn't think it was worth saying constantly."

"Are we finished with swimming?" Castle asked, turning to the others.

"We're pausing," Julia said firmly, before she smiled. She giggled and then said, "We wanted to play volleyball."

"With us? Oh how nice," Castle said in an exaggerated tone of voice. He wasn't surprised when Alexis rolled her eyes and Beckett took Eliza over to the pool. "No?" he asked Julia jokingly.

"Why wouldn't we want to play with you?" the little girl asked simply.

Castle opened his mouth to speak before saying, "Well I can't argue with that. We better get started."

"I don't play Mommy?" Eliza asked her mother as Jim wrapped his arm around her.

"Sorry sweetie, when you're taller you can okay?" Beckett said, leaning down and kissing her cheek.

"For now watch us and cheer us on," Castle said as he and Julia stepped inside. He kissed her as he passed and then went with Julia to stand in front of Alexis and Beckett.

As they began to play Eliza cheered both sides though she wasn't sure what needed to be cheered. But every time they were able to hit the beach ball back and forth she clapped but soon slowed down and stopped, sitting on her grandfather's lap.

"Was that too much sweetie?" Beckett asked, going over to her and kissing her forehead when they'd stopped playing.

"I'm hungry," Eliza said. "Thirsty."

"And thirsty," Castle said, looking at his watch. "It's time," he told the others. He got out first before going to the kitchen and with Alexis' help they got drinks before they set out the items that he and Beckett had ordered from a tea shop. "I guess they enjoyed having tea back in Dublin," he commented to his daughter.

"I think so," Alexis replied as she set aside the dishes of desserts they'd gotten. "We're going to have one all together right?"

"In Adare," Castle answered with a nod. "Come on; let's get this all out to them." He turned and then saw Beckett coming in saying, "Hey love, it's ready."

"I thought you might need some help," she replied, picking up the glasses of milk for the girls.

"She's that thirsty?" Castle asked.

"She is," Beckett said before she left.

Going after her Alexis saw that Eliza was sitting on Martha's lap and she watched as Beckett handed her the glass of milk. "You weren't kidding," she told her stepmother as Eliza was nearly gulping the liquid.

"I wouldn't about that," Beckett replied, running her hand over the back of the toddler's hair. "Better?" she asked when Eliza had stopped.

"Thank you Mommy," the toddler said, wanting to lean over and kiss her.

"Hold on," Martha said, reaching up with a napkin to clean the milk above her lips. "There."

"I wanna eat with you Mommy," Eliza said as she held her arms out to her mother.

"Sure," Beckett replied, picking her up. "You're sure you wouldn't want to eat with your daddy?"

"Not on your own chair?" Castle asked, coming in with the second tray of sandwiches. He set the plate down and noticed the way Eliza was looking at him, with her lips pouted and eyes nearly narrowed. "Just like your mom," he said, shaking his head in amazement.

"Maybe," Beckett said as she sat with the toddler on her lap. "Are you still hungry?" she asked.

"Lots," Eliza replied seriously, watching her mother bring over one of the finger sandwiches to hand to her. "Can I eat?" she asked, seeing that the others had gotten sandwiches as well but weren't eating.

"Go ahead," Castle said, finishing pouring out the Earl Grey that he'd brewed. "Everyone can eat; you don't need to wait for me." He glanced at Eliza and saw that she and Julia had begun, smiling saying, "I guess we did a lot today."

"They have been getting so much exercise lately," Martha commented, watching the girls giggle shyly. "You should train for a marathon when we get back home."

"Don't wanna," Eliza said simply.

"She's kidding," Julia said, looking at her egg salad sandwich. "But when we play at recess you and me are gonna beat everyone else at the races."

Eliza thought for a while before she smiled and said, "I wanna run."

"At recess," Beckett told her.

"Can we swim after we eat?" Julia asked.

"You wouldn't want to play games again?" Castle asked.

"I was hoping we could play Michigan Rummy with you two," Jim commented.

"You played?" Julia said, sounding a little jealous.

"You two were asleep," Beckett replied for her father. "And your daddy discovered it then."

Looking at her sisters Julia said, "Do we vote?"

"I wanna play cards," Eliza said quickly.

"Okay everyone else?" Castle asked. "Cards?"

"I think that's a yes," Martha told him as they were all nodding in response to that. "Who will you play with darling?" she directed to Eliza.

Glancing around the table at everyone the toddler looked a little confused for a moment before she shook her head and said, "After dinner."

"She's going to hold us in suspense," Castle said to his wife.

"No she just needs to decide," Beckett replied. "But Julia do you want to play with someone or on your own?"

"By myself," Julia said simply. "I can do it Mommy."

"I know," Beckett replied reassuringly. "I'm just checking to make sure."

"Is this what you had when you were in Dublin on your own?" Martha asked after there was a lull in the conversation.

"Not exactly but there was salmon," Castle answered. "It's big here. Does everyone like it?" When there were nods all around he said, "Good," simply before picking out another small sandwich from the plates in the middle.

After another lull at that point Julia suddenly was asking about the plans for the next day and Castle and Beckett revealed they would be heading to Blarney Castle; which the others had known already; and then to the Lakes of Killarney for the rest of the day until they went to Adare Manor. The discussion of what there would be to do at the latter took up the rest of the meal and even followed Castle and Beckett into the kitchen as they were cleaning up.

After allowing the girls and Alexis to go on the slide a couple more times Castle and Beckett let the young woman take her sisters to the indoor shower in the corner of the room to rinse off before drying them off and going upstairs with them. At the same time Martha and Jim were getting drinks and the game ready for when everyone came back down.

"We're ready?" Beckett asked as she walked into the kitchen with Eliza in her arms.

"Oh we're all dressed for bed," Martha said, smiling as Julia ran into the room and straight to her.

"Mommy said it's getting late," the little girl told her.

"It is but I think she means once you play with us," Martha said.

"That reminds me," Castle said, he and Alexis the last ones to come into the room. "Did you decide on who to play with?" he asked Eliza.

Smiling the toddler pointed to him before she leaned over in her mother's arms for him to take her. "Thank you Daddy," she said as he sat down at the table with the others.

"Not a problem sweetheart," Castle said, kissing her temple. "We're dealing first it looks like."

"I think she wanted to sit with you because of that," Beckett said teasingly, watching him shuffle the cards.

"Probably," Castle said easily before he dealt.

After Castle had his hand Alexis put down the first card and the game began. It went a little slowly as everyone allowed him to help Eliza with the numbers and suits so she could learn a little.

When it had finished Martha had won and she couldn't help telling her son, "I told you I should have won the last game yesterday."

"You're correct as always Mother," Castle said before he took the card that Eliza was holding, sliding it to his mother.

Starting to shuffle for the next game Martha noticed that Eliza was yawning and said, "I think this will be the last game?"

"Oh no we can keep going," Beckett replied easily. She smiled when her mother in law glanced at her and said, "She can stay here."

Nodding Martha began to deal the cards, looking at her hand before she kept it, beginning an 'auction' for the other hand. "Oh, you can do better than that," she said to Jim who had bet one chip.

Castle glanced at his mother but knew that she had been kidding and then looked back to his father in law. He couldn't help feeling a little relieved the man was slightly smiling, throwing another chip over to her.

"Better, since you got two of the pots there on the board," Martha said. "Oh, I think I just confused little Eliza," she said, looking to her youngest granddaughter whose brow was furrowed and looking between her and Jim.

"We have almost the same amount of chips," Beckett's father explained. "And your grandmother would like to have more than I do. So she asked for…"

"More," Eliza finished. She giggled and then said, "Is it good?"

Looking at the hand Jim shrugged and then said, "It might be," before he threw the first card into the middle of the game.

"You know," Castle said, though he was speaking to his wife next to him. "He might do well with my friends."

"Which ones? Our Hamptons friends or the writers?" Beckett asked, studying him closely.

"The writers," Castle said.

"When is the last time you've had them over," Martha asked.

"In May," Castle replied.

"I remember, it was the first time you got Kate to play," Alexis said.

"Four years and you held out until then," Castle told his wife.

"I wasn't quite ready, not after I've heard what they do to rookies," Beckett said, glancing at him.

"Still after our second book…" Castle replied, handing a card to Eliza to put in the middle.

"How did you do?" Jim asked as he hadn't heard the story.

"Very nicely," Castle answered for her. "She had Connolly nearly bet his entire night's winnings at the end. And she won that game too."

"I have to wonder if they'll want me to come back," Beckett replied.

"That's a great question," Castle said. "I think so."

"We'll see," Beckett replied. And with that she set down her last card before she grabbed the chips in the middle.

Going through another two games Castle and Beckett soon turned their attention to their daughters as it was well past their bedtime. Eliza was asleep on her father's lap and Julia was yawning more and more as time was going by.

"Goodnight Eliza," Martha was saying to the toddler in her son's arms. "I love you darling." She kissed her cheek gently and then turned her attention to Julia, sitting back in her chair so the little girl could hug her. "I love you too Julia, and will see you tomorrow."

"I love you Gram," Julia replied, hugging her. "I'm glad you had fun today."

"Of course I did," Martha assured her.

Sharing a kiss with her grandmother Julia watched her grandfather kiss Eliza's cheek, murmuring he loved her, before he turned to her. "I love you Grandpapa," she said, her cheek against his.

"I love you too honey," Jim replied. "See you in the morning."

"I'm coming up," Alexis said then as her sister came over to her. "We'll say goodnight upstairs."

"We'll come back down for a few more games," Beckett told her dad and mother in law. She then followed Castle upstairs to the girls' room where he turned Eliza so Alexis and Julia could say goodnight to her.

"I love you Lizzy, I'll see you tomorrow morning," the young woman said with a smile, kissing her cheeks. After Julia had said the same she had she then watched Castle move to lay the toddler; still sleeping; on the bed before she turned to Julia. "Night Jules," she said as they hugged. "Love you."

"Love you too 'lexis," the little girl replied. She then went to the bed while her parents were kissing Eliza and telling her in low voices that they loved her. When her father stood up first she went to him, hugging him tightly and whispering, "I love you Daddy."

"I love you sweetheart, goodnight," Castle replied, leaning down and kissing the top of her head before he shared a kiss with her.

After she was up on the bed Beckett hugged Julia and said to her, "I love you too Julia, get some sleep okay?"

"Don't worry I will," the little girl replied with a wide smile. "I love you Mommy." She shared a kiss with her and then lay down before Beckett tucked her and her sister in at the same time. She watched her and Castle leave the room, before she lay on her side, watching Alexis looking at her phone. "Are you going to sleep?" she asked.

"I am," the young woman replied, getting into bed once her phone was on the nightstand. "But get some sleep; it looks like we're going to do a lot of walking tomorrow."

"I know but it's going to be very beautiful walking," Julia said seriously. She smiled as Alexis laughed slightly and then said, "Night 'lexis."

"Night Jules, sweet dreams," Alexis said before she watched her little sister close her eyes. She was soon doing the same, hoping that the scenery in their travel book wouldn't fail to disappoint before she nodded off.

Rubbing the Celtic knot on the rosary Beckett finally leaned over to set it on the nightstand next to her before she turned as the bathroom door opened, her husband coming out into the room.

"I thought you would have been asleep," Castle said, seeing her sitting up against the headboard.

"I was just looking at some of what the PI gave us," Beckett replied.

"And?" Castle asked.

"If he wants to meet me, I'll go," Beckett said. "But on my own."

"Our own," Castle corrected, picking up his tablet from his nightstand and going around the bed to sit on the edge next to her. When his wife studied him he said, "I wouldn't let you go on your own."

"Thank you," Beckett said. She watched him as he tapped the screen of his tablet a few times and then turned it to her. "Thanks," she repeated when she saw with a smile that he'd searched the name of her cousin. She picked out the first page and reading said, "Ah, that might explain why the title didn't die out with his wife's father's passing."

"What?" Castle asked as she didn't continue.

"Sorry he and his wife went to school around the same time as the Duke and Duchess, in Scotland," Beckett explained.

Reading the part on the page Castle nodded and said, "That might do it. I wonder if that's how they met."

"Likely, you know the reputation the school has regarding couples," Beckett said. She smiled and then said, "He graduated with a degree in veterinary science from Trinity College."

"So he's Irish," Castle said teasingly. "And he's a vet."

"He is," Beckett said. "And a horse breeder, with some of his horses from his manor ranch racing in the Derby."

"Wow… yeah, he's a McCollough," Castle said with a nod. When she didn't continue he asked, "That's it?"

"That's it," Beckett replied with a smile. "I guess the horses are enough, or else this site doesn't have all the information on him."

Watching her reading through the next page she'd found Castle saw her pause at one paragraph and asked, "There's more."

"It looks like he restores old cars and sells them," Beckett said, leaning the tablet towards him.

"Wow, that's a '37 Rolls," Castle commented as he saw there was a picture of the man in front of a white Rolls Royce. "Amazing, if he did all that then he is really good."

"I'll agree," Beckett replied absently. She nodded and said, "It's the same information." Checking another couple of sites she said, "Yeah they all say basically the same thing."

"So what's your final assessment?" Castle asked his wife as he watched her set aside the tablet.

"He might be a great guy," Beckett commented, crossing her legs and looking to him. "I'll let Fitzgerald discover that. But I would like to meet him, he is family."

Castle nodded and then said, "I would too."

"Not because of the cars right?" Beckett asked in amusement.

"No," Castle replied simply. "Because it would be interesting."

"Oh, I see," Beckett said knowingly before she leaned back slightly. "If he's 'interesting' enough you'll want to use him as a character won't you?"

"Perhaps," Castle in the same tone of voice. "You don't think that would be interesting?"

"How would that work out though?" Beckett asked him.

Thinking for a moment Castle said, "It could either be the guy is in New York or else Green and Moor are here."

"If you had it take place here the lord would have to ask them to investigate the case," Beckett pointed out.

"That would be appealing," Castle mused. "Maybe we could bring in how Brady was with us at the beginning of the case our first time here."

"In an Irish police officer?" Beckett asked. At his nod she looked thoughtful and replied, "It could work."

Hearing her slightly absent tone Castle said, "What're you thinking?"

"If we push it back enough," Beckett began. "What would you think of having them get married here?"

Castle thought of that for a moment before he agreed saying, "I think that would be a nice little twist; if we had an Epilogue and threw the readers into it."

"We'll see when we get there," Beckett said. "But we have the idea in mind now."

"We do," Castle replied. He studied her for a while before he leaned over, cupping her cheek and taking her lips with his own. He went gently at first before his wife was throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him deeper. He couldn't stop himself, pulling her onto his lap and holding her tightly before they had to break away with nearly simultaneous gasps.

Beckett slid her hand around to her husband's face, gently stroking at it saying, "We should get some rest."

"You sound hesitant," Castle replied. "The kiss?" When his wife inclined her head just once he smiled and said, "I'm that good." He laughed when she playfully punched his shoulder and said, "Sorry but I had to point that out." He ran his hands up and down her back and said, "You're right though."

"Last night was too much?" Beckett asked him teasingly as she pressed her forehead to his temple.

"That and this morning," Castle said. "And the trip, that too." He then reached down with his right hand and slipped it beneath her pink jersey shirt saying, "I could though, if you wanted me to do that."

Sighing Beckett thought of that seriously for a moment before she had an idea. "Hold on," she told him, reaching over to her phone. She showed him the screen then as she began to set her alarm and told him, "This gives us… enough time… for a shower. Or a bath," looking to him once she'd finished setting the alarm earlier.

"Yeah, true…" Castle replied, thinking that over seriously for a moment. "I think a shower is good though."

"We'll see how that goes in the morning," Beckett replied, smiling at his fingers running up and down her back. She shivered at the caressing motion he had begun and she turned around so she was straddling his lap.

"I thought-" Castle said, startled at her sudden movement. Before he could continue though she was wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him gently. He recovered quickly at that and responded to her, taking her tongue that slipped inside his mouth before they were struggling happily against each other.

When they'd parted to breathe Beckett's eyes started to open before they were soon fluttering closed as her husband's lips drifted down to her neck and were brushing against her gently; almost carefully. "Rick…" she breathed.

Turning his head at the same time she did Castle captured his wife's lips and they became a little frantic, holding on to one another as that first kiss slipped into more. When they pulled apart and managed to stay that way, he leaned his forehead against hers and murmured, "I adore you love."

Smiling at that Beckett pecked his lips with her own and replied, "I love you too Rick."

After another few gentle, easy kisses Castle held his wife to him as she snuggled against his chest, still on his lap. He started to run his fingers through her hair before saying, "You mentioned something about resting?"

"I may have," Beckett replied. She picked up her phone and looked at the time saying, "I don't know, it's early."

"A little," Castle said, having seen the time with her. He kissed her and then said, "Nothing wrong with this." He heard her laughing shortly and was quick to ask her what she was thinking.

"Oh nothing, just the fact that I had expected you to start ripping my clothes off… or something," Beckett replied with a slight smirk.

"I could, all you have to do is say the word… words," Castle replied, studying her closely.

Beckett seemed to hesitate for a moment before she kissed her husband quickly on the lips and then pulled away, getting off the bed. She saw that he quickly had become confused but didn't say a word to him as she reached for the bottom of her shirt, pulling it off. "I think," she began to say. "It's a little too warm in here." She pulled off both her shorts and panties off together before she looked at him questioningly saying, "Don't you?"

Nearly scrambling off the bed; though he wasn't trying to; Castle stood and went over to her, trying to pull off his black shirt as he went. He managed to get it off and he then reached for his shorts, watching as his wife lay out on the bed. He found he was breathing a little hard in response to the sight of her as she then sat up to push the sheet out of the way. He wasn't sure when he startled to salivate but eventually he did and he groaned as he comprehended he was doing that. Naked he went to her and laying half on top of her he kissed her.

Beckett was a little surprised when that kiss was very gentle; almost sweet; and she pulled back saying, "You know why I did that?"

"Yeah I do," Castle replied. "And this will be a nice incentive to get up tomorrow morning. Just remind me that we need to finish what we start here."

Having no time to reply to that Beckett was responding to the hungry, passionate kiss her husband laid on her and she moaned deeply in pleasure against him for a moment. She then reached up, stroking the back of his head before one of his hands slid down to her breasts. "You… ooh god Rick," she moaned, tilting her head back.

"Can I?" Castle asked, pausing in doing anything more to her.

"Please," Beckett breathed, nodding her head rapidly.

Castle smiled for a moment before he leaned down, capturing her right nipple in his mouth. Instead of sucking; which was his natural inclination; he flicked his tongue against her and wasn't at all surprised to hear his wife's moans every time he did that. He did that to her other breast before he had to stop and he pulled away, gathering her tightly in his arms as he told her, "I don't think I should do anything else."

"No?" Beckett asked, trying to get back to herself through the haze of pleasure that was roaring through her body from so simple an action.

"Not tonight," Castle replied, reaching down then and pulling the sheet over them. Not because it was cold but because he thought it would remind him they had agreed on waiting.

Unable to help smiling at him then Beckett told him, "I was tempted."

"Believe me when I say I was too," Castle replied. He ran his hand over her side up to where the curve of her breast began and told her, "So tempted."

Beckett kissed him and murmured, "You had fun with the girls at the zoo though." She wasn't surprised when her husband froze at that and she leaned over kissing him deeply before she slowly pulled away, hoping he got her apology.

"Yeah that was great," Castle replied, lying on his back with his wife against his side. "It'll be great to see them kissing the stone… are we letting Eliza?"

"It depends if they let her," Beckett replied. "She may be too small still."

Nodding as he knew she made a point with that Castle then said, "Even if she doesn't the gardens will make up for it."

"All the flowers of course," Beckett agreed. She pressed her cheek to Castle's shoulder and said, "They'll love the lakes."

"Yeah," Castle agreed, not surprised she was a little absent with that. He reached up and started to stroke her hair before he told her, "I think we need to see if we can swim there this time around."

"Hmm," Beckett replied. "I'm not asleep," she said quickly as she knew he would think that. "Only…"

"Frustrated?" Castle asked her. When he felt her nodding he then said, "Me too. I don't regret undressing," he told her quickly. "I just wish I had more energy to take things through."

"Me too," Beckett replied. "But since we've agreed on that shower goodnight Rick."

"Night love," Castle replied, leaning over and kissing her forehead before he met her as she pushed herself up enough. As soon as their lips had met he was slipping his tongue into her mouth. They struggled a little against each other before they slowly pulled away from one another and pressed their foreheads together. He wasn't surprised when she soon settled back against him and pressed close to his side. He stroked her hair again as they lay still listening to each other's breathing while he felt the warmth of her body against his own before they slowly nodded off at nearly the same time wrapped tightly in each other's arms.