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 songs Slidin' written by Paul McCartney, from his album McCartney III and I'm in Love with My Car written by Roger Taylor, from the Queen album A Night at the Opera.
A/N #2: It was a relief with the site troubles this past weekend to get the feedback for the last chapter that I did so I'll start on my thank you for that! Mb (I'm not surprised you were glad the site came back for you to be able to read the chapter, I was too! I'm really pleased you thought the beginning with Dani missing her parents was sweet. Along with how Beckett was sweet with her about that since I do try to write her as a good mother since we didn't see that with the show. But you're right, she is with friends as close as family there too but would still miss her parents. I'm not surprised you liked how everyone was excited for the second batch of guests coming in since it was the McCartneys. Happy to see you thought it was nicely done! You're welcome for the first half of the chapter! Great you thought the second half of the chapter was a nice update. And I wasn't surprised you thought it was nice with everyone relaxing at home and having fun too. And it wasn't a surprised you laughed at them setting up the next Christmas. I'm glad you thought it was sweet about the possible TV special for the band to have with a possible Dolly Parton song or performance with her. Not surprised you were jealous of everyone with their time in the game room, lol, I am too believe me. Had to laugh at you saying how it went boom to Castle and Beckett exploring each other with passion and love as you put it. And I was really pleased you enjoyed the memory from their past lives too! You're welcome for sharing the second half of the chapter!).
Thanks for the review, loved reading it and I appreciate the time taken to write it out and send it my way!
A/N #3: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Snowfall written by Claude Thornhill and Ruth Thornhill, from the Tony Bennett album Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album.
Gently Drift Down
Watching Stella unzipping the bag, Beckett said, "Are you sure you want me to see it?"
"Unless you want me to take this to Skye and Mary's home next year, yes," the designer replied. She then smiled and said, "Here you are."
Stepping up to see better, Beckett breathed in a little harder when she could take in the dress. "It's beautiful," she told Stella.
"Your husband got you some incredible lace," the designer replied, still smiling. "Is the silhouette right?"
"It's perfect," Beckett said, nodding as she gently ran her fingers over the design on the lace.
"Do you want to try it on?" Stella then asked her.
Shaking herself, Beckett said, "Sorry, I was still admiring it."
"Don't worry, it's a great boost of confidence for me," Stella said jokingly before she took the dress off of the hanger it was on. She watched Beckett take off her long sleeved shirt and pants before saying, "I would try it first without your bra, I don't know that you would need it."
"The bodice?" Beckett asked her. At the nod from the designer she removed it and with Stella's help stepped into it before she was zipping it up for her. It was then she allowed herself to look at her reflection in the mirror and immediately ran her hands across her stomach. Feeling the pattern of the lace on her palms she said, "It is perfect. Thank you so much."
Smiling at the writer, Stella stepped closer to her and said, "You're very welcome. And it was fun to design."
"It was?" Beckett asked, looking at her.
"Of course, the lace was a joy to work with," Stella replied, gently pulling at the fabric to test the fit on the writer's body. "It looks like it fits well," she said. "Could you walk for me?"
"Of course," Beckett said, turning her gaze away from the mirror. She walked around the closet carefully and said, "Like I said, perfect."
"Great, though I did have my sewing kit here," Stella said, watching the writer stand in front of the mirror again. As she watched her reflection she was a little startled to see the slight expression of pain going across Beckett's face. Stepping up to her again, she gently squeezed her shoulder and said, "Your mum?"
"Yeah," Beckett said with a sigh. "I was just thinking that my first wedding dress is almost a mistake, seeing this one now," she explained before the designer was talking a little hesitatingly.
"You didn't want to stay at the shop for long," Stella guessed.
"Not really," Beckett said. "I thought I'd be fine, because I really didn't want to think I'd miss her that much. But it brought everything back to me, how she was going to miss out on meeting Rick and Julia… And then there was the baby." She turned and said, "How was it for you?"
"I had my sisters to help," Stella replied. "But it was still difficult… extremely difficult." She then made a brief face and told her, "I think it was worse-"
"It doesn't matter what happened to our mothers," Beckett interrupted her. "We've lost a lot."
Nodding Stella said, "I can't help but admire how you were able to continue after what happened."
"I can say the same for you," Beckett said.
"Fair enough," Stella replied.
"Don't worry," Beckett said, turning to her. She smiled and said, "I should take this off?"
"You should," Stella replied. "And help me with the plastic?"
"Of course," Beckett said firmly before the designer was helping her to take off the dress and she put her clothes back on though she was putting on a sweater since they would be leaving soon. Turning to Stella, she saw she had the plastic and she was quick to help the woman before she was hanging it herself in the storage. "I'll be wearing that now for our tenth anniversaries."
"Tenth?" Stella asked in surprise.
Nodding Beckett said, "We're going to renew our vows every fifth and tenth year." She paused and then said, "Did someone tell you what we have planned?"
"I don't think so," Stella said after considering that for a moment. Looking at the woman again she saw the writer had pulled a dress out from a section of them hanging, letting her study it.
"We're going to have every tenth anniversary at Adare and the fifth at City Hall in San Francisco," Beckett explained.
"Your past life," Stella stated. When the writer nodded she said, "Are you going to have a big ceremony like in Adare?"
Hesitating for a moment, Beckett said, "We decided to just have our family from our past life. Skye, Mary and their girls along with Patrick and Trevor and their kids. And their families too if they want to join us. But we will invite you in two years to Adare. After that too if you'd like to go," speaking the last in a hurry before the designer was smiling as she spoke.
"That would be nice, I'd love to see how the dress works for the ceremony," Stella said. She smiled again while they were walking out into the bedroom and said, "Along with the manor. Dad told me all about it."
"It is great," Beckett said, opening the door for them.
"I have to say," Stella said when they'd stepped out into the hall. "Your room is amazing."
"The view?" Beckett asked as they started walking again. Seeing the designer's nod she smiled herself and said, "Would you believe the bed used to face the wall where the built ins are?" At Stella's startled expression she said while they were heading down the stairs, "There used to be a fireplace there, but we used that less and less and we wanted to see our beach and the view of the water."
"I don't blame you," Stella commented before they turned to the writer's husband as he walked up to them.
"Don't ask," Beckett said firmly before her husband could speak. She smiled when he frowned before he was talking that time as Stella left them.
"I can't ask if it went well?" Castle said, pretending he was hurt.
"No," Beckett replied though she was smiling at her husband. She took his hand and gently pulled him to her before they were lightly kissing. After they'd parted she said, "I wish I'd had that dress for our first wedding."
"So I'll be seeing it every tenth year?" Castle asked.
"Mmm-hmm," Beckett replied. She took his lips brushing against hers before she said, "We better go."
Pretending to pout, Castle then said, "You're right, the kids are demanding it."
"Why am I not surprised?" Beckett asked wryly. She walked with her husband to the entry where the others were beginning to gather and was going to get Josie's coat when she saw her father already had it. Turning to get hers she gave her husband a brief look when she saw he was holding it for her. She slipped her arms into the sleeves and said in Irish, keeping her voice down, "Is this for later?"
"No," Castle said simply before she turned to him suddenly. "I'm serious," he murmured in Irish. "I was thinking of your wedding dress… and when I can see it." He expected some kind of comment for that but she was moving to the closet again. He wasn't surprised when she got his coat and he moved to her so he could put it on with her help.
"Is everyone ready?" Paul was asking once he saw everyone had their coats.
"You want to go too Grandude?" Reiley asked him.
"Of course, I've heard a lot about it," Paul replied.
"We're going right now," Castle said before they were heading into the hall to the garage. He was driving the car with Julia, Mari, Reiley and Dani sitting between the other two in the backseat.
"Are we going golfing first?" Julia asked her father, sitting next to him in the front seat.
"Yeah, we kind of need to," Castle replied.
"Where are we eating lunch?" Reiley asked. "Or did someone bring lunch?"
Giggling softly Mari said, "Sorry," when the British girl looked at her. "I already know, we're going to eat there."
"Do they have vegetarian food?" Reiley asked them.
"They do, some sandwiches and really nice vegetarian pizzas," Castle answered. "Hopefully you'll all find something." He saw the girl nodding in the rearview mirror and then continued until he was first in the parking lot for the center. After they were parked and out of the cars they were making their way inside. "Is everyone still okay with the golf course first?" he asked to make sure after they'd taken their coats to the coat check. He laughed when the younger kids were exclaiming they were and said, "Alright then let's get our things."
After they all had everything they needed the group went to the first hole and they let Josie go first, Jim helping her.
"How long will it take us to do this?" Alasdhair asked.
"Until lunch," Castle said.
"He's right," Darnley said. "It's why we're here basically right when it opens. Excuse me."
Watching her friend go over to help his daughter since it was Maddy's turn, Beckett turned to her mother in law. "Are you sure you want to watch them?" she had asked since she had volunteered to keep an eye on the twins and Emily.
"I am," Martha said. "I didn't think it would be difficult now."
"And you don't want to golf Mother?" Castle asked. He wasn't surprised when she merely looked at him and didn't say anything before she walked away with Finn and Emmie in their stroller. "Stupid question?" he asked his wife while he was turning to her.
"I think so," Beckett replied, smiling at his tone. She glanced at the hole to see who was going next and she stated, "I'm glad you thought of going in groups."
"I just had a horrible image of the kids' golf balls hitting each other and fights," Castle replied.
"Fights? You didn't think it would be the younger kids first?" Beckett asked him in amusement.
Shrugging Castle said, "Any kids."
Beckett couldn't help laughing briefly before she squeezed his arm and she walked over to where Josie was trying to go down the green to the small house decorated with Christmas trees on the outside. Picking her up she said, "You need to wait for Eliza to go before you can finish your turn."
"I don't want," Josie told her.
"You don't want to play?" Beckett asked in surprise before the toddler was shaking her head no.
"I want to see," Josie said.
"See the decorations?" Beckett asked. When the toddler nodded she kissed her temple and said, "Can you wait to go with the rest of us?" Trying not to laugh when Josie nodded again, she said, "Good," before her husband was walking over to them, speaking to their youngest when he was close enough.
"You don't want to play now sweetheart?" Castle asked her.
"No Dada," Josie said firmly. "I watch."
"And she wants to see the decorations," Beckett added.
"I'm not surprised," Castle commented. Looking at the kids who were still going he said, "Hopefully they won't get bored with all the waiting we're going to need to do."
"Hopefully not," Beckett echoed in amusement before Josie was clapping at her big sister taking her turn.
"That took a long time," Bobby said, sitting at a table with the other older kids in the café of the center.
"How many of us are there?" Peter asked. "Of course it took a long time."
"We're not going in a group at the arcade are we?" Reiley then inquired.
"Oh no," Eve said after they'd calmed down since they'd begun laughing. "How'd we all agree to the games?"
"And the rides?" Miller said though he was speaking absently as he looked towards the bumper cars.
"It's too bad you weren't here for the summer," Julia commented. "Those bumper boats are a lot of fun."
"You aren't here either," Bailey pointed out to her.
Julia opened her mouth to speak before she paused and then frowned, making a playful face at her friends who were snorting in suppressed laughter. "You're right, but we usually go in May so I was thinking of the summer," she explained.
"She's right though, they're a ton of fun," Jacob said. "You splash-" he started to say before his sister was interrupting him to his surprise.
"Your siblings," Eve said wryly, looking at her brother. "That's what he does."
"It's what you're supposed to do," Jacob said in mock outrage. He broke down and laughed when his sister did before the others joined in and when they'd calmed down he said, "Do you think you could come in the summer?"
"If you're here for that Memorial Day vacation," Miller said first.
"But Julia said you're going to Mill Valley next year," Bailey pointed out.
"Actually," Eve said. "I think just the Castles and Fosters are going this time. We're heading to Niagara Falls for the weekend."
"Patrick and his family are going to Ocean City in New Jersey," Julia said.
"Not with your family?" Reiley asked in surprise.
"No," Julia replied with a smile. "We're all going to Japan though, I think next year we're going to do the Spring Break and summer vacations together."
"Oh, we talked to Mum and Dad," Reiley said rapidly.
"What did they say?" Clive asked interestedly.
"That they'll think about it," Miller said. He couldn't help laughing with his siblings when the other kids were groaning in disappointment and said, "They might go, again Skye and Mary are and they speak the language. And I don't think they have anything with work really so we'll beg them."
"You forgot to tell them about Grandude, he heard us talking and spoke to Mum and Dad too remember," Bailey reminded her brother before their younger was speaking quickly to the others.
"He said we should go," Bobby said. "And if they wanted he and Nancy could bring us."
"I think they would do that," Miller said.
"Would you like to go too?" Mari asked him.
"Yeah, I haven't been to San Francisco before," Miller replied. "Definitely not Mill Valley either. Grandude told us that it was a nice town."
"It is," Julia replied. She had been speaking rapidly since the adults were walking to them with trays. Jumping up when her mother was close, she took her sandwich and chips before she said, "Dessert?"
"Later tonight," Beckett replied. She smiled when Julia pretended to look disappointed and she said, "It'll be a good one."
"I can't ask what it'll be?" Julia replied.
"No," Beckett said simply before she moved to the table where the younger kids were sitting.
"How's your sandwich?" Peter asked Bobby after they'd started eating.
"Really good, I'm surprised this mozzarella is so fresh for a place like this," the young man commented.
"Probably why it's still open," Jacob said jokingly.
After they'd laughed and calmed down, the older kids were eating again before they talked about the arcade. The Willis kids were trying to get the others to tell them more about the arcade games but they refused.
"We're finished now," Julia said, noticing all the plates were empty. "So you'll be able to see what there is."
"Should we go together?" Erin asked carefully.
"Us older kids," Julia replied. "But we have to get the money first from our parents."
"Are you having fun?" Castle asked Julia when she walked up to him and Beckett.
"Definitely, but we need to get our cards and money so we can play," the teen replied.
"I think that's a hint love," Beckett told her husband with a smile before he was getting his wallet out of his pocket.
"I got it," Castle replied. He took out a bill and gave it to Julia saying, "Watch your credits, this is all I'm giving you."
Nodding Julia said, "Thanks." She took the bill and went to the machine to place that money on her card, finding Mari joining her shortly after. "Hey," she said to her friend when she had finished.
"Hey, is that all the money you're getting?" the girl asked her friend with a smile.
"Yeah, but it's still a lot," Julia replied.
"But we can go on the bumper cars once," Mari said.
"Oh, we better tell the others that haven't been here," Julia said swiftly in remembrance. She stepped away from the machine and since her sister in law was with them next she said, "We can only go on the bumper cars once with that amount of money."
"You got the same too?" Erin asked as she was putting the bill into the machine.
"Yeah, we usually get this amount when we come so we know now," Mari said.
"Have the rest of you Americans gotten that much too?" Miller asked. At their nods he told his siblings jokingly, "We're in good hands then."
"I know," Bailey said. "But get out of the way so we can start."
"Oh, there is one thing," Julia said, looking at the others.
"She's right," Eve said, recognizing what she meant immediately. "They put more games on the second floor."
"Aren't they video games?" Peter asked.
"You haven't seen them yet?" Bobby said in surprise.
"No, they opened it earlier this month," Clive explained.
"Should we go there first?" Reiley said.
"I think the bumper cars," Miller said.
"I think we're going to have to do it," Julia said with a smile at her American friends. "Take a vote." She turned to the others and asked, "Who wants to go to the second floor first?"
Frowning when only herself and Erin raised their hands, Reiley said, "I guess we're going to the cars."
"We can go to the second floor right after," Jacob told her.
After the youngest Willis kid had nodded the group moved to the cars and were getting on after the people on the cars ahead of them had finished their turn.
"Are you going to be okay driving these?" Julia asked Bobby, near her, jokingly. She laughed when he stuck his tongue out at her and she was about to tell him that she was joking before he spoke first.
"It's not that difficult," he told her. "Think you'd be able to drive back at my home?"
"Not in London," Julia said jokingly again before they were laughing together. The cars started up at that point and she hurried to drive it into Bobby's, not surprised that he was pretending to shake his fist at her in anger before they were driving away from each other laughing again.
"You have to love this idea," Paul said, standing at the railing with the other parents. "It lets the kids get out their aggression."
Smiling Beckett said, "A little dark."
"But accurate," Castle commented. He smiled at his wife when she glanced at him and he said, "We'll leave them on their own."
"And see us later?" Brad asked him.
"Probably sooner," Castle said. "It's not that big an arcade."
"We'll see you," Beckett said slightly laughingly before her husband was gently pulling her away by her hand.
"Was that rude?" Castle asked her.
"No, I think everyone else is going to pair off," Beckett replied, looking back at the others and seeing what they were doing.
"Too bad for Liam and Pablo," Castle said since the investigator's dad had remained with his mother and her stepdad had gone with Jim to watch the younger kids.
"Pablo seemed to be happy he was staying in one place," Beckett commented.
"True," Castle said. He was a little startled when his wife stopped him and looking at her asked, "Okay?"
"Where are you taking me?" Beckett asked.
"Where would you like to go?" Castle said with a smile. He wasn't surprised when she raised her eyebrow and he cleared his throat for a moment before he said, "The second floor?"
"Alright, but what exactly do you want to do?" Beckett asked him.
"Maybe just look at the very least?" Castle said then.
"Sure," Beckett said, recalling the upper story was new. She let him lead her and they went up the stairs before walking around the different consoles. She was a little disappointed they were all video games and none she really wanted to play.
"Okay," Castle said, turning to his wife. When she looked at him in surprise he said, "You want to stay?"
"No, I thought you would want to play something here," Beckett told him.
"Oh no," Castle replied. "I can pass. There's a lot more fun stuff downstairs." He reached for her hand but was startled when she was stopping him again. "Okay, now you're just confusing me," pretending to sound frustrated.
Wrapping her arms around him Beckett said jokingly, "Good, that's exactly what I was aiming for." She took his lips that brushed against hers before she told him, "What are you going to pick?"
Castle started to speak before he stopped himself and then said, "You're not going to pick at all?"
"I don't need to," Beckett replied easily. "I can follow you."
Breathing out heavily Castle said, "Was that meant to be dirty?"
"Not here," Beckett said. She wasn't surprised when her husband kissed the back of her hand before she said, "We better go."
Turning to the stairs he heard talking from the older kids and smiled saying, "Good point. He tugged her after him and they were heading to the staircase where he said, "You finished already?"
Smiling up at her parents Julia said, "You thought we'd still be going? There was a line by the time we finished."
"And you could only go once," Beckett said. She smiled when the kids were nodding and she asked, "Did you enjoy it?"
"Yeah, it was fun," Erin said first, not surprised when the other British kids were agreeing with her.
"She's right, but how is it up here?" Bobby asked.
"Fun," Castle said.
"Dad, that doesn't say what they are here," Julia said. She smiled when he shrugged and she went over to him saying, "Did you play anything?"
"We just looked," Castle said.
"No shooting games," Beckett said firmly to her daughter. "Or for you Mari," she added, looking at the girl who was nodding before she spoke.
"Mom reminded me," Mari said.
"She knew you were going to come here?" Reiley asked as they walked the rest of the way up to the floor.
"Yeah, she talked to Rick and Kate," Mari explained. She smiled and then said, "That's one of two places I know we're going to go for sure."
"Lucky," Bailey said jokingly.
"I don't know where we're going," Julia said swiftly when the others were looking at her.
"We're heading down," Castle told the kids then. "Have fun."
"Thanks Dad," Julia said. After saying goodbye to her mother, she turned to the others so they could walk together around the games.
On the first floor, Beckett wasn't surprised when her husband was holding onto her hand before they were walking to the skeeball games. "I'm fine with this," she told him, smiling at him.
"I don't have to ask your permission?" Castle questioned her. When she smiled and shook her head he leaned into her and kissed her lightly before they turned to pick their consoles to begin playing.
"I can't wait for this," Reiley was telling Julia and Mari while they were leaving the staircase in the hall.
"Neither can I," Julia said. "I hope you'll enjoy it."
"Of course we will," Bobby said, behind the girls who were quickly turning to him. "A slide like that and a diving rock?" he added before Mari was speaking with a smile.
"You know there's a grotto under that right?" she asked.
"Oh yeah, I saw it when the waterfall was off," Bobby commented. "And the waterfall too."
"It's a great pool," Bailey said.
"We need to wait for the adults," Julia said. "But you figured that out?"
"I did," Miller said.
"I should have asked my mom if you could swim without waiting," Julia commented with a frown.
"I think you mean I should have asked my mum," Miller corrected her.
With a brief nod Julia then said, "Are you having fun?"
"Don't worry, if I didn't want to come I wouldn't have," Miller said. "I could have gone to a mate's house. But how often can you bowl in another's house? Also swim with it snowing out there."
"My house isn't ready yet," Peter said in feigned anger when the others were turning to him.
"Our house," Clive said laughingly at his brother's tone. "But the parents are coming now."
Turning to see he was right, Julia hurried over to her mother and asked, "Can we go in now?"
"Go ahead, but you know the rules," Beckett said.
"I told them already," Julia replied. She hesitated before she said, "I told Reiley and Bailey and they told their brothers."
"Then go ahead," Beckett said, nodding to her. She watched her hurry back to the other older kids without running and turned to Stella as she stepped up to her. "Are you going swimming?"
"I am," the designer said. "Do you think there will always be younger kids for that pool?"
Smiling, Beckett said, "More than likely."
"You do make a point," Stella said, spotting Alexis holding Emmie on her lap. She saw Louis was holding Finn standing next to the kid pool before she said, "Though I get the feeling they'll use that small slide."
"That's what Rick used to convince me to agree to that part of to this pool," Beckett said, still smiling. "Though I was already going to, I wanted our youngest and anyone in the future who would be small enough for it to have their own pool."
"Are you coming in the water with me?" Alasdhair asked his wife as he walked to her.
"Of course," Stella replied, letting him take her hand before they were making their way to the entry.
"I know what you want to say," Beckett told her husband, sensing he was stepping up to her.
"No you don't," Castle said firmly.
Beckett turned to him with a smile and said, "You're right, though I would kind of guess you want to go into the water."
"Right, but I'm wondering about dinner and dessert," Castle said.
"I wouldn't worry about it," Lily said, walking by them with Sophie.
"She's right," Beckett said, rolling her eyes at the same time she was smiling again at her friend. Turning her attention back to her husband she said, "I wanted to arrange something."
"Without me," Castle said.
Patting his cheek and doing her best not to laugh when he made a face at her for doing that, Beckett said, "This time yes."
"Well," Castle said, taking her hand to stop her. "I guess I'll just let you surprise us all." Seeing the look on her face he asked, "Weird?"
"A little," Beckett replied, trying to keep her laughter out of her tone. "But thank you for letting me."
"Pionós a ghearradh orm?" Castle said, asking her the words punish me but making sure his voice was low.
"Más buachaill maith thú," Beckett replied, squeezing at his hand firmly having told him 'if you're a good boy' and waiting for his reaction which he shortly after gave her as he shuddered in pleasure.
"Don't tease me," Castle said. "But… we'll talk about this later I'm assuming."
"Yes," Beckett replied firmly before she tugged at his hand and pulled him after her to their youngest where she was standing next to his mother.
"Are you taking her?" Martha asked the couple with a smile.
"If you'll let us," Castle responded. He wasn't surprised at the face his mother gave him and said, "Yeah, if she wants to go."
"Good change," Martha told her son wryly while he was picking the baby up. "Have fun kiddo," she directed to her youngest granddaughter.
"I will," Josie said, waving before she was turning to the kid's pool while her parents were walking over to it. "I can go slide?" she asked.
"Sliding," Castle said. He laughed when the toddler was nodding rapidly and said, "You don't want to try and say it too?"
"Rick," Beckett told him. "She's still on vacation."
"I guess she's right," Castle told Josie. "But you're going to say that later."
"Slid-ing," Josie said carefully. She giggled when her father kissed her temple and she wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing his cheek before she was set down in the water. She walked to where Sophie was sitting and said, "Hi."
"Hi," the toddler said, smiling back at her. "Splash?"
"Not too much," Lily said immediately.
"She's right," Beckett said when Josie was looking at her. "Don't splash too much." She watched while the two girls were slapping their hands on the top of the water and she turned hearing one of the older kids crying out.
"They took a while to get to that," Brad said, sitting on the side of the pool next to his wife.
"I think they went to the deep end and through the waterfall," Lily said
"And Stella and Alasdhair are there right now," Castle commented.
Trying not to laugh Beckett said, "Why are you spying on them?"
"I'm not," Castle said defensively. "I was looking over there and noticed them," he then explained.
"They're fine," Beckett said, noticing then that Brad was watching the slide.
"I have to make sure my son is alright," the chief said with a smile before he turned back to the others. "Why the secrecy about dinner?"
"It's special," Castle said, not surprised when his wife was giving him a look before she was speaking to him in amusement.
"It's not, it's new," Beckett said, turning her head to look back at the others.
"I think I know where that is," Darnley said jokingly.
"If you do keep it to yourself," Lily said in the same tone.
"Why are you here?" Beckett asked him.
"Just passing by for the slide," Darnley said before he continued on.
"Did you want to continue to the main pool?" Jim asked, standing next to the pool.
"You can't watch all of them on your own Dad," Beckett said with a smile, her eyes on Josie when the toddler had cried out at his voice and was walking to him.
"I'll help him," Pablo said, walking up to them.
"Are you sure?" Jim asked.
"Of course, if I'm here I can stay close to my husband," Pablo replied with a smile. He then said to the others, "Go, we'll keep a close eye on your children."
Though she wasn't sure, Beckett told Josie, "Stay with your grandpapa okay?"
"Kay," the toddler replied before she turned back to Sophie.
"Are we going together?" Castle asked his wife once he'd gotten her attention.
"We don't have to if you don't want to," Beckett replied while they walked into the entry.
"I'd like to," Castle said.
"Alright, then I'd like to swim back and forth for a little," Beckett told him, smiling when her husband was looking at the slide. "I think they'll be busy there for a while longer."
"Sure," Castle said before they were starting to swim.
Watching their parents from the top of the slide while they waited for their turn, Eliza asked her sisters, "It's not weird they go together all the time is it?"
"No," Julia said, seeing Alexis shaking her head at the same time. "Did you think it was?" she then asked her with a smile.
"A little," Eliza replied. "It's because they're in love right?"
"Yeah," Alexis said, squeezing her sister's shoulders gently make leading her to the top of the slide. "Louis and I do the same you know."
"Oh yeah," Eliza said. She then began to laugh and asked, "It's my turn?"
"I think it is," Julia told her in amusement. She watched her go down before she looked at Mari next to her.
"I would have told her my parents are the exact same," she said. "But," Mari then stated, raising her finger to keep her friend from talking. "They don't work together as long as your parents do."
Laughing briefly, Julia then said, "I guess you make a good point but I already knew they were like this." She paused and then nodded saying, "For a long time."
Nodding Mari said, "You don't want to go?"
Looking over at the top of the slide, Julia saw they were on their own and she said, "You better go."
"Why me? You were here first," Mari said with a frown. She tried not to laugh when her friend merely smiled at her and said, "You go first."
Julia was about to speak before she paused and then said, "Fine, but I told you to go first."
Rolling her eyes, Mari watched her friend going down the slide before she turned to Reiley when she came to the top of the stairs. "You're not getting tired of the slide?"
"You aren't?" Reiley retorted though she was smiling.
"Not really," Mari said. "Luckily there's other stuff to do."
"My brothers were talking about going to that grotto," Reiley said. "Now my parents are out of there."
Smiling Mari said, "You noticed?"
"I think everyone did," Reiley said. She then smiled herself and said, "I think we better go down."
Peering down Mari saw Julia was waving up at her from the water and said, "You're right," before she was taking her turn.
Once Reiley was with them, Bobby said, "What about seeing the inside of that grotto now? Before we jump in the water."
"I don't think that's such a good idea," Bailey said slowly.
Looking around the water Julia said, "Her parents didn't notice," since Peter and Eve weren't with them before his brother was speaking rapidly.
"Neither did ours," Clive said. He smiled and said, "Want me to head over there and tell them we want to join them?"
"That would be nice," Jacob said. When the other kids were looking at him he said, "Let's head over to the shelf my legs are tired."
"Your sister would get mad at you?" Miller asked once they were sitting.
"Mad? She'd get explosive," Jacob said.
"No she wouldn't," Julia said firmly. "But she'd be annoyed, so would Peter and I wouldn't blame them."
"Are they… outright snogging?" Bobby asked, keeping his voice down while Clive was swimming away from them.
"Probably not," Mari said, Julia nodding in agreement with her.
"Do you think anyone noticed we came over here?" Peter asked his girlfriend after they'd stopped kissing each other gently and were watching the waterfall.
"I think now they did," Eve said with a smile. "Luckily our parents didn't see."
"Oh I know," Peter said exaggeratedly. He smiled at his girlfriend laughing and he told her, "So-"
"What is it?" Eve asked, startled at him stopping so abruptly.
"Someone's coming," Peter explained before his brother swam under the water and stood up. "Hey," he said while his brother wiped the water from his eyes.
"Hi," Clive said. "We wanted to come in here."
"That's fine," Peter said. "We only came here for a second."
Nodding, Clive stepped out of the waterfall to see outside before waving to the others. When he was back with his brother and Eve he said, "We know why you came here," not surprised when the former was responding swiftly.
"Yes, and you don't need to mention it," Peter said. "Especially to Mom and Dad."
"I won't," Clive said.
"We won't either," Erin said, blushing since she was the first one inside the grotto. She then looked around and said, "How pretty."
"It is," Julia said, next inside.
"Are we going to fit in here?" Bobby asked when they were all inside.
"We can't sit," Jacob commented.
"Then we're not staying for that long," Eve told her brother, a little relieved the subject of her and her boyfriend alone in the grotto hadn't been brought up.
"Too bad," Erin said.
"Do you want to stay here on your own for a little?" Julia asked her sister in law.
"Or are you worried about jumping into the water?" Mari then said in a rush.
Hesitating for a moment, Erin said, "A little."
"It isn't that bad," Clive told her.
"He's right, the water's definitely deep enough," Jacob added.
"My parents made sure it'd be deep for the platform," Julia said, the others looking at her. "My dad made sure since he was thinking of diving and jumping first."
"Did your mum think of anything?" Bobby asked.
"Yeah, it was her idea for the kid pool and the shelf," Julia said. "She thought we should have a place to rest while we swim back and forth." She was about to speak when Miller was suddenly yelling briefly before he fell back into the water. They were all reacting and moving to go out when he told them to stop.
"It's alright," the young man said, swiping his hand over his face. "I slipped on the ledge. My mistake."
"At least you were in the water," Bailey said, able to tell her brother was serious.
"I know," Miller replied, looking around. "So… diving?"
"I think so," Julia said with a laugh before they were taking turns leaving the grotto. Climbing to the top of the diving platform she said to Eve, "Was it nice?"
"It was," she said her cheeks flushed. "Thanks for not saying anything."
Nodding Julia said, "If it were me I would hope you wouldn't."
"Nope," Eve replied before they were laughing together and turning to the others to begin jumping into the water in turn.
