Moments in Time, Part X

By: AW

© March 2013

[SIX MONTHS LATER – BECKETT APARTMENT]

It has been six months. I had dealt with so much in that time. The rape, the beatings, the loss of my child.

I was sure that he wouldn't want to marry me anymore, that the baby was the breaking point in the relationship; Alexis was safe.

I had been told m0any times that Alexis was the priority, now she was safe.

I let a tear fall down my face; but it was not a tear of sadness but of happiness. Here comes my one and done.

This was it, four hours from now I would be Kate Castle.

I wiped the tears from my face and waited for Lanie to show up, to help me prepare for the day; the only day of my life that mattered from now on.

The phone rang and I picked it up, it showed me it was Rick. "Beckett."

"Kate, you ready to become Mrs. Castle?"

"I want to come and see you. We can work on the wedding preparations together."

I heard his fear; irrational fear. "No! I saw both my other brides before the wedding day and those weddings broke up. This one I'm keeping by the book, this marriage will work and we will be together forever."

I smiled, "One and done Castle, if I didn't think this would work I wouldn't have said yes."

I heard a knock on the door and walked towards the entrance to my apartment. "I have to go Castle, Lanie is here."

"I love you Kate. See you soon."

I hung up and opened the door. Lanie rushed through the door and saw me still in jeans and a tee-shirt. "Girl, are you ready to become Mrs. Castle?"

She hugged me, and I knew that everyone was on our side. "Let's get you ready for your big day Kate."

[CASTLE LOFT]

"Mother, this is the one. She is the one I have been searching for my whole life."

Martha walked up to her son and embraced him in a hug. "I know dear. I like her."

"Oh and you're saying you didn't like Gina, or Meredith?"

Martha rolled her eyes, "It was always your choice dear; but this one has my personal seal of approval."

He stared at his mother, "Mom, I love you, thank you." He paused, "Now I need to get ready for my wedding."

Martha nodded and watched Rick go to his room to get ready for his day.

[KATE'S APARTMENT]

Lanie set up the makeup and the hair products. She just waited, she wanted to see the dress that she had chosen. "Come on girl, I want to see that dress."

I came out of my bathroom, wearing the dress that would finally attach me to a man. The man of my dreams.

The ivory bodice, and the white lace, accentuated my body. The sleeveless dress showed the arms of a cop, toned and thin.

"Girl you look spectacular. That man of yours has good taste."

"You don't even want to know how much this dress cost him Lanie."

Lanie laughed, "To him I don't think it matters."

I hugged Lanie, and sat down to get my hair and makeup fixed for that afternoon.

[CASTLE LOFT]

Martha knocked on Rick's bedroom door. "Richard, are you almost ready?"

Castle stared at himself in the mirror; he looked ready to start his new life. Rick heard voices and realized instantly it was Alexis.

"Alexis! I'll be right out." He finished tying his bow tie and exited the room.

He walked out of the door and the girls looked at him in his tux and ready for the day.

He stared at Alexis and Martha. "You girls look beautiful."

They smiled, Alexis in her lilac dress holding the flowers that she would have standing beside his wife.

He smiled at them both, "Are we ready to go?"

Martha nodded and they all made their way to the Hamptons. It was where Gina had set up the wedding.

[KATE'S APARTMENT]

Lanie had just finished my make-up. She had fixed my hair, I felt the curls traveling down my back.

I had let my hair grow down to almost my waist, and it was tumbling down my back in soft waves and curls.

I turned around and stared in the mirror at the beautiful make-up job and hair design she had done left me speechless.

The purple eye-liner and pale eyeshadow made my green eyes stand out, especially against the white dress that hung from my frame.

I took in a deep breath, "I think I'm ready Lanie, let's head to the Hamptons."

Lanie nodded and off we went.

[CASTLE LOFT]

Martha stared at her son and her granddaughter. She was giving him away to a woman other than herself once again; and hopefully this would be it.

She thought about Kate. She was not the kind of woman to beat around the bush, for her this was it.

Martha knew that the past six months had been hard on Kate. Trying to deal with the beatings and everything else; but eventually she had come to a sort of peace with her problems.

Dr. Burke she knew had been a big help for her; as he had been after the shooting.

She praised and respected the woman who had gone through so much in her life and had still found it in herself to love her son.

To love her granddaughter – a child that biologically wasn't even hers.

She smiled and looked at herself in the mirror. She was a little old to be a bridesmaid; but Beckett had insisted.

So off the family went.

A future unfolding.

[HAMPTON'S – 3PM]

I stared at the beautiful job Gina had done setting Rick's summer house up for our wedding.

I heard a voice in the background and knew Meredith had made her way there.

I had made her a bridesmaid, Castle said it wasn't good to piss off his ex-wives so I had agreed.

But this was my day.

And no one was ruining it.

Not for anything.

I stared at the cameras and the publicists making the rounds; taking pictures of not only the house that was set up for our nuptials, but the wedding party who had arrived.

And so I waited.

Rick would be here soon.

[VANTAGE POINT – HAMPTONS]

The man stared at the red-head through the scope of his gun.

This would be an easy shot, her red hair making her stand out for him and everyone else.

After today Alexis Castle would be no more.

[HAMPTONS – OUTSKIRTS OF HAMPTONS]

Rick sat in the car and waited to see what Gina had done to his house.

They slowly drove up the drive-way that was a good kilometer long and he stared at the press that had made its way out here to see his wedding.

He hoped Kate knew what she was getting herself into.

Finally the car stopped and the two girls got out. His mother and his daughter, stopping and posing for the cameras.

They had been in the limelight with Richard long enough to know how they were expected to act when the press was there.

Rick in some ways regretted that his daughter had grown up in the limelight, but in other ways he wouldn't change a thing.

He smiled to himself and looked out at all the people who had come to view their union.

He saw Kate standing and talking to Meredith and Martha. She was so beautiful in the white dress they had chosen together. He knew he wasn't supposed to see her before their vows, but he couldn't help himself.

The man at the piano saw Rick and began playing Pacabel's Canon a typical wedding jaunt; they were going to walk down the aisle with poise and grace.

Castle went to the front and waited for his bride to make her way down the aisle.

[HAMPTON'S – BEGINNING OF THE JOURNEY]

I stared at the front of the aisle where Castle stood with Ryan and Esposito. He hadn't been able to decide who to make his best man so they both stood at his side, promising if he ever caused any harm to Kate that they would be there to clean up the mess that was left of Richard Castle.

I smiled thinking about how protective they were towards me and took my father's arm to lead me down the aisle.

This was it; for me it was 'One and Done'; and here I went.

I reached the front of the 'stage' and stared at my soon-to-be husband.

He stared at me and took my hand, ready to begin his vows. "From the first moment I met you, I knew that I had to be a part of your life. I watched as you almost died in my arms from a sniper hit; and stood back as you depended on Josh."

He paused as he collected his thoughts. My writer trying to figure out what to say.

"I loved you even then. You weren't ready to admit it or tell me that you were willing to take that chance; but I knew. And today proves that to all."

I stared at him and knew that it was my turn to make my vows to him known. "Rick; I met you on an arrest charge. You were pompous and arrogant, and handsome. I thought you would be nothing more than a thorn in my side, but that thorn healed so many wounds. You listened to me when I needed to talk; you held me when I was scared. You loved me when you weren't sure and you waited for me to finally see the truth. For that I will love you forever and always."

I saw the bridesmaids wiping the tears from the eyes at the beauty of the proclamations.

I felt the love in their eyes, and I saw the patience in Rick's face. I loved him.

The priest stared at us, and began his recitation. "Do you Richard Castle take Katherine Beckett as your wife, in sickness and in health for always?"

Rick smiled at me, "I do."

He stared at me, "And do you Katherine Beckett take Richard Castle as your husband in sickness and in health until death do you part?"

Kate nodded, "I do."

"Then by the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife."

We smiled at each other. We were officially married. I heard the priest tell Rick he may now kiss the bride, and felt his lips approach me for the first time as his wife.

[VANTAGE POINT – HAMPTONS]

The man stared at the happiness unfolding before him. He watched as Alexis Castle moved around refusing to stay still.

Finally she turned around and he got a shot at the mane of red hair.

He was about to take the shot when she bent over to pick up something that she had dropped in the lush green grass of the Hamptons home.

The girl stood up and rushed to her mother; staring at the back of both women's heads he paused making sure it was the right red-head he was taking out.

Alexis walked over to Kate and gave both her father and her new mother-in-law a hug.

He placed his finger on the trigger and shot as Meredith ran in front of Alexis.

The assassin watched as the mother keeled over when the bullet pierced the back of her head.

He shook his head and began packing up the gun and the bullets.

His boss would not be pleased with the mistake.

[HAMPTONS – RECEPTION]

I heard the sound of a bullet hitting the air and instinctively ducked as I watch Meredith's body crumple. "Everyone down."

I pulled the gun out of the area where it had been stashed behind the piano. I slowly watched as Castle went over to his daughter and pulled her back from the body of his ex-wife and the mother of his child.

Slowly I stared over the sight line where the bullet must have come from and saw no one. These people were professionals.

At the empty field, I assured everyone that I'd secured the area. Rick ran over to me and made sure I was okay. I nodded and felt him pull me into a hug as if making sure I was really okay.

I stared over to where Alexis was seated and saw the tears falling down her cheek.

What a way to start a life together.

Once Rick ran over to Meredith's body and checked for a pulse he called 911 hoping that they could do something for his former love.

I saw Rick let tears roll down his cheeks and brought him to me.

Meredith and I had had our disagreements but this wasn't right. My life would never be uncomplicated.

I heard another shot and wondered how I had missed the assassin.

I moved everyone into the house and called the police telling there had been a shooting.

As I stared at the television I noticed that the news was already all over the story; it was no longer simply the marriage of Richard Castle; but was now the sight of a shooting.

I hadn't realized how many people were there that were press. Before we even had the facts my life was all over the news.

Inside the house, I walked towards Gina; my head on fire. "I thought you had the place secured. This was supposed to be our day."

Gina looked away guiltily and turns to stare into the eyes of the 'New Mrs. Castle'. "We've both been there Kate, the novel of Rick Castle will wear off."

I stared at the woman who used to hold my place in Rick's heart and life. "Maybe it wore off for you; but for me it never will."

Gina almost laughed at that answer, "That's we all thought dear."

I glared at her and when she looked at me smugly I had the urge to slap her for ruining my day. "You were supposed to make sure it was safe."

"I'm not a cop, you are. Shouldn't you have been the one to make sure this went smoothly?"

Gina glared at me once again and I hauled back and slapped the smug look off her face. "You almost ruined my day; you need to get out of Rick's life except for as his publicist."

Gina turned and without another word, walked away from Kate.

Rick walked up to me. "Dare I ask what that was all about?"

"Nothing important Rick, let's go usher the paramedics into the area."

The newlywed couple walked to the front entrance and waited for the cops who had been called to let the paramedics in.

When they arrived they ushered the medical personnel towards Meredith's still form.

The paramedic approached Castle, "Are you the husband?"

Rick stepped back, "Ex-husband."

"Do you know who is the victim's next of kin?"

Rick shook his head. This had been a long time ago that he had known this information about her. "I have her mother's contact information at my house."

The paramedic nodded and they proceeded towards Meredith's still form. "We have a pulse; prepare to transport her to New York Memorial Hospital."

We watched as they placed Meredith on a backboard and loaded her into the ambulance.

Rick approached me. "I never wanted anything like this to happen. This was supposed to be 'Our Day'. A happy day."

I nodded and brought Rick's head down to stare at me "I love you."

Rick nodded as silent tears fell down his face. "That is Alexis' mother."

I nodded, "Speaking of Alexis, where is she?"

Rick wiped the tears from his face and stared at Kate, "My mom took her home."

I stared at him. "Do you think that everyone is safe now?"

Rick sighed, "I called the 12th precinct and told Gates what happened. My loft is now under surveillance. The target was Alexis."

I let my jaw drop open not in surprise but in the stead of answering his statement. "Are we going back to the loft?"

"We're a married couple now. What were you going to do? Go back to your apartment? Hell of a way to start off a marriage."

I shook my head in the negative. "Never; I want to be with you forever. That's what marriage means."

"I never meant for our life together to start as a tragedy."

He stared at me, "With us, there has always been that undertone of tragedy Kate."

I stared at him unbelieving of what he had just said. "What's that supposed to mean Rick?"

"Nothing Kate. It doesn't mean anything."

"Well it must have meant something Rick; you said it."

He sighed, "It meant nothing Kate. I'm just really upset about the fact that Alexis' life is still in danger."

"You said that your house is under surveillance now."

Rick stared at me and sighed, "You remember when you almost got blown up in your own apartment that was 'under surveillance'?"

I stared at him unbelieving that he was bringing this up now. "I sent them away that time, it seemed safe."

"You're so high on the NYPD being the best. I know you're proud of your job and your position, but the NYPD isn't perfect."

"Let's drop this and go home."

Rick stared me, he looked at the wedding dress and the beautiful hair and all of a sudden I felt loved and cherished. "I want us to go home and have a wonderful honeymoon."

He raised an eyebrow. "Now that I can get into that."

I smiled and stared at my new husband. "Rick we'll get through this; and Meredith will be fine."

Rick looked down at his hands. "Don't promise me something if you aren't sure."

I remembered a time when he had told me that about Alexis. No matter what Meredith would be part of his life for as long as either of them walked this Earth. She was Alexis' mother and she would be forever in their lives.

I stared at my new husband. I had to make this work. This was it.

I had spent so much time trying to get this right, I had spent months in therapy. Although Rick had not been told of much that had gone on, I knew that we were going to be okay.

I knew we'd get through this.

He took my hand and we headed off home.

END PART X