Genre: Drama, Crime, 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: The lyrics in this chapter are from the songs Don't Let Me Wait Too Long by George Harrison from his album Living in the Material World, and Dark Sweet Lady by George Harrison from his album George Harrison.

A/N #2: I was very happy with what I got for feedback for the last chapter so will go ahead right to my thank yous for that! MsNYC (I thought it was really nice that you thought the first half of the chapter was a page turner, since I wanted to make it interesting of course, lol. And I'm also glad that you thought the story is awesome; though not surprised you meant that and not the part where Cora jumped. I had to laugh a bit at you mentioning they might make it to Julia's class and the yay after that but it was great that you were eager for them to do that! Not surprised that you were glad that they closed the case, I know readers were wanting them to do that. And I'm not surprised either that you're worried about Meredith, I didn't trust her on the show either so I'm not surprised that you don't trust her here either. And I wasn't quite sure what you were asking for but hopefully I can do that for you! And of course, happy to see that you thought it was great writing as usual!),

vetgirlmx (I wasn't surprised you brought up your reaction to how she was when she was interviewed, it was a bit of a tell, lol, though I tried my best not to overdo it. I was waiting to see what you'd say about the motive and there was no surprise you thought it was kind of convoluted but you're right, there are people like her and I've seen that on true crime shows I've watched. It is a shame, you're right about that too. I'm glad I could surprise you with Cora killing himself in front of them, and I think if you imagined it vividly then it's because that have that scene in movies and TV a lot so I wasn't surprised you saw that. And I laughed a bit at your saying you hadn't expected them to finish the case so early. Also laughed since you mentioned that when one of the girls says they're hoping they finish the case they do. I do that 'cause I want to show that though the girls know their work is important they also want them staying at home. But I'm not surprised you were glad they got to pick Eliza up and I agree, with what happened to the kids in this story they'd want to see their kids definitely. I wasn't surprised that you had forgotten about the dinner party, I didn't really have them speak too, too much about it. I laughed a bit again when I saw that you had groaned out loud when you remembered Meredith, and then again when you said you'd done that at work. Hopefully you didn't get in trouble doing that there! I wasn't in the least bit surprised that you're not sure if you should be excited or afraid about the dinner party, I figured there would be those kinds of reactions, lol. But I'm glad you want to see what happens anyway since that means you want to read more and now you can!) and

TORONTOSUN (Really nice to see you thought it was very good writing. And I'm glad you thought it was good writing for everyone in the chapter!).

Thanks so much for the reviews, I loved reading them and am grateful for the time taken to write them out and send them to me!

A/N #3: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song You Don't Know How It Feels by Tom Petty, from his album Wildflowers.

Head On Down The Road

Breathing hard Julia went to her parents and let her mother wipe away the sweat on her face before she said, "It was fun still."

"I hope so," Castle commented with a smile. "Since you're going to be dancing for so long."

"Yeah," Julia replied. "Will you tell me what we're gonna do after the class?" she said, looking at all the members of her family.

"We'll tell you after class," Beckett said firmly.

"You're no fun, I can tell that Lizzy knows already," Julia said before the door to the studio burst open.

"Kids," Ms. Grey said as she walked inside. "I'm afraid that I need to end the class early, Clive has fallen ill and his parents aren't here."

"Go and change," Beckett told her daughter.

"Okay… will he be alright?" Julia asked, remembering the boy hadn't looked that well when he'd been dancing with Mari and had run out abruptly.

"Once his parents get here he'll be okay," David said, speaking to his daughter as well.

"He said he felt like he was gonna be sick," Mari told her friend as they changed in the changing room.

"I hope he'll be okay," Julia said.

"He might not be able to come tomorrow," Mari said with a sigh.

"Peter will dance with you," Julia told her reassuringly.

Though Mari wanted to mention that the two would need to practice together she finally nodded and put on her uniform sweater before they left the room. "I wonder what you're gonna do now," she whispered as they neared their families.

"Me too," Julia said with a smile.

"Okay," Castle said as soon as the two were with them. "We're heading out to the family fun center."

"We are?" Julia exclaimed happily.

"Yes, your daddy had the idea to go there and try out the indoor course," Beckett said.

"Can Mari come too?" Julia asked then.

"I think you should let her go with her family," Beckett said gently.

"But-" Julia started to say, sounding dismayed.

"We're heading home," Rebecca interrupted. "It's a nice day for Ruby to stay in."

"Maybe another day?" Mari told her friend.

"Maybe," Julia said with a sigh as she knew they couldn't convince their parents. They left the dance class and when they were at the door outside she hugged her friend tightly. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, that night there's the dinner," Mari told her.

"And after school you can go over to Julia's house if Rick and Kate say it's alright," David told his daughter.

"It is," Beckett said quickly.

"Definitely, you two will need to watch Eliza," Castle joked when the little girl almost glared at him.

"We'll see you tomorrow," Beckett said before they stepped out into the lightly falling rain. They got to their car, in front of the Foster's, and she waved to the family before she got into the passenger seat. "While we're going there," she said as she looked back at the girls. "We will play the arcade games too but you two need to behave or we're not going to get to them at all."

"We will be," Julia said, her sister nodding rapidly. "Are we gonna eat there?"

"We could have a tiny snack," Castle suggested.

"We'll see," Beckett said since he'd looked at her. "We're going to the Greek restaurant for dinner."

"Good," Julia said, smiling before she looked out the window watching the trails of rain on it before her father was pulling into the parking lot of the family fun center.

Hurrying inside the family went straight to the counter to get their game ordered before they went to the first hole of the fairy tale themed course and the girls looked at their parents before Beckett spoke first.

"I forgot but we should get our snack now," she told the others.

"Can we get a cookie?" Eliza said eagerly as they were walking back the way they'd come.

"Not something sweet," Beckett said, smiling at how hopeful the little girl was. When they were at the small café the place had she said, "I didn't realize they had an actual menu."

"This place is big," Castle reminded her. "Four courses, arcade, small amusement park now."

"I wish we could have gone on the rides," Julia said.

"We'll get you two some yogurt okay?" Beckett said as she picked up two containers in the display. "And water."

"Kay," Eliza said, looking a little hungrily at the parfaits of Greek yogurt with apple slices on top.

When they were sitting around one of the tables there Julia looked around and said, "Let's eat here next time."

"Aren't you assuming we're coming back?" Castle said with a smile.

"You would want to come back," Julia shot back before she laughed. She ate a spoonful of her yogurt and watched her father take some before saying, "Is that why we're having Greek yogurt?"

"I just thought of it," Beckett replied with a smile. "And you're right we should come back and come here."

"A weekend perhaps?" Castle said.

"When it snows!" Eliza gasped before she took her spoon her mother had gotten some of their yogurt on.

"That's possible," Castle commented to his wife.

"I know and if the roads are drivable we might do that," Beckett said. "First we need to go through our visit this time."

"Are you gonna have fun Gram?" Julia asked as Martha had been watching them while drinking the coffee she'd gotten.

"I will," she replied. "Don't worry. I'm just trying to warm up."

"Is it still raining?" Eliza asked.

"I think so," Castle replied, helping her get the last of the yogurt in the cup. "Alright I think we're ready to head out," he told his wife.

"So are we," Beckett said with a smile as Julia ate the last apple slice.

"Mommy," Julia said as Castle and Eliza went to throw away the trash they had. "What about 'lexis?"

Looking at her watch then Beckett said, "Hold on," before her husband and Eliza came back to them. "How are we going to talk to Alexis tonight?"

Remembering that they'd have the chance to talk to his daughter Castle grabbed his phone and said, "I'll text her, see if she minds us calling later."

"She shouldn't," Beckett commented. "Her class tomorrow isn't until one."

"You're right," Castle said after his daughter had texted him back. "She said to let her know when we can talk, she'll wait for us."

"Even if she can't go to bed?" Eliza asked as they walked over to the start of the course again.

"We won't call her that late," Beckett assured her. "Alright you're first sweetie," he told Eliza.

Nodding her head, the little girl looked at where she needed to hit her golf ball before her father set it down on the ground for here. "Where do I hit it?" Eliza whispered to him.

"I think your best bet is here," Castle commented pointing to the side where he knew the ball would ricochet off and towards the hole.

Eliza nodded and tried her best to hit it there though it came a little short to her dismay.

"Wonderful job darling," Martha said, placing her hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah?" Eliza asked hopefully.

"Of course, for your age that's very good," Martha assured her before they watched her big sister hitting her bright blue golf ball.

"Close," Beckett said with a smile as it went past the hole and hit the other side.

"I know. You'll get a hole in one Mommy," Julia told her seriously.

"We'll need to see," Beckett told her as she was setting down her green golf ball. She hit the ball over to the hole and hers stopped just next to it.

"Nice love," Castle said when his wife went to hit the ball in. "Now watch me," he said playfully to the girls who giggled at him.

"Watch you go off course?" Martha said when her son hit the ball onto the rocks next to the path.

"Yes," Castle said, smiling at the girls as they were laughing. "Now for real."

"Was he faking?" Eliza asked her grandmother.

"It looks like he was," Martha said with a nod as her son managed to get a hole in one.

"I got lucky," Castle said as he moved out of the way for his mother.

The girls watched her interestedly, wondering how she would do, before she hit her orange golf ball and it stopped close to the hole. They smiled at each other before Eliza went to hit her ball to the hole and they continued their way through the course.

"Look at the beanstalk," Julia said there as there was one with a figurine climbing up it.

"Where's the goose?" Eliza said.

"Maybe he's going up to get it," Castle suggested to them.

"Did you go?" Julia asked him.

"Did you get that first?" Eliza asked. She then looked at her sister and said, "Hole in one?"

"Yeah, that's how you say it," Julia said with a nod. "You got that didn't you?"

"Yep," Castle said, sitting on the bench where they were standing. "You're getting better," he told them.

Sharing a look with her sister Eliza asked, "Me?"

"Both of you," Castle told them. "But we can't come too often."

"We know," the girls said at the same time, laughing as their father pretended to jump. They heard a ball falling into the cup and turned to see it was their grandmother as they were all going one at a time.

"How's Grandpapa?" Julia asked her mother as they walked over to the next hole.

"As far as I know he's fine," Beckett replied. "Why?"

Shrugging her shoulders Julia said, "I miss him."

"We'll see him tomorrow," Castle reminded her.

"I think that's why they miss him we haven't talked to him in a while," Beckett said as she saw that Eliza was watching them though she was supposed to be going first. "You'll see him," she assured the girls before they watched Eliza taking her shot.

"Despite five people and two of those children we seem to be going quickly," Martha commented to her daughter in law.

"They want to go play," Beckett said. "Eliza," she called as the little girl started to walk over towards a pond that was in the middle of the course.

"There are fishies Mommy," Eliza said quickly.

"Stay where you are," Beckett instructed her.

When she had finished her turn; taking four shots to reach the hole; Julia hurried to her little sister and saw she was right. "There are koi," she said amazement.

"Let me see," Beckett said, walking over to them after her turn.

"They're so pretty," Julia said. "You're sure we couldn't get one."

"Your daddy and I talked about it and we're a little concerned about the dogs being too interested in the fish," Beckett said, sitting at a bench near them before the girls went to her.

"Oh… would they eat the fishies?" Eliza asked her, leaning against her mother.

"We don't want to chance it, plus it does get very cold in the winter," Beckett said, running her hand over the back of her daughter's head. "We'll just stick with dogs and fish in aquariums."

"What?" Julia asked, a little sad at that as her goldfish had died only two weeks after getting it once they'd returned from summer vacation.

"I almost forgot we've been planning to get you a new fish; if you'd like one," Beckett told her.

"Really?" Julia asked.

"If you want," Castle said, he and his mother walking over to them.

"Yes! Please, I would love another fish but do I have to get a goldfish?" Julia told them.

"If it can live in the small tank you have then no," Beckett told her. "For now, let's keep going," she said as she stood, the girls nodding eagerly while they made their way to the next hole.

After they'd gone through the entire course Julia and Eliza looked over at the arcade eagerly but their parents took them to return the golf clubs first to their disappointment.

"Now we can go play," Castle told the two with a smile once they were walking away from the counter.

"Good," Julia said. "Do we have to go together?"

"No, if you want to split up we can do that," Beckett replied.

"Then can I go by myself?" Julia asked hopefully.

"No," Beckett said firmly. When her oldest pouted at her she said, "I stand by that."

Sighing though she was eventually smiling Julia said, "How much can we play with?"

"You can have five dollars each," Castle said as they were at the change machine.

"That's quite a lot," Martha told her son.

"We'll use it too," Castle replied as Beckett took the first five dollars worth of quarters. "And you Mother if you'd like."

"I may just watch," Martha said before Julia went with her mother.

"Want to race me Mommy?" Julia was asking Beckett as they came to the racing game they'd played on before.

"Sure," Beckett said with a smile. She took the game next to her daughter's and said, "Go the speed limit sweetie."

"No way, I'll lose," Julia said before giggling and putting in the quarters. She chose where they were going to race; Spain; before she got her car. They began to race together and though she was trying to do her best to keep up her mother was soon far ahead.

"You were close," Beckett said when the race ended and her daughter had gotten fourth.

"I had to work for that," Julia said though she was laughing. "Okay, I want to do the skeeball next," she told her mother as they walked away.

"Sure," Beckett replied before they walked to the skeeball games.

"Mommy," Julia said.

"Yes sweetie," Beckett replied, looking at her before they started to play.

"I know we just came here but could we come back with Grandpapa when you and Daddy are in Tahiti?" Julia asked.

"Of course," Beckett said. "You just need to make sure that he wants to go." She then smiled at her daughter and said, "But I think he will."

"Yeah," Julia said, throwing one of the balls. That reminded her of when she'd played with her grandfather while her parents had been on their first honeymoon and she continued to play as she recalled that night with her grandparents and sister at the pizza parlor.


"You got a hundred Grandpapa!" Julia exclaimed as she watched him throw the last skeeball.

"I know I was lucky," Jim replied.

"Can we play again?" Julia asked him hopefully.

"Unfortunately that was your last quarter," Jim replied. "But don't worry," he told her. "You'll come back and you'll be able to play more then."

"Yeah," Julia said though she was still disappointed. She sat on her grandfather's lap at the table they were sitting at with Alexis and Martha; who'd left for a moment; and said to him, "With Mommy and Daddy?"

"Most likely," Jim told her. "Are you missing them?"

"Little bit," Julia replied. "But they have to go on their honeymoon."

"Even if they have to they still miss you too," Jim said.

"I just got a text from Dad," Alexis said, walking over to them with Martha. "They want to talk to us."

"We better go," Jim said as Julia looked up at him eagerly. He picked up the little girl and carried her out to the car, getting her set in her car seat before he drove them back home.

"Hi Mommy, Daddy," Julia said when she saw her parents on the TV once they were in the family room. "I got to play today!"

"Oh really?" Beckett asked with a smile. "Where did you?"

"At the pizza place," Julia said. "Grandpapa and Gram let me play and I played with him."

"Did you have fun?" Castle asked.

Smiling a little shyly at him Julia nodded and proceeded to tell her parents all about their time at the pizza parlor, especially the games that she'd gotten to play. "But I wished you were with us to play," she then added.

"We did too," Castle said. When Julia looked startled he then said, "Well, just in general through the day. Are you having fun though?"

"I am, don't miss me a lot," Julia said in slight concern. "You're gonna come home soon."

"We know that but we won't stop missing you," Beckett said firmly. "And we want you to still have fun."

"I did," Julia assured her. "What did you do?"

"We just went around the countryside," Beckett said first. "Since I wanted to see some green hills and your daddy wanted to again."

"Did you take pictures?" Martha asked.

"She did," Castle said, smiling at his wife. "A lot of them."

"And it did start to rain but we had an umbrella so we stayed at the field we were on for a while," Beckett said.

"That sounds nice," Julia said seriously.

"It was," Beckett replied.

"After that we came back to the hotel and swam a little bit until dinner and talking to you," Castle continued. "What else did you get to today?"

Julia then told her parents about going to play on the playground in the morning, swimming in the ocean until they'd left for dinner. "It was fun but I'm tired," she finished.

"Not a surprise," Castle commented.

"Mommy?" Julia asked then.

"What is it sweetie?" Beckett asked her.

"How is my little brother or sister?" Julia said a little shyly.

"The baby's fine," Beckett replied. "I should just say as soon as we see you guys."

"Next time," Castle told her. "We'll let you go."

"But it's not my bedtime," Julia protested.

"I think it's theirs Jules," Alexis told her little sister.

"Oh," Julia said slowly.

"We'll call tomorrow," Castle said. "Have fun tomorrow Julia; you too Alexis though I guess I should say that to all of you."

"We will," Alexis said with a smile. "We don't know what we're going to do yet but we'll tell you."

"I will," Julia said firmly.

"We look forward to that," Beckett said. "I love you sweetie."

"I love you too Mommy," Julia said. "And I love you too Daddy," she added, looking at him and blushing a little.

"I love you too Julia," Castle said before he turned his attention to Alexis to tell her the same.

After waving goodbye to her parents Julia turned to her family and said, "Do I gotta go to bed?"

"Soon," Martha said, checking the time. "You can play a game."

"Not for too long," Alexis said as she quickly followed her sister to the cabinet where the games were.

"Then try and help her find a game that won't take that long," Jim suggested to her.

After Alexis and Julia had gone back to the table with the game the four played the set of checkers that Castle and Beckett had bought for the little girl. They only played twice before Jim picked Julia up and carried her to her room to help her get ready for bed.

"What's wrong honey?" Jim asked his granddaughter while he was brushing her hair.

"Do you think Mommy and Daddy will want to play with me still when the baby is born?" Julia whispered softly.

"Of course they will," Jim replied, setting aside the brush and taking her onto his lap. "You know that your parents love you; they don't say it for no reason."

"But the baby takes time," Julia replied, looking up at him worriedly.

"It does but your parents are very aware they'll have two children," Jim said, speaking firmly so she wouldn't doubt him. "And they know they'll need to pay attention to you both."

"Then…" Julia began before she trailed off. "Can I help?"

"With- with taking care of the baby?" Jim asked before he realized what she was talking about exactly. When she nodded he smiled and said, "I think so, just ask your parents okay?"

"Will they let me give the baby a bath?" Julia asked eagerly.

"Maybe," Jim replied.

"Put her to bed?" Julia then said.

"I don't think so," Jim said. "Your sibling's crib is going to be a little too tall for you to reach into. But if they get the baby a bassinet then you'll have the chance to do that then."

"Can I carry the baby?" Julia then whispered.

"Yes," Jim replied. When her eyes went wide he chuckled and said, "Your mother told me already she'll let you hold your brother or sister as much as possible from the second you meet the baby after it's born."

"She did?" Julia asked, feeling her cheeks blushing slightly.

"Of course, she said you need to be in your sibling's life as much as possible," Jim said, though he was leaving out the rest of that. His daughter had said that she had wanted Julia as close with her sibling as possible so the little girl would never realize she wasn't related to the baby biologically. "And I think she knows you'll love it."

Squirming a little Julia said, "I love the baby already."

"Oh, you do?" Jim asked with a smile.

"Yeah, I always wanted one," Julia whispered. "And to be a big sister."

"And now you will," Alexis said with a smile as she and Martha were entering the room.

Julia, though she was blushing again, wrapped her arms around her sister as she picked her up. She said good night to them before she was tucked in and while she was happy as she fell asleep she couldn't help thinking of her parents; missing them and hoping the rest of their honeymoon would go just a little bit faster.


"Sweetie?" Beckett said, putting her hand on her daughter's shoulder.

"Yeah," Julia said, shaking herself of her memories then and turning to her mother with a smile. "Did you get any tickets?"

"A number of them," Beckett said. "What were you thinking about?"

Though she wasn't going to say Julia couldn't help it because her mother was stroking her hair so tenderly and she related her memories. "I'm glad you wanted me to help with Lizzy so much," she said when she'd finished, wrapping her arms around her mother tightly.

"I'm glad that you love your sister as much as you do," Beckett replied, rubbing her back. "And that you did for so long."

Julia smiled and said with a beaming smile, "I'm glad you didn't forget me."

"No way we could do that," Castle said, walking up to the two with his mother and Eliza.

"You're going to play skeeball?" Beckett asked her husband.

"Actually, I am," Martha said. "With them."

"Come on," Castle said, taking his wife's hand.

"We'll be back," Beckett called to their girls as they walked away. "Where are you taking me?" she asked in amusement.

"Just here," Castle replied, having found a place that was secluded just enough. When he saw his wife was studying him he asked, "I surprised you?"

"Slightly, I thought you would have started kissing me," Beckett said with a smile.

"If I do it's going to need to be quick," Castle said as more people had arrived in the building since they'd gotten there.

"Then it'll be quick," Beckett said easily before he leaned down to her. She met his kiss and they were very gentle and quick before pulling apart. "We need to get some rest tonight," she said.

"But you're regretting that we should," Castle said with a smile as he watched her closely.

"I am," Beckett admitted. She shared another kiss with him before she told him, "But we'll have time tonight once they're in bed to be alone."

"I know I just wanted a second… or two," Castle said to her with a smile.

Kissing him that time Beckett said, "We can play a game together but then we'll go back with them."

Shaking his head Castle said, "Let's play with them."

"Okay," Beckett said with a soft laugh before he led her over to the skeeball games where the girls were still playing with their grandmother.

"That was very quick," Martha said to her son as he leaned down and kissed Eliza's cheek.

"We were missing out on the games," Beckett said.

"How much more can we play?" Julia asked eagerly.

"One more game for us all," Castle said, taking out some quarters he already had. "And then we'll go through the rest together."

The girls were eager to begin and they watched their father put quarters into each game they were standing in front of. After they had played they pooled their tickets together before their mother suggested to them they should get more.

"I know one that we can get," Julia said with a smile. She then led the way to a coin slider game and said, "I saw people with lots of tickets here last time."

"Why don't we switch," Beckett suggested as Eliza was tugging at her sleeve.

"Okay, I'll stay with her," Castle said, nodding to Julia who had already started to play.

"We'll be back," Beckett said with a smile before she left with Eliza tugging on her hand. They walked through the games behind the coin slider game and kept walking before she finally stopped the little girl as she had the feeling her youngest didn't know what she wanted to play yet. She was about to ask her if she could suggest something they could play together when Eliza began to talk and beat her to it.

"I wanna play that one," the little girl said firmly, pointing to a game.

Seeing The Simpsons soccer game Beckett said, "Really?"

"Yeah," Eliza replied, nodding her head rapidly.

"Okay," Beckett said with a smile, putting a couple quarters in. She watched as the little girl tried her best to shoot goals on the Homer Simpson goalie, cheering her on and applauding when she scored twice.

"Now you do it Mommy," Eliza told her with a smile.

"Alright," Beckett replied. She put in another two quarters before she then began to kick the soccer ball. She scored more than her youngest had but Eliza didn't seem to mind as she hugged her when the game stopped. "Okay," she said. "You only have two more quarters left so pick your last two games."

Shaking her head Eliza said, "I wanna play with you."

"Then we should pick two we can play together," Beckett said. When her daughter nodded she let her pull her through the arcade until they were at the coin slider game again; to her surprise.

"Hey, I guess we're getting back together," Castle told his wife as they were still at the game.

"I guess," Beckett said. "How many coins do you have left?"

"Just one," Julia said, holding it up.

"And you?" Castle asked.

"Two," Beckett replied.

"And she wanted to come here?" Castle asked.

"She did," Beckett said. "I didn't say a word."

"Or else her sister sent her a telepathic message," Castle commented.

"No, I didn't," Julia said in mock exasperation as she was playing the game.

"Do we have to go when we finish?" Eliza asked her parents as they watched her big sister.

"We should, it's dinnertime," Beckett told her, running her hand over the back of her head as Eliza leaned into her and hugged her.

"You're not hungry yet?" Castle asked. "You usually are."

"Yeah," Eliza said with a giggle.

"Can we throw the plates this time?" Julia asked as she finished and moved for her sister to go.

"I think we'll pass," Beckett said while Castle was helping Eliza drop the coins into the slots at the top. "But we'll get baklava, is that a better trade off?"

"Trade off?" Martha said in surprise.

"I'm kidding," Beckett said with a smile. "We were planning on getting them that already."

"I see," Martha replied. "She didn't hear a thing, did she?" she commented as Eliza was watching the game.

"I guess not," Castle said laughingly as he set her down. "I heard."

"Heard what?" Eliza asked, looking up at them.

"We're gonna get desserts," Julia said with a smile.

"Dessert," Castle corrected her. "Just baklava."

"Kay," Eliza said eagerly. "Can we go now?"

"Yes," Beckett said laughingly. "After you take care of your tickets."

The girls had no protest to that and they hurried to the prizes to see how many tickets they'd gotten.

"Do we have enough for those?" Julia asked, pointing to a kit that had a large wand for bubble blowing on a tray.

"I think you do," Castle answered, seeing the number of tickets it was worth. He asked the worker behind the counter for two and as they left; the girls walking with Martha ahead of them; he said, "They haven't had one of those since Eliza was two."

"I know I was thinking of that myself," Beckett said with a smile at the memory. They hurried out to the car and helped the girls into the back and she was still thinking of the May afternoon after their youngest had turned two when she and Castle had decided to have a picnic with their daughters in their backyard.


"Is here a good spot?" Julia asked, looking back at her parents.

"It's perfect," Castle said, shaking out the blanket he'd brought with him and laying it down. He smiled when the girls immediately fell onto it and he asked, "What're you two doing?"

"We're watching clouds," Julia replied as her sister next to her was kicking her legs.

"I think Eliza's swimming," Beckett commented as she set down the picnic basket her husband insisted they use though they were only in their backyard.

"Can we?" Julia asked interestedly as she sat up, her sister following her lead.

"Me Mama," Eliza said, reaching over to her.

"We can try," Beckett replied. "I thought you'd want to swim in the ocean," she said as she nodded to the water.

"You said the pool is warmer," Julia replied.

"It is," Beckett replied as she watched Castle taking out their food.

"We'll go there," he said. "Are you ready?" Castle asked the girls.

"I am," Julia replied. "I'm hungry."

"Eliza come here sweetie," Beckett said to the toddler. She smiled as Eliza pushed herself up and walked carefully to her. She wrapped her arms around her and kissed her cheek tenderly before helping her sit. She gave her the sandwich that Castle had made for their youngest, a peanut butter and jelly that he'd cut into a circle using a cookie cutter.

"Are we only gonna do that today?" Julia asked.

"You don't want to stay at the pool?" Castle said.

"Well… okay," Julia said after thinking about that for a moment. "But what about later?"

"I was thinking," Castle said.

"Is that a good idea?" Beckett told him teasingly. She wasn't surprised when he glanced at her but was when he leaned over to kiss her. "What were you thinking?" she asked with a smile once they'd parted.

"We walk downtown," Castle replied.

"Oh! Can we?" Julia asked eagerly, smiling at her sister's cry of, "Me!" in response to her.

"I think we can," Beckett said. When her husband looked at her in surprise she said, "We were just going to throw something together, I think I'm in the mood for Mexican now."

"Me too," Castle said though he hadn't thought about where they might eat dinner yet.

"Can we go to the bookstore?" Julia asked.

"Me-" Eliza started to say.

"I," Castle interrupted her.

"Me-I want books!" Eliza said carefully before she giggled as her father kissed the top of her head.

"We'll go and we'll walk around too," Castle said.

"I think I see where you were going," Beckett told him. "A romantic stroll?"

"Celebrating the fact that we can do so after this winter," Castle replied. When his wife cupped his cheek and kissed him he responded quickly before they slowly parted. "I'm looking forward to it."

"Me too," Beckett replied, caressing his lower lip. She had to let go when Eliza stood up in between them and she laughed before saying, "I guess we should focus on now though."

"Agreed," Castle said before they turned their attention back to their lunch and daughters.

Once they'd finished eating Castle and Beckett cleaned up and he was just putting the last of the trash into the picnic basket when he froze.

"I almost forgot," he said to his wife.

"What?" Beckett asked. But she wasn't too startled when her husband didn't say anything and got up, jogging to the house.

"What did Daddy do?" Julia asked, having been looking at the daisies in the grass with her sister.

"You'll see," Beckett said as she realized what he'd been talking about.

Returning outside Castle didn't have the picnic basket but he had something else in hand that his daughters turned to him to see. "Got this for you to celebrate summer," he said when he was close to the two, showing what he was holding.

"Bubbles!" Julia exclaimed, her sister squealing next to her. "Thank you, Daddy, Mommy."

"You're welcome," Beckett said, walking over to them. "Eliza?" she said to get the toddler's attention. "This is not to eat."

Eliza looked serious for a moment before she giggled and nodded her head before she watched her mother pouring the bubble solution into the tray the large wand had been resting in. She held the wand after her mother had given it to her and she shook it, scattering the solution everywhere.

"Hold on sweetie," Beckett said quickly with a laugh. She dipped it again and then blew on it, letting some bubbles out. As the toddler laughed she then handed her the wand after dipping it again and watched her start to blow bubbles.

"I think they're alright," Castle said, taking his wife's hand. He pulled her over to the blanket where they sat together, watching their daughters blowing bubbles towards them. "Looks like we had a great idea," he told her eventually.

"I think so," Beckett replied as her husband wrapped his arm around her. She watched as Julia caught another bubble on her wand and Eliza popped it. She thought that the little girl might get angry but was relieved when she only started to laugh.

"Don't pop them when I catch them," Julia said when she'd calmed down. "Let me do that again."

Eliza watched her sister with wide eyes and clapped when she blew out more bubbles with just the one. "Me," she said with a smile.

"Here," Julia told her. "Dip this in the bubbles and then blow on it so they come out and then grab one."

Castle did his best not to laugh when Eliza tried to do what her sister told her but she couldn't quite grasp it. "Should we head to the pool?" he asked his wife.

Glancing at her watch Beckett smiled and nodded saying, "Probably, we should leave at about five if we are walking."

"Do we get to go swimming now?" Julia asked eagerly as she'd been listening to their conversation.

"Yes, help me get this put away," Beckett said, handing her the empty tray. As Castle was helping Eliza they got everything ready before they made their way to the pool with their daughters.


"I'm ready," Beckett said, coming down the stairs. She glanced at her husband and said, "You wanted to celebrate summer."

"And if it's cold tonight?" Castle said though he was smiling at her.

"I'll be fine, come on," Beckett told him before Julia was rushing to her to hug her. "Let me have Eliza," she told him after letting go of their oldest.

"I was going to take her on my shoulders," Castle replied though he was handing her over.

"You can, I just wanted to carry her for a little," Beckett said, smiling at the toddler who was tangling her finger around a strand of her hair. She kissed her cheek as they left the house and once they were on the way she said, "Are you cold?" to Julia who was in between her and Castle.

"No, I have a sweater," Julia said as her father had made her put on a light one while they were waiting for Beckett to change into her sundress.

"So after dinner I say the bookstore, the toy store-" Castle started to say.

"I said we'd go around love," Beckett interrupted him with a smile as their daughters were giving little gasps though she wasn't sure if Eliza understood what he was saying.

"Come here you," Castle said teasingly to Eliza as she leaned over to him. He placed her on his shoulders and said to his wife, "Could go into a boutique."

"I could but I'll see," Beckett replied as there was one she enjoyed shopping at in the downtown area.

The walk didn't take very long and they were soon inside the restaurant where they ate, Castle and Beckett talking about the book signings they had coming up at the beginning of June once school was over. Julia piped in about what she wanted to see in the city before they finished and stepped back out to start walking again.

"Where are you taking me?" Beckett asked with a laugh as her husband was pulling her over to the crosswalk with Julia.

"Here," Castle said as he could feel the little girl squeezing his hand since she knew already what he was planning to do.

"Rick," Beckett sighed as she smiled at him at the same time.

"Pick something out," Castle told her.

"What about carrying it around while we shop?" Beckett asked him once they were inside the florist.

"I'll ask them to hold it for us," Castle assured her.

"Alright," Beckett said with a nod.

"What about these flowers Mommy?" Julia asked eagerly, going over to her and taking her hand to pull her over to some sweet pea that were white.

Though she wasn't so sure about it Beckett eventually picked out a bouquet of sweet pea and iris. After her husband had paid for it and it was set behind the counter she took Julia by the hand and they left.

"Mommy what do the flowers mean?" Julia asked her as they were near the bookstore.

"The sweet pea means gratitude and the iris good news," Beckett replied.

Making a slight sound of annoyance Castle said, "I should have made one up and researched first."

"I don't mind," Beckett assured him, squeezing his arm before they went inside.

After saying hello to the person at the register Castle and Beckett took their daughters to the children's books and began to look with Eliza while Julia went around on her own.

"What about this one?" Castle asked his wife as he showed her the book he had in his hand.

"I think so," Beckett replied after looking inside at it. "Can you see Julia?"

"She's right there," Castle assured her.

"Read with her, I'll go see if she found anything," Beckett told him.

"Alright sweetheart," Castle said. "Let's take a quick look and see what's in this one," he told Eliza as he sat down on one of the chairs in the area before he opened the book for the toddler as she tried grabbing it.

"Did you find anything sweetheart?" Beckett asked as she reached the little girl.

"I think so," Julia said, smiling up at her. "Can I get this one?"

Taking the book and flipping through it quickly Beckett nodded and said, "I think you can."

"Thank you," Julia said quickly. "Is Lizzy gonna get a book?"

"We found one for her," Beckett said. "At least I think so, your daddy's showing it to her right now so I have to wonder if she'll still want it."

"She will," Julia said confidently. "Can we get a toy?"

"Maybe just a puzzle," Beckett said.

"Or an arts and crafts kit," Castle suggested as they'd neared where he was with Eliza and he'd been able to hear them.

"Or that but we need to look at the toy store first," Beckett added.

"Are we gonna go now?" Julia asked hopefully.

"Yes," Castle replied, letting her take Eliza before he left them to pay.

Walking towards the front with the girls Beckett said, "You know you're very lucky."

"For the toy store?" Julia asked. When her mother nodded she said, "Why can't all the kids get to go?"

Though that wasn't what she meant Beckett couldn't help but be proud a little of Julia's perception before she said, "Because they don't have the chance. But we do donate toys at Christmas."

"Good," Julia said before Castle was walking over to her. "Are we gonna go now?"

"Do you want to stay instead?" Castle asked jokingly.

"No," Julia said though she was looking around the front of the store. She felt her father tugging her hand so she smiled at him and then walked after him outside.

Going into the toy store Castle and Beckett allowed Julia to get a puzzle in the end that she made them promise they'd get to work on together before they headed down the street again to the ice cream shop.

"We get to have dessert?" Julia asked hopefully.

"You do," Castle said. "Well not just you but all of us."

"You did really well with your spelling test yesterday," Beckett said.

Giggling shyly for a moment Julia said, "Thank you."

"Thank you for studying," Castle said with a nod.

The family went inside and ordered their ice cream, sitting around a table and talking together as they ate their dessert.