A/N: Well, I was supposed to be working on Ch. 3 of After the Cuffs, but I got distracted. So this is based on a prompt from M2 over at the 12th to help pass the time until a new episode. The things to work with are: An "elf", a ponytail holder, a can of spray snow, and a blow up yard decoration. This is going to be a nice mostly "clean" version of this story. When I have more time I'm going to come back and "dirty" it up a bit. This is Beckett in an elf costume; it would be an insult to not write an 'M' chapter based on that alone. But until then, enjoy.

Disclaimer: Do I own any of this? No, I just borrow them from time to time.


Castle was in the process of throwing tinsel on the tree when his phone rang. He looked at the screen and with a smile hit answer. "Why hello detective, miss me?"

"Don't get all cutesy with me Castle, I'll be there in fifteen," and with that she hung up the phone.

Castle stared at the phone for a moment before giving his shoulders a shrug and resuming his decorating festivities. Once he determined that there was enough tinsel on the tree he admired his handiwork. All that was left were the boxes of ornaments, and he was waiting until Alexis got home from school to tackle that project. He went into the kitchen and started to rummage through all of the bags of decorations that he had bought earlier in the day. "Ooooo…..." he said as he reached down into one bag and pulled out a can of spray snow. He literally ran across the loft with the can and started spraying the windows. As he got to the second window the doorbell rang. That must be Beckett. He walked over to the door and started talking as he opened it. "You'll never guess what …." he paused in mid-sentence still holding up the can of spray snow. Standing outside of his door was Beckett, and not just any Beckett, Elf Beckett. It was like a Christmas dream come true. The outfit included everything, the pointy hat, and the tight fitting green skirt with the candy cane leggings, right down to the pointy shoes with bells at the tips. He looked up towards the ceiling about to thank the big man until Beckett brought him back to reality.

"Castle!"

He jumped and let out a little shriek. Unfortunately his finger was still on the spray snow can because he pressed down as he jumped and the canned snow went everywhere. He looked over at Beckett who was giving him a disapproving look, "That was a complete accident, won't happen again."

"I swear you are such a child Castle," she said as she walked past him into the loft.

He shut the door and then turned to follow. "And to what do I owe the pleasure of Santa's little helper's company today." He said trying very hard not to laugh, and even harder not to stare at the way the costume fit in all the right places.

"You remember the Davidson case."

'Yeah, the one where the elf was found in Santa's magic bag right before the Thanksgiving parade," he gave a little shiver when he thought back to that crime scene.

"They think it's tied to a drug smuggling ring that involves about a dozen or so Santa's."

Castle tried to stifle the laugh, but to no avail. "Wait, did you just really use the words Santa and drug smuggling in the same sentence?"

Beckett gave him one of her famous eye rolls before she went on to explain, "We think we've located one of the ring leaders. He's the Santa at the toy store on 91st and Florence. Gates wants someone to go in and get more information….undercover."

Castle broke out in a great big smile. "Not that I'm complaining about getting to see you in an elf costume detective, and a very hot one at that, but why am I going?"

"Ryan's out of town and Esposito would more than likely intimidate and scare the children. She thinks that you'll fit in nicely with the little kids since you usually act like one. Just stay out of the way," she said as she got an agitated look on her face and reached up to take off her elf hat. "Hold my hat Castle," she said as she handed it over to him.

"Is that all you want me to hold for you detective?"

"For now," she said with a slight grin.

He was caught off guard by that comment. She seemed to be doing that to him a lot lately. Not that he minded it was just something he was going to have to get used to.

Her hair was pulled back with a ponytail holder, but with the hat it was just too uncomfortable to wear it up for the day. She pulled the ponytail holder out of her hair and gave her head a little shake. She passed the ponytail holder over to Castle as she took her hat back and placed it back on her head.

"Ummmm…Beckett, what am I supposed to do with this?"

"Hold onto it for me since I am without pockets at the moment. Okay, let's go," she said as she turned and headed for the door.

"Wait, if you don't have pockets, then where's your badge and gun?"

Beckett turned back around, "I think that's a question for another time Castle," she smiled and proceeded to turn back around and walk out the door.

Castle's jaw dropped as he just stared at the open door.

Just then Beckett popped her head back in the doorway, "You coming Castle?"


A/N: This was supposed to be a one shot, but I don't see that happening, and obviously I haven't used all of the required items. I think there will be at least one more chapter to this story, maybe two. Please read and review.