Castle was up. But only because his second and third youngest had just jumped on the bed. Arejay had been sleeping in the bassinet across the room while Kate had gotten up to go to the bathroom. The two are laying on their dad as they try to get him out of bed.
"Daddy! Wake up! You're wasting daylight!" The five-year-old pleads laying down on her father schootching up so she can try and pull his eyelids open.
"Whad'u want?" Castle grumbles opening his eyes slightly to see Victoria only inches from his face.
"Beach." She says giving her dad a kiss before pulling away.
"Can't we eat first?" He groans softly rubbing his tired eyes. The couple had been up at least seven times during the night for one thing or another. Whether it was for food, or just to be held, or a new diaper for Arejay.
"Buddd dadddy!" Sidney pouts climbing next to his sister pulling on him to wake him up more.
"Alright alright, we can go to the beach, but we have to eat first, mommy will not let us go if we don't." He tells the two trying to sit up as the two grab tighter onto Castle wanting to be picked up. Getting up he puts Victoria on his shoulders, Sidney on one hip and holds Arejay in his other arm. Walking to the bathroom Castle walks up with a serious face as the two giggle, Arejay just smiling up at his dad.
"Look who I found hiding in our bed. I think we need some kid spray." He chuckles Kate turning her eyes big as the first thing she see's is the way Castle is holding onto Arejay. She gasps and quickly grabs him from her husband.
"Oh, I think we do." Kate chuckles resting Arejay in her arms.
"Maybe even some spray that tickles them and never stops, unless they get kisses from mommy." Kate laughs again Castle nodding as he starts to tickle the two. The two are laughing so hard Sidney has snot coming out of nose.
"Stop daddy stop!" Victoria cries kicking her feet against her dad's chest.
"Should I use the magic cure?" Kate asks her eyebrow turning up as she gets closer to Castle and the two kids in front of her. The two are still giggling as Kate comes closer finding Sidney first and peppering his face with kisses, then she reaches over and finds Victoria's knee kissing it softly her head too high to reach as she was still on Castle's shoulders. Castle had stopped tickling and finally set Sidney down as he was getting just a little to heavy to hold. It had seemed only yesterday Castle was carefully cradling the boy in his arms, and now he was lifting him up and tossing him around like it was nothing.
"Come on you little rascals, let's go eat, I heard you two wanted to go to the beach." Kate smiles ushering her kids out of the master bathroom and to the stairs helping them down. Once at the bottom they turn, and she finds Johanna and Nathaniel sitting at the table. The two had already gotten dressed for the day, and we're eating some cereal. Milk and cereal it was a Castle staple. She'd spend so much a week buying milk and cereal it was crazy. Rocking the baby in her arms Kate walks over to the fridge and pulls out the milk setting it on the counter. She was thankful that someone had put it away. With all that money spent on milk about half of it was wasted between spilling and leaving it out to go bad.
"Eat my loves so we can go to the beach." Kate smiles seeing Castle out of the corner of her eye. He's in the kitchen now lifting Victoria up so she can grab the box of cereal out of the cupboard.
"Careful little sir. Please don't dro-" He was stopped by the clatter of the cereal box falling out of his daughters hands and onto the floor. Castle was upset but only till he realized a split second later that nothing had spilled.
"Sorry, daddy." She sighs looking up into his eyes.
"Don't worry, it was an accident, go sit down and I'll serve you a bowl." Castle smiles setting the little girl down. About an hour later the family is dressed, lathered in sunscreen and, ready for the beach. Thankfully the sun had come out, and it was rather warm outside. Still not warm enough that Kate would justify going for a dip but she wouldn't stop her kids from it. Grabbing the beach stroller she fills the bottom basket with their stuff, Arejay in his car seat in one of the seats and the snack cooler in the other. When Sidney was born, the couple had decided to purchase a new stroller and leave this one at the beach for anything they might need it for. They figured it would be nice to have for quick trips to town and what not. So they would not have to bring one with them. It had seen better days. The sun had faded it, and it had way to many rips for its own good, it even had sand in places it did not know it could get sand, not to mention it was slow. That was to be said though it was obvious because they took the thing in the sand. Anything with wheels, new or old never fears well in the sand. Setting up the chairs the kids insist on burying their dad. Kate couldn't help but laugh and agree. She couldn't wait to see what would come of this. Taking a seat under the umbrella she watches as the kids dig a hole so he could fit. While watching Arejay got hungry so she multi-tasked and fed him at the same time. Getting the hole dug the four kids made sure their dad was laying down and comfortable before pouring the sand in him.
"Hey, Sid, careful not to get it in his face ok?" Kate warns watching as the eight-year-old tosses the sand. Castle was now fully buried the four packing it down right. Johanna had wanted to make him a mermaid but had decided it was too much work and was not willing to be the only one putting in the effort for it only to be destroyed moments later by one thing or another. Finishing, the four leave and sit down for a moment with a snack. With all the work Kate knew they must be hungry. Handing them a chewy bar, Kate gives an extra one to Nate for him to help his dad snack on one. It was then when the kids were almost done that Castle had managed to get some air in the sand and secretly started digging himself out. Once done he rises out of the sand like a zombie and starts to chase the kids he's growling and the kids screaming as he chases them down to the water. He's managed to capture his two oldest but the little ones he can't seem to capture them while keeping the older ones. After getting a little wet in the cold water, Castle lets the older ones go and lets them chase him back up to the chairs that Kate was sitting at. Just mere feet from Kate, Castle trips and falls face first into the sand taking a fist full of it to the mouth. Kate is quick on her feet to out Arejay in the stroller and rush over to help him up.
"You alright?" Kate asks worried as she helps him up. The kids are coming up behind him checking him out as well. It takes him a second to regain himself but he does and nods carefully.
"Yeah, just a little sore. I feel like I almost knocked the wind out of me." Castle explains as Kate leans in and gives him a small kiss. The kids shudder and let out an eww, watching their parents kiss. It seemed like it was kid code that made them say eww every time they kissed. Kate found it funny and would sometimes continue the kids to get more out of the kids.
"Why don't we go back to the house and have lunch. We can go to the pool after naps and quiet time." Kate explains starting to pack up the food. They would leave the chairs there while they stayed so they did not have to pack and unpack them every time. The family had a pretty private beach with neighbors on either side really never showing themselves so they knew it would be fine. Helping the kids to the outdoor shower they all go inside and Kate puts Arejay in the swing before going and making sandwiches for lunch. Once they are finished she sends them to their room for naps and quiet time. They could do any quiet activity they wanted, they just had to stay on their bed and not talk. She wanted them to rest if they needed, because she knew if she sent them to go for a nap they would not do it, but quiet time usually resulted in someone dozing off for an hour or so. Taking Arejay into the bedroom Kate and Castle find themselves on their bed having set an alarm for an hour. Kate want to nap but not over sleep and not be awake for when the kids came down to wreak havoc. Waking up an hour later the two get up and Kate takes Arejay to go downstairs and and sit with Castle in the living room while she fed.
"We need to change his dressing tonight." Kate says cradling her son carefully.
"Would you help me? I'm not quite ready to do it by myself." She asks him watching.
"Yeah sure, would be glad to." He smiles leaning over and gives his wife a peck on the cheek. The boy was almost done with his stitches and by the time they would get home, he'd be ready to have it looked at and hopefully have the stitches removed. They couldn't wait to give the baby a real bath instead of just a sponge bath. It had felt with Arejay he was doing everything a little slow. It upset Kate in the beginning but then she realized that's who he was and she had to love him for it.
Looking up Kate sees some kids start coming down the stairs and within 20 minutes the whole family, Dax included was in the living room.
"Go get your bathing suits on and we will go to the pool, and don't forget have daddy help you with sunscreen." Kate smiles putting Arejay on her shoulder and burping him. Kate had already changed before they came down from their nap and would wait for the rest of the family. Minutes later Castle is slathering sunscreen on and handing towels to each of the kids before helping Victoria with her floaty and heading with the family down to the pool. When the kids had started getting old enough, Castle had put in a slide so they could have more fun in the water than just swimming.
Finding themselves in the pool Castle was treading water so he could catch his kids who had wanted to jump off the edge. Sidney was hesitating not sure if he wanted to jump or not but Castle had convinced him to jump in.
"Don't worry I'll get ya!" Castle smiles, his arms out as Sidney jumps into the water and into Castle's arms. Pulling him up out of the water the boy catches his breath as Castle rubs the little guys back.
"See? Wasent to bad was it?" Castle asks as Sidney shakes his head.
"I wanna do it again!" He giggles and lets go if his dad swimming to the stairs and jumping in again. He jumps a few more times excitedly as his dad catches him each time. Victoria had been jumping a few times but she got tired and decided ti sit with Johanna and Nate on the stairs. Kate had been sitting on a floaty feeding Arejay as she floated around the pool. She kept her eyes on the kids the whole time. Wanting them to be safe in the pool. Getting out about an hour later, Castle and Kate help the kids inside and dry off before getting dressed for bed and making dinner. Kate had made Mac and Cheese with hotdogs for dinner before pulling out the monopoly junior and helping the kids set it up so they could play a game before bed. Kate had loved the ease of movie night but also loved getting the family at the table eating and playing a game.
It was late now, the kids had been put to bed and both Kate and Castle were in bed. Castle had been reading a book from his Kindle while Kate snuggled and fed Arejay.
"I can't believe he is almost two months already." Kate sighs softly yawning.
"Me either." Castle says setting his Kindle down and looking over at his wife. Castle could tell she was tired so he reaches over and helps Arejay out of her arms.
"Sleep baby, we have another long day tomorrow." Castle smiles kissing his wife getting up slowly and putting the child in his bassinet.
A/N: Sorry this took so long. Anyways. I designed some shirts to go with this fanfic. You can find them on spread shirt if you'd like to buy one. 1064289. spreadshirt customize/noCache/1 [Just take the spaces out.]