Summary:

After her parent's death, Melanie moves to Detroit to her older brother's house. There, she meets his second family, the Mercers. Will she be able to keep on with her life and start a new phase or will things that happened in the past keep hunting her?

Story Notes:

Disclaimer: I don't own any Four Brothers' character, the title (song by Hinder) or the other songs that will be in this fanfic. I kinda own Oliver, since he has the look of Oliver Queen (Smallville) but I created his personality. Unknown characters are mine... now, I wish Jack was unknown. P

Beta-Read version being posted... -Thanks to El and Steph for doing this! ... Also, thanks to all of you who have reviewed or added this to any of the allerts! Kudos to you!

Chapter 1

My brother woke me by lightly shaking me.

"Mel, come on, it's time to get up!"

"Just five more minutes." I said, turning away from him.

"No honey, now! We need to go! I've already taking your stuff to the car. So, get this lazy ass of yours out of bed, get dressed and eat breakfast." He got up from beside my bed, where he was kneeling, then walked out of my bedroom.

"Fine." I sounded disappointed. Today was the day. I was going to move to Detroit with my big brother after my parent's death. It had been two weeks since it happened, my brother took care of all the legal issues and was going to look after me from now on. Not that he never did, but now I was his entire responsibility.

My parents lived in Detroit until my mom was about to give birth to me. They decided it wasn't exactly the best place to raise a girl, so they moved to New York. Oliver, my older brother, decided to stay. His life was there, he had finished school and could get a job anywhere he wanted plus, his second family was there, the Mercers.

I had never been to Detroit nor had I met the famous Mercers, but I knew a lot about them, Ollie always told me stories about them, especially about his very best friend, Bobby Mercer. Their mother was murdered a year ago and my parents went to her funeral. They were real good friends with Evelyn before they moved. I wasn't able to go because I was on a school trip. I asked to Ollie give them a hug for me though. Just now I understand what they felt back then. The Mercers killed the guy responsible for their mother's death and Ollie helped them out. Jack, the youngest Mercer almost died, he spent two months in coma then more weeks in recovery. As much as I wish I could blame someone else for my parent's death, it wasn't possible. They died in a car accident. It was raining too hard and my dad lost control of the car, the only person I can blame was myself.

Ollie came as soon as I called him. Man, he looked like crap I had never before seen him like that. I've heard my brother cry only twice in my whole life, when he called me saying Evelyn had died and when our parents did. I admire him even more after all this, he lost almost all the people that really meant something to him and is still here strong and holding my hand. Probably he's the only person that I feel comfortable with feeling vulnerable, because I know he wouldn't hurt me and would do no matter what to not let anyone else do so.

It's funny to see how attached we are to each other; For years, we barely saw each other, but kept up our weekly letters, emails and phone calls. He also always made sure to come to New York for my birthday, which was the best gift he could give me. Oliver means the world to me. I never told this to him, 'cause I think it sounds pathetic, though it's the truth: he is my hero and he knows me better than anyone else, even better than my parents did. Maybe because we have the same temper, which mom kept reminding me of. I'm proud of it.

After doing what Ollie asked me to do, we started our trip to Detroit by car.

"Did you really eat?" He looked at me while driving.

"Yeah, why are you asking me that?"

"You know why."

"I did." I gave him a weak smile. He asked me, because after what happened, I spent three days just crying in my room, no food, no sleep, no company, only me and my tears that by now, I thought, had dried.

"Good." He smiled back. Everyone could tell we were related, though he is blonde and I have dark hair, we have the same smile and the same chocolate brown eyes.

I was so distracted thinking about how my life was going to be from now on that didn't hear Ollie calling me.

"Melanie!" He yelled, making me jump.

"Shit Oliver, don't scare me like that!"

He laughed. "What were you thinking?"

"Just how my life is gonna be from now on."

"Don't worry about it, you're gonna be fine." He smiled.

"I know." I said smiling to him. Did I mention that I love it when he smiles? For God's sake! He makes me melt and I'm sure I wasn't the only girl experiencing that. I know it's kind of gross to think like that about my own brother, but I can't help it!

"At least you already finished school, if you didn't, we'd have a problem."

"Why?"

"Because no one would be there to watch over you."

"I don't need anyone to watch over me. I can take care of myself and you know that."

"Detroit is different. Mel, you have to promise me, you won't walk around all by yourself."

"Ollie, I walk around New York all by myself!"

"I know! But like I said, Detroit is different, please just promise me!"

Dam, he knows that I can't break a promise that I've made to him! "Fine! I won't!"

"So, what did that guy say about you moving away from him?"

"What guy?"

"That stupid ass that you are dating." He meant David, my ex- boyfriend.

"Nothing." I said simply

"Nothing?!"

"Well, he doesn't know."

"Why didn't you tell him?"

"Because we broke up… I kicked his ass the day before all happened."

"No way! Why? I mean, I thought you liked that guy."

Because he's a jerk who was with me just to get into my pants! "Yeah, me too. But I realized that I was just wasting my time with him."

"It's good that you got rid of him, that guy is an ass. But why you did that?"

"Damn it Ollie, stop asking why, we aren't together anymore, and that's it!" I couldn't tell him why, despite really wasting my time with that ass.Knowing his hot head temper, he'd kill the guy, I know he really would.

"Alright, chill girl! At least you kicked his ass, he has no idea of what would happen to him if he had plus, he would be the most stupid guy in the whole Earth, more than he already is!" I told you!

"Yeah." I nodded laughing. "Will you ever like a guy that I'm dating?"

"Probably not."

I laughed.

The rest of the trip continued with Ollie telling me more about the Mercers. I honestly think that I've lost my brother to those guys! Finally, he parked the car in front of a light blue house. It looked really cozy, it hadn't a fancy nor shabby look. It just had a familiar look and looked like the most houses around, especially the one in front of ours.

"Here we are!" Ollie got out of the car, I did the same. It was freezing outside so I pulled my coat closer to my body.

He noticed. "You should start to get used to the fucking cold, we have warmer days but I'm sure as hell that they are far away from now!"

"Does the Detroit air make you use those words?"

"What? Since when are you bothered with curses?"

"I'm not. I'm just messing with you!" I laughed and lightly punched him his chest.

"Good, 'cause Bobby is like, the champion in curses! You should get used to that too."

"I got a good training with you."

"Shut up." He laughed while wrapping his arm around my shoulders and squeezing. "Let's take your stuff out of the car, then we'll go see some people."

"You mean the Mercers?"

"Yup."

"I figured that. But why can't we wait till tomorrow? I'm tired and need to organize my stuff!"

"No, this can't wait till tomorrow. We are going to the Mercers in ten minutes;"

"Man, what do those guys have that is so special?"

"One, if you say that you're a friend of a Mercer and a Parker no one will bother you. You know, Bobby and me have a certain reputation around here."

"I bet."

"Two, you'll already know your new neighbors!"

"Oh yeah? Where do they live?"

Ollie just pointed to the house in front of ours.

"Oh! I forgot about that. Fine, let's take all this crap inside 'cause I can't wait to meet those assholes who have stolen my brother from me!" I pretended to be mad, which made Ollie laugh.

"Aww are you jealous little Mel?" He came closer to hug me.

"You wish!" I pulled away from him.

"Aahh come on Mel! They really are assholes, you're right about that, but nobody has stolen me from you and nobody will!"

"Promise?"

"Sure! Except that girl with big boobs down street, she might manage to."

"Screw you!" I punched him hard this time and grabbed one bag. "You can carry the others." I said while walking to the front door. I was too preoccupied with my acting of being mad, that I forgot the path was icy. I slipped and fell. "Shit!" I yelled, laying in the snow, flat on my back.

Laughing hard, Ollie grabbed all the other bags and carefully made his way to where I lay. "Ah girl, it's sad. I need to teach you so much!" He looked down at me.

"Shut up and help me up." I extended my hand to him, which he took and he helped me back on my feet.

"You ok?"

"Yeah I'm fine." We made it up to the door. Ollie opened it and started to show me round the house. It was more than big enough for both of us, his room was the one that had belonged to our parents and I was going to stay in the one that belonged to him when he was a kid.

"I didn't even bother painting the walls 'cause I know you like the color as well."

It was blue, our favorite color. "Thanks." I smiled and threw the bags on the bed. "Is this the same mattress you used?"

"Why?"

"Eew man, if it is, I don't want it. I don't even wanna know what you did on it. I'd rather sleep on the floor."

"Shut up!" He laughed and tapped my head. "You can sleep in peace 'cause I bought you a new one as well as new towels and other stuff for your female care!"

"Aaww aren't you the sweetest brother ever!" I squeezed his right cheek.

"I am!" He smiled. "Ready to go?"

"What about lunch?"

"We'll figure something out later, don't worry."

"Fine, so let's go."

When we got at the front door of the Mercers, I must confess that I felt the butterflies in my stomach. Ollie spoke so much about them that I wanted to make a good impression. But from what Ollie told me about them, especially about Bobby, I should get in and say "Hey you asshole what's up?" No way, I wasn't going to say that, at least not at our first meeting.

He knocked the door and a white muscular guy appeared, his dark hair was all pulled back with hair gel, it could only be Bobby!

"Oliver! You jarhead, how are you?" He hugged my brother.

"I'm good Bobby and you?"

"Same old shit." He looked at me "Who's … wait! Is this your little sister?" He asked pointing at me with a shocked face.

"Yup." Ollie wrapped his arm around my shoulders, smiling.

"Hi Bobby, it's great to finally meet you." I greeted him by offering him my hand.

"It's great to finally meet you too gal." He replied smiling and shaking my hand.

"Oh wait, did my little sister just get a smile from Bobby Mercer on her very first meeting with him?"

"Shut up and come in." Bobby got into the house and we followed him indoors into the living room and found a black muscular guy watching TV. When he saw Ollie, he got up and smiled, extra white teeth… Angel!

"Oliver!" He also hugged my brother, boy they really liked him.

"Hey Angel, how are ya man?"

"I'm great what abo… Who's this?" He asked, pointing at me.

"Hi Angel, I'm Melanie." I replied, offering my hand to him which he shook flashing a large smile at me.

"She's my little sister Angel" Ollie said laughing.

"Man she's everything but little." Angel answered.

"Stop hitting on the girl Angel!" Bobby said laughing from the couch.

"What? I'm just welcoming her!"

"Yeah man whatever. I'll keep an eye on you!" Ollie said pointing to his face, making everyone laugh, including me.

"Excuse me, can I use the bathroom?" I interrupted, man I really needed to!

"No, you'll have to pee right there." Bobby said seriously, obliviously trying to intimidate me.

"Please Bobby, tell me where the bathroom is." It's your first meet, it's your first meet!

"No, if you wanna do something, then do it right there."

I didn't want to say that, but you're giving me choice… "Quit this intimidation crap and tell me where the fucking bathroom is Bobby." I said seriously, but I wanted to laugh, and when everybody in the room did I couldn't help but join them.

"I like you!" Angel said, still laughing.

"You taught her well Ollie!" Bobby said in between his own laughs. "Go upstairs, it's the second door on your right."

"Thanks." I made my way upstairs and counted the doors, I heard some music and assumed that it was coming from the room next door.

When I quickly opened the door that, according to Bobby, was where the bathroom should be, I found out that it was a bedroom and there was a guy lying on the bed playing a guitar.

"Oh God! I'm sorry!" I quickly said and shut the door. "Go to hell Bobby!" I yelled turning to the stairs and as soon as I did, I heard all the laughter downstairs.

Great! Where the hell is the bathroom? The door of the room opened and I saw a white tall guy, quite muscular, with tattoos around his arms and one or two on his chest, messy dark blonde hair and piercing green eyes, wearing nothing but dark tight jeans. "Who are you?" He asked with a deep voice.

"I'm Melanie." When I saw that my name meant nothing to him, I continued. "I'm Oliver's little sister."

"Oh right! He told me a lot about you!"

I smiled, "You must be Jack," and offered my hand.

"That's me." He answered smiling and shook it. "What did Bobby do to you? I heard you yell at him."

"Oh, he told me the wrong way to the bathroom. That's why I ended up in your room! I'm really sorry about that."

"Typical! Don't worry about it and it's right over there." He pointed to the door in the middle of the hall.

"Thank you." I laughed.

"No problem." He smiled. "Is Ollie downstairs?"

"Yeah he's right there with your brothers."

"Ok, I'll see you there".

"Fine, I'll be there in a couple of minutes." I turned and walked to the bathroom. I could feel his eyes on my back, or should I say my ass? "You can stop looking at my ass now." I said without turning to him.

"Oh… no, I wasn't…" I closed the door while he was speaking.

Now I really was in the bathroom. I took a time to remember what had just happened, man Jack was handsome! Ollie never mentioned that…of course, why would he? He also had the abs. Melanie you just got the chance to get to know him! Stop with that! And oh, what a great first meet, opening the guy's bedroom door all of sudden, looking for the bathroom! Pathetic! ... Whatever! At least I liked of what I saw!

After using the bathroom, I went downstairs to join the guys. They were all sitting on the couch watching hockey. When I got there, Bobby started laughing.

"So Mel, I think you already met the fairy."

"Shut up Bobby." Jack, who had put a t-shirt on, and I said at the same time. I sat down between Angel and Ollie who looked at me and smiled. He was happy to see that I was getting along with his friends. I smiled back and rested my head on his shoulder.

"I'm hungry." I whispered to Ollie.

"Me too! Hey, what do you guys have to eat here? We are starving!"

"What the hell? Do you think we have free meal like that?"

"Bobby you're talking too much today." Jack said.

"Shut up Fairy! But now that you've mentioned it, I'm hungry too. Fairy can go and cook us something!"

"No." Jack simply answered.

"What?"

"I said no."

"Why? Doesn't little fairy want to ruin his nails?"

"Shut up!"

"Aww. Did I hurt your feelings?"

"I don't give a fuck about my nails!"

"It's ok Jack, I'm sure Mel doesn't mind if you're gay. Plus…"

"Let's order pizza!" I yelled cutting Bobby off, who stopped mocking of Jack, everyone looked at me. "Jack won't have to cook and we'll have something to eat."

"Man, she just shut Bobby up! I like you even more!" Angel said.

"Shut up man. Great idea Mel, I'll do that." Ollie got up to make the call.

Bobby stared at me like he didn't like what I just did. I gave him a proud smile, after all everybody liked my idea, which made him smile too. Well, well, well, he isn't as tough as I thought he was.

When the three pizzas came, it was over as fast as we had began to eat it.

"So Melanie, what do you do?" Jack asked to me while the guys were talking about something else in the kitchen.

"Well, I finished school like, a month ago and now I'm here… I'm gonna wait some days before deciding what I'll do with my life, probably work somewhere around here. What about you?"

"I had a band back in New York, but we split after I decided to stay in Detroit. Now I'm in a new one, we are gonna do some shows around here, small things, but you know, it's already something."

"Cool! Yeah, Ollie told me about that. So you play guitar, huh?"

"And sing." He answered smiling.

"Awe…"

"Mel!" Ollie cut me off. "Let's go, you must be tired."

"Nah it's ok, you can finish your talk with Bobby and Angel."

"We are done, for today."

"Fine, so let's go. Bye Jack, it was nice to meet you!" I got up of the couch.

"See ya Mel."

"Bye guys." I called over to Bobby and Angel.

"Bye Mel." They answered as Ollie and I took our coats and went off. I jumped on Ollie's back and he grabbed my legs as I wrapped my arms around his neck, I love when he caries me like that!

"So, did you like them?" He asked while we were crossing the street.

"Yup. They really like you!"

"They like you too. You got a smile from Bobby, do you know much that means?"

"I can figure." I grinned.

"Now, you still have to meet Jerry… Oh and Sofi."

"Where are they?"

"Jerry's probably at his house with the family and Sofi…who knows!"

"Bobby doesn't like her, does he?"

"Not at all. She's nice but can be pretty annoying, especially about marriage!" He let out an amused laugh. "Angel gave her the ring, but they didn't set a date yet. It's driving her crazy!"

I laughed as we got in our house.

"Mel, I already showed you where everything is, but if you need something just tell me. I'm gonna watch TV." He said as he kissed my forehead.

"Thanks Ollie, I'll be upstairs organizing my stuff."

"Alright."