Hi everyone! I'm starting a new fic that goes along with my other story, "Honey, Let Me Sing You a Song." It isn't necessary to read that story, but this one does go along with it. Basically, this fanfic occurs six years after HLMSYAS. This one will follow the Castle family (now a family of 6!) as they go on a month long vacation. I'm going to challenge myself to write more chapters, so expect a longer story. I'll still be updating my other fic too, but I got an urge to write older Caskett babies. Finally, I'm in the process of writing a more angsty fic for Castle too, so keep your eyes open for that, as well!

One last note, I've decided to spend more time individually responding to reviews instead of opening and closing with author's notes, so this fic will flow better as an overall story. Please know that I'm always extremely thankful for each reader, follow, favorite and review, even if I don't say so in each chapter! Thanks for following along on the adventure!

"MOM! Luke is biting me again!"

Kate rolled her eyes in mild annoyance as she heard yet another scream from downstairs. She dropped the sweater she was holding and walked downstairs. "Boys, I told you that I have to finish packing so we won't be late for the airport. I need you three to hold it together and keep your hands- and mouth too, Lucas- to yourselves for a little bit longer, okay?"

"But he won't stop biting me!" Henry began to protest, but was quickly shut down by his mother's skilled cop glare paired with the signature Beckett eyebrow raise.

"Mama, when are we leaving already?" Jack whined.

"Daddy is dropping off the dog at Tio and Tia's house with Emma and when they get back, we'll leave for the airport."

"Why can't Simba come with us to the lake?" Luke asked, yet again.

"Baby, I told you already, Simba is scared of airplanes. You'll see him in a month."

"I know," Luke said, frowning. "I'll just miss him, that's all."

"Oh, my sweet boy, I know." Kate leaned down to give him a kiss on the head. "Alright, if I don't hear any more fighting, you guys can watch a show until Dad gets home and it's time to go."

"Yay!" The three of them cheered in unison.

"But the second I hear one yell or whine, TV goes off, okay?" They responded with sober nods, and she smiled at her three guys, turning into such little men, and much faster than she'd like. "Hen, set it up please. I'm going back upstairs to finish packing."

She leaped the steps two at a time, hurrying to get her suitcase pulled together. She was supposed to have done it last night, but they'd caught a late case and by the time she'd gotten home, the boys were begging for snuggles and the baby needed to be fed. She'd collapsed into bed, exhausted, after packing for the kids and, well, a little fun with her husband. She'd planned on waking up early to do it, but in her exhaustion had to set an alarm, and the rest was history.

So, she'd poured cereal, filled milks, and begged her husband to take all four kids with him to drop off the dog. However, she'd forgotten they'd taken the car seats out of the SUV for the car service dropping them at the airport, and he'd taken the Mercedes with the baby (and the easiest) in tow.

In the half hour since he left, the boys had been fighting like crazy. She swore they knew when she was stressed and amped up their game just to bug her. Good thing they were cute, or they'd be dead by now.

She threw clothes in her suitcase, not caring if she overpacked- they would be gone for a month, after all. Rick had rented them a house on Lake Winnipesaukee, and a boat to go along with it. They'd spend the entirety of July sailing, swimming, tanning, and being together as a family.

The kids were so excited- since Kate had gone back to work after maternity leave ended nine months ago, everyone had been missing her around the house. She'd been working long hours to make up for the three months she'd been at home, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to walk out the door each morning with her kids screaming out after her. They'd forgotten what it was like to have two parents home all the time, ad they wanted her back with them from sun up to sun down. She had been counting down the days since Rick had booked the trip in March.

Speaking of her handsome husband, she heard his loud voice bellowing out from downstairs. The kids were laughing at something he said, and she listened for a minute as her four boys played together. But then she checked the clock, realizing their flight left in four hours and they were running way behind.

Back in her single days, two hours was plenty of time to get to LaGuardia, but now, it took them twenty minutes alone to just load up the car. She was still learning that with four kids came a lot of baggage, and not the emotional kind. Each boy had a big bag filled with clothes, a smaller roll-on bag with toys, and a backpack with snacks for the flight. The baby had the gigantic diaper bag and her own duffel bag with onesies and pajamas. Then, she and Rick had their own bags and backpacks, not to mention the two strollers, three car seats, and a booster. She was beginning to wish she'd listened to her husband and flown on a private jet. (He knew a guy, of course.) But it'd made more sense to fly commercially, and while she appreciated his money and was learning there was a time and place for it, she did not want her children to grow up the least bit spoiled. They'd compromised- he'd pick the house they stayed in and she'd book the plane tickets.

She grabbed her suitcase and carried it downstairs. "Rick, we have to start loading up, now."

"Hey honey, the boys and I were just-" "Now, Rick." She interrupted. "Okay," he raised his eyebrows at her. "Boys, let's go get in the car. It's outside waiting for us! Babe, I'll take the luggage, can you grab their backpacks and Emma?"

"Already ahead of you. Hi sweet girl," she cooed at the nearly one year old crawling across the floor. "Are the car seats loaded?"

"Yes ma'am. Henry, Jack, Luke, let's go buddies."

"Yay!" They screeched.

"Inside voices," Kate reminded. She grabbed her backpack and strapped it on, and left Rick's by the front door. Emma started crying when everyone left without her, and Kate scooped her up, snagging her pacifier and diaper bag, and slung the tiny backpacks over one arm.

She made her way out to the car and buckled in the baby, sliding in between her and Luke. Jack and Henry were excitedly kicking the seats behind her, and Rick and the driver finished loading the black Suburban.

Castle locked the front door and set the alarm, double checking that the back gate was locked. They'd moved to the suburbs when the twins were born, realizing that a loft was no place for three young kids and an occasional visiting older sister.

He gave a thumbs up to Kate, kissed her quickly, and climbed into the front seat. "Alright Castles, let's have an adventure!" He said, as cheers erupted through the car. They were finally on vacation.