A/N: This is the longest Chapter I wrote, that is why it took me a couple days to completely finish it. I wanted to show how everything went through out the time jump to right before the attack. I hope you enjoy this update and please keep the reviews coming.

Chapter 8

August 5th, 1941

150 Miles Southwest of Pearl Harbor

Castle looked through the view finder and searched for the barges that would be anchored this far from the islands for target practice. Yet the sea was not helping matters much today as the waves topped 10 feet as a south by southwest wind blew in. This was his first test as gunnery officer and the day was not going so well. The previous day the division along with some destroyers and cruisers had practice combine operations together with both anti-air and anti-submarine threats. Now today they would practice surface gunfire, if he could find the barges.

Castle finally saw the target flag of a barge as it came into the viewer's frame of vision. He picked up the talker. "Bridge, gunnery, target sighted."

As Castle made the notations on a chart, the bousn pipe went off on the speaker. "Attention all personnel, stay clear of the weather decks. Main battery fire will commence."

Castle went back to the view find and focused on the flag. The barges were dancing on the waves, but he focused on the center barge, his target for this exercise. "Target enemy barge. Range 14751, bearing 287 degrees, speed 0. Wind 25 knots south by southwest, ship speed 13 knots. Charge 5."

As the talker repeated the information, Castle went back to the chart and made the notations. In the turrets, crews raced to load and make the adjustments of each individual turret and guns. Castle went to the viewer again. With the waves forcing the barges to go up and down he had to make a call. "Elevation 14."

The individual guns of the turrets raised up and like before Admiral Kidd gave the go ahead. But the purpose of this exercise was for the battleships and cruisers to provide greater firepower while the destroyers would race in and launch a simulated torpedo strike against the "enemy force". Castle heard the order come over the talker's headset. "All guns fire."

Castle knew the flight time and waited the appropriate time as he watch through the view finder. "Splash, long. Target distance now 14520, bearing 280, speed 0, wind speed 22 south by southwest, ship speed 13, charge 5. Elevation 12."

The crew raced and reloaded as the new information was imputed into the guns. With the rough seas, they knew it would be a longer evolution this time. All guns reported up, and Castle gave the command again. "Fire."

The ship shuttered as the rounds flew out of the barrels as the crew began the race to reload. Castle viewed the target barges as the seconds ticked by. The shells exploded short so Castle again gathered the information. "Splash short. Distance now 14213, bearing 269, speed still 0, wind speed 23 knots south by southwest, ship speed 13, charge 5, elevation 13 degrees."

The guns swung to the new information fed to them by their new gunnery officer as the guns were reloaded. Once reported as up, Castle gave the command again. "Fire."

The ship shuttered once more as she fired as the guns crews again began the process of the reload as Castle viewed through the finder. The seconds ticked away but as Castle viewed the target barge, splashes were since both long and short. "Straddle. Commence independent firing."

The crews in the turret raced to reload as spotters both in gunnery began to feed information as Castle also feed information to the spotters and such. The cruisers joined in as the destroyers raced towards the barges. Within an hour the exercise was over and the "enemy" was defeated and they group began to sail away from the target area towards their next assignment. Up in Gunnery, Castle was filling out the paperwork as well as making notes for himself. Captain Valkenburgh walked in. "Castle?"

"Sir, I'm…." Castle started to say getting to his feet.

"Sit, it's alright." Captain Valkenburgh stated coming in and taking a seat. Seeing the expenditure reports filled out and as well as other paperwork necessary for the exercise, the Captain noticed the note taking. "For first time as gunnery, and in rough seas you did well."

"Not to my standards sir." Castle quipped smiling at the Captain as he made the notes.

Captain Valkenburgh also chuckled. "It takes months to get really proficient at it Rick, and in three adjustments you got us on target. Admiral Kidd is pleased. You didn't fail."

"I know that sir, but I would like to improve on it sir." Castle remarked looking at his Captain.

Captain Valkenburgh smiled at Rick and grasped his shoulder. "I knew you would say that. Don't worry Rick, we have plenty of time."

Castle nodded and returned to his paperwork as soon as the Captain left.

August 8th 1941

Naval Base Pearl Harbor Hawaii

The Arizona, her division along with the cruisers and destroyers assigned to her for the exercise pulled in and docked at Pearl Harbor early that Friday morning. They spend the last two days out working on ship to shore bombardment and night time firing exercises. Now the ships were taking on the supplies of ammo, fuel, and supplies they had gone through during the evolution. Ensign Tolliver's working party had finish loading the ammo into the magazines when mail call was sounded. He was excited because his wife wrote him a letter, but the smile vanished from his face when he read it. He told the chief what he wanted done before he went inside the ship to the gunnery office where Castle was sitting signing off on reports. Tolliver knocked on the door. Castle looked up. "Hey Sam come in. Ammo on-loaded?"

"Yes sir. And I gave chief the next assignment sir." Ensign Tolliver sat down in the chair and fidgeted with the letter. Castle looked at him. "Sir I received this letter from my wife, stating she is on her way to Pearl to rejoin me sir."

"That is a good thing isn't it." Castle replied with a smile on his face until he saw Tolliver's. "What is it Tolliver?"

"Sir she is pregnant and the plan was for her to have the baby back in San Diego, but she wants to join me here, and I have don't anything to plan for that sort of thing sir." Ensign Tolliver stated fidgeting nervously in the seat now.

Castle smiled at him. "No problem, we'll help you out. When is she supposed to arrive?"

"Next Friday sir." Tolliver remarked.

"God damn Tolliver, you know how slow the process is, and we have a week." Castle admonished the sailor now but felt bad for him when he saw the face. "You didn't know did you?"

"No sir." Ensign Tolliver said to his superior officer

"It's ok, and I apologize." Castle remarked as he picked up the phone and spoke few words to the OOD on deck. A couple minutes later Chief Smith walked in. Castle informed him on what is going on. "Chief can this happen?"

Chief Smith nodded. "Give me a couple days sir and I'll have them quarters."

Chief Smith smiled at Ensign Tolliver before leaving the office. Castle chuckled as Tolliver looked at Castle. "Man who can negotiate and forage his way through anything.

Castle and Tolliver chuckled as Esposito walked in. "Sir you have a couple boxes waiting for you on shore."

Castle nodded and looked at his watch. "If you and Ryan can help me with those, I'll run you both into Honolulu at liberty call."

Esposito nodded and left the office.

Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii

Castle pulled the car up in front of the clinic and got out with Ryan and Esposito getting out right behind him. He opened the trunk as Lanie and Kate walked out. Castle smiled at the both of them. "Told you I come through."

"Never a doubt Castle." Lanie remarked as Ryan and Esposito got the boxes out.

"A little from me though." Kate smiled as she came around and gave Castle a small kiss on the lips. She was off through Monday and had missed him terribly. She saw Ryan and Espsoito helping out. "Are they supposed to be doing this?"

"It's alright ma'am we don't mind." Ryan stated carrying the first box into the clinic.

"Quite alright ma'am besides saves us the trouble of trying and get a cab." Esposito smirked as he walked right near Lanie. He stopped and held out his hand. "Gunners mate second class Javier Esposito ma'am."

"Dr. Lanie Parrish, civilian." Lanie replied with a smile on her face that got Esposito smiling as well. He carried his box into the clinic as Lanie watched him walk by before turning back to her two friends. "Cute."

Castle and Kate shook their heads, and a couple minutes later they were on the way towards downtown. Esposito leaned forward in his seat. "Sir is that doctor single or at least available here on the island?"

"Yes she is Esposito." Kate remarked with a smile from the front seat. She and Castle shared a smile with each other. "I can ask again if that is alright."

"It's quite alright ma'am, I have a feeling we'll be there plenty." Ryan remarked from the backseat tossing a smirk to his friend.

Castle and Kate just shook their heads with laughter. After they dropped Ryan and Esposito off, Castle and Kate pulled up in a parking lot and move towards the restaurant where they were going when Kate took his hand. She stepped in front of him. "Let's go to your place and have dinner."

"Samantha is off and mother and Alexis…" Castle started to say, but saw the look in her eyes. "I guess we could whip something up."

Castle and Kate returned to the car and drove off towards the Castle house.

September 16th, 1941

Naval Hospital Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii

Kate Beckett was not miserable but close to it. For the month of August, the fleet, specifically the Arizona would sail out for a few days of training before returning to Pearl or would remain in Pearl a week to conduct minor maintenance. Now the Arizona was on her longest exercise, a show of force if you will out beyond the normal training areas for a couple weeks. The ship and her division would be back that Friday. Thankfully for Kate, Alexis and Martha proved to be a good distraction and learning experience on this. She knocked on Captain Bryan's door. He looked up. "Kate come on in. How's it going with him being out so much longer?"

"Tough sir, but I am managing. Thank you sir." Kate stated as she sat down in the chair across the desk from the CO. She waited for him to finish off the report. When he looked up, she took a deep breath. "Sir, I am wondering about overnight passes?"

Captain Bryan leaned back in the chair. "I generally don't hand those out to nurses like I do corpsman. I try to look out for the nurses because of the male to female ratio on the island."

"I understand that sir, I do, but most nights, it would be simpler to stay at the Castle residence than come back to base because of the drive and hour. Respectfully sir." Kate stated as she shifted in her seat. She took a deep breath before speaking. "Is it your policy sir or CINCPAC policy to try and….."

"Stop right there Lieutenant." Captain Bryan held up his hand. He leaned forward in his chair and over the desk. "It is not CINCPAC's policy nor mine intent, but I am thinking about the safety of the nurses assigned under my command. I worry what may happen when drunken sailors find a couple good looking nurses strolling around Waikiki at 1am."

Captain Bryan leaned back and took a breath too. He looked at Kate. "I can understand your point too. Most nurses who find relationship want to spend most of the night with their friends."

"I understand sir, and if you change for one nurse you have to change for all of them." Kate remarked as Captain Bryan nodded. She started to get up. "Thank you for your time sir."

"Kate." Captain Bryan called out motioning her back to the chair. He got up and came around the desk and sat on the corner. "I've known Rick since the fleet largely moved here, and he is happier than I have seen him and your friends say the same about you, but you both are still in the service and if wanted that pass just to spend the night can largely be seen as conduct unbecoming a female officer, but I'll see what I can do to maybe adjust the policy a bit after consulting Commander Randall."

"Thank you sir." Kate remarked just feeling a bit better now. She got up. "Request permission to be dismissed sir."

"Granted." Captain Bryan said smiling.

Kate left the office with a small smile on her face knowing she had made her point.

Near Johnston Atoll

Pacific Ocean

"Alright gentlemen, last bit of news before we end this meeting." Castle said to the officers and Chiefs of the gunnery department. He looked at his notes. "We should be pulling back into Pearl sometime Thursday evening to Thursday night, but liberty call will not be sounded until the following morning."

There were groans from the officers and chiefs as they were wishing they could go ashore right away after a couple days at sea. Castle shook his head. "Trust me guys, I feel the pain, I have people to see too."

That brought laughter from everyone because everyone knew besides his mother and daughter, who Castle would really like to see once they got back to Pearl. Castle motioned them for the laughter to die down. "The division will spend about two weeks in port to do any maintenance prior to us heading back out for a week at the beginning of October, before the ship heads into the dry dock at Pearl for some hull maintenance and upgrades sometime towards the middle to the end of October."

Everyone nodded and wrote that down on their papers. Castle looked at the last of his notes. "Finally sometime in the first week of December, the division will be heading out for a night firing exercise. More details to follow. Questions?"

There were none from the group. "Alright dismissed."

The officers and chiefs left the wardroom and returned back to their duty stations as Castle smiled to himself. "I think I will be able to handle this."

October 21st, 1941

Pearl City, Territory of Hawaii

Kate walked in from the kitchen carrying a glass of wine and scotch for Castle. The past month had been a busy one for them. The division returned in September and spent a couple weeks in port doing a maintenance cycle following their longer time out, then headed out in October at least for a couple days each week to maintain training and proficiency. The ship this time was in port getting ready for her mini overhaul. Kate sat down next to Castle and handed him his scotch. She sipped at it and then laid her head on his shoulders. "So glad you are in port."

"Me too. My bed here is definitely more comfortable than the one on board." Castle smirked as he gave her a light kiss on the head. The radio was on playing the local stations. "Mother and Alexis should be back from the movies in a couple hours."

"That's good, which means we can do other things." Kate remarked with a smirk on her face. But then the gong of the hour hit and the news came on. She sighed. "Can I change it, it gets worse everytime."

Before Castle could answer the newscaster voice came on. "Good evening Honolulu this the five o'clock news. Today's top story is the ongoing negotiations between the Empire of Japan and United States seemed to stall, and Secretary Hull feels that no further progress is expected to be made, but he remains optimistic. In Russia, Moscow by the Soviet Government is effectively under siege and marshal law has been implemented. In North….."

Kate turned off the radio and looked at Castle who shook his head. She came back over and sat back down next to him and hugged him tight. "I'm worried Rick."

"I'm still certain everything will work out." Castle remarked as he hugged her tighter. He kissed her lightly on the lips. "I love you Kate, and I don't want to lose you if we go to war."

"I love you too Rick and I don't want to lose you either" Kate remarked as hugged him tighter now. She snuggled her head into his chest. "The world is going to hell. What are we going to do?"

Castle thought about it for half a second. "We could get married."

Kate let him go and sat up. "Don't be joking."

"I'm not Kate. I love you, and in the time we have been together, I feel like we have been together for years. I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Castle said shifting around to face her. "All I could think about is at the end of the day I can't wait to get to see you, and I want that to continue for the rest of my life. I want to grow my family with you."

Kate sat there in shock for a minute before she had a smile grow on her face. "You want all that with me."

"Yes I do." Castle replied. He got off the couch and dropped to one knee. "So Kate Beckett, will you do me the honor in becoming my wife?"

Kate teared up and nodded before the words came out. "Yes, Yes."

Castle got up and picked her up spinning her around kissing her. He set her down as the front door open and in walked Alexis and Martha. Martha hung up her purse. "Your mother must be the worst movie actress in Hollywood. How did she get that part?"

"Well I promised I would see the movie grams, didn't say for how long." Alexis said in reply with a smirk on her face. She turned to see Castle and Kate. "Hey you two, what has you two smiling like that?"

"We're engaged." The both of them said.

It took a second for the news to sink in before Martha and Alexis rushed over and hugged and kissed the couple. Champagne was found and poured as they celebrated. The next morning, Castle walked aboard the Arizona with a smile on his face as he headed to the Captains quarters where the Marine announced him before walking in.

"Good morning Rick. You look pleased this morning. What can I do for you?" Captain Valkenburgh asked leaning back in his chair.

"Sir I'm engaged. " Castle said with a smile growing larger.

"Congradulations. Give me one second please." Captain Valkenburgh remarked pulling out his wallet and a five dollar bill. He then called in a yeoman. "Please give that to the admiral with the message stating he won the pool."

Castle looked on in shock as the yeoman nodded and left the quarters. "There was a pool on when we would get engaged?"

"Don't feel bad. Most enlisted had you within a month." Captain Valkenburgh said with his own smile. He got up and shook Castle's hand. "I had you last week, and the Admiral had you on this day. Congratulations Rick."

"Thank you sir." Castle replied with a smile on his face returning. Once he left the quarters he saw his former battery standing near the gunnery office. "Alright get back to your duties after you shake my hands."

Everyone laughed and came up to congratulate him. Across the harbor at the naval hospital, Kate looked at the ring that Martha had given her. She waited to talk to Captain Bryan and Commander Randall. The door opened and out walked most of the senior officers and chiefs leaving the office. Captain Bryan motioned Kate in. He sat down at the desk and looked at Kate, as Commander Randall smiled at her. "You're toying with your finger Kate. Am I assuming congratulations are in order?"

Kate looked down and noticed what he was talking about. She looked up and smiled. "Ahh yes sir and ma'am."

Captain Bryan looked at Commander Randall and held out his hand. "Pay up Jennifer."

Commander Randall nodded and handed the captain five dollars. "Congratulations Lieutenant Beckett."

"Thank you ma'am. How long was the pool?" Kate asked.

"I had you this week, while Commander Randall had you in July next year." Captain Bryan replied getting up coming around giving Kate a hug. "When is the big day?"

"We are discussing it and the way the world is going sooner than later is taking the lead." Kate answered as she received a hug from Commander Randall.

"Don't worry Lieutenant Beckett. I know the world will work itself out." Commander Randall told her.

Kate somehow wish she could believe that.

November 4th, 1941

Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii

"Girl, I know you wanted simple and elegant, but I think you have done it." Lanie remarked as she looked at Kate in the dress that she chosen. Gina nodded her agreement as Lanie adjust the dress a bit as Alexis and Martha looked on as well.

Kate nodded as she saw herself in the mirror wearing a Swiss dot wedding gown that fit her and her body perfectly. The train wasn't long, and that was perfect for the setting she and Castle had chosen for their wedding, which was the beach at the Manu where they had gone on their first date. And despite efforts by some interested parties, they had threaten to pull the party and reception from the hotel if Lanie was not allowed to attend the reception in the ballroom of the hotel. "Oh Lanie, tell your friend thank you for me and I'll pay for it."

"Oh girl please, you treated her and her family for dysentery. She is giving you this for free." Lanie remarked with a smile on her face. She stepped back as she joined the rest of the ladies. "Kate you will make Rick's jaw drop."

"He does that already Lanie." Alexis smirked at the comment which got everyone laughing. She looked around. "So no bridesmaid dresses?"

Kate shook her head. "We decided on a simple party. Gina and Lieutenant Donaldson. Gina can wear a dress, and Lieutenant Donaldson will be in his whites."

Everyone nodded. Despite Martha's calls for a large affair, she decided to go with the couple's request for a simple affair at a place they both love and claimed as a place where their relationship really started. "So Kate dear, what is Richard up too?"

Across town Castle walked into the office of his attorney on the island. He was expected and with the ship in dry-dock, there was minimal that he had to do aboard right now. So the Captain gave him the afternoon off to handle the one thing he wanted to do. "Hey Sara, Marty is expecting me?"

"Go right ahead Commander." The secretary stated getting up and opening the door to the office.

"Rick, come in and take a seat." Marty Daniels, lawyer for the Castle family stated. He pointed to a seat after shaking Castle's hand. "I heard about the upcoming marriage. Congratulations."

"Thanks Marty, but I need to change somethings around in my will." Castle said shaking no to the offer of the coffee. He pulled out a list. "I already predated my life insurance through the navy to include, Kate, Alexis and Martha. I need to do the same to the accounts, and one more thing. I want Kate to be Alexis's guardian as well beside my mother."

Marty looked at Castle. "Rick, we would have to notify Meredith in Los Angeles, and New York if she wants to contest this."

Castle shook his head. "She won't, I know she won't. Heck she didn't even call on Alexis's birthday."

"Still, if you want this, I will draw up the papers and get them mailed off today, but it may take longer than a month, because you got divorced in New York." Marty stated. He saw Castle nodded. "I'll call a friend of mine in New York, and I'll see if I can work out with somebody to get it to New York quicker."

"Thank you Marty that is all I ask." Castle stated as he got up and shook Marty's hand and handing him the list. "Just call me when it's done and I'll sign the updated will and such. Thanks Marty"

Marty nodded and again shook Castle's hand before Castle left the office. As Castle arrived back at the Arizona, Castle noticed Ryan on the dry dock walk way reading a letter. "Hey Ryan?"

Ryan jumped to his feet and saluted Castle. "Good morning sir."

"Afternoon actually." Castle laughed as he came up close to him. "Letter from Jenny?"

"Yes sir. She saved up enough money and will be joining me here in Hawaii for a week, starting November 28th sir." Ryan stated with a smile on his face.

"Good for you, bring her to the wedding. We have more than enough food and room." Castle said to Ryan patting him on the shoulder. He sat down next to him. "How long is she staying?"

Ryan smiled. "Thank you sir, I may do that, and she is staying till the 8th of December sir."

"She have a great time, I'm pretty sure." Castle told Ryan by patting him on the knee and moving off.

November 29th, 1941

Waikiki, Territory of Hawaii

For the Manu, this was the biggest event today for the hotel. More than 300 people packed the beach for a ceremony that Castle and Kate hoped to be a simple affair, but between people they had known, Martha's contacts, and Alexis's friends, the list had grown, but thankfully for Kate and Rick, Martha and a number of other people pulled it together. Kate's dad, happy for his daughter, couldn't attend though due to the short time frame of the wedding. They understood, but Castle had hoped to meet the man who gave him Kate. So Captain Bryan would give her away. Castle looked out at the water when the music started and everyone turned towards the rear of the aisle way. Castle saw Kate and saw his bride coming and his jaw nearly dropped. As Captain Bryan shook Castle's hand and gave Kate a kiss on the cheek, the minister motioned for everyone to sit. He went through the usual aspects of the wedding when it was time. "Rick repeat after me?"

Castle nodded and started to repeat the minister's words. "I Richard Castle, take you Katherine Houghton Beckett, to be my lawful wedded wife for this day forward, for better or worse, for richer and poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish you till death do us part. Always."

Richard took the ring from Lieutenant Donaldson and put it on her finger. The minister turned to Kate. "Now Katherine Beckett repeat after me."

Kate nodded and started to repeat the minister's word. "I, Katherine Beckett, take you Richard Castle to be my lawful wedded husband for this day forward, for better or worse, for richer and poorer, in sickness and in health to love and cherish you till death do us part. Always."

Kate took the ring from Gina and placed it on the finger of Castle. They both looked at the minister. "By the power invested in me by the lord above, the territorial government, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Everyone stood up and cheered as the newly married couple shared their first kiss as man and wife and soon they walked down the aisle. An hour later, at the reception everyone was enjoying themselves. Castle and Kate watch Captain Valkenburgh share a dance with Martha, as Alexis danced with a young man from her class, Esposito and Lanie who had been going out were on the floor, along with Ryan and his girlfriend Jenny who had arrived yesterday. Kate smiled up at her husband as Bennie Goodman's Ballad in Blue. "Well Lieutenant Commander Richard Castle, how does it feel?"

"Perfect. How does it feel Mrs. Lieutenant Commander Richard Castle?" Castle asked his new wife.

"Perfect, and I hope it never changes." Kate replied as she laid her head in her husband's chest as they danced the night away.

Across the ocean, a fleet under radio silence sailed towards Pearl Harbor and a date with history.

December 4th, 1941

150 Northwest of Pearl Harbor

Northwest of Honolulu, the Arizona and her division where sailing towards a target area where barges were located. Castle scanned the darken horizon for the shapes that would be on the barges to help identify them against the skyline. Castle scanned and found an odd shape against the oddly flat skyline. He zoomed in and brought the talker to his mouth. "Bridge possible target, request permission to illuminate."

The bridge gave the order so Castle looked through the view finder again. "Secondary battery, gunnery, target possible enemy ship. Bearing 025, Range 7000, speed 0, wind speed 8 knots west, ship speed 11. Elevation 10 degrees illuminate with star shells."

In the secondary guns, as the klaxon and bousn whistle went off, crews raced as the speakers gave the warnings like every other training exercise. The secondary guns announced ready so Castle gave the order. "Fire."

As the secondary turrets thundered not as loud as the primary guns, Castle put his eyes to the finder. As the star shells exploded and bathed the target area in light, Castle got the information from the finder. "Main battery, gunnery, target enemy ships, bearing 023, Range 6825, speed 0, wind speed 7 knots west, ship speed 11, elevation 10 degrees."

The process that had occurred numerous of times began again as the crew raced and inputed the information and announced ready. Castle gave the fire order and the process of firing, reloading began again, but this time Castle had to include the star shells in the firing order to keep the target illuminated. Yet within the last hour the last shells were fired and the guns began to swing back into the cruise postion when the phone rang in gunnery. Castle answered it and listen to the information. "Alright chief thanks."

Castle looked around. "Seaman Baker."

The young seaman came over. "Yes sir?"

"Let the Captain and Admiral know that turret 4 gun 2 hydraulic line severed, and we'll need the Vestal when we return to port." Castle told the young seaman as he pulled out the paperwork and began filling it out. "I'll have the paperwork within a hour."

"Aye sir." The young seaman stated as he moved off. Castle sighed and looked at clock on the bulkhead. It was going to be a long night.

December 5th, 1941

Naval Base Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii

As the ship made its way up the channel Castle walked into flag country where the Admiral and Captain were waiting for him in the Admiral's quarters. The Marine announced him and Castle walked in. "Good morning Gentlemen."

"Rick how bad is turret 4 gun 2." Captain Valkenburgh asked.

"They tried sir, but no other hose will work." Castle replied taking a seat offered to him by the Admiral. He gladly accepted the coffee from the admiral's aide. "The Vestal has the parts."

"Okay, well there are other minor repairs that need to be done." Admiral Kidd acknowledge and signed off on the repair order and handed it to Captain Valkenburgh. "The Damage control officer can handle the supervision, but which gun team has the watch that day?"

"Three sir." Castle remarked as a knock on the door and in came the communications officer who handed Captain Valkenburgh a message after being announced. "Sir?"

"Message from the yard officer. Ensign Tolliver's wife is in labor at Naval Hospital Pearl Harbor." Captain Valkenburgh stated as he handed the message to Castle. "He's supposed to have the 0800 OOD watch Sunday."

"I'll take it sir." Castle stated that got the look of the two officers in front of him. He smiled. "Wife has the midnight shift at the hospital going into Sunday morning, so I figured I let her sleep."

"You're a good husband, but I can't do that to you." Captain Valkenburgh said getting up and getting some more coffee. He came back a second later. "You just married, and I figured I let you have the weekend."

Castle smiled at the Captain. "Sir I don't mind, and Kate is okay with me standing a watch if it gets me out of the house so she can sleep so she told me."

Admiral Kidd smiled and shook his head. "Alright, it's only 8 hours, and it's usually pretty quiet on Sundays."

"Fair enough, but she complains I don't want to hear about it Castle." Captain Valkenburgh stated with a smirk at Rick.

"Aye sir." Castle remarked with a smile.

Except for the watches and those assigned to the repair parties tomorrow, liberty was sounded for the crew and Castle usually one of the last few off, this time was the first one off. Ten minutes later he was on the dock walking towards his wife who was in black pants, shirt, and her hair pulled down just simply falling with slight rolls over her eyes. His heart jumped. They kissed lovingly as they met. "Missed me."

"Always." Kate replied as she took his arm. They walked towards the car that she had driven down. "How did it go?"

"Alright." Castle told her. He went into detail about the damage hydraulic line and the repair of it tomorrow. "I have the watch Sunday morning for Tolliver because his wife went into labor."

"Oh good for Kelly. I saw her the other day at the hospital." Kate answered as they arrived at the car. She smiled at her husband. "Besides I can use the peace and quiet after my watch. How long is your watch?"

Castle smiled. "Till four and knowing mother and Alexis, they'll be at church then lunch down in town till about 1."

"Maybe we'll meet for dinner. Speaking of which." Kate told him as she kissed him deeply this time. She put her forehead against his. "I sent them away for the evening."

Castle knew what she had in mine. "Why Mrs. Castle are you trying to seduce me?"

"Yes I'm." Kate answered seductively. Castle opened the door and let her into the car before climbing into the driver's seat and pulling away from the pier. Across the fleet and island, sailors, soldiers, Marines, and civilians all prepared for another routine weekend of peace or so they thought.

Additional note: The Arizona and her crew went through constant training cycles prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, minus one minor overhaul in October of 1941. With no phones, faxes or emails, any documents had to be mailed and that is why the lawyer was worried about the time period to get the documents signed. I hope you enjoyed the update, the infamous day is next.