Hello everyone!

I really wanted to write a Caskett Christmas fic this year, but I wasn't sure on when exactly I wanted it to be set. So, I decided to write four intertwined one-shots, from Christmas 2012 to Christmas 2015. Each update will revolve around a Christmas present, with the next showing the impact of the present .
Sorry, I'm probably not explaining this very well! I'll let you have a read for yourself ..I hope that you enjoy the first chapter.

Disclaimer: Everything and everyone belongs to their rightful owners, I am simply borrowing them for a little while.


Christmas 2012

When Castle had asked her to join them for Christmas day, Kate had been more than a little unsure of her answer. In the years after her Mother's death, Christmas had only served as a bitter and painful reminder of what could have been; of the life that was so viciously stolen from her family. Her memories of making snow angels and leaving out milk and cookies for Santa had been tarnished by what followed; the years of watching as her Dad drank himself into oblivion and missing her Mum so desperately that it had been almost too much to bear, and she hadn't wanted her sorrow to ruin the day for anyone else. But, of course, in true Richard Castle style, he had somehow managed to talk her round, to soothe away her fears and her trepidation, leaving a Castle Family Christmas as the only possible option.

And my goodness was she grateful for it; for the wonderful man who never gave up on helping her to find a little happiness, and for his family who had so openly welcomed her into their home, their traditions, and their hearts.
It had been a day that went a little way towards easing the ache of her grief; a chance for Kate to realise that the ghosts of her past didn't rule her life anymore, that with a little help from those she so greatly loved the holidays could once again become a time of twinkling lights, home-baked goodies, and childlike celebration. And that was a Christmas gift she would never forget.

So, as they fall back against the warm cushions of his sofa to watch one last film together, tipsy with mulled wine and limbs lazily tangled up underneath patchwork blankets, Kate knows that this, their first Christmas, is the opportunity that she has been waiting for to let him know how truly thankful she is to be a part of his life; her chance to finally be completely rid of the walls that have crushed her heart for such a very long time, to be brave and courageous in ways that wouldn't ever have been possible without Castle's love and patience.

Turning around in the circle of his arms, Kate is taken aback by the beauty that she finds within his ocean blue eyes, sleepy as they find her own and filled with all that she is trying to find the words to say. Taking one last burst of strength from the truths of his heart, she caresses the warm skin of his cheeks with her fingertips, drawing his attention to the words that have been dancing through her mind for the entire day, "I love you, Rick."

The smile that overtakes his features as she speaks is so beautiful that it takes her breath away, brighter than she's ever seen before and dancing with laughter as he replies to the whispered confession that he has been waiting for what feels like a lifetime to hear, "I love you, too."
And then they are both lost to the magic of their first Christmas, lips pressed together in kisses of passion and lust and sheer, unguarded delight.

Lying in his arms that night, her fearless words of love echoed in every touch, every kiss, every heated whisper of their breath, Kate realises how foolish she had been to fear love, to be scared of the very thing that makes life worthwhile. But that didn't matter, not really, not anymore. Castle had given her the gift of a second chance, a life to be lived through happiness, and she wasn't going to waste it. Never again would she deny them the pleasure of love; the thrill of feeling it, of believing in it, of living for it.


To be continued..

I know that this chapter was a little short, but I promise the next three will be longer - and have a little more storyline!

Please let me know what you thought?
Good or bad, I really would love your feedback.

Thank you for reading,
Katie

Twitter: katieupatree