36. Chapter 36

After Till Death Do Us Part

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: This is another of the Castles I don't own. Rating: K+ Time: What do you think?

Castle danced with a beautiful woman in his arms and was happier than he'd ever been. He had found the woman of his dreams and everything would be perfect. Her body rubbed against his sensuously, with a promise of greater joy to come later that night.

"I love you." He whispered in her ear.

"I love you too, Kitten." She replied.

"Are you happy, Meredith?"

"Of course, Kitten. I'm married to you, aren't I?" Meredith kissed him lightly on the lips and then slid her lips down his neck and began nibbling.

"Hey! That tickles." He whispered.

"Do you want me to stop?"

"No." They both laughed.

"Kitten?" Meredith said quietly. "I talked to that Ms. Young about the place out in Malibu. It would be perfect for us. You can write there and it's just a short drive to Rodeo Drive and to the studios. Please? Can we buy it? Please, Kitten? For me?"

"Meredith, I'm a New Yorker. I've always lived in New York. I mean, LA is nice and all, but I just have trouble writing out here. I really need to be in New York to write."

"Now that's just silly, Kitten." She had said, running her hand down to the cummerbund of his tuxedo. "You can write anywhere and when you're a famous writer and I'm a famous actress, we can entertain in our home in Malibu."

"I don't know, Meredith. I thought you'd agreed we'd move back to New York."

"Kitten! Really! The New York acting scene just isn't for me. They resent Hollywood because we have all the glamour in the entertainment industry. They're just a lot of serious method actors, all trying to make meaningful movies or plays." Meredith's hand dropped below the cummerbund. "I hate to say this, Kitten, but I'm not entirely convinced that your mother thinks that highly of my acting skills. Do you know that she criticized my last role? She just doesn't understand the glamor of the movie industry."

"Glamor?" Rick chuckled. "Meredith, you had on ten pounds of zombie makeup and you were gutted by some guy with a chain saw. Your part lasted twelve seconds."

"You're beginning to sound like your mother, Kitten." Meredith had sniffed. "Look at her over there. Doesn't she know that's Craig Mills talking to her? The Craig Mills. Writer, producer and director of four successful films. What's Martha done lately? Some play written by some German I never heard of."

"Henrik Ibsen is a pretty well-known playwright. And he's Norwegian. " Rick countered.

"Well, he's no Craig Mills."

Castle had to agree. He imagined that Craig Mills had programmed his word processor so that it only took one keystroke to write, "The braless coed ran from the zombies, jiggling all the way." That pretty much summed up the plots of his movies.

"Please, Kitten. For me?"

Castle nodded. "I guess we can try LA."

"You won't regret this, Kitten."

Actually he had regretted it, the day he'd found his wife in bed with Craig Mills.

"Castle!" Beckett said sharply.

"What?"

"You stepped on my foot again. Look, if you're not happy at the wedding, you can go. I know you're not a big fan of weddings. I'll be okay."

Castle pulled Kate slightly closer to him. "What? Leave before Kevin and Jenny do? I wouldn't think of it. Besides, I like dancing with you. I'm here as long as you'll dance with me."

Kate allowed herself to move closer to Rick, then rested her head on his shoulder.

I'm happier dancing with Beckett than I was with Meredith, that's for sure. Castle thought to himself. Or with Gina for that matter.

"Rick, did you pack your laptop?" His new blonde wife asked.

"Honey, do we have to leave the wedding reception so soon?" He asked. "And why take the laptop? We're headed off for three weeks in the Caribbean. We're going to be all about fun in the sun, not work."

Gina shook her head and smiled at Rick. "Rick, you're such a little boy sometimes. I think that's what first attracted me to you. But you have to work. You not only have Alexis to care for now, but me."

"And maybe another little one?" Rick asked hopefully.

Gina's smile faded a bit. "We'll talk about that later. Oh, did you review that website on Russian geography I showed you?"

"Um, not yet."

"Why not?" Gina asked crossly. "Your description of Leningrad in the draft was way off. Details, Rick. Details."

"I was at the bachelor party. Bob Weldon took us all to…"

"Bob Weldon!" Gina said sharply. "I know he's a rising star in New York City politics, but sometimes, I just don't know about him. He's not the sort of mature, stable sort I'd want in politics. And his poker parties. Gambling is illegal. What if you get caught? How will that look? You're a public figure, Rick. You have to start acting like it. I'd like you to get to know Chris Morrison a little better in the future. He's a much more suitable friend for you."

As Gina turned away, Castle mimed throwing up. Chris Morrison? The Super Douche? He thought to himself.

Three weeks in the Caribbean had seemed more like three days. Gina had a phone call to take from Black Pawn. Gina had to review a manuscript from a new writer. Gina was too busy reviewing a contract to go scuba diving with Rick. And Rick couldn't go to the pool, or the bar, or on the tour because he absolutely had to write. "I know you're miffed at me now, Rick, but when the new Derrick Storm book is done, you'll thank me for pushing you so hard."

Gina had seemed genuinely surprised that Rick didn't thank her when the book was done early.

"Rick, what are you doing?" Gina asked when she got home from work one day.

"Alexis and I are playing laser tag. We've been doing it for years."

"Laser tag? Really?" Gina knelt by Alexis. "Alexis, honey, don't you have homework or something? You're daddy has to work. I'll bet he hasn't written a word all day." She turned to Rick. "You haven't, have you?"

Rick admitted he hadn't.

"I'm sorry, Rick. Now I've stepped on your toe." Beckett said.

"That's all right. I'm afraid I'm still ahead of you. Step on my toes another couple of times. After all, I'm heavier than you are as well as being clumsier."

Kate put her arms around Rick's neck and held him close. "If we dance close to each other, we won't step on each other's feet." She whispered.

Rick felt the heat of her body on his. Dancing with Kate Beckett at a wedding. I love Kate. What I feel for her is different than what I felt for either Meredith or Gina. I love Kate a lot more. I really can't see myself without Kate. I just can't imagine me without her. I can see her in a white dress, dancing at our wedding. I can see myself growing old with Kate. But how does she feel? I wish I knew.

Kate relaxed and let her body mold itself to Rick's. Just dancing with him excited her more than sex with other men had. I've been a bridesmaid six times. Because of my mom's murder, I stopped thinking that I'd ever be a bride myself years ago. Now I can see myself in my white gown, dancing with Rick at our wedding. I want him to be my one and done. I wish I knew what he wants.

The couple held each other more tightly and danced on.