Hello faithful readers from the Crumbs-verse! We're going back in time a little to start this collection of one shots, as there are important details in the Mere-Sposito relationship to explore between the end of 'Sixth Wheel' and 'Life of the Party', so we're picking up the day after the final scene in 'Sixth Wheel! Go nuts kids!

Meredeth had never been to a party like the Hallowe'en one she was about to attend tonight. The last six years she'd gone to the shin-digs at her literary agent's place, who'd always chosen a different theme every year, something classy and dignified of course like a masquerade or detectives-only costumes. Rick Castle's party, it seemed, would be a nostalgic trip down memory lane as everyone dressed up as their favourite character from a 70s movie, which meant that Esposito's plan to be a pirate had gone out the window.

'He didn't do this last year,' Esposito grumbled as he searched his closet, looking for something to substitute at the last minute. 'Last year, I had my costume rented three weeks in advance and looked might fine it it too.'

'What did you go as?' Mere asked him from the bathroom as she pinned her hair back to fit under her wig.

'Desert Storm soldier.'

'Sexy.'

Esposito merely shook his head and sat on the edge of his bed. 'Are you going to tell me exactly how your whole French maid thing will fit in?'

'Nope, it's a surprise.' But she could hear the edge of a whine in his voice that was impatience straining more than anything. Still in her bathrobe - the one he said she could keep there - she walked into his bed room and saw him staring down his closet's contents like a gunslinger facing the enemy at high noon. She considered him, pursed her lips in concentration. 'Got a black suit, and a white shirt you don't mind getting its last hurrah?'

'Yeah.'

'Excellent.' When he pulled them out of the closet, she grabbed the shirt and disappeared into the bathroom with it for a few minutes, returned with it smeared red on the front. 'There, now you can be Michael Corleone.'

'I look nothing like Al Pacino.'

Meredeth giggled a little at his confusion; he looked so damn cute when he got that little pout on his face. She sauntered over, wrapped her arms around his waist. 'You could always go as the Academy Awards streaker, but I think I'm the only one who'd really appreciate that.'

'Michael Corleone it is, because you're right. You're the only one who gets to see this-' he gestured to himself '-in the skin.'

Meredeth's giggle turned into a full on laugh. Despite his open-mindedness about many things, when it came to intimacies about their relationship he was very traditional, which she'd found out the previous afternoon when she'd gotten a call from her agent about photo shoots for both FHM and Bombshell the next February. Esposito had agreed without hesitation which surprised her, but he'd hemmed and hawed a little before admitting the only reason he was fine with it was because her 'juicy goodies' as he termed them, would be covered up; the way he saw it, the only guy who should be seeing her stripped down was him. She'd have thought the notion of him being such a typical male would make her angry, but his desire to keep certain things for just the two of them made her feel all female and treasured.

She gave him a quick kiss, wiggled her eyebrows. 'Trust me, I have a feeling once you see me in this get-up, you'll live up to that promise.' With that, she returned to the bathroom to finish getting ready.

Forty minutes later, Esposito was sitting on the couch of his apartment, watching the original Friday the 13th on cable and waiting for Meredeth. They still had plenty of time before they'd be late for Castle's but he had to wonder just what the hell could be taking so long. Probably not a good idea to go there, as his sister had occupied the bathroom for hours on end when they were teenagers and to his recollection, she looked almost exactly the same coming out as she had going in.

'Babe? You sitting down?'

'Yeah, why?'

'Good.'

When she walked out, Esposito glanced over and felt all the blood drain from his head into his lap. She was a sexy, almost-zombie French maid, her rosy face now flour-white with ruby-red lips and heavily shadowed eyes and caramel coloured hair replaced by a wig of riotous auburn Diane-Ross like curls. Her long legs were clad in sheer black hose ending in black ankle boots with stiletto heels. The dress itself wasn't the short flippy skirt he'd imagine; instead it was straight black to the thighs that button up in the front, so when she moved the right way, he could see the stockings were the old-fashioned kind held up by garters. The top of the dress resembled a man's dress shirt, edged in white at the elbow-length sleeves, was left unbuttoned so much so he could see the edges of a black-lace bra; because he knew his girlfriend's body well he knew there was no padding, just pure God-given Meredeth filling it out.

'Wow.'

A little of Meredeth peeked through in the rosy flush in the cheeks as she turned a little circle. 'I'm supposed to be Magenta from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. You like it?'

'Wow,' he repeated. He'd only see the film once but he'd remembered well the maid whose costume had gotten skimpier and more S&M like as the movie had progressed. 'You'll win Castle's costume contest hands-down. That doesn't get judged until almost eleven, though. We could be late and blame it on Hallowe'en madness.'

'Excellent idea, but no. It took me almost an hour to do this make-up, and I'm not letting something as vital as sex-sweat ruin it. Besides,' she added with a wink as she grabbed her purse and coat from the closet, 'anticipation is half the fun.'

When they got to Castle's, they were greeted by the man himself, dressed in Athurian chain-mail holding a stuffed bunny with dripping red fangs like Blofield with his Persian cat.

'You may come in,' he grinned, 'but only if you answer these questions three.'

'Meredeth, to get a little drunk at a Hallowe'en party and purple.'

'Aw, why do you have to ruin my fun?' But his grin was still there as he closed the door, and took Meredeth's coat for her. His eyes went a little blank when he saw her costume, making Esposito's fire a little.

'Castle!'

'Sorry, it's just...I've never seen a better Magenta costume.'

'Uh-huh.'

'Are you sure you're okay with me doing those photo shoots?' Meredeth asked, slipping her hand into his as they went in search of drinks.

'Of course. It's just part of the routine. Anytime Castle oggles anyone, we give him shit because he's not exactly subtle about it, so-'

'Meredeth! You look amazing!'

Meredeth turned, saw it was Honey-Milk dressed in a white-nurse's uniform, her hair pulled back in a severe bun at the nape of her neck. Behind her, Ryan was dressed in jeans and a black leather jacket, his hair oiled and combed straight back.

'Nurse Ratched, and Danny Zuko, lovely to see you.'

'She's good at this guessing game,' Ryan said, bro-dapping knuckles with Esposito. 'And, surprise, surprise, you're not late.' He had no qualms about teasing Esposito on that score, not after the Hallowe'en candy his wife had given him in Castle's upstairs bathroom of all places not twenty minutes before. Thankfully his partner took it in good spirits and laughe

'Shut up.'

'I can't stay, I'm on nights at the hospital but I wanted to see this costume you told me about.'

Esposito turned a wary eye to Meredeth. 'She got to know about it?'

'You really think I'd give up a chance to make you lose your mind fantasizing?' Meredeth only shook her head and gave his cheek a little pat. 'I'll go find us some beers.'

As she made her way through the crowd, Ryan elbowed her. 'She's got your number, bro. Hey have you seen Beckett?'

'No, why?'

'Apparently she lost a wager with Castle so he got to pick out her costume, and let's just say it's going to give us a lot to work with on Monday morning.'

'What-'

'Ryan, have you seen Lanie yet?'

Esposito turned and felt the same rush in his veins as he had seeing Meredeth's costume, only this time it made him feel very skeevy, as it was his boss and not his girlfriend he was looking at. Beckett had indeed lost a bet with Castle and was dressed as Chrissy Watkins, the first victim of Bruce in Jaws. She was wearing a blond wig, a flesh-toned unitard with shark fins strategically placed, and green ropes of fabric draped like seaweed over her arms, shoulders and hips. Before he even opened his mouth, Beckett held up an index finger in warning.

'Don't say it.'

'Yes ma'am.' Wisely, he went off to find Meredeth, chuckling to himself. Oh, if he only had a camera for that one he thought, as he went past Alexis and her boyfriend Patrick, who'd dressed up as Frau Blucher and Frederick Frankenstein from the Mel Brooks' film to find Mere-genta, as he was now thinking of her, talking to Lanie. 'Have you two seen Beckett?'

Lanie gave a snort of laughter. 'Oh yeah, and she's not a happy girl. But she doesn't welsh on a bet, and there are worse things to wear for a Hallowe'en party, like being a Playboy bunny.'

'Or Princess Leia,' Meredeth added.

'Hey, any man who doesn't think Leia in the gold bikini is hot needs to seek medical attention.' Esposito instantly regretted opening his mouth, as Meredeth and Lanie laughed a little.

'And on that happy note, I'm going to find my date, which shouldn't be too hard; he's the black Travis Bickle.'

When Lanie was safely out of ear shot, Meredeth enjoyed herself by plucking at Esposito's tie. 'You'd have liked it better if I dressed up like Princess Leia in Return of the Jedi?' As he started to considered, she pulled him in by his tie and whispered seductively, 'Does Princess Leia were black lace garters with matching g-string and push-up bra?'

She laughed when she saw his fingers tighten around the bottle of Budweiser. 'Didn't think so.'

Later, much later, Esposito lay staring at his ceiling with his heart racing and thanking God his girlfriend hadn't dressed up like Leia.

R&R&Enjoy.