Disclaimer: I don't own the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Vanessa Bender, Iola, Ned, Callie or Andrea Bender. Everyone else i do :P.

Yes you read correctly in the disclaimer, Iola is alive and is married to Joe. Ned and Callie only appear briefly as does Nancy in flashbacks.

The concept/storyline of this story is borrowed from an orignal story i wrote but didn't post anywhere because it wasn't a good enough story. But im hoping to make this one much much, better.

5 years ago

It was a joyous occasion in Bayport as everyone that knew them were invited to the wedding of Frank Hardy and Nancy Drew.

After years of not being able to act on their feelings, their time finally came when both Ned Nickerson and Callie Shaw couldn't take anymore of their mystery solving and the looks they gave each other from time to time.

But this day would be very short-lived as the newlyweds would not be newlyweds for long.

After the wedding was over, and the new couple were walking towards the limo that would take them to the reception, it seemed that out of nowhere came a dark complected, Hispanic man with a shotgun and looked as if he would kill the newlyweds. Everyone was screaming and trying to get out of the way during which someone accidently bumped the man with the gun and as a result he pulled the trigger.

Then it was like everything stopped. After a few seconds, the silence was over as a faint whisper escaped Nancy's mouth. "Frank..." Frank looked down at her upon hearing this and he couldn't believe his eyes. What he saw was a giant red stain on Nancy's beautiful wedding dress. He couldn't believe what had just occured. 'Why would someone want to kill Nancy? And on our wedding day at that!' Frank silenty thought to himself.

"Frank...I'm cold." Nancy said. Frank looked from the red spot up to her face and told her, "Sshh...you'll be alright. Just as soon as we get you to the hospital." A tear rolled down his cheek as he said this. Nancy replied, "There isn't enough time."

Of course, as soon as the shot rang out and the silence started someone immediately called the paramedics.

A minute after Nancy last spoke, the ambulance arrived. The paramedics got out and tried to sustain her injuries but to no avail. "I'm sorry." One of them said after they stopped trying to revive her. "NO!!!!!" was all Frank was able to let out as he started sobbing quietly, rocking back and forth cradling Nancy in his lap.

A few days later they had the funeral. Everyone that knew her got up to say a few words about Nancy and how she lived her life. Frank was the last one to go up. All he was able to say was "Nancy..." before his body was overcome with grief and he slid to his knees, sobbing. Joe was the first one to his side. Joe didn't say anything because he knew his words would fall on deaf ears at that time. Occasionally he would tell Frank "It's ok. Just let it out." while he rocked his older brother.

Eventually the funeral was over and everyone went to give Frank and the Hardys their condolences but Frank would just stand there, stoic. After he finished sobbing earlier, he suddenly didn't feel anything. Not grief, sorrow, anything. He felt numb to everything and everyone.

The Present

Frank Hardy was just about finished with another day's work at the Hardy Detective Agency. Him and Joe created the agency right after Joe graduated from Bayport University. He majored in Criminal Psychology while Frank majored in Forensic Science with a minor in Computer Engineering. Nancy Drew-Hardy was to join them when she and Frank were married but as result of that tragic wedding day, that never happened. Since her death, Frank wasn't the same person he once was. Joe tries his best to bring him around to the old Frank along with Iola and their parents and friend's help but to no avail. Even Bess and George, Nancy's two best friends tried as well but they weren't effective either.

Now, it's like Frank is just a hollow shell of his former self. He doesn't go out with their friends as much as he used to and he definitely doesn't date anymore. He decided after Nancy's funeral that he wouldn't get involved with a female on that level ever again because of their line of work. But what he didn't know was that his outlook on the opposite sex was going to change forever.

A/N: So what does everyone think so far. Next chapter will introduce Vanessa and her family. Don't forget to review and leave any comments you may have to progress the story further. I'm open to suggestions but I won't make too many changes. As I mentioned above, this is a re-do of an origninal story of mine i wrote years ago but it wasn't long enough and didn't really have any 'life' to it. But I'm welcome to advice on how to make this one better.