Disclaimer: *sigh* I don't own Castle

A/N: Thanks to kw15915 for reading this over.

In the summertime

when the weather is hot
You can stretch right up

and touch the sky

-Mungo Jerry, In the Summertime

*~* Friday, July 3*~*

The day was bright and blue. Every facet practically sparkled with anticipation for the weekend and it's 4th of July festivities.

They had finally let their shoulders relax and worked out the last knots of tension where the bustle of the beach and the comforting sounds of their home were their only company. They had settled into their routine just in time to face the crowds the next day.

Kate and Castle were watching their children running around playing Five (three) Children and It. They had found the Psammead (a sand fairy), played by Claire, and were now asking their wishes.

Castle rubbed sunscreen on Kate's back and shoulders, taking his time and massaging as he went.

"Soft hands eh?"

It was their running joke from summer to summer and Castle chuckled in response, "I can stop if you want."

"Don't you dare."

"Or else what?"

"I'll think of something." Her smile was teasing, promising.

"I'm sure you will." But, he didn't stop, knowing he would get what he was promised anyway.

The turned their attention back to the story unfolding in front of them with the animated dialogue, the exaggerated actions and Claire joining as she saw fit. There was some frustration as Claire ran and dug in the sand instead of granting wishes in her role of the Psammead. A brown and red head were bent together discussing heatedly before evidently deciding to abandon their sister to continue their game.

When they came running up for lunch Kate and Castle shared a look and put on some exaggerated British accents. "Why Kate, these children are as beautiful as the day. They can't be our children."

"Why so they are, I wonder whose they could be?"

"It's us, it's us!" They cried, Claire climbing on Kate's leg.

"Us who?"

"Grace and Frobisher and Claire." Grace was the spokeswoman.

"I don't know any children by those names."

"Run along now children."

"But we are so hungry," Frobisher tried.

"Your parents will be so worried if you aren't home to your own dinners. Go on now."

"You are our parents..." Grace kept going.

"Oh look, the sun is down and the wish is over," Frobisher decided.

Castle chuckled, dropping the accent, "Smart boy." Her got a stern look from Grace and put the accent on again, "Why our children are right there in front of us."

"Would you like your lunch now?"

"Why yes mother dear, thank you."

They kept the accents and the game through lunch with Claire "Baaa - ing" every time they mentioned Lamb, the youngest child, and was followed by giggles around the picnic blanket.

The giggles and chatter abated as lunch wound down. Frobisher and Claire spread out their towels side by side – still remaining in character.

"Alrighty then, naptime for Claire."

"Nooo..."

"Do you want me to..."Kate started.

"No no, I need to get some writing done." He scooped his youngest into his arms, "I'll be back in a couple of hours."

They stayed on the beach reading for the afternoon, out of the sun. She watched them get comfortable, pick up their books and sprawl out on their towels. Grace was into Kit Pearson at the moment while Frobisher was into Swiss Family Robinson with Swallows and the Amazons sitting beside him to start next. Their emotions flitted across their faces intent as they were on their books. She smiled appreciatively before she was soon swept into her own book, a romantic suspense and the prefect beach read.

"Hey guys, I brought a little monkey and popsicles for you."

"Thanks Dad."

"Can I have strawberry?"

Grace got a look.

"Please?"

"Oh, me too, thanks Castle."

Claire wiggled her way into Kate's lap to eat her popsicle and proceeded to drip fruit juice all over the both of them.

Sticky kids and adults alike soon splashed their way into the ocean to wash away the fruit juice.

Castle shivered in the late afternoon sun, "What do you say, is it time to find some sticks for tomorrow?

Grace nodded, "We need to find the perfect ones."

"To hold millions of s'mores," Frobisher added.

"Millions."

"Kate?"

"We'll stick around here. Want to get me one with two..." Kate gestured, showing with her fingers.

"Will do."

She watched them traipse off down the beach, Grace and Frobisher snaking this way and that as they caught sight of potentially perfect sticks.

Not too long after the calm departure they came back tripping over their feet in excitement. Grace and Frobisher were carrying the perfect marshmallow sticks and Castle hefting a few pieces of driftwood to add to the bonfire.

"Here you go Mummy."

"It's perfect." Kate stuck the stick in the sand by the fire.

"We got one for you to Claire. Claire!" Grace offered the little sister the stick but she was too busy playing with the other sticks to take notice of her own. "Claire!"

"It's ok guys, it's not hurting them."

"But..."

"They'll be there tomorrow when we need them."

"Let's go make dinner shall we?" Kate began to gather up the towels, books and umbrella.

"Make your own pizzas," Castle added.

"Yes!"

They skipped up the path, hauling the beach gear and chatted about the toppings for their pizzas.

Once inside, Castle cut the English muffins while Kate prepared the veggies.

They gave Grace the task of grating the cheese and set Frobisher to open the cans of sauce and pineapples.

Claire just cheered them on.

There was near silence while they prepared the little pizzas as they all focused on the task at hand; spooning and spreading the sauce, competing for the best designs for their toppings and taking turns hogging the cheese.

They were all startled by a soggy thud and looked around.

"My pizzaaaaaa," Grace wailed.

"Hey, it's ok. It's just a special surprise upside down pizza," Castle reassured her.

"Yeah, I guess."

He picked it up off the floor, "It totally fine. Just add some more cheese."

"Daddy!"

"Eight second rule, right? For a girl who's eight." He swooped in with the pizza. "Yummm."

"Ewww!"

Kate just rolled her eyes as she watched her husband and daughter chase round the kitchen. "I'm not cleaning that up!"

A/N: *facepalm* So, in my mind while I was writing this chapter it was the last day of June and the next day would be the 4th of July. Turns out the 4th of July is in fact on the 4th and not the 1st like Canada Day. My apologies for any confusion this may have caused and I hope you got a good laugh at my expense.