Disclaimer: I do not own the Hardy Boys or any of the canon book characters, and am making no monies from this story. Any Original Characters belong to the author(s).
Note: This story was written in 2006, so technology was not as advanced as it is today. Co-written with RokiaHDA, who wrote back then under the name of Aspen.
Note: Please be advised that there is, at least, mention of potential premarital sex involving the Hardy brothers and their significant others. If this bothers you, as I know it does some, you may object to some parts of the story.
A Fiery December
By EvergreenDreamweaver and RokiaHDA
Chapter 1
"Wow, you're all spiffed up!" Joe Hardy commented, when his older brother Frank came down the stairs, sliding his arms into his sports coat sleeves. "It's about time you and Megan tried out Miracles Can Happen!" Joe had been lying comfortably on the family room couch, his blonde head resting on several pillows as he perused a well-scribbled notebook. Now he set the book down and surveyed Frank with admiring blue eyes.
"I know; we've been meaning to go," Frank said, grinning ruefully. "But I wanted it to be a special occasion. It doesn't get much more special than this." The dark-haired young man settled his jacket into place and buttoned it. "Can't believe Megan's turning twenty! She doesn't look twenty!"
"Neither do you, but that didn't stop you from doing it…. Wonder what it's like to be a Christmas baby," Joe speculated, turning his gaze to the glittering, decorated spruce tree standing in the corner of the family room. "I think I'd feel gypped – Christmas presents and birthday presents, all in a lump!"
"It's only the tenth; Megan's not a Christmas baby!" Frank argued. "Two weeks in between just means that a Christmas wish list gets refined, and I have to think of two presents in quick succession!" he added, chuckling.
"I suppose so," Joe conceded, and prepared to return to his studies. It was finals week at Bayport Community College, and Joe was feeling the pressure of his first college final exams.
"About ready to go?" The boys' slender blonde mother Laura entered the room from the direction of the kitchen. "You look very nice, Frank!" she added, smiling affectionately at her tall, dark, eldest son, whose lean good looks were accentuated by his dress clothes.
"Thanks, Mom." Frank gave her a grateful glance. "Yeah, I'm ready."
"Wish Megan a happy birthday for us," Laura reminded him. "And tell her that I'm intending to make Christmas cookies on Saturday, if she wants to come over and help!"
Frank laughed. "I'll tell her," he promised, and headed for the door.
Outside, it was cool and damp, but Bayport hadn't yet been hit with snow this year. Instead, it remained cold and foggy, with frequent rain showers. Those persons who were yearning for a white Christmas were beginning to lose hope, as day after day went by and no snow fell, but Frank wasn't one of those people, and he was personally glad not to have to battle icy driving conditions. He climbed into his Saturn and started the engine.
###
Fifteen minutes later he parked in the Wrights' driveway, and went up to the front door. Megan and her mother had managed to get the outside lights up early, he noted, admiring the cascades of white icicle lights hanging from the eaves. He wondered idly which one of them ascended the ladder…or perhaps they took turns! Mellow doorbell chimes sounded as he pushed the button, and in a few seconds, footsteps approached from the other side, and the door was opened.
"Hello, Frank!" Red-haired Carolyn Wright smiled at him warmly. "Come on in, Megan should be ready in just a moment."
Frank stepped into the entry hall, then followed Mrs. Wright into the family room. He was completely at home here, nearly as much so as in his own home, and he made himself comfortable on the couch. Carolyn resumed her task of hanging ornaments on the bushy fir tree beside the windows, chatting as she did so.
"How's your mom, Frank? I keep intending to call her – well, I've tried, once or twice – but when I'm home, she's not, and vice versa. I want to get together with her before the holidays; her and Andrea Bender both!"
"She's okay, Mrs. Wright; she's busy with Christmas stuff, just like you are. But I know she'd like that." Frank rose to his feet. "Can I hang some of those higher ones for you?" he offered.
Carolyn, being only slightly taller than her petite daughter, accepted with alacrity, and started handing Frank ornaments, one after another, as they chatted.
"I see you've been drafted," Megan's amused voice floated over the casual conversation.
Frank turned, a welcoming smile spreading over his face. His eyes widened, and the smile followed suit, becoming an appreciative grin. He wolf-whistled softly as he took in her appearance. Her dress was deceptively demure, auburn-haired Megan rarely wore anything too exotic; but the gold velvet mini-dress with its scooped neck and long sleeves made her resemble a warm, flame-topped candle.
"Wow, you look like a million dollars!" he said. He set down the ornament he had been holding, and advanced on Megan, extending his hands. "Happy birthday, Baby!"
"Thank you!" She dimpled happily, and lifted her face for his kiss. "You look pretty nice yourself! I love that suede coat your mom gave you for your birthday."
"You'll be the best-looking couple at the restaurant," Mrs. Wright told them, smiling.
"And we'd better be going, or we'll be the late best-looking couple there," Frank said. "Get your coat, honey, and we'll be off."
#####
"Now I know why Vanessa and Joe have raved so much about this place!" Megan marveled as she looked about her surroundings. "How can the owners make any money; they surely must spend all the profits on décor!"
"I don't know." Frank was fascinated too. He and Megan had chosen the Arabian Nights-themed section of the popular restaurant for this special dinner, and the opulent splendor of the room was nearly overwhelming. If the usual glitter and glitz wasn't enough, somehow the decorators had managed to incorporate Christmas-y touches too, adding to the festive atmosphere. Holly-festooned scimitars made for an interesting combination, Frank noted to himself. "You look absolutely beautiful," he added, gazing across the table at his girlfriend. Indeed, Megan looked as if she had dressed to fit in with the glowing, golden warmth, and Frank was again reminded of a flaming candle.
She smiled, her long-lashed turquoise eyes glowing with happiness. "It's because of the candlelight," she murmured. "Every woman looks better in candlelight."
"I don't want explanations about why, I just want to sit and admire." Frank extended his hand across the table; when Megan put hers into it, he pulled it back and pressed his lips against her fingers. "Birthday girl," he whispered. "Maybe that's why you're glowing – because it's your birthday."
"Caught up with you again!" she teased. "You're only older than me for not quite a month!"
"A month's enough; I still have seniority," he informed her, his dark eyes glinting teasingly.
The arrival of their waiter interrupted the banter, and they were soon perusing their menus and making choices for dinner.
#####
"That was absolutely the best dinner I have ever had!" Megan had been saying the same thing in different words all the way back to her house. "And I want to go there again – and again!" She sighed happily as Frank parked his car in the Wrights' driveway.
"Give me a few weeks to save up for it!" Frank begged, with a wry chuckle. "Now I know how they make a profit, after all. Joe warned me it was spendy, but…"
"Frank – it was expensive." Some of the delight faded from Megan's piquant face, and her tone was suddenly laced with worry. "I didn't mean to make it sound like I expected you to take me there all the time. We don't have to go there again, you know. I'm perfectly happy with hamburgers or pizza."
"Baby, I can't take you there every week, but we'll go again. Don't worry." Frank turned off the car's engine and leaned over to enclose her in his arms. "It wasn't too expensive for my birthday girl, and I wouldn't have had your dinner anywhere else! Now hush up about finances, accountant's daughter, and concentrate on me." Before Megan could respond, he had covered her mouth with his own, effectively cutting off any chance of a reply.
"Mmm…let's go inside," she murmured, when allowed to come up for air. "Mom's probably gone to bed, and if she hasn't, she'll tactfully make herself scarce."
The two went into the house. Megan was right: Carolyn had evidently retired for the night, but had left a few dim lights and the Christmas lights on; brilliant white lights sparkled from the tree, and lighted garlands twined around the doorways and across the fireplace mantel. Megan hung up her coat, Frank unbuttoned his jacket, and they went into the family room, settling down on the couch. A low fire crackled softly in front of them, adding its dancing lights.
"Mmmm…you're awfully cuddly in this dress," Frank whispered, smoothing the soft nap of Megan's velvet dress with a gentle hand. "You feel like a baby kitten – a very sophisticated baby kitten…." He pulled her against him. "I'm an animal lover, you know – c'mere, kitty…."
For an extended period of time, the two continued the activity they'd begun in the car. Wrapped in each others' arms, their kisses increased in intensity, becoming longer and longer, deeper and deeper; until breathing began to be an occasional luxury, instead of a commonplace activity. Finally, Megan moved her hand from around Frank's neck, and pressed his cheek firmly enough to dislodge his mouth from hers.
"Give me – a chance to – breathe, darling!" she gasped, and tilted her head back, panting for air.
Reluctantly, he obeyed, and found he was a little oxygen-deprived himself. "Sorry….I guess it wouldn't be…very nice…if I made you pass out, huh?" Catching his breath, he bent his head and began kissing her neck instead, letting his lips rest on the hollow of her throat a long moment. He could feel her pulse beating rapidly beneath his lips. "Megan…baby….love you…so much…."
"And I love you – but, Frank—" Megan laughed softly, "this isn't going any further right now, not with my mother just down the hall, and probably not asleep! So cool it a little, darling, please?" She wriggled backwards the least bit, putting a fractional distance between them.
"And people say I'm sensible!" he groaned. Disappointed and somewhat frustrated, but conceding she had logic on her side, Frank eased his embrace slightly. As he did so, he felt a small, hard shape in his coat pocket. Megan's present! I nearly forgot to give her her birthday present!
"Baby, close your eyes—" Frank leaned back and reached into his pocket, smiling at her questioning look. "Go on, shut 'em."
After one sparkling glance, she obediently let her lashes droop downward. The effect was so irresistibly enchanting, Frank was nearly distracted into forgetting the birthday present again. He dropped it into his lap, and began to sprinkle light kisses across her face.
"Are my eyes shut just so you can kiss me?" Megan inquired, after a moment or two, laughing. "Can I open them yet?"
"Nope – hang on!" Recalled to his purpose, Frank again picked up the tiny jeweler's box adorned with a golden bow, and held it cupped in one hand, directly in front of Megan. "Okay – now open."
She complied. Her gaze fell on the little box, and her azure eyes widened in awe. Slowly, she extended her hand to receive it, and Frank placed it on her palm, closing her fingers around it.
A little box like that…come on, be sensible, Megan, it could easily be earrings, or a necklace….But it could be – oh, it really could be…surely he wouldn't have…would he? Could he? Did he?
Seeing the amazement – and slight apprehension – in her eyes, Frank hastily began to speak.
"Megan, love – it's not…it's not a diamond. Not yet. I wish it was, but…but…it's not. But maybe…maybe you could…could consider it the first step in that direction. If you want to, I mean. And – maybe – you could wear it on your left hand – until I can replace it with something better…more permanent." He broke off, suddenly fearful of her reaction to his gift.
Carefully, she removed the bow, and with fingers that trembled slightly, pushed at the clasp which held the box closed. Slowly, she raised the hinged lid, and stared at the contents.
A gold band glinted in the firelight. A gold band surmounted by a heart-shaped turquoise-blue jewel in a pronged setting. On either side, a tiny diamond accented the central blue stone.
"Happy December birthday, Baby," Frank whispered. "I looked and looked, until I found the darkest blue topaz I could – I tried to match your eyes. It's an impossibility, but – I tried!"
"Ohhhh…." Megan's voice was nothing more than a breath of sound. "Oh, it's absolutely beautiful. It's – oh, Frank, it's so lovely…it's the most beautiful birthstone ring I've ever seen!" Tenderly, she extricated the ring from the box, and held it up to admire it, caressing the shimmering facets with gentle fingers. "It's wonderful!"
"And you'll wear it – as I asked you to?" Frank felt as if he were choking, when he voiced the question. What if she says no?
Glorious, luminous blue-green eyes met his. "I will be honored, Frank – to wear it – until you replace it. And then I'll switch it to my other hand." Megan's radiant sunburst smile, complete with dimple, spread across her face, and she carefully slid the ring onto the fourth finger of her left hand. "Look – it fits perfectly…."
Frank covered her right hand with his own, helping her to slide the ring into place. When it was securely on, he lifted her hand to his lips for a long moment, and when he finally spoke again, his voice trembled.
"Happy birthday, Baby."
Sighing deeply, Megan extricated her hand from Frank's, only to put both arms about his neck and hug him tightly. "Thank you – so much. You're so incredibly wonderful – and thoughtful," she whispered in a choked tone. "I can't believe you've given me this beautiful ring – and asked me…can't believe you really—"
"I love you, and I want everyone in the world to know it," Frank interrupted her. He kissed her lingeringly, then cuddled her close in his arms. "You're mine, Megan Wright, mine, all mine!" He growled the last few words softly.
"And there's no one else's I'd rather be," she answered softly. "Being yours is better than being anyone else's in the whole world – and what I want more than anything." She settled against him with a happy little sigh. "Did your parents know about this present – or Joe?" she asked then, with her usual whimsical practicality, spreading her hand out on her lap for them both to admire.
"Nope – not even Joe, not this time." Frank smiled, playing with her fingers and watching the firelight dance over the sparkling gemstones. "He was commiserating with you for being a Christmas baby, and only getting one set of presents."
"Christmas is two weeks away, and I get plenty of presents," she replied, smiling impishly. "But this one's the best one ever." She chuckled, that soft ripple of sound that had entranced Frank from the first day he'd known her. "I can't wait for Mom to see this, tomorrow morning!"
"She won't…mind?" Frank suddenly felt a pang of apprehension. Carolyn Wright liked him, he knew, but how might she feel about this sudden leap from 'girlfriend/boyfriend' to a deeper commitment? "I mean – what if she thinks you shouldn't have—"
Megan silenced him effectively, and by the time the kiss ended, Frank had forgotten just exactly what it was he'd been worried about!
#####
"Frank?" Morning sunlight and his brother's voice combined to rudely interrupt Frank's extremely pleasant dreams. "It's after nine, and you need to get up. You've got a final at eleven."
"Mmmmm…." Frank buried his face in his pillow, attempting to block out the intrusion.
"What time did you get home, anyway?" Joe persisted with a devilish grin. "I thought Vanessa and I held the record for late nights, but something tells me we have some competition!"
"'bout three…I think." Frank squinted, then opened his eyes a little more. "I didn't check the clock." Yielding to the inevitable, he sat up, yawning and stretching.
"Did Megan enjoy her birthday dinner?"
"Oh, I think she did, yeah."
Joe didn't miss Frank's reminiscent and somewhat goofy expression. "Uh – could I ask you something?"
"What?" Frank cast a suspicious glance at his brother's deceptively innocent countenance.
"What you – ahem – gave her for her birthday – and was it that that made you so late getting home?"
Frank turned a brilliant shade of scarlet, blushing from the roots of his hair down. "JOE!"
"Yes?" Joe smiled sweetly, and waited for the answer to his question.
"We didn't – didn't do anything – I mean, nothing you and Van haven't done – I mean—" Frank, his face still crimson, jumped out of bed and made a headlong dash into the bathroom. "I've gotta take a shower; I'll be late for my exam. Don't have time to talk now!"
###
It's a lucky thing I knew this stuff backwards and forwards, Frank thought, a few hours later, as he walked out of the classroom. I've never taken a final in my sleep before! Still, he felt fairly confident that he'd done all right. He'd known the answers to the questions; the only difficulty he'd had was organizing his thoughts into a coherent form, when all he really wanted to do was think about Megan, and the blue topaz ring which sparkled on her hand.
"How'd it go?" Unexpectedly, a familiar voice broke into his thoughts, as an equally unexpected hand tucked itself into the crook of his arm.
"Baby! What are you doing here? You didn't have a final today, did you?" Frank stared down at Megan in incredulous delight. "I thought you were off today!"
"I was – I am," she smiled happily up at him. "I just came over to see you, that's all."
Frank felt warmth flood through him. "You're nuts to drive clear over here just for that," he murmured, "and I love you for it. As for the test…well, I think it went okay. But it was hard to concentrate, because I kept thinking about you, instead!" He looked quickly at her left hand, wanting to reassure himself that the prior evening had really happened.
She caught the glance, and held her hand up where he could see it. "Yes, I'm wearing it!"
"Did your mom see it?"
Megan nodded. "You bet she did! I couldn't wait to show her!"
"And…?" Despite his attempt at nonchalance, Frank's tone betrayed his nervousness about Carolyn's reaction.
"She was surprised – and then she laughed, and hugged me, and then cried," Megan reported. She smiled at Frank reassuringly. "She's delighted, Frank – really!"
"Whew!" Frank heaved a deep, relieved sigh. "I'm glad of that!"
"And your family…?" Megan inquired lightly.
"I haven't said anything yet," he admitted. "Baby – would you – maybe – come home with me now, and we can show your ring off? I don't think Dad's home, but Mom…."
Her splendid turquoise eyes were very soft. "I can't think of anything I'd be happier to do."
###
Joe and Laura were both home, when Frank and Megan – arriving in separate cars, but now with hands tightly clasped – entered the Hardy house. Joe, who was again sprawled on the family room couch with a textbook balanced on his stomach, waved his hand lazily in greeting and then returned to his studying. He had a final late that afternoon, and he'd decided that a little last-minute cramming never hurt. Frank smothered a grin and bit back a wisecrack. He'd never seen Joe hit the books like this before!
Laura was in the kitchen, poring over a number of recipe cards laid out on the counter, frowning in concentration and mumbling to herself as she jotted notes on what was evidently a shopping list.
"Cream…pecans….Mmmm, do I have enough peanut butter?" She looked up and smiled a welcome. "Hello, you two! Frank, how did the test go?"
"Okay, I think," he replied. "You're getting ready to make Christmas goodies, aren't you?" he added, hopefully. "Make lots!"
"Oh, I'm sure there will be plenty," Laura assured him. "How are you, Megan? Did you have a nice birthday?"
"Very nice," the girl smiled. "In fact – that's one reason I came over. I wanted to show you one of my presents. The one Frank gave me." With a slightly nervous glance at Frank, Megan pulled her left hand from his tight grip, and extended it towards Laura.
Mrs. Hardy's eyebrows lifted, and she appeared a little surprised, but after a long look at the sparkling blue ring, she smiled at them both.
"Megan, this is a very lovely ring! It's your birthstone, isn't it? Or does it signify something else….?"
"Yes, but – no! Well, yes…I mean – not exactly!" Frank blurted before Megan could reply. "It's her birthstone – but it's more than that – more than just a piece of jewelry. I mean…" Jeez, Hardy, could you get any more flustered?
"Engaged-to-be-engaged?" Laura suggested, taking Megan's hand in hers and examining the ring closely, her eyes twinkling at Frank's discomfiture. "If you chose this, you did a nice job, honey."
"Yes." Relieved that his mother seemed to be taking this calmly, Frank began to smile too. "That's exactly what it is!"
"Laura – is it all right?" Megan asked hesitantly. "I mean – you don't mind? And how will Mr. Hardy feel?"
"Mind?" Laura put her arms about the little redhead and hugged her tightly. "Megan, Fenton and I have been expecting something like this for quite a while now, since August, anyway – and no, we don't mind! We love you, honey!"
"What's all this about engagements?" Joe appeared in the kitchen doorway, his blue eyes alight with avid curiosity. He took in the scene with incredulous delight. "Frank, you sneaky devil! Why didn't you tell me?"
"I wasn't sure she'd like it," Frank confessed. "And we're not engaged, exactly—"
"Not quite engaged," Megan emphasized, laughing. She held out her be-ringed hand towards Joe. "It's not a diamond, see? It's just a step in that direction…a birthstone…." Suddenly a little nervous, she bit her lip. "It's okay with you…isn't it?"
"Okay with me? Are you kidding? Red, I couldn't be happier; welcome to the Hardy family!" Apparently ignoring the 'not quite engaged' qualifier, Joe seized Megan in his arms and lifted her off her feet with his energetic embrace. "About time you climbed down off the fence and committed yourself!" he teased his older brother. Setting Megan down, he slapped palms with Frank, then pulled him into a hug. "Wait'll I tell Vanessa!"