Chapter 2
The bride, looking exquisite in a white shimmering gown, stood up and tapped her glass. As the members of the reception quietened down, she glanced to her left at her husband, experiencing a shiver of delight as she did so – she could call him that now! And he looked ridiculously handsome in that suit… but enough. Distractions, distractions…
She cleared her throat and everyone watched expectantly; generally the bride wouldn't make a speech. Then again, since when had Kate Beckett – whoops, Castle – been one for following tradition?
"I know it's not usually the bride that makes the speech," she began, "but I thought I would make an exception, because I have a story to tell you all.
"Once upon a time, there was a detective. She lived for her job, and despite being female, she was considered one of the best detectives in New York. However, she had no life; she lived alone and was scared of having a serious relationship with anyone because she was still nursing the hurt from the death of her mother, 20 years ago.
"But then she met a man, who changed everything. His name was Richard Castle, and he was a witty, handsome and extremely annoying author who had taken it into his head to follow her around on the job under the pretense of her being his 'muse'." Here, the aforementioned man put his hand to his heart in the act of being shot down. His new wife pointedly ignored him.
"He was the first person she'd met who could see right through her; he waved away the carefully placed barriers around her heart, knocking down in an instant what had taken her twenty years to build up.
"At first, he drove her berserk, as he followed her around –" the audience laughed at this, and Castle again looked hurt – "and tried to do her job for her. But after a while, she found that she didn't mind his constant flirting, and that having him around made her job that much brighter. They had solved a lot of cases together, and become good friends in the process. And when she realised that she liked his flirting and the way he could read her and the way he always understood what she was thinking – sometimes better than she did – she discovered that she had fallen in love with the one man she swore was the last man on earth she could ever grow to like.
"At first she was in denial, resisting all attempts by their friends to get them together, but then, when he finally asked her out, she found that she couldn't resist any longer.
"They went on many more dates after that first one, and she found herself wishing that this could last forever. She was happy, for the first time in a long time, and she wasn't alone anymore. So, when he asked her to marry him, she said yes.
"And now, this detective is still wishing that this happiness will last forever – but for once, she thinks that maybe it will."
As Kate Castle sat down, the audience applauded and then cheered as her husband kissed her passionately. Several wolf whistles were heard, and one person even yelled,
"Get a room!" at this, they broke apart and Rick Castle stood up to make his speech.
"Well," he started, "For once, I don't know how to follow that! But I must say, the bridesmaids were looking absolutely gorgeous today…"
As he continued the traditional wedding speech, Lanie turned to Esposito beside her.
"She's changed a lot."
Ryan butted in from the other side of Esposito.
"You can say that again. This time last year, she would have died before saying something like that."
All three nodded, looking towards Kate and Rick, watching them share an occasional loving glance.
Lanie spoke again.
"That man's good for her."
Well, there you have it. Not so sure about the last few lines, but oh well. I wanted to get this out of the way. Iike it? I gotta say, Castle fans are the nicest – I get double the reviews and such for these stories than for any others! thanks, guys.
