"Hello," Martha said with a smile as her two middle granddaughters rushed to her and hugged her. She was laughing as they were talking at the same time and she told them when they paused to take a breath, "Calm down, it sounds like you've been having a lot of fun."
"Yeah, there's a lot of cool stuff," Julia said.
"And rides!" Eliza said. "And games but we didn't get to play those."
Smiling, as his mother had sympathized with her about that, Castle told her, "We're going to play them after dinner."
"Oh well that'll be soon girls," Martha said to them. She looked around were they were, after exiting the tunnel, and she said, "So this is the fair."
"There are animals over there," Clive said, pointing towards the section. "And a farm too."
"They grow vegetables there," Julia said. "To use at a place to eat."
"Is that where we're eating dinner?" Martha asked.
"If you'd like to, but we've found places to eat already," Beckett said, turning from kissing Josie on the cheek. "Liam-"
"Grandda gets a turkey leg," Marie said quickly. "Every year."
"She's right," Skye's dad said with a smile. "I can't resist."
"The boys want to get that too," Castle said. "We need to walk over to there and our other places we chose so look at what there is," he told his mother. After she nodded, they started to walk and he took the baby from his wife and they went together until they were reaching where what the boys wanted was.
"We're also getting something here too," Skye commented.
"The kabobs?" Liam asked her.
Nodding, with a smile, Skye said, "I wanted to try that again."
"I'm getting what Kate's getting," Mary said when her father in law looked at her.
"Which is what?" Martha said.
"I'll show you," Beckett told her.
After they had three turkey legs and the kabobs that Skye, Kathleen and Fleur wanted, the group walked by the Grandstand and past it they found the two stalls they would need to visit to get the last meals for the others. Once everything had been bought, they went to area in front of the bar where there were tables.
"We went on that Gram," Eliza was saying as she hopped from foot to foot.
"Sit down Eliza," Castle told her, giving her the piece he'd taken off the waffle that had chicken tenders on both sides that she'd chosen since she'd loved the idea of chicken and waffles on a stick. "And here's your syrup."
"Thank you, Daddy," the little girl said before she smiled widely. She puckered her lips and giggled after they shared a kiss before she said, "Do you like it Daddy?"
"It's very good," Castle said as he knew she could taste the syrup he'd used on his chicken and waffles on a stick.
"Mommy!" Eliza gasped.
"Eat sweetie, or we won't have time for dessert," Beckett said with a smile. She watched the little girl pout before she started to eat and while Eliza was taking her first bite she shared a brief kiss with her husband.
"Taste it love," Castle said, dipping his quarter of waffle into the syrup. He was surprised when she fed him some of her chicken, pineapple and steamed rice; served in half a hollowed pineapple; she had chosen and they ate at the same time. "Nice," he said.
"Yours is good too," Beckett said with a smile. "Dad?"
"I'm enjoying it," Jim said with a nod, eating a hotdog in a pickle and made into a corn dog. "But it's really good we're not eating this all the time."
"Can I try Grandpapa?" Eliza asked hopefully. When he nodded, she waited for him to hold the corn dog up to her and took a bite. "Ooh, it's sour," she said, playfully wrinkling her nose.
"Did she get the hot dog at all?" Castle asked.
"She did," Jim said, smiling.
After Eliza was back to her food, Beckett looked at the table next to them where Julia was with her friends, talking as they were eating. "Julia," she called.
"It's good," the girl said quickly, eating a corn dog like her grandfather had.
"Yeah, I have to tell my dad about this," Mari said.
"I have to tell my dad about these," Clive said, holding up his turkey leg.
"Leg fight!" Peter exclaimed.
"Boys, boys," Beckett said when she saw they were intending to do that. "No food fights, you need to eat."
"Sorry," Peter and Clive said together though they were laughing.
After they'd calmed down the kids went back to eating, watching the rides that were going near them until Clive turned away suddenly, getting his friends' attention. They asked him what was wrong, but he shook his head and wouldn't look at them, making the girls look at Peter. The boy took a deep breath, realizing what was wrong and he was about to speak when their friend turned around and leaned in, making them do the same so they could hear him.
"I hate my…" Clive began before he trailed off. "The lady who gave birth to me."
"Your birth mother," Mari suggested.
Nodding Clive said, "She didn't love me or my dad… I wish I had a real mom. You're so lucky."
Julia looked at Mari and Peter before she said, "You don't think your dad would ever get married?"
Shaking his head Clive said, "I told you he doesn't want to get hurt again."
"But he has you," Peter said quickly.
"Yeah," Clive said slowly. He then smiled slightly and said, "He said that was the best thing, that he got to raise me."
"Then you've got him," Julia said. She was about to say something else when her father was calling to them and they went back to their food so they could finish.
Returning to the table after he'd thrown away their trash after they'd eaten, Castle said, "Next we'll go through the buildings."
"Are you sure we should?" Martha asked since her son had directed that to her.
"We'll go to the games and then the rides again," Beckett said.
"What is it?" Castle asked his wife when she slowed down towards the end of that.
"There's that light exhibit next to the pavilion," Beckett reminded him.
"Oh… well then maybe that and after some games and the rides," Castle said.
"Here," Beckett said, handing something to her mother in law. She smiled when Martha looked confused and she told her, "A wristband for the rides, they'll want you to join them."
"Oh, then I'll put that on once we get to them," Martha said, tucking it into her purse.
Beckett checked on Josie as she stood from the table and seeing the baby was fine, began to turn her attention to her husband when Skye was calling to her.
"Before we do that, we forgot something," the investigator said once she had reached her.
"The 'orses!" Fleur exclaimed.
"Yes, but I get the feeling your mother planned that Fleur," Beckett told the little girl. She looked down at her and said, "She's been looking at her watch through dinner."
"You got me," Skye replied. "We should get there in time." She walked with Beckett past the last stall they'd gotten food at and they went around a corner to a path where there were Clydesdales harnessed to a wagon. "They're going to be in the parade that's going to go by," she explained as Julia and Eliza gasped with her three youngest.
"Can we pet them?" Eliza asked hopefully.
"No, they need to go, come on," Skye said before she led the way past them and said, "Here're the new stables."
Castle didn't need to see the girls to know they were looking at the structures in awe and he went to Eliza, taking her hand firmly so she wouldn't take off at a run.
"I can see them looking outside Daddy," the little girl said eagerly, peering up at him.
"Me too, we're going right now," Castle said before he hurried with her to follow the others.
"That's what I was waiting for," Skye told Beckett when they could see the corral in the middle of the stables.
"I've done that before," Beckett said, glancing at her.
"Yes, but they're going to let us go in," Skye replied with a smile before she climbed over the fence.
Watching her go, Beckett wondered how she had managed to set that up but then remembered the petition Mary had mentioned earlier. When the investigator called out to her, she climbed over the fence herself and was walking after her rapidly.
"You can take him first," Skye said once her friend had reached her. "I'm sorry but you'll have to wear this," she said, handing her a helmet.
"I figured. And you?" Beckett asked.
"After," Skye said with a smile before she watched as Beckett went to the horse. "Have fun."
"Believe me, I will," Beckett said, nodding to the worker who'd been holding the Friesian horse. She waited for him and Skye to get out of the corral before she began to nudge her heels into its sides, starting to trot to get a feel for the horse. While she was going around she could see everyone was watching her, and her husband was standing on the first railing of the fence with Skye as she sped up.
"You know it's very interesting how quickly she can get horses to take to her," the investigator said to Castle.
"I know," he was quick to reply. Castle then added, "She's always been like that she told me."
Biting her lower lip Beckett had been able to hear her husband as he'd spoken that, and she'd easily been able to hear the pride in his tone. She focused her attention back to the horse, having been gradually indicating to the stallion to speed up, and when they were galloping she only let that go on for a few times around the corral before slowing him down.
"Should I bother?" Skye asked with a smile as Beckett slowed down at them.
"Yes," she replied. "But we'll see if he wants to go." Beckett got down from the saddle and held the horse's reins before she called, "What's his name?"
"Hans," the worker replied as Skye was getting up on the saddle.
"Have fun," Beckett told her friend before she climbed over the fence in the corral. Standing with her husband she asked him, "So you enjoy my talents," speaking in Irish and not looking at him.
"Of course," Castle said firmly and in the same language. He smiled at her when she glanced at him and said, "I have told you I love you."
"I know," Beckett replied simply, looking ahead again. She eventually looked back to him and said, "I love you too."
"You're so good at that Mummy," Iris told Skye once she was out of the corral and with them going to see the other horses.
"Ah, Kate's far better," Skye reminded them.
"It's alright," Beckett said with a smile. "Look at this Thoroughbred." With their attention distracted she said to Skye in Russian, "Why deflect to me?"
"Easier to do," the investigator replied simply before she was laughing as her friend pushed her aside playfully. "But I'll try my best not to do that again."
"But you still will," Beckett told her. She shook her head when her friend merely smiled back at her and then turned her attention to the horses they were passing.
"Now what?" Julia asked her mother once they were finished.
"Should we head over to the Luminasia now?" Castle asked the investigator.
"It should be starting," Mary said to her wife.
"We should," Skye said with a smile. "Alright, let's make our way over there. And Martha we'll go to the buildings next."
"I'm not in any hurry," Castle's mother assured her.
The group walked over to where the exhibit was and finding it had started, Castle insisted on paying for their admission before they were walking inside.
"Take it easy," he was telling the kids as he smiled at their thanks. "I wanted to see this too. Make sure you have the right settings to take pictures at night."
Beckett, expecting at least Julia to come to her, was startled when she went to Jim instead with most of the other kids. "They're planning something," she said to her husband as he walked over to her.
"I noticed," Castle replied. "Should we tell them no?"
"Do you think they're really paying attention," Beckett said, watching as Marie was talking to her mothers. When the two walked over to her and her husband she said, "What is it?"
"We're going to split up into three groups," Mary said first.
Breathing out hard Beckett turned to her father and mother in law and Liam saying, "You don't-" before the former was interrupting her.
"We'll take them," Jim said. "Go and walk around and we'll meet somewhere I'm sure."
"It's not that big here," Mary told them. "We'll see each other a lot."
After saying goodbye to their daughters and the others, Skye took Mary's hand and told her in French, "I'd like to just walk around."
"No pictures?" Mary asked in the same language.
"Any new ones," Skye said simply. When her wife nodded, she squeezed her hand and said, "I hope they'll enjoy it."
"I'm sure they will," Mary told her. They were walking down a path through some foliage and she then said, "Are we going to walk much further?"
"You're tired already?" Skye asked her wife with a smile.
"Yes," Mary said simply. When they'd stopped walking, she smiled at the investigator and then turned to her before Skye held her by her shoulders. "What's wrong grá?" she asked in English since her wife was looking at her intently.
Skye studied her closely before she leaned down slightly, taking Mary's lips with her own and wrapping her arms around her tightly. She felt her wife's hands reaching up to the backs of her shoulders and deepened the kiss before they slowly parted. "We need to stop," she said.
"I know," Mary murmured, leaning against her wife so she could speak against her lips. She smiled as Skye embraced her tightly and responded before they let go of one another. When they were walking again, hand in hand, she told her, "I would thank the girls, but I don't want to encourage them."
"They wouldn't need any," Skye said in amusement. "But it's Marie and Kath of course."
"Their sisters are learning," Mary said with a smile.
"They're quick," Skye said with a smile before they walked further down the path, admiring the figures they were approaching until they spotted Castle and Beckett in the distance.
"I'm impressed," Castle said.
"I'm not surprised," Beckett said with a smile as she took a quick picture of the dragon. "I'm sure the kids are too."
With an absent nod Castle shook himself and then said, "How are you enjoying this?"
"The fair or this specifically?" Beckett asked him.
"The fair," Castle replied, though he knew she was aware of what he meant.
"It's interesting," Beckett said. "And I have been to fairs before Rick."
"Yes," Castle said as they had reached a part of the path that went underneath what he guessed was a pergola covered with lights. He grabbed her and pulled her into his arms before he was kissing her deeply. When she responded to him he was relieved, as he wasn't sure she'd be alright with him doing that. He held her tightly to his body as their tongues gently caressed one another and once they needed to breathe he pulled away slowly before saying, "That's all we can do isn't it?"
"Here? It is," Beckett said. She pressed her cheek to his before he let her go and they started walking. "That was nice though," she eventually told him in Irish.
"I thought so too," Castle said, wrapping his arm around her waist.
Giving him a look, Beckett heard someone calling their names and turned to see it was Skye and Mary. "Hey, how were the other figures?" she said when they were close.
"Nice, did you see the zodiac figures?" the investigator asked.
"Y-yes," Beckett started to say before she heard her text alert sounding. She pulled her phone from her pocket and said, "The girls," to the others. "On my dad's phone, I think they're wondering about their signs."
"They don't know them already?" Mary said in surprise.
"We told them a couple years ago," Castle explained as they were walking back to where the zodiac figures were. "I don't think they recall."
"Obviously," Skye said wryly. "Did you do what your daughters intended?"
"That's a personal question," Beckett said, pretending to sound offended.
"Not really, we did," Skye said. She glanced at her wife, seeing her covering her face with her hand before she laughed and took her hand. "We're almost there grá, I'll stop."
"Good because we did too," Castle added, smiling when his wife rolled her eyes. They were almost where the kids and his mother and father in law were and he was about to call to them to get their attention when Julia and Eliza broke off and hurried to them with the former holding Josie carefully. He was going to tell them what Chinese zodiac sign they were jokingly, but Julia spoke before he could to his amusement.
"We can't remember what we are," the girl said. "No one can."
"Hold on," Castle said, looking at his phone. "Julia you're an ox, which means you are too Peter."
"Cool," the boy said with a grin.
"Oh, and you too Derek," Castle said to the dancer.
Laughing as Julia came over to him and gave him a high five, Derek did the same with Peter and said, "What about the rest of the kids?"
"Okay, so Mari, Clive, Marie and Kath," Castle said, smiling when the four laughed slightly. "You're all tigers."
Watching them all giving each other high fives, Beckett said, "Aren't you one too?" to her husband.
"I am," Castle said. He smiled when the four gasped and told them, "It's true, but let me hurry with the rest of us so we can keep going. Kate was born in the year of the monkey. Oh, and you too Skye, Mary. And you, Jim and Liam are rabbits Mother."
"I like rabbits," Eliza said, wrapping her arms around her grandmother's waist.
"I'm glad to hear that kiddo," Martha said, hugging her against her for a moment.
"Now you three," Castle directed to the three youngest McDouglas girls. "You're all snakes."
"I wonder why we're not in Slytherin," Ivy said to her sisters, making them all start to laugh.
"Doesn't really work like that lass," Skye told her, lightly pinching her cheek. "And Eliza?"
"You were born in the year of the goat," Castle said, not surprised when the little girl immediately started making a bleating sound.
Stopping suddenly, as her family and friends were laughing while they watched her, Eliza asked, "What about 'lexis?"
"She was born in the year of the dog," Castle said. "We're all set and we're all here."
"Keep walking or else it'll be too late for dessert," Beckett told them. She smiled when the kids immediately started down the path and she went to her husband, taking his hand before he was murmuring to her so the others wouldn't hear.
"You know our signs aren't supposed to be compatible," Castle said.
"I knew," Beckett replied. When he looked at her in surprise she smiled and said, "But that just shows you it's better to judge compatibility by personality and not a zodiac sign."
Castle nodded before they went through the rest of the exhibit and he then asked his wife, "Dessert?"
"I'm surprised you beat them to it," Skye commented.
"I knew it was coming so I had to head them off," Castle said.
"Head them off at the pass?" Mary asked wryly.
"No," Castle said, shaking his head. "What are you guys getting?"
"Some deep-fried watermelon," Skye said though she was looking at her partner as she spoke.
"Go ahead," Derek said. "It's only one night and considering everything here that's not too bad."
"Is that what you'll get?" Julia asked him.
"I think so," Derek said with a nod.
"What's that?" Clive then asked eagerly as they had reached a stall.
"Nitro popcorn? They put liquid nitrogen on the popcorn," Mary said easily.
"Do-" Castle said.
"Our girls are getting that," Mary interrupted him.
"Oh, sure," Castle said quickly as he knew why she'd said that. Turning to his wife he asked, "What're you going to get?"
"I'm old fashioned," Beckett said.
"Funnel cake?" Castle asked with a smile. When she nodded, he couldn't help kissing her temple and telling her, "Let me find an outrageous one and we'll share it."
"Is that what you want?" Beckett asked him. When he nodded she said, "Alright," before Marie was suddenly calling to her mothers.
"Mum, Mom," the girl began. We forgot about the corn!"
"Oh," Mary said. She breathed out and said, "We only eat like this at the fair."
"And it's only once a year," Liam said.
"Why is everyone looking at me?" Beckett said.
"Ultimately it's up to you," Skye said.
"It is vegetables," Beckett commented. She was startled when the two women exchanged a look and she said, "It's not?"
"It is but we add things," Skye said. "Come on." She led them over to the stall where she had gotten her kabobs and the one next to it where there was corn roasting on a grill. "Are we all getting it?"
"We'll share by twos in our group," Beckett said. "Though my dad and Martha…"
"I can ask for an empty cup, they can split," Mary said quickly before she went to order.
Grabbing the bowls of corn kernels, Skye led them then to the tables across the street from the Jacuzzis for sale. "Here you can put whatever you'd like. Butter, mayo, cotija cheese, chili flakes… it's all here."
Since she was going to be sharing with her husband, Beckett helped the girls get their cups set before she made sure Eliza could hold her spoon. "Okay," she said once they were eating and sitting around some trees. "Eat but not too fast."
"Mphrm a-" Peter started to say.
"Stop," Castle said, putting his hand on the boy's shoulder since he was close enough to do that. "You're going to choke. Finish and swallow before you ask us."
Doing so Peter said, "Sorry. What are we doing after this?"
"We're likely going to be full," Beckett commented. "I think we should go ahead and go to the buildings before we have dessert, play games and go on the rides before we go home."
"Okay," Julia said when her friends looked at her. "But we're not going in all of them, are we?"
"Just two," Skye reminded them.
"And I'm sure we won't take all that long," Martha commented. She then smiled and said, "I don't know that I'd really find much here."
"You likely won't," Skye said. "But we always look to see what we might find. How're you enjoying your corn?"
"It's good," Beckett said last after the kids had all said that they liked it and the other adults had as well. "You get this?"
"Every year," Mary said with a smile. "We used to get elote; this but with a corn on the cob; since we can get it around home. But the kernels are easier for the girls to eat so we moved to that and they call that esquites though we have fresh corn."
"And it's just as good," Skye added before she smiled.
Laughing with the others, Julia ate the last bit of hers and Mari's corn before she went over to her mother and said, "How's Josa?" since the stroller was with her parents.
"Good, she'll be asleep soon," Castle answered first. He smiled at his wife and said, "She's had a great day."
"Even though she didn't do anything?" Clive asked in obvious confusion while they were throwing away their cups and spoons.
"She doesn't need to right now," Beckett said, pushing the stroller. "She is a baby."
Nodding Clive walked with Peter and Marie as they were going back around to the buildings they'd passed earlier. He watched as Skye and Mary looked inside through the glass doors and said, "What're you looking for?"
"The barbeque place," Kathleen said.
"It's here," Mary said. "Come on," she told the kids before they were entering inside.
"Look at the candy!" Peter said eagerly.
"Easy," Castle told the boy. "We'll have something else for dessert."
"Oh… okay," Peter said, turning away from the ropes of candy in the display. "Is it because we can get something like that at home?"
"It is," Castle replied.
"Whoa," Peter said, looking around. "There are a lot of people here."
"They want to see what's for sale," Kathleen told him with a smile.
Castle smiled himself when the boy nodded, and they went over to the stall until they could look at the different islands with the barbeques on display.
"Are you jealous?" Beckett asked, walking to her husband with Martha.
"No," Castle said. He spotted his wife and mother sharing a look and he said, "I'm not," firmly. "I know you think I may be, but we have the grill in the perfect spot, close to the kitchen and we don't need everything else."
"Yeah, we had one on the patio," Mary said, walking to them with Skye behind her gathering the kids. "But we found we liked cooking and eating at the pool so we moved there."
"What if you want to grill something but it's raining?" Derek asked.
"Their stove has a grill," Beckett said with a smile. "The one on the island."
"Yes," Skye said with a smile. "Alright we have our cover, now we can walk around. Martha?"
"You can lead," Castle's mother said in amusement before they walked out to the first aisle.
Looking around what they were passing, Beckett quickly saw why Skye and Mary had been uncertain about Martha really finding anything. The items weren't higher end as she enjoyed, though she was looking closely at what there was for sale. When they finished with that building she saw her mother in law was frowning slightly and she said, "Did you want to go to the other building?"
"Not really," Martha confessed.
"Do we need to?" Beckett said to Skye who was nearby.
"No, Marie and Kath were quite happy it took us so long to get to these," the investigator said with a smile.
"They find them boring," Mary added.
"Alright, let's get dessert," Castle said. "But you two-"
"We're coming with," Skye interrupted. "Quite ready for something sweet. Did everyone see what they wanted?"
After the kids had told them what they wanted, the group set out then to get everything in the order they'd reach it walking back to the games. When they all had dessert, they went to the tables where they had eaten dinner and sat down again to start on their sweets.
"There's something about fair food that's insanely good," Castle said, getting some of the strawberry ice cream sundae funnel cake he and Beckett were sharing.
"And yet we'll feel guilty later I'm sure," Mary said with a smile.
"Again, once a year grá," Skye told her.
"Exactly," Mary said, dabbing some whipped cream from their funnel cake on her nose.
Laughing, Julia was soon doing so louder as the nitrogen that was on her popcorn was escaping her mouth. She and all the kids had gotten the popcorn as they'd been unable to resist it. But they'd gotten unicorn popcorn and because the cup was surrounded by cotton candy with marshmallow treats on top of it they were sharing two by two again. "This is so good," she said.
"It is," Mari said, nodding. "I have to share that picture with my parents later."
"Yeah, hopefully your mom won't get mad," Julia commented.
"She won't," Beckett said. "I told her and your parents," she then directed to the boys. "That we'd have something sweet. But there won't be any desserts tomorrow."
"She's right," Derek said, finishing his deep-fried watermelon. "We have dancing to start on tomorrow for you four."
"Am I in trouble?" Skye asked.
"You got the less crazy funnel cake," Derek said, nodding to Castle and Beckett.
Laughing, as she and her wife had gotten the strawberry cake funnel cake with mixed berries and whipped cream on top, Skye said, "I made sure."
"Does anyone want cookies?" Jim asked then, holding up the bag of fresh chocolate chip cookies that he, Liam and Martha had gotten to share with Eliza.
"No, I would like to try the popcorn," Castle said.
"Here," Julia said, starting to pass them out to everyone in her family while Marie was giving some to her mothers and Derek.
"Is it weird we got the unicorn one too?" Clive asked Peter.
"Nah," the boy replied. "I like cotton candy already. And this unicorn could be like in Harry Potter. I got a wand with unicorn hair in mine; that's what Ron had."
"Oh yeah," Clive said with a nod. They looked at the adults and he laughed with his friends as they were breathing out the liquid nitrogen. He watched Julia taking a picture of them all and said, "Did it come out?"
"It did," the girl said with a wide smile. "How do you like it?"
"It's great," Castle said.
"Insanely sweet," Beckett said. "But I know it's supposed to be," she added swiftly.
The others laughed, and they soon turned their attention to finishing dessert and once they had they went over to the games they were near and began to walk among them to see what prizes the kids wanted to get.
"Hey, can I get a donut?" Peter eventually asked. "I have money."
"Sure," Skye said before Castle or Beckett could say anything. She then took something from Mary and said, "New item here at the fair. Game cards."
"R-" Beckett started to say in slight frustration.
"Don't call me that," Skye said quickly though she was smiling at her friend. "And really, this is for us all."
"We're buying you dinner," Castle said, sharing a look with his wife. "Someplace very nice."
"Okay," Mary said. "But for now, let's play."
"Wait," Beckett said, going to the boy. She touched his shoulder and then said, "Would you be alright if I threw the darts after you went?"
"Yeah, I was gonna ask 'cause you know how to throw right?" Peter asked.
"I do, go ahead," Beckett said with a smile, urging him to the game.
Standing just behind her partner, Julia couldn't help groaning when he was missing the first three darts he threw before he popped the fourth and then missed the fifth. "I don't think I would do that good," she told him as he turned around to her and she smiled reassuringly to him.
"I hope your mom can do better," Peter said.
Beckett stepped up to the stall and after getting her darts she threw them, getting all but one which luckily let her pick out the stuffed donut that had chocolate on it and sprinkles. When Peter hugged her as he was thanking her she squeezed him back and said, "You're very welcome," before she laughed as he settled the donut on his head.
"Cool hat," Mari said, smiling at him.
"Thanks," Peter replied before they looked around the games.
"Look at how tall that one is," Ivy said, pointing to a game stall.
"It has fishes!" Iris exclaimed. "I want one!"
"Alright, we should play," Skye said. "But does anyone else want a fish as well?" When Kathleen raised her hand she smiled and said, "We'll play a couple times."
Going to the game, the investigator gave the card for all the kids to play and they were soon shooting water to a target in front of them, raising a small circle above them until one of them stopped and the bell started to ring where Peter was sitting.
Blanching slightly, the boy looked at Iris and Kathleen as he wondered if he should pick out a color one of them liked. But before he could say anything, Beckett was going to him and murmuring in his ear. He picked out the orange fish available and set it on his lap before he watched as Skye was speaking to the worker and the game was starting. That time he wasn't that serious about winning and looked down the line of everyone to see who had made the bell ring again before the winner was crying out in her joy.
"I won!" Iris said happily. She then looked over at Peter; who had the stuffed fish she wanted; and then heard her mother whispering into her ear.
"Thanks," Kathleen told her little sister as she took the blue clownfish she'd wanted.
"You're welcome," Iris said, smiling shyly as she hugged her orange clownfish.
"Keep walking you two," Mary told the girls with a smile.
"We're going to keep playing right?" Ivy asked.
"You will," Liam said. He smiled when his granddaughter looked up at him and he said, "Your mum still has a lot of money to play with."
Walking around, the group played a few more games until every child had gotten something they'd wanted, and they stopped near the Grandstand.
"Are they having a performance?" Castle asked as they could hear music coming from there.
"They are," Skye said with a nod. "We have our wristbands and a little longer to go until we need to leave."
"When do we?" Eliza asked.
"In an hour," Beckett answered.
"What time is it?" Mari asked.
"Almost eight," Skye said. "It's getting late for the lot of you. And four of you need to practice."
"Are you sure?" Julia said, looking at Derek and speaking slowly.
"We are," the dancer answered. "I wouldn't raise your hopes and tell you to forget it. We need to set the scene, but it'll be quick."
"That's okay," the four kids said at the exact same time. They looked at one another before they laughed and then started to make their way to the small roller coaster there was so they could finish off their time at the fair going on the rides.
"Don't say we have to go," Julia said to her parents.
"It's getting late," Beckett commented.
Sighing Julia said, "Isn't there something else we can do?"
"There is," Skye said. She smiled when the others looked at her in surprise and she then went to her wife, whispering to her in Japanese for a moment.
"Alright, we're heading this way," Mary said before she and her wife led them down Palm Street until she saw the sign for Pepper Street.
"Is… a Merry-Go-Round!" Eliza gasped as she saw it first from her father's shoulders.
"Our wristbands apply to this as well," Skye commented. "And we nearly forgot it."
"It's two stories," Julia said. "Just like in San Francisco."
"Cool," Clive said. "But-"
"Come on, we'll go on the second story," Julia said, knowing he was looking at the horses on the bottom with the feather on their heads.
"We'll take them," Liam said to his daughter, speaking for himself, Jim and Martha.
"Are… thank you," Beckett started to say before she realized he was serious. She watched as the three followed the kids onto the ride and said, "Should we have helped them onto their horses?"
"They wouldn't have wanted us to," Skye said. "Though it's a bit futile, we're not about to go póg. Especially you two since Josie's here."
"They might be too tired to think of that," Beckett said as they were waving to their kids when the ride started up. She smiled at the others and said, "And they know we're leaving soon." She then looked down at Josie to make sure the baby was okay before Skye walked around to stand with her.
"Did you enjoy it?" the investigator asked.
"I did," Beckett said. "And I see you weren't kidding about it being so big."
Nodding Skye looked back down where they'd come from and then said, "I wonder about one more thing."
"The ski lift?" Castle asked.
Rolling her eyes, though she knew he was joking, Skye replied, "Yes, I know your kids and their friends were interested."
"Just one though," Beckett said.
"Oh of course, the one here," Skye said, indicating behind them. "And then straight to home."
When the kids got off the merry-go-round, Beckett told them about going on what was called the Sky Ride. She wasn't surprised when they were all agreeing to that immediately and she went with them before they were splitting up to go on the chairs. She was with her husband and Eliza and once they were rising into the air she said, "Are you tired sweetie?"
Shaking her head, the little girl then yawned and frowned when her parents laughed gently. "I'm not Mommy," Eliza insisted.
"I know, but you had a lot of fun," Beckett told her. She smiled when the little girl nodded and said, "I hope you'll be able to pay attention to classes tomorrow."
"I will," Eliza said. She recalled something about the next day and she turned to her mother, grabbing the side of her shirt before Castle on the other side of her was stopping her.
"You'll go with us tomorrow," he told her.
"Really?" Eliza asked happily.
"Really," Beckett said. "I'm sure your sister wants you to see too."
"But… Grandpapa and Gram," Eliza said when she recalled they wouldn't be going to the studio where Skye and Derek would be practicing.
"I know but I'll film it for a little bit," Castle told her. "With my phone. That way they'll be able to watch just her. And the other kids' parents."
"Oh," Eliza said in disappointment when she spotted where they'd started on the ride.
"We have a lot to do still sweetie," Beckett said, kissing the top of her head while their chair was descending.
"Time to say goodbye to the fair," Skye said when they were gathered all together off the chairs.
"Mum," the oldest twins said in a groan.
"What is it?" Mari asked them.
"Mum always said that to us," Kathleen explained first.
"When we were little kids, we're older now," Marie said.
"That you are, but we're finished and we're going to head home," Skye replied. She half expected them to protest, but when there was nothing she glanced at her wife and friends before they started to walk back to the tunnel where they'd come inside.
Beckett wrapped her arm around Julia's shoulders when they were out of the tunnel and on the other side saying, "You need to go straight to bed once we're back."
"And the rest of us?" Mari asked.
"Yes, all of you," Beckett said with a smile. "But-" she started to say when she was cut off by the sound of a phone ringing. Looking over at Skye, who was returning to them from buying the picture of herself and her family at the entrance, she was about to ask who it was when the investigator was walking away from them.
"Is it for the show?" Kathleen asked, looking at Derek.
"No, they would have talked to me first," the dancer replied.
"Sorry," Skye said to everyone as she walked back to them. "That was something we've been waiting on for a while."
"They gave us permission?" Mary asked eagerly after she had thought for a moment and then gasped in remembrance.
"Both places," Skye said. She saw the others were looking at her questioningly and she was quick to say as she saw the people walking around them to leave, "Let's head back to the cars first."
Picking Eliza up, Castle held her on his hip and wondered what exactly the two were planning; thinking it was another trip the next week after the show. He wanted to ask them when they were relatively alone in the parking lot, but the pair were walking rapidly until they had reached the four cars, turning to the rest of them together.
"We're making two music videos," Skye said first.
"With Paul?" Julia asked hopefully.
"No," Mary said. "It'll just be our band. For two Traveling Wilburys songs we had permission to cover."
"Did you keep the music?" Liam asked.
"We did but we used different guitars, so it doesn't sound the exact same," Skye told him.
"Which songs?" Beckett asked.
"Dirty World and End of the Line," Mary answered.
"What about the places you were talking about?" Castle said.
"The first song we're going to film on the road and then at the Promenade," Skye said. "And the second at Union Station."
"When?" Derek asked.
Smiling at her partner the investigator said, "If we're on to next week, is next Wednesday possible?"
"It is, but we need to practice then too," Derek replied. "And they'll likely want to film us doing that there."
"Sounds good to me," Skye said. "I'll need all the practice I can get."
"But you don't know what you're gonna dance to yet Mummy," Ivy told her.
"True, but I still need to practice," Skye told her. "Okay, we'll see you at ten tomorrow Derek. Thanks for joining us."
"It was a lot of fun," the dancer said as they were embracing briefly. "I'll see you guys tomorrow."
"Bye," Julia said with a smile, waving to him. As soon as the dancer had gone, she turned to Skye and Mary and asked, "Are you dressing up at all?"
"You'll see," the investigator replied. "Oh, I forgot to mention to Derek. I'd like all of you to be in the video; and if you want to of course."
Hearing the near explosion of excitement from the kids, Beckett and Castle did their best to calm them down before Mary was doing the same with her daughters. "We'll have to get permission from their parents," Beckett said when they were quiet.
"That's fine, I would prefer you did," Skye replied.
"Do we?" Eliza asked.
"We can but we'll see what Skye has in mind," Beckett replied as Castle was looking at her.
"Okay, that'll be next week," Mary said.
"Just one day?" Castle then asked.
"We're not doing anything extravagant," Skye explained. "We'll wait for that though, I need to focus on the show now."
"We'll see you at the house," Castle said as he knew they needed to get going for the younger kids. He followed his wife to their car, Julia and Mari going with them as he carried Josie. He got the baby's carrier set in the backseat of the car and once he was done he watched with Beckett as the two girls got in on either side of the baby.
"Rick," Beckett said simply as he closed the door. "We need to go."
"I know," Castle said firmly. "But-" he said, cutting himself off and wrapping his arms around her.
Beckett wanted to stop him, but it was only a brief thought as she couldn't stop herself from responding to him. She had her arms about his neck and they were deepening the kiss as she did that. She did her best to duel against his tongue while he was rubbing it against her until he was pulling away from her slowly. She smiled before she opened her eyes and told him, "We'll be in the guest house soon."
"I know," Castle replied. He moved so his lips were next to her ear and he murmured, "I love you."
"I love you too," Beckett said immediately. They kissed gently and swiftly before he'd pulled away and she let him open the passenger door for her. As he walked around the car she watched him, smiling before she looked back at her daughters and Mari. She listened to the two oldest talking together, focusing her attention on them. She talked with them and Castle about the next day and everything they'd done at the fair, returning to the McDouglas home and bringing an end to their entertaining day.