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 title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Seattle the Peerless City, written by Arthur O. Dillon.
Her Glory Is Unfurled
"Please tell me I don't have to lead this time," Skye commented after they'd paid for their admission to the Seattle Aquarium.
"You don't want to?" Castle asked in amusement. "You've been here."
"Just take the map grá," Mary said in mock annoyance.
"Fine," Skye said, pretending she was going to snatch it out of the writer's hand. "And you're right, I'm more aware of what we're going to walk around here," she added while she was taking it normally. "And again, sorry this got moved to after your birthday Mari," she added.
Shaking her head Mari said, "I know your friend at Boeing needed you to go yesterday."
"So do I," Paul said quickly.
Laughing with the others at the singer's tone Skye nodded before she said, "First thing is here though some of you saw already," as they were walking past the admission counter. "Cheaters," she told them teasingly.
"Have your camera ready?" Castle asked his wife.
"I do," Beckett replied with a smile. "Are you okay with her?"
"As long as she's alright," Castle answered, holding Josie on his hip. They reached the large window looking into an aquarium and he turned to the toddler, smiling when he saw she was looking inside. "See the fish?" he asked.
"Eh," Josie said, reaching up to one going by above them. She laughed when her father kissed her temple and she said, "No Dada."
"Not even just once?" Castle asked her with a smile.
"No," Josie said though she was smiling at her father at the same time.
Taking a picture of some starfish clustered together inside, Beckett turned to her husband and their youngest before she said, "Luckily she's enjoying this."
"Luckily everyone is," Castle commented, looking down their group.
"Just because it's not my field of science doesn't mean I don't enjoy it," Brian responded in mock irritation.
"Just wait for the rest of the place," Mary commented before they were continuing.
"I'm noticing the map," Rebecca said to the investigator then. "It doesn't look that big."
"No but there are a few things to do," Skye said.
"Grá," Mary told her.
"We're going to finish early," Brad commented.
"After lunch," Skye said. "But we do have the Space Needle and I forgot to suggest that we walk there."
"How long is it?" Paul asked though they were pausing and looking at the next exhibit.
"Twenty-four minutes from here and then just eight minutes to the hotel," Mary explained.
"I'm fine with that," Paul said immediately.
"As am I lass," Liam said, seeing his husband nodding in agreement out of the corner of his eye.
When the others were agreeing, except for the kids, Skye smiled and said, "Great, it does make it easier to walk."
"It's a walkable city," Rodger commented. "That's the word I want."
"It is," Stella said with a smile.
"She's right, they love their outdoors here," Skye said before they were reaching the next exhibit and turned their attention to the younger kids who were crying out and rushing up to the tidepools.
"Easy," Jim said with a smile, going to Eliza before she laughed and was speaking to him apologetically.
"I wanted to touch them… we can touch them, right?" the little girl was asking.
"You can," a female employee said near them.
"You might want to wait for everyone to be ready to start," Jim told his second youngest granddaughter.
"Okay," Eliza replied since nearly everyone in their group was there.
"Are you going to touch anything?" Castle asked his wife once they were at the side of the pool.
"Not this time," Beckett replied with a smile.
"Then are you ready?" Castle directed to their youngest.
When the toddler was nodding rapidly, Beckett couldn't help laughing and she kissed the side of her head before her husband was leaning over.
"Let's try the starfish first," Castle said. He reached down with his right hand before picking it up and he told Josie, "Touch it gently remember. You don't want to hurt it."
"No hurt," the toddler replied.
"Good," Castle said, kissing her cheek. After she had lightly touched one of the legs he told her, "Why don't you hold it?"
"Me?" Josie asked.
"Yes," Beckett replied before her husband could. She smiled when the toddler looked at her with wide eyes and told her, "Just hold it sweetie, and don't drop it."
"Eh," Josie replied before turning to the starfish. After she had it, she was laughing at the feeling of its feet and she told her father, "Tickles Dada."
"I know," Castle replied, kissing her again. He took the starfish and set it down before they started to walk to the anemones.
Taking pictures of their other daughters at that point, Beckett saw Alexis was washing her hands and asked her, "You got tired?"
"It's the smell," Alexis replied, shaking her head. "I'm okay," she said swiftly. "I need to move on though."
"I'll join you," Beckett said.
"Actually, I will," Martha said firmly, walking up to them.
"You too Gram?" Alexis asked her with a smile.
"Yes," Martha said, in the same tone of voice she'd used before. She then smiled and said, "And I want to make sure you're alright."
"I am," Alexis replied. She smiled again and told her mom and grandmother, "But I am enjoying it here."
"There's something I need to ask," Beckett said since she'd suddenly thought of their plans. "What are you going to do at the Space Needle?"
"Louis and I were talking about that," Alexis said. "And he's urging me to go with him back to the hotel."
"I agree," Beckett and Martha said at the same time.
Alexis couldn't help laughing before she said once she'd calmed down, "I'm not surprised, but I don't want him to miss it," jumping with them when her husband and father were walking up to them and talking at the same time.
"I won't mind." "He said he wouldn't mind," Louis and then Castle said. They looked at each other before the former was speaking first.
"Right, I don't mind," Louis told his wife.
Sighing, Alexis said, "Alright, though I wonder if my sisters will."
"I wouldn't worry," Beckett said. "If you mention the smell here, they might push you to go back to the hotel now."
Alexis smiled and said, "I wouldn't be surprised if they did. But we'll go with you to the market."
"I think we're moving," Castle told his wife.
"And where is Josie?" Beckett asked him in amusement.
"With your dad, he was picking up the starfish for her," Castle said. "She wanted to go with him." He was a little surprised when his wife merely nodded before she was slipping her arm through his. "How long?" he asked in Irish.
"How long what?" Beckett replied in the same language.
"Can we stay like this?" Castle inquired.
Smiling at him Beckett said, "For a while, but you should get Josie at some point." She wasn't surprised when her husband nodded, and she squeezed his arm while they were looking at the aquarium with an octopus in it. She had to let her husband go to start taking pictures, pleased when she was aware he was staying with her.
"Mommy," Eliza said, rushing over to her before they moved on to the next thing.
"Yes sweetie?" Beckett asked, lowering her camera.
"Could you help me with my pictures?" Eliza asked.
"Of course," Beckett replied. "But you have to let me know." When her second youngest nodded and rushed to the younger kids, she frowned for a moment before she realized Julia was walking up next to her with Mari. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing, I don't know why Lizzy said that," Julia replied. She then smiled and said, "But I think she's a little jealous of Josa."
"I'm not holding her," Beckett replied, startled hearing that.
"But Grandpapa is busy doing that now," Julia explained. "So…"
"Will you tell him to spend some time with your sister? You too if you want him to," Beckett said.
"Okay, everyone," Skye said when she had stopped them. "This next section has some outdoor exhibits, but the animals should be able to be seen."
"Why does it matter?" Darnley asked jokingly. "It isn't raining, is it?" he laughed when the investigator gave him a look and they began walking out together before they were at the first animal.
"Birds!" Fleur gasped in joy. She then realized something and looked at Paul before the singer was laughing and shaking his head.
"Don't worry, I don't mind any birds," Paul replied. "Unless they're stealing my food," he said though his four grandchildren were saying that with him. "Hey," he told them before they were laughing and Josie was squealing with laughter, setting off Sophie.
"Wait," Lily said, calming down her daughter. After Beckett had done the same with Josie, she told everyone, "We might not have a ton to see but we do want to have the chance to see everything."
"Right," Skye replied. "Then let's see the birds."
After they had gone around everything in that section, the group headed to the next after the investigator and Mary. When they stopped at the window Ivy went over to her mother and took her mothers' hands before she was talking to them shyly.
"What're these?" the little girl said.
"Salmon," Skye said before she glanced at the other parents. She let go of Ivy's hand so she could join the other kids before she turned to her wife.
"We're not explaining what it says on the map?" Castle asked.
"Do you want to? What if we go to Everett's and she's serving salmon?" Mary replied.
"And we're going to the market," Nkosi said. "Where they'll want to watch them throw fish."
"I wonder if they'll want to watch them now," Rebecca said.
"What?" Beckett asked Lily, spotting the expression on her friend's face.
"Well, we know the two youngest aren't going to understand this," the chef replied. "And our oldest are aware that we eat salmon."
"Why don't we just let them tell us if they have a problem with going to that part of the market?" Beckett suggested.
"Eliza will if she does," Castle commented.
"Should I say something?" the little girl asked her big sister.
"I don't think so," Julia said slowly since they could easily hear the adults' conversation. "Sorry," she told the Willis kids.
"We get that a lot from friends," Reiley commented.
"You should try to eat veggie tonight," Bailey said.
"Bailey," Miller told his sister.
"It's a suggestion," Bailey told him.
"I'm sure you could find a place," Bobby said. "Though you know if they tell their parents they're going to let on they heard the conversation."
"And we just heard yours," Castle told them. He was startled when they were yelling, somehow not managing to do so that loudly, before they pretended to run away.
"Okay you guys," Skye told them while they were laughing. "I think we need to have a talk."
"We want veggie," the kids nearly said at the same time.
"I don't know if I can get that from Everett," Skye said though she was getting her phone out.
"We'll find something at the market," Brad said firmly. "But I just remembered something, what about lunch?"
"They have a veggie burger and grilled cheese for the kiddies," Skye said absently since she was texting her friend.
"Don't call us kiddies Mummy," Iris said swiftly.
Laughing softly, Mary brought the little girl over to her and said, "But you are to us."
"She said she'll be making us some chicken a lá king; that's her specialty," Skye said when her text alert sounded. "But you know we can eat veggie at lunch."
"I think we might want to go," Jim suggested to them.
"Right, there's more to see of course," Skye said before they were walking around to where they reached the river otters.
"Ooh, they're so cute!" Eliza said eagerly, looking at some swimming around in front of them.
"I know, I wish I could 'ave one for a pet," Fleur said in agreement. They shared a look and were shortly after beginning to laugh before they were stopping at the same time Jacob cleared his throat next to them and spoke with a half smile.
"I hope that laughing means you know about those teeth," he said.
"Yeah," Eliza replied. "But a toy otter?"
"Oh yeah, no problem," Jacob said before he left the two.
"'e's so cute," Fleur said.
"I guess," Eliza replied with a shrug. "He's like he's part of my family," she then explained when she saw the surprise on Fleur's face.
"That's true, you do see 'im more than I do," Fleur replied. She smiled when her friend nodded before her mother was calling to her and they were leaving with everyone else for the next animal.
After they were watching the seals swimming around Beckett saw her husband was looking at her and she asked, "What?"
"Nothing really," Castle replied.
"Josie?" Beckett asked with a smile.
"With Mother," Castle said simply, reaching for her hand.
"We can't you know," Beckett told him teasingly in Irish. "Not here."
"Could I ask about tonight?" Castle asked her.
"Yes," Beckett said slowly, studying him.
"Would you want to do anything," Castle stated.
Smiling, Beckett couldn't answer right away since they needed to move to the sea otters. But once she'd taken a few pictures she told her husband, "I know you do."
"Really," Castle said.
"Of course," Beckett replied. She the stood a little closer to him telling him, "Our suite does have a very nice tub."
"I'm glad I didn't have to ask you outright," Castle said.
Smirking Beckett squeezed his hand before she told him, "Pervert," speaking in a low tone.
"Thank you," Castle replied before they were walking together to the harbor seals. Before she could start taking pictures, he brought her hand up to his lips and kissed the back of it quickly. Letting her go he turned his attention to Josie who was toddling over to them, and he stopped her to pick her up saying, "What're you doing sweetheart?"
"Mama?" the toddler called.
"Hold on, she's going to take a couple pictures first," Castle replied, gently bouncing her. "You don't like them?" he then asked her to distract her.
"Puppies!" Josie squealed.
"Close," Beckett said with a brief laugh while she lowered her camera. "Their babies are called pups." She walked up to them and kissed her cheek before telling her, "What do you want sweetie?"
"Hold?" Josie asked.
Castle was about to tell his wife she didn't have to take the toddler when she was handing him her camera. He took it in surprise without saying a word before he let her take Josie. Watching her pointing out a seal that was swimming by them at that point, he took a swift picture of them before he said, "Do not touch that one," since his wife had turned to him.
"I won't, but I think I know what else you want," Beckett told him in amusement. She was a little taken aback when he suddenly blanched before she realized why and she hurried to tell him, "Not tonight," saying that in Irish.
"Oh… then… what do I want?" Castle asked, relieved.
"That we take a selfie," Beckett said, a little surprised when her husband laughed.
"I'm never going to surprise you again," Castle said, cupping Josie's cheek when the toddler laughed as well.
"You will," Beckett assured him. "Well?" she asked him.
"I do," Castle answered. "But I want to find the perfect spot for it."
"That doesn't surprise me," Beckett told him in amusement. "And let me know when you do." She then hesitated for a moment before she told him, "What about us?"
"We did that yesterday morning," Castle replied. "Unless you want another spot."
"No," Beckett said with a smile. "But the next one we take is my decision."
"Sure," Castle replied. Squeezing her hand, he took Josie back before they were moving down a ramp and coming to an underwater viewing aquarium. He watched the toddler squealing at the fish there and he kissed her temple before his wife was squeezing his arm.
"We're going love," Beckett said with a smile.
Looking around Castle asked, "Is that it?"
"No, a little more," Beckett answered. "According to Skye."
"And we have to walk all around," the investigator said. "But you said you don't mind the walk to the Space Needle."
"We don't, stop worrying," Darnley said. He laughed when Skye let out an exaggerated groan and told her, "You said I was like a brother."
"And you are, too much like a brother," Skye told him though she was smiling shortly after. When they'd gone back to the river otters, she was leading them to the ramp there and they made their way down. "And here's the biggest thing we wanted to show you guys," she told the others.
"Is this the water?" Maddy asked eagerly.
"I think it is underneath," Bethany said. "There are some fish," she told her grandchildren before the two were gasping and rushing over with the others.
"Wait!" Rebecca said when they were going to the lower viewing platform.
"Leave them," David told his wife.
"He is right, they are not going to move from there," Joseph said. "At least Maddy and Keo will stay."
"Or ours," Skye said, not surprised when the other parents were agreeing.
"You have to try and stop them," Rebecca said when the others looked at her.
"Kate," Castle said while they were moving to follow the kids. He wasn't surprised when she stopped him after the others before she was responding to him.
"I don't know why I said selfie earlier," Beckett said with a smile.
"I know, I should have caught that," Castle told her teasingly. When his wife gave him a look, he was quick to kiss the back of her hand gently before he could laugh. "But we might want to wait," he then told her.
"We have to," Beckett said before they were continuing after their group.
"This is really cool," Jacob was saying to the other older kids.
"Be horrible if it sprung a leak though," Miller commented.
"Don't be so stroppy," Bobby told his brother, nudging him.
"I think we were all thinking that though," Eve commented.
"Trying not to," Julia said firmly. "I'm trying to get pictures of the fish and kelp. Your negativity is pushing them away," she told the oldest Willis kid with a smirk.
"Oh well then I should stop," Miller replied, not surprised when several of the kids nodded.
Though she didn't want to stop staring out into the water, Eliza turned to her grandfather when he touched her shoulder after they had been looking for a while. "Are we leaving now Grandpapa?" she asked him.
"Not yet," Jim said. "Your parents want us to take a family picture."
Looking at her mother, who was talking to Skye while handing over her camera, Eliza turned back to her grandfather and said, "Okay."
Laughing briefly, Jim took her hand and led her to the others on the upper viewing platform. "She's ready," he told his daughter.
"Good," Beckett said, pulling her over. Once they were all standing together, they smiled, and Skye took their picture before she reciprocated for all the other families in turn.
After they'd taken a picture of their entire group; an employee using Beckett's camera; Skye looked over her friend's shoulder at the shot. "We're an odd group of people all together here," she commented.
"I think we're just a lot," Beckett corrected her.
"Yeah, speak for yourself if you're going to use the word odd," Adam said in feigned irritation. He shook his fist at Skye while she was doing the same to him before they began to laugh and were leaving the dome.
"What did you find?" Beckett asked her husband as he walked up to her.
"I know she has a lot but-" Castle started to say, showing her the sea otter plush toy before their youngest was interrupting him.
"Toy! Dada please?" Josie said, reaching up to it.
"It depends on your mom," Castle said.
"Thank you," Beckett said in amusement. She then told the toddler, "You can get it, but your daddy needs to pay for it first, okay?"
"Eh," Josie replied, nodding. "Now Dada?"
"Now what?" Castle asked teasingly.
"Pay!" Josie exclaimed, jumping up and down a little.
"We need to see what your sisters are getting," Castle said before he realized Alexis was walking up to them with two plush toys in her hands.
"We want the twins to like animals," the young woman said with a smile at her parents' looks. "Louis wants them to love animals, but I told him let's try for like and move from there."
"Good idea," Castle said, nodding.
"I wanted to get your opinion too on our choices," Alexis said. "I was looking at the octopus one, but I think these two are good starter toys," she told them, holding out the orca and sea otter she had.
"Mine too 'lexis!" Josie exclaimed.
"I knew it," Alexis told her with a smile before their mother was getting her attention.
"Those are good," Beckett said. "Though if you're asking us which baby to give them to that's your decision."
"I know," Alexis replied, smiling again. "I was just wondering what you thought of the octopus."
"Did you find your things?" Castle was asking Julia and Eliza when they walked up to him and Beckett.
"Yep," the latter said with a wide smile. "Did Josa get a stuffed toy?" Eliza asked, seeing what their father was holding. At his nod she looked at her big sister and said, "I told you."
"I told you I agreed," Julia replied firmly. "An otter?"
"It is," Beckett replied. "Let me see your shirts," she then told the pair.
"I like mine," Eliza said happily, holding up the green shirt with an otter holding fish and a shell on it. "I can wear it on Fridays to school, it's learning Mommy."
Though she didn't want to, Beckett couldn't help smiling at her daughter's tone since the shirt under the otter read 'I hide snacks in my armpits. Yum,' with the aquarium's name under that. "Alright, but they might ask you not to wear it. I'm not sure but be ready for that."
"Okay, but it'll be okay," Eliza said before she made a face. "I mean-"
"Don't worry, we know sweetie," Beckett assured her, squeezing her shoulder before she gave the shirt to her husband.
"Here," Julia replied. "I think it's a good one."
"It is," Castle said, watching her opening it.
"You didn't even see it yet," Julia complained jokingly.
"I saw it before and told your mom that you might pick that one," Castle said.
"He did," Beckett said in amusement when her husband and their three youngest turned to her. "But it is a nice shirt," she said, her daughter having picked a blue one that said 'ride the waves' and had lines that depicted waves and a sun.
"What about Josa's?" Julia then asked. "The green one with the crab?" she continued with before her parents could answer. When they nodded, she looked at Josie and said, "You liked that one?"
"Eh, my puppy," Josie said.
"I better go pay," Castle replied as he took the shirts and left.
"Wait!" Julia and Eliza said at the same time before they raced after their father though they weren't running.
"Wait a second sweetie," Beckett said as she reached for Josie who was about to follow her sisters.
"But I go too," Josie said in protest.
"Not this time," Beckett said, picking her up. She shared a kiss with her before she told her, "You don't want to stay with me?"
"Okay," Josie replied after thinking for a moment. She then smiled and said, "Go to an… mimals?"
"They need their nap," Beckett told her, kissing her head. "And you do too."
"No sleep Mama," Josie replied.
"Just for a little," Beckett said. "You'll get to see the city."
"Home?" Josie asked.
"Nope, we're still in Seattle," Eliza said, reaching where her mother had stopped at the entrance for the gift shop. She was about to ask her mother if they were going to continue when her baby sister was speaking first.
"My puppy?" Josie asked.
"Give it to her," Beckett said. As Eliza was doing that she said, "And the bag?"
"That's why we went after Daddy," the little girl told her mother with a smile. "Since we wanted one."
"Remember to use it at home with your other shopping bags," Beckett reminded her, watching Josie clutching tightly to her otter toy.
"We will," Julia said, walking up to them with Castle. "Are we leaving now."
"It's funny you're so eager to go," Anita said, she and Rodger standing just outside the shop.
"Well… we do want to see the tower," Eliza said. "Have you seen it before?"
"No," Anita said, glancing at her husband as he nodded. "But you're not afraid of heights?" she then asked, becoming startled when the little girl giggled before she covered her mouth with her hands.
"She's been on more extreme roller coasters," Castle explained, turning to the other families who were walking out to them.
"Okay, I think we better get walking," Skye said before she turned to Alexis and Louis.
"Have a great time," the former said, smiling at the kids. "And I want to see your pictures."
"We'll show you," Eliza said eagerly.
Once they'd said goodbye to the couple, the group started making their way to the Space Needle with Skye and Mary in the lead.
"You're sure you know the way?" Adam asked her.
"Say that again I'll make you take us there," Skye told him though she had no threat in her tone.
"It's not that hard to see," Adam commented. He laughed when the investigator pretended to lunge at him before they were continuing.
"Seems far still though," Mari told Julia.
"I know," the teen replied. "But I don't really mind."
"How many pictures are you taking?" Marie asked.
"A lot," Julia said simply. "I did the same in Vancouver."
"Are you going to do the same when we get to San Francisco?" Mari asked.
"Probably," Julia said. She saw the brief face her friend made and told her, "I won't take pictures of the same houses at places we've been before."
"Do you remember where you've been?" Mari asked teasingly. She giggled when her friend gave her a look and then told her, "Just kidding."
"Oh, don't worry, I knew," Julia replied. She laughed when her friend let out an exaggerated sigh before she looked at the Needle and saw they were nearing it. "Wow," she said at the same time as her friend and the older McDouglas twins. They were laughing together before she did her best to calm down and said, "Anyone a little afraid?"
"Slightly," Mari said. "Your mom is coming over," she said before Julia was talking to her in surprise.
"What is it?" the teen asked.
"Are you going to be alright?" Beckett responded with her own question.
"I should be," Julia said after a moment's hesitation. "You're thinking of the Eiffel Tower."
"Your dad and I both were," Beckett answered.
"I'll be fine," Julia assured her. "And if I'm not I'll tell you." She was relieved when her mother nodded before she went back to walking with her baby sister, Castle pushing Josie sleeping in her stroller. She then turned to Mari, feeling her friend's light touch on her arm before she said, "I don't mind the height," she replied.
"Are you sure, I remember you telling me about what happened in Paris," Mari told her.
Nodding briefly Julia replied, "Yeah, I'm sure this time. I mean I do go on really tall roller coasters." She then eyed her friend saying, "You're going to be okay?"
"I'm just wondering about the elevator going up," Mari explained before she saw they were at the Needle.
"Don't look outside," Marie said. "Don't look at me like that," she said to the three looking at her.
"Training," Kathleen told Julia and Mari with a smile.
"I figured," the former said, smiling herself. "And now we figure out if we're ready." Seeing her friend looking around, Julia asked, "What?"
"I thought everyone was listening to us," Mari replied. "But they're not… good thing though."
"Or else our moms would be worried about us," Marie commented.
"You're lucky we're not," Skye said, smiling when her daughters were whirling around to face her.
"We're going up now?" Kathleen asked hopefully.
"Right now," Mary said.
"We just need to pay for admission," Castle commented before they were making their way to the top of the tower. He was relieved it didn't take long and wasn't surprised that Josie was waking up just as they were reaching the top.
"Hey sweetie," Beckett told the toddler, helping her out of the stroller once they were out of the car.
"Mama?" Josie asked sleepily.
"Look at where we are," Eliza told her excitedly.
"Who?" Josie said in response.
"It's still Seattle," Julia said in amusement. She took her sister's hand and squeezed it telling her, "Pretty, isn't it?"
"Eh," Josie replied before she turned to their mother. "Down Mama."
"Right now, but do not run," Beckett said, not surprised when her husband was reaching for the toddler's hand before she was protesting.
"Want see Mama," Josie was saying.
"We're going right now," Castle assured her. He picked her up and asked his wife, "Ready?"
"Yes," Beckett replied, waiting to speak until she had her camera. She was following her husband over to the windows and wasn't surprised when Josie was cooing at the sight of the city in front of them. She took a picture of the toddler reaching out before she turned to the view.
"Mari," Julia said, her voice tinged with annoyance.
"What, I want to make sure you're okay," the girl replied firmly.
"I am," Julia said. She then turned to her friend and said, "I've been to the Empire State Building you know."
"Yeah," Mari said while they were both looking around the city. Hearing her parents calling to her to keep moving, she and Julia followed everyone before she said, "I hope we can see the mountain."
"Mt. Rainier?" Julia asked. "Me too." When they were eventually facing south, she saw the mountain and nudged her friend before she was taking a picture.
"Are you alright kiddo?" Martha said when she saw Julia was standing on her own after Mari went to her sister.
"Oh yeah," Julia said. She thought of someone and said, "It's probably better 'lexis didn't come here, right?"
"I think she might have been able to handle it," Martha answered, walking with her after the others. "But I can't blame her about not wanting to risk it."
"She'd get dizzy?" Julia asked.
"Probably," Martha said, nodding. She then said, "Are you tired of the city yet?"
"No," Julia said slightly laughingly. She looked around for Mari and seeing her friend waving at her hurried over to her before they stood together watching the city below.
"Everyone gather around the pig," Castle called to the others. He smiled when the kids laughed and hurried up to them before he said, "You remember Rachel."
"Are we going to give her money?" Eliza asked eagerly.
"Yes, we are," Castle said, giving her a bill. He watched her put it in the pig statue before the other kids were doing the same. Once they'd finished, he said, "So I have a feeling where you guys want to go."
"The fish?" Julia said slowly.
"You don't want to now?" Castle asked.
"I don't think so," Julia said, glancing at the other older kids. "And we did see it the other day."
"Okay, then we should start exploring where we haven't been yet," Castle told them.
"We don't have too much time until dinner," Beckett reminded her husband.
"True," Castle said before he looked at his watch. "Yeah, we're not going to have a ton of time."
"Are you mad we went through the park around the Needle?" Darnley asked.
"No, to be honest I wasn't surprised," Castle said.
"It's why we weren't taking that long inside," Beckett added with a smile. She then said, "But if you guys don't mind, I think we're okay," turning with the other adults as Jacob was talking to them all in confusion.
"Are we going to go around at all?" the teen was asking.
"Yes," Beckett replied. "But there's one place we need to go to first," she added, looking pointedly at her husband.
"Where?" Lily asked in surprise.
"She… we," Castle started to say before he realized his wife was looking at him pointedly before he was correcting himself swiftly. "Agreed we should get some fruit since the options looked very appetizing," he finished then.
"Photographable too," Darnley said.
"Of course," Beckett told her friend. "But do you guys agree? Don't want to get anything?"
"Oh no, I agree we should get something," Lily said first.
"She's right," Rebecca said quickly.
"You know it sounds like you guys picked where we're going to have dinner already," Eve told the adults.
"Who said?" Brad asked his daughter while they were walking to the main building.
"You just did," Eve said.
"She knows my tell," Brad said to the others in amusement.
"She should, you're her father," Castle said.
"You have experience?" Darnley said.
"A lot," Castle said, trying not to look at his oldest though she was speaking to her mother.
"What were you thinking of getting?" Alexis was saying.
"I'd like to keep some for the next few days," Beckett said. "And since we've seen what they have I'm going to definitely pick up some berries." She felt a small hand taking hers and looked down at Eliza saying, "I'm guessing there's something you wanted."
"What about cherries? The yellow ones," the little girl said eagerly.
"Rainier ones? Yes, but we can't get too much," Beckett replied.
"We have a fridge in our room," Castle reminded his wife. At her nod he noticed they'd reached the stall and he helped her looking at the options for berries and the cherries before he paid.
"What did your family get?" Jacob asked Julia.
"The three berries they have here," the teen answered. "And the yellow cherries."
"Our mom got those," Eve said. "And figs, Sophie loves those."
"Same for Dani," Mari replied. "And Mom grabbed some strawberries too."
"I hope we don't get sick of them," Jacob said.
"They might share with the others," Eve told her brother before they were being called by their parents. "Oh! It's the shop I wanted to look at," she exclaimed, seeing their mother waving to them down the sidewalk.
"I guess I better go," Jacob said.
"You could get something," Mari suggested slowly.
"Nah, I'll just look," Jacob replied before he walked away from them.
"What're you thinking?" Mari asked her friend when she glanced at her and noticed the look on her face.
"I heard Fleur at the aquarium, she thinks he's cute," Julia said. She saw the startled look on Mari's face and explained, "You know we're around him all the time, right?"
"Yeah, but I still wouldn't think of that," Mari replied. "Though he could be a model for clothes."
Laughing Julia did her best to calm down quickly before she told her, "I knew you were thinking that. I wonder if there'll be clothes for us," her mother squeezing her shoulder before she looked up at her just when she spoke.
"There will be," Beckett said. "Did-" she was about to continue before her daughter was interrupting her.
"Wait, did Stella tell you?" Julia asked.
"She has a few more outfits, since she knew there were going to be so many kids here," Beckett explained. "And since she has so many, she wants to let some of you take pictures for the kids clothing."
"Sure," Mari said eagerly. She saw her friend was studying her mother with a slight frown on her face and she reached out to her saying, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm confused though Mom," Julia said. She was startled when her mother handed her her phone and she saw it was a text message. "It's from Ms. Grey," she told Mari.
"Are we still going to London?" the girl asked.
"We are," Julia assured her quickly. "And we finally have permission for the songs."
"At least we started practicing," Mari said. "You guys too," she added with a smile.
"I know," Julia replied with a nod. "I'll have to write down the list in my diary." She looked up at her mother in a little surprise and said, "I'm fine."
"The Contemporary you have?" Beckett said, moving her hand to her daughter's shoulder.
Nodding briefly Julia said, "I know, and I don't care." She hesitated for a second and then said, "Dad though?"
"Dad what?" Castle asked, walking up to them.
"Ms. Grey let me know we can use the songs we have," Julia said.
"So that means you're worried what I think about the Contemporary," Castle said, realizing what she was thinking quickly. When she hesitated, he hugged Julia with one arm and told her, "I don't care, I just want you to get through the dance without getting hurt at all," not surprised when she was swift to reply.
"I won't Dad, we have been practicing it," Julia said.
"Are you going to tell the others now?" Mari asked her friend.
"Do you think they'll want to know?" Julia said in confusion.
"My parents will," Mari said before she realized her friend's parents were looking past her and Julia.
Surprised when her friend turned around, Julia did the same before she saw a young woman around Eve's age was standing there.
"Hi," the young woman said. "My name is Nicole and I saw you… are you Julia Castle?"
"I am," she replied, feeling her mother gently squeeze her shoulder for a moment.
"I knew it, I'm a fan of your books," Nicole said. "Would you mind signing my copy of your book?"
Looking up at her parents, when they both nodded, Julia turned back and said, "Sure."
"Thank you so much," Nicole said eagerly, handing her the book and pen she had. "I like this book a lot, I hope you'll write more."
"I have another one," Julia said with a smile.
"Great!" Nicole replied. "When is it going to be released?"
"This fall," Castle said.
Finishing her signature, Julia said, "Do you live here?"
"Yeah, are you visiting for a while?" Nicole asked.
Since they were only staying until the twenty-second, Julia merely nodded and said, "It's a nice city."
"I agree," Nicole added before she turned at an older woman calling her name. "That's my mom, I better go. Thanks so much again."
"You're welcome," Julia said, watching Nicole leaving. "Even out here," she told her parents once they were walking the other way to meet up with everyone else.
"You're a good writer," Castle said. He smiled when Julia blushed a little and said, "They wouldn't ask for your autograph if you weren't."
"Rick," Beckett told her husband. She couldn't help laughing briefly when he instantly looked at his watch before she said, "I was keeping track of that."
"Yeah, I should have too," Castle commented. "Hopefully they're ready to go."
"We are," Nkosi said, standing outside the stall with Keo.
"You two are," Castle said. "I'll get them," he told his wife.
"I forgot to ask you and Skye," Beckett said to the investigator. "Why didn't Everett invite you?"
"To be honest she's better friends with Skye," Nkosi said. "And Patrick and I felt bad taking our parents too." He then held up his hand and said, "I know they have her dads there, but Everett knows him too."
Nodding Beckett was about to speak before she noticed some of their group was starting to walk out of the store. "Nothing?" she asked Alexis when she was outside first.
"Not really," the young woman replied. Alexis smiled and then told her mother, "Lizzy found something though."
"Oh really," Beckett said, looking past her.
"Don't worry, your da bought it for her," Louis commented.
"It's nothing expensive," Castle told his wife, carrying Eliza out.
"It's an ornament Mommy," Eliza said, holding up the little bag she had. "It's amethyst," she said. "I thought it was pretty."
"It is," Beckett said, seeing it though it was in bubble wrap.
"So it's okay," Jim stated with a smile as he stepped out in time to hear them. He wasn't surprised when his daughter nodded before speaking to Julia.
"Did you want anything?" Beckett asked her.
Glancing inside the store, Julia soon shook her head and said, "That's okay. What tree are you going to hang that on?" directing the last to Eliza.
"The one in my room," the little girl replied. She smiled and then said, "We're going to have Christmas here, right?"
"You mean at home," Castle told her. He couldn't help laughing briefly when the little girl nodded rapidly and he kissed the side of her head telling her, "Yes, since your niece and nephew are going to be very little."
"Are you sure about that?" Louis asked.
"We are," Castle said firmly.
"I wouldn't push it," Alexis said, speaking jokingly. "I think he's set on that plan."
"You said…" Castle started to say before he trailed off, laughing when Alexis rolled her eyes, and his wife took his hand. "I couldn't help it," he told her while he was entwining their fingers.
"I got that," Beckett said. She looked at the others and told them, "It's time for dinner."
"Oh right," Darnley said, looking at his watch. "So we're going."
"We are, and it's not that far," Castle assured them before he was setting down Eliza.
"Daddy what are we having for dinner?" the little girl asked, taking his free hand.
"It's not that far sweetie," Beckett told her with a smile, looking past her husband.
"She's right, we're here," Castle said when he noticed they'd reached the restaurant.