When they were in her dance studio waiting for the class to start Castle said, "I wanted to take her to the bookstore; she hasn't been for a while has she?"
"No," Beckett replied. "And yes, we can go."
"Sorry," Castle said quickly, knowing she was referencing him not asking if she wanted to take Julia too.
"It's okay, I know you would have eventually," Beckett replied. She then smiled directly at him and lowering her voice told him, "And you're okay not asking every so often."
"I can make a decision for all of us here and there?" Castle asked her. He was a little startled when she just gave him a smile and he breathed out, remembering the ring he wanted to give her; reminding himself he needed to get it and soon. His attention was taken then by the students in the ballet class coming out and he waved with Beckett at Julia when she walked out. He watched with a smile as the little girl was dancing during the lesson and he was pleased when she did well with the new step the class was taught.
"Hi Mommy!" Julia said to her mother exuberantly after she'd changed and could go out to her. "Did you like the class?"
"It was great," Beckett replied. "Did you see who's here with me?"
"Hi Castle," Julia replied, smiling up at him. "Did you like my class too?"
"Definitely, you were awesome and you nailed that last step," Castle replied, ruffling her hair to her giggle of joy.
"Thank you," Julia replied. "Are we gonna go to his house?"
"Yes, but not just yet," Beckett said as she was helping her daughter into her coat.
"Then where are we gonna go?" Julia asked, looking at Castle as well.
"You'll see right now," Castle told her while Beckett was picking the little girl up. When they reached the street outside the school he called a cab and gave the address for the store before he settled back in his seat and looked over at the two next to him, finding they were looking at him before he started to ask them what was wrong when Beckett beat him to it.
"She wants to know," she explained, smiling and obviously trying not to laugh.
"We're almost there I promise," Castle told her with a smile. He looked out the window and pointed saying, "Now we're here."
When she looked out and saw what there was Julia gasped and said, "Can I get a book?"
"Yes," Beckett said, glancing at Castle and seeing he was nodding too. "See even he said."
Julia giggled and stepped out with them onto the sidewalk before they headed inside, and she asked, "Can we stay here all night?"
"You don't want to go out for dinner?" Castle asked her as they were making their way through the store to the kids' section.
"Oh… where?" Julia asked.
"I believe you two haven't been to Dave and Busters for a while," Castle said.
"No, we haven't and stop talking as if you're going to ask me if I have any Grey Poupon," Beckett told him simply. "And he's right sweetie, we haven't been in a while."
"Kay," Julia said with a happy smile. "Can I play?"
"Of course, it'd be ridiculous not to," Castle told her reassuringly.
"He wants to play too," Beckett told her with a smile. "And we'll both play with you."
"Yay," Julia said, clapping her hands. She looked at the books they were at and said eagerly, "Can I look?"
"Go ahead," Castle said. "Just make sure you stay where we are."
"Kay," Julia told them both as she was smiling at her mother too.
Watching her go Beckett said, "You're getting the hang of it."
"I've done it before already," Castle reminded her. He turned from Julia to smile at his girlfriend and told her, "I'm happy to do it again." He felt her squeeze his hand gently and did the same back to her before they went over to the little girl as she was pulling a book off of the shelf.
The three walked together through the section before they made their way to the fiction and mystery books that Castle and Beckett looked at together. They eventually were taking turns carrying Julia at the end since the little girl was tired of walking and Beckett took the books they had all gotten to pay for them while Castle sat in a chair with Julia on his lap.
"Are you excited for Thanksgiving?" he asked her.
"Yeah," Julia replied with a smile. "Teacher is teaching us about that and we get to have a big dinner and then play games."
"Did your mom tell you about the games?" Castle asked.
"Yeah, I wanna get to play with you and Alexis," Julia said. "Will you play with me?" she then asked a little shyly.
"Of course, we're excited for it too," Castle said before he looked up and saw Beckett was coming to a stop in front of them. "I think we're ready, let's go," he said, standing up and bouncing Julia slightly to her cry of joy.
"Can we have dessert?" Julia asked. "The chocolate dessert?"
"Yes, but we're playing after we eat," Beckett said while they waited for a cab to stop. She took her daughter to sit on her lap and held her close before they watched the city streets pass by before they reached Times Square and the restaurant.
They ate together at a half circular booth, Julia obviously listening to the sound of the games in the arcade nearby. But Castle and Beckett made sure she ate and since there was also the dessert to look forward to they didn't have too much trouble doing that.
Dipping a marshmallow for Julia, Castle told her, "Your mom and I played a video game today."
"Did you Mommy?" the little girl asked interestedly.
"We did," Beckett said with a smile. "And I won but just barely."
"Did you race?" Julia asked. When they both nodded she smiled and told them, "I wanna race too."
"Luckily we can do that," Castle said, taking the melted chocolate off her chin. He glanced at Beckett and tried not to breathe heavily at the sight of her tender smile though she soon looked down at what they had left to dip in the chocolate fondue. He was touched at her being okay with him taking care of her daughter too and he reminded himself to try and act like Julia's father more. "Oh…" he said, reaching with the little fork they had for the fruit to get a strawberry when he found them gone.
"Here," Beckett said, handing him the last berry she'd speared.
"Are you sure?" Castle asked. When she nodded he took her fork and dipped it before handing it back.
Beckett raised her eyebrow at him slightly before she took the fork and bit into it before giving the rest to him. She saw the way his eyes slightly grew dark before he shook himself and she turned her attention back to her daughter. "Are you ready sweetie?" she asked her.
"Can we go?" Julia asked hopefully.
"Yes, hurry, I'm going crazy waiting," Castle said, pretending to growl impatiently and making the little girl giggle.
Beckett shook her head and smiled as she watched her boyfriend pick up Julia before playfully tossing her up in the air as she cried out. "How much are you getting?" she asked when they made it to the arcade and the console to recharge their card for the games.
"A lot," Castle told her simply. He smiled at her when she sighed and said, "Come on we should celebrate, it's a Friday and I figure two hundred and ten credits will be good."
"That divides evenly doesn't it?" Beckett asked him. When he nodded she watched him finish paying for said credits and she then asked him, "I feel bad thinking of her right now, what about Alexis?"
"Out with friends," Castle said.
"So that's why you called me," Beckett told him teasingly as they were walking to the first game Julia wanted to play.
"I really did want to see you," Castle told her seriously.
With a smile Beckett said, "So did I."
"Mommy did you and Castle have a fight?" Julia asked her, watching and listening to the two of them.
"Not really," Castle said, looking at his girlfriend as he spoke. "More a disagreement."
"Oh, don't fight again. Please?" Julia asked.
"We won't," Castle said, staring straight at Beckett as he spoke.
"Let's get started," she said, touched at how serious he still was. Beckett then let her boyfriend pick up Julia to help her with the coin slider game they'd come to, getting the coins they'd use while the two waited before she handed the first to Julia.
"You and Castle have to play too," the little girl said before she picked a slot to put her coin in.
"Do you want us to take turns?" Castle asked her.
"Yeah," Julia said with a quick nod.
"We will, get started sweetie," Beckett urged her before she and Castle looked on as she dropped her first coin. They applauded her together as she managed to knock a few coins over before she took the second one and went next.
"Sorry Mommy," Julia said when her mother didn't knock any over.
"It's okay," Castle told her reassuringly. "She helped me out to push them over," he explained before he went and managed to do so.
"What?" Beckett asked as her daughter was looking at her and not taking her turn next.
"Are you gonna give him a kiss?" Julia asked as she blushed deeply.
"I'd love to," Beckett said, keeping her voice down. "But I can't sweetie."
"When we go to his house?" Julia asked.
"I'll make sure she does," Castle said. He wasn't surprised when his girlfriend gave him a look, but he quickly helped her daughter drop the next coin. He continued to hold Julia, pleased that she didn't ask to go to her mother, until they'd played the game twice. He set her down at that point before they walked together over to the video games and came to one of the racing ones.
"Who do you want to race with?" Beckett asked Julia.
Going to her mother the little girl playfully covered her face with Beckett's hand before she looked up at Castle to see his reaction.
"Don't worry," he told her with a smile. "I already knew you were going to pick her. This time I'm winning."
"No you won't," Julia teased.
"Maybe we should wait and find out," Beckett said when her boyfriend opened his mouth to speak.
"Maybe," Castle said before they sat in two seats and then began to play. He did his best to keep up with his girlfriend but somehow, she managed to just barely beat him and he laughed saying, "I demand another one."
"Okay," Beckett said, knowing Julia agreed with him as she had gasped.
"And I'm taking her," Castle added.
"I wanna go," Julia said with a giggle before her mother could say anything. She got down with her mother's help and walked around to Castle and let him put her on his lap. She smiled when he let her take the wheel; as Beckett had; and they drove together with her cheering him on.
"Oh, you must be a good luck charm sweetie," Beckett said with a smile at her daughter when the race ended and they'd won.
"Thanks Mommy," Julia said with a wide smile. "Thank you Castle," she said as she looked up at him.
"You're welcome, want to play the Star Wars game with me now?" he asked her.
Beckett smiled as her daughter nodded rapidly and she walked after them over to the game where she stood next to it and watched them play. When they were in between the first and second games she reached over and squeezed his knee, sharing a smile with her boyfriend before they played once more.
Castle was a little disappointed when they ran out of credits eventually, but he could see that Julia was getting tired, so he left with her and Beckett. They went together to the street and then to their apartment, so his girlfriend could pick up clothes for the weekend as he'd asked them to stay until at least Monday morning and she had agreed. They then went back to his loft and as soon as they were inside he called out, "Mother?"
"There's a note Castle," Beckett told him, handing it over from where Julia had spotted it on the table.
"Went out with friends, will be back later," Castle read. "Alexis spending the night with friends. Okay, I guess we're on our own."
"Now what?" Julia asked eagerly.
"Now you get ready for bed," Beckett replied. "And by that, I mean change and then brush your teeth."
"Kay," Julia said before she took her mother's hand and they went over to the stairs.
"I'll wait here Kate," Castle told her. He smiled when she turned back and did so to him before they were upstairs. He turned to the living room and went over to his office and then grabbed a game of checkers he'd bought for when Julia was there, wanting to teach her that to hopefully one day teach her to play chess with Beckett. He sat on the couch, leaning back and thinking over the night and how much Julia had changed since Beckett had first adopted her. He was so deep in thought that he had no idea how long had passed before his girlfriend and her daughter were coming down the stairs, the sound of them talking making him sit up and turn to watch them until they had reached him, and Julia was speaking first out of the three of them.
"Are we gonna play?" the little girl asked, seeing the box on the table.
"Just one game," Castle said, looking over at his girlfriend.
"That's fine," Beckett said with a smile before she walked around to sit on the couch with her daughter next to him while he set up the board.
"What is this?" Julia asked as she was watching with her mother as Castle was setting the pieces on the board next.
"Checkers," Castle replied. "I wanted to teach you since you don't know how to play."
"Is it fun?" Julia then said, looking up at him after looking again at the board.
"You should know sweetie," Beckett said into her daughter's ear as Julia was on her lap. "That Castle loves to have fun."
"Especially with you two," he said quickly.
Glancing at him as Julia was laughing at them both Beckett continued with, "So if he brings out a game it'll be fun." When she just nodded she told her boyfriend, "You better get started."
With a nod as he knew she was right Castle began to teach Julia how to play checkers. He was pleased when she took to it quickly after a couple games and when they stopped after the fourth he said, "We have to stop but we can play again if you want to."
"I do, that was fun," Julia said with a smile at him.
"Great, I'm glad I bought it for you," Castle replied.
"You did?" Julia asked, her eyes wide.
"I did, I haven't played checkers in years," Castle said. "I play chess."
"Mommy knows how to play that," Julia said shyly, glancing up at her mother.
"She does," Castle replied, smiling at Beckett. "But you know the best place to start to learn playing chess is by learning to play checkers."
"Can I keep learning Mommy?" Julia asked, looking up at her again.
"Of course," Beckett replied easily, standing up with her in her arms.
"I don't wanna go to bed," Julia protested as her mother carried her over to the stairs with Castle walking behind them up to Alexis' room. "Is she gonna be here?" she asked.
"She's staying with some friends tonight," Castle reminded her. "But she will be back tomorrow to spend the night with you," he added, smiling when Julia jumped a little bit on the bed as she'd been set down on it. He hugged her briefly and told her, "Goodnight, it was fun tonight."
"Yeah," Julia said happily. "I wanna go back."
"Another day," Beckett told her.
"She's right but I won't forget to suggest it again," Castle told her before he got out of the way of his girlfriend to allow her to say goodnight to the girl. When Julia was tucked in he walked with Beckett down the stairs and he said to her, "You didn't mind going tonight?"
"No, like I said you like to have fun," Beckett replied easily. When he grabbed her wrist, she smiled and then let him take her over to his room. Once the door was closed she gently slipped her wrist away and said, "Are we making up lost time?"
"I don't really see anything else we can do," Castle replied before he took her by the waist. He thought he was going to need to lead her over to the bed when she went willingly before sitting on the edge of it. He was going to ask her what she was doing when she reached up to his jeans and opened the fly of them quickly.
"What?" Beckett asked in obvious surprise when he stepped away from her.
"Sorry, I wasn't sure where you were going with that," Castle told her though he'd been eager to remain.
"What did you think I was going to do?" Beckett asked in amusement.
Shaking his head Castle helped her with his clothes as she had stood up and they kissed numerous times before she was stopping him and whispering into his ear. "Oh, so you were going to do that," he said as he'd realized that.
"And that was an issue," Beckett said, stepping away from him before he could reach around for her bra.
"No but I want to do the same thing to you," Castle replied quickly as he took a step closer to her. "So you read my mind."
Beckett didn't move as her boyfriend came closer to her and she allowed him to lean down so they could kiss. Only when their lips met did she move and that was to wrap her arms around him as tightly as possible before they slowly parted a while later. "We should move to the bed," she told him when he leaned down to her, their shirts and pants on the floor by then.
"Actually, I can think of something first," Castle told her. When she looked at him questioningly he reached around for her bra and he carefully unhooked it before he let her remove it and then went to her panties to start slipping those off. She joined him soon after and as soon as she was naked he was helping her onto the bed before he lay directly on top of her. They were kissing, and he groaned as she pressed on the small of his back to bring him closer to her body. "Can you feel me?" he asked when they'd broken apart with a gasp of air.
"What do you think I'm trying to do?" Beckett asked in amusement before she drew him down to her for another kiss. When they'd been doing so for a while she finally pulled away from him and they carefully moved before they were both sitting up.
"Did you have a specific way you wanted to do this?" Castle asked her, unable to help touching her breasts by cupping them in turn carefully.
"I'll leave it up to you," Beckett replied. When he looked at her, obviously startled, she said, "I'm sure you have an idea."
"Again, you're reading my mind," Castle said before he leaned over and kissed her. They lingered there for some time before slowly they parted, and he leaned over to murmur in her ear to relay his idea to her. When he moved back to be able to look at her he nearly shuddered when she smirked at him and told her, "Is that what you had in mind?"
"I was going to say we work over each other but at the same time works too," Beckett replied before she kissed him. She only brushed her lips to his before they then moved together, and she said, "I hope this works."
"It should, it's exactly like I saw it," Castle told her.
"You saw it, or you did it?" Beckett asked, slightly adjusting her legs that were stretched out past him while she sat in between his spread legs.
"Saw it," Castle said firmly. "You want to start?"
"You want to Roshambo to decide?" Beckett shot back. When he groaned and tilted his head back she smiled and then reached over to touch his chin which she could do since they were so close. When he was looking down at her she moved her other hand in between her legs where she started to brush against her clit. Her breathing became rapid as her pleasure was swift and she glanced up at her boyfriend to see he was just watching her. "Rick?" she said.
His first name brought his attention to her and Castle said, "What?" When all she did was look down he realized, and he reached down quickly to himself, grasping his erection before he started to pleasure himself. He groaned heavily as he watched his girlfriend tilt her head back in her pleasure. He tried his best to watch her; as she was moving her fingers around in a way that was making his mouth water; but after a while he couldn't help but feel jealous of her fingers. "To hell with this," he told her, reaching over to grab her arm to stop her as he did the same himself. "We have something better we can do."
"Yes, we can," Beckett replied before she lay down with his help. She moaned deeply as he soon slipped inside of her and she had her arms and legs wrapped tightly around him a second before he began to thrust. A cry of joy left her lips before it was cut off by his kissing her, responding to him hard as he was doing to her. The force of it matched the way their bodies were moving together, and she begged him to fuck her harder.
Castle knew what his girlfriend meant exactly by that, so he thrust as fast as he could until finally they were both orgasming, calling her name while she was doing the same with his. When they stopped he could feel her trembling still and he very carefully moved away from her before he then wrapped his arm around her. As soon as she was pressed against his side he leaned down and pressed his lips to her forehead telling her, "Any reason?"
With a smile Beckett replied, "It felt like we were going too slowly."
"I guess in a way we were," Castle replied though they had hadn't been doing anything of the sort. But he didn't mind how quickly things had gone and instead he turned his head to lean it down enough to kiss her. After they parted he couldn't resist the temptation and leaned down, brushing his lips against hers. "Any idea about tomorrow?" he asked her when they stayed apart.
"I haven't had a chance to think about it," Beckett replied. When he looked at her she said, "Think about it."
Castle considered it before he said, "I guess that's true. Well we could now unless…" He had to smile when she suddenly yawned and he kissed her forehead and then said, "I guess not."
"There's always morning," Beckett said. When her boyfriend gently rubbed her upper arm, she looked up at him and asked, "What?"
"Are you okay?" Castle asked.
"It was a little stressful getting everything wrapped up after this case," Beckett said with a sigh.
"Even without me there to screw things up?" Castle said.
"It was mostly the paperwork which you would have left for anyway," Beckett said simply. "I just need to catch up on my rest."
"Do you want me to take care of Julia for you?" Castle asked, sitting up then to grab the covers for them since he knew she was getting cold as he was.
"No, I'd like us to spend the day together," Beckett replied quickly. "But I guess if it's not raining in the end we could go to the library; she has some books she needs to get back."
"So that's why you brought them," Castle replied. "I have no problem going there but why does it matter if it rains?"
"Because after we'll head to a café around the park," Beckett replied.
"And go in the park?" Castle asked.
"We should show her the leaves turning; I haven't had the chance to walk through Central Park with her yet," Beckett said.
"Let's hope it's not," Castle said seriously. He couldn't help saying, when she did so, "I love it when you smile."
"Kiss ass," Beckett said wryly before they began to kiss. They were soon dueling together with their tongues in her mouth and she sighed in disappointment when he moved away from her. "You're too much."
"And yet you just let me do with you what we did," Castle replied. "Are you okay?" he then asked her.
Smiling Beckett turned her head to nuzzle his jaw with her lips before she said, "I enjoyed it, but we should have just started out with you inside me."
Swearing heavily as he felt a jolt with each kiss she was pressing to his jaw then Castle said, "Kate, even if it's quick again-"
"Take me Rick," Beckett breathed, moving away and pulling him.
Following her willingly and eagerly Rick soon after sank inside of her and they began to make love, taking the time for just a moment before they lost themselves to their need for each other.
"You're cold," Rick said, coming away from his vision to find that Kate was shivering against his side.
"You're not?" she asked, looking sideways at him.
"My gams aren't in the air," Rick replied. He watched her for a moment and said, "We should go back in."
Shaking her head Kate said, "I'm swell."
Sighing Rick reached over for her and then wrapped his arm around her shoulders saying, "You'll get sick." He tried not to tense up when her arm wrapped around his back in return and he said, "You're not swell." As he was speaking he was trying his best to handle what it felt with her touching him as she was and his hold on her. He just managed to get himself under control before his mind wandered back to the vision he'd had. He'd learned more that time and was startled to realize that while Kate in that world had adopted Julia as well, it didn't seem she had done so when the little girl was a baby. And it also appeared he and Kate were together, but Julia was still a little shy of him though more open; the realization breaking his heart although it made him appreciate his Julia much more. He also had to wonder why exactly they were hiding the fact they were together too, but he couldn't think of an answer. But he was happy to see they were very much in love there though he couldn't help being jealous of what he guessed was himself in that world knowing that Kate loved him.
"You're awful quiet Rick," Kate said then, not realizing she was startling him from his thoughts.
Shaking his head Rick told her, "A lot on my mind." He then told her before she could say anything, "When we're coming back we'll stay inside."
Before Kate could say anything a worker on the boat walked over to them and said, "You and your missus need to return to your car sir, we're almost at Sausalito."
Looking at each other Rick let go of her as she did the same with him before they made their way back to his Tin Lizzie and they waited there until they docked in Sausalito and were allowed off the boat.
"Do you know the town?" Kate asked him once they were stopped out on the street.
"Not well," Rick replied. He glanced around them and saw a few stores before he looked at her to speak.
"I can ask," Kate told him. "It was Red Oak, right?" When he pulled up across the street from a store she walked out quickly, crossing and giving a smile to her friend as she went.
Watching her closely Rick was able to see her easily while she spoke to the worker inside before she came back out. "He knew?" he asked once she was inside.
"He did, he says you need to go left at Main here then half a mile west before you reach Red Oak and you need to make a right," Kate replied. "You don't need to call the police?" she then inquired as he started down the street.
"Brad will, they should meet us there," Rick replied. "Which means you need to stay in the car."
"How will you explain me?" Kate asked him.
"I'll make something up," Rick said simply before he turned left on the street and then made his way over until he saw Red Oak. "They're here," he said as he spotted two police officers in the distance.
"Detective O'Donovan?" one of the two men asked as Rick stepped around to get onto the sidewalk.
"I am, this is where Gabriel Jenner lives?" he asked.
"For a year," one officer said. "I'm Lotz and this is Di Martini."
With a nod to the officers Rick said, "Have you gone up to the door?"
"Our boss told us to wait for your direction," Di Martini replied.
"Alright, follow me because I don't know what his demeanor will be," Rick replied.
"Who's the Jane?" Lotz then asked.
Rick tried to think of something he could say to explain Kate's presence when the other officer then spoke.
"Is she the sister of the victim you have across the Bay?" Di Martini asked.
"Yes," Rick said before he turned to Kate to gesture her out, guessing his partner must have spoken to the two by radio. "She won't come in with us, but she needs to stay close." He wasn't surprised when the two men exchanged a glance and he then explained, "She might be targeted."
"Someone might bump her off?" Lotz said.
"Maybe torture me for information on the cache that belonged to my father and brother," Kate said as she'd reached them in time to hear him say that.
"And possibly her as well," Rick continued. "This is Kate O'Brien and Kate these are Lotz and Di Martini." After they tipped their caps to her he said, "We might have to run in, stay back and I'll have Di Martini keep an eye on you."
Though she was obviously fighting a protest Kate finally nodded and then said, "Get started, I want to know if he did anything to my brother."
With a brief nod Rick motioned for Lotz to walk behind him and he went up to the door, knocking before he waited and leaned in close to it to try and listen inside. He knocked again before calling, "Mr. Jenner this is Sausalito police we're here to speak to you." There was no answer, so he knocked again but it was the same as before and he said to the officer just behind him, "Can you knock it down?"
"Yes," Lotz said simply before he kicked the door open once Rick was out of the way. He moved aside for the detective to go in first with his gun drawn and followed.
"Stay here ma'am," Di Martini told Kate as they remained on the porch.
Though she wanted to tell the man that she wasn't about to run into a dangerous situation on her own Kate remained quiet and stayed still, wondering what was going on inside.
"You can come in, both of you," Lotz said as he came up to the doorway shortly after.
Kate hurried past him to Rick who was walking out to her saying, "Is he here?"
"No," he replied easily. "But he's gone in a hurry."
As she couldn't see any sign of that in the entry Kate looked at him questioningly before he gestured with his arm down the hall. She walked with him until they came to a bedroom where she saw everything strewn across the floor, drawers upended and smaller articles of clothing around. "You don't think something happened to him?" she asked as she looked at him.
"No," Rick replied before he held up the piece of paper he had in his other hand with a handkerchief. "Did you ever see Jenner's handwriting?"
"I did, to sign for his payment," Kate answered. "That's his."
"Then we've lost him, according to this he's confessed to killing your brother," Rick said grimly. "And he's already on his way to the South Pacific."