Genre: Romance, Family, Humor, Supernatural
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: Loved getting the feedback I did for the last chapter, so I'll go into my thank yous right away! TORONTOSUN (Really pleased to see you liked the songs I had for the last chapter since I enjoy them myself!) and
Mb (Really happy you thought the chapter was sweet. And I don't blame you, lol, writing these vacations I wish I could go too! So I agree with you completely on that one! I'm glad you thought it was nice with them relaxed and decompression from work and school along with their obligations too since I figured it'd be great to see them like that. Really nice you were glad that Alexis and Louis were going to help Jim with the girls while Castle and Beckett are in Mill Valley. And I'm not surprised you mentioned Martha with her obligations or that she will soon be full time in the Hamptons, lol. Great to see you thought it was nicely done. And you're welcome for the first half! I was really happy to see you thought the second half was a sweet and loving look at them enjoying each other's company and the vacation too! I'm still pleased you're looking forward to them in San Francisco and seeing the places in their past like that were special for them, I can't wait to get to those chapters! You're welcome for sharing the second half of the chapter!).
Thanks so much for the reviews, loved reading them and as always I appreciate the time taken to write them out and send them my way!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Las Brisas written by Ringo Starr and Nancy Andrews, from Ringo's album Ringo's Rotogravure.
Sunset That I See Within Your Smile
"There's the city," Julia said with a wide smile as she and Mari were peering out the window.
"I see," the girl said. "I wish we could see home though."
Nodding her head, Julia looked back at the aisle behind them and saw her mother was looking out the window for a moment. She wanted to look and see what Josie was doing but knew her mother didn't want her to take off her seatbelt though they still had a little more to go before landing.
"Julia?" Mari asked her friend, looking over her shoulder at her.
"Can you see Central Park?" the girl asked, hurrying to look over her shoulder. Julia smiled at the sight of the park but couldn't help thinking at the same time of Golden Gate Park for a moment. When she'd shaken herself, she saw they'd gone by the massive green space and could see the buildings. Eventually they got to the point where they could see Manhattan and she said, "There's the tower."
"I see," Mari said with a nod. "So cool," she breathed.
"It is," Julia said, smiling at her friend though she wasn't looking at her. Eventually they were getting nearer to water and she pointed out the window, Mari nodding as they both knew JFK was below them. She had no idea why she thought of it, but she tried to look back at her mom again thinking of their flight that Skye had landed. She could see in between the chairs that her mother was smiling at Josie and she decided to try and forget it, looking back to the window past Mari's shoulder to see what they'd reached next.
"It's so weird we go past it," Mari said.
"And it's called Long Beach here," Julia said with a smile.
"I know, remember Long Beach over there?" Mari asked.
Laughing softly Julia couldn't really reply to that as the plane was beginning to bank to the right so they could turn. She said, once they'd straightened out, "I feel like we're going back."
"I know, I don't want to!" Mari whispered before they were laughing together. They looked out at the ocean and then the beach they were passing before she said, "Breezy Point?"
"Yep, we're starting to go down," Julia replied, squeezing her hand as they were getting lower. She soon spotted the Marine Parkway Bridge and looked across the aisle at her father seeing he was looking out the window with Louis. She turned back to her own window in time to see the city's first municipal airport, recalling the name since Skye had told her about it before. Watching them passing over Jamaica Bay, she smiled when she heard Eliza pointing out the islands they could see. "She always loves those," she said to her friend.
"They are pretty," Mari told her. She smiled when her friend nodded before they passed over a larger island and could hear the little girl oohing over it though she had seen it before.
"Almost there," Julia murmured as they were passing Spring Creek Park.
"I love seeing all the pools," Mari said as they were passing over homes after the park.
Nodding, Julia said, "They're so pretty…" before they were passing a freeway and she could tell they were a little lower. When they finally passed over a lot of parked cars, she squeezed Mari's hand and then sat back against her chair, watching them passing buildings before they passed a road and she could finally see the runway. Feeling the plane touching the ground she smiled and then applauded with the others before they were slowing down and eventually turning to go to their gate. "I hate this part," she said with a sigh.
"I know, but try and see the other planes," Mari told her. Look, there's one."
Leaning over and seeing the JetBlue plane, Julia nodded and then gasped saying, "Oh cool! There's Aer Lingus! Mom," trying not to say the last too loud.
"I see it too sweetie, keep looking, you're going to miss everything," Beckett said, obviously smiling.
Julia started out the window, fascinated by the A380s they were passing, smiling when she saw two around a smaller Southwest plane. She shared a smile with Mari when they passed an Avianca plane that was close, and she started to name the planes.
"El-Al?" Mari asked.
"From Israel. My parents talked to a flight attendant for a case from there. Look, Aero México," Julia said.
"Now Delta," Mari said, smiling at her. They looked back outside together and saw a plane taking off before they saw some buses driving past.
Seeing more Delta planes, Julia wished she could look ahead before they were finally passing a Lufthansa and an Air France along with others she couldn't see the name of. She soon noticed they were behind another Lufthansa and she smiled, knowing they were likely getting closer to their gate.
"Hold on sweetie," Beckett was saying to Josie in the row behind. When she was sure the baby was okay, she looked out the window in time to see a plane taking off. She smiled when she heard the girls in front of her speculating about where the plane was going and then turned her attention to the parked Air France plane they were passing.
"It's so cool, look, there's a guy," Mari said, pointing out the worker.
"I know, it's funny how small he looks next to the plane," Julia said before the plane was turning again and they were soon coming to the gate. "Yes," she said happily and quietly before she and Mari were nearly snorting in their laughter.
Beckett thought she would need to admonish the girls to wait to get up but was pleasantly surprised to see them remaining in their seats as they were talking together. When they could get off the plane she stood and got Josie's carrier unbuckled before she looked at her husband.
"Good?" Castle asked her.
"It was a nice landing," Beckett said, smiling.
"I know, Skye would be proud of them," Castle said, not surprised when his wife laughed softly. "But I'm ready to go."
"Me too," Beckett said with a quick nod before they were able to start walking to get off. Once they'd finally managed it, the family went to their luggage and through customs before they were going to the long-term parking where their cars were.
"Okay," Castle said once they had the cars loaded and Josie was set in one of them. "We're heading straight home…"
"We'll stop at ours," Alexis said as her father was looking at her. "But we'll come over to stay for the rest of the weekend once we finish unpacking."
"Great," Castle replied. "We'll have dinner at home; probably just pizza."
"We can get it," Louis said quickly.
"That would be nice," Beckett said. "Are we set?"
"Yeah, we should head out," Castle said. He went with his wife to their car and they brought Julia and Mari with them to get them in the car.
"Have fun with your grandparents," Beckett called to Eliza as she was going with the two. She got into the passenger seat then and closing the door she looked back at the girls. "Okay watching her?" she asked.
"Yeah, she'll be fine Mom," Julia assured her. "We can't wait to go home."
"I'm not surprised," Castle commented. "And we can't either." He got out of the parking lot first, the other two cars following before they were driving to the Hamptons. Since he was looking out the windshield, he eventually asked his wife, "Did you text Skye?"
"She answered me back immediately; they got there too," Beckett replied. She smiled hearing Josie vocalizing behind them and then settled back for the rest of the drive. When they were entering their neighborhood, she smiled and then said, "Mari?"
"Yeah?" the girl asked quickly.
"Your parents will come get you there; they might-" Beckett started to say.
"They're here," Castle said, seeing the Fosters outside the wall.
"Hi Mom, Dad! Dani!" Mari said, rolling down the window a little and then putting it back up as it was a little chilly for the baby next to her. She waited anxiously for the car to stop in the garage and she had to make sure the one Jim was driving was set next to them. When he and Martha were getting out, she ran over to the door in the wall, throwing it open and throwing herself at her mother.
Smiling as she watched the reunion, Julia was startled when she felt a hand taking hers and looked down at her sister saying, "What?"
"I'm sorry Mari isn't gonna spend the night with you anymore," Eliza told her seriously.
"Don't worry, I'll see her tomorrow. It is Easter," Julia said. They then walked over with their parents to the other family who had finished greeting each other.
"Thank you for bringing her back," Rebecca said first.
"You're welcome," Beckett said before her husband could make a joke about having left her behind.
"I can tell she had fun," David said.
"How?" Castle asked.
"That smile," David replied.
"Dad," Mari said laughingly as he pinched her cheek gently.
"Thank you," Rebecca said as Jim was bringing over her daughter's suitcase. "I hate to take her away so fast, but we want her inside."
"That's fine," Castle said. "Better say goodbye Julia; you'll see her tomorrow."
Nodding, Julia stepped up to her friend and hugged her tightly as Mari did the same to her and after they let go of each other she was about to speak when her friend was asking her a question first.
"I'll call you later… before I go to bed," Mari replied.
"Sure," Julia said. "Have fun back at home," she told her before the Fosters were saying goodbye and leaving. She eventually turned back to the house and went with the others inside before she was crying out as they heard the dogs.
"They were already here," Martha said to her son.
"Rebecca and David brought them in," Castle said. "Before they went around to the front."
"I told Rebecca that they could just go into the house and stay there to wait for us but…" Beckett said, shrugging. "Girls come on and unpack your backpacks," she told them as they were petting the dogs still.
"How much time until they come back?" Julia asked.
"You mean Alexis and Louis?" Castle asked.
"Yeah," Julia replied.
"They'll come for dinner," Beckett answered before, ushering the girls upstairs. "Most likely around six." She was relieved when the two went up and she followed them once she had Josie from her mother in law.
"When is she gonna stop taking naps?" Eliza asked her mother softly as she and her sister were waiting at the top of the stairs for their mother.
"In a few years," Beckett replied with a smile. "Will you two be okay on your own?"
Since she knew her mother wasn't asking her, Julia looked at her little sister, trying not to laugh at her nodding her head firmly. When their mother sent them to their rooms, she hurried into hers and set her backpack on her bed, smiling at Macca as he'd followed her and had jumped up on the bed. "I missed you too boy," she said, stroking the top of his head. "Don't worry, I won't mind sharing the room with you and JoJo tonight but I'm going to miss Mari a lot." When the Wolfhound's response was to yawn, she laughed and hugged him around the neck before kissing the top of his head.
"Hey Julia," Castle said as he walked into the room after knocking on the doorway.
"Hey, thanks Dad," she said quickly as he was rolling her suitcase in.
"You're welcome, let me set it on your bed," Castle replied. "Your mom told you about putting all your clothes in your hamper, right?" he asked her.
"Yeah, I can do that on my own," Julia replied as she hugged him quickly.
"Great, I'll check on your sisters," Castle said.
"I think just Lizzy; Mom took Josa over asleep," Julia replied.
"I'll do that then," Castle said, turning to leave. He was surprised when she grabbed his hand and he asked, "What's wrong?"
"No, I was wondering when can we see the pantry?" Julia asked.
"As soon as we're finished up here," Castle said firmly. He smiled when Julia looked momentarily surprised before he explained, "I know your mom has always wanted a walk-in pantry."
"She has?" Julia asked in surprise.
"It annoyed her that the loft didn't have at least a small one," Castle said. "And the one here got too small for all of us. So I'm really hoping she likes it."
"Can we decorate a pantry?" Julia asked with a slight frown. "A walk-in one like you called it."
"We'll leave that for your mom," Castle replied, startled when she shook her head firmly and then looked up at him.
"You and Mom, it's your house," Julia said. "I mean you and Mom, it's both your house."
Smiling at her tone Castle said, "You like us deciding things like that together?"
With a quick nod of her head Julia said, "I liked you doing that when I was little."
"Really?" Castle asked.
"Yep, it made us feel more like a family," Julia said.
"It did," Castle said, hugging her quickly. "I'll be with your sister."
"You can just go to Mom," Julia called as he was going to the doorway. She laughed when he said, "Smart aleck," lovingly to her and then turned her attention back to her suitcase which she opened. She took her clothes inside from the trip to the hamper, and then set her diary on her desk. After she had swiftly taken everything out of her backpack, she was scratching Macca on the ears for a moment before hurrying to her desk.
Taking out her pen and ink, she felt a deep sense of contentment filling the former with her black ink and Julia turned to the pages she was on before starting with the date and then adding the time.
April 3rd, 2021 3:30pm
Hello Diary! And hello from home!
I wrote the time in the corner since I wanted to note that I'm going to be super quick with this.
I'm finally back at my desk and I have my beautiful fountain pen again; I missed it sooo much! I just wondered suddenly right now if I should give it a name, but it feels kinda silly to do that. But I just realized what I should do is give you one, finally, I talked about it before and never have… I'll think about it.
So before we got home was the flight of course and though I hated leaving Mexico City I loved getting to go through the airport and the flight. Flying's a lot of fun now since we know Skye and she's taught us so much about planes (We were on a Boeing 777-300 and it has 365 seats and three classes and there are six wheels all together. I know I'm showing off but it's so cool to know all of that and see it on the plane!). She knows the captain of our flight, though she and her family flew to LA on another British Airways. Actually, she knew both her and the co-pilot (the co-pilot was a man) and I knew about her already. Her name was Aileen Grange and Marie told me she's been to their home in LA.
Julia paused, thinking if she wanted to include what she was thinking and finally decided before going back to her entry and continuing her paragraph.
I think Marie kinda sorta has a crush on her, but I didn't mention it or ask since I know how annoying it is when people try to find that out. But she talked to Mom and Dad a little bit and now I have to mention something about Mari (not Marie, no e at the end). I think Mari was fascinated by her. We were sitting in our aisle near them and while they were talking to the pilot Mari was staring at her. She was fascinating… I can't think of another word. She was tall and she has a scar on her neck, Skye said it was from when one of her planes overran the runway not too long ago. But she was really brave to keep flying (I can't forget that Skye is too, she's been in the crash when she was little, another incident and then the one with Mom and Dad so yeah, she's brave) and we had a perfect flight.
The drive home was normal and it was so nice seeing home again, though Mari's family was outside the wall when we got here. I used the word though 'cause that meant she had to go home and she did which was so sad though I knew she was going to go. We then came in the house and the dogs were here and of course I was super happy to see them again. We eventually came up here and I unpacked really fast before I came to this diary.
I'm writing here now 'cause I don't know yet if I'll have the chance to write tonight, I might be a little too tired. Plus tomorrow's Easter (Josa's first!) and I don't want to be tired for that and everything we're going to do.
I have a name for you now, for some reason I think the name Evangeline from the poem by Wordsworth that I love. So Evangeline if I don't write to you later tonight I'll write tomorrow for sure!
Julia studied the name she had written for her diary for a moment and then turned her attention to putting it, her pen and ink bottle away before she stood up seeing Eliza running inside. "Are we going downstairs?" she asked, seeing their parents behind her.
"We're hoping you can take Eliza with you there," Castle said.
"Are Gram and Grandpapa in the family room?" Julia asked.
"No, they're unpacking too," Beckett replied. "But we trust you two on your own downstairs."
"Sure," Julia said, taking her sister's hand before they were walking up to the doorway. "You're going to unpack?"
"Yeah, we won't take that long," Castle said. "Don't go outside."
"We won't," Eliza said before she and her sister stepped into the hallway to watch their parents head down to the other side of the stairs to their bedroom. "Are we gonna go?" she asked, watching her sister.
"Yeah, come on," Julia said before they started down the stairs.
"Are we gonna go see the pantry?" Eliza asked once they were at the bottom of the staircase.
"When everyone's here. I don't think Dad wants to do that without 'lexis and Louis," Julia said, smiling when her sister nodded in agreement. She then said, "But we can get some water, okay?" At Eliza nodding again she smiled and teased her saying, "Can you talk."
"Yeah," the little girl said, sticking her tongue out at her sister playfully. Eliza squealed when Julia started to chase her jokingly and she lightly jogged to the kitchen.
Following her little sister, Julia hoped someone wouldn't check to see what they were doing, wanting their parents to spend a little more time together before they joined them in the kitchen.
"She said that?" Beckett asked her husband with a smile.
"Yeah, though since we were talking about the two of us making decisions I'm not surprised she mentioned that," Castle replied. He then smiled and told her, "I was remembering when she told me that after we moved out here. She was very insistent that we made decisions about the house together."
"You mean when we were deciding the colors for downstairs and the halls?" Beckett asked.
Nodding, Castle said, "Since she helped us with it in the end."
"She did," Beckett said, going to her husband.
Castle was startled at that before she was leaning up slightly to kiss him and he hurried to respond to her before they shortly after parted. "Look, you may be tired tonight-" he began saying as he stared into her eyes.
"Don't worry," Beckett interrupted with a smile. "I have no complaints about kissing you."
"For hours?" Castle suggested with a smile playing at the corners of his lips.
"That might be a little too long," Beckett replied, shaking her head.
"You only said a little," Castle told her before he was laughing as she pinched his upper arm lightly. He followed her to the bathroom so they could unpack their things from there and as he was taking everything out of the small bag, he couldn't help recalling what he and his wife had been talking about. He had been on his own with Julia five months after he and Beckett had returned from their honeymoon and while his six-month pregnant wife was out with his mother they had started to talk together about their house.
"Daddy?" Julia asked him.
"Yeah," Castle said as he handed her one of her cups with apple juice in it.
"Mommy and me can stay here right?" Julia asked.
"Of course, this is your home now," Castle replied. "Both of you. Did you think you have to leave at some point?"
"A little," Julia replied shyly.
Leaning over, Castle kissed the top of her head and said, "You don't, your mom owns this house too and I don't want you guys to go anywhere at all. Especially since we're going to have the baby join us soon."
Smiling Julia said, "I can't wait to see if I have a brother or a sister."
"Me too," Castle said. "But why would you think you had to leave?"
Julia didn't say anything, pretending to drink from her cup before her father was cupping her cheek with her hand. "You and Mommy can't pick a color," she said.
"Oh… are you talking about our little disagreement?" Castle asked her.
"You fought?" Julia asked in confusion.
"We didn't really, we just have a hard time agreeing on the colors," Castle assured her. He then picked her up and took her to the family room before he sat on the couch before he set her on his lap. "Since we are I'm realizing we need to get another opinion."
"Me?" Julia asked in uncertainty.
"Yes," Castle said firmly, reaching over to the coffee table and picking up the folder with the different paint samples he and his wife had collected. "So look at what we have and let me know which one you like the best."
Julia bit her lower lip as her father was flipping through the samples before she made him stop. "I like that one," she said quickly.
Since she had seen the colors while he and Beckett had been looking at them, Castle knew she wasn't taking her mother's side and he smiled. "Your mom really likes it," he told her.
"She does?" Julia asked in surprise.
"Yeah, she wants a very pale blue and this one will work around the whole house," Castle replied, kissing her temple.
"I think it will too," Julia said with a wide smile.
"Okay, then I'll tell her when she and your gram come home that we have our color," Castle told her, hugging her close.
"Daddy?" Julia asked, watching him putting away the paint samples. "Could we play something?"
"Of course," Castle replied. "What do you want to do?"
"On your phone?" Julia asked with a smile.
"Which game?" Castle asked her as he was getting his phone ready.
"The one with the monster," Julia said with a smile at him.
"I knew you were going to say that," Castle told her with a laugh. "Here, let's see how far we can go this time," he told her as he opened the game for her.
"Okay, I wanna go fifty times," Julia said firmly.
"Fifty?" Castle asked before he was laughing. He hugged her to him and shared a kiss with her before saying, "I don't think we'll have the time to do that, but we can play for a while still."
"Good," Julia said before she smiled up at her father.
As they began the game, Castle held her close to him, unable to help enjoying the trust and love she had for him greatly. They played the game for some time, powerless to resist the fun they were having together before they were joined by Beckett and Martha.
"Okay you two," Beckett was saying to Julia and Eliza as the girls were laughing together, sitting on their knees next to their little sister. "You're going to make her laugh too hard."
"She's having fun though," Julia said first.
"I know, but she's going to start getting the hiccups," Castle commented.
"And not stop?" Eliza asked.
"I hope not," Castle said, making a face. He laughed when both Eliza and Josie did and told his wife, "I was trying not to do that love."
"I know, but we should do something to calm her down," Beckett replied. She then said, "Come here sweetie," to the baby, holding her hands out to her.
Watching Josie crawl Julia asked, "Are you gonna try and get her to stand up?"
"I will but don't be disappointed if she doesn't," Becket told them.
"I think we know she's not there yet," Martha said. When her daughter in law looked at her, she said, "I'm a little impatient. Why I don't know since Richard took his time with some things."
"Like what?" Julia asked.
"Like learning to feed himself," Martha said.
"I can't explain that," Castle said quickly.
"No, but eventually you did so that's why I was never upset," Martha said before she was stopping as Josie had reached her mother.
"Come here Josie," Beckett told her. She held out her hands and when Josie grabbed them, she waited with bated breath to see if the baby would be able to do it. But as before Josie was on her knees before her right leg came up before she dropped it again. "Maybe I should let her try on the table," she said to the others.
"We'll help her Mom!" Eliza said eagerly before she and Julia enticed their baby sister to the coffee table where they helped her get on her knees. "You can do it Josa," she told her. "Watch, you just stand like this," she said eagerly, pushing herself up and smiling at her widely.
Staring at her big sister, Josie soon laughed before she grew serious as she looked at the table. She squeezed the protective barrier around the table before attempting to push her legs up. But she only got one foot flat on the floor again before she was losing her balance and fell over.
"You're okay!" Julia said, catching the baby and trying to calm her down as she was crying.
"Let me take her," Castle said, reaching out to the girl.
"Here," Julia said, hurrying over with the baby. She turned towards the front door hearing the chime of the gate opening outside and said, "They're here." She looked back at Josie and said, "'lexis is here Josa!"
"Yeah, she can see you almost try!" Eliza said.
"I don't think she'll do that again now," Beckett said. "At least not for a while."
Sighing Eliza said, "She will stand up though."
"One day, just unlikely today," Jim said as they were getting up and going over to the entry.
"Hey, you guys didn't need to meet us," Alexis said. "We could have made it on our own."
"Not really," Castle said, taking one of the bags she held before his wife was pulling it from his hand.
"I'll take this," Beckett said. "Not while you're carrying Josie."
"What do you think Josie, could I carry you and the bags?" Castle asked, gently bouncing her to her laughter.
"Josa tried to stand up now 'lexis," Eliza was saying to her big sister. "And Jules and I helped her, but she still can't do it."
"Too bad, but I'm kind of glad she didn't do it while we weren't here," Alexis said, smiling at her parents.
"She'll do other things with you here," Beckett said with a smile.
"Oh," Castle said as they were going into the kitchen. "Now that you guys are here we can go ahead and look at the pantry."
"You guys should go in first," Louis said. When Castle and Beckett looked at him he said, "Since you're the ones that cook mostly. And we can't really fit in at once can we?"
"Alright, I'll take Kate and Josie in first," Castle said, smiling at his wife.
Glancing at him, Beckett squeezed his hand before she let him open the door and then said, "Better than carrying the bag." She couldn't help laughing at the face he made and then went into the pantry, her mouth dropping open for a moment before she looked at her husband as he was staring at the room himself. "When we said the dimensions…" she began once she was more recovered.
"I know, but it's perfect, as much food as we get," Castle said. "And once we start canning and everything."
"I'm still surprised you want to do that," Beckett told him.
"Don't worry," Castle replied with a shrug. "I've done it before, and it helps in the winter. Blizzards," he said, adding the last as she was looking at him in confusion.
"I know, I just hope you'll be alright doing it on your own," Beckett told him as she'd had trouble with the process when her husband had taught her.
"I will," Castle said. "And since you took care of everything in our past life, I think it's my turn this time."
Beckett shook her head, smiling, before she said, "Let's let them come and see the room; I know they're waiting out there."
Castle nodded before he was walking outside first and telling the others, "It's amazing." While the others were taking turns, he touched his wife's arm and when she turned to him, he gave her Josie as she immediately held her hands out for the baby. "I was going to say Julia was asking about decorating in there," he told her.
Smiling Beckett said, "You have something in mind already don't you?"
"What?" Julia said, she and her little sister walking over to them.
"I was thinking pictures from the farmer's market your mom took," Castle explained. "In the spaces we have."
"That won't make it look too perfect?" Alexis asked him as she and Louis had just looked into the pantry.
"The shelves won't be," Beckett said, knowing what both her husband and daughter meant. "And I like the idea. Color or black and white?"
"Girls?" Castle asked them.
"Color!" the two said at the exact same time, laughing with the others as Josie squealed in response to that.
"Okay, color it is," Castle told his wife with a smile. "Do you like it?" he asked his mother and father in law.
"It's perfect," Martha said. "I'm assuming cereals and everything are going to be in there."
"They will, close to the door," Beckett replied. "I think we should go ahead and eat."
"Josie definitely," Castle said, smiling when she back turned to him.
With that the family then hurried to set the table and get the pizzas on it before they were sitting, and Jim was feeding Josie while he was eating. Their discussion was about their trip and their hotel which they agreed had been a surprise.
"I think I was expecting something… generic," Martha commented. "But it was very nice."
"Yeah, it was the best hotel," Julia commented.
"Ever?" Alexis asked her with a smile.
"Yes, and it's because I got to share the suite with Mari," Julia replied.
"You felt grown up?" Beckett asked her.
"Very grown up," Julia said. She looked at her little sister in surprise as she was raising her hand and looked at her mother.
"One day you'll have the chance to do that too, but not just yet," Beckett said, not surprised when her second youngest was speaking quickly after that.
"Who will I stay with?" Eliza asked.
"I would say Dani," Castle commented.
"He's right, you'd likely end up staying with Dani or Maddy," Beckett replied.
"Maddy?" Eliza asked in surprise.
"Hopefully Patrick and Trevor will be able to go on trips with us again," Beckett explained.
"Have you heard from him lately?" Castle asked his wife.
With a quick nod Beckett said, "He e-mailed me that they're doing fine, he had a case he just finished today so he can spend Easter tomorrow with the family."
"Trevor didn't have anything?" Castle asked her.
"He had an investigation, remember that incursion at Dulles?" Beckett asked.
"That's right, Skye mentioned Trevor might be investigating that one," Castle replied since they'd heard about it from the investigator. "Looks like she was right."
"Isn't she usually when it comes to things like that?" Martha said.
"Usually," Beckett said, not surprised when the others were looking at her.
"We're not going to see the McDouglases again until Spain are we?" Julia asked after they were quiet for a bit.
"Maybe," Beckett said. "Why?"
"They're not going to San Francisco with you?" Julia asked.
Smiling at his wife Castle then said to their family, "We talked to Skye and Mary about that before we left the hotel this morning. While you guys were taking some last pictures in the lobby."
"What's the craic?" Skye said to the two after Castle and Beckett had led them to the side of the lobby
"We almost forgot to ask you, would you guys want to join us going to San Francisco," Castle said first.
"With you," Mary said.
Nodding Beckett said, "It's not really a romantic getaway type of trip."
"No but I don't feel right going for this," Skye said.
"We are going to see the homes at Alamo Square and Mountain Lake," Castle commented.
"Yeah, we know," Mary said. "But… I agree with Skye, it's likely better you two head out and we'll join you…"
"Memorial Day weekend," Beckett said, partially startled when her friend was smiling.
"I mentioned to Mary that you might return for that; for your girls," Skye said. "Julia especially."
"And we want to take them," Beckett replied with a smile. "Though we might not really go to that many places so you know."
"It's only a weekend so I'm not surprised. You'll leave Friday?" Skye asked them.
"Of course, in the morning," Castle said. "But you don't have to wait for us."
"No but it'd be better if we could arrive close to each other," Skye replied. "Alright, we'll go for the latter. But I hope you'll let us know when you get there if they are the homes… completely one hundred percent sure."
"We will," Beckett said. "Patrick and Darnley as well."
"You should invite them too," Mary said.
"Believe me, I'm planning on it," Beckett said with a smile.
"Good, the siblings all together," Skye said before she looked at her watch. "Come 'ead, we'll be late," she told them before they went to get their kids so they could leave.
"Too bad, you could have asked Patrick and Trevor," Julia said.
"I know, but we'll see them soon enough in Spain," Castle said, he and his wife not telling them about Memorial Day weekend. "But we'll go and… see what we see."
"Now that we're finished," Beckett said, standing up. "Let's get everything cleaned up." She saw her oldest standing up with Louis and stopped them saying, "You two take up your things and unpack, you don't have that much."
"We're planning on heading back to the townhouse tomorrow," Alexis replied.
"I need to go in a little earlier, check on the horses with Charlie," Louis added.
"You'll be back soon," Beckett told them with a smile. "And it won't take that long to clean everything up."
"Does Josie need a bath tonight?" Jim asked his daughter while they were starting to clear the table once they pizza was in the fridge.
"She does," Beckett said. She looked at her father and asked with a smile, "Want to give it to her?"
"That would be nice," Jim replied. "Though I'd need some help."
"Have the girls help you," Castle commented.
"And Alexis?" Jim said in response. Seeing his son in law nodding he smiled and said, "Okay, as long as they all want to."
"I do," Eliza said, raising her hand.
"I do too," Julia said. She went to Josie; on Martha's lap by then; and kissed her cheek before she said, "We might all help you with your bath."
"Your mom and I will be going into our office, make sure we don't have anything we need to take care of right away," Castle said. "We're trusting you to take care of Josie."
Smiling as her little sister was giggling, Julia said, "We will," before they looked to the staircase down the hall to see that Alexis and Louis were coming over after they'd descended. "That was super fast," she said.
"We only had for tonight and tomorrow," Alexis reminded them.
After the girls told their sister about the bath, Castle took his wife's hand and they went into their office where he slightly closed the door. "That won't make them suspicious will it?" he asked his wife as she walked towards their desk that comprised the opposite end of the room.
"If you'd closed it, yes," Beckett replied with a smile. Before they reached their desk running along the length of the entire wall, she stopped at one of the cabinets under the bookcases along the wall to her right. She pulled out the eggs that were there and counted them before checking the candy they'd gotten for them before putting everything back. She knelt then and made sure that the other things they'd gotten for their daughters was set before she stood back up and closed the doors. "I think we're ready," she told him.
"I hope so… sorry," Castle said as his knee had started to hurt a little bit.
"It is raining right now," Beckett said, nodding to the window in the wall above their desks. "So I'm not surprised. We should go."
"I think they're occupied enough," Castle said, before he smiled as she shook her head since they could hear their family in the kitchen. When she walked up to him, he said, "I really, really want to kiss you right now," gazing into her eyes.
Beckett's response to that was to wrap her arms around her husband's neck before she was kissing him briefly on the lips. She was relieved when he quickly got the hint and they were together again shortly after. Feeling they were a lot more fervent than before she felt an immense sense of pleasure before they were parting as they heard a giggle at the doorway. "Is she finished?" she asked Eliza, not letting go of her husband.
"Yeah, are you gonna get her dressed? Grandpapa was wondering," the little girl replied.
"No, he can do that," Beckett said, reluctantly letting go of her husband so they could walk over to her. She wasn't surprised when he grabbed her hand and she then told Eliza, "But you better head up so you can help with Julia."
When their second youngest was gone Castle said, "Think she'll tell her sister?"
"If she doesn't then she's coming down with something," Beckett said in amusement before they were heading up the stairs together. In the doorway of Josie's room, she wasn't surprised when the baby; dressed by then in her pajama onesie; was whimpering and she hurriedly walked in to take the baby from her father.
"I had a feeling she wanted you," Jim said with a smile, watching her gently rocking Josie to calm her down. "We've said goodnight to her already, so we'll be downstairs."
"Alright, go ahead and start playing," Castle said.
"We're gonna play UNO," Eliza said happily.
"Sounds good," Castle replied with a nod. He watched them leave before he turned to his wife and saw she was going over to the rocking chair. "I wish she could stand up on her own," he said, watching her pushing the chair to calm their baby girl down to get her to sleep.
"She'll get there, she just needs to realize she can push her other leg up too," Beckett said, smiling down into Josie's face as the baby was watching her with wide eyes. "Give her time," she said. She was startled when she realized her husband was kneeling next to the chair and started to speak when he squeezed her arm carefully to stop her.
"I'm fine, but it's not me impatient for that," Castle started to say.
"The girls?" Beckett asked, smiling at him. She couldn't help laughing softly when he nodded and leaned over a little as he moved to kiss her again. It was quick but she didn't enjoy it any less for that before she was pressing her forehead against his. "Stand up though love, I really don't want you to strain your knee," she told him.
Sighing Castle said, "Neither do I but I used to be able to do that," as he was moving over to the bed to sit on the side of it.
Beckett watched him as he sat and when she was sure he was fine she turned her attention back to their baby. It took a little more time to get Josie to fall asleep fully before she was standing and watching her husband hurrying over.
"I love you Josie," Castle told the baby, leaning over and kissing the top of her forehead. "Sweet dreams," he added, running his hand over her hair carefully.
Going over to the crib, Beckett leaned down and kissed the baby's forehead before she was murmuring, "I love you too sweetie, we'll see you in the morning." She laid her down in the crib and made sure she was covered before she stood with her husband. Feeling his arm coming around her she looked at him and said, "I really hope you were serious about taking me around the world," keeping her voice low.
"I am, why?" Castle asked, surprised she had brought that up.
"I want her to see the world and remember these trips," Beckett said. She smiled when he kissed her temple and said, "I just want her to have the same chance as her sisters."
"She'll get it," Castle replied before he pulled her away from their sleeping daughter. They walked out of the way of Max and Molly who'd come in before and when they were in the hall he slightly closed the door. "You realize I'm doing this for the five of you right?" he asked her.
With a quick nod Beckett then said, "I know, but for now we better get downstairs."
"Kate, the eggs for outside?" Castle said before she could start walking over to the stairs.
"Is it still raining?" Beckett asked.
"I don't know… you'd risk them getting wet?" Castle said in surprise.
"That's what I've been thinking," Beckett said. "Either we put them now and they get wet or we have to get up before the girls do in the morning."
When his wife looked at him at that point, Castle realized why and he said, "Yeah, I guess we'll have to put them out now… should we… wrap them or something?"
"We could," Beckett said. "We have that plastic wrap and you could write as the Easter Bunny."
"Good idea," Castle said. "We better go though; I get the feeling Eliza's going to run up the stairs."
Beckett nodded before she took her husband's hand and they walked together to the stairs before going down to the family room. She shared a smile with him as they watched them playing the card game together and she then said, "How's it been going?"
"Good," Julia said, smiling up at her. "Are you going to play?"
"I think we should get some drinks love," Castle said.
"Sure," Beckett said before her husband was finding out what everyone wanted to drink. "Keep going, we'll be right back," she told them once they were ready to go. As they walked over to the kitchen, she told her husband, "Do not say anything about dessert."
"I wasn't going to," Castle replied. "But what about some popcorn?"
"Plain?" Beckett asked.
"Yes," Castle said simply. When his wife laughed, he leaned over and kissed her gently and asked her, "Tea or coffee?"
"Tea, we'll need some sleep," Beckett replied.
"We will," Castle said in agreement, knowing that was her way of telling him she didn't want them to be intimate that night. He then turned his attention to the drinks, starting coffee for his father, mother in law and Louis before he got a kettle for the tea he, Beckett and Alexis would be having. "Apples?" he asked his wife.
"Just popcorn," Beckett told him swiftly as she was getting the kernels ready to pop in the machine her husband had bought. She put them into the machine and then waited for it to start as her husband didn't allow her to help him. But she finally started to before he could say anything, and they got a tray ready before she was pouring the popcorn into the bowl. As she was doing that, she heard footsteps and looked over at the girls as they were hurrying down the hall. "Thank you for not running," she called to them.
"Are we gonna have popcorn?" Eliza asked eagerly.
"Yes, but we're sharing," Beckett said. "Take this for us," she told the little girl, handing her the large bowl. "And Julia? Be careful with these," she said to her second oldest as she handed her the pile of bowls.
"I will," Julia said before she walked to the family room after her sister.
"I almost thought we were going have dessert," Alexis said with a smile when she saw the popcorn.
"I'm guessing we're having something tomorrow after the dinner," Louis commented.
Before anyone could say anything to that, Castle and Beckett were entering the room with the drinks which they passed out. Once everyone was sitting Martha got their attention, asking about the next day.
"Will we be able to go outside at all tomorrow?" Castle's mother said.
"I think we might have the chance," Castle said. "It's not raining at the moment," he added before he was getting his phone out of his pocket.
"How do you know it's not raining?" Julia asked.
"I looked out the kitchen door when we were getting everything ready," Castle replied absently.
"Are you looking at your weather app?" Beckett asked her husband.
Nodding Castle then said, "It says it's not going to rain tomorrow. But it might be raining on Monday… we might not be able to walk to school that morning."
Hearing Eliza groaning, Beckett looked at her and said, "You wanted to walk?"
"Yeah, but I wanted Josa to be able to go too," the little girl replied with a smile.
"I think we'll have the chance to later in the week, it's not supposed to rain every day," Castle said as he was putting away his phone. "Okay, who's ready to start playing?" He laughed when Eliza was raising her hand and bouncing on her knees before he took the deck of cards, shuffling them rapidly before he started to deal them out to them all to begin the next game.