A/N1: Hello peoples and WELCOME to the 21st Chapter of Finality titled 'The Esposito Wedding' At this stage I envisage this being the third last chapter of this story but the course of creativity never runs smooth and it might go on for a few more chapters yet. I hope you enjoy this chapter. It's a little bit of filler fluff before the big show!

Kate woke on the morning of Lanie and Esposito's wedding to the sound of someone vomiting loudly. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes the female detective pulled on her dressing gown, pulled her hair into a messy ponytail and padded her way into the master bedroom where she spied Lanie through the open ensuite door kneeling on the tiles and heaving spectacularly into the toilet bowl.

"Lanie!" she exclaimed, rushing over to her friend.

The sassy ME gave her best friend one look before turning back to the bowl and retching again. Kate stayed with her friend stroking her hair til there was nothing left to bring up.

"Are you alright?" she asked in concern. "Nerves?"

Wordlessly Lanie nodded.

"I shouldn't have had such a big dinner," she groaned wiping her mouth on the cuff of her pyjama sleeve. "Did I wake you up?"

"Yeah, but it's no big deal. its eight thirty and I set my alarm for nine," Kate replied, getting to her feet and holding out a hand to her friend. "It'll be a couple of hours before your Dad and Ebony get here, d'you want to go for a run or head down to that little bistro on the corner for some Wedding Day breakfast pastries?"

Lanie made a face and grabbed Kate's hand letting out a grunt as she got to her feet. "I'm not eating anything," she vowed. "If I do I'm likely to bring it up again."

"Lanes, you have to eat something. The reception isn't for another ten hours and you haven't eaten since nine last night. If you don't eat now you'll faint at the altar and I don't think you want to do that in front of Javi. It'd be a downer on the whole romantic vibe, y'know?"

Lanie managed a weak smile. "I'll try and eat something," she promised, flushing the toilet then making her way over to the basin where she seized her toothbrush. "Shit Kate, I can't believe the day is actually here, I'm going to get married!"

Kate smiled; glad to see excitement overtake panic on her friend's face. "Yup...to a hot Latino detective who thinks the sun shines out of your ass," she joked, trying to lighten the mood. "There's nothing to be nervous about Lanie, you're marrying the man of your dreams and are going to have lots of little Esplanie babies and live happily ever after in a little house on the prairie. This is the first day of the rest of your life...enjoy it."

Lanie choked on the toothpaste foam in her mouth; spitting it hurriedly into the basin she opened her mouth and spoke. "Little Esplanie babies?" she echoed. "What the?"

"Little Esplanie babies," Kate repeated with a huge grin. "You know Rick created that shipper name for you and Javi? Way back when you first got together and thought you were keeping it a secret."

"You know, I always wondered where that shipper name came from," Lanie wondered as she squirted more toothpaste onto her toothbrush. "What about yours and Writer Boy's? Did he come up with that?"

"Oh no way, that was totally the paparazzi slash gossip media," Kate replied dryly. "I think it's morbid, Rick thinks it's cute and rather creative. I think he's delusional."

"I can see both your points of view," Lanie said, spitting a mouthful of foam into the basin and reaching for a bottle of blue Listerine on the counter. "But I'm leaning towards Castle's opinion anything you two do or say is cute."

Kate rolled her eyes. "Whatever," she declared dismissively. "C'mon, throw on some sweats and let's go out you need some pastries."

"I won't fit into my gown."

"Oh you will so," Kate shot back. "Lanie you've been on a hard core fitness program with daily personal training sessions for the last three months, you would fit into a barbie doll wedding dress. Don't give me that. C'mon, let's get moving."

"Yes Sir!"

"Ha ha"

Two hours later Kate and Lanie arrived back at Lanie and Esposito's apartment. No more than five minutes after closing the door behind them, a knock came at the door.

"I'll get it, you go and have a shower," Kate instructed her friend. "Go on, you're going to take the longest to get ready so start now."

"Bu-"

"No buts," Kate said in her best cop voice. "Go."

Lanie made a face then disappeared into the master bedroom. Kate turned and answered the door to find Lanie's Dad-Michael and her sister–Ebony, standing there with arms full.

"Hey, come in come in!" she greeted the familiar pair. "Hey Eb, Mr Parish."

"Hey Kate, where's Lanes?" Ebony asked.

"Shower," Kate replied. "Hey Mr Parish, long time no see."

"It has been!" the older man declared, sweeping down and kissing the female detective on each cheek. "You're looking well, how's Rick?"

"Oh, he's brilliant," Kate replied happily. "Across town with Kevin probably trying to calm Javi down, I've been doing the same with Lanie all morning."

"Is she alright?" Michael asked on concern.

"Oh yeah, she's fine just a little nervous," Kate replied. "I woke up this morning to the sounds of her being ill in the bathroom but after a greasy breakfast of bacon and eggs and apple Danishes, she's fine. I made her help me set up everything for today, last night to keep her occupied. Everything's set, we've just got to wait for the makeup girls and hairdressers to come, they're due in about an hour and the flowers are due to be delivered at two thirty."

"So all we have to do really is get dressed and calm my big sister down?" Ebony piped up.

"Yep...that's about it," Kate replied. "I think once everyone helping us gets here and we actually start getting ready, Lanie will calm down. She just needs to be occupied."

"Have you heard from the boys yet?" Ebony asked as she draped her dress bag over the back of Esposito's favourite recliner.

"Yeah, I got a text from Rick when Lanie and I were out at breakfast," Kate replied. "He said Javi was nervous and made him and Kevin go to the gym with him and race on the rowing machines. Rick would have loved that. He totally hates rowing machines."

"So...who do you think is going to be the first to hyperventilate?" Michael asked in amusement. "My future son in law or Lanie?"

Kate laughed. "Neither, it's all good nervousness," she answered. "Well I'm going to check on Lanie and get my things together, you know where everything is. I'll leave you to it."

"Thanks Kate!" Ebony called cheerily.

Kate made her way across the floor to the master bedroom. The bathroom door was ajar and steam was billowing out from it.

"Lanie?" Kate called over the rush. "How are things going?"

"Good, just exfoliating everything," the ME replied from the shower recess. "My knees have callouses, can you believe that?"

"And I wonder what you'd be doing to cause that?" Kate teased. "Doing it on hard floor is going to give you arthritis in your old age."

"Oh shut up," Lanie groaned. "Medically, that's impossible."

"I figured as much, just trying to get you to relax," Kate replied. "Your Dad and sister are here, they're just setting up their things in the spare room. D'you need anything?"

"No, I'm fine. I'll be out in a minute, any more word from the boys?"

"Not since that text from Rick when we were out," Kate shared. "Lanes, just concentrate on getting yourself ready. Ebony and I have everything covered. All you have to go is put on that gorgeous gown and go and get married...okay?"

"Alright."

From midday onward proceedings really leapt into another gear as the hour for Lanie and Esposito's wedding drew nearer. At twelve thirty the hair dressers and makeup artists arrived helping Kate, Ebony and Lanie primp up for the big day. The three women had their hair brushed til it shined then twisted up into elegant braided knots. Kate was the first to put on her dress, a knee length strapless gown the deepest shade of red. She then put on her satin dressing gown to protect the dress before going into the Master bedroom and helping her friend into her elegant strapless mermaid cut gown with elegant crystal beading on the bodice.

"Lanie...you look beautiful," she whispered as she zipped up the back of the dress and tied a near little bow over the zip pull. "You're going to take Javi's breath away."

The sassy ME smiled and dipped her head allowing her friend to affix the slide comb attached to her veil into her hair. "I hope so,' she replied, a nervous wobble in her voice. "Shit, Kate. It's almost time."

"Deep breaths...you'll be fine," the female detective replied, flipping the veil over her friend's head. "There you're all ready to go."

Just then a knock came at the door. "Lanie, sweetheart, are you ready to go?" Michael called. "The cars are here and Kevin texted me, he and Rick have just arrived with Javier at the church."

"Y-yeah...I'm ready," Lanie called back nervously. "Shit this is it."

Kate leaned forward and hugged her friend careful not to rumple her dress. "Take a minute...I'll go get your flowers," she told her friend.

"You're awfully good at this, Kate."

"You're the seventh person I've been a bridesmaid for Lanes, what I don't know about the job isn't worth knowing." Kate informed her friend with a chuckle. "Let's do this, huh?"

Lanie's brown eyes lit up. "Yeah it is."

Right on ten past four in the afternoon the car taking Ebony and Kate to the ceremony pulled up right outside the church with the limousine carrying Lanie and her father. The two women slipped elegantly from the jet black Mercedes and made their way over to the limousine. A young man Kate knew to be one of Lanie's brothers–Marco-skipped down the steps of the church a look of relief on his face.

"Great, you're here!" he exclaimed. "Javier was about to barf in the baptismal font."

"Oh, thanks Marc. That really helps!" Lanie groaned as her father helped her from within the limousine.

"You look gorgeous, sis, Javier's a lucky bastard," the young man informed his sister, a proud smile spreading across his face. "I'll head inside and let him know you're here."

"Thanks."

"Well this is it, you all set?" Kate asked her friend as she gathered up the veil in her hands.

"I'm all set."

"And Javier, you may kiss your bride!" the Minister declared, three quarters of an hour later.

With tears brimming in his chocolate brown eyes, Esposito carefully raised Lanie's veil, grasped her face in his hands and pressed his lips to her. The congregation burst into enthusiastic applause as the M.E and veteran cop shared their first kiss as husband and wife.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the new Mr and Mrs Javier and Lanie Esposito!"

The volume of the congregation's cheers increased as Lanie and Esposito joined hands and began walking down the aisle. Ebony took Ryan's arm and allowed the Irish detective to escort her after the bride and groom and Kate followed with Rick, who smelled alluringly of Fracas, his preferred cologne.

"Just think that's going to be us in two weeks," the Writer murmured as they made their way up the aisle. "I can't wait. I'm looking forward to it more than Christmas morning."

Kate couldn't help it and laughed. "But it's different because this present is better than anything else you'll open on Christmas morning," she murmured, squeezing his hand as they reached the top of the old stone steps of the church. "I can guarantee that."

"Better than the action figures I got last year...huh?"

"Oh, waaaaaaaay better than those action figures you got last year."

Kate and Rick made their way out of the church and onto the steps of the church. Kate immediately sought out Lanie and engulfed her friend in a crushing hug.

"That was the most beautiful wedding I've ever had the privilege of taking part in, Lanes. You're the most beautiful bride," she told her friend. "Thank you so much for asking me to be your chief bridesmaid."

"There's no one else I wanted to help me on the big day, sweetie. And in two weeks' time, it's my turn to help you." Lanie replied returning the hug. "Am I going to have to stand next to you and hold your hair back while you throw up?"

Kate laughed. "Nope, because I'll be too excited to be ill," she confessed. "I'll not be able to get to sleep, you might have to sedate me."

"Well I am a doctor and I have access to a world of awesome sedatives." Lanie joked. "I'll just make a note to keep you away from No Doz and energy drinks though."

Kate went to Esposito next and embraced her friend and colleague. "Congratulations Javi, thought you were going to cry at the altar there for a minute."

"I managed to keep it together til I got out here chica," the Latino detective replied his voice thick with emotion. "Thanks so much for being there for Lanie, for calming her."

Kate returned her friend and colleague's hug even harder. "I was glad to do it," she informed him. "I love you two you're my best friends I wanted to help today go as smoothly as possible and it did; now it's time for a few photos in Central Park then a party at the Plaza."

"The party sounds like a great idea, watch this one rip it up on the dance floor," Esposito joked cockily, jabbing a thumb into his own chest.

"You're a show pony Javier Esposito, I pity Lanie sometimes." Kate told her friend dryly.

"Oh, don't pity me girl. He's got plenty of other redeeming features," Lanie piped up giving her new husband an Eskimo kiss.

"Oh barf guys, you two are nauseating!" Rick piped up jokingly as the newlywed couple kissed right at the moment the stills photographer snapped a picture. "You're worse than us!"

"Oh be nice!" Kate scolded as Lanie and Esposito muttered 'Shuddup' mid kiss without breaking stride. "That's going to be us in two weeks."

"Naw, that's you two already," Ryan piped up truthfully. "Though, if the morgue was in the precinct building they would be worse than you, sneaking off to the break room or utility cupboard for some 'alone time'" he added making air quotations with his fingers.

"Shut up Ryan!"

"Hmmm, I love weddings," Kate murmured, hours later as she slow danced with Rick to 'Groovy Kind of Love' on the dance floor. "Especially the ones of people I know and love. Lanie and Javi look so in love. I absolutely love seeing that look on a couple."

"Well aren't you a girly girl?" Rick teased, pulling his fiancée closer as he cast his eyes over at their canoodling friends. "I like Lanie's family, especially her stepmom. She gets on with her like they were real mother and daughter."

"She does get on better with Sandra like she was her own mother," Kate agreed. "She treats Lanie like one of her own girls."

"Um, what happened between Lanie and her Mom?" Rick enquired delicately. "D'you mind me asking? Would Lanie?"

"Nah, she wouldn't. She knows you wouldn't go and blab to anyone anyway," Kate replied with a relaxed sigh. "When she was sixteen, she came home early from school and found her mother in bed with her father's best friend. Apparently they had been cheating together since before Lanie, Ebony, Marco and Nick were born and Mr Parish had no idea. Then Rose-Lanie's Mom-up and left with Mr Parish's best friend to go and live in Florida, totally abandoning the family. Lanie told me that there was even some doubt Michael was their father so as part of the divorce hearings DNA tests were performed and they are Michael's, not his former best friend's. Lanie tried to re-establish a relationship with her mother at her Dad's insistence but they ended up having a huge argument and Rose screamed that she never wanted any kids and didn't want to be married to Michael in the end because he was 'boring' Lanie swore off ever getting married or entering into a long term relationship til she and Javi became involved because she never wanted what happened to her parents happening to her."

Rick was struck silent.

"Wow," he murmured. "That's...heavy."

"Yeah it is, Lanie didn't want to invite her mother to the wedding but with Javi and her father's encouragement, she did though. She did include a footnote that said something along the lines of 'I am only inviting you because it's the decent thing to do. For the sake of decency it would be best if you stayed away. I will let you know if I have any children."

"And I thought Meredith could learn some parenting skills," Rick murmured through his teeth. "I kind of feel sorry for Lanie."

"Don't, she wouldn't want you to," Kate replied. "I said that to her once and she said 'Don't, I grew to be a stronger, better person for it and Dad found the one for him. It's something bad that happened in my life but it doesn't' define me."

"Sounds like what happened to you," Rick said absentmindedly, stroking the back of her neck with his thick fingers. "You don't let what happened to your Mom define you."

"I did though."

"Yeah, you did but you don't anymore," Rick countered. "I remember well you saying to me you can't let what happened to your Mom define you anymore, that you had to move on in order to live the life you were meant to. Lanie's done the same."

"We're just that awesome," Kate murmured with a tired giggle.

"You are most definitely," Rick responded. "Your awesomeness is beyond description."

"You just described it then."

Rick couldn't help it and chuckled. "Smartass," he teased affectionately, pulling her closer and inhaling deeply the scent of her hair which was a pleasant combination of hairspray and cherries. "D'you wanna head home after Esplanie leave or go out with Kevin and Jenny? Jenny mentioned hitting the town after the reception's over."

"Nah, let's head home. I'm exhausted," Kate replied, nuzzling his chest with her nose. "This is my partying for the night and I'm just about ready to drop. I've been up since eight thirty this morning and it's nearly midnight."

"What about our day?" Rick inquired. "Are you going to conk out by midnight or have an all-nighter?"

Kate lifted her head from the partner's chest and fixed him with a knowing look. "Oh, I don't think there's going to be any doubt about our wedding night being an all-nighter," she replied the corners of her lips curling into a cheeky grin. "I have several strategies in place that will keep me awake."

"Care to let me in on any of those strategies?"

"Nuh uh, it's a secret like my dress," Kate answered, resting her head on his shoulder he lips millimetres away from his neck. "Bride's secret."

Rick chuckled. "Okay I'll stop asking," he said in amusement. "I can be patient."

Just before half past one in the morning, the reception ended as Lanie and Esposito went to leave for their night's stay a few blocks away in the Waldorf Astoria. Lanie sought Kate out amongst the group of friends and family on the curb outside the Plaza and engulfed her in a hug.

"Thank you so much for today, Kate," she informed her friend as she murmured, her voice muffled by her friend's shoulder. "My day was perfect because of you."

"I hardly think I'm the sole reason for the perfection, but thanks anyway," Kate replied, returning the hug enthusiastically. "I was glad to be a part of it. Now you go and have an awesome wedding night and honeymoon and I'll see you back here in ten days, alright? My hen's night and final dress fittings."

"You got it; you're the best friend a girl could have, honey. I can't wait to do the same job for you in two weeks!"

"I can't wait either, now scoot. Javi looks like he's got ants in his pants."

"See you!"

"Bye"

Kate let Lanie go and melted into Rick's arms as they watched their newly married friend's get into the limousine that had 'JUST MARRIED' written on the rear windshield in shaving cream and half a dozen beer and coke cans ties to strings hanging off the rear bumper.

"Aren't they just perfect Rick?" she stated with a happy sigh as Lanie stuck an arm out of the window and waved hard. "Today was such a beautiful day. I've never seen Lanie or Espo so happy. I so want that for us."

"We already have that, Tulip," Rick answered, wrapping his arms around his fiancée, protecting her from the slight chill that had crept into the night's air. "It will only increase once we're married."

"I hope so."

"I know so," whispered into his partner's ear.

"It's magic each time we hold each other, each time we cuddle, and each time we kiss. I feel goose bumps all over again. I never want to let you go for fear of losing you, so I just hold on a little bit tighter each day, refusing to let go. You will never know the warmth I feel inside me when I'm with you. You're all I ever wanted." -Unknown

A/N2: Reviews are love!