Disclaimer: Castle and the recognizable characters are property of the folks at ABC and their creators who make a lot more money than I do. This is for pure entertainment purposes.
Howdy everyone. I hope you had a good holiday season. Our show is back on very soon (just saw the sneak peek and can't wait). Over the hiatus I've been working on this story .It takes place three months in the future with Ryan and Jenny having had their baby, a son named Nick. It's a little less angsty than I usually write. I hope you all enjoy it.
Chapter One: Ask and You Shall Receive. Sometimes.
After work tonight, Beckett and Castle head back to his place. Martha is out so it is just the two of them. Castle opened up a bottle of red wine and the two of them sit and talk. They start off with discussing work, but the conversation quickly turns into one about the wedding.
"What about the roof of the Empire State Building?"
Beckett gives him her patented look whenever he offers one of his crazy ideas.
"We already discussed this Castle; we're going for a church."
"So we bring a priest to the roof with us. Doesn't that count as a church?"
"No."
"You never let me have any fun. At least it's a better plan than honeymooning in Bosnia."
"Which was also your idea." She reminds him.
"You wanted to go someplace special and unique." He responds.
"A former warzone wasn't exactly on my list."
"So I have to scratch off Cambodia and Rwanda too. Seriously Kate, if you're going to put restrictions like this on where we honeymoon, then planning the wedding will be rough."
She rolls her eyes at him and tries to steer the conversation into a more productive area. "So Lanie said yes." She tells him, taking a sip of wine.
"I'll bet that was hard. Let me guess…" Castle tries to imitate Lanie's facial expressions and puts his hand on his hip the way she does. "I'm betting she said 'well girl, it's about damn time'." He says in a dead accurate imitation of Lanie's voice.
Beckett laughs. "It went something like that. Actually that's exactly what she said but then even Lanie got a little teary-eyed."
"Definitely didn't expect that."
"Lanie is still a girl Castle. It happens."
That's a very plausible explanation for him. "Great, so we have the Maid of Honor checked off the list. At least some things are coming together nicely." He comments.
"Aren't you forgetting something Castle?" Beckett raises an eyebrow at him.
"Did I not kiss you when we got home? I'm terribly sorry." He leans in and gives her a quick kiss.
She smiles. "No, but I appreciate the thought. You haven't asked your would-be Best Man."
"Oh right, that. Well, I don't know if he'll accept."
"Come on Castle, he'd be honored to do it. You know him."
"I know, but it's a lot of work. Maybe I should just ask Alexis? No one has been there for me longer than her."
"That's true she has, but you know about the duties of the Best Man. Imagine your daughter being involved in things like planning a bachelor party."
He pauses and thinks about that for a second. Castle knows that Alexis would be perfectly capable of performing every duty of the Best Man, including throwing a bachelor party. However, the thought of his daughter deciding things like clubs and strippers is not one that he particularly relishes. "You're right as usual."
"I know I am, plus I need another bridesmaid and I was hoping to ask her."
"She'll be honored…wait, please tell me I don't have to include Pi in the wedding." Castle shudders at the thought of asking his daughter's… boyfriend (he still cringes at that) to play any part in the ceremony.
"It's our wedding; if you don't want to have him involved you don't have to." Castle's face relaxes at Beckett's words. That is, until she smiles and adds a caveat. "Or you could make him your Best Man."
Castle nearly chokes on the wine he's sipping. "No offense, but I'd rather have Captain Gates as my Best Man than Pi."
Beckett laughs. "Why don't you ask your first choice and we'll go from there."
"That sounds like a much better idea. I'll ask him tomorrow."
"I'm glad. Finish up your wine Mr. Castle. Your fiancé is waiting." She gives him a coy smile as she heads towards their bedroom.
"Coming!" Castle hurriedly drinks the last of his wine before following her.
The next morning…
It is a very early morning, which has become the normal over the last three months ever since my son Nick was born. He's precious, adorable, and the most beautiful child in the world, but he wants a lot of attention and he's not shy about asking, make that crying, for it. Jenny and I took the classes, I read the books and the blogs and operated under the illusion that I was at least partially prepared to be a father. That theory has been blow out the window over the last three months.
I try unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn and rub the sleep out of my eyes.
"Nick still going on at night?" Javier asks me as he drinks from his coffee mug.
I nod. "It's a battle of wills between Jenny and me versus Nick and he's winning. It's not even close."
Javier tries to look sympathetic, but he's fighting very hard to suppress a grin from breaking out all over his face. Ignoring him, I try to focus on work.
I'm not five minutes into work when another voice calls out to me. "Hey Ryan, can I talk to you in private for a moment?"
I look up from my computer at the writer and take a sip of coffee. Castle's face is much more serious than I'm used to seeing.
"Uh, sure Castle." I get up from my desk and cast a quick glance at my partner. He shrugs his shoulders, not knowing any more than me. Beckett is talking with Captain Gates, so she isn't here to give me any ideas either.
We head into the break room. Castle makes sure that no one is inside and closes the door. He also checks to see that no one is watching. Whatever this is, he's taking it very seriously.
"You didn't kill anyone did you?" I ask bluntly.
"What! No, it's nothing like that."
"Just checking."
"How's the baby?" He asks with some hesitation.
"Fine..."
"Great. So Kevin, um…well as you know, Beckett and I are getting married…" He seems at a loss for words, which is unheard of for Castle.
"Yeah…" I don't know where he's going with this.
"Well, I had a favor I wanted to ask of you."
"Okay…" Either this is the worst conversation opener I've ever heard or he's so tongue-tied he doesn't know what to say. For a guy who's so good with words, he's having a hell of a time speaking.
"I mean…it's no big deal if you don't want to. I'd get it, but I was thinking…err wanting…" He sputters.
I take pity on him. "Castle, why don't you try just asking me what it is you want?"
"Right." He takes a deep breath before finally asking. "Kevin, will you be my Best Man?"
It certainly wasn't the favor I expected. After all, we've known each other for 6 years now. I'm sure he's got friends who have been around longer than that, ones who would know funny anecdotes about growing up or going to school together. Me? I'm one of the guys his fiancé works with. Sure, we hang out, and I've grown to regard Castle as a friend and a part of our team. But the Best Man at his wedding? I have to admit, it catches me off guard. The answer is obvious, but being asked is a surprise.
"Absolutely Castle, I'd be honored."
The writer beams. For an uncomfortable second, I think he's going to hug me, which would go over so well if anyone saw it. At the very least, Javi would never let me live it down. Trying to prevent that, I pose the question I can't seem to answer:
"Why me?"
He looks at me thoughtfully for a second before answering "Despite being ruggedly handsome, very wealthy, and hugely popular with the ladies…"
"Not to mention humble." I shoot him the 'you're being ridiculous Castle' look that we've all mastered.
He's gotten that look so many times, even from me, that he's completely unfazed by it. "Well that's my number one attribute. Despite all of those things, I don't have a lot of guy friends. You and Esposito have taken me in since I started coming here to the Precinct. I appreciate that."
No wonder Castle gets along well with the Mayor. That's a classical politician response; he answers only a part of the question, the part he wants to answer. If that's his logic, then he could have just as easily picked Javi instead of me.
He's not done yet though "and Kevin, you saved Kate's life on that rooftop."
So there it is, the reason Castle's asking. "I told you before; you don't have to thank me for that. Beckett's my partner. She would've done the same for me."
Castle shakes his head. "Doesn't matter. You saved her life, and almost lost your friendship with her and Esposito because of it. If you had done anything different, there wouldn't be a wedding. I can never repay that. And I would still be asking you even if that never happened. You're a good friend Kevin. Besides" his voice reverts back to his normal, far less serious tone "you're actually married and you know a hell of a lot more about this than Esposito does, Mr. Hopeless Romantic."
That makes me smile, mostly because it's absolutely true. Javier is my partner and best friend. If I hadn't had to appease Jenny's family, he would've been my Best Man without a second thought. But he doesn't know beans about romance. Oh sure, he talks a big game, but that's Javier. Besides, if he's so good at it, then why are Lanie and he still single?
"So that's still a yes?"
"Yes Castle, I accept."
"Thanks Kevin, I really, really appreciate it." Instead of the hug I was sure was coming, he settles for a firm handshake. That I have no problem with. "Oh, and could you not mention this yet? Kate and I want to get a few more things worked out first. Except to Lanie of course; she's the Maid of Honor."
"Sure, no problem."
With his question out of the way, we both head out of the break room. He goes to find Beckett and I go back to my desk.
Javier is looking at me with curiosity. "So what was that about bro?"
"Nothing." I say casually.
"I doubt it. He didn't kill someone did he?"
I let out a laugh. "That's the first thing I asked him, and the answer is no."
"So what is it?"
"I promised Castle I wouldn't say anything."
"What is this, high school? I'm your partner bro, you can tell me."
"Well you certainly sound like you're in high school, but no. Trust me Javi, he'll tell you when he's ready."
"Let me guess, he wants to give you parenting advice?"
"No, although if he has a magic formula to make a baby stop crying at two in the morning, I'd love to hear it."
"So nothing about the baby. How about marital advice? After all, you're the one on your first marriage and he's heading into his third."
"I'm on my only marriage." I say definitively. "But no, nothing about being married."
"Then what is it?" He can really act like a dog with a bone when he wants to know something. It's great for a cop, but a little annoying when trying to keep a secret from him.
"I'm not going to tell you." I smirk at him, enjoying this little bit of leverage I have over my partner.
"Whatever Ryan, but you know that I'm not going to let this go."
"I would be shocked if you didn't Javi."
Good? Bad? Otherwise. If you have any thoughts, suggestions or ideas, I'd love to hear them. Just so you know, as a guy who has never been married or engaged, I'm not intimately familiar with everything on the bridal side of the process. That's my disclaimer. Chapter Two will be coming soon.