You're not Alone:

"Mom, are you fixing supper or do you want me to?" Benedict asked as he poked his head into his mother's bedroom.

She didn't answer, she was busily flipping through a hug stack of paper on her bed that had just steadily grown over the past month or so. Benedict sighed as Reina tugged at her hair, chewing on a pencil as she read over a file.

"Okay, I'm on it," he said as he slipped into the hall of their small apartment. He stepped over Vera and Portia coloring pictures in the living room floor as he made his way to the kitchen and looked through the cabinets. He sighed. There wasn't much to work with. A bag of white beans, some spaghetti noodles, and a can of ham. Benedict set the ingredients on the cabinet and then opened the fridge. There were some carrots in there...and that was about it. That and some left over condiment packets from various take outs.

Benedict took it all out and set it all out on the cabinet.

"Hm...noodles, ham, beans, and carrots…" Benedict scratched the back of his head. "Well...guess it's ham and veggie noodle soup. Yay," he grumbled sarcastically. That didn't sound good. Benedict set a pot of water on the stove and turned it down. Though this meal didn't sound yummy, it was all they had. They'd have to grocery shopping soon. Using the ingredients he'd found and some salt, pepper, and hot sauce packets he fixed the soup up and set the table for him and his sisters. The soup wasn't that bad, actually.

After they'd eaten he fixed a bowl and brought it into Reina's bedroom.

"Supper, Mom," he said setting it on the nightstand.

"Mm-hmm," Reina nodded, scribbling something on a notepad, biting her lip.

"We're all out of food now."

"Okay."

"We'll need to go grocery shopping tomorrow."

"Mm-hmm."

Reina never looked up from her notes, her brow furrowed. Benedict sighed as he went back into the living room.

"Benny, look at mah dwawing!" Vera called as she held up her picture.

"That's great, Vera," Benedict smiled as he patted her hair. "Time to get ready for bed."

"But I don't wanna!" Vera whined.

"C'mon, Vera, let's not argue with big brother," Portia said as she took Vera into the bathroom and helped her brush her teeth. Vera was young enough that she didn't remember their time with their father, and Benedict was grateful. He just wished the same could have been said for Portia. He ran a hand over the scars on his neck as he waited for his sisters to finished in the bathroom so he brush their hair, braid it, and tuck them into bed.

He then washed himself up and went back into the master bedroom to check on his mothers. She'd fallen asleep sitting up, her meal not even touched.

Benedict let out yet another sigh. Something was wrong. He'd seen his mother get like this before, though this was worse than normal. Then only time she'd been this bad was right before they left Phoenix Grave for good.

Benedict stared at her for a while longer. He knew he shouldn't pry into his mother's private affairs but he needed to know what was going on. He picked up a stack of papers and began to read through them.

"Did you really think you could hide from me?" was scrawled across a dirty sheet of paper. Benedict gasped. This was his father's handwriting.

"I will always find you, Reina, and the kids. You are mine, after all. Sooner or later I'll get you back. You can't stay away from me."

Benedict flipped through the stack in his hand. These were all letters from his father. How long had his mother been getting these!?

He set the stack down and looked through another. They were all pamphlets on restraining orders and protection spells and charms.

Of course. It was always his dad that got his mom like this. She was trying to find a way to protect them in case he broke out of jail. That's why she'd shut herself up in her room these past few weeks. Benedict cursed himself for not realizing it sooner!

He stared at Reina. She had bags under her eyes, her hair was a mess, her face was puffy, she looked like she'd been crying. It had been two years since they'd left Phoenix grave, a year since they'd moved to Magnolia and joined Fairy Tail, but his mom wasn't any better. She was scared. Frantically trying to protect them from Mace, Meyers, their other supporters in Phoenix Grave.

It looked like she might have been improving for a little while, then she found out Mace had been cheating on her with Elena a few months ago. She'd been crushed, though Benedict didn't understand why. Why should she care about that old creep anymore?

Benedict noticed another set of papers clutched in her hand. He stared at it. He really shouldn't pry anymore. Besides, she'd wake up for sure if he took something right out of her hand. Still, he found himself reaching for it and gently tugging it from her grip.

It was the rent and utilities bill for this month. Benedict's eyes bulged at the price. Was everything really that expensive!?

He tiptoed into Reina's closet and pumped in the code to the safe, just going off a hung. His heart sank. They didn't even have enough jewel to pay half of it! He took one of his mom's notepads and pens and scribbled everything down. Even if they gave all the jewel they had they'd still be short by 6,000!

The notepad fell from Benedict's hand. They were going to be homeless all over again! And they didn't have any food! And-

Well, there was still that bowl of soup his mom didn't eat. Benedict glanced at it. That would be enough for Portia and Vera to share for breakfast, but what after that? Benedict looked back at his equations. Well, there was really only one thing to do.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

"Why we gotta eat this stinky stuff again?" Portia pouted, crossing her arms at the breakfast table the next morning.

"Because it's all we have, now hurry up. We've gotta go to the Guild Hall," Benedict answered, pulling out the girls coats that were getting a bit too small for them. It was only early fall, but it was proving to be a cold year as it was already getting chilly.

"You no eat, Benny?" Vera asked.

"I'm not hungry." It was a lie. His stomach was gnawing, but they only had that one bowl left and it was just barely enough to feed the two girls. He'd just have to go without for now. Before long the girls finished up the soup. Benedict checked on his mother one last time, she was still sound asleep. It was probably for the best. He put the girls coats on and the reached for his own. He couldn't even get it over his shoulders.

"Ugh," he grumbled. Why'd he have to hit a growth spurt NOW of all times. Oh well, looked like he'd be cold too. Taking each sister by the hand they left the apartment and headed towards the guild hall.

"Portia!" Bianca called, waving to her friend from where she was seated at a table with her family. The rest of the Fullbusters also turned and waved.

"Hey, been a while since we've seen you guys around, how have you been?" Gray asked.

"Okay, I guess," Benedict shrugged as he walked up to the table with his sisters. This was a good way to leave them with someone he'd keep an eye on them without raising too much suspicion.

"Where is your mother?" Juvia asked, looking about.

"She, erm," Benedict rubbed at the back of his head. He hadn't expect anyone to ask about his mom. "She isn't feeling good. So I decided to bring the girls here so she could sleep."

"Well, that was sweet," Juvia smiled.

"Does she know you're here?" Gray asked.

"Yeah, of course," Benedict answered a bit too quickly. Gray suspiciously narrowed his eyes at Benedict, causing him to swallow.

"I...erm...will be right back. I gotta...go to the bathroom," Benedict said before slipping off. It wasn't his best cover story, but he hadn't expected Gray to start suspecting something. Man, that guy was good!

To cover his tail Benedict did actually slip into the restroom, but then snuck back out after a few moments. Fortunately both Gray and Juvia were wrapped up in some story Portia was telling them so he was able to tiptoed to the job board relatively unnoticed. There, right smack in the middle, was a job offering a reward for 6,150 jewel. That would be enough to pay the rent, utilities, and buy a few groceries! And it was just outside of town! He'd have to use a little bit of the small amount of jewel they had left to buy a train ticket, but it would be worth it for this paycheck. He grabbed it and then slipped out the front door of the Guild Hall before anyone noticed.

Or so he thought.

He had just reached the end of the street the guild hall was located on when he was startled by a:

"Whatcha doin'?"

"AH!" Benedict jumped and whirled around to find Farrah standing behind him, an eyebrow arched, and a smug smile on her face.

"Nothing," Benedict quickly said, turning back around, hands shoved in his pocket.

"You just swiped a job, didn't ya?" Farrah crossed her arms, smile widening.

"No."

"So what's this?" Farrah held up the job flyer.

Benedict blinked then looked down at his hands to find them empty.

"How did you get that?" he asked as he snatched it back.

"Why do you have it?"

"What's it to you?" Benedict asked. "Any member of a legal guild can take on any normal job they want, so I ain't doing anything wrong."

"Sure," Farrah shrugged. "Those are the rules for all guilds overall. But each guild has their own protocol for taking jobs and your supposed to clear the job your taking with my mom before you take it."

"That's just protocol," Benedict said, shoving his hand in his pocket and stomping off. "It's not like I'll get kicked out of the guild or anything."

"No, but you're still probably gonna get in trouble," Farrah answered in a sing-song voice.

"Over a normal job?" Benedict arched an eyebrow.

"Did you even read the description?" Farrah crossed her arms.

Benedict pulled the flyer back out.

"It came from a farm just outside of town that's either haunted or cursed. They want a wizard to come take care of whatever's causing trouble. Doesn't really sound like something a Sound Magic Wizard would be much help with."

"Shows what you know," Benedict stuffed the flyer back into his pocket and turned to walk off again.

"Besides, it might be dangerous!" Farrah called after him.

"I don't care," Benedict yelled over his shoulder. He really didn't. It didn't matter if this job was dangerous or not because they needed the money. How he was going to complete the job...that part he hadn't figured out yet.

Farrah frowned as she watched him go. Something was wrong.

"Well, if you're so gung-ho about going I guess I ought to come along and make sure you don't kill yourself," she said skipping to his side.

"Wha-No, no!" Benedict protested. If Farrah helped him on the job he'd have to split the money with her and he needed all of it!

"Why not? You might need the help?"

"No I don't, now go away."

"Nope."

"Go away."

"Nope."

"Leave me alone!"

"Nope-ity-nope-nope!"

"You're not coming!"

"Yes I am."

"No you're not."

"Yup."

"No!"

"Yes."

"No. Now stop following me!"

"Nope."

"Grrrrr!"

"You are being followed!"

Benedict face palmed. "If you wanna go on a job so bad go get your own."

"What if I like the one you've already got in your hand?" Farrah asked.

"If so why didn't you just take it?" Benedict asked.

"Pfft!" Farrah scoffed. "You think my parents would let me go on a job outside of Magnolia? Especially one like that? Mama would never clear it for me. And if I tried to take it without clearance like you have I'd be a dead girl walking. But if I catch you sneaking off and then followed to make sure you stayed safe. Well…"

Farrah placed both hands on either side of her face, giving the most innocent, puppy-eyed look she could manage. "Can't blame me for being concerned for a guild mate, can they?"

"So you're just using me as a scapegoat to go, is that it?" Benedict crossed his arms.

"No, of course not!" Farrah waved him off, then gave him an evil grin. "I'm using you as a safety net if we fail. See, if we complete the mission then, hey, we completed. My folks can't get onto me for a job well done. But if we fail, well, I'm gonna need to give them a good reason for going in the first place."

"And this is why you're not coming," Benedict said flatly, a scowl on his face.

"Well, alright then," Farrah sighed dramatically as she turned around. "I guess I've got no choice but to go back and tell Papa what you're doing. Sure he won't be happy about skipping lunch to come track you down before you-"

Benedict cringed. Master Laxus was a very big, very strong, and very intimidating man. He would hate to see him angry, much less be on the other end of it.

"No, don't!" Benedict grabbed Farrah's arm, grumbling. "Alright, alright, you can come, okay? Just don't tell your dad what I'm doing."

Farrah smiled sweetly at him. "Nice to know you're not a total idiot," she said as she patted his cheek and skipped ahead of him.

"I hate you."

"Aw! No, you don't!"

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

"Ugh!" Farrah grumbled as she held her stomach and laid in a motion-sick heap on the floor in front of hers and Benedicts train seats.

"You could have just stayed behind," Benedict reminded her, hoping she'd call it quits and head back to Magnolia after this. He had no such luck.

"You could just keep your fat mouth shut," Farrah replied as she continued to grumble in the floor.

Benedict rolled his eyes as he continued figuring up everything on his notepad.

If he and Farrah split the money he'd still have enough to pay rent, but nothing more. That meant he'd either have to sneak another job or they'd have to go without food, water, and power for the next month.

He sighed as he put everything away. It was probably going to be late afternoon by the time they got back, if not already getting dark. Going on another job right after that was going to suck! If only this loud-mouthed busy-body hadn't of showed up.

The Train stopped in a station just outside of town and Benedict and Farrah stumbled out.

"Finally," Farrah cheered as she fell to her knees on the station's platform. "Solid ground!"

"'I'm gonna help you fight ghosts and curses,'" Benedict said in a ocking voice. "Can't even handle a train!"

"HEY!" Farrah shouted. "When you have the power of a dragon come talk to me!"

"I thought you only got as strong as a dragon when you went into dragon force which you only, oh that's right, you've never accessed dragon force have you?" Benedict questioned, arching an eyebrow with a sly grin on his face.

Farrah glowered at him. "I cast Fairy Law once your argument is invalid!"

"Just once?"

"Oh yeah, let's see you cast it! C'mon!" Farrah asked as she jumped to her feet, a lightning bolt cackling in her right hand.

"Are you asking me to cast a spell or are you challenging me to a fight?" Benedict asked, looking less than interested.

"Both!"

"Well, sorry to disappoint but I've got a job to go on," he turned and began to walk off, leaving Farrah dumbfounded.

"Hey, you can't just walk off like that!" she shouted.

"Can and am."

"That's not how fights work!"

"Well, yes, I'm not fighting you so you are correct. This is not how fights work because there is no fight happening right now," Benedict said as he continued walking away, looking at the flyer to try and find the address.

He felt a sharp jolt in the back of his skull and fell face forward in the dirt road. Farrah raced over to him and rolled him onto his back, putting her foot in his chest.

"Rule Number One, never turn your back on an opponent!"

"Get off me!" Benedict said, grabbing her leg and twisting his body so that she tripped. At least that was the idea. Instead she back flipped back onto her feet and turned to face him just as he pulled himself to his feet. He put his fists up to fight, then noticed something.

"WHERE'S THE FLYER!?"

"Huh?" Farrah looked to either side of her.

"The flyer! You lost it!" Benedict tugged at his hair. "How am I going to be able to go the job without it!? I don't even know where this place is!"

"Hey, we'll f-" Farrah began, but Benedict cut her off.

"This is your fault! I told you not to come!"

"Hey, don't blame me fo-"

"You don't even need this job!" Benedict thundered. Literally. He'd activated his magic and was all but blew Farrah away. She held her arms up and ducked her head down to keep herself from flying.

"I did!" Benedict continued. "If I don't complete this job we don't eat and we don't have an apartment anymore!"

Farrah gasped, despite having to fight to keep her feet on the ground, eyes popping open and staring in shock at Benedict.

"I can't afford to split the bill with you but you insist on coming and then you lose the freakin' flyer!"

Benedict turned away from Farrah, body shaking as he began looking through the brush along the roadside for the flyer.

"I'm…" Farrah whispered. "I'm sorry...I didn't know tha-"

"Just go away, will you?" Benedict snapped. "You've already done enough! I've gotta worry about taking care of my family, and my dad threatening us and talking about breaking out to find us, and just completing this stupid job, I don't need to worry about you!"

Farrah winced as Benedict glowered at her before hunting for the flyer some more. She had known something was wrong. The Orlando family hadn't been seen in days, maybe even weeks, then the kids showed up with no Reina and Benedict stole a job. It was obvious there was something going on, but she didn't think it was this bad. No food? About to be homeless?

"Benedict, I-"

"JUST GO AWAY!"

This time Benedict did manage to blow Farrah onto her back. Farrah gasped as she hit the ground. It didn't hurt, but the fact Benedict was acting out like this was a sign of how bad things really were for him. She stood to her feet, brushed herself off, and walked away.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Benedict sighed as he pushed the Fairy Tail guild hall open. All that trouble first finding the job, getting harrassed by Farrah, losing the flyer, having the find the flyer, and the whole "haunting or curses" turned out to be nothing more than a colony of rats!

"What a day…" he grumbled as he made his way to the front desk to cash in the flyer. As he stumbled through he noticed Portia and Vera seated at a table, both with steaming plates piled full of food in front of them. Benedict gasped as he ran to them.

"What are you two doing?" he snapped.

Both girls jumped.

"Benny!" Vera smiled.

"We were hungry," Portia answered.

"But we can't afford t-"

"It's on the house," a soft voice called from behind him.

Benedict turned to find…

"Ms. Mirajane! Um, hi, I-" Benedict stuttered.

Mirajane reached towards him. He flinched, getting ready for a scolding and possibly even a beating. Instead, though, Mirajane pulled him into a gentle hug.

"Um, Ms. Miraj-"

"You can tell us when you're struggling," Mirajane said. "If you are having a hard time with anything: apartment payments, food, or even if you're just sad come to us. We're your family now. Whatever you need we'll help you."

Benedict blinked. Was this actually happening?

"Alright, here we go," another voice called.

Benedict looked up as Mirajane let him go. Laxus was walking towards them, two huge bags in his arms.

"I got enough groceries to last you guys for a little while, so don't stress," Laxus said as he set the bags on the table, a potato and an apple rolled out. Two loaves of bread stuck out of the top of one. Benedict could see a carton of milk in the other.

"Here," came a soft voice from behind him. Benedict turned to find Farrah standing there, a downcast look on her face, and a long, blue coat in her arms.

"Far-"

"I noticed you weren't wearing a coat so I got you one. I had to guess your size, though," she said as she held the coat out to him.

Benedict just stared at it. She got him a coat?

"What's wrong? Do you not like the color? I can take it-"

"No, it's not that," Benedict said as he began rocking back and forth on his heels. "I, erm, I can't take all of this. I mean, it's too much. I didn't really earn it, I just took a job behind your backs an-"

"It's okay, Benedict," Mirajane said as she set a hand on his shoulder. "As I already said we're family. We're here to take care of you."

Benedict hung his head, clearing his throat as he tried to fight against the tear threatening to fall from his eyes, as he took the coat from Farrah and tried it on. It was a perfect fit.

"Thank you," he whispered.

"You kids sit tight, I'm going to talk to your mother," Laxus said as he walked out of the guild hall.

"I'll get you a plate too," Mirajane told Benedict as she raced back to the kitchen. Benedict just stood there, running his hands over the sleeves. He glanced up at Farrah as she sat there, hugging herself.

"I'm sorry," both Farrah and Benedict said at the same time. They blinked at each other, turning away and saying:

"It's okay," once again, at the same time.

They turned and looked at each other again.

"I just wanted-" Farrah began.

"I know. I shouldn't have-" Benedict muttered.

"It's okay," Farrah said.

"I...I actually wouldn't mind you going on a job or two with me," Benedict said, head still hung, blushing slightly.

Farrah smiled. "I'll hold you to that," she said, punching him lightly in the shoulder as she skipped off.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

"Reina!"

Reina jumped as she read through another pamphlet on a protective shield charm casting.

Laxus all but knocked her bedroom door down, causing her to squeak in fear.

"M-Master?"

"Hand 'em over," Laxus said, holding his hand out.

"I-what?"

"Mace's letters. Hand them over," Laxus said.

Reina gasped. "How did you-"

"Benedict told Farrah."

"How did he-"

"I don't know but hand them over," Laxus said in a firm voice that made Reina tremble. She dug them out of the pile of documents on her bed and handed them to Laxus.

Laxus nodded as he tucked them into his coat pocket. "You don't worry about him or Phoenix Grave anymore. I'm the Master of Fairy Tail and you are a member. So if anyone threatens you they have to deal with me. You don't worry about him anymore. I want you worried about this…"

Laxus handed Reina a pamphlet and a folded stack of paper.

"Counselling?" Reina asked as she read the pamphlet.

"Did you even notice that there wasn't any food in this apartment? Or that you didn't have the jewel to pay your rent?" Laxus asked.

Reina's eyes widened. "I-"

"You've still got some issues from what Mace did to you and you need to get a handle on them. So go to counselling. We'll take care of everything else."

Reina just blinked. "How did-"

"Benedict. He swiped a job today to pay the rent and buy some groceries. Farrah caught him and somehow pried everything out of him."

Tears began running down Reina's face and she broke down crying. "I'm a horrible mother, aren't I?"

Laxus sighed. "This definitely ain't one of your brightest moments, but you're not horrible. You definitely need some help, though. No shame in that."

Reina shook her head. "I used to be an S Class wizard, now look at me. What am I?"

"Traumatized. Broken. Someone who needs some healing," Laxus said. "Lucy thing, though, you've got a great boy looking out for you and your daughters. You've also got the rest of us in Fairy Tail."

Reina just sniffled as she continued crying. Laxus set a hand on her shoulder.

"You've been strong long enough. Take some time and take care of yourself."

Reina tried to take a deep breath between sobs.

"You're not alone anymore," Laxus assured her as he turned to walk out. "Call on us when you need help. And go to counselling!"

He closed the apartment door and then looked at the letters. "Now to deal with you…"

AN: Hope you liked it this! Hope it wasn't to dull as there wasn't a lot of action or fluff this time around. (I originally was going to have Farrah and Benedict actuall fight but...given where they both are now in their powers and abilities...yeah, Farrah would wipe the floor with Benedict!)