When Fenton Hardy is proclaimed dead, Frank must go over eight hundred miles away and live with the mother and brother he never got to meet. And then of course, there's the mystery. AU.

Do I even need to say that I don't own them and that this is AU? Well, I just said it, so there. Enjoy :D) A note here. The boys aren't going to start off being into mysteries, and because of their parent's divorce (you'll see the reasons for that throughout the story), but there will be a mystery. Obviously.

Hopefully the AU I've come up with is tolerable. :D

First attempt writing Hardy Boys in a long while, but since 'everythingneedsrevision' encouraged me, I'm digging around in this sandbox.

Reviews and constructive criticism are both welcome, and appreciated. Ideas are welcome as well.

He thought that his heart would jump out of his chest from how hard it was pounding. He didn't know what was going to happen next. All he knew was that this was bad. His father, dead. He couldn't believe it, what was going to happen next?

The social worker outlined what was going to happen next. Frank would be sent to live with his mother. Frank hadn't seen her in twelve years. His parents had divorced when he was only 2, Joe only one. He remembered that his brother was blonde or something… maybe. He had one picture of them that he'd always carried in his wallet, even though he didn't know why.

Now, he was going to meet them. His father had been declared dead. Frank had protested and protested, but he'd been dragged to live with his mother anyway. His social worker was actually accompanying him on the flight to make sure he went. His father couldn't be dead.

Frank scowled as they disembarked from the plane. "I don't see why I can't be legally emancipated," he said.

"You're still only fourteen," his social worker said curtly. "You don't have a choice, Frank. Give your mother a chance, please. If things run into trouble, you have my number."

Frank scowled, "And I should give her a chance because she abandoned me twelve years ago?" He was fourteen years old, and hadn't seen his mother for twelve years. He'd only remembered what she looked like because of the picture. "Why can't I stay with Aunt Gertrude?"

"Frank, don't push this. You don't want to go to traditional foster care." With that the social worker greeted the blonde, all smiles. Laura, Frank reminded himself. And the son - Joe. He wore a smile and Frank scowled, trying not to fall back into depression.

"Good to see you, Laura. I believe we spoke on the phone?" his social worker asked. Frank tuned out the rest of the conversation, looking instead at Joe. He was one year younger, according to the social worker's records, though Frank knew that. He wouldn't have guessed it though - Joe looked about his age.

"Hi," Joe said, "I'd say I'm sorry and all that shit but you've heard it - so, I'm Joe."

"And I'm Frank," Frank responded, inwardly smirking that Joe had dared to say the s-word with his mother nearby. Their mother, Frank reminded himself. "But you knew that." I just want to go home, why do I have to be here?

Joe nodded and fell silent for a minute, before shrugging. "Mom likes to talk," he said. "Sorry."

"Not your fault," Frank said automatically. He could tell that Laura liked to talk, he guessed he'd get used to it. "You like your school?" he asked. God, changing schools in the middle of the school year; could anything be worse?

"Yeah, it's alright," Joe responded as he nudged his - their - mother. "Yo Mom, me and Frank are going to go get some food. Can we meet you in the cafeteria?" Frank's stomach rumbled, and he sighed, reminding himself that he had to eat. It's what his father would want, anyway. Dad's alive… he has to be. Yeah, he wasn't handling this well at all.

"Sure," Laura said, handing the credit card to Joe before turning back to the social worker. "I'll be on my way soon."

"Thanks," Joe said as he made his way to the food court. Frank watched the travelers enviously, wishing he could be anywhere but here.

"Have you been here many times before?" Frank asked, following Joe as he kept up. He hadn't brought much as his clothes had been shipped separately. It was cheaper, and less annoying than screening things through the airport.

"Nah, I follow the signs though," Joe responded as he went up to the register. "Order whatever," he said before ordering. Frank just ordered the same thing, not wanting to cause a stink.

"So, what do you want to know?" Joe asked, leaning on the table.

Frank blinked, surprised at how easy going Joe was. He might actually learn to like the kid. Not that he was sticking around. "I don't know, honestly- what should I expect?" he asked.

"Well, Mom enrolled you in school already. You'll be in all the same courses as me but you might actually test into higher - they looked at your credits. I'm ahead - it's a long story - but you'll be with me. If you hate my guts, we can change, but Mom thought it might 'help you adapt.'" Joe used quotation marks. "And you have your own bedroom. The house isn't huge, but it's nice enough. We have your bedroom, my bedroom, and Mom's and then a guest bedroom. We made the second guest bedroom into yours but we haven't really bought anything for it yet because we figured you'd want some say in what happened."

Frank nodded. "Don't buy anything yet," he said with a shrug.

Joe shrugged back. "Why?"

"'Cus," Frank said curtly. He just refused to accept that his father was dead.

"Alright then," Joe responded, taking a sip of his Mountain Dew. "What else do you want to know?"

"I don't know and won't for awhile, I guess," Frank said.

Joe shrugged. "Can I ask a question?"

"Yeah," Frank said.

"What was he like? Dad?" Joe asked.

"He was nice. Often away on his coursework but Aunt G was with me, so I didn't mind. She's over eighty so they refused to put me with her."

"Oh, so they'd rather move you eight hundred miles away? Not that I mind, but that sucks." Joe shifted and moved towards the tray. "Mom should be here soon, I guess, and then we'll actually get home. I'm sure you're tired."

Frank shrugged. "Whatever is fine." Dad isn't dead, he thought, somehow I'll find him and things will be back to how they used to be and I'll get the hell out of here. I just have to bide my time and find Dad. I've never solved a mystery before, but I can do it. I have to do it.

Author's note: For anyone following 'Bait', my Criminal Minds story, expect an update soon. Reviews and feedback welcomed.

Here's a fun question: Do you think Fenton is really dead?

Update tomorrow.