Author's Note:

I am so sorry it took so long to get this chapter out. Had a major case of writer's block for this one as I am trying to figure out where the story needs to go next before I get to what I already have in mind later on. I had a completely different version of this chapter but it actually will become chapter four since it continues on with what happens in this one. I almost made it a lot longer as well but I felt that where I ended it was best. Thank you so much to everyone who left a review for the last chapter. I love reading your kind words and I'm glad to hear that you like it so far. I hope you enjoy the chapter and don't forget to leave your mark so that I know you were here! God bless and have a great weekend!

Chapter Three

The night rolled on and it was nearly midnight when Bess finally went home, her fears abated with the help of Nancy. Hannah had gone to bed hours before while Frank returned earlier after going for a run in the cold night. With Bess' "emergency," Nancy never got the chance to talk to him again. After turning out all the lights and setting the alarm system, she went upstairs, stopping just outside his door. Nancy looked down and was hopeful when she saw the light shining through. She knocked lightly so as not to disturb Hannah but when no answer came, Nancy slowly opened the door to check on Frank. Although the light was on, he was fast asleep, a book draped over his chest. Nancy sighed, disheartened by the fact that she couldn't apologize for their earlier argument. From the way he looked, she knew Frank had been waiting up for her but fatigue finally caught up to him.

Nancy gently lifted the book, bookmarking his spot and set it on the night stand. She sadly looked at him as Frank inhaled deeply, his body only shifting slightly. Leaning over, Nancy kissed him on the forehead, Frank never waking. She waited for just a moment, watching him sleep then turned out the light. The moment she closed the door, Nancy burst into tears, running to her room down the hall. She felt awful for what she did to him but there was no way to make him understand as to what was really going on with her.

Sobbing into her pillow to muffle the sounds, Nancy cried herself to sleep, still wearing her clothes from the day. She didn't have the energy to change or get ready for bed and her dreams that night reflected her emotions causing her to have a restless night sleep.

The next morning dawned bright, the winter sun shining through Nancy's window. She looked up at her alarm clock and gasped. It was nearly ten in the morning and she wasn't even ready for the day. Nancy quickly showered and dressed, jogging down the stairs to the kitchen after checking Frank's room. The door was open and the bed fixed so she assumed he was waiting for her in the kitchen. Much to her dismay, there was no one in the kitchen to greet Nancy. Not even Hannah was around. A note lay on the counter, written in Hannah's gentle handwriting.

Went shopping this morning. Will be back later. Frank left for the office and said to tell you to meet him there. See you soon. Love, Hannah.

Nancy's shoulders slumped. Frank already left for the office and didn't wait for her. Was he still mad at her for the night before? Thoughts stormed through her mind as she ate a quick breakfast and her anger soon rose at the thought that he left without her. Nancy was soon pulling on her calf-high leather boots and coat to get ready to go. As she stepped outside, a blast of cold air blew through her and Nancy wished she was snuggled in her bed instead. The moment she got into her Mustang, the heat was blasting to warm up not only the car but her as well. Within minutes, Nancy was pulling out of the garage and heading down the street toward where their office was.

In the months they had to wait for their P.I. licenses, Nancy and Frank bought a building using her inheritance. They spent the time they weren't studying to gut the inside of the building and remodeled it, giving their new office a fresh look. She pulled into the parking lot nearby and went through the front door, greeted by Frank who had seen her pull in.

"It's about time you got here!" he cried angrily. She could see Bess sitting at an empty desk behind him, keeping her attention on the bridal magazine in her hand. They hired her to be their assistant whenever they needed it. Nancy knew her friend well enough to know that she was listening in on their conversation with intent.

"I didn't know that I was late, Frank," Nancy replied, walking over to her desk. He followed her and watched as she put her purse down, looking at the phone. "Is there something I'm missing here that would constitute you giving me an attitude?"

"No, I just expected you to get here earlier than noon," Frank huffed, folding his arms in front of her. "Besides it's a cat! A damn cat!"

"What do you mean 'it's a cat?" Nancy asked confused. She ignored a sputtering sound from Bess who obviously was laughing at Frank's irritation. "I'm not following."

"Our first case is finding a cat!"

"You talked to Mrs. Stein, didn't you?"

"How'd you know?"

"Because it gets lost all the time," Nancy laughed. She shook her head but she noticed that he wasn't laughing. Clearing her throat, Nancy continued. "Sometimes it jumps into a trash can and can't get out. Ends up in the dump every time." She looked over at her friend. "Were there any messages, Bess?"

"No," she answered, shaking her head, "but I can check." Bess picked up the phone near her and began listening to the voicemail.

"There were none when I came in so I don't know why you're bothering to check," Frank grumbled.

"Then why are there five messages?" Bess asked as she wrote down the information.

"Probably from Mrs. Stein, wondering where her damn cat is," he mumbled, plopping down into his chair. He picked up a magazine and began rifling through it impatiently.

Nancy watched as Bess hung up the phone, giving her the paper with the messages on it. She went over to Frank and slapped the paper in front of him.

"What are these?" he asked, throwing the magazine onto his desk.

"Well, they're possible clients, Frank," Nancy said. "Oh, and only two of the messages were from Mrs. Stein so I'll take care of her since you obviously don't care. For your information, she usually calls BD who then calls me for help. I guess this time she skipped him and went directly to us."

"Yeah, but it's still a cat!" he cried.

"Oh, my God, Frank! Shut up!" Nancy snapped. "Our cases are not always going to be dangerous or exciting like they were for you in New York! You live here now! Be glad we have something now!"

Frank looked blankly at her, surprised at the outburst. Bess' eyes went wide, her mouth dropping open. She never would have expected Nancy to say something like that let alone to someone as special to her as Frank. He rose from his chair, looking upset.

"Frank, I…" Nancy replied, trying to stop him as he went to leave the room. He shrugged her off but whirled around to face her.

"What the hell is going on with you, Nancy?" he cried. "Is there something I did to piss you off?"

"What the hell is going on with me?" she cried, her voice betraying the hurt. "What's wrong with you? You're the one getting bent out of shape over our first case being Mrs. Stein's cat! I know we can't get the perfect cases for the perfect Frank Hardy all the time but you could show a little more respect to those who are willing to call us for help!" She picked up the paper from his desk and pushed into his chest. "Why don't you give them a call and see what they need? Maybe, just maybe, there's actually a case to appease the great Frank Hardy!"

Nancy stormed out of the room, slamming the door to the bathroom. Frank looked down at the paper in his hand, ashamed of the whole situation. After a brief moment, Frank went out the front door, his cell phone in his hand. Bess nervously went back to where her desk was and sat down not knowing what she should do next.

Fifteen minutes passed and Frank still hadn't returned. Bess went to the front door noticing his car was still there but he wasn't. She looked at the bathroom door where Nancy disappeared to and wondered if her friend was okay. As she approached the bathroom, Bess could faintly hear sobbing coming from within.

"Nancy?" she called, knocking on the door. Bess tried the knob to find that it was unlocked and opened it. Nancy sat on the floor in the corner of the bathroom, her knees brought up to her chest. Her head rested on her knees, her shoulders trembling with each sob. Bess went over and sat down next to her friend, wrapping her arm around Nancy's shoulder.

"What's going on, Nan?" she asked softly.

"I don't know what came over me, Bess," Nancy answered, raising her head to look at her. "I…I've just been so…antsy lately. Every little thing Frank says or does sets me off. It's like...I don't know."

"Look, Nan," Bess started, settling herself for a long talk. "I know you and Frank are meant to be. I've known it long before either of you ever thought of it. Look what you had to go through just to be with him. But, I swear, if any of this has to do with Ned, I'm going to hurt you. Just get that crap out of your head right now. Frank is not Ned and he would never treat you the way Ned did. You know that."

"I know that, Bess," Nancy replied indignantly. "I just…just get so frustrated with him. Frank is wonderful and I love him very much but then he pulls crap like getting upset over a cat. Just because it's not as exciting as his life in New York was with Joe and it makes me feel like I had something to do with that. It hurts."

"He's a guy, Nancy," Bess smirked. They both giggled. "They're all like that at some point. Even Marshall does it. Drives me nuts too. But you have to admit, they have no clue half the time when it comes to women."

"I just don't want Frank to be overprotective like he's done before," Nancy shook her head. "There have been so many times where I just want to smack him and say that I can handle it."

"Isn't that a good thing though? Isn't that what he's supposed to do?"

"Well, yeah," she shrugged, sniffling again though her tears had stopped. Nancy reached up and took a tissue from the box on top of the toilet and blew her nose. "I guess I'm just not used to it. I'm used to being my own person. Besides, Frank is still tiptoeing around like I'm going to break or something."

"Nan," her friend sighed, taking Nancy's hand. "I'm going to say this with the best intentions so don't get mad at me. Get over it."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean everything!" Bess cried. "Do some crying. Do some grieving for your dad because I know that's another issue that even I can't handle. Hell, talk to someone other than me. Just do something to get out of this funk that you're in then deal with Frank. Or maybe just talk to him."

"I don't need therapy, Bess," Nancy shook her head. Her friend looked at her unconvincingly. "I don't! Besides, we had to go through all of that for the licenses. The doctor passed me. There's nothing wrong."

"But yet you're sitting on the floor in a bathroom crying your eyes out because your mouth moved faster than your brain."

Nancy sighed. She got up from the floor and dusted herself off. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she groaned at the sight. Her mascara had streaked down her cheeks making her look like a creepy clown. Nancy immediately began washing her face giving her friend the impression that their conversation was over. She didn't feel like she needed help but she wasn't about to admit it either. There were times when Nancy did feel like she needed a little extra help mentally but she always counted on her dad for that. She left the bathroom with Bess following close behind though neither one of them said anything. Walking over to her desk, Nancy picked up her purse and turned toward Bess.

"Tell Frank I went to look for the cat," she announced. "That's if he's willing to help."

"Why don't you just wait for him?" Bess suggested watching Nancy leave through the front door. "I'm sure he'll be back any time."

"Never mind," Nancy said, annoyed. "I can handle the cat on my own. I've done it before. If he wants to come, then have him meet me at the dump. I'm sure that's where it is."

"But, Nancy…" Bess started but her friend was already out the door. Seconds later she could hear the Mustang start up and drive off. Just as Bess was beginning to clean up the office, Frank returned, his demeanor slightly changed for the better. He looked around the office, seeing the bathroom door open and Nancy's purse gone.

"Did she leave without me?" he asked. She nodded then told him where Nancy went. "Fine. I guess I deserve that but I'm not going to find that cat."

"Don't you think Nancy will appreciate you helping her though?" Bess asked cautiously.

"I know what you're doing, Bess," Frank grumbled though it sounded like he laughed. "She started it, not me."

"What is it with you two and not talking things through?" Bess cried. Frank looked stunned at her. "I don't know if I can work like this if you are constantly bickering! She needs to get over her issues and you need to get over yours! Work it out for crying out loud! You two are the best detectives out there, being able to figure out mysteries that just happen to plop into your laps yet you can't figure out each other!" She threw her hands up in frustration. "Planning my wedding is easier than dealing with you and Nancy!"

Frank watched as Bess left the office, his brain working overtime trying to figure out women. He understood why Nancy snapped at him, realizing it seconds after he left. His reaction to Mrs. Stein's cat was a little over-the-top but Frank was itching to get a good mystery to solve and he hoped that the other three people who called would give him something to chew on. Especially if there was something other than a damn cat to take on.

Hours later, Nancy trudged home after finding Mrs. Stein's cat. Sure enough, the white Persian cat named Mr. Snuffles got caught in a trash can and miraculously lived to see another kitty treat after being transported to the town dump. Once Nancy delivered the cat to Mrs. Stein, the grateful woman paid her for finding Mr. Snuffles, something that Nancy hoped to show Frank once she returned home. Hannah was reading a romance novel in the den when Nancy finally shuffled in, her feet barely able to carry her to the stairs.

"Oh, good! You're back!" Hannah cried, setting down the book. She got up to come closer to Nancy only to stop and crinkle her nose. "Where have you been? Playing with kitty litter?"

"Funny you should say that, Hannah," Nancy laughed half-heartedly. She sounded weary even though it was only four in the afternoon. Plopping down on the bottom step of the main staircase, Nancy slowly peeled off her boots.

"Mrs. Stein's cat again?"

"Yep. I swear that cat has more than nine lives," Nancy said. She grimaced at the look of her boots. "Ugh. Remind me next time to where crappy shoes. It's going to take forever to get the smell out of them. Did Frank get back yet?"

"No, I thought he would be with you," Hannah said. Her eyes narrowed. "What did you do now?"

"Nothing!" Nancy cried though she avoided the stare. Hannah folded her arms and gave her a skeptical look. Nancy sighed. "Okay. I may have said something that upset him but he scoffed at Mrs. Stein and Mr. Snuffles. It annoyed me."

"Uh huh," Hannah shook her head. "What are you going to do about it?"

"What am I going to do?" Nancy repeated, pointing to herself. "Nothing. He didn't even come help me find Mr. Snuffles. I told Bess to let him know. I would have thought he'd come by at least to say something."

"And why should he?" Hannah huffed, putting her hands on her hips.

Nancy sighed. She was really not having a good day. Looking down at her hands, Nancy felt disgusted with herself. Her father wouldn't be happy with her if he knew what she'd done. Nancy sniffled, tears suddenly coming to her eyes at the thought of her father. Hannah sat down on the step next to her and held her close.

"Dad would be yelling at me right now after everything I've done," Nancy whispered.

"Yeah, but he would eventually understand, I think," Hannah replied soothingly. "I miss him too, sweetheart."

"I just wish he were here," Nancy sniffled again. "Then maybe I could work things out with Frank more easily."

"Just do what you think your father would do to make it up to Frank," the housekeeper stated. She looked at Nancy. Suddenly, the young woman looked back at Hannah, a smile stretching across her face.

"I think I know what to do."