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: Very pleased reading the feedback I got for the last chapter so let me get right to my thank yous for that! TORONTOSUN (Great that you like how Skye and Darnley are there for them as I figured they would be the best for that. And not surprised you said always with the second half of the chapter),
Mb (Really nice to see you thought it was a fantastic update. And I'm pleased to read that you love the way I wove in the backstory of Darnley and Beckett from their time at the academy, had fun writing that actually. And though it's a bit sad to say I'm glad that you can feel Beckett's anguish and determination to get Castle to come back to her and their family too, since I did want to convey that of course. I wasn't surprised to see you mention your heard is heavy for all of them waiting for Castle to show signs that he's improving and emerging from his coma too. I wasn't surprised either that you're feeling for Julia. But I do have to admit your thinking that maybe her subconscious is recalling the trauma of losing her birth mother, so she's scared of maybe losing Castle. But I did love your comment that Beckett and Castle are her mom and dad in every sense of the word as well as love, as you said what counts as I feel the exact same way. Very nice to see that it amazes you have I have all the characters come to life and also fit seamlessly into the Castle universe. I think the fact that I keep watching the show still definitely pays off! And I don't think you were rambling, there was a lot going on in the chapter. Great that you thought it was fantastic too! And with the second half I'm glad you thought it was amazing and brilliant as well as beautifully written. I'm so happy that you think I write some of the best love scenes between Castle and Beckett. And nice to read that you think they're not only got but also sensual and so loving between them as I couldn't write them any other way. So glad that you think with my writing you can feel the complete love that flows between them since I do want to convey that. And I'm very glad that you think I show that being married doesn't mean you would stop being passionate and adventurous. With the way Castle and Beckett are I'd never see them stopping just from the build up to the point where they got together. So yep, Castle and Beckett would never be boring, hard to see that happening too! And of course I'm happy that you think I show them having the same fierce love for their children, family and friends, I do feel they'd be that way with them too. And the remarkable was very nice to read! You're very welcome for sharing my words with you and the others readers, I'm glad to do it! And yep, definitely Caskett and family always forever!),
MsNYC (I'm glad that everything's clear now for us both but yeah, they're one in the same. And I wasn't surprised to see your comment on the flashbacks, I do know that you enjoy them so nice to see there was no exception in the last chapter! I'm not surprised either that you're glad that Julia can turn to Skye and Darnley since she's so sad. And I got what you meant about her being a bit more like Beckett in the fact that she doesn't want to ask for help though so she'll still be strong, but she'll show she's vulnerable so someone will offer help and accept it. It's a good point and definitely goes with how Beckett is. And I'm pleased that you think I write with such taste and never vulgar in the love scenes in the love scenes. To be honest I can't really see things with Beckett going to vulgarity, especially since it's Castle that's being with her intimately. But I'm glad that makes it a great read with all love and passion since that's definitely what I am for. So great to see you thought it was great writing as usual!) and
vetgirlmx (Great that you thought it was another really good chapter! And I'm glad to see that you loved that with this last chapter things stayed in Beckett's head for the most part. You're right though, it would be a startling contrast after the other chapters. Not surprised that you think it's sadder but you're right with Castle not aware he's not worried or scared like the others in his family are. I was glad to see I could surprise you with Patrick telling Julia the story, though it was the start of the story, lol, I had to have Beckett tell it as well. But yeah, I wasn't surprised you caught the complete switch of roles in these circumstances plus there's the world going on inside Castle's head. So I am very pleased you're enjoying it a lot since I was hoping for that for my readers! And so glad you really want to see what happens next and now you can!).
Thanks so much for the reviews, I appreciate the time taken to write them out and send them to me!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song I've Found a New Baby by Jack Palmer and Spencer Williams, from the year 1926.
I Just Had To Fall
December 10th, 1926
Blue Bay Club
San Francisco, California
"So where exactly did you get that name?" a voice said at the doorway to the office.
"What name?" Rick said in surprise as he looked up.
"Old Man," Kate said, walking inside and setting down a mug in front of him on the desk.
"That was my division, on our way through France," Rick said. "We were at an old monastery with some Latin on the walls and I had to use these to read them."
"Did you mind it?" Kate said as she sat across from him.
"No, I do look like an old man with these on," Rick replied before he set down his pen. "Thank you," he said while bringing the mug up to his lips.
"You're welcome," Kate said. "How's everything going?"
"Nothing to see in the accounts," Rick answered, taking off his spectacles. "Everything was steady with your brother but that's how Junior was of course."
"Of course. So, what are you doing now? The names?" Kate asked.
"Absolutely," Rick said before he closed his notepad he had in front of him. "It's slow going and these were the easiest I could get."
"Now what?" Kate asked.
Getting his pocket watch Rick saw the time and said with a frown, "I should get you home."
"Are you going to stop at your apartment for clothes?" Kate asked as she stood up.
"Afraid not, if I can't move in at Julia's request I can't stay the night," Rick replied. "Whole neighborhood might think you're loose which I don't want to have happen."
"And our safety?" Kate asked.
"Yours," Rick replied easily. "And I called Patrick; he's got a gun and can keep watch on you all."
"And I can do the same," Kate told him simply.
"Of course, but you should get some rest," Rick said. "You have the keys here?"
"Yes," Kate said, tossing them to him.
"I'll keep these on me," Rick told her as she helped him clean up the desk.
"Won't you be in danger?" Kate said in concern.
"I'll be alright, Mrs. Finkleman's dog is better than an alarm clock alerting to strange birds," Rick replied before they stepped out. He locked up the office before he said, "I wonder how long before you open up the club again."
"Hopefully not too long," Kate replied. "Stay for dinner," she then told him.
Though at first he was going to say no Rick finally nodded before he said, "I need your phone."
"Of course," Kate said as she put on her coat with his help.
"Anything while you waited?" Rick asked when he got his own coat on.
"No, the place was like the desert," Kate answered as they stepped out and went over to the Tin Lizzie that was his. "She still looks good."
"I don't drive too much so she's no jalopy," Rick said as he opened the passenger door for her.
"You treat her like she was your moll," Kate said jokingly before he could close the door.
"She's not a doll," Rick said.
"You ever think anyone is?" Kate asked.
Rick didn't answer that, merely took the crank to the front of the car to wind it up before he started. It had been difficult working in Junior's office as he'd used to spend time with him and Kate there in the past. And when their father had been alive it had been a place to spy on the main room at dinners, all of them talking about wearing glad rags too and dancing the night away. As he sat in the driver's seat he glanced at Kate and said, "Good?"
"Yes," Kate told him, watching him. "Everything swell?"
With a nod Rick drove down the street until he could turn around and get back north to the city. It took him a little longer to make his way towards Alamo Square and the O'Brien home where he and Kate saw that Patrick and another man were waiting. "Who's that egg?" he asked, able to tell the man was one by his suit.
"I don't… no," Kate started to say before she breathed out.
"What?" Rick asked. But before she could answer he was stopping and she was getting out to hurry to the man.
"Rosie!" Kate whispered.
"Hush," Rose said with a slight smile before she clamped the long cigarette holder between her teeth. "What do you think? All dolled up and nowhere to go," she told her twin and Rick, wearing a men's suit with her bobbed hair slicked back.
"Why are you wearing that?" Rick asked when he was close enough to do that.
"For protection, Patrick said he was on guard duty so I volunteered to set up the ruse there's more than one man," Rose said.
"Has Ma seen this?" Kate said with a sigh as they walked up the stairs to the front door.
"Oh aye, her and Julia," Rose replied. "Julia loves it and wants one of her own."
"Should get her play trousers," Rick muttered. They were walking inside and before she could reply to him Julia and Johanna were both leaving the kitchen, the former running to her mother and crying out to her as she went.
"Ma," Julia said when she finally reached her and hugged her mother as tightly as she could. "Are you staying home Ma?"
"I am," Kate said. "But tomorrow I'll have to run around again." She then turned to Rick and told him, "You can use the phone."
"You'll be stayin' for dinner Rick?" Johanna asked him.
"Of course," he replied with a nod. Rick waited for them to leave before he went over to the phone in the corner of the entry. Dialing the number of the phone he and Brad shared he waited for his partner to answer, hoping he might have gotten something.
"Dunham," Brad said once he'd picked up.
"It's Rick," he replied. "I've got nothing from the office."
"Told you," Brad said. "I got a few names though, from the license for the joint."
"Isn't it in O'Brien Sr.'s name?" Rick asked in surprise.
"It is but he had an investor," Brad replied. "The name is attached with some of the paperwork. Edward Burrell." When his partner didn't say anything he then said, "You didn't know about that?"
"I wasn't involved in getting the license," Rick said. "I had no idea he had investors… but Burrell can't be involved still can he?"
"No, I dug in a little deeper and it says Mr. O'Brien paid him off about… a year later," Brad replied.
"He still runs that joint on Union Square right?" Rick asked.
"I've heard it was a juice joint," Brad replied.
"Me too, we have to get in to talk to him," Rick said.
"You think he might be in on it?" Brad asked.
"Yes, a year after the club started was when it got to be successful," Rick said, looking up and seeing that Kate was standing near him. He wondered when exactly she'd gotten there before he watched her writing on a pad of paper next to the phone console. "I think we should take an easy approach," he said after reading her message.
"How so?" Brad asked.
"I take Kate-" Rick began.
"You know you can't, she's a civilian," Brad interrupted immediately.
"Have you told the boss man?" Rick asked.
"No, but what if he finds out?" Brad replied.
"He won't, I'm not taking her into the station," Rick said wryly. "So, we'll take a walk around Union Square; Burrell won't know me."
"But he knows her," Brad replied.
"Does he?" Rick said, looking over at Kate. When she shook her head he quickly told his partner, "He doesn't, as far as he knows I'm with my girl looking to see the night life of the city."
"You're playing with fire," Brad said after thinking that over for a moment. He then lowered his voice; as he knew the woman was likely there with his partner and told him, "Not just with Burrell."
"We'll be jake," Rick said firmly. "Meet us at the place two blocks over."
"Walter's?" Brad asked since they would have breakfast there sometimes before going into work.
"Walter's," Rick echoed. "Know if he's there in the mornings?"
"I talked to… Benny," Brad replied. "From the juice joint squad and he says they've seen him every morning except for Sundays at eight."
"Sundays?" Rick asked.
"He keeps the Sabbath," Brad said sardonically.
Making a slight sound of derision in response Rick said, "Alright, let's meet at Walter's for-" He stopped when he felt Kate squeezing his arm and he glanced at her before he said, "Meet at Walter's at eight fifteen; give Burrell a chance to settle down to his work before we go in."
"Okay see you there," Brad replied.
Hanging up Rick asked, "Your ma?"
"She said you should come over to breakfast too," Kate said simply as she moved out of the way for him as he stood. "I told her I was helping you tomorrow." She glanced at the phone and told him, "Thank you."
"It's best you come with me," Rick replied. "You know this world better than I do."
"He's never come to the club," Kate said as she knew what he meant. "We're rivals of course, and we have a better collection than he does."
"Pre the 18th?" Rick asked.
"That Da wasn't sure of," Kate said slowly. "He passed shortly after that came about and of course he knew Burrell, but he only spoke about him as an acquaintance."
"I don't know," Rick said, stopping her before they could go over to the kitchen through the dining room. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about you Kate, you-"
"I have to show you my gun again?" she asked, raising her eyebrow.
"Then at least let me lead, I just worry about him recognizing you," Rick replied.
"Hey, you two," Rose said, walking over to them. "How are things?"
"Nothing doing," Kate said. "But do you remember Da talking about Eddie Burrell?"
"Fast Eddie? I remember hearing his name all around the hotel," Rose said. She then said to Rick; who was looking at her questioningly; "When you were in Europe I worked at the St. Westin, he would come in to the restaurant there and he had the bodyguard, the floozy and the money to throw around. Of course, he wasn't quite ready to open that club yet."
"Close enough," Rick said. "Were they friends?"
"Oh no, rivals I'm sure Katie told you," Rose said.
Nodding Rick reached out and stopped the women before he said, "How's Patrick?"
"Hurting," Rose replied with a sigh. "We were only back and he was going to be made a partner…"
"What?" Kate asked in surprise as Rick was looking at her twin the same way as well.
"Junior never told you," Rose stated instead of asking. She sighed again and said, "He wanted to but just for now."
"For now?" Rick and Kate said at the same time.
"He wasn't going to stay with the club forever," Rose said.
"He had just changed his will," Patrick said, walking over to them. "And he gave it to me for safe keeping."
"Where is it?" Rick asked.
"In my bank," Patrick replied. "I can get it on Monday."
"You're not going to try and get it now?" Kate asked, looking at him. When he just shook his head she said, "You want to lure them out."
"That's a hope but whether or not we'll see anything come from that…" Rick began before he trailed off.
"I forgot to tell you, your ma is calling us over to help her out," Patrick replied.
"How has she been doing?" Kate asked her twin in Irish.
"As well as you can expect; Julia is helping her I think," Rose replied.
"Good," Kate said before they reached the kitchen where their mother was.
Johanna had all of them taking things out to the table, even Julia, and once they had gathered around it she led them in a short prayer in Irish.
Since he'd leaned the language being raised by the family Rick understood the prayer and he wasn't surprised about the mention of Junior. As they were passing around the plates he glanced at Kate, wondering if any of them should say anything before Rose was doing so.
"Why don't you tell your ma about what we did today?" the woman said, still wearing her suit though she'd taken the blazer off.
"We went to see the water," Julia said with a small smile. "And the planes."
"You went over by Crissy Field?" Rick asked.
"Of course, that's where she always goes," Patrick commented.
"I've got some good news," Rose said slowly as her husband was looking at her pointedly. "Talked to someone there and they're willing to give me lessons."
"Rose O'B-" Johanna said when she heard that, her Irish accent a little thicker in her distress.
"Nothing very big Ma," Rose said quickly to interrupt her. "I know you're scared something might happen, but I want to keep going." She grew somber and said, "Junior would want me to."
The entire table was quiet until Patrick sniffed loudly before his wife set her hand on his shoulder. He waved his hand before he told his mother in law, "I'll be with her each lesson, watch and see she's safe."
"Bless you for that Patrick," Johanna said with a sigh. "There must be more you saw Julia."
As the little girl spoke of the water, Golden Gate, the ships going through it and the airplanes they'd watched Rick could feel the slight pressure on his forehead. He waited, eager to see what that vision would be that time though he hoped no one around the table would be able to see him experiencing it.
"Good evening," Castle said with a smile as he stepped into his girlfriend's apartment. "Where's-" he began to say softly as he realized that someone was missing.
"She went into my office," Beckett said, turning with him to look over at it. "Sweetie I told you it was just Castle and it is."
"Hey Julia," he said with a smile as the little girl slowly came out into view. "I haven't seen you for a while, how are you?"
"Good," Julia said softly before she rushed out to her mother.
"I should have come sooner," Castle told her apologetically.
"It's okay, we needed some time," Beckett said gently.
Nodding, as he'd had to finish his book and hadn't seen the two for almost two weeks once July had begun, Castle said, "You're sure it's okay I'm here?"
"You can," Julia said, startling him. She buried her face into her mother's side when he looked at her and she moved her head enough, so she could say, "Mommy wants you to stay."
"She's right, I do," Beckett said with a smile. "Dinner should be ready soon."
"I can smell it; did you make it?" Castle asked, looking at Julia.
"Tacos," the little girl said, looking at him a little more.
"That sounds great," Castle told her with a nod.
"And," Beckett prompted her daughter.
"Nachos," Julia added. "I helped make those, Mommy made the tacos."
"Then I'm really looking forward to this," Castle told her.
"Sweetie," Beckett told her daughter. "Do you think you can take Castle over there to sit while we wait for everything to be ready?"
"Wait, if you're having tacos why is that in the oven?" Castle asked.
"You'll see," Beckett said, unable to help smiling as her daughter was giggling hard.
"Well, want to show me what you got to color while you waited?" Castle asked as his girlfriend went over to the kitchen.
"Kay," Julia said shyly, walking quickly to the coffee table where she had been coloring with her mother before he'd arrived.
"Oh, cool I thought you had coloring books but this is just a little bit better," Castle told her as he sat on the couch.
"Why?" Julia asked interestedly.
"Because you get to use your imagination doing this," Castle said, reaching over and picking up her picture. "Did you finish up with this?"
Nodding her head Julia asked shyly, "Do you like it?"
"I think it's fantastic," Castle said, exaggerating the last word to make her laugh which she did. "Why don't you tell me all about it?"
"Kay," Julia nodded. "That's the tower at Coney Island and these are the rides."
"Oh yeah you did a great job with the tower," Castle replied. "I can almost see the parachutes about to drop."
"Mommy said they don't do that," Julia replied.
"But they could in your picture," Castle said.
"How?" Julia asked.
"Just draw with a little red and they're there," Castle told her.
Julia nodded and then picked up her red crayon and once the picture was back on the table she colored in red around the red tower she'd colored. "Is that good?" she asked him though she wasn't looking up at him.
"Yeah you better show your mom that way she can see your perfect picture," Castle replied.
"I'm here," Beckett said, walking up to them with a smile. "Did you finish?"
"I did now," Julia replied, turning it around and holding it up for her mother to see.
"Very nice," Beckett said. "You did a great job with it, so much so I think we should hang it up."
"Yeah?" Julia said hopefully. When her mother nodded she jumped up and walked with her to the kitchen, not seeing that Castle was coming after them.
"Help me sweetie," Beckett said as they placed the picture under a magnet on the right door.
"It brightens up the room," Castle commented, smiling as Julia looked back at him. "After dinner mind if we color?"
"I think we should," Beckett said, smiling at her daughter when she looked up at her.
"It smells good Mommy," Julia then said after thanking her mother, hugging her tightly.
"It also smells like it's done," Castle said, looking at what was on the counter.
"Help us set the table Castle," Beckett told him before she handed him some plates.
"Is this the big surprise?" Castle said as his girlfriend was dishing out the first of the entrees which were nachos with each chip covered with cheese and other toppings.
"No, that one," Julia said with a smile at her mother.
"Wait until we get everything out on the dishes to start eating," Beckett told her as she knew what she wanted to do.
"Kay," Julia said before she straightened up as her mother cut into what was in the pan that she'd pointed out then.
"Taco lasagna," Beckett told her boyfriend.
"Nice, who came up with that?" Castle asked as he took his plate back from her.
"I was looking around online," Beckett replied. "I need to get dishes now."
"You do," Castle said, smiling at her as she sat down. He glanced at her daughter and said, "You don't want to eat now?"
"I think she wants you to try it out first," Beckett said.
"Ah, okay I'll gladly be the guinea pig," Castle replied as he was cutting off a piece with his fork. He ate it and after he'd swallowed nodded saying, "Very nice."
"Mommy made it," Julia whispered shyly.
"It is good," Castle said.
"Thank you," Beckett replied. "Go ahead and eat sweetie we know Castle's going to himself."
"I've already started," Castle replied as he finished one of the nacho chips.
Julia began to eat, and she watched her mother and Castle speaking together about work before she tried to step off her chair. "But Mommy-" she started to say when her mother gently grabbed her arm.
"You didn't finish your nachos," Beckett told her gently but firmly. She picked her daughter up and set her on her lap before she handed the second to last one to her. "We shouldn't take too long coloring," she commented, looking at her boyfriend.
"Oh no," Castle replied with a nod. "We should play a game of some sort."
"Actually," Beckett told him as Julia peered up at her. "We got someone a Lego set."
"Really? Mind if I help out too?" Castle asked. When the little girl shook her head he said, "Thanks," before he looked to his girlfriend.
"We're finished," Beckett said, letting her daughter get down. "But we need to clean up first sweetie, so you can start coloring if you want."
"Kay," Julia said before she hurried to the coffee table.
Castle cleared the table with his girlfriend and together they started washing dishes before he waited for her to dry her hands, watching her closely.
"What?" Beckett asked in slight surprise as she saw him just staring at her. She let out a short cry of surprise when he grabbed her and pulled her against him. She wanted to warn him about Julia, but he was soon after kissing her and she could immediately guess as to why he was doing that since they hadn't seen each other for so long. She kissed him back as passionately as he was doing but was relieved when he soon pulled away from her. "Should we go color?" she asked him.
"I think so," Castle said, reluctantly letting go of her. He followed her over to the little girl who was busy coloring and he said, "You know you inspired me Julia."
"It made him think of something because of what you drew," Beckett explained as her daughter looked confused. "What are you going to draw?"
"You'll have to see," Castle said simply. He smiled at the two as they were watching him and then took the paper Beckett gave him. They colored in quiet for a long time before he finished and set the picture in the middle of the table so Beckett and Julia could look at it.
"Is that Coney Island?" Beckett asked with a smile as he had drawn ocean and in the back at a distance some lines.
"The best I could do," Castle replied, looking at Julia.
The little girl was studying it before she said, "I like it."
"Oh good," Castle said. "Thank you so much," he told her. "And you?"
"I went abstract," Beckett said, smiling at her daughter as she was peering at her picture of blues, red and greens.
"We can paint Mommy," Julia said.
"Another day," Beckett told her seriously.
"Not now?" Julia said.
"Not now, Beckett repeated. "Anyway, you need to show us your picture."
Nodding Julia pushed it over to her mother and smiled as she looked at it before telling her, "That's the trees when the leaves fall."
"I can tell," Beckett said as she and her boyfriend studied the red, yellow and orange circles.
"We should take her upstate during the fall," Castle told his girlfriend.
"That would be nice… do you know if there are places to pick apples?" Beckett asked him.
"There are… well when Alexis was younger we would go to a place, but I'd have to make sure it's still there," Castle replied.
"When?" Julia asked, having been listening to them closely.
"Later, in the fall," Beckett replied. "Why don't we play with your set now?"
"Kay," Julia said, letting her mother take her picture. She was a little surprised when her mother took her over to the kitchen and she said eagerly, "Are you gonna hang it up?"
"All our pictures," Beckett answered.
"Even mine?" Castle asked in surprise.
"Yes," Beckett said with a smile back at him.
Castle allowed his girlfriend and Julia to hang their pictures first before he put his up just above theirs on the left door. Stepping back, he studied them and said, "That works since I'm so much taller than you guys of course."
Julia giggled while her mother rolled her eyes and she said, "It looks nice."
"It does," Beckett said before they walked back to the table. She watched her daughter rush to the coffee table and as she held up one of her bottles of paint she shook her head and said, "Another time sweetie."
Playfully pouting Julia wrapped her arms tightly around her mother to hug her before she helped them clear the table. After it was she waited hopefully for her mother to come back with the box they'd gotten earlier.
"I played these with Alexis," Castle commented. He looked at Julia and saw she was watching him, so he explained, "These are for little kids so while I played with her it was a while back."
"And you're going to play with it again now," Beckett told him with a smile as she had been opening the box. She let the pieces spill out on the table and said, "We have some buildings, but I think we should give the animals their habitats first."
"Good," Julia said firmly.
"Which one do you want to set up first?" Castle asked her, wondering if she'd speak to him or avoid it.
"The panda," Julia said with a shy smile at him.
With that the three began to work on the set, putting together the animals before they got the arch that came with the set together. Castle and Beckett settled back to watch Julia play on her own at first before finally she looked to them to play with her.
"Are these guys all getting along?" Castle asked since he had a penguin figurine in his hand and was holding it on top of the panda bear that Julia was holding.
"Fun," the little girl said.
"They're having fun," Beckett said, looking at the moose figurine she'd been given by her daughter. "And luckily she is too."
"Hey, did you see those sets with…" Castle started to say.
"With what?" Beckett asked him as he didn't continue.
"I'm not sure what she would like," Castle confessed to her. "Girly stuff? Trucks? Maybe construction sets they have?"
"She liked them all," Beckett said. "But there was one she loved the most," she added before looking at her daughter.
For a moment Julia didn't want to say but finally she exclaimed, "Pirates!"
"Oh yeah, I forgot about those sets they have," Castle replied. "You should get those when you can."
"Mommy said maybe Santa can give it to me for Christmas," Julia said.
"That way the animals here won't be left out," Beckett explained when her boyfriend looked at her.
"Oh… true, should we get back to the game?" Castle asked her.
"I think so," Beckett said with a laugh as Julia was making the panda move up and down as if it were running.
Castle and Beckett began to play again with the little girl and after a while Beckett checked the time and when she saw it she said, "Oh we're very late."
"Does she need a bath?" Castle asked as Julia jumped up and he carefully grabbed her hand. He was startled when she didn't pull away from him but guessed that was likely because she was waiting to see if she would need to go to bed yet.
"She does, I'll let you know when we're finished," Beckett said, having gotten up to get her daughter. She carried her over to her room and took her into the bathroom to the bathtub.
Once his girlfriend had left Castle had stood and then walked after her, but he only went as far as the new armchair she'd set in the corner of the room opposite it. He couldn't see inside the bathroom and read a magazine he'd taken from the top of the dresser, listening to the conversation in the bathroom as Julia had her bath.
"I don't know what we're going to do tomorrow," Beckett said once she let Julia start to play with her toys. "If we even go out, there's supposed to be a storm sweetie."
"Can we have a rainy day?" Julia asked.
"If it is raining then of course," Beckett replied.
"Is Castle gonna stay?" Julia said softly.
"Do you not want him to?" Beckett asked, sounding a little concerned that was the case.
"He can," Julia said. "You want him to."
"Yes, but what I'm more worried about is that you don't want him here," Beckett told her.
Castle was waiting for some kind of answer but when he heard none he resisted the temptation to look over and see what Julia was doing before his girlfriend was speaking.
"Then I'll let him stay," Beckett said.
"Good," Julia said softly.
"Alright, we better get you out or you're going to be too wrinkled," Beckett told her.
"Do I have to go to bed?" Julia asked.
"It's a little late for you sweetie," Beckett said simply. "So we need to get you to bed or you'll be too tired for whatever we do tomorrow."
"Kay," Julia said.
Castle couldn't help but smile at the exasperated tone of the little girl's voice, but he focused on the magazine as he knew they were going to step out to find him there. When he heard them getting close he looked up and said, "All done?"
"We are," Beckett said, smiling as she knew he had been there the entire time.
"Goodnight Julia," Castle said with a smile at her.
"Night," the little girl replied.
Castle walked with them out of the room, unable to help smiling as her voice had been so tired already. He leaned against the doorway and saw Julia notice him there which made him wait for her to tell her mother she wanted him to leave.
"Sweetie," Beckett said, reaching for her daughter to get her attention. She pulled her up onto her lap and embraced her tightly before she stood to set her onto the bed. "Sweet dreams okay?"
"Kay," Julia said sleepily and with a slight sigh.
Beckett shared a kiss with her before she tucked her daughter in and once she was sure she was set she went over to her boyfriend before closing the door slightly behind them. "You-" she started to say as they went out to the living room.
"She still needs time to get used to me," Castle interrupted her. "Don't worry I know already and I'm prepared for that. And hey she did want me to play with the two of you with her zoo set," he said, looking at the table where it still was set up as Julia had begged them to keep it there for the time being. He took his girlfriend's hand and pulled her over to the couch, sitting with her before he wrapped his arm around her. "How's she doing?" he asked, looking over at the door to the bedrooms.
"Better," Beckett said with a nod. "She's getting better at being around people, when we went to the toy store she was at least distracted."
"That would help," Castle replied.
"And it's like you said, she just needs to get used to things now," Beckett added. She smiled when he pressed his lips against her temple before she said, "At least she got to see autumn."
"I was surprised when she mentioned that," Castle told her. "But it makes sense she got to see it at least. Are you serious about taking her out to see the apples?"
"I am, I did the same thing myself with my parents," Beckett told him with a nod. "You are welcome to come with us; you and Alexis."
Nodding Castle said, "I'll look into it," before he was leaning down and taking her lips with his own.
Though Beckett was a little startled by that she soon fell into the kiss, wrapping her arms around him tightly before they parted. Looking into his eyes she pulled on him slightly and brought him back down to her before they kissed once more. That time they were a little rougher and fighting against each other before they moved away from each other so they could breathe.
Looking into Beckett's eyes that time Castle was about to speak when she was wrapping her arms around his neck even tighter. A smile spread across his lips and he hugged her back tightly, pressing his cheek to hers before he murmured, "I missed you Kate."
"I missed you too Rick," Beckett replied. She smiled as he paused, and she told him, "I'm not kidding."
When they parted Castle studied his girlfriend's eyes before he kissed her hard on the lips, unable to resist doing so. When they finally parted he stood up with her and they went together to her bedroom, closing the door firmly behind them before the click of the lock seemed to echo through the entire apartment as the two prepared to begin their night together.