Hi! Well, thanks for joining me on my first foray into the Castle world. This story is mostly outlined and a chunk of it is written. I'll be updating every Monday, or such is the intent. I will admit to not having seen season two after Boom or any of season three, but the last four episodes. I'm working to get caught up, but considering I began this little project over the summer, the setting is in the not too distant future after Boom. Please, please, please leave some honest feedback - good and bad. I have the ideas for a 5 story arc floating around if this is well recieved. Plus, I'm looking for a long term beta, hopefully to stick with me through the whole thing. Here are the first two chapters!

-BC 12.6.10

Disclaimer: Property of ABC and Andrew Marlowe.

Now...Enjoy.

"Dr. Parish!" a rookie cop called as she exited the Medical Examiner's van. "This way," he told her, jerking a thumb over his shoulder to point down the alley.

"Thanks," she muttered as she ducked under the crime scene tape and strode past him. "Do I look like I can't find my way around a crime scene, Max?" she questioned as she joined his older partner farther down the alley.

"Oh, cut him some slack, Doc," he groused. "The kid's excited - it's his first murder on the beat and it's definitely Beckett flavored."

"Already tossed his cookies, huh?" she laughed as they rounded the corner to the back of the building.

"Barely made it to a nearby trashcan. Of course, crime scene is going to hate him when they search for evidence there. Plus, the others are already givin' him hell - Beckett's disapproval paired with Esposito and Ryan's teasing will just be the icing on the cake. Even the couple that found the body did better than him."

She laughed, "Poor kid; but, just realize how much worse it will be when Castle adds a scene to his next book based on it - immortalized forever, in writing, that he has a weak stomach." Turning serious as they reached the scene, she ordered, "Now, tell me about this body."

"Mother? What are you doing here?" Richard Castle questioned as he straightened from his slumped position on the couch. "It's almost one."

"Hello, darling," she greeted, coming to press a kiss to his cheek. "I just wanted to grab another box on my way home - I'm headed there from rehearsal," she explained.

"I see. How is the role of the crazy, but lovable, old woman progressing?" he inquired as she joined him on the couch.

"You forgot leading lady in that description, mister," she chastised, lightly hitting him in the back of the head with her clutch.

"Ouch," he complained, rubbing his head and chuckling slightly. "Well, adoring fans everywhere want to know when premier tickets will become available."

"Already done." Reaching in her clutch, she produced a handful of tickets. Fanning them out, she showed him all ten. "Just enough for my favorite granddaughter, my son and his muse, her boys, their captain, that lovely M.E., and Detective Ryan's girlfriend. Oh, and my Chet."

"Haven't put any thought into who to invite, huh?" he smirked. "But, that's nine people and ten tickets."

"Don't be silly, darling; Roy is bringing his wife."

"I see. Are we still on a 'the bigger the group, the louder the cheers' philosophy?"

"I don't know what you mean," Martha denied. "Aren't you going to answer that," she said, indicating his ringing cell.

"Castle," he answered, looking at the caller ID and heading for his office. "Why, detective, did you just miss me that much?" The closing door cut off the rest of the conversation. Martha just smiled and headed to find that box.