Thanksgiving Story

Brief Description: The three F's: Food, Family, and Fun (in any order you wish). Non-specific timeline.

A/N: Not beta'd, mistakes are mine. I write on paper first, then type it up-so it's entirely possible that there are some typos in here.

Disclaimer: I disclaim. But I can wish and dream can't I?


Ring.

Opening one eye Detective Kate Beckett slapped the snooze button on her alarm.

Ring.

Oh.

Groaning she reached blindly for her phone, succeeding in knocking it to the floor with a loud clatter. Maybe whoever it was would give up or change their mind.

Ring.

Or not.

She rolled out of bed and felt the coolness of the air nip at her exposed skin.

Ring.

Picking up her phone she saw Castle's smiling face and punched the answer button to stop the ringing.

"Castle to you have any idea what time it is?"

"And good morning to you too. Yes, I know exactly what time it is-down to the millisecond, in fact. Thanks to my alarm clock-"

"And do you know what day it is?" she cut him off. Castle would have had to've been deaf, dumb, blind, and then some to not know what day it was. With the wrap of their last case, which was a doozie, the Captain had ordered her team to take Thanksgiving and the two days after off. No calling in, dropping by, or listening to police scanners. It was an order. "Go home, relax, and be thankful," he'd said. So the question was meant to be rhetorical.

"Turkey Day! I thought you'd know that considering the ultimatum we were given last night. Geeze. Some detective you are," he joked.

She sighed. "What do you want Castle?"

She heard him chuckle lightly. "Oh, I was just wondering what your plans were for this evening Miss Beckett?"

She closed her eyes and lay down once more. No more did her TV blast the sounds from the Macy's Parade on Thanksgiving morning. She could probably hear it if she wanted to-just by opening a window. No smells of holiday cooking filled her kitchen. She'd probably end up ordering Thai or Chinese. She was sure she had a few beers in the fridge and half a bottle of red wine if she was lucky. She could always just soak in a bubble bath.

"Kate? My question was not rhetorical."

"Oh, um. I have a date." She half-hoped he'd leave it alone and maybe she would actually rest like they were supposed to. Never mind the police scanner she had tucked in her closet.

"Celebrating Thanksgiving with takeout, alcohol, and a bubble bath are not acceptable nor do they qualify as 'a date'."

"But-"

"Give it up Beckett. I've read that one. Hell, I've written that one. How about spending the evening with a couple of beautiful ladies and a pair of well mannered gents? Alexis invited Ashley too."

"Ok, but where will you be?"

She heard a sharp intake of breath. "You wound me. Come on, it'll be fun. You, me, Mother, Alexis, and Ashley. One big happy family."

"Castle, I'm not part of your family."

"Come on Kate. For one night let loose a little. What could it hurt?"

(My hopes. Dreams. The What Ifs.)

"Fine. What do I need to bring?"

"Nothing but your beautiful self, an appetite, and your rattiest pair of socks."

"My what?"

"You heard me. Nasty holey socks. Everyone has at least one pair, I think I have three...oh and you aren't one of those weird tofurkey or turducken people are you?"

"Um, no."

"Excellent. Tonight you will feast on turkey a` la Castle. Dress code is pj s. See you at 7:00."
And he hung up.


Kate arrived at the Castle abode at precisely 6:53 dressed in jeans and a casual sweater. He couldn't have been serious about the pj s thing, and even if he had been, while she didn't sleep in the nude, her wardrobe wasn't exactly extensive when it came to the pajama department after having been blown to smithereens. She figured casual/comfortable was as close to acceptable as she'd get.

After two knocks she found herself face to face with a pink pajama clad Alexis who greeted her with a hug and steered her to the nearest bathroom.

"Dad mentioned that he'd be inviting you to our little get together-and so Gram and I got these for you...just in case, ya know?" She lifted the lid off of the box on the vanity and shrugged. "If you don't like them you can return them, but our dress code is non-negotiable," she said as she closed the door behind her.

Kate peered into the box and pulled from it a deep blue camisole top with matching thin cotton robe, and blue plaid drawstring bottoms. These were a far cry nicer than her sweats and t-shirt ensemble. She changed quickly placing her folded sweater and jeans into the box. It felt weird to be wearing shoes, so she slipped them off and stepped out the door in her sock feet.

The first thing her mind registered was the smell. Hm. Maybe Castle had this little even catered, although the succulent smells pervading the air were unlike any catered even she'd attended heretofore. Maybe Castle could cook... Speaking of, she'd yet to see the man of the house. No sooner had she had the thought when he came out of the kitchen carrying a magnificent looking (and smelling) turkey.

She inhaled deeply and her mouth started watering. She told herself that it was the smell of the food and not the just-showered-fresh-scent-mingled-with-his-own-special-scent or the appearance of Castle in navy plaid pajama pants and a long sleeve navy t-shirt.

He grinned when he saw her and nodded toward the large table that must have appeared out of thin air.

"Welcome!" he said as he placed the bird in the center of the table and turned to face her. He gave her an appraising look and then frowned, a thoughtful look on his face.

"What?" she asked, confused.

"I was sure I mentioned nasty holey socks." He motioned toward his own feet where a toe or two peeked out and wiggled for emphasis. Then he pointed at her well covered feet. Kate blushed and pulled a pair of raggedy socks from her purse.

"I didn't think you meant for me to wear them. I hardly understand why I brought them." She sat on the nearest chair and replaced her plain-yet-whole beige socks with her plain-but-holey navy socks. One heel partially exposed and one big toe sticking out, she stood. "Satisfied?"

He smiled and began setting out silverware. "Thoroughly. You'll see the point of that later. It's all part of this family's traditions."

"Traditions?"

"Well, not in the usual sense of the word, but yes, in that there are things that we, as a family, participate in on a yearly basis. Tradition," he said as if that explained everything.

She quirked an eyebrow. "Traditions?" she repeated. "As in: more than one?"

He smiled. "All in good time, my dear. All in good time. But yes, more than one, and yes you have to participate, and no these were not made up purely for your benefit. Each has its own story, and each have been in the family for a good while now." Castle could tell that she was still a bit flustered as to why she was there, so he pulled out a chair at the table and held out his hand. "Stop detecting, Detective. Just try to enjoy the evening."

Alexis appeared with two more dishes, Ashley following with two more. Kate noticed that he, too, was dressed in pj s, his consisting of a white t-shirt and green bottoms adorned with Mr. Potato Head. He blushed when he saw Kate looking and said, "They were a gift," while eyeing Castle.

Kate laughed, "I like them."

They took their seats and Castle feigned a gasp. "Mother, you've really outdone yourself this year." Martha appeared at the top of the stairs in a black silk nightgown and black floral silk robe. Castle may have been joking, but Kate still thought that Martha could go out in that outfit if she wanted to.

"Kate, darling. So glad you could make it. Richard said he was going to invite you. About time for some follow through."

"I'm sorry?"

"Oh, nothing dear. I'm just glad that you're here." She took her seat and the meal began.



"Wow." Kate wiped her lips with her napkin and tried to remember the last time she'd had a meal so good.

Was it the food? Or was it the company?

Both, she thought as she looked around the table at this group she loved: Martha swirling her wine, Castle pretending to be a walrus by sticking string beans in the corners of his mouth, Alexis laughing at her childish father, and Ashley the other new addition to this little group, smiling and joining in. She laughed and smiled too, but also wondered where she fit into this little puzzle. Friend of the family of course, but this seemed like something a little more intimate. This was family.

Could she ever be a part of this family? she wondered.

She was distracted from her mind wanderings when Martha began clinking her glass with her knife. "Alright, alright. I think dinner is more or less over. Time for the Mistletoe Cake," she said with a little lilt in her voice and twinkle in her eye. Kate frowned.

"What is Mistletoe Cake?"

Martha smiled as she set a small plate in front of each person. On each plate was, in fact, a small piece of cake. It didn't look abnormal, nor did it resemble mistletoe. "Mistletoe Cake," Martha began as she resumed her seat at the head of the table, "is a Rogers family tradition. It has been in my family since I was a little girl, and has been observed every Thanksgiving since. Underneath two of these pieces of cake is a sprig of mistletoe. The persons who find them will get a kiss. Simple." Kate's eyebrows went up. "And this year we have two new additions," Alexis commented. "Usually it's just Gram, Dad, and me; although somehow Gram never 'wins'. Not that I mind, Dad," she quietly added, "It'll just be more like a real game this year. You know? More options." Kate gave a sideways glance toward Ashley and recognized that the confusion on his face most likely mirrored her own. She guessed that he had not been briefed on things either. She eyed her cake and tried to determine whether or not her piece was hiding something. She glanced at Castle who was inching his fork closer to his plate before Martha stopped him by placing a hand on his forearm.

"We'll start by going around the table clockwise one by one. Each person will lift up their cake until we've determined who...ahem, won. I'll start..." She delicately lifted the small piece of cake with her fork to reveal an empty space below.

"Surprise, surprise, "Alexis said through clenched teeth.

Castle sat to Martha's left and reached dramatically for his fork, then moved it ever so slowly towards his cake.

"Oh, Richard get on with it," Martha chided.

Pouting, Castle used his other hand to snatch up the cake. In the center of his small plate sat a small twig of mistletoe. He waggled his eyebrows. "Who's gonna be the lucky one this year?" Ashley cleared his throat nervously and hoped to high heaven that it wasn't him. Kate blushed and wondered if she could be so lucky for an excuse to kiss him. Alexis looked nonplussed and unceremoniously lifted her cake from her plate. "Wow," she breathed, "That's the first time in...well, EVER, that that's happened." She winked at Ashley, who sat across from her. "Go ahead Ash. See if you're the lucky winner." Ashley shifted uncomfortably in his chair. Kate wrung her hands under the table. This was it. Would Ashley be doomed to kiss his girlfriend's father, or would Kate finally get the excuse she'd been looking for?

Closing his eyes Ashley picked up his cake and Kate felt her heart drop to her feet.

TBC...


A/N2: If you review, I'll post the second half of the story...just kidding. I'll post anyway, I'd just really appreciate reviews of any kind.

Thanks for reading!