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: I was wondering what the reaction to the last chapter would be, so I was pleased getting the feedback I did, and I will get straight to my thank yous for that! TORONTOSUN (I'm happy to see you thought it was good writing. And I'm so happy you liked how Beckett is the voice. And also great that you thought it was interesting about the voice. And I'm really happy that you thought it was great writing in both timelines. Of course it's really nice to see that you liked the love scene between Rick and Kate!),
Mb (Great seeing your reaction to the last chapter, and of course that you thought it was a fantastic and amazing update! It wasn't a surprise to see that you were so glad that Rick and Kate didn't have too serious injuries, as well as the fact that Rick was glad when the man was around their car after the accident. It made me smile to see you mention Kate ready to defend Rick and herself with the gun she had, since that was my modern Beckett moment in my head, lol, so I'm happy to see that in your review! Nice to see you mentioning the good teamwork by Rick and Kate when they got the Tin Lizzie out of the ditch it ended up in after they were run off the road; another modern moment for them, lol, though really I was just showing how they weren't too different. And I wasn't surprised that you talked about the plan they had at the inn to pretend to be married to be able to get the room. It was for Kate's protection of course but just a bit for Rick's sanity as you mentioned so your suspicion was correct. And I'm not surprised you were glad that Kate confronted Rick about why he left and stopped going to their house to visit them. And I'm not surprised that you talked about the whole bit where Junior asked what Rick wanted when he turned down getting the club since of course that was important to their conversation. But also I take it you found that an interesting thing so great reading that in your review. I wasn't surprised that you liked Rick breaking because of the visions he was seeing of him and Beckett in the future and what he had there with Beckett as his wife and Julia as his daughter with Eliza on the way. Oh, and with them so in love and happy, I figured wanting that in 1926 with Kate and Julia he'd break so not surprised you mentioned that with him breaking and not holding back his answer. I did have to laugh at your reaction to where I cut the chapter to post in the second half, lol, because that ended up being a mini-cliffhanger in the end, lol, but I did have the second half posted right away. I laughed again when you said you were suspicious that the next chapter would be about current Castle and Beckett with the 1926 timeline being a cliffhanger, but you saw how that ended up since you went to the next chapter. You're very welcome for sharing! You're very welcome for continuing the chapter- these are full chapters, I just split them into two for easier reader for my readers. I had to laugh at you saying you were doing a happy dance as well as smiling like a mad person while you were reading where Rick and Kate were finally telling each other the truth of their hearts and souls that they're in love with each other as you put it. And that you liked them taking that step and being together fully as lovers but so much more than that too. But I am definitely very pleased that you enjoyed that as much as you did! I was really happy that you loved how I wrote Rick and Kate's first time together as lovers because that can be difficult to do. I wasn't surprised that you laughed at the idea of them both looking at the same book that explained about sex and anatomy, but you're right that it's not only about sex but making love. And you got what I did with some of those visions Rick was having, how him having the knowledge and visuals from them helped them both in the end. I had really been wondering what readers' reactions would be to Castle hearing Kate's voice telling him that the 1926 stuff he was seeing was a past life but glad you mentioned that since it means it caught your notice. Not surprised that you put that he will remember his visions and that you think him recalling the past life from 1926 was wonderful too! I also wasn't surprised that you talked about Castle getting ready to go back to Beckett and his family. I'm happy that you mentioned the darkness getting lighter along with Beckett's voice telling him soon since I was glad I thought of that. So, so pleased that you're eager to see what Castle sees of 1926 Rick and Kate's future as well as their family and how it mirrors them in the present as well as the future too. It was great that you thought it was amazing and brilliant as well as so beautifully written and so hot and loving too since that's what I try to do. You're very welcome for sharing my words with you and the other readers! And definitely Caskett and family always and forever!),
MsNYC (I have to admit I was a bit confused what 'tho g' meant in your review but I took a guess and think you meant thing? And by that I'm guessing that mini-cliffhanger in between the two halves of the chapter? If so then I'm not surprised you mention that, lol. And I'm so, so glad that you love the slang I've been using for the time period. I'm relieved as well since I don't usually write with that but I'm really grateful to that site I used now that I know someone's thinking that I nailed it which I'm so happy you though I did too of course! I was pleased to see that you think Castle and Beckett both in the past and in present day are the cutest, I think they really could have been even more on the show, lol, so that's why I write them like that here, lol. And definitely not surprised to see your reaction to the flashbacks, but of course I'm glad that you enjoyed them! And so nice to read you thought it was great writing as usual!) and
vetgirlmx (I definitely had to laugh at your finally, I did get your reaction though you just had one exclamation point. But I also wasn't surprised that you had that reaction to what happened in the last chapter either. And not surprised you think that it will be one of the shortest courtships ever, lol, I think it tends towards that from just from how they started out, lol. But I was really happy that you're glad about that and think they deserve it too! I wasn't surprised that you think now they're even more motivated to get the killer to get to go back to each other though of course they do want to get justice for Junior, but what you said does count too, lol. And I'm not surprised you think the family will be thrilled about Rick and Kate being together, or that the family will find out the second they get back to the house, lol. The same with you saying you were interested in Julia's reaction, though that makes sense because as you said she wants it too, so not surprised you want to see that badly. Oh, and another thing I expected was you saying Castle will be doing a lot of research trying to find out who they were in the '20s. To be honest I wasn't really sure about what readers would think about the idea of Castle and Beckett having a past life so to see that you kinda want to see that too was great! And I'm really glad that you think finding the end of the story from the 20's from modern Castle's eyes will be very interesting too! Great that you're impatient to see what happens next as well as wanting to see all of it happening and now you don't need to wait anymore!).
Thanks so much for the reviews, I loved reading each and every one of them and appreciated the time taken to write them out and send them to me!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric of the song Never Get Over You by George Harrison, from his album Brainwashed.
Moments When I Feel Blue
December 10th, 2019
"What are you thinking?" Darnley asked his friend as they sat in front of the koi pond in the garden.
"I don't know how I'm going to be able to take another day of this," Beckett said simply.
"Are you okay?" Darnley asked after cutting himself off as he noticed she was rubbing at her stomach.
"Yes, it's just a habit," Beckett said, looking at him and then down at herself to see what he was looking at. "I did the same thing when I was pregnant with Eliza. If you ask Rick-"
"I will," Darnley said quickly when she cut herself off abruptly. He reached over to her when she buried her face in her hands and told her, "Don't worry Kate."
"No, I'm not it's just too much still," Beckett replied, doing her best not to cry. But she was unable to stop her tears and she let out a sob before she felt Darnley rubbing her upper arm. She turned and hugged him tightly before telling him, "I would still be like this even if I wasn't pregnant."
"You would," Darnley replied. "Kate," he said quickly as he looked up and saw her daughters were coming down the path to them.
"Girls!" Beckett said when she looked up and saw them as well. It only took her a second to register that they were alone and she jumped up, her tears forgotten. "How did you get down here?"
"Nurse Liam brought us," Eliza said. "Don't be mad Mommy," she said.
"Yeah, we won't go on our own," Julia said. "We wanted to be with you now."
"We told Daddy-" Eliza began.
"And we know he would say to go with you-" Julia continued.
"So someone is with you and the baby," Eliza said.
"So we can comfort you," Julia said, looking at her sister since what she had said didn't make sense with Darnley there. "Too," she added, looking at the man.
"Thanks for including me," he said with a smile at them. "And nice of you two to do that."
"Gram says we should have dinner soon," Eliza said softly as Beckett pulled her onto her lap. "Does that mean we gotta go home soon?"
"It does," Beckett replied, kissing her temple. "I'm so sorry sweetie but you'll come back tomorrow."
"Mommy if Daddy wakes up tonight we can see him, right?" Julia asked. She saw her mother was hesitating, so she said in a rush, "We should still get to see him even at night."
Sighing Beckett said, "Alright but if it's really late then I have to let you sleep." She held up her hand when the two were about to protest and told them, "You don't want to be tired when you see him."
"Kay," Eliza said with a sigh.
"Okay," Julia then said with a sigh herself. "Are you okay Mommy?"
"I am, just tired and I'm tired of waiting too," Beckett said. "Did your gram and sister tell you that they'd stay with your daddy while we eat?"
"Yeah and Louis and Grandpapa too," Eliza said first. "We can eat with you?"
"Of course," Beckett replied. "What about Skye?"
"I'm here," the investigator said as she walked up to them. "Martha, Alexis and Louis told me I should just join you, it's getting late. Oh and your father as well Kate."
"Mommy?" Eliza asked as her mother picked her up. "Can we have another story?"
"Maybe," Beckett said with a smile. "What would you like to know?"
"About my first Christmas," Eliza said.
"I told her about it while we were upstairs," Julia said when they went into the hospital and were walking to the cafeteria. "And she wants to know."
"Alright," Beckett said. "But let's wait until we get some food okay?" She was glad when the girls nodded before she went over to the different stations for everyone to grab what they wanted to eat.
"We get to have dessert?" Julia said in surprise.
"Yes, but that's because we're going to walk around the garden after," Beckett said.
"Are you having cravings?" Skye asked her teasingly.
"No," Beckett said. When the investigator just looked at her she said, "Alright, slightly, for some reason chocolate but also orange; I don't know why."
"How can you explain pickles and peanut butter?" Darnley said.
"Gross," Julia said with a laugh.
"Yeah, I agree I never had that," Beckett said. "Which is a relief."
They walked together over to the tables and gathered together before they started to eat, the girls too hungry to remind their mother about the story they wanted to know. After a bit Eliza looked at her sister questioningly before Julia shook her head and they continued to eat.
"So now can we hear about Christmas?" Julia asked a little bit later after she thought their mother got the chance to eat enough.
"Of course," Beckett said. And she began to tell them about Eliza's first Christmas, reliving that day easily as she could recall it perfectly though it had been nearly four years before when the little girl had been almost nine months old.
"This is your first present Lizzy," Julia said to her little sister who was sitting on their father's lap. "Is she gonna open it?"
"We can let her try," Beckett said as the baby was already grabbing at the bow on top of the box.
"Here," Castle said, taking it off and letting her hold it though she was crushing it in her tiny hands as soon as she had it.
"How can she open the present Daddy?" Julia asked him.
"Like that," Castle said when shortly after Eliza was tossing away the bow though it hadn't been intentional. "Make a tear so she can grab onto it," he told Julia.
Doing so the little girl then put the box on her sister's lap as their father held it for her and Julia giggled as Eliza grabbed at the paper, ripping it.
"I think," Martha said, she and Alexis having been watching the four. "That she might need a little help."
"Help us 'lexis," Julia called out to her big sister.
"Are you sure?" Alexis asked with a smile.
"Yeah," Julia said simply.
Beckett shared a smile with Castle as their daughters began to tear off the wrapping paper for Eliza while she watched them with wide eyes. "You can take the cover off the box," she told Julia when the little girl looked at her.
With a wide smile Julia did so and she parted the paper to reveal a stuffed giraffe and she said, "Look Lizzy, you can have one now too!"
"I was afraid she wouldn't like it," Castle said to his wife jokingly.
Rolling her eyes Beckett said, "Hard to believe since you're the one who picked it out." She then looked at their youngest as she was holding the giraffe and beginning to chew on one of its ears. "Now your turn sweetie," she said to Julia.
"I'll get it," Alexis said with a smile, stopping her sister.
As the family went through their gifts under the tree Julia and Alexis would help Eliza rip off the paper covering her presents. The baby would look at her gifts as Julia was holding them up for her to see but she kept holding her giraffe until they had finished and the space under the tree was clear again.
"What's wrong?" Julia asked as Eliza began to whimper before she started to cry.
"She's hungry," Castle said as he started to hand Eliza to his wife.
"I can get her bottle," Beckett replied. She got up before she leaned over and pressed a kiss to the top of his head. "Stay with the girls."
"Are you going with her?" Castle asked as Julia jumped up to her feet.
"Can I?" the little girl asked, wondering if he was going to stop her.
"Yes you can kiddo; he's just teasing you," Martha commented. When Julia had gone out of the room she looked at her son and smiled when she saw he was playing with the giraffe, bouncing it in front of the baby.
"Hey sweetie," Beckett said, looking up and seeing that Julia was joining her. "You got bored with your presents already?"
"No, I wanted to come here with you," the little girl replied. She leaned against where her mother was standing heating up Eliza's milk. "Did you like this Christmas?" she asked as her mother caressed her hair.
"This morning yes," Beckett replied. "There's a lot more to go." She looked down the hall and said, "You too?"
"Me too what?" Castle asked in confusion.
Laughing softly Beckett shook her head and said, "Coffee?"
"For everyone, milk for you Julia," Castle said, adding the last when the little girl gasped interestedly. "What's next for the girls love?" he asked as he was preparing the coffee for his mother and daughter.
"Well I think we can take Julia out," Beckett replied.
"Not Lizzy?" Julia asked in protest.
"For a little," Castle told his wife. "My mother could take her for us and we can spend the rest of our time with Julia."
"Please Mommy?" the little girl said hopefully.
"Alright, but first we need to have breakfast," Beckett said.
"The cin'mon rolls?" Julia said eagerly.
"Yes," Beckett said with a soft laugh at her daughter's tone. "I'll get those after I take this to your sister-"
"I can take it Mommy," Julia interrupted, holding her hand up to her mother. "I'll be careful."
"I know," Beckett replied, handing the bottle to her daughter. She stopped her from walking away and shared a kiss with her before she watched her leave. "You're not afraid you're going to ruin the coffee?" she then said to her husband when she felt an arm wrapping around her waist.
"No," Castle said before he turned her to him and wrapped his arms around her. "Thank you for the books," he told her as she'd given him two of his favorite books in first edition copies.
"And thank you for the picture," Beckett replied as he'd given her a piece of paper that was framed and had the hand prints of their three daughters in black on it with their names in his handwriting underneath.
"I wasn't sure what you'd think of Alexis being included," Castle said slowly.
Brushing her lips against his Beckett said, "Did she mind?" When he shook his head no she smiled and said, "I would have thought it was weird if she did, she is my stepdaughter."
"You still have that don't you Mommy?" Julia asked.
"I do," Beckett said. "Do you remember making it?"
"Yeah, it was so funny… Lizzy's hands were so tiny," Julia said before looking at her little sister.
Smiling at them Eliza said, "Yeah… Mommy are you gonna put the baby's hands on the paper?" as Beckett still had the same picture in hers and Castle's bedroom to the right of their door where there was another table of photographs of just herself and her sisters her parents had gathered ever since that Christmas and when the handprints had been hung up.
"I think we'll need to make another one," Beckett said, smiling gently.
"Will… Will Daddy sign our names like he did before?" Julia asked softly.
"Of course," Beckett replied though she wasn't surprised her daughter had hesitated.
"And will 'lexis put her hands with us?" Eliza asked.
"I hope so," Beckett replied. "We'll have four kids now, so she needs to join in."
"I'm sure she will," Darnley said. "Quick question before you get back to your story… never mind."
Looking at him questioningly Beckett looked behind her where he was looking at before she saw it was her father. "I thought you were going to eat with them," she told him.
"I was going to, but I think I'd be intruding," Jim said with a slight smile, sitting down with his food.
"Mommy's telling us about my first Christmas," Eliza said.
"She's told me about it," Jim said, slightly guiltily.
"It's okay Grandpapa," Eliza told him quickly as he was on her other side. "You're here now."
"Thank you," Jim said. He leaned over to look at his daughter and said, "Keep going I'd love to hear."
Nodding Beckett did so but she did her best to remember to stop around the time Julia went to bed since she and her husband had spent some time alone after that. But that didn't keep her from thinking a little about that night as they'd both had a lot of fun together in the end.
"Alexis said the same thing," Castle replied. "Well, that you're her stepmother but you got it already."
Beckett wanted to comment on that when the machine signaled that it had finished brewing the coffee so she had to let her husband go. She then watched him go to the cappuccino machine and start on their coffee before she said, "But it's a wonderful gift."
"Where would you like to hang it?" Castle asked her.
"Hmm," Beckett said, pretending to think as she was warming up the cinnamon buns. "Our room."
"Oh?" Castle said.
"You don't want to?" Beckett asked in amusement as she watched him working on her coffee rapidly. Before he could answer she got the buns out and onto a tray before she added napkins and five plates.
"No I do, I thought you'd put it in our office," Castle replied.
"Our room, remember that table you got well before we met you kept in the corner?" Beckett asked him.
"Do you want to get rid of it?" Castle asked.
"Why?" Beckett replied.
"Oh… I just thought you'd want something we picked together," Castle explained, working on the foam on the top of his wife's cup.
"Pass," Beckett said. "Not everything needs to be from the two of us; this was your home first."
"Now it's ours," Castle replied, bringing her her drink.
"Nice," Beckett said as he'd made a row of hearts, ascending from large to small. "Come on we need to show Julia."
"Of course," Castle replied simply, following her with the tray that had the rest of the drinks too.
After Julia had seen the artwork her father had made; and had exclaimed over it in her joy; the family settled down to breakfast while Eliza was asleep in her bassinet. When they finished they got dressed and bundled up; including the baby; before they went outside.
"A beautiful day," Martha commented as she watched her son taking Eliza over to the trees along the right edge of the yard where there was still snow on the branches.
"Dada," Eliza said, pointing to one.
"I know, it's pretty isn't it?" Castle asked her, kissing her temple. "Want to hold some?"
"Don't Rick," Beckett told him with a smile. "She might try to eat it."
"Oh, she makes a good point," Castle told the baby; who was looking at him; in a mock serious tone of voice. "Then why don't you try to take a few steps?"
"Go ahead," Beckett said in amusement. "I don't mind, and I know already you're going to hold onto her tight."
"Mommy, can we make a snowman with Lizzy?" Julia asked, coming over to them.
"When she's older," Beckett said. "She's going to need to go inside soon."
"But-" Julia started to say as her father was helping Eliza stand on the snow.
"Your gram is likely freezing," Beckett reminded her. She smiled when her oldest pouted and she hugged her with one arm before Eliza started to babble a little as Castle picked her up.
"I know what that look on your mom's face means," he told the baby. "And that means you need to go inside. But," Castle added as Eliza babbled a little again. "You'll be able to stay outside way longer when you're older."
"Way older?" Beckett asked in amusement.
"You heard me," Castle replied, kissing their youngest before he handed Eliza to his wife.
"You'll have fun with your gram in the house sweetie," Beckett told the baby who held her around the neck though not that tightly. "And we'll come back inside soon."
"Stay warm," Martha told the others as she took Eliza from Beckett. "And if you make a snowman tell me so I can show Eliza from inside."
"We will," Beckett said before her mother in law went inside. "Okay, now we can start," she said with a smile to Julia.
"What's first?" Alexis asked.
"Snowman!" Julia exclaimed before she went to where there was the most snow in the yard so she could begin while the others were following her.
As Alexis and Julia started on their snowman Beckett squeezed her husband's hand that rested on her waist and shared a smile with him before their daughters were getting their attention with their laughter. They went together over to the two and she asked, "Do you need our help?"
"I don't think so," Alexis said with a smile. "She just wants you to see what we make."
"So far I think you've got a good start," Castle said, looking at the shape the two had so far. He then thought of something and said, "Maybe we should help you out."
"Why Daddy?" Julia asked, looking up at him.
"It might take you a little too long," Beckett said, knowing what Castle meant then.
"And then we'd have to go back inside," Alexis said, smiling at her father and stepmother as she knew what they were talking about.
"Oh…" Julia said. "Will you help us?"
"We will," Beckett said first. "Help me with the head sweetie."
"Kay," Julia said, going over to her. "What about to decorate him?"
"It's a him?" Castle asked while he was helping Alexis finish with the body.
"Dad," Alexis said.
"What?" Castle said in surprise, looking at her.
"A him?" Beckett said, knowing what her stepdaughter was talking about already.
"Alright, a he," Castle replied. "And this is why she was my spell check," he directed to his wife. "She took care of grammar too."
"Eventually I stopped," Alexis said with a smile as she saw Julia was looking over at them too. "And he had to take care of himself."
"I don't," Beckett said as her daughter looked up at her. "We look at it together."
"The head's ready," Castle said as he saw Beckett was walking over to them.
"Are you ready?" she asked him.
"Ready for what?" Alexis said in confusion.
"This," Castle said, pulling out a scarf and then a knit cap. "And finally… his nose," he said as he took out a carrot.
"Thanks Daddy!" Julia said happily before they began to decorate the snowman. She was able to use some of the rocks she had picked up with Alexis for buttons, but she was too short to put anything else on it and instead watched her parents and sister. "Is he done?" she asked when they stepped back.
"He is," Beckett said first before she smiled as Julia leaned against her. "Do you like him?"
"Yeah," the little girl nodded. "Oh! Gram and Lizzy."
Looking over with Beckett, Castle watched as his mother soon came to the glass door and nodded to Julia who was in front of her and eagerly pointing at it. "Sledding?" he then asked his wife as he looked at her.
"We-" Beckett started to say when her husband staggered a little next to her. She looked back at Alexis and said, "Nice shot."
"Thanks," the young woman replied with a smile as she'd thrown a snowball at his back.
"Alright, now I know what we're doing next," Castle said in mock annoyance.
Beckett couldn't help smiling when she felt him squeeze her hand gently that he was still holding. And with that she went with him to gather snow to begin their snowball fight against Alexis and Julia since the little girl had joined in as well.
Coming up behind his wife in the mirror Castle commented saying, "Anything wrong with the dress?"
"No, it still fits," Beckett replied. "I thought I saw a loose thread." She smiled as he made her turn around and said, "What?"
"Mind if I help you look for it?" Castle asked. When she gave him a look he said, "I'm trying to be helpful."
"I'm sure you are, and it was just the light," Beckett replied. "I'm fine."
"Then can I at the very least kiss you?" Castle requested.
Beckett laughed softly and then wrapped her arms around his neck tightly before they began to kiss. But before he could make it deeper she carefully pulled away telling him, "That's just a hint."
"A hint?" Castle asked with slightly wide eyes.
"For tonight," Beckett continued.
Shuddering in pleasure Castle said, "Then I can't wait for that. Should we get the girls ready?"
"Yes. Get Eliza and bring her into Julia's room," Beckett told him before she walked over to the door.
Castle went to Alexis' room and stood in the doorway, smiling as his daughter was blowing raspberries on Eliza's stomach and making the baby almost shriek with laughter. "I almost don't have the heart to stop her," he said to Beckett who was behind him as their daughters were all inside the room.
"I think that's enough Dad," Alexis said, pulling down the sweater Eliza had on. "I might make her sick laughing so hard."
"She didn't do it that much," Julia said quickly as she slid off Alexis' bed to her mother. "You look so pretty Mommy."
"Thank you," Beckett said with a smile as Julia ran her hand over the skirt of her black dress she'd worn the first Mother's Day she'd celebrated with her oldest. "Now you need to get dressed."
"We'll be downstairs if we beat you," Castle told Alexis.
"So can we do something with Lizzy after we eat?" Julia asked after they were all inside her room.
"Of course, she got some new toys from Santa, didn't she?" Castle asked her.
"Oh yay!" Julia said, going to where Eliza was sitting in the middle of her bed. She'd been sitting on the edge, but she leaned over and laid down in front of her saying, "Can I play too?"
Watching as Eliza babbled a few syllables and reached down to Julia's hair Castle picked her up quickly and said, "Of course but we won't be playing for too long."
Sighing Julia said, "I wish she wouldn't have to go to bed so soon," sliding off her bed so she could go over to her mother and change.
"When she's older she won't have to," Beckett replied with a smile. She got Julia into her dress and said, "There, you're all set."
"Thank you," Julia said, looking over at her sister.
"She's ready too," Castle said, handing Eliza to Beckett.
"She looks so cute," Julia said as she playfully bounced the end of her sister's skirt.
"You both do," Castle told her with a smile. "They made good choices," he told his wife as they went together downstairs.
"Eliza's was just by chance," Beckett said with a smile.
"I'm glad we don't match," Julia commented, wearing a deep green dress while her sister's was sky blue.
"I wouldn't have let you wear matching dresses," Beckett assured her. "Are you hungry?" she asked as they were walking to the kitchen where Martha and Alexis were already. When Julia nodded she handed Eliza over to her mother in law and she, Castle and Alexis got the food out before they began getting their plates ready and moved to the dining room to eat there.
"This has been a wonderful Christmas," Martha commented after the meal and while they were clearing the table.
"Yeah, the best part was getting to play with Lizzy after we went in the snow," Julia said, carrying her plate to the kitchen.
"That was fun," Castle said, taking the plate so he could wash it. "And you'll get to play now too."
"We'll meet you guys in the family room," Beckett said with a smile before she took Julia's hand and pulled her into the room. She had Eliza on her hip, walking over to the couch to sit with the baby on her lap.
"What do we do now Mommy?" Julia asked interestedly.
"Pick out something for your sister to get to play," Beckett replied.
"I know already," Julia said before rushing to the toys her sister had gotten that morning. "This one now," she said.
"That's a good one," Beckett said as she knew her daughter was asking to check if it was alright. "Help her with it," she then told her before she got up to set Eliza down in front of the armchair nearest the tree so she could sit there and watch them.
"Say what color this is Lizzy," Julia told the baby as she held up one of the shapes to put into the box that went with it.
"I think you should let her know the color first sweetie," Beckett told her with a smile.
"Oh… it's green," Julia said. "Say green Lizzy."
"Gah… bah," Eliza responded after smiling at her sister and mother.
"That's the best she can do for now," Beckett said with a smile as Julia frowned for a moment.
"Then at least she can put it back in," the little girl replied, letting her sister take the square shape.
"What else do you want to play?" Beckett asked her. "You can go get it," she told Julia as the little girl looked unsure. "I'll watch her." She then looked on as her oldest hurried to the other games and then brought back one of them. "Okay," she told her. "But not until everyone gets here." She smiled and couldn't help getting down onto the floor with the two, kissing them both before Eliza held her arms up to her as Castle walked inside.
"Having fun?" he asked as he walked over to where they were and sat with them.
"Lizzy is," Julia said with a smile up at him.
"How's she doing?" Castle asked his wife.
"Alright, her sister has to help her a little bit but that's to be expected," Beckett replied before he leaned over and kissed her tenderly.
"Mommy, Gram and 'lexis are here, can we play the other game?" Julia asked as soon as her parents had parted.
"Go ahead," Beckett said, smiling at her before she watched her bring the toy over to them.
"Really?" Castle asked with a smile.
"Yeah," Julia said.
"Do you want her to crawl around in her dress?" Martha asked as she was sitting on the couch while Alexis had joined the others.
"It's alright," Beckett said. "She's not going to wear the dress for much longer."
"Go ahead and get started," Castle urged Julia who was listening to them.
"It's almost time for her to go to bed," Beckett said when Julia had looked over at her. She leaned against her husband as they watched their three daughters playing the game together, which was a dinosaur that popped out balls for the baby to crawl and pick up. She laughed when her husband grabbed one and held it up before their youngest sat up and held her arm up.
"Here," Castle said. "Just to see how you're doing."
"Come bring it back Lizzy," Julia said. She crawled to her sister and said, "Let's roll it to 'lexis."
Beckett, when her husband wrapped his arm around her, smiled at him and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek before their youngest were crawling to them. She shared a look with Castle and together they went to join their daughters in their game.