Disclaimer: I wish I owned Castle. All recognizable content belongs to ABC and Andrew Marlowe.

I tried to get this up last night but my brain wouldn't cooperate with me. This is the first of two or three parts. It's my first Castle fic so I hope I get in the character's heads properly. Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

They had just wrapped up a case and the boys had left to go home- Ryan to his fiancée Jenny and Esposito to his family dinner. Rick was in the break room making coffee for him and Kate and Kate was sitting at her desk preparing to start her paperwork. Rick sighed and shook his head as he watched her.

He placed her cup of coffee on her desk and sat down in his chair quietly, trying to figure out how to breach the topic.

"Thanks for the coffee, Castle."

She hadn't even looked up from her paperwork. This was going to be harder than he had thought.

"No problem Beckett, it's what I'm here for," he said lightly.

That caused her to look up.

"Speaking of, why are you still here Castle? Shouldn't you be home with Alexis and Martha?"

"They know we're working on a case."

"A case that we wrapped up an hour ago. Go home, Castle. There's no reason for you to be here anymore."

"Then why are you here? It's Christmas Eve Kate, and don't you dare say that you need to do your paperwork- the boys left theirs for when they come back on the 28th and you can do the same."

"I want to get this done Castle. Preferably without you staring at me."

They sat in silence as Kate returned to her work and Castle played with his phone. After about 5 minutes, Rick spoke up.

"Come home with me."

"No."

"Come on Beckett, you know you want to. I'll be there, Alexis will be there, Mother will be there... we have lots of food."

Kate looked up from her work and met his hopeful gaze. "I don't want to intrude Castle."

"How many times have I told you that you aren't intruding? Kate, Alexis loves you, you know how I feel about you. Why can't you just give this- all of it- a chance? Besides, I don't want you to be alone Christmas Eve."

"Why can't you just leave me alone when I ask?"

"Because you're Katherine Beckett, you're extraordinary and I love you. I've told you more than once and I'll say it as much as I need to until you believe me and give us a chance."

"Not here, Rick," she hissed, looking around to see if Karpowski and her team had heard him.

"Yes, here!" he insisted, keeping his voice down. "You won't go anywhere else with me so this is the only place where I can talk to you without you running away from me."

Her typing became vicious and he was suddenly glad that he wasn't her keyboard. "If I agree with you will you shut up and let me finish this form in peace?"

Castle grinned, his posture relaxing as he realized she wasn't going to hurt him. "Whatever you want, KB. Do you need to go to your apartment and change before we go to my loft?"

Kate looked down at her outfit and sighed. It wasn't horrible, but it was a tad too formal for Christmas dinner with friends. "Yes. Can I just meet you at your place?"

"If you must, KB. Is 8 okay? We normally eat late and it's 6 now, which gives you time to finish your paperwork and change."

"8 is good Castle. I'll see you then. Do you guys need me to bring anything? Dessert?"

"Just yourself Kate. See you then!" He grinned and kissed her softly on the cheek before walking over to the elevator, leaving her to do her work as promised.

Kate watched him go with one hand on her cheek and a stunned look on her face. Had he just...? She shook her head and returned to her paperwork, only half concentrating on it as she tried to figure out what she was going to wear. It was going to be a long night if she wasn't careful!