Genre: Romance, Family, Humor
Rating: M for sexual situations and language
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured on the show Castle, they belong to the creator of the show, ABC, and the others who do own them.
A/N #1: The lyrics for the first song in this chapter are from the song Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive written by Johnny Mercer, the version I have taken from is sung by Paul McCartney from his album Kisses on the Bottom. The lyrics for the second are from the song Let's Love by Paul and Linda McCartney, from the Wings album Venus and Mars.
A/N #2: The title of this story is the title of a song by Paul McCartney, from his album Pipes of Peace. The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Back in the U.S.S.R. by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, from The Beatles' eponymous album.
Leave The West Behind
Looking around the gate where their flight was Beckett frowned at not seeing the McDouglases before she heard her name being called. Turning her head she smiled at Skye and waited for her and her family to reach them before she was embracing her. "Really glad to see you," she told her friend.
"I know feels like it's been ages, not months," Skye replied with a smile. "So how is everyone?" she asked as she looked at Beckett's family and the Fosters who were sitting together.
"Mummy can we go see everyone?" Marie asked her mother before Beckett could reply.
"Go on you two," Mary said to the twins. "Say hello to everyone before you run to look at the plane."
"Everyone's fine by the way," Castle said as he was standing next to his wife. "You? Your flight?"
"It was a lot of fun," Mary said with a smile. "The girls were very, very impatient to go."
"Understandable," Beckett said. "Ours and the Foster's are impatient too, since the plane got to the gate."
"We should probably go and say hello to those Fosters," Mary suggested to her wife.
"Right," Skye said. She looked at her watch as they walked over to the others and commented, "Not much time left; bloody plane was late leaving LAX."
"You still got here in time at least," Castle said.
"True," Skye said before she looked over at Rebecca and David who were standing up. "Great to see you both again," she said first with a smile, shaking their hands. She glanced over at their children who were all standing together and said, "Dani's eager to go then?"
"I don't know if she realizes what's going on exactly," David said with a smile as he and his wife shook Mary's hand. "She's excited since the rest of them are."
"But at least she'll enjoy it even if she won't remember it," Rebecca added. She then said, "Are you guys eager?"
"Of course," Skye said. "Been a while since we were last in Ireland. Though I'm wondering about your cousin's townhouse."
"We'll all fit," Beckett assured her with a smile before she saw that Julia was looking back to them. "They spotted you," she said jokingly to Skye.
"I noticed," the investigator said with a smile. She laughed when Eliza threw herself at her hard and said, "I guess you're happy to see us."
"Yeah, now we can go," Eliza replied.
"Not quite yet but nearly," Mary said as the little girl hugged her.
"You're excited like we are right?" Julia asked as she hugged Skye then.
"I think so," the investigator said with a smile. "Jim, Martha it's great to see you again as well."
"We got a little bit lost in all the children," Martha said jokingly. "Which will continue to happen but it'll be fun."
"That it will," Skye said, watching her greet her wife. She shook Beckett's father's hand before saying, "I've a mind to take some pictures, excuse me."
"Still hard to believe we're heading out?" Beckett asked her husband with a smile as they sat down next to each other while the others were standing at the window.
"No, more believable now," Castle said. He then said with a slight smile, "I thought I was more excited for traveling; it looks like Skye really does have me beat."
Beckett couldn't help smile again; as they'd seen the way their friend was so eager to travel around Japan earlier that year; and she said, "I know and luckily she likes Ireland."
"Great she does," Castle said. "We can always use a guide."
Wanting to comment on that Beckett didn't have a chance for it as their flight was announced, boarding for business class. She got up with him then to get their daughters as the other parents grabbed theirs and they were soon walking down the jet way together, two by two.
"You're sure it's okay I can sit with you Mommy?" Julia asked her mother as they got to their seats.
"It is," Beckett replied with a smile. "Why wouldn't you think it was?"
"I dunno," Julia replied with a shrug. She looked at the row behind her and said, "Are you ready?" to her sister who was sitting there with their father.
"Yeah," Eliza said, smiling widely at her.
"Our parents are set," Castle said, coming back and speaking to Beckett who was standing up still waiting for him. "And they're going to behave for the flight."
Rolling her eyes Beckett replied, "I already knew they were, sit if you're set."
"Yep have fun Julia," Castle said, smiling at her.
"I will," Julia replied with a smile back at him. She then watched her mother sit down and she said eagerly, "I can't wait to go."
"Daddy I'm hungry," Eliza was telling Castle as he'd sat down.
"I know but we'll have breakfast soon don't worry," he told her gently.
Sighing Eliza then watched as her father pulled something out from the pocket on the side of his seat and she said, "Can I read?"
"You don't want to look out the window, see home for a little more before we leave?" Castle suggested.
"Yeah," Eliza said quickly before she turned her head to look.
Julia was watching the tarmac outside herself until the plane backed up and she sat straight. "I wish I could talk with Marie and Kath," she told her mother after she'd waved at Mari who was sitting with David across the aisle from them.
"I know but we'll have all summer to spend time with them," Beckett replied. "At least you can sit with Mari."
"I can?" Julia asked.
"Sure, David will probably want to sit with Rebecca and your daddy and I can sit in their seats while Mari joins you here," Beckett explained. She was a little surprised by her daughter's hesitant expression and she asked, "You don't want to?"
"No, I would like to sit with you Mommy," Julia said a little shyly.
"Okay," Beckett replied with a smile. "As long as you want to." They had reached the end of the runway by then and she held her daughter's hand before the plane started to speed up.
Behind her Castle watched their youngest closely as they were pressed back against their seats. He wasn't surprised when she was giggling slightly at the speed but still kept an eye on her just in case. Finally they were up in the air and once they had leveled off he told her, "Breakfast should be soon." He then noticed his wife looking around her seat to him and he said, "She did really well."
"I guessed," Beckett replied with a slight smile. "Watch her when we get our breakfasts," she then told him as she saw the flight attendants pushing carts up the aisles.
"I remember," Castle said. "So we're going to eat very soon; they're coming right now," he told Eliza when he turned back to her. "And there's going to be some food you might not like."
"Kay," Eliza said easily. She then became curious and asked, "What?"
"Blood pudding," Castle replied. He wasn't surprised when she wrinkled her nose as she recalled seeing it when they were last in the country and then said, "But they'll have the white pudding which you did like."
"Yeah," Eliza said, nodding her head before she turned her head to look out the window.
"Mommy?" Julia asked her mother then. "Can I try the blood pudding?"
"Are you sure you want to?" Beckett said, not surprised at the question.
"Kinda," Julia replied. When her mother nodded she wondered if she was going to think it was a bad idea but remained quiet until they got their food trays.
"Okay," Beckett said. "Eat some of your potatoes first before you try it."
Cutting some of the potato Julia ate it before she took the piece of blood pudding her mother had cut off from the small patty in her tray. She took a tiny bite of it and as soon as the taste hit her, her nose wrinkled.
"Here," Beckett said, trying not to laugh as she handed Julia her napkin.
"It's funny… people like that?" the girl asked after drinking some milk and eating the rest of the little cake made of potatoes to get the taste out of her mouth.
"They either grew up with it or they like the taste of it," Beckett reminded her.
"Oh… that makes sense," Julia said after thinking of that for a moment. "At least I tried it."
"You did," Beckett said. She ate with her daughter a little bit longer before she realized that she was looking at her. "What is it?" she asked.
"Have you tired it?" Julia asked.
"Just once," Beckett replied with a smile. "And like you that was enough."
Giggling softly Julia asked, "Did you finish it?"
"No," Beckett said laughingly.
"What are you doing sweetheart?" Castle asked Eliza as he watched her trying to look behind her.
"Where is everyone?" the little girl asked him. "I can't see them."
"They're eating too," Castle replied with a smile. "And you should be you know."
Eliza sighed and then turned to her food before she started to eat it again. She was a little impatient to get up but as soon as she had finished and her tray was out of her way she was nearly flying out of her seat.
"Love," Castle said, holding on to the little girl before she could fly past him. "I think someone has cabin fever."
"I wanna see Gram and Grandpapa," Eliza explained as her mother stood up then.
"Go ahead but stay with them until one of us gets you," Beckett replied.
"Now I'm all by myself," Castle told his wife jokingly.
"Not really, you can join us," Beckett said since Julia was walking by him then.
"Don't you mean join you?" Castle asked.
"No us because she's going to bring back her sister," Beckett explained.
"We're not going to sleep?" Castle asked as she sat at the window seat and he took the seat next to her.
"I think it'd be best if we went to Dublin time," Beckett replied. "And we talked about this already you know."
"I'm just making sure," Castle said with a smile. "Not much longer," he said, looking at his watch.
"The flight will go faster if you stop looking at that," Beckett told him teasingly. She then took his hand and their fingers entwined before she said, "I wish Brennan could join us."
"Then we'd be sleeping on the floors," Castle joked. "But if they're heading to Scotland for a short vacation we can't really begrudge them that."
"True," Beckett said slowly. She then said, "At least they're coming to the wedding."
"Exactly," Castle said. He then heard someone approaching them and smiled at their daughters saying, "Sticking with us?"
"We will," Julia replied. When their father stood up then she shared an excited glance with her sister and got out of his way.
"I think they're expecting this love," Castle said as he sat down and saw the eager looks on their daughters faces.
"I don't mind," Beckett replied. "As long as this keeps them occupied when we're driving around."
"Thank you so much," Julia said as she took her package that Castle handed her, speaking to him and her mother.
"Yeah thank you it's pretty," Eliza said as their mother; who she knew had wrapped it; watched her and Julia.
"Very," Julia said, studying the abstract pattern on the light blue paper.
"Open it," Castle said in mock impatience.
Giggling with her sister Eliza tore open her package first and then took out a coloring book with a package of colored pencils attached to it. "What is it?" she asked.
"It's another color by number," Julia said, looking at her coloring book she'd taken out of her package. She then looked at her sister and said, "Oh… looks like it's Disneyland."
"It is, we thought you might like it," Beckett said though she knew Eliza had realized it by then since she was looking at the pages.
"I do," Eliza said, nodding her head rapidly. She then dug into the package again and pulled out two books. "These are big," she said in surprise as she read the titles.
"We'll help you with those," Beckett said.
"And I will too," Julia said quickly.
"But the second one is easier," Castle added.
"Yeah," Eliza said. She then brought out a kit to sew a butterfly and she smiled before asking, "What is it?"
"Needlepoint," Castle said. "But you have to make sure you have the right colored yarn for each square."
"He's saying that," Beckett said before she gave her husband a look. "Because we'll start on these."
"What did you get Jules?" Eliza asked after she kissed her mother's cheek.
"I got two books too," Julia replied. "This one is from Canada," she said as she held up the hardcover book. "It's called Exiles from the War. And this one is from home."
"What's it called?" Eliza asked interestedly as she looked at the shiny red cover patterned with bells.
"Christmas After All," Julia replied before she opened it.
"Save it for later sweetie," Beckett told her.
"Show your sister the kit you got," Castle suggested.
"Look," Julia said, showing her the needlepoint she had.
"It's butterflies too," Eliza said. "And they're blue."
"We-" Beckett began to say, wondering if she was upset at that fact. But before she could continue the little girl was and she was startled at her comment.
"So pretty, mine are too," Eliza said with a wide smile.
"They are," Julia said with a nod. She then looked over at Mari and when she saw she was gone said, "Can I show-"
"Go, show everyone but come back so we can get started on those," Beckett said.
When their daughters had left them Castle asked, "You assume they want to start?"
"I know our daughters," Beckett said. "And honestly it's better that way since they won't lose the needles here as opposed to likely doing so in the car."
"Want to see everyone?" Castle asked as she was standing up.
"Come on," Beckett said, not surprised that he'd guessed. She went to the Fosters who were behind the row that Castle and Eliza had been in and said with a smile, "You got her a gift set too?"
"Of course, as much driving as we're going to be doing," David said. "Show them what we got you Mari."
Beckett wasn't surprised to see that the little girl had gotten much the same as Julia had, just different kinds of the same items. "You should have fun," she said when she'd finished.
"I know I can't wait to read my books," Mari said. "Especially 'cause now I'm old enough to read these books like Julia does," she added, smiling at her friend.
"You could still read them when you were eight," Julia pointed out with a returning smile since her friend's ninth birthday had been two days before. "I hope we get to do something for it today," she whispered into her ear since she knew all Mari had done was a small celebration with her family because it was the day before they'd left.
"Me too but I'm glad we get to have a sleepover until we go home," Mari said in the same low tone of voice.
"Come and show your stuff with me to the twins," Julia told her then.
Watching the three girls leaving them Beckett then took Dani from David and said, "How is she doing?"
"Really well," Rebecca replied. "She was a little scared of the takeoff but she enjoyed the cracker I gave her to eat while we were going through that."
"I was going to say, we didn't hear anything from her," Castle joked as he let the baby take his fingers with hers. "But let's hope she'll stay the same."
"We're watching her," David replied simply. "How're Skye and Mary doing?"
"We're here," the latter said, walking up with her wife. "The kids are showing each other their new toys."
"They didn't get toys grá," Skye commented to her.
"As far as they're concerned they are," Mary replied. "We got them those needlepoint kits like you mentioned Kate; they're eager to get them started."
"So we'll be busy for a while luckily," Castle said, looking with the two women as their daughters and Mari walked down to Martha and Jim and showed them their items. When they had finished he took Eliza and went with Beckett back up to their rows to sit back down.
"Can we sit with them?" Eliza asked her father before he could sit next to the window.
"Kate?" Castle asked her in the row ahead of him.
"Sure," Beckett said. She had Julia stand up before she sat down and then waited for the two to come to them. "Here," she told Eliza, pulling her onto her lap. "I'll help you."
"Did you do this Mommy?" Julia asked as she sat on her father's lap.
"I did, with your great grandmother," Beckett answered as she prepared the needle for Eliza with the first color. "Not many times as I didn't have much patience for this kind of sewing. But I did make a couple pictures."
"You learned to regular sew too," Julia stated as she knew her mother could sew to mend their clothes.
"So did I," Castle replied. "And yes Mother," he said as she was standing next to him in the aisle. "I appreciated it greatly when I needed to fix Alexis' things."
"I just wanted to say something I forgot to tell you," Martha said then. "You'll show me how you come along with those right?"
"Definitely," Julia told her.
"Yep," Eliza said with a beaming smile.
"Wonderful," Martha said. "Have a fantastic time with those and I'll see you in Dublin."
"She's right, we'll likely stick around here," Castle said with a smile as the girls looked at him and Beckett.
"For now let's start your first stitch," Beckett told Eliza as she helped her hold the sampler correctly in her hands. She helped her sew the first color and kissed her temple as the little girl was giggling heavily in pleasure. When they were finished with it she then helped her begin to switch to the next color as they continued their way across the Atlantic Ocean.
"Here we are," Castle said after he'd pulled into the garage at the McCollough townhouse.
"I think we're aware of that," Beckett replied, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.
"Just in case anyone wasn't sure," Castle said as he turned off their rental car. "Or asleep."
Beckett rolled her eyes and she said, "They're not."
"We wanna see the house Daddy," Julia said from the back.
"Yeah," Eliza said in indignity.
Laughing Castle got out with his wife and went back to help their daughters before he followed them with his suitcases. "Glad to see we all got here alright," he told the Fosters, McDouglases and his and Beckett's parents.
"We were following you," Rebecca said simply.
"And I'm aware of the area; quite close to Grafton," Skye commented as they made their way over to the front door.
"That's where we went before," Julia said eagerly.
"Can we get some books?" Eliza then asked rapidly as she somehow recalled the street and the bookstore off it.
"We're going," Beckett said, seeing the Fosters looking to them questioningly except for the baby. "But after we get settled for our stay here." Since she had the key her cousin had sent to her she was unlocking the door and she stepped into the foyer, smiling at the size of it and the staircase that was directly in front of her. Getting out of the way of the others she turned to them and said, "We need to figure out how we're going to stay in the rooms."
"Dani's staying with us of course," David said first.
"So that leaves six girls," Castle said. "And then we need five bedrooms for the adults."
"There are six bedrooms," Beckett said. When the others looked at her in surprise she said, "The top floor used to be an attic according to Brennan. He and Clara made it into two bedrooms."
"Four is still quite a lot," Martha commented.
"Luckily we'll all fit," Castle said. "I'm thinking the kids can go in one of the bedrooms upstairs."
"I think you mean two," David said with a slight frown.
"All of them will fit in one," Beckett said quickly. "There are four beds, they have their staff come with them when they're here," she explained. "So one of you will have a bed to yourself."
"Unless Mari shares it with me and Lizzy," Julia said quickly.
"That would work," Castle told his wife.
"For when Alexis and Louis join us?" Mary asked.
"Right," Castle said.
"Then I'll volunteer my wife and myself for the other bedroom," Skye said.
"We'll take the next floor bedrooms," Martha said, motioning to herself and Jim. "There are two right?"
"Three," Castle answered.
"Then you two take the bottom… second floor," Rebecca told Castle and Beckett.
"It's the first floor technically," Skye said.
"Are you sure?" Beckett asked her friend.
"Very, let's go," Rebecca replied.
They then headed up the staircase and made their way to the bedrooms, the parents dropping off their items before they followed their children to their bedroom.
"Wow this is so cool," Marie said, going to the large window they had.
"It is, they treat their staff excellently," Beckett commented.
"So you guys will be comfortable here," Castle said as he began to help his wife with Eliza's clothing.
"What do we do when you finish?" Kathleen asked her parents as they were hanging up her and her twin's clothing.
"You can look around downstairs," Skye said. "But be careful this isn't our home."
"We will," the twins said at the same time.
With some laughter between everyone the adults finished unpacking their kids' clothes for their time in the capitol city. They then split up in the rest of the rooms, the children following their parents instead of going downstairs.
"What will we do now?" Julia asked her parents as she and her sister were on the bed in their room.
"I think we can leave as soon as we go," Beckett began after hanging a blouse. "You should know that since there are so many adults this time we're not the only ones making decisions."
"That's okay," Julia replied, looking at her sister as she was walking around the bed; their shoes off.
"You know where we can go," Eliza commented as her father had her stop and get down on the top of the mattress next to her sister.
"We planned everything," Beckett told her.
"Except for today," Castle then said. "Since we just got here."
"So we're just gonna go straight to dinner?" Julia asked her then.
"No," Beckett answered first. "We're heading to a park."
"You mean the one we're across the street from?" Julia asked, pointing out the window.
"What's the name?" Eliza asked then.
"This is area we're on is called Merrion Square," Castle said. "And the park has the same name."
"What can we do there?" Julia asked.
"You'll find out right now," Beckett told her, helping her down to the floor as Castle was picking up Eliza. When they stepped out into the hallway outside they saw the others coming down the stairs and she asked, "Are we ready?"
"Everyone is," Skye commented. "We all have our cameras so I think we should go."
With that the group walked out of the townhouse and across the street where they split up at the park after talking to each other. The adults; except for Jim and Martha; went on their own down the paths while the children remained with the two.
"So," Martha said, clapping her hands together. "What will we do today?"
"We can play?" Kathleen asked with a smile.
"Of course," Jim answered. "I'm hoping that you will so I can get some pictures; the first of the trip."
"You don't want to take pictures around here Grandpapa?" Eliza asked him.
"I will but for now what will we play?" Jim told her.
"Why don't you play blind man's bluff?" Martha suggested, holding out a handkerchief.
"Okay," Julia said quickly after looking at the others who glanced to her.
"Find out who'll be it first," Martha said. She wasn't surprised when they then began to chant a rhyme to see who would be and Mari was chosen. "You need to stay close to her girls," she told them as she tied the handkerchief around the little girl's head. "That way we don't run into anyone or get lost."
Handing Dani; who he'd been holding up until then; to Martha, Jim then began to take pictures of the girls as they started to play. He watched with Castle's mother and the baby as the girls danced away from Mari before they laughed heavily and got her to turn again towards them. He took a number of pictures before Mari finally tagged Eliza and the game was starting over again. As his youngest granddaughter was laughing he then began to take shots of her and Martha while the handkerchief was going around her head.
At the same time their daughters were playing with their friends Castle and Beckett were more to the west of the park from where they'd come in, kissing deeply behind a tree.
"Wait, wait," Beckett nearly gasped as they parted finally. She smiled and said, "Do you think they're doing the same?"
"Maybe," Castle said before he bowed his head. He nuzzled the side of her neck with his nose before he sighed and carefully pulled away. "I wish-" he began to say.
"We can," Beckett said with a loving smile at his nearly desperate expression. "But let's wait until the girls are in bed."
"Until everyone's in bed," Castle said as he reluctantly let go of her before they held each other's hands. As they were continuing over the grass and through the trees around the southwestern side of the park he said, "How did we get the room on its own?"
"I don't know," Beckett replied with a smile. "I don't think it's for the reason you're wondering."
"Maybe David thought that," Castle said.
Sighing Beckett said, "Since he's a man too, I guess so."
Castle then said, "What about Skye?"
"What… oh…" Beckett said before she suddenly recalled that their friend had been fighting a smile as they'd been talking about the room situation.
"Yeah, she knows," Castle said. "Which is weird but hey, we know they might."
"They'll keep quiet," Beckett said slowly, looking at him.
"We'll test it later," Castle assured her then.
With a nod Beckett looked around them and she said, "Hard to believe we're here again."
"I know," Castle said in agreement. "But we're under two months now."
Beckett shook her head; smiling; and she said, "I thought the same myself when we were at the seventeenth."
"I wonder why we're still so eager," Castle said musingly. He then noticed that his wife was looking at him and he said quickly, "Not that it's not something to get eager about."
"I was teasing you," Beckett said with a smile. "But you're right; this isn't our first time we've been married."
Not surprised when she trailed off Castle said, "At least this time we're okay."
Beckett nodded and let him stop them before they kissed each other deeply though rapidly since they were soon parting from one another. "Hmm we really should try tonight," she told him as they looked at one another.
"Oh good, I thought I was going to be on my own with this," Castle said jokingly. He then embraced his wife once more before he heard a low whistle and groaned saying, "You were doing this same thing not too long ago yourselves!" before he turned to look at the Fosters walking up to them.
"Still, that was very passionate and loving… aww," David started to say before his wife was elbowing him. "Ouch."
"You deserved it," Rebecca said, rolling her eyes. "This is amazing I wish we could have looked around some before when we went to Adare."
"Now you'll have the chance," Castle said. "Even if it's with us." When he saw his wife and David's rolling their eyes he said to his friend, "I guess you're all okay with the huge group we've made up together."
"Didn't we all discuss that when we were planning things?" Rebecca asked jokingly.
"At least we know we can do this," David said.
Since the man was looking past them Beckett turned her head with the others and they saw that Skye and Mary were walking towards them. "How was your walk?" she asked the couple when they were close enough.
"Did you make out like the rest of us did?" David asked. "Becca," he said in mock anger to his wife as she playfully socked him on the arm.
"Leave them alone," Rebecca replied.
"For what reason?" Mary said laughingly. "We did too."
"Wow," Rebecca commented, noticing the mark forming on the woman's neck. "Are you hungry?"
Hearing the investigator muttering in another language Castle said, "Maybe we should head to the kids and see if we should make our way to the restaurant."
"I think that's a great idea," Skye said quickly, glancing at Beckett. When the woman whispered to her in Russian she replied in the same language before they headed down the path to where their children were.
"What was that about?" Castle asked as they were the last in the group.
Smiling Beckett said, "When Rebecca asked her about being hungry Skye said she was but much more for her wife. And I told her that I think we were all of us hungry for our spouses. Even with the traveling."
"And what'd she say to you?" Castle asked her.
"They saw us," Beckett said, nodding to Skye and Mary. "So she said she knew that I definitely was for you and you were for me too."
Castle smiled and said, "At least it doesn't disgust her."
Beckett nodded in response before they were reaching their kids and her father and his mother. She smiled to find they were playing tag and she stopped to take a number of pictures before they were reunited once again.
"Hold on!" David said, pretending to yell impatiently the kids were talking. He smiled when the girls all calmed down and said, "Sorry but we were going to ask if anyone's hungry." He glanced at the other adults when the girls all spoke at once; saying they were; and he said, "So we should go?"
"We should, come along after us we know where we're going," Skye told them. She and Mary; their daughters in hand; walked over to Merrion Square North where they walked past the National Gallery; which they would be visiting that coming Sunday once Alexis and Louis were with them. She then pointed out the Natural History Museum just past it; what they'd be seeing the next day.
"We get to know about it?" Julia asked eagerly.
"I think it's because we're passing it now honey," Jim said, not surprised at his granddaughter's excited tone of voice.
"That's the reason," Castle said ahead to them. "But anything else will have to wait." He wasn't surprised when Julia smiled back at him and then squeezed Eliza's arm as she was on his shoulders, looking around as they continued, coming to Trinity College before they made it to Grafton Street.
"Interesting," David commented, looking down the length of the street.
"Disappointing?" Skye asked him.
"No I just wasn't expecting it to look so Irish," David said. He wasn't surprised when the others; except the children; looked at him and told them honestly, "Not sure what I was expecting. But I like the fact that it still looks like we're in Ireland."
"There are a number of places to eat here," Beckett began as they were making their way down.
"I can see that," Rebecca said as they were passing a McDonald's.
"Not that," Castle said. "We were thinking a restaurant or a pub."
"What about the one you ate at?" David asked.
"The Bailey?" Castle and Beckett said at the same time.
"Unless you're tired of it," David commented. When he saw the two share a smile he did as well and said, "Good memories?"
"They ate there when they came for their honeymoon," Julia told them before her parents could reply to that.
"And we did too," Eliza said as they reached Duke Street.
"Look is that the bookstore you went to?" Mari asked eagerly as she saw the store they were near.
"It is," Julia replied with a smile.
"We went too," Kathleen said.
"We'll go there after dinner," Martha said as she had been talking with the adults.
"Are we gonna eat now?" Eliza asked as she hadn't been paying attention to them.
"Right now," Castle replied before he took her hand as they went down the street.
"So many wonderful shops," Rebecca said interestedly as they were passing them. "We will get to shop right?"
"We will," Beckett said before she looked to Mary.
"I would like to make my way to Trinity College if we could," the woman replied.
"That would be nice," David said quickly, the others agreeing except for Julia and Beckett.
"I think we'll walk around here, take some pictures," the latter said as she looked at her oldest daughter.
"That'll be nice," Castle said since his wife had then turned to him. By then they'd reached the bar and since there were so many of them it took a while to get enough tables put together in the outdoor seating area. But finally they were sitting and he said to his wife, "They changed the menu."
"A lot of tapas," Beckett commented as she looked at it as well. "But they still have what we always get."
"They do," Castle replied. He knew David and Rebecca was looking at them and explained, "The fish and chips."
"I might try that too," David said.
"I'll try the salmon sandwich," Rebecca said.
Shortly after the others had made their choices the waitress returned and they ordered before they began to talk, the kids speaking about the next day while the adults were speaking together.
"I wonder what's new at the museum," Kathleen said musingly.
"Think there will be?" Mari asked her.
"Maybe," Marie said next with a shrug before they all looked at Dani as she was babbling though she said a few words as well.
"We went," Julia then said. "When we came here last year but it's really cool; all the stuff they have. But I don't know what was new then; and they might have new stuff."
Seeing that the other girls were looking at her Eliza said quickly, "Me too, I liked it. You can take fun pictures there."
"I can't wait until we go," Mari said. "And the National Gallery too. I wonder what kind of art they have."
"They'll have nice ones," Julia said. She smiled and said, "We went there too."
"Yeah right after," Eliza added. "But we didn't see all of it."
"We will when we go this time," Martha said as she'd heard that. "You know your sister asked that we visit."
"And we agreed," Skye said as the children were all looking at them. "We've been as well but we were rushed too."
"What about after we leave here?" Marie asked her mothers.
"That you'll need to wait for," Mary replied.
"But I think we can tell the direction we're going around the country," David commented.
"Yeah we can," Castle then picked up. "We're heading north and then around to the southeast before the wedding."
"That's it?" Eliza asked.
"I think that's all the details your parents are going to tell you all," Jim said with a smile. Before the kids could protest he told them, "Here's your dinner."
With that the group began to prepare their food; since each sister was sharing; though Mari was sharing with Julia and Eliza. Once the fish and chips were split up between the kids the adults turned to their food and they ate for a while in silence.
"Something about eating this in Europe makes it taste better," Rebecca said as she set down her sandwich.
"It does," Beckett agreed with a smile.
"Have you had fish and chips in England?" Skye asked the Fosters.
"We did, on our own before the girls were born," Rebecca explained. "Will we have a chance to go when we make our way to England?"
"There will be," Castle answered. "In the airport before we fly to Cork."
"On the way to the airport," Beckett said, looking at him.
"Right," Castle said before eating his fish.
With slight laughter Rebecca was asking the others about Trinity College and what they could see before the kids were talking among themselves again.
"I wonder if we're gonna get something for dessert," Marie whispered to her twin though the others all heard her still.
"Maybe," Kathleen said.
Since the little girl was looking at her Julia quickly said, "I don't know, it depends on our parents." She then realized; when the others looked to her; why Kathleen had looked to her first and said, "I can try but I'm gonna say we all want to get something."
"And we will," David said. When the five girls looked at him at nearly the same time he smiled and said, "According to your parents Julia, Eliza there's a gelato shop down the street."
"But after we look at the stores," Rebecca said then.
"The bookstore?" Marie guessed.
"Yes," Skye said to the question. "But we might stop here and there."
Though the girls shared looks; as if to see who would protest that; they didn't say anything and went with their parents down the street the way they came. They waited anxiously as they were passing the stores but finally they were coming up to the bookstore and they all went inside, greeting the woman behind the counter before they split up.
"Do we have to pick a book together?" Julia was asking her mother as she and Eliza were with her.
"No but we have to approve of it of course," Beckett replied. "Don't run out of the store." She wasn't surprised when the girls just laughed softly and then left her. Alone she went over to Castle who was already looking at a book and said, "You found something?"
"Maybe," Castle said, showing her the book. It was a copy of The Importance of Being Earnest and he said, "It's a really nice edition."
"It is," Beckett said in agreement as she knew he wanted her to give him permission to get it.
"What about you?" Castle asked her.
"I'm not sure," Beckett replied simply. She looked around the shelves they were next to and said, "If I see something I like."
"Then look," Castle urged her teasingly.
Beckett shot her husband a look; though it didn't have much threat to it; and she headed over to some books on the country. She found a travelogue and taking it down she saw that it had some poetry by writers from the areas being discussed. She was going to tell her husband that she had found what she'd wanted when he was taking it out of her hands. "Hopefully you'll want to read that," she told him with a smile.
"I do already," Castle said in a promise. He reached for her hand and kissed the back of it before he then walked with her over to their daughters.
After taking the books the girls had gotten Castle and Beckett went to pay and then went together to the front of the store, talking quietly until they were joined by everyone else.
"That is an amazing store," David said as they walked outside.
"It is, you have to love their collection," Skye said. "Hopefully you'll enjoy your books."
"Rebecca," Martha said then, walking with her. "I was thinking about your sleeping arrangements and I think I should have Dani stay in my room."
"Oh, Martha you don't need-" Rebecca began.
"It'll be alright," Castle's mother interrupted. "I've done the same with my granddaughters and really I think you should let her stay with me the rest of the trip; it'll be better for you and David."
"Mother," Castle said softly as he'd heard that.
"Well?" Martha asked her son simply.
"If you're alright with that," Rebecca then said quickly. "I think we can manage it."
"Wonderful," Martha said before they were back on Grafton Street again and walking down it, looking at the shops they were soon coming up to.