The snow was just beginning to fall as Meredeth arrived home, her newly styled hair protected under a loosely wrapped scarf. It was the big night, the night before her fifth Lady Hawk book would go on sale and the launch party would get underway in five hours time.

'Hello? Anyone here?'

She closed the front door behind her, heard the jungle of Arturo's tags as he trotted out from the kitchen, a green plastic ball in his mouth which he spat triumphantly at Meredeth's feet. As she had her garment bag in one hand and her purse in the other, she gave it a boot back towards the kitchen.

'What's this? I know I didn't buy you this. Has Momo been spoiling my boy? Huh?'

'That you, pige?' Constance's voice called from the kitchen; she appeared at the door of the kitchen wearing her apron. 'Took you long enough at the salon. We wondered if you were going to make it home in time for dinner.'

'We?'

'Yes, your man came here after he was done at the police station, and offered to give me a hand making gule aerter before the big launch party tonight.'

'That's a risky proposition. He isn't exactly known for his culinary prowess.' Meredeth draped her garment bag over the banister of the stairs, followed Arturo into the kitchen and felt her heart squish like an overripe peach. Esposito had tied an apron around his waist and was dutifully stirring a pot with a long-handled wooden spoon. Tossing her purse and coat on the kitchen table, she shook her head. 'You're cooking? Shouldn't I be wearing haz-mat gear for that?'

'And how was your day, dear?' he asked her with a cheeky grin as she wrapped her arms around his waist, turning around to kiss her temple. 'Hair looks good.'

'Thanks. We'll have to eat quickly, because we've only got about two and a half hours before the limo picks us up.'

'I'm sorry I can't join you but an invitation to the Danish embassy isn't something I can turn down, my dears.' Constance came over to sniff the pot of soup Esposito was stirring. 'Smells great. Turn down the heat, I'll find dishes.'

'I'm so excited for tonight.' Meredeth kissed his cheek, and because Constance had her face in the cupboard, gave Esposito a quick tap on the ass. 'Cannot wait to see you in a suit.'

'You've seen me in a suit before, I wear them all the time to work.'

'But that's business, this is for fun.' Meredeth gave him one last nip on the cheek, eyes widening as she saw the bowls Constance had picked out to serve dinner in. 'Oh, Momo, no. I can't eat a bowl that size, I've finally lost the five pounds to fit into my dress. Even half of that will have me splitting my zipper.'

'Nonsense. You'll be fine.' Constance elbowed the happy couple out of her way to ladle fragrant soup into bowls. 'My gule aerter never split anyone's dress, and you could do with a solid meal before we hit the town tonight.'

'Momo-'

'Meredeth Dakkars,' was all Constance said, and Esposito lifted his eyebrows as Meredeth took the bowl over to the table to sit and begin eating without another word. 'You too, handsome.'

'Yes ma'am.'

He could get used to this, Esposito thought, as the glossy black limo snaked its way through the streets to the Seventh Star Hotel where the launch party was being held. The limo had arrived in front of the townhouse like a sleek black boat. There had been champagne chilled along with fresh fruit and cheese trays in the mini-bar, and his lady was snugly wrapped in her thick blue suede, faux-fur lined winter-coat; with the tear-drop chandelier earrings winking by her jaw she looked like something from Doctor Zhivago or Anna Karenena.

'So when we get there, be prepared for your retinas to sizzle. There will be a lot of light-bulbs on the way in.'

'You mean the red carpet?'

'Well, technically it will be dark green but yes, that is what I mean. Also, only answer questions you feel comfortable answering. Reporters can be real nosy especially considering the fact they bay for details and never get them.'

The limo rolled to a stop and outside, she could see the throng of people. A quick text to her agent to let her know they'd arrived, and Meredeth turned her brilliant smile to him, gave him a long slow kiss. 'Ready for this?'

'Hell yeah.'

The door was opened for them and they stepped out to a sea of flashing bulbs and shouted questions. Looping her arm through his, Meredeth walked up the carpet, stopped to sign a few autographs and pose for a few pictures, even stop to talk to a few reporters along the way while he hung back or stayed by her side was was necessary. She felt her stomach bubble a little when she saw Adamo Gianni from E! News catch her eye and knew she wouldn't be able to escape it. 'Come on,' she murmured to Esposito.

They walked up to the slim, short Italian who reeked of California hair products and phony personality. When Meredeth had been in grade nine, he'd been Adam Johns in the senior class with every last scrap of clothing he owned imported by his grandparents' tailoring shop. 'Hello, Adamo.'

'Hello, lovely Meredeth. How are you this evening?'

'Very good thanks.'

'You look lovely, as always,' he complimented her, gesturing to her long warm coat. 'How thrilling must it be to be here tonight?'

'I am so excited that everyone has taken a liking to this story that I am writing, it's beyond my wildest dreams how popular it's become.'

'And can you tell us about those rumours circling that CBS has optioned the first of the series for a prime-time special?'

'Tonight I'm just here to celebrate book four with my boyfriend and friends.'

'Thank you, ciao bella.'

Meredeth managed to keep her eyes from rolling in her head, but just barely. His high-pitched voice hadn't become any less irritating with an affected European accent, but she knew snubbing him would have resulted in a complaining phone call from him to her agent the next morning, if not some time that evening.

Beside her, Esposito leaned in to look like he was giving her a kiss and whispered in her ear. 'What a twit.'

'No kidding. This last one should be a lot easier. Mitch Whalen from Entertainment Weekly, I know him. He's a real journalist, and doesn't have more mousse in his head than brains.'

Esposito watched her smile change to one of friendly familiarity as she spoke to Mitch, a wiry-looking English chap whose rumbling voice made him wonder if the reporter gargled rocks three times a day. This time Meredeth had actually stopped and paused to talk, and was slightly embarrassed when she tugged his hand forward so Mitch could directly pose a question at him.

'Your precinct has already gotten some press with the Richard Castle-Kate Beckett connection. Any chance we'll see a character based on you in the sixth Lady Hawk book?'

Esposito cleared his throat. 'Well, it's not due out until the end of August, so I suppose saying yes or no right now would be a really big spoiler, wouldn't it?'

'Big time, but her fans are forever trying to scoop details. Thanks again for your time Meredeth, I'll talk to you soon.'

'My pleasure. Mitch and I started together at Critical Condition at the same time, but he had already been blogging for two years before. He was barely there one television season before EW snapped him up,' Meredeth explained as they made their way inside.

Once their coats had been checked, they made their way into the mid-sized ball room which had been decorated to resemble Gelberg City, the setting of the series. Scattered amongst the people already drinking and chatting were tables displaying the brightly designed novel. Before they could make their way to the bar to place a drink order, a woman with pin-straight blonde hair and keen grey eyes marched over to them, a half-drunk rusty nail in her hand.

'Merry-Cherry, you made it! Thank God, I don't think I could stand to listen to Henry Meyers talk about colour symbolism any longer.' She wrapped one arm around Meredeth's shoulders in a tight squeeze, turned to Esposito and held out her free hand. 'Robina Kelly-Cortoni, Meredeth's agent.'

Javier Esposito, Meredeth's boyfriend. Merry Cherry?' he commented, sliding his eyes to Meredeth, who blushed a little at the nickname. She would have said something but was steamrolled by Robina.

'Yes, I know, she hasn't stopped bubbling about you since Columbus Day. Did you see Adamo on your way in?'

'He got his requisite two lines, don't worry,' Meredeth reassured her. 'Is TJ here with you?'

'No he's with his father this weekend.' Robina's lip curled at the words, before explaining to Esposito, 'I'm recently separated. My son's father seemed to think I'd have no problem with him playing pop-goes-the-weasel with a paramedic in the back of his ambulance after shift.'

'That sucks, I'm sorry to hear that. Want a refill?' he asked, point to her now-empty drink glass.

'Oh, that'd be great, thanks. We'll meet you over by the Gelberg PD backdrop.'

'Got it.'

He disappeared into the crowd to the bar, and wasn't at all surprised to find Castle there too, a scotch neat in his hand and Ryan and Honey-Milk beside him, chatting to Constance. He ordered Robina's rusty nail and two beers for himself and Meredeth before turning to his friends. 'So Castle, is it weird to be at one of these things and not be the center of attention?'

'Kind of a relief actually, less stressful and more drinking time, with the added bonus of my favourite people in the world being here too, minus Martha and my child, and my girlfriend.'

'Where is everyone?'

'Beckett's at work, finishing up a case she caught at the end of shift, Alexis had Sloan's first show to attend and Mother has her first preview of Insatiable tonight.'

'But we made it,' Honey-Milk said, sipping fizzy water and eyeing up the waiters like a shark hunting in open water. 'Where's the lady of the night?'

'Her agent dragged her off somewhere, I am on drinks detail,' he said, picking up his order and disappearing into the crowd, aiming for the backdrop Robina had told him to meet them at. Sure enough, he found Meredeth and Robina chatting with a dark-haired woman, and a ginger-headed man who looked vaguely familiar. 'Ladies, here's to your health.'

'This must be Javier we've heard so much about on your Twitter. I'm Maureen, and this is my husband Simon,' she said in a thick Scottish brogue.

'Lovely to meet you.' Esposito caught Meredeth taking an extra deep swallow of her beer, like she was trying to hold it down. 'You're fans of the book I take it?'

'Oh yeah, mate, take the whole thing with me when I'm on the road for work. Had to replace my copy of volume two after I forgot it in a Minneapolis airport,' Simon replied eagerly, his grin quick and friendly. 'You must be very proud of your girl.'

'I am. Never fails to amaze me just what she's got cooking in that brain of hers.'

'Well, don't let us keep you, dearie, there's going to be lots of people to talk to tonight. Cheery-bye.' Maureen nudged her husband along, and Meredeth counted to ten in her head before she cracked up laughing.

'You have no clue who that was, do you?' she chortled.

'Should I?'

'And you call yourself a detective.' Robina lowered her voice to a conspirator's murmur. 'That was Simon Pegg, you goon.'

Esposito could feel all the blood leave his face. He owned all of Simon Pegg's films, had even begged his cousin to let him take her kids to the matinee of Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs so he wouldn't feel like an idiot going to see it in the theatres. 'What? No.'

'Oh yeah. They're both huge fans of the series and are being considered for minor roles in the cast.'

'Are you fucking serious? That was Simon Pegg. Simon. Pegg. As in Shaun of the Dead, Nicholas Angel, Beam-me-up Scotty Simon Pegg?'

'I'm afraid so.' Meredeth sipped her beer, eyes glittering with delight. 'Want me to haul him back so you can do a take-two on being a gushing fanboy?'

'No, no, just don't let me make an ass of myself the next celebrity we meet, okay?'

Meredeth just took another drink. This was going to be a fun night.

R&R&Enjoy!