This is the last and final chapter. I hope you have enjoyed the story. I was encouraged to write Reece after penning JAKE. If you haven't read JAKE I hope you do so.

Those of you that have read some of my other stories know technology HATES me. So posting stories is always a challenge. All the errors and mistakes are mine. I do not have a proof reader, and although I read and read before posting, mistakes will happen. My apologies.

Thanking you for being a fanfiction reader, for giving my stories a chance, but mostly, for keeping Castle going.

CHAPTER 26

To everyone's delight, Christmas brought about a slew of change for the Castle family. He had finally proposed to Sydney, him mother had announced she would not seek reelection, and his father declared he had published his last book. Before he knew it a new year had dawned.

Just eighteen days after his father's seventy-fifth birthday, Castle had been awarded the Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction. Everyone had been taken by surprise. Confident he had a best seller, and unbeknownst to all, Gina had submitted the book's galley proof for consideration prior to publishing.

May saw him and Reece receive their Master's degrees. He was looking forward to time-off before jumping into the Ph.D. program at Columbia. Time to enjoy with Sydney. His future mother-in-law had gone nuclear with the wedding plans and Sydney was at her wit's end. They had still not selected a date and she was on the warpath. Sydney had hoped for a small wedding and her mother was planning the event of the century. Sydney was so over it, she had suggested eloping. June provided a much-needed escape to the Hamptons and a timeout from any wedding discussion.

July saw them finally set a wedding date and to her mother's chagrin, a limit on the number of guests. By late July, Jake had moved in with Emily and he and Sydney had the apartment to themselves.

September brought with it a new start, as both he and Sydney planned ahead. October gave way to November and before they knew it Christmas was upon them. He had gotten the internship at Goddard and would be starting in January. The New Year looked to be filled with change and opportunity.

Before long the end of May neared and with it his wedding day. The ceremony had been breathtaking. Held at the Tribeca Rooftop, the views were stunning. Sydney glowed, and he had gasped when he'd seen her walking down the aisle; she was breathtaking. It amazed him how he loves her more and more each day. He was not ashamed of his tears.

Sydney's mother had outdone herself; every detail was seen to, nothing overlooked. He had only two responsibilities, get there on time, and select the song for their first dance as husband and wife. Even with those limited duties, he was a bundle of nerves.

They'd exchanged their vows in front of one hundred and twenty guests. Mostly, family and close friends, the atmosphere had been just what they'd wanted. He experienced a moment of sorrow when thinking of his grandmother and how she would have loved the special day. He took solace in the fact she had known and loved Sydney, and had even told him someday he would marry the "sweet girl." Today he had.

The reception turned into a wonderful party. The photographer that had taken the pictures at the proposal had been contracted for the wedding. He had several silent drones flying over the room taking pictures, allowing guests to enjoy their time while recording the special day. When they walked into the reception they had been introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Castle to the cheers of friends and family.

Jake offered a beautifully written toast to the bride and groom just before the meal was served. Family and friends stopped by the table, offering well wishes and congratulations. Soon the music started and it was time for Sydney to dance with her father. Then it would be his turn.

Harold Wetherton wiped away tears as he stepped on the dance floor. His daughter looked beautiful. She was happy and in love, and she'd found someone that adored her. As the soft music started he took her by the hand, placed a kiss on her cheek and danced one last dance with his little girl. When the song ended the deejay interrupted.

"Ladies and gentleman, the groom has requested to say a few words." The dee jay walked the microphone over to Reece, holding it as Reece took both of Sydney's hand's in his. A perplexed Sydney looked on.

He begged the guest's indulgence. He wanted to say something to his lovely bride. He cleared his throat, looked in her eyes, and soldiered on.

"In high school, I dreamed of becoming an astronaut. I wanted to travel the stars. But along with all the love and support my parents provided, they also gave us kid's tall genes. Usually, guys want to be tall; I held my breath when I grew past six feet. You see, astronauts can't be over six feet two and a half inches tall. Jake and I are six four. I'll never forget the day I grew past that height, I was devastated. So, I focused on science and found unimaginable new worlds to explore and discover here on earth. I know, you're all wondering where this is going. I'll tell you. That day in eleventh grade, when I hit six three on the growth chart and literally outgrew my dream, Sydney was there. I remember her calling me late that night. She listened to me bluster how it was no big deal, but she knew better. I realized then I had no need to discover new constellations. Sydney Wetherton was and will always be the brightest star in any galaxy." Reece leaned in and softly kissed his bride.

As he parted, he took two flutes of Champaign from the nearby table, offering one to Sydney. He raised his glass and asked everyone to join him. "A toast to my beautiful wife! I love you beyond the stars." After taking a sip Reece placed both their glasses on the nearby table, took his bride by the hand and led her to the dance floor as the sounds of Frank Sinatra singing, Fly Me to the Moon filled the room. She laughed as he swayed her in tune to the music.

Just before the song ended Reece twirled his bride, then pulled her close and whispered, "My grandmother taught me to dance to this song. I begged her to teach me so I could ask you to the freshman dance. She told me someday I would marry you, and she was right."

THE END

*The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge by Hildegarde H. Swift (Author), Lynd Ward (Illustrator)