"Kateeee" Rick drew out, laying his head on the table as he watched her eat. He had finished his food 10 minutes before, and she was purposely eating slowly to annoy him.

It made her smile when he acted childish. True, it was annoying at times, but at moments like this, it made her laugh. "Oh come on Castle. I'm almost done" she said, bringing another fork-full of spaghetti into her mouth.

"You aren't even close Kate. Please eat quickly. I want to play" he complained.

"Play?" she questioned, her eyebrow rising as she took another bite.

"I… um… that's not what I meant… Like…"

Kate couldn't help giggle, finishing the last bite of her food.

"Katherine Beckett, get your mind out of the gutter" he said, before quickly stretching across the table to press a quick kiss to her lips. She smiled against his lips, about to deepen the kiss before he pulled away.

"Come on Castle" she whimpered, sinking back into the dining room chair.

"Not yet. I have another surprise for you." He took their plates into the kitchen and cleaned them off, dropping them into the sink. Kate got up after he'd walked into the kitchen and followed him, standing behind him and wrapping her arms around his waist as he cleaned the plates. She dug her face into his spine and breathed in his scent, smiling.

"You're comfy" she murmured into his back, placing a small kiss against his shoulder.

"And you're beautiful" he said, turning his head, pressing a kiss to her lips. "Are you ready for your surprise?" he asked, turning I her arms to pull her close to him, kissing her again.

"Sure, lay it on me."

"Stand right here" he said, before running off into his office. Rick returned moments later with his hands hidden behind his back.

"What's that?" she asked, but he shook his head at her.

"Do you trust me?"

"Castle, what kind of question is…" she trailed off, but he stopped her.

"Answer yes or no Missy. Do you trust me?"

"Always"

"Then go along with this. I'm going to blindfold you. Okay?" he asked, in which she simply nodded in reply. "Close your eyes." Rick took the bandana behind his back and tied it over her eyes. He started frantically waving his hands in front of her face, and she giggled again, which took him by surprise.

Katherine Beckett never giggled.

"Rick, stop waving at me. I can't see you. Now will you please explain to me what is going on?"

"I'm going to put a piece of paper in your hands. You cannot open it until you hear 3 claps, then count to twenty. Understand?"

"Rick, what are…" she asked, but he stopped her talking by kissing her deeply. He pulled away, and ran his fingertips over the obvious smile that was plastered across her face.

"God you're perfect" he whispered, kissing her cheek. "Do you understand?"

"Yes Castle, I understand your crazy CIA plot."

"Perfect." He kissed her one last time and dropped a paper into her hands, before running out the door. "Have fun Detective!" he called out.

Kate heard the three claps, counted to twenty, and removed the bandana from her face.

The paper in her hands was the cover page of "Heat Wave", folded in half. She opened it, puzzled, and read the contents.

My Dearest Detective,

The clues to your Christmas happiness take place in these notes. Follow your clues, and you will be amazed. This first clue takes you to the place where it all started.

Always,

Richard Castle