"Calm down, calm down," Castle said with a laugh when the kids were pretending to badger him.
"We are picking dinner now right?" Eliza asked.
"We are," Castle replied. He got his phone out of his pocket and went to the list of restaurants in the park. "There are 43 choices," he told them. "And you might have to pick another number." He shared a smile with his wife when the kids grouped together; even Josie; and talked quietly before they were turning to him.
"Thirty-seven," Julia said.
"Oh no, really?" Fleur asked when Castle was shaking his head.
"We picked thirty-three if that didn't work Dad," Julia then told him.
"Sorry," Castle said. "It's the cookie place on Pixar Pier."
"Are you searching by where they are?" Skye asked.
"Is that wrong?" Castle asked in mock surprise.
"No," Skye laughed. "But I just hope we get a place."
"Okay," Julia said, turning from the other kids as they'd been talking again. "Thirty-five?" She saw her father was about to speak and she told him in a rush, "Twenty-eight if that's not a place?"
"Thirty-five was still on Pixar Pier, the chicken place," Castle said. "Sorry," he said to Paul and Nancy.
"Not your fault," the former said. "But what's twenty-eighth?"
"Are we going to be able to find a place?" Jim asked in amusement when he spotted his son in law's brow was furrowed.
"It's the Lunar New Year… spot I guess," Castle said before Eliza was speaking in disappointment.
"So… do we have to stop?" the little girl asked.
"No, try again," Castle said. "We're early still."
Beckett smiled as the kids took a little longer before Julia was turning back to them and told Castle the number four. "Not that one?" she asked in surprise since her husband was sucking in air through his teeth.
"No, I think it's good," Castle told them in a rush. "But it's the Carthay Circle."
"We're good if you're wondering about our clothes," Mary said. "And we'll get a table… tables," smiling when the kids laughed before Julia was asking them about the menu.
"Is there anything veggie?" the teen asked.
"I'm checking right now," Castle said. He turned his attention to Paul and Nancy telling them, "Their option is wild mushrooms with Ballerine Pasta. Pasta again."
"What else is there? It can't be the exact same as yesterday," Paul said.
"Aged provolone, truffle butter and winter nage," Castle finished reading.
"What's nage?" Eliza asked.
"It's wine to cook the food in," Castle explained. "They'll poach the mushrooms in that."
"It does sound delicious," Nancy said with a smile when Eliza turned quickly to look at them.
"Then we should go before it starts filling up," Castle said. He walked with his wife while she was pushing Josie in her stroller and said, "Want to know what they have for the kids?"
"We'll find out soon," Beckett said with a smile, laughing briefly when her husband was making her let him take the stroller. "I'm sure they have good choices."
"Choices she'll like?" Castle asked.
"You're the one who looked at the menu," Beckett teased him. She smiled when he shrugged, and she wrapped her arm around his before they were reaching the restaurant. She admired the architecture again, since it looked like the theater Snow White and the Seven Dwarves had premiered in, and they walked inside. She wasn't surprised, once they'd given the number of their party, when the hostess led them to a back room where a set of tables were pushed together in front of a banquette seat. She declined Skye and Mary's offer to sit on two chairs across from that, citing wanting to sit on the chair that would be to Josie's right in her highchair. "Thank you love," she said when her husband helped her with her chair. As he sat next to her she couldn't help smiling and saying, "You're okay there?"
"We're sitting here Mom," Julia said before Beckett turned to her, her little sister responding immediately after.
"Is it okay we do?" Eliza asked.
"Yes," Beckett said firmly and with a smile. "Look at the menu though, see what you want."
"Do I have to get from the kids meal?" Eliza said, picking hers up.
"Yes," Castle said firmly. He couldn't help smiling when the little girl was pretending to grumble before she was studying the menu. He did the same before he told his wife, "Pasta for Josie?"
"That's what I was thinking," Beckett replied with a nod. She then turned to the girls sitting across from them and asked, "What do you girls want?"
"Can I get the… petit beef fillet?" Eliza asked, hesitating for a moment with the French word.
"Of course, will you eat your veggies?" Castle asked. When she nodded rapidly he smiled and said, "Okay."
"The meatloaf?" Julia asked.
"It's chicken," Beckett said.
"I know, but I'll eat it," Julia said firmly.
"Alright," Beckett replied before she glanced down the table to find Peter. "Where-" she started to say before her husband was calling to the teen.
"Peter?" Castle said. When the teen leaned over, he motioned to him and once he was standing next to Beckett asked him, "What are you thinking of getting?"
"T-the mushrooms?" Peter asked slowly.
"No, what do you really want?" Castle asked.
"But… everything is expensive," Peter said in a low tone of voice.
"It is, but Julia's getting the chicken meatloaf," Castle replied. "Believe me," he said, "We're not eating this expensive once we're out of the parks."
"Lunch?" Peter asked.
Smiling Castle said, "I should have told you guys, when you pick tomorrow it needs to be what they call quick service."
"That's the smaller places?" Eliza asked, she and Julia listening along with the others.
"It is," Mary called with a smile. "And then something bigger for dinner; but we're going to two parks."
"Why are you pretending you didn't suggest that?" Beckett said to the doctor teasingly.
"We're eating lunch here, dinner in Disneyland?" Paul asked. He laughed when the kids were saying yes at the same time, even Josie, and said, "Great, that should be fun to see how many numbers you want to get."
"What do you want?" Castle asked.
"Um… the porkchop?" Peter said.
"And that's what you really wanted?" Beckett asked him to make sure.
"It is," Peter replied.
"Okay, make sure you eat your veggies," Castle told him, smiling when the teen laughed before he went back to his seat. "And that goes for you too."
"I knew," Julia replied easily. She smiled when her father playfully shook his finger at her before he turned to the waiter that walked into the room. When they'd ordered and were waiting for their food she said to her mother, "I thought you'd get fish."
"I debated," Beckett said, since two were on the menu. "But then I decided the meatloaf sounded good."
"Can I try it Mommy?" Eliza asked.
When his wife nodded, Castle said, "Josie too?" After Beckett nodded again he then said to Eliza, "You don't want to ask me?"
"Isn't it the same as what I'm getting?" Eliza asked, wondering if she had misheard him ordering the filet mignon.
"It is," Beckett assured her.
"Mama," Josie then said.
"Don't hit the tray sweetie," Beckett immediately told her. She took it off and then reached for the baby, taking her out before setting her on her lap before the baby was protesting while she was squirming.
"No Mama. Down," Josie said. Once her mother had set her on the ground she was walking down the table behind the chairs.
"What're you doing Josie?" Mary said with a smile when she stopped between her and Skye.
"Hungry," the baby replied.
"Josie," Castle said. He smiled when she toddled to him rapidly before he reached over and picked her up, placing her on his lap. "They don't have food down there sweetheart." He kissed her temple and told her, "But our food will be here soon, don't worry."
"No Dada," Josie replied.
Laughing Paul said, "It's funny she doesn't believe you."
"I think she just wants the food here now," Eliza said.
"Probably," Julia said since her sister was looking at her. She then turned her attention to their parents saying, "What're we doing after this?"
"I think you know already," Beckett said first.
"Please say dessert," Kathleen said.
"We didn't even eat dinner yet," Nancy said to her with a smile.
"Still," Kathleen replied with a responding smile.
"We will, but that's it for now," Skye said.
"Rides?" Fleur then asked.
"The trail first," Skye replied. "Remember Josie hasn't gone on it yet."
"Is she going on the line?" Eliza asked her parents.
"I don't think she's tall enough," Beckett said. She wasn't surprised when the little girl looked disappointed before Castle was talking to her.
"You knew that already," he told her. "But she'll be able to go on the other stuff remember."
"Yeah, but the line and the slides are great," Eliza replied.
"We'll come back when she's older," Castle assured her.
"We are?" Eliza said.
Laughing briefly, since the little girl was looking at her, Beckett said, "I agree, but for now you can go."
Julia smiled when Eliza started to open her mouth to speak before the waiter was coming with a waitress and their food. She took her plate and started to eat, looking at Paul once she wasn't too hungry anymore. "Is it good?" she asked him.
"Want to try?" Paul asked her with a smile.
"Sure," Julia said, glancing at her parents who were nodding briefly to her. Turning back to her plate, she took some of the mushrooms Paul had placed on her plate and after eating it said, "It's not… bad."
"You're not a fan of mushrooms," the singer replied with a smile. When she shook her head he laughed and said, "Don't worry, at least you did try it."
"Can I try too?" Eliza asked.
"Eliza," Beckett told her daughter firmly.
"But…" the little girl started to say before trailing off. Breathing out a little hard, Eliza said, "Never mind, I don't like mushrooms."
"I thought you might not," Paul told her reassuringly. "But you did want to try." He smiled when she nodded rapidly before he looked to the other side of the table where Skye was calling to him.
Listening to the conversation between the singer and the McDouglas women, Beckett wasn't surprised it was about a song Paul had written. She glanced at her husband and smiled before the meal was winding down and she couldn't help asking him, "You're starting a new album?"
"I am, but this is just the first effort," Paul replied. He then smiled and said, "I was thinking of working on it on my own, but this song is shaping up to work with Skye and Mary," glancing at the investigator when she started to speak.
"Just us?" Skye said.
"Yes, writing," Paul said.
"Oh no," Skye immediately replied.
"For the chorus," Paul told her. "I'm torn between some lyrics, but we can discuss that another time."
"If it's just a lyric then that's alright," Skye said. She looked around the table and asked, "Is everyone ready to go?"
Going to the investigator while they were getting up from the table, Beckett said softly, "We're not going to dessert first are we?"
"No," Skye murmured. "What we've done before is eaten and gone to the trail before dessert. Then gone on the slower rides." She paused and then pursed her lips for a moment before she said, "Of course it's been at other places to eat but I think it works."
"And we'll walk," Beckett said, smiling when the investigator nodded before she was going to Castle who was picking up Josie, talking to her about the trail before they were leaving the room.
"Are we going to need to split the desserts?" Eliza asked her sister while they were sitting together at a table with their grandparents and sister.
"Yeah," Julia replied. "Mom and Dad didn't ask you what you wanted?"
"No," Eliza said with a frown. "I was walking with Fleur."
"I think you're sharing with me," Jim said.
Her mouth dropping open, Eliza said, "Really?"
"Yes, and I hope you don't mind, I asked them to get the Oswald sundae," Jim replied. He smiled when the little girl's head whipped around to the menu and he told her, "There's vanilla and chocolate ice cream and frozen bananas I think your dad said were dipped in chocolate. Want to share?"
"Yes!" Eliza said eagerly before she turned to Josie who was turning to look back at their parents before she was speaking in protest.
"Want Mama," Josie said, grabbing the edge of the tray. "Mama!"
"Take it easy sweetie," Beckett said, hurrying over to the table. "We're getting our ice cream."
"Me too," Josie said, reaching for her mother.
Glancing back at where her husband was waiting for the ice cream with Peter, Beckett turned back to the baby before her second oldest was standing up.
"I'll go and help them Mom," Julia said. She smiled at her mother when she mouthed the words thank you to her, going to her father and partner while Beckett was sitting with Josie.
"Okay sweetie," she told the baby. "They're almost finished with our sundaes and then we'll take you to some rides."
"Which ones?" Eliza asked eagerly.
"Which?" Josie mimicked.
Beckett smiled and kissed the side of the baby's head before she said, "I think the Monsters Inc. ride since we're so close."
"And after?" Eliza said slowly.
"The games at Pixar Pier," Skye said in passing. She turned around while she paused and said, "And after that…"
"Why are you trailing off?" Beckett asked her.
"It's your decision; nearly time for her to be in bed isn't it?" Skye asked. When the writer nodded she laughed and continued to the tables she and her wife were sharing with their daughters and the McCartneys.
"The ice cream is ready," Eliza said eagerly when she saw the other three were turning from the counter. She was about to ask which was hers and her grandfather's when her father was speaking first.
"Here's your ice cream Mother," Castle said, giving her the cup of mint chocolate chip she'd asked for. "Jim, Eliza," he told them, setting a 'sink' shaped like Mickey's shorts in front of them. "Your Oswald sundae. Julia, Peter, your chocolate chip cookie sundae. And our own Oswald sundae," he directed to his wife, setting their own sundae in its 'sink' in front of her.
"Minnie?" Beckett asked in surprise.
When the writer nodded to him, Peter couldn't help his cheeks flushing slightly before he said, "I… I'm going to give this sink and the Minnie one to Eve, she'd like them to… use? Display?"
"That's fine," Beckett said. "Did you tell Julia?"
"He did," the teen herself said. Julia smiled and said, "And I said that was fine, I'm not really going to do anything with it."
"Can we keep our sink?" Eliza asked after eating some of the sundae in front of her.
"Of course," Castle said. "I was thinking about it and the best thing to do with that is put some pebbles… rocks and put in succulents."
"What made you think of-" Beckett started to say.
"I'll do that!" Eliza said eagerly. "I can put it by Carlow's home." She then became serious and said softly, "Think he's okay?"
"He is but remind me to text Brad tomorrow and I'll ask if Jake's been taking care of him," Castle said. He smiled when the little girl nodded and turned to his wife, seeing she was helping Josie with her spoonful of chocolate and vanilla ice cream. "What did she want earlier?" he asked with a smile as the baby was doing so to him while she was waiting.
"For me to take her out," Beckett said. "And to have ice cream too."
"Well at least she's satisfied," Castle commented. He ate more of the ice cream and then asked her, "What are we doing about the bananas?"
"You take one and Josie and I will split the other," Beckett said simply. She ate a little more and used her spoon to cut one of the bananas before she looked over at Eliza. "Are you having trouble sweetie?" she asked with a smile.
"Yes," Eliza said in obvious annoyance, looking down at the banana she was trying to cut.
"Let it melt a little," Castle told her. "And you'll be able to eat it." He wasn't surprised when she was returning to the ice cream and he looked at Julia and Peter before saying, "You got everything set?"
"Yeah, it wasn't too hard," the latter said first since he had half of the sundae in a cup they'd been given. "Thanks for this too," Peter added, not surprised when Beckett was responding to that.
"It's not a problem," she assured him, aware he was thinking of the price of the sink.
"So what are we doing next?" Julia asked.
Smiling Beckett said, "Shouldn't you focus on finishing this?"
"I'm almost done," Julia replied firmly. She then ate another spoonful before she asked Peter, "You're waiting still to eat your cookie?"
"Yep," the teen replied.
"You don't want to eat it now?" Julia asked.
"I like it crunchy," Peter said firmly.
Julia shrugged and returned to her half of the sundae until they were all finished and soon getting up together. She went to her father and said, "We need to go on Toy Story together."
"I know," Castle replied, squeezing her shoulder gently. He then said, "But let's wait until your sister goes to bed."
"Josa?" Julia asked. She smiled when her father gave her a look before he was hugging her, and she responded before they were moving to follow everyone else out to head to their next ride.
"Are you tired?" Beckett said to Eliza.
"No way," the little girl replied eagerly. "What're we going to do next?"
"If you want to we can go on the Incredicoaster," Castle commented.
"Sure!" Eliza said happily.
"You don't want to go?" Peter asked his partner.
"No I do, I'm just hoping we can go to the Toy Story ride next," Julia replied.
"We will," Castle said, smiling at her.
"Don't eavesdrop Dad," Julia teased him.
"I wasn't, we're out in the open so everyone can hear you," Castle said.
"Dad," Julia replied.
"Sorry, how're we going on this?" Castle said swiftly before Eliza was going to him and taking his hand tightly.
"We're not even," Paul commented.
"And we'll leave only eleven seats on the train," Skye added.
"Then let's think of a number," Paul said.
"Hey, don't make fun of me," Castle said in mock annoyance.
"Kids?" Mary said, looking at them. "Go to who you want to ride with."
Watching them, Castle was surprised when they didn't move and asked, "You're good with that?"
"Yes," Eliza said firmly.
"Okay," Beckett said. "But who am I going with?"
"Are you sure you won't go Mom?" Marie asked.
"I'm sure," Mary replied. "But are you sure none of you are going with your mum?"
"It's alright," Skye said. "Kath, you'll go with Kate alright?"
"Sure," the girl replied quickly.
"Have fun," Mary said so they would head to the exit.
"I feel bad for her," Nancy said.
"She doesn't mind, she's watching the launch," Skye reminded her. "And that's how she prefers it of course."
"How did that affect you two when you came to these parks?" Paul asked once they were at the loading platform and waiting for the next train.
"She went on the Matterhorn and Space Mountain," Skye began before her two oldest were speaking in unison.
"Only one time," Marie and Kathleen said.
"Both?" Eliza asked.
"Twice on the Matterhorn," Skye replied. She smiled to herself and said, "That was when we still could sit together on one seat."
"It was fun?" Fleur asked.
"Quite," Skye said simply. She smiled when the others laughed and turned her attention to sitting in the first row. While she was getting the restraints on she looked ahead of her, unable to help thinking of hers and her then girlfriend's first time on the ride.
"So I'll sit in front of you?" Skye asked.
Giving her girlfriend a look Mary said, "You realize you're taller than I am. You saw the drawing didn't you?"
"I think you mean sign," Skye said. "Alright, alright. I'll admit…"
Mary glanced back at her when the investigator trailed off before she was whispering in her ear before she turned to her. "I'm staying over," she said, gazing into her eyes.
"Do you have any clothes?" Skye asked. She was startled when her girlfriend nodded and said, "Where did you put it?" knowing she had brought a bag.
"In the laundry room," Mary replied. "I wanted to leave."
Skye couldn't reply to that verbally, only squeezed her girlfriend's hand before she was first in the row they were given. She sat back down and while Mary was climbing in after her she buckled her seatbelt before wrapping her arms around her girlfriend. "Can we go on this again?" she murmured to her.
"Yeah," Mary said, smiling at her.
Unable to help herself, Skye kissed the side of her girlfriend's head before they were turning to start up the lift hill.
Spotting her wife, Mary rushed to her and wrapped her arms around her tightly before kissing her firmly on the lips. She didn't last, gently pulling back before telling her, "I was remembering when we went on the Matterhorn the first time."
Smiling Skye said, "I was too; they asked how we were on our own here."
"Did you mention avoiding this ride?" Mary asked.
"I didn't have a chance," Skye replied before she turned seeing the others were standing behind them. "So… Toy Story?" she asked them.
"What happened with this ride?" Nancy asked.
"I urged her to go," Mary said. "But she was very firm in her no and stayed with me for the rest of the day."
"What about the Guard- I mean Tower of Terror?" Julia asked.
"I didn't go on that either," Skye said. "We were there together," she said while they were walking over to the Toy Story ride.
"And I felt terrible," Mary said. "Though now we have others to go with her."
"It's why we have our girls," Skye said jokingly. She laughed when her two youngest hugged her while they were walking, and she kissed the tops of their heads before they were walking into the exit.
"We didn't get our seating for this one," Peter said. He smiled when Julia blanched slightly and told her, "Don't worry, I know you want to go with your dad."
"I think Lizzy's going with my mom," Julia said, seeing her mother was holding her little sister's hand as they were waiting to be let onto the ride.
"I'll go with you lad," Paul said, clapping his hand on Peter's shoulder.
"Sure, but Nancy?" the teen asked.
"I'm going with Fleur," the singer's wife answered when they looked at her.
"Have fun," Julia said to her.
"We will," Nancy said.
Julia smiled at her partner giving her a thumbs up before she and her father were getting onto their car and after the lap bar was over them she said, "Mom said we could compete," not surprised he was responding swiftly after that.
"I already know you're lying," Castle said.
Laughing briefly Julia said, "I had to try."
"Nice try," Castle said. Their car was starting to move then and once they were at the first screens he began shooting at the targets there, playfully trying to stop Julia.
"Dad!" she said before she was laughing.
"Rick," Beckett called from the other side. "Don't stop her."
"He wasn't," Julia said, having to speak rapidly since they were moving to another screen. After they'd gone around the ride she couldn't help raising her arms in triumph as she'd just managed to beat her father in her score.
"Karma?" Beckett called to her husband.
"Yes," Castle said in mock annoyance. He smiled when their daughters were laughing and moved to get out first once they were back at the loading platform.
"What next?" Julia asked when they were outside.
"Wait until we're all together," Beckett said.
"I heard," Skye said before they were heading outside the ride.
"What exactly are we going to do?" Paul asked after looking at his watch.
"It isn't almost eight is it?" Mary asked.
"It is," Skye said, looking at her own watch. She then said with a smile, "I suppose we should do what we always do," looking at her two oldest.
"We go back to Disneyland," Marie said first.
"And then we go on the biggest rides," Kathleen added.
"We don't have time for one more here?" Eliza asked.
"Oh of course, I was just about to suggest it now," Skye replied.
Looking at the McDouglas girls who were rolling their eyes, Julia turned back to their mother and asked, "It's the Cars ride isn't it?"
"You figured us out," Skye said, snapping her fingers. She smiled when the kids laughed and said, "We usually end with that one unless anyone else wants to skip?" When no one said anything they walked out of Pixar Pier before making their way to Cars Land. "We'll have two cars, two of us are going to need to be in one on your own."
"With other people," Ivy said.
"Most likely," Skye said before hers and Mary's oldest was speaking.
"Could we kids go on our own?" Marie said.
"You're not all going to fit," Skye commented.
"And I'd prefer Eliza to go with us," Beckett said.
"Mommy," the little girl said.
"She's right, we both want you to go with us," Castle told her.
"You can," Mary said to the older twins. "But two of your younger sisters need to go with you."
"But who's going with you?" Fleur asked.
Sharing a look, Skye and Mary looked at their kids and said at the same time, "Iris."
"But-" the little girl started to say.
"Come in our car," Eliza said, squeezing her hand. "We can go with our parents and have the car to ourselves."
"That means you two will be going on your own again," Skye directed to Paul and Nancy.
"We don't mind," the latter said with a smile.
"Luckily we figured that out in time," Castle commented since they'd reached the loading platform of the ride. As he let Skye sit with Eliza and Iris in the front, he was in between his wife and Mary and said, "I feel weird."
"No you don't," the doctor said teasingly.
"Okay, maybe not," Castle said, not surprised when she laughed. He turned to his wife and saw she was looking to the exit before he squeezed her hand. "Tired?" he asked her.
"Why would Mommy be tired?" Eliza asked, looking back at them.
"I'm not, face forward sweetie," Beckett told her when the car began to move once the cast member had checked their seat belts. While they went through the ride she watched Eliza and Iris talking to each other in obvious enjoyment before they reached the race and were going over the track with the car holding the older kids next to them. She wasn't surprised; when they won; that Eliza and Iris were reacting excitedly until they were getting out of the car. "You're going to wear yourself out," she told the little girl teasingly when she hurried to her.
"I'm not, I'm ready for Disneyland now," Eliza said eagerly.
"That reminds me," Castle told Skye. "How long are we staying here tomorrow?"
"I was thinking of just up to lunch and heading over to Disneyland for their slower rides first," the investigator replied. "Since this park closes sooner."
After they had left the park and were going through at Disneyland, Julia said, "Do we have to go on something right now?"
"You don't want to?" Eliza asked in surprise. She was startled when her sister's answer was to turn to Marie and Kathleen, the former frowning for a moment before she spoke.
"We were wondering if we could get a mint julep," Marie said. "And watch the fireworks."
"You told them about that?" Mary asked. When the older twins nodded she then said to the others, "We've stopped for the show at nine a few times; the fireworks one at the castle. You can see it from New Orleans Square. We drink them and head to the rides after."
"I'm guessing you split them?" Castle asked while they were walking under the entrance to Adventureland. When the McDouglas kids were all nodding rapidly he said, "I'm fine with that. I think I have to be."
"Why?" Paul asked, looking at him.
"Eliza," Beckett said a little sternly. "Stop squeezing his hand."
"I'm kidding," Castle said swiftly. "I'd like to have one too."
"And rest?" Beckett asked him teasingly.
"You too," Castle shot back. When she merely smiled, he felt the urge to kiss her, but because he was holding Eliza's hand on his other side he merely squeezed her arm. They'd reached the Mint Julep Bar by then and once they were waiting to order felt Eliza squeezing his hand hard. "What's wrong?" he asked her.
"We can't get beignets?" Eliza said a little eagerly.
"No, the mint julep will be sweet enough," Beckett told her.
"Can we have dessert tomorrow?" Eliza then asked.
"I hope so," Julia said, smiling when their parents looked at her before their father was speaking first.
"What do you two want?" Castle asked them.
"I don't know," Julia said before she looked at her little sister. "Do you?"
"No," Eliza replied with a shrug. "I just want dessert."
"We will tomorrow," Beckett said firmly since they were next in line. She let her husband order for them and watched the girls head after the others since the McCartneys and McDouglases had their drinks. "Do you have cups?" she asked her husband when he turned to her.
"They gave me two," Castle replied. "Are we going to share or with the girls?" He saw the way she was looking at him and asked, "What?"
"That was a weird way to word that," Beckett said simply. "Come on, I know Eliza will want us there once the show starts."
Nodding, Castle followed her with the drinks before Eliza was rushing around her mother to him. "Careful," he told her as she hugged him. "I'm going to end up spilling."
"Which is mine?" the little girl asked eagerly.
"You're sharing with Fleur," Castle reminded her. "I still should have ordered that third one."
"And I told you it didn't matter," Skye replied easily, looking up from the drink she was splitting for her two youngest.
"Now they know how I felt about dessert," Peter murmured.
"I heard that," Castle said jokingly.
"Here," Beckett said, having split the drink for her daughter and Peter. "Don't drink that fast though."
"I won't, I can't forget the…" Julia started to say before a firework was going off and the younger girls were crying out. "Show," she said with a smile before her mother was speaking to her and Peter.
"You don't need to sit here with us," Beckett told them.
"That's okay, I can see here," Peter said before he realized Julia was standing. "You-"
Watching Julia pulling Peter out of his chair by his wrist to join the other kids sitting on the edge of a planter in front of the tables they were at, Castle said to his wife, "I wasn't going to do anything; just watch the show."
Smiling at her husband's tone, Beckett reached over and squeezed his hand before he was entwining their fingers. "I think she was expecting it," she then told him.
Castle was about to speak but her wording quickly hit him, and he watched her for a moment before tugging at her hand. While she turned to face him he leaned into her and kissed her gently as another firework was going off. When they had parted he was about to speak when she was squeezing at his hand and he did the same. Turning his attention back to the show, he wasn't surprised when the four oldest of the kids were exaggeratedly oohing and ahhing during the finale.
"Okay, enough with the enjoying," Skye said in mock irritation.
Laughing with the others, Kathleen soon said, "We can't help it Mum, that's-" before the sound of her mother's phone ringing interrupted her.
"Sorry, that's Doug," Skye said with a frown. She got up and walked to the middle of the tables; empty by then; of the French Market restaurant before she took her call.
"Mummy won't 'ave to work will she?" Fleur asked Mary worriedly.
"Let's hope not," the doctor said, her eyes on her wife before Beckett was touching her shoulder. "I think we can decide-" she started to say before the writer was interrupting her.
"You can head over there," Beckett told her.
"Yeah," Mary said firmly before she was walking to her wife determinedly.
"I can look at it," Skye was saying on the phone before she turned and saw her wife approaching her. "But I'm at Disneyland remember? So let me wait until tomorrow in the morning… Yes, early, since we're leaving the hotel before seven… right… yeah I'll let her know. Bye Doug." After she hung up she said to her wife, "There was a near collision outside of Vegas."
"Near?" Mary asked.
"Yeah, he's sending Walter and Jessie," Skye replied. She smiled when her wife gently wrapped her arms around her and said, "I don't need to go, but there's footage from a passenger on one of the planes that shows the near miss. He wants me to watch it, not go since I'm still off."
"Luckily," Mary replied. She brushed her lips to her wife's and said, "You can look at it once we get back to the room?"
Shaking her head seriously, Skye said, "Not when there's a chance the girls might see it."
"True," Mary replied. "But we'll go to Vegas soon."
Smiling briefly, Skye then said, "You knew I was thinking of it?"
"Of course," Mary said firmly before they were kissing softly. When they parted she said, "And we'll be there in a few more weeks."
"Good," Skye replied. "Now," she continued with, letting go of her wife. "We need to go don't we?"
"We do," Mary replied. "And remind the girls they could come with us."
Smiling Skye said, "They'll say no," while they were grabbing each other's hands and walking back.
"But we should tell them," Mary said.
Outright laughing that time, Skye told her, "Not really." She then turned her attention to the others and said, "We're ready."
"Do you have to go to work Mummy?" Ivy asked, hurrying to her.
"No, I just need to look at something," Skye replied. "But for now we have more rides to go on right?"
"Yes!" the three youngest McDouglases and Eliza exclaimed.
"Come on," Mary said with a laugh.
"Are we going on the Haunted Mansion?" Julia asked her parents, walking with them.
"I think so," Castle said. "Since you know we need to let the drinks digest." He glanced at his wife and seeing her looking behind them asked, "Kate?"
"Hold on a second," Beckett replied, smiling at him and Julia. She headed to Skye and once they paused after the others she said, "Vegas?"
"You could hear us?" the investigator asked.
Shaking her head Beckett explained, "Not really, but I got that."
Explaining the case briefly, Skye then said, "Mary and I are going there on the weekend in May."
"The weekend?" Beckett asked, exaggerating the first word.
"The thirteenth," Skye said. "We'll come back Sunday. And of course the girls are eager to have their grandfathers over."
"I'm not surprised," Beckett replied. She then said, "I'm glad you won't need to leave." When her friend looked at her she then said, "For your family's sake."
"I figured," Skye said. "Now if you'll excuse me, I feel like being with my family right now."
"So do I," Beckett said before she was walking over to her husband and Eliza.
"She asked to go with us," Castle said while they were walking to the line of the ride since it wasn't that long.
"And Julia?" Beckett said.
"Paul is going with her; Nancy's taking Peter," Castle replied.
"Is that okay?" Eliza asked.
"Of course," Beckett said, taking Eliza's other hand before they were going up the steps to the house.
After going through the elevator and hallway, Julia was rushing onto the moving walkway before she and Paul were hurrying onto a doom buggy. "I hate that part," she said jokingly.
"Oh I don't know," the singer replied before they were moving their hands while the lap bar came down. "Seems exciting."
After they'd gone up the stairs, and the narration had played, Julia said, "I think so too, Lizzy was scared of it when we first went on it."
"Not a surprise," Paul said. While they were going through the ride he was looking around and turning to Julia found she was taking pictures. "How's it coming out?" he asked when they were above the large ballroom.
"Okay, this room is the hardest to get good pictures though," Julia replied.
"Ghosts' fault," Paul said, not surprised when she laughed. After they'd passed through the attic and went into the large graveyard room he started singing the theme song, not surprised when Julia joined him shortly after. Eventually he realized Skye and Mary were singing until they were getting to the hitchhiking ghosts. "Okay," he said with a smile as they got out of their buggy. "Do you think we need to digest the drinks off more?" he asked her.
"No idea," Julia replied, shaking her head before they were heading up the inclined moving walkway.
Outside Skye looked at the others and said, "So… don't make us pick the next ride."
"You said you go on the big rides right?" Castle asked her. At her nod he continued and said, "Then I might suggest we just work our way through the bigger rides until it's closing time," turning to Eliza when she started to jump up and down with her hand in the air. "Go ahead," he told her with a smile before she was speaking rapidly.
"I like that idea," the little girl said firmly.
When the other kids were agreeing to that, Mary said with a smile, "I think we're doing that."
"We are," Skye said firmly. She let Ivy take her hand before they were walking to Thunder Mountain and she then stopped them. "We forgot two rides you know," she said to them.
"We can go on Indiana Jones and Pirates again?" Iris asked eagerly.
"Of course," Skye said with a smile.
"We don't mind," Beckett said when the investigator turned to them.
"We're going to take up the whole car aren't we?" Marie asked while they were turning to head around the front of Pirates of the Caribbean instead.
"We are, there might be one person on their own they can fit in, but we'll make sure they feel welcome," Skye said.
"How're we sitting?" Peter asked.
"We'll see how we end up on the stairs, just go that way," Castle commented. He was surprised when the kids all protested and said, "Okay, then number for the driver's seat?"
"The youngest can go," Marie said, looking at Eliza with a smile.
"I can?" the little girl asked, smiling back.
"Yeah," Julia replied. "And now you can pick who sits with you," she added, not surprised when the oldest McDouglas twins were nodding their heads.
"Fleur," Eliza said before her sister finished.
Watching the middle McDouglas daughter choosing Kathleen and then Iris for the front row, Beckett said, "Are you okay with that?"
"Yeah, I'll sit with Marie," Ivy replied. She then turned to Peter and said, "You'll sit with us right?"
"Sure," the boy said with a shrug.
"Mind if I join you in that row? And Mary," Skye said. She smiled when the kids all nodded and turning to the last four told them, "I think that's all up to you now?"
"Wives in the middle?" Castle asked Paul before he nodded, not surprised when his wife squeezed his arm tightly for a moment before she spoke.
"Mind asking the wives what they think?" Beckett asked.
"What do you think love?" Castle said immediately. When she laughed and shook her head he hugged her with one arm before they were getting onto the next jeep that pulled up.
Going on the Indiana Jones ride and Pirates of the Caribbean after, the group were making their way through the rest of the bigger rides until they finished with Star Tours.
"So," Skye said. "We have a little time."
"Do you want to go around alone with Mommy?" Fleur asked.
"No, I was thinking split up by family," Skye replied before she looked at Paul and Nancy.
"We'll go on our own," the former said.
"Yeah, that's fine but were you going to go to any stores?" Castle asked.
"No, tomorrow we'll use for the last time," Skye said. "But if you guys want to go then you're welcome to. I was thinking of meeting together in front of the fire station."
"We'll see you at ten?" Paul asked.
"Of course," Skye replied. "And we'll see you."
After they'd said goodbye to the McDouglases and then the McCartneys, Julia and Eliza turned to their parents, Peter following them.
"You three can pick where we go," Beckett told them. She checked the time on her father's watch and said, "We have an hour."
"Go back around?" Julia asked, smiling at her sister when she said, "Yeah!"
"I'm fine with that," Peter replied. "Indiana Jones?"
"We'll follow you guys," Castle said.
"And no running," Beckett told them firmly before she was turning to her husband while he took her hand and spoke swiftly.
"No comment?" Castle asked her.
Smiling Beckett then said, "I got what you were doing." She glanced sideways at him and said, "I don't have any protest."
Looking ahead at the kids, Castle cursed inwardly since there was no way for him to stop with Beckett. Instead he focused on them getting to the ride which they soon did before they were going through the exit. He went through it, trying to ignore his desire to kiss her until they were sitting behind the three kids on Pirates of the Caribbean. They'd gone down the two drops before he was cupping her cheek gently and turning her head towards him.
Though she wanted to tease him that the kids could turn and see them, Beckett couldn't resist her husband when he was kissing her gently at first. She looked behind them; the boat to themselves; before she turned to her husband and they kissed again. She was a little surprised her husband stopped after the second one but was relieved since they were soon going through the burning town and then to the ramp up to the loading platform.
"We can go on Thunder Mountain right?" Julia asked.
"Yeah, hurry, or else we won't have the chance to go on the other rides," Beckett told the three before they were walking again, and she was following with her husband. She was startled when he made her slow down a little and she looked at him questioningly.
"I love you," Castle said firmly, speaking softly since there were still people walking around.
Smiling Beckett replied, "I love you too Rick." She watched him kissing the back of her hand gently before they hurried together to follow the kids and made it to the next ride in the time they had left to go through the park.