OMG, it's an update. Inspiration hit me. I don't know if it'll happen again. J

Twenty-five year old Ian Rider nearly sprinted into the labor wing of the London hospital where his brother and sister-in-law were located. His nephew, a baby boy named Alexander Jonathon, had just been born. Ian, being away on his first mission, had missed the event. He had literally got off the plain, given his report, and raced to the hospital where the boy was not even a day old.

"Ian." His sister in law stated as Ian walked into the hospital room. "I was worried you weren't going to make it."

"Bank won't let you have the day off?" Helen asked, winking.

Ian smiled. "No."

Helen looked exhausted. Her blond hair was up in a lose bun that was falling out and messy. Her blue eyes, while shining, had bags under them. Her face was pale, unlike it's usual tan color. Yet, you could see how happy she was.

"Where's Alex?" Ian asked, sitting by John.

Helen nodded to John.

Ian smiled wide, overcome with joy.

Little Alex Rider had his hand around John's finger, staring up at the man. He had his dad's brown eyes, and you could already see a blond patch of hair. His skin was a peach color like his dad's. He looked over at Ian with confusion.

A little miracle.

"John?" Ian began, smiling.

The normally serious, observant man snapped his head up from the little bundle of joy. Ian had never seen him look so happy. John usually never showed too much emotion, a result of years as a spy and a soldier. Yet, John was smiling his largest smile, eyes bright and broken of their seriousness. The weirdest thing, the thing Ian almost though was a trick of his exhausted mind, John had tears in his eyes.

John Rider actually was crying.

"You want to see your nephew, little brother?" John asked, voice gentle and quiet. Ian hadn't heard him talk like that since he was twelve and had impaled his leg on a tree branch after falling off a horse. His nineteen year old brother had been gentle and quiet as he calmed Ian down.

"Of course." Ian said, taking the little boy.

Alex was adorable. He was wrapped in a blue blanket to keep warm, his eyes were staring at Ian as if trying to figure out who he was.

"Hi there, kid." Ian whispered, smiling ear to ear.

Alex stared at him for another second before scrunching up his face and beginning to cry.

Ian panicked. "John," he began, handing the boy back to his father.

John smirked and began rocking the little boy. "Shh, it's okay Alex. Daddy's here. Mum's right there. Shh," he continued coaxing the little boy. Eventually Alex's screams turned into sniffles, then, he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

"Why, why'd he start crying?" Ian asked.

John smirked further. "He doesn't like you."

Ian frowned.

"John, be nice. Ian, you're a stranger. He cried when he first saw John too." Helen said, rolling her eyes.

John frowned at her. "Helen, don't tell him that."

Ian glared at him. "John, I'd say something right now but I can't have Alex hearing me. Or Helen for that matter."

John smirked again. "How was you're first mission, baby brother?"

Ian rolled his eyes. "Boring."

"Surveillance usually is." John said, handing the baby to his wife.

"Unless you're the great John Rider who lives a triple life." Ian mumbled.

"Triple?" His brother asked with a raised eyebrow.

"One with Helen as normal John, another as MI6 John, and another as Scorpia assassin John." Ian said, smirking.

John rolled his eyes. "Because the third one is so lovely."

"I'm sure it is."

John shook his head. "Speaking of which, I need to discuss something with you." He whispered, switching to French. "I'm pulling out of Scorpia."

Ian scrunched his face, trying to remember his French lessons. "Why?"

Helen sighed and looked down at the baby. "Your daddy and uncle annoy mummy so much when they do this."

No response from the sleeping child.

"Too dangerous now that I have Alex. I'm getting too old for this crap. I'm retiring then planning to go to France with Helen and Alex. Hide out, lay low, get back to a normal life."

"If you even remember what that is." Ian said.

John smirked. "I actually do. It consists of magical things like not getting shot at."

Ian chuckled. "So why are you telling me this? Blunt would have your head if he knew you were telling me this."

"I want you to be prepared. If something goes wrong, which I don't think it will, and Helen and I aren't around, take Alex. Take him and hide for awhile." John ordered, seriousness coming back into his brown eyes.

"What about Ash?" Ian asked, scared.

"Don't let him take Alex. He's not right lately. I can't figure it out." John said, sighing. "He asleep, Helen? Helen?"

"Looks like she fell asleep too." Ian mumbled, chuckling.

John shook his head. "Come on, Ian. Let's get something to eat. And some coffee into you."

Not even a year later, the twenty-six year old sighed and ran a hand through his hair. John was gone. So was Helen. An explosion. Someone planted a bomb in their plane. Alex was suppose to be on that plane, but he had gotten an ear infection. John had called and told him to make sure Alex and the babysitter would make it to the meeting point.

So much for that.

Ian choked back a sob as he waited for the foster care agent to bring Alex to him.

His big brother was really gone.

Ding!

Sighing, Ian walked to the door to begin his new life.