Genre: Crime, Drama, 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 brief lyrics I have in this chapter are from the song Poison Ivy written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, the version I've taken it from is sung by Linda McCartney from her album Wide Prairie.
A/N #2: I was pleased getting the feedback for the last chapter so let me get straight to my thank yous for that! MsNYC (Great to see that you think the group of the four of them are awesome. Though I wasn't surprised to see that you can't wait for a family reunion once Castle and Beckett go home since you're right, it's been a while since they've been with the girls. And I'm happy that you enjoy when I give more information on Skye from before they met her since I like writing that! I was so, so glad that you thought the comment about Mary's eyes was very cute. I realized I haven't described a lot of people in the story, lol, I don't know why so I decided I needed to put what I think her eyes at least look like. And of course, great to see you thought it was great writing as usual!),
TORONTOSUN (Great you thought the first half was a good chapter of course! And really glad thought the love scenes were good between Castle and Beckett. Also, I was happy to see you like how Beckett, Skye and Mary teased Castle since that was fun to write.) and
vetgirlmx (Great that you thought it was a very good chapter of course! And I'm not surprised you're conflicted about the end of the trip but it is nice that you don't want them to leave their friends and that you're excited for their family trip. And I'm glad you like the dogs going with them too, lol, figured that would be fun! And I'm relieved you love the fact that the similarities between Beckett were mentioned a lot. I haven't really delved into them too much but decided to go ahead and do it a little more. And it's funny you mentioned that explains why they became so close 'cause I had something in mind with that for the future but yeah, it would. I'm glad you enjoyed Beckett and Skye dancing together and I'm not sure why I didn't write them doing that in public… didn't fit in I suppose to me until now which is really weird. But yeah, they have danced together I've mentioned before but like you said not outside their family and friends. I'm so glad you can't wait to see what happens next though also nice that you don't want them to say goodbye but now you don't need to wait anymore!).
Thanks so much for the reviews, I loved reading them and appreciate the time taken to write them out and send them my way!
A/N #3: The title of this chapter is the title of a song written by Vernon Duke.
Autumn In New York
"It looks like you'll get home quick today," Beckett commented as she was looking at the northbound side of the 5 they were on out the windshield.
"Most likely," Skye replied with a smile. "And we're getting to the airport in good time," she added once she pulled off the exit she needed. "So you'll have enough time getting in."
"It wouldn't be crowded still? There's not a chance?" Castle asked from the backseat with his wife.
"Of course, but I know this airport a bit well and I think you'll be fine," Skye replied. She drove along the curb and finally stopped where there was a sign for Southwest Airlines before saying, "Terminal one, we're here."
Getting out of the car first Castle went to the trunk before Skye opened it from the driver's seat and he pulled out his and his wife's carryon bags. After getting one suitcase, he let his wife take the other out before he turned to see that Skye and Mary were out of the car. "Thank you again for having us over at your place and the tour guide stuff; I did end up remembering," he said with a smile as he hugged the two briefly.
"You're welcome," Mary said first, smiling as well. "Have a safe trip back."
"Definitely," Skye said in agreement with her wife. "Have a fun time in the Adirondacks."
"We will," Castle said with a nod before he stepped out of the way for his wife.
"I think you realize the safe trip applies to you too," Mary was saying to Beckett after they'd embraced briefly.
"I did, you guys too," Beckett said, glancing at her husband.
"Oh she's right, we're hoping you guys have a safe trip too," Castle told them quickly as he realized that.
"Thanks," Mary said before she stood with Castle as their wives embraced.
"I wish we could see you over in New York sooner… and for sure," Beckett was telling Skye.
"I had the same thought," the investigator told her before they let go of each other. "But we'll keep in touch."
"Of course," Beckett replied. "I'll text you once we land."
"A picture from the woods once we get to them?" Castle asked.
"That would be nice," Skye said after she and Mary had shared a glance.
"Let us know when you get home," Beckett told the woman.
"I'll send a text," Skye said. She then said, "Thank you for your help on the case."
"It was our pleasure," Castle said. "Well… not pleasure but-"
"I think you mean to say we were glad to help," Beckett said. "Especially since we were friends with Pablo, Obek and Henrietta too."
With a nod Skye said, "We should go before they kick us out of here." She gave Beckett a second hug and told the two as she and her wife were going back to their car, "Enjoy your trip!"
"Enjoy Santa Barbara," Beckett called as they were going there the next day. She watched them leave, Mary waving out the window to them before they waved back, and then said, "We should go."
"Yeah," Castle said as he shook himself from the thought that they were really finished with their tour.
Beckett glanced at him but she couldn't say anything as they were making their way into the short line to check in at the British Airways counters. Once they had their suitcases set she said as she took his hand, "We have another vacation."
"Don't think-" Castle said quickly.
"You've told me you're eager to get back to them," Beckett said, also squeezing his hand to interrupt him. "And I know you're telling me the truth. We can want both, actually I think we need both."
Not surprised she spoke that last sentence in Irish, Castle spoke in it himself saying, "It's probably why we're still together. I mean a part of that."
Beckett could only shake her head; smiling at the same time; as they'd come to the security checkpoint. She handed over her passport and boarding pass to the TSA agent and she and her husband made their way swiftly through security; the agent looking at their bags ending up being a fan of theirs.
"Thank you both; you have a wonder flight," the woman said after Castle had set the paper he and Beckett had signed at the end of the rollers for the bags and plastic boxes.
"I hope she doesn't get in trouble for that," Castle commented after they were walking to their gate.
"Probably not," Beckett replied. "There," she said as she spotted the number next to the door to the plane. "Let's get you coffee and me some tea," she told her husband.
Without a word; only smiling at her; Castle followed her to the nearest coffee shop and once they had their drinks they sat together near some stools at a window that looked down at the tarmac and some planes parked at gates. "There's a Hawaiian," he said, looking at his wife as she was taking a picture.
"And Edelweiss Air," Beckett said. "I've never heard of it." She then took a picture of it and texted the picture to Skye. She didn't have to wait very long for a response and she read the text, knowing her husband was watching her. "She says they're only here seasonally; they fly to Zurich."
"So it's Swiss," Castle said. "And she's texting while driving," he joked.
Beckett didn't reply as she knew he was kidding and instead she texted Mary back; thanking both her and Skye. She took a few pictures of the plane before she finished her tea.
"Are we going back?" Castle asked.
"Yes," Beckett said. She wasn't surprised when her husband nearly popped out of his chair. "You can stay."
"Oh no, we've never been to this airport so I want to see all the planes we can," Castle replied. He walked with her as they made their way around the terminal, making sure he kept an eye on the time so they wouldn't miss their plane beginning to board. He was impressed by the airlines they saw there, especially the Japan Airlines where he told his wife, "That brings back memories."
"It does," Beckett said, having stopped there to take a few pictures as it was the last one they were seeing. She turned to her husband to tell him that they would have to hurry back to their gate when he was suddenly leaning down, kissing her deeply on the lips before a word could leave her mouth. She shuddered a little, breaking things off, before she murmured an apology.
"I did brush my teeth," Castle said, slightly defensively.
"No, not that," Beckett replied. She felt her cheeks flush slightly before telling him, "I can taste you and the coffee."
"And?" Castle asked, bracing himself for her response as she was speaking in Irish.
Beckett didn't reply to that verbally, instead she reached up for him and pulled him down to her so they could kiss again. They were doing so deeply and she cursed her camera since it wasn't allowing her to hold on to her husband. She did the best she could with her free arm and held him tightly there until they parted. "We… we need to go," she whispered, trembling slightly.
"Yeah," Castle said. But he allowed himself a brush of his lips to hers before he held her hand firmly and they went back to the gate just in time to board their plane. When they reached their chairs and had their bags in the overhead compartment he said, "You're just sleeping?"
"I would suggest the same for you," Beckett said, yawning. "You're not tired?"
"I am," Castle replied with a nod of his head. He then smiled and sat down in the aisle seat before telling her, "Exhausted."
"I thought you were taking responsibility for that," Beckett told him teasingly.
"Of course, but you can't say you didn't enjoy it," Castle told her in the same tone. He then leaned down and kissed her tenderly on the lips before they settled back, both yawning as they were watching people board the plane around them including the crew. Finally, the plane was backing up and he breathed out in relief before they made their way down the runway. As soon as the seatbelt sign was turned off he got the blankets in the overhead compartment for his wife and himself before they got their seats reclined. "I guess I'll see you when we're home love," he told her before they lay back.
"When we're in the city," Beckett said simply.
"The city," Castle said, a smile on his face. He leaned over and kissed her tenderly saying, "Goodnight love."
"Night Rick," Beckett replied before they kissed once more. She laid back, wondering how long it was going to take her to fall asleep as she knew they were that much closer to reaching home. To her surprise; when she woke up nearly five hours later; it wasn't very long and it made the flight that much faster.
"Did they land?" Eliza asked impatiently.
"They did," Jim said, studying his phone. "But you have to remember they need to get off the plane and then get their suitcases."
"I know, I wish they could come here now too," Julia told her little sister. She looked around and saw where their parents would come out to them, staring at it as she wanted to be the first to see her parents. She did her best not to look away and finally spotted two familiar figures. "Mommy, Daddy!" she almost screamed.
"Mommy! Daddy!" Eliza screamed out loud as she saw what her sister had.
"Go," Alexis said, having been holding onto the two by their shoulders. Once their parents were at the point where they could go to them she let them go and hurried after the girls as they were almost running to them.
"Girls," Beckett said with a wide smile, leaning down and wrapping her arms around them once they'd thrown themselves into her arms. She embraced them tightly against her before kissing them on the cheeks and said, "I missed you two."
"Me too," Julia said first once she pulled away from her.
"Yeah me too," Eliza added, nodding her head. She then squealed and hugged her harder saying, "We were waiting for a long time to see you."
"That's really nice of you," Castle commented, having been watching the three with a wide smile on his face. He'd hugged Alexis already and was waiting, slightly impatiently, for the two to come to him next.
"Daddy!" the girls cried out at the same time before they stepped over to him, hugging him tightly at the same time.
Castle knelt in front of them and kissed them gently before he ran his hands over the backs of their heads. "I agree with your mom, I missed you like crazy and I'm so glad we're back."
"Are you happy?" Eliza asked, pulling away.
"Very," Castle replied before he stood up and watched Alexis hug his wife. He then turned his attention to his mother and father in law asked as he hugged the former, "Where's Louis?"
"He's in the car with the dogs since they couldn't come in," Alexis replied.
"It's wonderful to see you both again," Martha told Beckett as she embraced her. "How was the flight?"
"It was good, we think," Castle answered. "We slept so we'd be ready for the drive."
"Should we go?" Jim asked after he'd let go of his daughter once he'd hugged her.
"I think so," Beckett said with a smile, squeezing his arm. They got their suitcases and once they were ready they headed out to the parking lot where Louis was walking the dogs around. She and Castle had a reunion with the two, Macca and Rita barking and trying to jump up on them both before they calmed them down the best they could.
"I know the way," Castle told the others once the dogs were relatively calm. "Follow me and we'll get there… late but we'll get there."
"How long Richard?" Martha asked as her son's voice was hesitant.
"Ten thirty," Castle said slowly.
"Oh no," Martha said when the girls were looking at each other in surprise. "I think we need to wait for tomorrow. We can always stay at the loft; the girls can sleep with me in my room, Louis is with Alexis and Jim can have the… can go to his place if he wants."
"I can stay in the loft on the couch again," Jim replied. "Why don't we have dinner and get to bed early since we have a five and a half hour drive?"
After everyone had agreed to that the group left for the city itself and stopped at Stefano's on the way to pick up their dinner, laughing at how Martha was the only one who hadn't really needed to pack that day. The girls didn't care they weren't leaving yet, ecstatic to have their parents back and peppering their parents for questions about their trip along the West Coast and the next day once they would finally leave for Lake Placid and Adirondack Park.
"I warned you," Castle was saying to his wife when they were led into their room last out of the eight of them at the Paradox Lodge. "It's very… woods-y I guess you'd call it." When she didn't say anything he asked, "Love?"
"Don't worry," Beckett said. "I wouldn't decorate my home like this but it's not my home and we're in the woods," she told him as she tore her gaze away from the view of the lake and said woods outside their room. "We have a stunning view and we have access to the lake… it's perfect." She smiled at the grin that spread over her husband's face and she leaned over to him, kissing him tenderly on the lips. "Come on," she told him. "We got here a little later than I was hoping so let's get out there and see what we can do."
"Sure," Castle said, following her to the bed that was covered in a red and white quilt and they unpacked together. "I'm a little uncomfortable," he commented as they finished and he was setting the suitcases aside.
"Probably better someone who isn't family is next to us," Beckett told him as they were going to the door. "Would you want my dad and the girls there? Or Alexis and Louis?"
Pretending to think that over Castle said, "You're right, this worked out better."
Beckett laughed softly and they left the room together, heading downstairs to where everyone but her mother in law was. "How do you like the rooms?" she asked the five of them.
"They're really nice," Eliza said. "And you can see all the pretty trees there!"
"I know, we can too," Castle said as she hugged him against his side. "We should let them come up to our room love."
"We will, later today," Beckett said with a smile. "How's your deck?" she asked Alexis and Louis as their room had one as well as her father and the girls in their room.
"So nice, we might have some tea there tonight or coffee in the morning," Alexis answered. "Before breakfast."
"Hello everyone," Martha said. She smiled as her two youngest granddaughters rushed to her and hugged her tightly around her waist and she said, "I take it we're all pleased with our accommodations?"
"Do you like your room Gram?" Julia asked, a little hesitantly as she'd heard her father worried what she might think about the way the place was decorated.
"Of course, it's very quaint and homey which would make sense since we're in the woods now," Martha replied. "So, what are we doing today?"
"Lunch first," Beckett said. "Which we'll eat at the tables outside on the lake." She shared a smile with her husband at the way their daughters gasped and looked at each other and they began to walk together to the restaurant that was in the main lodge; their three rooms were in what was called the Cedar Lodge. While the girls were allowed to wait outside at two of the tables to save them; the two buildings had turned out to be completely booked that weekend; she ordered with her husband, wondering if they'd still try to go down to the water since the tables were by the lake.
"It's really pretty," Eliza breathed out to her sister as they stood in front of the table, looking down at the water.
"I know," Julia said, wishing she had her camera to take a picture of the trees across the lake that were changing colors. "We have to try to paint this when we go home."
"Yeah," Eliza said eagerly. "Rita!" she gasped when the Hound licked at her face.
Smiling as Macca was still seated next to her Julia said, "I think she's trying to make sure we stay."
"I will, I don't wanna go on time out," Eliza replied. She then walked over to the wood fence that was near and touched the boat hanging from there. "What is it Jules?" she asked her sister, pointing to it.
"A canoe," Alexis said, walking down to them with Louis in tow.
"Can we go on it?" Julia asked interestedly.
"I think so," Louis replied. "Your da was talking about that with your mum; they seem eager to go."
"Of course, Dad's always loved canoeing," Alexis replied, remembering the last time they'd done that. She blanched inwardly as she recalled it had been on the hiking trip with Ashley and she turned her attention to the view to try and forget that. "Look at the trees," she said with more force than she realized.
"Do you have trees like that at home?" Eliza asked Louis.
"Oh aye, but I've never seen a park like this one. You Yanks have us licked a bit with this one for the fall," Louis said. "Though we have a few parks over in Europe."
"Birdie!" Eliza nearly screamed when she saw the crane alight in the water near them.
"Eliza!" Castle and Beckett called at the same time, walking down with the food and their parents behind them.
"I wasn't gonna go," Eliza said hurriedly, turning around as Rita jumping in front of her scared off the heron.
"Come and eat," Beckett said. When they were sitting she said, "What do you think of the trees?" asked her daughters as they were flanking her at Castle's insistence.
"Oh, they're beautiful," Julia whispered. "I can get my camera after, right?"
"Yep, your mom… oh, she has it," Castle said before he spotted her holding it. "But you can get them before we head on to the Chubb." He couldn't help chuckling slightly at the way the girls looked at him in complete bewilderment and explained, "It's a river near here; we were going to spend the day there until it starts getting darker."
"What time is that tonight?" Martha asked.
"Around seven, right?" Castle said.
"Don't look at me, I have no idea," Beckett said. "And I think we're coming back at four," she told him. "We may be on vacation but I don't want the girls going to bed too late."
"At least we get to stay out until then," Castle said. "Love," he then told her when he saw Rita watching a duck on the lake near them then.
Whistling for the Ibizan Hound, Beckett had her sit close to Eliza before she turned back to her food and she asked the others, "Does anyone else want to go canoeing?"
"Are we going now?" Alexis asked.
"It's why we're coming back at four," Castle explained. "We can use these three canoes if they're here for an hour."
"I want to go!" Julia said eagerly.
"Me too!" Eliza said, raising her hand and making the others laugh.
"We will," Castle said. "For now, let's head down to the river!"
After they had cleared the table the family got back in their cars with the dogs and headed southwest from the lodge before they reached the part of the Chubb River that he knew from his previous visit to the area. When they were down on the shaded banks of the river and had everything ready the girls went with their parents first into the water to wade.
"It's still warm," Julia said.
"Yeah we can go and swim!" Eliza said eagerly, kicking at the water.
"Is that why you brought us back here?" Beckett asked her husband with a smile.
"It was almost like a mini-lake," Castle said. He then made a slight face and said, "I guess that would make it a pond. Anyways I remembered it since it'll be calm enough for the girls."
"We can swim?" Julia asked as she and her sister were listening closely to their parents.
"I have no idea how deep it is," Castle said to his wife's look.
"Let us try that out first and then we'll see what we can do," Beckett told the two. She wasn't surprised when the girls started to rush back to Eliza's vest and she followed them with Castle. They took off the covers over their swim clothes and soon after she and her husband were going into the warm water, walking hand in hand partially in case they would need to and partially because they wanted to.
"Oh, not too deep," Castle said before he gasped.
"It's a fish Rick," Beckett said in amusement as he nearly fell into the water jumping away from her.
"I guess we can let them in," Castle said as they were in the middle and he was just barely shoulder deep.
"Alexis," Beckett called as they turned back to where their daughters were waiting with their big sister and Louis.
"Are our parents going to swim?" Castle commented as they waited for the four to swim to them.
"I don't know," Beckett said with a shrug before she held her arms out to Eliza who made a beeline for her. Kissing her cheek, she heard the little girl gasp and told her, "It's just a fish sweetie. That's what scared your daddy."
"Hey!" Castle said. When his wife looked at him he said, "I was startled, not scared."
"If you say so Dad," Alexis commented. "That sounded like a scared gasp."
Castle narrowed his eyes at her but was very quickly distracted by Julia trying to climb on his back. He helped her up and said, "Did we mention how much we missed the two of you?"
"You mean the three," Beckett corrected him as she was kneeling slightly and then standing to let Eliza get wet up to her neck.
"It's alright, I know he meant me too," Alexis told her stepmother with a wide smile. "And they really missed you guys but they kept asking us if you'd come home early."
"She's right," Louis commented, swimming up to them after he'd gone down a little away from them. "But more they were scared you'd come early."
"You were supposed to go together for two weeks," Julia was quick to explain.
"Well we did stay," Castle said.
"We also had to work," Beckett said. "We were doing that last night so we stayed our whole trip."
"Were you serious?" Alexis then asked her stepmother and father. "Are you planning on a road trip?"
"Yep," Castle said simply with a wide smile. "After what we got to see we have to share it with you guys; we can't be greedy."
"When can we do that?" Eliza asked.
"We're not sure," Beckett began. "We need to wait and see what our plans are in the future. But your daddy is right we want to share."
"Can we swim now?" Eliza asked.
"Sure, I've got them love," Castle told his wife as both girls were with him.
"Wait," Beckett said, grabbing Alexis' arm before she could swim away.
"What?" the young woman asked in surprise as she turned to look at her.
"You need to know," Beckett said, slightly uncomfortably before she pushed on. "The walls in the lodges are not soundproof."
My dad said that?" Alexis asked. When her stepmother nodded she breathed out and said, "Thanks we… um, thanks," she said, cutting herself off when she realized what Beckett was going to say. She looked at her and saw the understanding expression on her face before she whispered, "I don't know how you raise two kids and still have time alone together."
"You did eventually put them to bed, right?" Beckett asked in amusement.
"We did," Alexis replied, knowing her cheeks were likely on fire. "I guess that's a good point."
"It's a good time," Beckett replied. "Come on, we better follow them."
Alexis nodded before she impulsively hugged her stepmother tightly saying, "Thank you for being so understanding."
"It's not hard; I was your age once too," Beckett said before they let go of each other. "Though you're luckier than I was."
"I am," Alexis breathed, looking over at her boyfriend who was swimming in circles with Eliza on his back to her delighted cries. She then shook herself and said, "You do have my dad now." When she didn't get any response to that she glanced at Beckett and tried not to laugh when she saw her stepmother was staring at Castle who was ducking under the water with Julia. "Kate?" she asked, touching her shoulder. When her stepmother jerked slightly she asked, "Swim?"
"Let's go," Beckett said quickly.
"It's amazing to see Alexis so close with her," Martha commented to Jim as they watched the two swimming to the others.
"Was she never close with his other… his second wife?" Jim asked.
"Well she never outright hated her or his past girlfriends," Martha replied. "But she didn't bother to get close because she knew they'd be gone soon. Kate's been the difference." She then turned to Beckett's father and said, "Luckily Alexis knew her already and how she was and she loved her."
"And now? As a mother?" Jim asked.
"Essentially the same but she feels closer to her than when she was just her father's work partner," Martha replied. "Don't worry, she loves her family."
"Are you going to join them?" Jim asked as he stood up then to remove the shirt he was wearing.
"No, I prefer saying right where I am and admire the view of the woods," Martha replied. "Enjoy."
"You know they'll bring you in, right?" Jim said before he headed down to the river.
"I know but until then I'll stay," Martha replied.
Walking into the water Jim found his timing was good as the group was coming back towards him and he waved at them before saying, "How is it?"
"Really calm," Castle said first as he was closest to him. "And great you're coming in, Eliza was just asking about her grandfather."
"I wanted you to come and swim," the little girl said with a wide smile as she was allowed to swim to him. "Are you happy you got to come Grandpapa?"
"I am," Beckett's father replied before he watched his daughter swimming after Julia, both laughing heavily together.
Ducking under the water when they stopped Julia popped back up soon after and saw that her mother had done the same next to her. Though she needed to tread the water she was throwing her arms tightly around her neck and said happily, "I'm so glad you're back."
"So am I," Beckett said.
"We'll stop saying that soon," Julia said as she realized she and her sister had been saying that every once in a while since they'd seen their parents the day before.
"It's okay, we feel the same way," Castle said. "Love what about the dogs?"
Looking over to where the two were sitting on the bank watching them Beckett looked at the girls and asked, "Who thinks Macca will come in?"
"He will, just call him to come in Mommy," Eliza said.
With a wide smile on her face Beckett whistled three times quickly in a row; the signal to the two to come in together. She was surprised when they quickly did so and watched Rita go over to Castle and Macca to Julia. As they began to play with them and their family she watched her husband, seeing the joy on his face as they plated fetch in the water with a stick they had found.
Eventually the family took a break after they'd been swimming for nearly an hour, Castle bringing out the watermelon he'd managed to get from the hotel as the others watched him closely and the girls looked at it interestedly as it was big.
"How exactly are you going to cut that Dad?" Alexis asked as he set it on the cooler it had been in.
"Might I ask where you got that cooler?" Louis then said.
"The hotel, I wanted to make sure this was cold," Castle said. "And as for cutting this…" he began before pulling a knife out of the cooler. "Kate?"
"You don't think you could do it?" Beckett asked jokingly as she took the knife from him.
"I could but not sure how steady I can hold it," Castle replied.
"Get me a towel," Beckett said. She watched as Julia rushed to get one and waited for her to put it on the cooler while her husband held the fruit. When it was set back down she then held it before swinging down the knife as soon as the girls were out of the way. She nodded at the sight of the very red fruit that was inside once it split in half and said, "They gave us a good one."
"But…" Castle started to say as she handed the knife to him. When she just looked at him pointedly he sighed but took it as they had found he was better at cutting the fruit and more rapidly. He did so then, cutting off large slices and handing them out to the girls first, then Alexis and Louis before his and Beckett's parents and finally for his wife and himself. He was about to sit down when Eliza went over to him and he said, "You should eat your first piece first sweetheart," as she hadn't even taken a bite yet.
"No, give one to Macca and Rita," Eliza replied.
"Well…" Castle started to say.
"Small slices," Beckett said. "Is it cool enough?"
Touching the flesh Castle cut off a slice and then cut out the red fruit before he cut that in half and he called to the dogs. He fed the pieces to them, watching them devour them and he said as he sat next to his wife, "We did feed them, right?"
"We did," Beckett said in amusement as she was wiping off Eliza's mouth. "It must have been the swimming."
"I thought Macca didn't like going in the water?" Jim asked when they were eating their second slices.
"I think it's more the chlorine in the pool he doesn't like," Beckett said. "Since he will go in the water at the beach."
"Plus there are fish," Castle commented. He was startled when Eliza gave a distressed cry and looking at her asked, "What is it?"
"Macca isn't gonna eat a fishie is he?" the little girl asked in concern.
"He won't," Beckett said, wrapping her arm around her while Eliza pressed close to her. "They're too fast."
"Macca!" Julia cried out in a groan as the dog was beginning to lick at her chin where some of the watermelon juice had dripped.
"Julia?" Beckett said.
"Yeah?" the girl asked once she'd calmed Macca down and had gotten him to stop.
"You never said yesterday how your dance class went," Beckett told her.
"Oh, it was good," Julia replied. She then smiled and said, "We worked on the trio dance we have to do and then the Swing marathon."
"Did you ever send her the video?" Castle asked his wife.
"I… no," Beckett said when she realized that she hadn't. She fished in her bag for her phone and opened the video clip, motioning Julia to come over to her as the girl was sitting at the very end of the blankets they'd set down.
Interested Julia looked down at the screen and watched as Skye and Mary began to dance on it. "They're dancing Swing!" she said in amazement.
"They learned together after they learned Flamenco," Beckett explained.
"How'd they do?" Castle asked.
"Good, but they danced with all those people around?" Julia asked. When her parents nodded she then asked, "Did anyone say anything?"
"A few of them recognized her," Beckett said with a smile as she knew her daughter was asking if anyone had protested the two women dancing together. "And spoke to her."
"They recognized us too," Castle commented.
"How were your games?" Martha asked the two.
With a laugh Beckett said, "We really only had it during the signing in San Francisco."
"Which she won," Castle said.
"Nothing in San Diego?" Alexis asked in surprise.
"Not at Horton Plaza," Beckett replied. "We didn't get a thing there which was a relief."
"And the last night at the party it was mostly couples," Castle said. "So we didn't bother with it."
"Can we go back in the water?" Eliza asked then as her father was putting the watermelon half they still had away.
"Sure," Beckett replied. "But let's just wade for now okay?"
"Wait for me," Castle said quickly, closing the lid of the cooler hard before he rushed to where they were already ankle deep in the water.
The girls crying out as the dogs splashed them along with their father Beckett sighed and said, "Really?"
"What? It's not like the water's freezing," Castle said, smiling as Eliza jumped at him and he picked her up, throwing her up in the air slightly.
Smiling as she watched her little sister crying out in pleasure Alexis said to her boyfriend, "Want to head up river?"
"What, to see the salmon?" Louis asked jokingly. When she just grabbed his hand pulling him after her he smiled and then simply followed as they went after saying goodbye to Martha and Jim.
"Aren't they gonna come with us?" Eliza asked, watching the two going.
"Let them take a walk together," Beckett replied, squeezing her hand as she was on Castle's shoulders.
"They had to take care of us Lizzy," Julia told her sister. "So now they can relax."
"I don't think it was that difficult to take care you two," Jim said as he walked into the river with the dogs following him.
"What is it?" Beckett asked, seeing the frown on Eliza's face.
"Let me down Daddy," the little girl told him. As soon as she was down she walked; since she was only knee deep; over to Martha and said, "Come on Gram!"
Though she was going to protest Castle's mother realized that she couldn't; not with the expression on her granddaughter's face; and she allowed Eliza to make her stand up before they walked into the water. "Oh," Martha said in slight surprise. "You're right, it is warm."
"Welcome Mother," Castle said with a smile. "I'd been wondering if she was going to do this."
"Me too," Martha said, watching Eliza run over to her mother and sister. She then turned back to her son and said, "This was a wonderful idea."
"Thanks," Castle replied. He then said, "I forgot to tell you and Jim," looking at his father in law as he was approaching them. "Next year we have our plans for Spring Break. Well, we thought of them I need to see what you two are going to do before we can get things set."
"It's the week of the birthdays, isn't it?" Jim asked.
"It is," Castle said with a smile. "We're going to go around the north part of the state though since Eliza's older and will remember more," he told them.
Beckett, coming back with the girls and dogs to them, waited a little nervously as she wondered what their reaction would be to that.
"So you have something big in mind," Martha said to her son.
"You could say that," Castle began.
"We'd like to take them to Niagara Falls," Beckett said quickly as she had a feeling her husband was going to drag out telling them.
"Really?" Julia asked with wide eyes. She saw the others were looking at her so she explained, "We learned about it in school, Dawn saw them and said they were really pretty."
"How long would you stay?" Jim asked.
"Well we have in mind a museum," Castle said. "In Rochester which isn't too far away. I was thinking," he then said, directing that mostly to his wife. "We could rent a house for the week near Youngstown. Though that might change of course, it's just preplanning at this point."
"What's so special about there?" Julia asked.
"You didn't let me finish," Castle said jokingly. "Rent a lake house on Lake Ontario and go around from there. To the falls, the museum and zoo."
"Zoo?" the girls said at the exact same time.
"Yes," Beckett said with a smile at them. "Why wouldn't we stay in Rochester since two of those are there?"
"I figured they would want to see the lake," Castle said with a shrug.
"Okay," Beckett said. "Do you think you could join us?"
"What about 'lexis?" Eliza asked before her grandparents could say anything.
"She'll be in between breaks," Castle said. "But you have to ask her about that."
"She should go," Julia said quickly. "And Louis should come with us too; he's gonna live here isn't he?"
"What about me?" Alexis asked, walking back holding onto Louis' hand tightly. When the girls explained their idea about Spring Break in a rush she was smiling but then looked at her father and stepmother to explain more clearly which they did. "Well I'm off for break then so I can go," she said before looking at her boyfriend.
Shaking his head Louis said, "I'm not sure about Erin's break."
"Come with us too," Eliza said earnestly to him.
"She's right, we're extending you and your family an invitation," Castle said when his wife looked pointedly at him. "And Julia's right, if you're going to live here after college you should see some of the state."
"I look forward to that; especially the falls since I have heard of them," Louis said. He sighed and said, "I just hope my da and step mom could join us." He then seemed to realize something and said, "I accept your invitation by the way, I'll ask them later."
"You think they'd be able to join us?" Castle asked.
"If Erin's off I think they would," Louis replied.
"Then we have everyone set," Martha commented as she noticed the girls were trying to step deeper into the river.
"They're fine," Beckett said to her mother in law, watching as Macca went around in front of Julia who was in the lead.
"When we get home, I'll find the house so we can get it in time and start getting the other stuff ready," Castle said. With that done he watched his mother and Jim step out of the water before Louis was following them. He turned his attention to his wife but saw she was going deeper into the water with the girls and the dogs. He smiled at Alexis and said, "Your lips are all swollen."
"And I've seen yours the same way," the young woman replied, not embarrassed though. "Thanks for inviting him."
"It was the girls' idea first," Castle said. "I think they love him."
"He's a good brother so he acted the same way with them," Alexis replied. "Could we take a canoe on our own later on the lake?"
"Sure, I'm not sure if your gram and Jim will take one but Kate and I want to take the girls," Castle replied.
"It seems like you missed them-" Alexis began as they got deeper in the water.
"And you," Castle quickly interrupted her.
"Us," Alexis corrected before she hugged him with one arm. "Like you missed us a little more this time."
"I talked with her about that," Castle said as he looked out at his wife who was exploring the other bank of the river with the girls. "We think it was because we knew you weren't going to bring them out… you couldn't."
"Yeah and they did miss you but they were set on those two weeks like I told you," Alexis replied with a smile. "But they kept an unofficial countdown to yesterday."
"I'm off Lex," Louis said, going by them then and running into the water.
"I guess we're going over to the other side," Castle commented as he soon could tell the young man was swimming over to Beckett and the girls. He went ahead of his daughter and walking up on that side he took her hand.
"What?" Beckett asked with a smile when she felt how hard her husband was holding her.
"Nothing," Castle said, unable to stop himself from squeezing her hand.
"Come on, let's see if we can find some leaves," Alexis was telling her sisters then as she'd seen the desperate grip her father had on her stepmother's hand.
"What for?" Eliza asked, her and her sister missing the way their father mouthed 'thank you' to their big sister.
"Since it's fall now," Louis began. "You lot can make art for the time being with them." He then looked at his girlfriend and said, "Right?"
"Right, come on," Alexis said, reaching out to take Julia's hand while Eliza took Louis'.
"Rick, wait," Beckett said in slight amusement as her husband was nearly dragging her into the trees that were near the bank.
"Sorry… I was watching you with the girls and decided…" Castle said before trailing off.
"Stop pausing," Beckett said with a smile. "And you're lucky Alexis could tell what you were thinking."
"I don't think it was that difficult," Castle admitted to her. "I can be transparent." When she merely smiled at him he said, "What, you think I am?"
Not saying a word Beckett merely reached up to him and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him deeply before he was holding onto her by the small of her back tightly.
"Do they know we can still see them?" Louis asked his girlfriend.
"I don't think they want to risk any bites going deeper than that," Alexis said with a smile as they were pausing in helping the girls get some of the fallen leaves on the ground. "Wait, not that one Jules."
"Poison ivy?" Julia asked. When her sister nodded she could help suddenly sing, "Late at night while you're sleepin', poison ivy comes a-creepin' around."
Parting at the sound of their daughter singing Castle and Beckett smiled briefly at each other before they made their way over to them together, still holding hands but turning their attention back to them so they could spend the rest of the day with them as they'd been wanting to during their trip to the West Coast.