Naughty and Nice: Castle Advent Calendar 2012
Author's Note
If you are unfamiliar with the concept of an advent calendar: It is a countdown to Christmas. Every day you get to open a 'window' to find a treat, usually chocolate or sweets, daily from December 1st until you made it to Christmas Eve. :)
This Castle Advent Calendar will be filled with a Caskett story treat - loosely connected ficlets you get to open each day; a countdown to Christmas as we accompany Castle and Beckett through this Christmas season.
A new treat will be posted every morning. As the title might suggest, this will have M rated treats, so set your story alerts if you don't want to miss it once I change the rating. No spoilers for episode 5x09, 'Secret Santa' before its airdate.
For all you wonderful people out there who have welcomed me so warmly into this amazing fandom: you avid readers, faithful reviewers, enthusiastic fans and delightful friends – this is my Christmas gift to you!
Window 01: All the Lights Are Shining
She picks the photos off the murder board, slowly, painstakingly, one after the other after the other. Folds them into the file box, note cards covering the last images of the victim, and her arms are heavy with the weight of the day. It's past ten, on a Saturday no less, and while the case wasn't particularly heinous, it was long and exhausting and she just wants to be home.
She needs to relax, maybe sink into a hot bath, and just not have to think about anything. Wants to crawl into her bed, curl up under her thick comforter, her body sleep-heavy, heated and sluggish from the bath.
Her eyes close, already feeling the warmth of her bed envelop her and she wavers on her feet. In her vision, Castle replaces the blanket and she snuggles into his body instead, her cheek on his chest and his strong, comforting heartbeat under her ear. She draws a leg over his hips, claiming him, and he bands his arms around her back, holding her close as she relaxes in his embrace, snug and so safe. He trails a finger along her spine, up and down the ridges and valleys of her bones, a gentle, soothing rhythm that lulls her into a thick, dreamless sleep.
She sighs, missing him. He left hours ago to meet Alexis for dinner and it feels silly but she misses his presence now if he's not around, the comfort of his proximity, the draw of his jokes and silly ideas and the sparkle in his eye when he makes her laugh.
She knows if she moved faster she could go home quicker but she just doesn't have the energy, everything is too cumbersome, her limbs sluggish with fatigue, her eyelids heavy.
"Kate," his voice murmurs against her ear and suddenly he's there, right behind her, his palms curved around her upper arms. Her eyes flutter, a deep exhale tumbling from her lungs as the burden of the day slides off her shoulders with the sound of his voice, the calming warmth of his nearness.
Her body sways toward him, an inevitable draw that she no longer wants to deny. She blinks her eyes open, glances around for a quick moment but there is nobody close by, most people having left for the day. She lets herself sink against him, allows herself the comfort of his presence, her back pressed to his sturdy chest that catches her, supports her.
Castle wraps his arms around her waist immediately, her head dropping onto his shoulder while he draws her tightly against him and she is swallowed into his embrace, tender yet solid around her.
"Hey." Her voice is low, the rasp only for his ears. "What are you doing here?"
"Came to get you out of here," he murmurs, fingers splayed wide on her stomach. "You ready to go?"
"Yeah." Kate nods, nudging her cheek into his, and the slight stubble of his 5 o'clock shadow rasps against her skin, spreading warmth throughout her limbs. Turning her face toward him, she presses a lingering kiss to the edge of his jaw, feels his muscles tense underneath her.
She cradles her hand atop his, lacing their fingers together while she looks up at him. "Take me home."
"This isn't your loft," she murmurs into his neck when the car comes to an unexpected stop.
"Just a short detour," he answers, cradling her chin within his fingertips, lifting her face to his. "If you're up for it?"
And she's so tired, can hardly fathom taking another step but his eyes are warm on her, filled with silent hope and the smile spreads her lips with unexpected ease. "Okay."
It's really only a few steps, her hand folded into his larger one and then she looks up and they are in front of the large Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center.
It rises before them, enormous and spectacular, its thousands of lights sparkling, dancing over the red glossy decorations, shining with golden warmth. She's seen it, time and time again yet it never loses its magic, never stops taking her breath away.
Castle wraps his arms around her from behind, mirroring their position from earlier in the precinct and she sinks into his embrace once more, her head resting on his shoulder while they stare up at the tree together, the white fog of their combined breaths swirling through the air.
He nudges his nose against her cheek, the tip already turning cold from the chill of the December wind whipping around them, presses his warm palms firmly to her stomach, his voice reverent as he speaks.
"Our first Christmas together, Kate."