Welcome to chapter three! I'm sorry it's taken a little longer to get this chapter up. Hopefully chapter four will be up soon! I still do not own the Hardys or Nancy…sad, I agree.

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Frank paced outside Nancy's building, debating whether to go up to her room or not. He didn't even know if Nancy felt the same way about him as he did about her. Was he pushing to fast? She was his best friend and he didn't want to lose her if this was a mistake.

Maybe this isn't such a good idea. A voice said in his head. Frank turned and paced. It is a good idea. You two mesh well and she understands you. Frank turned and paced.

"Frank?"

Frank jumped at the sound of his name and turned around. Jenna Morgan was standing behind him, her cell phone in one hand and keys in another. A smug smile was on her face as she stepped up to him.

"Going somewhere Frank?"

Frank felt like a kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar. He blushed, thankful it was dark out.

"I was just heading in to talk to Nancy about something," Frank mumbled, looking up at the building. Jenna grinned.

"That's why you're out here pacing back and forth. Frank," She said, laying a hand on her arm. Frank glanced at her and saw for a moment what his brother saw. "Just tell her how you feel and everything will work out."

"How can you be so sure?" Frank asked, feeling like a scared teenager. He mentally shook himself. This is ridiculous! It's Nancy!

"Trust me, I know," Jenna said, patting his arm. Frank nodded and followed Jenna into the building.

~*~*~*~*~

The small print on the laptop screen started to blur together. Nancy leaned back and rubbed her eyes. After hanging up with her father, Nancy had sat down to try and study. However, she hadn't been very successful because her mind continued to wander back to the older Hardy and what Jenna Morgan had said earlier that day. Out of curiosity, she kept reassuring herself, Nancy had researched Jenna's brother, Justin, and even though he was successful and handsome, she didn't feel a jump in heart rate at his picture like she did when she was with Frank.

Frustrated, Nancy pushed her chair back from her desk and went to her little kitchenette. Her dorm room was decorated lightly with bits and pieces of her home and her roommate's home, making the room a little cozier. As Nancy prepared tea, a loud banging on her door startled her. Her roommate had left for the week on a family emergency and Nancy wasn't expecting anyone. Nancy set her cup down, walked over to the door and opened it a half an inch to peer out.

"Frank!"

Frank lowered his raised arm and rocked back on his heels. Now that he was standing at her door, he realized he didn't know what to say. So he grinned instead.

Nancy could help but smile back. She opened the door all the way, crossed her arms and leaned against the door jam.

"Are you going to invite me in or do I have to stand out in the hallway?" Frank asked after Nancy hadn't said anything.

"Stand out in the hallway," Nancy replied.

"Not exactly the answer I was hoping for but alright," Frank deadpanned. Nancy laughed and stepped back. Frank entered the dorm room and turned to face Nancy.

"What's up Frank? A little late for a study session, don't you think?" Nancy asked.

"That doesn't seem to be stopping you," Frank replied, motioning to the forensic notes on Nancy's desk and laptop. Nancy rolled her eyes.

"I was just double checking something," She said. Frank laughed.

"Yeah, sure you were."

An awkward silence filled the air as the two stood there watching each other.

"Is everything okay Frank?" Nancy finally asked.

"No," Frank answered. He took a step towards Nancy and placed his hands on her shoulders. Confused, Nancy looked up at him, but what she saw shocked her. There was an intense longing in his eyes that she had only seen twice before. As his hands slid down her arms to envelop her waist and pull her closer, Frank lowered his head and Nancy felt her eyes close. For one heart-stopping moment, a single breath hung between them.

Nancy melted the moment Frank's lips touched hers. In a slow, soft caress, Frank's lips explored Nancy's. Nancy found her arms wrapped around Frank's neck, pulling him towards her. This careful kiss was more wonderful than Nancy could have imagined.

Frank felt Nancy soften against him and his heart soared. He tightened his arms around her and felt like he couldn't get enough of her. He had waited so long for this moment. Nancy was all Frank had ever wanted. She understood him and knew what made him tick. She always had.

Frank leaned back and rested his forehead on Nancy's, keeping his eyes closed. He heard her expel a shaky breath and he smiled. He stood up straight and looked at her.

"Now everything is okay. You don't know how long I've wanted to do that," Frank whispered. Nancy smiled.

"You don't know how long I've wanted you to do that," She replied, still a little shaken. Frank Hardy had just kissed her! She almost felt..giddy.

"Oh yeah? How long is that?"

"Since after our kiss in Cairo."

Frank's eyebrows shot up. Then he grinned.

"But I specifically remember you saying it couldn't happen again." He said, thinking back to when they had been teen detectives on a case in Cairo, posing as newlyweds. He had never told anyone that he had wished it hadn't been a façade.

"At the time, it couldn't have. That doesn't mean I didn't want it to," Nancy replied as a faraway look appeared in eyes. She thought about the guilt she had felt after the kiss and the shame that she hadn't wanted it to end. She realized she had been foolish to push him away…again. Now, there were no boundaries. She suddenly felt light-hearted and free.

"I know," Frank said, interrupting her thoughts, "but I want you to know I've thought about you so often. I was never the same after Cairo. I think Callie felt it also. We started to drift apart."

Nancy nodded. Even though they had helped each other through their individual break-ups, neither had fully divulged all the details. Ned had also known something was different after Nancy had come back. They had fought more and more until…Nancy pushed those thoughts from her head as she looked up into Frank's eyes.

"Now it's different," Nancy said. Frank nodded. He stepped back and stuck his hands in his pockets. Nancy looked at him in confusion. "What's the matter?"

"There were two reasons I wanted to talk to you right now," Frank said with a sheepish look on his face. "One was so that I didn't pummel Joe into the ground and two was to ask you to step over the "best friend" line and be my girlfriend."

"You didn't!" She said, her eyes widening, thinking about how it was uncanny the way the brothers got along.

"Punch Joe? No, I walked out instead," Frank said, "But I had wanted to."

"Why on Earth would you of all people want to punch Joe?" Nancy asked, her hands going to her hips. Frank grimaced.

"I thought he was going to take advantage of you," He said quietly. He explained the confrontation he and his brother had before he came over. Nancy stared at Frank, speechless. Then she burst out laughing. Frank looked up at her in surprise. However, he started to chuckle as well.

"Oh Frank," Nancy said as she wiped a tear from her eye, "my hero. There's no need. Joe is like the annoying little brother I never had."

Frank grinned, stepped toward her again and swung her around. Nancy laughed and hugged him tightly. She hadn't been this happy in a long time.

"Good, now I won't have to hurt him," Frank grinned. Nancy smacked him on the shoulder. "So Nancy, will you be my girlfriend and still my best friend?"

"Yes, Frank," She said, holding his face in her hands, "I thought you'd never ask."

Frank smiled and kissed Nancy again.

~*~*~*~*~

Joe was lying in his bed with a comic book when he heard the key turn in the door. Quickly hiding the comic under his pillow he picked up the text book just as Frank walked through the door.

"How's Nancy?" Joe said, not looking up. He ducked as Frank's pillow flew at him. He leaned up and glared at Frank. "What was that for?"

"Reading that stupid comic and not studying," Frank replied, grabbing his pillow back. As he turned towards his own bed, he smiled as he heard Joe grumble about him having super senses. As Frank laid back on his pillow, he looked over at his brother.

"Hey Joe?"

Joe looked up from his recovered comic book with a questioning look.

"Thanks for pushing."

Joe grinned and saluted.

"Anything for my favorite brother."

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I know this chapter was a little shorter but I think it needed to end where it did. Hope you enjoyed it!