Disclaimers: Hell no! But, I keep wishing.
Summary: Love is in the air as we have a Caskett wedding.
A/N #1: In my other fan fiction universe, there's a gold bracelet that gets mentioned a lot. It has sentimental value for my other couple. I had to add a bracelet to this story. It's just how I roll.
A/N #2: Rick's vows to Kate are going to include a lot of things that he's said to her over the years. I put a lot of thought into this because I wanted to make this different from other stories where writers have married them off. And, of course, Rick and Kate's word 'Always' will be included as much as I can possibly squeeze it in.
A/N #3: I think that 'Angel Eyes' by Jeff Healey is the perfect first dance for Kate and Rick.
Chapter 10: Always and Forever
Kate Beckett sat bolt upright in bed in a panic. At first she couldn't remember where she was, but as she looked around the bedroom, she smiled as she remembered. She was in her room in the suite at the inn in East Hampton. And she was getting married today. She glanced at her father's watch, noting the time. In less than eight hours, she was going to be Mrs. Richard Castle. She reached for her phone to call her fiancé, only to remember that Lanie had confiscated her cell phone the night before.
"Girl, if I don't take your phone, you will be talking or texting Writer-Boy all night instead of getting your beauty sleep," Lanie told her. "Tomorrow is a big day and you need to spend tonight sleeping."
"Lanie—"
"No phone."
She got out of bed and pulled on her robe before making her way into the living area. She had a lot to do before meeting Castle at his, correction, their, house for the wedding. She looked outside at the sunny May morning.
"Morning, girl," Kate smiled as she heard Lanie come out of the other bedroom. "Just think! You're getting married today!" Lanie came over and tightly hugged her best friend. "How'd you sleep?"
"Not too badly, actually. But right now, I need coffee."
"I'll have some sent up. Do you want me to see if Martha and Alexis are up, yet?"
"You'll have to, since you took my phone," Kate reminded her.
Martha and Alexis were staying in an adjoining room. It had been agreed that Castle and the boys would stay out at the house since Kate and her attendants would be the last people to arrive. It would prevent Castle from seeing the bride before the wedding, something that everybody was adamant about. The last time she'd seen her famous fiancé had been the afternoon before.
"Take a walk with me," he gave her that smile that always melted her heart as she put her hand in his and let him lead her down to their stretch of beach. "So, when are my mother, Alexis and Lanie planning on kidnapping you?"
"They're not 'kidnapping' me, Castle. They just don't want you seeing me until the wedding tomorrow. Believe me, if I had to, I'd handcuff us together," she smiled up at him.
"Promise?" He teased as she leaned into his shoulder.
"Only this time—"
"We'd do it without the tiger," he finished the sentence for her as she threw her head back and laughed.
"I'm going to miss you, Castle. Do you realize that tonight will be the first time in almost a year that we haven't slept in the same bed?"
"I know. I'm going to miss your snoring," he smiled at her.
"Uh, I don't snore, Castle."
"Oh, I know what it is that I'll miss," he snapped his fingers. "I'll miss not being able to wake up and run my fingers down—"
"Stop, Castle! Don't make this harder than it already is."
"Oh, things will be hard, all right."
"Castle," she gave him that look that she gave murder suspects before she grilled them.
"It's for less than 24 hours, Kate. Just think that tomorrow afternoon at this time, you will be Mrs. Richard Castle."
Now it was less than eight hours. What was she supposed to do first? First she had to have her coffee. Then she could figure out the next step.
***CCC***
At the Hampton house, Castle was taking a long early morning walk on the still deserted beach. He'd been up since five in the morning, not able to sleep for another second without his beautiful fiancée at his side. It had been less than 12 hours since he'd last seen her, but he couldn't believe how badly he missed her. Like Kate, Javi and Kevin had taken his cell phone away from him after Kate had been taken into town the afternoon before. They told him they'd give it back to him before the ceremony. And, not only had the boys taken his cell, they'd taken the cordless phones from their chargers all through the house.
"But, what if I need to talk to my mother or Alexis?" Castle had protested when he'd searched futilely throughout the house for a phone.
"Bro, your mother and Alexis are with Beckett. You have no reason to talk to either of them. If they need anything, they'll let us know," Javi told his friend.
"But—"
"You're getting married tomorrow, dude," Ryan reminded him. "Tonight's your last night of freedom. I say that you make the most of it. We have beer, we have cards—"
"We have porn," Javi added.
"Oh no. I'm not about to watch porn with you two," Castle protested as the two detectives began laughing.
"Bro, we were joking about the porn. But, Ryan's right. We have beer, liquor and cards. We can have an all-night poker game."
Castle had put in a call to James Patterson and Michael Connelly and they'd played no limit Texas Hold 'Em until the wee hours of the morning. While he hadn't gotten drunk, he had acquired a nice buzz. He figured that his buzz would allow him to sleep until at least 10. But no. Here it was, barely sunrise and he was walking barefoot on the beach, thinking of his fiancée. In seven hours, he was going to see the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen in his life coming across his yard on her father's arm toward him. He couldn't wait.
Back at the inn, the four women were having breakfast in the inn dining room. Or three of the women were eating. Kate was just pushing her food around her plate. She couldn't believe how nervous she was feeling. She couldn't believe how much she missed Castle. "Alexis," she whispered to the young redhead sitting to her right. "Please call your father for me."
"No, not a chance," Alexis said with a firm shake of her head. "Kate, you're going to be seeing him in five hours."
"Girl, how in the hell did you function before he started following you around like a puppy?" Lanie teased her friend.
Kate laughed at the analogy. In the early days, Castle did often remind her of a puppy, following her from crime scene to crime scene, never following her instructions when she'd ask him to please stay in the car. "I didn't laugh as much."
"You didn't laugh, at all," Lanie corrected her.
"So, have you decided what you're going to say?" Alexis poured herself another glass of juice.
"Yeah, I know what I'm going to say," Kate blushed.
"We'd better get upstairs and start getting you ready," Lanie glanced at the clock on her cell. "We might think that we have a lot of time, but we really don't."
When they got back to the room that they shared, Kate went to take a long, hot bath to shave her legs and wash her hair while Lanie pulled her own phone from her pocket and called Esposito. "Hey, Espo? How's Writer Boy holding up?"
"He left the house early this morning. I think that he's walking on the beach, probably trying to figure out what the hell he's getting himself into. How's Beckett?"
"Beginning to get nervous. We should be at the house by one or so. I'll text you or call before we get there so that you can get Castle out of the house. What time is the minister arriving?"
"One o'clock also. The caterers should be here soon, so Kevin and I are going to get ready for them. I'll talk to you soon."
After taking her bath, Kate stepped into the bedroom, her hair wrapped in a towel as she walked over to the closet and opened it, her eyes filling with tears as they had every time she saw the garment bag hanging on the back of the door. That garment bag had been in hers' and Rick's closet since February and it was now hanging in this closet, waiting for her to don it in just a few short hours.
Rick and Kate had gone to dinner with Kate's father shortly after Valentine's Day. Over dinner, they'd discussed plans for the upcoming wedding among other things. It was when they were leaving that Jim Beckett had told Kate that he had something to show her.
"Is something wrong?" Kate had been concerned as she followed him back to the room that he'd shared with her mother for so long. It was a room that Kate had rarely entered after her mother's murder. It was just too painful to see her things on the dresser and her clothes in the closet as if she'd never left.
"After your mother died, it took me a long time to decide what to do with her things," he said as he walked over to the walk-in closet. "I gave you her jewelry because I know that she'd want for you to have it."
Out of instinct, Kate had reached for the long chain that she'd worn around her neck for so long. The chain that held her mother's ring. That ring had been her talisman, a constant reminder of what she'd lost that awful January night so long ago. She didn't wear the ring as often, but the reminder was still there.
"I gave most of her clothes away," Jim continued. "But, there were some things that I couldn't part with. Things that I hoped you would want someday."
Kate's breath caught in her throat when her father stepped into the closet and came out, carrying a huge red vinyl garment bag. "Oh, daddy," she breathed as he brought the bag over to the bed.
"Your mother was the most beautiful bride that I'd ever seen in my life," he remembered. "I have been waiting for this moment for such a long time. If you don't want to wear your mother's dress . . . if the thought is too painful—"
"I'd love to wear her dress," Kate finally found her voice. "I remember that she showed me this dress twice when I was a little girl. I used to have dreams about how I'd look if I wore it. I love you, dad," she fiercely embraced her father.
Castle had yet to see the dress. She'd been diligent about not allowing him to see it, not even a brief glimpse. So far, the only person who'd seen the dress had been Lanie, and that wasn't until the night before.
They had been drinking wine the night before and talking about the wedding when Kate had stepped out of the room, returning with the garment bag. "You're the first person who's seen my dress," Kate smiled at her friend as she unzipped the bag and carefully removed the dress.
"Oh girl, Castle's going to lose his mind when he sees you in this," Lanie breathed as she lightly touched the lace that covered the high-necked gown. "You said that this was your mother's dress?"
"The first time she showed it to me, I was seven. She wouldn't even let me touch it. When I was 13, I begged her to show it to me again. That time, she actually let me touch it. She told me that she couldn't wait to see what I was going to look like when I got married in it."
"You are going to look stunning."
"I hope so."
"Girl, what're you doing in there? I still have to take a bath!" Lanie's voice interrupted her reverie.
"I'll be right out!" Kate called back.
***CCC***
Back at the house, the caterers were busy setting up in the kitchen as Castle sat in his office, trying to focus on his computer screen as he listened to the commotion in the other part of the house. He had other people decorating the house and the garden. He felt like there was nothing for him to do but sit and twiddle his thumbs. He smiled as he picked up the picture of Kate that he had sitting on the corner of his desk. He'd snapped it when she was sitting on the patio outside of their bedroom one fall morning. Her knees had been pulled up to her chest and the breeze had been whipping through her tangled hair. With the way that the early morning light had been shining off of her, he'd never thought that he'd ever seen anybody so beautiful. He glanced at his watch. It was almost 11 o'clock. He needed to get in the shower so that he could start getting ready soon. Javi had told him that the girls would be arriving shortly after one, so he had to be out in the garden when they arrived.
When he came out of his office, the boys were directing different people to things that needed to be done. Castle wasn't sure what he'd do without either of them. While they'd spent a lot of the past 24 hours ragging on him, they'd also been his anchor, keeping him calm as he waited for zero hour. "Bro, everything's under control out here," Javi told the writer. "Kevin and I are going to start getting ready. You'd better do the same. We have less than two hours before the girls all get here."
Two hours. The love of his life would be here in two hours. Was he actually getting married for the third time in less than three hours? He couldn't remember being this nervous, this excited, in either of his other two marriages. Like Kate had told him at Ryan's wedding, maybe the third time was the charm. He knew that he hadn't been this deeply in love with either Meredith or Gina. He hadn't found his every waking moment filled with thoughts of either of those two women.
Three hours. He couldn't wait. But, he knew that he had to.
***CCC***
At the inn, Lanie was working on Kate's hair when there was a knock on the door. "I'll get it," Lanie got up and opened the door to Jenny Ryan, who was holding a garment bag over her arm. "Hey, girl," Lanie hugged her. "Beckett, your matron of honor's here!"
"How are you doing?" Jenny came into the bedroom where Kate was sitting in front of the mirror, her hair halfway piled onto her head. "Are you nervous or excited?"
"Both," Kate admitted.
"I'll let you finish with her. I need to get into the shower and get ready," Jenny said as she headed for the bathroom.
"Hey, where's my namesake?" Kate grinned as Jenny stopped in the bathroom doorway.
"She's with my sister. I wasn't about to bring a five-month-old baby to a wedding. I'll see you in a bit."
Martha and Alexis arrived while Lanie was still doing Kate's hair and makeup. Lanie smiled when she stepped into the living room and spotted her friend's future mother-in-law and stepdaughter. "Martha, I have to get ready. Maybe you can help Beckett with her dress."
"Oh kiddo, I'd love to," Martha smiled as she entered the bedroom. "Katherine, Lanie suggested that you might need some help."
"Martha, I would love some help."
In the living room, Alexis nervously checked out her reflection in the floor length mirror that they'd brought from home. The maid of honor's dresses were a deep burgundy with thin spaghetti straps. Alexis had felt beautiful the moment that she'd tried it on. She smiled when Lanie stepped out of the other bedroom, her long, dark hair piled on her hair in a riot of curls. "Dr. Parrish, you look beautiful," Alexis told the medical examiner.
"Girl, when are you going to call me Lanie," Lanie hugged the young girl. "After today, we're going to be family."
Jenny stepped out of the front bedroom with her dress draped over her arm. "Lanie, can I get dressed in your room? Martha's busy in there with Kate."
"Of course," Lanie smiled.
In the bedroom, Kate looked at her reflection in the mirror on the back of the bedroom door as Martha stood right behind her, tears in her eyes as she looked at the vision in white in front of her. "Katherine, that dress is just—"
"I know," Kate blinked back tears.
"Is your father meeting you here or at the house?"
"He's meeting us at the house. I'll lose it if I see him earlier than that," Kate smiled as she turned toward Martha. "I guess that we should get ready to head out there."
"Katherine, my son is a lucky, lucky man," Martha choked out.
"Yes, he is," Kate said as both women laughed to avoid the tears that were threatening to flow. "Lanie took forever on my makeup. I'm not about to ruin it by crying. I'm sure that I'll be doing that as soon as I see Rick."
"Kate, let's go!" Jenny called from the front room. "We need to go!"
"Are you ready?" Martha asked.
"I've been ready for this for a long time."
"Then, let's get you married, shall we?"
The three women in the front room gasped when Martha stepped out of the room, followed by Kate. The white dress had a high neck and was covered with lace and intricate bead work. "Kate, you look more beautiful than anything in any of those bridal magazines," Alexis breathed.
"Thank you, Alexis."
"Let's go. You don't want to be late for your own wedding," Lanie told her as the five women left the suite.
***CCC***
Javi was in the downstairs guest bedroom when his phone buzzed, alerting him to a text message. He picked the phone up and glanced at it. 'We're on r way 2 the house. We should b there in 20 minutes.'
Javi typed in a response. 'Ok. Will alert Castle.'
Javi walked out into the living room where Kevin, Castle, and Kate's father, Jim Beckett, were expectantly waiting. "The girls are on their way. Lanie said they should be here in 20 minutes. That's your cue, bro," he looked at Castle.
The men were all dressed in black tuxedos. When Espo told him that his bride was on her way, Castle looked as if he was either going to throw up or pass out, maybe both. "Before you leave the house, Rick, can we talk for a few minutes?" Jim asked as Espo and Ryan discreetly left the house. The older man waited until Rick's friends had stepped out before he proceeded. "When I came to your apartment two years ago and told you that I knew that you cared about my daughter, I wasn't sure if she'd ever get on the same page with you. Since she met you, I've seen the little girl that I once knew emerge from the shell that she'd put herself in after her mother died. You've helped her through so many things over the past five years. I don't know what Kate would've done if she didn't have you. But, she's also my only daughter. My little girl. Please don't do anything to ever hurt her."
"I love Kate very much," Castle's voice was ragged with emotion. "I promise you that I will take care of her for the rest of our lives. I promise you that I will never hurt her."
"You'd better get out of here before your friends come in here and hunt you down," Jim smiled as Rick left the house.
The boys looked up as Castle came out of the house. "So, did you just get the 'if you hurt my little girl, I'll hunt you down and hurt you' speech?"
"Pretty much," Castle admitted.
"Be glad you're not Irish," Ryan grinned.
"Or Puerto Rican," Espo added. "Well, now you're going to get a similar speech from us. Beckett's like our sister, bro. If we even suspect that she's been hurt by you, we'll hurt you. And keep in mind that we know two medical examiners that can make your death look like a tragic accident."
"I think that I get the picture," Castle swallowed.
"Good, see that you remember," Espo warned him before breaking out into a huge grin. "Bro, relax. You're getting married in an hour."
***CCC***
When the girls arrived at the house, they walked in to find Kate's father waiting for her. "Oh Kate," he breathed. "You look even more beautiful than I could've imagined."
"Mr. Beckett, we have a few last minute details to take care of, and then Kate's all yours," Lanie told him as she took Kate's hand and led her upstairs.
Kate was dismayed when Lanie led her into one the guest rooms. "We're not getting ready in mine and Castle's room?"
"Girl, are you kidding? So that you can sneak peeks out of the window at Writer-Boy? I don't think so. Come on, we still have the matter of your garter and the flowers for your hair to take care of. Then we can touch up your makeup if we need to."
"Lanie, the waiting is killing me," Kate breathed as she put her hand over her chest.
"The wait will be over soon," her friend smiled at her. "Raise your dress so that we can get this garter on your skinny leg. Do you want Castle to really hunt for it or do you want me to cut Writer-Boy some slack?"
"Lanie, I don't want to give my wedding guests a peep show," Kate warned her.
"Can we come in?" Martha popped her head in as Lanie slid the blue garter up Kate's long leg.
"Yeah, I'm done here. Kate, that garter is your something blue. But, I have something else that I'll give you when you get back from Hawaii."
"What?" Kate was intrigued.
"You'll see when you get back from 10 days of sun and surf."
"We won't take long, kiddo," Martha said as her and Alexis stepped in. "Your father wants to see you, so we won't keep him waiting."
"Kate, you've made my dad so happy," Alexis smiled as she shyly approached her. "I see it every time that he looks at you. And I know that you love him because I also see it when you look at him. This is your something new from me."
Kate took the small box from Alexis and opened it, gasping as she saw the pair of earrings that were lying on soft cotton. "Alexis, these are beautiful," she took the glittering diamonds as she carefully put them in her ears. "I promise that I will always love your dad and I'll always take care of him."
"I know that you will," Alexis embraced her as she stepped aside for her grandmother.
"You told me that when Richard took you to that MADT event that you felt like a princess going to the ball," Martha remembered as she stepped behind Kate. "I believe that this was part of the reason why," she said as she slipped the ruby and diamond necklace that Kate had worn to an event that she'd gone to with Castle the first year he had followed her around. "This is your borrowed."
"Oh, Martha," Kate touched the beautiful necklace. "I was speechless then and I'm speechless now. Thank you."
"Well, when a girl gets married, she should always feel like a princess going to the ball. I hope that Richard never forgets how lucky he is," she squeezed Kate's shoulder. "Girls, let's go so that Jim can have some alone time with his daughter."
Kate glanced at her watch as her father stepped into the room. Fifteen minutes until show time. Taking a deep breath, she unbuckled her watch and placed it carefully on the dresser. Lanie had promised to get it and place it in the master bedroom before the ceremony started. "I don't know how many ways that I can possibly express how beautiful you look today."
"Thank you," Kate breathed as she stood up and walked over to her father. "Mom's here with us, dad. I can feel her."
"So can I," he planted a soft kiss on her forehead. "Seeing how happy you are makes me happier than you can imagine. When you and Rick look at each other, I see how much you love one another. Before Rick came along, you didn't smile much. And you certainly didn't laugh. I'm glad that he brought those things back into your life. As my little girl, the only thing that I've ever wanted was for you to be happy. I longed for you to meet someone who made you as happy as your mother made me. I got my wish fulfilled when you met Rick. You're going to be very happy together."
"I love you, dad."
"Don't cry or Lanie will have my head on a platter. Katie, I kept this after your mother died. It was the only piece of your mother's jewelry that I didn't give you," he removed a box that he'd had in his pocket and opened it, removing a thin gold bracelet. "Your mother always said that she wanted you to wear this on your wedding day. If the circumstances had been different, she would be the one putting this around your wrist herself."
Kate found it hard to breathe as her father put the bracelet around her wrist and clasped it closed. "It's beautiful. Thank you."
"Are you ready for this?" He smiled as she gave him a huge smile back as she nodded. "Then, let's do it."
When they stepped out of the room, they went downstairs to take their places behind the rest of the bridal party. Lanie came down a few minutes later, after securing Kate's watch as she'd promised. Kate took a deep breath as she clasped her hand around her father's arm as he kissed her on the cheek.
***CCC***
Rick smiled as he saw his mother escorted down the aisle by one of the ushers. Taking her seat in the front row, she gave her only son a warm smile and mouthed the words, 'Kate looks beautiful' to him.
"Bro, this is it," Espo whispered to him. "This is your last chance to make a break for it."
"Not a chance," Castle smiled, watching as Jenny Ryan made her way to the flower bedecked altar, followed by Lanie, and then Alexis. Tears came to his eyes at the sight of his daughter, who smiled and gave him a little wave.
The music then changed to 'The Wedding March' as the guests all stood up as one and turned toward the pool area for their first glimpse of the bride.
"Wow, Castle," Ryan could barely catch his breath as he got his first glimpse of Kate. "She's just . . . wow."
Coming down the path on her father's arm, Kate tried to get a glimpse of Castle. When she finally did, her smile got huge as she caught his eye.
Castle thought that his heart was going to burst as he watched the woman who was soon to be his wife coming toward him on her father's arm. He hadn't been given so much as a description of her dress, and now he knew that the anticipation had been worth the wait. Her smile was simply radiant. Her hair was swept up with flowers threaded through it. He reached up to wipe tears from his eyes as they came down the aisle toward him. He caught her eye as she finally stopped in front of him, as her father kissed her once again on the cheek and placed her hand in Castle's.
"Who gives this woman in marriage to this man?" The minister asked.
"Her mother and I do," Kate smiled at her father as he took his seat in the front row.
"Was that your idea, Castle?" She mouthed the words to him as he smiled and shrugged.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Richard Alexander Castle and Katherine Houghton Beckett. Richard and Katherine have written their own vows that they want to share with their family and friends on this most cherished of occasions."
"Kate," Castle clasped her hands in both of his, "you are my love, my life, my heart. When you smile, my day gets brighter. I love that you never back down from a fight. I love waking up in the morning and seeing you smile at me. We might've had some stumbles along this journey, but you never gave up on me, on us. That's one of so many things that make you extraordinary, as I told you a long time ago. I want to continue sharing my home, my family, and my love with you. I want to extend that family by at least a dozen," she looked down and smiled at his words. "The afternoon before you came to me during a torrential downpour, looking like a drowned rat," she rolled her eyes at what he was referring to, "I argued with you. I told you that you were the most remarkable, maddening, challenging, frustrating person that I'd ever met. Well, I hope that you keep challenging me and frustrating me for the next 100 years or so. I love you so much, and I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you. You are and will forever be my always."
He reached up and wiped at his eyes again as she looked up and smiled at him. "You told me that you were probably going to be speechless," she said as the guests laughed. "Castle, it took a long time for me to see what everybody else saw. When I got shot, I told you about the wall that I'd built around myself. You've helped me tear down that wall and let go of the pain that had dominated my life for so long. I like laughing at your jokes, no matter how corny they are. You make a tough job a lot more fun. You make my life a lot more fun. I never thought that I'd find myself being the inspiration for a best-selling crime novelist. I never thought that I'd fall in love with a nine-year-old on a sugar rush," the guests laughed. "You made your family and your home my family and my home. I don't feel complete anymore unless I'm with you. You are my fairy tale, my happily ever after. And yes, my one and done. I look forward to spending the rest of my life being a one writer girl. I look forward to a future that includes a lot of Castle babies," she grinned as he couldn't help but grin back at her. "I also want this love story to last for at least 100 years. And, you'll also and forever be my always," she said, repeating his last line back to him.
"May I have the rings?" The minister looked toward Kevin as he handed Kate's ring to Castle. "Richard, as you place the ring on Katherine's finger, repeat after me. 'I, Richard, give this ring as a symbol of my deep faith and abiding love.'"
"I, Richard, give this ring as a symbol of my deep faith and abiding love," he smiled as he slid the ring smoothly onto her finger.
Javi then handed Kate Castle's ring. "Katherine, as you place the ring on Richard's finger, repeat after me, 'I, Katherine, give this ring as a symbol of my deep faith and abiding love.'"
"I, Katherine, give this ring as a symbol of my deep faith and abiding love," she slid his ring onto Castle's finger as she lightly squeezed his fingers.
"By the powers vested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride," the minister informed Castle. As he pulled her close and gently kissed her, they could hear their guests applauding. "Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to present to you Richard and Katherine Castle."
As they walked back up the aisle toward the house, they heard well wishes from all directions. But, as far as they were concerned, there was no one else around. "Ladies and gentlemen, if you'll proceed to the house, dinner will be served soon. If the happy couple and the wedding party will remain out here for pictures, we'd appreciate it."
After the photographer had taken what seemed to be hundreds of pictures, the wedding party went into the house, leaving Castle and Kate alone. "Hello, Mrs. Castle," he whispered as his lips gently descended on hers.
"I love the way that sounds," she pulled back to smile at him.
"Good, because I plan on saying it a lot. Have I told you that you just look . . . wow? Seeing you walking down that aisle was definitely worth not having you with me last night."
"You don't look so bad yourself, Castle," she took his hand in hers.
"I know that we should get inside, but I just wanted to have you to myself for a little while before we get mobbed by friends and family. You are by far the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my life."
"Well, I had some help."
"I love you, Kate."
"I love you too, Castle. We should get inside."
Their guests applauded as Kate and Rick entered the house, which had been cleared of furniture in exchange for tables and a small dance floor. A small band had set up in one corner of the room, preparing to start up as soon as the happy couple entered the house. As soon as the applause died down, the singer stepped up to the microphone. "First of all, on behalf of Richard and Kate, they'd like to thank all of you for being here to celebrate this special day. If everybody would please clear the dance floor so that they may share their first dance as husband and wife, we'll get this party started."
They chose 'Angel Eyes' by the Jeff Healey Band as their first dance. As Kate had told Castle a while back, when you were in love, all of the songs made sense. She slipped her arms loosely around her neck as he pulled her into his arms so that her head rested into the crook of his neck.
'I'll thank the stars above
How did I ever win your love?
What did I do?
What did I say?
To turn your Angel Eyes my way'
"Can we just stay like this all night?" Kate whispered into his neck as he slowly moved them around the dance floor.
"We could, but I think people would start objecting after a while."
"I don't care. I just want to be with you."
"I love dancing with you, Mrs. Castle," he whispered as she moved her head so that they could share a tender kiss as the song ended.
After everybody had their dances with the newlyweds, Kate and Castle took their seats with the rest of the bridal party as dinner was served. Between all of the well-wishers and the excitement, Kate could barely eat a bite. She looked toward the end of the table as Javi stood up and picked up his water glass, tapping his spoon against it until he had everybody's attention. "Kevin Ryan and I are Castle's best men and as such, we're expected to make a toast to the happy couple."
"Here we go," Castle groaned as Kate took his hand and squeezed it.
"Castle, you came into our midst and irritated the hell out of us. But then one day something happened. We noticed that you made Beckett laugh just a little bit more. You were willing to make bets with Ryan and me over stupid stuff. What was even funnier was that you were able to bring Beckett in on the stupid stuff. After a while it was like you could read each other's minds. You make her life more fun, you always have her back. For that we thank you. Beckett . . . Kate, you're our boss, our sister, our friend, the one person that I know who understands about living through hell," her eyes misted as she knew that he was referring to both of their problems with PTSD. "In Castle, you've found that person who will always have your back, and will always be there for you as he's shown many times over. Congratulations, Castle and Kate," he raised his champagne glass toward them.
As soon as he sat down, Kevin stood up. "We all knew that this day was going to happen long before Rick and Kate did. After I got married, my wife Jenny told me that the two of you were going to be next. I kept telling her that you weren't a couple. And, she told me that sure you were, you just didn't know it, yet. Castle, you told us once that you'll do anything for the people that you love. In the past five years, I've seen you prove this more times than I care to remember. I know that you'll always be there for Kate. Kate, I'm so happy that you've found someone that makes you laugh and smile. I wish the both of you all of the happiness in the world and those dozen kids that you mentioned in your vows," he grinned as he raised his glass to them. "To Castle and Kate!"
After dinner, Castle was on the dance floor with Martha while Kate danced with Javi. "Castle was scared that you and Ryan were going to humiliate him in your toast," Kate told her friend.
"We thought about it," Javi admitted as she laughed. "I just wanted to tell you that you look beautiful."
"Thank you, Javi."
"Richard, I hope that you're always as happy as you are today," Martha smiled at her son as they danced.
"So do I, mother."
"She's absolutely radiant," Martha nodded to where Kate was now dancing with Kevin. "When she was coming down the aisle and saw you, I swear that her smile could've lit up a dark room."
About that time, Alexis came up and tapped her father on his shoulder. "Hi, pumpkin," Rick beamed at her. "Are you cutting in?"
"I guess that I am," Alexis said as Martha stepped aside. "Daddy, this was the most beautiful wedding I've ever been to."
"Well, I suppose that you are slightly prejudiced," he continued smiling as he moved his daughter around the small dance floor.
"I love you, daddy."
"I love you too, pumpkin."
When they went to cut the cake later, Kate bent Castle down so that she could whisper in his ear. "I'm giving you a warning, Castle. If you're even thinking of shoving cake into my face, keep in mind that I have a gun and I'm prepared to use it."
"Not to mention handcuffs," he smirked as she rolled her eyes. "If I promise not to shove a handful of cake in your face, will I get the rest of your dances tonight?"
"If you don't shove cake into my face, my dance card will belong completely to you."
When they made their way onto the dance floor later, Kate melted into his arms as he swayed them to the music. "How are you feeling?" He asked, noticing how quiet she'd gotten.
"A little tired," she admitted. "And my feet are killing me."
"In that case we should start saying our goodbyes. The limo will be here soon to take us back to the city and The Four Seasons."
"You hired a limo?" Kate pulled back in surprise.
"Well, I wasn't planning on driving us back to the city and we couldn't slip off to bed upstairs with a house full of guests."
"You were just afraid that Javi and Kevin were going to decorate the Ferrari."
"Well, there was that, too. Come on, let's start saying goodbye."
"Castle, before we say our goodbyes, there's a little matter of what I'm wearing under my dress." He raised an eyebrow as she rolled her eyes. "The garter. You need to remove it and throw it."
Castle caught Javi standing by and stopped him. "Javi, could you put out the word that I'm getting ready to remove Kate's garter from under her dress?"
"Castle, do you expect me to seriously wear my wedding dress to The Four Seasons?" She stared at her husband after Javi walked off.
"I told you that I was going to peel that dress off of you."
"Castle, this dress has 400 buttons down the back. It'll take all night," she hissed.
"Oh no, don't tell me that mom and dad are fighting tonight," Ryan groaned.
"Hold on a minute," she got up and went in search of Jenny, who was talking to Martha, Lanie and Alexis. "Jenny, when you got married, did you wear your wedding gown to the hotel?"
"No, I had travel clothes. I didn't want my dress getting all wrinkled."
"Castle, I'm changing clothes before we leave," Kate said decisively as she walked over to the chair that someone had placed in the middle of the dance floor.
Castle knew that the exhaustion was setting in, so he didn't come back with a remark. Instead he knelt down in front of her as she gave him an embarrassed smile. "Don't worry, detective. I promise that I won't get you arrested for lewd and lascivious behavior." He reached up under her dress, sliding his hand up her leg as he searched for the satin garter that Lanie had placed around Kate's leg earlier in the day.
"Castle, you're supposed to be removing my garter, not copping a feel!" She hissed as his fingers traveled up a little too high.
Giving her that lopsided, kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar grin, he slid the garter down her leg and flung it over his shoulder as you would a rubber band. The guests laughed and applauded as it was caught by one of the single men in attendance. "Javi, did you even try to catch it?" Castle asked as he stood up and helped Kate to her feet.
"Bro, I don't plan on taking myself off of the market for a long time, yet."
"If you want to change, you have about 10 minutes," Castle turned to Kate. "The limo will be here at 11."
"Lanie, could you give me a hand?" Kate asked as she went upstairs with her maid of honor behind her. "I can't believe that Castle thought he was going to take me out of this dress," she said as they entered the master bedroom.
"Girl, men just like taking our clothes off of us. But, you have a point. That dress doesn't exactly scream patience."
Kate went to the closet and pulled out a pair of jeans and a black button-down blouse. "Can you unbutton me, please?"
As Lanie unbuttoned her friend, Kate kicked off the white high heels that she'd been wearing since before noon. Her feet were screaming for relief. As the dress came off of her shoulders, Kate carefully stepped out of it and with Lanie's help, hung it back in the garment bag that they'd brought from the inn. She then peeled off her slip and panty hose as she donned her jeans and blouse. She hoped that Castle recognized the significance of what she was wearing when they got to the hotel. She then walked over to the mirror and carefully removed the flowers from her hair and took out all of the hair pins, running her fingers through her hair to fluff it out. "I wonder if I'll be the first bride to crash and burn on her wedding night."
"It's a two hour drive back to the city," Lanie reminded her. "Take a nap in the limo. Then you'll be all fresh to jump Writer-Boy's bones when you get to the hotel. When are you leaving for Hawaii?"
"The day after tomorrow. Castle wanted us to spend tomorrow resting."
"Uh-huh," Lanie said skeptically as Kate blushed. "Come on, let's get back downstairs."
"Lanie?" The M.E. stopped in the doorway to look at her friend. "Thanks for everything."
"Girl, I'm your best girlfriend. It's what we do," Lanie walked back in and tightly hugged Kate. "Come on, I'm betting that Castle's anxious to get you all to himself."
Downstairs, Castle and Kate walked the room, hand in hand, thanking everybody for coming to the wedding. Their last stop was in front of their family. Jim Beckett pulled Kate into his arms. "You were so beautiful today," he whispered to her. "Rick's a good man and he loves you as much as I loved your mother. Take care of each other."
"We will," Kate whispered back as she tried not to cry. "I love you. I'll talk to you when we get back."
"Take lots of pictures," he told her.
"Jim, they'll be on their honeymoon. Something tells me that they probably won't even leave their room."
"Mother!"
"Gram!"
"I'm just stating a fact, darling," Martha smiled at her son. "You two take care of each other. Alexis and I will be just fine."
"I have no doubt about that, mother," Castle turned toward his daughter. "Call me if you need anything."
"Daddy, I'll be fine. You're going to be on your honeymoon working on making more babies, not worrying about the child that you're leaving at home."
"One day I'll figure out how she got so smart," Castle smiled at Kate.
Kate was about to say something when she turned to the door and saw a chauffeur standing there, obviously waiting on them. "I think our chariot's here."
Going out to the limousine, they were followed by the guests that were still there calling out goodbyes and some rather raucous advice as they fell into the back of the limo as the chauffeur closed the door behind them. Kate leaned back against the seat, closing her eyes as she relished the sounds of blessed silence. "Mr. Castle, we should be at The Four Seasons by one or 1:30," the chauffeur informed them as he raised the privacy shield separating the front seat from the back, giving the newlyweds some privacy.
"Tired?" Castle whispered tenderly in Kate's ear as she opened her eyes.
"Exhausted."
"Too tired to share a glass of champagne with your husband?"
"Wow, Castle. That new title might take some getting used to," she smiled as he handed her a glass of champagne.
Slipping his arm around her shoulder, he drew her into his shoulder as they quietly sipped their champagne as the limo headed back to the city and their new life together.
A/N #4: There will be one more chapter filled with sex and romance because this chapter started gaining a life of its own. I'm sorry that it ran so long, but I wanted to get every aspect of the wedding crammed in there. The last chapter will be short and sexy (I hope).