Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured on the show Castle, they belong to the creator of the show, ABC and the others who do own them.
A/N #1: The lyrics in this chapter are from the song I Want It All written by Brian May, from the Queen album The Miracle.
A/N #2: I was happy to get the feedback I did for the last chapter so I'll go ahead and get my thank yous started for that! TORONTOSUN (I was glad that you liked that everyone cares for each other. And I'm really pleased you thought this was a feed good story!) and
Mb (Happy to see you thought the last chapter was nicely done. I was glad you enjoyed them going to the rainforest dome at the beginning. And I wasn't surprised you commented that the grandparents were making sure the parents were going to have a date night. I'm pleased you thought the look at the first two couples was a good one since I wanted to convey that for everyone. You're welcome for the first half of the chapter! I was really happy that you thought the second half was nicely done with the other three couples. And I wanted to add a memory with that to be different so I was really happy you enjoyed that! I wasn't surprised you thought it was good to see the love the couples have and how it's growing and becoming stronger in not only them but their families as well! You're welcome for the second half of the chapter!).
Thanks for the reviews, I loved reading them and the time taken to write them out and send them my way!
A/N #3: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Monterey written by Eric Burdon, John Weider, Vic Briggs, Danny McCulloch and Barry Jenkins, from the Eric Burdon & The Animals album The Twain Shall Meet.
Down In Monterey
"Are we ready now?" Eliza asked her father while he walked over to where they were waiting in the entrance of the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
"We are," Castle said, smiling at the way the younger kids were looking at him. He passed out the stickers and he held up the map, not surprised when Skye was laughing.
"Oh no, I think we should let the older kids decide," the investigator replied.
"Seriously?" Eve asked.
"We know you can handle it," Brad said to his daughter.
While she was giving her father a look, Eve took the map from Castle and said, "Julia?"
"Why me?" she said in surprise. Julia then gestured with her head towards Marie and Kathleen before the twins were laughing and shaking their heads.
"Oh, I'll do it," Jacob said jokingly, pretending to snatch the map from his sister. He handed it back to her and said, "You do it; you're the oldest of us remember."
"We'll decide together," Eve said firmly.
"Where're we going first?" Lily asked, watching the six older kids looking at the map.
"Straight," Julia said.
"Can we ask what's there?" Castle said.
"It says tidepools," Kathleen said. "That was okay to say right?" she asked quickly.
"Yeah, they're going to see anyway," Jacob said with a smile before they were reaching the doors looking out on the ocean.
"Can we go and touch anything?" Ivy asked when they had walked down some steps outside and reached the railing.
"I think we're just looking from here," Castle commented. He then turned to Josie, in his arms so she could look down, and he told her, "Sorry about this sweetheart, you have to stay here."
"I want swimming," Josie replied.
Castle couldn't help kissing the side of her head and said, "Not here, maybe we'll put our feet in the water later."
"Hopefully that will be enough," Martha said, smiling when the toddler was nodding. She squeezed Josie's arm and asked her son, "Want me to take her?"
"I'm good," Castle said, though he started to laugh when Josie answered as well by leaning towards her in his arms. "Never mind," he said. When the toddler was set, he went to where his wife was standing and placed his hand on her back.
"What's wrong?" Beckett asked, not turning from her camera screen.
"I found myself… by myself," Castle explained.
Looking at him, Beckett smiled and told him, "You were lonely?"
"A little," Castle said.
"Boy is that insulting," Darnley said, standing on the other side of Beckett.
"I told you we were just friends," Castle commented teasingly.
"What're you doing?" Beckett asked her friend, leaning against the railing while she looked at him.
"Nothing, just waiting for Trev," Darnley replied.
"Would you go over to him," Beckett said in mock annoyance. "I should have told him we were finished here," she then told her husband when they were going back up the stairs.
"Next is… right here!" Mari started to say when they were back inside, gasping at the end when she noticed an animal in the aquarium swimming by.
"Puppy!" Sophie cried out.
"Sea otter," Jacob told his baby sister. "But it does look like a puppy."
"Come this way," Joseph said, having noticed a viewing area beyond the plaques in front of them.
Walking around to it, Beckett turned to her husband who was holding Josie again next to her and said, "Do you see the otter sweetie?"
"Eh," the toddler replied with a smile. "I can pet?"
"I don't think so," Castle said. When she turned to him with a frown, he tried not to laugh at the sight of her doing that and he kissed her cheek before stopping Josie since she had leaned over. "Let's let your mom take pictures," he explained to her.
"I think you're good," Beckett told her husband with a smile when their youngest didn't say anything in response to the switch.
"Will you be?" Castle asked since the otters were going around quickly.
"I'll try," Beckett said.
"You're not going to try and take a picture?" Julia was asking Mari.
"I don't know if I should," the girl said honestly.
"You can try using the sports option," Julia said. She tried not to laugh when the realization suddenly appeared on her friend's face and watched her racing to get her camera ready. "Well?" she asked after two of the otters swam by.
"One came out," Mari said. She looked up at her friend and said with a smile, "Thanks."
"You're welcome," Julia replied.
"Should we keep going?" David asked the kids.
"Dad," Mari said in slight embarrassment.
"No, your dad is right," Rebecca said quickly. "We do have more to see."
"I have a question about the map," Eve said then.
"Go to the investigator," Castle said.
Frowning at her father Julia asked, "Which?"
"I think he means me," Skye said with a slight smile.
"Though I can read a map," Nkosi said quickly.
Watching the kids talking to Skye, Beckett told her husband, "Why?"
Smiling at her, Castle said, "You're lucky I know what you meant. Really, I wanted them to have fun."
"I think the otters are doing that," Beckett replied before she squeezed at her husband's hand and then cupped Josie's cheek since she was still staring at the animals.
"Okay, we know where we're going now," Eve told the others.
"Lead the way," Bethany said. She smiled when the kids were looking at her and said, "I am eager to see more myself."
Walking back in front of the doors out to the tidepools, the older kids were going to pass an exhibit when Castle made them stop and he said, "I know what's here already."
"We do too," Mary said when the writer was looking at her and her wife. She smiled a little and said to the kids, "You five know this used to be where they canned fish."
"Yeah," Marie said, looking at her sisters.
"We know already," Julia said quickly. "Our dad told us about it."
Checking with the others, Castle then said, "I'm wondering if you want to see it," not surprised when he heard a resounding no from them all. "Okay, then let's keep going."
When they started to walk again, Beckett looked down at Eliza since the little girl was walking with her and she said, "Are you hungry already?"
"Yeah, we had breakfast ages ago," Eliza said firmly.
"We'll eat soon," Beckett assured her, unable to help smiling at her tone.
"Really soon," Castle said. "There isn't much left of this floor." He smiled when Eliza was looking at him with wide eyes and said, "There isn't, but we do have upstairs."
"What about naps?" Eliza asked, speaking rapidly when she saw they were nearing another aquarium.
"We'll go to the store," Beckett said.
"Really?" Eliza asked happily.
"We will, and we can take our time," Castle said, not surprised when the little girl suddenly left them and rushed to Fleur and Iris.
"How long do you think it's going to take? Shopping I mean," Skye said, walking by them.
"Probably a while," Mary told her wife before the writers could speak. "Sorry about that grá."
Making a brief face at her wife, Skye said, "I don't mind this kind of shopping. But seriously, the girls…"
"These days it's usually an hour," Lily said, watching the kids with the other parents while they were staring up at the kelp above them.
"Only that?" Skye asked. When the chef and Beckett nodded, she said, "Alright."
"You realize we missed something right?" Castle asked.
"Hold on," Beckett told her husband in amusement when he started to turn to the exhibit. "We didn't all agree about the gift shop."
"I think it's a good idea," Brad said.
"Me too," Darnley said. "It'll keep the kids occupied though Keo and Maddy have both said they want to go outside again."
"We can," David said. "If we leave the toddlers with the grandparents."
"You don't have to ask us all," Liam said suddenly, walking up to them.
"Dad-" Skye said in concern while she stepped around to her father.
"I'm alright," Liam assured her with a nod. He then said to everyone, "We're fine with staying inside if you want to head outside again." He paused and then smiled before he told everyone, "We can stay by the otters," not surprised when they were laughing before his daughter in law was responding.
"Hopefully you do that after they've fallen asleep," Mary said.
"Should we go back now?" David suggested.
"I think so," Rebecca said.
"Oh, that's creepy," Castle said since the kids were watching them, not surprised when his wife nudged his side with her elbow.
"I think they're letting us finish talking," Beckett informed him.
"Yeah, where are we going now?" Julia asked them.
"Go to the exhibit right here," Castle said while he was motioning behind them.
Hurrying over to her mother's side Eliza asked, "When are we going to where you can touch the animals?" She couldn't help giggling when Beckett looked at her and said, "I saw the map."
"I'm not surprised," she replied wryly. "And I'm sure that's next." Beckett was about to take her second youngest's hand when Eliza was suddenly racing back to her friends.
"We'll have to come back on our own," Castle couldn't help saying. He wasn't surprised when his wife rolled her eyes and told her, "Sorry, my fault?"
Laughing briefly while they watched the kids looking at the aquarium in the room about the Deep Reef, Beckett said, "She's our daughter love."
"Good way to insult yourself," Darnley commented since he was standing near them.
"And how would agreeing with him work for our relationship?" Beckett asked him, her eyebrow slightly raised.
"I don't know, you guys figured it out," Darnley said, looking forward again before he was starting to laugh at his friend socking his arm though she didn't do it that hard. "I couldn't help it," he told her.
"I know, but just realize she gets a lot from the both of us," Beckett said.
"Your dad has told me," Darnley replied before he was walking away from them.
Castle, when his wife turned to him, was about to speak when they suddenly heard a cry from Sophie and turned to watch Brad and Lily comforting their daughter.
"Don't worry Sophie," the chef said first. "It's just an octopus."
"Those are the kinds Mom- ow!" Jacob started to say before he was nearly howling in pain after his sister jabbed his arm.
"Oh, sorry Jake," Eve said, shocked she'd done that. "I… I guess I need to trim my nails," she said slowly.
"Yeah," Jacob said.
"Guys," Brad told the two. When they were looking at him, he said, "Don't tell her that Jake and don't poke your brother either way Eve."
"Sorry," the two said at the same time.
"Did you get pictures?" Mari asked.
"Yeah, just in time," Jacob said, speaking quickly since he noticed they were leaving the room the aquarium was in.
"How's your sister?" Marie asked.
Looking ahead, Eve said, "Fine now. I just hope she won't get scared of anything else."
"Sharks?" Kathleen suggested.
"Maybe," Jake said after he and his sister had shared a look. He then looked at where they were and said, "Oh boy, I hope not here."
"Maybe that fake one there in front," Julia said, since they were at an aquarium of sheep crab.
Hearing Sophie laughing while Josie, in Castle's hold next to Sophie's father, was Mari said, "Maybe not."
"Good thing," Eve said before she was smiling while the others laughed.
After the next aquarium, Julia realized she had the map and she looked at it before she said, "Oh, these are all from the bay here… the animals I mean," smiling at Mari when her friend was speaking while she was glancing at the map.
"Monterey Bay," she said before she watched the way her friend folded the map. Mari playfully nudged her side before they were following everyone around the Kelp Forest aquarium they'd looked at first. Once they had finished, she asked, "What's next?"
"I think the touch pools," Julia said with a smile.
"Great… how're your sister and Sophie going to react?" Mari asked her friend.
"Josa's going to love it," Julia said.
"And Sophie will," Eve said. She smiled when the two girls looked at her and said, "I could hear, and she's touched ocean things before."
"Girls," Lily called to them. When the three turned to her she said, "Young ladies is a mouthful."
Laughing together with her friends, Julia hurried over to the others and said, "We're going there, right?"
"We are, we just need the map," Lily said.
"Oh, I'll give it to my mom," Julia said, rushing past.
"How's Sophie?" Eve asked her mother.
"G-" Lily began to say before they were watching Mari hurrying by.
"Don't run," Beckett said to her daughter. "Or you," she said quickly.
"She's right, Mari," Rebecca said before Julia was laughing and then talking to her mother.
"Sorry, but I wanted to give you the map so you know where we need to go," she said.
"Why not give it to your father?" Beckett asked in amusement.
"Yeah," Castle said in mock annoyance.
Smiling widely at her father, Julia said, "Sorry about that."
"It's alright, at least we won't see the same thing twice," Castle replied, shrugging his shoulders before they were walking again.
"What's that?" Ivy asked eventually.
"The aviary," Beckett said, reading the map.
"Birds?" Keo asked.
"Yeah, at least I hope," Darnley answered.
"What about the touch pools?" Fleur asked.
"That's next," Skye commented. She squeezed her daughter's shoulder and then said, "So you're going to touch the animals here?"
"I will," Fleur said with a wide smile. She hugged her mother tightly before they were watching the revolving doors.
"Don't be scared," Skye said. She couldn't help laughing at the way Fleur frowned at her and hugged her for a moment telling her, "Don't worry, I won't be either."
"Mummy," Fleur groaned though she was shortly after laughing before they walked inside.
"There are birds," Eliza was telling her big sister in awe after they were inside the aviary.
"I know," Julia said with a smile, seeing some on the sand surrounding some water on either side of them. She took pictures of some small birds in the habitat on their right before her father was touching her shoulder and she looked up at her while she spoke.
"Are you missing Paul?" Beckett asked her.
"Yeah," Julia said, not surprised her mother had said that. "But I know he had to work." She glanced around the room again and told her mother, "Though too bad he couldn't see this."
"Tell him about it the next time you talk to him," Castle told her, walking up to the pair.
"Are we going too slow?" Beckett asked her husband.
"A little," Castle replied before Julia was walking past them. Turning back to his wife he asked her, "How're your pictures going?"
"Do you really want to know or are you asking the first thing that popped into your head?" Beckett asked with a smile.
"I guess I should ask you when we're finished," Castle commented.
"Maybe when we're back in our room?" Beckett asked him.
"Okay," Castle replied easily. He wasn't surprised when she rolled her eyes before she reached for his hand, and he let her lead the way through the aviary.
When they'd reached the door outside Darnley told the others, "Is everyone ready to go? No birds trying to catch a ride with us?"
"No, let's go Daddy," Maddy said firmly.
"Okay," Darnley said simply since his husband had touched his arm briefly. After they were leaving, he grabbed Keo and picked him up saying, "Now we can go pet some animals."
Turning to her parents, Josie couldn't see them at first before some of the others moved and she made her way to them before saying, "I can pet?"
"You can sweetheart," Castle told her, picking her up. He kissed her temple before he told his wife, "At least I hope she can."
"She can," Beckett said. "You didn't think I was going stop her, did you?" She smiled when her husband smirking for a moment and she cupped his cheek before they turned to the first pool. Standing together at the bat ray pool, she took a picture of Josie while the toddler was staring at the rays below them. "I think she's ready love," she told her husband.
"I know, I'm just waiting for her to tell us," Castle said.
"Dada," Josie told him, whimpering while she reached down to the water.
"First thing you need to know is how to pet those," Castle said. He wasn't surprised to find the toddler frowning and he said, "Really, you need to be very careful, so you don't hurt them, okay?" After she nodded, he smiled and then said, "Watch my fingers," before he was demonstrating to her how to touch the animals in front of them.
"You need to help her," Beckett told him.
"I planned to," Castle replied before he was setting their youngest down. After he was sure she was okay leaning over a little, he knelt with her and glanced up at his wife.
"Just let me know if I need to do that," Beckett said to his obvious unasked question.
"Okay, here comes one you can touch," Castle told their youngest, turning back to Josie.
Squealing at the feeling of the ray, Josie said, "Wet Dada."
"I know, but do you want to stop?" Castle asked her.
"No," Josie said firmly.
"Great," Castle replied, kissing the side of her head.
Watching her husband, Beckett glanced down the pool until she felt him standing next to her. "What're you doing?" she asked.
"My knee is fine," Castle said, putting Josie on his hip at the same time. "Someone wants to go swimming for some reason."
"Josie," Beckett said with a smile.
"I am bad?" the toddler asked.
Shaking her head Beckett said, "You need to stay with us."
"Especially because we're leaving," Castle said.
Glancing at the rest of their group, Beckett saw they were getting ready to go and she told her husband, "What do you think about the plans tonight?"
"To be honest I'm thinking I need to find another restaurant," Castle said.
"Most likely," Beckett replied. "Though you know there is something we can do."
"I hope you'll tell me," Castle said, setting Josie down at the next pool with sea stars and other animals.
"Don't worry, I will," Beckett replied before she looked at her father who was walking up to them.
"Did you want to take her?" Castle asked his father-in-law.
"I did," Jim said with a nod. "If you don't mind."
"I don't, but be careful," Castle said while she was handing Josie to him. "She wants to join them in their home."
"I'll keep that in mind," Jim replied, unable to help smiling since he wasn't surprised hearing that.
When he had left them, Castle turned to his wife and said, "Now you can tell me."
"You know I was taking pictures," Beckett replied simply. When her husband frowned, she couldn't help laughing briefly and she reached for him, squeezing at his arm. "Alright, what I think we should do is grab something and go to the beach with it," she said.
"I was thinking of that," Castle replied. "I thought you'd want to go to a restaurant though," he confessed to her.
"I'm not surprised, but I think it'll work better for the kids," Beckett replied.
"What will?" Skye asked, walking over to them.
Explaining her idea Beckett then said, "They won't want to touch seafood."
"Oh no," Mary said, having joined her wife in time to hear that. "Whenever we go to the Aquarium of the Pacific the girls can never look at the seafood options on a menu," before she and Skye were turning to Castle.
"What?" he asked in surprise.
"Do you know somewhere we can go?" Skye asked him.
"I think you two need to be asked that," Castle replied. "You have been here before."
"He is right," Beckett added. "We just stopped for a second."
"Well… eating on the beach…" Skye said.
"Just say it grá," Mary said in amusement.
"Connery Row Burgers," Skye replied.
"Don't you mean Cannery?" Castle asked, confused hearing that.
"No, she's serious," Mary said, smiling. "We talked to the owner, and she said Sean Connery was her favorite Bond, so she decided it worked."
Laughing, Beckett said, "It does work."
"And their burgers?" Castle asked.
"Well, the thing is they're all veggie," Skye replied.
"All?" Castle and Beckett said at the same time.
"Yes," Mary said eventually, glancing at her wife when she didn't immediately respond.
"Sorry, I'm just making sure that it's there still," Skye said. "And getting the directions," she added while she was handing Castle her phone.
Tilting it so his wife could see the screen too he said, "It's basically down the street."
"It is," Beckett said. "I'm fine with that, but we'll have to tell the others."
"We can now while we move," Castle commented. "Sorry about your pictures."
"Don't worry," Beckett replied. "I don't necessarily have to take that many."
"Do you have another card?" Castle asked her in surprise while they walked after the McDouglases.
"No, I have a lot of space on this one," Beckett replied.
"And then you got here," Castle said.
"Basically," Beckett replied before she squeezed his hand, and they went to their two youngest daughters to lead them to the next pool.
"What're you thinking?" Mari asked.
"I wonder what Paul and his family are doing right now," Julia admitted with a smile for her friend.
"You could text him," Mari told her.
"Not really, I don't want to bother them," Julia said. She looked in the distance and said, "Plus I think we're going to get our food soon."
"True," Jacob said. "But how cool was it to go to the Winchester House with them?"
"At least they don't tell me I'm crazy for being able to talk to spirits," Julia commented.
"Like Paul would tell you that," Eve scoffed.
"Still," Julia said. She laughed with her friends before they were doing their best to calm down since their parents were coming over with their food. After she had hers in front of her she started to eat, and though she was eventually talking to the others about where they would go on the second floor of the aquarium, she couldn't help recalling two days before when they'd gone to San Jose and the Winchester Mystery House with the McCartneys and Willises.
"Are you three ready?" Skye was asking Julia and Eliza.
"Hi," Josie said.
Turning to the toddler, Skye looked at the front of the Winchester House and then said, "Not yet, okay?"
"What do we need to do?" Eliza asked.
"Say hello to the spirits," Skye replied. "You can follow my example," she added. Looking at the front of the house again she said, "Hello again everyone here, I know you'll probably remember me. These three here with me are family and I hope you'll treat them nicely. Especially the youngest."
"Hello," Eliza said first, waving to the house. "I hope it's okay we're gonna see the house."
"Hi," Julia said, surprised when her sister suddenly turned to her. "We're coming here with respect, not to find ghosts."
"Good one," Skye told her. She then said, "What're you feeling?"
"Peaceful," Eliza said rapidly.
"Yeah, the same," Julia said before they looked at the house again.
"Great, now we can go with the others to wait," Skye said.
"Actually, Mom's here," Julia said.
Turning, Skye soon saw she was right, and she smiled saying, "Great, I get the feeling your sister will want to go with your mother soon."
"Why don't you put her down?" Eliza said suddenly.
"Alright," Skye said slowly. "But if she runs off you two need to get her."
"We will," Julia and Eliza said at the same time.
Though she still wasn't entirely sure, Skye set Josie down and wasn't surprised when the toddler immediately walked towards the front of the house. Relieved when Josie's sisters were rushing after her she turned to Beckett and said, "She'll be okay."
"I'm not going to ask again," she replied. "After this."
"Yeah, Julia and Eliza said it feels peaceful," Skye explained.
"That's great, but what about you?" Beckett said. "What do you think?"
"I'm sensing the same," Skye replied. "You will too." She studied her friend before she said, "Unless you already do."
"Yes," Beckett said slowly. She turned then to her three youngest and she said, "Thank you for catching her."
"You're welcome," Julia said. "We're not late, are we?"
"No," Skye said, looking at her phone. "But everyone's ready?"
"Waiting," Beckett said. "When I left there was ten minutes."
"Then we should go in line now," Julia said so swiftly she wasn't surprised when her mother and Skye were looking at her, the investigator speaking first.
"You're sensing something aren't you?" she said.
"A little," Julia replied. "But it's nothing negative."
Glancing at Beckett, not surprised her friend was looking to her pointedly, Skye said to the teen, "The house wants you to go inside."
"Yeah, but they'll let me leave," Julia said before they were turning to her little sister who had stamped her foot.
"Me too," Eliza said firmly.
"Yeah, they want all of us to go inside," Julia said. She hesitated for a moment and then said, "Will they appear to us?"
"More than likely," Skye said. She held her hand out to Beckett who was about to speak and said, "Just appear."
"Hold on," Beckett told her, stopping her before they could leave the front of the house. "You can't be saying it's okay for Josie to see anything." When her friend hesitated, she frowned and said, "It is."
"Mom?" Julia said carefully. Once she had turned to her and her sisters, she let Josie head over to her and told her, "She's already seen."
"Your grandmother-" Beckett began.
"She saw Mrs. Winchester," Eliza interrupted. She saw Julia was biting her lower lip before she asked, "I wasn't supposed to say?"
Seeing Julia shaking her head Beckett said, "Don't worry, I feel better knowing. How do you know she saw that?"
"She said there was a lady in black at the door," Julia explained.
"Was she scared?" Skye asked while they began to walk again.
"No," Eliza said firmly.
"Mama," Josie said then. "The lady…" she continued with before she stopped and frowned.
"She said the lady said to come inside," Julia said.
"You had to translate?" Skye asked her. At the teen's nod she said to their mother, "She's alright. She will be alright and if you want I can stay close to her."
"I hope you will be," Beckett said firmly. "You said you were going to before today."
"And I will," Skye said with a smile before they were entering the gift shop where they'd been told to wait. Entering the room first she wasn't surprised to find Castle was looking at a book near the door. "You can put that down," she told him, walking up to him and not surprised when he was looking at her before he spoke.
"I was reading it," Castle told her while the investigator was walking by. He wasn't surprised when she waved her hand over her shoulder and shook his head before he turned to his wife. "Is everyone okay?" he asked.
"Yes," Beckett replied before she was telling him what had happened in front of the house.
"And Skye says it's alright for her to go around?" Castle asked his wife when she'd finished.
"She did," Beckett said simply.
"Okay," Castle replied while they were watching their three youngest.
"I think the tour is going to start now," Julia said. She was relieved when her parents were getting Eliza so they could start walking and they went together to the group before they were being led out of the building and into the house. Listening to their tour guide, she couldn't help glancing around while they were standing still. She didn't see anyone but felt like there were people somewhere in the house. Shaking herself while they were walking, she glanced at Mari and saw her friend was looking at her in concern. "I'm okay," she said softly.
"Are you sure?" Mari asked.
Nodding, since the tour guide was talking again, Julia was studying the rooms, recalling some from Ghost Adventures. Eventually, when they reached the room that Mrs. Winchester had slept in the night of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, she came around the corner to find a woman in black looking out a window and her eyes widened. She suddenly thought of her sisters and turned to find her before she heard Josie laughing and then talking, stopping the tour guide.
"Mama, lady," Josie said. "There."
"Lady?" the tour guide asked in confusion before Skye was stepping up to her and speaking quietly. "Oh…" she eventually said. She turned to look at the window herself and said, "We don't really hear much about this room."
"Do workers come in here that often?" Paul asked.
"They do, but we still haven't heard much activity being in this room," the guide said.
Beckett wasn't surprised when the woman visibly shook herself before she was continuing the tour and she felt her husband touch her back while they waited for the others to go first. "Okay?" she asked with a smile.
"Yeah, she watched that window though," Castle said. He paused and corrected himself saying, "Lady. I was going to ask if they thought it was Mrs. Winchester but… it probably was."
"It was," Beckett replied before they were starting to leave the room themselves. She had just reached the doorway when she felt her husband grabbing her hand and she turned to him.
"Don't get mad at me," Castle said, not surprised when his wife's reaction was to pull him after her so they wouldn't get too behind the others. "But I have to ask."
"I did… slightly," Beckett said before she looked ahead of her at Eliza who had suddenly stopped in front of her. "Sweetie-" she started to say before the little girl was interrupting her.
"It's okay if you didn't see her Mommy," Eliza said. She smiled and then said, "Or did you?"
"I saw…" Beckett began to say before she trailed off when she realized she couldn't see where the tour was, and Julia was waiting for them.
"A vapor?" the teen suggested.
"Something like that," Beckett said after hesitating for a moment to think that word over. "But we better leave."
"She's right, we're not going to hear the facts," Castle said, smiling when the girls nodded before Josie was joining them. They hurried, though he was relieved the others weren't too far ahead of them and he checked on Josie quickly to make sure she was alright. Seeing the toddler was looking around the room and smiling, he glanced at his wife and saw she was clenching her hand into a fist.
"Mom," Julia said, going to her once they were moving again.
"What?" Beckett asked, shaking herself and looking down at her daughter.
"Someone peeked their head in the doorway, I think he was a bandit," Julia said.
"Bandit?" Beckett asked before it came to her. "They know I used to be a police officer?"
"And it's easier to go to you than to Brad," Julia said with a nod. "I'll get Skye."
About to tell her she didn't need to do that, Beckett prevented herself since they were stopping again, and the investigator was stepping up to her as she spoke swiftly under her breath.
"You're not questioning the word bandit?" Skye asked.
"No," Beckett said. "Though… why did you say that?" she asked Julia since they were walking again.
"He had a cowboy hat on," Julia said simply.
"That would explain it," Skye said.
Julia couldn't help smiling when her mother nodded in agreement and was relieved before they were continuing through the house.
"Josie," Beckett said to the toddler as she was going past them. "Sweetie come here," she told her with a smile.
"No," Josie replied, laughing though she was going to where her parents were sitting.
"Are you enjoying the beach?" Castle asked her.
"Eh," Josie said, smiling. She went to him and wrapped her arms around him saying, "Go eat?"
"Actually," Castle said, looking at his wife. "We have to go now."
"Me?" Josie asked.
"No, us," Beckett replied. "You need to stay with-"
"With us," Alexis said, walking up to them with her husband.
"Can you handle her?" Castle asked.
Giving her father a look, Alexis said, "Yes, we can," looking at her husband when he started to speak.
"She's right, we'll watch her," Louis told his in laws swiftly.
"We'll be back," Beckett said with a smile, she and her husband having gotten up. "You'll stay with them?" she asked Josie.
"She will," Alexis said when she saw her baby sister was playing with the stuffed otter toy their parents had gotten for her at the aquarium. After the two had walked away, she said to her husband, "Would you mind watching Jules and Lizzy?"
"Watching or glance at them?" Louis replied.
"Glance at them but often," Alexis answered, a wide smile on her face at his question.
Squeezing his wife's hand, Louis said, "I am already." He looked out at them again and said, "Though it's alright they're in the water like that?"
"Jules yes," Alexis replied, looking at the water while she was holding Josie's hand. She smiled seeing Julia looking into the water with the other older kids and then said, "Lizzy not so much."
"She's on the sand with the others," Louis replied. He considered his sister-in-law with the younger kids and told his wife, "I guess they're making a volcano."
Alexis followed his gaze before she heard a sudden scream and turned back worriedly to realize she could only see her sister's feet, no Mari and the other four older kids yelling to them.
"She's fine," Louis said, grabbing his wife's hand to keep her from getting up.
"I see," Alexis replied when she soon saw Mari sitting up. "Watch Josa?"
"Yeah," Louis said, reaching for the toddler quickly.
"Trouble," Josie said after Alexis had left them.
"How do you know that word?" Louis asked his youngest sister-in-law with a smile.
"We're okay," Julia said as soon as she saw her big sister. "A wave knocked us over."
"You're just being nice," Mari said. "It hit me, and I grabbed her before I fell." She looked to the beach and at her parents before she saw they were waving to her, making her let out a rough sigh before she said, "I guess I better go."
"You won't be in trouble, will you?" Kathleen asked.
"Hopefully not," Mari said before she started to walk back. She then realized someone was walking behind her and turned to see it was Julia. "You-" she started to say with a frown.
"Someone has to be your backup," Julia said before they both abruptly paused.
"You said that before in our past life," Mari said with a smile.
"Yeah, I wonder why though," Julia commented before she shook her head and they continued together to her friend's parents.
"Hey, are you alright?" David asked his daughter when she had reached them.
"Yeah… thanks," Mari started to say before she trailed off when she felt a towel go around her. She smiled at Pablo and said, "You saw?"
"We all did, I'm glad you're alright," the man said before he returned to his husband.
"Here," Alexis told her sister while she was wrapping a towel around her shoulders.
"Thanks," Julia said before she listened to her friend explaining what had happened. "I tried to stop us but…"
"That wasn't going to happen," Rebecca said with a smile.
"Wait, why didn't you go get dinner with the others?" Mari asked her parents.
"They said they'd get it, they had enough people," David said, shaking his head.
Laughing at her father's expression, Mari then said, "Did they pay for it?"
"Yes, but we did pay for dinner yesterday," Rebecca said.
"What about tomorrow?" Eliza said. "Oh, sorry," she told her sister and Mari when they jumped and looked behind them.
"You know Dad's not going to say anything until we're eating," Julia said. "And no, I don't know what we'll do either."
"I hope we get to go in the RVs," Iris said, she and the others walking up to them.
"You'll be able to ask Dad Jules," Alexis said with a smile.
Turning, Julia saw their father was back, and she smiled before saying, "Luckily it's time for dinner." She squeezed Mari's arm and told her, "See you after we're done."
"You'll be able to see me," the girl said in mock annoyance.
Julia couldn't help laughing at that before she went to the blankets her family was sitting on and said, "Did you get everything?"
"We did," Beckett said. "And Louis told us why you have a towel."
"Am I in trouble?" Julia asked though she was smiling.
"No, but you do need to eat," Castle replied while he was handing her her burger.
"Thanks," Julia said before she reached for a fry that was with the others in between them.
"And are you okay?" Beckett asked.
"Did he tell you why we fell into the water?" Julia said after she'd finished her bite.
"I didn't know," Louis told her.
Explaining it Julia said to her father, "Rogue wave?"
"I'm not sure it was that, I think you two weren't expecting it," Castle commented.
"Not really," Julia replied before they started to laugh.
Eliza, laughing with them, was a little impatient though she waited for them to stop before she asked her father, "You need to tell us about tomorrow Daddy."
"I know," Castle answered with a smile. "But I wanted to let everyone have a little more time to eat."
Nodding, Eliza did her best not to start eating her burger faster, but finally her father was clearing his throat and she said, "Now will you say?"
"Yes," Castle said with a smile. "And we're staying here one more day, we've got some kayaks rented."
"That's it?" Eve asked.
"No, there's more," Julia told her friends. "What is it, Dad?"
"We hired a boat for the day," Castle said. "A yacht." He wasn't surprised when his son in law raised his hand and he said, "If you two wanted to stay here you can."
"Are you going to be out for dinner?" Alexis asked.
"No, we hired the boat until four thirty," Castle replied. "We'll eat… somewhere at some point."
"I'm glad you have plans," Brad said in amusement.
"We have to decide on it I think," Lily said.
"I was thinking of something else," Castle said.
"Us?" Mary asked.
"You've been here," Beckett said.
"Several times," Skye said, nodding in agreement. She then shared a look with her wife and said, "Now we've done casual we could go to a restaurant that's slightly better."
"Slightly?" Martha echoed.
"Whaling Station," Skye said to her wife.
"I was thinking the same thing," Mary said before she turned to the others. "It's a steakhouse and they recently added a kids' menu."
"Will we get to see whales?" Maddy asked hopefully.
"I'm afraid not, but you'll enjoy their food," Skye replied with a smile. "Though I think I'll get a room if everyone agrees to it." After she saw everyone nodding, she said, "I'll call once we finish eating."
"What else are we going to do?" Fleur asked her mothers.
"Yeah, I got that I would be singing," Skye said in amusement.
"I thought you willingly brought your guitar," Beckett told her.
Making a face Skye said, "You didn't hear my daughters."
"I don't think we really needed to," Castle commented.
"Prat," Skye said jokingly before she then laughed. "I needed to go along with their request."
"Needed to? Mum, you're going to hurt our feelings," Marie said with a smile.
"I would if you weren't all laughing right now," Skye said.
"We wanted you and Mommy to sing," Ivy said then.
"Once we're finished," Skye replied.
"And desserts!" Dani cried.
"How… she saw the place," David started to say in surprise before he suddenly realized.
"Saw what?" Eliza asked.
"There's a crêpe place," Castle answered. "We were going to try and make s'mores, but we can't make a fire."
"Are we supposed to be sad about that?" Dani asked her sister.
"I don't think so, crêpes aren't that bad," Mari replied, unable to help smiling at her sister's obvious confusion.
"We have to share won't we?" Eliza asked her parents.
"I hope you do," Beckett said with a smile.
"What if Jules and I don't want the same one?" Eliza then said.
"If someone else wants what you do," Castle replied. "Are you finished?"
Looking down at what fries were left, Eliza nodded and then said, "Are we getting the crêpes now?"
"Why don't we wait for a little bit?" Castle asked.
"He's right," Jim said. "I'm a little full still."
"So am I," Alexis added, setting down her napkin. She smiled and then said, "Though I get the feeling someone's going to suggest a walk."
"The beach isn't that big," Julia said.
"No, but you can look for shells again," Beckett told her.
"Sure," Julia said, jumping up. She got Mari before Eve and Jacob were joining them and they were waiting for the oldest McDouglas twins to join them. "What's wrong?" she asked the pair when they were walking slowly up to them.
"We were going to ask if Mum and Mom could sing now," Marie said first.
"You know you could, we don't have to go into the water right now," Eve said.
"They'll want to wait until we stop for dessert," Kathleen told them. She then smiled and said, "We'll make sure they do," not surprised their friends laughed before her sister was talking to them next.