A/N: If I don't cave ...
"A kiss always means something."
September 2014
The men leave, her son calling out til the last possible second, and Martha finds his bride smiling to herself softly, a warm flush coloring her cheeks as she stands waiting, content to be at the mercy of her almost mother-in-law.
Turning the young woman away from her, Martha's eyes crinkle as she fiddles with Kate's hair, her smile warm and familiar, love and indulgence shining from her almost as brightly as it does from her son.
Her fingers move speedily as she watches Katherine press a hand to her chest, breathing as though she feels that butterfly flutter start up again in her stomach.
Awe? Happiness? Delight? Maybe all three and she shakes her head with a smile at the pair of them, just as bad as each other.
Her son is getting married today and that is amazing, wonderful, about time! And everything a bride should feel is written over the face of the woman he loves, the woman she has come to think of as her daughter.
As she weaves the silken strands of hair behind the detective's head, Martha refuses to think of it as Katherine becoming a part of their family because they've welcomed her in from the moment they met, today is just the long journey's fruition and of course there have been bumps along the way, but today should be the start of a smoother path for the pair of them. God knows they deserve it.
Alexis adds earrings to the bride's ears, as they work around her together, fingers gentle as they work the metal through her lobes and she lifts a strand of Kate's hair, handing it off to Martha to twist up with the rest, smiling widely when she catches the detective's eye.
She's happy for her father, Martha has no doubt about it, happy for the both of them, and they hold the gaze they share for a while, her granddaughter and the woman that has captured her son's heart and, with her fingers working away behind them, Martha can't help but wonder if this is a glimpse at a moment the two of them will share one day in the not so distant future.
Another wedding, another time. Another daughter with a borrowed mother.
She swallows thickly, a shimmer of tears behind her eyes and Martha clears her throat, watching as Alexis jumps, nods and disappears quickly. She feels Katherine stutter in confusion, her body tensing and she smiles as she imagines the young woman's eyes narrowing with suspicion.
Her fingers are warm as they land on the bride's exposed shoulders, Martha's voice picking up with a croak of emotion as she smoothes her hands down Katherine's arms and turns her so they face each other, "Do you remember the very first poker game my son invited you to attend, with Javier and Kevin and your dear Captain Montgomery?"
Kate nods, stilling instantly when Martha clicks and tuts in annoyance, trapping a laugh that spills free and swearing not to move again. Her hair is a delicate stage and Martha's face transforms with finite skill born of her craft as she hammers home her insistence that the bride remain a statue.
"I remember."
"I knew then." Martha states adamantly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and catching her eyes so Katherine can see the truth and understand that what she's saying isn't being said in the moment for the sake of it. That she believes the words she speaks with her whole heart.
Katherine becomes quiet, instantly serious as she asks, "Knew what?"
"That you were the girl for my boy."
Her eyes fly up and wide in surprise and Martha feels the words catch in her throat as she speaks them, lacing every one with honest love, and her fingers drop from Katherine's hair to touch at her cheek.
She swallows hard, stoic as ever, visibly biting back the flood of emotion and Martha can see clearly in the detective's eyes that she wonders how on earth anyone could have known barely a month into their partnership that they would end up together.
Ah, the follies - and self imposed blindness - of youth! If she could travel back in time and knock their heads together, she would.
"I love my son," she says quietly, a surge of pride undeniable as it bombardes her heart, "he's a wonderful man, but god knows he can be trying." Martha smiles wistfully, remembering the dark haired little boy who would run riot for attention, only to curl up quiet and shy in her lap. The adolescent, lonely and desperate for companionship, the too eager to please teenager. "He may have been a self-centered jackass when you met him -"
Kate laughs, thumbs her own eyes to drag away tears as she nods, understanding completely, "I've called him that."
"Still is on occasion." Martha shrugs, not oblivious to her own human failings as a parent, maybe ignoring them a little more than she should, but this is about her son. "But he has a big heart," She smiles proudly, touching the cheek of the woman who claimed it. "A generous heart." Kate nods again, emphatically. "And darling, he loves you with all of it!"
She chokes a sobbing laugh at his mother's words and fights to blow a shallow breath through her lips, her hands quivering as they come up to lay over Martha's. "I couldn't stand him then." She confesses guiltily.
"Who could?" Martha teases and Kate laughs again, the two of them sharing in the love they have for Castle, for the man he was then, the man he is now.
All of him, theirs.
And again, his family - and hers - fill her up with joy.
"Hey!"
Both women turn at the admonishing call of his daughter's voice, the mock stern grimace falling away easily as she finds her way back to their sides.
Eavesdropping.
There is no doubt here, from any of them, they share a common bond in their love for the crazy man Kate is about to marry. No worry. Nothing but tender reflection and remembrance.
It's only when Martha calls attention to it that Kate even notices Alexis has her hands behind her back and Martha turns the bride towards her granddaughter, pushing them together.
"We have something for you, Katherine." Martha swallows hard, her palm open and inviting Alexis closer. She watches as her granddaughter breathes out slowly and pulls her hands from behind her back smiling, hopeful, watching for Kate's reaction.
The lost veil flutters lightly in the breeze and the silence between them is broken by a gasp. Katherine's eyes well with tears, her fingers shaking as they reach, only to withdraw suddenly as if afraid to touch the dancing lace. As though she cannot bring herself to believe it's real.
"How?" Is all she can say, emotion choking the word, keeping it tight and still disbelieving.
"Dumb luck?" Martha shrugs, claiming Kate's fingers, soothing and empathetic as she pulls the girl with her. "Act of God?" She smiles, lays the detective's shaking hand over the flutter of her mother's veil, proving to her it's real. "Maybe a little of the magic you share with my son rubbing off on the rest of us." She winks, nodding towards her granddaughter.
She watches the revelation dawn on the detective's face. Shock giving way to elation.
"I can't believe you found it." Kate croaks, ignoring the offered item and instead pulling Alexis into her arms, leaving Martha to rescue the veil and smile as she watches.
"Thank you." She squeezes hard and breathes the words again clutching tight as Alexis blushes. When Kate lets her go reluctantly she turns and reaches for Martha, her surprise and happiness evident in her glowing skin and happy smile. "You too, Martha. Thank you."
"Would it be remiss if I didn't say always?" She teases, taking the tight squeeze of the detective's arms around her with a grunt of surprise - she certainly is a strong one. And while she has the young woman in her arms Martha holds her tight and kisses her cheek, gifting her with not only her mother's veil but a mother's love also.
"Something old." She smiles, pushing Katherine away, fixing the veil to her drawn up hair, "It's a little shorter than it was originally and I don't really think you could call it white anymore -"
"It's perfect." Kate interrupts.
"Yes, I do believe given the current ensemble," she casts her eyes downwards to the swathe of dark denim and leather heels, "it does fit rather well. Adds a certain dramatic flare."
"We don't have much time." Alexis hurries her on, tapping her watch.
"Ah, yes time is of the essence." She squeezes Katherine's hand again and sighs, "Well as all good actresses must, it's time for a little improvisation." Martha grins, in her element.
Grabbing Alexis by the shoulders she shoves her in front of the startled bride, "Something new, congratulations my dear, it's a girl."
"Grams!" The girl groans and the bride blushes and Martha watches her cast a protective glance over her soon to be stepdaughter, something in the woman's tender gaze and loving touch telling Martha it won't be long before she has another beautiful grandchild to spoil.
She ignores them both, tapping at Katherine's ears with the tips of her fingers, "Borrowed." She announces, "They were my mother's"
"Oh, Martha - I -"
"No time for that, you're family." Martha smiles as the bride blushes and she reaches into her pocket for the last item, pulling it free. "And finally, something blue."
Martha produces it with a flourish not dissimilar to that of a magician, a playing card, blue-backed and familiar, not from Castle's collection but Kate's own, a precinct deck he insisted on buying for her very early on in their partnership. Back when Kate would rather have kicked him than kissed him.
She turns it over slowly in her hand and chokes on another laugh as she sees the face, The Queen of Hearts, his mother ever the dramatic actress feigning indifference at her reaction, but clapping her hands together in delight when Kate shakes her head and covers her mouth to stifle the giggle.
She traces the card for a moment before slipping it into her pocket, turning towards Martha, want of knowledge bubbling under her skin.
"How did you know?" She asks, "When we played poker that very first time? How did you know?"
Martha winks, smiling wide and leaning in to kiss her cheek, her words warm against her skin, "How else, my dear. He let you win!"