The situation did not improve over the next few days. Liam was quiet and distant with an overall miserable mood. He had been ignoring all of Grace's call and texts because in his mind, it was the best option.

He could see how much his mom was worried about him, but in reality, she had little say in the matter. Liam's incredible stubbornness didn't exactly help.

Since Killian had been pulling long hours due to a pushed up deadline, he was a bit oblivious to his son's dilemma.

Liam knew all that would change with the fishing trip the two of them were taking today.

He took a deep breath and attempted to clear his mind before he walked into the kitchen to join his dad.

He leaned on the counter and watched Killian make eggs and bacon.

Killian then glanced over and spoke, "Morning, lad." He then turned his focus back to the skillet and observed, "I didn't even hear you come in."

"I guess I'm just still half-asleep," Liam replied as he resisted scratching behind his ear.

"I would suggest coffee, but you don't fancy it," Killian maintained before he suggested, "Perhaps some orange juice?"

The teenage boy nodded before he walked over to the refrigerator and grabbed the jug. He then opened the cabinet and reached for a glass.

He thought about getting one for Killian when he remembered his dad's daily hot tea fix.

When he had fixed his juice, he went to go sit down. As soon as he had, Killian placed a plate in front of his son.

"Eat up, lad. The sea awaits," Killian spoke with a smile. Liam managed a small smile in response. Both of them then began eating.

Killian couldn't help but notice that his son was picking around his food and that he didn't seem to have an appetite.

"Are you alright, Liam?" he then asked with concern.

"I'm fine, Dad," the teenage boy instantly answered.

Killian then sighed before he said, "I know better than that, lad."

Liam crossed his arms before he fumed, "I'm sure you do - Mom went to Boston with no bloody intention of coming back!"

A moment later, he ran his hands through his hair and apologized, "I'm sorry, Dad. I'm just dealing with... stuff."

Killian simply nodded before the realization occurred. He then perceived, "Ah, this is about Grace. Do you want to talk about it?"

Liam sighed before he answered, "I'd really rather not," as he scratched behind his ear.

Killian knew it was best to leave it alone for now - pushing his son wouldn't do either of them any good. So, he simply nodded at Liam in response.

They finished eating in silence. Just as Killian was placing the dishes in the sink, his phone rang. He took it from his pocket and greeted, "How is my lovely wife?"

Instead of answering, Emma questioned, "Have you and Liam left yet?"

"As soon as I finish cleaning the kitchen, love," Killian told her, as he placed the phone between his ear and his shoulder.

He then heard Emma sigh before she requested, "Can you just make sure he has a good time?"

"I'll try, love, but he's a stubborn, 17-year-old lad," Killian pointed out.

"I'm serious, Killian. I'm worried about him," Emma scolded.

He took a deep breath before he admitted, "If the way he snapped at me is any indication, I'm worried too, love." He then continued, "But I do believe he'll come out alright, Swan."

"Since when are so rational when it comes to our kids' dating lives?" Emma rhetorically questioned, and Killian could just see her eyebrow going up.

Though she couldn't see him, he smiled as he told her, "When you need me to be."

After a moment of silence, Emma replied, "Thanks, Killian." She then told him, "I hope my guys have fun. I love you."

"And I love you, Swan," he replied. When they had bid goodbye, Killian slid his phone back in his pocket before placing the last cup in the cabinet.

When he had turned to face his son, Liam quipped, "If you're going to talk about me, you need to make sure I can't hear you."

Killian scratched behind his ear before he sat back down at the table. He then spoke, "I am sorry, lad. But it's only because your mother and I are worried about you. We want to help."

Liam ran his fingers through his hair before he quietly conceded, "I know you do." He took a breath before he pleaded, "My life sucks right now, and I'm tired of moping around the bloody house. I just want to go fishing and forget everything for a little while."

Killian now realized just how much his son was hurting - and he didn't even know the whole story. He knew that pain all too well, and he'd do anything to give his son the least bit of relief.

"Well, in that case, we'd better get going," he told his son with a smile. Liam offered a small but grateful smile in response.

The two of them then got up. Killian grabbed the lunch box with their lunch in it before they both headed out the door.

On their way to the docks, they heard a familiar female voice calling them. They turned to see Anna Elizabeth and Calin, with him pushing Elsa in her stroller.

Killian greeted his daughter and son-in-law before the three of them heard Elsa happily squealing and saw that her arms were outstretched toward Killian.

"I think that someone wants to see Grandpa," Calin observed before he bent down and unbuckled his daughter. He picked her up and stood up before he passed her to Killian.

"Hello, little love," Killian greeted once Elsa was settled in his arms. The baby girl gurgled before she set her sights on the ring around his neck and began playing with it.

"Oh, don't let her put that in her mouth, Dad," Anna Elizabeth cautioned.

Killian couldn't help but grin before he reminded her, "Love, I spent quite a bit of time babysitting you, and I raised your brother. I think we'll be fine."

Anna Elizabeth simply nodded in response. She then turned her attention to Liam and asked him, "Looking forward to your senior year, little bro?"

He shrugged before he answered, "I guess it'll be pretty cool."

"I think you'll have a great time," Calin offered, and Liam simply nodded in response.

Killian then inclined his head to the blanket in his daughter's arms and surmised, "I take it you three are in for a day at the beach."

"Well, it's the perfect day for both of us to relax," Anna Elizabeth began before Calin added, "And Elsa seems to have the water in her blood," with a grin.

He then lightly tickled his daughter, resulting in a giggle from the ten-month-old baby girl. This brought a smile to the faces of her family.

Anna Elizabeth then spoke, "I for one want to get to the beach, and I'm sure that you guys want to do some fishing," as she inclined her head toward her father and brother.

"You'd be quite right, love," Killian agreed before he passed his granddaughter to Calin. She whined at the loss of the necklace.

"It's okay, sweetheart," Calin soothed Elsa before Anna Elizabeth reached in the diaper bag for the toy keys.

She handed them to the baby girl, and Elsa's brown eyes lit up. Everyone, even Liam, smiled once more before Anna Elizabeth and Calin walked toward the beach while Killian and Liam continued toward the boat.

Killian then teased, "You think you can manage driving the boat, lad?"

Liam rolled his eyes before he sarcastically responded, "No, Dad. I'm still six years old."

"You were far less sarcastic when you were six," Killian responded with a grin. He then tried to ruffled his son's dark hair, only to be met with his hand being pushed away.

"Daaad," Liam complained.

Killian chuckled before he reminded his son, "Now, you know this wouldn't be a proper fishing trip if I didn't tease you, lad."

A hint of a smile made its way on Liam's face as he responded, "I guess you're right." He then scratched behind his ear and admitted, "And I do need to be distracted."

Killian's heart clenched before he assured, "I know you're hurting, Liam, but I won't force you to talk about it. I hope the sea can calm you like it always does for me."

"That makes two of us," Liam murmured. He then took a breath and continued, "Thanks, Dad. It's cool of you to be understanding."

"That's what I'm here for, Liam," Killian replied with a smile.

Liam smiled back before he changed the subject, "Alright, let's see if I can whip your butt in fishing like I did the last time we came out here."

Killian chuckled before he spoke, "I thought you wanted to relax – not compete."

"Competing's more fun," Liam replied with a shrug. He then smugly added, "Especially when I win."

The dark-haired man rolled his eyes before he decided to go along with his son, "Well, lad, if you want a competition, I'd say we rather need some stakes."

The teenager smiled brightly before he thought for a few moments. He then suggested, "Whoever loses has to fix dinner tonight."

"I'm not sure that's fair to the winner – or your mother for that matter – since neither one of us are adept at cooking," Killian pointed out.

Liam furrowed his brows for few moments as he thought. He then suggested, "How about dishwashing duty for the entire week?"

Killian grinned as he responded, "You're on, lad," as Liam steered the boat into open water.

When they got to the spot and Liam had parked, he and Killian grabbed the fishing poles and baited them.

Killian then teased, "Let me remind you that I've been fishing longer than you've been alive."

"We'll see if that helps you," Liam quipped. His attempt to remain serious was negated when he started laughing.

Killian chuckled and shook his head in response. He then spoke, "Speaking of help, I suppose that Anna Elizabeth will have to resume helping you in math."

"I'm a senior, Dad - I'm finished with math," Liam stated. He then expressed relief: "And I couldn't be happier about it," as he cast out his line.

Killian chuckled once more before he cast his line as well. He then pointed out, "Be that as it may, working with your hands seems to be your forte. Most jobs with that description require doing math of some sort."

Liam sighed before he said, "Yeah, I guess so," with a disappointed tone. He then began scratching behind his ear.

Killian tilted his head as he concernedly asked, "Everything alright, lad?"

The teenage boy was quiet for a few moments before he spoke, "It's just that… I know you and Mom probably wish that I actually had some sort of plan after I graduate. Instead of, well, being me."

Killian's mind wandered to a conversation he had with Emma shortly after Liam had asked out Grace. He then assured his son, "Lad, deciding your future isn't something that's taken lightly. It's okay that you don't have things figured out - your mother and I know you'll get there."

Liam smiled as he replied, "Thanks, Dad." Killian nodded in response.

Just then, the pole jerked in Liam's hand, and he quickly brought his full attention to it. He quickly reeled in with a triumphant smile.

However, he face-palmed when he saw a turtle attached to the hook.

"That's what you get for being so smug, lad," Killian commented with a grin.

Liam rolled his eyes before he carefully detached the turtle from the line. "There you go," he spoke as he released the turtle.

As he was rebaiting his hook, he saw his dad reeling in his line. Killian pulled an impressive bass from the water.

"Can you find a piece of string, lad?"

"String?" Liam questioned with furrowed brows.

"Aye. So we can see who catches the bigger fish," Killian reminded him with a grin.

The teenage boy's response was placing his pole down before he grabbed the string and scissors from one of the boat's compartments.

He then went over to his dad and quickly measured the fish and cut the string before Killian let the fish go.

"That was a pretty nice catch, Dad," Liam complimented when he had resumed baiting his hook.

Killian smiled as he spoke, "I appreciate you being a good sport, lad."

Liam shrugged before he pointed out, "It's kind of hard not to when I was always told to by Uncle Robin in Little League and with Coach Tony since freshman year. Not to mention you and Mom."

The dark-haired man titled his head at his son as he observed, "You don't seem to be complaining."

"It's just stupid to not get along with people you see all the time," Liam stated matter-of-factly. He then scratched behind his ear and added, "But I'm not always the best at that."

"Well, lad, you got that temper from me," Killian told him.

"Yeah, thanks for that," Liam remarked.

Killian shook his head before he added, "And you also inherited the sarcasm, which Emma doesn't very much appreciate."

The teenage boy chuckled before he scratched behind his ear once more and admitted, "I don't think Grace always has either, but I guess she got over it."

"That tends to happen when you care for someone," Killian responded.

Liam sighed before he dipped his head down and spoke, "Yeah, I guess so," with a far-off tone.

Killian titled his head as he asked, "Are you sure you don't want to talk about what's bothering you, Liam?"

"I'm fine," he quickly replied before he turned his attention to where he had cast his line.

The dark-haired man gave his son a sympathetic look before the two of them fished in comfortable silence.