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: I was glad to get feedback for the last chapter so I'll start my thank you for that! Mb (Great you thought the last chapter was a good update! And I'm glad you enjoyed the look at the couples with their night out with dinner and dancing and then going to their state rooms with their passion and love. Really happy about that since I wasn't sure what readers would think, lol. You're welcome for the first half of the chapter! Great you thought the second half was nice! And I was glad you liked the continuation of the couples' nights since that was interesting to write that. And I was really happy to read you enjoyed them the morning after with their kids and continuing on the cruise. Great you thought it was nicely done! And you're welcome for the second half of the chapter!).
Thanks for the review I loved reading it and appreciate the time taken to write it out and send it my way!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song La Isla Bonita written by Madonna, Patrick Leonard and Bruce Gaitsch, from the Madonna album True Blue.
Sun Would Set So High
"I think we're ready," Beckett said with a smile as the kids were watching the information for the case.
"I hope so, we have to listen to all of that again?" Julia said with a sigh.
"I don't think you have to listen to it," Castle commented. "You're in charge aren't you?" he then added.
"Yeah, why am I?" Julia asked with a frown since she had the casebook and pencil again.
"Just because," Mari said with a wide smile at her friend.
Making a scoffing sound Julia told her, "That's not an explanation."
"I think it is, let's keep going," Jim said in amusement since they were beginning to walk to the stairs.
Once they'd reached the poster for Dumbo, Julia held up to the badge before she put it down swiftly. "Why am I doing this?" she asked the others.
"Did we agree on the way you kids were going to do that?" Brad asked them.
"Youngest to oldest, like before," Eve said firmly when the other kids were looking at her.
"Okay, then it's your turn Sophie," Julia said, handing it to the young woman.
"My turn?" the toddler asked.
"Yeah, I'm going to help… if that's okay?" Eve said before she asked at the end. She couldn't help laughing at the way her baby sister was nodding rapidly before she got her so they could activate the painting.
After it was gone it revealed cabinet doors before they opened and a night vision scope hovered over. Sophie giggled as her sister helping her move it around with the badge before they were soon finding a handprint. "Ooh! I found it!" she gasped.
"Wait, Mickey's talking," Jacob said to calm his sister.
"Left hand, is Hook's left hand there?" Eliza asked Julia eagerly as she hurried over to her.
"Hold on," Julia said quickly, looking at the book and writing down the clue. She soon said, "It's not Hook, he doesn't have a left hand." She jumped when the younger kids were clamoring for her to cross him off the list and she said laughingly, "I am, don't worry."
"Next?" Martha asked her.
Smiling, Julia studied the map before she said, "On this floor." She laughed outright when she saw the startled and confused looks on the other's faces and said, "Seriously, let's go." She wasn't surprised when she was ending up leading the way to one of the two Walt Disney photographs. "Are you going to help her?" she asked Eliza since their sister was next.
"Why don't you let her pick?" Beckett suggested, not surprised when her middle daughters were looking at the toddler.
Giggling, Josie said, "You Lizzy."
"I helped her last time," Julia said simply.
"Hurry," Castle said when Eliza was obviously about to speak.
Shrugging her shoulders, the little girl turned to her baby sister and said, "We have to use the badge." Not surprised when Josie was nodding, Eliza took the badge from Jacob, thanking him, and turned to her sister before they were getting the digital badge in place.
Gasping when she saw a locked panel after the photograph disappeared, Josie said in dismay, "Oh no." Mickey spoke from the picture then and told them to use the key in the badge and she looked up at her sister before she was helping her getting the key into the lock at the bottom of the screen. Squealing when the panel slid up, she became confused at the checkered floor before the door in the wall opened up and one of the dalmatians slid down from a chute. She laughed with the other kids when laundry fell out of the chute onto the puppy and it raised its head with a bikini top covering it.
"The other picture now?" Castle asked Julia after the photograph had returned.
"Yeah," the teen said with a smile. They walked over and she watched as Eliza gave the badge to Keo.
"Wait," Mari said when she saw the next scene was one they'd had the last case.
"The first one was the same too," Julia said quickly as they were silent while the little boy was searching with the magnifying glass. Once he found the clue about Cruella De Vil having been arrested, she said, "Great job," along with the other older kids. She did her best not to smile, since it was obvious they'd remembered the clue too, and said, "I'll cross her off."
"And tell us where we're going next," Peter said.
"The next deck below," Julia said, having already looked at the map. She laughed when the younger kids were already leaving and she hurried with the others to the stairs. When they got to the next picture, she watched Maddy getting the badge and putting it up to the picture to get it to disappear.
"Cool," the little girl said with a wide smile when she needed to use a drill to take some screws out. When she heard Mickey comment about a noise, Maddy gasped and said, "There are puppies there!"
"Hurry!" Josie said, going over to her.
"I will," Maddy said with a nod before she was turning the badge and the drill on the screen. She went as fast as she could and the panel soon disappeared, revealing two of the puppies tousling and making them cheer at the sight of them.
"That was very good," Bethany told her granddaughter, hugging her when she was thanking her.
"The next deck down," Julia said quickly since everyone was looking at her again. "I hope that's okay," she added.
"It is, but we better keep going," Beckett said though they were heading to the stairs again. On the next level she said, "Is she going to want to go now?"
"I think so, she loves the movie Bambi," Rebecca replied since her daughter had skipped her turn.
"Will you play now?" Maddy was saying to Dani.
"Please," the little girl said with a smile. She took the badge and then looked around herself, "Mari?"
"I'm here," the girl said swiftly, making her way over to her. After they'd gotten the badge into its slot she said, "Looks like you're really going to be a detective," since she needed to 'dust' the screen.
"Thank you," Dani said before she was dusting it off. She cried out seeing two puppies, one black and one white, before they were sniffing at each other and sneezing. When that action revealed it was two of the dalmatians she was cheering with her friends before she hurried to Julia.
"Oh, it's not my turn," the teen said, surprised.
"Do you want to know where we're going next?" Mari asked her sister. When she nodded she said, "That."
"Deck 5," Julia replied when her friend had turned to her. She then smiled and told her, "I figured we should stay a little closer." When they were up on that deck she watched Iris getting the picture off before it was a fish tank. She shared a glance with Mari, wondering if the clue would be the same there before the girl was revealing a tube of lipstick on the bottom of the aquarium.
"It's not a boy?" Iris asked the others.
"No, none of the men characters are wearing lipstick in their pictures," Julia said, not surprised when her sister rushed up to her.
"That could be Ursula," Eliza said swiftly.
"I wrote it down," Julia said, trying not to laugh though she wanted to. "And I think we should go to deck 7 now." She wasn't surprised when Eliza nodded and was the one to lead them that time to the stairs.
After they'd reached the picture, Ivy was using the badge and soon revealing the crates hanging by ropes. She paused and then asked, "Are we going to solve the case now?"
"I don't know," Skye told her. "Go ahead and take your turn though, we'll have to go back to who we left off with on the other case perhaps."
Nodding, Ivy turned back and began to run the laser on the screen across the ropes until one of the crates was falling towards them. "A potion bottle!" she said with the other younger kids.
"It can't be Dr. Facilier," Eliza said when the other younger kids were looking at her. "He doesn't wear lipstick."
"Wait, look at the vial," Peter told them. "It doesn't look like the one from the other day."
"He's right," Julia said. "And I wrote the clue so now we can go to deck 6."
"Down now?" Mari asked in surprise.
"Yeah, but just one floor," Julia replied. "You did want me to lead didn't you?"
"She's right, let's head down," Darnley told the kids before they were moving back to the staircase.
At the picture of Mickey, Donald and Goofy with the boat plans, Fleur was taking her turn and soon revealing a foggy window. She cleared it and smiled when there were two puppies having a tug of war over some sausage links. She looked back at the younger kids as they were cheering the sight of the dogs. "See? We can all have a turn," she said while she was giving the badge to Kathleen.
"True, but we don't know how much longer we're going to have," the girl said before they were looking at Julia.
"To deck 8," the teen said, smiling already since she had known they would do that. "And the Caribbean poster."
When they'd made their way up to that, Kathleen got the poster out of the way before she revealed balloons and a pin. She immediately began popping the balloons, laughing when she revealed one of the dalmatians on the back of another that knocked over a cake on them. She then handed the badge to her twin and said, "I hope we'll keep going."
"Me too," Marie said with a nod before Julia was nodding to the other picture across from them. She went to it and got the poster off before revealing the pantry and magnet. After she had pulled down some of the metal items, she revealed a palm leaf before she watched Julia writing it down.
"Okay, deck ten now," the teen commented before they were going to the stairs and elevators. She watched Marie reveal the evidence they'd found and said, "We're going to work on another case."
"I know, I kind of had a feeling that we were finished," the girl said. "So who do you guys think did it? I'm not going to decide on my own."
"What?" Eliza asked in surprise when all of the other kids looked at her. She then pursed her lips and said, "Someone else doesn't want to say?"
"I think they're waiting for you," Castle told her.
"Alright, I know who it is," Eliza said. "Yzma," she then told them, waiting for someone to disagree.
"Okay," Marie said shortly after the little girl had spoken. She then picked the picture and moved it to the space before she needed to use the keycard to open the villain's 'stateroom' door. When it opened and revealed a puppy with Cuzco as a llama she laughed at the younger kids cheering before Mickey was telling them Yzma was trying to leave the ship. While they were going to the stairs to go to deck 9, she gave the badge to Mari before they got to the last picture.
After she had gotten the picture off, Mari pulled the lever once Yzma was on the red platform and she laughed with the others as the villain dropped down into a cage and the vial she'd been holding dropped and turned her into a whale. A moment later the view went to a crate to the left and it opened before the puppies were running out, soon surrounding Pongo and Perdita. She clapped with the other kids after Mickey had congratulated them and the case was over. "We're going to the pool now right?" she asked hopefully.
"We are," Mary reassured her.
"What about the slide?" Jacob asked his parents as they were moving to the stairs to head up the two floors.
"Let's get settled before we decide on going," Lily told him first.
"We don't need to stick together by the way," Brad said.
"I thought we were going to," Castle told his friend jokingly.
"Not now," Brad said in feigned annoyance before they were laughing together.
"Alright love," Beckett said to calm her husband. She smiled and then said, "But we did agree on that… though I think the kids are going to be staying together."
"Oh good," Eliza said in obvious relief when they were at the lounge chairs,
"Did you think we'd make you stick with us?" Castle asked with a smile.
Shaking her head Eliza said, "I wanted to go on the slide with Fleur and the twins."
"You can if their mothers say it's okay," Beckett said, speaking absently since she was getting their things ready. After a moment she realized someone was next to her and saw it was her second youngest. "What's wrong?" she asked her.
"No… I don't need to help you?" Eliza asked.
"Well your daddy…" Beckett started to say before she was trailing off. She glanced around and not seeing her husband said, "Where did-"
"I'm here," Castle told his wife swiftly, coming over with Josie under his arm. "This one wanted to go to the pool without sunscreen."
"I want to see water," Josie replied, giggling as her father was setting her down. She saw the way her mother was looking at her and she sidled up to her saying, "Sorry Mama."
"I know you want to go in the water sweetie," Beckett told her, picking her up and putting her on her hip. "But we do need to put on sunscreen first."
"Me too," Eliza said when her sister was looking down at her.
"I got everything," Castle told his wife.
Thanking him, Beckett took the sunscreen bottle from him and sat with Josie asking, "Can I start putting this on you?"
"And you too Mama," Josie replied quickly, smiling when her parents laughed.
"Don't worry," Julia said, walking back to them from Mari. "They need to too."
"What were you asking Mari?" Eliza asked her sister while Julia was spraying on her back.
"If she wanted to go a couple times with me on the slide," the teen replied simply. She was a little startled when her sister was turning to her and asked, "What?"
"Why did you have to ask that?" Eliza replied, frowning.
"Turn back, I wasn't done yet," Julia told her. She started to spray again and then told her sister, "We're going to go with each other at least once, but I wanted to go a couple times with Mari."
"Oh," Eliza said in realization. She then glanced over her shoulder and asked, "What'd she say?"
Julia was unable to help laughing though she calmed herself down and said, "She said we take turns with who sits in front. Okay, I finished your back and your legs. Are you going to do the rest?" She wasn't surprised when her sister nodded and took the bottle before she herself went to her mother.
"All set?" Beckett asked.
"With Lizzy," Julia replied easily. She smiled then and said, "Us older kids are all going a bunch of times," as her mother began to spray at her back.
"So you can go at least once with each other?" Beckett asked. She wasn't surprised when her daughter nodded and she then said, "But more with Mari."
"Just twice," Julia said.
"I'm surprised you're not going to get tired of that," Beckett said. "Or is it because there isn't a bigger pool here?"
"No and no," Julia said, not surprised when her mother started to laugh. She smiled herself before she then said, "How was the pool in the adult part?"
"It wasn't bad," Castle answered before his wife could. "There was a kind of deep one but not too big."
"He's right," Beckett said when Julia and Eliza were looking at her. "And it wasn't that big. I think they do that because it's a lot safer."
Nodding Julia said, "Makes sense."
"Yeah, but it's not that fun," Eliza replied.
"It'll do for now," Castle commented. "Now come here so I can help with your face Eliza."
"Want me to help you?" Beckett asked Julia.
"Sure," the teen said, heading over to her and sitting with her mother. As she was putting the sunscreen on her Julia couldn't help saying, "You don't mind us going to LA after this do you?"
"Oh no, I'm very aware of how much you're looking forward to dancing on the show again," Beckett replied with a smile. "And yes we'll be very proud of you if the show hires you."
"Thanks," Julia replied, smiling herself though she was closing her eyes. She was quiet for a moment as her mother finished and then said, "You and Dad should take a vacation."
"Julia-" Beckett started to say, seeing her husband's startled expression when she glanced at him.
"Oh! We talked about that yesterday," Eliza said eagerly.
"What, during the show?" Castle asked jokingly.
"No," Eliza replied firmly. She was then smiling again and said, "You should take a cruise all by yourselves!"
"Not going to happen," Beckett said firmly. She wasn't surprised when all three girls protested and she brought Josie to her lap saying, "Why are you agreeing with your sisters?"
"Because," Josie said firmly, beaming at her mother. She looked at her sister in surprise when Eliza hurried over to her and listened as she was whispering in her ear before she said, "So you can kiss." Her sister was patting her arm and she then added, "Dada."
Beckett couldn't help laughing with her husband at their youngest's tone before she said, "We don't need to take a vacation for that."
"I was thinking about doing that though," Castle said suddenly when their daughters looked disappointed. He wasn't surprised when his wife was about to speak, a frown on her face, and he then said, "After Josie's birthday, for her to come with us before she starts preschool in the fall."
"Would that be alright?" Beckett asked their daughters with a smile as Josie was clapping her hands.
"Sure… wait," Julia said when something came to her. "You're not counting Memorial Day as that vacation are you?"
"No," Castle said firmly. "We'd go right after her birthday to… somewhere for a week I think."
Beckett smiled, since her husband's tone had become hesitant at the end and she gestured him to her. Waiting for him to sit next to her she told him, "Her birthday is on a Monday-" She turned with him to their middle daughters when they suddenly groaned before she said laughingly, "You realize we can't change the calendar."
"We know," Julia said firmly.
"But when will her party be?" Eliza asked, smiling when the toddler gasped and clapped her hands again.
"That Saturday, the twenty-second," Castle said, looking at his phone. "So maybe the week after that, the twenty-fourth to the thirtieth?"
"Make it that Sunday," Skye said, walking over with Mary and their girls. "Your daughters were motioning me over," she explained when the writers looked at her in surprise.
"And ours told us about this vacation idea," Mary added.
"We're going with Josie," Beckett explained.
Nodding Skye said, "I'm not surprised. But do you know where you're going to go?"
"I get the feeling you're about to suggest something," Beckett replied while she was smiling at the same time.
"I am," Skye said. "Bring her back to LA, you were going to head home early Tuesday so the girls can get back to school on Thursday," she said before furrowing her brow.
"We're off the rest of the week," Julia corrected her. "But we're going to stay at home, relax."
"And do homework," Castle added, looking at her pointedly.
"That too," Julia and Eliza said at the same time before they were laughing together.
"Well," Beckett said, her husband then looking at her. "I think we can do that. We're at a good place in our books. But just that week and nothing else."
"Until Memorial Day," Castle said.
"Until then," Beckett said in amusement as she nodded. She then said to the two women, "You're not going to be working?"
"I'll be on call," Skye said first. "But I have nothing at the moment."
"I have appointments so I will be," Mary said when the attention turned to her. "But it would be great to have you there for a week, keep Rose company."
"I don't think-" Skye started to say with a frown.
"We'd definitely invite you with us," Castle said firmly, interrupting her. "That way we have a guide."
"And to spend time with you as well," Beckett said, giving her husband a mock glare.
"Great, so come on the twenty-third and leave the thirtieth," Skye said with a smile. "We'll show Josie around."
"You plan it," Castle said, though he was shortly after becoming startled when the investigator frowned at him. "I can't-" he started to say before he was interrupted.
"I know, but I'm going to plan with you guys," Skye said firmly.
"That would be great," Beckett said. "And we'll do that, but that's not until next month." She wasn't surprised when the kids were looking at her and she said, "The slide?" She couldn't help laughing with her husband when they were gasping and hurriedly moving to leave before she called to her second oldest. "Can you keep an eye out for Eliza while you're going on the slide? They're going too."
"I know, I don't have to go with her right?" Julia asked.
"No, but just have her go with whoever she goes with ahead of you and Mari," Beckett said.
"She's only going once?" Julia asked with a smile.
"Hey!" Eliza protested.
"I'm going to take you," Jim told his granddaughter. "Actually Julia, I'll go with you to the slide and watch Eliza so she can go on longer." He couldn't help laughing when the little girl threw her arms around him and he hugged her back before he said, "You're welcome," since she was repeating the words thank you. "But we should go now."
Looking at her parents, Eliza beamed seeing them nodding to her and she said a final thank you before taking her grandfather's hand.
"Do you mind staying with the girls when we go to LA, Mother?" Castle asked since Martha was sitting near them.
"Not at all, Jim doesn't either," she replied. Martha smiled at their surprise since she'd been firm in her tone, and she then said, "He told me to tell you before you left to do… whatever you're going to do."
"Take Josie wherever she wants to go," Castle replied to her unasked question. "And it's only for a week."
"I applaud the girls for pushing you," Martha said. "Though I know they meant the two of you. It's good for her to have a little more time with you both before school."
"It's why I suggested it," Castle said, not surprised when his wife was kissing his cheek gently.
"I'm glad you did," Beckett said before she turned to their daughter. "Where are we going sweetie?" she then asked the toddler whose eyes grew wide in response.
"I can say?" Josie asked.
"We're hoping you will," Castle commented while he pulled her onto his lap.
"I want to see Nemo," Josie then said after looking back and forth between her parents. When they nodded she squealed and then got off her father's lap before jumping up and down.
"Hold on sweetie," Beckett said laughingly as she and Castle were getting up then. "We're going right now."
"So are we," Lily called to the writers while she and her husband were heading over to them with their youngest.
"She chose that?" Castle asked while they were making their way to the water area.
"Yeah," Brad replied. "Though I get the feeling it's because she heard your daughter mention the name."
"Brad," Lily told him sternly.
"Just saying," the chief said rapidly. "The timing." He was relieved when his wife merely rolled her eyes and then said, "But are they going to be good with the pools and here? And tonight?"
"There's a little bit of a change," Lily commented.
"I'm not surprised, you heard them talking about it?" Beckett asked her friend with a smile.
"I did, it wasn't hard," Lily said. "They want to go on the slide at night but that's it."
"Really, that's it?" Castle asked when the chef didn't continue.
"You'll have to ask them, but they didn't say anything else," Lily replied with a nod. "If they hadn't mentioned playing mini-golf tomorrow I would have thought they wanted to tonight."
"Think they're getting tired of the boat?" Brad asked jokingly.
"No, but we'll talk to them during lunch," Castle said. "Because I don't mind relaxing tonight."
"You're thinking of tomorrow," Brad told his friend while their wives were going with the toddlers to the water area.
"I am," Castle said. "Though," he then said with a frown. "Maybe we should play mini-golf."
"I had that thought myself just now," Brad said with a nod. "Since the Cay is going to be… basically all day," he added before he saw their wives were walking back to them.
"What happened?" Castle asked.
"They wanted to go on their own," Beckett said, stepping up to him and turning back. "We said we'd let them unless they started to run around."
"I'm not surprised," Castle commented with a smile. He then said, "We were talking about playing mini-golf tonight."
"Really," Beckett stated, looking at her husband and seeing he was watching the girls.
"Really, but that's mainly because I'm guessing the kids might be exhausted tomorrow," Castle explained.
Nodding, Beckett said, "You make a good point. But I'm wondering if the kids will be alright with that."
"I mentioned talking at lunch," Castle said jokingly.
"We will," Beckett said firmly. She reached over and gently squeezed at his hand before she said, "Are you going to go with her."
"Now?" Castle asked in surprise.
"Yes, she asked me to tell you to go with her," Beckett replied.
"How exactly did she say that?" Castle said.
"Very authoritatively," Beckett answered him seriously before she was smiling. She wasn't surprised her husband began laughing before he went down the stairs past her to Josie who rushed up to him with a squeal.
"Hi Dada," the toddler said happily once he had picked her up.
"Hey, I heard you wanted me to join you," Castle said. "But what do you want to do? I'm a little big for the slide."
"Not that," Josie said firmly. She asked him to put her down before she took his hand and pulled him to the rain wall and went through it with him before hurrying back.
"You're going to get dizzy," Beckett called, watching the pair.
"You tell her to stop then," Castle said jokingly. He wasn't surprised when he could hear his wife laughing and he soon made Josie stop and said, "That was a lot of fun, but I think we're going to end up getting sick."
"Oh," Josie said, looking around. "Dada?" she asked him.
"Yeah?" Castle inquired, surprised when she was holding her arms up to him. He picked her up and then questioned, "Do you want to do something else?"
"Yeah," Josie said before she was frowning.
"The pool?" Castle said as he was carrying her back to the stairs where the others were.
"What is it?" Beckett said as she watched Josie shaking her head and her husband frowning in response.
"She wants to do something else," Castle said. "She wants to go somewhere but I'm not sure where."
"She can't say," Beckett said, watching the toddler who was frowning then. "Though did you ask her about the pools?"
"When I was walking over here," Castle explained. "That's when she shook her head."
"Well… she knows she can't go on the slide," Beckett said, turning her attention to Josie. "Do you want go to where the slide is?" She wasn't surprised when the toddler was shaking her head and she said, "The last place is the Aqualab."
"I had that thought too," Castle said before he turned to their youngest. "The buckets of water?" he asked.
"Yeah, there!" Josie said excitedly, clapping her hands before her father was setting her down.
"Will you guys join us?" Beckett directed to the Davises who were getting Sophie.
"Yeah, she wants to keep going with Josie," Lily answered as they watched the toddlers taking each other's hands.
Smiling at the sight of the two, Beckett felt her husband taking her hand and she glanced at him before they were making their way up to the next deck. Once they were in the Aqualab she wasn't surprised when Sophie was going to her parents and taking them to the pipes. She looked at Josie, who'd grabbed Castle's hand, and smiled seeing her rushing him to the buckets.
"Are you… disappointed with her choice?" Castle asked, seeing his wife walking up to them while they were standing under the buckets.
"Not really," Beckett answered in amusement. She glanced up when water splashed around them and said, "That sounded like Eliza."
"It probably was," Castle said, since Mickey's Slide was above them. He then said, "Has it been that long?"
"I think they're taking turns between the slides; since she can," Beckett commented.
"You know… I think Josie forgot-" Castle started to say before the water from the buckets was falling down on them. As soon as he realized it was he was reaching for his wife and pulling her against him to her cry while Josie next to them was laughing. "Sorry… you weren't standing in the best spot," he said as she playfully pushed at his shoulder.
"For you," Beckett said in amusement. She felt Josie wrapping her arms around her and said, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," the toddler replied. "That was fun Mama," she then added. She giggled and said, "Can we stay?"
"We can," Beckett said with a smile. "Though," she then began to say as the idea suddenly came to her. "Do you want to stay right here under the buckets?"
"Yeah," Josie said, nodding rapidly.
Beckett and Castle were laughing at that before they were turning their attention to the Davises who were walking up to them to join them for the next round of water pouring from the buckets above.
"You know you can think about it," Castle told Julia as they were waiting for their lunch order to be ready.
"I know," the teen said, smiling. "But I think you're right," Julia then said after a moment's pause. "Though… what will we do tomorrow?"
"I thought we could stay on the verandahs, use the Jacuzzis…" Castle said before waving his hand in the air.
Eliza giggled before she said, "And we can bowl?"
"I forgot to mention that but yeah, we'd do that if you want to," Castle replied.
"Can we have dessert tomorrow?" Eliza then asked.
"We need to talk to your mom about that," Castle told her seriously. He then said, to the little girl's disappointed look, "You forgot what tomorrow was."
"Oh!" Eliza gasped, recalling suddenly. "Our birthdays!"
"Yes," Castle replied. "But don't ask what we're going to do because your mom took care of it."
Nodding Eliza said, "Are you happy we're going to the island tomorrow?"
"I am, I told you it didn't matter where we were," Castle replied. "Just as long as the three of us can celebrate together."
"Dad," Julia said. "You really don't-"
"We've talked about this already," Castle said, interrupting her. "I want you to be included since you're so close to our birthdays."
"Fine, but Josa?" Julia said.
"She'll be included in the candle blowing out part," Castle said. "If you guys don't mind." He wasn't surprised when they were shaking their heads no fervently, and he said, "Great, but about that trip…"
"We want you to do that," Eliza said. "But another time we'll go back right? Visit the places you're going to?"
"Of course," Castle said. "We're going this Christmas remember?"
"I remember," Julia said. "But after Josa's in school you'll be on your own."
"Your grandparents…." Castle started to say before the teen was wrinkling her nose. "We know, we're trying not to think of it… and when we do that she'll have a half day."
Hugging him tightly Eliza said, "I hope you'll still be happy."
"We will, you know how important it is to me and your mom for you three to have the best education you can," Castle said reassuringly. "And so you know, we'll get you some gifts from LA."
"Take Josa to Disneyland," Eliza said suddenly before the number for their order was called and she was hurrying with her father and sister to get their food.
While they went to the condiments to get ketchup and dipping sauces Castle said, "I don't think we're going to do that." He glanced at the little girl and said, "Don't give me that face," jokingly. "Your sister can't go on too many rides."
"You and Mom can," Julia said with a smile.
"I thought of that, but she wouldn't want to force Skye to babysit," Castle said before he saw the way his daughters were sharing a look. "What're you doing?" he asked them.
"Nothing," Julia and Eliza said at the same time before they started to laugh and then made their way to the drinks station.
At the same time, Beckett was sitting on her lounge chair by Mickey's Pool, drying Josie off as the toddler was laughing in front of her. "What's so funny sweetie?" she asked while she moved the towel off her hair.
"You Mama," Josie said with a wide smile.
"Thank you," Beckett said in amusement before her daughter was pursing her lips. She leaned down to her and shared a kiss with her before putting her on her lap saying, "You're going to eat your chicken right? Not just fries." She wasn't surprised when the toddler shook her head before laughing and she hugged her tightly before kissing the side of her head. "I love you sweetie," she told her when her daughter was snuggling closer against her.
"I love you Mama," Josie said seriously before she noticed someone walking to them. "Jules!" she squealed, seeing her big sister with her sippy cup.
"Hold on," Beckett said, holding out her hand. "Did you get fruit punch again?"
"Yeah, ice too," Julia answered, giving her the cup. "Dad made sure we did."
"I knew you would want them to do that," Castle said, reaching them with Eliza. "And lunch is served," he added since he had the tray with all their food on it. "And we're sharing the fries, we have ranch, ketchup and honey mustard so I think we're set."
"And drinks," Martha commented, letting Jim move her chair closer. They pushed them all together before they were sitting on them and she said, "Though mine is non-alcoholic," directing that to her son who shrugged before she laughed briefly.
"So I can try that Gram?" Eliza asked hopefully.
"A little sip," Beckett said, not surprised her mother in law was looking at her. "You have fruit punch remember." She wasn't surprised when her daughter was eagerly having a sip of the nonalcoholic mai tai and she then turned her attention to her chicken strips. When she'd eaten a few bites she told her husband, "You're not disappointed?"
"Not really," Castle said, since he'd intended to get a cheeseburger. But while they'd been in the pool in front of them with Josie, talking about that, a couple with their son had let them know the chicken strips were the better option at that place. "And I'm hoping we'll have In-N-Out in LA," he then added.
Beckett couldn't help laughing and she told him, "We likely will." She then turned her attention to Josie and said, "Sweetie, the ranch is not to drink," gently taking the cup out of her hand. Seeing the pout on the toddler's face she couldn't help laughing and kissed the top of her head.
"Your mom's right, I think your fruit punch is going to be way better," Castle told her.
"Daddy?" Eliza asked then.
"Yes?" Castle replied, unable to help smiling since she had sounded a little distracted dipping her chicken tender in honey mustard.
"Are we going to have ice cream after?" Eliza asked.
"No," Beckett said. "And why did you ask your daddy?"
"Oh… I was looking at him," Eliza said before she giggled. Shaking her head she then said, "Then can we have a smoothie?"
"Yes," Beckett replied easily. She smiled when Julia looked over at her, obviously startled herself, and she said, "We can order some from the place over there and have it delivered here."
"We couldn't go get it?" Jim asked.
"Would you do that?" Castle inquired. After his father in law nodded he said with a smile, "If you're alright with that."
"Who do you want to go with you?" Eliza asked.
"Do you want to?" Jim asked her. When the little girl nodded he said, "Good, I'll need some help."
"Do you want me to go too?" Julia asked.
"If you want," Jim replied. "But I think Eliza and I can handle our drinks."
"Josie and I will share," Beckett said when her father had then turned to her.
"Can I have my cup?" Josie asked her.
"I think we're going to have to put it in a different cup for you," Beckett explained. "It'll be harder for you to drink." She wasn't surprised when Josie merely nodded before getting another fry. She shared a smile with her husband before they were returning to eating since they were nearly finished by then. After they were done, had cleaned up and the lounge chairs were back in place, she took her daughters with her to the nearest restroom.
Waiting for the four outside, Castle heard crying and straightened up when he realized it was Josie. "Am a chodladh?" he said when they were walking out, asking the phrase 'time to sleep.'
"I think so," Beckett said.
"Was she alright?" Castle asked in concern.
"Oh no, she's fine," Beckett said reassuringly.
"She wanted her smoothie when she and Mommy were washing their hands," Eliza said, going to her father and taking his hand. "Mommy said no and she had a little tantrum."
"Did you tell her about her nap?" Castle asked.
"I did, I needed to," Beckett said in amusement. She smiled and said, "But she'll be asleep soon enough."
"Do… we need to stay and help?" Julia asked. When her parents were shaking their heads she said, "Great! Listen to Gram and Grandpapa," taking Eliza's hand and hurrying with her away from them.
"Should we have told them we knew already?" Castle asked his wife quietly since they'd managed to get Josie calmed down.
"I think they figured," Beckett replied with a smile. She squeezed her husband's hand and then said, "But I'm putting her to sleep."
"I'm helping too," Castle said before they were making their way back to their chairs to do so.