Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

—-

Can I go where you go?

Can we always be this close forever and ever?

…I've loved you three summers now, honey, but I want 'em all

Taylor Swift, Lover

—-

It's been too long.

Kate paced through the bedroom, wringing her hands, holding her breath. She was standing precariously close to the edge of a cliff, with only Martha's soft murmurings keeping her from completely tumbling over. He'll be here soon, she was saying. Richard would never leave you here alone.

If that was the case, then where the hell was he?

Kate glanced up at the clock, her attention snagging on Alexis looking nervously out the window. "I'm going to go keep the guests settled," she said, her voice trembling at the edges. She was worried too.

It had been almost an hour. He should have been here ages ago.

Kate reached for her cell phone, despite Martha's protests. She needed to contact the police, get a search team out, figure out–

Suddenly, Castle burst into the room, one hand over his eyes. "I'm here!" he wheezed, hair askew but a smile on his face.

"Dad!" Alexis shouted, hot on his heels. She must have seen him on her way outside.

Kate wasted no time. She lunged for him, wrapping her arms around his neck. He grunted, moved his hand to curve around her back, and let out an amused chuckle.

"I didn't miss the party, did I?"

"Where have you been!?" Kate heard herself screech. Distantly, she heard Martha tell Alexis to continue on to the party; the bride and groom would be ready momentarily. Frankly, she was surprised she could hear anything over the buzzing in her ears.

Castle pulled away, eyes still closed. "I can explain, I–"

"Why are you closing your eyes, dear?" Martha asked, and Castle grinned even more broadly.

"It's bad luck to see the bride, Mother!"

Kate rolled her eyes. "It's also bad luck to be late. So can you please just open them so we can have a normal conversation?"

"Can you at least put on a jacket or something first?"

Kate could have slapped him. She really could have. But wordlessly, Martha handed her a navy blue cardigan out of her duffel bag. She shrugged it on and crossed her arms across her chest to keep the fabric closed.

"Fine, okay. Seriously Rick. Where the hell have you been, and why do you smell like smoke?"

He opened his eyes one at a time, peeking at first to ensure she'd obliged his request. Once he was satisfied, Kate saw his face change. He looked her up and down, eyes twinkling in awe. It warmed her belly when he started to sway, and he cleared his throat before scratching at his already mussed hair.

"You look…"

"Not the time, babe."

"Right." He blinked a few times, resettled his gaze on Kate's face, and began his story: Apparently, he'd been almost run off the road by a black SUV. He'd braked hard, swerved, and clipped the corner of their vehicle. The SUV overcorrected and flipped into a ditch. His own car had spun out on the narrow road, but he was fine. When he noticed the SUV had caught on fire, he'd ditched his jacket in the front seat, rolled up his sleeves, and worked to get the people out. First responders came just as he was removing the second unconscious man.

"Castle, that's…" Kate didn't know what to say. Her fingers were trembling and she had started to sweat. He hadn't just been late. He'd been targeted.

"You were a hero, darling," Martha said, amazed, and sank down onto the bed. She looked pale, but proud, as she surveyed her son. "And you're sure you're not injured?"

Castle shook his head, and picked up one of Kate's hands in his. "It only took so long because the police were asking me for my statement. I had to give them everything short of my social security number for them to let me leave the scene." Then, he patted his coat pocket. "Marriage license really sealed the deal. And, of course, our address. They'll probably be stopping by later."

Kate's eyes were burning, her heart aching with both relief and the thought of what could have gone wrong. Had he not driven so defensively, they could have pushed him into the ditch. He was here because of sheer dumb luck, but someone out there had wanted him, and she needed to know why.

"And you're sure you're okay?" she whispered.

Castle raised her knuckles to his lips, kissing each one. "I am now. And I'm more than ready to marry you, if you'll still have me."

Before she could answer, she felt Martha's hands on her back. "Let's get this show on the road, darlings! The guests have waited long enough!"

Kate and Castle both grinned as they were herded down the stairs, but the air between them was tight as a coiled spring. Who were those men? What did they want with Castle? Why did they pick today, of all days, to corner him?

Kate made eye contact with him when they stopped at the back terrace. She could see the determination plainly in his eyes: he didn't know what just happened and why, but he was going to find out.

—-

Kate always thought she'd experience butterflies walking down the aisle, the kind that felt like champagne bubbles popping in her chest. And even though the sight that awaited her - Castle in his rumpled tux, his hair only barely smoothed down - was adorable and breathtaking, Kate's mind was in detective mode. She smiled for the audience, for Castle, but inside she was analyzing every word he'd said, envisioning the scene in her mind.

She tried to shake it off, especially when she got to the end and she could see the way Castle's eyes were glowing at the sight of her - it made her feel warm and loved and safe - but he'd almost been taken, or killed, only an hour ago. Someone had almost ruined this for her, for them. Just what on earth could have been so important, it needed to interrupt the most important day of their lives?

"I'm okay," he murmured softly under his breath, and raised her hand up to his lips once more. The warmth of his reassurance sparked something inside her, and a wave of giddiness spread across her skin, giving her goosebumps.

He was here. He was okay. Whatever those men had been aiming for… they'd failed. All because of this cunning, resourceful man before her.

God, she wanted to marry him.

It was as if her anxiety was carried off in the breeze that tickled the back of her neck. His eyes, his beautiful blue eyes, were locked on hers, and peace finally washed over her.

She mouthed that she loved him, he mouthed that he knew - the most private of conversations in the most public of places.

She was patient as the officiant spoke through the scripted ceremony. She grinned at the jokes Castle had slipped in, and squeezed his hands at the more sentimental parts. And when it came time for their vows, Kate could barely contain her giddiness.

She didn't care that all eyes were on her. She simply looked up into the face of the love of her life, and said what was in her heart. "Rick. For so long I tried to deny my feelings for you. Looking back on it, I'd give almost anything for the chance to change things, if only to have more time with you by my side. More laughs, more passion, more connection. You have given me the gift of a lifetime without even trying to. Having you as my confidant, my best friend, my partner… you've completely changed my life in ways I never could have expected. And I vow to always be the very best partner I can be for you; to care for your needs before my own, to comfort you when you need someone to lean on, and to never take for granted the romance that comes so easily with you. You are the love of my life, and I am so proud to be standing here with you today."

Her voice wobbled, but she finished strong, and he squeezed her hands in affirmation. His face was aglow with the setting sun, and the tears that sparkled in his eyes were all the reassurance she needed. She took a deep breath, and nodded for him to say his part.

"Kate…" He cleared his throat, and then looked out at the audience as he chuckled nervously. "I'm a writer. I should be able to at least come close to topping that, but uh…" He cleared his throat again and Kate laughed. "I knew that my decision to kill off Derrick Storm would change my life, but I had no idea just how much. I never knew the true meaning of destiny until I first met you. You told me I 'had no idea,' and you were right. The last few years… there have been ups and downs. But you're wrong about one thing." He shook his head, looking at her earnestly. "I wouldn't change a thing. The heartbreak, the longing… it may have hurt at the time, but it led us here, didn't it? In this moment, with our family and friends. And I've never been more happy to be just where I am, right now." He licked his lips and sighed contentedly. "And I promise you, with every fiber of my being, that I will be the best partner I can possibly be to you. I will never stop comforting you, or confiding in you, or letting you in. I will prioritize the love that comes so easily between us, and cherish it until my dying day. You are the love of my life, and nothing will ever change that."

Kate felt a surprised stutter rising in her chest at the synchronicity of their vows. They'd discussed them, but hadn't rehearsed them, and she loved how they were on the same page about their promises. It felt like solving a case; the mind meld that she'd only ever had with him.

She was squeezing his hands with a tight grip; Castle held back just as firmly. He mouthed that he loved her, and she breathed a relieved giggle before the officiant continued.

They exchanged rings, and then, awash in the orange glow of a beautiful spring sunset, they were pronounced man and wife.

Kate thought she might burst. She very well might explode in front of all these people, filled to the brim with a kind of joy and longing that made her head spin.

She felt her mother behind her. She felt her warm, encouraging hand as she stepped forward to launch herself into Castle's arms. She heard her laugh, along with the laughter of the rest of their guests, as she kissed him like a woman starved. And she felt the comfort of her arms as Castle set her back down on the ground, and looked deep into her eyes.

"I love you, Kate," he murmured, and she felt her mother's love too.

Tears escaped down her cheeks, despite her best efforts, and he wiped them away with his thumbs.

Together, they turned toward the audience and raised their conjoined hands. The crowd clapped and cheered, and Kate eyed Esposito wiping his eyes from his seat. Her father was standing and pounding his hands together, clapping with more vigor than Kate thought possible, and that was when it hit her.

This was the single greatest moment of her entire life.

And someone had come very close to taking it all away.

—-

Castle's arm was loose around her back as he redirected her toward the side of the house that looped around to the driveway. They'd just finished photos as the last of the sunlight dipped out of sight, and Kate was thanking her lucky stars they'd hired photographers who relished working in low light. (She was shown a quick sneak peek; the photos were going to be gorgeous.)

She saw two police officers hesitantly approaching the soiree, and it all came crashing back. Her arm snuck around Castle's lower back and she leaned into him, soaking up his warmth as she steeled herself for whatever was coming next.

"See? Told you they'd be back," he murmured. Kate put her detective hat back on, squared her shoulders, and approached the unfamiliar men with a hesitant smile.

"Any news?" she asked, direct and to the point.

"Nothing yet, Detective," one of the men replied. Ah, so Castle must've used her position to help get him out of there faster. Smart.

"How are they doing, at least?" Castle asked, an edge to his voice. Kate knew he must be torn between wanting to see these men pay for what they'd tried to do to him, and also come out of this alive so he could ask them himself. She could feel the tightness in his body as it pressed against the side of hers.

"Stable, but unconscious as far as we know. We were unable to get their statements before we were rushed out."

"By whom?" Kate inquired, panic elevating.

The second officer shrugged. "Not sure. There were no IDs on the guys from the SUV, but we got stiffed by a bunch of suits claiming this was federal business now."

"Federal?" Castle stammered, and the first officer sighed.

"Yeah. We thought we'd circle back around to you, now that you were more available to talk. See if you remembered anything else."

"I don't. It all happened so fast."

"And you have no idea who those men were?" Kate demanded, cutting Castle off, and the second officer scoffed.

"Wouldn't be here if we did."

"Well I can assure you, officers, I have no clue who they were or why they were chasing me. I'm just as confused as you are." His arm tightened around Kate. "And if it's all the same to you, I have a wedding I'd like to get back to."

The two men looked at one another, as if speaking mind to mind, and then the first relented. "Of course, Mr. Castle. But, we'd like to assign officers to the property to monitor the situation. Protect you, if anyone tries to return tonight."

Kate smiled gratefully, and said, "There are plenty of NYPD present this evening. I think we're covered."

"Your guests will certainly want to drink, partake in the festivities. Just - let us station two men out front. If anyone tries to enter the party after this point, they'll be detained and questioned."

She considered, lips pursed. One look at Castle and she could tell he was perhaps more concerned than she was that this threat might not be fully over yet.

After another moment, she nodded. "Okay. Couldn't hurt to have extra sets of eyes." No one seemed to know just what Castle had managed to avoid, but whoever was responsible very well might take another run at him.

But now he was with her. Where he went, she went, and she'd die before she let anyone take him away from her.

They bid the officers goodnight and turned to head back to the party.

"The Feds?" Castle whispered furtively, and Kate shrugged.

"I don't know. Could be people pretending to be Feds."

"I don't understand…"

She frowned, and took his warm, smooth hand in hers. "Me either. But I promise you, we will find out." The crowd was boisterous and lively as dinner was finally served, and Kate's stomach grumbled at the enticing aroma. "Let's eat, okay? We can talk about it later." She turned to kiss him, but his eyes were already focused on the plates being handed out to guests. She settled for his cheek instead.

—-

After dinner, they made quick work of cutting the cake. Due to their delayed start, their timeline needed serious alterations, and Alexis and Martha were working with Efficiency as their number one goal of the evening.

Kate couldn't really say she minded though; it felt more private doing it this way. The photographers were the only true audience to their giggling antics as they tried to avoid making a mess of things. And when they were through and the caterers stepped in to hand out slices of the chocolate cake, Martha was ready with hand towels for them both (monogrammed with a golden C, of course).

Alexis alerted the DJ it would now be time for the couple's first dance. If it seemed rushed to their guests, Kate and Castle couldn't really tell. (Nor, quite frankly, did they really care.)

On cue, Castle held her hand and led her out to the dance floor just as the opening notes of their song began to play. A warmth washed over Kate, like the first hint of a really good buzz. It was love, she supposed, as she hadn't had a drop of alcohol all evening. She needed to be alert after the day's events, and couldn't afford to let her guard down.

It felt… wonderful, swaying in his arms under the twinkling garden lights above their heads. The air was warm, with a light breeze - a perfect day in May. It smelled like flowers and sea salt and him, which very well might be her new favorite combination. Everything was perfect. Outside of the deep-rooted unease that was unlikely to abate until they solved this, for now, she felt weightless.

He tipped his head down and murmured into her ear, "How are you?"

She rested her chin against his shoulder and pulled him close. "I'm wonderful."

He chuckled. "So why are you so tense?"

"I'm happy. You know that."

"I do. You haven't stopped smiling all evening." He kissed the side of her head through a grin of his own. "But that doesn't mean your brain isn't working overtime."

Well. He wasn't wrong, there.

She inhaled deeply through her nose. Despite the cologne, she could still smell a hint of smoke on him. "I just have a bad feeling about what happened before."

"Yeah," he sighed, "me too."

"Nothing… weird's happened the last few days?"

Castle shook his head gently as they continued to sway. "No. I took out that money for our honeymoon. Juggled some of the vendor issues that popped up last minute, like they usually do for weddings. Got the rush order on the license… nothing abnormal, outside of your rushed divorce."

Kate turned her head more outwards, so she could rest her cheek against his shoulder. "Yeah. I guess… despite how well everything has gone since then, I just wonder… Castle, I want answers."

"Believe me. I do too."

"And I don't even know where to start." It was more of a whisper, a reluctant admission lifted out of her on the exhale, but Castle gripped her tighter. He'd heard her.

"I… may have an idea."

Kate lifted her head and looked up into his lined face. He didn't look convicted in this supposed idea, but he was just as sober as she was. Whatever he was thinking, it was a start. It was something.

"Oh?"

He nodded. "Maybe… maybe my father might know."

Kate wanted to argue. They'd debated whether or not to even invite him today, knowing the man brought trouble with him everywhere he went. They'd eventually settled on an announcement, rather than an invitation, sent to a PO Box in Jersey. It was better than nothing, Castle had argued, and Kate had gone along with it.

"You know he's connected. Maybe he knows something," Castle muttered, but Kate knew him well enough to know this was a long shot, and even he thought so too.

After a moment though, she nodded. "It's certainly a start."

He kissed her forehead, his lips tender and warm, and they finished out the song in the comfort of the other's embrace.

When the song ended, he tipped up her chin with one hand. (Kate felt rather than saw the distant flash of a camera. She was glad for it. This felt like a moment she'd want captured forever.)

"I'm okay. And as long as we are together, I promise, everything will be just fine."

She grinned, feeling for all the world like a lovesick fool.

They kissed under the faux starry night, and Kate never wanted this moment to end.

—-

They waited until guests were well underway with their late evening revelry before sneaking away to the patio by the back door. Kate avoided the urge to bite her thumbnail as Castle deftly typed out a text to the last number he had saved for his father.

He pressed send, and they both waited under the cover of darkness, staring at the brightly lit screen for a reply. Seconds passed and they heard nothing but the crickets and party-goers in the distance, until finally his cell chirped twice.

Beach. Ten minutes.

Castle blanched, staring down at his phone in dismay. He showed Kate the screen but she'd already seen it.

"Ten minutes? Wait, he's here?" she asked warily. "But you asked him for a phone call!"

Castle shrugged. "I guess he didn't like the announcement?"

Kate rolled her eyes. "How come we haven't seen him?"

Castle opened and closed his mouth. "I've got nothin'. Your guess is as good as mine."

She looked out over the party, mulling over their game plan. "We can't just go down there alone. If something happens… we need people to know where we are."

"Agreed. So what do you suggest?"

"Talk to Martha. Tell her we're going to take a quick walk on the beach, just us. If we're not back in fifteen minutes, she can send Espo or Ryan after us."

"And if she asks why?"

Kate licked her lips. They still tasted like chocolate cake and sweet buttercream. "It's our wedding day. Get creative with your tone. She won't question you."

Castle grinned and took Kate's hand in his. "She is pretty tipsy."

"Which makes her very amenable."

Castle walked off to find Martha, and Kate skirted around the edge of the property, headed toward the stairs that led to the beach. She waited only a moment before Castle caught up to her and gave her a thumbs up.

Hand in hand, with the other holding up her dress, they walked down to the beach. They arrived right on time, and looked left and right, trying to see signs of life. Besides the party still going on from above and behind them, they heard nothing but the ocean.

"Did he say where?" Kate asked, even though she knew the answer. He'd been vague, and she had no idea where to go next.

"Just give it time," Castle murmured, and pulled her toward the ocean itself.

"What if it's a trap?"

"It's not. He'll be here."

Minutes passed before they felt, rather than saw, someone approach them from behind. It made Kate's spine tingle with unease. When they turned, they came face to face with none other than the infamous Jackson Hunt, wearing khakis and a white button up shirt. To anyone else, he looked like he belonged here.

"Congrats, kid," the man said, grinning genuinely from ear to ear. He stuck out a hand which Castle hesitantly grasped, and they shook. "Detective, you look lovely. But of course you do. I'd expect nothing less."

"Thank you," she smiled in return, feeling just the tiniest twinges of regret for not formally inviting him. He was Castle's father after all, spy or not.

"I'm surprised you're here," Castle announced after a moment, and suddenly the air felt thick again.

"Well, I had to make sure everything worked out all right."

"What - the wedding, or the attempted kidnapping? Or was it attempted murder? I'm a little fuzzy on the details."

Kate's stomach bottomed out. God, Castle could really be blunt. "Babe," she tried to say, but he squeezed her hand in warning.

"No, really, Dad. I'd like to know."

Surprisingly, Jackson… didn't look surprised. It felt like a swift kick to Kate's gut.

"I'd heard rumors."

"Sure. Rumors. Yeah."

Jackson sighed, clearly not in the mood for Castle's antics. "What can I do for you, kid?"

"Where have you been all evening?" Kate asked before Castle could get the chance. It wasn't where he wanted to start, she knew, but she was too curious to let it go. Details for the 'when' and 'where' were not on the announcement they'd sent him.

"Around," he replied casually, stance open and yet, body language completely closed off. It didn't sit well with her.

"And somehow you knew we'd be here in the Hamptons and not in the city?"

"Rumors, like I said."

Kate's fury was threatening to bubble over. They didn't have time for these games. "We made the change last minute. Only the guests and vendors were informed."

Jackson just nodded. He was agreeing with her.

"So who told you?"

"Does it matter?"

Castle scoffed. "Yes, it matters. My life was threatened today, and it shouldn't have been."

"So that's what you're here about then. Not why I'm here."

"Unless you're a part of it. Unless you're keeping something from us, something that you don't want us to know."

"Would I be meeting with you if that was the case?" His tone was sharp but quiet, like the blade of a deadly assassin. It was hard for Kate sometimes to reconcile that; Jackson was, in fact, an assassin.

"Clearly you have sources. Clearly you're keeping tabs on Rick. We get that. And if you don't wanna reveal your source, then fine. But we need to know what happened earlier today. Why Castle was targeted by that black SUV on his way to the wedding."

"Who were those men, Dad?"

Jackson was quiet. His eyes, which should have been warm and friendly as a father's, were cold and calculating, flitting back and forth between them.

"You know. Don't you," Kate accused softly. She tightened her grip on Castle's hand.

Jackson sighed. "I know some, yes."

"Care to share with the class?" Castle jerked his free hand through the air. "We do have a wedding to get back to. Your guys failed. No harm in telling us now."

His father scoffed. "Those weren't my guys."

"Then who were they?" he practically screeched. Kate looked around. No one else was in sight.

"Look, all I know is that there is something bigger than the two of you at stake here. Richard is needed for something, I don't know all the details."

"I'm not CIA! I'm not even a real cop! What could I possibly do to help with something so 'big,' as you say?"

Jackson glared at him. "Not sure. But it had to be you, son."

Castle scoffed and rolled his eyes dramatically toward the sky. "How about they call me then, huh? Talk to me! I'm a reasonable guy. If someone wanted my help, all they had to do was ask!"

"It's not that simple."

"It's always that simple!"

Kate gripped Castle's hand, hard. He was starting to spiral. She could feel it.

"Why today, of all days?" she asked Jackson. It still tore her apart, thinking of how horribly this day could have ended.

He looked at her, without really looking at her. It made her feel uneasy. "Need-to-know basis, I'm afraid."

"Well, we need to know." Castle glared hard at his father. For a moment, neither of them spoke. And then Castle continued, clearly overwhelmed and fed up with all the secrecy, all the non-answers. (Kate sure was.) "Were you sent here to make sure the job got done? You don't care about the wedding going well. You just needed to report back to someone, right? That the mission was a success?"

Jackson frowned. "No, I'm –"

Castle laughed mirthlessly. "Well, you can tell your bosses I'm still here, and I'm not going anywhere. They failed, and whatever happens next is on them. Had they just included me in whatever's going on, maybe they wouldn't have a bunch of their men fighting for their lives in the ICU."

"Richard!" Jackson finally snapped. "This is a matter of national security. You shouldn't speak so glibly about doing a service for your country!"

"I don't care! I do plenty for this city, and that's enough for me. Kidnapping is never the answer!"

"There wasn't time!"

Castle hooted, riled up beyond anything Kate could try to reason him down from. "There never is, is there? There must certainly be no time left now, if I'm still here. It all sounds like one big fat excuse to me."

Slightly revolted at everything Jackson had hinted at, Kate faced him. "You'd really do this to your son? On his wedding day?"

He looked chagrined, saddened. "It wasn't up to me. I know you won't believe me, but I'm not involved like you think I am." It was quiet for a long moment, save for the heavy sounds of Castle breathing, when finally Jackson added, "Look, you're right. I'm not disagreein' with you. You should have been given a choice. But you weren't."

Kate looked up at Castle, who looked too stoic to be read. She rested her other hand on his forearm, brushed against his skin. I'm here, she was trying to say.

"I wasn't in charge of this mission. I only heard bits and pieces because I was keeping tabs on you. Someone wants you for something important, that's all I know. It was imperative they get to you before this - threat - goes down. It was just a coincidence that it happened today."

Jackson paced, running a hand roughly through his hair. "There's still time to do the right thing. The wedding's over. I can call some guys, arrange a pick up. Maybe it's not too late."

Castle and Kate said nothing, just stared at Jackson in disbelief. At their silence, he continued again. "You'd be gone a couple weeks tops, I'm sure. And you'd be saving a hell of a lot of lives."

Castle shook his head, and Kate could feel his body begin to tremble. "I save lives everyday. We save lives everyday."

"I know. That's because you have that instinct - to help the greater good. Now's your time to shine, son. On a global scale. So… what's it gonna be?"

Castle gaped at him. Kate could tell his knees were failing him; he leaned heavily on her from the weight of the shock. He mouthed nonsense words but nothing came out, just squawks of disbelief that his father would ask such a thing from him.

Kate was terrified. Whatever this was, it sounded dangerous. They knew absolutely nothing of what exactly he was being asked to do, and yet, until Castle blatantly said 'no,' it seemed as though he might be considering it. She wanted to intervene, to demand that Jackson leave and tell whoever would listen that Castle wasn't interested, but it technically wasn't her decision to make. It was his. And just because they were married now didn't mean she could make this kind of call for him.

Castle turned to look at her. His eyes, which only a little while ago had been so bright and full of love and wonder it had made her weak, were now a stormy grey, wrestling with the weight of an impossible decision.

"No. I made my vows and nothing on this earth can make me break them."

Kate didn't turn to see if Jackson looked disappointed. She didn't care. Her heart was beating wildly, erratically, and she couldn't tear her gaze away from her husband even if she wanted to.

Castle continued, "We do enough. Surely there is someone else more qualified for whatever this is." He turned back to his father. "But if not, then I will consult. I can speak to whomever on the phone, or they can come to me. But I'm not going anywhere."

"What if I told you that you were personally requested? That the person knows you, trusts you. What then?"

Castle shrugged. "Everyone I love and trust most in this world is up there, waiting for me. As for everyone else…" He sighed, regretfully. "I'm sorry but there has to be someone else."

Kate let go of Castle's hand in order to weave her arm around his lower back inside his coat. She was so proud of him. She knew it was an impossible decision, and she honestly couldn't say if she would have made the same call if she were in his shoes. But he was right - Alexis, his mother, their friends… they were all here. They were his priority.

Jackson sighed, but finally nodded. He looked at them each for a long, lingering moment before his gaze settled on Kate. "You do make a beautiful bride, detective."

"Thank you."

"I wish you both a lifetime of happiness. You've definitely earned it." He offered a peaceful smile, and Kate detected no malice from his tone. It was genuine. He meant it.

When he finally turned to walk away, Kate called out, "Is it over? Or will more people come for him?"

Jackson shook his head. "I'm not sure. But I will relay that Richard has made his choice. And I'll do my best to keep you safe."

"Thanks," Castle murmured, and Jackson nodded once more before finally heading back to where he'd come from.

"Yo!" Javi called out, and pointed to Jackson's retreating figure. "Who's that guy? You've been talkin' to him a while now."

Castle put on a friendly smile, the kind his actress mother would approve of. "My neighbor. Just congratulating us is all."

"That's all?" Javi looked at Kate, who confirmed. It was so dark, clearly Javi hadn't recognized him. She was grateful for that.

"Chatty guy." He looked suspicious, but only for a moment before relenting. "Alright then. You good?"

"Yep. We're right behind you."

Javi gave a tipsy thumbs-up and led the way back up the stairs, Kate and Castle lagging slightly behind.

"You okay?" she asked him, and Castle nodded.

"I meant what I said, Kate. You are my family now. You three will always come first."

She felt overcome. Each step just a little heavier than the last. Perhaps it was guilt, though how could that be? He'd made the decision, not her. But he'd made it because of her, her subconscious whispered. He'd given up the chance to play spy and save the world because of her. Because he knew she wouldn't want him to leave her alone so soon after getting married. Because for the first time in maybe her whole life, she needed him in a way she'd only ever needed two people before now.

She felt vulnerable, maybe even a little disjointed. But she also felt joyous and proud of him and so very loved.

Javi went back to the dance floor and Kate gave Martha a little wave, signaling their return. The woman looked like she couldn't care less as she tipped back yet another glass of champagne, and regaled a group of guests with what looked like quite an embellished story.

Then, Kate turned to look at Castle. She tugged on his sleeve, skirting the edge of the party. "Follow me," she said quietly, and shot him a conspiratorial glance over her shoulder. "I need your help."

"With what?"

Kate grinned to herself, biting her lip. "You'll see."

Chapter Text

My heart's been borrowed and yours has been blue

All's well that ends well to end up with you

Swear to be over dramatic and true to my lover

Taylor Swift, Lover

—-

The house was dark as Kate pulled him through the back door. She was glad for it; she didn't want them to get caught by any stray party guests.

"Where are we going?" Castle whispered, and Kate simply grinned to herself before squeezing his hand reassuringly.

They stopped just inside Castle's office on the ground floor, the room furthest from the party, when Kate leaned against the door, closing it with her weight. She said nothing, merely flashed a goofy, conspiratorial grin up at him, before biting her lip and wiggling her eyebrows.

"You can't be serious," he breathed, his tone like a child discovering their presents on Christmas morning. Though the room was dark, his eyes were alight and shining, his whole face transformed into one of delight.

Kate nodded and stalked toward him. She reached her hands up, threading them through the hair at the nape of his neck. "I couldn't wait," she murmured, and focused her attention on his sheepish, yet playful smile.

"It was all that spy-talk, wasn't it?" He brushed aside a loose curl before lowering his lips to her jaw. He tasted the column of her throat, and Kate felt her legs wobble.

"Something like that."

It had been him, plain and simple. Choosing her. Being the kind of brave she'd never been. Kate was always the first to run headfirst into danger, to do anything to save lives, but never the one to say no just because she wanted to. And though she wondered if Castle's choice had been the right one or if they'd live to regret it, in the moment she felt… pleased. Humbled. Adored. He'd all but shouted his love for her to the world, and it felt better to focus on that and not the what-ifs of any potential ramifications of his decision to stay. After all, what he'd said had been fair: 'I can consult, but I am not qualified for what is being asked of me.' Sense overruled the quest for justice, at least just this once.

His warm hands stroked down her sides before landing on her hips. Her body tingled everywhere; either because of the fact that they were hiding from their wedding guests or because they were finally now husband and wife - Kate wasn't sure. But she needed him, and they needed to be quick if they were to remain unnoticed.

Her mouth assailed his. She tasted the champagne on his tongue and felt drunk with the way it sent shivers up and down her spine. And then the world tilted, and Castle's hands were directing her to the arm of the loveseat.

"I love you," he said, and it sounded like he was in pain. Like the weight of his love was suffocating, strangling him. "I've wanted to make you mine for so long, Beckett."

His hands wrapped around her calves and Kate leaned her ass onto the edge of the armrest. Her arms were around his shoulders, clawing at his back, his hair. She wanted to devour any inch of him she could get.

"I know," she moaned through gasping breaths, and now Castle's hands were at her thighs beneath her dress. He spread her apart and stepped forward, keeping her from falling backward with his strong, bruising grip.

She could feel the length of him straining against his tux trousers, so she let go of his neck long enough to reach down and free him. It took a couple tries; her fingers were shaking while she tried to maintain her balance, all while Castle's mouth had trailed from her lips to her neck to her shoulder. Ugh god, the curve where the two met… He was making it harder and harder for her to stay quiet.

But then he sprang free, and the growl he emitted was enough to set her skin ablaze.

He reached around with both hands to tug on the lace fabric of her underwear, and she wiggled just enough for him to pry them loose. They slid down her legs and she kicked her feet to help them fall to the floor.

With one arm wrapped around Castle's neck and the other slowly pumping him, she leaned back so Castle could pull her to the edge of the armrest. They locked eyes, both breathing rapidly, mouths hanging open, before she moved him to align with her entrance.

"I love you so much, Rick," she sighed, and it truly didn't feel like enough. Once upon a time, Kate had been scared to death of saying those words - to anyone - and now she realized they couldn't possibly encapsulate how she really felt about him. They weren't enough.

He was her soulmate. Her better half. The very essence of her being.

He was her entire world.

Kate gasped when Castle finally embedded himself inside her. Whether it was the angle or the lack of true foreplay, she felt like he filled her to the brim and then some. She was dizzy with the fullness, and deliriously in love.

"I'm ready."

At her command, Castle began to move, keeping his hands steady on her hips. He braced himself against the couch, angling up while Kate clung to him.

"Harder," she whimpered, and once more he obeyed. Her arms tightened around his neck as Castle moved against her. She arched, and - oh god, that angle - he was right where she wanted him.

Kate couldn't help but think to herself that no man had ever matched her like this before. Had never been able to anticipate what she needed, know her so thoroughly inside and out that she was rendered speechless. But here he was, moving her in just the right way, at just the right speed, that her entire body was jerking at the anticipation of release.

She thought of how lucky she was, that he was here with her. She thought of their future, and how she'd die before she let anyone take him from her.

She was filled with him; filled with love.

And then she fractured. Her heart hammered and she let out a strangled cry against his shoulder as her inner walls clenched and spasmed around him. He kept going though, and soon she could feel his own release and the warmth that followed.

They breathed heavily, arms locked around each other. The room was silent, save for their panting, and though the party still raged on the other side of the house, Kate relished the little bubble they'd found themselves in. She almost didn't want to leave it.

"Jesus," Castle grunted, and swallowed audibly before pulling away to look down into her face. His pulsed jumped in his neck, and his eyes were dark and drooping with exertion.

"And we still have the rest of the night, too." Kate bit her bottom lip and gazed lovingly up at him.

He moved his hands out from under her dress and held both sides of her face. "Try the rest of our lives, Kate."

It was almost enough to bring her to tears.

And then the moment was broken, with Castle leaving to grab tissues from behind his desk. He passed her a wad of them before using a few on himself and tossing them in the trash can. He took hers when she was finished, and then helped her smooth down her dress once her underwear was back in place.

Then, he did something that surprised Kate. He looked skyward, cringing in a goofy, yet apologetic grimace, and said, "Sorry about the dress, Johanna."

It should have sent a pang through Kate's body, just like any mention of her mother did. But whether it was because of Castle's cheekiness, the post-coital haze, or the realization that she'd just done - what they'd done! - in her mother's dress…

Kate barked out a loud, obnoxious laugh. She doubled over, one hand over her heart, and cackled.

"Oh my god! I just… had sex… in my mother's wedding dress!" she gasped, and then Castle was laughing too.

"Oh god, what if she also…?"

Kate snorted and shook her head, tears beginning to cloud her vision. "No. No, oh my god, don't say it…"

"I'm sure we could ask your dad –" he teased.

"Castle!" Kate shrieked, and grabbed one of the cushions from the couch. She smacked him in the chest, then delicately wiped her fingers under her eyes. "We are not going to do that."

Castle grinned and waggled his eyebrows. "He may ask where we've been all this time…"

Kate wrapped her arms around Castle's middle, looking up into his glowing, peaceful face. "We'll say… that you were helping me pee. Holding my dress for me."

He cocked his head to the side. "Isn't that Lanie's job?"

Kate shrugged and placed another swift kiss to his red, almost-swollen lips. "I'll say it couldn't wait."

It was true enough, she figured.

Castle chuckled and ran his hands through his hair, trying to tame it back down. "How do I look?"

Kate inspected him. He didn't look any more disheveled than he had before coming in here. "Perfect. You look perfect."

She giggled as he held open the door, giving her a perfunctory bow, and then hand in hand they returned to the party.

—-

The party continued for almost an hour before guests started leaving in small groups. Kate gave her father and Aunt Teresa goodbye hugs, feeling more sentimental than she'd anticipated. Even Castle mustered the strength to hug Aunt Teresa, before giving her father a hearty handshake. Her father wished them well, and it laid unspoken between them that there was a missing piece to the Beckett family puzzle. But they nodded once, left a small gap of silence, and then the two were on their way.

When all that remained was the serving staff, who were rushing around clearing up trash and anything else that could blow over in the night, a clearly exhausted Castle turned to face his mother and Alexis. Kate remained beside him, her shoes dangling from the fingers on her left hand. She was tired too.

Castle approached Martha and Alexis, arms spread wide, and encompassed both women in one huge bear hug. He even groaned a little, like a proud papa bear. "Mother, Alexis… everything turned out wonderfully," he said, and squeezed them tightly. Alexis squealed in delight, Martha chuckled in mock annoyance.

"And you want to thank us by suffocating us?" she chastised. Castle dropped a kiss to each of their heads before begrudgingly letting them go.

"No, Mother, but - I did want to thank you. We both did." He tossed a look over his shoulder at Kate who nodded vehemently in agreement.

"Yes. Absolutely. We couldn't have asked for anything better."

"My beautiful, brilliant, bold women all did a wonderful job." Castle playfully ruffled Alexis's hair and Kate beamed. She'd had a small hand in planning the day too, though the change in venue had certainly thrown a wrench in her plans. (Now, she couldn't be more grateful it had worked out this way.)

Martha scoffed and waved a hand. "Oh it was nothing, dear. You two deserved it, and more."

"Seriously, dad. You guys have been through so much." Alexis then turned to Martha and smiled brightly. "Besides, Gram and I had a lot of fun!"

Kate looked at Castle, who was trying his best to contain his smile. His eyes sparkled with pride, and she knew how he must have been feeling in that moment, now that it was all over. She was feeling it. She loved her new family - so much. They'd made sure this had gone on without a hitch, and after the last few days… they'd needed that. They couldn't have had such a beautiful day without Martha and Alexis, and Kate was insurmountably grateful.

"The clean up crew looks just about done," Martha said, looking around. Kate wondered if she was uncomfortable with the sentiment bubbling between the four of them. "And then the larger equipment will be picked up in the morning. The speakers, chairs, arch, et cetera et cetera."

"And we will take care of it," Alexis chimed in. She wove her arm around Castle's lower back, and he dropped another affectionate kiss to her head.

Castle checked his watch before announcing to the group, "Our flight leaves at 4 tomorrow afternoon out of JFK. We have plenty of time to help in the morning with whatever needs doing."

Martha shook her head and held up her hands. "Nonsense. You have a honeymoon to get ready for!"

Kate grinned, the prospect of time on a beautiful beach with her husband (husband!) absolutely thrilling her. "But we're already packed. It really isn't a problem."

"Darlings, Alexis and I are good. No, we're the best. We will take care of everything and you two can sleep in, mosey around, do whatever you need to do before driving back to the city for your flight." Her sentence was notably punctuated with a wink.

Kate's cheeks flushed, reading between the lines of Martha's well-wishes. She thought of the master suite, the fireplace, the jetted tub… Luckily Martha continued talking before Kate's thoughts became evident on her face.

"Alexis and I are staying in the guest suite for now, but once you guys have left…" She turned conspiratorially to the younger girl. "We may just have ourselves a little girl time and stay a few extra days!"

Castle coughed, and blushed, eyes flicking briefly to Kate's. They'd wondered if Martha and Alexis would be staying in their usual rooms on the second floor. Now, it seemed that was not going to be the case. (She could hardly blame them. She wouldn't want to stay right next to a newly married couple, either.)

"Probably for the best," Castle muttered under his breath and Alexis leapt away from him.

"Dad!" she shrieked, mortified.

He chuckled. "I'm kidding! I'm kidding. It's been a long day. We all need to get some sleep."

"Agreed," the young girl muttered back, and rested a heavy head on her grandmother's shoulders. Kate saw her shoot her father a dopey smile, her nose wrinkled.

"But first…" Castle announced with a heavy sigh, and then the next thing Kate knew, her legs were being swept up from under her.

"Castle!"

He adjusted her weight in his arms, and then turned to look at his family with a proud grin. "Gotta carry the missus across the threshold."

Kate gasped, mouth moving like a fish out of water, and watched as they waved them goodbye and bid them goodnight as Castle carried her across the yard.

"What are you doing!?"

He stopped just outside the back door, re-examining his predicament. Kate did him a solid and twisted open the doorknob.

"Thanks. And it's tradition, Kate. Surely you've heard of a groom carrying his wife across the threshold."

She couldn't help but giggle. "I have, but… this seems so unnecessary! It's only a few feet."

"Nope. It's very necessary. I already saw you before the ceremony. That, and with everything else that went awry the last few days…" He stopped when they got to the main living room. "I wanted to do something traditional." Gently, he put her down with her feet on the floor, then he turned to leave.

"Wait, where are you going?"

He put a finger to his lips. "I just need to take care of something. Wait there."

Practically squealing with joy, Kate did as she was told and plunked herself down on the plush sofa to wait. A couple minutes later, he came back with a seductive look on his ruggedly handsome face.

"Are you ready, Mrs. Castle?"

Kate's stomach jerked, a thrill running through her at the change. She wasn't quite sold on changing it legally, per se, but the implication that she was Mrs. All-His… It was as if their earlier tryst hadn't even happened. She felt an immediate longing she couldn't quite describe; she just needed to be close to him, now.

"Ready." She grinned back up at him and took his proffered hand. He led her up to the master bedroom, instructed her to close her eyes, and guided her through to the other side.

"Open," he whispered in her ear, so close that his lips brushed the shell. She did as he commanded, and the sight took her breath away.

Candles were lit all over the room, and the fireplace was on a low, just-flickering setting. Soft jazz music was playing through his speakers, romantic and smooth. The ambience warmed Kate's skin, but she couldn't fully process the spectacle because Castle put his hands on her shoulders and steered her into the master bathroom. Inside, he'd drawn up a bubble bath with rose petals, and lit more candles that he'd scattered around the flat surfaces of the room.

"What do you think?" he asked, and Kate could hear the slight edge of nervousness there. She didn't know why though. It was perfect.

"I love it," she exhaled, and sank her back against his chest.

"Then let's enjoy it before the water gets cold." He kissed the side of her neck and then moved to unbutton her dress.

Kate felt like she was in a dream. Like she was truly having an out of body experience here. His hands were so soft and light against her skin, nothing like the way he'd used his full, bruising grip on her earlier. The lighting, the steam from the hot water, the… intention of it all… Kate had never experienced love like this. And she doubted she ever would again. Yes, Castle would always treat her wonderfully and likely pamper her until she begged him to give her her space back, but this was their wedding night. There would be no other night quite like it in their lifetime. This was their time to celebrate their bond, to place the other on a pedestal and thank the universe for ensuring they found their way to one another. To privately solidify the vows they'd made publicly, only hours ago.

It was overwhelming. But it was everything she hadn't realized she'd been longing for her whole life.

"After being on our feet for so long, this is gonna feel sooo good," Castle groaned as he stepped into the water first. Then he held his hand out for her to take, to help her in.

She nodded her agreement. "Plus being naked together always helps." She winked as she stepped up beside him, earning a chuckle.

"Very true."

Together they submerged into the vanilla and sandalwood bathwater, eyes closing shut in overwhelming pleasure. She pressed her back to his front, and he wrapped his strong, protective arms around her belly.

And then… they didn't need words. They sat, languishing in the warm water and silken embrace of the other. They let the unsaid be conveyed through touches: a stroke of his arm, a kiss to the side of her head, a soft sigh on the back of her neck, or a nuzzle into his shoulder.

They were at peace. For a time, anyway. Until Kate's heart felt like it might burst out of her chest. She turned in place in order to face him. Then, she wrapped her legs around his hips and put her arms around his neck. She looked deep into his heavy-lidded, slightly confused eyes.

"This was the best day of my entire life," she whispered. She just needed him to know. She needed to give words to this feeling, this gratitude, filling her up inside. She felt damn near close to crying and honestly, she wasn't sure why. "I never imagined… I never thought I'd ever have this – what we have."

Her voice cracked at the end, and Castle moved his hands up from the soapy water to cup her cheeks. "I've never been this happy in my entire life," he agreed, and his reassurance only cracked Kate open even wider.

"I just… I didn't say it in my vows, but I wanted to thank you, Rick."

"For what?"

"For fighting for us, early on. I know I play along with you, about who was into whom first. But the truth is, we wouldn't be where we are if you hadn't been so unbelievably patient with me. If you hadn't held my hand through all my stumbles and done little things, here and there, to remind me that you were still there."

He grinned. "You know I'll always be there for you, Kate. I was never going to stop fighting for you."

She sucked in a shaky breath through a wide grin of her own. "And that's what I mean. You were patient with me when I needed it. You gave me anything I asked for – space, time, your unconditional flirting…" Castle chuckled and brought one of Kate's hands to his mouth to kiss her fingers.

"We do flirt, don't we."

"Like pros," Kate laughed. "But I just… we wouldn't be here, now, if it weren't for you. And I just wanted to thank you for giving me everything I've ever wanted, even if I didn't always realize how badly I wanted it."

He looked at her then, wonder in his eyes. "And thank you, for being brave. For coming to the loft that day, for letting me in. I know it's not easy for you. But you gave us a shot. You did. I can't take credit for that."

A stray tear leaked out of her eye, but Castle's deft fingers brushed it away. "If I can make you even half as happy as you make me, then we're going to be just fine, you and I," he continued, and Kate let out another shaky laugh. "You're the love of my life, and we are going to live long, and happy lives together."

Kate brushed her lips against his and pulled away just far enough to reply, "I can't wait."

—-

His hands had slid down her silken back, and it was all downhill from there. Before she knew it, their wet bodies were entangled in the bathtub, his fingers working absolute magic between her thighs.

They'd risen on shaky legs, pausing their assaults only long enough to pull the tub drain and grab towels before they were lying on the plush carpet in front of the fireplace. Kate straddled Castle with his back to the foot of the bed, and it wasn't long before they were both spent and shaking. They remained cuddled together in front of the fire until they were dry and exhausted, before begrudgingly moving to the bed for the remainder of the night.

Sleep came easily, and with the dawn of a new day, Kate found herself waking up to a very eager husband trailing warm kisses down her body. He waggled his eyebrows up at her as she squinted one sleepy eye down at him, and that was all it took. She slid her fingers through his hair, pushing him even lower, and sat back on the plush pillows to enjoy. It ended with an array of claw marks down Castle's back and a pair of hickeys between Kate's thighs, and then sleep overcame them once more.

Their alarm beeped at 10 am, later than Kate had slept in in what felt like years. She was gloriously sore, and sweaty where Castle's bare chest pressed against her back. She nudged back a little, to rouse him awake, and his resounding groan indicated he must be just as disillusioned with getting out of bed as she was.

After two snoozes, they finally rose, donned their pajamas they'd never bothered changing into the night before, and stepped out of their love den for coffee and sustenance.

Wonderful, incredible, so-damn-helpful Martha and Alexis had laid out the fixings for Belgian waffles - peanut butter, whipped cream, chocolate chips, and strawberries - along with a plate of bacon and a note that said coffee was prepped and ready for them whenever they arose.

They just barely remembered to cheers their steaming mugs to their new life together before digging into their glorious breakfast.

Later, once they were fully packed, showered, and ready to go, Kate took one last lingering look at the house.

"Something on your mind?" he asked her as he loaded up the final bag into the car. They had just enough time to stop and grab some lunch before heading to the airport, but they needed to go now.

Kate shook her head, lost in her thoughts. "Just… gonna miss it here."

He chuckled. "We were here less than 24 hours."

She shrugged but slid into the passenger side. "Yeah. I know. I just… want to come out here more."

"Feeling sentimental, are we?" He clicked his seatbelt on and gave her a teasing look.

She scoffed playfully. "Something like that, I guess."

In truth, this house had saved the day. It had hosted the most special day of their lives, and she was a little sad to leave it. Perhaps because it also meant leaving the day itself behind, too.

"Well, we'll come back soon. Promise." He gave her a quick kiss and then they headed off to lunch.

On the way, Kate's stomach began to tighten. Something didn't feel right, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. There was a growing tension the further they got from the house. Had they forgotten their passports? Were they supposed to have done something before they left?

The answer to her niggling paranoia became evident when, on a narrow strip of road close to where Castle had been targeted, a black SUV pulled out into their path.

Her heart coated over with ice.

"Castle…" she half-moaned, and he began to slow down.

"I see it."

She gripped the armrest of the car and swallowed, taking five seconds to let fear threaten to overwhelm her before reaching for the gun she'd stashed in the glove compartment.

He stopped ten feet away from the vehicle, and a man in a dark suit and sunglasses exited from the passenger side.

"Stay in the car, Kate."

She scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Fat chance."

Castle didn't bother cutting the engine, but both got out of the vehicle. Luckily, no one was behind them on the one lane road.

Kate flashed her badge clipped to the waistband of her jeans. "NYPD. You're blocking the road sir; you're going to need to move."

The man, tall, athletic-looking, and completely emotionless, ignored her and glared at Castle. "You're going to need to come with us, Mr. Castle."

"He's not going anywhere with you. Now move." She stepped closer, hand itching to reach for the gun tucked into the back of her jeans.

Finally, the suit looked at her. "We're not here for you."

"And you're not here for him, either. So, unless you'd like a local calling the police because of a blockage on a public street, I suggest we move this elsewhere."

The suit seemed to consider, then looked over his shoulder at the driver. After a few seconds, he turned back to the couple and nodded. "Follow us. And don't think about fleeing."

"Because then you'd have to kill us?" Castle snorted, and the corner of the suit's mouth quirked up.

"No. But your flight out of JFK will be grounded. No one wants a public scene, do they?"

Castle grit his teeth, rolled his eyes, and signaled Kate to go back to the car. Kate walked backward, keeping her eyes trained on the SUV.

"What's this about?" she hissed as she slid into her seat. "I thought this was over."

"Apparently not."

They drove another quarter mile before pulling into a convenience store parking lot. The SUV headed toward the back of the building, where there was an empty, dirt lot.

Before they got out, Kate murmured, more to herself than to him, "What the hell is this all about?"

Castle frowned. "Wish I knew."

They slowly approached the same man who was now standing with another agent, the driver, dressed similarly in black. But now, he was on the phone. Kate could hear him muttering, "Yes, I understand," every few seconds. After a few more "mhm's," he turned to look at Castle.

"It's for you."

Castle blanched, seemingly frozen in place. "I –" He chuckled awkwardly, searching for words. "But –"

The suit stepped forward and practically shoved the phone into Castle's hand.

"Hel-Hello?"

His mouth hung open in dismay, but then he immediately snapped it shut. His eyebrows rose, and Kate's curiosity was piqued. She couldn't hear the person on the other end of the call, but Castle's face spoke volumes. Whoever it was, Castle knew them.

It was all but confirmed when she heard him say, "No, yeah, I remember you." Then a long pause. His shoe scuffed the dirt at his feet. "Wait, hold on. You want me to what?" He looked over at Kate, his face a mask of confusion and dismay. "No, I can't. I'm not coming there, I told my…" Then he stopped talking. There was a crackling, awkward intensity between the four. The suits, standing straight and tall and on-edge, put Kate completely on-edge, too. She waffled between watching Castle's telling facial expressions and the reactions of the men standing before her. Only, they weren't making any expressions. They reminded her of Mr. Smith from the Matrix films - completely devoid of humanness.

She put her hand on Castle's arm, the only thing she could think of to lend him support through whatever this was. One of the suits, the driver, shot her a nasty glare.

He sighed, and continued, head bobbing. "No, I was going to say that I let my, erm, contact, with the CIA know… I'm really sorry Bilal. I either do this over the phone, or not at all." He listened intently, and Kate wondered who the hell Bilal was. Then Castle ran an aggravated hand through his hair. "I wish I could help you. I do. But I can't. I can, however, send someone else in my place. Yes, obviously someone I trust, and therefore someone you can trust. Yes. I know. Look, I promise you. He's your guy. He'll keep you safe, I swear." His words were growing softer and softer, more for Kate's ears than the suits. He even turned his body away from them, hoping they couldn't overhear.

He was quiet for another moment before nodding to himself. "I understand. Yeah. Look, I wish you well. It'll be fine, just… you'll know you have the right man by asking him what his favorite book is. If the answer is Casino Royale, you have the right guy." He was so quiet now even Kate strained to hear him. But the title sparked recognition in her, and she felt her jaw drop. He couldn't be serious. "Okay. Yeah. Yeah. You too."

Then Castle handed the phone back to the suits, expression even and unyielding. "It's done."

"Um, Castle…?"

"I need to make a call," he said to her, and turned his back on the three of them. He walked several yards away before pulling out his phone and calling, she suspected, his father. She couldn't hear what he said, but it was likely he was giving his dad a breakdown of everything he'd just learned. The curiosity was eating away at her stomach, and she had to resist biting her nails from the suspense. Was this… over now? For good?

When he was finally finished, he strode back over to the group. Facing toward the suits, Castle nodded once. "My proxy can be ready within the hour." He pulled out an old receipt from his pocket, asked for a pen (which one of the suits gave him) and he wrote down an address. "Be there, and he will help you."

The suits looked at each other, clearly having some kind of silent conversation about whether or not they could accept this, but Castle was clearly done. He took Kate's hand and turned back to their vehicle.

The driver asked, "And Khan will cooperate?"

Castle turned to him and nodded. "He will." He turned back to the car but stopped, shaking his head before turning back around. "Look, I haven't seen or talked to Bilal in ages. I don't know why he wanted me for this, but it's just not something I'm willing to sacrifice for right now." He put his arm around Kate's lower back, just high enough to clear the handle of the gun. "But my proxy is more than ready to help you achieve your goals. He's better than me, that's for sure. So just… be grateful."

With a half-hearted grin in the face of their twin sneers, Castle turned back around and together they walked back to the car.

Once inside, Kate asked, breathless from the anticipation, "What the hell was that?"

Castle frowned and started the car. "Someone I used to know was asking for my help. It's just like my dad said. But, obviously, I refused."

"And he just… accepted it?"

They pulled back onto the road, headed back toward the city. "Not at first. He said the same things about lives hanging in the balance… He was frustratingly vague." Castle sighed heavily and shook his head, his expression one of remorse and aggravation.

Kate put her hand on his thigh. "And Jackson is going to go in your place?"

Castle nodded. "He agreed to, yeah. Suspiciously without much convincing, actually. I wonder if he'd already decided before I called."

"This is good. He can handle it."

"I know. Better than me, that's for sure."

Kate tried to envision Castle off on some secret spy mission. He'd love it, obviously, but he didn't have her training. It was why she always asked him to stay behind during raids or other altercations with suspects. He may have the heart to save the world, but he didn't have the required skill set. Running into danger like that… It was unlikely he'd make it home unscathed.

"You did the right thing, you know."

"I know."

They drove in silence before Castle cleared his throat, declaring, "You know, I'm not really hungry anymore."

"Me either. Let's just eat when we get to our gate."

He wove his fingers through hers, and held her hand the rest of the way to the city.

—-

Kate awoke to a stiff neck. Castle was shaking her awake, excited looking back and forth between her and the window. "Look look look!" he exclaimed in the jittery kind of way that reminded her of a kid at a carnival.

She leaned across his lap and looked down, her breath catching in her throat at what was just beneath them. Water, bluer than she'd ever seen, and tiny specks of bungalows dotted out across the water. They were still pretty high up, but she could see several different resorts and cabanas jutting out from the mainland.

Her drowsiness evaporated. "Oh my god. Castle…"

"I know!"

She watched as the plane tilted to its side, preparing to line itself up with the landing strip she couldn't see. They were so close to their destination, she could practically taste the salt water and mai-tais on her tongue.

Castle leaned over and kissed her cheek. Stunned a little, she turned to look at him. "What was that for?"

He shrugged, still exuding pure giddiness. "Just happy to be here with you. Glad we're doing this."

He didn't mention the crazy kidnapping plot. He didn't have to. It hung over them like damp, musty air that just wouldn't clear.

But it would clear. Over time.

"Gives you some perspective, you know?" She pressed a hand to his cheek, knowing they were missing the descent and not quite caring. "We were so close to not being able to have this together. But we're here. And it's all because of you, babe."

He gave a bashful little shrug. "Eh. Fighting bad guys isn't quite as fun as sun, sand, and sex on my honeymoon."

Kate smacked his shoulder playfully, looking around to see if anyone had overheard him.

"I was being serious."

He took her hand and squeezed, all traces of previous goofiness gone. But the light in his eyes - that was still there. Nothing could dampen that.

"I'm serious too. And I promise, no matter what, I'm never going to take the ability to be with you for granted."

"Me either, Castle."

She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his lips just as the wheels touched down on the tarmac. They'd missed the view, but that was perfectly fine with them.