Disclaimer: I have no ownership of these characters.
Author's Note:
This is an AU story. Montgomery is still alive, and Beckett has not been shot. Castle is at the precinct for his fourth year.
Let me know what you think. Thanks
Rick Castle tosses his phone onto his bed. As he grabs his suitcase, he tosses it on the bed too and says, "Ok bud, let's get this party started."
Rick can't believe that Kate and her dad will actually be spending the entire holiday with them. He is going to have to get Lanie a certificate to that spa the girls always rave about. Rick knows; that without Lanie's comments the night before, Kate would have fought him to the end.
He called Alexis and Martha on the ride home, so they were upstairs packing as well. He can't believe his luck. This is going to be a wonderful holiday. He finishes packing, and makes his way to his computer. He grabs his phone and calls Jacob again; to let him know when they will arrive.
Alexis comes bouncing into the office. "Dad, I'm so excited. I'm glad Kate and Jim are going with us. By the way, Ashley is going to be there a little later tomorrow."
"That's ok kiddo, it will give us some time to get settled. I still can't believe the Becketts are coming, too."
"We're going to have so much fun! I just know Grams will be excited to see Jacob again."
"Actually, Jacob already invited us to a BBQ tomorrow night. I think he's excited to see Grams as well. By the way, Jacob's getting all the Christmas boxes out for us. Same strategy as always, guys decorate the outside, girls decorate the inside. We'll go out Saturday and find us a tree. It looks like we have a lot of extra helpers this year."
Alexis starts to respond, but her phone rings. "Oops, that's Ashley, Dad, we'll plan more on the ride tomorrow." With that, she turns and leaves the room.
Rick grabs his laptop, and packs it in his bag. Hopefully, he might have some down time to write a few chapters. Once he carries his bags to the foyer, he turns and heads to bed.
Rick throws the last of the bags into the back of the SUV he will be driving to the cabin, and then shuts the door. "Well, looks like we're ready to go, soon as the Becketts get here."
Alexis turns to her dad. "Well, then belt up, because they're driving up right now."
Jim Beckett gets out of the car and heads over to Rick.
"Hey there, Rick. Thanks so much for the invite to join you all. We're ready to head out whenever you are."
"Anytime Jim. I'm glad you both are going. Well then, let's get this show on the road."
Everyone loads into the vehicles, and their journey begins. They head north to the Catskills. Three hours later, they wind their way through the mountains and down the path that leads to the cabin.
Once they round the next corner, Kate looks up and is spellbound.
Both Becketts exclaim "wow" at the same time, then look at each other and smile.
They all pull up to the cabin and get out. Beckett immediately heads over to Rick.
"Geez Castle, I was expecting a log cabin, not a flipping RESORT."
Rick just snickers and says, "Well technically it is a log cabin. I got this place for a steal about 6 years ago. It belonged to the owner of the ski-lodge down the road. He sold it when his kids left home. Said it was too much for just him and his wife. Welcome to Victory Lodge."
Kate looks around, and says, "Man the boys would LOVE this."
Rick says, "I was thinking of maybe inviting them up this summer."
The gang grabs all their bags, and head inside.
"Alexis will show you all to your rooms, and then you'll have a couple of hours to look around and get settled, until we head down the road to our friend Jacob's for a BBQ tonight."
Kate and Jim look around, star-struck. This place is like something out of a dream.
The gang all follows Alexis up the stairs and she shows them all to their rooms. Rick makes his way to the den. He starts taking the "outside" boxes out to the back deck.
Ashley arrives and Rick sends him upstairs to get settled in.
Two hours later, the gang piles back into the cars; and they all head to Jacobs.
They all head around back; to find Jacob at the grill, turning steaks.
Martha runs ahead of the gang, and throws her arms around Jacob in a huge hug.
Alexis is right on her heels, and slams into both of them, hugging them too.
Rick shakes Jacob's hand, and introduces him to everyone.
A woman steps out of the house, and Jacob begins to introduce her to the crowd.
"Folks, this is my sister Chell."
Everyone introduces themselves to her.
"Alexis, pool table is all ready to go." states Jacob.
Ashley and Alexis head off to play pool.
Kate quickly looks at Rick. "You, mister, aren't getting me NEAR that table".
Rick smirks. "Oh, don't be too sure about that, detective."
Jacob gets Rick's attention. "Would you mind looking after the steaks, while I show these folks around?"
Rick agrees. Jacob and Martha take off walking to the barn, accompanied by the Becketts and Chell. The group tours the barn and stables, and heads back to the house. Once they start to go inside, Jacob stops Martha in the doorway, and looks up.
Martha notices the mistletoe hanging from the threshold and smiles. Jacob grabs her and gives her a quick kiss. Then they all head inside. The kiss and mistletoe isn't missed by Rick, and he stores the knowledge of the mistletoe for later use.
Jacob's cabin was not nearly as grand as Rick's. His is a very stylish but modest 4 bedroom, two story.
As the group arrives back out on the deck, Rick informs them the steaks are done. Everyone heads to the dining table, and they sit down for a lovely meal. Once the meal is finished, and everyone has cleared the table, they all head back to the deck. Jacob comes out carrying a stack of plastic dixie cups and begins to set them up on the table.
Kate looks confused as she turns to Rick.
"What's he doing?"
Rick looks at Kate, shocked.
"You mean you've NEVER played wine-pong?"
"Umm, no, what do you do?"
Rick laughs and says "Well, all the cups are filled with wine. The object is to bounce the ping-pong ball one time, into the cup. If it makes the cup, you get to choose who has to drink the wine. If you miss, you have to drink one."
Kate looks at Castle questioningly. "Where's my dad?"
"I knew us playing the game might make Jim uncomfortable, so I asked Chell if she'd take him off on a horse-ride. They left a few minutes ago." Rick replies as he watches relief wash over Kate.
Kate smirks and says "Look out Castle, for every one I make, I'm going to make YOU drink it."
The game starts with just Rick, Kate, Jacob Martha and Ashley playing. Alexis is the active referree.
An hour and a half later, and everyone playing is completely drunk. Jacob turns on some music, and asks Martha to dance. Ashley and Alexis start dancing too.
Rick looks at Kate, bows and says "M' Lady, may I have this dance?"
Kate giggles and agrees. They start to dance as well.
A slow song comes on, and Rick takes a chance and pulls Kate up close to him. He's afraid she will back away, however in the condition she is in, she doesn't.
Rick is running his hand up and down Kate's back. She leans into him more. He's relishing this, but knows if Kate was sober, she'd never allow him to be this close, or to touch her like this.
"Kate, I could get used to this"
"Mmmmmmmmmm" she hums.
As the song ends, Kate says she needs to head inside to the bathroom. Rick walks her to the door. When she stands in the threshold, he stops her, and points up. She sees the mistletoe, just as Rick's lips come down on hers. The kiss starts out as a simple kiss, but quickly heats up. Kate opens her mouth to moan, and Rick deeps the kiss. His tongue plays with hers. She responds back passionately. She raises her arms up to his shoulders. He wraps his arms around her back and pulls her tight up against him. She tightens her hold and wraps her fingers in his hair. Rick softly runs his tongue over her lips, and nibbles on the edge of her mouth. This kiss is filled with twice the passion as their undercover kiss.
When they break apart, they both are breathless. Kate looks at Rick and softly smiles. Kate heads to the bathroom, as Rick tries to compose himself and get his feelings under control.
Rick thinks to himself, she'll kill him if she remembers this kiss, but it will sadden him if she doesn't. He's doomed, either way.
Rick looks over and finds Jacob and Martha all cuddled up on the deck loveseat. They look like a young couple in the beginning stages of love. Rick knows Martha has some real feelings for Jacob, but doesn't know why she doesn't take the risk.
When Kate comes back out, she looks at Rick.
"I don't feel so good, can we go home Castle?"
Rick calls for Alexis, and asks Jacob if he'd mind bringing Martha and Jim home later. Jim quickly agrees. Alexis and Ashley come out, and Rick asks Alexis to drive them back to the cabin.
Chell and Jim are taking a leisurely ride on the horses, getting to know each other. They talk about their families. They talk about their friends. Jim tells her about Johanna, and his bout with alcoholism. Chell tells him about her late husband, and her son Chase. They ride for several hours, and then head back to the barn.
Martha and Jacob go inside and curl up on the couch by the fireplace. They fill each other in on everything that's happened in the past year. They talk for several hours, and Martha starts to nod off. Jacob grabs a throw from the back of the couch, and tosses it over them.
Rick picks Kate up from the SUV, and heads inside the cabin. He heads upstairs to take her to her room. Once there, he lays her on the bed. Minutes later she rushes to the bathroom to throw up. She swears she will never drink again. She changes into her pj's and returns to find Rick sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Are you ok, Beckett?"
"Remind me to never drink that much again."
She slides under the covers and gets comfortable. Rick gets up to leave.
"Castle, don't go. Just lay here with me."
Rick lies down beside her. She cuddles up next to him. He wraps his arms tightly around her, and within minutes she's sound asleep.
Hope you enjoy. Let me know what you think, please!
Paula