AN: This story has had the fastest positive reaction for any story I've written, so to all of you who have already followed or favourited this story (or me) - THANK YOU. I truly love you all!

Thanks also for some fantastic suggestions - part of this chapter was from my brain, but part also came from a prompt in a review, so thanks to saved240307 for the input!

Enjoy :)

IBYL
xo

Disclaimer: I only own the ideas for the kidlets in this story. Anything or anyone else that you recognise, I don't own it. Or them. Or anything, really.

Kate sat at the precinct, watching time tick by. Currently, she was chained to her desk doing paperwork – a blessing and a curse in one. A blessing in that no new case meant she was likely to make it home to her boys for dinner. A curse in that she had to do boring paperwork all day. She glanced up, noticing Ryan working studiously as ever, as was Esposito – though she was sure that wouldn't last long. Not that her boys were in any way lazy, they were just easily distracted – as was she, she had to admit. She glanced at the clock again, pleased to see that while she'd been pondering it had hit 4pm. Just one hour to go until she could clock out and spend the evening with her family as she'd promised.

xxx

Liam had celebrated his second birthday just a month ago, and with that had come his inquisitive nature and need to understand everything in his world. This morning, when Kate snuck into his room to say goodbye, he stirred under her light kiss with a sigh.

"Mama."

"Bye, little man. I'll see you tonight." Kate said softly.

"Mama go?" He asked tiredly, and she felt her heart break a little.

"Yeah, baby. I have to go to work. But I'll be home tonight."

"Work." He said, testing the word. "Go work."

"Yeah. With Uncle Javi and Uncle Kevin. But I'll see you later, squirt. I'll be home for dinner." Kate said, silently hoping she would make it.

"Mama home." He whimpered as he drifted back to sleep.

The sniffle that escaped her as she walked back downstairs was entirely unwelcome, but her husband noticed.

"He asked where you were going, didn't he?" Rick prompted, and Kate nodded.

"Yeah. Intelligent, that kid of ours."

"Of course he is! Look at the history. I father only gifted children."

"The first one was luck, and the second one was my doing." She said, the sass helping her feel less like she was abandoning her son.

"We'll see you later." Rick said, guiding her to the door and leaving her with a kiss.

"Bye, Daddy." She murmured softly, before heading out the door for the precinct.

xxx

The elevator sounding its arrival had several heads in the bullpen turning, Kate's included. Then she heard the unmistakable chuckle of her baby boy, and rose to her feet without thought as she saw her husband wander towards her desk with her son.

"Now this is a nice surprise." Kate said, pressing a quick peck to her husband's lips before smiling down at her son. "What are you guys doing here?"

"I said we'd see you later, I just didn't specify a time. And since I've had about 300 texts from you today, I figured you weren't on a case. And this one" he said, gesturing to the boy in his arms currently rapidly searching the bullpen with his eyes, "kept asking about 'Mama work?'" Castle said, imitating their son.

"Mama work?" Liam repeated on cue, and Kate grinned, taking her son and pressing a kiss to his forehead.

"Yeah, my little man. This is where I work. And who's over there?" She said, pointing towards Ryan's desk and smiling when Liam imitated her movement.

"Uncle Ryan." Liam said, smiling shyly into his Mom's shoulder, as Ryan came over to greet Castle. "Where Chloe?" Liam asked, blushing at the mere mention of Ryan's 4 year old daughter.

"Chloe's at home with her Mom today, Liam." Ryan explained, suppressing a smile when Liam's face fell comically. "You can see her soon." He promised, and Liam grinned – the Castle charm oozing. Liam was more than a little smitten with Kevin and Jenny's girl, who was a perfect mirror of her mother – in nature and appearance – but she had her father's blue eyes. Ryan knew he was going to have to work hard to keep the boys at bay, which his workmates teased him about mercilessly.

"And who's that?" Kate said, pointing to Esposito emerging from the break room and smiling as her boy bounced excitedly in her arms.

"Uncle Javi!" Liam crowed happily, and Esposito looked up.

"Junior Castle! Why are you visiting?" Esposito asked as he walked over, clapping Castle on the back and ruffling Liam's hair.

"Mama work!" Liam said happily, and Kate smiled.

"You're visiting Mama at work, huh?" Esposito asked, and Liam nodded.

"Mama work. Mama home." Liam babbled proudly.

"Do you know who sits over there?" Kate asked, pointing toward the Captain's office.

"Aunt Lanie?" Liam tried, looking around for the woman with curious eyes.

"Nope. Want to guess again?" Kate asked, allowing him the option.

"Iunno, Mama!" He said, his words tumbling together in his excitement.

"Well why don't we go see?" Kate said, leaving Castle to have some time with the boys – he was only consulting at the precinct for big cases, and only ever for a day or two. As much as he loved his role at the 12th, Kate knew he adored his 'guy time' with Liam – but she knew he also really missed hanging out with Ryan and Esposito. She let him have a few minutes while she took Liam to visit with the other major member of their team. She knocked on the doorframe of the office, Liam perched on her hip.

"Got a minute, sir?" Kate asked.

"Sure, Detective." Gates replied, before looking up from her computer and grinning widely. "LC, did you come to visit?"

"Miss Tori! Mama work!" He said excitedly, wiggling to be let down. Kate obliged, watching as her boy toddled over to greet her boss. Gates chatted happily with him, sitting him on her lap and listening to him babble about a lot of nothing. This little friendship was unexpected, that was for sure, but Gates had slowly become a solid and important part of the team, and was especially supportive when Kate announced her pregnancy – Gates knew all too well that pregnancy and a high-stress job were not a great match, and when little Liam came along, so-called 'Iron Gates' showed a very different side – and Liam positively adored her.

"So, LC, what do you think of Mommy's work?" Gates asked, using his initials as had become tradition, and Liam grinned.

"Big!" He replied happily, looking to his adored Mama with wide, happy eyes.

"Come on, baby, let's leave Miss Tori to her work, okay? She's very busy. Do you remember why?" Kate asked, prompting him.

"Boss!" Liam replied after a moment, and Kate scooped him up, tickling him softly and making him giggle.

"That's right, she's the boss! So she has lots to do. But we'll see her at our poker party on Saturday, won't we?" Kate asked, and Gates nodded.

"Wouldn't miss it." Gates replied with a smile.

"Yeah! Party!" squawked Liam.

"And, Detective?" Gates called, causing Kate to turn around.

"Yes, sir?"

"Go home when you're done visiting. Shift's almost over anyway." Gates said with a glance at the clock and a wink.

"Thank you, Sir." Kate said, returning her smile before leaving the office.

xxx

When Kate returned to her desk, the boys were arguing about the merit of the latest Yankees signing, and Liam was getting restless.

"Ready to head home, baby?" Kate asked, and Liam nodded.

"Home." He murmured happily into her collarbone, cuddling as close as possible to his Mama. "Home, Mommy." The 'Mommy' thing was new, a sure sign her boy was growing up – it was bittersweet for her. She loved watching him evolve, and watching his personality change, but part of her wanted to freeze time here.

"Ready, Castle?" She interjected, during a lull in conversation.

"Aren't you still on the clock?" He asked, surprised.

"Gates gently suggested I have an early minute or two." Kate said, and Castle grinned.

"Perfect. Pack your stuff. Boys, we will see you this weekend, I assume."

"Yeah, Lanie and I will be there." Esposito said.

"And I'll bring the family." Ryan said.

"Chloe?" A fast-fading Liam piped up with.

"Yeah, Liam. Chloe too." The Irishman chuckled.

"Party!" The boy smiled, before settling back into his mother's chest. Castle had gathered Kate's things, and stood with a smile.

"Right, say bye to the precinct, Liam." Castle said, and Liam waved on cue.

"Bye work!" He said, and Kate smiled.

"Home?" Castle asked, and Kate nodded.

"Home."

Saved240307 suggested the Gates/Liam connection which is an idea that I'm kind of in love with, so I incorporated it here and it will definitely be expanded on again.

Anyways you're all amazing - thanks for reading!