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: The title of this chapter the title of the song written by Danny Elfman, from the Oingo Boingo album the same name as the song.

Dead Man's Party

"I really don't like this," Alexis said when her mother walked into the room.

"It is necessary," Beckett told her oldest with a smile, setting the tray above her lap.

Sighing, Alexis said, "I know. But still."

"Don't complain," Castle said, walking into the game room. "We want you to get your rest for the babies… and you," he said, setting down a glass of apple juice on the tray. "Plus Louis demanded we help you," he added.

Laughing, Alexis gently rubbed at her stomach before she said, "I'm not surprised but I think I could sit at the table." She wasn't surprised when her parents were looking at her before she said, "This is going to take forever."

Beckett hugged her daughter carefully and then told her, "It seems like it, but they'll be here before you know it." Letting her go she then said, "Excuse the cliché."

Shaking her head Alexis squeezed her father's hand that had taken hers before she said, "I'm trying to keep that in mind."

Hearing the others approaching the room Castle said, "We're joining you."

"I was going to insist," Alexis told them with a smile. As her parents went to the hallway she sipped at her juice before looking around the room. During her checkup the week before, her doctor had suggested she go on bedrest starting the next day and though she hadn't wanted to she appreciated getting some rest. The twins were heavier, and she had been finding it harder and harder to walk for that long. Since Louis was still working, her parents had insisted she stay with them since there would be someone at the house with her. And though she hadn't wanted them to go to the trouble, they'd turned part of the game room into a bedroom for her.

"Dad?" Alexis asked her father when he entered with Josie.

"Are you okay?" Castle asked.

"Yes, I wanted to ask you one more time," Alexis began. "Where did you get this bed?" she asked since it was a hospital bed.

"It doesn't matter," Castle said firmly. "At least you have a good bed. And it's comfortable."

"Since you got an expensive mattress," Beckett told him when she walked in with their middle daughters.

"And I don't regret that," Castle said, looking at their oldest.

"My back thanks you," Alexis said with a smile.

"Start eating," Beckett said while she and her husband were getting the bowls of oatmeal and plates of eggs and bacon set out at the table for everyone. "Because we are right now," she said to them.

"I already started," Alexis said, having had a spoonful of oatmeal. She smiled when the others laughed before they were starting to eat, and she listened to their conversation at first before Eliza was talking to her.

"What're you gonna do today 'lexis?" the little girl asked.

"Most likely read until my appointment," Alexis said.

"You know you're supposed to rest," Castle told his daughter with a slight frown before she was responding to him swiftly.

"Yes, but I need to finish my last appointments before I can go on maternity leave," Alexis reminded him.

"Leave it alone Richard," Martha commented. "She knows what she needs to do."

Sighing Castle said, "I hope over the computer is enough."

"It will be," Alexis said before she ate some of her eggs. "What're you doing today in dance class?" she asked her little sisters.

"Paso Doble," Julia said.

"No competitions yet?" Jim asked her.

"Not yet," Julia said with a laugh since her grandfather would tease her about having another so soon after the Rothschild. "Probably not until next year, the Astor Invitational in April."

"And you're set with that one?" Alexis asked her.

"Yeah, they invited us…" Julia started to say before she slowed down at the end and made a face.

"I think it's just the name," Beckett commented.

"Yeah, so do you think you'll be able to go to that one?" Julia asked. "You and… Louis."

Smiling, since she was aware her sister was thinking of the twins as well, Alexis said, "I think we could, I'm not sure about the twins yet. But I will do my best to see you. And the next Rothschild we'll do our best to be there."

"Thanks," Julia said before they were turning their attention back to their food.

When they had finished, Eliza was allowed to stay in the game room with Josie while everyone else was leaving for the kitchen. "What're you doing?" she asked her big sister in concern when she was moving to the edge of the bed.

"Mama! Mama!" Josie cried, running out of the room while her sisters watched her.

"Hmm, I didn't know she was a snitch," Alexis said jokingly before her sister was responding with a frown.

"Don't you mean tattletale?" Eliza asked her.

"Yes," Alexis replied.

"You're not going to get out of bed?" Eliza then said to her sister when she wasn't moving.

"I don't think I should, yet," Alexis replied with a smile.

"Is that Josa?" Julia asked.

"Sweetie, what're you doing?" Beckett said when she saw the toddler running down the hall.

"Mama, 'lexis get up," Josie said.

"Oh, we should have asked her if she wanted to walk for a little," Martha said with a frown

"Go Kate," Castle told his wife when she looked at him from where she was getting Eliza's lunchbox ready. "I can finish."

"I'm not surprised," Beckett said with a smile before she reached for Josie's hand and led her down the hall.

"See?" Alexis asked her sister with a smile when their mother and baby sister walked inside.

"You should have told us you were ready to walk," Beckett told her oldest, going straight to the bed. She stood by in case her daughter would need her help and once Alexis was in her slippers they began walking around before the woman paused and laughed while she put her hand to her stomach.

"They're kicking," Alexis explained to her mother when she saw Beckett was looking at her.

"Hard?" Eliza asked, walking with Josie in front of them though she'd come to a stop.

"A little," Alexis replied, putting her mother's hand to the left of her stomach.

Feeling one of the twins' kicks, Beckett laughed and said, "I see what you mean." They began walking again around the room and she said, "Your dad also wanted to know if you were planning on playing anything while you're staying here."

"I'll let him know," Alexis said wryly. "Though I really want to finish with work," she told her mother.

Nodding Beckett told her, "I understand."

"Do you?" Alexis asked her mother before she smiled at her so she would realize she was only teasing. "You and Dad finished your first Moor and Green book the day you gave birth to Lizzy."

"I was in a hurry," Eliza said with a giggle since she knew the story already.

"We were going to relax after we'd finished," Beckett said in amusement. "And I was going to rest. Obviously she had other plans," she added at the end before they both turned to Eliza who was nodding rapidly. "Sweetie, you better get your lunchbox and check your backpack," she then directed to the little girl. "Take Josie with you."

"Will she go with me?" Eliza asked with a slight frown, looking at her sister.

"She will," Beckett said, watching when the pair left them. She and Alexis were by the windows, and she turned to her oldest saying, "You really should play something in here," not surprised at her daughter's answer.

"So I won't go crazy?" Alexis asked. She laughed when her mother merely smiled and said, "Believe me, I've thought of that. I want to walk down the hall, go out onto the deck and play some games… when I'm really finished with work."

"I have no problem letting you do the first and the last," Beckett said.

"She's right," Castle said, smiling when the two turned to him in the doorway. "Going to the deck seems like a long way."

Rolling her eyes, Alexis said, "Don't worry, I talked to Louis about doing that and he suggested the hall would be better… and warmer." She then saw her little sisters were standing behind their father and she said, "Come say goodbye, I know you need to go." She smiled when they rushed to her, including Josie, though she was aware her sister wasn't going to be heading to the school that morning. "You have to promise-" she started to say to them.

"We'll tell you all about school today," Julia interrupted. "Dance class too."

"We're still eating here, right?" Eliza asked.

"It's why we moved the table close to your sister," Castle said with a nod.

"Yeah, we'll tell you," Eliza said. She couldn't help giggling when her big sister looked at her in confusion and she said, "That way we don't have to yell."

Hugging Eliza to her, Alexis said, "Good point," when the little girl was suddenly jerking away from her with a gasp before she was laughing and speaking at the same time.

"They kicked my ear… one of them did," Eliza said. She placed her hand on her sister's stomach and said, "I'm leaving right now, don't worry."

Laughing, Alexis told her, "Don't worry they're just testing their limbs."

"True," Eliza said before she got out of the way for her sister.

"Think you can show me a little of what you practice during dance class?" Alexis asked.

"Maybe," Julia said slowly before they were sharing a hug. When they'd parted she said, "I have to see. But have fun today."

"I still need to work before I play anything," Alexis said in amusement. "But I will when I can."

After the girls went to their baby sister and grandparents, Beckett told Alexis, "We're coming right back."

"I figured, but you did say you were going to write," the woman told them though she was looking at her father.

"We will, but we want to get back to watch Sesame Street with Josie," Castle reminded her. "In here if we can."

"I hope you will," Alexis replied. "I won't need to do anything for work until ten or so."

Hugging her oldest quickly, Beckett turned to Josie and picked the toddler up while Castle was watching Alexis to make sure she was okay getting back into her bed. "We're coming home sweetie," she said firmly. "So help your gram and grandpapa watch out for your sister."

"Eh, I watch," Josie said, nodding her head once.

Alexis was doing her best not to snort in her laughter before she reached out to her baby sister and took her. They were saying goodbye to their family, their grandparents staying with them though they were saying goodbye to the four in the entry.

"It feels weird," Eliza said while they were leaving the house once they all had their jackets on.

"Without Gram and Grandpapa coming?" Julia asked her sister. When she nodded, she said with a smile, "I think they just want to make sure about 'lexis. They'll get used to it right?"

"They will and it isn't going to be a long time now before their due date," Castle said reassuringly before they were leaving out of the door in the wall.

Stepping outside, Julia saw Mari was walking up to them with her family before she hurried to her. "How're you feeling?" she asked.

Giving her friend a look Mari said, "I shouldn't have told you about my nightmare," since she'd told her about a bad nightmare on Saturday when Julia had spent the night at her house.

"I just want to make sure," Julia replied easily before she was laughing at the look Mari was giving her. She then said, "But you're good?"

"Yeah, I'm ready for Halloween," the girl said. "Hopefully you are too," Mari added, studying her friend before she was responding in a rush.

"I'm not changing my mind," Julia said. "Not when there's a week left. That'd be cruel to Gram."

"Good," Mari said before they were stopping at the corner of the corner of their street when Julia's mother called to them.

"I forgot about them," the teen said with a smile when she saw the Darnleys were with them.

"Especially since Trevor isn't here," Mari said.

"I guess Patrick isn't too sad," Julia commented when they were crossing the street ahead of everyone.

"You sound like you are," Mari told her with a slight frown.

Shaking her head Julia said, "There's something from our past life, I don't why…" She frowned, trying to think of what it was exactly that had saddened her, but finally shook her head saying, "I guess I'll find out later."

"Yeah," Mari replied since they were across the street and waiting for the others to join them.

"I'm fine," Julia said when she saw the way her friend was studying her.

"Just making sure," Mari said before they were walking again once their families and friends were with them.

At the school, Julia and Mari said goodbye to their families and siblings before they were walking to the middle school. "I'll see you at lunch," she told her friend at the bottom of the stairs up to the building.

"Sure, I'll save you a spot in line," Mari said before they gave each other a quick hug and she was heading up into the school.

Turning to the high school building, Julia smiled when she easily spotted Peter with Eve. She walked up to the pair but called to them before she was close enough to hear what they were talking about. "Morning," she told them once they turned to her.

"Hey, ready to go in?" Peter asked her.

"I hope you are, the bell's going to ring," Julia replied. She turned to the doors and went with the two up the stairs before they were heading to their lockers.

Back at the elementary school, Castle and Beckett were walking down to the quad and leaving the Academy.

"What're you doing Rick," Beckett said to her husband while he was hurrying her across the street.

"I'd like to get home," Castle replied swiftly.

"To write?" Beckett teased him. She smiled when he stopped suddenly and she told him, "Remember what we have planned today."

"Good point," Castle said, looking around them. "Great," he then said when he had turned back to her. "I have time to do this," he told her before he grabbed her and pulled her to him. Kissing her he was careful not to do so too deeply since they were surrounded by homes, but he couldn't resist the urge to delicately slip his tongue into her mouth. He caressed at his wife's a few times before they parted abruptly at the sound of Darnley calling to them.

"Hey, you run out of the school and then come here to make out?" the carpenter asked jokingly.

"We were on our way home," Castle said, looking at his wife.

"Sorry," Beckett said when Darnley and Rebecca were with them.

"It's alright, Trev assured me he'll be home tomorrow," the former said first.

"David and I would have done the same," Rebecca added. "But we thought you were hurrying back to check on Alexis."

"That's what he wanted to do at first," Beckett said while they began walking again. "And we didn't really need to," she directed to her husband, looking at him pointedly.

"I can't help worrying," Castle replied.

"I would be the same," Darnley told him seriously. "If Maddy was the same age and expecting too."

"You guys are weird," Rebecca told the pair teasingly when they suddenly fist bumped after the carpenter had abruptly turned to the writers behind them.

"At least someone understands," Castle commented jokingly before they were walking again.

Reaching the Darnley-Nkosi house, Beckett touched her friend's arm after her husband had let go of her hand. "Do you want to come over for dinner?" she asked him.

"Oh no, we're having dinner with Trev tonight," Darnley said.

"I told you by Skype was the best way to go," Castle said.

"You were right," Darnley said laughingly. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to work on my early Christmas orders."

Saying goodbye to the carpenter, Beckett asked Rebecca once they were walking again, "What're you doing?"

"Paperwork," the lawyer replied. "Since I'm going to have a case the first week of next month."

"Arbitration?" Beckett inquired.

"It is, hopefully that's it because I have that Telluride community project to work on," Rebecca replied. She looked at the door in the wall of the Castle's home and said, "I'll see you at the studio."

"Looks like we will," Castle said while his wife was laughing briefly. They told their friend goodbye before he put the code in, and they were entering their front yard. "See? I managed to stay calm."

"I'm not rewarding you," Beckett told him with a slight smirk. She squeezed his arm before they stepped onto the porch, and she let him unlock the door. "It's just us," she told the dogs when they were barking and hurrying into the entry.

When he and Beckett had their outer layers off, Castle said to his father-in-law, "Everyone okay?"

"Josie didn't cry," Jim said first. "And Alexis is fine."

"Great, we're going to watch the show with Josie and then we'll give her to you… or Mother," Castle said.

"Either one of us," Martha said, reaching the doorway of the game room just as the three approached it.

"What're you going to do?" Beckett asked her mother-in-law in slight surprise.

"I need to finish Josie's Christmas gift," Martha replied easily.

"I told her she could do that here, but she declined," Alexis replied from the bed.

"And I have to develop my pictures," Jim said. "Just let us know when you need us to watch her."

"We will," Beckett told him before she turned her attention to Josie who was still on the bed with her sister. While she picked her up, her husband was getting the TV on the wall ready, and she turned to their oldest. "You're sure about us watching this here," she said.

"Yes," Alexis said firmly. "It will help me to relax," she added, glancing at her father.

"I can tell you are," Castle said wryly before he squeezed her hand. He had gotten two armchairs for himself and his wife and they were sitting with Josie before he was starting the show. He wasn't surprised Josie was enjoying it greatly, or when she was complaining when he was taking the episode off.

"Dada no, I want…" Josie started to say before she frowned.

"To keep watching?" Beckett suggested.

"I know," Castle said, trying not to laugh when their youngest was nodding. He was about to ask their oldest if she wanted the TV when his phone began to ring. "It's Brad," he told his wife seriously once he had it in his hand, answering it quickly.

"Hey, I have a case," the chief said in response to his friend's greeting. "And I want you three to join me for this one."

Sharing a look with his wife at the tone of his friend's voice, Castle said, "We'll help you, but what's going on?"

"I can't explain it over the phone," Brad replied. "Get Patrick and I'll text you the address."

"Sure," Castle said after his wife was nodding to his look. Once he'd hung up, he was about to ask her if she wanted him to get her father when they turned at his mother's voice.

"Was that Brad?" Martha asked.

"Yeah, we have a case," Castle said.

"My dad-" Beckett started to say.

"I'm here, do you need to go?" Jim asked, walking into the room.

"Brad sounds… weird," Castle said. "I think it's serious."

"I got that too," Beckett replied before they were turning at the same time to Alexis.

"You don't need to worry," she said, smiling slightly. "I agree, Brad sounds like the case is a bad one so you need to help."

"I help too," Josie told them.

"You can help us," Beckett said, turning her attention to her daughter. "By helping your gram and grandpapa again. Will you do that for us?"

"Eh," Josie said. She shared a kiss with her mother before she was being handed to her father.

"Are you going out for lunch?" Martha asked.

"You should," Alexis said before her mother could respond.

Though he wanted to say they would return to the house if they could, Castle glanced at his wife when she touched his arm. "We might, it depends on how everything goes of course," he said before he was giving Josie to his mother. He went to the bed and kissed his oldest's cheek assuring her, "We'll be back later."

"I hope; Jules and Lizzy will be upset if you aren't," Alexis said.

"Don't forget your vitamins and walking when you need to," Beckett told her daughter as she shared a hug with her.

"Believe me, Louis will make sure I won't," Alexis said, holding her phone up for a moment.

"And we will too," Martha said before she was watching Jim and Josie head to the entry ahead of her son and daughter in law while they were telling Alexis goodbye.

After they had their coats back on in the foyer, Castle said, "We were planning on making dinner tonight."

"The soup and sliders?" Jim asked. At his son in law's nod he said, "I can handle that."

"Hopefully we'll get back in time to help you," Beckett said.

"And the girls can help," Jim reminded her. He paused for a moment before he said, "I would assume."

"I help too Mama," Josie told her.

"You will," Beckett assured her before her husband was touching her back and speaking quickly.

"You forgot about Patrick," Castle told her.

"I didn't, I already texted him," Beckett replied. "He'll be waiting outside." She turned to her father and kissed Josie's cheek before squeezing his arm gently. "We'll call before we come home," she said before Josie was saying goodbye to them both.

"Bye sweetheart, see you later," Castle told her before they were heading to the door leading to the garage. He opened the car door for her and said, "I'm a little worried."

"I'm not surprised," Beckett replied. She let him shut the door before she watched her husband going around prior to her phone ringing. "We're about to leave the garage," she told her friend once she had answered.

"Nice hello," Darnley said. "But at least that lets me ask you without anyone else hearing. You're sure Brad didn't tell you anything about the case."

"Very," Beckett said, looking at her husband while he started the car. "All we have is the address."

"Do you know what's at that address?" Darnley asked. When there was no response he said, "Um… hello." There was a honk and he jumped as he yelled for a moment before frowning at the car. "Thanks a lot," he told them once he had climbed into the backseat.

"It seemed like a waste when we were just a little down the street," Castle said.

"You didn't even hang up," Darnley said in obvious annoyance.

"You're mad?" Beckett asked with a smile since he was directing that to her.

"No, but I hope you'll tell me what's there because I already have the feeling you know," Darnley told them both.

"It's an abandoned university," Castle said, glancing at his wife as he was driving to Water Mill.