Head over Heals II
If you've read Head over Heals the story might make a little more sense to you timeline wise, but if not that's okay. I hope you enjoy it. I felt cheated after waiting six years for our couple to get married. The wedding they gave us in front of a blue screen, and about five minutes long didn't live up to the wedding these two deserved, and the wedding we as fans of the show wanted. Or at least that is how I felt.
Kate's mood was reflective during the entire ride in the limo to the church where her mother and father
were married.
It was surreal, as the limo accelerated through the city Kate felt as if her life was moving forward too,
and it was about time. She'd essentially put her life on hold, ever since she'd put her law degree aside
and decided to embark on a career in the criminal justice system. After graduation from the police
academy, Kate focused only on making detective, and the never ending search for her mother's killer. Kate
couldn't see past the walls she'd built, until the fateful day her favorite author Richard Castle came
crashing through them. Finding justice for her mother had not diminished from the lovely bride's mind,
but now she had a partner to help her.
Kate couldn't stop smiling, tears formed in her eyes as she thought of her mother. Johanna was taken from
both of them, and now she wasn't here for this monumental moment in her life. Kate's eyes misted over as she stared out of the limo's darkened windows at the city's
skyline; she was completely lost in thought.
I've found him Mom, my one and done.
The gentle squeeze of her hand brought her back to the here and now. Kate smiled and looked at her father as he held her hand.
"Your Mother would have been so happy for you Katie."
Jim Beckett raised his daughter's delicate hand to his lips and placed a loving gentle kiss.
"I'm so proud of the women you've become."
Kate was overcome with emotion. She wanted to tell her Dad that she was proud of him too. She was so
angry when he disappeared into the bottle. It wasn't until she'd fallen in love with Rick, after she feared
she'd lost him. She knew she would have fallen into the abyss. A deep dark place where she would have
never escaped. Kate would have languished there, never to feel the warmth of the sun ever again. The
hole torn into her heart from his absence would not, could not, ever be healed. Not when the loss was
your other half. She wouldn't have forgiven herself if she'd lost him.
True love was a gift not every one
was given. Kate realized that now.
Kate didn't really need a ceremony to tie her to Rick she was already his. Truth, she knew it when he
kissed her the first time. (The pretense was fake, they were only trying to fool a guard,) but that kiss,
that kiss was real. Kate ran from the truth then, but deep down she couldn't deny they were destine to
be together.
Kate knew the ceremony was important to Rick. He needed them to stand before their friends and
family, and God too honor their pledge to become forever one.
Jim let go of his daughter hand and reached into his custom made tux, (a certain writer insisted that the
wedding party have their very own custom made tuxedo,) and he removed his custom made silk
handkerchief. (Another gift from the groom.) Kate sniffled as she read the monogram. R.C & K.B Always
with their wedding date inscribed below.
"Rick loves you, "Jim said.
Kate nodded and smiled, she tried not to blink, because she didn't want the pooled tears in her eyes to drop
onto her mother's gown. She dabbed the moisture from her eyes, trying not to smudge her make-up.
(John Claude assured her he would be at the church to do damage control before and after the
ceremony. His masterpiece would be perfect for the wedding photos.)
Lanie, Alexis, & Mattie were right behind the father and daughter duo, the trio of young women rode to
the ceremony in their green wrap bridesmaid's gowns and nude pumps, (Weeks of eating salad paid off for the lovely trio.) Lanie's only condition on being maid-of-
honor was she be able to select her dress.
She didn't want a frumpy old bridesmaid dress to wear, she wanted to look hot, and her mission was accomplished. Mattie and Alexis choose to wear the same dress.
Rick knew his beloved Kate would need some time alone with her father on this special day. He ordered a separate limo for her and her father.
They all looked stunning. Lanie grabbed Kate into a bear hug as soon as Jim escorted his daughter out of the limo.
"The 12th has bets on who cries first you, or Rick." Girl I'm betting he is going to cry like a little baby
when he sees you! Look at you, oh my! Kate you are gorgeous"
Lanie let go of Kate and began her duties of fluffing out Kate's dress.
Lil' Caste was tearing up too. "You're a beautiful bride"
"K-Becks! You are drop dead gorgeous." Mattie fanned herself "Let's get inside!"
The ladies gathered into the church parlor where Martha was waiting with a bottle of champagne uncorked, and ready to pour.
"Katherine, you look stunning, absolutely stunning."
"Thank you, Martha."
"Ladies gather around"
Martha waived to the bride and her lovely attendants.
"A toast; to Katherine and Richard."
"It's about damn time," said Lanie
"Lot's of babies," interjected Mattie
"True love," said little Castle.
"New beginnings," said Kate
The group saluted, lifted the flutes to their perfectly colored ruby lips and sipped the chilled champagne.
Martha sat her glass down and took Katherine aside.
"Katherine, I wanted to give you something that my mother gave to me on my wedding day."
Martha opened a velvet covered case and took out a beautiful pair of blue sapphire earrings.
Kate looked puzzled as Martha handed them to her.
"I've been waiting for the right one to give them to."
Kate teared up as she accepted the gift of something blue from her future mother-in-law. She put the
earrings on and turned to face the women.
"Perfect," declared Lanie. "Girl I'd marry you if you weren't already taken."
"Something new," Alexis fastened a diamond and sapphire tear drop necklace around Kate's neck.
"It's from Dad, and me," Alexis smiled
"For something old; A penny for your shoes, this one has your birthday and this one has Rick's, it's for luck."
Mattie winked at Kate and stepped back just as Jean Claude burst into the room and admonished the
group for messing with his masterpiece. He quickly touched up Kate's make-up and declared her to be
his finest work.
Jim came in as the artist left.
"Katie, are you ready?"
Kate nodded, the women air kissed the bride as they strolled past, they were threatened by Jean Claude
not to muss the bride or else he would sneak into their next hairdresser appointments and dye their hair
lime green.
Alexis escorted her grandmother to her seat, and then took her place at the alter. Mattie and Lanie
followed Alexis down the aisle single file.
Kate was waiting with her father in the foyer. Today she would commit to the love of her life forever,
and she was never surer of anything in her life. She was ready.
The wedding guests were close friends and family only. The couple were very selective with whom they
shared this special moment.
Kate took a deep breath as the church doors opened and she entered wearing her Mother's lace dress.
It was Lanie who after endless dress shopping with Kate to find 'just the right one,' contacted Jim
Beckett. Call it a hunch or women's intuition. Lanie knew if Mr. Beckett did have Johanna's gown it would
be the one to make Kate's eyes misty when she saw herself in it, to know for sure it was 'the one'
Lanie had carefully folded the dress over her arm as she carried it to her car from Kate's family home.
She paused before she opened the car door; Lanie tilted her head up and silently whispered a word of prayer.
"Rest easy Ms. Beckett, our girl is going to make a beautiful bride, I've never seen her this happy, Castle is a
good man."
The feisty Medical Examiner and Maid of Honor's destination was to Silhouettes & Profiles. The shop was on
160 West 71st Street. Irene Cherniakhousky was a goddess with a sewing needle- Silhouettes was the
only custom shop in New York Lanie would trust with such an important piece.
Lanie had also taken the liberty to retrieve a special red dress from her best friend's closet. The M.E. was
going to have Irene custom fit the wedding dress using the stolen red dress, (which by the way fit the lovely bride- to-
be like a glove.) Said red dress was the one the lovely brunette teased a certain mystery writer with at his book signing.
Lanie asked to Kate close her eyes. Irene and Lanie slipped the newly altered white lace dress over
Kate's outstretched arms. They were still in the bridal store, and Kate had no idea she was being laced
up in her mother's gown.
"No peeking!" Lanie admonished.
She affixed the white lace fingertip veil over Kate's brunette locks and clasped her hands silently. Lanie
had to clear her throat because she looked so damn perfect. Lanie guided Kate onto the
pedestal that faced three floor to ceiling mirrors.
"Okay, now you can open your eyes."
Kate couldn't believe it was her reflection she was staring at in the mirror. She turned slightly to make
sure another soon- to- be bride had not stepped in view It was perfect,
"Lanie! Is this my?-is this my?-Oh-oh!-It's my mothers dress isn't it?"
Kate and Lanie were both crying
"Oh my!-Lanie-it's perfect! Oh my-how did you?"
Kate couldn't even finish her thought. She clasped both hands over her wide open astonished mouth.
Kate silently thanked her mother for saving the dress for her. Pangs of regret hit the vision in white; Kate's
only wish, was that her mother had the chance to see her in it. Kate started at her reflection in the Tri-fold mirror. She
gasped as she saw her, the misty image of her mother in the glass. Kate blinked quickly to focus her eyes
to get a better look, but the image was gone. It was as if the mist vanished, then suddenly Kate felt a
warming sensation envelope her entire body. She felt an overwhelming sensation of love.
"Thanks mom"
Canon in D major by Johann Pachelbel swelled as Kate and her father entered the sanctuary. Kate who
normally would be checking all the entries and exits, and studying each and every face in the church, was entirely focused on something else.
Bride Kate barely noticed the guests were all standing and staring at her. She had only one thing on her mind;
she wanted to see her groom.
Rick stood tall at the alter, looking dashingly handsome in his custom made black tuxedo. His best men
Javier and Kevin stood by his side. James Patterson was his groomsman. Ricks heart beat quickened
when he heard the strings begin to play. He knew his soon-to-be bride would be walking toward him.
His writer's brain flashed through all of the special moments the duo shared. Knowing that she'd fallen
in love with him too, made the special moments even sweeter. She'd come to him in the Hampton's half
frozen; she said she couldn't wait to declare her love for him. Rick couldn't wait a moment longer to
declare to the world his love for her- he felt her presence, and then he saw her.
Nothing in his life save the birth of his daughter could compare to the moment their eyes locked. It was
if time stood still and they were the only two people in the church, and then she smiled for him.
It was if the entire church was holding their collective breath, as if they were all afraid they would miss this
moment. The guests sighed, the word awe- filtered over the music.
Rick's eyes mirrored the exact condition of his bride's. Kate's tear filled eyes reflected her love for the man she was walking toward.
Her smile grew wider as she saw him.
The guests in the church erupted into spontaneous applause!
Their guests stood and clapped until the lovely bride and her father reached the groom. It was then they
realized they needed a handkerchief. The ones gathered to rejoice in the union of these two, reached
for their monogrammed silk hankies provided by the groom.
Rick beamed; in his heart he knew he was the luckiest man in the world. The love of his life was walking
toward him, proving to him that she was indeed his. Rick felt like he was getting married for the first
time in his life. (Technically he'd been married twice, but neither time had he given his entire heart and
soul, not until now.) At that very moment Rick closed his eyes and promised he would spend the rest of
his life honoring his vows.
The writer didn't have to search for the words to say to her on this day. They'd flown across the page. His words, his promise, the
words he'd written to her were tucked away in his vest pocket of his tux. He wouldn't need them, each
and every word he'd committed to memory. It was as if the words were branded onto his heart. He only
saved them to give to his wife.
His wedding gift to her was a book of love sonnets he'd written about their journey.
Beginning with their very first encounter. He'd penned their entire journey. His wedding vows were the
dedication page. Gina wanted to publish the book immediately, but Rick refused. He only wanted one
copy printed. That 1st and only edition was for Kate.
His stunning bride was walking toward him, with her arm entwined with her fathers.
Jim was honored to escort his daughter as she promised to share her live with the one she'd waited for,
her entire life. He knew the pair's bond was as extreme as his was with Katie's mother. A father couldn't
hope for anything more. Jim Beckett didn't hesitate, he knew for the first time in many years his
daughter was not embroiled living in the past she was finally walking towards a future.
"Are you ready?"
Kate nodded and looked into her fathers eyes.
"I love you daddy, and I'm proud of you too."
Jim raised his daughter veil and kissed her cheek. It had been years since she'd called him daddy.
Memories of skinned knees, bedtime stories, and family adventures at their cabin flashed through Jim's brain. At that
moment he treasured each moment he'd spent with his daughter He knew each day he'd been given
was such a beautiful gift. Jim embraced his daughter, he felt hope, for the first time in a long time.
Hell who knows he just might get a grandchild or two…
Jim stood proudly beside his daughter as the minister began the ceremony.