Year in Time

Part 11

December 1, 2014 — 1st Anniversary
He was sure he set an alarm to wake him up before his wife, but when he opens his eyes and looks to his right, he notices her side of the bed is empty. He then looks to his left and sees that his alarm clock reads 8:07 am. He sighs. He was supposed to wake up and make his wife breakfast in bed. Today is their first wedding anniversary (and a year since he found out she was pregnant with Avery). He wanted it to be perfect, but he's already messed it up.
He stands and shuffles out of the bedroom where he can't help but smile at the sight in front of him: his wife flipping pancakes while dancing and making their daughter giggle from her highchair. "Who does Mama love?" She asks. Then she runs up to the highchair and gets close to Avery's face, "You!" She squeals and spreads kisses all over the baby's face causing her to cackle. When she turns back to the stove is when she notices him. "Good morning." She smiles. He walks up behind her and wraps his around around her waist, pressing a kiss to the back of her neck.
"Happy anniversary." He says. "Happy anniversary." She smiles and leans back before turning her head to kiss his cheek. "I wanted to make you breakfast." He says, "You make me breakfast for every occasion. I figured I'd make it for you for a change." She explains. "But I like pampering you." He whispers in her ear before biting the lobe. She giggles, "Marriage is balance. I need to pamper you every once in awhile too." She explains as she turns the burner down and spins in his arms. She leans in and kisses his lips.
"I love you." He mumbles. "I love you too." Their daughter squeals. Castle moves to lift her out of the high chair, "We love you too, Avery." He says as he kisses her cheek and runs a hand through her wild curls that never stop growing. She had so much hair for a four month old it blew both of their minds. "Maybe Dada can take Avery upstairs and get her dressed while Mama finishes breakfast?" Kate asks and he nods, "Of course." He kisses his wife's forehead and heads up to the nursery with Avery in his arms.
He changes her diaper and dresses her in an adorable footie with bunnies on it. He then carries her back downstairs where his wife has set the bar with their plates and champagne glasses with what he assumes are mimosas. "Mimosas?" He questions, "For you. I'm not drinking until tonight so I don't have to use any expressed milk." She explains. He nods and places Avery in her playpen then sits next to Beckett. "To us. To an amazing first year of marriage. To the many years to follow." He toasts before they clink their glasses and share a kiss.
Tonight, her dad agreed to come over and watch his granddaughter for a few hours so that Castle could take his wife to dinner. What she doesn't know is that he has an extra surprise in store. "What time is your dad coming?" He asks, "Um, I think he said 5:30." She says and he nods. "So, what would my wife like to do before dinner?" He asks, "I was thinking we could watch some Christmas movies." She suggests. "Perfect." He smiles and leans down to kiss her again. He loves when she recommends to do something Christmasy, it was rare, but he loved it.
They spend the day on the couch with Avery watching a multitude of movies. Around 3:00, she leaves them to shower and begins getting ready for their date night. Castle decides to get Avery down for a nap so that she isn't cranky for her grandfather when he gets here in a few hours and then goes to check on his wife in the shower. "Want some company?" He asks. She smirks and makes a "come hither" motion with her finger. He quickly undresses and steps into the shower where they waste no time wrapping each other up in their arms.
Their shower takes a little longer since Kate has to basically retake her shower after their festivities. Once she's done, she steps out and lets him continue his shower. She wraps her hair up in a towel and ties her robe around her body before going upstairs to check on Avery whose wide awake. "Hi there, baby girl." She coos and lifts out of the crib. She settles into the rocking chair and lowers one side of her robe to free her breast for Avery to begin nursing. Once Avery is done she carries her downstairs.
She places the baby up against the pillows on her and Castle's bed and sets some of her teething toys in front of her. Their daughter had been sitting up on her own recently, a development that both excited and saddened the parents. Kate and Castle keep an eye on their little one as they get ready for the evening and by the time Beckett is slipping her dress on, the loft's buzzer buzzes causing Castle to carry Avery out and greet Jim. She hears her father and husband have small talk as she slips her earrings in then walks out.
"Hi Dad." She smiles and hugs him, "Hi Katie, you look beautiful." He says. "Thanks Dad." She smiles. "I was just going over the list of emergency numbers with him." Castle says and she nods, "Which are written down on this piece of paper for me, so you two go out and have a nice dinner. Happy anniversary!" Jim calls out as he ushers them out the door. Once they're gone, they make their way to Le Cirque for supper. They're seated and have their glasses filled with the most expensive wine Castle ordered before they exchange gifts.
"You go first." She insist. He wraps the gift open and pulls out a certificate. He's confused at first before he reads it: Certificate of Name Change he raises his eyebrows and looks at her. She smiles and nods and then he reads the fine print: This certificate hereby certifies the alteration of one, Katherine Houghton Beckett, to Katherine Houghton Beckett Castle. "You changed your name?" He asks. They had talked about it and agreed that she would go by Castle, but legally keep Beckett. "Yep. I moved Beckett to my middle name so that I'd still get to keep it. But, I wanted to match you and Avery." She says.
He leans across the table and kisses her. "I love you, Mrs. Castle." He'd been calling her that for a year, but knowing that it's actually her name now has a different effect on her. "I love you too." She smiles. "Okay, you open yours." He says. She unwraps the box and pulls out a leatherbound journal, "I wanted you to be able to look back at your pregnancy whenever you wanted, so on our honeymoon I started a journal of updates." He explains. She flips through the book to see various handwritten passages, photos, and little trinkets from throughout her pregnancy.
It brings tears to her eyes. "I love it, Rick. Really, thank you so much." She says before kissing him. They enjoy their dinner before he pays and escorts her out. "What is this?" She asks when she notices the horse drawn carriage in front of them, "I figured I could take my wife on a little adventure." He holds his arm out to her. She blushes as she wraps her hand around it allowing him to lead her to the carriage.
They sit cuddled in the back of the carriage before they end up at Rockefeller Center in front of the tree. "How'd you know?" She asks with a smile. He shrugs, "Called your dad." He answers and it makes her chuckle. They stand in front of it. "I know you used to come here with your mom. I thought maybe we could start visiting it on our anniversary. Maybe when Avery is older we can bring her here too." He says. She sniffles and nods, "It's perfect. Thank you for a wonderful anniversary." She says, "Thank you for marrying me." He throws back and pulls her in for a kiss. One year down, forever to go.
Part 11! So, in case you couldn't tell, both of their gifts go with the theme of paper which is what you're supposed to get your spouse for your first year wedding anniversary. Let me know what you think!