165. Chapter 165

Chapter 165

Kate was cleaning in the kitchen, and Jamie was playing on the floor not far from her with Jo in her baby seat close by under Kate's watchful eyes. Jamie had learned that if he talked to her, his little sister would follow him with her eyes; so he was talking to her about his toys...soft baby friendly ones. Jo was looking his way and kicking her legs or moving her arms now and then.

Castle was in the study, finally getting around to working on the next Nikki Heat book.

"Mommeeeeeeeee…" Jamie called. "Jo just got still and made a funny face. Now she smells yucky again."

Kate dried her hands and went to pick up the baby seat with her daughter. "Ooo! You're absolutely right," she answered, leaning back a little at the first whiff. Then she took Jo to the changing table in the study and told Castle, "Sorry to interrupt, but there's no ignoring this one."

Fanning in front of his nose with one hand, Castle answered. "Yeah, I noticed when you walked by."

"How in the world can a little person as sweet as our brand new daughter create so many wet diapers and so many horrendously smelly messes in them? Where does she have room in that tiny little body to produce all that?"

"Want some help?"

"No," she said, lifting Jo judiciously from the baby seat and looking over her shoulder at him with a smirk. "No sense in both of us having such close contact with the toxic fumes. Jo seems bent on taking us all out. One of us has to survive to save Jamie."

Castle laughed at that and the ensuing noises from his wife as she opened the diaper, carefully disposed of it, and started cleaning their very messy daughter. Jo innocently watched her and made a little more of a mess.

"If we can love them through this, I'm pretty sure we can love them through anything. "Oh, gross!" she groaned. Changing subjects, she asked, "How are you and Nikki getting along?"

"Nikki and Rook are both being very cooperative so far. Having it outlined helps. The first chapter is almost finished, and I'm going to stockpile them again for when Gina gets pushy. I can send one or two to appease her and hold on to the rest for later."

"How many more Nikki Heat stories do you think can happen before their lives get too boring?"

"Do you think they're getting boring?" he asked, looking and sounding concerned.

She finished her task, cleaned a spot or two on the changing table, and checked the baby seat for trouble before she looked at him, and then answered with another question. "I know that look. Are you asking about Nikki and Rook or us?"

"Either one…both?" Castle answered and stood to meet Kate after she lifted their baby, kissed her head, and held her close. "Should I worry?" he asked. "Are we getting boring?"

"No." she assured him immediately. "We're in this for always. We're good. Never doubt that." She delivered a firm kiss to his chest across Jo. "And neither are Nikki and Rook. But Nikki and Rook are fictional, and meant for a large audience looking for adventure and intrigue…with a love interest thrown in. So far you've gradually increased how together they are; and you've managed to keep them together and hold on to your audience; but like real life, their relationship has progressed. How far does that go and continue to work? An action story where the protagonists are supposed to be off on an adventure at a minute's notice isn't quite as effective if they have to worry about getting a babysitter first. Or are they influenced by the same bumper sticker that Lanie and Frank decided was for them…and decide on the freedom of no kids? It's always been a mystery/love story. What happens after they're married…after they know exactly who was behind her mother's murder? Do you have a plan for holding on to an audience who still wants both? That's all I meant."

"I've thought about that, too; and I don't have all the answers yet, but I do have some good ideas. At least I think they're good ideas. I'm hoping to manage at least ten books in the series, more if it's still working; but if I don't think it's working anymore, I'll end it and start looking for a new idea."

"Not another female character to do research with, though," she said flirtatiously. Lifting Jo a bit in his direction, she added, "We know how the last research turned out, and I'm not taking any chances."

"Nobody else would stand a chance anyway. You know that." He pulled her in for an affirming kiss.

Kate gave him an extra little peck on his lips and a loving look before leaving him to his work again. "Jo smells much better now," she told Jamie as she returned to the kitchen.

"Can she sit by me while I play again?"

"As long as you're as careful as you were before…and have the same safe toys around your baby sister."

xxxxx

Later that night, when both children were asleep and it was just the two of them, Rick and Kate sat down in the living room and curled up on the sofa together, Castle leaning back on a pile of throw pillows, and Kate in the vee of his legs and leaning back against him.

"Jo is just a couple of days shy of a month old. When did that happen?" she asked.

"I don't know. We must have been either too busy or too sleep deprived to notice."

"Probably both. Would you change anything if you could?"

"We would have met earlier, worked past the little dance we did around each other faster, and started this baby thing sooner." Then he kissed her head and clarified, "No. I'm happy where we are. We'll have a few more years of diapers and potty training, followed by worrying about what these two children who are half you and half me might do to their teachers when they're in school. And then we can deal with teenagers."

"Sounds glorious," she answered with a chuckle.

He couldn't see the eye roll from where he sat behind her, but he knew it was there. He could almost feel it. "But we know they're worth it," he reminded her. "Even when they're grown, they'll still be our babies."

Rick was quiet for longer than Kate expected, and she finally said, "I can hear you thinking back there." When there wasn't a response, she wrapped her arm around his where it was holding her, and stroked it with her hand. "Say it, Babe. Whatever it is, tell me."

"I was thinking about how late in the year it is. You're still planning on going back to work in January, aren't you?"

She just nodded.

"I know we talked about it and planned it, but I'll miss having you with me all the time." He leaned his head forward and nuzzled her hair. "I'm not trying to lay a guilt trip on you or anything, but you asked. And that's what I was thinking."

"I'll miss being with you, too. And I've thought about it a lot lately."

"Kate, I'm not trying to talk you out of anything. We made a plan, and I'm still willing to stick with it."

"Maybe we could modify it a little bit."

"A little bit how?"

"Give me five years on the job full time. Then I finish my twenty years and retire…or maybe almost retire. I could take occasional short term assignments, and work them around your schedule and school so the kids and I can go with you on some of your book tours or take some vacation time while school is out for the holidays. I started as an officer in January of 2001, so I will have put in my twenty years required for retirement in January of 2021. That's five years from now."

She turned in his arms to look at him, curling up sideways against him. "Rick, I know I'm good at what I do. I train people well, and I think I usually earn their respect, even if it takes a little while. I'd like to have those five years to leave more of that behind me. If I can help see that more rookies are trained to be capable, honest, conscientious officers, who will become capable, honest, conscientious detectives and sergeants and captains, then I've made a difference that will be around for a long time, especially if they learn how to train others. And they would branch out through the department, like the people Roy trained. In spite of his bad start, Roy did a lot for my career, and for a lot of others as well. And he died protecting his family…and me, trying to keep Bracken's murderous career from killing anyone else. I kind of feel like I owe his memory my twenty to pass on the things he did right for most of his career. He always taught us well and demanded our best."

"That's fair. I owe him, too. Does this mean you've completely forgiven him?"

"I don't think I can ever completely forgive him. The group he was working with set off the circumstances that got my mother killed, and he knew that and knew what it did to me…and my dad. He did everything he knew how to make up for it…except give me the information we needed for closure…even when he knew he would probably die before he could. But even then, he had you and Smith try to take care of me. And for the majority of his career he was a good cop, someone we were all proud to work for. It still leaves me at odds with myself sometimes."

After a little tighter hug in sympathy, he asked, "Do you ever regret moving away from being a detective?"

"Sometimes I miss the action that goes with it; but in spite of the extra paperwork and the boring meetings, I like being a captain. I have an impact on the whole precinct, not just the homicide closure numbers."

"You had more of an effect than closure numbers as a detective, too." he answered.

"So, what do you think? Five years?"

"Five years? He said, considering. "That's sounds like a long time, but it's a lot shorter than I'd expected. You'd be ready to at least almost retire after that?"

"Yeah. Instead of thinking of January as back to work indefinitely, can we think of it as beginning a countdown to having more personal freedom? We'll both still be young enough to enjoy it, Jamie will be eight and Jo will be five. Both of them will be more independent. so family excursions will be easier. Between now and then, I promise to use all my vacation time so we can go on a real vacation now and then, and have some family time together at the beach house. And you have to admit a captain's schedule is a lot better than a detective's."

"You really have thought about this a lot, haven't you?"

"Couldn't help it. I'm missing you guys in advance, too."

"So in the meantime, are you gonna help me outline the next two Nikki books so they aren't boring?" he teased, dropping a kiss on her forehead.

"Yeah, if you really want me to…or were you kidding?"

"Not kidding. I'd love it. We're a good team." He paused a moment and then said mischievously, "But I still have veto power."

"Goes without saying. And you have five more Girl With Red Hair books to publish. And you promised me you'd write Jamie a book…and now we need one for Jo, too."

"How about a Little Brother and Baby Sister book?"

"That works."

"We're only five years from real vacations and summers at the beach?"

"Yeah, we are. But I hate disappointing you and making you wait that long."

"On January first, I'll open my calendar and start making X's," he answered with his sideways smile. "And, Kate? You didn't disappoint me by still wanting to go back to work. You did everything right. You didn't blindside me with it; we planned it together before you left the fifteenth. The reasons you just gave me made sense. I was just having a weak moment of missing you before you were even gone. I've loved having you free to be with us all the time."

"That's what made me think about the shorter goal. I've loved it, too. Starting in 2021, you can count on a wife who will tailor her schedule to the times the family can be together without anything in the way. Even during my five years, you still have my promise that if there's a need, family will come first."

He pulled her closer and kissed her gently. "I so much want to take you to bed and make love to you right now. More wishful thinking."

"Another couple of weeks at most. I want you, too."

"We see Dr. Holland the end of next week. Is this the visit where you intend to talk to her about the tubal ligation?"

"Yes." She looked up at him. "You still agree?"

"We already made this decision, too. Part of our plan. One more baby and then stop worrying about birth control. Your body has to handle the pregnancies. I won't question your decision. I'm just looking forward to making love to you again."

After an appreciative kiss, she sighed deeply. "Maybe Dr. Holland will give us her blessing. But I know from after Jamie that you're going to stubbornly wait for her approval."

"Not an entirely altruistic intent. In general, I just don't want to do any damage. I couldn't forgive myself if I hurt you." There was a little pause before he added, "And aside from that, neither of us would want to have to wait again while the damage healed. When we make love again, I want it to be full steam ahead."

"I guess for now we can go to bed and cuddle."

"Let's do that."

Slipping past Jo's bassinet quietly, they got ready for bed and snuggled under the covers.

xxxxx

A few mornings later, Castle came in with the mail and smiled as he looked through it.

"What brought that smile on?" Kate asked

"You remember Miss Ada from the Bronx…when you were at the fifty-first?"

"Yeah. We went to the Halloween party at her children's center. She's a human dynamo."

"You know Jamie and I had been going over there every couple of months, and I'd read to the kids and then help Miss Ada with some of the volunteer work she needed. Jamie played with some of the children his age."

"Miss Ada loved you the first time she met you," Kate told him. "I suspect while you're there, you take stock of what they need that you can help supply, too."

"Well, I wouldn't have been going...or supplying, if I hadn't loved what she was doing there. That woman can take almost nothing and turn it into something worthwhile. Anyway, Jamie and I haven't been back since the book tours started. I explained about that and told her when you were due, and this is an invitation to this year's Halloween party," he said holding up the envelope and card. "She wants to meet the newest Castle and see Captain Beckett again. Oops. I don't think I mentioned that last time we were there, she sent her congratulations on the promotion."

"No, I don't think you did," she answered with faux consternation.

"Sorry. We should go again this year. I already decided on costumes for Jamie and me. He's going to look adorable."

"You don't pass up a costume opportunity, do you?"

"I blame it on my mother."

"What did you get for Jamie?"

"I ordered him his own little dress blues, duty belt and everything. We should have them this week."

"And who will you be?"

"The culprit. With a sack of stolen money. We'll just have to work out what to do for the walk where everybody struts through to show off their costumes. He'd love it if he could take Daddy down."

Kate just shook her head, smiled, and kissed him. "Yeah. We can go. I think Javi and Maria have decided that's Gabe's Halloween place now. Maybe Ryan and Jenny would want to bring Sarah Grace."

"We can call them. So what will you be? You just wore boring clothes last time."

"I was Vicky Vale, star reporter, Batman. Don't you remember…notepad and press pass and everything? I even wore a pencil skirt for you."

"Still just boring clothes. You need a costume this year. "Oh, I know. You can do a mother/daughter thing. Jo has her Wonder Woman onesie…with long sleeves and feet to keep her warm. You can be Hippolyta, Mother of Wonder Woman." He stated her title in grandiose form and enjoyed her laugh. "You don't have to wear a short outfit or have an entire leg hanging out or anything…although I'd love that…and…"

"Okay. I'm convinced," she answered, holding her hands up for him to stop. "Jo will be Wonder Woman. I'm sure I can manage a Greek goddess kind of outfit that won't damage the dignity of the office of Police Captain. I know when we were there, some of the people from the fifty-first said they'd be bringing their families back, and I think Javi said he talked some people from the fifty-third into going last year, and they all enjoyed it. And you know the boys are going to give me a hard time no matter what costume I might wear…which means everybody else will be aware."

"I get it. So, a conservative Amazonian goddess. I can live with that. I'll bet Mother would be glad to get her wardrobe people at the school to help you out with that."

"I'll talk to her…to ask her advice. You can't just volunteer her for things. She's busy with her job, too."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Oh, and I looked at the calendar a couple of days ago. Halloween is exactly six weeks. No matter what Dr. Holland says next week, we will have met her abstinence demands by then. Hippolyta should be available for the evening…after the party," she said flirtatiously.

"Yeah. I noticed that, too." He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her more thoroughly than he had since Jo had been born. "And I'm looking forward to it."

xxxxx

At Kate's doctor visit the following Friday, Dr. Holland asked them to keep their love life on hold for another week, just to be on the safe side. She also scheduled Kate's laparoscopic surgery for mid-November.

The couple was disappointed to have to wait, but they had made it that far. They would manage…impatiently. Their goal date for restarting the magic, as Castle had called it, finally arrived. Their joy on that morning was boosted considerably when Martha and John knocked on the door with another offer to take the children for a while. Trying not to show enough enthusiasm to give themselves away, they got everything together for them. I finished feeding Jo about fifteen minutes ago, Kate told them," but I put a bottle in the bag just in case…and plenty of diapers."

"Darling, I've never picked up this bag without finding everything we need in it. Don't worry. Take advantage and get a little rest."

When the door closed behind the older couple, Castle said, "I can't believe it. Mother's timing is perfect for once."

"Bedroom?" Kate asked.

"Oh, yeah." He picked her up bridal style, took her to their room, and the magic happened.

They were lying in each other's arms, coming down from the high they had created, when Kate suddenly realized how long they had been there. "Rick, they could be back any minute. We should put some clothes on."

"I don't want to," he pouted.

"I don't want to, either; but I'm not answering the door in a bathrobe with nothing under it when we were fully clothed when they left here."

Rick chuckled. "Do you think they imagine that we don't ever do this?"

"No. But that doesn't mean they need to know exactly when it happens." By then she was half dressed and putting her bra back on. "Get dressed."

Rick groaned. "Fine. If I have to," he whined.

Kate put on her shirt and had just put her shoes on when their family was at the door. Rick slid his feet into his shoes, quickly pulled his t-shirt over his head, and followed Kate to the door.

They got a report from Jamie about where they had been and what they had done, and then a little more follow up from Martha.

When Rick offered John something to drink, John followed him to the kitchen and asked quietly, "First time after the baby?"

"What makes you say that?" Rick asked, trying to be nonchalant.

"Well, you look very relaxed and content." Then after a perfectly timed pause, John added, barely hiding a laugh, "And I don't remember your T-shirt being wrong side out when we left."

"Busted, huh?" Then Rick grinned. "So relaxed…and so content. Thank you for giving us the time." After his own little pause, he asked, "And would you not mention it to Kate? She was trying to be discreet, and I was being stubborn. I'd like to hold on to the good will as long as I can. Cover me. I'm gonna go turn my shirt right side out."

"No problem," John agreed conspiratorially, grinning back.

xxxxx

The Halloween Party was as much fun as the first one they attended. This time, as well as knowing Gabe and Sarah Grace, Jamie knew some of the other children from the center.

When Jamie came into the center holding Kate's hand, Kevin elbowed Esposito's arm and said "Look at that. Come on," and they headed straight for him.

"Officer Castle," they both said, snapping sharp salutes.

Jamie looked up at them and answered just as seriously, "Uncle Javi. Uncle Kevin." And gave each of them a salute.

"The kid's getting good at that, Beckett. You been practicing?" Esposito asked.

"He's a little older and more coordinated. Or maybe it's the influence of the dress blues."

"Hey, Kid, you make a good looking police officer," Esposito told him.

"What's your dad's costume?" Ryan asked.

"He's the bad guy. I get to arrest him," Jamie answered with a big, enthusiastic smile.

"I'm looking forward to that," Esposito answered. "Where is he?"

"Miss Ada stopped him at the door so she could meet Jo," Kate explained. "He'll be here in a minute."

Castle appeared a moment later, and the others greeted him.

"So…we understand Officer Castle here is planning to arrest you. You think you can take him?" Ryan asked.

"I don't know," Castle answered, looking at his son proudly. "He looks pretty tough. I might be in trouble."

Jenny and Maria joined them then, and Jenny asked, "What about Jo? Does she have a costume, too?"

Castle held Jo positioned for the best view of her Wonder Woman outfit and said, "Of course does. All Castles have costumes at Halloween."

"And who are you, Beckett?" Ryan asked

Castle responded in a deep baritone announcer's voice, "This is Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, Wonder Woman's mother." He handed Jo to her mother and made a "ta-da" motion with his arms.

"Are you doing the walk this year?" Maria asked Kate.

"No. I'll leave it to my men this time. I'll wait until Jo can at least hold her head up without help. I'll just walk her around the room and let her look sweet and lovable."

"Want to take the kids to play some of the games?" Ryan asked, "Jenny's ready to see what's there for Sarah Grace."

They wandered through the area with the games and let the children play whatever interested them and then went into a room with supervised activities for various age groups. All the while, the Castle family, including Little Brother, was happy to show off their baby girl. There were a couple of quick trips to the refreshments tables, another trip to the games, and then it was time for "the walk". There were varying levels of enthusiasm as the costumes were shown off, but there was a lot of swagger and acting involved, too. And the audience encouraged the good, clean fun. Applause was abundant for every effort. It had become the highlight of the evening. It wasn't a contest, just good natured fun, but there was some definite competitive spirit here and there.

Esposito and Gabe were dressed as Ghostbusters, stalking ghosts on their walk, and stopping to scan near the spectators with the equipment they carried. Ryan's family was dressed as Rapunzel, the old witch, and the prince. Sarah Grace was Rapunzel with a very long, braided yellow wool wig stitched somewhat convincingly to a beanie they could pop on her head when it was time. Jenny hobbled along, waving her broom and chasing behind them while Prince Kevin rescued his daughter and ran, lots of yellow, braided yarn hair trailing behind them. Then it was time for Castle and Jamie.

"So, how are they doing this?" Esposito asked Kate.

"I don't know," she answered. "They wanted me to be surprised, so they wouldn't let me watch. All I know is that Jamie gets to take Daddy down. There's a police whistle involved…drove me crazy. Castle does a good prat fall. I'm pretty sure one of those will turn up somehow. Jamie was laughing a lot while they practiced in the study."

They positioned themselves for a good view and saw Castle, dressed entirely in black and carrying a cloth sack with dollar signs on it over one shoulder. He dramatically sneaked out into the aisle and looked both ways. Then there was the shrill of a police whistle and a little voice shouting "Stop! NYPD!" Castle ran, and Jamie ran after him. A little more than halfway to the end, Jamie grabbed his leg, and Castle fell to the floor. Jamie took large handcuffs from his belt, and put them on Castle, then he wrapped his arms around one of Castle's to get him on his feet and pushed a glum looking Castle forward, saying, "You have the right to remain silent…" as they finished the walk. That was as much as Castle taught him to say.

"I think the kid got a few of Mrs. R's genes," Esposito said with a grin.

Castle and Jamie came back to Kate side by side and laughing. "Did you like it, Mommy?" her son asked.

"You guys were great!" Castle reached out and took his daughter, and Kate took both Jo's hands and clapped them together. "See. Jo liked it, too." Jo even favored her brother with a smile that seemed to back her mother up. "Good girl," Kate said, kissing her little girl's hands.

After that it was time to give the children Trick or Treat bags and let them go to the various small tables set up with candy before everyone went home. Parents talked among themselves as their children gathered Halloween goodies, and the crowd gradually thinned. The Castles and their friends offered to help with cleanup, and did until Miss Ada insisted they "take those precious babies home and get them in bed." Having other plans for themselves that night, the adult Castles agreed, hugged Miss Ada, and left.

"That was fun. Miss Ada throws a good party," Castle said.

"You helped a little more with refreshments this year, didn't you?"

Looking over at her, he smiled. "We have plenty. Might as well spend some of it on something that makes families happy."

"Yeah. Might as well."

That night, after the children were asleep, Rick and Kate made love gently and quietly(considering Jo's bassinet was still in their room) and enjoyed the added feeling of closeness that came with their return to one of their favorite activities. He pulled her closer than usual, and they woke the next morning realizing the two of them had slept the rest of the night with their heads on the same pillow.