"It's amazing to see this," Castle commented. "Even a second time."
"Are you going to swim or just look?" Beckett asked her husband as she was allowing Julia to unzip her sundress she'd worn as a cover up. "Castle," she said warningly when he turned to her then didn't stop staring.
"Dad," Alexis said, poking him in the side. She shook her head when he looked at her and said, "You can stare at her all you want to later, in your room."
"But…" Castle started to say before he trailed off. "Okay, great, I'll do that."
"What?" Beckett asked as he'd looked at her. She watched him then take off his shirt and shook her head at his attempt to distract himself. "Ready?" she asked Julia.
"Yep do I have to go in the kid pool though?" she asked as her mother took her around to the stairs.
"Not now but you know your sister will want you to go with you," Beckett told her as they walked into the shallow side of the pool, the entire room looking like it was a Roman bath complete with statues on the sides and in the pool that curved to windows.
"Wait, I'm ready," Castle called walking over to them. He was moving a little fast and ended up splashing his wife and daughters as Alexis was behind him.
"Calm down Dad," Alexis said though she was laughing.
"Sorry, didn't want to miss out," Castle said. He looked at his wife as she was looking out into the pool and said, "Who's first?"
Beckett glanced at her husband and wasn't surprised when Julia slipped her hand out of hers before taking Castle's. She then stepped down into the water and began to swim around the statue to the windows. "If you're expecting sharks or eels I think you'll be okay," she called to her husband after going back to the steps.
"Eels?" Julia asked in confusion as she went down further with her father.
"She's kidding," Castle said.
"I know," Julia said, starting to swim. "But why would they be scary?"
"Who knows," Castle replied, swimming over to the statue as Beckett led the way.
"Wow, look at the view," Alexis said, having joined them at the windows. "Too bad Gram didn't come with us."
"Should I ask her?" Julia asked her sister as they watched their parents at the window next to them.
"I think she wants to rest a little too," Alexis replied. "That car was bouncy."
"The roads weren't good," Julia replied simply. "Too bad you didn't ride too."
"Better I went in the car so I could stay with Lizzy," Alexis pointed out to her.
Smiling Julia said, "She would have gotten jealous." She then looked thoughtful and said, "She's gonna be jealous now."
"I don't know," Alexis said thoughtfully. "I think the second she comes in she might forget we came here first."
Looking around Julia then smiled and said, "Probably."
Splashing her husband as he brushed his fingertips along her back Beckett called out, "Girls?"
"Yeah?" Alexis said a second later as she and Julia swam over to them.
"If you want to keep going to you can, you don't need to stay with us," Castle said, knowing what his wife was going to say.
"But someone needs to go with her," Beckett said as Julia took off swimming around the statue.
"I will," Castle replied before he pushed away from the wall after her. He wasn't too surprised to hear the sound of two people swimming behind him and smiled slightly before concentrating on following Julia to the other end of the pool.
Going up the steps to the shallow water the little girl turned to see that her father and Alexis were stepping up to her. Looking past them she saw her mother was under the water, swimming in the middle. "So you're watching me?" she asked her father.
"Looks like it," Castle said, watching Beckett as well. "So what do you want to do here?" he asked the little girl.
"I don't know, what can I?" Julia asked, looking around.
"Since it's just us," Alexis said, a little startled to realize that it was true as the last people in the pool had gotten out and were then leaving. "Marco Polo?"
"Kate!" Castle called, starting to go down into the water before his wrist was grabbed. "Hey!" he said, looking at his daughters though it was Julia holding onto him.
"Not that," Julia said in exasperation. "You'll cheat and try to find Mommy."
"No I don't," Castle protested. He looked at Alexis and saw the disbelieving look on her face and then said, "Okay so I might do that. What if instead the rest of you are it?"
"Then why would you play?" Alexis said. "You'd just make sure we'd find you, especially Kate, so you could be it."
"They're right Rick," Beckett said, coming over to them. "You've done that before."
"Then I'll referee," Castle said.
"Something else," Beckett said, shaking her head.
"You know you do that sometimes too," Julia suddenly said before anyone could suggest anything.
Beckett looked down at her daughter in surprise and was about to protest that when she spoke again.
"I can tell sometimes when you stay still," Julia said. "You can hear Daddy can't you?"
Looking slightly embarrassed Beckett said, "What about racing?"
"What, end to end?" Castle asked his wife as he smirked at her slightly since he knew their daughter was right.
"No, shorter for Julia and something that takes longer for the rest of us," Beckett replied, looking around. "Do you think it would be too much for you to go from the kid pool around the statue and back?" she asked Julia.
Looking at it the little girl said, "Maybe we can practice the first time."
"You want to race me?" Beckett asked with a smile. At her daughter's nod she smiled and said, "Okay, you're on."
"I don't know," Castle couldn't help comment. "It looks pretty far for you sweetheart."
"I'm a big girl Daddy," Julia said as they were all going to the edge of the pool where the smaller one was.
"True," Castle replied. "Okay so whoever wins races me."
"Great," Beckett said, glancing at Julia. "Sweetie are you sure?"
"Don't let me win Mommy," the little girl replied. She then paused in starting to let go of the edge of the kid pool and looked at Castle before saying, "Maybe you should give me a head start."
"I think I might," Beckett said, looking to Alexis.
"You-" Castle began to say in protest.
"What about if I count to five?" Alexis asked.
"Good idea kiddo," Martha said, coming to them then as she sat on the edge of the kid pool next to them. "That's enough of a start for you Julia."
"But not too slow, it's not too far," the little girl said quickly.
"Okay, ready, set, go," Alexis called once her sister had let go of the edge. She counted to five and then watched her stepmother take off, glancing over at her father as she called encouragement to them both.
Doing the same then Castle laughed when they went around the statue and called to them, "Don't cheat," when they started to splash at each other. He looked on as they neared, not surprised when Beckett managed to touch the wall first with Julia just a few seconds behind. "Close," he said to them as they stood up. "You should have asked for a longer head start."
"Then that would be cheating," Julia replied. She smiled up at her grandmother and said, "Was I close?"
"Very," Martha answered. "I nearly thought you'd win and your father would be a little disappointed."
"A little?" Alexis joked. When she saw her father looking at her she then said, "You want a head start too?"
"I think I'm good," Castle replied, looking over at his wife. "You love?"
"Let's go," Beckett said. "Alexis?"
Once her sister had called for them to go Julia watched her parents eagerly while they made their way across the pool and then around the statue. She was cheering for them both and was surprised when her mother was able to beat Castle, but just barely. "Yay!" she called before throwing her arms around her mother's neck.
"Thank you sweetie," Beckett said, kissing her cheek. She was startled to hear someone else cheering and looked outside the pool to see that it was Eliza with her father.
"Hey, someone woke up from their nap a little early," Castle commented, turning to see what she was looking at. "Time to get into the kid pool."
"I'm going now," Julia said, swimming over to the steps.
"Eliza," Beckett said as her daughter was hurrying to her as she climbed up the steps. "Wait let me get out," she said, going quickly the rest of the way. "And let's get your dress off so it won't be wet at dinner."
"I'll help her," Martha said, having walked over to them.
As soon as her sundress was off Eliza hugged her mother tightly, giggling as her bathing suit became wet. "Wanna swim," she said.
"Okay," Beckett told her before leading her to the kid pool.
"Daddy!" Eliza cried when she saw her father looking over the side from the large pool. She went to him as quickly as she thought her mother would let her and leaned over to pat his cheeks. "You went to swim?" she asked.
"We did, what do you think of the pool?" Castle said before he shared a kiss with her, watching her looking around the room.
"It is big," Eliza replied, though she'd seen it the day before as well. She smiled as her mother sat on the edge of the pool before she said, "You went in too?"
"Of course," Beckett replied, putting her arm around her. She kissed her temple and said, "We all did except for your grandmother."
"Why Gram?" Eliza asked her as she was sitting with her mother on the edge.
"I was waiting for you darling," Martha replied. "So once you go into that pool I'll join you."
"In a little bit," Beckett said quickly when the toddler looked to her. "This is a pool for little kids like you; you should play a little here."
Glancing around at the water Eliza kicked at it before her sister sat down on her knees. She giggled a little and then did the same before splashing her.
"Eliza," Castle began.
"It's okay," Beckett said, putting her hand on his arm. "As long as they don't get too out of control they're fine."
"You don't want to race anymore?" Castle asked.
Turning her head to look at him Beckett said simply, "Get in the pool Rick."
Giving a highly exaggerated, suffering sigh Castle went around to the girls who were by then playing a hand game; or attempting to he discovered as he watched them. "Having some trouble?" he asked them.
"No we're not really playing a real one, I just made it up," Julia said before she turned her head at the splashing that her sister was doing, slapping her hands on the top of the water.
"Looks like she's making up another," Castle said before they heard someone in the pool. He glanced over to see it was his father in law and after turning to the girls said to Eliza, "Did you see the statue?"
"Yeah," the toddler replied, nodding her head rapidly. She then smiled and said, "Can I go see?"
"Soon," Castle promised, looking over at his wife and seeing she was talking to Alexis who had come over to the edge. "What else can you two do here?" he asked them.
"We can play Marco Polo here," Julia said wryly.
"Not much of a challenge," Castle commented. "Or did you think I'd prefer to play here since it wouldn't be that hard to find your mother."
"Eliza found her," Julia replied as the toddler had suddenly stood and hurried to Beckett. She then sighed and said, "Would she get mad if I went back into that pool?"
"No she wouldn't," Beckett said, standing up then with Eliza in her arms. "Mainly because your sister wants to go. And I thought she'd enjoy this pool."
"You're coming too aren't you Gram?" Julia asked eagerly as they walked up the steps and out of the pool.
"Of course after you all," Martha replied. She followed them to the pool though they paused for Beckett to get Eliza's vest on the toddler. That done she walked with Julia into the water and they waited for Castle and Beckett to bring in Eliza.
"Do you like it Grandpapa?" Julia asked him. At his nod she smiled and said, "Good, wanna race?"
"I'd love to," Jim replied as he was looking over at Eliza as they all were.
"I knew she'd like it too," Julia commented. She then squeezed her grandfather's hand and said, "I swam with Mommy from here around the statue and then back."
"I wanna race too!" Eliza exclaimed as her parents helped her swim over to them at the edge in front of the kid pool.
"Not yet sweetie," Beckett said, picking her up as she stood. "We can watch them and then we'll take you to the statue."
Eliza wriggled in excitement in her mother's arms before she started to chant, "Go, go!"
"Hold on," Jim said, unable to help smiling at the toddler. "We need to get ready first."
"And then set," Julia said teasingly. She giggled when her grandfather ruffled her hair before they went against the side. When Alexis called for them to go they started to swim and went rapidly though she remembered she should have asked for a head start. Even without it she still had fun by the time she had reached her grandfather after he'd touched the wall and hugged him tightly.
After that the family went together to the statue, looking at it and then out the windows before they drifted away in pairs eventually. They spent the rest of the afternoon swimming, even playing Marco Polo after Alexis and Julia were able to make their father promise not to cheat. When he was it a second time though they helped him over to Beckett, just to see the shocked expression on his face when he realized he was holding his wife.
"You had a good game earlier Richard," Martha said as they left the pool after leaving the Jacuzzi room to head into dinner.
"I don't know is it when my daughters conspire for my wife to become it next?" Castle asked.
"I don't think that's what they were doing," Beckett said.
"What," Castle began as they started to dry off their daughters at the chairs where their things were. "They wanted you in my arms?" He wasn't surprised when Julia; whom Beckett was drying; giggled and said, "Is that why?"
"No to see the look on your face," Julia replied simply. She then giggled again before telling him, "And because I thought you'd be able to tell it was her and you were just pretending to be surprised."
"Okay so I did have a feeling it was her," Castle replied. "But that was a fun game. Now though who's hungry?" He wasn't surprised when Julia and Eliza answered that and helped the toddler back into her sundress before they were heading out and over to the restaurant. Since it was still raining they needed to sit inside but he noticed the girls didn't seem to mind as they were looking around with slightly wide eyes before their attention was brought to the kids' menus they had been given.
"So I think," Martha said once they had their drinks and had given their food orders. "That we should have a toast to Ireland and our trip back in time today, to better appreciate our ancestors."
"Have you been starting on your wine already Mother?" Castle asked.
"You know what I mean," Martha said though she soon smiled at the girls who were watching them. "Or should I just say a toast to today's trip, it was a wonderful visit to a beautiful island."
"More beautiful than the one we're on?" Alexis couldn't help asking.
"That's very hard to answer," Martha said. "But still, to today."
Beckett was smiling as they tapped their glasses together and she watched Eliza to make sure that she was able to sip from her straw. She wasn't too surprised when Julia and also Alexis asked about their plans the next day; since they were moving north along the coast again. As she began to explain they would be going to Donegal she reached over to Castle and took his hand, squeezing it gently.
Knowing his wife was thinking of the fact they were going to be going to see his grandmother's grave, Castle squeezed back and then began to speak. He told them what they were going to do in Donegal itself and about their hotel, showing her that he wasn't going to be thinking of that moment until it happened. When she smiled at him as he talked about the lough they'd be staying by he couldn't help pause for a moment to press his lips against her temple before they turned their attention back to their family to continue telling them all about their plans.
"I'll have an Irish coffee," Beckett told the barman.
"The same," Castle said as he turned to take his order. He looked at his wife and said, "Something I've been thinking over."
"Good or bad?" Beckett asked, crossing her legs.
"Good… I think," Castle replied. He saw his wife looked confused before he then said, "Your relative."
"What about him?" Beckett said, studying him and wondering if his reminder of Donegal made him think of her family as well.
"Shouldn't we have talked to him by now?" Castle asked.
"We again?" Beckett asked him teasingly.
"Okay shouldn't you have," Castle corrected.
"What if they had gone on vacation before Fitzgerald could get a hold of them?" Beckett suggested. "It might take some time Rick."
"I just hope you can hear from him before we leave," Castle told her before looking around. It was nine at night and he and Beckett were in the hotel's bar having a nightcap before going swimming on their own. Their daughters were in bed already and Martha and Alexis were with them watching TV until they went to sleep while Jim had gone to his room. He was thinking that as he turned his head back to his wife when his eyes snagged on a few men down the bar glancing at Beckett.
"Rick," she said then, making him snap his head back to look at her. She smiled and said, "I was going to tell you what Julia and I talked about after lunch."
"Oh go ahead," Castle said as he looked at their glasses being set down in front of them. He listened closely to what she said and then replied once she had stopped speaking, "You think she had a crush on her?"
"I don't think it was exactly that," Beckett said after thinking for a moment and recalling how their daughter was. "She may have admired how she was with the horses and maybe, perhaps, have thought she was pretty."
"So she's still a little girl," Castle said. He wasn't surprised when his wife took his hand and he said, "At least she wasn't having a crisis with that."
"Great she wasn't, that's what I was afraid was happening," Beckett said before she sipped at her drink. She glanced at her husband as he set down his mug and slipped his hand away from her. There was something in her that wasn't too surprised when he leaned over and rested his hand on her knee; she'd seen the men that had been glancing at her off and on since they'd come into the bar. She reached down and covered his hand with her own, squeezing it before returning to her drink. "But it was great to see them enjoying everything over there," she commented.
"It interests them," Castle said.
"Or they picked up on how we were reacting," Beckett suggested.
"Maybe Eliza," Castle said. "But Julia's just curious."
"About everything," Beckett said in agreement, smiling as she and Castle went back to their drinks. They talked about their daughters until they had finished and were discussing if they wanted to have another coffee before her phone started to ring.
"I summoned him with my mind," Castle said, faking amazement. He couldn't help laugh when his wife smiled at him and watched her answer the P.I.'s call. Since he couldn't hear what the man was saying, he had to wait until she hung up asking, "Good news?"
"He wants to talk to me," Beckett replied. "Right now."
After hurriedly paying the barman Castle walked with his wife out to the elevators, heading to their room as fast as they could go. When they were inside he followed her to the large window, dragging over the other red armchair to hers before they sat down. "He sent you the number?" he asked.
"He did," Beckett replied before she checked her text messages and found it. She dialed the phone number the PI had sent and put her phone on speaker.
"Brennan McCollough," a man with a thick Irish accent said on the other end.
"Mr. McCollough, my name is Kate Beckett," she replied, looking at her husband.
"Yes I was told by Mr. Fitzgerald that you would be calling me," Brennan replied. "So you're my cousin it seems."
"What has Mr. Fitzgerald told you about me?" Beckett asked, feeling her husband taking her free hand.
"He mentioned you had a similar rosary to the one I have from my great-great-great grandmother," Brennan replied. "And that your great-great-great grandmother was Líle McCollough, which corresponds to my family's stories of the sisters and my ancestor being sent back to Ireland while the other remained in New York."
Beckett was unsure if she wanted to be the one to suggest them meeting but then finally decided she should before she opened her mouth to speak.
"I think we should meet," Beckett and Brennan said at the same time.
"Fantastic," Brennan replied. "I was told by the PI that you were currently in Ireland."
"We're on the west coast," Beckett replied. "But we'll be in England soon and then we could arrange a meeting."
"Would you like to come out here to my home?" Brennan asked then. "My wife doesn't want to leave for the city and we'd love to show you around."
"If you don't mind," Beckett said, looking at her husband who merely shrugged.
"That would be great," Brennan replied.
Beckett and the man soon worked out when she and Castle would drive out from London to meet them. When she had hung up she said to her husband, "He's still not sure."
"I would imagine he'd want to see that rosary in person," Castle replied. "But once he does see it he won't doubt who you are."
"Strange way to put that Rick," Beckett said with a smile. She leaned over and kissed him before saying, "Should we go?"
"I think so," Castle replied as they got up and then left their room to go down to the pool. "But he did sound nice," he said quietly as they were walking down the hall.
"He did," Beckett replied. "His accent is nice."
"Yes," Castle said simply.
"Rick," Beckett said, looking at him. "If I thought an accent was that important I would have married an Irishman."
"Would your dad have liked that," Castle said jokingly as they were in the elevator.
"That reminds me, you never told me what you two talked about when you played golf," Beckett told him.
"Nothing much," Castle said, shrugging his shoulders as they left the car to walk to the pool. "Oh good, we're alone," he said when they stepped into the room. "Wait, why are we alone?"
"It's Saturday night," Beckett told him, setting her towel down on a chair. "People are probably going out to pubs. You don't want to go?"
"The bar was enough," Castle replied. "Turn around."
Beckett couldn't help smile before she turned around to him and said, "You were getting a little territorial there you know."
"I had to be, I'm sure you noticed," Castle told her as he pulled off his shirt while she was taking off her dress.
"I did and thank you for doing that," Beckett replied, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. She smiled again as he turned to look at her and told him, "I don't know if me initiating something would have worked."
"Who knows," Castle said before folding his pants and then following her over to the steps. "What'll we do after the swimming gets boring?" he asked once they were in the water.
"Marco Polo?" Beckett suggested, pretending to sound serious. She wasn't surprised when her husband started to laugh and she said, "I don't know, we could race."
"Oh you know that reminds me I had wanted to wager something with you," Castle replied to that.
"And what's that?" Beckett asked, taking him over to the windows and holding onto the edge. "A kiss?"
"A little more than that," Castle replied, leaning in close to her. He made a face when she slipped away from him and then swam back into the pool. "You didn't let me tell you."
"So tell me," Beckett replied, standing up in the middle. She wasn't surprised when he didn't say anything until after she had her arms wrapped around him and he put his around her waist.
Castle leaned down then and murmured into her ear before he pulled back to look at her to see her reaction. "Well?" he asked, surprised when she wasn't answering.
"You don't think someone might come in," Beckett replied.
"That's true but you could do that in our room," Castle replied as he had requested her to undress for him in the Jacuzzi room.
"Stripping?" Becket said then.
"Not that kind," Castle said. "Can I help?"
Laughing softly at that Beckett said, "That wouldn't be stripping, you're not supposed to touch you know."
"Not when you're my wife," Castle said. "Then I'm allowed."
"Come on, we'll swim around the whole pool," Beckett said, going to the stairs in the corner. "Ready?"
"I am," Castle said, watching her. When she called out, "Go," he was ducking under the water before starting to swim around, feeling his legs starting to ache when he reached the end.
"Looks like you won," Beckett said, reaching him just as he was sitting back on the step.
"I think so," Castle said, taking her hand while she stood. He pulled her to his lap and kissed her carefully before pulling back. "Think we should head up?"
"No but a break will be nice," Beckett said. "The pool is bigger than I thought."
"Me too," Castle said with a slight laugh. "Good thing we didn't let Julia do that."
"I think she would have eventually stopped… somewhere," Beckett said before she leaned against him. "But now that we've had our race, anything else?"
Castle looked at her then and started to run his hand up and down her back saying, "Sure you want to ask me that?"
"You'd be dragging me out of the pool if that were the case," Beckett told him, smiling slightly. She slipped off his lap and into the water then as he was quick to follow her and she splashed him before ducking underneath and resurfacing further away. She couldn't help laugh at him as he grabbed her, having been able to keep up with her easily. "This is what I went through at the beginning," she said. "You never left me alone."
"Then I wasn't about to do this… at least not yet," Castle said before he leaned down and took her lips with his own, kissing her as hard as he possibly could. He groaned against her lips before he refocused his attention back to her until they finally had to part to breathe. "Were we coming down here to swim or just make out?" he said, looking around them.
"I came here to swim, I'm not sure what you were doing," Beckett told him teasingly. "Come on," she said as she pulled on his hand. Together they swam again, going around the entire pool before stopping at the windows. "Still raining," she commented after they were looking out into the darkness for a while, the raindrops slightly visible on the glass.
"I know, I'm so glad this waited until we got back… almost got back," Castle said.
"And that Eliza was okay after the ferry," he and Beckett said at the same time.
Nodding Beckett said, "I didn't think that would be too much for her. But then again when do we take ferries anywhere."
"She was barely one when we went to see the Statue of Liberty," Castle replied. "And it wasn't in a storm either."
"But again she recovered well," Beckett said, smiling as she thought of how their youngest had been coming up to them in the pool.
"She did," Castle replied. "Come on," he then said as he went back into the water and they swam around the pool together once more. That time they swam to the steps where they'd stopped at earlier and sat, looking out on the water before he watched her lean her head on his shoulder. "What're you thinking?" he asked her.
"What would you say if I told you it was another man?" Beckett asked him, trying to suppress her shiver of pleasure at his tone of voice.
"I would respond that it's your cousin and you're not thinking of him like that," Castle said simply. He wasn't surprised when his wife nodded slightly and said, "We're going on our own right."
"Of course, I don't want to take the whole family and force him to take us in for… however long," Beckett replied.
"Are you going to tell your dad tomorrow?" Castle then said.
"I will but tomorrow," Beckett told him. She leaned over and kissed him on the lips before saying, "Want to go to the Jacuzzi now?"
"Do you?" Castle asked, surprised but hopeful. At her nod he stood up immediately, making her laugh before he reached for her hand as they walked across to the other side so they could get their towels and head into the separate room where the large Jacuzzi was, slipping into the water after her once he turned on the jets.
Looking at the dolphin statues on the sides of the small pool, Beckett said, "I don't know if it's apropos or cheesy…"
"Maybe they should have used just one?" Castle suggested.
"Probably would have been better," Beckett replied. She then looked at her husband and said, "Can I ask something?"
"You never usually ask permission," Castle said. "And if it's about Oxford… I'm not thinking about it. But it is hard to forget at times."
"I think Julia's been doing that too," Beckett said.
Nodding in agreement Castle said, "I've noticed her hugging her sister tightly from time to time. But what about Eliza?'
Beckett sighed slightly and said, "I don't know if she'll understand until we leave the city and go back to London; like we've discussed before. We'll just have to try and make sure she knows Alexis will be back for Christmas and summer. And it's just for two years. They'll go fast." When her husband whistled slightly she asked, "What?"
"No just thinking that once Alexis comes home Julia will be eleven and Eliza five," Castle replied.
"They won't forget their sister," Beckett told him simply.
"Oh I know," Castle replied with a nod. "But hopefully Eliza won't be shy with her when she comes home."
Since his voice had become a little absent then Beckett reached over and placed her hand on his leg under the water telling him, "We'll talk to her with Skype so she'll remember. Don't worry Rick."
"I know I'm just remembering how Alexis was when her gram came back from a tour with a theater troupe when she was two," Castle said. "She was a little shy until she remembered her."
"Which makes sense," Beckett replied. She then stood up and walked around in the middle of the Jacuzzi saying, "It's funny we're swimming as much as we are."
Taking the change in subject Castle responded with, "You hear Eliza, she wants to swim. She could go to the Olympics."
"According to you she could go to the Olympics as an equestrienne too," Beckett told him teasingly as he stood up but just watched her walking back and forth. Before he could say anything to that she was ducking under the water, the heat of it enveloping her before she stood back up. When she turned to her husband she wasn't surprised to see him sitting down again but the intensity in his blue eyes made her pause slightly. "I don't know if she could do both," she finally said, pushing her hair back.
Leaning over Castle was able to grab his wife's hand and pull her to him, letting her stand as he wrapped his arm around her to press his hand to the small of her back. "I should be replying to what you said right?"
"I think so," Beckett said, though she wasn't sure why it was important at all that he did so.
"I…" Castle began before he let out a slight groan and shaking his head pulled her onto his lap. Their lips met very shortly after, letting him know that she was anticipating the same herself. Slipping his tongue carefully in her mouth he knew then that though she was allowing him to do that she wanted to wait for anything rougher or more intimate in their room. He let that kiss go on as long as he dared it before slowly parting from her. "Love," he murmured.
Beckett felt very warm at that moment, the water not withstanding as her husband's arms held her tightly. She leaned against him and let him kiss her again before they slowly parted. "Is that a sign?" she said jokingly as they watched the bubbles dissipate at that moment.
"I'm sure it is but don't ask me what because I can't figure it out," Castle replied simply. He kissed her briefly on the lips before she got off his lap to swim back and forth while he was watching her.
Unsure of what made her push herself so hard eventually in the small pool Beckett stopped and said, "I feel like going back out there."
"Do you want to come back?" Castle asked, having known that she needed the pool the way she was swimming.
"No I can take a shower back in the room if I want the heat," Beckett replied, getting out and leading the way back into the pool after tossing aside her towel. She began to swim the length of it and after completing the first round she wondered where her husband was. She stopped and glanced around as she stood up, seeing that he was just behind her, slightly startled when he stopped and got up himself. She laughed somewhat and said, "I don't know if it's the best thing to try and forget."
"It's either that or go up to our room," Castle replied, unable to help his eyes trailing down her form appreciatively.
"Then if you want to go," Beckett said as she took a step towards him. "You're going to have to catch me."
"Really?" Castle asked. He wasn't surprised when his wife went under the water and swam away as he watched. He gave her a head start as he felt the desire to chase her taking over his desire to have her. He went underwater and soon resurfaced before going after her, swimming around the statue and to the rest of the pool before they were back where they'd started.
Standing up Beckett climbed the steps and out of the pool, expecting her husband to catch her at the wall next to the chair where their towels were. She was trying not to laugh as she knew he had thought he'd get to her in the water but soon got herself under control before he was leaning down. She allowed him the kiss he gave her but very carefully ended it before she pecked him on the lips.
Sighing as he knew the reason she'd done that Castle grabbed his towel at the same time she had hers and dried off quickly before he followed her back to their room.
"So quiet," Beckett said as he walked to her after locking their door behind him. "Are you changing your mind or repressing?"
"I really don't think you need to ask," Castle said, starting to sit on the end of the bed. When she grabbed his hand he jumped up, surprised at the force with which she was holding him. He then looked into her eyes and said, "We always do that to ourselves."
"I know, it's not fun," Beckett replied. She then shrugged slightly and told him, "We're addicted."
"It's more than that," Castle said. "I think it's a need."
"That's not what an addiction is?" Beckett asked him.
"The kind that won't kill you," Castle said simply. He was standing so he put his hand on his wife's back and pulled her to him saying, "I want to say it's comparable to needing water but I'm a little afraid you might scoff at that."
Beckett shrugged and when her husband's eyes widened before he looked at her in confusion she explained, "I don't know if it's to that degree but… do you know how often we're together during a week? And we have two kids Rick."
"Then it's to that degree," Castle replied. He then looked around the room and said, "We're agreed on that?"
"I think so," Beckett said in amusement. "But before you start acting on it, shower. Now."
Castle was a little amused himself then but more because the change in his wife's voice was so apparent. He got an idea then and followed her willingly to the bathroom where he then took over, pushing her into the shower carefully before moving her all the way against the back wall. He kissed her as hard as he could, glad that she didn't protest and instead helped him as they had to scramble a little bit to get her bikini off before his trunks joined the blue fabric on the floor. "I love you," he said hoarsely to his wife as they pressed close to each other.
"I love you too," Beckett replied, closing the gap between them. Her heart was racing as they slowly parted and he moved to lift her up against the wall. She was sure that she should have felt the cold tile wall behind her but there was nothing except the heat of anticipation in her before they were joined and she kissed her husband as hard as she possibly could while they let their desire begin to overwhelm them.
Shifting slightly Castle breathed out as his skin slid against his wife's still damp flesh. It was hours after their shower and they were calming down from their bout of lovemaking after he'd woken her up. "Mad at me?" he asked, remembering something that he'd thought of as he'd kissed her body to make sure she was ready to take him.
"About what?" Beckett asked, feeling stronger as he moved away from her then to lie down next to her. "That?"
"I don't have any doubts about what you thought about me then," Castle said. He laughed slightly when his wife punched his shoulder and then said, "Waking you up."
"At first, until you went straight for my clit," Beckett teased him. "I couldn't really stay mad at you for that."
Turning so she was lying on her back and he was supporting himself above her slightly Castle said, "Are you like that all the time when I start?"
"Again Rick, when you wake me up," Beckett said. She then smiled so he wouldn't think she was being all that serious and told him, "But it's brief." She clamped her hand over his mouth and said, "Yes because you're that good," in mock annoyance as she'd known he was going to say that.
Taking her hand Castle pressed a kiss to her palm before he moved again to lie on his side, nearly curling around her body as she turned to him. "You know you're the same."
"That good?" Beckett asked. She smirked and said, "You find that amazing don't you?"
"Not in the fact I wasn't expecting it," Castle was quick to assure her. "Just that we're so consistent."
"Hmm, if you're trying to blatantly compliment me…" Beckett started to say before she trailed off.
Kissing her then Castle didn't reply to that at first until finally he pulled away. "No compliments," he told her seriously. "And it would explain why we anticipate being together as much as we do. We know we'll be better than the time before."
"Hmm," Beckett said again, her eyes closed as her husband had started to kiss at her shoulder and collarbone. When he trailed down a little she hurriedly lay on her back for him and bit at her lower lip. She knew that he was right as she felt the desire starting to rise in her again while he was moving over her meticulously, trying not to miss a single part of her skin she could tell. She was a little surprised when he raised his head after getting close to her breasts and she told him, "Enough?"
"For now," Castle said. He then moved his head to press his forehead against hers and murmuring her name said, "You know what I would love to have happen when we meet your cousin?"
"What?" Beckett asked, a little confused as she wasn't sure where he was going with that.
"He'd throw a party for you," Castle said.
Beckett rolled her eyes, though she was smiling at the same time, and said, "What is it with you and me wearing a dress."
"I know you're trying to tempt me," Castle said easily.
"Tempt you," Beckett snorted before she gently pushed on his shoulders so she could sit up. She moved to lean back against the headboard and said, "You realize I wear what the situation calls for."
"Sure," Castle said, his voice turning absent as he reached down and gently cupped her breast with his hand. He shuddered as she then arched her back, forcing more against his palm, and he said, "Who am I kidding, you tempt me enough like this."
"I know my power over you," Beckett told him, smiling as he looked at her.
Castle knew he could go in two directions with that; either submit to her completely or take over. But a third option suddenly struck him and he leaned down, nipping at her collarbone and telling her, "And I know what to do to make you need me."
Quickly discerning what her husband was doing Beckett bit her lower lip as he started to nibble at her shoulder, going up to her neck. "Is this it?" she finally was able to ask.
"No just a… preview," Castle said.
"How long do I need to-" Beckett started to say before she was cut off when he crushed his lips to hers. He was rough then and she moaned against him, though she was enjoying the pressure of him against her greatly. She reached up and put her hands on the back of his neck before they slid up to his hair, nails digging into his scalp. It was a slight relief when he pulled away as she wasn't sure how long she would be able to take him overpowering her as they dueled together in her mouth. She watched him then as he descended and breathed out heavily when his fingers beat his mouth to her clit. She shifted slightly on the bed and then slid down so he would have better access to her. "Rick…" she said, not caring she was outright begging with her tone.
Taking that Castle then proceeded to kiss his way over his wife's body, everywhere he could reach. He wasn't trying to make it sexual, merely showing her that he wasn't lying when he said that he adored her. He wasn't sure how long he took to do that, only that when he pulled away from her she had her hand up by her head, her fingers curled slightly as she panted and bit at her lower lip in pleasure. "You know I can't stop myself with this," he told her, needing her even more with the way she looked.
"No," Beckett said firmly as she saw that he was going to start all over again. She didn't think she'd be able to take it anymore so she hurriedly grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him forcefully on top of her. "I want you love and I want you to fuck me now. As hard as you can," she said, not surprised she was nearly snarling out the words as she stared at him intently.
Castle didn't need to be told twice; as his own throbbing body was telling him the same; and he bent down to kiss her again before they both worked to get him inside of her. As soon as he was they were sighing in pleasure when their kiss ended swiftly, neither caring since he was quickly starting to move again. He focused everything on his wife, wanting to make sure that she knew how he felt about her. And as always happened when they made love her obvious pleasure and her eagerness with him let him know that she was just as in love with him as he was with her; knowing that was always going to be between them as time went on.