A/N: Thank you for all the wonderful reviews for the previous chapters - you guys are the best!
But for the one person (Peter Gunn) who left me a really weird and hostile review after the previous chapter: what the hell was that all about? Damn, if you hate the show so much, why the hell are you still watching it? Nobody is forcing you. A word of advice: don't write reviews when you are pissed off. Or experiencing PMS. Next time, at least have the guts to log in so that I can engage with you in a PM. I'm not going to reply to you in a public forum.
Aaaannyway, enjoy this piece of fluff! I also wanted to try out a Christmas-type fic and hopefully this is decent.
Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me. I'm only borrowing the characters. And yes, Marlowe is still a genius in my opinion.
Chapter 56 - A Merry Little Christmas
"Hey, I found Cookie Angel!" Rick called out enthusiastically, holding up the self-made ornament. They were busy decorating the massive Christmas tree and turning the loft into a sparkly, glittery, spectacular Winter Wonderland.
Alexis chuckled and shook her head as she climbed down the ladder. "Dad, maybe you should get rid of that thing. It's getting kinda gross."
His head snapped up, his eyes growing wide. "What? Get rid of Cookie Angel? Never. You made this for me when you were seven with your chubby little hands." He grinned at her, a twinkle in his blue eyes. "Remember?"
The young woman offered him a soft, wistful smile. "Yeah, Dad, I do." She stepped closer, bending down to take the little creation from him. "But soon Lizzy will be the one to bring you self-made Christmas decorations."
Rick's brow furrowed, his eyes watching his eldest carefully. He reached out a hand and snagged her arm. "Alexis, you still form part of this family. Nobody will ever take replace-"
But the red-head's mouth curved widely and she shook her head. "I know, Dad. Don't worry, I know that. We're a family. I'm just saying that maybe it's time to start new traditions." With that she leaned down and kissed his bearded cheek before heading upstairs.
Castle sat there, letting his daughter's words play in his mind.
'New traditions'.
In the past, he would have protested against such an idea, calling it preposterous and a little paradoxical, but experience has taught him to always expect something new.
She was making herself a cup of coffee with his fancy espresso machine, tired and a feeling a little somber for being at the precinct on Christmas Eve. But, she meant what she had told him - it was her tradition and it was important.
"You're doing it wrong."
Kate startled and whipped around at the sound of his voice. He was smirking at her as he stood there at the break room door, his blue eyes regarding her tenderly.
Her mouth involuntarily slid into a wide smile, her delight quantified in the lift of her lips.
"Castle, what are doing here?"
He shrugged, giving her a lopsided grin. "Making new traditions." He had a bag with him and lifted it onto the counter. "I thought that maybe you needed some Christmas cheer. . . and food." He briefly turned back to her, wriggling his eyebrows and still grinning like a little boy before taking out the contents of the bag.
Kate was rooted to the spot and stared at her writer as he dug out various portions of a Christmas feast - from the starter to dessert. And of course, eggnogg. She shook her head and breathed out a laugh. This man. This sweet, adorable, wonderful man.
The man she loved.
"Kate, did you hear me?" He asked, wearing a bemused smile.
Huh. She must have zoned out with a goofy grin on her face.
"Uh, what?"
He cocked his head to the side and watched for a moment, his blue eyes glittering. "Do you want some eggnogg?"
She nodded, coming to stand next to him. "Yeah, please."
He poured some into a coffee cup and handed it to her. "Here you go. It's my mother's secret recipe. In other words - twice as much alcohol. A word of advice: don't drink too quickly," he said with a wink.
She took the cup from him, their fingers lingering against each other. She smiled at him, the special one that she reserved for him, the one that flooded her eyes with light.
"Thanks." However, that smile slowly faded, her eyes falling away as she started to think about his presence meant.
What sacrifices he had to make.
"Rick, what about Christmas Eve with Alexis and Martha?" She lifted her eyes to him, a little vulnerable and uncertain. "With your family?"
He looked at her, his brow creasing. "Kate, you are family and this is our first Christmas together." He placed his hands on her upper arms, squeezing gently and pulling her closer. "I want to spend it with you."
"But do you really want to spend it here at the precinct?"
He nodded. "Yes, as long as I get to spend it with you." Kate sighed and flickered her eyes downward, still not entirely convinced. "This is important to you, so it's important to me."
Her gaze snapped back to him, her mouth falling open. Before Rick could process what was happening, she had her arms around his neck, her body pressed tightly against his.
"I love you," she sighed against his skin, her face buried in his neck. His heart stuttered - that was the first time she said the words out loud. Kate pulled back to look at him, her mouth splayed in a bright smile, her hands framing his face.
"I love you."
His smile matched hers, wide and beaming, reaching his eyes. He touched her face, cradling her cheek and caressing his thumb over the hard ridge of her jaw bone.
"I love you too. So much." He tilted his head towards her and touched his lips to the corner of her mouth, meeting her lips in a whisper of a kiss.
Kate broke away from his mouth and walked her lips across his cheek, nuzzling her nose into his skin.
"Castle," she murmured, her breath washing over his cheek.
"Mm?"
She smiled, her teeth bared against his skin. "You forgot the mistletoe."
He chuckled, the sound rumbling out of his chest, sending the vibrations into her body. "Nah-uh, you are mistaken, my dear detective." He pulled back slightly, grinning like a little boy, his eyes creasing adorably.
Kate lifted her eyebrows in question, biting her lip. "Oh, really?"
He nodded before taking out the mistletoe from his inside jacket pocket. "See? Now Christmas is complete." He lifted the branch above their heads.
"Merry Christmas, Kate."
She let out a single note of laughter. "Merry Christmas."
And with that, Rick Castle finally got to kiss Kate Beckett under a mistletoe.
Rick was snapped out of his nostalgia when the front door burst open with his wife and youngest daughter coming through with bags of Christmas shopping in tow. Lizzy was hanging onto her mother's empty hand, bouncing up and down with a little too much energy.
"Hey, guys. Or rather girls," Rick greeted them with a large smile, getting up from the floor. When Lizzy spotted her father, she squealed and scampered towards him.
He grinned and bent down, catching her as she launched herself into his arms, chanting 'Dada, dada'.
"Hey, baby girl. You have fun?" He nuzzled her neck and blew raspberries against her neck, making the little girl shriek in giggles. She was only one fan of her father's beard.
Kate was also one - especially when he was trailing his mouth down her body, igniting her skin with the scratch of his rough beard. . . Hot damn.
"So, how far did you get with the decorating?"
He glanced around and shrugged, shifting Lizzy in his arms. "We're almost done with the tree. Just waiting for you to complete the final touches." He looked at her, wriggling his eyebrows and grinning.
He was such a little boy sometimes.
Kate returned the smile, bags still in her hands. "It looks great so far, honey." She walked past him towards their room, but before she could get far, he snatched her arm with his free hand.
"Whoa, Mrs. Castle, where are you going?"
She frowned in confusion. He only tilted his head upward, gesturing towards the mistletoe hanging from the ceiling. Kate followed his line of sight and puffed out a laugh when she spotted it. She lowered the packages to the floor and moved into the cradle of his arms where their daughter was already kept safe.
"Merry Christmas, Mr. Castle," she whispered before brushing her mouth against his, a hand rubbing along his bearded cheek.
She really did love it.
His lips slipped into a muted smile as they parted, foreheads brushing and their daughter's little body in the middle of all of the joy.
"Merry Christmas, Mrs. Castle."
She was baking him - correction them - cookies. In his apartment on the day before Christmas. The day she always kept her own tradition - working on Christmas Eve, keeping vigil over the city she loved. But-
she had a family now. And it was time to start new traditions. So, here she is baking Castle, Alexis and Martha Christmas cookies with her mother's recipe. Complete in Christmas attire - a cute green and red apron and a Santa-hat. She heard the the front door open and smoothed down her apron, biting her lip in excitement and nervousness.
He came through the door, bags in hand and head down. She heard his heavy sigh and watched him from the kitchen; he was frowning, seemingly deep in thought.
"Mother!" He called out, dropping the shopping bags by the table at the door.
Kate smiled, holding a few fingers to her smiling lips. "She isn't here, Castle."
She stepped out from the kitchen counter, her hands clasped casually behind her back; a clever smile dancing around in her eyes. His head snapped up, his mouth falling open in shock.
"Kate? W-what are you doing here?" He tracked his eyes up and down her body, his mouth curving. "Dressed like an elf."
She lifted a shoulder, her mouth curving broadly. "I'm baking."
"Baking?"
Her lips stretched out, revealing her row of pearly whites. "Yeah. I'm baking you guys some Christmas cookies."
He offered her a cheek-splitting grin that flickered in his eyes. "Yeah?"
She laughed and nodded. "Mm-hmm. And they're delicious. It's my mom's special recipe."
At that, the smile slid off his face and he dropped his eyes, shifting uncomfortably on his feet. Kate's own smile slowly faded, her forehead creasing in worry and sudden insecurity.
Did she cross a line somehow?
She slowly rounded the kitchen counter, coming to stand a couple of steps away from him. "Unless that's a problem, Rick."
His eyes flashed to hers again and he moved towards her. "No, no," he said, reaching out a hand to her arm, circling her small, bony wrist with his fingers. "Of course not. I love having you here in my home."
She tilted her head sideways and regarded him with dark, knowing eyes. "Then what is this hesitation about?"
He sighed and scrubbed a hand down his face. "Just. . . what about your tradition, Kate?" He murmured, watching her with worried blue eyes.
Kate's mouth parted little-by-little, her features growing tender. She moved into his personal space, their bodies only inches apart, heat sparking between them.
"I'm making new ones."
"You sure?"
She breathed out a light laugh, brushing a hand up his chest, her fingers splaying over his collarbone; feather-light and warm.
"Yes, Rick, I'm sure."
At that, his face cracked open into a beaming, goofy grin, pinning his cheeks to then opposite ends of his face.
"Okay, great. That's. . . great," he said before pulling her closer for a kiss. A soft, slow and thorough exploration of her mouth.
He rested his forehead against hers, smiling softly. "So, cookies, huh?"
Kate sang out a single note of laughter, a melody of joy and amusement. She pulled out of his arms, tangling her hand with his and dragging him along to the oven where the promised goods awaited.
"Yes, Castle, I baked you cookies." She turned towards him, eyebrows raised, trying to reign in her mirth. "Are you really that surprised?"
He lifted a shoulder. "Well, I know you can cook, detective, but seeing you here baking in this cute little apron-" He flashed her a crooked, devilish grin. "-call me crazy, but it's kind of arousing."
"Oh my god, are you kidding me?" She burst out around a laugh. "Not cute or adorable or sweet, but arousing."
"Oh, you have no idea how much." He crowded her, his large presence invading her smaller frame. "Kate, I don't think you fully comprehend how much seeing you here in my kitchen, cooking and baking, turns me on," he said, his voice like honey; smooth and rich.
She quirked an eyebrow, slowly pulling her bottom lip into her mouth, knowing that his eyes would automatically be drawn there.
"Is that so?"
He grinned and nodded slowly. "Oh, yeah. Only things missing - you being barefoot and pregnant." He regretted the words the moment they rolled off his tongue.
Shiiiiit.
Kate tensed and blanched, her eyes growing wide. Rick's mouth dropped open, his eyes as big as saucers.
Big, stupid mouth.
"Uh, I- Kate, that was- I-" he bumbled.
Kate rolled her eyes, her lips lifting. "Castle, relax." She pressed a few fingers against his mouth. "Let's chalk it up to a Freudian slip, 'kay?"
He breathed out a sigh. "Yeah, okay." He gave her a little boy grin, wrapping his arms around her waist. "You are the best girlfriend. Ever."
She smiled and laced her arms around his neck, clasping her hands at the back of his head. "Mm, and don't you forget it," she murmured before pressing soft kiss against his mouth. She pulled back and trailed a hand down his arm, engaging her hand into his.
"Now, come on. I could use some help with the last batch."
"The tree looks beautiful."
Kate stepped in behind her husband and wrapped her arms around him, binding them around his torso while resting her chin on his shoulder. It was quiet now. Alexis was lounging next to her baby sister, reading a book and unconsciously combing her hand through Lizzy dark, curly hair. The youngest Castle was asleep, the lights from the Christmas tree playing over her little-girl features. She was completely conked out - too much excitement in one night, including meeting Santa Claus.
Who she ran away from, crying and screaming her lungs out.
It took her mother half an hour to calm her down and bring her back to a Santa-less Christmas-celebration. Her father, of course, was sporting a massive pout because of that - nobody had ever cried before when he was Santa.
"Yeah, it does," he murmured. After a moment, her turned and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pressing a kiss against the temple.
He smiled, only a small, lopsided tilt of his lips. Nostalgia, sentiment and memories of Christmases gone bye resting on the planes of his face. Rick covered her smaller hands on his chest with his ones, tracing her wedding band with his fingers.
He loved her.
The tide of that feeling swelled inside of him, crashing around in his heart like waves. He loved her and his family.
All his girls.
Rick wrapped his arms around his wife, dusting his lips over the crown of her head. Without heels, she squeezed in under his chin - the perfect fit.
"You like your gift?"
She nodded. "Yeah, I love it. Thanks," she murmured, her breath fanning out against his skin. She pulled back slightly to catch his gaze. "You?"
His mouth drifted open into a wide smile. "Yes, it's great. Santa was generous to me this year. I must have been a good boy." Rick wriggled his eyebrows, his wide smile turning into a smirk.
Kate lifted an eyebrow as if to say is that so? She dropped her eyes to his mouth, her hands tracking up his chest, her fingers playing with the buttons on his dress shirt.
She stepped closer, bumping her nose lightly into his cheek, walking her lips up his jaw, enjoying the rough scratch of his beard against her lips.
"Well, Mr. Castle, if you continue to be a good boy, maybe Santa has another gift for you in store later tonight," she purred into his ear, her lips touching his earlobe.
He choked out a shaky breath, his body humming underneath her seduction. His hands flexed around her waist as he pulled her closer to his body.
"I'll be anything you want, Mrs. Castle," he growled, his voice saturated with dark arousal. Before Kate could reply, Alexis called out:
"Hey, it's snowing!"
With that, they were snapped out of their semi-foreplay. Oops. Gotta keep in mind that the kids were present.
"Come and have a look," the red-head said excitedly, beckoning them over to the window. Lizzy was sitting up on the couch, her hair falling messily around her rosy cheeks as she rubbed at her bleary eyes. After a moment, she slowly slid off the couch - butt-up - and held out her arms for one of her parents to pick her up.
"Momma, up." She opened and closed her small hands in request. "Uppie."
Kate huffed out a laugh, a single, soft note of affectionate amusement. She disentangled from her husband's hold and moved towards her daughter, bending down and picking her up.
"You wanna see the snow, baby." Lizzy's only answer was to bury her face in her mother's neck, burrowing further into Kate's embrace. The little girl let out a quiet sigh and repeatedly twirled her small fingers around Kate's hair.
"Wow, it's beautiful," Alexis commented.
Rick nodded, before dropping his arm around his oldest daughter's shoulders and pulling her to him. "Yeah, it is."
He turned his eyes to Kate, his lips drawn into a fond smile, everything in him softening. "Let's go to the park tomorrow - make some snowmen. What do you say?"
She returned a smile, her eyes instinctively drifting back to Lizzy. "Sounds fun. Alexis, you in?"
The young woman grinned. "Sure! Sounds great. How about we go ice skating too?"
Rick groaned while Kate chuckled.
"Do we really have to?" Rick asked with a heavy sigh, his shoulders drooping.
"Oh come on, Castle, I wanna see your moves." Her body gravitated towards his, her head falling against his shoulder. "Besides, it could become a new Castle family tradition."
"Yeah," Alexis supported enthusiastically.
Rick chuckled lightly before wrapping an arm around Kate's shoulders. He pressed a kiss against her temple, dancing his lips over her skin.
"I'd like that. Well, this is indeed a merry Christmas."
[] [] []
Through the years
We all will be together
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself A merry little Christmas now
A/N: Well, I hope that was enjoyable. I kinda struggled with it, but at least it's out there.
Thanks for reading! Please review while you're at it.
Title and lyrics: I'm sure everyone is familiar with the wonderful 'Have yourself a Merry little Christmas'.
Merry Christmas to all and God bless.
;-)