A/N: Thank you for all the wonderful reviews. I was nervous how my writing would be received as I've never written a FanFic before. This is the last chapter in this story for me. Hopefully I close it well enough for all of you. I do have thoughts on another story for the Castle series but don't know when I'll have time to write it. In the meantime - best wishes to all of you.
Chapter 7: The Wedding Take 2
Kate and Rick made it back to the loft that evening and filled Martha and Alexis in on everything. After tears, laughter, hugs, and a celebratory dinner everyone said their good nights and went to their rooms. Kate was determined that Rick was not going to leave her sight until they were finally married. There had been enough drama in their relationship and she wanted her happy ending. They deserved their happy ending.
The next morning, while making breakfast, the four of them discussed organizing the wedding again so that they could put all of this behind them and so Kate and Rick could start the next phase of their lives together. Kate and Rick only had one request – that the wedding be within the next week. They didn't want to wait any longer.
Alexis called Lanie to see if she was available for lunch. They had maid of honor and best man duties to take care of and the sooner they started the better. The two met at Remy's around noon and over burgers, fries, and shakes started organizing all the details of getting the wedding planned for the following week.
They had decided to have it at the Hamptons house as originally planned. Alexis and Martha contacted all the guests over the next few days to give them the new date and time with strict instructions that it was to remain private. Flowers and food were ordered again from the previous suppliers and they got them at a discount considering the events of the first wedding were out of anyone's control. Judge Markaway cleared his calendar on the day of the wedding so he could officiate as previously planned.
Alexis took care of the tuxes for her dad, Jim Beckett, Ryan and Esposito and had them delivered to the Hamptons house. Lanie had already taken care of getting Kate's dressed cleaned and mended and had it delivered to the Hampton house as well. The DJ was booked again and everything was falling into place.
Alexis, Martha, and Lanie took care of everything so that Kate and Rick could just concentrate on showing up. They'd had enough stress and it only seemed fair to try and ease some of their anxiety of trying to pull a wedding together in a week's time. Kate and Rick spent each day together at work and then back at the loft in the evenings keeping a close eye on each other. No one else was going to surprise them and ruin this a second time.
Rick had already been able to reschedule the private island he and Kate had originally planned to use for their three week honeymoon last time. It helped being friends with the owner!
Two days before the big event was to take place the wedding party made their way up to the Hamptons. Kate and Rick had tried to go the "traditional" route before but decided they weren't going to spend one night apart until after they were man and wife. No one disagreed with that decision.
When the day of the wedding arrived the house was a bustling hive of worker bees everywhere! The set up crew arrived promptly at 8AM and set up the back yard with chairs, tents, and tables. The caterers arrived at 10AM and set up for the wedding lunch they had prepared. They also brought extra so the wedding party could munch as they got ready and supervised all the work being done that morning. Flowers arrived at 11AM.
By the time everything was done they had an hour until Kate would be walking down the aisle with her dad. Kate was in the master bedroom getting ready with Lanie, Martha, and Jenny's help. Rick was in a guest room getting ready. Alexis, Kevin, and Javier were downstairs greeting the guests and getting everyone seated. Judge Markaway was talking to Jim and waiting for Rick to come downstairs so they could get positioned up front under the trellis.
Promptly at noon, the bridesmaids, maid of honor, and ushers made it down the aisle to stand at the front with Rick. When Mendelssohn's March started playing all the guests stood and turned to the end of the aisle to watch Kate and her father walk down together. Kate was radiant and probably the most stunning bride anyone in attendance had ever seen.
Rick could not stop smiling as they approached him. Jim gave Kate a tender kiss on her cheek and whispered, "Your Mom and I are so proud of you. You are the loveliest bride I've ever seen. Be happy." Jim then stepped away as Rick moved forward and took Kate's hand. They moved towards Judge Markaway together but couldn't take their eyes of each other as the Judge started to speak briefly about what marriage means.
Once Judge Markaway was done with his marriage speech he stated that Kate and Rick would be saying their own vows and turned to Rick to start.
Although Rick is usually never at a loss for words he was very nervous and had to take a deep breath before starting his vows to Kate. Rick started, ''Kate, when I first met you I was amazed at your strength, your dedication, and your hotness. You speak for the victims and find them closure. You are an amazing woman and I am a better man for knowing and loving you. I didn't know what love was until I met you and I will be eternally grateful for how you complete me. You are my always."
Kate wiped the tears from her eyes and stated, "Rick, when I first met you I thought you were a nine year old on a sugar rush. I have to admit that I was less than thrilled when you were allowed to follow me for your research but as I got to know you I realized that you were making my days better. I was lost after my mom's death and threw myself into my work. You helped me realize I had more to offer and you also helped me get closure for my mom. I can't imagine another day without you by my side. You are my one and done!"
Rings were then exchanged by the couple and Judge Markaway finally made the statement Rick had been waiting to hear all day – "You may kiss the bride." The guests gave a standing ovation as they kissed and walked back down the aisle as husband and wife.
The guests found their seats at the tables in the tent and waited for their arrival munching on hors d'oeuvres and sipping on champagne while the wedding party was having pictures taken. The DJ announced the wedding party once they were ready to join the rest of the guests. They all sat at the front table. Alexis and Lanie made their speeches. Jim and Martha officially welcomed Rick and Kate, respectively, into their families.
Rick and Kate made their way to the dance floor for their first official dance as husband and wife and as decided before they danced to "In My Veins." Once their song was complete Alexis joined her father and Kate joined hers for the father/daughter dance. Then the floor was opened to all and the true celebration began.
The happy couple mingled, ate, drank, and thanked everyone for coming throughout the afternoon's festivities. By 4PM they discreetly left the tent and changed into their travel clothes. Upon exiting the house for the Rolls Royce that was going to take them to their hotel for the night the guests threw rose petals at them. They finally had their happy ending and were looking forward to their three week private island get away. Life was good and it was only going to get better for the two of them.
FIN.
