Genre: Drama, Crime, 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: I wanted to say now that I in no way own the Walt Disney World resort, just to cover my bases I'm not making money off the mention, lol, though what doesn't exist at the resort already is my artistic license. And speaking of Disney, the Mickey ear hats and headbands are real and not my imagination.
A/N #2: The lyrics in this chapter are from the song Sentimental Journey written by Bud Green, the version I've taken from is sung by Ringo Starr from his album with the same title as the song.
A/N #3: The title of this story is a lyric from the song Sentimental Journey and the title of this chapter is a lyric from the same song with the same info in the a/n above.
Got My Bag
"Mom?" Julia asked.
"Yeah?" Beckett said with a smile, looking at her daughter.
"Think I can ask Skye something?" Julia then said.
"Of course you can," Beckett said in surprise. "You don't need to ask me." She looked at her in confusion and asked, "Why did you think you needed to."
Julia just smiled and shook her head before she hurried over to the investigator who was sitting, looking at their plane at the gate in front of them with Fleur on her lap. "Hi," she said with a smile.
"Hullo, what can I help you with Julia?" Skye asked with a smile.
"I was wondering if you knew a song," the girl said.
"Hmm… Leaving on a Jet Plane? Or… well, I can't think of any songs in Orlando that would apply here," Skye said with a slight laugh. "What song?"
"Sentimental Journey?" Julia asked slowly.
"I do know that one; we do," Skye replied. "You want us to sing it at the hotel tomorrow?"
Shaking her head Julia said, "Please sing it now?" speaking hopefully.
"You could," Mary said when her wife looked at her. She then glanced at Fleur and said in Italian, "Per lei."
Since her wife had said the words for her sake, Skye nodded and then said with a smile to Julia, "Mary's quite right. And yes, we can sing that but…" She stopped there, looking around the terminal before she said, "I just hope that the others here won't mind."
"They won't," Julia said eagerly.
Skye couldn't help laughing at how sure the little girl was and she nodded before saying, "We'll get started then."
"What are you going to sing Mummy?" Fleur asked shyly.
Kissing the girl's cheek Skye said, "You'll remember the song once you hear it mon petite." She looked over at her wife and nodded over to her before the music then began and she waited until her moment to start.
Gonna take a sentimental journey
Gonna set my heart at ease
Gonna take a sentimental journey
To renew old memories
I've got my bag and got my reservation
Spent each dime I could afford
Like a child in wild anticipation
Long to hear that 'all aboard!'
Beckett smiled when Fleur, Ivy and Iris giggled when their mother winked at them at the third line of the second verse, before she took Eliza onto her lap. She glanced around them seeing that the others were watching as Skye began again with Mary singing the chorus with her.
Seven
That's the time we leave
At seven
I'll be waiting out for heaven
Counting every mile of railroad track
That takes me back
Never thought my heart could be so yearning
Why did I decide to roam?
Got to take this sentimental journey
Sentimental journey home
At the instrumental there Skye said quickly, "Though we're going on holiday. Still applies Julia?"
"Yep," the girl said with a laugh before the investigator was beginning the chorus, that time singing on her own as Ringo had done in his version.
I said seven
That's the time we leave
At seven
I'll be waiting out for heaven
Counting every mile of railroad track
That takes me back
Castle wasn't too surprised when Mary joined her for the last verse, as Ringo had been joined in the recording of the song. He couldn't help wondering how the singer was doing but his attention was drawn back to the present when Beckett took his hand gently.
I never thought my heart could be so yearning
Why did I decide to roam?
Got to take this sentimental journey
Sentimental journey home
Sentimental journey home
"Let's go now," Skye spoke quickly, glancing over at the counter where an employee for American Airlines was stepping up behind it before she and Mary started to sing again.
Sentimental journey home
Sentimental journey home
Skye and Mary trailed off a bit and smiled as more than just their group traveling were applauding and the former nodded her thanks to them before she then said, "Are you well satisfied?"
"Yeah, that was great," Julia said since she'd asked her. She was going to speak again when she heard an announcement that their plane was boarding. So she thanked the investigator and rushed over to her parents, waiting for them to say they could finally board the Boeing 777 before her father took her hand to speak to her and her sister.
"Should we have taken the train?" Castle said to the girls.
"Dad," Julia said, wrinkling her nose at him. "And we are gonna go on a train."
"Yeah, to go see Maddy," Eliza said.
"Girls, we're going to start walking," Beckett told them as people were getting in line to board.
"Is Josa really gonna be kay?" Eliza asked then.
"She will, come on," Beckett said, taking her hand and gently tugging her as her father was taking the baby in her carrier. After they were in line and were walking on the jetway she looked back at her husband and smiled when their middle daughter cheered and jumped a bit next to her. "I think she's excited."
"It looks like it," Castle said. "And Julia's squeezing my hand extra tight."
"Sorry," the girl said with a nervous laugh.
"It's okay, I expected you to do that. And you can see Mari once we're in the air," Castle told her.
"Yeah," Julia said quickly as they'd come to the door of the plane and she stopped looking back for her best friend as she was eager to see the inside when the pilot suddenly appeared in front of them.
"Wilson, you son of a…" Skye said jokingly.
"Hey, I thought I saw your name," the pilot said with a laugh before they were embracing tightly. "But I don't know a Rose McDouglas."
Skye socked him playfully before she said, "I'm off for holiday with my family and friends."
"Great to hear," Wilson replied, smiling at the people behind them.
"We need to start going in guys; I'll introduce you as you walk by," Skye called so everyone would hear her.
Beckett; since she and her family were right behind the McDouglases; heard her friend introducing Mary and the girls quickly. She wasn't surprised when the man studied Fleur, Ivy and Iris closely since all three of them had been on the news in some form. They passed, and she shook the pilot's hand before saying quickly, "Is it possible for you or an attendant to take a picture of the flight deck with my camera or is that illegal?"
"It's not," Skye said. "I'll handle the camera Wilson."
"Alright but don't let it get around I'm doing that," the man said.
Thanking him quickly; as they needed to continue so the other passengers could board; Beckett walked over to first class as the flight attendant had directed them once she'd seen their boarding passes. "Thanks Dad," she said, taking Josie's carrier.
"Excuse me ma'am, will you be requiring anything for the baby at take off?" a flight attendant asked.
"Oh no, I think we have everything we need. Thank you," Beckett said with a smile before she saw her daughters were coming over to them.
"Will she be okay?" Julia asked first.
"She will, she's sticking with me," Beckett reassured them. "Now go to your seats," she said with a smile.
"Can we say goodbye to her?" Eliza asked.
"Not goodbye since we'll be right here," Beckett said. "Just give her a kiss and come see us once the seatbelt sign is off." She watched the two kiss their sister on her forehead, smiling as they both told her to sleep during the take off. "I'll try to get her to do that," she promised them when they hugged her tightly. "Now listen to Alexis," she directed to Eliza. "And your grandpapa," she said to Julia.
"We will, don't miss Dad too much," the latter said.
"Julia," Beckett said though she couldn't help smiling at Julia's wry smile. She watched the two leave and glanced at her husband who'd joined them by then. "You heard that?"
"Of course," Castle said. That was all he said though as he reached down to their baby, taking her out of the carrier. Holding Josie against his shoulder he murmured, "You won't hear a thing but just think about the force as if your mom was running around with you in your sling."
"Rick," Beckett said, unable to help laughing before she felt Skye gently squeezing her arm from behind.
"I need your camera; they're going to need to start preparing soon," the investigator told her.
Beckett nodded and handed the camera to her before she watched her hurry up to the flight deck where the pilot and co-pilot were standing. She smiled as Skye spoke to both jovially before she felt someone else walking up to her and her husband. "Are you jealous?" she asked Mary in Irish.
"She always flirts with her," the woman muttered, meaning the female co-pilot.
"Skye sure isn't so I think it's harmless," Castle commented, watching the three ahead of them.
Walking back to her wife, Castle and Beckett once she had Beckett's camera back Skye took one look at her wife and said, "She's dating someone."
"Still," Mary said.
Beckett busied herself with the screen of her camera as the two women were speaking to each other in Italian and when they left them she called out a, "Thank you," to Skye. She glanced towards the flight deck and said, "Thank you so much; its' fantastic," to the pilot as the picture had come out really well.
"I better sit myself love," Castle said.
"Are you going to be alright with Marie?" Beckett asked.
"Sure, she'll have things to do," Castle replied, since all the kids had a present that would have activities for when they were on the flights they would be taking to and from home and the train ride from Orlando to DC. He pressed a kiss to Josie's temple and murmured, "Your mom will take great care of you sweetheart." He put the baby back in her carrier and then turned to his wife, brushing his lips to hers before he went to his seat.
Getting settled in her own and making sure the baby was alright, Beckett was startled when someone stopped next to her and she glanced up, smiling when she saw it was her cousin, looking at Josie for a moment before he turned his attention to her.
"I hate to ask this when I'm sure everyone has already," Brennan said with a smile. "But you'll be alright with her?"
"I will, we've researched this, and we know what to do," Beckett said with a nod, eventually speaking absently as Lily was hurrying up to them. "What's wrong?" she asked in concern.
"Sorry, do you have a spare pacifier? I've been looking though Sophie's bag and I don't see it," the woman told her.
Going to Josie's bag, Beckett quickly found one of the four new pacifiers she and Castle had packed for their daughter and handed it to her. "I'd advise finding some more," she said with a smile.
"I know, and we will," Lily said. "Thank you so much."
"You're welcome," Beckett replied. She squeezed her cousin's hand as he excused himself to go sit with his daughter and then sat down again with the pacifier she intended to give to Josie. As she waited until the time when their plane would be pushed back, she focused her attention fully on the baby, smiling at her and slightly playing with her by moving her small stuffed bear around and letting her grab it. When the plane finally started to move, she looked over at her husband across the aisle from her and smiled at him saying, "She's asleep."
"She is?" Castle asked in surprise though he saw her carefully placing the headphones they had for the baby on Josie's head. When she nodded he smiled and then sat back as he looked over at Marie with him as she was looking out on the tarmac while they moved. He smiled, recalling the little girl wanted to be a pilot like her mother, and waited for them to stop at the end of the runway and begin their takeoff.
"Stay still Julia," Jim was telling his granddaughter as she was peering down the aisle every so often.
"Sorry, I'm just wondering what Josa's gonna do," the girl had time to say before the engines were powering up as they started down the runway. Julia waited for her littlest sister to start crying but as they were coming off the ground she was startled to only hear Fleur nearby whimpering next to Skye slightly. "She didn't cry," she told her grandfather in surprise.
"I think your mother's taking very good care of her," Jim said with a smile as he hadn't doubted his daughter would be doing her best with the baby.
"She's fine," Beckett said to her husband since he was trying to lean over and look at Josie because the carrier was next to the aisle.
"Did she wake up?" Castle asked.
Nodding Beckett said, "There's a reason why I was bent over her just now," knowing that he'd been watching her. She then turned her attention to Josie again, gently soothing her though the baby was staring at her with wide eyes as she sucked furiously on her pacifier. "Can you see Lily?" she asked her husband while she took off the headphones, not sure why she'd forgotten Sophie.
"She's holding her," Castle said. "I guess she was a little more unsettled." He waited for the seatbelt light to be turned off before he started to get up. He paused when he heard tearing behind him and said, "I guess it's time for the gifts," not surprised when his wife was quiet as they waited for any reactions from their elder daughters.
"Can I go say thank you to Mommy?" Eliza asked Alexis once she had opened her present.
"Go ahead but don't run," the young woman told her sister.
Trying her best to walk the whole way Eliza soon reached her mother and threw her arms around her saying, "Thank you! And you too Daddy! I love my books and the stickers too!"
"We thought you would," Castle said. "But remember you've got two more trips to go still so don't do them all right now."
"Are we gonna have lunch?" Eliza asked.
"In a little bit," Beckett answered, smiling as she watched the little girl moving in front of her to look at Josie. "She fell asleep again."
"So her ears don't hurt?" Julia asked, with them then. "Thanks for my stuff too," she said with a smile as her parents looked at her, waiting after for an answer to her question.
"I think they're fine because she has the pacifier," Beckett said, not saying anything else as she and Castle had explained it would be like chewing gum for the baby. "Now go back to your seats you two, lunch will be served really soon. Do you know what you want?"
"I'm gonna get the mac and cheese," Julia said.
"Me too, 'lexis said it comes with chicken," Eliza said eagerly.
"Then you better get going so you can eat it," Castle said. He then turned to his wife once their daughters were gone and asked her, "Do you want to switch?"
"She'll want to nurse soon," Beckett said in Irish as she shook her head. "And I can eat with her while I wait."
"Alright, but if you ever want me to sit with her just let me know," Castle said.
Beckett smiled at him, thanking him, before she turned her attention to the flight attendant coming up to them so they could order lunch. When she was alone she looked at Josie, gently running the backs of her fingers over the baby's cheek, waiting for lunch and hoping the rest of the flight would run as smoothly as it had so far. But watching her youngest before she glanced at her husband helping Marie with an activity book, she had a feeling it would since they all wanted to reach Orlando.
"Hey Mom," Julia said.
"Yes," Beckett said with a smile, watching her as her oldest had spoken still staring out the window.
"Can we know now which hotel we're going to stay at?" Julia begged.
"You can see it right now," Castle said, looking back at her with a smile.
"Are we in Africa?" Mari asked eagerly, being the first of the children to see the building their special Magical Express bus was stopping in front of.
"The Animal Kingdom Lodge," David told his daughter.
Gasping Eve said to her parents, "Isn't this the one with the animals outside it?"
As the kids were gasping after the teen said that Skye stood up and said to the group, "There are animals," speaking to the children. "But we can't see them unless we go out and check in."
"And hopefully it'll be done very calmly; they keep the animals here so let's not run around or anything," Beckett added.
With that admonition, the parents were getting their kids out off the bus quickly; going into the lobby and leaving their suitcases which would be taken to their rooms by the cast members at the hotel. Inside the lobby they found they didn't need to be concerned about their children as their awe at the grandeur of the lobby, decorated in its African theme, was evident and seemed to freeze them in place. They took turns checking in, Martha, Jim and Alexis watching the kids before someone started to play the bongo drums on a bench to the right.
Grabbing her sister's hand and then Mari's, Julia took off with them before they reached the man wearing a red patterned tunic top and hat that she though made him look like he was in a marketplace in Africa. "Can we dance?" she asked, suddenly getting the urge at the rhythm. When he smiled and nodded she cried a thank you and suddenly started to dance, Eliza and Mari following her swiftly as the cast member continued to play until he stopped suddenly. She was panting but soon laughing as they applauded the man's performance.
"That was good," Eliza said with a smile.
"Thank you," the man replied, smiling back at her.
"Girls," Beckett said to them. "We can go see our rooms now."
"Mommy can we take a picture with him later?" Eliza asked.
"Just remind me next time we see him," Beckett answered, taking their hands.
"We're stretched out all around the hotel here," Brad was saying as Beckett and the girls rejoined their group. "I think we should rest a bit and then check things out."
"If the children will want to," Brennan commented.
"They will," Mary said in amusement. "But is an hour enough time?"
"It has to be, we don't have that much time left before our other plans," Rebecca said.
Before the kids could protest at how they were being so vague the adults started to usher them around to get to their rooms, Castle and Beckett going to the left of the lobby so they could reach the one that Alexis and Louis were going to stay in first.
"You don't want to stay with Erin?" Eliza asked the young man as she was walking with him.
"It's alright, she'll want to stay with our parents," Louis said. "And I get to stay with your sister," he added, smiling when the little girl beamed and nodded. His girlfriend was opening the door to the room then and he was about to joke that he wanted the top bunk bed when they were stepping inside, and he found that while he couldn't speak, she had no problem with doing so shortly after they'd taken everything in.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Alexis cried, rushing to her father and hugging him tightly.
Laughing Castle said, "You're very welcome. But I should tell you that door connects to the suite your sisters and grandparents are sharing."
"That's fine," Alexis said firmly, looking over at the door in the living room. She went inside the bedroom room that was close to the entrance and she smile seeing hers and Louis' suitcases were already there. "It's perfect."
"Sorry," Louis said as her girlfriend glanced at her then. "I'm… stunned at all of this."
"You guys needed a room," Castle said. "But again, hopefully you won't mind being close to the kids."
"Why would we?" Alexis replied, smiling at her sisters as they were standing back by the door. "You guys don't want to see your view?" she asked them.
"In our room," the two said at the same time.
"Then go ahead over to yours," Alexis said. "Are we really going to take an hour?" she directed quickly to her father.
"Probably," Castle said, looking rapidly over at the window.
"Sure, open the door once you're inside," Alexis told them.
"We will," Jim said first. He left the room, since he had one of the two keys, and waited for Julia and Eliza to join him before opening the door of the room next to Alexis' and Louis'.
Rushing through the room the two girls went straight to the sliding door, Julia opening it before they nearly jumped out on the balcony to see the animals they knew would be outside.
"Well… I hope they like the beds at least," Castle said as he, Beckett and their parents were watching the two.
"They'll be fine," Martha said, going to the door and opening it to Alexis on the other side.
"How many beds are here?" the young woman asked, stepping inside.
"Two queens," Castle said. He then recalled something and went into the bedroom saying, "Great, they did put the crib."
"Josie's staying with us tonight?" Martha asked.
"No, with us," Beckett said. "Rick asked them to put one in here just in case we'd like her to go with you."
"Mommy, Daddy," Eliza said, coming back into the room. "Look at the aminals!"
"Hold on," Beckett replied, intending to go over to the bedroom to start unpacking the girls' things. Before she could slip inside though her mother in law was stopping her with a gentle touch on her shoulder.
"We can help them unpack," Martha said. "Actually, we can just unpack for them," she added in amusement as they glanced back over to the balcony to see the girls hadn't moved at all.
"There isn't too much," Beckett said, a little unsure about that. "And Julia can help, just don't let them stay for too long."
"We'll try," Jim said. "Go ahead Katie," he told her. "But would you mind them going over to your room?"
"We were going to tell you," Castle said with a smile. "Send them over whenever you'd like, we'll take them in."
"Bye girls," Beckett called.
Castle couldn't help laughing at the fact the girls didn't acknowledge that and he turned to his wife asking, "Ready?"
"Yeah, let's get started unpacking," Beckett said. They both looked at their oldest daughters and she was laughing briefly when they still didn't move. She took her husband's hand and they said goodbye to their parents and Alexis before going down the hall to their room three doors down. She waited for him to open 2315 and she wasn't surprised when he stepped aside for her to go first which she did as she couldn't help being eager to see their own view of the savannah outside the hotel.
"Will I need to unpack for you too?" Castle asked jokingly.
"No," Beckett said, looking back at him as he was standing in the doorway of the sliding door. "Bring Josie."
"Yeah," Castle said, turning back to set the carrier on the table by the door. He took the baby out and then carried her back outside to stand next to her mother. "Wow… now I see why you wanted to come here."
Beckett smiled at him before she looked at Josie and gently pressed her lips to the baby's forehead before saying, "I told you the view would be amazing," as she looked back out to the zebras and giraffes.
"I'd heard about this hotel," Castle replied after a moment. "But I was not expecting this."
Smiling again, Beckett leaned against him and then shared a kiss with him before they parted. She was about to tell him they would need to head inside to unpack when they both turned to look at the door at the knock on it. "I guess they managed to get the girls off their balcony," she said in surprise as she hurried to go open it.
"I'll have to ask them how they did that," Castle said, following her but much more slowly. He watched her look through the peephole and then open the door to find their two oldest on the other side of it before they were rushing in, talking with excitement at the same time to them both.
"Easy you two," Beckett said as she was closing the door. "We know you're very excited, but we need you guys to do something really important for us right now."
"What?" Julia asked interestedly.
"Can you keep Josie company while we unpack?" Castle replied to that, handing the baby to Julia.
"Yeah," Eliza said with a gasp. "Did you show Josa the aminals?"
"Aaaa," Josie suddenly said, turning her head on her sister's shoulder.
"I think that means yes," Beckett said with a slight laugh. "But she can't see them, though we did let her see outside."
"Go out to the balcony in our room," Castle said. "But don't put her on the railing and-"
"Don't try to call the giraffes over," Beckett finished for him, smiling at him.
"We won't, Lizzy tried to do that already in our room," Julia said teasingly.
"Jules did too," Eliza said with a smirk. She then frowned and said, "After I did."
"Okay, just be careful," Beckett said, doing her best not to laugh as her husband was doing. "Though we'll be here in the room."
When the girls nodded they went into the bedroom, Castle and Beckett getting their first look at their bed for their stay at Disney World. They smiled at each other, not minding the décor of the headboard at all though it wasn't exactly their tastes; for the lodge they felt it worked perfectly. They checked out the crib they'd use when Josie was with them and then turned their attention to the balcony where Eliza had opened the sliding door and they stepped into the doorway to listen to their oldest daughters talking to the baby eagerly.
"Those are giraffes and they have to eat the leaves on the trees," Eliza was saying, kissing the baby's cheek. "And they have super tall necks and they're taller than Mommy and Daddy!"
"And the zebras are like horses," Julia took up next. "But they're wild so you can't ride them but they're so pretty."
"Come on," Castle said, touching his wife's back before he went inside the room. He and Beckett unpacked their things and Josie's as fast as they could but at one point he looked at her suitcase and asked, "Aon rud speisialta?"
Glancing at him, as he'd asked anything special, Beckett said simply, "Is é sin duit a fháil amach," which meant that was for him to find out.
"Bandia," Castle said, breathing out the word goddess to her.
Beckett smiled before she used his glancing behind him at the girls to hide the one thing she'd brought to wear when they were intimate. Since it was just one item it was taken care of quickly and she said when he looked at her, "Are you finished."
"Yes," Castle said simply before he looked at their daughters again. "Josie's things?"
"They're ready," Beckett said before she looked at the girls as Julia came back inside first. "Is she asleep?" she asked.
"Yeah," the girl said softly.
Taking the baby, Beckett pressed her lips to Josie's forehead before she let Castle do the same and she then set her in the crib before he was setting up the camera to watch her. She picked Eliza up before going into the living room and once the door was closed she was about to tell the girls their announcement about the rest of the day when there was a knock on the door.
"The others?" Beckett asked her husband as he went over to the door.
"It is," Castle said after he'd looked through the peephole. He opened the door and said with a smile, "Are we taking too long?"
"No," Alexis said. "We just wanted to see your room."
"Okay," Castle said, knowing what she really meant. "Come on inside and sit so we can talk about what we're going to do."
"Is Josie asleep?" Jim asked, seeing that the bedroom door was closed.
"She is, that might change our plans," Beckett said, directing the last to her husband.
"Which are?" Alexis prompted.
"We're going to one of the pools here at this hotel," Castle said, not surprised when there was a gasp and squeal from Julia and Eliza respectively.
"I can stay with Josie until she wakes up," Martha said. When her son and daughter in law looked at her she smiled and told them, "I'll get my Florida sun after; I'm assuming we're staying until dinner?"
"Dinner will be at five," Castle said. "And it's here as well, Boma which is a buffet. Oh, and if you like that name girls," he said to Julia and Eliza who soon nodded rapidly. "The pool we're going to is called the Uzima pool. And guess what? It has a slide."
Laughing with her sister at their father's exaggerated tone Julia said, "Are we both going to be able to go on it?"
"We're not sure," Beckett said when her husband looked at her. "If you are allowed Eliza you might have to wear a vest… For that matter, you too Julia."
"Okay." "Kay," the girls said, shrugging their shoulders.
"So we're doing that for now and then dinner," Castle said. "But afterwards we're going to go to Disney Springs."
"Isn't that kind of far?" Alexis asked in surprise.
"How did you know?" Castle asked in surprise. "And where's your other half?"
Shaking her head and smiling, Alexis told him, "He went to join his family and I'm guessing he's hearing about this too. How're we going?"
"The new monorail track," Beckett said. "If they hadn't put that in we would be going another day and staying here."
"What's there?" Julia asked.
"Shops, we're going to buy our Mickey hats a little early," Castle replied.
"Ears?" Eliza said. When her parents nodded she squealed as quietly as she could before she then said, "Are you and Mommy gonna get them?"
"Yes," Beckett replied, seeing Julia looking at her too. "And not just the ears but hats; he wants your grandparents to get them too."
"I don't mind," Jim said.
"I don't either," Martha added when their grandchildren looked at them. "They have other hats, right?"
"They have some nice ears ones Gram," Julia told her.
"Let me see the selection," Martha replied with a smile.
"Me too," Jim said. "And that's it for today?"
"It is, so we need to get changed that way we can get going," Castle said before he saw the others were smiling at each other. "Are you all changed?"
"As soon as you left I had them do that; they're wearing their bathing suits under their clothes right now," Martha said.
"Good to know, Alexis?" Castle asked his daughter.
"I'm ready," she said quickly.
"We'll be right out," Beckett said with a smile before she took her husband's hand and they walked into the bedroom.
"Is she good?" Castle asked as he watched her check on Josie.
"You can see," Beckett replied with a smile. They went over to the closet to get their swimsuits and she said to him, "Your mother better have fun on this trip too. I didn't want her to have to continuously babysit."
"She will," Castle said reassuringly. "She'll love the kids' rides with the girls; probably Josie too since those really tame ones she can go on. And I know it's corny but we're all together and she does love that too."
"True," Beckett replied. "I just wonder about what she could be doing in the city right now…"
"Ask her if she minds right now," Castle said as they began to quickly change.
"I trust you know her," Beckett assured him. When she had her bikini on she then pulled on a sundress and said while she put up her hair, "Don't."
"I want to though," Castle said.
"We'll do that later," Beckett said as she'd seen her husband; dressed again; about to walk over to her knowing he'd been intending to kiss her.
"Promise?" Castle asked. When his wife merely smiled at him he groaned in desire under his breath but quickly shook himself to go back out to their family, carrying the bag she had for the pool and the water parks they'd be visiting.
"Leave the door open," Martha said before she became startled at her daughter in law walking over to her.
"The service at this hotel will be really good; if there's anything you need just call on the phone that's out here," Beckett told her seriously.
"Ah, Jim said you were concerned for our sakes," Martha said, smiling. "And don't worry, I'm happy to be here and happy to get the chance to care for Josie. Remember I don't get the chance to see her as much as Jim."
"If it's what you want," Beckett said, feeling a little more reassured.
"It is," Martha said with a smile. "Now what I don't want is worrying about you worrying about me."
"I'll be alright; you will be with us tomorrow and you have the Monorail now to get back here for naps," Beckett said with a nod.
"Kate we're ready," Castle told his wife as he'd been getting some towels for them to use.
"And I'll help her Katie," Jim told his daughter.
"Come out to the pool as soon as you can," Beckett said. "She'll probably need to be nursed."
"Of course," Castle's mother replied. She then smiled and said, "We'll see you out at the water."
Nodding her head, Beckett turned her attention to Castle, the girls and her father, taking the girls' hands before they were going out the door and making their way to the Uzima pool.
"Should we get some drinks now love?" Castle asked his wife. "Or wait?"
"Wait!" Eliza said in mock annoyance. She pretended to pout and stomped her foot before she giggled and said, "You wanna go on the slide too Daddy."
"I know," Castle said before he picked her up.
"Are you guys going to go on that now?" Skye asked as she and her family were sitting close to the Castles.
"We are," Beckett said. "I need to because I'm sure Josie will be back soon."
"Then let's go," Skye said.
"Eve, Jake," Castle called to the two that were in the pool. "Come on we're going to the slide."
"You don't want to go?" Beckett asked in surprise when the siblings were looking at each other.
"We want to go with our parents," Jacob said first.
"I'll watch them," Jim said to his daughter.
"Alright, have fun," Beckett called to them. She then went with Julia and Mari over to the slide and saw that there were vests and a cast member who was talking to Brennan and Clara.
"Anyone here under eight needs to wear a vest," the former told his cousin as they walked back to them. "And if those above eight can't swim you can't go on."
"Make sense," Castle said. "Mind if Kate goes first; we're waiting for Josie to come back."
"Go ahead," Brennan replied.
Hearing the other parents saying the same thing, Beckett smiled at them in thanks before she turned to Eliza, helping her with her vest. Once she was ready she took her hand and they went to the top of the slide. "I'm going to go first sweetie; your daddy will let you know when you can start down after me."
"Kay," Eliza said, trying to contain her excitement.
Beckett couldn't help hugging her before kissing her daughter's cheek and sitting down at the top of the slide. She pushed herself down and could faintly hear her daughters cheering her on until she was in the water. Breaking the surface, she waved at her husband and waited for Eliza to join her which she soon was, crying out the entire time to her amusement.
"I did it Mommy!" the little girl cried out in joy once she was in her mother's arms.
"I saw that sweetie," Beckett said, holding her on her hip. She kissed her temple and said, "You had fun?"
"Yeah! I wanna go again," Eliza said.
"In a little bit; your sister's going now," Beckett told her. They then turned back to the slide and saw Julia coming down until she splashed into the pool. "It's fun isn't it," she said with a laugh as the girl popped out of the water shortly after.
"Woo-hoo!" Julia cried, jumping up and down. She went to her mother and said, "That was so cool, we can go on it again right?"
"Yes, but an adult needs to be there with you," Beckett said firmly.
"That's okay," Julia said quickly. She smiled and then hugged her mother quickly before she said, "This is so fun."
"It is," Beckett said, only able to say that as her husband was coming down then. She wasn't surprised when he stayed under the water, swimming over to them and lightly pinching her ankle. "They want to keep going," she told him once he was standing.
"So do I," Castle replied. He smiled at the girls and took Eliza saying, "Are you going to come with?"
"I'll stay here," Beckett said as Rebecca was coming down the slide. When her family was going back up to the top of the slide she said to the woman, "Having fun?"
"A lot, we should have come here so long ago," Rebecca replied.
"I know, but at least we're here now," Beckett said. She thought of something and said, "Are you getting a hat?"
"Definitely, you?" Rebecca asked.
With a smile; as nearly everyone had asked her that once they'd met up together again; Beckett nodded, and she was about to tell her friend what she might like to get when she suddenly heard her name being called. She turned to find it was her father and she quickly got out, rushing to where she saw her mother in law was standing with Josie before she began to speak.
"She's fussing," Martha told her. "And I checked her diaper so I'm sure she'll want to nurse."
"Most likely," Beckett said. "Were you bored at all?" she asked as she was hurriedly drying herself off.
"No, I took a nap myself," Martha replied. "The couch in your room is comfortable."
"Good to know," Beckett said with a smile before she sat down and took Josie just as the baby was starting to cry. She waited for her mother in law to cover her with the thin blanket she needed and started to nurse the baby. Once she was sure her youngest was settled she looked up to find her husband was walking up to them.
"How is she?" Castle asked her as he grabbed his towel and started to dry himself.
"She's fine, what about the girls?" Beckett asked, looking past him.
"They're with their grandfather," Castle explained. "And sister," he said as he looked over at them as well and saw his daughter was swimming with them. When he turned back around to face his wife he smiled and said, "Hey, Sophie's awake too?"
"She is," Brad said, carrying his and Lily's daughter in her carrier.
"Luckily she let us join everyone out here," Lily said herself.
"Where are Eve and Jake? I heard about the slide," Brad commented.
"In the water," Martha answered before her son or daughter in law could say anything. "Leave Sophie with me, I'll watch her and Josie."
"Thank you," Lily said after a moment's hesitation before she decided the woman was serious.
"You're a thoughtful grandmother," Castle told her when the couple had left them.
Waving her hand Martha said, "I enjoy being with my granddaughter and I've always loved babies. And children of course."
"Good thing," Beckett said. "Since there are a lot." She had been about to ask her mother in law if she would go on any rides besides the lower thrill rides when Josie pulled away from her breast.
Taking the blanket Castle held it in front of her while he was watching her switch the baby. Instead of setting it back on her he stood where he was, smiling when she glanced up at him for not moving. "It's not for the view," he told her in Irish.
"Pervert," Beckett said softly, smiling at him at the same time. She looked at Josie and seeing she was fine she said, "We'll get the drinks after this."
"Awesome, so Mother will look after her too?" Castle asked.
"No," Beckett said, smiling at him. "I'll put her in the sling."
"Her…" Castle started to say before he looked more closely at the baby. "I thought she was wearing a onesie," he said laughingly to his wife as his mother had changed the baby into her bathing suit.
"I thought you'd like to take her in the pool a little," Martha said, watching as Rebecca and David came out of the pool to them.
"We're going to the wading pool with her," David explained to her.
"Why not do that first?" Beckett asked as Dani was trying to climb onto her mother's leg.
"Someone was too eager for the big pool," Rebecca said, picking up the toddler. She kissed her cheek before saying, "But now she wants to see her special pool."
"Babies too," Dani said to her mother.
"Maybe another time honey," Rebecca said. "Mari's with your girls."
"And everyone else but we won't be too long," David added.
"We're getting drinks after," Castle said before he noticed his mother was next to him. Watching her place a towel over Beckett's shoulder he said, "Thanks."
"Yes, thank you," Beckett said as at that moment Josie was finishing. She set her to her shoulder and started to burp her carefully as she fixed her bikini top before her husband dropped the blanket and sat on the edge of the chez lounge, watching her.
"Ba mhaith liom go mbeifeá in ann póg a thabhairt duit anois," Castle murmured to her though he was speaking in Irish.
With a smile on her face; as her husband had said he wished he could kiss her right now; Beckett said, "Déanfaimid níos déanaí. Geallaim."
"You're sure?" Castle asked as she'd said they would later and had added that she promised.
"Are you really going to doubt me on that?" Beckett replied.
"I guess I won't," Castle replied simply.
Beckett laughed and then turned her attention to the baby until she could tell that Josie had finished. She let her husband take her and grabbed her sarong to tie around her waist once she stood. As she went over to Josie's bag she said, "Someone should tell everyone else about the meal plans."
"They know," Castle said. "I explained it to everyone because I told them your suggestion that we should eat dinners together at least."
"Are we?" Martha asked.
"We are," Castle said with a smile. "They like the idea so we're going to be going to the same parks each day."
"When are you letting the kids know?" Martha said, watching her son placing Josie into the sling that Beckett had put on.
"At dinner," Castle replied absently as he was checking to make sure the baby was alright. "Okay, so Mother would you like a drink?"
"Of course, but something refreshing," Martha commented.
"That means non-alcoholic," Castle explained to his wife.
"They have smoothies; we were going to share with the girls," Beckett said. "Raspberry and piña colada mix or strawberry and yogurt."
"The first please," Martha said before she watched the two go to the pool with a smile as her son was looking down at Josie though she could tell his eyes weren't leaving his wife for very long.
"Girls," Beckett called as they walked into the pool at the zero-depth entry while the two were walking over with Mari, Alexis and Jim. "Actually everyone," she added with a smile. "We're going to get drinks at the pool bar."
"Really?" Eliza asked once they were close enough.
"Really, we're going to get some smoothies," Castle said.
"Can we go with you?" Julia asked eagerly.
"Yeah, go get your sandals though," Becket told them. "You too Alexis, Mari."
"I'll join Martha to wait," Jim said.
As her father was looking down at Josie in the sling; trying not to get her wet; Beckett was able to ask him what he wanted before the four girls were with them. When she looked at the pool she saw her husband was returning and everyone else in their group was coming out of the water.
"Parents are all going to get drinks too," Castle said before he paused as he felt Eliza hugging his leg. "It's okay," he said since the little girl was touching his brace around his knee. He picked her up and said, "We have to tell you about our choices anyways, you and I are going to share a smoothie."
Beckett smiled as Eliza listened seriously to him and then saw David and Rebecca were with Dani at the pool bar. They took a bit to get their drinks; since there were so many of them though the families were all sharing like she and Castle were; but finally they were back at their lounge chairs and drinking as well as talking. When the smoothies in the cups started to go down she wasn't surprised to hear the other kids starting to ask their parents about swimming again, Skye the first to answer that.
"We have about an hour left," the investigator said. "But I'd like our girls to take showers before we get ready for the night."
"And us too," Mary added.
"So we need to leave?" Erin asked in disappointment.
"Fifteen minutes?" Brad suggested.
"Maybe ten," Beckett said.
"Are you gonna swim Mom?" Julia asked after the other adults had agreed to that time and they were starting to get up.
"Of course," Beckett said. "Alexis, help me?" She wasn't surprised when her stepdaughter looked at her in surprise and she smiled saying, "I want your dad to take the girls into the water now; so they won't need to wait."
"Sure," the young woman replied, waving to Louis who was going over with his family to the entry to walk right into the water.
"You're okay with the adjoining rooms, right?" Beckett asked softly once they were alone; Sophie with her parents going to the pool as well.
"Of course," Alexis said. She then paused in taking Josie out of the sling and asked, "Why do you worry about our… intimacy."
With a smile Beckett said, "I'm sorry about that but I was your age… actually that doesn't work. Basically, I do like Louis as your boyfriend and wouldn't want you to have to stay with your sisters when you guys can bunk together."
Alexis couldn't help laughing heavily and had to control herself though Josie; fully in her arms then; seemed to be alright as she was making an e sound and then cooing. "We're not in Frontierland yet," she told her stepmother.
"Close enough," Beckett said, holding her arms out for the baby.
Kissing her littlest sister's forehead, Alexis handed her over before she said, "Don't worry, I thought maybe you were serious about red headed grandchildren-"
"Oh no, I was," Beckett said firmly. "But not yet. You two have a good amount of time for kids yet. I just want to make sure you're both happy."
"And that's why I appreciate it; we appreciate it," Alexis said.
Smiling Beckett said, "Speaking of Louis…" She watched her stepdaughter go over the water to her boyfriend before she followed her going to where Castle was with the girls, spinning them around so their feet skimmed the top of the water. "You're going to make them dizzy," she called with a smile, not surprised when Eliza hurried to her.
"Does Josa get to come swimming?" the little girl asked hopefully.
"Yes, but I also want to ask if you two want to go to the spa," Beckett replied.
"Ooh, say yes Jules," Eliza told her big sister. "The f'amingoes are there and we can see all the aminals too."
"Yeah, but how long can we swim here?" Julia said, looking at their mother.
"What about five minutes here, five in the spa pool and then we'll go to the outlook and flamingoes until we leave?" Beckett suggested. When the girls squealed out yeses she smiled at her husband as they ran to tell everyone their plans and wasn't surprised when most of their group were heading back to the slide. Once she'd given Josie to Jim she was following, holding Castle's hand tightly until they needed to swim so they could join their family and friends the rest of their time at the stunning pool.
