A Mysterious Meeting and Gifts

Snow came late this year but it did grant us a white Christmas which made me more than happy. 'I'm going out for a bit, see you later.' I said as I put on a scarf and some gloves and walked out. I walked to the central part of the city to buy some presents for everyone and to go visit my family's graves so that they wouldn't be all alone on Christmas. I bought a bracelet for Alexis, a scarf for Martha, a cookbook for Esposito and a pocket game for Ryan. For Castle's gift I wandered around until I passed a bookstore, realising that the perfect gift for a writer was a book. I entered it and looked around, amazed by the book-filled shelves. 'Looking for something specific?' A man asked as he walked up to me. 'Do you have any really old detective books?' 'We certainly do. What year did you have in mind?' 'I don't really mind as long as it's a good detective from before 1900.' I said as I followed him.

'Before 1900?' He asked surprised. 'Yes, I think he'd like that.' 'If you go through that door then you'll find some old books, come back when you've made a choice.' The man said as he pointed to a door that said: 'No unauthorized people'. I walked in and saw a massive storage of old, dusty books that were all categorised by genre. 'Detective, let's see.' I said as I moved to the detective shelf and carefully pulled out some books. The titles had faded off most books and I only recognised half of the authors like Agatha Chritie and Sir Conan Arthur Doyle. 'Older than this.' I said as I put the books back and realised that the shelf was ordered by years, from oldest to newest. 'So left should be the oldest.' I said as I looked at the books and pulled some out. 'Puppet's Play.' One book's title read. I opened it but couldn't find the name of the author anywhere. I raised my shoulders and read the first page, instantly captivated by the exciting story.

I read on for hours and hours until the man came into the room. 'Have you decided? I'm closing.' He said as he smiled. 'Oh, yes. This one please.' I said as I handed him the book and put the others back on the shelf. 'That'll be $10,- please.' He said as I arrived at the counter. '10 Dollars? You sure?' I asked surprised as I felt in my bag, searching for my wallet. 'Very sure. The author to this book is unknows so that automatically decreases its value.' He said. 'Here's 10 dollars and thanks so much, I'm sure that he'll like it.' I said as I took the bag with the festively wrapped gift in it from the man and smiled. 'Have a merry Christmas.' He said as he closed the shop door behin dme. 'You too.' I said as I waved. 'Now, to the graveyard.' I said as I made my way to the graveyard on the outskirts of town. It was dark when I got there and I sighed relieved when I realised that there were lights around the graveyard which made it all a little bit easier. I crouched down to wipe the snow off their tombstones. 'There you go. Merry Christmas guys.'

I stood back up but was immediately pushed down again, my face being pressed against the cold and snowy ground and my arms held behind my back. 'Hello there little missy, why don't you come along and have some fun with us.' A male voice said, followed by laughter due to which I knew that there were three other people. 'No, go away!' I said as I tried to break free. 'No can do. We're very lonely and you ought to keep us company.' Another said as he knelt down in front of me. Suddenly the pressure that was holding me down disappeared and the guy in front of me fell down. I coughed and slowly got up to see what just happened. 'Need a hand?' A boy asked as he reached out his hand to me, I took it and felt how he pulled me up wihtout too much effort. He was of my age, probably a little older with tousled brown hair and eyes that looked like liquid silver. I looked at the four men, they all lie bleeding and groaning on the ground. 'Did you do that?' I asked with disbelief. 'Yeah, that was no way to behave at a graveyard and no way at all to treat a lady. Especially during Christmas.'

'Thanks, I really thought that I'd get assaulted in front of my family's graves.' I said with a shaky voice. 'Visiting your family?' He asked curiously. 'Yes, my parents, little brother, aunts, uncles and cousins.' I said as I pointed at the row of graves. 'Sorry, I didn't know th-.' 'It's fine, don't apologise.' I said as I smiled. 'You visiting family as well?' I asked as I felt my shoulder only to realise that it was dislocated. 'Yeah, I'm visiting my grandparents. They died a couple of years ago and my parents rarely visit so I just go to wish them happiness during the holidays.' He said as he pointed at some graves al ittle further away. 'That's sweet. I just wished them a merry christmas too but it's probably not such a good omen for the next year.' I said as I bit through the pain and tried to push my shoulder back. 'Let me see that.' He said as he touched my shoulder. 'Hang on, this'll hurt for a bit.' He said as he punched it back in, I yelped and accidentaly bit my lip.

'Did you go Christmas shopping?' He asked as he gestured at the bags on the ground. 'Yeah, I couldn't find any time for it earlier so I'm pretty late.' I said shamefully as I picked them up. 'Come, I'll walk you home.' He said as he took my hand and started walking. 'Where do you live?' He asked as he stopped at the exit. 'I don't know the street name. I keep forgetting it but I do know how to get there.' I said clumsily as I blushed. 'Your'e not from here then, are you?' He asked as we crossed the street. 'No, I've only lived here for amonth now but I still can't remember it.' 'Where' you from?' 'I'm from the Netherlands. A roaring Dutchie.'

'The Netherlands? You sound as American as can be.' He said surprised. 'I do? I never really noticed.' I said humbly. 'How's your shoulder? Feeling better?' He asked as he looked at me over his shoulder. 'Much better thanks to you. Saved me twice on one evening, thanks.' I said as I grinned. 'That's alright, glad that I could help.' 'We're here, thanks for walking along and sorry for wasting your time.' 'No problem and I don't mind people wasting my time. Make sure that you put some ice on that shoulder.' He said as he smiled and wiped some dirt off my face. 'Maybe I'll see you around sometime. Bye.' He turned around and walked away through the snow. 'Yeah, see you around.' I said as I waved until he'd disappeared from sight.

'Sorry I'm late.' I said as I walked in. Everyone shot up and looked at me. 'You can't stay out for so long! We were worried sick!' Alexis said. 'Yeah what were you thinking?' Castle agreed. 'Why are you so late, dear?' Martha asked as she led me to the couch. 'Well, at the graveyard there were some guys who tried to assault me and they worked me to the ground.' They all gasped at once and nodded at me to continue. 'But then this boy came out of nowhere and knocked them all out, he saved me.' 'A boy saved you?' Castle asked, I nodded happily. 'And then he relocated my shoulder and walked me home.' I said as I slowly took off my jacket. 'Sounds like a prince.' Alexis said. 'He was like a prince…' I said dreamily as I smiled.

- I gave everyone their Christmas presents and saw how happy they all were. Turned out that Castle had been trying to get into the old books room for years now but that the man wouldn't let him in. Alexis' last bracelet broke so she was overjoyed with the one I gave her and Martha loved the scarf, saying that it was her favourite colour. Beckett turned out to be a snow globe collector, Esposito a good cook and Ryan turned out to be addicted to games. My eye for what people like hadn't changed. -

'This is from all of us.' Martha said as she handed me a box. I opened it and stared at its content. 'You can start school after Christmas break.' Castle said. 'School? Really?' I said with disbelief. 'Ofcourse, it's only normal.' Martha said. 'Thanks so much! This really means a lot to me.' 'Oh and I have something for you, more of a practical gift but I still think that you'll find it very useful.' Castle said as he handed me a box wrapped in reindeer gift paper. I opened it and looked at him in awe, instantly recognising it. 'An iPhone?' I said amazed. 'Yeah I got one too. They're great and now I can call you when something happens and the other way around.' He said as he smiled. 'Thanks so much!' I said as I gave everyone a big hug.

-Thanks for reading, another chapter next week! Please R&R!-