More than Expected

Part 59

September 12, 2014
      Royce is down for a nap while she looks on the internet at possible wedding venues. They agreed on an outdoor venue with an indoor reception space in case it rains. She's also putting together save-the-date cards and invitations. It makes her sad to see all of the options with pictures since she and Rick won't have the opportunity to take engagement photos. She goes back to looking at venues when she comes across one that is stunning. The Catlett Farm. She looks through pictures and then looks at their available dates in 2015.
     Butterflies fill her chest when she sees that the only available date they have in May is May 17 — the date she and Rick already had picked out. She wants to book it, but she hesitates. Pick the venue you want, Babe he told her a few days ago on their ten minute phone call when she told him she was looking. She knows he really doesn't care — they could go down to city hall right after she picks him up from deployment and he's be happy, he just wants to marry her. Since she can't call him, she does the next best thing: calls her mom.
     "Hi Katie Bug!" "Hey Mom. I need some help." "Of course. What's up?" "I found this beautiful venue and the only date available in May is that date that Rick and I had settled on." "That's great, Katie! So why do I sense hesitation in booking the venue?" She bites her lip — her mother always knew her better than anyone. "It just feels wrong doing all of this without Rick here." "Have you talked to him about any of it?" "I told him a few days ago that I was looking." "Uh huh, and what did he say?"
     "To choose whichever venue makes me happy." "Then book the venue." "But it's our wedding. Not just mine." "I know, baby, but you and Rick have special circumstances. So, unless you want to wait and get married in 2016, I'd take the last slot they have in May as your wedding date as a sign that this venue is meant to be yours." Kate thinks about it as her finger hovers over the mouse. She bites her lip and finally presses the 'book' button. "Alright, I booked it." "Yay! This is so exciting. Send Dad and I the information and we'll start moving money around."
    "Thank you, Mom." "Of course, baby. We'll see you in a few weeks. Love you." She reciprocates the affection before ending the call. She has a venue and a dress and a date, she's just missing the groom. Once she fills out some extra things for the venue, she moves onto putting together their save-the-dates. She orders the cards and closes her computer just as Royce's cry cuts through the baby monitor. She swiftly makes her way to the nursery, "Hi Bubba. Good morning." Kate whispers. Royce reaches for her nose prompting her to kiss his hand.
    She walks back into the bedroom and settled on the bed with him. She pulls out her phone and looks at pictures of her and Rick, "Oh, Royce, I miss your daddy." She says as she shows her son the photo of her and Rick on their first date. "Look, it's Dada." She says. Then her heart stops: "Dada." Royce's little voice copies. She puts the phone down and lifts Royce into her arms, "What did you just say?" His hazel eyes stare back into hers. "Did you just say 'dada'?" She asks.
     "Dada." He echos again. She smiles and presses kisses to his cheek, "Baby, you just said your first word!" She exclaims. She grabs her phone again and opens the camera app to take a video, "Say it again, Royce." She encourages but he just stares at the ceiling fan. "Royce, do you miss Dada?" "Dada." He repeats. She ends the video and kisses his cheek again. "Oh, baby boy, I wish Dada were here to listen to you say his name." "Dada." "Yes, Dada." "Dada." She chuckles and kisses his cheek one more time. "I love you so much."
     Later that evening, she's lounging in bed with Royce after giving him a bath when her phone rings. The number is unfamiliar and she looks at it quizzically before a light goes off in her head: it's Rick! She answers the FaceTime and smiles when his face appears, "Hi handsome." "He beautiful. How're you doing?" "Missing you, everyday. I have something to show you." She says, "Kate, our son is right there and I only have about ten minutes of phone time." He teases. She rolls her eyes, "Just watch. Royce, look it's Dada." Kate shows her son the phone.
      "Dada." The baby copies his mother and she watches Rick's face light up. "Yeah, buddy, I'm Dada." He smiles. "Dada." Royce says again, "Kate! He's saying my name!" He exclaims and Kate smiles, "I know." "I miss you guys so much." "We miss you too. I have more good news. I found a wedding venue." "That's amazing, Babe! Did you book it?" "Yep, the last day they had available in May was the 17th." She tells him, "Looks like it was meant to be." "Yes it was." A voice calls out from behind Rick, "My call time is over." He says.
       "When will we get to FaceTime again?" "I made sure to put in a request for extended FaceTime for Royce's birthday. Until then it'll be sporadic, limited phone calls." He says and she sighs. She has to wait almost a whole month to see her fiancé's face again. "Okay. We love you." "I love you guys too. Talk to you in a few days." "Talk to you in a few days." They blow each other a kiss before they end the phone call. "Baby boy, I miss your Dada so much." "Dada." "Yeah. Dada." She smiles as tears fill her eyes and she settled down in bed with Royce on her chest.
Part 59! Royce is talking! What do y'all think? I have a little request: could you guys go show some love to my completed story 'Woman in White' and it's sequel 'Year in Time'? I have a big storyline coming with that version of Castle and Beckett's family, but I feel like no one is reading it, so please go check it out!