After hanging up the video call with Mozzie, Beckett was still a bit downcast. Fortunately, John and Gianna arrived with their energetic little girl, who had recently mastered the art of running around on her tiny legs.
It was the weekend, and for the past few weeks, John had gotten into the habit of bringing his daughter to Castle's estate every other day. Though his own estate also had two massive Caucasian Shepherd dogs, for some reason, the four dogs at Castle's place were smarter and more well-behaved—almost unnervingly so.
And then there was the clever little white mouse that Castle had brought back after blowing up the "Brotherhood of Assassins." The mouse had since been adopted by Alexis and now lived with her in Manhattan. John, despite knowing how attached Alexis was to the little creature, had occasionally been tempted to ask Castle to let his daughter keep it as a pet.
Castle's over-the-top explanation that it was all thanks to the estate's "excellent feng shui" had almost convinced John, despite his complete lack of belief in such things.
But in reality, the truth lay in Castle's system-granted ability to communicate with animals. That was why the four massive dogs at his estate were so obedient and well-trained. These weren't just any dogs—they were giants among giants. Caucasian Shepherds already resembled small bears under normal circumstances, but with Castle's care, they had grown even larger.
Yet, despite their size and strength, none of the dogs could withstand the chaos brought by little Onona. She had no concept of fear or size. To her, the massive, furry dogs were just giant toys to hug and play with. Castle had strictly instructed the dogs not to harm the little girl, and while she couldn't hurt them with her tiny hands, they clearly found her antics exhausting.
One by one, they learned to flee at the mere sight of her. Even Castle's well-trained giants couldn't escape her energetic grasp.
Onona was a natural charmer. With her adorable face and bubbly personality, she captured the hearts of everyone she met, from Castle's Russian bodyguards to the burly Ivan, who had a daughter of his own. Whether she wanted to ride the dogs like horses or tug on their fur, the adults around her indulged her every whim.
Castle often wondered if this was the universe's way of compensating for the tragic fates that had originally awaited Gianna and John. This little girl seemed blessed with good fortune and an endless supply of energy.
But as much as everyone adored her, she was exhausting to deal with. Now that she could run around on her own, no one—not her parents, not Castle as her godfather, not Beckett as her godmother—could let their guard down. The moment you took your eyes off her, she would disappear to some corner of the estate.
Even with JARVIS monitoring the entire property, the constant vigilance required to keep up with Onona was a trial. The dogs, massive though they were, had given up on trying to outlast her endless energy and curiosity.
When John and his family arrived, Beckett's mood lifted. Watching Onona waddle unsteadily toward her like a tiny penguin brought a smile to her face. Recently, Gianna had been encouraging Beckett to consider having children, and spending time with Onona had awakened her maternal instincts.
Beckett, a strong-willed career woman, found herself increasingly charmed by the little girl's antics. She set aside her worries about Duhoviche's crimes and joined Onona on the beach, leaving Castle to chat with John and Gianna.
Gianna had originally come to discuss the morning's overwhelming coverage of Duhoviche. Though Castle had no connections in Eastern Europe, both Gianna's D'Antonio family and John's Gypsy and Eastern European heritage gave them insights into the situation.
However, Castle was adamant about not letting the topic ruin the day. He suggested they save the discussion for another time and focus instead on enjoying a family barbecue by the beach. Everyone readily agreed.
When Alexis got a call from her dad inviting her to the barbecue and mentioning Onona's newfound walking abilities, she hopped into her car and sped toward the estate.
By now, beach barbecues had become a regular feature at Castle's estate. His Russian bodyguards, led by Ivan, had everything ready in no time. Meat was brought out from the freezer, drinks were prepared, and the grill was set up. Even the chubby kid and Ramsey weren't spared—they were dragged out of the lab to enjoy some sun.
Onona, meanwhile, was the star of the show. As she gleefully tugged at one of the unlucky dogs who hadn't escaped in time, she drew the attention of Ramsey and Alexis, who joined Beckett in doting on the little girl.
The tiny whirlwind had figured out how to work the adults around her. Whenever she wanted water, fruit, or attention, she would simply open her mouth and let her adorably expressive face do the rest. Whatever she wanted, she got.
The weather was perfect: warm, with a gentle breeze coming off the bay. It was an ideal day for outdoor activities, and even Castle and John took a rare moment to relax on lounge chairs with beers in hand. The chubby kid, exhausted from his all-nighter, fell asleep almost immediately.
Watching the commotion on the beach, Castle couldn't help but laugh. Turning to John, he joked, "So, pal, do you finally believe me? Isn't this little one harder to handle than all the assassins you've dealt with?"
John let out a long-suffering sigh, his face etched with exhaustion. "You weren't kidding. Back when she couldn't walk, she already had me at my wit's end. Now that she's running everywhere... buddy, you have no idea how hard it is to keep up with her.
"One second you take your eyes off her, and she's vanished. Gianna's even talking about installing a JARVIS-level surveillance system at our house just to keep track of her.
"And her energy! She only sleeps a few hours a night, and the rest of the day she's running wild. I have no idea where she gets it from."
Castle burst out laughing. "She's just curious about the world, John. This is her way of exploring and learning. Sure, she's a handful, but don't tell me you're giving up already!"
John pointed to the dark circles under his eyes. "Take a good look at these, Castle. You see them? This is what weeks of no proper sleep looks like."
Castle leaned back, still laughing. "Welcome to parenthood, buddy. The world's toughest mission, and there's no way out."
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