Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured on the show Castle, they belong to the creator of the show, ABC and the others who do own them.
A/N #1: The lyrics in this chapter are from the song The Kiss of Venus written by Paul McCartney, from his album McCartney III.
A/N #2: I was pleased to get the feedback I did for the last chapter so I'll get started on my thank yous for that! TORONTOSUN (I was really glad that you always like how I write other characters in the stories since I enjoy doing that! And it was great to see you thought it was very nice too!) and
Mb (I was really happy to see you thought the chapter was wonderfully written first off. I wasn't surprised you thought it was nice seeing May and her family along with their home. And again, I'm jealous of fictional characters too since the house I based it off on Zillow is amazing too. So I was glad you thought the house and rooms and the area too were beautiful in their descriptions since I really wanted to convey how great it was. I'm really glad you're looking forward to what they're going to be getting up to. And I'm not surprised you're curious as to how Alcatraz will go after what happened to Castle and Beckett there, you'll definitely see! So pleased you thought it was wonderfully written. And you're welcome for the first half of the chapter! And I did see that Paul and Nancy adopted a rescue dog, very cute and something I wasn't surprised Paul would do since that's how he is! It was great to read you thought the second half of the chapter was a great update filling in the backstory along with setting up what's coming up too. And I wasn't surprised actually you thought it was nice to see Beckett and May reconnecting along with a break in the rush since doing that would definitely help on such a long vacation! And I did want them to just be themselves for a bit so doing stuff like this on a vacation is fun to write, lol. Also wasn't surprised you had to laugh at Castle and Beckett alone in their room. To be honest at first they were just going to go to sleep but it didn't feel right for the moment so yeah, lol, they found a loophole to find a way to be together in the end! You're welcome for sharing the second half of the chapter!).
Thanks for the reviews, I loved reading them and appreciated the time taken to write them out and send them my way!
A/N #3: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Alcatraz written by Leon Russell, from his album Leon Russell and the Shelter People.
Back Home In Alcatraz
"Wave goodbye to them kiddo," Martha was saying to Josie.
"You can too," Jim said to Sophie since they were each holding a toddler.
After she had waved to a boat in the water, Josie turned to her grandmother and asked, "Where is Mama?"
"She's on the boat," Martha told her. "But don't worry, they'll go around the island and then be back in time for lunch."
"Lunch?" Sophie asked.
"Not yet, we had breakfast not too long ago," Jim told her with a smile. He then said to Castle's mother, "Are you ready?"
"I am, I hope they are," Martha replied though she was going over to the strollers behind them. After buckling Josie into hers she said, "Are we agreed on our plans?"
"We are," Jim said with a quick nod while he was making sure Sophie was alright.
"I wanna go," the toddler said.
"We are right now," Martha told both girls with a smile while Josie was squealing. She and Beckett's father pushed the strollers away from the end of Pier 39, having waited to see off the ferry ship to Alcatraz though they hadn't been sure if they'd seen their family on the deck of the ship. They made their way down the side of the pier, not surprised when the toddlers were squealing as soon as they could hear the sea lions.
Getting Sophie back out Jim told her, "I'll need to hold you again, okay?"
"Wanna see puppies," she replied.
"Right now," Jim said, unable to help smiling at her demand. He turned to the sea lions and stood with Martha and Josie, watching the animals for some time before he was looking at his watch.
"How long has that been?" Martha asked.
"Nearly a half hour," Jim said, showing her the time.
"Hmm… I wonder if we'll have a pair of tantrums right now," Martha replied.
"You realize we have an advantage," Jim said.
"Very true… how many times do you want to ride?" Martha asked.
"Twice at least," Jim replied, not surprised to feel Josie tugging his sleeve after she had leaned over in her grandmother's arms.
"What do ride," Josie asked.
"The carousel," Jim told her simply, smiling when she and Sophie were immediately gasping in joy.
"If you two want to go of course," Martha said, not surprised they were both saying yes though Josie was telling them eh instead. "Then we'll go right now."
"Bye-bye puppies," Sophie said, waving to the sea lions.
"Bye," Josie said immediately after. When they were walking away, she said to her grandfather, "Horsies Grandpapa?"
"Do you want me to go with you?" Jim asked with a smile, laughing softly when the toddler was nodding.
"It's alright, you shared horses with Kate," Martha said at the look from the former lawyer. She then said, "I hope you won't mind Sophie."
"No," the toddler replied before she giggled.
"I'll be right back," Jim said, setting Sophie down when they were at the carousel.
Moving quickly to take the toddler's hand, Martha told Beckett's father, "I have her, and the carousel is moving already," since the two were staring at the ride that was going around at that moment. She stood with both girls, not surprised they were jumping up and down when the ride slowed down. "Take it easy you two," she told them, slightly scolding though she was smiling at the same time. "Oh, we're going to go very soon, here comes Jim," she said, glancing to check and see where he was.
"I asked, we can stay on the ride for the second one," Jim said before they were parking the strollers and making their way over to the line. He had Josie's hand and they were able to go right onto the ride before he told her, "Pick which one you want to go on honey."
"Puppy," Josie said.
"I want puppy," Sophie said with a frown.
"Now girls," Martha said before Josie could respond to that. "There's a perfectly good horse next to the seal and you can take turns."
"Your parents would want you to," Jim added, not surprised when the two were nodding. "Should the youngest go first?" he murmured.
"I was going to suggest, you'll have to take care of her though," Martha said, nodding to their youngest granddaughter.
"I will," Jim replied before he turned to Josie. "You wanted to go on a horse, right?"
"Eh," Josie replied before she was squealing when he picked her up. After he had wrapped the strap around her, she bounced the best she could crying, "My horsie Sophie!"
"I have puppy," the toddler responded.
"Horsie," Josie said before she was giggling.
"At least that was easy," Martha told him, standing with him in between the two girls. When the carousel began to go around, she said, "You think they'll enjoy the walk we'll take?"
"I was thinking of that," Jim said. "And there are points where we can look at the water."
Glancing at him for a moment, Martha said, "Do you have a plan?"
"I do, but I don't know if it will work," Jim told her honestly. "I hope you'll help me if I need it."
"I will," Martha replied. After the first ride ended, she moved to switch Sophie to the horse and made sure the toddler was alright with another ride.
"More horsies Grandpapa," Josie told her father when the carousel was slowing down again.
"I don't think we have the time," Jim told her. "But you want to go see the other ships, right?"
"Eh," Josie said.
"Ships?" Sophie asked.
"Just until everyone comes back," Martha added.
"Eh," Josie said again.
"Okay, then let's go and see the ships," Jim said while he got Josie off her seal and carried her to her stroller. After he and Martha had the girls set, they were making their way down the pier before they got off of it and began walking south past the piers. At each space between the buildings where they could, they were watching the water and seeing ships every once in a while. When they had reached the Ferry building where they were going to stop for lunch; the parents having decided not to eat at the mall's food court for dinner; he said, "I need a rest."
"So do I," Martha said with a nod. "And I thought the pauses would help." She wasn't surprised when he was nodding himself in agreement before she said, "There are benches on the other side."
"And they'll call us when they're here," Jim replied before he led the way to the back of the building where there were benches.
"Gram, I want walking," Josie told her when her grandparents were sitting with her and Sophie in their strollers to their right.
"We need just a little time to rest after that walk kiddo," Martha said. "And then we'll let you two step out," she added though she wasn't surprised when both girls began to rock back and forth, Beckett's father speaking swiftly to her.
"I think we're going to have to let them out," Jim said though he was frowning at the same time.
"They can sit on the bench with us," Martha said, looking at the pair since they had turned the strollers around to them. "Like young ladies."
"I can Gram," Josie said while she nodded before she watched Sophie when she noticed her friend was nodding.
"Me too," Sophie said before they were let out of their strollers. She held onto the edge of hers once she was on the ground before she screamed when a ferry boat honked its horn.
"It's alright," Martha said, grabbing her and pulling her onto her lap to comfort her.
"No cry," Josie said, going over and patting her leg.
"She's right," Jim said. "The ship is just telling everyone she's leaving, look."
Raising her head, Sophie turned and saw the ship had pulled away and she said, "A girl?"
"Exactly, that's what you call a ship," Martha said, gently caressing the toddler's hair. When Sophie looked up at her she said with a smile, "All better?" After the toddler nodded, she helped her down and told her, "Stay with us."
"Josie," Jim said, seeing the toddler looking intently at the railing.
"No," Josie said, turning to him.
Laughing Jim said to Castle's mother, "I'm wondering if we shouldn't go inside."
"I was thinking the same. I was planning to try and get us to shop but they'll want to go to Chinatown," Martha replied.
"Then we should go," Jim said, not surprised when she was nodding. He turned his attention to the girls and got their attention before he said, "Would you two like to go inside and get some samples?"
"Jim-" Martha began to say.
"Nothing sweet, I remember what Katie told us," Jim reassured her quickly. "Do you want to go inside?"
"Eh," Josie said, Sophie nodding with her.
After they'd gotten up, Jim and Martha went around to the end of the building so they could start there, coming to a place with samples of grilled vegetables.
"Perfect, Richard and Kate can't protest that," Martha said while Jim was getting two cups with them.
"What do you want girls?" Beckett's father asked.
"Car," Sophie said.
"Car too Grandpapa," Josie told him in a rush.
"Here," Martha said, getting them for the toddlers.
"Do you want any?" Jim asked.
"I'll take some carrots as well," Martha replied. After they'd finished the pieces of vegetables she said, "The ceramic store is here."
"We can go there first," Jim said before they were taking the girls by their hands and heading to the store. After Martha had bought a piece for her room at the Mill Valley home they were beginning to walk through the building and eventually made it to the halfway point before his phone was ringing. Picking Josie up to her squeal, he answered the call and said, "Are you back?"
"We are, we just got off the ship and we'll be there in about five minutes," Beckett said.
"We'll be waiting," Jim replied, smiling at his granddaughter when she was reacting verbally at hearing her mother's voice.
"Mama?" Josie said when her grandfather was putting his phone away.
"They're on their way," Martha said. "I heard," she said to Beckett's father.
"I wanna see," Sophie said. "My mama."
"Right now, girls," Jim said reassuringly before they ushered them to the end of the building to wait for the rest of their group.
"How're you doing Lex?" Louis asked his wife.
"Better, now we're not on a ship," Alexis replied. "But I wasn't that sick in the first… place."
"Moving?" Louis said with a smile.
"They are," Alexis replied.
"Are you two coming with us or heading back?" Castle asked, walking over to them.
"We're coming Dad," Alexis answered swiftly. "Are you going to the film first?"
"We need to, a lot of us haven't been here before," Darnley replied.
"We're going right now," Castle said before they were entering Building 64.
"Do you remember this at all?" Mari asked Julia.
"Yes, this part was so creepy," the teen said. "Cool and it feels like it's damp."
"Even in June," Jacob said.
"Are you okay?" Mari said to her friend in concern.
"Oh yeah, no problem," Julia replied before they were sitting on the chairs in rows in front of one of many movie screens. She listened to the film they were shown since she couldn't really remember it and once they were done she told the others, "Still want to go in?"
"I do," Jacob said.
"He's been looking forward to it," Eve said wryly.
"Grandude and Dad have been too," Bobby told them.
"And now we're going to head up to the cellblock," Castle was telling everyone once they were outside.
As they started to walk Beckett realized Julia and Eliza were away from them, and she was going to call them when her husband stopped her.
"Not yet," Castle said. "I think once we get to the cellblock then we need to worry."
"Kate?" May said, slowing down to walk with them.
"What's wrong?" Beckett asked in concern.
"I forgot to ask how you two are being back here," May answered while they were stopping at the sallyport, and the kids were looking through the window in front of the cannon.
"We're trying not to think about it," Castle said first.
"Oh," May said before she looked dismayed.
"Don't worry, I'm not surprised you remembered," Beckett said. "We're trying to think of Eliza and her reactions."
"Okay, just wanted to see," May said before she hurried over to her family.
"Don't," Beckett told her husband firmly when he turned to her. She wasn't surprised when he took her hand and entwined their fingers before he was speaking to her seriously.
"We didn't discuss this," Castle told her.
Nodding, Beckett replied, "We didn't want to." She watched her husband raising her hand to kiss the back of it and told him, "I love you."
"I love you too," Castle said, smiling briefly at her as they were squeezing at each other's hands. He turned around, still holding his wife's hand and said, "Don't run."
"I'm not," Eliza said, making a face at them. "They told me to tell you we're leaving."
"We're following," Beckett replied with a smile. She gave her husband's hand a squeeze before they let each other go and she walked to Eliza. They walked hand in hand after the others and she said, "Are you excited?"
"Sorta," Eliza replied with a frown. "It's a jail… it used to be."
"It was," Castle said with a nod. "And don't worry, you're excited because it's a new place."
Not surprised when the little girl was nodding in agreement Beckett was about to comment before they were going up the incline. "Are you going to be okay?" she asked when she noticed Eliza was staring up where they needed to go.
"Yeah, Jules went up and she was littler than I was," the little girl said. "Right?"
"I was five," Julia said.
"What's wrong?" Castle and Beckett asked her at the exact same time.
"Nothing," Julia replied, her eyes wide. She then remembered why her parents were on edge and she said, "Oh! No, I'm not really sensing anything. Skye isn't either. I think. She's acting normal."
"I'm not surprised," Beckett replied. She wasn't shocked when Julia was looking at her in surprise and she reached over to gently squeeze her back before she said, "She'd want to for her kids."
Julia merely nodded when they reached the top of the incline before they needed to turn and go up the final path up to the cellblock. "Are we going to take a picture?" she asked since Alexis was there with Louis.
"I am for you," the veterinarian said.
"But you-" Alexis started to say to her husband with a frown.
"I'll take the picture," Luke said, walking over to them. "I have a lot of experience with that."
"Thank you," Louis told the architect appreciatively.
"Do you mind taking my camera after his phone?" Beckett asked Luke. She was pleased when he shook his head before they were gathering together for the shot. Once the architect had taken another with her camera, they made their way up to the cellblock and were soon getting their headphones and players.
"We have to listen to it apart?" Eliza asked once they were where they needed to start their players.
"Yeah, though we should be pressing play at the same time," Paul commented.
"And if anyone has a problem with it then tell us so we won't be too far apart," Castle added.
"Why are you looking at me?" David said in surprise when some of the adults were doing so.
"Want to count us in?" Castle asked.
"Fine," David said, rolling his eyes though he was smiling. "Does everyone have their headphones on?" When he saw everyone was nodding and they did, he smiled and placed his thumb on the play button and told them, "Then press play in three, two, one."
As they were beginning the tour, Julia couldn't help glancing over at the open doorway to the main cellblock. She eventually felt a hand on her shoulder and glanced up to see it was her mother.
'Not yet,' Beckett mouthed. She wasn't surprised when her daughter nodded, and they began walking until they stepped inside the cellblock, and she turned to her daughters. She was relieved seeing the two appeared to be fine after a while, she smiled to herself and then glanced at her husband who was next to her. She wasn't surprised he was watching the girls as well, and though their daughters were ahead of them they didn't try to call them back.
When he realized they were nearing solitary confinement Castle looked at his wife and gently squeezed her arm before she was shaking her head. He sought out Skye then and realized she was stopping everyone before they were stopping their players.
"You're going to go out again to the recreation yard," the investigator said seriously. "I need some time to get a read on how things are in solitary at the moment."
"Not that long?" Marie asked worriedly.
"It shouldn't be," Skye answered.
"And I'll be with her," Mary added firmly.
Watching the two women walking away, Eliza turned to her mother and said, "Are we going to go?"
"We'll see," Beckett replied, not surprised when the little girl took her hand as they were heading to the yard.
Outside, Julia watched while Miller was looking around the sky and she said, "That was all they had."
"I would say it was horrible, they couldn't see the city," the young man commented. "But they were horrible criminals."
"Basically," Eve said. She looked at the five McDouglas girls and saw Marie was holding Iris and Ivy was pacing back and forth.
"You can't tell from here if anything's wrong, can you?" Bailey asked Julia.
Shaking her head the teen said, "I would have to be closer. But I haven't gotten anything… well, not anything. There was something."
"I saw that too," Eliza said, beaming at her sister. She then frowned for a moment and said, "I mean him."
"Girls," Beckett said, straightening suddenly when she heard them. "What did you see?"
"It was really fast," Julia said, not surprised when her little sister was looking at her with wide eyes. "It was a man who was an inmate, he was standing at the top of the cellblock and waving down at us with a smile. I think he was a robber… and he was here because he exploded where he robbed but he didn't kill anyone." She then said in confusion, "But why would he be here if he didn't do that?"
"I think your grandmothers blocked that information," Skye said, appearing behind them suddenly. She smiled at hers and Mary's daughters when they turned to her as one and rushed to her and her wife, hugging them tightly while her wife was reassuring them swiftly.
"We're fine, and we can go to the cells, but we can't go inside," Mary told them.
"At all?" Alasdhair asked.
"Oh, you can, but I can't," Skye said. "Or Julia, Eliza and Kate."
"What about walking by?" Castle asked. "The tour has us going that way."
"You can stand by the windows," Mary said. She glanced at her wife and said, "Please take my wife with you."
"Why do we need to go?" Nancy asked. "We can walk by quickly; you know where we're going to go next already; and we can just listen to the recording until we catch up."
"Does anyone mind?" Skye asked, looking at Beckett who shrugged.
"Could we look into the cell for a little?" Bobby asked.
"You can go in," Skye said, looking at the Willis kids' parents. "But I wouldn't recommend doing that for too long."
"We won't be," Stella said firmly while she looked at her kids.
"Let's go ahead back inside and we can start playing there," Skye said, looking at everyone. "And those of you who want to look at those cells, please feel free to remain but come back before you hear them talking about the next area."
"Girls," Beckett said, motioning to Alexis.
"Me too?" the young woman asked in surprise.
"Yes," Castle said firmly. "I'm glad you thought of it too," he then told his wife swiftly. When she nodded to him, he then said, "Stay with us please, it sounds… weird but with you pregnant I really don't want to tempt fate."
"I was just going to say," Louis said hesitantly as he looked at his wife.
"Don't worry, I'll go with you," Alexis said.
"So will I," Louis said as fast as he could.
They began to walk then, and Julia was surprised when Mari walked with them past solitary while she was holding her little sister's hand. "Your parents wanted to look?" she asked once they were past that part of the corridor.
"Yeah, they didn't want Dani to get scared," Mari said, watching her sister hurrying to Eliza who was standing with Maddy and Keo. She turned to her friend and hugged her tightly saying, "It felt really cold."
"It did," Julia said, nodding her head. She then said with a sigh, "I just hope everyone going to them are okay."
"Why are you talking over your audio?" Castle asked her with a smile.
Giving her father a brief look, Julia was about to speak when she saw the rest of the group was walking to them quickly. Frowning for a moment; since she was afraid they had been affected by the negative sensation she'd gotten just walking by; she was relieved when Paul was shaking his head before he spoke.
"I can see why you had the youngest and those with abilities go here," the singer told Skye. "It was…"
"Unsettling," Stella finished for her father.
"Hard to really feel sorry for them though," Brad commented. "They were there for a reason."
"Is anyone listening to the tour?" Mary asked.
"I am," Lily said.
"Then the rest of us better listen too," Skye said wryly.
As they were continuing, Beckett wasn't surprised when the kids were talking excitedly about the fact that they were going to head out to the Eagle Plaza. "We are going to see the lighthouse too, don't worry," she said with a smile since she'd heard her daughter asking that.
"It looks really pretty," Eliza said.
"Wait until we go to Maine," Castle said.
"For here Daddy," Eliza said firmly.
"Alright, let's go out but I should warn you all," Skye started to say. "It's very windy."
"Extremely windy," Castle said in agreement.
"Hold onto your hats," Liam told them.
After they'd made it outside, Beckett wasn't surprised when Eliza was crying out at the wind, helping her hold onto her boonie hat though she had to do the same with her own. "It was like this the last time we were here," she told the little girl.
"I didn't think it was going to be this windy," Eliza cried though she was laughing at the same time. She pulled her hat a little harder down on her head before she felt it was safe and then looked up at the lighthouse. "Too bad Grandpapa couldn't come see this," she said after she'd taken a picture of the structure.
"He could have," Castle told her. He smiled when she looked at him in surprise and explained, "Your gram told him she would be fine watching your sister and Sophie, but he wanted to spend time with Josa," wondering if she would be jealous before she spoke while she was smiling at the same time.
"I'm not surprised," Eliza replied. "He says Josa reminds him of Mommy, even though she has blue eyes."
"Now I'm not surprised," Castle told her, smiling when she giggled. "You're not jealous, are you?"
"No, Grandpapa told me I remind him too," Eliza said. She shrugged and then said, "She's the baby now."
"You're okay with not being the baby? You were for five years," Castle commented.
"I am, I'm almost eight now," Eliza said firmly.
"Of course," Castle replied with a nod before she left him and hurried to her friends. He turned to Beckett when she was walking up to him and he asked, "Anything wrong?"
Shaking her head Beckett said, "Nothing but they want to go down to the gardens."
Castle was about to speak before he stopped himself and asked her, "Did you tell them we'd stay here?"
"I did, Alexis and Louis will keep an eye on the girls," Beckett replied before they turned around. They waved at the others and once they were gone, they walked together to the end of the plaza.
"Surprisingly this has gone really well," Castle told his wife after they'd watched the bay and city.
"I know," Beckett said. "I asked Skye about that before she told me about the gardens."
"And?" Castle asked, turning to look at her when she didn't continue.
Smiling at him Beckett said, "She said the atmosphere didn't really lend itself to there being much activity."
"Or negativity either," Castle commented, looking around at their view since the sky was clear and it wasn't too hot.
Beckett nodded before they were quiet again and she wasn't surprised when her husband was eventually stepping closer to her. After he'd wrapped his arm around her waist, she leaned against him and she murmured, "I'm alright."
"I know," Castle said seriously. "I wanted to do this."
Smiling, Beckett wrapped her arm around him before they could hear the others returning and she frowned for a moment. "Did something happen?"
"I hope not," Castle replied, letting her go but taking her hand shortly after.
"We went really fast," Julia said with a smile when she had reached her parents.
"You got bored?" Castle asked.
"No, it's way too windy down there," Marie said.
"She's right," Mary said in agreement with her daughter. "So we couldn't really stay that long."
"Are we going back to the tour?" Joseph asked.
"Are you guys okay?" Nkosi asked his parents.
"I am," Joseph said with a nod.
"Me too," Liam said in mock annoyance when he saw the way his daughter was looking at him.
"She has to check," Pablo said with a smile before they were laughing. He then said to the others, "I'm fine too, I would like to finish the tour."
"I would as well," Bethany said. "But remind me never to break the law."
"I will," Brad said quickly before he was laughing with everyone else.
After that they went back inside the cellblock, finishing what was left of the tour before they sat for a little at the cafeteria.
"Is that all we're gonna see?" Eliza asked her parents when she walked to them.
"Just the gift shop," Castle replied.
"Did you want to stay for longer?" Beckett asked, smiling since the little girl had plopped unceremoniously on the bench in between them.
"No, I want to keep going around," Eliza replied. "To the Ferry building and Chinatown."
"And the mall," Castle reminded her.
"Oh yeah, that too," Eliza said rapidly.
"Alright," Beckett said laughingly. "The others are getting up so let's go."
Heading downstairs to the gift shop, Julia watched Mari since they were going through the different items for sale together. "What's wrong?" she asked when she saw the hesitation on her friend's face.
"Is it weird to get stuff from a jail?" Mari replied.
"Well… it depends on what you get," Julia said. "Remember they sell Alcatraz stuff at the stores back in the city." She studied her friend and then asked, "What're you thinking?"
"Postcards," Mari replied.
"That's it?" Julia said in surprise when her friend didn't continue.
"I think so," Mari said. "What about you?"
"Postcards too, but I was thinking of getting a t-shirt… maybe," Julia replied. They went to those first and she looked at the different designs before she shook her head. "Never mind."
"I was going to say," Mari told her friend with a smile while they were walking to the postcards.
"I don't think we'll get her that," Beckett was saying after she had Julia's postcards and was in line with Castle.
"But… she has too many?" Eliza asked, looking at the prisoner teddy bear she'd grabbed.
"That," Castle said.
"Would you have gotten a teddy bear in jail for her if she didn't?" Eliza then asked.
"Yes, we did for your sister," Beckett replied before she watched the little girl take the toy back. "I thought Julia might be the one to get it."
"Me too," Castle said laughingly. "But they're both alright," he told his wife in Irish.
"Wait until we're back in the city," Beckett responded before they were next to pay.
Down at the dock when they'd left the cellblock Skye said, "Ah, at least we don't need to wait for too long."
"Skye-" Mary said in concern.
"Not that," Skye interrupted her. "It's more I want to go back to the city."
"Had enough of the jail?" Darnley asked.
"Yes," Skye said. "I mean it was fine today, but better to be going back."
"Since we're free?" Reiley asked in slight confusion.
"Good point," Skye replied with a nod before they were watching the ferry coming around to dock.
"Rick," Beckett told her husband when the people ahead of them were starting to move and get onto the ship. She then realized where he was looking and said, "Don't."
"Sorry," Castle said, turning swiftly to her. "I just got some really strong déjà vu."
"I'm not surprised," Beckett replied, squeezing his arm gently before they were taking their turn and walking up the ramp.
"Mama! Mama!" Josie cried out, trying to pull away from her grandfather who was holding onto her.
"Don't run honey," Jim said, letting her go when they were close enough.
"We're happy to see you too sweetie," Beckett said, picking the toddler up before Josie was laughing and replying.
"Go on water?" the toddler said.
"We did," Castle said, getting her attention. He laughed when Josie did at the sight of him, and he held his arms out to her. Once he had her on his hip he told his wife, "Sorry about that."
"Don't worry," Beckett replied in amusement.
"I have to let you know," Castle said. "The kids are starving."
"I'm not surprised," Beckett said before she looked for their oldest.
"I haven't asked her," Castle said, watching her with a smile.
"You were following me," Beckett said.
"Stop?" Castle asked. He was a little startled when his wife's response was to merely smile at him and he couldn't stop himself, leaning into her and kissing her. He was quick, though he hadn't pulled away very far before he was brushing his lips to hers again.
"Quiet," Beckett said to Darnley when he whistled at them.
"Hard to be," the carpenter replied.
"Is everyone ready for lunch?" Rebecca asked.
"I am, I'm starving," Bailey said, looking at her older brother.
"Okay, okay, I really am hungry," Miller said, speaking mock defensively when he saw the way she was looking at him.
"There is the grilled cheese place," Paul said to his daughter and son in law.
"Actually…" May said slowly.
"Not Cowgirl Creamery," Mary said in obvious disappointment.
"Yeah, we have no idea why, but they moved out of here and have a place in North Beach," Luke said. "But if you want a recommendation there's Gott's."
"The burger place," Skye said.
"You know it?" Shannon asked.
"Uh-yup," Skye replied in a pseudo-American accent. She smiled when the others laughed and then told the McCartneys and Willises, "They have veggie options…"
"Yes George?" Paul asked the little boy who was waving his hand.
"They have avocado tacos, my friend Rico is veggie, and he loves them here," George said in a rush.
"Sounds good," Paul said. "And it'll feed my hungry grandchildren," he commented before they were laughing and heading to the restaurant.
After everyone had agreed on where they were going to eat, the families took turns ordering before the grandparents were taking the kids to the outside eating area, getting enough tables and chairs for them all.
"It's been a great day," Julia said with a smile at Paul.
"Oh no," he said in mock annoyance. "I'm not breaking out into song." Smiling when the teen laughed, he took her hand and said, "Are you mad we're not going with you the day after tomorrow?"
"No, I remember you have stuff to do," Julia said.
"What're you doing the day after, the day after tomorrow?" the singer asked.
"Paul," Nancy said calmly.
"We're going down to San Jose I think… no way," Julia said slowly before her tone changed and she was smiling widely.
"What?" Mari asked her friend in obvious confusion.
"I think we're going to stop at the Winchester," Julia replied. "Will you join us?"
"I said we would," Paul said. "And apparently the boys all want to come along."
"Wix, Abe, Rusty and Brian?" Bailey asked her grandfather. At his nod she said, "Why?"
Laughing Paul said, "The American boys all said they've heard of the house and want to see. Wix was intrigued by what they told him."
"Cool," Jacob said. "They're not scared."
"They think we'll be safe with Skye there," Paul said, looking at the McDouglas girls.
"Of course they will be," Kathleen said firmly.
"Mum told us what she does there," Marie added.
"What I do where?" Skye asked, walking over with Mary.
"They're discussing the fourteenth," Liam told his daughter in amusement.
"The cat is out of the bag," Joseph said firmly.
"Just the Winchester?" Castle asked, since he was approaching with everyone else closely behind the McDouglas women.
"Just that," Nancy said with a nod.
"Great, so we're good with that?" Castle asked.
"And the food," Miller said eagerly.
Laughing with everyone else, Julia went to her parents and grandfather since they had the food for their family. She grabbed her avocado taco platter before she paused and said, "Did anyone get a burger?"
"No, we all got tacos," Beckett said.
"Cool," Julia said with a smile before she was hurrying back to one of the two tables the older kids were sharing.
"Gear they're fried," Bobby said, startled when the American kids were looking at him. "What?"
"You don't have a newer word for what gear means?" Eve asked.
"Not really," Bobby said jokingly before they were laughing and turning their attention to their food.
"Wow," Jacob said after they'd all taken their first bite.
"You got the avocado one too?" Bailey asked him.
"The fried part, I couldn't resist," Jacob said with a smile.
"Me neither," Clare said swiftly.
"And we are American you know," Jacob commented.
"And we come from fish and chips," Reiley added before they were laughing together.
"It's great to see them getting along," Martha said to her son.
"Is that code Mother? You don't like your food?" Castle asked.
"Tell Skye to send us avocadoes in the future," Martha replied firmly.
"I agree," Jim said.
"Too Mama, I want…" Josie started to say before she was frowning.
"Here," Beckett said, helping her take a bite out of her avocado taco. She smiled when Josie appeared to be enjoying the bite greatly and she said, "She behaved," her father responding immediately.
"Very well, though she did want to go to the railing on the other side of the building while we were looking at the ferry boats," Jim said, smiling when the toddler was giggling.
"But she didn't?" Castle asked. When his father-in-law shook his head, he turned to Josie and told her, "Great, you get to go on the BART."
"The subway kiddo," Martha said with a smile when the toddler was looking at all of them in confusion.
"Eh," Josie said.
Laughing Beckett told her, "Keep eating your taco sweetie." She wasn't surprised when Josie was doing so and she said to her husband, "You volunteered to take her."
"I will," Castle promised. "And I'll make sure she'll behave there." He wasn't surprised when she nudged his leg under the table, and he repeated the same to her before they turned back to their food.