A/N: Better late than never, right? Anyway, hope your Christmas was spent with family and all the good food. Also? Yesterday was my little brother's 17th birthday. Happy birthday, Bubby. I love you so much.

Any spelling/grammar mistakes you see are mine. I'm sorry.

Enjoy!

The last of the dying embers glowed orange in the closed fireplace. Filled stockings hung on the mantle above, and only crumbs and a dirty glass are left from Santa's treat. Lights twinkled from their places over railings and banisters, around windows and the mantel piece, left on for Santa to be able to see and, according to one little girl, because he is afraid of the dark and the Christmas lights were his night light.

Presents lay under the decorated tree, most wrapped, but some not. Bigger ticket items sit front and center; the first things that will be seen in the morning.

A light snow falls outside; the slight breeze causing the flakes to dance and tumble before settling on the ground. It is not the loud, harsh storm of weeks past, but rather a peaceful, soft snow; one that makes everyone stop and watch and listen to the quiet. One that land on flat mittens, easy enough to see with the naked eye; where people try and catch them on their tongues.

All the clocks strike the half hour, and still the house lays silent. The children are snuggled in bed, warm under blankets, cuddling their beloved comfort items; each clad in Christmas jammies. The adults, too, are asleep; having stayed up late enjoying the night with a drink, letting the fire burn down.

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The kid's think they are bring stealthy: tiptoeing down the hall and switching between their rooms; giggling and not quite whispering as they go.

Rick and Kate listen from their room and, meeting eyes, cover their mouths to keep from laughing out loud. He tosses back the covers, stands and shoves his feet into slippers.

"I'm going to go get them," he announces to his wife, throwing on his robe as he leaves the bedroom. Rick creeps down the hall, and stops at the boys' room where all the kids are currently.

"What are you doing?" Castle questions, busting open the door causing all five kids to jump and scream. He can't really throw his nine year old around as well anymore, but he does get a hold of Liam from behind and pins his arms to his sides, tickling the back of his neck where it is extra sensitive. The boy squirms and giggles, begging to be let go. Rick drops his hold enough for Liam to escape, and the boy stands on his bed, getting height on his father. "Come on. Let's go wake up mommy so we can open some presents," Castle says, turning and letting Liam ride on his back; the others already halfway down the hall.

"Merry Christmas, Mommy!" Danielle cheers as she comes into the room and crawls into bed.

"Merry Christmas, baby girl," Kate says, hugging her daughter and kissing her temple.

"Are you ready?" Miyana asks, standing next to her mom and sister, bouncing with excited energy.

"No. I think maybe we'll just skip Christmas this year," Kate jokes, stealthily winking at Danielle.

"No!" Mia whines.

"Mommy!" Austin continues, having entered the conversation just then. "Daddy! Mommy says we're not doing Christmas!"

"Well if Mommy says so, then I guess that's true," Rick says, coming in just behind Austin.

"I'll tell you what," Kate starts, giving her kids a proposition. "If you guys wait out side for me to get cleaned up and let Daddy go make us some coffee, then we will have Christmas."

"Yeah!"

The cheers fill the room, bouncing off the walls, echoing just slightly.

As fast as they had entered, the kid leave, pulling Rick with them.

"That was too easy," Kate whispers to Danielle who had stayed cuddled up with her mom. The two girls share a laugh, and eventually Kate does get up and makes herself presentable for Christmas morning photos.

When they come out, the other four kids are stand in various places on the stair case, waiting for permission to go downstairs.

"Okay, go on," Kate releases them and huffs a breath and shakes her head as they literally run down the stairs and into the living room for their stockings, as per tradition.

The blinds are open, letting in the early morning light, and revealing the blanket of fresh powder on the ground. Christmas music is playing out of the TV and a fire is once again lit in the grate. Rick is waiting with cups of coffee and hot chocolate, which he distributes as the kids find their spots.

Kate accepts hers with a kiss, and the hot porcelain feels nice in her cold hands. The first sip burns on its way down, killing off a few taste buds in the process.

"Mommy, look!"

The call gets her attention and she's split five ways looking at all the candy and little bits and bobs the kids pull out of their stockings. Lipgloss; toe socks; packs of card games; more candy; each one revealed with shouts and cheers. Already the kids are trading with each other, for better flavors or mixing and matching their socks.

"Here Mommy," Austin says, passing Kate her own stocking.

She's always had one. Since that first Christmas she and Castle spent together, and every year following. It's put together much like their kids' are: candy and a few little trinkets or gag gifts. One year she had gotten a rubber band gun; another year there was a giant gummy bear waiting for her.

"Okay, let's see," she says, trading her coffee mug for the stocking, and sticking her hand inside. On top are two of those plastic candy canes filled with candy (Skittles and Jolly Ranchers this year), then comes the classic chocolate Santa. A six pack of holiday Kit-Kat bars come next, with a box of Holiday Nerds following. She gets the same pack of flavored Chap Stick the girls had gotten (hers was various soda flavors), and a pair of toe socks as well. At the bottom are some lottery scratchers and finally is a gift card to her favorite clothing store.

"Thank you," She says, turning to Castle and kissing him with a smile.

Now that the living room is a disaster zone and hot chocolate has grown cold, requests to move on to opening real presents are being made. A rushed cleaning session is completed and the family migrates into the front room.

There are gasps and squeals of delight as they see their big presents, each kid pulling their gifts to a spot around the room.

"Daddy." The sigh that comes from his daughter's mouth is so full of joy and shock and awe that he quickly snaps a photo to capture the moment forever.

"Do you like it?" He asks, kneeling beside her as she continues to peer through the window on the box.

He gets a rapid nod in return, and takes the box from her hand. He breaks the seal and removes the new American Girl doll from its restraints.

It's exactly the one Finn asked for: Curly brown hair, green eyes; the Girl of the Year, Callie.

Her story is that she had been put into foster care after her parents got into trouble. She had to find her voice and not become 'just one of those foster kids'. American Girl had made history with a Girl of the Year with such a story as Callie's. People thought it might be too inappropriate, but it was a story that needed to be told. And they had done it in a very proper, and in a way that girls of this age group would understand, but would also make them ask questions and want to learn more.

"Whoa! A scooter!" Austin's shout could be heard a mile away. As his old one had broken beyond repair over the summer, Rick and Kate figured Christmas would be the perfect time to get him a new one.

"Bryan Lanning's new CD! Thank you, thank you!" Kate gets a running hug from her daughter, still clutching the CD in her hand. Miyana adores the YouTube star-slash-singer/songwriter and had talked nonstop about the new CD he was releasing right around the holidays, so the present was absolutely perfect for her.

As the morning continued, more present were opened, and the floor became covered in wrapping paper and gift bags. The kids cracked into their new toys the second they could and eventually everyone dispersed to different corners of the house to play.

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The rest of the day was very relaxed: everyone still in pajamas, playing with toys and watching TV and eating way too much candy. Just as the holiday was to be spent.

A FaceTime call was made to Alexis and her family, who were spending the holidays with Max's family in North Carolina. Four year old McKenna went on about the new Barbie house she had gotten from her Mimi and Poppy, and despite the distance between New York and North Carolina, invited her grandma and grandpa and aunts and uncles over to play, to which her mother had to explain why they couldn't comer over. But promises were made for them to get together to play with the new toy as soon as they got back from their trip.

Dinner was casually prepared over the afternoon, not rushing around; no worries. And soon the smells filled the house and hungry kids started floating through and hovering in the kitchen.

"Careful, it's hot," Rick warned his Austin, who was underfoot wanting to help, and eat, as he pulled a dish of green bean casserole out of the over, setting it on the stovetop next to it.

"Is it ready?" Austin asks once again, bouncing on his toes.

"It will be soon. Go wash your hands," Castle says, pushing Tin in the direction of the bathroom, and pointing the last part at all five kids.

Once everyone is sitting at the table, with full plates in front of them, Rick raises his glass in a toast. The others follow, the kids loving this part; always excited to 'cheers' their glasses.

"I just wanted to say Merry Christmas. I love you all very much," he says simply, smiling at each member of his family.

"Merry Christmas!"
"Love you, babe," Kate says with a kiss.
"Love you!"
"Love you, Daddy!"
"Cheers!"

At Danielle's comment, they clink their glasses together and take a sip before digging into their food.

And for the first time since the wee hours of the morning: the Castle house is silent.