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 receive the feedback for the last chapter so I'll go into my thank you for that! Mb (It was great to see you thought it was a fun day with them at Yosemite. Also that you enjoyed their activities for the 4th of July, seemed to be the right thing to do concerning where they were of course, lol. I wasn't surprised at your saying it was a big day too with Alexis feeling the twins moving for the first time. And I'm very happy to see you thought it was very sweet. Not surprised you love seeing them together, relaxed and enjoying their vacation, I definitely wanted to convey that they were! You're welcome for the first half of the of the chapter! I had to laugh at you saying it went from watching the fireworks on screen to them going back to the hotel and it going to a different kind of fireworks, I was wondering if you'd say something like that, lol. And I was glad with all the different couples you thought it was a perfect way for them end the night. You're welcome for sharing the second half of the chapter!).
Thanks for the review, I loved reading it and am grateful for the time taken to write it out and send it my way!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Sausalito Summernight written by Mark Boon and Rob Vunderink, from the Diesel album Watts in a Tank.
Get Across The Golden Gate
"Do we honestly need a map anymore?" Skye was asking the others.
"I'm still going to keep it," Castle told her.
Nodding Skye told her, "Good idea, it'll be something for the kids to have."
"Why would we need it?" Marie asked.
"You don't want to go off on your own?" Mary replied.
"I do," Jacob said rapidly.
"And you will, but after lunch," Lily told her son firmly.
"We forgot something though," Skye said. When the others looked at her, she turned to Stella and Alasdhair and said, "You lot mind the kids scarping off?"
"Bit thick Skye," Paul said jokingly, he and his family having managed to join them for that part of the group's trip for sure.
"I taught her that," Liam said before they were laughing.
Julia, smiling as they walked together to enter the San Francisco Zoo, wanted to remind them they hadn't answered the question before Reiley was touching her shoulder.
"They're fine with it," the girl said.
"Great, though I just realized we're going to be a huge group," Julia said.
"The more the merrier," Paul said.
"Would you want to come with us?" Julia asked him when they reached the railing looking at the African Savanah habitat.
"Depends," the singer answered.
"I don't mind," Reiley told him with a smile since he was looking at her. "But would you and Nancy really want to come with all of us kids?"
"Of course, it's what vacations are for," Paul replied.
"We're going to be a big group on our own once they go," Stella was saying to Beckett, Mary and Lily.
"We can separate too," the chef commented.
When she saw the designer was looking at Josie in her arms, Beckett smiled and told her, "I wouldn't worry, her grandparents will take her while she's napping."
"Again, we can separate," Lily said. She couldn't help the flush on her cheeks when the three other women looked at her and said, "I'm just saying."
"And it's what you want," Mary replied in amusement.
"Yes," Lily said slowly.
"What's going on?" Beckett asked her when the other two women had left them to go to their spouses.
"Nothing," Lily replied. She wasn't surprised at the expression on her friend's face and glanced at Josie before she spoke. Seeing the toddler was watching the animals inside the habitat she said, "Okay, we haven't been together since the fourth and four days is… too much."
"I would think the same," Beckett said, speaking hesitatingly.
"We've been exhausted," Lily said with a slight smile.
"I know what you mean," Beckett said. She couldn't help smiling at her friend's surprise and said, "Rick and I have been the same." She wasn't surprised when her friend nodded and suddenly left her, and she remained with Josie since her husband was walking up to them.
"Is Brad going to be okay? Lily looked like she was going to attack him," Castle said. When his wife smiled and explained what the chef had told her in Irish, he said, "That… would explain Brad's tension right now."
"And you'll leave him alone about it," Beckett said firmly before her husband was leaning slightly into her before he spoke.
"I would have shared my difficulties as well," Castle said, holding her gaze.
"Mama," Josie said, looking up at her parents.
Beckett had planned to respond to the toddler, but her husband leaning down to her and kissing her lightly prevented her. When he pulled away a little after he'd begun, she smiled and turned to their youngest saying, "What's wrong sweetie."
"Horsies," Josie said.
Watching his wife kissing the toddler's temple, Castle reached over and gently ran his hand over Josie's hair. "Good guess though I should tell you those are zebras," he then said, tearing his gaze from Beckett.
"Zees," Josie told him.
Looking over at Sophie, being held by Eve, Beckett smiled when the toddler suddenly babbled. "I think that's our cue to go in," she told her husband.
"Right, we have a lot to see," Castle said before they proceeded to the gatehouse.
"Do you want to walk now?" Beckett asked Josie. When the toddler nodded, she set her down and watched Josie make her way through everyone before she stopped at Stella.
"Is it alright?" the designer asked the toddler's parents with a smile since the toddler was holding her hand up to her.
"It is," Beckett said before she squeezed her husband's hand and walked ahead of them to Julia. Luckily they'd reached the lemur habitat and they were stopping which allowed her to get to the teen.
"I know Mom," Julia told her, turning to her. She couldn't help smiling briefly at her mother's surprise and told her, "I remembered."
"I'm glad you did," Beckett said. "Promise me you won't go by it."
"But… not everyone has seen it," Julia told her hesitatingly. She wasn't surprised when her mother was frowning and she told her, "I wouldn't go up to the door, we could just walk by it."
"By what?" Bailey asked in confusion.
"There's an earthquake shack from 1906," Mari said, standing with her friend.
Seeing Mari looking at her pointedly, Julia sighed and explained to the others who hadn't been there before what had happened when she'd touched the doorknob.
"Why are you going back at all?" Reiley asked in surprise.
"I just can't go up to it," Julia said, unable to help smiling at her tone.
"No, I wouldn't recommend it remember," Skye said, not surprised when Mary was wrapping her arms around her. "I suppose I'm up next," she said, sharing a look with her wife.
"They'll understand," the doctor said, kissing her cheek before her wife was explaining what had happened to her when she was younger.
"Scared me that's for sure," Liam said to the others when they looked startled. "But it's how she learned to handle what she can do."
"We'll just walk by," Stella said firmly.
"Right," Paul said with a nod. "Wouldn't want to risk you two… or the baby."
"Baby?" Sophie asked.
"I meant toddler," Paul said in amusement since the two were looking at all of them with wide eyes.
"And now we're leaving," Darnley said. When the kids were protesting, he urged them with, "Get your pictures before we waste the day here."
After she'd gotten her pictures, Beckett glanced to her side and saw Skye was there before she said, "What is it?"
"Just a question in general," the investigator said. She wasn't surprised the writer was looking at her in obvious confusion and told her, "How are you feeling? We are close."
"I'm trying not to think about it," Beckett said. They began walking to the other side of the trail; to look at that side of the Savanah habitat; and she told her, "There's something else."
"Alcatraz," Skye said firmly. She wasn't surprised when her friend was turning away and she said, "You know you don't need to go; you're not letting Josie go."
"No, but I want to be there for Julia and Eliza," Beckett said. Her friend started to speak, and she covered her mouth with her hand saying roughly, "I need to be there for them."
Gently removing her friend's hand Skye nodded and said, "I understand, if any of my girls had the abilities yours do…" She squeezed Beckett's hand gently and said, "And I'll be there too, added support of course."
"I hope you'll watch them," Beckett said, glancing to the side with Skye when the investigator's wife called to her. "Go," she said.
"You realize that felt frighteningly familiar, don't you?" Skye asked her, starting to let go of the writer's hand.
"Hold on, why frighteningly?" Beckett said.
"Just seeing what you thought," Skye told her in a rush.
"Go, Weisenheimer," Beckett said teasingly.
Nodding Skye left her and told Castle who was taking Josie to her mother, "Don't mention the twin thing."
"I'm aware we're that close already," Beckett called, teasingly again, after the investigator.
Smiling at his wife's tone, Castle said when she turned to him, "Josie wanted her mother."
"Are you having fun sweetie?" Beckett asked.
"Tiger Mama," Josie said. "I want tiger."
"A tig-" Castle started to say.
"Shh," Beckett told him, nudging him with her elbow. She then turned her attention to their youngest and said, "We'll see them, soon actually, but you have to let them stay in their home, okay?"
"Eh," Josie said seriously. She smiled when her mother kissed her and then giggled after her father did the same and she said, "Now Dada?"
"Oh no, I'm not speeding us up," Castle said, though by then they were walking with everyone else.
After they were in the tunnel under the African Savanah habitat Julia went to her big sister and touched her hand before she said, "They're moving," having a feeling that was the case and not asking her before her sister was replying with a laugh.
"One of them is," Alexis said. "You're not concerned though, which is really weird."
"No," Julia said, making a playful face at her sister. "I just was wondering if it was both the twins."
"And wondering about the names," Louis said. When his sister-in-law turned to him, he laughed and said, "Okay, maybe not, but I know you and your sister are still wondering."
"Erin isn't too?" Julia asked.
"She is, though she's stopped asking too," Louis said with a smile before he reached out to take his wife's hand.
Smiling at them, Julia hurried over to Mari who was walking by herself, "Sorry, just wanted to ask her about the twins."
"I had a feeling," the girl said. "And I noticed that she had her hand on her stomach too."
Nodding Julia saw they were approaching the gorillas and said, "I'll have to get used to that."
"She'll be showing soon," Jacob said, walking in front of them. When he glanced at the two and saw the way they were looking at him he said, "I do remember my mom being pregnant you know."
"We realized," Mari said, trying her best to stifle a giggle though it was difficult.
"And we should probably pay attention to the gorillas," Julia told them.
"I know I am," Jacob said before he was leaving them to stand with Miller and Bobby.
After they'd made their way around that section of the zoo, the group neared the shack where Skye was stopping everybody.
"Sorry, I just wanted to see if everyone… I mean Julia was feeling alright," the investigator said.
"I am," the teen said swiftly.
"What about me?" Eliza asked, stepping up to the investigator before she could say anything.
"Alright, how do you feel about heading near the shack?" Skye asked her.
Pursing her lips, Eliza looked towards the building they could just see, and she said, "I think it's okay, just don't go up to it."
"My thoughts exactly," Skye said though she was looking at the girls' parents. When Beckett was nodding back to her, she said, "I feel like I should lead you all."
"I think you have to," Liam told her.
"I'll be alright Da," Skye assured him before they were starting to walk again.
"People lived in here?" Bobby asked in surprise when they were closer and could see the dimensions of it.
"It was temporary," Castle said.
"Better than living out in a field," Mary said.
"We did have a tent," Skye said, squeezing her wife's hand.
"And then a great house," Alasdhair commented.
"We were lucky our dad was well connected," Skye said, smiling at Jim.
"I had a large family to care for," Beckett's father said, smiling slightly himself before Castle was speaking rapidly.
"Including one you didn't need to," he told his father-in-law.
"Yeah, that wasn't going to happen," Beckett said. When her husband turned to her, she smirked a little at him and said, "We were too attached by the time we got our home."
"Especially your mother," Jim said.
"Have you remembered more now?" Paul asked him.
"We both have," Martha said. She then looked at the shack and asked, "Could we continue?"
"I agree," Mary said, squeezing her wife's hand again before the others were agreeing and leaving down the path. "Are you okay?" she murmured to her.
"I might need to sit for a moment," Skye answered, not surprised when her wife was calling to their friends and family before she directed her to a bench. "Keep going," she told the others swiftly when she noticed they were beginning to gather around her. "I just need a moment and we'll run after you."
"Ivy-" Mary started to say when she noticed the little girl had remained behind.
"It's alright," Skye said, gently interrupting her wife and reaching for their second youngest. "And I said that to you as well darling."
"I just wanted to make sure you were okay," Ivy replied. She hugged her mother when she was doing the same to her and after they were loosening their arms around each other she added, "I thought everything was going to be okay?"
"It was," Skye said firmly. "But Julia and Eliza were blocking; their grandmothers were helping them so that left me to handle what was here. I got it but I still am a little weak."
"But it's not negative," Mary said, though her statement was meant to be a question. When her wife shook her head she told her, "At least there's that."
"And I feel much stronger," Skye said, intending to stand before her wife and their daughter were speaking at the same time.
"Not yet!" Mary and Ivy were saying.
"Easy you two," Skye said, smiling at their tones. She kissed Ivy's cheek and then turned to her wife, pulling her to her and kissing her tenderly on the lips. "I'm alright," she murmured when they parted shortly after.
"You're sure," Mary said.
"Mmm-hmm," Skye replied. She kissed her again before standing, Mary joining her, before she said, "Now we can go."
"Do you mind if we walk with you?" the doctor asked.
"No," Skye replied. "I expected you to anyway." When her wife took her hand, she reached for their second youngest and after wrapping her arm around her shoulders they began to make their way to the river otter habitat to rejoin everyone else.
"Do you think it's weird the adults haven't said where we're going after this," Reiley asked the others at the table she was sitting at.
"No, that's my dad," Julia commented.
"It might be our mum too," Marie said.
Nodding rapidly in agreement with her twin, Kathleen said, "She's right, Mum loves it here," not surprised when Miller was questioning them about their mom.
"What about your mom?" he asked. "She doesn't like it either?"
"She does, they both do," Marie answered, her twins nodding in agreement again. "But she likes making the surprises."
"And there is Julia's dad," Mari reminded them.
"True," the twins said before they were laughing together.
"I kind of have an idea of where we're going," Julia said after they had taken bites of their Impossible burgers. She couldn't help laughing when the others were literally clamoring for her to tell them and she said, "Fisherman's… oh…"
"Fisherman's Wharf?" Miller supplied when the teen trailed off and put her hand to her mouth. "Grandude told us about it."
"And we won't mind… too much," Reiley added.
"You're going to get that bread bowl, aren't you?" Bailey asked.
"With soup, most likely," Julia said with a smile. "They have veggie soups… your grandpa told you about that didn't he?" she asked them, a little startled when they were laughing a little. "I mean your grandude."
"Sorry, we're used to calling him that," Bailey explained.
"That's okay," Julia replied, smiling. She then looked at her burger and said, "But there's more to it… did he tell you?"
Laughing with his siblings when the six other kids turned to them at the same time, Bobby said, "No, he just told us what he ate since Aunt Mary was wondering."
"Our mum was too," Reiley added.
"There's a lot," Marie said.
"Isn't that where we'll see Alcatraz we're going to?" Bailey asked. She was a little surprised when the six looked at each other and she inquired, "Have I said something wrong?"
"No," Julia said. They had to get up to leave their tables that were together since they'd finished lunch by then and she had to wait to continue. Once she and the other older kids were on their own, she quickly relayed to the four Willis kids what had happened to her parents when she had been five.
"That's…" Miller started to say before he trailed off.
"A bit cool but terrifying," Bobby supplied.
"It would be," Julia said with a nod. She was going to add that the island did give off slightly creepy vibes but was turning to Mari when her friend was gently squeezing her hand. She smiled back at her before they were coming to the train and she said, "Wait, we're going on this?"
"You wouldn't want to?" Bobby asked her.
Laughing Julia turned to Miller and asked, "What do you think?"
"I'm fine with going," the young man said. "You two are?"
"Yeah, you can see some animals," Eve commented.
"A little," Mari said before they were laughing and walking together to the line for the short ride.
At the same time Castle and Beckett were at the kangaroo habitat, watching the animals before the former was commenting on the peacocks inside.
"Would you like a feather?" Castle asked his wife.
"Would you want to get arrested?" Beckett asked him teasingly in return.
"For you?" Castle responded simply. He smiled when she laughed and he couldn't help himself, leaning into her and kissing her lightly before he pulled away. Watching her taking a picture he looked out at the kangaroos and realized one had stood up.
"Don't," Beckett told her husband in a rush.
"But…" Castle started to say since the animal had started scratching himself. He looked from her back to it and said, "Hey, not in front of my wife!"
"Rick," Beckett said laughingly when her husband was holding up his arms as if he would start boxing. She made him put his arms down before the kangaroo hopped towards them.
"Oh, just kidding!" Castle called, pretending to hide behind his wife.
Laughing outright Beckett told him, "Come on love, before we get thrown out of the zoo."
"Alright, alright," Castle said, pretending to complain though he walked with her down the path they were on. He watched her looking at her camera screen and was about to ask her where she wanted to go after they finished with the Outback section when he had to stop her before she could go off the path. "You're supposed to watch where you go," he said when she glanced up at him.
"Maybe we should stop," Beckett replied, smiling so he wouldn't think she hadn't liked his comment. She was startled when he looked at her seriously for a moment before grabbing her and pulling her to the nearest bench. When they were sitting, she smiled at him wrapping his arm around her and she told him, "You're a little transparent."
"And yet sometimes you tell me I'm not going to be predictable," Castle said. He nearly jumped at her wrapping her arms around him before she was pulling him down to her and kissing him as soon as their lips were close. Once they'd parted shortly after he said, "But you don't mind I am transparent."
"Not for this," Beckett said before he was leaning down to her and kissing her. She took that kiss eagerly until their tongues were tangling around each other a little roughly before they were slowly pulling apart. "Rick… you realize tonight we're going to have to."
"Of course," Castle said. When she looked at him in obvious surprise he said, "You don't think I've been… thinking of that too?" making a brief face at his repetitiveness. He then gazed into her eyes again and said, "And there are those four days."
Nodding Beckett said, "We should keep walking," standing up. She smiled when her husband literally shot up and she told him, "What?"
Resisting the urge to kiss his wife at the laughter in her voice, Castle said, "Do we need to?"
"Yes, we're going to get thrown out for grossing out the kids," Beckett told him, smiling again.
"And the others aren't doing the same thing?" Castle replied. He was surprised when she was cupping his face with her hands, not having noticed she'd put away her camera, but shook himself before he took her hands off him. Leaning into her he was pleased when she was responding to him very shortly after they'd begun. Though they weren't involved in that kiss for long, he was thrilled when she didn't have any protest to him pressing his forehead to hers. "You're beautiful love," he murmured.
"You're supposed to tell me that when we're in our room," Beckett teased him. When he nodded, she was laughing before he was embracing her tightly and she hurried to respond before they were letting each other go. Holding hands, they walked together down the path, and she said, "I know you're wondering," not surprised he was responding rapidly.
"To be honest I am," Castle told her seriously. When she moved to entwine their fingers, he gently squeezed at her before he asked, "You just wanted to walk like this?"
"I did," Beckett said firmly. She watched her husband raise her hand to kiss the back of it and she told him, "We're going to need tonight."
"Not just me?" Castle asked her in amusement.
"No," Beckett said firmly. When he raised and lowered his brows she smiled and shook her head before they were continuing and she told him, "We don't have that much time."
"I see them," Castle said as they were approaching the older kids at the koalas.
"Disappointed?" Beckett asked him, looking at him out of the corner of her eye.
"No," Castle replied firmly.
"Good, because you need to let go of me," Beckett teased him.
"Not unless you let go of me first," Castle said.
"Same time?" Beckett asked him.
"Before our daughter sees," Castle said. He smiled when she was laughing, and they let go of one another at the same time before they made their way to the group walking ahead of them and talking happily together.
"I can't wait," Reiley told Julia, Mari and Kathleen.
"Me too," Marie said, walking up to them. "Even though we've been on these before."
"Do you like the hotel?" Julia asked.
Smiling Reiley said, "It's the same room you and your sister stayed in, isn't it?"
"And our gram," Julia replied.
"Yeah, it's a great room," Reiley said with a nod. "The view is good."
Nodding, Julia turned when she heard Brad calling them to the trolley and they hurried to get on it. She was startled when she ended up on the back platform with Reiley and said, "I thought your sister or one of your brothers would be here."
"I guess they wanted to sit in the front," Reiley replied, looking over at it through the middle of the car.
"You have to stand here," Julia told her when she realized the car was about to start moving. After they were beginning, she said, "It'll get windy."
"You warned us," Reiley said with a smile.
"And don't do that!" Julia said, grabbing the girl before she could look past the car.
"Sorry, I couldn't help it," Reiley said before they were passing by the Westin St. Francis. She looked to the other side of the platform and saw they were at Union Square, and she said, "I hope we can walk there."
"We'll have to tell our parents," Julia said, nodding. She wasn't surprised Reiley was soon after holding onto the railing while they were going up and down the hills. When they had finally reached the end of the line she said, "Fun?"
"Definitely," Reiley replied. "Are we going off first?"
"Yeah, but we have to stay by the stairs," Julia said, taking her hand before they were walking down the steps and staying by the platform. "Sorry you couldn't go on the back."
"You could when we go back to the hotel," Reiley said.
"Your siblings should," Julia said before she saw her parents were walking over with her little sisters. "Are-" she started to say before her mother was interrupting her.
"We'll see where they want to go first," Beckett said gently.
"Sure," Julia said, nodding rapidly.
"I think we're all off the car now," Skye said a few minutes later, looking back at it. "Are we ready to go?"
"We kind of have to," Rebecca commented in amusement.
"Okay, then let's get across the street," Skye said swiftly.
Once they'd managed to do so Stella asked, "What're you planning on doing?"
"Asking you guys where you want to go," Skye said.
"How can we… Dad?" Stella started to say before she looked over at her father.
Shaking his head Paul then looked at his wife who gave him a brief look before she was squeezing his arm and then said, "We prefer letting the four of you decide."
"Wait-" Castle said.
"We're not as familiar with this place as you guys are," Darnley said.
"He's right, we're happy just to follow," Nkosi added.
Watching her parents talking with Skye and Mari, Eliza looked at her grandmother and asked, "Where do you think we're going?"
"I don't know," Martha said, squeezing her shoulder. She then called to her son and daughter in law, "Did you decide?"
"We did, luckily we have a lot of time," Castle said first.
"We're heading this way," Skye told everyone before they started to walk.
"I hope we go to the arcade," Mari whispered to her friend.
"Yeah," Julia said with a nod. "I bet we will after dinner," she added before she was looking around at the others by them.
"Oh look, the sign," Reiley said excitedly when they got to the intersection.
"That's what's first?" Alasdhair said.
"Inevitably," Mary replied as she was smiling.
"Yeah, since we were on this street, we didn't have much choice," Skye said, smiling herself. She then said, "But that's where dinner is."
"I remember the name from Dad," Stella said. "And your pictures," she told her father and stepmother.
"We had a picture night," Nancy said.
"Instead of movie night," Paul commented. "With all the kids and grandkiddies," he added, smiling when his grandchildren were groaning.
After waiting for the others to take pictures, Beckett walked with Castle down Jefferson before she realized something. "No one wants to head inside the shops?" she asked.
"Dad said Pier 39 was a nice place to walk," Stella answered, walking in front of the writers.
"It is," Beckett said.
"He mentioned a square," Alasdhair commented.
"That's later," Castle replied quickly before they were laughing and then pausing to cross the street.
Going to the sea lion statue, Julia smiled at the Willis family moving to take a picture together in front of it. When Paul and Nancy were called over, she then went to her mother and said, "Are we taking one?"
"I'd like to," Beckett said, not surprised when Alexis was getting her attention before she was responding to her unasked question.
"I don't mind, but didn't we do this already?" the young woman asked.
"You're thinking of the family one," Castle said.
"We'll take another," Alexis said, taking Josie from their father. "And you can tell the twins how you took it only about a year after the last one."
"We're tracking Josie's growth," Castle told her. He wasn't surprised when his oldest rolled her eyes before turning her attention to her little sisters. He went to his wife, standing just behind her and helping her make sure Josie looked at the camera. "Nice shot," he told her.
Nodding Beckett said, "Are we tracking our growth?"
"No," Castle said firmly. He wasn't surprised when his wife was smirking at him, and he had to turn his attention to their daughters when the four walked up to them. "Great job with that picture," he told Josie taking her.
"Tiger Dada," the toddler said.
Laughing, Castle kissed her temple and told her, "Not here, but we're going right now."
"So I'm guessing we're seeing some…" Bobby started to say before he trailed off.
"Sea lions, and nice spoiler," Marie told him jokingly.
"I think you can guess," Bobby replied.
"They seem to be loud," Bailey commented when they were on the pier and walking closer to the animals.
"They're all boys," Julia explained.
"All the time?" Bailey asked.
"Yeah… I mean they do leave to…" Julia said before she was trailing off and looking around.
"Meet the girls?" Miller asked, smiling when the teen laughed briefly.
"Yeah, that sounds weird but you're right, they go to the coast," Julia explained. "And here we are," she added, relieved she didn't have to go any further with that.
"There's more this time," Mari said to her friend.
"Looks like it," Julia said. She was a little startled when her friend laughed and she told her, "Don't make fun of me," before she was breathing out roughly at her sudden hug. "What's that for?" she asked, looking at her.
"You're crazy, I wouldn't make fun of you taking pictures," Mari said. "I do like them."
Julia smiled and said, "Thanks."
Hearing her mother calling her, Mari squeezed her friend's arm and rushed to her family before saying, "I hope you'll let me go back with them."
"Don't worry," Rebecca said. "I just wanted to make sure you weren't feeling chilly."
"Not really," Mari said. She was about to go back to her friends when her father was gently grabbing her.
"Mind if we take a picture together?" David asked her.
"No, you should have just said," Mari replied, slightly exasperated.
Turning from her friend, Julia saw Bobby was leaning against the railing next to her and said, "What're you doing?"
"Wondering," the teen said before he glanced at her, startled when she was suddenly sucking in a breath of air.
"I've noticed," Julia said hesitatingly before he was responding in obvious disappointment.
"Then you wouldn't be interested in one dinner? Just to see?" Bobby asked.
Julia glanced out at the view in front of them for a moment, not wanting to make him annoyed and lose his friendship. She shook herself and turned to him telling him, "I really think we'd be better off as friends. You're really nice and it would be horrible if we ended up not liking each other."
"True," Bobby said. "I told my sisters I was going to ask you about this, and they mentioned the fact we're about a six hours flight away from each other."
"That too," Julia said seriously, nodding. "So just friends, okay?"
"Yeah," Bobby replied. "Selfie?" He smiled when she burst out laughing and he said, "Too weird?"
"No, I'm glad you want to do that," Julia said. "Let's try and get the others." When he nodded in response, she was relieved before they were calling his siblings and the other older kids for the picture.
"She handled that nicely," Skye murmured to Beckett, standing with the writer.
"She's had to," she replied. When the investigator looked at her, Beckett said, "Yes, I had to too."
"And did you answer them the same way?" Castle asked, walking up to them.
"Josie?" Beckett replied immediately. She wasn't surprised when her husband nodded down the railing and she saw their youngest was with her father. She smiled and then shook herself saying, "I only said yes to the second guy who said that to me," speaking firmly while she looked into her husband's eyes.
"How did that turn out?" Castle asked.
"Terrible, he tried to feel me up," Beckett said. She placed her hand on her husband's chest when he shifted slightly and said, "That was the only date."
"I had a feeling," Castle said.
"I'm not looking at you," Skye said in mock annoyance.
"Then how-" Castle started to say.
"I got some, but I'll remind you I was fairly… Alright I was a loner basically," Skye said, trailing off and then speaking in mock annoyance. "But seriously, I was considered a nerd, so it wasn't that common an occurrence."
"She's serious," Mary said in amusement. "And I really don't care, they were mostly boys, so she wasn't going anywhere."
Rolling her eyes at her wife's tone towards the end, Skye said, "They were. Now please let's keep going." She looked at the others in their group and said, "Or maybe just change the subject."
Beckett was about to speak when she heard Josie crying out and turned to her father, walking to him swiftly. "What happened?" she asked, taking the toddler when Josie was reaching for her and crying.
"She wanted to see them," Jim explained.
Nodding, Beckett said, "We'll head to the end of the pier," before she was walking to her husband who spoke to their youngest once she was close.
"Why are you trying to climb over the railing ceann beag?" Castle asked her.
"I wanna pet," Josie said tearfully.
Getting a handkerchief, Castle gently dried her cheeks before he said, "I'd love to myself, but you know they need to be by themselves."
"No," Josie said.
"Yeah, I hate to tell you but…" Castle said. He then looked at his wife when Josie pressed her face against her shoulder. "Wrong tactic?"
"I think she won't want to take no for an answer," Beckett said before she motioned him to her. When he leaned over slightly, she murmured to him swiftly before he was nodding and hurrying to the others. She turned her attention to Josie and gently rubbed her back until her husband was rejoining her.
"They said they'll meet us there," Castle told her. He then saw his wife was looking out to the water and said, "Are you sure-"
"I am," Beckett replied, turning her gaze to him from Alcatraz. "Let's go."
Though he wanted to question her fully, Castle merely nodded before they walked around the end of the pier and up to the carousel. "You know," he said, speaking to his wife though he was really talking to their youngest. "It's not every day you get to go on two different carousels."
Glancing down at Josie, though she couldn't see the toddler, Beckett could feel her turning her head and she smiled before she told him, "That's true."
"Are you going to ride a horse this time?" Castle asked her,
"Horsie?" Josie asked, raising her head fully. She then saw what was in front of them and gasped squealing, "Horsies!"
"Quick turnaround," Castle commented in amusement while Beckett was pressing her face to the top of Josie's head. "I'm not surprised, her McCollough blood of course."
Rolling her eyes Beckett said, "At least she's alright now."
"And we'll be able to go," Castle said, having looked to the side of the pier and seeing Julia and Eliza were hurrying up to them. "She's-" he was able to say before the latter was calling out in concern.
"Is Josa okay?" Eliza asked.
"She is," Beckett was able to say.
"Horsies!" Josie told her sisters when they'd reached them.
"Yeah, you're going to go on one?" Julia asked her.
"Eh," Josie said, snuggling against their mother.
"Are you okay Mom?" Julia asked after her father had taken Eliza to walk back to everyone else.
"I am," Beckett said, not surprised her daughter had picked up on that. "You?" she asked.
"Yeah… I looked over at it, but I tried not to do that for too long," Julia said. "Are you still going to go?"
"As of right now, yes," Beckett said.
"Stay with Dad," Julia said firmly.
"I was planning to," Beckett said with a nod. "But you?"
"Oh, I know already, stay with Mari and all the other kids," Julia told her. "Grandmama suggested it."
"And your mamó?" Beckett asked in surprise.
"She demanded it," Julia replied, smiling when her mother laughed. She watched Josie hugging her around the neck tightly, kissing her cheek noisily. "So I will," she then assured their mother.
"I'm very glad to hear that," Beckett said a little absently. "Josie," she said laughingly when the toddler began bouncing.
"Wanna see horsies Mama!" Josie cried.
Turning to see the carousel had stopped again, Beckett told her, "We'll go soon, but you want the others to go too, don't you?"
Looking at the end of the pier, Julia saw the group was making their way to them and told her mother. "I can go up to the second level, right?" she asked.
"Yes," Beckett said before she was setting Josie down at the toddler's insistence. "Stay with us sweetie," she told her.
"I think she wants to go with someone," Julia commented.
"She can once they're here," Beckett said firmly before her husband was reaching them.
"She's better now?" Castle asked in amusement when Josie threw herself at his leg.
"Yes, but I'm worried she's going to want to head to the carousel now," Beckett replied, watching him picking their youngest up and swinging her legs out.
"I'm not surprised," Castle said. "And everyone's in agreement about stopping here."
"And going on?" Beckett asked him.
"Not everyone, but Paul's insisting it's his and Nancy's treat," Castle said.
As soon as she heard that, Julia hurried to the singer's wife who'd stayed behind while her husband was getting the tickets for them. "Thanks for this," she said.
"You're welcome," Nancy said with a smile. "Paul's as crazy about horses as you all are."
"Are you going too?" Mari asked, stepping up behind her friend.
"We will," Nancy said. "Though we might go on the round seat."
"Is it awkward?" Julia said.
"A little, plus there are a lot of other kids," Paul said, walking up to them. "And here," he said, giving a ticket to Julia and Mari.
"Thanks," the two girls said before they were hurrying together to the line with the other kids since they had their tickets.
After they were on the carousel, Castle looked off it and said, "I'm surprised."
"I don't know if going around in a circle is something she wants right now," Beckett said with a smile, aware her husband was referencing their oldest.
"Good point," Castle said before he turned to Josie when he felt her moving. "What're you doing Josie?" he asked her.
"Move Dada, go!" Josie cried eagerly.
"Wait a second sweetie," Beckett told her with a smile before she heard Darnley behind speaking behind her.
"She's right though, it is taking a long time," the carpenter said with a smile.
"Why are you on a horse?" Castle asked.
"Why not?" Darnley shot back before he was smiling at Keo who was to his right since the carousel had begun moving.
Watching Josie to make sure she would be alright; Castle felt his wife's hand on the back of his head, and he smiled at her before they were looking at their youngest. "I don't think he can go any faster," he told the toddler.
"No Dada," Josie laughed, kicking her legs.
"Good thing you're there," Beckett said in amusement.
"I'm going to owe you, aren't I?" Castle asked her.
"I think so," Beckett replied since he'd managed to get her to agree to going on a horse. She looked at Josie and said, "What're we going to do when this stops?"
"Leave that to me," Castle replied. He then frowned slightly and said, "Did that-"
"Sound weird? Yes," Beckett said with a smile. It wasn't long before the carousel was slowing down, and she watched Josie who was grabbing for her father.
"I want more," the toddler said.
"Me too, but we have to be fair," Castle said, waiting for the ride to stop fully before he helped her off the horse. He wasn't surprised when she slumped while he was doing that and said, "Eliza."
"What?" the little girl asked in surprise, walking by from the seal she'd been on.
"Why did you teach her this?" Castle asked, holding Josie in front of her.
Laughing, since her baby sister was laughing while her limbs were limp, Eliza said, "It's helpful."
"And who taught you that word?" Castle asked her in mock annoyance.
"Go to the exit Rick, people are waiting," Beckett told her husband. When they were off the ride, she watched her husband move Josie to his shoulders and she touched her leg saying, "Are you going to behave?"
"Eh," Josie said, leaning over to the side of her father's head.
"Wait," Castle said in surprise. He had to grab the toddler before she could fall over and said, "Let's wait until I set you down."
"Are we continuing?" Stella asked.
"We are," Mary commented before they were walking down the pier.
"This is what I mentioned to you," Paul told his daughter when they eventually reached the souvenir shop.
"I see that," Stella said.
"Should we keep going?" Beckett asked, watching her.
"Let the kids have a look," Stella replied.
"What happens if they want a shirt or something?" Skye asked.
"Depends on the shirt," Alasdhair said.
"This one doesn't have the gratuitous shirts," Skye told the pair.
"You're sure?" Stella said.
"Very, we've stuck with this shop when we're here," Mary said with a nod. "We try to avoid that kind of merchandise."
"Gauche," Skye said, not surprised the designer and her husband were nodding in agreement.
"They have ornaments inside," Castle said. When everyone was looking at him, he said swiftly, "Not gauche but I'm just saying they can be a little cutesy," not surprised his wife was speaking to the pair from England swiftly.
"We've allowed Julia and Eliza to get an ornament here," Beckett was saying. "We had to convince Eliza not to get some very glittery ones."
"Ours won't," Alasdhair said with a smile. "Miller and Beckett won't want that… though do you think Reiley will?"
"I don't think so," Stella replied, smiling herself. She then said, "Probably not if the other kids are with her."
"You think they'd stop her from getting something like that?" Skye asked in surprise.
"No, they'd give her advice," Stella answered.
"Okay," Skye said slowly. She laughed when her wife lightly slapped her arm with the back of her hand and said, "Sorry, I was watching the kids in there."
"You know what? I think we should go see what they're looking at," Stella told her husband.
After the couple had walked into the store Beckett said to Skye, "What're you planning on next?"
"Why am I planning?" the investigator asked. Seeing the way the writers were looking at her, Skye scoffed and said to Castle, "You always do that."
"You've been here longer than we have," he replied.
Giving off a sigh of mock annoyance, Skye said, "Alright, but we're not taking them to the Musée yet," looking at her watch. "Think it's too soon for dinner?"
Looking at the time on his own watch Castle said, "I don't think so. But you might want to ask the people here who're from Europe."
"I think they've been keeping our hours," Beckett told her husband.
"True," Castle said thoughtfully for a moment. "And I'm wondering if they won't mind a five o'clock dinner."
"Might help if you just ask us Europeans," Paul said, walking up to them.
"And the American who lives in Europe," Mary said to Nancy who was behind her husband.
Laughing, Nancy said, "What do you need to ask us about?"
"Would you mind having dinner after this store… I'm assuming it'll be after this store," Skye told them. "There isn't much after it remember."
"No, nothing that Stel or Alasdhair would want to look at," Paul said in agreement.
"Don't you need to eat around now? The youngest?" Nancy asked them.
"So is that a yes?" Skye asked.
"It is for me," Paul said, looking at his wife who was nodding shortly after.
"We'll ask the others once we get them out of the store," Castle said, not surprised when Skye and Mary were groaning, and his wife leaned into him while they watched the others inside the store.
