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 this is the epilogue for this story, but I do have another one which if anyone wants to read will be up next Monday!
A/N #2: Really happy getting the feedback for the last chapter I did so I'll go ahead and get started on my thank yous for them! TORONTOSUN (I was pleased to see you thought the chapter was good writing for the Castle family!) and
Mb (Great to see you enjoyed the chapter! And I wasn't surprised you thought it was great to see how happy everyone was with Castle and Beckett back home. I was glad too since I wanted readers to think that. And I was glad you thought it was nice that Mari and Dani joined them at the house and everything they did that night with them. Pleased to read you thought it was a nicely done welcome home! And you're welcome for the first half of the chapter! Great you thought the second half was a wonderfully written update as you put it. And I'm glad you enjoyed Julia's writing in her diary about the day. Also nice you thought them planning for Christmas and New Year the next year was sweet, it was fun to write actually, lol. I had to laugh at you saying it going bam to Castle and Beckett losing their tiredness and being together. You're welcome for the second half of the chapter!).
Thanks for the reviews, I loved reading them and appreciate the time taken to write them out and send them my way!
A/N #3: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Hand in Hand written by Paul McCartney, from his album Egypt Station.
Can Make Each Other Happy
Slowing Alex down, Beckett smiled at her husband when he was doing the same with Julius and she asked, "You want to go around again don't you?"
"I'd love to, but we have way too much to do," Castle said.
"Yeah, 'lexis and Louis are going to be there with the twins soon," Julia called to her parents, she and Jim standing at the fence that closed in the field.
"We're coming right now," Beckett said with a smile at the teen's tone of voice. "Is Queenie all set?"
"Yeah," Julia replied. "She's ready for the snow."
"Come to the stable," Castle said to the pair after he and his wife had passed where they were standing. He set Julius to a trot since Beckett and Alex were doing the same before they got to the stalls. "Are we going to have time to shower."
"Yes, but we're just going to take a shower," Beckett replied, looking at him pointedly before they were getting off their horses.
"Of course we are," Castle replied. When she was turning her head to him while she was taking Alex to his stall, he said, "I'm serious."
"I hope so," Beckett said with a smile before she was walking inside with Alex. While she was taking the saddle and blanket off of him, she looked up at the window and said with a smile, "I'm sorry we didn't let you keep riding."
"I don't want to hurt Queenie," Julia said firmly. "But at some point I'll be able to go around the field right?"
"You will," Beckett replied, starting to brush Alex down. When she had finished with the stallion she went to his head and patted his neck gently telling him, "We'll see you on Sunday."
"Really?" Julia asked eagerly.
Laughing when Alex nickered in response, Beckett scratched his neck gently before she said, "Really, if the weather holds up we'll have another ride. It might be the last one before winter really sets in."
"But then we can come to the indoor corrals," Castle said, walking over. "I'm finished," he told his wife.
"I am too," Beckett said. She turned to Alex after making sure he had food and told him, "We'll see you soon." Leaving the stall she took Julia's hand before they were leaving the stables and waving to Charlie who was going into the farmhouse.
"Louis' still off for the twins right?" Julia asked once they were walking to the parking lot.
"Of course," Castle said. "He'll have to go back in the middle of the month but he's off for Christmas too."
"Good thing," Julia said, not surprised the other three were nodding in agreement. When they were at their car she sat in the front with her mother and said, "Are we still bowling?"
"We will," Beckett said with a smile, starting the car. "But first is breakfast and then we'll wait for your sister and her family."
"Of course," Julia said. "But couldn't they play too?"
"They will," Jim said reassuringly from the backseat. He smiled when Julia was looking back at him and said, "Martha and I will watch them for you to play. And don't say we should be able to play too. We'll do that another time."
"Okay," Julia said with a nod. "And what's for breakfast?" she asked, looking at her father.
"We're going to pick it up right now," Castle said easily.
"You mean you will," Beckett told her husband firmly.
"Of course, I misspoke," Castle said. "But you're not going to freeze in the car?" He was watching her in the rearview mirror and wasn't surprised when she merely raised her eyebrow at him and said, "Just checking."
"I hope so," Beckett replied, unable to help smiling at him. She soon reached the bakery and parking by the front door watched her husband rush up to the door to go inside.
"Which cuisine?" Jim asked his daughter.
"I have no idea," Beckett replied since the bakery featured several European ones. "But since we're having a lot of desserts tonight it'll probably be croissants."
"Chocolate?" Julia asked.
"No, more than likely almond and pumpkin along with the regular kind," Beckett said in amusement.
"Pumpkin is still good," Julia commented.
"You can have some," Beckett replied.
"Cool," Julia said, smiling at her mother. She saw her father jogging back to the car and said, "You were gonna slip Dad."
"I'm fine," Castle said before they were starting again. "And I got some croissants, regular, almond, pumpkin and a special, for today some sweet potato." He was startled when Julia was laughing and he asked his wife and father in law, "That was funny?"
"Katie said you'd get the first three," Jim said, smiling at Julia when she was obviously trying to calm down.
"Good guess," Castle told his wife, smiling when their second oldest giggled before she stopped herself.
"It wasn't that hard," Beckett replied teasingly. It didn't take long before they were reaching home and she parked in the garage, glancing at the space next to her which her husband had cleared of his car for Alexis and her family.
"And luckily it won't take us that long to eat either," Castle commented.
"Luckily no," Beckett said before they were getting out and heading inside.
"Mommy! Daddy!" Eliza said, standing in the entry. "Is that breakfast?"
"Yes," Castle said. "But I'm giving this to your gram so we can take showers and eat when we come back."
"Are you going to take that long?" Eliza asked, watching him giving the pink box to Martha.
"No, very quickly," Castle assured her before they were heading up the entry stairs. He and Beckett dropped Julia off at her room and they were walking to theirs before he said, "Not that long."
"You promised," Beckett said, looking at him with a smile before he responded.
"And I know we've got a lot of people waiting for us," Castle added.
"Good," Beckett replied though she stepped up to him and brushed her lips to his. They moved to the bathroom and were undressing quickly before they moved to the shower. She was a little surprised her husband kept his word, and they were only cleaning themselves through the shower before he was stepping out first. "I'm amazed," she told him teasingly.
"I'm not," Castle said. When she looked at him slightly questioningly he said, "I figured you'd assume I'd do something."
"Are you offended?" Beckett asked in amusement.
"No," Castle replied before she was stepping out of the stall with him. They were drying themselves off before he said, "But I should punish you a little for thinking that."
Closing her towel around herself Beckett told him with a smile, "You should."
"Oh… you can't tell me that now," Castle said, pretending to complain. He was following her, pausing in wrapping his towel around his waist for a moment before he was hurrying after her to the closet.
"Will you be okay?" Beckett asked him. "I'm going to get dressed."
"I will too, but don't tease me again," Castle said.
"I won't," Beckett said, unable to help laughing softly. She turned to her side and got everything before dressing, turning to her husband in time to see him watching her. "What did we just talk about?" she asked him playfully.
"I can watch," Castle said in mock annoyance.
"For how long?" Beckett asked though they were already walking out to the bedroom.
"Could I brush your hair?" Castle asked.
Beckett couldn't help laughing again and she told him, "You're risking it."
"Not with that," Castle said.
"Let me do it, I get the feeling the girls will want to start breakfast so we can go bowling sooner," Beckett said. "But you can do that tomorrow if you still want to."
"Of course I do," Castle said firmly before he was sharing a kiss with his wife. Though he didn't want to they parted, and he was combing his hair before he finished and was leaning against the counter to watch her finishing. "I'm fine," he said swiftly when she was looking at him.
"I figured, are you ready?" Beckett asked.
"I am," Castle said before he was taking her hand and pulling her to the hallway where they saw Julia was about to start down the stairs.
"Hey," the teen said, turning to them. "Are we eating?"
"I hope so, I'm starving," Castle commented.
Beckett was about to remark on that when the chime of the gate opening sounded through the house, and she shared a look of surprise with her husband and daughter. "I don't think they could wait," she said with a smile.
"Awesome," Julia said, going down the stairs and trying not to rush. With her parents following she was about to head to the garage when her father was stopping her.
"Head to the kitchen and make sure the food is ready," Castle told her. "And drinks, they might be hungry too."
"Okay," Julia replied, a little disappointed since she wanted to see the family.
"We'll help them in quickly," Beckett said, guessing her daughter's state of mind. "Since it'll be cold in there."
"Be ready to take the twins if they need you to," Castle added, smiling when the teen was doing the same before they walked to the entry and went inside the garage.
"Hey, we couldn't wait," Alexis said when she saw them.
"Or do you need food?" Castle teased her.
"We wanted to help," Louis said after he and his wife had shared a look.
"Do you have the chairs?" Beckett asked.
"In the trunk," Louis said before he and Castle were going back to it.
"Here," Alexis said, getting her mother's attention since she had gone to the backseat. She just opened the door before she was suddenly being hugged and she laughed before returning it. "I'm glad to see you too."
"It feels like it's been too long," Beckett said, letting her go.
"It has," Alexis replied with a nod. She then said with a smile, "Especially seeing these two. Take Emmie for me?"
"Of course," Beckett said, taking the carrier before she peered inside at the baby. She smiled when Emmie was cooing and said, "Hello honey, I'm glad to see you." Looking up to see Alexis had Finn, she said, "Let's head in the house is very warm."
"I had a feeling," the young woman said when they were stepping inside the entry and she could tell it was. "Did you go riding?" she asked her mother while they were all walking down the hall.
"We did, and it was nice to get the chance to do so again," Castle said.
"Are you having trouble?" Louis asked when the three of them were turning to his father in law at his wording.
"I'm fine," Castle said swiftly seeing the three. "I'm just trying to keep the holder from spinning too much."
"It's fine," Alexis told her father before she was opening the door to the entry and smiling at Eliza who was squealing and greeting them eagerly.
"Happy Thanksgiving! Are the babies awake?" the little girl asked.
Laughing Alexis said, "They are, and good thing since you and Josa were squealing like little girls."
"I am," Eliza replied with a wide smile.
"Me too," Josie said before they were hurrying to hug their big sister when she was giving Finn's carrier to Jim.
"You didn't want to hug?" Alexis asked, stepping up to Julia.
Shrugging, the teen said, "I figured it'd be better if I waited."
"You were hoping to get one of the carriers weren't you?" Alexis asked while they embraced. When her little sister said, "Yep," and popped the p at the end with her lips, she couldn't help laughing and then let her go. "You'll have the chance to hold them at some point."
"Are we allowed to take them out now?" Martha asked, having taken Emmie's carrier from Beckett.
"Not if we're eating breakfast," Alexis replied.
"We are," Castle said. "It's small but the girls are waiting for it," he added, glancing at them. "I know you cheated," he told Eliza teasingly while they were walking to the hall.
"I had to make sure it was good," the little girl replied with a wide smile. "And it is," she told her big sister and brother in law.
"I got croissants," Castle said when they'd reached the breakfast nook. "Regular and some flavored ones." He and Louis were setting down the chairs to hold the babies' carriers and he got Finn's locked before he went with the others except for his mother to the kitchen.
Once they had their croissants and drinks they were sitting around the table and talking about Castle and Beckett's trip and return home the day before.
"I'm glad you guys don't mind their decision," Alexis told her sisters when they had finished and were cleaning up.
"Well, they're the grownups," Eliza said slowly.
"And they still have Tahiti," Julia commented, nudging her little sister.
"And that," Eliza said with a nod. "We're going bowling now," she said then with a wide smile. "You and Louis too."
"I'm not surprised," Alexis said. "And I can't wait."
"Are you excited?" Julia asked since it was their sister's first time playing.
"Yeah, I've been looking forward to this for a while," Alexis told them.
"Is it okay if Martha and Dad watch Finn and Emmie?" Beckett asked her oldest.
"Of course," Alexis replied. She then turned her attention to her grandparents and told them, "We changed them both before we got here but they'll probably want to nurse soon."
"I saw the bottles in the fridge," Martha said. "Don't worry we'll be very attentive with them. Would you like us to read to them, play with them?"
"Neither… well for the moment," Louis said. When the two were looking at him he was about to explain what he meant when his wife was doing so for him.
"We'd like them to come down with us," Alexis said with a smile, going to the bag she'd set on the divider between the nook and kitchen. She dug around for a moment before pulling out two headphones and said, "We tried these, and they don't seem to mind them."
"Grab two bottles," Beckett told her husband with a smile while Martha and Jim were getting the twins out of their carriers.
"Right," Castle said since the bar in the lounge's kitchenette did have a small, vintage looking fridge. He pulled them out before his son in law was taking them and he said, "You don't need to heat them back up?"
"I'll come back here," Louis said.
"Just leave them," Jim told the two. "I can come up to do that as long as someone will hold one of them." He looked with his son in law and grandson in law when Eliza was waving her hand in the air after raising it.
"Can we go now?" Julia couldn't help asking.
"We can," Beckett replied before she was scooping Josie up into her arms. They led the way for the others before they were heading down into the basement, and she watched as her father and Martha were settling with the twins on the armchairs in the lounge.
"I wear those too," Josie said, watching with her mother while the headphones were placed on the babies before she was surprising her by laughing and then speaking.
"You don't need to now sweetie," Beckett told her, kissing the side of her head. "They seem to be okay."
"They are," Alexis said, gently squeezing Emmie's hand. "Okay, we can play," she said before they turned their attention to the lanes. "Who's helping Josa?"
"I go myself," Josie said firmly.
"Someone needs to help you," Beckett said, kissing the side of her head. She set her down and was about to hold onto her daughter's hand before Josie was taking it. "Do you want me to help you?" she asked. She wasn't surprised when the toddler was nodding and she followed her before they were walking together to the rack of bowling balls. She got Josie's and they went to the end of the left hand lane before they were rolling it together.
"Great job," Castle said with a smile when she ended up knocking down four. "Hopefully you can get them all."
"Is that mean to say?" Eliza asked her big sisters.
"No, he has to encourage her," Alexis said.
"Not bad," Castle said to Josie when she knocked down three more. "You'll be a bowler in no time."
"Thank you Dada," Josie told him with a wide smile.
"Your turn," Castle said, looking back at Eliza.
"Okay," the little girl said with a wide smile before she went to get her bowling ball. After she had taken her turns she said, "Why is only one person going?"
"Just for you two," Beckett explained.
"But…" Eliza started to say before she trailed off. "Okay, but I can bowl with someone next to me."
"Want me to try that next time?" Julia said while she and Alexis were moving to go up to the lanes.
"Yes, or else we're uneven," Eliza pointed out.
"Go ahead," Alexis said when Julia looked at her. While her sister was getting her bowling ball she went to her parents and asked, "What about cooking?"
"We were going to just play one game," Castle replied. "And we're going to start… besides the turkey."
"What can we do?" Alexis asked, indicating herself and her husband.
"Nothing," Beckett said firmly. She smiled when her oldest frowned and was about to speak before she said, "Seriously, stay with the girls and the twins until we need Julia and Eliza."
"They're helping you cook?" Louis asked.
"They insisted," Martha said. "Especially Eliza."
"Yeah, I wanted to help with something," the little girl said. Eliza then smiled widely and told them, "I'm going to help with the pies."
"What're we having?" Louis asked them after they congratulated Julia on getting a spare.
"Apple and pumpkin," the teen herself answered.
"Are you working on one of them too?" Louis asked her.
"Yep," Julia said, smiling at her brother in law. "I have the pumpkin pie, Mom and Lizzy are going to make the apple pie."
"I have the savory stuff," Castle commented before he watched his oldest and son in law going to the twins. Sharing a smile with his wife he said, "You started already."
"Teasing?" Alexis asked her father, going to him after she and her husband had kissed their babies.
"Oh no," Castle said, keeping her with him so he could kiss her cheek. "I completely understand."
"Go take your turn," Alexis said teasingly though she was soon wrapping her arms around her father tightly.
Waiting for her husband, Beckett smiled at the two before he was joining her, and she squeezed at his hand while they made their way to the racks.
Pulling her hair up into a ponytail, Beckett heard footsteps coming up to the bathroom door and she said, "Don't say a word."
"I can't help it," Castle said. "But too bad you feel like you need to do that."
Giving him a look, Beckett said, "I don't, I wanted to. Come on, we have to make sure the turkey is ready."
"It is," Castle said. When his wife was looking at him in confusion he tapped his nose and was startled when she stepped up to him suddenly. "Are you mad at me?" he asked.
"No," Beckett replied with a smile before they were kissing gently. "Come on," she said before they were leaving their room.
Stepping into the hallway with Josie, Julia said, "Hopefully Mom- oh there they are." She had to hold onto her baby sister's hand since she was trying to break away and told her, "We have to walk."
"Okay," Josie replied though she was tugging at her sister's hand.
"Come here sweetheart," Castle said, picking her up. "Are you ready for dinner?"
"Eh," Josie said before they were turning at the sound of another door opening.
"I think we're all ready," Louis said, he and Alexis walking out of their room.
"We heard footsteps while we were getting them ready," Alexis told them. "I think Grandpapa took Lizzy downstairs."
"Gram went too," Julia commented, looking down the hall and seeing the door to their grandmother's room open.
"Then we need to go," Castle said, going to the stairs. Walking down to the hall he was surprised when the three weren't in the kitchen before he heard talking coming from the game room. "I'm going to guess that was Eliza," he told his wife since she was with him by then.
"I think so," Beckett replied in amusement before they reached the doorway to the room.
"Do you need me to help?" Eliza asked.
"Not until we need to set the table," Castle said. "And that'll be soon so don't get too involved in your games."
"We'll just play the baseball game," Julia said, looking at her sister who was nodding rapidly. "Me either right?" she then asked, realizing she needed to help if her parents wanted her.
"No," Beckett said laughingly. "But listen for us calling you."
"We will," Julia and Eliza said at the same time before they were turning their attention to the game.
"No one else needs to come with us," Castle said. "Kate and I are just checking on everything and if-"
"We'll stay here Dad," Alexis said with a smile before she was going to an armchair to sit with Finn.
Walking down to the kitchen Beckett told her husband, "Should you have pushed that hard?"
Castle started to speak before he paused and then said, "I wasn't for that reason."
"I know," Beckett replied with a smile. "But they think that."
"Or they want to play," Castle said.
Laughing, Beckett kissed his cheek when they stopped at the island and said, "Or both."
"Or both," Castle said firmly and he went to the stoves before his wife was talking behind him.
"It's fine, even I can smell that," Beckett said.
"Good thing," Castle replied before he was turning the light on. "Okay, everything looks like it's doing well…"
"And the sides are still warming," Beckett said. She laughed briefly when her husband was looking at his watch and said, "We should eat now."
"It's not really a dinner though," Castle said.
"We didn't have lunch either," Beckett told him since it was just past one.
"Just the twins," Castle said though he was nodding to her.
"Girls," Beckett called. She and Castle were looking down the hall and as soon as Eliza appeared down it they said at the same time, "Don't run."
"We're not, but we have to set the table?" the little girl asked.
"That's what we're hoping you'll do," Castle said teasingly while he was turning to the oven to check on the turkey a little more closely.
"Ready?" Beckett asked her husband with a smile while he was examining the thermometer.
"It is," Castle replied, taking the pan out of the oven and carrying it to the island.
"It's a big one," Eliza said eagerly looking at the turkey.
"We're going to have a lot of leftovers," Castle said, getting the carving knife and fork before he proceeded to carve it. Since his wife had gotten both a platter and a glass container he was easily setting aside the meat while the others were going around the kitchen. "Okay, it's done," he said once he threw away the bones.
"I hope so, you took forever Dad," Julia said teasingly to him.
"You're welcome," Castle said, smiling when she and Eliza were laughing at him. "And since I'm starving now I'm glad you have everything on the counter."
"You didn't notice did you?" Beckett asked her husband in amusement.
"Not really," Castle said simply. He smiled when she rolled her eyes, while she was smiling herself, and he said, "Is the table set?"
"Everything's ready," Julia answered.
"But the drinks," Eliza added.
"We'll bring them out once we're finished getting our food," Beckett told them before she was getting Josie's plate. The others let her get the toddler's food first before they were taking turns, and in the dining room she made sure Josie was alright with her napkin tucked into the collar of her tunic dress she was wearing. "Go ahead and eat sweetie, but you need to be careful okay?" she told her once she had finished.
"Eh," Josie replied, smiling at her mother while she was picking up some of the mashed sweet potato Julia had made.
"And don't just eat that," Castle told her while he was walking around the table.
"Cider! Sparkling cider!" Eliza said happily when she saw the bottles her father was carrying.
"That's right, and same rule don't drink all of this at once," Castle said, starting to pour some of the drink into Josie's sippy cup.
"That doesn't make sense Dad," Julia said.
"You know what I mean," Castle said in mock annoyance, smiling when Eliza giggled.
"Thanks Daddy," the little girl said after he'd poured some for her.
"You're welcome," Castle said, finishing pouring for Julia before he set the bottle in the middle. "Ask if you want more."
"He's right," Beckett said, smiling when their three youngest turned to her.
"Before we start eating," Castle said when he saw that everyone was ready, holding his wine glass. "To our family and the two newest members of it that managed to join us in time to celebrate."
Beckett wasn't surprised when the others were agreeing and she did so as well though she was tapping her glass to Josie's first. Turning to her husband they gently tapped their wine glasses together before she told him after they'd sipped the red liquid, "That was a nice one," not surprised at his response.
"I figured it was that or force the girls to say what they're thankful for," Castle commented, not surprised when his mother was speaking since he'd partially directed that to her.
"My parents had us do the same thing Richard," Martha said. "It was tradition." She paused and then said, "I did hate it myself though."
"Is that why we don't do that?' Eliza asked.
"It is," Castle said.
"We would have a toast," Jim said when the others were looking at him.
"Mom and Dad would take turns," Beckett said, smiling a little at her father.
Guessing his mother in law had given the last toast before she had been murdered, Castle reached over and squeezed his wife's hand before he said, "Should I stop doing that?"
"Oh no," Jim told him before his daughter could respond. "We did continue it but only a sláinte to each other."
"He's right," Beckett agreed. "And I do like your toasts."
Nodding, Castle raised her hand to kiss the back of it before he urged the others to eat, and they were beginning before Eliza cleared her throat and started to speak shyly.
"What're we gonna do after we eat?" she asked.
"Well," Castle began, looking outside the window behind him. "It looks like the weather's holding."
"You want to go for a walk?" Beckett asked him.
"I think it would be a good idea," Castle told her.
Smiling Beckett asked, "You're going to get seconds aren't you?"
"I am," Castle replied. "Not that much but I wanted a little more of the sweet potatoes."
"Thanks Dad," Julia said when her father was smiling at her.
"What about dessert?" Eliza asked.
"After we play some games," Beckett replied. She saw her husband was looking at her and she told him with a smile, "After we go on that walk."
"Are we going on the beach?" Eliza asked.
"No," Castle and Beckett said at the same time. They looked at each other when their daughters were laughing and she said, "It's a little cold to but we'll go around the neighborhood."
"Are you two going to join them?" Martha asked her oldest granddaughter.
"I think so," Alexis replied though she was looking at her husband while she spoke. "We haven't really gone out of the house that much."
"No," Louis said in agreement. He then smiled and said, "Except for the market we haven't gone out at all."
"Which makes sense," Castle said.
"Are you going with us Dad?" Beckett asked.
Shaking his head, Jim put down his glass of sparkling cider and said, "I think I'll stay in with the twins. I have gone out."
"And we walked around the stables," Julia said. She hesitated and said, "A little."
"It's alright Dad," Beckett told him slightly laughingly. She then looked at Josie and said, "Do you want to stay with the babies?"
When Josie frowned at her mother immediately she was widening her eyes when her family laughed. "What I say?" she asked when they were calming down.
"You want to go on a walk with us?" Castle answered before his wife could say anything.
"Eh," Josie replied, nodding her head.
"You don't want her to go?" Alexis asked her mother.
"Oh no, I do but I'm worried about how cold she'll get," Beckett replied.
"She'll be bundled up," Castle assured his wife.
"Yeah Mama," Josie added, giggling when the others were laughing.
"You can go, but don't complain about your coat," Beckett told her.
"Is she going to be wearing her blue coat we got her?" Alexis asked.
"This is probably going to be her last winter for that one," Castle commented. "It's getting a little tight."
"That's why I was asking," Alexis replied. "I'll have to find another for her."
"No, I like my coat," Josie said.
"New word?" Louis asked with a smile when his mother in law was hugging the toddler gently.
"She always said cow," Julia explained.
"And then cat for a little," Eliza said in obvious confusion.
"Don't worry," Beckett assured Josie. "You'll get another coat you'll like as much."
"Christmas-" Eliza started to say before her grandmother was squeezing her arm. "Yeah, you will," she said when she looked at Martha and saw the slight shake of her head.
"Christmas is…" Josie started to say before she trailed off.
"Coming, almost," Julia said before looking pointedly at her parents.
"Yes we'll work on the tree," Beckett said in amusement. "But later before we have dinner."
"We are going to have dinner," Eliza said.
"It'll very like be a small meal," Beckett said.
"But the dessert will be…" Eliza said slowly.
Laughing, Castle said, "We'll have a little but that's much later. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm getting those sweet potatoes."
"Wait for me Dad," Julia said, standing up just after he did.
Beckett smiled since Josie was waving to them and had her wipe her mouth before she was turning to Eliza leaving too. "I think we should go see what they're doing sweetie," she told her daughter, smiling when she nodded before she stood to get a little more of their meal herself.
"We'll be back soon Finn and Emmie," Alexis was telling her son and daughter. "Be glad you don't have to go this time." She smiled when Emmie made a soft noise, and she kissed her forehead before she did the same to Finn.
"They'll be fine," Martha said, recognizing the look on her granddaughter's face.
"And we won't be gone for that long," Beckett added, having seen the same. "We do have Josie."
"I know I just…" Alexis started to say before she shook her head.
"We all went through that," Martha said. "Rho had to kick me out of their apartment when I went back to work after your father was born."
"Your dad had to drag me to our first dinner together," Beckett added, smiling when Alexis started to laugh.
"Okay, I have to learn since my leave is going to be over soon," the young woman said. "Are we ready so I can?"
"We are," Castle said. "And just so you know I had the same problem leaving you for the first time. For that book tour down to D.C."
"Me too," Jim said firmly.
"I am right now," Louis said before he was pretending to cry. He laughed when his wife was smacking his shoulder with the back of her hand. "I am but I'm telling myself it won't be for that long."
"We should go now," Castle said. "So we can make it back sooner."
"He just wants to decorate the tree," Alexis said in amusement to her mother.
"Of course," Beckett said simply before he was frowning at them both. She kissed his cheek before they said goodbye to their parents and grandchildren and left the house to head across the yard to the door.
"Where are we going exactly?" Julia said once they were out on the sidewalk.
"Around to the other side of the block and then to the next before we come back," Castle said.
"Are we going to look at the Lennox house?" Eliza asked while they started down the sidewalk.
"Just look," Beckett said with a smile.
"Yeah, they're still at their rental having their Thanksgiving dinner so we're going to respect the fact that Peter, Clive and Emily haven't seen the inside of their house yet," Castle said.
"Especially because it's not finished," Julia said.
"I hope they let us look inside when it is done," Eliza said.
"They probably will," Beckett said. She saw Julia was turning her head from the Foster house and smiled before saying, "I don't think they're going to go out today," not surprised her daughter was swiftly responding.
"I know, but I thought…" Julia started to say before she shrugged.
"You'll see her tomorrow," Beckett assured her.
"Why are her grandparents leaving already?" Julia asked.
"The weather is better in Orlando," Castle said.
Julia couldn't help smiling before she said, "That's what Mari told me. But I thought they would stay… They're not coming back for Christmas."
"For the same reason," Beckett said. "Also for David's mother."
Sighing Julia said, "Mari was afraid she wouldn't remember her when she came." She then said in a rush, "She still does, but she's forgetting a lot more."
"They're doing their best with her sweetie," Beckett said. "And she's more comfortable with the weather in Florida because of her arthritis."
"Mari told me that too," Julia said, nodding her head. She then said, "There's the house," since they'd gotten to the end of the block.
"The outside looks nice," Eliza said.
"It does, I'm surprised they went for the grey they did," Louis commented.
"It was almost going to be a butter yellow," Julia said. "But they tested it and hated it. Especially Isaac."
"I would too," Castle said before they were crossing to the other side of the street after they'd passed the Lennox's property. "And the white and grey look more French."
"That's what he said his mom was saying," Julia said. She then told them, "It's going to be interesting with them living there."
"Hopefully you guys won't be annoyed by that," Alexis told them. She couldn't help laughing when her sisters were protesting, Josie laughing as well, and she said, "Great I'll make sure you won't be in the end."
Walking around the neighborhood, Castle wasn't surprised when they were the only ones there. "I guess it was too cold for everyone else," he said while he was putting in the code for their door.
"Can we swim when it's Christmas?" Eliza asked.
Laughing at the randomness of that statement, Castle said, "I think so, but it's still a month to go so let's wait and see."
"I agree with him sweetie," Beckett told their daughter when she was looking at her.
"Now we get to play some games," Julia reminded her.
"Dessert?" Eliza said hopefully as they were walking inside the front yard.
"Let's play at least one game of UNO and then-" Beckett started to say.
"No, just UNO please?" Eliza asked. "I want to go back to the game room," she added eagerly.
"You don't want to play Life or something?" Julia asked.
"Also, you're not tired of the game room yet?" Castle said, laughing when Eliza frowned at him. "I guess that's my answer."
"It is," Beckett said before the others were looking at her. "If everyone's okay with that then we can do that. We'll play a few games, have dessert and go to the game room. And no, we're going to eat in the dining room."
"There's the table in the game room," Julia commented, expecting her mother's response.
"Not today," Beckett said. "Though I'm not surprised you want to get right to the games."
"The tree?" Eliza asked slowly while her father was unlocking the front door.
"After we have our little dinner," Louis said. When his sister in law was looking at him he explained, "I heard them."
"I want to decorate really bad," Eliza said. "Badly?" she corrected herself in a rush when her parents were looking at her.
"That works," Castle said. "And believe me, I do too. But your mom says we'll do it after our small dinner and that's when we will."
"You don't want to wait until it's darker?" Beckett asked the little girl with a smile while she was taking her coat.
Eliza was about to speak before she stopped and then said, "Okay, I love Christmas Mommy."
"Just like your daddy," Beckett said, laughing when her husband raised and lowered his eyebrows at her. She pinched his shoulder lightly as a way to scold him before they were getting their daughters' outer layers into the entry closet.
"Now des… UNO!" Eliza cried. She laughed with the rest of her family since her grandparents and the twins had joined them before they were walking down the hall to the dining room to begin playing.
"I'm shocked there aren't more sweets," Louis told his sisters in law.
"We wanted to make cupcakes, but Mom said three was enough," Julia commented. She paused and then said, "I mean four."
"Four?" Alexis asked in surprise.
Nodding, Julia said, "You know how you got that stuff from that company… from Dad?"
"Of course, we kept the baskets they came in for Finn and Emmie to have for storage when they're older," Louis commented.
"He got something for us to share," Julia said.
"Yeah, he won't tell us what it is," Eliza said in pretend annoyance.
"He will soon I'm sure," Alexis said, turning to her after she had gotten Finn set in his carrier. "Thank you for taking our plates," she said, speaking to Julia since she'd had her husband's.
"You're welcome," the teen said, letting Emmie hold onto her index finger. "You really love being parents," she stated.
"A ton," Alexis said, smiling at her. "You're thinking about it aren't you?"
"I always have," Julia said. "Especially after Josa was born."
"Josa!" Eliza cried, seeing their baby sister in the doorway. "Is everyone ready."
"No, I'm a big girl," Josie said firmly, putting her hands in fists on her hips.
Reaching her sister Julia took her by her shoulders and told her, "You are but do Mom and Dad know you left?"
"Actually we did not," Castle said, walking up to them. He took Josie's hands and said seriously, "You know that we don't like it when you leave without telling us, we get worried." He wasn't surprised when the toddler's chin began to wobble before she started to cry, and he sighed before scooping her up and heading back to the kitchen before the twins would begin crying too.
"Sweetie," Beckett said, looking down the hall.
"I had to scold her a little," Castle said.
"He wasn't that mean Mommy," Eliza said, having hurried after her father. "He was talking serious… seriously," she said, correcting herself in a hurry.
"I had a feeling," Beckett said. She took Josie from him and said, "You're okay sweetie, all you have to do is tell us when you're going to leave us in the house okay?"
"Kay," Josie said, calming down a little. She wrapped her arms around her mother's neck and said, "Sorry."
"It's okay," Castle said, gently drying her cheeks. "Are you mad at me?" he asked her. When she shook her head he said, "Whew," as he exaggerated swiping at his forehead. "I'm glad because I was hoping we'd play with your mom in the game room later," he told her, pleased when she was smiling and speaking firmly.
"I want to Dada," Josie said before she was reaching out to him.
Squeezing her husband's upper arm, Beckett turned and was moving to get their plates before he was calling to her. "I can take them," she said.
"I have Josie's plate," Jim said before his son in law could say anything.
"Thank you," Castle said before they were walking to the dining room. "Is it snowing?" he asked, seeing Julia was at the window.
"No, but it's getting really dark," the teen replied. Julia then asked, "We can eat now right?"
"Please, we have some games to play," Beckett said before they were sitting together around the table.
"How… how's the pie?" Eliza asked a little nervously while she was looking around at everyone taking a bite of the apple one.
"Really good," Jim said first before he looked at Martha when she was quickly agreeing with him and talking to their second youngest granddaughter with a smile.
"He's right Eliza, you're becoming a very good baker," Castle's mother said.
"Mommy helped me," Eliza said swiftly.
"With the harder parts of baking," Beckett said immediately. "And with peeling the apples too."
"Thank you," Eliza said shyly.
"And the pumpkin pie is great too," Castle told Julia.
"You're eating it already?" the teen asked her father in shock.
"I had a thin slice," Castle said, not surprised when the others were laughing.
"Mommy?" Eliza said when they had calmed down. "What time is it?"
"Almost three twenty," Beckett replied after checking the time. "Why?"
"When are we going to have dinner?" Eliza responded with another question.
"What're you thinking?" Castle said before his wife could say anything.
"If we're gonna eat late then we could start the tree," Eliza explained.
"We won't," Beckett said firmly when her husband looked at her. "We'll eat at the normal time we do but remember it might be a smaller dinner."
"I just wanted to see," Eliza told her. She was relieved when her parents were smiling and nodding in response before she looked at her sister across the table from her. "You don't want to start the tree?" she asked.
"Of course I do," Julia said. "I just know that we're going to have to wait." When her little sister looked disappointed she added, "But I wish we could do it sooner too."
Smiling widely Eliza said, "Me too."
Julia had to bite at her lower lip keep from laughing out loud at her sister saying something she already knew. She just managed to and was finishing her slice of pumpkin pie before she was suddenly reminded of something. "Hey, what about the box Dad?" she asked.
"That's going to have to wait for after dinner… or after the tree I should say," Castle answered, looking at Eliza and seeing her dismayed expression.
"Cool," Julia said before they moved to begin cleaning up again.
"Mama," Josie said when they were in the game room once they had finished.
"Yes sweetie?" Beckett asked.
"The babies?" Josie asked immediately. "They…"
"They're taking a nap," Beckett said swiftly, reaching out to calm her down.
"They should be awake quite soon," Louis said, looking at his watch.
"They're still sleeping," Alexis told her husband in amusement since she had turned to the tablet they were using for that purpose. "But he is right they'll be awake soon," she added to the others. "They'll want to nurse."
"You're gonna have to stop playing," Eliza told her.
"I don't mind, and we're going to keep playing right?"
"If that's what everyone wants to do," Beckett said before she was watching Josie walking away from her.
"I think it is," Castle said, looking on as well while their youngest was hurrying to his father-in-law. With them alone he said to his wife, "What did you want to do?"
"I'm already aware of what you want," Beckett said to him, not surprised when he nodded once before he was responding verbally and making her smile in response.
"So we're in agreement… but not betting," Castle said carefully. He wasn't surprised when his wife merely smiled, and he took her hand so they could make their way to the air hockey table and begin to play.