A/N I know I haven't updated my other story, but I wanted to do a Christmas themed one during the holidays, I will continue the other one after the holidays, I promise.

I couldn't find a story with this storyline. Unbelievable, I know! About half the Christmas movies I've watched recently have variations of this synopsis, which is why I thought it would be fun to do a Castle variation of it!

Hope you enjoy!

The office was eerily quiet, when Richard Castle lifted his head up from the computer screen he had been staring at for the past two hours. It was always in the early hours of the morning or the late hours of the evening that he got the most work done. When there was no one there to barge in, asking him to fix everyone and anyone's mistakes, when there were no endless meetings and telephone calls. This specific evening, it wasn't particularly late, or early, but he was alone, alone in the office on Christmas Eve.

He sighed, content, bringing his hands together at the back of his head, leaning in his ten thousand dollar chair. He was doing well. He was doing great and he'd be once again, a couple of millions dollars richer by next month. He smiled, nodding and closed his eyes. He really was living the life.

He opened his eyes when his ringtone echoed through the empty offices, and checked the time quickly.

Right on time.

"Hi, mother," he said, answering the phone.

"Merry Christmas, honey!" the woman on the other end exclaimed.

"Merry Christmas to you too."

"You're not still at the office now are you?"

"I was just leaving," he answered as he powered down his computer, unplugged the laptop from it, and secured it into his briefcase. It wouldn't be a lie. He could continue his work at home. He was leaving the office, it wouldn't be a lie.

"Richard, you work way too much,"

"Mom, I do what I have to do," he added exasperated, putting his coat on and closing the lights as he exited his office.

"What you have to do, or what you want to do? There's a difference you know."

He sighed, "Mother…."

"You could still come over, tonight. There's lots of food left. And eggnog. I made the punch you like. Everyone would be very happy to see you."

"I can't, mother. I'll see you guys some other time. I have to go now."

"Wait!"

"What?" he sighed, entering the elevator and pressing the button to the first floor.

"Your sister wants to talk with you," the woman said.

"Pass her over, then," he said without enthusiasm.

"Merry Christmas, big brother!" the young woman exclaimed.

"You too, Alexis."

A couple of seconds passed and neither of them spoke, though he could hear the party in the background on his sister's end.

"Was there anything else?" he asked as if something very urgent was waiting on him.

"Mom's really bummed out, she really wanted you to come this year. She told everyone you'd be there," she whispered.

"What do you want me to say, sis, I have to work. She likes that I can get her nice things, that I pay the rent on her fancy apartment. I have to work for these things!"

"She'd be just as happy without all these expensive things Ricky and just having you there."

"Whatever you say."

There was another silence on both ends of the line.

"Anyway, I have to go. Tell mom I love her, and say hi to Pi for me," he blurred out.

"I broke up with Pi a year and a half ago," Alexis added before hanging up.

He sighed, putting his cellphone back in his pocket and he pushed the glass door of the sky rise building, stepping outside. He grunted at the snow falling. He used to love the snow as a kid, it somehow meant Christmas and family. The snow gave the city a sense of magic, of wonderland. Now he despised it, hated the fact that his shoes became wet, and his hair, hated that it meant cold temperature and hated most of all that there always seemed to be an idiot that didn't know how to drive in it, causing more traffic than usual.

His car was parked just across the corner, but when he saw that the Starbucks across the street was still open, he decided it would be a good idea to stop by. He could use the coffee, maybe it could give him a couple more hours of energy before he'd need to sleep. Maybe it would help him finish his financial report before going to bed. There wasn't a lot of people inside and he ordered his espresso to the sad looking barista with an elf hat without having to wait in line, and received it only moments later.

Bringing the beverage to his lips he turned around and collided with someone, spilling the hot coffee all over his coat. Angrily, he exclaimed, "Shit! What the-"

"I'm so sorry, sir. I'm a little clumsy, I haven't slept in 24 hours," the woman apologised. "Please, let me repay you for the dry cleaning," she added with a smile.

Ricks switched gears, his features softened, and he smiled. The woman in front of him was breathtaking, and usually, they get pretty desperate around the holidays, "Don't worry about it."

"Let me at least buy you another coffee," she said bringing her hand together.

He nodded, "Okay." He gave her a seductive smile before adding, "I'm Rick."

"Kate," she said uneasily, before placing her order to the kid in the elf hat, giving Rick a quick look, eyebrows furrowed.

"Two lonely souls on Christmas Eve," he added getting closer to her.

She nodded silently.

"Maybe we could keep each other company, each other warm," he said placing his hand on her shoulder and squeezing it.

She took his hand and removed it from her shoulder, "I have plans. Plus, you're not my type."

"What rich and handsome?"

"No womanizer and full of himself," she answered before grabbing her drink and handing him his, "Merry Christmas," she added before walking away.

Well that was a bust. Work it is then.

He stepped back outside and started walking to the parking lot where his car was. A man dressed up as Santa was on the corner, enthusiastically ringing a bell, collecting donations. He hated beggars. Hated them.

"Make a donation. Make a wish, sir," Santa said as Rick passed beside him.

Maybe Christmas was getting to his head, and maybe he'd watched the Scrooge Movie with his sister too many times growing up, but he decided that, in the spirit of the holidays, he could spare a couple of bucks. It was for charity.

He pulled his wallet from his pocket, the smallest bill he had was a ten, it would have to do. He put it in the bucket without as much as making eye contact with the man.

"Did you make a wish?" he asked joyfully.

"I already have everything I could possibly need," Rick answered matter-of-factly.

"Are you sure about that? Because you're alone on Christmas eve."

Rick shook his head and rolled his eyes as he walked away.

"That wish will find you sir! Santa knows what you really want!" the man yelled to Rick who was already gone.

When he got home, Rick poured himself a glass of scotch and got right back to work at the dining table. He worked for hours, it didn't matter what day it was, it didn't matter that it was Christmas. It didn't matter that he was alone. He poured himself another glass, and another without even realising it and when finally he finished, he looked at the grandfather clock beside him.

Merry Christmas to me.

And alone, he went to bed.

Any thoughts?