"Hey, you're here early," Skye said.
"We didn't plan on it," Castle commented. "Since we finished in the aviaries we decided to make our way here."
"We finished walking through the Africa Rocks section and decided to come here," Skye replied. "So… are we hungry, should we go?"
"I'm leaving already," Mary said jokingly, moving to head up to the Bashor Bridge that would lead them to the restaurant. She laughed when her wife hurried up to her before she took her hand and was teasing her as they all started to walk.
"If you were that hungry you should have just told us," Skye said.
"I'm not, I just didn't want to stand there," Mary replied. They were quiet making their way up, her wife speaking to the host once they were inside. "When did you make a reservation?" she asked her in surprise.
"I think when she was trailing behind us at the entrance," Beckett commented before they were following the host through the restaurant and outside.
"I made the reservation on my phone," Skye replied. They had reached their table by then and once they were sitting down she said, "Did you guys call your family?"
"We did," Castle said first, setting down the menu.
"Did you decide on what you wanted already?" Mary asked in surprise.
"I did," Castle said. "It's a small menu."
"I've decided too," Mary then said.
After they'd calmed down laughing, the four were ordering their drinks and food when the waiter came to the table before Skye said, "Why did we all get Arnold Palmers?"
"Because I didn't really want a wine or beer," Castle answered.
"Neither did I," Beckett said. She smiled and then asked the McDouglases, "Did you call your family?"
"We did, not too long ago," Skye answered. "I'm assuming you called yours at the tigers?"
"We did," Castle said. "They were at the family fun center."
"Ours were at the zoo still," Mary said. She paused and then said, "Granted they were at the gift shops to leave but they were still there."
"It's a shame it closes so soon," Skye said.
"What were they going to do after?" Beckett asked them.
"Citywalk," Skye and Mary said at the same time. They smiled at each other before the latter said, "It's close to the zoo."
"About fifteen, twenty minutes depending on the traffic," Skye said. "And they have to choose the restaurant together."
"Did you have trouble convincing them to do that?" Beckett said, unable to help smiling.
"At first, but Da suggested the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and the girls went a bit crazy," Skye said before she saw the confusion on the writers' faces before her wife was speaking in laughter.
"You haven't seen it, it went where the Hard Rock Café used to be," Mary said. "The girls were disappointed it left but this place… they enjoy too."
"I'm guessing the chocolate part helped," Castle commented.
"It did," Mary said. "Though when we hung up they hadn't decided on dessert there or Ben and Jerry's. I'm thinking Liam and Pablo will convince them to have dessert at the restaurant and wait for when they go to the Pier for the other."
"I may have texted Da that," Skye told the writers, not surprised her wife was rolling her eyes. "And your girls?"
"They were on the bumper cars when we called," Beckett said first.
"Did you have a full conversation with them?" Skye asked as their waitress was coming up to their table with their drinks.
"We did," Castle said in amusement. "Though they were worried we missed them so much we'd come home."
"Ah, our girls were too," Skye said. "Though we told them we had a lot we were looking forward to do."
"We didn't say that but I think they're aware we're looking forward to what else we have," Castle said. "And we also confirmed we're going for Memorial Day… or coming back."
"Great, they'll enjoy it," Mary said. "Though the cruise is coming first."
"She likes to tease me with that," Skye said wryly before her friend was responding to that with a slight frown.
"You haven't assured her you're fine with a Disney cruise?" Beckett asked.
"Every time she does that," Skye said in mock annoyance.
"Alright, alright, I'll stop," Mary said laughingly. "So now we've gone around the zoo twice…" At the nods from the writers at her unasked question, she continued with, "Do you two want to stay until closing time?"
"We would," Beckett said. "He's eager to."
"So it's just me that is?" Castle asked her jokingly. "Then you three better go back to the hotel."
"Well, if you want to have dessert still it might help to walk around," Skye said.
"Especially you two, you got the piccata," Castle said.
"I'm surprised you both got the fish tacos, we are having seafood tomorrow for lunch," Mary told them.
"Yeah I thought that myself but we're having calamari," Castle said, looking at his wife.
Smiling at his unasked question Beckett said, "I'm planning on it."
"Then we're all getting the same," Skye said. "And the girls were a bit miffed they're not going to be able to have a tuna sandwich but we promised their next in service day we'll come down to the restaurant and Old Town for the day."
"Julia mentioned not being able to have that," Castle said. "I wish we could take her one."
"Eliza too," Beckett reminded him. "But we did just say we're coming back."
"True," Castle said. "I was thinking about the conversation we were having," he told her before their food was being served and they were silent for a little taking a few bites before Skye was speaking to them both.
"Do you have that planned out at all yet?" Skye asked.
"It might be the usual besides Sea World," Beckett said, looking at her husband.
Nodding Castle said, "Old Town, Point Loma for the restaurant at least."
"Wait until we're home to plan it," Beckett said since her husband hadn't continued and was looking at her.
"I don't know," Castle said carefully. "I think the girls enjoy us planning."
"You want to plan this with them?" Beckett asked.
"We don't mind," Mary said. "We can give you advice too if you need it."
"We'd plan out Tahoe with you two," Skye started to say. "But we've already done it."
"Is there much to plan?" Castle asked.
"Not really," Skye admitted. "Swimming, more swimming, going into town and shopping at what there is."
"You're not going to be bored?" Beckett asked with a smile.
"No, we did mention the arcade," Mary told her.
"True," Beckett said with a laugh. "Well…" she started to say before she trailed off and then looked at her husband.
Nodding Castle said, "Well, we'd get here on Friday and we'll probably do what we did yesterday, unpack and go to Seaport Village."
"We might want to go to another restaurant," Beckett said.
Castle was about to speak before he paused and then nodded and said, "True, I didn't like what was there for Eliza and Josie."
"The other places are good," Skye told them. "What'll be up for Saturday?"
"It's going to be crowded isn't it?" Beckett asked.
"Sea World? No different from any other amusement park," Skye said while she shrugged her shoulders. She then said, "I'm not so sure about the other two days either."
"Just take our chances?" Castle asked. He was smiling when both women nodded and he said, "Okay, then I guess we'll go to Old Town on Sunday."
"Just there?" Mary asked.
"Probably for dinner," Beckett said when her husband looked at him. "You're thinking of Mission Bay Park."
Nodding Castle said, "I am, I mean it sounds like fun right? Blowing bubbles, flying kites…"
"You can ask them," Beckett told her husband, unable to keep the laughter out of her voice. "But I'm sure they'll agree to it."
"When do you go back?" Mary asked.
"Tuesday," Beckett said.
"Us too," Skye said. "The girls have their homework and lessons already, they'll be doing that on the flight up there."
"Ours can on Thursday," Beckett said.
"I mean we suggest it but…" Skye said.
"We should tell them to do it Thursday night grá," Mary said wryly. "That way Marie and Ivy can get lessons from you," she added, not surprised when Beckett was asking her wife about their daughters.
"They're doing well with that?" Beckett said.
"They are," Skye said, nodding a few times. She put down her glass after taking a drink and said with a smile, "Marie's taken to it quickly and Ivy's following it seems. They'll be pilots of some kind."
"You're not going to try and stop them?" Castle asked, having seen the brief grimace on the doctor's face.
"Stop them from doing something they love?" Mary immediately asked. "Though I worry for them I'm not going to be so cruel as to stop them."
"But we did have a strict talk with both Marie and Ivy as soon as they let me know they wanted to fly," Skye then said. "To make sure they knew to pay good attention to me and to safety as well."
"And they have, but again I'm not going to stop worrying about it," Mary told the writers. She then said, "So you have Monday now."
"Yes, and because Julia and Eliza will have their homework done we'll go somewhere," Beckett said.
Not surprised when his wife finished there and was just looking at him, Castle smiled and said, "I'm not totally sure."
"I would say the zoo but you sound like you have something else in mind," Skye commented.
"What would you say to visiting Legoland?" Castle asked his wife since they hadn't managed to make it to the theme park the summer before.
"We could," Beckett said. "Though I wonder if we should switch Old Town and Legoland."
"It's a good idea, to relax," Castle said. "Then I guess we have everything set."
"We do," Beckett replied. She looked at all their plates and said, "And it looks like we finished too."
"Yeah, and I'm stuffed," Mary commented.
"But the food was really good," Castle said quickly while Skye was motioning to the waiter for their bills.
"Very," Skye said in agreement. "We'll wait for a while to have dessert right?"
"We should," Beckett answered just as their bills were being given to the investigator and her husband. "And we have until nine so there's time to walk."
"Is that your way of telling someone to say how we're going to walk around love?" Castle asked her.
"I think so," Beckett replied easily before they were waiting for the cards to be returned. "I'm going to take some pictures," she said before her husband was stopping her.
"Wait, and I'm really mad at myself for not thinking of this before," Castle told her. "A selfie?" he asked the three women.
"Alright," Mary said, her wife nodding in agreement after.
Getting his camera, Castle was about to hold it out when the waiter was returning and took the picture for them. Once they were done he wasn't surprised when his wife and Skye were both getting up and he said, "Your card."
"I signed already," the investigator said before she heard Mary speaking behind them.
"She's learned to be quick," the doctor said wryly.
"And indecipherable," Castle commented, looking at the investigator's signature.
"So's mine," Mary said.
"That makes sense, you prescribe things don't you?" Castle asked.
"If you mean medication, yes," Mary said with a smile before she glanced at their wives.
"I'm surprised at you," Skye was telling her friend, watching her taking pictures of the waterfall.
"For wanting to keep going around?" Beckett asked, turning from her shot. At the investigator's nod she said with a smile, "I do have three children who are under fifteen remember."
"How're you feeling about Julia turning fourteen?" Skye asked.
"She's the same, well behaved and attentive to her studies," Beckett said. "I can't ask for more."
"And she's still your daughter," Skye said in Irish.
"I think about that often," Beckett said.
"I'm not surprised," Skye said, squeezing her shoulder gently. "But I don't think you need to be concerned."
"I hope you're right," Beckett said, glancing back at their table. "I think they're ready to go."
"Looks like it," Skye said before they were heading to their spouses and leaving the restaurant.
"You know we never said where we were going to go," Castle told them.
"Should we walk the opposite way we did earlier?" Skye suggested. She was surprised when the writers and her wife agreed to that, and they made their way towards the entrance of the zoo before they were walking to the Urban Jungle section. Watching the giraffes she said, "Is there anything you two have in mind for dessert?"
"No but it sounds like you do," Castle said.
"It's more I don't want to go out of the way just to get a specific thing," Skye explained. She glanced at her wife and asked, "Did you?"
"No," Mary replied, smiling. She said, "The stalls will have good options."
"We've seen," Beckett assured the two before they were walking again. Once they were in the Australia section they were splitting up a little before she said, "There is an advantage taking pictures now."
"Are they coming out?" Castle asked her.
"They are," Beckett said, showing him the screen of her camera. When he nodded she wasn't surprised when he was hurriedly leaning into her and kissing her lightly on the lips.
"Mad?" Castle asked her.
"No," Beckett said simply before she wrapped her arm around his neck and pulled him down to her. They were kissing deeply then but didn't linger before they were walking after the McDouglases. The pair had gone around the corner of the building and she wasn't surprised to find the two pulling apart from each other.
"Sorry about that," Skye said. "She had something on her lip."
"Really?" Castle asked her.
"Yes, take it or leave it," Skye said, smiling when the writer shook his head before they were walking past the building. Once they were moving to the elephant habitat she said, "How do you two do this so many times?"
"Practice," Castle said, glancing at his wife to find her giving him a look since they were all aware the investigator was referencing their temporary abstinence. "What? I needed to answer didn't I?"
"We're used to it… to a degree," Beckett told the two.
Nodding Skye said, "While it's nice, we're definitely not going to be doing that too often," not surprised when Castle responding.
"We try not to," he said, about to speak again when the investigator frowned at him before Mary was first.
"I can't believe we're talking about this," the doctor told her wife.
"We're not… exactly," Skye said.
"Yeah, the vagueness is annoying grá," Mary said though she was smiling at the same time.
"I do what I can," Skye replied, winking at her wife.
"I think we're finished anyway," Castle commented.
"Good thing," Beckett said. She smiled briefly when the three were looking at her and she explained, "If you want to see more of the zoo before we leave then we probably should pay much better attention to the animals."
"How're your pictures coming out?" Skye asked after her friend had taken one of the elephant they were standing near.
"Good," Beckett replied absently, getting another of one that was further away. She looked at Skye and said, "Speaking of being vague…"
"They have really good mini donuts here," Skye said.
"I forgot," Mary said in obvious amusement when her wife was looking pointedly at her.
"I'm not surprised," Skye said. "But we really shouldn't focus on that, just go with whatever we're near."
"Are you sure? We're walking already," Castle said.
"I'm sure," Skye replied while they were continuing again.
Hiking up towards the polar bears, the four would walk together and then break off every so often until Skye and Beckett were leading their spouses.
"Are you sure you didn't want a locker?" Skye asked, having glanced back at the two behind them.
"He said he was fine carrying that bag," Beckett replied. "And it's just t-shirts and the empty popcorn bucket."
"Satisfied with what you got?" Skye then inquired.
"The shirts or the bucket?" Beckett couldn't help responding with her own question. She tried not to laugh too loudly at the look the investigator gave her and said, "Sorry, that was instinct from before."
"Did you see that look on my face? That was too," Skye replied before they were laughing. They didn't do so for long and once they calmed down she said, "They do have nice shirts here," glancing at the writer when she was speaking a little wryly.
"Did you want to compare shirts?" Beckett said.
"No," Skye said. "I'm surprised you're not getting a shirt."
"You could have just asked," Beckett teased her. She wasn't surprised when her friend was shrugging and she then said, "I don't really need one and I still have the last one I got from here. Rick too."
"That surprised me more," Skye said jokingly before they stopped at the entrance to the polar bears.
"And you two?" Beckett asked.
"Mary doesn't want one, I haven't see any I'd like," Skye replied before their spouses were walking up to them.
Going through the southern side of the zoo, the four soon agreed to take a break for dessert and Skye was looking at the map.
"Donuts?" Castle asked the investigator as she was frowning.
"No, but we are near the bakery place," Skye said though she was directing that more to her wife.
"I'm fine with that," Mary replied. "They have good coffee," she told the writers.
When Castle and Beckett agreed with the place Skye folded the map and handed it back to her wife with a nod saying, "So am I," and she and Mary led the way to the gift shop the bakery stall was in.
"I remember this place," Castle told his wife once they'd reached the display counter, turning from the options to her as she'd begun to speak.
"How can you not? Eliza wanted to get one of everything," Beckett said, smiling at the reminder of their second youngest. She then glanced at her husband and asked, "You don't want to, do you?"
"No," Castle said, laughing briefly. "Did you want to share something?"
"What did you want to get?" Beckett asked him.
"A brookie," Castle immediately answered.
Squeezing his arm, Beckett said, "I was going to get a cookie."
"Well, we could split mine and yours," Castle told her.
"Alright," Beckett said. She laughed when his eyes widened briefly she said, "I'm serious. And get some coffee."
"Sure," Castle said, turning his attention to the counter since Skye and Mary had finished ordering.
"It's always tough to come to this place," Skye was saying to her wife as they were walking to where Beckett was standing in the doorway to outside.
"Why?" the writer asked.
Looking at her in surprise, Skye said, "I should have said that a lot quieter."
"I'm guessing you miss your daughters still," Beckett said.
"Yes, but I didn't want to remind you about that," Skye replied.
"We've been thinking of them all day," Beckett said. "So I think you're fine saying that."
"Saying what?" Castle asked, approaching them since he'd ordered.
"Reminding you two about our kids," Mary answered before her wife could. "All our kids," she said before Castle was responding.
"Oh, don't worry, we always think about them when we're out on trips," he said.
"Even in Tahiti?" Mary asked. When the two nodded she said, "I'm not surprised, we do the same." She paused and then added, "As you heard already."
Since Mary's name had been called, Beckett turned to Skye and said, "We could have gone somewhere else, we are at the entrance."
Shaking her head the investigator said, "We do enjoy this place. And I was going to tell Mary that they'll be happy we came. Jealous but happy."
Smiling Beckett said, "I would be surprised if they weren't."
Nodding Skye said, "We're going to sit somewhere, Mary and I. If you two don't want-"
"We'll go with you," Beckett interrupted.
"She's right, we could use a little rest," Castle added rapidly. He had to move to the counter to get their order then, his name being called.
After the four had gotten their coffees prepared they were walking to the nearest tables where they sat and began splitting their desserts.
"You guys did the same thing?" Mary asked the writers.
"It seemed the best thing to do," Castle said. "Do you guys want to talk about your kids at all?"
"Not really," Skye said, breaking off a piece of the cake bar her wife had chosen with her fork. She was about to eat it when Mary was taking it and feeding it to her, though she frowned momentarily at her as she chewed and listened to her wife talking to the writers.
"I'm assuming you guys do," Mary told them. She wasn't surprised when both nodded and told her wife, "I'll talk if you don't want to."
Shaking her head, Skye put down her cup of coffee and said, "I don't mind, just making sure you two are okay with it."
"What would you like to talk about?" Castle asked.
"Not about being here," Skye said in amusement. "No I was thinking about when we first brought Marie and Kath to San Diego."
"You didn't bring them to the zoo first?" Beckett asked in surprise.
"We left later in the afternoon on a Monday," Mary said. "And we went to Point Loma first since we were there in time for dinner."
"And before it closed, very important," Skye said, smiling at her wife.
"One time when we came down on our own we were late and had to go to another place," Mary said. She laughed when her wife brushed her lips to her cheek and then said, "She likes to tease me about it though she had to finish up some paperwork."
"How old were they?" Castle asked.
"We wanted to let them get settled into life here so we waited until they were four," Skye said first.
"Though since their birthday is on New Year's Eve it was after Thanksgiving," Mary added. "But we got there and we went inside first thing to order."
"Mummy," Marie was saying, holding onto her mother's hand tightly seeing all the people inside.
"It's alright sweetling," Skye assured her, picking her up. "It means the food is good here."
"Should one of us take them?" Mary asked her wife since she was holding Kathleen on her hip.
"I think so," Skye said, seeing their youngest was obviously overwhelmed as well.
"Take them," Mary told her wife. "Take them," she urged at her expression. "We need a table anyway."
"If you're sure," Skye said. She wasn't surprised when her wife was nodding and she waited for her to set Kathleen down before taking her hand.
"Mummy I want to walk," Marie said.
Setting her down Skye took her hand and said, "Don't try to run away you two." She then looked at her wife and said, "We'll be outside."
"I'll come as soon as I'm finished," Mary replied.
Skye couldn't help smiling, since she could see the free table in front of the restaurant as well. But instead of commenting she took the girls outside and to the table. She wasn't surprised when both insisted on sitting with her and she allowed them to before saying, "One of you needs to sit with your mom."
"I will," Marie said firmly.
"Oh, did you two talk about that in your special language?" Skye teased them. When the twins were giggling at the same time she leaned down and kissed their cheeks before she said, "I love you two." When they said they loved her she embraced them and said, "What do you think of San Diego so far?"
"I want to see water," Marie said first.
"Me too!" Kathleen exclaimed. She then asked, "Can we?"
"We will," Skye said before she watched the twins trying to look over at the boats moored nearby. "After we eat you two," she told them firmly before her oldest was speaking first.
"Go swimming?" Marie asked.
"I… don't think you want to do that right now," Skye said, smiling at them. "It's far too cold."
"Then what do we do?" Kathleen said.
"You'll see," Skye replied before she let the girls go around to the seagulls walking by the table. Eventually Mary was walking out to them with an employee and she thanked the man before she and her wife were getting the food passed out.
"Don't drink your lemonade all at once," Mary said to Marie once she was sitting down.
"I don't," the little girl said before she was sipping at her drink.
Skye smiled while Mary laughed before she was kissing the top of their daughter's head before she made sure Kathleen was eating her chicken tenders along with her fries. She then looked across the table at her wife and said, "They want to go swimming."
"I'm not surprised," Mary said. "But you two know it's way too cold for that."
"Mummy said," Kathleen told her, her twin nodding across the table.
"Why were they talking about swimming?" Mary asked.
"They were asking what we were going to do," Skye replied.
Giving her wife a brief look Mary said, "You mean after dinner."
"Exactly," Skye replied, smiling when her wife rolled her eyes before she spoke.
"We're going to the house after this," Mary told them.
"Dessert?" Marie and Kathleen said at the same time.
Hearing her wife sighing, Skye told them, "We need to get some sleep tonight so we'll be skipping dessert. But tomorrow we'll have something special."
"Okay," the twins said together again.
Skye and Mary shared a smile before they were turning their attention back to the food and helping their daughters as they continued to eat.
"You stayed at the house," Castle stated, not surprised when the women were both nodding before Skye spoke first.
"We did, we felt it would be better since we love the house ourselves," the investigator said. "And if you're wondering why we don't stay that often now it's because we need the house for more people in our group," she added with a smile. When the writers nodded in agreement to that she said, "Do you want us to keep going?"
"Yeah, I'd like to know how they reacted to it," Castle said.
"Alright, so we went there after we had walked around the restaurant," Skye started to say. "And got the girls and the luggage into the house as fast as we could since they were eager to see it."
"Hold on girls," Mary said to the twins when they were starting to hurry away from her and Skye.
"Your mommy is right," the investigator said a little sternly. "We need to go through the house together."
"Why?" Marie asked, her twin looking at her in admiration for the question.
"Oh, a little smart aleck," Skye teased the little girl before the twins were hurrying up to her. She hugged them when they apologized and said, "I wouldn't worry, you do listen to us which is all we ask."
"She's right," Mary said when the twins looked to her. She motioned them to her and while she was embracing them she said, "But to answer your question your mummy and I want to see how you like the house." When they nodded, she and Skye moved to set the twins' suitcases at the hall to where they would be staying. She let her wife take theirs to the bottom of the stairs to the main bedroom and said, "Now?"
"Yes," Skye replied, taking Kathleen's hand before they were moving to the doorway that led to the family room.
"Wow," the twins said at the same time. "We can stay here?" Kathleen asked first.
"We can," Mary replied with a smile before she stepped inside first with Marie. Once they were off the stairs she wasn't surprised when the twins were gasping and running up to the windows.
"What's that?" Kathleen asked.
"Mission Bay Park," Skye answered first, taking her wife's hand before they walked up to their daughters. "And we're going there tomorrow."
"To swim?" Marie asked.
"No silly," Mary said laughingly. "But we'll play some games and fly kites if you want to."
Skye and Mary were laughing together when their daughters were clamoring to do that and they calmed them down before leading them outside.
"They loved that house, that trip," Mary said when she had her wife had stopped relating the memories from that trip. "And we kept going back."
"We did go back all together once Ivy and Iris were with us," Skye added. "But we'll let you talk now."
"So we need to?" Castle asked.
"I think it's fair," Beckett said, smiling at her husband when he looked at her in surprise. She then turned her gaze back to the women across the table and asked, "What did you want to know?"
"Anything about Julia when you first had her," Skye replied, seeing her wife nodding in agreement out of the corner of her eye.
Beckett thought for a moment; not surprised her husband was letting her do so; and then said, "I'm remembering after her first day of school."
"Right," Castle said, not surprised she was looking pointedly at him. "We've told you about taking her and our concern about how she would do but we never told you much detail."
"I don't mind hearing about it now," Skye said quickly, her wife murmuring the same.
"Alright, Rick needs to start since we had a case and I had a little more work to do," Beckett said. She smiled when her husband immediately started to speak and she added when she had gotten to the loft and how happy their youngest had been with her first day. They stopped after relating Julia telling them about her day during dinner though she couldn't help continuing to think about after as they got up to finish their time at the zoo before they would return to the hotel.
"Thank you for dessert Mommy," Julia said seriously, giggling when her mother hugged her and kissed her temple as she spoke.
"You're very welcome, I was glad to hear you paid such close attention to your teacher today," Beckett said. "And to celebrate your first day of school."
"Good," Julia said firmly. She smiled when her mother and Castle laughed at her tone and snuggled closer towards her and said, "What do we do now?"
"You look like you're ready to go to sleep," Castle said jokingly, laughing again at the way the little girl wrinkled her nose at him. "Or maybe not," he said though he was looking at his girlfriend as he spoke.
"Better grab a game," Beckett told him. She was a little surprised when he hesitated and was about to ask what was wrong when her daughter was speaking.
"We were playing War Mommy," Julia said softly. "Can we play again?"
"All three of us?" Beckett asked since Martha had gone out to join some friends for dinner after Castle had returned.
"Me and you and Castle," Julia replied.
"I don't mind," he said when Beckett turned to him.
"Then get the cards," she said with a smile. She helped Julia move on her lap before she watched her take the small deck they had.
"Can I see the first card Mommy?" Julia whispered.
"Go ahead," Castle said before his girlfriend could respond. He smiled when the little girl jumped and said, "I don't mind," before she was talking seriously.
"You can look too," Julia said.
"Oh good, but you're ready to play right? I know I am," Castle said. When the little girl giggled and was nodding rapidly he said, "Then let's go."
Beckett smiled as her daughter laughed loudly in response before she was kissing the side of her head and watched her and Castle setting down their first cards.
They played until Beckett made a motion to her boyfriend, to let him know it was Julia's bedtime before he waited for the little girl to win the last round. Though she protested, Julia allowed her mother lead her upstairs to Alexis' room where she got changed and then brushed her teeth.
"Mommy?" Julia asked.
"Yes sweetie?" Beckett replied, making sure her daughter wiped her mouth dry when she was finished.
"Can we stay here?" Julia asked.
"We are," Beckett replied.
"Forever?" Julia said.
"We'll see sweetie," Beckett said, smiling. "But we do have a home." She then made her daughter turn around and said, "Does this mean you're okay being around Castle?"
"Yeah," Julia said, her cheeks a little red. She hugged her mother tightly before she said, "I hope."
"Come on," Beckett said with a smile. "Time for bed." Once they were out in the bedroom she saw Castle was in the doorway. She watched her daughter and boyfriend saying goodnight to each other before he was turning his attention to her as he spoke again.
"I'll be in the kitchen," Castle told his girlfriend.
Nodding to him, Beckett turned her attention to Julia and got her into the bed, kissing her goodnight and telling her she loved her. "Goodnight sweetie," she said softly.
"Night Mommy, love you too," Julia said sleepily.
Beckett waited a little to make sure her daughter would sleep but was soon getting up to leave, not surprised to find her boyfriend waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs. "She's asleep," she said.
"Good, and now we know she's fine at school," Castle said, reaching for her hand.
"We do," Beckett said, not surprised when he was leading her to his bedroom. "Castle?" she asked him while he was closing the door.
"Yeah?" he replied before he was reaching for her. Before she could speak Castle was leaning down to her, capturing her lips with his and kissing her deeply. They were doing that for some time before they stopped to catch their breath and panting against each other's lips with their foreheads pressed together. "What were you going to say?" he asked.
"You already did it," Beckett said, smiling. She felt a thrill at the intensity of his stare before he was leaning down to kiss her again. That one quicker and he took her hands before she was following him as they gazed at one another amorously. They were kissing passionately when they had reached his bed and were undressing eagerly to begin indulging in their unbridled desire for each other.