Kate Beckett sees her father's cabin coming into view as her husband turns another corner in the beautiful forest.

"Wow." Three small voices say with wonder in them and Kate can't help but feel her heart swell.

"Yeah, wow," her husband agrees and Kate looks towards the writer.

Rick Castle always tells her how beautiful the forest is and she can't understand how she was so lucky to find him. Or maybe he found her? They had gone on and on about that question some days in the beginning of their marriage, especially when their first born had asked who was in love with whom first.

"Mom, are we really staying here?" Lily Beckett Castle asks from the backseat and Kate turns around with a bright smile set on her lips.

"We are hon. Your grandma and grandpa used to take me here every Earth Day when I was a kid, and we'd usually stay here a week before turning back to the city," she tells her five-year-old.

The twins aren't more than two years old but the looks of amazement mirroring in their eyes tells her they did the right thing by going here. Rick had been the one to suggest it after a night of old memories being brought to life after he found her hidden box with old photos. There were photos of young Kate enjoying the peaceful forest and when Rick had asked her about it she'd told him how her parents took her out to the cabin every Earth Day to celebrate the planet they lived on. Rick had then asked why she hadn't told him about this tradition, how come she hadn't tried implemented it on their small, big, family yet. Despite how they tried not to think about time going by too fast their oldest is five. Kate had shrugged her shoulders saying she'd forgotten about it.

"Big trees!" Reece yells as he laughs excitedly.

"Can we climb, momma?" Jake continues bringing out his puppy eyes in the exact moment as his brother does.

Kate chuckles and shakes her head. "Maybe," she says, already having a few trees in mind they can climb as best they like.

The two boys give out joyous shouts as their sister holds her hands over her ears with a grin showing her own excitement.

Rick stops the car and they all help carrying their stuff into the cabin, the kids taking their pillows while Kate and Rick takes the rest.


After having spent their day exploring the forest and all its secrets Kate and Rick gathers their kids around a small bonfire where they eat as they let the kids talk about their day.

"Papa, what is Earth Day?" Lily asks after a story of Rick's.

Kate looks at Rick with interest in her eyes, wondering how he will use his words to describe the day's importance. How he would make sure to say it isn't just this day, but every day, even if there was only one specific day named for it.

"Well, it's a day when the whole world goes together to help the Earth. You can donate money, you can help clean the nature, you can help clean the seas. There's a lot of things we can do to help Earth, and it's not only today. We can help Earth every day." He says, scrunching his nose. "I'm not exactly the best to describe it."

Kate smiles, "It's difficult to explain peanut. The importance of it is taking time to see Earth, see our nature, see what we can do to help, and actually help. Your dad have donated a lot, and together we try do what we can every day to help Earth."

"Like draw on both sides?" Reece asks.

"And not draw to throw away drawings?" Jake adds.

"To think about the trees being chopped down?" Lily says and both parents nod.

"Exactly," Rick agrees. "If we use paper when we don't need it then we use a lot of trees which the Earth could've needed."

"Recycling is another way of helping Earth," Kate adds and the kids shines.

"And we do!" they all shout simultaneously and both parents chuckle.

"Mhmm," Kate hums. "And if we try better, always improving, always thinking about or actions, we can enjoy Earth like this." She waves her hand around them and they all look at the trees, the forest.

"A world without trees, without the nature, would be dull. Boring. Hopefully it'll never go that far." Rick looks at the fire, silently hoping their kids would never find themselves in a fallen world.

"Hope is what keeps it alive. Hope and hard work," Kate says, hoping the same as her husband. "We need to start understanding that Earth isn't a place to visit. It's a place we call home."

Kate knows it's not enough to just talk about it, not enough to just go visit the family cabin, but she also knows her kids needs to feel the nature, the Earth, in order to feel the need to protect it. She hopes they can do this trip every year, maybe the constant reminder will help them help Earth. Together. As a family with the Earth as their home.

THE END


A/N: I know this little piece isn't great, not even good, but I wanted to give you something and I figured it's Earth Day sooo... Happy Earth Day to you all. Don't forget to think of our Earth. If you haven't heard the new song Earth by Lil Dicky (featuring about 30 other artists) I suggest you do. Have a great day. Until next time, xxxx