"You're serious about us leaving," Castle said to Brad as soon as the TV screen was blue.
"Yeah, like I said-" the chief said, beginning to frown before his friend was interrupting him.
"I was going to say if that's the case, then what if we ask David and Rebecca about the families?" Castle was saying.
Thinking about that for a moment, Brad nodded and then said, "Alright, they know the vics and they're aware of the history here. See what they might tell you." He then paused and said, "Right now?"
Shaking his head Castle then turned to his wife and asked, "What about inviting them to dinner?"
"Sure, but if you're calling them right now you're telling them the second reason we're asking them," Beckett said firmly.
"Alright, take notes… record or whatever," Brad told the pair. "Darnley…"
"Don't worry, I have a few orders to finish for Christmas," the carpenter said. "Another for a birthday at the end of January."
"You don't want to come over?" Beckett asked.
"Not tonight," Darnley said slowly. "Wait, will you come over Friday night? I just thought of us having everyone over."
"Isn't it our turn?" Brad commented since they'd recently started alternating between houses for them all to have dinner at.
"It is," Darnley replied. "We're next month. Okay, never mind."
"Come over to ours on Saturday," Beckett said. "Before the McDouglases come."
"Are you sure?" Darnley asked.
"Okay, you guys are set right?" Brad asked. When he got nods he said, "I have to tell some of the officers we're looking into a lot of people." He hesitated for a moment and then said, "And that we have to make the list first." Shaking himself he then told the three, "I'll text if there's anything and if I don't call you in the morning come in at nine."
Once they'd said goodbye to the chief, Castle said to his wife, "Should I call them now?"
"Let's get to the car first," Beckett replied before she was looking at Darnley.
"You have almost an hour before that dance class," the carpenter then said before he was looking at his watch. "More than an hour, sorry."
"That's fine," Beckett said in amusement. "But you realize you could come over," she added though she was waving briefly to Hutchinson and Fox since they'd been leaving the bullpen.
Shaking his head Darnley said, "You're having us over for Christmas."
"What's Bethany making?" Castle asked from ahead of them.
"Bobotie," Darnley answered simply.
"That makes sense," Castle told his wife since they both were aware Bethany would start that dish the day before it was eaten.
Rolling her eyes, though she was smiling at the same time, Beckett then said, "I'm not surprised, but I'm-"
"We're," Castle interrupted his wife.
"We're serious about you guys coming over on Saturday," Beckett said though she was eyeing her husband at the same time.
"What about everyone else?" Darnley asked.
"The Davises will be busy," Castle started to say before they were getting into his and Beckett's car. "Lily's having the restaurant's Christmas party. The Lennoxes will be at our house of course and the Fosters are going to City Hall for their party."
"Okay," Darnley replied. "Then we accept unless Trev has something which I'm doubting."
Nodding, Beckett started the car before she was leaving the parking lot and driving back to their house, listening to her husband's conversation with the mayor next to her.
"Hey, it's me," Castle said after David had answered. "Are you and Rebecca busy at all tonight? Kate and I wanted to invite you for dinner."
"For what reason?" the mayor immediately asked.
"Partially for the kids but we need your help with the case," Castle said. "Again."
"Do you want to explain it to me now or wait for later?" David asked.
"Are you mad?" Darnley couldn't help asking.
"Where are you?" David said in surprise hearing the carpenter.
"We're in the car heading back home," Castle said. "We're finished for the day."
"Then later," David said. When his friend started to speak he swiftly said, "No, I'm not mad I just wish we weren't a… source for you two."
"We don't know if you are yet," Beckett said.
"We'll help," David then said reassuringly. "And I'll call Rebecca right now to let her know."
After he'd thanked his friend, telling him to arrive with his family as soon as possible after their daughters' dance class, Castle hung up the phone before he said, "We're here."
"Yeah, and have fun you two," Darnley said since they were pulling up outside his home. "And I'll hear from you tomorrow."
"We'll let you know what they say," Beckett told him as he was opening the door.
"Tomorrow when you get me," Darnley said.
"We will," Beckett added with a smile before she and Castle were telling him goodbye. When he was inside the front yard, she started down to their home and told her husband, "Dinner?"
"I know," Castle said. "We don't really have much for all of us now."
"We'll have to buy," Beckett said before she was driving past the open gate.
"The kids will be happy about that," Castle commented.
"Of course," Beckett said. "We'll discuss what to get later," she added while she was closing the garage door behind them.
"What do you want to do before we leave?" Castle asked her.
"Wait until we're inside," Beckett said simply before they were getting out of the car.
"You're finished for the day?" Jim asked his daughter.
"Does Mother have the twins?" Castle couldn't help asking.
"She does, they're laying on the floor in the family room," Jim explained. "Josie's with them."
"We are finished," Beckett told her father while they stepped into the hall. They were heading to the entry and she added, "Though we're going to have the Fosters over for dinner," not surprised at his immediate response while they were entering the house.
"They're going to help with the case?" Jim asked.
"Maybe," Castle said after he and his wife were exchanging a look.
"Mama, Dada!" Josie said, hurrying down the hall to them.
"Hey sweetie," Beckett said, reaching for the toddler. After she'd put her on her hip she said, "Were you helping your grandparents with the twins?"
"Eh," Josie said while she nodded her head before she and her mother were sharing a quick kiss. "Play with me?" she asked her father when he walked over to them after handing up his and Beckett's coats.
"Do you want us to?" Castle asked. He shared a smile with his wife when their youngest was nodding rapidly before he asked, "This is what we're doing."
"We are," Beckett said before letting him take Josie. They were walking together with her father to the family room and greeted Martha who was smiling as Emmie was letting out a brief coo before she was speaking to her son and daughter in law.
"We're having guests tonight?" Castle's mother asked.
"We are," Castle said with a nod. "We need to talk to David and Rebecca about our case again; nothing serious but we just hope they have some information."
"Again?" Jim asked, picking up on that.
"We had lunch with them," Castle said, stopping there while he was looking at his wife.
"They know our victims," Beckett said. "And so do we."
"Are you talking about the Vernons?" Martha asked. When her son and daughter in law looked at her she nodded at the confirmation and said, "Francine called me."
"Her son is the museum's senior curator," Castle said.
"Yes, she said Payton called her after he found… the person," Martha said, looking over at the children. "Is he a suspect?"
"No, he has an alibi," Beckett replied. "He was on the phone at home just until he went to the museum."
"That early?" Jim asked.
"It was for the collection," Castle explained. "But we just talked to David and Rebecca about him and his wife."
"Her too," Martha said.
"Yeah, we're trying to get everything… figured out," Castle said, looking at the kids himself at that point.
"We'll speak to them while the kids are playing," Beckett replied. She then changed the subject and asked, "How long have they been here?"
"Not very long," Martha commented with a smile.
"Josie was laying with them before the dogs heard you," Jim said, smiling as well.
"You were playing with them?" Castle asked the toddler.
"I was helping," Josie said carefully.
"Good, will you keep helping?" Castle said to her. When the toddler was nodding rapidly again he reached for her and hugged her saying, "Let's go ahead and get started."
"Started on what?" Beckett couldn't help asking in amusement.
"Playing with them," Castle replied. "I guess I could have worded that differently."
"Probably," Beckett said. "But we should let them lay down for a little longer."
"Sure," Castle said swiftly, not surprised when his wife was rolling her eyes. He smiled and then sat with Josie next to him so they could watch the twins.
After they'd let Finn and Emmie move and kick their legs for a little longer, Castle and Beckett were taking the three into the game room once their parents had headed upstairs.
"What are we doing here exactly?" Beckett inquired.
"I was thinking of any game," Castle commented. "It'll keep them entertained."
Beckett couldn't help laughing softly before she said, "Why am I not surprised. But how exactly are we going to play?"
"We'll take them," Martha said as she and Jim were entering the room.
"I thought-" Castle started to say, obviously startled.
"We were just going upstairs to get…" Martha began before she looked at Jim.
"I left my phone upstairs," Beckett's father said with a smile.
"I had to get my magazine," Martha said. "I thought you'd stay in the family room."
"I think Rick just wanted to play," Beckett said, glancing at her husband before her phone started to ring. She gave Emmie to her father and answered it saying, "Hey Rebecca, did David call you?"
"He did," the lawyer replied. "And we're coming over. But I wanted to ask now before we got there are we swimming?"
"We could," Castle said swiftly to his wife before she could respond to the question.
"We will," Beckett said, glancing at her husband for a moment. She then said, "If you're okay with that."
"Of course, the girls will definitely want to and I'm sure Dave will want to," Rebecca said.
"Not you?" Castle couldn't help asking.
"I thought that would be implied," Rebecca said, obviously smiling. "And I have another question, can we come over after the dance class?"
"If you're going too then yes," Beckett said, looking at her husband. She then turned her attention back to her friend and said, "So we'll see you there in a little."
"Right, I better go pack our… things," Rebecca started to say.
"You remembered something else?" Castle couldn't help asking.
"Yes, dinner," Rebecca said. "It's on us."
"Did you just think of that?" Beckett asked her, unable to help smiling at how firmly her friend was speaking.
"I did and I want to since you guys usually take care of it," Rebecca replied. "How do you feel about Italian?"
"Sounds good," Castle said.
"Pizza?" Rebecca asked.
Beckett paused before she shared a look with her husband and said, "It has been a while since we had any. If you're okay with getting it then go ahead."
"The kids'll have lunch… your kids," Castle said, recalling they weren't ordering.
"There'll be enough for everyone," Rebecca replied. "I better go, I need to call David and tell him what we're doing. And pack too."
"We'll see you at the class," Beckett said before she hung up. She turned to her husband and said, "We're cooking tomorrow."
"I might cook tomorrow," Jim told his daughter. When she and his son in law were looking at him he said, "I will. But for now you two should play with the kids."
"I think we're just playing with Josie," Beckett said, smiling at the toddler since she was holding onto Castle's hand tightly.
"Yeah she's been pulling at me," he told her. He then turned his attention to their youngest and said, "What do you want to play sweetheart?"
"Drive?" Josie asked.
"Against your mom right?" Castle asked her with a smile. When the toddler was nodding rapidly he couldn't help laughing before he told his wife, "I guess that's set."
"With the way she was standing with you?" Beckett asked him, smiling herself before she turned to their parents.
"We'll join you," Jim said. "You were talking about distracting them."
"Or just spending time with them by us," Castle said as he realized that sounded a little strange. "If you don't mind just standing next to us."
"We don't," Martha said firmly before she and Jim were walking after the three to the game consoles. Once they were sitting she stood to her son's left saying, "I hope you'll let Josie drive a little Richard," smiling when he glanced at her before responding.
"I'm just here for help," Castle said. He looked at his wife and asked, "Ready?"
"I am," Beckett said with a smile since she'd been watching and listening to them. She turned her attention to the screen and started to race, aware her husband was steering the other console. She was beaten but didn't mind that fact since Josie looked so shocked which led her to laugh softly before she said, "You're a natural driver sweetie."
"Eh," Josie said, nodding her head. She then reached out to her mother before watching her getting up to walk around to them.
"You don't want to play again?" Castle asked his wife.
"I'll pass," Beckett said. "I'd like to see how you do at baseball," she then added with a smile when her husband looked startled before they were looking at Josie while she giggled.
"Do I play too?" Josie asked.
"I hope so," Castle said. "You'll play with me right?"
"No, want Mama," Josie said firmly.
"We should let her play on her own," Beckett commented before she was looking down at their youngest. "You can," since her eyes were wide.
"Eh," Josie replied.
"Great, now I'm on my own," Castle said in mock annoyance before his wife was brushing her lips to his cheek and speaking to him once she pulled away.
"I will be too," Beckett replied in amusement before she turned her attention to Josie. She helped her to play for the toddler's turn, aware her husband was staring at her. When Josie was finished she was about to tell Castle to go next before her mother in law was getting their attention.
"I need to take Finn upstairs, excuse me," Martha said.
"You too Dad?" Beckett asked with a smile when she saw he was checking on Emmie's diaper.
"I do," Jim said before he left after Castle's mother.
"Mama," Josie said, tugging her sleeve.
"Oh, don't tell me you need to go to the bathroom," Castle said jokingly since they'd started to potty train her already in anticipation for her attending school the next year.
"I think she does," Beckett said when the toddler looked obviously distressed. "We'll be back."
"Sure, I'll take my turn here," Castle replied before he turned his attention to the baseball game in front of him. After he'd started to play the game he became focused on it before he jumped at someone touching his arm.
"Sorry, I see you're lost in your game," Beckett told him in amusement.
"Yeah, but that was it for that one," Castle said in a rush.
Beckett was a little confused at how fast he was speaking before he suddenly wrapped his arms around her and kissed her deeply. Though Josie was with them and their parents would be returning, she couldn't stop herself and returned it eagerly. She wasn't sure how long they were involved with that or how many kisses they shared in the end before they were stopping. "We… we have to go?" she said, making it a question in the end since she had suddenly remembered their middle daughters.
"Soon," Castle said, checking his watch though he'd had to let her go with one arm to do so.
Taking his wrist, Beckett turned his watch towards her before she nodded and said, "I'm not surprised. Alright, we better start getting ready."
"Where are our parents?" Castle said in confusion as he suddenly remembered while Beckett was picking up Josie.
"Do you want to check?" Beckett asked her husband.
"I'll… never mind," Castle said before they were hurrying out of the room since they could hear footsteps on the stairs.
"It's alright," Martha told the three when they were meeting each other in the hall. "Finn spit up a little and needed to be changed."
"Let me take that," Castle said, reaching for the twin's onesie his father-in-law was holding.
"You're not late for the class are you?" Martha asked.
"No, we have a little more time," Beckett answered.
"About ten minutes before we need to get ready to go," Castle said while he was walking back to them. "Another game?" he asked his wife.
"If it's quick," Beckett said with a smile.
"The whack-a-mole," Castle suggested.
"You and Josie can play," Beckett said, going to Finn who was beginning to whimper. She soothed him but didn't let him go once he had calmed down when they were in the game room again. Watching her husband playing with their youngest she was gently rocking the baby in her arms before she realized he was going to fall asleep.
"Let me," Martha said with a smile, having seen the same as her daughter in law. "It's hard to resist."
"It is," Beckett said, smiling down at the baby before she gently brushed her lips to his forehead.
"Is Josie going with you?" Jim asked when Castle and Josie finished their second game.
"She is," Castle answered. "We're taking the car."
"Doesn't she need to?" Jim asked since Josie would practice ballet with her big sisters for a little once in a while.
"I think they're working on the Jive today," Beckett said. "So she won't be practicing but she gets to watch."
"I want to Mama," Josie told her.
"You will," Castle said, looking at his watch.
"Time?" Beckett asked. When her husband nodded they left the room to head down the hall to the entry. "We're coming right back," she told her father and mother in law while she was putting her arms through her coat her husband was holding.
"I hope so, though Alexis did say she was going to come early," Martha said.
"She can?" Castle asked in surprise, getting his own coat.
"She said she had the chance today," Jim answered.
"That's not a surprise," Castle commented after thinking that over. "Okay, if Genevieve and Isaac come back let them know about the guests."
"Will they have any protest?" Jim asked in slight confusion.
"Just a courtesy," Castle explained before he looked at his wife since she had gotten Josie ready.
"We'll be back," Beckett said, smiling at her husband before they were turning to their parents.
"Keep warm," Martha said while the three were heading to the garage door.
"We will, have fun with Finn and Emmie," Castle commented before they were going into the hall and he closed the door behind them.
"I want to dance Mama," Josie said.
"Maybe tomorrow sweetie," Beckett said with a smile.
"I want Jules," Josie then told her parents firmly. "Lizzy too."
"We're going right now," Castle reassured her after he and his wife had started to laugh before they were reaching the car. After he'd gotten Josie ready he kissed her cheek and then turned to his wife once the door was closed.
"I'm okay," Beckett told him firmly. She wasn't surprised when his response was to gently kiss her on the lips.
"I know, I just wanted to do that," Castle said. He smiled when she cupped his cheek and he kissed her lightly again before they were reluctantly parting and moving to get in the car so they could see their middle daughters.