Jane Doe

"Oh, darling, look at you." Martha breathes, clasping her hands and pressing them against her breastbone. Her son's wife - her daughter, really - looks simply breathtaking. Initially, she hadn't been sure about this. Not the vow renewal, of course; she has always approved of Katherine and seeing her son and his wife still so committed to one another is wonderful.

Doing it here, though. Like this. There are some awful memories wrapped up in this house now. They've been back here since that dreadful day five years ago, of course. Marlow spent much of his first summer at the beach house, wriggling little toes in the sand and exploring the pool in the dragon-shaped floatie Richard bought.

Even with the wonder and the joy of watching Mal explore here, even though Richard is just fine and he and Katherine did eventually get married, this house still makes Martha shudder every now and then. She didn't say anything to Katherine and Richard, of course. The two of them seemed quite enraptured with the idea of recreating what was once their dream wedding and as much as Richard might tease, Martha does have some skill at the art of subtlety.

Here in the master suite with Katherine, the younger woman positively luminescent with happiness, all of the terrible history of this house ceases to matter.

Katherine glances down at herself, a hand curving protectively over top of her stomach. She's gorgeous, even swollen with her child. "Do you think it's alright?"

"You look radiant, my dear." Martha says, taking Katherine's free hand in both of hers. She's wearing both of her rings and the diamond nudges at the papery skin of Martha's palm. "The dress is gorgeous on you."

It had been quite the battle to find a dress that would flatter Katherine's rapidly expanding belly, one she felt beautiful in. Richard had slipped Martha his credit card and told her that whatever it took, he wanted his wife to be happy. Eventually, they found a dress that made Katherine's face come alight the moment she fastened it closed. Simple and elegant, the dress has a ruffled detail at Katherine's bust before it falls uninterrupted to the floor.

"Thank you, Martha." Katherine smiles, wide and stunning just as she was five years ago. So much of it is the same; Lanie and Alexis even fixed Katherine's hair and makeup the same way. And yet in spite of that, things are so different.

Alexis is no longer Richard's best man. Technically, at a vow renewal, a wedding party isn't exactly required, but Richard and Katherine have wanted this to be as close to a real wedding as possible. Alexis, Lanie and Jenny are Kate's bridesmaids.

The thing that has everyone cooing in delight, however, are the groomsmen. Javier and Kevin look wonderfully handsome in their suits, but Marlow is stealing the show as Richard's best man. He isn't in his suit yet - Alexis is charged with getting her brother dressed at the last possible moment - but Martha's grandson has been beaming with pride all morning, telling anyone who will listen that he is his father's best man in the world.

Martha finds herself tearing up a little just thinking of it and she swipes underneath her eyes, releases a breathy laugh that Katherine echoes. She had a reason for coming in here, requesting a moment alone with her daughter-in-law before Jim came to collect her and walk her down the aisle.

"Darling, I have something for you. I gave you these last time but, well. . .you know what happened. And then when you and my son actually married it was so impromptu that it didn't exactly seem fitting." Martha starts, opening the velvet box that has housed these earrings for so many years.

Katherine gasps, a hand flying up to cover her mouth as she stares at the gems. "Oh my goodness, Martha, wow. They're stunning."

"They were given to me by my mother to wear on my wedding day, and by her mother before. They've been in the family for many years, Katherine. Only women of substance have worn these gems." It's the same wording as the last time she delivered this speech.

Back then, she learned it as well as any monologue she's ever had to perform, had picked out the words so precisely to make sure they said everything that's needed. Neither Meredith nor Gina ever wore these earrings; somehow Martha had always known that one day her son would get it right, would find a woman who was his forever.

From Katherine, she receives a subtle nod of understanding and a small, bashful smile. "I'm honoured. Really. And I'll keep them safe for Alexis."

"Yes, darling. And for this little one too, hmm?" Martha smiles, glancing at Katherine's belly where it curves between them. She doesn't touch her daughter-in-law's bump, knows that Katherine hates the way that pregnancy makes people behave as if her stomach is public property.

Well, she did last time anyway. And this time no one except Richard has touched her without asking first, so there's no way of telling what her stance on it is this time around. Katherine grins and smoothes a hand over the top of her stomach, so reverent that for a moment it seems as if she and her unborn child are the only ones in the room, Martha watching as if through glass.

"We'll see. You know Rick still thinks it's another boy." Katherine laughs, shaking her head. Everyone except Richard is convinced that the baby is a little girl, a baby sister for Marlow and Alexis. Well, not everyone. Katherine has been silent on the matter, refusing to speculate. If asked, she says she doesn't mind so long as their baby is healthy and happy.

There's a moment of peaceful quiet and then Katherine heads for the mirror that hangs above the fireplace in its ornate white frame, fixing the gems at her ears and admiring her reflection. "They're so beautiful. Thank you, Martha. For everything."

"Oh darling, thank you. I've never seen my son so happy as he has been since you two began dating." Martha murmurs, reaching for Katherine and drawing her in for a hug. It's a little awkward around the obstruction of Katherine's bump; at six months her stomach is big enough to actually be something of a hindrance.

A knock on the door interrupts the two of them and Martha steps away, turns to see Katherine's father poking his head around the edge of the doorframe. Katherine smiles at Jim and he steps further into the room, looking rather dashing in his tuxedo. "I'm sorry, Martha. I didn't realise you were in here. Katie. . .it's almost time, sweetheart."

"Right." Katherine says, nodding even as she releases a shaky breath. Squeezing the younger woman's hand, Martha brushes a kiss to her daughter-in-law's cheek and slips quietly from the room. It isn't at all like her to make her exit without a fuss, but this is Katherine and Richard's day.

She'll make herself useful as grandmother. Smiling to herself, Martha arranges the ornate, floral necklace until it sits just so between her clavicles and then she heads for her grandson, following the source of all the noise until Marlow and Alexis come into view.

Yes. . .she's definitely more useful here.

Last time they did this, there was no aisle.

When he and Kate got married, they walked up the steps of City Hall hand in hand, their parents and Alexis a little way behind them. It was wonderful, their wedding, because he got to marry Kate Beckett and that's really all he's ever wanted. But they didn't have any of the traditional things the two of them had so been looking forward to.

He never got to see her walk down the aisle towards him, radiant and stunningly beautiful. And now here she is, the woman he loves. Already his wife. Her arm is hooked through her father's and she's looking right at him as she comes towards him, her smile ripe and gorgeous and he is rapidly running out of adjectives, but really.

His wife is astonishing and beautiful and especially now, especially pregnant with their second child, he wants to get to his knees and worship at the altar of her body.

Okay, so the occasion is making him sentimental and maybe a little bit melodramatic too, but he can hardly even draw a deep breath. He's transfixed by her, in awe, and it must be all over his face because Marlow leans out of Ryan's arms and plants both hands at his father's cheeks, leaning in until their noses touch.

"Daddy, Mommy is so pretty."

There's a ripple of laughter through their guests. A small crowd, only close friends and family this time. The way it probably ought to have been in the first place. Everyone here knows them and loves them dearly. Rick would be comfortable handing his son off to anyone in this crowd, trusts them all with his most precious thing - his little boy.

"I know, my man." Rick murmurs back, and then he shrugs and goes right for it, takes his squirmy boy from Kevin's arms and snuggles him close.

Kate reaches them, her smile softening around the edges, and she leans in to kiss their son on the cheek and then Rick, on the mouth. He gets a palm at her back, low down where her hips flare out and he delights in the shiver that ripples through her.

The gardens of the Hamptons house are gorgeous this time of year, and when Rick looks at his wife he can see flora blooming just past her, the sky a hard and crisp sheet of blue. Rick fills up with that incredible rich happiness, the kind that used to be so rare before he fell in love with this woman.

In front of them, Gates clears her throat and the congregation laugh again. A vow renewal is unlike a wedding in that it isn't legally binding, so anyone can officiate. That had caused weeks of discussion between Rick and Kate as they debated who they should ask.

Eventually, they settled on their captain. Since Marlow was born Gates has been a whole lot more receptive towards Rick. Probably because he makes super adorable kids and it's completely impossible to resist their charm. She'd been happy to do it, delighted when they asked her.

In fact, as he waited for his wife to appear earlier Gates had leaned across and told him that she's happy for him, that she's glad her best detective has 'the kind of man she deserves'. It had taken him so completely by surprise that Ryan had actually grabbed for his arm, Espo hissing at him to get it together.

Gates waits for a nod from each of them - Rick adjusts their son in his grip before he indicates that he's ready - and then their captain clears her throat and they start.

When the fairy lights come on Kate gasps, pressing her face at her husband's neck and actually giggling as he chuckles along with her. She just. . .really wasn't expecting that. The lights are threaded through the fence that runs alongside the squares of wooden flooring they laid out to act as a dancefloor.

Alexis has her iPod hooked up to the speakers, the playlist that Kate and her husband have spent weeks putting together filling up the thick warmth of the dusk air, the final notes of a song drifting on the breeze that curls over her bare arms and chest, makes her feel alive with sensation.

Rick has her in his arms, a palm splayed wide at her back, and she's so grateful that her bump isn't preventing her from being able to dance with him properly. They sway together, hardly even moving. Their noses brush and Rick doesn't seem quite able to stop kissing her, filling the spaces in between the touch of his mouth to hers with a wide and joyful grin.

They're on their third dance already, and no one else has gotten up to join them yet, but then the song rolls over into something more upbeat and Marlow shrieks, hopping from foot to foot and tugging on his big sister's hand until Alexis acquiesces and scoops him up, carries him with her to join their parents.

It seems to break the dam; suddenly the floor floods with people. Esposito is dancing with Lucy and Kate's father has Sarah Grace balancing precariously on top of his shoes, Kevin and Jenny half-dancing, half watching their girls bubble over with excitement.

Later, Kate knows that she'll dance with her father and her boys from the precinct and her son, but for right now the thought of leaving Rick's embrace is entirely unappealing. Leaning in until her mouth brushes his ear, Kate lets her smile spread wide and transform her voice, catching up her words in a silvery web of joy. "Everyone's so happy, Rick. We did good."

"We did." He murmurs back, dusting a kiss over her cheekbone. There's a pause - she feels him swallow where her fingers are somehow resting at his throat - and then he pulls away enough to look at her. "Did I mention how gorgeous you are? How happy I am? How much I love you."

"You might have." Kate laughs, shaking her head in tenderness and amusement both. Rick's vows stole the breath from her chest, made tears spill over and break for freedom down her cheeks. It had upset their son; Marlow had frowned and kissed Kate's tears away to the delight of everyone watching. And then that attention had made him ham it up, chubby fingers petting her hair for the rest of his father's speech.

She knows he's a writer, but really. There was no way she could have prepared for that. But at least it seemed as if hers got to him just as much. She'd been nervous about it, but the way he looked at her erased all of that fear before she even started talking.

Kate threads her fingers together behind her husband's neck and leans in as close as possible, kissing him slow and precise until he groans and his hands clutch at her hips. When she pulls back, it's only far enough to smooth her thumb underneath his eye and grin at him. "I love you, too. This has been. . .so perfect."

"I want to be alone with you." He says, sotto voce. Gates is closer to them than she knows Rick is probably comfortable with. In any case, he won't want her to overhear them talking.

Laughing, Kate cards a hand through his hair as if to soothe him, smirking even though she knows her eyes are alight with how much she adores him. "I know, babe. Me too. Later."

"No, not for that." He huffs, indignation staining his cheeks. Or maybe embarrassment; she isn't sure.

"Not for that?"

"No. I, uh. . .wanted to talk to you. Alone." He pauses, does a quick sweep of their guests that Kate echoes. Everyone seems distracted, their loved ones dotted around in clusters. "So, Mrs Castle, care for a walk on the beach with your husband?"

Kate beams and hooks her arm through his, her cheek meeting his bicep for just a moment. She hasn't worn her heels for months now - the baby makes it more trouble than it's worth - and the height difference seems to make Rick want to coddle her. At any rate, he's been a lot quicker to gather her up in his arms in recent months.

Their children are still dancing together nearby and Rick takes a step away from her to curl his fingers at Alexis' shoulder and get her attention. "Hey, pumpkin. Kate and I are going to head to the beach for a while. Are you okay with him?"

"We're fine." Alexis beams at her father, presses a smacking kiss to her brother's cheek.

Kate chews at her lip a moment, reaches out to splay a palm at her son's back. He's getting sleepy now; his head rests heavy on his older sister's chest and it seems like it takes some effort to peel his eyes open and look at his mother. "If you think he needs to go to bed that's okay, you can take him up, but will you bring the monitor back down with you? You can give it to my dad and enjoy the party."

"Will do, Kate." Alexis nods, squeezing Kate's bicep.

Kate lets her husband lead her away from the dancefloor, but they only make it to the edge before Rick stops them and turns to face her, his hands warm at her biceps. "You don't want to leave him."

"He's my baby boy." Kate shrugs, feels herself blushing. "I feel like I've been handing him off to other people all day."

"It's our wedding day, love." Rick says, and it's so fervent that she lets the inaccuracy slide. "And he's loving the attention. Don't feel guilty for it."

She nods, manages a smile, and it does help to hear it. Her son is so loved by so many people, she knows that. It's just that she wants him close. Probably hormones, and jeez does she hate having all control of her emotions robbed from her.

There are steps that lead straight down from their garden onto the beach and Kate lets her husband guide her down them, hand in hand. They leave their shoes on the bottom step and Rick stoops to roll up the legs of his slacks, baring his ankles to her.

He postures, smirking, and she blows him a kiss as she steps away. It's colder down here near the water, the breeze coming in close and making her skin erupt in gooseflesh. Kate wraps her arms around herself, her palms resting either side of her stomach, and she looks out over the water.

Night is just starting to creep in at the edges of the earth, the place where the ocean meets the sky smudging into indigo and bruising violet. She hears his footfalls over the sand first, and then the heat of her husband's body comes in close at her back. There's a rustle and then he drapes his suit jacket over her shoulders.

The inside of it is so warm, so lovely that she comes dangerously close to purring in satisfaction. Somehow she manages to catch herself, half-turning instead to see him over her shoulder. She gets only a shard of his face and the shadows are so thick down here that he looks intense and brooding, a stranger to her until he cracks a smile.

Kate slides her arms into the sleeves and then turns away from the water, wraps her arms around his waist as far as she can reach. Her mouth opens at the hollow of his throat and her tongue darts out to taste; he grunts and palms the back of her head, holds her in place as he leans in for a kiss.

His tongue slicks through her mouth and she moans, fingers curling in the waistband of his slacks. For several long moments, Kate forgets everything other than her husband's kiss. And then the baby kicks and she startles, breaks away with a laugh.

Gazing up at him through her eyelashes, she blinks slowly, her mouth parted. "You wanted to talk to me?"

"Yes. The night you got in your accident, I was so excited that you would make it home for dinner. And then I got the call to tell me you were at the hospital and it was like the bottom dropped out of my world, Kate. I couldn't think; it was as if my mind was rendered completely useless. All I could focus on was getting to you, making sure that you were safe."

She isn't entirely sure where he's going with this, her beautiful man, but she has no doubt that he's been turning this speech over in his head, probably for days now. "I can't imagine how scared you must have been."

"I remember sitting on the couch waiting for you to come home, thinking how grateful I was to be sharing a life with you. To have a partner in raising our son. And then you forgot me, and I started steeling myself to do it alone again." He's watching her so intently; a hand comes up between them and he tucks a stray curl back out of her face. "But you amazed me. The same way you have done from the day we met. You still manage to take me by surprise every day, Kate Castle. I never would have thought that a version of you from 2008 would commit to this life with me, but here you are."

He shrugs, swallows hard, and Kate realises with a start that he's trying not to cry. It's an emotional day, and her heart aches for him. Everything he's been through to get to this point. Things she can't even remember. "Babe, hey. Look at me. I love you. I love our son; I love our life together. Do you know what I was like in 2008?"

"Sort of. Not really."

"I was so lonely. I woke up after the accident and I thought 'great, now I'll probably be off work a couple days and I'm going to have a hell of a headache and I'll be miserable'. I wasn't counting on my favourite author turning up and taking me home with him, to our baby boy." She laughs, because even now it just sounds ridiculous.

She still can't believe she's married to Richard Castle. And. . .wow. The way he looks at her. She swallows the clog of emotion at her throat, finishes what she was meaning to say. "From the moment I woke up, you've given me the life I didn't even know I wanted. And I'm so excited to live the rest of it with you and remember every damn second of it, Rick."

There are days she hates what happened, hates that she lost so much time, so many precious moments. And then there are times when she's almost thankful. She knows now how important it is to hold on to these moments, to throw herself right in to each one and relish it.

The rest of her life is in front of her, and Kate Castle is going to cherish every minute of it.

A/N: Wow. What a journey this has been. First some quick thank yous: Leighton - for the idea, and for loving this story probably more than anyone else. Alexis, Shannon, Chole - endless cheerleading and words of encouragement. Couldn't have done it without you. Berkie - darling, you are the best beta anyone could hope for. Thank you for helping me make sense of my thoughts, steering me in the right direction and never letting me give up. This story owes so much of itself to you. Laura - you keep me sane and you don't even know you're doing it. Thank you.

The biggest thank you is for everyone who has read, reviewed, followed, favourited, tweeted, blogged and otherwise offered this story more love and support than I ever could have anticipated. I'm grateful and overwhelmed and humbled, and I want to thank you all for making this such an amazing journey. I don't think this will be the last of this universe, and I hope you'll join me wherever it takes me next.

Love, Beanie.

(Kate's dress is the Danielle wedding gown by Tina Mak)