Thank you so much to those who reviewed, followed and favorited this story. Here's the next chapter.

I'll try to make it clear how I've set this out. The recorded interview is in italics and within that any comments/questions from RJ are in speech marks. Anything in normal type is not part of the interview. I hope this becomes clear as it goes on!

Chapter 2

That weekend Kate found herself unusually nervous. It was Saturday morning and she was waiting for her son to arrive. Since when had she been nervous about seeing her son? Since she'd agreed that he could write an article about her life. She'd always been a very private person and here she was about to expose herself to public scrutiny; at least she would if RJ's article was published and she had a feeling that would be the case. He was a damned good writer and had already made some very useful contacts in the business even though he didn't expect to work fulltime until he'd finished his studies.

Beth had already left saying she was meeting up with some of her girlfriends and they were planning a day of retail therapy as an antidote to the endless hours of exam preparation which was currently taking up so much of their time.

Rick, meanwhile, was in his office putting the finishing touches to the final book of his Black Pawn contract. The publishers had made a great deal of money from Castle's books over the last forty odd years and had agreed to continue to publish any more books he might write but he would no longer be under contract to produce by a certain time or at all, come to that. This arrangement meant that if he found inspiration for a story, he could write it but if not, then he was no longer under any obligation which as far as he was concerned sounded like the perfect retirement.

As Kate was on the third rearrangement of one of the kitchen cupboards, something she had a tendency to do when she was nervous and that always led to arguments later because no-one else could ever find anything, RJ came bursting through the door with his usual exuberance,

"Hi, Mom! Any breakfast left?

"No, but I can whip up some pancakes if you want?"

Kate considered that would be a good way to put the interview off for a bit longer. She was being ridiculous and she knew it. This article was going to be written and she was going to give her son all the information he needed just maybe not for a few more minutes.

"That'd be great. Thanks, mom, you're the best!" as he gave Kate a sloppy kiss on the cheek whilst skilfully avoiding the towel she flicked at him.

"Do you want to start while you're cooking or shall we wait?"

Oh, maybe they delaying tactics weren't going to work after all,

"No, it's probably better to wait until you've eaten then we can concentrate on what we're doing."

Thirty minutes later the pancakes had been made and duly devoured, the dishes had been cleared up and Kate had no more excuses,

"Ok, let's get on with it, then."

They went to the couch and seated themselves at opposite ends but turned to face each other. RJ took out his recording device and began.

"This is James Parish interviewing NYPD Captain Kate Beckett."

"Wait, what?" Kate interrupted, "Who the hell is James Parish?"

RJ laughed,

"Oops, I forgot to tell you that one. I'm not planning on using my own name when I write the article, in fact I probably won't use it when I'm actually a journalist."

Kate waited for him to elaborate but had an idea where he was going with this.

"I want to make it on my own, for people to appreciate my own ability. I don't want anybody to be able to say I only made it because I'm Richard Castle's son. I don't want to wonder if that's the only reason. Don't get me wrong, mum, I'm not ashamed of my name but I don't want to get on because of it. You do understand, don't you?"

Kate smiled at him and patted his knee,

"Of course I understand. Have you spoken to your dad about it?"

"Yeah, dad was okay with it."

"And so am I. I'm just curious though, James Parish?"

" Well, I considered James Ryan but that seemed too close to my own name and I figured I don't exactly look like a Javier or an Esposito !" a point which had Kate struggling to contain her giggles,

"So I thought James Parish and I knew Auntie Lanie would appreciate it."

"Oh, that she will, RJ, that she most certainly will. Sorry, though, I think I might have sidetracked us."

"Yeah, anyone would think you didn't want to do this," RJ said with his trademark grin, having seen right through his mother's delaying tactics from the moment he arrived at the loft.

Kate knew when to give in gracefully, though,

"No, it's okay. Let's get on with it."

"Captain Beckett, let's start with your early years, I believe you were born right here in Manhattan, is that correct?"

Kate found it hard to adjust to her son's formal interview style but completely understood the purpose behind it. It was quite likely that anyone to whom he submitted the finished article, whether it be at college or to a newspaper or magazine, would want to listen to his interviews and read all his notes and it wouldn't serve his wish for a certain amount of anonymity if he called her 'mom' throughout.

Yes, I was. I was born on 17th November 1979 to James and Johanna Beckett. I had a wonderful childhood. Although my parents were both lawyers and, as such, were very busy with their work, they always seemed to have plenty of time for me. I remember one occasion, I'd be about nine and I'd had my tonsils out; I was so miserable but my mom took time off work and we cuddled up on the couch and watched episodes of Temptation Lane. It was a soap opera that ran for what, about forty years, I think. It was pretty mindless entertainment but we had fun, just the two of us in our own little world and it took my mind off my missing tonsils. It's funny how things turn out because years later, when I was in Homicide, I worked a case on the set of Temptation Lane and actually got to meet some of those same actors I'd watched all those years earlier. At the end of the case Castle, it was during the time he was shadowing me, well by then he was effectively working as my partner, gave me a present, a signed cast photograph. I don't know how he got hold of it but it was just one of those really sweet things he did for me, still does in fact.

So I had a great childhood but when I went to high school it didn't take long for me to enter my 'wild child' phase. During my teenage years I think I probably scared the hell out of my parents; well out of my dad, anyway; my mom was always ready to let me make my own mistakes, within reason of course, but would then be very quick to say 'I told you so' when things went pear-shaped as they very often did. I think that was probably her favourite expression.

"What sort of things did you get up to? Anything you're prepared to share?"

Not really. I think I would probably prefer to keep my reputation reasonably well intact! I had a bit of a reputation with the boys; let's just say I dated, a lot, and leave it at that! My dad did threaten to send me to a nunnery at one point! Oh, and I bought myself a motorcycle, a '94 Harley Softail. I worked a lot of jobs in my spare time to earn the money to get that. I guess I also went through a Goth phase; got myself a tattoo during that period. In spite of all that, though, I was a pretty good student. Got decent grades throughout and was accepted to do pre-law at Stanford.

With two lawyers as parents, I'd always wanted to become a lawyer; in fact, from the moment I knew what it was all about, I wanted to become the first female Chief Justice; lofty ambitions indeed. But things didn't work out that way. I transferred from Stanford to NYU where I studied Russian, economics and a variety of other things. After I graduated, I headed straight to the Police Academy.

"If it's alright with you, we'll get to the reasons for your sudden change of direction a little later and talk more about your career in the NYPD but would you like to take a break for a while?"

Okay, thanks.

"That's great so far, mom. I didn't really expect you'd detail your 'wild child' days. From what I gather, even dad doesn't know much about that."

Kate was a little taken aback by that comment.

"Just how much have you been talking to your dad about all this?"

RJ just grinned,

"Well I might have gathered some background information here and there from various sources including Dad."

Kate put her head in her hands and groaned,

"You've been talking to grandad as well, haven't you?"

"He may have given me a story or two but," he added quickly, having seen the expression on his mother's face, "I won't use anything you don't approve. Okay?"

"Mmm, okay then, I guess," she said rather reluctantly, "Anyway, as we're having a break, do you want something to eat?"

"Have you ever known me turn down the offer of food?"

"Oh you are your father's son, aren't you," Kate laughed as she headed into the kitchen to make some sandwiches for them.