Disclaimer: I don't own them. Simon and Schuster and Stratmeyer Syndicate own them.

Chapter 1

There was silence as Frank paced around their parents living room not really knowing what he was going to say. "Frank you can stop pacing the floor now. You've been doing that for two hours now." Joe stepped into the living room where he could see a flat trek on the plush carpet.

"How am I supposed to ask her this?" Frank continued pacing running his hand through his hair.

Joe finally stood in Frank's way when he turned around. "Will you relax! You're not the first guy to propose to a woman and it's not your first proposal!" Joe stood steadfastly on place.

Joe watched Frank's face carefully. "I was trying not to think about her." Frank resumed his pacing. "Every time that I've become close to someone something happens to them."

"Frank this is Nancy that we're talking about. She's saved our butts a few times." Joe reminded him.

"I don't need to be reminded of that." He thought of all the times that they had worked together.

"Hey Frank, take it easy. You're going to mess up your hair before she gets here." The doorbell rang just as he said that. He looked nervously the direction of the door. Joe chuckled, "Go fix your hair Frank."

"Hey Joe, is Frank ready?" Joe looked her up and down. Her black dress complimented her figure in all the right places but wasn't too long to hide her great looking legs. He played with her hair that caressed her shoulders.

"He'll be down in a few minutes. You look great." Nancy blushed slightly when he pecked her on the cheek. "When was the last time he took out some place this nice?"

"I think about a year ago after that whole fiasco with Androa Newman." Nancy answered.

Joe grinned. He remembered some pretty torrid scenes that period of time. "Well if Frank wasn't in love with you year ago, he will be tonight." Fenton Hardy came down the stairs giving a whistle.

Nancy blushed to the roots. "Hey honey, get the camera!"

Laura hardy showed up on the steps of the house. "I'm so glad that he decided to get ready here." She gushed at the thought of the two going out tonight.

"Mom, Dad will you leave her…." He stopped right behind his mother.

Laura stepped out of her Frank's way so that he could go down the stairs. "Na…Nan… Nancy…"

His Dad chuckled at his reaction. "I think what my son means to say is that you look gorgeous tonight." Frank hadn't responded as of yet. Joe pushed him toward Nancy. His hands went around her waist and hers up to his torso and his mother caught the moment with the camera that had been ready for just such a moment.

"Umm… Frank, I think we need to go." Nancy whispered.

He blushed. "Yeah, maybe we should go." He grinned. He couldn't think of a time that he had been this tongue tied around her, Callie, or any other woman he had known.

"Just a minute Frank." He turned around. "Let's get a few pictures first."

"Now, hold Nancy." His father told him. Frank did as he was told wrapping his arms around her stomach and looking directly in her eyes. Nancy had her arms on his and looked at him with as much passion.

Joe smiled from the corner. "Frank, you are so gone." He whispered where only his mother could hear.

After a couple more pictures they were allowed to go. "Ouch, this one is going to smolder the computer screen." His dad had said looking at the second picture.

"you think that he will propose tonight."

"He took the ring with him tonight." Joe put in.

"He will if he can think straight tonight." His dad said. He remembered seeing Laura when he first was trying to propose to her. In fact he didn't get to propose to her until two weeks later after she had been kidnapped and he had managed to save her.

"Are you remembering your proposal to me?"

"Actually, yes I am. I can't believe that it was twenty six years now." He said. "Well I'll see you upstairs." He had a certain twinkle in his eyes.

Joe groaned. "I think that I'm going to go out to the movies."

"Have fun son." His mother laughed.

-N/F-

They were enjoying a nice evening eating but Frank was picking at his food more so than actually eating. "Frank, is something wrong?"

"Uhh, Nancy, I've been meaning to ask you something for a while now." His hand played with the box in his pocket.

"What is it Frank?"

"Nancy, will you…" The phone rang. Frank sighed. He answered his and Nancy's rang at the same time. "We're on our way." They said simultaneously.

-Joe-

Joe had just sat down to watch the previews of the movie that he had been wanting to watch when his phone rang. "Yes," he paused, "I'm on my way."

Joe pulled up in behind Nancy ant and Frank had parked. The crime scene was filled with cars and people that kept trying to beyond the tape. He showed his badge and gave his name.

"What's wrong?" Joe spoke behind Nancy.

There's been a murder." Nancy said.

Joe looked at her finger as she led him to where the body had been found. Evidently Frank hadn't gotten around to proposing when they got the call. "Who was killed?"

"Gray man's wife." He heard Frank coming up behind them.

"How?" Joe asked suddenly very alert.

"That's the thing, we aren't sure how." Nancy said.

"Agent Drew, we've found something." One of the officers called to her.

"What is it?"

a note saide on, "What goes around comes around."

"cryptic." Frank observed.

"Where is he?" Joe asked.

"I'm right here. I was on my way when they called me." Gray Man answered from behind.

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Okay I know that this is short. I hope that you enjoy it. I have to beg you not to kill me because I will not be able to update half as much as I like.