"Kate hurry up, your coffee is going to get cold" Lanie teased as she sat herself down with the recently purchased coffees that she'd bought with Alexis earlier so Kate could have some time alone to find a dress in the shop without their running commentary. Relaxing back in the seat she was in, Alexis smiled as she waited, the coffee cup in her hand as she pushed the pram in front of her back and forth, keeping a very awake Johanna calm. "Kate, no way does it take that long to get a dress on, hurry up" she moaned, desperation beginning to fill her veins as Alexis lifted Johanna into her arms, the small child immediately grabbing for her shirt. Hearing the door open, they both looked up, their mouths opening slightly in shock as they stared at the brunette who was stood in front of them.
"What do you think?" Kate asked gently, a small smile covering her face as she smiled at the people who were watching her. The dress was long with a small trail and a lace covering in a flower design; it also had a v neckline made from the same lace and showed her figure off perfectly while covering the parts of her which weren't their usual toned self. Standing, Alexis smiled as she walked towards Kate as Johanna's arm reached out. "Hey baby girl are you behaving yourself?" Kate smiled as she bent down and pressed a kiss to Johanna's forehead.
"You look absolutely stunning Kate" Alexis smiled as Kate felt her cheeks burning red at the compliment while Alexis looked down to Johanna who was in her arms. "Doesn't mommy look beautiful?" Alexis smiled as Johanna held her arms out towards Kate who smiled at her daughter. "I think Johanna agrees Detective that you need to buy this dress" Alexis commented, Kate smiling as she turned to look at Lanie who was beaming at her
"What do you think Lanie? I care about your opinion as well" Kate smiled as Lanie nodded, walking towards her friend before walking around her making the brunette laugh as she saw her seriously Lanie was taking the whole opinion view. "So what do you think?" she asked once Lanie finally stood in front of her and nodded.
"Perfect, that's all I'm going to say on the matter" Lanie commented quickly as Kate continued to smile, a laugh leaving her lips as she nodded gently. "Honestly Kate, it just screams you, it's absolutely perfect for you, it's like it was just made for you" she smiled as Kate laughed, the smile continuing to grow on her face as she walked back towards the changing room. "Buy it girl because not getting it will be the biggest mistake you'll ever make" Lanie smiled.
"I agree it's made for you Kate" Alexis smiled as Kate laughed and slipped back into the changing room, amazed at how perfect the dress felt on her. Staring at herself in the mirror, she smiled as she thought about the dress she was in and thought about how she was actually marrying Richard Castle and having the dress on her made it feel even more real. "Perfect timing as well Kate, the table's booked for in half an hour" the redhead announced from outside the small room, the brunette laughing as she realised how Rick seemed to know how everything was going to work in her mind.
Slipping out of the changing room with the dress in her arms, Kate smiled as she went to pay for the dress while Lanie and Alexis watched her, smiling to themselves. Joining them a few moments later, Kate smiled as she slipped Johanna in to her arms, Alexis shaking her own arms to try and remove the numbness that was running through them.
"Right who fancies lunch because I'm starving?" Kate smiled as everyone cheered, Kate laughing as Johanna grabbed hold of her top, Kate smiling as she pressed a kiss against her daughter's head. "Because I know I do, especially when Rick's paying for it" she laughed, Lanie smiling as she realised that Kate was finally starting to get the hang of the whole allowing Rick to pay for things idea.
XOXOXOXOO
"So tell us about the wedding Kate, tell us everything" Lanie smiled as she watched the brunette who was sat at the table with Johanna on her lap being supported by her hands. "Flowers, music, food, dresses, the cake" she listed as Kate rolled her eyes and pressed a kiss to Johanna's head, her hands resting on Johanna's as she began to clap them together while they waited for their meals.
"Well I want roses and lilies for the flowers and Rick agrees with me with that but I think he's just going to agree with whatever I want" she smiled as she thought about their discussions in the park yesterday. "We haven't decided the cake yet but I know Rick will want something huge that we will be living off for at least two months. Also we haven't discussed food either but I think I'll let Rick choose with Alexis' guidance" she smiled, looking at the redhead who nodded.
"Where is he taking you on honeymoon?" Lanie asked as Kate suddenly thought about the honeymoon that didn't seem to be happening. Noticing Kate's expression, Lanie stared at her before laughing. "You don't know where you're going on your honeymoon?" Lanie asked as Kate slowly shook her head, realising that she most likely wasn't going to go on one. "Are you even going on a honeymoon Kate?" Lanie asked as Kate shrugged.
"I don't care about a honeymoon Lanie. I'm going to be marrying the most amazing man in just over two months and will be finally part of the most amazing family in existence" Kate smiled as she felt Johanna rest against back against her chest as Alexis smiled at her. "I don't really care if Rick jets me off somewhere or doesn't, I'm doing this to marry him not to go away with him" she admitted as they all smiled, the waiter quickly bringing over their meals as Kate smiled.
"Good choice by the way" the waiter announced as he put her meal down in front of her as her eyes remained on her daughter who had somehow managed to fall asleep on her lap, the mans' voice familiar as she quickly looked up to see Rick standing there smiling at her. "Hey beautiful" he whispered, leaning down to kiss her as Alexis and Lanie smiled at them, Johanna quickly waking up.
"I think someone missed their daddy today" Kate smiled onto Rick's lips as he nodded and took Johanna from her lap as he sat himself down beside her and held his daughter close, leaving Kate the opportunity to start to eat her lunch. "I don't think she's used to not being away from you Rick" she smiled as she noticed how Johanna was already resting her head against Rick's chest as he continued to hold her close, her eyes firmly shut.
"So Castle what are you doing here?" Lanie asked as she stared at the writer who was reaching into the bag by Kate's feet for Johanna's bottle. "This is supposed to be girl time remember no boys allowed, it was your idea as well so you should be sticking to the rules" she explained as he laughed and nodded.
"Well someone needs to pay for girl time and I wanted to make sure that my girls were alright" he admitted, his eyes moving from Johanna to Alexis and then finally to Kate as Lanie smiled at him. "So how did the dress shopping go?" he asked.
"Kate found the most amazing dress dad" Alexis commented. "She looks absolutely stunning in it but that's not surprising, she looks beautiful in everything" the redhead smiled as Kate's cheeks began to burn red from embarrassment.
"And that's all you're hearing about it Castle, you have to wait until the day to know anymore" she smiled as he nodded, a laugh leaving his lips as he leant across and pressed a kiss against her cheek, desperately trying not to wake the sleeping child in his arms. "Look Rick, her pram is by the door why don't you take her home? It's been a long day for her" Kate smiled as she stared at her sleeping daughter.
"And you can leave your credit card with us" Lanie added, a massive smile on her face as Kate rolled her eyes at her. "Wait, Alexis already has your credit card, we bought the dress with it" Lanie laughed as he shrugged, standing slowly as he continued to hold Johanna close. "Richard Castle you liar".
"Well okay, I lied about that bit; I was just missing the women in my life. The apartment is rather lonely without them" he smiled, his lips pressing against Kate's head before he walked off with a sleeping Johanna. Smiling as she watched him leave, Kate bit into her lip as she noticed how Lanie was just staring at her.
"Have I got something on my face Lanie?" Kate asked as the ME shook her head and smiled. "Then why are you staring at me?" she smiled as Lanie rolled her eyes.
"I'm just amazed at you and Rick, you've been through so much and yet you look like the happiest woman alive Kate" Lanie explained as Kate raised her eyebrows in confusion. "I don't want to talk to you about this Kate while you're so happy" she admitted as Kate rolled her eyes. "I just mean with losing your mom and dad and then the whole thing with Demming, you've just come out of it looking like the happiest woman alive".
"Do you want to know how?" she asked as Lanie nodded. "I have the most amazing friends who support me no matter what" she smiled, staring at the ME who was looking at her. "I have a beautiful baby girl who brought me hope and a stunning teenager who I see as my daughter who always makes me smile" Kate admitted as she reached across and took hold of Alexis' hand. "And it also helps that I am marrying the kindest, sexiest, funniest, richest, most loving man I know" she laughed as she thought about everything that she'd lost but also everything she'd gained.
XOXOXOXXO
"You look exhausted" he commented as Kate collapsed onto the other couch later that day as he lay across the other one with Johanna fast asleep on his chest, the smile growing on her face as she took out her phone and took a picture. "I'm glad you got the dress Kate, I was worried that you wouldn't find it" he sighed as she turned onto her side and stared at him.
"It's perfect Rick, I absolutely love it" she admitted as she thought about the dress. "But we need to have a serious discussion Rick about the wedding, we haven't planned it at all and at the moment it looks like we're going to have no food or a wedding cake, we haven't ordered any flowers and our reception is non-existent" she admitted as he nodded. "Rick I don't want anything big, but I would like to know that our guests are fed and that there will be some sort of cake to cut because although it's not that big a thing, it's still important".
"Kate honey, I've already sorted it" he muttered, surprising her as she sat up and stared at him. "I found the little notebook where you've been jotting everything down that comes into your head, the one that you keep in the top drawer of the cabinet" he smiled as she rolled her eyes and laughed, not surprised that he knew where she kept everything.
"Remind me to hide your Christmas present at Esposito's" she laughed as he shrugged. "So tell me Mr Castle, what's going on at our wedding?" she asked as he sighed, wanting to move but deciding not to as he remembered his sleeping daughter.
"We're having white roses and lilies like you wanted Kate" he smiled, amazing her as she realised he was really taking in completely what she wanted. "The cake is simple, I promise, I didn't go over the top because you didn't leave me many clues in that book of yours so I just went for a white iced one with roses again on top for decoration" he smiled as she stared at him, completely in shock. "I have a fried who works in a nice restaurant that is willing to cater for us Kate as long as you help me decide on the menu and I also know a lovely photographer who you will love. He's only just starting out but he's really talented" he explained as Kate climbed off the seat and knelt down beside him, her lips pressing against his quickly.
"Richard Castle I love you" she smiled as he nodded. "I just have to do dresses for Lanie, Alexis and this little one" she smiled as she ran her finger to Johanna's cheek. "How did I get so lucky Rick to by marrying you?" she smiled as she stared at him, her fingers running across his cheek as he smiled. "I just feel bad that you're not having any say in this at all" she admitted.
"Don't worry Kate, it's your big day and you should have everything you want. All I want is to have you turn up that day with a smile on your face feeling and looking beautiful like I know you will, I want to make you my wife Kate. There is one thing that I really want though" he smiled, her eyebrows rising as she looked at him. "Please wear something really sexy on our wedding night" he admitted as she hit him gently, waking Johanna up who quickly began to scream.
"Ah baby" Kate smiled as she slipped Johanna into her arms, keeping her close as Rick sat up, allowing her to move to sit next to him. "Did daddy's silliness wake you up baby?" Kate whispered as Rick continued to smile to himself as he watched his fiancée and daughter. "But yes, I promise to wear something reasonably appealing on our wedding night" she commented, not turning to look at him as she continued to rock their daughter in her arms, not seeing the smirk that appeared on his face.