The morning was pure pandemonium. Kate rushed to find Alexis's tiara and wand, when Aiden squeezed into the bathroom asking for make-up tips for his mummy costume, Kate inspected the yards of dirty gauze they'd attached previously. She thanked him again for putting it together in advance.

After getting the kids ready for school in their Halloween costumes, they spent a good 10 minutes calming them down after they announced their wedding plans. The family enjoyed an energetic breakfast and piled into the car, speeding off just before Paula arrived.

She entered the loft with her usual assuredness. Martha stood in the entry and gave her a look of confusion and worry. "What are you still doing here? Did you miss your flight?"

Paula looked back at her, surprised. "Flight? What flight?"

Martha smiled devilishly as she replied, "It's that special time of year. Shouldn't you be off to meet your sisters for the annual coven in Salem?"

Paula scowled, realizing she'd just walked right into that one. "Can it, I'm not in the mood. Where is Rick this morning? We have a meeting in less than an hour."

"Gone."

"Gone, what do you mean, gone?"

"Gone to spend the day with his children and fiancée." Martha peered at her with a grin, waiting for her reaction. She didn't disappoint. Her eyes widened as the words sunk in, then her hand flew to her mouth before she dropped her purse and raced to the bathroom.

Martha hadn't actually expected her to lose her breakfast. She headed to the kitchen to get Paula a drink of water. She returned to find her on the sofa, leaning back with her eyes closed. She looked tired. She knew she never took care of herself and wondered if she was coming down with the flu. She had no doubt that she would take on the extra work with Rick and Kate getting married.

Paula peeked through her mostly closed eyelids. Taking the glass from Martha, she took a sip and questioned, "So, when are they doing the deed?"

Martha noticed her eyes flashing with something. Was that jealousy? Regret? She squinted his eyes at her, but she had resumed her usual indifferent demeanor. "I thought you said you weren't in love with him."

"I'm not, but for a while, I think I did love the idea of being in love with him. I always felt jealous toward Kyra for what she'd found." She paused closing her eyes against some unwanted emotion. When she spoke again, her voice sounded quizzical. "Martha, why did he find love again when he wasn't even looking?"

Martha stared at her intensely for a moment, and then looked down. She shook her head slightly, making Paula wonder what thoughts were churning around in there. Finally, she seemed to end some internal argument and looked back into her eyes, her voice soft, but earnest.

"When he met Kate, he didn't close off the option because of any preconceived thoughts. Her past, her position, status: none of it mattered. Kate, the woman, was exactly what he needed." She dropped his gaze and sighed, "I guess when he was just ready to received it, the love found him."

Paula tried to stand, but a sudden wave of nausea took her and she closed her eyes and pressed her hands to her middle, concentrating on calming her queasy stomach.

She flinched slightly as Martha placed her hand against her forehead. "You don't have a fever. How long have you felt sick?" Uh, oh. She didn't want to discuss this, or Martha would figure out the cause of her sudden illness.

"Since I arrived this morning. Seeing you is enough to make anyone sick," Paula deferred with a barb.

She opened her eyes to see Martha smother a grin. "Next time, I'll just poison your coffee and finish you off."

Searching for an escape, she glanced down at her watch. "Damn, I'm late. Well, since it's too late to cancel, I'll just have to handle the meeting myself." Paula jumped up and made her escape, pausing briefly at the door to retrieve her purse.

Kate plopped down on the sofa and released a huge sigh of relief. She didn't remember ever feeling this tired in her whole life. She had been running on adrenaline for over a week now, and she wanted to sleep for a month. Tomorrow, she would get married and the day after, her daughter would receive the transplant she so desperately needed.

She smiled subtly as she remembered how they had received the news.

The family had stopped to talk to Aiden at his Festival game 'station' where they all conspired together to get Rick to bob for an apple. With Alexis, Kate and Mackenzie encouraging him, he didn't stand a chance.

Thoroughly wet, he had happily munched on his prize while Aiden challenged Kate to a doughnut-eating contest.

Kate eyed the glazed confection hanging from a string. "What do you mean, I can't use my hands?"

"Come on, Kate. All you've got to do is eat the doughnut off the string without letting it fall. You're not afraid that I can out-eat you, are you?" Aiden jeered.

Unwilling to let that comment pass, Kate turned around and let them bind her wrists behind her back. "You are so going to regret challenging me."

Kate had just pulled the last bit into her mouth when she heard her father calling her name from across the gym. The hospital had called him when they hadn't reached anyone at the Castle residence. They had found a donor! They would gather the cells on Sunday, so they scheduled the procedure for Monday morning. Her smile widened as she felt a soft caress across her forehead, then down her cheek.

"You have such a beautiful smile." Rick's soothing voice came from just above her head.

Keeping her eyes closed, she reached up to clasp his hand, pulling him down toward her. "You know, we're not supposed to see each other for 24-hours before our wedding. It's bad luck."

As she spoke, she found his shirt and pulled until she felt him sit down next to her, his face leaning in toward her. She released his shirt and rubbed her fingers across the stubble on his jaw.

"Fine. I'll get you a blindfold."

His tone let her know exactly what he thought of her superstitious tradition. She giggled. "Oh, kinky!"

He smiled at her flirtatious tone. He ran a hand along her face, down her neck and shoulder until he took her hands. "You look tired."

Kate opened her eyes, smiling at her future husband. "Whoever said we could get ready for a wedding in four days was insane. The next time I have the chance to elope, I'm going to take it."

Rick gave her an affronted glare. "There better not be a 'next time', unless you're talking about renewing our wedding vows."

She answered by pulling him in for a demanding kiss that took his breath away. Pulling back to rest his forehead against hers, he closed his eyes to catch his breath and regain his sanity. They'd hardly spent two minutes alone together since their engagement, and he desperately wanted to show her how much he loved her. However, seeing her exhaustion convinced him to wait. Until tomorrow.

He stood and picked her up from the couch. "Come on, let's get you to bed."

"Oh, Mr. Castle," she squealed playfully, "you're sending me to my room?" Her smile turned wicked as she wrapped her arm around him tightly and scraped her fingers through his hair. "Better yet, send me to your room..."

A primal groan rumbled up from his chest. Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.