Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine, and neither is most of the dialogue. You'll see what I mean.

EPILOGUE

"You ready, Katie?"

Kate ran her hands nervously over her dress one last time, more out of nervousness than to smooth any wrinkles. She turned from the mirror to face her father, who was waiting patiently with tears in his eyes.

Jim pulled his only daughter into a tight hug. "You look beautiful, sweetheart. Your mom would be so proud of you."

Kate managed to hold back the tears in her own eyes. "Thanks, Dad." She threaded her arm through his. "Ready?"

"Ready."

A few moments later, they were outside walking down the makeshift aisle in the backyard of Rick's Hamptons house.

Kate barely registered the smiles of the hundred or so guests that stood; she only saw him. He had the same look on his face as when he'd proposed: ecstatic, but terrified that she might turn and run away. Kate couldn't blame him; there was a part of her that was afraid this was all a dream.

But then the longest walk of her life was over and Kate was standing in front of him, the love of her life, reciting her vows from her heart.

"The moment that I met you, my life became extraordinary. You taught me to be my best self, to look forward to tomorrow's adventure. When I was vulnerable, you were strong. I love you, Richard Castle, and I want to live my life in the warmth of your smile and the strength of your embrace. I promise you I will love you. I will be your friend and your partner in crime and in life. Always."

He slid her wedding ring onto her finger; she stared at it in disbelief for a moment before she realized he was talking.

"The moment we met, my life became extraordinary. You taught me more about myself than I knew there was to learn. You are the joy in my heart. You're the last person I want to see when I close my eyes. I love you, Katherine Beckett, and the mystery of you is the one I want to spend the rest of my life exploring. I promise to love you and be your friend and your partner in crime and life till death do us part—and for the time of our lives."

And they were pronounced husband and wife, and they kissed amongst the cheers, and they were Mr. and Mrs. Castle.

And hours later, after everyone had left to go back to the city or stay in a nearby hotel, Kate stood in her husband's arms, head on his shoulder as they swayed to music only they could hear.

Finally, she felt her eyelids getting heavy, and she lifted her head to look him in the eyes. She smiled at the tenderness she saw, tenderness and undying love.

Rick couldn't help but kiss his wife. Wife! He'd had no idea that day in the coffee shop, when he'd first spoken to her, that they'd be married within a year. But they were, and he'd never felt so happy. He reached up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "We did it, Mrs. Castle," he said softly as they swayed.

Kate lifted herself on her toes – heels long gone – and kissed him again, slowly, putting all of her love in that one gesture of affection. When they broke apart, she threaded her fingers through his and pulled him towards his – their – house.

"We certainly did, Mr. Beckett," she teased at the doorway, laughing when he scooped her up and carried her inside. She looped her arms around his neck and brought her forehead to his. "Now, take me to bed."

And so he did.

FIN

A/N: Thank you for all the reviews, favorites, and follows! I know I basically skipped their entire relationship; I started writing some of it, a couple dates and working together, but I felt like none of it was original, that I was basically rewriting dates and scenes that I've read in dozens of other fics. I didn't want to do that so I went with this. Thank you for reading!