A/N: Welcome! I hope you like the premise of the story. I enjoy mystery as much as the next guy, but because a lot of other fics tackle that aspect of AR fanfic, I decided to contribute (finally) to the sparse amount of AR stories with him growing up with a family for the first time without some tacked on mystery element.
Important to note that Anthony Horowitz was trying to corner the Teen James Bond market so some things in the book were not fleshed out and also written in simple sentences and stuff that didn't lend itself to deep characterization.

Not sure where I'm gonna go with the story, but at first, I'll try to update the story without any care of reviews or follows, but at some point, it's gonna matter, and I'll let you know. This is my first fic on the site, and I'm a huge HP fan but AR needs some lovin' so here it is!

This chapter deals with Alex Rider dealing with the aftermath of the last AR book. I go to college so updates aren't guaranteed but I'm gonna be writing, don't worry

"Yeah, sure, no problem. Thanks Mr. Starbright."

Alex put down the phone back on the kitchen wall in his now distinctly lonely apartment. He slowly walked back to the living room, sunk into the sofa, punched the seat next to him, and not for the first time today, let tears flow down his face.

Alex couldn't sit still. The Manor that MI6 he was sent to was grand, accommodating, and full of history, but he couldn't take being still, not ever since Egypt.

He came straight here from Egypt, to this enormous rest home/ hospital, where MI6 actually let Alex be alone. Ever since he visited the wreck site where Jack died, it all became real: he had no family left, and no connections to his past. He felt more alone than ever. Walking around the grounds made him feel a bit better, but if he saw something that he'd tell Jack, he had to bite back his tears. He never felt so helpless and broken before, and it was alarming to him. He knew his life would never be the same, but he didn't know how he would take the change.

"Hello?"

"Is this Edward Pleasure?"

Edward Pleasure wasn't about to deal with a prank caller. "Please identify yourself."

"This is Royal General Bank"

Mr. Pleasure was puzzled, then it dawned on him.

"Is this MI6?"

"This is Mrs. Jones from MI6 offices, how are you?"

"Good. What is this about?"

"Alex Rider, who you and your family have had contact with in the past and as we have learned have a close relationship. Is this correct?"

"Yes, it is. Is something wrong?"

Mrs. Jones continued as if Mr. Pleasure hadn't replied. "Mr. Rider has recently lost his guardian."

"Pardon me? Are you saying Alex emancipated?"

"No sir. She has passed away."

Mr. Pleasure nearly dropped his phone. "Are…are you sure?" Mr. Pleasure asked tentatively. He didn't want to think about the complications from this; he couldn't imagine this happening to Sabina.

"In light of these events, Mr. Rider is going to need arrangements."

There was a tenuous silence on the line. Mrs. Jones left that hanging in the air, while Mr. Pleasure was very puzzled by this vague sentence. What did she want?

In those tense seconds, he tried to recall Alex's conversations with him back in Cornwall. He did not say much about his family life, but of course his parents have been dead for a long time now. Suddenly, comprehension dawned on him.

"Mrs. Jones…I think," Mr. Pleasure sighed deeply. He had no idea how his wife and daughter would react to this… "I think it would be best…if Alex stayed with us for the time being."

With a slightly happy, motherly tone, Mrs. Jones said "I think Alex would not mind at all. I will give you a call when the papers are ready for your approval. Good day, Mr. Pleasure."

Mrs. Jones hung up, feeling a bit indescribably light and happy for Alex in for what seemed years.

Alex couldn't bear being in the house, all packed up and without feeling. It was too sudden, too violent, just like Jack's death, or so he felt. After fishing something out of the refrigerator, he pulled on his trainers and immediately set out, his feet carrying him wherever they felt like. While he blindly walked, Alex couldn't focus on any one feeling. He felt that he should react, cry, yell, or do something! Instead he just felt empty and alone, as if no reaction could handle the scope of his distraught. Sure, Uncle Ian dying was painful to say the least, but having your last connection to your normal life severed? It was too much to bear thinking of a future, any future, for right now.

Alex stood still, staring out at the fields behind Brookland, remembering better days. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tom and gave a small nod of acknowledgement as Tom came close.

"I left as soon as you called 15 minutes ago. What's going on Alex? You seem worse than ever."

Alex shifted a bit, still staring into space, away from Tom. He started to tremble slightly.

"I…I came back from a mission a couple of days ago."

Tom hadn't been friends with Alex this long to not know to keep quiet, so he pensively waited as Alex let out a shuddered breath.

"Everything is done. I took care of everything. But—", Alex said as his voice cracked. "Jack was killed."

In the most un-Alex behavior Tom had seen in years, Alex slumped onto his knees on the grass and silently wept, hands covering his face. Tom kneeled beside him and put his arm around his best friend, comforting him until he lost track of time…

After some time Alex picked his head up a bit, catching Tom's attention.

"Tom," he croaked. "MI6 are making plans for me. I don't know what's going to happen, but if I do go away, I will visit you someday."

Tom hugged Alex and not for the first time wished MI6 would have just left him alone.

Alex stepped out of Royal General Bank for what he hoped was the last time. His life was already a whirlwind, but it just increased with Mrs. Jones telling him (rather than asking) that the Pleasures have agreed to be Alex' guardians. It was going to be odd at first, he was sure of that, but the Pleasures were nothing but accommodating and understanding. Alex felt somewhat buoyed by the small upturn in events, but he knew it was going to be a long time before he laughed like he used to with Jack.

But Sabina. Sabina and Alex's relationship had always been slightly off in a good way, with sparks every time they met even though it was occasional. Their age difference did not mean much to them. But now, she's been in America while he had life ripped apart. What will that do? How is he going to deal with school? Alex couldn't grasp going to school much less any of his other concerns.

He knew his future was solely in his hands. He could still use the money Ian and his parents bequeathed to him to live out his days until he could have a life of his own, which had it's merits. Being a burden to others always felt a tad prickly for him, but what would he do? What sixteen year old lived alone? He could live with Tom but dealing with the living situation and dynamics would just be odd. Turning the corner and sighting his ("his", that sounded all the more depressing) apartment, his thoughts ranged to MI6 and the CIA. MI6 promised to leave him alone, but trouble always seemed to find him, and the CIA always gave him an opt-out option. But strangely, the thoughts of those two were not as annoying as before. Lost in a cloud of thoughts, Alex unlocked his flat door and entered, closing it gently behind him and observing the boxes stacked in the sitting room. An era of life had ended. It didn't matter where he went, really. As long as it wasn't here, he could deal with living without Jack better than now. Maybe America wouldn't be as painful as he thought.

A/N So there it is, chapter 1! Please fav/follow/review, ENGAGE PLEASE! I'll try to keep the chapters long, to keep y'all happy! and please PM if you want!