Authors Note: Again, thank you to the response to this story. I really didn't expect to wake up every morning to my email containing multiple reviews and alerts. Way to boost a girl's ego! I hope you like this chapter!

Special thanks to alwayscastle2 for looking this over.

Reviews are love, leave some!

-Krystle

Chapter 4

"Kiss me all over

Is all I can say

I've waited a lifetime

To feel this way

You leave me breathless

And out of my mind

I'm just so helpless

So baby be kind"

The car pulls up to the house, and they are greeted by their family. Alexis engulfs Castle in a hug; so glad that he's home and safe. Javi and Kevin walk up to him, each clapping him on his shoulders telling him that he's not allowed to scare them like that again. He chuckles but responds by saying he won't. Lanie grins at him, giving him a friendly hug and kiss on the cheek.

Kate watches her family welcome Rick back to the house, and it makes her smile. What started out as a shadowing for his new book series has turned into this wonderful, sometimes dysfunctional, family and she wouldn't have it any other way. Lanie grabs Kate's free hand and smiles.

"You ready to get married, sweetie?"

Kate smiles. "More than." Turning to Rick, she loops her arms around his neck and raises up on her toes to kiss him. "See you soon, lover," she whispers.

Rick holds her to him for a few moments, kissing her lips softly, moving to her cheek, and finally down to her neck. "I love you."

"I love you too," Kate returns.

Lanie looks at Alexis and they both roll their eyes. Alexis grabs her dad's arm, as Lanie grabs Kate's, "Alright, love birds, we have a wedding to get ready for."

"Yeah," Alexis says with a nod, "and I really would like to keep my breakfast down."

"I'll see you soon," he whispers to her as Lanie drags her in the opposite direction of where Alexis is dragging him.

CB

Walking into the room that she's using as her changing area, Lanie close behind, Kate smiles. Her wedding dress is hanging off of the hook on the bathroom door, and by looking at you you'd never guess that it was at a crash site covered in ash and dirt. It looks perfect once again, no doubt thanks to Lanie and Martha.

"You okay, sweetie?" Lanie asks, walking up to Kate and looping her arm through hers.

Kate nods, "Yeah. I'm getting there."

"Honey, he's fine. He's down in the pool house getting ready for your wedding," Lanie reminds her.

"I know. I'm so grateful that he's okay," stopping herself there, she shakes her head. She will not keep going to that place. All she wants to do is marry Rick. She's more than ready. "You know what? I don't want to dwell on what happened yesterday. He's here, he's alive. And I just want to be his wife." Kate smiles over at Lanie. "What do you say? Wanna help me with my hair and make up?"

Letting out a patented Lanie squeal, her friend responds, "You know it girl."

CB

Alexis walks with her father and the guys to the pool house. Kevin and Javier let themselves in and Rick turns to his daughter. "I don't have a suit."

"Don't worry dad," Alexis smiles. "What kind of 'best man' would I be if I didn't get you a replacement? I kept all your measurements, and emailed them to the tailor here in the Hampton's; picked it up this morning. It's hanging up in the room."

"You really are the perfect daughter," he grins.

"We knew this already," she giggles, and leans up to kiss his cheek. "You guys go change, and I'll wait out here until its safe to come in."

Once all the men were in their suits, Alexis ties each of their bow ties. "Dang, Little Castle, you do this often?" Javi asks, admiring Alexis's handy work.

Alexis laughs, "Are you kidding? Dad can barely tie his shoes, how else do you expect him to look good at events?"

"Hey," Rick says, looking over at his daughter who has since moved on to Kevin's tie. "I tie my shoes just fine thank you."

"Of course you do, Dad."

Both Javi and Kevin chuckle at the banter between father and daughter. "I hope Sara Grace and I have the same relationship that you guys do."

"Don't worry, Detective Ryan, I'm sure you will," Alexis smiles.

"Alexis, we've been over this," Kevin says, "when I'm not on duty it's Kevin."

"Sorry, habit."

"Yo, bro," Javi turns to Rick. "How's this going to work at the precinct? You and Beckett both being 'Castle'?"

Rick smiles. "She's going to be Beckett at the precinct. She's built her career with her maiden name, dirt bags of New York know that there's no messing with Beckett."

Kevin nods, "No kidding, I'm glad I've never been on her bad side."

CB

Lanie is putting the finishing touches on Kate's hair when there is a knock on the door. "Who is it?" Lanie calls out.

"Dr. Parish, it's Jim," Kate's dad answers.

Kate smiles, "Come in, Dad."

Jim walks in, and takes a breath at the sight of his daughter. He never got to see her the previous day; everything happening so quickly. It's in this moment that he wishes Johanna could be here most.

"I'll leave you two alone," Lanie says, stepping past Jim and out of the room.

Kate stands and twirls in the dress. "What do you think?"

"You're beautiful, Katie."

"You think so?"

Jim nods. "You look just like your mother. She would have loved to see this."

"I know," she says sadly. "I wish she were here too. She would love Rick."

"She would," Jim agrees, and then chuckles. "She would be thrilled that her favorite author is going to be her son-in-law. Although, with how long it took you guys, what with your dancing around each other for four years, she would have -"

"Said 'I told you so'!" Kate and Jim say at the same time, laughing together at the shared memories of Johanna. "I feel closer to Mom in this dress; it's almost like she's here, you know?"

"I was hoping that's how you'd feel," he says, stepping forward to give his girl a hug. "It's about time to start, what do you say we head down?"

"Let's go, I'm done waiting."

CB

Soft music begins to play as the wedding party lines up. Alexis walks down first with Lanie, Kevin walks with Martha and helps her take her seat, Javier walks with Maddie. Standing next to her father, Alexis wraps her arm around his when the wedding march starts, and they share a smile.

Looking to Kate, Jim whispers, "That's our cue, you ready, Katie-bug?"

As Kate's eyes meet Rick's, she smiles, "I've been ready, daddy."

They know the walk down the aisle is less than ten feet, but it feels as though it's a mile. Kate and Jim finally reach Rick, and everyone sits back down.

"Who gives this woman to this man?"

Jim smiles at his daughter and Rick. "Her late mother, and I do." He leans in, kissing her on the cheek and then turns to Rick to shake his hand. "Take care of my baby, Richard."

Rick nods. "Always."

Jim nods, knowing that word holds deep meaning for the couple, and places Kate's hand in Rick's.

Kate hands her bouquet over to Lanie, and reaches for Rick's right hand. The ceremony goes by in a blur, the lovers lost in the moment; they've made it.

Rick squeezes Kate's hands when the preacher says he can recite his vows. Smiling down at his bride, he takes a breath, "Kate, what can I say to you that you don't already know? I'm a best selling author, but I will never be able to conjure up enough words to describe how much I love you, or how much you mean to me. Everyday with you is something new and exciting. From the first time you flashed your badge in my face, to the first time you arrested me, and every moment in between, I've fallen in love with you. You're my partner, my best friend, my lover, and I'm so proud to be able to call you my wife. I can't wait to start our 'always'. I love you."

"Rick, it's no secret that when we first met, you drove me insane. Not only were you a civilian following me around like a lost puppy, you were the definition of 'man-child'. Somewhere along the way, our banter became flirting. Looking back, there were plenty of missed opportunities; but you never pushed me. You waited for me. You chipped away at the walls I so carefully built around my heart. I can't pin point the exact date that I fell in love with you, because every morning when I wake up, and I see you laying next to me, I fall in love all over again; I've waited a lifetime to feel this way. I'm so excited to start this next phase of life with you, have a family with you, call you my husband. You truly are the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I love you with all of my heart, always."

The preacher gives his speech about the wedding band having no beginning and no end, that it goes on for eternity; he asks for both bands, which Lanie and Alexis hand over.

"Richard, place this ring on Katherine's finger and repeat after me: with this ring, I thee wed." Rick does as he's told, and grins as Kate places his wedding band on his finger. "It is with great honor, and the great state of New York, I now pronounce you, Man and Wife. You may kiss your bride."

Kate's smile is wide, and happy, Rick's smile mirrors hers. Reaching up, he wipes the tears from her cheeks, and pulls her towards him. "I love you," he whispers, as his lips press into hers.

Their guests clap, Lanie and Alexis dry their eyes, everything going unnoticed by the bride and groom.

When the kiss breaks, they rest their foreheads on each other. "I love you, too," Kate whispers back, wrapping her arms around his neck, and tucks her head under his chin.

They did it. They're finally married.