Author's Note: Hi everyone! This is my first time writing a story on here even though I've read a whole bunch. I love to write and this is a great way for me to do so! So please critique away, I'm far from perfect and any constructive criticism in how to make my writing better would be great. I hope you'll stay with me and enjoy my first story!

Summary: Beckett and Castle must race against the clock in order to find Kate's missing father before it is too late. Set a bit in the future.

Chapter 1

Everything is perfect. The flowers are in full bloom, the ocean tide moves in and out peacefully; in fact everything about the scenery is sheer perfection, but Richard Castle couldn't care less. No, all he cares about is seeing his beautiful fiancée come down that aisle. They could have gotten married in a barn for all he cared. Alright, maybe not that extreme; barns are kind of smelly and Kate probably wouldn't have wanted a cow to be present at the wedding. While deep in his thoughts about how Kate would react to a barn wedding, Castle didn't even realize his daughter, Alexis, had entered his room.

"Planning something?" she asked. He jumped startled at the sound of her voice.

"Didn't I say I was getting you louder shoes?" he said.

"Yes," she replied, "And Kate said that you were being ridiculous and that I should be allowed to keep my ninja skills, it keeps you in check."

"This plotting against your dear father was supposed to end a while ago, and don't you roll your eyes like she taught you to! Next thing I know she's going to teach you the look too."

"She tried to teach me that one, but that's a special ability of Detective Beckett that I can't mimic. So, what do you think?" she asked referring to her bridesmaid dress.

"You look beautiful Pumpkin," he said proudly, "When did you grow up?"

"It's been a process for the last 19 years Dad."

"Oh right! I was there."

"Alright enough joking around, are you ready to get married?"

"I sure am, let's go get in position."

Meanwhile, Kate had just finished putting on her dress. It was the dress she always knew she'd wear, her mother's. She and her father had held each other and cried when she tried it on and she knew that no other dress could ever live up to it. Even though her mother couldn't be here, the dress made Kate feels close to her.

"Kate, you look breathtaking!" exclaimed Lanie, Kate's best friend and maid of honor.

"Do you think Rick will like it?" Kate asked nervously.

"Girl, he'd like it no matter what but like I said you look gorgeous in it. Damn I'm going to cry!" Just then, there was a knock at the door.

"Yo chica, are you planning on taking all day or can we come in?"

"You can come in Javi!" replied Kate. In came Javier Esposito and Kevin Ryan, the men who may as well be Kate's brothers.

"Hey Beckett!" the two said in unison.

"Kate, you look amazing," said Ryan, "Your mom would be proud."

"Yeah girl, Jenny's going to have to keep Ryan in check all night!"

"Espo!" exclaimed Lanie, "Don't make me kick you out of this room."

"I was just kidding! Seriously, you look incredible, Kate."

"Thanks, Javi and Kev. Hey, have you guys seen my dad?" asked Kate.

"Nope, maybe he's with Castle."

"I don't know, I just sent Alexis to go check on Castle and to get him ready so they can walk down together."

"Kate, I'm sure he's fine," said Lanie trying to calm her down.

"Right, he's fine. I'm being ridiculous. I just thought he would have come to see me by now."

"Do you want me to call him?" asked Ryan.

"No, don't feed into my irrational worrying. He'll be here soon."

"Alright, Javi and I better go get in place then. See you in a bit!"

10 minutes later, Kate was internally going into full blown hysterics. Where on earth could her father be? Castle's house in the Hampton's is big but he couldn't have gotten that lost. No one has seen him in hours, and he wouldn't have left without his only daughter's wedding. Lanie was still trying to keep Kate calm. Then, a knock came from the door. Rushing to it, Kate opened the door expecting an extremely apologetic father, but received a worried looking Martha.

"Katherine, let me in and sit down."

By now guests had arrived and Castle was to walk down the aisle with Alexis in just a matter of minutes. All of a sudden, a fearful Lanie ran up to the pair.

"Castle, you need to come see Kate now. I'll talk to everyone outside."

"Wait, what?" Rick asked confused, "I thought Kate said she was fine, is she seriously backing out now?!" He started to become angry. She had seemed so excited and happy about this.

"No that's not it, but she needs you right now, okay?" Lanie was obviously very concerned for Kate so Rick stopped questioning and ran to Kate's room. When he arrived he found his mother obviously trying very hard to calm a hysterical Kate. She was having a panic attack.

"Kate, love what's wrong?" he asked as he picked her up off the ground and cradled her to him. His mother went over to Alexis, who had followed her father in and whispered something in her ear. Alexis gasped.

"Sweetheart, please tell me what'd wrong," he begged. Kate managed to calm herself enough to speak, but her voice came out as a whisper that you expect to hear coming from a small child.

"They took him," she sobbed, "They took my father." It was then that Castle realized she was holding a note in her hand. Gently, he took it from her. He gasped as he read the crumpled, wet paper.

Who will walk you down the aisle now?

It was written in blood.