7.01pm
"Me!" Lanie said, appearing from nowhere - and maybe heaven, Kate thought as she held her breath - and throwing herself bodily between the delivery man and a very relieved looking Kate.
She stormed her way past him and into the loft, turning around to wink at the confused man. "Thank you kind Sir." Lanie said loudly for Castle's benefit, then she mouthed at the delivery guy to stay put, before she shut the door in his face.
"You had yourself delivered?" Castle asked stepping into the room, only to be spun on the spot as Alexis slipped her arm through his and pulled him after her.
"Didn't you say you wanted to show me something Dad?" She winked and Castle stammered - right, puppy-
"Y...yes. Yes I did, shall we..."
Kate slapped a hand to her forehead as they disappeared through the door. "Lanie. I could hug you but..."
"You don't have time. Might want to answer the door."
"Oh crap." Kate grabbed Lanie as she turned back to the door, "The ice sculpture is..."
"All set up and ready to go." Lanie winked, "Don't worry Kate, I knew a guy."
7:06pm
Alexis followed her father into his room, looking behind her and watching the frantic look on Kate's face ease before she shut the bedroom door. Letting out a long sigh, the nerves dissipating for the time being, she turned to face her father.
But he was nowhere to be seen.
"Um, dad?" She asked walking over a rumpled, torn tie and looking down at it with curiosity.
"In here."
She frowned, kicking away one of Kate's bras that she really wish she hadn't seen, all the while wondering why their room was such a mess. "Why are you in the closet?"
"I have - will you keep still - a surprise...for Kate - gotcha - in here."
"More surprises?" Alexis whispered under her breath, crossing her arms.
"What was that?" She heard him shuffling around, and his ass popped out of the closet for a moment before it disappeared again. "That sock does not become you." He whispered, followed by a cooing sound, and a whimper. "Also it's mine. You can't just lick it and make it yours."
"Nothing... Dad... what... what are you doing?"
"You have the same fashion sense as my mother."
Step too far. "Excuse me?!" Alexis barked.
"Not you!"
"Seriously Dad...Are you ok?"Alexis swallowed, stepping closer, suddenly very worried. "Are you...hearing voices?"
"No!" Castle laughed. "Well only the ones I write. But it's ok, they always live in my head."
Alexis shook her head, they had had this conversation before, there were more pressing matters. "Then what are you doing?" She leant forward as Castle finally emerged, "More importantly what did you do?" She gasped the last word when her father finally stepped out of the closet, throwing the sock over his shoulder.
"He was ready?" Castle shrugged ruffling the dogs ears and kissing his nose before holding him out to his daughter. "He wanted to come home."
"Home?" Alexis stated in disbelief, her arms out in front of her as she took the puppy and hugged the little furry thing to her chest. "But dad, today?" She asked, snuffling her face against the soft fur, the puppy curled happily under her chin.
"Why, what's today?"
"If it was something, I would tell you. If I knew." She said, holding the puppy out in front of her to get a better look at him, "Which I don't."
Castle's eyes grew wide. "Well that's suspicious."
Alexis tilted her head to one side, "I think you're the one who's being suspicious." She commented, looking pointedly at the puppy.
"Touche."
Then she handed the puppy back and kissed her father on the cheek with a grin, "Love you, Dad."
7:31pm
She had this... she did, she did, she so had this.
Despite what her rapid, nervous beating heart was telling her.
It didn't matter, because Kate knew that it was the surprise, the anticipation and excitement causing her jitters. She could pull this off with - she checked her fathers watch - 4 hours and 29 minutes left.
"Gimme that!" Lanie scolded, snatching Kate's cup of coffee out of her hand just as she was about to take yet another, long drink.
"But!" She protested, reaching out with both hands, her eyes wide as her supposed best friend withheld her salvation.
"Nuh-uh." Lanie shook her head. "You're looking a little manic."
"A little?" Martha piped up, scoffing and swishing down the stairs, coming to a stop in front of the other two.
"Go easy on the caffeine."
"And go sit down for a few minutes." Martha offered, already pushing Kate towards the couch. "I'll answer the door."
"I do what I want." Kate muttered petulantly under her breath, glaring at Martha's retreating back. Catching Lanie's raised eyebrows she scrunched her face in annoyance just as the doorbell rang, the repetitive sound ringing numbly in her ears.
"I got this one." The M.E turned with a wink, walking the short distance towards the door, the both of them having kept a close vigil.
"Dr. Parish." Jim Beckett said, when she opened the door. "Always wonderful to see you."
"Dad!" Kate breezed by Lanie, throwing her arms around his neck. "What are you doing here?" She asked, a deep sense of contentment easing the panic, his presence soothing her and she smiled.
"What? I can't see my daughter on her-"
"Sshhh." All three women hissed at him.
"Rick around I take it." He chuckled, letting Lanie take his coat as he made his way into the loft.
"Somewhere" Martha offered, waving her hand about. "Doing god knows what." The older woman paused, glancing from Lanie, to Kate to Jim and back to Kate. They exchanged looks before, taking hold of Lanie, Martha marched her from the room. "Why don't we check on the preparations."
"Oh no Martha, I can do that." Kate said attempting to follow them. But a heavy hand landed on her shoulder as Jim pressed her back towards the couch, with a knowing nod to Martha.
"Now now, everything is as it should be, I think Lanie and I can take it from here." She winked before gathering their coats and leaving father and daughter alone.
Kate let out a heavy sigh, her shoulders rising and falling before she let her father lead her to the extremely inviting cushions of Castle's sofa and she sunk down heavily. The plush, plump leather felt so good and she rolled her shoulders trying to ease some of the tension, yawning deeply.
"Here." He said, handing Kate her coffee. "I won't tell if you don't." He gave her a smile, and sat down beside her.
"Thank you." Kate squeezed his knee, taking a drink and hugging the cup. She watched the way the cup shook a little in her hand before it slid onto the coffee table. "Was mom this nervous?"
"She was human, Katie." Jim grinned as he sat back into the cushions. "But she had this way about her, it's almost indefinable, she was -"
"Mysterious." Kate mumbled, her eyes lifting to her father as he nodded.
"You get that from her...Me? I'm quiet, sedate, some," he gestured in the direction Martha had disappeared in, "might say dull, but -"
"Open book." Kate smiled and sighed deeply reaching for Jim's hand. "I miss her..." She whispered.
"Oh, me too, sweetheart. Everyday." Jim squeezed her fingers, scrunching his eyes when Kate bowed her head.
"But..."
He smiled, "You're excited."
Kate nodded, her hand falling over her heart, "I want this so much," her voice came out raw and cracked, "and I just, I feel like..."
"You're not betraying her by being happy on your wedding day, Katie." Jim leant forwards, pulled her hand from her chest and held both of them within the cradle of his own. "Even on the happiest of days, you're allowed a little sadness, a few moments to miss the people you love."
He smiled tenderly at his daughter, watching as she fought - so like her mother - to hold back the tears that swam in her eyes.
"You're honoring her by being happy Katie." He sighed heavily as the memories of his beautiful wife washed over him, "It's all she ever wanted for you.
"I wish she was here for this..."
"She is." He soothed, stroking her cheek before tucking her hair behind her ear. "She's right here." Her father placed his hand over her heart, feeling it beat strongly against his palm. "Just like she's been there on all your cases, she'll be at your wedding, your first dance as husband and wife." He smiled knowingly at his daughter, "When you have your first fight."
Kate looked sheepish.
"Or your millionth."
Kate huffed a gentle laugh.
"When it feels like the end of the world and you question every decision you ever made. When you remember why it's worth every ounce of pain to be with the person you love." Jim took her hands again, "When you run away and when you run back, she'll be there."
Kate let out a long shaky breath, lifting her head slowly.
"When you have babies." He then said, giving her a look. "She talked a lot about grand-kids " Jim teased, "A whole bunch, four or five at the very least."
"Dad..." Kate's eyes widened in shock. "Five!?"
He only smiled, pulling her into his chest. He kissed her forehead, feeling her body relax at his side. "She's always watching over you, Katie."