This is a brief follow up to the one-shot I posted entitled "Plucky Sidekick". This one was also inspired by art from E (random_ship) which I have used as the cover for this story. Hope you enjoy!

Rick pushed open the door to the loft, grateful to be back home after a day of back to back meetings for his next book. The loft was silent around him, a strange occurrence for dinnertime.

"Kate?" He called softly, smiling as his wife stepped out of the office with a grin on her face.

"Hey, Castle. How were the meetings?"

"Long. How was your day? And where's Evan?" He asked, leaning in to place a kiss on her lips.

"It was good. Our little rascal is asleep on the floor of your office." Kate began leading him to their son, smiling when Castle stopped in his tracks.

"Asleep? This close to dinner?"

"Long days of fighting crime will do that. Come see."

Castle followed dumbly, still confused how their stubborn son was taking a nap instead of demanding dinner.

Kate pulled him to a stop just inside the door of his office and gestured to their son and his sidekick, sleeping against the walls of their makeshift prison, where a brown and pink bear were apparently serving time.

Kate leaned up to whisper in her husband's ear. "Go wake him up, dinner's almost here." She gave his cheek a gentle kiss and made her way out into the kitchen to get plates ready for their dinner.

Rick crept quietly to his son's side and sank to the floor as gracefully as he was capable of.

"Evan, buddy, come on, time to wake up." He murmured as he lifted his son and settled him in his lap. "It's almost dinnertime, little guy."

"Daddy?" Evan whispered as his eyes peeled open. "Daddy you home?"

"Yeah, Ev. Meetings are done today. Mama said you had a busy day. I see you made an arrest. What happened?"

"Blackbeary and Strawbeary was bad guys." Evan said, looking over to the jail. "Me and Ell-nore catched them."

"Good job, Ev. What did they do?"

"Blackbeary stoled Ell-nore's fishes."

Rick nodded. "What did Strawbeary do?"

Evan shrugged. "Dunno. But he looked guilty. Sos we put him in jail too."

"What do you say we spring Strawbeary, but let Blackbeary sweat a little longer, huh?"

"Daddy, they bears. They don't sweat."

Rick laughed, "You're right, Ev. It's a Mama saying."

"Oh. It 'ficial?"

"Yeah, bud. It's official."

Evan nodded as he pushed himself out of his father's arms and made his way to the jail.

"Strawberry, you gots prole. Blackbeary, you need ta think some more."

Evan pulled the pink bear out of jail and put it on the couch.

"Come on, Daddy. I hungry. Ell-nore will guard the crimnal."

"After you, Detective." Rick replied as he followed their son from the room.

Kate smiled at her boys as they came out of the office. "How are the suspects?"

"Strawbeary made parole." Rick informed her as he helped Evan into his booster seat.

"And Blackbeary?" Kate asked as a knock on the door signaled their dinner had arrived.

"I don't think she's being released for a while." Rick replied as their son nodded.

"She's in for life, Mama." Evan echoed.

"Theft is a serious crime." Kate replied as she returned carrying a pizza box. "But maybe we can see about parole after dinner, huh?"

"I ask Ell-nore what she thinks. They were her fishes." Evan replied. "But I think it's a posbilitiy."

I would love to hear your thoughts!