It's time to wrap it up folks. Thank you for reading and reviewing and all the support. I hope you all enjoyed your holidays.

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A couple of weeks later they found themselves in the woods again, but under different circumstances. It was Christmas time and they were in the desperate need of a tree. So Castle, Kate and Alexis had headed out of the city to fell their first Christmas tree together. Kate and Castle walked hand in hand, following an eager Alexis who walked a couple of yards in front of them inspecting tree after tree to find the perfect one.

It had started to snow the night before and everything was covered in a peaceful blanket of white. Kate looked down at their joined hands and wondered for the millionth time how it all could be so easy. Once the last barrier had fallen in that night a couple of weeks ago they were doing great. She had expected that things would be a bit awkward in the beginning, that they would need time to find their rhythm, tip-toeing around each to adjust to the new situation but it was almost ridiculous how easy it had been. And what she loved the most was that they were still the same. Beckett and Castle. The banter, the teasing, her eye rolls, his theories. It was all still there. They were still pushing each others buttons, he was still annoying the hell out of her and she still knew how to leave him open mouthed. But what had changed was the fact that it all became some sort of foreplay. It was so damn sexy. She grinned at that and he shot her a questioning look.

"What?" he asked and already grinned back, although he didn't know why.

"I was just thinking how sexy you are," she said, giving him one her full-face teasing smiles, that he loved so much.

"You think I'm sexy?" his brows shot up and she could practically see his chest swell in pride and already regretted her words of affection. She would never hear the end of it. She rolled her eyes and pulled away from him, only to found herself pressed against him a second later. She looked a bit surprised, but her eyes told him that it was the good kind of surprise. "Come here, Sexy!" he mumbled before his lips silenced her chuckles. Her arms sneaked around his neck to pull him closer and she would have gotten lost in his arms and in his kiss, had Alexis not interrupted.

"Seriously guys? Could you just keep your hands off each other until we're done here?" she called out, her hands at her hips she looked awfully grim. Like a governess from the 19th century. And certainly not amused.

"I have no idea what you are talking about," Castle gave her his most innocent look, "What could your apparently extremely sexy father…"

"Dad!" "Castle!" the two women called out in unison and Kate added a punch to his upper arm. "You're unbelievable," she hissed, before she abandoned him to join Alexis.

"Yeah, unbelievable sexy," he muttered, which earned him another death glare from Kate.

When Kate walked up to Alexis, she gave her an apologetic look, but Alexis just laughed, "Don't worry! You two are quite entertaining." She bumped her shoulder against Kate's and pointed towards the tree that she had chosen to be the Castle tree for this year. "What do you think?"

Kate inspected Alexis object of desire. Walking around the tree she noted that it wasn't the biggest nor the most beautiful one, in fact it was sort of bended and the branches were arranged in an erratic way but she instantly fell in love with that little fella, "I think it's perfect!" she approved when she had finished her round and came to stand next to Alexis. Alexis sneaked an arm around the other woman's waist and turned them around to their dad who had finally walked up to them.

"We want this one!" she proclaimed and nodded her head towards the tree.

Castle looked past his two girls towards the green and white something behind them, "That's not a tree!" he exclaimed and stepped closer, "It's all crippled and …," he bent his head as if that made looking at it any easier, "It's all grinchy!"

"Dad, that's not a word!" Alexis protested.

"Well it should be!" Castle insisted. "That tree is not getting anywhere near our apartment!" He tried to put on a stern face and looked into two matching ones.

"Dad! We want that tree!" Alexis stated with emphasis.

"Yes, Castle! We want that tree!" Beckett joined in and placed her arm around Alexis shoulder, both women tightening their grip on each other, ready to stand their ground.

Castle looked from one woman to the other and back and then chuckled, "That's how it's going to be from now on, right? You two teaming up against me?"

Kate and Alexis looked at each other and then shrugged, grinning from ear to ear. Castle shook his head and raised his hands in surrender, "Alright, alright! We'll get this one!"

Alexis stepped at his side and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek, "Thank you, Dad!" He smiled and wrapped his left arm around his daughter.

"Yes, thank you, Castle!" Kate sneaked up to them and placed a kiss on his other cheek.

Castle right arm circled around her and pulled her close as well, "Anything for the women I love!" he proclaimed, before he let them go to pick up the saw. "Okay, let's bring it home!"

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It was already after midnight, when Castle finally slipped into bed after the most perfect Christmas day ever, where Kate was already waiting for him.

"What took you so long?" she asked when she snuggled closer to him.

"I just had a talk with Alexis," he said and stole a quick kiss from her, before he pulled her even closer, her head coming to rest in the crook of his neck.

"What did she say?" Kate asked, trying not to sound worried.

"Oh just that she's very happy for the both of us," he answered, while he played with her hair.

"She is?"

"She said that you are the first woman that really loves me. Not my money, not my fame. Just me. With all my flaws."

"I do!" she said and pulled back to look him in the eyes, "I really do!"

"I know," he smiled, "And she knows!"

She sighed in relief and placed a soft kiss on his lips, before she snuggled close to him again and started drawing circles on his chest.

"So what's your plan?" she asked.

He frowned, "My plan?"

"For us?" she clarified.

"Oh for us," he smiled. "Well, I do have a plan."

"And?" she poked it chest to get him to continue.

"Where's the fun in telling you?" he laughed, enjoying her curiousness.

"You're not going to tell me, are you?"

"Well, my plan right now is, to make you shut up," he smirked and silenced any reply with a kiss that soon turned into a passionate make out session. He wouldn't tell her about the ring he had in one of the drawers in his desk. Not yet. And he wouldn't tell her that he dreamed of little Castle babies that had her eyes, there was a time for that. But not now. He knew she was on a good way, but she wasn't where she wanted to be and he could wait. He could wait just a bit longer, because he knew she was right with him, waiting for herself to be ready for the next step. He could wait.

"I love you," he heard her whisper, while he made love to her.

"I love you," he whispered back when she lay in his arms.

He could wait. And he had the feeling that he wouldn't have to wait for long.

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THE END