That House That Built Me, a hardy boys/nancy drew fanfic

I looked around the house, taking in everything. I could feel the tears filling in my eyes. This is where I grew up, and it had every memory of my childhood in it. I looked at the steps and smiled at the cement hand prints that were still there. I walked into the house and looked around the living room. I took the stairs up to my old bedroom, and could just picture myself doing my homework and playing guitar. I looked out the window and saw the oak my father had built when I was born. Underneath it laid my favorite dog. I couldn't think of a better place to bury him. I picked up a broken floorboard that no one knew about and found my mother's old scrapbook. I sat down and opened it. Inside where pictures of old home and garden magazines, and pictures of the new additions my dad had built to make my mom's dream come true. I went back downstairs and closed my eyes. I smiled, as I let myself go back to the times when I left. I had moved to the college campus, thinking I needed to get away from home, but I didn't need to. I remembered what I felt when I felt like I was losing myself.

"Gabby?" came a voice. I looked at the guy standing in the doorway of the living room. He was twirling a pair of keys around in his hand. I stood up looking at him.

"Frank, please, are those what I think they are?" I asked, looking at the keys. He gave me a soft smile, and nodded.

"Welcome home baby girl" he said. The tears started to spill over my eyes.
"Really?" I asked, not believing him.
"You always said you wanted to come home again. It just was a few piles of paperwork, and now it's yours" he said. I walked over to him, wrapping my arms around his neck. His went to my waist.
"Ours Frank. It's ours" I said, kissing him.

***5 Months Later***

I smiled as everything was in its place. Finally we had furniture, and everything was in its rightful place. The many pictures hung on the walls, and on the fireplace mantle. I giggled when Miranda Lambert's song came on. I softly sang along, until Frank came in and took my hand. We danced to the song that perfectly described everything.

I know they say you can't go home again
I just had to come back one last time
Ma'am I know you don't know me from Adam
But these handprints on the front steps are mine

Up those stairs in that little back bedroom
Is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar
I bet you didn't know under that live oak
My favorite dog is buried in the yard

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it's like I'm someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could just come in I swear I'll leave
Won't take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me

Mama cut out pictures of houses for years
From Better Homes and Gardens magazine
Plans were drawn and concrete poured
Nail by nail and board by board
Daddy gave life to mama's dream

You leave home and you move on and you do the best you can
I got lost in this old world and forgot who I am

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it's like I'm someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I walk around I swear I'll leave
Won't take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me

She was wrong. You can always go back home again. My wonderful boyfriend proved that.