One of the unique things about hanging around Castle was that occasionally, a fan will recognize him on the street and ask for an autograph. Beckett understood, and allowed the interruptions so he could interact with his rabid fans. They ran into one walking back to his apartment. A dark haired woman had noticed him from across the street, and came running up to him, twin 8 year old kids in tow.

She was really loud, but generally excited to be meeting Castle. Her husband seemed nice enough, and gave a look that seemed to try and apologize for his wife's behavior. They've got a strange last name, thought Beckett. What was it? Bang? Yang? No… Bing. Well there's a sound I'm not going to get out of my head. Apparently, the family was in the city visiting her brother and his wife, and their three kids.

Those people seem really happy, Beckett thought to herself. She hadn't really thought of marriage or children much before today, but now seeds of ideas had been planted that she wouldn't mind nurturing more.

Once the woman and her family had left, Beckett asked her a question she'd wondered about for a while. "I know you like your fans, but do they ever get to be a burden?"

"No." He answered. "If I didn't want to be recognized in public, I wouldn't have put my picture on the back of the book."

"Well, you do like attention."

"No question. But beyond that, I feel that as a member of the literary community, it's my responsibility to keep and nurture any fans of the genre. Because for every fan that comes up to me, that means there are 20 who are rushing up to those… what are their names again?"

"Kardashians." Beckett responded.

"YES!" Castle said in comic anger. "If I don't succeed in my mission of pushing my genre, people like that will dominate the collective conscience of America… and soon… THE WORLD!" Castle raised his fist to the sky, imagining himself as some type of Green Lantern-esque superhero out to protect the average citizens.

Castle's castle came into view as the turned another corner. Beckett was glad to be near his place. Her legs were getting tired.

He had carried her small suitcase the entire time. His arm was getting tired, but if this was his penance for having Beckett at his place for a few days, it was well worth it.

Cole Maddox was trained not to be noticed. And he was good at his job.

Following his evening searching for the missing file at the cop's house, he went to Beckett's apartment. She wasn't there, so he found a spot across the street. He had waited. And waited. And waited some more.

Around 10 am, he got lucky. Beckett showed up. She looked much different than the last time he saw her. That time, she was hanging off a ledge of the hotel he was staying at. He didn't have the time to finish the job, just escaping before a team of SWAT officers stormed the roof.

Now she was right in front of his eyes.

But there was a problem. He was with her. Maddox hadn't planned on making a move until dark, so he was content to wait. But her companion complicated things.

He waited for them to come out. He carried a suitcase. Damn. They must be staying at his place. They rode a cab to Central Park, where they took a walk. Maddox could keep his distance there, but the trees presented a challenge.

Outdoor surveillance was something Maddox didn't get to do very often. There was very little he took enjoyment in, but standing in the sunshine was one of them. He rarely got to enjoy it.

From the park, they walked along the streets. Maddox followed them a half a block back, on the opposite side of the street. Although he could have followed closer. Chewbacca could have passed them going the other way and they wouldn't have noticed. These two were more interested in each other than surveying the world around them.

Eventually, they made it to a high-end apartment building. Must be his place, Maddox thought. In a place that expensive, there will be surveillance and top end security. With time, he could make it in, but he figured he could just wait.

They'd have to come out eventually. Ideally, he'd get her alone. But if he had to do it with her companion there, Maddox would have to take the chance.