Author's Note: So I am a big proponent of NOT writing out the wedding scenes of shows that haven't done it yet… only because I don't ever think that I can get the characters like the actual writers would. Hate me if you would like, but I don't want to write a scene that seems fake in my head.
Anyways, more is about to come with the storyline entering in at the end. Yes, it's a little angsty, but I wanted some of that for this too. When have Kate and Castle EVER had perfect happiness? Oh that's right… NEVER. Just trust me and enjoy. And if you're like my roommate and hate this character's story line… well I'm sorry, but I love it. Review if you would like!
"Katherine Castle… I like it." Rick says hugging her from behind when he catches her staring at the two rings on her finger that evening while she's getting ready for bed. He talked to Jim and was able to get a jeweler to use Johanna's wedding band to create something for Kate that had new intertwined with the old.
They got married about a week after having that discussion with her father, a simple ceremony with only their family. Kate wore an ivory gown that Martha and Alexis helped pick out, and Castle wore what he thought was his best suit with Kate's favorite blue shirt of his underneath. She was completely distracted by the way things were falling into place, always talking with Castle about how the unconventional pair wouldn't have had it any other way.
"I can't believe that you did that with the ring… Castle, I don't know how I even remotely deserve you. It means the world to me."
"You'll always have her with you, Kate… you always told me how in love your parents were, it seemed right."
"It meant a lot to my dad too… that you asked him about it… that you involved him."
"Always… so Mrs. Castle… are you too tired to have our own celebration?" he says, placing small kisses up her neck.
"Speaking of which… I want to have a party…. Not a Richard Castle sized party, but a celebration with our friends to celebrate the wedding."
"Like a reception?" he asks.
"Just something for everyone to celebrate with us. Everyone at the 12th will be so upset that they didn't get to see it, you know?" she adds, thinking about her work family completely in the dark about the relationship between them.
"They're going to be excited." He says, trying to reassure her.
"You know that I'm still going by Beckett at work, that's okay, right?" she says at an almost whisper, not wanting to ruin the perfect moment they were sharing.
He pulls away and meets her hesitant eyes in the mirror, "I completely understand that, Kate! You have a reputation, and I want you to be able to carry that with you… everyone knows about Detective Beckett, the youngest to make detective, the highest solve rate, the hottest, and the most bad ass in the NYPD."
"You really think all those things, don't you?" she says with a smile.
"I do. That's why I fell in love with you."
"So… when are we going to tell everyone?" she asks, turning in his arms and placing a short kiss on his mouth.
"You want soon?" he asks not knowing where she stood considering the comment she just made about their friends being upset about not seeing the wedding.
"I don't think that I'm going to be able to hide this much longer." She says, caressing her stomach in a calming gesture.
"Tomorrow? We can order in lunch and figure out a way to reveal the information."
"I could have to change for some reason or maybe I could wear a sweater and get hot… and I'll change into one of the maternity tops that we got… one that makes it obvious." Kate says, with a sparkle in her eyes.
"Okay, and then you just come back in? You know that neither of the guys are going to say anything to you, right? Men are too scared to hint at a woman being pregnant."
"So we make sure that Lanie is invited up for lunch too. You know that she can't keep her mouth shut about gossip. Besides, I think that she knows that something is up."
"Sounds perfect."
The next morning, she's ready to go, ready for their plan to work.
"I'm going to run and grab us our normal coffee, and you'll meet me there?" Castle asks with a smile.
"Yup… and we'll mention something to the guys about lunch a little bit later and send you out for it?"
"Sounds perfect… I'll see you there. You take care of baby on the way to work." He says, leaning in to kiss her and rubbing a gentle hand over her stomach.
"I love you, Mr. Castle."
"and I love you Mrs. Castle."
She smiles at his retreating form, so excited about finally letting everyone in on the whole thing. After the years of working together, she's sure that everyone is going to be happy about it. In fact she knows that all three of them are going to say that it was inevitable anyways… but she'd be lying if a part of her wasn't the slightest bit worried about how they were going to take the news of them being married and having a kid together.
She finishes getting ready, and decides that it is actually the perfect day to walk over to work. The air is starting to get a bit warmer now that April hit, and the precinct was only a few blocks from the loft. It was still a bit chilly, especially in the mornings, but it felt good.
When she arrives, she's surprised that Castle isn't there yet, but chalks it up to his need to stop everywhere on his way to getting somewhere.
"Castle not here yet?" she asks Ryan and Esposito.
"Nope, and you should call him and tell him to meet us at the crime scene. We just got a call about a body drop. Whoever tipped us off asked for you." Espo says, causing Kate to flinch a bit. It has never been good when she has been specifically asked for.
"Why?"
"Don't know. It got called in, and they found us since you weren't here yet." Espo shrugs his shoulders.
"Let's go then… I'll drive." She says, grabbing her bag and the keys to her rig, making a move to call Castle from the elevator.
She gets his voicemail after a few rings, "Hey Castle, it's Beckett. We um… we hS a body drop, so we're headed over to the scene. I'll text you the address. I'll, uh… see you when you get there."
"You sure he was on the way in?" Espo asks, noting the slight concern on her face when she called the number and got no answer.
"He… uh… he texted me this morning to let me know he was on the way… wanted to know what was on the docket for the day." She lies easily, knowing that the guys would believe her because Castle had always done just that.
When they arrive, she can already see the tension coming off Lanie in waves. Whatever this was, wasn't something that was going to be easy. However, what she sees is something she isn't prepared for in the least, because when Lanie pulls back the tarp to reveal their victim she recognizes something. The young blonde looks peaceful, almost like she's sleeping. She's seen this before.
"What happened?" she asks, knowing from the marks what happened, but needing it verbalized.
"Strangled… that's my guess for the cause of death."
"We've seen this…"
"I know we have, but it… it doesn't match his MO, Kate. There's more to it." Lanie says, reaching for the tarp to further expose the girl's body. "She was pregnant… my guess is anywhere between 3-5 months along. There's a gash down the middle of her abdomen." Kate's gasp doesn't go unnoticed by everyone at the scene, and Ryan grows more concerned when he sees her eyes go wide as a realization hits her that no one understands.
"No… no no no!" she says, turning away and not being able to look any longer.
Espo and Ryan call out to her, but she's pulling out her phone the instant she moves away, looking for the familiar contact, and praying that the story she has written in her head right now is wrong.
"Come on Castle, pick up your phone… pick up…" she says, and Espo walks over to her, concern on his face.
"Hello?" an unfamiliar voice answers the phone on the other end.
"Hello? Who is this?" she asks with more bite than necessary.
"Oh, my name is Jenny and I work at Java Hut. Is this Mrs. Castle?"
"This is…" she says hesitantly.
"Oh good! That means that you found what he left for you. He said that you would call after you found whatever it was. Now you have to come down to the store to get your coffee and your next clue!" the girl says, sounding excited.
"I'm sorry… can you… I'm going to send you a picture… can you tell me if this was the man who talked to you today?" she says, and by now, Esposito is fully listening to the conversation, knowing that something is up.
"Um… sure?" the girl says, a bit confused on the other end.
She thumbs through pictures and sends over a plain one of Rick smiling at the loft from a month ago.
"I got it, but no, that isn't him. This guy was tall, darker hair… it was shorter, and he was a bit younger."
"I um… I… oh God… Castle… " she starts to say, but her breath is going away from her, so she shoves the phone at Espo as the eyes roll in the back of her head.