Here's chapter 11! Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own castle

Chapter 11- Candy Apple Red

It was a Saturday afternoon when Avery decided she didn't like the fair. Not one bit. There were too many colors, too many smells, and too many people. It was overwhelming, to say the least. Kate and Rick had decided that, since Ava had recently turned six and Jackson Roy Castle, her new brother, was about to turn three, they would take them to the fair while it was in town. At first, it had been exciting. Ava had received her own cotton candy and won a ball-toss game. But, as time went on, she began to grow exhausted of all of it.

Jack, on the other hand, loved every bit of the fair. From the balloon animals, to the ice cream, and watching the big kids on rides. Kate kept excitedly pointing things out to him and asking what color they were. He loved this game. He loved the excitement.

Rick could feel the magic of the day. They had arrived in the morning, when the air was still cool and the crowds weren't quite huge yet, and spent the day relaxing. Mostly, they walked around, looking at the things people were selling in tents and viewing animals. He and Kate switched back and forth carrying Jackson on their hips and Ava ran around on her own, full of energy and excitement. Every time it was Kate's turn, he hung back and watched as her hair whipped lightly in the breeze and the little blond boy in her arms pointed and shouted. She was playing a game with him that helped him learn his colors. She would point, and he would shout the color, a wide grin spread across his rosy face. It made him feel so warm inside to watch his family, so happy and amazed at the sights, walking around enjoying the lively aura.

"What color is the clown hair?" Kate asked, pointing at the funny man on a unicycle.

These easy questions were meant for Jack, who was perched at his mother's side taking in everything there was to see, but Ava couldn't help but answer this one. It was like in the story they were reading in first grade about the little hedgehog who follows a rainbow to find a pot of gold. It was all the colors mixed together.

"The clown has rainbow hair!" She shouted, jumping up and down and pointing. If they were going to stay here for a long time, she might as well play the game too.

"Yes it does!" Rick responded, ruffling her brown curls and making her giggle.

It was then that Avery noticed something that caught her full attention. Over next to the man giving out balloon animals, sat a large booth with windows full of candy apples. Some were plain, but other were covered with yummy-looking toppings; m&ms, coconut, chocolate flakes, and so many more. The stand itself was decorated cheerily with paintings of fair food and children holding balloons. Avery loved the whole thing. Even the man behind the counter who smiled invitingly at her as she watched, fascinated.

"Avery! Keep up please!" She turned back around and noticed her family already dissapearing into the crowd.

Shooting one last longing look at the candy-apple stand, she took off after her mother, who was waiting patiently with a hand outstretched. Ava took it and let herself be led away.

"Try to keep up, sweetie, I don't want to lose you." Kate said, finding the rest of the family again.

Together, the four of them made their way over to the Ferris wheel, the last attraction that they had all agreed they would do before going home. Rick had invited the Ryan's over for dinner that night and they had agreed on 5:30. It was almost 4:00.

"Let's go get in line. Here Ava, you see that ticket lady? The one in the blue dress?" Kate asked, squatting down to meet her daughters eyes, "can you give these tickets to her when we get there for me?"

Ava nodded enthusiastically. She loved it when she got to talk to new people. She liked how they always treated her nicely and asked her questions about things she loved.

After ten minutes of waiting, Ava was able to run up to the ticket lady and hand her the small slips of paper. They were blue, like the ladies dress, and Ava realized how much she like that color. Especially next to the woman's bright red lipstick, which formed a sweet smile as she thanked Ava and swung the gate open for the four of them.

Their cart on the ride was lime green and blue. They stepped on and Jackson immediately started writhing to escape the grasp of Rick's arms. Kate took him and set him lightly on the bench as they all took a seat. She sat Jackson up and lifted him into her lap, wrapping a protective arm over his stomach.

As the ride took them into up the air and around, Avery glanced around, trying to peer over the edge of the cart, but getting pulled back by her father, who scolded her and made her sit back down with her hands on the bench. From her spot, she watched out the gaps in the gated doorway and saw the candy apple stand. From up above, the roof was yellow and the paint was chipped, but Avery was still drawn to it.

From the top of the ride, Kate glanced around in amazement. It was times like this that she realized how many things she didn't get to experience living in the city. There were so many places she hadn't been. She glanced over at the children, who were peering over the railing in awe, taking in the sights. Her husband stood over them protectively, looking like an excited child all over again.

"Look daddy!" Ava shouted, pointing, "look, you can see the cars on the road! They look like little ants! See them, daddy? See them?"

"Yeah baby, I see them! Do you remember when we were driving on that road? That's what our car looked like too!" Rick responded.

"Cars are big!" Jack shouted.

As she watched, Kate was filled with pure love and joy she could only feel for her family. It tugged on her heart in a way nothing ever had before she became a mother. Just watching Rick holding Ava around her middle so she could lean out further and see below, how he held Jackson's tiny hand to help him keep his balance in the moving cart, and especially when he told stories at night, weaving an imaginary world that whipped the children away to a fairytale story in which they could be anything they wanted. All of these things made her remember how lucky she was. How lucky they were.

The wheel reached the ground again and both parents took a child in their arms and left the cart, thanking the woman at the gate and leaving the area to head toward the entrance gate. As they walked, Kate turned her head slightly and asked Jack one last question.

"Hey boo...what color is the Ferris wheel?"

Ava turned to look over her daddy's shoulder at the chipping paint on the ride. At first glance, one would probably call it red. However, upon further inspection, Ava could see the color revealed behind the chipping paint. It was a dull tan, like caramel, and she took one last look at the candy-apple stand.

"Red!" Jack yelled proudly, pointing.

Ava smiled and, leaning away from her mother's ear so only she could hear herself, whispered, "candy-apple red."

Thanks for reading! As always...reviews are appreciated. Feel free to give me promtps and hope you have a fantastic week!