It was past midnight when she padded her way into the living room. He was still sleeping, his arm thrown out over his head. Kate didn't bother him, staying silent as she followed the light from the tree. She tugged the neckline of the sweatshirt she wore up onto her shoulder; it slipped right back down.

The multicolored lights from the tree in the corner of the living room reflected back at her from the mirror surface of the windows as she sat against the coffee table to look at the evergreen.

She hadn't had a real tree since she started living on her own. It had been silly to get a tree when she was the only one to enjoy it. But now, it felt right.

Kate shifted forward, moving some of the presents piled under the tree to the side so she could slip her head under the branches. A few pine needles fell onto her face and Kate brushed them away, their scent lingering in her hair.

"What're you doing?"

His voice was sleepy but Kate smiled. "Lying here."

Castle walked over, gave her foot a light kick. "I can see that. Why?"

"It's magic."

"Oh goodness. Did the stubborn, practical Katherine Beckett just admit to believing in magic?" he asked, kneeling next to her calves, giving one of them a squeeze.

Kate returned the kick, grinning up into the branches. "It's a Christmas miracle."

He held onto her leg and gave her a tug so she slid out from under the tree. Bracing one hand on the tree skirt under her head, Castle leaned over to press his lips to her smile. "Must be something in the air." Another gentle kiss, his fingers running over her cheek. "Come back to bed, Kate. The tree will be here tomorrow."

Kate inched out from under the tree, taking Castle's offered hand to get to her feet. He kept his arm around her waist, her head on his bicep as they wandered back through the study to the bedroom. As he pulled her back against his chest, his arm looped over her waist, Kate turned her head so she could see his face.

"I hope we'll do the same thing with the next generation in this place."

The expression on his face was some combination of shock and the purest look of love she had ever seen. "You mean?"

"I mean." Even with her head twisted to face behind her, Kate managed to get floored by the third kiss of the night.

"Best present ever," Castle murmured against her lips.