Chapter 30

AN: I couldn't remember what day it is…! It's December 21.

Previously:

"Dinner? Whose turn is it?"

"It's your mom's, but she agreed to let Alexis have a go at a full meal. I offered to assist so actually...maybe we don't have so much time after all…" It was a little mean. Using his daughter as a means to get him moving so that they could 'relax'. But it worked.

"What!? No, plenty of time. There's plenty of time! C'mon," he practically dragged her from the couch and into their bedroom. When they crossed the threshold of the room and he'd closed the door behind them he gathered her up in his arms and squeezed tightly. "Thank you."

She understood. No more needed to be said about that for the time being.

They moved into the ensuite and he started the water in the luxurious tub. She added bubbles and turned to him to press a kiss into the space between his shoulder blades as he was bent to check the water temperature.

He chuckled lightly, turned and stood as he proceeded to gently divest her of her clothes, and she his. They still had a couple of hours.

"You'll have to forgive me-I'll admit I haven't done this in a while."

Alexis looked up quizzically. "Cook? You just-"

Kate laughed and pulled out a casserole dish, "No-that's not what I meant. I mean…" She shook her head bashfully and shrugged, "I don't know what I mean."

Alexis took a seat on a high stool on the opposite side of the kitchen island. "Ah" she said in understanding, "You mean teaching someone else to cook?"

"I mean...yeah. Surely you don't need me." This kid was one of the smartest Kate had ever encountered. She must have some kind of skill in the kitchen.

"I may not be on the same level as Gram, but a culinary expert I most certainly am not. It's harder to cook for one than it is many. I've had some experience with holiday meals, of course, but nothing that reaches your caliber."

Kate laughed. "Caliber huh? Ok….well you should know that 98% of the time my fridge looks like a takeout container graveyard and the other 2% is more or less empty. Sure you want my help?"

The girl could level a look. Almost as well as Kate herself.

"Ok. What are we making?" Kate had noticed fairly quickly that there had been no visible preparation for this meal. There were no spices or ingredients littering the counter, no recipes lying lonely on the island. She looked at the dish in her hand and wondered if she'd acted out of assumption. Maybe they were making pizza.

"I-hadn't really gotten that far." Alexis confessed, "It was supposed to be Gram's turn, but she wanted to give me a chance to do a full meal. Plus I didn't want us all to get food poisoning. No, just kidding. I just-Gram-I love her, she just…"

"Your Dad has dropped more than a few hints as to the nature of your grandmother's cooking." Kate shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips.

"I usually just make spaghetti, but that seems so...boring." She shrugged. "I'm open to any suggestions."

Kate put the casserole dish down and opened the fridge, scanning for staple ingredients. "I used to be good at this. Let's see what we've got to work with. Ah! Perfect. You can do almost anything with chicken." She pulled the meat out and placed it in the sink. "Now check the pantry for the rest of the meal. This is our main character. Let's dress her up. Geeze, I'm starting to sound like your Dad aren't I?"

Alexis laughed as she pulled open a pantry door and stood back contemplatively. "I don't-" her cheeks pinked, "I have no idea what I'm looking for," she admitted. Kate sidled up to her and scanned the well-stocked shelves, a finger to her lips as she thought.

"Hm...Ah ha!" She started grabbing items here and there and pushing them into Alexis's arms. When they'd spread everything out on the island Alexis turned a perplexed look on her would-be cooking mentor.

"Don't give me that look. You asked for my help." Kate's eyes twinkled with the knowledge of experience despite what she'd said.

"I'm just not seeing how those ingredients are going to go together," Alexis admitted as her eyes flitted over cream soups, almonds, chicken, and a few other random looking ingredients, "Seems like some unlikely matchmaking to me."

Kate chuckled and rubbed her arm nervously. "Yeah, well. You'll soon learn that sometimes the most unlikely of matches create amazing things."

"Amazing." He nuzzled her cheek with his bewhiskered face.

"Castle!" Kate startled, rubbing her cheek at the unexpected intrusion, "Get out. This is is private."

"Chicken is private? Kate, I don't know what you like to do in your private time-yet-but if it includes raw chicken maybe I should object to my daughter spending any more time alone with you."

Alexis huffed, "Dad, Kate's helping me with dinner. Shoo." She pushed on his shoulder to turn him away and his face fell. "Fine. Have all the fun without me," he said as he snatched a gingerbread man from the counter and ripped his leg off.

Kate rolled her eyes and dropped her voice. "Be good. The fun will come later." Her lips quirked and she added a little louder, "Besides Castle, you get to benefit from our bonding. Dinner will be ready in approximately...an hour and a half give or take. See if you can behave yourself until then."

His face brightened and he kissed the tip of her nose and then his daughter's forehead. "I'll stay out of your hair, I promise!" His fingers snagged the ends of her hair and she smirked as he slinked away to leave them in peace.

"Here ya go." Alexis passed her an elastic band and they put up their hair to get down to work. "Alright...what do I need to do?"

"I'm worried," Alexis stage whispered to Kate.

"Why?" she whispered none too quietly back.

Instead of words Alexis used her hands, pointing in the direction of the living room. Not a sound could be heard besides the happily crackling fire and the occasional honk of a snore from her father. The cooks of the evening had offered to pass on the tradition of 'those who cook don't clean' and were finishing up the dishes.

"It's too quiet. They hated it and don't know how to tell me." It was a ridiculous statement. Ludacris. But her insecurities won out over her logical mind. She accepted a plate and dried it carefully with the dishtowel she was holding.

Kate's smile brought a pink hue to the girl's cheeks. "I may not be an expert, but I'd wager that that noise…" she indicated with her thumb towards the prone figure of the young woman's father as a particularly loud *SNORT* sounded, "is the sound of contentment. Sweetie, they loved it. It was delicious. I'd wager your grandmother is currently soaking as that seems to be her form of contentment. Also, did you notice how much was left on these plates?" She winked to punctuate her statement.

Alexis put down the plate she'd been drying. "Nothing-in fact I'm pretty sure Dad licked his plate. Literally. Ignore me. I'm being silly," she sighed. "I'm sorry."

Kate flicked some soapy water in her face, "Not silly. Human. Trust me Alexis, I've had my fair share of human moments. Now-I've got this. Go ahead and relax a bit. You've earned it."

"How long have you been watching me?"

His eyes remained closed, but his spidey senses were heightened after such a restful nap. When he received no response he opened one eye. Maybe he'd been...nope. Not wrong. She'd been watching him.

"Castle. How did you know I was watching you?" she asked, incredulous.

"Wonder twin powers unite?"

"Castle. We're not twins." She leaned forward and scratched his scalp lightly before softly kneading his neck, moving her cool hands slowly across his muscles. It felt heavenly and his eyes closed involuntarily.

"Wonder couple powers unite?" He squinted and waggled his eyebrows hoping for a laugh. When her hands went still at his shoulders he wondered if he'd pushed too far too fast. "Kate, I-"

Her lips on his halted his backtracking and he found himself wondering ever so briefly what had transpired in her head. Briefly-because he was soon lost in the soft insistence of her lips. Her tongue pushing past his own, past his teeth, and dear God he didn't need another Christmas present for the rest of his life.

It was over too soon for his liking.

A noise near the stairs had her pulling away, but he grabbed her hand and pulled her into his lap lest she try to run and hide. "It's not like they don't know you've been kissing me," he whispered in her hair, "And by the way, I am SO buying mistletoe to hang at the loft year round." That earned him an elbow but was well worth it. She was smiling as his mother descended.

"Ah-haaaaaa" his mother sang "the holidays are upon us darlings, love is in the air, and joy abounds! Is there anything better?" She sat gracefully in a chair and winked at the pinking cheeks of the detective.

"Mother," Castle acknowledged, wrapping his arms a bit tighter around Kate, "a bit past your bedtime isn't it?"

"Well I do want to get my beauty sleep Richard, this is true. I would have thought you would want to get yours as well," she winked, "I came down for a glass of water. Hydration is the key to youth! And I, for one, intend on hanging around as long as possible. But what, may I ask, are you two still doing up?"

"Someone fell asleep out here. I was just trying to convince him that a bed would be better."

His mother made her way to the kitchen laughing, "Believe me dear, he chose that couch carefully so it wouldn't cause back pain, but I trust your argument encompassed more than that."

Once her back was turned to get a glass he leaned in and whispered, "I don't need convincing. So long as you're going to be there, that's where I want to be. Bed or no." He kissed her cheek and brought his mother back into the conversation standing and saying a bit louder, "Kate's convinced me. I'd prefer to spend the night in the bed. Goodnight, Mother. We'll see you in the morning." He pulled her up from the couch and shepherded her towards the bedroom.

"Goodnight darlings. Dream fabulous dreams!"

This was quickly becoming a problem.

An addiction.

Hence, problem.

She lay as still as she could, willing her limbs not to stretch out even though they'd been jolted awake by pure realization. His warmth surrounded her, arms wrapped around her torso, legs framing hers. His chest rising and falling at her back as his breath tickled the fine hairs on her neck. She wanted to keep him. Like a puppy. Not like a puppy. Well, yes, actually he was very much like a giant puppy. 'Mom can I keep him?'

Ugh. Grow up, Kate. She rolled her eyes at herself. Eye rolling didn't require moving anything that would upset her current status. She wondered how long she could enjoy this before he became aware and ruined it.

Then again, if he were awake they could….

She glanced at the time, silently thanking her insomniac/early riser brain, 5:30. Still too early for him to be awake. Definitely too early for his family to be awake. Perfect time to have a little private fun.

Wow. Oh….wow. So real. He never wanted to wake up. Unfortunately his brain made that connection as he started that journey into wakefulness. He could tell that he was on his back, toes cold despite the ultra thick comforter he had.

His eyes shot open the moment he realized he was waking and the dream hadn't ceased.

"Oh God." He squeezed his eyes shut again, fisted his hands in the sheets, and tried with everything in him not to move.

A few moments later she kissed the corner of his mouth and crawled off of the bed, headed for the bathroom.

Awake was better.

Always better when reality like this was waiting.

He stayed where he was and listened to the silence of the house. The toilet flushed, gently thanks to the model he'd purchased. Then water flowed from the sink before welcoming the silence once more. He cracked an eye and peered at her in the darkness. She looked almost shy.

"What?"

"It's...nothing...just...you are really beautiful. That's stupid." That was stupid. After...and then...and he just….but she was.

The mattress dipped as it accepted her weight. He pulled her to him, kissing her softly. "Thank you," he whispered. She hummed against his lips in reply and kissed him again. Asking.

He would never say no.

AN: Looking to wrap this up in the next few weeks, likely after the New Year. Thank you to anyone who has read this far.