Hi. Sorry it's taken me so long to update this story. Real life just gets in the way sometimes. Anyways here is Chapter 4 of How Grimm.

In the morning Lanie had more results for the, but was not expecting the group that was now in her morgue at 8 in the morning.

"Hey girl, writer boy," she greeted the two she was us to seeing but the door was swinging open before it had even closed all the way, "and?" she asked Beckett.

"Agents Bering and Latimer, Secret Service," she introduced.

"Pete's fine," he said smiling at Lanie.

"Lanie Parish."

"Nice to meet you Lanie," Pete said throwing in his charm. Myka rolled her eyes and elbowed him.

"Your results Dr. Parish, some of us are here to work," she said to Pete. Beckett just stood back letting her friend have her moment.

"Don't touch that Castle," Lanie said back in her professional mode, "right I sent out samples of bone and they were able to determine where the victims had been raised and I was able to figure their height, race, and a rough age. All the info is in here. You should be able to run missing persons and narrow it down."

"Thanks. What about the guy from the river?"

"His info is in there too," she said pointing at the file in Beckett's hands. She came very close to Beckett, "what's with those two?" she nodded her head at Myka, who was trying to stop Pete from touching everything in sight. But at that moment Castle joined them, "Drinks later?" Beckett suggested so she could go run interference before Lanie ended up with nothing to work with at all.

"Why do I feel like a Kindergarten teacher," Myka said under her breath.

"Because their combined age is about 4," Kate said looking up from her file, "and the only difference is that they have access to money."

"Very true."

"There has to be a faster way to identify these people," Castle said putting down a cup of coffee on Beckett's desk.

"Castle we've been over this-"

"What about Claudia? She can do all the identifying," Pete suggested.

"Artie probably has her doing things,"

"Yeah inventory. She hates it,"

"I don't know" Myka said hesitantly.

"Yeah ya do. Come on if she does it we can focus on solving the case."

"Well check with Beckett."

"Yes," Esposito and Ryan said having overheard their conversation. Both dropped the boxes they had carried up.

"Anything to get out of it boys," Beckett said returning from the break room.

They looked at each other, "Yep."

Pete pulled out his Farnesworth. "What's that?" Castle asked.

"It's a Farnesworth. It's like a two way video radio thingy."

"Awesome, I want one." He declared.

"But who would you talk to Castle?" Beckett asked him. He just stuck his tongue out at her like he was five. Pete got a hold of Claudia.

"Hey Pete, you and Myka found the artifact yet?"

"No, but we need you to identify some people for us."

"Sure no problem, just email it over. So how's it going in the Big Apple this time?"

Myka stuck her head in and smiled, "Good so far. Look Claudia we've got to go," both Pete and Myka looked at Beckett who was writing an address down. Forgoing a goodbye Pete closed the Farnesworth, "is it usually this busy for?"

"Only on a bad week."

They stepped through the victim's apartment door and were taken aback by the amount of candy everywhere. It was in bowls on tables, on shelves. A pan on the counter held caramel and candied apples. A large pot sat on the stove, a mixture of spices next to it. But coming around into the kitchen they saw the source of the putrid smell. Lanie had just finished some notes and was starting to remove the body from the oven. Only half of her had really been in the oven.

"Lanie?" Kate asked.

"I know, but cause of death was either gas inhalation or being halfway cooed. I'll be able to tell you more when I get her back."

"Petunia Patterson, 58," Ryan and Esposito came over with her wallet.

"The other rooms are empty," Pete said coming down the hall," though some jewelry did appear to be missing, "this news made Kate sigh heavily 'Great' she thought, 'robbery, just what I need.'

"No signs of forced entry," Pete said.

"So she knew her attacker," Castle said, "fairly well I would say." The group looked at him, "putting someone in an oven is not a normal way to kill someone during a robbery. Whoever did this," he motioned to the body," did not like this woman." Six heads nodded in agreement.

"Doesn't this feel familiar?" Myka asked the group, "like I've read about this before," the boys looked at each other and Kate tapped her pen to her notebook.

"Yeah it does have some familiarity to it," Kate agreed.

"Well while ya'll try to figure out what that is, Ms. Patterson and I are going for a ride," Lanie said standing up to escort the body downstairs.

"The neighbors said they heard some noises come from the apartment but nothing that they didn't normally hear," Ryan told the group back at the precinct.

"Yo, the vic was a registered foster parent," Esposito said form behind the computer, "she was fostering two children at TOD, brother and sister, Hans and Greta."

"Ryan, Esposito go talk to the neighbors again. Lets see if we can locate the two children. Pete, Myka talk to Claudia see if she's any father with the identifications. Cone on Castle," Kate doled out orders.

Pete and Myka walked down the street back to the precinct after eating.

"These cases don't make any sense," Myka said.

"They usually never do anymore," Pete replied back.

"They make more sense than this one. All the killings seem random. None of them connect. And there's nothing artifact-y about this last one. Have you tried Claudia again?"

"Still no answer."

Pete held the door and Myka walked past, "Granted we don't constantly deal with murder," he said, "don't you think these are weird even for an artifact?"

"We don't even know if it is an artifact," Myka said the frustration coming out in her voice.

"Yeah I know," Pete put his hand on her back and felt her relax a little when he did. He led them towards the group.

"Anything new?" he asked.

"Lanie said cause of death was asphyxiation from gas. The neighbors don't know nuch else than they already told. Ms. Patterson also had a good record with the children, all of them. But we still can't find Hansel and Gretel," Esposito told them.

"We talked to their schools and social worker, that got us nowhere," Ryan added.

Myka snapped out of looking at the board, "What did you call them?" she asked Esposito.

"Hans and Greta?" he said more as a question than an answer.

"No you said Hansel and Gretel. That's it! That's why all this seemed familiar, it's like the story." She said quickly and excitedly. All she received from the peanut gallery was blank stares. With an eye roll she picked up a dry erase marker to help make her points, "what color would you call this?" she didn't even wait for an answer, "gingerbread. What about all the candy everywhere? The missing jewelry? It's exactly like the story Hansel and Gretel."

"I'm gonna go call Beckett," Esposito spit out.

"Yeah," Ryan agreed walking away.

"Looks like that won't be necessary," Pete said. Sure enough Kate was coming around the corner. Everyone stopped to look at her.

"What?"

"Its Hansel and Gretel," Myka said.

"Like the fairy tale?" she asked with a confused look.

"Yes, see-" Esposito's phone cut her off.

"Two teens just tried to pawn a large amount of jewelry."

"Ok, you and Ryan go get them and bring them back here. I want to talk to them."

"Got it," after they left Beckett turned back to Pete and Myka.

"Ok see look Esposito said Hansel and Gretel instead of Hans and Greta. That made it click, the walls, the candy, the victim in the oven. It's just like the story," Myka defended.

"Or someone realized how close it was and wanted it to look like that, a coincidence."

"We rarely see coincidences in our work," Myka said stepping up.

"Myka," Pete said coming between the two women recognizing this was not about to end well, "why don't you get some coffee," she looked at Pete before turning on her heel and going into the break room. Castle had come back from his meeting just in time to see the two women being separated. He took the moment to go into the break room unnoticed.

"What happened?" He asked as he started preparing two cups of coffee.

"Nothing. Clash of the alpha's," Myka said stirring her coffee while looking at Pete talking to Beckett. Castle took a moment to ovserve her. Myka took a sip, "stop staring," this made him laugh.

"You know Beckett says that all the time."

"Because it's creepy. Listen do you have any books that might have Hansel and Gretel in it?"

"Most likely. How about everyone comes over for dinner and we can look for it then." He smiled at her.

"Sounds good," she agreed. He smiled even bigger then left. She felt better but still wanted some time apart so she staying in the break room. But Esposito and Ryan showed up with the teens and Beckett and Castle left to talk to them.

"Hi, I'm Detective Kate Beckett and this is Richard Castle. We're going to ask you a few questions is that ok?" They nodded.

"Where did you get that jewelry you were trying to pawn?" shoulder shrugs, "I'm sorry I need you to verbally answer."

"We don't know," Hans answered.

"Were you staying with Petunia Patterson?"

"Not anymore," he answered again.

"Why?"

"We ran away."

"Why?"

"She was a witch," Greta put her hand on her brother's arm.

"When did you run away?"

"Last night, I guess."

Castle raised an eyebrow, "you guess?" Kate asked.

"Yeah well we were going to do it and then this morning we woke up in a hostel."

"You don't remember running away? How about stealing?"

"No."

"Murder?"

"What?"

"Ms. Patterson was found earlier today, dead."

"And you think we did it?"

"Where were you between 11 and 1 last night?"

Greta looked on the verge of tears and Hans was stunned, "we don't remember."

"What do you remember?"

"We decided we were going to run away and then we woke up in the hostel."

"That's not very much."

"Beckett," Ryan stuck his head in the room.

She walked to him, "their case worker is here."

They left her in there to talk with the children. They were talking among themselves when Pete came over, "finally got a hold of Claudia, here's the list of victims she was able to identify." Kate felt as though this day was never going to end. She had Ryan and Esposito talk to missing persons and begin calling families while she and Castle finished with Hans and Greta.

Pete and Myka were helping Ryan and Esposito contact families of those Claudia had identified. Myka ran her hands through her hair and they boys all did face rub/head shake combos. Kate and Castle walked out of interrogation not looking much better than the rest.

"Alright, Esposito call Lanie. You all are coming to Casa de Castle for dinner and poker," they looked at him not making any start, "Up! Up! Let's go!" he clapped. Ryan and Esposito looked at Beckett; she just shrugged and walked to her desk to grab her jacket.

"Man you know it's been a bad week when Beckett willingly leaves and to do something at Castle's," Ryan whispered to Esposito.

"Alexis," Castle hollered walking through the door to his loft.

"In here, Dad," she hollered back.

He walked towards the living room, "We're having some guests over tonight." Kate took Pete and Myka's jackets since Castle walked off to talk to his daughter. She then led them in the same direction Castle had wandered off in. They made it in enough time to see Castle put his arm around his daughter to lead her towards the guests.

"Detective Beckett, hi," she said happily.

"Kate's fine remember," she smiled at the girl.

"Right sorry."

"Honey this is Special Agents Myka Bering and Pete Latimer. Pete, Myka this is Alexis my daughter," he introduced smiling at his daughter.

"Nice to meet you," they shook hands, "are you with the FBI?"

"No Secret Service,"

"Shh," Pete put his finger to his mouth and leaned in to her and whispered rather loudly, "it's a secret." Pete smiled winked at her which made Alexis laugh a little harder as she nodded and winked back in agreement. Myka rolled her eyes but had a smile on her face like everyone else in the room.

"Well I'll just go upstairs," she said picking up her books.

"Are you sure?" Castle asked her.

"Yeah."

"Ordering Pizza."

"Pepperoni," she answered him.

"Richard-" Martha stopped briefly to greet her grand-daughter. The others moved back to the entry, "look who I found waiting outside your door. Oh hello Kate, darling, how are you?"

"Fine Martha and you?"

"Wonderful dear."

"Way uncool bro."

"Yeah," Ryan said and Lanie nodded in agreement.

Alexis greeted both Detectives and was introduced to Lanie. Martha introduced herself to Pete and Myka. Castle quickly ordered the pizzas and set up the poker table while Martha got everyone drinks. Pizza came and cards were dealt and conversation flowed. Tensions of the day were forgotten as people told stories and got to know one another. But by 10 the events of the day caught up the Castle's guests. Ryan was the first to leave, followed by Pete and Myka, then finally Lanie and Esposito. Kate and Castle finished another two rounds each taking one. They both began to clean up the little mess that was left.

"Kate you don't have to do that."

"Really Castle it's not a problem."

"Come on," he took her hand and led her to the couch and sat down next to her, "what's up?"

"Why do you assume something's up?"

He raised his eyebrows at her as if to say 'really?'

"These cases, something's not right with them. And what does the Secret Service really want? They're supposed to protect the President not help the NYPD catch a killer. Did you hear the theory Agent Bering came up with, it's crazier than the ones you usually come up with," at this point she playfully bumped shoulders with him. He smiled back at her letting her continue, "She thinks it's the story Hansel and Gretel this last case."

Castle's eyes got bigger for a second as he realized that he and Myka had forgotten to look for the fairy tale book. "What?" Kate asked him after that reaction.

"Nothing," he said as he reached over and started rubbing her shoulders. She moaned with pleasure and leaned back into him. He kissed her shoulder and after a little minor shifting his back was in the corner of the couch, Kate's back was against him, his arms wrapped around her pulling her close. He put his head on her shoulder "You know you'll figure it out," he whispered to her. She closed her eyes and released a deep breath, "Soon, I hope." He chuckled slightly and pulled her closer if that was even possible and that's how they fell asleep.

Ok so again sorry for taking so long to update. But this is the longest chapter I've ever written I do believe so hopefully it was worth the wait. Please review *puppydogeyes* pretty please with sugar on top.