Genre: Romance, Family, Humor

Rating: M for sexual situations and language

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured on the show Castle, they belong to the creator of the show, ABC, and the others who do own them.

A/N #1: The title of this story is a lyric from the song Rising Sun by George Harrison, from his album Brainwashed. The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Birthday by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, from The Beatles' eponymous album.

Glad It's Your Birthday

"Rick," Beckett whispered softly to her husband. When there was nothing but silence in response to that she smiled and then reached over, brushing her hand over his cheek. His eyes blinked open at that point and she smiled at him as he eventually focused on her before she said, "Morning."

"Morning," Castle said, raising his head. "What time is it?"

"Early, I'm leaving with Julia," Beckett reminded him.

Castle smiled before he yawned and then said, "Another year."

"I know," Beckett replied. "But for now we're going to ride." She then leaned over and kissed him on the lips gently before she got up to leave.

"Wait you don't need to go yet," Castle told her quickly as he reached over to take her arm.

"Yes I do, we'll lose time," Beckett told him teasingly. "Since we're having breakfast after." She then moved and kissed him a little harder before saying, "Have fun with Eliza."

Castle knew he needed to let her go so he finally did so but very reluctantly and he watched her closely as she walked away dressed for her ride. He couldn't help call to her before she reached the door, "Tell Julius to give Julia a good ride." When she merely smiled over her shoulder at him he sighed and lay back on the bed, looking at the ceiling as he amazed at the fact that their oldest was another year older.

Beckett wasn't very shocked when as soon as she shook her oldest Julia's eyes flew open and looked to her. "Morning sweetie," she said with a smile.

"Morning Mommy," Julia said before quickly sitting up to hug her.

"Happy Birthday Julia," Beckett told her, embracing her back as tightly.

"I'm ten now," the girl said with a smile, her tone one of awe. "So we're still going riding?" she asked after they'd let go of each other.

"Yeah so let's get you up and see how much you've grown," Beckett told her before getting off the bed. She watched her daughter go to the measuring chart behind her door; which she had closed once she'd come in; and then marked her height. "You've definitely grown," she told her daughter as she looked to see how tall she was compared to the year before.

"Am I tall or short?" Julia asked.

"Tall," Beckett said with a smile.

"How tall were you?" Julia then said as she went with her mother to her closet to get her clothes.

"A little more than that if I can remember correctly but not too much," Beckett said. She went to sit on the bed after nodding to her daughter's choice and watched her change before saying, "Remember we're having breakfast after, you know where you want to go?"

"The café but can we eat on the beach?" Julia asked shyly.

"Of course," Beckett said, watching her then go into the bathroom to finish preparing.

"Mommy?" Julia said before she stepped back into her bedroom. When Beckett looked to her she went to her and asked, "Will you brush my hair?"

"Of course," Beckett said with a smile. She waited for Julia to sit in front of her and said, "Just because you're ten doesn't mean I can't still do your hair. Remember how you used to braid mine?"

"Yeah," Julia said, smiling as she could recall that very easily. "How come Eliza doesn't do that?"

"She is a little young to start," Beckett said easily. "Do you want me to do anything to your hair?" she then asked.

"Two braids?" Julia said. When her mother began to part her hair she said, "Is anyone else up?"

"Probably not," Beckett said. "I did wake up your daddy to let him know we were going," she then added. "But I'm sure he fell back asleep." She was able to get her daughter's hair finished and as they stood up said, "I'll take Macca to your sister's room and check on her okay?" After Julia had nodded to her she went over to Eliza's room next door, seeing her youngest was still fast asleep though Rita raised her head at their entrance.

Smiling down at the toddler Beckett gently fixed her covers before she pressed her lips tenderly to the side of her head. She stepped away then and turned to the doorway to find Julia there waiting for her. Holding her finger up to her lips they went together down the stairs before she stopped in the kitchen where she grabbed the scone that she had for them to eat before the ride.

As she bit into the warmed up pastry while they stepped into the garage Julia asked her mother, "I can't go into the front now?"

"I'm afraid not sweetie, not until you're thirteen," Beckett said. "Better to be safe than sorry like your grandmama used to say of course."

Julia nodded, though she wanted to protest that she felt a little young sitting back there, and got in after her mother had opened the door for her. She finished her half of the scone once they were on their way and she drank some of the water her mother had brought in one of her bottles. "Mommy?" she asked then.

"Yes sweetie," Beckett replied.

"Do you think it's weird I didn't have a big party?" Julia said.

"Not really, we let you decide what you wanted to do and you said you didn't want to have that," Beckett replied. "To be honest I like that you decided just to have lunch with your friends out on the lawn."

Smiling Julia said, "The first picnic lunch we could have this year. But it was fun yesterday."

"You enjoyed your gifts?" Beckett asked her.

"Of course," Julia replied. "But I thought it was more fun to get to play with all the games we had… I know Daddy had fun."

Beckett couldn't help laughing softly and she said, "We both had fun," since she and her husband had played with Julia, Eliza and their oldest's friends after lunch and a small cake. "It was a nice pre-birthday celebration," she finally said as they were nearing the stables.

"It was," Julia said though her voice was a bit absent at the sight of the familiar buildings. When the car had stopped she made herself wait for her mother to get out first before she unbuckled her seatbelt and nearly jumped out of the back.

"I guess you're ready," Beckett said with a smile.

"Yep," Julia said, smiling widely at her mother before she took her outstretched hand. They walked over to the building where Alex and Julius were and she let her mother go up to the horses first before she followed.

"Alright you two," Beckett was saying as the two horses were jerking their heads up and down repeatedly. "I know you want to go but we have to get everything on you first."

"Can I get Julius ready?" Julia asked her mother as she was opening the door to Alex's stall.

"After I get his saddle on, yes," Beckett said before they were both inside and the door closed back behind them. She then turned her attention to Alex and grabbed his saddle blanket to set that first before putting his saddle on top of that, knowing her daughter was watching her closely.

Even though she'd watched Beckett do the same thing many times before Julia still looked to see what her mother did, saying each step that she did in her mind so she could remember. Once Alex had been given a brief brush down for a second time she said, "Now Julius?"

"Now Julius," Beckett said with a smile at her before they left. She turned back to Alex and she gently scratched his forehead before going over to Julius. Inside that stall she brushed down the horse before getting its saddle on and then saying to Julia, "Alright sweetie, I'll stand with you but you need to be as careful as you can."

Nodding and trying not to become too nervous with her excitement Julia turned to Julius and began to get the bridle on him. Luckily her father's horse was gentle and he allowed her to do that with no issues before she let her mother check him.

"Very nicely done," Beckett told her with a smile. "Take his reins and lead him out."

Julia did so, holding the horse in place as her mother grabbed Alex, and then followed her outside to the beginning of the trail. "You're not afraid to let go of him like that?" she asked her mother as she let go of her stallion's reins.

"No, come here," Beckett said simply with a smile as she turned to her daughter. She then helped her mount the horse near the fence of a corral and once she was set said, "He left didn't he?" as she could see Julia was looking past her.

"Yeah," the little girl said, trying not to laugh as Alex had gone to a clump of new grass behind her mother.

Turning around Beckett merely gave a simple whistle, not surprised when the horse raised its head and trotted to her before she grabbed his reins. "I know," she then told him as Julia was giggling though trying to stifle it. "You've been fed already so you can't be that hungry." She scratched behind his right ear and asked, "Are you ready."

Watching the way the horse neighed and shook its head Julia asked, "Does that mean yes?"

"It does," Beckett said, smiling. "Ready?" When her daughter nodded she said, "Alright, let's go." And with that the two of them took off down the trail at a trot before they began to speed up at nearly the same time. Soon they were galloping and she looked over at Julia, seeing the wide smile that was still on her face and soon doing so herself. They rode in silence until she got Julia's attention, making a motion to her with her hand that let her know they were nearly to the creek.

Slowing down her horse the girl watched ahead as the water soon appeared in front of them and she said as she knew her mother would be able to hear her, "That went too fast."

"There's more of the trail after this," Beckett replied with a smile. "And it's why we're not going so late."

Getting Julius to stop with the creek underneath them Julia waited and watched as her mother dismounted before she helped her down. "What are we gonna do when we go home?" she asked as they led the horses to the water so they could drink if they wanted.

"You can do whatever you'd like to," Beckett said simply, rubbing her hand over Alex's flank. "We'll be doing… well it depends on you. If you play on your own we'll keep Eliza busy. I was thinking of going downtown for lunch…"

"Just you guys?" Julia asked, wondering what her mother was thinking about saying that.

"No," Beckett replied, shaking her head and turning to her daughter. "You'll come with us too since it's going to be your choice of course."

"Thanks," Julia said. She then said, "Eliza won't be jealous?"

"No, she'll be at Disney for her birthday," Beckett said. "So she'll enjoy her birthday of course."

"Yeah," Julia said, running her nails gently over Julius as he'd raised his head from the water. She listened to the sounds of the woods around them and the flow of the creek before them before there was a sudden chill blowing over her face. "Did you feel that?" she asked her mother eagerly.

"I know," Beckett said with a smile. "It may be spring but it's still cold." She was surprised when her daughter rolled her eyes and said, "What?"

"Mommy that…" Julia started to say before she trailed off. "Yeah, it's still cold," she said.

Though she didn't want to say it Beckett forced herself to asking, "Was that your grandmama?"

"I think so," Julia said. "Maybe she's here to wish me a happy birthday."

"It could be," Beckett said. "Julia," she then began. "How often do you sense her?" not believing she was asking her daughter that.

"Not all the time but sometimes," Julia said. "But it's not like I see ghosts." She then became thoughtful and remembered something telling her mother, "It's like Skye said she feels her father around, remember she said?"

"I do," Beckett said, nodding slightly.

"You don't ever feel that?" Julia then asked.

"Sometimes, I think," Beckett replied.

Julia then hugged her mother with one arm as tightly as she could telling her, "It's okay Mommy, at least you know your mommy is with us."

Beckett leaned down and pressed her lips to her daughter's forehead before she then said, "Want to keep going?"

"Sure but Mommy, can I tell you something?" Julia asked. When her mother she said, "I feel things sometimes, like something is wrong but I don't know why."

"Where do you feel like that?" Beckett asked her, not surprised to hear that.

"Mostly at the school," Julia said. "I didn't know why but then I heard you and Daddy talking about the school being at an old farm. Maybe something happened there."

"Maybe," Beckett said. "Is that all you get, strange feelings?"

"Yeah but that's enough," Julia said. She looked at her mother closely and said, "Does that make you mad I say that?"

"No," Beckett said firmly. "Let's walk for a little and I'll tell you something more about Edinburgh."

Julia was surprised at that; knowing a bit about what had happened to her mother at the vaults; but nodded and after they'd both mounted the horses she said, "Was it bad."

"A little," Beckett replied since she and Castle had told the girls that all she'd experienced was a cold spot. She then told Julia what had actually occurred and said, "Skye said something about that when we told her about it." She then reminded her about how Castle was akin to a protector for her and she said, "That's because he and I did that blood ceremony together."

"Mari and I heard David and Rebecca say that they did that too," Julia replied. "When they were in… I think they said Bermuda, in the water." When her mother still looked startled she then said, "I'm glad they did too, so they won't get a divorce"

Beckett smiled slightly before she agreed saying, "I am too, since they do love each other. But I suppose your daddy's going to have a reason to protect me," she commented when she finished. "More than he did before."

"I'm glad," Julia said. She smiled and then said, "I'm surprised a little still you did that Mommy."

"So am I sometimes," Beckett said with a smile. "But I felt like we should do it…" She then shook her head and said, "Want to gallop now?"

"Of course," Julia said simply. As her mother put Alex into a trot she followed before they were galloping and they were soon doing so all the way back to the stables. Sighing she then said, "I wish we didn't have to stop," as she was waiting for her mother to dismount.

"I don't blame you but we had a very nice ride," Beckett told her before she helped her down. "At least I hope you had a nice ride."

"Oh yes it was great!" Julia said eagerly while they were leading the horses to their stalls. "Thank you for this Mommy."

"You're welcome sweetie," Beckett replied. "Can you hold onto Julius?" she then asked her.

"Sure," Julia said with a nod. She went as close to Alex's stall as she could to watch her mother brush the horse down and get it settled with some food before she handed her the reins in her hands. "I can go in right?" she asked.

"Of course, better you watch me so you learn how to do it when you're old enough to do it on your own," Beckett told her. Once the stall door was shut she then worked on Julius until he was eating half of a carrot out of Julia's open palm.

"Can I feed it to Alex?" the girl asked hopefully as they stepped out of the stall.

"Go ahead," Beckett replied, handing over the other half of the carrot. She watched her daughter feet her stallion and then led her over to the sink so they could wash their hands. "Are you hungry?" she asked her as they left the building, her arm around her daughter's shoulders.

"A lot, are you?" Julia asked, wondering if her mother had asked because she wasn't hungry herself.

"Starving, I could eat a bear I think…" Beckett said jokingly, smiling when the girl laughed softly. After they'd reached the car and were leaving the stables she drove them to the café and there they grabbed their food. From there they walked together to a nearby beach and sat near the breaking waves before they began to eat.

"Mommy," Julia said then after glancing at her mother a few times.

"Yes sweetie? How's your food?" Beckett asked.

"Good I wanted to ask you something else," Julia said. When her mother nodded for her to continue she then said a little shyly, "What's it like being beautiful?"

Startled Beckett started to open her mouth and then hesitated, thinking over her reply again before she then said, "You're assuming I am." When Julia just gave her a look she couldn't help smile before she then said, "Well you know there's more to a person than just looks right?" At her daughter's serious not she then said, "I'm going to guess you're talking about the fact that men will look at me."

"It doesn't make you uncomfortable," Julia said. "I know I would be."

Beckett nodded slightly and said, "I don't like it but I don't pay attention to it at all. That's what they want, for you to give them some attention. But I'm married and you know I love your daddy so I don't give them much thought."

"What about before?" Julia asked.

"A few would get my attention, a long time ago, but I would just ignore them then too," Beckett said simply. She then became concerned and asked, "Do boys look at you?"

"No I was just wondering," Julia replied. "'Cause I see them doing that a lot to you. Daddy doesn't like it right?"

"He doesn't but he knows I don't pay attention to them and will be going home with him so he ignores them too," Beckett said with a smile. "And you know that it's not important what you look like right?"

"I know Mommy," Julia replied with a nod. "It's 'cause boys look at you a lot. Does Daddy think it's better you're pretty or…" she started to say, unable to finish that as she wasn't sure how to.

Beckett gave her a brief look before she said, "He thinks my personality is the best thing about me; you can ask him. But he does think I'm… beautiful." She hesitated then as she wasn't sure she wanted to call herself that but in the end just did. She then said, "So what do you want to do until your lunch?"

"I was thinking of going to play with Mari for a little," Julia said. "I don't know yet." She then thought of something and asked, "How much time will I have?"

"It depends on what time we get home," Beckett said. "But don't start eating too fast."

"I won't," Julia said with a smile. She looked ahead at the beach between them before her mother was leaning down, kissing the top of her head. She looked up at her and said, "What is it?"

"How do you feel now you're ten?" Beckett asked.

Julia thought about that for a moment before she said, "Not really different, I'm still your little girl right?"

"Of course, my baby girl," Beckett said, hugging her against her side with one arm.

"Mommy," Julia said in a slight complaint though she was laughing softly. She hugged her back and they then ate their meal again until they had finished and cleaned up their trash. As they were walking back to the car she held onto her mother's hand tightly and said, "I'll always be Mommy, I promise."

"Good," Beckett said before she opened the back door for her. As she drove home then, she and Julia listening to music together that time, she wondered how Castle had done with their youngest and their parents who were there to celebrate. She also hoped that he would have things ready by the time they had arrived.

"Alright," Castle was saying to Eliza. "You're all cleaned up so why don't you go ahead with your grandparents to the family room?"

"I wanna stay with you Daddy," the toddler protested. "When Jules and Mommy come home."

"Eliza?" Jim said, walking over them then. "Your gram and I were hoping you'd come and join us."

"Go on," Castle told her as she looked at him. "You'll see them as soon as they're home I promise."

"But what about you Daddy?" Eliza asked him.

"I'll join you as soon as I'm finished cleaning up here," Castle promised. When Eliza was with Jim walking away from him, he mouthed a thank you to his father in law before he then turned his attention to swiftly cleaning up. He then left the kitchen and hurried down the path to the pool before Eliza in the house could wonder he was doing and try to find him.

Inside the family room Eliza was leaning against her grandfather's legs, listening to them talk about the plans for Julia that night for dinner. "Where's Daddy?" she asked after she felt it had been a while since she'd left him.

"He'll be here soon kiddo," Martha said, holding her hand out to her before pulling the toddler over to her. She smiled at her and said, "What do you want to do today?"

"Jules won't stay here?" Eliza asked in response to that.

"She may go play with Mari, she was talking about it while we were having dinner last night," Jim reminded her.

"Oh… I dunno," Eliza said, thinking for a moment before shrugging her shoulders. She then smiled at her grandmother and said, "Can we play?"

"You don't want to play with me or your mom?" Castle said, coming to the doorway of the room.

"Daddy!" Eliza said before hurrying over to him. "Why is the kitchen so dirty?"

"I had to make sure it was completely clean before your mom came home," Castle said. "But while we're waiting why don't you and I try and finish up that puzzle?" When the toddler nodded he went with her over to the coffee table where there was a puzzle laid out from the night before and they began to work on it together again, talking with his mother and Jim while they were waiting for the birthday girl and Beckett to return.

Stepping into the house from the garage Julia could hear her sister in the distance faintly saying, "Where's Mommy?" She smiled at her mother and said, "She missed you," softly.

"I know, and you too," Beckett said. A second later they could hear the toddler asking where Julia was and she smiled again with her oldest before they walked hand in hand to the doorway of the family room. "Is someone missing us?" she said to get everyone's attention.

"Mommy!" Eliza cried, jumping up and running to her. She hugged her mother tightly and said, "How did you ride?"

"It was fun," Julia said to reply and also to translate for their mother.

"She's right it was," Beckett said. "How was your breakfast with everyone?"

"Good," Eliza said before she turned to her sister and squealed while jumping before hugging her tightly. "Happy Birthday!" she cried.

"Thanks," Julia said, laughing with the others at the way the toddler had gone to her.

"Happy Birthday sweetheart," Castle said, having gone over to the two after Eliza had. He picked Julia up while he hugged her tightly and said, "How do you feel ten year old?"

Smiling the girl embraced her father back as tightly and said, "Fine, happy too. Thanks for letting me ride Julius."

"You're very welcome, he was behaved right?" Castle asked as he set her down. When she nodded he said, "Great, I told him to be."

Julia laughed softly before she turned her attention to her grandmother who was hugging her and wishing her happy birthday. "Thanks Gram, and for coming for today," she said since her grandparents had arrived the evening before in time for dinner with them and to celebrate the next day.

"It's my pleasure darling, it's an important day and I wouldn't miss it," Martha said.

"I feel the same," Jim said as he hugged the girl next. "Happy Birthday Julia."

"Thank you Grandpapa," Julia said, smiling at him as she pulled away. She then looked around and said, "Can I go play with Mari now?"

"You can," Beckett said, sharing a look with her husband before he inclined his head slightly.

"But there is one thing," Castle said. "We should head out."

Julia was startled at first but as her father ushered her out of the room with her mother following she was able to guess why they were doing that. "Should I close my eyes?" she asked him as they neared the door to the backyard.

"You're too smart," Castle told her teasingly. "But yes, close them."

Smiling at what her father had said Julia then closed her eyes and was slightly surprised when her mother's hands came over them too. She couldn't help laugh slightly at having to be led outside but a moment later Beckett pulled her hands away and after her father told her she opened her eyes. A cry of joy left her lips as she saw the beach cruiser bike that was down the patio in front of her and she ran to it, calling back an ecstatic thank you to both her parents at the same time.

Wrapping his arm around his wife as Eliza followed her sister at a run Castle called to them, "Take it easy, took me a long time to get that ready."

Julia laughed as her mother also did and she then went to them, hugging them both saying, "Thank you so much Mommy, Daddy, I love it."

"It's from all of us," Beckett let her know.

"No it isn't," Jim said first as he and Martha looked at each other. "We have some things for you too; this bike is from your parents and sisters."

Beckett looked at her father and when he just smiled at her she shook her head and said, "We're spoiling them."

"Oh, don't be too concerned," Martha said. "Our gifts aren't anywhere near as big as this bike is."

Turning her attention back to Julia who'd gone back to the bike after hugging them Beckett said, "Want to take it outside?"

"Yeah I have to try it out," the girl said eagerly. But she didn't stop looking at it, studying her reflection in the shiny blue of the body before she checked to make sure the basket attached to the front. "Okay," she finally said, stepping back as her father had come up to her. "I was just making sure it's ready."

"I'll meet you in the front," Castle told them then as he picked the bike up.

"But-" Julia started to say.

"Come on, you need to get your helmet and I'm going to teach you how to lock your bike," Beckett said, taking her oldest's arm.

"Can I ride it around more now?" Julia asked interestedly.

"If you want you can ride it to school in the spring and fall," Beckett said. "And to the library on your own; they're not too far from us. But as for the rest of town you need to ask permission and someone needs to be with you if we give you that permission."

"Okay," Julia said, feeling a little stunned at how much responsibility she was going to be given even with that.

"Of course," Beckett said as they stepped into the garage so the girl could grab her bicycle helmet. "You can ride around the neighborhoods like you've done before."

"Just make sure I have my phone?" Julia asked as they rejoined the rest of the family at the front door.

"Like you're always supposed to have," Beckett said with a smile.

"I have to wonder Kate," Martha was saying as they walked together to the gate in the front. "Is she tall enough to ride this bike?"

"Her extra two inches in the past few months led Rick and I to agree that she can have the bike now," Beckett said. She looked to Julia and told her with a smile, "We had our eye on it for you for a while."

"A long while," Castle said as they were stepping out the door to where he was waiting. "And thanks for getting here when you did, I was so tempted to hop on and give it a spin."

"Mommy would be mad," Eliza said then.

Laughing at how serious the toddler had been Julia looked to her father and told him teasingly, "She's right and then what would you do?"

"Run like crazy," Castle said seriously before he smiled as Eliza giggled at the expression on his face after that, pretending to be nervous.

Julia was putting on her helmet then and once it was ready she went to her father, taking the bike.

"You may fall," Castle warned her. "This bike is a little bigger than the one you had before."

"I know, I'll be careful," Julia said. She pushed herself off and began to pedal down the sidewalk before she had to stop as she became a little off balance.

"Okay?" Beckett asked, stepping forward a little before she made herself stop.

"Yeah I just have to get used to it," Julia replied. She then got back on the bike and tried again, able to go just past the Foster home before she went down the driveway in front of their neighbor's house to ride on the street back to her family. "How'd I do?" she asked with a smile when she'd stopped in front of them.

"I think you did fantastic," Martha answered first.

"Really good," Eliza said, nodding in agreement.

"If you want to ride with-" Beckett started to say before her husband put his hand on her shoulder. She looked past their daughter and then smiled saying, "You can go play now if you want."

Confused Julia turned to see what they were looking at and saw that it was her friend hurrying down to them. She then tried to get off of her bike as fast as she could before she put the kickstand down and went over to her.

"Happy Birthday!" Mari told her eagerly as they embraced. "Is that your present?"

"Yeah, come and see," Julia told her, taking her hand and pulling her to her new bike.

Watching the two girls look at the bike for a bit Castle said to them, "You can go play with Mari now; if you want to."

"I do, can you play?" Julia asked her friend.

"Yep," Mari replied with a wide smile. "Wanna come to my house while I get my bike?"

"Yeah," Julia said before she remembered something. "Were you gonna teach me Mommy?"

"Very quickly," Beckett told her before she taught her how to lock her bike in the best way. "But," she said when she'd finished and was about to let her go. "You're not going to the library are you?"

Smiling Julia shook her head and then said, "Nope, what time do I need to come back?"

"Hold on a second," Castle said, getting his phone. He called David and when the man had answered put the phone on speaker. "Any chance Mari can join us for lunch today?"

"Sure," David said after a pause, asking his wife. "Just make sure she gets home afterwards."

"Thanks Daddy!" Mari said.

"And that brings me to something I wanted to ask you," Beckett said. "Would you like to go downtown today for lunch?"

"Oh yeah… can we go to the Mexican place?" Julia said. When her parents nodded she tried not to laugh as Eliza was doing to same after seeing them doing that and said, "Are you gonna let us ride there?"

"You've done that before," Castle said. "And you two know the rules."

"Yeah walk once we have to cross the streets to the stores," Julia said. "Thanks! What time do we need to go?"

"Be there at twelve," Beckett said.

"Thanks everyone, we'll see you at lunch," Julia said once nodding and setting the alarm on her phone. She walked her bike then to Mari's house with her friend and said, "Hurry, I wanna ride as far down the beach we can."

Nodding Mari hurried down the walkway to her front door, relieved that her father was there before she disappeared inside.

Julia, glancing back at her family to see they'd gone inside, turned back and waited for David and Mari to appear, walking with her friend's bike with them. "Hi," she said to him.

"Hey Julia, Happy Birthday," David told her. "How's it been so far?"

"Really great," Julia said. "Thanks, say hi to Rebecca and Dani for me."

"I will, be careful and have fun you two," David told them as his daughter got onto the bike with her helmet on.

"We will Daddy, see you later," Mari called before she and Julia headed off. They went down to the end of the street where it then curved up and crossed to get to the next block over. "Where do you want to go?" she asked.

"Maybe to the beach before the path to the playground," Julia said.

"Awesome," Mari replied. "I brought a blanket to sit on."

"I saw," Julia said, seeing it in the basket that was on the front of her friend's bike. "Want me to take it?"

"It's okay," Mari said.

"Aw come on," Julia said teasingly. "I haven't tried the basket yet."

Mari laughed at that and then said, "You're so much older than me again."

"Not that much," Julia said in protest. "And remember it's just for three months and a day we're two years apart."

"Yeah," Mari replied with a nod before they were nearing the part of the beach where the wooden path was. They got off their bikes together at the beginning of it and walked them down until they reached the sand, leaving their bikes locked together to the fence of the house next to the gate they'd used to enter the beginning of the private beach. She took out the blanket from the basket on her bike and then said, "Happy Birthday," giving her friend a wrapped gift that had been underneath.

"I thought you gave me mine yesterday?" Julia said though she was smiling as she took the box.

"That was from my family and me," Mari said. She then said in slight embarrassment, "This is just from me."

"Let's go sit so I can open it," Julia said, beaming at her. They walked together to the sand and after the blanket was stretched out they sat together she began to tear off the wrapping paper. Inside the box that was under she then pulled out a book and she opened it up to a picture of herself and Mari sticking their tongues out at the camera; a selfie they'd taken once while they'd played together she recalled. She looked through the book quickly by flipping the pages and saw besides pictures of her and her best friend there were pictures of artwork they'd made together when they were younger. "Our twin pics," she said with a smile.

"Yeah, my mom and yours helped get those together. The pictures are from since we first met," Mari told her.

"I see thanks so much," Julia said meaningfully, setting down the book to hug her friend tightly.

"It's not much, just a book, but-" Mari began to say when they'd parted.

"No, it's perfect," Julia said. "Mommy has tons of books like this and I want some too, so why shouldn't I have one of my best friend and I since we met?"

Mari smiled widely and then looked down with her friend at the picture of them from when they'd first met, on her parents' boat, before she said, "Do you remember that."

"A little bit," Julia replied after thinking for a moment. "I remember you were smaller than me."

Laughing softly Mari said, "Of course I was, I just turned three."

"But it was fun playing with you," Julia replied. She then closed the book and said, "Now I get to try out my basket."

"Yep," Mari said. "Do you want to go or stay?"

"Go, we have…" Julia started to say before she checked her phone. "We've got a couple hours."

"Come on, we can go to the playground," Mari said as they stood. She then paused and said, "You want to go there?"

"I'm not that old," Julia said in mock annoyance. She laughed with her friend before she then said, "We have to text our parents."

Nodding Mari got her phone and texted that she was going to the playground as Julia did so as well. "Now?" she asked when they'd stopped.

"Yep, let's go," Julia said before they got the blanket and then headed back to their bikes.

Back on the street they rode over to the playground which didn't take very long and when they'd locked up their bikes there Mari told her friend, "I wonder if your parents are gonna come with Eliza."

"I don't think so," Julia said, shaking her head. "I bet you anything she's gonna play what we did yesterday."

"I would do the same thing," Mari said as they went up to the tallest slide. "That was a lot of fun."

"And the picnic too," Julia said with a smile. At the top of the steps she said, "Here come some people."

"We can tell our moms and dads when we go down," Mari said; since they wanted to let them know they weren't all alone. She wasn't surprised when Julia then went down the slide and at the bottom waved up to her. They then began to go on the slides that weren't too small for them until they were nearing the time they needed to head out to the restaurant for lunch, finishing by going on the swings. "You think it's funny that our parents are okay with us going by ourselves?" she asked when they went over to their bikes to ride a bit around the area.

"It's safe here," Julia told her. "I asked my mom and dad that and they said. But we still gotta be careful."

"Yeah I don't want to ride over train tracks or something," Mari said as she fastened her helmet. She laughed softly as Julia nudged her in the side and then said, "Where do you want to go?"

"Just around this block then we can start for downtown once my alarm goes off," Julia said. When her friend nodded she then climbed up onto her bike seat and they took off to do so, riding next to each other as the sidewalk was wide enough for that.

"I wish I could have a bike like that," Mari eventually said after they'd gone around some neighborhoods they knew well from riding around the park.

"I only got it 'cause I'm tall enough know," Julia said. "But you're getting tall too so maybe next year."

They had reached the library then and they paused together before Mari said, "I should have brought my book with me. I could have gotten more." She then seemed to decide something and asked, "Do we have time?"

"We can look but we have to hurry," Julia said, turning the sound down on her phone as her friend was before she texted her mother quickly that she actually had ended up going to the library. They walked into the building together, arm in arm before the doors closed behind them and they went straight to the kids' books.

"So," Castle said after they had all gone inside while Julia was waiting in front of Mari's house. "What are we going to do?"

"I'm going to read until we need to go," Jim said. "I've been wanting to for some time."

"You'll be in the library?" Beckett asked her father with a smile. At his nod she watched him go to the stairs and said, "I'll let you know when we're going to leave. Martha?"

"I think I'll go to my room and wrap my granddaughter's gift," Castle's mother replied. "Enjoy your time with your parents darling," she called to Eliza before she went over to the stairs herself.

"Wrapping the gift isn't going to take you much time," Castle called after her. He wasn't surprised when she didn't respond to that and he turned to Eliza saying, "Okay, so what would you like to do sweetheart?"

Smiling at her parents the toddler then said, "I love you Daddy, Mommy."

"We love you too sweetie," Beckett said, wondering why she'd said that. But something came to her and she said, "You don't think we don't love you?"

"No, I wanted to say," Eliza said. "Can we play outside?"

"I think that's why she said that," Castle said jokingly as they went to the door to the backyard. "Alright we can go out and play but what do you want to play?"

"Bows," Eliza said simply.

"No surprise there," Beckett said as she grabbed a jacket for their daughter, handing it to Castle.

"Can we?" Eliza asked hopefully.

"Yes, let's go," Castle said once the toddler was ready. They went outside and while Beckett and Eliza went down to the grass with the dogs he grabbed the bows and arrows. After he helped his wife in getting the target for the girls' bows and arrows he went to their youngest telling her, "Are you ready to try?"

"Yeah, by myself?" Eliza asked. When her father nodded she looked eager and followed him to the equipment. She still couldn't exactly get the arrows on the target but she decided to do better that day. She let her father help her with the arrow she had and once it was notched she started to aim for the target. She drew back and when she let go she groaned when the arrow hit the edge of the target where it couldn't stick. "I was close," she then said to her parents who were watching her.

"Very, it looked like a great shot," Castle assured her.

"You know what I noticed you do sweetie?" Beckett then asked her. When her daughter shook her head she took her hands that were still around the bow and had her grab the string. "Pull this back and when you let go don't go down," she told the toddler as she made her move down. "You've been pulling down like that."

"Sorry?" Eliza asked when her mother let her go and she took the arrow.

"Don't apologize," Castle told her. "You have to learn from your mistakes."

"Kay," Eliza said. "Again?"

"Go ahead," Beckett told her, smiling as she watched the little girl hold up the bow again.

Castle watched as Eliza drew the string back before letting go and he saw that she was trying to listen to what her mother had said and managed to just get the arrow to stick against the edge of the target. "Great job," he told her, applauding her loudly.

"Thank you," Eliza giggled before hopping to her mother and hugging her. "Thank you Mommy."

"You're welcome Eliza," Beckett told her, embracing her back. "Try and remember that okay?"

"Why don't you try to pull up a little?" Castle suggested as he handed her another arrow.

"Can I?" Eliza asked her mother.

"Give it a shot," Beckett said with a slight shrug.

Nodding Eliza then aimed for the target before she pulled up slightly that time. She squealed when she was able to get a little higher and she looked up at her parents, beaming at them. "Good idea Daddy," she told him seriously.

"Thanks, I try," Castle said in amusement before he got another arrow for her.

Watching with her husband as their youngest shot the rest of her arrows, Beckett said when she'd finished, "Want to go again? You were doing better at the end here."

"No, I want to watch you," Eliza said, handing her mother her bow.

Sharing a smile with her husband Beckett helped him change the target to theirs and when they had finished; going back to where Eliza was standing; she said, "You can go ahead love."

"Are you sure?" Castle asked her.

Beckett didn't reply, only took Eliza by the hand and stepped away from him enough for them to watch him as he raised the bow.

Though he knew the two were looking on Castle tried the best he could to shut them out enough to aim well. He didn't say anything to the two until he had finished with all of his arrows. "Sorry," he told the two. "I was kind of ignoring you."

"That's alright you've done it before," Beckett told him as he stepped up to them. "You're not going to take them off?"

"It's so you can play with each other," Eliza said.

"She guessed it for me," Castle replied as he looked to his wife. Reaching over to her before she started to walk away from them, he grabbed her and pulled her close. "Because we didn't have the chance earlier," he told her.

Beckett wanted to say something to that but she found she couldn't protest it and she only hoped that Eliza wouldn't mind as she and Castle came together for a kiss. She was relieved when it was very gentle but was slightly taken aback when his tongue gently slipped into her mouth to caress hers before they parted. "For good luck?" she asked, a little dazed for the moment though it had been relatively simple.

"Sure, why not?" Castle asked. He couldn't help laugh when his wife rolled her eyes and then playfully pushed at him. He stepped over to Eliza who was looking at some tiny flowers that were coming out in the new grass and said, "Okay?"

"Yeah are you finished?" Eliza asked him before she took his outstretched hand.

"We are," Beckett commented as she began to pick up her first arrow. She then heard a bark and she looked over at the dogs who were playing a little roughly by then. She gave Rita's whistle and watched as they came back to them before she then held up her bow. Since her husband and their daughter weren't talking or doing anything she was able to shoot her arrows easily, seeing she and Castle were fairly evenly matched.

"Did you win?" Eliza asked though she was speaking to both her parents.

"We're not competing," Castle commented as she followed them over to the target. "There's no need to, we're just playing aren't we?"

"Yep," Eliza said, nodding her head. As she watched her parents getting the arrows out she then said, "Is it time for lunch?"

"You're hungry already?" Castle asked, turning to her.

"No," Eliza said, shaking her head. "I wanna see Jules again."

"We have forty minutes," Beckett said, checking her watch then. She smiled at Castle and said to them both, "Now what do you want to do?"

When their youngest just turned and bounded up towards the house with Macca and Rita following her Castle said, "She's going inside?"

"No," Beckett said in amusement.

Turning back to look at Eliza, Castle soon saw that she had one of the dogs' toys and he smiled before saying, "I should have known."

"I know, what's wrong with you Rick?" Beckett said jokingly. She closed the box that held their arrows, not surprised when her husband was coming over to her, wrapping his arm around her. "Our daughter-" she began to say as he kissed at her neck that he could reach.

"Is busy," Castle murmured to her. "We can't can we?"

"It's too soon… maybe once we're in Japan," Beckett answered.

Sighing Castle said, "I hope so, I'd love to be with you there."

Beckett reached over and cupped her husband's cheek before she said, "Don't worry you will be."

"Macca!" Eliza cried out as the dog wasn't letting go of the toy she had in her hand.

Castle and Beckett, who'd started kissing at that point, parted to see what was going on with their youngest at her cry.

Seeing the situation she was in Beckett pecked her lips to her husband's and said, "I'll take care of this."

Though he wanted to protest Castle got the equipment they'd used and headed to the chest on the patio to put everything away, trying to hurry to go back to them.

"Macca," Beckett whistled a little sharply. When the dog stopped and sat down she told him, "Thank you. Here you go sweetie. Next time he does that just say Macca, sit."

"Kay," Eliza said. "Thank you Mommy."

"You're welcome," Beckett said. "Go ahead and throw it."

Nodding to that Eliza did so and then giggled as both dogs took off after it though she hadn't gotten it too far. She ran after them before she suddenly found herself up in the air, crying out in laughter before he mother held her close. "Mommy," she said then.

"Yes?" Beckett asked her with a smile.

"I'm little still," Eliza told her.

"She read my mind," Beckett told her husband as he walked over to them. "Don't worry," she then directed to the toddler. "You and your sister are growing up but I know you both will be our little girls."

"Yeah," Eliza said seriously, nodding her head.

Laughing softly Beckett kissed her temple before she set the toddler back on the ground and she and Castle followed her over to the dogs who were fighting over their toy in play.