"I was hoping you'd want to," Alexis replied with a smile, watching since Josie was trying to see Finn as well. "Jules," she then called to get her sister's attention. Once she was looking at her, she said, "Sit on the chair so Josa can see the babies too."

"Also it's a bit more secure for you to do that," Louis commented, going with the teen to the chair he'd been sitting on.

"Are you a worried dad already?" Julia asked her brother-in-law teasingly.

"I was before they were even born," Louis commented.

"Hurry," Eliza said happily. "I want to hold Finn too."

"I'm not surprised," Julia said before she turned her attention to the baby. "Hi Finn," she told him. "I'm your aunt Julia and this is Eliza and Josie. I don't know if you want to call us aunt all the time, so you can say our first names."

"Did all of you agree to that?" Alexis asked with a smile.

"Yeah," Eliza said, nodding her head rapidly. "We thought it would be better 'cause we're all really young." She paused and then said, "Also we feel weird being called aunts."

"Do you want to switch now?" Louis asked Julia since he'd noticed Eliza was starting to shift from foot to foot.

"Sure," she replied though she was hesitating since she didn't want to make her little sister wait any longer. Julia waited for Louis to get Finn then watched him taking the baby to Alexis before taking Emma. Holding her arms ready for the baby, she smiled widely at her and said the same introduction she'd given to Finn. "Well… now they're here it's seems weird," she admitted.

"Nothing to wait for?" Louis asked. When the teen nodded in agreement he said, "And now you'll have to switch with your sister."

"I figured," Julia replied with a smile before she let him take Emma.

"Do you mind going out of order?" Louis asked.

"No," Eliza said firmly. "I'm a little sister too so I want Emma to have the same attention." She was smiling widely as Louis set the baby in her arms and said, "Hello Emma, I like your name a lot."

"We're probably going to call her Emmie," Alexis said.

"Probably?" Louis asked his wife.

"We are," Alexis corrected.

"That's nice too," Julia said, not surprised when her sister was nodding.

"Okay, let me give you Finn," Louis said. He half expected his sister-in-law to protest but when she was nodding he quickly switched the babies before he stepped back.

"You need to be really nice to your little sister," Eliza said seriously to Finn. "I'm a big sister and a little sister so I know," she added firmly, looking up when the others laughed, though Josie was still leaning against her side to look at the babies while she'd held them.

"Hi," the toddler said, waving to her nephew. She then took his hand that was out of his swaddle of blankets before she gasped at the tightening of his fingers. "He hold my finger."

"Babies do that," Eliza said swiftly.

"You did that," Julia added, laughing with her sisters and brother-in-law when the toddler's eyes widened in response. "Yeah, and it was the cutest thing."

"Yeah," Josie echoed before she giggled.

"Do we need to go?" Julia asked after a few more minutes.

"Yeah, we need to let Gram and Grandpapa meet them," Alexis said.

"Is… that woman going to come?" Eliza asked while Louis took Finn.

"My birth mother?" Alexis asked calmly. When her little sister nodded, looking a little anxious, she said, "Probably, but we'll keep her away from you guys."

"We'll see you later?" Julia asked.

"We'll see you on Saturday," Alexis said. She wasn't surprised when her sisters looked upset and she said, "I know, but the doctor said we might want to keep the twins away from other people. We invited you to come over that day."

"If the doctor said that it's serious, right?" Eliza asked.

"It is," Julia said, since her sister was looking at her. "Then be careful and I hope the twins will be okay."

"Yeah, night," Eliza said.

"Night," Josie echoed.

"Thank you for wanting to see them," Alexis said with a smile. "And have fun tonight."

"We don't care if you do everything at the house," Louis said. "Your parents told us," he added at the girls' confused looks. "We'd do the same if you were here," he said, smiling when the two oldest were wrinkling their noses.

"See you Saturday," Julia said, waving before she took Josie's hand and led her outside so their grandparents could see the twins next.

Settling back against the bed Alexis watched her husband take Finn and asked, "You're expecting my gram to go a little crazy?"

"No, she'll want to take one of them right away," Louis explained. "I'm just helping her out."

Laughing, Alexis said, "She won't hurt them though."

"Oh no, just helping," Louis said, smiling when his wife was laughing again.

"I can tell you're alright kiddo," Martha said, walking into the room then. "And who is this?" she immediately said before the two could respond to her.

"Hey Grandpapa," Alexis said, smiling at Jim who had just walked into the room. "And since you're here too, that is Finn Alexander."

"Alexis," Martha breathed.

"We had to keep the tradition going," Louis said. "And I don't mind the name, I like it in fact." He then handed the baby to his grandmother in law and smiled watching her gently turning side to side.

"Hello, my little Irishman," Martha was saying. "Your great-great-grandfather loved the name Finn; he loved the story of Finn MacCool."

"That's where I heard it," Louis said with a nod.

"I liked the name myself," Alexis said, smiling. "When he suggested it."

"And the girl?" Jim asked, watching Louis heading to the bed.

"Emma Abigail," Alexis said, not surprised when the grandparents were smiling at Louis, since they were aware of the middle name. She watched her grandfather taking the baby and said, "I'm just glad all of that is over."

"So are you Louis," Jim said suddenly.

Startled, the young man was about to speak before he paused and then said, "Right, though thinking about everything now it seems more like a blur."

"Now of course," Alexis commented with a smile before her grandmother was giving Finn to Louis and moving to the bed, unsurprised by what she was asking her while she took her hand.

"You're okay? Everything went well?" Martha inquired.

"Yes, I'll be able to go home tomorrow," Alexis said before she hesitated. When her grandmother asked what was wrong she told her and Jim what the doctor had told her and Louis.

"That makes sense," Beckett's father said with a nod. "And we'll wait to see you again, but will you be alright?"

"I'm going to head out later today," Louis said. "And grab everything we need… Though to be honest it's just going to be groceries for us since we have everything we need for the twins."

"Will you be alright nursing?" Martha asked her granddaughter.

"Yes, I've read everything I could and at the Lamaze class our teacher spoke about that too," Alexis said. She smiled and then said, "Especially to me."

"We were the only ones expecting twins," Louis commented. He then said, when Martha had walked back to him, "But she'll be alright," giving Finn back to her.

"Do you want to switch?" Jim asked with a smile since she had walked over to him.

"I think we should," Martha replied. "She needs to rest." She wasn't surprised when Beckett's father agreed before Louis was helping them switch their great-grandchildren between them.

"What do you want to do now?" Castle asked Julia and Eliza when they had come down the stairs.

"Go swimming," the pair said at the same time, smiling at each other when their father laughed.

"I'm not surprised. Luckily we put on our bathing suits already," Castle told his wife.

"I know," Beckett said. "But we can't go swimming right away."

"We know, since we had a snack," Eliza said.

"Mom," Julia then commented when they were moving to the pool room. "What time were the twins born?"

"I didn't see the exact time," Beckett replied. "The hospital will tell them that. But it was around one or so I think."

"Why did you want to know?" Castle asked her.

Shrugging Julia said, "Just wondering, I think it's because we were stuck outside in the waiting room."

"You wanted to see 'lexis giving birth?" Eliza said in surprise.

"No," Julia said, rolling her eyes. "Did it take that long?"

"Actually, it didn't," Beckett said. "I was a little concerned but when I talked to Dr. Hargrove at the hospital, she said it was better for Alexis it went as quickly as it did."

"And she is okay, she wasn't lying," Castle said in a rush since he noticed the concerned look on Eliza's face. "Now, since we have to wait a little what do you think about sitting with Josie in her pool?"

"Oh sure," Julia said in mock annoyance. "Josa can go in her pool, but we can't swim yet." She then smiled and said, "Sure."

"Get your covers off," Beckett told them though she was focusing on Eliza as she spoke.

"I will," the little girl said, going to her usual lounge chair. Once she had her sundress off, she asked, "Why did Gram and Grandpapa leave?"

"They wanted to pick up a few things for your sister and the twins," Beckett explained. She smiled and then said, "And they're going to have some other things delivered too."

"Presents?" Eliza asked.

"Yes, I have no idea what though," Castle said. "Mother wouldn't tell me. But I get the feeling Alexis might have a new post-maternity outfit and the twins will have something for Saturday dinner."

"What about Louis?" Julia asked.

"I think she'll buy him a shirt," Castle said slowly.

"I know," Beckett said with a smile to her husband's look. "And Dad will suggest something for Louis."

"Here," Castle said, picking up Josie. "Ready for your pool?"

"Eh," the toddler said with a smile. Looking around in surprise when the rest of her family sat with her, Josie then said, "I am baby."

"I'm a baby," Eliza immediately corrected.

Squeezing at the little girl's arm, Castle said, "Right, of this family." He then turned his attention to his wife and said, "Think she's jealous?"

"No," Beckett replied. "If we'd kept her with us then she would have been. She needs to know she's an aunt… even if she doesn't understand it."

"We don't really have anything we have to do right?" Eliza asked.

"No, just love your niece and nephew," Beckett said.

"And if your sister needs someone to take care of them…" Castle began.

"But we're little still," Eliza protested.

"He means when you're older," Beckett said, not surprised when Julia and Eliza turned to her.

"I knew," Julia said with a smile. Looking around the room she asked, "We couldn't go swimming now?"

"Go ahead," Beckett replied. She watched with Castle while the two cheered and moved towards the slide before she was grabbing Josie when the toddler started to crawl after them. "Josie-" she started to say when she was crying out.

"We might need to take her in there too," Castle commented before his wife was sighing and then speaking to their youngest.

"Will you stay with us sweetie?" Beckett asked her.

"Eh," Josie said firmly before she went to the slide. She waited for her parents to go into the pool and said, "Now?"

"Go ahead," Beckett said, watching her going down the slide before Castle was helping her back up. She smiled at the way the toddler was laughing and wiping the water away from her eyes before she leaned into her husband. Kissing his cheek she told him, "I'm going to spend time with them."

"Sure," Castle said. "The other slide?"

Smiling at his guess Beckett told him, "We'll switch."

"How long are we swimming?" Castle asked. When she raised his arm to look at his watch he said, "It's past three-thirty."

"I'm debating going to dinner," Beckett replied.

"We didn't talk about that," Castle said. "Cook or grab something?"

"Grab, I know it's Monday but what we had for today will keep," Beckett replied firmly. "And we'll decide together."

"Before you go, I'm suggesting Chinese of some kind," Castle said.

"Dim Sum," Beckett replied with a smile before he was leaning into her. They turned at Julia and Eliza playfully agreeing with her before they were brushing their lips to each other's, splashing the water deliberately as they walked up to them, and they were laughing together before they began helping Josie swim until they would continue to enjoy the pool the rest of the afternoon.

November 7th, 2022

Hello Evangeline! Big, big news today and I'm sure you know what it is already, but I have to say it anyway.

THE TWINS WERE BORN TODAY!

I'm so excited, now I'm an aunt and I can't believe it. So we went to school (everything up to that was normal) and class was just starting when I was called to the office. I went and it was Gram and Grandpapa and they told me and Lizzy that 'lexis had gone to the hospital. We went too and of course had to sit and wait for the twins to be born. We did have homework for that day since we never went back to class, and luckily we got to finish it. Still waited and we even had lunch in the waiting room; Grandpapa went to get it for us; before Louis came outside.

I was scared then but Mom told us later that 'lexis really wanted her with her while she was giving birth and that makes sense. She was with her in our past life when she had her babies and I think 'lexis felt a lot better with Mom there. She had the babies, well first was the boy of the twins and then Mom said about five minutes later the girl was born. She came back and told us the babies were here before we needed to wait again… to let 'lexis and Louis have some time with their babies. Eventually Mom and Dad went in to see them and we had to wait again (we did a lot of waiting if you can't tell) until me, Lizzy and Josa were allowed to go by ourselves to the room. I had to watch them, but it wasn't that hard, Lizzy knew she had to behave, and Josa just stayed with me.

When we were finally inside the room we saw 'lexis holding the twins and we went to the bed, and they told us their names. My nephew's name is Finn Alexander Castle-McCollough (so she did use Dad's middle name for sure, she was trying to fool us when she said she might use it) and my niece's name is Emma Abigail Castle-McCollough (her middle name is Louis' mom's middle name, his birth mother's, not Clara's). They're really nice names and we might be calling Emma, Emmie since 'lexis wants to call her that. I like that nickname, so I want to call her that too.

About to start another paragraph, Julia looked at her mother who was walking into the room and she laughed when she hugged her from behind before she spoke in surprise.

"You don't mind me here?" Beckett asked her daughter.

"There isn't anything really private in this entry," Julia explained. "I'm just talking about the twins. But why are you here?"

"To let you know your dad and I are going to make some tea," Beckett replied, letting her go and standing next to her.

"Are you asking if I want some?" Julia asked seriously before she was quickly smiling at her.

"No, it was just to let you know that we're going to give you a little more time before we come up here," Beckett said in a mock stern tone of voice.

"Thanks," Julia said, trying not to hesitate since she knew she didn't have much left to write. When her mother kissed the top of her head, she smiled since Beckett had been doing that more often with her and their sisters after the twins had been born and she hurriedly turned back to her diary to start writing again.

I got to hold Finn and Emmie (I'll call her that already) and it was the best thing, they were so tiny and light, and they were really well behaved… which they would be since they were just born, but I mean they weren't crying the whole time. After we left the room, we waited for Gram and Grandpapa to go and see them before we were leaving the hospital. 'lexis needs to stay until tomorrow, so we left for her to have a chance to rest. And we're not really going to see her until and the twins until Saturday since the doctor said she should rest, 'lexis should, not the doctor. And since she's going to have two babies to take care of that makes a lot of sense. We're sad we won't get to see the twins until then, but they are really small, I think three weeks premature (I think I spelled that one right).

So once we came back to the house we changed and then went swimming which was fun since it's so cold right now. We stayed in the pool room until dinner, Gram and Grandpapa came back home then (they were out getting some gifts for 'lexis and her family that'll be at their house tomorrow when they get back from the hospital) and we had Dim Sum for dinner.

After eating we talked about going to the game room or bowling since we didn't have enough time for both. We took a vote and most of us wanted to play in the game room (Dad and Grandpapa voted for bowling but we'll do that tomorrow once we get back from dance class) and we did that for the rest of the night until I came here.

I'm done but I just wanted to say it was… not funny but I can't think of the word for it, that Mom spent a lot of today hugging me, Lizzy and Josa. I guess because her oldest daughter just had a baby, but I didn't mind… so funny really isn't the word I'm looking for. I just don't know which one. But it was nice as always when she did that!

So that's it for tonight Evangeline, 'lexis is a mother and I'm an aunt. I'll write to you tomorrow!

Putting away her things, Julia left her room and walked out into the hall before she headed downstairs to hall, pausing since she saw her parents were talking together in the kitchen, leaning against the island next to each other.

"I can't say you're alone now in November," Castle was telling his wife with a smile.

"No, and you must be happy," Beckett said before she was speaking to him teasingly. "We're still going to Tahiti."

"Oh and you don't want to go now?" Castle asked, pretending to be annoyed.

"I do, I just know what's a higher priority to you," Beckett teased him. When he wrinkled his nose in reaction she couldn't help laughing before they were leaning into each other and sharing a brief kiss. Taking a sip of her tea she paused and then said, "Julia?"

"Yeah," the teen said, walking quickly down the hall. "I finished writing."

"How long ago?" Castle asked jokingly when she had reached them.

Julia made a face and then shook her head before she turned to her mother, "You're still going to Tahiti, right?"

"Then you heard that much at least," Beckett said before looking at her daughter purposely.

"Yes, but I had to come tell you that I was done," Julia said. "I don't have to go to bed right now, right?"

"No," Castle said, taking her hand after he'd picked up his mug. "Come on."

"Where are you taking her?" Beckett asked in surprise when he took their daughter's hand.

"The pool room," Castle said simply before they were walking there.

"We couldn't have gone to the game room?" Julia asked before she paused. "What about the bed?"

"I'll return it," Castle said simply. He smiled while he left his wife and daughter at the Jacuzzi before he went to where the towels were in the storage closet next to the bathrooms. "I know you don't like the thought of them not being here anymore, but they're going to want to be back at their house."

"Don't you mean they have to now?" Julia asked.

"Exactly," Castle said, not surprised when his wife was rolling her eyes.

"Can we sit?" Julia asked her mother when she saw the three towels her father was holding.

"For a little," Beckett said with a nod before they were sitting on the edge of the pool. Dipping her legs in once she had her pants rolled up enough, she asked her husband, "This is because of what we're wearing isn't it?"

"It is," Castle said. "Otherwise, I would have had us go to the game room." Since he was sitting with them, he asked, "Anything you want to know sweetheart?"

Smiling, Julia asked, "Don't get mad, but what does it feel like to be grandparents? Or is it too soon?"

"Too soon," Beckett answered first. "Though seeing the twins for the first time and holding them was very nice."

"She's right," Castle said hurriedly when Julia had turned to him. "And now I know Alexis has made it out of the birthing process perfectly fine I'm very happy."

Julia nodded but was quiet for a little before she asked, "Alexis wasn't in too much pain, was she?"

"No, it was normal," Beckett replied. "Remember it does hurt because of what giving birth means but she did have some medicine."

"She was allowed?" Castle inquired. When his wife nodded, he said, "I'm glad to hear that."

"So was Louis," Beckett replied, smiling. She then said, "But everything is done, and we should focus on the twins being home."

"Stop worrying about her giving birth?" Castle asked his wife.

"I know Alexis will appreciate that," Beckett said, still smiling before their second oldest cleared her throat and began to speak.

"What about not seeing her for the whole week? Will you stop worrying?" Julia asked. She laughed when her father tickled her and told him, "Stop, I'm just kidding."

"We'll call them," Beckett said with a smile watching the two embrace. "But not that often because they're going to need their sleep."

Nodding Julia then said, "She's okay with you going to Tahiti still, right?"

"She is," Castle replied. "She insisted."

"I don't know why you're doing that too," Beckett said. "We are going to be alone together on Valentine's Day and for our anniversary."

"But it is for your birthday," Julia reminded her.

"And if we stayed, I could celebrate it with you-" Beckett started to say.

"We'll do it on Saturday," Julia interrupted her. When her mother was about to speak, she said, "Lizzy and I talked about it with Gram and Grandpapa, and they agreed. They're going to tell 'lexis and Louis tomorrow when they see them."

Sighing Beckett told her husband, "I can't get out of this can I?"

"I don't think so love," Castle replied, smiling at her.

"It's not time to go to bed yet," Julia said, seeing her mother checking the time on her watch.

"No but it's getting closer to that time," Beckett said. She then asked with a smile, "Are you ready for Thanksgiving?"

"Yeah," Julia said. She frowned for a moment and then asked, "The twins can come over for that right?"

"Of course," Castle said. "They'll be almost three weeks old and it's just going to be us."

"We're still doing that dinner after right? On Friday I mean," Julia said quickly.

"We will," Beckett said with a nod since they had agreed with the other families to have a Friendsgiving dinner at the Foster house.

"Good," Julia said. "And then Peter and his family move in."

"Are you ready for that?" Castle asked.

Laughing Julia said, "Yeah, and it's not going to be for that long," reminding them since the Lennoxes had finally gotten confirmation their home would be ready the last week of January.

"And you don't mind sharing Christmas with them?" Castle asked.

"No, I told you Peter said his parents were thinking of staying in the basement on Christmas morning," Julia said.

"I'm glad you told us about that," Castle said.

"He's right," Beckett said with a nod. "But if they want to exchange some gifts in the basement they can."

"He thinks they're going to surprise them with something about the house," Julia said. "I hope it's either a game room or bowling alley."

"Peter likes it?" Castle asked with a smile.

"Yep," Julia said, smiling herself but a little wider. "Clive too. They told me and Mari they want Emily to have the chance to play with that stuff too."

"Well," Castle said while they were both watching Beckett standing up. "If they don't have that they can always come here."

"Do you think Emily and Emmie will be friends?" Julia asked, getting out and letting her mother hand her a towel so she could dry her legs off. "Finn too," she added in a rush, recalling her nephew.

"More than likely," Castle said first. "They're only five months and a week younger than Emily."

"But let them decide if they'll be friends," Beckett told her firmly while her husband was taking the towels while they walked into the house.

"Like Josa and Sophie," Julia responded, waiting with her mother at the bottom of the hall stairs while her father went to the laundry room.

"Exactly," Beckett said, nodding her head once. She then said, "I'm surprised at you." She couldn't help laughing softly at her second oldest's startled expression and told her, "No protest to going to bed."

"I would have but I know I have to go to bed. I'm just glad I didn't have to stay at school," Julia said. "Is it because we were going to be aunts?"

Nodding again Beckett said, "We didn't think it was fair to keep it from the three of you."

"And who doesn't like an unexpected day off of school?" Castle asked, walking over to them. Seeing the expression on his wife's face he then quickly added, "But you had to do your homework of course."

"Of course," Julia said with a nod, glancing at her mother. She then smiled and said, "But thanks again," before they made their way upstairs to her room.

After the teen had gotten Macca and JoJo set, Julia said goodnight to her parents before they left, and she was getting into bed. She looked up at the ceiling for a moment before she turned off the light on her nightstand that was still on. Turning onto her side she closed her eyes and thought about that weekend and getting to see her nephew and niece again.

Outside, Castle and Beckett walked down the hall to Josie's room once the lights were off in Julia's. They checked on their two youngest before heading to their room and started getting ready for bed.

"Rick?" Beckett eventually asked her husband.

"Yes?" Castle said as they were walking from their bed to the bathroom. When she didn't say anything, he said, "I'm good. I mean holding Finn and Emmie…" Trailing off he couldn't help smiling and told his wife, "I fell in love with them immediately." He was a little surprised when his wife bowed her head slightly and he said, "You-"

"It was sooner for me," Beckett interrupted him.

Smiling again Castle asked, "When they were born?"

With a nod Beckett said, "That moment… I didn't have to hold them; I knew they were my grandchildren."

"You remembered," Castle stated, not surprised she was nodding again, firmly, while she was speaking in the same tone.

"Instantly," Beckett replied before she was smiling at her husband. She was a little surprised when he was growing serious and stepping up to her. "Rick-" she started to say.

"Is it wrong of me to say I find you even more attractive this maternal?" Castle asked, hoping that wasn't the case.

Smiling, Beckett wrapped her arms around her husband and told him, "Oh… you've shown me that it isn't."

"Lives?" Castle asked. When his wife nodded, he breathed out hard and then said, "Good," before he was brushing his lips to hers. Though he didn't want to, they let go of each other and moved to brush their teeth. Leaning against his side once he was done, he said, "You are okay going to Tahiti right?"

"I protest because I want the girls to know that I don't have to go," Beckett said. "Not all parents do this."

"I'm very aware," Castle replied. "And I think the girls are looking at this as-"

"Keeping our marriage intact," Beckett finished for him. When he nodded, she said, "I know but everything is set and we're going."

"It's funny that Mill Valley is being forgotten a little," Castle commented, smiling when his wife laughed.

"I know, but we started with Tahiti so it's easier to just say that," Beckett replied, finishing removing her makeup. She let her husband take her hand before they were walking together to their bed. "Do you mind we're going to be going out once we get there?"

"I think Tahiti is going to make up for it," Castle said swiftly since he was aware she was talking about Mill Valley. "You're not tired of San Francisco?"

"Are you?" Beckett asked pointedly. When her husband shook his head firmly, she couldn't help laughing and she wrapped her arms around him so they could kiss. It was brief before her husband was suddenly picking her up to her brief cry. Before she could ask him what he was doing, she found herself suddenly on the bed, bouncing slightly. "Why are you throwing me around?" she asked teasingly while she watched him moving around the room to begin turning off the lights.

"To ignore the fact that we can't make love," Castle said.

"It's not that much longer," Beckett said. "Ten days," she added though a little absently since she was thinking about that.

Pausing at the main light switch, Castle quickly turned it off before he was walking swiftly to the bed. Sitting next to her against the headboard he said, "What would you think about sharing celebrations here with the twins?"

Smiling, Beckett said, "Alexis told me, in no uncertain terms, that we were going to do that."

"When I went to see about getting her some food with Louis?" Castle asked in surprise.

Nodding Beckett then explained their conversation when she and her husband had gone back to the room to say goodbye to their daughter before returning home while she recalled it at the same time.

"They're okay," Beckett said, seeing her daughter looking at the twins in their hospital bassinets since they were sleeping. Alexis turned to her, and she was about to speak when her oldest was doing that first.

"Will you do the same thing for the others if they ask?" Alexis said.

"Of course," Beckett replied. "And they might."

Not surprised her mother looked confused Alexis said, "I thought about that too. But I don't remember." She wasn't surprised when Beckett was nodding in agreement before she said, "There's something else I wanted to talk to you about."

"Is it serious?" Beckett asked her with a smile.

"No, but it's something I'm going to insist on," Alexis answered. When her mother looked at her questioningly, she smiled and then said, "There's ten days between your birthday and theirs."

"Do you want us to celebrate them together?" Beckett asked, still smiling since she'd had a feeling her daughter was going to say that.

"I would, you do have Tahiti to celebrate with Dad," Alexis replied. "But another shared birthday would be nice."

"It would," Beckett said. "Though I think you said you were going to insist?"

Laughing briefly, Alexis nodded and told her mother, "I wasn't sure if you'd want to."

"Oh, I do, I always loved the fact that Eliza was born on your dad's birthday," Beckett answered firmly.

"Then tell Dad, I'm exhausted… and starving," Alexis said with a smile when her mother was laughing. She took her hug and said, "I hope they're back soon," watching Beckett head to the doorway to look out for Castle and Louis.

"You were walking down the hall," Beckett told her husband.

Nodding Castle said, "I'm glad you agree with it. At least with the ten days there's always going to be a weekend in between…"

Beckett watched her husband with a smile as he instantly grabbed his phone when he trailed off. "Is it feasible?" she asked him.

"Yeah, just looking through the next few years," Castle told her with a nod after he'd gone through the calendar a little. He put his phone back after he turned it off and said, "I put the pictures Louis took in my gallery of the girls."

"You should make a separate one for the twins," Beckett told him. "They're our first grandchildren remember," she added.

Thinking about that for a moment, Castle the inclined his head and said, "I'll do that tomorrow."

"Sure," Beckett replied, watching him as he was settling back. "What are we getting them?"

"Mother and-" Castle started to say.

"I mean on Sunday," Beckett interrupted him.

Pausing for a moment, Castle nodded and then said, "Get and do." He wasn't surprised when she was looking at him in confusion and he said, "I'd like to get her a gift basket."

"From Harry and David?" Beckett immediately said.

"You know how much Mother loves some of their things," Castle said swiftly. "They have a basket for new twins, and I want to get something else but for Christmas."

"Better get your phone again," Beckett said in amusement. She watched him doing so before he was tapping at the screen until he stopped and gave it to her. Nodding she said, "That's cute," since it was decorative artwork with the name of the child and its birthdate underneath, the background different patterns or colors.

"Do you approve?" Castle asked her when she didn't give him his phone back.

Shaking her head, Beckett said, "They have different styles."

"I was going to ask you to help me with that," Castle commented.

"I'm not surprised," Beckett said before she was hurriedly finishing. "I think you want the sky-blue chevron for Finn and the night sky one for Emmie."

"I was debating between the chevron and dinosaur one for him," Castle told her before he took his phone back. Turning to her after he'd set his phone down on the nightstand, he was tensing in surprise when his wife kissed him. He quickly recovered and then began responding to her fervently before he was pulling her onto his lap. Once they were parting, he said, "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Beckett told him firmly before they were kissing again. That time they were a lot less passionate, and she gently rubbed at his back. When he was soon moving to her neck to kiss at her there, she breathed out, "You're not going to last," not surprised when that made him stop before he spoke against her skin to her pleasure.

"No, I will," Castle said quickly. "But you sitting like that is going to be tough."

Beckett laughed before she brushed her lips against his and moved to sit next to him again. "For me too," she added once she was set. She saw her husband was about to speak and she gently covered his mouth with her hand before telling him firmly, "Before you say anything I want you to remember I'm a willing participant."

Taking her hand off him, Castle pressed his lips to her palm and then said, "I was going to say how hot your tone of voice was. And that you want me."

"Pervert," Beckett said with a laugh, wrapping her arms around him before they were kissing deeply again. She felt her husband's hand gently rubbing her back through her NYPD shirt and she was sliding her fingers through his hair gently.

When they had parted Castle smiled against his wife's lips and told her, "I love you, Kate."

"I love you too Rick," Beckett replied immediately before he was kissing her again. They were brief that time and she smiled when she said, "Is that going to be it?"

"I think so," Castle replied, watching her lean into him. She gently took off his glasses before he said, "You're deciding on your birthday love."

"I know," Beckett said simply. After he'd put his glasses on his nightstand, he was turning to her and kissing her before she said, "For now we explore being grandparents."

"I'm looking forward to that as much as Tahiti," Castle said seriously.

"So am I," Beckett told him firmly before they turned off the lights on their nightstands. After her husband was laying down, she moved to join him before they were telling each other goodnight.

When they were falling asleep, Castle and Beckett were trying to think of that weekend with their family though when they were sleeping Tahiti was influencing their dreams to their joy and expectation.