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 received for the last chapter, so I'll get to my thank yous for that! TORONTOSUN (Really nice to see you thought the last chapter was very good writing!) and
Mb (Great to read you thought it was a sweet look at Julia's birthday celebration. And I wasn't surprised you though Josie is sweet with her vocabulary growing but not quite there. And I'm super happy you think with her mannerisms and expressions it's sweet and funny because my experience with kids at that age are nonexistent, lol, so I'm glad it works! Oh, and not surprised you thought it was nice with the family gathering for breakfast. I was pleased to see your comments on Julia's core of true friends as you put it since I did want to show that they support each other with them being such good friends. Glad to read you thought it was a sweet update! You're welcome for sharing the first half! It was nice that you thought the birthday party was great for Julia with everyone else. So pleased you thought the gifts were fantastic and it was a fun time too! I had to laugh at your reaction to the jello with salad in it, it was an actual thing they ate in the 30's, but I'm with you, I would not want to even try it, lol. I smiled at you saying that at least Castle and Beckett didn't make their abstinence as long as the last time, I figured they wouldn't want to repeat how long it had been the time before. I laughed again when you said they almost broke the bed, but you are right. And I wasn't surprised you said wow at Julia being a teenager, I felt the same writing it. You'll see who her crush is eventually, but interesting you asked that it wasn't someone in her circle of friends yet. Great reading it was nicely done! You're welcome for the second half of the chapter!).
Thanks for the reviews, loved reading them and 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 Hawai'i Aloha written by Reverend Lorenzo Lyons.
Gentle Breezes Blow
"Aloha, welcome to the Hualalai," the woman said as the Castles stepped up to the entrance of the hotel. "Aloha," she continued to tell them in turn as she draped flower leis over the women and girls, kukui nuts and tī leaves for the men.
"Mahalo," Julia said eagerly, looking at her lei once they were walking inside.
"It's so pretty," Eliza said since they all had different flowers. "What's mine?"
"I think tuberose," Julia commented while their parents were going to the front desk to check in. "Mine are plumeria. Mom's are orchids, Gram's got plumeria and pikake and 'lexis' is just pikake."
"What does Josa have?" Eliza asked, marveling at the different flowers there were.
"Kukui nuts; like Dad, Grandpapa and Louis have; with plumeria," Julia said with a smile, squeezing her baby sister's hands since Josie was with her.
"It's pretty," Eliza said.
"I know," Julia said, still smiling since her sister was talking about the lobby. She admired the décor before she saw their parents were walking with them. "Oh, I think we can go," she said eagerly.
"I hope so!" Eliza said, trying not to hop up and down. She adjusted her backpack and said to their parents, "Can we see our room?"
"Villa," Castle said. He smiled when the others looked at him and said, "You didn't think I was going to separate you did you?"
"Not really," Alexis said. "But Dad…"
"There's room for us," Castle said. "But we're going to have to figure a few things out about sleeping arrangements. We just have to see the layout first." Since their bellman was taking their suitcases they needed to follow, and he took Eliza's hand before they reached the structure. He wanted to see his family's reaction to the first room, but he was eager to see it himself, so he was staring in awe at the palatial room.
"It's beautiful," Julia murmured, looking up at her mother after she'd spoken.
Nodding, Beckett waited for her husband to tip the worker before he was explaining their amenities and welcoming them before he left. "Rick…" she said before she trailed off.
"We don't have to go back and get rooms now do we?" Castle asked teasingly.
"The ocean!" Eliza cried before anyone could respond. She ran past the table to her right and the furniture to her left in front of a TV before she reached the door leading outside. "Oooh, we have a Jacuzzi too!" she exclaimed.
"What?" Julia asked, unable to help running after her little sister.
"We do," Castle said when the others looked at him. "But we should really take a tour of the inside, get our sleeping situation set."
"What's the setup though Dad?" Alexis asked.
"Three bedrooms," Castle said. "The main bedroom is to the left there-" he started to say.
"Which you and Kate will be staying in," Martha interrupted her son.
"Thanks," Castle said. "And there are two to the right. One has two beds and the other just one," startled when his mother was speaking again.
"Well obviously that single bed is for the two of you," Martha told her granddaughter and grandson in law.
"One more thing," Castle said. "The couch here becomes a bed."
"It does?" Eliza asked in surprise. When her father nodded she gasped and said, "Can Jules and I stay here? We'll be quiet and sleep, promise."
Castle turned to his wife questioningly before she nodded and he said, "I think we can do that, but first do you two mind sharing the two bed room with Josie?"
"Will she be in a bed or a crib?" Jim asked.
"Crib," Beckett said. "Still too soon to have her in a bed."
"She can't sleep with me and Jules on the couch?" Eliza asked.
"No," Beckett replied. "When she's older okay?"
"Okay," Eliza said before she turned to the couch.
"Before we let you guys sleep there," Castle said. "You two need to agree to not stay up all night and definitely do not think of going outside to the lanai or the beach."
"We won't," Julia said, startled when her father turned to her still looking serious.
"And you need to watch your sister," Castle said.
Glancing at her mother, and seeing the same expression on her face, Julia nodded and said seriously, "I will."
"Okay, so you two know, there's a bathroom here at the entry too," Castle said. "And everyone else."
"A fourth full bath?" Louis asked in surprise.
"It is," Jim said, opening the door and seeing the shower there. Closing the door he smiled and said, "That should be the girls'."
Julia shared a smile with her little sister when the adults were agreeing to that and she said, "But when we're here?"
"We'll see," Beckett said before she turned to her husband as he spoke.
"Does everyone want to go to their rooms first and then a tour of the whole villa, or the tour first?" Castle said. He couldn't help laughing when the others were saying the tour and he said, "I figured; I did too."
"Me too," Beckett commented. "Our room first love."
"Okay, this way everyone," Castle told them, leading the way as he got his and Beckett's suitcases.
"Make sure Josie's okay," Beckett called to the others before she was following with the carryon suitcases they'd brought as well. When they'd reached the entrance to their room she was startled finding the short hall before they came to the room itself. She couldn't help her eyes widening at the large canopy bed before she saw the view their room had as Julia was speaking behind them.
"Wow, this room is awesome," the teen was saying.
"You took the words out of my mouth," Castle said before the girls were laughing. "The closet is over here Kate," he then told his wife, going to the left.
"I'll take my carryon after," Beckett replied, following Josie to the window that faced the ocean. She ran her hand over the back of the baby's head and said, "Do you want to go out sweetie?"
"Eh," Josie replied, smiling at her. "Go swim."
"Swimming," Castle called.
Julia laughed with her little sisters before she said, "Can we see what your bathroom looks like?"
"I want to too," Beckett replied before they left the window and walked across to where the others were. "Are you going to see?" she asked them in passing.
"Is it okay?" Alexis asked.
"Of course," Castle said before his wife could reply. "But after this stay out," he added jokingly, smiling at the girls when they giggled. He followed them and his wife inside and admired the décor there before he noticed a door outside.
"Is that a shower?" Beckett murmured to her husband. When he nodded she was about to speak before Eliza was pushing past them and looking at the shower.
"You can go outside!" the little girl exclaimed. "How cool!"
"We'll use it for after the beach," Beckett said firmly though she glanced at her husband, relieved when he was responding to her shortly after.
"Good idea, though please go around the lanai and not through our bathroom," Castle said.
"We will," Eliza said firmly. "Now whose room?" she asked eagerly.
"Your grandparents and Josie," Beckett said. "I almost forgot, they need to use the closet in your room," directing that to her father and mother-in-law.
"I expected it," Jim said.
"Let us unpack first," Martha then told her daughter in law. "And we'll fit in their clothes."
"Can my clothes go with you Gram?" Eliza asked.
"Of course," Martha replied, hugging her since the little girl had gone over to her to hug her tightly. They continued walking from the main bedroom across the living room before her son was stopping them all.
"Your guys' room is to the left and Alexis, Louis, you're to the right here," Castle told them.
"Come with us," Eliza said eagerly, taking her grandmother's hand.
"We will," Alexis said as her sister had been talking to herself and Louis. Walking into the room where her grandparents and baby sister would be sleeping, she said, "Hopefully you don't mind the crib there."
"Oh no," Martha said. "We'll be able to get to Josie more quickly," since the crib had been placed in between the two beds.
"She's right," Jim said. "And we have a great view."
"It's super nice," Eliza said eagerly.
"And lounge chairs," Julia added, since there were two. They moved to the bathroom for that room, passing through the closet before she saw her parents were continuing and she walked after them. Looking at the bathroom she said, "How nice for Josa," before her mother was speaking.
"She might have her baths in our bathroom," Beckett said with a smile, looking back.
"Now your room!" Eliza said eagerly to Alexis and Louis.
Walking back around to it, Alexis smiled when she saw the lounge chairs and ocean view they had as well. When they'd looked at the bathroom she noticed she and her husband would have an outdoor shower too before she squeezed his hand.
"That's the tour," Castle said once they'd left the two rooms.
"What're we going to do now?" Julia asked.
"You mean after unpacking?" Castle replied. When the teen nodded he then said, "Since we're a little rested after our flights, what does everyone say to getting a place on the beach, eat lunch and swim until we have dinner?"
Smiling at the girls clamoring for them to do that, Beckett helped her husband in calming them down and said, "Then we will. Can you unpack your things?"
"Sure," Julia said as her mother was talking to her.
"What about me?" Eliza asked.
"If we give you hangers can you put your clothes on them?" Jim asked. He smiled when his second youngest granddaughter nodded rapidly and said, "Then I think that's what you're going to do."
Splitting up at that point, Julia watched her parents leaving for their room with Josie before she rushed to Eliza.
"What?" the little girl asked in surprise.
"We have to tell Gram and Grandpapa to take care of us one night," Julia said, not surprised when her sister looked confused before she was smiling and speaking quickly.
"Will they?" Eliza asked.
"Will they what?" Jim asked, going over to the girls.
"Watch us so Mom and Dad and Alexis and Louis can go to dinner on their own," Julia said. She hesitated for a moment and then said, "Not the four of them together though."
"I got it," Jim replied. "And it depends on your grandmother."
"What?" Martha asked, walking to the closet. When they explained to her their idea she smiled and said, "Of course we'll watch the three of you. But you do need to tell them so they'll plan it."
"We will," Eliza said firmly.
"Good, now come and hang your things girls," Martha said. "And then you can change into your bathing suits."
"I wasn't expecting this at all Lex," Louis was saying in their bedroom.
"I know," Alexis replied, going to her suitcase. "But you should be unpacking; they're going to be waiting for us."
"Or me," Louis commented, smiling when his wife was rolling her eyes. He hurried to his suitcase and said, "How're you?"
"Good, not as tired as I thought I would be getting here," Alexis replied. She put a sundress on one of her hangers and asked, "You?"
"Very well, though… a bit tired I have to admit," Louis said after hesitating for a moment. "So to sleep tonight," not surprised she was responding shortly after.
"Yes," Alexis told him firmly. "Did you see though; we have an outdoor shower."
"I noticed," Louis replied. He then said, "Though… we… we can use it right?"
Smiling at him, Alexis walked back and cupped his cheek for a moment before she told him, "Why are you so hesitant?"
"Not sure what you want," Louis replied swiftly before his wife laughed and was responding.
"We can, I want to, but at night," Alexis told him firmly. She wasn't surprised when he nodded seriously, and she leaned over to him to share a brief kiss. "Come on, I want to head to the beach too," she said once she had pulled away from him.
"So do I," Louis assured her before he was hurrying back to his suitcase.
"Josie," Beckett was saying while she was walking to the door to the lanai. "Where are you going?"
"Water," the baby said, trying to get the door handle.
"No you aren't," Beckett said, scooping her up and kissing her cheek as Josie was laughing.
"Are you giving your mom a hard time?" Castle asked while he was walking into the room from the closet.
"Dada," Josie said. "Water," she then added when he had turned to her.
"Not yet sweetheart," Castle said. "Soon though, I promise. We're almost done with our clothes."
"And then we have to change," Beckett told him, walking over to the bed. She kissed Josie's cheek and said, "Stay here okay?"
"She can look outside," Castle said.
"She was trying to get the doorknob," Beckett replied.
"Oh… then come with us," Castle said, motioning to her. "We'll play as soon as we finish."
Beckett was relieved when the baby headed to her father as soon as she set her down and glanced at the doors while she took a blouse to the closet. "I hope you're right," she said.
"I told you they were thick, and I asked about soundproofing, it is," Castle replied. He glanced at her before saying, "What?"
"To change the subject," Beckett began after she had hung her blouse. "What about the pool?"
Castle wanted to tease her and ask about which pool, since the resort had several, but he saw Josie was trying to grab the bottom of his shirt and had to stop her. He picked her up and kissed her before he said, "When would you want to go?"
"After her nap," Beckett said, nodding to Josie. "Could she go?"
"Maybe just step in? I think she'd be able to see brightly colored fish and Mother or your dad could help her with a mask," Castle said slowly. He bounced Josie lightly to her squeal and said, "Want to see fish?"
"Eh," Josie replied. She laughed when her parents do before she leaned against her father and said, "Swim Mama."
"We're almost done," Beckett said before she and Castle were turning their attention back to finishing fully. Once they had she was first to walk to the bedroom when she paused seeing Julia and Eliza in the doorway before the former spoke first.
"We finished," she said. "So… we can go?"
"Did you change?" Castle said, coming up behind his wife.
"Yeah, we brought Josa's stuff too," Eliza said eagerly, showing them the clothes and diaper.
"Okay, then stay with us while we get her ready," Castle replied, glancing at his wife.
Leading Josie to the bed, Beckett put her on top of it and had Julia help her in changing her before the baby was in a sundress. She kissed her before setting her down and told the girls, "Keep an eye on her, we'll change quickly."
"We can't go outside yet?" Eliza asked.
"Not yet," Castle said. He smiled when the girl pouted and said, "Like your mom said, we'll be fast." He closed the doors after them before they went to the closet to change into their bathing suits before they headed to the living room to find Jim was with the three girls looking outside.
"We're ready," Alexis said, getting her parents' attention when she and Louis were coming out from the bedrooms. She heard footsteps behind her and said with a smile, "Gram too."
"Good, it's almost time for lunch," Castle said. "Want to see the lanai?"
"Yes!" Julia and Eliza exclaimed.
"Okay, you two first," Castle told them before he opened the door and then pushed it and the windows to one side. He did the same with the other side until the glass wall was fully opened and said, "Ta-da," smiling when he saw Eliza and Josie were looking at it in awe before the former was speaking first.
"Is this going to be open?" Eliza asked.
"It is," Castle replied. "But please dry off and rinse off the sand before you come inside."
"I will," Eliza replied earnestly. She and Julia went out onto the lanai before they were going to the railing and looking down at the beach.
"This is wonderful Richard," Martha told her son with a smile.
"It is," Beckett added. "And we'll eat here tonight."
"Great," Castle said, nodding. He leaned over and kissed his wife before he said, "Keep going?" He wasn't surprised when she nodded, and they walked around the entire lanai before they made their way back to the girls who were standing next to the Jacuzzi. "You guys want to go here instead of the ocean?" he asked them teasingly. He wasn't surprised when Eliza looked affronted, but Julia was nodding playfully. He laughed and said, "Then let's go," before they headed to the stairs at the end of the lanai. There were only a few and they headed down the sand before Julia and Eliza were ankle deep in the water ahead of them. "They're not in trouble are they?" he asked his wife.
"No," Beckett replied with a smile. She then turned directly to him and said, "This was what I wanted."
"I kept it in mind," Castle said, taking her hand and kissing the back of it. He held it and they continued to the girls who had started playfully skipping around and splashing each other before his wife was making them stop while she pretended to scold them.
"You two know we need to have lunch first," Beckett was telling them.
Smiling, Julia took Eliza's hand and they walked up to their family saying, "We just wanted to try the water."
"It's warm!" the little girl said eagerly. "Josa will love it."
"I'm sure she will but once we set everything up I'll get the food," Beckett said.
"Can I go with you?" Julia asked. She was pleased when her mother nodded, since it meant they would see more of the resort. She helped her family where she could and once they were done she looked at Eliza when she was speaking to their mother pleadingly.
"Can I go help get lunch too?" the little girl was saying.
"Yes," Beckett replied before they turned to Alexis as she spoke.
"Why don't Josa and I go too?" the young woman said.
"Of course," Beckett said with a smile at the thought of her four daughters joining her. She then turned to her husband and asked, "What were we going to have?"
"Hualalai Trading Company," Castle said immediately. "It's sandwiches and wraps; let me get the menu on my phone," he said as he grabbed it from the tote bag they got with their villa.
After noting the orders on her phone, Beckett said, "We'll be back," before she urged the girls to get their sandals back on and follow her. She had to stop an employee to ask where the place was, but they were soon on their way and passing a pool before she saw the place and they entered before the worker at the register was greeting them with a smile.
"Aloha, welcome," the woman said. "Let me know when you're ready."
Nodding, Beckett turned to Julia and Eliza and told them, "Remember, you can pick a smoothie to drink but you need to ask me about it." She wasn't surprised when the two were nodding in agreement and turned to the menu. They hadn't looked at the menu, letting Castle, her father, mother-in-law and son in law do so to let them leave faster.
"Can I get the Banana Cup?" Eliza eventually asked.
"Another one," Beckett said. She wasn't surprised when her second youngest frowned before looking again.
"Da Good Stuff?" Eliza asked shyly.
"That's fine," Beckett replied. "And your sandwich?"
"The roll up? But I don't want the chipotle thing Mommy," Eliza told her.
"I'll tell them not to put that," Beckett replied with a nod.
"What're you gonna get?" Eliza asked her.
"Shaka Boost and the Bahn mi like your daddy is," Beckett replied.
"What's liliko'i?" Julia asked, pronouncing the word slowly.
"Passionfruit," Beckett said. "And I know you're wondering, poha is a ground cherry."
"Oh… can I try?" Eliza asked.
"Of course, you both can too," Beckett said to her two oldest.
"Josa?" Julia asked. She smiled when her mother nodded and then said, "I'll get the Nui Cabana, and can I try the Bahn mi too?" relieved when her mother nodded before Alexis was touching her shoulder before she spoke with a smile.
"I'll get the same as Jules," the young woman said. "But are we going to be able to carry everything?"
"I hope so," Beckett said before she went to the register and ordered. Going back to her daughters she saw Alexis had Josie on her hip while the girls were looking out. "I'm sorry you didn't have the chance to swim yet," she said.
"That's okay," Julia said. "That way we don't have to unpack later."
"Are we really going to eat at the villa?" Eliza asked.
Beckett was about to reply when she stopped herself spotting her husband coming up the path to the restaurant. "What happened?" she said once he walked inside.
"I thought you might need the help," Castle replied.
"Good, it's gonna be a lot of stuff Daddy," Eliza said, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Did you go swimming?"
"Do I look like I did?" Castle asked teasingly.
"No," Eliza said with a giggle when he was pulling her up into his arms. She shared a quick kiss with him before he was setting her down again and she said, "What're Gram and Grandpapa doing?"
"Enjoying the sun," Castle said. "They're not going to go into the water; or Louis for that matter," he said, directing the last to his daughter.
"I told him not to," Alexis commented wryly. She then said, "Are we just going to swim?"
"While Josie's having her nap," Castle said, wondering if she'd seen information at all about the pool he'd chosen the resort for in her room.
"And then?" Julia asked, not surprised her mother was responding to that.
"We'll decide together okay?" Beckett told her. After her daughter nodded her name was called and she had the girls follow them to see what they needed to grab.
"I think that's everything," Castle said, looking at everyone. "Are we ready?"
"Yeah," Eliza said eagerly, holding the bag with the small bags of potato chips in them.
"Then let's head back," Castle said before they were leaving. Once they were on the path he said to his wife, "I didn't tell you, but the beach isn't private… right there."
Glancing at him before turning ahead of them, Beckett made sure their daughters were enough ahead of them to not hear before she murmured, "Someone tried to talk to you."
"Yes," Castle said after snorting briefly. "But Louis was quick to send me to you so… I thanked him for that."
"I'm not surprised," Beckett replied. "Hopefully she isn't there when we get back."
"I don't think he'd let her hang around," Castle replied. "Of course once she sees you then she won't."
"Because you'll kiss me," Beckett said.
"Oh… perhaps," Castle said. He smiled when his wife laughed and wished he weren't holding four of the smoothies so he could kiss her. They were soon reaching the beach luckily and he helped his wife getting everything to everyone and they were sitting to eat.
"This is good," Eliza said a bit later in the meal. She smiled widely when her family was agreeing with her at almost the same time and then told them, "Yeah."
"The sandwiches too," Julia said. She then said, "But I can't wait for the water."
"I'm gonna run right into the water and then swim under the waves," Eliza told her family resolutely. "When I finish my food."
"No you're not," Beckett told her firmly.
"But Mommy…" Eliza said before she stopped herself. "I have to wait," she said in obvious disappointment before her mother was speaking to her gently.
"We can walk around and take pictures," Beckett said.
"I can?" Eliza asked eagerly, perking up at that news.
"Of course, I want to too," Beckett replied. "Finish your sandwich," she urged her since she didn't have that much left of the wrap. When they had finished their meal she said, "Does anyone else want to come with us?"
"I'll stay with Josie," Castle told her. "You can go with the girls."
"I might stay," Alexis said, glancing at her husband. "Rest a little."
"So will I," Louis said. "Bit of a voyage getting here," he added, smiling at his sisters in law giggling at his wording.
"I might go with you Katie," Jim said.
"Good," Julia said. "You can help Lizzy if she needs it," she added with a wide smile.
Wrinkling her nose at her big sister, Eliza said, "We can go now, right?"
"Get your cameras," Beckett replied with a smile. She watched them going back to the villa before she turned to her husband, watching in surprise as he was taking Josie and setting her on his lap.
"You're going to take your nap here with me," Castle said, kissing the side of the baby's head.
"You too Dada," Josie said, smiling at him.
"We'll be fine," Castle told his wife, having noticed her watching him.
Kissing the top of the baby's head, Beckett kissed her husband gently and said, "We'll be back," before she got her camera from the bag. "Ready?" she asked the girls and her father.
"Yeah," Eliza said eagerly. She waved to the rest of the family before going to her grandfather and taking his hand. "Are you excited Grandpapa?"
Before he could reply, Jim watched in surprise as his daughter told them to wait for her before she hurried back to her husband. Watching them talking quietly to each other, he would have frowned but she smiled and nodded before she walked back to them. "Is everything okay?" he asked.
"Yes, I had to check on something," Beckett replied. "We're going to head down to the Ocean Pool."
"What about taking pictures of flowers?" Julia asked.
"Let's see how long we spend at the pool," Beckett replied, not surprised her second oldest had noticed that. But the girls seemed to be okay with that and they made their way down the beach before she was taking pictures of them and the ocean. At the pool she let Julia and Eliza go in to their ankles while they took pictures before she said to her father, "What do you think?"
"It's elaborate," Jim immediately spoke. He then smiled when his daughter turned to him and continued saying, "But I wouldn't ask him to downgrade," not surprised she was laughing softly before she was responding to him.
"Neither would I," Beckett replied. She then looked down the beach and said, "I think we better go."
"Go where?" Jim asked. "You're obviously trying to keep us away from something."
"Back to the others," Beckett explained, smiling at him guessing though she wasn't surprised he had. "We can start swimming though I really hope Rick was serious about staying with Josie."
"Does she need to have a nap that's very long Mommy?" Eliza asked, walking up to them with Julia. "It's vacation time."
"I know," Beckett said with a smile, cupping the back of her head. "But she still needs sleep."
"Okay, but I'm gonna tell her I said," Eliza told her seriously.
"Of course," Beckett replied, doing her best to mimic her second youngest's tone though she wanted to laugh. Shaking herself she said, "We can go back and swim now, are you ready?"
"Yeah, I really want to," Julia said. She then smiled and said, "What if everyone's asleep?"
"Let's wait and see," Beckett replied before they were walking together back down the sand. When she saw their chairs where the rest of their family was she saw her husband talking quietly with Louis and realized Martha and Alexis were asleep too. She was going to warn the girls not to make noise when her oldest was sitting up on her lounge chair and calling to her husband.
"Are they back yet?" Alexis asked.
"We are," Beckett said when the girls hurried to their sister. She squeezed her husband's shoulder once she'd reached him and asked, "She's okay?"
"Yeah," Castle said. "She's been asleep this whole time. Are you going swimming?"
"I told the girls we were," Beckett said with a smile, gently caressing Josie's hair. "What about you?"
"I'm fine here," Castle said before they were suddenly looking to the baby when she was moving. "Or maybe we'll join you," he said with a smile while Josie was blinking and soon looking around at them.
"Mama?" the baby said.
"I'm here sweetie," Beckett said with a smile, kissing the top of her head. "Are you awake?"
"Yes," Josie said though she was yawning.
"Should I try to get her back to sleep?" Castle asked, looking up at his wife.
Shaking her head, Beckett motioned to Julia and Eliza and watched them running the best they could across the sand before they reached their father. While they greeted their sister, she removed her sundress and grabbed the sunscreen bottles before she grabbed Eliza.
"Mommy!" the little girl gasped. "Ooh!" Eliza said before she laughed when she realized why her mother had done that. She helped her with her sundress and though she wanted to run to the water she allowed Beckett to spray the sunscreen on her.
"You're swimming, right?" Julia asked Alexis after she'd set her sundress on one of the lounge chairs.
"Of course," Alexis replied, taking hers off. "What?" she asked when she realized her husband was staring at her.
"I better go!" Julia said jokingly before she went to their parents. "They're gonna smooch," she said teasingly.
"Hey!" Louis called jokingly. He then said, "Briefly," to his wife. After they'd kissed he told her in a murmur, "I couldn't help it, you look quite amazing Lex."
"Thank you," Alexis said simply before she was leaning over to him and kissing him a little harder than they'd been before. After they'd parted she said, "But we should go."
"Okay," Castle was saying after they'd all put on sunscreen. "Should we just run and frolic?" He saw the way Julia was looking at him and said, "What?" in mock annoyance.
"I wanna do that Daddy," Eliza said, going to him.
Laughing when the little girl began to, Castle squeezed her hand and told her, "I'm not surprised, but I think it's better if we just walk in."
"Now," Eliza said, smiling when he laughed again. They headed in and she tried to pull ahead of her father at the warmth of the water before he was tugging her back while he spoke.
"Not yet," Castle said. "And unless you want to have to put on a vest you need to stay with us."
"Until we see how the water is," Beckett added, checking on Josie to make sure she was okay. "But it doesn't look like it's too bad," she said, turning to the waves.
"Does that mean we can start swimming around?" Julia asked.
"Yes," Beckett replied. "But don't go too deep."
Swimming with Alexis and Louis, Julia knew they could go with them and wasn't surprised when they stopped at the point where they weren't touching the sand. After they went under a wave she said, "I'm so, so glad we got to come here."
"Me too," Alexis said. "I never got the chance to."
"You should have come for your honeymoon," Eliza said before they ducked under another.
"I think we were happy going to Paris," Louis replied once they'd resurfaced. He smiled and said, "Though I see why you'd say here is good."
"Are we going to join them at all?" Castle asked his wife once their kids and son in law were swimming under the waves.
"Yes, but Josie needs her turn," Beckett replied. She smiled at the baby in her vest and said, "Want to go under?"
"Eh," Josie said firmly. She smiled when her mother kissed her cheek and watched her walking into the water more. After they were ducking under it she was squealing and squeezing her hands up and closed while her father was gently wiping away the water. "Again," she said firmly.
"Okay," Castle said, going under before his wife could respond to that. Once he stood up he was wiping away the water from his eyes and looking at his wife saying, "No?"
"No," Beckett said laughingly before they were ducking underneath the water together. After they'd stood back up she glanced back at the shore and saw her father was walking up to them. "Here," she said, going to him. "I'm guessing that's why you came out here?"
"It is," Jim replied, taking his youngest granddaughter with a smile. "Have fun."
"You can swim after we head out for a while," Castle said to his father-in-law before he and Beckett were going into the water. They were swimming under the waves until they needed to resurface, and he said, "I'm so glad we managed to pass them," speaking laughingly since they'd gone to the left of the four.
"That was the plan," Beckett replied teasingly.
"Mommy!" Eliza cried, waving to them.
Letting the wave push him towards the four, Castle said to his wife, "You're not swimming?"
"Neither are you," Beckett shot back to him. She smiled when he nodded once, and they moved before they were with their three daughters and son in law.
"Do you love the water Mommy?" Eliza asked as she went to her. "I love it, it's so warm."
"It is," Beckett said, unable to help smiling at her tone. "But we're not going to swim for that much longer."
"Why not?" Julia asked in surprise.
"There's one place we want to go to for sure today," Castle said, not surprised when Eliza was talking eagerly.
"Where is it?" the little girl asked.
"You'll find out once we tell you we're going," Beckett said. She wasn't surprised when Eliza nodded rapidly and as they ducked under the water she smiled at her husband before the next wave went above them.
"What is this?" Julia asked when they came to the edge of the pool.
"King's Pond," Castle replied. He was planning to say more when Eliza was crying out and he turned to her to see she was pointing into the water.
"Fish! There's fish in the pool!" Eliza exclaimed.
"Why?" Julia asked, looking at their parents.
"You can snorkel here," Castle replied with a smile.
"Really?" Julia and Eliza asked at the same time.
"You can, I'm guessing you guys want to?" Castle asked. He laughed and then quickly calmed the girls down when they were both exclaiming yes telling them, "We are, that's why I brought us here."
"What about Josie?" Martha asked.
"We can take her in a little," Castle replied. "But I hope you wouldn't mind staying with her on one of the lounge chairs."
"I won't," Martha said firmly. She then said, "But will she?"
"She won't," Beckett said. "I'll come out and take her in case she starts to fuss."
"Louis, come with me and we'll get the snorkeling supplies," Castle said.
"Wait, Dad look," Julia said, touching his arm.
Turning, Castle saw someone with their child on their back and he looked at his wife uncertainly.
"I don't think so," Beckett told him.
"Me too," Castle said. He turned to the girls and said, "She's too small still, but we'll help her with a mask okay?" When the girls nodded he then went with Louis to get enough snorkeling gear for them.
"You're not gonna take her now?" Eliza asked her mother.
"Not without your dad here," Beckett said with a smile. "It wouldn't be fair."
"Oh," Eliza said, obviously disappointed. She then turned to look down the path her father and Louis had traveled on and said, "I hope they hurry."
"There they are," Julia said eagerly. "You are going to swim for a while though, right?"
"Don't worry," Beckett said since her second oldest was talking to her. "You don't want to go Martha?"
"Oh no, I'll have a good view from that platform," Castle's mother replied before her son and Louis were returning.
"Okay, we have enough for everyone," Castle was saying while they passed out the equipment. "I didn't get one for you Mother, I guessed."
"It was a good one," Martha said in amusement. "And Josie?"
"She has a mask," Castle said.
"It has a snorkel, but it comes off quite easily," Louis commented, holding the mask up.
"We're taking her first," Beckett said to everyone. "But you will get to go swimming."
"We know, but we can't go too?" Eliza asked.
"You can but you'll have to stay with us," Castle said quickly. "We're not going that far in." He couldn't help laughing as the girls were immediately putting on their equipment and said, "I think that answered that."
"It did," Beckett replied before they were going to the platform where Martha would stay. She wasn't surprised when everyone but her mother-in-law entered the pool with them and they were going in so the baby could look into the water. "You need to keep this on sweetie," she told the baby while she showed her the mask. "And then you can see the fish."
"Fif!" Josie exclaimed.
"Exactly," Castle said, helping her with the mask. Once he was sure it was on he said, "Good?"
"I am," Beckett replied since he was talking to her. She turned her attention to Julia and Eliza and told them, "Show her how she should look into the water."
Eliza was surprised before she turned to her big sister when Julia was speaking.
"Like this Josa," the teen said with a smile. Julia bent to place her mask on the surface of the water before she stood back up. When she saw her baby sister was just watching her she said, "Is she going to get it?"
"No, I'll help her," Beckett replied before she nodded to Castle. After he was pushing on Josie's back she helped him before the mask was on the water. She couldn't help laughing as the baby was squealing since there were bright yellow fish swimming by. When she helped her back up she said, "Did you like it sweetie?"
"Eh," Josie said, reaching up to touch the mask. She then said, "More."
"Right now," Castle said before she was bending over and looking at the water again before he or Beckett could help her. He laughed with the others and helped his wife get her up, so her mouth wasn't in the water. After she was up again he said, "You don't think we can go under?"
"I wouldn't be that mean," Beckett replied with a smile, not surprised when her husband frowned for a moment before he spoke.
"Great, but will she be able to see anything?" Castle asked.
"I don't think she'll mind," Alexis said.
Beckett smiled before she said, "She's right, let's start before we waste the rest of the afternoon."
After they had their masks on again, the family ducked under the water on the platform they were standing on but didn't stay for that long before they were resurfacing.
"Mother," Castle called to her.
"Yes?" Martha said in surprise.
"Would you mind taking Josie eventually to the shallow part over there?" Castle asked.
Looking to where her son had indicated, Martha nodded and said, "But I'm not going in if there's a…"
"Ray," Beckett said. "If you just stand nothing will happen."
"Alright," Martha said after she had looked over at Josie and saw her wide smile. She got up from the lounge chair and said, "Come on kiddo."
After he was sure his mother was set with the baby, Castle turned to Eliza and Julia telling them, "You two need to swim with me and your mom."
"Why?" the latter asked in obvious confusion.
"I think he wants to," Beckett commented before her husband could say anything. She smiled and then said, "And I agree with him if you don't mind."
Though she wanted to say she wanted to swim on her own, Julia hesitated and said, "I don't." Turning to Eliza she asked, "Who're you going to swim with?"
"Both," Eliza replied.
"Do you mind taking turns?" Castle asked.
Since her father was talking to her, Julia shook her head rapidly and said, "No, but we can start now right?"
"Yes," Castle said in amusement since he wasn't surprised she was impatient. He helped Eliza, who had moved over to him, and once her mask and snorkel were set he said, "Good?"
"Yeah," Eliza said eagerly before she went into the water. She then started swimming with her father on the surface and was watching the fish below them while they were moving to the middle of the pool. She wanted to go down, but her father soon stopped her, and they surfaced before she said, "I can go down and see them right?"
"I think you better stay up here," Castle replied with a smile. "You don't know how to do that okay?"
"Okay," Eliza said in mock disappointment. She then said eagerly, "Let's go again," not surprised her father was laughing before he spoke.
"I'm right behind you," Castle said, putting his snorkel back on and going with her across the water again.
At the same time Julia was with her mother and she led the way over to the side where Martha and Josie were. When she moved to tread the water she said simply, "Hi."
"Jules, fish!" Josie cried. "Mama!" she then exclaimed seeing her mother while she moved her mask.
"Hey sweetie," Beckett replied with a smile. "Having fun?"
"Eh," Josie replied, beaming at her.
"You couldn't take her swimming? She seems to want to join you," Martha told her daughter in law.
"Rick and I could," Beckett said before she looked behind her and saw her husband and Eliza joining them. Her father was swimming up shortly after with Alexis and Louis not far behind. "Is everyone tired?" she asked jokingly.
"No, just wondering what's the craic," Louis commented.
"We came to see Josie," Julia said first.
"I wanna swim with Mommy!" Eliza cried.
"We will now," Beckett assured her. She then turned to her husband and said, "Your mom suggested taking Josie around."
"Just swimming?" Castle asked. At her nod he said, "Sure, I'm guessing she's been enjoying watching the fish?"
"And rays," Martha said with a sigh.
"They didn't go over you did they?" Jim asked in surprise, getting up on the platform they were standing on. At the shake of her head he told her, "I can take Josie, I was going to take a break anyway," not surprised when she was turning to the baby to speak to her directly.
"Would you like to go with your grandfather?" Martha asked.
Josie looked between the two before she smiled and then reached for Jim's hand before he pulled her to his side. "Gram," she said, turning to her.
"I'll be right here kiddo," Martha said with a smile, going to a lounge chair near the platform. "Have fun."
"Come on," Castle said to Julia before they left, Alexis and Louis having done so already. He swam next to her while they were snorkeling again and after they'd done that to the ocean side of the pool he felt her touching his shoulder. Coming back up he asked, "What's wrong?"
"No, could we follow one of the rays?" Julia asked. "I wanted to earlier but by the time we got to it we were by Josa."
"Sure, but make sure you keep an eye out for other people," Castle told her. He wasn't surprised when she nodded, and they snorkeled again until he spotted two rays. He pointed them out to Julia and tried not to smile as she stuck her thumb up in front of him. They swam together after them and once they were close they slowed down to trail them until they took a break. "Good idea," he told her once his snorkel was out of the way.
"How come?" Julia asked with a smile.
"We got to see a lot more fish that way," Castle pointed out.
"Oh, true," Julia said before she saw her big sister and brother-in-law were swimming to them.
"Want to come with us?" Alexis asked.
"Sure," Julia said. "See you Dad," she told him with a smile before swimming to the couple. Once they were going through the water she said, "What about Lizzy?"
"I figured Dad would go with her and Mom," Alexis replied, putting her snorkel back in her mouth. She smiled when her sister nodded and got her own snorkel ready before they were swimming again.
Left alone, Castle swam to where he saw Beckett was with Eliza and once he reached her he followed them until they stopped.
"I can see you," Beckett said in amusement once she could talk.
"Julia abandoned me," Castle said.
"No way," Eliza said immediately.
Laughing, Castle said, "No, but good you know your sister that well." He turned his attention back to his wife and told her, "Alexis invited her to go with them."
"Will you come with us?" Beckett asked her husband.
"Please Daddy?" Eliza asked.
"Of course," Castle replied. He then said with a smile, "But remember, we don't have too much time left before we get ready for dinner."
"I know, so let's go now!" Eliza exclaimed.
Beckett laughed with her husband and she squeezed his hand before they turned their attention to going back across the pool. They swam with Eliza a little longer before making their way back to where her father was still with Josie before he was speaking to them with a smile.
"Are you guys going to take her?" Jim asked.
"Is she fussing?" Beckett answered with her own question.
"Not really, but she's been watching you when you go by," Jim replied.
"We'll go now," Beckett said. "Come here sweetie," she then directed to the baby. She took her hand and once she had given her mask and snorkel to Julia and Castle had given his, they set out in the water with the baby, following one of the rays.
"You guys don't want to go?" Alexis asked with a smile to her little sisters.
"Nah, we swam with Mom and Dad already," Julia replied.
"Yeah, and we can pet the rays when they come by," Eliza said. One was going by then and she tried to run her hand over it, but it moved too quickly.
"Be careful," Martha said, though she couldn't keep the amusement out of her tone since Eliza was wrinkling her nose.
"Looks like your sister is enjoying it," Louis commented, watching the three further out in the water.
"Of course, she's swimming," Eliza said. She then turned to the others and said, "We don't have to leave yet do we?"
"We do, it's getting late," Jim said.
"Ooh! Here comes another!" Eliza then said eagerly instead of replying to her grandfather. She leaned over to try and touch the back before she was crying out when she lost her balance and fell over. When the water came together over her head she was hurrying to swim back up.
"Are you okay?" Alexis asked when her husband was helping her sister back up to the platform.
"Yeah," Eliza said. She wiped her face and said angrily, "I didn't fall."
Julia tried not to laugh but the snort she made in her suppression was loud and she couldn't help it before she was laughing out loud.
"Don't get mad," Alexis told her sister. "At least you got another dip before we left."
Eliza frowned before she sighed and then said, "I guess."
"Come here Eliza," Jim said, pulling her to his side. He squeezed her shoulder before she was embracing him and he hugged her back saying, "Ready to go?"
Turning to look out at the water Eliza saw he was right, and her parents were coming back with her baby sister. "How did she like it?" she asked, forgetting about falling in.
"She loved it," Castle said firmly. "And though I hate to say it, we need to go."
Beckett, picking Josie up once she was standing on the platform, smiled at the girls pretending to grumble. They went to where they'd left their towels and dried off, the girls talking eagerly about their dinner plans before they made their way back to their villa.