Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured on the show Castle, they belong to the creator of the show, ABC and the others who do own them.
A/N #1: As it says with the title of this chapter this is the epilogue, so I have another story ready to go and I'll be posting it next Monday if anyone wants to read that one!
A/N #2: I was very pleased to receive the feedback I did for the last chapter so I'll go ahead and get started on my thank yous for that! TORONTOSUN (It was great to see you like how comfortable Castle and Beckett are together since I enjoy writing them that way!) and
Mb (I was really happy to see you thought the first half of the chapter was nicely done with them shopping in Adare for the grandchildren and their family plus the pub. Had to laugh at your mentioning them enjoying each other as only they can do but it's definitely a true statement! You're welcome for sharing the first half of the chapter! It was great to see you thought the second half was wonderfully written enjoying their anniversary and each other. That was definitely my intent so I glad I managed to write that! You're welcome for the second half of the chapter!).
Thanks for the reviews, I loved reading them and appreciate the time take to write them out and send them my way! Also to everyone who favorited, followed and reviewed this story thanks so much for that! And to anyone who does all that in the future for this story thanks in advance!
A/N #3: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Mary Had a Little Lamb written by Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney, released as a single by the band Wings.
To School One Day
Putting her brush away, Julia looked up at her reflection in the mirror above the sink before she pursed her lips. She pulled her hair back before she let it go and went into one of the drawers she had in the vanity. Pulling out a length of fabric she tied it around her head and let the ends drape over her shoulder. Looking at her reflection a second time, she made an annoyed noise in the back of her throat before she reached for another fabric that was shorter and a solid color instead of a pattern as the first one had been.
After she had the band set, Julia went out to her bedroom and hurriedly made her bed before she heard a knock on her doorway. "Morning," she told her mother, looking to her.
"Good morning," Beckett responded, setting Josie down when the toddler started to wriggle. "Are you ready?"
"Yeah," Julia said. She then smiled and said, "I'm not nervous."
"At all?" Castle asked.
Making a face at her father, Julia said, "A little, but not a ton."
"Then you're ready for breakfast," Castle said.
"I am, what about Lizzy?" Julia asked scratching the top of Macca's head since he was standing next to her.
"I'm here," Eliza told her family, stepping into the doorway. "What're we having?"
Since his wife had turned to look at him, Castle said, "I made something special since it's the first day of school."
"Chocolate chip pancakes?" Eliza asked with a gasp.
"That's fine," Beckett said in amusement when her husband turned to her. "Just for today though."
"Sure," Castle replied before they were leaving the room and heading downstairs.
When they'd reached the kitchen table Julia said, "Grandpapa."
"Since today is special," Jim told her with a smile while he finished setting the table.
"You'll be expected to set the table tomorrow," Martha said, sitting at her chair then since she'd assisted him.
"We will," Julia replied before she and her sister were sitting at their chairs. After their parents had brought the food over, she said to her father, "They're at work already?"
"They are," Castle said. "But don't worry, they're still planning to come for dinner."
"They better," Eliza said firmly before she saw the way her mother was looking at her. She winced and then said, "I hope."
"That's better, but Alexis and Louis did say they wanted to see you two after your first day," Beckett replied.
"Are we doing something special for dinner?" Eliza asked hopefully.
"You'll see tonight," Castle replied before they were beginning to eat. He wasn't surprised when his mother was asking Julia if she was ready concerning her classes.
"I know where they are," the teen said with a smile. "I've looked at the map a ton already planning where I need to go."
"And you know the best ways to go," Jim said.
"Yeah, Jake said he'd help me go around but I don't want to make him late for his classes," Julia said. She ate some of her pancakes and then said, "I'm just glad I know where I'm going the last class."
"You don't mind not switching the order every day?" Martha asked her.
"No, I like having dance class as my P.E.," Julia replied before her sister was talking with a frown to her surprise.
"That's a lot of dancing," Eliza told her.
"I do have a dance competition coming up, don't I?" Julia asked.
"That reminds me," Castle said while Eliza was nodding to what her sister had said. "What happens with that class after you're done with the Rothschild?"
"We'll practice dances and steps," Julia said. She then realized what she'd said and shook her head before telling the others, "I mean practice steps and make up dances," not surprised when her mother was responding shortly after.
"She's going to enter you in more competitions," Beckett said.
Nodding Julia said, "But she'll tell us to ask permission."
"I hope so," Castle said, not surprised when the teen laughed at his tone. He was about to turn the subject to Eliza when his mother was doing that, and he then made sure Josie in between him and Beckett was eating her eggs along with the small pancake she had.
"Okay," Beckett said when she saw they were finished. "We need to hurry."
"We'll help!" Eliza cried, jumping up and grabbing her plate.
"Good, you two are going to be late if you don't," Beckett said.
After she had helped clear the table with the others, Julia asked her parents, "Can I go check on my stuff?" She was relieved when they nodded, and she rushed to the foyer where she went straight to her dance bag. The week before she had tried on her practice shoes and had discovered they didn't fit anymore, leading to her parents buying her a new pair. She opened the shoe bag they were in, looking happily at them since the heels were a little taller.
"Are you going to be able to wait for later to wear them?" a voice said, making her jump. Eliza couldn't help giggling at her sister's reaction and told her, "Sorry, I knew you were gonna look at them. Why didn't you practice with them when you tried them on?"
"It didn't feel right," Julia said with a shrug, tugging the cord on the bag to put it away. "And I'll be able to today."
"I wish I could see your dances," Eliza said.
"Sneak," Julia immediately teased her sister with a smile. "I knew you were going to ask."
"I want to see it," Eliza playfully whined. "Them," she corrected herself in a rush.
"You will, at the start of October," Julia told her reassuringly though she was speaking absently at the same time since she was checking everything else in her bag.
"Are you nervous about that?" Eliza asked softly.
"Yeah," Julia said. "Duh," she added before they were laughing together. They stopped abruptly when they heard the clatter of nails on the floor down the hall and she laughed when Macca made a beeline for her. "Okay boy," she told the Wolfhound when he tried to lick at her cheek. She stood up, taking her bag with her, before she said, "You guys have to stay here with Josa, Gram and Grandpapa, okay?"
"Not with us?" Castle asked, stepping into the foyer with the others.
"You're going to write," Julia said with a smile. She grabbed her backpack and after putting it on said, "I wish they could come with us."
"They'll be happier here," Castle said, moving to get Josie's tennis shoes. "Protecting the house."
Julia nodded before she picked up her bag and then told her family, "I'm going to go with Mari to the middle school before I go to mine."
"Do you want us to say goodbye here?" Beckett asked her.
"No, I'll just have to say it quickly," Julia said, glancing down at the dogs momentarily. She felt her mother's hand on her shoulder, and she smiled at her when Beckett was gently squeezing it, aware she knew why she'd said that.
"Josie's ready Kate," Castle told his wife, standing up.
"I am," Eliza said before she was turning with the rest of their family when there was a clatter and they watched Julia almost diving for her shoes.
"I am too!" the teen said once she had her shoes on. "Sorry," Julia said a little sheepishly.
"You were looking at your dance shoes, weren't you?" Castle asked her.
"Yeah, but I checked to make sure I had everything," Julia replied.
"One thing before we leave," Castle told the two who were groaning in response.
"You knew we were going to already," Beckett said with a smile, picking up her camera from where she had it on the table next to the closet. She had Julia and Eliza stand with their sister before she took a picture, and her husband took another with his phone.
"I'll definitely send that one out," Castle said.
"Now we're leaving?" Julia asked. When her mother nodded, she and Eliza said goodbye to the dogs before they were leaving. She had to help her mother in getting the dogs to stay but once they had finished, she jogged to the gate.
"She's nervous," Castle told his wife while they were walking together out to the sidewalk.
"Of course she is," Beckett said with a slight smile since they'd stepped outside of their property to see their second oldest talking excitedly to Mari. "And so is she," she added before they were turning to Rebecca and David, the latter speaking first.
"Of course she is," the mayor said. "Sorry about copying you. But she is, she spent her time before bed looking at the classroom map."
"Julia did too," Castle said.
"And get this," David said, starting to sound annoyed. "She made us say goodbye to her already."
"Of cour-" Castle started to say before his wife was squeezing his arm hard. "It's expected," he corrected himself after sharing a look with Beckett.
"I know that, but it still sucks," David said.
"He's been pouting," Rebecca commented wryly.
"I'm not surprised," Beckett said. She looked ahead at their daughters and said, "I think they're okay now though."
"I kept telling him she's gotten advice from Julia," Rebecca said. "So she's prepared, and she was at the same school last year."
"The same with Julia having two friends at the high school," Beckett added before she picked up Josie who had been trying to pull away from her.
"I think our parents are talking about us," Mari said to Julia.
"Yeah, I'm not surprised," the teen said. "Are you ready?" Julia then asked her friend.
"I am, I mean what else am I going to do?" Mari asked before she shrugged. "You?"
"Yes, what about dance class?" Julia asked.
"You get two of them," Mari said. When her friend gave her a look she said, "I'm ready. But at least you can practice." She wasn't surprised when Julia gave her another look and she giggled before telling her, "I know, I know, but I swear that I'm going to dance with you still."
"You better," Julia said before she fell silent when they reached the corner of the street across from the Academy. After they went across, she went to her family, hugging Josie first and telling her, "Have fun at home Josa."
"You go here?" the toddler asked.
"Yeah, pretty soon you will too," Julia said as she squeezed her baby sister a little harder when she had hugged her back before they were looking at their father while he was speaking exaggeratedly.
"Hey, don't remind us," Castle said. He glanced at his wife and seeing her looking at him he said, "Never mind."
"I'll see you after school at the dance class," Julia then told her baby sister.
"Can I too?" Josie asked her.
"I'll see," Julia replied with a wide smile, hugging her one more time. She went to Eliza and said, "I don't know if I'll be able to see you at lunch."
"That's okay," the little girl said. "I'll be with my friends."
Nodding, Julia hugged her quickly while she told her, "I'll come pick you up."
Shaking her head firmly, Eliza said, "I'll go to the high school."
"You can't pick her up," Beckett reminded her daughter.
Opening her mouth to speak, Julia hesitated and realized she was right before she said, "I can go out to get her."
"I'll go over with Quentin," Eliza said swiftly.
"You need to," Castle told her, not surprised when the little girl was nodding again.
Hugging her grandparents Julia said, "I'll tell you about my classes."
"And your dance class before we get there," Martha said firmly, not surprised when her granddaughter was smiling.
"That too, but it won't be that much," Julia said.
"We'll still want to hear," Jim told her.
Nodding her head once, Julia moved to her parents and said, "Are you worried."
"No," Castle and Beckett said at the same time before they were looking at each other.
"We're not," Beckett said, turning back to their second oldest. "Just let us know if you have any problems."
"I will," Julia promised, hugging her father first.
"Tell me if any boys bother you," Castle said, embracing her back.
"Dad," Julia said in mock annoyance. She then leaned back in his hold and told him, "I'll tell you."
"Good," Castle said, not surprised when his wife was rolling her eyes.
"I'll tell you both," Julia said, speaking to her mother after she'd moved to hug her.
"Pay attention sweetie," Beckett told her.
"I know, in all of my classes," Julia replied while they were letting each other go. "See you later," she told her family. After they'd told her goodbye, she hurried to Mari where she was waiting and said, "Sorry that took so long."
"It's okay," Mari replied with a smile. "You have more people to say goodbye to."
"All set with your first class?" Julia asked her.
"Yep," Mari said. "Room 206. And you?"
"Room 188," Julia replied. "I'll come over with the others at lunch."
"Is Jake going to join us?" Mari asked.
"It's what he said," Julia said, nodding before they were slowing down at the middle school building.
"You better go, you're going to be late," Mari said.
"I know, I know," Julia said before they were laughing together, and she was hugging her friend swiftly before she hurried down to the high school building.
"Julia!" a familiar voice called to her.
Slowing down, Julia turned and saw it was her dance partner, making her smile before she told him, "Hey, I have to get to my locker to leave my bag."
"Me too, which one is yours?" Peter asked.
"A53," Julia replied.
"Cool, I'm at A42," Peter said. "We're close."
Julia nodded before they were entering the building and going to the wing where the freshmen lockers were. She opened hers, relieved it was empty, and stored her books for after lunch classes before putting her dance class bag on top of them. She then closed the door and put on the combination lock she had bought with her other supplies before she made sure she remembered the code. "Okay, I'm ready," she told Peter when he walked up to her. She then asked with a smile as they were walking back around to the hall where the classrooms were, "Have you seen Eve?"
"No, hopefully at lunch," Peter said.
"You could passing by during breaks," Julia said.
"Not much of a break, racing to your next class," Peter said with a snort.
Julia shrugged before they found their English classroom and she went inside after her dance partner, looking back at the hall since other students had been looking at them.
"I noticed too," Peter said when his partner stepped up to where he was waiting. "I think you're famous," he told her, trying his best not to laugh when she made a face.
"Let's just sit," Julia said, rolling her eyes before they were walking inside fully. Since she'd already contacted their other friends, she knew they were alone in that class, but she and Peter were soon sitting in the front row next to each other. "How's the house going?" she asked her friend after she had her spiral notebook out.
"Fine, they're hoping to finish it in December, before the snow starts," Peter said. He was about to continue before he paused, not surprised when Julia was looking at him confusingly before she turned around.
"Oh, hello Mrs. Cobb," Julia said, not sure why she stood up immediately before her teacher was speaking with a smile.
"Hello," the woman said. "You can sit. I'm just going to close the door, the bell is going to ring soon."
"Why did you-" Peter started to say.
"I don't know," Julia interrupted him. "I just did." She shook her head and said, "Instinct."
"As long as you didn't salute her," Peter commented. He wasn't surprised when she gave him a look and he shrugged before they heard the bell ringing, the teacher closing the door and walking up to the front of the class.
As Mrs. Cobb was greeting them and taking attendance, Julia could feel the others behind her looking at her when she said, "Here," to her name. She felt a little uncomfortable but ignored it before the teacher began telling them about that year in English I and what they'd be learning. They received the first book they would be reading, and she was excited to see that it was The Great Gatsby and if she'd been sitting in the middle of her row, she would have tried to start it. When the bell was ringing fifteen minutes later, she had to reluctantly put the book away in her backpack before she rushed to her Algebra class where she and Peter met with Dawn.
"Hey, glad I'm not the only one not great at math," she told her two friends once they'd reached her.
"Natalie wants to be an accountant," Julia said jokingly because their friend was in Algebra II.
"I think she is already," Peter added before they were laughing and slipping into the classroom to get desks next to each other.
"Ava?" Julia asked once they were sitting in the third row.
"With Natalie," Dawn said. "She's just good at math," she added.
"At least they've got friends," Peter said, not surprised when the other two nodded.
"Are you two coming with us for lunch?" Julia asked.
"I have to ask Ava, see what she wants to do," Dawn replied just before the bell rang.
Julia wasn't surprised to find she had a second class with homework for the first day after they'd been told by Ms. Cecil what they'd be taught during the year. After they'd had a lesson on one step equations, she wrote down the assignment in her assignment notebook the high school sold, and her parents had bought for her. Putting her things away when the bell rang, she told the others, "Hopefully this will be quick."
"Should be," Peter said. "See you in history," he then told Dawn, since he and Julia were going to their French class.
"Sure you wouldn't want to switch?" Julia asked jokingly.
"No, my dad's really sure about me learning German," Dawn replied. "Or trying to anyway."
Julia wanted to reassure her friend she would, but she and Peter had to hurry up to the third story of the building to make it in time for their class. She was relieved when the teacher was nice and wasn't too stringent on correcting their pronunciations after they began the class by introducing themselves. She was a little annoyed that homework for the night was translating sentences in English into French but looking at the book she had for the class before she put it away, she was relieved they looked easy.
"We're all in this class, aren't we?" Peter asked after he and Julia had left their French class to head down two flights of stairs to the first floor and their History class.
"Yeah, and just that one," Julia said.
"I told you I just wanted to learn French," Peter replied before they were turning their attention to the rest of their friends.
After they'd greeted each other, Julia followed Dawn and Ava into the classroom before she looked behind her spotting Natalie and Tristan laughing together. She made a motion to Peter and when he was next to her, she whispered, "Is Tristan still dating that girl?"
Shaking his head, Peter said, "Tristan said they had to break up since her family moved to New Orleans." He glanced back at the pair before he said, "I wonder if they're going to get together."
"Don't say anything," Julia told him. She wasn't surprised when he nodded before they got their desks, and she was sitting in front of Ava. She found herself excited while Mrs. Evers was outlining their year in the class and what they'd be learning about. She was happy to read part of the first chapter of their textbook though she had never really taken to very early history. When she had finished, she couldn't help reading ahead before the bell was ringing and she realized she hadn't heard the assignment. "Do we have homework?" she asked the others.
"Yeah," Natalie replied in amusement. "The questions at the end of the chapter."
"Okay," Julia said, writing it in a rush before throwing her planner into her backpack. "Let's go," she told them before they were making their way to their lockers. She got her books for her science and Spanish classes before they went together to the entrance to the building. After Eve and Jacob were with them, they headed outside to the cafeteria for the middle school. Inside she was pleased to see Mari waiting for them at the end of the line for the baked potatoes and she asked, "How was it," at the exact same time her friend was.
After they'd calmed down from laughing, Mari said, "It was fine, it was school."
"Yeah, and I can't wait until we're finished for the day," Dawn said, the others agreeing with her immediately before they started to laugh.
Once they had gone through the line to get their food, Peter was asking Mari, "Where's my brother?"
"He had a class on the first floor, I was on the second," Mari replied.
"He's got a table already," Jacob commented, looking ahead.
"Hey, do you guys have homework too? On the first day?" Clive asked before he was laughing with the others while they were sitting with him. "Sorry, I was wondering," he said when he'd calmed down.
"We do," Julia said, her friends nodded. She wanted to ask Mari what she had to do, but she was too hungry and too tempted by her potato to not get a bite on her fork. "What do you need to do?" she eventually asked.
"Basic stuff, problems in math, reading for history," Mari said. "So far. And I hope that's it."
"Me too," Julia said, nodding rapidly. She then smiled at the others and said, "Though any homework on the first day sucks."
"I just hope we don't get that much on Friday," Peter said, not surprised when his friends were agreeing. He then turned to his girlfriend and said, "Are you getting a lot of homework?"
"It seems the same as last year," Eve replied, in her Junior year. "I'll let you know about next year."
"Especially me," Jacob said firmly before he was smiling while their friends were laughing.
Discussing the teachers they'd had so far that day, the group was soon finishing up their food and cleaning off their table to head outside.
"I'm going to go to the elementary school playground, see my sister for a second," Julia told the others.
"She's not going to like that," Clive said jokingly.
"If I can get her attention," Julia said in amusement before her best friend was getting her attention.
"I'll go with you," Mari said.
"Isn't your sister going to be home by now?" Ava asked her.
"Probably," Mari replied. "But still."
"We'll see you guys at the field," Julia told them before she and Mari were making their way to the elementary school playground. Standing at the low wall at the back of it she looked around for her sister before she soon spotted Eliza playing basketball with Quentin and her long-time friend Bridget. "Lizzy," she called to her. When Eliza turned to her, she waved and then waited for her to make her way over. "Hey," she said with a smile when her sister was close.
"Hey, did you have your dessert?" Eliza asked with a smile.
"Not yet," Julia replied. "I'm going up to the field, but how're you doing?"
"Good, Mrs. Cody is really nice," Eliza said. "You?"
"Good," Julia said, nodding. "You want to go back to your game, don't you?" she asked with a smile since her sister was glancing back to the basketball court.
"Yeah, see you after," Eliza said, hurrying to her friends.
"Is that it?" Mari asked, trying not to laugh out loud.
Frowning, Julia looked at her and said, "I guess so, come on let's go up so we have a little time to walk."
"There's still a while," Mari said though they'd already turned to go to the stairs.
"Yeah," Julia said.
"What's wrong?" Mari asked her in concern.
"It's the high school," Julia replied, waiting for them to reach the field. "I feel like every time I go out to my next class everyone's looking at me."
"Well… you are kind of famous you know," Mari said. She saw the expression on her friend's face and told her, "It's true. You have Dancing With the Stars, the concert and your books remember."
Making a face Julia said, "True, but at least I'm not having everyone asking for an autograph."
"That's because your new book isn't out yet," Mari said, nudging her friend playfully with her elbow.
"Oh, that reminds me, we'll have the copies for everyone here in a month," Julia said, pulling a bag out of her pocket. She smiled as she opened the bag of candy and said, "Share with me?"
"Sure," Mari said, holding her hand out for the marionberry gummies from Oregon. Once they were walking again, she asked, "Can I have a copy?"
"I didn't finish," Julia told her with a smile. "And yes, I'll sign it for you before I give it to you." She cried out and then laughed when her friend was suddenly throwing her arms around her and she said, "Your gummies!"
"I only hugged you with one arm," Mari said before Julia was suddenly stopping to her surprise before she began to speak.
"You know what I want to do once Dance is over?" Julia asked her friend.
"What?" Mari responded.
"See if my parents will invite your family over for dinner," Julia said.
"That would be great," Mari said. "I don't know if they'd say yes though."
"I can ask at least," Julia said. "You wouldn't want to come over and see the game room?"
"Definitely," Mari replied since she hadn't had the chance to the previous week because her mother's parents had come for a visit. They started to walk again, and she then said, "What about the other families?"
"I'm not sure," Julia said honestly, looking around at the others. "I bet Peter and Clive's parents will want to stay at their house with Emily. And the other two will stay home too," she said after thinking about that for a minute. "Man, I hope you can come over."
Smiling Mari said, "Make sure you say you're not asking me to spend the night."
"That might work," Julia said. They were walking in silence for a little before she glanced at her friend asking her, "Are you ready?"
"Yeah," Mari said firmly. "Stop asking me."
"I'm really glad you have P.E. last today," Julia commented, since their dance teacher had gotten permission for Mari to join her and Peter in their dance class when her P.E. was last. "Too bad you couldn't do it all the time," she added.
Laughing softly, because the permission she'd gotten had only been for when they needed to practice for the Rothschild, Mari said, "I'm fine just getting to practice without our parents there."
"I know," Julia said.
"Your gram didn't tell everyone what our costumes are going to be?" Mari asked.
Shaking her head Julia said, "Believe me or not, she won't. She promised me." She then frowned and said, "She also promised Josa, but I think that's because Josa was with me when I went to tell her."
Giggling, Mari said, "Good, because… oh no."
"Well, I said we had a little time, right?" Julia asked since she could see the others turning and walking to them at the bells ringing. She checked the time on her phone and said, "Yeah, I have to go." She then touched Mari's shoulder and said, "At least I'll see you soon. And have fun with the rest of your classes."
"You too," Mari replied before she stood with Clive, and they watched the high school kids hurrying off the field.
Trying not to run through the school, Julia was relieved when she and her friends made it to their science class. Sitting in the middle of the room, she glanced at her backpack and her copy of The Great Gatsby.
"I don't think you have time to read that," Natalie said.
"How-" Julia started to say with a frown.
"I know you have a book in your backpack," Natalie explained.
"Of course she does," Tristan said.
Giving him a look, Julia laughed with the others before they had to turn to the teacher when the bell rang. She was relieved the teacher, Miss Winter, was nice and explained their class that year and then started the periodic table with an eagerness that made her pay attention before the bell rang and she was speaking rapidly to them all.
"I know you guys are new here to the high school," Winter was saying. "So you have today off, just make sure you look at the first five elements again."
"See you later," Julia told Peter before she left with Natalie for their Spanish class they'd have with Ava. She was relieved her Spanish was still good, and when the teacher only asked them to write a paragraph about themselves, since she managed to do it while the teacher was working with other students on their pronunciations.
"Hope you guys enjoy art," Julia told her friends after they were leaving the room.
"Have fun practicing," Dawn said with a smile.
"Glad we can!" Julia said before hurrying down to the first floor and then around to the front doors just when Mari was walking in.
"I made it," the girl said.
"Good thing your class is on the first floor," Julia replied before they were going to the hall down to the studio where Peter was waiting.
"Hey, just in time," he told them.
"How many people are here?" Julia asked.
"No clue, but no one's come in," Peter said. "Since I got here," he added in a rush before they were entering the room. They paused nearly at the same time finding there were only four other kids in there along with Ms. Grey.
"Go ahead and change," the teacher urged the kids in the room.
"Is that all there is?" Mari whispered to Julia.
"I guess so," she replied. "I just hope they won't cancel the class."
"Hey," a girl said, walking over to the pair at their lockers. "You're the dancer, aren't you?"
"Aren't we all dancers?" Julia couldn't help saying in response after she and Mari had shared a look.
"And you're just a kid," the other girl said to Mari rudely.
"Hey, she's been dancing for longer than you have," Julia snapped in annoyance before the first girl was speaking to the other.
"I told you this was a stupid idea, let's go and find some other class," the teenager said. "It has to be better than this one."
"I'm glad you think that," Ms. Grey said, making the two girls whirl around to face her at the end of the row of lockers. "You and your boyfriends can head to the office right now."
"Gladly," the two said at the same time.
"Are you two okay?" Grey asked.
"Yeah," Julia said after looking at Mari and seeing her friend nodding.
"Do you still want to practice?" Grey asked them.
"I do," Mari said swiftly when her friend and their teacher were looking at her.
"Then go ahead and change and Peter and I will see you outside," Grey said.
"Ms. Grey," Julia said quickly, stopping her. "Why did you come in here?"
Studying her for a moment, Grey said, "Peter told me the boyfriends of those two were talking about making sure you taught them Julia. He said they didn't mention anything specific, but they were…"
"Their tone of voice?" Julia asked.
"Yes, but I'll make sure the principal is aware of them not being allowed back here," Grey said before she left the two.
"They were kind of gross," Mari said while she and Julia started to change.
"All four of them were," Julia told her.
"But… what's going to happen to the class now? It's just you and Peter," Mari said, pausing when she realized that fact.
Shaking her head Julia said, "I hope it'll still happen, we need this time for competitions."
"Maybe I could join it," Mari said. "Clive too."
"I don't think they'll let you," Julia replied. "Try but you should ask Clive first."
"That's what I was going to do," Mari said with a smile before they were finishing and heading out to the dance floor.
"Dawn, Ava? What're you doing here?" Julia asked in surprise when she saw the pair talking to Peter.
"We didn't like Art I," Dawn said first.
"Yeah, a little boring," Ava replied. "So we asked to try this elective and we can."
"But… you don't know how to dance," Mari said slowly.
"We'll need to teach them," Grey said, walking into the room from her office.
"Does that mean we can take this class?" Ava asked hopefully.
"I've talked with the principal, and they want you two to be sure about your choice before you commit to this class," Grey told the pair.
Nodding rapidly at the same time her girlfriend was, Dawn then said, "But Mari's right, we don't know how to dance… anything."
"There's a reason why this is Dance I," Grey replied. "And you two can't start yet, you don't have the proper practice clothing or shoes… you'll have to tell your parents."
"We will," Dawn and Ava said at the same time.
"And could we stay for the dance class after school too?" Ava asked. "To watch the dancing more?"
"Of course, as long as you tell your parents," Grey said with a nod. "Then we can begin," she said. She was going to add more when she saw Julia had raised her hand and asked her with a smile, "Yes?"
"They could practice a little," Julia said. "The Viennese Waltz," she added.
"That's true, though you'll need to practice sometimes with a girl," Grey told the pair.
"They're dating," Peter said slowly before they heard the door opening and turned to see his girlfriend walking inside. "Eve?" he asked, startled.
"Hey, I managed to get this class," the young woman replied, smiling at the others. "I have a note from the principal for you ma'am."
Taking it, Ms. Grey ready it swiftly before she said, "Okay, Peter-"
"There are two more kids coming," Eve interrupted. "Sorry ma'am," she told the teacher. "They were down at the office when I left."
"Tristan and Natalie?" Julia asked interestedly.
"I think so," Eve said before Mari was talking to the teacher in confusion.
"Why are so many changing electives?" the girl asked.
"They do that," Grey said. "And are allowed to this first day but that's it."
"Is it going to be a problem if there aren't anymore boys that come to the class?" Julia asked.
"We could use a couple more, but we'll see what happens as we start the class," Grey said before the door was opening again.
Waving at Tristan and Natalie, Julia was surprised when a boy she knew was Eve's friend in her grade, Corey, walked in after though she didn't say anything since Ms. Grey was talking to the four walking inside. She felt Mari touch her arm and she looked at her friend saying, "I wish you and Clive could join us."
"I have to ask," Mari said.
"It wouldn't work though," Julia reminded her. When her friend's face fell, she hugged her tightly and told her, "I know, I missed seeing you already."
"But you'll have Dance next year, right?" Mari asked, talking rapidly since they were watching Grey talking to the newest kids.
"I don't know why it's numbered but yeah, Dance II will be at the end of the day too," Julia replied before they were turning to the teacher while she was getting their attention.
"Okay, I think we have everyone for the class today," Grey said. "And we have someone extra here because we have a competition coming up. I hope you won't mind if we spend most of it practicing the trio dance they'll have for it."
While the others were saying they didn't Corey raised his hand and asked, "We can watch right? We're going to learn this dance?"
"Yes," Grey replied. "Now…"
"Why are you looking at the door?" Natalie asked in confusion when everyone but her, Tristan and Corey turned to it.
"Just making sure no one else is going to come inside," Grey said.
While the teacher was having the others sit on the chairs to side of the room, Julia stood with Mari and Peter before she murmured, "Should I dance with Corey?"
"No, he's gay," Peter replied at the same volume. When Julia and Mari looked at him, he said with a smile. "The captain of the lacrosse team? He's Corey's boyfriend."
"Okay," Julia said slowly before Peter playfully nudged her side.
"Don't worry, we're still going to be partners," he told her. "But…"
"Yes, you can practice with her," Julia said. "Once we dance at the Rothschild." She smiled when her partner nodded before they were turning to Grey as she addressed them to begin their class and their practice.
"You okay?" Castle asked his wife, walking over to where she was sitting at the bar.
"Yeah," Beckett said, looking at him in amusement. "I'm just checking on Josie."
"And thinking about Julia," Castle added.
"And Eliza," Beckett corrected him.
"Her too but I know you're wondering about Julia," Castle told her.
"I am," Beckett said. "But I know she'll be fine." When her husband just looked at her, she said, "Don't give me that love, I want her day to go well but I'm not going to hover."
"I'm not surprised," Castle said. "And that's why I thought you'd make a great mother."
"To your children," Beckett told him, smiling when he looked at her in surprise before he was responding.
"You mean ours," Castle said. He was a little startled when she suddenly reached up to him and brushed some of his hair off his forehead. "Okay…" he said slowly when she placed her hand on his shoulder. "What does that mean?"
"It means I know you're feeling the same I am," Beckett said, smiling when her husband had. "But stop worrying."
"The boys-" Castle started to say.
"She can take care of herself," Beckett replied firmly. "And she'll talk to us if she has any problems." When her husband was about to speak, she squeezed his shoulder a little hard to get him to stop before she told him, "She will."
"Right," Castle said before he leaned into her. They kissed briefly and once they'd parted, he told her, "It's your shot love," since they'd been playing pool in the game room while Josie was taking her nap upstairs.
"You know," Beckett said, checking the time. "I think we should stop here, it's almost time to leave for the class."
Nodding, Castle said, "Alright, but there is a little more time."
Smiling, since her husband hadn't looked at his watch until after he'd spoken, Beckett asked him, "You have something else in mind?"
"Well, since you asked…" Castle started to say before he leaned into his wife.
Wrapping her arms around her husband's neck at the same time he was doing so around her waist, Beckett was kissing him back before he was deepening it immediately. His tongue swept along her lower lip before she parted them both for him and they were beginning to clutch at each other.
"Grandpapa no," Josie said in complaint when her grandfather was moving to the hallway.
"Hold on Josie," Jim said gently to her.
"No, I want Mama," the toddler said.
"Alright," Jim said with a sigh before he walked back to the doorway of the room to find his daughter and son in law had parted but hadn't let go of each other. "I should have knocked," he said since they were both looking at him.
"It's alright, that doorway is hard on the knuckles," Castle commented before Josie was giggling while he was letting go of his wife.
"Dada kiss Mama," the toddler said.
"I was," Castle said, following his wife over to their youngest.
"Of course you were," Martha said, walking into the room. She wasn't surprised when her son gave her a brief look and then asked, "Are we walking to the school now?"
"We are," Beckett said. "That way we'll make it." She wasn't surprised when hers and Castle's parents were leaving the room and she told her husband, "We have French doors."
"With windows, so I think we're going to have to face facts that our parents are going to walk in on us," Castle said.
"And we lock our bedroom door," Beckett told him, not surprised when he was nodding firmly. They went to the entry and after they had their shoes on, she turned to her father when he was asking them about the dance class.
"Will Julia be okay dancing for so long?" Jim said.
"I don't think Ms. Grey will have them dancing the entire time," Castle said. "At least I hope she won't."
"They'll be practicing for the Rothschild during the dance class," Beckett said. "And have regular lessons after school."
With a brief nod, Castle waited for her to command the dogs to stay before she was stepping onto the porch with him. Out on the sidewalk he took his wife's hand since Josie was walking with their parents and he eventually said, "I just hope she had an okay time today."
Beckett smiled at him bringing that up again before she said, "Me too."
Entwining their fingers, Castle squeezed them gently before they soon had the Academy in sight.
Standing at the entrance to the high school building, Julia searched for her sister since the bell had rung to end the day.
"Hey, you're leaving?" Ava asked, standing with her.
Looking at her friend, Julia smiled and said, "No, just watching for my sister."
"Oh, I see her," Ava said. "And her friend."
"Are you going to stay?" Julia asked when she saw her friend didn't have her backpack.
"She is, they all are," Mari said, walking up to them.
"Hi," Eliza said, smiling at the three teens when she was inside. "How was it?"
"We practiced a ton," Julia said.
"I still can't see?" Eliza asked while her sister took her hand and led her to the dance studio, Quentin following with Mari and Ava.
"Not yet, but you will," Julia promised before she led her to the dressing room. "But your day?" she asked while she helped her sister change.
"Good," Eliza said though it was muffled since she was taking off her shirt. After she had her leggings on, she asked, "What're we doing today?"
"Ballet," Julia said, smiling when her sister immediately looked down at her feet where her ballet slippers were.
"Quentin's not going to like that," Eliza said.
"No, but he knows we practice that too," Julia commented, watching her sister tie her ballet slippers on. "Those are getting worn out." At the look on Eliza's face she said, "You're going to really outgrow them one day."
"Not yet," Eliza said firmly before she was standing up. "But you and Peter should practice."
"We did already," Julia replied with a smirk before they were walking out to the studio ahead of the others. She saw that while they'd been in the dressing room their family had arrived and she walked over with her sister, Eliza reaching them first and hugging them tightly before her mother was speaking to her with a smile.
"You're okay?" Beckett asked.
"Yeah, I'll tell you how everything went at dinner," Julia said, nodding.
"Good," Beckett said, letting her go before Castle was stopping her.
Unable to help laughing when her father hugged her, Julia responded before she said, "I really am okay Dad."
"That's just because I love you," Castle told her. He wasn't surprised when the teen pulled back and looked at him pointedly before he said, "Seriously, go ahead and dance."
Smiling Julia was about to go to where the others were standing before she stopped herself. "Can the Fosters come over for dinner?" she asked her parents in a rush.
"Yes," Castle said. He could sense his wife looking at him and he told her, "I knew she was going to do that."
"So did I," Beckett said before they were looking at the door to the studio. Rebecca was walking inside with Dani, and she told their second oldest, "We'll ask them after."
"Thanks," Julia said gratefully before she was hurrying onto the dance floor since the class was starting.
Watching Ms. Grey beginning with ballet, Beckett wasn't surprised to see some of the boys were rolling their eyes though they were soon practicing. She had Josie on her lap and did her best to make sure the toddler didn't move though she was wriggling until the class was over.
"What are they doing?" Martha asked in surprise when they watched Julia and Eliza talking to Ms. Grey.
"Come on Josa," Eliza said, hurrying over to her family.
"She's going to practice?" Beckett said with a smile.
"Yeah, Ms. Grey says it's okay," Eliza said before Josie, set down by their mother, hurried to their big sister before she was following in time to hear Julia speaking.
"We can only dance for a little," the teen said. "Since we have homework, and we might have guests over."
"Eh," Josie said, smiling.
"Okay, ready?" Julia asked her. When her baby sister was nodding, she took her through the five different ballet positions before they were applauding for her.
"That's it?" Eliza asked in disappointment when her sister was taking Josie's hand.
"Yeah, we have to go back home," Julia said. "I think the Fosters are going to come over for dinner," she added hurriedly when her sister started to open her mouth to protest. When Eliza stopped and pursed her lips, she smiled and led Josie to their family asking, "She can come over?"
"They're all coming over," Rebecca said, smiling when Julia looked at her.
"Oh thanks," the teen said, smiling herself. She then said, "What about David?"
"Dad should be there soon," Mari said. "At your house I mean, Mom texted him."
"Speaking of being home," Castle said, standing up. "We better head back so you three can do your homework." He wasn't surprised when the three left for the dressing room to change and he said to his wife, "You want to stick with our plans for dinner?"
"I get the feeling you don't want to," Beckett said, smiling at him.
"Not tonight, we should celebrate," Castle said. "That and there are going to be four more of us."
"He's just looking for an excuse," Beckett told her friend.
"I figured," Rebecca said. "And I wasn't planning on going back on the invitation." She glanced towards the girl's dressing room and said, "Mari would be livid."
"So would Julia, though we'd calm her down," Castle said, glancing at his wife in time to see her rolling her eyes. He was about to speak when he saw the girls were leaving the room and he said, "Okay, we can go," to the others.
"You'll have to tell me what you have in mind," Beckett told him before her husband was leaning down to her and murmuring into her ear. She smiled and said, "Okay."
Though he'd wanted to kiss her for that and the smile on her face, Castle settled for squeezing her hand before they were making their way out of the school and back home.