Author's Notes:
Sorry to barge in here with a touch of reality but I didn't know where else to put a note about this story and I thought I should provide an introduction:
* This story started out as a 'one-shot' and grew and grew, out of control.
* I tried to wrap it up neatly and I hope I did. If you don't think so, please feel free to let me know.
* Thank you for reading my story, I hope you enjoy it.
* This story is a reposting of one I did on another Castle FanFic site.
* By all means, please leave me feedback/reviews on this or any of the other stories I've posted here.
* This is all a first for me and I'd like to know what's good and what needs improvement. (And what smells badly.)

Story Notes:
This takes place somewhere early in season 5. Beckett is hanging out at the Loft comfortably but it isn't 'home' yet.
For those that don't know, the unofficial guy's rules include:
"NEVER Invite your steady girlfriend to a wedding, it's like bleeding in the water near a school of sharks."

Disclaimer:
All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

"Mother, I'm back!" Called Richard as he dropped the mail on the counter and entered the kitchen with a small shopping bag.

"She's up in her room." Called out Kate from her hiding spot on the couch.

"Oh okay." Walking to the stairs, Castle calls out "Mother! I'm back with your medicine!"

Heading back into the kitchen taking off his coat and begins to empty the shopping bag.

"Castle, is Martha okay?"

"Yea, she just found another wrinkle and got depressed about it."

"Uh oh, that's serious."

Martha enters from the stairs and breezes into the room. Picking up the pint of ice-cream she examines it and says "Ahh Pistachio Pistachio, sooth my weary brow." takes a spoon and begins to breeze back to her room "Thank you for the medicine Richard." and she climbs the stairs out of sight.

"Exit, stage left, the diva takes a dramatic pause." says Castle out loud as if narrating the scene.

"Hey, that's a serious thing to a woman." says Beckett defending Martha.

Martha reenters the room, ice-cream in hand "I meant to check the mail. Maybe if I'm lucky I'll get some fan mail to cheer me up." she says as she begins to thumb through the mail. "Uh oh..."

"What?" Says Castle, not seriously concerned, assuming it's the usual Martha drama, and continuing to put away the groceries.

"This is serious. It looks like a wedding invitation."

Martha begins to walk across the room holding the ice-cream in one hand and the envelope in another.

"Who do I know that's getting married?" Asked Castle out loud. "I don't think I've heard of anyone making plans."

"My dear boy, here you go again assuming it is all about you." Martha chuckled. "It's for Kate!"

"What!?" Kate sprang up on the couch her hair flying around. "For me? Here?"

"Yes dear, it's to you and Richard at this address."

Handing the envelope to Kate, Martha takes another small taste of her ice-cream.

Examining the envelope wide-eyed, Kate looks at Martha and Richard then back at the envelope.

"Kate, unless you have x-ray vision among your witchy powers, you'll need to open it." quips Castle.

She narrows her eyes and coldly stares at him and begins to tear open the envelope. Looking away at the invitation, she declares "Shut the front door! Maddie! Madison is getting married! Castle, remember her from the restaurant Q3?"

"And she saw fit to send you the invite at this address? Does she know you that well or does she just have a sense of humor?" he quipped.

"Both Castle, I guess she knew me better than I knew myself back then."

"Well dear, let me know when you want to go shopping, I'm always game for a trip to the stores." laughed Martha as she headed for the stairs.

"Thank you Martha, I'll take you up on that offer." called Kate after her.

"How about that, she's getting married." She mused almost to herself.

"You okay?" asked Castle.

"I am but how about you? You're going to be the guest." she teased.

"Ummm.. Why's that a problem?" He asked, starting to sound concerned.

"Oh ... nothing.." she sang back to him.

"No, come on, what?"

"Castle, really? You don't get it?"

"I don't think so, what am I missing?"

"I'm not going to tell you, ask Esposito about the guy rules for taking a date to a wedding."

"Taking a date to a wedding." he softly said to himself, then louder, "Alright, I will."

As Kate disappears back behind the couch, Castle pulls out his phone and dials it "Javi, it's Castle, got a sec? Great, I have a guy question for you. I have an invitation to a wedding which includes a guest." Looking a bit distasteful "Stop laughing!" a feminine light laugh comes from behind the couch making him start to whisper and cup his hand over his mouth as he walks to his office. "What's so funny about this? No, really!" Castle hunches over in his office listening intently to his phone as his friend gives him the 'rules'. "Okay, so what about when she's invited and I'm the guest? Great... Thanks... Nice! Same to you bro!' he says humorously as he hangs up his phone and looks forlornly out to the woman laying on the couch in his living room. To himself he thinks "Well, I suppose it could be a lot worse." quietly and sullenly he heads back to the kitchen to finish the tasks he started.

"Castle, is that you?" calls Kate from the couch.

"No, I guess I'm a cooked goose."

"Ah, so Javi explained it all to you." she laughed at him.

"I'm not talking about it." he gave as a retort.

"Okay ... keep it bottled up, it'll eat you up." after a short pause "Don't let it bother you. I'll still believe you if you say you're a real man." she continued to tease him.

"Great. I think I'll go rewrite Nikki Heat for revenge."

"Ah you'll be okay. Your ego will recover soon enough. I promise to not make you catch the bouquet."

A harrumph was the best answer he could muster.

Beckett's phone rings. She sits up and says clearly "Beckett." ... "Okay, I'll be there right away." She hangs up her phone. "Castle, looks our time off is over. We caught a body. Cheer up, maybe it will be gruesome."

Perking up he goes to change to leave "Right, dead body. Time to be happy but that doesn't mean this is over!"

Beckett smiles as she goes to change too. "Yeah, good luck with that." she teases after him.