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 getting the feedback I did for the last chapter so I'll get started on my thank yous for that!
TORONTOSUN (Really pleased to read you thought the chapter was very good writing. And I'm glad you like all the families I have here!) and
Mb (I was happy to read you thought the first half was a really nice update! And I'm glad you love the places you've heard about showing up in the story, I do my best to describe them interestingly and the different characters definitely help! Yeah, they knew Mt. St. Helens was going to erupt of course, but the way it did in the end was what was tragic since it wasn't believe it was going to do what it did. But you're right, since it was different it wasn't expected like in Hawaii or Vesuvius. Not surprised you were worried about the visit to the base of the volcano, but I wouldn't have done anything bad, not on their vacation. I had to laugh at your saying the RVs were mega star quality, I actually based them off some I found on the internet so yep, they're very nice. And I'm glad you think the rest of the trip sounds scenic and fun, hopefully it'll read that way too! You're welcome for the first half of the chapter! It was great to see you thought the second half of the chapter was nicely done again. And I'm glad you enjoyed them riding their bikes and talking about meals, lol, that always seems to be important for everyone. I had to laugh at how you mentioned them going to the original Voodoo donuts and with them taking those to the hotel to enjoy there was a lot of innuendo between Castle and Beckett, lol. But you are right, it isn't hard to see all of the adults there doing the same. And of course I laughed at you mentioning boom in regards to Castle and Beckett alone enjoying each other in fun with passion and love too, always have to have that. You're welcome for sharing the second half of the chapter! And happy 4th to you as well!).
Thanks for the reviews, I loved reading them and appreciate the time taken to write them out and send them my way!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Ramblin' Blue written by Woody Guthrie.
Down In Portland Town
"Mama I wanna go," Josie said, trying to turn her face away from her mother.
"I know sweetie, but you do need sunscreen before you can look at the animals," Beckett told her while she finished.
"And your hat," Castle said, handing it to his wife.
"Thank you," Beckett said with a smile before she was putting it on the toddler. "Don't take that off," she said firmly.
"No Mama," Josie replied, shaking her head.
"Are we ready to go?" Eliza asked eagerly.
"Now we are," Castle said in amusement before they were walking up to the admission booth for the Oregon Zoo.
After the adults had bought their tickets to go in, Julia said to her father, "You're leading us."
"I think so," Skye said in amusement when he and Beckett turned to her and her wife. "We never made it here."
"But why us?" Castle asked.
"You're not handing that map to anyone," Skye joked.
"Fine," Castle pretended to grumble before he studied the layout of the zoo. "Well, this is going to be easy."
"What?" Beckett asked her husband.
"Why don't you say?" Maddy said shyly when the writers didn't speak again, instead studying the paper they had.
"We're just checking what else there is besides the animals," Beckett answered.
"What is it?" Iris asked.
"First they have a path marked out for us to take," Castle said. "It's not like San Diego. Second, they have a train, carousel and some play zones."
"It depends on where they are," Darnley said.
"Later," Beckett told him.
"Then we should start on this path," the carpenter said.
With some laughter the group was heading to the first animals, which were goats, Castle letting Josie lean over slightly against the railing.
"Do you know what those are?" he asked the toddler with a smile at the one on her face.
"Goat!" Josie said, squealing when a few turned their heads towards her.
Taking a picture of the toddler, Becket leaned over and kissed her cheek saying, "You called their names."
"Eh," Josie said before giggling. She waved to the goats before her father was laughing and she looked up at him. "Me Dada?"
"Yes, you're very cute," Castle said, putting her on his hip again while they were continuing down the path.
Reaching some Bald Eagles, Jacob said, "Seems like a nice zoo."
"You didn't think it would be?" Julia asked in amusement.
"I didn't know how it wouldn't be, it's the whole state's zoo," Jacob explained.
"I thought of that too," Kathleen said in agreement. "But we're used to all the ones in California being named for the different cities they're at."
"And the ones you've been to?" Mari asked.
Grinning at that question Marie was about to respond when her mothers were calling for them to continue and she let out a groan before Skye was talking to her laughingly.
"You don't want to keep going?" the investigator asked.
"Yeah, but I was about to answer a question," Marie replied.
"When we stop at the next animals," Skye told them.
"What was the question?" Mary asked.
Before Marie could respond, they were reaching the beaver and river otter habitats and she waited to take some pictures at both before she said, "San Francisco, Santa Barbara, San Diego and LA."
"And more besides that one," Kathleen added.
"Including this one," Marie said with a nod, looking at the different waterfowl at the pond they'd come up to.
"What do you think?" Mari asked Julia, nudging her lightly with her elbow.
"It's not bad, I mean there are animals so why not?" the teen replied. Julia took a picture of a duck that was flapping its wings and then told her friend, "Are you disappointed."
Shaking her head Mari said, "I told you I was excited for the zoo." She saw the way her friend was looking at her and said in amusement, "I still am."
"Good," Julia replied before they were laughing together and walking after the others. As they passed a few more animals she thought of something and looked at her parents before she excused herself from her friends.
"What's wrong?" Castle asked, turning from the cougar habitat.
"Is there a theme for these?" Julia asked. She realized what she'd said hadn't worked and soon corrected herself saying, "Are these from a certain place?"
"The Great Northwest," Castle answered.
"You thought so?" Beckett asked her in amusement when their second oldest nodded firmly.
"Yeah, the beavers and bald eagles," Julia replied.
"Good guess," Castle said. He had expected her to head back to her friends but when she remained there, he asked, "You didn't think that was answer."
Giving him a brief look Julia said, "What about the other sections?"
"You really want a spoiler?" Castle responded with his own question.
"I guess not," Julia said after she'd heard Mari calling to her.
"We're almost finished with this part," Castle called after her.
Waving to him over her shoulder, Julia told her friends what she'd learned from her father before she said, "I just hope they have tigers."
"They should, it is a zoo," Jacob commented.
Hearing their laughter, Alexis walked over to them and said, "There are."
"How do you know?" Julia asked in surprise.
"You don't think Dad and Mom would make sure before we got here?" Alexis replied. She couldn't help laughing at the sudden realization on her sister's face and said, "I think it's a necessity now."
"I think so," Julia said, smiling back at her. When her big sister started to turn, she grabbed her hand and asked, "You haven't felt them moving at all yet have you?"
"No, a couple more weeks and I might," Alexis replied, smiling at the question since she'd expected her sister to ask if she was alright.
"What about names?" Julia said.
Laughing, Alexis hugged her gently before she said, "You'll find out once they're born."
"Am I going to have to all the time?" Julia asked in mock annoyance. She was startled when her sister was suddenly smirking at her and she asked, "What?"
"You realize when you have your own kids you'll know sooner," Alexis said.
Julia was a little surprised at realizing swiftly that her sister was right before she smiled and told her, "Don't tell Dad."
"I already heard, keep walking," Castle said in mock annoyance, Josie laughing and patting his cheek before she spoke.
"More amals Dada," the toddler told him. Josie laughed when he narrowed his eyes and her and said, "No mad Dada."
"Don't be mad," Castle told her jokingly, kissing her temple before he was getting the map. "Hold on," he said when Josie was trying to grab the paper.
"Wanna see," the toddler told him.
"You can," Castle said.
"Amals?" Josie asked.
Looking at her Castle said, "You know how to say it." When she was shaking her head, he laughed briefly before he kissed her temple and said to his wife who walked up to them, "She's disobeying."
"Did you ask her to do something?" Beckett asked in amusement.
"No but still," Castle said, smiling though he'd intended to be stern at Josie kissing his cheek.
"Are you done now?" Beckett asked him.
"I am," Castle replied simply before they reached the polar bear habitat.
"Mama," Josie squealed happily when she saw one was swimming.
"I see them," Beckett said, taking a picture of it when it passed them in the water.
"It looks like she has another favorite animal," Martha said, standing next to her daughter in law.
"I think all of them are," Castle said. He swiftly noticed the look on his wife's face and said, "No?"
"I got what you were doing," Beckett said in amusement. She hugged him gently before she told her mother-in-law, "That would be interesting if that were the case."
Shaking her head Martha said, "I was saying that to Richard."
Seeing his wife smiling at him and glancing at him out of the corner of his eye Castle said, "Why you two are out to get me…"
"We're only teasing," Martha said before she walked over to Alexis and Louis.
"It's fun?" Castle asked his wife with a smile once they were alone.
"And you obviously don't mind," Beckett teased him.
"No," Castle said seriously before he leaned down slightly and brushed his lips to hers gently. After they'd parted, he told her, "I just hope she won't mind it'll take a while to get to the… you know whats," not surprised when his wife was teasing him again while they made their way to the next habitat.
"It's come to us not saying what they are?" Beckett asked.
"You want her to demand she see them now?" Castle asked. When his wife raised her eyebrow at him, he handed the map to her, not surprised her eyes widened slightly. "I know, we have to keep her distracted," he told her before they were walking together to the next animal.
"And let her walk," Beckett said in amusement. She glanced behind them to make sure everyone in their family was following when she saw her father was walking quickly up to them. "I'll join you in a second," she told her husband, touching his shoulder.
"You didn't need to wait for me Katie," Jim said with a smile.
"I wanted to make sure you were alright," Beckett responded before they were walking together after their group.
"Are we going to the San Diego Zoo?" Jim asked her.
"We talked about that with Skye and Mary," Beckett said. "And we decided to go there but we're also going around the park it's in."
"They'll be happy about that," Jim said. "San Francisco?" he asked before his daughter was smiling at him and that was his answer. "They'll really be happy. Especially Josie."
"The tigers are further through the zoo," Beckett explained to him.
"I had a feeling," Jim said. "Since these look like they're from the arctic," he added, looking at the penguins they were all standing at.
"I think the map said Pacific Shores," Beckett told him. She wasn't surprised when he merely nodded before she turned to walk to where her husband was with Josie on his shoulders. Before she could reach him, she stopped when Eliza stepped up in front of her. "Do you need help?" she asked with a smile.
"No, but… will you take pictures with me?" Eliza asked shyly.
"Of course," Beckett said, cupping her cheek. "Come here," she told her before they were walking to the railing near them.
Continuing through the zoo, Julia glanced at Jacob and eventually was saying to him, "You don't like taking pictures?"
"Not really," Jacob said.
"He doesn't have the patience for it," Eve said with a smile. "So now you get to be bored while the rest of us are busy."
Giving his sister a look, Jacob told the others, "I really don't mind." He was going to continue when his stomach suddenly growled loudly and he said, "And I'm hungry too."
"I'm starting to be now," Kathleen said.
"Of course you are," Marie told her teasingly.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Kathleen asked in annoyance.
"That you're always hungry now," Marie said.
"Girls," Liam said, spotting his oldest granddaughters were sticking their tongues at each other. When they looked at him, he said, "We'll be eating lunch very soon. The rest of us are hungry too."
"My parents are going to be hungry," Julia said with a smile when her baby sister was throwing herself at her. "Josa-" she started to say.
"Are tigers… there?" the toddler asked slowly.
"Here," Julia corrected her gently. "And yeah, but not yet, okay? Mom and Dad will make sure you get to see them," she added when Josie was frowning, not surprised the toddler was responding shortly after.
"Tigers," she said.
"Eventually," Castle said, walking over to them.
"Are we going to a restaurant now?" Julia asked.
"Yeah, everyone's getting grumpy," Castle said, a little startled when the kids started to laugh.
"I think hangry is better Dad," Julia said.
"More modern?" Castle asked her. When she nodded, he pursed his lips for a moment and then said, "Back in my day…" jokingly.
"You're not that old Rick," Beckett said, having stepped up behind them. "And we're here."
"He was hungry?" Julia asked her mother in amusement.
"Of course," Beckett said. "You remember how he used to tease you."
"Yeah," Julia said laughingly. "Always at the loft," she reminded her mother while she watched her picking Josie up.
"Why there?" Eve couldn't help asking while they walked inside the building.
"He would do that and make them a snack," Beckett explained before she excused herself and headed to her husband who was looking at the menu while in line.
Since she had chosen the first option, Julia turned to them and said, "Get the tables?"
"Try to," Jacob said, glancing over at the Darnley family.
"We'll have to sit apart," Marie said.
"We couldn't push the tables together?" Julia asked.
"I was going to say," Mari said, nodding.
"Go ahead," Martha said, walking over to them with Jim and Josie. She watched as the older kids left them, their second oldest granddaughter taking the toddler. "That decided it for us," she told Beckett's father.
"I'll stay to help," Jim told her.
"Stay with me okay," Julia was telling her baby sister. "Or else you can't stay outside." She wasn't surprised when Josie was nodding, a serious expression on her face, and she leaned over, gently kissing her cheek before she put the toddler's hand at the waist of her Capri pants. Once she was sure Josie was holding onto one of the belt loops, she helped the others in getting enough tables and chairs pressed together. They were soon sitting, and she had her sister on her lap saying, "What do you think?"
"Are you talking to us or her?" Jacob asked with a smile.
"Her," Julia said in mock annoyance. She turned her attention back to her sister and said, "Do you like the zoo?"
"Eh," Josie said. She smiled when the other kids were laughing and then said, "Tigers?"
"Soon, I promise," Julia replied, hugging her gently.
"I wonder if anyone else got the veggie burger," Kathleen said.
"Probably," Julia said.
"I know my parents did," Mari said.
"Dani?" Eve asked her.
"Probably, our parents will want her to have something besides a hot dog," Mari answered. "Though if they can convince her…" she added, smiling when her friends started to laugh before Jacob was speaking swiftly
"Convince her or tell her?" he said.
"Tell her in the end," Mari said. "But make it seem like it was her idea."
"Man, I gotta learn that trick when I'm a parent," Jacob said in obvious admiration.
"You'll figure it out when you're older," Brad told his son, setting down a tray with drinks on it.
"You did?" Eve said with a smile.
"Had to," Brad told them before he laughed briefly with them. "Okay, these are all the same luckily so don't fight over them."
"We wanted to though," Mari said.
"And get me in trouble with the mayor?" Brad asked swiftly.
"Yeah," Mari replied.
"Don't worry, you're not," David called while they were walking out with the food. "Where am I taking this?" he asked Castle who he'd left the building with.
"To them," Castle replied, counting the trays swiftly. Once he was sitting with his wife he said, "I'm wondering."
"About?" Beckett asked.
"Timing," Castle said.
"Well," Beckett said, trying to recall the map. "I think she'll be awake by the time we get down there," she then continued telling him.
Nodding, Castle said, "And if not, we'll just wake her up."
"Not all at once sweetie," Beckett said to Josie who had a fry. She then turned back to her husband and asked, "And if she hasn't been asleep for that long?"
"She will have been," Castle said.
"Interesting tense," Beckett told him in amusement. "And we'll see."
"Alright," Castle replied before he picked up his burger. "Though there's something I'm wondering."
"You just said that," Beckett told him.
"Yes, but there's another thing," Castle told her firmly.
"I think you mean to ask us that," Skye said, having been listening to the conversation.
"Good point," Castle said after hesitating for a moment.
"And I have no idea what exactly we can do after this," Skye replied.
"Don't look at me," Mary said in amusement.
"Could we suggest something?" Julia asked.
"Sure," Skye said though she was looking at the teen's parents.
"What about going to an airport, plane spotting?" Julia asked, not surprised the McDouglas girls gasped.
"We could," Skye said, unable to help smiling when the others were looking at her.
"You know a place," Castle said, startled when the investigator suddenly laughed before she was responding.
"Of course I do," Skye said.
"Don't tell me," Mary said in amusement.
"Okay, I won't," Skye said jokingly. "But I do have to inform them you know. Remind Trevor too."
"Please let her tell us," David said, pretending to beg.
"I know a man who's head of the airport now," Skye replied.
"And I do as well," Nkosi said with a smile. "Rocco Aiello."
"Was he an investigator?" Lily asked.
"No, he worked with her mum at LAX," Liam answered. "He assisted the NTSB a few times so Trevor knows them that way."
"Nice guy," Pablo said. "We've met him at their house before."
"A few years ago," Mary said. "And he is nice. I just hope he won't mind us intruding." She then pointed at her wife and told her, "He'll want to invite us to his house."
"I'll do my best to discourage him," Skye replied though she'd hesitated.
"Cheryl too," Liam informed his daughter.
"I know, I know," Skye said in mock annoyance. "But there are way too many of us here for that."
"And do they have that big of a house?" Beckett asked her friend.
"Not really," Skye said.
"Then convince her to just invite us," Mary said.
"And Trevor's family," Skye replied, nodding.
"I think it should just be your family," Nkosi said firmly. "You're closer to him."
"True," Skye replied.
"And we're fine with it," Darnley said with a smile.
"Does that mean we're having separate dinners?" Castle asked.
"I think so," David said first, looking at his wife.
"And you're coming with us Mari," Rebecca said.
Sharing a look with Julia, the girl said, "I figured."
"What're we gonna do?" Eliza asked her parents.
"We'll discuss that later," Beckett said firmly. "We haven't even finished with lunch."
"Almost are," Eliza said in protest.
"Later," Castle told her firmly. Returning to their food he wasn't surprised when they were finishing shortly after, and he got up first to help his wife with throwing everything away.
"Wait, before we continue," Skye said in a rush to everyone. "Are we agreed on heading to the airport?"
"Is there a place we'll be able to watch planes?" Rebecca asked.
"Yes, we'll have the chance," Skye said. She smiled when the others agreed before she said, "Okay, now we can keep going."
"No!" Eliza exclaimed. When she saw the group, along with other people around them were looking at her, she covered her mouth with her hand. "Sorry," she whispered when her father walked over to her and gently squeezed her shoulder.
"It's okay, why can't we keep walking?" Castle asked her.
"If we're not going to have dinner together you have to tell us where we're going tomorrow," Eliza replied.
"She's right," Castle said.
"Just tell them!" Skye said in mock annoyance.
"Okay, we're going to go around our hotel," Castle said. "To the Old Town and Chinatown sections… and somewhere else."
"I think you're going to have to tell them love," Beckett said in amusement when she saw nearly all the kids were frowning at him being so vague.
"It's a little further from the area we're going to walk around," Castle said after nodding in agreement with his wife. "But I think it'll be worth it."
"Please say you're going to tell us," Jacob said jokingly.
"It's Powell's City of Books," Castle replied.
"It's in the travel book," Beckett said, speaking again in amusement since the older kids were sharing looks of surprise.
"We want to go," Julia said in a rush. "We were just wondering why there."
"The travel guide has it," Castle said before he smiled as the kids began to laugh. "And that's tomorrow."
"We can start walking again, right? We have the rest of the zoo," Brad said.
"That's all I wanted to say," Eliza said, blushing a little before they began walking. She smiled at her father when he squeezed her shoulder again and then hurried to Fleur and the younger McDouglas twins.
Seeing her father moving to walk with Beckett, Alexis headed to her parents and as soon as she'd reached them said, "Would you mind-"
"No," Beckett interrupted her. She smiled when her oldest's eyes widened and said, "I thought you might have your dinner tonight."
"Oh, yeah that's fine," Castle said when the two looked at him. "We said you both could."
"And we might do it again in LA," Alexis told them both.
"And we thought you would do that then too," Beckett said with a smile. "Since I'm not sure you and Louis would have that much fun with us older people."
"The same with Liam and Pablo with the younger people," Castle couldn't help commenting. He wasn't surprised when his wife and their oldest were rolling their eyes before the latter was responding verbally first.
"I figured," Alexis said wryly. "But thank you."
Waiting for her son and daughter in law to tell Alexis you're welcome, Martha said to them when they looked at her, "You two will be doing the same."
"Mother-" Castle started to say.
"Jim and I discussed it and we'd like to take the girls for dinner," Martha said firmly.
Sharing a look with his wife, Castle had his answer when she started to smile and he then said quickly, "As long as you guys are okay with that."
"I said we discussed it," Martha said in amusement.
"Alright," Beckett said quietly. She wasn't surprised when both turned to her, and she moved to the stroller her mother-in-law was pushing. Getting Josie settled inside it, she then said, "And you'll be fine with them the entire night?"
"That's what I wanted to ask you both about," Martha replied. "Will Julia be alright if she's back in their room first?"
"She will," Castle said before his wife could answer. "And Mari has the other key." When his mother nodded and pushed Josie ahead of them, he turned to his wife and took her hand saying, "What do you feel like doing?"
"Let me think about it," Beckett replied with a smile. "Though… I'm leaning towards staying in our suite."
"Since we have such a big suite?" Castle said. When his wife nodded, he told her, "I was going to suggest it."
"Then we're deciding on that?" Beckett asked him with a smile.
"I think so," Castle replied, squeezing her hand before they started walking through the Predators of the Serengeti section.
"Tiger!" Josie exclaimed when she saw the animals in front of her.
"Tigers," Castle couldn't help correcting. When the toddler didn't say anything in response, he looked at his wife and saw she was taking a picture of them. "Should I tell her to look at you?" he asked.
"She won't," Beckett said simply, turning her camera to the tigers that were asleep across from where they were standing.
"She doesn't care they're not walking around?" Eliza asked her mother softly after they'd been standing for a while.
"I don't think so," Beckett said with a smile. She glanced down at her second youngest and asked, "Does that mean you do?"
"No," Eliza replied firmly. She then said, "Gram and Grandpapa told us we're going to dinner with them."
"You don't want to?" Castle asked since he'd been listening to them.
"I do, what're you gonna do?" Eliza asked.
"Stay in our suite," Beckett said.
"And no, we don't mind," Castle said firmly when the little girl looked like she was about to speak. "What about you guys?" he then asked her.
"There's a Greek place we passed near the donuts," Jim said, walking by them.
"You're going to the donuts, aren't you?" Beckett asked her father.
"Yes," Jim replied easily, smiling when his daughter was looking at him in surprise. "But we're going to share with them," he assured her before Julia was walking up to them and spoke.
"We agreed, so…" the teen began before she trailed off.
"Yes, you can go, but tomorrow you're not having dessert," Beckett said.
"At least fruit," Castle told his wife.
"At least that," Beckett said, smiling at him.
"Mama I want…" Josie started to say. "Dessert!" she exclaimed since she usually had trouble saying that word.
"Good job," Eliza said, reaching over to her and giving her a high-five.
"Later tonight," Beckett said with another smile for the pair.
"Are we going to keep going?" Julia asked, murmuring the words.
"I think we are," Castle commented, glancing at the tigers.
"You should tell her," Beckett said when her husband turned to her.
"Great, thanks," Castle said in mock annoyance. He was a little startled when his wife squeezed his hand before she leaned into him.
"Déanfaidh mé suas duit níos déanaí é," Beckett told him, smiling when he was frozen for a moment.
"Dáiríre?" Castle asked, his voice a little strained since she'd told him 'I'll make it up to you later.'
Smiling, since he'd asked her the word seriously, Beckett simply nodded and watched him grabbing her hand before kissing the back of it. While he was explaining to Josie patiently that they needed to visit the other animals, she couldn't help feeling a bit touched at his wording before the toddler was nodding seriously and they left without any issues. Squeezing his arm, she shared a glance with him and tried not to think of what they could do with each other alone in their suite and focused on what there was left of the zoo.
"You weren't kidding," Skye was telling her friend with a smile, standing at the large window of his office at Portland International Airport.
"And this means you're not in the way of anyone either," Rocco told her.
"I got that," Skye said laughingly. "Though we're a lot of people."
Shrugging Rocco said, "You're just lucky I got everything done for the day."
"You're sure this is legal?" Nkosi asked him.
"It is, unless there's an emergency," Rocco explained. "At that point I'd have to take you out to your…"
"Cabs, we rode taxis here," Skye answered.
"Then I'd get some for you to head back into the city," Rocco said.
"You're going to call Cheryl?" Skye asked, watching him turn on his cellphone.
"Would you all like to come to dinner?" Rocco asked, looking at the adults in the group.
"I think just our family and Trevor's," Skye answered. "The others have plans already."
"Great, Cheryl will love meeting the kids," Rocco replied.
"How's your daughter?" Mary asked.
"Patti's doing well, her oldest is expecting his first child," Rocco said.
"Congratulations," Liam said, shaking his hand. "You'll be a great-grandfather."
"Hard to believe but…" Rocco said before they were looking at the kids who were at the window, Ivy exclaiming eagerly.
"There's another plane!" the little girl cried.
"I think it's another Alaska," Marie informed her little sister.
Groaning Ivy said, "I guess those are like the Southwest planes at home."
"They are," Skye told her before she turned to Rocco when he hung up his phone.
"Cheryl's delighted to have you there," he told the investigator.
"Did you mention how many of us would be there?" Mary asked.
"Of course, and she's eager to meet your kids," Rocco said, looking at Skye. When the investigator smiled slightly before glancing to the window looking out to the runways he frowned and asked, "Do you not want us to mention her?"
Turning back to him Skye said, "I don't know if I could really stop you. I didn't know my mum the way you lot did." Looking at her wife when Mary took her hand she said, "It's alright."
"You're sure?" Liam asked before she nodded.
"I think we'll enjoy finding out more about the girls," Rocco said. "Your kids as well," he said quickly to Darnley and Nkosi.
"That'll be nice," the latter said first.
"Hopefully, I'm wondering if the kids will be okay without any other kids there," Rocco commented.
"We will," Marie said.
"We can hear you," Kathleen added.
"Cheeky," Liam told his two oldest grandchildren.
"Do you 'ave a backyard?" Fleur then asked.
Laughing Rocco nodded and said, "We have a pool too," looking at the girls' mothers when the kids were gasping.
"And you don't mind us swimming?" Mary asked with a smile.
"Oh no, we don't use it that often and it is summer," Rocco said. "Though that was the reason we bought the house," he added.
"When was it built?" Liam asked.
"The sixties, so it's small and there used to be just one bathroom, but it has a pool," Rocco replied.
"And since you're going to have a great-grandson…" Darnley said.
"Exactly," Rocco said. "And really there are two extra bedrooms, so we're cozy."
Laughing immediately Skye said, "I can see Cheryl saying that."
"She probably will," Rocco replied. "Luckily you have time to swim here," he added.
"We're aware, the kids will let us know," Darnley said before Skye was talking laughingly to his surprise.
"I think he's hinting to us that we can go now," the investigator explained.
"And we can," Rocco replied. "Since I'm off."
"When?" Mary asked.
"Two minutes ago," Rocco answered. "I just hope your kids are ready."
"I think so," Mary said wryly when they were all turning from the window.
"I'm surprised ours are," David commented.
"They have unknown plans," Skye said before they were laughing getting their kids so they could leave and split up for the night.
"Are you alright with your gyro?" Jim asked Eliza, sitting next to her at their table.
"Yeah," the little girl replied. "Thanks Grandpapa."
"Are we going to walk around after this?" Julia asked, finishing putting tzatziki sauce on her own gyro.
"A little," Martha replied. "It isn't raining of course."
"Mom and Dad would have told you not to take us around," Julia said, smiling.
"Oh! What about the donuts?" Eliza asked.
"What about them?" Martha said in surprise. "We said we'll take you."
"Could we sit outside?" Eliza asked.
"We'll see," Jim said, not surprised when she playfully pouted. He squeezed her shoulder and then turned his attention to Josie since the toddler had called to him.
"What do we do when we go back inside the hotel?" Eliza asked.
"Go to our suite," Martha said. She had been watching Julia while she'd spoken, expecting the slight face her second oldest granddaughter had made. "You want to go back to yours?" she asked with a smile.
"Sorry, I don't know when Mari will come back but yeah… I haven't written in my diary for a while so…" Julia said.
"What wrong?" Jim asked, picking up on the change in her tone of voice when she referenced her diary.
"I was thinking of waiting to write; after tonight; once we're back at home," Julia said. "It's so hard to do that when Mari's there and she agreed with me."
"Not at all?" Eliza asked in surprise.
"No, it's just too hard," Julia said. "By the time we finish we have no time to talk," she explained further, looking at her grandfather when he started to speak.
"Then you should stop," Jim told her. "You might get tired of writing if you force yourself," he added, startled when she was laughing immediately in response.
"Dad told me the same thing when I first started to write with them," Julia replied. "But yeah, I might write a tiny little bit and then stop until we go home." She made a brief face and said, "I guess that means I'll have to describe the trip."
"You can make a list, you like making lists," Eliza told her sister.
"I was just thinking that," Julia replied with a smile.
"Now we've settled that," Martha said, gently cleaning off Josie's mouth. "You two should go back to your food."
"Right, donuts!" Eliza breathed.
Julia couldn't help laughing at her sister's eager tone before she ate again, talking with her and their grandparents about the next day. "I think we're really just walking around the buildings," she eventually said to Eliza when they were in the entry to the restaurant waiting for their grandparents to pay.
"That's okay," Eliza said. She turned from Josie, standing with them, to their big sister saying, "Did you think I wouldn't like that? I hope we do that in San Francisco."
"I would imagine that's part of the plan," Martha said, walking up to the three she'd been keeping an eye on.
"Probably," Julia said when Eliza looked at her again.
"Okay, we can go," Jim said.
"To where?" Eliza asked interestedly.
"To the river," Martha said. "Your parents gave us permission to walk there before dessert."
"Good, let's go!" Eliza said eagerly.
"We could get bikes," Julia told them.
"They didn't give us permission for that," Jim said in obvious amusement.
"Which way are we going to walk?" Eliza asked a little impatiently.
"North and then come back to the street the donuts are on," Jim explained. "And you two need to think of the donuts you'd like to share with us."
"I want the Voodoo Doll one," Eliza said eagerly.
"I was thinking of the hibiscus one," Julia said when the others looked at her. She wasn't surprised when her grandparents were agreeing with their choices, and they were crossing the last street before the park. She watched Eliza rushing to the railing to look out and said to her grandmother since Jim was hurrying after the little girl, "I used to do that."
"You did," Martha replied. "And we appreciate you not doing it anymore."
Nodding, Julia looked down at the river once they had reached her sister before they were turning to walk since Josie was trying to walk away from them. She glanced across the river at the other side where she knew Mari was having dinner with her family and hoped her friend was having fun before she turned to Josie and Eliza so they could hurry at the toddler's pace ahead of their grandparents.