Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance, Family, Humor
Rating: M for sexual situations and language
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 lyrics in this chapter are from the songs The Pirate Song by George Harrison and Flying to My Home by Paul McCartney, from the 2017 rerelease of his album Flowers in the Dirt.
A/N #2: With a holiday for some people this past week I was really happy to get the feedback I did so I'll go right into my thank yous for that! TORONTOSUN (It was nice to see you thought it was great writing as always!),
Guest (You're welcome for continuing the series, I do enjoy writing this world so much that I don't want to stop. And I'm glad to hear you're able to read my stories and they're making your days brighter as you said. Also that you get happy with the characters and everything they do! You're very welcome for the stories!) and
Mb (I was really glad to read you thought the last chapter was a sweet one about the Darnleys moving in next door. And I had to laugh at you saying the Hamptons squadron were there to help them move in though you are right! It was great to see your reaction to Darnley and Beckett talking about how he feels about the money along with his mother and family. I'm glad you see that he's okay now and he has his actual family with his Nkosi and the kids along with his in laws and no surprise you mentioned everyone in the Hamptons too! Nice to see you thought it was nicely done! You're welcome for the first half! Great you thought the second half was nicely done too! It was great you thought it was nice with downtown seen through the eyes of the newcomers. And you got what I wanted with this chapter, that though they were moving in everyone was enjoying the day together with their friends and family. I wasn't surprised you mentioned Martha moving in full time soon, lol, I figured you'd enjoy that! Glad you like that Beckett and Martha will be going wedding dress shopping with Alexis. And I was happy to read you liked the talk Beckett and Darnley had at the end of the chapter. It was great reading that you thought it was nicely done too. You're welcome for sharing the second half!).
Thanks for the reviews, loved reading them all as usual and I appreciate the time taken to write them out and send them my way!
A/N #3: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song I Left My Heart in San Francisco written by Douglas Cross, from Tony Bennett's single.
It Calls To Me
Walking onto the sand, Beckett was watching Skye and Darnley closely to see their reaction once they reached the spot where the Blue Bay Club had been. It was the twenty-seventh of May and their four families had finally made it to San Francisco, having driven from the airport to the beach. They had reached the spot and she was smiling as Darnley was turning around before Skye stopped him.
"This is it isn't it?" Darnley asked her.
"It is," Beckett said.
"You recognized it?" Castle asked the two.
"Recognized the view?" Skye asked him to clarify that. When the writer nodded, she smiled and said, "I did."
"Oh, I did too," Darnley said when the investigator looked at him. He then turned to his husband and asked, "What about you?"
"I do," Nkosi said. He wasn't surprised when his husband was wrapping his arms around him and he said, "I'll be alright," since he knew Darnley was worried about him.
"You know, I kinda feel like I've been here before," Mari whispered to Julia.
"Do you remember, or you just feel like you've been here?" she asked her friend.
"Just feel like," Mari said. "I guess that means I can't remember yet."
"Probably," Julia said with a nod. She smiled when the younger kids started to run around a little together before she said, "You'll remember more when we go."
"Does that mean you guys want to go?" David asked the two as he was standing with them.
"Sorta," Julia admitted. "But that's just because I want to get to the house."
"I don't blame you," Mari told her with a smile before they were looking over at Darnley as he was talking to Skye and Mary.
"Do you guys remember how we used to dance so you two could dance together?" the carpenter asked. "It suddenly came to me."
"I think so," Mary said first.
"Shall we?" Skye asked Darnley.
Beckett laughed softly at that as the two were suddenly dancing together, what she could recognize as a Charleston though it didn't look like the ones Julia and Eliza danced. When Darnley was suddenly wrapping his arm around Mary, she felt the memories of seeing them like that rush her and she tried to focus on the three as they were soon stopping. She applauded with the others and said, "You did that too," to Nkosi.
"I did, we had to help our sister and sister in law," Nkosi said with a nod.
"Thanks for that, we appreciate it," Mary said. "Though what about you two?"
"We danced on our own in the room we used as a bedroom," Darnley said. "Don't worry, we were close," he said, waving his hand.
Laughing, Beckett said, "Okay, we should probably head out, we have way more to see. And of course we still need to get settled and talk to the people across the street."
"A lot more," Castle said. "Are you guys ready?"
"I think so," David replied before looking around at the other adults and seeing they were nodding in agreement.
After they had gathered the kids that were running around again, the families got back into their cars and were driving through the city until they were reaching the Golden Gate Bridge.
"It's okay," Julia said, smiling at her mom as she looked at her in the backseat. "Mari wanted to be with her family and I don't blame her. I'll see her at the house."
"Are we gonna get to walk here again?" Eliza was asking.
"We will, since the Fosters haven't," Castle said, smiling at his wife. "And of course the Darnleys haven't either."
"Do you think Keo will like it?" Eliza said as they reached the end of the bridge.
"Probably," Beckett said. "Josie did, didn't she?"
"Yeah, but Keo's a boy," Eliza said, smiling at her father as he glanced slightly back at her. "Just kidding Daddy. Keo will like it too, he likes the water and Maddy says he wants to go swim now we saw the beach."
"I knew," Castle assured her, smiling at her speaking so seriously. "But Maddy and Keo will like it here."
"Especially at the Academy," Julia told her sister. She smiled when Eliza nodded rapidly and looked out the windshield to see they were getting near the exit. She and her sister were sharing a look of excitement and she was about to ask their parents about the gelato place when their father was speaking first.
"We are going to try and show them everything," Castle commented. "But let's wait and see what they all think before we decide on what we're going to do for lunch and dessert later."
"How much later?" Eliza asked suspiciously.
Laughing briefly with her husband, as he had gotten off the freeway and was concentrating on getting to West Oaks, Beckett said, "We might wait for after dinner again."
"I guess we should be happy Mom didn't say no for sure," Julia said. "Mom and Dad," she then said with a smile as she heard her father mock grumbling. "Only because you're driving," she told him.
"I know, just wanted to make you worried," Castle commented, getting to Miller by then. He made sure the others were following as the girls were groaning and then found Park before he turned left. Once he had finally reached West Oak he turned left and soon made it to their home before he opened the gate.
"Are they all going to park in the street?" Julia asked, looking through the back of the car.
"Just Skye and Mary," Beckett explained. "And the car your sister is driving. Since Patrick and Trevor have the next youngest here." She shared a smile with her husband when their daughters laughed briefly before they were taking off their seatbelts as he'd turned off the car. She got out quickly and called to her friend who was coming out of the passenger side of the car the Darnley's had, "Remember now?"
"Yes," the carpenter said seriously. "Oh my god, it's like I've been here millions of times before," Darnley added, smiling when his friend laughed and his daughter in the backseat let out a short shriek of her own laughter. "It's amazing, even if we hadn't been here before," he told her as he went to the backseat.
"He's right," Rebecca said, walking up with Dani in her arms and the others following. "Are you remembering at all?"
"I am," Nkosi said with a smile. "It's not as much as they do but I recall coming from time to time growing up. With you Jim."
"Did you recall anything?" Skye asked him then.
"I did, more than I really thought I would but…" Jim said before he shrugged slightly.
"We should head in," Beckett said. "And then we'll go across the street while you're unpacking."
"What are we looking at first?" Darnley asked.
"We're going through the front," Castle responded. "Since we want you to see everything." He and Beckett led the way around to the front, pausing as the others were looking out at the front yard. He thought of something and said to the Fosters, "Are you remembering anything?"
"A little," David said, glancing at his wife.
"I know, I thought the same," Rebecca said to him as she nodded once. "We definitely were having picnics here, but I can't get any details."
"That may be because your daughters were older than they are now," Skye said. When the pair looked at her, she nodded saying, "We've had the same issue with the girls' ages sometimes. Like we have no clue who they married, their kids and everything else of course. But you remember things with only the two of you?"
"We have," David answered. He smiled at his wife and said, "Sometimes something will come to us."
"That's how it works," Castle said.
Beckett glanced at her husband before she smiled and then called to the kids who were running around after Keo and Maddy on the grass, "Come on guys, we need to see the inside of the house now."
Hearing that, the older kids got the younger two and they went up onto the porch before Castle was unlocking the door and letting the others step in first.
"There's a bathroom over here," Beckett was saying. "The closet used to be there but someone after us changed the layout. The closet for coats and everything is straight ahead. This is the living room which we used as a family room back then."
"I love the stove," Darnley said. "And I remember having to chop wood for that thing… but looking back on it it's not that bad."
"Are you going to continue to use it?" Nkosi asked.
"We'd like to," Beckett said. "But we'd like to find an eco-friendlier option than burning wood."
"It's a beautiful room," Rebecca said.
"The color?" Beckett asked, as the house had been painted by then.
"The trim outside too," Rebecca replied with a quick nod. She then smiled and said, "What's next?"
"The dining room," Castle said before they were walking over to it. When they'd entered the room he said, "It seats twelve if you're wondering."
"I knew already," Skye said in amusement.
"This is the original table?" David asked in surprise. He then smiled when he saw the other three couples nodding to that question and said, "I see it now, it's really nicely made."
"It is," Castle said. "And we'd eat here mostly though we have the table in the kitchen we're about to see."
Walking around that room, Skye smiled at Beckett as she came up to her and said, "It's a bit eerie."
"I know, but you'll get used to things here," Beckett replied. "Don't say anything," she said quickly.
Looking behind her in surprise as she realized her friend wasn't talking to her, Skye saw she was speaking to Darnley and she couldn't help laughing softly. "So how has it been going in your home?"
"Good, we're just getting settled… sort of," the carpenter replied. "But I did find some driftwood already."
"Take a picture of whatever you make for the first time," Skye said. "And we're angling for a tour whenever we go back to the Hamptons."
"I want you guys to see it," Darnley replied simply. He smiled when the investigator did before he said, "Where now?"
"Your guys' room," Beckett told him with a smile. She and Castle took the two men down the hall off the kitchen, showing them the laundry room quickly before they were letting them walk into their room.
"Whoever made the bathroom off the entry was smart," Darnley couldn't help saying as he and Nkosi were leaving their suitcases there. "And it's a great room."
"You don't mind the color?" Jim asked.
Laughing, Nkosi said, "We don't, we've considered this color for a room in our home. Not the same exact one, but one similar."
"But we have more of the house so let's keep going," Darnley said before they were looking at the lean-to. They went to the second floor too and he watched with a smile as the kids were looking at the bedrooms they would stay at eagerly before Maddy walked over to him. He was going to pick her up when she shook her head and was asking him about Josie which surprised him momentarily.
"Do I go with the baby?" Maddy asked.
"No, you're going to sleepover with Eliza," Darnley told her with a smile. "You don't want to go with her in her room?"
"Yeah!" Maddy said exuberantly, jumping up slightly.
"Oh good," Eliza said, going over to her and taking her hand. "I wanted you to stay the night with us." She smiled as the toddler was nodding and then said, "Where do we go now?" as they'd looked at all four rooms.
"Our bedroom," Beckett said with a smile. She and Castle were first up the stairs; Josie as well since she was holding the baby; and they walked to their bedroom before her husband was setting aside their luggage. She was pleased to see their armchairs and loveseat were in place in the room; reminding herself mentally to thank the Dorseys as she knew they'd done that. She then said, "What do you think?"
"It's close to how you had it," Skye said as they were all in the room by then. She went to the closet and pointed to the small door against the back wall saying, "I remember we'd play there as kids. It would infuriate our da and ma," smiling at Jim as she said that.
"I remember, you always went inside and we told you not to," Beckett's father said. "And we did try to tell you it was filthy in there, but you never listened." He turned to his son in law and said, "You were the only one who hesitated."
"I still joined in," Castle said, taking Josie with a smile as the baby had leaned over to him. He kissed her cheek before he said, "But I tried not to make too much trouble."
"I was grateful for that," Jim said before he saw the others were coming back from the master bathroom. "The backyard?" he asked his daughter.
Nodding Beckett said, "We really need to get going," directing that to her husband since it was getting closer to when they wanted to eat lunch.
"And go across the street," David said.
"It's just the backyard and the house across the street hopefully," Castle assured the man.
"What if they say no?" Rebecca asked.
"We have an extra air mattress," Beckett told her. "If you don't mind sleeping in the living room." She smiled as the two immediately shook their heads and she said with a smile, "Okay, it shouldn't take us that long to look at everything else." They made their way downstairs and through the lean-to before they were leaving the house into the backyard. She watched the kids going around, Julia and Eliza giving them a tour, before Darnley touched her arm.
"The Model-T is there?" he asked her.
"It is," Beckett replied with a nod. She then said, "We'll take you guys out to drive while we're here. I would say today but I'm not sure how that'll work."
"That's okay, whenever we have the chance," Darnley said quickly.
"Could we head over to the guest house now?" Mary asked.
"Yeah," Beckett said in response hurriedly. She walked with the others to the guesthouse, letting the kids continue to play, before she unlocked the door with the key her husband had given her. She let Skye and Mary step inside first before she followed, standing in the doorway with Castle as they watched the two women walking around.
"It's… amazing," Skye said, smiling at the couple in the doorway. "I… Grá?" she said before she looked at her wife and saw she had tears in her eyes.
"I'm okay," Mary said quickly, but emotionally. She smiled when her wife came to her and embraced her tightly before she said, "I'm just remembering a lot right now."
"It can hit you hard," Castle commented. He wasn't surprised when the woman nodded, and he then looked out into the backyard with his wife to let the two of them have that moment alone.
"Alright then," Skye said after she and her wife had shared a quick kiss. "I think we're set. We're going to unpack now?"
"And we'll take David and Rebecca," Castle said before he and his wife left the small house and hurried to the others.
Once she had given Josie to Martha and the Fosters had their suitcases, Beckett walked with Rebecca out to the front of the house before they were going out of the gate. She paused when she turned to the house across the street, seeing the couple she and her husband had seen in the shop were standing there. "I guess they saw us," she said with a smile.
"It looks like it," Rebecca said, smiling as well.
"Good morning," the man said when the four had come close to them. "Are you… leaving?"
"We should probably introduce ourselves first," Beckett said. After they'd done so, learning the pair were Brian and Adela Delvin, she said, "We really hate to ask this, but as of right now we're completely full in the house."
"We were wondering if it would be alright for David and Rebecca to stay in any extra bedroom you have until Sunday night," Castle then asked. "We'd recompense you and-"
"You don't need to," Brian said quickly. "We'd be fine with them staying."
"Are you sure?" David asked in surprise, he and his wife sharing a look.
"We are," Adela replied with a smile. "We saw when you arrived, you have children?"
"Two daughters," Rebecca said, smiling back at her. "And if you are serious, thank you so much."
"We are, and you're welcome," Adela replied.
"Would you guys like to join us for lunch?" Castle asked them. "We're debating pizza or eating out."
"That would be nice," Brian said. "We can show you your room now."
"We'll come back once we finish unpacking," David said to Castle and Beckett.
"We'll decide on lunch then," Beckett said. She and her husband watched the couple go through the gate that was in front of the path to the house, and once they were inside, she turned with him so they could go back to their home. As they entered in the front door, she was about to tell him she wanted to help the girls first when her husband was stopping her to kiss her. She wasn't that surprised, responding to him immediately before they were slowly parting. She smiled at him, about to tease him when he moved to her ear and murmured into it lovingly.
"I can't resist you," Castle told her seriously.
Beckett smiled and said, "You're going to need to. But don't plan on anything for sure tonight." She was a little startled when he suddenly laughed and was about to ask him what was so funny when he was shaking his head and speaking.
"I'm not surprised you said that, but if we were going to be able to do anything… it would be what we just did," Castle replied.
Leaning into her husband, Beckett shared a gentle kiss with him before they parted and she said, "Let's check on the girls."
"Right behind you love," Castle said. He wasn't surprised when they shared yet another brief kiss and they were soon walking together to the stairs hand in hand.
"Your parents are coming across the street," Julia told Mari as they were in the front playing with the other kids.
"Hey Mom, Dad!" the girl said as she went to the fence. It was then she noticed the couple with them and said hello shyly.
"I see you really are full here," Brian said as he was shaking Castle's hand as the two writers had walked up to the fence as well.
"We are, we're going to add to the guesthouse in the back," Castle explained. "Three more rooms, it was going to be two, but we have a lot of guests." He glanced behind him and Beckett and added, "As I'm sure you can tell."
"We can," Brian said with a laugh before he and his wife were walking after the Fosters into the front yard.
"Before we decide on what to do for our meals today," Castle then said. "We need to make some introductions. Guys this is Brian and Adela Delvin and they're our neighbors right across the street. And now for all of us."
The Delvins laughed briefly before Castle and Beckett were introducing all of them and once they had finished Brian said, "I hope you'll be alright with so many kids."
"Do you have any?" Eliza asked shyly.
"I'm afraid our two sons are a little older than you," Adela said to her gently. "One is attending school at Berkley, Malcom. And our other son is in the Air Force, stationed in South Korea right now. His name is Ben and we're expecting him back this summer."
"We're eager to see him again," Brian said with a smile. "If you couldn't tell."
"It's not a surprise," Skye said. "He flies?"
"He does," Brian said. "He'll be happy to know we met you; he's heard of you."
"Tell him I said hullo and thank him for his service," Skye said.
When the Delvins murmured they would Castle said to the others, "We have two options for lunch. Either we head out somewhere and eat there, or we can get pizzas and bring them back here and have a picnic. The last time we were here we had the picnic and pizzas for lunch."
"You wanted to show us around town, didn't you?" Mary asked first.
"And what time does the sun go down here?" David added.
"We did want to show you around," Beckett said.
"I believe sunset will be at eight-thirty," Brian said, glancing at his watch as the writers looked at him, knowing what they were wondering.
"We should have the dinner out first I think," Skye commented. "Kids'll be able to play in the yard after dinner."
"Okay, then would you guys mind coming with us for that?" Castle said to the Delvins.
"Not at all, but do you know where you're going to go?" Adela asked with a small smile on her face.
"Not really," Castle said, looking at his wife who quickly shook her head. "What kind of food do we feel like?" he called to the others.
"Not Italian," David said quickly. "Since it sounds like we're having that tonight."
"Are there any really good Mexican places here?" Skye asked then.
"There is, one that we can walk to since you were going to show them around the town," Brian said, saying the last to Castle and Beckett.
"Sounds good," he said first. "We just need our strollers, and we can go," Castle added before he went up to the house with Rebecca and Nkosi. Once Josie was ready in her stroller, he let his father in law take it before going to Eliza. "Want me to take you?" he asked her after he'd touched her shoulder.
"No, I wanna walk with Fleur," the little girl told him.
Watching her go ahead to Skye and Mary's daughter, Castle turned to his wife before he saw she was talking with Skye. "Talking about me?" he asked as he reached the two women, and the investigator went ahead to Ivy who was calling to her.
"No," Beckett said wryly. She let him take her hand and said, "I'm not surprised you asked though." She watched him as he simply smiled in response and she was going to tease him about their kisses in their room when he interrupted her just as she began to speak in Irish.
"Where will you want to play after dinner later?" Castle asked.
"In the backyard," Beckett said simply. "But I wonder if they'll mind that," she added in Irish.
Aware she was talking about the Delvins, Castle said, "You never know, they might have plans."
Beckett nodded before they reached Blithedale and the ones newest to the town were looking at the craftsman buildings and the older homes they passed. She couldn't help smiling at everyone's reactions; and the Delvins smiling at everyone's reactions; until they reached Throckmorton and walked past shops until they were at a theater.
"Could we go to a movie Mum?" Marie asked her mother.
"I don't think we'll have the time to be honest," Skye said. "And I think we're here," she then said as they got to the first place next to the theater.
"Playa," Eliza read. "That means beach, right?"
"It does," Beckett said. "Rick," she suddenly said to her husband was the other families were going into the restaurant first. "The market."
"I'll tell them when we're inside," Castle replied before he followed them to the door and inside. He went to Brian, as Adela was talking to the host, and told him about their plan to go to the market nearby once they had finished eating. "We completely forgot to tell you that and to remind the others too," he finished with.
"It's alright," Brian said easily. "We did need to go ourselves; some milk and Adela needs butter for some cookies she's going to make. We'll go along with you again."
"Are you two doing anything on Sunday?" Castle asked.
"We're heading into the city," Brian said with a smile. "I'm assuming you were going to extend an invitation to us?" At the writer's nod he said, "Thank you, but we had these plans set for a while."
"It seemed only fair," Castle said. "What about staying for dinner?"
Brian was laughing in response then and he said, "We have dinner plans with friends; in San Rafael; but again, thank you."
"You're welcome, I had to ask," Castle replied before they were walking after the others to the tables that were outside. They took up most of them and he went to sit next to Josie, Beckett on the other side. He quickly told her what Brian had said and she smiled and nodded before she needed to turn her attention to Eliza on the other side of her. He turned his attention to the menu, making sure Josie was alright as she had some Cheerios already to eat.
After they had ordered their drinks Julia said from across the table, "Where else can we go in town?"
"We need to go to the market," Beckett reminded her. "So we won't be able to walk around that much but we'll go around the longer way." She looked at her husband and asked, "Did you tell them that?"
"I didn't even know you'd thought of that," Castle commented. He smiled when his wife did and he said, "We'll have to tell them later," glancing over at the table where the couple was sitting with their parents. He felt Josie grab his hand and he smiled at her before saying, "You don't want that one?" as she was holding a Cheerio out to him.
"Ba… da… Mama," Josie said.
"Say Dada Josa," Eliza said.
"Ab… da… Dada," Josie said slowly. She squealed with laughter when her father kissed her cheek lovingly and said, "Mama."
"It looks like your hard work paid off," Louis commented, he and Alexis sitting at the same table with them.
"Very hard work," Alexis said, putting away her phone as she had recorded that. She quickly sent it to her parents and grandparents' phones and said, "I got it."
"Good," Beckett said with a smile. "Now you two should let her have a break."
"But… doesn't she need to learn to talk?" Julia asked in confusion.
"I think your mom means to not push so hard," Castle said. "Though I do appreciate you having her learn that."
"You're welcome," Eliza said. She wanted to go to her father, but they were ordering their food then and she waited for them to finish at their table before she was getting up and going over to him. "I love you Daddy," she said as she hugged him as soon as she reached him.
"I love you too sweetheart," Castle said, pulling her onto his lap.
"Dada," Josie said then.
"Don't worry," Castle said as Eliza was giggling. "I love you too. Now, what do you want?"
"I said it already," Eliza said with wide, what she was hoping were innocent eyes. When her father stared at her in return, pursing his lips soon after, she couldn't help herself and giggled. "Fleur and Ivy and Iris want to know what we're gonna do tomorrow," she explained.
"I'm surprised you didn't ask your sister," Beckett said.
"She did ask," Julia commented after sipping her horchata drink she'd been allowed to get. "But I didn't know if I could tell her or not."
"She asked me too," Alexis said when their parents looked at her next. "But I decided it should be a family announcement; back at the house."
"She decided but you and Mommy didn't," Eliza said to her father.
"No, but I think that's a better idea," Castle said, smiling again when the little girl frowned. "Okay, go back to your seat or we're all going to take the chips."
"Okay, thanks for letting me sit with you Daddy," Eliza told him, kissing his cheek. She hugged him tightly before they shared a kiss and she got off her chair. She went to the other side of Josie and kissed her cheek before she said to her sister, "Can you say 'lexis, Josa?"
"Ah!" Josie vocalized.
"Luh, 'lexis," Eliza pronounced firmly.
"La… Mama," Josie said before she turned to Beckett.
"Give her a little more time," she told her second youngest daughter who was playfully pursing her lips. "And come and sit sweetie."
Nodding her head, Eliza went around to her mother's other side and she shared a kiss with her before sitting back in her chair. She took the little plate of chips Julia gave her and started to eat them with the guacamole that had been brought to their table. She was a little disappointed when her mother stopped her eventually and she waited for her tacos. "Mmm, they look as good as in Mexico City," she said with a smile.
"They do," Julia said, though she'd gotten a quesadilla. "Hopefully they're as good as they were there." She watched in amusement as her little sister was eagerly picking up one of the two tacos and bit into it the same way. "Good?" she asked.
"Don't talk with your mouth full," Beckett told her quickly.
Eliza glanced at her mother before she nodded and then turned her attention back to her food before her mother was setting down some of the guacamole that was still left on her plate along with some chips. "Thank you, Mommy," she said with a smile. She was a little startled when her mother gently wiped her chin with her napkin and she giggled slightly saying, "I didn't know that happened."
"I'm not surprised. Keep eating though sweetie," Beckett told her. She wasn't surprised when the little girl nodded rapidly, and she went back to her food. She checked on Josie, who had been given a piece of Julia's quesadilla since it was so big for the girl. The baby appeared to be fine and she smiled at the sight of Josie chewing happily on the tortilla and cheese inside before she went back to her own meal of enchiladas. When she finished, she gently wiped off Josie's mouth of the guacamole she'd been allowed to eat too before her husband was squeezing her hand. She smiled at him briefly before they were paying for their lunch and then leaving together to gather outside of the restaurant.
"That was a great suggestion," Darnley said to the Delvins. "And I see why you two boast about the food here."
"We can't help it," Skye said with a smile. "So what's next? More walking around?"
"Yeah, but we need to go to the market," Castle said. "The one right down the street here since we need supplies for our visit and for the barbeque on Sunday night too."
"I'm fine with that," David said.
"So am I," Nkosi said. "This is the market you mentioned that you went to often?"
"The same family ran it, but the old market used to be further down on Throckmorton," Castle said before he paused and recalled the Delvins knew about their past life.
"It's amazing what you can remember," Adela said. "And that you managed to buy your home."
"We're extremely lucky," Beckett said. "Should we go?" she then asked as the others were nodding in agreement to what she'd said before.
"We did go to this market too right?" Darnley asked, going to his friend as they were walking away from the restaurant.
"You did," Beckett said, knowing he meant himself, Skye and Mary. "And the old one Rick was talking about down this street."
Looking at it as they were getting to the intersection nearby, Darnley nodded slowly and he said, "I kind of remember, it was a small place wasn't it?"
"We called it the grocers," Beckett answered with a smile. "But this market isn't that big."
"And I remember it," Darnley said with a wide smile on his face as they'd reached it. He grinned at Beckett before they were walking inside, and the families grouped together while the Delvins were going to get what they needed.
After they had agreed on what they wanted, they split up in groups to get everything faster until they were finishing and paying. Leaving the market, Castle and Beckett let the pair walk them around the shops until they looped back to Blithedale and reached the gelato store.
"I thought you said it was for after dinner?" Eliza asked her parents in surprise.
"Since we're eating at home, we'll pick it up now," Castle replied. "Is that okay?" He couldn't help chuckling when the little girl was nodding rapidly as they followed everyone inside.
"What exactly are we getting?" Rebecca asked the other women.
"Nothing for now, but some pints to take back to the house for tonight and after the barbeque on Sunday," Beckett said.
"You say nothing now," Skye started to say slowly.
"Go get a sample," Beckett said in mock annoyance before her friend squeezed her arm and walked up to the display case along with her wife and Rebecca. She was going to head to her daughters but felt a hand touching hers and she looked at Darnley asking, "No samples for you?"
"Not yet," he said. "You two are too much like twins you know," Darnley then explained as his friend looked a little confused.
Shaking her head as she was smiling at the same time, Beckett then told him, "What else?"
Not surprised she had guessed that, Darnley then asked her, "Are you sure we have enough for the barbeque? No fruits? I'd love a watermelon."
"There's a farmer's market in San Rafael across the freeway on Sunday," Beckett replied. "We'll head there with whoever wants to go-"
"I do," Darnley interrupted her.
"With us," Beckett finished as she smiled. "And grab our fruits and veggies."
"Dessert?" Darnley asked.
"That we'll get at the bakery in town on the way back from that," Beckett said with a nod. "But the market starts at eight and we're going to be there when it opens so I hope you don't mind waking up early."
"Nope," Darnley said.
Beckett couldn't help laughing at him exaggerating that and she playfully pushed on his shoulder telling him, "Go get some samples before we leave." She then turned to Adela as she had walked over to her and said, "Got some for yourselves?"
"We always do, we usually have a little after dinner," the woman replied with a nod. "We had a lot of fun, and the kids are adorable."
Smiling and nodding in thanks for that, Beckett watched the woman hurry to her husband before her own came up to her. She saw he had some of the gelato pints in his insulated bag and was about to ask what flavors he'd chosen when he was telling her as he was showing them to her at the same time.
"I got Stracciatella of course," Castle began with. "Raspberry sorbet, watermelon sorbet, Nutella and a Mocha one for the adults."
"Sounds good," Beckett replied, smiling at him. "Did you ask everyone else about your flavor choices?"
"David's getting a pint of the lemon one and rocky road," Castle said. "And I think that's it," he said as he was looking over at the mayor. "Enough of a variety?"
"I think so," Beckett said in amusement. "Now we just need to hurry back to get those in the freezer."
"We can now," David said as he walked over to them.
After they'd left the shop the group headed back to West Oaks and they were parting at the homes, thanking the Delvins for their suggestion before they walked up the front yard to Castle and Beckett's house.
"How are you two getting in later?" Skye asked David and Rebecca.
"They gave us a spare key they have," the latter said. "But what're we going to do now ourselves?"
"We need to get the younger kids down for their naps," Beckett said. "But I'd like to go over to Miller and walk south to the shops that are there."
"I'd like to do that," Darnley said.
"Who'll stay with the youngest though?" Nkosi asked.
"We will," Jim said, motioning between himself and Martha.
"Anything different down the street?" Darnley said.
"Mostly food places but there are stores," Castle said, coming back from putting the gelato in the freezer. "So should we get going?"
"Yes, putting the youngest to bed," Nkosi commented.
With some laughter the parents who had the younger kids went upstairs to take their kids to bed. Once they had them settled, they headed back down to the living room though Beckett went to where Darnley was looking into Josie's room.
"Hey," Beckett told him gently, touching his shoulder. "Let him sleep," she told him as he was sleeping in the trundle bed underneath Josie's day bed.
"I just feel like he's growing up too fast," Darnley said as they were walking over to the stairs. "Maddy too."
"I know," Beckett replied, squeezing his arm. "Believe me I know but he's happy."
"He'll be even happier with the gelato," Darnley commented.
Beckett laughed softly before they reached the bottom of the stairs and she said to her dad and mother in law, "They're sleeping."
"We'll stay here," Jim told his daughter. "And make sure we'll hear them if we need to."
"How long will you be going?" Martha asked as they were getting ready to leave.
"We can walk down to the high school we passed on the way in," Castle suggested.
"Your girls went there?" David asked.
"They did, it started in 1908 and we moved here in 1926 so all four went there for high school," Beckett said with a smile. "But it's about twenty minutes there."
"We can try it," Rebecca said. "Since we have the older kids."
"I'll take you sweetheart; don't worry," Castle said as he noticed Eliza's slightly panicked face. "Just let me know as soon as you get tired."
"I will," Eliza said in relief before they were leaving the house after saying goodbye to Jim and Martha. She walked with Fleur and she said, "The buildings are really cute and there are trees on the street!"
"What kind of trees?" Fleur asked with a slight frown.
"You'll see," Eliza said with a wide smile.
"I think that means we'll get there soon mon petite," Skye said with a smile as she was walking behind the two.
"We will," Castle said as they walked across the street at Miller. Going down the street they soon came to a redwood tree that was planted next to the sidewalk and he said, "There you go Fleur."
"It's a redwood?" the little girl asked.
"It is," Skye said.
"Wow, it's tall," Iris said.
"We told you," Mary said with a smile. She leaned down to kiss the top of her head before they were looking at the second one planted by the sidewalk and they continued until they came to the first shops.
"The architecture is really cute," Rebecca said.
"It gives you that small town feel," Castle said.
"Almost like home," David commented.
"Almost," Castle said with a slight laugh as the buildings didn't quite look the same as they did in the Hamptons. He turned his attention to his wife as they were continuing, about to ask her if there was anywhere in particular she wanted to stop when Darnley was suddenly speaking.
"Hey, Whole Foods! We can stop right?" the carpenter asked.
"What do you need to get?" Beckett asked in surprise.
"I wanted to get some bread for us," Darnley replied. "For toast in the morning… maybe some jam or honey too."
"Good place to go for that," Skye commented.
"They're not going to have Boudin if you're wondering," Mary said.
"You don't think?" Beckett asked her.
Shaking her head, Skye said, "They wouldn't sell it here, they leave it for the city to sell."
"Too bad, I did want to get some of that," Darnley said as they were walking to the entrance.
"Then get a smaller loaf," David suggested. "And get one of Boudin whenever we're going to the bakery."
"You don't know when Dad?" Mari asked her father.
Shaking his head David told her, "I know, but I'm going to wait to tell you; it's what Rick and Kate want us to do."
"I'm going to wait," Julia said with a wide smile as her friend was looking to her next. "But you'll find out the whole trip tonight… right Mom?"
Beckett was about to say yes when her husband put his hand on her arm and she glanced at him before she realized what he was going to say, letting him do so as she started to smile.
"You wouldn't want to tease them?" Castle asked. "Just tell them something each night?"
"Not really Dad," Julia said firmly. "You can do that when we go to Spain," she added. "But this time I know about where we're going too."
"Are you threatening me?" Castle asked jokingly. He laughed when she stuck her tongue out at him and he pulled her to him saying, "Good, I didn't want you to, let's go look for honey?"
"Sure," Julia said.
"Do you remember what used to be here?" Skye asked as she walked up to her friend.
"We all do," Beckett said, smiling briefly as she turned to her friend. "But we don't talk about it really… we have way too many memories going to that bookstore."
"That's true," Darnley said, coming over to them. "I remember you guys going a lot. Wasn't the fabric shop nearby?"
"It was, that way," Beckett replied, pointing it out. "But it's gone too of course. And there we spent a lot of time too." She smiled a little more widely and said, "Luckily they have a bookstore up north where we were earlier."
"It's such an amazing town," Darnley said. "I should say city though, right?"
"Probably," Beckett said in amusement.
Seeing the writer becoming serious Skye asked, "What is it?"
"I just thought of the high school," Beckett said.
"They'll be in session today," Skye commented. "I had thought that too, but I thought we'd go straight there."
"How far down would you want to go before we reach the school?" Darnley asked her.
"Not that far," Beckett said. "We'll need to go across the street, and we can look at the places on that side."
"I saw a bike place," Darnley commented.
"You want to buy one?" Skye asked in amusement. When he gave her a look she was still smiling and she said, "You know you said something about a loaf of bread."
"Yeah, I didn't really see anything," Darnley replied.
"We have eggs and oatmeal," Beckett told him. "You should get a loaf to take home."
"Trev suggested that," Darnley said, nodding his head.
"Then we should go back to our walk," Skye commented.
Once they were all together again and leaving, Julia went to the investigator and said, "Are you going to sing at all this weekend?"
"Is that your way of asking me too?" Skye said immediately in response. She smiled as Julia pursed her lips and told her, "I heard the way you threatened your dad but didn't."
Shaking her head at the way the investigator had worded that, Julia said, "I would like to hear you sing."
"Alright then," Skye said before she suddenly started to sing to everyone else's surprise except for her wife.
Oh, I'd like to be a pirate
A pirate's life for me
All my friends are pirates
And sail the B.B.C.
I've got a Jolly Roger
It's black and white and vast
Get out of your Skull and Crossbones
And I'll run it up your mast
"Oh grá," Mary said, shaking her head though she was smiling at the same time.
"What? She asked me to sing," Skye replied, unable to keep from smiling herself.
"I meant at the house while we're in the backyard," Julia replied simply. "But that was really cool."
Laughing then, Skye squeezed the girl's shoulder and said, "Always liked that song. Alright, let's be off before the kiddies are out from school," masking a gesture with her arm.
As they were walking up Miller on the other side, Eliza went to her father and tugged at his hand before she said, "I'm getting a little tired Daddy."
"Okay," Castle said before he picked her up. He set her onto his shoulders and said once she was settled, "You're getting heavier now sweetheart."
"I know, but just a little longer okay?" Eliza asked.
"Okay," Castle said in amusement before he squeezed her leg. They started to walk then, and he caught up with the others before going to his wife. "Someone's taking a break."
"Daddy!" Eliza said in mock annoyance. "It's me!"
"Someone," Castle said, laughing when the little girl tapped his hair.
"I'm not surprised," Beckett said, watching Eliza then wrapping her arms around his head.
"What'll we do when we get back to the house?" the little girl asked.
"Did you forget about the car?" Castle asked, looking up at her though he couldn't see her. When she started to wriggle around in excitement he was laughing again as he tried to hold her steady. He was going to ask his wife if they were taking everyone out on it when she was squeezing his hand to stop him, speaking herself.
"We have more than enough time, we can try and take everyone," Beckett said.
"What about the babies?" Eliza asked.
"I don't think Josie will go," Castle said, looking at his wife as he spoke.
"Not yet," Beckett said, shaking her head slightly. "As for Dani we'll have to see what Rebecca and David say."
"I hope she gets to go," Eliza said absently. "It's fun."
"It is, but they might want to let her wait for when she's older," Beckett said, smiling at her second oldest as she was nodding her head. She looked ahead of them and saw Darnley was stopped in front of the bike shop before her husband was suddenly walking faster. "Rick…" she started to say in confusion before she watched him continuing without a word to her.
"You remember?" Darnley asked as the writer came up to him.
"Suddenly," Castle said.
"Daddy…" Eliza started to say before her father was taking her down from his shoulders. "Sorry," she said.
"No, you're getting a little heavy," Castle told her, leaving her on his hip.
"Oh… what was it here?" Eliza asked.
"It was a cigar shop," Skye said, walking over with Nkosi, Mary and Beckett. "We ladies couldn't come here, but your father and uncle did to smoke… though rarely."
"I never did like you reeking of the scent," Mary commented.
"Yeah, that's why it was rare we went," Darnley commented. He then smiled and said, "Though why you cared…"
"We did," Skye said, not surprised her wife rolled her eyes. "We should keep going though," she said to the two men.
"I'm ready," Castle said quickly, setting Eliza down as she was indicating to him to do. As they were starting to walk again, the kids in front of them, he went to his wife and said, "Are you driving with anyone?"
"We might have to go in groups," Beckett said with a brief smile on her face. "We don't have that much time before we need to get dinner."
"We should go," Skye said, walking up to the two then.
"Why?" Castle asked.
"I meant us and Trevor," Skye said, indicating herself and Beckett.
"The siblings?" Castle said. "You should."
Glancing at her husband, Beckett then turned back to the investigator and said, "That'll be fine. We were talking about going in the Model-T."
"Of course you were," Skye said immediately. When the couple were looking at her, she smiled and said, "I could hear you. I'm all in for Mary and I splitting up and going with the kids." Something came to her suddenly and she asked, "How many seatbelts are in it?"
"Three in the front and three in the back," Beckett said. "I guess they figured a small kid could sit in the front."
"Yeah, then we'll go two and three if you don't mind," Skye said after considering that.
"It's not a problem," Castle said.
"Are you the only one who's going to drive?" Mary asked as they turned onto Park and started their longer walk to get to West Oaks.
"She can drive it too," Castle replied, indicating his wife with a nod of his head. "You don't remember?"
"That was then," Mary said simply.
"Now too," Beckett said. "He does let me drive it."
"Oh, the babies woke up," Iris was saying suddenly as they were nearing the home.
"I don't think it took us too long," Beckett said in amusement as her husband was looking at his watch. "We better get them something to drink before we head out in the car," she told him.
"After, just so they don't get sick," Castle said. He wasn't surprised when his wife was rolling her eyes and they went into the front yard to head to where their youngest daughter was sitting with Keo, Maddy and Dani.