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: I have some Spanish in here, really hope I got it right, lol, if I got anything wrong let me know so I can correct it!

A/N #2: Really was pleased to get the reviews I did, want to get to my thank yous for them both right away! vetgirlmx (I was happy to see you thought both halves of the chapter were very good. And it was interesting to see you enjoyed them so much since you thought they were shorter but whatever helps make your time reading pleasant I think it's great! It was great that you could see that they'd had fun at the Prado. And with Eliza I figure those paintings I mention would grab her attention, plus I am trying to have Castle and Beckett get her interested in art at a young age as what happened with me, lol, especially with Spanish paintings. I wasn't surprised to see your reaction to the talk that Beckett and Julia had. And really it's her just wanting to make sure that Beckett enjoys being a mother and not working as she had done at the start from what she remembers. Though I'm not surprised you were concerned about if she was remembering her past or her birth mother. So pleased to read that you're enjoying the letters as much as you are and want to know what happened to them which yep, was what I was aiming for so really happy you mentioned that! Thanks for the good work comment, I do try my best, and I'm glad you can't wait to see what's next which you don't need to do anymore!) and TORONTOSUN (It was great to see first off that you loved the tender moment between Castle and Beckett as I wanted them to have that in this chapter. Glad you could see what I meant by paintings bringing out a serious side for them including Julia, I think it's just the sense it's essentially a photograph from the past in a way. I was also glad that you thought the paintings I had enhanced the chapter, they were ones that I either knew or else thought were good. The parasol one by Goya is one that my grandmother had a copy of hanging in her house… she might still have it I have to check and see it, but I loved that one for the girls to really like. I was so, so pleased that you caught the art theme I'd put with Castle and Beckett, I thought it would be something fun to put with them and the move on to the next bout together. Oh and happy you thought Castle and Beckett's night out was very good, wanted to have them have a night in Madrid so was great to read that in your review!). Thanks so much to you both for the reviews and believe me when I am serious saying that I am so grateful- especially around this busy time of the year for most people- for the reviews you took time out of your lives to write and then send to me!

A/N #3: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song La Puerta de Alcalá sung by Ana Belén and Victor Manuel and thanks to vetgirlmx I know now who wrote it Bernardo Fuster and Luis Mendo. The title means airs of liberty in my translation.

Aires De Libertad

Looking at the window where the countryside was passing by rapidly Beckett said gently, "The girls are asking where you went."

"I just needed a second," Jim said, smiling at his daughter as she leaned against him.

"Mom would have loved this," Beckett told him, watching the scenery with him. She smiled and said, "She would have insisted we stayed in Madrid longer though."

"She always did love that kind of convergence between history and present day," Jim replied. "You're right." He then seemed to shake himself and said, "We're getting closer to Carbajales, we should get back to the others." As they were walking he told his daughter, "Your girls are going to wonder about you."

"More than likely," Beckett said with a smile.

"Mommy, Xavi said to come get you we're almost there," Julia said worriedly as she hurried to her mother and grandfather.

"We're coming, go back so we can get our things," Jim urged her as he was in the front.

"Is he okay?" Castle asked his wife when he saw her again.

"Yeah, just needed a moment," Beckett replied. "Like I told you."

"Of course," Castle said as they started to get their things.

When they reached the station of Carbajales de Alba the girls looked at the building and never noticed the train had left behind them. Julia was quick to take pictures; as she'd been doing their trip from the capital city; and she then said, "What a pretty building."

"It is," Beatriz replied, she and her husband with the family for the trip to the northwest. "Paco should be here."

"We will need to look for him and see," Xavi said, speaking for Eliza's benefit since the toddler was watching them with slightly wide eyes.

"Here," Beckett said to get Eliza's attention. She picked her up as they walked to the other side of the building and then looked back. She checked on Julia, not surprised to find her still studying the station as Martha held her hand to make sure she came with them.

"It looks like it could be a barn," Julia said.

"There he is," Xavi said suddenly as an older looking green station wagon and then a newer car pulled up against the curb in front of them. "This is one of my cousins in town, Paco, and that's his son Santos," he told the family.

"A lot of the people we meet here," Jim said as Xavi and Beatriz went over to their family. "Are going to be related to Xavi."

"How many people live in the town?" Alexis asked.

"Less than seven hundred… if it's even that," Jim replied.

"So it's small I would take it," Martha said.

"Very," Jim said with a nod. "We'll be popular here."

"And they'll know about us already," Castle said instead of asked. When his father in law nodded in agreement with that he said, "Will they know Kate and I?"

"They do because Xavi's told them," Jim said with a slight smile on his face. "So you'll be very popular."

"Nothing we haven't handled before," Castle said to his wife out of the corner of his mouth.

Beckett smiled at him but by then Paco and Santos were walking up to them and she was a little startled when the older man grabbed her by the arms, kissing both her cheeks and telling her, "Bienvenudos a Carbajales. I am so… happy to meet you… tu papa… your father has told us about you," speaking slowly to translate.

"It's wonderful to meet you," Beckett said, smiling when the man's eyes widened in hearing her Spanish. "And I look forward to seeing the town."

"She speaks… bueno, muy bueno," Paco said, looking at his son who nodded.

"My father's English isn't the best," the young man told Beckett as he kissed her cheeks then. "But he wanted to make sure you knew you were welcome, all of you."

"Your grandchildren are beautiful," Paco was saying to Jim after he'd greeted Castle and then Martha.

"They are," Jim said with a nod. "Were you able to talk to your cousin?"

"I think we should get our things to the house Hames," Beatriz said with a smile as she knew what he was speaking of. "We'll need to go separately; the girls can go in the newer car."

With that the group split into two Santos taking Beckett, the girls and Alexis after the others in the station wagon down the road. As they were driving past the countryside everyone was looking out at the fields and foliage that they passed before they came to some houses.

"Look, it's a castle," Julia said, pointing to their right.

"That is where they do the embroidery, a school," Santos replied.

"My dad has mentioned that place before," Beckett said with a smile as they passed it. "And that bar, the Mosquito."

"He goes to all of them when he's here," Santos replied. "A different one every Sunday with Xavi and my father."

"Do you live here?" Beckett asked him.

"No I come during the summer," Santos replied before they were going down a street.

"Mommy look," Eliza said happily as they came to a home surrounded with an elaborate gate.

"Is this Xavi's house?" Alexis asked in surprise.

"It is, he built it himself," Santos said. "You'll be comfortable."

"Where do you live?" Julia asked.

"You'll see," Santos replied as he was pulling up to the right of the house where there was a garage. "This is Xavi's car," he told Beckett. "So you'll be able to use this to go to Zamora."

"When are we going there?" Julia asked.

"Tomorrow," Beckett replied. "For now let's get everything inside."

"We will let you take the right side of the home, it's got enough rooms for you all," Xavi was telling Castle and Martha as he helped Paco with the luggage. "And I hope you don't mind, we'll get everything inside before we head to my cousin's farm."

"Farm?" Eliza asked, catching that word easily. "Aminals?"

"You will see," Beatriz replied.

As they got their things inside Beckett was pleasantly surprised to see that the house was very European in design but still modern. She went to the room Beatriz indicated the girls could use, seeing the large bed and the moderately sized space.

"It's perfect," Julia said, going to the window and looking at the old building that housed the garage. "Did you make it like that?" she asked the woman.

"No, it was there when Xavi bought the property," Beatriz told them with a smile. "It adds character to the home I think."

"It does," Alexis said in agreement. She then said to her father and stepmother, "I'll take care of things here."

"Thank you Alexis," Beckett told her. She followed Castle after Beatriz to what was going to be their room across the hall. "This looks like a master bedroom."

"Xavi thought his brother was going to build the house with him but he decided not to," Beatriz replied. "But since by then the plans were settled on he left it looking as if there were two homes in one building."

"It's great," Castle said, seeing Beckett nodding quickly in agreement with him. "Thank you."

"It is our pleasure, we will meet you in the sala," Beatriz said before leaving to make sure Jim had shown Martha her room on the other side of the hall; next to the girls'.

"So this'll be nice," Castle told his wife, looking down at the bed.

"It will but I'm sure we'll just be in the house at night," Beckett replied as she opened her suitcase she'd set on the bed. She hung her shirts for the next two days and then put the luggage away saying, "I'm ready."

"Me too," Julia said, coming to the doorway with her sister.

"Did you two help Alexis at all?" Castle asked as he hung his single shirt and then headed over to them.

"Yeah it was fast," Julia said as he picked up Eliza. "I can't wait to see the farm."

"You two," Jim said suddenly as he came face to face with Castle in the hall. "Your boots."

"Our… oh," Castle said, startled at the man's Irish before he realized what he was talking about.

Getting the boxes the shoes were in Beckett and Castle followed the others back out to the cars. As he helped Xavi and Jim hook the battery up in what was Beatriz's car there in town she got Eliza ready in her car seat as the girls got into the back seat on either side of her. "I think my dad showed his hand," she told her husband when he walked up to her.

"I think so," Castle replied with a smile before he leaned over and brushed his lips to hers. "I can't wait."

"Neither can I," Beckett said before they turned to Paco and Santos who were calling they'd see them at the farm.

"You can drive the car while you're here," Jim told Castle as he walked over to his son in law. "And just follow us in the car ahead."

"Sure," he said as he took the keys. When he and Beckett were in the car he followed Xavi carefully, a little surprised when they ended up going past the building that looked like a castle again. "You saw this on the way in?" he asked them in the back as well as his wife.

"We did," Alexis replied. "Any chance we can go in?"

"We'll ask when we stop," Beckett said before they were pulling into a driveway of a house off the street. "Quaint," she said when she saw the home. "And very Spanish."

"It is," Castle replied with a smile as he could tell she liked that about it.

"Xavi?" Alexis said as soon as they were out of the car. "Is there any way we can head over to the castle over there?" pointing back to the building the way they'd come.

"Of course we were going to take you right now," Xavi said, looking at his cousin who then nodded. "We will walk from here."

As Eliza and Julia led the way on the side of the road Castle walked with his wife and watched her taking pictures. He commented when she stopped, "You like this?"

"It's pretty and you can tell the atmosphere is different here in the country," Beckett responded. She then reached out for her husband's hand and didn't take another picture until they were on the property of the building.

"They're working," Xavi said as they went through the door. "But a cousin of mine is right there. Marisol, que tal?" he asked as a woman walked over to them.

Castle went over to the man and spoke to him for a moment before he nodded, watching as Xavi spoke to his cousin rapidly. When the woman nodded and left them he turned to see that his wife and family had done the same and were standing in the large room where the women were working. "Is that for the costume?" he whispered as he joined them.

"It is, you can tell by the black fabric," Jim answered.

"Señora," the cousin said, walking back to them.

Startled as she'd been talking to her Beckett looked at the fabric in the woman's arms, spread out for her to see the work done on it and she asked, "Para mí?"

"I bought it for you love," Castle said, watching a little anxiously as his wife took the shawl onto her arms. "I thought you might prefer subdued tones."

"It's perfect," Beckett said in amazement as she stroked the roses that were embroidered into the light blue fabric. They were nearly cream colored on a blue shade that was the same color as her aquamarine. When she thought of that she looked at her husband with a smile and asked him, "You picked this?"

"I did but they took care of the design and everything else," Castle said seriously. "Muchas graciases perfecto."

"Y muy hermosa, me encanta mucho gracias," Beckett said to thank the woman who nodded to them both with a smile.

At that point the group walked through the room to see the women working until they left with Beckett's new shawl wrapped in paper. Before they could leave Jim took them to the east of it and showed the girls the playground there.
"Go ahead," Beckett said, Castle nodding as their daughters were looking at them.

"Look at this!" Julia cried, pointing to the metal seats that spun around in a circle. "Want to go on this?"

"Yeah," Eliza said, sounding as if she was hesitating for a moment before nodding. She cried out when her father put up on the chair and held on tightly as he spun it once Julia and Alexis were on it too. She cried out in pleasure at the sensation of them spinning around and looked at her sisters as the two were laughing heavily.

Watching as the two went from the merry go round to the swings Beckett turned to Castle and said, "Thank you."

"I thought of how my mom has a shawl and the idea came to me you should too," Castle said. "But it had to be unique, I almost didn't think they could make it or they weren't going to make that kind of design. I'm glad I was wrong because I cannot wait to see you wearing this."

Beckett got a sudden idea hearing that and she smiled widely at her husband before she leaned over and kissed him tenderly on the lips. When she pulled away she was surprised to see the others coming over and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing they want to go," Alexis replied easily. "And see the farm."

"That's right," Castle said, starting to go to Eliza.

"No Daddy, wanna walk," the toddler said firmly. She giggled when he held up his hands and then held hers up to him.

Walking with the girls on either side of him Castle said, "I'm wondering what else we'll do today. Bars?"

"There are things to do here," Beatriz said with a smile as she looked back at him.

"Okay then let's get to it," Castle replied.

"Starting with the farm," Alexis reminded him.

"Can't forget that," Castle said, squeezing the girls' hands.

When they'd returned to the house they met Paco's wife and Santos' mother, Constanza who urged them to continue to the farm which was just a little down the road. They soon reached the long buildings close together that were bordered on the north by fields that stretched out further than they could see. First Paco showed them his pigs, urging Eliza and Julia to pet them before they went to the next section where some of his goats were.

"Most of them are out grazing, he has a shepherd that takes them around to the grass this time of year down by the river," Santos translated for his father. "And here are our cows," he told them as they were going over to the next building.

"Do you sell everything you get from them?" Alexis asked.

"Most of it but a lot we keep for ourselves," Santos said with a nod. "We make cheese from the goats' milk and the milk from the cows we drink."

"And the pigs?" Castle asked hesitantly.

"For other things," Santos said as Julia and Eliza were watching them. "Come; let me show you my favorite part of our farm."

Stepping into the other half of the barn, Julia gasped as Eliza squealed shortly and she said, "Caballos!"

Paco laughed at that, a deep laugh that echoed through the stables and made some of the horses stick their heads out to look at them. "Tu abuelo…" he started to say before he turned to his son.

Nodding, Santos said, "He told us that you love horses."

"We do," Beckett said, not surprised everyone soon turned to her and Castle. "Is this why we needed the boots."

"We will get the horses ready," Santos said. "And bring them out to you."

Jim smiled when his daughter hugged him momentarily and said, "They have English saddles."

"Thank you Jim," Castle said, shaking his hand firmly before he went after his wife to the car nearby where they hurried to put on their boots. "Will they be able to see the other horses?" he asked as the others came out to them after.

"We'll take them around," Jim promised.

"And maybe see the huerta that Constanza was talking about," Alexis said. "The garden," she translated for Eliza who was looking at her questioningly.

"That'll be fun," Beckett said with a smile to the toddler who was soon smiling back at her.

"Here they are," Santos called, leading a horse by its bridle. "This is Alba and the horse my father has is Pincho."

"Pincho as in the food?" Castle asked.

"He was born when my father was having those for lunch," Santos said with a smile. "The name stayed with him."

"They're beautiful," Beckett said, running her hand over Alba's neck. The horse was a grey Andalusian and her husband's a black Arabian and she hurried to let both smell at her hand before she mounted Alba. "How far can we go?" she asked as she watched Castle getting up onto Pincho.

"You can head up as far as the station but do not ride directly to it, the train will scare them," Santos said. "The fence is the border of my father's property," he then told them, pointing it out to them. "And they know where to go as well."

"Thank you," Castle said.

"Muchisimos gracias!" Beckett called as she dug her heels into the sides of the horse and it took off, Castle close behind.

"Ah you weren't kidding Hames," Xavi said as they watched the two soon disappear.

"It's in her blood," Jim said with a smile

"She must have something of Spanish blood in her," Santos then said. "Him as well." He smiled as Jim chuckled a little at that and said, "So who wants to see Cocoa and Marzipan?"

"Candy?" Eliza asked, finally turning from where her parents had disappeared from sight before she was taken by the hand by her big sisters to head back inside the stable to see the rest of the horses.

Riding to the north Beckett could hear the muffled sound of the hooves under them on the plowed, bare ground and her horse's breathing as she and Castle didn't stop until they were nearing the station. She smiled as she turned Alba to the right before bringing him to a stop and said, "That was amazing."

"You're incredible you know," Castle told his wife seriously, staring into her eyes as he walked Pincho next to her, facing her as he hadn't turned.

"You say that every time," Beckett teased him, pretending to sound annoyed.

"I don't," Castle said simply. He then leaned over and kissed her gently before they parted at the same time and then looked at one another. Before they could lean in and kiss again though they were reminded that they weren't on their horses at home as the two whinnied and shook their heads. "I guess they want to keep moving," he told his wife.

"More than likely," Beckett replied with a smile. She then waited for him to turn to face the same way as her and with a gentle nudge to their horses' sides they were taking off again and heading west as far as they felt was safe. She felt her hair blowing in the wind and glancing at her husband she saw him watching her every so often and she let out a sudden whoop before he laughed as she would only make that sound when they rode and only then once in a while.

When they had slowed down finally Castle said, "No one would believe you do that."

"No and that's why I only do it with you," Beckett replied easily. "Because I trust you not to tell anyone."

"Walk back?" Castle asked, patting the neck of Pincho.
"We'll walk," Beckett said, reaching out to take his hand before they let the two horses lead them back to the stable where Paco and Santos were waiting in the shade of the building for them.

"A good ride?" Santos asked as the two dismounted.

"It was great," Castle said first.

"I'll agree with him, the space you have here is amazing," Beckett added, handing the reins of Alba to the man.

"We use the horses to ride around those fields," Santos said.

"Y para las fiestas," Paco added as he was taking Pincho from Castle and then led the horse into the stables as the others followed him.

"We allow friends and family to take them," Santos explained. "And ride around while they bring the bulls into town."

"When is that?" Castle asked, glancing at his wife and seeing that she didn't look too pleased hearing that.

"Not until September," Santos said. "Your family is in the huerta with my mother, she told us to ask you to join them to pick dessert for lunch."

"We don't need to help with them?" Beckett asked, motioning to the horses. When Paco told them they could go she turned with her husband and as they walked down to the house said, "I forgot about those."

"They do their own running of the bulls?" Castle replied.

"He was here once," Beckett said. "Back before he married my mom and he watched; he said he never wanted to do it again because he noticed the bulls were bleeding through their hooves on the concrete of the streets."

"And then there's the bullfighting itself," Castle said, not surprised when she nodded in agreement to that. He sighed and said, "Well we'll just avoid those where we go here."

"I don't think we'll be around in time for any," Beckett said simply before they were reaching the front gate to the house. "Hey," she said as Julia appeared on the other side.

"We're picking fruit," the little girl said with a smile. "How was your ride?" she asked.

"Good… we left on our shoes," Castle said before realizing he still had the knee high boots on.

Shrugging Beckett replied, "They're clean so I don't think she'll mind. Still, I'll ask."

"I will ask," Xavi said, coming up to open the gate then. He called to Constanza and after she replied in Spanish he told her, "Come inside, she is used to her husband and son bringing in their boots from the barns."

Walking inside Castle looked around and saw that half of the front yard was for flowers and trees and the other was for vegetables. "Where's the fruit?"

"Some of the trees out here are apple and plum," Xavi answered as Julia was taking her mother's hand and leading her around the house. "There are more in the back and there she keeps the berries."

"A lot of berries," Julia said.

"Mommy, Daddy!" Eliza cried, looking over at them from the tree where Jim was holding her up to. "Look!"

When they'd reached her, Castle could see it was a fig tree and she was holding one in her hand. "Wow, that's huge," he said, taking it from her when she'd held it out to him.

"We'll have a nice dessert," Jim said, nodding to where Martha and Alexis were with Constanza.

With Julia leading her over Beckett was surprised to see the boxes of strawberry plants on tables along the edge of the yard. "Did they get rain as well?" she asked Beatriz who walked out to them from what she guessed was the kitchen.

Speaking a few words in Spanish to Paco's wife Beatriz then said, "They did so the fruits are benefiting of course. But this reminds me of our dinner tonight."

"You're throwing a party?" Jim asked.

"Aren't we going to see the dancing Grandpapa?" Julia asked, tugging his arm a little.

"We are but before that we're going to have a dinner party with some of their relatives," Jim said. He then looked at his friends and asked, "Did you tell them I was bringing my entire family?"

"We did but just one cousin," Xavi said.

"David?" Jim asked. When the man nodded he said, "That's all you had to do then." He turned to the others and said, "They'll make paella in the back of the house and there will be a number of cooks there who will also be the guests. And after that we'll walk to the plaza and see the dancing. Could they see the church?"

"I need to get some things from the mercado," Beatriz replied. "So they can join me and I can show them some of the village."

"Can we do that?" Julia asked hopefully.

"Sure I'm eager to see more too," Castle said.

"But there is one thing before that," Beatriz told them. "We need dessert."

"Not from here?" Beckett asked.

"No we could use some moras," Xavi replied.

"Is that where the bug spray comes in?" Castle asked his father in law.

"It does," Jim said. "So Xavi and I can play cards?"

"Are we picking them?" Alexis asked suddenly.

"They grow wild but I'll tell you where to go," Jim said.

At that point Constanza called the others inside and when they stepped inside the kitchen she told them in rapid Spanish to grab their plates to get their food.

"There is no room for us all inside," Xavi told them. "Since it is so small of course. But it is a nice day and there are enough chairs for us all."

"A little tapas lunch," Castle said in amusement as he waited for his mother and Alexis to go first.

"Usually she makes cocido the first time I'm over for a meal," Jim replied behind him. "I think since there's so many of us it's easier to do this."

"It still looks great," Beckett said before turning her attention to the girls who were next to help them decide what they wanted.

"What is that?" Eliza asked.

"Ensaladilla rusa," Constanza replied.

"Russian salad but it has potatoes, olives, some vegetables…" Beckett started to say.

"Tuna," Xavi added as she'd looked at him and his wife. "And mayonnaise, try it you might enjoy it."

"Wait there for me girls," Beckett said as she took Eliza's plate to set on the table in the middle of the room.

"I can take them," Alexis replied.

Nodding to her stepdaughter Beckett went back to the food to get her own before she joined them outside. "You two couldn't wait for your daddy and grandpapa?" she asked them teasingly as she joined them around the table they were sitting at with Martha and Alexis.

"Where is everyone going to sit?" Julia asked her mother after putting down her fork.

"There's this table here," Jim said, joining everyone else there while Castle sat next to Beckett.

"Salud para todos," Paco said, raising his glass of wine then and tapping it against his wife's before doing the same with his son and Jim, taking a sip of the red liquid inside.

"Very nice," Castle said, looking at the glass. He then glanced at his daughter and said, "Alexis…"

"Dad," she replied simply as she had wine herself.

"I'm kidding," Castle said, seeing that Eliza was watching them with slightly wide eyes. "What do you think of the food?" he asked the toddler then as he picked up a piece of tortilla for her to eat with her fork.

"Good," Eliza said, nodding her head.

"She likes the salad too," Julia told them.

"And you?" Beckett asked, getting some on her own fork to try.

"It's different, kinda like potato salad," Julia said.

"It is good," Beckett replied.

"You're right," Castle said, eating some then. "Is this difficult to make?" he asked Constanza in Spanish. He couldn't quite follow her entire answer so he said, "Think I could get a recipe?"

"She will write it down for you," Beatriz said, translating for the woman who was nodding at the same time. "But I told her you have had a lot of this already."

"Not everything," Castle said. "The salad no… these kinds of empanadas with fish. Es delicioso," he called to Constanza who smiled and nodded. "And the banderillas too." He glanced at the girls and said, "Those they didn't want to try."

"I wasn't surprised," Martha said, picking her skewer of canapés up. "Do you really eat this all at once?"

In response to that Paco put one into his mouth and slid the tiny pickle, shrimp, onion and pepper into his mouth before putting the skewer down. He gave the others a thumbs up as he chewed and smiled while they were laughing in response to him.

"Okay I guess that's the experience," Castle said, turning to see his wife was eating hers though it didn't have a shrimp on it. He did the same and after he'd eaten it said, "Interesting flavors, the olive was… sour."

"The pickle too," Beckett said. "It's good though, it tastes Spanish," she said to Xavi so he could tell Paco and Constanza as she took a sip of her drink.

"And I think I know why that's a tapa," Castle said, drinking his wine as well. "To order more drinks."

"That's how most of them are," Jim said with a smile as he glanced over at them.

While they continued to eat, Alexis said to her grandmother, "Are you going to come with us to pick the berries?"

"I don't think so," Martha said in amusement. "Beatriz is going to head out to the bar with her husband… so I suppose I'm joining your father Kate."

"Is he playing cards?" Beckett asked before glancing at him.

"We'll play a few games," Jim said as he'd heard his daughter saying that. "And Beatriz will take care of you Martha, if you want to join in with any games."

"I might," Castle's mother said in response.

The rest of the lunch was filled with conversation between the two tables as Paco, Constanza and Santos all were asking questions of the family. Xavi and Beatriz were translating when they needed to, to help the couple's son.

When they had finished the fruits Paco and Constanza led the family through the house on a quick tour as Julia had asked if they could see what it was like inside besides the kitchen. When they had finished by going back out to the front they said goodbye, the couple and their son promising to see them later that night for dinner.

After they'd been told how to get to the moras Castle looked down at the bucket that he was holding and said, "Are we expected to fill these?"

"I don't think so," Beckett replied as they went to their car. "Though it sounds as if there are going to be a lot of people tonight so we should get as many as possible."

"What we don't eat you mean," Castle told her. When she gave him a look he gave her a quick smile in response before he opened the back door. When they were all settled inside he drove them out to where Jim and Xavi had directed them, looking around when he'd gotten out of the car. "There's that path he talked about," he pointed out to his wife as Alexis was getting Eliza out and Julia was going to take Beckett's hand.

"I see, so I guess they're further in," she commented.

"Of course," Alexis replied as she watched Beckett spraying Julia with the bug repellant they had. She helped Eliza once she was handed the bottle and then herself before her father put it on last. "Let's go!" she said as her little sister was watching her closely.

Setting off down the path together the family soon came to an area where the foliage had been taken over by blackberry plants, the berries heavy on the vines. "I think we could fill all these buckets," Beckett said when they'd finished looking around.

"And ourselves too," Castle said. "Who wants to go with who?"

"I'll go over here," Alexis said before walking ahead of them a little more.

"Come on sweetie," Beckett told Eliza, taking her hand and leading her into what looked like a natural alcove that was surrounded by the berries.

"So looks like it's you and me," Castle told Julia, glancing at her but finding that she was already picking blackberries and popping them in her mouth. He laughed slightly when she glanced at him and said, "I guess now's a good time to get started," before he joined her.

"They're really good Daddy," Julia told him as she watched him pick one.

Biting into the berry in his mouth he could taste that it had been sitting in the sun for some time before the flavor of the juice hit his tongue. "Wow," Castle said once he'd finished eating it. "That's great…" he trailed off before he looked at his daughter.

"What?" Julia asked, slightly startled by that.

"You need to take it easy on these," Castle replied. "You're not full from lunch?"

"I am but still I could eat all of these," Julia said. When her father chuckled a little she told him, "I won't but I just wanted to taste them."

"You'll taste more tonight," Beckett called to them. "And have either of you put any into your buckets."

"Yes," Castle said swiftly as he was picking one to place it on the bottom of his pail gently.

When he looked at her Julia started laughing at the same time as her father before they started to fill the buckets they had. Eventually she started feeling thirsty since they were in the sun part of the time so she ate a few berries, giggling as she noticed her purple-stained fingertips then. "Are you all purple Daddy?" she asked him.

"Definitely," Castle replied, showing his hand to her. "How're you doing though?"

"I have a lot," Julia replied, showing him in the bucket.

"Anyone want to take Eliza?" Beckett called then as the toddler was running over to them.

"I will," Julia said as her sister headed straight to her. "Do you like them?"

"Yeah," Eliza said.

"Don't give her too many," Beckett said warningly as she walked with Alexis over to them then. "She doesn't need to get sick."

"Wow look at how many you have," Castle said, looking into his daughter's bucket. "Have you eaten any?"

Julia giggled with Eliza as their sister stuck out her tongue briefly, showing that it was purple. "The ones in the sun are the best," she said, not surprised when Alexis nodded in agreement with her.

"They are and speaking of that I came over here to tell you guys that there are some berries really high up," the young woman told her stepmother and dad. "So if you want to tackle those I'll watch the girls."

"Sure you two easy on what you eat," Beckett said a little sternly to the girls who were watching them. "And remember we'll be eating these after dinner."

"You think she did that because she sees Julia-" Castle said to his wife when they were far enough away from the girls.

"No she's not kidding about them being high up," Beckett said, pointing ahead of them to the berries that had grown around some tree branches.

"Still…" Castle said absently as he followed her over to them.

"'lexis?" Julia asked as she and her sisters were picking berries to put into their buckets again.

"Do you need help?" Alexis asked as she was handing a blackberry to Eliza to eat.

"No did you do that so Mommy and Daddy could be alone," Julia said.

"I'll tell you the truth there really are berries high up," Alexis replied. "But then I had a feeling you were thinking of a way to get them alone so I helped you."

Giggling at how her sister had known she had that going through her mind already, Julia said, "Thanks."

"Not a problem," Alexis said before they went back to their work.

"I can see why your dad comes out to do this when he's here," Castle was saying to Beckett as he leaned against a tree, watching her.

"Is your break over?" she asked him teasingly.

"I guess," Castle said, pushing himself off the tree before he went to her. He grabbed her wrist before moving it away and pulled her close to him as she set down the bucket in her hand. He was slightly startled at the smirk on her face and asked, "What?"

"I was waiting to see how long it took you to do this," Beckett said before she reached up and pulled him the rest of the way down to her. She then wound her arms around his neck as he responded immediately and while their tongues began to duel she fingered the edge of his hair as he shuddered heavily against her.

When they finally pulled apart Castle drifted his lips over to her ear where he murmured, "Again?"

"Why?" Beckett asked, wondering the reason he asked.

"You taste like blackberries," Castle confessed. He was taken aback when his wife kissed him again but he was quick to recover and was taking over, nearly devouring her as he tried to duel with her as hard as he could.

When they finally parted a while later Beckett told him, "So do you."

Castle smiled and then took her lips in a hungry kiss though it didn't last as long as the previous ones. He reluctantly let her go when the sound of their daughters laughing reached them and he sighed saying, "Back to work."

"We're almost done love," Beckett said reassuringly before they turned back to the berries.

Though there were more places to pick from Castle stayed close to his wife as he picked with her. He smiled at her benignly when she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and then turned her attention back ahead of them.

Alexis held Eliza's hand saying, "We picked enough, I think we should go see if Dad and your mom say it's time to go."

"Wanna stay," the toddler said firmly.

"I'll watch her," Julia said quickly, going over to them. "I can get some more while we wait for you." She then hurried to add, "I'll tell you if anyone comes up to us."

"I know I won't be too far away," Alexis replied. "But why don't you follow me over?"

"I think we need to," Julia said to her little sister with a sigh. "Maybe we can pick all together."

Eliza nodded quickly at that and then took her sister's hand as they followed Alexis.

When they were close to the two, the young woman couldn't help smiling at her father trying to feed Beckett a blackberry while she was pushing his hand away.

"I think I've had enough," Beckett told her husband as she finally allowed him to give her the berry. "And they have too," she added as she looked past him.

Glancing over where she was, Castle said, "Spying?"

"No checking to see if we have enough," Alexis replied quickly.

"Let me see," Beckett replied, looking into the buckets that Julia and Alexis held. "Well, I think we have enough for fifty people tonight," she commented when she saw how much they had all together. "So we should head back if anyone still wants to walk through the village." She wasn't surprised when Julia and Eliza agreed to that and they made their way back to the car and then to the bar where her father and Castle's mother still were with Xavi and Beatriz.

"Someone needs to head inside to get them," Castle said as they got out.

"I will!" Julia said, rushing into the bar before anyone could say anything.

"Hold on," Castle said quickly as he picked up Eliza before she could run after her sister. "You need to stay with us since we're keeping an eye on the berries."

Going to the doorway of the bar Beckett peered inside and saw that Julia was talking to her father, Martha, Xavi and Beatriz who were at the table with another man. Once they'd gotten up and came out to them she said, "Are we heading back to the house first?"

"No Xavi and Hames can take what you picked and then we will walk from here to the market," Beatriz replied before she went to the car where she saw the buckets in the backseat. "You did well but did you leave anything there?" she asked the girls jokingly.

"We ate too," Eliza replied.

"I am not surprised I have done that myself when I was there," Xavi said with a smile. "But we will have a very nice dessert."

"Are you going with us Gram?" Alexis asked Martha as Beatriz was talking to her husband about what to do with the berries once they got to the house.
"I decided to join you," she replied. "As the girls would likely want me to go."

"We do," Julia said quickly in response to that. "And it'll be fun," she said with a smile. "And you'll have a hat too."

"It's not too hot," Martha said. "Which is why I'm going."

"We'll see you back at the house," Jim said to the others.

"What do you do Grandpapa?" Eliza asked.

"I need to help Xavi clean the berries you picked for us," Jim replied, leaning down and kissing her cheek. "Have fun on your walk okay?"

"Kay," the toddler replied, waving to him and Xavi. She felt someone taking her hand and smiled up at her mother before saying, "What about pictures Mommy?"

"That's why you're coming with me," Castle began to say as he tried to pick her up. But when she protested he hesitated and said, "No?"

"No Daddy, wanna walk," Eliza insisted. When he bent over to set her back down she kissed his cheek and told him, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Castle said. "So I think we need you to lead us," he said as he saw Beatriz watching them.

"I am making sure we are all prepared to go," she replied before turning and going out onto the street to the right of the bar. She pointed out the homes of people she knew and who was related to her husband.

"That's a lot of people," Julia said after they reached what looked like a square with a bust on a pedestal that Beatriz led them to walk through.

"Well it is a small village," she answered.

"So it's what, half of the people here who are related to your husband?" Alexis asked with a smile.

"It is," Beatriz said, leading them to the market that was close to the square.

Seeing how small the market was Beckett turned to her husband and said, "Eliza… never mind," she added when she saw her husband had their youngest's hand.

"I knew already," Castle said before they followed her further inside.

Glancing around the shelves as she walked with her older sister and grandmother Julia said, "They have a lot of stuff like we do."

"They do," Alexis said. "But look, there're different things here."

"I saw," Julia said quickly as they were walking past some cereal boxes.

Catching up to Beatriz, Beckett asked, "Who'll be making the paella?"

"My husband and I will," the woman answered as she tucked a bag of rice into the basket she was holding. "But of course everyone will help; it is what happens when you have family over."

"Do we eat out?" Eliza asked as she and Castle were behind her mother.

"Of course and we will be seeing them dancing outside as well," Beatriz replied.

"Where?" Eliza asked.

"We will go there after we finish here," Beatriz replied.

"Are you tired sweetie?" Beckett asked as the woman walked ahead of them and around the corner.

"Little," Eliza said since by then she was in her father's arms and had her arms about his neck.

"Should I take her home?" Castle asked.

"No!" Eliza protested.

"It's alright, if she sleeps though then we'll find somewhere to sit," Beckett replied after watching the toddler for a moment.

"Beatriz is paying," Martha said, coming down the aisle to them. "She told us to wait outside for her." She felt Julia slipping her hand into her own and smiled down at her granddaughter as they stepped outside.