Hi there!

So by popular demand, I wrote a follow up on my last one shot. Yes, a two shot.

Prompt: Castle comes home on Christmas. (Fluffy)

Thank you all for reviewing and sending in prompts. I'm find in time to do them slowly but surely.

Enjoy!

It's 5:30 when she wakes to her phone ringing beside her. She pulls herself into a sitting position and holds her phone to her ear, the caller ID completely irrelevant at this time of day.

"Beckett?" It comes off harsher than she intended, but it's Christmas for crying out loud; all she wants is to sit in bed today and mourn.

"Kate." Espo's voice on the other end of the receiver is calm, somber even, something Kate rarely hears. It's because he only speaks this way when something is way beyond serious. When something hits close to home.

"Espo, what's wrong?" She can't help but jump to her feet, her fight or flight still residing deep within her.

"My buddy, he's a cop upstate. A couple of hours ago they found a car abandoned near a pond. There was a man inside. My friend recognized him and called me. Kate, it's Castle. He's alive."

Kate's hand flew to cover her mouth as a sob claimed her lips. She felt the tears streaming down her face before she even knew she was crying. No sooner did she have to sit back down, her entire body shaking, pure adrenaline coursing through her. Another sob filled the quiet room as she sat in stunned silence.

In that moment, time stood completely still. There were no words, no feelings, no emotions to express what she was feeling. Relief beyond compare, unexplainable happiness, and pure shock.

"Beckett? Beckett? Kate?" Espo called through the phone, her inability to respond worrying him.

She finally snapped back to attention, even if for a brief moment. "He's alive?" She wiped at her eyes as she sat on the edge of the bed.

"He's here, Kate. He's alive."

As if she were being lied to, she asked again. "He's coming home?"

"Yeah, he's coming home." She could hear a smile in his voice as he delivered the news of the century.

She pulled her hair out of her face and covered her mouth again as fresh tears poured from her eyes. "Oh my God." She tried to compose herself, immediately snapping into cop mode. "Where are you? I need to come right now." She stood and made a b-line for her closet, needing to be ready an hour ago.

"Stay put. Ryan and I are on our way back. We're bringing him right to you."

"But how-"

"He's already been checked at the hospital and cleared. We wanted to make sure everything was fine before we called you. I wanted to give some good news on Christmas."

"Thank you, Javi." Her gratitude she felt towards her friend and what he had just given her was something that she could never repay him for.

"No need to thank me. I'm just happy we're bringing him home. We'll be there in an hour." After a quick goodbye, they both hung up the phone to signal the countdown until the reunion of the writer and the muse.

The next hour, Kate tip toed through the house, her poor finger nails nothing but nubs. Finally, she found herself in front of the full length mirror in their bedroom, a skeleton of the woman she once was staring back at her. She had lost weight in the time that he'd been gone. The natural glow of her cheeks was non existent. And her eyes lacked a certain sparkle. None of that mattered, though. Not the crying or the sleepless nights. Not the nightmares or therapy she forced herself to go to. Not the endless searching and dead end leads. No, nothing of the sorts mattered because Rick was coming home to her. Today was the day that everything changed. Because he was coming home. She was done being alone.

In the midst of pulling her hair out of her face, she heard the front door creak open and shut. She heard boots on the hardwood that stopped abruptly, right in the middle of the foyer. Kate raced out of the bedroom and stopped dead in her tracks.

There, breathing, living, and real, Castle stood before her. He was wearing someone else's clothes, he'd lost weight, and his hair was a mess. But he was here. He was

alive.

Javi and Kevin quickly made their exit once they knew they had completely their job, no need to intrude on the sweet, sweet reunion if their friends.

"Rick." Kate leapt towards him, throwing herself into his arms. She clung to him, her face in his chest as heavy sobs shook her body.

"I'm here, Kate. I'm here." He pulled her close to him, unable to feel as though she was close enough to him.

She pulled back and found his eyes, looking longingly into them. She cupped his cheeks in her hands, needing this solid, physical proof that this wasn't a dream. She brushed the hair off of his forehead and ran the pad of her thumb over his cheek bones. She found his eyes once more. "I never thought I was going to see you again."

"You didn't think I'd leave you, did you?" He raised a single eyebrow at her, but failed to keep it there. All he really wanted was to have her in his arms and never let go.

She shook her head. "I'm just so happy you're here."

Castle kissed Kate on the forehead. "Merry Christmas."

Tears pooled in her eyes, the memories of last night presenting themselves. She was so prepared for the sadness that this day would bring. She was ready to mourn the loss of her lover so many months ago. She was ready to be alone. But here she stood, wrapped in his arms. He was here. He came back to her. She wasn't alone. A true Christmas miracle. Kate pecked him quick on the lips. "Merry Christmas, Rick."

Please review!

xoxo