Author's note: Hey all, it's my first time writing a Nancy Drew/Hardy boys story, but I hope that you all will enjoy it! I have a good outline for the story, but I can't promise that all my updates will be regular. This story is set a bit in the future from the books, Frank and Nancy are twenty-six and Joe and Vanessa are twenty-five.

Rated 'T' for language and violence. Potential rating change in later chapters.

Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own the Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew.

Frank's POV

Walking up to my childhood home always brings back the same feelings of warmth and safety even after living on my own for the last seven years. There's nothing like coming home for a home cooked meal and let's be honest my mother makes the best spaghetti in Bayport. After quickly jogging up the front steps, I opened the door and announced myself to my parents.

"Hey dad," I smiled after seeing my father turn upon the noise I made when opening the door.

"Frank! We weren't expecting you for another half hour!" My dad's bewildered expression accompanying his confused tone.

"I know, but I just couldn't keep staring at those notes. I'll take another look at the case tomorrow when I have more focus," I promised my father. We were in the middle of a rather annoying case, and I just couldn't continue to look at it today, especially with family dinner tonight. Joe, my father, and I started our own detective agency together once Joe and I graduated college. There are few times that I have seen my father prouder than when we bought a small office in downtown Bayport and set up shop. I know he'd never tell mom, but my father always wanted to go into business with us. So almost five years ago, Hardy & Sons: Detective Agency became the newest addition to Bayport.

"Don't worry about it Frank, I know this case has been trying on both of you," he nodded in understanding. "Why don't you go see if your mother needs any help in the kitchen? I'm setting the table now."

"Sure," I started towards the kitchen kicking off my shoes before heading further into the house, "Hi mom," I said as soon as she came into my view.

"Hi honey, how are you?" my mother questioned me as she continued to stir the spaghetti sauce.

"I'm okay, just tired," I walked over and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, "Is there anything I can do to help? Dad sent me to help."

Mom finally looked up at me, her warm blue eyes crinkled at the sides as she smiled, "Why don't you get a salad together?" she nodded towards the fridge.

"Sure," I shrugged my shoulders and started towards the fridge. Once I opened it, I started grabbing all the supplies needed to make the salad and headed towards the counter to start setting up. "Do you know when Joe and Van are planning on getting here?" I quested my mother as I started the process of cleaning all the lettuce and other veggies needed. I grabbed a knife out of one of the drawers, and began to chop veggies and place them into the bowl that contained the freshly cleaned lettuce.

Her forehead wrinkled for a second as she thought about my question, "They should be here in the next fifteen minutes or so, but you know Joe is never on time for anything. He was lucky that he was on time for his own wedding!" her exasperated tone was laced with humor as she shook her head at her own comment.

I chuckled at her remark. I'll never forget that one of the only times I had ever seen Joe on time for anything was for his wedding. He was a nervous wreck that day, but he was so excited to marry Vanessa. She brought so much joy back into Joe's life, especially after the death of his first girlfriend, Iola. Vanessa was a great match for my brother, she added a calming presence to his ever-present energy. They had married almost two years ago and bought a small two-bedroom house about twenty minutes from my parents'. I've never seen my brother as happy or as content since marrying Van.

"So, are you going to settle down anytime soon?" My mother's hesitate question broke through my thoughts. I looked at her and sighed quietly.

"I don't know. I just haven't met anyone that has sparked any interest. At least not since Callie," I said the last part more to myself than to my mother. My long-time girlfriend and I had broken up almost four years ago. She claimed that she just couldn't live this life anymore, waiting for me to come home every night, not knowing if I was safe or not. She ended up moving from Bayport to Pittsburgh for a job offer, I haven't spoken to her in almost three and a half years. I've been on a couple of dates since our breakup, but never anything serious.

"I know dear, but I know that you have struggled seeing your brother so happy being married," she sighed quietly to me as she turned off the burner that was warming the sauce. She looked at me with such knowing eyes, that I turned my focus back on the salad. Before I was forced to answer her, the door bell rang saving me from a rather uncomfortable conversation. I quickly finished putting the salad together, while shouting at my dad that I would get the door, I needed to make an escape and fast! I deftly dodged my mother's knowing glance and headed towards the door, where I could see the outline of Joe and Vanessa from the glass surrounding the doorframe. I opened the door to see my brother standing with his arm wrapped around his wife's waist. Joe had changed a lot since we were teenagers, well actually we both have. Both of us ended up putting on a few more pounds of muscle in college, more so Joe than me. He always loved weights, while I preferred running. Joe's hair is still as blonde and unruly as ever, but thankfully Vanessa has helped him tame it for the time being. I chose to keep my own brown hair in a short crew cut look. I smiled at the couple as I stepped aside to let them into the house.

"Hey little brother," I teased as Joe walked into the house kicking off his shoes, "Hi Vanessa, looking lovely as ever," I smiled warmly at my sister-in-law and pulled her in for a hug, she giggled softly and returned the hug.

"Okay, that's enough hugging my wife," Joe scowled good-naturedly at us, crossing his arms over his chest. Vanessa grinned and wrapped her arm around one of his crossed ones and he immediately relaxed and pulled her into his embrace and kissed her temple. I rolled my eyes at their display of affection. "What?" Joe exclaimed as he saw my face. "Can't a man be protective of his wife?"

"Of course, you can, but I was just saying hello," I told him leading the way while both Joe and Vanessa followed me to the dinning room. Mom was setting the last of the dinner onto the table making all our mouths water at the sight and smell of fresh spaghetti and meatballs.

"Whatever," Joe mumbled good-naturedly giving me a playful shove to the back of my left shoulder. I sat down at the dinner table beside my brother grinning back at him knowing I had won the playful argument. Mom gave us a look that meant behave, even at twenty-six and twenty-five my mother can still make both of us sit straighter with just a quick glare!

Joe's POV

Once we sat down for dinner I couldn't help but keep glancing at Vanessa. I love my wife so much, and she was especially beautiful tonight. She was in a deep conversation with my mother about the latest gossip at Bayport General. Van had gotten her Bachelor of Science in Nursing a little over three years ago and was currently an ER nurse at the local hospital. She loved working there, and I think it always makes her feel better that there is something that she can do to help Frank, Dad, or I if we are ever hurt during an investigation. I know being a private investigators' wife has been hard on her, especially when Callie broke things off with Frank because of it. I had never seen my brother so devastated, well except when Nancy Drew walked out of his life. For a while I thought he was going to give it all up for her, but then Frank decided that he couldn't change who he was, or what he was passionate about just to please Callie. Selfishly, I was glad when he chose to stay I don't know what I would do without my brother. I love working with him and my father, all three of us make a great team and it's been a dream of mine since we were teenagers.

"Joe what do you think?" My father's voice pulled me from my thoughts.

"Sorry Dad, I wasn't paying attention. What did you say?" I questioned looking at him.

"I asked if you think we should bring in your mother's famous pie and dig into some dessert," my father's voice was full of humor as he glanced at mom. She gave him a glare, but her eyes softened when he grabbed her hand and gave a quick kiss to her knuckles.

"Of course, I do!" I exclaimed, but I quickly looked at Vanessa, "But, before I go get the pie," I wrapped my arm around Vanessa's shoulders, "we have an announcement." Everyone turned their attention to us. "Uh, well, Van and I just found out that we are going to have a baby," I flushed at the immediate gasp that came from my mother, as she stood up and hugged Vanessa to her as quickly as she could. I stood up as well and Frank came over and gave me a big bear hug.

"Wow Joe, that's really amazing!" Frank beamed at he as pulled away from the hug, "I can't believe that you are going to be a dad!" I laughed at Frank's statement, and honestly, I wasn't sure if it was a compliment or not! My dad was then next one to come over, it looked like his eyes were a little misty as he pulled me in for a hug as well.

"Joseph I'm so happy for you," he soon turned his attention to my wife, and pulled her in for a hug and kissed her cheek, "and you, young lady need to make sure my son of mine is taking good care of you." Vanessa blushed under the scrutiny of the family as they continued to congratulate us. I walked closed to her and wrapped my arm around her waist pulling her into my embrace as our family continued to discuss the excitement of having a new family member in the coming months.

"How far along are you?" My mother directed her attention back on Vanessa.

"I'm only about three months, but the doctor said everything looks good. I have another appointment in two weeks, and hopefully we will figure out the sex of the baby then," my wife continued to gush about the details to my mother. "My due date is in mid-August, so hopefully I'll miss most of the summer before this little one is due," her hand subconsciously drifting over her mid-section. I grinned as I pulled her closer to me and gave her a quick kiss to her lips, I love her and our little baby so much.

Frank's POV

The thought of dessert has completely lost its appeal as soon as Joe revealed his and Vanessa's exciting news. I just can't believe that they are going to be parents, I mean Van has always been good with kids, and Joe just is a big kid, but I never imagined them having kids yet. That didn't make me any less excited for them, but it does bring a pang of sadness to me, I've always wanted kids and for a long time I thought I wanted them with Callie, but clearly that didn't work out. And honestly, I always saw myself getting married and having kids before Joe. As the excited to the news started to die down and everyone sat down for dessert, as mom brought in her famous apple pie the doorbell rang.

"I'll grab it," I announced as I started towards the door. Opening the door, my jaw dropped at the person standing on my parent's front steps. "Nancy?" I exclaimed, opening the door wider. With my exclamation both my father and brother came to the door. "What are you doing here?" I awkwardly asked. God, she was still so beautiful, but there was a haunted look to her eyes as she looked down from my bewildered expression.

"Uh, hi, listen can I come in for a second? I need your help on a case," she tentatively asked. My father pulled her inside.

"Of course dear, lets go into my office," he quickly and professionally led her into one of the chairs in his study. Once Joe, Dad, Nancy, and I were in the office, my father directed his attention to Nancy. "What's wrong? I know you wouldn't come all the way to Bayport if it wasn't important," he gently prodded her.

She turned her gaze away from us, and I swore I saw a tear drop from her eye, but she wiped at her face before I could get a good look. But, she soon took a deep breath and pushed her emotions to the side and look at all three of us, "I need you to help me find a missing person."

"Who?" I asked.

"My father, Carson Drew."

Author's note: I know it's kinda short for the first chapter, but I wanted to get a feeling for writing these characters for the first time. Let me know what you all think!