Disclaimers: No, but so many things in my life would be better if I did.

Summary: Christmas Day in the Castle household as Rick and Alexis prepare to leave for Paris.

A/N #1: This is a short bridge chapter before Castle goes to Paris with Alexis.

A/N #2: I have a four-year-old great-nephew and a six-year-old great-niece who live with me. Disney Jr. is a fixture in my house, although I don't believe in a small baby watching TV. The two that I have living with me watch way too much.

Chapter 14: Christmas Day

Castle woke up early Christmas morning to the delightful sound of baby laughter. He rolled over and smiled at the sight of Kate playing with Ariel, who was cackling with joy. "How long have you two been awake?" He propped himself on one elbow to watch them.

"Not too long," she leaned down and kissed Castle as Ari began rooting around at her chest. "Are you trying to tell me something?" She lowered her shirt and winced at the feel of Ari latching on. "Ow! Watch with the teeth, young lady. I've definitely got to work harder on this weaning thing."

"She's not ready, yet. Isn't that what her pediatrician said?" Castle stroked Ariel's hair as she nursed.

"That's what she said."

Kate had found a new doctor after the emergency room incident. Dr. Elizabeth Sullivan was much more in tune with what Kate wanted in a doctor for her baby. She'd told Kate that Ariel would probably be ready to be weaned at between seven and nine months old. She'd warned the new mom not to remove her from the breast before she was ready.

"I'm going to get dressed and start making breakfast for everybody," Castle kissed her once again before getting out of bed.

Kate was finishing up with the baby when Alexis burst into hers' and Castle's bedroom, throwing herself on the bed and cuddling up with Kate and the baby. "Merry Christmas, Kate. Merry Christmas, Ariel. Just think. This is your first Christmas," Alexis smiled at her sister, who instantly grinned back.

"How did you sleep?" Kate asked.

"Okay. I think I'm still a little uptight about tomorrow."

"Alexis, you're going to be fine. It's only a week. You'll be back on the second. I want you to listen to me," she forced Alexis to face her. "Dr. Burke taught me some deep breathing techniques that help when you feel the panic coming on. And I know that you know damn well what I'm talking about."

"I do."

"Your dad knows about my techniques. He knows what to do when I'm having an attack. Don't fight him if he starts trying to help you. It's going to be hard, Alexis, but believe me when I tell you that you're going to feel so much better if you go and see those places where you were held. You have to see that they're just buildings."

"I'm glad that dad's going, even if it's just for a couple of days. Can I call you if it gets really bad?"

"I fully expect you to," Kate smiled as Ari began using her for a human jungle gym. "I need to get her and myself dressed, and then we'll go eat breakfast and open presents."

"I can get her dressed while you dress," Alexis volunteered as she reached her arms out to her sister, who willingly went into them.

By the time Kate and Ariel were both dressed, Castle had breakfast ready. They sat down to eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, and English muffins. Kate put Ari in her high chair and placed several small pieces of banana on the tray with her. She knew that most of it would end up smashed up on the tray, but Ari would get a little in her belly. "Your mother used to pour Cheerios on your tray when you weren't much older than she is," Jim said.

"Dr. Sullivan wants me to wait a little longer before I give her Cheerios."

After Christmas breakfast came the unwrapping of the huge pile of gifts under the tree. Everybody got a lot of video of Ariel having a blast amidst the discarded wrapping paper and ribbons. As with most babies and young children, she was more fascinated with the boxes than with any actual toys that she received.

By mid-morning, the baby was tuckered out. Castle scooped her up and sat down on the sofa besides Kate, who was admiring her bounty of gifts. "Castle, I can't believe that you found a first edition of 'Sonnets from the Portuguese,'" she kissed her husband, who was holding Ariel on his shoulder. "Where did she learn to do that?"

Ariel had her head resting on Castle's shoulder as she patted his shoulder with one hand. "She doesn't do this with you?" He asked as she shook her head. "Hmmm. It must be a daddy thing. It always puts her to sleep. Give her five minutes and she'll be out like a light. Sometimes she hums and says 'dada,' 'dada,' over and over. It's really cute."

"She hums? Really, Castle?"

"Why not? She hears you humming to her every night."

"Rick's right. You were playing Mozart when you were four years old," Jim came over and sat down, smiling tenderly at his granddaughter, who was now sound asleep on her father's shoulder. "Your mother loved the piano and she especially loved Mozart."

"I know."

"Cool, Kate," Alexis and Martha came over. "I didn't know that you played the piano."

"I don't, anymore," she sighed.

Castle didn't say anything. Kate had told him about the piano after she'd moved into the loft. He had seen her admiring the baby grand in his loft.

"Do you play?" He asked her.

"No, not anymore. My mother played beautifully. She taught me when I was three, maybe four years old. After she died, I couldn't even bear to look at the piano, anymore. Listening to Mozart makes me want to run and hide."

He'd incorporated the piano story as a part of Nikki Heat's back story. He hoped that one day she'd want to play again. He longed to hear her. It would be nice if she could teach their children. "I'm going to take her upstairs," Kate carefully took Ari from Castle and carried her upstairs.

"The pain never goes away, Rick," Jim told him.

"I know," Castle sighed. "Let me go check on her."

Kate was standing over Ari's crib, stroking her stomach when Castle walked in. "Hey, Castle," she smiled at the feel of him wrapping his arms around her and pulling her against his chest. "I'm sorry if I'm getting so much inside of my head today."

"It's okay. Does it have anything to do with me leaving tomorrow?"

"A little," she turned into his embrace. "I know that you'll be back on the 28th, but I'm still going to miss you terribly."

"I'm going to miss you, too. Hey, I have a surprise. Your father has offered to watch Ariel for us on New Year's Eve. I want to take you out and ring in the new year with you," he rubbed his nose against hers.

"Really? When did you plan this?"

"When you weren't looking or listening. Do you remember when you found me by the tree last night?" She nodded. "I talked to him then. Well, before you found me and Ariel."

"You're so sweet, Castle. I love you so much."

"I was thinking that maybe tonight we could take a hot bubble bath and then I can read Elizabeth Barrett Browning to you."

"You're such a sappy romantic, Castle. I love it."

That night, Kate was lying with her head on Castle's shoulder, tracing circles on his bare stomach with her fingers. At the moment she felt boneless and sated. After putting Ari down for the night, she'd shared a long bubble bath with Castle, complete with soft music and candles. Then, they had come to bed where as promised; Castle had read her several sonnets and poems by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. They had then made love very softly and very sweetly, every sensation seemingly magnified by the softness. "If I was a cat, this would be the part where I'd be purring and arching my back," she kissed his shoulder softly.

"I'm glad you're so contented," he kissed her.

"We need to sleep," she yawned as if to prove her point. "We have to be at the airport by five."

She settled more tightly against Castle as she weaved her leg in between his. He curled his arm around her, closing his eyes and falling asleep.

***CCC***

It was bitterly cold the next morning as Kate and the baby stood outside of the security checkpoint saying their goodbyes. Ari was unhappy at being awakened at this early hour and she was letting her displeasure be known by rubbing her eyes and screaming loudly. "You'd better go so that I can get her home and back to bed," she pulled Castle close. "Be careful. You know what to watch out for with her, Castle. I'll see you in a few days."

"I love you," he kissed her and then kissed Ariel, who was clearly very unhappy. "Daddy's going to miss you, sweet pea."

"Alexis, take care of your dad," Kate hugged her.

"I will," Alexis forced herself to smile. "Get video of gram babysitting and send it to me."

"I've already got the webcam set up," Kate grinned conspiratorially as Alexis grinned back. "Have fun with your mom. I mean that."

"Go," she shoved at Castle, "or you're going to miss your flight."

"I'll call you when we get to the hotel," he promised her. "I love you."

"I love you, too." She waved until she could no longer see either of them before turning back to Ari, who was furiously rubbing her small face with a chubby fist. "I know, chunky monkey. You're tired, so let's go home and put you back to bed. We're going to be without daddy and sissy for a few days."

Kate walked out of the airport into the frigid air. After buckling Ari into her car seat in the back seat of the Mercedes, she got behind the wheel and started the lonely drive toward home. Never had 72 hours seemed so long.

A/N #3: Next we have Castle and Alexis in Paris, while Martha has her own adventures in babysitting with Ariel. Please read and review.

As usual, I'm on Twitter Caskett1960. The question of the hour being, what comes after 'Oh my god! You're proposing!' My guess is Castle asks, "What did you think I was about to do?"