Nancy couldn't believe what she was doing. As she stood outside the Hardy's front door on Christmas Eve with the snow falling heavily. She raised her hand to ring the bell, as she asked herself not for the first time if she was insane. There was no doubt Frank would be stunned. He'd probably think she was crazy, and quite frankly she agreed with him at the moment.

"Well, no time like the present to humiliate myself" she figured, collected her courage and rang the doorbell of the unsuspecting Hardy family. It wasn't every day she invited herself to someone else's family Christmas, even if it was the Hardy's. She heard movement from inside the house, and as the front door slowly opened she heard the sound of Christmas music coming from within the house.

She took a deep breath preparing herself mentally in case it was Frank who answered the door.

She sighed in relief as Laura Hardy looked at her in astonishment for a moment.

Laura Hardy looked disbelieving at the person on her front step. "Nancy!?" she asked half unsure of the person on her doorstep. She thought it was one of the boys friends., but Joe had gone to get Gertrude from the airport and Frank was fast asleep on the couch in front of a roaring fire.

Given that Frank had only arrived hours ago, and looked like he hadn't shaved or slept in days Laura suspected he had no plans other than catching up on sleep for at least the next day.

Joe had tried to convince him to go with him to get Aunt Gertrude, but Frank lulled by the warm fire was more asleep than awake by then.

Laura stepped aside and let Nancy in as she realized it really was snowing hard now. The weatherman had promised up to a foot or more, so it looked to be a snowbound Christmas. That suited Laura just fine since both her boys were home from school. Now she secretly added Nancy to the list. She had always considered Nancy an honorary daughter. Personally she always thought that eventually that Frank would make Nancy her real daughter.

She hadn't seen Nancy in 2-3 years, and she clearly looked uncomfortable in her house. Laura also didn't miss that her eyes seemed to be searching for her son she suspected. Laura decided to put an end to the discomfort immediately and encircled Nancy in a huge welcoming hug.

Nancy sighed, she should have known Laura would welcome her. Laura Hardy was how she dreamed her mother would have been. She envied Frank and Joe having Laura especially now at the returned the hug with enthusasium.

"What a wonderful Christmas surprise!" Laura exclaimed softly. She motioned for quiet and pointed to the couch near the fireplace.

Nancy slowly withdrew from the hug and turned her head to where Laura had pointed a minute ago. There lay Frank Hardy completely oblivious to the world snoring softly on the couch in front of the fire. Deep in slumber his mouth hung open snoring softly, he was unshaven, his hair wildly mussed, and generally a mess, so unlike his usual self. Nancy stared for a second taking in his features again. Nancy smiled and thought she had never seen anything better than Frank Hardy sprawled on the couch.

Laura interrupted her reverie. "Leave your stuff here by the couch. Frank will get them later when he wakes up. Come into the kitchen and we'll get you warmed up. I have coffee or I can heat some cocoa." Laura offered.

"I don't want to cause any bother, whatever you have would be great." Nancy answered relucantly taking her eyes off Frank.

Laura smiled to herself. Maybe this would truly be a Merry Christmas, more than even she'd expected. Certainly Frank was getting a big surprise Christmas gift, Laura thought wryly.

Nancy and Laura walked into the kitchen.

"Fenton, look who the weather blew in." Laura said.

Fenton turned around from the stove where he was putting Laura's dinner in the oven.

"Nancy!!" Fenton exclaimed banging the oven door and crossing the kitchen to hug her warmly. "God, you're frozen. Would you like some coffee or cocoa?" he asked.

Nancy laughed. "Whatever you have that's warm would be great. Thanks."

They all sat at the table catching up on life, while waiting for Joe to return with Aunt Gertrude from the airport, and Frank to wake up. Nancy relaxed and suddenly realized she'd made the right decision in following Frank from Boston to Bayport. The trip had been 5 hours on an overcrowded train, but now she knew it was worth every minute. This is what Christmas was meant to be with family and friends and she considered the Hardys both. It was clear to her that they did too.

From the kitchen they all heard a loud commotion as the front door banged open, and a woman's voice complaining loudly about bags in the hall came from the front room. Nancy jumped up from the table going to collect her bags and mullify Aunt Gertrude, if possible. Nancy could hear shushing noises coming from the front room as Joe tried to warn his aunt that Frank was sleeping.

"Fenton, go help Gertrude before she wakes the dead, let alone Frank." Laura grumbled as she took the dinner from the oven.

"I've got it Mr Hardy " Nancy said as she rushed through the kitchen door to collect her bags.

Gertrude plowed into Nancy as she came to grab her bags..

"Look where you're going, young lady!" Gertrude bellowed as Nancy grabbed her and steadied her, so she wouldn't fall.

Nancy apologized profusely as she went to grab her bags, even though it was Gertrude who'd run into her.

Without looking Gertrude plopped heavily on the couch by the fire complaining about the weather, right on Frank who was deeply asleep one minute, and jumping out of his skin the next. Gertrude Hardy managed to do what all the noise and commotion had not, waking Frank from a deep sleep instantly.

Frank bolted upright suddenly awake swearing as Gertrude landed hard on his stomach. The next thing Nancy knew Gertrude went flying. Frank knocked Gertrude off the couch into Nancy, who fell sprawled on top of Frank.

"Whhhaaa...Dammit! What the hell...???" Frank croaked as Nancy fell on him. His arms automatically went around her as he caught her falling back with her on top of him.

Fenton went to check on Gertrude who had landed unceremoniously on her backside. Frank looked at Nancy in astonishment trying to figure what had just happened to him.

Joe stared from the front door in astonishment at the scene in front of him for a moment, then a chuckle escaped him. Looking at his sleep befuddled brother and the expression on Nancy's face did it. Joe lost it and started laughing. Before long he was laughing so hard he couldn''t stop and there were tears coming from his eyes.

Laura looked from the kitchen door and smiled trying to not let Gertrude see her laughing under her breath. Looking at her confused sleep dazed son made it impossible. She laughed out loud trying to gain control of herself. She knew these two liked each other, but this was ridiculous. Leave it to Gertrude, this was going to be a wonderful if slightly unusual Christmas Laura thought smiling.

"OK everyone," she said trying to give them time to recover, "dinner in 15 minutes. Joe and Fenton help get Gertrude settled in her room and make sure she's alright.."

She looked next at her son who was still in shock. Poor Frank, she thought what a way to wake up.

"Frank, collect Nancy's bags and put her in your room, you can double up with Joe." Laura ordered

Laura waited a moment for Frank to reply. All he was capable of was staring in shock at Nancy. It was one thing to be sound asleep dreaming Nancy was in his arms, apparently it wasn't a dream. He had no idea what to say or do. His sleepy brain was still trying to catch up to reality.

Gertrude's tirade about Frank's carelessness and foul language caused Laura to roll her eyes at her husband.. Fenton nodded at Gertrude and rolled his eyes back at his wife. She almost broke out in laughter again. Laura and Fenton helped get Gertrude moving along leaving Joe, Nancy and Frank by themselves in the living room.

Joe was still chuckling quietly. "Merry Christmas, Nan. Good to see you again. I knew you'd be happy to see Frank, but really Nan ...." Joe burst out laughing again he just couldn't hold it back.

Joe was about to start again when Frank finally moved awake at last. "Go help Aunt Gertrude, little brother." Frank spoke the threat implicit in his voice

Nan stayed quiet enjoying Frank's arms still around her. As Frank went to sit up, he moved her with him keeping his arms wrapped firmly around her. Nancy didn't want to disturb the moment. The intimate gesture was not lost on Joe. He suspected his brother was unaware he was doing it. Frank was not one to publicly show a lot of affection. Joe left shaking with silent laughter. "Good to see you , Nan" Joe said as he dropped a kiss on her head and went toward the kitchen to get the lasagna his mother had cooked for dinner.

Nancy stayed quiet in Frank's arms for a minute, as she collected her thoughts. She'd meant him to be surprised, but this was not quite what she had in mind. She dared to look at him and then she couldn't help it. First she giggled and then it turned into full laughter. She leaned into him shaking with laughter.

Frank looked at her for a minute then he lost it and started laughing. He felt like, he didn't really know how he felt but he liked it. He knew he liked having Nancy here in his arms. He was still slightly unsure exactly how that had happened, but he didn't plan on questioning it. Suddenly he was really looking forward to Christmas.

"Well,..." Nancy took a few deep breaths trying to catch her breath. She laughed a bit more. "Sorry." she said "You should have seen..." She took another breath and started again.

"You should have seen the look on your face. Poor Aunt Gertrude..." she chuckled

Frank laughed softly. "It's not how I usually wake up. Maybe she'll look where she sits next time, or was it you who just couldn't wait?" His voice was slightly hoarse from sleep, but there was a teasing gleam in his eyes.

Nancy snorted. "In your dreams Hardy." she retorted.

She had no idea how close she really was with that unintentional remark Frank thought wryly as he tightened his hold on her. "It's good to see you again, even if your greeting was rather enthusiastic."

"I thought I'd surprise you." she replied teasing him.

"It worked." he said smiling at her. "I can honestly say I was very surprised." He laughed softly and held her. "I'm glad you're here." he said and kissed her on the forehead. In his dreams he'd done much more, but this was neither the time or place. He reined in that thought before things got away from him.

He ran a hand through his hair changing the subject. "Did Mom say something about dinner?"

He helped Nancy up as he went to stand. He looked at the clock over the mantel and his eyebrows went up in surprise. He'd slept almost six hours, and he'd probably still be asleep if not for Aunt Gertrude. "I guess I was tired." He commented half to himself rubbing a hand over his face.

Nancy did the same wondering for a second what possessed her. "Forgot to sleep and shave at school I see. Nice look I like it." she smiled drawing her hand across his almost beard gesturing to his general appearance.

He chuckled and turned his face into her hand at the unexpected gesture. " I'll try to make myself presentable for dinner." he said before releasing her. He bent down to grab her bags.

Nancy followed his lead and grabbed the remaining bags following Frank up the stairs to his room."The view is fine from where I'm standing." Nancy laughed from behind him.