Genre: 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: I was pleased to get the reviews I did this time around so want to get my thank yous for them! vetgirlmx (I was glad to see you thought the chapter was very nice. And I wasn't surprised you mentioned Xavi and Beatriz, but happy that you liked the others that joined them too, lol. And you're right about getting more of a culture like that. How I wrote them here is actually what I could remember from the town when I was last there, it's a lot like that, lol. And I'm not surprised the bit where they're picking the blackberries reminded you of that poem, I've never read it but great it reminded you of that though that's also based off of my own experience doing the same. I was happy to see you enjoyed that that Julia and Alexis had made some friends there, it would be fun definitely. And I had Julia reassure Alexis that Beckett loved her too just because I wanted to show that she wants to make sure she knows her mother loves her as well as a daughter, not just herself and Eliza. I wasn't surprised at your comment about the end of the trip, but I'm glad that even with that happening you still want to read more to see what they do next. And now you don't need to wait to find out what that is!), TORONTOSUN (Very happy that you enjoyed the moments with the family since this story was for that purpose, partially, lol, the other part for Castle and Beckett. And you caught what I did with Castle as a father, I figure Beckett would want a father for her children like her own dad is so of course it's going to be Castle, lol, 'cause I can see him a lot like Jim as a father. Also nice that you liked how they were feeling safe in the family, when you go to Carbajales they treat you that way I can very easily say from experience… granted it's 'cause I was family, lol, but still they're very nice there I promise you) and MichelleBell16 (I was so, so pleased that reading this story makes you want to travel. I was hoping putting in my own experiences with this country would make readers feel that way though my experiences are literally confined to the village, lol, and I haven't been for twenty years. So I'll say it again I was so glad to hear you're wanting to travel! I'm happy that you enjoyed the interaction they had with Xavi's family and the people in the village, that's again coming from my experiences there and the people there. It was great to see that you mentioned you thought it was sweet sharing everything with Jim; I was striving for that since he's been there before as you said so to see I got that was fantastic! Very pleased that you can't wait to read more and now you can, check out and see what they'll do next together as a family. I wasn't surprised to see your reaction to Beckett's fear of Julia remembering her life before or your wonder if she will remember, that I figure readers will be wondering. I had the same reaction to you saying that you wanted to see it, to see how they'd all work through it, especially Beckett and Julia. And I will let you know now that I have in mind and I have had in mind what I'll be doing with concerns to Julia, so I'm glad you left it up to me! It was so nice to read that you will be here for the rest of the series and glad that it's not ending any time soon because I've actually written down plot… words, lol, just a brief line of words to let me know what to plan recently and I have many more stories to come. So there'll be a lot more to come I promise!). Thanks so, so much to you three for the feedback, a nice little gift to me- as they always are I'm not talking about this time of year- that I enjoyed reading and was grateful for, especially the time taken to write them to send to me!

A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Barcelona written by Freddie Mercury and Mike Moran, sung by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé from their album Barcelona.

A Jewel In The Sun

Looking over at her husband as he entered the room Beckett smiled and asked, "They had coffee?"

"They have it," Castle replied, holding up the mugs slightly before he handed her one where she was sitting up in their bed. "Got tired of the view?"

"No," Beckett said simply. "But I thought you were coming back." She watched him set down his mug on her nightstand went to grab the tray with their breakfast of some pastries. "I hope they're okay in their rooms," she said.

"They will be," Castle said. "This is the first time Mother can stay in the room with them."

Beckett nodded at that and her eyes went back towards the window where they had a view of the Grand Via. They were in Barcelona, having arrived the day before with Santos who was coming to meet his girlfriend, Xavi and Beatriz heading to Valencia to visit the woman's niece who'd had a baby the day before. "I'm eager to look around," she confessed to him.

"The Sagrada Família?" Castle asked. When she nodded he smiled and said, "I'm with you, just the fact they still haven't finished it makes me want to go take a look at what they do have done badly." He took a sip of his coffee and then said, "Think they'll like it?"

"You've seen pictures of the nave," Beckett told him quickly before taking a bite of her croissant. "Especially the ceiling of it, they're going to love it."

"And your father… and Alexis too," Castle said thoughtfully as he recalled the way the pillars looked like trees which had been Gaudí's intent.

"I have to ask though, your mom?" Beckett asked him.

"She will," Castle assured her simply. "She's mentioned wanting to see it."

"I just hope it doesn't disappoint," Beckett told him, sucking some of the crumbs off her thumb.

"I doubt it," Castle replied, watching her.

Seeing him staring at her Beckett sipped at her coffee before she turned to set the mug on the nightstand along with the plate where their pastries were. Looking back to her husband she snaked her arms around his neck as his hands slid around her sides to hold onto the small of her back. As he pulled her onto his lap she smiled and said, "We don't really have time."

"I know," Castle replied easily before he leaned down. He kissed her deeply then but pulled away slowly after a few seconds to look into her eyes. When her hand reached up and cupped his face he pressed lips against her thumb that ran along his lower lip. "You know I wish we had the chance…" he couldn't help telling her.

Beckett leaned over and kissed him to silence him though she had a feeling that he could tell from that that she was in sympathy with him. She then gently flicked her tongue out against his lower lip before he was responding by tangling his own against hers. She held onto the back of his head tightly before he was reaching up underneath her shirt and though she knew they were treading on dangerous ground with him doing that she couldn't stop him. She let him continue before they finally parted and she breathed in and out a little deeply saying, "We should finish."

Though he really wanted to comment on the fact he didn't know what she meant Castle finally nodded, knowing she wouldn't appreciate that joke at that moment. So he let her go and they went back to their coffees; nearly cold by then; before they ate the rest of their pastries. "I'm sorry," he said suddenly when the plate was back on the nightstand, clear except for more crumbs.

"For what?" Beckett asked in surprise.

"I led you on," Castle stated, watching her closely.

"Don't worry," Beckett told him simply, leaning over and kissing his lips briefly. "I know how hard it can be to stop."

Castle nodded in agreement with that before he said, "But there is tonight."

"Of course," Beckett said in amusement. She set her empty mug on the nightstand and told him, "I was waiting for that to be mentioned."

"Tomorrow we'll be with the kids," Castle said. "And our parents, almost forgot."

"And tonight will be just us," Beckett said, knowing what he was doing by saying that. "I never said I was against these nights on our own."

"Checking," Castle said simply as he followed his wife off of the bed. When they were standing next to it he wrapped his arms around her and pulling her close against him murmured, "I want you love."

"Hmm, after the past couple days so do I," Beckett replied, their traveling keeping them from being intimate further than some heavy kisses. "And you'll have me, I promise. But for now…" she told him as she had suddenly gotten an idea from that. She was relieved when her husband let her go after they had shared a quick kiss and she went to the bathroom to wash up. Glancing at the Roman style shower she got another idea and then turned her focus onto getting ready as she knew it would be too easy to forget their plans for the day if she continued to think about what was possible.

Castle watched his wife as they got ready; wondering what was going through her mind as they dressed. Since he finished before she did he went to the window, looking down at the street and the people walking below. He was so involved in watching them that when he felt Beckett's hand on his shoulder he nearly jumped. "Set?" he asked her.

"Yes, what about you?" she asked, studying him closely.

About to answer Castle wasn't surprised when the text message alert sounded on his phone and he smiled at his wife before he took it out of his pocket. "They're giving us five minutes before they come and break down the door," Castle said before he frowned.

"Who wrote that?" Beckett asked in amusement.

"Alexis but I'm getting the feeling she had some help from her gram… or sister, or even both," Castle said wryly. "But I think we should take the hint-"

"And go," Beckett finished for him. She grabbed her bag and then his hand before they left the room, not surprised to see down the hall that Julia and Eliza were standing in between it and the doorway to their room.

"They're there," the little girl called inside. "Now we can go."

"Come on," Castle said, gesturing to the two with his arm.

"But don't run," Beckett quickly added as their daughters started to take off down the hall. "Good morning," she said, smiling at her husband as the two threw themselves at her, making her stagger back for a moment as she had been about to take a step forward. "How did you sleep?"

"Good," Eliza said firmly. "I wanna go."

"And we are," Castle said, waiting for Beckett to share a kiss with them both. Once she had he picked up their youngest, throwing her up in the air slightly and kissing her on the cheek to her heavy giggle. "Did everyone sleep well?" he asked as Alexis, his mother and Jim walked up to them.

"Wonderfully," Martha replied. When she saw her daughter in law was looking at her she smiled and said, "They were talking for a little but they were tired and fell asleep soon after."

"Good," Beckett said, looking down at the girls who were smiling unabashedly as they headed to the elevators. "So that means you're ready for today."

"Didn't you get the text Alexis sent?" Julia asked in obvious confusion.

"I think your mother is teasing you," Jim told his granddaughter who then laughed softly.

"Maybe," Julia replied. "But yes Mommy we want to go. Eliza does too 'cause she doesn't know what kind of church it is."

"It's a special one," Alexis said, sounding eager as she had always wanted to see the building since she'd first seen pictures of it. "And the artist who made it also made other buildings we'll see later."

"Why?" Eliza asked as they were nearly down in the lobby.

"He did things differently," Beckett answered as she could see Alexis was trying to think of how to explain it. "And one thing he liked to do was use different tiles."

"You'll see what we're talking about," Castle promised as he could see Eliza still looked confused. Outside the hotel he hailed two cabs, joining his wife and their daughters in one as their parents and Alexis got in the other. He watched the girls looking around at the buildings they passed on the way to the cathedral.

When she spotted it first Beckett pointed out the window and told them, "There it is, see the towers?"

"I see!" Julia said in a gasp of amazement. "Oh… it's big!"

"It is," Castle said as he could see Eliza's eyes were wide. "I think she can see it too," he commented to his wife.

When they were let off in front of what the taxi driver told them was the main entrance, Beckett took the girls out onto the sidewalk to wait for Castle to pay. "What do you think?" she asked his mother as she was walking up to them from the other cab.

"Amazing," Martha said before she smiled at Eliza. "And you kiddo? What do you think?"

"Candles?" the toddler asked.

"It does look like that a little," Jim said, joining them with Alexis and Castle, the cabs going down the street. "But see it isn't finished?"

"Yeah… did they stop?" Eliza said before she leaned over to him.

Jim smiled at that and said, "They've been working on it for a hundred and thirty six years now. It's going to be very big and look at the figures there." When he saw his granddaughter; and the others; were looking at the sculptures he continued with, "Do you see all the detail? That took fourteen years to finish."

"I can see why," Alexis said in awe as she was taking pictures and zooming in. "Look at the horse there," she told Julia, pointing before she hurried to take a picture of it.

The little girl was quick to do the same, zooming in and getting a shot before she studied the screen of her camera. "Wow, the artist was really good," she commented. "Was it Gaudí?"

"No another one but they're trying to stick to his plans as much as they possibly can," Jim answered.

"Should we head inside?" Castle asked after they'd been looking at the façade a little longer.

"He's right," Beckett said in amusement. "Come on let's head in and see what else there is."

Walking inside the family went to the nave and there Julia froze as Alexis did at the same at the same time, looking up.

"Definitely trees," Castle said as his head was tilted back as well as everyone else's. "But look at the detail at the top."

"And the stained glass," Jim added, nodding to the windows ahead of them.

"Pretty," Eliza said, looking over and smiling at the colors before she pointed to the flowers that she could see to their left. "That Grandpapa," she told him.

"That's," Jim began before he realized what he was about to say. "They put flowers there for the artist Gaudí."

"Oh," Eliza replied. "Do we put?"

"I think we gave something he'd be much happier with," Castle commented as he and the others were listening to them. "Money to help them finish this up."

"Good," Eliza said simply.

"Can we go up in the towers?" Alexis asked then as they seemed to move at the same time, going forward to the other end of the nave.

"On both sides," Jim told them. "But it's high and then we'll have to go down through a spiral staircase."

"That's alright," Beckett said, looking at her youngest. "She'll be with us. And you know you'll be able to see the city if you go there."

"I will go… I wanna go," Eliza said after thinking that over.

"Okay let's look around a little more here and then see what we can see in these towers," Castle said.

Walking around the inside of the nave Alexis was taking a number of pictures before she realized her grandmother had joined her. After she'd taken a picture of some stained glass she turned to her and put her arm around her shoulders saying, "This has been a better trip than I thought it would."

"I agree with you whole heartedly," Martha replied. She then noticed that her granddaughter was looking to the side and she followed her gaze, seeing that after she'd left them Castle had gone with the girls to some stained glass windows and Beckett was with Jim looking at some grapes hanging from the altar canopy, far on the other end of the church. "What is it kiddo?" she asked, trying to read the expression on Alexis' face.

"Nothing just glad that we're all together," the young woman said. "To sound very sappy."

"No not at all," Martha told her with a smile. She squeezed her arm and said, "But since we are talking about our family, we should rejoin them."

"Do you want to go in the towers?" Alexis asked.

"Of course, I plan to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower again as well," Martha responded. "I just hope that Eliza will be okay."

"With us with her? Of course," Castle said as his mother and daughter had caught up with them.

"Is it that bad?" Julia asked, wondering why they were worrying about her sister when she was the one a little afraid of heights.

"It's the view; remember when she went to the Empire State Building for the first time?" Alexis reminded her little sister.

"Oh yeah," Julia said. "But we'll be inside," she said to the toddler. When she noticed that Eliza wasn't paying attention to them anymore, looking at some more windows she laughed and said to their father, "Will I be okay?"

"I think so," Castle told her with a nod. Eliza caught sight of her mother then so he quickly set her down, watching her rush to Beckett and Jim before they went over to the Passion Towers which were on the side they'd entered.

Going up the elevator Beckett held tightly to her daughters' hands, watching them to make sure that they would be okay as they seemed to continue up for a good amount of time. At the top they stepped out and she followed Castle and her father to look out saying, "Look at all the buildings," trying to keep them from looking down.

Hearing the toddler gasping slightly and stepping back Castle went to Eliza hurriedly and said, "Good place to look from," taking her hand to keep her from trying to go back anymore. "But you know what I bet you could see the water in the other towers."

"Another?" Eliza asked softly.

"Yeah just across the way," Castle told her. "We should go to those towers," he told his wife who was walking back to him at that point. "So we can see the sea."

Eliza giggled and echoed, "See the sea."

Smiling down at her Beckett replied, "I had the same idea."

"We're going ahead?" Castle asked. When she nodded he said, "Julia-"

"Is staying with them," Beckett interrupted. "She wants to stay with her big sister."

"Good idea," Castle said with a nod. "So are you ready to go?" he asked the toddler.

"Yes," Eliza said, though she sounded a little bit hesitant about that. When her father picked her up and took her mother's hand she smiled and pressed her cheek against his as they made their way back down to the main floor of the church before heading across to the Nativity Towers. She buried her face into Castle's neck until he was whistling and then couldn't resist taking a look outside. "Water!" she gasped in pleasure, seeing it beyond the buildings then.

"It's pretty isn't it?" Castle asked her.

"Yeah thank you Daddy," Eliza said, kissing his cheek then.

"And your mom," Castle said in response as he smiled at her. "Thank her."

"Why?" Beckett asked as she came over to them from taking a final picture of the view.

"You had the idea to go too," Castle said simply. When she glanced at him he smiled widely and was surprised when she leaned over, brushing her lips against his. "Thank you," he told her, not surprised when their daughter giggled at that.

Beckett merely smiled at her husband before they looked at the view for a little longer and then headed back down to the museum where they would wait for their family to join them. Glancing at some sketches she pointed one out to Eliza and asked, "What's that sweetie?"

"Horsie!" the toddler cried as she recognized it looking like the one that was in the front where they'd gone inside. "Oooh, Jules?" she said, looking around as she wanted to show it to her sister.

"They're coming," Castle said as he spotted them walking inside. He set Eliza down and watched with his wife as she rushed to bring over Julia and Alexis.

"See it's a horsie!" the toddler told them exuberantly as she pointed to the sketch.

"Oh… so Gaudí did make it," Julia said. She then said sheepishly to her grandfather, "I didn't think he really had that much planned for everyone to make."

"He did," Jim said with a smile. "He was a visionary."

"How did you do in the towers sweetie?" Beckett asked her oldest then, going to her and putting her arm around her shoulder.

"I did okay but I looked down once," Julia confessed. "And I got scared but-"

"I managed to turn her around to look at some of the detail work that was behind us," Alexis interrupted.

"Thank you," Beckett said to her sincerely.

"Not a problem, it helped me a little too because I looked down," Alexis answered, smiling at her little sister. "I thought I wasn't afraid of heights."

"Well that was high," Martha said as they were walking around then. "But a spectacular view. I am so glad you decided to bring us here. But aren't we nearly finished?"

"We are," Castle said, looking at his wife.

"Go ahead and tell them," Beckett said with a smile. "I know you've been eager to."

"Okay, we're going to the Parc Zoológic," Castle told them.

"The zoo!" Eliza cried. "What Mommy? What Daddy?" she asked as she realized her parents were looking at her.

"You knew it was the zoo?" Alexis asked first.

"Yeah, zoo… lolo," Eliza tried to pronounce before she giggled.

"She's got a good ear," Jim said. "So we're going to the zoo."

"We are but anyone who doesn't want to go is welcome to go their own way," Castle told them.

"We'll go with you," Martha said quickly. "Speaking for myself and Jim."

"She is," he said when his daughter and son in law turned to him at the same time in amusement. "I've never been though I know where it is."

"Should we start going now?" Alexis asked as she saw both her sisters looked extremely eager.

"We're almost finished with the museum," Beckett said, looking to see what her stepdaughter had. "And we'll make a quick stop at the gift shop before we go."

"I wanna go," Eliza whispered to Julia as they were walking together hand in hand.

"We will, the animals aren't going anywhere," the little girl told her.

Eliza giggled and said, "I wanna see the… bears in… a car."

"Taking a taxi?" Julia said laughingly. When her sister nodded she laughed outright and said, "I don't think they could fit. But they could go to the beach."

Gasping in realization, Eliza said, "Yeah they can go there!"

"Come on you two," Martha said, amusement laden in her tone as she urged the girls to continue walking.

Going to the gift shop Castle and Beckett were not too surprised when their daughters; Alexis as well; went through it quickly as they were able to tell they all wanted to go. Soon enough they were leaving the church and heading to the street to get another two cabs. That time the girls went with their grandparents, leaving Alexis with Castle and Beckett.

"Have you ever gone to zoos in other countries?" Alexis asked her stepmother once they were on the way.

"In Kiev," Beckett answered. "And that was it."

"Nothing in Moscow or St. Petersburg?" Castle asked her.

"I wanted to see other things there," Beckett said.

"I'm surprised you picked the zoo," Alexis confessed to them.

"Well the thing is we've done some things that aren't completely for kids," Castle began. "The church being one of them though luckily they still liked it. We wanted to go to a zoo again since the one in San Diego was great."

"And now they have their grandparents with them," Beckett commented.

"We can take them on our own for a bit," Alexis said. "Spend time with our grandparents."

"I think we'll put our foot down about that," Castle replied. "You have tonight with them going through Las Ramblas."

"I had to ask," Alexis said. She then laughed and said, "For Julia's sake."

"Eventually for Eliza's," Castle told his wife.

"You're right," Beckett said, trying not to laugh though she couldn't quite do it. "With her seeing her sister doing that she'll be pushing us to go off alone." She sighed and shook her head though she was smiling saying, "For now though we'll let you wait until tonight to spend time with them."

Reaching the zoo which was in a park Castle paid for both cabs before he took Eliza and set her on top of his shoulders.

"Daddy I'm hungry," the toddler immediately told him.

"We'll eat as soon as we get in," Castle told her. "But after we see some animals."

"And before Rick," Beckett said back to him.

"I did it again," he said, shaking his head at Julia who was walking with him, holding his hand.

"You think the animals are just before we go to lunch?" Julia asked with a laugh.

"I do," Castle said. "But there's the entrance," he quickly added as he could tell that she was going to ask what animals there were.

Once they had gotten inside; getting the tickets at the hotel that morning; Beckett said, "It's a small zoo so after this we're going to stop at the beach near here if there's time."

"An enticement to get them to go?" Martha asked with a smile on her face.

"That's the hope," Castle commented.

Walking down the path after Beckett who had the map they came to a section that was called the Palmeral. They soon discovered that it was filled with birds like cockatoos, macaws and parrots in different colors. The girls spent a little time at the more colorful birds, watching them eating or preening their feathers before different members of their family had to take them to the next section, the Aviary.

"Oh my goodness, more birds," Martha said with a smile as she was holding Eliza then to look through a glass window at some of them. "They're having a wedding," she joked.

"Why Gram?" the toddler asked, looking at her in confusion.

Smiling Martha replied, "My mother would say that but she was talking about groups of birds on telephone wires. Why she would say that… I don't know."

"'Cause they look like they're sitting waiting for a wedding?" Julia suggested.

"Your guess is as good as mine," Martha replied. "Now look at these over here…"

Since he was alone with his wife as the rest of their family went ahead of them Castle asked her, "Should I go ahead with them? Don't want to be alone yet do we?"

Shooting him a look Beckett leaned over and kissed him, a simple peck on the lips except for the fact that she pressed a little hard against them before moving away. "You asked for it," she teased him when she glanced back at him and saw that he was watching her.

"I did didn't I?" Castle asked her, hurrying to catch up and put his arm around her waist. He held her as she took pictures around the rest of the area and as they were walking to the next which was called the Gorilla Enclosure. "So tonight," he told her. "The restaurant I picked is called the Casa Calvet."

"Interesting name," Beckett said as they watched their family reading some information about the zoo's albino gorilla it'd used to house, Snowflake.

"Gaudí designed the building," Castle said. "And it looks to be romantic."

"It doesn't have to look that way," Beckett said, smiling then at him. "As long as the food is well prepared I'm fine Rick."

"Still I'd like to experience it with you," Castle told her. "You have to give me that at least."

Beckett was tempted to give him another look before she turned to study his expression, seeing that he looked a little hesitant. "It's not bribery," she stated.

"I have no need for that," Castle assured her. "I know what to do to make you want me."

Glaring at him for the obvious self confidence in his tone, Beckett replied, "Try that tonight and see what you get."

"A challenge it is then," Castle replied. He was startled when his wife; instead of rolling her eyes as he thought she was going to do; smirked he said, "Uh… can I ask?"

"No you can't," Beckett said, still smirking as she walked away from him to join their daughters who were watching one of the gorillas near the glass. "Having fun?" she asked them.

"Oh Mommy, it's so great here," Julia said. "I can't wait to see what else there is too."

"We're going to find out now," Castle told them, having recovered and taking Julia's hand to lead her to the next exhibit, which was of red kangaroos.

"Ooh, hoppers!" Eliza exclaimed as she saw one of the animals doing so then to some shade.

"Look at the baby in the pouch," Julia pointed out before hurrying to take a picture of it. She giggled and said, "I bet it's warm there."

"Also slimy," Castle said.

"But still warm," Jim added as Eliza was wrinkling her nose at what her father had said.

"That too," Castle said, catching what he was looking at before going to the toddler and picking her up as they moved along again.

Looking around as they were walking Eliza soon spotted the next animal they were going to see, gasping a little and holding onto her father's neck tightly as she watched the monkeys in front of them going around their habitat. "What is it?" she asked him.

"They're brown spider monkeys," Beckett answered since she was next to them, having taken a picture of the two after the monkeys.

"Oh," Eliza said, watching them. She looked thoughtful for a moment and then told her parents, "Wanna go play."

"We're not going through this again," Castle said with a laugh as Beckett shook her head. "You know the animals aren't to play with."

"I think she's remembering when I told her they're not supposed to be pets," Julia said, joining them.

"That too," Beckett said. "But you can't play with them sweetie, we're only supposed to watch them."

"I know it's tough but better we leave them to themselves," Castle said hurriedly before the toddler could protest that.

"What's going on?" Jim asked, walking over to them as he, Martha and Alexis had been about to continue.

"She wants to play with these monkeys," Julia told her grandfather.

Smiling, since Eliza would ask that at the zoo in Central Park, Jim told her, "Better to let them play by themselves," taking her from Castle. "You wouldn't be able to understand how they play since they don't speak."

Sighing in frustration Eliza said, "Can I play with you?"

"Yes and later if we can make it to the beach," Jim promised before leading her to where they were going to eat. "Are you still hungry?" he asked her.

"Yes," Eliza said quickly.

"We're eating here?" Alexis asked her father as they entered what turned out to be a buffet.

"He wanted to try it," Beckett answered for Castle. "It's Mediterranean cuisine."

"It'll be fun," he told Alexis who looked at him. "And tonight you might have tapas again; you'll have to see."

"And Crema Catalana," Julia quipped with a wide smile.

"So you were serious about that," Beckett asked her father as he was setting Eliza down.

"It's something you should have here," Jim said. "And they'll enjoy it."

"Of course they will," Castle said as he grabbed a plate for Eliza. "It's sweet."

"I will like it," Eliza said, tugging on his free hand.

"I know I predicted it already," Castle replied jokingly. He smiled when Eliza giggled and then leaned down, pressing his lips to the top of her head. "Okay so help me get what you want to eat sweetheart," he told her as he took her to the line at the food.

Walking behind the two Beckett smiled as Castle would tell their youngest what there was to eat and she would take a moment each time before shaking or nodding her head. "Thank you for saying yes to the vegetables," she commented as she followed them to a table.

"I did?" Eliza asked, sounding surprised as she looked at her plate.

"Yes and they're the ones you like," Castle told her quickly as he picked her up and put her onto his lap.

"You don't want to get her a chair?" Martha asked her son as she sat with them.

"She's fine there," Castle replied, getting a piece of meat that had been on a skewer onto the toddler's fork and handing it to her. He glanced around at the others as they had joined them and said, "Good lunch?"

"We haven't even started yet Dad," Alexis commented. "But if you mean it looks good, then yes it goes."

"I'm glad they have gyros," Julia commented, picking hers up.

"So what will it be after the beach," Jim asked his daughter and son in law when they'd all begun to eat.

"Well it depends on if we make it to the beach," Beckett answered as Castle was eating then. "If not we're just going to head straight to Las Ramblas."

"I hope they'll enjoy that," Jim said, smiling at his granddaughters who were listening to them while they ate.

"We will," Julia said. She then thought a moment and said, "What is that?"

"It's a long street," Alexis answered. "And they sell things but mainly I think we're going to look at the architecture?"

"And La Boquería, don't forget that," Castle reminded them.

"What's that?" Julia immediately asked.

"A big, very big market," Jim answered.

"You've been there?" the little girl said.

"A few times, it's wonderful to go for the pictures and the food," Jim told her. "And we'll get a snack there."

"We will?" Beckett asked, surprised her father had said that without asking her or Castle. She then realized he wouldn't have and she turned to her husband.

"Your dad suggested where we're eating tonight," Castle said after hurriedly swallowing his bite of a kabob. "He does admire Gaudí so he knew about the building and also the restaurant in it. And our reservation isn't until eight thirty, because that's when they open for dinner."

"And the girls?" Beckett asked her father and Martha.

"We'll go around seven thirty," Jim said. "And once we're finished we'll head back to the hotel so you don't need to worry about their safety."

"We're aware of that," Castle said swiftly. "So we will need a snack after all of this."

"Alright but nothing too over the top at least," Beckett said.

Julia and Eliza shared a glance with each other and then began to ask their parents what else there was to see at the zoo. The two didn't really answer though Castle; looking at the map; realized they'd missed a section and suggested they head back to it.

After lunch was over Eliza was on her father's shoulders, leaning over and asking, "What is it Daddy?"

"Those are storks," Castle said, waiting to answer when they were close to the exhibit. "You didn't see them because you were looking at the monkeys."

"Oh they are pretty," Eliza said.

"Their bills look like the Spanish flag," Alexis commented. "The Catalan flag too," she, Beckett and Jim all said at the same time.

Castle laughed at that and then said, "Good point, so it includes everyone. But it says they're from Africa," as he read about them on a plaque.

"They're not the same ones we saw at the church are they?" Julia asked.

"You mean the ones that made the nest in Carbajales?" Jim said. When she nodded he said, "No, those were white and they're native to here too."

"They were pretty," Julia replied, though she had only seen pictures and not the birds themselves.

"Come on let's keep going," Beckett urged them before they went down the path she had missed. They came to more birds and she recognized them saying, "That's an ibis," to Julia who was walking with her.

"They're pretty," the little girl said, taking a picture. "Look at the beak how it curves," she said as she looked up at Eliza.

Nodding, the toddler said, "I wanna play Daddy."

"You-" Castle started to say before he heard her giggling. "Nice," he said laughingly.

"She's learning from you," Beckett said, turning to them.

"Daddy wanna go with 'lexis," Eliza said then.

Setting her down on the ground Castle watched with Beckett as the toddler hurried to her big sister who was walking with Julia ahead of them and then turned to his wife.

Before he could do so Beckett took his hand and entwined their fingers tightly as she said, "I don't mind eating that late."

"I should have told you though," Castle finished.

"You should have told me," Beckett replied though she was smiling at him. "And it doesn't surprise me it's late either."

"Wait until we get to Paris," Castle commented.

"The same time?" Beckett asked. When he nodded she smiled and then squeezed his hand before they needed to turn their attention to their daughters who were calling to them.

When they had finished with that section and had gone back to the path they'd first been on the family reached penguins, making the girls squeal in joy at the sight of them.

"Birdies!" Eliza cried.

"Penguins," Julia corrected her.

"Pen… gins," Eliza tried to say before she looked at her father and giggled as he was smiling at her.

"It's a good try," Beckett said, looking at her husband as well. "But keep watching them."

It took a little time for the family to move from there, as the girls didn't want to leave the birds yet, but when they were finally able to pull them away the two were consoled by the next animal, a muntjac.

"Dragons?" Castle said as they went from that habitat to the building across from it.

"They aren't real Daddy," Julia said quickly.

"Then what is it?" Castle asked.

The little girl opened her mouth before she then shrugged and took his hand as they went inside. "Oh," she said with a smile as she saw the large reptile. "Komodo dragons."

"That was my second guess," Castle told her quickly.

"No it wasn't," Julia said, shaking her head as she looked at her mother who was next to them. She then turned her attention to the animal, watching it moving around and flicking its tongue out.

"Don't wanna Gram," Eliza said, turning suddenly to Martha and pressing her face into her side.

"I agree with you darling, I think we can continue ahead of everyone else," Castle's mother said. "Kate, Richard-" she began.

"Go ahead," Beckett said before she could continue. She smiled as she watched the two and said, "I wonder if it was the fact the one in San Diego was still that she wasn't bothered."

"More than likely," Castle said with a nod before he turned to her. "And you?"

"You think I'm disgusted?" Beckett asked, facing him again.

"No just wondering what you think of it in general," Castle replied.

"What are you doing?" Beckett asked him with narrowed eyes. It hit her suddenly and she said, "Tonight?"

"No with Eliza," Castle told her. "And then later with Julia," he added as she looked like she was going to protest.

Since the others were walking to them then Beckett shook her head and said, "Sorry we were with Eliza earlier and this zoo is small," holding up the map to him.

"Alright," Castle said.

"What Daddy?" Julia asked, walking up to them then.

"Nothing," he replied simply. "So how are you enjoying it so far?"

"I like it a lot," Julia said as she took his hand. She smiled at Castle when he swung them back and forth together and told him, "I heard what you said and you don't have to go somewhere alone with me, you and Mommy."

"Well I just want to be fair," Castle told her honestly. "We were alone with your sister for a while."

"Because that helped her," Julia replied.

"Wow I think you'd make a great lawyer if you wanted to be one," Castle said.

"No thank you," Julia said.

"She'd prefer to be a dancer Rick," Beckett said, coming over to them. She took Julia's other hand and as the little girl squeezed them tightly she smiled over at her husband as they walked together to the next animal their family was looking at.

Crying out in pleasure as she went down the slide Eliza ran to her mother and threw her arms around her crying, "Wanna see the horsie Mommy!"

"We will now," Beckett said, checking to make sure that Julia was coming to them from going down the slide. She took her daughters by the hand and went over to where Castle was waiting at the stables. "Is it time?" she called as they neared.

"It is Eliza's first up," he replied with a smile as the toddler suddenly jumped up and down at that.

They were let into where the pony was and Beckett helped her youngest onto the animal, making sure she held the saddle in front of her. "Relax okay? He can tell if you're scared," she told her gently.

"I know Mommy," Eliza said.

A little startled when it sounded like her daughter's voice was exasperated Beckett shot a look over her shoulder at her husband when he snorted in suppressed laughter. She turned her attention back to Eliza as the attendant was walking with her on the pony and she smiled as she could tell that she was trying to mimic the way she herself rode. "Great job sweetie," she called as the toddler turned her head carefully to look at her.

Smiling when the rest of her family congratulated her too Eliza hugged her mother tightly around the neck once she was back in her arms. She then hurriedly turned and patted the pony's neck saying, "Thank you… gracias!" correcting herself.

"I can go now?" Julia asked eagerly as she watched Beckett handing her sister to Castle. She tried not to get too excited when her mother pulled her hand to lead her inside and she climbed up onto the back of the pony before she was led around by the worker.

"She's riding in a competition," Alexis commented, holding Eliza then and standing next to her father.

"Trust me when I say she's enjoying it," Castle replied.

"Of course she is," Martha said. When Julia and Beckett; after the ride was over; came back to them she told her granddaughter as they continued on, "I think I know what was your favorite part of today."

"The whole zoo is," Julia replied. "Oh but there's the church… and after we leave too probably."

"We'll need to see," Beckett said. "Look you two," she told her daughters as they were coming up to the next exhibit.

"Oh there they are!" Julia cried. "Lizzy, look the birds from the church!"

Eliza nodded as she could see them and said, "Big birdies."

"Very," Alexis said in agreement, kissing her cheek.

After watching the white birds long enough the family made their way to the entrance, stopping at the numerous animals on the way until they reached the last ones which were a kind of zebra.

As their family was looking at the animals, Castle asked his wife, "Do we have time to go?"

"No, we'll head to the Ramblas now," Beckett told him as she checked her watch. "Tomorrow we'll head to the beach; we can take our time and go swimming."

"No swimming?" Eliza asked as she went over to them.

"Sorry sweetie, tomorrow we'll go," Beckett said to her as she picked her up. "But we'll go have that snack now that your grandpapa was talking about."

"Aren't we going to walk down that street?" Julia asked, hurrying to her father and taking his hand as they walked to the gift shop.

"To get there we will," Beckett answered since the others were looking to her for that. "But only for a little right now."

"She's right," Castle said as he noticed Julia was looking at him. "You'll have tonight."

"I know but what about you and Mommy?" Julia protested.

"Don't worry," Castle assured her. "We'll see it again I'm sure."