A/N: My goal is to get the entirety of this fic posted before Christmas and I anticipate there to be 10 chapters total with an epilogue so I'll post additional chapters when I have the chance. I can say that I will not be posting on Tuesdays since that's the day I work late and I don't go on my computer.

The soon-to-be-married couple walks down the Las Vegas strip holding hands as they search for a wedding chapel.

"There's one!" Rick exclaims, yanking Kate along when he starts to run.

Their spontaneous wedding fills Kate with a child-like joy that has her giggling as she and Castle race toward their future. By the time they are standing at the reception desk, Kate is glowing, her smile alone could rival the lights just outside the chapel.

"Hello, we are here to get married!" Rick exclaims to the woman behind the desk, with a level of enthusiasm one would expect from someone just winning a billion dollar jackpot.

"Do you have a reservation?"

"Uh, no. Do we need one?"

"We don't take walk-ins, I'm afraid. If you'd like we have a couple open times available tomorrow morning," the woman offers.

"Do most of the chapels require a reservation?" Kate asked, her excitement dampened by the hiccup in their plans.

"There are a few places further down the street that take walk-ins, but most of them close at 10 pm. I can book you tomorrow morning if you are still interested though."

Rick pulls Kate a few feet away and asks, "What do you think, Kate?"

Kate bites her lip. She sees the worry in Rick's eyes. "Maybe we could make the appointment and see how we feel in the morning. It wouldn't be a bad thing to sleep on our decision at least a night."

Rick runs his hand through his hair and looks to the floor. "Yeah, I guess you are right. I just don't…" Rick stops.

Kate tries to make eye contact with his avoidant gaze. "You don't what?"

Rick looks up. "I just don't want you to change your mind."

"Rick, I won't. If either of us change our minds, then we shouldn't even be getting married right now, but I'm not going to change my mind. I am certain of that."

Rick smiles softly. "Okay, then let's get married tomorrow."

They make the reservation for their wedding for 9 am the next morning and select one of the wedding packages the chapel offers. In preparation for their morning nuptials, they obtain their marriage license and decide to head back to their hotel.

Except for Rick asking again when their flight leaves, they make no conversation on their walk back. They hold each other's hand, but they remain silent as they ride the elevator and even as they walk down the hall to their suite. It's only when they close the door behind them that Kate lets out a nervous sigh and Rick looks at her, a shy smile gracing his lips.

"So…" Kate peters off, hoping Rick will say something in response.

The awkward tension makes the night feel like the ending of a bad first date and in a way, it is their first date, but they both hope, one that doesn't end badly.

Rick takes a step closer to Kate, wraps his palm around her cheek and gazes into her hazel eyes growing darker by the second. "Can I kiss you right now?"

"I thought you'd never ask," Kate rushes out, crashing her lips against his.

Rick draws her into him and runs his hands up and down her back. Their tongues meet and dance in each other's mouths. Kate has one arm around the base of Rick's neck wanting him impossibly closer while her free hand caresses his cheek. She's about ready to climb him and he senses this, lifting her so her legs wrap around his torso.

"Kate," Rick gasps, "I don't think I can stop this. I don't know if you wanted to wait, but I don't think I can stop."

"Then don't," Kate breathes. "God, don't ever stop, Rick."

It's all the incentive Rick needs to carry her to the closest bed and fall into it with her. The only times they break apart are when they are removing another layer of clothing. They are down to their undergarments when Rick pulls back to look into Kate's eyes. They smile at each other, both of their hearts racing and thrumming with their unspoken love for the other.

"I have wanted this for so long, Kate, and I can't believe we're getting married tomorrow."

Kate lifts her hand to Rick's face and smooths her thumb over the apex of his cheekbone. "I've wanted you for longer than I was ever willing to admit. Thank you for never giving up on me."

"Always," Rick whispers against her lips as they remove the final barriers of their never-truly-platonic partnership.

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