Welcome! ♡

It’s another multichapter story. I really do love this one – maybe because I have the most success in the German fandom with it yet – it is my current one I am writing on since April ‘14. I hope you will like this one as much as my German friends, let’s see.

I am used to write chapters up to 5k words. So it can take a bit of time to translate it in the best knowledge of English I have, not to forget that I still have to finish and update ‘Perfectly Imperfect’ – this story will still be my highest priority.

I am your girl for trying something new. I love to take typical outlines of stories but plot them different and write them in another way. At least I try. I am also a 'fighter' for “the others” – I hate this label so much – and yes I refer to Brad, Joe, Dave and Rob. Since day one I always try to interact with them in my stories and in this story I tried an even more ‘aggressive’ way and made a plot for everyone.

Still Mike and Chester’s storyline will be the main one – because I also have the most sympathies for a little Bennoda love. I also love to write about non-typical pairings and maybe the one in this story was not written yet, I do not know, but I never read about it.

This story will also show some of my own interest, most of the time it will be displayed through Chester’s character.

! Info:

Pls note that there are some characters I have created for the sake of this fic, therefore they are mine:

Charlene, Rebecca, Dan, Elisabeth, Sophie, Amber, Paul, Kathy, Lilly, Marion, Kim, Sara, Joel, Melissa, Ashley, Ethan

All members of Linkin Park + eventually appearing members of the Linkin Families and Mark Wakefield (of course all the other possibly mentioned real persons in later chapters) belong to themselves; they are merely borrowed for the sake of this complete fictional story. Nothing ever happened like this story is going to describe.

Progress: 4/~35 in Progress, (written chapters in the German language: 32 out of 35)

Updates: sporadic

Chapter length: 4.000 - 5.000 words

Main Characters: Chester, Mike. Still this story will highlight the lifes of other protagonists.

Plot: Mainly AU with some real facts

FOL_English will not be 100% alike with FOL_German. At some points it can be easier for me (and also for your understanding) to translate it a bit more freely. Here and there can be found words and even sentences, which are not mentioned in the German version. Also it is the second time I am writing this story, so I take the chance to improve it a bit.

© Story: Rayden, 15.04.2014 - xxx

Share your thoughts, pls.

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'Fortune Of Life'

1. Beginning / Agoura Hills

It was only a few minutes after three in the morning, as she tiptoed through the dark house. She felt so much melancholy while she looked around the hall. The middle-aged woman was sure in her decision and also did not want to cancel it again, even if it was still beyond her comprehension. It was normal for her to laugh out loud and shake her head about the idea, because she always had closed her eyes from the truth and tried to grasp after a little hope; that everything would get better. It had become a habit, but now she walked through the hall and still was unsure if she was doing the proper thing and actually she was on the verge of chipping out of her plan.

The only cause she acted out the plan, had been that he clenched his hand into a fist and slammed it into the table while he screamed at her. He even insulted her as irresponsible and bad mother; that she should not be so naïve and that she had to do something. She had cried because she knew all of that and still she had not been able to do something against it, because she had been afraid of the consequences and especially of him.

He had taken a deep breath and laid a hand on her trembling shoulders. He actually had known that it was hard on her, but the bad company in this house had been unhealthy for his little brother. Each visit showed it to him, his brother seemed more and more broken and he just cared.

Back in time he had rescued himself. He had fled and found shelter at his girlfriend’s. She had helped him out and also saved him not to be delinquent. He often felt shame for not being able to help his little brother. He dreamt about to come home so he could get him, but his job did not give him any chance to be there for him. Way too often he had to go away. The only chance he could get was at his visits as he tried to reason with their mother, he even begged. She had to take the boy away from the violent alcoholic that also called himself husband and father.

“Oh please, Brian… you have to understand why he changed so much.” She whispered with a powerless voice. She glanced down on the edge of the table. In this moment she was just a broken woman, who clung to the old but strong love for her husband. She also ignored the bruises, the black eye or the contused rip of her youngest son.

He exhaled a deep breath and because his coffee mug was empty, he tried to ease his anger with a cigarette. “The past is no apology for his behaviour. No, it’s not. He should’ve cared more; not drowning his failure in fucking alcohol. And surely he can’t just let out his frustration on him!”

“But-“ She tried to reason, to defend her husband.

“Fuck! There is no fucking ‘but’, mom!” He cried out in anger and slammed his fist into the table so hard that the coffee service clashed and she jerked away as tears welled up.

She was overwhelmed with goosebumps as she thought back to that day. Still she felt much more confident with her plan now. She took a deep breath and opened the door. It was dark and she slipped into the room where she only could make out some outlines because of the moonlight. It was bright enough that she did not need to turn on the lights.

She knelt herself in front of the bed. A tender smile on her lips as a feeling washed through her and all of a sudden the woman was sure to do the right thing. It distracted her from her hammering heartbeat as she stroked through messy hair. “Wake up, baby.” She called lovingly and watched him moving. She leaned forward to kiss his forehead. “Chazy, wake up.”

He opened his eyes, still feeling very tired. He looked confused to the dark silhouette of his mother. His glance waved to his alarm clock - way too early to already be up. “Mom?” Chester asked sleepy.

With a deep grumble he stretched his tired limbs and turned to the side as he cuddled himself in the soft bed sheets again. He did not want to know why she was here.

“You have to stay up, baby.” She told him and looked caring to him. She hated it to wake him up from a good slumber. “We have to go. Come on, Chester, we are going away.”

“Hmm.” He grumbled again. His mind did not work yet and he did not understand the important relevance in her words. His eyes were closed and he drifted away into his sleep again. He felt soft fingertips as they ran through his hair and he buried his face in his pillow a bit more.

“Hey don’t fall asleep again. We are going – now, Chester. We have to go now. Maybe it is our only chance to get away from your father.” She told him and stood up. The mother shook her boy again and turned to go to his closet. “Stay awake.” She took a bag and began to randomly fill it with his clothes.

Chester yawned and bobbed up on his elbows. He looked around through small and tired eyes as they almost fall shut again. “What are you doing? Mom!”

“Shh, Chazy… don’t be so loud. Stay up and take some of your stuff.” Chester’s mom demanded and he saw her solemn face because the moonlight shone onto it as she had turned to him. He did not get what was going on, but still he did what his mother had told him.

With slow steps he moved through his room and pulled on old jeans before he turned to his desk. He still swayed as he stood in front of the table, because he still had to fight to not fall asleep again. He took his Discman and an old and thick notebook. He blinked for a few times and yawned.

His mother snatched after another bag and emptied his closet further. Chester turned and knelted down to pull a box from under his bed. In this box he had some of his most important things and he laid his CD player with some of his CDs into it before he took the box under his arms.

“Do you have everything?” She asked him and sounded very nervous and impatient. He looked at her as she stood in his room with two full bags in her hands. The moon was so bright that he could see that she trembled.

“Almost.” He mumbled calm. “I need my guitar and amplifier.”

She sighed. “Take your guitar.” She told him and turned to the door.

“And what about the amplifier?” He asked and stood still.

“No one of us is able to carry it, Chester, and we are not going back!” The mother told him and frowned a bit. He could not see her face anymore as she stood outside of the moonlight, but her demanding words were enough so that he did not dare to disagree with her. “Chester, come on… Jesus Christ, I buy you a new one.”

“Promise?” He whispered as he snatched after his guitar so he could follow her. One last glance fell on his amplifier, which he had to leave behind.

“Yea… used or something, and only if I can scramble up some money.” She sighed and opened up the door. She slipped out and Chester hesitated for a second. He looked through his room, even if he did not get his mother’s plan yet, he just knew he would not come back here ever again. It felt strange. This was his safe place. In this room nothing had happened to him, after he locked the door and turned up the music everything was okay again.

Chester closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He was going to never have to suffer from his father’s outburst again and he began to almost run after his mother. So often he had thought about running away, to turn his back on his life and continue on his way into an uncertain future. He never had been afraid of it and one time he had even left for a few days before his father found him at a friend’s. Still Chester had to accept the fact that he would never be able to leave without his mother, even if he was old enough.

Yet it was his mother who wanted to run away and Chester could not be happier. A big smile crossed his lips. A lot of things he had to leave behind in his room, but the most important things were under his arms as he slipped into his shoes. He took his skateboard from the porch and strode through the dew-fresh grass in which the moonlight shimmered.

His mother put his bags in the trunk as he came up to her. He saw how the trunk was stored with her and his bags and some other things. She smiled a bit and ran her fingers through his curly hair. “Chaz, please take your stuff with you. There is not enough space left.” She told him and Chester nodded. “Good. Get in the car.” She demanded and looked nervously back to the house in the dark.

Chester took his things with him as he sat down in the passenger seat and had to wait a few moments before his mother sat down behind the stirring wheel. She put the keys into the ignition lock and leaned her head back.

“Are you sure about all of this, mom?” He asked under his breath as he hoped that it was like that, otherwise they had to stop right now. He could handle his father, but his mother being sad was something terrible for him. “You love dad.”

Chester’s mother looked over to him. She laid her hand on his thigh. “I love you too, darling, without him everything will be better.” She said with a soft smile, still pain sounded through her voice.

Her son pressed his lips together and looked into his lap. He did not want to be at fault that she left her husband, even if it also was the best for her. “It is better, but…”

She smiled softly. “I thought like that way too long, Chester.” She said and understood his doubts. “It is okay. He is… a bad person. It is very hard, but… we are going to have a better life. I only love the good memories with him. We are counting now – you and I. You are my sweet baby-boy.”

Chester smirked and rolled his eyes. He laid his hand over his mother’s. “You mean your pubescent teenager.” He mentioned amused, but enjoyed all the love she was giving him. His mother was the most important person in his life, she was his only foothold.

Laughing she poked him in the arm before she turned the keys to start the engine. “You are my baby forever.” She told him and pulled out of the driveway. One last time the both of them looked at the house. Mother and son exhaled deeply and even if they knew that they had lived through hard times there, they could not let go as freely as they wished. It still had been their home for a very long time.

They drove the street down. The radio played only sporadic and because of that it was silent. They did not speak; both of them let their old lives behind and adjusted themselves to their new lives.

“Where are we going?” Chester asked after they had just left Phoenix behind.

Chester’s mother swallowed and smiled hesitant. She had been offered help from an old friend. She got shelter and even a job as charwoman. “Far away, Chazy.”

Chester took a deep breath. He knew that he had to leave his friends behind. They had to go far away so that his father would not find them again. “Ok, but where?”

“I could rely on an old friend of mine. Rebecca. She is also a mother of a son. You got along with him very well back then.” She smiled to the hazy memories.

Chester thought for a second and shook his head. “I don’t know about Rebecca or her son…”

She laughed out loud. “Of course not, you had been two years old or something like that.” His mother told him and stroke over his cheek. “They live in Agoura Hills, that’s in California. A suburb of Los Angeles. They are called Delson and Bradford is their son, I bet you will like him. Be good and proper as I taught you.”

Chester nodded and let the new information sink. He felt strange about it. Everything he knew was taken away and he was thrown into a complete new world. Everything would be foreign and he had to find his way again. Still he was not the marked boy anymore, nobody knew about his story. He got a chance to live a normal life.

“You will settle down sooner than you think, darling.” His mother told him and disturbed him in his thoughts. He looked from the window to her. Her face was lid by the moon. “Rebecca already told me a lot. Brad is very friendly; he will introduce you to his friends for sure.”

Chester huffed a bit. “Don’t be afraid, mom. I’ll find my way.”

She laughed low and looked over to him. “I know, you are so brave.”

“Just hardened.” He mumbled and sighed. Chester slipped out of his shoes and pulled his legs up on the seat. He hugged his legs and glared out to the street, which was lid partly by the headlight.

“Maybe you get a hot chick as girlfriend at the beach.” She teased him and poked him in his side.

He smiled and grumbled a bit as he thought about Samantha. He had been together with her for one year, but she had broken up with him, because ‘it was too difficult being with him’. He did not know if it had been real love, but he really had liked her. She had been able to lift his mood on bad days, but even if the people ignored the terrible past of the Benningtons they still whispered behind their backs. They watched his every step and that had been the problem for Samantha. “Is there the ocean?”

“Nope.” She laughed out. “But Agoura Hills is just half an hour away from the pacific. It’s summer break, surely Brad and his friends are going often to the beach. I bet they take you with them.”

Chester smiled. “Maybe I get some tan, in case I don’t find any girl.”

She smiled and shrugged. “I think I don't even want to share my baby-boy.”

“Oh mom…” He mumbled and shook his head amused. His eyes began to feel heavy again. The monotone noise from the wheels made him sleepy.

“There is a blanket on the backseat, Chaz. Get some more sleep.” His mother told him and Chester turned to get the blanket in which he cuddled himself.

He leaned his head against the window and looked outside for a bit. “How long do we have to drive?”

“Six hours or so, we get there before noon.” She answered.

“Do you want to switch seats?” He asked.

“I’m fine. I’m awake and I got a lot of coffee. Sleep, Ches.” She told him and even showed him a can of coffee. He just nodded.

“You never let me drive, but I’m an excellent driver.” He protested sighing and then let out a yawn.

“I know, now sleep.” She smiled and looked at him for a second. She pulled at the blanket and covered his shoulder with it. “Good night, Chazy.”

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One day before – Agoura Hills

The sun burned down and the streets began to glisten. The air was dry and thick. The boys sweated without even moving as their instruments stood untouched in the garage. They opened up the gate and waited unsuccessful for a little breeze.

“We should practice.” Mike huffed out and almost choked on the thick air in his lungs. He was exhausted and slid down on the old garniture of Brad’s parents. He had taken off his shirt to use it as a pillow for his head. Sweat was running down his forehead and with the back of his hand he whipped it away constantly.

“I won’t move, not even for a bit, Shinoda. Mark isn’t here anyway.” Joe grunted and splashed his feet in the tub in which he had filled some cool water, but it already heated up again. “Does someone want to change the water for me?” He asked a bit stressed out and shrunk a bit in the armchair.

“Fuck you.” Brad grumbled as he had to share the couch with Mike. A constant buzzing sound penetraded his ears and almost made him go crazy. “Rob! Turn that fucking thing off.” He snarled.

The drummer pressed his lips together and followed Brad’s demand. He turned off his small fan, which he could hold in his hands and threw it on the coffee table. “It only whiffed hot air anyway.” He commented and leaned himself back on the second couch in the garage. “Let’s go to the beach.” Rob suggested. He thought for a moment, but there was no wind and the sun shone down too hot, so that he could go surfing, still it was a good idea to cool down.

“My ass doesn’t get close to any car; it’s like an oven in there.” Dave protested, who sat next to Rob. He tilted his head a bit and smirked towards Mike. “But we could go in Mike’s pool.”

Mike slowly looked up and felt as he had moved too much already. He grumbled and shook his head. “Jason has friends over. The pool is full.”

“Your pool is fucking enormous.” Joe protested hopeful.

“I don’t want to go to that fucking kindergarten.” Mike muttered.

“As if your brother is so much younger.” The DJ grumbled and shrugged. “I could definitely endure him and his friends as long as I can cool down in your pool.”

“You are free to go, Joe.” Mike grunted as the doorway to the house opened up. Brad’s mother walked through it and smiled at them. She held a tablet with glasses, a carafe with fresh lemonade and a bowl with cut melon for all of them.

“I can’t hear you.” She told them and sounded too lively for them, as if the hot temperature did not bother her. She grinned to them.

“Way too hot.” They said almost unison and Brad sat up so he could serve his friends some of the good lemonade of his mother. Everyone enjoyed the cool drink as they thanked Brad’s mother for it.

“Well, if you aren’t practicing today… then you can come in and help me for a bit, Bradford.” She said to her son and smiled cheery. She looked at her wristwatch as if she wanted to show him that she still had so much to do without any time left. “You can vacuum the guest room and change the bedclothes, later on. Oh and you tidy up your room too. I already asked you for that yesterday.”

Her son looked bitterly up at her and sighed as he rolled his eyes. He nodded and she finally left the garage again. Brad grumbled and fell devastated against the couch.

“Is your granny visiting again?” Mike asked and was a bit gleeful. He was Brad’s best friend and he knew how straining and picky the old lady could get. He leaned towards him and pinched his cheek. “My little Braddy.” He mimicked her and began to laugh loudly.

The guitarist grunted and pushed Mike away. “No, she isn’t coming over.”

Mike frowned surprised. “Who else could be visiting, huh? It’s actually only your gran who visits your fam.” He stated and felt curious about the mysterious visitors. He even observed that Brad did not look very happy about it.

“A friend of my mother and her son. They actually move in with us… well as long as they don’t have anything on their own.” Brad told his friends and crunched his face up and took a sip from his lemonade. “I have to share my room.”

“Really? Who are they?” Dave asked and snatched a slice of the watermelon. He looked through the room as everyone looked kind of curious towards Brad. They almost glared and Brad began to feel anxious. He did not want to talk about it. He did not know anything about them, just the little bit his mother had told him.

“I don’t know them. My mom is in contact with her only for a few months again. Charlene, or something like that.” He grumbled and put his feet against the coffee table.

“And what about her son?” Joe probed into the interesting talk as he pulled the bowl closer to him so he could take some slices out of it too. The DJ imagined the boy as some cool dude like they were. He smirked a bit and hoped that he would share some of their hobbies. Maybe they could become friends with him.

“I just know that his name is Chester and that he is one year older.” He shrugged his shoulders. Brad scrunched up his nose. “That’s all well and good, but I really don’t like to share my room with him.” He whined.

“Maybe he is really cool.” Rob smirked to lift his friends’ mood. He refilled his glass with lemonade and looked back up at the guitarist. “I am curious about it now.”

Dave laughed and nudge Rob a bit with his elbow. “That could be.” He said and looked to the guitarist. “But what is if your Sophie is visiting you?”

Brad sighed and rolled his eyes. He did not like to be reminded on his girlfriend, because he had to miss her since a few weeks now. “She is away until school starts again. I hope until then they’ll have found something on their own.” He explained. “I just have reatrain myself when we are talking on the phone if he is here… you know…”

“Oh Brad!” Joe cried out and laughed as he splashed the water just for the devilment. A full load of water sprayed on Mike and the latter one gasped in shock. All of a sudden everyone went silent for a few seconds before it caused them to laugh out loud. The Korean pressed a half-hearted apology out.

Squealing tires cut through their hysterics as a ragtop got to a halt next to the side of the road and let them look up. ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ was blasted loudly and with too much bass over the loudspeakers and two girls got out of the car laughing. They wore miniskirts and bandeaus.

One of the two had brown shoulder-long hair and smiled brightly towards her boyfriend. Mike smiled and got a bit unsettled. He looked greedy as she came up to him. Anna sat down on his lap and made sure to rub herself a bit on his crotch as she bowed to him and captured his lips in a deep kiss. Her hands smelled after lotion as they stroked softly over his cheeks.

Her friend greeted Dave in the same passionate way. Brad sighed and felt jealous as he wished to be with Sophie. His heart stumbled as he watched his friends with their girlfriends. He then looked to Rob, who gave him a symphatic glance back. Brad huffed and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Oh, come on…” He mumbled a bit pissed. “Joe gets a hard-on already…”

The DJ bestowed him a blown kiss and winked at him. “Baby, I don’t think that the girls could outshine Mark.”

Giggling Anna let go from Mike. She wiped her under lip with her thumb and stroked lovingly over Mikes chest. “Wakefield is the only one who wants you Joe.”

“Fuck you, Anna.” Joe smiled and flipped her off. He nodded towards her and Lilly. “Why are you here anyway? We are practising.”

Anna examined the DJ and tilted her head a bit. “No, you actually would practise – but obviously you are not and I wanted to see Mike.” She smiled obstreperously. She slid off from the emcee and took his hand into hers. Anna pulled a bit, so he would stand up. “And if you aren’t doing anything, I’m going to take him with me.”

“Anna…” Brad mumbled. He did not want that his best friend left their practice, because he did not see him often because of her in the last few weeks. On the other side he knew that no one would hang with him any longer if someone left their round now and that meant he had to go in to help his mother.

Mike slipped his shirt on and smiled lovestruck towards Anna as he shrugged. He tugged a bit on his shirt and entangled his fingers with Anna’s. “It is just too warm to play, Brad. Let’s go to Malibu? Dave, Lil are you going with us?”

“Yeah, of course.” Lilly laughed and jumped off the couch and pulled Dave with her. The bassist grinned and waved over his shoulder as he and his girlfriend walked after the other pair to Lilly’s car.

“They must be kidding us!” Joe huffed a bit offended. “This idiots drive to Malibu now, but denied to go swimming a few minutes ago?”

Rob laughed and stood up. He tapped Joes shoulder. “I go with you if you are driving.” He suggested and sighed because he still had to wait to get his licence for another year.

Joe gasped after air and felt upset as he snatched one last slice of the watermelon. He stood up as he munched on the fruit and snatched his shoes. “I go to Mark.”

“No! Joe… man.” Brad sighed and stood up hastily, but he could not stop the DJ anymore. He strode barefoot through the front yard and disappeared behind the next corner. With a bitter glance he looked to Rob and laid his hands onto his slim waist.

Rob laughed again and nodded towards the house. “I know, you don’t want to help, huh?” He asked but already knew the answer.

Brad nodded and pulled a wry face. He sighed and looked at his youngest friend. “I bet mom would have been there and ready for action soon. It is good that they are gone now… but… man, would you help me, please Rob?”

“Only if you get me a date with Melissa.” Rob demanded and shot Brad a serious glance.

The guitarist sighed and came up to his friend. Almost fatherly he stroked through the drummer’s hair. “Better stay a virgin, Robert.” He sighed deeply, but took his hand to tag him inside as he silently went along with his deal.

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Thank you for reading the first chapter. Should I continue with it? :)