for she whose birthday fast approaches...even though she never lets me win!

disclaimer: I am the Merry Elf of Christmas cheer...but i own nothing, including the song!

Normally, at this time of the year, he would be sitting next to, and following around, the Grinch personified.

He would be enjoying the look of disdain he got every time he threatened to hang mistletoe over her desk, or from a certain body part.

He smirked as he exited the elevator and headed for her desk, those kinds of mistletoe suggestions usually earned him an eye roll or a pinch, once after a rather suggestive comment about her using tongue, he got both, and a 'don't make me shoot you', he smiled, that had been a fun day.

She would grumble under her breath when someone played Christmas music in the break room, tinsled pony tails and festive earrings drove her insane, he had frequently seen her clench her fists, obviously resisting the urge to yank them out.

So when he walked past her desk that morning in December and found a bowl of Hersheys candy cane kisses sitting on his chair, he could be forgiven for the double-take.

He could also be let off for the audible gasp at the little stack of actual tree-hangible, red and white, candy canes that sat in a coffee mug next to her computer. Not to mention the (he looked closer) sprig of holly she had attached to her monitor. He stood back confused.

He placed her coffee cup on her desk, picked up the bowl of Christmas kisses from his chair and sat down heavily looking at it.

Was that a sign? Was the universe interceding on her behalf, or was there a little elf magic at work?

Was she actually sending him a message?

He stared down with the bowl in his hand, confused by it, trying to work out the meaning of a bowl of candy.

So, of course, he didn't hear her approach, heels clicking along the floor.

"There it is" she said sounding relieved and leaning over him, he jumped and looked up, but, as she wrapped her arm, almost, around his neck and leant over his shoulder, reaching around him for the bowl in his hands, he was enveloped by the warm scent of her.

She smelt, for want of a better word, Christmassy. Underlying cherries and her were still there but something else mixed in, like the smoke from a wood burner or, snow or…

Her hair fell forward away from her shoulder, blanketing one side of her face, as the side nearest to him was swept free, he turned and looked straight into her eyes as she smiled.

"I've been looking for these everywhere," she pulled the bowl from his hands and waggled it under his nose. "Want one?"

He swallowed hard as she breathed into his face.

"What?"

"You want one, don't you Castle?" she said shaking the little green and red bowl again so the candies tinkled against the ceramic, like little Christmas bells.

He couldn't quite…think…when her voice was like that, light and airy, tilting her head forward a little, looking like a school teacher, she just needed a pair of glasses on the tip of her nose to look over. Oh that would be so hot.

He shuddered around a breath that leapt from his lungs, puffing it out, and it hit her, lifting her hair from her face.

"Do you want one?" she asked again her voice burning with tease and leading as she laughed at his expression.

"Wa…want one what?" He wanted her to say it.

"A kiss. Castle?" she said.

He nodded unable to speak, cos she asked…she said…

"What are you waiting for then?" she grinned at him.

"I…I don't know" he said, as if it was a trick "What am I waiting for? He genuinely wondered himself, what the hell was he waiting for when she was playful and willing and…his mouth fell open as he watched her, her smile not faltering once.

"Beats me," she said, "maybe you should just take a kiss."

"Should I?" he leant further forward, any further and he would fall completely out of his chair.

She shrugged "What could it hurt right? It's nearly Christmas after all."

She leant in closer to him, her nose almost touching his, shrouding them both from prying eyes with her hair. Her hand still rested at his shoulder from where she had bent over him, she squeezed him with her finger tips.

The grin slipped then, replaced by something else, as she breathed out, watching him with interest as he inhaled, sucking her breath into him, she smelt like peppermint, and, somehow, tinsel.

Her eyes flicked to his lips and back up again as she wetted her own, biting the bottom one as she waited. She rolled it between her teeth, anticipation burning between them.

He leant in, her breath warm and tingly across his face as he got closer.

He closed his eyes, and moved to press his lips to hers.

Instead of meeting with the sweet, soft, skin of her kissable mouth, his lips met something else, the wrong kind of sweet.

"Too slow" she said as her finger slipped past his lips and pushed the tiny candy cane kiss into his mouth. She grinned at him, proud of her little game, making to draw back, but he trapped her hand, sucked her finger lightly around the chocolate, watching as her eyes darkened, he was close enough to see her swallow hard, smiled against her finger, before pulling it back. He placed a gentle, closed mouth, kiss to the tip of her finger before letting her hand go.

"You know how much of a sweet tooth I have?" He asked watching her as she swallowed again, before she nodded and stood up straight. She glanced at her finger, the one that had just vacated his mouth, almost too quick for him to see, almost.

"First kiss of many." He reached out and snagged another candy from the bowl "Yoink!"

She laughed, her eyes on him as she shook her head.

She pulled herself out of the dazed feeling, and started to walk away. "These are for the boys, not you Castle!"

She turned, seeing him pout, and threw over her shoulder "You're sweet enough," before she laughed at the new look of surprise and delight on his face.

They made their way to the break room, him following, skipping because she walked quickly and because she was taking his kisses with her, he wanted another, oh who was he kissing (oops he meant to think kidding) he wanted them all.

She entered the break room and turned to the source of music that was now echoing through the room, several Detectives including Ryan and Esposito turned and looked at her, their eyes fell, or smiles dropped as they waited, expecting a lecture. Several of them exited, eyes to the floor avoiding her.

If she noticed she didn't let on.

"Hey Espo…" she called as she placed the bowl of candy on the table in front of them.

He nodded reaching to turn off the holiday music

"Turn it up will ya," she grinned "I love this song."

Everyone remaining in the room turned to stare at her in shock.

"What?" she said looking around the room at the gaping and surprised faces, until she let her gaze come to rest on Castles face, his eyes scrunched adorably as he tried to work out what was happening "I do!"

Santa can you hear me

She left the room, humming along with the song as she went, her head bobbing from side to side in time with music.

I have been so good this year

"What was that?" Ryan said his eyes scrunched tight in confusion.

And all I want is one thing

"Who was that?" Esposito quipped, they bumped fists and grinned.

Tell me my true love is near

"Clone army invasion at Christmas!" Ryan shook his head and nudged Esposito to look over at Castle. "Think he's a bit slow this time of year."

"Too much sugar." Esposito shook his head in feigned disappointment.

Castle, meanwhile, just stood in confusion, listening to the lyrics of the song.

He's all I want

Just for me

Underneath my Christmas tree

Ill be waiting here

Santa that's my only wish this year.

Well damn, if that wasn't a sign from Kate, the universe or the merry elf of Christmas himself, he didn't know what was.

He smiled as he turned to follow her, but not before running back to her little green and red Christmas bowl and snagging a handful of candy cane kisses.

Inspiration, he thought, provided by his seasonably joyful muse, he smiled as he popped one of the little treats into his mouth, the best kind.