Hey Crumbs-versians! Once again we're doing a little leap forward to keep things moving, as we're moving into some big major things happening, and the wedding itself is probably going to take at LEAST 12 chapters, so we're making sure that there aren't any 'filler' chapters...this one and the next one are very important though, because it's the payoff of all Meredeth's hard work, how could I leave them out? Share the love, pass the word!

'You hungry? You want anything to eat?'

'No, no, I'm good.'

Esposito was inclined to disagree, as she looked exactly like what she was - a big bundle of anxious, excited nerves. It was the magical Monday night she'd been sweating and waiting for - the night of her debut on CBS. Castle, who loved any excuse for a party, had decided to throw a little 'Lady Hawk' soiree, and invited everyone in the wedding party over, with the exception of Lili and Cam, who were out of town in Atlantic City on a pre-baby let's-get-outta-here minibreak and Ike Thornton who was on nights. The writer had done everything - food, liquor, even had little green napkins printed up with the Lady Hawk air-dates on them. Now, they were ten minutes away from the opening credits rolling on screen and Esposito was fairly certain before that time his lovely bride-to-be was either going to pass out or throw up.

Meredeth made her way into the living room, picked out her spot on the comfortable leather couch. Looking around, she felt a small twinge of relief as she saw everyone there because they wanted to support her: Lanie and Dave tucked up neatly on the other couch, splitting a huge bowl of popcorn, Gil sitting beside Dave while Robina sat on the floor in front of him so his elbows rested lightly on her shoulders while Castle had dragged out matching armchairs for himself and Beckett. In the seat beside Meredeth, Honey-Milk was scarfing down a BLT on toast with honey-mustard with a relish she envied. She was starving, she'd barely eaten anything all day and any time she approached the fridge her stomach began to growl as if warning her things would get ugly if she tried it.

'Hey, Mere, you want a bite?' Honey-Milk offered her plate generously; everything on it looked delicious - fresh fruit, cheese and crackers, even a couple of cheesy spinach puffs Castle knew were Meredeth's favourites. Honey-Milk gave Meredeth an arch look when her friend simply shook her head in refusal. 'You're turning down cheesy spinach things? Wow, you are a nervous wreck.'

'I want it to be good. I don't want the fans to be disappointed and I sure as hell don't want the people I love to be disappointed in me.'

'Understandable, but that's not going to happen. Right, Kevin?' she asked her husband as he wandered over and settled in on the other side of Honey-Milk.

'Right Kevin what?'

'That even if the series turns out to not be what's expected, we'll all still love Meredeth just as much as this morning.'

'Oh for sure,' Ryan agreed as he forked up soy-chicken salad. 'But that's not going to happen. This is going to be huge, you'll have Emmys and Oscars and Lulus out the ass.'

'They're called Annies,' Meredeth said with a little smile, her first one of the day. Before she could get up to go to the bathroom, splash a little cold water on her face or double check that she wasn't going to throw up, Esposito came over with two plates of food, set them both on the table before he tugged her to her feet.

'Come with me.'

Too wound up to do otherwise, she followed him to the downstairs bathroom where he shut the door and put his hands on her shoulders. 'Repeat after me. If I wasn't good enough, they wouldn't have put the work in.'

'If I wasn't good enough, they wouldn't have put the work in.'

'I have a fiance who loves me beyond reason.'

'I have a fiance who loves me beyond reason.'

'My friends think I'm the bestest.'

At this one she laughed. 'My friends think I'm the bestest.'

'Exactly.' With a hand on each of her cheeks, Esposito kissed her lightly once, then deepened it. 'If you think you're going to go off the rails in the next two hours, remember those three little phrases.'

There was a knock on the door. 'Hey lovebirds,' Castle's voice called to them. 'Credits from the last show are ending. Get out here.'

'You ready?' Esposito asked her, hanging on to her hands.

'Yeah. Let's do it.'

They found their chosen places in the living room just as the announcement came on for a CBS special event, and Meredeth felt the giant eel in her stomach begin to swim around when the opening credits credits began to roll.

CBS Entertainment Presents...an Elevation Studios Production...Lady Hawk: Midnight is Crashing...with the voice talents of...Tory Ando...Mila Chaka...Max Green...Jonathan Groff...Laura Harper...Chance Kelly...Mercedes Rolland...Michael Spinto...and Milo Ventimiglia...Music by Andy Palmer featuring Down in Ashes...

Then it happened. Her name. Based on the graphic novel series by Meredeth Coleman and Kristof Schillen...Story by Meredeth Coleman...Teleplay by Meredeth Coleman and Bonnie Schaffer & Mark Upperton.

In Castle's loft, the noise was thunderous as they cheered for her, making Meredeth breathe a small sigh of relief; she could feel the writer taking over in her as she said, 'Shh, you're going to miss it!'

The group focused, silent as meditating monks as they watched Kristof's artistry moving on screen, filled with a grittiness some shows could only hope to find.

Excuse me I'm looking for Henry Rudy's office

This concerns me how?

I'm Tabitha Stroud, his new assistant

Again, this concerns me how

Meredeth leaned over to whisper something to Honey-Milk and found the nurse's hand clapped over her mouth. She swallowed back the words; they'd keep until the first commercial break. Sure enough, when the adverts for closed captioning, the room once again filled with noise.

'Meredeth, it's fantastic,' Robina breathed, leaning forward. 'I'm so proud of you, everyone's going to love it. Hell, I love it, I've been with you since you first had the idea for the books with Kristof.'

'Seriously. I hadn't read the books at all until you hooked up with Mister Sunshine, there,' Ryan added. 'I just got finished with the last one last week. This is exactly how I pictured them sounding and looking.'

'See?' Esposito pulled Meredeth down for a kiss. 'Little miss worrywart. But you wouldn't be you if you didn't stress on it. You hungry now?'

'Starving. Are there any of those cheesy spinach things left?'

Beckett smiled. 'We saved a whole tray just for you.'

By the end of the second hour, everyone was on edge for Lady Hawk as she made her way to the crime scene where she'd chosen to make her first major mark; the only sound was people eating, drinking or breathing. Meredeth herself had finally had a decent meal that day- or anything at all - and was comfortably sipping on the green punch everyone was lapping up as they watched Lady Hawk do her first major battle with drug-dealers.

You're good, little birdie; maybe I should hire you to be my own bodyguard.

I guard no bodies except my own.

Sassy, too, I like that

On screen, Lady Hawk was in a combat crouch, and used her blow-dart gun to stick the street thug in a the neck with an arrow tipped in sedatives, and as the gang-banger hit the street unconscious, the end credits began to roll. In the living room of Castle's loft, the cheers were enough to drown out the next bit of dialogue. 'Lady Hawk's definitely got some coconuts, that's for sure,' Dave commented.

Gil nodded. 'Agreed. She's strong without being a femme fatale or a bitch. Reminds me of someone I know, well mostly,' he said with a grin, kissing the top of Robina's head.

Meredeth smiled as the easy affection between her agent and Esposito's friend. They'd come a long way since the previous October when they'd first met and were trading snotty catcalls over the Yankees bullpen. They'd exchanged the 'I loves yous' shortly after Valentine's Day and TJ had even invited Gil to parents' night at his school. Not bad for two people who a year ago were ready to swear off relationships altogether.

'Oh, excuse me, I have to take this,' Robina sighed as her cellphone went off.

'And if you'll excuse me and Beckett, we have a little surprise for you,' Castle added, pointing his finger at Meredeth.

Meredeth breathed deeply, ecstatic by what she saw on screen. She'd seen it in pieces, chunks at a time, but not from start to finish like this all in one sitting. And more importantly to her, her Javi and her friends simply loved it; they were not the kind to pull their punches. They were honest, sometimes brutally so, which was how she knew their enthusiasm wasn't fake.

Esposito stood up from his spot on the floor, twisted his back to stretch it out, then tugged Meredeth to her feet once again, this time into his arms for one very hot mind melting kiss that made Meredeth forget were they were and slide her hands from his hips down to his ass, until she heard the pop of a cork.

'I'm so proud of you, Mere. I love you so much.'

'Love you too baby, and thank you for everything over the last year, putting up with my craziness in getting this done.'

'You're my Meredeth. Where else would I be?'

'Hey, hey, this is CBS, not Cinemax,' Castle joked, as he and Beckett brought in trays of filled champagne flutes, passed them around as he made a toast. 'To Meredeth. May we all see you four months from now as an Emmy-winner.'

R&R&Enjoy.