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: It was great getting the feedback for the last chapter so I'll start my thank yous for that! TORONTOSUN (Really happy reading you liked how they cared for each other in the chapter. And I'm glad you thought it was very good writing too!) and
Mb (It was nice to see your reaction to Castle and Beckett making up for lost time with their abstinence as you put it. And I'm not surprised you mentioned how they were hot, sexy and loving since I was definitely aiming for that! You're welcome for the first half of the chapter! And it was great that you thought the second half was a sexy, hot and loving too with their continuing celebration of Valentine's Day and their love too! You're welcome for the second half of the chapter!).
Thanks for the reviews, loved reading them and I'm grateful for 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 San Diego written by Mark Hoppus, Travis Barker, Matt Skiba, John Feldman and Patrick Stump, from the Blink 182 album California.
To The Ocean Blue
"Breakfast is here," Skye said, walking to hers and her wife's bedroom.
"I know," Mary said in amusement as she watched the investigator setting the tray on her nightstand. When she moved to get on the bed with her she stopped her wife and said, "Hold on, you're taking off your clothes."
"I am?" Skye asked in slight surprise.
"Yes," Mary replied firmly. "I'm still naked remember and it's going to be awkward."
"Oh, not that much," Skye said teasingly before she pulled off her robe and tossed it to the armchair. She then proceeded to undress, not taking very long before she was sliding under the covers next to her wife.
"Set?" Mary asked her with a smile as she was leaning into her.
"Yes," Skye said, not surprised when the doctor leaned into her and they were kissing gently. Before they could linger for too long she was gently stopping her wife and said, "Breakfast?"
"And we need to go," Mary said. When her wife nodded she sighed and said, "Alright."
"Are you okay getting that?" Skye asked, looking on as the doctor was grabbing the tray.
"I am, don't touch me," Mary immediately responded, saying the last in a mock stern tone. She sat back with the tray covering her lap and her wife was getting the glasses with their orange juice. Once they were both sitting normally she lifted the cloche and said, "I'm surprised."
"After everything we did last night I thought we could use the energy," Skye said. "And this morning too," she then added with a smile and a slight smirk before her wife was responding with her own.
"I told you we could do it," Mary said.
"You were right," Skye replied before she was leaning into her. They shared a brief kiss before they were parting and she picked up a fork saying, "But we're going to have to abstain tonight."
"Yes," Mary said before she ate her forkful of the omelet her wife had ordered for them to share. When she had finished she said, "You're okay with her taking the plane?"
"I am, I'm going to have to because I'm not taking it to JFK," Skye said though she made a face as she put some omelet into her mouth.
Squeezing her wife's hand Mary said, "I know grá, but we'll get home a lot faster after this weekend."
Merely nodding, since she wasn't exactly comfortable discussing their daughters when they were naked, Skye continued to eat until they were finishing. "Should I text them?" she asked.
"Why don't we get dressed first," Mary pointed out to her.
"Good idea," Skye replied after pausing for a moment. She then moved to get off the bed and took the tray saying, "Though do we need to do that right this second?" She couldn't help laughing when her wife gave her a look and said, "Fine, we're going." She took the tray to the entrance of their suite and walking back was a little startled to find her wife in the doorway to the bedroom. "What?" she asked.
"You forgot your robe," Mary said. She then smirked and said, "Unless you're going to tempt me by doing that."
"Oh, I wouldn't think that negatively of me," Skye replied, walking up to her wife and brushing her lips to hers. "And at least I'm comfortable doing this now," she added, not surprised at Mary's immediate response.
Laughing, the doctor covered her mouth before she did her best to stop herself and then said, "I remember. You were so adorable with your modesty." She reached for her wife and wrapped her arms around her saying, "And I was worried I would shock you with the lack of mine."
"Briefly," Skye answered, her arms firmly around her wife's waist. "I realized really quickly how much of a benefit that was."
"I already knew," Mary said teasingly.
"Which is why you pushed me to keep my clothes off," Skye replied in mock annoyance. She leaned down to her wife and brushed her lips to hers saying, "Speaking of clothes."
"We will be at the B soon," Mary reminded her while they were letting each other go.
"We will," Skye echoed as she went to get her robe. "But we'll be with others."
Laughing briefly Mary reminded her, "Not when we're in our room." She smiled at the way her wife was shrugging and then turned her attention to her robe before she was grabbing her clothes. After they were ready she said to her wife in the living room, "Did you text them?"
"No, but if they're not ready yet you realize we can wait here," Skye replied simply, having taken her hand and leading her to the couch near the windows looking out on the bay. Once they were sitting she quickly sent off a message to Beckett's phone and said, "Now we wait."
"Hopefully not for very long," Mary said, smiling when her wife was beginning to speak with her brow slightly furrowed.
"Why?" Skye inquired. She then said, "Right, you didn't want to stay." She was a little startled when her wife was gently squeezing at her arm and she said, "What is it?"
"I want to ask you to do something for me when we're at the B ," Mary said.
"In our room?" Skye asked.
"Yes," Mary replied immediately. When her wife made a gesture for her to continue she said, "When we're there, walk around naked for me?"
"If you do the same for me," Skye said firmly. When her wife smiled and leaned into her she was cupping her face with her hands and kissing her tenderly before they were pulling apart and she said, "Thank you."
"Shouldn't I be saying that? I asked first," Mary replied with a slight smirk on her face. When her wife merely shrugged she couldn't help laughing at the way the investigator had done that before she leaned against her. She then glanced at Skye's phone; on the couch on the other side of her at that moment; and she said, "They must be…"
"Let's just say eating breakfast," Skye replied when her wife trailed off. She pressed a kiss to the side of Mary's head and said, "But I don't blame them."
"Now you want to stay," the doctor teased her.
"Oh I always did," Skye replied, laughing when her wife playfully pushed her. She sat up straight again before she was making Mary turn to her so they could kiss which she started out slowly. Once they were parting she smiled and said, "Don't get mad at me."
Mary was about to respond when her wife was leaning into her and kissing her yet again. Though she knew they needed to be ready for a text from their friends, she couldn't resist and wrapped her arms around Skye's neck as the investigator was deepening the kiss. Their tongues were lazily rolling around each other for a brief time until they were slowly rubbing together. When they needed to breathe they reluctantly parted and she said, "They really need to-" before her wife's phone alert sounded and she watched her picking it up before she spoke.
"It's Kate," Skye replied. She then said, "They're ready, they're just waiting for their breakfast to be delivered, it'll be on the go." She paused when her alert sounded again and she said, "It just got there, they'll meet us in the lobby."
"Good thing," Mary said as they were standing up from the couch. "We couldn't have done that for too much longer before we ditched them." She wasn't surprised when her wife was laughing and said, "Don't say anything to them about that."
"About what?" Skye asked. She wasn't surprised when her wife was giving her a look and said, "I won't," kissing Mary's cheek as she passed her to leave their suite and go out into the hall.
Feeling her husband's heavy breath against her neck, Beckett reached up and gently caressed the back of his head before her hand slid down. She could feel his skin was slightly moist from his efforts and she said, "I'm not sure if I'm fully pleased or frustrated."
"Oh, please say it's the first option," Castle said into her neck. He wasn't surprised when his wife was jerking up against him a little since he was aware she was holding back her laughter. He finally raised his head and looking down at her said, "I had to be slow Kate… everything was screaming for it."
Before she could respond, Beckett was letting out a heavy sigh since her husband was withdrawing from her gently. But as soon as he was lying on his back she was hurrying to press against his side saying, "You'll have to explain that to me," smiling when he was talking rapidly.
"Well, if you have to know," Castle started to say, pulling her even closer to him. "My cock, your-" he started to say before she was covering his mouth with her hand.
"I got it love," Beckett said in amusement. Moving her hand she said, "Next time we're together you're fucking me."
"Is that a demand?" Castle asked though he was aware of the answer already. When she pinched at his left hip he laughed and then said, "Don't worry, I will."
"Good," Beckett said, cuddling a little closer to him before she relaxed. They were quiet for a while and she found herself nearly falling asleep at the feeling of his hand caressing her hair before she shook herself. "Rick, we have to stop," she told him.
"I know but…" Castle started to say before he trailed off. "We're not going to be able to do this again," he commented as he reluctantly let her go.
"We'll be together at night," Beckett said with a smile.
"It's not exactly the same," Castle said. When his wife raised her eyebrow at him he reached out swiftly to take her hand and said, "But I still want to be with you."
"Good," Beckett replied before he was sitting up. She leaned into him and they were exchanging a kiss before she took that moment to look at the clock. "Oh…" she said before trailing off.
"What's wrong?" Castle immediately asked.
"Did you see the time?" Beckett replied with a smile as she looked over her shoulder at him. Hearing him sucking in a breath she said, "We need to move," not surprised when he was speaking quickly as they moved to get off the bed at the same time.
"Maybe they're doing the same," Castle said. "Not exactly," he added rapidly when his wife was glancing at him.
"Do not say a word about that to them," Beckett told him firmly. When he pretended to 'lock' his lips she fought a smile but then turned her attention to moving to the bathroom.
"Do you need to-" Castle started to say before his wife was interrupting him.
"I do," Beckett said. She sighed and replied, "I don't want to but-" startled when her husband was suddenly pulling her with him to the bed. "What're you doing?" she asked him.
"Lay down," Castle told her gently. "I'll take care of you." When she frowned a little he was quick to say, "Not that exactly but everything else."
"Okay," Beckett said in amusement before she climbed onto the bed and watched him hurrying back into the bathroom. Once he was back she saw he had everything and she said, "You want to watch."
"I want to make sure you'll be okay," Castle said seriously. When she squeezed his arm he said, "I know you will be but I feel… responsible?"
Beckett couldn't help laughing at her husband's questioning tone before she told him, "You're not, it's more of a necessity."
Though he wanted to comment on that, Castle stopped himself as he was watching her working to remove his release. As soon as she had pulled the item out he was taking it and the pouch it'd come in to throw away before he was rushing back out. "I'm fine," he said swiftly when he saw she was watching him.
"I hope so," Beckett replied, watching him moving to clean off the inside of her thighs with the washcloth he'd gotten wet. "I could have done that," she told him.
"I know," Castle said simply before he focused on finishing. As soon as he had he leaned into her, kissing her tenderly before he was pulling away saying, "Now we have to get ready."
"Thank you for not making that a question," Beckett said in obvious amusement before they shared a brief kiss. As soon as they were parting she followed him in moving off the bed and she went to get her clothes. When she was dressed and in the bathroom putting her hair up into a ponytail she asked her husband, "What are we going to do for breakfast?"
"I can order some pastries," Castle said. He wasn't surprised when she nodded and he left the room since he was finished. Going to his phone he looked at the menu for room service and called in the order since he asked for coffee to go. "Did you want something specific?" he asked his wife since she was standing next to him then.
"No, thank you for the mocha," Beckett said. When her husband winced a little she playfully patted at his cheek telling him, "I don't mind, I could use the energy."
Nodding Castle then said, "Me too." When she merely smiled at him and squeezed his hand he said, "No pervert comment?"
"No," Beckett replied with a smirk at him. She then moved to sit on the couch he was near and once he was sitting she said, "Don't go crazy."
"I won't," Castle said. When his wife looked at him in slight surprise he couldn't help smiling since his tone had been serious. He took her hand and entwined their fingers as he said, "I don't want them to say anything about our lips."
"No," Beckett told him in agreement. "But I wouldn't disagree with a little."
"Oh good," Castle said, reaching for her and leaning his head down to hers. He captured her lips quickly before he was sweeping his tongue across her lower lip. As soon as she parted them to him he was doing his best not to plunge into her mouth, though he couldn't keep himself from pulling her onto his lap. He was startled when she ended the kiss before she was speaking while panting at the same time.
"You… you're not going to be able to control yourself Rick," Beckett said, relieved she'd managed to speak without having to pause for too long.
Castle's immediate reaction was to tell his wife that he would manage but stopped himself saying instead, "You're right but I do appreciate that."
Smiling Beckett leaned down towards her husband a little and said, "Pervert," before he was shuddering and responding.
"I love when you say that," Castle said. He was about to move to kiss her when he stopped himself and said, "Did Skye ever text you?"
"I forgot," Beckett said, reaching for her phone that was on the couch next to her. "She texted… not too long ago," she told her husband. Hearing his snort of suppressed laughter she said, "Don't."
"I wasn't," Castle said swiftly.
"I'll let her know we're just waiting for breakfast," Beckett said, texting out the message quickly before she sent it. "I just hope the food doesn't take-"
"It didn't," Castle said with a smile since a knock on the door interrupted his wife. He got up and walked over to the door after she'd gotten off his lap and once he'd tipped the worker he said, "Ready?"
"I told them we'd meet them in the lobby," Beckett replied. She studied him for a moment and asked, "Are you okay?"
"Yes," Castle said firmly. "But I wish tonight could happen."
"Tell that to our nine a.m. flight," Beckett said, laughing briefly when her husband made a face. She leaned into him and kissed his cheek before telling him, "We should go love," not surprised when he nodded in agreement and they got their coats and meal before they walked out the door.
"For the last time-" Skye started to say before her friend was interrupting her.
"You don't need to ask," Beckett said firmly. "We have been on the trolley before remember."
"True," Skye replied. "I'm just saying because it's public transit." She paused and then said, "Though you are from New York so I suppose it's a foolish thought."
"A little," Mary told her wife. She couldn't help laughing as the investigator made a face before they were turning to the station they had just walked to from their hotel. "Also we rarely take public transportation at home, so we're used to the girls seeing this as a treat."
"I thought of that," Castle said. "And you realize ours do too."
"Julia too?" Skye asked, closing her phone after making sure their tickets were there.
Nodding Beckett said, "She was five when we moved."
"Almost fourteen," Skye told her friend with a smile.
"Don't remind us," Castle said in mock complaint. "But, I think we're lucky?"
Beckett laughed with the McDouglas women at his voice going to a higher pitch deliberately and she squeezed her husband's arm saying, "He's talking about her not rebelling."
"I figured," Skye said wryly though she was smiling as well.
"So did I, but you do realize she just entered her teenage years," Mary said.
"That's why I made it a question," Castle said with a smile before they heard the trolley approaching and were turning their attention to boarding once it had stopped. Since the car they'd stepped into was relatively empty he and his wife sat together and he took her hand saying, "I'm glad we're doing this."
"I took a picture," Beckett said in amusement.
"Eliza asked me to make sure you did," Castle replied.
"And to do so with my phone right?" Beckett said. She smiled when her husband nodded and informed him, "She told me the same."
The trolley began to move at that point and Castle looked out the window with his wife before she was laughing briefly and speaking shortly after to explain why.
"She asked me to take pictures while we were on the train but I don't think she realizes I can't really," Beckett explained to him.
"Are we going to have to explain to her?" Castle asked.
"I don't know," Beckett replied with a smile. She felt him squeezing her hand and then said, "Are we getting anything for them here?"
"I don't know," Castle said honestly. "I would say t-shirts but we got a lot for them at the other places."
Nodding in agreement Beckett said, "I was thinking we should just look around."
"Does Julia need anything from the mercantile store?" Castle asked.
"Need? I don't think so," Beckett said. "You're thinking of the sealing wax?"
"I was, but I wasn't sure if she would need any," Castle replied.
"We'll look around where we go," Beckett said with a smile, squeezing at his hand before she realized the trolley was beginning to slow down.
Once they were off Castle said, watching it go down the track, "How far does that line go?"
"You forgot?" Mary asked with a smile.
"I did," Castle said.
"Of course he did," Skye said with a smile. "It stops in Santee," she then told him. "That might be why you forgot, we've never been."
"Is there anything to see there?" Beckett asked while they were moving to the street and the crossing.
"Not exactly," Skye said slowly. "I mean I could look into it but is it something you want to know for Memorial Day?"
"I think we have everything for that set," Beckett assured her.
"Okay," Skye replied. "Do you guys mind heading to the McCoy House first?" She wasn't surprised when they said no and she smiled at her wife before they were making their way over to the home. She and Mary led the way as they went through each room, something coming to mind and nagging at her a little before they left and they were waiting for the writers as they walked a little around the house. She was a bit surprised when the doctor was suddenly squeezing her hand firmly before she spoke to her questioning expression.
"What's wrong grá?" Mary asked. "You've been tense… have you been sensing-" she started to say in concern.
Skye interrupted her wife by gripping at her hand tightly for a moment and said, "No, but there's something that's been bothering me."
"You just said you weren't sensing anything," Mary said with a frown.
"And I'm not, it's the Whaley House," Skye replied easily.
"I was thinking about that too," Beckett said, she and Castle walking up to the women.
"And what have you decided?" Skye asked.
"That I think we should go around the house," Beckett said. "But I'm going to trust you about deciding to go inside."
"I knew you were going to say that," Skye said. She sighed and said, "I have to see what I sense when we reach it but… I might say we pass it this time."
Nodding, Beckett said, "Whatever you say."
"Okay, then we better get started in the main park," Skye replied, the writers nodding before they started walking to the path. After they were inside the park she said, "Anywhere specific you want to visit?"
"The candy shop," Castle said instantly. He smiled when the McDouglas women were laughing at his speed and his wife was rolling her eyes. "Our dessert… and for later too. I just had an idea."
"How much coffee did you have this morning?" Mary said teasingly.
"Just the cup you saw," Beckett said wryly. "And you need to let him tell the idea he had," she added, not surprised when Skye was responding first.
"Or he'll get annoyed?" the investigator asked.
"Slightly," Castle said, frowning though he rolled his eyes as he smiled. "No, I was wondering if we should have our dinner back at our suite?" he asked while he was gesturing to himself and his wife.
"If you two don't mind us all there I'm all for it," Mary said.
"Me too," Skye said in agreement immediately. "But you're okay with that?"
"We are," Castle said, seeing his wife was smiling.
"He's right, and since we need to leave early tomorrow-" Beckett started to say before the investigator was speaking suddenly.
"That's what I needed to tell you guys," Skye said in a slight groan. "Sorry but I got confirmation that my colleague is going to take our plane back to Santa Monica."
"Did you get tickets?" Castle asked.
"I did and we have them," Skye replied. "Two rows ahead of you. So since we're going to leave early tomorrow…"
Laughing when the investigator looked pointedly at her, Beckett said, "It'll be nice to relax in our suite."
"Great," Skye replied. "So it's set. But for now when are we going to have lunch?"
"Let's head up this side to the candy shop," Castle said, not surprised the three women he was with were immediately turning to him. "I don't want to shop there on a full stomach."
"We should," Beckett said, trying not to smile though it was difficult, relieved Mary was responding to her first.
"Yeah, he does make a point," the doctor said. "But does it necessarily have to be both our desserts for today?"
"What're you thinking?" Skye asked her wife.
Smiling, Mary said, "Ice cream?"
"Well…" Skye said slowly.
"I'm all for it," Castle said swiftly, not surprised when the women were laughing. They moved to start walking again and they were going through the stores to their right. Eventually they were reaching the candy shop and he was about to go inside first when his wife was pulling him to the side. "I wasn't going to run in," he told her.
"Not that," Beckett said firmly. "I want you to promise me we'll get a little to take to the girls."
"How much is a little?" Castle asked.
"I was about to ask that," Skye said jokingly. When the writers were looking at her she said, "We'll be inside."
When they were alone Beckett turned to her husband and told him, "You'll stay with me."
"Yes," Castle said firmly. He smiled when his wife broke out into a smile before she laughed, leaning against him, and he kissed the top of her head before he said, "I'll follow you."
"Thank you," Beckett replied before she took his hand, intending to head inside. She was startled momentarily when her husband was pulling her back and she said, "Rick-" before his lips were on hers. She was relieved it was a simple kiss, since there were some people around them, and when she was looking at him she said, "You'll have to control that," not surprised at his response while he was smiling at her.
"I'll say the same for you," Castle said, raising and lowering his eyebrows a few times.
"Come on," Beckett said laughingly, pulling him after her. Inside the store she saw the McDouglas women were talking together near the doorway and she asked, "You haven't gone around yet?"
"We would have finished if we had," Skye said teasingly.
"Go ahead and start," Beckett replied in amusement, watching them moving at that point to get a basket for their choices. She watched her husband move ahead of her and grab one for them before they walked around together, looking at the choices.
When they'd made their decisions at the front of the shop Castle asked, "Do you want to get jellybeans?"
"I think we're good," Beckett said after looking over at the section to the side. She then watched Skye and Mary who were walking up to them and asked, "You're set?"
"We have enough," the doctor said first. She then smiled and said, "Skye wanted to bring more for the B but I convinced her not to."
"Good idea, I'm really sure they'll have desserts for us," Castle said. "And how do you know what everyone wants?"
"I know everyone," Skye said in mock annoyance before they were moving to pay. Outside of the shop she asked, "Are you guys hungry at all?"
"I am," Castle said. When his wife looked at him he said, "Those Danishes were small."
"They were," Beckett agreed. "We can go, otherwise we'll be eating dinner late. Are we still going to the one in the plaza?"
"Unless you have another option you want to go to," Mary answered.
"Not really," Beckett said before they were letting the McDouglas women lead the way to the plaza to the northwest. At the restaurant Skye spoke with the hostess and once they were sitting she said, "Did you talk to your girls yesterday?"
"No," Mary said wryly. "Skye texted them through her dad, but they all agreed we could talk to them today." She paused and then asked, "You too?"
Nodding Castle said, "When do you want to call them?" directing that to his wife.
Looking at her father's watch for a moment, Beckett then said, "At two, the girls will be back from their dance class."
"We'll have to wait until two forty-five," Mary said. "To make sure the girls are back."
"So we have time," Skye said. She paused and then asked, "Do you want to do anything else in case we finish here early?"
"I'm fine with going back to the hotel," Castle said.
"For…" Beckett said.
"To pack," Castle said swiftly at the way his wife was looking at him before they needed to order when their waitress reached their table. After they had done so he said, "I'm serious."
"I know," Beckett replied with a smile before she looked across the table. "You two?"
"Oh no, it's a good idea, get that out of the way," Skye said in a rush. She then smiled and commented, "If that's all we'll do."
"Rose," Mary hissed though she didn't have much venom behind that.
"Can't help saying that," Skye said simply. "Though did neither of you want a drink?"
"It's a little early," Castle said, glancing at his wife who had shaken her head.
"And I would like my head to be clear the rest of the day," Beckett said simply. "Why, did you want something?"
"I was tempted, their margaritas are good," Skye said. "But I can see the way my wife is looking at me out of the corner of my eye, so that's a no." She then looked around and said, "We'll probably head back."
"Grá," Mary said, studying her wife.
"Yeah," Skye said. "I'm thinking of Seaport Village, we've been there already so will you three want to shop at all?"
"I don't think we need to," Castle said. "Unless you want to," he told his wife.
Shaking her head Beckett said, "I think I'm good." She then smiled and asked, "You're thinking of the girls aren't you?"
"I am," Castle admitted. "Though nothing specific, just if we might have missed something."
Beckett laughed briefly, since he had pointed his finger at her, and then said, "I don't think we have but if you want to look somewhere that's fine."
"We'll do the same," Mary said. "Though I think after this my wife might be all shopped out."
"Hey," Skye said in mock annoyance.
"Tell me I'm wrong," Mary teased her wife. She smiled when Skye rolled her eyes before she said, "It's been a lot."
"It has," Skye said. "But a lot of fun to be honest." She wasn't surprised when the writers murmured in agreement and she said, "Though we're not doing this next year."
"Definitely not," Castle said. "No offense."
"None taken," Mary said laughingly before her wife was asking the two about their plans.
"You mentioned Vegas didn't you?" Skye asked them.
"We want to go back," Beckett said, looking at her husband.
"Do you think I'm mad you told her?" Castle asked, taking her hand and entwining their fingers.
"No," Beckett said. "But I just hope you don't mind I did." She did her best not to laugh too loudly when he shook his head slowly and then turned back to their friends since she'd suddenly been tempted to kiss him. "Have you guys thought about what you'll do?" she asked.
"Oh I already decided," Skye said jokingly.
"And I know what she wants to do," Mary said before her wife could continue. She smiled when Skye smiled at her and squeezed her hand before she asked, "Santa Barbara?"
"Unless you have something else in mind… yes," Skye replied.
"At the hotel we stayed at?" Castle asked.
"More than likely," Mary said.
"I'll reserve our suite as soon as we can," Skye said with a smile. "And you two? The villa?"
"Of course," Castle said, not surprised when his wife nudged his side before she spoke.
"He already reserved it," Beckett said.
"Good idea, I'll have to do that for our suite…" Skye started to say before she trailed off and thought for a moment. "Whenever I have a chance."
"You might today," Castle said.
"I'll look into it," Skye replied with a brief nod before their food was brought to their table. While they began to eat she wasn't surprised when their conversation stopped, but eventually when they were nearly finished she said, "I've thought about it, and I think we should just go outside the Whaley House."
"I had a feeling," Beckett said with a smile. "The backyard?"
"That either," Skye said. She wasn't surprised when Castle looked confused and she explained, "Remember Violet Whaley? I don't know that she'd appreciate seeing us back there."
"Especially since it was just Valentine's Day," Mary commented. When her wife nodded she took her hand saying, "Then could I suggest we cross the street when we get there?"
"We should," Castle said. When his wife looked at him with a slight frown he shrugged and said, "I want to be careful, for your sake."
"That's fine, but how far out did you want to go?" Beckett said, directing the question to the McDouglas women.
"I don't think we even need to cross Twiggs Street," Mary said to her wife firmly.
"Not this time," Skye said. "If we're all in agreement," she then said, looking at the writers. She wasn't surprised when they agreed and then hurried to say, "Okay, so we'll be back at the hotel sooner than I thought."
"You can get that suite," Castle said, not surprised when the investigator laughed. After she had calmed down they were finishing their meal, and though he tried to pay for it, Skye insisted she and her wife would.
"We're getting dinner," Beckett said.
"Sure," Skye replied.
"Which is unfair since it'll be cheaper," Castle couldn't help commenting.
"That was the plan," Skye said. She smiled seeing Beckett rolling her eyes and then told her, "Sorry, but we wanted to thank you two for allowing us to tag along," not surprised when she was quickly responding.
"You don't need to," Beckett said. She smiled at her husband and said, "I think we've been using you as tour guides."
"In Sea World at least," Castle added.
"We were happy to do it," Mary said, her wife nodding in agreement. Once Skye had her card back they got up, walking through the stores in the plaza around the restaurant until they were out. "Are we going back to the other side?" she asked.
"We should," Skye said first. "So we can loop around like we were talking about. Unless you two have a problem with that?" She wasn't surprised when the two assured her they didn't, so they made their way across and east until they reached the store with outdoor decorations. "Do you guys want anything from here?" she asked.
"I'd like to look," Beckett said. She smiled when her husband was looking at her in obvious surprise and she said, "I'd like to put something in the pool room but I'm not sure if I'd find it here."
"Sure," Castle told her before they were looking at the McDouglas women.
"I wouldn't mind going in," Skye said honestly. She smiled and then said, "We don't need anything but sometimes you find something you can fit."
"For your pool room?" Beckett asked while they were going in.
"Or our patio… or the backyard," Skye said with a smile. "We have a lot of options."
"You don't have your pool room fully decorated?" Castle asked.
"No and we did that on purpose," Mary answered. "What about you?"
"I didn't want that many decorations," Beckett said, smiling since her husband had immediately turned to her to answer. "But if we find something here that will go with what we have…"
"I wouldn't worry, they have a lot that's blue," Skye said when her friend had trailed off.
"It doesn't have to be in blue," Beckett protested before the investigator was smiling as she responded.
"I think it does," Skye replied. "I've been in that room many times."
Beckett rolled her eyes but was smiling a little before she and her husband split up from the two women. She wasn't surprised she was leading the way around different items before she paused at a group of pots.
"They do have shipping from here available," Castle said, watching her studying one that had a blue and white pattern. "Though the question is are we going to make these for decoration or plants?" he asked her.
Turning to him Beckett couldn't help smiling as she asked him, "You like them?"
"I do, especially the lip here," Castle said. "And the pattern is nice." He turned from the pots and asked her, "So, plants?"
"This one," Beckett said, indicating the first she'd been looking at. "And I think I like this one," she added, pointing to one with more of a barrel shape to it though while the design was in the same color it was slightly different. "But two?"
"Yes," Castle said firmly. He smiled when his wife rolled her eyes and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her against his side for a brief hug. "I'll grab them once you're ready to go," he said as a distraction since he'd been suddenly tempted to kiss her.
"Thank you," Beckett replied before she they continued to walk around. Once they had finished both outdoors and in the building she said, "I think those two were fine."
"Nothing for the girls?" Castle asked.
"Not really," Beckett said before he was taking her hand and pulling her outside while he was speaking over his shoulder to her.
"I found two things if it's okay with you," Castle informed her.
"You're spoiling them," Beckett teased him. "Show me," she then added in a rush so he wouldn't think she was saying no outright.
Nodding, Castle pulled her to the set of smaller pots he'd found and said, "These, in the pool room on the shelves we put in."
"I'm not surprised you mentioned those," Beckett said since they'd discussed putting a little more decoration in the pool room and a desire for some kind of greenery. "And these are cute. But we need to get some for Finn and Emmie too," she told him firmly.
"I should have said for the kids," Castle replied, not surprised when his wife was laughing. "So is that a yes?" he asked.
"Yes," Beckett said. "For this at least," she said.
"I'll show you once we get these," Castle promised. He turned his attention with her to the pots and they grabbed four small ones for their three youngest and Emmie in blue, teal white and red. "You don't think Eliza would want blue too?" he asked her.
Shaking her head Beckett said, "It's the same pattern, so I think the teal is good. And I know what you're thinking and yes, Josie will like the white one; you can see the bird on it better. What about Finn?"
Castle couldn't help smiling at her question before he led her over to the display he'd seen saying, "A bird but I feel like he'll like this one better."
"He will," Beckett said, picking up the planter shaped like an owl. "We'll have to ask him when he's older," she said teasingly to him before he was responding swiftly.
"Of course, though I get the feeling if he doesn't like it, he'll tell us," Castle said. "He'll get that from his mom," he added in a playful aside.
Beckett was unable to help laughing before she said, "I know, but show me the other thing you found."
Nodding Castle led the way to the numerous piggy banks he'd seen and said, "Too rustic? And will Julia want one?"
Beckett couldn't help laughing and said, "It's fine but for the younger kids."
"Great… what do we do for Julia?" Castle said.
"Let's wait and see what we can get for the other four," Beckett told him. She wasn't surprised when he nodded and they turned to the piggy banks before she said, "We might need to just get four blue and yellow ones."
"I was thinking about that," Castle said. "But that's a problem."
"Offer to paint their initials?" Beckett suggested with a smile.
"I was just going to say that," Castle replied before they were laughing together and moving to get the banks to take inside. After he'd set them with their pots next to the register, he was startled finding his wife waiting for him in the doorway. "Where is it? Because I'm assuming you found it," he said, adding the last in a rush.
Beckett couldn't help laughing softly before she took his hand and pulled him after her to the tables with the three different sized pots stacked and said, "She always liked these."
"I remember," Castle said. "The color choice though," he stated before his wife was speaking in a mock annoyed tone.
"You already know which one she likes," Beckett said. She watched him take the stack of white pots that had a blue, yellow and green parrot perched with yellow flowers around it.
"These are going to be Christmas gifts, right?" Castle asked.
"No," Beckett said with a laugh. "Since they're for the house we'll give these to them now."
"What about the piggy banks?" Castle asked. "And these?"
"The same," Beckett replied before they were reaching the register where Skye and Mary were waiting for them to pay for their choices.