"Hate to break it to you, babe, but Christmas may look different this year."
The kids were in bed and all of the decorations had been pulled up from the basement. Bins were strewn all over the main floor, and that night's task was turning their home into a Christmas wonderland.
"What do you mean? I'm gonna set it up like always!" Castle asks, opening one of the many plastic bins and pulling out snowglobes. "These go on the bookshelf in the living room." he hands her the glass globes, non-verbally directing her to where they need to go.
"Babe, this is cute and all, but you're not listening to me," Kate says, taking her husband's hand.
When Castle meets her eyes, there's a confused softness in the blue irises she knows so well. "What?"
"I know you love Christmas and filling the house with magic and things. But it's gonna have to be different this year. The kids aren't little babies anymore. Remember how we had to lock your office so they don't get in and mess with everything?"
"Oh. Yeah." He furrows his brow as realization hits him. And it makes him just a bit sad.
Their kids were nearly two and getting into everything. They'd baby-proofed things when they started crawling, but the toddler stage brought a whole level of it.
"So, having these out where the kids can get at them," Kate holds up the very breakable decorations, "is not gonna be a good idea for us or them." She swirls them around, watching the fake snow and glitter flutter and fall.
Castle quickly starts to put things away, silently calculating how much of his believed decorations they realistically could put out.
"How about we put just a few out and keep them on a high shelf? I still want to see them!" Kate says. "And it's not gonna be like this forever, you know. We can do it differently for a year."
"Yeah, I know," he shrugs, still a bit hurt.
"Come on, we gotta get to work. I have a feeling one of them is gonna wake up soon."
So, they set to work putting up the Christmas tree, connecting the lights, and putting a select few favorite ornaments towards the top. They place decorations discreetly around the house—including a felt play scene he's had since Alexis was little— and hang seven empty stockings along the mantlepiece.
"Good job," Kate smiles, slapping five with Castle as they settle on the couch.
"I think it turned out nice," Castle nods, admiring their work. The twinkling lights, the simple decor. It was less obnoxious than he usually liked, but it was beautiful nonetheless.
[][]
The next morning, in the grey light and chill air, Kate scurries around turning on all the lights.
"Okay! Ready!" she calls, standing at the base of the stairs.
Rick appears with Austin in his arms. He'd ended up in their bed not long after she and Rick had gone to bed, and as such was the first kid to see the decorations.
The toddler, with a pacifier in his mouth and his favorite stuffed animal in one hand, smiles at his mom.
"Hey, Tintin! What do you think?" Kate asks. She watches with a giddy smile as her son looks around and finds the Christmas tree.
"A Christmas tree! My tree!" Austin says, reaching for the multi-colored lights. Rick lets him down and he runs up to it, grabbing for one of the lower branches.
"Gentle, Austin," Kate reminds, squatting down next to him. "Is it pretty?"
"Pretty," he nods, in awe of it. "Mommy! Look at the lights!"
"I see, bubby! Daddy and I put it all up last night. Do you like it?"
"I like it!" He throws his arms up and hugs her. From his spot tucked against her side, Kate hugs him close and chuckles, noting his quiet study of it all; taking it in in his stride.
As the other kids wake up, they, too, are introduced to the decorations and despite the simplicity of their decorating, the house is still full of joy and magic.