AN: Sorry for the delay. Here we venture into a slightly-older Liam. I'll go back to the younger days again next chapter, I believe. As you can probably tell, this has not been planned out carefully by any stretch - I just write what I'm feeling the urge to write.

Also can I just say how much it means to me that this story was mentioned on the 'castlefanfics' Tumblr page as a recommendation? It's just so awesome and humbling and exciting. Enjoy this instalment!

IBYL
xo

Disclaimer: Don't own it.

"Mom?"

"Yes, Liam?" Kate said, turning towards the breakfast bar where her 10-year-old was patiently scribbling away at his school books. By some miracle, so far, he was studious just like his older sister – leaving Castle to declare that he clearly makes only perfect children at every available opportunity.

"Could you please help me with my homework?" He said. "I'm stuck."

"Sure thing little man." Kate said with a smile. "What have we got today?"

"Mrs Larsen asked us to write about our family tree. I think I've done most of it, but could you check it?" he asked.

"Of course."

"And maybe you can tell me some more about our family? I don't really need it for my project…" Liam trailed off.

"But you're curious." Kate finished with a grin.

"Yeah. I guess I am. It's pretty interesting stuff." Liam said, and Kate shook her head with a laugh.

"That it is, kid. Well, how about I help you with the family tree, and then we can get to the stories. Sound good?"

Liam beamed.

"Thanks, Mom."

xxx

The pair worked together as Liam detailed the names of each member of his family, including a small description of each member as requested by his teacher. He included people's birthdates (with some help from his mom and her calendar), but wasn't sure what else to put. Liam looked to his mom with a quizzical look in his eyes.

"What else should I put?"

"Well, can you think of what else you know about everyone?" Kate asked, encouraging Liam to use his imagination a little.

"I know what everyone does for a job."

"You do – so why don't you put that down." She asked, and Liam nodded, sticking his tongue out in concentration. He wrote quickly while his mom made herself a coffee. When she returned to her seat beside him, he looked up.

"I think I'm done." He said, pushing the book towards his mom.

"Read it to me?" Kate asked, and Liam grinned, pulling the book back.

"My Mom is an NYPD Homicide Detective. Dad says she's the best around. Mom tells him he's crazy. My Dad writes books about murder, and that's how he met my Mom. He followed her around so he could write books about her. My older sister, Alexis, is a doctor – she looks after little kids in hospital. Grams is an actress, and she's been on Broadway and on TV. She also runs her own acting school to help people learn to act. Grandpa Jim was a lawyer, but he retired last year and now he spends lots of time fishing. My Grandma Jo is in heaven, but she was a lawyer too. She worked hard to find justice. Her and my Grandpa Jim met at work. My Papa Jack tells me in his emails that he worked in insurance, but Mom and Dad say he's retired now." Liam said, barely taking a breath as he read. Kate smiled.

"Sounds good, babe. Anything else you want to know?"

"I know it's a family tree, but can I talk about Uncle Javi and Uncle Kevin? And Auntie Lanie and Auntie Jenny? They're not technically family but they're like family."

"I think that'd be a lovely thing to do. You can always explain that they're Mom and Dad's friends, can't you?"

"Plus it's cool. Two more detectives, a Medical Examiner and a Teacher. I don't have real uncles and aunties but they're pretty close. And Chloe is like my cousin." Liam said, and Kate nodded.

"You get writing, kiddo. I'll make some dinner. Your dad will be home any minute." Kate said, knowing that Rick's Black Pawn meetings today would soon be over.

xxx

Rick stumbled through the door to their Soho loft happily, dumping his coat and bag as his wife and son yelled a 'hello'.

"Studying again, Liam?" Castle asked, and his son nodded in reply.

"We're working on his family tree." Kate said, gesturing to the now rather elaborate maze of names, dates and descriptions.

"Wow. Looks pretty busy."

"You want to read?"

"Sure – let's eat first though, yeah? I'm starving." Rick said, smiling when Liam agreed.

"I could eat a horse!" Liam grinned.

"We know, kiddo." His mom laughed – Liam's appetite was definitely indicative of the fact he was an active and growing young man. The term 'hollow legs' is commonly heard from his father who can't quite fathom where he puts it all.

They ate their pasta meal quickly, before Liam retrieved his book and dragged his father to the couch to explain the work he'd spent the afternoon completing. Kate smiled as Liam proudly told his father about the family tree, and couldn't help but laugh at Castle's reaction to Liam's assessment of his paternal grandfather.

"Was Papa Jack really in insurance, Dad?" Liam asked, as Kate joined the pair on the couch – pausing to hand her husband a glass of wine as she took a sip from her own. Castle smiled.

"Yeah, Liam. He worked in lots of different places though. But mostly in insurance."

"That's boring." Liam said.

"C'est la vie, baby." Kate said with a chuckle. "Have you thought about what you'd like to know about our family?" She asked Liam, and he tilted his head in thought.

"I don't know. I guess I know more of the stories than I thought I did." He says, looking down at his homework before smiling proudly.

"You definitely know a lot of the stories." Castle said, and Liam turned to him.

"Because of my bedtime stories as a baby?"

"And because you're clever like your big sister – you want to know everything!" Castle replied.

"I like knowing things." He says defensively, and both Kate and Rick have to work to hold back their laughter. In so many ways he is the miniature of his father, and then the stubborn Beckett streak rears its head.

"Because it makes you smarter?" Castle asked.

"And being smart makes for better stories." He said happily. "That's why your stories are so good, Dad. May I please go play a game for a little while, now that my homework's done?" He asked politely.

"Absolutely, hun. You've got an hour before bedtime." Kate said, smiling as her son bolted upstairs. She turned back to find her husband grinning like a fool.

"What?"

"Could be the best review I've ever had. Smart stories make for better stories. That's why mine are so good." He said gleefully, opening his arms and beckoning Kate to him.

"We've got a good kid." Kate said, tucking herself in his embrace.

"Kate, thank you." He said reverently.

"You made him too." She said, and Rick laughed.

"I am under no illusion – he may have my mannerisms sometimes, but his heart? That's all you." Castle said proudly, before wincing when Kate pinched his chest.

"Do not sell yourself short, Richard Castle. You know that he's as much if not more like you than me."

"We've been having this argument for years, Kate." He said, chuckling.

"It'll never come to a resolution, I don't know why we bother." She said on a contented sigh.

"Okay. We have a completely awesome kid and he has great taste. Truce?" Rick grinned.

"Truce." Kate said, smiling as Castle pressed a kiss to her forehead. She took a sip of wine and enjoyed the silence, before voicing her latest thought. "He hasn't even read your real stories."

"Hmm?" Castle hummed, turning towards his wife.

"Liam said you have good stories, but he hasn't actually read a Richard Castle novel yet. Kid's got no idea how good it gets." She said, and Castle gasped before pulling his wife into a heated kiss.

"You are too good to me." He murmured against her lips, and she laughed.

"Oh no, that is another long standing argument that we are not delving into tonight. Shut up and take the compliment, Rick." Kate said, before settling into his embrace and flicking on the television.

"Noted."

If you have something you're dying to see happen in this story, please let me know - I'm always open to suggestions!