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
"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,
************************************************************************************/
Chapter 6
Castle's Loft
6:00 PM
FLASHBACK to 10:00 AM
Kate was thrilled with the progress Lanie, Alexis, and she had made on planning her wedding, in such a short time. Alexis came prepared with a what-to-do list and wasn't shy when she had to overrule Lanie and return control to Kate. After three or four instances, Lanie fell into line and began acting like she was helping not planning her own wedding. Alexis had been totally correct and surprised Kate at how authoritative she could be when the situation called for it. They had planned it all, except for the details that belonged to Kate, and Rick alone, their vows, and choice of music as well as the wedding party.
Alexis had drafted out an invitation, that Kate absolutely loved, so much she interrupted Rick to get his approval for the invitations. He agreed with Kate, and that was all Alexis needed, she started to draft it all together. Rick was open to any day that everything could be accommodated, they wanted a Saturday afternoon, but would settle for Friday if necessary.
Alexis called her Uncle Bob Weldon and the applications for a marriage license were delivered by his secretary, who was the notary required for the signatures. Rick took a break, completed his section, as Kate completed hers, signed, notarized and on the way to the clerk's office all within one hour of the call.
Kate walked over to her soon to be stepdaughter, hugged her, "Thanks Alexis, you're exactly who I need, and I really appreciate all the hard work you're doing, it's making this fun and exciting."
"You're welcome Kate, I'm happy to do it, just remember when you have tough days, we're all here fighting with you as much as we can. Dad has waited for this day since he met you, and as long as you make each other this happy, I couldn't ask for more, except, well maybe, no that's too personal"
"Alexis, what is it, sweetie, you can talk to me, nothing is too personal, as you said you're my daughter, I don't like the word step." She hugged her,
"Well, when you're better, and if you and Dad agree, I would love to be a big sister, I mean, that's your business'
Kate couldn't hold back the tears as she held this young lady, she was asking, for a sibling, any doubts that she was in her corner were gone forever.
"I'm sorry Kate, I didn't mean to make you cry, it*
"You didn't Alexis, these are happy tears, I don't know what the future will bring baby, but if we can, I know your Dad would be a fantastic father, so I'll do my best, OK?"
Alexis smiled, then hugged her, "Just one request Mom, the words struck Kate, she was hugging her daughter, PLEASE don't let daddy name him or her Cosmo." They both laughed so hard, tears came to them both.
She didn't know how Alexis had done it, but it was all settled, chairs and lawn setup diagramed, canopy and walkway covers setup, caterers, Uncle Bob to marry them, music, and invitations ready to be ordered and mailed to the guest list Kate and Rick had provided Alexis, Rick's author buddies, poker club, and for Kate the precinct, and one Aunt, her mom's last sister.
Rick looked out of his office, listening to Alexis drive each topic, ensuring that Kate's voice was the one of decision, Lanie had great ideas, but as his daughter said once in a no-nonsense tone, "Thanks Lanie, I appreciate the input, and so does Mom, BUT it's her and Daddy's wedding, not yours, not mine. So please continue to help, but get your hurt feelings off the floor, you're here to help not make things harder." The young girl left no doubt about who was in charge and whose wishes they would follow.
It took about 15 minutes but Lanie finally came around and by the end of the session was back to herself. She hugged Kate when she was asked to be her Maid of Honor, she had thought by this time that it would be Alexis. Kate replied,
"Alexis has her hands full as the daughter of the bride, and she's the one that suggested I ask you," she smiled as Lanie hugged her tight,
Rick took a break and was immediately swarmed with a redhead and an excited brunette both talking a mile a minute until he finally got them settled down, and he agreed with all of the planning, so Alexis bounded off to her room to start the wheels in motion.
PRESENT TIME
The doorbell buzzed promptly at six, Kate and Rick greeted Jim together holding hands as had become their custom. Each felt lost without the touch of the other and for Kate this was revolutionary, to go from no PDA to the hell with it all, I love him and I want the world to know.
As soon as she saw her Dad, she fell into his arms, "I'm glad you're here Dad, I missed you,"
She tried hard but couldn't hide the tears, as he Dad just held her a few seconds longer, "I know Katie, I missed you too, now how about we sit down and you and Rick fill me in on what's really going on." As she finally stopped hugging him. Rick stepped forward to shake his hand,
"Welcome home Jim, we're glad you could come, pizzas are in the warmer and the soda is on ice, so why don't we get something to eat, and then Kate and I will tell you what's happening." Rick smiled,
"Sounds good Rick, I see you finally got around to asking her, by the look on her ring finger it must have grown in size since you asked me for her hand" he smiled and pulled Rick into a bro hug.
"Yes, I did, that's part of the story, *"
"Wait, Daddy, you knew, and Rick when did you ask for his permission, I mean I've been on my own for some time now" she was puzzled,
"Katie, Rick came to me last summer, he told me he didn't know how long or if ever you and he could get on the same page but the day you did, he wanted permission to marry you, and since he's a Dad as well, I really respect that he asked, even as you say you're your own woman.
"I told him that it didn't matter what I said, that if you loved him as much as I thought you do, nothing I could say or do would stop you, he laughed,
"Don't be angry at him because he was old fashioned, and really wanted to do right by you, and your family, I'm proud of him for asking."
Kate looked at Rick, "You never stop surprising me do you, and thank you for considering my Dad's feelings, no one other than you would have thought of it."
They stayed off the other news until Jim had relaxed and the pizzas had been devoured, then Kate said quietly,
"Daddy, there is one more thing we need to tell you, the wedding as we said is a week from Saturday at Rick's,"
"OUR Beach house" she was corrected, by Rick
"OK, our backhouse, and before Aunt Betty asks, NO, I'm not pregnant and don't have to get married, she noticed the smile come to her Dad's lips,
"Actually, I wish that were the other issue but I have breast cancer and have started treatment, I'll need surgery after the wedding then chemo and radiation, but I have a great doctor." She noticed the color drain from her Dad's face, she motioned for Rick to add the details, losing her fight to her tears.
"Jim, I want you to know we caught it early, Kate has 4 radiation treatments before the wedding, the first is tomorrow. We'll have a short honeymoon then she comes back to have the surgery and then the treatments from the Oncologists. The surgery they believe will be a minimum invasive type, but really Kate knows that whatever she needs or wants to be it plastic or reconstructive surgery, it's all up to her and the doctors."
"Daddy, it'll be OK, please just say something, please" Kate pleaded with him,
He took a deep breath, "something else I failed at, I should have told you that your Mom had breast cancer and she like you caught it early" If I had told you perhaps you could have done more screening, God, I'm so sorry." Jim looked and sounded devastated,
"Jim, I really think Kate caught it as early as possible, within two weeks of the first abnormal sign she went to the doctor, so no blame, please" Rick tried to get his future father in law and wife settled.
"When Dad? I don't remember Mom being in the hospital, I mean that's not something you could have hid from me," Kate almost cried,
He looked at her sadly, "We lied to you, remember when you were in the 10th grade, and your Mom had that big case in San Francisco, she was gone for about 6 weeks? Well, she wasn't in San Francisco, she and Aunt Betty were in Tampa Florida having her surgery and cancer treatments at Moffitt Cancer Center.
"We should have, and were going to, Jo was going to talk to you then," his eyes turned moist, as he stopped talking and just glanced out the window.
"Dad, it's OK, like Rick said I caught it very early Stage 2, Grade 2 so it hasn't moved and measures 12 mm, that's why Dr. Gupta is going to whack it with radiation, she would like it to be under 10 mm when they operate." Kate was still trying to process, she remembered her Mom being gone but hell she had Brent Edwards as a boyfriend and she never was home, or when she was, she didn't really pay attention to what was going on.
"Katie, I can't be there, this damn case, let me see if I can get Paul to take over,"
"Stop Dad, please, I have Rick, my fiancé soon to be husband and I have Alexis whose been more than a daughter to me, so Dad, it's embarrassing enough, please keep working, Rick or Alexis will keep you update, I promise you." She pleaded, and "Dad, please call Walt tonight, I know it's been years but tell him what's going on, keep him close, for me, please?" Knowing any mention of his sponsor might bring hurt to her Dad she tried to get it out as gently as possible,
"Good Idea Katie, I'll call him, maybe we'll take in a ball game, or two, but you have to promise to call me, I know you have people who love you more than anything, just please keep me posted. I have to give my little girl away a week from Saturday, and I want her as well as she can be," he forced a smile,
He left shortly after, Kate knew that he would, that's how he always dealt with things, alone. He would seek out his sponsor from AA Walt, who knew him, the family and knew how to keep him on course. Now she was exhausted from another full day and wanted to be held, she needed his touch,
Rick had slipped away for a few minutes allowing her to say goodbye to Jim, and when he came back, he just said so sweetly,
"Babe, I drew you a hot bath, and I just want you to relax, and to hold you, we don't need to do any funny stuff*"
She crushed his lips before he finished the statement. "What if I want the funny stuff, Babe? Let's go take our bath, I need to feel you, and be in your arms" she took his hand and led him to the master bathroom. After their bath, it started off as holding, ending up in Kate driving the action, she made love to Rick, made him see what she had meant when she had said, "You have no idea" so long ago, he did now, and he loved every moment of it.
Xx
Castle Loft
Next Morning
5:30 AM
Kate had been awake for hours, she remembered just how special she had felt the last round of their lovemaking just a few hours before. She had initiated the first session as a payback for all of the pleasure Rick had provided her, and she had succeeded.
He lay spent in her arms for almost 45 minutes, until she moved slightly, her left breast was suddenly in his mouth, so gentle, so sweet he was making love to her breasts, first one then the other, ever conscious of the possibility of additional sensitivity, but God that man, he was talented. He made her feel like she had never felt before, she tried to crawl inside of him, she couldn't be close enough to this wonderful man.
She crawled on top in a position where she had control or so she thought, until he was on her side, visiting areas she hadn't felt since high school and her make-out sessions at the drive-in movies, she never let the boys get past second base, but came damn close a few times back then. Rick hit grand slam after grand slam and it was her who passed out with him still inside of her, she rode the wave of ecstasy to a beautiful dream, at least for a few hours.
"I must be slipping" she heard his voice whisper, as his arm pulled her back to him as he massaged her breasts as he kissed her. There was a time you would have slept the entire day, I must have lost the technique," He said between kisses
"YOU, haven't lost a damn thing, but you will if you ever tell me who taught you those moves, God Rick, just when I think it couldn't get better you do, I only hope I please you some," Kate said timidly,
"You're kidding right Babe? I never have had to take a full half-hour to recover, that thing with the ice,"
"Technically it was 45 minutes" she laughed, now knowing for sure she had provided him the same pleasure he had provided her.
He pulled her gently on top of him looking deeply into her eyes, "I love you Kate Beckett, soon to be Castle, and I will forever. No matter what tomorrow brings, I know we'll be OK because we have each other, nothing has ever beat us or even come close when we're together. "He kissed her gently, but it was she that deepened it,
"Rick, you know what I need to hear, I mean I know you love me, but what if they have to remove the breast, I mean I won't look like a woman for sure then, hell I hardly have enough there, to begin with."
"I'll warn you, you're talking about my future's wife's body, and I love her with no boobs, small boobs, one boob, I don't care Kate, I love you, I promise you, I don't know what I can do to show you that I'm in, not just for a while, but the rest of my life.
"I know you have self-doubts but Sweetheart, please never think I picture you as anything else than the most desirable woman in the world I got lucky enough to marry. I have never been in a relationship with anyone who completes me, not the way you do, and satisfies me in every way. PLEASE, trust me, I'm here, I'll be here till we grow old together, always, now and forever me and you against the world, OK? He kissed he sweetly, and dried her tears with his finger, ever so gently.
She couldn't speak, overcome with love and emotion she laid her head on his chest, listening to his heart, the heart that he had given to her, beat a steady rhythm of I love you. Finally, about an hour later, she spoke,
"I love you Babe, again, I feel so much more than I have ever felt for anyone before, so I wish I could tell you more than I love you, but you complete me. As long as I have you, Alexis and our family, I won't lose, I won't quit, we're going to get through this, and hopefully give Lexi what she asked for"
Rick looked confused, "Did Alexis ask you for something Babe? She hasn't said a word to me,"
"She told me to stop worrying and if I could she would only ask for one thing, she wants to be a big sister, she knows you're the best Dad in the world, and she told me that with a mom like me her sibling would have all they ever need"
It was Kate who raised up, gently wiped a tear from Rick's eye, kissed him and said "we have to get ready Babe, first treatment, first step in kicking Cancers Ass, let's do this"
"Right with you Babe"
TBC
