This story is co authored with kimmiesjoy :D
Past
She was gorgeous.
Standing in front of the mirror, a vision, a legacy.
The dress she wore, was pure white. A beautiful mix of past present and future. A generation of the women in her family having filled the lines and seams with hope and joy, dreams and plans.
And now it was hers.
The pads of her fingers ran over the beaded bodice, the soft silk of delicately sewn flowers, weaving across her chest to form a subtle heart, encompassing and enhancing her cleavage. Falling between her breasts in a deep yet sophisticated vee, the soft glow of her skin set off to perfection.
She toyed with a flower, tracing the petal, touching at the beaded center until it sat just right, balanced at the curve of her shoulder. Her hand trailed up over lace and chiffon, avoiding the fall of her hair and curving around the halter neck as she not only caressed the soft material the way they had before her, but skimmed the buttons at the base of her skull too.
One final check to make sure she hadn't missed any.
Her green eyes, flecked with golden brown, were misted over with happiness. A light that shone so brightly, reflected back at her in the brown tones of her eyes, the glow of her skin, and the smile placed permanently on her face.
It was easy enough to do, there were so very many of the tiny pearlescent buttons running from the nape of her neck to the base of her spine. Drawing the attention of anyone who saw, and there was no escaping the fact that everyone's eyes would be on her today, to the long slender length of her back.
She took after her mother when it came to the height, her father too a little, but it was her mother she saw staring out at her when she looked in the mirror and looped a strand of hair around her finger, biting down on her lip as she tried to find the perfect place for the misbehaving strand.
She was not used to her hair being unruly, why was it picking today of all days?
But she couldn't truly bring herself to care. She was too happy.
It emanated from her in waves.
This radiant flash of anticipation. Set in the curve of her face, the small spark of nervousness, the clenching of her hands in the hem of her dress. Smoothing the material between her fingers as if making sure it was real. Making sure everything up till this moment wasn't just a dream.
When she was content she hadn't missed any buttons and her hair was where it should be, for now, she sighed contentedly. Hands spanning her waist to align the barely there pleats, drifting through each layer until they sat perfectly, rippling like water from one dropletted moment in time, rolling out and down in a cascade of tumbling white.
Like a waterfall of romance and mystery, down over her hips in a tumble to the delicate flare of the skirt that drew attention to her narrow hips. The loose wave of shimmering cloud moved in a gentle zigzag until it reached the ground, hiding her feet as they tapped out their impatience.
Her eagerness for this new aspect of her life to begin.
Because it wasn't a dream.
But fantasy come to life. And it was evident on her face. The most pure and unadulterated evidence she had ever seen.
It made her that much more magnificent.
The joy of it lighting up the room and pulling everything towards her, the gravitational pull of her happiness so fierce and strong that nothing could stand in her way.
And she didn't need a dress to make herself feel this way. To look as she did. It had more to do with who had worn it before her, the lives they had led thereafter. And what it meant that she was standing here now, in the same dress, knowing that she had so much more ahead of her.
That she could live the life she always wanted. Like they had done.
Her eyes fell from her reflection in the mirror to the long fall of the dress from waist to floor. It caught at the sharp spike of her heel and she hummed in annoyance, a growl under her breath for a split second as she shifted in the shoes that only served to enhance her height.
But it was the train she had always loved.
Barely a foot of curved white chiffon floating behind her dress in ethereal elegance with every step she took.
It was part of what had drawn her to the dress, part of the reason behind asking to wear it. She remembered the shy, quiver of her voice. The way she twisted her bracelet he had given her on their one month anniversary, nervously around her wrist. Lean fingers wrapping around it, squeezing and looking down at her own trembling skin before their eyes met, and she took in a breath.
She wanted to laugh at how it came out. Her voice so even and measured, betraying nothing of her fear and delight. Precise in her reasons as if gathering up the evidence and proving her point.
Pleading her case.
Something she was not unused to doing.
And she held them, her audience, her judge and jury, transfixed, weaving a tale and laying each undeniable piece of information at their feet until they could do nothing but trip over her belief and give in.
For what she awaited, was beyond anything she could have wished for. It was more than this one moment. It was all their moments woven into carefully spoken vows.
A promise.
The joining of two people who wanted to share a lifetime.
She had never thought in her wildest dreams that anyone could be worthy enough. To have and to hold no one but her. To watch over her, and build a life with her. Raise a family.
She didn't think anyone could fit so perfectly, the missing piece of her puzzle.
But he did.
Oh he really did.
She saw it in the way he looked at her. So gentle and full of love. The way he comforted her, wrapped his arms around her. Whispered his love into her ear when he thought no one was watching.
It brought warmth to her heart.
A purpose.
That maybe standing here now, she had realized that this... this, was exactly where she was meant to be. That everything leading up to this moment, had happened for a reason.
She stepped closer, the lone figure in the mirror finally catching her eye. The shadow almost ghost like apparition moving until it became clear.
And she smiled as her daughters eyes found hers in the mirror.
"Mom?"
"Hey baby."
"Oh, Mom." Suddenly overwhelmed with emotion she turned on the spot and flung her arms wide.
Across the room Kate lifted her hands, welcoming her daughter into her embrace as she fought to hold back tears, their eyes mirrored orbs that shone with happiness and love, and it swept through Kate's chest as she thought back to her own wedding day.
Her hands wrapped around the shoulders of the girl in front of her, her baby, grown and getting married and she gave up her fight for control over her emotions, a single tear trailing her cheek that swiped with her thumb, before doing the same for her child.
Kate's hair was pulled back, ringlets of chocolate falling in waves around her face. Kissing at the smooth lines of her eyes before ticking at her jaw, smile spread so wide she never thought it could get better than this.
But it could, she thought, her fingers touching at her daughter's veil, hands shaking as silent tears cascaded down her face into the dips of her cheeks.
Her daughter reached up, tilting her head to one side as she made a small sound in awe, and thoughtfulness. Kate closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the happy tears wiped away with the pad of her baby's thumb, a slow caress under her eye, as Kate finally gathered herself, eyes opening, and locking with the ones so like her own.
Kate smiled, pulling down the veil, her tentative fingers fluttered back that still unruly ringlet, wrapping the curl around her finger, feeling the smooth, soft strand as she let it free, springing to life before it settled.
"There," Kate said with a sigh, a rise in her chest as she inhaled, and let it go, feeling a sense of relief, or finality in the gesture as she straightened the thin wispy material over her daughters face.
"Thanks mom."
Kate brushed her hands under the veil, cupping either side of her cheeks, and gave her a pursed lip smile. Trying to hold in every single emotion threatening to spill out and ruin both their makeup.
She didn't need to say it, the one word spoken so many times, with so much meaning to their family.
Her daughter already knew.
The door opened behind them, the two women so lost in the moment that they didn't hear him come in, only his gasp before they both turned and saw him standing in the doorway.
The time was drawing nearer. They could feel it. Crackling in the air around them, drying on their faces as Kate wiped away one last tear. The music flitted in, smooth and delicate, like a dance. The first dance their daughter would have with her husband, surrounded by family and friends there to celebrate this brand new journey.
A new chapter in all their lives.
"You look just like your mother the day I married her." Castle said, stepping up to the two of them, taking his daughters hand and kissing it softly before looking to Kate. He reached her, fingers curling over her wedding ring, thumb brushing as memories and the vivid image of Kate walking towards him in the same dress their daughter now wore washed over them both.
"No." Kate said softly, eyes damp, shaking her head and squeezing both the hands she clung to. "She's far more beautiful."