A/N sorry for the wait I had a lot of trouble trying to post this chapter on the site. I apologize for any errors!

"I finally got a hold of Randy. He said there is only one local who plows the roads around here and he's only going to clear the road downtown seeing that it is a holiday."

"So we're stuck here longer?" She said in disbelief.

"Looks like it. Maybe even another night," he said flopping carelessly onto the sofa.

"Ok, well we should start something for lunch then. Try and make the best of it I guess." It's not like she had anywhere to be.

"I'm going to call Alexis, let her know we probably won't make it back today. She and my mother will have to finish the tree and cook dinner and enjoy it themselves," he responded with a pout like a small child would have.

Castle was always the one to be positive and try and make light of situations but this time she could tell it was hitting him hard. She wanted to be there for him. To try and make him happy for once.

He ended his phone call with Alexis and his mother a while later and heard Christmas music coming from the living room. She must have moved the radio from the second bedroom. He ventured out and found Beckett sitting on the wood floor, knees tucked under her.

To her right was a fire she'd started in the old stove and to her left sprigs of an evergreen tree she'd gathered propped up in a bucket in the corner. A blanket wrapped around the bottom acting as a tree skirt.

She was quietly singing along to "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year". His heart all but melted into a puddle on the floor seeing her this way. He'd only heard her sing one other time before and her voice was like a siren call pulling him in.

She must have heard him because she turned to him and stood. "I thought since we'd be here awhile we could try to make up for some of the traditions you're missing."

He stood staring, in awe of her. This was all for him. He knew she didn't do much for Christmas ever since she'd lost her mother. It stirred his deep feelings for her and all he wanted to do was hold her in gratitude. Instead he remained motionless as he listened to her continue.

"There was a stack of wood outside under a tarp for the fire. We have popcorn and I found some really cool fishing lures that we can use to decorate the tree and-what?" She asked when she noticed his expression. "I mean if you don't like it we don't have to-"

"I love it. It's perfect Kate," he grinned with that slightly crooked smile that came from his heart and stirred her own.

They spent some time stringing popcorn through fishing line they found under the sink and worked elbows and bodies continually bumping together to get the tree just right. Kate made a star out of twigs she tied together with the fishing line.

She went to place it on the top of their makeshift tree and she leaned in a bit too far, almost losing her balance. Castle grabbed her waist from behind just before she fell into it.

"Here, let me help," he said slowly still pressed against her back as he removed his hands from her body and reached up her arms for the star she held. They placed it at the top together and Castle brought his hands down to give her shoulders a quick squeeze before he stepped away from her.

She felt his loss immediately and all she would think about was how to get it back. Why did she keep fighting against something she so obviously wanted?

"It looks great. Thank you for doing this for me, for trying to cheer me up," he said sincerely.

She smiled at the ground in response, suddenly feeling undeserving of his praise.

The next song on the radio began and was less jolly, more nostalgic. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and it couldn't have been more perfect if he'd planned it.

"Dance with me," he asked reaching for the hand at her side, suddenly feeling bold. She was about to deny the request but his face was so hopeful.

"Ok." She let him pull her in close, and brought one arm up to wrap around his back reaching to hold his shoulder and letting her other hand lay flat over his heart. She rested her head on his sternum like they'd done this before. He wrapped his arms around her small waist and brought her as close to his body as he could. As the song continued, they swayed back and forth and he ran his hand gently up and down her spine.

She couldn't help inhale his scent, lingering cologne and pine from the tree branches she found very alluring. "You smell nice," she said quietly.

"Um, Snow, a new fragrance by Castle," he teased.

Kate felt so comfortable in his arms, she could feel herself relax and melt into his chest. It felt almost healing to be in his arms. It had been so long since she had been held. The fact that it was Castle, the one person she'd been longing to have hold her, made this moment perfect. She felt that she was finally letting herself have what she wanted, what she needed and it filled her with peace she hadn't felt in a long time. It also filled her with courage.

As the song was ending, she slowly raised her head and met his eyes. Her hand had been wandering, caressing his chest and playing with the buttons on his shirt. She lifted it now and and gently stroked his cheek.

"Kate," he said his voice straining in warning. He couldn't help but close his eyes and enjoy her touch for just a moment. She'd been more open lately but he couldn't risk ruining this, them. He reached his hand up and placed it over hers. "Maybe-maybe we should get that lunch now," he told her and though it pained him to start to step away from her he tried too, before he did something he shouldn't.

"Wait," she said, stilling him with a hand grasping at his waist. "I don't want lunch," she said so seductively it almost hurt him.

He stared her down then, she'd been sending him mixed signals lately but maybe, just maybe this was really happening. Maybe she really was ready.

"What do you want, Kate?" The air between them thick and full of unsaid meaning.

"You," she said lifting on her toes and brushing her lips against his in a soft tentative kiss. His lips warm and softer than she'd ever imagined.

It was all the permission he needed. He grabbed her waist and pulled her into him with enough passion that it made her gasp. Then his mouth was on hers, heat stirring between them, each stroke of tongue stoked the fire inside and it burned faster and hotter within her every second that passed.

She flung her arms around his neck so she could mold her body even closer to his, because suddenly it wasn't enough. Even the thin clothing between them seemed like an enormous vast keeping her from him. She searched for skin, hands sliding on the soft flesh of his neck and running them through his hair.

Castle became bolder in his own exploration, sneaking his large, warm hands under her shirt at her back and waist, enjoying the moan that he pulled from her mouth. She lifted her leg to curl around his and he caught it, kept it there, the wide reach of his fingers pressing her into him, so much so that she could now feel the intimate effect she had on him pressing into her belly. She sucked on his lip, tortured it so divinely with her teeth that it was almost too much for him. They needed to stop now, or he wouldn't be able to.

He pulled his mouth away from hers in an effort that proved so much more difficult than he'd ever imagined and leaned his forehead to hers. Both searching for breath as their chests continued to collide.

After a moment he smiled at her and released her leg from his side, bringing a hand up to brush the hair from her face and tuck it behind her ear. He kept her close, hand on her neck as he spoke.

"That-wow-Kate, that was amazing. Better than amazing."

And even after everything she'd just done with him, it was his words the made her blush and hide her face in his chest.

"I'm not dreaming am I?" He said, bright blue eyes searching deep into hers.

"No, Castle, not dreaming. This is real." She tangled their hands together and led him to sit on the couch with her, knees bumping together as she held both of his hands in hers. He was speechless in awe of her every move.

"I know that I've kept you waiting awhile now, maybe too long, but-um I'm in. I mean if you want to give us a try," she said, a hopeful smile gracing her gorgeous face.

"You have no idea how long I've waited to hear you say that. I'm in Kate, all in. But, what about that wall?"

"Castle, I'm pretty sure you broke through that wall a while ago. I still need justice for her, but in my heart I know she would want me to live and be happy and to-to love and be loved," she said holding her bottom lip captive as she looked up into his eyes.

He couldn't remember ever feeling this happy at another point in his life, apart from when Alexis was born and he couldn't resist kissing her. Suddenly everything was real and magnified, the softness of her skin, the light floral scent of her lotion and the heat from her body as she climbed into his lap over took all his senses. In that moment there was nothing else that mattered, the things she was doing to his mouth even better than any of his fantasies. The most unexpected part was the emotion stirred in his heart, all the waiting, all the wanting had been worth it.

Her heart thundered in her chest and she was never more grateful that she was whole, the wound that almost killed her healed and her spiritual heart had never been more full than at this moment. Her body was on fire with desire for him, but she was overcome with her emotions, now realizing what it felt like to be free to love him and be loved by him was what she needed.

She was sitting on his thighs, his arms wrapped around her caressing her loving as she lifted her hand to his cheek. She broke her lips away from his and kissed her way to his jaw, his neck and she felt her eyes fill, her emotions threatening to spill out and she said the words that had been in her heart for so long.

Quietly she whispered in his ear, "I love you. I love you so much."

He hugged her close to his body and nuzzled his face to her neck, peppering kisses there until he reached her ear. "I love you too, Kate, so much."

When he'd kissed his way back to her lips their eyes met, and they both smiled, her tears leaking out onto her cheeks, when she saw that his eyes were full and glistening too. He wiped the moisture from her face with his thumbs and dove back into her mouth, sealing the truth of their words with action.

They lazily explored each other's mouths and bodies, simply and gently on the couch, allowing their hands to wonder, enjoying the ripples of excitement that each touch brought forth.

He was above her, having deftly opened the buttons of her shirt exposing her bra to him. He'd kissed his way across her chest, pausing a moment longer to outline her scar with his finger before placing a gentle kiss over the mark as he made his way down her stomach. Her muscles contracting on their own and her skin burning everywhere his mouth touched her. Anticipation of where he would touch next making her heart pick up speed and making her body tingle. He bracketed her naked waist with his hands and closed his eyes as he pressed his lips to the soft pink flesh below her belly button, where only her jeans stopped his further exploration.

He sat back as he removed his mouth and stared down at her.

"Kate, are you sure? Are you ready?" he asked, his eyes wide with lust and his voice full of love.

She was silent as she rose to her feet leaned down to kiss him, then pulled his hands to have him stand with her. Her eyes traced his as she told him with such certainty, "Castle, I think four years is long enough to wait. Make love to me," she said with a grin.

When a bright smile filled his face at her response she grabbed his hands and pulled him to the bedroom.

They spent the afternoon tangled up in eachother. Pleasuring one another, laughing and talking until the need for food finally made them search the kitchen for something to eat. She stole his shirt as they ate ramen noodles and apples. Castle stealing kisses in between bites.

They'd just cleaned up the kitchen when a knock rang throughout the room. Startled, Castle walked to the door and checked the window before opening it to find Randy standing there.

"Hey there folks," he said with a little wave. "I was able to get Eric to clear the road for you so you're free to leave whenever you want. The roads in town look pretty good so you should have no trouble."

"Thanks," Castle said looking back to Kate. He silently searched her face and seeing confirmation replied to Randy, "but I um-I think we will just spend the night here and leave in the morning. You know start the day fresh for the drive back."

"Ok, well, you kids have fun," Randy replied with a smirk and nod in Kate's direction before turning to leave.

He stalked back to her after closing the door behind him and enveloped her in his arms.

"Castle you don't want to get back for your Christmas Eve traditions?"

"Maybe it's time for some new traditions. Besides, you are the best Christmas gift I could have ever hoped for," he smiled back at her, giving a gentle squeeze to her sides.

"Right back at you," she said leaning in for a kiss.

"And anyways, we still have tomorrow to celebrate with Alexis and mother. You'll come with right? To the loft for Christmas?" he asked tentatively.

She smiled full and bright, "There is nowhere else I'd rather be. Merry Christmas, Castle."

He leaned in for another kiss before responding, "Merry Christmas, my love."

A/N

Thanks for following along on my little Christmas fic! I hope everyone has a good holiday season!