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 lyrics in this chapter are from the songs It's a Hard Life written by Freddie Mercury, from the Queen album The Works and Cool Cat written by Freddie Mercury and John Deacon, from the Queen album Hot Space.
A/N #2: I was glad to receive the feedback I did for the last chapter, so I'll get to my thank yous for that right away! TORONTOSUN (It was great seeing you liked the title of the chapter. And I was pleased to read you thought the songs in the chapter were very good for it too!) and
Mb (I was happy to read you thought the chapter was a sweet looking into them relaxing and having fun with a no worry vacation. And I was glad you enjoyed them being on the yacht again and having the means to do that. I am glad you consider they've earned it too! Great you thought it was nicely done. You're welcome for the first half of the chapter! It was really nice to read you thought the second half was a sweet update too. And I was so glad you enjoyed the concert Paul, Skye and Mary gave along with them all being together. It was great that you loved Eliza going to Castle and Beckett and staying with them until she fell asleep, I enjoyed writing that. I wasn't surprised you mentioned Martha having a feeling and about to try to find Eliza before Castle and Beckett reached her just in time. And I'm so glad you enjoyed the memory from their past life, and that you thought it was very loving and very Caskett as you said both past and present. You're welcome for sharing the second half!).
Thanks for the reviews. Love reading them all and I appreciate the time taken to write them out and send them my way!
A/N #3: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay written by Otis Redding and Steve Cooper, from Redding's album The Dock of the Bay.
Ships Roll In
"It feels weird."
"What does?"
"Being still," Julia replied, smiling at Mari next to her. She did so even wider when her friend nodded her head and then looked back at the water as they were docked in Vigo. It was the fourth of August and while she was sad to know they were getting closer to finishing the trip through Spain, she was eager to go to the soccer game that night.
"But we are getting closer to going to White Mount," Mari reminded her.
"Yeah, that's the good thing," Julia said with a nod. She then ducked under the water; as they were in the pool; and she swam to her mother before she asked, "What's next?"
"We're going to get out and head to Samil Beach," Beckett replied, not surprised her daughter asked that.
"Okay," Julia said. She was about to speak when she noticed David and Lily were calling to their kids and she looked back at her mother asking, "Right now?"
"You want to stay longer?" Castle asked, coming over to them with Josie on his hip.
"Well… no I know we have more days left," Julia replied. "But I was just surprised."
"Come on Julia," Mari called to her friend as she was already out of the pool. "You said we would play badminton together!"
"I'm going right now," Julia said back. She went with her parents and baby sister over to the steps and took her towel from her grandmother. "Thanks Gram," she said with a smile. "Are you going to go?"
"I said I would," Martha said in amusement, not surprised her granddaughter had asked that. "Go and get ready, that way we'll head to the beach sooner."
"I will," Julia replied, hurrying after Mari before they went down to their deck. She finished drying off hurriedly before she was putting a sundress over her head and said, "Are you excited?"
"Definitely," Mari replied before they turned at the knock on their cabin door. She hurried over to it and opened it, greeting Marie and Kathleen saying, "Are you guys ready?" after that.
"I am so ready," the former replied. They were laughing together for a while before Marie stopped and then said, "I guess we better go then."
"Yeah, please, I want to go check out the beach," Julia said, picking up her bag. They were taking clothes for the game later that evening to change into and she asked the three with her, "Are you guys going to get jerseys?"
"Yeah," the three said at the same time before they were sharing a look and laughing heavily together.
"I'm eager to, but did you ever look to see what they looked like?" Marie asked them.
"No, but I'm still going to get one," Kathleen told her twin.
"Me too," Julia and Mari said jointly.
Laughing, Marie said, "Awesome, so we'll-" before she was interrupted when Darnley was calling down the hall to the rooms.
"All ashore that's going ashore!" the carpenter was announcing. Darnley smiled at the laughter he could hear from the cabins and he watched as four of the girls came out from one and he said, "Are you a little crowded there?"
"Nope."
"Nah."
"No way."
"We're not all staying in there," Julia said after the twins and Mari had spoken.
Laughing, Darnley said, "Forgive me for my assumption," before he watched them going to the stairs outside the cabins.
Walking from theirs, Castle and Beckett were holding each other's hand before they reached the gangplank down to marina they were docked at. They were speaking with the other parents there while they waited for the last of their group to join them. But they were finally all there and ready to go before they were heading down it to walk over to land.
When they were in a cab, Beckett said to her husband, "Should we tell them?"
"Tell us what?" Eliza asked immediately.
"I guess I don't need to answer that," Castle said wryly to his wife.
"But what're you going to tell us?" Julia asked to remind them of what they'd started talking about.
"We're going to have something for lunch we've already had," Castle told them.
"Already?" Eliza asked in confusion. "Tapas?"
"Cocido?" Julia then asked in puzzlement herself when their parents were shaking their heads. She shared a look with her little sister when their parents did that again before it suddenly hit her. "McDonald's! Are we having that again?"
"That was Patrick and Trevor's request," Beckett said with a smile as Eliza was gasping in eagerness.
"And Joseph's too," Castle reminded her.
"They like it?" Julia asked.
"They enjoyed it; it was Patrick's first time having it outside of home," Beckett explained. "And it reminded Trevor of eating it in Cape Town."
"We're here," Castle said suddenly.
"Already?" Eliza asked in surprise.
"Mama!" Josie said suddenly.
"Hold on sweetie," Beckett told her with a smile. She was giving her to Julia once her second oldest was standing on the sidewalk and she got out herself.
"I've got her Mom," Julia said when her mother turned to her.
"Ja… jee!" Josie said suddenly.
Julia laughed with her little sister before she said, "What're you trying to say Josa?"
"Maybe it's her own name?" Eliza guessed.
"It sounds like she's trying to say Jules," Castle commented. He smiled when the girls turned to him at the same time before he said, "Seriously. But we're ready so set her into her stroller," to Julia. Once the girl had he then helped her buckle Josie in before they started to walk with everyone else in their group onto the beach they'd stopped at. They walked on the sand for a little before they were stopping, and he was about to ask the others if that was an okay spot when Brad was commenting on it first.
"I think this is pretty good," the chief was saying. "Or should we go further down the beach?"
"Here is fine," Beckett said. She glanced at everyone else while they were quickly saying the same and they started to get everything set up so they could start their day at the beach.
"Alright Mother," Castle was saying to Martha once everyone had sunscreen on. "Are you okay here?"
"I am," she replied with a smile. "Are you going to take Josie in at all?"
"We will, before lunch," Beckett answered for her husband could say anything. "But we're going to try the water with Eliza and Julia."
"Wonderful," Martha said, looking down at her youngest granddaughter. "We'll have fun while you swim in the cold water."
"It can't be that cold Gram," Eliza said, hurrying over to her.
Martha laughed softly and then wrapped her arms around the little girl since she had wrapped hers around her neck. She shared a quick kiss with her and then told her, "I hope not, now go so your little sister will be able to swim herself."
Nodding rapidly, Eliza went to her father and squealed while he picked her up before setting her on his hip. "Josa won't mind we're going without her, will she?" she asked her parents.
"I don't think so," Beckett said, glancing back with a smile as Eliza was waving to her little sister. She could see the baby was playing with the sand, Martha and her father watching her to make sure she was okay, before turning back to the water. She was about to tell her husband to set Eliza down when he did so and was talking to her about going into the water.
"So please be careful, we're not right next to the ship and I don't know how currents are exactly," Castle began with.
"We know," Julia replied. "You told us the same in Barcelona." She couldn't help smirking a bit as she then told him, "Though we went swimming there before."
"Smart aleck," Castle pretended to grumble. "Okay," he then told them. "Have a ton of fun and I hope you'll swim with us a little too."
"I will later!" Julia called as she was running over to Mari, Jacob and Eve as they were going in the water.
"I'll swim with you now Daddy," Eliza told her father, going to him and taking his hands.
"Oh good," Castle said. He was going to continue, but the little girl was giggling and he looked down at her in slight confusion before she was speaking and explained it unintentionally.
"Don't forget about Mommy; you have to swim with Mommy too!" Eliza said firmly though she was beaming at her father.
"I won't," Castle said, turning his head exaggeratedly towards his wife.
"Nice to know I'm not forgotten," Beckett told him wryly, smiling at the expression on his face. She couldn't help herself and reached over to him, cupping his cheek with her hand before she turned her attention to the water saying, "And we seem to be talking way- Eliza!" cutting herself off as the little girl was running into the water.
Stopping when the water was between her knees and ankles, Eliza giggled as her parents were rushing up to her and she jumped up and down saying, "It's a little chilly."
"A little," Castle said, picking her up and swinging her legs out in front of him to her squeal of joy. "But we'll get used to it," he told her before she was speaking laughingly while she hugged him tightly around the neck.
"I won't get used to it if I'm not down in the water Daddy!" Eliza said firmly.
"Oh, that's right, let me help you down," Castle said, doing so immediately. He kissed her temple before letting her go and he looked at his wife saying, "I think she's enjoying it," as their second youngest was jumping up and down and splashing the water.
"It looks like it," Beckett said before she reached for her hand and stopped her.
"I'm sorry?" Eliza asked. She smiled when her mother started to laugh and then hugged her tightly around the waist before she was asking, "Why are you laughing?"
"You asked if you should apologize while apologizing," Beckett told her, gently caressing her hair. "But I was stopping you so we could head in deeper. Would you like to?"
"Yeah!" Eliza said eagerly before she turned to her father and held her free hand out to him. Once he had it, they were walking into the water further and eventually she felt more comfortable in it.
"Okay?" Castle asked the little girl. He wasn't surprised when Eliza nodded rapidly, and he kissed her cheek before he and Beckett were off the ocean floor and treading.
"Go ahead and swim sweetie," Beckett told the little girl.
"Thanks!" Eliza said eagerly before she was swimming around in front of them. She couldn't do that for long as a wave was washing over them, and she laughed happily when she resurfaced with her parents.
"Hey, I thought you were going to go body surfing Lizzy," Alexis said, swimming over to them with Louis.
"Hi 'lexis!" Eliza cried happily. "Do you like the water?"
"I do, I'm guessing you do too," Alexis said, laughing when her little sister was nodding her head rapidly and getting her mouth in the water.
"Looks fun," Louis commented as they were all watching the little girl blowing bubbles in the water.
Eliza stopped when her sister's fiancé was blowing bubbles as she had been before she giggled and started to do the same again. They playfully fought by blowing bubbles harder and harder before her mother was stopping her.
"You're going to get too tired sweetie," Beckett explained as the little girl was pouting her lips.
"I know, but it's fun," Eliza said rapidly before they were ducking underneath another wave. When they were back up, she said, "Are we going back?" since her big sister and Louis had let that wave take them towards the shore.
"We are, we have some shells to find and games to play," Castle said. "Here comes the next one!"
While that wave was pushing the rest of her family closer to the beach, Julia was standing up already with Mari. They had gone off on their own for a little before returning and she hurried to Alexis with a smile.
"What?" the young woman asked in amusement at the look on her sister's face.
"I just remembered it's August now," Julia told her.
"We thought the same," Louis said quickly.
"He's right, we don't have too much longer left," Alexis replied.
"A month and a half?" Julia asked slowly.
"Good math; it is," Louis said, squeezing his fiancée's hand firmly. "But for now, what'll we be doing?"
"Jules!" Eliza called from the water. "Wanna look for shells?"
"Sure," Julia said with a smile. "But what're we going to do with them?"
"Can we make a sandcastle?" Eliza asked, looking up at their parents.
"Sure, but it might be after siesta," Castle pointed out to her.
"I don't care," Eliza said before she was rushing up the beach to the pop-up.
"If you guys want to go swimming we'll watch them," Alexis told her parents. When they looked at her at the same time, she couldn't help smiling a little and told them, "Seriously, I'd like to see what shells they find here."
"Okay," Castle replied. "But if you two want to swim yourselves you don't have to babysit."
"We'll let you know Dad," Alexis said, glancing at Louis who was playfully saluting.
Turning with her husband, Beckett was going to tease him about not being able to kiss her in the water when she spotted Skye and Mary coming over to them. "You're swimming out there too?" she asked them.
"We are, why," Skye started to say. "You want us to get lost?"
"Don't start," Mary said with a smile when Beckett was rolling her eyes though she was smiling as well. "But do you want to go at the same time?"
"Yeah, we're not going to be able to póg out there or anything," Castle said.
"Oh, fancy," Skye said exaggeratedly. She laughed when the others did when she stopped talking and then said, "Sorry, I loved how you went to Irish to talk about snogging."
"She hates the phrase making out," Mary explained to them.
"I'm not surprised," Castle commented before they were diving under a wave by then. They stopped talking as they were swimming and he found it was fun to do it with the other women but once they were back to the ocean floor and were walking he couldn't help telling them, "I think I miss the kids."
"Good thing they're not far away," Darnley said as he and Nkosi had gone swimming after the four had started. "You are all weirdos."
"You never said he does a great Sam the Eagle," Mary said to Nkosi.
"I knew already," Beckett said with a smile as the male investigator was pointing to her. "But it's not really something that comes up in conversation you know."
"No, but I'm more than ready to head back with our kids too," Darnley was saying before hurrying to them as they were walking down the beach a little with Alexis and Louis.
"How's the shell finding going?" Castle asked the kids once they'd all caught up with them.
"Nice!" Maddy exclaimed.
"She's right," Eve said once they had stopped laughing. "There's some really interesting shells here we haven't seen before."
"Oh good, we didn't want you kids to get bored," Castle said.
"How can you get bored at the beach Dad?" Julia asked him.
"I said so," Castle replied. When his daughter looked confused, he laughed briefly and then told her, "Sorry, but we always worry you'll be bored and act up."
"Misbehave," Skye said quickly when she could see that the others looked confused.
"We wouldn't," Ivy said first.
"I think we have enough shells," Eve said then as Keo was putting one into the bucket she held. "Or else we're going to have to build a village around the castle."
"That would be fun," Jacob said.
Smiling, as the young man's big sister was rolling her eyes, Beckett said, "It would be we just don't have that kind of time."
"No, but I could imagine it," Jacob replied before they were laughing together and turning around to back to where everyone was.
As the kids were starting on their sandcastle, Beckett went to the pop-up and said to her father and mother in law, "Everything okay?"
"Yes, but she just started to get a little fussy," Jim told his daughter. He watched Josie walking to her mother and smiled saying, "I think she wanted to go with you Katie."
"It looks like it," Beckett said, smiling herself before she was picking the baby up. She hugged her close and kissed her gently before saying, "Are you ready to go swimming now?"
"Yes," Josie said, looking at her mother with wide eyes. She smiled when Beckett pressed her lips to her temple and snuggled close to her before they were heading to the breaking waves.
"Hey," Castle said as he rushed to his wife. "Are you going swimming Josie?"
"Dada! Ba… ma so!" Josie said before babbling.
"I see, so you want me to join you?" Castle asked.
"Here," Beckett said in amusement before she handed her husband the baby's vest. She helped him getting Josie set with it before they went to where the water was just washing over the sand. She put the baby down and took one hand while Castle was taking the other. She smiled while Josie was raising her legs quickly before she told her husband, "I guess she's happy enough here."
"I think so, so that's it?" Castle asked jokingly. "Let's go back," he said, picking the baby up. He tossed Josie up above him a little, to her shriek of laughter, and then hugged her close, kissing her cheek gently. "I'm kidding ceann beag, you deserve the chance to go in the water too," he told her. He set her down and he and his wife were soon moving to take her hands before they were going further in the water.
Making sure the baby was okay, Beckett made him stop when Josie was waist deep. She debated if she should pick her up when her husband was doing so and speaking to her as he was walking slowly further into the water.
"I think we can swim now," Castle said. "But just for a little bit."
"Ah… bo wa," Josie said.
"You want to go under the waves?" Castle asked. When the baby laughed, he looked over at his wife questioningly.
"If you're going to make sure she gets out of the water in time then we can," Beckett said.
"She'll be okay," Castle told her reassuringly. When his wife nodded, he then turned his attention to Josie, and they walked a little further in until he stopped since he could duck with the baby under the waves. "Ready?" he asked her.
Beckett smiled when Josie laughed in response and they turned their attention to the wave that was coming up to them. She saw her husband was gently pinching Josie's nose before they went under, but she was still rushing to surface to check on the baby.
"Mama," Josie was saying before she made a face as the water went into her mouth.
"I know," Beckett said slightly laughingly as she couldn't help it at her expression. She quickly wiped her face gently and continued with, "I don't think it tastes that good."
"She's right," Castle said to the baby, kissing the side of her head. "But you had fun right?"
"Dada," Josie said, looking up at him.
Laughing gently, Castle kissed her again and then told her, "I'll take that as a yes. Again?"
"One more," Beckett replied since he was asking her. They were quickly ducking under the next wave and she smiled when Josie was laughing before starting to cry.
"Oh sweetheart," Castle said in loving exasperation as he and Beckett were working to get the water off her face the best they could. "Your mom said it wasn't good," he added.
"Here," Beckett told her husband before she took the baby. She kissed her temple and told Josie, "I think that's all we can do now sweetie, let's take you back to dry off your face."
"Is that it for her?" Castle asked.
"No, we can let her stay in the shallow water," Beckett replied.
"Ja!" Josie was saying when they were out of the water.
"Or let her stay with her sisters," Castle said in amusement as Julia was looking over at them.
"Once we dry her off," Beckett said in amusement. She took a towel from her father that he walked out to give her, and she quickly thanked him. "She didn't enjoy the taste of the water," she explained to him in amusement.
"I can see that," Jim replied as he could tell that the baby had been crying. "But she's calm now," he said.
"She is," Beckett said before she was looking after her husband when he left them.
"Hi Daddy," Eliza said. "Like our village?"
"I thought you guys were going to make a castle," he said with a smile.
"We thought a village would be cooler, we always make a castle," Jacob explained.
"It'll be decorated with shells," Ivy told him.
"Oh, actually that should be cool," Castle said.
"We might have to get more shells though," Mari said.
"So each building is coordinated?" Castle commented. He smiled when the kids all nodded and said, "It should be nice. But what about the babies?"
"Um… Sophie nearly ate some sand," Eve told him.
"Our parents took her into the water," Jacob added.
"Okay, I was going to ask if you would watch Josie, but I think we'll take her into the water again," Castle said, having spotted Brad and Lily with Sophie.
"What about shells?" Eliza asked.
"More shells!" Dani said sternly.
Laughing with everyone else Mari said, "Dad says she's like Mom when she does that."
"We can do that," Beckett then said, smiling when her husband turned to her. "But I don't think we'll be able to get enough for you," she added.
"That's okay, anything would be nice," Julia said, smiling at her baby sister who soon walked to her. She hurried to catch her in her arms and kissed her cheek before saying, "Want to do that for us? Shells?"
"Ja… Mama… aba," Josie was saying before she smiled.
"That means yes," Julia said with a smile at the others. "Thank you," she then directed to the baby, kissing her cheek. She watched Eliza doing the same before letting their mother take their baby sister's hand before they were walking off and their father was jogging over to join them with a pail.
"I had to remember this," Castle was telling his wife with a smile.
"I see that, will you look for me?" Beckett asked him.
"Of course," Castle said. "But you're going to let Josie look around right?"
"I will," Beckett said, making him stop. She wrapped her arm around him and pulled him down to her before they were kissing tenderly. They didn't do it for long, as she felt Josie's hand slipping from hers and she turned quickly to find the baby was walking into the water. Her husband dropped the pail to reach her first and she said, "You can't go in there without us sweetie."
"Good thing she still has her vest on," Castle told his wife while he scooped up the baby to her laughter. He kissed her temple as she touched his cheek and turned back to Beckett before she was pulling him down to her again. They kissed briefly and turned to Josie as she was laughing before his wife was speaking laughingly.
"I think we should move on," Beckett told her husband.
"She might get bored," Castle said, nodding his head. He squeezed her to him with his free arm before he let her go and was setting Josie down. "Come on ceann beag, time for shells," he then told her before they were getting the pail and starting to look at the different shells.
They were at first allowing Josie to take the shells, trying to teach her to put them in the pail, but when she tried to put them in her mouth they decided to take care of it themselves. They were still showing her what they were finding, the baby smiling at each one until they were finished and walking back to the other kids.
"Oh good," Brad said. "They've been saying repeatedly why you guys are taking so long."
Laughing softly, Beckett said, "We had to let Josie see our choices. Hopefully those work," she said to the kids.
"They look good Mommy," Eliza said gratefully.
"What're you guys going to do now?" Lily asked Beckett.
"I think head over to the water again," she replied, glancing at her husband.
"Want us to take her?" Lily asked.
"Would you mind?" Beckett asked her with a smile.
"I don't think she'll mind," Lily replied while she watched Josie plopping down on the sand next to Sophie as Brad was watching them.
Thanking her friend quickly again, Beckett walked over to her husband and touched his arm saying, "Come on."
"Why… oh, sure," Castle said, looking around for Josie. He followed her to the water and they walked in, diving under the waves before they were swimming out from the shore, going far until they had resurfaced.
"Do you want to go further?" Beckett asked her husband when they were bobbing in the waves and looking out at the ocean though there were islands in the distance and a peninsula to the northeast.
"No, I think this is good," Castle replied. "Since we talked to the kids about currents and everything."
Beckett laughed softly and nodded before saying, "Okay, let's head back." She turned and ducked under the water before they were swimming back to shore, meeting their four daughters once they were there.
"Hello," Castle said to them in amusement once he and Beckett were walking. "Can we help you?"
"We finished our village," Eliza said eagerly. She giggled as her sisters were laughing when their father was looking at his watch and she told him, "We had help!"
"A lot of help," Alexis said.
"You and Louis?" Beckett asked with a smile.
Nodding Alexis said, "With all of them we were able to finish it quickly."
"I think so, if you're telling us so we go look at it," Castle commented before they were walking together over to the creation. "Oh, I didn't think you'd go for a design," he said with a smile as he could see it with the colors of the shells.
"We thought it would be cool," Julia replied.
"It looks great," Beckett told the girls. "Did you take pictures?" she asked them.
"I did," Julia replied. "I put my camera on the sand and took them there, hopefully they come out."
"It sounds like they would," Beckett told her with a smile.
"Now what do we do?" Eliza asked.
"We need to get lunch," Castle told his wife, showing her his watch.
"I figured," Beckett said with a smile, making him put his arm down.
"Who's going?" Paul asked, walking over to the two as he'd heard them.
"We don't all have to," Beckett said.
"Don't start," Darnley said, walking over to them. "We're paying for our own meals."
"So just one person from each family," Castle said. "I'll go love," he then directed to his wife.
"Alright," Beckett said.
"Louis," Castle called to his daughter's fiancé.
"I'm here," the young man said, hurrying over to him. "Do you need help carrying everything?" he asked.
"That would be a big help," Castle said.
After everyone had given the people buying the food their orders, Beckett went to her oldest and squeezed her arm and said, "Come walk a little with me and Josie."
"Sure," Alexis replied, not surprised her mother wanted to do that. As they began to head down the beach she said, "What did you want to ask?"
"Nothing," Beckett said firmly. "I just wanted to walk with you for a little. I seem to be spending more time with your sisters."
"It makes sense," Alexis replied. "They need you a little more. Especially this one," she said with a smile as she was reaching over to Josie.
"I know," Beckett said, smiling herself before she pressed her lips to the baby's temple when she was laughing. "But still, I need to divide my attention between the four of you."
"Is this a subtle lesson if Louis and I have more than one baby?" Alexis asked in amusement.
"I think it's my subconscious," Beckett replied before they were laughing briefly. "But you know already that I'll answer any questions you might have."
"I'm aware," Alexis said before she was reaching for Josie as the baby was leaning over in their mother's arms. They stopped and she said, "But… if we decide to have a baby soon…" trailing off as she wasn't sure how she wanted to continue that.
"Tell me the truth," Beckett said gently, slightly smiling at her daughter. "Do you want to already?"
"I want to," Alexis said with a sigh. "I've decided."
"Don't sigh," Beckett said. "Remember that it's your body so it should come down to your decision in the end."
Nodding Alexis smiled at her mother and said, "I'll talk with Louis about it but that won't be until after the wedding." She then grew serious and said, "Thank you Mom."
"You're welcome, but I didn't really do anything," Beckett said, watching her set Josie down. She was a little startled when her oldest merely nodded and she was about to ask her what was wrong when she was speaking so softly, she almost thought she'd heard her incorrectly.
"Do you think I'll be a good mother right now?" Alexis asked. She then hurriedly said, "Don't say because that I've taken care of my sisters though. I mean an actual mother to my own children."
"Yes," Beckett said immediately. She held up her hand before Alexis could say anything and told her, "It's not because they were your sisters, you cared for them and loved them, and I can see you doing that with your own children. You'll make sure they're safe and loved."
"Thank you, Mom," Alexis said, wrapping her free arm around her. She was careful, since Beckett was embracing her back, and she said, "I'm eager to see you as a grandmother," as they let each other go.
Laughing softly, Beckett motioned back and while they were returning to where they were set up, she said, "Don't tell your dad that, he's going to freak out."
"Which is why I'm telling you that and not telling him he'll make a great grandfather," Alexis replied.
"You realize telling him that he wouldn't mind," Beckett said jokingly. When her oldest nodded in agreement they were laughing together again before Josie was joining them. After they were with the others, she set Josie down with Julia and Mari and said, "Mind taking her?"
"No," the former said first.
"Where are you going Mommy?" Eliza asked.
"Into the water for a little," Beckett replied. She looked at her father and mother in law and said, "Tell Rick if he comes back before I do."
"We will," Martha said first.
"You're not going out too far are you?" Jim asked his daughter.
Watching their mother shaking her head, Julia didn't say anything until she was in the water and she said, "Mind if I go with her?"
"No, but can you catch up with her," Eliza asked, hugging Josie as the baby was standing next to her by then.
"I can," Julia said. "Bye," she said hurriedly before rushing out from under the pop-up before her grandparents could say anything.
Hearing splashing behind her eventually, Beckett stopped and looked back to find that it was Julia. "What're you doing sweetie?" she asked her while she was smiling.
"What, you want me to go back?" the girl asked with a smile.
"No," Beckett said quickly. "But you should have told me you wanted to come with me," she then told her firmly. She laughed when her daughter shrugged and then said, "Okay then let's go along the coast."
"Really?" Julia asked in surprise.
"Yeah," Beckett said.
"Okay," Julia said eagerly before she was swimming with her mother parallel to the beach. They did that for a while before her mother was making her stop and she asked, "That's it?"
"That's it, I think people are coming back with lunch," Beckett told her with a smile. "Come on," she told her before they were swimming to the beach. "Are you tired?" she asked her daughter, wrapping her arm around her.
"I'm fine," Julia said, looking up at her mother since she'd wrapped her arm around her shoulder. "I'm not going to take a nap," she said quickly.
Laughing softly, Beckett told her, "I wasn't going to tell you to. The only thing I ask is that you'll rest okay?"
"I will, don't worry," Julia assured her before they were reaching the others.
"Lunch is ready," Castle told his wife when she reached him.
"Great, I'm starving," Beckett said with a smile at him.
"Don't take my line," Castle said, smiling when she playfully punched his shoulder. "But yeah, let me find your sandwich."
"I'll help you," Beckett said in amusement before she went to one of the two bags he had brought.
Sitting with her family after talking to Mari, Julia said, "Are you excited for the game?"
"Very," Castle said. "You know that I like soccer," he reminded her.
"I know, but they're not big teams," Julia replied with a smile.
"That doesn't matter," Castle said.
"He's right," Jim said, after he'd laughed for a moment when his family had turned to him. "It's still La Liga so we'll enjoy it."
"I know you will," Eliza said. "But me and Jules are wondering about Mommy and Daddy."
"You don't need to," Castle said.
"He's right," Beckett said. "We're looking forward to it."
"Good," Julia and Eliza said at the same time. They laughed together before they were turning their attention back to their food and ate before they were finishing up.
"Mom," Julia said, going to her mother. "Could I go with Mari?"
"Go ahead," Beckett replied.
"Thanks," Julia said, hugging her for a moment before she was hurrying over to the pop-up the Fosters had. "Hey," she said with a smile to her friend.
"Hi," Mari replied, smiling. She then said, "Are we going somewhere?"
"No, I need to rest, but could I stay here with you?" Julia asked.
"That's fine," Rebecca told her daughter since the two girls had turned to her and David. "Just make sure you don't talk too loud."
"We won't," Mari said first before they went over to the chairs in front of the pop-up's shade. "Was it fun swimming with your mom?"
"Yeah, I didn't think she'd let me go with her," Julia replied.
"What, she'd just send you back?" Mari said teasingly.
"Of course," Julia said seriously. They were sharing a look then before they were nearly snorting to try to suppress their laughter and once they had managed to get under control, she told her friend, "But it was nice. And fun to get to swim in a wider area."
"Girls," David said, coming around in front of them. "Would you mind keeping an eye on Dani for us?"
"Are you gonna go swimming?" Mari asked her parents.
"No, just go sit with your parents Julia," Rebecca answered.
"We can watch her," Mari said after her friend had nodded. She then frowned and looked around them before saying, "Does that mean we need to move our chairs?"
"No, you can stay sitting," Rebecca assured them. "Just turn your chairs at an angle and listen to see if she calls you."
"We will," the two said at the same time.
Once her parents had left, Mari turned to her friend and said, "I'm still sad-excited."
"I am too," Julia said with a nod.
"And then sad thinking about summer being over," Mari replied.
"Don't worry," Julia said reassuringly as she immediately knew what her friend was talking about. She squeezed her hand gently and then said, "You'll be fine in middle school."
"Still, it's going to be so weird to leave the classrooms," Mari said, looking down at the ocean before her friend gently bumped her hand and made her turn to her as she spoke.
"I told you the best way to do that," Julia said with a smile.
"I know but I still have to see how it goes!" Mari replied.
Hugging her friend quickly, Julia then said, "And I'll be there."
"With your own classes," Mari said. She laughed softly when her friend threw her arms up in the air in mock annoyance and she hugged her that time. "Do you know how long we're staying before we need to get ready for the game?" she asked once she was sitting back in her chair.
"I think at four, the game's at six but I think the adults want to go to the stadium early," Julia said.
"Hopefully it's not that early," Mari said. She wasn't surprised when her friend nodded and she then told her, "But at least the babies can watch the game."
Nodding, Julia said, "Grandpapa is still surprised this game is going to start at six."
"Good thing it did, I bet if it was later, we'd have to have someone stay on the yacht with the babies," Mari said.
"That's probably why we're going to this one," Julia replied with a smile. She then said, "But I can't wait for bocadillos."
"Me too, think we're going to have some churros again after?" Mari asked. She was surprised when her friend nodded seriously and she asked, "Did your parents tell you?"
"No, I'm just guessing, I think because we had so much fun doing that the last game," Julia replied.
"I hope you're right," Mari told her, nodding her head rapidly. She smiled and then told her, "We'll sit together?"
"Of course!" Julia replied eagerly, trying to keep her voice down for Dani. She and Mari began to laugh together, doing their best to keep that quiet before they were calming down and beginning to talk again as they watched the waves in front of them.