So, I've got two weeks off from school and after three days I have realised I have NOTHING to do (yes, I'm that geeky). I haven't written a story for ages and I finally had a decent idea so here we are. I'm actually quite excited and hopefully I should be able to update quite regularly now that I have a load of free time.

This is an AU (I'm quite partial to these) so just some background info for you: this is an alternative way to how Castle and Beckett meet, Castle has only been married to Meredith (not Gina) he is 34, Kate is 27, and Alexis is 10. I think that's all you need to know for now, so here we go…

Summary: Here he is, about to get married, and there's only one woman on his mind: his Bride…right?

Disclaimer: Only in my dreams do I own Castle.

To Have and to Hold

Most people thought Richard Castle was a playboy. They thought his life ambition was to saunter from club to club, partying, and loving and leaving many of the beautiful single women of New York. Honestly, they would have been right, once. When his books started selling and the millions started rolling in, his twenty-something year old self would have loved this lifestyle description. Over the years however, as Rick grew older and his daughter did as well, the clubs and pretty women became less and less appealing. He realised that he wanted more, for himself and for his child.

Alexis was the light of his life. He loved her more than he ever thought a person was capable of loving another human being, and the second he laid eyes on his perfect, pink, tiny baby girl ten years ago, he vowed to give her everything she could ever want. He thought he'd done a pretty good job over the years. His daughter wasn't materialistic really, she appreciated the nice things he bought for her, but she didn't need them. The only thing she needed was him.

All they'd ever had was each other and he'd always had to play the role of father and mother. Alexis didn't seem to mind most of the time, she seemed to have accepted the fact that her mother was mostly absent a long time ago, but there were moments sometimes when he could see a sort of longing or slight sadness in her eyes. It was usually around special occasions: Christmas, Thanksgiving, Birthdays, when she'd open up a card containing a check from Meredith and the fact that her mother wasn't there in person would really hit home. It broke his heart to see his little girl sad in anyway. It made him feel as if he'd failed in giving her the best life possible because the only thing she really wanted was the most difficult thing to provide: a mother.

For the last couple of years Rick had been trying to date seriously, to try and find something real and long term but hadn't had much luck, until 5 months ago.

Her name was Sophie and she was great. She was beautiful with her long blonde hair, big blue eyes and kind smile, but she was also smart, successful, outgoing, and most importantly, she was real.

They met at a convention, where he was signing books and she was writing an article about the writers attending for the newspaper she worked for. They got to talking and were attracted to each other's charm and easy going attitude. They went out every night for the next two weeks and now all these months later, he thought he could say he was in love and was ready to take the next step.

Now here he was, sitting in his office (he was supposed to be writing) and he was staring at the 2 carat diamond engagement ring he had bought, pondering the best way to pop the question.

"Dad?" The questioning voice of his daughter broke his reverie, "What are you holding?"

"Hey Pumpkin, uhh-" he hadn't actually told Alexis of his plans yet as it never seemed to be the right time, but it looked like there was no escaping it now.

"Is that an…engagement ring?" She was now standing directly in front of him with a full view of the ring.

"Yes Sweetie, it is."

"Are you going to ask Sophie to marry you?"

"Yeah-"

"Oh." She sounded less than enthusiastic and she averted her eyes.

"Alexis, is this okay? Do you not want me to marry Sophie?" Rick was genuinely confused because Alexis and Sophie had known each other for a couple of months now and they seemed to get along quite well, he couldn't understand why all of a sudden the news of his engagement plans made her react in a way that made it seem as though he had just kicked a puppy.

"No it's not that, it's just…"

"What is it sweetheart?"

"Isn't it kinda…soon?" She said hesitantly.

Rick sighed in relief at the fact that Alexis' hesitancy wasn't down to disliking his girlfriend. He knew that if his daughter didn't approve, then he wouldn't marry her, no matter what he wanted. If he got married, his wife would then become a part of Alexis' life as well, and she had to be happy with the decision.

"Well, maybe it's a little soon, but I love Sophie and she loves me and I think I'd really like to make her my wife," he tried to explain.

"Does she make you happy?" And then he realised that his amazing, mature beyond her years daughter, was just looking out for him, that she didn't want him to get hurt.

He put the ring down on his desk and let his daughter climb onto his lap, before saying, "Yes sweetie, she makes me happy, and marrying her would make me very happy."

Alexis seemed to search his eyes to make sure he was telling the truth, smiling when she was sure he was and then she asked, "Do I get to be a Bridesmaid?"

He laughed at her question, overjoyed that she was on board, "Of course!"

Oh dear God, when did his tie become so tight? It seemed fine when he left home but now that he was sat at the table in the restaurant where he was waiting for Sophie to join him, it felt like he was slowly being strangled.

He felt his inside jacket pocket for about the tenth time in as many minutes, to ensure the ring box was still there and swore his heart skipped a beat when he couldn't feel it, before remembering it was on the other side, safe and sound.

Calm down, idiot. He chided himself.

He couldn't understand why he was so nervous; he'd done this before when he had proposed to Meredith, and he was more confident that Sophie would say yes than he had been when he proposed to his ex.

Maybe that's why you're nervous, a voice in the back of his head said; maybe you're not ready to get remarried.

No. I do love Sophie, and I do want to marry her.

"Rick?"

"Sophie!" He stood up to greet her, but in his nervous rush, he ended up hitting his knee against the table, wincing at the sharp pain.

"Oh, Sweetie, are you okay?" She gently touched his arm before he waved her off.

"I'm fine, I'm fine." Crap, that hurts!

"Okay-" she said uncertainly as they sat down.

"So guess what-"

"Can I ask-"

They both started at the same time, smiling at their own silliness.

"You first," Castle insisted.

"Okay, well, you know how I really wanted that promotion? The one that would let me travel all over the country to interview people, rather than just in New York? I got it!" Sophie really loved her job and she liked to travel, so Rick was pleased for her, she deserved it, and maybe her good mood would increase the chance of her accepting his proposal.

"Congratulations! I'm so proud of you!" He leaned over the table and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. "I think champagne is in order. I have a feeling we'll have a lot to celebrate tonight."

"What do you mean?" Sophie smiled confusedly.

"Well uh…" Oh God, here goes, "Sophie, these last few months have been amazing and you know I love you and," he reached into his pocket and pulled out the box, "is there any chance of you maybe, possibly, marrying me?" Smooth. Try again. He cleared his throat, then, "Sophie, will you marry me?"

His heart felt like it was beating out of his chest as he anticipated her answer.

Is that because you want her to say yes or is it because you don't?

"Yes!" She exclaimed, "Yes Rick, I'll marry you."

His brain caught up with him after it seemed to temporarily zone out after hearing her answer. He reached for her outstretched hand and slid the ring onto her finger. Sophie took a moment to gaze at it before she looked back at him, her eyes shining with happy tears.

"It's beautiful. I love you Rick." She leaned over and lovingly kissed him.

He breathed out heavily after she pulled away, getting rid of his left over nervous energy.

She said yes. So why was his heart still beating so quickly?

Ooooh, is Castle having second thoughts? What do you think? I promise Kate will come into it soon, probably next chapter, so until then…Happy 100th Episode!