Hello Everyone! I know I'm a little early for the season but I just couldn't help it. I got this idea and like any good college student ran with it to avoid doing some homework. Lol. Hope you enjoy.

It was brought to my attention that I made a small mistake about Lanie and coffee so thats all that has been changed in this chapter.

The first snow of the season had long since fallen on the streets of New York. Dirty piles lined the streets and slush rested in the streets and cracks of the sidewalk. Even with all the Christmas decorations the city seemed darker than ever as Kate gazed out her window at her beloved city. The coffee in her hands and her breath began to fog up her window. Kate made her way back to her couch. She was on call this weekend but there was no need for her to be at the precinct yet. She looked around her sparsely decorated apartment, she loved the Christmas season but since her mother it had lost its appeal and the events of the past year or so still weighted heavily in her heart, she had little desire to show her spirit. Her mind drifted for a few more minutes before a chill shook through her small frame. Putting her mug down she grabbed the blanket off the back of her couch and pulled it around her. Soft music played in the background and Kate let her thoughts wander again before falling asleep.

The knocking at her door woke Kate up from her nap, then she recognized the buzzing coming from her phone. The display read Castle.

"Castle?" She answered both her phone and the door.

"Kate! Why didn't you answer your phone?"

"I was asleep," he didn't say anything, "and it was on vibrate."

"Oh. Well there's a body."

"What? Why didn't you start with that?" He just shrugged his shoulders while Kate went about getting ready to leave for the crime scene.

"Beckett, where are your decorations?"

"Huh? Oh, I don't have any." She said grabbing her purse. Castle had already grabbed her coat and helped her into it.

Crime Scene:

"Finally! Do you know how long I've been out here?" Lanie scolded her friend.

"Sorry. I'll buy you tea and a bearclaw."

"Apology accepted."

"What have we got?"

"Female, 25. Name's Jessica LeCormick according to id," Ryan quickly spouted off. Kate nodded then turned her attention to Lanie.

"Victim appears to have no outward physical trauma and I didn't see any puncture marks either. I won't have cause of death till I get her back to the morgue. I'd say that she died sometime between 10 and 12 last night though."

"Thanks Ryan, Esposito see if anyone saw anything," they nodded and headed into the closest building. Kate pulled her jacket closer as the wind picked up. A few rogue snowflakes fell from the sky as they made their way back to Kate's car.

The Precinct/Morgue:

They shook the snow that had fallen on them on their walk into the precinct off. Rick made a beeline to the break room returning to her side shortly after with two mugs of coffee. Kate wrapped her cold hands around her mug savoring some of its warmth. They were silent as they regained feeling in their body from the cold.

Kate spoke first, " Jessica's mother should be in shortly." Castle nodded his acknowledgement and then began filling out the murder board. Ryan and Esposito returned shortly after the interview with Jessica's mother had finished with not much else to add. So far they had nothing to go off of at least till Lanie called with cause of death.

It was hours later that Lanie did finally call. Kate and Rick headed down to talk to her. Kate placed the tea and bearclaw she promised Lanie down near the ME's bent head.

"Kate, Castle," she greeted than drank deeply from the tea, "Cause of death was suffocation."

"She didn't fight back?" Castle asked looking at the vic's hands.

"With the amount of alcohol in her system even if she was awake there was no way she would have been able to fight off an attacker."

"Looks like we need to have a chat with the party's host." Kate said looking at Rick.

The Precinct:

"What party?" Amy asked.

"We talked to Jessica's mother. We know she went to your house for a party and was suffocated and dumped in an alley." Kate said calmly.

"Is that any way to treat a friend?" Rick added.

Tears were pouring down Amy's cheeks, "What? No. I didn't throw a party last night. I was with my family visiting my grandma. She's in a home."

"If what you are saying is true, then why would her mother think that she was at a party at your place?"

"I-I-I don't know."

"You must have an idea," Kate egged.

"When we were younger we use to say we were staying at each others house when we were sneaking out to a party or to meet a boy our parents wouldn't approve of." She became quiet.

"Had Jessica mentioned anyone she was seeing?"

"No, she wasn't seeing anyone that I knew of. You don't think thats what happened do you. I mean we're 25 now I don't think it would really matter anymore," she rambled on. Kate left only answer the knock on the door. It was Esposito confirming Amy's alibi.

"Ms. Smith your alibi checks out you're free to go. If you can remember anything that might help please call me," Kate said handing her her card. They quickly pointed her in the direction of the elevator, which Amy wasted no time getting to.

"Ryan, Esposito," Kate barked, "Go back to that alley and look for any evidence that shows someone else was there." She sat down and put her head in her hands for a moment. The precinct was quiet, "Why aren't you going?"

"Uh Beckett," Rick said directing her vision towards the window. The sky had long sinced turned dark aand the wind rattled the windows of the now mainly emptied precinct floor. "In the morning," she conceded. Ryan and Esposito quickly gathered their coats and hurried to meet their ladies.

"Come on Beckett," Rick said grabbing her jacket off the back of her chair. Slowly she stood and let Rick help her into her jacket.

"Where are we going?"

"Casa de Castle," they both chuckled lightly at that name, "Alexis said dinner is almost finished.

"Oh no Castle, I wouldn't want to intrude."

"Don't be silly, its spaghetti night and there is always more than enough to go around. You might even be sent home with leftovers if you're not careful."

Kate was quiet for a moment internally debating but eventually her hunger and logical side telling her she wasn't going to be doing anything tonight anyway won out, "All right. Lets hurry though looks like it might snow."