AN: Had a few days of feeling ick. Sorry.

Thanks to everyone who has read, followed, favorited, and reviewed.

Special thanks to Spirit1361, I appreciate the review and agree. Sometimes I think the conversations had without actually conversing are some of the most important. Also Special thanks to LadyAilith, good to know the song choices were acceptable. I was excited about them, but it's really good to know that they fit. Also, To the other 9 who have reviewed chapter 12 (up til now), my heartfelt thanks (sorry I haven't taken time to reply individually). Seriously, y'all kept me from feeling like a total and complete failure.

Never Beta'd...

Chapter 13

Castle's heart pounded wildly.

Did she just?

Was that?

No way.

He was the emotional one. He was the one who wore every emotion he felt on his face.

Kate Beckett didn't normally wear her heart on her sleeve like this.

Kate Beckett didn't normally...

But this wasn't normal was it? Nothing about this whole entire vacation was "normal", but he hoped—really hoped—that it would become the normal for the rest of his life. Their lives?

No way.

Martha and Alexis took their bow and were met with a lively applause. What had they sung? Something about marshmallows? She couldn't be sure. Her heart was pounding. It had taken most of her concentration to slip into the form fitting black dress that she'd snuck in as a wardrobe change 'just in case' and check her hair before their song was over.

Kate slipped onto the stage as the curtain closed and the applause died down.

She took a deep breath.

Her slick palms gripped the microphone tightly.

The lights dimmed and the music started playing.

Another deep breath. He was out there, eyes no doubt seeking her out in the crowd. Served him right for leaving her alone.

Time to lay her cards on the table.

I want to see your face in every kind of light

In fields of dawn and forests of the night

Was he watching? She couldn't bring herself to sweep the audience for his location. Not that show could see anything past the spotlight if she'd wanted to...

And when you stand before the candles on a cake
Oh, let me be the one to hear the silent wish you make
What are you doing the rest of your life?
North and South and East and West of your life
I have only one request of your life
That you spend it all with me

She hoped that her message was received. This song, while it absolutely had been her parents' favorite song, had also been her dream since childhood. And now she had found the person meant to live out that dream with her.

All the seasons and the times of your days
All the nickels and the dimes of your days
Let the reasons and the rhymes of your days
All begin and end with me

He'd made it pretty clear that she meant a lot to him. She hoped that while she was oft lost for words, he would hear her heart in this.

I want to see your face in every kind of light
In the fields of dawn and the forests of the night
And when you stand before the candles on a cake
Oh, let me be the one to hear the silent wish you make

Because somehow, someone had heard hers...and it was time that it was silent no longer.

Those tomorrows waiting deep in your eyes
In the world of love that you keep in your eyes
I'll awaken what's asleep in your eyes
It may take a kiss or two

Ok, maybe this part of the song would be more appropriate coming from him to her, still...she could go for a hundred gazllion or more of those kisses.

Through all of my life
Summer, Winter, Spring, and Fall of my life
All I ever will recall of my life
Is all of my life with you

Kate closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Smiled widely as the weight was lifted from her chest.

The applause was overwhelming. Deafened only by the pounding of her heart.

She exited stage right and found herself pushed up against the wall. His body pressed her shoulders into the velvet covered wall. His mouth...Not devouring hers...?

His breath came out in measured puffs against her cheek. She could feel his heart hammering against the palm laid flat against his chest. His words came with purpose and a desperate gruffness that had her wanting to...

"We don't talk, usually." He ran a hand down the side of her face around to the back of her neck. "We are very good at ignoring. At putting off. But this..." He leaned in ever so slightly his nose a breath away from hers. "This we're going to be talking about."

Any control that she'd built up had fled. Any power gained from finally being able to express herself was gone. He had definitely been affected. Message received apparently. Martha's voice sounded from the stage reading out the raffle winners (local shops had donated small gifts and several toys had been donated so that each kid left with a Christmas gift), thanking everyone for coming, and announcing the final song.

Kate pushed Castle away from her. "Help me out of my dress!" she whispered hurriedly.

His eyes went wide. "Cool it Castle, we're up for the last song and I need to change back into my-" He kissed her. "Mm—my regular clothes." And again. "Mmm, stop that." She swatted his at his chest. It was half hearted, her attempt to make him stop. She wanted nothing more than to just pull him into a darkened corner and—no. They needed to get to the stage. Wrap things up. And then. Then.They'd see where things went.

He stepped back. Kissed her fingertips. Spun her around and unzipped her dress before handing her her clothes and leaning back in for one more quick peck. "Let's do this."

Alexis appeared from somewhere and plopped Santa hats on each of them before proceeding to usher them to the stage. Kate hadn't thought how her revealing song may have affected the girl, but based on the conversation they'd had and the fact that Alexis didn't seem too shaken up about it—she was probably ok.

They made it to the stage hand in hand. A large Christmas tree had been brought out on stage creating a warm festive atmosphere. They started singing White Christmas. Halfway through Martha and Alexis joined them on stage and beckoned the crowd to sing with them. Kate closed her eyes as she sang and felt the vibrations from Castle's chest warm her back as he sang behind her.

This could be her new normal.

Alexis drove the truck back to the cabin. Martha had imbibed a bit too much of the 'adult' egg nog once again, but this year she didn't feel that it was right to make her son drive her home. Plus they now had two vehicles in the village and it would be best not to leave one behind.

"What's with the Cheshire cat grin?" the younger red head asked as she glanced over at her uncommonly quiet grandmother. Martha patted her knee softy so as not to disturb her whilst driving on snow covered and ice slicked roads.

"I think that that went well," Martha said smugly as she tugged her hat more snugly on her head.

"Yes," Alexis agreed. "Very well. It's good to know that eventually, they do see the light. They can be taught," she laughed. "I thought for sure we'd have to be dropping hints up til' Christmas! I wonder if they'll actually talk about things now..." she mused.

"Time will tell, darling. Here's my suggestion: you and I slumber party upstairs tonight. Probably best to give them as much privacy as possible. We'll see how they're doing in the morning."

He couldn't keep his hands off of her.

At varying points during the drive back to the cabin he had at all times some part of him touching her. A hand on her thigh. His palm sliding along her forearm. His index finger linked with her pinky finger. His fingers tangled in hers.

She didn't seem to mind.

In fact, when his fingers weren't interwoven with hers, her hand did some exploring of its own. Twice she caused him to jerk the wheel a little too much to one side or the other nearly going off the narrow road, though he was able to compensate as soon as her touch was lifted.

His breathing, though heavy, remained carefully measured. His body he kept under tight restraint. His back rigid against the seat. He was a bundle of tightly wound nerves that was ready to explode with...With what? Joy? Giddiness? Wonder? Happiness? Elation? Delectation? All of the above, he decided.

Kate Beckett, his Kate, had more or less just told him that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. That she wanted him to spend the rest of his with her? A horrifying thought struck him as he parked the Castlemobile in its hidden spot within the garage. Sucked the air from his lungs. Brought his breathing to a painful halt. What if she didn't mean it the way he thought she meant it? What if it really was just a tribute to her parents? What if-?

"Castle." Her palm was warm on his knee. He opened the driver's side door and got out. Looked back at her without meeting her eyes.

"I just need a minute to think." There was nothing else to say. What if he'd been wrong?

"No. Don't think." Her voice was gentle. She got out on her side and walked around the vehicle. He was leaning against the side, a hand to his forehead. She ran a hand down the side of his face. A gentle caress that spoke volumes. "You start to think and everything unravels."

A glimmer of hope. "Everything?"

She answered with a smile, a promise, and grabbed his hand to lead him back to the cabin.

Martha and Alexis must have gone to bed early. Kate smiled as she pulled Castle in the door behind her. A fire was already lit and blazing in the living room. Considerate of them. She halted his forward motion just as he reached behind him to close the door. Her eyes cast an upward glance. Her head tilted ever so slightly to the side in askance.

His nerves, while never fully fleeing, seemed to recede as tender warmth filled his eyes. The look that he gave her was some combination of desire, arousal, and bewilderment. "You don't need this you know," he said as he fingered the plant above their heads before bowing his head to capture her lips.

Kate felt her knees weaken and mentally berated herself for becoming the cliché. She felt Castle's arms wrap around her and pull her more fully against him. "Couch," she breathed and he acquiesced almost immediately as she felt his arms tighten to carry her down into the living room. His body pressed her back into the couch.

"Hot," he grunted.

"Yeah," she agreed, "hot."

He laughed a little and straightened up. "No. I mean, yes, you are-this is very hot, but no. He pulled his gloves off. His hat. Scarf. Kicked off his shoes. Pulled his coat off, leaving him in his sweater and jeans. "I meant, with this fire at my back, central heating, and all of those layers on...it was getting too hot." He laughed against her cheek.

"Castle, I know what you meant." She shrugged out of her own coat. Pulled off her shoes. Pulled him back down until he was flush against her. She took his earlobe between her teeth and bit down lightly before soothing it with her tongue. "And I meant what I said." Her breath tickled the little hair on his ear. "What I sang."

Kate ran her hands across his shoulders and down his chest. "We're moving forward. You know that." She stilled his moving lips with a finger. "I know that. There will be things to work through. Things to talk about. Such is true of any relationship. There are things that you need to know about me, and, likewise, I you." She rolled so that she was the one pressing him into the couch. Kissed his chin and lifted off of him without warning.

She turned towards the bedroom addressing him still, "I have always loved my sanctuary. You may have noticed." She cast a seductive look over her shoulder. He was frozen in place on the couch so she continued, "Sanctuary is an important part of my day. I have always looked forward to that part of my day when I come home, shut the doors, and do my sanctuary thing. Often it involves hot water and bubbles. Most often it involves a nice red wine." She paused at the threshold of the bedroom. "Always it involves some form of you. Sometimes it doesn't come until very late at night. Sometimes I have to skip it altogether and then I'm extra cranky in the morning. I don't want to be cranky tomorrow, Castle. Your mother and daughter were so kind to give us this time." She searched out his eyes. Raised both eyebrows.

Beckoning.

He was at her side in an instant.

She wasn't kidding. That was not her teasing look. There were a million different Beckett looks of which Castle knew what maybe a couple hundred meant. But he knew without a doubt that this look that she was giving him right now was most definitely not her teasing look.

This look was alluring. Enchanting. She was beckoning him forward. His heart was out in front and his feet were moving before his brain was able to comprehend that he should be getting up. He moved so fast that he stubbed his toe on the door jamb as he reached her side and stifled his anguished cry in her hair. "Ahhhh!" Her head bobbed up and down.

She was laughing at him.

Laughing.

The sounds coming from her mouth were not quite giggles, but more of a deep throaty, it-hurts-to-suck-air-in kind of laugh.

It sounded wonderful.

"Something funny?" He didn't bother to hide his amusement.

"Just. Our timing has never been very good has it? Here we are so close to- and you injure yourself." She smoothed a hand over his hair and sat him down on the bed. She sat down next to him and patted his thigh as he lifted his injured foot to sit across his left knee.

"Well I am so sorry if my agonizing pain is inconveniencing you," he said as he pulled off his sock and rubbed his tender toe. "You wanna kiss it better so we can get on with our night?" He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"You want me to kiss that toe," she pointed to the toe in which he could actually feel the pulse, "which has been in those socks all day?" Ok, she had a point. After a day full of wear and emotions, his socks became their own entity. "Point taken. What if we washed the toe first?"

"I think that if we were to wash that toe, really soap it up—you know to avoid infection, then I think our evening plans wouldn't go interrupted. The night might not be a wash after all." She smirked. She did that on purpose. "Do you think you can make it into the bathroom without assistance? I'll go run the bath. We'll..wash your toe, and then we can go to bed."

"You mean go to bed...or go to bed?" It was never a bad idea to get a little clarification.

Kate moved from the bed into the bathroom and he heard her get the water going in the jacuzzi followed by a few cabinet doors opening and closing. She must be adding bubbles or something. Just as he thought she'd not heard his question her answer stopped his heart as she called out from the bathroom:

"Whichever you want..."

AN: Thanks for reading. Please review if you liked it...Or, if you didn't like it. Update as soon as I feel like I've got something worth publishing. Thanks guys.