Rick Castle and the FBI Agent
Chapter 14 - All's Well That Ends Well
Epilogue
They had planned for a joint wedding. Rick volunteered his home in the Hamptons for the venue. The bridal company was also a joint venture, Lanie was Maid of Honor for both, the Brides Maid were composed of friends from the two women. For Kate, it was Ros Karpowski, Anne Hastings, Tory Ellis, and Jenny Ryan. Sam had chosen from her FBI co-workers and her best friend during college.
The day of the Joint Nuptials saw the Hampton Home filled with guest, almost 300, split evenly between the two couples. Jim Beckett gave away Kate, and Sam, having lost her father years back, had Captain Montgomery give her away. Both women were absolutely beautiful. Each had chosen their mother's wedding gowns for the event. The minister was none other than Judge Markoway, who had been their 'go to' Judge for warrants and a close friend of Rick, a poker buddy.
The two couples exchange simple vows. They kept the vows basic and short but with enough significance. Enough to share what it meant for their futures and allow the marriage crowd a view of their relationships leading up to the matrimonial event.
Rick: "Kate, I have waited so long for this to happen, and now it is becoming true. I hoped thru the time I waited for you that eventually you would see what was in my heart for you. When it did happen, I became the happiest man ever, because of you. I vow to stay at your side as your husband, sharing a life time together and being with you... Always."
Kate: "Rick, ours was not a easy path. For those years I was with you at work, I never saw what was there right in front of me. I denied it for so long, until I could no longer do so, realizing that you had somehow captured my heart. It was no longer available to be given to another. You had my heart but I rejected that thought for so long. Now, I acknowledge that I want to share a life with you as your wife and vow to be there ...Always."
Paul: "Samantha, you have always been there for me, even when I could not be there for you. You left for a time to distance yourself, fate however interceded for us. Fate gave us another chance together. When you finally did return, it re-awaken in me the love that was there for you. Now I vow to have you in my life, to be there for you as your husband. I love you Sam."
Sam: "Paul, fate and circumstance kept us apart, and I left for awhile because it hurt to be
there and not have you. But our paths changed and became one. The universe threw us together once again, under a different fate. We both were free then to follow our hearts, and we followed them. I have wanted this but never thought it could happen, so I now give you myself as your wife and life partner. There for you and never to leave again, I love you Paul."
Both couples kiss after giving their vows. Once done they face the crowd.
"May I present, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Castle, and Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mikelson", announces Judge Markoway after the couples kiss and face the wedding guests.
The celebrations last well into the night. And towards the end, close to midnight, only their immediate group remains. That is when the two couple say good bye and retire for the wedding night.
Although the nuptials had been joint, the honeymoons had different destinations. For Sam and Paul, they headed for a one month honeymoon to South East Asia, visiting Thailand, Cambodian, Laos, Vietnam and the Philippines.
For Kate and Rick, they took Rick's catamaran and did the great circle route. Heading up to the St. Lawrence Seaway, thru the Great Lakes, down the Mississippi, to the Gulf of Mexico and then around Florida to the Carribean, then back up to the Marina in the Hamptons. They spend two days at the summer home and then returned to NYC. With all her accumulated leave time, Kate had two months off which Montgomery approved with no hesitation. Karpowski was assigned as temporary lead of Alpha till Kate returned from her extended honeymoon.
Fortunately for Alpha, during Kate's absence, they had the lowest number of cases, ever. It was like the universe had set it up in advance. Despite her absence and low case volume, Alpha Team still managed to kept close to their standard closure rate. This much to Montgomery's relief, he had hoped there with be no drop in Alpha's closure rate. The team had managed to keep up, falling just short of their already established closure rate only by a percentage point off.
Both couples were now on their way to married life and making a family. It had ended well despite the rough beginning for both couples. The Universe working again in mysterious ways had deemed once again that the couples were meant for each other, leading them to their very desired outcomes.
Six Years Later
"Paul please find our son so he can blow out his birthday candles", asks Samantha Mikelson.
Paul searches around the backyard looking for his four year old son when he spies Lilly Castle, Rick and Kate's daughter.
"Lilly, have you seen Samuel?", Paul knows they had been playing together.
"He's hiding from you Uncle Paul cause he's too shy to blow out his candles in front of everyone", Lilly says but points to Samuel's hiding place.
Paul sees his son hiding behind a big tree in their back yard and captures his son. Paul then brings Sam back to the Birthday table with Lilly following close behind the two of them.
"Finally found him, Paul!", says a very pregnant Kate Beckett-Castle.
"Yes, and I don't know if Samantha and I want to give him siblings, he's a handful without them."
"Well good luck on that. Sometimes you can't plan for your kids, it just happens, despite all your efforts. Kate and I were waiting for a better time to add to our group, but it turns out the Universe has other ideas", Rick tells Paul.
"I thought you were on birth control, Kate?", queries Samantha Mikelson.
"I was, but somehow this husband of mine always manages to do otherwise," Kate shares, "he has such powers of persuasion as to even overcome birth control."
"May I remind you Mrs. Castle, that persuasion involves two parties, the persuader and the persuadee. I was not in it alone", he quips as he wiggles his eyebrows up and down for emphasis on his comment.
"That sounds so Rick Castle, always beating the odds", Paul says in humor.
"Yes, he can be annoying that way."
"Oh come on Kate. I do not always strive to be contrary."
"But you are Richard Castle, and you have knocked me up once again!"
'So what's this I hear that you are having twins!", Sam says trying to confirm that news.
"Yes, that makes it twice annoying. It was hard enough when I carried Lilly, now I carry her twin brothers!"
"So it's boys this time", asks Paul.
"Yes, the Castle name continues with two sons. How about you and Sam, a girl next time?"
"That's what we are hoping for, just waiting till Samuel gets a little older."
"Well good luck with that, Rick and I were trying for the same. Now look what happened!"
"Kate, you have to admit, it was fun making the boys!"
She gives him her patented Beckett glare.
"Can you blame him Kate. You are always gorgeous, how do you expect Rick to hold back?", Sam let's out her thoughts.
"Maybe I should just lounge around in a old frock with no makeup."
"Wouldn't help Kate, you are even more beautiful without all the makeup and frills. It would have still happened", again Sam adds with humor.
"That's because my husband is so..."
"So what..., Kate? Didn't hear you complain at the time", returns Castle to Kate's incomplete reply.
"So... frisky... that he... can't hold back!"
"So that's your excuse! Come on Kate, you never can deny Rick, you know that", reminds Sam to Kate.
"Takes two to tango Kate", says Paul in response to Sam's comment.
"So the jury has returned a verdict", Ricks says shooting a glare at Kate that says it all.
Kate gives him another glare back and then says, "Well, I am going to cut the cake now so all these young ones can get their sugar dose and drive all us parents wild with their behavior on a sugar rush!"
"Kate, you can handle it, you have been dealing with all Rick's sugar rushes for years!", Paul declares.
"Yes, and look where it got me!"
They all laugh at Kate's remark. All is well in the Caskett world.
At The Hospital
Flash forward five months and Kate is in the delivery room with Rick there as coach.
"Come on Kate, I see our first son's head, push."
The first male child is delivered and minutes later his younger brother is born. The nurses clean and prepare both babies then hand one baby to Kate and the other to Rick.
"Two beautiful twin boys Kate and Rick, what are their names?", asks the delivery Nurse.
"We have decided on Reece and Jackson", replies Kate.
"Two very strong masculine names", the Nurse responds to Kate's reveal.
"Well, they are going to be a handful. My first sons, after two daughters."
"But you have got to be pleased with that Rick", the head nurse tells Castle.
"I am, but in the end, the gender is not as important as the health of our newborns. Once again we are blessed with healthy babies."
"Well, the way you took care of Kate during the pregnancy has a lot to do with that Rick. Congratulate yourself on that", the head nurse says in closing.
After the delivery, the family arrives. Alexis is the first to greet the newborns.
"Dad, Momma Kate, thank you for three siblings. I am so blessed."
"Well, we knew you are a great big sis. We saw that with Lilly, and now your brothers get to see how great a big sis they have."
"Thank you Dad. Thanks Kate", Alexis says kissing her parents.
Alexis carries her two brothers, bonding with them, when Lilly and Grandma Martha arrives.
"Come Lilly, look at our two baby brothers."
Lilly approaches and her eyes grow wide at the sight of her brothers.
"Lexy, was I that small when I was born?", she asks of her big sister.
"Yes, you were and so adorable."
"Did you hold me also like you are with our brothers?"
"I certainly did, and you know what I though when I held you?"
"No, what Lexy?"
"That you were the best younger sister ever."
Lilly hugs Alexis, "and you are the best big sister ever."
Martha is watching amazed by the love shown by her grandchildren to one another. Just then Jim Beckett enters the room.
"There he is, granddy Jim. Come meet your new grandsons?'
Jim is carrying a shopping bag.
"What's in the bag, Dad?" asks Kate.
Jim pulls out two small baseball caps with the Yankee's emblem on both.
"Just getting my grandsons started early", Jim declares.
All laugh at his comment. It is a great day for the Beckett-Castle family!
Fin