Present

The gentle breeze lifted the veil, tangling the sheer paper thin lace in her hair, throwing them both into disarray. Kate gave up and let the flimsy piece of material fly over her head revealing her face.

She smiled, the force of it cracking her chest wide, and lifted her hand to bringing the lone white rose up to her lips.

It wasn't the music, soft strains of guitar and violin that filtered across the vast expanse of space between them. Echoing through her heart, lifting her feet and propelling her forwards so that her father had to squeeze her hand and slow down her progression.

Nor was it the weight of her father's arm, wrapped around hers, as he guided her down the aisle. It wasn't his soft tender voice whispering "Katie." As he admonished her for trying to bolt towards her fiance.

It wasn't even the muffled laughter of those around them when she turned towards her father and hummed back "Shhh." Grinning at him the entire time.

It was her heart.

Dancing and ecstatic as it flung itself against the walls of her chest.

It was his heart, his beautiful too big and wonderful heart, waiting for her.

It was him and her and them together, this day, everything, the beauty and wonder and sheer delight of the world all laid bare at her feet.

"Katie." Her Dad growled at her side, smiling sideways at her and still maintaining the pretense that no one could hear them, "I only get to do this once so will you please slow down."

Kate snuck a look at her father, hoping to catch the trace of his smile, but his eyes were focused ahead of them, rolling infinitesimally and shaking his head.

Her heart took off, faster than before and Kate turned to see what her father was looking at, knowing and yet unaware, his ability to catch her off guard always a surprise, hopeful and giddy.

And just as she had always imagined, Castle stood preening, proud in the summer sun, gorgeous in black, his smile the widest she had ever seen. He lifted his hand, waggled his fingers at her in a happy wave before he mimed, "I'm not going anywhere."

Kate laughed, another happy sound adding to the memory she was building, drawn in by his games and the silliness, the adorable way he tilted his head and watched her approach.

Father and daughter, linked arm in arm moving towards the altar, she breathed in deeply inhaling the scent of flowers and light, air and excitement. Full of wonder and love, each step she took bringing her closer to something that had once seemed impossible.

A happy future, a place unmarred by tragedy.

He did that for her and she wanted it all to start now, her fathers grip tightened as if he could feel the surge of desire in her, the urge to bolt again.

Kate groaned, ignoring her fathers laugh, they had waited long enough and she just...she wanted him.

"You can't." She mouthed back, feet slowing and heart speeding up."I have a gun."

He waggled his eyebrows, a silent agreement as he lifted his wrist, "And handcuffs."

"AHEM." The loud throat clearing was met with titters of laughter, Kate cringed inwardly, smiled and turned to face her father. "You two are hopeless." He stage whispered.

"Hopelessly in love." Lanie cat called over the crowds of people, not caring when heads turned towards her as she came to rest at the altar, ignoring Esposito as he drew a line across his throat, muttering about the wrath of pre wedding Beckett.

"She's not wrong." Castle said, his voice as loud and clear and happy as his smile. Kate shook her head, but the way she beamed back at him gave away her agreement.

The last few steps brought Kate to his side and she passed the chair he had insisted on leaving empty for her mother, a place for Johanna on their special day. Kate turned, her fingers clasped tight in her fathers hand, as she lay the single flower she had carried down the aisle on the chair for her mother.

Her hand shook as she was suddenly overcome with emotion, her fingers empty the loss so much greater than it should be. Then warm heavy fingers broke through the quiet, the quiver of sadness, and she was being pulled from her father, not so much given as taken.

Taken willingly and happily and Kate swallowed back the tears, laughing as she collided into Castle's side.

"What took you so long?" He asked quietly, hands lifting to cup her face, thumbs gentle under her eyes as he removed the tears.

"It was a long walk."

"A marathon."

He smiled, fingers skimming her face moving closer with every breath. "Felt like years."

"But we got here." She stated forcefully, one hand at his wrist the other moving tenderly over his face.

"We did, and you look beautiful." He said, a hand skimming over the bare skin of her back, touching lightly at the lace of her dress. "Your Moms?"

Kate smiled widely, it was supposed be...not so much a surprise, just something she wasn't planning on broadcasting, but of course, of course, he knew. And his lips parted, some beautiful and inspiring or cute and silly sure to spill from them, but she didn't want anymore words.

No, they had waited long enough.

She moved to capture his lips, but he was already there with her, smiling until their lips met, parting around each other in gentle synchronicity. Simple and sweet, so much like their first kiss, their first proper kiss, she took in his bottom lip as he kissed at the bow of her top.

Kate couldn't stop her hand drifting up his chest, spanning his muscle and pounding heart, until she too was cupping his face, holding each other tight and the groans and laughs and wolf whistles of their friends, and flamboyant mothers, filtered in added to the day but not to the kiss.

Nothing in their touch but love, happiness and at last, at last, at last.

"Dude, not yet." Esposito hissed after a few seconds, or minutes had passed and they showed no signs of stopping.

For once it was Castle that pulled out of the kiss, pushing her back a little to help control himself, breathing hard he touched his forehead to Kate's and laughed again.

"Shut up." Kate warned, leaning around her fiance, her almost almost almost husband.

"Katie." Jim berated with a grin, pointing over her shoulder to Captain Gates as she stood waiting to join her best detective to her favorite hindrance and help. "Do you want to marry the man or not?"

"She better, half my precinct took the day off to be here." Gates stated, tapping her foot.

Kate mumbled something that sounded like bossy under her breath, trying to hold still as Castle helped her pull the veil back over her face.

"I think she's just glad I didn't knock you up before the wedding." Castle chuckled, nodding his thanks to Jim as the man stepped back, beaming happily at his daughter

Kate hit him lightly on the shoulder, fingers curling around the back of his neck to pull him to her, the world at large ignored as she whispered, "That's what the honeymoon's for Castle."