Love You Through It
by Castlefan6
Authors Note: SnowKing1701 PROMPT REQUEST - They get together early in the series and a health scare tests their love, but not separate them. We may take liberties with the events and timeline from Canon and use events to make this a more believable fiction, Warning THIS IS AU, with only brief flashes of Canon. MAJOR CHARACTER ILLNESS, NO DEATH PROCEED WITH CAUTION, SENSITIVE SUBJECT MATTER
Thanks for the Prompt SnowKing1701, I hope I do it justice.
I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only, except the ones I create.
Previously
Rick patted the hand he was holding with his free hand, we have time Babe, plenty of time to get married and have your pictures taken, or hell we can take the pictures before if things don't work as we originally planned. I promise you, Babe, you will have your gown, and your own hair in our wedding pictures," he kissed her cheek, but she turned and hugged him, tears falling
"What is the date of the wedding Rick, Kate? Will it be in the next month? The schedule I have worked out will accommodate that." Dr. G smiled,
Kate pulled herself together, and replied, "Well we actually haven't planned anything yet, but I want to get married within the next two weeks, in the Hamptons, with just family, perhaps a few friends, and I want our album to show us with our natural hair. It's stupid I know when you consider the big picture, but all my life since I was a little girl, I had this picture of me as a bride, and well it was always with my own hair. "Kate shed a single tear then pushed it back
"It's not stupid Kate, let's discuss the timeline on our next appointment on Thursday, OK? I would like to see a rough timeline of your wedding if we can, if you can pull the wedding off in a few weeks, I can hold back chemo, providing we start the radiation treatments soon."
************************************************************************************/
Chapter 5
Castle's Loft
Later Same Day
Kate fell asleep on Rick's shoulder as he drove home, it had been a very taxing day for them both, but considering what could have been, they were still lucky that the cancer had not spread. Rick carried her from the car to the Loft, never letting her go, not even on the elevator, and then gently laid her on their bed. He reached for the fuzzy blanket she loved so much and seemed to gain comfort from and covered her halfway, and quietly slipped out of the bedroom.
Alexis had slipped down the stairs, witnessed the loving gesture of her Dad, then watched him as he walked over to the window overlooking the street, his shoulders shaking gently. She knew her father well enough to know he was crying, silently as possible, but he was hurting. She gave him a few minutes then walked slowly over and wrapped her arm around his waist.
"She's tough Daddy if anyone can beat this, it's Kate. She loves you too much to give up and we all need to be positive for her, at least that's what the research I've done says." She laid her head on his arm, and felt it slip around her, and pull her in tight.
"You've done research? From where Pumpkin?" he asked trying to keep his tears in cheek,
"Mayo Clinic and John Hopkins, and then I got on Moffitt Cancer Center sight, out of Tampa Florida and they all pretty much agree, we need to be patient, positive, and prudent, about her diet, medications, and restrictions. We both know Kate, Daddy, she will want to keep going like she's 100%, but this cancer is sapping her strength, well that's what the research said." She hugged her dad tightly, never asking any questions.
"I know you want to know what the Doctor said, but Sweetie, I want to wait and let Kate tell her story, I'm just a partner, a very interested partner, but it's her story to tell, so thank you for not asking." He said quietly,
"I know Daddy, plus you already have to deal with Grams, we love her but she's too nosy sometimes about personal business," Alexis said seriously,
Rick chuckled, "Try coming home to that interrogation daily, sweetie, she means well, just sometimes she speaks before her brain gets the message to be quiet, she's always been that way."
"I know Dad, but I don't want her, anyone to hurt Kate's feelings, I mean she's going through hell now, so can you talk to her, please? She still thinks I wear T-Shirts and have no concept of how babies are created," Alexis said frustrated, as Rick laughed softly,
"Sure Baby, I'll talk to her about your concerns, what's your plans, what are you doing home, I thought you had a party at Paige's tonight," Rick asked,
"I do, I just wanted to make sure Kate and you got home, and that you didn't need me to do anything, I know she had a long day, and I knew she'd be exhausted. I made lasagna it's in the warming rack if you have a taste for it, but Dad, you have to be sure she eats, OK?" Alexis was serious as she stared into a pair of blue eyes with her own.
"I will Baby, I promise. What time is your party, don't you have to leave soon? Kate and I are fine, I'm going to let her rest for a while then see if we both can eat something. I know she wants to get going on the wedding, so she needs to have her batteries recharged for that." He hugged his little girl, who was acting anything like little, rather a mature young lady with deep concerns.
"OK, I'll leave if you're sure you don't need me to stay home, it's really no big deal about the party Dad, I can miss it"
A soft voice came from Rick's office, "Lexi that's sweet of you, but I'm OK, better than OK now that I had my nap. I didn't sleep well last night, I guess I was on empty on the energy tanks." Kate said smiling,
Alexis crossed the room and hugged her, "I'm glad you're feeling better, Dad didn't say how your Doctor's appointment went except it was pretty good news and you would tell us when you had some rest."
"I'll make you a deal, you go to the party, knowing I got good news, and I'll tell you everything tomorrow when I'll need your help to plan the wedding in a few weeks, can you do that for me?" Kate asked,
"Are you kidding me? You're serious, you want me to help plan the wedding, Of course, Kate, anything you need, and I'll go to the party now, I think Dad has missed you, even if you were only a few feet away from him." She laughed as Rick blushed,
"Well, I missed him, lucky I had him in my dreams to keep me company, and now, is that lasagna I smell?" Kate asked, knowing it was since she had overheard most of the daughter to father conversation.
"Yes, I made it, I was hoping you'd be hungry, it's your Mom's recipe just like you taught me, Kate, I hope I didn't mess it up," Alexis said
"Sweetie, you didn't mess it up, and I'm hungry, thank you, Alexis, for the food and the love, you know I love you and your Dad with all my heart, don't you?"
"We know, don't we Dad, as the smile returned and the little girl ran to the steps grabbed her jacket, well we'll talk tomorrow Kate, I'm happy for us, especially you, Good night," She surprised Rick and Kate by rushing to Kate, hugging her and kissing her goodbye then to her Dad, then out the door.
"Well that was a surprise," Kate said, "A great surprise actually," as a smile came to her lips.
"I'm happy Kate, I knew she cared, but she was genuinely worried, I didn't tell her anything other than you would tell the whole story, and you were OK"
"And that you would talk to Martha, I was awake and almost said something but I'm glad I didn't. I feel like a part of this family for real now, and after I eat, I'll have the energy for that do over you promised me earlier," she purred,
Xx
Rick waited on her, made sure she had drunk enough water and was in control of things, UNTIL, she pulled him in for a kiss, took his hand, and just said,
"Do-Over now, Babe," and it was a beautiful few hours for them both, Rick even did his proposal over, as he placed the ring on her finger, adding the words, "Always, Now and Forever us against the world".
As they lay in their bed, cuddled together, Kate realized that these times were numbered or at least would be curtailed if not forgone, depending on the surgery and treatment. She tightened, a bit, and as always Rick picked up on it.
"Kate, no matter what happens, I want you, my body aches for you, and only you and to me, you are and will be the most desirable woman in the world. Let's enjoy every day we can until we no longer can.
"I want you to be honest and tell me, when it's time to cut back and out, at least for a while, the lovemaking process. Just know that if you think you can ever get me to stop holding you in my arms, kissing you, that's not going to happen, even if we couldn't ever make love again, listen to me, please. YOU are enough, in fact, you're more than enough, OK?"
She turned into him and sobbed, he had answered her fears, her doubts, without ever hearing her voice them, he was her soulmate and she fell more in love with him day by day. He held her, gently rocking until she composed herself, she pulled back slightly looking into his blue eyes, seeing nothing but the love she kissed him trying to show him just how much she did love him.
"How, Rick, how do you do that, I have a thought creep into my head and you answer it without me having to say a word, I mean it's*"
"You're my soulmate, Kate, it's what we both were missing until we found each other, that missing piece of the puzzle. I know you, I can feel you tense with self-doubt, I want you to believe in me, believe in my love that I will ALWAYS be here for you, for us. I don't care about physical traits, I fell in love with you, not your boobs, legs, or eyes, I want you, all of you and I promise I'll give you all of me."
A tear appeared in the corner of his eye, she took her finger, gently wiped it away, and kissed him again, "OK Rick, me and you against the world, Always, Now and Forever, I'm in"
Xx
Next Morning
8:30 AM
Alexis had let them sleep as long as she could, but breakfast would be ruined if they didn't come soon, besides Kate wanted to start planning the wedding. She walked by the outside of the office again but this time she dropped a book, the door opened shortly and Kate was already showered and dressed, followed by Rick who couldn't stop smiling. Kate whispered, "Don't be so obvious, Rick"
"About what Kate, that you guys got your groove on, I think it's great and I knew it before I saw Dad's smile, she laughed, and held up a blouse, that had been discarded on their way to the bedroom, "unless we moved the laundry hamper",
Rick blushed and said "well, eh a "
"Daddy, stop anything you say will just make it more awkward, just accept that you and your fiancé have the freedom to make love anytime you want with the blessing of your daughter, OK, just don't talk about it, by the way, breakfast is ready." She laughed as Kate turned a beet red.
Alexis walked over to her and hugged her, "you need to eat Kate, don't let Dad wear you out we have a wedding to plan" Kate's eyes filled with tears then hugged her back tightly,
"Thanks, Alexis, you're right, we do, but for the other, I want to love him as long and as well as I can before, eh, a"
"Kate, you don't have to go there, live for today and enjoy it, I promise you we're not going anywhere none of us. I heard the song by Martina, and believe me we're ALL going to love you through this, now eat, please" she laughed,
Kate fought back the tears as Alexis served her a breakfast that she must have watched her father make, consisting of fruit to cereal to hotcakes to eggs, and then decaffeinated coffee, the good stuff, that almost tasted like real coffee.
Rick sat at the table, smiling away as he saw his daughter take care of his fiancé, more than what he ever had hoped for, so it was the Universe sending her to him, he was sure of it now.
"Kate, you asked me to remind you to call your Dad, he got in last night late from Denver, so why don't you invite him to lunch or dinner here we can tell him the good and the fantastic news." Rick winked,
"Thanks, Rick, but I don't think cancer is good news, I mean"
"It is when we tell him how early you caught it, and the plan, so think positive future Mrs. Castle, please?" he smiled,
"OK, I see what you're doing there, and you're right, I should be looking at every glass as half full now, no more negative Kate, think positive and the healing comes faster, right? I read the article after you fell asleep earlier love, just so you don't overthink my magical powers," She laughed as his face went from WTH to laughter,
"Lanie will be here at 10:00, I thought between her, Alexis and I, we could knock out most if not all of the wedding planning, it's OK we have it at the Hamptons isn't it, I just realized, I never even asked." Kate blushed,
"Why do you have to ask Kate, you're going to be Dad's wife, my Mom in a few weeks, which means the Hamptons is half yours," Alexis said like she was reading a weather report, no big deal.
"She's right Babe, you better start getting used to it, what's ours is yours, all of it, so be prepared for Alexis to take you on a power shopping trip to fill your wardrobe in the closet I just cleaned out for you in OUR bedroom" he waggled his eyebrows, and smiled, causing her to blush even more.
"Well, thanks for breakfast Pumpkin, it was very thoughtful of you, and unless you need me, I have to catch up on a few chapters before Gina starts hounding me. I haven't said anything to her or anyone at Black Pawn, but my lawyers will file the paperwork changing all the information the day our wedding license is recorded,"
"Alexis, I'm going to call my Dad as soon as I help you clean up, then we'll get going on the planning, I mean I know you're busy, so if*"
"Kate, only one thing wrong with that, you're not helping to clean, go call your dad and when Lanie gets here I'll share some ideas I came up with. Remember Kate, this is YOUR wedding, I love Doctor Parish but sometimes she gets a little pushy," Alexis said as she took the dishtowel out of Kate's hand.
Kate smiled, Alexis was really making this so easy, it was far better than she ever expected. She went to the living room and dialed her Dad's number.
"Hey Katie, what's up, and how are you doing, or should I say you and Rick?" Jim teased,
"Dad, she wailed, what do you mean?"
"Sweetie it's 9:15 AM, and the caller ID said Richard Castle so unless I'm slipping more than I thought, you're with Rick, and you normally don't call till noon on the day I return from a trip, so what's up?"
"Well, are you free this evening, Rick and I would like you to come to the Loft for dinner, say around 6:30 PM, I mean we haven't seen you in over a month, and well, it'll be nice to catch up, without worrying about the noise from a restaurant," Kate replied,
"OK, since you won't tell me till I come, I'll be there at 6:30, can I bring anything?" Jim asked,
"No, Dad, just yourself. It'll probably be pizza and sodas nothing fancy just wanted to see you, I've missed you," She said,
"Something tells me that's not the entire story, but I know when to quit pushing, you're just like your Mom when it comes to spilling the beans, it's on your time, and condition" he laughed then ended the call with, "See you tonight sweetie, missed you too"
Kate had just disconnected the call with her Dad when the doorbell rang, and when Alexis opened, in rushed the ME for the city of New York, all excited, talking incoherently, and waving her arms until Alexis finally pulled her into a hug, and said, "Dr. Parish, please come in and sit down, we have a lot to cover, so hold your thoughts please."
The look on Lanie's face was priceless, she just got schooled by a teenager who set the tone from the beginning she was in charge, and not to be messed with, like a little and younger Kate Beckett.
Kate crossed the room with a smile on her face and said, "You can close your mouth now Lanie, Alexis is my point person in this, so we do have a lot of details to work out, and not a lot of time to do so, so shall we begin?"
TBC
