"I didn't think you were serious," Castle told his wife.
"There's no harm in this," Beckett replied easily as she was pulling off her sweater she was wearing. She smiled at him slightly before she said, "We can't."
"Kate," Castle said simply, watching her closely. Before she could say anything something suddenly seemed to come to him and said, "Are you feeling-"
"Slightly," Beckett cut him off with a sigh. When her husband just stared at her she sighed and said, "Fine, a little more than slightly but I can wait."
"No you can't," Castle said simply.
Wanting to retort that she could Beckett saw the look her husband was giving her and she said, "I'll figure something out."
Though he wanted to say that they could do something together still she was removing her jeans, so Castle instead reached over to her stomach. He pressed his hand gently to it and said, "Is she moving?"
"No," Beckett said with a smile as she covered his hand with her own. "Do you want me to let you know next time when she is?"
"That's alright," Castle said. "When I can put my hand on your stomach I'll want to know."
"Okay," Beckett replied. "Let me get dressed though the girls do have school tomorrow."
"Alright," Castle said, reluctantly moving away his hand. He then watched her dress in a blouse and trousers and said with a smile, "Those are from your maternity clothes?"
"Yes," Beckett said since both were looser. She looked at him and told him, "And you?"
"I'm ready," Castle replied, standing up before he took his cane. "That's it?"
"Let's join them downstairs," Beckett replied before they went outside and down to the family room where their daughters were allowed to wait alone for them.
"We stayed here," Eliza said as soon as she had turned to see the two coming into the room.
"Yeah, we just looked outside," Julia replied.
"Can you see anything?" Castle asked, walking over to them after Beckett. "It's a little dark."
"That's kay," Eliza told him with a smile. "We tried."
"Okay," Beckett said, ushering the girls gently away from the window. "Let's get your coats ready so we can leave as soon as everyone else joins us."
"What can we do after Mommy?" Eliza asked.
"I think we need to wait and see what time we get back home," Castle replied.
"Could we wrap presents?" Julia asked.
"I think we'll need to," Beckett said with a smile. "We'll let the others do whatever they want while we're busy with that."
"What about me?" Eliza asked.
"You can do whatever you'd like," Castle said as they watched Beckett getting their coats. He felt bad he couldn't help her but since he would only have one hand he was aware he wasn't going to be able to do much.
"Kay," Eliza said, looking thoughtful. She then shook herself and asked, "How long until Christmas?"
"I dunno," Julia said since her sister was looking at her. "I didn't cross off my calendar yet. Mommy can I write in my diary later?"
"Of course," Beckett said with a smile. "I knew you would want to, so we'll have to make sure you have the time for that."
Nodding, a wide smile on her face, Julia then said, "Does Mari know?"
"Her parents likely told her," Castle said, looking up at the top of the stairs where he could see Alexis and Louis were coming down the stairs.
"Who is gonna be her friend?" Eliza asked suddenly.
"She means the baby," Julia told their parents quickly.
"We'll see," Beckett replied. "Once the baby is born and it's old enough to have friends."
"She'll have friends," Alexis said with a smile before they all looked up as Martha and Jim came downstairs to join them. "But for now, I'm guessing we're going to dinner?"
"Yeah, I'm hungry," Eliza said firmly.
"I think that's enough reason to go," Castle said with a smile, reaching over to her to take her hand. They walked together to the garage and he was relieved when Louis helped Eliza into her car seat, Beckett standing next to him. "I could drive," he told her.
"Do you want to?" Beckett asked. At his nod she handed the keys over to him and said, "Have fun."
"I will," Castle said, touching her shoulder with his fingers since he only had that available to do that with. Once Julia was in the car he and his wife waved to the others going out to the driveway and they got inside. He drove them to the restaurant, not having any issues with it though it had been a week since he'd last done so. They got out in the parking lot and he said, "At least I can do that now."
Beckett smiled as they waited at the entrance and she said, "You'll be able to lose the cane soon I know."
"Hopefully," Castle said before they were all together and went inside. He'd called earlier to reserve them a table and they were quickly led to it as they were recognized as soon as they'd gotten inside. Sitting next to his wife, Julia and Jim on one side of it he said, "This is going to be a bigger party," as they began looking at the menu.
"In about five and a half months," Alexis said.
"A little more than that," Beckett replied. "Since we'll take the baby out a little bit after it's born." She smiled at her stepdaughter and then turned to her husband when he touched her back before she leaned over to him as he motioned her close.
"When are we announcing it to everyone else?" Castle asked her.
"In a couple days," Beckett said after she thought that over as she realized he made a point. When he nodded she smiled at him and then turned her attention to Julia, thinking their oldest would be looking outside of the window. Seeing that she wasn't she asked, "What's wrong?" as the girl was looking up at her.
"Are you happy?" Julia asked, slightly shyly.
"Of course," Beckett said quickly. "I didn't care what the baby was."
"Neither did I," Castle said as Julia glanced at him but didn't say anything. They needed to order their drinks next and after they had done so he waited a little impatiently for them to be brought out. But once they had he picked his glass up and said, "To our baby girl."
"You're very short with those Dad," Alexis said teasingly to her father after they had all tapped glasses and had taken drinks.
"There's not much to say," Castle replied. "But turning our attention from that for now what about school?"
"Did Lizzy say already?" Julia asked as everyone looked at her. When she saw her parents nodding she smiled and said, "Okay," and she told everyone about her day.
"What about at recess?" Beckett asked.
"She didn't say?" Julia said in surprise.
"I'm gonna wait for you Jules," Eliza replied. "Say."
"Okay," Julia said with a soft laugh. She explained that she, Mari, Peter and Eliza had practiced their dancing a little bit at the start since she and her sister hadn't been at their classes for a week. "And then we played around the slides and stuff since we didn't do that either. And some kids came up to ask me about you Daddy."
"I guess they heard from their parents," Castle told his wife.
"They know us too," Julia said. "Not just me and Lizzy but also Mari and Peter 'cause we dance. So that's why and they asked Peter, Mari and Dawn where we were and they heard that way too."
"Are you still having that Secret Santa party this Friday?" Martha asked them.
"Both of our classes Gram," Eliza said first. "I wanna know who is mine."
"Me too," Julia said. "But I hope Olivia likes my present I got her."
"She should," Beckett reassured her. She spotted the food coming over to them and said, "We need to wrap that gift and a couple others for the Fosters and Davises after dinner."
"I need to do that for my friends' gifts," Alexis said. "So we're splitting up after we get home?"
"I think so," Castle said before their plates were set down and soon after they began to eat. He watched Eliza as she ate across from them and smiled at her giggling before she spoke and told everyone looking at her what she was thinking that had made her laugh.
"Now I'm not the baby," the little girl said.
"That makes you happy?" Jim asked.
Nodding her head rapidly Eliza dipped her fry that she'd gotten with her fish and chips and ate it before she spoke again. "I want to be a big sister," she said seriously before she giggled. "Are you gonna tell the baby stories about you?" she asked her parents.
"Oh of course," Castle said. "I didn't think about that," he then directed to Beckett.
"I'm assuming you two will want to hear when we tell her?" she directed to their daughters.
"Yeah," Julia said with a smile as she watched her sister nodding rapidly. "It'll be fun to hear again."
"You're lucky your stories are as good as they are," Martha commented to the two.
"Do you want to hear the stories?" Eliza asked Louis.
"I've heard some of them," Louis said with a smile. "Your sister told me of them… some of them."
"The basics," Alexis said, trying to keep from laughing as everyone was looking at her. "Mostly what I've heard you tell the girls."
"They're interesting stories," Louis told them. "And I'm glad you two eventually ended up together."
"We are too," Beckett commented.
"Oh! Mommy what about tomorrow?" Julia asked.
"We'll see, especially if you two are tired after your class and your daddy too," Beckett said, smiling at him.
"I'll be fine," Castle said. "Walking tomorrow love?"
"We will," Beckett said, smiling at her husband as he always asked that since he'd come home. "But that'll be before you two come home."
"Oh, I can't wait for this week to be over," Julia said as they were finishing up their food. "To see everyone and for Christmas."
"What time are they getting here?" Martha asked them.
"I know my da is getting here at three and they're going straight on the train," Louis said.
"That's the time Patrick gets here; they'll probably see each other on the same train," Beckett said. The young man looked at her and she said with a smile, "I gave him your father's number so they'll get here together."
"Good idea," Patrick said before the bill was paid and they got up to leave.
When they reached their car Julia asked, "No dessert?"
"Come on," Beckett replied with a smile. "We still need to wrap of course." When the girls were in the back she murmured to her husband, "You're lucky you promised the mini ones."
"We'll see," Castle said. He smiled when his wife gave him a look and headed over to the driver's side to get in so they could go. He drove them to the cupcake store; which they hadn't had since the dinner party the month before; and he looked back with his wife to see the girls' reactions once the two could see where they were.
"We get to have cupcakes?" Eliza asked eagerly.
"Just the small ones," Castle said, smiling at them. "But hey at least we get to have them."
"I don't care," Julia said before Castle and Beckett got out of the car. "The little ones have decorations too," she said to her little sister.
"Yeah," Eliza replied, nodding her head firmly. She looked over as the door was opened and she smiled at their big sister. "Are you surprised?" she asked as Alexis was unbuckling her seat.
"I am but I know you two are happy," she answered. "Let's get our cupcakes that way we can go home and wrap."
"Yeah, I hope I can help," Eliza said.
Shrugging Julia said, "Have to ask Mommy."
"Yeah," Eliza repeated before they went together over to the store. "Are you gonna get a cupcake Grandpapa?"
"I think so," Jim said as she'd come over to him while they were looking at the shelves of the desserts. "But a small one like you."
"Pick a pretty decoration," Julia told him.
"Okay," Jim said, laughing slightly at how seriously she'd spoken.
Beckett was a little worried they'd be spending all of their evening choosing their cupcakes, but the girls made their decisions finally before the rest of them were ordering theirs. As they were leaving she said to her husband, "I thought they forgot about wrapping gifts."
"No, I think they just wanted to make sure they had the perfect ones," Castle replied. "Okay," he said when they were in the car. "They're going to wrap in the office so you and me Eliza are going to… do something."
"You didn't think that through before you spoke, did you?" Beckett asked him in amusement.
"No," Castle replied.
"Can we play guitars?" Eliza suggested.
"You haven't practiced in a while love," Beckett told him.
"Then that's what we'll do," Castle said with a nod. He got them home soon after before they went inside and after they'd gotten their cupcakes they split up. He went with his wife and their daughters over to their office where there was already a table set up for wrapping Christmas gifts. He was going to get his guitar when his wife was hurrying to do so, and he was going to speak when she beat him to it.
"I know you're feeling stronger Rick but it's better if I help you a little," Beckett told him, following him to the couch.
"Thank you love," Castle said as he sat and then took his guitar she got out for him. He couldn't resist and he reached up, gently pressing his hand to her abdomen before he looked up at her and saw the expression on her face. "Moving?" he asked.
"Yes," Beckett said.
"I'll probably end up making it stop when I start playing," Castle said jokingly as he moved his hand away so she could go with their oldest to the table.
"You're not that bad Daddy," Julia said, she and her sister having been watching them.
"I'm still not as good as your mother," Castle said as he proceeded to begin tuning the instrument. Once he was sure it was ready he played a little idly, just reacquainting himself with the chords his wife had taught him before he stopped.
"That's it?" Beckett asked, looking over at him.
"Yeah, I realize we should be listening to Christmas music," Castle replied. "That and we need to eat our cupcakes."
Beckett looked over at Eliza as the little girl ran squealing to where the two plates were, and she shook her head as she was smiling in amusement. "I'm surprised you two didn't remember," she told the girls as she and Castle followed them.
"We did but we got excited for everything else," Julia explained with a smile.
Eliza was trying not to become impatient as their mother took pictures of the cupcakes they'd gotten before she grabbed hers which had a small present on it in fondant. She ate her cupcake eagerly, trying not to go too fast, before she asked, "What do we do now?"
"We don't have too much to go," Beckett said as she finished up her cupcake that she had picked out, with a snowflake on top. She glanced at her husband as he brushed the crumbs off his hands and said, "Good?"
"Yep," Castle said. "I'm glad we did that."
"We are too," Julia said. She smiled at her father and asked, "Did you like the snowflake?"
"It was good, you can't mind sugar work," Castle said.
"It's cute you got the same thing as Mommy," Julia commented.
"It looked really good," Castle replied. "How was your wreath?" he asked as she'd had one made of sugar on hers.
"I like it, but I like all of their cupcakes," Julia answered.
"Come on, we need to finish up the gifts," Beckett told her daughter. "Before your sister needs to go to bed."
"Mommy?" Julia asked as Castle had gotten a piece of paper for her sister and they were coloring with some crayons on it together. When her mother asked her what was wrong she shook her head and said, "No, I wanted to know what's it like when the baby moves."
Beckett smiled and said, "I'll tell you what I told your daddy. It's like a butterfly brushing against me."
"Cool," Julia said with a smile of her own. "I can't wait until the baby's big enough to kick though."
"Me too, Jules got to feel me kick but I didn't," Eliza said from the couch.
"Well, you were the one doing the kicking so I think that makes sense," Castle replied, kissing her temple.
"I'll let you know as soon as it happens," Beckett promised. "Okay, we have everything done."
"And it's time for her," Castle said. He smiled when Eliza groaned heavily, and he helped her down off the couch before he grabbed his cane and stood up himself. He followed them out of the room with the dogs leading, going over to the family room where everyone was at that moment.
"We thought it was time for her to go to bed," Alexis said with a smile as she watched the four walking inside.
"Are you going somewhere?" Beckett asked as her stepdaughter and Louis were wearing their coats.
"We're going to get a drink," Alexis replied.
"At the British pub downtown," Louis replied. "Just one and then we'll head to bed."
"We've said goodnight to Gram and Jim," Alexis added.
"Okay," Beckett said. "Go ahead and say goodnight to them first so they can go."
Hurrying with her sister over to them Eliza said to Louis, "Have fun. Are you gonna walk?"
"A bit too cold for that," the young man replied with a smile at how earnest she was being as he playfully and gently tugged her braid. "But we'll have fun I'm sure. Goodnight Eliza we'll see you at brekky."
Giggling; since she liked how he said that word; the little girl nodded and said, "Night."
"Yeah night Louis," Julia said, stepping over to him as well. "And I hope you'll walk to school tomorrow with us."
"Oh sure, it's a fun walk," the young man replied, squeezing her shoulder. "Goodnight Julia."
Holding her arms out to the girls Alexis hugged them tightly and she said, "Good night you two." She kissed them both and then said, "It was an exciting day."
"Yep." "Yeah!" Julia and then Eliza said.
Alexis laughed and told them, "I love you two, like Louis said we'll see you at breakfast."
"Love you 'lexis," Eliza told her, hugging her tightly again. "Have fun too."
"And I love you too," Julia quickly said as Alexis was smiling at what the little girl had said.
"Okay and I'll have fun I'm sure," the young woman told them, hugging them one more time before she let them go.
"Be safe," Castle said as his daughter was hugging Beckett quickly.
"We will Dad," Alexis replied. "And don't worry. I'm very happy," she then directed to her stepmother.
"So am I," Beckett said. "When the baby's born we'll have to take a picture together."
"And one to replace the one you got with just the three of us," Alexis said with a smile.
"Of course," Beckett said, watching her stepdaughter go over to Castle.
"Tell Jack at some point I'll be back," he told his daughter after they'd hugged.
"Sure," Alexis replied knowing he meant the bartender. "I figured already that he would ask."
When the two had left Eliza tugged on her sister's sweater sleeve and when Julia nodded they went together to their grandmother first, embracing her as soon as they had reached her.
"I love you both of course," Martha told them. "And I'll go upstairs with you; I want to see where JoJo goes."
"Me too," the girls said at the same time before they laughed together.
"Love you Gram," Julia said first before sharing a kiss with her.
"Love you too Gram," Eliza added quickly. After she'd shared a kiss with her as well she said, "Are you gonna do that with the baby too?"
"Of course," Martha said simply as she smiled.
Walking over to their grandfather Julia said, "You too?"
"Yes, I can't imagine not kissing my baby granddaughter goodnight," Jim said with a smile. "But until she's here with us I love you Julia, Eliza. Sweet dreams."
"Love you Grandpapa," the girls said at the same time. They giggled as Jim laughed softly and hugged him tightly together before he shared a kiss with them both.
When they had finished the family went together upstairs to the bedrooms, watching as Julia took Macca with her into her room. Before Eliza and Rita could go to her room JoJo was trotting after Julia and the adults looked at each other.
"I don't think any of us were surprised by that," Castle said.
"No," Beckett said slightly laughingly. "Good night Martha, Dad," she said to them then when Julia had rejoined them with both dogs.
"Thank you for telling us today," Martha told her daughter in law after embracing her.
"You're welcome," Beckett said. "And I'm glad you both are so happy."
"Very," Martha said before hugging her son.
"Your mother would be so proud of you Katie," Jim said as he embraced her. "And she would be waiting as anxiously as the rest of us to see her."
With a smile, trying to fight the tears that had quickly welled up in her eyes, Beckett said, "I know, I think… I wish she was here."
"She is," Jim said reassuringly.
After she had said goodnight to her father and he and Martha had left to go to their rooms Beckett turned as saw that Eliza was on the floor, resting her head on Rita's belly. "What happened?" she asked, the little girl fast asleep.
"I couldn't pick her up," Castle said, sounding frustrated. "She was getting tired and I was going to warn you when she just… laid down."
"Good girl Rita," Beckett said, scratching behind the Hound's ears after she'd picked up the little girl. She led the way into Eliza's room and laid her on the bed, changing her quickly into her pajamas before getting her up so she could brush her teeth. "Wow I guess… that walk," she said, recalling then it was likely that that had worn out their youngest.
"It was," Castle said, leaning down as she was holding their youngest in her arms. He kissed the top of her head and murmured, "I love you Eliza, sweet dreams."
Beckett laid her down on her bed and tucked her in warmly as Julia walked inside, stepping aside slightly to let the girl wave to her sister even though Eliza wouldn't see it. When Julia was with Castle in the doorway she kissed the little girl's forehead and whispered, "I love you too Eliza, sleep tight." Satisfied that her youngest was set she then walked over to the doorway and let her husband close the light before they went with Macca and JoJo to Julia's room.
"Do I have time still to write?" the girl asked hopefully as soon as her parents were set on her bed.
"Of course," Castle said. He glanced at his wife and told her, "She needs to."
"I know, she can go to bed a little later if she needs to," Beckett said. When Julia gasped she added, "But not that much later."
"Thanks!" the girl said, wrapping her arms tightly around her mother. Julia did the same to her father before she rushed over to her desk where she sat and then got her diary ready before getting her pen prepared. She wrote down the date and with a smile eagerly began the entry.
December 16th, 2019
Today two really big things happened… well, I guess another big thing is that I went back to school but I always go to school.
First Mommy and Daddy went to find out what the baby was, and they told us when we were all at home together
IT'S A GIRL!
"Three lines, it's important," Castle said jokingly to his wife as they heard their daughter underlining something.
"Of course, it is!" Julia protested. She then smiled back at them before turning to the page and continuing underneath that.
I'm so happy to have another sister and Lizzy is even happier 'cause she wanted a little sister even more than I did right now. I wish the baby was going to be born sooner but we still have to wait for it to grow. It's still kinda small, I saw the picture earlier of it and she's so cute. I can't wait to see her, and I can't wait to find out her name 'cause Mommy and Daddy won't tell us yet!
The second thing is we got another dog! It's a Greyhound and he's so cute with red fur like Macca and Rita have. He's gonna be the baby's dog (we all agreed) but right now he's gonna stay with me 'cause that's what he picked. Oh, and I named him JoJo, after Get Back which is such a cool song.
Julia paused and looked over at her parents, smiling when she saw that JoJo had his paw and was resting his head on her mother's leg. She wanted to comment on it but since Castle and Beckett were talking together; softly in Irish she could hear; she turned back to her diary to finish before her mother told her to.
So there was a lot today and it's not even Christmas yet…
I almost wasn't gonna say diary, but I hope I can be a good sister to the baby too. And I think, no I know I'm gonna ask Mommy and Daddy if I can take care of her even more than I did with Lizzy 'cause I'm older now. I'm gonna do that now before I have to go to bed. Night diary!
Julia was about to close the book when she paused and then wrote Oh, 9 days until Christmas! before she put the book and her pen away then stood up and looked at her parents.
"Alright," Castle said as Julia came over to them. "You-"
"Wait can I ask something?" she interrupted.
"Okay," Beckett said, knowing it was something serious from her daughter's tone.
"I'm gonna be eleven when the baby is born," Julia said a little shyly. "Could I help take care of it? More than when Lizzy was born 'cause I was only six and-"
"Easy," Beckett said gently, squeezing her hand to stop her rapid tone. "And yes, you can but you have to remember that Eliza will be five and she can help too."
Julia giggled behind her hand and said, "You think we're gonna fight over the baby?"
"A little," Castle said.
"Well… we'll try not to?" Julia asked slowly.
Laughing Beckett said, "That's good enough for me. Say goodnight to your daddy."
Nodding rapidly Julia turned to Castle and embraced him around the neck saying, "Night Daddy, I love you. And thank you for JoJo."
"You're very welcome," Castle replied. "And I love you too, sweet dreams."
Once she'd shared a kiss with him Julia turned next to her mother and hugged her saying, "I'm so happy Mommy. For the baby and JoJo; thank you for him."
"You're welcome," Beckett said. "I love you sweetie."
"I love you too," Julia replied, hugging her again.
Beckett shared a kiss with her and then moved out of the way with her husband so she could tuck their daughter in. She walked with him to the doorway where they turned, watching Julia with a smile as both dogs were under the covers on either side of her. She glanced at Castle and together they went into the hallway, not speaking until they were past the stairs.
"Not a bad day," Castle told her.
"No," Beckett replied simply. "But it's not over just yet."
"It's not," Castle said, watching her closely. He let her pull him into their bedroom, watching her close and lock the door behind him and feeling a thrill as he could only guess what they would be doing finally alone together, eager to find out as soon as possible.
Hearing someone coming up to the doorway Beckett looked over to it and said, "What?"
"I thought you were coming out to the bed," Castle replied, his eyes on his wife. She was wearing one of his shirts at that moment but had left it open and he couldn't help smiling at the sight of the slight curve of her abdomen that was peeking out from it.
"I'm almost ready," Beckett said, running her brush through her hair one more time. She glanced at him, seeing that he was looking at her and she smiled before she put her brush away and walked over to him. "Rick," she said to get his attention. When his head moved to look into her eyes she said in amusement, "What are you looking at?"
"I don't know if I should answer that," Castle said. When his wife just laughed and shook her head he followed her out to the bedroom and asked her, "How are you?"
"I'm not sure exactly," Beckett replied. Before her husband could say anything, she told him, "Look your knee isn't going to be up to a lot and I don't want to risk straining it. Even with me on top."
Castle sighed and then said, "I had thought of that, but I wasn't sure. But you know there is something we can do." When she looked at him questioningly he pointed his index finger up and said, "As getting back to normal; just not fully."
Beckett smiled; as she knew what he was talking about; and then said, "Alright. But I'll start with y-"
"You mean me starting with you," Castle interrupted her. When she gave him a look he said firmly, "We'll start with you," before he put his hand on her back so they could walk over to the bed. He set aside his cane as he sat down, and he told her, "You're naked and you were just going to go to bed?"
"Manually?" Beckett pointed out. She smiled when he laughed and then climbed up on the bed after him, not surprised he watched as his shirt stayed opened on her while she moved. As soon as he was lying down she leaned over, kissing him hungrily before she felt his arms around her. They did that for some time before they had to part and she got up on her knees to remove his shirt as he was watching her.
"I should have done that to myself before I got on the bed," Castle said, trying not to groan at the effort he knew he was going to need to make to take off his pajama pants he still had on.
"Take it easy," Beckett told him. "I can help you." She started to reach for the waistband of his pants when he stopped her, and she looked down at him as he pressed his hand to her stomach. "I thought you were going to do that earlier," she said with a smile.
"Didn't seem like the right time," Castle replied. He let her go and took off his pajama pants with her help before he watched her glancing down at him. "After-" he began, not sure why he felt he needed to explain the reason for the state of his erection.
"I'm aware of how long it's been but you know that looks incredibly painful," Beckett told him.
"I'll survive," Castle said quickly as he grabbed her wrist. When she narrowed her eyes at him he said simply, "I have been since I got home."
About to open her mouth Beckett stopped herself before she said, "You're sure."
"Yes," Castle replied.
A little startled that his tone of voice was so strained Beckett realized that while he wanted to pleasure her first it wasn't going to leave him unaffected; especially since he was affected already. So she leaned over to kiss him again and after they'd done so passionately she moved to straddle his head once he was lying down fully on his back. "This is really weird," she told him.
"Not for me," Castle commented. He expected the pervert comment from her, so he took it in stride as he was placing his hands on the small of her back to bring her down a little closer. He reached over with his right hand then and proceeded to rub at her clit, not surprised when she gave a short gasp and jerked her hips above him.
"It's been a while for me too," Beckett said once she'd stopped herself.
"Oh of course and you have to deal with the pregnancy," Castle said.
Beckett reached down and tugged on some of his hair, not that hard but enough so he would feel it, before she said, "I don't know it was that this time."
"It was," Castle replied. "Do you want me to continue?" When she nodded he brought her back down to him so he could touch her again. He then began to rub against her clit once more, careful at first so she could get used to it. As soon as she was he rubbed a little harder and watched her body to see how she responded. She began to move, a little haphazardly at first, before she fell into the rhythm of his strokes with his fingers. He did that for a little longer before he stopped and then pulled on her hips again as he raised his head at the same time. At first, he flicked his tongue out to the swollen nub before he lapped at it more deliberately, amazed at the cries coming out of his wife's mouth. They sent a thrill through his body and he did his best to handle that before he moved a little lower on her.
Beckett let out a soft gasp when she felt her husband's tongue sliding against her folds and she reached for the headboard, holding onto that instead of his head as instinct was telling her to. When he slipped inside of her her fingers clutched a little tighter before she realized her hips were moving with him. "Rick…" she breathed out heavily.
Knowing that wasn't for him to stop Castle didn't and instead brought his hand into play. Instead of what he was doing with his tongue he was a little more careful with his fingers, stroking her deliberately. He felt her shaking and knew she wasn't going to last very long, he was aware he wasn't going to either, but hoped he could pleasure her for just a bit more before she broke.
The same thing was going through Beckett's mind at that moment and she was debating if she would need to stop him to make sure things lasted a little longer than she could tell they would be. She reached down and touched the top of his head but when he waved his left hand she knew he wasn't going to stop. So she closed her eyes tightly, thinking that maybe not seeing would aid her. But since she hadn't really been able to see anything in the first place it wasn't that big of a help. His tongue was moving furiously by then within her and it was making her literally tremble as her body was on fire. Each new burst of sensation and she was moving harder, trying not to go so hard that she was going to move him away from her. She wasn't sure how exactly she managed to do it but soon after he was slowing down. She half expected him to stop and when he wasn't she breathed out hard and said, "If I finish quickly…" There was no reply and she groaned, leaning over on to the headboard to place her elbows on the top of it before she let herself move as she pleased. How long it took for everything to hit her and overwhelm her she didn't know, only aware when her ecstasy struck as it seemed to be an explosion. She was almost clawing at the table behind the bed while calling her husband's name repeatedly, unaware of anything but the pure joy that ran through her and her pounding heart before it began to taper off.
Castle tried to help his wife when she eventually moved away from him, but it was a little difficult as she was fine doing that on her own. When she lay on her back next to him he asked, "Good?"
"Yes, but that wasn't because it's been a while," Beckett replied quickly. She then looked at him and smiled before telling him, "I needed that."
"I could tell," Castle replied, watching her turn over. He was expecting it, so he took her kiss that she gave him, wrapping his arms tightly around her before he began to stroke at her bare back. He shuddered slightly as he could feel her abdomen pressing against him and when they parted said, "If you're going to do the same for me then I should warn you it's not going to last that long."
"I know," Beckett said with another smile as he looked uncertain. "Which is why I'm not racing to start."
"Oh-" Castle started to say when she cut him off with another kiss. He allowed her to and held her tightly before they were going a little crazy with their tongues as they began to roll together hungrily. He groaned at the taste of her and when she pulled away he was shuddering as he could feel her stroking along his bare chest. "Not my- ugh," he hissed heavily in delight as she went to his nipples and worked on both for a while. "Do you want me to explode when you start?" he asked her in slight irritation.
Beckett smiled at his tone and said, "Essentially yes, you've had to wait." At his groan, she leaned down and began to kiss at his chest lovingly, very short pecks of her lips before she used her tongue as well. She tried not to smile as he swore heavily each time she did that and instead focused on beginning to move down his body until she had reached his erection which was laying up on his stomach still. Taking it carefully in her hand she lowered her mouth down around the tip of him, waiting to hear his reaction as she knew already she'd be getting an audible one.
Swearing heavily Castle reached down and slid his fingers through his wife's hair as he felt her tongue beginning to circle around the very end of his length. He reminded himself not to pull at her locks as he didn't want to hurt her though it was a struggle as his body was reacting quickly to what she was making him feel. He didn't know if he should stop her or tell her to hurry up when she made the decision for him. A heavy groan left his mouth as she slid her mouth down around him and a second later she was moving back up. He braced himself when she started to repeat that and very rapidly. He made a noise that he thought might be a gurgle when she remained at the end of his member and focused on that. He felt like he was dizzy as her tongue was literally stroking at him and he thought if he got off right that second, he wouldn't mind. But he managed to keep from doing so, not sure how much longer he'd be able to withstand what she was doing to him.
Beckett was wondering the same herself but she didn't stop, doing everything she knew he liked with her mouth until finally she brought her hand into play as well. She tried not to smile at how many times her husband was swearing bitterly, focusing her attention on his erection, until she realized he was giving warning signs he was going to be orgasming and soon.
"Kate… love," Castle groaned to warn her. He only had seconds to do that before he was climaxing and roughly, trying not to hold onto his wife's hair so hard he was pulling at it. It was harder to remember that as the pleasure was roaring through his body and he was sure he was going to pass out when he soon began to slow down. He fell limp to the bed when he had stopped fully, and he said, "If I thrust too hard-" as he'd been doing that in his delight.
"No, you're fine," Beckett told him with a smile. She moved up to lay against his side and said, "Good enough?"
"For now," Castle said with a nod. "But that definitely let me know how much I miss doing that."
"Me too," Beckett replied. "Though we just had a taste."
"Not a bad taste," Castle said, watching her reach for the covers at the end of the bed.
"Pervert," Beckett said as she covered them both. "But it does help you are."
Castle laughed and then said, "You're welcome. So now what would you like to do?"
"Sleep," Beckett said in confusion.
"Oh," Castle said.
"Oh," Beckett said, not mimicking him but realizing what exactly he wanted. She moved to lie on her back and watched her husband get up before moving down to her abdomen.
"I love you baby girl," Castle said. "And I know that's not the best name," he told the baby as he gently stroked the curve it was making. "But we're not naming you for sure until we see you. But we're happy, very happy, and your big sisters can't wait to see you. And us." He pressed a few kisses over her stomach before he pushed himself up the best he could to his wife where he kissed her deeply. He was pleased when she quickly responded to him and as soon as she had he slipped his tongue into her mouth. They were dueling yet again, and he groaned in joy before they were parting. He lay on his back then and wrapped his arm around her telling her, "You know I love you right?"
"I'm aware," Beckett said, smiling as he rubbed his hand around her back. "I love you too."
Pressing a kiss to her forehead Castle said, "What should we do tomorrow?"
Sighing Beckett said, "I don't know love, it's probably better if we don't plan this because look at today. We were going to work on the baby's room and that didn't quite work out."
"Well that's more because Brad and Lily got held up," Castle said, their friends ending up needing to pick up a gift at the opposite end of the island that day. "Should we have told the girls that they're getting a dog too?"
"No," Beckett said with a laugh. "They might tell Jake and Eve," she told him.
"I might do that," Castle pointed out.
Laughing again Beckett said, "You might. But you know Brad would really make you pay for that if you did."
"Which is why I'm not saying a word," Castle replied.
"Rick," Beckett said after they were silent for a moment. "You're sure you don't want to take her first name?"
"You have better ideas than I do," Castle said. "What I'm curious about is what you're going to choose in the end. And I know, we have to wait for her to join us but I'm still impatient."
"Of course you are," Beckett said with a laugh. "And I am too don't worry. Oh, I want to do something with the girls tomorrow after their class."
"Now that we've been focusing on the baby?" Castle asked.
"You know we have to do that," Beckett replied, holding his other hand then before he entwined their fingers. "We've been doing it since I was pregnant with Eliza."
"True, I guess I took that for granted," Castle said. "I got used to it."
"Yeah," Beckett said with a smile. She then said, "I hope their Christmas won't be a disappointment now that we have JoJo."
"I highly doubt it," Castle replied. "And I'm glad he took to us so quickly."
"He's a sweet dog," Beckett said, smiling again as they thought of their Greyhound. "But no more Rick. I know we have four kids but three is enough."
"I know, I'm surprised more stuff hasn't broken with two dogs and two kids," Castle said.
"We're careful," Beckett said with a soft laugh.
Watching her yawn Castle rubbed her back gently and he said, "Should we say goodnight?"
"We should, who knows what we're going to do tomorrow," Beckett said with a smile. She then shared a deep kiss with him and after they parted said, "Night love."
"Night my love," Castle replied before he watched her settle back down next to his side. He knew when she'd fallen asleep as she became a little heavier against him and he was relieved she was as he knew she needed to get some rest. He then closed his eyes, falling asleep quickly with the thought running through his mind that he and Beckett were expecting their fourth daughter and they had their intimacy to look forward to. With that he wasn't surprised when his dreams focused more on the latter and he saw with joy his wife as they made love repeatedly while they soon slipped together into the next day.
A/N: I just wanted to say since I've had people talk to me about this already; I haven't written the baby as a boy because it didn't work out with my thought process with the plot of this series for them to have one. Now that doesn't mean I hate boys (I'd have to hate my male family members... actually my dog too since he's a boy, and to think of that is completely disgusting to me), or that there will never be a son in some form for others in this story. Now another story with another plot I could imagine them with a son most likely. So hopefully readers might keep reading and see what will happen for the family