"Lanie, have you seen my makeup bag? I need to touch up my lipstick."
Kate bent to dig frantically through the pile of bags and clothing on the floor.
"Honey, you look fine. Stop fussing." Lanie snagged both of Kate's hands and drew her upright.
"I know, I just don't want to looked washed out for the pictures. Those photographers always use such bright flashes." Kate turned to check through her purse again. She pulled her fingers free from Lanie's grip with a bit too much force. She yelped as they whacked hard against the table.
"You okay?" Lanie examined the bright red line across the back of Kate's hand.
"I'm fine. Just... I really need to find my lipstick."
"What you really need is to calm down and take a breath." Lanie found the wayward cosmetics bag and fished out the requested item to hand it to Kate. "This isn't the first time you've been in the media's eye because of writer boy and it won't be the last."
"Today's different." Kate examined her reflection critically as she pressed her lips together.
"Of course it is. But you love him and he loves you and your family and friends adore both of you, though sometimes I can't remember why. You'll be fine. Besides, there'll be booze and dancing at the reception to help you unwind."
They were interrupted by a sharp knock on the door, followed by Martha poking her head inside the room.
"Ladies, everyone's here and there's no sense keeping them waiting. Let's get this show on the road."
Martha grinned at the look of panic on Kate's face. Castle's mother shut the door behind her as she came the rest of the way into the room.
"We're ready." Lanie's voice held none of the sudden uncertainty that Kate felt. "No more stalling, girl."
Before her mind could catch up with the motion, Lanie had fixed the veil on Kate's head and Martha was ushering her out the door. The butterflies in her stomach were only slightly soothed when her father joined them in the hallway. The nostalgic adoration on his face made her eyes water. She took a steadying breath as her father offered her his arm.
"Ready, Katie?"
"Yeah, Dad. I'm ready."
Castle had trouble catching his breath through the entire ritual. The church had such phenomenal acoustics that it felt as if the music reverberated through his bones. He thought the feel of Kate's hand in his might be the only thing anchoring him to the earth, keeping his elation from floating him away on the sounds. He rubbed his thumb lightly over the back of her hand. He was startled out of his musings when he felt her almost imperceptible flinch. She smiled lightly into his eyes when he risked a brief glance away from the minister.
A moment of hushed laughter from their gathered guests brought his attention back to the ceremony. The minister's eyes crinkled with suppressed laughter at Castle's nonplussed expression.
"Dude. Take the ring." Esposito hissed under his breath from where he stood at Castle's shoulder.
Castle covered for his lapsed attention as smoothly as he could, but the continuing quiet twitters from the audience told him there was no denying it. They probably thought he'd gotten lost in Kate's eyes and stopped listening.
The reason for Kate's small flinch became immediately apparent when he raised her hand to slide the ring onto her finger. The darkening line of a new bruise stretched across the back of her hand. He made a mental note to ask her about it when he wasn't so busy repeating after the minister.
The reception was a tiny affair compared to the wedding. The Old Haunt had been closed to the public for the event, but it was still filled to near capacity with their family and friends. Kate had changed into a dress she could more easily dance in after the obligatory photos and first dance with the groom. The butterflies in her stomach had finally settled down after she stopped being the entire center of attention. The band was fantastic and the food was sublime. The cake was some of the best she'd ever had. Kate still might not be entirely comfortable with her new bank account balance, but she saw no reason not to hire the best caterers that money and Castle's contacts could find.
She was standing off to the side of the bar, enjoying a rare moment of peace as she watched her friends and family enjoying themselves. An arm snaked around her waist and she leaned back against Castle's chest while he pressed a kiss behind her ear. She set her wine glass on the bar and covered his hand with both of hers.
He twined their fingers together and raised her left hand up where he could see it. Kate's eyes snagged again on the unaccustomed sight of a wedding ring on her finger.
"What did you do to yourself, anyway?" His thumb traced lightly around the bruise. "Did Lanie have to rap your knuckles with a ruler? Were you misbehaving?"
"Something like that." Kate laughed as Castle lightly kissed her fingers.
"Then I'm sorry I missed it. Does it still hurt?"
"Don't be such a mother hen, Castle." Kate turned around so she could grin up into her husband's eyes. "Bruises heal."