Genre: Drama, Crime, Romance, Family, Humor
Rating: M for sexual situations and language
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured on the show Castle, they belong to the creator of the show, ABC, and the others who do own them.
A/N #1: The movie that RiffTrax riffs on live is called I Believe in Santa Claus. The short films I mention are The Calendar: How to Use It and Christmas Rhapsody. And while the movie and first short film haven't actually been riffed live they are all on their official website.
A/N #2: It was really great to get the feedback I did for the last chapter so will go straight to my thank yous for them! Mb (Great hearing you're happy for another story and it was really nice to see you think this is a truly remarkable series, means a lot to know! I figured you were still with me and I know you're busy so not surprised you're very slowly reading. But thank you for the other compliment of it being an amazing and beautifully written series. And yeah, I had to write Castle and Beckett as we should have been able to see them together and added their family and children. And I'm so glad that you think I gave you readers the Alexis you wanted on the show; I always thought they really went a bit weird with her character as the seasons went on, so I wanted to fix that. And yep, had to have Martha and Jim there; especially Jim since he basically disappeared from the show; and with their grandkids since it's nice to have them interacting with them and the rest of the family. I have to have Castle and Beckett happily married after everything they'd been through before that point. And with that passion had to be involved as with having to hide their feelings for one another for so long I knew they wouldn't be able to keep that under control. Also yeah, that much passion it'd be, as you said, never ending and always growing. Don't worry, I know you have a lot going on in your real life that's keeping you busy, so I can understand why you're not able to always review. But it's nice of you to try to read and stay caught up too, so thanks for that! You're very welcome for sharing, I love doing it. And of course, I completely agree, Caskett and family always!),
Guest (I'm not sure either so that's why it won't be happening again for some time),
MsNYC (I figured the girls would have fun shopping the way they were doing it with everyone, so it was nice to see that you were glad they did. And I had to laugh at your comment about Castle helicoptering though it wasn't a surprise. Happy to see you're glad I'm back, I'm glad to be back too! I was pleased to see that you thought it was great writing as usual. I'm not surprised you're excited to see a full house pretty soon but I'm glad to read that!),
TORONTOSUN (I'm very pleased that you thought it was a good start to a great family story, a very nice compliment. And I'm glad you like how they're all laughing and having fun too!) and
vetgirlmx (I was wildly happy to read first off that you're very, very intrigued by the story's summary and can't wait to see what it's all about because that's exactly what I was aiming for with that! And I'm pleased to see that you loved the start of the story. I wasn't surprised at all that you were expecting Christmas with them announcing they had a lot of people going to their house, or that you mentioned that. And of course, I'm glad you're so happy it's getting close to that. Not surprised you're anticipating a lot of fun with the holidays. And nice that you think it's already started with their Christmas shopping. I figured that it would be a good idea for them to split up to shop for the others and it was nice to read that you enjoyed the way they were doing that! I wasn't surprised that you mentioned you're glad their close family is all there and that you like it better that way; pleased to see that too! I had to laugh at how you were asking did Beckett except them not to buy something for the baby as I had a feeling someone would react to that, lol. And you're right, they couldn't really do it or go overboard. You're also right about Beckett not being able to resist either, lol, though the stuffed horse wasn't a gift exactly, lol, but I did get what you meant. I was so glad that you thought the blanket Brennan sent was a nice gesture. I figured since they were family it would be nice if she got something from him too and the blanket seemed great. I thought the same thing when I read your review, I find it hard to remember when Beckett and Brennan didn't know each other though it was only a little more than a year before this point in the story. I'm not surprised you want to see the baby room and a lot of other things, I get a feeling the wait will drive you crazy too, but I take it as a good thing as you wanting to keep reading which you can do now!).
Thanks so much for the reviews, I loved reading them and am grateful for the time taken to write them out and send them to me!
A/N #3: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song A Day in the Life by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, from The Beatles album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Lights Had Changed
Pulling away from his wife Castle gently ran his fingers through her hair before he said, "We couldn't-"
"We don't have enough time," Beckett interrupted. "I would like to but…"
Groaning Castle lay on his back and looked up at Beckett as she leaned over him. "What is it?" he asked as she was just smiling at him.
"No, I'm just surprised we slept as long as we did," Beckett said, since they'd only woken up a few minutes before and they had ten minutes left until the alarm on her phone would go off.
"We were working really hard last night," Castle said, running his hand up and down her back gently.
With a smile Beckett said, "We were." She sat up before her husband followed and she said, "But it was necessary."
"I was wondering if you had more to add," Castle said with a smile, leaning over and kissing her on the lips gently. He reached down after that and gently cupped his hand over her abdomen before he told her, "How are you?"
"Good," Beckett replied as he would ask her every so often. "Except…" When he looked at her she reached for him and pulled him as close to her as she could before kissing him deeply. She felt his tongue slipping into her mouth and he began to gently caress her own, making her quickly respond to him until they slowly parted. She wasn't surprised when he laid her down on her back and kissed her again, literally crushing her lips with his own. She held onto him tightly and they slowly parted a bit later before she smiled and said, "You're insatiable."
"And you're not?" Castle shot back with a smile.
Beckett brought him down to her again so they could kiss once more and from then on, they continued to do so until her alarm went off. "You knew this was going to happen," she told him as he got off her.
"I was still hoping we had some time," Castle replied.
"Later," Beckett said simply.
"What?" Castle asked as she'd sounded distracted.
"An e-mail from Skye," Beckett replied before they got up.
"She's still here?" Castle asked.
"She is but she's done," Beckett said. "She's staying until Wednesday to wrap everything up though it's done."
"So…" Castle began.
"She's going Christmas shopping and is going to rest as well," Beckett replied. "Mind if I invite her to stay with us whenever she's done with that shopping?"
"No, I was going to suggest it," Castle replied.
Kissing her husband on the cheek Beckett quickly e-mailed Skye back and went to dress with her husband so they wouldn't make the girls late for school.
"She answered back?" Castle asked.
"Yeah, she's going to do the rest of her shopping as soon as the stores are open and then she'll come out until Wednesday morning," Beckett replied. "Hopefully she'll be able to relax."
"She should if she's not working on the case anymore," Castle commented. "You have to wonder why they keep asking for her to come out here."
"That was Trevor," Beckett reminded him.
"True… well at least they finished in time for her to get home for Christmas," Castle commented as they went into the bathroom together to finish getting ready.
"They did," Beckett replied. "And… she mentioned she has our gifts right now."
"Were you two planning this the entire time?" Castle asked her.
"No," Beckett said, putting away her brush. "I think she was hoping to deliver the gifts in person at the very least."
"She could have just asked," Castle said. "But the girls will be happy to hear that; hopefully not just because of the gifts."
"We'll see," Beckett said simply as by then they were walking out of their room and down the hall.
"I'll get breakfast," Castle told his wife. "Pancakes," he said quickly when she turned to him.
"Alright," Beckett said, knowing they still had some of the pumpkin mix left. "But make some eggs to go with that."
"And bacon," Castle added. When she glanced at him he smiled before he followed her inside their oldest's room.
"Hey, you're up already," Beckett said, slightly surprised to see Julia sitting up in bed.
"I woke up right now," the girl explained, giving Macca's head one last scratch before she slid off the bed. "Morning Mommy, Daddy," she told them as she went to Beckett first.
"Good morning sweetie," Beckett replied, embracing her tightly.
"How'd you sleep?" Castle asked when Julia turned to him.
Squeezing her father as hard as she had her mother Julia replied, "Good, did you?"
"Fantastically," Castle said. "And if you're wondering so did the baby."
"Wear your sweater and trousers today sweetie," Beckett told her.
"I will," Julia said, still smiling at what her father had said.
"Do you want me to brush your hair?" Beckett asked. When Julia nodded she said, "Bring your brush to Eliza's room." When the girl said she would she and Castle started to leave when they were met by Alexis in the doorway.
"Good morning," the young woman said with a smile. "Good thing I came here first; I'll get Eliza ready."
"Are you sure?" Castle asked.
"Yeah, I haven't gotten to since I was last here," Alexis said. "Do you want to ask her?"
"No," Beckett said with a slight laugh. "I already know what she's going to say; just let us wake her up."
"Of course," Alexis replied before she went inside the room to greet Julia.
Going down the hall to the next room Beckett wasn't surprised to find Eliza sitting up, rubbing her eyes. With a smile at her husband she went in fully and said, "Good morning sweetie."
"Morning Eliza," Castle added as their youngest lowered her hands and smiled at them.
"Morning," the little girl told them. "Where's 'lexis?"
"Could you hear us?" Beckett asked, helping her stand up on her bed.
"Yeah, I wanna say good morning to 'lexis," Eliza replied before she embraced her mother as tightly as she could. "Good morning baby," she said as she pressed her hand to her mother's stomach.
"I'm sure it's saying the same to you," Castle replied as he stepped up to give her a hug. He kissed Eliza's cheek when she embraced him, and he said, "But your sister wants to get you dressed for school."
"Yeah!" Eliza said eagerly.
"I told you," Beckett said, looking at her stepdaughter as she walked inside. "I'll be in your sister's room," she said to Eliza.
When the little girl was looking at him Castle said quickly, "I'm making breakfast which I have to do now." He kissed Eliza's cheek, and then Alexis' before he brushed his lips to his wife's and said, "See you down there."
"Something warm Eliza," Beckett said before she walked out to the hall, seeing her father and mother in law standing there. She said good morning to them before heading into Julia's room. "Hopefully you won't mind me joining you sweetie," she told her daughter with a smile.
"Nope," Julia replied, waiting for her mother to close the door before she took off her pajama shirt. "Are you and Daddy gonna write too today?"
"I think so," Beckett replied. "But first I want us to get your brother or sister's crib."
"We can't see it?" Julia asked.
"Sorry sweetie," Beckett said a little absently.
"What?" Julia said when she heard her mother's tone.
"Well you saw your sister's room when your daddy gave me the rocking chair," Beckett began. "And it had been finished so I think we can let you and Eliza look too… Alexis if she's here."
"Thanks," Julia said with a smile, finishing buttoning her blouse. She took the sweater her mother was holding out to her and said, "Will you tell us if you buy anything for the baby's room?"
"Of course, but the crib we buy here remember," Beckett told her.
"Is it gonna be different from Lizzy's?" Julia asked as she was going to grab her brush.
"I don't know," Beckett said. "Maybe not since that crib was a very nice one."
"What about decorations?" Julia asked interestedly.
"We'll wait to get the furniture first before we start thinking about those," Beckett replied, opening the door for Eliza before she hurried over to the bed. "What would you like today?" she asked.
"Just a braid," Julia said. "But Mommy what theme are you gonna have?"
"The ocean, your daddy and I talked about that and we'll stick with it too," Beckett replied. "Though I'm sure your brother or sister will make the room their own like you and Eliza have."
"Will you get a Lladro?" Julia asked.
"Maybe, and I'll stop you there sweetie. We're just getting the room ready," Beckett told her.
"Are you excited?" Julia said as her mother finished, and she turned around immediately.
"Yes," Beckett replied. "But we have a lot to do still."
"Mommy," Eliza said. She smiled at her sister and said, "Morning Jules."
"Morning, where's 'lexis?" Julia asked.
"She went to see if Louis is ready," Eliza said. "Are you talking about the baby?"
"We were talking about the room, but Mommy said they're just starting so it's too early," Julia told her.
"Oh," Eliza said. She turned to their mother and asked, "Are you gonna get a Lladro?"
Beckett laughed and said, "I'll mention it to your daddy, come on I smell pumpkin and I'm starving."
In the kitchen Castle was talking to his mother and father in law as they sat behind him at the island. "So we're going to stop at the baby furniture store on the way home."
"Are you walking or driving?" Martha asked in confusion.
"Walking," Castle said with a sigh. "That was Kate's idea though I told her I'd bring the car."
"I could drive to the school and wait for you there," Jim commented.
"I would ask Kate," Martha told them. "And see what she'd like."
"And we already know," Castle replied with a nod. "We'll walk. Luckily it's not that far."
"She does need the exercise Richard," Martha said to her son.
"I just worry she might overdo it," Castle replied.
"I won't," Beckett said, approaching them on her own as the girls had decided to go over to their big sister's room. "We won't run."
"Good idea," Castle said as she came over to him. Since their parents were heading over to the stairs to meet the others there he took the chance and shared a kiss with her before they parted quickly and turned their attention to their family that was approaching them.
"Jules," Alexis said as she was helping her little sister set the table. "I forgot to ask how it was going with Dad and your mom to the movie last week?"
"A lot of fun," Julia said. "The movie was so bad."
"It's why they riff on it," Alexis told her with a smile. "But tell me more; I know you went to dinner before."
Julia nodded and told her sister about that night, trying to recall everything she had done with their parents.
"I'm so hungry," Julia said as she sat down with her parents at their table.
"I know me too," Castle replied. "Especially for this place."
"We'll have to thank David for the recommendation," Beckett said once they were left alone with their menus. She smiled and said, "Did he suggest anything in particular?"
"He said his and Rebecca's sandwiches were good," Castle answered as he was looking over the menu.
"What did they have?" Julia asked.
"David's was the Brewhouse Burger," Castle said. "It's got a bourbon sauce, so I don't think you'll like that. And he said Rebecca had a chicken sandwich with avocadoes."
"Oh…" Julia said slowly.
"You can get something from the kid's menu," Beckett told her.
"I think she wants to try something from the adult menu," Castle said, studying Julia's face and seeing her uncertainty.
"Alright but let me help you," Beckett told her before she looked over the menu with her until she stopped at one thing. "This will be good."
"Not a burger?" Julia asked.
"I think you might need to grow up just a little more before you have one of their burgers," Beckett said as the three of them looked over at some that were being taken to another table.
"Okay, I want grilled cheese tonight," Julia said. "Can I have fries still?"
"For tonight, yes," Castle said. He looked at his wife and said, "It's a special night."
"Oh don't worry, I have no protest," Beckett replied. "But you need to eat your sandwich more than the fries."
"Yeah," Julia said, nodding her head. She let her parents order before she said, "Do you know what the movie is?"
"They have it on their website," Beckett told her. "But we haven't seen it."
"Good thing, I wanted to see it for the first time tonight like you are," Castle commented. "But if it's like the other movies they make fun of we should have a really great time."
"Are you sure you want to go see this?" Beckett asked Julia.
"Yeah when I saw you watching it before it looked really funny," Julia replied. "Do people do that a lot?"
"Riff movies?" Castle asked her. When she nodded he said, "Now more than before Mystery Science Theater was on. And luckily there are a lot of bad movies."
"Love," Beckett said. "What if they ever get a hold of Heat Wave?"
Pausing, as he was about to take a sip of his drink, Castle looked at her and when she began to look concerned he smiled and said, "That would be an honor." He glanced around and said, "Agus intuigthe."
"What?" Julia asked, having leaned towards him to hear him.
"And understandable," Castle translated for her. He was quiet as their food was served and when they were alone once more he told her, "The movie turned out horrible. When you get older I beg you not to see it."
"Why didn't they use Mommy?" Julia asked.
Beckett was about to speak when her oldest began to smile and she shook her head saying, "Probably better they didn't use me."
"Would they make a movie for Green and Moor?" Julia asked.
"I don't know," Castle said, looking at his wife.
"They never made a movie for Storm," Beckett said simply as he was looking at her in obvious concern.
"True," Castle replied. He looked at Julia and said, "What do you think?"
"You and Mommy should play them," the girl said with a smile.
"And then we'd be in Hollywood while we filmed," Beckett said, smiling herself as she knew already Julia was joking. "Why don't you tell us now about your day at school?"
"Okay," Julia said before she took another bite of her sandwich. "And I really like my sandwich." She smiled when her parents laughed softly before she told them about her day at school. When she finished she listened to her parents talking together over her head; since she was sitting in between them at their booth; and finished eating as she got more and more excited for the movie.
"Alright," Castle said after he'd gotten his card back. "The best part of this place is that it's super close to the theater."
Giggling Julia said, "Super?"
"I can say that too," Castle said in mock protest.
"Come on you two," Beckett said. "They don't reserve our seats, so we need to go now."
"Can we get popcorn?" Julia asked as she let her father help her with her coat.
"Yes," Castle and Beckett said at the same time.
"Can we get candy?" Julia said eagerly while she waited for them to put on their coats and outer layers.
"Of course," Castle replied. "But you can choose one thing for your candy."
"I know," Julia said before she took their hands. "And I know what I want to get already."
"Then we need to go," Beckett said with a smile. "That way we have time to get it." They left together, walking in a row before they made it to the theater and went inside since Castle had printed out their tickets already. "What do you want?" she asked as she and Julia were looking at the candy at the concession stand.
"Can I get M&M's?" Julia asked eagerly.
"Which kind?" Beckett said.
"Peanut butter," Julia replied.
"Will you share with us?" Castle asked, walking up to them.
"Yeah," Julia said, nodding rapidly.
"You don't want your own candy?" Beckett asked him with a smile.
"I'm good," Castle replied. "We're going to get a big bucket of popcorn, right?"
Studying him Beckett said, "As long as there's no butter."
Nodding Castle ordered and said, "What about drinks?"
"Water," Beckett said firmly.
"I can't have-" Julia tried to say as she'd spotted the frozen drink machine in the back.
"Not tonight; you are having candy right now," Beckett reminded her.
Since Julia merely nodded Castle got three smaller bottles of water and paid before he went with his wife and their daughter into their theater. "We're early," he commented as there were only a few people there.
"You wanted to be" Beckett said wryly.
"She's right I did," Castle replied. "But that's mainly because they show trivia slides at the start."
"Cool… what trivia?" Julia asked.
They were getting their seats, so Beckett waited to answer and once they were set; Julia in between her and Castle with the large bucket of popcorn in between them; she told her, "Jokes mainly. You might not understand some of them but that's okay."
Julia nodded and turned to her father, slapping his hand away as he tried to take some of the popcorn. "Not until the movie starts Daddy."
"Okay, okay but we have to keep it warm," Castle told her.
"Put some napkins on it," Beckett said, looking at him over their daughter's head.
As they waited Julia kicked her legs a little, careful not to hit the seat in front of her, before she jumped when some music started to play. Looking up at the screen she soon saw some text with a picture and reading it she whispered, "That's one of the jokes?" as it was about the island of misfit toys from the Rudolph cartoon.
"It is you don't like it?" Castle asked her.
"It's funny," Julia reassured him. She read the rest of the slides and laughed at some of them but most of the time her parents were the ones laughing. But she didn't mind at all, liking hearing them doing so together. Finally, the theater darkened and she watched eagerly as the movie began. She was startled to see it was a cartoon with a song about the people who were riffing the movie. After listening to it for a while she smiled, and she giggled at the cartoon as well as it was funny. When it then went to a theater she watched the three men being introduced and said, "They were on the show?"
"Mike was Mike, Kevin was Servo who was the red one and Bill was Crow-" Castle started to say.
"The gold robot," Julia said quickly. She looked over at her mother as she was moving the napkins off the popcorn before the three men were speaking.
"Alright," Castle said when Mike said they would be riffing a short film first. "We've seen this one, you'll probably laugh," he told Julia.
Smiling Julia turned to look at the screen again as the short started and she was surprised to see it was about learning how to read the calendar. She giggled as it was incredibly silly, especially the two characters teaching the little girl in the short. When it was over she whispered to her mother, "Did kids watch that?"
"I think so," Beckett said quickly.
"Julia," Castle said, touching the girl's shoulder. "We get to see a Christmas short now."
Looking at the screen eagerly Julia became confused as the black and white short began showing woods and snow. While she thought it looked beautiful she didn't know what it was going to be about until it showed a little Christmas tree. She was laughing at the jokes that were being made, especially the line the 'tree' picked out of being no account being used a couple more times as a joke. When it was over she applauded with her parents and said, "That was funny."
"It is," Beckett replied. "And now the movie."
Julia became eager; so much so she nearly forgot about the popcorn before her father playfully tapped her lips with a kernel. She began to eat as the movie started and she became incredibly confused though she got the general idea of it. What was more surprising were the songs and how bad the lyrics were. Eventually it seemed to go into nonsense; two children boarding a flight to see Santa Claus and getting the boy's parents out of a hostage situation in Africa. She shook her head when it was over but applauded with everyone else before the credits rolled up.
Once they'd watched a little of the clips of the theater where the three riffers had been filmed and the audience that had gone to see it Castle got up with his wife and daughter and they left. "What did you think?" he asked as he and Beckett took her hands.
"That was stupid," Julia said. She then said, "Why did the teacher call that elf a little thief in the song?"
"He was trying to take a toy," Beckett said laughingly. "I guess they rhymed but it doesn't make any sense still."
"Well… I guess it was a good thing his parents got back," Julia said after thinking. She smiled up at them and told them, "That was funny though, everything they said. I know why you like it now."
"Isn't it great?" Castle asked her.
"Yeah can I come back for another?" Julia asked hopefully.
"It depends on the movie," Beckett replied as her husband looked at her.
"Do they riff grown up movies?" Julia said.
"Sometimes," Beckett replied.
"So better for us to wait and see what the movie is like first," Castle said before they reached their car.
"Thanks for letting me come," Julia told them both, hugging them quickly after Castle had opened the back door for her.
"We were really happy to let you," Beckett assured her. "Now we need to go home; it's late and you have school."
Still smiling at the thought she got to go out on a school night Julia got into the car quickly, hoping that she would be able to see another RiffTrax show as the three men had said they would be back the next year. Sitting in the back of the car she thought about the entire night and decided she would beg her parents as she'd loved getting to do something with them that was so fun.
"Do you think you'll have her go with you again?" Alexis asked her father as they were waiting for the girls to get their coats and then backpacks on.
"Like we told her before it would depend on the movie," Castle replied. "We're hoping it'll be alright since we'd love to repeat that night."
"If they still perform live would you take Eliza when she's older?" Alexis asked.
"Definitely," Castle replied. "We've shown her two cartoon shorts they've riffed. Well… one was about weeds and that was partly live action, but they still enjoyed it. But yeah, Eliza likes the idea, so she might be another MSTie."
"I think you're the main one Dad," Alexis said with a smile.
"Are you two ready to go?" Beckett said as she walked over to the two with a smile.
"Yeah, we'll follow," Castle replied.
The family stepped out and walked down the driveway until they went to the sidewalk. When they got to the Fosters they discovered Mari on her own and she hurried to Julia before speaking.
"Dani's a little sick so Mommy and Daddy are taking care of her," Mari told them.
"Will she be okay?" Beckett said.
"Yeah, she just got a little cough but she got some medicine and she's resting," Mari replied. "Do you find out about the baby today?"
Glancing at his wife Castle was relieved when she didn't appear to be annoyed and he quickly told the little girl, "That's next week but I'm sure Julia will tell you what we find out."
"I will," the girl said with a smile before they all laughed and walked together to the school.
"Say goodbye to everyone… it might take you a while," Beckett said as Eliza had indicated she wanted her father to take her in her classroom.
Eliza did take a while to say goodbye but that was because there were so many of them and she said goodbye to Julia and Mari too though she'd be seeing them at recess. She smiled at them and said, "What will we play?"
"If we can go outside we'll make a snowman," Julia replied. "Or go sledding if we can get one."
"Good, bye!" Eliza said before she turned to her mother. "Bye Mommy, get a good crib."
"I will," Beckett said with a soft laugh. She embraced Eliza tightly and shared a kiss with her before letting her go to Castle. Before the two could go into the classroom she told her husband, "We'll be upstairs by Mari's class."
"I'll meet you there," Castle said before he led Eliza inside. "So," he told the little girl as he helped her take off her coat. "We'll pick you up and I think we'll play in the snow a little bit."
"Will we?" Eliza asked eagerly, handing him her Ravenclaw scarf.
"We might have to talk to your mom about that, but you and I are sledding for sure," Castle said.
"Won't Mommy feel bad?" Eliza asked.
"No, she'll wait to sled since she doesn't want to hurt the baby," Castle replied. When she nodded he smiled and picked her up, sharing a kiss with her before setting her back down. "Have fun," he told her.
"You too Daddy, love you," Eliza replied.
"I love you too sweetheart, go ahead and play," Castle said before he watched her go over to a friend. Once he was sure she was set with some of her friends he headed out and up the stairs to where everyone else was outside of Mari's fifth grade classroom talking together.
"Mommy told me to ask if I can walk home with you after the class," the little girl was saying as Castle reached them.
"Of course," Beckett replied. "Does she want you home or could you come over for dinner?"
"I dunno," Mari replied, sounding eager. "Thank you," she told her seriously. When Beckett smiled and nodded she went to Julia and hugged her saying, "Now I can't wait for school to finish."
"Me too," Julia replied before she glanced at her parents. "But I think we still need to pay attention."
"Yeah," Mari replied, nodding. She waved to everyone and went inside her classroom before she glanced back at them and waved to Julia one more time.
"She said goodbye to us," Martha said. "So we were going back to the house and then work on our own things."
Unable to help smiling at the way his mother had worded that Castle asked, "Is anyone going to be home for lunch? We're just bringing Eliza back for that."
"I will," Jim replied. "I'll be walking around the neighborhood with my camera."
"We'll see you after we come home from the furniture store," Beckett said with a smile.
When they had left Julia said, "'lexis and Louis are going to drive to the end of the island to shop for Christmas too."
"I'm not surprised, they haven't had the chance to do that with the end of their term," Castle said while they went down to the end of the hall to Julia's classroom. "And at least Louis doesn't need to take his stuff back in suitcases."
"But doesn't his family have to when they go home?" Julia pointed out.
Castle opened his mouth but paused and as Julia was laughing and Beckett was covering her mouth with her hand he said, "Okay they might but since he knows that he might take it easy on getting anything heavy."
"And he can always ship," Beckett told him.
"True, we might have to do that next year," Castle pointed out to her.
"Are we going somewhere next Christmas?" Julia said in surprise.
"Brennan and Clara invited us to their home next year," Beckett replied.
"Could the baby go?" Julia asked hopefully.
"It can, don't worry," Beckett replied. "We're going over there next year."
"We can swim," Julia commented.
"I thought of that too, but that's next year," Castle replied. "This year we're going to return the favor and let Brennan, Clara and Erin stay at our house."
"Cool," Julia said before she wrapped her arms around him, squeezing as tightly as she could. "Have fun Daddy getting the crib and writing too."
"I'm sure we will and so should you," Castle told her before he let her go and watched her go to Beckett quickly.
"You don't have to hug me that carefully," Beckett told her daughter with a smile as Julia was doing that and avoiding her stomach.
"Still," Julia said before she squeezed a little. When her mother made her stand in front of her she said, "I hope you don't have a case today."
"Us too," Castle said seriously.
"Me too, we could use the time to write before we get busy with Christmas and our guests," Beckett said as the two were looking at her. "But have fun and pay attention of course."
"Thanks, I will," Julia said before hugging her one last time.