A Secret Stana gift for Jenny (totheextraordinarykb).
I own nothing but the DVDs.
Plans are ever malleable.
Martha left the loft steady on her heels though tipsy from the eggnog she may have been. She swept around and bade farewell with kisses on cheeks and the echo of carols following her as she left the floor, with a still stunned family in her wake, and Beckett processing what just happened.
The following thirty minutes were not the most comfortable of Christmas Eves for any parties involved. Neither Beckett nor Alexis could escape the slight feeling of intrusion within the room, Beckett's mind whirring with This is definitely a family thing and Alexis' with You are third-wheeling; a buzz indicating a text message that emanated from Alexis' cell phone which gave an address and an impending time was more than enough reason for her to leave. The holidays are a time for those who one loves, whether or not blood is shared.
As the snick of the door jamb whispered from Alexis' exit, it was echoed by Castle's proclamation of, "We're alone."
The ending to the evening was hardly unexpected.
Martha's return with the sweep of the hand to midnight was greeted by the sight of a flickering DVD menu illuminating the couch and the sleeping couple upon it. Her son's arm circled the waist of his partner, whose hair had fallen so that it fluttered with every exhalation of breath. When Martha's footfalls resonated throughout the room, Rick's slight movement was enough to jostle them both from sleep.
"Merry Christmas," Martha whispered.
"Merry Christmas."
As she ascended the stairs, she could hear their conversation drift after her, though only some words arrived with clarity.
"…stay…?"
"…okay."