Another Hardy Boy fanfic!

This one was voted out of the ones that I offered to be started and finished first. Unlike my other ones, there is no death (that I have planned, at least) and a bit more humor. Basically, it's friendship building and stuff. (A lot of stuff.)

It's an AU. I'll explain the main plot points that one should retain at end of the chapter, so you guys can figure some stuff out yourself.

I do not own the Hardy Boys (though I really wish I did!)

Enjoy!

Start with a base of one Bayport. It may be speculating and spreading rumors, but that's okay. It should settle by the end.

"Did you hear?" Iola practically burst in pure anticipation for the answers she would receive.

"Hear what?" her older brother, Chet, asked. His voice lacked the curiosity that Iola was hoping for, which added to the excitement she put in delivering the news.

"The Hardys are moving here!"

"Um, Iola? Hate to burst your bubble, but Mrs. Anderson's name has been changed to Ms. Hardy for over a month," Callie reminded her friend. "And she's been here since forever."

"I was talking about her brother and his family!"

"She has a brother?" Biff asked from his seat on the porch. "It's already bad enough that she goes around and scolds everyone."

"He's a PI from California," Iola told the group matter-of-factly. "And he has three kids about our age, from what I've heard."

"Do you know what they're like?" Phil asked, not looking up from his laptop.

"Is it possible for them to be as bad as Ms. Hardy?" Tony added before taking a sip from his soda. "That would be a nightmare!"

"I don't know. Ms. Hardy was complaining that they take more from their father's side of the family instead of her example."

"Her example? She was in something that was very close to an emotionally abusive marriage for years!" Callie said. "For those kids' sakes, I hope they are strong."

"Two of them are boys and one's a girl," Iola said, trying to rack her brain for more facts. "Do you think the girl will be weak with two brothers?"

"Depends on the brother. I mean, you got Chet and see how that turned out!" Biff said with a laugh.

"Hey!"

"A PI? Hm…" Phil continued typing away, until he spotted whatever he was looking for. "The only PI I can find with Hardy as a last name is a guy named Fenton Hardy. You said California, right?"

"Yeah."

"Think this is the guy and his family, then." A few more clicks, and then the self proclaimed nerd of the group turned the laptop so everyone else could see the picture on the screen. "The article that came along said something about how the kids got into a fight during school. There's an impending investigation-"

"Probably because someone didn't tuck in their shirts," Biff joked, despite noting that the three younger people in the photo reminded him of the group.

"-and from the sounds of it, the other people initiated it. And all of them are in the hospital. I'll look into it more," Phil finished, as if he was never interrupted.

"There's nothing more that needs to be looked into," Callie said. "Those people ended up in a hospital. Doesn't that tell you a bit?"

"We should probably stay away," Chet agreed. "It we're lucky, they'll get into a fight with Brian at school. We'll be rid of one bully."

"And get a new one? No thanks." Phil shook his head slightly. "We'll play it by ear, then."

"As if that'll make violence better," Callie muttered.

Iola smiled, muttering a goodbye before heading back out to her planned destination of the shopping plaza. Her mind told her that the walk would take far too long for her to start any decent shopping, but her soul told her to go. There was someone that she had to see now. Someone close…

"Oh, Iola, how have you been?" Ms. Hardy asked. She had been watching from the porch of her now empty house, rid of anything that Mr. Anderson's lawyer had helped him lay claim to. Her knitting supplies (one of the few things that she was able to keep) lay by her feet, a sign that the woman had been distracting herself the whole day.

"Fine, Ms. Hardy. And you?" Iola didn't mind the older woman too much. She silently wondered how much the divorce changed her, and wouldn't have been too surprised to see that the woman who seemed tough on the outside shatter.

"Oh, fine… It's just…" Ms. Hardy gave a long, maybe even woeful, sigh. "I was thinking about my brother."

The girl stepped forward on the path to the house, curiosity peaked. It had been an unwritten rule before the divorce that no one would speak of Gertrude Anderson's (now Hardy) sibling. Rumors had it that there had been a great big fight over the man's choice of love, which pushed him and his new family over to the other coast. They haven't kept in any sort of contact in decades.

"Your brother, Ms. Hardy?"

"Yes, Fenton. He… He once told me that his love for Laura was better than my love for Ryan Anderson. I told him he was a fool for even trying to compare our relationships. And he was. Laura was outspoken and tough… she balanced him on a lot of ways. Ryan… well, you know how he is, dear."

Iola nodded. She did know. "So… Is Mr. Hardy going to move in with you?"

"Yes. Fenton thinks that it'll be easier access for main cases. He's a private eye, you know. He also thinks that the chance of scenery would do his children wonders." Ms. Hardy paused, setting down the knitting needles next to her chair. "They got into a fight trying to stop some kids from bringing weapons to their school. They weren't expelled or anything, but…"

"But what?"

"The kids got rough. And with a combination of drugs that they used… My nephews' and niece's retaliation seemed too much for their bodies to handle."

"Oh." So that was what happened. She should tell the others-

Callie's words came back to haunt her. "As if that'll make the violence better." Maybe the other girl will be right. After all, what could one moment say about a person? Shouldn't they have to prove themselves first?

Iola waved the woman goodbye, and continued on her way. They'll find out soon enough. She could only hope.

So...

The Hardys actually live in California. Due to a rift between Fenton and the rest of his family (will be explained next chapter) he and Laura moved over to the West Coast to start a family and life. He did, however, spend some time on the NYPD. So, he raised his family in Cali, Frank (the oldest) and Joe and Madison (twins, and Maddie is my OC because we all know that Laura probably couldn't stand all boys in the family). All three children did inherit their father's love of solving mysteries. We'll see them more next chapter.

As for Bayport: Gertrude Anderson (married and changed her name) was know to be a strict older figure of the community, but some noticed that the relationship she was in was emotionally abusive. After years of help and gaining self confidence, she ended the marriage, but her former husband ended up with most of the stuff. In solitude, Gertrude tries to make amends and calls her brother after decades of not speaking to each other. To her surprise, Fenton offers to move back over there to live in the house with her. But the kids' reputation proceeds them, even if not in the fullest light...

And now to let you imagine a bit as I write more. *waves*