Viva Las Vegas
By
UCSBdad
Disclaimer: I own neither Castle nor the song. Rating: K Time: AU between Season Two and Three
"You're getting married where? Espo asked, surprised.
"And when?" Ryan added.
"In Las Vegas, this weekend, assuming everyone can come. Kate agreed to marry me if she can go down the aisle looking, well, un-pregnant."
Ryan shook his head. "Castle, anyone who can count will be able to…"
"Don't screw this up for me! Now can you two come or not?"
Espo nodded. "Open bar and free hors d'oeuvres?"
"And the undying hatred of Beckett if you screw this up."
"In that case, I'm in."
Ryan nodded. "Me too."
Castle sighed in relief. "Good, my mom and Alexis are all set and Kate is down checking with Lanie. As soon as she gets back up here, we'll talk to Montgomery."
"Here they come, Bro." Espo pointed behind Castle.
From the huge grin on Lanie's face, Castle was sure that Kate's best friend could come as well. A fact that was quickly confirmed.
"We'd better go in and run this by the Captain." Kate said, looking ever so slightly nervous. She walked over to the Captain's office with Rick in tow and knocked on the doorframe.
"Sir?"
"What is it?" Montgomery looked up and smiled when he saw it was both Kate and Rick. "Good news, I hope?"
"We're getting married, Roy." Rick said. "We're going to Las Vegas this weekend with Lanie, Ryan and Esposito as well as our families, and naturally we wanted to invite you and your wife."
"This weekend?" Montgomery asked, his smile fading.
"Is that a problem?" Kate asked.
"For me. Not for you, Kate. This weekend is the Chief's annual get together with the precinct captains. I can't afford to miss that. And next week is my baby girl's birthday. I don't see how I can make it unless you postpone the wedding, and I can't ask you to do that."
"But you're okay with all of us being away?" Kate asked hopefully.
"You have my blessings, children. I'll stay here and protect New York in your absence."
"Um, could Kate have the rest of the day off, Roy?" Rick asked. "She needs to find a wedding dress. Lanie will need to go with her, along with my mom and Alexis."
"Do you expect me to drive them, too, Castle?" Montgomery asked slyly.
"No, sir. Of course not. The thought never occurred to me. I know Kate is a valued member of the homicide squad, but under the circumstances…"
Montgomery waved his hands at them. "Go, go. Get out of here. I want to see lots of pictures of the wedding when you get back."
Once outside his office, Kate turned to Rick. "Castle! I can't possibly find a wedding dress in one day. I don't see how…"
"My mother will see to that. Ah, speak of the devil, and don't tell her I said that, there they are."
Martha swept into the bullpen with Alexis in tow. "Kathryn, Lanie, are you ready?"
Kate nodded. "I don't see how we can get a dress in one day of shopping?"
"By being persistent, Kathryn. Come, come. We have to hurry."
Martha shooed everyone out of the precinct. Once outside she pushed them into a cab that she had waiting. They stopped at a small shop on Fifth Avenue. Kate got out and looked at the shop. All that was visible was a small, highly polished brass plate saying: M. Chenard.
"Chenard!" Kate gasped. "I've read about them in the society pages. We won't even get an appointment for months."
"Nonsense!" Martha said. "We already have an appointment. " She smiled at her companions. "I knew Michel Chenard when he was Mike Cheminski. He was thrilled to do the wedding gown for Mrs. Richard Castle."
"Thrilled?" Alexis asked suspiciously.
"We have an appointment." Martha said dismissively.
M. Chenard was waiting inside with several assistants. "Martha. How good to see you. And this is the lovely bride, Ms. Beckett?"
Kate nodded as Chenard and his assistants looked her over. "Hmmm!" Chenard said.
"Kate! Look!" Alexis cried. She pointed to a dress on a mannequin. It was a low cut, sleek white silk dress that fell in folds to the floor. The bodice was brocaded white silk with white silk flowers.
"It's beautiful." Kate said.
"You have exquisite taste." Chenard said, nodding to both Kate and Alexis. "As it happens, this one was ordered, but there was an unfortunate…occurrence. The wedding did not take place."
"It looks like it was designed for someone a bit larger than me." Kate said uncertainly.
"It will have to be taken in a bit." Chenard conceded.
"Can you have it done by tomorrow morning?" Martha asked.
"Tomorrow?" Chenard frowned ever so slightly. "I don't believe…"
"Cost is no object." Martha said.
Chenard smiled hugely, "We will be most happy to have your dress ready by tomorrow morning. Shall we say at eight?"
"Eight will do." Martha said with a smile.
Kate pulled Martha aside. "Martha, I can't afford this. You didn't even ask how much it was."
"I'm paying for it, my dear. See?" Martha pulled out her credit card. "It's nothing dear, to get you and Richard married at long last."
"Thank you, Martha. I don't know how I'll ever repay you." Kate was pulled away by Chenard's assistants for fittings and measurements.
"You'll pay for it?" Alexis asked Martha.
"I'll use my credit card and my son will pay the bill. Same thing."
Kate came back to the loft looking slightly stunned. "You should see the dress. The dress is…is…"
"Perfect for Kate. You will have the most beautiful bride in the most beautiful wedding gown. We'll pick up the dress at eight tomorrow morning."
"Good! I have the flight all set for tomorrow."
"What airline are we taking?" Kate asked.
"Airline?" Castle laughed. "We're going first class to our wedding, Kate. I leased a corporate jet for the flight out and back. It seats twenty, so we'll all have plenty of room to rattle around."
Kate leaned against Rick's chest. "Sometimes I forget that you're rich."
Rick kissed the top of her head. "Which is another reason I love you. Although I think that most of the time you forget I'm rich. You think of me as just another cop."
She shook her head. "Never. I've never thought of you as just another cop."
"I don't think I should ask what you thought of me as at times."
Kate just laughed.
The next day two stretch limos took the wedding party to JFK airport. Chrystal was driving the limo with Rick, Kate, Alexis, Martha and Jim. When the limos pulled up in front of the jet Chrystal jumped out to open the door. When Kate got out, she hugged her new friend. "Thanks for all the rides, Chrystal. Especially this one."
"Kate, I wanted to tell you that you were making a mistake dumping Rick. I wish I had. You might already be married if I'd said something."
Jim put his hand on Kate's shoulder. "You have no idea how stubborn my daughter is."
"Anyway, have a good life, Kate."
"You too, Chrystal."
They all walked up the boarding ramp to the jet and were met by an attractive hostess. "Welcome to ExecutAir Services, Mr. Castle. Is your party all here?"
"Yes they are. Although all I really need is this one." He hugged Kate.
"Please take your seats then and put on your seat belts. We have a takeoff slot in another few minutes and we don't want to miss it."
Before long they were airborne and headed for Las Vegas. The stewardess came through the cabin asking everyone if they'd like food or drink. "Mr. Castle, Ms. Beckett, would you like something?"
"Orange juice?" Kate said.
"Orange juice sounds good for me, too."
When their drinks arrived, Rick touched his glass to Kate's. "To my future wife, he love of my life."
Kate smiled and kissed Rick, "And to my future husband, who I will love always."
Kate snuggled up against Rick's shoulder. "I'm tired, Rick. Do you mind if I nap." Rick's reply was a kiss on her cheek.
Kate felt someone stroking her cheek.
"Wake up, sleepyhead. We're landing at McCarran in Las Vegas." Rick kissed her lightly.
"Did I sleep the whole way?"
"That you did. Feel better?"
"I feel great. I can't wait to get married."
"Well, you'll have to wait until this afternoon."
"Should you be seeing me on our wedding day?"
Rick shrugged. "Too late now."
They were met at the airport by two limos and whisked off to their hotel.
They were met at the entrance by the manager. "Welcome back, Mr. Castle. We have the Bridal Suite all ready for you and your bride to be and suites for the rest of your party."
"Hey, Bro, how many of us to each suite?"
"How many at a Castle wedding? One person per suite. Really, Espo."
"Please feel free to use all of our services." The manager said to the party, then went turned back to Rick. "We have the men's tuxedos ready and we were able to get the bridesmaids dresses made up based on the measurements you provided us, but I'm afraid the cost…"
"Is no problem." Rick said promptly. "This is the woman I'll spend the rest of my life with. I want this to be perfect."
The manager continued. "The wedding chapel has been booked for you, with the house band and the singers you requested. I hope you approve of the flowers we selected. And the reception will be in your suite, Mr. Castle. We'll set up the bar and the refreshments during the ceremony."
When they arrived at their suites, Castle gathered everyone around him. "Now go to your suites and check out your clothing for the wedding. I don't want anything to go wrong. Okay?"
When they were alone in their room, Kate put her arms around Rick. "What shall we do now?" She asked seductively.
"I hate to say this, but you have to go for your manicure, pedicure, massage and hairdo. Then you go to Lanie's suite to dress and then we get married."
"And what will you be doing?"
"I thought I'd hit the poker tables."
"Rick! Really? On our wedding day?"
He laughed. "I'm going to stay right here, have a light lunch and think of how lucky I am to be marrying you. Okay?"
There was a knock at the door and a woman came in to take Kate for her manicure and pedicure.
Rick ate and then changed into his tux. Unlike the groomsmen, he had his own.
There was another knock at the door.
"Who is it?"
"Your best men, here for your bachelor's party."
Ryan and Esposito came in, carrying a bottle of champagne. "We figured Beckett would kill us if we brought strippers, so you just get a drink."
"Pour, then." Rick said as they did just that.
Esposito raised his glass. "To the best amateur detective partner I've ever had."
They drank.
Ryan then raised his glass. "To the man who made Kate Beckett happy."
When they had drunk, Rick raised his glass. "To the best male partners I've ever had and the best two best men I've ever had."
They sat around and talked about their past cases until Martha tapped on the door.
"Time to go, boys."
Rick walked to the front of the wedding chapel flanked by his two best men. Lanie, Martha and Alexis were already there, dressed in their green bridesmaid dresses. Rick looked around at the flowers of every sort filling the chapel and decided he'd gone overboard, which was exactly what he had been shooting for. He checked the minister. Reverend Wills wasn't one of those who ran marriage chapels and dressed as Elvis or Darth Vader as required, but was the pastor of a local church.
Behind him, Rick heard the band begin Mendelssohn's Wedding March. He craned his neck around to see Jim escorting Kate down the aisle. His heart almost stopped, she was so beautiful. And happy. Rick was sure he'd never seen her happier. She stopped beside him and Jim took his seat.
"Ready?" Reverend Wills whispered. They both nodded.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God to join these two people in holy matrimony."
As Wills droned on, Rick though back to his time with Kate. God, but he was lucky to be marrying her.
Suddenly, "Richard, do you take Kathryn to be your lawful wedded wife, will you love her, comfort her, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her for as long as you live?"
"I do."
"Kathryn, do you take Richard to be your lawful wedded husband, and love him, comfort him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you live?"
"I do."
"The rings?" Willis whispered.
Esposito and Ryan produced the rings.
Rick slipped the ring on Kate's finger. "With this ring, I thee wed."
Kate put Rick's ring on his finger." With this ring, I thee wed."
"If there is anyone who knows why this wedding should not proceed, let him speak now or forever hold his peace."
No one said a word.
"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss."
They kissed and the band and singers began The Hawaiian Wedding Song as Rick and Kate turned to face their family and friends. They waited while the photographer and everyone else took photos. Then, to the strains of We've Only Just Begun, the walked back down the aisle and on to the reception.
Much later they went to their bedroom to change for their honeymoon.
"What now?" Kate asked.
"We live happily ever after." Rick told her.
And they did. They lived happily ever after.
And so ends The Dinner at Remy's Series. But, fear not. Caskett will return soon in The Illustrated Man. This will not be a follow on to this story, but will take place after the Caskett wedding in September 2014.