Disclaimers: Sorry, 'Castle' isn't mine.
Summary: A filler for episode 6x12 'Deep Cover.' Kate and Castle discuss wedding dates and mysterious family members. Contains spoilers from episode.
A/N #1: The song for this chapter is 'Wedding Bell Blues' by The 5th Dimension. Just substitute the name 'Rick' for 'Bill' when you read the story.
Chapter 25: Setting a Date
Bill, I love you so, I always will
I look at you and see the passion eyes of May
Oh, but am I ever going to see my wedding day?
I was on your side, Bill, when you were losin'
I'd never scheme or lie, Bill, there's been no foolin'
But kisses and love won't carry me 'till you marry me, Bill
"How about on Christmas Eve in Rockefeller Center?" Castle called out toward the bathroom, where Kate was brushing her teeth.
"Christmas in Rockefeller Center for what?" Her words were garbled due to a mouthful of toothpaste.
"For the wedding. The Christmas tree would be the perfect backdrop. And if it snows . . . that's even better," Castle was practically giddy at the idea.
"Castle, I'm not getting married in front of a million tourists in Rockefeller Center," Kate stepped out of the bathroom and turned off the light before walking over and getting into bed. "So, that's no to space and no to freezing my ass off in December. Think again, babe."
"I'm beginning to think that we're never going to agree on a when," he lay back on his pillows, looking dejected.
"Hey, at least we both agree on the whom," she grinned at him.
"Not funny, Beckett."
"We'll figure it out," she traced her fingers down his chest. "We still have plenty of time. Can I ask you something non-wedding related?" He looked at her and nodded. "Are you sure that you've never met Anderson Cross before? Because he looks very familiar, but I can't think of where I've seen him. I hate that feeling."
Castle didn't say anything. He had told Kate about the man in Paris who had claimed to be his father. The man that they'd met with earlier that afternoon. He knew that Kate was smart and sooner or later she was going to figure out exactly where she'd seen the mysterious Mr. Cross before and when she did, he was going to have a lot of questions to answer. "Well, he's certainly distinguished looking. Maybe you ran into him at Zabar's and he made an impression on you."
"Castle, I know that I've seen him somewhere before and it wasn't in the fine cheese aisle of Zabar's. Oh well, it'll come to me. We need to get some sleep. Love you," she kissed his neck before cuddling into his side.
"Love you, too," he turned into her as they both drifted to sleep.
The next morning Kate was sitting at the counter eating a bowl of cereal when Martha came downstairs. "Good morning, Katherine," Martha greeted her future daughter-in-law with a tight squeeze. "Where's my son this morning?"
"He's getting dressed. He should be out soon."
"So, have you two settled on a wedding date?"
"No. Last night he suggested Christmas Eve in Rockefeller Center. I'm beginning to think that we should just pick a dozen or so dates and toss them into a hat."
"Oh, you'll come up with something. A date that is special to both of you. Hey, I'm just happy that he's at least participating in the planning this time."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, he and Meredith did the city hall thing. But, his wedding to Gina—" Martha shuddered. "You would've thought that woman was marrying into royalty. I think that Richard was just overwhelmed, so he stayed out of the way. He didn't offer an opinion about anything one way or the other."
"Well, I want his opinions. I've never done this before and he has. It's his wedding, too. I want it to be special for both of us."
"It will be and I'll tell you why," Martha took Kate's hand. "Because he's marrying the one true love of his life."
"Thanks, Martha," Kate smiled.
"Something else is on your mind," Martha saw the furrowed brow.
"It's just this case we're working on. Castle and I met this man yesterday and I know that I've met him before, but I can't remember where."
"Oh, it'll come to you."
"Yeah, I know. It's just going to drive me crazy until it does," she got up and brought her cereal bowl to the sink. "I have to get dressed for work."
***CCC***
"Can I ask you something?" Kate glanced at Castle as she drove to the precinct almost an hour later. "Do you want to help with the wedding plans?"
"What would make you think that I wouldn't?"
"Well, Martha was telling me about your wedding to Gina—"
"Okay. I wasn't asked for my opinion when Gina was planning our wedding. If I had been, I definitely would've had a lot to say, believe me. It was a beautiful wedding, but that's about all that I can tell you about it. I love you, Kate. When we get married, I want to remember every single second of that day. I don't want to be prodded and posed like I'm some big-time Hollywood celebrity. I don't want that for either of us."
"Okay," she smiled. "Then we had better keep working on the date for this special day."
Kate was at her desk a couple of hours later when she suddenly remembered where she'd seen Anderson Cross before. She got up and left the bullpen as three pairs of eyes wondered what was going on. "She must be onto something," Ryan speculated as Espo and Castle looked at him. "She had that look. You know the one that says she just thought of something."
"I just remembered where I've seen Anderson Cross before," Kate announced, coming back into the bullpen with several sketches in her hand. "Well, I sent the sketch to a friend of mine in the A.G.'s office and he got a hit. Now he couldn't give me any details, but he said the guy is a former CIA operative," Kate said.
"Wait a second! Former?" Castle bantered back.
"Yeah. He was disowned for an unauthorized assassination and he was sentenced to life, broke out, killed three guards in the process. This guy's wanted by our government. Now my guy said the rumor is he's working as a hitman. Now, if we get a hit on him, the A.G.'s office wants us to call them so they can send in a strike team. Castle, did you ever see this man in Paris?"
"Not that I can remember. Why don't you text me those sketches and I'll have Alexis come over and see if she recognizes him?"
"Do you want me to come along?" Kate offered.
"No, that's all . . . I'll call you."
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah."
***CCC***
Castle felt disappointed; incredibly disappointed. He had spent the first 40+ years of his life not knowing who his father was. Now in the last year he'd learned that his father was this CIA operative or former CIA operative, depending on who you wanted to believe. It almost sounded like something he'd write in one of his books. Only it was his real life. He didn't even know what his real name was. And now this man had lured not only him, but Kate, into his world of espionage.
He had to give Kate credit. She'd taken the meeting with her future father-in-law much better than he'd thought she would. And it seemed that his old man was quite taken with Kate. But then who wouldn't be? She was smart and gorgeous. And as his father had pointed out, a real 'spitfire.'
Now he had to go home and tell his mother that the man she'd met one night so long ago was gone and he didn't know when or if they'd ever see him again.
He walked into the loft and saw Martha looking out the window at the New York City skyline in the darkness, a glass of wine in her hand. "So, did you find him?" She asked when he came to stand beside her.
"He found me. Kate is finishing up the paperwork on the case. She sent me home to check on you."
"I'm okay. I just can't help worrying about him. Hoping that he's okay."
"Don't," Castle told her. "He wasn't worth your time."
"How can you say that?" She turned to her, fire flashing in her blue eyes. "That man gave me the greatest gift that I could ever have! He gave me you! When you wave him off like that, you're short-changing yourself. You're a wonderful man, Richard Castle. Every person you've ever come across in your life will attest to that."
"But, that's in spite of him, not because of him. You made me what I am today. You, not any of the parade of stepfathers that I had growing up. And I thank you for that," he kissed her cheek. "I thank you for that every day of my life."
"I'd do it again in a heartbeat," she leaned her head on her son's shoulder. "So, do you think we'll ever see him again?"
"I don't know. I do know that he's always keeping watch. He told me that in Paris. So, maybe. Maybe the next time we can have a real family visit and not more drama."
"I hope so," she chuckled. "Why don't you call Katherine and see how much longer she's going to be? I'm in the mood for Angelo's."
"Okay," he smiled as he pulled out his cell phone. "Angelo's, it is."
***CCC***
I love you so, I always will
And in your voice I hear a choir or carousels
Oh, but am I ever going to hear my wedding bells?
I was the one who came runnin' when you were lonely
I haven't lived one day not lovin' you only
But kisses and love won't carry me 'till you marry me, Bill
"I'm sorry for some of the things that I said earlier," Kate apologized after she returned to the loft later that afternoon. "About Cross or whatever his name is not being your father."
"No, you were right," he sat beside her on the couch. "He's not my father. A father is someone who teaches you to play ball and ride a bike."
"Your mother might disagree with that."
"There's a difference between a father and a sperm donor," Castle said bitterly. "You have a father. I'm not sure who or what Jackson Hunt or Anderson Cross or whatever his real name is, but he's not a father."
Castle got up and left the room. "He's hurting," Martha came downstairs. "I always wondered when he was a child what would happen if his father ever reappeared. He hated being different from all of his friends."
"Meredith told me that when she'd ask him about his father, he'd just brush it off with a joke."
"Meeting him was like meeting magic," Martha came over and sat down beside Kate. "I never thought that it would be possible to fall in love so hard so quickly. I think if he'd asked me that night to marry him, I would've done it without a second thought."
"He might not have been in Castle's life, but I see a lot of him in Castle," Kate smiled. "They both have that flair for telling a great story."
"Yes, they do," Martha agreed. "The night that I met him, he told me stories that just had me transfixed. I realized that most of them were tall tales, but it didn't matter. He just had that gift of words. Richard inherited that."
"He got the best of both of you."
"Do you think that Richard missed out by not having a father in his life? I think that's why I went from one failed marriage to the next. I was trying to fill that void in his life and mine."
"I'm not a psychologist, but it could explain a lot. I think Castle's always been trying to find that perfect family. But, as someone recently told me, the perfect family doesn't exist. I think I'm going to go and talk to him," Kate kissed Martha on the cheek before getting up.
Castle was sitting in his office chair when Kate walked in. "Mother asked me earlier if I think he'll ever come back. Do you think that he will?"
"I don't know," she came over and reached for his hand as he pulled her onto his lap. "Do you want him to come back?"
"I'm not sure," he sighed. "I've been sitting here thinking that I keep making the mistake of thinking that he's family. But, he's not. You are," he looked at her as she smiled. "September," he said suddenly.
"What?" She was confused.
"We're getting married in September. It's not too hot, it's not too cold. It's in the Goldilocks zone. September," he said again.
"But, what about your book tour?"
"Screw it," he kissed the top of her head. "September."
"Okay," she clapped her hands and swung the chair happily before squealing in absolute delight, grabbing Castle around the neck as he laughed along with her. "I love you!" She shouted into his neck.
"What in the world is going on in here?" Martha came running into the office when she heard Kate's gleeful shout.
"We're getting married in September!" Kate jumped off of the chair and ran over to embrace Martha. "We're getting married in September! I have to call my dad!"
"You might want to stop that young woman before she goes up to the roof," Martha warned her son, who only grinned at her.
"I didn't realize picking a date would make her that happy," Castle said as he walked over and hugged his mother.
"Uh, you just picked the month. Picking the month is only half the battle. Now you have to pick the date," she reminded him.
"Oh, shit. Kate! Wait! What day in September do you want to get married?" He ran out of the room as Martha shook her head and chuckled.
When he went into the living room, he could hear Kate's excited voice on the phone with her father. He watched her as she very animatedly chattered with her father, because 'chatter' was the only word that described what he was witnessing at the moment. Seeing the changes in her since he'd asked her to marry him sometimes made him wonder if this was the Kate that had existed before her mother's murder. Before the walls had come up and she'd stopped letting people in for fear of being hurt again.
I love you so, I always will
And though devotion rules my heart I take no vows
But Bill, you're never gonna take those wedding vows
Oh, come on, Bill
Oh, come on, Bill
Come on and marry me, Bill
I got the wedding bell blues
Please marry me, Bill
I got the wedding bell blues
Marry me, Bill
After several minutes she ended the call and turned to find Castle watching her, a huge smile on his face. "So, what did your father say?"
"Uh, not much. I didn't give him much of a chance to say anything," she admitted sheepishly as she walked toward her fiancée.
"Mother just pointed out that while we have a month, we still need a date. What day in September do you want to get married?" He wrapped his arms around her.
"Castle, any day that you pick for our wedding, I'll be there," she raised up to kiss him. "I can't wait to marry you."
"I can't wait, either," he met her lips for a long tender kiss. "It's going to be great."
"Yes, it is."
A/N #2: The next chapter will be a continuation of this one. It'll also be longer.
A/N #3: I changed the end scene slightly because I thought that it fit better.
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