"Jules!" Eliza cried before she fell over to the lanai. She was laughing with her sister when Julia checked on her, helping her stand said, "I told you I couldn't jump over you!"

"I wasn't the one who wanted to leapfrog," Julia said teasingly. "That was you." When Eliza stuck her nose up in the air she laughed softly and wrapped her arms around her before they were embracing. "Let's go out for a walk," she told her before her sister was looking at her with wide eyes and then speaking.

"How are we going to do that?" Eliza asked. "Mom and Dad are waiting for dinner… and everyone else is watching TV."

"I'll ask," Julia said, taking her hand and leading her to the villa and their parents' room.

"Yes?" Castle asked, putting on his glasses.

"Could Lizzy and I go for a walk?" Julia asked.

"Where?" Beckett asked.

"On the beach," Julia replied. "Not that far, just down to Beech Tree and back."

"I think they'd be okay doing that," Castle said as he and his wife looked at one another. "If someone's on the lanai; just in case."

Beckett nodded before she turned to their middle daughters and said, "Head out and ask if anyone will do that."

"Sure," Julia said.

"Thanks!" Eliza cried before her sister pulled her to the living room.

"What're you two doing?" Martha asked the girls.

"Can someone come outside?" Julia asked.

"For what?" Alexis asked.

"Lizzy and I are gonna walk down the beach to the tree and come back," Julia replied.

"Mom and Dad said it was okay?" Alexis said. When her sisters nodded she said, "I don't mind. Louis?"

"Sure," the young man replied with a smile before they went after her sisters to the lanai.

"You'll go around the tree," Alexis told the two once they were standing at the steps down to the sand.

"Yeah, and come right back," Julia said, nodding.

"Okay, go ahead, dinner should be here really soon," Alexis said.

"Thanks!" Julia and Eliza said together before they went to the beach. They were holding hands and as they walked they looked back at the villa and waved before they turned back ahead of them.

"Why did you want to do this?" Eliza asked her sister after they were quiet for a little.

"I just felt like doing something grown up," Julia explained. "You don't like it?"

"Oh I do," Eliza said hurriedly. "It feels weird without Mommy and Daddy here."

"I know but it's only for a little bit," Julia replied.

"If we were older would we go further?" Eliza asked. She looked up at her sister and seeing her nodding she giggled before saying, "Too bad we aren't." They were soon reaching the tree and they paused, looking back to the villa and just seeing their sister and brother-in-law.

"What's wrong?" Julia asked her as they began walking again.

"Do you think 'lexis and Louis are happy?" Eliza asked.

"Of course, you can't tell?" Julia said.

"Just making sure," Eliza said. She knew her sister was looking at her and then said, "I thought they would have a baby."

Smiling Julia told her, "I'm not surprised but not everyone has a baby right away."

"Mommy and Daddy did," Eliza said. "Before they were married."

"Not everyone is Mom and Dad," Julia said. "Rebecca and David didn't have Mari for… years after they were married."

"Oh yeah," Eliza said since she was aware of that already. "Are they gonna wait that long?"

"I don't know, but let them decide," Julia replied. "And don't mention it."

"That's why I asked you," Eliza said firmly.

Julia couldn't help laughing and once they were at the steps up to the lanai she calmed down saying, "See?"

"We did," Louis said, not surprised when his sisters in law began laughing.

"No, we stayed on the beach," Julia said.

"Good," Beckett said, coming outside. "Dinner's here so wash your hands you two." She watched them go and said to her daughter and son in law, "They were fine?"

"They were, I think they just wanted to do something alone," Alexis replied. She then told her, "She's young for that."

"It wasn't Eliza's idea," Beckett said with a smile, knowing her oldest was joking.

"It almost seemed like it was," Louis commented before he saw his wife was rolling her eyes. "They don't need help?" he asked.

"No, they'll be fine," Castle said as he was walking out. Two employees came after him and were setting out the dishes before he tipped them and saw them out of the villa.

"Is dinner ready?" Eliza asked eagerly, coming out of the bathroom by the entrance.

"Of course, I hope you two are hungry," Castle said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders before Julia stepped out and was speaking to him teasingly.

"I think it's just you that's hungry," Julia told him.

"Smart aleck," Castle said. He laughed when she nodded knowingly and hugged her tightly before he led them to the table where the others were standing.

"You're waiting for us?" Eliza asked.

"Of course, where do you two want to sit?" Martha asked, watching in amusement when the little girl hurried around to her big sister.

"Do you mind?" Beckett asked her oldest.

"No, I'll watch her, make sure she eats everything," Alexis replied.

"Now we need to change our plates," Castle commented before they were switching them around in amusement. Once they'd finished, he was sitting with Josie in between himself and Beckett, Julia to her right. His mother was to his left and he said to her, "I hope you'll be okay eating here."

"I will," Martha said firmly, smiling at her middle granddaughters who were watching her.

"Eliza," Beckett then said. She was going to continue once the little girl was looking at her, but her husband was speaking first.

"I'd like to have a quick toast," Castle said, holding his glass. "To our first time in Hawaii."

"Sláinte," Beckett told her husband with a smile as she looked at him and reached around Josie to tap her glass against his.

"Sláinte," Castle replied before the baby was whimpering.

"Me Mama," Josie said in protest.

"Of course sweetie," Beckett said, tapping her wine glass to the baby's sippy cup. She kissed her temple and said, "Now you need to eat," while her husband was getting Josie's plate, putting it on the tray of the highchair. Making sure the baby would be okay eating, she turned to Eliza and called to her again. "You need to eat your vegetables too sweetie."

"But-" the little girl started to say before she stopped as Julia came over to her. "Okay," Eliza said since her sister was setting a little bowl of ranch next to her plate.

"I took a little," Julia said.

"For what?" Eliza asked in surprise.

"My chicken," Julia told her quickly before she hugged her tightly for a moment.

"You're welcome," Eliza said.

"Thanks," Julia told her before they were laughing. Sitting next to her mother she picked up her fork and knife and started to cut at her brick chicken, smiling at the taste before Castle was speaking to her as he leaned over on the table.

"How is it?" he asked.

"Really good," Julia said with a nod. She then smiled and said, "Thanks for suggesting."

"You're welcome," Castle said.

"Daddy?" Eliza asked.

"Yes sweetheart?" Castle replied looking across the table at her.

"Where are we going tomorrow?" Eliza said.

"Oh yeah," Julia said before their father could answer. "You're not going to surprise us, are you?"

"You don't like when we do that?" Castle responded with a smile. When Julia just looked at him he couldn't help laughing and said, "Okay, we planned to stay here again, but we're going to try a few things out."

"Like what?" Eliza asked, surprised at her father turning to Beckett.

"They have a kids club," she said with a smile. "With different activities you can do with the other kids staying here."

"And Jules," Eliza said though she also sounded excited.

"She's a little too old," Beckett said gently. "But you should have fun still."

"Okay," Eliza said happily.

"There's an activity center," Castle said. "You don't have to sign up for it luckily."

"Oh good," Julia said since that was directed to her. "I don't really want to." She paused in getting more of her potato puree and said, "That's okay right?"

"It is," Beckett assured her.

"So… what are we going to do while Lizzy's busy with her stuff?" Julia asked.

"Well, they have outrigger canoes we can try," Castle said. "And maybe play tennis or bocce ball."

"I wanna play that," Eliza said suddenly.

"Play what?" Julia asked her.

"The bocce ball," Eliza replied.

"We can wait to do that," Beckett assured her. "And go to the King's Pond again."

"What about another pool?" Julia asked.

"We were going to try and visit all the pools," Castle said. "Would you guys like to do that first tomorrow or wait?"

"Wait," Julia and Eliza said at the same time.

"Okay, so we'll talk about what we'll do tomorrow while Eliza's with the club," Castle said.

"I can't wait," the little girl herself said. She then smiled and asked, "When can I go?"

"After breakfast," Castle replied.

"We'll pick you up at one," Beckett added.

"After lunch?" Eliza asked in surprise.

"You'll be fed there," Castle told her. "We'll probably just get the same as today… or something in the room."

"You can go somewhere," Eliza said. "But don't leave here."

"The resort?" Martha asked. She smiled when her second youngest granddaughter nodded and said, "I don't think we will kiddo; not without you."

Nodding firmly, Eliza smiled when the others were laughing before she said, "I hope you have fun."

"Don't worry, we will," Beckett said before Julia was asking about tennis and they proceeded to talk about that. Once they'd finished, she was going to help her husband clear the table when he stopped her, getting Louis and her father to help him. She was about to talk to her oldest and mother-in-law when Eliza was getting off her chair and hurrying to her. "Yes sweetie?" she asked with a smile before Josie was hitting her palm on her highchair tray.

"Mama want swim," the baby said with a frown on her face.

Laughing, Beckett stood up and took Josie out of her chair before she put her on her hip, kissing her cheek. "We're not going swimming sweetie, but we can wade in the water for a little," she told her.

"And look for seashells?" Eliza said. "I was going to ask," she then added in a rush.

"Of course," Beckett said, running her hand over the back of Eliza's head. "Will you guys come with us?"

"I will," Alexis said.

"I'll watch from here," Martha said. She smiled watching her daughter in law and granddaughters heading down to the beach.

"Are they going swimming?" Castle asked his mother after walking onto the lanai.

"No, wading and looking for seashells," Martha said. "Are you going to join them?"

"Not yet," Castle said, going to the railing and leaning against it as he watched Julia and Eliza running around together in the breaking waves.

"You didn't say where was safe!" the little girl cried out.

"Stop you two," Beckett said in amusement. When they did so she motioned to them before they were suddenly rushing past her and Alexis. "Girls," she said before she turned and saw her husband coming down to the sand with Louis right behind him.

"Hey, easy you two," Castle said laughingly when they were throwing themselves at him. "You're all wet," he said, getting them to walk.

"That's 'cause Mommy said we couldn't go swimming," Eliza replied.

"And yet they could splash around like that?" Castle asked his wife teasingly once he'd reached where she was with Josie in front of her.

"You try and stop them," Beckett replied with a smile.

"Well, at least you managed to," Castle said, smiling himself when Josie threw her arms around his leg. He picked her up and kissed her cheek before he said, "Mother said something about finding seashells."

"We can do that?" Eliza asked eagerly.

"Yes, let's go now before it gets dark," Beckett told them. She paused and looked back at the lanai, seeing her father and Castle's mother watching them from the railing.

"I told them to order coffee, they said they'd wait for dessert," Castle murmured to his wife since their middle daughters were ahead of them a little. He then saw Alexis and Louis were walking hand in hand by the girls and called to them before they walked over. "Are you going to walk down at all?" he asked.

"Not far," Louis said. "Though… why?"

"Dessert," Castle explained simply.

"We'll be close," Alexis said before she and her husband walked down the beach towards the beech tree.

"So," Castle said, turning to his wife before his eyes were widening as she grabbed the front of his shirt. He recovered easily when she kissed him though it was brief and when they parted he said with a smile, "You're very demanding," not surprised when she was responding immediately.

"You took too long," Beckett told him.

"I guess I did," Castle said before they turned to their three youngest when they were calling to them. "But we have to join them."

"Don't run," Beckett called to Eliza when she was heading up the sand to them.

"We wanted you to come with us to look for shells," the little girl said.

"We were coming right now," Castle said, reaching over to take her hand. After they were with Julia and Josie he asked, "Did you guys find anything yet?"

"Yeah, this one," Julia said, showing them the whelk shell Eliza had spotted.

"That's a nice one," Castle said. "Did you let Josie hold it?"

"Not yet," Julia replied.

"We thought she was going to put it in her mouth," Eliza explained.

"We can let her hold it now," Beckett said, not surprised they were telling them that so she and Castle could take over. She took the shell and then Josie's hand before setting the shell there and had her brush her other fingers over the smooth surface of it. When she turned it over for the baby she smiled as Josie was giggling and she kissed her cheek before taking the shell.

"Mama I want," the baby said, reaching out for it with a whimper.

"It's your sister's," Beckett said gently but firmly. "But we'll try and find one for you sweetie."

"You have to go into the water a little Mom," Julia said.

"I noticed," Beckett replied. "And that's fine, I told you we can wade. It's not cold."

"Good thing," Eliza said, giggling when her father tickled her.

"There's one Josie," Beckett told the baby, spotting something rolling in the water.

Crying out, Josie went to it and squatted to pick it up before the wave rolling it was going back. She let out a sound of protest before she fell on her hands and knees and began to cry. "Mama," she said in complaint.

"It's okay," Beckett said, hurriedly helping her stand before she kissed her cheek. "Let's see if we can find the shell again," she then told her before she looked at the sand.

"Hey Mom," Julia said in laughter. "Josa has the shell."

"What?" Beckett asked before she had the baby open her hand. She laughed with the others when they saw the shell on her tiny palm.

"What kind is it?" Eliza asked eagerly as they gathered around her to study it.

"A conch," Castle said. He smiled when Julia and Eliza looked at him in surprise and said, "A small one, but it's a conch," not surprised the former was speaking with a smile.

"I found a cowrie shell," Julia said. She smiled when Eliza grabbed her arm before showing the shell with sandy colored stripes on it.

"Nice," Castle said. "What're you going to do with it?"

"I don't know… put it on my desk," Julia said. She was about to ask if they needed to go back to the villa when she heard what seemed to be a horn. Looking down the beach she soon saw a man was standing on the sand with a conch shell and smiled before she looked at her little sisters. She then thought of Alexis, but the man was finishing, and she hurried to applaud with them.

"Come on girls," Beckett said. "We're going back for dessert." She wasn't surprised when Eliza was the first to rush over to her but saw Julia was looking down at the water again. "Julia," she called.

"I found another, sorry," the girl said, jogging up to them. "I was going to give this one to Mari," Julia said, showing the cowrie shell with white dots on a beige color.

"That'll be a nice gift," Castle said.

"You said something about dessert?" Julia asked. She smiled when her parents laughed, and they started to head back to the villa before she noticed her father was looking down the beach.

"Am I going to be allowed to ask what happened?" Castle said to his daughter and Louis who were dripping wet.

"Yes, he pushed me," Alexis said since they'd reached her family by then.

"And you?" Beckett asked, she and the girls had stopping to see what had happened.

"She dragged me with her," Louis replied. "I thought I could make it but… I guess not."

"Can someone get towels for us?" Alexis asked while they walked again and came to the steps up to the villa.

"I will!" Eliza cried before she went up.

"Clean off your feet!" Castle called after her before his mother was getting his attention.

"What happened?" Martha asked.

While Castle was explaining, Beckett went up to the lanai and made her way inside. "Did you get towels?" she called, hearing bare feet coming from the two rooms to the left.

"Yeah," Eliza told her mother once she was in the living room. "Can I give them to them?"

"Go ahead," Beckett said, following her outside before she went to her husband while he was talking to her father.

"Should I order?" Castle asked once his wife had reached him and Jim.

"You should, it's getting later," Beckett replied. She smiled at her father once her husband had hurried into the villa and asked, "What would you like to do tomorrow?"

"Join you on the canoe," Jim said firmly.

"You do?" Beckett asked in surprise.

Nodding Jim said, "I'm not that old Katie."

"I didn't say you were," Beckett replied easily. "I wasn't expecting you to want to." She then glanced at her middle daughters who were with Alexis and Louis and then said, "Or you think they'll ask you to come?"

"I know already," Jim said with a nod. "And after that?"

"You'll see tomorrow," Beckett said, smiling. "We'll decide together." She turned her attention to her husband before she said, "I'm guessing you're all set," not surprised when he went to her and wrapped his arm around her waist before he responded.

"It'll be here soon," Castle said. He turned to his father-in-law when the man was leaving them and he said, "Was it something I said?"

Knowing her husband was speaking jokingly, Beckett told him, "Something you did."

"Nothing I haven't done before," Castle said, squeezing his hand firmly on her hip.

"No," Beckett replied. "But I think he figured we might want a second."

"That's all?" Castle asked in mock disappointment. He smiled when his wife laughed softly and he leaned over, pressing a kiss to the side of her head. "I figured, what about the Jacuzzi?" he asked.

"I was thinking tomorrow," Beckett replied. "After the restaurant."

"Are you going to let Josa go in?" Julia asked, walking up to them.

"If she's not tired, yes," Beckett said. "Though we're not all going to fit in there."

"Not all of us will go in," Martha said. "And I can take Josie once she's finished."

"I think she's telling us to give Josie to her," Castle told his wife in an exaggerated whisper.

"I got that," Beckett replied in amusement. "And that's fine," she then directed to her mother-in-law before Martha was shaking her head and talking to Castle.

"I think I was very transparent," she commented.

"You didn't want to be?" Alexis asked her grandmother.

"Oh I did," Martha replied before they were laughing together while Eliza went to her and hugged her tightly.

Watching the girls showing their parents the shells they'd found; Castle was about to say something to his wife when he heard the doorbell to the villa ringing. "Better head back to the table," he said to everyone, getting their attention. "Dessert's here."

Helping Eliza and Josie to their seats, Beckett watched the men setting down the desserts they'd ordered before the workers left and she sat. Their seating arrangement had changed, and she was next to her husband with Josie to his left and Eliza to her right. "Not too much Rick," she told him while he was feeding the baby some of the chocolate hazelnut tart he'd ordered.

"Don't worry," Castle assured her. "I know she needs to sleep."

"Is Josa going on the canoe with you?" Eliza asked after they'd been eating for a little.

"I think she's staying with Gram," Alexis commented with a smile.

"She's right," Beckett added. "She can't really do much and she might be in the way sitting in front of us."

"Too bad," Eliza said. "She can't go with me?"

"The lowest age is three," Castle replied. "And we'd want her to stay with your Gram anyway."

"I'll do something with her," Martha promised.

After they had finished, Eliza got up from the table and leaned against the railing before saying, "Can we go down to the beach again?"

"In a little," Beckett said, getting Josie out of her high chair. "She needs to go to bed."

"Already?" Eliza asked in obvious disappointment. She smiled when her mother nodded and was about to ask if she was going to have a bath when Alexis was suddenly speaking to their parents.

"Would you mind if I got her ready?" the young woman asked.

"Of course not," Beckett said. "Make sure she doesn't have sand on her legs."

Seeing the smile on Alexis' face as she got Josie, Castle couldn't help doing so himself before she was disappearing into the villa, talking with her baby sister. "You wouldn't want to go in with her?" he asked his son in law.

"She told me not to," Louis said with a smile. "Odd but I think she just wanted to spend some time with her baby sister," he explained to everyone. "And I'm not going to keep her from that of course."

"Want to see my shell?" Eliza asked, holding it out to him.

Laughing, Louis nodded and let his sister-in-law explain the shell and how she'd found it while they waited for Alexis.

Feeling her husband's hand taking hers gently, Beckett turned to him and said, "Okay?"

Castle merely responded with a nod before he entwined their fingers and they watched Julia soon discuss her shell too while the tropical sky began to darken.

Adjusting the sheet over the girls, Beckett smiled and resisted the urge to press a kiss to their heads before she left the living room and went back to the main bedroom. Seeing the bathroom door was still closed, she went to the couch and looked out the windows. She nearly jumped when her husband opened the bathroom door and hit it against the other side.

"Sorry," Castle said in a rush. "I keep forgetting it's a pocket door."

"I noticed," Beckett said wryly. "Good shower?" she then asked with a smile.

"Yes," Castle said firmly. He then paused in setting his things down on the table their room had before he said, "You checked on them didn't you?"

"Of course I did," Beckett replied. "And they're fine."

"Good," Castle said, walking over to her before she was standing suddenly to his surprise. When she spoke and began explaining what she wanted he couldn't help smiling and understood then why she'd done that.

"I wanted to head outside," Beckett told him. "Sit on the lanai."

"Not the beach?" Castle asked. "There are two lounge chairs there."

"I don't want to worry about sand," Beckett explained. When her husband nodded she took his hand and pulled him with her outside to the lounge chairs that were right outside their room. She let him sit in one first before she joined him in the other telling him, "Move Rick."

"Well if you want this chair…" Castle said jokingly before he slid over as far as he could. Once she was with him he wrapped his arm around her tightly and said, "Our first day."

"I know, and yes it was a great idea to come here," Beckett said. She smiled when he kissed the side of her head and said, "I hope Julia will enjoy tomorrow."

"Probably," Castle said. "We said we'd let her decide," he added.

"What?" Beckett asked since his speed of talking had slowed down.

"I almost forgot, Alexis told me she and Louis were thinking of spending the rest of the day on their own after the canoe trip," Castle explained.

"That's fine," Beckett said. She couldn't help laughing softly when her husband looked at her in surprise and said, "We can let our parents spend time with Josie and we'll go with Julia."

"We're not going to be able to do that in the future though," Castle warned her. "With Eliza and Josie."

"I thought of that," Beckett replied with a nod. "I hate that, but I do want to give more attention to Julia; her sisters are so much younger and still need us."

"Okay," Castle said. "I just hope Josie won't mind."

"She won't," Beckett said in amusement. "Since she'll have your mom and both our parents eventually."

"I can't wait," Castle replied, kissing her temple. When she turned her head, he was kissing her on the lips gently and after they had parted he said, "What were you intending to do with this?"

"This," Beckett replied. "I'm exhausted love, while it was fun it was a lot."

"Agreed," Castle replied. "But this isn't bad for the time being." He glanced down at her and asked, "Pervert?"

"Yes," Beckett replied before they were kissing again. It was brief and she said, "What're you thinking right now?"

"That I shouldn't have taken that shower," Castle said. "Jacuzzi?" he asked her swiftly when he saw her eyes narrow a little.

"You forgot I did the same with the girls before dinner," Beckett pointed out.

"True," Castle said. He then looked at his wife and said, "Are we at that point?"

"Of course," Beckett replied, since Julia had asked her to tell Castle to wait in the living room while she'd showered with their three youngest in the outdoor shower. "She's becoming more body conscious and she knows you're a boy," she added.

"I remember Alexis being the same way," Castle said with a brief nod. "Around the same age too, I just hate we've reached that already." He was about to say more when he stopped and frowned before he finally said, "So how was it?"

"She's not developing yet," Beckett replied, squeezing his hand. "I know you're afraid of when she hits that point."

"Not afraid," Castle said rapidly. "I know that it's an emotional roller coaster and I just want to be aware."

"And you're a little afraid," Beckett said firmly after they'd stared at each other for a moment. "It's understandable," she added in a rush since her husband was frowning again. "Since you have no idea what it's like, but you'll be aware."

"So you'll let me know?" Castle asked. He smiled when his wife nodded and said, "Thanks."

"Not a problem Rick," Beckett replied before they were kissing again. It was brief and she said, "Though I should tell you what Eliza said while we were drying off." She wasn't surprised when he urged her to and smiled recalling the shower she'd had with the three before they'd gotten ready for dinner.

"You only need to do this once," Beckett was telling Julia. "And this is because it's faster."

"After this I'm showering in the bathroom by the front door," the teen replied.

"That's fine," Beckett said, turning on the water. She watched the girls standing under it and couldn't help laughing as Josie was moving her arms as if she were swimming. She stepped over to her and helped her rinse out her hair. Once she was done, she had the girls move for her to let her rinse off.

"Why did you wear your bathing suit still?" Eliza asked.

"Because, I'm just rinsing off," Beckett said. "And we're finished." She went to where she had towels for them on one of the sinks next to the door and handed them out to her middle daughters. Drying Josie off herself she said, "See? That wasn't so bad."

"But you should have done this with Daddy," Eliza said firmly. She paused for a minute while her sister helped her to wrap her towel around her and then said firmly, "And kissed him."

Beckett couldn't help laughing softly telling her, "Maybe another time."

"You better," Eliza said.

"She said that?" Castle asked laughingly.

"She did, and as a demand though I'm sure you got that from her words," Beckett said.

"Definitely," Castle said, nodding. "And your response?"

"Eliza," Beckett said, not as sternly as her daughter but enough to let her know she wasn't happy with her tone.

"Sorry, but it's a nice shower," the little girl explained.

"It is, but let your daddy and I decide on that okay?" Beckett replied. She had the girls step inside the bathroom before she dried off as quickly as she could. Once she had finished she joined them and closed the door behind her before she said, "Are you okay getting dressed on your own?"

"Yeah," Eliza said, since her mother was talking to her. She looked at Julia and said, "Are we changing together?"

"You three," Beckett replied. "But you can stay in the room while I change; your dad already did that."

"Can I help you?" Eliza then asked.

"She's just wearing a sundress," Julia told her little sister.

"She's right," Beckett told the little girl with a smile as she turned to her. "But you can help Julia watch Josie, okay?"

"Okay," Eliza said before she was walking with her sisters as their mother urged them to the bedroom.

"I don't know if you heard them, but Julia and Eliza jumped on the bed a little," Beckett said.

"No, which is good," Castle commented. "But really?"

Smiling Beckett said, "I think Julia couldn't help herself, but I had those moments."

"Good to know, she's only just turned thirteen," Castle said, not surprised when his wife laughed. He pressed a kiss to the side of her head again and told her, "She didn't write in her diary today," watching her smile up at him before she responded.

"She remembered after she was getting ready for bed," Beckett said before she explained what they'd talked about in the entry bathroom.

"Okay," Julia said after rinsing her mouth out once she'd brushed her teeth. "I'm ready… but it is vacation you know."

"I'm aware of it," Beckett said in amusement since she wasn't surprised her daughter was trying that. "But we've had a long two flights and only so much sleep to get used to the time."

"I think we did though," Julia said quickly.

"Of course," Beckett replied. "But you need sleep so you're not tired for tomorrow." She wrapped her arm around her daughter's shoulders once they were leaving the bathroom and she told her, "Last time; you don't want to go to the club."

"Nope," Julia replied, keeping her voice low since Eliza was already fast asleep on the fold out bed. "But…" she started to say before she began to gasp. She fought it quickly since she didn't want to wake up her sister and told her mother, "I forgot my diary."

"Write something quick," Beckett said.

"Just that I'll write for sure tomorrow?" Julia asked. She smiled when her mother nodded and rushed to her diary and her ball point pen she'd brought instead of her fountain pen. She wrote as fast as she could, sitting at the table that was near her parents' room so her mother wouldn't be mad.

March 26th, 2022

Aloha from Hawaii Evangeline! I'm only writing for a sec, Mom and Dad want me to go to bed. I promise I'll write in you tomorrow!

"Okay, done," Julia said before her mother took her hand and they walked quickly together outside to the lanai where everyone else was waiting.

"I'm glad you let her write something at least," Castle said, his wife telling him she'd been able to see the short message. "Not surprised she said aloha though… Are you going to tell her you read it?" he then said.

"I told her when I said goodnight to her," Beckett replied. "And she didn't mind. But she told me not to do it again." She smiled when her husband laughed and she hugged him tightly before they parted and she told him, "And I won't, I just had to make sure she was writing something short."

"Of course love," Castle said, brushing his lips to hers. "Should we go to bed?"

"You mentioned something about going to the beach?" Beckett asked him. She couldn't help smiling when her husband raised his head to look down at her and she was about to explain the reason for her changing her mind when he was preempting her and speaking first.

"I tempted you with the idea," Castle stated.

"Don't be so cocky," Beckett teased him. "Or perverted."

Holding up his hands, Castle told her, "I didn't say we were going to do anything there." He was startled when she suddenly sat up and kissed him firmly, though he recovered quickly to kiss her back. After they'd parted he then said, "Then we better go now."

Getting up, Beckett placed her hand in his and they walked down the lanai to the steps before they were on the sand and heading to the lounge chairs. She sat at the end of one and smiled when her husband was doing the same on the other and she told him, "I'm surprised."

"You said I wasn't perverted," Castle replied simply.

"Get over here," Beckett said laughingly, pulling him to her chair. Once they were sitting together she wrapped her arms around him and said, "I think we better stay like this."

"You knew?" Castle asked.

Smiling Beckett told him, "I had a feeling. And I would have if it wasn't a risk."

"Kate," Castle said after they were quiet for a moment. When his wife looked at him he told her, "If you just sit…" He expected her to protest when she was instead smiling at him and standing before she was on his lap. As soon as she was settled, he wrapped his arms around her and said, "Thank you love."

"You're welcome, but you have to be aware this isn't one sided," Beckett told him.

"I know," Castle told her before he brought her to him for a kiss. Since she was holding onto him he wasn't surprised when she was responding and after they'd parted he was smiling when his wife nuzzled his lips while she spoke.

"I love you, Rick." Beckett said.

"I love you too," Castle replied, running his hands up and down her back. "I miss you."

"So do I," Beckett said. "It's not that much longer though," she assured him.

"We can wait," Castle said.

Smiling, Beckett told him, "I don't believe you."

"Don't worry, I don't believe myself," Castle said, hugging her a little closer to him while she was laughing softly. He kissed her temple and then said, "But if we're exhausted let's agree not to push each other." When she pulled back slightly to look at him he was about to tell her he was serious before she was putting her fingers over his lips.

"I get it," Beckett assured him. "And we won't but I really don't think we'll be that tired."

"I'm glad you're so sure about that," Castle replied before she laughed again and pulled away her fingers.

"We should go," Beckett told him. "As much as I hate to." When her husband nodded she moved, standing up in front of him before taking his hand. They walked together up to the villa, entering their room before she let go of him and headed to her side of the bed. She removed her robe while Castle was closing and locking the sliding door before she noticed he had remined by it. "What is it?" she asked him.

"I was thinking of telling you about the windows," Castle said.

"I know they both collapse," Beckett said, nodding to the west and southwest walls that were windows. "And if you're thinking of doing that while we're making love I'd rethink that."

"I got that a second later," Castle replied. "So don't worry."

"And we have Tahiti," Beckett told him.

"Also came to mind," Castle said. When his wife pulled down the covers on her side of the bed he couldn't help saying laughingly, "No pervert comment?"

"No, and I'm not surprised you remembered that," Beckett replied easily. She watched him hurry to go around the bed before climbing under the covers and she said, "Now you are." She smiled at him pausing and told him, "I'm kidding."

"You're sure?" Castle asked.

"At this point in time? Yes," Beckett replied before he was leaning over to her and kissing her firmly on the lips. She wrapped her arm around his neck to keep him with her before they were slowly withdrawing from one another. "Rick…" she started to say.

"Don't tell me to stop," Castle told her as soon as she trailed off.

"I won't," Beckett replied before her husband pulled her onto his lap again. They kissed once more and she was clutching at his shoulders before he moved down to her neck. She was jarred from her pleasure when he proceeded to nibble at her skin, and she tried to stop him before he was almost throwing himself away from her instead.

"I'm so glad you're not mad," Castle said once he'd recovered and was looking at his wife.

"I'd be a hypocrite," Beckett said. She then said in mock annoyance, "Stop thinking I don't want things too."

"Just checking," Castle said swiftly before he was gathering her in his arms and kissing her as passionately as he could. He was relieved when she responded shortly after he'd started, and they were soon tangling their tongues roughly. They continued until they were parting to breathe normally though it took them a little to recover. He was about to move to kiss her a second time before she was gently pushing on his shoulder.

"I almost believed you," Beckett said.

"Liar, you didn't," Castle said simply. When his wife frowned at him he told her, "Punish me?"

"Depends on what you want as that punishment," Beckett replied easily.

"And you? You said don't make it one sided," Castle told her. When his wife was smiling he gave a mock groan and said, "I guess I deserved that."

"Yes, but that's it," Beckett replied, leaning down to him and kissing him lovingly. With him responding fervently she deepened it and they were clutching at one another again before he was gently stopping her. "Okay?" she said in concern.

"We have to stop," Castle told her seriously. "I really don't want to… but it's going to be a problem."

Brushing her lips to her husband's, Beckett said, "I had a feeling." She got off his lap and sat next to him before she watched him getting the covers over them both. Laying down after he had she said, "But that was enjoyable."

"Very," Castle said while he wrapped his arm around her, holding her tight. They were kissing again before he told her, "And I say tomorrow we're doing something. We have to," saying the last at the same time as his wife.

Smiling, Beckett brushed her lips to his before she murmured, "Night Rick."

"Goodnight," Castle said, a little frustrated but trying to ignore it since he knew they had to stop. They kissed again, and he held her tightly to him as they were trying to fall asleep though he wasn't surprised when it took him some time. He was relieved when he was dreaming of his wife and their lovemaking, getting some type of satisfaction before they reached the next night and could achieve their desire of being intimate after a week apart.