"Comfortable Rick?" Beckett asked her husband with a smile.
"Yep, why don't I look like it?" Castle asked, looking up at her.
"I'm just checking," Beckett replied with a smile. She sat on his side of the bed and reached over, gently running her fingers through his hair that she could reach. "How's your knee?" she asked as he grabbed her hand and then kissed at the palm.
"Good, I'm not going to run any races but I can make it to the lights," Castle said before he pushed himself up. "I need to get changed, don't I?" he asked her.
"Yes, I brought your clothes," Beckett said, nodding over to the table behind their bed.
Castle glanced over to it as he pushed himself to the edge of the bed and he said, "Now you're dressing me?"
"If you don't like what I picked out…" Beckett said. She cried out a little when he suddenly grabbed her, pulling her onto his lap which made her laugh. "I trust you when you say you're feeling better but those were just your arms," she said, trying to stop laughing.
"My very muscular arms," Castle said.
"Now you're fishing," Beckett told him.
"Now I'm kissing you," Castle replied before he leaned over just enough so he could crush his lips to hers. He held onto her tightly and even though he felt the first stirrings of his arousal he didn't stop until they were jerking away from one another, gasping for air. "I miss you love," he told her seriously.
"So do I," Beckett said, nodding her head. "But we'll have a chance soon, very soon. Now you need to get better and then we'll be…"
"Amazing?" Castle supplied. He smiled when she did in reaction to him and they leaned towards one another before they kissed. They were gentle that time and didn't spend that much together, pulling apart slowly. He caressed her hair with his free hand and he told her, "I love you Kate."
"Hmm, I love you too Rick," Beckett said, caressing his cheek with her hand. She pressed her lips against his for a moment before they parted and she said, "We can do this tonight."
"We can," Castle told her quickly and eagerly.
"Then we have tonight," Beckett said.
"We do," Castle replied, letting her stand up before he followed and went around, limping as he didn't have the cane on him. He then leaned against the table, watching his wife reach for his shirt, pulling it off before she spoke to him and got his attention immediately.
"I'm kind of enjoying this," Beckett told her husband.
"I'm not surprised," Castle replied, putting on the shirt she handed to him. "But you're not going to need to do it for too long."
"No but I'll enjoy it while I can," Beckett replied as she held him by the arm so he could put on his trousers. "I'm going to miss Skye," she said as she watched him tucking in his shirt.
"I know but we'll see her soon I'm sure," Castle said. "And Patrick will be back really, really soon."
"I know, this Friday," Beckett said. "I'm hoping though that it won't be snowing while they're here. At least not the whole time."
"Yeah you want to have a white Christmas of course," Castle said, not surprised when she rolled her eyes. He reached for her then and kissed her gently before he said, "Let's go?"
"Yes," Beckett said with a smile before she went over to grab his cane to hand it to him. She walked with him out into the hall and they headed downstairs as they could hear their daughters talking with someone in the family room.
"When will we get to see you again?" Julia was asking Skye at that moment. "I hope not until next fall."
"Oh no, I'm sure I'll see you guys… sooner than that," the investigator said, trailing off as she saw Castle and Beckett walk inside. "Mary and I might try and bring the girls to see the baby once it's born," she said, looking at Beckett.
"Come for a weekend," she said immediately.
"Yeah, she's right we wouldn't mind having you over," Castle said quickly. "Especially for that."
"I'll take you up on that," Skye replied.
"Mind if I do the same?" Darnley asked, walking up behind them then.
"Of course, would you be able to bring Maddy and Keo?" Beckett asked him.
Pausing before he could answer; since Eliza had gasped in joy at the idea; Darnley said with a smile, "I would try; I'll talk to Trev about it. We need to get going."
"I think everyone else is coming down," Castle said, going over to the doorway and listening, hearing that they were. He let everyone else walk by him to go to the foyer before he followed and watched as Skye and Darnley began saying goodbye to them all starting with Louis first.
"You two will be happy with whatever the baby is right?" Darnley said to the girls after he'd said goodbye to Alexis.
"Yeah," Julia said.
"It's our…" Eliza started to say, looking over at her parents.
"Sibling," Castle suggested.
"Yeah," Eliza said with a nod.
"Okay, so you're excited right?" Darnley asked. When the two smiled he hugged them tightly before telling them, "Me too, so let's see what happens on Monday when we all find out."
"Kay," Eliza said with a smile. "Can you say hi to Maddy and Keo for me?"
"Us," Julia said rapidly.
"Of course, and Trevor too," Darnley said as he stood up.
"I'll add to that," Skye said, coming over to the girls to hug them as well. "I'll miss you two, but we'll talk I'm sure. And keep writing to my girls Julia."
"I will," the girl said with a smile. "Have a safe trip."
"Thank you," Skye replied before she stood herself and turned to watch Darnley shaking Castle's hand.
"Take care of yourself," the man said. "I want you here to take care of Kate since she's almost five months."
Glancing at his wife, Castle did his best not to smile at how she was rolling her eyes before he said, "I want to do the same-"
"If she needs it," both Castle and Darnley said at the same time.
"Thank you for that at least," Beckett said wryly.
"Ah Kate, luckily I'm not going to be away for too long," Darnley said as he turned to her.
"Good thing," Beckett replied, wrapping her arms around his neck tightly as they embraced. "Thank you so, so much," she said seriously in a whisper. "I would have been…"
"I know, it's why I did that," Darnley replied. "I couldn't let you go through it without me." He glanced behind at the others and said, "That's not an insult to you," he told them.
"We know, you two were close when you were in the Academy," Jim said.
"I'll be back soon," Darnley said firmly to Beckett when he turned back to her.
"Give my love to Trevor and your kids," she told him as they let go of each other.
"I will," Darnley said. "And I can't wait to hear what this is."
"Here," Beckett said with a soft laugh as he was looking at her stomach. She pressed his hand to it for a moment before hugging him one last time. "I can't help but wish you lived here," she told him, tears in her eyes.
"Me too but we'll talk and see each other as much as possible," Darnley assured her before he let go of her. "And I'll be back soon."
Shaking Castle's hand warmly Skye told him, "You've heard it already but I'm sure you'll make sure you take care of yourself for your wife and kids."
"I will, and thank you for the gifts," Castle replied.
"You're welcome but please wait to open those," Skye said. "We're doing the same with yours."
"Kate will make sure we do," Castle said laughingly before they embraced briefly.
"Like Patrick said we're eager about the baby too," Skye said to Beckett as they were hugging. "And take care of yourself and all of that."
"You too," Beckett said with a laugh after they'd parted. "Safe trip."
"Thank you, goodbye everyone," Skye said.
The family watched the two get into their car and then leave the driveway, the gate closing behind them. When it was they walked out to the garage to split up into two cars to begin making their way over to the restaurant at the edge of town where the other families were.
"It's funny," Castle said, looking around at all of them when they were nearing the end of the meal. "I thought we'd be pushed into the middle of the room."
"There are a little too many of us," Beckett replied as they'd been separated into different booths. She and her husband were at a booth with their daughters, Alexis and Louis with her father and Martha at another. The other two families were sitting at their own booths so they weren't able to talk to them, but she didn't mind and looking at the girls as her husband was widening his eyes at them she could tell they didn't either. "Are you guys ready to get going?" she asked the girls, looking down at Julia next to her.
"Yeah," Eliza said.
"I feel weird," Julia commented.
"Why?" Castle asked.
"I didn't bring my camera," Julia explained.
"You said you wanted to wait for when everyone got here to do that," Beckett replied. "And I'm doing the same thing."
"Yeah, but it'll be cool to just walk around and see the houses," Julia replied. She then smiled and said, "And you can walk with Daddy."
"I won't need help," Castle said as he watched his wife leave her credit card to pay for the meal. "I'll remind you that I can walk."
"I'll still stay with you," Beckett told him with a smile.
Castle smiled at her and then said, "I'm looking forward to that."
As soon as she had her card back Beckett got out of the booth and watched Julia get down from the seat before she watched her husband to check on him. "Did you make up your mind Martha?" she asked her mother in law when she'd walked over to her.
"I'll join you but only because Jim let me know that you'll be walking with Richard," Castle's mother replied. "I'll help watch the girls."
"Okay," Beckett replied before she saw the Fosters and Davises had gotten up as well. "We'll park across the street," she told them.
"Hopefully that idea of the snow keeping them away works," Brad commented.
"We forgot to tell you but we're going to have to leave early," Rebecca said to Beckett.
"We had a feeling," Castle said as they walked together to the entry. "Do you want us to take Mari back home?"
"Yes," David said, looking at his oldest. "I know you'd like to spend the night honey, but this is the first night Rick's back at home so let them have their night together."
"Another night," Beckett said.
With a sigh; though she'd expected that; Mari nodded her head and said, "Okay. At least I get to stay with you and see the lights."
"I know," Julia said as she'd been talking to her. "For now we have to get there." She smiled when Mari started to laugh and then went over to her family so they could get outside to their cars and go to the neighborhood nearby.
"Are we staying close together?" Lily asked when they had gathered on the corner of the street.
"We are but we might be a little slower," Beckett told her.
"That's alright," Brad said. "There's a reason for that."
"And your daughters will be looked after," David added.
"We won't be that far behind you all," Castle said, his voice tinged with amusement. "You guys are making me sound like a turtle."
"A very tall one," Brad said, laughing when his friend immediately shoved him aside. "Now I really know you're better."
"Let's go before we lose time," Rebecca told them. "Or before Ruby does."
"You know," Martha told the woman as they began to walk down the sidewalk. "I can take her to the house and you can pick her up."
"I suppose we can do that," David said, looking at his wife.
"We can," Rebecca replied with a smile. "Though I'm guessing you're using it as a chance to go inside sooner?"
"Just slightly," Martha replied, looking back at her son and daughter in law who had fallen to the back of their group.
"No hat to tip," Beckett told her husband as she saw the others had stopped in front of the house.
"And we know these people mostly," Castle replied as a few had stopped him to shake his hand and tell them they were glad he was better.
"That's true," Beckett said. "It's nice of them to say but I'm still not happy with the media."
"They're gone now," Castle said, squeezing his wife's hand reassuringly.
Beckett nodded, looking at the house they had stopped at and smiling as Julia and Eliza hurried over to them. "Nice so far?" she said, smiling at them as they came to embrace her.
"Yeah, are you okay Daddy?" Julia asked, looking up at him.
"I'm good," Castle replied with a smile as the girl went over to him to hug him carefully. He was going to say something when he paused and said, "It's a little early for dessert."
"I am worried about you Daddy," Julia said, smiling as she had wanted to say something about that eventually.
"I know, thanks for leading off with that," Castle said leaning down enough so he could kiss the top of her head.
"We will get something but further on," Beckett said as they were continuing then. The two hurried ahead to their grandfather and she waited for Castle to come up to her before she took his hand, squeezing it tightly. "How's the snow?" she asked him.
Looking up at the sky; though because it was dark he couldn't really see it; Castle paused for a moment before he then said, "I think we're okay still."
"Let me know if we won't be," Beckett said, slipping her arm through his and then reaching up to hold the upper part of his arm.
"Of course," Castle said, smiling down at her. "I missed this."
"Walking or me with you?" Beckett asked.
"Both?" Castle said.
Beckett nodded before she said, "Either one I didn't mind, but you're going to need something to keep yourself occupied while you're still using the cane and they're in school," nodding to the girls.
"Yeah, I've thought of that myself because the appointment on Monday's only going to take so long," Castle replied. "We can do something together right?"
As they were coming up to another house Beckett couldn't reply verbally, only nodding to her husband before they stood with the others and looked at the house while she squeezed his arm gently.
Castle smiled and said, "I love that they don't mind these houses are essentially the same."
"I know," Beckett replied with a smile herself. "And it's been a year; they forgot."
"They did," Martha said, walking back to them.
"Are you alright Mother?" Castle asked her.
"Oh yes, I came to check on you," Martha told him.
"I'm good, a little bit cold but that's mostly because we stopped," Castle replied. He glanced at his wife and then said, "We're keeping each other warm."
"We are," Beckett said, knowing that she was lucky her cheeks were already a little pink from the cold. "Do you want to walk with him?" she then asked as she'd seen the rest of the group was continuing.
"No," Martha said. "Stay with him."
"I think your mother just ordered me," Beckett said in amusement as they began to walk.
"She knows you're my best medicine," Castle commented.
"You don't want to change that?" Beckett asked.
"No, I'm good," Castle said with a smile. "Listen I've been thinking about what we could do and I'm thinking the baby's room."
Sighing Beckett said, "I thought you would say that but you-"
"We have the furniture coming, the crib and if I sit on the floor, I mean the bed, I can put that together," Castle said quickly as they were stopping again.
"Alright," Beckett said. "But we'll take breaks and ask David and maybe Rebecca to help us again with the furniture."
"You won't do anything strenuous, will you?" Lily asked, walking over to them.
"No," Beckett replied with a smile. "We'd ask you and Brad but since you'll be off-"
"We'll come over," Brad said immediately. "We wouldn't mind helping this time around."
"Good because we're going to be out," Rebecca said. "We have some paperwork to finish up before the holidays."
"And they're going to be the godparents, right?" David asked.
"Unofficially," Castle said quickly.
"You're all its aunt and uncle," Beckett said. "Aunts and uncles."
"Unofficially too," Brad pointed out.
"We have no siblings," Castle said, glancing at his wife. "So I think it's official enough."
"Mommy, can I walk with you and Daddy?" Eliza asked, hurrying to them.
"Of course, sweetheart," Castle answered before his wife could. He watched her take the little girl's hand and as they were walking again told her, "As soon as I can I'll hold your hand."
"I know Daddy," Eliza said with a smile. "Are you having fun?"
"A ton," Castle said in a slightly exaggerated tone before he smiled at her giggle. "Are you?"
"Yep," Eliza said. When they stopped again she hurried to her father and hugged him before saying, "Thanks Daddy!"
Beckett smiled at her husband before she said, "I guess they want to stay with you just long enough."
"I guess… tomorrow we'll stay in, right?" Castle asked.
"Mmm-hmm," Beckett replied with a smile. "If it's snowing we're going to need to. And don't ask if we can go outside, you need to stay in because if you slip in the snow…"
"I will love, don't worry," Castle was quick to reassure her before he kissed her temple when they stopped again.
Leaning against him a little Beckett watched as the girls spoke to the other kids about the house they were in front of which had some Star Wars stuff in the yard. "We saw," she said as Julia came over to them.
"She's right, they're really nice," Castle said as those decorations were new. "I'm impressed by their Chewbacca."
"Me too," Brad said, walking over to them. "Though the Boba Fett is really good too. Hey, whatever happened to the one you had?"
"It's in storage," Beckett answered before her husband could as they continued. "But that was his choice."
"It scared Eliza when she was younger and we went to the city," Castle said. "Which I suppose it would do being life sized."
"Impressive," Brad told his friend. When Castle looked at him he smiled and said, "You grew up, I figured you'd have to be out of the place for someone to take that thing out."
"My daughter's more important," Castle said quickly. "Also my wife."
"I never liked it," Beckett said with a smile. "But I wasn't going to really tell him to get rid of it."
"Oh, I think we're coming to the hot chocolate," Jim was saying to his granddaughters as he was walking behind them.
"I'm gonna go ask them," Eliza said before hurrying back to them. But before she could get too far she paused and said, "Can we have dessert?"
"Yes, we've been walking for a while now," Castle said.
"Plus, your daddy wants some hot chocolate," Beckett said before she smiled at him.
"Thank you love," Castle replied. He leaned over and kissed her tenderly on the lips before he said, "Let's get in line."
"Hey Dad," Alexis said, walking over to him. "How are you?"
"Good, I think walking is helping me now," Castle said. "Also, the fact Kate doesn't mind walking slowly."
"She wants to make sure you get better," Alexis told him.
"How's Louis enjoying this?" Castle asked.
"He's amazed," Alexis replied as they stepped closer to the table where the family was selling drinks and food. "He's never really seen anything like this; the lights in London he has but this is different of course."
"And now he's seen the lights of the city," Castle told her. "Our city."
With a smile Alexis said, "He liked those too."
Castle nodded before they came up to the people selling the items and he ordered for them all. Luckily the rest of his family came over to help and once they had they stood with the Davises and Fosters for a while to drink and eat what they'd gotten.
"You're going to work on the baby's room soon?" Jim asked his daughter.
"We're going to make the attempt on Monday," Beckett answered after drinking some of her cocoa. "I forgot you and Martha will be here too, you can help us," she said as her mother in law had turned to them at what Jim had said.
"I would love to," Martha said. "But what do you have?"
"We have a few things here and there," Castle said first with a smile. "But you'll see."
"Is it time for Dani to go home?" Mari asked as she watched her father go over to Martha.
"Yes, I hope it's alright," David said.
"Of course," Castle's mother replied with a smile as she took the toddler. "We'll be back at home."
"Hold on Mother, the cab-" Castle started to say.
"I'll take care of it," David said. "Keep going I'll catch up with you."
With a nod Castle watched Martha, David and Dani leave them before he turned to Beckett who was walking back to him. "I was so caught up with the baby's room I forgot that we have more free time."
"I thought the same but why don't we find a hobby," Beckett said. She wasn't surprised when he laughed, and she said with a smile, "I know, we say that every time we take a break around the holidays but this time we should really do something."
"Learn how to make macramé?" Castle asked her. When she looked at him he said, "No? Then what about playing card structures? No? Knitting?"
"You wouldn't knit," Beckett said in amusement.
"Then what?" Castle said. "I mean there's something we can do."
"I was thinking," Beckett said slowly. "What if we tried developing our own pictures?"
"You've brought that up before, but you always decided not to in the end," Castle told her.
"I think this time I'd like to try," Beckett said. "Or at the very least," she said as they were stopping at another house. "Look up what we would need to do for that."
"Okay, I'm game if you are," Castle told her, smiling when she nodded. He looked ahead then and watched as the girls glanced back at them when they stopped again, walking with his wife so they could make their way to the best viewing point of the house they were in front of.
Looking up as Julia came out of the bathroom Beckett smiled and said, "Surprise, someone decided to join us."
"I see, hi Daddy," the girl said.
"Hey, I couldn't really give your sister a bath so I decided to wait out here," Castle replied.
"Are we late going to bed?" Julia asked.
"No, you have some time to do something," Beckett answered as they watched her brushing her hair in her mirror.
"I want to write in my diary," Julia said quickly.
"You can," Beckett said with a nod.
"Did you write in it at all while I was in the hospital?" Castle asked.
"I didn't feel like it," Julia said.
"I don't blame you," Castle said.
"Neither do I," Beckett added. "But we should go see if your sister is ready."
Nodding Julia put her brush away before she went over to her parents and they walked together down the hall to her sister's room. "Are you going to bed too?" she asked her grandparents as she saw that Martha was sitting on the side of the bed embracing Eliza.
"I am, I'd love to warm up," Castle's mother replied, smiling at Julia as she rushed over to them. She embraced both her granddaughters tightly and told them, "I love you Julia, Eliza. And tomorrow we'll spend all day with your father with our little storm we have now."
"Good," Eliza said. "We get to play more?"
"We'll find things to do," Beckett assured her.
"I love you too Gram," Eliza then said, hugging her grandmother with her sister.
"I love you Gram," Julia then said. "And thanks for coming with us to the lights."
"I had to darling," Martha replied as she got up once she'd shared a kiss with the two. "Since it was a family visit of course."
Sitting down where she'd been Jim reached for the girls and embraced them at the same time before he said, "I love you too girls, I hope you'll play with me as well tomorrow."
"We will," Julia and Eliza said at the same time.
"Thank you," Jim said with a smile.
"I love you Grandpapa," Julia said first, sharing a kiss with him.
"I love you too," Eliza was quick to say. She shared a kiss with her grandfather and then looked at Louis who'd come over to them. She giggled when he ruffled her hair playfully and she told him, "Night Louis, will Erin like the lights when we go?"
"Of course," the young man said with a nod. "I won't tell her about it like you said though, so she'll be surprised."
"Thanks," Julia said, smiling when he squeezed her shoulder quickly. As they'd had him at the house more and more he would do that to say goodnight to them and she and her sister didn't mind it since they felt like he was a big brother to them with that. "Night Louis, you'll play with us too?" she said.
"I might, goodnight both of you," the young man replied.
"Okay, so we're happy Dad's home right?" Alexis asked them as she sat with them.
"Yeah," Julia and then Eliza said quickly.
"So we'll be good now," Alexis told them. When they both nodded she hugged them to her tightly and said, "Good night you two and we'll think of something Christmas-y to do with him."
"We could make something," Castle suggested.
"Cupcakes!" Julia said eagerly.
"Yeah and we can decorate them," Eliza said though her voice was a little slower as she was getting more tired.
"We'll see," Beckett said. "We can try."
"Then there's that," Alexis said with a smile. "I love you Jules, Lizzy. We'll have a lot of fun tomorrow."
"Yeah," Julia said, her sister nodding next to her.
After Alexis had kissed the two goodnight when they'd said they loved her too Castle sat on the bed, hugging Eliza to him tightly after Beckett had taken his cane. "I love you so much sweetheart," he told her seriously as he looked down at her. "And I'm so happy to be back home with you."
"Me too," Eliza said with a smile at him. "I love you too Daddy."
Sharing a kiss with her Castle said, "Sweet dreams tonight okay?"
"Yeah," Eliza said before she moved to sit where she'd be lying. She smiled as Rita came over to lick her face and she hugged the Hound around the neck before doing the same to Macca who'd leapt up on the bed. When they left her, she looked at her mother who was coming over to her and said, "I love you too Mommy, you can sleep tonight with Daddy there."
"I know," Beckett said, pulling the covers over her lap. "And you can too." She smiled when the little girl nodded her head rapidly and then leaned down, sharing a kiss with her. "I love you too sweetie, sleep tight." When Eliza nodded again, much more slowly, she stood up and then covered her, tucking her in completely. She followed the others to the hall before she closed the door slightly behind her. "Is everyone going to bed?" she asked.
"We are," Alexis said.
"Then we should say goodnight to you now," Castle said as he knew why his wife had asked that. He hugged his daughter when she rushed to him and said, "I love you Alexis."
"I love you too Dad, I'm so happy right now," the young woman told him tearfully.
"I'll be alright," Castle assured her. "And like we've told the girls we'll have tomorrow together."
"Yeah," Alexis said before turning to Beckett. She embraced her stepmother tightly and then said, "I love you Kate."
"Love you too Alexis," she told her. "We'll all make sure he's fine now."
"Of course," Alexis said, smiling at her father when he merely looked at them in response to that.
"Goodnight," Louis said to the two. "Rick, really glad you're alright."
"Thanks," Castle said with a nod. "Mother," he said as she came to him to embrace him once. "I love you of course and as I keep saying I'll be fine."
"I love you Richard," Martha replied. "Rest and recoup," she told him after they'd parted.
"I will," Castle said slightly laughingly before he shook his father in law's hand.
"I'll join them in saying I'm glad you're back," Jim told him.
"Thanks, so am I," Castle said with a nod.
"Goodnight, get some rest darling," Martha told her daughter in law, embracing her for a moment. "For the baby and yourself."
"I will, goodnight Martha," Beckett replied, smiling as she wasn't surprised she'd mentioned the baby. She then went to her father and hugged him tightly before pulling away and saying, "Goodnight Dad, thank you for being here."
"I'm glad I was too," Jim said with a nod. "I love you Katie."
"I love you too Dad," Beckett said. She watched with the others as they went to their rooms and then placed her hand on Julia's back to lead her over to her room, Castle following her. "Go ahead and get your diary sweetie," she told her.
"Okay," Julia said before she hurried over to her desk, taking out her things. She filled her pen with ink and began to write, starting with the date before she began her entry.
December 14th, 2019
I didn't write for a long time 'cause the worst thing happened on Monday. Daddy was in a car accident and he was asleep for almost three days. I was so scared I couldn't write but he came home today so now I can. It was really weird to see him asleep for so long, but he was just sleeping luckily.
When he woke up it was the morning so I wasn't there, Mommy was. I feel so bad for Mommy; she was there all the time and really worried. Sad too of course but she tried to stay strong for me and Lizzy and everyone else. But it was hard and then I got scared 'cause of the baby. But anyways he woke up and when we got there he was… it was like he hadn't been asleep at all. It was so nice to get to hug him 'cause when we did that when he was asleep he didn't hug back. But now he can so we're all happy.
And he told us a really cool story, something he saw when he was asleep about how he was in the 1920's in San Francisco with most of us. He and Mommy knew each other since they were kids and they worked on a case 'cause Daddy was a detective there, and it was Mommy's brother in that life that was murdered. They were in love and then told each other during it and kissed. Then right away after they got married before he saw them having more kids. They had Lizzy, then 'lexis and last the baby but Daddy didn't know what it was. Oh, and I was their daughter first 'cause I was Mommy's already daughter there like here in real life. But I'm glad that now we're all together here.
Julia paused for a moment before she recalled she could write about that day besides her father coming home and she began to write again.
And today was nice when he got back, we had a little party for him and everyone from the city was here. But the best part is that all my friends were here, and I could play with them. And then we went to the playground, had lunch here back at home and the city friends left before our friends here did. We got to play for a long time after with Mommy and Daddy and the house felt a lot like home again with them both here; we missed Mommy too. And then tonight we went to the Studebaker again (good thing I asked Daddy already how to spell the name) and we went to see the lights after. That was so much fun, I love getting to walk around at night in winter even though it was really cold.
So that was today but so fun and it's snowing now so tomorrow we're gonna stay in all day and play with Mommy and Daddy again. I can't wait!
"Finished?" Beckett said as she watched Julia close her diary.
"Yeah," the girl said, putting it away and then standing up. She went over to the bed and wrapped her arms tightly around Castle's neck. "Everyone keeps saying it Daddy, but we mean it; I'm happy you're home," she told him when she pulled away enough to look at him.
"I don't mind hearing it," Castle said with a smile. "And I am too of course." He kissed her temple and said, "Is it okay if we say goodnight here?"
"Yeah but it's not too, too late," Julia said hopefully.
"It's late," Beckett said. "You took a while with your entry."
"I wanted to get it just right," Julia replied, smiling as her father hugged her again. "I love you Daddy."
"I love you too Julia, sweet dreams okay?" Castle said. When she nodded he shared a kiss with her and then moved out of the way so she could climb up onto her bed.
"Night Mommy," Julia said with a smile as her mother sat next to her.
"Say goodnight to Macca first," Beckett told her.
Turning her head to the Wolfhound who was lying next to her Julia smiled and said, "Macca, up boy." When he quickly sat up she wrapped her arms around his neck tightly, hugging him before she kissed the side of his head. "Night Macca," she told him before letting him go and looking at her mother.
"I love you sweetie," Beckett told her, wrapping her arms tightly around her daughter. She kissed the side of her head before she then shared a kiss with her telling her, "Sweet dreams."
"Thanks Mommy, you too," Julia said. "Love you."
Beckett stood up then and tucked the girl in, making sure she would be warm before leaning down and gently pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Good night," she told her with a smile.
"Night," Castle added quickly.
"Night Mommy, Daddy," Julia said, smiling at them both before they left together. As she settled down she watched them turn off the light before they left and she sighed, hoping they would sleep well that night since they were finally back at their own bed. And with that thought she closed her eyes, turning to Macca and pressing close to him to start falling asleep.
"It is so nice to have this big bed," Castle commented.
"I know," Beckett said, standing next to his side of it while she quickly brushed out her hair. "I'm wondering though are you tired?" she asked him.
Shrugging Castle replied. "It's only nine-thirty and I would like to read again."
"I should have taken you some books," Beckett said with a smile as she took back her brush. She walked over to the bed and was on his side again saying, "But that's another thing we can-" when she suddenly froze.
"Kate?" Castle asked in concern as he was watching her.
"No, I'm okay," Beckett whispered as she was still trying to feel what she had before. A second later the same fluttering inside her womb happened again and she smiled telling her husband, "The baby just moved."
"It did?" Castle asked, scrambling over to her to place his hand on her abdomen.
"Yeah, it waited this time," Beckett said, trying to fight her tears.
"For me to get home?" Castle asked her with a smile, keeping his hand on her stomach though he wasn't going to be able to feel it.
"Probably," Beckett said with a smile as she felt a tear slip down both her cheeks. "Sorry I just…"
"Hormones," Castle commented before he gently pulled her down onto his lap. He embraced her tightly and said, "Anymore?"
"No, it must be a little tired," Beckett replied. She shared a quick kiss with him and then told him, "It won't be much longer until you can feel it kicking."
"I'm still impatient," Castle said. He smiled when his wife laughed before they kissed, and that time did so more deeply, holding onto her as tightly as she was doing to him. They grasped at one another and he was reluctant to let her go as they parted to breathe, but he did so and watched her go over to where the bag she'd used at the hospital for her clothes was.
Coming back to him Beckett handed over the journal before she climbed up onto the bed next to him. "Like I said," she reminded him. "I didn't write all that much."
"I don't mind," Castle replied simply before he began to read the first entry. When he soon finished them all he said, "I still feel guilty."
"And I'll still tell you that you're not to blame," Beckett replied. She then smiled at him and said, "But you get an idea of what it was like for me."
Nodding Castle then said, "The only thing I think was good is that I woke up after not too long."
With a quick nod of her head Beckett said, "I'll agree with that. So now would you like to go to bed?"
"No," Castle replied. "Do you remember our first time after Queens?" he asked her.
"Yes, what brought that up?" Beckett asked, startled.
"Just your tone of voice in these entries reminded me of then," Castle replied.
Beckett thought before she nodded and said, "They do but luckily I got over that."
"I have to ask," Castle said as his wife had looked at him questioningly.
"I'm fine Rick," Beckett said, not minding that he was as he hadn't done so for a while. "I remembered sometimes how we were in the past too." She then bit her lower lip and when her husband asked her what she was thinking, and she told him, "Afterward wasn't too bad even though we didn't end up making love."
"It wasn't," Castle said, leaning over and kissing her before he recalled that night about a week after Beckett had brought Julia home as her daughter. He'd gone over at her insistence and though he hadn't been sure; after what she had gone through; he'd allowed Beckett to pull him over to her bedroom.
"Are you hesitating?" Beckett asked her boyfriend as she looked back at him.
"Oh no, I'm fine," Castle replied, closing and locking the door behind him.
"Look I'm sorry Julia-" Beckett started to say.
"No, no, I understand it's going to take her a while," Castle said, cutting her off. He then smiled and said, "At least she talked to me a couple times."
"I know," Beckett replied. She then wrapped her arms around his neck when he walked up to her and told him, "But for now let her sleep."
"Definitely," Castle replied with a nod before he leaned down. They began to kiss, and he wrapped his arms around her as tightly as he could before he slipped his tongue into her mouth. They were busy with that for a while until finally they slowly parted from each other and he said, "I missed you."
"So did I," Beckett replied with a smile. She leaned over and brushed her lips against his before she let go of him so she could pull him over to the bed. When they were at the side of it she then wrapped her arms around him again before they began to kiss. They did so slowly at first before they began to duel with their tongues yet again, grasping onto one another. She paused a little when she realized that but forced herself to continue until they were parting once more. "Together?" she asked.
"We should take our time," Castle replied with a smile. "Go slowly." When she nodded he reached for her blouse and carefully began to unbutton it, watching her watching him. He smiled at her before he then got the blouse off and pulling it off her he leaned down, kissing her shoulder before he let her take the first button of his shirt.
Taking turns between each other Beckett watched as he tossed aside the last of her clothing and smiled when he turned to her. "What?" she asked as he stared at her.
"Nothing just… admiring," Castle told her seriously.
"Pervert," Beckett replied before she leaned against him. She held onto him a little tighter when his arms came around her but soon was busy responding to his lips hungry against hers.
When they parted finally Castle had her move over to the bed and he laid her down there. He followed her and then said, "Do you want to be on top?"
"No," Beckett said firmly before she lay down fully. She waited for him to get on top of her and as soon as he was her heart was pounding heavily. She did her best to focus on her boyfriend and allowed him to kiss her before he moved down to her neck. When he suddenly went further and put more of his weight on her she cried out, "No!" and pushed him away franticly.
Castle tried to keep calm, watching as his girlfriend got off the bed, almost stumbling back against the wall. He stepped over to her, grabbing his boxers on the way and pulling them on saying, "It's alright Kate."
"I… I saw…" Beckett breathed out heavily.
"Here," Castle said tenderly, reaching her as he held out his shirt for her.
Though she wanted to tell herself she was being ridiculous Beckett carefully walked up to him before he put the blouse around her shoulders. "I'm sorry," she whispered, slipping her arms into the sleeves.
"It's alright," Castle said reassuringly as he stepped away from her slightly. "We don't need to do this. Why don't we get dressed and I'll make you some tea?"
"I don't need tea," Beckett said quickly, shaking her head.
Castle gave her a nod and then went to grab his pajamas from his drawer before he went over to her to wrap his arm around her. When she didn't protest him, he put his other and then drew her into a hug.
"Rick-" Beckett started to say as she held onto him.
"It's alright," Castle said reassuringly as he rubbed his hand over her back. He felt her shudder and when the first soft sob came from her he was a little relieved before he focused on her as she cried a little, rubbing her back gently.
When she'd managed to stop Beckett stepped away from her boyfriend and told him, "I didn't want… when we were starting to undress I could feel my heart pounding and it was as if I was back there."
"Oh Kate," Castle breathed out before she turned away from him. "We should wait," he told her.
"But I've never been like this, I-" Beckett started to say.
"No," Castle said, feeling bad for interrupting her again but knowing he needed to. "It was too much, way too soon and it doesn't matter at all; this happened because of what you went through. You were attacked and you're protecting yourself even now. I'm proud of you for that."
Beckett smiled a little before she said, "I didn't hurt you, did I?"
"I'm fine," Castle said. "Do you mind if I… hold you for a little bit?"
"Okay," Beckett replied with a smile at his hesitation. She went over to him and wrapped her arms around him tightly before she felt him rubbing at her back again. "That feels nice," she murmured to him.
"I hope so," Castle said.
"Wait, you're probably aroused," Beckett said, pulling away to look at him then.
Shaking his head Castle said, "It's under control now. Don't apologize."
Beckett couldn't help smiling briefly and she said, "Let's go on the bed."
"Sure," Castle said quickly.
"Wait," Beckett said suddenly. "I want to see Julia."
"Can I go with you?" Castle asked her.
"Of course," Beckett said, smiling at his hopeful tone. When they'd finished redressing she let him take her hand before they walked together over to the other bedroom. She stopped him at the doorway and bit her lower lip, seeing her daughter fast asleep. When her boyfriend slid his arm around her waist she pressed against him and they remained there for a little longer.
"Come on," Castle told her in a whisper finally. "Let's let her sleep." When his girlfriend nodded he followed her out of the room and back into the hallway before they were inside her room again. They went straight to the bed and he laid down first before he took her in his arms. He brushed his lips gently down to hers, waiting to see her reaction, when she responded instantly and held onto him around his neck. He turned on his side immediately as he knew it would be awkward for her in that position and they were soon kissing nearly frantically for some time.
After a few more kisses Beckett smiled at him once they had parted and she murmured, "I promise you Rick."
Not needing anything else besides that Castle nodded and leaned down to kiss her very gently before he told her, "Whenever you're ready I leave this up to you."
"Thank you," Beckett whispered, pressing close against him.
"I love you," Castle told her seriously.
"I love you too," Beckett replied before he was leaning down to her to kiss her once more. When they slowly parted she said with a smile, "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," Castle said, holding her tightly to him. He then watched her as she fell asleep and kissed her forehead tenderly before he closed his eyes to follow her. He was hopeful she would be okay and that one day they would be able to be together again but would let her take all the time she needed to recover.
"I wasn't sure if you would be able to be with me," Castle told his wife once he'd shaken himself from his thoughts of that night.
"I was afraid I wasn't going to," Beckett confessed. "But I did want to try."
Nodding Castle said, "We should probably change the subject; it feels a bit dark."
"Yeah," Beckett said with a smile. "Just a second."
Castle was a little surprised but he didn't say anything, watching her walk to where he knew were some pens. "Are you going to add a last entry?" he asked.
"I'd like to," Beckett replied. "Don't read it over my shoulder."
"Sure," Castle said before she opened the journal and began to write. He turned his attention away from her while she was doing that and tried to focus it on the ceiling of the room, but he couldn't help but feel wildly curious about what would be in her entry.
"Okay," Beckett said with a smile as she finished the last of her writing. "There you are," she told him with a slight laugh.
Castle kissed her gently before he looked at her writing on the last page, smiling at her handwriting which he'd always loved and was about to read when she spoke.
"What are you smiling at?" Beckett said.
"Your handwriting," Castle replied. "I've told you I love it right?"
"You have," Beckett replied with a smile. "Just read it."
"Of course," Castle said before he turned his attention to it and proceeded to read.
Rick, you're here but I still feel like I need to address you because I'm not trying to smile at what you're doing right now. I see you looking at the ceiling and it means a lot to me that you're doing your best not to look at what I'm writing.
But with you home now I have to tell you that I am so happy, and I suppose the word I want to use is content. We've said this before but it's how we both feel so I'll say it again, having us all here it feels more like home. I know the girls feel the same way as they told me before I went to take you your clothes and bring you back. Luckily now we can focus on the baby and I'm so glad you thought of its room. I'm more than ready to work on it as it seems to make it more real. Though I think it moving did that as well.
"It was moving as I wrote that," Beckett said when her husband looked at her.
"You should have told me," Castle said. "What about now?"
"It stopped," Beckett replied. "And I was almost finished, as you can see."
"True, I can," Castle said as he saw there was only one paragraph left which he turned his attention to so he could read it.
I'm digressing though; what's more important is what I've realized repeatedly since I saw you after your accident. I love you so much that it was painful waiting for you to wake up. We were told you would, but it wasn't enough, I spent that time longing to see you open your eyes again. So you have to stay with us love; not just for the baby but for our family as well. And for me too, especially for me because I cannot imagine my life without you.
Now that you've read this, please put down the journal and kiss me.
Castle smiled and as he closed the book said, "You have a habit of doing that."
"Just twice now," Beckett replied easily before he leaned over and wrapped his arms around her tightly. When he pressed his lips to hers she moaned slightly in joy at the feeling though it wasn't the first time they'd done it since they'd entered their room. Smiling at him after they'd parted she said, "And you don't seem to mind."
"No," Castle said before he began to yawn, covering his mouth with his hand.
"Now we need to go to sleep," Beckett told him. She brushed her lips to his gently before she said, "I'm tired myself."
"I can't fight it anymore," Castle replied. "Another night we'll stay up later."
"Yes," Beckett said with a soft laugh. She lay down first; as her husband seemed to be waiting for her to do so; and then looked on as he was lifting her pajama top to reveal her abdomen. Reaching down she gently caressed his hair as he kissed around her skin and watched him raise his head slightly.
"I love you so much in there," Castle began with. "And I really can't wait to find out what you are. But for now, thank you for moving for your mom, she's crazy happy."
Laughing Beckett asked, "Crazy happy?"
"Yeah," Castle said, looking at her with a smile. He turned his attention back to her abdomen and kissed it saying, "Good night little one and we'll see you tomorrow so we can tell your sisters and grandparents you're big enough now for your mom to feel."
As soon as her husband came up to her Beckett wrapped her arms around him and they kissed once more. They were a little gentler and she knew it was from their exhaustion though she didn't care. When they parted she said, "I love you Rick."
"I love you too Kate," Castle said before he watched her press against his side closely. He began to stroke at her hair and said, "Night my love."
"Hmm, night Rick," Beckett replied before she closed her eyes.
They fell asleep quickly, the past week stressful at the start before they were ecstatic at their reunion which made them amazed at how things had gone in the end. So they took the rest they needed as they wanted to begin to focus their attention back on the baby and the holidays that were fast approaching, that they were eager to get to celebrate with their family together again.