Authors Note: Thanks for your reviews as always and I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 14
Everyone was looking at her, waiting for her response and the words slipped from her lips without much thought and in the end she figured it was better that way, because with the decision made and out in the open she wouldn't over think it.
"No, actually I'll be out of town for New Years," she announced.
"How convenient," Lauren commented snidely.
Savannah glared at Lauren but turned her focus to Kate. "So you've decided to get away during your vacation time, dear?"
"Well it was sort of decided for me," Kate answered. "It's part of my Christmas gift from a friend."
Savannah's eyes lit with interest and she smiled, "Would it be a gift from Rick?"
Kate smiled, "Yes, Grandma."
Savannah clapped her hands together gleefully. "Wonderful, you're going to let Rick take you away for an adventure."
"It seems that way," she replied as she adjusted her hold on Sophie.
"Where are you going?" Ashley asked.
"We're going to Vegas," Kate replied.
"Vegas!" Savannah exclaimed. "How exciting, I've always wanted to go there."
"You'll have a great time, Katie," Philip said. "I went last summer."
She nodded, "Rick says it's great."
"Maybe she'll get lucky," Ashley commented somewhat suggestively as Kate turned her head to glare at her in amusement.
"Lucky at what?" Miranda asked.
"The slot machines," Kate answered.
Ashley scoffed and Philip laughed. "Nice choice of words there, Katie" he teased.
Her cheeks burned as she realized how Philip and Ashley had purposely misconstrued the answer she had thought was safe for children's ears.
"Shut up," she said with a laugh. "Just shut up."
"But there's so many things I could say about that," Ashley replied.
"But you won't," Kate said; "Because not all members of the audience are old enough for that type of dialogue."
"Right," Ashley said; "But that doesn't mean I won't think it."
"Of course you will," Philip said. "You have a dirty mind."
"How did her mind get dirty?" Sophie asked innocently.
Philip froze and looked at Kate, "You want to answer that one?"
"She was born that way," Kate stated and she was relieved when Sophie said nothing more about it.
"Las Vegas," Miriam sniffed. "Nothing there but sin."
Kate couldn't help herself as she grinned, "We know that's why we're going."
Miriam glared at her, "It figures you would want to go there, Katherine, you've always struck me as the type to be sinful."
Kate sighed in a dramatic fashion that would've made Martha proud. "You're right, Aunt Miriam; I am sinful and I'm going to the sin city to be amongst my people and I'm going with the most sinfully handsome man I know and we're going to have the most sinful time we can and we're going to enjoy every single sinful second of it."
Miriam and Lauren were glaring holes into her and Savannah was trying hard not to laugh but failing miserably. Her cousins were amused and trying to avoid eye contact with Miriam, while David and his wife chuckled under the guise of coughs.
"That pretty much summed up my trip to Vegas," Philip stated a lopsided grin on his face. "Except mine involved a sinful showgirl."
Kate laughed and Miriam threw her hands up in the air, "Oh my god," the old woman cried. "None of you have any morals."
"Says the woman who had an affair with her brother in law," Heather commented and Kate smiled at her in appreciation.
"You just watch your mouth!" Miriam declared. "You're just like your grandmother!"
Heather smiled, "Thanks, I'm proud of that".
"And you," Miriam said pointing a finger at Kate. "You're nothing but a trouble maker."
Kate grinned, "Well at least I'm not boring."
"I like Katie," Sophie said from her perch on Kate's lap.
"You would," Lauren remarked earning herself a glare from Kate.
"Leave her alone," Kate stated. "There's no reason to pick on a little girl."
"I bet Philip doesn't even know the name of that showgirl," Ashley commented as she swiftly changed the subject.
"It was Cecilia," Philip remarked with a dreamy look in his eye.
Kate laughed, "If I run into anyone with that name, I'll give her your regards."
"She'll be the one in blue feathers," her cousin replied.
Kate smiled at him, "It figures you'd go for a girl dressed in feathers."
Philip winked at her, "I'll leave the sophisticated tastes to you."
"You'd get along real well with Castle," Kate commented.
"Apparently you get along with him real well," Philip replied. "I've read those Nikki Heat books."
She sighed, "It's fiction."
"For now," Savannah said.
"So are you with this guy or not, Katie?" her Uncle David asked.
She paused, "Well…no, not right now."
"But as soon as she gets off the plane all bets are off," Ashley said with a laugh.
"What do you know about it?" Kate asked with a laugh as she turned slightly to catch a glimpse of her cousin.
"I read between the lines," she replied.
"What does Jim think of this guy?" David asked.
"He really likes him," Kate answered.
David nodded, "So he has the seal of approval from your father and grandmother."
"It seems that way," she replied.
"You planning on getting married out there?" he asked with a teasing lilt in his voice.
"No," Kate stated.
"You better not," Savannah remarked. "I want to be in the front row when you get married."
Kate smiled at her, "Can I at least date him first?"
Savannah nodded, "If you insist, but let's speed things along, none of us are getting any younger."
Kate nodded and tried not to grimace "I'll see what I can do".
"You better bring him around," David said. "Let us all get a look at this guy."
"Sure," Kate said. "I'll bring him to the next holiday meal."
Philip seemed to take pity on her after that as he turned the conversation towards himself. She gave him a grateful nod and he grinned in return.
Dinner finished and Kate sat Sophie down and helped Ashley and Savannah with the dishes. When the dishwasher was loaded and the leftovers taken care of they all moved into the living room for the rest of the evening. Kate sat down in the corner of the room in an overstuffed chair. Sophie spotted her and came over and climbed up onto her lap. Kate cuddled the little girl, feeling a bond with the child.
"Grandma Lauren doesn't like me," Sophie said quietly as she looked up at Kate.
Kate's heart broke, "I'm sure that's not true," she replied. "I bet she loves you a lot."
Sophie shook her head, "She loves Miranda, she's always mad at me."
"She probably doesn't mean to seem that way," Kate said gently as she tried to soothe the little girl.
"Grandma Lauren doesn't like you either does she?"
"No," Kate replied.
"Who's Johanna?" Sophie asked.
Apparently Sophie had been paying attention to the conversation at dinner and now Kate would have the task of explaining it.
"Johanna was my mother," she answered.
"Where's your mommy now? Why isn't she here?"
Kate took a shaky breath, "She's in heaven, honey."
"Is she an angel now?" Sophie asked.
Kate nodded, "Yes, she's an angel now."
"Do you miss her?"
"All the time."
"Why did she go to heaven?"
She didn't know how to answer that question, wasn't even prepared for the possibility of it. She couldn't tell her the horrific truth, couldn't taint her small innocent mind with thoughts of violence.
Sophie was looking up at her, waiting for her answer and she knew she had to give her one.
"She got hurt really bad," Kate said slowly; "And the doctor's couldn't fix her, that's why she had to go to heaven."
"Oh," Sophie replied. "Are you sad?"
"I was sad for a long, long time, but I'm better now," she said with a small smile.
"I'm glad you're here," Sophie said with a bright smile of her own.
"I'm glad you're here," Kate told her. "You've been a good friend."
"My teacher said I'm a nice girl," Sophie stated.
Kate laughed, "She's right."
Kate felt as though she was being watched and she raised her eyes to find Miranda watching them. She smiled at the dark haired girl, who looked so much like Penelope had when she was that age, and she beckoned the girl forward and shifted in the chair so she could squeeze in with her and Sophie.
She quickly pulled her phone from her pocket so it wouldn't poke the girl in the side.
"Do you have pictures on your phone?" Miranda asked.
"Yeah," Kate answered as she opened up the section on her phone that held photos, "Here you go."
"Is this your girl?" Miranda asked as she found a picture of Alexis.
"No, she belongs to my friend, her name is Alexis."
"Is she a big girl?" Sophie asked.
"Yes, she's in high school."
"Who's this?"
"That is Alexis's grandmother, Martha."
"She looks nice," Sophie commented.
"She is."
Miranda grinned at Kate, "Is this your boyfriend?" she asked as Kate looked down at a picture of her and Castle that Alexis had clicked for her a few weeks earlier.
"He's not my boyfriend," she answered.
"He looks like a boyfriend," Miranda said.
Kate laughed, "How do you figure?"
"He's got his arm around you and that's what boyfriends do," Miranda informed her.
"I see."
"Do you hold his hand?" Sophie asked.
Kate smiled, "Sometimes."
Sophie and Miranda looked at each other and nodded. "He's her boyfriend," Miranda stated.
"Holding hands makes him my boyfriend?" Kate asked in amusement.
The girls nodded and Kate laughed.
"Why is that?" she asked.
Miranda looked at her as if she were slightly dumb, "Because you wouldn't hold hands with a boy you don't like."
"Well, that's true, but you can hold hands with someone and still not be boyfriend/girlfriend."
"I bet you kiss him," Miranda stated and Sophie giggled.
"How old are you?" Kate asked with a laugh.
"I'm 9," Miranda replied with a smile. "But I'll be 10 in May."
"And how do you know so much about boyfriends?"
She shrugged, "All girls know about boyfriends."
"And do you have a boyfriend?" Kate asked her.
Miranda blushed, "No."
"She likes Austin," Sophie provided with a laugh.
"Austin," Kate repeated. "Do you hold his hand?"
"Only once, but it was because the teacher made us all hold hands during the field trip."
Kate nodded, "Sure," she said in a teasing voice.
"He's not my boyfriend," Miranda stated.
"But you want him to be?" Kate asked.
"Maybe," Miranda replied.
"She probably wants to kiss him," Sophie said.
"I do not!" her sister protested as Kate laughed.
"Yes she does," Sophie told Kate.
"What's his name?" Miranda asked as she pointed at the picture.
"His name is Rick."
"Do you kiss him?" she asked again.
She was turning the topic back around, she'd be a good interrogator, Kate thought to herself.
"Some girls don't kiss and tell."
"I bet that means yes," Miranda stated.
"You're just too smart for your own good."
Kate casually lifted the phone from Miranda's hand and changed the subject. She asked them about school and their friends and after awhile Sophie dozed off in her lap and Miranda fell quiet and watched the people around the room.
Occasionally Kate would be asked to comment on the conversation taking place among the adults but she was mainly left alone with the girls and she didn't mind. Eventually Heather crossed the room with the baby in her arms and told her that she was leaving. They traded phone numbers and Kate kissed the baby's forehead before Heather moved on and finished her rounds of the room.
Penelope stood up a few moments later and began to gather up her belongings.
"Miranda, Sophie, give hugs and say goodbye," Penelope announced.
Kate shook Sophie awake and sat her on her feet next to Miranda. The girls were drowsy as they circled the room and when Penelope got them into their coats Sophie was practically asleep on her feet.
"I'll carry her out for you," Kate said to Penelope as she lifted the little girl onto her hip.
Her cousin nodded and Ashley took some of the bags Penelope had in her hands. "I'll help too, you just guide Miranda."
Savannah had grabbed Ashley and Kate's coats and draped them over their shoulders as they followed Penelope out the door.
Ashley dumped the bags in the trunk and then she and Kate hugged and kissed the girls before putting them into the car. Kate made sure Sophie was buckled into her seat and then she shut the door and moved up onto the sidewalk with Ashley.
"Kate," Penelope said as she stood next to the car.
"Yeah?"
"I just want you to know that I don't feel the way my mother does."
Kate nodded, "I'm glad."
Penelope smiled softly, "I still remember the time when Aunt Jo helped me sell my Girl Scout cookies."
Kate laughed, "I remember that too, I got to go along."
Penelope laughed, "She said that people might be able to say no to one cute little girl but they wouldn't say no to two."
"I was used for my cuteness," Kate said.
"But I won first prize," Penelope answered.
"That's all that matters," Kate replied.
"I remember that she always took us to the beach with you guys because mom never took us anywhere," Ashley stated.
"We had fun," Kate said as she remembered those summer days.
"I still have that pink seashell that she helped me dig out of the sand," Ashley said quietly.
"She loved you both," Kate told them.
"We loved her too," Penelope said.
"And we love you," Ashley told Kate.
"I'm sorry for what Mom said," Penelope told her. "She just seems to get worse with age."
"If you're not careful, Penelope," Ashley said seriously. "In twenty years that will be you."
"I know," she answered with a sigh; "And I don't want that to happen, I don't want to be like her and sit around and hurt people just to do it and I don't want to be bitter and hateful."
Ashley and Kate starred at her for a moment as if they were unsure if she was serious.
"You should be like this more often, Penny," Ashley said.
She nodded, "It's hard to change your ways though, especially when they've been drilled into you by Lauren Collier Prescott, who could've probably had a great career in the military as a drill sergeant."
"I know what you mean," Kate said; "But it can be done if you want it bad enough."
'Yeah, you can do it, just look at yourself in the mirror and say 'I am not going to be like mom'," Ashley told her.
Kate grinned at her, "Come over to the dark side, Penny."
"Let us corrupt you," Ashley added.
Penelope laughed, "That would drive Mom crazy."
"Good then we can have her institutionalized."
"Bellevue probably has room," Kate stated.
They all laughed at the thought and then Ashley grinned, "Grandma would be so proud."
"Yeah," Kate said. "You can be the Collier that converted to a Baxter."
"And it's not too late to get Miranda out of mother's clutches either," Ashley said quietly.
"She favors Miranda over Sophie," Penelope stated.
"Sophie knows it," Kate told her. "She thinks that Lauren doesn't like her."
Penelope shook her head, "I hate that she does that to her and I don't understand why she never bonded with her."
"It's the same thing she did to us," Ashley commented. "She always favored you over me and now she's doing it to your kids."
"She'll regret it one day," Kate said. "She'll want Sophie one day and then it'll be too late because she won't have anything to do with her."
Penelope nodded, "I know, and I can't say that I'd blame her, just like I don't blame you for not liking her."
"Mommy can we go?" Miranda called from inside the car.
"Just a minute, Randa," Penelope answered before she stepped forward to hug her sister and then Kate.
"It was seeing you," she told her.
"You too," Kate replied. "Give me a call sometime."
"I will," Penelope answered. "Maybe one day when you're not working you can come over and visit, the girls would love it."
Kate nodded, "That would be nice."
"Thanks for letting Sophie hang on you all night."
"No problem, I needed her as much as she needed me," Kate said with a laugh.
Penelope turned to get in the car but she looked over her shoulder. "You know the first two weeks you were in kindergarten, Aunt Jo paid me a dollar a day to make sure you got to your class and then to go back and get you at the end of the day."
"She paid you!"
Penelope laughed, "Yeah."
"I knew you were too happy to see me back then," Kate said with a laugh.
Penelope said her goodbyes and left and Kate and Ashley walked back to the house. Instead of going back inside they detoured to the porch swing and sat quietly for a moment bathed in the porch light as the swing moved slowly.
"So how's your accountant?" Kate asked.
Ashley smiled, "Good, actually Steven proposed."
"Congratulations, I'm so happy for you."
"I haven't told Mom yet."
"Tell her after the wedding," Kate suggested.
Ashley laughed "That's tempting."
"I bet it is."
"We don't have a date yet but I want to inform you that you're the maid of honor."
Kate smiled, "You pick out an ugly dress for me and I'll kick your ass."
Ashley laughed, "Don't worry; I wouldn't do that to you."
"You better not."
"So, what about you and Castle?"
"What about us?"
"Sounds like it's getting serious."
Kate rolled her eyes, "Really, you're going to jump on the band wagon too."
"Hey, I'm just looking at the evidence and that look you gave Miriam that could've frozen lava when she said he was dreadful."
"Nothing serious is going on…right now," Kate said.
"Please tell me that you've at least kissed him," Ashley said. "Because if you haven't that's a crime against nature and you should arrest yourself."
Kate laughed, "I don't think I'm allowed to arrest myself."
"Fine give me your handcuffs and his address, I'll arrest you and take you to him and tell him that he can punish you any way he sees fit."
"He'd probably like that," Kate said as she pushed her foot against the floor of the porch to move the swing.
"So…" Ashley said.
"So what?"
"Have you kissed him or not?"
Kate blushed and didn't meet her cousin's eyes, "None of your business."
Ashley grinned, "You did, you kissed him."
"Alright, I admit it, I've kissed him."
Ashley squealed and Kate giggled, feeling like a teenager gossiping about her crush.
"So, was it everything you've dreamed it would be?"
She nodded, "Yeah, every single time."
"Wait," Ashley stated holding up a hand. "Does that mean that you've kissed him more than once?"
"Maybe," she replied as she cheeks flushed.
Ashley smacked her arm, "You've been holding out on me!"
"I have not," she replied; "And besides how was I to know you'd be interested?" she teased.
Her cousin rolled her eyes, "Seriously? You really didn't think I'd be interested in the knowledge that you've been joined at the lips with a hot millionaire?"
"You make it sound so cheap, Ash," Kate stated.
"How long has this been going on?" she asked.
"What?"
"The kissing," Ashley replied.
"Oh, not long," she answered.
Ashley looked at her, "Anything else been going on between you two?"
"No, not like you're thinking."
"I don't know how you do it. I mean I've only seen the man on the back of book covers and the pictures you've showed me but really, Kate how have you gone all this time without dragging him home with you and having your way with him."
Kate laughed, "It's not easy sometimes."
"Oh?" Ashley said with interest.
She was blushing furiously but she continued on, "It's been a lot harder lately."
Ashley grinned, "So what are you going to do about it?"
"I'm going to quit fighting it."
"Good," her cousin said seriously. "You deserve to be happy."
Kate gave a slight nod before shyly looking at her cousin. "I love him," she said softly.
She smiled, "I know."
"You do?"
Ashley nodded, "It's always been obvious, Kate."
"And here I thought I hid it so well."
Ashley laughed, "It may have been hidden from him, but not to the people you talk about him to, god Kate, you'd be on the phone telling me how he'd bring you coffee every morning and how he sticks by you when it gets tough and how he's such a great dad and he takes care of his mom and how he looks after you and you're voice would just be filled with love and respect and I was always wondering how you couldn't realize it."
"Because I didn't want to," Kate replied.
"But why?"
"I had things to work out," she answered.
"And are those things worked out now?"
She nodded, "They're worked out enough. I'm tired of playing games; I just want to be with him."
"So you have a plan?"
"Not really, I just want it to be the right moment when I tell him."
Ashley grinned, "Well, Vegas should be chalked full of moments."
Kate laughed, "I guess we'll see."
"You know how else I knew that you were in love with him?"
"How?"
"Because no one can piss you off the way he can."
"Is that a good thing?" she asked.
Ashley nodded, "I think so, and then there was the jealousy."
"I hate that word," Kate muttered as she rubbed her hands over her face.
Her cousin laughed, "Come on, Kate, you know you couldn't stand it when he was with another woman."
"I know!" she exclaimed. "And I hate admitting it."
"It's okay," Ashley replied. "I'm sure he had his moments of jealousy."
She nodded, "He has."
"Then you're even."
"I just hope I don't screw this up."
"Hey," Ashley said softly. "Don't go thinking like that, you'll do just fine, and if what Grandma says is true, then you won't have to worry because he'll help you along."
"What does Grandma say?"
"She says that he's crazy about you, that she's never seen two people so in love with each other, although they're too damn stubborn to admit it."
Kate laughed, "That sounds like Grandma."
Ashley laughed with her, "She says Rick's the one and she wants you married to him."
"Yeah, I got that message during dinner."
"You better hurry up and reel him in, I saw that look on your face when you held that baby," Ashley told her.
"What look?"
"That gooey baby face."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Ashley grinned, "You know what it means."
"No I don't."
"Yes you do, you want a baby."
"Most women do," Kate argued.
"You were thinking that you want one with Castle," she replied.
"I wasn't thinking any such thing."
"Yeah right," Ashley teased.
"Shut up!" Kate exclaimed.
She laughed, "It's alright if you want a baby with him."
"I haven't even dated him!" she said loudly.
"Oh please, you two have had years of unofficial dating, just skip to the good stuff."
Kate laughed, "Oh yeah, I can see me doing that right now."
"He probably wouldn't mind," Ashley said. "You'll be in Vegas, drag him off to a chapel and marry him."
"Not happening," Kate said.
"Alright then, just go knock on his door and tell him you want to have a baby."
"You're out of your mind" Kate replied.
"Just trying to help."
"I think I'll do it my way," she answered.
"As slow as you go, that could take forever."
"Don't make me rethink being your maid of honor."
"Okay," Ashley replied. "I won't give you anymore helpful suggestions, but you can bring him to my wedding."
"Thanks."
"And then I'll come to yours."
"I thought you were finished."
"I lied."
"You always did lie," Kate teased.
Before Ashley could comment the door flew open. "There you two are!" Savannah declared. "Get back in the house before you catch pneumonia."
They laughed and followed her inside.
"Why are your cheeks so red?" Savannah asked Kate.
"Because it's cold out," she replied.
"It's because I was grilling her about her love life," Ashley said.
"You should've waited for me," Savannah replied.
"That's okay," Kate said.
"She wants a baby," Ashley announced.
"I did not say that!" Kate said. "I said one day."
Savannah laughed, "Don't worry honey, we'll get you and Rick together and then married and then we'll get the baby."
Kate looked at her, "What's with the we's in that statement?"
"Well, dear, you need a little coaching sometimes, but I am thrilled that you're going away with him."
"I'm glad you're happy, but don't mention it to Dad."
"Why?" Savannah asked.
"It's more fun if he doesn't know," she stated.
"Are you sure you're not getting married out there?" Savannah asked.
Kate raised her hand, "I swear to all that's holy in the Savannah Collier universe that I am not getting married."
"Okay," her grandmother replied.
"I'm going to head out now," Kate told her as she hugged her.
"Call before you leave for your trip," Savannah told her.
"I will."
"I hope you get lucky," Ashley said suggestively.
Kate hugged her, "If I do I'm not telling you."
"That's not fair."
Kate laughed and then ducked back into the living room to say her goodbyes. Philip hugged her and gave her his number.
"You want me to give it to Cecilia if I run in to her?" she teased.
"She already has it," he said with a grin. "Have fun."
Her uncle hugged her and Madelyn said goodbye. As she walked passed Lauren she couldn't resist smiling.
"See you at Easter, Aunt Lauren," she stated.
The woman glared at her and she laughed lightly as she made her way to her car.
There was one more stop she needed to make before she went home. She wanted to see Castle. She turned the car in the direction of the loft and relaxed at the thought of him.
She parked in the garage and pulled out her phone and typed, 'Are you still up?'
His reply came a second later, 'Yes, are you still at Savannah's?'
'No, do you mind having company?'
'Not if it's you,' he replied.
She smiled, 'I'm on my way.'
Martha answered the door when she knocked and she smiled at her and stepped forward to embrace her.
"Merry Christmas, kiddo," Martha said as she returned the hug.
"Merry Christmas, Martha," she replied as she looked at her with slightly weary eyes.
"Was it that bad at your grandmother's?" she asked in concern.
Kate gave a soft laugh, "It had its moments."
Martha laid a hand on her arm in support. "Hang in there, it'll get better."
She sighed, "I don't know about that."
"It's always hard to rejoin the party after an extended leave of absence," she told Kate; "But eventually you get back into the groove of things, trust me, I've been there darling and I know it can be a harrowing experience."
Kate smiled, "Thanks, Martha."
The actress winked at her, "I'm always available if you need advice."
"I'll keep that in mind," she answered. "I may need a pep talk before the next gathering."
"I'll be more than happy to provide you with one," Martha said; "But on a lighter note, Alexis and I are hitting the after Christmas sales in the morning and we would love for you to join us."
Warmth flooded her and she smiled widely, "That sounds great, what time should I be here?"
"Lets say between 8:30 and 9, we don't want to be crushed by the mob as they race towards the doors," Martha stated.
Kate laughed softly, "I'll be here."
"Richard's in the living room, I'll see you in the morning."
They said their goodnights and Kate moved quietly through the loft and found Castle on the sofa.
"Hey," she said quietly.
"Hey," he replied. "You got here pretty fast."
"I called from the garage," she told him.
"You didn't have to call, you could've just came on up," Castle replied.
She plopped down on the couch next to him and allowed her eyes to focus on the TV screen for a moment.
"Long day?" he asked as he looked at her.
"Yeah," she said with a sigh.
"Who won the war?"
Kate laughed lightly, "It's hard to say, they each tore each other apart and exposed family secrets, and I jumped in between them before any violence could occur, so I'd say it was about even."
"Family secrets?" Castle asked with interest.
She nodded, "Yes, apparently my grandmother was pregnant at her wedding."
He considered the thought for the moment before speaking. "I'm sure that was probably scandalous at the time but it's nothing earth shattering now."
"It get's better," she replied.
Castle grinned, "Do tell."
"The baby in question was my mother."
"The plot thickens."
"And apparently my grandmother tried to pass her off as being premature," Kate told him.
He laughed slightly, "How did Savannah take the big reveal of this secret?"
Kate chuckled, "She very gracefully admitted that it was true, and then she told everyone that Miriam's youngest son belonged to her brother-in-law and not her husband."
"Ouch," Castle said with a laugh. "Are you sure you were at a dinner and not a taping of the Maury Show?"
She laughed and nodded, "There were moments when it seemed like a talk show."
"I bet Miriam didn't like her dirty little secret seeing the light of day."
Kate shook her head, "Oh no, she didn't, that was when I had to jump in and prevent the violence."
"Damn, I wish I'd been there."
"Me too, you would've loved it when Grandma told Miriam that she looked like a bird carcass."
"She didn't!"
"She did, she also told her that the only beauty contest she'd ever win would be one in hell."
"I love your grandmother," he told her.
"She loves you too," Kate said as she patted his knee.
He gave her a boyish grin, "All the ladies love me."
She scoffed, "Not all of them."
"Name one," he demanded.
"Miriam," she replied.
"She doesn't even know me," he protested. "That doesn't count."
"She said you were a dreadful writer," Kate told him.
"A dreadful writer!" he said in outrage.
"That's what she said."
"What did you do when she said that?"
"According to Ashley, I gave her a look that could've frozen lava and then I listed your accomplishments and told her that you were far from dreadful and then Grandma informed her that you are a very nice man and that she should shut her mouth."
He looked perturbed for a moment, "You didn't bitch slap her as you defended my honor?"
Kate laughed, "The woman is in her 80's! Do you really want me to hit her?"
He nodded, "I'd do it for you."
"You would?"
"Of course I would, if some old man walked by and called you an unsavory name I'd totally tackle him to the ground and punch him for you."
"But then I'd have to arrest you for assault," she replied.
Castle shook his head, "No you wouldn't, you'd be so overwhelmed with gratitude that you'd reward me with a token of your affection."
She giggled, "What have you been drinking today?"
"Oh come on, you know you'd thank me."
"Alright, Castle, I'll allow you to have your fantasy."
His brow rose, "You want me to tell you about some of the other fantasies I've had."
She felt her face flush and she unconsciously licked her lips as she gazed into his blue eyes. "Sometime," she replied quietly; "But not tonight."
His eyes widened, "Did you really just say that?"
She grinned, "Yeah I did."
"Just checking," he replied, a measure of shock still present in his tone.
"I took pictures," she said, changing the subject and pulling her phone from her pocket.
He smiled, "The gifts just keep coming."
She laughed and flicked through photos, identifying each person and allowing him to study each picture.
"So this is Miriam," he said as he took the phone from her hand.
"That's her."
"Dreadful writer," he muttered. "You should've let Savannah kick her ass."
"You think that would've been a good idea?"
He nodded, "I'd bet that your grandmother could kick some serious ass."
"You're probably right but I didn't want to take any chances. I haven't even told you what she said about me."
"What did she say about you?" he asked.
"She said I was sassy, sinful, and a troublemaker."
"She forgot sexy, badass, and extraordinary," Castle replied.
Kate laughed, "Thanks."
"Who's this?" he asked as he moved to the next picture.
She sighed, "That's Lauren."
He could hear the change in her tone and looking into her eyes he could see the hurt in them.
"What happened?" he asked quietly.
"We had words," she replied.
He opened his arms to her and she didn't hesitate to curl into his side and rest her head against his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her and gave her waist a light squeeze.
"What did she say?"
She took a breath and then told him what had happened. His jaw tightened as he listened, anger coursing through him as he thought of Kate having to endure the harsh words of her aunt.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered when she finished.
"It's not your fault," she said quietly as his hold tightened on her.
"If I would've been there, I would've stopped her."
"It's okay, I didn't expect her to be happy to see me, and I've always known that she wasn't overly fond of my mother. She's jealous, she always has been and nothings going to change that."
"Tell me the truth, Kate, how did they treat you? Was anyone else cruel to you?"
"No, no one else was cruel."
"I sense that there is a but involved in that statement."
"It was awkward, and I didn't feel very welcome although Grandma made every effort to make it otherwise. My cousins Jake and Abby ignored me as did my Uncle's wife Madelyn. My Uncle ignored me until I was going to leave after Lauren had said her piece, but he came after me and convince me to stay for grandma's sake. Penelope didn't say much to me until she was leaving, but Heather, Philip and Ashley were accepting of me being there, and Miranda and Sophie seemed to like me."
"It's their loss," he told her in reference to the people who had snubbed her.
"I know," she whispered.
"But it doesn't make it any better does it?"
"No," she replied.
"I'm sorry."
She gave a light laugh and tipped her head up to look at him. "You don't have to apologize for them, it's over and done with and I survived and I'm here now…and being here makes everything better."
He kissed the top of her head and handed back her phone. "I'm glad that being here makes you feel better."
"You always make me feel better," she replied. "Why is that?"
He chuckled softly, "I told you, I'm gifted."
She laughed, "How could I have forgotten?"
"It's alright; I'll forgive your memory lapse this time."
"That's so good of you."
He nodded, "I'm just that kind of guy".
She was quiet for a moment before speaking again, "Thanks for the coffee, it was a nice surprise."
"You're welcome; I was worried though that you'd hear me and shoot me thinking it was an intruder."
Kate laughed, "I guess you're lucky that I wasn't sleeping lightly this morning."
"Elves are always lucky," he answered.
"I just wonder what my neighbors think when they see you sneaking in and out of my apartment."
"Your neighbors were nowhere insight either time I carried out my acts of Christmas cheer."
"What if they had seen you?" she asked in amusement.
"Then they'd think that you're a very lucky woman."
"You think so highly of yourself," she replied.
"Someone has to."
She yawned and snuggled closer to him seeking his warmth.
"You want to stay?" he asked.
"I can't," she replied. "I don't have anything with me."
"I'm sure we can find something for you," he told her.
"No, I better get going; I'm hitting the sales with your mom and Alexis in the morning."
"When did this happen?" he asked.
"Martha asked me when I got here."
"I'm glad you're going, you can keep them in line."
She laughed, "What's the fun in that?"
"Oh I see how it is, female bonding day, you're all going to conspire against me aren't you?"
She moved out of his arms and gave him a teasing look, "You never know."
"I'm surprised you're going out into the madness," he replied as he followed her towards the door.
"Well I'm hoping to get a good deal on a new suitcase," she told him.
He looked at her intently barely daring to hope, "A new suitcase?"
Kate nodded, "Yeah, I'm going on a trip."
His brow rose, "Oh, where are you going?"
"Vegas," she answered as she smiled brightly.
His lips curved upward and his eyes shone, "You going with anyone I know?"
She laughed and reached out a hand to straighten the collar of his shirt. "Just some big shot author, no one really worth mentioning."
His smile couldn't get any wider and before he grabbed her, lifting her off the floor and spinning her around.
Kate giggled, "Put me down, Castle."
"You're being serious, aren't you?" he asked as he gripped her arms. "You aren't teasing me, right?"
"No, Castle, I'm not teasing you. I've decided that you're right it would be fun to get away."
"You know what this means don't you?"
"What?"
"There really is a Santa Claus," Castle replied.
"Guess you've been a good boy this year, Castle," she replied before leaning in and kissing him like she had been wanting too all morning.
"God, I love this holiday," he said when she pulled away.
Kate laughed, "Goodnight, Rick."
"Wait," he said as he drew her back towards him and stared into her eyes.
"What?" she asked softly.
"Something's different," he said.
"Is it?" she asked as she held his stare.
He nodded, "Yes, something's different."
She smiled, "I wonder what it is?"
"I don't know," he answered; "But I like it."
"Do you?"
"Yeah."
"Me too," she whispered.
"What's going on, Kate?" he asked quietly.
She shrugged, "Don't worry, you'll figure it out."
He looked at her again and she smiled before brushing a light kiss across his mouth and then turning towards the door.
"Goodnight," she whispered.
"Goodnight."
The door closed behind her but he stood and stared at it as if he could still see her. There was something in her eyes that was different, something had changed. He turned and moved back towards the living room. He sat back down on the sofa and sighed, just when it seemed like he had her figured out she went and changed the game, but she was going to Vegas with him and that was something major. He smiled as he thought of the trip to come and then it hit him. The wall was down.