-Reminder: Chapters are not in chronological order.


For Berkie, because she asked.


He's excited. Has to force himself not to bounce in his seat like a little boy. Plus he's driving, probably shouldn't swerve the car.

He gets to drive for once, but knows it's only because the opportunity to hold their 12 week old puppy was way more alluring than the often tedious drive to Jim's cabin. So Kate put him in charge of the driving, while she gets to cradle their adorable furball, currently sound asleep in her lap. Honestly, he's a little jealous, but certainly won't complain.

The first true snowfall of the season happened late in the week. And a lull in casework before the holiday season provided the perfect opportunity for them to get away for a few days.

So now they're on their way to the cabin, bags packed for a nice relaxing weekend, and Castle's favorite part, introducing Ricardo to the snow.


"Castle," Kate says, more amused than anything. "It's dark, he can't play outside now. He's just going to be cold and scared."

Castle sighs. "But, Kate," he whines. "There's snow on the ground now. What if it all melts by tomorrow?"

"Really, Castle?" annoyance settling in. "There is like two inches of snow on the ground. You and I both know it will not all melt by morning. So let's wait until we can actually see what we are doing. Plus didn't you say you wanted to record this? How are you even going to see the dog?"

"Alright, alright. You're right," Castle mumbles. "We'll wait until morning."

"Thank you. Now let's get everything in the house."


Castle can't sleep, he just keeps tossing and turning. He knows it's childish, knows he really shouldn't be this excited, but he is. He's really grown to love Jim's cabin, the fresh air and the solitude. It's different than the Hamptons, less jaded, more down to earth. He appreciates that. He has always appreciated that in Kate, what she does for him.

So now Castle lays in bed looking up at the ceiling, listening to the trees outside. He was worried that maybe Ricardo wouldn't sleep, being in a new place for the first time, but he's out, like a light, curled up in ball on his over-sized bed. Kate is too, snuffling softly in the bed beside him.

Castle thinks about tomorrow. Hopes it is as cute as he imagines it in his head. Maybe it's silly, just him getting too excited about nothing. But he just wants Ricardo to have a good time. He saw some YouTube video of Golden Retrievers prancing around in the snow, it was pretty much the cutest thing ever. He just wants Ricardo to like it, he wants to hear Kate giggle at their adorable dog, and see the snow stuck to his little nose. So yeah, he has high hopes for tomorrow.

Castle sighs and turns onto his side, snuggles up to Kate. He hears her soft whispers, "Go to sleep, Castle. You need to go to sleep."

And he does.


When Castle wakes the next morning it's still early, the soft morning light gently filling the sky. With Kate and the puppy still asleep, Castle quietly crawls out of bed, toes curling at the cold floor. He finds his slippers and throws on a sweatshirt, making his way to the living room.

Castle takes a peak outside and smiles when he still sees a soft blanket of snow on the ground. He makes his way to the kitchen and starts up the coffee maker. Taking a look in the refrigerator Castle decides on making breakfast. He pulls out the dog bowl and pours some food for Ricardo, then finds a frying pan and some eggs and sets about making a couple omelets for himself and Kate.

The smell of food wakes the remaining two occupants of the cabin. Castle hears the soft shuffle of Kate's slippered feet with the click-clacking of Ricardo's little toenails following close behind.

"Good morning, Castle."

"Good morning, Kate," as he leans in to give her a kiss.

Castle places down his spatula and leans over to pick up their Golden Retriever.

"And good morning to you too, Ricardo. I hope you are ready to have a fun day today, buddy," as he gives him a nice firm scratch behind the ear.

Breakfast is finished quickly by all three as Kate and Castle hurry back to the bedroom to get ready for the day.


Once ready in their snow boots, scarves, and gloves, Kate and Castle head out to the back porch of Jim's cabin. Ricardo safely tucked up under Kate's arm. The morning sun is just beginning to warm up the day. Jim doesn't have a lot of property, but plenty of space nonetheless. Beautiful trees outline the property line with a small clearing in between. Castle heads for the run down picnic table and quickly shovels off the snow, placing some thick blankets along the bench. The two of them take a seat and decide how to proceed.

"Do you think he will get scared if we just set him down?" Castle asks.

"There's really only one way to find out," replies Kate.

She leans over and sets the dog gently on the cold snow. Their brown-eyed puppy just stares back at them, uncertain of what he is supposed to do.

"Hey, buddy," Kate coos. "This is snow. Do you want to play in it?"

Kate gets up moves around the dog, he turns around and attempts to follows. He takes one step and sinks a little. Ricardo looks shocked at first, unsure of what he should do.

"Come here, Ricardo. Come here, baby boy," Kate calls.

Ricardo takes another step, realizes he is kind of stuck and does a little hop. Bringing both feet up in the air a little, he jumps and hops forward, making his way over to Kate. Once he reaches her, she kneels down to pet his little face.

"Good job, Ricardo! You did such a good job."

Kate keeps moving and Ricardo keeps following, bouncing the whole way.

Castle watches Kate take a handful snow and mold it into a snowball. She tosses it up into the air towards Ricardo and he lunges for it. It breaks apart has it hits his nose, confusing the poor puppy. He runs around in a circle looking for the "ball" not understanding it no longer exists. Kate does it again and throws it a little higher. Ricardo pushes with all his might on his little back legs and lunges once again for the ball. It breaks apart, leaving little mounds of snow all over his face. Ricardo shakes his head as he turns in circles looking for his ball, leaving both Castle and Kate in a giggling mess.

"Silly, Ricardo. It's not a real ball, buddy," Castle unsuccessfully tries to explain.


They play like this for hours. Castle eventually going back inside to grab one of Ricardo's toys, getting the bright idea to burying it in the snow. However, all it does is drive the puppy crazy. Ricardo doesn't dig through the snow trying to find the toy, but rather circles the area of where it's buried and barks until someone gets it for him.

So after snowball fights, and snow angels, and hide-and-seek in the snow, they, exhausted and with rosy cheeks chapped from the cold, finally call it a day.


Castle is standing in the kitchen making some apple cider for him and Kate. They had come inside not too long ago having spent most of the day outside. Only coming in briefly at lunch for some quick sandwiches and then hurrying back out.

After they had called it a day, the afternoon sun quickly turning cold, Kate had run a lukewarm bath for Ricardo. Washed the puppy clean of all the snow and dirt, making sure his little paws and body had warmed back up. She toweled him off until he was nice and dry, and now they are camped out on the couch for the rest of the evening, all tuckered out from the day.

Castle would call the day a success. Ricardo had loved the snow. They had each taken turns recording themselves with the dog and learned quickly that the snow offered endless hours of entertainment for all three of them.

Finishing up their drinks, Castle makes his way over to the couch, mugs in hand and finds Kate fast asleep, the warm glow of the fire dancing across her face. Ricardo is asleep as well, tucked against her side and the back of the couch, a blanket having been thrown over the both of them.

He sets the mugs down on the coffee table and sits down on the edge, content just to stare, to watch both of them for a while. He glances outside and notices for the first time a strand of white lights strung around one of the trees, and the soft glow they shine across the snow. And he knows, Castle knows without a doubt he is going to marry Kate. That one day he is going to propose to her right here in this cabin. And he knows just how he'll do it and he knows who else will be there with him.

And he can't wait.


Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed it. :)