It was a clear, bright, almost summery day. Many people were going down the street in shirt sleeves.

Detective Beckett looked at the sky and took a deep breath. Despite the nice weather she was wearing jeans and a black leather jacket over a white shirt: her comfortable cop clothes for hiding her badge and gun.

She was just another citizen in Manhattan, sitting on the stairs in front of the hospital where the man of her life had been recovering for a couple of days. Today he will be released. Kate was taking a break to savor the moment. She was totally happy thinking that today was the first 'normal' day in her life after the hell they had lived.

A normal day.

Tyson had gone, that was true, but that fact did not prevent her from enjoying this moment. Tyson will try it again and he will make a mistake, like Bracken. And she will be there too, to arrest him and bring justice. It was the least she could do for Castle.

Kate smiled thinking that that day was closer. But now she stood up ready to begin this normal day.

"What do you mean with 'he's gone'? "

An unbelieving Beckett asked to the head nurse of Traumatology Area. It seems that Castle had been released early in the morning and he had left the hospital without waiting her.

"Mr. Castle left about one hour ago, but he told me that you will come, and that you will get angry." Kate stopped frowning and raise her eyebrows. The nurse smiled with her reaction.

"He asked me to give this to you" the woman handed her a closed envelope with the word 'Kate' written. It was Rick's handwriting.

Beckett, hiding her annoyance, accepted the letter.

The detective left the Hospital walking briskly with her hair flying, obeying the mysterious note that Castle had let her. "Turn around the block"? "The smell of coffee would guide you"? "The heavens opening showing our savior"?

She was not in the mood for apocalyptic riddles. Kate had gotten up with the idea of having a normal day in their lives and it turns out that Castle had other plans for her.

She walked down 59th Street towards Columbus Avenue, being careful with the ER Ambulances. Before arriving to the end of the street she saw a Starbucks on the opposite sidewalk. Kate, still annoyed, crossed towards it.

The detective passed in front of the door and heard her last name. The person who was calling her was a smiling young woman with green Starbucks apron. Beckett approached her and the waitress offered her a big steaming coffee and told her that it was for free.

Kate took it. She was so surprised that the only thing she could say was a polite 'thank you' before the girl went back inside still smiling. The coffee was hot and smelled of vanilla. Beckett thought that Castle should have given the girl a good tip to do this.

Beckett, on the busy sidewalk, looked around and decided to take a sip of coffee. It always put her in better mood and she really needed it now.

The detective inclined her head to drink and then saw a beautiful mural on the facade of a church in front of her: God showing the kingdom of heaven to men. An idea came to her mind.

"Oh, my God, did he...!?"

Before finishing the sentence Kate had gone up the stairs leading to St. Paul Apostle Church main door.

The main nave was huge and was decorated with majestic artwork, beautiful murals, and sculptures. The great hanging lamps caught her eye, then Kate realized that the lovely illumination came from the sunlight going through the big stained glass windows.

Beckett walked open-mouthed, with her coffee, along the wide corridor delimited by empty wooden benches, admiring the art and peace of the place. She stopped in the middle of the corridor because she saw a priest doing something on the altar and she did not want to disturb him.

"Kate"

The detective startled but recognized the voice behind her instantly.

"Castle" she said not moving.

The detective turned around herself and was surprised with the image of Castle wearing a dark suit and the lavender striped shirt she loved. She could see the bump in his forehead and brushes in his face, but his wide smile and sparkling eyes stood out above all.

"Castle?" she asked while the writer was looking at her from feet to head.

"You look beautiful" he said after a while. Kate smiled completely melted.

Rick walked up to her and offered her his arm like a gentleman. The gesture allowed to see his bandaged wrist. Kate took his arm like a lady and whispered him:

"Babe, are we getting...?" She could not finish the phrase because a big church organ began to play.

Castle looked at her eyes and nodded. Kate's face changed from surprising to a wide smile while they both walked slowly to the altar.

Beckett saw his father standing up in the first line, next to Martha and Alexis, who came close to her discretely and picked up the Starbucks coffee. She saw Lanie, Espo, Ryan and Jenny on the other side. There were no more people.

Rick and she stood in front of the priest, who winked at Castle. Kate was not surprising for that, because she had supposed that to celebrate a wedding a weekday morning was a very special favor.

They both placed one in front the other, took their hands and looking at their eyes. On second thought Kate did not care switching her 'normal day' to their 'wedding day'.