Disclaimer: I do not own the Hardy Boys or any of the canon book characters, and am making no monies from this story. Any Original Characters belong to the author(s).

This story was originally written for a Christmas story staff challenge on the HDA site in 2010. It is set between September Song and January Thaw. There are six chapters total.

Dreary, Dazzling December

By EvergreenDreamweaver

Chapter One

"O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree…da da da da da da dah." Joe Hardy, a wide grin on his face, bellowed the familiar tune loudly, ignoring the fact that he didn't know the words and oblivious to his brother's revolted grimace at his lack of musicality. "O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree—" The song was cut off abruptly as Frank's hand covered Joe's mouth firmly. "Mpfff! Hmmmph!" he protested, and peeled Frank's fingers away. "Hey, what's the big idea?"

"Enough," the older Hardy declared. "You made your point. You're going out to get a Christmas tree. You don't have to torture everyone within hearing distance with it."

"You want to come along?" Joe invited, disregarding the slight to his singing. "The more the merrier. Vanessa says there's lots of trees the right size on their neighbor's property, and he said they could have all they wanted. We're going to get ours, and one for Van and Andrea. Could use the help hauling 'em," he hinted.

"Thanks anyway, but I have other plans," Frank declined.

Joe's blue eyes twinkled mischievously. "Hmmm. Less than two weeks before Christmas, on a dull, gray Saturday. Do the plans include…Megan, by any chance?"

"Maybe. What if they do? You have a problem with that?" Frank challenged, a frown puckering his forehead. He had only been seeing Megan Wright for a couple of months, and was uncertain about just where their relationship was headed.

Joe shook his head emphatically. "Nope, nope, no problem at all. I dig Megan; she's cool. But you both could come along and cut Christmas trees. Maybe she and her mom haven't gotten one yet."

"I think we'll pass. The time I want to spend with her doesn't include slogging up and down muddy hills and dragging evergreen trees around – at least not today."

"Suit yourself." Joe rummaged through the front hall coat closet, finally pulling out a black-and-white plaid wool jacket that had seen better days, and a wool hat with ear flaps. "Hey, I didn't remember I still had this jacket!"

"Can you still fit in it?" Frank inquired. "It's been years since you wore it, hasn't it?"

"It was always too big," Joe mumbled, donning the garment and settling it across his broad shoulders. "Fits just fine now." He put on the hat – and Frank began to laugh. "What's so funny?"

"You look like an advertisement for LL Bean or Orvis, or one of those places. Some place that sells clothes for loggers – or wanna-be loggers!"

Joe shrugged, unconcerned. "It'll be warm, and that's all I care about. See ya later – and be ready to help set up the tree when I get home!" He dug into the jacket's pockets. "Oh, good, gloves! I won't get all pitchy." Going out the front door, the younger Hardy began again to sing. "O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree…dum dum de dum dah dum dum."

Left alone, Frank went back to the family room and dropped onto the couch, brow still furrowed in thought. He had a decision to make. No, he'd already made the decision, he admitted to himself. He just had to figure out how to carry out what he'd decided.

Since starting college at Bayport Community College in September, Frank had discovered several things. One, that a junior college with commuter students and no Greek letter organizations could still support a large, involved social life. Two, that he had been sadly spoiled in the area of social events by his involvement with Callie Shaw all through high school.

In short, he hadn't had to ask a girl on a date in four years – Callie and Iola Morton – and then later, Vanessa Bender – had usually known about school dances and parties and other events before he and Joe ever did, and the two girls generally worked together to organize the Hardys' attendance at these social functions.

The third thing he'd discovered was that he really wanted to ask Megan Wright to the school Christmas dance, and he didn't have the slightest clue how to go about it! Superior amateur detective he might be, but this was a problem he didn't seem to be able to solve. At least not easily. And the dance was less than a week away, the Friday evening right before Christmas itself.

He'd considered asking Joe for advice, but that idea galled him. He was the elder brother, after all. Even though he had to concede that Joe was more the social animal, he didn't want to give his younger brother the chance to crow over him. Asking friends? Well…Phil was his best friend, but Phil was even less savvy about dating girls than Frank was, since most of his attention was usually on computers and electronics, with only passing thoughts devoted to the opposite sex. Tony? Perhaps…but Frank really didn't want to share this problem with anyone, even Tony.

"So, it's up to me, myself and I," he said aloud, and rose determinedly from the couch. "I'll take Megan out and…just ask her!"