Authors Note: You guys are seriously blowing my mind with the response to this story! I can't thank you enough for your kind words! I hope you all enjoy this chapter as well.

Always, big thanks to alwayscastle2. She's my extra pair of eyes for all my writing.

Reviews are love, leave some!

-Krystle

Chapter 3

"For the love of him

Make him your reason for living

Give all the love you can give him

All the love you can

For the love of him

Make him your reason for living

Give all the love you can give him

All the love you can"

Kate doesn't sleep well that night. She wakes up every other hour with the same nightmare. The burning car, the fear that the love of her life was dead. She sees herself standing on the side of the road in her wedding gown, pain and heart break etched across her face. Each time she wakes, she has to calm herself. She checks to make sure that Rick is really with her; the beeping of the machine, the steady rise and fall of his chest, the soft snores coming from him, his hand around her back holding her to him on the tiny hospital bed.

He's here.

He's alive.

She didn't lose him.

Their wedding day may have been ruined because of this accident, but she didn't lose him. With a heavy sigh, she decides she's not going to get any sleep. Instead of closing her eyes to try in vain to get some rest, she places her hand over his heart. The beat of the organ a constant reminder that they still have a future together; they still have their 'always'.

The sun rises around six-thirty that morning and she watches as the warm sun rays stream in through the window. Yesterday is gone, a new day has started, and he's here. She looks up at his face; the childlike happiness gone when he's sleeping replaced with the fine lines that come with aging.

The bump on his head, while still there, is a little less noticeable than yesterday. She can't help herself, he's like a drug. Pushing up on her elbow, she takes her free hand and palms his cheek, her thumb caressing his cheek bone. She kisses him softly, first on his forehead, then his cheek, and finally makes it to his lips. Just a peck, thats all she needs.

She smiles to herself when she feels the arm around her tighten, and sees his eyes flutter open and focus on her. He gives her a soft smile. "Good morning."

"Good morning," she whispers back, and leans back down to kiss him properly. She pulls away, resting her forehead on his - mindful of his bump - "I love you."

He pecks her lips once more, "I love you too." Reaching up, he brushes some of the curls from her face, resting his hand on her cheek. "Did you sleep at all?"

She closes her eyes, and sucks in a breath. "I couldn't. Every time I closed my eyes I was back at the wreck, and you didn't make it."

"Kate," he whispers, kissing her again. "I'm so sorry."

"Shh," running her hand through his hair, "it's not your fault."

"Isn't it? If I had just listened to you and come up to the house instead of staying in the city, this wouldn't have happened."

Tears spring to her eyes and she shakes her head. "No, Rick, don't blame yourself. You did nothing wrong."

He grabs her left hand and runs his thumb over her engagement ring. "We're supposed to be married right now, Kate. Not here."

"I know," she whispers, a hint of sadness in her voice. "But you know what? I'd give up one day of happiness to have you here in my arms instead of wondering if you were in a burning car or not. I love you, and want to marry you. The thought of losing you-" shaking her head as though she's getting the mental images of him burning in the car out, "it makes me sick."

"Kate-"

"No, Babe, just listen to me," she asks, receiving a nod from him. "When I thought you were dead, all that kept going through my head was that I hadn't told you what you meant to me, I never got to be your wife, I never got to call you my husband. You're my always, Rick, and the thought of us not getting that - I don't think I would have survived. How would I? I'd have to watch them put my life in the ground, watch Alexis mourn her father at the same age I mourned my mother; I'd have to watch Martha bury her son," with a shaky breath she finishes, "I couldn't do that, and I'm glad that I don't have to."

He kisses her then. What else could he do? When their kiss breaks, his eyes are smiling. "I can't wait to get out of here."

"Me either," she agrees, resuming her position, resting her head on his chest, holding him close.

He kisses her head softly, runs his fingers through her curls and whispers, "Sleep Kate. I'm here."

She sighs sleepily, and closes her eyes. This time, the images that play behind her eyelids are happy ones. A marriage, a pregnancy, a family outing. Glimpses of the future she longs for with him, the future that was almost taken from them.

CB

When they wake up, its to the nurse coming in to check Rick's vitals one last time before he can be released. Kate moves to get off the bed, she stands beside him, never letting his hand go. Once the nurse gets everything she needs -temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respiration - Kate reaches for her phone and sends off a text to Alexis, asking her to please bring her father a change of clothes.

"You ready to get out of here?" she asks, squeezing his hand.

"More than ready. These hospital beds are terrible."

Kate chuckles. "Well, it probably didn't help with me laying with you."

"No," he says smiling, "thats the only good thing about them. They're so small that you couldn't roll away."

She rolls her eyes. "When do I ever roll away from you?"

"Good point." He shrugs, then tugs her down to sit next to him. "You ready to get married?"

"You have no idea."

"Oh, I think I do," he grins, causing her to smile at his pun. "I can still make you smile."

She nods. "Always."

The door to his room opens, and a red head pops in, "Can I come in?"

Kate smiles, "Of course, Martha."

Martha walks in, drops the bag in the chair and looks over in the hospital bed at her son. She told herself that she wasn't going to cry, but he's her baby. He's all she's ever had, her pride and joy. The thought of almost losing him is too much to bear.

Rick opens his arms for his mother and she swiftly moves to the unoccupied side of his bed, and pulls him to her, her tears falling freely. "I thought we lost you, Richard."

"I'm fine, Mother," he assures her, and kisses her cheek. "Just a bump on the head."

Leaning back to get a good look at him, she smiles. "I brought you a change of clothes, darling." Looking over at Kate she says, "you as well, Katherine."

"Thank you, Martha."

The older woman nods, "Don't mention it, kiddo."

CB

Another hour later, both Rick and Kate are in a fresh pair of clothes, and signing the last of the forms for him to be released. A nurse walks into his room with a wheelchair and he groans. "I can walk, I don't need that thing."

His nurse chuckles, "Sorry, Mr. Castle, hospital policy."

He rolls his eyes, "Alright, fine."

"Don't worry, Castle," Kate grins. "I'll push you."

He raises an eyebrow at her, "How about you sit on my lap and Mother drives this thing?"

"Nice try, Rick," Kate says, helping him into the chair. Instead of pushing him or sitting on his lap, she clings to his hand and lets Martha wheel him out.

The car ride back to their Hampton's home is made in silence; apart from Martha. Kate has her head resting on Rick's shoulder, as Martha goes on about everything being set up for the wedding. The caterers are back and getting the food prepared, Lanie and Alexis are setting up the chairs in the yard, Javier and Kevin are reprinting the programs as the date needed to be changed to May 13th.

"My darlings, it's going to a fabulous wedding," she smiles.

Rick squeezes Kate's hand. "I can't wait."

A content, happy sigh slips past her lips. Soon. She'll be married to Rick in just a few short hours, and nothing is going to get in the way of that this time. Nothing, and no one.