It has been referred to as 'M' word, a problem that one mentioned at great risk to any Caskett shipper. Especially BEFORE Caskett got together. The 'Moonlighting Curse.' Going strong on its 7th season, with Caskett together since the season 4 finale, it is no longer an issue (not that it ever really WAS, but not everyone was aware of that fact. )

But what if it was real? And what if it wasn't merely an issue of a writer's strike and delayed production and the writers having a case of severe writer's block (or something)? What if, instead, it was something that, if Caskett couldn't figure out how to destroy it, would rip them apart….forever?

Here's another story that I WAS going to wait until it was finished to post. (Actually, I WAS going to write it for Halloween a few years ago, but anyway….) However, I decided recently that it would be a fun gift to give my friend Eva, whom Natalie Elizabeth and I have gotten to know because of her reviewing some of our stories. And, as I promised with Natalie's story (explanation is in the AN of 'I Was Thinking,' also being posted tonight) I am going to do my best to have this story complete ASAP. Since I have chapter 1 already written, I'll post that this weekend.

Disclaimer: I don't own Castle or Moonlighting. And in case anyone is wondering, I was definitely a shipper of that show when it originally aired. Which is why the ending STILL bugs me. But watch until Maddie and David first get together and read AU fan fics and you'll do fine.


Look at them.

Young.

Beautiful.

While she-looking down at herself, she shuddered-was reduced to THIS.

It wasn't HER fault. SHE wasn't the one who had screwed everything up.

But she'd already dealt with those who had. Or, more accurately, the universe, karma, whatever it was called, had dealt with them. They no longer existed. THEY were no longer a problem.

But these two.

So obviously in love.

Loved by all who knew them, like some kind of sickening fairy tale.

She'd soon change that. Rick Castle and Detective Katherine Beckett would soon fall into the trap as had so many before them.

It had taken her almost ten years to perfect the virus. Her first attempts had been largely ineffective. The various couples she had used as test cases had come to ruin mostly on their own. So she had gone back and refined her work until it finally produced the results she was after.

The detective and her writer would be her third successful case.

The publication of 'Heat Wave' and the dedication was what had first caught her attention. But since there seemed to be no real romantic relationship that she could see, she had decided to leave them alone. Until this last spring. She only caught occasional glimpses, but enough to make her wonder. And to rekindle her anger.

It was one day late in the summer when she knew for certain. She had been grabbing lunch at Remy's when she saw them. They were trying to hide it, but she could tell.

She could ALWAYS tell.

Crime-solving partners who fell in love.

The whole idea made her sick.

In two hours it would officially be Halloween. She had chosen it for sentimental reasons. The holiday had brought her such joy before….well, before.

She didn't like to think about the incident. When she'd lost her job, her greatest gift, the man she loved, her very self.

Enough of that.

Time to unleash the Moonlighting Curse.