For Better or Worse – My Version – Spoiler Alert for Season Finale

Summary – SPOILER ALERT – Given my proclivity for reading spoilers, this is how I would mess up Castle and Beckett's wedding and take care of the wedding dress – not that I have anything against it, but it's a little too haute couture for my tastes, even if it does cost $26K (did they really spend that much on it or is that retail?) and Stana looks great in it.

Author's Note – Marlowe and Miller may go the same way, they may not. Hopefully there won't be a cliff hanger for the summer, but there might be. You just never know.

Disclaimer – Don't own Castle; Marlowe, ABC, and Disney do. Just writing for fun and because I have these weird plot bunnies that pop into my head.

Chapter 1 – The Start to A Perfect Day…Duh duh duh…

The day had started perfectly and one could only describe Katherine Houghton Beckett as being giddy, an emotion that few people would ever attach to the hard-as-nails detective.

Lanie and Alexis had slept over at her apartment last night, and they had giggled until the wee hours of the morning, Alexis stuffing her pillow over her ears several times to try to drown out the conversation with accompanying "Ewww – gross – that's my dad you're talking about."

The limo had picked them up promptly at 10 am to take them to get their hair, nails, and makeup done, Martha joining them at that point, saying that Richard was as anxious as Beckett was and would meet them at the church for the 6 pm nuptials.

Now she was dressed in the elegant wedding gown that Matilda had given her, her hair partially swept up, curling cascading down her back, the veil firmly attached in place.

Martha, Lanie, and Alexis had just left to line up for the processional and her father would be here in a minute to walk her down the aisle.

Beckett stared at the ring on her finger, feeling the butterflies in her stomach and wondering if Castle felt the same way.

She wanted to call him and find out, but they had decided to not see each other the day of the wedding. In fact, the last time she saw Castle was yesterday morning when he dropped her off at her apartment after they had had breakfast together one last time as single people.

Beckett gazed at her reflection in the mirror, unable to keep the smile off of her face, not wanting to keep the smile off of her face.

After all they had been through, had survived, they were getting married tonight. In less than half an hour, she would be married to the man of her dreams, her one and done. In less than 4 hours, they would be on their honeymoon, exploring their new relationship as husband and wife.

The knock on the door shook her from her reverie and she ran her hand down the dress one more time before turning.

"It's okay, Dad, it's open," she said and then looked back in the mirror.

The smile turned to a frown as several policemen stepped into the room.

She could see Lanie, Alexis, Martha, Gates, and her father anxiously hovering in the hallway outside.

"Katherine Houghton Beckett?" one of the policemen asked.

"Yes?" said Beckett.

"You are under arrest for harboring and aiding Rogan O'Leary," the officer replied.

Beckett swallowed thickly and looked away, anger and embarrassment crashing through her. She should have known better than to trust him.

"Please remove the veil and turn around," the policeman commanded.

Lifting shaking hands to her hair, Beckett removed the veil from her hair and then turned so that her back was facing him.

The officer handcuffed her hands together and then led her out of the room, the other office taking her other arm, careful not to trip on the dress.

"Let Castle know what's going on," Beckett said, fighting not to cry. "Tell him I'm sorry."

"Katie bug, don't worry," her father said. "I've called my lawyer and he's on his way."

"We'll get this straightened out in no time," said Gates as the police put Beckett in the back of the waiting squad car.

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Castle nervously checked his reflection in the mirror one more time as Espo and Ryan walked into the room.

"Hey, guys, is it time? Is the preacher here?" he asked, trying not to smile too broadly, trying to not appear too anxious.

"Uh, about that—" Ryan started, looking back towards the door.

"Yeah," said Espo, the same deer in the headlight expression on his face.

"Guys, this isn't funny," said Castle, suddenly becoming serious.

"Beckett's been arrested," Ryan blurted out.

Castle looked at them and opened and closed his mouth several times before swallowing and shaking his head. "Guys, this really isn't funny."

"Uh, they just took her out in handcuffs," said Espo. "Her dad's called a lawyer to meet them. Something about helping a fugitive named Rogan O'Leary."

"Beckett – helping a fugitive? No way," said Castle, shaking his head, slightly laughing. "You're just messing with me."

"I swear on my nana's grave," said Ryan, raising his hand.

"Serious as a heart attack, bro," replied Espo.

Castle stared at them for a minute more and then pushed past them and half walked, half ran down the hallway to where Alexis, Lanie, and Martha were standing. Jim Beckett stood a few feet away, talking in hushed tones with Gates.

"What happened? What's going on?" Castle demanded.

"Mr. Castle," said Gates, walking up to him. "I assure you that we will get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible."

"Then it's true? Kate was arrested?" Castle asked, stunned, looking in disbelief at the people standing around him. "But why?"

"Rogan O'Leary is wanted in Atlantic City for 'scamming a casino out of millions' and it seems that he used Beckett's credit card to book a flight out of town yesterday evening, hence the harboring and abetting charges," said Gates.

"No, no," said Castle. "That's not Beckett. That can't be right. I've got to talk to her."

"They've taken her to central booking," said Gates, "but I pulled some favors and arranged for a quick meeting."

"Richard, go," said Martha. "We'll take care of things here, discretely of course."

Castle nodded and then he, Espo, Ryan, Jim, and Gates headed for the waiting limo.

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