A/N: Hi guys! Someone told me a while back that I should shift from my comfort zone and try writing Beckett with a son, and I had a lot of fun writing this one. It's 11 chapters + an epilogue, to be posted regularly. I hope you all enjoy.

By the third hour, he'd be lying to himself if he said he wasn't relieved to see the line in front of him dwindling. He enjoys book signings, loves interacting with his fans and getting genuine feedback, but sometimes the continuous need for high energy and smiles takes a toll on him. Somewhere along the line, even signing chests has gotten old. He may be Richard Castle but he's still human—he does get tired.

"Thank you for buying the book," he says to the woman in front of him. She told him to make it out to Violet and somehow he doesn't think that's her real name.

A woman in her thirties steps up next, and he can see a young boy standing behind her. He smiles to himself; the mother must've dragged her son with her. Seems like a trooper, though.

He tries to make eye contact with the boy as he talks to his mother, to engage him, but he doesn't even seem to register the attention. Instead, he stares into the aisles off to the side as he waits. And when the woman leaves, the boy remains.

"Hey, buddy," he says, finally catching his attention. "You might want to go catch up with your mom."

The boy looks at him, brows scrunched as he gazes to the woman now walking out of the bookstore. "That's not my mom."

Okay. Well, he did find it a bit odd that the woman just left and made no efforts to even acknowledge the kid.

It's then Rick notices the boy has a book in his hands. He thought he was tagging along with his mother to the book signing, but assuming the young blonde standing behind him who looks to be about 20 years old isn't his mother either, that doesn't seem to be the case.

"Are you by yourself?" he asks as the book is placed onto the table.

The boy bristles a little, straightens up with a look of confidence, and ah, yeah, he remembers those days. Independence.

"Yeah," he's told, the answer coming easily.

"Okay," Rick says, slowly taking the book and opening it to the front page. "What's your name?"

As he waits for an answer, he takes in the boy. He's young, probably ten at most if he had to guess. His brown hair is shaggy enough to brush against his forehead but short enough so as not to fall into his eyes, which are a bright hazel.

"Eli." Just as he's about to sign the front page, a small hand presses against the book, stopping him. "But it's not for me. It's for my mom."

Ah. Though he does want to reach a younger audience, he's kind of glad this kid isn't the fan. Maybe he doesn't want that young of an audience, not with some of the things he writes in these books.

"That's sweet of you, Eli," Rick says, and that gets a bashful smile out of him. "And what's your mom's name?"

"Kate."

He purposely takes his time signing. "Where's your mom right now?"

"At home," Eli says, watching Rick intently as he writes her name. "She's asleep."

That's... odd, he thinks, considering it's just shy of 5:00 in the evening. But Eli doesn't elaborate, doesn't even seem fazed; this leads him to believe his mother sleeping in the middle of the day isn't an out of the ordinary occurrence.

He shouldn't make assumptions, he really shouldn't—he knows it's an occupational hazard, making up stories for people he doesn't even know, but he can't seem to help himself. What would have this woman asleep in the middle of the day, allowing her son to wander the streets alone at his age? New York City isn't exactly the safest place for kids to be left by themselves.

Stay at home mom? If so, he'd expect her to be, well, awake and with her son. His mystery brain immediately goes to possible alcoholic or drug addict, passed out in broad daylight after getting her fix. But Eli looks perfectly fine—clean, in good spirits, dressed nicely. And so he scraps that thought as quickly as it comes.

Maybe a job that requires she work at night and sleep during the day?

"Are you gonna sign that?" Eli's voice breaks him from his wandering thoughts, and he looks down to find all he's written so far is Kate. The boy's question is innocent, but Rick can see the rest of the queue getting agitated by how long he's taking with him.

He doesn't want someone snapping at Eli because of it, and so he flashes a dazzling smile to the line of women waiting.

He chuckles. "Yeah, I am." Finishing the signature, he closes the book and places his hand on top of it. Before sliding it over, he takes a breath. "Does your mom know you're here?"

She's asleep, he's been told, but it's entirely possible the boy woke her up to tell her he's leaving.

But the averted eye contact and lips pressed into a thin line tell him otherwise. "No," the boy says with a shake of his head, eyes on him. "It's a surprise. For her birthday."

There's something settling in his stomach, something that's telling him to keep the boy here. The city really is dangerous for a young kid on their own, especially at this time. Winter has come and with it brought early sunsets, leaving the city basked in darkness well before 5:30.

"I'm sure she'll love it," he says, trying to think of a way to get him to stay without outright telling him it's for safety reasons. He was a young boy once, and if someone had told him it was dangerous when he was trying to assert his independence and prove he's a big kid, he'd have done exactly what they said not to. "Hey, Eli. It won't take me too much longer to sign the rest of these books; why don't you hang around?"

One brow raises, skeptical, and oof he wants to know where the kid learned that look. "How come?"

Yeah, Rick, how come?

"You said it's your mom's birthday, right?" The boy nods. "Well, I didn't know that when I signed it, but if you wait until I'm done here I can write something extra special in her book for her."

Eli's eyes lights up, a wide smile stretched across his face. If there's one thing Rick can tell, regardless of the reason she's asleep in the middle of the day, this kid really loves his mother.

"Really?"

Rick nods. "Absolutely," he says, handing him the book. "There are beanbags by the kid's section. I can meet you over there when I'm done."

"Awesome! Thanks!"

Eli beams as he practically sprints out of his eyesight and towards the aisles leading to the children's section. With a deep breath, Rick suppresses the smile as he turns back to the line and greets the woman next in line.

Taking the book from her, he turns on his usual charm. "Thanks so much for waiting."

It's only about another twenty minutes by the time he closes the last book and watches as his fans make their way from the bookstore. Once everyone's been attended to, he thanks the staff as they begin to take down his signs and then makes his way through the aisles.

He finds Eli lounging in one of the beanbags, a picture books in his hands.

"Good read?" he asks, watching as the boy looks up from the pages and sits up a little straighter.

"There are no words," he says, turning the book in his direction. "I was comfortable and didn't want to go find a real book."

Rick laughs. "Understandable." Moving closer, he takes a seat in one of the chairs near the cluster of beanbags. If he sits in one of those, he's not entirely sure he'll get back up. "Say, Eli, how old are you?"

"Eight," he's told, and Rick nods. He's younger than he originally thought. "Nine soon!"

"Well, happy early birthday! And speaking of birthdays... may I?" He gestures to the book.

Eli nods and hands it over. "She'll love it. Maybe it'll... make me in less trouble."

He raises a brow as he writes. "Trouble?"

"Yeah." Eli sighs. "I'm not supposed to leave without telling her. She's strict about that."

Ah, makes sense. He's beginning to lean towards Eli's mother having a job that somehow dictates her sleeping schedule—a nurse, working long night shifts, maybe?—as opposed to something more sinister. She clearly cares about her son and his well-being, and he adores her.

"I'm sure she just wants to make sure you're safe," Rick supplies, keeping his voice light. He doesn't want to make it sound like he's reprimanding him. "Tell you a secret?" Eli leans in. "My mom wasn't very strict at all while I was growing up, and I got into some serious trouble as a kid. I bet your mom is just trying to avoid that sort of thing happening to you."

Eli nods. "I know. But if I asked her to come she wouldn't let me go by myself, and I'd have to tell her why, and then it wouldn't be a surprise anymore."

Rick can't help but smile at the conflict clear on the boy's face. He's a sweet kid.

Closing the book he's just amended for this woman Kate, he rests his elbows on the front cover as it balances on his knees. He could call a cab for the boy, but for some reason he doesn't want to. He feels oddly protective, which is ridiculous, but he's so young.

"Here you go, all done," he says, handing the book back. "Are you going home now?"

"Uh huh." Eli smiles at him as he stands. "Thank you!"

Just as he's turning away, Rick calls him back. "I'm leaving now too. Why don't I give you a ride?"

"I'm not supposed to get into cars with strangers," Eli says matter-of-factly, and Rick lets out a chuckle. Smart, too. "It's not far anyway."

"That's good—your mom's taught you well," he praises. "Would it be okay if I walked you back, then? No cars involved, you know my name, and I could use the fresh air." The boy chews on his bottom lip, clearly contemplating. He's not trying to intrude, or overstep, but he doesn't want to let him walk back home alone in the dark. "I could come say hi to your mom and wish her a happy birthday in person?"

"Seriously?" is his immediate response, and Rick laughs. His mother must be some fan.

Rick nods. "Of course."

"Okay. I think she would like that, so I guess it's okay," the boy decides.

He stands along with him, resting his palm on Eli's shoulder as he leads him out of the bookstore.

"Let's get going then, Eli. We have a mom to surprise."

Eli's right when he says it's not too far; a few blocks, really, but it's still quite the walk for a lone kid to make. The trip ends at an apartment building, and Eli leads him through the entrance and into the elevator.

"I hope she's still asleep," the boy says. "Then she won't know I left."

Rick doesn't mention how she'd know anyway, because of the signed book and his presence alone, and instead just offers a small smile as they step off the elevator onto the sixth floor. Following Eli's lead, he trails behind as they make their way towards the second to last door on the right.

"Do you have a key?" he asks, getting a nod in return.

"Yup."

Once he's fished it from his pocket, he raises it, but just as he's sticking it in the keyhole the door swings open. Rick jolts a little in surprise, but he looks down to find Eli standing completely still with an innocent smile on his face.

The woman is staring at them, frozen for a second, and while he briefly registers how stunning she is, it's the two men standing behind her with guns in their hands that really catch his attention. His heart crashes against his ribs for escape, nerves seeping into his system.

He suddenly wishes he had asked Eli what his mother does for a living.