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: Really great to get the feedback for the last chapter so I'll get into my thank yous for that! TORONTOSUN (I was glad that you like how I write other characters in my stories, that can definitely be fun! And it was great to see you thought it was very well done!) and
Mb (I was really pleased you thought the first half of the chapter was a sweet and then hot update since that's what I was going for. I was glad you thought it was sweet that the girls were going around with their grandparents to the pools to swim and spend time together. And it was great to read you loved seeing them with and wanting to be with their grandparents. It was nice that you liked getting a more in depth look with Alexis and Louis being newlyweds on their own, lol. I had to laugh at you saying they were taking after both sets of their parents with being devoted to each other along with loving and sexy I figured that would happen with them. I was so happy with what you said about Castle and Beckett being a loving couple and sexy as well with that them just being themselves. And I wasn't surprised either you added them loving their family along with each other too. Oh and I do agree with them being together in mind, body and soul too. You're welcome for sharing the first half of the chapter! I was glad you thought the second half was wonderfully written. And I wasn't surprised you mentioned Castle and Beckett continuing their exploration of each other but wanting to see their family again. It was nice to see you enjoyed their dinner and Castle and Beckett continuing the birthday celebration. And of course I'm glad you thought seeing Julia's perspective of the day from the diary entry was nice. The same with getting a preview for the next day of the vacation. And I wasn't surprised you liked Skye texting, the call and then the schedule in LA too. Happy to see you thought it was nicely done. You're welcome for sharing the second half of the chapter!).
Thank you for the reviews, loved reading them as usual 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 Ke Ka'upu (which translates to albatross) written by Prince William Pitt Leleiohoku II.
While We Are At Peace
"Are you going to let Josa try?" Alexis said to her mother with a smile.
"We will, once this game is over," Beckett commented.
"Hey," Castle said in mock annoyance as he was walking over to the two. "I didn't want her to feel like she'd ruined the game."
"I think it's more you'd think that," Beckett told him. She couldn't help smiling when he blanched before she told him, "I know what you meant love."
"Good," Castle said. He then told her, "We're finished though."
"Really?" Beckett asked with a smile, looking over at their bocce ball game.
"Who won?" Alexis said.
"Ask your husband," Castle said in amusement.
"He wants to say that I cheated," Louis said, rolling his eyes.
"Are you sure you three will be alright playing golf?" Martha asked though she was speaking in laughter.
"We will," Castle assured his mother. "And I'm of course just kidding," he told his son in law.
"Oh I knew," Louis replied. "Well aware," he added before he smiled at his wife when he saw she was looking at him.
Rolling her eyes, Alexis looked at the others and said, "Then we'll let Josa have a little game?"
"I little?" the baby asked.
"You are, but you'll have a turn rolling the ball here," Eliza said, taking her to where they were at the end of the court.
"My?" Josie asked, picking up the tiny white ball.
"No, no," Julia said gently. "This is where you have to roll one of these," she added, picking up one that was green.
"No!" Josie protested. "Blue Jules," she then said before they looked at their father who was walking over to them and laughing before he spoke.
"Better get her the one she wants," Castle said. He picked Josie up and kissed her cheek before saying, "Though I don't blame you. Who do you want to help you?"
"Dada," Josie said.
"Okay," Castle replied before the baby was laughing. He kissed her again and then set her down before taking the blue bocce ball from Julia. He let Josie take it, watching her nearly dropping it before he held her hands. "Okay, I thought we-" he started to say before his wife touching his back interrupted him.
"You're going to hurt your back Rick," Beckett told him.
"I'll help her," Julia said. When her parents looked at her she told them, "You're going to hurt your back too Mom."
"Alright," Beckett said. She smiled when Julia looked at her in surprise and said, "Go ahead."
"Sure," the teen said before she turned her attention to her baby sister. "Ready?" Julia asked her.
"Eh," Josie said before her sister was directing her to move her arms. She would have let go of the ball if Julia weren't holding her still and made a sound of protest.
"Not yet," Julia was saying hurriedly. "I'm just having you practice."
"Throw Jules," Josie said.
"Okay, here we go," Julia told her. She had her swing her arms and they were letting go of the ball at the same time before they were watching it roll.
"Very nice," Jim said as he and the others were applauding the baby. He smiled when she laughed before turning to her sister who hugged her gently. "Going to try again?"
"One more," Castle said. "Let her pick."
"Yeah, Josa…" Julia started to say before they turned to the baby seeing she was trying to get the blue one she'd just thrown. "Should I let her take that one?" she asked the others.
"I think you're going to have to," Beckett said. "Wait," she then told Josie hurriedly when she saw the baby was trying to kick it.
"Oh, here Josa," Julia said, rushing to her sister. "I've got it," she added, picking up the ball. "Let's try again," she told the baby while she was leading her over to where they'd thrown before. Just as she was getting the baby ready she looked at Eliza who had walked over to them.
"Could I try?" the little girl asked. "Just once."
Looking at their parents and seeing them nodding in response, Julia smiled and said, "Sure."
"If it's too hard though let Julia know," Beckett said gently.
"Okay," Eliza said easily before she turned to Josie. "I can help you right?"
"Eh," the baby said, smiling at her. Josie laughed when Eliza kissed her cheek before they were throwing the bocce ball down to the small white one. "I go!" she crowed.
"Yeah, you got close again, good job!" Eliza said hugging her tightly.
"Is that all?" Julia asked her parents.
"It is, mind helping them pick up?" Beckett asked. When the teen nodded she turned to her husband and reached for the collar of his shirt he was wearing before he chuckled and spoke.
"You did that already love, I think it's fine," Castle said, watching her gently running her hand over his polo shirt.
"That was before we left the villa," Beckett said simply. She then looked up at him and said, "Ready?"
"Of course," Castle said. "I'll tell you when we're finished."
"Want me to text you when we are?" Beckett asked. She wasn't surprised when he hesitated, smiling at that, before she said, "I won't." She turned to their daughters and called to them saying, "Say goodbye to them girls; we have to go." Watching the two taking Josie around to the three she smiled and told her father, "Make sure you have water."
"We will, Richard said he'd get that with the golf cart," Jim replied. "You'll have fun?"
"Of course," Beckett said.
"What're you going to do if Josie wants nail polish?" Castle asked his wife, returning to her.
"I'm going to have to have her sisters convince her not to," Beckett replied. "After she sees them getting some."
"Think you're going to be able to? They will," Castle said before he hurried to correct himself.
"I'll find out," Beckett replied simply before she was leaning into him. She was relieved her father had walked over to the girls as they were sharing a brief kiss before they parted and she murmured, "Love you."
Smiling Castle replied, "Love you too Kate."
"Good, now go and have fun," Beckett said. She watched him nodding before he joined her father and their son in law so they could leave the courts. She'd been calling goodbye to them before she turned to her mother-in-law and said, "Whenever you're ready."
"I am," Martha said, turning to the girls with her.
Laughing since her sisters were calling they were ready, Alexis said, "So am I, really eager." She took Josie as the baby had hurried over to her, picking her up and carrying her while they were walking around to the spa building that was nearby.
"What's gonna be first?" Eliza asked eagerly.
"You remember they do both at the same time," Julia reminded her.
"I know, I'm excited," Eliza replied, smiling widely at her sister. She then became serious, realizing they were walking up to the door of the spa.
"Aloha," one of the women behind the desk said. "How may I help you today?"
"I have a reservation for us under the name Beckett," she said.
"Yes, right this way," the woman replied, smiling at the girls.
"Mama," Josie said.
"It's alright sweetie," Beckett said, smiling. She took the baby from her oldest and carried her after the employee before they were walking into a room with a line of chairs. After they were instructed to bathe heir feet in a fountain that was just outside the room; the wall opened to what they were told was the Waiea Garden; she helped Josie before Eliza was getting her attention.
"What about our hands?" the little girl asked.
"They'll probably have us do that at these chairs," Martha said before her daughter in law could answer.
"Julia," Beckett said seeing her second oldest was stuck.
"Sorry, I was just looking out at the garden, it's beautiful," the teen said, smiling widely at her before she stepped into a pair of flip flops that had been left in the room for them. "Will Josa be okay?" Julia asked, watching her mother set the baby on the chair in between them.
"She will, it's why it's so close to mine," she replied as she'd requested it making the reservations. Beckett kissed Josie's forehead and told her, "Stay there sweetie."
"Go?" Josie asked.
Beckett only had a chance to shake her head when women were walking into the room and she moved to sit on her chair. She watched Josie as the woman helping her was speaking to her.
"Hello there keiki," the woman said, her accent thick. "I am Penny, and I will be giving you a mani and pedi," she told her, looking at the baby's mother before she was responding swiftly.
"Go ahead and start, she should be alright," Beckett assured the woman.
"What's her name?" Penny asked.
"Josie," Julia said before her mother could respond.
"It's nice to meet you Josie," Penny directed to the baby, shaking her hand and smiling at Josie's laughter. "I have three of my own," she told Beckett. "Alright," she said, clapping her hands. "Are you ready for your pedicure?"
"She is," Beckett said when Josie looked at her. "You'll be okay sweetie; we'll be right here."
"And look at the garden too Josa!" Eliza said from her chair on the other side of Julia.
"The girls have nicknames for each other," Beckett said when the woman working on her glanced up at her.
"Sorry," the woman said, getting her feet from the hot water they'd been soaking in. "We saw the name and wondered if you'd be the writer and the dancer."
"We are," Beckett said with a smile. "What're your names?"
"I'm Noelani, Penny you've met," the woman said.
"I'm Tinashe," the woman drying Julia's feet said.
"Tea," the woman with Eliza commented.
"We're sisters," the woman sitting in front of Martha told them. "I'm Maureen and this is Betsy."
Smiling when Julia and Eliza said hello to the women Beckett said, "It's nice to meet all of you."
"And you," Noelani replied. "Have you been here on the island for long?"
"We're leaving tomorrow," Beckett said.
"Yeah, we're going to LA, my sister's gonna be on the show again," Eliza said proudly.
"Lizzy," Julia said in embarrassment.
"You are?" Tinashe asked as she was working on finishing cleaning the teen's right foot.
"Yeah," Julia replied. "My dance partner and I."
"Monday right?" Tea asked.
"She's a little nervous about it," Alexis said while her sister nodded in obvious embarrassment.
"I have another dance I have to learn in a day," Julia explained.
"Are you dancing with Derek?" Tinashe asked her.
"And my dance partner for the second dance," Julia said with a smile. "I'm dancing twice."
"Sounds like you'll have fun," Tinashe said, smiling when the teen nodded.
Going through the pedicures until they were at the point of picking nail polish, Beckett was surprised when their colors were brought to them on carts. She'd already asked Stella; through the e-mail Skye had given her that morning; about her footwear for the photoshoot and she'd been allowed to pick a blue shade. Once their feet were rubbed with a plumeria scented lotion, she glanced at Josie to make sure she was alright before turning her attention to her own feet. As her toenails were being painted in a light blue shade she looked over at Josie when Penny was coming over with a bottle before she said, "Is that the lotion?"
"It is," the woman replied with a smile. "And here is your special lotion Josie."
"Mine?" the baby asked.
"Just for you," Penny said. She got some on her hands and gently rubbed it onto her small feet before the baby was laughing and calling to her mother.
"Mama thirsty!" Josie called.
"Does she need something to drink?" Penny asked in surprise.
"No, she can't say juice so she's referencing that," Beckett replied.
"It smells really nice," Julia commented.
"It's got guava juice and pineapple," Penny replied.
"Nice," Julia said before she turned her attention to her toes. "What do you think Mom?"
"It's a good color," Beckett said with a nod.
"Your color is pretty too Mommy," Eliza said.
"Thank you, so are yours," Beckett replied. When her toes were finished she watched as her hands were worked on next, making sure Josie was okay while her nails were being cleaned.
"Mama," the baby said when she was finished.
"Would you hand her to me?" Beckett asked Penny.
"Will you be okay doing that?" the woman asked in surprise.
"I think so," Beckett said since her left hand had been painted by then.
"And will she let me?" Penny asked.
"She will," Beckett said with a nod. She reached out to the baby with her left arm before Josie was on her lap, ready to tell her to be careful before she was cuddling against her. She kissed the top of her head and turned to Noelani as she was painting her right index nail.
"She's adorable," the manicurist said. "Her eyes too."
"Thank you," Beckett said. "Sweetie don't suck your thumb," she said gently when she noticed Josie was about to. Kissing her temple she and the baby watched Noelani finish with her nails before the woman helped her get Josie down to the ground and into her sandals.
"This is sooo cool," Eliza said once they were sitting at the nail dryers which were in front of an aquarium.
"We can do this at home you know," Julia said, trying not to laugh when her little sister's head whipped around to look at her. She knew Eliza was going to ask her how they could but wasn't sure how to answer when her mother was doing that for her.
"We could get some nail driers and take them to the aquarium in the parlor," Beckett said. "But I think just sitting on the lounge chairs in the pool room is good."
Eliza pursed her lips before she looked at Josie who was standing in between their mother and grandmother and asked, "Are we going to have lunch soon?"
"Once our nails are dry," Beckett said reassuringly with a smile.
"Mom," Julia said after she'd checked on her nails. "I know we talked about going to the Ocean Pool, but I was thinking about something else first."
"What?" Beckett asked. She was startled when Julia smiled before she was looking at them all while she told them her idea.
"Nice," Castle said after his son in law had swung.
"Are you sure you didn't want to get binoculars from the club house?" Jim asked the young man with a smile since he was pretending his hands were holding a pair.
"I'm sure," Louis said with a brief laugh. "Does anyone have any clue where that just went?"
"We'll see now," Castle said before they went to the golf cart. It was after lunch and the three of them were on the twelfth hole at the course. They'd been keeping score and at that moment his father-in-law was winning which wasn't surprising since the wind was back and forth for them. Shaking himself as he made his way to the green he said, "That went well," because all three of them had made it.
"I think that's you closest," Louis commented.
Castle was about to speak when he heard cries coming up behind them before he turned and laughed with the other two as he saw it was his wife driving the others in another golf cart. "Come and play," he called to them when the cart was closer, not surprised when Julia was calling back in response.
"No way, our nails!" the teen said.
Laughing, Castle waited for his wife to park next to their golf cart before he went to them and took Josie from his mother. "Why are you out here?" he asked since the baby was asleep.
"Dada," Josie said sleepily while she woke up.
"Hey sweetheart," Castle said, brushing his lips to her forehead. "Did you have fun painting your nails?"
"My low," Josie replied.
"Lotion, she got to have that instead of nail polish," Beckett said while her husband was walking around to her. "All on her own."
"Let me see," Castle said, taking the baby's hand. He sniffed at it and said, "That smells delicious," pretending to eat it as Josie was laughing.
"Nooo Dada!" she protested.
Kissing her cheek Castle turned to his wife and wrapped his arm around her waist to pull her a little closer. Smelling the perfume on her he asked, "You got some too?"
"The rest of us did," Beckett said before her husband was kissing her gently. "How is it going?"
"Good, your dad is winning," Castle replied. "How was the spa though?"
"Great," Alexis said. "We were looking out on a garden while they were working on us and it was beautiful."
"Speaking of beautiful…" Louis said, holding up his wife's hand to look at her nails. He smiled when she kissed his cheek before he said, "Did you all get the same color?"
"No, Gram got red," Julia answered.
"And the rest of you blue?" Louis asked.
"We did," Beckett said before her husband was squeezing her hip gently.
"You got clear," Castle said.
"You can look at my toes," Beckett said in mock annoyance.
"Oh, that's a nice color," Castle said. "But… what if Stella has you in sandals?"
"She won't, she answered me back after breakfast," Beckett said. "I didn't have a chance to tell you."
"Julia and Eliza?" Castle asked.
"She said Julia will, but it wouldn't matter if her nails were blue," Beckett said.
"Okay," Castle replied with a nod. "Did you come for the rest of the course?"
"Not us," Martha commented. "The girls wanted to come and join you for that."
"Could we Daddy?" Eliza asked, squeezing his hand and looking up at him pleadingly.
"Sure…" Castle trailed off before he looked at his and Beckett's oldest who responded swiftly after she'd rolled her eyes with a smile.
"The four of us Dad," Alexis said firmly.
"Josie?" Jim said to his daughter.
"I wanted to take her back with us," Beckett said. "She hasn't slept for that long."
"I stow Mama," Josie said.
When his wife looked at him Castle said, "We can keep her with us."
"It won't be a problem?" Beckett asked.
"No, she'll join us and if she gets tired we'll hold her," Castle said. When his wife was opening her mouth to respond he shook his head rapidly before he added, "Or set her on the seats in the cart."
"Are you sure sweetie?" Beckett directed to their youngest. When the baby smiled at her she couldn't help doing the same and said, "Alright. But if she has a problem…"
"She won't, we'll watch her too," Julia said rapidly.
"Yeah, all of us," Eliza added.
"What're you going to do once you leave?" Castle said since he knew his wife had agreed.
"Just go back to the villa; relax," Beckett said simply.
"Good, but now we've changed our plans what're we going to do when we're done?" Castle asked while they were walking back to the cart she'd been driving.
"Probably just swim," Beckett answered, looking at the others.
"On the beach?" Julia asked.
"Actually, your mom and I wanted to go around to the other pools," Castle said. "So let's have a quick tour and then swim in the ocean like we decided on yesterday."
"Okay," Eliza said eagerly. "But we have to finish the game first."
"We're leaving right now kiddo," Martha said in amusement before the little girl was talking quickly in obvious concern to her.
"We didn't mean you had to leave right now," Eliza said.
"Oh I know," Martha said. "But we should go so you can get back to your game."
"Have fun," Beckett said, kissing her husband's cheek. "Though if you have any problems-" she started to say.
"We won't," Castle interrupted her. "Though thanks for the offer."
"You're welcome," Beckett said. She shared a swift kiss with him before she cupped Josie's cheek and told her, "Have fun and listen to your daddy."
"Eh," the baby replied. She watched then as her mother and grandmother left them before she looked at her father. "Where Dada?"
"They went back to the villa, for a little rest," Castle told her. He looked at his oldest and said, "I thought you'd go too."
"I thought about that," Alexis replied as they were walking back to the green. "But I decided to see how my husband does."
"Ah," Louis said. "No pressure there of course."
"Of course not," Alexis said, handing him his golf club.
"Who's is closest?" Julia asked.
"Your father," Jim said.
"Are you first?" Eliza asked.
"I am," Castle said. "Can I set you down now?" he then directed to Josie. After the baby nodded he smiled and kissed her cheek before setting her down. He was about to take his golf club from his father-in-law when the baby was doing so.
"I do Dada!" Josie cried. "Me Dada."
"Why don't we do it together?" Castle asked her. He wasn't surprised when she hugged the club and he led her to where his golf ball had landed. "Okay, now we have to hold it together," he said to the baby. "Can I show you?"
"Let him," Julia urged her baby sister.
"You Dada," Josie told him as she held out the club. She laughed when her father made her gently turn around and looked up at him before he was instructing her in how to hold it.
"We're going to hit it really softly," Castle was saying. "And hope it goes into the hole." He helped her pull back a little and they hit it, glancing over at her sisters as Julia and Eliza were cheering for the golf ball to go in.
"Oh, you did it!" the latter said eagerly. "You- Josa!" Eliza started to say before her baby sister was running to the hole. "Wait!" she then cried before she covered her mouth with her hands.
"Don't worry," Castle said reassuringly. "It counts."
"How's Dad doing?" Julia asked her grandfather when she saw he was getting a paper out of his pocket.
"Well, not as much as your grandfather," Louis said. "And I'm in dead last," he added. "Not that I care," he said rapidly when he noticed his wife was looking at him. "Just stating fact," startled when she was smirking at him before she spoke.
"I thought so," Alexis said. "Just seeing if I can freak you out still."
"It's part of a marriage," Castle said while his son in law was pursing his lips. "And take your turn."
"Dad," Alexis said.
"No, he's right," Louis told her hurriedly. "Watch out…"
"Here," Castle said, handing Julia his club as Josie had been walking with Louis. He knew she would try and pick up the young man's golf ball and hurried to pick her up, kissing her cheek before they watched him hit it into the cup.
"I do Dada," Josie told him with a frown.
"You'll help me okay?" Castle asked.
Seeing her yawning, Julia couldn't help laughing and said, "Think she'll sleep?"
"Definitely," Castle replied with a nod. "Think we should wait for her to wake up to finish," he told them before Eliza was protesting immediately.
"No, what about Mommy and Gram? They're gonna be waiting for us aren't they?" the little girl said.
"I'm kidding," Castle replied. "Let's keep going before we lose the time left to go swimming."
"Are we going in the cart?" Eliza asked eagerly.
"Yeah, let's go," Castle replied before they went to where it was parked. After he made sure Josie was okay with his father-in-law, he drove them to the thirteenth hole when the man was touching his arm.
"What do we do?" Jim asked softly since Josie was fast asleep in his arms.
"Set her on the seat," Castle said. He turned to the others and said, "Get out so we can see where the shade is."
After she had done so with her sisters and brother-in-law, Julia saw there was a little shade where she had been sitting and she said, "Here Dad?"
"Yeah, I'll stay with her until it's my turn," Castle replied.
"Dad," Alexis said. When he turned to her she smiled and then turned to Jim to take the baby. "I'll stay near her okay?"
Though he wanted to tell her she didn't need to, Castle realized she wanted to before he nodded and told her, "Okay, but if you need a break just let me know."
"I will," Alexis assured him before she set the baby down on the seat. Making sure she was alright she turned to watch her husband go first. "Not bad," she said while they were watching though they couldn't see the golf ball after very long. When Louis walked over to her she said with a smile, "Having fun," before he was wrapping his arm around her waist. She was about to warn him when he was kissing her cheek before he spoke.
"I am, are you sure you'll be too?" Louis asked.
"Of course," Alexis said. "You're not going to take that long."
"We shouldn't," Louis answered though he'd waited to speak while her father was hitting his golf ball down the course.
"That was good Daddy," Eliza was saying. She then made a face and looked up at him asking, "Was it?"
Laughing with Jim and Julia, Castle said, "I hope so, we'll need to wait once we get to the green."
"It was a nice shot," Jim told his son in law, moving to take his turn.
Nodding his thanks to his father-in-law, Castle went to Julia and wrapped his arm around her before they watched Beckett's father take his next shot. When they were back in the cart and he was driving them, he glanced back at Alexis who was holding Josie.
"She's fine," she told her father with a smile.
"I hope so," Castle commented. "I'd hate for Kate to hear she couldn't take her nap."
"What if she wakes up again?" Eliza asked.
"We'll wait and see if that happens," Castle replied, getting out as he'd parked on the green. He watched Alexis to make sure Josie was alright before he turned to see how the three of them had done. Seeing his father-in-law was closest he then turned to the clubs he had and told Julia and Eliza, "Want to practice putting a little?"
"Sure," Eliza said eagerly.
Castle smiled when Julia was nodding rapidly, and he got a club for them both and let them grab a golf ball out of the pail they had. "Hit in the grass but don't do it as hard as we did at the start," speaking to Eliza more once they were ready.
"I won't," the little girl said rapidly. Eliza eagerly set down her ball and tapped at it before she smiled at it rolling closer to the rocks. "This is fun huh?" she asked her big sister.
"Definitely," Julia said. She glanced over at the golf cart, seeing Josie still asleep and told her sister, "I hope Mom and Gram are having fun resting." She wasn't surprised when Eliza was nodding rapidly in agreement before they returned to putting until they would continue through the course with the rest of their family.
"Here you go," Beckett told her mother-in-law, handing her a glass.
"Ah, thank you Kate," Martha replied with a smile. "I thought they were back."
"I was debating if I wanted some myself," Beckett said. She sat down on the lounge chair next to Martha's and said, "And they'll be back."
"Richard texted you?" Castle's mother asked.
"He did, but Julia wrote the text," Beckett answered with a smile before she handed her the phone.
Laughing seeing her second oldest grandchild had written We're coming back, Dad won in the end and is demanding a congratulation kiss, Martha said, "I get the feeling Richard doesn't know what she put."
"I got that too," Beckett said with a nod. Taking back her phone she said, "He'll talk to her about congratulation versus congratulatory once he sees."
"Too late," Castle said behind them. "I already told her."
"Yeah, I told him I'd rewrite the message, but he said no," Julia said before her little sisters were hurrying out to the lanai. Smiling at that she went over to her and waited before their mother was holding her arms around to her. "You're going to right?" she couldn't help whispering.
"Did he really win?" Beckett asked once they let each other go.
"He did," Alexis said, giving her mother a quick one-armed hug. "So you better because she's not going to stop."
"I figured," Beckett said, getting up and going to her husband.
"You know if you don't want to…" Castle began once she reached him. He wasn't surprised when she shook her head and he bent down slightly so they could kiss swiftly. Once they'd parted he was about to ask how their time had been on their own when Eliza was crying out at the lounge chairs.
"Josa, that's not yours!" the little girl was saying to the baby.
Josie had grabbed her mother's glass of pineapple juice and tilted it before the juice sloshed out and she almost dropped the glass when it bathed her sundress. As Eliza took the glass from her she looked at her dress and then burst into tears calling, "Mama!"
"Easy sweetie," Beckett said, going quickly to the baby. "We'll clean you up."
"Do you need help?" Alexis asked.
"Rick?" Beckett said to her husband.
"Sure," Castle replied. "If anyone's going to go swimming with us here in the ocean change, we'll do that in our room." He then followed his wife inside the villa and was relieved to hear she'd calmed down their youngest. "Don't worry," he said, closing the doors to their bedrooms once they were both inside. "We all take a while to get used to glasses." He saw the way his wife was looking at him and asked, "What?"
"You need to get her things," Beckett replied.
"My choice?" Castle asked.
"Of course," Beckett said with a smile before her husband was brushing his lips to hers. When he'd gone she turned her attention to their youngest and said, "What do you want to do sweetie, rinse in the shower inside or outside."
"Thirsty Mama," Josie replied.
Laughing softly, Beckett pressed her lips to her forehead and said, "I'll take you outside," before she turned to the doors as her husband was slipping inside. "Oh good," she told him as she spotted easily he had their daughter's sippy cup. "She just said she was thirsty."
"I thought she might be," Castle replied as he handed it to her. He watched her drinking a little greedily and said, "I should have had water with us the whole time."
"We did surprise you," Beckett reminded him.
"And thank you for doing that," Castle said, setting Josie's things down on the table in their bedroom. "It was a lot of fun. You're changing her in there?"
"I am," Beckett said, smiling. "And I tried to ask her where she wanted to rinse off, but she decided water was more important."
"Of course… outside?" Castle said, though his was directing his question to the baby.
"Eh," Josie said.
"Come on," Beckett said.
"Should I change while you're doing that?" Castle asked while he was walking after her.
"That would help," Beckett replied before she went towards the bathroom. After she had stepped out into the shower she set Josie down and took off the baby's sundress and diaper before she told her, "Stay still okay?"
"Mama too," Josie replied.
"I'm going to make sure you're rinsed off," Beckett said, checking on the baby's dress. She then rinsed that in the warm water she turned on while Josie was standing in the water. "Okay," she said when she finished. "Want to help me squeeze your dress dry?"
"I dry," Josie said.
Leaning over slightly, Beckett let the baby squeeze her hands on the dress she had twisted though she herself was getting the water out. When she was finished she glanced at the bathroom and saw her husband was in the doorway, holding out a towel. "Thank you love," she said with a smile while they exchanged what they were holding. She was quickly wrapping the towel around Josie and picking her up before going inside, her husband stopping her to her surprise until he explained why.
"You can go ahead and get ready," Castle told her. "I'll get Josie set."
"Alright," Beckett said before she kissed Josie's cheek. "Please behave."
"Eh," the baby replied.
Carrying Josie into the bedroom Castle said, "You had an exciting day."
"Eh," Josie said.
"Okay, at some point you're going to have to use your words," Castle told her in mock annoyance.
"No Dada," Josie said, laughing.
"Oh, well then that's okay," Castle told her, smiling when the baby laughed. He kissed her cheek and proceeded to make sure she was dry before dressing her. Once he was finished he was about to call to Beckett to see if she was ready when she was appearing in the doorway of the room. "Josie's set," he told her before his wife was nodding.
"I can tell," Beckett said.
"Are we still going snorkeling?" Castle asked.
Waiting until she had Josie on her hip, Beckett said, "That's what we told the girls; what do you have in mind?"
Smiling, as he wasn't surprised she had figured that out, Castle said, "Paddle boards?"
"For this one?" Beckett asked, kissing Josie's temple.
"Just a little, not that far out either," Castle replied before she was speaking quickly when there was a knock on the suite's door.
"That's fine," Beckett told him, following him to the hallway. "But wait to ask the others to see how many you need to get."
"I will," Castle said. He threw open the door and picked Eliza up saying, "What're you doing here!" pretending to do so angrily.
Squealing, and hearing Josie laughing, Eliza pushed her hair off her face and said, "Thanks Daddy."
"You're welcome, now what're we doing?" Castle asked when he set her down.
"We're swimming," Julia said before she looked at her mother.
"We are, but I think your dad wants to push for snorkeling," Beckett commented in amusement while her husband was pursing his lips.
"You're forgetting one thing too," Castle said, though he was a little surprised when she stepped up to him. He realized why she'd done that as soon as she pressed her hand on the back of his neck and leaned down to brush his lips to hers. Pulling away he said, "Now I forgot."
"No you didn't," a voice said from the doorway, making Castle jump slightly. Alexis smiled and said, "The others went down to the beach already, they're getting everything ready. Come on."
"Wait," Beckett said firmly as hers and Castle's oldest was getting her little sisters. "Alexis…" she then began when Josie struggled to be put down.
Hearing his wife sigh, Castle said, "Are you angry."
Smiling at him Beckett shook her head and embraced him tightly. She was pressing her cheek to his and murmured, "I don't want them to feel like they need to."
"They don't," Castle said. He paused and said, "Which you know." He pulled back a little to look at her and asked, "I didn't need to say that did I?"
"No," Beckett replied with a laugh. She was cut off suddenly when her husband was kissing her, and she was glad he was holding her as she felt her knees slightly weaken. His tongue was slipping into her mouth and she was responding quickly, sliding her hand up to his hair so her fingers could run through it. Feeling him clutching her tightly she moaned and arched her back before they were suddenly parting, panting for breath. "We… we have to go," she managed to say.
Nodding rapidly, Castle hugged her to him and said, "Ba mhaith liom tú a phógadh arís," which meant 'I want to kiss you again.'
"Beidh tú, b'am háit liom an cuimhneamh céanna," Beckett said, telling him 'you will, I want the same remember.' She wasn't surprised when he brushed his lips to hers lovingly again, and she let him go before she took his hand.
Following his wife willingly, Castle suddenly recalled what they'd been talking about with their daughters and stopped her saying, "I forgot to ask about paddle boards."
"Louis wasn't with us," Beckett reminded him with a smile.
"Right," Castle said before his wife was pulling him over to the living room and they made their way to the beach. "Wait, before you say anything," he told the girls hurriedly. "I was thinking of paddle boarding too but I want to know if anyone else does for sure to grab them now."
"I wanna go," Eliza said eagerly. "I can do it… right?"
"We'll try," Beckett said, glancing at her husband.
"I'm not sure if you're tall enough," Castle said. "But like your mom said, we'll try." As Julia, Alexis and Louis then said they wanted to go, he looked at his father-in-law who laughed and then shook his head.
"I'll stay on the beach, or just swim," Jim said. "And watch Josie while you're going out on the boards."
"And I'll be back," Castle said.
"I'll go with him," Louis said hurriedly. "He can't bring everything at once."
"Thank you," Beckett said before Alexis was leaving them.
"She didn't say she was gonna go," Eliza said while they were watching her sister.
"She didn't need to," Beckett said with a smile. She then turned to the girls and said, "Until he comes back let's go to the water and look for shells."
"Oh! Mommy, Jules and I thought of something," Eliza said while she was walking with her sisters, mother and grandfather.
"What's that?" Beckett asked, holding onto Josie's hands as she began kicking at the water.
"Could we find shells for everyone tomorrow?" Eliza asked.
"Everyone?" Beckett said in slight confusion.
"Skye and Mary's daughters," Julia explained. "It takes too long to say their names."
"If you want to do that," Beckett said in amusement. She then looked at her father and seeing him holding a shell said, "You're keeping that one?"
"No, I found it for you two," Jim said. He stopped Eliza from taking it and told her, "But I don't want you fighting over it."
"We won't Grandpapa," Eliza said eagerly. She took the shell and then said to her sister, "I think Fleur would like it."
"Why don't we find a bunch and then pick out the best ones for them?" Julia asked.
"Okay," Eliza said before they were heading further into the water.
"Mind taking her?" Beckett asked her father. When he shook his head she then said, "And watch the girls; I'm going to swim really quick."
"Go ahead," Jim replied with a smile as he got Josie from her.
"I'm going to swim girls," Beckett said while she walked to the two. "I won't be that long."
"We heard," Julia replied. "Have fun."
"We'll tell Daddy where you are!" Eliza called as her mother was leaving. She watched when Beckett dove under the water once she was further out and said, "Daddy won't get worried will he?"
"No," Julia said, doing her best not to laugh. They turned their attention back to the shells until they heard someone calling down the beach to them. She looked with her sister and saw it was their father, sister and brother-in-law, waving to them before her sister was crying out and running to them as she spoke loudly.
"Mommy went swimming!" Eliza was saying, rushing to her father.
"Thanks for letting me know," Castle said. "Take one of the paddles?" he asked. When the little girl nodded he handed one to her and continued with the other two to where his father-in-law was with Julia and Josie. "She said Kate went out," he commented as his son in law was taking the boards and setting them down separately.
"She's coming back," Julia told her father.
"Got everything?" Beckett asked once she had reached her family.
"Yeah, they were really helpful," Castle said. "I thought they'd have a problem with us needing so many."
"What're we going to do first?" Julia then asked. "Snorkeling or this?"
"Or swimming," Alexis then suggested.
"Swim!" Josie cried.
"I think she decided it for us," Castle said, speaking a little absently as a small group of men were walking by them. He felt his wife wrap her arm around his shoulder and he turned to her, surprised for a moment when she kissed it and he knew then she had noticed the men as well. Smiling at her they brushed their lips together before he turned his attention to Josie who was holding her arms up to him. "Does anyone care?" he asked.
"Nope," Julia said quickly, seeing her sisters shaking their heads, Louis glaring after the men. She wasn't surprised, having noticed the men darting looks at both her mother and big sister, rolling her eyes again at the thought of them. She watched her mother while they were walking in and smiled seeing her mother squeeze at the small of her father's back. Hurrying to walk evenly with them she said, "Do we have enough time to do everything," pleased at her parents acting so obviously assertive with one another but wanting to forget about the men.
"I think so," Castle said. "But we might not be able to swim for that long."
"I don't care," Eliza said rapidly.
"Great, because your daddy is right, we're going to need to take a quick dip," Beckett said.
"You cheated Mom," Alexis said. She smiled when her mother looked at her and told her, "You headed out already."
"You're lucky I didn't go swimming while you guys were on the course," Beckett commented, knowing her oldest was joking. She then turned to Josie and reached out to the baby as she was trying to get out of Castle's hold before he was talking to her sternly.
"You wanted me to hold you," he said though he was giving her to Beckett. "Well… that just lets me get to go in first."
"Not yet Dad!" Julia called while she and Eliza were going with Alexis and Louis under a wave.
"Hey," Castle said, though he made his voice as slow as possible.
Beckett couldn't help laughing and she said, "You sound upset love."
"Just a little," Castle said before he was kissing his wife's temple. "Should we go?" he asked the baby.
"I think so," Beckett replied before Josie could say anything. She wasn't surprised when she squealed in joy and she kissed her before they were heading into the waves together.