A/N: Okay so apparently I made the worst mistake possible (pun intended) on the main title of this little fic. Thanks to the reviewer who pointed that out. Funny I didn't make the same error at the top of the first chapter. Can I just blame it on my stunned incredulity over the last few minutes of the finale?

Apparently when I changed the title, the url changed as well? I hope all the lovely folks who followed this story after the first chapter didn't have issues with the link for the second chapter.

Castle groaned loudly as he struggled to surface from deep sleep. He tried to open his eyes but it felt like trying to pull open the iron curtain. Giving up, he relaxed back into his pillow. Maybe it's the jetlag, he though. Castle tried to think back to the events of the prior day. He remembered his drive up to the Hamptons, being positively giddy about the prospect of finally marrying Kate. But for some reason everything else after that was a bit of a blur. Maybe that's what people meant by wedding daze?

Soon he was greeted by a gentle hand on his face and the sound of his newly-minted wife, "Hey Castle." Even without opening his eyes, Castle can hear the smile on Kate's face. But was that a hint of relief he also heard? Why would she sound relieved? What did she need relief from? They were on their honeymoon without a care in the world.

Castle then became aware of the dull ache all over his body, he light-heartedly said, "You really had your way with me on our wedding night Mrs. Castle, I don't think I can move."

"Castle, babe, we're not married. We didn't have our wedding night." Like a bucket of ice-cold water to the face, Castle was instantly awake.

"WAIT, WHAT?" Eyes suddenly wide open, Castle tried to sit up on the bed only to be greeted with more pain shooting through his body. "Ow!"

Finally taking a proper look at his surroundings, Castle saw the tell-tale signs of a hospital room. The white walls, white curtains, white plastic chair Kate was sitting in beside his bed, white everything, a small TV mounted from the ceiling at the corner turned on to what looked like a 24-hours news channel but muted; everything with a distinctive anti-septic smell. "This isn't the Maldives."

"No it's not Rick. We never made it."

Before Kate can say anything more, the day nurse came into the room. "Oh good morning Mr. Castle," said the middle-aged woman with a kind looking face. "Good to see you're awake. My name's Betty and I'll be your nurse for today. It's time for a top up of your pain meds. It won't take long and I'll be done in a jiffy."

"Castle, do you remember what happened?"

Closing his eyes to concentrate, willing the haze in his brain to lift. What happened yesterday that caused him not to have a wife, not be in the Maldives with said wife but in a hospital feeling like he got run over by a truck?

Panic filled his eyes as he remembered. Forgetting about the 3rd party in the room Castle urgently said, "Kate, Bracken…" The nurse looked up at the mention of the name that she's been hearing all over the News the past few weeks. Beckett put her hand gently on Castle's chest as a silent caution.

"It's okay babe. Mr. Hunt," Kate said deliberately, mindful of their audience, "told me everything. About the hit and run and how he rescued you." Nodding, Castle settled back down into his bed.

"All done Mr. Castle. The doctor is scheduled to do his rounds later this afternoon, if everything is okay at that point you should be able to go home by the end of the day. If you need anything just press the little button here by the side of the bed." With that Betty exited the room as quickly as she came, leaving Beckett and Castle alone once again.

"So you're not Mrs. Castle yet?" Rick said with a definite pout.

"I'm afraid not babe."

"Where's everybody?"

"Most of the guests at the wedding have already gone back to New York on the buses that Alexis had chartered. But your mother, Alexis, my dad, Lanie, and the boys are in the waiting area now. Mayor Weldon and your father are also here."

Castle was slightly taken aback by the last two names. While he certainly considered Bob to be a close friend, the Mayor was far from being a part of their most inner circle. And his father? Well frankly Castle had expected him to have disappeared to lay low already just like he said his 'pack' would.

At his confusion Kate explained, "I asked your father to stay. He saved your life Castle. Not to mention Alexis' last year. I wanted him here for this."

"Here for what?" Castle asked still confused.

"It's why I asked Mayor Weldon to stay as well." Kate explained, a dazzling smile breaking across her face. "As mayor, Bob has the authority to officiate a wedding. I want to get married to you now Castle. I don't want to wait anymore. We've waited long enough don't you think?"

"Kate you know I'll marry you any time, any where in a heart beat but you deserve to have the wedding of your dreams, not with me layup in a hospital bed, doped up on painkillers."

"Rick, what makes a wedding a dream or a fairytale is to have the people that you care about most there to share it with you. Everything else: the venue, the cake, the flowers, the dress? Those are just frills."

Seeing the sincerity and happiness in her eyes, Castle nodded. "You're right. We have everything and everyone we need in here and in the waiting room. Let's do it."

Pushing the button to move the head of the bed up so that Castle was in a sitting position, Kate gave him a quick kiss on the lips. "I'll go get everybody. Don't disappear on me again."

"I'll try." Castle replied cheekily.

Soon Kate returned with their family and friends close behind. Martha and Alexis gave him such tight hugs that Castle was silently grateful Betty had given him the extra dose of painkillers earlier. The boys were next, giving him a couple of fist-bumps. Then a quick hug from Lanie and "Writer-boy if you scare my girl like that again, I'll hurt you. But I'm glad you're okay." A couple of handshakes with Jim and Bob followed; finally a curt nod from his father.

"Okay, let's get this party started shall we?" Mayor Weldon said, then looked quickly at Lanie and Alexis. "Ladies, you have the rings with you?"

At their nod of affirmation, the mayor began "Dear friends and family, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of Katherine Houghton Beckett and Richard Edgar Alexander Rodgers Castle in marriage. To say that Rick and Kate have gone through trial by fire is an understatement; they've gone through fire, water, ice, several bombs, a tiger, and countless bullets. Through it all they've always had each other's back and came out of every ordeal stronger for it. If a partnership can survive all these things as well as crazy ex-wives, conspiracy theories and Ninjas, then I feel confident in saying it can survive anything. May we have the rings please?"

At the prompt, Lanie handed Castle's ring to Kate and Alexis gave Kate's ring to Rick. "Do you Katherine, take Richard to be your partner in life, sharing your path, to love and cherish, through joy and sorrow, sickness and health, and whatever challenges you may face, for as long as you both shall live?"

Kate looked into Rick's eyes, slowly slipping the ring onto his finger and with as much conviction as she can put into two simple words, "I do."

"And do you Richard, take Katherine to be your partner in life, sharing your path, to love and cherish, through joy and sorrow, sickness and health, and whatever challenges you may face, for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do." Kate's engagement ring was soon joined by its wedding counterpart on her finger.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

Lifting up his good arm, Castle gently cup Kate's face to bring her close. What started as a chaste kiss soon grew heated causing Esposito to say in mock disgust, "Get a room you two." This in turn earned him a much deserved smack on the arm and glare from a crying Lanie.

Kate and Rick just kept staring into each other's eyes with matching smiles that would've made the Cheshire Cat jealous, lost in their own little world. They were burst out of their bubble when Alexis commented, "Hey what's going on there?"

Everybody turned to look at the young redhead then followed her gaze to the muted TV at the corner. They saw a small picture of Bracken on one corner of the screen, imposed on what looked to be a live feed of a mansion with police and ambulance everywhere.

"For heaven's sake, where's the remote to turn that thing off?" Martha said looking around, "We don't need to see that awful man's face on your wedding day."

Before anybody can find the control, Castle's father walked towards the television and reached up. But rather than turning it off he increased the volume, cryptically saying "I have a feeling you might want to watch for just a few minutes."

… disgraced former New York senator William Bracken who has been under house arrest following his indictment earlier this month was found dead this morning. There has been no official announcement as to the cause of death however unnamed sources are saying it looks to be a suicide…

Castle glanced over at his father who gave him a warning look before clearing his throat, declaring "Well I think it is time for me to go. Richard I'm sorry I couldn't stay longer; Katherine, congratulations." With a slight tip of his head towards Martha, the older man headed for the door.

"Wait… umm Dad," Castle said, the parental title sounding foreign from his own lips. "I assume you know where Kate and I were going for our honeymoon?" At his father's curt nod he continued, "Well I'm in no condition to be going anywhere and the place is fully paid for and stocked with supplies. It's completely isolated other than a handful of locals looking after housekeeping. So if you need umm…" Castle left the rest of the sentence unsaid but fully understood. With one more nod, the CIA Intelligence Asset left without another word.

"It's over, Kate. It's really finally over."

"No Rick, this is only the beginning."

"Mrs. Castle, I stand corrected."

* FINI *

A/N: So the ending of Veritas was supposed to have wrapped everything in that storyline up in a nice little package but for me it didn't feel like the end. Given Bracken's resources and contacts, a little audio tape would not translate into an open-and-shut-beyond-a-reasonable-doubt case. I always though he could still be a threat, so this is me killing two birds (one of them literally) with one stone.

Sorry if the wedding was too short for your liking, but I'm horrible at stuff like that so I just made it quick. (My excuse is since the Mayor was called into duty on short notice, he didn't have time to prepare. :p )

Thank you for reading. I hope this helped to mend your shattered hearts at least a little bit.

Kindly please provide reviews, comments, suggestions as you make your way to the exit. :)