Reflexively, he lifts his arm as she sits on the couch next to him, waiting for her to cuddle close and bury her face into his side. Doesn't need to look away from his tablet to know she's there or what she wants.

She sighs comfortably and he looks over right as she looks up to him, her happy eyes shining gold in the light.

"Hey," she murmurs.

"Hey," he repeats, stealing a kiss.

"You okay?"

"Yeah. Just tired."

He sees her face change in that second. The same look of concern she's had every time he's mentioned being tired at all that year. She's gotten better in the last two months, but it's still there. A reaction almost as instinctual as blinking.

"I'm okay. It's a good tired. Happy. I'm happy."

"Are you sure?"

"Kate, I'd tell you if I wasn't." He insists.

He'd learned this year that hiding his pain and feelings was going to get him nowhere in terms of treatment and health. He had to let people in, even if he knew it would make them feel bad.

"Okay," she eyes him suspiciously but doesn't press it. "What are you looking at?"

"The kids. They're all sending us pictures from today. All the little kids look so cute."

Kate leans closer to see the photos their kids have sent of their Christmases. They'd FaceTimed with them earlier, but seeing the pictures almost made it feel like they were there. Almost.

Six different families, all with similar, yet different traditions.

Alexis and her kids (and grandkids, now) smiling on the stairs of their house. A shot of Austin and his family with them for dinner.

Danielle, Ashley, and their kids in matching pajamas opening gifts before going to Ashley's aunt's house for dinner with her side.

Miyana, Byron, and the kids observing the Jewish tradition of Chinese food and a movie (after opening presents, of course)

Finn in front of the lavish feast she'd prepared, a wide smile on her face, her newest cookbook carefully placed in the corner of the frame. Deacon helping the kids feed their horses their special Christmas treat.

Liam at work, smiling with his coworkers as they keep the city safe so other families can enjoy their night. Ingrid, the kids, her dad, and brothers and their families opening gifts and hanging out together.

"They look like they're having fun," Kate smiles. Part of her is thankful it wasn't their year to host, the other part wishes she could be with them. Hug them close.

She'd been invited by both Ingrid and Miyana to join them but declined. He knew she was still scared to leave him alone. And he also had a feeling that part of her felt guilty like she was cheating her four other kids out of time with her. With their dad.

He scared the crap out of them that year.

The cancer diagnosis back in March rocked their entire lives. They'd always saw him as an unstoppable being, and seeing him so sick in a hospital bed destroyed that image quickly. It was then surgery and four months of treatment. Treatment that made him feel like shit and took away the light and mischief in his eyes. He tried to hide it, tried to lie his way into being happy, but she saw through it very quickly.

By Thanksgiving, he'd finally started to feel like himself and they had the option to host, but the kids decided to stay away. They put it upon themselves to keep their immunocompromised dad healthy and safe.

And now? Well, he was healthy enough to see the kids with a mask on and wanted to. But it was her fear, her anxiety that had kept them away. The looming threat of illness at every turn; the fact that Castle still got tired so easily. He gave in and they spent the day together. Waking up late, taking a walk through town, opening the small stack of gifts they'd gotten each other and the kids had gotten them.

It would have to be enough for that year.

She'd promised him that that summer when everyone was in the Hamptons with them, they'd go all out. Anything he wanted to do, they'd do it.

But tonight?

Tonight was for them to be quiet and warm and together.

"Yeah, they do." He smiles at her. Another picture pops up and it makes him laugh; big and booming. He tugs her closer and dusts a kiss somewhere near her cheek. His silent message that everything was going to be okay.