Genre: 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: Great to get the reviews I did for the last chapter and a surprise to get one for the chapter before it which I'll reply to here, so want to get to my thank yous right away! vetgirlmx (Great you thought the last chapter was a very nice one first off. And I'm glad you could tell they're getting a lot of culture, lol, that's kind of what I had in mind for it. Mainly because Castle and Beckett are supposed to be intelligent so I figured they'd want to expose their daughters to culture and history and the like. So also glad that you think they're accomplishing that during this trip! And yeah, I figure since they're seeing their family interested in everything it's going to help them stay that way too, lol. I'm happy to see you caught my nod to your country, when I was on the museum's site I saw the mask and it caught my interest. Mainly for the color but the way it was made was pretty cool, so had to include it for you and also the color, lol, but mostly you. I wasn't surprised to see that you commented on Alexis talking about noticing things with Julia, lol. As for if Jim and Martha are noticing you'll have to see, but I am pleased you want to see how that plays out as you put it. Sorry about the confusion the play they saw in the chapter was actually Eliza's second, her first was Mary Poppins in New York City, but still seeing a play in a historical theater is still a big thing for Martha, lol. Great to see that you're eagerly waiting for what comes next and now you don't need to wait anymore for that!), Guest (First off I'm so, so sorry that I didn't reply to your review before I posted the last chapter but I didn't even realize you'd sent it until the 30th, two days after you posted, and then didn't get an e-mail about it until the day after that. So since this is the only place I can reply to it I'm doing so now! I was glad that you too enjoyed that Castle and Beckett spent time alone with Julia; it was fun to write that. And I'm not surprised you noticed the growth in everyone plus the relationships from the first story to this one, that just naturally happened, lol. To answer your question Julia does remember being afraid of Castle since that still went on even after she lost her other memories) and TORONTOSUN (Glad that you thought I brought the Egypt section to life. Lol, I think that's my interest in Ancient Egypt that did it but great it happened! And though I didn't know it, glad I could mention Moby Dick if you like it that much. Was nice to see you think the girls are doing fine here. And yeah, I don't see the flirting stopping even with Castle and Beckett together, would keep the relationship fresh that way I think). Thanks so much for the feedback, I appreciated you all taking the time to write that out for me and as always I enjoyed reading each review greatly!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song (I Want to) Come Home by Paul McCartney, from the movie soundtrack for Everybody's Fine.
Memories From Afar
Looking out the window at the countryside Beckett felt her husband's hand take hers and she looked to him, seeing he was studying her. "What?" she asked.
"Are you okay?" Castle asked.
"I'm fine, just a little… confused by this," Beckett told him, looking around the interior of the car.
"I bet you anything he's just taking into account it was either this or we take the train," Castle said. "He does seem like a nice guy."
Beckett smiled at that and said, "I know I just wasn't expecting a Rolls Royce."
"Yeah, not this old," Castle said. "But you heard what Fulton said when he picked us up; Mr. Brennan kept this car for personal use."
Glancing at him at his use of a British accent as he had repeated the chauffer driving in front of them Beckett said, "A much simpler car would have worked."
"The partition is nice," Castle had to say.
Sighing Beckett shook her head and told him, "You don't think he's trying to impress us?"
"That was my other guess," Castle said quickly. "You're his American cousin, why wouldn't he try to impress you."
Beckett couldn't help smile briefly until they were making a right and she looked back out the window. "The girls will love seeing these towns," she said as they had been passing a number of them once they had left Newbury.
"I have to make sure Alexis has the directions, she-" Castle started to say as he took his phone out of his pocket. He looked up at his wife in surprise when she took it from him and put it inside her blazer pocket. "You-"
"She knows how to get here Rick," Beckett said gently but a little firmly at the same time. "If you keep calling her about that at some point she's going to turn off her phone. And I don't really want her doing that."
"Fine can I have that back?" Castle asked.
"Not until we get there and you're distracted from texting or calling," Beckett said. She lowered the partition then and said, "Fulton?"
"Yes ma'am?" the chauffer asked.
"Where are we exactly?" Beckett then said.
"In West Berkshire," the man replied. "White Mount Estate is in between the towns of Brightwalton and Farnborough. But it is secluded there."
"Why that name?" Castle couldn't help asking.
"We're not too far from the White Horse of Uffington," Fulton replied.
"Have there always been horses at the estate?" Beckett asked.
"We're here sir, ma'am," the man told them. "Mr. Brennan will tell you himself about his wife's history, Mrs. Clara will as well."
"Thank you for the drive," Beckett said quickly as they went through a tall gate and up to what looked to be a huge Georgian country manor. She was stunned to see it and she asked, "How old is Mrs. McCollough's family?"
"The Darcy family goes back all the way to Elizabeth I," Fulton said before he stopped the car in front of the house. "Mrs. Clara can better explain," he said before getting out. "Welcome to White Mount," he said as he opened the door on Beckett's side.
Murmuring a thank you to the man Beckett stepped out and looked at the house which was a light cream in color and even had ivy growing on the walls in between the tall windows. She glanced at her husband and said, "It's not the abbey like you were hoping for."
"No but still a beautiful house," Castle said before he turned back with her as they went up the steps to the house. "So we're staying I think," he said as they saw someone with the chauffer unloading the suitcase they'd brought for their three day stay.
Beckett didn't reply to that and went up to the door where she rang the doorbell before she looked behind them again while they waited. She studied the fountain in the middle of the white gravel in front of the home before her eye caught something in the green yard in the distance. She narrowed her eyes to see it between when it moved before the sound of the door being unlocked made her turn around.
"Good morning Ms. Beckett, Mr. Castle," a butler said, nodding to them. "The McColloughs are expecting you, right this way."
Following the man through the entry Beckett wasn't surprised to see two sweeping staircases ahead of them leading to the upper floor. She gave it one last glance before turning her attention to where they were being led. "May I ask," she began as she looked around the soft green room with tables, chairs and two sofas in deeper green upholstery. "What room is this?"
"The front parlor," the butler said. "I'll inform Mr. Brennan you're here."
When they were alone Castle said to his wife, "He has his employees refer to him by name."
"That could be a family tradition already going on," Beckett told him teasingly though she wasn't surprised he'd caught that.
"Still he's Irish, all of a sudden a Lord… he's got to want things more informal," Castle said.
"You can ask him when we meet him," Beckett said, looking around the room before she saw a painting above the fireplace.
"That'll be your cousin," Castle said as he followed her line of sight. "His wife and their daughter but… the ward?" he asked when they saw a fourth person in the painting.
Beckett wanted to answer that but heard the door behind them opening and she turned to see her cousin walking to her. "Brennan?" she asked, taking the rosary out of her jacket pocket.
Seeing that the tall, chestnut haired man smiled and he said in his thick Irish accent, "Kate, we're cousins then," as he withdrew a rosary that was nearly similar to hers from his own pocket.
"Bren," a woman said in a soft British accent behind him. "We already knew that."
"This was a final test?" Beckett asked, smiling as she wasn't surprised her father had been right.
"Aye, we are," Brennan replied. "I wasn't sure if you were having me on about the rosary. I suppose I was a bit unfair but…"
"It doesn't matter," the woman replied, giving her husband a look.
Walking up to her Brennan held the end of his rosary up next to Beckett's and said, "Nearly a complete match."
"I think our ancestors' father was that good," Beckett replied. She was startled when her cousin hugged her tightly and she laughed for a moment before embracing him back. "It's great to meet you," she said as he held her by the arms.
"It's fantastic to meet you," Brennan said. "And this is my wife, Clara of course," he said as she stepped up to them.
"Lovely to meet you," Clara said with a smile as she shook Beckett's hand with both of hers.
"This is my husband-" Beckett started to say.
"Richard Castle, we have your books," Brennan interrupted with a smile.
"Great to hear," Castle said as the couple shook his hand. "And I'll add that it's also great to meet you."
"Sit, please," Brennan then said to Beckett and Castle, motioning to the couches across from each other. "I had a feeling already that you were part of the family."
"My eyes?" Beckett asked with a smile.
"Of course," Brennan replied. "They run in our family. Speaking of which, will the rest of yours be joining us?"
"They'll be here in…" Castle said, trying to find his phone but unable to until Beckett gave it back to him. "They left about a half hour ago," he said.
"Is everything alright?" Clara asked.
"Yeah they didn't let us know when they'd left," Castle said, shaking his head.
"They'll be here in about an hour then," Brennan said. "So we can talk a bit."
"You want to know more about us?" Castle guessed.
"We know some about you," Brennan said a little apologetically. "We looked into you a bit after we first spoke."
"We knew about you… slightly," Beckett answered. "So it's only fair. But I have to ask, your daughter and your… ward?"
Sharing a smile with his wife Brennan said, "Our daughter's name is Erin, she's eight and has been that since the first of July," as he looked over at the painting of his family. "And my… foster son I suppose you want to call him is Louis O'Sullivan; he'll be twenty five next month. His mother was my friend and was a widow when he was born; she left custody of him to me."
"A wonderful choice," Clara said, squeezing her husband's hand gently.
"Will we be able to meet them?" Beckett asked.
"Oh of course, they're down at the stables at the moment," Clara told them. "But they're eager to meet you and your children."
"What do you know about them?" Castle asked.
"He's wondering how much you know," Beckett said. "Though I'm sure you know we have three daughters."
"Your oldest is your stepdaughter?" Brennan asked his cousin.
"She is," Castle answered before Beckett could. "Alexis, she's twenty-four. Our oldest…" he started to say before looking at his wife.
"We know about her," Clara said quickly. "Is she alright? We were a little concerned about her considering what we learned."
"She's fine and you know her name?" Beckett said.
"Julia Castle?" Brennan asked them. When they nodded he continued saying, "She looks like a sweet girl; Erin wants to play with her so she'll be eager to meet her."
Beckett smiled at that; not surprised they'd seen a picture of the girls since the media had taken them sometimes; and said, "Julia feels the same about your daughter. And she's nine; she was born on St. Patrick's Day in fact. And our youngest is Elizabeth, we call her Eliza though, she's three and she and Rick have the same birthday."
"We've seen her as well, she looks very sweet," Clara replied. "And Erin would like to meet her too. I think another reason why she wants to is because you're all American."
"You've never been?" Castle asked.
"No we've mainly traveled to Europe," Brennan replied. "But there's more than just your children arriving, your parents if I remember you telling me correctly."
"We weren't kidding when we said it was a family vacation," Castle told them. "My mother, Martha Rodgers, will be here-"
"As in the daughter of Blake Rodgers?" Clara said in surprise.
"You didn't see my mother's name when you were looking into us?" Castle asked, shocked that she knew his grandfather's name.
"No or else I would have recognized the name," Clara said. "Your grandfather was my father's favorite RSC actor."
"My mom has always said that he was good," Castle said, smiling. "I'm glad to hear that she's right."
"And my father will be joining us, Jim Beckett," Beckett then added.
"So you're nearly full Irish as you said," Brennan said with a smile.
"Nearly," Beckett repeated.
"Well I don't know if there's much we can say about us," Brennan replied. "Our family is just us and anything else we could tell you it's more than likely you know already. So for now would you like to see your room?"
"Sure," Beckett said, glancing at her husband to see him nodding in agreement. She stood with him and they were about to walk to the doorway when a little girl ran inside.
"Da I saw Fulton came back-" the girl started to say before she stopped when she spotted Castle and Beckett.
"These are our cousins Erin," Clara said. "Kate and Richard."
"Hello," Beckett said with a smile at her, Castle doing the same.
"Hi," Erin replied.
"Where's Louis?" Brennan asked.
"He said Sandy looks like he's limping," Erin replied shyly. "So he's stayed to look at him."
"Louis is about to head to Oxford in the fall to get his doctorate in Veterinary Science," Brennan explained as he led the way out of the room. "Very good with horses."
"Then he must be McCollough in spirit," Castle couldn't help commenting.
"It runs in my family," Beckett said as Brennan looked at her. She hadn't talked about that with him, wanting to hold back that information until she knew he really did have horses. "Well for me and my daughters."
"Understandable," Brennan replied, glancing at Castle.
"I ride too but she's… good," he said quickly at the man's look. "Crazy good with horses."
"Well fantastic I was going to take you to the stable anyways," Brennan said.
"Da can I go back?" Erin said.
"Go but don't ride," Clara answered. "In fact I'll join you," she told her daughter. She turned to Castle and Beckett and said, "I'll see you down at the stables."
"I was planning on taking you there after you were settled in your room," Brennan said after they'd said goodbye to his wife. "Come on, I gave you a view of the back. Now I'm thrilled I thought that considering."
Beckett had to wonder what he was talking about as they headed up the stairs, but she soon had her answer as they walked down one wing of the house and went into what was going to her hers and Castle's bedroom. "This…" she started to say.
"This is a bedroom?" Castle said then.
"Clara's mother didn't like the old outer rooms leading to the bedroom, so for those that had them she knocked down the walls to open them up," Brennan replied. "Yours is one of them."
"It's beautiful," Beckett said honestly. She couldn't help smiling and saying, "You must have heard from someone we loved the color blue," as the walls were a pale blue color.
"My grandfather in law loved the color, that and green so there's only one room which isn't those two colors," Brennan said, staying by the doorway as he watched the two look around.
"Do you have a ballroom?" Castle asked as he watched Beckett check on her gown for that night hanging already in the armoire.
"There's a closet," Brennan quickly said. "And we do in fact have one; it's gold and white from the Regency era as this version of the house was built then. There's an unspoken agreement within the family that you do not touch that room out of anywhere else in the house."
"We look forward to seeing it," Beckett told him. "But are you sure about us going?"
"Yeah we're Americans," Castle said, not surprised when his wife shot him a brief look.
"We're sure," Brennan said. "Do you want to rest at all?" he then asked.
"No but I'm wondering if we might have a chance to ride?" Beckett asked.
Seeing that his wife was still looking in the armoire Castle knew she was also looking at their boots that were on the bottom of it. "Did I mention she loves horses?" he said to Brennan.
"It may have come up and of course you can," the man said. "I'll run and get my own riding boots and come back for you."
After the door was closed and he was sure that the man wouldn't be able to hear them Castle said, "Can you believe it?"
"Believe what?" Beckett asked, looking out one of the tall windows at the grounds outside. But she soon turned to the bedroom, looking at the bed in particular as above it was a tall curtain with a slight covering going over the mattress at the ceiling. She soon felt her husband wrapping his arms around her from behind and said, "You realize he's going to come back," smiling though as she put her hands on his that were resting on her abdomen.
"He'll knock," Castle said quickly, leaning over and kissing the side of her head.
Beckett turned around and wrapped her arms around her husband's neck murmuring against his lips, "You're getting ideas right now aren't you?" When he nodded she said, "Pervert," before they were kissing deeply.
Castle held onto her as tightly as he could before they were fighting hungrily within her mouth. He wasn't sure how it happened but soon they were going back and forth in between their mouths until they slowly parted eventually to breathe. Breathing out deeply he pressed his forehead against hers and told her, "I may have been looking around at that couch but I think I'm going to stick with the bed and the tub." He noticed her looking at him in slight confusion and said, "You didn't look at the bathroom?"
Smiling at him simply Beckett took his hand and pulled him over to the bathroom, not surprised that it had antique but still modern fixtures and furniture. But she had to comprehend why her husband had mentioned the bathtub since it was a large claw foot with a showerhead attached to the curtain rod high above. "You're still a pervert."
"I'll accept that gladly," Castle said with a smile. "As long as you agree we'll need a bath later… or a shower, either one."
Leaning over Beckett merely kissed her husband on the lips in response before she pulled away and whispered into his ear. She wasn't surprised when she left and he remained fixed in place in the doorway as she'd told him rapidly that they would need it later on after their activities that night. "Rick," she called as she was getting her boots out of the armoire which besides the table in front of one of the windows, a couch and some armchairs, was the only furniture in the large room.
"Sorry, can't expect me to really do anything when you tell me that," Castle told her. He took his boots from her and put them on before they went to the door as Brennan was knocking. He held his wife's hand while they went downstairs and out, looking at the gardens directly outside the door. "Have these always been there?" he asked.
"It's a mix of nineteenth century gardens, Georgian and Victorian," Brennan replied before they reached a path over to the buildings further ahead on the grounds. He pointed ahead and said, "This lime walk is from when the house was first built."
"But they're peach trees…" Beckett began, seeing the ripe fruit hanging from the branches.
"I never understood why they called it a lime walk," Brennan replied, picking three fruits. "They're quite good."
"Really good," Castle said after taking a bite.
"We have apples, cherries and raspberries," Brennan told them as they continued down the path. "We'll have to show you and your family."
"So is this a farm?" Beckett asked him.
"No it's for personal consumption," Brennan replied as they reached the first of two stables. "But we'll be using some of that fruit tonight."
"Da," a young man said, coming up to them. "Oh, hello," he said, seeing Castle and Beckett. "This is the family?"
"Partially," Brennan said with a smile. "Louis, this is Kate and Rick."
"Great to meet you, read your books after Da and Clara told me about you," the young man said as he shook their hands. "You're both really good."
"Thank you it's nice to hear that," Beckett said.
"I'm about to take them around to see the horses," Brennan said as he watched his cousin looking at the horses sticking their heads out their stalls. "The rest of the family will be here soon but until then we'll go for a short ride."
"Going to show them the cars?" Louis asked.
"Most likely later," Brennan said. "Clara and Erin?"
"She's on her pony," Louis answered.
"Do your girls ride as well?" Brennan said after they'd said goodbye to Louis.
"Julia does, Eliza we just let sit on horses at the moment," Castle answered. "Would Erin mind if she rode?"
"We have another pony," Brennan said. "So that one she will be able to ride. As for the horses here, there are Thoroughbred, Hanoverians and Connemara ponies. Couldn't resist having a few of those around they're steady horses."
"We rode them in Ireland so we know," Beckett couldn't help saying. "How many do you have?"
"Fifty but most of them belonged to my father in law," Brennan explained as he watched his cousin rubbing the forehead of a Hanoverian. "So your husband wasn't pulling my leg."
Glancing back at him Beckett then turned back to the horse quickly before saying, "This one's bad tempered?"
"Usually she's only good around me and Clara," Brennan replied. "So you know your way around horses."
"Of course," Beckett said before she murmured gently to the mare and it stopped trying to nibble around her fingers. "What about the other stables? Are they the same horses?"
"I'll show you," Brennan said. He led them to the other building and when they'd stepped inside said, "These are Friesians, Arabians and Lipizzaners. I ride a Lipizzaner; I'll show him to you." As they were walking towards the back he turned to the two and said, "I never asked, what is it you ride?"
"Andalusians," Beckett said.
"I've tried to get one or two of those," Brennan said. "But have never been so lucky in getting my hands on them. They go fast at sales. But if you want to try the other horses; they're good breeds."
Looking in on her cousin's horse Beckett said, "We might try this kind."
Talking to the horse Brennan took it out of the stall and said, "This is Emerald; my daughter named him. And he's well trained."
"I can tell," Beckett said in slight amusement as the horse remained where he was in the aisle as her cousin went to get two more horses.
"Alright, Rick I'll give you Dune and for you Kate, Jet," Brennan said.
"What's your naming process like?" Castle couldn't help asking once they were outside and were riding away from the stables to open fields.
"Clara and Erin name the stallions, Louis and I name the mares," Brennan explained. "Now we're on the main part of the property I would give you a tour but there's not all that much to see. Though I suppose the ruins might be of interest."
"We could wait to see those with our family," Beckett commented.
Unable to help laughing at that Brennan said, "Then we can go ahead and ride."
Following the man as he started to gallop ahead of them Castle and Beckett were soon able to catch up and they let Brennan lead the way over the lush green grass surrounding the property.
"Oh there they are! Look I think they went riding!" Julia said, sounding a little jealous at the end.
"You're not looking at the house Julia," Martha told her. "It's stunning."
"It is, I guess the PI wasn't kidding about him being a lord," Jim murmured, a little surprised at the home.
"Hey, welcome," Beckett said in amusement as the door opened and Julia and Eliza flew out into her arms. She hugged them tightly though it hadn't been long since she'd seen them back in London and said, "I missed you too."
"We missed you too Daddy," Julia said as she and her sister went to him.
"I'm glad you guys are here you're going to love this house," Castle said, kissing their cheeks. He hugged Alexis and said, "You're all going to love the house."
"From seeing the outside I don't doubt you Richard," Martha said.
Walking into the house Beckett led the way to the parlor where the McColloughs were waiting for them saying, "Everyone this is Brennan," as her cousin walked over to them. "Brennan, this is Eliza, Julia and Alexis," she said, introducing the three first since they were in front.
"Wonderful to meet you," the man said, shaking Alexis' hand as the girls hid a little behind their mother, looking up at him. "Especially you two, your parents were telling me a bit about you before you got here."
"And this is Martha and my father, Jim," Beckett said.
"Welcome to White Mount," Brennan said to Jim, shaking his hand warmly. "I hope you'll enjoy your stay, all of you."
"I'm sure we will," Martha said, smiling at the three who were walking over to them. "And it is wonderful to meet all of you."
"This is my wife Clara," Brennan said, turning to his family then. "And our daughter Erin and our son Louis."
After greetings were exchanged Beckett glanced at her husband, wondering if he noticed the way the young man and Alexis were watching each other. "So there are a number of things we can do before we need to get ready for the party," she said.
"Of course, there are the gardens in back," Clara said first. "And also the stables."
"You do have horsies?" Julia asked earnestly.
"We do and we have a pony as well that you can ride if your parents wouldn't mind letting you do," Brennan said.
"I have a pony," Erin said softly, smiling at the girls. "You can ride her too."
"You can ride with us," Julia said, smiling back at her. When the girl nodded she squeezed her little sister's hand and said, "Can we go to the stables?"
"Why don't we look around the gardens," Castle began, looking at his wife. "And then look at the stables."
"We'll have to absent ourselves," Clara said, speaking for herself and her husband.
"The party?" Beckett asked her and her cousin.
"Last minute things," Brennan replied. "But Louis and Erin can go around with you; he'll be able to guide you as well as we can."
"That'll be great," Alexis said with a smile at the young man.
Catching her tone then Castle turned to his daughter before he glanced at Louis, about to open his mouth when Beckett took his hand.
"Do you want to go to your rooms first?" Brennan asked. When Martha and Jim answered in the affirmative he said, "We'll take you upstairs. And you three will have the room in between them; I hope sharing will be alright."
"We've been doing that on the vacation so it's fine," Alexis replied.
After the others had left Louis said, "I guess we should start with the gardens," before he led them outside. "So this garden here up front I suppose are the more manicured types of gardens but they're still beautiful," he said as they walked along the flowers framed by shaped hedges.
"I think it's beautiful too," Julia said firmly as she took a picture of some pansies. "These are so cute."
"They are," Alexis said, studying the small tricolor ones next to some larger yellow ones. "Who laid all of this out?"
"Well the hedges always stay in place but Clara and my da plan the flowers," Louis replied.
"Your dad does the flowers too?" Julia asked in surprise.
"They do them together come spring," Louis replied. "But they involve us too don't they?" he asked his sister. When she nodded he said, "The ballroom is right there."
"The doors will be open and you can go into the gardens at night," Erin replied though she'd been quiet up until that point. "It's romantic, our mum and da go outside sometimes."
"Usually when they've been dancing enough," Louis said with a smile. "So now time for the landscape garden."
"What is that?" Eliza asked from her father's arms where she'd gone to.
"This," Louis said, motioning to the land in front of them, to the right of the stables.
"When was this all made?" Beckett asked as they walked down to a temple.
"Around… 1834," the young man said. "It's a little late but from what I know from Clara; her ancestors didn't want to conform to the styles of the time. And they had gone to Greece for their honeymoon so they wanted to bring back some of that; which is why we'll see ruins."
From the temple they went down a winding path to the large pond where there was a bridge to the other side. Going across they came to a grove of trees that the girls discovered were cherry. After eating a few they came to the ruins where Louis urged his sister to take her cousins to climb.
"We grew up doing that," the young man told the others.
"Your parents don't mind?" Alexis asked him.
"Oh no they encouraged us," Louis answered.
"This dance tonight," Beckett said after they'd watched the three girls playing. "There aren't any cards to fill…?"
Smiling as he knew she was joking Louis said, "They aren't as strict as that," his Irish accent thick. He ran his hand through his muted red-gold hair and said, "You can ask anyone to dance. And very important you can refuse and not have to sit out the rest of the night."
"You've read Jane Austen too?" Alexis asked him.
"Of course," Louis replied. "You enjoy her works?"
Leading Castle down the path a little after motioning to the young man that they were going to do so Beckett said, "He's nice."
"So is his sister," Castle replied, glancing back and seeing his daughter and Louis were watching the girls still playing. He was surprised when his wife stopped and he turned to her saying, "You don't mind just leaving them?"
"Why would I?" Beckett asked simply. She smiled at her husband and then said, "I would like to dance tonight a few times with my dad and cousin but most of them will be with you."
"I already planned on that," Castle replied. He then said, "What about Louis?"
"I'll dance with him but only if he asks," Beckett replied. "I'm a little older than him Rick."
"But you're still a stunning woman," Castle said honestly. "And considering your gown tonight… yes, you are stunning."
"I'm still dancing with you," Beckett said easily before she leaned over and kissed his cheek. "They're coming," she said then, seeing Alexis and Louis helping the girls down from the ruins to continue on the path to them. "How was it?" she asked as their daughters ran straight to them, laughing and talking excitedly about what they'd done on the ruins.
"I think you'll enjoy this," Louis said when they came to the end of the path. "Our apple orchard… miniature orchard and over there are some berries."
"Can we eat?" Eliza asked hopefully, seeing the large raspberries.
"A little," Castle said when Louis looked to him and Beckett. "We'll likely have a big dinner tonight… does this follow old balls?"
"I suppose we assumed you'd know," Louis replied. "But there's mingling until around six thirty, supper then and after dancing before dessert at eight thirty."
"Yes we'll let you stay up for that," Beckett said in mock exasperation when the girls turned to her hopefully. She smiled when they were going to hug her and said, "Not with your hands red from the berries."
"What kind of food do you serve?" Alexis asked.
"British fare," Louis said with a nod. "But a few items from the home country."
"Like what?" Castle said interestedly.
"Corned beef, ham, Dublin coddle," Louis replied. "There's a little grumble about those from some guests but they still take ham and cabbage."
"It doesn't surprise me," Alexis said. "I bet you they don't even care they're being hypocritical."
"No," Louis said. "Listen Alexis, my da asked if I'd dance with you but I told him no I couldn't be forced when I don't know you. So I'm asking if you'll want to dance now I've met you?"
"That would be great," Alexis said.
"We should head to the stables now," Castle said, clearing his throat a little.
"Horsies!" Eliza squealed happily.
"Is there a place we can wash their hands?" Beckett asked.
"Aye they'll need to or the horses might eat all their fingers," Louis replied, leading them back through the garden.
After they had washed up Julia and Eliza held Erin's hands as they went into the first building, watching the horses stick their heads out the stalls at them. "There are a lot here," she said to her sister and cousin.
"Pretty horsies," Eliza said, sounding awed as well.
"You can walk them through here," Louis said, going to one stall. "I'd like to check out Sandy here."
"Why?" Eliza asked.
"I'm learning to be a vet…" Louis began before trailing off and looking at Alexis. "No one told you, I'm moving to Oxford for the term for my PhD."
"Oh great, so we could see each other on campus," Alexis replied.
As the two started to talk about where they'd be living while there Eliza tried to speak to the young man but had to wait until they had paused. "You are a horsie doctor?"
"For all animals, like my da," Louis told her. "Would you want to do the same?"
Eliza looked like she was thinking that over before saying seriously, "For horsies."
"I can stay here with her, so she can see what he does," Alexis told her dad and stepmother.
"Go ahead," Beckett said, taking Castle's hand and squeezing it very gently.
"Right we'll be back," Castle said, going down the aisle then to look at the other horses with Julia.
When they were in the next barn Julia turned to her parents and asked, "Do they like each other?"
"I think they're interested," Beckett replied, not surprised her husband had turned to her to answer that. "But don't ask your sister that okay?"
"I wasn't but I thought you would be able to tell Mommy," Julia told her. At that point Erin caught up with them; having to tell her brother they wanted to ride the ponies; and she said eagerly, "Will he get them ready for us?"
"Yeah, as soon as they're done," Erin replied, nodding eagerly.
Looking through the rest of the horses Castle and Beckett followed Erin and Julia to the corral outside where Louis was saddling up one pony.
"It's well tempered?" Castle asked.
"It is," Beckett said, looking at her husband.
"Just checking," Castle replied simply, holding his hands up in the air.
"I wanna ride first Jules!" Eliza said anxiously as she saw her sister get up onto the tawny coated pony.
"Wait and see how the pony is," Alexis told her hurriedly since she was holding her little sister. "And then you can take your turn."
"Wanna go," Eliza pouted.
"You better stop," Alexis said in a whisper, pretending to be worried. "Your mom is looking over at us; she might not let you have dessert later."
Glancing over to see that Beckett was in fact looking their way Eliza nodded to her sister and turned back to watch their sister and their cousin riding the ponies.
"She has great form," Louis said after the girls' second turn around the corral.
"She does ride at home," Beckett said. "On ponies but we've let her handle some complacent mares."
"She'll be a great rider if she sticks with it," Louis said. "Do you ride Eliza?"
Blushing a little the toddler smiled shyly and nodded saying, "Little bit."
"That's a good start," Louis said with a nod. "Do you too Alexis?"
"Not really, I've been busy at school," she answered as the two girls stopped the ponies. "But I'd love to ride here, the grounds look really nice to do that."
"They are," Castle said in response to his daughter's look to him.
"Then one day we should," Louis said. "Though we don't have overly large grounds there'll be some nice views."
"Alright, you can go," Alexis said as she took Eliza to Beckett.
Helping the toddler onto the pony Beckett said, "You can go around a couple times sweetie but we need to go back into the house soon."
"Kay," Eliza said, not caring as she just wanted to ride. She held the reins and after the pony started to walk she tried to sit as still as possible while her mother walked next to her.
"She'll be good too," Louis said as he watched them. "She'll just need the practice."
"Believe me she'll get it," Castle replied. "She's horse crazy too."
After a second walk around the corral Beckett had Eliza stop moving and she reached down to help her pull the reins saying, "You don't want to pull too hard, just enough so they know."
Nodding, though it wasn't the first time her mother had told her that, Eliza wanted to appear grown up and listened as best she could. When she was pulled off the saddle and held on her mother's hip she said to Louis, "Thank you."
"Looks like we're all horse crazy," Brennan said suddenly, walking up to the corral fence.
"You're finished?" Beckett asked him as they left and her cousin went in with Louis to help him with the ponies.
"Everything is ready," Brennan replied, nodding. "There's not much time left until everyone arrives though, so I would begin getting ready."
"We can't look at the horses again?" Julia asked hopefully.
"I think there are a lot of us that need to get ready," Castle said before his wife could. "So we should go ahead and get going for that."
"Mommy has to get ready," Eliza said then to her sister in a matter of fact tone of voice.
Laughing slightly at that Julia said, "You're right so let's go now." She then thought of something and said, "Do we need to take a bath?"
"You do," Beckett said. She then looked at her watch quickly and said, "But since it's early you can play for a little."
"She brought her ducks," Alexis said as they took Erin with them back to the house.
"Then you can play with those," Beckett said.
Once they were inside Clara walked over to them from the kitchen and said, "Did you have a good time love?"
"It was so fun Mummy," Erin said, running to her mother and wrapping her arms around her tightly. "Julia rides too, really good."
"Well of course," Clara replied, smiling at the others. "Now though we need to get ready, did Bren tell you?"
"He did, so we're heading upstairs," Castle said. "And see you here for the ball I'm sure," he said before they headed up the stairs after the woman and her daughter.
"So this is our bedroom," Alexis commented as they stepped into it. "Wow, what's your room like?"
"Where is it?" Julia asked then, looking at the four poster bed and furniture in the room.
"Down the hall," Beckett said, suddenly realizing at that moment why they'd been placed at the very end of it.
"Okay, so Alexis will have to wait for the girls to take a bath," Castle said then to his wife. "She could use our shower," he tentatively suggested.
"I can wait," Alexis told them. "And I wanted to see what they'll play when they play with those ducks."
"Then we should get going," Castle told the two who had suddenly run to the nearest window to look outside.
"They can't hear?" Alexis suggested jokingly.
"Yes we can," Julia said. "But we're watching the horses that are outside."
Going over to them and looking at the pasture that was within view Castle said, "You know we're here for three days."
"So?" Julia asked, wondering why he had said that.
"You need to tear yourselves away from the horses sometimes," Castle finished.
With a sigh Julia said to her sister, "We better go. You wanted to see the ball right?"
"Yeah," Eliza said before turning and letting her father pick her up. She put her arms around his neck and said, "I love horsies."
"Don't worry, in this family we know," Castle said reassuringly though with some amusement.
After getting the girls into the tub Beckett helped Julia wash her hair as Castle got Eliza taken care of and she said, "What do you think of your room?"
"It's so pretty," Julia answered first. She was about to open her mouth and speak when her sister interrupted.
"And blue!" Eliza exclaimed before she giggled.
"That too," Julia agreed. "That I love, what color is your room?"
"A pale blue by itself," Castle replied, since the girls' room was yellow and blue.
"Louis said that the rooms of the house are blue and greens," Alexis said. "Except for the ballroom of course."
"Can we see if Gram and Grandpapa's rooms are those colors?" Julia asked. "Before we go down."
"Can you take them?" Beckett asked as she looked at her stepdaughter.
"Sure since I'll be watching them while you two get ready," Alexis told them.
"I hope their beds are as nice as ours," Julia said then. She smiled and said, "Is yours?"
"It is," Castle said as he finished rinsing the conditioner out of Eliza's hair. "It's a regular bed but it has a very tall headboard, all the way to the ceiling, curtains and then a little cover sticking out over the bed."
"You can see it," Beckett hurried to say as she knew the girls were going to ask. "While your sister is taking a shower."
"And that way 'lexis gets to see it when she picks us up," Julia told her little sister seriously.
"You two can play now," Beckett said, finishing helping the little girl rinse the soap off her body. "When we say get out…"
"We know," the girls said at the same time.
"I'm not going to get dressed after I take a shower," Alexis said before she heard her sisters calling her over to play with them. "So they can help me."
"Thank you," Eliza said. She then looked confused and said, "Do I help?"
"You can don't worry," Alexis assured her. "Now what are we playing?"
"Marching," Eliza said firmly.
"Easy on the splashing," Beckett said to them as they started to play, laughing together. She was sitting on her husband's lap and as they watched their daughters she leaned against him, feeling his hand gently rubbing along her back. "It's been nice," she told him.
"I know," Castle replied. "Let's see how the ball goes though and that'll set the tone for the rest of our visit."
Beckett rolled her eyes as Alexis looked back at them; having heard that; and then said, "And why would it do that?"
"No reason," Castle said, shrugging his shoulders. He laughed when she pushed at his shoulder and they turned back to their daughters until she stood up.
After they had gotten the girls dried and changed into their dresses Beckett led them by their hands to hers and Castle's bedroom where she said, "I have a little surprise for you."
"Oh?" Julia asked, looking at her sister before they turned back to their mother.
"Come here," Beckett said before she led the way over to the bathroom. She found her medicine bag and her perfume bottle before spraying some on her fingertips. She rubbed only a little over the girls' necks, just enough so they could smell it slightly. "Since this is your first ball."
"Thank you Mommy," Julia said as her sister was wrapping her arms around her neck. She then hugged her tightly as well saying, "So now can we wear perfume all the time."
"Still not old enough," Beckett said laughingly, kissing her temple.
"Thank you Mommy," Eliza said then when she pulled away.
"You're both welcome," Beckett told them before she stood up. "So while we wait for your sister-"
"Can we see Mommy? Oh please let us see your dress," Julia begged her hopefully.
"I want to wait until I'm wearing it for you to see it," Beckett said. "And since I have to take a shower you'll see it after. But you will see it," she had to hurriedly say when the girls both started to protest.
"She's right," Castle said, laughing slightly when they then turned to him.
"Not fair," Eliza said.
"She means that 'cause you've seen it already," Julia said, translating for their parents in case they didn't know.
"Seen what?" Alexis asked, coming to the doorway then.
"Okay go we're running out of time, hurry, hurry!" Castle said, mocking a panicked tone as he made the girls laugh out loud though he was only waving his arms at them. "We'll come to get you as soon as we're ready," he told them, going to kiss them on the cheeks.
"He's right, we will and you'll see my dress then," Beckett said before she watched them go to their big sister. When she and her husband were alone she watched him lock the door before they went to the shower together. "We can't…" she told him before trailing off.
"I know but still," Castle said, pushing her gently against the door and gently kissing her before he pulled her against him. He felt her wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and carefully slipped his tongue into her mouth, making it very intense very quickly. They held onto each other for a little longer until finally they slowly parted and panting he said, "Maybe we should take separate showers."
"You think I'd believe that?" Beckett asked him with a wry smile. When he shrugged she laughed and shook her head before giving him a quick kiss on the lips. "We should get started," she said.
Castle followed her then to the tub where they hurried to undress, having to control themselves not to take things any further than that. But he found it incredibly difficult as her body was revealed to him, unable to stop himself from at least touching her before they went into the tub.
When she was standing underneath the showerhead Beckett could feel her husband's hands all over her, making her body even hotter than it was with the water. After she had cleaned herself off she was quick to help him and they came together again in another kiss though that ended up toeing the line and she found herself needing to break things off between them. "Maybe you weren't wrong," she told him before they kissed briefly and stepped out of the tub to dry off.
"Now you agree with me," Castle replied, watching her laugh while he ran the towel over her torso and abdomen. "I'll be outside waiting for you love."
Sharing a final kiss with him Beckett watched him go before she opened the towel around her and went over to the sink.