A/N: Hello dear readers. I hope you still interested in this story. Here is the next part and I hope you like it. Have fun reading an please tell me, what you think.
See Part 1 for Disclaimer.
Chapter 35
"Oh my god, it's really you.", a young woman screamed, when Johnny, Rick and Kate entered the separate room of the main house. The woman was in Kate's age, had curly brown hair and brown eyes. She was tall and slender with a slight baby belly. "I didn't believe mom, when she told me that the famous Richard Castle would stay here for a few days. I'm Hannah Marshall, your biggest fan.", the woman said, hugging Rick.
Kate watched closely, but with a smile on her face when she saw Rick's expression. "Hello, nice to meet you Hannah. I'm Kate Beckett.", she said, taking the woman's hand.
"Well, nice to meet you Hannah. But I have to disappoint you, because you are not my biggest fan anymore. Sorry, but Kate is my biggest fan and was for a long time, weren't you?", Rick said smiling.
"Oh, you talked to my Dad, didn't you?", Kate said blushing.
"Of course she is your biggest fan, after all she is going to marry you. Isn't she? That's the reason you are here? That's all mom told me.", Hannah said.
"Perhaps I should introduce everyone properly and then we can talk about the reason why Rick and Kate are here.", Johnny said, taking over the introduction.
"So, you already met our oldest daughter Hannah. Her husband and her children are still in Boston, but Hannah was eager to meet you. Next to her is her twin brother Lucas and his wife Jennifer. Next to Jennifer are our twin daughters Laura and Marie. Their husbands aren't here, just like their children. Our other boys aren't here either, but they will come for the holidays. So that's a small part of our family. And this is like Hannah pointed out Richard Castle and his fiancée Kate Beckett. They are going to marry up here in a few weeks. That's one of the reasons they are here. But why don't we sit down? Kate, everything okay with you?", Johnny asked concerned, knowing about Kate's health problems.
"Thanks Johnny, everything is fine. Nice to meet you all.", Kate said, sitting down in one of the chairs next to Baby. Rick sat down next to here and on his other side was Johnny. They ordered some drinks and dinner.
"So, you said that the wedding is one of the reasons why they are here, Dad. What is the other reason? And we normally don't have dinner with the guests, no matter how famous they are. Not that we mind, since we really do like your work, but it's just so unusual.", Lucas stated.
"Well, the real reason why Rick is here is kind of difficult to tell you and I really hope you understand and don't hate me later. Rick Castle is my son. Before I met your mother I had a short relationship with his mother Martha, but we didn't see any chance of a future together. We didn't exchange numbers or addresses when Martha left and she couldn't tell me that she was pregnant when she left. Martha didn't come back to Kellerman's and I didn't see her again until a few days ago. Rick was diagnosed with some kidney disease and needs probably transplantation, so Kate looked for me. And being the great detective she is, she found me. So the real reason for them being here is meeting the family. And I really hope you welcome the both of them to our family.", Johnny explained.
"Richard Castle is my brother?", Hannah said unbelieving.
"Well, technically I'm only your half-brother. And you don't need to be afraid, I'm not trying to interfere with your family. Everything is still so new for me. For the last 42 years of my life I wondered about my father. My mother told me that she didn't knew anything about him and so I didn't try to look for him. But I still had a great life. But I don't know how to act around so much family. For the last years it was only my mother, who is living with me and my teenage-daughter. So I hope you don't expect too much of me. I try my best and I'm grateful for being here and meeting such great people.", Rick said.
"That's so great. Does that mean, I will get an advanced copy of your new book?", Hannah asked smiling.
"Hannah.", Baby said shocked.
"What? I'm a big fan and I really want to read the next adventure of Nikki Heat. I was really disappointed when you killed Derek Storm. But I must say I like Nikki much more."
"Yeah, I like Nikki much more, too.", Rick said smiling and leaned over to kiss Kate.
"Well, I still don't like her. I still think it's a hooker's name. But I like Rook and he is some guy I would leave you for.", Kate said, stretching out her tongue to Rick.
"Good thing he is only a fictional character or I would really be concerned. But I will see what I can do about an advanced copy. The next Nikki Heat is supposed to be out in a few weeks. But the very first book goes to my daughter Alexis, who is really my biggest fan since she was old enough to read my work.", Rick explained.
"Are you sure that Alexis is your biggest fan? You know that she also gets advanced copies from your writer friends, don't you?", Kate asked grinning.
"Yeah I know this, but I'm still sure Alexis is a fan of mine. She used to read my work even before Gina and she always had some good suggestions. But I think I found a good replacement, didn't I?"
"Does that mean, I'm going to see the book before it hits the store? That would be a first.", Kate said.
"Well, you get the read the book before it hits the store, but it would be too late to make any change anything."
"So there is no need to be with you after all?", Kate said grinning.
"Well, I could think of a thing or two why it's worth to be with me. It's too late for the next book, but I can promise you that you can read parts of the following book. That okay for you?", Rick asked.
"Of course that's okay for me. I didn't get the books to read before and I was always okay with them. Even I didn't like some parts much. But that's your work and I'm not going to interfere with it much as long as you don't interfere with my work. Or more than you already do.", Kate said smiling.
"Don't worry about them. They are usually like that.", Johnny said when he noticed the confused looks of his family.
CB * CB * CB
After the breakfast at the main house, Rick and Kate went to the dance school where Baby was waiting for them.
"Good morning you two. Did you sleep well?", Baby asked.
"Thanks, we slept great and it's a nice feeling to wake up next to my fiancée. We didn't have lots of these mornings. How are you this fine morning?", Rick asked.
"Oh, I'm great. I think it's time to start planning. So, do you have any ideas so far?"
"Well, we know that we want a small wedding only with friends and family. We are going to make a guest list today, so we can send out the invitations. And we already have someone for the wedding. A friend of us is a judge and I'm sure he is going to do it. And we don't want any press around. And since we are going to marry here and there is no connection known so far, I think we are on the safe side."
"Okay, so we have the guests and the judge. What color do you want and what flowers? Do you have any ideas for the cake and the dinner afterwards?", Baby asked.
"I'm sure your chef can make something delicious for the wedding, but there has to be something vegetarian and suitable for pregnants. I don't have any ideas for the cake and the colors. I'm not a fan of pink but otherwise I'm open for any ideas."
"Okay, I going to put something together and show you. Have you thought about best man and maid of honor?"
"Oh, that's one is easy. Ryan and Esposito for me.", Rick said.
"Good choice. They are going to be over the moon. Well, I thought about Mandy and Lanie, but I really want Alexis to be a part of your wedding. Do you think she would like to be our flower girl? And Aaron could be the ring bearer. It's a bit unconventional, but that's the way we are.", Kate said.
"Oh, I'm sure Alexis will love this idea. We are going to ask her on Monday when we are going to have dinner together."
When everything else was taken care off, Rick and Kate took a stroll on the resort. "I really like it here and I wouldn't mind spending our honeymoon up here. And I would love to take some dance lessons.", Kate said.
"Yeah, I would like this, too. I did the father/daughter dance class with Alexis, but I'm sure I forgot a lot of it. But I think I can manage our wedding dance.", Rick smiled.
"I did some classes with my father, too. But this was ages ago and I'm sure your father can give us a refreshing course for the wedding. I think I can do this even while pregnant with the twins."
"I can't wait to see you in your wedding dress walking down the aisle, sharing our first kiss as married couple. This is going to be one of the best days in my life. I really love you Kate."
"And I love you, Rick. You are everything I ever wished for."
CB * CB * CB
Rick and Kate enjoyed the few days they got in the Catskills. Rick connected with his new found family and even Kate joined them. They were a great bunch of people. Each morning they met with Baby and talked about the wedding which was going to come along great.
On Sunday morning they went back to the city. They were really surprised when they arrived home and found the fridge full with fresh food and a plate of cookies on the kitchen counter.
"Oh, what a nice surprise.", Kate said, eating one of the cookies.
"Looks like my daughter was bored out of her mind. But I really like her snacks. How about we give her a call and invite her over for dinner. I really want to talk to her."
"I really like the idea. I want to tell her about the wedding and our ideas for it. How about we order some pizza and I make a salad after I had a shower?", Kate asked.
"You really do have good ideas. I'm going to call Alexis and you take your shower. You need to rest when you are going back to work next week."
"I know that you are worried about me, but we are really feeling fine. I won't do anything to risk the health of the twins. And I promised you only to get back to the precinct when Lauren says it's okay and I won't work in the field."
"I know, but I can't help to worry about you and the twins and I can't promise that this will get any better in the future. You know the way I worry about Alexis, so you know what you are getting into.", Rick said smiling.
"It's not too late to change my mind on the wedding, Rick. Is it?"
"Oh, you won't Kate. You love me too much for doing this.", Rick said shocked.
"Well, test me.", Kate said laughing running for the shower.
Twenty minutes later Kate came back into the kitchen, dressed in a short sundress. "What's on your agenda for tomorrow?", Kate asked pulling out some ingredients for the salad.
"Nothing much, but why do you ask?"
"Well, I got the appointment with Lauren tomorrow and I really need to shop for new clothes. There isn't much left that fits me nowadays. And I would really love to have you with me while shopping. I know that you got a great taste and I need someone to carry my purchases.", Kate said smiling.
"Of course will I come with you. I love spending time with you and I love to buy things for you. We are going to have so much fun."
"Well, we will see about that.", Kate said as the doorbell rang. Rick went to open it.
"Hey Dad and Kate.", Alexis said, entering the loft and hugging both of them.
"Hey Lexi, nice to see you. How are you?", Kate asked.
"I'm fine and happy that you are back. Most of the time I'm bored and now we can spend some time together. I'm so happy when Aaron is out of school for the summer. But why did you ask me to come over? I thought we were going to have dinner tomorrow night?", Alexis asked curious.
"Well, there are several reasons for you to be here at this moment. But most of all I really missed my little girl.", Rick said.
The doorbell rang again, this time with the pizzas. Rick paid the boy and went to the kitchen table where Kate already put the salad.
"We are still going to have dinner tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to this, so I hope pizza and salad is okay with you."
"Actually I'm too nervous to eat anything. I really want to know why you wanted to see me."
"Relax Alexis and have a piece of pizza. We just wanted to talk to you but it's nothing serious; just a bit about the wedding."
"Thank god, I really thought it was something bad. So, what do you need to tell me about the wedding? Did you already set a date?"
"There is quite a lot we need to tell you. First of all, we set a date. The wedding is going to take place on the weekend before Fourth of July. The invitations are going to be sent out in the next few days. We already decided on our best-man and maid-of-honor. We are going to ask Judge Markaway to do the wedding and we found a nice place for the wedding and we are going to spent our honeymoon up there.", Kate explained.
"Yeah, you said something like this when you called me last week. The place is in the Catskills, isn't it? But why are you going to marry up there? We don't have any connection up there and we actually never were there."
"It's not easy to tell you and I still try to digest everything. We do have family in the Catskills. Your grandfather and his family are living up there."
"My grandfather? I don't understand. Mom's father died when I was four and I don't have any other grandfather."
"Well, you have. Kate went looking for my father when Grandma was told that she wasn't a match. And you know Kate, so she found him and went up to the Catskills to have a chat with him. I didn't know about this. And my father didn't know about me. Johnny, that's his name was grandma's first great love but they couldn't be together. Well, nine months later I came along and your grandma never got the chance to tell my father about me."
"Oh my god, you really found Dad's father?", Alexis asked.
"Yeah, I found him. It was a lucky guess, but luck was on my side this day. Johnny is a really great guy and I think you are going to like him and his family."
"You really met your father, Dad?", Alexis still couldn't believe it.
"Yeah, I met him. And I can tell you, it wasn't easy for me. Grandma lied to me all those years, but I can understand how she was feeling back then. But it still hurt and I really wasn't sure that I wanted to meet him. But Kate told me about him and he is a really great guy. And I like his family. His wife Frances or Baby, like she is called by her family is a nice lady and their children are nice. Or the part of the family we met is nice."
"Part of the family? Just about how many people are we talking?"
"Oh, we can't give you the exact number, but there are six children with their partners and a lot of their own kids. Most of them are going to be at the wedding. That's one of the reasons why we are going to marry up there. Johnny has a really nice holiday resort in the Catskills and they are going to close it for the weekend for family time. And the wedding is a good opportunity to get to know everyone. Actually we planned to get married next week, but it wasn't enough time. And Baby and some of her girls are helping now and they are doing a great job."
"You really know how to rush things, don't you? But I'm happy that you agreed on a date and that the planning is coming along great. And you know that I can help, too."
"Well, I still need someone for dress shopping and I was really hoping for your help. And there is something we want to ask you. I already decided on Lanie and Amanda as my maid-of-honor but I really would love it when you take part in our wedding. I know usually kids are flower girls, but we want you to be it. And Aaron could be our ring bearer, if he want."
"Oh, I can't say for Aaron, but I'm more than happy to be your flower girl. Thanks for thinking about me and I would love to go dress shopping with you. I'm so happy for the two of you and I can't wait for the wedding."
"Same for me, because Kate said something about changing her mind.", Rick said. Alexis was shocked.
"Kate, you wouldn't do something like this, would you?"
"Well, you know your father. There is so much he can do what would get me running away, but I can promise you that I won't say no to him. I waited my whole life for him and I'm not going to risk this. But you know our usual banter, don't you? So, there is no need to worry. You know, it's not good for your baby."
"And I want a happy and healthy first grandchild.", Rick said.
"Well, it's not big enough to say if it's happy, but the little one is definitely healthy. Lauren told us when we saw her last week. Aaron was with me and it was so nice to see his face when he saw the baby for the first time. I think that's the moment when he realized that we are really going to have a baby."
"Yeah, it's not easy for the guy to get used to this thought. I mean for the first months there is no way we can be sure of the baby's presence. You got all the changes your body is going through and you feel the baby kicking and moving. But the guy feels the moving a whole lot later than the mommy. And it's quite shocking to see the first ultrasound picture, but it's a good shock. I'm sure that's the way Aaron felt. But knowing my sweet daughter you are going to share everything about the pregnancy with him. Your mother wasn't this sharing about you, I never got the change to feel you moving or kicking when you were still inside. And I'm really, really happy about all the time we spent together while you grow up into this beautiful young woman.", Rick said, hugging his daughter close.
"Thank you, Daddy.", Alexis said between sobs.
"Hey, sweetie. No need to cry. I was just telling you that I'm proud of you and happy that you are happy. You are happy, aren't you?", Rick asked worried.
"Yes, Dad. I'm more than happy and I'm crying because those sweet things you said. I never knew that Mom didn't share me, so I'm more than happy that I turned out to be a daddy's girl. I wouldn't want it any other way. And I promise you, that I will share your first grandchild with you. After all, I need someone to babysit sometimes and how could be better than the coolest dad on earth. My siblings are so lucky to have you as dad and with Kate as mother they will have a loving family to grow up. I'm really eager to see those two. I can't imagine how bad I wanted to have a sister or brother while I was growing up. And now I get two of them and I will love them dearly. We all are going to have so much fun with the little ones."
"Wow, you are really happy about the baby?", Kate asked.
"Yeah, it hit me when I saw it on the screen. I know it was there before, but when I saw that baby I thought, this is my baby and I'm going to do everything to keep it save. I know that we are both still young and that we should enjoy our live and go to College and things like this, but I wouldn't change anything. I know that I love Aaron and I can count on him no matter what. I want to get old with him and I want at least one more child but I want to graduate College and work for a bit until the next one."
"That's a good decision but you can't always plan thinks like this and I really hope you know that we are always going to be there for you and your family.", Kate said.
"I know and I'm really happy about this. Finally we are one big happy family. I couldn't wish for a better mom than you Kate. And you really make dad happy. So, what are your plans for this week?", Alexis asked.
"Well, I need to see Lauren tomorrow morning and later I will return to work so I can take off two weeks for the wedding. I'm only going to do desk work for the time being and I'm sure I can leave earlier a few times, so we can go shopping and help planning the wedding. Baby promised to call a few time every week to keep us up to date and I really want you to meet her, even it's only on screen. And I think we can spend some time together, when you are bored."
"Oh thank you Kate. You don't really know how boring it is to be at home all those time. Most of my friends are still at school and Aaron is so busy at the moment, it's no fun. And I can only study this much in a day. We can go shopping and we can plan the nursery."
"Or you can just relax.", Rick offered.
"Don't worry, Dad. I will keep a close eye on mom and my siblings. I'm not going to let anything happen to them."
A/N: How did you like this part? More to come soon. Please leave a review.