Chapter 4

Kate hadn't noticed Castle grab a jacket out of the closet just inside the door of the cabin, but when she finally caught up to him he was sporting a blue ski jacket and black ski cap and gloves. She looked down at her own ensemble: Fleece jacket, sweater, jeans...didn't seem to jive with whatever it was Castle had in mind.

"We're not skiing to get the supplies are we?" she asked, suddenly worried. It was actually the kind of crazy thing he'd probably attempt to do. When he'd said to bundle up she figured he'd meant to wear a jacket. Or at least long sleeves. So she had grabbed what was handy out of the top of her luggage, which wasn't much.

He chuckled as he fit a pair of Oakley snow goggles over his eyes. "No, but you still might want to wear something a little more waterproof." He laughed at the confused look she gave him. "Tell you what, go to the closet in the bedroom and look on the left hand side. Try that, then come back. I'll have everything ready to go by the time you get back out here." He shooed her away with the flick of his wrist.

Kate went back to their bedroom to see what it was that he thought she should be changing into and stopped just inside the door as the thought replayed in her mind.

Their bedroom.

It actually sounded pretty nice.

She walked over to the large closed that she hadn't paid much attention to on her first cursory look at the room. Truth be told, she'd been more excited about that bathroom... From the closet she pulled a red jacket that looked to be the women's version of the one Castle was wearing. In the pockets she found matching gloves and a micro fleece ear warmer. She pulled her jacket off, opting to leave the sweater in place, and donned her newfound treasures. She hurried back outside to find Castle ready and waiting for her.

Sitting atop an ATV that had been fitted with snow tires, he grinned at her like the Cheshire cat and extended her a pair of Oakleys that were just like his except the band was purple instead of black. Kate rolled her eyes as she took them and put them in place, then crossed her arms in mock anger.

"Castle that thing only has one seat," she huffed.

He scooted forward. "There's plenty of room," he insisted , "Come on up!" He reached a hand down to help her. She raised and eyebrow, grabbed a hold of the arm he'd extended, and climbed up behind him. It was a little bit of a tight fit, but not uncomfortable. He turned his head to better see her. "See?" he said, "Plenty of room." He wiggled a bit to prove his point.

"Castle," she warned halfheartedly. This closeness was actually quite nice. Comfortable.

"Hold on tight," he said as he started it up, and they were off.

Kate wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek up against his back.

Oh yeah. She could get used to this.

Castle navigated the snow covered paths with the ease of someone with much experience. It tickled him to no end that Kate's grip around his waist never loosened. As he took a corner and they hit a small pothole (as he knew they would) her breath came in hot little puffs just below his ear. Her hands instinctively gripped the edge of his jacket as her arms tightened a fraction more. He slowed as they came to a sudden clearing and parked the vehicle just outside the tree line by the path they'd just taken.

"You have a helicopter pad on your mountain?" She laughed lightly, "Oddly enough, that doesn't surprise me. Castle offered her a hand and she took it as she hopped down and kept hold of her elbow to be certain she had sure footing.

"It's only for emergencies," he explained, "or when we need supplies. Or no one feels like driving, or-"

He was interrupted by her gloved hand coming up to cover his mouth.

"I get the idea," she said. "It's fun. Right?"

He nodded until she dropped her hand. "And useful. But mostly fun." He stepped over to where a pile of nondescript boxes and canvas bags sat next to the helicopter. After speaking briefly with the pilot he ran back to where he'd left Kate standing by the ATV. The helicopter's blades sliced through the air and they waited until it had cleared the trees before making their way to pile of supplies.

Kate nudged one of the boxes with her boot. "Why do I suddenly feel like I'm trapped on a mystical island and have to watch my back for a smoke monster?"

Castle laughed and breathed in heavily then released it slowly making a visible cloud of vapor appear in the cold air. He growled and began charging her playfully. Kate shrieked and threw a snowball at his face, stopping him dead in his tracks.

"No fair. If I were a real smoke monster that would have gone right through me..." he grumbled.

She laughed and brushed the snow from his face and around his collar so that it wouldn't work its way down into his shirt. "True," she said, "But if you were a real smoke monster I also couldn't do this." She surprised him by kissing the very tip of his nose lightly before she spun on her heel and began picking up a few of the bags and boxes.

They made short work of loading and securing the various bags and boxes to the back of the ATV, and to Kate's surprise Castle didn't seem to be in a hurry to get back. He seemed to be watching her carefully, perhaps gaging her mood? She laughed lightly. The silly man had nothing to worry about. She moved next to him and bumped his hip playfully. They stood wordlessly just enjoying the open sky above them for a few moments; the stillness of the mountains wrapping them in a comforting embrace not often afforded them by the noise of the city.

When she thought he might finally be ready to leave he instead took her hand and with a soft smile turned in the opposite direction from whence they'd come. "I want to show you something," he said as they wound their way through the trees. After a few minutes they emerged into another clearing, much smaller than the helicopter landing pad. He led her to the edge of the cliff, not so far as to be dangerous, but far enough that she could see what lay below. Beyond the small clearing sat a small village blanketed in snow. "It looks like a postcard," Kate whispered, shivering slightly. She hadn't noticed it getting colder, but perhaps the trees had been sheltering them from the wind. She felt him move behind her, but he hesitated. She turned slightly and leaned into him, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek. "Thank you for sharing this with me." And somehow she knew that he knew that she wasn't just referring to the view.

Castle wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. "You're welcome. Now let's get you back before you freeze." He took her gloved hands in his own and pretended to warm them by blowing on them.

"Yeah," she said, "I think it's about time I just give up and go skinny dipping..." She turned back towards the path and sauntered away leaving him frozen in place, mouth agape. Throwing a smirk over her shoulder she added, "In the jacuzzi...with bubbles."

Kate wandered into the living room after her luxurious bath (who'd have known that Castle's bathroom would be so well stocked with bubbles and bath salts? But then maybe he'd been anticipating her agreeing to come...or just hoping...) feeling quite relaxed. She didn't see Castle straight off so she sat on the couch with her legs stretched out along its length and closed her eyes for a few moments to replay her day in her mind's eye. It made her want to run, jump, dance, and nearly burst open with joy. That might be a bit extreme so she instead opted to just bask in the warm glow of contentment that surrounded her.

Before long Kate felt something warm being pressed into her hands and her eyelids flew open. Castle smiled apologetically. "Coffee?" She brought the warm liquid to her lips and smiled into her mug.

"Mmm...thanks." She pulled her legs more tightly against her so that he could join her. "Where's everyone else?" she inquired.

He laughed and pulled her feet back towards him, laying them across his lap. His thumb lightly traced her sock clad ankle. "Avoiding kitchen duty. The rule has always been that whoever is closer to the kitchen at 6:00 on the first night has to make dinner. Mother and Alexis are probably just hiding out somewhere." He shrugged and looked at his watch. "OH LOOK," he called out to the rest of the house, "IT'S 6:00. DARN. GUESS I'VE GOT TO MAKE DINNER!" He chuckled softly. "It's a rule, but for the most part I end up cooking anyhow. Care to watch the master at work?"

Kate stood with him and looked down at her curiously empty mug. "I'll do you one better. You make me more coffee, and I'll help you make dinner." He proffered his arm. "Madam, I don't believe I've ever heard a more delightful proposition...YET." He waggled his eyebrows and led her into the kitchen.

Castle tossed Kate an apron and draped one around his own neck. Giving her his best very fake Italian accent he said, "Tonight-a, we make-a ze world-a famous spaghetti and meat-za balls!"

Sure enough the kitchen island was ready to go—all of the ingredients having been laid out ahead of time.

"I'm shocked by your preparedness," she joked as he handed her a second mug of coffee.

Placing his hands on his hips in mock superhero fashion he responded, "I am prepared for ANYTHING."

She stepped closer to him. "Anything?"

He returned the step, invading her personal space. "Everything."

She grabbed a knife and started preparing the garlic bread. Not looking him in the eye she said, "Good."

"Good," he replied and started working on the meatballs.

Half an hour later the cabin was filled with the delicious smells of garlic and homemade tomato sauce; meatballs, and the ever present scent of coffee. Alexis made her way downstairs first, her nose in a book; pencil behind her ear.

Kate laughed as she watched the girl expertly maneuver around the living room furniture without hitting anything or lowering her book. As she reached the kitchen table she laid the book flat and made a notation in it before marking her place with the pencil and closing it. She sighed happily. "Almost finished!" Kate regarded her questioningly. "Ah," Alexis started, "Technically my school isn't on Christmas break just yet, but-"

"But my daughter is a genius and her presence isn't required. She gets good grades in her sleep!" He boasted.

Alexis blushed. "Well, I did get good enough grades to be exempt from exams. The only thing I have left is a paper on this book and I was given permission to email that to my teacher."

Kate smiled widely, impressed with the girl's work ethic. (Her face was beginning to feel the effects of smiling more often.) "Good for you Alexis, I hope we haven't disrupted your process?"

Alexis shook her head, "No, as I said, I'm almost finished. Just a few loose thoughts to tie up. I'll probably be able to send it in before bed...that is...if you'd read it over, Dad?" She looked at her father with her best puppy-dog eyes and batted her eyelashes.

Castle looked up from the pot of sauce he'd been stirring and cocked his head to the side. "Sure, but you know sweetie, I'm just an author. I'm the one that makes the mistakes and then my very own editor fixes them."

"Nice try, Castle. I'll read it over too, Alexis," Kate offered. "Two sets of eyes are bound to catch any mistakes better than one tired set.

"Hey! My eyes are not tired," Castle grumbled before tasting the sauce. "Ick. More salt."

Alexis beamed, "I'd be very appreciative of that de—Kate."

Kate nodded and turned to pull the bread out of the oven, glad to be able to be of some service to this family that had somehow adopted her.

Dinner was a comfortable affair. Many laughs were had, stories of Christmas past were shared, and Kate saw even deeper into the man she had grown to love.

Love?

Conversation flowed easily and Kate felt as if she'd been a part of theses trips all her life. As she watched Castle telling some story about a runaway sled and a string of Christmas lights she felt a warmth deep in her belly that quickly spread until it was like a cocoon around her. Yes, she could admit it, if in quiet of her own mind: she really and truly loved this man. He turned suddenly, eyes boring into her soul as if he knew that she was thinking about him. His eyes crinkled with his smile and she couldn't stop the wide grin hijacking her face. She had entered into new and uncharted territory, and it scared the socks off of her. But there was time. He said that they had time. So she wouldn't fight this...thing. Whatever it was. She would walk the path set before her one step at a time. And it excited her to no end, reaching down to her toes, the tips of her fingers. She was ready, finally, save the fact that she had no idea what came next.

After the table had been cleared Martha took her leave once more so as to be 'refreshed' for the festivities that lay ahead. What that meant, Kate had no idea but before she could ask she noticed the silent conversation going on between Castle and his daughter. A glance in that direction, varying raised eyebrows, and nods of the heads, Kate felt like she was watching for baseball instructions...that is until Alexis nodded at her.

What did that mean?

Simultaneously big Castle and little Castle pushed back from the table and stood facing her.

"Kate, it's time for your initiation."

"Initiation?"

Alexis smiled, walked to a drawer in the kitchen, and rummaged through it. She pulled out a large pocket knife and nodded. "Initiation," she said and nodded to her father.

Castle offered his arm to Kate and she took it albeit hesitantly. "Is blood letting an annual tradition?" she half-joked eying the knife.

Alexis laughed. "The blood letting comes later, and is optional. This is a tradition Dad and I have been doing since I was eight. You have to be at least twelve to participate in blood letting." At Kate's look she added, "Kidding..."

"Yeah," Castle said, "Fourteen." But the twinkle in his eye betrayed his carefully composed face. "Do you trust me?" Kate squeezed his offered arm in answer, not yet ready to sort out feelings. He led them out onto the porch and went around the back corner. Carved into the railing Kate saw various forms of Castle's and Alexis' names: Rick, Richard, R.C, Dad, A.C, Lex, Lexi, Alexis...several times over.

She looked at him questioningly. This was obviously a father/daughter tradition, and she filled neither of those roles in this family.

"We've decided to keep you," Alexis stated plainly from just behind her left shoulder.

Castle grinned and shrugged. "We have."

Kate felt her cheeks get warmer as they no doubt turned a few shades redder. "But what about Martha? You keep her right? What about..." she trailed off dumbfounded.

Castle laughed. "Can you see Mother out here with a knife? No."

Alexis smiled shyly. "You..." she took Kate's hand in hers and placed the knife in her open palm. "Don't worry," the youngest Castle said as she stepped back and held the flashlight to properly light an open spot on the rail, "You won't be graded on handwriting."

AN: Are you enjoying this?