Knowing You

a "The Time Of Our Lives" story

9. Marrying You

"You ready?"

"Oh, so ready," she replied with a beaming smile, hooking her arm around his and listing into his side, all happy and carefree. So full of love and life. So very different than she was when he first met her.

The last four months had passed by quicker than he would have expected. After everything they had been through, Captain Beckett did not want a long engagement. Four days after her sudden proposal, they had began planning. And with the help of their family and friends they were now approaching the final stretch.

"T-minus 72 hours until we are married!" Kate grinned, leaning into his side, all bubbly. "This feels like a dream."

He smirked. "That's because I'm dreamy."

"Oh, shush," she pulled back and smacked his shoulder, a playful twinkle in her eyes. He winked at her, and she smiled back, pushing up on her toes to meet him as he dipped his head down, stealing a quick kiss as they waited in line.

"Next!" the clerk shouted.

Castle grinned at his fiancée and squeezed her hand as they stepped up to the counter. He had never felt this light and happy. It had been so different with his two previous marriages. Her getting pregnant with Alexis had motivated his first marriage to Meredith. With Gina it had been because they seemed so right on paper. But with Captain Katherine Beckett, it was entirely different. He wanted to marry her, build a life with her, not because she was pregnant or because they looked right for each other on paper, but because he loved her. Sure, he had love Meredith and Gina, but not to the extent he loved Kate Beckett.

This was how it was always supposed to be.

The clerk glanced up at him, looking overworked and underpaid.

"Oh," he snapped out of his reverie, and handed over the paperwork, all signed and dotted.

The clerk took the documents, tilting her head down as she skimmed over the material. "Mister Richard Castle and Miss Katherine Beckett?"

"That's us!" Castle grinned widely, gesturing between them. Kate mirrored his smile and rested her head on his shoulder.

The clerk flicked her eyes back up at them and smiled tightly as she tapped her fingers across the keyboard. She looked back at her computer monitor and continued typing.

"Proof of divorce?" she asked.

Castle reached inside his jacket and retrieved the documentation they had known would be required. He handed them over to the clerk, who quickly reviewed the stack of papers, before she put them aside. She laced her fingers together and then returned their expectant gaze. There was an awkward moment where Castle was afraid he'd forgotten something.

"Um… is there something wrong with my documents?" he questioned anxiously, exchanging a confused look with his fiancée.

"They're in order," the clerk said, shifting to look at Kate. "Miss Beckett, do you have yours?"

Beside him Kate jerked up, glancing at the clerk with startled eyes. "Pardon me?"
"Your divorce paperwork," the clerk sighed, sounding annoyed.

Kate laughed, shaking her head. "I'm sorry," she said, placing a hand on the counter as she leaned forward. "There's some sort of mistake here. I've never been married."

The clerk clucked her tongue and gestured towards her monitor. "Well according to this, you have. And it looks like you still are."

"I'm married!?" Kate hooted, shocked and indignant, her brow wrinkling with confusion. She arched her neck, trying to get a look at the computer screen. The clerk obliged, swiveling the monitor around so they could see the proof.

Castle frowned, glancing over her shoulder as her mouth dropped in surprise. "To whom?" he asked.

XXX

Kate was beyond mortified by the entire situation. Castle tried to reassure her with by attempting to see the humor in things, but that hadn't helped. After discussing the matter with his mother and daughter, it wasn't too hard to see that she was close to freaking out. The ribbing from the boys when they'd looked up her 'husband'—Rogan O'Leary—to find out where he currently lived hadn't helped.

She had briefly dated Mr. O'Leary back during her freshman year at Stanford. Apparently, during that time, the two of them had gone to Las Vegas, had too much to drink and thought it would be a riot to take a cab to a drive through a wedding chapel. The younger Kate had thought it wasn't real. A couple of weeks later, she had broken up with the guy once she found out he was a compulsive liar, degenerate, and a thief.

Thankfully, Martha had been able to arrange an appointment for them with her attorney. Mr. Browning went over the legal side of things, and provided them with a dissolution of marriage contract that they'd have to get Rogan O'Leary to sign. Kate wanted to handle it on her own, but Castle wouldn't let her.

"I'm your fiancé," he asserted while he followed behind her at a rushed clip, sliding into the passenger seat of her department issued Ford Mustang. "You shouldn't be doing this alone. I'm going with you."

After a long pause, Kate glanced up at him with large, expressive eyes. "Thank you, babe," she said, leaning over the center console to cup his cheek in his palm and press a kiss to his lips, with gratitude and a hint of an apology. "I'm so sorry about this whole mess."

He returned the kiss, slipping his hand over hers. "I love you, Kate. Marriage is supposed to be a partnership. Doing anything less would go against that."

She offered him a watery smile, so touched by his words. "I love you, too, Rick… so very much." Kate kissed him again. "Do you think they have to deal with this, too?" she asked.

He quirked up an eyebrow as he contemplated her question. "Perhaps," he replied at length. "But even if they did, I have to believe they would find a way to get through it. Because I cannot imagine a universe where Richard Castle doesn't love Katherine Beckett."

"God, your so hot right now," she surged forward and kissed him thoroughly, with tongue. She pulled back before things could get carried away and turned the keys in the ignition, revving the engine. "Let's do this. Nothing's going to stop me from marrying you."

XXX

They were in and out of Willow Creek with time to spare. Once Rogan O'Leary realized that Beckett didn't find any of the current situation amusing, he signed the dissolution of marriage contract without delay. Kate used her contacts with the district attorney's office to get the legal document expedited through the system. So when the big day finally arrived, nothing stood in their way from getting married. Castle briefly wondered if the other them had faired similarly and were able to overcome the obstacles placed in front of them.

Family and friends gathered on the rooftop garden atop Martha's building. His daughter and mother had seen to the final arrangements, making sure everything was ready. And it was perfect, just as he and Kate had planned it. Castle stood up on the small platform under the white trellis, awaiting the arrival of the bride. Alexis, her dark hair styled beautifully, stood by his side, smiling proudly at him.

He looked out over the assembled guests, hardly believing that this was finally happening. Just over a year ago, he was nothing but a washed up writer with a failed career, relegated to ghost writing bodice rippers, which Kate had endlessly teased him about when she'd found out, before they reenacted some of the more titillating scenes. But now, here he was, renewed and reinvigorated, Heat Wave recently published and skyrocketing up the bestseller's list, and about to marry the love of his life.

Just then, the music shifted, Canon in D playing softly through the air as the maid of honor emerged and walked down the aisle, lining up opposite him on the platform. Lanie—Kate's best friend—looked lovely in the form-fitting green dress his bride had picked out for her. And now everyone was standing. He took a deep breath and turned his gaze, almost tearing up when he spotted her.

Kate looked absolutely beautiful in her mother's dress. She squeezed her arm around her father's, biting her lower lip and gazing back at Castle, her eyes twinkling with joy and happiness. Jim Beckett beamed proudly, leading his daughter up to the platform. They shared a long look. Castle's heart pumped fiercely under his ribcage, still having trouble believing that this was actually happening. He was getting married—again—but this time for all the right reasons.

Castle shook Jim's hand, as Kate handed her bouquet to Lanie before turning around and accepting her groom's hand. Their fingers interlaced perfectly as they turned to face Judge Markway, both more than ready to star their life together.

A/N: Epilogue to follow shortly.