A/N Massive spoiler for Bad Santa, 7 X 10

After the Vows

Jim Beckett's Journal

Chapter 27

Dear Johanna,

It is the day after Christmas and I have a lot to tell you. First the rather unfortunate news. Rick has had all sorts of associations over the years to help provide material for his books. Some of these associations were with the mob. I'm not saying that I approve, but I understand why he'd want to lend authenticity to his work. He recently used one of those associations, actually a friendship, to help solve a mob-related murder. The murderer turned out to be a dirty cop, McBride, who was subsequently killed by an unknown assassin on his way to booking. The person McBride killed was family in the literal sense to Rick's friend, Dino Scarpelli, and the onus for McBride's death has fallen on Rick. Frankly, I would think that the NYPD and the city would be grateful that the scandal of a murderous dirty cop would have a quick end rather than being spread across the media, especially given recent events. However the D. A. and the mayor didn't see it that way. Rick has been banned from working with the N.Y.P.D.. His precious partnership with Katie has come to a close. They are both quite upset but did their best to put it aside for Christmas. I think that Alexis and Martha may both be somewhat relieved that Rick will no longer be in the line of fire, but they haven't said as much to Rick or Katie.

I don't mean to imply that it wasn't a joyful Christmas, because as Katie's and Rick's first Christmas as husband and wife, it was. As might have been suggested by my earlier descriptions of the decorations, the loft was aglow with light. I don't think there was a spare corner that didn't shout Christmas. On Christmas Eve there was a traditional dinner, including turkey. There was also a traditional Castle glug which I am told was very good. Alexis and I drank sparkling cider.

After dinner, Alexis played Christmas carols on her violin and Martha accompanied her on the piano. Martha told me that she doesn't play much anymore, but if she was rusty, it wasn't apparent to me. Rick and Katie sang along. I haven't heard Katie sing in so long, I forgot how beautiful her voice is. It has matured since you were with us, to a rich alto. Rick sings well also, although he has a tendency to be a clown, inserting funny lyrics. He also turned The Twelve Days of Christmas into a rap song. I think he did that to try to include me. As I'm sure you remember, singing has always sounded better when I didn't join in, but the way Rick did the song, all I had to do was talk when he pointed to me. As a lawyer I can manage talking fine.

In the Castle household, presents are opened on Christmas Eve. As I understand it, this tradition was started because Rick was incapable of waiting. There are also stockings for Christmas morning. Rick's explanation for that is that it gives Santa something to fill when he comes down the chimney. I don't know how long Alexis believed that one, if she ever did. You know how young Katie was when she dismissed Santa Claus, but then the loft has a chimney and our apartment didn't. With the bounty under the tree, I couldn't imagine what Santa would have had left to bring, but Rick is endlessly creative.

Rick swore he stayed within the financial guidelines but Katie looked doubtful. He got her a Harley Davidson leather jacket designed to match her motorcycle. Katie said it was a collector's item and no longer made, which prevents her from looking up a list price. She demanded a receipt and Rick told her she'd have to get a warrant. She told him that they'd see about that later, but the way she said it seemed like anything but a threat.

Katie got Rick a Star Wars boxed set. Somehow she had contacted an old friend from Stanford; I think she said his name was Henry, who went to work for Industrial Light and Magic and forged a friendship with the Lucas family. Henry got the set sighed by George Lucas. Rick was over the moon. I think the kiss he gave her would have escalated to much more had had we not all been watching. It did take both of them a moment to shift their attention back to the opening of presents.

Rick gave Alexis a ticket to a comic convention in San Diego, which apparently is long sold out by Christmas. He's also picking up her airfare and hotel. He said something about wishing he could go himself but having a book tour in July. Alexis was overjoyed at the chance to go and promised to tweet, (that's using the social media Twitter,) lots of pictures. Katie gave her tickets to a series of poetry jams, something that Alexis also seemed to appreciate very much.

Katie and Rick shopped for Martha together, getting some sort of designer purse she's had her eye on. They also gave me a very handsome new attache case in celebration of my suit.

Alexis had relatively inexpensive but well thought out gifts for everyone. She gave Katie a lovely jeweled ornament for her hair. Rick got a still from an old TV show called Buffy the Vampire Slayer, showing Buffy battling some evil priest. It was signed by someone named Joss Whedon who is apparently a big time director now. I understand that Whedon is a special favorite of Rick's. Martha got a huge hat that looked like leopard fur, but Alexis assured everyone that it was only wild acrylic. She gave me a tie that I'm sure the Castle family would consider deadly dull, but for me it was absolutely perfect.

Martha gave Rick and Katie matching robes with a logo she had designed, a picture of a castle, embroidered on the breast pockets. Alexis got what she called a leather messenger bag for all the things she takes to school. Martha gave me a lovely fountain pen, a lot like the ones I grew up with.

I did the best I could with my gifts. I found Rick an encyclopedia of superheroes, which just came out, so he didn't have it yet. I had Alexis check his bookshelves to be sure. Martha got the scarf I mentioned and I got Alexis tickets to a concert by a couple of brothers who I'm told play very unusual cello music. Alexis knew who they were immediately and was very excited.

For my gift to Katie, I ordered one of those silver frames that holds two pictures. I put our wedding picture on the left and Rick's and Katie's wedding picture, courtesy of Alexis, on the right. Katie cried a bit when she saw it and so did I.

I was invited back for the opening of stockings on Christmas morning. Rick served pancakes that looked like little Santa Clauses. Then Alexis made some wonderful hot chocolate and we drank it while the stockings were handed out. Each stocking was designed for the owner. Rick's was a whimsical elf shoe with a bell on the end. Katie's looked like a stiletto. Alexis' was a holdover her childhood, a glass slipper. Martha had what she told me was a character shoe. I don't know what that is, but apparently it's used for dancing on stage. I have no idea how or where Rick and Katie got it, but mine was a baseball shoe, complete with cleats.

Mostly the stockings were filled with treats like fruits, chocolates, and candy canes but there was one serious gift in each. Katie got a bracelet with a gold charm on it in the shape of her badge. Alexis got something similar with violin charm and an Indian banjo charm. Martha got a necklace that looked like her name on a marquee and I got a pair of cufflinks in the shape of the scales of justice. Rick just had a gold lined envelope with something written on a card in gold ink. I have no idea what it said, but he kissed Katie and exclaimed: "Best stocking ever!"

Afterward Martha had to go to the theater. Rick, Katie, and Alexis were preparing for a new tradition, suggested by Katie, distributing presents to the children of fallen first responders. Rick had a closet full of them, some donated by the cops of the 12th, some that Rick and Katie purchased themselves, wrapped and labeled according to age and gender. I was invited to come along. We rode in Rick's new Mercedes, a replacement for the one that burned the day that Rick and Katie were originally supposed to get married. Rick drove to each family's home. The look in the eyes of those children was better than any material Christmas present could ever be. I don't think it was about the gifts. The kids looked that way even before they opened them. I believe it was simply knowing that someone was thinking about them.

I miss you. I will always miss you. But even though you couldn't be beside me, it was a wonderful Christmas and one I will always remember.

Forever love,

JB

Finis

A/N This is it for now, but I may bring Jim back for commentary on what happens after the mid-season hiatus. It sounds like things could get very interesting. Right now I will be doing a story for the Winter Ficathon. It will be very AU but in a way incorporate some of what we've been told is coming. Join me for Out of the Keep. Love, Sally