December 21, 2025

"Daddy," Evan asks as he leans into Castle's side. "What's your favorite Christmas movie?"

"Mine is Beauty and the Beast," Avery cuts in, peeking at her brother from around their father.

"That's not a Christmas movie," Evan replies.

"Is too. Beauty and the Beast Enchanted Christmas," Avery responds and sticks her tongue out.

"I was askin' Daddy," Evan says.

"I like that one," Castle says as he tugs Avery back into his side and rubs her back. "I also really like Miracle on 34th Street."

"Oh," Avery breathes and nods. "Me too!"

Evan nods thoughtfully. "That's good. But so is A Christmas Carol."

Castle and Avery nod enthusiastically together.

Kate walks out of the office and sets her cell phone on the table on her way to climb onto the couch. There's a bit of shifting as Avery scoots over enough for Kate to settle in beside Castle, and then climbs into her lap.

"Mama, what's your favorite Christmas movie?" Evan asks.

"It's a Wonderful Life," she responds immediately, her voice conveying her absolute certainty.

"Well, if we all have different favorites, what are we supposed to watch?" Evan asks as he looks at the movies in front of him.

"Watch all of 'em!" Avery replies excitedly. "All the movies!"

Kate and Castle laugh, but Evan shrugs and moves over to the DVD player. He inserts the first movie before heading to the kitchen. Kate follows him while Castle gets the movie set up, and as Evan puts some of the cookies onto a plate for them to share, she takes out the chocolate peppermint coconut milk she'd found and pours it into four tumblers for them to have with the cookies.

When they return to the living room, the movie is paused at the beginning of It's A Wonderful Life, and Evan hands the plate of cookies to Castle while Kate passes out the cups of milk.

"It's coconut milk, Ave," she tells her daughter, "so you're okay to drink it."

Avery nods her thanks and takes a sip from the straw, looking up in surprise when the peppermint hits her tongue.

"It's mint!" she exclaims and Kate laughs and nods.

"It is. I found it at the store and thought we could try it."

"Buy more," Avery replies. "I like it."

Kate laughs again and kisses her daughter's head. "I'll see if I can find it again."

"Can we start the movie?" Evan asks as he holds the remote control.

Castle nods as he bites the head off a sugar cookie angel. "Go ahead."

"That was a good movie, Mama," Avery says as the end credits roll. "It's not gonna be my favorite but it's still good."

Kate laughs as she stands from the couch and brushes a few crumbs from her leggings. "Does anyone need anything?"

"More milk?" Avery asks as she hold up her tumbler.

Kate nods and takes the cup from her daughter, then turns to her husband and son. "You guys need anything?"

Castle holds up the empty plate of cookies with a sheepish smile on his face. "Cookies?"

Kate rolls her eyes but takes the plate from him with a mumble. "Gonna have to make more if we want to give any of them away."

"Love you, honey," Castle says, to which Kate sticks out her tongue playfully.

"Evan, are you set with everything?"

Evan thinks for a moment before he shakes his head. "Nope. I'm gonna go get Ellinore."

"Can you bring Sir Rawr please?" Avery asks as she raises her head slightly off the couch to look at her brother.

Evan nods and hurries up the stairs to their bedrooms while Kate goes to the kitchen. Castle exchanges It's a Wonderful Life for the next movie, then heads back for the couch where he takes in Avery. She's spread herself along the couch, taking up as much space as she can

"Stand up, Ave. I've got an idea."

Avery pushes herself off the couch and comes to stand in front of her father, bouncing slightly on her feet in excitement. "What are we gonna do?"

"We're gonna make a fort," Castle decides. "Can you get the spare sheets and blankets from the closet for me?"

Avery nods and scampers off as Evan comes back downstairs holding Ellinore and Sir Rawr carefully in his arms.

"Evan!" Castle calls to his son. "Can you get me all the pillows from the bedrooms, bud? We're making a fort."

Evan nods and hands the animals off to Castle who sets them on the piano bench for the time being as Avery returns to him with all the extra sheets she can carry.

"Thank you, Ave. Do you want to help me set it up?"

Avery nods and takes one end of the sheet while Castle takes the other and they begin arranging the sheets over the furniture and securing it with clothespins.

Kate taps Castle on the shoulder and when he turns around she's smiling at him while holding out the down comforter from their bed.

"Figured we could all lay on this?"

Castle nods and leans in to kiss her, only pulling away when their kids begin gagging behind them.

Kate helps him spread out the comforter on the floor of their fort, and then they drape the final sheet over it.

"Alright, children, grab your animals and enter the fort!" Castle says as he holds the door open.

Evan and Avery grab their stuffed animals and enter the spacious fort to get comfortable while Castle holds the fort open for Kate. She's carrying a tray of food and drinks and she sets it down gently before crawling in and bringing it in behind her and Castle follows her in.

They've managed to set the fort up so that the TV is inside and Castle gets Miracle on 34th Street started as the four of them make last minute adjustments in the fort.

Both Castle and Kate are aware that their kids will probably shift during the movie-they may even fall asleep-but for now they're all content to cuddle up together as the movie begins.

"Avery, sweetheart," Kate murmurs as she gently strokes her daughter's curls back from her face. "Wake up, Ave."

Avery grunts and peels her eyes open to find her mother peering down at her. "Mama?" she asks.

"Hey, Ave."

"Movie done?"

Kate nods and welcomes Avery into her arms as her daughter wakes slowly. Castle seems to be having an easier time getting Evan awake but she can tell her son is still slightly sleepy.

"We have at least one more movie to watch tonight," Kate says softly, feels like she has to keep her voice quiet to match the dim lights within their fort. "Do you guys want to order some pizza or Chinese and eat in the fort while we watch?"

Evan nods and claps his hand over his mouth as he yawns. "Can we take a break while we wait for dinner though?"

Castle nods. "Of course. Do you guys want pizza or Chinese?"

"Chinese," Evan and Avery respond at the same time, and Castle laughs while he opens his phone and calls their favorite place to order their food. "It'll be about 45 minutes," he tells them.

"Can we sleep here tonight?" Avery asks as she looks hopefully between Kate and Castle.

Kate smiles as she nods her head. "I think we can do that."

"If we get uncomfortable we can move to the big bed," Avery reasons.

Kate laughs and shakes her head. "You're just inviting yourself into the big bed?"

Avery nods. "It's the best idea. Since it's close."

"We'll see," Kate says as she kisses her daughter again.

They sit in relative silence for awhile, and when there's a knock at the door, both Castle and Kate crawl out of the fort. While Castle heads to the door to collect their dinner and pay, Kate heads to the kitchen to grab drinks and additional trays for the food to rest on. They don't normally eat Chinese off of plates, but she's rather fond of the duvet cover and would like to keep it as clean as she can.

Together, both parents crawl back into the fort and Evan hits play on their final movie while the four of them dig into their dinner.

By the time A Christmas Carol is done, Avery is sacked out with her head pillowed on Kate's chest while Evan mirrors her position on Castle. Kate shifts slightly closer to her husband, and he sleepily pulls her into his side, and Kate settles in with her hand on Avery's back. They'll probably have to move during the night, and she'll more than likely wake up with Avery's feet in her face, but she's content to fall asleep with her family surrounding her.

Thanks as always to Lindsey for the beta and the cheerleading!