Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured on the show Castle, they belong to the creator of the show, ABC and the others who do own them.
A/N #1: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Pisces Fish written by George Harrison, from his album Brainwashed.
Really Quite Serene
"Be careful girls!" Beckett said, skating up to them.
"We're fine Mommy," Eliza said with a smile, reaching for her hand. "Are you having fun?"
"A lot," Beckett said. She was startled when the little girl frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Daddy's not here," Eliza said.
"Yes, he is," Julia said suddenly.
Turning to her second oldest, Beckett saw she was looking off the pond where they were standing together and soon saw what she was looking at. "Come on," she said to the girls. She and Eliza were following Julia to where her husband was just stepping onto the ice and said, "You abandoned Josie?"
Smiling at his wife speaking teasingly, Castle shook his head quickly and told her, "No, but I don't blame you for thinking that. Alexis came over."
"Where's Louis?" Julia asked in surprise.
"He's at the stables, one of the mares he helped buy is foaling," Castle said. "And she felt lonely."
"I don't blame her, but she was okay with you going?" Beckett asked.
"She was," Castle said, taking Eliza's hand when she slipped hers into his. "I tried to stay but she pushed me. Now, waffles?"
"You just got here," Beckett said before the girls could respond.
"Still," Castle said. He saw their daughters were looking at them eagerly and he told them quickly, "Sorry girls, we should skate more before we have our dessert."
As they started to skate, Julia told her parents, "I feel bad for Josa."
"I wouldn't let her have it yet," Beckett said. "Especially since she's just getting up from her nap."
"Alexis said she'd give her some yogurt," Castle told his wife.
"Good," Beckett replied with a nod. She squeezed Julia's arm and then said, "We'll do some more laps and then get waffles."
"I can't wait," Julia said. She then said, "Are you excited about tonight?"
"Of course," Beckett replied. "But remember we're going with the others."
"I know, but that's okay," Julia replied. "At least you're getting to do something for Valentine's Day."
"Even though it's not February yet," Castle commented.
"It will be soon," Julia said.
"Now you don't want to go Daddy," Eliza said.
Smiling, Castle squeezed her hand as he told her, "Don't worry, I do. I was only joking."
"Maybe you should skate with Mommy," the little girl told him seriously.
"No, I think I'm good here," Castle said firmly. He laughed when the little girl pouted and squeezed her hand before they continued. They went around the pond a few more times, greeting others before they were skating up to the waffles booth. "Can I have four waffles?" he asked the worker before Beckett was speaking quickly.
"And four hot chocolates," she told the woman behind the counter.
As the worker was turning to get their order, Julia said to her little sister, "That means we're not having dessert tonight."
"You can have popcorn," Beckett told them. She smiled when the girls looked at her in surprise and said, "I'm serious, but just regular popcorn."
"I don't mind," Julia said.
"Me neither," Eliza added hurriedly.
"Here's the hot chocolate," Castle said, handing them to his wife. He waited for the waffles to be prepared and once they had their snack they went to the side of the shed. "You know, if we ever go to Holland, we'll have to try these there."
"That's where they're from?" Eliza asked after eating a bite.
"Yes, and they're called stroopwafels," Castle said, not surprised when she was giggling at the name. "They make them the same way, but it'll be nice to have it where it originated."
"Where it came from," Julia told her little sister.
"I know that," Eliza said, frowning at her.
"Just making sure," Julia replied easily.
"Girls," Beckett said firmly since the girl had been smirking. "Finish your snacks so we can go."
"Sorry," Julia said after they were eating and drinking for a little.
"That's okay, that's a big word huh?" Eliza asked.
"It is," Julia said with a nod. She smiled when her sister laughed and then crumpled the paper that had been holding the waffle and said, "We can skate a little more right?"
"One more lap," Castle told both girls when Eliza was looking at him questioningly.
"That's it?" the little girl asked in obvious disappointment.
"That's it, I want to be back home by the end of your sister's nap," Beckett replied.
"Give me the papers you had," Castle said.
"And me the cups," Beckett said. They threw them in the recycling bin on the side of the shack and went around to the pond to skate one more time. They went up to one of the benches at that point, not surprised when Eliza was speaking.
"We can't go just one more time?" the little girl pleaded.
"We said just one," Castle told her.
"A half?" Eliza asked hopefully.
Laughing, Beckett shook her head and said, "Just one and your sister will be awake soon."
Seeing her sister was going to protest again, Julia told her, "And 'lexis is there alone with her."
Frowning, Eliza was distracted when their father was grabbing her and setting her on the bench. She sighed and then asked, "We can go again, right?"
"One day we will," Beckett replied. "But at least you got to go today."
Nodding her head, Eliza let her father take off her skates and she put her boots on herself. After they were all ready to go, she held her mother's hand and told her, "When will you let Josa come to skate?"
"Maybe when she's three," Beckett said. "But we'll see." She let Castle set Eliza into her car seat and then motioned to him when he closed the door. "How did you get here?" she asked him when he looked at her questioningly.
"Alexis," Castle said. He wasn't surprised when she immediately looked doubtful and he smiled saying, "Brad, he called me to ask what time we were meeting at the restaurant, and I asked if he could give me a ride."
"Okay," Beckett said thoughtfully. "I'll thank him later. Come on," she said, taking his hand and pulling him to the driver's seat.
Castle was startled when his wife walked around the front of the car and though he'd wanted to kiss her he knew she was serious about getting home in time to get Josie. He drove them back home, the girls talking in the back eagerly about that night which was going to be a big sleepover for the kids. He and Beckett had offered their house for that and they, along with the parents, were going to be staying overnight at the B&B for a pre-Valentine's Day trip. But they still had time to spend with their daughters and as he pulled into the driveway he said, "What do you girls want to-" before Eliza was squealing happily.
"There's Josa!" the little girl said eagerly.
Turning to the door leading to the house, Beckett smiled when she saw Alexis in the doorway holding the baby and she said, "We're late."
"Not really," Castle said, smiling when she laughed briefly before they got out of the car.
"She just got up," Alexis said. "I came straight from her room."
"I can tell," Beckett said, taking the baby and kissing her cheek. "But that's okay, I can take her upstairs right now."
"Your coat love," Castle told his wife as their middle daughters were hugging their big sister.
"I'll take her," Alexis said. "That was my responsibility anyway."
Handing Josie over, Beckett walked with her husband behind their daughters before they were in the entry.
"What can we do now?" Julia asked as they were taking off their outer layers.
"Whatever you'd like, but we'd prefer to stay in the house," Castle said.
"Why?" Eliza said.
"To spend time with Josie," Castle said.
"Oh…" Eliza aid slowly. She smiled and then said, "Okay, then can we go swimming?"
"No," Castle and Beckett said at the same time firmly before the little girl began to laugh before she spoke.
"I'm kidding, I know it's not finished all the way," Eliza told them.
"It will be soon," Julia said. "Right?" she asked their parents.
"It will, by the middle of next month," Castle said. "Us leaving helped," he told his wife in amusement.
Rolling her eyes, Beckett squeezed his arm and then said, "Come on."
"You never said what you girls want to do," Castle told them while they headed down to the family room.
"I think we should do some art," Julia said, looking at her sister.
"Oh yeah, could we paint?" Eliza asked eagerly.
"What about Josie?" Castle asked his wife after she'd nodded to their daughters.
"We'll do something with her," Beckett said. "And Alexis."
Turning, since she was looking past him, Castle saw their oldest was coming down the stairs with Josie in her arms. "Have you heard from Louis at all?" he asked her once they were in the room.
"Just a text, he said he should be able to leave in an hour," Alexis replied, setting Josie down.
"Mama go play," the baby said, going to her.
"We will sweetie," Beckett said with a smile at the baby's sentence which she'd just started to form. "But first let me help your sisters, okay?"
"I help," Josie said.
"Of course," Beckett replied, going to where the easel was. Her husband grabbed it and started to open it when Josie was grabbing him and speaking angrily.
"I help Dada!" Josie told him.
"I know, but not yet," Castle said, doing his best not to laugh because she was furrowing her brow still. Once he had the easel set for the girls, he grabbed the baby to her cry of surprise and kissed her cheek repeatedly. "Now you'll help me," he told her. He carried her to the supplies cabinet on the other side of the room saying, "I need someone to take the paper for your sisters."
"I Dada," Josie said, grabbing one of the belt loops of his jeans.
"Hold on," Castle said. He managed to find the large pieces of paper and said, "Will you take that to Julia?"
"Yes," Josie said before she walked to her big sisters.
"Thanks," Julia said as the baby had gone straight to her. She hung the paper and said, "Go and get Lizzy's."
Watching the baby walk away, Eliza whispered to her sister, "Where did Mommy and 'lexis go?"
"Probably to get water," Julia said simply. "Josa's coming over," she then told her to get her to pay attention to their sister.
"Everything going okay for you and Louis?" Beckett asked her oldest while they were getting some milk for Josie and water for the girls.
"It is," Alexis replied. "Am I weird for missing him? He's going to be back really soon."
"No," Beckett said firmly. "You've been married for four months; that's not very long." Glancing at her daughter she saw the look on her face and asked, "What?"
"You don't miss Dad? He missed you when I came over," Alexis replied. "That's why I pushed him to go to the pond."
"Thank you for that," Beckett said. "And I'm just trying to say you're newly married so of course you'll miss your husband." When her daughter nodded, she then asked, "Everything else okay?"
Sucking in a breath of air, Alexis looked at her mother and asked, "You can tell."
"I can," Beckett said simply. "Tell me if you want to."
"I almost thought I was pregnant last week," Alexis replied softly. She smiled a little sadly when her mother grabbed her arm gently and said, "It's okay. I kind of thought it was too soon but I was late… and then it started last Saturday and then I knew," not surprised when her mother hugged her tightly as she spoke affectionately to her.
"It doesn't always happen that quickly," Beckett said. "But you and Louis are lucky in being young. Have you gotten tested?"
"We both did in November," Alexis replied as they let go of each other. "And we're fine. The doctor we spoke to said we should be concerned if it's a year and we've had no sign."
"He makes a good point," Beckett said with a nod. "And if you ever want to talk to me about it, I'll be here for you."
"Thank you, Mom," Alexis said. "I was trying not to presume but…"
"It's what you want," Beckett said.
"Kate," Castle called.
"It is," Alexis said quickly. "But I'm trying to be patient." She put the last glass of water on the tray they'd been preparing and said, "For now I'm ready to go see what my sisters will do."
Beckett smiled and agreed with her before they went to the family room, and she easily spotted Josie. "I hope you're helping her," she told her husband.
"Don't worry," Castle said. "She's well covered and I'm watching her closely."
"Be careful she doesn't paint you Dad," Alexis said in amusement while Josie was painting the paper on the table in front of her with a smile.
"She's tried to," Castle replied. "But I've been watching her."
"You should let her give you a mustache Dad," Julia said with a wide smile when she leaned around the easel to look at him.
"Smart aleck," Castle said. "Go back to your painting," he said in mock annoyance.
"I am," Julia said simply though he was smiling at her. She turned her attention to her artwork, and she painted eagerly before she paused and then said, "I wanted to give this to Josa," startled when her little sister was suddenly making a sound of protest and she looked around at her before she spoke.
"I was going to give mine to her," Eliza said with a frown. "Not fair Jules."
"Wait you two," Castle said quickly as he let his wife take over watching Josie. "You both can give Josie what you make, what's wrong with you Eliza?"
"I thought you would say it was too much," the little girl said, starting to become tearful.
"You could have asked us," Beckett said gently.
"Sorry," Eliza said to her sister.
"It's okay, but you can show yours to her first," Julia replied, smiling reassuringly at her sister.
"Really?" Eliza asked happily.
"Of course," Julia said seriously. She laughed when Eliza dropped her paintbrush into the tray with a clatter and ran to her. "You're youngest so you should go first," she said as they hugged.
"You're the best big sister," Eliza said. "Oh!" she said, stepping back and looking at Alexis.
"Don't worry," the young woman said quickly. "I know what you mean." Alexis laughed softly when Eliza nodded before the chime of the gate opening sounded and their father was quickly starting to calm down the dogs as they'd begun to bark.
"Macca, quiet," Castle said, since the other dogs would follow. "Wait Eliza," he then said, grabbing the little girl when she was starting to follow her big sister while she left the room.
"But I was gonna go say hi to Louis," Eliza replied.
"Let Alexis do that first," Beckett said.
Eliza, frowning, was about to speak again when her eyes went wide and she said, "Oh… I forgot about that."
"That's okay," Castle said. "We'll wait for them to come back. What about your painting?"
Watching Eliza hurrying back to her painting, Beckett smiled and turned her attention to Josie as the baby was calling to her. "I see sweetie, you're doing a great job," she told her.
"Eh," Josie said, giggling when her mother kissed her cheek. "Mama?"
"Yes Josie," Beckett said in amusement.
"Up," the baby replied.
"Not yet," Beckett told her.
"I think she means she's done with her painting," Julia said.
"Oh, well let me take this," Beckett said, setting aside the paintbrush after she'd cleaned it quickly. She covered the paints while Josie was hugging her and once she was finished she took off one of Julia's old school uniform blouses since it covered the baby. "There, get your daddy and show him your art."
"Dada," Josie said, walking to him. "Here."
"Wait," Castle said, picking her up to her squeal of joy. He walked to his wife and said, "That's it?"
"Yes," Josie said. "Dada?"
"I love it," Castle told her. He kissed her cheek and then said, "It'll look great in your room."
"You Dada," Josie said.
With the way the baby's brow furrowed, Beckett smiled and told him, "I think she wants to give it to you Rick."
"Both of you," Julia and Eliza said at the same time before they were all starting to laugh. They were distracted for a moment and didn't see Alexis and Louis walk in until the dogs began to bark, and the latter was speaking to them first.
"Take it easy, you know who I am," Louis said. He started to laugh when the dogs hurried to them, and he and Alexis were petting them.
"How was it?" Beckett asked her son in law when they were more inside the room.
"Alright, no issues and the colt stood quickly," Louis replied.
"And the mare?" Beckett said.
"Just fine, nursing well and caring for her baby," Louis said. When his mother in law nodded he asked, "Are you two ready for tonight? I'm only asking assuming the girls have already."
"They did," Castle said in amusement. "And we are ready, we're packed and the suitcase is by the front door."
"In the closet?" Louis asked. When his in-laws nodded, he smiled at his wife and said, "I should have known."
"Are you sure you two want to watch all the kids for us?" Castle said.
"We're fine with it," Alexis said. "We have the older kids with us to help."
"Joseph texted me," Louis said then. He smiled as the others were looking at him and explained, "He asked the same and said he and Bethany would be happy to help us. But I made sure he knew that Lex and I would be fine."
"I'm glad you told them that," Beckett told her husband.
"Too bad Gram and Grandpapa weren't here," Eliza said.
"The parents are going on a romantic dinner, aren't they?" Julia asked her mother in obvious confusion.
"Yes, so it's better your grandparents are out with friends this weekend," Beckett told the little girl gently. She fought laughter when Eliza merely shrugged before she went back to her painting. Turning her own attention to Josie she was about to tell her to show her sister and brother in law her painting when the baby was squealing and running to Julia before the girl was talking to her laughingly.
"Be careful Josa, I'm gonna paint your hair," Julia said. "What do you want?"
"Up," Josie told her.
"I can't, I'm painting," Julia said. "Well…" she started to say, looking at her artwork. "I'm almost done."
"Finish because your sister just did," Beckett said, going over to them.
"Should I show her now?" Eliza asked their mother.
"Yes," Becket replied shortly as Josie was protesting. "You want to walk?" she asked the baby. When Josie nodded, she let her do so, not surprised she was going to Eliza and taking her hand.
"Wait, I just need to get my painting and then I'm ready," the little girl said quickly. Turning to her side of the easel, Eliza unpinned the paper and then went with her baby sister to the coffee table. "See? I made the forest by our house in Mill Valley," she told her. "There's the trees and then far, far in the back is the beach and the ocean. Do you like it?"
"Yes," Josie said with a smile.
"Where can I put this?" Eliza asked their parents.
"Here," Beckett said, reaching out for the picture. She studied it and nodded before she told Eliza, "It is really nice, I liked the forced perspective you used."
Giggling softly the little girl said, "I remembered Daddy taught me," looking at her father before he laughed and replied.
"Good thing I taught her how to do that," Castle told his wife.
"I know, but for now look at her painting," Beckett told him teasingly since he hadn't had the chance to yet.
Stepping around slightly to look at the picture, Castle nodded and said, "Your mom is right, you did an awesome job with the water in the back."
"Thanks Daddy," Eliza giggled.
"Okay," Julia said. She smiled seeing her family was looking at her and told them, "I'm all done." She cleaned her paintbrush quickly before grabbing her painting off the easel. She took it to the others and said, "Ta-da," smiling again when Josie laughed.
"I like it," Castle said with a nod. "You're always good at abstracts."
"That's because I can't really draw," Julia said wryly. She smiled at him and then said, "Mari and Eve are the artists."
"I thought Peter was too," Alexis said.
"Oh, him too," Julia said. "I wonder how Genevieve is doing," she then mused.
"She's fine," Beckett said with a smile. "She has a while to go."
"What're you going to do now they're finished?" Louis asked.
"Play something?" Eliza asked eagerly.
"Let's get cleaned up before we do that," Beckett said in amusement. She set Josie down before she went to the easel with Castle, and they were getting the paints closed before Louis was asking them about the pool.
"They didn't ask you to go swimming?" the young man said.
Smiling, Becket told him, "They did, but not until everything is finished."
"I mentioned that to him," Alexis said. "He wondered if we were going to be able to swim today."
"But she did say we would need to wait," Louis was quick to add. "Per your instructions."
"She was right," Castle said, folding the easel and putting it back.
"What would you two like to do now?" Beckett asked the girls.
"We have to do something with Josa don't we?" Eliza asked Julia.
"Yeah, but there's a lot we can do," the girl replied.
"What about her blocks?" Eliza asked.
"Well… yeah, we can play that," Julia replied before she went to where they were stored.
"Are you sure you guys want to?" Alexis asked them. "You know she'll just knock it down."
"Yeah, but at least she puts up enough to make a tower!" Eliza exclaimed.
"Play! Two Josa," Josie said.
"She said her name," Eliza said, snorting in laughter.
"She means we're supposed to play with her," Julia said, though that was a wild guess.
"Oh, of course Josa!" Eliza told her, hugging her.
Beckett smiled as the girls were soon sharing a group hug before they went to the coffee table and she and her husband sat on the couch. She held his hand watching the girls and smiling at their play before Julia was suddenly looking to her and asking a question so quickly, she almost didn't understand.
"Can Lizzy and I watch you getting ready?" Julia said.
"You can," Beckett replied with a smile. "But just me putting on my makeup."
"Are you gonna wear a dress?" Eliza asked.
"I am," Beckett said with a brief nod. "My blue lace one."
"Thanks Mom." "Thanks Mommy," Julia and then Eliza said.
"You're welcome," Beckett replied with a smile.
"You're not teaching them to put on makeup, are you?" Castle asked his wife teasingly.
"No," Beckett said firmly.
"Just making sure," Castle said swiftly, looking at the girls before he glanced at his wife. Seeing the look she was giving him he couldn't help laughing heavily before the girls were starting, roping Alexis and Louis into it. He wrapped his arm around his wife's shoulders when she laughed with them, holding her close and trying not to anticipate their night too much since they still had time with their family.
"Thanks for letting us see you do your hair Mom," Julia said. "And get dressed and-"
"I get it sweetie," Beckett said in mock annoyance, looking at her. "And you're welcome, but you two wouldn't leave me alone about it."
"Mama?" Josie said.
"I'm kidding sweetie," Beckett replied, cupping her cheek. She slipped her arms in the sleeves of her dress and turned around for Julia to zip it closed. "You had the order wrong."
"Still," Julia said, smiling when her mother gently pinched her cheek. She took Josie's hand and they walked together into the bathroom where their mother started to brush her hair.
"I can't brush it for you Mommy?" Eliza asked, leaning against the counter.
"Thank you for offering but no," Beckett replied. She smiled at her and said, "Want to call your daddy to have him do it?"
"No!" Eliza exclaimed, making her mother jump. "Sorry, but no you have to surprise Daddy."
"I don't have to," Beckett said gently. "He's seen me in this dress before. And my hair like this as well."
"Still," Julia said. "He won't react still?"
"Why did you say still twice?" Beckett asked her.
"Who knows," Julia replied. "Sorry," she giggled when her mother looked at her. "I was talking too fast. But really, he'll be happy to see you right?"
"Yes," Beckett said with a smile. "But I won't ask you to get him." She then looked at Josie and said, "She's okay?"
"She's watching you Mommy," Eliza replied, looking at the baby as well. She then smiled and said, "Can she brush your hair."
Beckett gave Eliza a look, though she was soon smiling, not surprised she was giggling. She put her hair up and then grabbed her makeup, not surprised her second youngest was watching the items interestedly. "You know already sweetie," she told her.
"I know, but I wanna do that too when I'm older," Eliza said. "When can I?"
"I told you, when you're sixteen," Beckett replied while she started with her base.
"She told me the same," Julia said quickly when her little sister turned to her. "And I don't mind, I don't want to wear makeup."
"Skye said she was the same as you," Beckett said with a smile.
"Really?" Julia asked. "But… she wears makeup now, doesn't she?"
"Very little, but for her performances of course she needs more," Beckett replied. "Of course that doesn't mean she has to like it," turning to her daughters when they giggled before Julia spoke first.
"You sounded like Skye," the girl said.
"She told me that herself," Beckett replied. She smiled at her daughters and hurried with the rest of her makeup before all she had left was her lipstick. She turned to them and said, "Come here Josie," hugging her tightly when the baby ran to her. She shared a kiss with her and told her, "Thank you for being a good girl sweetie."
"Mama," Josie said with a smile.
Sharing another kiss with her, Beckett looked at Eliza and pulled the little girl to her. Hugging her she said, "I was intending to do this with you and Julia."
"Good," Eliza said firmly before she shared a kiss with her mother.
"Do I have to?" Julia asked teasingly.
"Yes," Beckett replied, embracing her and kissing her quickly. She swiftly put her lipstick on and said, "Okay, I'm ready."
"What about your jewelry?" Julia asked as she was standing up from her chair.
"That won't take me too long," Beckett said. She went to the closet and the shelves where she kept her jewelry pieces, taking out her pearl necklace Castle had given her for Christmas. When she had it and the earrings on, she held the bracelet out to Eliza asking her, "Can you try and put this on for me sweetie?"
"Yeah," the little girl said eagerly. Eliza was quick to put it around her wrist and just managed to get it clasped together before she said, "Now you're ready," smiling up at her.
"I know, and thank you," Beckett told her. "Come on," she said, turning to where Josie had been. "Where did your sister go?" she asked.
"I… she was right here," Julia said in surprise, turning to look back as well.
Walking rapidly out into the bedroom, Beckett paused when she saw her husband had their youngest on his lap, sitting on one of the armchairs in front of the fireplace. She smiled and said, "You didn't want to let us know you had her?"
"I knew you were coming this way," Castle said jokingly. He set Josie down and stood up himself, walking to her before he kissed her firmly on the lips. "You look gorgeous," he said decisively.
"Thank you," Beckett said, having to pause as he was leaning down to her. When they slowly parted from a second kiss she told him, "You do too," fixing his lapels though they were fine. She then looked at their daughters, watching them, and said, "We better go."
"They'll be here-" Castle began to say before the doorbell on the gate rang. "Right now," he said before they took the girls and headed down to the foyer where Alexis was talking into the speaker.
"Yeah, my parents are ready," the young woman said, looking back at the stairs. "I'll let you in." She pressed the button for the gate and asked, "Are they all coming in?"
"I don't know," Castle said since the kids needed to come in.
"They're pulling in," Beckett said, looking outside.
"Last time," Castle said to his daughter and son in law. "You're sure about watching them all."
"Yes," Louis said firmly.
"And that better be the last time," Alexis asked with a smile.
"It is," Beckett replied, reaching for the door. Lily was first with her kids, and she greeted them before the others were coming up behind, her husband speaking laughingly.
"Is everyone leaving their cars running?" Castle asked.
"Yes, we're going to head right back out so hopefully you guys are ready," Rebecca said.
"We are," Beckett said, getting into her coat hurriedly. She smiled and hugged Alexis quickly saying, "Thank you again, both of you."
"You're welcome," Louis said as his wife hugged her father. "Have fun."
"We will, listen to Alexis and Louis," Beckett told the three youngest. "Night."
"Night," Julia said with others.
"Bye Mommy, bye Daddy!" Eliza called as their father picked up the suitcase and they went outside to join Darnley and Nkosi in their car.
"Okay," Alexis said after she was sure that the parents had left, and the gate was closed behind them. "What do you guys want to do until we need to order dinner?"
"Party!" Julia, Mari, Eve, Jacob, Peter and Clive said at the same time before they were all yelling; though not that loudly.
"Wait, hold on!" Alexis said in surprise, trying to calm them down.
"She's right, stop," Julia said before she was turning to Eliza and the others were doing the same to their siblings. "We were just kidding."
"Oh… good thing," Louis said. "We would have had to call all your parents back." He laughed when the kids protested and told them, "Just kidding, but we don't want to have to tell them how crazy you got."
"You won't, we just did that for a joke," Jacob said.
"Whose idea was it?" Louis asked.
When she saw the other older kids were pointing at her Julia said, "Hey!" before she looked at her best friend. "Even you," before she was replying with a smile.
"Well, I can't lie," Mari said before they were laughing together.
"Seriously, what do you kids want to do?" Louis asked them.
"Well, Mom and Dad said we could play with the bowling game we have," Julia replied, glancing at the others as they were looking to her.
"You'll have to watch the babies," Alexis said.
"We will," the older kids replied.
"Then go ahead and grab it," Alexis replied. She laughed with her husband when the kids were hurrying away except for Josie and Sophie. "What are you two going to do?" she asked them.
"Mama," Josie said.
"Mama!" Sophie said before she started to cry.
"It's okay," Alexis said hurriedly, taking the baby. She set her on her hip and said, "Your mom will come back tomorrow, promise."
"'lexis," Josie said.
"Come here little lass," Louis said, picking her up. He stood close to his wife and asked, "You still want one of our own?"
Raising her eyebrow at her husband Alexis asked, "Do you?"
"Of course," Louis replied swiftly.
"Good answer," Alexis said before he kissed her cheek. She looked down the hall with him, watching the kids hurrying back telling them, "Don't run," before Maddy was speaking quickly.
"We won't," the toddler said with a smile. "Now we can play!"
"We have to set it up first," Eliza said.
"Can Josie and Sophie play too?" Maddy asked.
"Sure but someone has to stand with them," Louis said, setting Josie down. "Or else they'll go tumbling right down into the pins instead."
Maddy laughed with the others before she let out a little gasp since Josie was hugging her. "I can stand with her," she said.
"Someone else will too," Alexis said with a smile.
"Okay, it's ready," Eve said, hurrying down to her little sister. "Let's go."
"No argument there?" Louis murmured to his wife.
"Shh, no," Alexis said with a smile at him.
"Just wondering," Louis replied before they watched Eve help her baby sister push the ball.
Laughing with Mari as Jacob was playfully kicking the ball since Sophie hadn't pushed it hard enough, Julia clapped when it knocked over three of them. "Good job," she said to the baby, applauding.
"You'll get to take another turn," Eve told her sister as the baby was holding her arms out to her.
"Up Evie," Sophie complained.
Picking her up, Eve kissed her cheek before she said to the Castles, "Josie can go."
"Why don't you roll for her?" Eliza asked Jacob.
"Do you guys care?" the young man asked. He smiled when they said no, and he picked up the ball before rolling it down to the pins. Letting out a shout when he knocked them all down, Jacob went to his baby sister and took her on his hip telling her, "I got you a spare Sophie."
"Spa," the baby replied.
"Sorry, we don't have one just yet," Louis said, glancing at his wife while she was groaning under her breath. "But we'll let you have another turn when the others go."
"Josa's next!" Eliza cried happily.
Walking to her sister, Josie looked at the wood ball she was holding and said, "Me Lizzy?"
"Yeah, I'll help you," Eliza said before she paused and looked at her big sister.
"That's fine," Julia said with a smile, knowing why she was looking at her. She watched Eliza helping their baby sister and rolling the ball, cheering when she knocked down all the pins.
"You cheated," Clive said jokingly.
"Yeah, I have to," the little girl replied, standing up and putting her hands on her hips. "She's only a baby."
"Just like your mum," Louis murmured to his wife.
"I know," Alexis said with a nod. "Okay, who wants to help Keo now?"
"I will," Jacob said.
The kids took their turns until they'd all gone once, and Eliza was trying to get her big sister and brother in law to go when Alexis was stopping her so she could speak.
"We need to order dinner, so keep playing but remember we'll watch you from the kitchen," Alexis replied.
"'lexis," Josie said, going over to her.
"Stay with Jules and Lizzy," Alexis said to the baby, squeezing her hand. She waited for her to go to Julia and once she was sure she was set headed after her husband to the kitchen.
"Are we still having pizza?" Jacob asked. When Julia nodded, he said, "Awesome," happily.
"You always think with your stomach," Eve told her brother, rolling her eyes.
"I'm looking forward to it too," Peter commented, getting his girlfriend's attention.
"Yeah, but you didn't talk like you were from the eighties," Eve commented. She stuck her tongue out at her brother when he did the same to her and she turned to Sophie who was whimpering her name. "Come here," she said, picking her up. Kissing her sister's cheek she said, "And I'm looking forward to it too."
Laughing at Jacob groaning in mock annoyance, Julia turned her attention back to the game, taking Josie and wondering if their parents were enjoying their night as much as they were at home.
"I'm glad they had food here," Brad said.
"Always thinking with your stomach," Lily said wryly to her husband. "I get this from him and Jake," she told the others.
"It's why I married a chef," Brad said simply.
Beckett smiled when Lily laughed and pushed him away from her though not that hard. "Hopefully Alexis and Louis remember to call for dinner before he gets too hungry," she said.
"When did you first start dating?" Genevieve asked Brad. "If I can ask."
"I went to a few dances our boarding school hosted," the chief said. "But never on a date, date until the summer I was sixteen."
"Same for me," Castle said as the others; except for his wife; looked at him. "I almost dated when I was fifteen, but the girl I'd met at the last dance of the school year moved away so that was it."
"How was their date last week?" Beckett asked.
"Good," Lily said with a smile as she was talking to her. "They seem to enjoy the family fun center."
"At least they've gone to other places," Brad said before he looked at his friend since he'd begun snorting in suppressed laughter before he spoke.
"I think that's why they've picked the same place twice," Castle started to say. "If they just go to a restaurant, where else are they going to go? They're thirteen and almost fifteen."
"He's right," Lily said. "And we told them we didn't mind taking them." She then smiled and said, "But it was fun, they were very sweet together. Holding hands," adding the last as she thought the other parents would be wondering.
"We watched them at the door to your house," Brad said.
"So were we," Isaac said in amusement. "Peck on the lips, but that seems a little much right now. You said they were only thirteen and fourteen."
"A peck on the lips is better than making out," Darnley said. "So be happy they're being mindful of their ages."
"He's right," Genevieve said. "But I have talked to Peter."
"Me too but it sounds better from her since she's a woman of course," Isaac said.
"Are you guys enjoying the appetizers?" Castle asked.
"It'll hold us until dinner," David said. "And yes, they're delicious. But really quick; I'm so glad Becca and I don't need to worry about that yet."
Laughing with the others at his wording, Beckett said, "No, but Mari will be twelve this year."
"Still not dating," David replied.
Smiling, Beckett drank her wine before she then said, "Are you guys working on the nursery?"
"A little," Genevieve said. "We've ordered some furniture but we're not sure about the theme yet."
"You said you're going to do the gender reveal?" Lily asked.
"Next month," Isaac said. "We'll let you guys know, but you don't have to get a gift or anything," startled when Beckett briefly laughed, and he looked over at her.
"That's not going to work," she said. "That happened to me both pregnancies."
"We try," Genevieve said. "How about you guys?"
"What?" Nkosi asked in surprise.
"Your kids, how're they doing?" the architect said with a smile.
"Good, I think they're settled in being here," Darnley said first.
"He's right," Nkosi said with a nod. "Though they have asked about going back to DC."
"What did you tell them?" Rebecca asked.
"We'll go back," Darnley said. "We're just not sure where yet."
"Is there anything you'll miss about DC?" Beckett asked the two.
"The cherry blossoms," Darnley said before she could finish speaking. "Seriously, the museums too but they'll have a really good education here and our closest friends are here."
Beckett smiled and said, "I am glad you're here."
"Good," Darnley said, reaching to her so they could quickly squeeze each other's hands. "Can we sit next to you and Rick inside?" he asked.
"Yes," Beckett said. She looked at her husband and asked, "That was it for the appetizers."
"It was," Castle replied. "Since the show's starting soon."
"Are you going to tell us what exactly we're going to see?" Darnley asked the writer.
"Yeah, why haven't you said anything," Brad said. "You weirdo," before he and Castle were laughing together before his friend calmed down and spoke to the others.
"We would call each other that," he said. "But you'll see right now what the show is," Castle added as the lights flickered. He finished his wine and took his wife's hand while they left the stand up table where they'd been eating the appetizers the show offered. "I really hope they like this," he said to Beckett in Irish.
"They're teasing you," she commented.
"Hey, don't give that away," Darnley said jokingly.
"They saw the name of the company," Beckett told him.
"Thanks for giving me a hard time," Castle said.
Snorting David said, "Hard time? We barely pushed you."
"Still," Castle said, smiling as he could see his wife was rolling her eyes. He squeezed her hand before they reached the employee at the doorway leading into the theater. He handed their tickets, and they were being led to their chairs. He and his wife let the others go in first before they were sitting on the end of the row. "He handed me a program," he told his wife, giving it to her. He was surprised when she handed it back to him and said, "You don't want to read it?"
"I'd like to be surprised," Beckett said. She then looked at Darnley next to her and asked, "Did you want to look at it?"
"I'm good," the carpenter said before he looked down their row. When the others shook their heads Darnley said, "I think we're all good."
"Are you going to look?" Beckett asked her husband with a smile when she turned to him.
"No, I'll be surprised with everyone else," Castle said, tucking the program into his jacket pocket. "If you ever want to look at it…"
"I'm good," Beckett said before Brad was leaning over and getting their attention before he spoke.
"We're getting a new officer next week, I almost forgot to tell you," the chief said.
"Who?" Beckett asked.
"No idea," Brad said. "All I know is it's a woman from the East Hampton substation, highly recommended."
"Is it a promotion?" Darnley asked.
"It is," Brad said. "Since we have the main station."
"It had to be approved by Brad," David said. "After we had of course."
"Town council?" Nkosi asked. When the mayor nodded, he said, "Great, I hope she'll work well."
"It better," Brad said, pretending to grumble.
Smiling at her husband Lily said, "He's up in front of the council this fall, to see if they want to keep him as chief."
"I can't vote," David told the two men. "Since he and I are friends, but I can speak on his behalf for him."
"And I appreciate it," Brad said before the two were shaking hands.
"That doesn't scare you, does it?" Beckett asked Genevieve and Isaac she could see were listening to them.
"Not at all," the latter said.
"You all work together," Genevieve commented. She smiled and added, "And the Hamptons is secure."
"Thank goodness," Rebecca said jokingly, and they were laughing together before the theater went dark and on stage a man in a top hat was stepping out before he spoke while they and the rest of the audience were applauding.
"Good evening ladies, gentlemen," the host said, speaking with a British accent. "Welcome to our Exhibits of Love, we are the Troupe de Amor."
"Redundant," Castle commented to his wife, not surprised she pinched his arm gently. He looked at her and smiled before they were looking back as the host was continuing to speak.
"And we have tableaux vivants here for you, illustrating love in the time of romance and chivalry, when men were gentlemen and women were ladies. Enjoy," the host finished before he slipped back behind the curtains.
When the red curtains parted, there was a tableau of a Victorian scene, the man kneeling in front of a woman in period costume. The audience began applauding the pair and they remained still until the curtains were closing again.
While the troupe were performing different tableaus, Beckett was impressed with the authenticity of the costumes and furniture and she said eventually to her husband, "I wasn't sure."
"I know," Castle said, looking at the stage before he grabbed his wife's hand.
Beckett was surprised before she looked to the next tableau and her eyes widened in surprise seeing it was of two women dressed as men. But she soon shared a look with her husband, and they smiled before seeing the next tableaux, two men in a romantic scene.
At his friend's touch, Darnley glanced at her and smiled before he nodded, and they turned their attention back to the stage.
Feeling her husband taking her hand, Beckett looked at him with a smile before she entwined their fingers while they were watching the rest of the show.
