Genre: Drama, Crime, Romance, Family, Humor
Rating: M for violence, language and sexual situations
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 was very happy to get the reviews I did for the last chapter, nice to hear what readers think again so I will get to my thank yous right away! vetgirlmx (I was pleased to see first off that you thought both halves of the chapter were very nice. And I was glad that you could tell that they had a great day, with the flight as that I wanted to portray that they enjoyed. And the twins do know Castle and Beckett from the year before, plus I get the idea that them as parents would still be like that with other kids especially their friends' daughters. So that's why I had the twins comfortable with them but I'm not surprised you caught that. I'm so happy to see that you loved the beach house and my description of it as I was really trying to make it see-able for the readers. And great that I could do that for you! And you'll have to see if there's more to the beach house but I am glad that you want to see more of it too! Very pleased you can't wait for the next chapter which you don't have to do anymore!), TORONTOSUN (Interesting to see you liked how they said goodbye but I am glad that you enjoyed it too. And I was very happy to see you enjoyed the love scene at the end of the chapter and also that you could tell that it became more emotional for Castle and Beckett which is what I was aiming for!) and Beckett-Castle4ever (Nice to see that you thought the last chapter was a great one. And I'm pleased that you can tell that Castle and Beckett are having fun so far on their mini vacation. Great that you noticed the way Beckett was convincing Castle that he wouldn't be like his father, had been hoping readers would notice that and enjoy it. And so happy that you can't wait for the next chapter which you don't need to do anymore!). Thanks so much for the reviews, I loved getting the chance to read them and I'm very appreciative of them and the time you took to read, write the reviews and then send them to me!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Good Day Sunshine by The Beatles, from their album Beatles for Sale.
When The Sun Is Out
Running his lips over the top of his wife's shoulder Castle said, "I had been wondering how long it was going to take you to bring me here."
Beckett glanced back at him and said, "As opposed to how long until you brought me?"
"What makes you think I would do that?" Castle asked in mock incredulity. He could sense that she was rolling her eyes at that, since he couldn't see her face, and he pulled her back closer against him. It was the morning of the next day and Beckett had woken him up, pulling him to the sunken tub in the bathroom as soon as he was sufficiently roused. They had made love there and were relaxing together in the lukewarm water, watching outside. "So what's the plan for today?" he asked her after he'd kissed the junction of her neck and collarbone.
"What time is our reservation?" Beckett asked him.
"Six thirty," Castle replied.
"Well it's a little late now," Beckett replied. "So I think we're going to need to just stay on the beach. Did you find something to do while we were walking around?"
"Not really," Castle said, shaking his head. "I'm just wondering if you had any ideas."
"Is this your way of working in us coming back to the room?" Beckett asked him teasingly.
"No," Castle said so firmly he wasn't surprised when his wife turned to him the best she could.
"Really," Beckett said, studying him. "Once was enough."
Smiling briefly at that as he knew she wasn't serious in that question, Castle leaned over and kissed her gently before he leaned back. "No but I don't think I'll need to find a reason to come back when I know we have tonight."
"You're presumptuous," Beckett told him.
"I know you," Castle said. "And I can easily make you want me if you don't feel like it later."
"And now you're cocky," Beckett said slowly though she was struggling not to smile at that. "But you may be right."
"Then I'm looking forward to seeing if I will be," Castle told her before she leaned back against him again, wrapping both his arms around her.
Beckett didn't reply to that but as she could feel her husband's fingertips brushing against her shoulder she smiled and said, "Or else we can stay here until dinner."
"No we'll get out… not yet but soon," Castle said. He then started to shake as he tried to keep his laughter in and then said, "Sorry, go ahead," as he reluctantly let her go.
Beckett turned and kissed him gently on the lips before she stepped out of the tub, not surprised at all that he stayed in the water. "I have definitely…" she began, trailing off as she was drying herself. "Married a voyeur."
"Not a pervert," Castle said, moving to sit on his knees so he could watch her more easily.
"That too but a voyeur first off," Beckett told him, smiling as she put her towel around herself. She took as much time as she could in doing that to taunt him a little with her body, knowing it was working with the way he stared at her intently. When she heard the sound of moving water she looked up and smiled as he was nearly clambering out of the tub saying, "So that was enough to get you out."
"It looks like it," Castle told her seriously before he wrapped his arms around her.
With the huskier timbre of his voice Beckett was fairly well prepared for the kiss that her husband pressed to her lips. She responded rapidly and held onto his neck for as long as she could until they had to pull away. "Hurry," she said, touching his cheek.
Sighing Castle dried off as she waited and then went over to the sinks where he waited for her to sit between them. "You know you're tall enough to not need to do that," he commented as he waited for the water to heat up before he washed his face.
"Oh I realize that but I find it allows me to work better," Beckett told him with a slight smile as she watched him lather his face before turning to her. She already had his razor in hand and once he was in front of her she proceeded to shave him, careful as she ran the blade over his skin.
Castle was sure that his wife was aware of what was happening to him as she worked but didn't say a word as she seemed to be unaffected by the fact that his growing arousal was pressing against her leg. "Kate," he started to say when she pulled away.
"That's about all I can do," Beckett told him simply. "Later, I promise," she said, as she had been able to tell he'd been growing aroused. She kissed his cheek on a clear path of skin and then got off the counter to wash her hands quickly as he finished with the skin above his upper lip.
Rubbing lotion over his skin Castle then looked over at his wife, seeing she was leaning against the counter watching him. "Waiting for me?" he asked her.
"Come on," Beckett said, rolling her eyes as he'd been pretending to sound surprised. When they were out in the bedroom she took off her towel, setting it on the bed before she grabbed her bikini. She slipped it on and then looked to Castle, seeing that he was ready while she was still grabbing her cover up sundress. "So," she started to say.
"Yeah it's tempting," Castle told her seriously as they both glanced at the bed. He was relieved when she nodded in agreement and he said, "It's almost eleven thirty."
"Do you want to just have a quick snack before we go down to the beach?" Beckett asked him as he took her hand and led her to the door.
"We could just eat brunch," Castle suggested.
"I think we should," Beckett said. When they reached the bottom of the stairs she went to where she'd put her sandals the night before, slipping them onto her feet once they were on the floor. "We could do the same tomorrow."
"Except we have no idea when Skye and Mary are arriving," Castle replied. When his wife nodded in agreement to that he said, "We should probably call them, check and see if maybe now they know when they'll head down."
"Unlikely," Beckett replied. "If they're spending time with their daughters in the morning it'll probably be later so we could do this still," she told him as they walked up to the street. They were hand in hand as they walked and she squeezed his as they headed down the street back to the café where they'd gotten dinner the night before.
Since it was still early the two were able to order and sit down with their food quickly and as they were starting to eat Castle said, "So Eliza's finished with school."
"She is," Beckett replied with a smile as she realized he was right. "But she's still in preschool."
"And…" Castle said, glancing at his watch the same time he was taking a sip of his coffee. "Wow, this coffee is great. Julia's finished too; our oldest is now a fifth grader."
Smiling again at that, Beckett said, "I hope she'll enjoy it."
"You didn't?" Castle asked her.
"I did, you know how she is at the start of the year," Beckett replied.
"Takes her a little to get used to it," Castle said. "Think it's a lingering thing from her childhood?"
"It is," Beckett said with a nod, wondering why they hadn't discussed that about Julia before. "But she's doing better than when she was younger."
"I'll agree with you there," Castle said, watching her bite into her croissant. "Eliza seems to take after…"
"Were you shy?" Beckett asked since their youngest was but not to the same degree her sister had been.
"I think so," Castle said.
Since her husband was looking at her questioningly Beckett told him, "I was too, so both of us."
Castle smiled and said, "We could call them right now if we wanted to. Well not this second I know that's impossible but back at the house we could."
"They might be going straight to the beach or pool once Julia gets picked up," Beckett replied though she had set down her cup of coffee to text her father.
"How do you like it?" Castle asked. When she looked at him he said quickly, "The coffee."
"I'll agree with what you said about it, I see why they call it the best in the town," Beckett answered before she got a responding text from her father. "Yeah, Alexis and Eliza went to get her and they're already dressed for the beach."
"Eliza's going to be exhausted tonight," Castle said, smiling at that. "At least in that way we'll be doing something similar. Both on a beach."
Beckett nodded to that, since she could sense his missing their daughters with his tone, and she reached across the table squeezing his hand for a moment before they went back to their food. When they were nearly finished she said, "Is this going to be enough for you?"
"You know I've spent hours on the beach with you at home," Castle told her simply. "Or is it because we're on a different beach that you're asking?"
"That," Beckett said with a nod.
Thinking for a moment, Castle said, "It doesn't matter, I just want to spend the day with you love." He then turned his head to the side and muttered playfully, "While you're in your bikini," not surprised when his wife punched him on the shoulder. "What?"
"Pervert," Beckett said simply. She wasn't surprised when he reached for her hand then, squeezing it gently before she leaned over to share a brief kiss with him. Since they'd finished by then she got down from her chair at the same time he did and they left, going back down the street as she looped her arm through his, holding onto the top of it.
"Going to take your camera?" Castle asked as they neared the street they needed to turn on.
"I'm not sure," Beckett told him. "I'd be worried about it getting stolen; it's hard to hide it."
"True," Castle said. "But what I can do is take it back upstairs when you're done with it."
"You'd do that for me?" Beckett said with a smile. At his nod she leaned against him and said, "I'll see when we're ready to go down to the water."
"Then what about my phone?" Castle asked.
"You want to send them pictures?" Beckett asked him knowingly.
"I would love to," Castle said. "That does make me a good father right?" When his wife sighed he leaned over and kissed her saying, "Which means you love me more for it, you don't have to say." He had to laugh when she pinched his side as they'd reached the gate by then and he waited for her to unlock it before following her inside. "What about the paddleboards?"
"We'll come back up for those but let's leave them-" Beckett started to say.
"On that landing closest to the gate," Castle finished for her. "Great, that's where I'll set my phone. You're giving me the key right."
"Yes," Beckett said with a smile as she knew already she'd be giving it to him.
Grabbing the boards Castle and Beckett got their towels and also an umbrella they found with the boards. They headed down the stairs, having to do so carefully as it was a little awkward going down with the boards in hand. But they left them on the bench on the lower landing and then proceeded to the beach.
"Okay picture one," Castle told his wife once their things were set out.
Looking at him Beckett let him pull her to his side as they faced away from the beach. She smiled before he took the picture and watched him text it to Alexis and her father. "Thank you for including him," she told him.
"I'm sure he'd like to see," Castle replied. "Right?" he asked, looking at her.
"He will," Beckett said before the sound alert on his phone for texts played.
"A picture with this one," Castle said, showing it to her.
Smiling as she saw it was of their daughters standing in the breaking waves on the beach with their arms around each other, Beckett told him, "We'll have to have a day with them there, before we leave."
"I agree," Castle replied before he stood up. "I'll be back."
With a nod Beckett watched him head back to the gate up to the house and then turned to the water, watching the waves. She looked at a surfboarder trying to take a wave and noticed that it was a little small and the man wasn't able to go that far. When her husband sat next to her she looked at him and said, "I think I figured out why more of the surfers were over towards that lifeguard tower."
Looking to the waves in front of them then, Castle then realized what she meant and nodded saying, "Baby waves; will be great for you."
"What makes you think I even want to learn to surf?" Beckett asked him.
"The fact you know how to snowboard," Castle said. "I've heard it helps… a little."
"Key words being a little," Beckett replied. She then smiled and said, "I'll give it a shot, I think I would prefer to paddleboard more."
Glancing back to the water then Castle watched some pelicans fly by in front of them and he said, "Sunscreen?" as he wanted to get to the water.
"Sure," Beckett said, reaching over to the bag they'd brought down. She sprayed herself before sitting back down and letting him get the sunscreen onto her back and did the same for him before she waited for him to finish until she stood back up. As they were nearing the water she told him, "It's going to be cold."
"Oh I'm aware of that," Castle replied. "I need to take you back to Tahiti."
"For what? The warmer water?" Beckett asked with a smile as they stopped where the waves were foaming on the sand. She shivered slightly as the water was cold even there and said, "Or just because you want a vacation like this."
"Not for a while," Castle told her simply. He glanced around and then ahead of them before he turned to her. Seeing that his wife was watching him with her brow slightly furrowed; from trying to figure out why he was doing that he knew; he then grabbed her and lifted her up before running into the water.
With a short cry Beckett didn't have a chance to get out of his hold before they were plunging into the water and submerging underneath it. The second she was standing up she was pushing him backwards saying, "You never stop doing that," though she was laughing more than annoyed.
"Because it's fun to see your reaction to it," Castle replied before he walked to her and kissed her gently on the lips. "You got used to the water though, with that."
Shaking her head Beckett rolled her eyes before she went under the next wave, coming out to her husband doing the same next to her. "Looks like you got used to it too," she said with a smile.
"That's why I like to do that," Castle replied simply. When his wife ducked under the water he followed her again and swam after her further from the shore. Surfacing he watched her and in that moment he was suddenly recalling the last time they'd been in Tahiti. Spurred on by that he pulled her to him and kissed her before murmuring, "Would you be surprised if we didn't wait until tonight?"
"No you're remembering Tahiti aren't you?" Beckett asked. "Since you asked me the same thing all the times we went there."
"I did, I saw you a lot in the water just like this," Castle replied. "Déjà vu."
"Let's go back," Beckett replied.
"What about those rocks?" Castle asked her. When she nodded he was quick to go after her before they stopped in front of them, having to let the waves take them to shore. "Okay, maybe I should have thought more about that," he told her.
"We forgot yesterday," Beckett assured him as they started to walk back to where their things were. "The tide was pretty strong yesterday."
Castle nodded at that and then took her hand, pulling her to him before he leaned over and kissed her temple. As they were walking he had that sense of déjà vu again as they'd done the same in Tahiti.
"I wonder," Beckett commented, looking at him.
"What?" Castle asked, turning to her.
Smiling Beckett said, "First if you'd hear me and second if you're going to keep thinking of that."
"Those," Castle corrected her. When she glanced at him in slight confusion he told her, "Both trips. And eventually I'll stop." She laughed at that and he asked, "Was it the eventually part of it?"
"Yeah," Beckett said before they reached the gate to the beach house. She led the way up to the landing where the boards were and grabbed one and a paddle before she headed back with her husband following her.
Once they were back in the water, their boards floating next to them, Castle asked, "So we just hop on and get started."
"If you want to hop I'd love to see that," Beckett said, glancing at him.
"Okay, then climb on," Castle said.
"I think that's how you're supposed to," Beckett replied, unable to help smiling at his quick correction of what he'd said.
Looking at the board and wondering for a moment what would be the best way to get on top Castle finally did what he'd seen a surfboarder do and slid on it. Pushing the board a little under the water was a big help and he was soon on his knees. Glancing at his wife, he said, "So now comes the standing part."
"I'm going first I would assume with your tone of voice," Beckett said before she got up. "And so you know," she said, speaking as she was careful to watch her balance. "Just because I snowboard doesn't mean I'll be able to get this right away."
"Still I think you'll get this faster than me," Castle said. He watched the way she positioned her feet and tried to go as fast as he could to join her since she had to start paddling.
Beckett glanced back over her shoulder quickly at her husband and wasn't too surprised when he fell off as he was trying to adjust his feet. "Don't turn them so fast," she called out to him.
Waving to indicate that he'd heard her Castle was quick to get back up and try again. That time he was able to stand and he found rowing helped him retain his balance since he could feel where it needed to be. "So this isn't too bad," he said when he'd managed to catch up with his wife and they rowed out further.
"No but how far is too far?" Beckett said, glancing back with him at the same time to the shore.
"Well, if we start seeing fins, that's too far," Castle said. "The pointed kind."
"Pointed?" Beckett said, not even trying to fight her smile at that.
"Yep, dolphins aren't so-" Castle started to say.
"I know," Beckett said with a laugh. Dipping her paddle back into the water she said, "Think we should get these back at home?"
"I was just thinking that," Castle told her. "And yes, we should, it would be fun to take the girls on this," he said as he nodded to the space on the board in front of him. "Though with their vests on of course."
"Julia would not like that," Beckett stated, a small smile on her face. She then said, "I'm surprised they've never asked us for those."
"They've never been on them though David and Rebecca have used theirs when they're with us," Castle said. "But you're right, it's weird."
"Maybe it's one of those the parents have to bring the subject up things," Beckett said.
"Still bizarre, kids usually don't have those," Castle commented.
"We raised our daughters to be… a little more considerate," Beckett said before she paused.
"Far enough?" Castle asked as he knew why she'd done that.
"I think so," Beckett said. "Do you think you can sit?"
"Turn around and sit?" Castle asked her. When she nodded he breathed out a little hard and said, "Well I can attempt it."
"You can get back up but you know I'm worried about those pointed fins," Beckett said as she was sitting down carefully after she'd gotten her board turned around. She laughed when her husband splashed her with his paddle before she watched him slowly get down. "That was good… and it only took a half hour," she told him teasingly.
"Yeah, well, taller means my balance needs a little more work," Castle told her. He looked around as the beginning waves were starting to push them back to shore and said, "This might take a half hour."
"Still, it's something different to do," Beckett told him.
"You got tired of swimming already?" Castle asked her as he had to put his paddle in the water to make sure he didn't drift away from her.
"No but I can't see us swimming back and forth until four," Beckett replied.
"You need two and a half hours to get ready?" Castle asked in surprise.
"We need to call the girls," Beckett reminded him. "At that point they should be finished with dinner."
"I forgot," Castle said. "Not about them, just the call."
"I know," Beckett said. She saw his gaze on her suddenly change and she smiled a little saying, "What?"
"No just remembering walking back to our things," Castle said. "A lot of burly guys all greased up staring at you."
Beckett gave him a look and said, "Burly? Greased up? Did we end up in Italy during the Roman Empire?"
"You saw them," Castle said.
"Rick, you're jealous," Beckett said, being careful not to sound teasing in her tone. "Which you shouldn't be."
Seeing her gaze going down to his body, Castle said, "That they didn't expect I bet."
"Probably not," Beckett said in a laugh.
"Or you hanging onto me as we were walking," Castle said.
"Neither were the women," Beckett replied.
"Ah, I'd say you were jealous too but… yes, you'd splash me," Castle ended with when his wife did so to him. "Okay so let's just say there are people that are also attractive on the beach but-"
"But we're planning a quick trip back up to the house for… supplies," Beckett said.
Before he could respond to that and the fact that his wife's voice was heavily seductive in tone, Castle watched her start rowing to the point where the waves were cresting. He'd been able to tell that she was serious so he hurried after her, jumping off the board when the water was waist deep and following her up the stairs after she'd grabbed their bag from their towels.
Beckett was already on her way up to the second landing when she heard the clatter of one of the boards and she looked back to see it was her husband. She stopped and waited, a slight smile on her face as he was fumbling a little with the paddleboard before he propped it up against the other side of the bench.
"What?" Castle asked when he turned to go up and saw his wife watching him.
"Nothing," Beckett said before she reached down and took his hand, pulling him up after her.
Before she could turn to go up the steps leading to the deck Castle pulled her back against the side of the house where he saw there was a shower, turning it on. He stepped up to her as she'd gone under the water and he leaned down, kissing her deeply as she wrapped her arms around him.
A little unsure how long they were under the water, Beckett only knew that she was breathless from their kiss as she reached behind her to turn the shower off. "How are we getting in?" she told him as they were both dripping wet.
"Luckily the towels are still in the bag," Castle replied, going to where he'd thrown it by the stairs. He handed his wife one before taking the other, watching her drying herself off.
Beckett didn't say a word to him once they were going up to the deck, her towel wrapped around her waist. She merely took his hand, pulling him up the stairs to the foyer and then again to the staircase up to the second floor.
"A lot of stairs here," Castle couldn't help comment as they entered the bedroom.
"We'll get a lot of exercise," Beckett said.
"More so now," Castle said, wrapping his arm around her while the other pulled off her towel before they fell back together on the bed.
Their lovemaking that time was a little rougher than it'd been that morning and Castle and Beckett completely forgot their plans to spend more time on the beach as they were pleasantly distracted by each other. When they'd stopped they lay side by side on the bed, not saying a word and just enjoying the warmth the afternoon sun was providing and the feel of their naked bodies pressed together.
"I seriously didn't plan on this," Castle said.
Smiling before she slowly opened her eyes, Beckett told him, "I know but when we're alone together it tends to happen." She then turned her head to look at him and told him in mock seriousness, "Are you afraid of wanting me that much?"
"Vixen," Castle breathed as he could see what she was trying to do with her tone. "And no, are you?"
Beckett laughed softly at that and then sat up saying, "I have a hard time believing we just left everything down there."
"You heard what Skye and Mary told us," Castle reminded her. "People leave their stuff all the time, just nothing big."
"Like a phone," Beckett told him.
"I grabbed it," Castle said, reaching into the waterproof pocket in his trunks and pulling it out. He held his other arm out for her as she moved to him and wrapped it around her before he checked to see if he'd gotten anything. "Nope, they're fine. Still swimming…"
"I think my dad's getting dinner," Beckett replied.
"They could be going out," Castle said as the time back at home was nearly five. "Your dad with his granddaughters." He looked thoughtful for a moment and then asked her, "He really considers her his granddaughter too."
"I told you, Alexis is Julia and Eliza's big sister so he'd have a hard time ignoring that fact," Beckett said. "She is his step-granddaughter."
"Yeah," Castle said contemplatively. When his wife asked him what he was thinking about he told her, "There are times I wish I'd had a dad like him. You're lucky."
"I know," Beckett said, embracing him the best she could with the way they were laying down. "So," she said, turning onto her back. "Do we stay here or go down?"
"We should go down," Castle said, sitting up. When he saw the knowing looking on his wife's face he asked, "What now?"
"You're afraid if we do this anymore I'm not going to want tonight," Beckett said in amusement.
"It's just I don't want you thinking this is all I wanted," Castle replied swiftly.
"And I don't," Beckett said. "Plus with Skye and Mary here tomorrow…"
"We can take all night," Castle said, nearly blurting that out though she was tempting him greatly.
Beckett was going to reply to that when she paused and then smiled after thinking that over. "Alright," she said simply before she leaned over and kissed him.
Watching her sit up, Castle said, "You don't mind that?" When she looked back at him a little incredulously, he said, "Just checking."
"Come on," Beckett said, shaking her head though she was smiling again.
Getting off the bed took a little longer than either had expected as they found themselves kissing a few times before they finally tore away from one another and went to where they'd discarded their clothes on top of the towels on the floor.
Castle helped his wife get dressed though all he did was fix the back of her bikini top before he let his fingers trail down her spine.
"You said tonight Rick," Beckett told him teasingly as she turned to him to watch him pull on his trunks.
"Oh so we're on a no touching policy until then?" Castle asked. "Might make things difficult."
"You know, I wonder what would happen if we tried that," Beckett said musingly as they went out to the stairs.
"Tried not to touch each other?" Castle replied. When she nodded he snorted and said, "It would never work."
"Probably not," Beckett agreed. Back outside on the deck she followed him down to the lower landing where the boards still were and she said, "One more time?"
"Sure," Castle said. "And I really think we should get these for home."
"We will, you know there's a shop that has them," Beckett replied as they went down together to the gate. As they were getting back onto their boards; after dropping off their towels and bag on the blanket still with the umbrella; she couldn't help wonder about their daughters, wondering what they were doing at that moment before she and Castle were soon heading back into the water.
"Wanna go," Eliza said to her grandfather.
"Not until tomorrow," Jim said as he tied the sash on her sundress for her. "By the time we get home from dinner it'll be dark."
"Yeah, especially if we play the games there," Julia said.
"Can I play?" Eliza asked hopefully.
"If you stay still at dinner and eat," Jim replied. "Which I'm sure you two will. Is your sister ready?"
"I am," Alexis answered before Eliza or Julia could reply to that.
"You don't think Mommy will be mad we're going here do you?" Julia asked as she hurried over to her big sister and took her hand.
"She can be mad at me if she wants," Jim said, picking up Eliza and carrying her after the others who were going downstairs. "Since I'm treating you all to a celebratory dinner."
"You think she would be though?" Alexis asked.
"No," Jim said, shaking his head. "If I took you all week for dinner then she would be." Once he helped Eliza with her shoes he went after the three sisters to the garage where he watched Julia feed the dog its dinner.
"You get an early dinner Macca," the little girl told it seriously. "So you get to celebrate too."
"Let him eat Julia," Alexis called to her.
"Sorry, I had to tell him," the little girl said as she hurried over to the car where Eliza was already set. "Oh, I'm so excited now it's summer. I hope Mommy and Daddy are too."
"I think they are," Jim said as he was going down the driveway. "You know they've been looking forward to the trip."
"A lot," Julia said with a nod. She was quiet for a moment and then said as her grandfather was parking near the pizza parlor, "What about this weekend?"
"He'll know," Alexis replied. "So you don't have to worry."
"I feel bad," Julia confessed.
"It's okay," Jim said a little absently as he was helping Eliza out of her car seat. "I just want you two to have fun."
"We will," Alexis said as Julia still looked doubtful. "But for now why don't we enjoy dinner and the end of school?"
"You finished before us though," Julia replied with a smile as she was holding her hand walking into the restaurant.
"That doesn't mean I won't enjoy it," Alexis said simply.
Inside they sat down together at a table and as soon as they had Eliza was peering over at the claw game, looking at the stuffed animals available inside it. She glanced back at her grandfather and when she saw that he was watching her she giggled telling him, "Just to see Grandpapa."
"We'll take a better look after," Julia said before a worker came over to get their drink and pizza orders. She then looked around and said, "Look they're showing the World Cup."
"That's the qualifying game, one of them," Alexis corrected her. She turned to Jim and asked, "Do you know when Ireland plays once it starts?"
"I think on the twentieth at… two," he replied, having to think about that for a moment. "At two, I had to remember the time," Jim added with a smile. "You're rooting for Ireland."
"And England… Spain too I think," Alexis replied. "But I think my dad and Kate are hoping for Ireland to get through the first stage?"
"Stage," Jim said, nodding in response to her question. "And I am too." He had to stop then as their pizzas were coming out and he helped Eliza with hers since she was sitting next to him on a booster seat.
The toddler was trying to pick the tomato off of her slice when her grandfather stopped her and she asked, "Mommy and Daddy get pizza too?"
"I don't think so," Alexis said as Julia was looking at her to answer that question. "Dad mentioned something about reservations last time I talked to him so I think they're going out."
"Oh good," Julia said happily in response. "They're gonna dress up and then have fun together. Maybe they'll dance too," she added.
"We'll have to ask them tomorrow when we call them," Jim said. "You like when they go out to dance?"
"Yeah, 'cause Mommy doesn't want to learn to dance like I do but when they go to dance they're still dancing together," Julia said. She then added rapidly, "I know they don't dance with other people they don't know too."
"Did Dad tell you that?" Alexis asked in amusement.
"They both did," Julia replied with a smile. "If they know someone they'll dance with them but if they don't they stay together the whole time."
"Why?" Eliza asked.
"'Cause they're in love," Julia said firmly. When her little sister giggled she was surprised, realizing the toddler had asked that so she could say it and that Eliza had already known the answer.
"I think you're right," Jim said, smiling at his youngest granddaughter. "But since they're probably still on the beach we should turn our attention to our dinner here now."
After she'd finished her first slice Julia said, "How long can we play the games?" directing the question to both her grandfather and big sister.
"You're not even close to finishing eating and you're asking that already," Jim said.
"Yeah, I wanna know," Julia said, pretending to sound determined. She then laughed when her grandfather smiled and said, "Just wondering."
"I know and we'll see how much we can get done with five dollars," Jim said.
"Ooh, that's lots," Eliza said.
"That's two dollars and…" Julia started to say before she tried to figure it out in her head. "Fifty cents right? For us both?"
"Good job," Alexis replied. "And it is."
"Wait, are you gonna play?" Julia then asked. "I don't think I can figure out how to do it for three people without real quarters."
"I think I'll do what Jim does, play with you if you want me to," Alexis answered.
"Oh good and yes we do want you to," Julia said before she realized what her sister had said. "See? Even Lizzy wants you to," she added as Eliza nodded.
"I will but after we eat," Alexis urged the little girl as she still hadn't touched her second slice of pizza.
Though she wanted to say more Julia nodded and went back to eating though she found herself more and more impatient to start playing the games. Watching her little sister she soon was able to tell that she was feeling the same way too and she smiled over at her before they were finishing. Setting down her empty cup she asked, "Now?"
"Yes," Jim said. "And thank you."
"Why Grandpapa?" Eliza asked.
"Because you listened to me and ate," Jim replied, helping her down. He led the toddler over to the games and got quarters for them before splitting them between him and Alexis. "Do you want us to go together?" he then asked the girls who were watching him.
"Come play Grandpapa," Eliza cried, taking his hand and pulling him over to the claw game.
"Over here," Julia told her sister when they were left alone, leading the way to the skeeball games. "You know Daddy doesn't like these too much," she said as they waited for the game to start up.
"I do but he's not too bad," Alexis said. "But I think it's because I'm a little better… and your mom is too isn't she?"
"A little. But Daddy's better than me and Eliza," Julia insisted.
"Why don't I take a picture of you?" Alexis said then. When her sister nodded she took her camera from her pocket and waited until Julia was throwing the first ball, managing to get a shot of that moment. She quickly sent it to her father's phone and said, "He might not get it if he and your mom are out in the water."
"He'll see it," Julia said firmly. "When he goes back to it. Help me now?"
"Of course," Alexis replied.
When they'd played that game a few times Julia led the way to the whack-a-mole game and there she played on her own. She smiled as she looked up at her sister who was holding her phone up and said, "You got pictures?"
"One," Alexis said, looking over as Jim was walking to them with Eliza in his arms. "What's wrong?" she asked, realizing the toddler was sniffing.
"She was a little upset we couldn't get something in the claw game," Jim said.
"She thinks it's jail," Julia was quick to explain for her sister. "She wants to get them out."
"Here," Alexis replied, taking Eliza from him. "I felt the exact same way you know."
"You did?" the toddler asked, rubbing her cheek.
"Yep but Dad told me they're there until someone takes them home," Alexis said. "So they're just waiting."
"Oh," Eliza said thoughtfully. "I hope they go home soon."
"Me too," Alexis said, kissing her temple. "You want to play some more?"
"Play this one Lizzy," Julia told her sister encouragingly. "It's really fun and I can help you."
After a moment of what seemed to be consideration Eliza nodded and Alexis put her down before she went to Julia. She then said, "I remember to play."
"I know I just wanted you to play with me," Julia told her, hugging her quickly. "Take this," she said, handing her the mallet. "Ready?"
Nodding, Eliza started to try and hit the animals popping up when her sister covered her hands and led her around as they struck at them. When they finished she looked at the numbers and asked, "Did we do good?" since she couldn't read them.
"You did nicely," Jim answered. "You both still have quarters left?"
"A little bit," Julia said, looking at them on Alexis' palm. "There are six."
"Okay then why don't we play together?" Jim asked.
"You take three and we take the rest," Julia then suggested.
"We'd rather see you two playing," Alexis said to her. "So go ahead and pick what you want to do now."
"I think she wants to play that one," Julia said with a smile as her sister ran over to the skeeball.
"Looks like it," Alexis replied as Jim went after her first.
With the rest of the quarters that they had the family played the skeeball game together until they ran out of money. They headed back to the car after that and Jim drove them home.
"Did Mommy or Daddy text us yet?" Julia asked Alexis as they were greeted by Macca in the garage once they were out of the car.
"Not yet," Alexis replied before she turned to Beckett's father. "I think I'm going to take them to the beach to look for shells for a while. At least until they're ready to talk to us."
"I'll join you," Jim replied.
"You will?" Julia asked eagerly, her little sister echoing her.
"I will," Jim said, amusement tingeing his voice. "You wanted me to go?"
"So you can look too Grandpapa," Eliza said matter of factly.
"Then we should go ahead and go before we have to come back inside," Jim said before he leaned down and picked the toddler up as she was hugging him tightly. He carried her outside after Alexis and Julia and took her to the white chairs where the three girls got their shoes off so they could go down to the sand.
Hurrying down to the shells that were at the foaming edge of the waves, Julia said to her sister, "What do we do with these?"
"We can make a sandcastle," Alexis told her as she and Jim caught up with them.
"Please!" Eliza said, gasping in pleasure at the idea.
"After we walk for a little," Jim said as the girls cried out as Macca ran down to them, going over the water and splashing them.
"Nooo Macca!" Eliza protested. "No more baths!"
"You won't have to," Alexis assured her. "As long as you don't go all the way in the water."
"Which you shouldn't," Jim said quickly.
"I know when I have a vest," Eliza told them all seriously. She then looked down at her feet and squealed when she saw a white shell, reaching down to pick it up.
Julia had already started picking up shells by then and she helped her sister get more until their grandfather suggested that they should start making the castle since their parents would call soon. "Are you gonna help?" she asked him.
"If you need me to," Jim said as he watched them kneel in the sand.
With Alexis' help the castle took shape and once they'd sculpted it the three decorated it with shells before Julia and Eliza hurried to grab some sea grass. With that decorating the towers Alexis took some pictures of the two next to the castle with her phone and sent those off to their father.
"Is that them?" Julia asked eagerly as there was a text alert sound right after.
"It is, we better head back in," Alexis answered.
Heading back to the house, Julia said to her little sister, "I can't wait to hear that they did today." When Eliza nodded her head in response she squeezed her hand she was holding as they grabbed their shoes and went to rinse off their sandy feet.