December 25 - Presents
Her back is killing her and her feet throb, but every ache and pain is so, so worth it, because the day has been beyond amazing. Yes, they'd spoiled the kids and each other beyond belief, showering them in presents both large and small, but it's been more than that that's made today special.
It's her father waking up at their place and coming down the stairs with his grandchildren to see what joy Santa brought them.
It's Martha regaling them all with tales – sanitized for Lily's wide-eyed gaze and impressionable ears, thankfully – of her time on the stage and recalling the years she spent making Rick's childhood Christmases magical with their productions of The Nutcracker.
"Next year, kiddo," she'd sworn when Lily had breathlessly begged to see it too. Kate knows she'll keep her word.
It's Alexis playing with her little sister and brothers, indulgently taking every item the boys presented to her and only giving them back when they demanded them, and allowing Lily to explain games she's played hundreds, if not thousands, of times before in her life.
It's Rick looking at them all like they've made his every dream come true, like he's never needed or wanted anything other than what they have right in front of them.
It's their family. Not just their gifts – though those are pretty great, too – but the entire day has been about each other. Making each other happy. Bringing joy to everyone's eyes.
Cool fingers slip over the back of her neck, squeezing when she jolts and twists away from the Christmas tree. "Sorry," he murmurs, holding out a glass of Jameson to her. They must have finished off the eggnog earlier if he's skipping straight to the whiskey. "I didn't mean to startle you."
Kate shakes her head, taking the drink and slipping her arm around his waist, keeping him close by for her first sip. "You didn't. I just got a little wrapped up in thinking."
"Mmm," he hums, raising his own glass to his lips. "Thinking about what?"
She smiles, looking around the living room, taking in the mess that's been left behind. The little bits of wrapping paper that they'd missed. The toys that hadn't managed to get put back under the tree. Shoes and coats and scarves discarded on the floor and draped over the arm of the chair. It's chaos and a part of her wants to clean it up right now, but it's evidence of the kind of day they've had. Fun, carefree.
Exactly what she's hoped to have, what she's always wanted to give to her children.
"Just today. Christmas, my dad. Your mom. How silly Reece and Jake were playing in that ball pit."
Rick chuckles. "Yeah, we're never going to get them out of that thing. We might have to get a bigger one eventually."
"So you'll be able to join them?" She grins, brushing her mouth over his jaw. He feigns insult, touching his chest with his glass, but she knows he's likely already looking for a larger version of the boys' present just so he can play in the ball pit with them.
"Well you don't have to say it like that."
She laughs, swaying against his side. "I'm sure you'll find one big enough for all of us. And then you'll put up a blanket fort around it and it'll be just like the play areas that fast food places used to have when we were kids."
Castle grins. "Yeah, it's going to be great. I hadn't thought of the blanket fort idea; we're definitely doing that now; I hope you know that."
"That does not surprise me in the least," she murmurs, thumbing his side through his shirt. "I can't wait."
He laughs, stroking his hand along her side. "What else is on your mind, Kate?" he asks. His hand finds the hem of her sweater and slips beneath the cable knit hem, touching bare skin.
She shakes her head. "That's really it. Maybe there's a little bit of that disappointment that it's all over–"
"–it's never over if we don't let it end," he interrupts, insistent, and her heart throbs with affection for him and his good intentions.
"Maybe not, but it still feels like coming off of a roller coaster and not quite being able to get your body or your brain to understand that you're back on solid ground just yet. All the work, all the wrapping, seeing everyone open their presents…"
"Getting presents, too," he offers, his smile sly. She looks down at the bracelet he'd clasped around her wrist this morning, studying the breathtaking arrangement of labradorite and opal gemstones he'd had inlaid in a platinum band.
She kisses his chin. "That, too. But now that all of that's done, now it just feels so… disorienting. What do we do now? What do we do tomorrow?"
In a way it had been easier last year. Last year Reece and Jake had been infants, just over a month old at the time, and every waking moment not spent playing with Lily's Christmas loot had been spent attending to them. She hadn't had time or the energy to notice the world seeming to grind to a halt. Maybe because it didn't.
Rick thumbs her shoulder. "We could do lots of things," he says. "We can watch movies all day. We can build that blanket fort you mentioned – minus the giant ball pit, since we don't have it yet – and once the kids go to sleep, we can have sex in it."
Kate laughs, bumping her head against his shoulder.
"We can make another big meal and wrap some of Alexis's old toys that are in storage and have a second Christmas."
She snorts. "You say that like we don't have a pile of back-up presents on the top shelf in the closet, too."
He grins, pressing his lips to her nose. "My point is, if you want to, we can make it Christmas again tomorrow. We can make it Christmas every day. And if you want to get technical, the twelve days of Christmas do start today…"
It's tempting, even if just to capture the euphoria of watching her happy children with their grandparents, but she shakes her head. "That would definitely be spoiling them – and me," she adds knowing he has every intention of including her in that 12-day gift-giving frenzy.
Rick chuckles. "We'll stick with small things," he says breezily, making her think he's been planning this all along. Knowing Castle, he probably has.
"I think a movie and play day tomorrow sounds amazing," she says, getting back to the conversation at hand. She leans into him a little more, sipping her whiskey again.
"Kay," Rick agrees, pressing his cheek to her hair.
"Thanks for today," she whispers after a little while, as the bubble of the refrigerator compressor and the hum of the dishwasher combine with the even rhythm of her husband's breathing and threaten to lull her to sleep standing up.
Castle squeezes her in response. "Thank you for today. I tried when Alexis was growing up, and I overcompensated a lot, but Christmases were never like this. So, thank you."
She lifts her head, lips brushing the corner of his mouth. He smiles under her lips. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
"Come on, I've got one more present to give you."
Dropping her arm from his waist, she catches his hand and tugs. He comes easily, following her without a word, grinning a little wider at the smirk she sends over her shoulder when she adds, "You'll thank me for it later, too."
Thank you all for reading, for being sweet and excited, and providing me with a much-needed boost of joy this holiday season. I hope this story was able to do the same for you. I wish you a beautiful, restful, happy day, and for peace to find each and every one of you.
Be well, everyone. Thank you all.
Until next time!