Christmas Story

AN: It has been far too long since I've written anything. This story was started nearly a year ago and then dropped due to...life, displeasure in where it was going...etc. I recently picked it back up randomly. In typing it up (I usually write on paper first) I realized that I'm not all that great of a writer. So, I'm sorry. Also not beta'd. But I still need to get it out. So if you will...please read on.

Disclaimer: ...and then I wake up...

"Um, Beckett? Would you mind moving about two feet and uh…four inches to your left?"

"Hmm?" Kate looked up from the file she was holding and rolled her eyes. Standing what was probably exactly two feet and four inches to her left was Castle, on his chair, attempting to affix mistletoe to the ceiling…above her desk.

He grinned.

She did not.

While she had thoroughly enjoyed Thanksgiving with the Castle clan, she was not just magically ready to drop her defenses and share…whatever this was—with the world. She still needed time to figure it out for herself—maybe even enjoy it a little. But that wasn't what he was trying to do. He wasn't announcing anything to the world (though she figured he'd have no reservations whatsoever if and when the time came to announce anything).

If.

This, she suspected, was just Castle's overzealous inner child gearing up for Christmas in his usual flirty Castle way. Nothing out of the ordinary, she told herself. To Castle she said, "Castle it isn't even December yet."

His grin vanished, replaced by a smirk. "Yes. I mean, no, but it IS after Thanksgiving," he said as he stepped down off of his chair. He looked above his head, then to Kate and waggled his eyebrows.
"Everyone knows that the Christmas season starts after Thanksgiving. You," he emphasized, "of all people should know that."

She didn't need a picture to know what he was referring to. At times she could still feel his lips on hers. "That may be what consumerism tells us. Stores start rolling out the next big holiday before the one we're still waiting for is over. That's why we see Easter before Valentine's Day, Valentine's Day before Christmas, and," she sighed, "Christmas before Halloween. I don't want or need stores to tell me when to feel Christmas-y or anything. It'd be nice if we could at least wait until the correct month."

She put the file down on her desk and crossed her arms.

"But…" he whined.

Her face softened. Why did he have to be so adorable? "One more day Castle, I think you'll make it." She patted his arm and turned to face the murder board. He sighed an exaggerated resigned sigh and joined her in looking at the board.

"I know who did it," they said in unison.

Kate smiled. Oh yes, she could do this. Everything had changed and yet nothing had changed.

"Yo, so what are your plans for the near future, Bro?" Esposito cheerfully clapped his partner on the back and Ryan gave him a shy smile. "Jenny and I will be out of town," he said, "taking a real vacation." Esposito turned to his boss, "What about you Beckett? Any special plans?"

Kate looked up from tiding up her desk and considered her answer. Having tied up all of the loose ends on a high profile case involving a senator's daughter, the whole team had been given the rest of the month plus a week off. Paid. Special circumstances. Their case load would be taken care of and they were ordered, in no uncertain terms, to 'Have Fun.' Her dad had decided to go fishing so she wouldn't be spending her time with him...

Before she could answer Castle came out of the break room and answered for her. "She'll be doing Christmasy things of course! Traditions and the like!" He grinned widely. Kate crossed her arms and smiled. That probably wasn't too far from the truth, except her 'traditions' as he put it pretty much stayed the same year round: hot water, bubbles, good book, and some form of alcohol and takeout. The only thing that made it Christmasy was was the time of year; numbers on a calendar. Trying to deflect attention away from her, Kate addressed Castle, "What about you? Big plans?" The look he gave her could have melted a 100lb ice sculpture in two seconds flat.

"Same," he replied casually. "Christmasy traditions."

Esposito rejoined the conversation, "So, Hamptons?"

Castle shook his head. "No, that's a summer getaway. We go somewhere else for Christmas."

"Like...Paris?" Ryan chimed in.

Castle chuckled. "No."

Esposito groaned, "C'mon bro. You're not gonna elaborate?"

Castle glanced at Kate before responding, "I don't want anyone to get any ideas...you know? Safety from stalkers...Well, I best be going. Packing to do and all." Before they knew it he'd collected his jacket and was gone without so much as a 'Merry Christmas' or 'See you next year.'

"Wow," Ryan said as he gathered his own belongings. " "He must have some really good plans to just take off like that."

"Yeah, I'll be he's got a hot date or something," Esposito said before noticing Kate's shocked state. "I mean, sorry Beckett, he's ah...probably just having dinner with his family."

Ryan nodded in agreement. "Well, I guess, Merry Christmas Beckett."

Esposito turned on his way to the elevator, "Yeah, Happy New Year!"

And just like that Kate found herself completely alone in the precinct with absolutely no clue as to what she'd do with herself for the next month. Her blood boiled that Castle hadn't so much as said goodbye, much less actually dig to see if she'd had any real plans. She thought maybe they'd finally been getting somewhere. And after Thanksgiving...

She checked her phone. No messages. Maybe she'd misinterpreted his intentions. With a sigh she shrugged on her coat and decided to start her 'traditions' tonight with some Thai and a bottle of wine that she'd pick up on the way home.

It was hard not to notice the large lightly snoring lump of human sagged against her door. Hands full of food and drink, she nudged him with her foot. "Castle? What are you doing?" He groaned and looked at her through one eye as she unlocked her door.

"I hope that's food you've got. A man could die of starvation waiting for the woman he loves to return home..." he mumbled.

An eyebrow shot up. "Castle are you drunk?"

"What? No," he said emphatically as he struggled to his feet. "I was just waiting for you to get home and may have dozed off...why?"

She decided to let it pass. For now. "Well I suppose you should come in." He followed her through the door like an eager puppy following his master. She deposited her bags on the kitchen island and turned to hang up her coat. "Why exactly are you staking out my apartment? She asked as he hung his coat next to hers in the closet. Apparently this wasn't going to be a quick visit—which would be fine any other day, but she was still angry with him for leaving the precinct earlier without so much as a promise to call.

He grinned sheepishly, "Maybe we should eat first?"

She sighed, "You're lucky I got enough for us to share." She'd intended to live off of the leftovers later, but supposed she could go grocery shopping since she'd be spending a lot more time at home over the next few weeks.

"Stop."

"What?" he said through a mouth full of lo mein.

"Castle, I can feel you staring at me." She turned from where she'd been standing at the kitchen counter in time to see his face fall. He swallowed. "I'm gonna have to talk to Alfred about this. You aren't supposed to be able to detect my new x-ray vision contacts."

She smirked. "Really Castle? Batman?"

"Hey don't knock the Dark Knight. Besides. I couldn't be Superman. You're hardly the damsel in distress type. You're like a smokin' hot cross between Batgirl, Catwoman, and Police Commissioner Jim Gordon."

She gaped at him. "You picked which superhero you'd be based on me?"

He shrugged and shoved more lo mien in his mouth. Chewed. Swallowed. "I used to want to be the Green Lantern, but really—I'd prefer being someone who would have someone like you by his side."

Kate felt a blush rise to her cheeks without her permission. Best not to dwell on that. "Why exactly are you here?" The anger from earlier tinged her question making her sound a little more harsh than she'd meant to.

He stared at her for a moment too long. She was really cute when she was embarrassed and angry. God, he wanted her. He felt his lips flapping as his mouth refused to work with his brain. "I...You...We..." He felt like a fish out of water.

She squinted and licked her lips. She was a bull ready to fight and he was most assuredly covered in red.

"Look, ah. I..." he stammered as he tried to understand her sudden anger. He replayed his recent actions only to find nothing amiss. Better to be safe than sorry? "Um. I'm sorry?"

She was not amused, but found flustered Castle entirely too adorable to stay angry at him if she continued looking at him. Turning back around she grabbed two wine glasses and poured a generous amount into each. "Care to try that again?"

He stood and leaned against the island, "I just wanted to confirm our time of departure tomorrow morning."

Gone was the anger from her eyes, replaced quickly by confusion. She crossed her arms across her chest and closed her eyes trying to decide if she should kill him now or after his explanation. Upon opening her eyes she chose the latter. "Where do you think we're going? Mandatory vacation means no dead bodies. No precinct. No work." Surely he got that.

"I know." He dragged out the 'o' letting his inner (sometimes outer) child speak. "Don't you remember?" At her blank look he kept talking, "Did you or did you not recently tell me that you wanted to be a part of our Christmas traditions?"

Kate's hands dropped to her sides. "Castle, I...I didn't think you were serious."

"I never joke about family traditions," he deadpanned.

"Unless..."

"No. I may joke about family members-be it to their face or behind their backs-all in good fun of course. But not tradition," he said emphatically.

"I couldn't impose-"

He shifted to stand in front of her, hands on either shoulder. Kate felt her resolve weaken a bit. But resolve for what really? To stay home and try to figure out how to fill seemingly endless hours?

"Besides," he continued, bringing her out of her thoughts, "Alexis would be very disappointed if you don't come."

"Alexis?" Castle's daughter seemed to like her alright, sure. But...

"Oh yes. She's been looking forward to it since Thanksgiving."

Thanksgiving. Kate thought back to that night not so very long ago. In a single phone call her night had gone from...well to be blunt-from the way she'd thought this vacation had been going, to being a part of something grand: Family. And then she'd stayed over-on the insistence that that too was a tradition. There was nothing awkward, uncomfortable, or weird about it. So that was it then wasn't it? Stay here. Alone. Or go off with Castle and his family for an adventure.

"Kate."

"Hmh?"

"Stop over thinking." His hands were so comforting rubbing her shoulders and upper arms lightly. Encouraging."You're already a part of this family..." his voice drifted off. Unsure. She didn't want him to be unsure, even if she hadn't figured out exactly what she was doing.

"I wouldn't want to let Alexis down." His answering smile was enough for her to know she'd chosen the correct response.

"Do you have your bags packed?"

"Bags?" What kind of adventure was this? "I thought you said you weren't going to the Hamptons for Christmas. Wait. Where are we going anyhow?"

He backed up until his hips hit the island. "I'm not. We're not. But something tells me you're still going to want clothes...but if you don't I'm totally ok with that too."

If looks could kill... "Castle, how long are we going to be gone?"

He tipped his head and pretended to ponder the question, tapping his index finger on his chin. "About...a month. Give or take."

"A MONTH?" Angry Kate was beginning to make her way back.

He shrugged and turned from her, heading towards the door. "I'll be by at 8:00 sharp. We'll need to get on the road to avoid traffic," he called over his shoulder as she stood in shock by the kitchen sink.

Kate's mind was racing. She had gone from expecting to work the holidays (as usual), to having a month full of nothing to do, to agreeing to spend a month with Castle (and his family) in an as yet to be revealed location. She wasn't going to get any sleep tonight was she?

Castle put his coat and gloves on and turned to find her in the same place he'd left her. "And don't worry," he grinned, "I'll bring the gummy bears."

AN: Again, I know there's room for growth. I never realized how dialogue heavy my stories were. I'll work on it. Please review if you have a moment.