A/N: Just a Christmas ficlet. Fluff everywhere. Unbeta'd, so mistakes are mine! Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own Castle.
The Christmas Kiss
He wakes to her gentle, pecking kisses on his face. As he is pulled gradually from sleep, he notes that the sun hasn't risen yet, and he is still naked.
"Castle."
He groans. Whatever time it is it's too early to be awake. Even on Christmas.
"Castle!" he hears again, this time accompanied with a light slap to his chest. "Wake up!"
He groans and opens his eyes. Kate is standing above him wearing sweat pants and a hoodie, her hair pulled back into a messy ponytail and he wonders briefly why she isn't just as naked as he is. The thought that there might be something wrong crosses his mind briefly, but she's smiling so that can't be it.
He looks at the clock. 4:45 AM. They'd only gone to bed four hours ago.
"Kate what're you doin' up?" he mumbles. " S'early. Go back to sleep." He closes his eyes again.
"Nope!" She throws a pair of boxers at him. "You're coming with me. I have something for you. It's part of your Christmas gift. But you have to get up now."
The words 'Christmas gift' perk him up a little, and he sits up in bed. "What is it?"
"It's a surprise." Is all she says, waggling her eyebrows at him. She sweeps from the room and he hears her fussing about in the kitchen. The story she'd told him yesterday about why she always takes the Christmas Eve shift comes to mind, and he smiles. He's thrilled to see her happy and he hopes that he's helped her see through how awful Christmas has been for her in the past.
She pokes her head back in the bedroom. "Come on!"
He quickly dresses heads out into the kitchen. "Can we at least stop for-" He stops when she places a travel mug of coffee into his hands. "Okay then. You've got that covered."
"Yep. Get your coat! We're going for a drive."
"Where?"
But she just ignores him and heads out through the door.
XXXXX
He is somewhat disappointed when they pull up in front of the twelfth.
"Uh, the precinct, Beckett?"
She just nods beside him, biting her lip. "Come on."
She takes his hand in the elevator and looks at him with shining eyes. He's truly lost as to what she might possibly have to give him at the precinct. But, then, she's a mystery as always.
She pulls him out of the elevator and into the entrance to the bullpen. It's empty, except for Karpowski, who is snoring loudly at her desk. It's clearly been a slow night.
A wide, toothy grin splits Beckett's face in two. "Quick." She says. "We don't want to get caught."
She pulls him to stand just in front of the elevator and his confusion rises when all she does is grab his hands and meet his gaze. "Merry Christmas," she says, and he doesn't get it until he looks up.
Mistletoe.
He's alarmed. "Are you trying to get caught?"
"The only person here besides us is Karpowski, and it doesn't look like she's waking up any time soon. If we're quick about it, we won't get caught."
"But-"
"Shut up, Caslte, and kiss me." She demands.
So he does. The kiss is gentle and sweet, loving and full of promise.
She pulls away and smiles at him. "You have no idea how badly I wanted to kiss you earlier."
A certain handshake springs to mind and he laughs. "Oh, Beckett. I really do."
"Maybe…Maybe we can do it again next year?"
He nods and caresses her cheek with the backs of his fingers.
She puts her hand over his, intertwines their fingers and leads him back to the elevator. They hop on and as soon as the door closes he draws her to him.
"Best. Christmas. Present. Ever." He whispers against her lips, and then he covers her mouth with his.
He decides that all he'll never need another Christmas gift again as long as he can get a kiss from her for many Christmases to come.
End.
Happy holidays, everyone! Thanks for reading, and it'd make my Christmas Eve if you'd leave a review. :)