AN: Special Thanks to I'm Widget and kprider33, hope y'all are still enjoying this.
Chapter 14
Kate's hair was fanned across the pillow, hands tangled in the sheets. One of her knees poked out from under the duvet allowing the cool air to caress her skin. She turned her head just slightly to look at him. His eyes were still closed, but she could tell by his breathing that he wasn't sleeping anymore. "Hey."
"Hey." he answered immediately scrunching his eyes more tightly shut in incongruence with the smile that graced his lips.
"What's that look?"
"Best. Dream. Ever." He turned and leveled her with a look that would've had her falling had she not already been lying down.
"Dream huh?" She trailed a hand across his chest, fisting in his tee shirt and shoved him lightly.
He rolled onto his back and stretched his arms behind his head. "Had to be. Too good to be real." He moved to stand and nearly lost his footing, stubbing his toe at the foot of the bed. "Agghh, again!" he hissed.
"Hmm...must've been some dream to be affecting you so. And now, what is this, deja vu?" She didn't dare try to follow him out of bed, knowing that she probably wouldn't be able to stand either. It made her want to smile.
So she did.
Widely.
"You making fun of my injuries?" His voice echoed on the walls as he entered the bathroom.
"If the shoe fits, though it may not with a swollen toe like that," she called.
His head, hair spiked on one side and mashed to the side of his face on the other, and now bare chest poked out. He didn't shoot a comeback line, just grinned idiotically and disappeared again.
Kate heard the shower come on and soon there was a disembodied baritone voice wafting into the room. She rolled to the center of the bed where their scents were intermingled and closed her eyes as she tried to decipher the words he was singing above the sound of running water.
Today I may not have a thing at all except for just a dream or two
But I've got lots of plans for tomorrow and all my tomorrows belong to you
Right now it may not seem like spring at all, we're drifting and the laughs are few
But I've got rainbows planned for tomorrow, and all my tomorrows belong to you
No one knows better than I that luck keeps passing me by ... that's fate
But with you there at my side, I'll soon be turning the tide ... just wait
As long as I've got arms that cling at all, it's you that I'll be clinging to
And all the dreams I dream, beg, or borrow on some bright tomorrow they'll all come true
And all my bright tomorrows belong to you
It was a good thing she was already in bed. Its soft comfort a steady hand at her back holding her up. If she didn't think she'd had the ability to stand only a few moments ago, she was certain of it now.
Best. Gift. Ever. And it wasn't even Christmas yet.
Crap!
Gifts!
Kate shot out of bed, thankful that she'd thrown on a complete set of pajamas before falling asleep. Adrenaline kept her upright and propelled her through the bedroom door into the main house.
"And Good Morning to you too, darling." Martha smiled a knowing smile at the young woman who had practically flown out of her son's bedroom. "Things that bad?" She made a 'tutting' sound and focused her attentions back to the large mixing bowl in front of her. Probably best not to hound her for details just yet.
"I—I'm sorry. No-not. Not bad at all. I just..." Kate lowered her voice to a whisper as she entered the kitchen. "I forgot about gifts. What do I do?"
Martha looked up from the bowl and shook her head. "Richard...Richard...My dear, let me reassure you a bit. We don't do a huge gift thing. Part of the beauty of this place is that, despite its size and many luxuries-I'll give you that—is its simplicity. I am sorry that my son didn't get to telling you this part yet, but there are still several days until Christmas yet..." she mused. "Ah well. We have a rule. One present per person from each person. The gift must either be bought locally from the village, or made by the giver. Simplicity, darling. That way it means more. Less over-the-top extravagance and sometimes it supports the community." She winked conspiratorially, "But you, my dear, have given us all a gift in simply spending the holidays with us. I should think you needn't worry about gifts." And she went back to mixing the thick dough in front of her.
"But-" Kate started to protest.
The older woman raised a hand, "But nothing. I suppose if you can't get it out of your head, you may be able to talk Alexis into driving you into the village later. For now, grab some coffee and help this old woman."
Kate quirked an eyebrow as she lifted a mug out of the cabinet and filled it with nectar from heaven. "What are you doing, exactly?" She sniffed the air above the bowl. "Gingerbread?"
"For this afternoon's...activities." She pulled some of the dough out and plopped it down on the counter in the space already prepared with flour. "Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty. Go on and roll it out," she commanded as she handed Kate a rolling pin and proceeded to prepare another place on the other side of the counter before putting the other half of dough in that spot.
"Activities?"
"Sorry dear, I'm not allowed to discuss the activities with you. Richard's orders, and since he pays for...well, everything, I really shouldn't break that rule."
"Break what rule, Mother?"
Kate startled. Mostly because she hadn't heard him come out of the bedroom and one of the things she prided herself on was that she usually seemed to be pretty in tune with his presence entering her vicinity.
Richard Castle was warm. It was more than just a pleasant feeling radiating throughout his body.
He was happy.
Kate was just waking up next to him and that made him happy. "Hey," she said. He tried squeezing his eyes tighter to hold on to that happy warm drifting feeling that comes before waking.
"What's that look?" She sounded amused. Good. Cause he was happy.
"Best. Dream. Ever." He turned on his side and tried to send waves of his happy to her through his eyes. She appeared to receive it...or something like it.
"Dream huh?" Her hand trailing down his chest almost undid him. She shoved lightly and he willingly rolled to his back pulling his arms up and folding hem behind his head.
"Had to be." He smirked, "Too good to be real." And it was. It was sooooo good. And suddenly the warm happy feeling reached his gut and his bladder protested. Time to get up then. He slid off the side of the bed and his legs gave out. He readjusted his footing and stubbed the same toe he'd injured last night. "Agghh, again!" He sucked in a breath through his teeth and hopped on the other foot. Maybe he should consider getting bumpers to go around the bottom of the bed.
"Hmm...must've been some dream to be affecting you so. And now, what is this, deja vu?" She sounded smug, but he was nearly certain that she probably wasn't faring any better than he.
He glanced back at her and caught a wide grin spreading across her beautiful face. "You making fun of my injuries?" Huh. His voice really echoed in here. He was glad they hadn't had any alcohol. The echo probably wouldn't do much for a hangover, he mused. He continued into the bathroom. Relieved himself. Pulled his shirt off.
"If the shoe fits, though it may not with a swollen toe like that," she called.
He poked his head back out to toss her a grin, an invitation if she wanted, and then finished disrobing before turning on the water in the bathroom.
He smiled as he stuck his head under the hot spray. She must be feeling the effects of last night to not join him. Hm...echo. She was a captive audience. He'd give her a show. Give her something to think about as she lay there.
Today I may not have a thing at all except for just a dream or two
Ok, hopefully she'd look past the parts that obviously weren't true. Like the fact that after last night, there was no way that singing that 'today' was lacking. That wasn't the point. The point was...
But I've got lots of plans for tomorrow and all my tomorrows belong to you
Yeah, that. Tomorrows...
Right now it may not seem like spring at all, we're drifting and the laughs are few
Again, maybe she'd here it metaphorically. Or the him from the past singing to her? Again, not the point of choosing this song. Oh yeah, here we go...he hoped she was listening. And understanding.
But I've got rainbows planned for tomorrow, and all my tomorrows belong to you
No one knows better than I that luck keeps passing me by ... that's fate
But with you there at my side, I'll soon be turning the tide ... just wait
As long as I've got arms that cling at all, it's you that I'll be clinging to
And all the dreams I dream, beg, or borrow on some bright tomorrow they'll all come true
And all my bright tomorrows belong to you
He finished his song. Finished rinsing off. Grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist and walked back out to...an empty bedroom.
Maybe she hadn't understood.
Maybe she had and didn't like what he'd been saying. No. That was stupid. She'd just told him-basically-that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. This had been his response, saying-basically-that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
So where'd she go?
He dressed quickly and made his way to the kitchen where he heard her voice and his mother's voice. Good. Maybe his mother would be able to get some clues out of her as to what was going on.
"...and since he pays for...well, everything, I really shouldn't break that rule." Ah. So they had been talking about him. Interesting.
"Break what rule, Mother?"
"Sharing what the activities are with our newest captive," she rolled her eyes at him, a little exasperated maybe and turned towards the sink to wash her hands. He had to smile at that. Kate Beckett was nobody's captive without her permission.
"I resent that statement. No one is here against her will." He flashed a smile in Kate's direction only to find her at his shoulder, a predatory glint in her eye. He stumbled backwards a couple of steps. Hmm. Maybe with Kate around he should consider re-doing the interior of the cabin in rubber and padded walls. That could be fun actually.
No.
He was distracted from his thoughts of bouncing around when Kate leaned in and whispered, "Thank you, and to 'Ole Blue Eyes as well." She pressed a kiss to the underside of his jaw, then beneath his ear before adding, "and rubber really isn't a good idea in here. It would melt with all of the heat...and the fireplaces..." She backed off immediately and sprinkled more flour on her dough before smoothing it out to the perfect thickness.
God, that woman.
They made more gingerbread men, women, children, and various other animals/items than Kate had ever seen.
"Are we baking for an army?" she asked as she pulled the last batch from the oven.
"Ha! No," Alexis answered as she sorted the cookies into different areas. "We always need to make sure there are enough to cover mistakes and possibilities."
"Possibilities? That's vague." Kate put a hand to her hip and stared the girl down. Props to Alexis for remaining true to her father's rules. His stupid rules.
"Sorry, Kate. I can't." She checked to see what time it was. "Don't worry, you'll know what we're doing soon enough. Frankly I'm surprised you haven't gotten Dad to crack yet." She smiled slyly at the older woman.
"Actually, that isn't something I've tried yet. I figured I'd get you or your grandmother to crack before him. I guess I underestimated you both, huh? Speaking of, where did your dad and grandmother disappear to?"
"They had a few last minute things to pick up from the village. This year's...uh...project required a few extra...pieces. Dad had to special order them."
"Oh! The village, Alexis I wanted to ask you if you wouldn't mind accompanying me into the village in the next day or so. Provided it doesn't interfere with any more...activities?" Ok, yes. She was fishing. Not that she expected the girl to give up any information. She'd already shown herself to be loyal to her father's rules.
"Sure." She lifted a finger to her chin and pretended to ponder. "That shouldn't interfere with anything." She laughed at Kate's expression. "No, seriously that's not a problem. We can go tomorrow morning if you'd like."
"Great. I'm going to go shower and change before...the changing of the guard."
Kate turned and and started walking towards the bedroom as Castle and Martha breezed in the front door. Castle stopped dead in his tracks just inside the door and passed his bags off to his mother who skirted around him and continued into the kitchen.
Kate drew up to him slowly, reaching around his body to close the door. His arms wrapped around her, trapping her body to his before she could take a step backwards. Her eyes drifted to the plant above his head and he smiled slowly.
Uh oh.
Castle looked past her shoulder, she supposed to make sure he had an audience, before he started speaking.
"Did you know that the name for mistletoe comes from the fact that mistletoe tends to spring forth from bird droppings that have fallen on trees, the seeds having passed through the digestive tract of the birds. At the time the plant was given its name, people didn't know anything about that, but had observed that the mistletoe seemed to spring into existence from bird droppings on trees, thus 'mistle' or 'missel' which basically meant 'dung' and 'toe' which came from the Anglo Saxon 'tan', meaning 'twig'. Mistletoe is basically another way of saying 'poop twig'. Not only is mistletoe a poop twig, but most varieties of this plant are partial parasites, being unable to sustain themselves on their own photosynthesis, so they tend to leach what they need from the particular tree on which they are growing. So essentially..." There was a dramatic pause. "... the mistletoe tradition is a tradition of kissing under a poop twig."
He then bowed his head and kissed her deeply. It was pretty good. Not his best, but that wasn't really what she was interested in at the moment. She pushed on his chest and continued towards the bathroom. "Really romantic, Castle."
He grabbed her hand and tugged her back to him kissing her nose. "Trivia, my dear detective. Wouldn't be a Castle holiday without it." He glanced up at where his mother and daughter were standing in the kitchen. "Besides, I've been saving that one. Never had the opportune time to share it." He leaned in so that only she could hear his next words, "and you've been so enthusiastic about this tradition that I thought it appropriate to share."
She harrumphed and pretended to grumble, but it was hard to maintain an angry face when it was actually pretty fascinating and he was correct in his assessment: she was quite fond of this tradition for which she'd previously had no use for.
"I need a shower and a change of clothes after slaving away in your kitchen all morning. And for what?"
"You'll find out soon enough, but while you're soaping up in there, be thinking about who your favorite literary characters are."
"My favorite what?"
"Characters. Literary. Book characters? Or authors, though really, need I ask? Mull it over. Think of who your favorites are. Then just make sure you're ready for some fun. Everything will be ready to go when you get back out here," he assured her.
One last kiss and he spun her back around and sent her off to the shower with a pat to her rear end.
Seriously, Castle? She thought. In front of your daughter?He was lucky she loved him.
Huh. She loved him.
She did.
AN: I was given the sage advice to not write if I felt pressured, or that it was no longer fun. If I felt obligated to write x amount in x amount of time... If writing becomes a chore it isn't good anymore. So I took a few days off. Turned out to be good cause I wasn't finished being sick. Here's hoping inspiration strikes sooner. I'm sorry for the increased wait.