Pre Story Author Notes:

So, I know the title and summery aren't exactly the greatest, but I'm still working on them. I know exactly how this story happens and ends already, it's just a matter of getting it down on 'paper' in a manner that is pleasing to both myself and you, the reader.

But I will point out that I have stayed as true to the game as possible. I've done the research, and I'm trying to make sure all the events add up properly. So I do hope you enjoy. If you see a flawed date/fact/quote/etc. Please let me know! Enjoy!

Also, this is the only time you'll see this before a chapter, don't worry =P

DISCLAIMER: I Really don't feel this is necessary, seeing as this is posted on one of the biggest fan fiction sites ever and it should be blatantly obvious. However, there are still people in the world who are 'not-so-smart'. Therefore, I do NOT own Bioshock, its characters, locations, etc. etc. Like everyone else on the site, I just like to make stories based off existing stories, characters, and settings. Either way, hope you enjoy it =)

Chapter One: Making Arrangements

January 13th, 1956

"Alex, are you even listening to me?"

"Yes Mr. Stevens,"Alex quickly snapped his attention to the older gentleman sitting at the desk in front of him. Unable to look him in the directly in the eye though, Alex focused on the bridge of his crooked nose instead.

"Listen, I know this isn't exactly easy for you, but we really must sort out where you are going to live. You're still a young lad, and you simply cannot live on your own yet. Now do you, or do you not, have any relatives that can look after you?" Mr. Stevens picked up the paper he was looking at as he made the inquiry. The tone in his voice suggested he was sympathetic, but also slightly annoyed.

"Well..." Alex paused for a moment, looking away as he searched for an item to keep himself somewhat distracted.

He had developed a habit of looking for things to distract his mind from conversations and thoughts he wished to avoid. And there certainly were things to distract himself with in this musky lawyers office, though most of them rather dull. Volumes of dusty old law books, a few filing cabinets, a globe, a letter opener. The typical items you would normally find in a old lawyers office.

"Yes?" said Mr. Stevens impatiently.

"There's Uncle Arthur, on my dad's side." Alex's eyes finally rested on a mousetrap on, the floor in the corner, situated behind Mr. Stevens.

"Excellent! And where does he currently reside?" Mr. Stevens began writing the information down on a clean sheet.

"He's currently at Broadmoor Mental Institution, outside of London. You may have heard of it. Personally though, I don't think he would be able to offer me residence." Alex let a humorous grin briefly cross his face as he glanced back at the stiff, British lawyer.

"Funny," Mr. Stevens said sarcastically as he scratched the fresh writing from the sheet. "A joker just like your mother. She couldn't even keep a straight face at her own funeral."

Alex quickly shot the old man a cold look. "With all due respect sir, I suggest you don't make comments about my mother. It's bad enough you put her entire estate for sale on the day after her death, leaving me without a place to stay, but you do not speak about her in that manner. Not around me."

"My apologize. I didn't mean it as an insult."

"Well, it's not what you said, it's how you said it."

"Well, um..." Alex's tone was making the old man uncomfortable. He had crossed a line, and knew it. "Let's continue with business then, shall we?" Mr. Stevens began shuffling through papers. He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts.

"Regarding your mothers estate, she requested it be sold in immediately her will. However, you will acquire seventy percent of the profit made from the estate immediately. This is, of course, under the requirement that if she died while you were under the age of majority, that you live with a presently living relative,"

Mr Stevens cleared his throat, and sipped on his glass of water.

"You're currently only sixteen, so it's my job, as her lawyer, to follow through with the requirements stated on this piece of paper," the lawyer waved the document in his hand. "The upside Alex, is that you get to choose which relative, so long as they are fit to look after you. The only problem is, your mother and father failed to provide contact information for any their siblings, even though I requested it time and time again."

Alex let out a stressful sigh. He only had a handful of known relatives, and most of them had died during the second World War, along with his father. Not to mention he hadn't seen any of them since he was a toddler. His brow wrinkled, and he frowned as he tried to focus on the decision at hand. Finally, a familiar face appeared in his mind.

"Lily..." Alex mumbled the name.

Mr. Stevens had a puzzled expression across his face. "Sorry?"

"Aunt Lily," Alex said speaking more clearly. "My mothers older sister. Sweet lady, from what I can remember." Alex struggled to retain the memory of meeting his aunt, but failed to grasp any real details from it.

"Ah, yes! I remember your mother speaking about her once. Fairly well off, if I remember correctly. Never married though, did she?" Mr. Stevens once again began to jot the information down.

"No. She was a sweet woman, but wasn't blessed with the most attractive appearance. She had a fiance at one point, but found out he was planning to marry her for her wealth, and most likely try to run off with it." Alex paused for a brief moment. "There is one problem though."

"What is it now?" Mr. Stevens sat back in his chair, ready to give up.

"I don't know where she lives. When I met her as a child, she came to visit us. I've never been to her home before."

"Well, last time I spoke to your mother, she had mentioned your aunt lived in Seattle," Mr. Stevens thought for a moment. "I may have an old colleague who still works there. I'll try writing him, and see if he is able to track her down. Until then, I'll make temporary living arrangements for you at a nearby hotel. That is, if you'd like me to. It is still your choice after all."

"That's fine. Honestly, I don't think I have much of a choice at this point. I mean, it's live with Aunt Lily, or move into the loony bin with Uncle Arthur, right?" Alex attempted to make himself laugh. The sadness from Alex and the tension from the lawyer was making the room unbearable to be in. He hoped the forced laugh would ease it, and it did, but only slightly.

"I suppose," Mr. Stevens forced a chuckled as well. "In that case, I'll follow through with it. Now, would you kindly sign this for me?" He pushed a document towards Alex.

"Certainly." Alex began to scribble his signature on the line, and then looked up at the old man. "Mr. Stevens?"

"Yes Alex?"

"You said I get seventy percent of the profit made from my mothers estate. What happens to the remaining thirty?" This had crossed Alex's mind earlier, but had held off on asking until now.

"Well, ten percent is to pay for my services, of course." A hint of greed glinted in the old mans eyes as he said this. "The remaining twenty percent goes towards the relative that takes you in. Your mother was always a generous woman." A wrinkled half smile crossed the lawyers face.

"Yes, she was." Alex knew that the lawyer had actually raised the percentage for himself. He knew his mother wouldn't have given him more than five percent, but couldn't be bothered to argue with it. The profit made from his mothers estate would be far more than enough for anyone to live on without having to work a day in their life. But all Alex wanted was for his mom and dad to be alive, and he knew no amount of wealth would bring them back. He hated being alone.

"By the way," Mr. Stevens spoke, "thank you for coming in today Alex. I know this is the last thing you wanted to do, especially so shortly after this... misfortune. But you're handling yourself quite well, if I may say so."

"I once overheard my father say: 'business is business, and should be detached of emotion'. I was only three years old when I heard that, but it's stuck. Since then I've tried to apply it when possible. It's not always easy, but it does make things process much more smoothly. It also explains why my father was so successful, even during The Depression." Alex finished signing the document, and after looking it over quickly, handed it back to Mr. Stevens.

"I suppose so..." The lawyer paused. "Anyway, I'll escort you to the nearest hotel, and put the room under my name for you. Just make sure you behave. I'd prefer to not have my name tainted by the folly and mischief of youth."

"Come now Mr. Stevens, do you really think I'd go out of my way to give you a bad name?" Alex teased lightly.

"You're still only sixteen Alex. Who knows what kind of trouble you might get into!" The old man laughed, and had clearly relaxed. The tension in the air was completely gone by this point.

"Not to worry," Alex laughed. "Thank you though. So, if the room is under your name, does it mean your picking up the bill for it as well?"

"Of course not! This comes out of your families pocket, not mine." Mr. Stevens said sharply. Clearly he didn't hear the humor in Alex's tone.

The two sat quietly across from each other as Mr. Stevens finished signing the documents, and put them in the folder. Alex let his gaze wonder across the room, resting his eyes on the mousetrap once again.

Tension quickly refilled the lawyers office.

Authors Notes:

So, as my profile states, I haven't written anything, since like, 2004. First fanfic since then. Therefore, my writing skill are probably no where what it used to be, so I apologize in advance if things are a tad messy.

Criticism is always welcomed, so long as it's constructive, not destructive. Reviews are nice to! =P

-Rave