"Come in," Beckett said, looking at the door to hers and Castle's room.
"It's okay?" Julia asked in surprise.
"Your dad's in the bathroom," Beckett explained. "You two are ready?"
"Yeah… who is that lady? I mean, why does she have so much money," Julia said swiftly since Skye had explained it to them after they'd said goodbye to the Parsons after leaving Science World.
"I think she's involved with the Bombardier company in some form," Castle said, walking out of the bathroom. "Like Patrick's with the company he gets his money from."
"But not Skye," Julia said slowly since the investigator's connection to Boeing still confused her.
"Stocks," Beckett said firmly. "Though of course she does have her mother's pension."
"Luckily," Castle said, shaking his head before his wife touched his arm and she spoke instead.
"Stocks in exchange for a place on the board for the company," Beckett said quickly. "Or else Patrick would have had to stay in DC and the McDouglases would be in Seattle."
"I wonder how it is there," Julia mused.
"You'll see," Beckett said with a smile.
"Or is that Mari talking?" Castle asked while they walked into the living room.
"Huh?" the girl asked in confusion, looking at them in surprise.
Julia couldn't help laughing before she explained what they'd been talking about and then said to her father, "We're all wondering… well, the ones of us that haven't been there before."
"Are we going?" Mari asked when Beckett's phone began to ring.
"I think we need to," she replied, answering Skye's call.
Castle was startled at his wife's end of the conversation before she was hanging up and he asked, "Change of plans?"
"No," Beckett said, glancing at the girls. She fought a smile at the way Julia rolled her eyes before she then continued telling her husband, "They're leaving now."
"I thought we had time," Castle said, looking at his watch.
"They're finished now," Beckett said firmly. "Let's go."
When they were making their way down in the elevator Mari asked, "Are they rich?"
"A little I think," Castle said, looking at his wife who shrugged slightly. "Why do you ask?"
"His shirt," Mari said. "Will's shirt," she corrected swiftly. "I don't know the brand but it's expensive… the quality."
"Good eye," Castle said.
"The company does well," Beckett said simply.
"That and they have an indoor pool," Julia said with a smile. "I'm excited to go," she told her mother when she looked at her.
"There's something more to that," Castle said. "Is it Will?"
"No," Julia said firmly. "He likes The Beatles and Queen," she then told both her parents.
Castle was about to comment on that but the doors to the car opened and he looked out, spotting Skye carrying a guitar case while Mary held another. "I get the feeling they requested something," he said to his wife.
"They've known her for a while," Beckett replied in amusement before they were going to the McDouglases. They didn't have much chance to talk with the family since the rest of theirs and the other families arrived. Going out to the street once they were all together, she watched Skye hail a cab before she told her friend, "You didn't want to leave that to us."
"Fine, hail your own cab," the investigator said in mock annoyance.
"Are you sure this is okay?" Bethany asked. "There are thirty of us."
"Thirty-three Grandma," Maddy told her.
"It is, their house is… it's large enough," Skye started to say before hesitating and continuing.
"We're going Skye," Mary called to her wife.
"Yeah, we'll see you lot there," the investigator said before she joined her family.
After everyone was set in their cabs they started out of the city, the kids looking out the windows at everything they passed.
"Is that the park?" Eliza asked, exclaiming when she saw the trees. She was distracted for a moment feeling someone next to her giggling when she looked and saw it was Julia. She was about to tell her she was too close when their mother was speaking to them from the third row seat in the taxi van.
"Julia sit back," Beckett told her firmly.
"Sorry," the teen said with a smile. She looked out of the windshield and couldn't help asking the driver, "Is that the Lion's Gate Bridge?"
"It is," the woman said with a smile.
Nodding, Julia leaned back, watching the water on either side of them before they were eventually on land again and driving to the west. She was startled when she saw the house and looked back at her mother.
Holding up her hand, Beckett shook her head before they were getting out of the van. "This is inherited?" she asked.
"I forgot to mention it was redone thirty years ago," Skye said since that had been directed to her. "Not by Claudia and Kelly but she told me how awful everything was when they got it, her inheritance went towards the renovations inside."
"At least the color isn't too bad," Castle commented since the stucco was painted a blue grey.
"And it's not beige," Rebecca said. When the other adults looked at her, she told them, "I hate beige."
"We need to go," Skye said in amusement before she turned to the intercom next to the door. "It's us," she said after Claudia had answered.
"Great I'll buzz you all right in," the Canadian investigator said.
Walking inside first, Skye turned to make sure everyone else was alright and then said once they were all there, "Everyone ready?"
"You're nervous," Mary told her wife.
"It's obvious," Darnley commented.
Giving them looks Skye said, "I'm eager, she's wanted us to come see her for ages. I just hope we're all well behaved."
"She's joking," Marie said, squeezing her sister's arm when Ivy started to speak.
"And be careful at the pool," Martha said. She smiled when the McDouglas women were turning to her and she explained saying, "I could tell."
"Okay," Skye replied before they turned to the front of the house.
"You're just going to stand there all day?" Claudia asked the group, smiling at their surprised faces.
"Throw an eh in there and we're set," Skye told her friend teasingly before she walked swiftly the rest of the way to her.
"You're so lucky we're friends," Claudia said laughingly.
Smiling, Skye told her when they'd let go of each other, "When you're back in LA you get one Valley Girl reference."
"Thanks," Claudia said before turning her attention to Mary.
Beckett wasn't surprised at how long it took them to greet the family and move into the house before the investigator was motioning around.
"This is the entry," Claudia said.
"I'm assuming there's something negative about it," Skye said slowly.
"It did, we had paneling," Kelly replied.
"All over?" Castle couldn't help asking after he looked around the room.
"Yeah, paneling world as far as the eye could see," Claudia said before Skye was groaning, responding shortly after she'd stopped.
"Luckily you got everything set," Skye said.
"You couldn't just ask me outright?" Claudia said with a smile. When her friend shrugged, she laughed for a moment before she told her, "We did that first thing."
"She means that literally," Kelly said. "And we're just standing here Claude," she reminded her wife.
"Right, you can hang your coats here," Claudia said swiftly once she'd shaken herself.
"That's the biggest entry closet I've seen," Julia whispered to Mari while they were waiting their turn. She smiled when her friend nodded in agreement before they were finished and being led through a passage that had floor to ceiling windows on either side.
"How pretty," Mary said.
"The one thing we didn't touch," Kelly said with a smile.
"Good thing, it is lovely," Bethany was saying, looking at the view they had of the property outside with its abundant foliage.
"Here's the living room and dining room," Claudia told them. "Basically the second entry since the first staircase is there. Though I get the feeling we should have decided first, do you want a tour of the whole house at all?"
"You're sure you want us to go through your home?" Martha asked with a smile.
"Yeah, especially since some people promised they'd come to see it," Claudia said, looking pointedly at Skye.
"I think we need to ask the kids," the investigator replied, smiling herself.
When the older ones were saying they wanted to see the house Eliza couldn't help saying, "Will we be able to swim after that?"
"We should have time before dinner," Kelly answered. "And it depends on how late you're planning to stay."
"You mentioned you're heading to Jasper tomorrow?" Mary asked.
When the investigator nodded, Darnley couldn't help saying, "I know you said you were going crazy, but you were specific about a staycation."
"We're in the same province you realize," Claudia said jokingly before they laughed.
"Then a province vacation," Lily suggested.
"Exactly," Kelly said. "Though to be honest this and Whistler are the only times we're going out of the city."
"And since we're getting a little away from the subject," Claudia said swiftly. "We're not leaving incredibly early, so I think it depends on what time you need to get up tomorrow for your plans."
Unable to stop himself, Castle laughed at the kids, except for the two youngest and Will, turning to him before he did his best to calm down. "Sorry," he told the Parsons, who appeared startled.
"He tells the plans we have for the next day," Jim said when his son in law laughed briefly again at Eliza putting her hands on her hips.
"Can we know now?" the little girl asked firmly. "Please?"
"We don't mind," Claudia said swiftly when the adults turned to her and her wife.
"It might be better if you did," Kelly said before the investigator was responding with a smile.
"You can give us some insight?" Skye asked.
"Of course," Claudia replied.
"This was Skye's idea," Castle said.
"No, go ahead," Skye replied when he was glancing at her.
Giving her a look for a moment, Castle shook his head and then turned to the women saying, "She suggested we should start on Granville Island and go to the market there."
"Just the market," Skye added.
"Just that?" Kelly asked in surprise.
"Okay, okay, the shops too but the idea is not to spend too much time there," Skye replied.
"Then you're grabbing food," Claudia stated.
Nodding, Castle continued saying, "After that we'll take our food and pick up some bikes at Stanley Park."
"Finally!" Julia exclaimed. She immediately began laughing when her friends were doing so and explained, "I've been wanting to go for a while, ever since we learned about the park."
"I'm not surprised," Kelly told her.
"You'll love it," Will added. "If you like the outdoors."
When the families were all nearly saying they did, Claudia laughed with them before she asked, "Are you going all the way around?"
"That's the plan," Mary said. "But whether or not we're going to be able to is the question."
"The younger kids?" Claudia asked.
"They'll be okay," Skye said. "Though I'm only talking about our youngest three."
"Is that it?" Claudia then said.
"We're going to attempt to reach Third Beach," Beckett said. "We wanted to swim there but…"
"You can try," Will said. "But good luck."
"He's right," Kelly said with a smile. She then looked at her wife pointedly and told her, "Any advice honey? We've been standing in the atrium for a while."
"No, I think Skye has everything set," Claudia said, nodding to the investigator. "Let's continue," she told them.
"Do you mind if I ask about dinner?" Lily asked her.
"No, and good thing you're here," Claudia said. "Here's the kitchen."
"You know her?" Brad asked them.
"We've seen her episodes of Chopped," Kelly explained while she was nodding briefly at the same time.
"Am I cooking?" Lily asked.
"No," Claudia said, laughing briefly. "That would be rude. We catered from a local place."
"Any reason why you're being so vague?" Skye asked.
"And you're looking at… Kayla, it's Kayla's restaurant, isn't it?" Lily asked.
"That's one of the women who cooked with you isn't it?" Jim asked her.
"It is, did you tell her that I'm here?" Lily said with a smile.
"I mentioned it," Claudia said. "She's a friend," she added before the chef was responding swiftly.
"Which is why you saw me," Lily said. At the nod from both women, she smiled and then said, "Can I ask what there is?"
"I asked Skye and Mary," Claudia said, looking at the others. "About allergies and preferences and we got their share and starter dishes along with some mains and sides to go with that." She glanced outside and then added, "And since it's starting to rain, I hope you guys don't mind some s'mores for dessert."
"They're special marshmallows," Will said to the kids while his mothers were walking Lily around.
"How come?" Kathleen asked.
"My mom made them," Will replied. "I mean, Kelly did."
"Cool," Kathleen said with a nod before they turned to Claudia.
"Let's continue, we won't make it to the pool," the Canadian investigator was telling everyone. "This is the living room," she said.
"You don't have a family room?" Ivy asked.
"Not in this one… I mean this room is big enough I think," Claudia replied.
"You can fit your Christmas tree in here," Eliza said.
"We do," Kelly commented, smiling at the little girl when she blushed.
"I would hold on looking over there," Claudia said, spotting Eve, Julia and Mari looking to the windows to the ride of the room.
"The pool?" the young woman asked.
"It is," Kelly said before her wife could answer that. "But don't worry, you're going to be in there all night."
"We can eat there?" Fleur asked eagerly.
"Of course," Claudia replied with a smile. She took them to a short hallway and said, "These are our offices."
"I'm a fashion designer," Kelly said swiftly. "With Burrard's."
"I've heard of that," Mari said suddenly before she began to blush deeply as everyone turned to her. "It was the shirt you were wearing at Science World," she told the Parsons' son.
"We've expanded into kid's clothes," Kelly said. "What I handle."
"Is that it for the downstairs?" Skye asked.
"It is," Claudia replied. "Next is upstairs."
"We're fine to go," Liam said firmly when his daughter and daughter in law were turning to him. "I just may take a while."
"I'll go with him," Pablo assured everyone before they were heading to the staircase to the family room.
Letting the group see the guestrooms Kelly said, "If you're wondering this house had eight bedrooms."
"Had?" Skye asked in obvious surprise.
"We took two and opened them up for Will," Claudia replied. She smiled at her son and said, "He's following his mother."
Pointing to Kelly, Will said, "I have a room-workroom sort of thing," turning to Mari when she spoke suddenly.
"I want to be a designer too," the girl said.
"Girl's clothes?" Will asked.
"Yeah… eventually women's clothes," Mari replied while they were walking down the hall.
"I've thought of women's clothes, designing them but I'm not sure yet," Will said.
"Hey kid," Kelly told her son teasingly. When he looked at her, she nodded and said, "Your room."
"Oh yeah! Come inside," Will told the kids.
Watching them going inside the double room with no separating wall, Skye murmured to her friend, "Where did you adopt him from?"
"He's Squamish," Claudia replied. "A local tribe."
"I've heard of that one," Castle said. "How old was he when you adopted him?"
"Eight," Claudia said before she looked at her friend.
"I've been busy," Skye said in mock annoyance.
"I see that," Claudia teased her. "Five? You said you'd be lucky to adopt one."
"We've been extremely lucky," Mary said, squeezing her wife's arm before Claudia was calling the kids.
"Hopefully you guys'll want to see the library still," she told them once they were at the doorway, smiling when they seemed to reply at once.
"Did you tell them?" Will asked his mothers after calming down the others.
"We did," Claudia said after exchanging a smile with her wife.
"Do you have a pen somewhere?" Beckett asked suddenly.
"That's right," Castle said, aware his wife was looking at him pointedly.
"You don't have to," Kelly said swiftly.
"But we'd like to," Beckett said.
"Your last books," Claudia then said.
"Great, let's see what you have," Castle said.
"We like seeing libraries," Eliza explained.
The Parsons were laughing at the little girl's exuberance before they walked into the room across from their son's.
"Nice," Castle said, nodding at the sight of the shelves and all the books.
"A lot are empty," Nkosi said, smiling at Will.
"Yeah, those are for me growing up," the teen replied with a wide smile.
"You have a good collection…" Julia began before she was smiling widely herself.
"I forgot to mention," Will said, obviously embarrassed.
"It's okay, I've been approached by people before who know me," Julia said while she pulled hers and her parents' last book off the shelf it was on. "I need a pen too."
"Thanks," Will replied.
"Stop," Marie said, nudging her sister. She wasn't surprised when Kathleen rolled her eyes and went to look out the window to the north while the three writers were signing their books quickly.
Taking back his book from Castle, Julia's parents having signed it as well, Will opened the front page and saw the teen had written 'Thanks for our first taste of Vancouver, Julia Beckett-Castle.' "Thanks again," he told them.
"You're welcome," Julia said. She saw he was putting the book back slowly and she said, "What is it?"
"You write both last names?" Will asked
"Yep, my dad adopted me so…" Julia began before she shrugged.
"And you two are adopted too," Will said, looking at Kathleen.
"We are," the girl said. "And our three sisters but Mom took Mum's last name."
"Kids," David said, going over to them. "We need to keep going, the time."
"We're going Dad," Mari said before they were following the adults and younger kids out.
"And this is the primary bedroom," Kelly said reaching the door across the hall.
"Head inside, we have the best view in the house," Claudia told them.
"Hey!" Will told her.
Shrugging Claudia said, "Because of the balcony kid."
"Yeah," Will pretended to grumble before his mother squeezed his shoulder. They followed the others inside the room before he hurried to the balcony doors and opened them before he paused. "You forgot about the rain Mom!"
"Get back inside," Claudia said. "All of you," she added, smiling.
"Mari," Rebecca said gently to her daughter when she saw the girl was trying to look inside the closet.
"I have my designs in my office," Kelly told her.
"I was just wondering," Mari replied.
"That's the entire house," Claudia replied. "Now we can show you the pool complex."
"Complex?" Skye said with a few others at the same time.
"You'll see why we call it that when we get down there," Kelly said before they were beginning to leave the room.
Downstairs the Parsons women led the way through the living room until they'd reached the pool room. The kids were exclaiming, and Will was urging them to the zero entry before Claudia was calling to them all.
"Stop right there," the Canadian investigator said firmly. When the kids all turned at the same time Claudia couldn't help letting out a bark of laughter she then said, "We have a rule here, no covering clothes in the pool; only bathing suits."
"Thank you for that," Martha told her since she was trying to keep a hold on Josie.
"Come here sweetie," Beckett said with a smile, reaching out for the toddler.
"Do you need my help?" Castle asked as they went together to a lounge chair.
"Hold her," Beckett said, handing her Josie after kissing her temple. Once the toddler was settled, she got her tunic dress and leggings off before she took her back, Josie speaking to them with a frown.
"Wanna swim Mama, Dada," the toddler said.
"And we're going as soon as you have your stuff on," Castle replied before helping her with her vest. He kissed the tip of her nose after he was done and smiled while Josie giggled. "Mind if I take her?" he asked his wife, turning his attention to her.
"No," Beckett said. "But you're not taking her to the slide," she added. When her husband froze and was holding Josie in the air between them, she said wryly, "I do know you love," watching him move to put their youngest on his hip before he was speaking laughingly.
"Of course, so I better take her in the shallow part of the pool," Castle said, turning before his wife was grabbing him.
"You're still wearing your clothes love," Beckett told him with a smile.
"Oh, right," Castle said when he looked down at himself. He set Josie down and said, "Stay with us sweetheart, please?"
"Eh," the toddler said, holding onto his leg.
"Come here Josie," Beckett said before the toddler was standing with her. "We're going swimming very soon," she assured her when she saw Josie was looking at the pool. Caressing the back of her head she then turned to her husband and saw he was finished before the toddler was walking to him.
"Are you ready?" Castle asked the toddler.
"Slide," Josie said simply.
"You can take her," Beckett said with a smile, folding her blouse swiftly to set aside. "But we'll be doing that together."
"I had a feeling," Castle replied before she walked over to him. They went to the entry, and he looked out at the older kids that were already swimming and said, "We are going to have such a hard time getting them out of there for dinner."
Smiling at his tone Beckett nodded and told him, "Luckily there's more than just the two of us here."
"And s'mores," Castle said rapidly. "Can't forget about s'mores." He was smiling at his wife's laughter and stopped her before she could continue through the water. Though they weren't alone he couldn't stop himself and he leaned over, kissing her gently before he pulled away and said, "Ready?"
"Eh! Yes!" Josie said, patting her father's shoulder.
Beckett smiled at the toddler's tone and action before she kissed the side of her head. She felt Castle squeezing her hand before she responded briefly, and they walked together further so they could join the others in swimming.
June 13th, 2022
Hello again from Vancouver, Evangeline! I'm having a sleepover tonight (I know, a sleepover in a hotel suite but that's what happened) and I have a few things to talk about here, so I better get going with what I'm writing!
First off, I had breakfast with my family and Mari on the terrace of the suite, the other families were together, but her parents allowed her to stay with us since we were supposed to have dinner separately. After that we met everyone in the lobby and made our way out to Chinatown. It reminds me of the others I've been to, but the first thing we saw was a gate and it's called the Millennium Gate and wow, it was beautiful. I took a bunch of pictures and even though I got so many I took as many as I could of details, and I want to play with that on Photoshop (I have no clue what I'll do with those really but it's fun to have in case I'm bored or something).
Walking around we first went to stores and I helped Mari get some brocade robes for her mom's Christmas present she's making. They're really pretty fabrics, light blue and black; she said she's either going to make stripes or just use one and the other will be for… whatever, she didn't really know. We went to a few stores, one that had tea where Mom got some for us kids back at home and it smells divine. I don't know what's in it but the woman who told Dad about it said it was good for kids.
Finally, it was time for lunch, and we got to go to the Dim Sum restaurant Skye had gone to before. And I'm so glad it was still there because the food was awesome! The bao was delicious and we got my absolute favorite, sesame seed balls! We went over to the gardens then… well, technically it's garden and park, I finally found out what that was. That was the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden I should say. It was amazing, it really felt like we could be in China, so it was exactly like the Huntington too. They did an awesome job with that! There were buildings with beautiful details and a pagoda type of building called Ting and it looked out over the pond. It was so beautiful and peaceful, and I know I said beautiful twice, but it really was.
The park was nice, a good, long path with tons of trees and flowers and I loved it. Used my camera a ton and I can't wait to get those pictures on my computer! We went to the gift shop and Mari and I bought a souvenir together. It's two koi fish, one white with black sort of Chinese writing on it and the other orange and black. It was cheaper to get two together, so we split it and we had to play Roshambo for them. We did two out of three (Dad said we should and then said what about three out of five… not sure why but Mom smacked his arm lightly at that point before we finished) and I won the orange and black one. Of course, I felt bad since Mari had found them, so we decided to do it one more time and I won again. I tried to say four, but she got a little annoyed and I guess I see why, it was only two more. I got some postcards for all my pen pals (not Marie and Kath of course) and that was it, there are going to be a lot of places we go to on this trip so I want to get the good stuff (Dad told me that and I can hear his voice in my head which is making me smile).
From there we walked down to Science World… I'm assuming it was south somehow since I wasn't sure where the mountains were for a little. But once we got there and went inside Skye recognized a lady she's worked with. She's NTSB, National Transportation Safety Board (I see why they use the letters for that one) and the lady we met was TSB, Transportation Safety Board of Canada (I was going to say why don't they put the o and C there but TSBoC doesn't work… I guess TSBC but that looks like a TV station, so I think what they have works way better). Anyway, her name is Claudia Parsons, and she was with her wife Kelly and their son Will. He was really nice; he's adopted too and he's Indigenous (I hope that's right!) Squamish which is a cool name.
We went through Science World, and it was really nice, a lot like the Exploratorium in San Francisco. The adults were talking a lot while we were trying everything out and after we finished and went to the gift shop, we learned we were going to the Parsons' house for sure instead of swimming here at the hotel and then going to dinner separately. We came back here anyway to get changed and ready and then got to go across the Lions Gate bridge to West Vancouver. It's a beautiful bridge and I'm hoping we can be at a point to get pictures.
Pausing Julia said, "You guys liked the house, right?"
"What kind of question is that?" Eve asked teasingly.
"We did, don't worry," Mari said swiftly before the other girls with them were nodding in agreement and her friend was speaking with a laugh.
"I was just wondering if it was too big," Julia did her best to explain.
"How big was it?" Kathleen asked.
"I think I heard Claudia telling Skye something like fifteen thousand," Eve said. When the others looked at her with wide eyes she nodded rapidly and told them, "There wasn't a family room but the rooms the first floor had were huge."
"And it's only the three of them," Marie added.
"Not for that long," Julia said. "Their mothers are going to move in once they come from Toronto and Edmonton."
"Claudia and Kelly?" Eve asked.
"Their moms," Julia said with a quick nod.
"I wonder where they're going to live," Kathleen said.
"Down the hall," Marie said. When her twin looked at her, she couldn't help laughing and said, "Are you guys done?"
"No, hold your horses," Julia said jokingly before she returned to her entry and did her best to finish hurriedly.
We finally got to the house, from the outside it looked simple but once we were let inside it was huge, at least 15,000 square feet I think (I was just talking with the others about it). We got a tour of it and though there aren't a ton of rooms they're really big, which is nice! After the tour we were able to go to the pool room and it was nice, not as good as ours but still I wouldn't say no to an indoor pool! We swam until dinner and that was really good, we had from a restaurant where a chef Lily knows is the cook. It was Canadian food, and the best thing was Bannock bread. We swam again after having dessert, s'mores with homemade marshmallows and I want to try and do that for our s'mores now!
We came back to the hotel eventually, we didn't stay too late since they're going to head to Jasper for a short visit, and we have ours to keep doing. I didn't put it where it happened, but before the tour really got started Dad told us about what we were going to do tomorrow. Turns out it's going to be heading to a place called Granville Island, for the market there and some shops. But it's mostly going to be the market so we can get stuff to make sandwiches for lunch and definitely fruits. And hopefully dessert too! After that we'll finally get to go to Stanley Park where the adults surprised us with bikes we're going to use to ride around. I just thought of Liam, Skye's dad, but he told us he can ride a bike though the park's huge, it's why Skye changed his and Pablo's bikes to a two-seater just in case. We'll go around the outside edge, but we'll be eating inside the forest part and that I cannot wait for! We might go to a beach but it's supposed to still be cooler so I don't know how that'll work out, but I can't wait to see!
And I forgot, when we went to see their library, they had Dad's books when he wrote by himself, his and Mom's books and Will had ours. They signed Claudia and Kelly's copies of their last Moor and Green book and their '20's book and we three signed Will's copy of our latest book. Still am not used to doing that, but he was really happy to get my little note I put so I was glad.
I almost forgot something else; to mention my sleepover. Marie, Kath and Eve are here, just for tonight but they're waiting for me and Mari to finish so I'll say goodnight here! Night and hopefully write to you tomorrow, Evangeline!
"I'm done," Julia said, finishing.
"Me too," Mari said in a rush, snapping her book closed before they were all groaning at the knock on the room's door.
"I'll get it," Julia said hurriedly, putting her diary away. When she went to the door she opened it, seeing it was her mother before she told her, "There's no way we took that long," startled when Beckett laughed before she spoke.
"You didn't," she assured her. "I wanted to make sure you were all ready."
"Yeah, we brushed our teeth," Eve said. She then looked at the others and said, "My mom always leads with that one."
"She does too," Julia said with a smile, inclining her head towards her mother.
"Alright girls," Beckett said in amusement. "You have about a half hour, I'll come back when it's time."
"Thanks Mom," Julia said with a wide smile. She watched her leave and close the door before she turned to Kathleen. "Well?" she asked.
"Well, what?" the girl said, startled.
"I was just going to say the same thing," Marie told the teen. She turned to her twin then and said, "You and Will."
"What about him?" Kathleen asked, annoyed to realize she was blushing a little.
"He was into you; even I could see that," Eve said.
"And believe me," Marie told the other three. "I could tell she's interested in him."
"Thank you," Kathleen said in obvious annoyance when the other girls turned to her. "And yes, I like him but not that much."
"He liked you," Marie said.
Mari was about to speak before she felt Julia squeezing her arm and she looked at her friend until they looked at Marie and Kathleen who were arguing.
"Wait, one of Julia's parents is going to come in if they hear you," Eve said, placing her hands on both their shoulders eventually. "And I see why you're saying nothing's going to happen; he's from another country."
"But you know you could write letters to him… or e-mails," Marie said.
"Oh, you know already Mom and Mum wouldn't allow it," Katheen scoffed. "He never asked to get in touch with me or anything so that's it." She then studied her twin and asked, "Why're you being so pushy?"
"I just feel bad I'm dating someone, and you aren't," Marie confessed.
"Wait," Eve said. "I have a little experience with that, not the same since Jake and I aren't twins but I know how your sister feels. And it doesn't matter who is dating and who isn't. Do you feel like you should since your sister is dating?"
"No," Kathleen said firmly. "I mean if I meet a boy I like I will, but I might wait until I'm older."
"How's your dating going?" Julia asked Marie.
"Simple, it's simple," the girl said with a frown. "I can't wait until I'm older, well both me and Florrie I mean."
"But besides that," Julia said. She laughed when her friend lightly pushed her and then said, "Though I guess the more important question is are you happy?"
"Definitely," Marie said firmly. "She's really sweet."
"Whew, now I'm not the one blushing," Kathleen said.
"Shut up," Marie muttered though she was smiling at the same time. She glanced at Mari and Julia at the top of the bed and then told them, "Sorry."
Shrugging Julia said, "It's fine but we could talk about something else."
"Tomorrow?" Mari asked.
"I'm really interested in Granville Island," Eve said.
"I think the market is going to be really nice," Julia said. "The way Claudia was talking about my mom taking pictures," she added before Mari nodded rapidly and was responding to her.
"I hope so because if it's like a Farmer's Market that would be so cool," the girl said.
"What about Stanley Park?" Eve asked with a smile.
"That's going to be even better," Marie said, her twin nodding in agreement.
Julia smiled while they were discussing if they'd have the chance to go in the water around the edge of the park at all. That led to Mari's birthday in five days though her friend was trying to protest they'd do anything special specifically for that.
"I think we'll just have dinner somewhere… hopefully it's my choice," Mari eventually said. "And I'll have a dessert at least and gifts."
"But… that's really all you want?" Kathleen started to say before she stopped herself.
Before Mari could respond, there was a knock on the door that made the five of them jump before Beckett was walking inside.
"It's…" Julia started to say before she looked at the alarm clock on Mari's nightstand. She sighed and then said, "It's time," directing that to her friends.
"Could we do this again sometime?" Marie asked once they were getting up off the bed.
"Of course, though you need to ask your parents and we need to make sure you can stay with them in the rooms they'll be in," Beckett answered, watching Julia going out into the living room.
"You're dressed already," the teen said when she'd reached her father.
"We're going straight to bed," Castle said. "We're getting a good workout remember."
"That's true," Julia replied with a smile before she hugged him tightly. "Night Dad, I love you."
"I love you too sweetheart," Castle said. "And please get some sleep," he told her.
Laughing Julia waited to respond before he'd kissed her cheek and she did the same to him saying, "We will, if we don't we won't be able to have another sleepover I'm guessing."
"Good deduction," Castle told her. He smiled when she laughed again before they were hugging one more time and he watched her going back to her room.
"Night Julia," Beckett said when her daughter walked up to her, and they embraced. "Love you sweetie."
"I love you too," Julia said. "And thanks again for permission Mom."
"You're welcome, what do you want now?" Beckett asked teasingly.
"Permission for sleepovers," Julia said with a wide smile.
"You have it, from both of us," Castle said before his wife could respond standing in the doorway. "I just wanted to say goodnight to all of you, sleep tight."
After her friends had said goodnight to her father, Julia turned to her mother and said, "Thanks."
Nodding Beckett said, "We'll see you for breakfast after you're dressed for the day. Try not to talk too much." She wasn't surprised when all five were assuring her they wouldn't before she went to the doorway to make sure they were laying down where they were sleeping. "Comfortable?" she asked them once the twins and Eve were settled on their air mattress and cot. After they'd said they were she told them goodnight again and left the room, closing the door behind her before she went to hers and Castle's room, finding her husband on her phone. "You got a message," she stated before he was responding swiftly.
"No, I was just trying to get a more detailed description of the weather tonight," Castle explained. "And it's going to taper off around three."
"Good, though will that be enough time to dry things at the park enough for us to go?" Beckett asked him, moving away from the door she'd closed.
"I have no idea," Castle replied honestly. "Though I think there might be enough dry ground."
Beckett smiled at his wording, and she told him, "Luckily the path around the park is concrete."
Nodding briefly Castle told her, "I was thinking the same. Do we have to go to bed?"
"We should," Beckett said firmly.
"You're not worried about them talking?"
"No," Beckett said simply. "There was a lot of walking today remember, and they're still young."
"Fine," Castle said, pretending to be angry.
Going to him Beckett cupped his cheek and said, "Am I going to have to punish you tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow? You won't be tired from-" Castle started to say when she was lightly pressing her fingertips to his lips.
"I was thinking of us refraining from doing anything too strenuous," Beckett told him.
Sucking in a breath of air briefly, Castle nodded and said against her fingers, "I am too." At the look she immediately gave him he said in a rush, "Now."
"I'm not surprised. But will that be enough?" Beckett asked, moving her fingers away while she had spoken to gently run them through his hair.
Shuddering in pleasure at her touch, Castle took her hand and gently kissed her palm before telling her, "Don't worry, anything we can do will be." He hesitated for a moment and then said, "Sappy?"
"A little, but I get what you're trying to convey," Beckett said before he let go of her hand. She wrapped her arms around him when he did the same to her and they were kissing each other lightly and briefly. "There's another reason why I'd like to wait."
"I realized," Castle said. He glanced at the door and asked, "Should I go check on them?"
"And have Julia ask tomorrow why we don't trust her?" Beckett asked.
"They're five girls," Castle commented.
"Astute of you," Beckett told him teasingly. "But they're serious about having more sleepovers." She gave her husband a look and told him, "And we trust them enough when Julia and Mari will be on their own in a room."
"Of course," Castle said in as firm a tone of voice as she had used. He leaned down and kissed her again before he said, "I need to let you go."
"Yes," Beckett said, unable to help smiling at his obvious dissatisfaction in that statement. She raised herself enough to brush her lips against his and told him, "We'll talk a little once we're in bed," not surprised at his immediate response to her suggestion.
"Then we should hurry," Castle said, smiling when she laughed at his pretending to usher her to the bed. He let her walk on her own before he moved to his side, removing his robe while he watched her doing the same on the other side. Though he didn't want to, he took off his glasses and said, "Do you want the lights off?"
Beckett nodded though she said, "I was serious about talking."
"Good," Castle said. He smiled when his wife rolled her eyes before they were moving to get on the bed and turning off the lights. He wasn't surprised when she took a moment to let her eyes adjust to the dark before she was laying against his side. "What do you think?" he asked her.
"Of the city?" Beckett asked. When she felt him nod, she smiled and told him, "It's nice."
"But not home," Castle said.
"Ask Skye and Mary about the Hamptons and the city and they'll say the same," Beckett said laughingly. She squeezed him slightly before she told him, "I am enjoying it so far though. You?"
"I've always wanted to come here," Castle said.
"And is it living up to your expectations?" Beckett asked him.
"Yes," Castle said, nearly before she finished speaking. He smiled when she began to laugh, and he pressed his lips to her temple before he could just see she was looking up at him. Leaning his head down slightly he captured her lips with his own and they were kissing gently before he deepened it. Though he knew he was risking a lot with that he slipped his tongue into her mouth before they were caressing at one another. When they finally managed to stop, he was the first to pull away and he told her, "I love you, Kate."
"I love you too Rick," Beckett said instantly before he was kissing her. After they parted again, she was smiling when he was asking her about the photoshoot at Manresa. She moved to settle against his side again in anticipation of them talking a little longer before they finally got some rest for their excursion the next day.