Disclaimer: I don't own any characters. Never have. But they're on my Christmas list!
A/N:Yay! I'm back! And this time, I'm bringing Nancy with me. Yep; that's right! It's a Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys SUPER MYSTERY! cue applause
Age clarification: Joe 19; Frank and Nancy 20
"Mom, we'll be – oof!" exclaimed Joe Hardy as he was pulled into a death grip by his mother, Laura. He flailed his arms-- as much as he could-- and attempted escape, much to his older brother's amusement.
"Gee, Joe. You were right. You really can't keep the ladies off of you," joked Frank Hardy.
"Ha-ha, Frank. Really, you kill me. Now, would you mind? Maybe sometime before Mom really DOES kill me…" Joe said, his words trailing off a bit at the end.
"Mom? Yeah, you need to let Joe go," Frank said, pulling his mother's arms off the blond brother. Quickly, he realized the error of his ways, as he too was pulled into a bone crushing embrace. Joe smirked.
"Well, well, well. Looks like the mother's on the other brother. Not so funny when's it's your wind pipe getting crushed, now is it Frank?" Frank just gave his brother a glare as he wrestled his mom's arms away from him.
"Mom, this isn't the first time we've traveled without you. Besides, we're not little kids anymore," Joe said.
"I know, I know but it's just… you're growing up. I mean, one day, you're eating sand in the backyard, and the next thing you know, you're going to stay with a girl! A very special girl, right Frank?" said Laura, winking at her oldest son.
"Mom…" Frank groaned.
"Oh, don't 'Mom' me. You and Nancy have always had a special bond. And you two would be so cute together," Laura insisted.
"Yeah, Frank. I mean, can't you just see the two of you at the alter? And then with little Frank and Nancy's running around in the yard?" Joe gushed jokingly. Frank sighed when he saw his mother's eyes light up at the prospect of grand-kids.
"Nancy and I are just friend. Anyway, Nancy has a boyfriend. Nothing could happen with Ned around," Frank said, hoping to end the conversation.
"Come on, Frank. We all know that you could kick Ned's butt!" Joe said.
"There will be no kicking of Ned's butt. Nancy and I are just friends," Frank said tiredly.
"You know, Frank, that was very cliché. And when people say it, they always want to be more than friends," Joe responded.
"We're just friends! Just friends!" Frank said to his brother, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt.
"No, you're not," Joe said, batting his eyelashes comically.
Frank sighed and released his brother. He had been a little hostile, but he was just so sick of trying to explain that he and Nancy were JUST FRIENDS!
'But you don't want to be. You know you love her!' Said the irritating little voice inside his head.
"Oh! Shut up!" Frank said, realizing after a minute that he had said it out loud.
"Uh… sorry," Frank said to Joe.
"It's OK, big bro. I forgive you. After all, you're crazy… crazy in love," Joe added, laughing at his own joke.
"Oh, ha-ha. Joe, you kill me," Frank said sarcastically.
"I know," Joe replied smugly.
"Mom! Joe wants another hug!" Frank called, glaring at his brother.
"I hate you," Joe mouthed as their mother came tearing through the yard, wrapping her arms around her baby boy.
Frank just smiled wickedly in return, in fear that his mother would hear and turn her attention onto her eldest son.
"Mom… no, Mom! Mom, come on!" Joe said, struggling.
Frank sighed. He knew that they were going to be late if Laura didn't become unattached herself from Joe.
"Mom, we're going to be late. Please let go of Joe," Frank said.
Laura backed away from Joe.
"Ok," she sniffled, wiping her eyes on her hands.
The brothers both kissed their mom on the cheek before climbing into Frank's car and driving towards the airport.
--
"The pilot informs me that we are ready to take off. Please make sure that your chairs are in their full upright positions and that your seatbelt is securely buckled. And thank you again for flying with Bayport Airlines."
Frank let his thoughts flow as the plane began climbing towards the sky.
You really do like Nancy. It's hard not to. She's so smart, and funny. And you can't forget beautiful. Like when the sun hit's her hair just right, and her eyes sparkle…
"Frank? Frank, snap out of it!" Joe said.
"What? Oh, sorry Joe. What was it that you wanted?" Frank asked.
"I ever so politely asked for you to hand over the food Mom packed for the flight," Joe said.
Frank sighed. He handed his brother his carry on case, which included enough food for a small feast for four.
Frank looked out the window. He thought about Nancy again, a small smile appearing on his face as he did so.
"You thinking about Nancy?" Joe asked while Frank continued day-dreaming.
"Uh-huh."
"Do you love her?" Joe asked, shoving bread into his mouth.
"Uh-huh."
"Can I have your sandwich?"
"Uh-huh."
"Do you realize you just admitted you love Nancy?" Joe replied with a evil grin.
"Uh-huh-WHAT? I didn't--," Frank sighed. "Oh, leave me alone!"
"Whatever you say," Joe grinned, biting into Frank's sandwich.
--
A couple hours later, Frank and Joe were walking up to Nancy's apartment building. She shared one with Bess, who was out of town with her cousin George for a family reunion.
The doorman buzzed them up, and they rode the elevator in silence.
They approached apartment 5B and Joe knocked on the door.
At the force of his knock, the door creaked open slowly.
The brothers looked at each other nervously. Frank pushed his way in first, worried about Nancy.
Their red-headed friend was no-where in sight.
"Where is she?" Joe asked, a little bit of fear seeping into his voice.
"I don't know. She knew we were coming today," Frank replied.
"Um, maybe we should look around," Joe said.
"Good idea," Frank agreed, looking around the kitchen.
He had barely been looking around for two minutes when he heard a gasp ensue from the bedroom.
He raced open and pushed open the door. He saw his brother staring at something on the floor.
It was Nancy, crumpled into a heap.
A/N: Well, there's the first chapter. I wasn't really gone for that long, but as I mentioned in my other story, this one was rather infuriating and wouldn't leave me alone.
And that plane thing? Yeah, that only comes fluently from an experianced traveler (or someone with a really good memory!).
Please give me your thoughts on this.
Any form of criticism is appreciated.
But I like good reviews, too. 8)