"Rick, I don't know about this," Beckett was telling her husband.
"I'll be fine," Castle replied. "I won't be alone remember."
"Yeah Mommy, we're here," Eliza reminded her.
"And I said already I'll press the button if something happens," Julia replied.
"But it won't," Castle said quickly. "Go and take a walk okay? When you come back we'll… do something."
"You didn't think about that did you?" Beckett asked him in amusement.
"Not too much," Castle said simply, nodding his head. He smiled when she laughed and then kissed her when she leaned over to him for that. After they'd parted he watched her leave the room with Darnley and then turned to the girls. "What did you three want to do?" he asked, looking over at Alexis as she was sitting on the side of the bed.
"Did you see anything when you were asleep Daddy?" Eliza asked.
Looking at the little girl in surprise Castle glanced over at his oldest daughter questioningly, thinking she would be able to answer.
"I mentioned that you might dream about something while you were unconscious," Alexis replied.
"Oh, you know I did," Castle said. "And it was a case."
"That's kinda boring," Julia said slowly, wondering if that was it.
"In the year 1926 and in San Francisco," Castle replied.
"Did you see us Dad?" Alexis asked.
For a moment Castle was going to tell her where he'd seen her in particular but then hesitated before he said, "You might be surprised."
"Okay," Alexis said. When her father didn't continue she said, "I would be surprised if you told me Dad."
"You were one of the three kids Kate and I had," Castle said, deciding to be vague as he had wanted to tell Beckett about it first.
"Have you told her?" Alexis asked after she got over the shock of that.
"No, I told her about the case mostly," Castle replied. "So let me tell her that myself."
"Did you solve the case with Mommy?" Eliza asked.
"I did," Castle said. "And this time I was a detective and she was just a civilian."
"Cool," Julia said with a smile.
"That's it?" Castle asked when no one said anything else. "You're not going to ask about it?"
"You said you wanted to tell Kate," Alexis pointed out.
"Thank you," Castle told them with a smile. "So if I'm not telling you anymore about what I saw you need to think of something else for us to do. And this is why I don't like being in this bed; not much we can do."
"Julia can always show her newest steps," Alexis replied. "I mean she can practice."
"I didn't go to practice," Julia said quickly. "I didn't really want to."
"You can now," Castle told her quickly.
Shaking her head Julia said, "I'll go next week 'cause we're gonna go back to school."
"True," Castle replied. "Alright then why don't you guys pick out a game?"
"Okay," Eliza said.
"Hold on," Alexis said to her little sister as she was trying to get off the bed. She went over to the closet and took out the bag of games before she said, "Which one?"
Looking at what there was inside it Castle said, "You've got a lot of choices in there."
"You pick now Daddy," Eliza said.
"Are you sure?" Castle asked. When the two just looked at him he smiled and said, "Alright let's go ahead with Mastermind."
"Who're you going to play with?" Julia asked with a smile.
"With you this time," Castle said. "And Eliza I promise next time I'll play with you."
"Another game," the little girl replied.
"Okay," Castle said. "Julia are you ready for them?"
"Yeah," the girl said with a smile.
As they began to play the game then Castle watched Julia study the colored pegs and he smiled as she murmured to him what colors they might try to put. "Go ahead," he told her, nodding at her choices. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head before he squeezed Eliza's shoulder, turning his attention back to the game once he'd done so.
"Your husband's right you know," Skye said as she smiled at Darnley and Beckett when they reached her.
"I know but I don't feel like being away from him at the moment," Beckett replied. "Which is so sappy."
"And understandable," Darnley pointed out as they walked in a row with her in between himself and Skye. He glanced at his friend when she didn't say anything, and he then said, "What's that smile for?"
Beckett told them the story her husband had said, leaving out the part about them being related there. "I can't believe it's a past life," she ended with. "But it's interesting."
"Very detailed," Skye said. "We were there?" she asked as Beckett had just mentioned it.
"I saved that for last," she said with a smile. "The three of us were related."
"How?" "What?" Skye and then Darnley asked. The latter looked to the former and asked, "You don't find that surprising?"
"Not particularly," Skye said with a shrug before they looked at Beckett who had been watching them.
"We were twin sisters," Beckett said.
"So it was our brother who was shot," Skye commented.
"It was," Beckett replied. "And you were my brother in law."
"How?" Darnley asked, surprised again.
"I believe we were married," Skye said.
"But we were gay," Darnley replied.
"You were but it was to place a façade," Beckett answered. "And you had been lovers with our brother."
"Was I with anyone?" Skye asked.
"Mary," Beckett replied.
"Interesting… also interesting you two were pretty close to how you are in real life," Darnley said.
"That's why I'm not believing it was a past life," Beckett said.
"What if it was?" Skye asked. Her friend looked at her and she said, "As intense as you are you two couldn't be just in one life."
Shaking her head Beckett said, "I'm not going to really worry about that, I'm focused on my husband right now. Speaking of that…"
"We're heading back right now," Darnley said as they were going to the entrance back into the building. "Though I'm really sure he's having fun with your kids."
"Probably," Beckett said with a smile.
"By the way, we're going to take the girls now," Skye commented as they went upstairs then in the elevator.
"Take them where?" Beckett asked, watching them.
"To a playground," Darnley said. "We talked about it; with your guys' parents; and we think they should have a place to run around now that Rick's awake."
Beckett smiled and then said, "I'm not surprised you thought that, but do you think they would go?"
"If you said they should… you and Rick," Darnley said.
"Only if you want them to go though," Skye told her.
"I don't want them to go but I think they need to," Beckett said. "You're right they should have the chance to run around and stretch their legs."
"We'll play with them," Skye said. "So they won't be out of our sight."
"I know you can take care of them," Beckett told the two as they stepped off their floor. "But you don't have to run after them."
"We kind of want to," Darnley said.
"We miss our kids," Skye replied.
"You can head home now, he's just going to be recouping," Beckett said.
"Quickly," Skye said.
"Thank you for that," Beckett told them.
"Don't worry," Darnley replied. "We know you'd do the same for us."
"Okay, we'll tell the girls and see what they want to do," Beckett said as they were nearing her husband's room. "Having fun you guys?"
"Yeah, Mommy guess what?" Eliza asked.
"What?" Beckett said, going to the bed and kissing the top of her head.
"I won with 'lexis in this game," Eliza told her eagerly.
"She's so excited we've been playing this for a while," Castle said with a smile. He shared a kiss with his wife and said, "I almost thought she wanted to play Life that's in there."
"I do," Eliza said.
"But I said maybe we should play it with you Mommy," Julia was quick to tell her.
"Great but not yet," Beckett said.
"No?" Julia asked, sharing a look with her sister.
"Yeah, we want to take you guys to the playground closest to here," Darnley said.
"Two blocks to the west and turn left," Castle said quickly.
"And then bring you back," Darnley added.
"Can we go with you?" Eliza asked shyly.
"Well… yes that's what I said of course," Darnley said, looking at Skye in confusion.
"Just you," Julia clarified.
"Why just him?" the investigator asked. When the girls shared a look she smiled and said, "I think they want to go with you and Alexis."
"Do you mind?" the young woman asked.
"No, I just have to think of something to do now," Skye said.
"Get some tea and have it with us," Beckett said.
"Okay," Skye replied. "Then I suppose you two are going out," she told Darnley.
"I think so," he replied before he watched with her as the girls said goodbye to Castle and Beckett, saying the same to Skye last. Once they were ready Darnley said goodbye to the three, wondering what they'd talk about with their tea.
Looking at the two Skye smiled and said, "I suppose I should have gone with them. Be right back."
When they were alone Castle held his arm out to his wife and she rushed to him, embracing him tightly before he kissed her deeply on the lips. He knew he needed to be careful and they spent some time like that, kissing multiple times before they parted. Staring into her eyes he wanted to ask her something but soon forgot it as she was speaking to him.
"I told them about us being related," Beckett said.
"I had a feeling you would," Castle said with a smile as he was moving her hand then to rest on her abdomen. "What did they think?"
"Patrick was startled but Skye didn't really seem all that fazed," Beckett replied. She smiled and then said, "I think she agrees with you too."
"That doesn't surprise me," Castle said. "I told the girls something about that while I was playing with them. But it's later so I need to tell you the rest."
"Okay but Skye will come back at some point," Beckett told him. "Do you mind telling her at the same time?"
"No," Castle said after thinking about that for moment. "I'll wait. Now come here."
Beckett laughed slightly before she allowed him to pull her in for a kiss which they soon lost themselves to. It went into multiple kisses and she was relieved Skye had closed the door behind her as it was only her knock to come back inside that parted them. "I forgot to ask if he could have some tea," she said when the investigator walked over to them with three cups.
"I did, passed Dr. Bell at the front desk on the way out and she said chamomile was fine," Skye replied. "Now, when people leave you two alone while you're here," she said after she sat on the chair where Beckett had been. "Have them close the door." When she saw the two were looking at her she laughed and said, "Your lips; I can tell."
"Rick was going to tell me more about the dream he was seeing," Beckett said after sharing a look with her husband.
"And you want to tell her with me here?" Skye asked in surprise.
"You were there," Castle said.
"Alright, I don't mind if you don't," Skye replied. "I just have something to tell you two afterwards."
With a nod, wondering what exactly she had to say, Castle then began to tell the two about the case after he and Beckett had left the hotel. He didn't stop until he was at just before he jumped to when he'd proposed to her in Golden Gate Park.
"So you saw Lanie and Ryan together," Beckett told her husband once she'd gotten through what he'd said.
"Not in this life," Castle was quick to tell her. "And Lanie was just using him."
"And she took out her best friend," Skye stated, nodding to Beckett.
"Again, it wasn't this life… consciousness or whatever you want to call it," Castle replied. "Thing is we never suspected the bodyguards which we honestly should have."
"If you'd been in the Army and they had too I believe you must have trusted them," Skye said.
"I'm wondering if we should tell Espo about it," Beckett said. "Especially since he was the killer himself."
"If you do I'd reiterate this was what I saw in my head," Castle said.
"I kind of wish I could have seen it," Beckett then commented. "The bit where she showed up dressed as a man," she clarified, nodding to the investigator.
"It was convincing," Castle said as they looked over at Skye.
"I have done that," the investigator replied with a smile. She reached up to her hair and said, "If I smooth it down enough I can get a wig on."
"And you had a gun," Beckett added.
"It was the twenties; I don't need one now," Skye replied. She looked over at Castle and said, "You stopped before you finished, didn't you?"
Breathing out he then looked at his wife and said, "This was the twenties."
"Yes, I know," Beckett replied. "And I think I know where this is going to go, now start telling us before I quote from Monty Python."
"I can do an ab-fab 'get on with it,'" Skye said with a smile.
"Alright, so the next day we went with Julia over to Golden Gate Park," Castle said. "And I just realized why. Anyways I proposed to you there after we had lunch."
Seeing that both her husband and Skye were looking at her Beckett smiled and told them, "We'd known one another for twenty years so I suppose there wasn't much of a need for a long courtship."
"Did you see when you got married?" Skye then asked.
"Yeah, the day after that," Castle said.
"No surprise there," Skye commented.
"No, I'm not either," Beckett said, shaking her head. She smiled again; at her husband's expression; and then told him, "Did you see that?"
"Yes, it was a little simple," Castle replied.
"I don't mind, I'm assuming where you were I didn't mind it either," Beckett said as he was looking to her in slight concern.
"You were the one who suggested that we get married the next day," Castle said. "You didn't want to wait either," he added with a smile. "But it was simple, May and Brad where there too as our witnesses, and then we went back to the house on Alamo Square and had a wedding brunch as our reception."
"Any further?" Skye asked as he drank from his tea.
"Yeah, my mouth was getting dry," Castle replied. "The last bit I saw was us going on the ferry to Sausalito," he directed to his wife.
"Hard to imagine the city without the bridge," Skye couldn't help comment.
"It is," Castle said. "But everything mainly happened on the San Francisco side of the bay. But after we went towards Bodega Bay and stopped at a cottage of a friend of Brad's."
"Excuse me," Skye said, taking the empty cups with a smile. "I'm not closing the door, so hold off on snogging por favor!" she called to them as she was going out of the room.
"You saw us together there?" Beckett asked.
Shaking his head Castle told her, "We went inside and got our things ready for the next two days…"
When her husband started to swear Beckett asked, "What is it?"
"I forgot, I'll have to tell Skye when she comes back," Castle replied. "We looked at a house that your father and then brother owned… and I guess you after that, in Mill Valley."
"Mill Valley? Isn't that where friends of hers live?" Beckett asked.
With a nod Castle said, "I'd tell her the street the house was on, but I don't know if it'd be there anymore."
"So we moved out there," Beckett said.
"Yes, because your sister and Patrick moved into the house on Alamo Square because Mary could move in too; though she bunked with Skye," Castle replied.
"Bunked?" Beckett asked in amusement.
"Sure," Castle said. "Anyways, at that cottage we walked down the beach and then back and then… decided it wasn't too early in the day to consummate the marriage."
"I'm not surprised," Beckett said wryly. "To tell you the truth I'm surprised we waited when we were in Dublin."
"We were eager to go outside," Castle reminded her.
"True," Beckett said. "Was that when you woke up?" she asked him as they looked over at Skye who walked inside at that moment.
"No," Castle said, watching the investigator sitting down in the chair again. "When I spoke to the voice that sounded like you," he began. "It was like a kind of…"
"Place of limbo?" Skye asked him. When he nodded she said, "Understandable, your mind needed explanations I suppose."
"Essentially that was it," Castle said, looking at his wife. "I told you… it, whatever, that I wanted to see more because I figured out we'd conceived Eliza that night in the hotel."
"And you did," Beckett replied.
"Yes," Castle said as he took her hand; having had his arm wrapped around her up until that point. "It started when you were around… I think six months pregnant, just us settled in Mill Valley." He recalled how he'd forgotten to tell the investigator that and explained it as quickly as he could before he watched her to see her reaction.
"You know the description sounds like Lisa's place," Skye commented. "Except for the room downstairs. But it wasn't that old, so you saw that and…?"
"And then it went to the first of September," Castle replied. "I was with Patrick in the family room and you were having Eliza. Eventually though I ran upstairs, and you were asking for me and you… had the baby."
"Since we all kept our names in what you saw," Beckett said. "I'm assuming we named her Elizabeth."
"Elizabeth Cassia," Castle replied. "Apparently Cassia was my mother's middle name there. See this is where I really think it was a past life; I said my mother had hated her first name so we used her middle."
Beckett had to admit that was strange; since she knew her mother in law didn't mind her name at all; but she then said, "Did you stop there?"
Shaking his head Castle said, "It went to the next year, May, and you were four months with our second."
"Quick," Skye said in amusement as Beckett looked startled. "One question, was I with her when she was giving birth?"
"You and her mother," Castle replied. "That was for Julia's birthday and just the family coming together for it, not much really I can tell you beyond that."
"Judging by the pattern I'm assuming next is when the baby was born," Beckett said.
"Yes, but it wasn't this one," Castle said, touching her abdomen. "It… was… Alexis."
"And that's an issue?" Beckett said studying him.
"I'm not sure," Castle replied.
"It's not," Beckett said. "I think we've established that when she's with us I'm essentially her mother. What did we name her?"
"Alexandra Penelope," Castle said quickly, relieved she seemed to enjoy the idea judging by the smile on her face. "The middle name was your mother's middle name."
"Nice," Skye said. "What about afterwards?"
"It went to Christmas, I guess because it is now here," Castle said. "And the very last thing I saw before I woke up was Thanksgiving of 1929 and you were pregnant with our last; this baby."
"You two were busy," Skye said. She smiled at them and said, "Interesting story. Now I guess by the way you two are looking at me that you want to know my news."
"Story or news?" Castle asked.
"News," Skye said firmly. "I was planning to tell you two when I got here earlier but now is just as good. I've been speaking with some people in Burbank back at home and I'm scheduled to be on the 2020 fall season of Dancing With the Stars."
"You are?" Beckett asked in surprise. "Just like that?"
"Not exactly," Skye said. "They wanted me to be on this past season, but it didn't work out for me; investigations of course. And I wasn't so sure. About all I know is Flamenco, a little of Swing, and I have to wonder how I'd be accepted by the voters because Mary would be with me… a lot."
"Of course," Castle said. "Does this mean we could go to a show or two?"
Seeing the smile on the investigator's face Beckett said, "You want more than that?"
"Just a bit," Skye said. "I can get you front row seats with Mary and our girls for the entire time I'm on. But I want Julia and Peter to hopefully come to see me practice and join in on some dances."
"Do you know who you'll be dancing with?" Beckett asked before the investigator could ask them if it was alright.
"I do, Derek," Skye said. "At my request, but keep that from Julia until it's announce we're not going to tell our girls yet either."
"I thought he retired from the show," Castle commented.
"He's coming back one last season because he wants to meet me," Skye said.
"Funny, we've met your partner before you did," Castle told her.
"Once and a while ago," Beckett said wryly. "And as to Julia going to LA… do you know your schedule?"
"Practice is from Thursday after the show to Monday before it; dress rehearsals," Skye replied. "And I've asked and you two can come and see everything. Three if you come along Rick and four if Peter's allowed to come."
"Nice of you to think of her," Castle said. "Them I mean, but what about school?"
"We could leave Friday," Beckett said slowly. "Leave during lunch and get over there at noon her time, watch practice if they still are and stay until Monday night."
"You think you could do that for possibly eleven weeks?" Castle asked.
"Think of when I'm telling you this Rick," Skye said, standing up and walking to the window. "You can check with her teacher and the school as well."
"Luckily they would allow that," Castle said to his wife.
"Luckily the baby will be born by then; when will you start practice before the premiere?" Beckett asked the investigator.
"Three weeks before so… the second to last week of August," Skye said. "I've already set the time aside with work and I'm ready. To a degree of course."
"You'll be fine," Castle told her. "With Derek?"
"That doesn't mean anything," Skye shot back. "If it did he'd have won every time."
"The other half is votes," Castle pointed out.
"Okay," Beckett said as she had a feeling the two would go back and forth with that for a while. "We'll see how you do when you begin but for now yes, if the school can allow Julia to go then we'll go."
"What about Eliza?" Castle asked her. "She'd want to at least see the show."
"That's what I was thinking," Beckett replied.
"I'd also like to remind you about the baby," Skye said as she'd been listening to them.
"It'll be about four months when the season starts, it'll still need you," Castle pointed out. "Unless," he said before his wife could speak. "We take the baby and Eliza with us."
"Every week though?" Beckett said.
"You have time to think that over," Skye told them. "So go ahead and do that but I should tell you that you two will be coming on stage with me too." She couldn't help laugh at the look the two were giving her and said, "Just in the background to set a scene; I asked and I can do that. Mary will be too; if I make it that far of course."
"We'll see what happens," Beckett said, shaking her head.
"I do have to wonder how you'll do with the costumes," Castle said.
"Oh don't worry, I was firm in the fact I'll be dancing in trousers," Skye said. "It was either trousers or I don't join the cast. And one more thing, Mary requested that she pick out the songs we'll dance to."
"They'll allow that?" Castle asked.
"Yes, because I have no idea what she's choosing," Skye replied. "The only thing I know is that they'll be songs from The Beatles or their solo work."
"In that order?" Beckett asked.
"No," Skye said with a laugh. "I just say those two first as it's more likely she'd choose from there."
"It'll be an interesting season," Castle said.
Skye was going to speak when her phone started to ring, and she took it out of her pocket before saying, "Excuse me."
"I didn't say," Castle said once they were alone with the door closed. "But we were about to make love when I woke up."
"Why does that not surprise me?" Beckett replied. "Since it was the twenties I'm assuming you didn't know what we were having."
"No clue," Castle said. "But it was interesting, though I kept asking when I was in that other place when I could go back and saying I wanted to as well."
"And now you're here," Beckett told him.
"I am," Castle replied. "And I'm insanely happy to be." He became a little thoughtful for a moment and said, "When we have dinner tonight I want the girls to be with us."
"Alright," Beckett said. "What was Alexis' reaction when you told her about her being our child?" she asked him as he'd said previous he'd told the girls that.
"She was fine with it, actually she wasn't all that surprised," Castle answered. "By the way, where are they?"
"I'll find out," Beckett said with a smile before she leaned over him enough to grab her phone. But before she could call Darnley's number she kissed her husband, not surprised when they made it deep at the same time as they held onto each other tight.
"Alright Mr. Castle," Bell said as she watched him sit on the side of the bed. "You can try and stand but allow us to hold onto you just in case."
"Is this weird? I only woke up…" Castle began to say.
"Ten hours ago," Beckett said, looking at her watch quickly.
"You were only out for two, two and a half days so no I don't think so," Bell replied. "I need to check on your knee at this point, with the way you responded to the exercises with Nurse Liam I think you can walk just fine."
"Okay," Castle said, smiling at his wife as she looked slightly concerned. He slid off the bed as the nurse and doctor held onto him and he placed his full weight on the floor. Since he hadn't used his legs for a while he staggered a little bit before he got his balance back.
Beckett watched her husband closely as he walked a few steps, grimacing when he put weight on his bad knee. "It hurts?" she asked him before the doctor could.
"Yeah, it feels like it's straining," Castle replied.
"You have a brace you said?" Bell asked him.
"He does, I had someone bring it," Beckett told her.
"Okay, you can head back to the bed," Bell told him.
Though he didn't want to Castle did so and once he was leaning back again he said with a sigh, "Any idea now when I can go home?"
"I'll see if I can let you go on Saturday but for now, still Sunday with how your knee is actually walking on it," Bell replied. "Don't try to push yourself and you might be able to."
"I'll make sure he doesn't," Beckett said with a smile. She and her husband said goodbye to both the doctor and nurse before she texted her father that they could bring the girls and their dinner up. "I feel bad," she told him with a smile. "I could go and help them."
"I'm sure Skye and Patrick will help him," Castle assured her, reaching out to her to take her hand. As soon as he was holding it he pulled her close and they shared a brief kiss before he told her, "I wish I could go home now."
"I do too but we'll get to this weekend very soon Rick," Beckett replied, kissing him gently again. Shortly after there was a knock on the door and she turned to see that Skye and Darnley were there with two full trays. Before she or her husband could say anything, his dinner was being rolled in and for a while they were busy getting everything ready once hers and Castle's friends had left them.
"So," Castle began after they'd been eating for a little. "There's something we wanted to tell you girls. Well… Skye really."
"What is it Mommy?" Eliza asked as he'd looked over to her.
"Skye told us that next year in the fall she's going to be on Dancing With the Stars," Beckett said. She smiled when Julia dropped her fork on her plate and said, "She let us tell you."
"Oh… but school's going to be going on then," the girl said with a sigh.
"It is but Skye asked specifically for you to go," Castle commented.
"She did but… why?" Julia asked, elated before she became confused.
"She wants to let you have the chance to learn from another professional besides your teacher and maybe be in some dances with her. You and Peter," Beckett said.
"Who's she dancing with?" Julia said, stunned at the idea. "Oh… wait maybe she doesn't know."
"Not yet," Castle said.
"But you will find out," Beckett continued as Julia playfully looked impatient.
"But I can watch them practice?" Julia asked.
"And perform, Skye will save us seats in the front row," Castle said.
"So we can really go? Even with school?" Julia asked.
"We talked about it and we'll likely be home schooling you," Castle replied. "Even though we'll be out of town of course."
"It'll only be about a day and a half," Beckett said. "And temporary. And of course you'll make sure you keep up."
"Oh I will, I promise," Julia said earnestly.
"What about me?" Eliza asked, raising her hand then.
"And the baby?" Julia asked as she recalled that herself.
"We'll need to figure that out," Beckett said. "But we have a good amount of time to do that. Before Skye leaves you should show her some steps."
Julia frowned, as she was chewing at that moment, and once her mouth wasn't full she said, "That would be cheating."
"You want her to wait until she starts practicing with her partner?" Beckett asked her with a smile.
"That would be better," Julia said with a firm nod.
"Well there goes my suggestion that we show her," Castle said to his wife.
"Show her what? We haven't danced for a while now, so I think she's better off learning from Skye's partner," Beckett replied, shaking her head though she was smiling at the same time. "But Eliza, you can come see the shows on Monday, either your gram or grandpapa-"
"Or both," Castle said quickly.
"Or both," Beckett said in amusement. "Will bring you out to LA and we'll fly back that night."
"That's going to be interesting love," Castle said to her.
"I know," Beckett said, aware he was thinking of the Tuesday after. "But that just means we need to sleep on the plane going back."
"We will," the girls said at the same time.
Castle began to laugh before he calmed down and said, "What if the baby joins them in that?"
"I don't think it's an if," Beckett replied with a smile.
"You're probably right," Castle said.
"What are we gonna do after we eat?" Julia asked then.
"I think we should play a card game with everyone," Beckett said. "Since the five of us ended up playing on our own earlier."
"We have UNO," Eliza suggested.
"We can play that," Castle told his wife.
"We'll need to bunch up the tables," Beckett said, looking at his bed.
"It can be done," Castle said quickly.
"Alright, here," Beckett said, standing up. "I'll text them, can you check and make sure we didn't drop anything girls?"
"The bed's clean," Castle asked as he'd checked it quickly.
"The floor is clean too," Julia told her mother.
"They're coming back up," Beckett replied, reading her phone then. "Except for Skye and Patrick, they're going to stay in the cafeteria a little longer; leave the room for family."
"Did you tell them they're basically family?" Castle said. "Especially after earlier and what we told them."
Smiling as her husband had told everyone about what he'd seen; except for the more personal things; Beckett said, "Patrick anticipated me on that, he said it's a nice thought but they'll let us have tonight. They're also going to talk to their families and they'll come up to say goodnight."
"Okay," Castle said before there was a knock at the door. He lay back against the bed as he watched the others in their family enter, smiling as Alexis came over to him and kissed his cheek. He looked on while they pushed the tables together and gathered enough chairs for everyone but the girls. Though he didn't think they would have him do so he was soon taking half of the deck of cards. After he had dealt out a hand to everyone he settled back to begin their game, looking around at everyone and feeling relieved yet again that he was back.
"I'm so happy you're awake Daddy," Eliza was saying as she and her sister hugged him together.
"I was thinking the same thing all through our games," Castle replied.
"That was fun," Julia commented.
"It was," Castle said in agreement, a smile on his face. "But I love you two, sweet dreams tonight and I'll see you tomorrow of course."
"Get rest Daddy," Eliza said, hugging her tighter around the neck.
"I will," Castle promised. "Believe me I want to get home sooner than Sunday if that's possible."
"You will," Julia said.
Laughing a little Castle said, "Thanks for your confidence."
"I love you Daddy," Eliza told him then before she shared a kiss with him.
"I love you too Daddy," Julia then said before sharing a kiss with him. They both took turns hugging him before she and Eliza got down from the bed with their mother and Alexis' help and then watched as their sister went to their father.
"We'll see you tomorrow Dad," Alexis told him as she embraced him tightly. "And like Eliza said get rest, I love you."
"I will," Castle said. "Goodnight sweetheart, I love you too."
Going over to her stepmother Alexis looked on as Beckett sat down in her chair before pulling the girls over to her. She smiled as they embraced her together, neither one going on her lap.
"We want to be careful Mommy," Eliza said at her mother's look to them both.
"Oh really?" Beckett asked with a smile. "The baby will be okay."
"Still," Julia said before she and her little sister hugged their mother at the same time. "I love you Mommy."
"I love you too Julia," Beckett said, sharing a kiss with her. She did the same with Eliza and said, "And you, I love you Eliza."
"I love you Mommy," the little girl said with a smile. "Are you happy Mommy?"
"Very," Beckett replied. She embraced them a final time and stood, about to hug her stepdaughter when the young woman spoke before she could do that.
"Mind if we talk outside?" Alexis asked her.
"No, Rick…" Beckett said, turning to him then.
"I'll be fine, leave the door open," Castle replied. He smiled and waved at the girls before he lay back, wondering what exactly his daughter wanted to talk to Beckett about.
"Is this about the story your dad told us?" Beckett asked Alexis once they were in the waiting room and the girls were looking out the window.
"It is… what do you think?" the young woman asked, studying her closely.
"I don't mind," Beckett said. "But really it sounds like it was just a dream."
"I don't think so," Alexis said. She studied her stepmother's expression and said, "That doesn't surprise you."
"No, I'm aware you're interested in Hinduism and that's a belief," Beckett said. "Reincarnation."
"What if it was true and Dad saw our names now? Cassia? Penelope? That could very well be from that time period. And knowing Dad as long as I have he's never used those names," Alexis said.
"No, he hasn't," Beckett replied. She smiled at her stepdaughter's questioning look and told her, "I've read all his books and helped him write the last five." She shook her head and said, "If it's at all possible and you were our third child then I can trust your father when he said we were happy with you." She then said, "I told him and Skye earlier that essentially when you're with us I stand in as your mother."
"Dad said you told them you are my mother," Alexis corrected her.
"I should have known," Beckett said, another smile on her face. "Then you don't mind either and I'm assuming this is you checking to see if I'm serious."
"You're good," Alexis said. "It was nice to hear though I wonder what happened after the baby was born in 1930."
"I do too," Beckett replied. "Since that would have put us all in the Great Depression. Take them home, they need to get some rest now."
"I will," Alexis said with a smile. "Goodnight Kate, love you."
"I love you too Alexis, night," Beckett said. She embraced the girls one last time before she smiled and watched them leave before walking swiftly back to the room.
"I'm alright, just watching TV," Castle said, smiling at his wife when she closed the door behind her.
Looking up at the screen Beckett smiled when she saw it was a rerun of DWTS and she said, "Hard to believe we'll be there."
"Especially since it's that far away," Castle replied. He turned off the TV as his wife sat on the edge of the bed next to him and he told her, "You realize she planned that you yourself could go."
"I did," Beckett replied. "When she said it was the fall season and not the spring. I think she wants us to really be in the background… oh."
"Mary," Castle said. When his wife nodded he said, "She might be embarrassed but you know she might run over and hug her; a lot of stars do that."
"That's only for a second," Beckett said. "But yes, if we're asked we'll be in the background. I'm going to ask for one thing though."
"To go up to the Sky-box?" Castle asked. When she nodded he said, "Me too, I'd love to see it."
"And we're taking Julia," they said together at the same time.
"I get the feeling she'd run up there on her own," Becket said with a smile. "How's your knee?"
"It's good," Castle replied as he'd put his brace on before dinner. "I guess I'll test it out tomorrow… hopefully Dr. Bell will let me use the cane too, see how that goes."
"Maybe," Beckett said with a smile. "I'm going to change okay?"
"Does that mean we need to go to bed? It's early and I'm not tired," Castle said as she got off the bed.
"No, we can stay up a little longer," Beckett said. "We do have a deck of cards."
"I'm not sure I'll be able to play strip poker, I have very little on," Castle said as he watched her grabbing her pajamas.
Giving him a look over her shoulder Beckett said, "Put the TV back on."
Castle laughed slightly but he didn't turn it on as she'd suggested, instead he wondered about their family in the twenties he'd seen. But he couldn't really get past the last he'd seen of them and he was glad he wasn't still looking up at the ceiling when his wife walked out to him. "What are we going to play?" he asked as she was picking up the deck of cards.
"I figure poker," Beckett replied.
"Why don't we play War instead?" Castle asked. When she looked at him questioningly he smiled and told her, "I want to take it easy."
"Okay," Beckett said slightly laughingly. She was about to shuffle when her husband grabbed her arm and she looked at him questioningly before he spoke.
"Do you think I could see…?" Castle asked her.
It took Beckett another moment to realize what he meant but she smiled once she did, leaning over to share a kiss with him before she got up. Since it had been uncovered she went to the window, drawing the curtains over it before she went back to her husband. "There isn't that much difference," she said as she uncovered her abdomen for him.
"I don't know," Castle said, studying it. "There seems to be more of a curve," he said as he ran his hand over it.
"There probably would be," Beckett said with a smile, watching him cupping his hand over her. "Alright, let me fix my clothes," she said after he'd been caressing her for a while.
"Sorry, I couldn't help it," Castle replied.
Watching him yawn she said, "Maybe you are tired."
"I think it's because I haven't really moved," Castle replied. "Maybe for twenty minutes?"
"Alright," Beckett said. "But if you're too tired to continue just tell me."
"I will," Castle said as he watched her shuffle. "I wonder why we stopped playing this game when we grew up. And I know we play with the girls but the two of us?"
"Do you ever want to try and work stripping or else truth or dare into that?" Beckett asked.
"I don't know that we can really call it truth or dare," Castle said.
"It's good enough," Beckett said, taking the two cards they'd just set down as they'd begun to play. "Would you?"
"Maybe one day," Castle replied. "I don't know I'm not feeling the urge to do that."
"I'm not either," Beckett said. She looked at him and said, "What?" as he was looking at her in concern.
"You said you slept right?" Castle asked.
"Yes, but it's more I'm tired because I've been worried about you," Beckett replied. "I fell asleep last night next to you," she told him. She smiled slightly when he took all their cards and handed the deck to her and said, "Though I'm sure you don't want me to do that now."
"No," Castle said. "But lying next to me won't hurt."
"No," Beckett said with a laugh as she straightened the deck and got up to put it away. She took off her robe once she was next to the bed and climbed on before her husband wrapped his arm around her. Pressing her cheek to his shoulder she murmured, "I hated it."
Squeezing her arm gently; as he knew she meant him not being awake to hold onto her; Castle said, "I can't imagine what you went through love."
"It wasn't your fault," Beckett told him quickly as she'd heard the guilt in his voice easily.
"No but I wish…" Castle started to say. He shook his head and then said, "At least I'm awake now."
Beckett nodded and raised her head before she kissed him on the lips gently before her husband was holding onto her a little tighter and they deepened the kiss together. She could feel that he was stronger than he'd been when the day had begun, and she felt relieved. But she knew he needed some rest so when they parted she told him, "I should go."
"Not yet," Castle said, rubbing her arm gently. "I'm not sleepy yet."
Beckett smiled before she then tilted her head back and told him in Irish, "Welcome home my love."
"I'm so glad to be back love," Castle replied, and he leaned down to kiss her once more.
Responding to him eagerly Beckett held onto him tightly, relishing the fact that he did the same to her. When they finally parted she pressed close to him and whispered, "I love you."
"I love you too," Castle said immediately though he didn't whisper. He reached down to her and tilted her up so he could kiss her once more, seeing her ready for him which made him elated just before their lips met.
Castle and Beckett kissed one another for some time after that, forgetting their slight fatigue as they took the chances they'd missed since he'd left for the market on Monday. And as they parted and murmured to each other they knew they'd still be making up as they woke up to the next day together.