Hi there!

Where do I even start? That finale... No words. I have to say I'm disappointed. We waited all season for that. So cliche yet so heartbreaking. I wanted a wedding, but now I just want to know how they're going to fix this. Too many tears and shaking last night!

This is just a 6x23 based one shot. I know I owe people one shots and beta edits, but I had to write this! Your patience will be rewarded shortly!

Please let me know what you think and PM me if you want to talk about the finale!

Enjoy!

This is a dream. It has to be a dream. All Kate kept telling herself was that she needed to wake up from this nightmare. She needed to run away from the ledge and stop staring down at his burning car down below. She needed to get her mind straight and stop thinking the worst. But it was bad; the worst possible scenario.

And as much as she wanted to get the image out of her head, she couldn't look away. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the horrific disaster that was splayed out in front of her. The tragic, Hollywood grade accident that usually ended with a ringing bell and a shout and actors walking off to continue on with their days. But this wasn't Hollywood. This wasn't a set. This was real life. This was her wedding day. That was his car.

The flames licked the edges of the windows, the roof almost completely gone. Burned, everything was burned and destroyed. Castle was supposed to be in that car. He was in that car. He was on his way to their wedding. She should be walking down the aisle right now.

She took a shaky breath, the tears streaming down her face. She felt her heart pound in her ears and her fingertips tingling. This just couldn't be real. But it was. This was real. Her mind wasn't playing tricks on her. So she stood staring into the hole, watching her groom's car burn to nothing.

This was bad. So, so bad. Worse than any feeling of despair or hurt or angst she had ever felt. This was the love of her life, her groom, her everything. It felt like all the blood in her was being drained through her feet. She felt empty. She felt lost. She felt numb.

She was a realist. She thought logically. She wished she wasn't a realist. She wished she didn't always think so logically. Just this once she wished she could think like him. Make up a story and laugh and then go home and drink a glass of wine. But she wasn't. That was his job; that's what he did. He wasn't here.

"Kate! Oh my God." Lanie ran up to where she was standing, the shock of the site registering in her voice. Kate didn't look at her though. But she knew. She knew what Lanie was seeing because now that's all she was able to see. Even if she closed her eyes that's all she could see. That's all she would see for a long time; forever.

"Come on, sweetie. We need to go." Lanie gripped her shoulders and started to pull her backwards.

But then she started to panic. She couldn't leave. She just couldn't. "No, Lanie, no. I can't leave him, no. He needs me." The tears came harder now as she struggled against her friend's grip. "No, please."

Lanie called over her shoulder, "Javi, I need some help." She continued to try to rip Kate away from the ledge, but no matter how hard she tried, Kate fought back. There was no reasoning in such a situation. Anyone would understand that. "Kate, please, we need to go." The tears started running down Lanie's cheeks as she watched her friend in such anguish. A child's innocence and the rawness of losing it all. It was nothing short of heartbreaking.

Esposito was at her side a second later, wounding a hand around her waist. "Kate, we have to go." He lifted her and turned her around. Kate turned and wiggled her body in his grip, trying to see the car before she was whisked away. She needed to stay, needed to be there for him. But she knew; they all did. She also knew there was no use fighting against Espo's guidance. He wasn't going to let her stand there forever. So he led her past a second car and to a third car, opening the back door and ushering her inside. Lanie sat beside her, gripping her hands on her lap.

Kate sat there, expressionless. What else did she really have to live for? Rick was the man that changed everything for her. He picked up the pieces of her broken life and put her back together. He waited so patiently and stood by her and helped her with everything and anything that Kate needed. And she stood by his side in any way she could. They were partners and lovers and best friends. He knew her and she knew him. And they were supposed to be husband and wife.

It wasn't a long drive back to the house; the house that was supposed to become theirs. She didn't bother looking for any guest or taking in the view like she always did. She walked straight through the front door and up the stairs to her bridal suite; one of the guest bedrooms. When she opened the door, Alexis was curled up on the ottoman.

When she saw Kate, she jumped up and latched onto Kate, her head in her neck. "This can't be happening."

Fresh tears sprang to Kate's eyes as she clutched Alexis around the waist, suddenly feeling so tired, the dress becoming heavier than rocks and constricting her breathing. She slid to the floor, Alexis still right by her side.

"This can't be real. There's no way. Kate, please tell me this isn't happening!" Alexis sobbed into the wedding dress, still holding onto her.

She couldn't answer, the sobs making it hard to even breathe. So she just held her tighter and prayed harder that this would just all go away. That he would walk through the door and they would get married; vows and kisses and I do's. They would dance and cut the cake and talk to their guests. People would make speeches and drink and eat. They were supposed to be together forever. Happy ever after. That's what was supposed to happen. That's what he had promised her.

But nothing, not even imagining this pain away and hoping for a brighter future, made what she was feeling any better. All she could do at this point was help Alexis and let Alexis help her. Because they had no clue of knowing what to do. What do you do when your groom is lost in a fiery crash on your wedding day? That just didn't happen. It wasn't real.

But it was. They had beat so many odds just to be taken down on their day. A day they both waiting so long for. A day that she now wished would have never happened.

Alexis looked at her then. "What do we do?" She sniffed and wiped her eyes.

Kate looked towards the window, the vast ocean in her view. What do you do when your whole world has been turned upside down? How do you pick up and go on? How do you ever make something like this be okay? More tears flowed down her cheeks, streaking her makeup. "I don't know."

Please review!

xoxo