16. Taking Chances, Every Dance(1)

Looking at herself, Julia breathed out roughly and then called over to her mother, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Beckett said. "You might need to help me with the zipper though."

"Okay," Julia said, waiting for her mother to come around the screen in the dressing room. Though they weren't at the point where the show started; and the team dance would be at the last twenty minutes of the show; her mother had been asked to change. That made her think of something and she said, "Are you gonna be able to go out and dance with Dad?"

"I will, I'll feel very weird," Beckett commented as she walked out to her daughter. "But it's a dress."

"You look really nice Mom," Julia said quickly and with a wide smile.

"Thank you, grab the zipper," Beckett told her, turning around. Since the team dance was supposed to be during the fifties; when Paul had been in the school whose uniforms the team was wearing recreations of; her dress was in that style but very simple. She hadn't minded that part but wasn't sure about the cut.

"Dad's gonna be annoyed," Julia suddenly said after she'd closed the zipper on her mother's periwinkle blue dress.

"Why?" Beckett said in surprise.

"It's up," Julia said firmly, talking about her hair.

Though she knew she should tell her daughter that he wouldn't mind, Beckett stopped herself as she didn't want to explain why exactly. "Alright, we should go-" she began before a knock interrupted her.

"I bet it's Dad," Julia said with a wide smile at her.

Watching as her daughter opened the door, Beckett was smiling herself at the sight of her husband on the other side. "She guessed," she told him as he walked inside.

"You look beautiful," Castle told her, hugging her tightly and kissing her. When they parted he paused and then turned to their daughter saying, "You look great too Julia."

Laughing softly the girl said, "That's okay, I knew you were gonna notice Mom first."

"I meant what I said though," Castle told her firmly.

"Thanks," Julia said with a smile. She and her friends would be dancing the Foxtrot first and Stella had designed their costumes for that dance and hers and Peter's Argentine Tango. She had been surprised; as she'd drawn the costumes for everyone that night; but understood it was a little easier for the designer since she was in between collections and she was a bit simple in her designs. She and Mari were wearing matching dresses, 50's style but for a party as opposed to her mother's school dress. Hers was a dark green with a white feather pattern and while she knew her friend's dress had the same pattern, Mari's was a blue shade to match her eyes. She was about to tell her parents about going to dance when suddenly there was a knock on the wall outside. She jumped when she saw who it was and bolted into their arms as they spoke laughingly.

"I suppose you're happy to see me," Paul said.

"Yeah, are you ready?" Julia asked.

The singer laughed out loud and told her, "I am. But I was about to ask you the same."

"Oh, I am," Julia said eagerly. "So's my mom."

"Hello again," Beckett said, going to the singer and embracing him quickly.

"Hullo to you both," Paul said. "Stella told me you were going to be there during their team dance."

"It's a good dance," Julia said quickly, hoping someone had told her mother not to tell the singer about the 'plot' of their dance.

"Someone told me sweetie," Beckett told her with a smile. "I'm under a confidentiality agreement," she told the singer jokingly.

"I had a feeling," Paul said before he heard gasps behind him in the hall. "Ah, this must be the rest of the little imps."

"Eddie told you about us?" Mari asked with a smile as the singer squeezed her shoulder since she'd gone to stand next to him.

"That he did," Paul replied. "So these are your partners."

"This is Peter Waterson and Clive Lennox," Julia said quickly, not having to say which she danced with since Paul knew already. "Are you ready to judge?"

"I am," Paul replied. "But have you seen Skye? I haven't seen a peek of her."

"I'm here," the investigator said suddenly. "And there are some introductions to be made," Skye told them as the other kids' parents were there. After everyone had been introduced she said, "The music's just about to start, so I'll keep the kids with us as usual."

"Is it alright for you to be with him right now?" Isaac couldn't help asking.

Skye smiled and said, "We're going to makeup, he needs some as well so we'll all be together."

"I'll be back sweetie," Beckett told Julia after Castle had given their second oldest a big hug.

"I know," the girl said. "I'll see you Dad."

"Break a leg sweetheart," Castle told her seriously. He wasn't surprised when she hugged him again and after they parted he squeezed her shoulder before he took Beckett's hand and led her out to the ballroom so they could dance. He was startled the first song to play was Ballroom Dancing, and as he and his wife began dancing with Eliza he asked, "Think Skye had anything to do with this?"

"That'd be me," Mary said next to them. She smiled when the pair looked at her in surprise and she said, "I picked Skye's songs, they came to me for more. Though I did have help; your daughter."

"That doesn't surprise us," Castle said, not shocked when his wife was laughing.

In the Sky Box the four kids had watched their parents for a bit before they started to practice their Foxtrot. They'd gone to it by themselves, but they were soon being joined by Skye and Derek, Peter asking the pro a question about his costume.

"You don't feel weird?" the boy was saying.

"Not really," Derek said.

"I do," Skye mumbled. She laughed when her partner glared at her though he was smiling shortly after and she said, "Luckily you're not topless."

"Or you, the women were in the music video for the song," Julia told the investigator.

"And that wasn't going to happen," Skye said firmly. She looked out at the ending strains of My Love and sighed saying, "Your parents are lucky."

"Is my mom dancing?" Peter asked suddenly.

"Is my dad?" Clive asked.

"No," Mari said. "Just mine and Julia's."

Watching the two boys watching their parents who were talking to each other at their seats Julia felt a little uncomfortable since hers were dancing in each other's arms. Sharing a glance with Mari she wasn't surprised to see her friend was obviously feeling the same and she smiled at her before the song was ending. "Bye," she said to Skye and Derek who were leaving in a rush.

"This should be fun," Clive commented as they went back to the railing to watch again.

Sitting with her husband to the right of the judges, Beckett murmured to Stella and Nancy McCartney; who'd made it to the broadcast, "I really hope he enjoys it."

"He will," the designer said with a smile as they watched the intro.

Julia was jumping up and down against the railing as the first thing that was talked about was Paul's career and they showed swift clips of his live performances and music videos. When they showed the different couples practicing and then the team dancers walking together in a line to the cameras she began to blush as they were with their team in the clip. "Good thing we're not dancing first thing," she whispered quickly. She wasn't surprised when her friends nodded in agreement and then looked down at the ballroom floor. The pairs were standing at the sides of the floor and she smiled as they walked out onto it just as the music was beginning. She wondered if the audience; except for their families and the McDouglases were curious about why the stage where the band normally was was covered by a sheet. She shared a smile with her friends while Paul began to sing, and the pairs down below were posing and serious at different points during the first two lyrics of the first verse while on the sheet Paul from the music video; by himself; was projected.

I've got too much on my plateDon't have no time to be a decent loverI hope it isn't too lateSearching for the time that has gone so fastThe time that I thought would lastMy ever present past

At the third line, all the stars and the pros were mimicking the way Paul was moving on the projection and Beckett was impressed they still had the footage of the singer by himself.

"How'd they get the projection of two of him?" Castle couldn't help murmuring to his wife as that was on the screen at the end before the second one of the singer was walking through a door.

Squeezing his hand, Beckett shook her head and watched with him as the pairs were walking around that time, pausing here and there until the second lyric of the next verse where they began to mimic Paul again.

I've got too much on my mindI think of everything to be discoveredI hope there's something to findSearching for the time that has gone so fastThe time that I thought would lastMy ever present past

With the first playing of the chorus, Julia tore her gaze away from the projection, watching the pros and stars mimicking Paul again eventually. She smiled at their movements, since Paul in the music video had made up his moves and had always said he wasn't the best dancer. But she thought it was great as the fourteen people in front of the screen were gathering for the next verse since they would be mimicking Paul once more.

The things I think I didI did, I did, I didThe things I think I didWhen I was a kid

I couldn't understand a word that they were sayingBut still I hung around and took it all inI wouldn't join in with the games that they were playingIt went by, it went, in flashIt flew by, it flew by, in a flash

Beckett smiled as the fourteen all moved their hips and legs as Paul was doing at the end, glancing at Nancy and Stella. Seeing the smile on the singer's wife and the designer's face she had her answer as to if they were enjoying watching it and she turned her attention to the dance floor as the instrumental was brief. While it had been going the pairs were breaking off together and during it and the first three lyrics of the next verse their names and phone numbers were appearing on the screen that they could see at the other end of the ballroom. She glanced up at the Sky Box at her daughter just before they began to copy Paul again, smiling as she turned back to the dancers since Julia was obviously very happy.

There's far too much on my plateDon't have no time to be a decent loverI hope it's never too lateSearching for the time that has gone so fastThe time that I thought would lastMy ever present past

With the last two instances of the chorus, Julia could feel the excitement building and she took Mari's hand next to her, squeezing it tightly as she waited for what would happen at the very end of the song.

The things I think I didI did, I did, I didThe things I think I didWhen I was a kidWhen I was a…

The things I think I didI did, I did, I didThe things I think I didWhen I was a kidWhen I was a kid

By the second to last line the pairs were lined up on either side of Paul on the screen while his projection was still dancing. But as he knelt there, the screen dropped, and the singer himself was revealed. It took a moment for the audience to react, but they were applauding, some cheering, as Tom was saying, "Welcome our guest judge tonight, Sir Paul McCartney!"

Beckett, though she didn't want to, had to leave as she needed to go to the kids and she kissed Eliza so she could take her seat; having been on Martha's lap until that point. She kissed her husband's cheek in passing and just as Tom was speaking to Paul she was going up to the Sky Box, using the stairs backstage. "Okay?" she asked the four as she joined them at the railing.

"Good," Julia said before they were looking back down as Tom was explaining what Paul would be doing as a judge.

"Tonight Sir Paul will be judging each story that's presented in the dances," the co-host began. "And not on the execution of the dance. It's wonderful to have you here sir-"

"Just Paul," the singer said with a smile.

"Paul," Tom said. "Join our judges at the table and we hope you'll enjoy tonight's dances."

As the singer went to sit between Len and Bruno, shaking all three judges' hands, Tom introduced Daisy and Sasha and the other couples went backstage. Beckett knew that Skye and Derek would be joining them soon as the kids would be dancing right before their Paso Doble. She turned her attention to Julia; as Daisy and Sasha's intro was still playing; and said, "How're you feeling sweetie?"

Beaming up at her mother Julia said, "I'm good, you wanted to ask me before when you were sitting with Dad huh?"

"I did," Beckett replied before she leaned down and kissed the top of her daughter's head. She knew she should have probably refrained from doing that; since the other dancers and stars were around them in the box; but she wasn't regretting it as Julia wrapped her arm around her while they were watching the duo on the dance floor were dancing their Viennese Waltz to Paul's song I Don't Know. When it finished she asked, "What do you think?"

"Their dance was really good," Julia replied. "I wonder if Len will like it since it wasn't a really normal Viennese Waltz," she said, being able to talk since the show had gone to commercial. "Hey," she said with a gasp as she spotted Skye and Derek walking in then.

"Oh good, I wanted there to be surprise," the latter said with a smile.

"You guys look great," Beckett told them.

"Thanks," Skye replied. "Though the makeup isn't too 80's isn't it?"

"No," Beckett said, unable to help laughing. "If it was you'd have some… stripes under your eyes or something."

"I told her," Derek said.

Skye squeezed Julia's shoulder, since she was touching the side of her coat and she asked her, "Long enough?"

"Yeah," the girl said, as she'd been wondering how her costume would work since it wouldn't be a dress. Julia then said to Derek, "She's ready?"

"I'm right here," Skye said in mock indignation.

Laughing Derek replied, "She's more than ready."

"I think it depends more on the fans last week," Skye commented. She then looked at Derek and said, "One practice before they go down."

"Right," the dancer replied, and they moved together in the opening steps of their dance.

Julia was smiling widely at the way their coats were able to spin out with them as they were long and a little wide under the waist. She had to wonder why they were black coats with higher collars and why Skye had darker green eyeshadow and heavy eyeliner on. But she had no chance to ask as they were getting out of the way of Daisy, Sasha, Erin and the cameras since the show was coming back. They didn't have a chance to see the judges and Paul comment on their dance as they were taken down to the dance floor for their Foxtrot. She breathed out and then smiled at her mother asking, "Where will you be?"

"Here on the side," Beckett replied. "I'll be able to see you."

"Come on," Derek said, getting the girl's attention.

Giving her mother a quick hug, Julia rushed to the pro and they went out to the middle of the dance floor where he spoke to the four rapidly before he needed to leave as the cameras were cutting back to Tom who was near them.

"Next we have our troupe from the Hamptons," the co-host was saying. "Dancing a Foxtrot to the song covered by Paul, Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive."

Castle could see his wife just barely on the other side of the dance floor and he wished he could have gone over to her before their daughter began dancing with Peter. He had to tear his attention to the kids, watching them with a smile as they had helped Derek with their choreography. He could see that Julia was enjoying it, and luckily the other three were as well until they finished with the boys dipping the girls. He applauded, waving as soon as his and Beckett's second oldest was coming over to speak with the judges and Paul as well.

"We'll start with our special judge," Tom said with a smile; having asked the kids first if they'd been scared at all dancing for the singer and getting resounding no's in response. "What did you think?"

"I thought it was quite nice," Paul said. "Took me back to dances when I was a lad," he told the kids with a smile. "And I've been told you danced it very well."

Julia smiled, pleased when the three judges agreed with what the singer had said, and she rocked a little on her feet once. When they could leave she went straight to her mother and hugged her as tightly as she could. "We were good?" she asked.

"You heard what Paul said," Beckett told her with a smile. "Come on, we need to go up, they're dancing after the commercial."

Nodding rapidly, Julia took her mother's hand and pulled at it when she started to walk away. She pulled her and said, "We can see Dad, really fast."

Though she wanted to protest, Beckett knew her daughter wouldn't try that if anyone from the crew would stop them. So she followed Julia across the ballroom hurriedly until they came to their family. She let her husband hug their daughter first and while the others were greeting her she then shared a brief hug with her husband. "You didn't really have to," she told him teasingly.

"I'm not taking that back," Castle replied. "Do you need to sit?"

Shaking her head Beckett said, "There are chairs up in the Sky Box."

"And you need to go soon don't you?" Castle asked.

"I do," Beckett said. "And that's all of us," she told him. "Julia," she said.

Hurrying over to her, the girl took her mother's hand and said, "I wish we could have stayed longer."

"I know," Beckett replied. "But we'll see them after."

"What about Paul?" Julia asked after waving to him while they passed the table.

"I'm not sure," Beckett said.

"Ooh… Skye might know," Julia said jokingly.

"Come on," Beckett said in amusement, tugging her hand though her daughter had only weakly pulled at hers. After they were back in the Sky Box she apologized to the kids who were at the railing saying, "We should have let you go to your families."

"It's okay," Clive said first. "We'll see them at the next commercial."

"You'll have to run," Beckett pointed out. She laughed softly when the boy nodded firmly and turned her attention when the music indicating the show was coming back started to play.

"Welcome back," Tom was saying. "Our next dance tonight is from Skye and Derek, can they Paso Doble back up in the leaderboard after their Foxtrot last week?"

The intro to the pair began with Tom talking about the dance the previous week while showing when Skye had stumbled.

"Last week wasn't exactly the best," the investigator said herself before it played some of what Bruno had said. "But there's always the hope that we can improve this week."

"This week's the Paso Doble," Derek said. "And I think that it's a good chance for us to improve after last week, since Skye's a very big fan of the dance."

"First you take me to the limit then expect me to stop," the investigator sang while she and Derek were in the studio.

"What song is this one? What album?" the pro asked his partner.

"Hell to Pay, from his album New," Skye replied. "From the deluxe edition so people might not know this one as well as the others that will be danced to. But it has a solid base for the Paso."

"I'm eager to learn this," the investigator was saying as the scene went to her sitting on a chair in another room. "I do know a bit of Flamenco, but this is a different dance and I just hope I can catch on to it."

The footage showed the pair learning and Derek began to speak saying, "Skye's determined to get this right, since of course she does know Paul."

The scene then went to a studio room and Paul was entering through the door saying, "Hullo, hullo," before Skye was jogging the short distance to him.

"Oh you made it, I'm so glad," the investigator told him as she embraced him. "Derek," Skye then said as her partner was walking to him. "This is Paul McCartney," she told him watching the two shake hands before the pro was telling the singer; at his questioning; what they were doing.

"It's the Paso Doble," Derek was saying. "We can show you some steps if you'd like."

The pair were shown dancing in front of Paul while Skye was saying in a voice over, "Since he's been to Spain several times, luckily Paul can understand what we're doing. He just doesn't know why yet. We'll be two spies… Spy vs. Spy." The scene went next to the investigator sitting on an armchair again, Derek next to her in another, and she said, "Now we just need to bring it together with the dance."

"And we will," the pro said before he was laughing with Skye.

Beckett looked down at Julia with a smile, as she'd squeezed her hand when the music played while the footage ended, and she hurriedly squeezed back as the announcer was saying, "Dancing the Paso Doble, Skye McDouglas and her partner Derek Hough."

The music started with Skye and Derek on either end at the bottom of the flight of stairs from the stage with 'search lights' and a helicopter sound playing briefly before the music took over. The two were looking around, using the collars of their coats to hide the sides of their faces. When the first lyric began they started walking diagonally quickly so they could meet at the beginning of the second lyric. As soon as they had Derek was grabbing Skye's hand and they were getting into hold before he was spinning her around, the investigator's left foot firmly on the floor while the other was against the outside of his legs. At the last two lyrics of the verse, and when she was standing straight, they jerked their heads and Skye pushed Derek away.

First you take me to the limit then expect me to stopYou know I'm sick and tired of waiting for the penny to dropYou make a living out of making people think you give it all awayBut you and I know very wellThere's always gonna be a price to pay

Julia's eyes widened slightly when she heard the chorus beginning, as they'd skipped a verse, but realized why quickly since the more Paso Doble music began there. She smiled when Skye and Derek started to clap to the music; as she and Peter had done themselves; before they came back together and danced closely for the last two lyrics, the pro spinning them around at the last lyric.

You've had it all your wayYou've got to know some dayYou'll have to share or there'll be hell to pay

Separating Skye picked up the sides of her coat and held them out as she and Derek danced across from each other and she started to advance on him while moving her coat at the same time. Her partner was on his knees moving backward, the lights flashing on the ballroom, until he stood at the end of the last line and they got into hold again.

There will be hell to payThere will be hell to payThere will be hell to payThere's gonna be hell to pay

After the shortened instrumental following the chorus, the first verse played again, and Skye and Derek came back into hold and on the word stop at the end of it they froze. At the beginning of the second lyric Skye was sweeping her leg out and Derek was spinning them both around before they strode forward, still in hold until they let go of each other and he spun her away from him on the last lyric.

First you take me to the limit then expect me to stopYou know I'm sick and tired of waiting for the penny to dropYou make a living out of making people think you give it all awayBut you and I know very well there's always gonna be a price to pay

With another instrumental, Julia smiled as the lights were flashing again and the two were dancing aggressively together before parting and at the very end of the song they started repeating Skye moving her coat back and forth and Derek on his knees moving backwards. They only lasted for a few lyrics and were going back in hold and she was pleased to see them alternating between spinning and steps for a few more. The lights were still flashing around as the pair had made it to the middle of the dance floor and she was soon crying out in exhilaration as the two were dancing a step forward and then Derek spun her away before they were meeting again for the last five lyrics.

There's gonna beThere's gonna beThere's gonna be hell to payThere's gonna beThere's gonna beOh yeah there's gonna be hell to payGonna be hell to payOh yeahThere's gonna be hell to payThere's gonna be hell to payYeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

At the very end the lights stopped flashing and came on to Skye standing in front of Derek who was laying on the floor, her hands clenched into fists and her arms held out at her sides. She was breathing hard but as soon as her partner moved she was laughing and then wrapping her arms around him after helping him stand.

"That was fantastic," Derek said into her ear as the audience was loud.

Skye was a little startled to see how many people were standing and applauding and she smiled as she waved before they hurried to the table and Tom who was calling them over. She waved to her wife and daughters before turning her attention to Paul who the co-host had called on first.

"Well," the singer said, having to stop as the audience was still applauding. "Can we please have quiet!" he said. He heard Julia up in the Sky Box let out a whoop and said, "Calm down you lot," jokingly. He turned back to Skye and Derek and said, "Eighties Berlin?"

"Basically," Skye said in laughter, nodding as Derek was laughing next to her.

"You didn't lose the story, I had the thought you might but with your coats you managed to portray spies," Paul said. "And with those moves you did portray you were quite antagonistic towards one another. Wonderful little movie I was watching."

"Carrie-Ann," Tom then said to the female judge before she was raising her arms and moving them.

"Whoo that's how you do it!" the woman said when she stopped, laughing. "You improved vastly from last week and you did a great job with your steps. Your posture was good, that was amazing."

"Len," Tom said as Derek and Skye were jumping up and down at the same time and hugging each other.

"You did a nice job with your heels leads and your lines," the British judge was saying. "But I'm not sure I liked the constant attack."

While the audience was booing Bruno was saying jokingly, "It's the Paso!"

"You've done a good job," Len said to the pair. "And it's not quite to my tastes, your added moves, but I will say that you danced them well."

"Let's hear from you last Bruno, quickly," Tom told the judge on the end.

"You said Berlin?" the Italian judge asked the singer. When he nodded he stood up and said, "No! We were in Seville and there was danger and excitement!"

"Don't," Tom began as he was laughing, along with the pair and the audience. "Don't take out the guest judge."

"I'm sorry," Bruno told Paul as he was sitting down, laughing himself as the singer had playfully leaned away from him while he'd stood and gesticulated. "But it was a very good Paso, your Spanish lines were superb, and you were spy versus spy and you were victorious!"

"Go ahead up to the Sky Box to get your scores," Tom said, still laughing as the pair was doing so too.

Though she knew she didn't have much time, Skye rushed to her wife and squeezed her tightly, squeezing their second oldest's hand since she was close and telling Stella a swift thank you. She went over to the stairs, going up in front of Derek until they came to the top and stepped into the box. "Thank you, girls," she said as Julia and Mari hugged her quickly, telling her the dance was great. She hugged Beckett hurriedly and went with her partner to stand with Erin in front of the camera.

"Great comments from the judges and Paul," the co-host said. "How do you feel with this dance after last week's?"

"I'm very satisfied," Skye said. "Definitely enjoyed the steps and I really had fun with the song too."

"How did it feel dancing in front of Paul McCartney the first time tonight?" Erin said, having asked a similar question of Daisy and Sasha before them.

"Surreal," Skye said, which was what the photojournalist had said. "But it was a lot of fun."

"Alright, let's get your scores," Erin said.

Beckett, feeling Julia squeezing her hand again as the dramatic music started, smiled down at her but had to look to the screen in the box to watch while the announcer was saying, "Carrie-Ann Inaba."

"Ten," the woman said, holding up the paddle while up in the Sky Box, Skye and Derek were hugging each other.

"Len Goodman," the announcer said.

"Nine," he said with the paddle, holding up his right hand when the audience started to boo him.

"Paul McCartney," the announcer said though it was partially drowned out before the singer was holding up his score paddle.

"Ten!" Paul said, waving it in the air.

"One more!" Peter said exuberantly just before the announcer was saying Bruno's name.

"Ten!" the Italian judge said, he and Paul waving their paddles as fans while the audience was cheering.

"That gives you a thirty-nine out of forty so far," Erin was saying as Skye and Derek were hugging each other tightly. "How do you feel."

"Thank you so much," the investigator said meaningfully. "Everyone."

"We're very happy with that score," Derek said. "And we're ready for the team dance."

"Team Queenie Eye!" Skye said, turning to look for the other members. When they cheered; since they weren't dancing yet; she held up her hand and laughed before Erin was talking about how the viewers could vote for her and Derek. The show went to commercial and she went to Beckett saying, "Gotta change, all of us."

"They didn't want me to take them," she said with a smile.

"We had to see your dance," Julia said in protest while she was taking her mother's hand. They left the Sky Box and went backstage to the dressing rooms before they split up into their different rooms.

"Are you two okay?" Beckett asked the girls.

"Yeah," Mari called from behind the screen, where she'd gone to swiftly after Julia's mother had unzipped her dress for her.

"S-" Beckett began as she turned to her daughter and saw that she hadn't moved to take off her dress.

"I hope you don't mind my dress," Julia said hurriedly.

"Would I?" Beckett asked. When her daughter shrugged she frowned slightly and then went to the garment bag, taking out the dress for her daughter's Argentine Tango. Studying it she said, "What was Stella going for? And do you have a story?"

"Not really, we didn't have one for the Foxtrot," Julia said, shaking her head. "Is it really bad? Too grown up?"

"No, but your dad is not going to be happy," Beckett said. She was a bit startled when her daughter shrugged and said, "You're expecting that already aren't you?"

"Yep," Julia said. She then smiled and said, "Skye said he wouldn't like the side of it. But I need it Mom."

"Don't worry, I know," Beckett said. "But it's not that bad and you'll be covered enough."

Nodding Julia then said, "I have shorts for underneath." She jumped when, in the pause between them, her friend called her name and she was running over to the screen to say, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, but can I come out now?" Mari asked.

"Yeah," Julia said, moving away. She beamed at her friend for her costume for the Jive they'd be dancing to Paul's performance later and said, "Dad'll be happy about that one."

"Probably," Beckett said. "Okay, Julia needs to change so hopefully you won't mind."

"I won't," Mari said before she sat on one of the chairs in the room and watched Julia change from the fifties Foxtrot dress before she slipped on her dark green Argentine Tango dress. "It looks so cool," she breathed when her friend looked at her. "The color changes."

"She's right," Beckett told her daughter as she looked up at her. She ushered the girl to the mirror, watching her move to see the fabric of her dress was doing that. She studied the cut of it and smiled slightly, thinking of her husband's reaction. Her daughter's dress was sleeveless with a tight waist, the skirt falling in pleats and was to her knee on the left and down to just above her ankle on the right. She hugged Julia when she came to her and then said, "We should get going."

"What about our hair?" Mari asked, smiling at her friend.

"I'll ask Derek," Beckett said. "But I'll go ahead and brush it first," she said as she studied them. She followed them to the vanity helping them get their hair out of their ponytails before she brushed it quickly. They went to the door and when she opened it looked down at the girls who gasped at Skye on the other side. "We were just leaving, we're not late, are we?"

"No, but I'm glad I caught you before you left," the investigator told her. "Their hair," she explained to her friend's slightly confused expression.

"I was just about to go find Derek," Beckett explained to her. "How?"

"For Mari back up in a ponytail," Skye said. "He asked me to decide by the by. Though I'm not sure what you should do for Julia right now."

"Like it is," Beckett said.

Nodding, Skye said, "Alright, Elijah and Lindsay are dancing now."

"What song?" Mari asked.

Smiling the investigator said, "Monkberry Moon Delight."

"What dance did they have?" Beckett asked in confusion as she finished putting Mari's hair up into a ponytail.

"Argentine Tango," Julia said quickly. She smiled when her mother looked at her and told her, "They told us when they found out we were dancing that too."

"He's quite good singing that," Skye commented as they were leaving the dressing room.

"You are too," Derek said as they approached where he was standing with the boys and Eddie.

"Aren't you going soon?" Skye said to the actor.

"Oh of course," Eddie replied. "Give us a song," he said.

Rolling her eyes, Skye took in a deep breath and then sang, "Well now it's done and out of nowhere, I can go wherever pleases me. Alright, get out of here."

"What's he dancing to for that song?" Beckett asked.

"Jazz, he should do well," Skye said.

"Are you gonna go see Dad again?" Julia said, grabbing her mother's hand before they headed over to the stairs to the Sky Box to wait for when she and Peter would dance. She glanced down the hall for a moment, seeing her partner standing there, and waved to him saying, "The hat makes him really look like a tango dancer."

Beckett laughed, the boy wearing a black vest, white shirt and trousers with a black fedora, and said, "He does. And I'm not going to have the chance to, you'll have to change again and there won't be that many dances before your team dance."

"Jonathon's," Julia said immediately.

"Come on," Beckett said with a laugh. She wrapped her arm around her daughter's shoulders, going down the hall after the others and glad to hear her laughter before her next dance began.

"I'm so glad you put up my hair Mom," Julia said after she and Peter had finished another step for their dance.

"So am I," Beckett replied with a smile. She turned with her daughter and Peter as a crew member was calling the two over to the stage; since they were off stage by then; and she said, "A hug?"

"Yeah," Julia said with a wide smile, going to her and squeezing her around the waist. "Thanks Mom," she said as Beckett was embracing her back as tightly.

"Break a leg sweetie," she replied. Beckett leaned down and kissed the top of her daughter's head quickly, watching her go to Peter before the two walked together after the crew member. She was amused that they were together but not holding hands and she then hurried as fast as she could in her low-heeled shoes to head to the Sky Box. When she neared it, she slowed down when she saw a familiar figure in front of her and said, "Rick?"

"Hey," Castle said with a smile at her. When she was close enough to him he grabbed her, gently taking her into his arms before he said, "I hate lipstick right now.""Me too, but we'll have time later," Beckett said, careful not to press her cheek to his jacket since she didn't want to get her makeup on it.

"Yeah," Castle said. "And your hair…"

Beckett laughed softly and said, "Julia said you'd hate that too."

"It does look nice though," Castle said, letting her go to touch the braid that was around the bottom of her hair that was up. "Impressive."

"Thank you, come on," Beckett said, pulling him to the stairs so they could go up.

"Oh good, you made it," Skye said with a smile.

"Did you get him permission to come up here?" Beckett asked her friend. When the investigator nodded she squeezed her hand telling her, "Thank you so much."

"You're welcome," Skye replied, still smiling since her friend's voice was so heartfelt. "Come on, they're about to start."

"Wait, why are you up here?" Castle asked.

"This one was all Derek's," Skye said with a smile at them. She then moved to the railing with them, looking down with the slightly anxious parents as Tom was about to speak. "And Paul's; I'm with him for the troupe dance," she explained swiftly. She smiled when the two nodded, not having turned away from the dance floor down below.

"We have another dance from the Hamptons troupe tonight," the co-host began with. After the audience had stopped applauding he said, "Just one half this time. Peter and Julia will be dancing an Argentine Tango and they'll be accompanied by a special performance from Paul McCartney. This is Friends to Go."

Paul, in the middle of the stage, was sitting on a tall stool and holding an acoustic guitar. He began by strumming it and then proceeded to sing the first verse. He was watching the two kids, Peter taking Julia's hand before she turned to him and they started with simple steps before, at the end, the boy was spinning her around as her legs were spread for a moment before he set her down. While he sang the second verse the two were dancing slowly, as they were going to be there for his entire performance.

I've been waiting on the other sideFor your friends to leave so I don't have to hideI prefer they didn't knowSo I've been waiting on the other sideFor your friends to go

I've been sliding down a slippy slopeI've been climbing up a slowly burning ropeBut the flame is getting lowI've been waiting on the other sideFor your friends to go

When the next verse began, Peter was extending his right leg, letting Julia sit on it. She didn't do it for long and he was helping her into a sliding split before they were holding onto one another tightly and stepping and turning around.

You never need to worry about meI'll be fine on my ownSomeone else can worry about meI've spent a lot of time on my ownI've spent a lot of time on my own

At the next verse the music was stronger, and Peter held Julia's leg under his arm before he was holding her up fully and setting her down a second later. They were back in hold and then moving around together until the end of the verse. At the next one they were moving a little slower until Peter took Julia's leg as she raised it and held it by the ankle, dragging her for the rest of the lyrics until they were at the steps and he let her stand before they were sitting at the bottom to watch Paul as a spotlight focused on him.

I've been waiting 'till the danger passedI don't know how long the storm is gonna lastIf we're going to carry onI'll be waiting on the other side'Till your friends have gone

So tell me what I want to knowI'll be waiting on the other sideFor your friends to go

"I'm glad they get a break," Castle murmured to his wife. He wasn't surprised when she nodded, and he squeezed her arm gently before he murmured, "Her dress?"

"It's modest enough," Beckett said firmly.

"And low enough," Skye said, murmuring as well.

Castle debated if he wanted to question that, but he knew his wife wasn't going to be happy about it. And he recalled that Stella herself had drawn the design, so he decided he didn't need to say anything about the cut of it. Instead he leaned over to his wife's ear before he murmured, "It's a nice color." He expected her to reply to that, but when she turned to him and murmured into his ear he was startled by what she said instead.

"Tell her she looks pretty when you see her," Beckett told him firmly.

"Of course," Castle said quickly as he knew Paul was going to start singing soon. He smiled when his wife did at him and they looked down together at their daughter and Peter, watching as the boy stood up just as the singer was starting the first lyric. His eyes widened in surprise when Julia got up and she put her arms around his neck, her toes on the floor so the boy could drag her to the middle of the ballroom. When she stood up he was smiling again as Julia was lifting her legs for Peter to hold as he spun around until the end of the verse which wasn't very long.

Someone else can worry about meI've spent a lot of time on my ownI've spent a lot of time on my own

As soon as she was standing again, and at the first lyric of the next verse, Julia was stepping away from Peter before he grabbed her and let him pull her to him. They danced a few steps together into the second lyric and then sped up slightly as they were going in a wide circle to make their way back to the bottom of the stairs at the end of the verse.

I've been waiting on the other sideFor your friends to leave so I don't have to hideI'd prefer they didn't knowSo I've been waiting on the other sideFor your friends to go

With the beginning of the first lyric, Peter was picking up Julia so she could bend her left leg at the knee while her right leg was extending. It was only for a moment and she was pleased as Paul's way of singing the second lyric gave her the chills. But she focused on their steps which were similar to their ones going around the dance floor though that time they stayed at the end of the steps.

I've been waiting on the other sideI've been waiting on the other sideFor your friends to go

When the music ended, Peter was bent slightly, holding Julia as she was bending her left knee and extending her right leg. As soon as they could they let go of each other, her leading her partner up the steps to Paul. "That was so good!" she said happily as they hugged.

"Quite a good dance," the singer told her with a smile, pinching her cheek teasingly before he hugged her partner briefly. The show had to go to commercial then and Paul told the kids, "Here come your parents."

Turning, Julia saw that he was right, and she hugged Paul hurriedly again saying, "Thanks for letting us dance!" before she raced down the stairs and across the dance floor. She went to her mother first, wrapping her arms around her tightly and just barely hearing what she was telling her as her heart was still beating rapidly from her performance to the singer himself singing.

"I'm so proud of you sweetie," Beckett told her, caressing the top of her head once. "It was a beautiful dance."

"It was," Castle said as the girl looked over at him with a shy smile. "And you looked beautiful yourself." When Julia went over to him he hugged her tightly, smiling at his wife as she mouthed the words thank you, though he'd intended to say that already.

"Julia," Derek said suddenly, standing with Peter. "The judges wanted to talk to you very fast."

"I'll be backstage," Beckett told her daughter as Castle kissed their second oldest on the cheek quickly since he needed to go back to his seat.

Julia nodded and then went with Derek and Peter to the table before Len was speaking to them first.

"Very nice lines," the British just said to Julia herself. "You do well with your legs. And I heard you've never done lifts before this dance."

"Not like that," Peter replied.

"You handled that very well," Bruno said. "It's not always easy to lift a woman."

"And I'm not a woman," Julia said suddenly. She started to blush at what she'd said but was smiling as the Italian judge started to laugh.

"Also you had the mannerisms down," Carrie-Ann said. "And you said you two are like siblings?" When the pair nodded firmly she laughed and said, "You could have fooled me."

"We'll be happy to see how you do on your next dance," Len then said.

"We can't wait for the performance!" Julia said eagerly. She and Peter had to hurry backstage so they could change, and she was soon ducking into the room to find her mother there holding her outfit.

"What'd they say?" Beckett asked.

"They liked it, and that I'm good with my legs," Julia began before she told her mother what Bruno and Carrie-Ann had told them as well.

"I'm glad they liked it," Beckett said.

"You did too?" Julia asked her, turning to her and smiling.

"Of course, and I'm glad you were comfortable dancing with Peter that way," Beckett replied, finishing helping her by zipping up the back of her dress.

"It's just a dance," Julia replied, turning to her with a smile. For the Jive she and Mari were wearing fifties style dresses; she knew the women dancing with them would be wearing tops and skirts that looked like they were from that era. Hers was just a sky-blue color though the fabric made it seem like it was shining. She also had sequins around the hem and up the side of the skirt a little and looking at it made her say, "Skye's lucky she's not wearing this."

"She wouldn't be," Beckett said before she and her daughter laughed together. They hugged each other tightly before she then took her hand, pulling her back outside so they could watch the other dances before the performance and Jive.

"Before our team dances begin," Tom was saying, standing with Erin at the end of the ballroom with the stage behind them and the dancers in front of the stage already. "We have another special performance from our guest judge, Sir Paul McCartney. I love saying that," he said in an aside to his co-host.

"It's a duet with our contestant Skye McDouglas and her band The Rambling O'Dells," Erin said with a smile. "So give it up for Paul McCartney and The Rambling O'Dells singing Twenty Fine Fingers with some help from our pros and Hamptons troupe," she said before the cameras went to the stage and the singer.

Beckett, up in the Sky Box with the other stars, smiled when Paul counted them in as Elvis Costello had done in the song before he and Skye were singing together. While they were doing that the dancers were starting on the dance floor and she watched her daughter specifically, seeing the kids were following the others in their kicks and flicks for the Jive as well as some other moves.

Twenty fine fingers babyI love your nails I love your touchI love to touch you babyIt never fails to kill meSome say gimmie fiveBut I'll give you tenYou could make it twentyBut you're holding out againThink it over think it over babyWell think it over think it over baby

I will always love youThat can't be deniedLove you up until the dayHeaven knows I've tried

For the time being I will tell you thisI'd love to love you love to love youBut there's something missingBaby listen unconditionallyPut your hand in my hand and surrender to meThink it over think it over babyWell think it over think it over baby

Twenty fine fingers feel so divineTwenty fine fingers wish you were mineWish you were mine

Well so our hands met and twenty fingers entwinedI couldn't help I couldn't help but seeShe didn't quite believe meShe said listen cause there's one little thingWhere did you get that lovely wedding ring?

Think it over think it over babyWell think it over think it over babySome things are forbiddenNever meant to beWell that might be all right for youBut not for you and me

Twenty fine fingers feel so divineTwenty fine fingers wish you were mineWish you were mineWish you were mine (twenty fine fingers)Wish you were mine (twenty fine fingers)Wish you were mine (twenty fine fingers)Wish you were mine (twenty fine fingers)Wish you were mine (twenty fine fingers)Wish you were mine (twenty fine fingers)Wish you were mine (twenty fine fingers)Wish you were mine (twenty fine fingers)

"They did a good job," Eddie said to Beckett as the show went to commercial at that point so the pros and the kids could change for the team dances.

"Thanks," she replied before she was hurrying out and down the stairs to meet Julia and Mari. "Quickly girls," she said, taking them to the dressing room where their final costumes for the night were laid out already. "Make sure you get the right clothes," she told them jokingly.

"We will," Julia said, already getting out of her dress. She stepped into her trousers and shirt, her mother urging them both to tuck the latter into the former.

"Paul really wore this when he went to school?" Mari asked when Beckett was helping them with their ties.

"He did," she said with a nod. Beckett then smiled and said, "That's how it is at some schools."

"Yeah but the boys at ours don't have to wear one if they don't want to," Julia said teasingly. "At least now you're wearing your dress for a reason Mom," she told her.

"Which I'm glad for, I feel weird wearing it for so long," Beckett replied. She then squeezed her daughter's hand and said, "Are you ready?"

"Our hair?" Mari asked in surprise.

"It's fine," Beckett assured them as it was still up in ponytails for them both. She went out with them and over to the where they'd go to the ballroom, seeing that Skye and Derek were waiting for them with the boys.

"Oh good," the investigator said with a smile, spotting them first. "We need to go to the back for a moment before we head on the dance floor."

Julia squeezed her mother's hand as they made their way to the point backstage and she managed to see the floor, where she saw a school room set was ready for them. She smiled up at Beckett before they hurried to get into their places, the other stars and pros in their team getting ready as well before Tom was speaking.

"Welcome back, we end tonight with the first of our two freestyle dances," Tom said. "With the addition of the Hamptons troupe. Here's a look," he added as the camera went to the team that was backstage and 'posing' for a school picture with Beckett next to them.

On the screen the footage began of the team in the studio the night they'd found out the song they'd be dancing to. After that it showed them practicing their steps with some of the stars and pros talking about the dance, their team and their competition in the other team before it went back to the ballroom where the team had moved to with Beckett.

The announcer, as the kids, stars and pros were pretending to watch Beckett from their 'desks,' then said, "Dancing together, please welcome Team Queenie Eye!" After a moment the bell rang and Beckett, standing at the chalkboard called, "Recess, be back here when the bell rings again," as the pros had decided to change that while the previous week had gone on. The group in front of her left the desks, splitting up and the kids went to the open space of the dance floor, starting to play with the red ball together so the crew could get the set out of the way before the investigator finally stopped and got their attention just as the opening music began.

"Queenie eye, queenie eye who's got the ball!" Skye called out, her back turned to the other five. She then pretended to throw the red ball she'd held before Jonathon was 'catching' it just as the first lyric began. She turned to the TV star and was about to walk after him when he turned from her. But the others were crowding around her so she ran to Derek and the kids before he was trying to go towards them, the other five in a line behind him. The other three pairs had gotten together and were dancing, Sasha picking up Daisy and spinning her around so Derek was spinning away from them and everyone behind him did that in opposite directions which was the end of the verse.

There were rules you never told meNever came up with a planAll the stories that you sold meDidn't help me understandBut I had to get it worked outHad nobody who could helpSo that in the end it turned outThat I had to do it by myself

Eddie and Emma danced together first for the next verse, dancing quickly towards the stage in steps that had them moving their feet back and forth rapidly. When they'd gotten to the stairs he picked up his partner and spun her before letting her down. She kicked her legs behind her and they moved together by stretching their legs out from left to right. At the end they stopped by Jonathon; on the side of the stage; who 'gave' Emma the ball who was 'giving' it to Eddie.

With the second verse Eddie spun Emma out before they skipped together towards Skye, Derek and the kids who were at different points along the edges of the dance floor. They stopped at the pro who tried to grab them both and they were moving together away from him easily. Eddie took his own ball from his pocket and tossed it up and down, standing in place while Emma danced towards him. The ball was tucked into Eddie's pocket and as they were finishing their last steps with a quick lift of his partner, he 'handed' the ball to Daisy so she and Sasha could start next.

Life's a gameRags from richesDogs and bitchesHunt for fameDifficult to know which way to turn

Lay the blameOn the snitchesWicked witchesFan the flameCareful what you touch in case you burn

As the chorus started, Skye climbed up onto a bench that had been placed there and mouthed the first two lyrics before Daisy was pulling her down with Sasha and they were dancing a kind of a simple Tango step all together. The investigator stepped away when the other two playfully pushed her and she went to Derek before the pair were dancing.

At the last four lyrics, Sasha helped Daisy do the splits before he helped her up and they were tossing the red ball that she'd had between them. Skye and Derek weren't there, so they did that four times before Sasha was picking up Daisy fully and carrying her to the judge's table. With the next verse that started, the pair were sitting on the edge, moving their legs in unison until Sasha was jumping off. He took her in his arms with her legs wrapped around his waist and spun around before they were suddenly doing a rolly polly together until they were going to Jonathon and Whitney standing on the opposite side from the table. Daisy was helped up by the latter, Sasha the former; and she 'handed' the ball off to the TV star for them to dance next.

Queenie Eye, Queenie EyeWho's got the ballI haven't got itIt isn't in my pocketO.U.T spells outOutThat's outOutWithout a shadow of a doubtCause you been putting it aboutHear the people shoutHear the people shout

Play the gameTake your chancesEvery dance isMuch the sameDoesn't matter which of them you choose

The second that he 'had' the ball, Jonathon was taking Whitney and they were spinning away before he kept spinning and was raising her up in the air. She came down and they moved together in slow motions with their feet before she stood in front of him and he raised her up so she was on his shoulders. As soon as she was set he flipped her upside down and then set her down an instant after at Skye and Derek as they moved to the chorus.

As she had done with Daisy and Sasha, Skye was pulled into Tango steps with Jonathon and Whitney until they pushed her away. But at the very last two lyrics Mari raced to Jonathon and wrapped her arms around his leg; what they'd changed the dance to instead of her doing that with Sasha; since the kids were around them as well as they'd been staying with Beckett. Jonathon reached down for the girl as he and Whitney stopped and he 'threw' her to Derek before the other three kids were chasing after him and his partner, leaving Skye and Derek to dance the rest of the chorus together. They were spinning, and she was doing the splits once so they could make their way to the judges table, talking at the same time without moving their lips too much.

"Good?" Derek was saying to her. He saw the determined look on her face but had no reply, about to repeat his question when she was suddenly speaking to him before they were too close to the table.

"Good, keep going!" Skye called to him before they would hit the verse after the chorus.

Never blameCircumstancesIf romances seldom cameNever pick a fight you're gonna lose

Queenie Eye, Queenie EyeWho's got the ballI haven't got itIt isn't in my pocketO.U.T spells outOutThat's outOutWithout a shadow of a doubtCause you been putting it aboutHear the people shoutHear the people shout

The music slowed down, and Derek and Skye were up on the judges' table while the rest of the team were on the dance floor, dancing as slowly too. They did that for the rest of it as the music remained measured until in between it and the next verse.

It's a long wayTo the finishWhen you've never been beforeI was nervous but I did itNow I'm going back for more

When the music sped up, the dancers all did so as well, Skye and Derek dancing together before he jumped down and caught the investigator when she did the same a second later. They began to dance on their own right at the end of the verse, that was largely Paul vocalizing, before they moved into the chorus. There the two danced side by side and on the first lyric of the verse Derek spun Skye to him and he helped her flip as she ran with him. They did steps side by side until they were in the middle of the ballroom, the rest of the team standing on either side of them.

There Derek and Skye posed for a moment, with her leg extended and him leaning into her. As soon as the lyric they'd done that on was over the entire team was dancing in their pairs before they reached the last four lyrics. When they got there Skye and Derek let go of each other, the latter picking up Julia and putting her on Jonathon's back before she covered his eyes. While he was pretending to try and get her off Peter reached into his blazer pocket and took the ball there before Julia was set down and they ran to hand it to Skye. On the last two lyrics the other three couples were walking towards them the investigator held up the red ball in her hand and the six in front of her fell back on the floor.

That's outYeah, hey, yeah, heyYeah, hey, yeah, heyYeah, hey, yeah, heyHear the people shoutYeah, hey, yeah, heyYeah, hey, yeah, heyYeah, hey, yeah, hey

Queenie Eye, Queenie EyeWho's got the ballI haven't got itIt isn't in my pocketO.U.T spells outOutThat's outOutWithout a shadow of a doubtCause you been putting it aboutHear the people shoutHear the people shout

With the song ending but the music not stopping just yet, Skye turned to the others and said, "Let's play again!" before a whistle was blowing.

"Recess is over, back inside," Beckett called from the other end of the dance floor before the pair were groaning with the kids just as the music stopped.

"Where'd the music come from?" Julia asked after she hugged her friends and Skye before they were all being ushered to the side of the judges' table.

"Paul added that for us," Skye told her swiftly. When they were all together they hugged tightly and turned to the table as Tom was calling to the singer to go first.

"That took me far back to Liverpool, not just because of your costumes," Paul said to the group with a smile. "And it was a wonderful story, though it's a shame you never got to play. Shame on the six of you, you should have just asked to play with them," he said in a mock stern tone of voice, shaking his finger at the three pairs. "But a good, solid story; wonderful idea Julia."

Beckett looked down at her daughter, and seeing that she was blushing, hugged her from behind for a moment before they turned their attention to Carrie-Ann.

"I almost thought you weren't going to dance together but I see you were leaving it for your big finale," she began. "And each of you had a great stretch of the dance separate as well. But I loved you kids being included, and you were dancing with them. That was a big risk and you did a good job with it too."

"I wasn't sure," Len said when Tom called to him next. "About the team part of the dance either but I was pleased to see at the end. And your uniforms took me back to school myself. You had good steps when your feet were on the floor. And kids? Wonderful job keeping up with them."

Julia jumped up and down with her friends before they hugged each other, and Bruno was going next.

"I agree with everything they said and that was a wonderful dance done as a team," the judge replied. "Though you were a little at odds," Bruno added with a laugh. "But you were dancing perfectly and though you didn't get to your game you still had a lot of fun."

"Stay here," Tom told the group quickly as the audience was applauding. "We'll get your scores here."

Beckett was surprised when her daughter grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly as the music began and the announcer was saying Carrie-Ann's name. When she said, "Ten," and held up the paddle she smiled and hugged her daughter as she turned to her.

As Len, Paul and then Bruno held up the ten paddle as well, Julia was nearly screaming and trying to hug everyone before Tom talked about the next team dance and the show went to commercial.

"We don't have to change, do we?" Clive asked.

"No, not until the show's fully over," Skye assured him.

"We need to get up to the Sky Box," Derek commented. "And wait until the end to see how things go."

Looking at the investigator, Beckett saw she seemed okay so she took Julia's hand as they all went over to their families to greet them before they headed up for the last dance of the show.

"Skye and Derek," Tom said to the two, the pairs gathered on the steps and stage at the very end of the show. The Band on the Run team dance had gotten one point less than the Queenie Eye one and they had gone from the scores to the results. He paused while the music was playing and then said, "You are in jeopardy."

Up in the Sky Box, Julia gasped and looked at Mari before she turned to her mother, Beckett still with them. "Mom-" she started to say.

"She expected it," Beckett told her reassuringly.

Julia frowned and then looked down at the stage in time to see that Lisa and Keo, and Elijah and Lindsay were told they were in jeopardy too. She bit at the inside of her mouth before she grabbed Mari's hand next to her and they waited for Tom to announce who it was while the dramatic music was playing.

"Elijah and Lindsay," the co-host finally said.

Sagging against Derek slightly, Skye went over to the singer and embraced him saying, "I'm so sorry."

"That's alright," Elijah replied. "We'll be back."

Nodding her head, Skye watched them go to speak with Tom and Erin before she said to her partner, "That was close."

"I know," Derek said. "We'll be alright," he said. "After this week."

With a quick nod, since they were in first ahead of Raul and Sharna by one point, Skye looked over to her family, smiling at her wife and the others. She glanced up at the Sky Box, smiling at the kids when they waved before she went down with her partners and the others to hug the pair that had been voted off that episode.

"I wonder if I can ask now what you'll be dancing to next week," Paul said.

"Oh…" Julia said, looking over towards Skye. It was later that night and they were gathering together in the McDouglas family room after having a later dinner.

"Go ahead and tell him Julia," the investigator said, looking over from the kitchen where she and Mary were talking together at the stove.

"Oh, well it's going to be Legends night and first Skye's going to sing with the band," Julia said. She paused and then asked with a smile. "Not you too?"

"Not this week, we've a performance in San Francisco next week," Paul told her, smiling as well.

"It's a Queen song," Peter said eagerly. "Radio Ga Ga."

"You like that one?" Paul asked the boy.

"Skye should do a great job with that one," Nancy said with a smile. "We saw her performing that Queen song this summer."

"That was at Busch Gardens," Julia said quickly.

"They asked her to perform there," Mari added.

"What else is there?" Paul asked. "What about you four?"

"Well, first they're going to dance the Quickstep," Julia said with another smile. "To the song Rattled, from the Traveling Wilburys."

"Oh… George would be happy to hear that," Paul replied.

"After we'll have a dance," Clive said then. "The Paso Doble to another Queen song, Another One Bites the Dust."

"Very nice," Paul said. "I'm regretting not being there."

"You can watch on the TV maybe," Julia said quickly.

"Yeah," Mari told him. "You can do that and see Skye too."

"Does she have any other dances?" Paul asked, nodding towards the investigator.

"She and Derek have Jazz," Julia said with a wide smile, looking at her friends who all looked eager suddenly. "To Lady Madonna."

"Hmm, whose song is that?" Paul asked.

"Yours!" Eliza said eagerly as she was near them with the McDouglas girls. She giggled when the singer hugged her quickly and she said, "You gotta see that one."

"I will now that I know," Paul replied.

"That'll be special," Skye said, walking to them.

"Why are you looking at me?" Beckett asked her friend when she looked at her. She sighed as Skye shrugged her shoulders but then smiled and said to everyone, "We're going to Las Vegas."

Skye laughed when Beckett glared at her; as everyone started to talk at once except for the singer and his wife; and she soon was quieting them down. "I know it's sudden, but Derek and I would like this to be a bit like the performance at Love. We will be using your version from Rock Show Paul."

"I had a feeling," the singer replied with a nod.

"We'll head out there on Thursday," Skye said, looking at the parents there temporarily apologetically. "I'm so sorry but there's no performance Tuesday or Wednesday and that's the best we can do."

"What are you going to do exactly?" David asked.

"We'll head in the morning to the theater, they'll see us and teach us the choreography they have," Skye replied.

"And then we'll be able to stay for the first show that night," Mary took up. "So we're making a day of it."

"We'll fly in the evening before, have dinner… somewhere," Skye said. "Go to the Mirage to stay and the next morning we'll go to the theater and work with them for an hour or so."

"And after?" Castle asked hopefully.

"What do you have in mind?" Skye asked with a smile.

"Girls," Castle said to the two. As they ran to him he murmured to him telling them, "Pick a place," before Julia was suddenly whirling around before he could even finish.

"The Clark County Museum," the girl said.

"And the kitties," Eliza said eagerly.

"Have you been to them?" Beckett asked the two women as they were looking at each other.

"The 'kitties' we've been to," Mary said. "Not the museum."

"It's a bit out from the city," Skye said. When her wife looked at her she said, "Dad and I have gone."

"I hope Grandda is okay," Marie said, Liam having stayed at home that evening since he'd come down with a cold.

"I'll call him again tomorrow," Skye assured her. "But he'll be fine, just a cold." She then turned to Paul and Nancy telling them, "There's one more dance."

"Three?" the latter said in surprise.

"Sort of," Skye said. "It's a marathon Freestyle to the song Twistin' the Night Away."

"Oh, fantastic. Sam Cooke," Paul said with a nod. "I like that. Would you four join in?"

"We will, just at the start though," Clive said.

"Yeah, they're not making us do the marathon," Peter said.

"Surprising that you don't want to," Paul told them.

"Actually we don't want them to," Genevieve said. "Since it's a lot to dance to."

"Yes, leave it to the stars," Skye said jokingly.

After everyone had stopped laughing Beckett stood up and said, "I'll be back, I want to go check on Josie."

"Go Richard," Martha said as she could easily see her son was watching his wife.

Though a part of him did want to say he was fine staying with them, Castle stood and went after his wife up the stairs. When he got to the top he said, "Should I be surprised you're waiting for me?"

"No," Beckett replied. She shared a kiss with him and said, "But I really did want to check on Josie."

"I knew you were serious," Castle said firmly, taking her hand before they walked together to the room his mother was staying in.

Approaching the crib, Beckett smiled when she saw their baby fast asleep still inside with her stuffed animals around her. She fixed the thin blanket on her and ran her hand over Josie's hair gently before she moved so her husband could do the same. When they were out of the room and walking down the hall she said, "I'm glad you managed to get the villa again."

"Not as much as I was," Castle told her, squeezing her hand tightly. He was startled when she was stopping them both and asked, "What's wrong?"

Beckett turned and leaned close so she could whisper, "I want a bath tonight."

"We will," Castle said swiftly.

"Pervert," Beckett said with a smile.

"Of course I am," Castle said seriously before they were kissing each other. After they had parted he led them down first so they could go to the others in the family room.

"Is she okay?" Jim asked since he was the first person they walked to.

"She is, are they singing?" Beckett asked since Paul and Skye had instruments.

"We are," the latter replied. "Did you close the door for the baby?"

"Yeah," Castle said.

"Okay, should we have dancing as well?" Skye asked the singer.

"That's up to them," Paul replied.

"What are we singing?" Raj asked.

"Comfort of Love," Paul said. "You know that?"

"We know it," Barry said, sitting behind a drum. "This is enough?"

"It will be," Paul replied. "Now we don't have the clock sound…"

"We don't," Skye said, smiling as she knew he was checking to see if they were okay with that.

"Alright, then we can begin," Paul said. "Anyone can dance to this one." He counted them in and after Raj started playing the keyboard he had in front of him he waited until he needed to sing.

There once was a time when I thought if I had a house, I'd be happyThere once was a time when I thought if I had a car, I'd be madeOne by one I achieved my ambitionsBut it didn't feel like I wanted to feelDidn't feel like I wanted it to feelI didn't feel like I wanted to feel

Beckett, holding Castle's hand, was smiling at Julia as she and Mary were the first to pop up from where they were sitting, and they began to dance together before the other kids were following them. When the band got to the chorus she continued to smile when Skye was singing with Paul and she watched Julia and Eliza while they were dancing with the other kids for the song.

I needed a comfort of loveAny place and anytimeI needed a comfort of loveJust to get me some piece of mind, wo-oh

At the instrumental, Castle was watching the guitarists playing their chords, wondering if they should tell the kids to stop and take a break. He felt his wife squeeze his hand and he looked at her before he leaned over knowing she wanted to talk to him.

"It would be impossible to stop them, even with the four those two had," Beckett said, indicating Julia and Peter who were still dancing together as Paul was singing again, Skye joining him on the instrumental. She leaned against her husband, watching the kids again and smiling as he held her close with the lyrics being sung.

I long for the time when the world is a better place, to be happyI long the day when the people who went to sleep, will awake

One by one I improved my conditionsBut it doesn't feel like I wanted to feelDoesn't feel like I wanted it to feelDoesn't feel like I wanted to feel

I needed the comfort of loveAny place and anytimeI need the comfort of loveTo just to get me some piece of mind, wo-oh

I needed a comfort of loveAny place and anytimeI needed a comfort of loveTo just to get me some piece of mind

Well, I needed the comfortI needed the comfortI needed the comfort of love

I needed the comfortI needed the comfortI needed the comfort of love

"Kate?" Castle asked his wife, leaning down and kissing her shoulder.

"Hmm?" Beckett asked in pleasure as she enjoyed his kiss.

"Is it weird I really connect to that song?" Castle said.

"No, I had a feeling you were," Beckett replied. She felt her husband squeeze her and she smiled explaining, "The way you were holding me I could tell."

"Ah," Castle said. "My tell."

Beckett laughed softly and then squeezed his arms that were around her saying, "Another tell."

Castle was confused when his wife was suddenly pressing back against his erection and he let out a heavy groan saying, "Is this why you wanted the bath?" He was startled when she shook her head and suddenly stood, making him scramble to follow before they were getting out and drying off.

Not saying a word, Beckett wrapped her towel around herself once she was finished and took her hair down from the makeshift bun she'd put it in. When she had thrown the holder onto the counter she went out into the bedroom, turning to her husband when she was at the end of the bed. She still didn't speak, wrapping her arms around him tightly and kissing him. She was pleased when he responded to her and she reached down his back until she drifted down. As she forcibly pulled his towel off him she felt him freeze and smiled, ending their kiss and she took the time to say, "I'm hoping you'll want the same."

"Don't worry," Castle said, moving away enough to allow his towel to collapse to the floor. The second it was there he was grabbing his wife and then pulling her against him since he could open her towel there. Pulling it apart he stared outright at her bare body and murmured, "Believe me I need it."

Beckett helped him get the towel off her and she kissed him once it was with his on the floor. She ended it with a sudden cry as her husband picked her up and carried her around the bed, laying her down. "I thought you were going to throw me," she said jokingly to him.

"No," Castle said simply before he was following his wife since she had cupped his face with her hands, pulling her to him. They kissed passionately, and he ran his right hand around where he could, avoiding her breasts before he held onto her hip. When they parted he was a little surprised when she raised her head to kiss him but responded to her quickly. He was curious as to why she wasn't starting things already, but he was too busy dueling her tongue with his own before they were breathing. "What do you want love?" he asked her before she could kiss him again.

Shaking her head, Beckett closed the gap between them and they began kissing once more which would be the first of many. She found herself leading several times as her husband obviously wanted to start. But she wasn't ready until she could feel her lips were swollen and she sighed as she moved a little underneath him.

Finding himself cradled by his wife's sex, Castle was groaning heavily and moving so he could slide within her. He was groaning again at the sensation and she was gasping into his ear which was arousing him even more. Finally, their hips were meeting and he kissed her for a time before he moved over to her ear whispering, "Tell me what you want my love."

"Fuck me lover," Beckett told him, raising her hips as high as she could and making them both groan in reaction to the immediate pleasure that caused. "Chomh crua agus is féidir leat," instructing him to do it as hard as he could, hoping she also meant as fast as he could too. His first few thrusts were both and she was crying out in joy at the friction, and they were soon kissing through their quickie.

Castle wasn't sure she also wanted things short but guessed there was a reason for that and he began to thrust a little more though there wasn't much more he could do than he already was. After a bit more of that he could tell his wife was close and he wanted to beg her for more but decided he wanted to wait until they were finished. That thought was lost as he was responding to her orgasm with his own, his head almost spinning in the pure pleasure that raced throughout his form. When he had calmed down, having taken a bit longer than her to stop moving, he breathed her name and whispered, "Tá tú iontach," which meant she was amazing.

"As much as you are," Beckett replied with a smile, speaking in English. She was caressing his hair and she said, "Next time we won't delay."

"That was more you," Castle commented, raising his head as he felt a little stronger. He studied her expression and was about to speak before he frowned and she looked startled.

"What?" Beckett asked him.

"It's one of those times isn't it?" Castle said with a brief sigh before he withdrew from her and then moved to lay on his back. "Kate?" he asked her when she turned to him and pressed her face to his shoulder. "You know you don't need to do that," he commented as she didn't reply to him at all.

"I don't," Beckett said with a sigh, raising her head. "Your comment about the song made me… it made me think I needed to do something a little… more," she tried to say, struggling a bit at the end.

"I should never have told you," Castle replied, sighing himself. He wrapped his arm around her and began rubbing her back gently saying, "But at least I told you that you're way better." He was startled when she pressed her face into his shoulder again and said, "I'm serious Kate."

Groaning heavily, Beckett mumbled into her skin, "I believe you." She then lifted her head so he could hear as she told him, "I just… want to make sure," she said, relieved to find the words of what she wanted to express.

"You did a great job of that," Castle replied.

"Pervert," Beckett told him with a smile. She leaned over a little more so they could kiss and once they had she sighed and said, "You have what you want?"

"The song's right," Castle said, not surprised that she was making sure. "You can only buy so much before you realize it's just a hollow gesture." He kissed her that time and then said, "Now it's a lot better."

"That's because you're buying things for us," Beckett told him, smiling again. She then grew serious and told him, "And you discuss things with me… except for the surprises."

Castle couldn't help laughing and he kissed her gently before saying, "Those I have the most joy getting."

"I thought you would," Beckett said with a nod. She then laid down on him and said, "We're not finished," feeling him shifting under her that made her smile before she raised her head.

"I was hoping," Castle said honestly. When she gave him a rough kiss on the lips he made a muffled sound of surprise at how hard she was doing that but lost it as he was hurrying to respond to her. Their tongues met in between their mouths, and after rubbing against each other for some time they parted, letting them stay out in the air. "I really should have just said," he commented.

"You should have," Beckett replied, smiling as he was running his fingers through her hair gently. "The way I was demanding of you…"

Castle shuddered in pleasure at her tone of voice and he said, "I don't want to push you too far."

Beckett couldn't help smiling at that and she told him, "Which explains why we're as good together as we are. But-" There she got up onto her knees and once he was sitting up with her she pushed her hair over her shoulders and continued what she was saying telling him, "We luckily spend sometimes not bothering to worry about things like that." She was crying out shortly when her husband was grabbing her, flipping her onto her back before she wrapped her legs and arms around him. They were rough and passionate before Castle was moving and then sliding into her sex, ending their fifth or sixth kiss. "Rick…" she breathed before he started to thrust, and they were soon together in that though hers were limited. She was pleased when he was moving fast but not as much as before, and she held onto him as tightly as she could before she lost herself in their bodies and their pleasure.

Relieved he was able to make their bout last for far longer that time, Castle kept his face pressed against his wife's neck once they'd both climaxed. Only when she pressed on his shoulder did he move and looked down at her with a slight smile saying, "I enjoy it there."

"Apparently," Beckett replied with a smile on her face. She waited for him to move and once he was next to her she moved to lay on her side with him. "I love you Rick," she told him earnestly.

"I adore you Kate," Castle said, wrapping his arms around her tightly. "And I love you; desperately." Their lips met as they were moving towards one another and after they had begun he placed his hand firmly on her back before their fronts were pressed together. He could feel himself growing aroused easily and after a while he pulled away abruptly to push himself away from her.

"Easy Rick," Beckett said with a smile, watching him.

"Easy for you," Castle said, groaning. He went to the edge of the bed and sat there, rubbing his face with his hands before he felt her behind him. "Kate," he said with a heavy sigh.