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 so happy to see people were reading and also reviewing the last chapter so I want to get to my thanks yous right away! TORONTOSUN (It was interesting to see that you didn't think it was surprising that Mary told Beckett to join Skye. And not surprised you mentioned Beckett kissing Castle, great to see that actually, lol. And really pleased to see that you liked the way the talk went between them. I was relieved to see that you liked how Beckett talked with Skye about Julia. Also happy that you liked how Skye responded to her about that. And also that you mentioned Castle having the moment too), vetgirlmx (Very pleased to see you thought both halves of the last chapter were very nice first off. Interesting I surprised you with Skye and Mary getting to the house early but I am happy that you liked they did that. And of course glad that you thought they had a fun day which is what I was aiming for. Not surprised you found it different from the days before I thought so too. You're right, it's not often they have fun with adults so I wasn't surprised either that you noticed that. I had been wondering what you'd think of Beckett's discussion with Skye about Julia and I am very happy to see that you liked that! And yeah, it didn't make much sense to me to have them talking with Mary since it was Skye of course that they met first. But yeah, I wanted them to ask her since they have the chance to have some idea of what they might expect with Julia if she is gay herself. So it was nice to see that you got what I was doing with that! Great to see that you thought the two chapters were really fun and that you're waiting so eagerly for the next which you don't have to do anymore!) and Beckett-Castle4ever (Great that you thought the last chapter, both halves, were great. And I'm really happy that you like reading chapters like this when they're not working on cases, I like writing those a lot myself so I liked seeing your reaction to it!). Thanks so much to those of you who sent me the reviews, loved reading them and am so, so grateful to get them too!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Turned Out by Paul McCartney, from his album New.
Something For My Soul
Reaching down with her fingers to touch her husband's lower lip Beckett watched him closely as he raised his hand to brush them away. She smiled when he slightly wrinkled his nose when she didn't stop until he was opening his eyes. "Morning," she said.
"How long were you doing that?" Castle asked, sounding a little groggy.
"Not long," Beckett replied before she leaned down to just gently brush her lips against his. "We're not packed."
"I know do you want to go to the beach though?" Castle said, sitting up as she moved out of his way. He glanced down at her naked body; since they hadn't bothered to use the bed sheet; and said, "Our things will be wet."
"We can dry them out in the sun," Beckett answered easily. "We just can't stay that long."
"Swimming only?" Castle asked, reaching up then and brushing her hair behind her shoulder.
"I think that'll be enough," Beckett said, a smile playing across her lips as she watched him looking at her intently. "You have that look," she told him.
"What?" Castle asked, shaking himself from her to look at her face.
"Last night wasn't enough for you?" Beckett commented as she was just barely brushing her fingertips over his chest.
"I don't think it was enough for you," Castle shot back as he placed his hands on the small of her back to pull her to him.
"It wasn't," Beckett breathed before she leaned over to meet his lips which were descending on hers.
The two nearly threw their arms around each other as soon as they had begun their kiss and they started to touch each other. It was frantic grabbing and then caressing as Castle laid Beckett back on the bed. Without a word to each other they began to prepare themselves to make love in some way; unsure of how they were going to yet. But just as he was going to slide into her at her urging, Beckett's phone rang next to them and they both groaned at nearly the same time.
"Hello?" she asked once she'd gotten up off the bed and answered her phone. She brushed Castle's hand away from her, as he'd followed her but remained on the bed, sitting on his knees. She patted the left and when he shook his head turned her attention to Skye who was on the other end.
"Sorry to wake you up," the woman said. "But we weren't sure what time you wanted to go."
"Oh you didn't wake us up," Beckett said, giving her husband a look when he tried to pull her to him again. "We were up. But is a half hour enough?" she asked.
"Yeah that's fine, we'll come up to the house," Skye said.
Saying goodbye to the woman, Beckett set her phone back down on the nightstand before saying, "So we-" She was cut off when her husband grabbed her roughly, pulling her to him. She wasn't sure how he was able to do it exactly but he was suddenly making her straddle him. She recovered at that point and lowered herself fast onto him, groaning out loud before she said, "I bought us enough time."
"More than enough," Castle groaned as she started to move. At that point he kissed his wife deeply and that ended any conversation the two would have.
They were very rough with one another as they knew they couldn't take their time; and didn't want to either. They switched their positions and finished off that bout moving together so hard they could hear the protest of the bed beneath them. When they'd both reached their nearly mutual high they were a little loath to stop but eventually their bodies forced them to.
Running her hand down the back of her husband's head once, Beckett said, "I don't know if I hate those quickies or not."
"Once in a while they're nice to have," Castle said. "But yeah have to ease up on how many times we do that."
"Ease up?" Beckett asked in amusement as he slowly got off of her then. "We barely do them in the first place. So you want us to stop?"
Shrugging Castle said, "I don't care, I just don't want to stop."
"You need some coffee," Beckett said, leaning over and kissing him gently on the lips. "And so do I, let's get going."
Sighing Castle carefully pulled away from his wife before he then realized something and said, "What time is it?"
"Eight thirty," Beckett said. "We have a little less than fifteen minutes."
"Okay," Castle said simply before he reached for her as he was getting off the bed at the same time. He held her to him and kissed her deeply, cupping her cheek with his hand gently at the same time. When they finally parted, taking their time with that sensual kiss, he said, "That'll hold me for now."
Smiling at the slight nod he'd given her at the same time, Beckett said, "It's going to take a while to stop isn't it?"
"We're not that old," Castle said, finally forcing himself to let her go.
"No but still I don't think we follow the norm," Beckett said, starting to put her bikini on as her husband was watching her.
"When have we ever?" Castle asked. He pulled on his trunks and then a shirt before saying, "I'm looking forward to tonight you have no clue."
"Me too," Beckett said, going over to him before turning around so he could zip her up. When he had finished she turned around to face him, wrapping her arms around his neck and murmuring to him, "Happy Father's Day Rick."
"Thanks," Castle said, taking her embrace. "You'll have to tell your dad that."
"I'll text him," Beckett said, kissing his cheek before she let him go and then watched him look her up and down a few times. "My cover up is still drying," she told him wryly.
"Well… you can't blame me for wanting to see you wet in it," Castle replied. "Plus naked underneath the dress. You brought this?"
"I had a feeling we might be going to the beach, so another cover up wouldn't hurt," Beckett answered simply, in a sundress. "Ready?" she asked after she had finished brushing her hair. At his nod she went to the door, a little startled to hear voices down at the front door. "When did you guys get in?" she asked.
"Not too long ago," Skye said with a smile as she glanced at her wife.
"It's soundproof?" Castle asked, pointing back to the room.
"It is, the previous owners had six kids so when they built the house they made the master soundproof except the windows of course," Skye replied.
"Which is nice, since you can hear the ocean," Mary added.
"Definitely is," Castle said as they headed down the stairs. "So you're in a dress too."
"Someone insisted," Skye said in annoyance as she looked down at her sundress before rolling her eyes. "And you too."
"I have my swim suit under," Beckett said simply.
"As do I," Skye said before she followed her wife out the door. She walked with Beckett out to the street and said, "It'll be a shame we couldn't take the two of you out here and there a little."
"Someday we'll come back," Beckett replied. When they reached the highway she said, "What are you going to do?"
"Wait for my dad and our daughters to get here," Skye replied easily. She then turned to Castle and called to him, "Happy Father's Day."
"Thanks," he said back, smiling slightly.
"He's doing alright?" Skye asked her friend as she looked ahead again.
"I think so, the idea of us being able to spend tomorrow with the girls is enough," Beckett said. She sighed and said, "I just wish we could have given him breakfast in bed today." Her mind couldn't help wander back to the month before as Skye nodded in sympathy, her memories of that year's Mother's Day still prevalent in her mind especially the morning when she'd been woken up by her family.
Tiptoeing to the bed Eliza stopped at the edge of it and studying her mother for a moment, reached out and gently poked her arm. "Mommy?" she whispered. When she got no response she did that again before saying louder, "Mommy! Up, wake up!"
Her eyes opening at that, Beckett sat up and asked, "What is it?" thinking there was something wrong.
"Happy Mommy day!" Eliza cried out.
"Mother's," Julia whispered as she hurried after her sister. "And we were gonna say it together."
Smiling at the two before she looked up at her husband entering with a tray in hand, Beckett told their daughters, "Well you can tell me now since she didn't say it exactly right."
"Happy Mother's Day!" Julia and Eliza said proudly.
"Thank you," Beckett said, unable to keep the laughter out of her voice. She picked Eliza up and waited for Julia to climb up after her before she gathered them into her arms. "Hmm, that was a wonderful surprise."
"It was?" Eliza asked earnestly.
"It was," Beckett confirmed before leaning over to press her lips against the toddler's temple. She looked up at Castle was he walked over to the bed, handing her some delphinium in a vase that she took with her right hand.
"Those are from Daddy," Julia said as she and her sister leaned in to smell the light blue flowers.
"Look at the cup Mommy," Eliza then said excitedly.
Having to let go of the girls then, Beckett took the cup and smiled when she saw the delphinium in the foam and told him, "You should have a book of these."
"That would be interesting," Castle replied. "But I prefer to write." He sat down on the edge of the bed as the girls were moving to his side of the bed and he said a quick, "Thanks you two," before he was leaning over, kissing his wife deeply.
Giggling a little at first Eliza tried to suppress it when her sister tried to quiet her but she couldn't stop it until their parents had pulled away from each other.
"So we're amusing now love," Castle told his wife.
"I don't think it was that," Beckett said as she reached for Eliza and pulled her to her lap. "So now what's for breakfast?"
"Hungry Mommy?" Julia asked as Castle handed her mother a plate.
"A little," Beckett said, smiling at the crêpes on her plate. "Did you put the chocolate on ours?" she asked Eliza as the three there had chocolate syrup all over them in a hectic pattern that she knew her husband wouldn't have put on. When the toddler nodded she kissed her cheek and then said, "You put the berries too?"
"I did that," Julia said, smiling widely as her little sister was shaking her head firmly. "But I just put them on."
"They're still pretty," Beckett said, letting Eliza take the fork she'd been holding before reaching for her oldest. When Julia was close enough she hugged her close and shared a kiss with her saying, "I love you sweetie."
"Me too Mommy," Eliza said before her sister could reply to that.
"I love you too Eliza," Beckett said with a soft laugh as Castle was sitting next to them on his side. She shared a kiss with their youngest and then felt Julia hugging her a little tighter.
"I love you too Mommy," the little girl said seriously. "But you should eat now," she told her.
"Okay," Beckett said with a smile. She let her go and then reached to her husband, squeezing his free hand before they began to eat with their daughters.
When the meal was over, Eliza watched as Castle took the plates and cups and put them back on the tray. When he came over to her, handing her a card, she said to her mother seriously, "For you Mommy."
Leaning over Beckett pressed her lips to Eliza's forehead and then opened up the card, seeing that there were scribbles of color along the bottom. "Is this us?" she asked with a smile, looking up at her daughter.
"And Jules," Eliza said swiftly, nodding her head as she pointed to a green scribble.
Beckett, still smiling, read the note above the scribbles which she knew her husband had helped their daughter to pen, "I am happy that you are my Mommy and I love you very much, Eliza."
Squirming shyly on her mother's lap the toddler said, "That's truth Mommy."
"The truth," Julia said with a smile.
"That," Eliza said, nodding her head. She hugged her mother back tightly when she embraced her and then said, "Now you Jules!"
Taking the card that Julia handed her, Beckett smiled at her oldest's drawing of four horses surrounded by green hills and told her, "This is beautiful sweetie. Ireland?"
"Yeah," Julia said before blushing a little as she knew her mother's gaze was going to the message she had written at the top of the page.
"You're the best mommy there is and I am so lucky that you're mine. I love being your daughter and I love you Mommy, so much," Beckett read. She became a little tearful and then reached out to her daughter, pulling her against her other side tightly. "I love you both too, I wasn't kidding about that."
"We love you Mommy," Julia said.
"Yeah, love you Mommy," Eliza was quick to repeat.
When they had pulled away from their mother Julia turned to Castle and said, "You too?"
"I do," he said, smiling as he'd been watching them, not wanting to intrude on the mother-daughter moment. "But because she's my wife."
"I hope so," Beckett replied as the girls then moved to get off the bed. "Girls?" she asked as she and Castle watched them go.
"I guess that's a message to us," he commented when they were gone from the room. He looked at his wife and smiling said, "You mind?"
"No," Beckett said. "But I want to go after them."
"Of course," Castle said before leaning down and taking her lips in a passionate kiss that he let last for as long as possible before they parted and went after their daughters.
"Better?" Beckett asked her husband after they were sitting at their table with their breakfast.
"Very, you?" Castle asked her after finishing his sip of coffee.
"I wasn't as in need of it as you," Beckett told him with a smile.
"So we were thinking of taking you to LAX at about two," Skye said after finishing her potato. "And we'll take you to lunch inside since it's easier than making our way around."
"Unless you wanted to go to In-N-Out," Mary suggested.
"No, I think we'll head inside," Castle said before he could check with his wife if she wanted to do the same.
"I think he's eager to go home," Beckett said as the two women looked at her. She smiled briefly and then said, "So am I."
"That's fine with us, we understand," Skye replied.
"But won't your daughters get here while you're gone?" Castle then asked as he realized that.
"That's alright, they'll have fun at the beach before we go back," Mary said, her wife nodding next to her.
Castle and Beckett shared a look, wanting to comment on that though they let it go as Skye was asking them for a hint about their next book. They tried to brush off the questions but eventually told them a little about their plans for it until they'd finished and were heading back to the house.
"Damn it," Skye said as she was looking in the fridge. "We forgot to get some more milk love," she told her wife who went over to her.
"We can run and get some," Mary said. "We'll head out but be right back," she called to Castle and Beckett who were standing in the doorway to the deck.
"We'll wait for you," Castle replied before the two women left. Turning back to his wife he said, "We need to pack anyways you know."
"That's true," Beckett said with a smile.
"I'll be right back though," Castle said, kissing her cheek before he left her.
Watching him go back towards the bathroom Beckett called to him, "I'll be on the deck." And with that she turned to the outdoors and went to the railing, looking down at the people that were walking down on the sand. She smiled as she watched some kids in the distance chasing each other which distracted her so that when she heard footsteps running up to her she wasn't able to react until two arms were being thrown around her. Looking down she nearly jumped and said, "Eliza? Julia?" before she recovered and knelt down, gathering them both into her arms tightly. "Girls," she said with a laugh. "What are you doing here?"
"Surprise!" Eliza cried happily. "We came!"
"I can see that," Beckett said, kissing them both before she stood. "You brought them?" she asked Alexis with a smile.
"I did," the young woman said, smiling in return but because of her stepmother's surprise. "I thought we could have a mini-vacation when Skye called you to help."
"Kate, you… girls?" Castle asked, walking over to them and seeing he hadn't been hallucinating. When his two youngest ran to him laughing he knelt and managed to catch them, hugging them as tightly as he could as they cried out, "Happy Father's Day!"
"Happy Father's Day, Dad," Alexis told him.
"So… we're not leaving are we?" Castle asked after he'd kissed Julia and Eliza and then hugged and kissed Alexis.
Seeing that Skye and Mary were approaching them with their daughters and Hayden, Beckett said, "I think that's a no love."
"Sorry about the subterfuge," Skye said, stepping out. "But Alexis really wanted you all to have a family vacation."
"Jim and Gram were okay with this," the young woman said as she could tell her dad and Beckett looked a little hesitant then. "They want to take some time to relax before our whole family heads to Madrid."
"Okay," Beckett said. "So I guess you're all staying in the house with us."
"Our suitcases are in the foyer," Alexis told her.
Castle picked up Eliza and walked with the others back inside before they took the suitcases upstairs; Skye's father going to his room across from the living room. "So how was your flight?" he asked the girls as he and Beckett opened their suitcases as they watched.
"Fun, Alexis sat with Eliza, but when we were up in the air I went to sit with them and she was on her lap," Julia told them, indicating her little sister. "We slept though, after breakfast."
"That was the earliest flight I could get," Alexis said, stepping into the room then.
"I'm here, hold on," Skye said as the young woman was stopping her father from taking anything else out of Eliza's suitcase. "We're here," she said, turning to Mary and their daughters. "Okay, so Alexis wanted to go some places while you're here with us and I agreed. Should be tourists now we're with our kids and after some discussion we decided on two places. First is Disneyland-" She was cut off then when Julia and Eliza cried out in joy and said, "I thought you might enjoy that."
"You go too Mommy, Daddy," Eliza said, going to her mother and taking her hand as she spoke.
"I will," Beckett replied.
"This is where I'll need to beg your forgiveness for the suddenness of all of these plans; I've only just got confirmation of them," Skye then said. "We'll head out in a bit to the Grand Californian Hotel and stay there two nights and doing that lets us have early admission to Disneyland tomorrow, an hour ahead of the opening."
"We walk around then, so Mummy can take pictures," Kathleen said.
"Yeah and get our ears if we need them," Marie said. She looked at Julia and Eliza and giggled at their confused expressions.
"We go shopping then as the stores are open," Skye replied. "And it allows us to digest breakfast we'll have at the hotel. We'll stay all day at the park until closing and then come back home Tuesday morning."
"That sounds… amazing," Beckett said.
"It definitely does. But how can you-" Castle started to say.
"I have connections," Mary answered. "Really good connections."
"Insanely good," Skye replied. "And we have passes to get us through the lines, around the back. Those we paid for though, except for yours, I had to add a bit of weight with those… Marie, Kathleen did your grandfather bring the books?"
"So we're signing?" Castle asked, not surprised to hear that.
"I'm afraid so," Skye said a little sheepishly.
"That's okay," Beckett was quick to say as the twins were nodding to their mother's question. "For that we'd sign a pile of books… which is what we have to sign right?"
"Yeah you can finish them whenever, they just need to be signed by Friday," Mary said.
"Oh I can't wait!" Julia said excitedly before she laughed with the twins, her little sister jumping up and down next to her.
"And then on Wednesday morning," Skye said. "We'll be heading south to San Diego."
"I suggested that," Alexis said as all four kids gasped in joy at that. "I wanted you guys to go," she told her family.
"I'm glad you did," Castle said. "Any set plans there?"
"I told them they could be our guides," Alexis answered for the two women. "Since they've been more than I have of course. And they usually have a set plan though it changes."
"Depends on how we feel but we'll stick to our usual routine. Wednesday when we get there we'll head to Old Town and then Balboa Park for some museums and then Seaport Village for dinner," Skye said.
"Could we go to the Del?" Kathleen asked.
"And the Whaley House! We need to go there Mummy," Marie added exuberantly.
"We'll see about the Del," Mary replied. "The Del Coronado."
"It's a hotel, Gram and I went there for dinner," Alexis then added. "Really beautiful, the beach is nice."
"And then Thursday we'll be heading to the San Diego Zoo," Skye said.
"Aminals!" Eliza cried out happily.
"A lot of them," Mary said.
"She's right," Skye said, smiling as the toddler hid her face with her mother's hand. "So we'll go there and we'll take you somewhere for dinner I'd like to keep a surprise, you should like it."
"That's if you two are okay with this," Mary then said, turning her attention to Castle and Beckett.
"I don't think we could say no," the latter began. "But what about Eliza at Disneyland? She'll need to take a nap," Beckett then added.
"My dad is coming with us," Skye said. "He'll take her back to the suite we share with the girls; your daughters will be staying with us there. And he'll take her when she needs to go to bed too if you'd like."
"I think she can stay with us until we go," Castle said, looking to his wife. At her nod he said, "Okay, I think we'll go." He laughed when Julia and Eliza cried out their thanks and hugged him and Beckett. "Thank them," he said, motioning to Skye and Mary.
When the two chorused out the words Mary said, "You should thank your big sister too, she put the idea in our heads."
"And so you know we head back home Saturday; we might try museums on Friday or Legoland we're undecided on that one," Skye said as the two girls were hugging their sister. "Your flight is next Sunday so you have a couple days rest before you head to Europe."
"Okay so we're ready to go since we didn't unpack that much," Mary said. "Let's head to the beach!"
When the four had left Alexis said, "You don't mind?"
"No we're eager to go," Beckett said with a smile. "I think your dad especially."
"I don't know if I am as much as these two," Castle said gesturing to the girls who were watching them.
"I am too, even though I've been before," Alexis said as they left the room.
"And San Diego too, that will be so much fun," Julia said. "Did you hear them say the Whaley House Daddy? We can go see the ghosts."
Sighing as Eliza giggled at that; the toddler having somehow become okay with the idea of ghosts but not monsters in the ocean at night; Beckett said, "We'll go to see the house but there aren't any ghosts there. For now let's head down to the beach okay?"
"Yeah, I can't wait to see where you've been Mommy," Julia said, wrapping her arm around her mother. When she put hers around her she smiled and leaned against her murmuring, "I missed you."
"So did we," Castle said, looking back at them, having heard that. He kissed Eliza and said, "But now we're back together we're going to have a lot of fun."
"Yeah it is your day Daddy," Eliza told him seriously. She smiled when her family laughed at that and then looked out to the water as they came out to the deck. When they went down the stairs she said excitedly, "Wanna go swim!"
"We are right now," Castle assured her before they got to the sand and everyone helped set up blankets and two umbrellas. With everything and everyone ready they walked down to the water with Skye's father staying behind with the boards and he held Beckett's hand in one of his and Julia's in the other as they neared the breaking waves.
"It's cold!" Julia giggled as her foot was covered by the water. She looked at Eliza who was squealing and she said, "It's like at home."
Nodding, the toddler saw something tumbling in the waves and she hurried after it. "Daddy look," she said, holding up the shell.
"That reminds me," Castle said, looking at his wife.
"The tide pools?" Beckett asked.
"Where are they?" Alexis said as her sisters looked up at them eagerly.
"That direction," Castle said. "And we can walk there but we'll do that after lunch."
"To walk off lunch?" Beckett said in amusement. When her husband nodded she laughed softly and reached over to him, squeezing his hand before they watched their daughters stepping into the water slowly as they got used to it.
"By the way," Skye said, going over to them with Mary as the twins joined Julia and Eliza in looking at the shells. "We're ordering in for lunch."
"So you're still treating us to the meal," Beckett said with a smile as Skye grinned.
"Yes," the woman replied before laughing. "Okay so later on, whenever you'd like, I can teach you to surf a little Kate."
"I'll see," Beckett replied.
"You should learn Mommy," Julia said, having heard them.
"I-" Beckett started to say in slight protest.
"Just the basics and I'll teach you so I'll be less of a tyrant," Skye said in a rush. She laughed when her wife punched her on the shoulder and said, "To a degree."
"I'm not saying anything," Castle said when his wife and Mary looked at him. "Why don't we just concentrate on swimming with our kids?"
Shaking her head Beckett followed him with Skye and Mary to where they were in the water though only just past their ankles. "Holding onto her?" she asked Julia and Marie who had Eliza by the hands.
"Yeah but I think she wants to let the waves take her," Julia said with a giggle. "Just like at home."
"Sweetie," Beckett said, taking the little girl in her arms then and holding her against her hip.
"What do I do?" Eliza asked in some concern.
"Nothing I just wanted to do this," Beckett told her, kissing her cheek gently.
Eliza smiled at that and hugged her around the neck, kissing her back before she was set down. "Daddy!" she cried then.
"Hold on," Castle said, going over to them. He picked up Eliza, throwing her up in the air a little before kissing her cheek. "Want to run right in?" he asked her once she was on his hip.
"No, too cold," Eliza said firmly.
"I'll do that with you Daddy," Julia said, joining them.
"Sure?" Castle asked her. When the little girl nodded he set her down and said, "Just wait and see how loud we scream like girls," to Eliza and Beckett.
"But I am a girl Daddy," Julia pointed out to him.
"That's true," Castle said with a nod. He then laughed when he saw the perplexed expression on Eliza's face. "I'm kidding sweetheart. You're ready?"
"Come on Daddy," Julia said insistently, reaching out to him and taking his hand.
Beckett tried not to outright laugh when their oldest nearly pulled Castle to the water and as they ran in she finally let herself do so as her husband was yelling at the temperature of the water. She looked down at Eliza as Julia's cries reached their ears and saw that she was smiling so she asked, "Want to go further in?"
"Yeah," the toddler said, nodding her head firmly. Taking her mother's hand tightly she stepped towards the water before she saw that her father and sister had reached where Alexis had been swimming. "Can I go too?" she asked her mother.
"That's a little too far," Beckett said. "But when they see us I'm sure they'll join us." She made sure that as they got deeper Eliza was okay and when she too was floating she said, "Kick your legs sweetie."
"I do Mommy," Eliza said. She smiled as she saw her sisters coming over to them and then waved before her mother let go of her other hand. Since she was used to swimming at home she was able to reach Alexis and she wrapped her arms around her neck tightly. "Did you see?" she asked eagerly.
"I did, you're swimming really well," the young woman replied. "Want to go back?"
"With the waves pushing us," Julia said quickly. At Eliza's nod she turned back to the shore, treading the water before the next one started to move them to the sand. "We'll see you back there!" she called to their parents who were staying behind.
"Glad to see them love?" Beckett asked her husband when they were alone.
"Yeah, you're not?" Castle said in response. When she splashed him he tried to jump onto her when she ducked under the water. He quickly did the same and swam back with her until they reached the others on the shore.
When she was about ankle deep in the water Beckett waited for her husband to walk up to her and she said, "Believe me I am too."
Though he wanted to do better, Castle leaned down and shared a brief kiss with her before their daughters came over to them, begging them to look for shells. And taking Eliza's hand he and Beckett started to do exactly that.
"Mommy?" Julia said as her mother was sitting down.
"Yes sweetie," Beckett said, wrapping her arm around her shoulders.
"You're glad we came right?" Julia asked. "We could have let you come home but Alexis said it would be a fun little vacation."
"She's right it will be," Beckett said. "And we were both missing you so here or back home we could care less. We just wanted to see you again."
"So did we," Julia replied, wrapping her arms tightly around Beckett. "I missed you a lot."
Turning her head to press her cheek to the top of her daughter's head, Beckett murmured, "I love you Julia."
Coming over to them Castle paused when he heard that and was about to turn away when Julia looked up and noticed him.
"Hey love," Beckett said to him teasingly when she noticed him in front of them at her daughter's movements. "Want to join us?"
"I would but Skye sent me," Castle said. "Time for your lesson Kate." When his wife looked at him with one eyebrow raised he nearly gulped but then hurriedly told her, "That's what she said, not me."
Julia stifled a giggle as she looked to her mother to see her reaction and wasn't surprised to see she was still giving him a look, though one of her less stern ones. She stood with her and watched as her mother walked up to Castle, gesturing to him with her finger.
Whispering in his ear Beckett pressed a kiss to his cheek and then walked away, glancing over her shoulder to see that he was staring at her seemingly frozen.
"Interesting," Skye said as her friend reached her then. When Beckett looked at her questioningly she said, "Whatever the hell you told him must have been a doozy just now."
"I think so," Beckett said, glancing at him again quickly before turning her attention in front of her.
"You okay Daddy?" Julia asked Castle as she touched his arm.
"Yep you know I love your mom right?" he said, looking down at her.
"It's easy to see that when you stare like that at her and get stuck like you do," Julia said, giggling softly.
"Yeah… come on, let's go and see how she does," Castle said, holding his hand out to her.
"How is it?" Beckett asked Alexis who was coming back with Mary.
"Fun but a little difficult," the young woman said. "You might get it."
"Not that fast I'm sure," Beckett told her honestly as she took the surfboard she'd been using. She set the board down into the sand as Skye was doing and then watched in amusement as the woman was shooing her wife away.
"Go, get on out of 'ere," Skye said teasingly to Mary, taking on a Cockney accent. "I can teach her well enough love."
"I know but we'll stick around to watch," Mary replied.
Shaking her head Skye gave her a brief kiss before turning her attention back to Beckett. "Okay so you and I were watching when Mary taught Rick about the wall, now it's your turn," she said then to begin.
Beckett listened closely to her friend, watching her lay on the board on her stomach before jumping up. When she was told to try the same she was able to stay within the wall for a moment before she had to step off to regain her balance.
"Good you're a snowboarder so you understand that need for balance," Skye said. "Show me how you stand when you snowboard."
"Here?" Beckett asked, motioning to the board. At Skye's nod she got up on it and let the woman turn her body so it was in the correct position.
"Think you can remember that?" Skye asked her.
Beckett gave a nod before she got back down on the board, and then attempted to stand up again. She was able to succeed in it getting the position though she had to fight for balance for a moment.
"Try it again just like that, a few more times," Skye told her when her friend looked to her. She watched Beckett do that until she had her stop and said, "I think we're ready to head out to the water."
Running over to her mother as soon as she was standing Eliza threw her arms around her and said, "Good luck Mommy!"
"Thank you sweetie," Beckett said, leaning down to share a kiss with her. She then picked up the surfboard and ruffled her youngest's wet hair before following Skye to the waves.
Once she and Beckett were sitting on their board, looking at the crests going past them, the investigator told her friend, "Your husband's watching."
"I don't even have to look to see," Beckett replied.
"Just before I let you go," Skye then said. "How're you feeling about tomorrow's plans?"
"I'm eager to go, I'm not kidding," Beckett said. She laughed softly when she saw the surprise on the woman's face at that and told her, "I do enjoy rides; I'm just not that childlike in my exuberance. And you know you owe me a ride."
"Why?" Skye asked in confusion.
"Because I'd like the chance to see how you are on a ride," Beckett said.
"Ah, I take it you think I lose more of my investigator façade," Skye said with a knowing smile. When Beckett nodded in response she said, "Alright, tomorrow we'll ride together on Thunder Mountain, the very back together." They shook on it and she then said, "But for now…" motioning to the waves.
Waiting for Skye to tell her when to go Beckett pushed herself through the water and at the moment she'd been told to watch out for she tried to stand on the board as she'd done on the sand. But her right foot slipped before she could set it firmly down and she was going off into the water. When she resurfaced, she was startled to hear her husband and the others cheering and she climbed back on the board, waving to them before going to Skye who had stayed where they'd been, waving her to her. "So that's standard the first time right?"
"You nearly had it," Skye assured her. "Just watch how hard you try to set down your foot. I had that same problem myself. Want to try again?" At Beckett's nod she waited and finally said, "Okay, go now."
Beckett went into the wave and was able to stand up for a moment before she lost her balance and was soon under the water. She went back to Skye and again tried and managed to fall at the same time. "How long did it take you to go forward at all?" she asked when she'd gone back to the woman.
"I did that the first day but it wasn't far," Skye replied with an understanding smile. "Try again but this'll be it, Mary's waving and I'll assume it's to call us in for lunch."
Looking over at the shore Beckett could see the woman doing so and she smiled saying, "Thanks for trying to teach me."
"Not a problem," Skye said with a nod. "Go ahead now."
At that Beckett went forward before she stood up on the board and she was able to keep her balance for a couple seconds going forward before she fell over. When she surfaced she headed to the others who were waiting for her and said, "I managed for a little."
"Yeah you did great," Castle said as their daughters hurried over to her and grabbed her hands before hugging her tightly.
"I might try to learn after lunch," Alexis said as they turned to watch Skye take a wave. "Wow."
"Yeah, she's good," Mary said with a proud smile as she looked on. When Skye was close she called to her, "Great job grá."
"Thank you," the woman replied. "Okay so are we ready to head up for lunch?"
"Your dad is, he headed up and watched you from the top," Castle told her.
"Then I think that means we should go," Skye said laughingly before she walked with the others to the blankets to start getting their things ready to go upstairs.
"I ordered already," Hayden said when he saw his family and the others coming inside the family room from the deck. "It'll be here in a half hour."
"Let's play hide and seek before then," Marie said eagerly to her sister, Julia and Eliza.
"In the house?" Julia asked. When the twins both nodded she looked at her little sister and asked, "Do you want to play too?" When the toddler merely smiled she then said to the two girls, "We're ready, who's gonna be it first?"
Watching as the four girls started their game Alexis took the glass of juice that her father handed her and smiled at him saying, "How're you doing Dad?"
"Great, you?" Castle asked, sitting next to her at the kitchen table where she was. "Are you ready?"
"I got everything done when I was at the beach house," Alexis replied. She then glanced outside at the deck where Beckett was talking with Skye and Hayden. "I didn't realize this was where you were staying. I wasn't expecting this house."
"Neither were we," Castle replied with a smile. He then said, "I'm glad you're here though."
"I got that Dad," Alexis replied with a laugh. "But you're glad I got you into Disneyland right?"
"To a degree," Castle said before one of the girls cried out in the living room. "Careful of the guitars there you guys!" he called in case that had been one of his daughters. When he heard Julia calling to him he said to Alexis, "We should have given you guys a tour before going to the beach. Come on."
"What?" Beckett said when she turned to the doorway to the house and saw her husband standing there with Alexis behind him.
"Sorry, waiting for you to finish," Castle explained. "Think we can give the girls a tour?"
"Sure," Skye said with a smile. When she stepped into the house with Beckett close behind her she suddenly heard two of the girls arguing and she called, "Alright, what's the ruckus?" Heading to the window to the living room, she slid it open and looking inside saw that Julia and Kathleen were the ones in disagreement while Marie was showing Eliza the guitars. "You two," she called in Irish. When they stopped she said, "Thank you, what's going on Kathy?"
"I tagged her before she touched home," Kathleen said quickly, sounding a little ashamed.
"I was looking at the guitar and I called that I wasn't playing," Julia said as she glanced at her parents behind the woman.
"Did she say that?" Beckett asked Marie and Eliza who were watching them. At the girls' nods she then said to Skye, "I guess Kathleen thought that didn't count?"
"I think she did," Mary said, coming up behind them. "Kath-"
"I'm sorry," the little girl said. "But I was close to tagging her it… I couldn't get the others 'cause Marie was helping Eliza."
"I think we've had enough of that game. What do you say to giving Julia, Eliza and Alexis a tour around the place?" Skye asked them. When the twins gasped and nodded eagerly she said, "Then we'll be there in a second." When she had slid the window closed she said, "Kathleen can get a bit competitive."
"For hide and seek," Mary said. "With board games luckily it doesn't extend to that."
"Good thing," Castle said.
"I feel we should warn you," Beckett said then as they were walking around to the living room. "Now they've seen the guitars, our girls might want you to play."
"If they do," Hayden called from the family room where he'd remained to start watching a soccer game on TV. "Bring them out here."
"He likes when we play," Skye said to Castle and Beckett. "We will Dad." They soon reached the room where their kids were and she said, "So what do you think?"
"It's a pretty room," Julia said politely.
"You're looking at my guitars aren't you?" Skye said in amusement.
"They don't belong to you both?" Castle asked in surprise.
"The ones in the apartment are mine, except for the acoustic she was using yesterday," Mary replied. "I have a Gibson electric down there. Have to remember to take it home," she said in an aside to her wife.
"I know," Skye replied.
"So you know how to play them?" Julia then asked hurriedly as soon as she'd finished speaking.
Nodding Skye then said, "I do, would you like to hear?" At the nearly frantic nodding of the girl she smiled and said, "I'll do that after our tour."
"Sweetie," Beckett said as Eliza was tugging on Skye's hand then. She was surprised, as usually the toddler was shy among strangers, but guessed that seeing herself interacting with the woman was enough to put her at ease.
"It's alright," Skye said quickly. "So what can I help you with lass?" she asked Eliza.
Smiling the toddler then said shyly, "Can I see you play?"
"Of course but don't worry, we'll do that soon as we go through the house," Skye answered as she ushered the others out. "And since it's small, we'll get to it quicker." She took them then through the house and even down to hers and Mary's apartment. That was the last thing and when they went back upstairs to the family room she said, "I'll be back with my guitar."
"Just bring one love," Mary told her as she was leaving.
"What about showing them-" Castle started to say.
"I'm bringing that too!" Skye called though her voice was muffled.
"Bring what?" Julia asked her father as she leaned against him while he sat on the couch.
"You'll see," Skye said, coming back. "I checked the time, we've only got about ten minutes so maybe two songs?"
"That's good," Julia said, watching the woman plug in the Rickenbacker into the amp she'd also brought.
"Any requests?" Mary asked while her wife was checking to see the guitar was in tune still.
"What songs do you know?" Julia asked, knowing when she looked at her little sister; sitting on Alexis' lap; that she was thinking the same.
"A lot, but we played one of Paul's solo songs and one of George's to your parents yesterday," Skye replied. "So choose one of those, we'll be able to play it."
"I think it's you this time grá," Mary replied, smiling when her wife shrugged.
"Do you know how to play…" Julia started to say, thinking for a moment. "The song Flaming Pie?"
"I do," Skye replied. She took a moment before she was pressing her fingers on the first chord and began to play; singing as well as she watched her daughters start to jump up and down in response to the music.
Clapping with the others once the woman had finished, Julia confessed to her, "I didn't think you could play like that."
"I'm not surprised but I really had to practice to learn how to do that," Skye said. "And one more song before lunch, I'll pick this one out, I played it for your parents yesterday a little. And if I'm correct, you'll know this song already."
Since she'd been saying that while looking at them Castle said for him and Beckett, "If it's the one I think you're going to play then yes, she will."
Smiling at that and nodding Skye put her slide on her finger and began the song Cheer Down. Just before she started to sing she smiled at Julia as she looked eager at the music and when she sang with her after the first verse she knew the little girl did know it.
"That'll be lunch," Mary said when there was a buzzing noise at the gate outside as soon as her wife had finished playing.