Authors Note: Thanks for your reviews! I hope enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer: I own nothing…big surprise there but I forgot to mention it in chapter one.

Chapter 2

Kate smiled as she sat down her coffee cup and settled into her desk chair. She was feeling lighter than she had the evening before when she had left the precinct and she knew that feeling could be attributed to Castle and she was grateful to him. She had found a great deal of comfort in his home; she had slept easily, stirring only once when the sound of Martha's heels on the stairs signaled her return home. She had enjoyed a leisurely breakfast with Alexis and had been surprised when the girl accepted her offer of driving her to school. Kate cast a glance at Castle's empty chair and recalled how he had handed her a cup of coffee to go as she headed towards the door. He told her that he'd probably drop by the precinct later on in the day to keep her company, but she knew that if he showed up it would have more to do with checking on her than keeping her company. That used to bother her, but it didn't anymore. What used to be an annoyance was now an accepted feeling of comfort, knowing that he cared enough to worry about her. The stack of paper work caught her eye and she shook her thoughts away and pulled the papers towards her and got to work.

Castle appeared in the precinct around one that afternoon. He set a fresh cup of coffee on the desk in front of Kate and then dropped into his chair with a tired sigh. She watched him with amusement as she took a sip of her coffee.

"What happened to you?" she asked.

He glanced at her, "I've been tortured by my mother."

She laughed, "Shouldn't you be used to that by now?"

"Normal everyday torture, yes, this type of torture, no," he answered.

"What did Martha do to you that was so horrible?" she asked with a smile.

"She conned me into taking her Christmas shopping."

"She conned you?" Kate asked her voice tinged with humor at the situation.

He nodded, "I'm pretty sure she did but let me ask you something to be sure."

"Alright."

"Did you, at anytime during dinner last night hear me tell my mother that I would be happy to take her Christmas shopping today?"

She thought for a minute, replaying their dinner time conversation in her mind. "No, I don't recall you saying that."

"That's what I thought, and now I can say with certainty that I have indeed been conned by Martha Rodgers," he announced.

"Probably isn't the first time," Kate said as she signed the form in front of her and reached for the next.

"Somewhere around noon I faked a call from you to get away," he told her.

"Castle!" she exclaimed; "You used me to lie to your mother?"

"It isn't like she believed me," he answered. "The phone rang while I was talking to it."

Kate laughed, "That's what you get."

"That's what she said."

"So what did you do then?" she asked.

"We struck a deal for my freedom."

"And what was that?"

"The deal was that if I gave her the credit card of her choosing, I could go free."

"Make sure your sitting down when that bill rolls in," Kate suggested. "She's going to buy twice as much just to teach you a lesson."

"It's a small price to pay," he replied.

"And you came here to ease your guilt about lying to her, right?" she asked.

"No, I just had a feeling you needed a fresh cup of coffee and I told you I'd try to stop by to keep you company."

"Thanks," she said with a smile as she took a sip of coffee.

"You're welcome," he said as he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. "Is it wrong to find a police station relaxing?"

"Compared to the madness of holiday shoppers? Not at all," she told him.

"Good," he replied. "I think I'll just stay here for awhile."

"Poor Richard Castle," she said dramatically; "forced to take refuge in a police station to find relaxation."

"It's terrible isn't it," he said; "All of this suffering I must endure."

"Cheer up, there will probably be a picture of you on page six tomorrow, showing you carrying your mother's shopping bags and everyone will think you're a wonderful son."

"I am a wonderful son," he declared.

"I'll ask Martha for confirmation of that statement," she teased.

"You'd be better off just taking my word for it."

"Have I ever just taken your word for it, Castle?"

"Maybe once or twice," he replied.

"This isn't one of those times."

He laughed, "Somebody's in a better mood today, maybe Mother should've taken you with her."

"If I didn't have to work I would have," she replied.

"If I would've known that I would've paid you to call in sick today," he replied.

"You think I would've gone for that?"

"I can be very persuasive."

"Not that persuasive," she answered. "But I'll allow you to sit there and recover from your traumatic experience while I finish up this paper work."

"That's nice of you," he told her.

"I'm feeling generous today," she quipped before silence fell between them.

After finishing four pages of her work without a sound from him, she was starting to think that he had fallen asleep and she was glad that Gates was tied up in meetings all day, because the last thing either of them needed was for the Captain to see him asleep in his chair. Suddenly his eyes popped open and he met her gaze.

"I've been thinking," he said.

"I though I smelled wood burning."

"You better be nice, Beckett, or I'm going to tell Santa on you."

She laughed, "I hear he's down at Macy's, if you hurry you might beat the after school rush, you might even be able to catch up with your mother."

"You, Detective, are going to end up with coal in your stocking."

Kate shrugged, "I don't have a stocking."

"You don't have a stocking?"

"No."

"Kate!" he exclaimed. "That's like against the laws of Christmas."

"Sorry," she replied; "But isn't like I don't have a tree, I mean that would be a worse offense."

"You have a fake tree," he stated.

"So? It's still a tree."

"But it's fake," he complained.

"It's artificial," she clarified; "and I like it that way, it's less mess and I don't have to worry about keeping it alive, and you know I didn't have to let you help me decorate it but I did."

He eyed her, "It was the least you could do after you tricked me into coming over and dragging it out of your storage space and then putting it together for you."

"I did not trick you," she stated.

"Yes you did, you called me and asked me if I wanted to come over and see your Christmas tree, and then I get there and there is no tree," he said.

She laughed "Okay so maybe I tricked you a little."

"More like a lot," he replied.

"Hey I bought you a pizza, what more do you want?" she asked.

"I guess I should be lucky that it's a pre-lit fake tree or I would've ended up putting the lights on too."

"You say that like you wouldn't have offered to do it if it needed done," she said; "and besides it looks beautiful, we did a good job decorating it."

"Yes, it is beautiful, with the exception of the top which is bare because you have no topper," he told her.

Kate rolled her eyes, "Well I used to have one, that is until it got broke while I was taking it off the tree last season, and do you know how it got broke?" she asked.

Castle refused to look at her, "I have no idea."

"Let me tell you," she replied. "I had just reached for it and was pulling it down when my phone rang, loudly, and by loudly I mean louder than usual because someone had fooled with the volume and the sound of it startled me and I dropped the tree topper on the floor and it broke."

"That's tragic," he stated.

"Do you know who that call was from?"

Castle shook his head, "I'm guessing Lanie?"

"No," she told him. "It was Richard Castle, asking me what Nikki Heat would do if someone mailed her a finger."

"I don't recall this," he stated guiltily.

"And I don't suppose you would know how the volume settings on my phone got changed either, right?"

"I think it sounds like something Ryan and Esposito would do."

"Really? I think it sounds like something you would do."

"I'll get you a new tree topper," he told her. "What kind do you want?"

"I want a star, like I had," she told him.

He nodded, "A star it is, I'll even get you a stocking."

"I don't need one."

"Everyone needs a stocking, Beckett."

"Castle, it's only me at my apartment, one stocking would look pathetic."

"I bet the only thing in your apartment that has anything to do with Christmas is the tree, isn't it?"

"What's wrong with that?" she asked.

"Everything!" he cried. "You're breaking all of the laws of Christmas."

"Yeah, Beckett" Esposito said from his desk. "You could at least hang up some mistletoe in case Castle stops by for a visit."

"Yeah," Ryan said jumping into the conversation. "I mean, if you're going to have him decorate your tree with you then the least you could do is have some mistletoe around as a thank you."

Kate glared at them before turning back to Castle, "You know if you want to tattle to Santa about anyone it should be those two," she said pointing a finger in their direction.

"I've already reported them," Castle replied.

"Just so you know, we reported the two of you months ago," Esposito declared.

"You two don't have the right connections to report anyone," Castle told them.

"And you do?" Ryan asked.

"I have connections everywhere," he replied smugly.

"What do you think, Beckett?" Ryan asked.

"I think you've all either lost your minds or you've been drinking to much egg nog this early in the season."

"Some of us just do holiday spirit better than others," Castle replied with a teasing grin.

Kate laughed, "I have holiday spirit."

"Not as much as I have," he remarked.

"Castle, you have more spirit year round than anyone else," Esposito stated.

"I think I'm going to have to return his Christmas gift," Castle told Beckett.

"That will be a shame," she replied. "He would've really liked it."

"It's probably something cheap anyway," Esposito replied.

Castle glanced away from him, "If you consider a Ferrari cheap, then it's a good thing I'm taking it back."

"You didn't buy me a Ferrari," he exclaimed.

Castle shrugged, "Maybe I did or maybe I didn't, guess you'll never know now."

"Beckett, he's lying isn't he?" Esposito asked.

"I can't tell you that," she answered. "I've been sworn to secrecy."

"Traitor."

She laughed, "Sorry, but think of it this way, if he did buy you a Ferrari that he's going to return, then your probably better off not knowing."

"What about me?" Ryan asked. "Do I get a Ferrari?"

"No, I got you a vintage Volkswagen," Castle stated.

"A Volkswagen!" he exclaimed. "I don't want a Volkswagen! I want something cool."

"Fine, I'll take your gift back too."

Kate was laughing, "You boys better quit while you're ahead or you're going to be disappointed come Christmas."

"I guess you're not worried about your gift being taken back," Esposito teased. "What kind of car are you buying her, Castle?"

"A pink corvette," he answered with a wink at Kate.

"Great," Kate answered. "I've always wanted a replica of the Barbie car I had when I was six."

"I'll get you personalized plates that say Nikki Heat too."

"What will our plates say?" Ryan asked.

"Your cars are being returned, you won't need plates," he answered.

"Fine, be that way," Ryan replied. "Maybe we won't buy you a gift either."

Castle shrugged, "I don't care."

"Hey," Kate said as she finished her last form. "What were you thinking about? You never did tell me."

"I got distracted," he replied.

"That's nothing new."

"I think I'll tell you later, too many prying eyes and ears here," he told her.

"Alright, then I'm heading out."

"You want to go get something to eat?" he asked.

"I would but I'm going to my Dad's."

His eyes lit up, "To discuss a certain event occurring on Saturday?"

She grinned, "Yeah, and then I'm going to grandma's."

"Call me and let me know."

"I will, did you talk to Martha and Alexis?"

"Not yet, I'm going to tell them tonight."

"I'll call sometime tonight then, so we can discuss it," she said as she saw the boys watching them intently.

"What's happening Saturday?" Esposito asked.

"Should we tell them today or wait until tomorrow?" Castle asked as he stood to leave.

She thought for a moment, "Well I haven't talked to Lanie yet so I say we make them wait."

"Sounds good to me, let them wonder," he remarked as they walked past the boys.

"We don't want to wait," Ryan called after them.

"Too bad," Kate told them with a laugh before she and Castle stepped into the elevator.


Kate knocked on the door of the house she had grown up in and waited for her father to appear.

"Katie," he said with a smile. "I've been expecting you."

"You have?" she asked. "Why is that? I didn't even call first."

"I just had a feeling you'd be around, come on in and we'll have a cup of coffee," he said as he held the door open for her and allowed her to step inside and take off her coat.

Kate followed her father into the kitchen and sat down at the table while he turned on the coffee pot.

"Do you have plans this Saturday, Dad?" she asked wanting to get right to the point of her visit.

"No," he answered as he watched her twist her hands nervously. "What do you have in mind?"

"Castle and I are hosting a dinner for our family and friends."

Jim gave her an assessing look, "You and Rick are hosting a dinner together?"

She nodded and tried to keep her face expressionless, "Yeah, what's wrong with that?"

"Nothing," he said. "It just comes as a bit of a surprise."

Kate shrugged, "We just wanted everyone to get together before everyone goes off to do their own things for the holidays."

"I see," he said his tone hinting that he felt there was more to it than that.

"Will you come?" she asked hopefully.

Jim sat down across from her and studied her for a moment. He could see how important it seemed to be that he be in attendance at this meal so he smiled and said, "Sure, Katie, just tell me when and where."

"Saturday at four, at Castle's loft," she told him as she glanced away.

"Are you two going to be making an announcement at this dinner?" he asked.

Kate's brow furrowed, "An announcement?

"Yes, an announcement."

"About what?"

"Oh I don't know, maybe your going to announce that the two of you are now dating," he replied.

"We're not dating."

"Engaged?" he asked.

Kate rolled her eyes, "No, were not engaged."

"Pregnant?" he asked.

"Dad!" she exclaimed in shock.

Jim laughed, "Well it was only thing left, and if you are he's going to marry you rather he likes it or not."

Kate rubbed her hands over her face, "I'm not pregnant, so don't go looking for your shot gun."

He shrugged, "I had to ask."

"No you didn't," she told him.

"So who's going to be there besides you, me, and Rick?"

Kate relaxed slightly, "Martha and Alexis, and we're inviting Esposito, Lanie, Ryan, his fiancée Jenny, and Grandma."

"Who's grandma?" he asked.

"My grandma," she replied quietly.

His expression was clouded with confusion, "You're grandma?"

"Yeah, grandma Savannah."

"How did this come about?" Jim asked.

"Didn't I tell you?" she asked knowing very well that she hadn't.

"Katie, why does it always seem like we're having a conversation that begins with 'Didn't I tell you?'"

She shrugged sheepishly, "I don't know."

Jim laughed quietly, "That's the same answer you used to give me when you were a teenager and afraid to tell me something."

"I wasn't hiding it from you," she exclaimed. "I've just been busy."

"If you and your grandmother are on better terms than I'm happy for both of you, I'm just curious of how it came about."

She took a breath and then told him about Castle seeking out Savannah Collier and being the instigator of their reunion, and that she and her grandmother had been mending fences ever since.

"Rick's always looking to fix things for you, isn't he?" Jim stated when she finished her story.

"Yeah, he's my self appointed life fixer," she said quietly.

Jim was smiling and she ducked her head shyly and focused on her hands.

That's a nice ring you're wearing," he said as he followed her gaze and caught sight of the ruby ring on her right hand. "I don't think I've seen it before, is it new?"

"No, not really. I've had it since October, you just didn't notice it," she told him as she rose from the table to fetch two mugs from the cabinet.

"Where did you get it?" he asked, although he had a feeling he already knew.

"It was a gift from a friend," she said as she began to pace in front of the coffee pot.

"So Rick's buying you jewelry now?" he stated a hint of teasing in his voice.

He laughed as Kate spun around to face him, "I didn't say it was from Rick."

"Well I doubt that Lanie bought it for you," he teased. "So unless you have some secret boyfriend that you haven't told me about then I'd say that Rick is the most obvious choice."

"I don't have any boyfriends," she declared as she turned and poured the coffee.

"So I guess I'm right."

"Fine! I admit it, it was a gift from Castle, are you happy now?" she said as she sat the mug down in front of him.

Jim laughed, "I like Rick."

"I know you've told me."

"He's a good man, Katie."

"I know, Dad."

"He's good for you, he makes you happy."

Kate shifted awkwardly, "I never said that."

"You don't have to; it's all over your face and in your voice when you talk about him."

"Dad," she said with slight exasperation.

"Your mother would've already had the wedding planned," he told her.

Kate smiled, "I don't doubt that."

"It's a big step when a man starts buying you jewelry," Jim stated.

She sighed, "It's not an engagement ring, Dad."

"I didn't say it was all I'm saying is that it probably holds some amount of significance. The way you were looking at it suggests that it's obviously special to you."

She bit her lip as she looked down at the ring and she couldn't hold back the soft smile that came to her lips as she thought about what it symbolized. When she looked up at her father he was smiling at her.

"You want to tell me about it?"

Kate shook her head, "No, no offense but that story is…" she trailed off.

"But that story is yours and Rick's," he said for her.

"Yeah," she said quietly as her cheeks flushed.

"So let me get this straight, you have a ring that has a secret meaning to you, and the two of you are hosting a dinner but you're not together."

"Right," she answered.

"You're mother would want to know what the hold up is," he told her.

Kate laughed, "I think it's my father that wants to know".

"Maybe I need to sit Rick down and ask him his intentions."

Kate's eyes widened, "Don't you dare!"

Jim chuckled, "But that's part of my job as your father, I have to make sure no one is trifling with your affections."

"That excuse would be acceptable if this was the 1950's, but it isn't so you better behave yourself."

"I just want you to be happy, Katie."

She looked at him and smiled, "I am happy."

He looked thoughtful for a moment, "Yes, you're happier than you were four years ago, and the sadness that dogged you all summer seems to have lifted for which I'm thankful, but…"

"There's always a but, isn't there?" she asked.

He smiled, "But, you could be even happier and I think you know that."

"I'm trying, Dad," she answered honestly. "I'm trying to get where I want to be."

He patted her hand, "I know you are, and whatever it is you've been doing these last few months seems to be working for you because I can see a difference in you."

She nodded but didn't tell him that spending more time with Castle was the cause of her changing nature.

"I'm sure that Rick probably has something to do with that," he stated.

Kate laughed because she didn't know what else to do. "Why do you hate me?" she joked.

Jim grinned "What?"

"You know what, all of this talk about Castle."

"I'm just doing my job."

"Are you in a hurry to marry me off or something?" she asked.

He shook his head, "No, not unless your ready and then it has to be the right person, I won't give you away to just anyone."

"That's good to know," she answered.

"Rick's probably the only man I'd give you away to without any qualms."

"Dad!"

"That's just how I feel," he replied. "He'd make you a good husband, and you would be a beautiful bride."

"That's it," she declared as she pushed away from the table; "I'm leaving."

"Already?" he asked with a chuckle. "You haven't even drank your coffee."

"I don't care, I'm getting out of here and away from this conversation," she told him.

"It'll be a nice wedding," he teased.

She turned to him with a smirk, "If I ever do marry Rick, I'm going to talk him into running off to Vegas and we'll get married in a chapel run by hippies and you won't know anything about it until I get back home and then we'll see how smart you think you are."

"You can't do that to me," he told her, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "You'd feel guilty for the rest of your life for depriving me of my fatherly right of giving you away."

"I'm going now," she told him as she moved back through the house toward the door with him following on her heels.

"It's your mother's fault," he told her as she stopped to put her coat on.

"How's it mom's fault?" she asked.

"I dreamed about her last night," he said wistfully.

"What does that have to do with me?" she asked softly.

"It was like she was really here, Katie," he began and she nodded in understanding because she had dreams like that too sometimes.

"We talked about a lot of things and she told me that I needed to hound you more because you need a shove in the right direction when it comes to your relationships."

Kate swallowed a lump in her throat. "That sounds like Mom."

"She even told me you'd be coming by today and here you are."

"Coincidence," she replied.

"Maybe," Jim replied; "Maybe not."

Kate shrugged, "Well if she drops in on your dreams again tonight tell her that I've been properly harassed by you and that I love her."

"Tell her yourself, she'll listen," he replied.

"Sometimes I do talk to her," she admitted although she didn't tell him that most of those conversations took place at Johanna's grave.

Her father hugged her, "You probably think I'm crazy don't you?"

"No," she answered. "I dream about her sometimes too and I know that I've never been all that good at believing in fairy tales and holiday icons but I believe that mom is around watching over us."

"I believe that too," he replied as he released her.

"So I'll see you Saturday at 4?" she asked changing the subject.

"I'll be there."

"Great, I'll text you the address."

"I already have it."

"You do?" she asked in surprise.

"Yeah, he gave it to me when you were in the hospital," he lied.

"Oh, okay then," she replied. "I'm going to go drop in on grandma and invite her."

"You sure she'll want to come if I'm there?" he asked.

She nodded, "Grandma always asks about you, I don't see her having a problem sharing a meal with you, the problem was with me not you and we've resolved that so everything will be fine."

"Alright, Katie, I'll talk to you soon."

She nodded and opened the door and he followed her out onto the porch.

"I love you," she told him before moving off the porch.

"I love you too, and Katie…"

"What?" she asked as she moved down the steps.

"You know you love him," he called behind her causing her to stop in her tracks; "And don't bother turning around to deny it because we both know you'd be lying."

She stood there for a moment to collect herself and then walked towards the car without looking back.

"Good girl, the first step is admitting it," he called to her.

"That's not funny!" she yelled as he laughed.

He waved and moved back into the house while she sat in the car with her forehead pressed against the steering wheel.

"Thanks, Mom," she muttered before lifting her head up and putting the key in the ignition. While she drove towards Savannah's house she prayed her grandmother wouldn't be in a dream induced state of harassment about her love life or lack there of.