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: I was pleased getting the feedback for the last chapter that I got so I'll get to my thank yous for that! TORONTOSUN (Really happy to see you liked their time at the zoo for all of them!) and
Mb (Really great to see you thought the last chapter was nicely done with the four at the zoo together. And I was glad you were happy they did FaceTime with their family at home to discuss with them about their days and the family fun center too. Pleased you thought it was nicely done! And you're welcome for the first half of the chapter! Really nice to see you thought the second half was nicely done too! I am happy to see you enjoyed the couples enjoying the zoo and their dinner together too! And I'm really glad that you enjoyed the memories of Marie and Kathleen at 4 along with Castle and Beckett with Julia when she first joined them too since those were fun to write! Great reading you thought the second half was nicely done! You're welcome for the second half too!).
Thanks for the reviews, I loved reading them and I appreciate the time taken to write them out and send them my way!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Ocean but after researching I couldn't find who wrote it or who sang it (it's been a while since I found the lyric), but it's definitely not mine!
The Wind That Blows By The Sea
"Do you mind we've changed the plans?" Skye said. When her friend looked at her she said, "Both of them?"
"Not really," Beckett replied with a smile. "I mean if you preferred our suite to eat at that's fine. And you did show us yours."
Nodding Skye said, "We didn't really have the space."
"We didn't mind," Beckett insisted. She wasn't surprised when Skye nodded again and said, "Or the change to Mission Bay Park."
"We were afraid you'd want to stick to Point Loma," Skye confessed.
Shaking her head Beckett said, "To be honest I wasn't surprised when you told us you wanted to do that after the story you'd told us yesterday."
"But we didn't mention much about the park," Skye said.
"I don't think it matters," Beckett replied easily before her phone was ringing. "That's probably Rick," she said before answering the call.
Watching her friend talking to her husband, Skye stood up and picked up her bag before she said, "They're ready?"
"They are," Beckett answered before she stopped her from walking. "We also don't care about the change of plans to that walking tour either."
"I had a feeling, you didn't seem that eager for it," Skye said before they started walking to the entry.
"I just got the feeling someone might call the police to see what we were doing," Beckett replied with a smile.
"I did too but they're not that bad in San Diego," Skye said. She paused for a moment and then said, "As far as I know."
"Let's go," Beckett said in amusement before she stepped out into the hall first. Once Skye passed her she closed the door behind them and made sure it was locked before they made their way to the elevators. On their way down she said, "I can see you, you know that right? We're fine with the plans."
"To be honest it's you I'm a little concerned about," Skye said. She wasn't surprised when the writer made a face at her and said, "Seriously, bubbles, kites?"
"I have kids Skye," Beckett said, trying to sound stern though she had started to laugh. The investigator joined her and they did their best to calm down in case anyone joined them. But the car didn't stop until it was at the lobby and she said, "We got lucky," not surprised her friend was responding immediately.
"I was just going to say," Skye said before she and Beckett were looking at each other and laughing again.
Turning to the elevators, Castle saw the laughter was coming from his wife and the investigator and he asked Mary, "Do you want to ask?"
"I planned on it," the doctor replied before their wives were reaching them. "Having fun?"
"Just a bit of a joke grá," Skye said, smiling. "We're ready?"
"We are," Castle said with a nod. He and Beckett were walking ahead of the McDouglas women and he said, "You're ready?"
"I think that was directed to us all and I didn't say anything," Beckett told her husband. "Unless you're going to be like Skye and think I don't want to go to Mission Bay."
"Not really," Castle said, smiling when his wife laughed briefly. By then they were outside and getting their rental car, Skye driving again.
"If anyone else wants to drive," the investigator said jokingly while she was going down the street.
"I think you two are more used to doing that here," Beckett commented.
"Very," Skye said simply before she was driving through an intersection. She soon got to Rosecrans and said, "I'm not surprised," since there was traffic.
"Do you have a plan if there's no parking?" Castle asked.
"I don't think you need to worry," Mary said before Beckett was speaking slowly.
"Is it because it's about to open?" she asked.
"I think we'll just make it," Skye told them. She was crossing the street in front of the restaurant before she went to the right and found a spot in the middle of that section. "Just made it," she said before they were getting out.
"You two don't really need to come with us," Mary said once they were at the entrance. She smiled when her wife and Beckett were looking at her in confusion and she explained, "I know you want to take pictures here at least."
"I did," Beckett admitted.
"I was going to suggest we walk around after," Castle said. "But that works too."
"Go on you two," Skye said, rolling her eyes though she was smiling shortly after. She watched them leaving and she said, "Well, I suppose we'd best start, it might not take them that long."
Nodding Beckett said, "Are you leading?"
"No," Skye replied simply before they were moving to the path along the side of the restaurant. They stopped every so often for her to take pictures before they turned and she was groaning in annoyance. "I should have listened to Mary, she told me she would braid my hair," she told Beckett, seeing her friend looking at her once she'd gotten her hair out of her face.
"Did you grow your hair out?" Beckett asked.
"Did you?" Skye immediately said. When her friend nodded she said, "I'm surprised. And I did." She looked back towards the restaurant and spotted her wife's jacket before she said, "We better head back." After they'd turned and were walking back she said, "It didn't surprise you."
"Not really," Beckett said. "Though I did?"
"Of course, I thought you'd keep it the same length," Skye said. She hesitated for a moment and then said, "May I ask why or is that none of my business?"
"I just wanted to," Beckett replied. "I didn't grow it that much, an inch." She then glanced at her friend and said, "You?"
"For Mary," Skye said simply. She glanced at Beckett and smiled saying, "I would guess subconsciously your decision was for Rick?"
"Yes," Beckett replied a little laughingly. "How long have you grown it?"
"Two inches," Skye replied. "I need to have her braid it once we get to the park," she said before they were walking around the tables and reaching their spouses. They returned to the car and she drove them to Mission Bay Park before they were getting out and taking everything her wife and Castle had gotten for their day. Once they'd set everything up she told her wife, "Mary, you were right," not surprised at her immediate response.
"I told you," the doctor said in mock exasperation. "Come here," she said, putting a ponytail holder on her wrist.
"I don't-" Castle started to say before Skye was sitting in front of her wife and she began to plait it.
"I know you're wondering; Mary suggested I braid it before we got here," the investigator said to him.
"That I braid it," Mary said firmly.
"Should we go somewhere else?" Castle asked jokingly, watching the doctor running her fingers through her wife's hair.
"Calm down," Mary said wryly. "I have to get it untangled."
"It's not that bad," Skye replied though her wife was soon after beginning to plait it.
"Do you ever do this for Kate?" Mary asked.
"Once in a great while," Castle said. "Is that… weird?"
"No," Beckett said before either of the McDouglas women could respond. "I don't wear it in a braid that often," she then added.
"But I have braided it," Castle said. "Thank you for that," he told her.
"You're welcome," Beckett said in amusement.
"Okay," Mary told her wife when she had finished. "You're all set."
"Thank you, now we can eat," Skye said, turning to sit facing the table. After they had the plates of calamari uncovered she said, "I forgot to ask-"
"We got a lot of tartar sauce, don't worry," Mary interrupted her wife.
"Oh good," Skye said before they were laughing together. They began eating once everything was ready on their plates and she eventually said, "We'll go on a walk after this right?"
"I was going to suggest that," Beckett said. "It's a little breezy."
"Are you guys cold?" Skye asked with a smile.
"Slightly," Castle answered, seeing his wife was nodding in agreement. "What about you two?"
"Chilly," Mary said first.
Laughing Skye said, "We have been around snow before. This isn't too bad."
"How far do you walk?" Beckett then asked.
"We never have a set destination," Mary said first. She smiled at her wife and said, "Since we have everything we do to play with we'll probably want to come back sooner."
"I know I will," Skye said firmly.
After they'd eaten Castle told his wife, "Are you going to take pictures?"
"Did you really need to ask?" Beckett replied, leaning towards him. They shared a brief kiss before they turned to the women across the table, Skye speaking first.
"Should we take that walk now?" the investigator said jokingly.
"Actually we should," Mary said. She laughed when the others were turning to her as soon as she had spoken and told them, "We're finished."
Seeing that she was right Castle said, "Then we better go."
"I'm interested in seeing who's more eager to play," Skye said jokingly as they were standing up to begin clearing the table. "Me or you."
"Him," Beckett and Mary said at the same time.
"Hey," Castle said with a frown, looking at the doctor.
"You're mad at her?" Beckett asked in amusement.
"You've known me how many years?" Castle asked. He wasn't surprised when the three women were laughing and he did so as well before they got everything off the table and went to the path that led around the park. He was walking with his wife and said, "How far do you think we're going?"
"Probably not that far," Beckett said. "We'll let them direct us," she added, since the McDouglas women were ahead of them.
Nodding, something came to Castle and he looked at his wife saying, "You don't have your camera."
"No, I do," Beckett replied easily, since it was in her purse. Before her husband could respond to that, she was reaching over to him and taking his hand. When he entwined their fingers shortly after that she couldn't help smiling as they continued to walk.
"Alright," Skye eventually said, slowing down. "I think we've gone far enough, not sure about you two," she told the writers after she and her wife had turned to them.
"The same," Castle said with a nod before they were heading back to their stuff. "What's first?" he asked as he looked at the items he and Mary had picked up.
"Bubbles," Beckett told them first. She smiled when they all looked at her in surprise and she said, "I did mention something about taking pictures." She bit back a laugh as the three were nodding and moving to get the bottles in the bag. She got her camera ready at the same time and then asked, "What about what you have left?"
"They're not that big," Mary told her, taking out her bottle first. "I thought of that."
"And you only got three of them," Skye said with a slight frown.
"He knows me," Beckett commented with a smile at her husband who was soon responding to the investigator.
"She's right, it's why I insisted on three," Castle said.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Mary asked.
Castle opened his mouth to speak before he paused and then said "I did, but you were walking ahead of me and close to the register. Remember the kids that were there?"
"I do now," Mary said with a nod. "Well, it doesn't matter now."
"Not really," Beckett said, her camera in her hand. She watched the three with her head to the empty space of grass their setup was next to and as they began blowing bubbles she started to take pictures. After a while she took some of their view and when the three stopped she said, "That's it?"
"That's it," Castle said first. He went to her and before she could say anything he took her camera. At her raised eyebrow he said simply, "Humor me."
"I knew you were going to do that already," Beckett said with a smile before she took the bottle of bubbles he was holding.
"Thank you," Castle said, beginning to take pictures of her as she blew bubbles. The last shot he took he was looking at the McDouglas women saying, "Thanks for the pose."
"Wanker," Skye teased him since they'd been talking. "Hopefully that one comes out terrible and you'll get rid of it."
"It's fine," Beckett said, having gotten her camera back. She set it down and asked, "What did you want to do now?"
Digging through one of the bags, Skye said, "This."
"Why am I not surprised?" Mary asked her wife. She laughed when the investigator was kissing her neck and stopped her saying, "That's enough grá," not surprised at her response.
"That's all I wanted to do," Skye commented with a smile before taking her wife's hand and kissing the back of it. "Thank you for not taking a picture of that."
"You're welcome," Beckett said, taking the kite her husband was handing to her. "I might take pictures now too," she told him.
"Sure," Castle said. He wasn't surprised his wife was rolling her eyes and he took back the kite after putting away a few things in the bag. He started putting it together and said to Skye while she was doing the same, "I should have thought of bringing one of our girls'."
"It's not that hard," Skye shot back, smiling shortly after.
Beckett, smiling herself at her friend's tone, was surprised seeing Mary gently embrace her wife from behind. She was about to ask if the investigator was alright when she was speaking first.
"I'm fine," Skye told her wife.
"Are you sure?" Mary asked softly.
"Yes," Skye said, looking over at the writers. "My father brought me here… a lot. We did the same thing."
"And you're sure you're alright?" Beckett asked.
"I am," Skye replied with a firm nod of her head. She smiled a little and said, "It's a little easier than when I first came here with Dad, but don't worry," her tone of voice firm. She wasn't surprised when her friends were nodding and they turned their attention back to the kites before she had hers and Mary's up and said, "You'll take over when my arms fall off grá," smiling at her sarcastic tone when she responded.
"I'm sure you'll be fine," Mary said. She smiled when her wife smirked at her and she squeezed her arm before she said, "Just let me know."
Skye nodded before turning her attention to the kite again, doing her best not to let her memories of her father overwhelm her but it was difficult not to recall.
"Let out the line a little more Skye," Henry McDouglas told his daughter.
"I like it here Daddy," she replied. "It won't fly away."
"It won't anyway, you have the line on it," Henry replied, trying not to laugh too hard at his four year old's tone.
"You hold it now Daddy," Skye told him. Once he had the line she jumped up and down a little as he let it out a little more crying, "Not too high Daddy!"
"I have it," Henry assured her. He glanced at her and said with a smile, "Do you want it back?" He wasn't surprised when the little girl was shaking her head no and he reached over to her so he could hug her with one arm.
"Oh Daddy!" Skye squealed.
"I have it sweetling," Henry assured her. He flew it for a little longer before the wind changed direction and it came down onto the sand before he watched his daughter racing after it to bring it back. "Do you know why it landed?" he asked her.
"Yes," Skye said seriously, knowing it was a lesson that applied to flying. "The wind went… the other way."
"Exactly," Henry said, bringing her to him for a hug. "You'll be a pilot yet," he said, chuckling briefly when she was beaming at him. "What do you want to do now?" He watched her rush to the bag he had brought with them before she was pulling out her bottle of bubbles and he helped her open it before he sat to watch her blowing bubbles around him.
Slowing down when she was growing tired, Skye went to her father and said, "I'm hungry Daddy."
"You'd like your snack now?" Henry asked.
"Please?" Skye replied, nodding her head at the same time.
"Alright," Henry said laughingly. He grabbed the bag of crackers and cheese he'd cut that morning in their hotel room for them. He handed her one of each before he took some for himself and they began to eat before she was asking him a question with a serious tone of voice.
"When can we go to Sea World?" Skye said.
"I told you, tomorrow," Henry replied firmly. "And we'll spend all day there." He smiled when his daughter squealed and drew her to him tightly before they were looking at the crackers and cheese that had been squished in between them. Looking at Skye he smiled as she started to giggle and they were soon laughing together before they ate what they could to return to their play.
"Sea World was a lot of fun," Skye told Beckett while they were walking on the sand. She smiled and said, "We went back one more time together."
"You don't need to tell me about that," Beckett told her seriously.
"I wasn't going to," Skye replied, shaking her head. "It's a little sad."
"It's interesting," Beckett told her firmly. "But I don't want you to remember if it's painful doing that."
"Only a bit," Skye said. "But I'd rather remember going with the girls." She then smiled and said, "And this trip."
"This trip?" Beckett asked, picking up a tiny shell and putting it in a sandwich bag her husband had given her.
"It's always interesting to take people who haven't been there before," Skye said. She couldn't help laughing when her friend frowned and she told her, "I worded it like that since it applies to museums and amusement parks and this… aquarium theme park? Not sure what I want to use."
"It's close enough," Beckett said, she and her friend laughing before the investigator was speaking first when they were calm.
"Should we head back?" Skye asked.
"Probably," Beckett replied before they turned together and started walking to their spouses who'd remained with their things.
"I think they're coming back," Mary said, seeing the two down the beach.
Nodding, looking over to where he'd seen them, Castle said, "I really wonder what we should do now."
"You're bored already?" Mary asked him jokingly. She couldn't help laughing when he made a face at her and she said, "We'll see what they want to do once they're back." She glanced at the writer and asked, "Déjà vu?"
"Yes," Castle said seriously. He wasn't surprised when the doctor was smiling and he said, "Though for some reason I'm remembering when they forced us to go to the Ferry Building after Kate and I got married."
"I remember Skye telling me then they were worried the two of us wouldn't get along," Mary said.
"Yeah," Castle said slowly. "Kate told me too… why would they think that?"
"In your wife's case, because you married her so quickly," Mary replied. "I have no idea why they thought that but after Junior was killed…"
"Good point," Castle said. "Do you think they wanted to do that this time?"
"No, we get along," Mary said. She eyed the writer with a smirk and said, "Unless you bitch about me behind my back."
"Kate would kick my ass if I did that," Castle replied.
"More than likely," Mary said before they laughed. She turned to their wives when they were walking up to them and asked, "How was it?"
"I found some small shells," Beckett replied, holding up the bag.
"Do you want to clean them off?" Castle asked her. At her nod he took the bag and a bottle of water before he was rinsing off the shells.
"Are you set?" Skye asked when he'd finished. At his nod she asked, "What were you doing while we were gone?"
"He was trying to skip rocks," Mary said with a smile. "I was watching the attempts."
"Hey, I did manage to skip one," Castle said, seeing his wife was laughing.
"Why were you trying to skip?" Beckett asked, since there were small waves.
"Trying is the key word there love," Castle replied, not surprised when she rolled her eyes in response. He dried his hands swiftly before he said, "What do you want to do now?"
"Have we done everything we brought?" Skye asked.
"Everything except badminton," Castle said, startled when both McDouglas women were immediately heading to the bags where their things were. He was about to ask Mary why she'd forgotten before she was speaking in amusement to him and his wife.
"I was so focused on everything else," the doctor said with a smile. "Did you guys want to play?"
"I hope so, there are four rackets here," Skye commented.
"We will," Beckett said before they were walking over to get their rackets. Once they were standing next to their setup on the grass they began to play and she wasn't surprised when they were doing so for a while until she realized it was later.
"Do we need to go back?" Skye asked, seeing her friend looking at her watch.
"Yeah, we need to call our family," Beckett said.
"But it is kind of early too," Castle commented since he'd looked at the time as well. "Are we going to have much to do?"
"We told you we would," Skye said. She sighed and then said, "I do miss Horton Plaza."
"It's a shame they made it into a tech hub," Mary said in agreement. "But luckily they haven't touched the other places we go to. Though again, a big disappointment."
"Speaking of that, are you okay concerning the concert still?" Beckett asked.
"Yeah, I mean to be honest it wasn't much of a surprise," Skye replied as they were starting to pack everything up. "Eric Clapton's known George for years and he'd want to lead another tribute for him. Also for it to be in London since the last Dhani had was in LA." She shook her head and said, "I had to assure Olivia and Dhani that I'm not a professional and I didn't know George so it was more fitting." She smiled briefly and said, "At least they kept the music video."
"I'm not surprised you said that," Beckett commented since her friend was looking at her.
"I think that's everything," Mary said then.
"Are you going to be able to call your family?" Castle asked, looking at his watch.
Nodding Skye said, "By the time we get back to the hotel they'll be home. So let's go before your family needs to have dinner."
"Did Mommy and Daddy text yet?" Eliza asked her grandparents, coming out of the pool.
"Not yet," Jim told her. "But remember as soon as they do we'll tell you girls."
"What if I'm underwater?" Eliza asked seriously, surprised when her grandfather laughed briefly.
"We'll wait until you're out," Jim assured her. When the little girl nodded and walked quickly back to the water he said to Martha, "She reminds me of her mother."
"I'm not surprised," Castle's mother replied. "A little bit of Richard in her tone, when he was her age."
Smiling Jim was about to respond when his text alert sounded and he got his phone out of his pocket before Martha was speaking next to him.
"Is that Kate?" she asked.
"It is, she said they're in the car on the way back to the hotel, they'll call us before we get ready for dinner," Jim replied.
"Good, we'll tell Eliza once Josie wants you to take her into the pool," Martha said with a smile
Jim laughed briefly before they both looked over at Julia who was with Josie in the kids' pool.
"Why can I?" the toddler was asking her sister.
"We have to tell Grandpapa, he needs to take you there," Julia explained since her baby sister wanted to go in the big pool.
"You could, you're big enough to hold her and help her swim," Eliza said, joining them in the pool.
"Yeah, but I think Mom and Dad told him he needs to be there too," Julia said, turning her attention immediately to Josie as she was standing up. "Where are you going?" she asked the toddler.
"To swim," Josie said firmly.
"Grand-" Julia and Eliza started to say at the same time.
"Hold on girls," Jim interrupted laughingly as he got up from his chair. He went to Josie and picked her up before going to the larger pool, just when Alexis, Louis and the twins walked into the room.
"Stop!" Julia commanded the dogs since they were all barking at the arrivals. She was relieved when they did and she went to them saying, "You came."
"We couldn't resist the temptation of swimming," Louis commented.
"Did Dad and Mom call?" Alexis asked, going to her grandmother and setting Emmie's carrier down.
"Not yet," Martha said, moving to sit on the edge of her lounge to get the baby out. "But your mother texted Jim not too long ago."
"So they're gonna call?" Eliza asked with a gasp.
"She said they were on their way back to the hotel and they would call once they're there," Jim explained calmly. "Before we get ready for dinner."
"I wonder what they're going to do," Julia said.
"Aren't they just a bit late?" Louis asked.
"Not much," Alexis told her husband. "It's barely past two-thirty for them. And speaking of dinner…" she started to say, looking at her grandparents.
"It's in the crockpot," Martha said in amusement. "I'm sure you saw it."
"Of course we did," Louis said jokingly. "Wanted to take a look in it but Lex would have had my hide if I did."
Rolling her eyes, though she was smiling since her little sisters were giggling, Alexis said, "I wanted to see you guys."
"Oh, don't worry, I did as well," Louis said in a rush. "So… swimming?"
"I don't know if you'll have the time," Martha commented.
"We're not dressed for it," Alexis said. She wasn't surprised when Julia and Eliza were frowning and she told them, "He meant we came to see you."
"And to see how the pool was doing," Louis said, smiling when his sisters in law laughed in reaction.
"Can we go back in?" Eliza asked when they'd calmed down. Before anyone could respond to her, her grandfather's phone rang and she gasped in joy saying, "It's them!" before he was speaking to her with a smile.
"It is, let me get the TV ready," Jim said, taking his phone over to it.
Just before the TV screen in their hotel room showed their family Beckett said, "I hope they won't mind how late we are."
"I doubt it," Castle said. "Hey," he said when he saw everyone. "I see you're keeping busy," he added, seeing the pool behind them.
"We're only swimming until dinner," Julia said quickly.
"We'll let Josie swim in the pool a little after our conversation before we prepare for dinner," Martha commented.
"What is for dinner?" Castle couldn't help asking, not surprised when his wife was glancing at him.
"Irish Stew," Jim said. "And crostini."
"Sounds good," Castle said. "If you're going to ask what we're going to have we have no idea where we're going yet," he added.
"Really?" Eliza asked.
"They haven't mentioned it to us," Beckett replied. "And we're trusting them so we'll have something to tell you tomorrow."
"How? You're going to be at Sea World won't you?" Alexis asked.
"We'll probably need a break around this time," Castle said, looking at his watch briefly. "Especially since we're going to be going when it opens."
"Nine?" Julia asked.
"That's the time," Beckett said. "Though it will be closing at five remember we told you," she added before her mother in law was speaking.
"Then would you want to talk to us later?" Martha asked.
"We could," Castle said hesitatingly as he turned to his wife.
"I don't think so," Beckett told him. She turned back to the others and said, "It'll be eight for you and Josie needs to sleep."
"I can stay Mama," the toddler said firmly.
"Not that late," Castle said, trying not to smile in amusement. "We'll call… actually I think we need to call sooner than we did today love."
"We will," Beckett said with a smile. "So, what did you guys do today?"
Not surprised when their daughters were telling them about bowling, playing in the game room and then swimming, Castle said, "And you two?"
"We wanted to spend the day with Finn and Emmie before having dinner here," Alexis answered. She smiled and then said, "And we're staying the night." She couldn't help laughing when her sisters were asking why and said, "I don't have to go to work tomorrow."
"Really?" Martha asked.
"Really," Alexis said. "So I'll be spending the day here."
"And you did… what today?" Castle asked.
"Played with them, read with them," Louis said. "Watched some cartoons as well. Just relaxed."
"Sesame Street?" Josie asked then.
Laughing with the others, Martha assured her youngest granddaughter saying, "We'll watch that tomorrow," before she was responding.
"Okay," Josie said though she was pouting.
After they'd stopped laughing Julia asked, "What did you end up doing?"
Explaining with his wife what they'd done up until that point Castle finished by saying, "And now we're just going to relax before we get ready and meet Skye and Mary again for dinner."
"Are you going to take pictures?" Julia asked her mother.
"I don't think so," Beckett replied after a moment. "I've taken pictures there before and if I want to take any I'll use my phone."
"Do we need to say goodbye?" Eliza asked.
"Goodnight," Beckett corrected her. She then said to her father and mother in law, "We might try to call at five there, so we have a little more time to talk to you."
"But-" Julia started to say.
"If you said we don't have to call you on Tuesday then we'd like to see you a little longer tomorrow," Beckett said. When Julia and Eliza looked at each other she said, "And we promise not to call Tuesday."
"Alright, but have fun when you go to dinner," Eliza said, smiling when her parents were laughing in response.
"We will," Castle told her reassuringly. "And you guys too." He and Beckett were telling their daughters and grandchildren they loved them before telling everyone goodnight. When the screen went blue he said, "Now I wonder where we should call them from tomorrow."
"You don't want them to see anything?" Beckett asked with a smile, standing up.
"Not yet," Castle replied. He was a little startled when she was taking his hand and making him stand as well before she was taking him to their bathrooms. "What're we doing?" he asked her.
"You don't want to take a bath?" Beckett responded with her own question, smiling at him. She laughed when he pretended to launch himself at her and kissed at her neck and shoulders until she gently made him stop. "I'll take that as a yes," she told him, smiling.
"It is," Castle replied. "I forgot we had the time for it."
"And you were thinking of Tuesday," Beckett teased him. She tried not to laugh when he nodded slowly and she said, "Pervert," teasingly. They were then getting their clothes and moved to his bathroom where there was a shower and she said, "Do we need more towels?"
"We're good," Castle said, looking at them. "Ready?" he asked her. He wasn't surprised when she nodded before he was taking her to the shower. Inside they rinsed off quickly and he didn't try anything before he was getting her dry outside the stall.
"You know," Beckett told him as she watched him drying himself off. "I'm surprised."
"I'm trying to behave," Castle said, wrapping his towel around his waist. "For Tuesday," he and his wife ended up saying at the same time. "Pervert?" he asked her.
"No, I was thinking the same," Beckett said. She wasn't surprised when her husband was frowning and she gently patted at his cheek before she took his hand. Pulling him after her she went to her bathroom and watched him step ahead of her saying, "I'm doing this on Tuesday."
"Sure," Castle replied before he turned off the water. Standing up he removed his towel and said, "I should have asked if you were ready before I did that."
Smiling, Beckett assured him saying, "I am, get into the tub." She did her best not to laugh when he was moving hurriedly and she took off her towel once he was settled. She slipped into the water and leaned back against him before his arms wrapped around her. "What were you thinking we were going to do?" she eventually asked him.
"To be honest… watch the news or something," Castle replied. He kissed the top of her shoulder and then said, "I was thinking more of tomorrow."
"What about it?" Beckett asked.
"Do you think it would be rude to split up from them for a while?" Castle replied.
"We will," Beckett said. "We did yesterday didn't we?"
"True," Castle said. He was surprised when his wife was turning her body and he said, "What is it?"
"What are you planning?" Beckett asked him.
"Not that," Castle said swiftly. "Just to be with you." Seeing the way she was eyeing him, he then said, "I swear there's nothing else to that. Remember you have called me a sap."
"I know, I was just making sure," Beckett said. She laughed when her husband tried tickling her and jerked against him before she grabbed his hands to stop him. "We're going to spill the water," she warned him though she let him go when he moved his arms.
"Sorry," Castle said, though he was immediately hugging her close to him again.
"You're not," Beckett said. When he was kissing her shoulders and back she sighed and said, "Be careful."
"You're the one who wanted to do this," Castle said teasingly.
"You could have protested," Beckett said with a smile. When he gently kissed the side of her neck she settled back against him and said, "But that's enough."
"Not really," Castle said. "But don't worry, I'll stop." They sat together quietly for a while again until he said, "This was all you wanted to do?"
Beckett couldn't help smiling before she said, "I think it's enough to be honest." She hesitated for a moment and then said, "This isn't enough?"
"It is," Castle said. "But the problem is the last time we were together…" He was a little surprised when she was turning slightly and he said, "What-" before she was interrupting him.
"Just this," Beckett said, leaning into him. She was kissing him gently and was pleased when he was shortly after responding. She'd wrapped her arms around his neck and when his arms slid around her body she was arching her back against him.
"Wait… Kate hold on," Castle said huskily, pulling away from her. "That's…"
"Too much, I know," Beckett replied, pressing her forehead to his temple. "I feel the same."
"Should we get out?" Castle asked.
"What if… we have a lot of time?" Beckett said, pulling away.
"I have an idea," Castle said. He wasn't surprised when his wife nodded and stood up first before he was following and they took turns to dry each other off. As soon as he could he looked at his watch on the counter and said, "We do have time."
"For?" Beckett asked him.
"We better get dressed," Castle said. "Not those clothes," he said swiftly when she went to hers on the counter. When she looked back at him he said with a smile, "We don't need to dress up yet." He half expected her to protest but when she nodded he couldn't help breathing out a little before they were walking to the bedroom. He dressed swiftly in his pajamas while she did the same next to him and he pulled her over to the couch that was in front of the windows across from their bed.
Sitting first, Beckett put her knees up and wrapped her arms around them saying, "That was nice."
"Definitely," Castle replied.
"I know you want to ask," Beckett said with a smile before he responded.
"Then do I still need to?" Castle asked.
"No," Beckett replied with a laugh. She smiled when he leaned into her and shared a kiss with him before he was suddenly reaching to her. "Rick?" she asked when he lightly caressed her hair.
"You kept it up," Castle told her.
Beckett smiled and then reached up to herself, taking it down before she said, "I forgot."
"Not fair," Castle said.
Rolling her eyes Beckett said, "You-" before he was reaching for her and gently running his fingers through her locks. "Would you like to brush my hair?" she asked him.
"That would be nice," Castle said at the same time he was getting up and hurrying to her bathroom sink. Her brush was already on the counter and he went back to her saying, "Just so you know-"
"It's not going to be sexual," Beckett said in amusement. She laughed when her husband nodded rapidly and then turned around so she was looking outside. As he ran the brush through her hair a few times she sighed and said, "I should have you do this a lot more."
"Feel free to," Castle told her seriously, watching the way the light caught the brunette shades of his wife locks. It didn't take him long to finish and he was soon leaning against her, burying his nose into her hair to get the aroma of roses that clung to her.
"Rick," Beckett said teasingly. "You told me it wasn't sexual."
"It's not," Castle replied, pulling away before she turned to him. He kissed her gently and said, "You're beautiful."
"We haven't changed yet," Beckett teased him before getting up and pulling him with her. They separated into their bathrooms but kept the doors open before they were finished and meeting in the bedroom.
"Still beautiful," Castle said firmly.
"Sheik," Beckett told him before they were kissing though it was gentle. "Come on," she said, putting her purse over her shoulder. She waited for him in the hall outside the suite and once they were walking to the elevators said, "When we meet up with them don't start interrogating Skye."
"You're so sure she chose tonight," Castle said, chuckling when his wife just looked at him. He squeezed her hand as they stepped into the elevator car that had stopped and when they stopped on Skye and Mary's floor he was about to comment about the coincidence when the doors opened and the McDouglas women walked in as the former spoke.