FLUFF

Alexis hasn't texted him yet to let him know he can come home, but he knows Kate needs to get ready to head up to the cabin. He's just wondering what he should do, stay or leave, when she touches his knee.

"Could you keep Minnie entertained while I get packed?" she asks. "Otherwise she'll get into everything."

He smiles. She's not going to make him get out just yet.

"Sure. Where's the feather thing? We can play with that."

She stands, heading toward her bedroom. The cat follows, but he doesn't. Not until she's turning back to look questioningly at him from the doorway.

"You coming?"

He shoots to his feet, nodding. She disappears into the room, and he hesitates for just a moment before going after her.

No second guesses. No looking the gift horse in the mouth. He might not be pushing, but that doesn't mean he won't be right behind her if she pulls.

When he enters the room, she's on her knees, head and arms under the bed. Her voice is muffled, but he can still hear the amusement in it when she speaks.

"Enjoying the view there, Castle?"

He sure is. And by the sound of it, she may not mind too much that he's basically ogling her.

There's a hint of a smirk on her face when she emerges, pulling a plastic box and a suitcase out with her. She slides the box toward him.

"What's this?" he asks.

She says nothing as he picks the box up and sets it on the bed, but he pauses when he's got his hands at the edges of the plastic, ready to lift the lid.

There's something in her expression, the hint of pink tongue peeking out between her lips, the tilt of her head, the shy but completely seductive way she looks up at him through her lashes as she still kneels next to the bed.

She's gonna give him a heart attack one day. And he probably won't even mind.

"Kate?"

"Open it and find out."

He lifts one side, and then flips the entire top onto her bedspread.

"Oh!"

She's laughing at him now, leaning against the mattress, her head dropping sideways to rest against a pillow at the head of the bed.

"What did you think you were going to find in there?"

He shakes his head, joining in with her laughter, seeing her own delight multiply on her face when he does.

Minerva appears and saves him from having to answer the question, immediately standing on her back legs and pulling herself up with her front paws to see over the edge of the box.

"Oh, Cas-"

But it's too late for him to heed her warning and the kitten tips into the box, landing on her back among a handful of stuffed mice and one of those shaking ferret things that used to scare Alexis.

"So what they say about a cat always landing on its feet?"

She shakes her head, watching as he scoops Minnie out and drops her onto the bed. The little one has a white fuzzy mouse hanging by the tail from her teeth.

"Yeah," the detective chuckles. "Not so much."

Kate observes the two of them for a few seconds more, looking on as he peruses the contents of the box before pulling out the same toy they'd played with last night.

"Good call," she says. "She'll play with the mouse for a couple minutes, and it shows up in the most random places. But she loves the game with the feather. It's her favorite. Something about what she wants being just out of reach. I think she likes the anticipation."

Somehow, that sounds a lot dirtier than he thinks she meant it. She's talking about her cat. That's all.

But when he chances a glance at her, she's watching him, eyes glinting dangerously. Huh. Maybe she did mean it the way he heard it.

He shrugs casually, extending a hand to help her off the floor.

"There is something to be said for taking one's time. The chase, as it were."

When he pulls her up, with a little more strength than he intended, there's not much space between them. Her eyes linger a moment on his lips, and he feels his pulse quicken. But then she's patting him on the chest and stepping away.

"Thanks for the hand."

He smiles.

"No problem."

His eyes follow her across the room, watching as she opens drawers and starts pulling out t-shirts and sweat pants.

When he feels a tug on the stick in his hands, his attention is drawn back to Minerva. Kate's right: the mouse has disappeared, and she's ready to play with him again.

Soon he has her racing around one second, leaping through the air the next. She stops from time to time to wash, and he's patient with her, knowing she'll pick up the game again in a moment.

The detective continues to get ready, though she looks back every couple of minutes, he's noticed. He just grins every time. And every time, she shakes her head, a gently amused smile on her face.

Eventually, he lets Minnie catch the feathers. She rolls onto her back, nipping at the rope and then chewing on the bundle at the end, green eyes squinting closed.

He drops to sit on the floor, leaning against the side of the bed, and pulls on the stick to drag the kitten closer to his side. When she bumps his thigh, she rolls over again, letting go of the toy.

He pats his lap, and she jumps onto the spot, considering him briefly before she makes a swift, somewhat painful ascent to his shoulder, nuzzling into his neck again.

"Your cat's something else, Detective," he calls out.

Her head appears from behind the closet door before she shoulders it open and steps back into her bedroom holding a pair of tennis shoes and a pair of heavy boots he's never seen.

"Hmm? How so? Looks like she's being sweet enough right now."

He laughs.

"That's exactly what I mean. Right now she's being sweet, cuddling up to me. A minute ago she was ripping those feathers to shreds."

Kate shrugs, seemingly unconcerned.

"Woman's prerogative, Castle. You should know that by now, living with two women and shadowing another."

He shakes his head, enjoying again this lighter side of the steely detective.

"You're right. I should know that. After all, isn't that what little girls are made of? Sugar and spice?"

She finishes packing the last of her things into the suitcase and then lets her legs collapse to sit down next to him, shoulder to shoulder on the floor.

"I had a friend in high school whose grandmother was Yugoslavian. I was at my friend's house one day after I'd broken up with my first boyfriend, who said he'd found someone else, someone more interesting. Really, I think she just had bigger boobs."

He can't help but laugh, but she glares at him, so he quickly speaks up.

"I can't imagine anyone not finding you interesting," he says, causing her to look down as her cheeks redden a little. He bumps her shoulder and winks when she looks back at him. "And, as you pointed out a few months ago, you don't need the implants."

Her laugh rings out.

"Thanks, I think. Anyway, my friend's grandmother heard me telling my friend about it and she decided to give me some advice."

"Oh?" he asks, genuinely curious about what it could have been that she still remembers at least fifteen years later. "What was it?"

She grins.

"I wish I could remember how to say it in her language, because it sounded beautiful. But the translation was what stuck with me: Be sweet like a banana, and spicy like a pepper."

He nods, smiling.

"That's good. I like it."

Her shrug jostles his shoulder, and then she's bracing herself on his leg, pushing herself up to her feet, reaching back down to give him a hand. Minnie's claws dig into his shoulder as he stands and she tries to hold on.

When they're both up, he stretches his arm up to dislodge the kitten.

"Do you need me to take care of her while you're gone? I could stop by and feed her. Maybe even take her to the loft. I don't think Mother and Alexis would mind."

The detective smiles, and rests a hand on his arm lightly.

"That's sweet, Castle. Thank you. But she's going to my dad's with me."

He's oddly disappointed, though he has never spent much time with a cat at all until last night. He likes this one though.

"Ah, that's good. Well, anytime you need a cat-sitter, you just let me know."

She squeezes his forearm.

"Will do. And don't worry, I won't harm your reputation by telling anyone you're a cat lover."

He leans back to look at her.

"Frankly, I think it showcases my sensitive side," he says pompously, earning an eye roll. "And besides, it's not all cats. Just yours."

She smiles at him again. He's lost count of how many times he's seen that upturn of her lips since he showed up on her doorstep last night. It's different. But good different. Definitely good different.

"Could you drag my suitcase out while I put this stuff away?" she asks, gesturing to the box of cat toys still sitting on the bed.

He nods and grabs the handle of the rolling bag, holding onto Minerva tightly with the other hand so she won't jump down and get run over.

His phone buzzes just as he's leaning the suitcase against the wall in her entryway. He retrieves it quickly. A text from Alexis: All clear.

"Kate?" he calls out as he leans over to put the kitten on the floor.

When he straightens up, the woman is standing right in front of him.

"What's up?"

He holds out his phone.

"Alexis just texted me. Said I can go home. I'll get out of your hair so you can head out before it's too late. Let me just find my shoes."

She nods, her face a little more sober than a moment ago in her bedroom.

"You left them by the couch."

He finds them quickly, sitting down for a moment to slip them on and when he gets back to the entry, Kate has his coat off the hook and is holding it out to him.

"I had a good time," she says, and he knows she means it.

He takes his coat from her and she opens the door as he pulls it over his arms.

"Me too," he agrees. A better time than he even thought he would. "Thanks for letting me stay."

She nods, eyes bright but not smiling at the moment.

He stands in the doorway, broad shoulders nearly filling the frame and looking down to button his coat. As he finishes the last one, he raises his head. She's watching the movement of his hands.

He wants to hug her, should just seize the moment, but instead he finds his right hand thrusting itself forward, as if to shake hers. She takes it, gives it a firm squeeze.

"Merry Christmas, Kate," he says quietly, and he can hear the tenderness in his own voice. Can she hear it too? "Be safe."

She squeezes his hand again.

"You too."

And then, without letting go, she's placing her left hand on his right shoulder, lifting herself up on tiptoes, and leaning into him.

Her fingers curl around his neck, tickling the soft hairs at his nape, and she presses a kiss to his cheek, her lips soft and lingering and warm to the left of his mouth. If he turned his head, just an inch…

"Merry Christmas, Castle," she whispers, and draws back, dark eyes watching his reaction.

He smiles, and then frowns as he feels as he feels claws digging into his thigh. Apparently Minnie decided to take advantage of his distraction. He reaches down to dislodge her and then brings her up with both hands to rub his nose against hers.

"Hey, little one," he coos, catching the now familiar quirk of Kate's lips. "Take good care of your Mama for me, okay?"

The detective shakes her head, crinkles appearing at the edges of her eyes.

"Oh, get out of here, you." she says, reaching out for the kitten.

He hands Minerva off to her owner, watching as she cradles the little creature against her chest.

"See you soon, Kate," he says, leaning forward to squeeze her shoulder and impulsively wrapping his arms around her for a quick, tight embrace. She smells wonderful.

The kitten squeaks between them and he pulls back, laughing. Kate is blushing, the edge of her bottom lip pulled between her teeth, but she nods.

"See you soon."

He's whistling as he walks out the door. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" has always been one of his favorites, and the lyrics seem especially apropos now. He truly hopes that by this time next year, all their troubles really will be out of sight.

Halfway to the elevator, she calls out to him.

"Castle?"

He turns and sees her leaning against the almost closed door, one hand behind her on the knob, still worrying that bottom lip and looking nervous.

"I love that song."

He nods, allowing a slow smile to spread across his face.

"Me too."

"You should know...between you and this one here," she tells him, looking down at Minerva, "my heart is getting lighter every day."

His own heart is thumping out of his chest. In three steps he could have her in his arms.

He knows that Alexis is waiting for him at his loft. He's aware that the detective has a long drive ahead of her this afternoon. He can tell by the slight hint of panic in her eyes that Kate herself isn't quite ready, not yet.

But that doesn't mean he's not sorely tempted to disregard everything and push her back into her apartment. Not let her out - or even up - for hours.

"That's good to know," he settles for saying, and he knows he's done the right thing when the tension melts from her face and she smiles back at him.

He pauses, wondering if he should say more. If she could handle hearing more right now. He decides she probably could, though he still needs to tread carefully.

"You know, Alexis does this thing every year," he says carefully, and she nods. "I imagine she'll still do it when she's home from college. Get the gang back together for an evening."

He sees the comprehension dawn on her face and she lets out a short laugh.

"Are you trying to line up a hideout for next year already?"

He shrugs, a little sheepishly. That's exactly his plan, though his motive is more to find out how she'd feel about him still being around in a year.

"I told you, Castle," she says slowly, as if speaking to a small child who just hasn't gotten it yet. "You show up..."

He grins, sees an answering light flare up in her own eyes.

"And you'll let me in?"

She nods.

"And I'll let you in."

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