Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance, Family, Humor
Rating: M for sexual situations and language
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured on the show Castle, they belong to the creator of the show, ABC and the others who do own them.
A/N #1: The lyrics in this chapter are from the songs Come Away with Me written by Norah Jones, from her album by the same name and Are You Ready For Love written by Thorn Bell, LeRoy Bell and Casey James and sung by Elton John, from Elton John's album The Thorn Bell Sessions.
A/N #2: It was great receiving the feedback for the last chapter so I'll go ahead and get started on my thank yous. TORONTOSUN (I was really happy you thought it was very good writing with Julia in the chapter. Also that you liked what she wrote in her diary!) and
Mb (I was pleased to read that you thought the chapter was a fantastic welcome back home and first day of school for the kids. I'm not surprised you remember going back home after summer vacation and starting new grades and asking people you knew about new teachers. I did too, but I would ask my friends about teachers if they weren't well known yet. So nice to see you were happy that Peter's mom and Clive's dad are moving forward in their relationship. Happy to see you thought the first half of the chapter was very nice. And you're welcome for the first half of the chapter too! Really glad you thought the second half was wonderfully written too. Not surprised you were glad everyone had a good first day at school along with dance class. I was really glad that you mention it was possible late August and September to go to the beach still as they did, lol, since I'm aware you're around the Hamptons- not in the same state but same area of the country if that makes sense. The area where I'm from is different so I just want to be accurate, lol. And I'm really glad that you enjoyed Julia's diary entries from their previous life, it's fun to include those too. I had to laugh at you saying that bam it went to Castle and Beckett being them, but I'm really pleased you enjoyed their love scene. It was nice to see you thought it was good they're still writing Green and Moor books since as you said it's a continuation of their past working together going into what they do now consulting on cases. You're welcome for sharing the second half! And I did see those stamps, I wish I could get them but since they're from the UK I don't think I can, but I'll keep trying, lol. But yeah, they're amazing!).
Thanks for the reviews, I loved reading them and I appreciate the time taken to write them out and send them my way!
A/N #3: The title of this chapter is the title of the song mentioned in the A/N above.
Come Away With Me
"I'm having some trouble," Castle said.
Turning to her husband, Beckett smiled and asked, "With what?
"My tie," Castle said in obvious frustration.
Walking over to him, Beckett took it and said, "What kind of knot were you trying to tie?"
"I don't know," Castle said with a sigh.
"Are you nervous?" Beckett asked him as she was fixing it.
"No but trying to hurry since I want to make sure Alexis isn't," Castle replied.
Smiling, Beckett wrapped her arms around his neck before they were kissing gently and parting slowly. "That's sweet, but you need to wait for me," she told him firmly. When he nodded seriously, she couldn't help laughing softly before she let him go and walked over to the bathroom of their room. She checked her reflection in the mirror above her sink and then put on her lipstick quickly. It was the eighteenth of September and the time had finally arrived for Alexis and Louis' wedding in Lake Placid. They were staying in the same B&B they had been at before, sleeping one more night before they made their way back to the Hamptons the next morning. She smiled as she thought of her oldest's honeymoon with Louis in Paris and their accommodations which would be a surprise to the couple, but shook herself as she went back into the bedroom asking her husband, "Are you ready?"
"Yeah," Castle said, having been looking at his tie. He then said, "You look amazing love."
"Thank you," Beckett said, squeezing his hand as he was taking hers. He was wearing a black suit with a tie that was close to the hue of her blue lace dress and she smiled at him before he opened the door. They walked down the hall to the room across where Alexis and Louis had slept the night before. She knocked first and was a little surprised when Martha appeared in the crack of the slightly open door.
"Richard," Castle's mother said with a smile. "Go back to your room."
"Hey," Castle told her.
"I'd like you to wait to see me Dad," Alexis said then. "Once I'm dressed."
"Oh… alright," Castle replied. "But as soon as you're finished…"
"We'll call you," Alexis said in obvious amusement.
Smiling at her husband as he left her, Beckett stepped inside the room once he'd gone into theirs. She locked the door behind her and turned to her mother in law and daughters saying, "Are you ready?"
"I am," Alexis said, smiling at her little sisters who were all in the room already. "Josa too."
"Josa's been smiling a lot," Julia added.
"She knows it's a happy day," Eliza said firmly. She laughed with her family and then said, "You look pretty Mommy."
"Thank you, sweetie," Beckett replied. She then said to Alexis, "Are you ready?"
Smiling again, though she was soon breathing out a little hard, the young woman nodded and said, "I was about to head into the bathroom right now."
"Okay," Martha said once they had all watched Alexis head into the room, closing the door. "I hope everything is ready by the stream."
"Isn't Louis there already?" Julia asked.
"He'll make sure it's ready," Eliza said with a nod of her head.
"When do we need to leave for there Mom?" Julia said as she watched her mother looking down at Josie in her arms.
"After your sister is ready," Beckett replied. She was about to speak when there was a knock on the door and she motioned to her mother in law before heading over to it saying, "That better not be your dad," jokingly. When she opened the door slightly, she saw it was Erin and said, "Good morning, come inside."
"Thanks," the girl said with a smile as she slipped into the room. "Is Alexis getting dressed?" she asked, not seeing the bride anywhere.
"She is," Julia responded. "She should be out soon," she added before they heard the door open.
"Hey Erin," Alexis said, stepping into the room. "I thought I heard your voice."
"Oh 'lexis, you look beautiful!" Eliza breathed.
"Thanks," the young woman replied with a smile as she ran her hands down her skirt.
"She's right," Julia said. "And the style fits you really well."
"I'm glad, Mari?" Alexis asked her sister.
"Yep," Julia said, smiling as Josie laughed in her arms before she set her down when the baby started to wriggle against her.
"Oh! Don't touch Josa!" Eliza cried worriedly.
"Don't worry," Alexis said, picking up her baby sister. "She's fine touching this dress."
"We need to finish Alexis," Martha told her granddaughter gently.
"Mom," Julia said then. "Could we go to Dad?"
"I'd appreciate it," Beckett told her with a smile. "And please keep him company until I text him."
"You look perfect Alexis," Erin said hurriedly. "Louis will be stunned."
Laughing softly as the girls had left, Alexis said, "Hopefully, or else all this was for nothing."
"He will be," Beckett assured her daughter.
"Come on darling," Martha told Alexis. "We'll finish your hair and makeup and you'll be ready to see Louis."
Beckett wasn't surprised when her oldest nodded and she was smiling as Alexis sat on the end of the bed. Since they'd be doing her hair last, she watched while Martha helped her with her makeup, smiling as she could tell her mother in law was fighting tears that were welling in her eyes. She hurried to grab a tissue as Alexis was carefully blotting her lipstick and she said, "You did a great job."
"Thank you," Martha said tearfully. She dabbed at her eyes, taken by surprise when her daughter in law and granddaughter were both hugging her gently. "Oh, Alexis, your dress," she said in protest after embracing them back. She looked to make sure the wedding dress wasn't wrinkled and nodded before turning to Beckett.
"I think it's my turn," she said to her oldest with a smile. "Are you set with your idea?"
"I am," Alexis said with a nod. She went into the bathroom then, sitting on the chair she'd placed there earlier. She smiled as her mother brushed her hair very gently and once she was fully relaxed, she murmured, "I wanted to have you both walk me down the aisle but with Meredith there…"
"I know," Beckett said gently. "Your dad told me, and I wish we could have done that," she said firmly since she knew Brennan and Clara were going to walk Louis down to where he and Alexis would stand together with the officiant. "But I'll be with you until Rick needs to take you."
Alexis nodded, tears welling, smiling when her mother told her to stop hurriedly so she wouldn't ruin her makeup, and she said, "I can't help it, I feel so emotional."
"I don't blame you," Beckett replied with a smile at their reflections. "I felt the same."
"But you seemed so calm," Alexis said in surprise, turning in her chair before she could stop herself.
"I know," Beckett replied, gently having her turn back. "Outwardly. But inwardly I was…"
"Was?" Alexis prompted her gently when her mother didn't continue.
"A mix of emotions," Beckett said, her attention startled when her daughter reached behind her and grabbed her hand.
"I wish she was here too," Alexis said.
Nodding, Beckett took a moment before she said to her oldest, "She would be proud of you. And happy for you. And to tell you not to name your child a verb."
"What?" Alexis said, unable to help laughing softly.
"She had a friend who got married before she and my dad did, they were a little bit free spirited and named their son Hopped," Beckett replied.
"You mean Haupt?" Alexis asked with a frown. "I've seen it, it's a last name."
Shaking her head, Beckett put the finishing touches on her daughter's hair and told her, "H-O-P-P-E-D. I don't know what happened to them or their son but that was his name."
"Don't worry, we won't," Alexis said with a smile.
"What do you think?" Beckett asked her as they were looking at her in the mirror.
"I love it," Alexis said as she reached up to lightly touch her hair. She had decided to slightly curl it and still braid her bangs back and she liked the affect. "Okay," she said, breathing out heavily. "I'm ready to go," she told her mother with a smile as she stood up.
Beckett helped her before they were going into the bedroom and while Martha was exclaiming over her oldest granddaughter, she went to her phone she'd set on a table next to the door, texting her husband down the hall. She didn't need to wait for long as she soon heard footsteps approach. "They're here," she told the others, opening the door.
"It's just me," Castle said, smiling at his wife. "They went downstairs to join the others." He stepped into the room and looked at their daughter, smiling even wider before he said, "Alexis."
"Indecent?" the young woman asked jokingly. She then laughed before she wrapped her arms around him while they stepped up to each other and held onto one another.
"No, you look great," Castle said, letting her go. He held her by the arms and said, "And too grown up."
Beckett shared a smile with her mother in law as the two were embracing again and she said, "You'll be doing this three more times Rick."
"Yes, well spaced out too," Martha commented. She then smiled and said, "And with that I believe I'll go with the girls, we'll need to leave soon."
"If the photographer's there Mother," Castle told her. "Tell her we'll be down soon."
"Of course, I'll see you shortly," Martha told the three.
When they were alone Castle said, "Actually we need to go soon, so we won't be late taking the pictures."
"Let me get my shoes," Alexis said. "Though-"
"I'll take them to your suitcase," Beckett interrupted, watching as Alexis took off her slippers and put on her low heels before she took the bag she was handed. "I'll go put them away before they take them," she said.
"We're following you," Castle said.
Seeing her mother turning to them Alexis said, "He's right, we have to go."
"I think you need some time alone," Beckett said as they followed her to the door.
"We will be, we talked last night remember?" Alexis said.
"You really don't want to again?" Beckett asked.
"We're good," Castle said, smiling at his daughter when she nodded.
"I'll come to the back," Beckett told them hurriedly before she went to the lobby where Alexis' and Louis' suitcases were. She put the bag with slippers in the outer pocket of her oldest's and zipped it up quickly before walking to the backyard where she could see her husband and their daughter talking with the photographer they had hired.
"She's ready," Castle said with a smile at his wife when she walked up to them. "At least I hope so."
"I am," Beckett said, rolling her eyes before she smiled. She went with her husband and they walked behind their daughter and the photographer onto the pier. When they were ready the woman was instructing them to stand together at the end of it and she was a little unsure about standing to Alexis' left but her oldest didn't say anything and they were smiling at the photographer. She and Castle took turns taking pictures alone with the bride before they were leaving the pier.
"Do you mind?" Alexis asked her mother after she'd walked to her and slipped her arm through hers.
"No," Beckett said with a smile. "At least I get the chance to escort you for a little." She laughed softly with her daughter and then said, "Are you ready for this?"
"I am," Alexis said.
Hearing her firm tone of voice, Beckett squeezed her hand gently and they walked through the house and to the car in the front. "I'm surprised you didn't hire someone," she told her husband teasingly.
"I can drive," Castle said exaggeratedly before he was opening the back door for them. He and Beckett made sure Alexis was okay getting in with her dress before he turned to his wife and said, "What do you think?"
"About what?" Beckett said.
"Her dress," Castle said.
"Dad, stop it," Alexis said jokingly as she was leaning over and looking at them. "And get in the car or I'll just walk there."
"We're coming," Castle said, jokingly pushing Beckett to the car before he helped her in. "Are you two set?"
"I am," Alexis said after her mother was sitting next to her.
"We both are," Beckett said, checking on her daughter's skirt to make sure. Once she was, she then shared a smile with her daughter before Castle was driving down the road. It took little time before they were at the path leading down to the stream, and she said, "I think everyone's here."
"Good," Alexis said, trying not to convey how she was suddenly nervous. She let her parents help her out of the car before her mother was pulling her into her arms.
"I love you Alexis," Beckett said softly. "I know you'll be happy."
"Thank you, Mom," the young woman replied. "I love you too." Alexis stood in between her parents before she was slipping her arms through theirs saying, "Let's go."
Castle smiled before they were walking until they were nearly in view of the end of the aisle, and he let go of his daughter before his wife and Alexis were embracing tightly.
When they'd let go of each other, Beckett made sure the wedding dress was set before she said to them both, "I'll be there waiting for you two; but I still think you needed to have some time at the building."
Laughing with her father, Alexis turned to him when Beckett was walking past the rows of seats where the guests were and said, "Go ahead Dad."
"Go… what?" Castle asked in confusion.
"Say it, say that I was just a tiny little girl, and you don't know where time went but you're very happy with Louis and you know I love him and you'll walk me down the aisle and be glad since you'll be with Mom," Alexis told him.
"Wow," Castle said jokingly. "I don't need to say a word."
Alexis laughed and then hugged her father tightly as she said, "But you're not dreading this are you? It's not giving me away it's-"
"Escorting you to your future husband," Castle said at the same time as her. He smiled when she pulled away from him and said, "I know, and since you're living right across the street, I better be escorting you; you're still my daughter. Our daughter."
Alexis hugged him again before she said, "Okay, then it's time to go."
"It is," Castle said before he took her hand and they walked together until they were close to the end of the aisle. He then was quick to check on his daughter's dress as he knew his wife wanted him to do. "Good?" he asked her.
Alexis nodded and then checked her own A-line wedding dress. She touched the wide straps that spread over her shoulders and ran her hands over the sequined bodice. She was looking down at the skirt which was designed to appear as if it had been split with an underskirt the same white color when she heard familiar giggling. "Oh good," she told her father. "The wedding party."
"I know, where were you guys?" Castle said in a mock scolding tone.
"We were waiting for you to talk," Eliza said.
"Kate told us to hold on a little more," Erin said.
"I'll have to thank her," Castle said.
"Me too," Alexis said with a smile before she took her bouquet from Erin. "Thank you so much. Lizzy?"
"I have the rings right here," the little girl replied proudly, holding up the box that was carved with a Celtic Knot pattern on it.
"Okay, I think we're ready," Castle said, picking Josie up quickly and hugging her gently so he wouldn't ruin her dress.
"I'm taking her Dad," Julia said with a smile.
"Is she walking or are you carrying her?" Castle asked.
"Walking, we'll be first," Julia said since Alexis wanted her to put flower petals on the aisle ahead of the rest of them.
"Good, we need to start though," Alexis said kneeling to hug her sisters and Erin at the same time. "Sorry Dad," she said with a soft laugh as he was checking her dress. They walked behind the girls and she smiled when Julia and Eliza were telling her they loved her, and she said, "I love you four, thank you so much," smiling as well at Erin who blushed at being included.
"Have fun girls," Castle told them as the music began to cue the girls to walk.
"He's right," Alexis said. "Thank you," she added quickly, watching with a smile as Julia and Josie walked first, the baby throwing petals of red, orange and yellow roses.
Beckett was smiling at the girls, especially Josie since the baby was watching the petals before Julia was urging her on until they stood to the side where Alexis would be. "You did great," she whispered to the two quickly.
Julia smiled and murmured, "Thanks Mom," trying to ignore Alexis' birth mother in the row behind. She turned back to the aisle, seeing her little sister and Erin walking together, the latter throwing bells of Ireland which were with the roses in her big sister's bouquet. 'I'm definitely going to use those when I get married too,' she thought before shaking herself as the two reached the end of the aisle and Erin was hugging her brother while Eliza stood with her and Josie. "You did great," she murmured to her little sister.
"Thanks," Eliza said, smiling at her and Beckett as she'd said the same.
Smiling at her daughters, Beckett heard the music change and she stood up with everyone else as Castle and Alexis were walking down the aisle. She smiled at her husband and their oldest seeing they were both smiling themselves though their daughter's eyes were on her fiancé.
Alexis was breathless seeing Louis at the end of the aisle waiting for her, thinking he'd never looked more handsome to her in his suit. She shook herself as they were nearly there, and she soon turned her attention to her father when they had reached the very end of the aisle. She hugged her father tightly and she whispered, "I love you Daddy."
"I love you too pumpkin," Castle said seriously. He smiled at her when he pulled away and turned to Louis who had stepped up to them. "All I ask is that you'll make her happy," he told the young man seriously.
"I intend to," Louis said in the same tone of voice. "For the rest of our lives," he told his fiancée while they were gazing into each other's eyes.
Castle smiled and kissed his daughter's cheek before he hugged her one last time before they were letting each other go and he let her take Louis' hand herself. He then went to the seat next to his wife and kissed her quickly before the officiant was speaking. He felt his wife holding onto his arm as they were listening to the man speaking about marriage before he was turning to Louis to let him know he could begin his vows. He was smiling when the young man took a moment to speak as he was still gazing into Alexis' eyes, but he soon began and he wrapped his arm around his wife, unable to help thinking about their own vows while they listened.
"Alexis," Louis began, pulling her right hand up to his chest and holding it there. "Lex," he added before they were smiling at one another. "I never really thought I'd find someone I'd love more than my horses, but I've been gladly proved wrong, every single day since we met. I cannot wait to have this ceremony set, your ring on my finger; mine on yours; and our lives together starting for good now. I want the joy of knowing you're with me, that you love me as much as I love you and promise with your ring that we will have that forever. I will love you, devote myself to you and what we will have together and I will never stop."
Alexis threw her arms around her fiancé and held him tightly while he was embracing her in turn. It took her a moment to get her feelings a little more under control before they parted, and she smiled when the officiant told her she could tell Louis her vows. She turned to her fiancé and said, "Louis," having to pause as she was getting emotional again. "I fell in love with you when I learned what a great man you are, loving animals and especially horses and children as well. You are kind and gentle and I want to make sure that you're happy as well because I have been since we met. I want a life with you as my husband, I want to be your wife and whatever happens to us I want us to be together. I will never stop loving you, will never stop being there for you in everything in our lives together."
Feeling her husband squeezing her hand, Beckett looked up at him and she could see how pleased he was at the vows since the couple's love was so obvious. She squeezed back and turned her full attention back to their daughter and her fiancé because the officiant was speaking to them both.
"Now you may exchange rings. Eliza?" the man asked.
Nodding, the little girl walked quickly though trying not to look like she was running, and she stood behind her sister and Louis, opening the lid so he could take out Alexis' ring first. Eliza smiled at her sister before she watched Louis was taking Alexis' hand and she watched closely to see what would be so different about the two once they were wearing their rings.
"Alexis," Louis began. "With this ring I give you a physical promise that I will be yours forever. I love you and endlessly will," he finished with before he slid the wedding band gently on her left ring finger he'd been holding it above.
When the officiant nodded at her look, Alexis turned to her little sister, squeezing her arm gently before she took Louis' wedding band. Turning to him, she took his left hand and held his ring above his fourth finger telling him, "Louis, with this ring I give you a physical promise that I will be yours forever. I love you and endlessly will." She slipped on the ring, feeling a thrill going through her once it was set and she looked up at Louis, sharing a smile with him and nearly missing the officiant telling everyone that they were husband and wife.
Castle was breathing out hard when the two were immediately moving into a kiss and he looked at his wife saying, "She's happy."
"Both of them," Beckett said with a smile, sharing a brief kiss with him before they turned back to their daughter and her husband. They walked down the aisle shortly after and she and Castle walked immediately after, her cousin and Clara behind them before she went to where Alexis and Louis had stopped on the path back to the road.
"I'm so happy right now," Alexis said, wrapping her arms around her parents as soon as she reached them.
"I'm not surprised," Castle said. "And I'm glad too because you need to be." When they were pulling away from each other, he smiled and said, "Please tell me they're tears of joy," as he gently thumbed away the tears from her cheeks.
"They are, don't worry," Alexis said before she let them go and went to her in laws. She hugged Clara and Brennan in turn, thanking them for being there before she turned to her husband as he reached for her hand.
"Here you are," Louis said, taking her engagement ring from his blazer pocket. He slid it and set it firmly against her wedding band saying, "Well, what do you think?"
"They're beautiful," Alexis replied before hugging him as tightly as she could.
"Could we see?" Clara asked. "Louis didn't give any indication as to what he was going to choose."
"We chose Mam," Louis corrected her with a smile while Alexis was showing them her wedding band. They had chosen a design that had a plain band with a milgrain above and below since they liked how it was different but still a little traditional. "It does look beautiful on your hand," he told his wife as she smiled at him.
"Yours on you," Alexis said with a smile.
Louis laughed before he nodded and then turned his attention to the rest of their families and guests so they could greet and thank them together.
"How's the father of the bride?"
Looking up from her plate where she had just eaten her brunch, Beckett smiled and said, "And mother too, don't forget." She laughed when Esposito shrugged and stood up before she hugged him tightly, her husband talking to the guests from the city jokingly while she did that.
"You realize it's way too late for me to object now," Castle said, smiling as he hugged Jenny quickly with one arm. He ruffled Danny and Tommy's hair before the two boys were leaving them and he then said, "But it's great to see you; sorry about not doing that before now."
"You've been busy," Ryan said, shaking Castle's hand and sharing a quick hug with Beckett. "But you both look really happy too."
"We are," Beckett said. She looked around the banquet room of the restaurant on the lake the couple had chosen before she saw Alexis was leading Louis over to them. While they were talking to the newlyweds, she went to Lanie and said, "How is he?"
"Good," the ME said with a smile, letting her take Miles. "Thriving really."
"Ah…" the baby said.
"He's learning," Beckett said, kissing the top of Miles' head. She let the baby go to his father and squeezed Dylan's arm telling him, "And he's beautiful."
"He is," he replied. "But since he'll need to nap soon, I'll sit with him," Dylan added when Miles began to fuss.
When her husband had left them, Lanie asked, "When are they leaving?"
"We're going soon," Alexis said before her mother could speak. "After some dancing and the cake."
"When you say cake…" Ryan said.
"It's macarons," Louis told him, unable to help smiling. "They're our favorites and we're going to Paris, so we thought…" he said before trailing off and smiling at his wife.
"Alternative cakes are popular now," Jenny said. "And it does look delicious."
"Flavors?" Lanie asked the two.
"Red is raspberry," Alexis said. "Orange is orange, the yellow is lemon, blue we went with blueberries and the green is mint crème."
"Nice, now when can we start on that?" Esposito asked.
"After they have a few dances as husband and wife," Skye said, walking up to them suddenly. "Afternoon," she said, pretending to tip a hat to them with a smile.
"You're ready?" Alexis asked. When the investigator nodded, she smiled and said, "Okay, we'll see you for the next dance."
"Next dance?" Beckett asked her husband in concern as she turned to him. "It was supposed to be just you and Alexis."
"Louis will just stand with you during the song," Castle said. "Which should keep the peace."
"I'm surprised she's been so quiet," Lanie said wryly as she glanced at Meredith who was talking to the boyfriend of one of Louis' friends there.
"Me too," Castle said though he was watching his daughter and Louis while Skye went to them with a microphone.
"I hope you won't mind terribly," the investigator said after calling for attention. "But Mr. McCullough and Ms. Castle are ready for their first dance as husband and wife, and they dedicate this to each other and their love."
Standing with his wife as the guests were all at the edge of the dance floor, Castle wrapped his arm around her firmly when he spotted Meredith trying to make her way over to him. His attention was drawn to his wife as Beckett was gently turning it to their daughter and son in law while the slow music was beginning from the DJ they had hired for the reception. He smiled as the two were beginning to sway together and was about to tell his wife he was getting a lot of memories when she spoke gently first to him.
"Déjà vu?" Beckett murmured to him. When he nodded, she asked him, "Jealous?"
"Slightly," Castle replied. He then said, "Three years is going to be a long time," at the same time as his wife. He looked at her and smiled, though they soon turned to the couple when Skye was beginning to sing the song the pair had told them was their song.
Come away with me in the night
Come away with me
And I will write you a song
Wrapping his arms around his wife's waist, Louis kissed her temple and murmured, "I can't believe we're finally doing this," feeling her nod when Skye was singing the next verse.
Come away with me on a bus
Come away where they can't tempt us
With their lies
And I want to walk with you
On a cloudy day
In fields where the yellow grass grows knee-high
So won't you try to come
Come away with me and we'll kiss
On a mountain top
Come away with me
And I'll never stop loving you
Pressing her cheek to her husband's, Alexis could feel nothing but complete joy in that moment, with only the instrumental of the song and swaying securely in his arms. She didn't want it to end but knew they would have three weeks in Paris all on their own to explore their love together.
And I want to wake up with the rain
Falling on a tin roof
While I'm safe there in your arms
So all I ask is for you
To come away with me in the night
Come away with me
Applauding with the others, Skye then let the DJ take over and she was going to head to her wife when Alexis came over to her and hugged her tightly, thanking her. "You don't need to do that," she said with a smile when they let go of each other. "You are my niece after all."
"Yes, but Dad taught me to be polite," Alexis said.
"And it was a beautiful performance," Louis added.
Laughing, Skye squeezed the young man's hand and then said quickly, "I'll sing the other, now go to Rick and Kate and enjoy your reception."
Escorting his wife to her parents, Louis nodded to Castle when he squeezed his arm for a moment before he and Alexis were going to the dance floor. He stayed with Beckett and asked, "Josie?"
"Asleep," she replied. Beckett then placed her hand on Louis' arm and asked, "Has it sunk in yet?"
"That I'm a husband? Nearly," Louis said, smiling at her. "I'll get that in Paris when we're alone and I have to make sure she's safe… well fed too."
Laughing for a moment, covering her mouth as Castle and Alexis were dancing together, Beckett said, "Brennan?"
"Oh aye, Da told me his father in law said the same to him," Louis replied, smiling at his mother in law before they watched their spouses finishing their dance before the next song began and he went with his wife to dance with his mother while she danced with Brennan. Once the song was over and the next began the others were starting to move to the floor to dance themselves.
Beckett let her husband take her hand before they were going to Eliza and Julia, dancing all together to the faster song. She smiled at the girls as they were jumping and spinning in their dresses their sister had picked for them, Josie and Erin. They were sleeveless dresses and forest green in color with white sashes, the skirt going down nearly to their ankles. She thought they looked cute, and she told them before the girls were telling them to start dancing. "We will, go you two," she told them with a smile.
"But we'll dance with you again," Castle said as he wrapped his arm around his wife.
"Good!" Julia said at the same time as her sister. They left their parents then and her sister went over to Dani and Maddy who were with Bethany and Joseph while she herself found Mari. "Want to dance?" she asked as another fast song was starting. She was pleased when her friend nodded, and they proceeded to dance two more fast songs together before they stopped, and Mari was asking her about Skye.
"Is she going to sing again?" the girl asked.
"I think so," Julia said, seeing the investigator and doctor were walking to the DJ together. "Both of them," she said in surprise.
"You don't know what song they're going to sing?" Marie asked as she and her twin walked over to them.
"I didn't pick their music," Julia said, smiling when the twins looked surprised. "Are you going to dance with us?" Before they could answer, her parents were calling to her and she said goodbye to her friends before going to her family with a smile. "We're dancing again?" she asked them.
"Yeah, after this you can dance with your friends," Castle said.
"What's the song?" Eliza asked, with them as well as Josie who was awake by then.
"We have no idea," Beckett said. "But whatever it is Skye can sing it."
"How much longer is the wedding gonna be?" Eliza then asked.
"Not too long," Beckett replied, smiling at her husband.
Shaking his head Castle said, "Don't start, I want them to have a vacation. To rest." He smiled when his wife shook her head while she smiled, and he squeezed her to him for a moment before Skye was beginning to speak.
"One last performance today," the investigator began once the guests and families were looking at her. "Before we allow Alexis and Louis to have their cake and leave for their honeymoon. Another song they've dedicated to each other and their love and to all of you out there in love as well." She then turned to the DJ and the music started before people were beginning to dance, the newlyweds starting first.
"Do you know this song?" Beckett asked Julia as the girl was smiling widely.
"Yep, it's a good one for you and Dad too Mom!" Julia cried.
"Good, then it's for us too," Castle said, smiling with his wife while their daughters started to laugh together and Skye soon began to sing, Mary joining her for backup here and there.
Catch a star if you can
Wish for something special
Let it be me, my love is free
Sing a song to yourself
Think of someone listening
One melody, you're all for me
I'll write a symphony just for you and me
If you let me love you
I'll paint a masterpiece just for you to see
If you let me love you, let me love you
At the chorus Julia and Eliza went to their sister and started jumping with Josie so their parents could dance which they were soon doing as it went back to the verse.
Are you ready, are you ready for love?
Yes I am, are you?
Are you ready, are you ready for love?
Yes I am, are you?
Are you ready, are you ready for love?
You're the one like the sun
Shine your love around me
You'll always be the one for me
Say the word and I'll be there
Loving you forever
Don't let me go, just say it's so
We'll hear the music ring from the mountain tops to the valley below us
We'll serenade the world with a lullaby
So the angels will know us
Angels will know us
Beckett laughed while her husband spun her at the beginning of the chorus and did it a few more times at the end before she wrapped her arms around him, and they danced close for a bit before going to their daughters. They danced with them for the last instance of the chorus, smiling as all three were obviously enjoying themselves greatly.
Are you ready, are you ready for love?
Yes I am, are you?
Are you ready, are you ready for love?
Yes I am, yes I am, yes I am, yes I am, yes I am
Are you ready, are you ready for love?
Yes I am, are you?
Are you ready, are you ready for love?
Yes I am, are you?
Are you ready, are you ready for love?
Yes I am, are you?
Are you ready, are you ready for love?
Yes I am, are you?
Are you ready, are you ready for love?
Yes I am, are you?
Are you ready, are you ready for love?
Yes I am, are you?
When Skye and Mary had stopped singing, Alexis and Louis applauded with their families and guests before he was leading her over to their cake and the others were following them.
"How're you going to make a mess on her face?" Erin asked with a smile, squeezing Arthur's hand since she was holding it.
"That's the purpose of the macarons," Louis said. He winked exaggeratedly and said, "That way she won't be mad."
"Take one Louis," Alexis said to her husband, smiling at him as she gently pinched his shoulder. She was holding a red macaron and he got a green one before they linked their arms and fed each other. She playfully smashed the macaron into her husband's face, moving back when he did the same to her. She laughed as she felt the crème on her lips, but they were soon eating the rest of their macarons and then sharing a kiss as the others were cheering and whistling for them.
"Good start," Darnley murmured to Beckett since he was standing near her with his family.
"Very," she agreed. Beckett then said, "We still need to dance together."
"I know, but what about your husband?" Darnley asked.
"I'm dancing with Eliza," Castle commented. "So don't worry."
Beckett smiled and then turned her attention to a plate of macarons she was being given, thanking her oldest as it had three of the flavors she'd wanted. Once they'd all eaten, they moved back to the dance floor or tables and she had her dance with Darnley before he gave her to Castle and took Eliza to dance with him and Maddy. "How're you doing now love?" she asked him.
"Tired, but happy still," Castle replied. "I've wanted everything to go well."
Nodding her head, Beckett said, "I don't blame you; I did to. But everything is set and they'll be on their way to Europe."
"Until then though…" Castle said before he was spinning his wife. He smiled when she laughed softly and then took her into his arms before they were sharing a brief kiss and turning their attention back to their dance. They glanced at their oldest from time to time and saw she was enjoying herself with her husband as the reception continued.
Hugging her sisters all at once Alexis said, "Thank you so much for helping out with the ceremony."
"Did you tell Erin?" Eliza asked.
"I did," Alexis replied. "And thank you for holding the rings for us."
"You're welcome, I was happy to," Eliza said.
"It was fun," Julia said. "And since you're happy it's even better," she added.
"I am," Alexis laughed. "We'll call you guys once in a while, but I'm going to miss you."
"Las," Josie said.
Kissing the baby's cheek, Alexis said, "I'm glad you'll miss me too." She then looked at her other two sisters and was about to tell them she'd get them something when Eliza was talking first and in a rush.
"We will miss you too, will you bring us something from Paris?" the little girl asked.
Alexis was laughing with Julia and then told the three, "I was about to tell you I was, but it'll be a surprise."
"We can't wait to see," Julia said, smiling while Eliza was hugging their big sister. She gave her Josie and then hugged Alexis saying, "I hope you have a nice honeymoon."
"I think we will," the young woman replied. Kissing her and Eliza on the cheek before doing it again to Josie when she touched her cheek. Standing up Alexis said, "Make sure Mom and Dad don't miss me too, too much."
"We will," Julia said, Eliza nodding in agreement with her. "Take a lot of pictures," she said.
"I'm planning on it," Alexis replied.
"And eat a lot of good pastries," Eliza added.
Laughing, Alexis hugged her three little sisters at the same time before she kissed them on their cheeks one more time and went to their parents who'd been talking to Louis. She went to her mother first, hugging her, and then said, "I love you Mom."
"I love you too Alexis," Beckett said, running her hand over her hair for a moment before saying, "Was it a good wedding?"
"Yes, it was perfect," Alexis said seriously before they let each other go. "Thank you; for everything."
"You're welcome," Beckett replied with a smile. They kissed each other's cheek at the same time before telling her, "Have fun in Paris, and fun learning what it's like to be a wife."
Nodding, Alexis said, "I'm looking forward to everything." She shared another hug with her mother; reminding herself to get something for her parents; before she went to her father. She embraced him as tightly as she could, telling him, "Thank you Dad, again, but really this was the most amazing day."
"You're right, but the most important thing happened," Castle told her seriously. When they let go of each other she wasn't surprised when she looked at him questioningly and he smiled before telling her, "You're happy, both of you are extremely happy."
Alexis hugged him again before she pulled back and said, "We are, we can't wait to come home too you know."
"We're all excited for that," Castle said seriously. "But please enjoy Paris as much as you both can."
"We will," Alexis replied before she kissed his cheek and her father kissed hers. "I love you Dad," she told him seriously.
"I love you Alexis," Castle replied in the same tone. "Hold on," he said as she started to walk from him. "Louis," he called to his son in law. Smiling when the young man looked at him in surprise he said, "I'm helping Alexis into the car; you can do that from now on."
Smiling, the young man nodded said, "It's fitting and I'm fine with it."
"Thank you, Dad," Alexis told her father with a smile before he was squeezing her hand gently and speaking quickly while Louis was getting in on the other side.
"Everything is ready at the hotel, you'll have someone picking you up," Castle told them.
"Thanks," Alexis said meaningfully.
"Yes, thank you so much," Louis added. "I've said the same to my da."
"We'll see you in a couple days, but I hope you'll text us once you get to JFK and de Gaulle," Castle said.
"We will," Alexis said.
"Then safe trip," Castle told them before he closed the door.
"Thanks," Alexis told him with a smile since she'd opened the window. She waved at her family before she was laughing with Louis as they were throwing rose petals over their car, the guests doing the same. When they were down the road, she closed the window and said to her husband, "I'm glad Meredith left already."
"Me too, Da can't stand her," Louis said. "Did I ever mention that?"
Laughing softly, Alexis nodded and said, "He mentioned it to me, but the rest of their day here will be nice."
"Luckily," Louis replied before he wrapped his arm around her. Since the driver was in the front, he only kissed her cheek and said, "I can't wait for the flight to be over."
"Me too, but we get there early tomorrow morning," Alexis said.
"We do," Louis said, studying her. "What're you thinking of doing?"
"We'll see if we feel like doing anything at all," Alexis said with a smile.
"Well, we'll sleep of course," Louis told her. He laughed when she nodded in agreement and then said, "I wish our wedding night wasn't in transit."
"No, but at least we'll be there for three full weeks," Alexis reminded him.
"Very true," Louis said, raising her hand.
Smiling while her husband was pressing his lips to her palm gently, Alexis felt a thrill of anticipation go through her as she couldn't wait to get to the private airport to start their journey across the Atlantic Ocean to reach the French capital with her new husband.
"Good morning Lex," Louis said to his wife when he saw her stepping out onto the balcony of their suite. "How'd you sleep?"
"Great," Alexis replied with a smile, walking over to him and kissing him gently. When he kept her with him and kissed her harder, she wrapped her arms around him tightly before his tongue slipped into her mouth. When they slowly parted, she smiled and told him, "I'm guessing you did too."
"Oh I did," Louis said with a nod. He then said, "Hungry?"
"Starving," Alexis said. "You already ordered?"
"I did, I was hungry myself," Louis said, helping her into her chair since the balcony had a table. They started to get their food ready as he'd gotten them a basket of croissants and a few pastries along with a bowl of fruits. As they were sipping their café au lait he suddenly said, "We came here before."
Smiling, Alexis nodded and said, "I just remembered too. I don't think we were in this same hotel-"
"Or the same room at least," Louis interrupted her.
"Or that," Alexis replied with a slight smile. She then grew serious and said, "But it's where we came for our honeymoon back then." She bit her lower lip and said, "We stayed a month but didn't really do much sightseeing."
"No," Louis said slowly. When his wife went back to her food, he did the same and they ate their croissants while looking out at their panoramic view of the city, especially the Eiffel Tower. They were quiet as they moved to the fruit and then decided to take in the pastries to save for their dinner before they were going inside together. He took care of the plates they had used and set the pastries aside before he went to where she was sitting on the couch in the living room. "So," he said slowly as he stood in front of her. "Should we head o-" he then began to say before she was jumping up and throwing her arms around him. He was kissing her deeply as she was doing the same and they were nearly pawing at each other before he stopped them and he pulled away saying, "Lex…"
"Please," Alexis breathed to her husband before she smiled as he was breathing out roughly. "We are married you know," she told him teasingly.
"That's very true," Louis said. When he sighed, he wasn't surprised his wife was looking at him in surprise and he explained, "I didn't want to just run to the bed and spend all our time there."
"And we haven't but…" Alexis said before trailing off herself. She was laughing as her husband wrapped his arm around her, helping her over to the bedroom before she was pulling on the bottom of his t-shirt. "Why did we get dressed?" she asked him as Louis was pulling on the zipper of her dress she'd been intending to wear out.
"Not a clue, but I've been meaning to ask," he started to say. "Would you really want to leave?"
"No," Alexis replied, pulling him closer to her. They were kissing again, and she wasn't surprised when their clothes seem to melt away before they were laying on the lavish sheets of their bed. They parted to watch when they were touching each other, and she arched her back against her husband's hands since they had cupped over her breasts. She eventually reached up to him, stopping him, and she drew him more firmly on top of her body. "Better," she told him resolutely.
"Very true," Louis said with a nod before he was taking her lips with his own. When they had slowly pulled away from one another, he smiled at his wife and nuzzled her lips before he moved carefully and entered her body. They were gasping out at nearly the same time before he was stopping and he breathed out, "Wife," before he smiled briefly.
"Husband," Alexis said with the same, swift smile. They were kissing again and when he moved slightly against her she broke it off with a heavy moan before she begged him, "Start already! You're going to make me come like this."
"That isn't what you want?" Louis asked jokingly. He kissed her again but kept that short as he was focusing on making sure he wouldn't move faster than he wanted to. He felt his wife's legs and arms wrap around his body before he felt her feet move to slide under his legs. He grunted roughly when she was tightening around him and he swore before he said, "You're going to…"
"What?" Alexis taunted him though she didn't mean it.
Louis responded by kissing her briefly before he slowly pulled away and then breathed to her, "So there's no stopping us?"
"No," Alexis said simply while her husband was staying pressed against her but moving his hips up and down. She was groaning heavily in response before she grasped his ass and made him stop.
"I'll be too quick Lex," Louis told her seriously.
"It doesn't matter, we're not going to be able to leave the room you know," Alexis breathed to him, gently caressing his hair.
"Tomorrow?" Louis asked.
"The Louvre," Alexis said before she was moaning heavily as her husband began to thrust in her again. She had to close her eyes tightly since the sensation of him doing that was swift to affect her and she wasn't sure how long they were moving together before he was slowing down and just barely moving. "What do you want?" she asked him as he nuzzled her lips with his.
"Would you put your hands on my back?" Louis said, feeling slightly foolish until he saw his wife was smiling lovingly at him. "I want to feel your rings," he added in case she didn't understand. He grunted for a moment when Alexis was doing that and then began moving again, thrusting a little harder against her than he had been before. He did his best to slow down and once he'd managed to a little, he was kissing her though they had to keep stopping as they needed to breathe. He did that for some time, trying to draw things out since it was such an important bout of lovemaking for them both. He eventually came to the realization he couldn't continue for much longer and he stopped before his wife's heels were slamming into his ass.
"Don't… stop," Alexis said to him through gritted teeth. "If you do, we're going… out… after!" She gasped as he was faltering before regaining his pace and she was clawing at his back as she cried out to him, "I'm coming! Oh Louis… you feel… please come with me… in me!"
"I will… Alexis!" Louis replied before he was losing his self-control. He didn't stop going at an easier pace, tempted to become rough but keeping himself steady until he was thrusting twice rapidly within his wife. He was breathing hard against the side of his wife's head and found he needed to recover before he was able to speak. "I… love you Lex, so much," he told her before he kissed her.
Running her hands up the back of his neck and hair, Alexis responded and they were kissing sensuously for some time before they parted with a shared gasp of air. "I love you too Louis, and now we're historically considered married."
"We are," the young man replied before he was moving to lay next to her. He wasn't surprised when she moved to him and he said, "And since that's out of the way…" He moved then and kissed her deeply before he pulled away and told her, "Would you want to wait?"
"Do you mean do I mind waiting for tomorrow?" Alexis asked him with a smile before she was pressing her cheek to his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her tightly.
"I do," Louis replied. "And if you want to go to the Louvre or anything else, I'll go gladly."
Alexis laughed softly and told him, "I think that would be fine, for the first day out."
"Good," Louis said with a nod. He kissed his wife as she leaned up to him and then said, "Now… what do we do next?"
Laughing, Alexis shared another kiss with him before they were moving together and she was getting on top of her husband, both working to arouse one another. As soon as she could she was taking his length within her sex before they were coupled a second time and she looked at her husband below her saying, "I love this marriage already."
"So do I," Louis replied, grunting at his wife's movements. He held onto her hips and was thrusting up with her before he told her, "It'll get better."
"Yes," Alexis moaned in pleasure as she was moving faster. She looked down at her husband and then tilted her head back, amazing in the back of her mind that her pleasure with him was going to continue while they would continue to explore their physical love without any thought of stopping beginning with their three weeks in Paris all on their own.