Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Prompt: after the wedding, they talk about whether she is gonna change her name (bonus points if she does except when they're at the precint)
Hours after they had said goodbye to their family who had opted to drive back to the city and give the newlyweds some privacy, after they spent who knows how long walking up and down their private strip of sand still dressed to the nines, after Castle had literally swept her off of her feet and carried her into the house and up the stairs, after they had fallen asleep tangled together in every possible way they woke in the middle of the night to growling stomachs.
"So…you gonna feed your wife, Castle?"
"Well we can't have you starving, now can we?" Castle countered as he pulled on his boxers and tossed her his slightly wrinkled dress shirt.
They laughed all the way down the stairs. Racing and running and falling into each other all the way to the kitchen. As soon as they hit the threshold Rick spun around and hoisted Kate up onto the counter. She crossed her endless legs and picked up a small stem of grapes off the bowl on the counter as she admired her husband's backside as he rummaged through the fridge.
She still couldn't believe they were married. The three hours between the decision and the ceremony had been hectic to say the least. They ran all over the city to obtain a marriage license, wedding clothes, supplies, and secure a judge. It wasn't until they were well on their way to the Hamptons that it hit her, the vows.
The first time around they had elected to surprise each other with their vows. It had been a fun little game that had led to endless teasing. They had both agreed a while back that whenever they got married again they would not use the same vows. It felt wrong. So much had changed and they were entirely different people.
So after a minor break down, what bride wasn't allowed a small freak out on her wedding day, and a pit stop which consisted of Rick pulling her into his arms and holding her to him until she calmed. They had laughed it off and he had joked about never imagining her as a bridezilla. That comment had earned him a slap on the chest before she crawled away, back into her seat.
The remainder of the trip was used scribbling and scratching and laughing their vows into existence on a napkin. They had been better than she ever dreamed and she still shivered at the intensity she found in his eyes as he promised her forever.
Her thoughts were broken her husband's clumsy movements as he set out to make them something to eat. After watching him try to find his rhythm for a moment she spoke up.
"You need some help there?" She laughed as he pulled a face trying to open a can of Alfredo sauce. Normally they would make their own sauce or brown up some meat to add to canned sauce, but tonight they just wanted something quick and light to satisfy their hunger before curling back up together for their final few hours alone before they made their way back to the city.
"No, no. I am perfectly capable of making my wife a midnight snack. You just sit there and look pretty and let your husband do the work, Mrs. Castle." They were being so incredibly sappy. Taking every chance they could to use their new titles and every cheesy line in the book. Neither of them could bring themselves to care.
They fell silent as Kate continued munching on her grapes and Castle poured the pasta and sauce into separate pots to begin cooking. Kate was content to let Castle do the work for once, in truth she liked it when he took the lead sometimes. He enjoyed taking care of her and she enjoyed being taken care of, to a certain extent.
Next thing she knew a huge bowl full of pasta was placed in her lap as her husband came to stand in front of her, wine glass in hand.
"Shall we take this up to our room?" Kate only nodded before she allowed him to help her down from the counter and lead her back up to bed. They both climbed under the sheets in front of the roaring fire and squeezed together.
Rick produced two forks and they both dug into the giant bowl of pasta. For the first few minutes nothing could be heard, but the clink of the forks as their hunger took over. They couldn't remember the last time either of them had eaten. Apparently food was low on the priority list when there was a wedding to be had. After their initial hunger was sated their eating slowed and then stopped altogether.
The bowl was placed on the bedside table along with the wine glass that had long since been emptied. With the bowl out of the way they curled up together again, Kate's head rested on his chest in a way that mirrored the night almost exactly a month ago when they had first discussed their new wedding. After a few moments, Rick spoke, effectively popping their little bubble.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Anything, Castle. We're married now, you don't have to be afraid to ask me anything." She stroked his chest in a comforting manner to assure him further.
"Alright." He took a deep breath and began the conversation that he had been wanting to have for months. "Are you planning on changing your name?" Before she could even think about answering he was off again. "I'm not trying to pressure you or anything and honestly I'm not sure I care. As long as you are my wife, a name is just a name. And I know you would still be Beckett at the precinct no matter what. And I also know that you are a strong and independent women. I know that you have a hard job and being a Castle wouldn't help that. I know that you probably don't want to have to deal with the ramifications that come with…"
Kate rolled her eyes at her crazy husband. He was so adorably nervous to ask such a simple question that had no doubt been brewing for much longer than it should have. She smiled as she silenced his fragmented speech with a kiss.
He was stunned for just a moment before he eagerly reciprocated the action. They kissed slowly and deeply simply exploring the territory they had long since memorized. They were both reluctant for it to end, however their lungs told a different story.
Kate sat up and turned so that she could looking him straight in the eyes as she gave him her answer. In truth, she had thought about her name a lot. It had been a very popular topic for her head and her heart to discuss as of late.
"At first, I was determined to keep Beckett. It is who I have always been and I have worked so hard to make a name for myself. There was no question in my mind that I would always be a Beckett. But then everything changed.
"In those two months there was nothing I wanted more than to be your wife. I was so lost without you, Castle. I just wanted you back." Tears came to her eyes as she relived those two months, even if it was just for a few moments. It broke his heart and he smoothed a hand over her cheek to wipe away the tears that made their way down her cheeks. She paused for a moment and took a deep breath to steel her answers.
"When I lost you, I lost myself too. I was merely a shell without you." She had no idea how real that concept that was to him after the day he had. "When I was working you case I realized just how much I wanted to be a Castle. I didn't just want to be your wife I want to be a part of your family and I want everybody to know it. Your family took care of me Castle. Your mother held me as I cried and made sure that I ate something every once in a while. Alexis was there. Not in the big and obvious ways, but in the blanket thrown over me in the middle of the night when I fell asleep pouring over a case and the occasional hug when we both needed it most." She was really crying now as she thought back to the months she was drowning and they held her up. She was ashamed to say that she was too lost to even notice most of the things the Castle/Rodger's did for her.
"I want us all to be a family, and I know that a name doesn't do that, but it just feels right. I want our kids to be Castle's and I never want anyone to doubt that I am too. I am yours Mr. Castle!" His face cracked into a huge smile at her words.
"I was going to show this to you tomorrow, but seeing as how you just couldn't wait," she shot him a smile that melted him as she stretched over to the bedside table on her side and opened the drawer. She came back with a paper in her hand tied up in a thin red ribbon.
She placed in in his hands and scooted up next to him so that their shoulders were touching. He looked over and she gave him a nod of assurance. With none of his usual hurry, he pulled the end of the ribbon and allowed the paper to unroll. It was a copy of her name change form that she had mailed in that same day. There at the top of the form was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen: Katherine Beckett Castle.
"While I was out shopping for my wedding clothes I made a pit stop at the post office and sent in all of the paperwork!" She was smiling so wide, clearly proud of herself. He had never loved her more than in this moment.
"You really are, Mrs. Castle?" She nodded.
"Well, Mrs. Castle, how shall we celebrate this momentous occasion?"
"I think I might have an idea…"
I hope you enjoyed this fill! I hope that I did it justice!
Please review or drop a prompt in my ask (khoughtonb on Tumblr)!