Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured on the show Castle, they belong to the creator of the show, ABC and the others who do own them.
A/N #1: The title of this story and this chapter are lyrics from the song La Isla Bonita written by Madonna, Patrick Leonard and Bruce Gaitsch, from the Madonna album True Blue.
No Cares In This World
Studying her reflection in the mirror, Julia wrinkled her nose before crossing her eyes at herself. She then smiled and said, "I'm fine."
"Are you sure? You're only fourteen," Mari told her friend teasingly.
"I know, just… looking," Julia said, shrugging her shoulders. She then smiled again and told her friend, "Like you haven't done the same."
"Nope," Mari said, laughing outright when her friend was playfully pushing her though she barely moved. She then said, "Is there a difference?"
"Yeah, since there are pictures of me all over the house when I was little," Julia said. She reached up and touched her cheekbones saying, "My face is looking a lot more like my mom's."
Nodding Mari said, "I see it," before she was jumping when her friend gasped. "What is it?" she asked in concern.
"I can't believe I forgot," Julia said. "Your uniform! How does it feel?"
"Weird but… really familiar," Mari replied, looking down at herself.
Smiling Julia said, "It would have been weirder with the tie."
"I know but… I wonder if that's why I feel weird," Mari said, frowning.
Since she and her friend were wearing the khaki uniforms of the WASPs from the forties, Julia said, "I know. Do you want to borrow one from my dad or something?"
"No," Mari said slightly laughingly. "Let's go or we're going to lose our time downtown."
Julia nodded before she and Mari were grabbing their bomber jackets and leaving her room. It was the eighteenth of March and the day after her fourteenth birthday, since it had fallen on a Friday that year she'd only had to wait one day before they could celebrate. That morning she and Mari were going to meet their friends to go downtown until after lunch, then return home for her forties themed party. As they reached the bottom of the stairs she and Mari went to the kitchen where the others were before her baby sister was launching herself at her while she was crying out.
"Happy Birthday Jules!" Josie squealed. "Are you flying?"
Laughing, Julia hugged her sister tightly and said, "Thanks Josa, and no I'm not."
"Permission to give you another birthday hug?" Castle asked, saluting the teen.
Beckett wasn't surprised at the look their second oldest gave him before Julia was hugging him tightly. "Happy Birthday again sweetie," she said once her daughter had turned to her. "You look amazing," she then said once they'd let each other go.
"It's not weird I don't have the full uniform?" Julia asked.
"Or me," Mari interjected with a smile.
"Us," Julia corrected herself, smiling back at her friend.
"No, I told you both you might find the tie uncomfortable," Martha said, making sure the fit of both uniforms were alright.
"It still looks good," Eliza told her sister.
"Thanks," Julia said slightly laughing. She shared hugs with the rest of her family before she went to Finn and Emmie since her sister and her family were there as well. "What's for breakfast?" she asked after she'd kissed her nephew and niece on the cheek.
"Sit and you'll find out," Beckett told her daughter, not surprised when she and Mari were racing to do so.
"Oatmeal?" Julia asked as her grandfather was setting down the serving bowl in the middle of the kitchen table.
"Hopefully that's alright," Castle said, bringing some smaller bowls with their toppings.
"It is," Julia assured him before she was being served first by her mother. After they were all eating she wasn't surprised when her grandmother asked her what she and Mari were going to do once they were downtown. "Meet with Natalie, Ava and Dawn," she said first thing when she had swallowed her spoonful of oatmeal.
"That's it?" Eliza asked in surprise. "What about Tristan?"
"He'll meet us there," Julia said simply. "Probably with Natalie."
"How're they doing?" Alexis asked.
"Good, they're dating and everything so…" Julia said.
"But everything is going well," Mari added quickly. "The same for Ava and Dawn but they're all tired of chaperones."
"It's going to keep happening," Castle commented. "Until they're… older."
"I think Ava and Dawn's parents said until they're sixteen," Julia said thoughtfully. "Probably Natalie and Tristan too."
"It's a good age," Castle said.
"Once I date," Julia told him teasingly.
"Oh, so you have someone?" Castle said, exaggerating his tone.
Rolling her eyes Julia said, "No." She wasn't surprised when her father merely smiled and shrugged at her before they turned back to their food. Once they were finished and had cleared the table she asked, "Can we go?"
"Yes, are you going to the library at all?" Beckett said.
Shaking her head Julia said, "We're just going to stay downtown."
"You don't have any books?" Castle asked her.
"Not this year," Julia said.
"I don't," Mari then spoke in a rush since her friend had looked at her.
"Okay, then you know what to do," Beckett said, motioning her over.
Hurrying to her family, Julia hugged her parents and promised she and Mari would be safe before Josie was hugging her. "Do you want me to get something for you?" she asked.
"Okay," Josie immediately answered, giggling when her family and Mari were laughing.
"I'll see what I find," Julia said. She couldn't help hugging her sister when she nodded rapidly before she and Mari said goodbye to everyone. They were then walking down to the entry and pausing there to put on their bomber jackets. After they were inside the garage she said, "I'm wishing I could have worn the patch."
"Me too," Mari said. "And the hat."
"Oh I know," Julia said seriously, putting on her helmet. "We could have put it in the pocket in our jackets, folded and then put them on once we got there." She paused and then sighed saying, "I shouldn't think of that, it kind of makes me sad," as she moved to open the garage door.
"It makes me horrified," Mari said. She wasn't surprised when her friend looked at her questioningly and she said, "Your crash? I'm never going to forget that."
"Oh… true," Julia said slowly. She shook her head and said, "We're getting too morbid, we better go or the others are going to wonder what we're doing." She wasn't surprised when her friend was nodding and they moved to leave the garage. Closing the door behind them they got on their bikes before they were riding to the gate which soon opened. She waved back to the house, aware it had been one of her parents who had done that for them, before she focused on getting out to the street. They rode to the Lennox and Davis homes, not surprised to see their four friends there.
"Hey, please tell me you're ready to go," Jacob said once he saw the two.
"Yeah, we're not that late," Mari said.
"No, but Soph was asking all morning to come with us," Eve explained as they moved to get on their bikes. "We did our best to tell her she couldn't, luckily dad took her to the games and that distracted her," she added.
"You snuck out?" Mari asked in surprise.
"Basically, Mom said they'd take care of her," Jacob answered. He wasn't surprised when the others were all nodding before he said, "Your outfits are sick."
"Uniforms," Julia and Mari said at that same time before they were laughing with the others. "Thanks though," the former said when they'd calmed down and were continuing to downtown before they reached their usual bike locks, finding the rest of their group there.
After the two groups had greeted each other Natalie said, "Where are we going first? And don't say you don't need to choose. It's your birthday remember."
Giving an exaggerated sigh, Julia then smiled and said, "Fine, but you already know what I'm going to pick."
"The bookstore," everyone else said. They began laughing together before they did their best to calm down so they could head to the store first.
Once they were there, Julia greeted the cashier first before she was going to the young adult books and looking around to see what there was. After a moment she realized she wasn't alone and looked at Mari asking, "What is it?"
"I don't really have any books I want to get," the girl replied.
"You didn't even look," Julia said.
"I don't need to," Mari said firmly. "Unless you don't like me standing here."
"You're fine," Julia replied in the same tone. She then turned back to the shelves in front of her and looked around, picking out one book before she went to the mystery section. "You don't want to get an Agatha Christie book?" she asked her friend teasingly.
"No," Mari replied since she hadn't really been a fan of the ones her friend had read. "Just Death Comes as the End."
"Alright, but there are other good ones," Julia said, looking at the titles.
"Are you going to get all her books?" Mari asked after she had watched her friend for a while.
"Probably," Julia said. She then looked at her friend with a smile and said, "Eventually."
"I figured," Mari nodded before she watched her pick a title. "A Holiday for Murder?"
"First one I saw," Julia responded, not surprised when her friend laughed. "Come on, let's see if they're ready we need to keep going."
Once they'd regrouped at the front, they began paying for what they'd found though not all of them had gotten books. Outside the store the others were looking expectantly at Julia before she laughed.
"Okay, my baby sister asked for something so that means we have to go to the toy store," she told them once she had calmed down.
"We have to?" Jacob asked.
"Do you guys not want to go?" Peter asked his girlfriend and her brother.
"Oh no, we're fine with that," Eve said. "And to be honest I think we should get something for our sister."
"Good point, she's going to be mad we left without her seeing," Jacob said quickly while he was nodding in agreement. He then said, "But what?"
"Probably a coloring book," Eve said as they began to walk.
In the store, Julia turned to Mari and said, "I know what you're going to do."
"Oh really?" the girl replied laughingly.
"Yep, you're going to get something for Dani aren't you?" Julia asked.
"I should," Mari said. She then looked at the others and said, "Think everyone else will?"
"Maybe," Julia said since she knew Tristan and Dawn didn't have younger siblings. "Come on," she said before they were reaching the art supplies and her friend was grabbing her arm before she was speaking hurriedly.
"Are you going to the art supply store?" Mari asked.
"Of course, I want to get some colored pencils," Julia replied. She then said, "You need to?"
Nodding her head Mari explained saying, "I need a new sketchbook and some pastels."
"We'll go," Julia reassured her before she was turning her attention to the coloring books. She picked one each for her little sisters and two for herself before walking around the games until she and Mari met up with everyone else. After that store she led them to the art supply store and once they had gone to one of the boutiques she noticed it was time for lunch.
"Where are we going to eat?" Tristan asked Julia interestedly.
"The Chinese place," the teen replied firmly. Glancing around at her friends Julia then asked, "Unless anyone doesn't want to go there?" She shared a smile with her friend at the others protesting that before she said, "Alright, but right now is their Dim Sum lunch so I hope you're ready."
"We are, and we have to go since we're going to be allowed to go bowling at your house right?" Ava asked while they headed to the restaurant at that point.
"That's my plan," Julia said.
"Are you going to have any party games like we've had there before?" Dawn asked.
"Yeah, just a couple though," Julia replied. "Or are we too old for those?"
"Not yet," Clive said before he glanced at Eve and Jacob.
Clicking her tongue exaggeratedly, Eve said, "I'm not that old." She laughed with the others and then said, "But really, we don't mind," before she glanced at her brother when he was adding to that in a rush.
"We don't, especially if there's going to be a party bag," Jacob said, his tone becoming joking at the end.
"Neither do I," Tristan said, the others agreeing with him.
"There are party bags, for both of my little sisters too," Julia said before they were walking into the restaurant. She spoke to the host before they were being seated and she then told her friends, "I'm getting a bag too."
"I was just about to ask," Mari said. "Are we going to have enough time for everything?"
"I think so," Julia said. "I'm sure we'll go to the game room after dinner."
"Are you having something special for dinner?" Peter asked.
"Not this year," Julia replied. "We're going to have pizza. I looked with my parents at the big recipes of the decade and they said it was either going to need to be corned beef and hash or meatloaf." She wasn't surprised when her friends were making faces and she nodded saying, "I know, too plain. So we'll have pizza."
"And Dim Sum now," Jacob said, playfully rubbing his hands together.
Julia couldn't help laughing at the motion but then quickly turned her attention to one of the women walking by their table with a cart. Her father had been teaching both herself and Eliza Mandarin so she did her best using it with the women that walked by. But she managed to get a decent amount of selections and then said while they were eating, "After this I don't really have anywhere to go," directing that to all of her friends.
"Neither do I," Mari said. She wasn't surprised when the others agreed with her and she then said, "Should we just go back to your house?"
"I guess," Julia said. "Though I think my parents are going to want me to wait to go down to the bowling alley."
"Why aren't you having a swimming party?" Dawn asked.
"I think because we want to go to the bowling alley and game room," Julia said. "After coming here." She couldn't help laughing at her friends agreeing with her all at once before she told them, "Did you want to go swimming?"
"I don't have my bathing suit," Tristan said quickly. "My trunks I mean."
"I don't have anything either," Clive added.
"Then hopefully we'll be able to play in the game room until the guests come," Julia said. She wasn't surprised when the others were agreeing again and they continued their meal until they were finishing with the dessert she'd ordered for them.
"Are you sure this is dessert?" Tristan asked.
"We're having cake later," Eve said.
"Your mom told you to get these didn't she?" Clive asked, holding up the sesame ball he had.
"Both my parents," Julia answered. "Since we're having cake later."
"You don't know what it looks like?" Ava asked.
"Nope, they take care of it every year," Julia said easily before they were finishing. She paid with the money her father had given her and they were soon getting up to leave the restaurant. Heading back to their bikes she said, "Before we go, do you guys have your outfits?"
"In our bags," Eve said first.
When the others were nodding to that and then holding up what they had, Julia nodded and said, "Okay, then I'm ready to go," before they were all unlocking their bikes and getting on to return home.
"Can I help you?"
"I was about to ask you that," Castle commented, watching his wife letting go of the balloon she had taped on top of the pony wall next to the bowling lanes.
"I think I'm done," Beckett replied, looking at what she'd put up there. "She doesn't want too much."
"I remember," Castle said, walking around the wall and going to her, taking her hand.
"Rick," Beckett said firmly when her husband was pulling her closer to him.
"No one's here," Castle replied, letting go of her hand. Once he'd wrapped his arms around her he leaned into her, kissing her gently at first before he felt her responding. Letting out a brief groan, he was tightening his grip on her when she did the same and deepened the kiss, slipping his tongue into her mouth.
"Wait," Eliza whispered to her little sister. "We better leave them now."
"They are kissing?" Josie asked.
"Yep, so let's go this way," Eliza said, pulling her away from the basement. After they were back in the game room she said to the rest of their family, "They're almost finished. They told us to come back here."
"No they don't," Josie said immediately, frowning at her sister who put her hand to her face.
"Really?" Martha said, looking at her second youngest granddaughter.
"Okay, they didn't tell us anything but I didn't want everyone to know," Eliza explained.
"Well, I'm sure they'll come back," Jim said. "But don't tell them you saw them," he told his youngest granddaughter.
"I won't," Josie said. "Can I play now?"
"Go ahead," Jim replied before he watched her hurrying away. "We better finish here before the kids are back," he told Alexis and Louis who were decorating with him.
Agreeing, the couple assisted until they'd gotten everything set and Castle and Beckett were walking into the room.
"Is everything ready?" the former asked.
"It is," Alexis said first. "Since there wasn't that much."
"Be happy she doesn't want a balloon arch or… something like that," Castle said, making a brief face.
"Jules hates those," Eliza commented. She smiled when her parents looked at her and said, "We talked about it."
"Sweetie," Beckett said firmly. "Why is Carlow here?"
"Just for a little bit," Eliza protested since her bearded dragon was on her shoulder.
"And it's been a little bit," Castle said. "Take him back home," he told her before the little girl made a face and left them with her reptile. "At least she listened," he told his wife.
"We told her we didn't want to scare Julia's friends," Beckett replied with a smile. She then squeezed at his arm before Josie was getting her attention and she picked her up saying, "Are you ready for the party sweetie?"
"Yeah," Josie said happily, nodding her head. "I can play too?"
"Of course," Castle replied. "I don't think you can when the older kids are playing the games. But," he said swiftly when the toddler looked dismayed. "You'll get a party bag like the others will."
"And Lizzy?" Josie asked, pointing to her sister who had just entered the room.
"And Lizzy," Castle echoed.
"Okay," Josie said simply. She smiled when her parents were laughing before she watched her mother getting everyone's attention.
"The guests should be arriving soon," Beckett began when the others were looking at her. "So we better get changed." She turned her attention to Eliza then and asked, "Will you be able to change yourself?"
"Yeah," the little girl said. "Can I take Josa with me?"
Seeing his wife was about to speak, Castle grabbed her wrist gently and said, "You can, but we'll change her." When their second youngest nodded rapidly and hurried to get her sister he smiled watching them go saying, "She wouldn't really leave us alone about it."
"Neither would Josie," Beckett replied, smiling herself. "Come on," she then told him, tugging him after her. After they were walking to the stairs she saw their two youngest were ahead of them, nearly to the top. She and her husband remained to watch them but once they were out of sight they went up themselves.
Inside their room, Castle closed the door after them and said, "Can I watch you?"
"If I can do the same for you," Beckett replied immediately. She wasn't surprised when her husband looked startled and she said, "If you can control yourself too."
"I will," Castle said before he was following her to the closet. Inside they were getting their outfits they'd worn at Halloween and he said, "So this year we're going for the fifties look right?"
"Of course," Beckett said with a smile, looking at him pointedly.
Castle was confused for a moment before he said, "Right," and he moved to begin removing his clothes. He wasn't surprised when his wife's eyes were on him the entire time he was moving but he didn't say anything.
"Let me," Beckett replied, taking his tie from his hands.
"You know this makes it very difficult to control myself," Castle told her as he watched her putting the fabric around his neck.
"I'm not surprised but just let me do this," Beckett said before she was smiling at him.
"Would I be able to do something like this for you?" Castle asked.
"Not really," Beckett replied simply before she finished. "Okay, sit down Rick," she then told him, smiling when he frowned.
"Would you like me to sit on my hands too?" Castle replied.
"No, I need those working later," Beckett told him. She was smiling again when her husband's eyes widened but pulled her sweater over her head and proceeded to change into her blouse and dress. Once she had finished she said, "No stockings Rick."
"I was only saying you wore them before," Castle replied in mock annoyance before he was standing. He held her by her shoulders and then leaned into her, kissing her lightly before he murmured against her lips, "Your legs don't need them."
"Pervert," Beckett said with a smile before she was taking his kiss. She wasn't surprised her husband had made it a passionate one and she returned it until they were parting at the sound of a knock on their door.
"Eliza," Castle said at the same time as his wife. He wasn't surprised when she laughed and he kissed her cheek before he said, "I'll get it."
Though she wanted to point out she wanted to see their daughter as well, Beckett refrained and allowed him to walk out, following behind him until he was opening the door. "Where's your sister?" she asked, startled to find just Josie there.
"I came by myself," Josie said firmly.
"I see that, were you careful at the stairs?" Castle asked, glancing at his wife so he wouldn't burst into laughter.
"I go like this Dada," Josie said, pressing against the wall next to her.
"Well… she was being careful," Castle said, seeing Beckett was covering her mouth with her hand.
"That's true," Beckett said. "Come inside sweetie, I need to finish." She paused and then looking at her husband said, "And your daddy needs to comb his hair."
About to reply to that, Castle paused and then ran his hand over his hair. "Touché," he told her before following them to the bathroom.
Watching her mother putting her hair up in a bun, Josie was smiling before she said, "Mama?"
"Yes sweetie?" Beckett asked.
"You are pretty," Josie told her seriously.
"So are you," Beckett replied, turning to her and picking her up before she kissed her cheek. She was a little surprised when her daughter shook her head no and asked, "You don't think so?"
"I don't have my dress," Josie explained.
"I guess that's a good point," Castle commented, still with them though he'd finished preparing himself.
Glancing at him, Beckett then looked back at their youngest and said, "You still are," speaking firmly and smiling again when the toddler giggled. "Can your daddy get you dressed?" she then asked. She wasn't surprised when Josie hesitated and then said, "I'll come, I just need to finish here."
"Okay," Josie replied before she was being handed to her father. "Dada?" she said.
"Yeah sweetheart?" Castle asked her.
"Can I go bowl?" Josie said.
"Bowling," Castle corrected her gently.
"Bowling," Josie echoed.
"I'm not sure, there might be too many of us but we'll talk to your mom and see," Castle replied. He was relieved when she was nodding rapidly in agreement to him before he was entering her room so he could get her dressed for the party.
"That outfit is really cool," Dawn was saying to Julia as they were going to the game room.
"Yeah? I sort of thought it might look weird," the teen said, looking down at her skirt. She and her grandmother had looked at different fashions from the decade and she'd decided on one that was a blouse and skirt. The top was light blue while the skirt had blue, red and white stripes and she had on shorts the same color as the shirt underneath. While she'd been bowling she'd unbuttoned the skirt in the middle part way and had found the opening had been helpful for her legs to move. "Yours is too," she added.
"I rented it so…" Dawn said before her girlfriend was squeezing her hand.
"I think it looks great, play with me?" Ava asked.
"Definitely," Dawn said. "See you."
Though she had wanted to point out they didn't have a ton of time, Julia merely smiled at the pair before they were heading to the skeeball games. She turned to Mari when she stepped up to her and said, "I wasn't surprised."
"You seem jealous," Mari commented.
Julia was startled for a moment before she regained her composure and told her friend teasingly, "I'm still not telling you who my crush is."
"I have to try don't I?" Mari replied in the same tone. She then said, "We don't have a lot of time until dinner."
"No, so I'm just staying here," Julia said. She wasn't surprised when her friend was looking at her skirt and she said, "I did it really fast," since she'd buttoned it on the way to the game room.
"Nice," Mari said before there was a chime for the gate. She and her friend were looking at each other and said at the same time, "Dinner," before they were laughing together.
"Come to the kitchen everyone," Castle said, eventually walking by with half of their order in pizza boxes. "And we'll go ahead and have dinner."
"Julia," Beckett then called, carrying the other half. When her daughter was with her she said, "Sorry but I wanted to make sure you're okay with us taking so long bowling."
"I am," Julia assured her. She then smiled and said, "I figured it might since there are so many of us." She looked at the boxes that her mother was holding and said, "Barbeque?"
"Chicken and tomatoes," Beckett replied. "Your dad remembered." She laughed briefly when her daughter gave her a thumbs up and said, "Get your plate ready."
After he and Beckett had set out all the boxes, Castle said to everyone, "There's plenty here for everyone so take what you'd like but only what you want to eat if you can." He then stepped out of the way with Beckett as their daughter and her friends were first. He took the plate his wife held out to him when they were finishing up and asked, "Josie?"
Nodding, Beckett picked their youngest up and said, "Do you want your usual sweetie?"
"Please," Josie said, nodding.
"Okay, so one little slice of cheese," Castle said, going to that box. "And one Hawaiian," he said, getting one of those. "Hopefully that's good," he told her before she was laughing and then responding.
"Eh, thank you Dada," Josie said before she was being carried to the dining room. When she was put in her chair she asked her mother, "Do I have to sit now?"
"Are you going to run around?" Beckett asked, pausing before she could put on the tray.
"No, I will walk," Josie said.
"If you stay out of everyone's way," Beckett told her, getting her back out. She wasn't surprised when her daughter was grabbing onto her hand and she scooped her back up to carry her to the kitchen.
"I was walking Mama," Josie said in obvious disappointment.
"Sorry sweetie," Beckett said, unable to help smiling at her daughter's tone. "But I need to get my food or your sister will have to wait for her cake."
"Ooh, cake," Josie said happily. "Can I have some?"
"As long as you eat your dinner," Castle answered since his wife had reached where he was standing.
"I will," Josie said, nodding before she shared a kiss with her father and then mother. She was set back on the floor then and she went around the island before she was going into the pantry.
"What's she doing?" Darnley asked his friend.
"She likes going in there," Castle said first. "And looking at the food."
"We think it's the colors," Beckett added. "And since all she does is look we're not going to make her stop."
"I did that," Nkosi said. When the others looked at him he smiled and said, "When we got a bigger house around a year after we moved here, we had a little walk-in pantry and my mom would catch me in there just standing in front of the shelves. They scolded me at first since they thought I was sneaking food, but one time my father watched me and realized I was staring. When they asked I apparently said I liked the colors of the packaging of some things and just how much we had."
"How long did you do that?" Darnley asked his husband since he'd never heard that story.
"I'm not sure, a year or so," Nkosi said after thinking about that for a moment. "I never asked them that, it was a little embarrassing."
"Sophie-" Lily started to say when she saw hers and Brad's youngest going to the pantry herself.
"Leave her," the chief said, stopping his wife by putting his hand on her arm. "She's just joining Josie."
"We do need to eat soon," Lily commented.
"They're back," David said with a smile. "Hey, how was the trip?"
"Where is my pizza?" Sophie asked her parents.
"Come on," Lily said laughingly as she moved to take the toddler's hand.
When the adults were gone, Julia said, "That was an interesting conversation."
"Does your sister really do that?" Tristan asked.
"She does, I think also it's because the pantry is still sort of new for us," Julia replied.
"It used to be just a closet," Eliza said then.
"She's right, before they put in the pool room it was just a closet," Mari said. She then said, "But why do they keep forgetting we're here?"
"I think it's because they were focused on the little kids," Julia said laughingly.
"How's your birthday going?" Peter asked her.
"Good," Julia replied, smiling at him. "If I'd said no would you have been mad?"
"Sort of," Peter replied.
"Your outfit isn't that bad," Eve told her boyfriend. When he made a face she looked at the others and then said, "Boys," though she made it teasing since the other two were making faces as well.
After laughing all together, the kids went back to their food and were eating again and talking about after their meal. When they'd finished they were clearing the table and going to the kitchen where the adults were cleaning up after finishing their meal too.
"What're we going to do now?" Julia asked.
"I think we can play the two games," Castle said, glancing at his wife.
"We should," Beckett replied with a smile. "That is if you guys are ready." She wasn't surprised when the kids were all saying they were at the same time before she said, "Then let's go back to the game room." As they were heading to it she turned to her husband since they'd stayed behind and told him, "I want you to hold on before we give out the bags."
"Sure," Castle said. "But how long?"
"Until they finish both games," Beckett replied easily. She wasn't surprised when her husband nodded and she squeezed at his arm before she turned her attention to the room they were just entering.
Castle got some of the other men to help him in setting up the chairs for the first game before he said to Julia, "You're sure?"
"Isn't it a little late now?" the teen asked with a smile.
"A little," Castle echoed before she was hugging him briefly.
"Okay," Beckett said with a smile when her husband was looking at her. "I'm sure it's obvious we're going to play musical chairs. Though you realize you should have asked who wanted to play first Rick."
"Hopefully no one else wants to play," Castle said. "Or less than we have here." He wasn't surprised when his wife rolled her eyes before he turned to the kids and saw they were standing around the chairs.
"Just enough," Brad commented in amusement.
"I know," Castle said. "You're ready?" he then directed to the kids. When they were saying they were he said, "Okay, then here we go," since he had his phone. Starting the music he watched them going around in a circle before he finally stopped it and the kids were throwing themselves at the chairs.
"Good try Keo," Joseph told his grandson when he was first out.
Watching the group as her husband continued with the music, Beckett smiled when their second oldest and Jacob were left. As the last round started she wasn't surprised when the two teens were laughing and playfully teasing each other until Castle stopped the song and they were both throwing themselves at the last chair at the same time.
"Ah!" Julia cried when she realized she'd landed on Jacob's lap slightly. She heard him let out a hard grunt just before she was pushing herself away from him. "Sorry, I couldn't see where you were. I was going too fast," she said apologetically while she stood up.
"Don't worry," Jacob said. "I should have known you were going to do that."
Nodding Julia shook his hand and said, "Great job."
"Thanks," Jacob replied before they were turning to her little sister as she was hurrying to them and squealing at the same time.
"Wait, Josa," Julia said laughingly when the toddler was throwing her arms around her tightly. "I didn't win, Jake did."
"Oh," Josie said, pulling away and looking at her sister. She then turned around and said, "Yay?"
"Thanks," Jacob said laughingly before he was taking his prize from Castle. He was surprised it was a bag but was going to set it aside when the others were urging him to see what was in it. "Okay, okay, hold on," he said, laughingly again before he was pulling out a kit to make a 1945 Ford Coupe and a yo-yo. "Thanks," he said, though that time he directed it to Castle and Beckett.
"Will you put that together?" Lily asked her son.
"Probably," Jacob said before he let his father take his bag. "What's next?" he inquired.
"Pin the tail on the donkey," Julia said, smiling when most of her friends were groaning. "They had it back then," she reminded them.
"Are we only playing it once?" Tristan asked.
"We are," Beckett said, getting the next game while some of the men were getting the chairs out of the room. She hung it on the wall to the left of the bar where there was space and said, "And then we'll have cake." She smiled at the younger kids murmuring eagerly before she got the game pieces and heard the kids starting to talk louder in shock.
"That's not a donkey," Ava said since they could see the picture.
"No, but it fits the theme," Castle said with a smile. "Here's your propellors." He and Beckett had written the names of everyone on them already so he handed them out to who they belonged to before his wife was leading Sophie to the picture of a bomber from WWII.
"Does she need to be blindfolded?" Eve asked.
"No, but does she keep her eyes closed when you tell her to?" Beckett replied.
"I'll take care of her," Lily said, walking over to them.
Looking on while the chef was talking seriously to her daughter, Beckett wasn't surprised when Sophie's siblings were cheering her on. And when Josie was soon joining them she held onto her daughter's hand as she jumped up and down.
"Good job honey," Lily when Sophie had finally put the propellor. "You got very close to the plane."
"Yeah," Sophie replied with a wide smile before she went to Josie. "Now you go?"
"I think," the toddler replied before she looked up at her mother.
"It's your turn," Beckett reassured her youngest. She led her to the board and said, "You'll keep your eyes closed right?"
"Yeah," Josie said, nodding before she was closing them. While her mother guided her forward, she could hear her sisters cheering for her and was smiling before Beckett let her feel where the board was. She reached out and then placed the propellor down before she opened her eyes. Seeing the was on the plane she clapped and then let herself be led away so Keo could go next.
"What about Finn and Emmie?" Eliza asked her mother.
"They're a little young for this," Beckett explained.
"I think we'll have something like this for their birthdays," Alexis said with a smile.
"A bit further in the future though," Louis commented.
"It's your turn now," Castle told Eliza, getting her attention.
After all the kids had gone, Dawn had ended up winning and she took her prize bag from Castle before she took out a model kit for an ocean liner from the 40s and another yoyo. After Castle and Beckett made sure she liked both items they moved everyone to the kitchen table before they were getting the cake.
"It's ready," Beckett said with a smile when her husband was looking at her. She went ahead of him and nodded to her father and mother in law before they began singing Happy Birthday, the others picking it up quickly.
Straightening up where she was sitting, Julia looked at the cake when her mother had gotten out of the way. She took in the poster on it and soon realized the WASPs face in the bomber was her own. When everyone had stopped singing she was making her wish before blowing out all the candles. "Wait!" she said then her mother moved up to the table with the cake cutter.
"I took pictures of it already," Jim said, knowing what she was worried about. "So don't worry."
"He did," Beckett said reassuringly.
"Sorry I… really like the picture," Julia said. She nodded when her mother held up the cutter slightly and watched her cutting into it, pleased when she saw there was a chocolate cake and she could tell strawberry buttercream. She took the first slice and waited as patiently as she could for the others to get theirs before she took her first bite. Eventually she remembered her niece and nephew, looking over at them and seeing they had gotten a little bit of the buttercream for a taste. "Did they like it?" she asked jokingly.
"I think so," Alexis said, since she and her husband were doing their best to clean their son's and daughter's faces.
"Do you need some time?" Castle asked.
"No, it shouldn't take that long," Alexis said before she was focusing on her son again.
Though he thought they should wait, Castle wasn't surprised when his wife was squeezing his arm and he said, "Okay, I guess we better get back to the games." When he saw the kids were protesting he then said, "You don't have anything to say about that?"
"And have you make me actually wait for my presents?" Julia asked since he'd been speaking to her.
"Good point," Castle said. "We'll be back," he then said before he was leaving with Brad, David and Nkosi.
Julia watched them heading down the hallway before she said to her mother, "We're not going to the game room?"
"Did you want to?" Beckett asked.
"I kind of want to," Julia admitted. "That way we can just start playing," she then explained.
"Go ahead, I'll tell them where to take the gifts," Beckett said with a smile.
After they were inside the room Julia said, "I felt like we were crowded too, but I didn't want to tell my parents that."
"I'm not surprised," Mari said with a smile.
"And I think you're closer to the gifts," Peter commented.
Julia laughed with the others just as her parents entered the room with gifts in their arms before she went to the table so she could sit and begin opening them.