Castle gathers all the family together including the work family. He tells the group that he and Kate needed to take a quick trip into town for some items and for everyone to wait until they got back and that he and Kate had something very important to share with everyone when they get back
Beckett is actually feeling like this is a dream. A dream she never wants to awaken up from
As soon as they pull out of the driveway and in to the main road, they were on the phone with the police chief asking him if he could arrange an official to perform the ceremony and where could they go to get a marriage license Chief Brady is thrilled to hear that one of his residents is adding a new permanent resident to the rolls of citizens, although weekend and holidays only.
Brady tells Castle to not worry about the license and that he will see to it that one is ready and will be brought out by the local justice of the peace when he comes to perform the ceremony. Kate and Castle both thank Brady before hanging up on the call
Their first stop in town is at the local jeweler. Even though he can afford anything under the glass they both select modest matching wedding bands. Her ring must be sized down since her finger might be extremely long but it is also very tiny in circumference. Before leaving they make sure that the store will have the resized rings ready so they can pick it up on their way back home later
After making the first stop at the town's jeweler, these two take to the task of getting some flowers and a cake.
In picking up a pre-made cake at the local grocery store turned out to be more fun than they anticipated. They both got a good laugh from the decorator since she had never had sold an already made cake and then had ordered for the decorations done for a bride and groom for a wedding to be performed within the next few hours
Then the next stop was the flower shop and picking out some floral decorations for the wedding. The florist also was somewhat shocked to learn the purchase was for a wedding that was occurring almost as soon as the two returned to the house
Kate tells Rick she needs to acquire a wedding dress. Something casual but more formal than the shorts and blouses she brought, then before Castle can open his mouth and make a silly remark "And NO! I am not wearing that bathing suit for my wedding outfit"
Castle almost drives off the road when she says that
"And besides you said you did not want that suit seen by anybody"
They head down the Strand and stop at a dress shop that is the favorite of all the women in town. Kate tells Rick that he has to stay in the car while she selects something. Fortunately she is able to spot the perfect dress almost immediately after she steps into the store. A nice sundress. Not too short, but very flirty. Flirty like she is feeling right now
The last stop they make is back to the jewelry store to pick up their wedding rings and head back out of town and Castle's house.
During the trip back to the house, Kate leans her head back against the neck rest and closes her eyes. She is actually feeling giddy about what they are getting ready to do. Giddy like a teenage girl getting ready to go to the prom with the most popular boy in the school
She reaches across the front console and grabs Rick's hand and pulls it across to her leg. She opens her fingers and takes his hand into her own. She then looks over to Castle
"Rick"
He looks across the front of the car toward her and sees something in her eyes that is mesmerizing "Yeah?"
"I Love you!"
"Back at ya!" he responds
There is a moment of silence in the car
"Castle?" she has a giggle in her voice "Are we really doing this?"
"That's the deal Ms. Beckett…wait that name will be changing to Castle before today is over"
She closes her eyes and a sweet, happy smile slides crosses her face
When they pull in the driveway and stop at the front of the house, Castle takes the cake out of the back as Kate grabs her dress and carries it inside.
No one is in the kitchen when Castle places the cake on the counter. He returns to the car and gathers the flowers and brings them and places them beside the cake
Just as Rick turns he almost collides with Lanie Parish as she has moved back into the house from the back yard
"What are you doing writer boy?" then she looks at all the flowers and then takes in the cake
With a voice filled with total shock "YOU ARE NOT?" then up at his face where she sees his happiness "Yes you are! Where is Kate?"
"In the bedroom" Castle points toward the master suite. Lanie turns and rushes out of the kitchen and down the hall
"Girlfriend! Where are you?" Lanie is almost screaming at her best friend as she enters the master suite
Kate steps out of the dressing room just as her best friend clears the doorway "Hey Lanie. What's going on?"
"No girlfriend. You tell me what's going on. I saw the cake and flowers"
"And what about them?" Kate strings Lanie along "Castle thought a delicious cake would be nice for dessert and the dining room needs a little color"
Lanie smirks at Kate and she just shrugs her shoulders but the happiness is present all over Kate's face
"So this your decision? Because two hours ago, you were concerned at this thing with Castle was not going to work out…and now? You two are getting married?"
There is a moment of silence then Lanie continues "You must be crazy"
"I am crazy Lanie. Crazy about that man out there and I am not going to keep my life on hold any longer.
Lanie rushes up to Beckett and pulls her into a hug "OH Girl! You're getting married!"
The blue sky is peppered with high wispy clouds and a soft gentle breeze is drifting in from the ocean making the early afternoon just perfect for the event being scheduled. The afternoon sun is lowering in the sky and all their friends and family gathered on the lawn.
Instead of being seated on chairs, the witnesses are gathered surrounding the couple. Alexis standing beside her father along with his mother. Lanie Parish standing for Beckett. Kate's father holding his daughter preparing to give her hand to her soon to be husband.
They are before the justice of the peace and he begins the ceremony basing his words only on the requirements of law and nothing more personal. But he has been told that the couple wishes to repeat their own words of promise to one another
Rings are placed, the final words spoken by the official pronouncing that Katherine and Richard are now one in the eyes of the law
Husband and Wife
In spite of attempts to encourage the guests to stay, they all say that they need to return to the city for tomorrow brings more work for them and honestly they believe in giving the couple some privacy
Fortunately Beckett, has been given a few extra days off to compensate for her working on the investigation and also to keep her sequestered from the press a few more days until the news stories diminish
The morning sun passes across from the windows and splashes across the opposite side of the bedroom and creeps down the walls to reach the eyes of the occupants in the bed.
The two newly married occupants
When the light reaches her eyes her brain passes from its deep slumber state into an awakened and alert world.
Before moving, she gently rolls her thumb across the ring on her left hand then she rolls over to be greeted by a pair of blue eyes and a ruffled head of dark hair.
"Good morning Mrs. Castle" he speaks as he pulls her body against his
Moving willingly into him she replies "Good morning Mr. Castle"
He reaches up to her face and gently slides his finger across her cheek causing her eyes to close as she enjoys the feeling it brings to her
"So Mrs. Castle. You have until next Monday off. We have five days before we need to go back to the city. What would you like to do today? Go shopping? Walk along the beach? Swim in the ocean? Have diner at one of the seaside cafes?"
She rolls over on top of Castle and places a kiss on his lips "I have other plans and none of them require getting dressed"
"Hummmmmm!"
See all of you next time