A/N: I realize so many updates per day may be a bit excessive, but for Christmas, having all of the holiday themed prompts I've filled on tumblr over the last two years (and a couple I'll be filling this year as well) felt like a good and long overdue idea. So, of course, if you've already read those that have been previously published, I apologize and hope you don't mind seeing them again, but if not, I hope you enjoy and I'm wishing all of you the happiest of holidays!
Prompt: "I'm your last customer on Christmas eve because it's only now that I've realised I have no wrapping paper."
Kate shuts off the Christmas music, the light display out front, sighing in relief at the relative peace that comes with closing up shop at the end of the day.
That is, until a man comes skidding through the door at 4:59 p.m.
"Sir," she calls, watching in a mixture of amusement and annoyance as he races through the aisles of her mother's tiny holiday store, searching frantically for something on the mostly barren shelves. Last minute shoppers are always the interesting ones to watch, but she's been working for the last eight hours, spending the last three on her own so her mother could make her annual visit to the cemetery and be home in time to start their two person Christmas dinner. She doesn't have time for this. "Hey, we're closed."
The guy stops in the middle of reaching for one of the lone rolls of wrapping paper and she almost feels bad for the look of devastation on his face, before it brightens with what she's sure is a horrible idea.
"I'll pay twice the price of whatever I buy if you stay open for just five extra minutes," he begs, abandoning his quest for Christmas paper and coming towards her with his hands pressed together in an imitation of a prayer. "I was so sure I had wrapping paper left over from last year, but when I unloaded the box of Christmas supplies, I barely had enough to wrap one gift. So I promise, all I need is the wrapping paper and then I'm gone."
Kate bites her lip, already knowing what she's going to say, but he presses on before she can reply.
"Maybe you don't know me, but I'm an author, Richard Castle? And I could sign something for you or a friend," he suggests, so hopeful, but it's his name - a name she's certain she's seen before - that sparks recognition in the back of her mind and solidifies her decision. "Maybe make a nice Christmas gift for someone?"
"My mom," she murmurs, ducking behind the counter to retrieve the novel she's caught her mother reading whenever she's on break. "She's been a huge fan of yours ever since-"
The words die on her tongue and she swallows down the tragic end to that sentence, knowing Richard Castle doesn't want to hear her personal sob story on Christmas Eve. She's not in the mood to tell it anyway, but when is she ever?
"You can go ahead and grab you what you need," she states, dropping the book on the counter and restarting the electronic register she had just shut off before he came bursting through the door.
"Ever since what?"
Kate glances up, her brow furrowed at the sight of him still standing there, not having moved an inch.
"I thought you needed the paper-"
"It can wait," he says, striding towards her and stopping at the checkout counter, the only thing between them. "You were telling me something important."
"And then I changed my mind," she counters, nodding towards the shelf of paper. "Now, you said you would be quick, so grab the paper and go."
He frowns at her, but does as he's told, retrieving the final three rolls of festive paper from the shelf and laying them across the counter for her to ring up. She notices him take hold of her mother's book while she's busy with the register and she's too late to stop him from writing inside of it.
Kate huffs, guilt gnawing at her gut even though this was the deal. She kept her mom's shop open for five extra minutes, he signed her book, but he wasn't supposed to be so nice about it.
"My father was killed a few years ago," she sighs, tying up the long rolls of paper for him so he doesn't lose them in the hustle and bustle of the sidewalks. "Your books were the only thing that made her smile for a long time."
She lifts her eyes to see him watching her, his own soft with a combination of sorrow and concern, even a hint of understanding. It's such a refreshing change from sympathy.
"What makes you smile?"
The question throws her and for a moment, she's left staring into kind blue eyes without an answer.
"I haven't found it yet," she finally admits, lowering her gaze, but then his hand is on hers, giving her cold fingers a gentle squeeze.
"Maybe sometime I could take a shot at it."
He's smiling when she risks another glance at him and even through the stutter of her heart, her own lips slide upwards in response.
He's already succeeding.
"I hope you're able to wrap the rest of your gifts in time," she offers, retracting her hand from beneath his to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I'll make it work," he assures her with a wink, gathering the wrapping paper in his arm. "I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, Kate."
"You too, Mr. Castle."
"Rick," he corrects, grinning at her from over his shoulder as he approaches the door. "Hope I hear from you soon."
Her brow creases, but he only nods towards the book near her hand before he disappears out the door. Kate reaches for it as soon as he's gone, flipping to the first page, immediately finding the words for her mother.
Your daughter is a life saver.
Merry Christmas!
Richard Castle.
But it's the receipt she had lying on the counter, now stuck between two pages of the novel, that catches her attention.
His name, his number, and an opportunity for more all written in black ink on the white strip and for the second time that day, Richard Castle makes her smile.
