Thanks to the couple of people who reviewed last chapter - you're amazing.

This one ruins my own storyline (from Boys) because I wanted to. It's part one of a pair, so you'll have to hang on to next week to see things *ahem* confirmed...

I don't own anything you recognise.


"For Show and Tell, I brought my dad," Matt Castle announced proudly, tugging his father behind him as he bounded to the front of the class. "His name is Richard Castle, and he is a famous writer. He followed Mom around as 'spiration for his books. He called her his 'muse'" - he and his twin paused to grin at each other - "but Mom always sent him to his room when he did." The eight-year-old beamed up at Rick.

"Dad got kicked out of loads schools when he was a kid but he still ended up famous and he says that bad grades doesn't mean you're destined to fail." At this, Castle skilfully dodged the teacher's glare.

"Dad's Mom is an actress and has an acting school, and Dad says she's dramatic enough for the whole family. Grams is cool. She's really funny, but she can't cook, and Dad has to stand by with the fire extinguisher when she makes stuff." The class giggled.

"Dad has a daughter from his first wife, and she's called Alexis. Alexis is uber-cool. She lives near us and is a teacher, and visits really often and plays laser-tag with us. Dad says she almost almost beat him, but his superior tactics stopped her. Which is so awesome. Cos Alexis is the best at laser-tag." Matt paused for breath as he thought on what to say next.

"I love my dad. He's really kind, and he knows how to have fun and how to cheer me up when I'm sad or when James is being annoying. But if I'm ever mean to someone I know my dad will be angry because Castles are always gentlemen, and gentlemen aren't mean," he recited as he nudged his dad with a sharp elbow.

"Dad has loads of really cool scars: there's one on his knee when he and Mom went skiing and Dad was doing a trick; well, Mom says he was showing off, but Dad says he never shows off, so... Then there's the one on his ear where a bad guy threw a knife at him but Dad did his ninja moves and half his ear got cut off." Several kids let out noises of horror and disgust, causing father and son to let out identical chuckles.

"Oh, and there's the big one on his chest. Dad says that's Mom's scar, because she had a similar one, and Dad got this one when there was a baddie, and he had a gun, and he was firing at Uncle Kev who worked with Mom, and then Dad tried to save Uncle Kev, but so did Mom, and they ended up crashing into each other, and-" Matt stopped. He swallowed.

This was dangerous territory, and he knew it. Joe knew it. Nate and Nicky and James knew it. This was the one story Dad didn't like to tell them, because it made him sad, and it made him cry. Dad didn't often cry, so when he did, you knew not to do it again, and you had to make him special pancakes and give him a hug.

Matthew glanced nervously at his brother, who shrugged awkwardly. A quick look towards his father saw the familiar smile stretch across the older man's lips: the smile that meant he was sad but if you 'proceeded with caution' as Nicky said, everything would be alright.

"And then Mom and Dad got shot," he finished with a whisper.


Bam.

Thoughts?

Part two 'Tell' on the way next week! Stay tuned!

Much love and Caskett

~wolfergirl