Hello again, and thanks for all the kind reviews! Totally makes it worth it to try to work through some future plot issues! And good to know about Joe-whopping, I had not been aware of that genre/term. On that subject, I promise there will eventually be action, but this is more about the case and mystery right now. So if you like that awesome, if not, hang in there. As always, I love getting feedback!

I don't own Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys... Too bad, right?

"Here. Just type in the file you need, and if you don't know exactly what it is filed under, try the key name," Nancy said, pushing her laptop towards the brothers. They were back in the coffee shop, Nancy cradling a warm latte in her hands.

"Nan, you're a goddess," Joe breathed as he looked at the data files. "How on earth did you get access to this?"

"I have a couple contacts here and there," Nancy grinned charmingly. She still couldn't believe that she was once again with the Hardy boys. Joe was still as charmingly handsome as always, with his blond hair and sparkling blue eyes. And Frank was looking pretty good as well, his dark eyes were more solemn than Joe, which was only to be expected. Both were muscular and obviously fit, matured from the teenagers they had used to be.

"How have you been Nan?" Frank asked, falling easily back to her nickname, leaning back in his chair as Joe continued searching on the computer. To her surprise, Nancy found herself stumbling for an answer. How was she? Good? Heartbroken? Excited for a case?

"I've been better, and I've been worse," Nancy decided with a grin. Frank laughed, serious face crinkling in a smile.

"Always a riddle," he commented.

"Tell me about your case," Nancy said eagerly.

Quickly, Frank filled her in on the death of Senator Allen. Nancy then told him about her case of Sophie Lopez.

"She's been missing for eleven years?" Joe's voice was incredulous. "All the clues are going to be ice cold."

"I know, but I picked up some important information from Officer Barton. Apparently her disappearance somehow was related to the local mafia, they backed up the dropping of the case. Ever heard of these guys?" Nancy asked hopefully.

"Nan, after eleven years, those guys might not even be around anymore," Frank said slowly.

"Dude, that's not what she wanted to hear," Joe punched his brother lightly on the shoulder.

"Well, it's probably true. But I have to try," Nancy said helplessly. Frank laughed, totally understanding the feeling. Suddenly Nancy's cell phone began ringing. Nancy glanced at the caller ID, and Frank noticed that the happiness in her eyes had dulled. She looked up with an empty smile. "Sorry boys, I have to take this one," she said apologetically, and stepped out of the coffee shop.

Frank watched Nancy walk out the door and then turned distractedly toward his work.

"I bet that was Ned," he commented.

"Whoa, really? She didn't look too happy, whoever it was," Joe frowned. "Maybe they broke up."

"Why would they break up? Nan and Ned have been together for forever. They're both great people." Frank ran a hand through his dark hair.

"All that doesn't mean they can't break up, I mean..." Joe tilted his head, looking uncharacteristically serious.

Just look at me and Callie, Frank filled in Joe's thought. Was it possible that Nancy and Ned went through the same thing as him and Callie?

And was he feeling happy that Nancy might have broken up with Ned? Frank frowned at that thought.

"We don't even know if that was Ned calling," Frank dismissed the conversation, and threw himself into his work.

"Hey, Ned?" Nancy leaned against the brick wall near the shop. Pedestrians were briskly walking by, but the street was relatively quiet.

"Nancy." Ned's deep voice sounded slightly tinny in the cell phone.

"What's up?" Nancy attempted to keep her voice light. Still, she couldn't help but think back to their argument... the hurtful things Ned had said...

"Your job is all you care about Nancy! You're just one workaholic. And I'm tired of being put on the back burner! It's always all about you and your mysteries!"

"Hey, I know we haven't talked since we broke up, but I've really been thinking..."

Nancy's heart sunk. Please don't say it...

"I know we have issues, but we can at least be friends. I don't want to completely lose our relationship. Being...romantically involved wasn't working, but we can still be friends, right?"

Nancy breathed a sigh of relief. When she and Ned had broken up, it seemed like the right choice, and she was grateful that he didn't want to get back together. Although part of her would always miss their close relationship, she had been relieved when it had ended.

"There's a lot of hurt Ned, both sides. We can't just ignore that," Nancy warned.

"I know. And it doesn't have to be suddenly we're best friends again. I just wanted to let you know that I still want to be friends with you. This not talking stuff isn't really working out for me. We can work through what happened slowly."

Nancy felt a burden lift.

"Alright. That sounds good. But I might not have a bunch of time to talk..."

"Nanc, where are you?"

"I'm in Chicago on a case."

There was a brief silence. Nancy squeezed her eyes shut, waiting. Her cases and dedication to her job had often been a conflict. The conversation had been going so well...

"Okay. That's cool." Ned's voice was slightly short, but Nancy let it go, relieved to avoid an argument.

"Yeah, actually I should go, Frank and Joe are probably wondering where I am..."

"Frank and Joe? Frank and Joe Hardy?" Ned's tone was even, controlled. Nancy cursed herself for letting that one slip. She didn't need to have this conversation with Ned again.

"Yeah. I ran into them this morning." Nancy didn't feel as though she owed him more of an explanation, and fell silent, waiting.

"Alright, well I better leave you to that. Say hi to them for me." Ned's tone was stiff and frigid. Jealous that I can have other friends that are guys, Ned? Nancy thought grimly.

"Okay, well talk to you later," Nancy said instead, avoiding the argument.

"Alright, bye."

"Bye."

Nancy closed the cell phone and tucked it into her pocket. For a moment she sagged against the wall, letting it support her, and then she stood up straight and walked back into the coffee shop. Frank was busily writing down notes, and Joe was leaning back in his chair fast asleep. Nancy sat down quietly.

"Hey, sorry, that was Ned," she smiled apologetically. "We broke up right before I came here," she told Frank quietly, not wanting to have the awkwardness of trying to subtly tell him. Better just to put it straight out there in the open.

"Nancy, I'm so sorry," Frank's eyes widened with surprise and concern. He gently touched her arm. "How are you holding up?"

"Better than I had expected," Nancy admitted, eyes suddenly stinging at the kindness of Frank's gesture. It was hard. After always having Ned to lean on, and his affection to reassure her, it felt like there was a gap in her life without him. There were so many things she missed.

"I guess we're in the same boat then," Frank said slowly, unsure if it was the right time to tell Nancy about him and Callie. But he had already started, so he barged ahead. "Callie and I recently split up too."

Now it was Nancy's turn to be sympathetic. "I'm sorry Frank," she said softly, blue eyes compassionate. "It definitely hurts, especially after being together so long, doesn't it?"

"Yeah," Frank agreed, a rush of grief flooding him as he let his thoughts stray to Callie. Briefly he wondered what had happened between Nancy and Ned. "It feels kind of strange to be honest."

"I know what you mean. Part of me is really upset, but another part is... almost relieved," Nancy confided, slim hands encircling her now-lukewarm coffee. "So how's the case going? Find anything interesting?" she changed the subject.

"Not much. We're probably going to go check out the location tomorrow. Other than that, I don't see many leads."

"Any theories?"

"Well we know that Senator Allen's death has something to do with the people who were threatening him. He received several threats that warned him if he didn't drop out of reelection for senate, he would 'pay the price'. He didn't drop out..."

"So he paid the price," Nancy finished grimly. "Why would someone want him to drop out so badly?"

"We're working on that," Frank sighed.

Let me know what you think! Liked it? Absolutely hated it? Thought that I should have whopped Joe on the head? Whatever it is, leave me a review! :)