A/N: I'm really touched that some of you guys don't want the story to end, however, I did have things all planned out already, and all good things must come to an end, right? :) So this is it guys, I've only got the epilogue left after this chapter. Here's your last chance to leave a review so i can mention you in the shoutout for the epilogue. It's been an amazing journey, and i hope you guys enjoy this.. i've tried to tie up all the loose ends into a nice little package :)

Disclaimer: Not mine


Chapter Twenty-Seven

The days flew by and molded into weeks, which melted along slowly. The two of them tried to be careful, so as not to raise the suspicion of others, but neither of them actually thought they managed to fool their friends all that well.

However, Ryan and Esposito had never actually caught them in a compromising position, nor had they come out and asked them point blank if they were together, so Beckett and Castle just continued on, trying to go by the 'ignorance is bliss' route.

Thankfully the paparazzi hadn't caught wind of Rick's new relationship status, or if they were suspicious, he and Paula were quick to quell the rumors. They killed the stories before the magazines or newspapers could print it. Either way, Kate was happy with the situation, and when Kate was happy, Rick was happy as well.

They hadn't revisited the 'moving in together' topic since that night, but Christmas was coming up soon and Rick had asked her if she wanted to quietly celebrate it together in New York or if she'd prefer him to make arrangements for both their families to go off somewhere quiet, anywhere of her liking, and celebrate Christmas there instead.

However, since she couldn't get that many days off, they decided to celebrate it in New York. Arriana was beside herself with excitement. This was the first time she would be celebrating Christmas with so many people!

The previous years had just been the three Becketts celebrating the holiday together, but this year, Uncle Rick had invited her to his Christmas party, and he was inviting her two new Uncle Javi and Uncle Kevin, along with Aunt Lanie as well. Captain Gates might even be there!

Kate was a little hesitant about throwing a Christmas party together with Rick for their friends, but Castle reassured her, saying he'll tell them it was his party, and that the Becketts were there as guests as well.


As the snow began piling in New York City, so did the number of cases the homicide detectives received. All they could hope for was a respite at Christmas and hopefully New Years too.

The team had split into two, with Beckett and Castle chasing down their own suspects while Ryan and Esposito tried to close their respective cases as well. They had to divide and conquer if they wanted to be free by Christmas.

However, the days leading directly up to Christmas were mainly Castle-void. The famous author had received multiple invitations to Christmas parties thrown by the various circles of New York's elite. It seemed that Paula also thought that the Christmas season was perfect for promoting his books.

So while Kate was busy in the precinct from day to night, Castle spent his days doing book readings and signings for the special Christmas Editions of some of his bestsellers whereas his evenings were spent at galas and soirées.

Hence, they unfortunately saw very little of each other. So, when Castle suddenly found himself with a block of free time, he decided to pop into the precinct, buying a cup of coffee for the detective he hardly saw anymore these past few days.

Beckett's face lit up when she saw him walking toward her with coffee in tow. "Hey stranger," she greeted, taking the coffee from him.

"Hey back at you. God, it feels like I haven't seen you in weeks or something even though its only been what, four days?" he asked.

"Something like that," she replied, taking a sip of her coffee. Pausing, she took another sip. Hmm, there was something different. Castle was looking at her expectantly.

"So? You like it? I know its not your regular order, but I decided to try something more festive," he explained.

"Yeah, I like the hint of cinnamon, very Christmas-y," she agreed.

"So, busy day?" he asked, pointing at the papers strewn on her table.

"Oh, not really. I closed the case an hour ago, just writing the report now."

"Cool, I'll go check in on the boys," he told her, making a move so she could get back to work.

The boys greeted him with slaps on the back, and they chatted for a bit, with Esposito and Ryan filling him on their more interesting cases the past few days while he was gone. "Christmas is a time for celebration man, not murder," Esposito punctuated.

Suddenly, the phone on Ryan's table began ringing. "Don't let it be a body drop, just don't let it be a body drop," Esposito began chanting as Ryan answered the phone. Hanging up, the Irish detective told his partner, "Body drop."

Esposito groaned as they put on their coats, leaving to check out the murder scene. "Good luck," Castle called out as they headed to the escalator. The boys raised their hand at him in response as Castle turned to head back to Beckett's desk.

He settled into his chair, content to watch the female detective write up her reports. She looked up to share a small smile with him, before turning her eyes back to the paper. Castle looked around the bullpen, seeing only a few detectives left. Most of them who were celebrating out of town must've begun their Christmas leave already, since tomorrow would be Christmas Eve.

Turning his head to gaze into the break room, a thought came into his mind. "Come on, Beckett. Time to take a break," he told her, standing up. She stopped her writing but did not stand, giving him a questioning look instead.

He smiled, and gesturing with his head for her to follow him, Castle started walking toward the break room. Kate obliged, since she had hardly seen him at all the past few days. Putting down her pen, Kate stood up and followed him into the break room.

He walked inside and looked back at her until she joined him by his side. "I'm here, Castle, what do you want?"

Pointing up, he told her innocently, "Oh nothing, detective, but it looks to me that we're standing underneath a mistletoe."

She grinned, telling him, "Castle, we're at the precinct."

"But tradition dictates that you have to kiss under the mistletoe. Whoever hung it up there did it having full knowledge of this, despite it being a precinct. I'm just trying to uphold tradition here, detective," he reasoned.

"Really?" Beckett surveyed their surroundings, and seeing that there weren't really anyone else around, stepped closer to him and continued, "Well then, I guess we'll just have to follow tradition."

He nodded, smiling at her and pulling her in for a kiss.

"Aha! I knew it!"

Beckett and Castle jumped apart and looked at the source of the outcry. Esposito and Ryan stood in the doorway, gleefully looking in.

"We were just… the mistletoe, and tradition…" Castle supplied.

"Save it, we know you're together," Ryan accused.

The couple looked at each other, busted by their friends, caught red handed with their hands in the cookie jar so to speak. Shrugging, Beckett decided it was about time to come clean anyway. "So? Took you guys long enough."

"We knew since a month ago," Esposito retorted, looking at Ryan expectantly. The Irish detective reluctantly pulled out a twenty and passed it to his partner.

Castle interjected, "But we've been together almost three months now. Some detectives you guys are."

"Aha!" Ryan exclaimed gleefully at his partner, gloating, "I knew they've been together for at least two months. Pay up, bro." Esposito sullenly handed back the twenty Ryan gave him, and added another twenty note into the outstretched palm of his partner.

Watching the exchange with an amused expression, Castle suddenly said, "Wait, I thought you guys had a body drop."

"Nah," Esposito explained, "Ryan made that up, it was just the ballistics report for our case. We pretended like it was a body drop so we could leave."

"And knowing that the both of you haven't seen each other in days," Ryan interrupted, "it was the perfect cover for us to catch you two sneaking off and settle our bet once and for all."

"Sneaky. But we're trying to keep things quiet, so if you boys don't mind," Beckett told her friends, "We'd like to keep it from the captain, since the NYPD has the whole no dating policy."

"Too late, detective," Captain Gates said from the other doorway leading into the break room. "The two of you weren't fooling anyone trying to hide your relationship. I knew at least ten weeks ago."

All four of them stared flabbergasted at the captain who continued walking into the room, heading over to the coffee machine.

"Err, why didn't you say anything, sir?" Beckett asked, bewildered. It wasn't like their by-the-book captain to bend the rules, or in this case, ignore the rules outright.

"Two reasons. One, since Mr. Castle isn't technically a member of the NYPD, the policy doesn't apply to him. However, that policy is there for a reason, Beckett. So I expect you to still be able to keep your head when you get into difficult situations with your partner? Otherwise, Mr. Castle would have to stop consulting."

Beckett gave two quick nods at the captains' question. The captain gave one small nod in acknowledgement, and continued, "Secondly, your work performance hasn't been affected, so I don't see the harm, so long as your closure rate doesn't start slipping."

"Thank you, sir," Beckett said belatedly, realizing that the four of them had remained silent even though their captain had finished speaking. Her head was reeling. One of the other reasons Kate didn't want to go public with their relationship was because she was afraid that Captain Gates would end their partnership upon finding out their new relationship status.

So within those five minutes, their close friends essentially knew about their relationship, and so did the captain, yet there wouldn't be any serious repercussions. All in all, this was possibly one of the best-case scenarios for Castle and Beckett, and all before Christmas too! Now they could celebrate Christmas without trying to hide their feelings for each other.

Things seem to be brightening up in time for Christmas after all!

The captain had finished making her coffee, and was leaving the break room with her steaming cup when she called back to her detectives, "Don't you guys have work to do?"

The four of them scattered out of the break room and scrambled to their desks, mumbling replies under their breath. Sitting in their respective seats by Beckett's desk, Castle asked her, "That went pretty well, could have gone much worse, right?"

"Mmhmm, I'd say it was a Christmas present for us," she told him, reaching for his hand.

"I didn't know you were such a romantic, but yeah, I'd say that could be our Christmas miracle," Castle agreed, and Beckett leaned in to share a chaste kiss with him out in public for the very first time in the precinct.


The Becketts and Castles and a Roger got together for Christmas Eve dinner at the loft. After dinner Jim put the presents he bought under the sparkly Christmas tree and went off. Martha too, went out shortly thereafter, attending another party thrown by one of her friends.

The four of them remained in the loft. Kate and Arriana were staying over, since she had the day off, and Arriana wanted to open her presents first thing in the morning with Alexis. The teen had kindly offered to share her bed with the little girl much to the adults' relief.

Gathering around the Christmas tree, Rick announced, "Okay! Time for a Castle tradition. Everybody gets to pick one present to open on Christmas Eve. Just one, though, the rest will have to wait until tomorrow."

Arriana cheered in delight, digging to see which were her presents under the tree. "Here, you should open this one then. It's not really wrapped though," Kate offered a paper bag to Rick. Taking it from her, he opened it and pulled out a Santa Hat. Putting it on, he jokingly told her, "Wow Kate, you sure pick great presents."

"You'll get to see part two tonight," she spoke softly into his ear, but it must have not been soft enough, since Alexis' cheeks had turned red. The teen steadfastly began unwrapping her present, trying to pretend she hadn't accidentally eavesdrop.

"I can't wait," Rick murmured to her, dropping a kiss on her lips. "Here, I want you to open mine," he continued, handing her a small box. Thankfully, the rectangular box wasn't the size to hold a ring, so Kate wouldn't have to worry about him proposing to her just yet.

Things were going at just the right pace, and Kate didn't want any unexpected surprises just yet. Opening the box, she was greeted by the sight of a shiny key, attached to a key chain that was a silhouette of a castle. "Rick?" she breathed.

"I know we agreed to pin away moving in together, but this isn't that. It's a key for you, so that you can come over any time you want. I want you to know that you're welcomed here whenever you feel like it, Kate," he explained.

"Thank you, Rick. It really means a lot to me," she managed to say to him before her emotions made her choke up just a little.

"Mommy look what Lexie got me!" Arriana proudly held up a face-painting palette, complete with twelve colors and some brushes.

"Come here," Alexis waved Arriana over. "Check this out," the teen took the palette and slid it, revealing a bottom layer that consisted of different colored glitter.

Arriana jumped up and down, ecstatic over the hidden bottom. When she calmed down a little, she hugged Alexis tightly, thanking her over and over again for the coolest gift a five year-old could receive. The rest of them laughed happily watching on at how a little girl could get so overjoyed over something as simple as face paint.

Alexis finally opened her present, and was delighted to find a blue scarf that Arriana had picked out for her. "To match your pretty eyes," Arriana explained.

"Okay, bedtime for you," Kate told her daughter. "The sooner you sleep, the sooner Santa can come over with your presents, and the sooner Christmas morning will arrive."

They clambered up the stairs and soon enough Arriana was all showered and settled in bed with Alexis. Giving both girls goodnight kisses, Kate and Rick finally withdrew to his bedroom.

After Rick got ready for bed, Kate went into the bathroom with her overnight bag, keeping to her promise of the second part to his Christmas present. After a while, she emerged in a sexy Santa's Helper outfit, complete with white fur trimmings on the edges of the red lingerie.

Needless to say Rick thoroughly enjoyed unwrapping his Christmas present.


The rest of the Christmas presents were opened on Christmas morning, and after a splendid Christmas brunch, they got ready for the party that night. All their close friends were there, and the party was a success.

Now that they were no longer hiding their relationship from their friends, Rick took every opportunity he could to kiss Kate, hanging up additional mistletoes in his loft. All in all, their first Christmas together was a smash.


A/N: So this was how I envisioned their first Christmas to be instead.. hope you guys liked it. Epilogue will be up real soon. Have i mentioned how epically amazing you guys have been? Please review! :)