A short entry. In real time it takes place after the Energy Wars, after Simon Doyle gets back from his 2013 adventure sometime in 2035, 2036. In Castle time it takes place after 6 x05 "Time will Tell". It has some references to previous episodes, and evens some references to my previous stories. The Castle characters are not mine and their use, or the use of any other characters, living or dead and the words and opinions they may speak are my creations just for the story and should not be attributed to them.

Simon Doyle sat back in his rocking chair. The apartment, which had a small office was, busy. It had shelves, book cases, and cabinets full of souvenirs, mementoes, knickknacks, and pictures of times gone by. Each one acquired during one of his time jaunts, reminding him of his adventures whether good or bad, during that trip. As a temporal and cultural anthropologist, it was his job to go back in time and fill in gaps that history did not record. Occasionally, he and a select few of his colleagues would go back in time and fix some wrong or injustice as his bosses saw it. While he did not always agree with what his bosses saw as "wrong," he did not argue. He was having too much fun going back in time.

Doyle's apartment had all the modern conveniences, especially computers and electronic readers, blue ray players and access to every electronic library in the United States. Through these he had access to every major library in the world. He could read, write or do arthemetic on his tablets. Most of this though was for work. He also had real books on his book shelves and book cases, such as some ancient first editions from his trips to the Middle Ages, and a Torah Scroll from a synagogue in Russia, that he saved from the Nazis. He was not supposed to take some of these things, but nobody said anything because he risked his life on many of these jaunts and taking these books caused nothing but a small ripple in time. He also lent them out on many occasions for study, research or even props for movies and TV.

Simon enjoyed all of these. Still his most prized possessions were two items he got from his favorite serious author, Richard Castle. He was in a real brick and mortar book store (AB&N or Amazon, Barnes & Noble), one of the extremely rare ones left in Denver, his hometown. He liked the smell of the books. The pages flipping through his hand. Even the occasional paper cut was a badge of honor. It set him apart from the masses whose major injury was stiff fingers and carpel tunnel wrists from using the computer and mouse too much. He was looking for a book on Paul Deschile, the physicist that saved the world from ultra-nationalist and corporate big wigs who wanted to monopolize the world's energy for the select few.

While on line, Doyle saw a sign at the checkout counter announcing that Richard Castle would be there within three hours to talk about and sign his latest book, Every Day Magic of Life. Doyle was unsure about waiting there to see Castle until he moved up in line. The bottom of the announcement revealed that Castle's wife, Captain Katherine Beckett of the NPD would also be there. Captain? Something was wrong and Doyle needed to find out. He paid for the book on Daschle and went home to get his other Castle book, Nothing Can Change You.

Simon Doyle had time before Castle's appearance so he looked at the cover on his first Castle book. It distinctly read, Richard Castle lives in New York with his wife, Senator Beckett, and their three children. The book was written only three years ago, so Beckett should still be a Senator. Doyle was not much into politics, he rarely voted, so that if something had happened to Beckett, he would not know of it. Maybe he would have a minute or two to talk to Castle and Beckett about that.

He leafed through the Deschile book. It had some pictures, one of Daschle as a high school senior, braces and all. Another one was a picture of a coffee-stained letter, written to a Professor Wickfield more than 23 years ago. The caption just mentioned that set certain things in motion in Daschle's life. Doyle was curious so he went to the back of the book. Near the end was an acknowledgment that picture came from the collection of Kate Castle.

With Doyle's curiosity at its highest level, he made his way back to AB&N, with his two books. He made sure to have a receipt for each, just in case anyone questioned his ownership of them. Then he bought Castle's newest book and got on line to have it autographed.

About half way through the line, at a point where Doyle could just about make out Castle, he suddenly heard in firm voice just above a whisper, "Drop your books, Hands in the air." The people on either side of Doyle in the line turned around. They looked at the woman and thought she was nuts, pretty but nuts. Doyle had dropped the books but when he straightens from picking the books up, he recognized Beckett immediately.

"Was that really necessary? I did save your life years ago."

Beckett smiled at him. "Mr. Doyle, would you come with me please."

"Uh, what for Detective?, Captain? Senator?"

"Kate will be fine. I thought I recognized you. I know, Castle will be happy to see you. He and I want to catch up, so come with me. The book signing still has a way to go, but you and I can go in the back. They have a coffee and cake set up where we can sit and relax. Bring the books too. I am sure Castle would like to write special autographs for you."

"Well, ok."

Doyle went to a back room with Kate. It was retro, a 1999 look with plush chairs, wooden tables, big carpet and an old style coffee, an espresso machine. "This machine reminds me of the one Castle bought for the 12th way back when. It is also just as temperamental. What would you like, Mr. Doyle?"

"I see they have Flavor Country, coffee black, thank you. And please call me Simon."

"There you go Simon." Kate said as she handed him the coffee mug with the AB&N logo on it.

"When last we met Kate, you were extremely skeptical of my story. Have any of these last years changed your mind? I see by the jacket of Castle's new book, you still have three children."

"Well, we do have three, although I only gave birth to two, Jackson Beckett-Castle, my eldest son and my daughter, Joanne Beckett-Castle Cox. I adopted my other daughter."

"Only you adopted her?" Doyle asked.

"Well, you see I was married to her father. My other daughter is Alexis Harper Castle-White." Kate replied.

"Uh?"

"The short story is that I adopted her after her biological mother died. It was a little sad really, Alexis' mother Meredith, Castle's first wife, was affectionately known as the 'Deep Fried Twinkle'. She loved Alexis and Alexis loved her. However she was much more like a crazy aunt, swooping in at times for fun and games then leaving again for long stretches of time. Meredith died soon after Alexis' son was born. It was a car accident"

"Interesting, please go on."

"Alexis and I had our rough spots even before I became engaged to Castle," Kate said. "I always respected her. She was as smart as her father, but more mature then him. As time went on I grew to love her. It became a 'big sister, little sister relationship,' which was fine."

"So what happened?"

"Well, when my son was born, Alexis, of her own accord, always referred to me as 'Mom' in front of him. When I asked her about that, she said she did not want to confuse him as to whom I was. When Alexis' son was born, she referred to me as Grandma Kate. Meredith was rarely around and I acted like her boy's Grandmother. Finally, when Meredith died, Alexis came to me and asked if it could be official. She said that I was more of a mother to her then Meredith ever was and she wanted all her children to know that."

"What did Castle think about that?"

"Well, you can ask him about it more, but he had no objections. So, just before Castle's first serious book came out, I adopted Alexis and she became 'our' third child."

"Wow, That explains that. But are you, or were you ever a Senator. My book jacket says so."

"Let me see that book." Beckett took the book and skimmed through it. She grinned, "I will let Castle explain that."

"Oh, ok. What about this letter in the Deschile book? It says it comes from the collection of Kate Castle."

"Well, the night the case ended, I was going home for a nice soak and to reread one of my fiance's Nikki Heat books. By the way, I think they are great literature" Beckett said as she bit her lip. "Castle had to go home and talk with Alexis. As I was lifting my carry case, I knocked over a cup of coffee on my desk. It spilled all over the Daschle letter. As it dried, something struck me as familiar. When I looked up at the letter on the board, the coffee mark I just made was the exact same as that on the photo. Candidly, it did send a chill through me for a second. Then I went home."

"All well and good Detective, but that does not explain the picture from you collection."

"After I gave birth to my children and then adopted Alexis, I had a dream. More like a nightmare where millions of people died. When I woke up, it was the anniversary of this case. As my husband says, the Universe has a way of giving you signs to prove a point, pointing out paths to take way when you're not sure. I told him about the incident with the coffee and he told me it was a sign that Simon Doyle was telling the truth."

"Smart man," Doyle said. "But you did not then and still do not today strike me as a woman who believes in such things."

"I believe in everyday magic, things that I can see, feel and touch. Flowers popping up through the frost, the sounds of Coltrain. If I had not met Castle, I would still look for explanations in everything and probably miss out on the unexplainable beauty of the universe. My whole life with Castle was unexpected, extraordinary and wonderful. Still is."

Doyle looked puzzled, "That still does not explain your picture of the letter."

Beckett shook her head. "Sorry, I edit Castle's books sometimes and I guess his novelists ways rub off on me from time to time. The coincidence of my spilling the coffee on the letter was too much, even for my skeptical mind. The dream I had clinched it. That day I went to the old evidence hall, found the file and took a picture of it, only the front. Then I burned the letter."

"Destroying evidence, isn't that a crime?"

"It is," Beckett answered, "but I have been known to go outside the box every now and again. I put a copy of the picture in the evidence box, so not all was lost. Also, the box was set to go to a secure storage site where it would be impossible for anyone to get at it unless they had a court order or where an NYPD police officer could get it for current use. Even then the requesting officer would have to requisition it, so there would be a trail."

"Detective, I must be hitting that wall that I thought your husband knocked down. Why risk your career on doing such a thing?" Doyle asked.

"I respect the universe. I did not want to take any chances that Ward or any of his cohorts could get a Deschile again and if they did, why make it easy."

Doyle smiled. "A clever woman."

I thought this might be a one-shot, but I am running at the mouth again. Defiantly will be completed in next chapters. I have most of it mapped out and written, but still a kink or two to work out.

Please forgive me any spelling or grammar mistakes. I have done my best with spell check and grammar check, but the programs are fallible. Your comments, good, bad or indifferent are always welcome. They give live to the story and make me a better writer for you.