'Morning sleepy-head.'

Castle smiled at Alexis as she wandered into the kitchen, yawning widely on Sunday morning. The rest of the house was still abed save for Dave who'd taken one of the canoes out for a spin at sunrise and he'd been enjoying the tranquility of it after two very noisy activities-filled days. 'Are you feeling more on east-coast time now?'

'My stomach is. You want a hand?'

'No, I think I've got it. We're doing the standard Sunday morning feast. Bacon, eggs, pancakes, hashbrowns and fruit salad. You heading back to the city today?'

'Yeah, I'll leave around two. Shane's working until three, and then we're going to the Grammercy Boardwalk Festival with some of his friends.' Alexis picked up an apple from the bowl, bit in. 'I'm a little nervous. I mean I've met some of them, but he said one or two we might see know his ex-girlfriend Cassie.'

'You think they'll report back.' Castle sipped his coffee. 'The important thing is to remember Shane picked you and if he thinks you're worth it, you'll see him stand for you.'

'Really?'

'Mm-hmm.'

The outside sliding door to the kitchen opened then and they looked over to see Meredeth and Tessi coming in. 'Hey, princess, you're up early!' Alexis exclaimed.

'Mami say babies dickin',' the toddler explained, making Castle choke a little on his coffee.

'She means kicking, I hope.'

Meredeth nodded, settled Tessi onto an island chair beside her. 'Porky, the bottom twin, decided to karate chop my bladder and then Jell-O decided he or she was going to roundhouse my stomach so I am in need of the bathroom and something to eat.'

'Babies need munsh,' Tessi said proudly. 'I know, I big sisser.'

'Well, then, from one new big sister to another, why don't you and I have a glass of juice on the porch and I can fill you in on some details big sister need to know.'

Tessi's blue eyes went round and she looked to her mother for permission; when she got the nod, she held out her arms to Alexis and asked, 'Appa shoos, peas?'

'She's such a good little thing, Mere,' Castle commented when their babies were outside. 'You're doing a great job with her, you and Espo.'

'You think so?'

'Oh yeah, she adores you guys and she's excited for those babies. You want a tea or something cold?'

'I'll take a page out of Tessi's book and go for apple juice. I have this funny memory of my mother saying it's all I wanted to drink when I was a kid and she hated the stuff.'

The peace of the morning didn't last long, as Castle heard the distinct sound of Dell Ryan's voice floating down the stairs in indignant tones.

'But, Mama, we gotta eat early so we can puh-lay more on the beach.'

'The beach isn't going anywhere, my boy.'

Delly and Honey-Milk appeared at the bottom of the stairs and Dell's face lit up when he saw Meredeth; he raced over to give her a squeezing hug around the legs. 'Mornin' Meredeth, you have a good suh-leep?'

'I did, thank you.'

'How are my babies and my Tessi?'

'The babies are awake and kicking, and Tessi is having juice on the porch.'

Before Dell could take off, Castle called him over to the stove-side of the island. 'Hey, Dell, I could use a hand with getting breakfast ready, do you think you can make toast for me?'

'Uh-huh, how much toast?'

'Lots. We've got a whole house to feed pretty soon.'

'I have to say, they are mighty brave for doing this,' Beckett commented as she rubbed sunblock into RJ's cheeks and he sneezed at the smell of it. 'I know, RJ, it stinks, doesn't it?'

'We don' wan' a suburb.'

Lili giggled at Rosie's little word-gaffe. 'I think you mean sunburn, mija. Where's your life jacket?'

'Wit' Daddy. We goin' on a boat.'

The girls watched as all their men came down to the dock, some carrying coolers, others with the little ones. They'd decided to break-ranks for a few hours; the girls were getting some mommy-alone time while the boys took their babies out to the swimming hole, all but Mallory and RJ who were still too small. Dell, Carey, Rosie, Tessi and Violet were the picture of cuteness in their swimsuits, life-jackets and water-wings as one by one their daddies helped them into the boat and they jetted off over the water.

Alone on the dock, the ladies went back up to the beach where they set up the big umbrella and organized themselves with some cold drinks, magazines, a deck of cards and the stereo play the Classic Kicks Hit-Fix on the local radio station. Beckett set up her towel so that she could feel the sun warm on her skin while still in the shade of the umbrella where RJ was hanging out, playing in the sand with Mallory while Honey-Milk kept one eye on her cards, one eye on her daughter.

'This is nice, time for just the girls to relax,' Meredeth sighed contentedly, wiggling her toes in the warm sand as she gave her jiggling belly a rub.

'You are looking pretty relaxed this morning yourself, Mere,' Lanie ribbed her friend. 'You have a good sleep last night?'

'Twice.'

Before she could stop herself, Alexis murmured, 'Lucky girl,' which had them all look at her; when Alexis realized her gaffe, she looked up from her cards with a sheepish grin. 'Sorry, I'm used to being around my girlfriends.'

'I understand, sweetie.' Lili flipped through her magazine. 'I remember those nights when Cam was overseas, too. Ooh, Six At-Home Facial Tips.'

'A little different since he was at war, but I get what you mean.'

'We know way more than we all should about each other, especially after two bachelorette parties,' Lanie pointed out. 'The dirt on each other means none of them can ever, ever escape our little family.'

'Oh, look at this. Seven Sexy and Unconventional Ways to Seduce Your Man. Any of these get you preggo, Mere?' Lili asked.

'Case and point,' Beckett laughed as Meredeth held out her hand for the magazine to scan the article.

'I don't know, let me look.' She gave the pages the once over, tilted her head to the side. 'Nope, but I've definitely used number four and number six on my hubby.'

'Jesus, are you seventeen?' Lanie scoffed, then paused. 'Hand it over.'

'You really talk like this?' Alexis asked Honey-Milk, picking up the deck and shuffling with a little surprise when Honey-Milk nodded.

'Considering that between Lili, Lanie, myself, Katie, and Meredeth we'll have nine babies by Christmas, it's rather hypocritical of us to pretend we have no love lives so we tease each other. Oh, my turn.' Honey-Milk took the magazine, looked it over. 'Hmm. Definitely done two, three and seven, and definitely need to try number five.'

Alexis laughed then blinked when they 'What?'

'Come on, Lex, we all know Shane didn't fly to London for tea and crumpets.' Meredeth smiled at the young woman. 'You're one of the big girls now. Share.'

'Fine.' Alexis looked at the article, thought about telling them the truth - that she'd actually used all seven on Shane - but since Beckett was there, she toned it down a little. 'Two, three, four and seven, although three works better with icing instead of ice cream. Less sticky.'

'Go Lex,' Lanie murmured, an impressed little smile on her lips. 'Next time we throw a bachelorette party, you are so getting an invite.'

R&R&Enjoy