A/N: sorry for being so late with this update:/ I have not been on any type of vacation yet this summer, so my inspiration is missing. (what a lame excuse) errr soo enjoy!

As the world spin and dance in my hands.
Life is a beach, I'm just playin' in the sand.

-Lil Wayne

When one o' clock rolled around, the gang headed back to the house for lunch. They were still laughing at Kevin's expense. Javier and Rick's jokes became worse and worse with every step. No one stopped them; they were too funny. Even Jenny was laughing. It wasn't until they got to the house did the two stop their incessant insults.

"So, Castle, what's for lunch?" Kate asked.

"What? Am I the caterer for the day?"

"No. For the week," Kate said, smiling. Rick stuttered in protest.

"I'm kidding."

"Good. Though, I did call up that deli down the street earlier today. I ordered sandwiches for us all," he said, winking at her. He turned to Ashley, "Ashley, would you like to walk down and help me?"

"Yes, of course Mist-" Alexia shot him a fierce look, "Richard."

"Attaboy. We'll be back in fifteen minutes," Castle said as they walked out the door.

The door slammed shut and six hungry people shlepped into the kitchen. The food was completely gone in an hour. They sat in the spacious living room discussing plans for later in the day.

"The girls and I going shopping around four," Lanie said.

"We are?" Beckett asked, looking confused.

"Yes, Kate. I discussed this with you last night.."

"I was probably distracted."

"Mhmm..."

"Well, while you ladies shop 'till you drop, us men will play some pool," Castle said. Kevin and Javier nodded in approval, while Ashley looked nervous.

"What are we doing for dinner, Dad?"

"I supplied lunch. Ask Kate," he answered.

Kate "Me?"

"Yes, you are the only Kate here. Unless Kevin is secretly a woman named Kate. Considering his show for us earlier," Kevin blushed and everyone sniggered, "It's not likely."

"Well...why don't we go out? On the way here I spotted this place called Joe's Stone Crabs. Though it looks kind of expensive."

"It's a hassle. There are no reservations and the wait can be excruciating."

"Oh..."

"No matter though; there's not hassle to big for Rick Castle," multiple sets of eyes rolled, "I have a VIP spot at at least one great restaurant in every major city. Joe's just happens to be my one in Miami," Rick said, arrogance beaming in his blue eyes.

"Well, then it seems to me like you /are/ our caterer for the week," Kate said smirking.

"Uh...well...kinda."

"So 7:30?"

"I'll call Joe."

"Alright kiddies, time for some wiffelball!" Javier yelled standing in the foyer fifteen minutes later.

"Let's go!" Kevin added.

"Really, boys? Wiffelball?" Lanie whined.

"Yes, really. We have to play, baby!"

"Javi..." Lanie whined.

"Lanie..." Javier whined back, pouting.

"It's not up to me. Ask everyone else."

Javier smiled and called through the house "Guys! Who wants to play some wiffelball?"

Kate, Alexis, Ashley rushed into the foyer. Jenny slowly followed.

"We do," Alexis said, speaking for both her and her boyfriend, who smiled in agreement.

"I do. I call you three are on my team," she pointed to Lanie, Javier, and Kevin.

"Fine," sighed Lanie.

"Castle!" Kate called.

"What?"

"Get your ass down here."

"Why?"

"We're playing wiffelball."

Thuds sounded as he came down the staircase and turned into the foyer.

"We are? Cool."

They proceeded out the door and back to the beach. Everyone was content with the teams, not realizing that Kate purposely stacked her team. Castle argued about the unfair teams.

"You have three cops! And the medical examiner, who scares me when she's angry. How did that happen?" Lanie smirked.

"I picked them while you were upstairs, taking your time, as always."

"Not fair. You should have waited until we got here."

"Life isn't far, Castle. Deal."

"Fine."

"Game on!"

Beckett's team took the lead right away, much to Rick's abhorrence. When his team finally got up to bat, he was pleasantly surprised. Ashley was a fairly decent player. He had gotten all of the outs at the beginning of them game and had hit the ball well over Kevin's head. He scored them a run, lifting Rick's mood.

Beckett was planning on squashing Rick's team, but it ended up in a tie. No one could break the 5-5 score, until Lanie declared it was late. They decided on a tie and went back to the house.

Lanie and the girls left to go shopping at four. The guys stayed back. Ashley was nervous to be left with the older men. He begged Alexis to stay.

"Ash, they won't hurt you. It's okay."

"I-well...I'm just...Please stay?"

"You can spend an hour or so without me protecting you from my father. He's really a great guy. He won't do all that 'If you hurt my daughter...' crap. Trust me, babe."

"I...uh...okay."

"Loosen up, Ash. We're on vacation! That's what vacation is for."

"I'll try."

They shared a swift kiss and the ladies went on their way. The men played some billiards, just as Castle suggested. Ashley was slowly but surely taking Alexis' advice and relaxing. He became much more comfortable when they older three-well, mostly the two detectives- started talking to him about baseball. The rest of the week was going to be relaxing and easy for the whole bunch.