Disclaimer: The only part of Castle that I own is the TV on which I watch the show.

The weather is dreary, and a cold, heavy rain has been falling all day. Beckett and Castle are stretched out on the sofa reading when he rubs her ankle with his foot.

"You want to go to the movies? We haven't been in ages."

"I do, but I can't bear the idea of putting on rubber boots, playing dodge-a-brella on the sidewalk and having to hold a wet raincoat on my lap in the theater."

"Good point, but I'm in the mood for a movie. How about I check your Netflix list?"

"It's very different from yours, Castle. You might hate everything on it."

"I might, but since marriage is the fine art of compromise, why don't we watch one of yours and then one of mine?"

"A double feature? It's a deal. You know what? You'll make a great negotiator if you decide to give up writing."

"Dad's giving up writing?"

"Not giving up writing, Beckett."

"That's good, because when I learn to read I'm going to read all of Dad's books and then I want him to write some about me. Junior Detective! I already know a lot from following you around, Mom."

Castle brings up Beckett's movie list. "The first thing on here is Two Days, One Night. Oh, shit, it's in French?"

"With subtitles, so don't get all riled up. I've been dying to see it. Marion Cotillard got nominated for an Oscar for it."

"Oh, Marion Cotillard, now you're talking my language. And if it's a French movie, I bet she's going to be naked."

She pinches his big toe. "Actually it's Belgian, Castle, and it's a serious movie about a serious subject. A woman who has emotional problems gets laid off when she's on leave and she can get her job back only if several of her co-workers give up their annual bonus. The thing is, they all really need it, but she goes to see each one of them anyway, to plead her case."

"Fine, let's watch, after which we get something from my list. But I will definitely be choosing from the comic relief section."

Half an hour later, Castle squeezes Beckett's thigh. "You know, I have to admit it, this is pretty good, even if she has her clothes on."

"Hey, this isn't good, it's terrible. I don't know what's happening. I can't understand any of the talking. Dad, help! Can you read me the subtitle things?"

When the movie ends, Castle turns to Beckett. "Could you do what she did?"

"Go to Espo and Ryan and other detectives and ask them basically to take a pay cut for me when they need the money? I don't know. It took a lot of guts. She was so emotionally fragile, but she was thinking of her kids."

"The lady in the movie had kids? There's another thing I didn't know."

"You have guts, Beckett. And you have a kid to think of now, too."

Beckett feels a little mushy at that. "I do. I really do. And I think of it all the time."

"Thanks, Mom. Even though I wish you wouldn't call me 'it'."

"So, you ready for my movie now? Something a lot jollier?"

"I'm feeling pretty jolly right now, believe it or not, but sure, fire away. Your turn."

"Since this is a double feature, do we get a cartoon?"

"Not sure how much more jollity I can take right now, Castle. Another time, okay?"

He looks disappointed, but not for long, as he considers what he has chosen for them. "This is a comedy classic, Beckett. Charlie Chaplin's The Gold Rush. I bet I've seen it twenty times, and it still cracks me up."

"I've never seen it."

"What? Why?"

"Never had any interest, really."

"Are you kidding me? Oh, my God, it's genius. I promise you. It's a life-altering experience."

"Mom, do you want to alter your life? I heard you say it was perfect."

Within minutes, both of them are chuckling.

"Did the movie start? Why are you laughing? I don't hear anything."

Not long after that, they're guffawing. "Oh, my God, Castle, I can't believe the way he's eating his shoe."

"And licking the nails."

"What? Dad? Your movie is worse than Mom's!"

"This is making me revise my thinking on silent movies, Castle."

"Silent movies? This is a silent movie? You mean with no talking? No wonder I don't get it."

"I should hope so, Beckett. What about the baby? Think the baby liked it?"

"Oh, boy, I can't wait to tell you in person."

TBC

A/N Many thanks for your wonderful support for this.