Story Note: This is version one of my Wedding in Space. A one shot. Very soon I will have an Alternate one shot of the Wedding in Space, as chapter two.
The Castle characters are not mine. Their use, or the use of, or resemblance of any other characters, to any persons, living or dead, and the words and opinions they may speak are my creations just for the story and should not be attributed to them.
"Come on Mother," Castle yelled, "We are going to be late for the show."
"Alright, already. I am just getting my great-grandchildren ready." Martha called back. "It is not that easy to get them ready after a nap."
"Dad, who is grams talking about?" asked 9 year old Jackson Beckett-Castle.
Seven year old Joanne Beckett-Castle echoed her brother, "Yeah Dad, who is Grams with?"
Castle looked at his son and daughter. They were all dressed up in their finest, getting ready to go to their first gala event. Castle thought they might be a little young, but Beckett insisted. She said this was the perfect time to show off her family. The event was being held at the Hayden Planetarium and a show was planned. There would be something for those of all ages. "Your sister, dropped of your nephew and niece. I said we would take them, while she finished at the hospital. Then she was going to get Derrick and meet us at the Planetarium. I just hope your Mom will be there on time. She texted me before and said she was still very busy at work."
"Don't worry Dad, she will be there on time." Jack and Jo said simultaneously.
Martha shook her head at this as she came down with James Rodgers Castle-White and Meredith Rodgers Castle-White, Alexis' 6 and 3 year olds respectively. "Must be a genetic thing."
"What Grams?" Jack asked.
"The way you and Jo say the same thing or finish each other's sentences. It is the same thing your mother and father do all the time."
"We do?" all the Castles said at once. Martha shot her son a glance and they all started to laugh.
At the 12th, newly appointed Lieutenant Kate Beckett (she still used her maiden name at work) just got off the phone. "Espo, Ryan, just got off the phone, everything is ready. What about you guys?"
"Jenny, Sara Grace and Siobhan are downstairs waiting." Ryan called back.
"So are Lanie and the kids." Esposito answered.
"Good, meet you all there."
When Beckett arrived, she saw her dad, Alexis and Derrick talking. "Hey Katie, do you think Rick knows anything?"
"I hope not. The question is can my children keep a secret from their father."
Alexis joined in, "It is tough. I remember when Dad suspected anything, he had some very creative and somewhat insidious ways to drag information from me."
"My biggest fear was time. It took awhile to pull all this together. I did not tell Jack or Jo until late in the planning stage. I was late for a number of nights as this got closer and they asked me why. I told them what we were doing. When they heard that we were planning a secret party they agreed to keep it quiet."
"Katie, how did you get them to keep it from Rick?"
"I told them Daddy already knew and he had to keep it a secret too."
"Nice and sneaky. Alexis, do go getting any ideas about keeping secrets from me." said Derrick.
"Who says I haven't already." Alexis answered as she took Jim Beckett's arm and started walking in.
Martha was holding hands with Meredith and Joanne, and the boys were walking with Rick as entered Museum of Natural History. Meredith looked a little scared as they walked past the big T-Rex in the main hall. This was her first time in the museum. The boys had been there many times with their parents and grandparents. They loved the place. Not only did Rick make up stories of Sargent Rexy, the first police sargent in history, but he also recounted actual history to them in the simplest of terms. Jack was just starting to take history in school and it was one of his favorite subjects.
Castle saw Meredith's apprehension. "James, go tell your sister the story of Sargent Rexy."
"Ok Grandpa." He then skipped ahead took Meredith's hand and started to tell her the story. After a few minutes she started to relax.
"Dad, he sounds just like you." Alexis said as she snuck up on him and gave him a kiss. "Hi Jack." She leaned down to give Jack a kiss, but he moved out of her reach.
Not far enough though because Beckett caught him and gave him a big hug and kiss. "Mom, not in front of the dinosaurs." Jack's protest was just loud enough for the small group to hear and they all laughed. Some of the other visitors turned to the group to see what the commotion was all about. What they saw made all but the most hard hearted smile. Four generations of Castles/Rodgers and Becketts were there, laughing. All were dressed to the tee. The women were elegant and the men handsome. The look on each one of the group was a mixture of joy, wonder, contentment and, most important, love.
As they walked up the grand stairway, the boys saw the Esposito and Ryan group. They yelled out, "Uncle Javi, Uncle Kevin." They broke away from the group and ran to catch up, Joanne and Meredith not far behind. When they caught up, they got high fives from the "Guys."
Jenny and Lanie turned to them. "What are we, chopped liver?" Joanne and Meredith were already giving their Aunt's a hug and kiss. Jack and James hesitated for a minute, but then gave Jenny and Lanie their hugs too. Lanie said to the group. "Come on, let Castle and Beckett make their grand entrance."
Martha caught Lanie's eye and gave her a wink. "Come Alexis, bring your husband. You too Jim. We cannot let our children and grandchildren be left unattended for any length of time. Given their lineage, who knows what trouble they can get into." With that the four of them splintered off to catch up with the other group. Castle was about to go, when Kate pulled him back.
"Stay with me for second." Kate said. "I want a minute alone to wish my husband, Happy Tenth Anniversary." With that she pulled him close, both hands on his backside and gave him a long, hard kiss. "Rick, I am so happy, let's get married again."
"Absolutely, but can we do it space, next time?" Rick looked at her, expecting her to make a face.
Instead, she answered, "Sure, how about now?"
"Oh, sure, make fun of me on this occasion." Castle looked dejected.
"No really," Beckett said as she pulled him into the Planetarium. Once in, Castle saw the dome lit up with stars. The North Star was bright and its light shown directly on he and Beckett. He recognized all the people there were also at he and Beckett's wedding 10 years ago (except of course the children). Something was happening here, but he could not tell what. Just then the floor seemed to move. Castle looked down and saw a projection of space, a view as it must appear from the Moon. There was Earth in one end and he could make out Venus, Mercury and the Sun. He heard all the children there say "OOOO." when the floor view appeared. He was in Space.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please." Castle heard his friend Mayor Weldon say. "Ten years ago today, my good friend, Richard Castle, married his best friend and partner, Kate Beckett. Contrary to what they will tell you, I believe that they both were extremely intrigued with each other the moment they met. It took them long enough to realize their love for one and other, but I am happy to say that what they felt for each other then, has not abated one bit these past years."
While the whole room clapped, Martha went up to the Mayor and whispered something to him. He then continued. "Ladies and Gentlemen, as you all should know, Richard Castle made a supreme sacrifice for his love. Ever since he was a little boy, Richard wanted to get married in space. However, his wife was against it, for practical reasons and so, to make her happy, they got married up town. I have been informed that finally, Mrs. Kate Castle has consented to get married in space as a small token of her affection for her husband. That is why we are gathered here today."
Castle's jaw dropped. It seemed that he was about to cry, but instead a huge grin formed. Jack and Jo ran up to him and gave him a big hug. "You guys knew about this?"
"Yeah Daddy, but Mommy told us you knew too, that's why we did not say anything."
Jim came and took Katie by her arm and Martha did the same to Richard. They both walked up to Mayor Weldon, put the children's hands in one and others and stepped down.
"We are gathered here on this day in space to witness Katherine Houghton Beckett and Richard Edgar Alexander Rodgers Castle, reconfirm their love for one another by entering into the bonds of Holy Matrimony." He continued, "Richard, Kate, will you both promise to love, honor and cherish the other, cheer each other up in times of stress or sadness, share each other's triumphs losses, protect each other and be the other's strength in bad times, and enjoy each other in good times?"
"Always" they answered in unison.
"Then by the power vested in me by the State of New York, I now pronounce you, again, husband and wife."
The love in Castle's eyes, when he turned to Beckett almost made her faint. Over and over he reconfirmed her choice that he was her 'one and done' for always. But she just smiled and said, "Gotcha."
Even with spell check and grammar check, I do not think I have caught all the typos, misspellings and grammar faux pas. Please forgive me. I will continue to strive to do better I would love to hear all your comments, good bad or indifferent. They help me to be a better writer.