I wanted to keep this moving along so I skipped Thanksgiving and brought them straight to their first Christmas as a couple. Enjoy!
High School – Freshman Year – Christmas
"You seriously don't want me to get you a gift?" Castle asked as he fought against the blistery winds on his way to his English final. "On Christmas?"
"Our first Christmas," Kate reminded him, "as a couple. And no. That's too much stress, especially since neither of us has any money. Besides, won't being together be enough? We haven't even Skyped since you went back to school."
"It's only been three weeks," Castle replied. "Besides, Lanie and Javier are getting each other gifts and they've only been together for a couple months."
"Castle," Kate replied, "Lanie and Javi have been a couple for years. They just didn't want to tell anybody. They weren't fooling anybody, though; except you, I guess."
"I just figured they were really good friends," Castle practically squeaked. Kate laughed and he sighed. "By the way, how's Lanie been? With rehearsals and all that?"
"Stressed," Kate answered, honestly. "She said her leotard is starting to get too tight and she thinks she may be gaining weight; I have to force her to eat more than an apple for lunch every day."
"Ooh," Castle replied, grimacing. "You don't want her going down that road. Make sure you let her know how important eating three meals a day is and how it will almost guarantee that she's at a healthy weight."
"But Castle," Kate said, "that's just it; Lanie's not gaining any weight. Not that I can see, at least. However…"
"What?" Castle asked.
"I don't think I should tell you this…"
"What?"
"Lanie is growing…"
"What? You mean she's finally getting taller?"
"Not exactly…"
"Then how exactly is she…oh."
"Yeah."
"Well, um…that might be an issue. Hopefully it—or they—don't throw off her balance."
Kate snorted. "They don't just pop out suddenly, Castle," she laughed. "They've been growing in for a while; Lanie's probably hasn't even noticed them yet. I'm sure her balance is just fine."
"I'm just saying," Castle continued, "there aren't many top-heavy ballerinas out there, though there should be."
"Of course you think that," Kate scoffed.
"That's not what I meant and you know it," Castle replied, laughingly. "Anyway, I gotta go; last final of the semester. I'll see you tonight at the bus station, okay?"
Kate smiled happily. "See you soon. Love you."
"Love you, too," Castle replied.
X_X
When Castle's bus pulled in, Kate had practically flung herself at him, making him laugh as he wrapped his arms around her waist and kiss her forehead.
"Somebody looks happy to see me," he commented as she pulled back and rolled her eyes, her hand tugging on his as she pulled him towards her parents, who'd already located his luggage.
They greeted him with warm hugs (Johanna left a lipstick mark on his flushed cheek) and asked him about his finals, to which he replied, simply, "Good."
X_X
"I could write a sonnet about why English sucks," Castle said, later that night as they lay, cuddled on the couch. Kate laughed.
"That bad?" she asked, looking up at him. He made a face.
"Worse," he said. "Tell me why I wanted to be a writer?"
"Because you're good at it," Kate said, simply. "And your stories make people happy."
"Murders make people happy?" Castle asked, looking down at her.
She shrugged. "Justice does. Just ask my mom; she loves your little mysteries."
"Really?" he asked. "I have a fan?"
"Don't go getting a big head," Kate warned. "It's very unattractive."
"Eh, what do I need to be attractive for? You already love me, don't you?" Kate couldn't even deny it and he knew that, so she just gave him a glare and he laughed, kissing her forehead. "You're cute when you're annoyed," he mumbled against her hair. She rolled her eyes, but couldn't suppress a smile as she rested her cheek against his chest.
X_X
On Christmas morning, Kate was awoken by her boyfriend jumping on her bed.
"Kate! Kate! Wake up, Kate!"
Kate groaned, looking at her alarm clock. "Castle," she growled, "it's five in the morning; go back to sleep."
"Who can sleep at a time like this?" Castle gasped. "It's Christmas! Santa Claus came!"
"What are you? Four? There is no Santa!"
"Lies!" Castle replied, petulantly. "Now c'mon! Get up!"
Kate growled, pushing him off her bed so that he landed with a resounding thump; one that apparently roused her parents, who were there in an instant. Kate didn't even bother to get up or even speak. She just allowed a sputtering and excited Castle to explain why he was in her room so early in the morning.
They didn't even ask, though. Johanna gave a very Kate-like eye roll and helped the young man up, before flopping atop her daughter, making the teenager groan and the elder woman laugh.
"Come on, Katie," she urged. "Come open Santa's presents; I'm almost certain he got a special something just for you," she sing song-ed. Kate peeked one eye open.
"My leather jacket?" she asked. Johanna smirked.
"Possibly," she replied, "but there's only one way to find out…"
Kate sighed. "Fine," she said. "Can I at least have a cup of coffee, though?"
"Just one," Jim said, firmly, yawning. "I'll make some for all of us. Come on, Rick," he said, tugging on the boy's arm, "you can help."
Castle sighed. "Fine," he said, "but then presents?"
Jim barked out a laugh, patting his shoulder. "Then presents," he promised, Meanwhile, Johanna practically had to drag Kate's limp body into the living room.
"Really, Katie," she said, "don't you think you're being a bit overdramatic?"
"Not in the least," Kate sighed against her mother's shoulder. They collapsed on the couch together and Kate snoozed against her mother's side as they waited for the men to come out with the coffee. Castle handed Kate a cup and Jim did the same for Johanna, before each took a sip of their own. Then Castle practically swan dove into the presents, plucking out the first one and handing it to Johanna.
"To Mrs. Beckett," he said, smiling. She thanked him and waited until everybody—including Rick—had a gift in front of them, before ordering everybody to start ripping into them.
Johanna received a statue of ceramic elephants from Jim. "Oh, look," she said, "they're a family; two parents and three little babies. Thank you, Sweetheart." She beamed at her husband. He smiled back.
"Anything for you," he replied, before opening his present. "Oh," he said, "a new watch."
Johanna smiled. "Top of the line," she confirmed. "I figured you needed a new one." Jim nodded in affirmation, slipping his old watch off his wrist and tossing it on the coffee table. "I definitely did," he said, strapping the new one on his left wrist. "Thank you, Honey." He leaned down, kissing her chastely on the lips. Kate smiled at them, before tearing the paper off her own package, squealing as she found the red leather jacket inside.
She immediately stood, trying it on over her sleep shirt, modeling it for her parents. "It's perfect!" she exclaimed. It was more comfortable than she imagined it would be when…
"Hey!" she exclaimed. "How did you know this was the one I wanted?" she asked her parents.
"It's what you said…" Johanna tried, but Kate shook her head.
"I never told you I wanted this one, specifically," she reminded her. "I just said I wanted a leather jacket. The only person I told about this was…" she turned to Castle with a glare. "Rick, I told you no presents."
Rick put his hands up in surrender. "Hey," he said, "I didn't buy it; I just told your parents which one you'd like most, so technically, it's not a present from me, per say, but…"
Kate rolled her eyes, but smiled still, leaning forward and placing a kiss against his cheek, making his face heat up instantly. "Thank you," she whispered in his ear.
"You're very welcome," he replied, wiggling his brows at her, making her giggle.
"Just open your gift, you goofball," Kate replied, shaking her head.
Castle gave her a goofy grin, before ripping open his own gift, the air catching in his lungs. "LASER TAG!" he cried, his voice cracking with excitement. "My very own!"
"You like it?" Jim asked, laughing. "One of my clients owns a toy store; got that half-off. It's top of the line, too."
"Thanks, Mr. Beckett!" Castle exclaimed.
"Rick, please," Jim said, "you've known me long enough to call me Jim. And you're welcome, son. Enjoy that."
"I definitely will!" Castle exclaimed, hugging the box to his chest. "This is the best Christmas ever!" Kate gave him a look and he blushed. "Because…I'm here…with you…obviously," he added, grinning guiltily. Kate just rolled her eyes and threw a ball of wrapped paper at him, making him laugh.
SOOOO TIRED! SOMEBODY TELL ME WHY I DECIDED TO GO TO COLLEGE FOR WRITING?!