They didn't make to Castle's condo until nearly quarter to ten - owing to a repeat of the kitchen performance in Mere's lake of a bed - and even then only because they'd hopped in a cab and booked it across town in paranormally rapid time.

Outside Castle's door, Meredeth fidgeted with her keys. She'd done three national television interviews the week before and she was more nerve-wracked at the idea of Esposito's friends turning their nose up at her. Her muscles clenched as he knocked on the door.

'Don't be anxious, they'll like you.'

'But what if-'

Esposito clapped his hand against her mouth; he'd heard every possible variant of 'what if' in the taxi on the drive over. 'Trust me.'

'Okay.' She kissed him once, smiled when he pulled her back in for one more. She was so lost in the kiss she didn't hear the door open, or Castle's smothered laugh.

'No wonder you two are late. You want to come in, or should I close the door and come back in fifteen minutes or so?'

Esposito coloured a little, but manage to put together words. 'If it's not too much trouble.'

Castle grinned broadly, stepped back from the door in invitation. He'd met Meredeth Coleman on a couple of occasions, all professionally-related. She was just as beautiful as he remembered, and the kiss she'd just finished sharing with his friend had put healthy colour in her already florid cheeks. He shook her hand, bussed her cheek warmly before turning to Esposito with a toothy, knowing grin.

'Nice of you to join us, Romeo.'

'Like you've never been late for poker because you were tangled up with Beckett.'

They gave Castle their coats, wandered into the open space where the card table had been set up. Meredeth walked over, saw a blonde man and pretty red-headed teenager in the middle of a heated game of Twenty-One.

'I hope you still have enough to buy in for Texas Hold'Em, Ryan,' the girl said, collecting a stack of chips as the man reached for his wallet.

'Babe, please don't lose it all to Alexis,' a blonde woman called from the kitchen as she arranged bottles of beer in a bowl of ice.

The man glanced up and did a double take, his sharp blue eyes dancing with joy. 'You must be Meredeth. I'm Kevin Ryan.'

'Meredeth Coleman. Nice to meet you.'

Alexis stopped counting her winnings, gulped like a fish on a boat deck. 'Oh my god!' she squeaked, grabbed Meredeth's hand and pumped it like an air jack. 'Alexis Castle. Big fan. Read and own every Lady Hawk graphic novel. I just loved Little Sister.'

'It was my favourite one to write so far. How much did you take Ryan for?'

'Only sixty bucks. I'm saving up to buy my own Blu-Ray for my room.'

Meredeth nodded as she took a seat. She knew that Richard Castle had sole custody of his daughter by his first marriage, but she'd been prepared for a Paris-Hilton-in-training, not the sweet, bubbly fangirl who saved her pennies instead using the ATM of Daddy.

'Alright Alexis, fabulous as you are at swindling the NYPD, it's time for the grown-ups to play.' Castle kissed the top of his daughter's head. 'Why don't you go and give Honey-Milk a hand in the kitchen?'

Meredeth opened her mouth to ask who was Honey-Milk when two women - one tall and Slavic, the other petite and Dominican -came down stairs. Both made her instantly feel lumpy and ungraceful as they moved lithely, comfortably through the apartment. The tall one stopped to accept a warm kiss from Castle; Meredeth recognized her from Cosmo. Kate Beckett was reputed to be as great a detective as Sherlock Holmes and looked like a Victoria's Secret model. No wonder Castle was so taken with her.

'Took you long enough,' she said, taking her seat at the poker table beside Meredeth. 'Hi. Kate Beckett. Nice to finally meet you.'

'Lanie Parish,' the petite woman added from across the table where she gave Ryan a warm hug. 'We know almost nothing about you, so you'll have to fill us in as we play.'

Esposito sat down, passed one beer to Meredeth and kept one for himself. 'Personal questions are not part of the ante, not after what you guys pulled on Thursday.'

'What happened Thursday?' Meredeth looked in anticipation from her now red-cheeked boyfriend to Lanie, whose eyes twinkled with glee.

'Well, Esposito here casually mentioned that you were going to be on Craig Ferguson,' Lanie started, explaining the evening to Meredeth, who hooted with laughter.

'That's priceless! Good thing I didn't text him while you guys were there, that might have made his head blow up.'

'Yeah, yeah,' Esposito grumbled good-naturedly, gave Meredeth's hair a little tug. 'We playing cards or what?'

When Castle joined the table, they dealt the cards and anted up. The first rounds went to Ryan, then Beckett won a hand, but the fourth round ended with a showdown between Castle and Meredeth, who squared off with the intensity of old west gunslingers.

'I see your ten, and raise you ten.'

'I see your ten and raise you another ten.'

'I see your ten and raise you five personal questions.'

'Hey now,' Esposito warned. 'You watch what you mean by personal.'

Castle's only response was a smirk before looking back at Meredeth, who was as unreadable as the Rosetta Stone. 'What do you say, Lady Hawk?'

'I call. Show me what you got.'

Castle threw his pair of fours on the table to make three of a kind, watched Meredeth's face fall in disappointment. 'Hey I'm sorry, newbie, but that's the way the game's played. When it comes to gambling, no more Mr. Nice Castle.'

Meredeth sighed dramatically. 'No, it's just I feel bad for you, getting hustled in your own home. Clubs flush,' she said, brightening into a smile as she laid her cards on the table and collected her chips from the middle of the table, leaving Castle to gape and the rest of the table to snicker.

'She got you good, Castle,' Ryan said, clapping him on the back.

'Beginner's luck,' Castle retorted and slammed the deck in front of Beckett. 'Your deal honey. You're going down,' he added, pointing a warning finger at Meredeth, who continued to smile serenely.

'I do believe saying I beat Richard Castle at poker would give me full-on cool points for life.'

Esposito laughed, shook his head as he rested his hand on the back of Meredeth's chair. 'Still nervous about meeting my friends?

'Like hell. Poker is war, and Castle is going down.'

'Bring it!'


R&R&Enjoy.