I can't even begin to thank everyone who has reviewed, favorited, or put this story on their story alerts/favorite stories. You guys are fantastic.

I'm posting the third chapter a little early today, because we're leaving my in-laws much earlier than expected... I've managed to come down with what we think is a monster case of strep throat, so we've got to find an open clinic so I can get some meds.

Hope everyone enjoys! This is the shortest chapter, but the best is yet to come. Only two more installments left after this one! :)

Chapter 3: And Every Mother's Child is Gonna Spy

Kate fought back the urge to snarl as she pushed her way through the crowd that filled every inch of the sidewalk. Mothers called out after wayward children, socialites navigated mounds of bags as they crossed from storefronts to the town cars that waited for them at the curb, and all the while the snow fell heavier and heavier over all of their heads. After stops in no less than ten stores, hopelessness was beginning to creep in as she found herself no closer to finding the perfect Secret Santa gift.

Finally accessing a break in the crowd, she joined the throng of people crossing to the opposite side of 59th, and tried to breathe a bit easier as she entered the comforting warmth of Bloomingdale's. The store, while still crowded, at least provided some semblance of order so that she could clear her head and fight off the chill that had enveloped her. "Early evening, two days before Christmas," she mumbled to herself crossly, "What in the hell was I thinking?"

Desperate for a little peace and quiet, she made her way to the first place she could think of, and sank gratefully into a padded chair near the fitting rooms next to the men's suits. She watched as an older man inspected a display of ties, and then glanced around the department in weariness. "I need help," she said out loud, and when the man turned to her curiously, she pulled her cell phone out of her purse and called the first person who came to mind.

"Lanie. You've got to fix this."

Half an hour later, Lanie arrived to find her best friend holding up ties to a man wearing a sports coat, conferring with him about the benefits of a red power tie over the more festive emerald green and gold he had originally tried. Not bothering to hide her amusement, Lanie made her way to them, pulling up just short and pretending to think profoundly on the problem, tapping her chin with one finger. "The red. Definitely the red."

The man smiled and nodded his thanks to the women, and hurried off with his tie.

"Needing to find the perfect pair of trouser socks next, I bet." Lanie nudged Kate with her shoulder, earning her a brief smile.

Kate snickered and, when her friend raised one eyebrow, shrugged her shoulders. "I was waiting for you to get here and I got bored. He needed help."

"Mmhmm. You are ever the public servant, Kate Beckett."

"Yeah well, now I'm the one who needs help. Which brings us to why you're here…"

"Yes, yes, I know. That man of mine is mysterious as the day is long and buying anything for him requires the effort of a small army."

"Funny enough, I never pegged Esposito for 'mysterious' until I needed to figure out what to buy him for Christmas."

"It's not just the Beckett onion that has all those layers, girlfriend." Lanie tugged on her arm and led her away from the business section. "Come on, you and I both know Javi wouldn't be caught dead in half of this junk."

Forty five minutes later, Kate had picked out what Lanie had described as an 'Espolicious' scent and spent more money on cologne than she had spent on her first homecoming dress in high school. Happy to have at least found something her friend was sure to like, she gave Lanie a quick hug and forced herself back out into the madness on the streets.

The snow was falling at an alarming rate as she made her way to her apartment, making the commute even longer than necessary. Ducking into a subway station, she saw that taking the train wouldn't alleviate any of her stress, as the crowds were merely packed even more tightly in the confined quarters. Popping back up onto the street, she finally managed to hail a cab. Thankful to no longer be trudging through the sludge that was beginning to line the New York City streets, she allowed herself a moment to lean her head back on the seat and observe her fellow shoppers.

As the cab slowly made its way through the congestion, a couple on the sidewalk caught Kate's attention. She watched as the man bent down without catching his girlfriend's attention, and then unceremoniously tossed a snowball that caught her directly in the chest. She shrieked, and rushed to pull snow off of a parked car, lobbing what she had managed to gather in his direction. Many of the passers-by gave them disdainful looks, but Kate couldn't stop smiling, and gave them a small wave as she rode by. Long after she had left the couple behind, the smile remained etched on her face.

On the walk from the cab to her building, she paused to listen to a parked car's radio, as a weatherman gave the report that New York City was certain to have a white Christmas this year. The feeling of absolute peace and happiness continued to wash over her, and as she entered her apartment, she couldn't help but wonder why a simple snowball fight had eradicated all of her earlier Grinch-like tendencies and left her a jolly, happy soul.

Just as she sat her shopping bag down on the kitchen counter, her cell phone began to ring. She fished it out of her pocket and glanced at the screen, her smile only widening.

"Hey, Castle."

"Beckett!" Castle's voice washed over her as she pulled off her hat and gloves, instantly replacing their warmth with warmth of his own. "I just thought I would check in and see how you managed tonight while shopping for your favorite mystery man."

She rolled her eyes at the tone of his voice. A child on the biggest sugar rush in the city could not hold a candle to Richard Castle when he was anticipating a present.

"Well, I guess it was okay. I nearly got trampled in a stampede of overzealous last-minute shoppers, called in reinforcements, and assisted a very nice elderly gentleman in picking out the tie of his dreams. A good day's work I suppose, but it had better be worth my while."

"Detective," Castle's voice dropped an octave, "I can assure you it will be."

She supposed, on further reflection, that it was cruel to let him go on thinking that she had drawn his name in the Secret Santa pool. Still, Kate Beckett was not one to let such an opportunity pass her by without playing with it – just a little bit – first.

"Good. I wanted to make sure it appealed to the man's… senses."

She nearly blew her own cover as she heard the choking noise Castle made on the other end of the phone, but managed to keep her composure even as he replied, "It can be a very dangerous thing, you know. Playing with a man's… senses."

Kate allowed a small chuckle, more to play with his fragile mindset than anything, and decided it was in her best interest to end the call before she ended up lying to the man. "It's late, Castle. I'll see you at the precinct tomorrow." Unable to resist one last jab, she made her voice slightly husky and added, "I need to go wrap up something special before I can go to bed."

Castle's whispered good night was enough to keep her laughing as she turned on the Christmas lights draped over the windows and small tree in her apartment and wrapped Esposito's cologne in bright, shiny paper.

After a light dinner, she settled in on her couch with a steaming mug of hot chocolate and watched as the snow fell and refracted the tiny beams of multicolored light coming from her apartment. She gave a contented sigh as the feeling of peace that was becoming so familiar washed over her once more. Christmas, she mused, was suddenly becoming much more than an occasion of gift giving and friendship.