It was morning it was time to go Christmas shopping. Rick was all excited he could not contain his excitement.
"Kate wake up it is time for that most wonderful time of the year Christmas!" He said bounding with energy. "I have so much to do and not much time to do it!"
Kate rolled over and balefully looked at her over eager husband.
"Rick what time is it?" Kate asked.
"3AM Kate. It is black Friday! I have to get to the stores!" Rick said trying to get up but Kate wrapped her arms around him preventing him from leaving.
"Rick don't you remember you said you were going to do all your shopping on line especially after that riot in the store?" Kate sleepily said.
Rick was crestfallen. It had only been a few days since that occurred but yet. It is Christmas!
"I know Kate but it is Christmas! Traditions have to be upheld!" Rick said still excited.
"Rick I know you want to go shopping even at this god awful time but think. Not only would you be hurt this time." Kate said. "The Minions would be missing their father."
"Yes you are right Kate maybe going to the stores can wait a few more weeks until the hysteria of that event calms down." Rick said finally seeing reason. "Darn it Kate it is Christmas!"
"Yes it is and I for one want to get some more sleep before your demon spawns awake and I have to puke my guts out!" Kate said. "Whoops too late…"
Kate rushed to the bathroom Rick feeling guilty tagged along to pull her hair from her face then supply her with the damp washcloth and bottle of water along with the crackers.
Kate finished looked at her guilty husband and smiled.
"Come here Rick" she said hugging and kissing his frown off his face. "Let's get back to sleep?"
Rick nodded and once again secure in his arms she fell asleep. Rick on the other hand was running lists in his head. What would he get for the newest person in the family? Finally he got it. He would write a crime story for Card. It had to have all new characters. It had to have a shadowy kingpin, a lustratious heroine then a bumbling detective duo who somehow solves the mystery. Rick was plotting the scenario in his head and soon he had to write. So carefully he allowed Kate to clutch the pillow. He quietly entered his office turned on his laptop and began to write.
The words were pouring out of him faster and faster he wrote. He had not been this inspired for a very long time. The room was beginning to light up when Alexis noticed the light in the office. It had been a long time since he had done an all nighter. She crept to watch her father create. He was definitely in the zone. Alexis left her father and entered the kitchen. She started making hot chocolate for Kate. She knew Kate would be arousing about now.
Kate awoke and looked at what she was clutching. Rick was gone but in the distance she could hear the tapping of keys. He was writing again and from the sounds of it he was typing quite fast. Kate had seen this first hand when Rick was writing the narrative of their book. Their book jogged a memory. Stephen wanted a sequel was Rick writing that without her? No it is my story that could not be it. So what? Kate clutching her iPad entered the kitchen.
Just as she expected Alexis was up and eating. She smelled the Hot Chocolate on the stove.
"Good Morning Alexis" she wrote "Sleep well?"
"Yes I did Mom. There is hot chocolate in the pot." Alexis said.
Kate took a sip. She used to love coffee this much but that all changed in the Wilds of Penn. Now she loved waking to this beverage of choice. She got out her breakfast kissed Alexis on the head and moved to her couch.
"Mom I know it is Christmas season and all so what do you want?" Alexis asked.
Kate thought about that question as she ate her nuts and berries. What do I want? Kate could not think of anything. Rick had vanquished the demons which had plagued her for so very long. Married and gifted her the most wonderful of all her children. For the first time in her life she was content.
Kate wrote on the iPad.
"I really have no wants Alexis so whatever you chose will be fine with me."
"Well you are not a lot of help!" Alexis said with a smile.
Kate just shrugged.
Alexis moved to put away her bedding then sat in the chair.
"Caroline was so scared last night so I gave her Monkey Bunky." She said,
Kate wrote "that is nice."
"Today Gramps and Grams are going to take us out. Is there anything you want while we are gone?" Alexis asked.
"Nothing but Your Dad wanted to go Christmas shopping last night but I had to tell him no." Kate wrote.
"Oh I forgot in all this excitement. Dad loves Black Friday. He loves to walk in the crowds. Looking at how the stores are all decked out for the holidays. I am sad he could not go this year. Maybe next…?" Alexis said.
"Yeah maybe he will take Caroline next year along with the twins." Kate wrote.
"Yeah maybe..." Alexis said. "I haven't seen Dad in the zone in awhile."
"I heard him leave our bed about 4 this morning" Kate wrote.
"I guess he will come out eventually. Anyway Kate have you seen the stats for your book?" Alexis asked.
"No Alexis I have not looked at that website." Kate wrote.
Alexis sent the link and Kate clicked on it.
Kate was surprised on how it was on its 3rd reorder.
"Kate those figures are only since Thanksgivings." Alexis said.
"Wait that is only the one day total?" Kate wrote.
"Yes Kate not only one day. It is not even one since it went on sale at Midnight. Of course that does not show the massive preorder your book had." Alexis said.
Kate was aware of the demand for her and Rick's book but these totals were ridiculous to her.
Kate getting bored flipped on the news. It was GMA telling shoppers what is hot on the holiday list. Kate barely listened until item number 14 came up. It was her book. GMA was recommending it. Kate listened to the effusive language they are using to describe her harrowing adventure. They were calling it a must read.
Kate noticed Caroline was standing there.
"Hey Card come over here." Kate said.
Caroline came over then hugged Kate and then Alexis. She stood. Kate and Alexis was bemused by her actions then she spoke.
"I would like some breakfast but I do not know what to do. Before I would sit and breakfast came to me." Caroline said.
Rick just happened to come out of the office at that right time.
Hi there all. Breakfast…? Rick lit up hearing that word. "Did I hear you say you wanted breakfast?"
Kate gave a text to Alexis to apprise her on the situation.
"Oh No Dad do not try the Smorelette on Caroline!" Alexis warned.
Rick mimed an arrow through his heart then frowned.
Caroline laughed at Rick's antics.
"Perished the thought Daughter it is Christmastime which leaves the question pancakes or waffles?" Rick said. "Caroline? Which do you prefer?"
"I do not know either of those foods?" Caroline said "I had porridge to eat for breakfast."
"What? Well you follow me into the kitchen and Chocolate chip pancakes will be coming right up!" Rick said.
Getting into the kitchen Caroline was amazed to see how quickly Rick got out the ingredients. She was never allowed in a kitchen before. She sat amazed by every thing.
"Now I want you to taste the batter" Rick said as he offered the spoon to her awaiting her reactions.
"Umm that is good." Caroline said.
"Yes it is and just wait until it is cooked with chocolate chips melted on the top." Rick said.
Rick and Caroline talked as he showed her exactly what to do. Then he allowed her to do it. She was tentative at first but after not burning anything her worries lessened.
Finished cooking Rick plated up two servings then placed the plates in front of them.
Caroline watched how Rick poured the maple syrup over the pancakes. Imitating she did the same. Then she cut a piece off and started to chew. It was a wonderful sensation.
Rick loved watching her try new things. They spent the morning placing different items in from to her. She had not tasted anything like the foods Rick were showing her. Finally she was full. She hugged Rick.
"Thank you for such a wonderful experience. Mr. Castle." Caroline said.
"Please you can call me Rick or Dad even." Rick said.
"Dad? I never had a Dad. The male who my mother got the sperm for me was named Paul but I never saw him." Caroline said.
"Well then try it out see if you like it or not." Rick encouraged.
"Ok…Dad?" Caroline said.
"That's my girl!" Rick said hugging her.
Caroline had never been hugged so many times in her life and she enjoyed it.
About noon other people in the household appeared.
Rick took Caroline into his office.
There were so many books. Caroline had never seen so many books.
Rick was surprised when she spoke.
"There are more books here even more than in my grandfather's library. I had wandered in there once and was scolded then told I could never enter there again. They went as far to place guards in front of the door." Caroline said.
Rick was aghast. He knew these people were evil but to deny access to books was almost sacrilege to him.
"Caroline you can come here any time you want to get a book to read. I encourage it." Rick said. "I think we should go to the public library and get you a library card. There are many more books there."
"I would like seeing the New York Public Library." Caroline said.
"So Caroline do you see anything interesting to you?" Rick asked scanning the shelves of all the titles.
"Not yet but I am interested in Police Work. I mean how do they know what to do to catch and punish wrong doers?" Caroline asked.
"Caroline I might answer but why not ask that to Kate my wife. She is a police Lieutenant." Rick said. "Jackson is also in the bad guy catching business too."
"Ok I will ask them but later." Caroline said.
"Ok that is fair enough. So Card what was your day like?" Rick asked.
"Well I would awake at 6 AM every morning. At 6:30 I would eat my porridge. I might see my mother but I was not allowed to talk to her." Caroline said.
Rick just frowned and motioned her to continue with a wave of his hand.
"Once I was finished I would start my lessons. I had tutors in French, English, Sciences and History. Then it was lunch I would get one apple and two sandwiches, and a glass of apple juice. Then more tutors for Violin and for Reading music. Then it was my favorite time one hour before dinner I could read normally your books. Then dinner was either Fish or Chicken. After dinner were etiquette lessons. Then at 8 I would go to I my bed" Caroline said.
"And that was your schedule every day?" Rick asked.
"Yes everyday, Dad…" Caroline said.
Rick was sad in how regimented her life was. Well he was going to fix that.
"Ok let's make some music? Alexis has her violin around here… Would you go ask her to get it for you then meet me at the Piano ok?" Rick said.
Card's face lit up and soon Alexis was standing at the piano watching her Dad and Card interact.
Kate was interested in what was going on. She could see everyone gathered around the Piano. Then the music started it was hauntingly sad. Caroline played beautifully but what did more astonish her was that Rick played without any sheet music. He accompanied her perfectly and they were very difficult pieces too.
"Bravo!" Martha said coming into the room clapping when they were done.
"So it is Christmastime how about a Christmas Tune?" Martha asked.
"I do not know any Christmas Tunes." Caroline said.
"What nonsense! Then we must teach you some." Martha said taking her position on the Piano and Rick stood by Alexis asked for the violin and was going to show Caroline the proper fingering.
Rick texted Alexis to begin.
The sounds of Silent Night were heard in the loft. Rick sang along. It was very beautiful. Caroline watched carefully what Alexis did. Then it was her turn and Alexis watched her fingerings and pointed out her mistakes.
It was not as good as Alexis but it was pretty good. You only heard a few clunkers Kate thought.
Smiling she was so happy she was crying. No body had done this with her before. Rick reacted by hugging the girl.