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 to get the feedback I did for the last chapter so will get right to my thank yous for that! TORONTOSUN (Nice to read that you thought it was great writing in the chapter! And I'm really happy that you like the chapter with regards to Julia!),

MsNYC (I got it now, okay all cleared up with that. And I'm glad you like how present Castle is dreaming of '20s Rick dreaming about Caskett in present day. That's the way it goes, lol, it seems confusing now looking at that but it I guess it reads easier sine you said you like it! Oh, and I should mention that 20's Rick isn't away of present Castle, lol, that might be more confusing, but I hope not too, too much!) and

vetgirlmx (So glad to see that you thought it was a great chapter! Also, nice that you thought it's kind fun and quite interesting as you put it to see the differences in both Julias. And you got what I was doing with her not being exactly the same so loved reading that you're loving that! Great that you're loving that Rick's getting used to the flashbacks and also that you caught he's using them as an investigative resource. No idea when parallel universes came around though interesting you mentioned he should have suggested it by now. I wasn't surprised in the slightest that you're torn between that but I'm really glad you're wondering how Rick will approach his situation with Kate. But yeah, not surprised you're hoping they'll find the guy as you're very right the crime shouldn't go unpunished. But great you're eager to find out and now you can!).

Thanks so much for the reviews, I loved reading them and am grateful as usual for 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 No More Lonely Nights by Paul McCartney, from his soundtrack album Give My Regards to Broad Street.

I'm Always There

December 10th, 2019

Stepping out from the bathroom Beckett walked quickly over to her husband and took his hand, squeezing it before she studied his face. She had woken up shortly before, jumping up from her bed and checking to see if there was any sign of any change at all in him. But there had been none which didn't really surprise her, and she had gotten dressed quickly to return to him.

She had placed Castle's journal on the rolling table in the room and Beckett studied him for a while though it almost seemed to be calling to her. She leaned down and kissed him on the lips, brushing against his before she went to sit down and finally began to write. She'd spent her time thinking of what to tell him and she was ready as she put her pen to paper.

December 10th, 2019
8:30 am

I'm just noting the time so you know when I'm writing exactly because I know I'll be writing more than just this morning. It was a… not a rough night because I did sleep but I think I could still tell you weren't sharing the bed with me. My dreams were of course about you but about us mostly. But I can't think of us making love again, I did yesterday and it was literally painful.

I had wished that maybe you would wake up when I had cupped your face first thing this morning but you're obviously still recovering. The nurse; Liam; isn't here yet but I'm going to watch him closely while he's doing that to see how your wound on your arm is doing. And since I'm talking about that I'm alright, the baby is too.

I need to go, there's someone at the door so I need to see if it's Liam to check on you again.

Beckett was unsure about the entry, but she couldn't write anymore as the door was opening and she turned to it to check and see who it was.

"Ms. Beckett," Dr. Bell said as she walked inside.

"Doctor," Beckett replied, standing up to move out of the way.

"How are you doing?" the doctor asked her.

"As best I can be under the circumstances," Beckett replied, looking at her husband closely as the doctor was checking on him starting with his eyes. Though it sickened her a little to see nothing in those blue eyes she still watched until the doctor moved on. She remained quiet until the checkup was finished and then said, "His knee is getting better."

"It is," Dr. Bell replied. "I'll have the nurse come in to change the binding on this arm but other than that he is improving." She nodded to the screen that was showing his pulse and said, "His pulse and temperature are good, so we'll need to wait for his body to be ready for him to wake up."

"There's still no way of knowing," Beckett stated.

"No, I'm sorry," Bell said. "But we'll keep checking on him of course."

Beckett nodded as the woman left and she moved to sit next to Castle, holding his hand in between her own before she heard another knock on the door. She smiled when she saw Liam walking in and told him good morning.

"Good morning Ms. Beckett," the nurse said, setting down the tray he was holding. "I'll just be changing his bandaging here."

"I'll be fine," Beckett said quickly as she realized he was letting her know she could step away. When the man nodded she watched him cut off the gauze on the cut on her husband's arm and she saw that it was a long cut but obviously not deep enough for stitches.

"He's improving," Liam commented. "That cut was a little wider yesterday so that's a good thing."

"Of course," Beckett said as he was bandaging her husband again before he cleaned and medicated the other cuts he had. "Thank you," she told him. "Oh, my family and friends will likely be coming soon."

"Someone will let you know," Liam said with a nod.

After the man had left Beckett checked the time again and went back to her seat before she picked up her pen to add more to her entry though she skipped a couple lines.

I'm back just after your doctor has checked on you and the nurse has cleaned up your wounds. You're doing better but only slightly because if you were you'd be awake… If it sounds like I'm angry I'm not at you but more the situation. Now I'm just waiting for everyone to get here to join me for the day.

And I don't know if my last entries were really that coherent but I'm sure you'll understand that I've been trying to handle this. Watching and knowing they're taking care of you here I've decided if there's nothing I can do for you but to be here then I'll stick with that. I know you can hear me but since I also know you were hurt in the accident you need this chance to recover. I would wish you were conscious doing so, though since you aren't I'll take this each day.

But you should know I'm telling you repeatedly in my mind that I'm not going to let you stay unconscious for much longer. This baby will need you even while it's only four months along in me and there is no way in hell I'm going through the rest of this pregnancy without you. And next week we're going together to find out what exactly we're having, just rest my love so you can come back to us sooner.

There was nothing else Beckett could really say, everything she had on the page was what she'd wanted to convey so she closed the book and got up to put it away before she heard a knock on the door. Going to it she opened it to find a nurse there and asked, "Is my family here?"

"And two friends," the woman said with a nod.

"Please let them come in," Beckett replied before she stuck her head out to see them.

"There she is, go," Darnley said when he spotted Beckett.

"Mommy," Julia and Eliza whispered at the same time as they ran the last few steps to her. They threw their arms around her together before they started to let go when they remembered the baby.

"It's okay," Beckett said, realizing what they were doing and holding onto them a little tighter. She ran her hands over the backs of their heads and said, "You're here early," to Skye and Darnley who'd been with them.

"We came to have breakfast with you," Darnley said first.

"I'll stay with Rick for you so you can go eat," Skye added.

"And everyone else?" Beckett asked in surprise.

"They're eating at home," Darnley replied.

"Do you want to see your daddy?" Beckett asked her daughters then who hadn't let her go.

"He's not awake?" Julia asked softly.

"If he wakes up while you guys are at home I promise I'll call," Beckett said gently. She led them into the room as Darnley and Skye followed her and wasn't surprised when Eliza started to whimper before she began to cry. She quickly picked her up and hugged her tightly telling her and her sister, "He's getting better now, he just needs a little more time to feel like he can wake up."

"Really?" Julia said as her sister was calming down.

"That's what the doctor told me when she checked on him not too long ago," Beckett said with a nod. "Do you want to sit with him?" she asked Eliza.

"Yes please," the little girl said, her voice a little shaky still from her tears. When she was on the bed she did as she had the day before, lying next to her father and wrapping her arms around his neck. "I miss you Daddy; the house is quiet. And the doggies miss you too," Eliza added, her eyes filling with tears again.

When the little girl started to cry Beckett picked her back up and watched as Julia was helped onto the bed by Skye. She listened to what her oldest was telling Castle, rubbing Eliza's back gently to soothe her as the little girl was crying softly.

"I miss you too," Julia said at first. She then studied her father and said honestly, "You look better today Daddy, but I want you to open your eyes soon. Everybody does." She sighed and then lay down next to him as her sister had done, wrapping her arms around his neck tightly. She pressed close and then said, "I love you Daddy."

"What is it sweetie?" Beckett said in surprise when Eliza suddenly moved around in her arms.

"I didn't tell Daddy I love him too," the little girl told her frantically.

"She can tell him now," Julia said quickly when she looked over at her mother and saw that she was going to speak. She gave her father a last hug and kissed his cheek before pushing herself up and getting off the bed with Darnley's help.

The second she was back on the bed Eliza was hugging her father and telling him, "I'm really bad Daddy, I had to say it before but I didn't. I love you Daddy, so much."

"You're not bad," Beckett said, leaning over and placing her hand on the little girl's back. "You were just a little upset."

"Yeah, Daddy would agree," Julia added, standing on the other side of her mother.

Sniffing a little Eliza said, "Now he knows."

"Yes," Beckett assured her before letting Eliza kiss her father's cheek and hug him, taking her down to set her on the ground. "What is it?" she asked as Darnley handed over the travel bag that was her husband's.

"Some toiletries," he explained as she opened it. "I thought he might appreciate a shave." When she looked up at him Darnley quickly told her, "From you."

"I know," Beckett replied with a soft laugh. "Thank you."

"Are you gonna do that now? His cheek is scratchy," Eliza told her.

"Or after breakfast?" Darnley asked.

"No, now," Beckett said, studying the stubble on his face and knowing her husband would have shaved as soon as he could. "You guys don't want to go eat while I do this?" she asked the girls.

"Can we watch?" Julia asked shyly.

"Yes," Beckett said before Darnley touched her shoulder. When she looked at him she said, "Are you offering your help?"

"I am, what do you need?" he asked her.

"Can you get me a washcloth wet with hot water and a container filled with hot water too?" Beckett asked him. She went to her husband and started to empty the bag before her friend came out to her with everything. She turned back to Castle and hesitated for a moment before she raised the back of his bed enough so she would be able to work on him more easily. She used the warm washcloth on his face to soften his skin before she rubbed some of the foam Darnley had brought before she began to shave his right cheek.

Sharing a look with her sister Julia wondered how often their mother did that as she was able to work quickly. She wanted to ask but kept quiet as she knew Beckett would need them to be so she wouldn't risk cutting Castle's skin with the razor. But as she watched her she hoped her mother was okay doing it while he wasn't awake yet.

Beckett soon moved to the last bit of foam on her husband's face on his upper lip and Darnley asked her, "Would you like me to do that?"

"No, how did you know that part he took care of?" Beckett asked, looking back at him.

"Because Trev and I do the same with each other," Darnley replied.

"I can handle it," Beckett told him. "But thank you," she then said after she had finished. She cleaned off her husband's face of any remaining foam and got the lotion he liked to use, trying not to let her fingers tremble visibly as she rubbed it into his skin. His aftershave was last and when the familiar scent hit her nose she was biting hard on her lower lip. "I'll be right back," she told them with a smile before she walked over to the bathroom to wash her hands.

"She-" Julia started to say in concern, looking at Skye and Darnley.

"Hold on," he told her before walking over to the small room. "Kate," he said gently as she was drying off her hands.

Looking up at him Beckett couldn't fight it anymore and she nearly started to cry as he hugged her tightly outside. "I told myself I wouldn't cry again," she said in a strangled tone. "It wouldn't help him any."

"Not a good idea to think like that Kate," Darnley told her seriously. "Just cry, your husband wouldn't think less of you; in fact I think he'd be touched you miss him that much." He held her tightly as she sobbed against his shoulder and he spoke gently to her, telling her that it would be alright until she eventually calmed down.

Looking over her friend's shoulder Beckett saw the girls were standing behind him and she said, "I'm sorry, I-"

"It's kay Mommy," Eliza said first as they went to her to hug her tightly. "We know you miss Daddy lots too."

"A lot," Julia added. "And it's okay if you cry, we do too."

Reaching down to gently rub away the tear on Julia's cheek and then Eliza's, Beckett moved them over to the chair next to the bed and she hugged her daughters to her tightly before she kissed the two tenderly. "Thank you, girls, but you're probably hungry now right?" she asked them.

"A little bit," Eliza said with a slight smile.

"What about you Mommy? And the baby?" Julia asked her.

"We can go right now," Darnley said, he and Skye watching the three.

"I'm staying here," Skye assured her as Beckett looked at her. "Go ahead and get your breakfast."

"What about you?" Beckett asked.

"I'll eat after you get back," Skye said simply.

"Then we better go," Beckett replied. "Come on you two," she told the girls, standing up and taking their hands. "Thank you," she said to Skye.

When the woman had nodded Darnley followed Beckett and her daughters down to the cafeteria before they were getting their food at the station that was open. He watched his friend closely, but she seemed to be recovered enough and he said once they sat down, "I told you it wouldn't hurt to cry."

Beckett sighed and said, "I know I'm just…" She glanced at her daughters then and said, "So we should walk through the garden when Martha and Alexis get here."

"Why then?" Julia asked in confusion after eating some of her omelet.

"So they can spend some time alone with him," Beckett replied. "But I need to go outside," she said. "It can't be good for me to stay inside that long."

"Or the baby?" Eliza asked.

"Probably not," Beckett said, unable to help smiling at how serious her youngest was.

"I forgot to ask do you have all of your… vitamins and whatnot?" Darnley asked her.

"Whatnot?" Beckett asked him. When he nodded she smiled briefly and shook her head before telling him, "I do, I can't really forget those."

"Mommy?" Julia said then. When her mother looked at her questioningly she asked, "Do you shave Daddy's face for him a lot."

Seeing Eliza turning from her sister to look at her Beckett smiled briefly before she said, "Not all the time but occasionally I will."

"Are you remembering something?" Darnley asked her.

"This was a while ago, but something made me think of when he and I came home from our first honeymoon," Beckett replied. "We left our hotel in Dublin a little early but before that he had asked me to shave his face."

"Tell us Mommy," Eliza said quickly when her mother stopped talking.

"Okay," Beckett replied. "But it's a short story."

"Tell Lizzy about when you came home," Julia said quickly. She glanced at Darnley across the table and said, "And Patrick too; they don't know the story."

"Do you remember?" Beckett asked her. When her oldest nodded she then said to him, "It stands out to us because that's when we knew we were staying here for good."

"I'm interested to hear," Darnley told her with a nod.

Beckett smiled quickly again before she began the story, easily able to recall her and her husband starting out that day making sure they had everything to take back home with them to New York.

"I just have one thing left to do," Castle said as Beckett walked into the bathroom where he was standing at the sink. "My face."

"Would you like some help?" Beckett asked him.

Castle pretended to think that over for a moment before he nodded and then helped her up onto the counter next to the sink. Before she could start on him he placed his hand on her stomach and said, "I forgot to ask, how are you doing?"

"To interrupt you for a second," Darnley said then. "I think I know why you thought of that moment."

"Why?" Eliza asked.

"Daddy was asking about you," Julia reminded her.

"Oh, kay," Eliza said with a small smile on her face.

Beckett leaned over and kissed the top of her youngest's head; since her daughters were sitting on either side of her; and she told them, "I told your daddy that we were both fine, but we needed to get back to our other daughter. And no, we didn't know you were a girl yet Eliza but we just wanted to get back home."

"Hard to believe it's going to be home now," Castle commented. He saw his wife was looking at him and he asked, "What?"

"You're going to make me nick you," Beckett replied.

"Sorry," Castle said quickly before he remained silent and allowed her to finish with his face before he got his upper lip shaved. After he'd gotten the aftershave on he went to her, leaning his hands on either side of her.

"Can I help you? We need to get out of this hotel to return home," Beckett said since he'd commented on that.

"One more?" Castle asked.

Beckett pretended to give a heavy sigh and she said, "It won't be."

"No but I have to make an attempt," Castle replied. He smiled when she laughed, and he leaned over so their lips could meet. As soon as they had he was standing up straight, holding onto her as tightly as he could before their heads slowly tilted to the side as things became more intense.

When they needed to breathe Beckett pulled away first and said, "Now you need to move."

"I don't really want to," Castle replied even though he was moving aside at that moment. He helped her down and took his travel bag that was finally packed, and they hurried together to get their suitcases ready so they could get to the airport.

"There wasn't anything really on the flight," Beckett told them. "We slept mainly because we were trying to get caught up with the time here. So, when we got to JFK we hurried back home, driving very quickly until we pulled into the driveway."

"There they are," Castle commented as he spotted their daughters.

"Do you mind she's standing on the bench?" Beckett asked him.

"No," Castle said with a laugh before he stopped at the garage. "I'm not parking," he told his wife. "Because I know you want to get out as fast as possible, just like me."

Beckett laughed softly before she got out of the car with him and smiled when their daughter wrapped her arms tightly around her. "I guess you missed us sweetie," she told her as she embraced her back.

"Yes! Are you happy?" Julia asked, looking up at her.

"Very," Beckett replied.

"Are you and the baby kay?" Julia then said.

"We are, your daddy's been making sure we are," Beckett told her before letting her go.

"Hi Daddy," Julia said a little shyly.

"Hey sweetheart," Castle told her, picking her up so he could hug her tightly. "Have a fun time with your grandparents and sister?"

"Yeah but I'm glad you're both home," Julia replied, hugging him tightly around the neck.

"So am I," Alexis said, smiling at them as she walked up to them, having stayed behind to let Julia greet their parents. She hugged Beckett first and then went to her father once Julia was on the ground and she embraced him tightly. "We've been waiting for a while."

"It looked like it," Castle said before he looked over at the porch to find his mother and father in law standing there. "Why don't we go ahead inside?"

"Agreed," Beckett said before he took her hand and they went over to their parents to greet them. She shared a smile with him, knowing he felt the same relief she did that they were finally home.

"Hey Kate," Alexis said, hugging her stepmother. "He looks…"

"He is getting better," Beckett told her after they let each other go.

"We asked the nurse that came in," Martha said. "He commended you on the good job you did with his face."

"He would have wanted it," Beckett said softly before she went over to her mother in law.

"Have you gone outside at all?" Martha asked after they had embraced.

"Not yet," Beckett replied. "We were just eating so I can wait for that."

Frowning Martha said, "Alright…"

"I'll go outside," Beckett nearly snapped. She bit her lower lip as her mother in law stepped back slightly before she said, "I'm so sorry I…"
"It's alright," Martha said with a sigh. "I know this isn't easy for you and we must be irritating you trying to tell you what you should do."

"You're trying to help me," Beckett told them. "I just want my husband back with us."

"Of course," Martha said in understanding. She then saw the tears in her daughter in law's eyes and hugged her before saying, "I would imagine that's the hormones."

"Did Skye tell you I was already crying earlier?" Beckett asked softly as they'd met the investigator on the way to the room.

"Yes, and this is understandable," Martha said.

"I suggested that she should cry," Darnley said.

"And I have been," Beckett said, taking the tissue that Julia had brought to her. She dried her eyes and cheeks before she said, "How are you both?"

"Okay," Alexis said with a sigh, smiling slightly at her boyfriend when he squeezed her hand gently behind her. "What about you?"

"The baby and I are fine," Beckett said, sitting on the side of the bed. She took her husband's hand and said, "Did you bring anything for the girls to do?"

"Here," Jim said.

"Dad, I'm sorry," Beckett said, standing up and hurrying over to him.

"It's alright," Jim replied. "There are a lot of us here." He hugged her warmly and said, "We'll still tell you what you should do."

Beckett laughed and said, "I know, and I'll do my best to remember you're all doing it out of love."

"Mommy told us a story," Eliza said, holding her arms up to her mother as she walked back over to the bed.

Picking her up Beckett sat down on the side of the bed with her youngest on her lap and said, "I told them about when Rick and I came home after our honeymoon."

"What made you think of that?" Martha asked her.

"We asked her if she shaved Daddy's face a lot," Julia said, leaning against the side of the bed next to her mother.

"And she remembered that story," Eliza said with a smile.

"I remember you two looking very happy when you approached us," Martha commented.

"I would imagine they were," Darnley said, standing across from his friend and smiling at her. "And you will be again."

"Again?" Beckett asked him in confusion.

"Your tenth," Darnley replied.

"He has a point," Alexis said. "And we know Dad will be back, the doctor has said this is just a chance for him to recover; for his body to recover."

"But when?" Eliza asked.

"That his body will decide," Martha replied. She looked at her son and said, "Are you still talking to him?"

"We are," Beckett said, nodding to the girls who were watching her. "Why?"

"I think you should tell him what we'll do for Christmas," Martha commented.

"Well we can't have the party now," Beckett said with a sigh. "I forgot about it, I'll have to e-mail everyone."

"Actually," Alexis began, sharing a look with her grandmother. "Rebecca did that since she's in contact with everyone that was invited too."

Beckett nodded in relief at not having to worry about that as well and she said, "I don't know what to do about our gifts."

"Lily suggested to us that we should just mail them because I'm not sure you're going to want to have everyone around," Jim said.

"He means we," Martha said. "We thought that once we have Richard home again we'll want to keep things with the family."

"But… what about Maddy?" Eliza asked worriedly.

"Oh, they can still come," Beckett answered. "But I'm sure everyone else is going to just visit to check on him." She set Eliza down and said, "Why don't we play a card game girls?"

"Yeah," Julia said, her sister nodding eagerly.

As they gathered together the group began to play cards next to the bed with Beckett facing everyone but still next to her husband so she could take his hand and hold it gently from time to time during the game. She didn't stop doing that even when the girls began to work on what they would need to for school, holding Castle's hand at every opportunity as she wanted him to know they were there in every way she could.

"This cafeteria is really nice," Skye said to her friend with a smile.

"It is," Beckett said, growing somber at the end.

Placing her hand on her shoulder Skye said, "Are you sure you didn't want Patrick to join us?"

"I am joining you," Darnley said in confusion as he walked up to them. "They kicked me out."

"I'm going to take their food," Louis said as he was with the man.

"Then they want to eat with Rick alone," Beckett said, unable to help smile at how perplexed her friend still was. "You don't need any help going back?" she asked him.

"I'll be alright," Louis said with a nod. He then went around to get what his girlfriend and Martha had asked for as well as his own choices. "Alright," he told everyone as he followed them to their table. "I'll be upstairs with them, enjoy the gardens Kate."

"I should," Beckett said before she sat down in between her daughters again.

"Mommy?" Julia asked.

"Yes sweetie?" Beckett said, swallowing her stroganoff before she spoke.

"Can you tell us another story?" Eliza asked.

Looking at both girls Beckett wasn't surprised they were together on that and she smiled before she kissed their cheeks. "I can but let's wait until we go to the garden alright?" she told them.

"Okay but what will you tell us?" Julia asked.

"I have something in mind," Beckett said. "Would you like to hear about the first time your daddy and I wrote together?"

"Your very first book?" Eliza said interestedly.

"Our first," Beckett said.

"Okay," Julia said after she leaned forward to be able to see her sister.

"Lean back sweetie you're going to get your hair into your food," Beckett said tenderly to her oldest.

"I'm interested in hearing about that too," Darnley said with a smile.

"You will, you're still coming with us," Beckett told him, pointing her fork playfully at him.

"And me too apparently," Skye said in amusement. "And with that I say we finish eating so we can go out, get your mum some sun; the baby too of course; and get to hear the story."

The girls giggling at the woman's tone they ate a little quicker though they exchanged looks every so often, still thinking of their father as they went through the rest of the meal. They went straight to their mother once they got up from the table, holding her hands tightly before they made their way together with the others to the gardens in the courtyard the hospital building made.

"You didn't tell me this was a greenhouse," Beckett said as she looked up at the glass above them.

"Can we take off our coats?" Eliza asked. "I'm hot."

"It's beautiful isn't it?" Skye said. "Doesn't even feel like winter."

"No," Beckett said, having been helping the girls take off their coats. She smiled back at her father as he helped her with her own and she sighed saying, "I've been cooped up too long but…"

"You can come back Mommy," Julia said quickly as she was reaching into the bag that she was carrying.

"You brought that for me?" Beckett asked as her oldest held up her camera.

"When I mentioned this morning that we hadn't come here yet they wanted to bring it since they remember the flowers," Darnley explained.

"Take some pictures Mommy," Eliza said.

"It'll make you feel better," Julia said, pulling out her own camera. "Can we go with you?"

"Yes, I was going to insist," Beckett replied. "And when we go back to the room we can work on some art."

"Can we put the pictures we make for Daddy on the walls?" Eliza asked softly as she watched her mother and sister getting their cameras ready.

"That's why I want you to make pictures," Beckett said, running her hand over the back of her head. "Where's your camera sweetie?"

"She didn't want to bring it," Julia explained.

"Then I have something else you can do," Beckett said, going to her coat that her father was holding.

"Daddy's phone?" Julia asked.

"How did you get that?" Jim asked his daughter.

"A nurse brought it to me last night," Beckett replied. "It was with his things." She glanced at the girls and then opened the phone to the camera and gave it to Eliza saying, "We're going to make a folder for your daddy."

"Are we gonna take pictures of him?" Eliza asked, looking a little pale.

"No," Beckett said quickly. "No, no I want us to take pictures of us and here too, so he knows that we were thinking of him all the time; that you took these pictures for him."

"Oh, I can do that," Eliza told her, looking a little relieved. She then took the phone and said, "There are some pretty roses."

"Not as pretty as the ones you got Mommy," Julia said as they began to walk down the path.

"We'll see them," Beckett said, smiling at them. "Let's just go around."

As they began to walk Jim stayed with his daughter and Darnley and said softly to her, "You're doing well."

"I'm trying to," Beckett said with a sigh, not surprised at her father's statement. "It's as if I hear him telling me to try and stay normal, especially for the baby."

"I think he would be saying that," Darnley replied as he and Jim watched her take a picture of a pink flower.

"Especially considering the baby," Jim replied. "Katie," he said as he saw the way his daughter stood up straight then.

"I realize you guys are helping me I just… I know I have the baby to think of," Beckett said, counting to ten before she'd spoken. "But I'm more concerned about my husband because I want him awake."

"And he will, soon I'm sure," Darnley said soothingly.

"But thank you for your concern, did I say that earlier after I just about bit Martha's head off?" Beckett asked after taking another picture.

"No but we all know," Jim said. When his daughter looked at him he explained, "We talked about that after the girls left with Darnley and Skye…"

"I'm here, sorry," the investigator said, walking quickly past them.

"Martha and I did," Jim continued. "And she mentioned you might get a little… tetchy."

"Tetchy?" Beckett asked. "Well… she would know," she said after thinking about that.

"Does that mean she was the same?" Darnley asked. "Oh, your girls want you."

"She was but only briefly," Beckett answered quickly before she went down the path after the girls and Skye, the former waving to her. "Mostly she had to deal with crying very easily. And I can relate."

"Was she the same?" Darnley asked Jim.

"A little bit, more towards the end of her pregnancy," he replied. "But it was mainly if something was touching like when Julia made her a picture of actual mosaic tiles or Richard gave her a flower. Mostly when she hugged Julia."

Darnley sighed and said, "I'm not surprised she's doing that now if that was the case."

"Neither am I," Jim said as they continued to catch up to the others.