Confession Chapter 72

Alexis throws Castle a dirty look as "Grandma Got Runover by a Reindeer" pours through the loft's speakers. "Seriously, Dad?"

"No, not seriously. Things have been a little too serious around here for a while and Christmas is supposed to be fun. Anyway, it's not going to happen to your gram. She's not going anywhere in the snow. She lives here."

"About that. Richard," Martha says. "Rafael and I have been thinking of getting a place together. We can afford it. The second act of my career is drawing good reviews and he's been hired as chef of the line at Coq au Vin. And between my time on stage and the hours he'll be working, if we want to see each other, we'll have to live together."

"Hmm. I can finally convert your room into the home theater I've been wanting," Castle muses. "The acoustics up there are perfect for surround sound."

"Dad!" Alexis exclaims.

"Hey, if that's what your gram wants, we should be happy for her," Castle proclaims. "And when are you and Rafael planning to officially cohabitate, Mother?"

"As soon as we can find the right apartment. We need to be close enough to Coq au Vin and the theater district. And you know New York real estate. You either have to sell your soul or know someone with an in to get anything decent."

I can put some feelers out for you, Mother," Castle offers. "Will Rafael be joining us tonight?"

"He'll be working. Coq au Vin is offering a Christmas Eve feast. And the chicken won't be the only thing steeped in wine. Ho, ho! But the restaurant will be closed tomorrow so we'll have all day to explore each other's gifts."

Castle takes a step back. "Say no more, Mother – please!"

"When's Kate coming, Dad?" Alexis asks.

Castle checks his watch. "She should be showing up in about half an hour which should time out just right with pulling the turkey out now. And Jim Beckett will be coming too. He's bringing that corn casserole you liked so much at Thanksgiving. He said he's a one-trick pony. But at least it's a good trick."

"Richard, what do you keep playing with in your pocket?" Martha questions.

Castle's eyebrows jump. "Mother!"

Martha gazes heavenward. "You know that isn't what I meant. I taught you to appropriately lock doors twenty-five years ago."

"Twenty-four, but who's counting? All will be revealed when the time is right. In the meantime, we have a table to set. Anyone know where the red and green tapers are?"

Top shelf of the cabinet in the kitchen where you hide the good chocolate, Dad," Alexis replies.

Castle shakes his head. "Can never fool you."

Alexis reaches up to grab hold of her father's cheeks. "But it never stops you from trying."

Kate watches the clock on her computer screen tick toward five o'clock. It's been a Christmas Eve day. According to the unis coming in, a fight broke out at Grab-A-Toy over the last Battle Cat, but no one was seriously hurt. Several shopping bags were stolen and a drunken Santa almost got hit by a bus. But the thieves were run down by fellow shoppers and the bus driver was able to stop, as one cop put it, "in the Nick of time." Said cop wanted to make sure she got the Saint Nicholas reference. Someone did report a dead body, but it turned out that no one was dead, just badly overdosed on heavily spiked eggnog. The big hand finally reaches twelve and a clatter sounds at the few other occupied desks as Christmas Eve sweeps in.

Castle employs his carving knife with gusto. Brandishing a lightsaber or epee would be more dramatic but not nearly as productive. And as with a sword, he loves showing off his skills. He may be a complete failure at receiving a spiral pass, but at this, he excels. "Dark meat or white meat, call out your preferences now," he announces. He remembers everyone's choices from Thanksgiving, but diners are always allowed to change their minds. He's only slightly surprised when his mother switches from white to dark, but then it's been a day for surprises. Hopefully, they will continue to be good ones.

Since Alexis was able to tear off wrapping paper, it's been the custom in the Castle household to open the gifts under the tree on Christmas Eve and explore the contents of stockings – large stockings – on Christmas morning. With Christmas carols – minus dead seniors – playing softly, everyone settles into chairs around the massive tree. Electing herself the master of ceremonies, Alexis begins passing out gifts one by one, starting with her father.

Castle receives a remote-controlled helicopter that Kate had noticed him mooning over in one of his many seasonal catalogs. He resists the urge to start flying it immediately while others open clothing, books, and in Jim Beckett's case, a baseball autographed by Joe Torre. As the oohs and ahs fade out, Castle offers a tray filled with Christmas cookies while Alexis distributes hot cocoa with her signature double marshmallows.

Laying his mug and plate of cookies aside, Castle signals to Kate to follow him into his office, closing the door behind them. He pulls the small box he brought from Benji's shop, out of his pocket. "I have one more thing. I wanted to do this in private in case you…."

Kate stares up at his unsmiling face. "Castle, in case I what?"

"In case you don't…." He drops to one knee. "Kate, it's no secret to you, or anyone else with even a passing acquaintance with me that I love you. I love the time we spend together, on the trail, in each other's arms, or just vegged out doing nothing – hard as that is for you. But I want more. I think we both deserve more." Castle drops to one knee and flips open the box. "So, Katherine Houghton Beckett, will you marry me?"

"Castle, I haven't talked to my father about it yet, but if I leave the NYPD to become his investigator, or even if I decide to go to law school, we won't be working together anymore. And I know how much you love it."

"Kate, what I love is you. And if we won't be working together, that's even more reason to get married. In the time we aren't apart we can build a life, a life no longer entangled in the strings of a criminal puppet master. It can be a great life, Kate, as long as we share it."

"What about your Nikki Heat books?"

"Kate, I had enough material to write a whole shelf of books after following you around for a few months. I can write Nikki Heats whether you're at the 12th or not. Or I might start a whole new series about an intrepid investigator. Anything is possible. But whatever I do, whatever you do, I want you beside me as my wife."

Kate points to the ring. "Let me see that." Castle takes the jewelry out of the box and holds it up. "It's big!"

"A symbol of the depth of my love for you."

Kate rolls her eyes. "And I've never seen one with a circle of amethysts like that."

"I've been assured that it is one of a kind, like my bride – if you'll have me."

Kate stares into the hope in Castle's eyes. "Yes, Richard Edgar Castle I will marry you." He slips the ring on her finger. "It fits! How did you know my ring size?"

Castle pushes up from the floor. "While you were recovering from being shot, I got Graciela to measure it for me."

"So you've known all that time that you wanted to propose?"

"Kate, I think I've known since you flashed your badge in my face and accused me of murder. It just took me this long to believe I might get the answer I wanted. So you want to go out there and show that thing off?"

Kate wraps her arms around Castle and stretches up for a kiss. "It can wait."