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: It was great to get feedback for the last chapter so I'll start on my thank yous for that! TORONTOSUN (Really pleased you love family stories since I love writing them!) and

Mb (Not surprised you're jealous of the vacation, I am too, it would be an awesome one. And I'm glad you thought it was nice seeing them enjoying going to places most of them haven't been to before. And yeah, I figured Skye, with her career at least, would be to a lot of places, lol, so you're right to point that out. I thought it would be interesting to meet someone somebody in their group knew in Vancouver so I made it Skye. And that area of Vancouver has really big homes (I looked on Zillow for research, lol), plus I wanted it to be big just to fit their group, lol. I wasn't surprised either that you mentioned Mari was getting Julia to help her look for her own present by saying it was for her mother, I thought that would be cute so I was glad you liked that! Great to see you thought the first half of the chapter was nicely done! And you're welcome for it too! Really nice reading you thought the second half of the chapter was wonderfully written. And not surprised you mentioned the home they went to again and it being able to hold that many people. I was glad you thought it was having fun together. Also wasn't surprised you thought it was nice seeing everyone relaxing for their vacation together. Again, not surprised that you want to go on vacation with these characters, I do too! You're welcome for sharing this with you and everyone else!).

Thanks for the reviews, loved reading them and appreciate the time taken to write them all and send them my way!

A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song The Vancouver Song written by Grant Mckinnon, Matt Kelly, Matt Lockhart and Steve Lockhart, from the Treelines' album Courage.

By The Blanket Of The Sea

"Hold still Josie," Castle told the toddler with a smile.

"No Dada," Josie said teasingly though she kept her head still while he was getting her helmet set.

After he'd snapped it shut Castle asked, "Good?"

"Eh," Josie said before she turned to the bike and tried to reach up to the seat.

"Hold on sweetie," Beckett said with a smile while she was making her way over to them. "We're about to leave right now, don't worry."

"Are you sure we shouldn't make the sandwiches now?" Castle asked her.

"I'm sure," Beckett replied, smiling again. She kissed his cheek and then picked Josie up telling him, "We don't want the sandwiches sitting. Remember the tomatoes?"

"Right," Castle said, glancing over at Lily. "The chef has spoken," he told his wife when he was looking at her again.

"She has," Beckett said with a smile. "And we all agreed."

"So do I," Castle said quickly when they turned to Skye as she was calling to them all.

"This train is about to depart," the investigator was telling them. "And you guys better be tagging along because I'm ready to ride again."

"She was talking about the park all night," Mary said wryly.

"You'll see why," Skye said, glaring playfully at her wife. She smiled when the doctor laughed, and they were getting on their bikes.

"This better be good," Darnley told the two women.

"It's a park," Skye said. "And there are trees," she added, doing her best to speak seriously though she was fighting a smile at the same time.

"Let's go already," David said in mock annoyance.

"Okay, okay," Skye replied, glaring at him before they were laughing together. She got on the pedals and started to move, checking to make sure hers and Mary's three youngest were set.

"This is so cool," Julia was telling Mari while they were riding together with the older McDouglas twins and Eve.

"I know, the ocean is right there," Kathleen said.

"I think that's something else," Marie told her twin slowly.

"Mum!" Kathleen yelled.

"Hold on, we're going to stop shortly," Skye called out. "Are you two ever going to be leading on this trip?" she said to Beckett jokingly.

"How?" Castle asked before his wife could respond. "This is your coast," he added before she was calling out to everyone to his surprise.

"Everyone stop," Skye said. "We're at the first landmark."

"There they are," Julia said eagerly.

"You know about these?" Marie asked in surprise.

"You do?" Eve said to her.

"Yeah, we've seen Mum's pictures," Marie replied.

"And she took a lot of these," Kathleen said, nodding to the totem poles.

"Now I'm going to," Julia said, getting off her bike and putting down the kickstand. She could hear Mari laughing while she walked away from them before she realized her friend was next to her. Glancing at her, she saw Mari had her camera out and they shared a smile before beginning to take pictures.

"You know they're right there," Castle told his wife when he realized she was taking pictures of him and Josie.

"I'm aware," Beckett said simply. "And I also know they're not going anywhere. But you two are."

Pursing his lips for a moment, Castle was soon smiling when his wife laughed briefly before they were turning their attention to the totem poles. He could hear her shutter, not surprised when she was taking several pictures and he eventually told her, "I want to see how those came out."

"Which ones?" Beckett asked with a smile while she turned to him.

"All of them," Castle said firmly.

Smirking at him, Beckett glanced around their group before she spotted who she was looking for. "Will you stay with her?" she asked her husband.

"Sure," Castle replied in surprise. He watched her going over to their oldest and smiled before he turned his attention to Eliza who was skipping up to them.

"How're you doing?" Beckett asked once she had reached Alexis.

"I'm fine, not feeling so tired," she replied, not surprised her mother had asked her.

"You're getting close to sixteen weeks," Beckett said.

"Hmm," Alexis said before her mother was wrapping her arm around her gently. "I know, technically it's nine months but with these two…" trailing off as she looked down at her stomach. "I just worry it's going to be too soon," she confessed to Beckett before her mother was gently hugging her while she spoke.

"I felt the same when I was pregnant the first time," Beckett said, wording it that way since Julia was near them. She lowered her voice and then told her daughter, "But I had your father and gram, my doctor helped me and so did books."

"Is that your way of telling me again you'll all be there for me?" Alexis asked with a slight smile.

"Both of you," Beckett said firmly.

"Good," Alexis replied before they began to laugh. She shared a brief embrace with her mother before she said, "I'm getting more anxious about feeling them move."

"You have a little more time," Beckett said with a nod.

"Too much," Alexis said briefly before she turned back to look at the totem poles. "I'm so glad I can still ride a bike." She could see out of the corner of her eye that her mother was about to speak and told her rapidly, "Louis is watching me, and he checked with me as soon as we stopped. The pace is fine."

"And he's here," Beckett said.

"You'll forgive us Lex?" Louis asked his wife.

"Yes," Alexis said with a smile before she and her husband embraced.

Watching her mother walking to her Julia said, "I'm fine."

"I wasn't going to ask that," Beckett replied with a smile. "I wanted to see if you were enjoying the park so far," she added, not surprised at her daughter's immediate reaction.

"We barely started," Julia said. She then smiled and said, "But I really do. I just can't wait to go into the trees."

"I agree," Beckett said, gently rubbing her back.

"And for lunch," Julia said jokingly.

Laughing briefly, Beckett shook her head and told her, "You realize we have a little more time."

"Oh, I know, but I'm just saying," Julia said. She was beaming at her mother when she looked down at her and said, "I loved the island too."

"So did I," Beckett said before she heard her husband calling to her. "I think we need to go."

"I'm ready," Julia said before she went over to her bike.

Going to the one she was using with the seat for Josie behind her, Beckett asked her husband, "Do you want to take it?"

"I asked her," Castle said. He couldn't help smiling at his wife looking at him in surprise and then told her, "I thought you'd ask. She was very firm about you taking the bike."

"Okay," Beckett said after her husband moved the bike off the stand to hold it for her. She had Josie set in her seat quickly and then moved to take the handlebars, thanking Castle before he stopped her. Looking up at him she saw the look on his face and though she knew she needed to get on the bike to go, she took his kiss. Watching him soon after pulling away she told him, "Watch that."

"Don't worry, I thought of that myself," Castle said firmly. He smiled when she squeezed at his arm, and he headed to his bike so they could continue down the seawall. At one point he sped up saying, "I'd like to ask a question," watching the investigator laughing before she responded.

"Go ahead, though I'm a little concerned," Skye said.

"Don't be," Castle said swiftly. "Where exactly will we turn in?"

"You haven't seen the small roads?" Skye asked.

"Then you know one," Castle said.

"She doesn't," Mary replied. "Her strategy is to just go down one since we have a map of course." When she saw the way her wife was looking at her, she said, "Remember I do know you grá."

"Yes, yes," Skye said, sighing out in feigned resignation. She then smiled and told Castle, "She's right though."

"As long as you have that map," Beckett said, having sped up a little.

"I do," Skye said with a smile at her before they were continuing to cycle along the Burrard Inlet's waters.

"There's the bridge!" Eliza called to her sister.

"I see it," Julia said with a smile. She was then looking ahead to their parents; wondering how she was going to be able to reach them to ask about stopping when Skye was telling them to do so. As soon as they had stopped, she took pictures of the Lion's Gate bridge.

"Are you okay Gram?" Eliza asked.

"Of course," Martha assured her. "What about you, this has been a long ride."

"I've gone further when I'm at home," Eliza replied. "But I'm so hungry," she said before Liam was speaking behind them.

"We'll eat soon," the pilot said. When the two turned to him he nodded ahead of them and said, "I know my daughter, she's looking for the right spot."

"For my sister?" Eliza asked. She smiled when Liam laughed and then said, "For all of us?"

"That one," Pablo said in agreement.

"You seem to know Skye well too," Joseph said.

"They didn't tell you? I've known them for decades," Pablo replied. He glanced at his husband and when the man rolled his eyes he said, "I'm kidding, I helped Skye after the plane she was on with the Castles."

"The one that was almost going to crash?" Eliza asked, her eyes wide.

Nodding Pablo said, "I was a physical therapist at the time and her general doctor had her see me to check that she didn't need extra help. We got along well since I've always loved planes and she invited me to dinner where I met Liam."

"When did you start dating?" Bethany asked in surprise.

"I was in a relationship at the time," Pablo said. "And that lasted for two years but since I kept getting invited to the McDouglas house…"

"You see where that led," Liam commented when his husband trailed off. He turned then since he'd noticed his daughter-in-law was walking up to them. "Something's wrong then?" he asked her.

"No," Mary said. "We're checking with everyone; we have a tiny little more to go before a trail into the woods where we'll look for a spot for lunch."

"Did you tell my sister?" Eliza asked in a rush. "I mean Jules, did you tell Jules?"

"I think your parents did," Mary said with a smile at her tone.

"I agree to that," Eliza then said at the same speed she'd spoken at before.

Hearing everyone agreeing, Mary smiled and then said, "Great, get ready to go." When they were nodding, she went back to where her wife was getting onto her bike and said, "They're all on board," before Beckett was asking about her second youngest.

"Is Eliza hungry?" she said.

"Yeah, I think all the kids are hungry," Skye said with a slight incline of her head. She studied the map of the park again and told the others in a slightly louder voice, "Don't worry, the Ravine Trail is just up ahead and that's our connection to the Hanson Trail."

"Do you have any idea what anything looks like? The quality of the trail?" Castle asked the investigator.

"We'll have to walk, I'm not risking any rocks," Skye replied. "But I did mention we'd walk a little too last night."

"And today at the island Mum," Kathleen said. "Oh! What was the island and water we passed by earlier?"

Skye couldn't help laughing before she got the map again and read it before saying, "Just as well you didn't ask me earlier, that's Deadman Island and closed to the public."

"The water?" Castle asked.

"Coal Harbour," Skye said. "With a u of course." She then glanced at everyone behind them and said, "Let's start before the kids raid the tote bags for food."

"Oh no, not on my watch," Brad said immediately since he was wearing the backpack they were stored in. He then gestured to David and said, "Or the mayor's."

"I think this is out of your jurisdictions," Nkosi said in amusement, watching them.

"Guys, enough with the joking," Mary said though she couldn't hold back her laughter at the same time.

"Okay sweetie?" Beckett asked Josie, reaching back and getting the toddler's fingers from her mouth.

"Hungry Mama," Josie said. "Food?"

"Right now," Beckett assured her before she was turning back to the seawall, riding with the others to a trail where the investigator had them stop while she spoke at the same time.

"Okay, this is the trail," Skye began. "Everyone get off the bikes."

"Why that threatening?" Darnley asked.

"No reason," Skye said, shrugging her shoulders before she laughed at the way the carpenter was groaning. She started to walk leading everyone down the trail before she looked at Beckett next to her. "Can I help you?" she asked in amusement.

"My husband wants me to help you scout out where we're going," she replied.

"You don't trust me now," Skye shot back to Castle since he was talking with Mary behind them.

"Hey," he said in mock annoyance to his wife.

"It was my choice," Beckett told the investigator.

"Well… so far it doesn't look that bad," Skye said. "Though I don't know how it'll be moving to the second trail. But this park has been there for a while." She then looked at Beckett and said with a smile, "Though now I just realized, you wanted to see the path yourself."

"I'd love a picture," Beckett said seriously.

"Hold on for a second," Skye called back to everyone. She watched the writer taking the picture before they walked again, and she stopped them again at a fork.

"Is that it?" Mary asked her wife while she was studying the map in her hands.

"It is," Skye said swiftly.

"What's wrong?" Rebecca asked.

"I haven't been through the interior of this whole park," Skye was explaining. "Actually, I haven't been through enough to know the trails as you can see," she added, holding up the map briefly. "I'm not sure if we'll immediately find a good spot for lunch."

"We can try," Beckett told her friend.

"Lunch!" Sophie cried from the seat behind her father on his bike.

After they'd stopped laughing Skye said, "Right, let's start exploring," leading the way to the next trail.

When they'd been walking for a while Julia hurried through the others ahead of them before she reached Skye and her mother. "Hi," she said, a little out of breath.

"Why did you run?" Beckett said in surprise.

"Um… no reason," Julia said, feeling a little flustered.

"Julia! What's the matter? We were talking to each other, and you just took off," Mari said, hurrying to them before Skye was calling again to the others.

"Wait," the investigator was telling the others. Turning back to Julia, Skye said, "There is a reason. Out with it."

Smiling a little since the investigator's tone was gentle, Julia sighed before she said, "I saw Freddie walking over there," pointing to the right of the trail.

Turning immediately, Skye spotted the singer and said mentally, 'What's your game mister?'

Julia couldn't help giggling softly at Freddie's immediate laugh in response before she heard him reply.

I just wanted to help, Freddie said.

'Then you know where we should go,' Skye said, glancing at Julia and wondering if she should have spoken that out loud.

I'll show Julia, Freddie replied.

'Oh no,' Skye said firmly. 'Show me because the adults are going to need to make sure for the kids.' She paused for a moment and then said rapidly, 'You can speak with her if you'd like.'

I can't find a chance, Freddie replied.

'What did you want to talk to her about?' Skye couldn't help asking.

Her future competition, Freddie said.

'I'll let her know once we have a chance today,' Skye said. "Sorry," she told everyone. "I'm going to look for a place here or else we'll never have the chance to eat."

"I think there's a clearing right there," Julia said. "A little one."

Leaving her bike, Skye stepped in between some trees and saw what Freddie had likely told the teen before she'd come up to her and Beckett. Nodding she walked back and said, "Good eye, there is one. It's not huge but it'll work."

With that everyone was putting their bikes in pairs and in a line so they could chain four together before they moved to unload everything they needed for lunch.

"You don't need to make the sandwiches," Martha said to Lily. "At least not for the rest of us."

"I wasn't going to, that would take ages," the chef said with a smile. "I'm just passing everything out," Lily added before she parceled out what each family had bought at the market, and they proceeded to make their lunch.

"No bugs went in there did they?" Eliza asked, watching her father finishing the last sandwich eventually.

"I was watching," Castle assured her with a smile. "Take yours."

"Julia," Beckett said, getting her attention.

"Oh, thanks," Julia said, taking the small bag of chips from her. Seeing the way her mother was studying her she said, "I'm fine."

"What was going on?" Beckett asked before they were both turning to look at Darnley when he suddenly spoke.

"Yeah, you were really quiet for a while Skye," the carpenter said.

"They already know Julia," the investigator told her.

"True," she replied. "Go ahead and tell them."

"You better help me," Skye told her, narrowing her eyes jokingly at her before Julia was laughing. They told the others what had happened, and she wasn't surprised at Brad's confused inquiry once they'd finished.

"Why would he want to help us find a spot to have lunch?" the chief asked.

"That might be me," Julia said, her cheeks a little flushed. "I mentioned to Freddie once while we were talking that I was hoping to find the perfect spot."

When the teen looked at her, Skye couldn't help smiling widely before she said, "Spiritually?" At Julia's brief nod she told the others, "I'm sure you realize she means the best place without negative connotations."

"I did mention the view," Julia added. "He laughed when I said that but said he would help."

"He really did," Ivy said firmly before she was smiling at the laughter of the others.

"Good thing it's so close to the trail," Mary told her wife.

Nodding, since she was eating a chip, Skye said when she'd finished, "I think it was easier for him to look that close."

"I'm okay," Julia said immediately when her parents were turning to her. "I don't feel tired or anything."

"Rose-" Mary started to say.

"I'm fine as well," Skye replied firmly.

"Why do I have a hard time believing you," Mary said in the same tone.

Sighing Skye said, "I felt a little drained but I'm better with some food in me." She saw her wife was hesitating and she looked at her pointedly before the doctor was nodding and they returned to their food.

"Daddy?" Eliza eventually asked when they were finished with their sandwiches. When he looked at her questioningly, she said, "We're having dinner alone still," not surprised when her mother was responding.

"You want him to tell you what we're going to do tomorrow," Beckett said.

"I was planning on it before we left," Castle added, getting their share of Saskatoon berries and passing the container they were in around.

"Now is good," David said.

Making a brief face at his friend, Castle said, "We're coming back here."

"Seriously?" Eve asked in surprise.

"The aquarium," Skye took up. "That'll be the morning, after we'll go to Gastown."

"Hey, no laughing," Castle said in mock annoyance when some of the kids were snorting in laughter.

"Sorry, it's a little funny," Julia said before looking at her father pointedly.

"Do you want to tell them why it's called that?" Beckett asked her husband in amusement.

"There was a guy called Gassy Jack," Castle said, shaking his head though he was smiling at the way the kids were laughing outright then. "He had a saloon and I think it said he was…"

"A talker," Skye said when the writer looked at her.

"What is there though?" Bethany asked.

"Well, we're going around lunch, so I thought we'd start with a café," Castle said. "And then shops and a clock."

"A clock?" Eve, Jacob, Julia, Mari, Marie and Kathleen all said at the same time. They looked at one another, startled, while the others were laughing and then joined in before they were calming down.

"He's right," Beckett then told them. "But you'll see tomorrow." She wasn't surprised when Eliza was tugging her shirt sleeve and speaking quickly while she was wrapping her arm around her.

"What about after that?" Eliza asked. "It won't rain, will it?"

"It may at night," Castle said, not surprised when everyone looked at him. "But it's a low chance. What do you want to do?"

"Are we gonna eat dinner at the hotel?" Eliza asked.

"Can I answer?" Skye asked the little girl's parents.

"Go ahead, she's going to keep asking," Beckett replied.

"There's another place I know," Skye told the others.

"Why are you being so hesitant?" Liam asked his daughter in surprise.

"If it's the one you're talking about you might want to think again," Mary told her wife. "Wait what were you planning to have for the barbeque the last night?" she swiftly directed to Castle.

"Burgers, I'd thought of hot dogs, but I think burgers are fine," the writer said. "Though if anyone does want them…"

"Not if we're going to this place tomorrow night," Mary said.

"I'm very confused," Martha commented.

"Don't worry, I am too," Jim said, not surprised Nkosi's parents were nodding in agreement with him.

"It's a German place, Bestie," Skye said. "A nineteen minute walk from the hotel if the weather's good. But it's very casual, I'm not sure the lot of us will fit in the place. Though we don't necessarily need to eat all together," she added before she was glancing at the youngest of the couples before Louis was talking in surprise.

"You don't want us there?" the young man asked.

"You don't want to go on your own?" Skye asked, looking between him and Alexis.

"Not yet," she answered before her husband could. "And I think I know what you want to do with that restaurant."

"There are other restaurants," Skye said swiftly.

"Why not ask the people who have the terrace off their suite?" Beckett asked her friend. When the investigator looked at her in surprise, she couldn't keep herself from smiling before she said, "We don't mind; I'm not sure about the others."

When the other parents were saying they didn't Eliza then said, "We can't put our feet in the pool?"

"We need to wait and see how the weather is," Castle said. "And that rain might be later near midnight."

"Wait," Lily said, looking up from her phone. "This place looks like it's more for lunch."

"What're you thinking Lils?" Brad asked, studying her.

"What if we switched the meal plans," Lily suggested.

"We could wait a little to go to Gastown," Skye said, looking at Castle.

"We have a lot of time for that," Rebecca commented. "Sunset isn't until around nine."

"There are a lot of nice cafés there," Castle said. "Any objections to that."

"What're we going to do after lunch?" Fleur asked in confusion.

"The youngest will need their naps," Joseph answered.

"We could rest until we leave for this area of the city," Bethany added.

"I got an idea," Julia said slowly. When her father motioned for to continue, she said, "Could we go to Robson, the other direction?"

"You'd want to shop twice?" Beckett asked in amusement.

"To take pictures too," Julia explained.

"We could, someone just needs to go with them," Nkosi said.

"We can figure that out tomorrow," Skye said. "We have the rest of today too you know," she said in amusement when her daughters were giving her looks.

"Then we have tomorrow set," Mary said, squeezing Ivy's shoulder next to her.

"What about the day after?" Julia asked, smirking at her father.

"You'll find out tomorrow," Castle said in mock annoyance. He laughed when she caught a berry in her mouth and then turned his attention to Josie. "Uh… Kate," he said.

"Did you think I was going to be able to stop her?" Beckett said.

"I'm assuming I'll need to clean her up," Castle told her.

"You can try," Beckett said in amusement while she watched her husband wet a napkin to wipe away the mess of berries on their youngest's mouth and chin. She was surprised when the toddler remained still and became a little concerned before she reached to Josie and put her on her lap.

"I checked, she's not sick," Castle told her, watching her pressing her lips to their youngest's forehead.

"No, but why is she this tired?" Beckett asked in confusion.

"I can answer that," Martha said. "She woke up early this morning and wouldn't fall back asleep," she explained before her son was speaking to the toddler seriously.

"Did you have a nightmare ceann beag?" Castle asked her, gently brushing some of her hair off her forehead.

"Maybe," Beckett said when the toddler snuggled closer against her.

"Is she okay?" Eliza asked worriedly.

"She is," Beckett said. "She might take a longer nap than usual."

"Too bad," Julia said. "She's going to miss a lot after this."

"We're not leaving for a while," Skye said.

"It is a huge park, show them the map," Mary told her wife with a smile.

"Here," Skye said laughingly, letting Eve take the park map.

"She's right," the young woman said. "Though I got an idea it was yesterday on the drive."

"Me too," Jacob said in agreement.

When no one said anything after that Beckett asked, "Are we staying here?"

"I'm ready to keep going," Brad said. He was going to say more when he heard the kids agreeing with him. "Then it's up to you guys."

"Yeah, I think we should continue… though what exactly are we doing once we go through the whole park?" Darnley asked.

"The beach," Skye replied easily.

"We're still going?" Ivy asked in surprise.

"Of course, we can't swim but you can play on the beach," Mary told her.

Getting up then, the group cleaned everything up from lunch before they were returning to their bikes and unlocking them. Castle went to his wife where she was standing with Eliza and was about to ask her if she wanted him to take their youngest when she spoke first.

"Mind holding her while I make sure Eliza's ready?" Beckett asked.

"Not at all," Castle said before he held out his arms. Once the toddler, fast asleep, was settled, he looked on while his wife was watching Eliza put on her helmet and checking the strap under her chin was secure.

"Go ahead," Beckett told her with a smile, watching her hurry back to her bike. She turned to her husband before she studied their youngest and said, "Want to put her in?"

"I'd love to," Castle said, looking down at the toddler. He walked over to his wife's bike before she got on the seat, being careful putting Josie in the seat.

"The helmet-" Beckett started to say.

"If she's as tired as I think she is I can get this on her without waking her up," Castle said, gently moving Josie's head to get the helmet on her. Setting her back, he checked her and seeing her eyes were still closed he buckled the strap. "Okay," he told Beckett, walking to where she was standing. "You're set."

"Rick," Beckett said.

"Yes," Castle replied.

Rolling her eyes, Beckett couldn't help smiling shortly after she started and told him, "If you're quick…"

Castle's response was to immediately lean down slightly to her, brushing his lips to hers. After he'd pulled away, he told her, "You're okay staying in the hotel tonight?"

"I am," Beckett assured him, gently squeezing his hand. She watched him get his bike away from hers and get on it before she realized Skye wasn't on hers. She was about to ask what she was going to do when the investigator spoke to everyone while she was holding the map.

"I'm wondering if you'll let me take us through this part of the park for a little longer before we get back to the seawall," Skye said.

"That would be great!" Julia said first.

"She's right, I'd like to see more of this foliage too," Martha said.

"It might be more bike riding," Skye warned her though she was looking at all the grandparents.

"Are you sure about that Tata," Nkosi said when his father was assuring Skye he would be fine.

"I am not that old," Joseph said firmly.

"Then I'll lead," Skye said after everyone was looking at her. She checked the map again and got onto her bike before she was starting to pedal. Before they reached the road, they'd used to get to the Hanson Trail she led them north on the Eagle Trail.

The group stopped a few times to take pictures before they were near the seawall and Skye had them stop.

"I just noticed," the investigator said as she'd seen a sign. "When we get to the very top of the park, we'll have to walk our bikes."

"For how long?" Ivy asked in disappointment.

"It doesn't matter," Mary aid after she had taken a look at what her wife was talking about. "It's for your safety."

"And we'll have the chance for a ton of pictures," Skye said before Eliza was raising her hand suddenly.

"You can speak sweetie," Beckett said in amusement before the little girl was talking in a rush.

"Are we going to be able to see the bridge?" Eliza asked. When the investigator merely smiled, she was confused before they were continuing again. A little further down the road she gasped suddenly spying the bridge right above them. "Wow," she said, beaming at her grandfather who was riding with her.

"Impressive," Louis told his wife.

"I agree," Alexis said before they were slowing down and stopping. She took a few pictures of the bridge and then the trees to their left before getting one of her husband.

"When do we need to stop riding?" Beckett asked Skye.

"I'll let you know but it'll be soon, since we're riding," the investigator replied. She then smiled and told her wife, Beckett and Castle, "We can't stay on the seawall to get to the northernmost point but there's a path we can use to get pictures."

"Is that where we'll have to walk?" Castle asked. At the investigator's nod he said, "We better go."

When she saw the others behind them were looking at them, Skye said, "Right," and she got back on her bike.

Riding a little further northwest, the group was soon getting off their bikes and walking them on the path by Prospect Point. They rested there for a while, getting pictures before Beckett was going to the other parents.

"I just thought of something," she told them. "What if we had the kids stand together for a picture?"

"What about Josie and Sophie," Castle reminded her.

"We'll take another one further down," Skye said. When Beckett looked at her, she said with a smile, "I guessed what you wanted to do."

"Good guess," Beckett replied with a smile before she watched her husband join the parents getting the kids ready. Once they were standing together, she took a few pictures at once before Julia was walking up to her. "I told you your sister will be in the next picture, so will Sophie."

"That's not what I was going to say," Julia said, smiling for a moment. She then became a little serious and said, "Are we okay here?"

Looking at the cliffs bordering the trail, Beckett said, "We'll keep an eye on them but there are a lot of people here."

"That's true," Julia said, looking at the people walking or jogging by them. She went to Mari and said, "I asked," not surprised when her friend spoke swiftly after she stopped.

"I'm still worried," the girl said.

"Then walk on the water side," Julia told her, squeezing her shoulder gently.

"Right," Mari said before the adults were calling to them to start walking again. She glanced at the cliffs to her left before they were finally passing them, and she couldn't help breathing out slightly in her relief.

"I told you we'd be fine," Julia said while they were getting onto their bikes.

"Better to be safe," Mari replied with a shrug. She smiled when her friend was laughing softly, and they were soon riding again.

Pausing every so often for pictures while they continued down the seawall, Skye soon had them stop before she was telling them, "We made it to Third Beach. Do you kids still want to explore?"

"Yes!" they said at nearly the same time.

"Okay, then we'll go ahead and take a break before we head back to the cars," Skye replied.

"She's awake," Castle told his wife.

"I had a feeling," Beckett said with a smile before she watched him getting off his bike and he was moving to the seat behind her.

"Good morning," Castle told the toddler.

"Dada I go swim?" Josie asked eagerly.

"Not today, but we can find some shells," Castle assured her, getting her helmet off first. He unbuckled her from the seat and took her off, raising her above him while she squealed before he put her on his hip. Kissing her cheek, he watched his wife getting off her bike before he said, "Are we going with her?"

"We don't have to the entire time," Beckett said in amusement since she had a feeling as to why her husband was asking that. She reached out to him and cupped his cheek telling him, "We'll sit together for a little."

"If we have the time," Castle said swiftly. He wasn't surprised when his wife was pulling him to her, and they shared a brief kiss before Eliza was throwing herself at him. "Oh… so you want to go?" he asked her laughingly, handing Josie to his wife.

"Yes, I want to see the kinds of shells we can find," Eliza replied. She paused for a moment and then said, "We can keep them, right?"

"You can, but let's take only two or three, okay? We're going to a few beaches, and I wouldn't want you to empty the beach," Castle told her with a smile.

"I won't," Eliza said with a giggle.

"Tell your sister," Castle said. He glanced at his wife and said with a smile, "No input?"

"You said what I was thinking of already," Beckett said simply, smiling herself. She wasn't surprised when he was leaning into her for another kiss, and they were swift before she moved to walk onto the beach while he locked up the bikes. "Remember sweetie," she told Josie as she set her down. "We're not swimming, just looking for some shells."

"I get that," Josie said, looking up at her mother.

"Yes," Beckett replied, glancing back at Castle who was soon walking up to them.

"Are you ready?" he asked the toddler. Unable to help it, Castle laughed briefly when she reached out to take his hand in response and they went down to the water before they could hear Iris crying out in joy.

"I found a shell! Look at the color," the little girl said eagerly.

"How purple," Eliza said, with her and the other two youngest McDouglas girls. "I see another one!" she told them eagerly.

"Lizzy!" Josie cried out. "Lizzy!"

"Want to look for shells with us?" Eliza asked.

"Eh," Josie said before she watched her sister turning to their parents.

"Go ahead," Castle said with a smile. "But watch her closely."

"I will," Eliza said before she observed her parents going to a log, sitting on a towel her father had. Turning to the other three she said, "You'll help me with Josa, right?"

"Of course." "Definitely," Fleur and Ivy said.

Watching her twin, Ivy cleared her throat and said, "Iris?"

"What? Oh, I'll help too, don't worry," she responded. "Come and look with me."

"She's fine," Castle told his wife, watching her looking down the beach a little at their second oldest.

"I know, I just want to check," Beckett replied. She sat back against the log they'd chosen, and she told her husband, "We can't do that much."

"Believe me," Castle said while a kid ran by. "I'm very aware of that."

Beckett laughed softly and said, "But it's nice to relax."

"Very," Castle agreed, gently squeezing her since he'd had his arm wrapped around her for a while. He glanced down at her when she leaned against him, and he pressed a kiss to the top of her head while they watched their family and friends exploring the beach in front of them.