Here is chapter 21, enjoy!

When Kate got up the following morning, she found Alexis in the kitchen, drinking coffee and leafing through a wedding magazine.

"Something you and Jackson have to announce?" Kate asked, going to pour herself a cup of decaf.

"What? Oh no. No, no, no! I just found it on the coffee table and …"

"Don't worry Alexis, I know." Kate laughed. "I bought it yesterday. Do you think we could look through more things about the wedding this weekend?"

"Sure! I brought some things with me. I did some research these last few weeks and I have a whole folder about flowers, decoration, dresses, and …"

"Did you take time to study for your exams?" Kate laughed.

After a few minutes of the two of them silently eating breakfast, Kate couldn't wait anymore.

"Do you have this folder here?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'll go get it." Alexis smiled, rushing up the stairs.

When Rick woke up and went downstairs about an hour later, the dining table was submerged in opened magazine, sheets of paper and Kate's laptop.

"What's going on here?" Rick asked, kissing both his girls on the head.

"We're planning the wedding." Kate said, excitedly, almost jumping in her seat. "Well, we're trying anyway. We really have to decide on a date so we can plan everything else."

"Give me a minute to get my coffee. I'll be right back." Rick said, yawning before leaving for the kitchen.

When he came back, Kate had a 2014 calendar ready for him.

"So, I was thinking next summer would be nice. Maybe end of August, start of September so that the baby is born and we have some time to get used to him or her. Plus, I'll need time to get back in shape." Kate explained. "We need a date really soon so that we can book a venue, a caterer and the other people needed but we'll see the rest later. What do you think?"

"I think that you thought a lot about all of this." Rick said, looking at her with loving eyes. "It's the first time my bride asks me what I think about my wedding, you know?"

"Really? How come?" Kate asked, saddened by the admission.

"Well, with Meredith it was … kind of hurried thanks to missy here." he said, looking at Alexis with a smile. "And with Gina … well, let's say that she considered our wedding more as a business event than a wedding in which I had a say."

"Well, since this is your LAST wedding and since it is actually YOUR wedding as much as mine, you have a say in absolutely everything." Kate said, kissing him. "Except for the dress of course. You have absolutely no right about that. It will be a complete surprise. I'll have to find one before I start showing though, to be sure to have one I love." she said, turning back to Alexis who was taking notes.

"Ok, I saw some nice-looking stores the other day when I went shopping with Jackson. So Dad, take the calendar. You really need to decide on a date."

Rick took the calendar Kate handed him and studied it for a while.

"What do you think of the 30th of August?" he asked Kate. "That way we can make the most of the summer and the weather will be nice. And for the honeymoon, we'll have more choice because the summer holidays will be over for most people. What do you think?"

"I think we're getting married on Saturday August 30th 2014." Kate said, a big smile on her face and a few tears in her eyes before throwing herself at Rick and kissing him passionately.

"I'm getting more coffee." Alexis said even if she knew they were not listening to her.

She really loved that they were together but still couldn't help but feel shy when they were all lovey-dovey with each other. And she had had enough with what she had walked in on the previous night.

O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O

"Rick, stop looking for them. Leave them alone for a while!" Kate scolded.

"But they were kissing and …"

"You do realize that makes you sound like a creep right? Now sit down and go back to your writing. I'll need a new Nikki Heat to read when I can't move because your child's making me as big as a whale." Kate said.

"Fine." Rick said, dropping on his chair.

They were both on the back porch, making the most of the warm shaded area. Kate was laying down on the swing seat, reading a wedding magazine and Rick was seated at the table with his laptop. He hadn't written much though, he was too busy keeping an eye on Alexis and Jackson who were walking down the beach, holding hands. And kissing, a lot, much to his dismay. He wanted to find something that Jackson was not the best at for Alexis but that was proving more difficult than he thought. He had started that morning, when the girls were talking about the wedding. He couldn't help but comment on Jackson still being in bed at 11. His attempt was ruined when Alexis told him he had gone for a run about an hour before. As hard as it was for Rick to admit it, Jackson Gates seemed to be a good man. And Alexis seemed really happy with him. That was what scared him the most actually. He had never seen her like that with her other boyfriends. She was completely herself with Jackson and didn't have to hide some sides of her personality – like her love for studying – when she was with him.

Rick was brought out of his thoughts when he heard something fell on the floor. He turned around to find that Kate had fallen asleep and her magazine had dropped on the floor. He smiled as he picked it up. He would never have pictured Kate Beckett as the girly girl she was when she talked about the wedding. She looked like a little girl who had been told she could be a real princess. It was so cute.

He went back to his writing and was stuck with inspiration. That was one of the effects Kate had on him. He did not go very far though. Indeed, a flash of red hair and a door slamming next to him. He looked up from his laptop to find Jackson running to the house. Behind him, Kate had been startled awake and was looking around, completely lost.

"What's happening?" she asked, trying to rub any traces of sleep out of her eyes.

"I don't know." Rick said, confused. "Jackson, what did you do to Alexis?" he asked threateningly when the young man reached them.

"I didn't do anything!" he protested. "We were on the beach … uh, kissing … and suddenly this woman comes to us and tells me to, and I quote, 'take my dirty black hands' off Alexis. I was too shocked to react but Alexis slapped the woman and came here running and crying. What happened?" Jackson asked, panic becoming clear on his face.

"Who was that woman?" Kate asked.

"I don't know. But given Alexis's face I suppose she knew her. She had red hear and …"

"Hey Kitten!" a sultry voice said behind them.