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Chapter 1

The Beginning

A/N: I know, I know, I'm so bad. I totally should be working on Secrets, and I am, but this idea has been buggin me for months, so I just had to write it. I also wanted to show a more serious side to me in my writing and I think this story may do it. But here's some background information: One day in American history class, we were watching a movie about the Civil War, so I thought it would be really cool to do a Nancy Drew story during a war. Since Nancy Drew first appeared in the 1930's, I decided to make it the war right after that, WWII. Also, in my 6th grade world history class, a WWII veteran, who was a POW and was MIA, came to talk to us and some of the events in this are based on what he told us– his story was just heart wrenching and you could tell he had a difficult time talking about it.. Italy, you probably remember this. But in this story, I'm really in my element, because WWII has always fascinated me, though more with the Holocaust aspect of it & what was going on in concentration camps & stories of people like Anne Frank. Also what was going on here while men fought. Anyhow, this was as close as I could get to those things w/out changing Nancy Drew entirely- like making her born in Germany & all. But I wanted to keep a lot of Nancy the same, while still making it a WWII story. Sorry, I'm rambling now, so I'll stop and I hope you enjoy it. I don't know if I'm gonna have the Hardys show up, but if you want them to, let me know.

The beginning starts kinda slow, but it'll pick up. R & R!

Disclaimer: None of the core characters are mine.

The year was 1942. Nearly a month earlier, on December 7, the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor and the U.S. had entered the war. People had become enraged by the attack and were now hanging up posters that read "Remember Pearl Harbor," and things of that type. President Roosevelt's speech in which he called December 7th a "date which will live in infamy," had already become famous throughout the country. Men from all over the U.S. were signing up to fight against the axis powers- mainly the Germans, Italians, and the Japanese.

But 18 year old Nancy Drew didn't worry about that. No, she had a comfortable life as a lawyer's daughter. Why, even during the Great Depression, she hadn't suffered, not nearly as much as other people. So to Nancy, this war was just a far off thing, a thing that she tried not to think about. Her father had considered going to fight for a while, but had decided against it, thinking that it would be best for him to stay there. After all, even during a war, there were still trials that went on. So Carson stayed, and Nancy didn't think much about it.

Until Ned told her he wanted to sign up.

19 year old Ned Nickerson was Nancy's favorite escort. You could even say he was her boyfriend, though Nancy's father preferred that he be called an 'escort.' The two had become close in the two years they had known each other and tonight they were out at a jazz club that had become popular in Chicago in the '20s.

"You're what?" Nancy asked in disbelief, a hint of fear in her voice. The four man band on the stage behind her kept up the steady beat to which people were dancing to. But Nancy and Ned, oblivious to it all, were sitting at a small table, having a private conversation while their friends danced.

"I'm thinking about enlisting." Ned repeated himself calmly, meeting Nancy's gaze head on.

"W-why?" Nancy asked.

"Because I think it's my duty to go and serve my country in the war, Nan. And not just against the Japanese, but against Hitler, too. I mean, when you think of all the people he's killing and sending to those awful camps...I just want to do my part, Nan.

"But- but Ned, people die in wars. My great-grandfather died in the Civil War, my uncle died in the first world war, and I don't want you to," her voice trailed off and she looked down.

"Nan," Ned said, lifting her chin so she would meet his eyes. "I'm not saying it's final yet, but I wanted you to know I was thinking about it. When I know my decision, you'll be the first to know."

"But Ned, I don't want you to go! I want you to be here with me and I don't want to be off in Europe while I worry about you every second!"

"I know Nancy, I don't want to be away from you either, but remember, my decision isn't final yet."

"When will you make up you mind?"

"A month. I have a month to make up my mind."

Nancy smiled weakly. "Then let's make this month count."

It was the night before the month was up. Nancy and Ned had made the most of it, going to parties, taking long walks, going dancing, everything they could possibly think of to do. They were walking on a trail near Nancy's house when Ned spoke up. "I've decided to go."

Nancy caught her breath. "When do you leave?" Tears began welling up in her eyes, but Nancy wanted to be strong. For Ned's sake.

"Next week. I'll start my training in Hawaii and after that, it shouldn't be long before I go over to Europe."

Nancy didn't say a word, and the two of them walked back to the Drew home in silence. Once Ned had left, and she was safely in her room, she let the tears out.

I've got to get there, Nancy thought as she drove to the nearest airbase on the day Ned was scheduled to leave. The night before, she had sworn to herself that she would not there when he left, that she wouldn't put herself up to all that hurt. She wouldn't say good-bye to him, because if she said good-bye, it might really be good-bye, and she would never see him again. She had spent the whole last week avoiding his phone calls, telling Hannah to tell him she was out whenever he came over, and whenever she sw him in town, running in the other direction. No, she could not face him. Facing him would only hurt her- hurt both of them. But at the last minute, her resolve failed her. So now she was driving as fast as she could, praying that it wasn't too late, that he hadn't left yet and she could still tell him that she would miss him- and, for the first time, tell him that she loved him.

When she got to the airbase, she looked around in panic, trying to find him in the crowd of families hugging their men who were about to leave. Finally, she spotted him with his parents against the other wall.

"Ned!" she cried out, running toward him. At hearing his name, Ned turned around to see who it was and grinned when he saw it was her. She ran into his arms and he lifted her up and twirled her around, her skirt flaring out around her knees. "Oh, Ned, I was so afraid that I wouldn't get here in time, and that I wouldn't see you and wouldn't get to tell you-"

"Tell me what?" Ned prompted, setting her down while still keeping his arms around her. His parents had moved away a little bit, leaving them to their conversation.

"Tell you that-that I'm gonna miss you so so much and that. That I love you."

"You love me?" Nancy nodded and he smiled. "Well then I guess I love you too." He lifted her chin and kissed her tenderly. When he pulled back, there were tears in Nancy's eyes. "What is it? It can't be so bad that I love you that it's making you cry," he teased.

Nancy shook her head. "I'm crying because- because I'm afraid. I'm afraid that I'll never see you again and that you'll die and I don't know what I would do without you Ned."

Seeing the look in her eyes made Ned's heart melt. "I don't know what I would do without you either," he whispered huskily. "Nancy," he gulped. "Will you promise to wait for me?"

"I promise," she said, without a moment's hesitation.

"I'm gonna come back Nancy. I promise. And I'm gonna write to you every day. And when I come back, I'm gonna love you and never leave you again. You hear me?"

"Yeah," Nancy kissed him again, this time longer than the first, until someone called out, "Hey Nickerson!"

Ned turned. It was one of the guys that he had befriended who was also going to Hawaii. "Be there in a minute!" he called to him. He turned back to Nancy. "I guess it's time for me to go."

"I guess." Nancy repeated dully.

"Remember what I promised you. And what you promised me. And remember I love you. Goodbye Nancy."

She shook her head. "I don't want say goodbye to you. Then it might really be goodbye."

"Then what do you want to say?" Ned asked curiously, arching his eyebrows.

"See you later."

Ned smiled. "See you later. I love you Nancy."

"I love you, too, Ned."

And then after giving her another quick kiss, he picked up his bag and left.