24-year-old Nancy Drew was sitting on the floor of the living room amidst boxes and packing materials. "This is the right thing to do," she tried to convince herself. "What I need is a fresh start."

"It's open!" Nancy shouted after hearing a familiar knock on the door.

"You should really lock your door, Drew. You never know who might come waltzing in."

Nancy's head snapped up. "Frank! And Joe! I thought you were Bess!" she exclaimed as she got up to greet the brothers. Frank and Joe Hardy were two of her oldest friends, but she had not seen them in months. Not since the last case they all worked together. In fact, the last case she had worked at all.

"It's good to see you, Drew," Frank murmured as he pulled her in for a hug. "It has been too long."

"Yes, it has" she thought as she returned the hug. She felt a small rush as they drew close. "Get it together, Drew. He has a girlfriend. You remember Callie."

"Hey, what about me?" Joe pushed in for his own hug. It was then he noticed the state of the room. "Um, going somewhere, Nance?"

"Yes, actually," she replied. "I'm moving out."

"We can see that. Is something wrong, Nancy? Where are you planning to go?" Frank watched her cautiously. He knew Nancy would never just leave her Dad and their beloved housekeeper, Hannah, without a good reason.

"I…I don't know," she admitted without looking him in the eye. Gone now was the earlier contentment she felt at Frank's closeness. She sat down on the couch and sighed. "I'm not sure about anything anymore."

"Maybe you should start at the beginning," Frank said as he sat down beside her.

Joe stretched out on the floor using a roll of bubble wrap as a pillow. "Yes, the beginning. Make it quick though, I'm starving."

"JOE!" Frank glared at his younger brother. "It's okay, it's okay." Nancy interrupted before they really started bickering. "Bess and George are actually on their way with pizza. And I'm fine. Really. It just hasn't been the best month."

"Yes!" Joe grinned at his brother. "See? There's always time for food."

Frank rolled his eyes and turned back to Nancy. "Sorry, Nan. I can't take him anywhere. Now, what's going on?"

"Well," she started unsure of how to continue. "Do you remember when I came up and helped you with that identity theft case several months ago?"

"Of course," Joe replied. "It was supposed to be your week off, but you just couldn't resist the Hardy charm."

"Or a good mystery," Frank interjected.

Nancy smiled. She had been on vacation from her job at the River Heights Police Department, but couldn't help herself when she heard about the Hardys new case. "Well, yes and yes, but not everyone was thrilled with that turn of events.

"I don't know what you are talking about, Dad was glad to have your help," Joe smirked. Fenton Hardy founded the private investigating firm where he and his sons worked in Bayport, New York. "I'm guessing though that you mean Ned?"

Nancy grimaced upon hearing his name. Ned, her first love. The one she had always assumed she would marry. The one who hated her chosen career path and never ceased in reminding her. "Yes, Ned," she sighed. "He was furious that I would spend my vacation days solving mysteries with the Hardy Boys."

Frank looked incredulous. "But it was his fault!" he practically shouted. "He was the one that left on a business trip. Were you supposed to spend your time off just sitting home alone?"

"Apparently so. When I got back, he apologized and told me he would try to be more understanding, but it didn't last. He still resented the long hours and dangerous situations. So in typical Ned fashion, he proposed."

This revelation was enough to catch even Joe's attention. "WHAT?" the brothers exclaimed in unison.

"He proposed," Nancy said calmly. "And suggested that if we were married I could quit my job on the force and get a more appropriate job for the wife of a college professor."

Frank whistled. "Oh boy, I'm guessing that didn't go over too well."

"Naturally," muttered Nancy. "We broke up, he moved on- rather quickly I might add- and that was that. I was upset at first, but I knew it was for the best."

"So why move now?" Joe asked as he moved from the floor to the recliner in the corner.

"Well, my Dad is always traveling for work. Hannah has been spending more and more time in Chicago taking care of her elderly aunt. Bess is getting married soon and George is starting a new job out of town. I quit my job. There doesn't seem to be that much here for me anymore."

For the second time in as many minutes Frank and Joe looked shocked. "You quit your job? You didn't think of maybe leading with that? What happened?"

Nancy sighed. "It just wasn't fun anymore. All the bureaucracy and red tape you have to deal with as a cop was taking away the thrill of solving the mystery. It isn't for me."

"I can see that," Frank said reasonably. "So what's next?"

"I'm not sure yet," Nancy replied. "I have some money saved and I was going to take some time to weigh my options. My lease is ending on this place so I was going to stay at my Dad's house until I figured things out."

"I know!" Joe exclaimed. "You can work with us. Dad would love to have you on board. He knows what a great detective you are."

"Hardy and Sons," Nancy frowned. "I'm not sure where I would fit in."

"You don't have to decide now," Frank added thoughtfully. "Why not come to Bayport? Mom would love to see you and you can weigh your options while helping us on cases. Just like the old days."

Nancy felt like her head was spinning. It would be great to spend time with the Hardys and solve actual cases again. "I don't know…"

"Sure you do! It'll be great!" Joe encouraged.

Frank held out his hand. "What do you say?"

Nancy smiled taking his hand. "Okay. But just for a visit. Like old times."

"Yes!" Joe jumped up. "Now where are Bess and George with that pizza…"