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: With this new story I want to bring attention to the genre and the fact that this is not an investigation story. Fully romance and family oriented which I hope readers will still want to check out!
A/N #2: The title of this story is a lyric from the song Spirits of Ancient Egypt by Paul and Linda McCartney, from the Wings album Venus and Mars. The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song The Note You Never Wrote by Paul and Linda McCartney, from the Wings album Wings at the Speed of Sound.
From The Little Note
Reaching for the book that was on her desk Julia looked back at her mother as she was checking her phone yet again. "Mommy?" she asked tentatively.
"Yes sweetie?" Beckett asked, turning to her.
"Who's gonna call you? Auntie Lanie?" Julia said.
"Oh… no actually…" Beckett started to say before she trailed off. "Hold on a second okay? I'll be right back."
Julia was surprised when her mother left her room and she hurried over to the doorway to watch her mother rushing to Eliza's room where Castle was with her little sister. When they were coming back she said, "Where did Mommy go?"
"She needed to get something," Castle said simply. "So you're finished packing completely now right? We leave later today for the loft."
"Yeah I just hope that I have enough books," Julia mused as she had been checking what she'd packed in her backpack for their trip that would begin the next day with their flight to Spain. "Are you ready?"
"Of course," Castle said before his mother, Alexis and Jim suddenly walked inside. "So we're having a family meeting love?" he asked his wife as she trailed behind them.
"We are," Beckett said. "Though my dad already knows about this." She pulled her ancestor's rosary out of her pocket and said to the girls, "Your grandpapa gave this to me before we went to California so I didn't see it until we got back earlier this week."
"It's beautiful," Julia breathed, holding the cross to see the carving on it. "Whose is it?"
"My great-great-great grandmother's," Beckett said. "Her name was Líle McCollough and she came here from Ireland in 1860."
"Wow and you still have that," Alexis asked as she walked over to take the rosary, handing it to her grandmother next.
"Also some letters," Beckett said. "And this is why I had everyone come in. They're copies of the ones she wrote to her sister, Bridget and from Bridget to Líle of course. And Bridget was sent back to Ireland after they reached Castle Garden. It was where the immigrants went before they opened Ellis Island."
"Why?" Julia asked, having learned that not everyone had been allowed to enter the country.
"They thought she had a contagious disease in her eyes but they were just reddened by smoke," Beckett replied, looking at her father. "You didn't read them?" she asked when she saw his surprised expression.
"I didn't really want to," Jim said. "But keep going."
"Yes, well the last letter is a returned one that Líle sent Bridget to Cobh," Beckett said. "As Bridget was working as a maid there. So what Rick and I are going to do is try and find any family that Bridget still has in Ireland."
"I hope there is," Julia said. "That would be cool if we had family. Especially there."
"I know," Beckett said with a smile. "But we'll need to wait and see if there's any way to find where she went after that letter." When the others agreed with Julia that they hoped there was family to be found she and Castle were left alone with their daughters and she smiled before reminding them, "We have one last chance to check, let's make sure we do that," before they split up and she went to Julia's suitcase again as the little girl leaned against the bed next to her.
"Mommy?" Julia said after a while watching her.
"Yes?" Beckett asked, looking over at her daughter and seeing that she was holding the rosary and rubbing at the cross.
"Do you think you'll be able to find them?" Julia said.
"I really don't know," Beckett said. She smiled and told her, "That's why I was looking at my phone. The contact that your daddy has in Ireland is supposed to let me know if he'll take the case."
"I hope so," Julia said, looking over at the doorway where Castle was coming in.
Before Beckett could notice her husband was there her phone started to ring and picking it up she saw that it was the PI that Castle had gotten in contact with. "Beckett," she answered.
"Yes, Ms. Beckett this is Joel Fitzgerald," the man said on the other end. "Your husband called me about your ancestor's family you'd like to track."
"That right, is it possible?" Beckett asked, glancing over at the door then to see her husband there.
"I believe it can be, the problem is tracking her from the last address your husband gave to me," Fitzgerald replied. "But I have sources here and I can see what I can do."
Watching as Beckett told the man when they'd be in Dublin, Castle waited a little impatiently for her to hang up and once she had he said, "So he'll look into it?"
"He'll look into it," Beckett replied with a smile, reaching out to squeeze his hand. "But-"
"Excuse me," Castle said, turning and leaving when his phone rang as he knew it was the PI calling him.
"Julia could you-" Beckett started to say, looking at her daughter.
"I'm okay, I'll go see what Eliza's doing," Julia interrupted.
"No can you check the last of your clothes for me?" Beckett corrected her. When the little girl nodded she then went to hers and Castle's bedroom, seeing he was speaking to the man and writing something down on top of the dresser. She waited for him to finish and then took the paper saying, "Glencolumbkille?"
"That's where my father's from," Castle replied. "And where my grandmother is buried. It's in Donegal."
"I thought it might be," Beckett replied, putting her hand on his arm. "So we're going right?"
"Yeah," Castle said. "I just don't know where that is in relation to Donegal."
"What?" Beckett asked as she watched him, able to tell he was thinking something over.
"I want us to go," Castle told her.
"Just us?" Beckett said, though it didn't surprise her.
"Mother doesn't want to go," Castle said, as he'd asked his mother when his wife had been with him. "And I don't want to go alone. You realize wherever she is…"
"His friend spread the ashes close," Beckett replied. She nodded when her husband simply looked at her and rubbing his arm gently told him, "He loved her and would want to be close to her. I get the idea she's near the ocean now and that would be good enough for him."
"Yeah," Castle said simply before he wrapped his arm around her, bringing her close. "I'm taking the daisies and sunflowers my father mentioned in his journal."
"Good, we'll find a place," Beckett said. "Are you ready?"
Castle didn't answer that right away but when they heard the sound of their daughters laughing down the hall he smiled and said, "I am, checked every last thing twice."
"And are we taking the books?" Beckett asked.
Smiling as he knew his wife was expecting him to become unsettled by that, Castle nodded and asked, "And your friend?"
"Don't call it that," Beckett replied, rolling her eyes before she slipped out of his hold. "Come on they want to take Macca for a walk one more time before we drop him off with the Fosters," she told him as she took his hand. She wasn't surprised when her husband didn't allow her to walk too far and she turned to him saying, "It's in my suitcase."
Shuddering that time as his wife's voice was a little lower in tone Castle allowed her to lead him out into the hall and to Eliza's room where Jim was watching their daughters. "So are they ready too love?" he asked.
"They are," Beckett said, looking at Julia who nodded. "We're taking Macca on a walk now," she said then as the little girl handed her the rosary. "Does anyone want to go?" she said loudly as she knew Martha and Alexis were in their rooms.
"Go we'll finish so we'll be ready when you return," Martha called.
"I need to finish a few things so yeah, better if you take him on your own," Alexis then said.
"Dad?" Beckett asked him.
Shaking his head Jim said, "I'll do the same, one last time."
"Okay so we should get going," Castle said. Since the dog was there in the room with them they were able to lead him to the garage where they got him into his harness and leash before he and Beckett checked to make sure the last of his things they needed to give David and Rebecca were ready. That done they walked down the backyard to the beach and headed in the opposite direction from the Foster house.
"He's gonna be okay," Julia told her little sister, watching her running to catch up with Macca to pet him. "Lily's there remember."
"Good thing he's fixed," Castle said in a low voice and in an aside to his wife.
Beckett rolled her eyes but then called to their youngest, "Julia's right sweetie, he'll have Lily and the Fosters will take good care of him."
Eliza stopped running; more because she was out of breath; and waited for her parents to reach her before she held her arms up to Castle.
Handing Macca's leash over to Beckett he picked up the toddler and then swung her up onto his shoulders saying, "Tired already?"
"She was running until now," Beckett pointed out to him. "Are you excited sweetie?"
"Yeah," Eliza said, giggling as her father kept asking her that. "But I wanna go on the plane."
"We will, tomorrow," Castle said. "Way too early too."
"That way we can do something once we get to Madrid, not just get there and go into the hotel rooms," Beckett reminded him.
"What are we gonna do, why don't you say?" Julia said, stopping and turning until her family caught up to her.
"We're trying to surprise you," Castle said. "That and we're leaving things a little open in case we want to do something else. But I can give you a hint that we're going to a park tomorrow."
"Ooh… there are lots of those though," Julia began before she thought that over and slumped over slightly. "Grandpapa said."
"Then it'll be a surprise," Beckett said, putting her free arm around her daughter as she walked with them. "But don't worry we'll see a bunch of different places."
Julia nodded and wrapped her arm around her mother's waist before they got near the beginning of the public beach. When they turned back around she asked, "What are we gonna do for lunch?" since it was nearly time.
"Your grandpapa is grabbing sandwiches for us," Castle replied. "And we'll eat outside before we get the house closed up and get ready to go."
"I'm gonna miss the house," Julia told them.
"So will I but David and Rebecca will watch over it for us," Beckett assured her. "And you'll have enough to do in Europe that you won't remember we're coming home until our flight back."
Julia smiled at that and said eagerly, "I can't wait to fly tomorrow. And the planes we get to see too."
"I wanna see those," Eliza replied. "Daddy? Wanna go down."
"Hold on," Castle said before he grabbed her and then set her down. "Are… okay," he said as he watched Eliza slip her hand from his before she went to her sister. "Are you sure it's seven hours?" he asked his wife.
"Very sure, it's what it says on our tickets," Beckett replied.
"That's a long time but do we have to sleep all of that?" Julia asked.
"No we'll have breakfast and lunch before we get there," Beckett said. "But you need to sleep a little so we won't have jet lag."
"Lag," Eliza tried saying. She giggled and told her sister, "What is that?"
"When we get to Madrid it'll be six hours ahead," Castle said. "What time do we leave from here."
"It'll be six," Beckett replied. "So when we land it'll be one fifteen here which means in Spain it will be…"
Since her parents were looking at her Julia thought for a moment and said, "Seven fifteen? Wow, that is long. Are you sure we're gonna do something?"
"It won't get dark until later," Castle said. "Your grandpapa assured us of that, plus you know Spaniards take their dinner much later so we'll go out then go to dinner."
"Tapas?" Julia asked hopefully.
"Yeah! Tapas!" Eliza cried.
"We'll see," Beckett said with a laugh before they then reached the Foster's backyard.
"They're waiting for us," Castle said in amusement as he saw that Mari was soon running out of her house towards them.
Laughing as the little girl hugged her, Julia said, "I didn't leave yet!"
"I know but you're gonna leave soon," Mari replied. "After you leave here."
"Not quite yet," Castle said. He felt Beckett's hand on his then and when he turned to her, listened to her whisper in his ear. "And you'll maybe be joining us for lunch," he said.
"I will?" "She will?" Mari and then Julia said in surprise.
"Maybe," Castle said, nodding towards Rebecca and David who were coming out to them.
"She can go," Rebecca replied. "But just for lunch Mari, they're going to be busy after."
"We'll send her back home before we get too busy," Beckett said to her friend.
"So we have everything now," David told Castle who was handing him the bag he'd taken with them. "And Macca will be fine."
"We know but will you tell him we'll come back?" Julia asked.
"Yeah we'll let him know," Rebecca said. "But don't worry about him; he'll be fine with us."
Julia nodded, smiling at Mari who'd taken her hand, and then said, "Can we go home now?"
"Hold on we need to say goodbye to them first," Beckett replied with a smile. She went to Rebecca then and hugged her around Dani who was in her arms tightly. "We owe you," she told her.
"For what?" the woman replied with a laugh. "You've done the same for us before."
"Then we're almost even," Castle suggested as the two parted before looking at him.
"Have fun," Rebecca said as she turned back to Beckett. "And give us a call once in a while."
"We will," Beckett replied. "And we'll probably call on Skype so Julia and Mari can talk too."
"No parties at my place Mayor Foster," Castle said jokingly as David shook his hand. He clasped his hand on the man's shoulder and then said, "Though I hope you enjoy your vacation too."
"A couple months with the girls?" David said. "And yes, Rebecca too," he added in a hurry as he knew Castle was going to mention that. "But the same for you Rick."
"Thanks I know I will," he replied. He turned to Rebecca and hugged her as Beckett was hugging David and after some final goodbyes from the couple they left, hearing Macca bark after them.
"I'll let him sleep in my bed too," Mari told her friend as she squeezed her hand tightly. "That way he won't miss you too much."
"Good I hope that works," Julia replied as they walked up the grass and into the house where they met Martha starting to come towards them.
"I was just going to see where you were, Jim and Alexis are nearly back with lunch," Castle's mother said to them. She then smiled at Mari and said, "I see we have a guest."
"Just for lunch," the little girl said as she smiled back.
"Oh I don't mind at all," Martha assured her. "The more the merrier I always say. But since you're here I hope you'll have a great summer with your sister."
"Me too," Mari said seriously. "She can't do much but cry and smile."
"You can play," Eliza said as they were heading to the kitchen.
"She's right," Julia said quickly, agreeing with her sister. "She'll be happy you do that when she's older."
"We'll eat out by the pool," Beckett was telling her husband. "I think that's going to be the best place. And there's also the small table those two can share."
"Good idea," Castle said as he was grabbing plates. Once they had everything they led the others out to the backyard just as Jim and Alexis were coming in. After greeting them and letting the two say hello to Mari he went down to the pool with Beckett next to him as the others eventually followed.
When they were sitting down to eat Beckett said to Alexis, "We're going to get everything set after this would you mind helping us?"
"Not at all," the young woman said quickly. "What about when we get to the city? Julia hasn't been asking about that?"
"No I think she's more focused on the flight and Europe than everything else," Castle said. "But we will be able to go to the places we talked with you about tomorrow," he said to his father in law as he and Beckett were sitting with their family except for Julia and Mari who were at a table for two on the other side of the pool.
"We will and I made a check," Jim replied. "We can go to the museum Katie."
"How much time will we have?" Beckett asked.
"Not too much, maybe an hour at most," Jim said.
"Not enough time for what they have there," Beckett said, shaking her head. "Do you think we can squeeze it in with the next day?"
"Why are you talking in abstracts?" Alexis asked. "Or is all of this a surprise?"
"As much as we can keep from you," Castle said. "Though I have no idea what they're talking about right now."
"You'll find out Rick," Beckett said. "So Dad-"
"Yes it's possible, I'll have to talk with Xavi though to make sure," Jim said. "You think Eliza would be okay with it?"
"You've seen her at the museums in the city," Beckett told him simply. "And there are the gardens after as well."
"Can either of us suggest something?" Martha then said when she was sure the two had finished their conversation.
"You already have," Castle said. "And we worked everything in, plus we did work in some shopping in the big cities Mother."
"Thank you but are Jim and I going to have a chance to spend time with our granddaughters?" Martha asked. "And I'm including you Alexis."
As the young woman smiled and nodded at what her grandmother had said Castle told Martha, "I made reservations one night we're at the big cities for me and Kate. So you can have those afternoons and nights with them."
"Perfect," Martha said. "You know where you should take her in Paris-"
"Already done," Castle said simply with a smile. "But don't make any more suggestions."
"He surprising me with that too," Beckett said wryly though she then started to smile at her husband as she took his hand to squeeze it tightly before they went back to eating.
"I wish I knew where you were going," Mari said, having been listening with Julia to the adults talking. "Funny that your mom and dad don't say."
"Daddy says it's fun," Julia replied. "And it is but I still want to know." She laughed with her friend and said, "I'll get you postcards where we go and write on them to you. So you can see where we go."
"Thanks," Mari said with a smile. She then said, "Where are you excited to go the most?"
Julia though about that for a moment before she smiled saying, "I think everywhere, it's too hard to pick."
"Not Liverpool?" Mari said. When her friend shook her head no she said, "But I bet you'll be super excited there."
Laughing slightly at that Julia nodded before she opened her mouth to speak again when Beckett came over. "Do we need to go?" she asked instead of what she'd been about to say.
"We need to get ready," Beckett replied. "And that includes cleaning up so for that can you take your sister to the backyard?"
With a nod Julia handed her mother her plate and cup and after Mari had done the same they went to get Eliza to take her out by the sand as they waited for the adults to finish inside. They talked about their summers and even what teachers they wanted to get for their next year of school. After they'd sat down together, stretching their feet towards the water the three girls looked at the waves crashing over the sand until Alexis came out to them.
"Do I need to go?" Mari asked.
"Yeah and Kate told me to tell you that we better let you go so Macca doesn't see us," Alexis said gently.
"Oh that's right," Mari said, looking at Julia.
"That way he won't get sad," the little girl said. She stood up with Mari before they helped Eliza up and she smiled as she watched her little sister hug her friend.
"I hope you have fun and I can't wait to see you when you get back," Mari told her.
"Say hi to Dani," Eliza said before letting her go.
"I will," Mari said with a nod before she went over to Julia. She hugged her tightly and said, "Have fun, I can't wait to see what postcards you're gonna send!"
"I can't wait either," Julia replied before she and her friend giggled together. "Bye Mari, see you at the end of summer."
"Bye!" the little girl replied before she hurried down the beach.
"I'm gonna miss playing with her," Julia said to her big sister as they watched Mari soon turn right from the sand to go up to her house.
"I know but we'll play together now," Alexis said. "And in different countries too so that should be fun."
Julia nodded but then suddenly recalled that when they returned home from the trip Alexis would be at school in England. "I hope we can play a lot," she said to her sister, putting her arms around her tightly.
"You guys definitely will," Castle said as he stood in the doorway to the house, smiling at the three. "Especially at night and in the morning since you'll be sharing beds."
Julia looked up at their father, wondering if he was feeling the same as her but she decided not to bring it up thinking it would be better to think about the trip instead of Oxford. "Are we going to go now?" she asked him as she recalled he was standing there waiting for them.
"We're ready," Castle said. "Just need you three to make sure everything is where it needs to be with your bags." He followed them to the entry where he and Beckett had brought their things down and going over to his wife he said, "Hard to believe."
Smiling Beckett replied, "True but we're not quite there yet."
With a nod Castle then turned his attention to their daughters and said, "So we're set?"
"I have all of my stuff," Alexis replied as she was picking up her bag.
"Me too," Julia said.
"And me," Eliza added. "Now we go?"
"Now we can go," Beckett said and she grabbed her suitcases and carryon before going outside to where their cars for the drive to the city were already waiting in the driveway. "Lights, computer," she was saying to her husband.
"Check and check. We've looked through the suitcases more than enough times," Castle answered. "So we're ready with everything." After his wife had nodded he then helped his father in law load the trunks of both cars before they split up and got in and he drove the car in front to the city.
When they'd pulled out to the street Beckett looked back at the girls who were with them and smiled as they were talking about what they wanted to do when they reached the loft. Sitting back she reached over to Castle's hand and took it, entwining their fingers as they shared a smile at their daughters' excited conversation behind them.
"I think that was the fastest I've ever unpacked," Castle said as he came out into the bedroom from the closet.
"Well since all you had was one outfit and pajamas I think that seems reasonable," Beckett told him as she closed a dresser drawer she'd placed her pajamas in. She watched him walk up to her and said, "Yes?"
Castle hurried to say, "We're alone for the moment."
"For the moment being your key words there," Beckett said. But before her husband could say anything she was wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning into him before they began to kiss.
"I'll ask Mommy and Daddy now," Julia said, going to the doorway of Alexis' room upstairs.
"I wanna ask too!" Eliza protested, hurrying over to her.
"Careful down the stairs you two," Martha said, walking after them as they reached the top.
"We will be," Julia replied before they started down together, holding onto the railing.
Inside their bedroom, Castle and Beckett were leaning their foreheads against each other and panting slightly after their heavy kisses. They pulled back somewhat at the same time to look at each other and nearly started to lean in again when they heard a short giggle from the doorway.
"Are you two all finished upstairs?" Beckett asked, smiling at Castle as a short groan left his lips. Luckily it was quiet as she didn't want to have to explain to the girls why he was irritated.
"Yeah Alexis got everything ready for us," Julia said.
"My jammies," Eliza said then as she ran over to her father, hugging him around the leg tightly.
"We helped too," Julia hurried to add.
"Okay well I think everyone will be here soon," Castle said, looking at his watch. "Until then we can play a game."
"We can't go to the playground?" Julia asked in slight disappointment.
"We can," Beckett said quickly. "But it would probably be better if we waited until after, before we eat dinner."
"Mommy, I'm-" Eliza started to say.
"We have some carrot sticks from the drive," Castle interrupted her. He carried her out to the kitchen where the bag was and he gave them all two sticks each, setting Eliza on the ground with her sister.
"So we can play a game?" Julia asked after swallowing a bite.
"We can but a very quick one," Beckett told them as she leaned against her husband.
"I know the one to play," Julia gasped, giggling when her sister copied her though she knew the toddler wasn't aware of why she did that. "Come on Lizzy, let's go and get it."
"I know I said I was worried about them both running off," Beckett commented to her husband. "But I think we'll be okay."
"Yeah Julia's calm and a good influence on Eliza," Castle said. He then frowned and said, "That made sense right?"
"I think you're getting the idea that Eliza's like you," Beckett replied. "Her attention span is slightly better than yours though."
"Like her mother," Castle said, leaning over and kissing her lips briefly before they went over to their daughters who were coming out of their office with a box in hand. "UNO?" he asked, not too surprised to see it.
"I told Eliza we will play together," Julia told them firmly as they made their way over to the coffee table. As their parents sat down on the floor instead of the couch on the other side of them she shared a smile with her little sister before they watched their father getting the cards ready.
"Oh are we playing UNO?" Alexis asked, coming down to them. "Someone deal me in."
"Mother?" Castle asked as he looked over at the stairs and saw that she was coming down to them.
"I'll pass," Martha said, going to the bottle of wine by the sink that she'd pushed back to keep out of little hands. "But I will be a spectator," she added as she went over to them after refilling her glass.
"We should do something different," Julia said.
"Like what?" Beckett asked.
"Say the colors and numbers in the languages we're going to hear when we go around the different countries," Julia said. She was startled when her parents shared a look before glancing at Alexis before she said abashedly, "Never mind, it's a silly idea… I was just thinking it would be nice to say…"
"No I think that's great," Alexis said before her dad and stepmother could speak. "And it'll help Eliza a little."
"Especially with her Irish," Castle said.
"So you want to do that?" Julia asked with a wide smile on her face.
"Of course," Beckett said since the little girl was looking at her. She waited for Castle to shuffle the cards and then begin dealing them before she said at the card he turned over in the holder, "So we start with an…"
"Ocho… rojo?" Julia began a little hesitantly seeing the red eight card.
"Exactly," Castle replied. "Our speaking Spanish a little bit around you helped. Can you say that sweetheart?" he then directed to Eliza.
"O-cho, r-rojo," the toddler then tried to say after a moment of hesitation.
"It's your turn though," Alexis said after sharing a smile with her grandmother at Eliza's cheer when her parents complimented her on her pronunciation.
"We have something," Julia said, handing the card to Eliza who set it down. When her sister looked to her she giggled and thought for a moment before saying, "It's a gorm… ocht," in Irish for the blue eight.
"Are we going in order of the countries?" Beckett asked in amusement. When Julia nodded she then leaned over and shared a kiss with her saying, "That was perfect."
"It was?" the little girl asked. When Alexis and Castle both nodded she said, "You get the easy one."
"I don't know, I could attempt Scottish," Alexis replied with a smile.
"Yeah… is that plaids?" Eliza said exuberantly before asking her parents.
"It is but they have a lot more there," Beckett replied.
"That's where Paul has a farm," Julia reminded her since she'd shown her little sister pictures of the singer at the farm.
"Oh, say 'lexis!" Eliza begged her.
"Hold on a second," Alexis said, getting her phone from her pocket. She studied her cards and then looked at her phone for a while before saying, "I don't know if this is right but here, a buidhe ochd," setting down the yellow eight card.
"Interesting… wait, does that mean I'm English?" Castle asked.
"Partially," Martha quipped before she smiled at her son when he looked at her.
"I think I am," Castle then told his wife.
"Alexis, if you can get a Welsh site I would be very grateful," Beckett said.
"Okay, I've got a yellow three," Castle said. "Love?"
"Thank you," Beckett replied, rolling her eyes. She took Alexis' phone since she had her card ready and after getting it she then set down a green three saying, "Okay, a gwrm tri."
"Not bad," Castle said, nodding to her. He then looked at Julia and Eliza saying, "You two need to say it in French now."
"I'll help you," Alexis said quickly with a smile as the two looked concerned.
"Okay," Julia said quickly before looking at the cards she and her sister had. "I have it, this one." When Alexis leaned over and whispered in her ear she nodded and then said to the others, "A inva… invers-ser vert," stumbling a little on the word reverse. "To you Daddy."
And with that the game continued as they used the six languages, taking a little longer to play with them needing to sometimes translate the cards that had words on them. But soon they were finishing with Eliza and Julia getting rid of their last card first after shouting uno together. Just as Castle was picking up the deck he'd put back together for another game the doorbell rang and the family got up, hurrying over to the door as they knew it was their guests and Jim who'd returned to his apartment briefly.
"Hey girl," Lanie said as she hugged Beckett tightly. "How're things?"
Smiling at the way her friend had worded that since she hadn't seen her before she'd left for LA Beckett replied, "Fine, a little rushed today to make our way out here."
"That would make sense, you're going to be gone for two and a half months," Lanie said as she moved out of the way for Ryan and Esposito to greet Beckett and Castle.
"Are you all technically working right now?" Castle asked after they stepped aside to let the girls say hello to everyone.
"On a break," Esposito replied simply as he watched Castle help his father in law with his suitcases. "That's enough for that long of a trip?"
"The hotels do have facilities where we can get our clothing washed," Martha replied. "Thank goodness."
Lanie was hugging the girls then said to them, "I need to talk to your sister really quick and then you can tell me how California was okay?"
"Kay," Eliza replied with a nod.
"Why do you need to?" Julia asked. "Is it a secret?"
"No," Lanie said in amusement as she could almost hear the little girl's father saying that. She stood and turning to Alexis said, "I managed to remember my friend from college," handing her a picture.
"Leslie Brandt," Alexis read the name off the note attached to the picture. "Yeah, that's my professor for my Developmental Psychology class. A woman?"
"She is and if she has black hair and grey eyes that is her," Lanie replied as Alexis nodded. "She might not remember me so show her that picture first. And tell her to get in touch with me."
"I will," Alexis said with a laugh.
After they'd moved away from the entry and were sitting around the living room Lanie, Ryan and Esposito talked to the girls about their vacation in California.
"So your mom was going on rides?" Esposito asked Julia.
"Yeah she's gone on them at Coney," the little girl replied. "And she had fun."
"Why didn't you just ask me Espo?" Beckett inquired as she sat with her daughters on the couch.
"Didn't know if you'd admit to it," Esposito said, watching as Castle sat with her.
"Because it was Disneyland?" Castle asked. "They have some thrill rides… not like Coney but still good."
"I'm more interested about San Diego, Jenny's sister went there and said it was great," Ryan told them. "But did you go to anyplace haunted?"
"I owe you," Castle said in an aside to his wife though he didn't try to hide it.
"Why would you?" Lanie asked.
"They had a bet that Ryan would ask about the haunted places in San Diego," Alexis said with a smile.
"And we went to a few of them," Castle continued. "The Whaley House and the Casa de Estudillo."
"Anything?" Ryan asked.
"Unfortunately no but the most amazing thing is that Skye and her wife have experienced things there," Castle said.
Smiling and shaking her head a little as her husband and Ryan began to talk about that, Beckett turned to Esposito and asked in Spanish, "Has there been anything lately you need to tell us?"
A little surprised at her use of the language and only a few pauses for translation, Esposito said, "No we would have taken you two over to the office to say first off. It's been quiet lately."
Beckett nodded to that, wondering if 3XK's acolytes knew they were about to leave the country or they had just gotten rid of their victims more efficiently. "Nothing around the country?" she then asked in Spanish again.
"Checked and nothing," Esposito replied. "We'll let you know if anything does come up. When you get back?"
"That would be nice," Beckett said, going back to English. She then turned her attention to the others as Lanie was asking them about their plans and she smiled as Julia and Eliza turned to her at the same time. "We're going to be surprising them," she said. "But we're going to Madrid first."
"I hope you two will be able to pick up some Spanish while you're over there," Esposito said.
Smiling as her little sister laughed, Julia said, "Yo tambien, Tio Javi."
"They started already?" Ryan asked as his partner looked startled hearing that from the girl.
"They have, we've been trying to pick up Spanish as much as we can," Castle said. "Luckily Jim's retained enough from his trips there to help us out."
"You're okay with only going for… a couple weeks this time around?" Lanie asked.
"Of course I always went alone so I was happy to stay in Spain," Jim replied. "But I'm looking forward to going everywhere else with the girls."
"I never asked, have you been to the other countries we're going to?" Martha said.
"Just London but like Katie it was only for a layover for a day," Jim answered. "I didn't get the chance to do much so this time around…" he said before smiling at his granddaughters.
"You are taking her to Liverpool right?" Ryan asked.
"We are," Beckett said.
"That's the other city I know we're gonna go," Julia said. "And I'm excited!"
"For everything," Castle said. He laughed slightly when Julia and Eliza both nodded and said, "So how're Jenny and Tommy?"
"Both good, they're getting ready for our vacation next week," Ryan replied. "With her parents."
"Where are you going?" Julia asked, seeing from her little sister that she wanted to know too.
"Up to Canada," Ryan replied.
"Where Mommy and Daddy go?" Eliza asked in a rush.
"No not there," Ryan said with a slight laugh. "We're planning on heading to Toronto for two weeks."
"You'll enjoy it," Castle said.
"Yeah you told me before when you suggested the hotel we got," Ryan said.
"I think he wants to let the girls know that," Beckett said, studying her husband for a moment before she realized why he'd said that.
"Can Tommy play there?" Julia asked, remembering the boy was over a year younger than her sister.
"He can and there are places to swim which you know he likes to do," Ryan told the two girls as he saw Eliza's questioning glance. "We have everything planned out."
"But for now," Esposito said, looking at his watch.
"Break time's over?" Alexis asked as the detectives stood.
"Yeah unfortunately; we would have stayed longer," Esposito said.
"Lanie?" Beckett asked as the doctor wasn't joining them.
"I don't need to go this second," she replied.
Nodding her head in understanding; as she knew her friend would want to talk to her afterward; Beckett went with Castle and their daughters over to the door while Esposito and Ryan said goodbye to Martha and Jim.
"So have a great time over there," Ryan was saying to Alexis. "And enjoy being in England plus really close to the continent."
Laughing the young woman nodded telling him, "I definitely will. Will I see you guys around the holidays?"
"We'll invite them over as we usually do," Beckett replied. "Hopefully they can make it this year."
Alexis nodded and then turned to Esposito before she said, "Thank you for the defense moves, I-"
"Defense moves?" Castle interrupted her, sounding startled. When he looked over at his wife he was even more so to see that it looked like she didn't know what Alexis was talking about either.
"Esposito taught me some," Alexis replied. "For self defense that he learned in the army."
"Oh… thanks," Castle said, realizing that gave him a little more piece of mind.
"Not a problem bro, I want her safe over there too," Esposito said.
After the two had said goodbye to the girls and Castle and Beckett; wishing them a safe trip; Ryan and Esposito left the loft, the family going out into the hall to watch them until they walked around the corner before they went back inside to find Lanie standing there.
"Would you like me to walk you down…" Beckett started to say before she trailed off because her friend was pulling her to the office. "You always do that," she said as she closed the door behind them.
"I need to hurry still," Lanie reminded her. "Even though I didn't need to head back as soon as those two did. So?"
"And that you always say," Beckett replied. "We're good, we're… great still."
"You had a day together at that beach house," Lanie told her.
"And we spent some time on the beach," Beckett began before she then sighed at her friend's look. "And yes together, you can ask Rick if you want I'm not kidding."
"Then in the end…" Lanie began.
"We're wildly happy together, as much as we were at the beginning… maybe more," Beckett said.
"Good now I need to head back," Lanie said. She was surprised when her friend hugged her and said, "You're not mad I don't stop asking you?"
"It means you're serious about us staying together," Beckett replied. "And it means you love us."
"Well of course I do you're my friends," Lanie said. "But it's mainly for you girl, how long have I watched you slog through boyfriends…"
"Slog?" Beckett asked in amusement.
"You know what I mean, you needed to see what a relationship was like without fear," Lanie said before there was a knock on the door. "Come in Castle," she called as she knew it was him.
"Sorry did you want a drink before you go…" he asked as he poked his head in.
"No and get away from the door," Beckett told him as Lanie shook her head at the same time next to her.
"I'm not eavesdropping," Castle said quickly before he shut the door.
"I want you to be happy Kate," Lanie finally said when they could see that Castle had gone over to the kitchen from between the shelves.
"And I am, we're looking forward to our fourth anniversary," Beckett said.
"Gifts?" Lanie asked.
"Do you know what they're supposed to be?" Beckett asked instead of replied.
"No just tell me before I'm late back to work," Lanie told her, sounding a little impatient.
"The traditional one is linen and silk," Beckett replied.
Lanie smiled at that and said, "Walk me out."
With a similar grin on her face Beckett went out to the living room with her friend before she went to Martha and Jim to say goodbye to them. She looked at her husband as he came over to her asking, "Did you listen in?"
"You saw I'd moved," Castle shot back before he realized his wife was smiling. "But really what did you talk about concerning me?"
"You're not going to find out," Beckett said before their daughters were coming up to them and holding Lanie's hands as Alexis followed.
When they got to the door the doctor turned to the young woman and hugged her tightly saying, "Have some fun in between your studies, I remember my last two years when I needed that desperately. And speaking of your studies, I know you'll do great."
"Thank you Lanie," Alexis said. "I can call you and e-mail you sometimes right?"
"And text, all of that," Lanie said before they let go of each other. "Have a great trip before that with your family."
"I will," Alexis replied, watching her reach down to her little sisters.
Lanie smiled as the girls almost threw themselves at her, hearing Martha telling them from the kitchen to be careful. "It's okay," she called. "And I hope you have a great trip too but make sure you stick with your family going through the cities and countries. I want to hear all about it."
"And see our pictures?" Julia asked.
"That too," Lanie replied with a nod. She then leaned down and kissed them both on the cheek saying, "I'll see you in the fall when you're back okay?"
"Yeah," Eliza said, nodding a little hard before Lanie made her stop. She and her sister hugged the doctor again before they watched her stand and go to their father.
"Take Kate out a few nights while you're in Spain," Lanie said as she and Castle hugged briefly.
"I'm already planning on that," he replied easily. "And in London… Dublin… Paris, Edinburgh and Glasgow… where we're there long enough to have a night alone." He then leaned over and said in so low a voice only his wife and her friend could hear, "I'm still in love with my wife and I plan to continue to be."
Beckett shared a smile with him before she walked with Lanie out into the hall, watching her say a final goodbye to the others. "I'll have to say something similar to what he did," she told the doctor when the door closed behind them. "I'm still in love with him."
"I know but I'm glad to hear you both say that," Lanie replied. "Again have a great trip and Happy Anniversary."
"Thanks," Beckett said. She hugged her before she watched her friend walk down the hall and when she was around the corner she went back into the loft.
"Now what do we do?" Julia asked after looking around at her family.
"Is it too early to head to the playground?" Castle asked, looking at his watch.
"No I think we can go," Beckett said. "It's almost five fifteen."
"It's got to be cooling down by now," Alexis added.
"Then we can go?" Julia asked eagerly.
"Let's go," Castle said, laughing as the girls ran to him and Beckett. After Alexis joined them they said goodbye to Martha and Jim and left, heading down to the street to walk in the slightly cooler air to the park.