alright guys, the final chapter! this felt like a good place to leave it. originally, I planned to continue with Castle and Beckett going to Josh and Amanda's wedding and then planning their own, but it would have dragged out the story and changed what it was really about, which was the case and Morgan.

anyway, the songs used in this chapter are NOT mine, but they are lovely.

enjoy -

The reception was just starting when Kate finally found Rick again. The receiving line had been short in reality, but long to her; most of the guests she didn't know, and the few she did know were still relative strangers.

"Hey, look at you," Rick said when she was walking towards him across the dance floor. Morgan and Jim were sitting at the small head table with Alaina and Morgan's parents, Eloise and Steve.

"Hey," Kate greeted back, folding easily into Rick's open arms. "So?"

"You were perfect. Absolutely amazing. Best, best man-woman ever." Rick squeezed her before letting her go as she chuckled.

Just as they sat down, the DJ for the rest of the evening asked for all the guests to find their seats.

"Alright ladies and gentlemen, I present to you for the first time as husband and wife, to each other," the DJ stressed, the assembled guests chuckling a little, "Mr. and Mrs. James Beckett."

Morgan and Jim stood from their seat and locked fingers as they moved to the middle of the dance floor.

The lights in the small space dimmed so only the late afternoon sunlight streamed in and lit up the couple. Jim held out a hand to Morgan, who took it with a wide smile, one mirroring his own.

As the music started, Kate felt her her eyes burn and a lump form in her throat. The song was beautiful, and her father and Morgan looked so happy. Any reservations she had lingering in the back of her mind evaporated as a tear slid down her cheek.

"Hey, you okay?" Rick asked, leaning over to swipe the tear from her skin.

Kate smiled easily and nodded, not taking her shining eyes off her father. "Yeah, yeah I'm fine,"

Rick caught her fingers as the couple started to sway around the dance floor.

Wise men say, only fools rush in,

But I can't help falling in love with you

Shall I stay, would it be a sin,

If I can't help, falling in love with you

Kate squeezed his hand as Elvis crooned and she swayed and smiled even without realizing it as her father leaned over and said something quietly to Morgan, who grinned and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

As the song came to a close and the guests applauded, the DJ lowered the mic so he could speak into it.

"At this time, the bride would like to share a special dance with her father,"

Morgan turned back to the head table and Jim squeezed her hand before shaking hands with Steve Cahill, who clapped Jim on the shoulder.

Steven Cahill was tall and healthy, with a thick head of white hair and laugh lines to show for his good life. He brought his daughter into a hug before the music started and Jim retook his seat next to Alaina.

Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high

There's a land that I heard of,

Once in a lullaby.

Rick curled his free hand around Alexis' as it snaked up and linked their fingers together.

"I love you dad," she said quietly to him, resting her chin gently on his shoulder as they watched Morgan and her father move slowly around the floor, both with soft smiles on their faces.

"I love you too, pumpkin," he replied.

Jim stood up then and offered a hand to Eloise, who grinned and took it, and lead her onto the dance floor now as well. At the table alone, Alaina leaned her cheek on her hand and watched with a smile.

"You know, I hope I remember I want this song for our dance at my wedding," Alexis whispered dreamily back to him.

Rick froze in his seat and his brain tripped over the image. "Let's not discuss your marriage for a long, long time. Okay, sweetie?"

Alexis just looked up at him through her lashes and chuckled.

If happy little bluebirds fly,

Beyond the rainbow,

Why, oh why, can't I?

The song came to a close and the DJ lowered the mic once more.

"And finally, Morgan and Jim have requested a special song."

The music started up again and Jim crossed the floor to where Kate sat with Rick, Alexis and Martha with his hand held out to her and a crooked smile on his face.

Kate chuckled and untangled her hand from Rick's, fitting it into her father's palm. Across the floor at the head table, Morgan was pulling Alaina up and smoothing a hand over her cheek.

"Come on, Katie,"

The four met in the middle of the floor and twirled together to the slightly faster beat.

We're young enough to say,

Oh this has gotta be the good life,

This has gotta be the good life

This could really be a good life, good life.

Rick watched Kate twirl out of her father's arms and then back in, one hand resting easily on his shoulder and the other folded in his own, while his free arm wrapped around her back. They both had wide grins as they stepped on each other's feet and Kate shook her head.

Morgan and Alaina fared better and linked arms, dancing easily around Jim and Kate. The guests clapped to the beat and Rick found himself smiling wider and wider.

Sometimes there's airplanes I can't jump out

Sometimes there's bullshit that don't work now

We are God of stories but please tell me

What there is to complain about?

"Morgan and Jim would like to now invite everyone to join them and their daughters on the dance floor,"

A Lifehouse song picked up and Rick immediately stood and held out hands to Alexis and Martha, both accepting his hands.

And now I'm calling, calling out your name

Even if I lose the game, I'm all in

I'm all in tonight, yeah I'm all in, I'm all in for life

After dinner, the dancing picked up with zest. People crammed the dance floor and everyone looked like they were having a great time.

Jim and Morgan were enjoying attempting the cha-cha slide with Alexis leading them on, Martha was having a seemingly hilarious conversation with Lanie and something (though she kept gesturing at the spectacle that was Ryan and Esposito doing a seamless cha-cha slide) and Eloise and Steve were talking with Jenny.

Kate was watching Rick expertly following along with Alexis with a smile when she noticed the mostly empty head table.

Alaina sat on her own, idly stirring her glass of coke with her spoon. Kate stood and made her way around the dance floor to her new step-sister.

"Hey, not enjoying the party?"

Alaina smiled a little and sighed, stirred the coke some more.

"No, I am. I just, I wish Lizzie could have been here, that's all." Alaina took the spoon out of the coke and set it down. "She hated fizzy coke. Had to be flat. She used to stir all the bubbles out."

Kate nodded and waited a moment before speaking. "My mom used to pick apart her oatmeal raisin chocolate chip cookies."

Alaina pulled a face and smiled a little. "Why?"

Kate grinned. "She picked out all the raisins, ate the cookie, then finished the raisins last."

They shared a chuckle and then fell into comfortable silence. "Do you miss her a lot?"

Kate thought about it and nodded quickly. "Everyday. But it gets better."

Alaina nodded slowly before looking over at Kate. "Is that her ring?" she pointed at Kate's chest, where her mother's ring still sat over the material.

"Yeah, her wedding ring. I wear it everyday. It reminds me of her, keeps her close."

Alaina held up her wrist after a moment of hesitation. A thin twist of chain with beads and charms woven into it was wrapped around her wrist. "This was hers. She wore it everywhere. My dad gave it to her on our birthday. I got the matching necklace and she chose the bracelet."

"It's beautiful."

"You know, she would have liked you. And Rick and Alexis."

"I'm sure we would have liked her too,"

They sat in companionable silence for a short while until the song changed again. "Okay. I've decided this is depressing. Dance?" Alaina said, turning to Kate.

"Let's go," Kate grinned.

Hours later, the party coming to a close and the clock closing in on 2:30am, Rick glanced over at his daughter to see Alexis asleep. Her head was pillowed on her arms and her untouched glass of champagne rested just out of reach. Even Kate hadn't been able to persuade her to take a celebratory sip.

Martha was sharing a dance with Jim while Alaina and Kate danced together and Morgan talked to some of the lingering guests. The music changed to a slower song and Alaina went to find her mother, Morgan headed to the service window to get some water with Jim and Kate headed over to Rick.

She held out her hand to him and Rick couldn't resist her smile and her slightly flushed cheeks. The lack of bar hadn't meant a lack of alcohol, just the absence of temptation.

"You look happy," Rick said to her as they reached the middle of the dance floor. There was only one other couple, an elderly pair, swaying off to one side to keep them company.

"I think I really am. You know, I didn't think I'd ever get over my dad dating, and then meeting her and Alaina and then Elizabeth and now they're married, but I'm actually happy," Kate said in a rush, grinning up at him.

"I think it's the glass of champagne you finished a little while ago making you this happy," Rick chuckled and pulled her closer.

Find me here, and speak to me

I want to feel you, I need to hear you

You are the light, that's leading me

To the place, where I find peace, again

"I think it's you," Kate said in response, her voice serious and even.

Rick smiled warmly down at her and pulled her against him, feeling warmth seep through him when she rested her forehead against his neck. She released a deep breath and sunk into his embrace and he held her tighter with ease.

"I love you," he whispered into her hair, following the sentiment with a kiss. She turned her face up to his skin and he felt her smile.

You are the strength, that keeps me walking

You are the hope, that keeps me trusting

You are the lift, to my soul

You are my purpose, you're everything

Kate's hands moved slowly to wrap around Rick's torso, under his suit jacket and she sighed happily again. Rick's slid around her until he could feel the skin of her back and shoulders, caressing in slow circles.

He heard her yawn and slowed their steps until they swayed easily back and forth.

"I love you too," she replied a few moment later as the music washed over them.

And how can I stand here with you

And not be moved by you?

Would you tell me, how could it be, any better than this?

Rick felt Kate stagger a little in her heels and stopped them for a moment before helping her out of the shoes and moved them away with his foot. Kate smiled tiredly up at him and he pulled her back towards him, easing her up on his toes.

Kate released a breath as she settled on his feet and they started swaying again.

"Love the sparkles," Rick lowered his mouth to her ear and whispered, leaving his cheek pressed against hers. Her toes were painted a metallic silver with sparkled gloss.

"Thought you'd like that," she whispered back.

Rick could see Jim and Morgan, together now, sitting close at their table, talking and smiling together. The thought jolted through him so suddenly and fiercely that he nearly lost his balance.

He wanted this with Kate. He'd joked about, to their friends, to his mother and daughter, to Kate herself; but this wasn't a joke. It wasn't a matter of if he proposed to her anymore, but when.

"Hey," he nudged her a little, kissed her ear lobe.

Kate yawned again and looked up at him. "What?"

"I wanna marry you," he whispered, pressing his forehead against hers. At this close proximity, Rick could feel her sharp intake of breath, the chuckle that slipped out on the release of that breath. Her mouth turned up in a smile and her eyes closed gently.

"Is that right," a statement, not a question. Bodies still swaying.

Rick leaned across the few millimetres seperating their mouths and pressed a kiss to her lips, one she responded to gently.

"I want to marry you, Katherine Beckett,"

Kate kissed him slowly before pulling back, but keeping their foreheads touching gently.

"I want to marry you, Richard Castle,"

"Really?"

Kate chuckled and pressed her face into his neck again, inhaling his cologne, felt him do the same.

"Really," she released on a breath against his skin. It terrified her, the thought of getting married, of committing at that level; but this was Rick. That one thought made her ready more than anything else.

'Cause you're all I want,

You're all I need,

You're everything, everything

You're all I want, you're all I need,

You're everything, everything

The music slowed and Rick held Kate close until the song's final notes played and she sighed deeply.

"Tired," she mumbled quietly.

Rick grinned into her hair and pulled back. "It's late,"

"Or early," she countered sleepily.

Rick lead her off the floor, heels dangling from her fingers, and back over to their table. Martha was rousing Alexis and the four said their goodbyes and congratulations to Morgan and Jim.

By the time they reached home, it was just after 3am and Martha offered to help get Alexis into bed while Rick and Kate changed.

Martha lead the younger red head up the stairs carefully and helped her out of her dress and into pajamas, washed off the make-up with a cloth and tucked her in. She was met by Rick in the door on his way in the doorway to say goodnight.

When Rick returned to his and Kate's room, the detective was curled up in his large green lantern t-shirt, dress in a pile on the floor next to her shoes, facing the door. She was asleep.

His heart melted.

"Those are two specials girls you got there, kiddo," Martha said from over his shoulder.

Rick grinned. "Don't I know it."

"Here," Martha handed him what looked to be a damp wipe. "For her make-up. This way you don't have to wake her up," she winked at him and moved off down the hallway to get ready for bed herself.

Rick held the cloth between his fingers and crossed the room to kneel in front of Kate. As he passed it over her skin gently, her now make-up-less eyes fluttered open. "What're you doin'?"

He pulled the pins from her hair carefully and untied the ponytail holding half of her hair back, smoothed it away from her face. "Taking off your make-up."

"Feels nice," her eyes closed again.

He smiled and finished the task before tossing it in the trash and pulling on his own pajamas.

As he settled in behind her, she rolled over so she could face him. "Were you serious?"

"About what?"

"What you said before, marrying me,"

Rick pulled her close to him until one of her legs hooked over his and her head came up just under her chin. "Yes."

"Good." she whispered.

"Good?"

"Yes."

Rick held his breath for a moment. "Wait, yes?"

Kate chuckled and snuggled in closer to get comfortable. "Just go to sleep, Castle,"

His mind was already running wild, picturing glittering rings and Kate in a white dress.

and there you have it. good place for a sequel? perhaps...I do have another story in the making, but it's slightly darker, so I may leave it as its own story and not a follow up to this one.

the songs were:

Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling in Love with You

Judy Garland - Somewhere Over the Rainbow (her version from the Wizard of Oz)

OneRepublic - Good Life

Lifehouse - All In

- Everything

anyway, thanks SO MUCH for all the support and reviews and alerts! they mean so much to me and i really appreciated each and every one of them.

:)