Disclaimer: I do not own the Hardy Boys or any of the book characters.

Thanks once again to Wendylouwho10 who read over my story for flow, content, and the occasional grammar/misspelling!

Rating/Setting: Rating is T. Series started as kinda blue spine with a touch of Casefiles but is now completely AU. F/20 J/19

Author's Notes: Thank you for all the lovely reviews! They are much appreciated! Jilsen made a comment to me in a review or in a PM that I decided to add into the story. Jilsen, I'm sure you'll spot it! It was a great thought to add in.

This chapter is also the parent response and it is probably shorter than some of you expect, but I'm not looking for angst long term here because we all know that Joe and Vanessa are meant to be together in this storyline. ;-) I hope you enjoy.

Oh, and I just reposted this chapter! Thanks SleuthCK for noticing that I had changed Andrea to Angela for the whole chapter! LOL And I never noticed! ;-D

Correction part 2: 6/24 I discovered a missing line! LOL in fact, it's the main one I was putting in after chatting with Jilsen! Boy is this chapter 4 causing me problems! LOL I think it's right now!

Chapter Four

"You did what?" Fenton asked his younger son. The tension in the room spiked at his quiet words as his wife moved to stand next to him in the Hardy living room. Her silence adding to the tension as much as Fenton's tone.

Joe drew a deep breath and released it, taking comfort in his brother's quiet presence behind him. And the day's been so nice, he thought, until now. Vanessa had taken her car to go tell her mother and Joe had ridden with Frank in the van to tell their parents, with Callie being dropped off at the dorm along the way.

Joe held up his left hand with the back of it showing to his parents: his ring very evident. "Vanessa and I got married this weekend in Southport."

Laura's brows drew together in confusion. "But…. I thought…."

"I thought it was decided that you'd wait before taking-" Fenton began only to have Joe cut him off.

Joe's hand dropped; the irritation evident in his voice as he said, "No. Vanessa and I didn't decide to wait. Everyone else made that decision, not us," he said shaking his head in a negative fashion.

"But your therapy-" Laura began to once again be cut off by Joe.

"Is going along nicely. Dr. Childers hasn't said anything about me having any serious issues. And just so you know, Vanessa and I plan to have a few joint sessions together with the doctor just so he'll have a good understanding of our relationship." Joe paused for just a moment. "You know I'm still on active service with the agency and they trust me with life and death decisions every time I touch my handgun and rifle. I don't understand why you can't trust me to make this decision."

Silence fell across the room for a moment.

Joe's ability to think rationally in stressful situations was not something that Joe's parents could argue against, so Fenton went to a topic he felt confident about. "But where will you live?" Fenton asked as he crossed his arms over his chest, obviously thinking that things hadn't been thought out and that the young pair were going to run into all sorts of complications.

"We have a short-term lease on an apartment that is within walking distance of the college that we will move into at the start of the month. Until then, we'll stay at our assigned dorms. We've already applied for married student housing on-campus and are on the wait list."

"What about insurance and your van?" Laura asked.

"Obviously, you and dad can drop me. Vanessa and I will be applying for health insurance via ORT and will supplement with insurance through the college program as we aren't full-time at ORT." Joe shrugged, "As for the van, I'm turning that over to Frank and the sedan belongs to Vanessa. The money I've gotten working for ORT and the civil settlement I received from Laird's estate will more than cover what we need for a second vehicle."

The settlement from the civil suit brought against Laird by the Hardys and the families of the other victims had only been settled during the summer. And the Hardys had much more on their minds the past summer than Dominic Laird.

Fenton looked behind Joe to his brother. "You knew?"

Frank nodded. "I found out on the way to the ceremony."

"So the great deal at the resort was just a lie?" Laura asked her eyes on Joe.

"Yes, it was a lie." There was no need to sugar coat it. It was obvious why they had lied.

"You decided to lie instead of telling us the truth?" Fenton asked. "You couldn't tell us? You didn't think we'd support you?"

Joe closed his eyes. "No, dad. I didn't. How this conversation started just goes to show that you wouldn't. You would have tried to rationalize waiting. You would have dropped hints. Given us sad glances." He opened his eyes and shook his head. "You wouldn't have been excited for us. Vanessa and I had a great weekend. We had a great wedding. We have pictures and video if you decide you want to see it. I'll send the links to your email if you want to see them." He glanced over at his brother. "Frank's going to take me back to campus now." He paused, "Are Vanessa and I welcome for the family meal on Wednesday night?"

"Of course you are," Laura said emotionally as she moved forward to hug Joe. "You are always welcome here." Her embrace was tight.

"Thanks, mom," he said huskily as he returned her hug.

Fenton moved closer and extended his hand to Joe after they had separated. "Congratulations, son. She's a wonderful girl."

"That she is, dad. That she is." He took his dad's hand and then felt himself tugged forward into an embrace with his father. "We love you, Joe. Never forget that."

"I know, dad." Joe's eyes had teared up some. "I'm going to go now to meet up with Vanessa and see how it went for her."

"I'm sure Andrea will come around if she already hasn't," Laura said as she moved to walk Joe to the door. "Will you send the links tonight?" Laura's tone was hopeful.

"Of course I will. We'll see you Wednesday," Joe said as stepped out onto the porch.

Frank followed him out and said, "Well, that went better than expected."

Joe glanced back at the house. "I hope they continue to feel that way," Joe said as he opened the van door. "But I'm not sure that Mrs. Bender will."

.**********.

Vanessa stood patiently while her mother talked rather loudly about her rash decision. When Andrea Bender paused for a breath, Vanessa quietly said, "Do you hear yourself, mom? Do you know who you sound like?"

Andrea turned confused eyes on her daughter. "What do you mean? Who do I sound like?"

Vanessa just continued to look politely at her mother.

Andrea's hand flew to her mouth. "I sound just like your grandmother when I told her I'd eloped with Jack." Her eyes widened in realization. "This isn't your fault; it's mine!"

Vanessa stepped forward to grab her mother's hands. "It's no one's fault mom. It was going to happen. It just happened sooner than you would have liked. But Joe and I… we're meant to be, just like you and dad."

Andrea embraced her daughter as she whispered apologies.

Vanessa closed her eyes; she and Joe were soul mates, just like her parents. She just prayed that Joe wasn't taken from her early like her father was.