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: Great receiving the feedback for the last chapter so I'll start my thank yous for that! TORONTOSUN (Really happy to see you thought the prologue was a great start to the story!) and
Mb (Glad that you thought the prologue was a sweet start to the story with it being about Julia's birthday. And I'm happy to see you enjoyed the start with Julia and Mari getting dressed in their outfits that brought back memories. I wasn't surprised you thought the part where Castle and Beckett were kissing while decorating would go I different way, I saw what I wrote happening in my head and went that different way, lol. Pleased to see you enjoyed Julia being with her friends downtown, that was a great part to write! And glad you thought too so far with that chapter that it was a great birthday celebration for Julia. You're welcome for the first half of the chapter! And I had a great Christmas with my family, hoping you and yours did too! And Happy New Year to you as well, hope you have the same you wished to me for sure, happiness, health and prosperity! Great you enjoyed the continuation of the birthday party, along with the diary entry and the sleepover that Julia had too! And I wasn't surprised you could see how they're teenagers with their conversation. I remember having some like that when I was one, lol. Had to laugh at you saying how it went bam to Castle and Beckett celebrating their passion and love in their way as you said. But definitely glad you see it like that! You're welcome for sharing the second half of the chapter!).
Thanks for the reviews, love reading them and appreciate the time taken to write them out and send them my way!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song La Isla Bonita written by Madonna, Patrick Leonard and Bruce Gaitsch, from the Madonna album True Blue.
Carried On The Sea
As she watched her parents at the check in desk, Julia said to her friends, "Who can't believe we're finally here?" She laughed when everyone was raising their hands; even her baby sister and Sophie Davis before she nodded and raised her own. "Me too, it feels like we've been talking about this cruise forever," she said.
"We have been," Marie said. "Fleur, Ivy and Iris were counting down on a calendar in the kitchen."
"Since when?" Eliza asked the three youngest McDouglases.
"Since January," Fleur said. "We weren't keeping it for that long," she said in mock annoyance to her sisters.
"It felt like it," Marie said with a shrug. She smiled when her little sisters were frowning at her and then said, "Oh, I think they're finishing up."
"They are," Mari said when she noticed their parents were leaving the counter. "Here we go."
"Are we going to ship?" Sophie asked her brother who was holding her hand.
"The ship," Jacob corrected her with a smile.
"Her," Sophie said sternly though she was soon starting to smile when the other kids were laughing at her tone.
"I think we are," Eve then said while the parents were approaching them.
"We're ready to go," Castle said to the kids when they turned to him eagerly. "At least if you guys-" he began.
"Yes!" the kids were all crying out.
"Okay, then let's get going," Skye said once they'd stopped laughing.
The group walked together to the large Mickey ears and they walked through it before they were waiting in a short line on the bridge, soon stepping on the boat itself.
Julia shared a surprised look with her sister when the families grouped back together before the McDouglases were going first and could see why.
"They're gonna announce our family?" Eliza whispered to her sister.
"I think so," Julia replied before they were next and the cast member with the microphone did that. She glanced at Josie in their mother's arms and tried not to laugh out loud seeing the toddler's mouth was open in shock before she was looking at some female cast members applauding. She was startled when one was walking with them to the atrium but was soon looking up at the different decks they could see before she could hear the young McDouglases in front of them.
"Mickey!" Josie squealed when she saw the character. "Mama look!"
"I see sweetie," Beckett replied with a smile, lowering her hand since Josie was pointing. She looked on while the McDouglases were taking a picture and she said, "I still think her father should have come."
"You heard what Skye said, Liam and Pablo wanted to be alone together," Castle said simply. "Have we thanked you enough for coming with us?" he directed to their parents.
"You have," Jim said in amusement before they were stepping up to the end of the grand staircase and Mickey and Minnie.
After they'd taken a picture they were allowed to head to their rooms though they were gathering together by the elevators to the side of the atrium.
"Our staterooms are all on deck twelve so remember that kids if you're on your own," Castle said.
"You mean the older kids, right?" Brad asked his friend. "The younger kids should be with someone."
"But they can ask a cast member if they need to," Lily said with a smile since the kids were all nodding in agreement with her. "Are we grouped together?"
"We are," Skye said. "So we should head down there now and discuss our rooms."
"Up you mean," Mary corrected her wife.
"Whatever, let's go so we can hit the swimming pools before we have to do a Muster Drill," Skye replied with a shrug.
"What's that?" Clive asked as they began walking around to the elevators.
"They teach you where to go and what to do just in case of an emergency," Skye explained. She wasn't surprised when Fleur gasped and she went to her swiftly saying, "Just in case mon petite. And we'll listen very closely and learn, alright?" Since she'd been looking at the other kids and speaking a little more sternly she wasn't surprised when they were immediately nodding in agreement with her. With that settled she turned her attention to the elevators so they could split up and head to Deck 12.
Julia was surprised when they were walking to the front of the ship once they were on the deck and her father was stopping them before they reached a cast member in front of three doors.
"You older kids remember the waiver you'll have to sign for your room right?" Castle said to the eight. He wasn't surprised when they were nodding in agreement again, since their stateroom only slept seven, and he said, "Also thank Skye for arranging that."
Laughing when the kids were immediately doing so, the investigator calmed them and said, "You're very welcome. Now be very careful as well. No raucous parties if you please."
"Mum," Marie and Kathleen said in a complaining tone at the same time.
"Okay," Castle said when the kids had calmed down after laughing briefly. "12002 is where Kate and I are staying," he said, handing his wife the key card they'd been given. "12000 is where Mother is saying with Josie and Sophie." He paused for a moment when the two youngest gasped and then were hugging each other. "I'm glad you two approve of that," he told them with a smile.
"We are going to good- be good Dada," Josie said slowly though she had to correct herself. She giggled when her father held out his fist to hers and she bumped it with her own before he was continuing.
"12502," Castle then read off his phone. "Will be where the eight oldest kids are staying. You have one bed in a room, two Murphy beds and a sleeper couch. I'm not sure how you're going to do it, but Peter and Eve are not sharing a bed. Also the boys and girls are in separate beds."
"We know Dad," Julia said firmly. "Keep going."
"12004 is for Rebecca and David," Castle said. "And 12504 is where Lily and Brad are staying," he said before he paused.
"It's attached," Skye told him in a rush. "Actually, your stateroom is attached to where Martha will be with the youngest and Rebecca and David. But those doors should be locked."
"Not between ours and the kids'," Brad said firmly.
"We're not going to go into your stateroom," Lily was quick to say since she saw the dismay on all the eight kids' faces. "But more for safety sake."
"I think the agreement I made with the ship said we'd need to do that," Skye said rapidly when she suddenly recalled. "It did, and Martha-"
"I was going to say I wanted to have our connection to their stateroom unlocked as well," Castle's mother interrupted the investigator.
"Your room is going to be one of the smallest in our group," Skye told the chief and chef. "You don't mind."
"Our answer is the same the last time you asked," Lily said firmly.
"I should continue," Castle said. "Next door to Rebecca and David is 12006, that's where you'll be staying Jim with Eliza, Dani and the three youngest McDouglases."
"Is there a connecting door?" Beckett's father asked.
"Your neighbor on the other side but let me go across to the other side. 12506 is where Skye and Mary are staying. The one next to you Jim, 12008, is where Bethany and Joseph will stay with Dani, Maddy and Keo. And last is across from Bethany and Joseph, Patrick and Trevor you'll be in 12508."
"Is that everyone?" Beckett asked with a smile while her husband was looking over what he had on his phone.
"Yeah, I think I got everyone," Castle said, pretending to count everyone while the kids laughed.
"Then we should head in so we can unpack," Beckett told him.
"Are we staying together after?" Darnley asked.
"I think we should," Castle said. "But just today, to get used to the ship."
"The next two days we're all on our own?" Rebecca guessed.
"A thought," Castle said before they were laughing. "Okay, so I think we should unpack and dress for swimming, since I know the kids are going to want to check out the pools."
After the younger kids had said the word yeah at almost the same time the group split up to go to their different staterooms where their luggage was already there for them.
"Rick," Beckett said after she and her husband had entered their stateroom.
"Yes?" Castle asked.
"Why are we in one of the biggest suites?" Beckett said. Her husband was beginning to open his mouth and she stopped him from speaking telling him, "Don't say it's a stateroom."
"I told your father he should stay with all of the younger kids here… or Mother should have. But they said since I had picked out the cruise… To be honest I think they wanted you to have the chance to stay here," Castle explained.
"Alright," Beckett said before they walked past a bathroom and into the living room. She looked around and seeing walls with empty shelves next to them said, "That's a weird design choice."
Shaking his head Castle said, "Those are the Murphy beds."
"Oh… well," Beckett began as she turned and looked over at the couch. "That's not a bad setup."
"Yeah, I just hope the kids will be okay with picking where they'll sleep," Castle said.
"They will, they know Brad is next door," Beckett commented with a smile.
"So you approve?" Castle asked. "Of ours, not theirs."
"I can't say yet," Beckett replied. She couldn't help laughing when her husband was taking her hand and pulled her behind the couch in front of a TV where she dropped off her bag. Coming to the bedroom she said, "Don't worry, I knew it was going to be small," since he'd looked at her.
"I'm relived, but it does look like a nice room," Castle said.
"And the bathroom too," Beckett said with a smile since she'd glanced at it. "Before you ask I do approve."
"Great," Castle said, beginning to take a step towards her. When she stopped him he said in frustration, "Just once?"
"Too risky," Beckett teased him. She smiled when he pursed his lips and she told him, "Later tonight though." At his surprise she said, "If we have the energy we can, we're staying on the ship tomorrow." She did her best not to laugh when her husband was nodding seriously and she then told him, "We should unpack and change; the kids are not going to want to wait."
Nodding again Castle said at the same time, "And I want to see how it went with them picking their beds." He wasn't surprised when his wife laughed at that and they turned their attention to getting their suitcases and bringing them into their bedroom.
"I can't believe all of this is our stateroom," Mari was telling Julia as they were unpacking their clothes.
"I know, but I still don't get why we couldn't go out on the verandah," Julia replied, raising her voice at the end.
"Hey, save the best for last," Jacob said, walking up to the doorway of their room.
"Also why do we get this room?" Julia asked.
"You know already," Eve replied, stepping up behind her brother. "Because your dad got this suite so it's only right."
Wrinkling her nose, Julia said, "Only if you're sure."
"We'll be comfortable," Marie said, coming up to them. "And remember, we have to split the bathrooms."
"We know," the three boys said at the same time in exaggerated annoyance.
"I think we're finished unpacking," Mari said when they had calmed down. "You guys?" she asked the others.
"Yes, let's go, please!" Kathleen said. They were laughing again, and soon made their way together to the door leading out to the verandah. She'd been allowed to step out first and when she saw it she was crying out in joy. "We have our own Jacuzzi!" she exclaimed before she gasped when she heard a familiar voice.
"Your parents need to explain when you can go in that," Martha said.
"Please say you have a verandah too Gram," Julia said, walking over to the white wall to the left of their veranda.
"We do, we don't have a Jacuzzi, but we have a very nice- Sophie! Stay on the other side of the railing with us," Martha said before she needed to interrupt herself.
"What did she do?" Jacob called.
"Ducked under the railing to get up against the glass… or whatever the window is," Martha explained.
"Josie didn't do the same?" Beckett asked.
"Mama!" Josie squealed when she saw her mother, rushing over to her where she was standing next to a doorway.
"The verandahs here have doors," Beckett said with a smile as she picked the toddler up. "We're going to open them up for the trip."
"We can do that?" Martha asked in surprise.
"Starting this trip yes," Castle said, walking through the doorway. He watched the cast member head to the door to the older kids' verandah and then continued saying, "They refitted the walls here since the last few cruises family and friends were in these three staterooms and complained about not being able to join each other. Thank you." He tipped the man and led him back to his and Beckett's stateroom while the kids behind him were looking at the other two verandahs.
"Cool," Peter said, seeing the matching Jacuzzi on Castle and Beckett's verandah.
"You're sure it's okay the doors are open to your stateroom?" Eve then asked.
"We're sure," Beckett replied with a smile since she wasn't surprised at the question. "We can close the doors if we want. And now I see Rick was right about you having a Jacuzzi you'll have to have some ground rules."
"We can't all fit, I know that already," Julia said.
"Exactly," Beckett replied before she heard multiple footsteps behind her. Seeing the others in their group were there she smiled and said, "Also someone needs to be watching whoever is in there too."
"What're you talking about?" Darnley asked his friend.
"The older kids have a Jacuzzi on their verandah," Castle answered.
"Oh good, I'm glad someone thought of rules for that," Brad said jokingly. "Now, four fit right?" he asked.
"I can go with the boys," Marie said. "I don't like them so…"
"Gee, thanks," Jacob said in a mock offended tone though he was soon laughing at the way the girl shrugged.
"How do you like your stateroom?" David asked his daughter.
"It's great," Mari said eagerly. "The living room is huge!"
"Did you figure out your sleeping arrangement?" Mary asked the eight older kids.
"We did," Mari answered, looking at Julia with a smile when she was rolling her eyes.
"They told us to take the bedroom," the teen said. "Though we said we could pick a number or something and choose that way."
"If they're okay with it I think you're in the bedroom," Castle told her, not surprised when she just shrugged her shoulders. He couldn't help laughing and squeezed her shoulder before he said, "And the other beds?"
"Jake and I are going to sleep on the bed nearer the door," Eve said. "We're used to sharing a bed during our past stays at hotels."
"We're in the bed next to them," Kathleen said, glancing at Peter.
Pretending to sound annoyed the teen said, "Clive and I are using the bed in the couch. I would have done that anyway."
"Good," Brad said simply. "Have you contacted your parents?" he asked them.
"Yeah, at the airport and just now when we finished unpacking our stuff," Peter replied, not surprised his brother was nodding in agreement next to him.
"Where did you lot put your things?" Nkosi asked.
"There are drawers and shelves around the Murphy beds for our stuff," Marie said.
"Ours too," Eve said quickly.
"We offered them the drawers in our room," Mari said.
"We only used the closet and the drawers under that," Julia added.
"There were drawers under the TV across from the couch in the living room," Clive said, shrugging.
"Then you're set," Castle said.
Smiling Julia nodded before she said, "We didn't change yet though."
"I've been thinking about that," David said.
"Oh, we're going to get an edict," Skye said jokingly. She laughed when the mayor made a face at her and said, "Just kidding, what was your thought?"
"That we leave swimming for tomorrow… at least all of us together," David said. "Leave day two to go our separate ways and just explore the ship."
"You read a pamphlet about the ship didn't you?" Castle asked in amusement as the mayor became a little hesitant in his tone at the end.
"I did, you can't blame me," David said.
"That and he looked at the ship online," Rebecca said wryly.
"What do you want to do instead Dad?" Mari asked him.
"Mini-golf," David said. "Not a full course like they have at the family fun center," he added swiftly at the end when the kids were all gasping. "Half of it but it is on a ship."
"Can we do that?" Eliza asked her father.
"We can try," Castle replied. "But did you get the sleeping arrangements set with them?"
"We did," Jim said, since that had been directed to him. "There's a bed above the sleeper bed in the couch; Fleur gets that one since she's the oldest of the three and Dani will be with Ivy and Iris."
"I don't want to go in it," Iris said. "It's scary."
"It's like a bunk bed," Ivy said, shrugging.
"You can try it for the second 'alf of the trip," Fleur offered.
"Sure, if that's okay," Ivy said eagerly. "Thanks," she added quickly.
"Very nice of you to do that," Skye said, hugging Fleur gently. "And you Eliza?"
"I'm sharing the bed with Grandpapa, it's big enough for me to have room," the girl said with a wide smile.
"Is that it for sleeping arrangements?" Lily asked, looking around at everyone before she paused.
"The girls want to use the sleeper sofa," Martha said with a smile since the chef had turned to her. "I asked for nets and they'll bring them to leave in the room."
"I think we're set now," Castle said. "We should start walking around."
With some chatter between themselves, the group were leaving the verandahs before exiting through the three staterooms. When they met up again in the hall they discussed that deck before Castle was getting a booklet with deck plans for the kids to have.
"Where are we going to eat tonight Daddy?" Eliza asked, looking at the book she'd been given.
"The Enchanted Garden," Castle said. "It's gotten good reviews and I know you kids will enjoy it. But that's not until later, let's get going because we need to eat lunch before we play."
"Where's that going to be?" Darnley asked.
"The deck below us," Castle replied.
"Then we should go," Beckett said firmly before they were moving together down the hall to the stairs.
When they were on Deck 11, Castle led the way to one of the eateries, Flo's Café and asked, "What do you think?"
"It's good, I don't want to walk through the entire ship yet," Skye commented before they were splitting up at the three windows.
"Are you sure you want the wrap?" Beckett asked Julia.
"It sounds good," the teen replied. She smiled and then said, "Because it's tuna?"
"I was a little surprised," Beckett admitted before she turned her attention to Eliza who was tugging her hand. "Yes sweetie?"
"Can we have dessert? It's our first day?" Eliza asked.
Beckett couldn't help laughing and said, "Yes, we will because there's a place right around the corner from us. Wait," having to add the last when the girls were about to leave them. "We'll go after we walk around this deck."
"She's right, no running off," Castle commented, smiling when they stepped back to them.
"Is it okay if I sit with my friends?" Julia asked hopefully.
"Me too!" Eliza said eagerly.
"Today stick with your family," Castle said. "The day after tomorrow we'll let you older kids go on your own."
"What about us?" Eliza protested.
"We'll have to talk with the other parents," Beckett said. "We're not saying no," she said at the little girl's dismayed expression. "But for now we need to see how things are on board a ship."
Though she was disappointed, Eliza nodded before she said, "I hope we get our food soon."
Since they were next in line, Castle and Beckett didn't respond to that before they had ordered and were receiving their food in short order. Going to the tables where their parents were sitting, they made sure the girls were set with their food and drinks before they sat and were eating themselves.
"I can't wait until we start to go," Eliza eventually said, looking off the side of the ship since where they were seated was glass.
"We will soon," Beckett assured her. She then looked at her husband and said, "Are we going to have time for mini-golf too?"
"Yeah, I asked about the Muster Drill and I was told it was going to be at two forty-five," Castle told his wife. "So we'll have a good amount of time."
"Even with dessert?" Beckett asked.
"Even with that," Castle said. "I don't think we're going to be able to get out of that now."
"Probably not," Beckett said with a smile, looking at their daughters. They were quiet for a while before she said, "The second day do you think we could spend it together in the morning?"
"As a family?" Julia asked. At her mother's nod she said, "Sure."
"Good idea, though we're still having meals together remember," Castle said.
"Could we have Mickey waffles for breakfast?" Eliza asked hopefully.
"We'll see tomorrow," Beckett said. "Did you finish your fruit?" she asked since they had finished by then.
"Yeah, the watermelon was good," Eliza said.
"Mine was," Josie said.
"And your food, you ate all of your peanut butter and jelly," Castle told her.
"Yeah," Josie replied, nodding her head. "Dessert?" she then asked.
"Why did you two teach her that?" Castle said jokingly to her sisters.
Laughing together, Julia said when she and Eliza had calmed down and said, "Not right now though… right?"
"Not yet, let's go around the pools," Beckett said. "With the others if they're ready," she added, looking to see everyone was still seated.
"I think we're getting up now," Castle said in amusement when he saw the kids were starting to do so around them. He glanced at Julia and Eliza and then said to his wife with a smile, "I think we definitely are."
"We are," Beckett said before she was getting up. She got Josie out of her highchair; in between herself and her husband; and they were heading away from the seating area.
"We can't go that way?" Julia asked her father as they were going to the rear of the ship.
"It's for adults," Beckett said before her husband could answer that. She smiled at Castle when he looked at her in surprise and said, "I looked at the ship too."
"Are you and Daddy going to go there?" Eliza asked as they reached a pool.
"Maybe," Beckett replied. "This is Donald's pool," she told them.
"Donald Duck?" Josie asked eagerly.
"It is," Castle said. "And you can go in this pool but… we'll see the others."
"Like this one," Julia said with a wide smile. "Mickey's?" she asked jokingly since it wasn't hard to see the character's face on the bottom.
"What about the slides?" they could hear Jacob asking.
"And that," Marie said, pointing to the tube above them along the side of the deck.
"That's the Aquaduck," Castle commented.
"And that we're going to be able to go on right?" Kathleen asked immediately.
"We need to see the height requirements but we'll try and go," Castle said. "Well… you need to wait and see what your parents say of course," he added when he realized who he'd answered.
"I think we're all in agreement," Skye said, looking at the other parents. "It depends on the height. Shall we?"
"Where are we going now?" Maddy asked as they walked further down the deck.
"Here," Castle said. "Though you older kids might not go here when we're swimming," he added.
"Nemo!" Keo, Josie and Sophie cried out at the same time.
"Easy," Brad said, holding onto his youngest. "We can't go there today but we'll take you tomorrow."
"I think you mean the grandparents will," Martha commented.
"She is right," Bethany said firmly in agreement. "We will bring them."
"For the second time," Nkosi said with a smile. "We would like to bring them the first time."
"He's right," Rebecca said with a smile. She then looked at Dani, who was holding her hand, and she said, "So we can continue right?"
"To get ice cream?" she asked with a wide smile.
"We need to," Castle said, trying not to laugh at Dani's tone. "So we'll be hungry for dinner."
Walking back down the deck the group made it to the Eye Scream Treats stall where they made their selections and were heading to the lounge chairs by Donald's Pool, looking at the giant TV screen that was showing clips from Disney animated movies.
"Please say we're going to play mini-golf now," Eliza said when she had finished her mint chocolate chip with sprinkles.
"We are," Castle replied before his mother was getting his attention.
"What about the youngest?" Martha asked.
"We're going to carry them," Castle answered.
"I think you mean we are," Jim said.
"Dad-" Beckett started to say.
"I'm sure there'll be chairs nearby," Jim interrupted. "And we'll be happy for a rest."
"Are you going to order a drink Mother?" Castle couldn't help asking.
"Tomorrow Richard," Martha said firmly. "We're not sailing just yet."
"Good idea," Joseph said. He couldn't help laughing when his son and son in law were looking at him and said, "I do enjoy a drink every once in a while."
"That's true, but please be careful," Darnley said before they were making their way to the elevators.
On Deck 13, Castle led the group to where he'd seen Goofy's Golf and once they reached the first hole he said, "How are the youngest?"
"I think Josie will be watching," Martha said since she was holding the toddler.
"Mama I want to play," Josie said sadly.
"We'll come back," Beckett promised before she saw her husband was bringing over a scorecard. "Really?" she asked him with one eyebrow raised.
"It says on the website to keep score," Castle said jokingly, smiling when his wife rolled her eyes. "It isn't a standard course," he pointed out as he began writing out their names.
"I see, as long as the girls aren't competing," Beckett said.
"We aren't," Julia said, giving her mother a golf club she had grabbed for her. "Lizzy has yours Dad."
"Here," Eliza told him with a smile. "What order are we going in?"
"Reverse-"
"Alphabetical-" Castle and then Skye said at the same time before they stopped themselves.
"Just go alphabetically," Darnley said.
"You're saying that because you'll be second," Beckett teased him.
"Yep," Darnley replied, not surprised when she rolled her eyes.
"Are the rest of you keeping score?" Castle asked while Eliza was setting up her golf ball. "Wait, what're you doing?" he then directed to his daughter.
"Going this way," Eliza said since the hole had two x's to start from.
"Are you going to be able to do that?" Beckett asked since the path she had picked banked off a hockey stick and then near the hole.
"I hope so," Eliza said before she hit it.
"We're going to keep score," Skye said as they watched the golf ball. "Nice shot," she said since it banked off the hockey stick.
"Are those Goofy's?" Keo asked his fathers.
"I think so," Darnley said in amusement since there was discarded sports equipment on the sides of the path to the hole.
"That was three," Eliza said, finishing her turn happily.
After the Castles had finished playing the first hole, they moved on to the second one so they wouldn't hold up the line for the course.
"These are funny," Eliza said, looking at the different sports balls, glasses and an eyechart.
"Did you read the chart?" Julia asked her sister.
"Yeah," Eliza said, giggling. She then became serious and said, "Were you serious about bringing Josa here?"
"Of course we were," Castle said since Beckett was taking her turn next. "Though with all the excitement I thought she'd still be awake," he commented since just as they were moving to the current hole Josie had fallen asleep and his mother had taken her to the lounge chairs they'd passed on the way to the course while his father-in-law had gone to take pictures.
"The others too," Beckett said, finishing her turn. She smiled when the girls cheered their father's first hit and were crying out when he got a hole it one.
"I think I have too much of an advantage," Castle said with laughter in his tone since Eliza had thrown her arms around him.
"It was really good though Daddy," the little girl said seriously.
"Thanks, now we better keep going or we're going to miss the Muster Drill," Castle said, urging her to walk to the next hole.
"Ooh, this looks like it's for Pluto," Eliza said when she spotted the theme with a hydrant and dog collar. She turned to her mother and asked, "Are the doggies okay?"
"They stayed home remember?" Beckett asked her with a smile.
"Yeah," Eliza said, since they were with Alexis and her family at the beach house. "And Carlow…" she said slowly
"Louis takes good care of him," Castle said reassuringly. "Now take your turn sweetheart." He watched her nodding before she hurried to the x and said to his wife, "What do you think?" startled when Julia suddenly burst into laughter next to them.
"Sorry, that sounded like a weird question," the teen said.
"I think he was asking me what I think about the ship," Beckett explained.
"Oh yeah, what do you think?" Julia asked immediately.
"We're still not sailing," Beckett teased her husband. She watched him looking at his watch and said, "I know it's soon but still."
"So you don't like it yet?" Castle and Julia asked at the same time before they paused and looked at each other.
"Your turn now Julia," Beckett said, fighting her laughter.
"What's so funny?" Eliza asked, going to her parents and out of the way of her sister.
"Your daddy was asking me what I thought about the cruise so far," Beckett explained.
"But we didn't leave the port yet," Eliza said.
"I guess I should be more specific and just say the ship. What do you think of the ship?" Castle asked her.
"It's very nice," Beckett replied. "So you don't need to worry."
"I'm not worried, just making sure you have a great time," Castle said.
"Your turn Mom," Julia called once she'd made it to the hole. She watched her parents going before she turned her attention to the fourth hole where she and her sister were laughing together at the sight of it.
"Goofy didn't finish mowing the lawn," Eliza said, since there was a broken-down lawnmower and the grass had tracks where it had mown until that point.
"I think it was Max who didn't," Castle said. He was surprised when his wife looked at him along with the girls and he said, "You never saw The Goofy Movie?"
"I might have been older Rick," Beckett said.
"When did it come out?" Julia asked.
"1995," Castle said after considering for a moment. "I rented it when Alexis was six and she was wondering how old the movie was too."
"Who's Max?" Eliza asked after she had finished her turn.
"Goofy's son," Beckett said. "I am aware of Disney."
"But you never saw the movie," Castle stated. At the look his wife gave him he turned to Julia and said, "Your turn!"
Laughing, the teen went up to the x's and after considering them, chose the harder one before she started. Once she had finished she went to Eliza and whispered, "How're you doing?"
"Probably not good, I take too many times to get it to the hole," the little girl said with a shrug before her sister was playfully nudging her.
"I think you're doing pretty good," Julia said. "For seven."
"Eight," Eliza said.
"Not yet," Julia teased. She wasn't surprised when her little sister stuck her tongue out at her and she did the same back before their mother was getting their attention.
"We're finished you two," Beckett said with a smile while they looked at her.
"Are you fighting?" Castle asked as they walked to the fifth hole.
"No, just joking," Julia said swiftly.
"I hope so," Castle said with a smile.
Looking at the hole they'd reached, Eliza said, "Is that an octopus in a bucket?"
"It is, I'm guessing it's something to do with Goofy," Castle said, watching her get ready to hit her ball.
"Of course it is," Julia said, watching with her parents. Once they were finishing they went to the sixth hole with a sandcastle and other beach items and she was relieved when they were playing it easily until they moved on.
At the seventh, pirate themed, Beckett said to her second oldest, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I feel like it's taking forever to start sailing," Julia said, startled when her father almost barked out a laugh.
"Sorry," Castle said quickly. "I heard myself in that for a second."
"I want to sail too," Eliza said, going back to her family after she had finished her turn. "Five again Mommy."
"Thank you sweetie," Beckett replied, writing down the score. "And we'll sail soon, other people are boarding still you know."
"Oh, still," Eliza said, giggling when her mother grabbed for her and took her into her arms. "How much is left?"
"Just two more," Castle said.
"How much time are we going to have?" Eliza then asked.
"Until the Drill?" Castle responded with a question. At the little girl's nod he said, "I have no idea, we haven't finished yet." He laughed when Eliza pretended to push his arm and he pulled her into an embrace saying, "We'll probably go back to our staterooms to rest… our Muster Station is going to be near them you know."
"I know," Eliza replied before he was taking his turn last. When they reached the eighth hole she couldn't help giggling and said, "Is this the best one?"
"It's not bad," Castle said honestly before he looked at his wife.
Rolling her eyes, though she was smiling, Beckett said, "It isn't but we can't really hold everyone up."
As Eliza went up to take her turn, Julia studied the magnifying glass and open book towards the end. "It's cute," she said to her mother.
"It is, but a little random," Beckett said.
"I thought the eye chart and glasses were more," Castle said. He wasn't surprised when his wife shrugged and smiled before he said, "Either way, the kids are entertained." He then saw the look Julia gave him and said, "Tell me I'm wrong."
"I hope you're talking about the older kids," Julia commented before she went to take her turn.
"I was," Castle told his wife.
Shaking her head, Beckett said, "I knew."
"What're you thinking?" Castle asked, studying her.
"I wanted to bring Josie with us to our stateroom," Beckett said.
"Sure," Castle said. "Actually it's a good idea, we should take her to the Drill with us."
"That's what I was thinking," Beckett agreed, nodding her head. She then smiled and said, "I just wasn't sure if you'd want her there."
Snorting Castle said as Julia was walking over to them, "I expected one or more of the kids with us at some point."
"What about me?" Eliza asked her father.
"Do you want to go to our room?" Castle replied.
"Yeah, could we watch some TV?" Eliza asked.
"I don't mind if you do, but you'll need to ask your mom once she's finished," Castle said.
"She is," Beckett commented, walking over to them. "Go Rick."
"Yeah," Castle said quickly before he went to the tees.
"You can watch TV," Beckett said to Eliza. "But we need to see what you're going to pick."
"I know," Eliza said before she looked at her sister. "Do you want to come with us?"
"I'll stay in my own room with the others," Julia said.
"Watching TV?" Eliza asked.
Julia couldn't help laughing while their father walked back to them and then said, "Probably, the couch is big enough for us." She glanced at their parents while they were walking to the last hole and said, "We'll just watch a Disney movie or something."
"I hope so," Beckett said in amusement. She then said, "But at least we're on the last one."
"Where's the ball supposed to go?" Eliza asked in confusion.
"To the tub, they must take it away like at the golf courses at home," Julia said before her sister was moving to take her turn. After they had all gone she said, "That's it."
"That is," Castle said. "So we better get out of the way of everyone else." He smiled when Eliza started to laugh and hurried to him before they were waiting for the rest of their group to finish so they could return to their staterooms.