Genre: Romance, Family, Humor
Rating: M for sexual situations and language
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: It was very nice to get the feedback that I did so I want to get to my thank yous for it right away! Guest (Great to see you thought the last chapter was fantastic! And you're very welcome for posting!), Guest (Nice that you still think it's a fantastic series! And I will definitely continue to write their family as loving and just writing them in general! You're welcome for posting too!), TORONTOSUN (I figured with all the rides the kids would definitely enjoy them so great that you liked the way they were doing that in the chapter! And I was very happy to see that liked too how everyone ended the day), Guest (I was pleased to see first thing that you thought the chapter was great all together. And you make a good point about Julia on the tall rides but I've seen people who have no problem with tall rides; I don't know why, lol; it's just buildings they have problems with so I think I went that route with her though also it's her conquering her fears as you mentioned; glad you liked that. Myself I avoid rides with extreme drops as it's too much for me, lol, but some people are definite adrenaline junkies no matter what their phobias. Really glad you liked the conversation that Julia had with Mari at the end; I had been wondering what readers would think of that, same with Julia talking to Alexis. And not surprised that you want to see her talking to Beckett too and soon! I was very pleased too with the fact that you're glad the McDouglases are heading with them over to Ireland since they're my own characters, and glad that you think they're great! And about the sushi, I didn't have them have it because I kind of wanted to go with other foods in Japan besides that because you hear Japanese cuisine and you think sushi usually right away. Plus I'd seen some of the dishes I wrote about on shows I'd been watching so I wanted to explore there. But yeah you're right; they could get some very, very good sushi. I may write them back and if I do I'll definitely have them go try some out, like a date night so thank you for that idea!) and vetgirlmx (It was nice to see your reaction to the end of the trip; that you're going to miss the trip itself that was a great compliment! And yeah, Disney parks can wear you out with as much fun as they are so I wasn't surprised you commented on that. I was glad to see you noticed how they were with each other at the end of the trip as I wanted them to be all comfortable with each other especially and the girls who weren't their parents. Also not surprised you didn't include Alexis in there, lol, you're right she's just a bit more responsible. I was happy to see your reaction to them going to Ireland together and that you're expecting Louis to join them too. Hopefully that will be interesting for you and the other readers to read when it gets to that point! Really pleased to see your reaction to the conversation Julia and Mari had. And now that they're getting older that might come in more here and there. Great you do want to see them going home now and talking with their families about the trip and such; also great you can't wait to see that which you don't need to do anymore!). Thanks so much for the reviews, I loved reading all of them as always and I really am grateful for the time taken to type them out and send them my way!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Leaving on a Jet Plane by John Denver.
When I'll Be Back Again
Beckett couldn't help cry out slightly as Macca suddenly jumped up at her when he ran up to her. She grabbed him by the collar, laughing with the others as he whined and shook his tail frantically at the sight of her. "I'm glad to see you too boy and you Rita," she said to the Ibizan Hound who came over to her after greeting the girls first. She and her family; including hers and Castle's parents; and Mari had stopped at the dog resort they'd left their pets at before leaving for Japan. It was early in the morning and they were all slightly tired from the flight though they'd tried to stick to as normal a sleeping pattern with the time back at home as they could.
"Are you ready to go?" Castle said to the girls as Macca went to greet them next.
"I am," Mari said, unable to sound slightly impatient.
"Yeah we can go," Julia said, not surprised when Eliza nodded next to her. They followed their parents out of the building and they gathered at the three cars they had, Alexis' boyfriend leaning against one.
"All set?" Louis asked with a smile as the two dogs came to him. Since his parents had dogs at their manor he wasn't surprised when they were calm around him as he was being with them and after allowing them to get his scent he was scratching behind their ears.
"Do you want us to take them?" Alexis asked her father and stepmother after watching her boyfriend with a smile.
"We'll take them, the car's going to be a little lonely," Castle replied, trying to sound serious.
"Let's go," Beckett said with a slight laugh. "I'll text your parents we're nearly there Mari."
"Thank you," the little girl said as she went with Julia and Eliza to the car that Jim and Martha had brought from the city after picking them up.
Going to their car with the dogs once the three girls were set in the back of their parents' car Castle said to his wife, "Were you expecting that kind of greeting."
"Not really," Beckett said as they got Macca and Rita into the back. "I thought they would go to you first."
"Me too," Castle said, securing the dogs before they got into the front quickly as the others were waiting for them to lead the way to the house. He drove and when they had gotten in sight of it he wasn't in the least surprised to see that the rest of the Fosters were there.
"I'm sure Mari's squealing right now," Beckett said in amusement as she could tell Rebecca was trying to find her daughter in their car. She rolled down the window and called, "They're with our parents."
"Wait until we're all stopped," Castle said warningly though his tone of voice was also teasing.
"Get in your driveway Rick," Rebecca called back to him.
"I knew they'd be here!" Mari was saying eagerly as they went after Castle and Beckett through the gate. She was a little impatient but did her best to keep calm until they were stopped and Julia got out of her way. "Thanks!" she called to her friend before she was nearly running out to her family.
Sharing a smile with her husband as Mari hugged her mother first Beckett went over to the trunk to get their suitcases to give them a little privacy. "I hope they enjoyed their week," she commented to Castle.
"I'm sure they did," he replied. "Though they still missed her," he said as he glanced over at David who was hugging Mari.
"Thank you so much for taking her," Rebecca said when she and her husband had finally greeted their oldest enough.
"Don't you mean bring her back?" Castle told them as his wife and Rebecca were hugging briefly.
"That too," David said before he shook his friend's hand. "She had a nice time it sounds like."
"Believe us she'll tell you all about it," Martha said with a smile.
"She was telling you?" Rebecca asked.
"All the way from the city," Jim said. "Which we didn't mind but they had a lot to tell us."
"Here's her suitcase," Castle said. "You have your bag?" he then asked Mari.
"Yep," the little girl said. She looked at her parents and then asked, "Are we gonna go?"
"We are, we want you back home," David told his daughter with a smile.
"Say goodbye to everyone," Rebecca told her.
"Wait," Alexis said. "Since you haven't met him yet and he's going to be here for a while, this is Louis McCollough."
"Your boyfriend, I remember," David said, shaking the young man's hand. "Nice to meet you we've heard about you from the girls and Kate."
"And me," Castle said though he could tell from his friend's smile that he was teasing him.
"It's great to meet you as well," Louis said, smiling at the exchange. "Alexis has told me about her neighbors here and her sister's best friend."
"Have you been to America before?" Rebecca asked as she was shaking his hand next.
"This is my first time, it's a beautiful country," Louis said. He then added, "Well… this part of it."
"It is, you'll have to come back in summer it's wonderful then," Rebecca said. "Alright honey, say goodbye to everyone and thank Rick and Kate-"
"Don't worry she already did that," Castle interrupted.
"I said it a lot," Mari assured her parents. She waved at Martha and Jim before going to Castle first saying, "Thanks for the trip… I guess I have to say it."
"I guess you can't avoid it," he told her after hugging her quickly.
"You're welcome Mari," Beckett said as she hugged the little girl tightly. "And I'm glad you had fun with us."
"I did, lots," Mari replied. She then went to Alexis and embraced her before telling her, "Thanks for taking care of me, it was nice to go with you too."
"I'll say the same thing but I'm talking about you," Alexis replied.
"Does Dani remember you?" Eliza asked as Mari hugged her.
"I think so, I'll see when I play with her again," the little girl replied with a smile. "Have fun at home." She then turned to Julia and rushed to her, throwing her arms around her as tightly as she could saying, "I'm gonna miss you."
"You'll see each other at school tomorrow girls," Beckett said gently, using that tone as she had been the same after Saturday night sleepovers at their age.
"We'll play at recess and after lunch," Julia promised her friend. They finally let go of one another and she said, "We'll have Ireland too."
"Yeah," Mari said, nodding.
After the Fosters had left them the family and Louis headed inside, taking their luggage upstairs. Castle and Beckett split up at their daughters' rooms and began to unpack for them while Martha and Jim went to their rooms to do the same with their suitcases for their visit.
"So what do you think?" Alexis asked her boyfriend when they were in their room.
"It's a grand house," Louis said with a nod. "And it suits your parents." He paused after setting his suitcase on the bench at the end of her bed and said, "I mean-"
"It's alright," Alexis replied with a soft laugh. "She's as good as my mother; she does look out for me."
"I'd noticed," Louis said with a nod. He glanced at the door which they'd left open and then leaned over to kiss her gently on the lips. "I've missed you," he told her seriously.
"So did I," Alexis replied. "But I did have fun."
"That's important of course," Louis said. "Oh," he then told her after they'd turned back to their clothes. "I talked to my da and he said they're not planning on leaving anywhere this summer. Just for Adare and your parents' wedding so I'm going with you."
"Great… how much of Ireland have you seen before?" Alexis asked him, hanging a shirt.
"A good deal but I imagine your parents will take us around all over," Louis replied.
"They usually do," Alexis said before she heard someone running down the hall to them.
"Eliza not so fast!" Castle called to his youngest as she had suddenly taken off when he was nearly finished with her clothing.
"I've got her Dad," Alexis called back to him once the little girl had come into her room. A second later Julia was rushing into her room and she told him and Beckett, "And Julia."
"Thank you Alexis," Beckett said, walking across the hall to her doorway. "We're going to get our things."
"What are we going to do after?" Alexis asked her and her father as he walked up behind his wife.
"I'll make some brunch," Castle said. "And then you can take Louis around if you want."
"Downtown is nice to show," Julia suggested.
"We'll see when we're finished eating," Alexis said with a smile.
"I'll call you once it's ready," Castle said.
"Do we have anything to eat?" Beckett asked her husband as they were walking to their bedroom.
"David brought some things over but we do have to go to the market for Julia's lunch," Castle said. "And there are eight of us now so I better get a little more, should I get something Irish and British to make? So he feels more at home?"
"I don't think he'll mind," Beckett said with a smile before she went into their room first. She dropped off her suitcase at the end of their bed on the way to the windows and she pulled the shutters off them before opening the windows themselves since it was a nice day.
Coming up behind her Castle slid his arms around her waist and then held her against him before he then said, "I wish we could get to bed."
"I expected that," Beckett said with a smile before she then turned around to look at him. "But we can't…"
"Too many people in the house," Castle finished for her before she smiled at him. He leaned down and kissed her gently before he said, "Unpack?"
"Unpack," Beckett told him. They went over to the bed and began to do so, hearing their daughters laughing and speaking with Louis. She wondered what Alexis was doing when she heard the sound of the dogs coming down the hall before small feet in slippers followed. "You got tired with them?" she asked as the girls and dogs came inside.
"They're gonna go downstairs but we wanted to come in with you," Julia explained as they came over to the bed.
"Over here," Castle told the two since he'd finished up packing by then. He helped Eliza up while Julia climbed up and they both went over to their mother while he took his suitcases to the doorway to set them there. "So-" he started to say as he sat down on the end of the bed and the girls were soon getting on top of his back. He laughed as Beckett smiled at them and he said, "What do you guys want to do now?"
"I thought you were going to cook?" Julia asked him in surprise.
Smiling at her husband Beckett said, "He is but I guess I'm not going to be allowed in the kitchen. You just said before there are eight of us."
"Then you'll color while we cook right?" Castle asked the girls as he then pulled her onto his lap.
"Of course," Julia said, hugging her father's neck from behind. "But what about everyone else?"
"They can do whatever they want," Castle said. He watched with them then as Beckett took her empty suitcases over to the doorway of the closet. "Okay I think we're ready to go," he told the girls.
"Hold on," Beckett said as Castle set Eliza down on the ground. "You can go ahead of us," she said to the girls as their father stood.
Smiling Julia pulled her sister to the door, glancing back as she reached it to see their parents were embracing.
"They didn't kiss," Eliza whispered to her sister.
"They will, they were waiting for us to go," Julia said.
"But we see them do that always," Eliza said as they headed to the stairs with the dogs.
"I think this time they were gonna kiss very hard," Julia said thoughtfully.
"Well… they were close," Castle said to Beckett as they parted from each other.
Unable to help laughing Beckett then gave her husband a chaste kiss on the lips before she said, "We'll do that later."
"Promise?" Castle asked her, not letting her go though she had done so to him. As her hands moved from around his neck to his shoulders he told her, "I need you Kate."
"You didn't let me answer you," Beckett said with a smile. "And I feel the same way so yes, I promise."
Castle kissed her gently again before they slowly parted from one another and he murmured against her lips, "I can't move."
Smiling then, and nearly losing that when she felt her husband shudder at her smile, Beckett said, "You can love and the girls…"
"Oh they went down the stairs," Castle said in concern before he let go of her and took her hand as they hurried out of the room and down the stairs.
"Girls," Beckett said as she saw that Julia was standing in the doorway of the family room. "You-"
"We're okay Mommy," the girl said with a smile at her parents' concerned expressions. "And 'lexis and Louis are here with us, we have to take him on a tour though."
"That's right," Castle said as they walked into the room after their daughter. "You can handle that right?" he then said to Alexis.
"I'm sure I can Dad," the young woman said wryly. "We're going to start out back."
"Get them into jackets," Beckett said simply. "And watch Eliza she might try to take hers off."
At first the little girl wrinkled her nose before she giggled and then said, "I won't take it Mommy."
"Good because if you did you'd have to come back inside," Beckett replied as she and Castle followed the four over to the door out to the backyard. "And that goes for you too Julia."
"I know," the girl replied simply. "And I'll keep it on. What about the beach?"
"Stay on the grass," Castle said simply as he helped Julia into her jacket. "And have fun looking around Louis."
"Oh, what about your room?" Alexis asked her father and stepmother.
"Go in it's… untouched almost," Beckett said. "It's nothing special."
"Some nice décor," Castle said, pretending to be offended. "But yeah, take a look."
"I'll treat it as a museum," Louis said, smiling as the girls giggled at their father's tone.
Watching the four go outside Beckett said to her husband, "You're reassured already."
"A little bit more," Castle said as they then went over to the kitchen. "I'm really trying to remember that your cousin is a good man… Clara too and with them both raising him…"
"Erin is a sweet girl," Beckett added.
"She is," Castle said, nodding to her. "Alright so I think we can make some… grilled cheese and soup too."
"Been a while since we've had that," Beckett said, going to the freezer where their soups were.
"I've missed having Remy's," Castle said as he was getting the bread and cheese out.
"That doesn't surprise me," Beckett replied. "What did surprise me was that you didn't have a burger over there."
"Well… I really wanted authentic Japanese food," Castle replied as he put a pan on the stove. Passing his wife then he brushed his lips to hers and said, "When we're next in the city?"
"When we're there," Beckett said before she heard someone walking down the hall to them.
"How much did the girls tell you about our trip?" Castle asked his father in law as Jim sat at the island. "And a second question would you like a drink?"
"I'm fine," Beckett's father replied with a smile. "And they mentioned mostly Disneyland and DisneySea."
"Can you believe that our little baby is four now?" Martha said as she walked up to the kitchen herself. "Eliza is looking so much more like you Kate, every time I see her again but more so now."
"I showed her a picture of you when I went to the loft on the thirty-first," Jim told them. "This one."
"If it wasn't for her hair I'd say this was Eliza," Castle commented, going to look.
"Love, the sandwiches," Beckett said, taking the one that was finished out of the pan.
"Sorry I wanted to see this," Castle replied as she came up to them.
Beckett smiled at the picture as she quickly remembered it and said, "I vaguely remember this dress," since in it she was standing in front of the Christmas tree shortly after she'd turned four.
"You hated it," Jim said. "She had a hard time sitting with it so…"
"Poofy," Castle suggested for his father in law. "But you do look adorable love."
Smiling again Beckett said, "I was four, that's usually how kids look. We should get back to brunch." When her husband turned back to the stove she said to her father, "Is this a copy?"
"It is," Jim said with a nod. "Are you going to show the girls?"
"Yes," Beckett said, speaking after she heard the door to the yard open and the dogs soon scrabbling in. While they waited for everyone to join them she turned back to the soup and she began to stir it again once the heat was on, listening to the four talk together and some laughter until they were in the hallway.
"Do we have time to keep going?" Alexis said as she went over to the kitchen first.
"You do," Castle said.
"I think just around downstairs love," Beckett told him. "We're nearly finished," she then said to Alexis. "And before you ask you can show him our office."
"I'll treat that as a museum as well," Louis promised with a smile as he was looking around the kitchen. "You have amazing views," he then said before they could move on.
"It's a nice house," Eliza said before she saw her grandmother motioning to her. "Did I say something bad?" she asked once she was close to her, going a little slowly on the word something.
"No we were just talking about you," Martha replied, hugging her. "You're so grown up now."
"Not yet Gram," Eliza said, giggling. She then hugged her grandfather and walked after her sisters and Louis to the office.
"They write there," Alexis said as she watched her boyfriend walk ahead of them around the room. "But they usually brainstorm here," nodding to the loveseat toward the back of the room.
"Yeah and kiss too," Eliza said.
Louis, looking back at them, smiled when he saw that Alexis seemed to be slightly discomfited and he said, "While they brainstorm."
Since Alexis didn't know that Julia hurried to tell him, "They do but you know our parents are in love."
"I got that the night of the ball," Louis said. "You're embarrassed?"
"No I'm just not sure what you think of that," Alexis told him honestly.
"Oh don't worry, mine can be the same way and Erin and I are happy with that," Louis replied. "Does your stepmother fancy Lladros?" he asked, nodding to one on what he could tell was Beckett's side.
"She does, usually their horse statues," Alexis said. "You'll see more in the other rooms."
Going over to Louis, Eliza took his hand and said as she pulled him to the door, "We can see them here and Daddy gave them to Mommy."
"Okay," Louis said, looking back at his girlfriend and smiling.
As the four walked over to the family room Beckett was going to the kitchen table where her husband was setting it with her help and she said, "He's good with kids too."
"And animals," Castle replied with a nod. He set down the last plate and squeezed her hand before he went to get the pot of soup to put in the middle of the table as Beckett was grabbing the plate of sandwiches.
As soon as she'd finished taking Louis around the living room Alexis led him and her little sisters over to the kitchen where they sat down to eat. "Are you guys tired?" she asked her father and stepmother after they'd eaten for a bit in silence.
"I think you might want to ask them more," Beckett said with a smile.
"You're gonna go downtown?" Julia asked eagerly.
"I was thinking about it," Alexis replied.
"You're not tired?" Louis asked.
"Maybe we should take a nap," Alexis said, looking at the girls. She wasn't surprised to see her sisters groaning and she smiled before saying. "Just a half hour and then we'll go out."
"If you do that we'll join you," Castle said, looking to his wife.
"Agreed," Beckett replied. "But we should take the dogs for a walk after dinner."
"Yeah," Eliza said eagerly. "Wanna go Macca? Rita?"
"Easy," Castle said as the two barked and came over to them.
"Keep eating and we'll take the nap quickly," Beckett told the girls as they were trying to look at the dogs.
Though they didn't want to Julia and Eliza did so and they helped everyone clear the table before they were being led upstairs to the former's room.
"So we'll get you two up in a half hour," Beckett said as she handed Castle the blanket for the girls to have for cover. "Try and sleep just a little if you can."
"We will," Julia said, smiling at her mother. "Night."
"Goodnight," Castle said first, kissing both girls.
Beckett kissed them as well, not surprised when Eliza yawned widely as she pulled away. She left them to go over to the doorway where her husband was waiting for her and they turned to their daughters, seeing the dogs were already asleep at the end of Julia's bed while Eliza looked to be as well. Letting him close the door she took his hand and said softly, "I feel bad we're doing this."
"They're going to keep themselves occupied," Castle assured her since their parents had stayed downstairs while they were napping.
Beckett nodded and she then took her husband's hand to go to their room, closing the door behind them before she said, "Are you tired?"
"Very," Castle said, knowing she was seeing if he was aroused. He then leaned over and kissed her lips before he pulled her to their bed. He toed off his shoes while she pulled off her boots and then waited for her to lie down on her side. He went to grab one of their blankets for them and as he was going back to her he heard her text alert ringing. "Skye?" he said.
Her phone out of her pocket Beckett checked the screen and smiled reading, "Got home, sorry about so late but knackered. Rick, buzz off."
"Oh I wasn't going to nag her about her grammar, it's a text," Castle said, laying the blanket on his wife before he climbed onto the bed behind her. He waited for her to answer the message and set her phone aside before he pulled her against him as she lay on her side. "Alarm set?" he asked before he brushed his lips against hers.
"Either that or the girls," Beckett said with a smile before she kissed him back. After they'd murmured a goodnight to one another she closed her eyes though before she fell asleep she couldn't help recall when they had been with the McDouglases and saying goodbye to each other before their flights at the Narita Airport.
"This time we'll see each other next in Ireland," Skye said as she and her family was standing with the others. Their flight was later but they needed to head to their own gate to be ready to board as Castle and Beckett's flight was boarding at that moment.
"Definitely," Castle said in agreement as they watched their daughters hugging each other goodbye as well as Mari.
"We'll write first once we get home," Kathleen said for herself and her sister. "But we might wait 'cause what're we gonna say?"
"The plane home?" Mari suggested before she, Julia and the twins giggled a bit heavily together.
"Maybe we will. Have a safe flight," Julia told the two.
"Yeah and we will play again," Eliza said, having been listening to them.
After the girls had hugged each other Castle, Beckett, Skye and Mary embraced the twins and then the girls and Alexis before the adults turned their attention to each other.
"Alright," Mary said first, hugging Castle briefly. "We'll have fun this summer of course, safe flight."
"Safe flight," Castle told her before he then hugged the woman's wife. "Same to you."
"You as well," Skye said in amusement. She then turned to Beckett and embraced her tightly saying, "Are we used to this yet?"
"No," Beckett said with a laugh. "But spending more time seeing one another as mothers helped… slightly."
Letting go of her friend Skye said, "I think you're right. We'll be in touch as we get closer to summer." She then switched to Russian and said, "Safe flight."
"Safe flight," Beckett replied in the same language with a nod. She then waved to the twins before she walked with her husband after their daughters and Mari to the gate. "Oh, text me when you get back," she said, pausing and turning back to Skye.
"Do the same for us," the investigator said with a smile, waving at the group.
"End of the trip," Castle said as they stepped onto the jetway.
"It isn't yet," Beckett corrected her husband before they took each other's hands at the same time. She smiled when he shrugged and she then kissed his cheek before they made their way onto the plane.
"This is very… quaint," Louis was saying as he looked around the downtown area after walking to the sidewalk with Alexis.
"The stores are very nice," Castle commented. "The bookstore has a great selection."
"Are we going there first?" Louis asked, speaking for the girls as he could see they wanted to do so themselves.
"We probably should," Beckett said in amusement as Eliza was bouncing back and forth from foot to foot. She was going to take the little girl's hand when she instead went to Alexis. Instead Julia took her hand and she said, "Thank you."
"Welcome," the girl said with a soft laugh before they made their way down to the store. "Can we get something?" she then asked as they entered it.
"We'll see," Castle said before his wife could. "Go with your sister to the kid's section but take her with you to your section first."
"I'll keep an eye out for them," Alexis said.
Beckett was a little surprised at that but when her husband led her back to the door she said, "Rick…"
"I had to love," Castle said as they stepped outside. "It's spring and flowers are back."
Shaking her head but smiling Beckett let him lead her to the nearby flower shop and walked around the flowers available while her husband was paying for the flowers that he'd ordered. As he walked to her she began to ask, "When did you order-" when he brought the small bouquet out from behind his back.
"I think I have these right, true love and devotion," Castle told her, watching her take the forget me not and lavender bouquet.
Beckett didn't reply to that verbally, instead she reached over to him and cupped his cheek before kissing him gently on the lips. She wanted to do much more to thank him for the gesture and making sure she recalled the meanings of those particular flowers but since the cashier was still there she settled for that. Waving to the woman they knew well from Castle's business there she left with her husband before she stopped him as soon as they were outside. "Thank you," she said softly. She looked down at the flowers held by her right hand and told him, "I would like to show you my… appreciation later."
Though Castle was tempted by that he replied to his wife in a serious tone, "There's no need, just the fact that you don't think you'll be too tired for that is enough." He wasn't surprised when she then leaned over to him and they kissed deeply as he was quick to recover. Though again since they were in public the kiss didn't last long and when they parted said, "That we'll work on tonight."
"Agreed," Beckett said, her voice tinged with laughter as her husband was speaking in a serious tone though he had a smile on his face. They walked hand in hand down to the bookstore where she said, "Should I take these to the car?"
"Keep them, I'll hold them for you," Castle told her, taking a sprig of forget me nots. He handed it to her and when she looked at him he merely smiled at her until he couldn't help laughing softly as she rolled her eyes.
Looking up from the book she'd discovered Julia smiled as she saw the people walking up to her were her parents and she said, "I thought you were gonna get flowers Daddy."
"You like them?" Castle asked as she handed him the book while he gave her the bouquet.
"They're so pretty," Julia said. "And the ones behind your ear are too."
"Mommy!" Eliza squealed softly as she rushed to them, seeing the flowers swiftly as she blues of the forget me nots were noticeable.
"Are you two going to look around?" Alexis asked as Louis came over to them next.
"Briefly, you'll wait for us right?" Castle asked.
"I wanna hold those," Eliza said when Julia tried to take back the flowers.
"Take your book, you need to make sure you hold onto that," Beckett said to her oldest. With the girls set after that they then walked after her and Castle to their books, talking together quietly as they looked at the flowers together.
"Dad, Kate?" Alexis said, walking over to them then without Louis.
"Something wrong?" Beckett asked her.
"No I was just wondering what if we went to dinner tonight," Alexis replied.
"The Narrows?" Castle asked.
"No, I think the Studebaker would be nice," Alexis said softly so the girls wouldn't hear in case their parents didn't want to go.
"I think we can do that," Beckett said, smiling at her husband as he looked to her to answer. "We'll just have to give Julia money for lunch at school tomorrow."
"That's okay," the girl in question said to them. When the three looked at her, slightly startled, she rolled her eyes and then told them, "I can hear," in mock irritation.
"Alright so we're going but you two remember you have school okay?" Castle told them.
"We know," Eliza said. She merely smiled when the attention of the three went to her and said, "I can hear too!"
"We should keep going," Castle told his wife. "I'm ready."
"Go pay, I'll call my dad and-" Beckett started to say.
"I'll call Gram," Alexis told her. "Want to take them to the toy store?" she said to Louis as he came up to them.
"Sure," the young man said, smiling at the girls who gasped in joy at that idea.
"Thanks," Castle said in a mock wry tone.
"We were going to go anyways love," Beckett said, rolling her eyes.
"Oh I know," Castle said, taking his wife's hand and kissing the back of it. "I'll meet you there."
"Those are very nice flowers," Louis told Beckett as she was texting her father when they were outside the store.
"I know does your father do that for your mother ever?" she asked him after she'd sent the message.
"Oh aye, he does but he stays with roses," Louis replied. He smiled and said, "Mam enjoys those."
"You're calling her Mam?" Beckett said.
"I am, she's been a mother to me for a long time," Louis said. "And she's now my mother you know."
"Nice of you to do that," Beckett said, smiling as Alexis wrapped her arms around her boyfriend's. "Alexis said you dabble a bit in art?"
"Sometimes, it calms me," Louis said. "I'm no master of course but I enjoy it."
"There's an art supply-" Beckett began.
"There's a place to paint things over there," Julia said, interrupting her mother quickly.
"We can do that another time sweetie," Beckett said, smiling. "There's an art supply store next door."
"I was going to tell him about that," Alexis said. "I forgot but it's well stocked."
"I'd love to look," Louis said with a nod before they were going inside the toy store.
Following his family Castle was going into the store shortly after they had and he went to where his wife was looking at some puzzles. "Anything?" he asked her.
"Not yet," Beckett said simply, smiling at him. "Alexis and Louis went with them."
"Of course," Castle said simply. "That way they'll have a reason to look around here."
"I'm sure they'd look on their own," Beckett told him teasingly.
"We're not getting them anything right?" Castle then asked her.
"No," Beckett said, shaking her head. "They've had enough after Disneyland and everything else in Japan."
"They know that right?" Castle asked her.
"They know," Beckett assured him, knowing that he meant Alexis and Louis. She then handed him the bouquet that Eliza had given back to her and they went together to the front of the store where there were some chairs. "I've been thinking and I want to go riding," she said once they were settled.
"Now?" Castle asked, pretending to be shocked.
"Well…" Beckett began to say.
"Awesome, we'll have to cut our tour of the shops short though," Castle said readily as he agreed with the idea of going to see their horses.
"We'll talk to them after," Beckett said, glancing down the aisles that they could see. "The girls will want to go," she told him.
"So will Louis," Castle reminded her.
Smiling Beckett said, "He is an honorary McCollough, you're right." She watched her husband look at his phone then and said, "Bored?"
"No I just remembered something," Castle said before he opened up his calendar. "Yeah, we have RiffTrax next week remember."
"I remembered," Beckett replied with a smile. "But not until we got back home."
"I'm going to say it again, thank you for going with me to this," Castle said.
"We haven't had a movie slash dinner night for a while," Beckett said. "And I admit, I'm interested to see the movie since you won't let us watch the DVD now."
"Brad assures me it's awful so the riffing will be awesome," Castle said. "Oh man," he then said quickly, "I hope they show a short or two before it."
At first Beckett wondered why he'd spoken so fast but she then saw that their daughters and Louis were coming over to them. "Are you ready?" she asked, smiling as Eliza ran the next few feet to her. She hugged her tightly and kissed her cheek before Julia came over to them as well. "Kiss your daddy," she told the two.
Taking the girls into his arms Castle gave a smile to his wife before their daughters were kissing his cheeks at the same time. After he'd kissed them both he said, "So we might need to go a little faster through the stores."
"We're gonna see Alex and Julius!" Julia whispered.
"Yes," Beckett said, Eliza going to her. "But just to see them we're not going to ride. And we'll be on the way to dinner so we won't take too long."
"I'd like to see them; your horses," Louis said as the four turned their attention to him and Alexis. "Da's wondered about them."
"You're going to take pictures?" Castle asked.
"Why don't we go straight to the art store," Julia said then rapidly. "And then go to the stables and you can take them around the corral Mommy, on their reins."
"Just me?" Beckett asked. She smiled slightly at the way her daughter nodded rapidly to her question and said, "Do you mind?" to Alexis.
"No we have time to explore downtown in the future," the young woman said, knowing her little sisters were eager to do that. "So we should go."
Since no one had anything to buy the group was heading out to the art supply store that was across the street and once inside the girls went to their favorite section. They stood looking at the numerous brands of colored pencils before their parents came up to them. Though they were told they couldn't get anything that time around they still read the colors; Julia helping her sister when she needed it; and they remained there until Beckett was pulling them away.
"But-" Eliza started to say before she saw that Louis was behind her with a bag in hand. "Oh," she said before her father was picking her up. She smiled as he playfully blew on her cheek and she said, "Now we can see the horsies."
"We're going right now," Castle said. "We'll see you there," he then directed to Alexis as they went out to their cars. "Your turn?" he asked his wife as he got the keys out of his pocket.
"Yes," Beckett told him simply and with a smile as she took them from him. They got the girls set in the back before going to the front and she drove them to their stables, seeing Alexis behind them keeping up. When they were in the parking lot she was soon laughing as the girls urged her to go ahead of them and she told them seriously, "I'm not running off without you. Besides I think Julius would wonder where your daddy is while I'm there."
"I don't know if she's right but we should go together just in case," Castle told them. He took Eliza in his arms and they walked with Alexis and Louis up to their stable, seeing their horses sticking their heads out of their stalls. "So they're psychic?" he said jokingly to his wife.
Beckett didn't react, she was busy going straight up to Alex and gently rubbing his nose once he rapidly had her scent. She murmured gently to him in Irish, promising him a ride the next day before she heard Louis clearing his throat.
"I'm sorry but I'm wondering about their names?" the young man said.
Smiling Beckett said, "My husband changed his middle name to Edgar at the same time he changed his last name. His original name was Alexander so I took from that."
"And since there could be kind of a ruler theme there, I went with Julius," Castle then explained. "It suited them both."
"Good choices," Louis said as he watched Alexis holding her sister who was gently rubbing Julius' forehead.
Going into Alex's stall Beckett let Julia go inside with her to watch as she got her stallion's bridle and reins on him which he submitted to easily.
"You can take him too love," Castle said when he came out with Julius in the stall next to her, reins on him.
"You know how to present him," Beckett said though there wasn't much protest in her tone. She led the way over to the corral and she went inside with Louis who just followed her. "You do this with your father?" she asked him with a smile.
"I do," the young man said. "I've filmed videos for my father, since he sells horses too."
"Alright let me know when you're ready," Beckett said, taking Alex to the middle of the corral.
Castle, holding Julius by the reins still, was up on the fence sitting on the top railing and he watched as his wife had Alex start going around in a circle. She let out more and more slack on the reins until the stallion was going around far from her. He smiled as his wife was clicking her tongue gently so Alex would keep to the pace she'd set and looked over at Louis who was filming her with his phone.
"He's beautiful," the young man said as he stopped his phone. "How is he?"
"He can be stubborn," Beckett said. "I never could get that fully out of him but I don't mind. I can handle him." She looked at her horse as it slowed down and then with a smile said, "Speaking of stubborn…" She turned her full attention then to Alex and brought the rope in, getting him to come to her before she began to speak to him in Irish again. She didn't keep her voice down that time, needing the volume so he would pay attention to her. When the stallion shook his head she scratched at his ear and gently spoke to him before she led him out.
"Think he'll behave for me?" Castle asked his wife.
"If he knows what's good for him," Beckett said with a smile as they switched reins.
"You promised him an apple didn't you?" Castle said with a smile.
Beckett merely smirked at her husband and took Julius to the corral where Louis was waiting and she had him trot around. She could relax a little more with her husband's horse but she paid close attention to him, smiling as Julius came to a stop at her command.
"I think you know he's more behaved," Castle said as he and Beckett switched horses again. "But that's fine because I am in no way as good as she is with them."
"I can tell," Louis said with a nod. "Can we see the other horses?" he then asked as he gestured to the other stables in the complex.
"You can," Beckett said. "Girls-" she started to say before Julia was coming over to her carefully. "Will you take Eliza?" she then directed to Alexis. She watched as the three walked off then and she said, "We're not going to rub them down."
"I know but I don't care," Julia said simply, shrugging her shoulders at the same time. "I just want to go with you."
"I'm glad to hear that," Beckett said. "Alex," she then said sternly to the stallion as he bent his head towards the girl. "I think he is too."
"He's calm around her too," Castle pointed out to them.
"Come on," Beckett said as Alex stopped before his stall. "Julia stand back okay?"
"I'm good Mommy," the girl replied quickly, watching her mother closely.
"Alex," Beckett directed then to the stallion. "I know you don't want to go but you need to. Look at your brother, already inside and ready for his apple."
Castle, coming out of Julius' stall then, went to Julia and took her hand as they watched Beckett get Alex into his stall. "Alright?" he asked her.
"Yeah," Beckett said, getting off the reins. She smiled when Julia appeared at the door and said, "I think he wants his apple."
"I'll grab it for you," Castle said before he went over to where they were kept.
"Mommy?" Julia said softly. She couldn't continue as her mother had come out from the stall and she then threw herself at her.
"What is it?" Beckett asked, laughing slightly as she was startled at the motion.
Shaking her head Julia didn't reply until they'd pulled apart and she then said, "You looked really… cool when you were doing that with the horses."
"Oh she did," Castle said, handing a half of the apple to his wife. "I imagine your cousin will say you have perfect form," he added to her.
Smiling as her husband had taken on an Irish accent towards the end of that Beckett told him, "He does too since he knows what he's doing."
"I can feed him?" Julia asked delightedly when her mother gave her the apple.
"Go ahead, we need to get going since your grandparents are going to be waiting for us at the restaurant," Beckett urged her. She watched her hold the apple in her hand out to Alex and as the horse ate it she said, "Watch your fingers."
"I know," Julia said simply, not surprised her mother said that as she did once in a while to remind them.
"Okay we can go," Castle said after giving the other apple half to Julius. He'd seen movement at the doorway to the building and looking over saw that it was Alexis and Louis with Eliza.
"Wash your hands first," Beckett told her husband as she was leading their oldest over to the sink.
While the three were doing that Eliza couldn't help telling them about the horses they'd seen and how a few of them had come over to Louis when he'd approached them. "They like him," she ended with, smiling broadly at the young man.
"Ah, they likely just smell the horses from home," Louis said, slightly embarrassed as they were then walking over to the cars.
"Still the way they trusted you," Alexis said with a smile.
"So what do you think of the Hamptons so far?" Castle asked the young man as he could tell he wanted a change of subject.
"It's very quaint," Louis said almost thankfully. "It nearly reminds me of home and Ireland."
"It does have that small town feel," Beckett said. They were in the parking lot and their two cars so she said, "We'll see you at the restaurant."
"May I ask," Louis said to them then after looking at his watch quickly. "What's so special about this place? Eliza was saying I'd be amazed."
"I'm not sure about amazed," Castle said, smiling at the little girl as she buried her face into his shoulder shyly. "But I don't think you've been to a place like it before. You'll see it very shortly."
"We'll follow," Alexis said.
"Go ahead," Beckett told her. "Since you'll be able to leave before us."
"They're gonna wait for us right?" Eliza asked as her father was setting her into her car seat.
"They are," Castle said reassuringly. "We're leaving right now so don't worry." After he was sure that the girls were set he closed the door and said to his wife, "She likes Louis."
"She remembers him back in England," Beckett told him with a smile. "And how he was with horses."
"You make a good point," Castle replied before she got into the car. He drove them that time to the restaurant and said when they were close, "See? They're waiting for us at the car."
"I bet 'lexis knows already we want to show him the place," Julia said. She then looked thoughtful and said with a smile, "And she wants to show him too."
"Well hello everyone," Martha said after Jim had stopped the car they'd driven in to join them. "I take it we had a very nice time out?"
"Yeah," Eliza said, rushing to her grandmother. "And I'm not tired or any."
"Anything," Jim said with a smile as she turned to him when he spoke and raised her hands up to him. He picked her up and then followed everyone else into the restaurant before he heard his youngest granddaughter gasping out, turning his attention to her.
"See! See the stuff!" Eliza said, pointing to the large jukebox at the entrance.
"I see, this is supposed to be a…" Louis started to say.
"An old fifties diner," Castle answered before they were led over to a table by the hostess.
"I take it you've been here often," Louis commented as they woman had greeted them by name.
"A lot," Martha said. "Which is saying quite a bit for the food as my son can be discerning considering it."
"He's been talking about having a burger," Beckett said, smiling at her husband then. "You could have one here."
"That's true," Castle replied before he closed up his menu.
"Do you need help figuring out what there is?" Julia asked Louis a little shyly.
"Oh no, I'm aware of your food," the young man said with a smile. "I've had it back in London."
"He took me one dinner," Alexis said after they'd ordered. "I was feeling nostalgic."
"Now tell us more about your trip," Martha said. "Jim and I haven't heard enough I think."
Beckett looked on as the girls and Alexis told the others more about the trip as they waited. She and Castle added to the conversation when they needed to but they enjoyed hearing the way their youngest was doing her best to describe the temples.
"And then there was lots of water," Eliza was saying then. "And we…"
"They were to purify yourself," Castle supplied. "For the temples of course."
"And you did that honey?" Jim asked.
"Yeah, to be nice," Eliza said with a nod as she looked up from the picture that she was coloring at that moment.
"Respectful," Julia corrected. "Right?" she then directed to her parents.
"Yes," Castle said. "Did you tell them about the kimonos?" He tried not to laugh too loudly when the girls' eyes went wide in remembrance at that and he urged them, "Tell them they'll want to know."
"Not at the same time," Alexis said with a laugh as they began to do that.
Before they could continue though their food was served and they paused to wait for the plates to go where they needed to. As soon as it was finished both girls spoke eagerly about their robes and the kimonos that everyone else had gotten; even the McDouglases.
"Will you wear them?" Martha asked her son and daughter in law.
"Likely during the early and late summer," Beckett said first. She smiled at her husband when he looked to her and she explained, "I expect we'll be gone for numerous vacations."
"Likely," Castle echoed, trying to sound serious before he then laughed.
"I wish we would have gotten robes for you both now," Beckett said guiltily to her father and mother in law.
"It's alright," Martha reassured her quickly. "I have robes I can relax in and you would have had no space for them in your suitcases I imagine."
"Not really," Castle said.
"She's right I'm not sure I would have worn one," Jim said as his daughter had shown him the picture the group had taken in their kimonos. He had studied the style of the robe that his son in law was wearing and he nodded saying, "You look like you enjoyed them."
"They were nice," Beckett said, trying not to look at her husband as she couldn't help think of her second kimono. She suddenly missed it but pushed the thought away as Eliza started talking about the soba noodles they'd eaten. She wasn't surprised when that turned the subject to their Japanese food though they were eating at that moment.
"Well from what we've heard it seems like this trip was wonderful," Martha said once her son had paid when they'd finished.
"We'll show it to you too," Julia said, looking to her mother.
"You-" Beckett started to say.
"Show yours first Mommy," Eliza said immediately.
"I think you should Kate," Castle said when they started to get up. "It's… oh, it's also raining," he started to say before trailing off.
"Luckily we have umbrellas," Alexis said when her little sisters looked concerned.
"I hope it doesn't rain when we walk to school tomorrow," Julia said. "I wanted to walk with Mari."
"We have to wait until tomorrow to see how that goes," Beckett told the two.
"But for now pictures!" Castle said in exclamation, making Julia and Eliza giggle before they made their way out of the restaurant, gathering under umbrellas to hurry out to the cars.