Nancy rejoined the party. She found Bess and George sitting in the hot tub with glasses of wine in their hands. Nancy smiled as she grabbed a glass of white wine, and joined them in the hot tub. She sat against the wall and sighed as she sipped from the class.

Bess and George both looked at her grinning. "So where's Frank?" Bess asked though she suspected she already knew.

"Upstairs out for the night." Nancy answered.

Bess laughed." He's too exciting, Nan. I don't know how you handle him?" She smiled teasing Nancy.

George chuckled, but felt the need to defend him." I think I slept for two days after I got done with finals. It's nothing like he has I'd guess."

They all sat and relaxed. Bess gave Nancy an evil look. She hadn't had time to properly grill Nancy about the new relationship with Frank. There had always been something between them, and she agreed with Joe. Bess laughed as she recalled the text Joe had sent her. "It's about damned time." was all he sent. He knew she'd demand an answer to the cryptic text and had enjoyed stringing her along for a day before spilling about the two of them.

Bess grinned." So, Joe and George tell me you and Frank have been an item since Christmas, and I hear from Joe about it in a text message . I thought I was your best friend." Bess pouted dramatically.

Nancy laughed as George groaned."You're both my best friends." Nancy stressed looking at George.

George laughed as Bess put in her best dramatic face. " Fine still I'm miffed. Matchmaking is clearly my area of expertise." Bess grinned.

George laughed."Next time get stranded at three in the morning in the middle of Harvard Square. It obviously works."

They all knew the story well. Bess smiled remembering as George had told her the tale. Frank Hardy had risen in Bess' estimation that day. She was grateful that Frank had saved George from what could have been a very bad situation.

"So, one of us finally landed a Hardy boy. Care to tell us you're secret?" Bess teased.

Nancy laughed. "Why you have plans on the other Hardy boy?" She asked joking. Joe and Bess always had a harmless flirtation going. "I met Vanessa, Bess. I'm not sure I'd tangle with her if I were you. Just some friendly advice." Nancy offered joking.

George laughed. "You mean she's finally met her match?" George teased.

Nancy nodded in agreement laughing.

Bess ignored them and went back to her original intention, weaseling information from Nancy. Especially since she knew that Frank planned on proposing. She was curious if Nancy had any idea.

"So, come on tell me. How is it really going between you? And more importantly are the Hardy boys as good as we think they are?" Bess asked excitedly.

George rapped Bess on the back of the head."Bess mind your own business."

"Hey!" Bess exclaimed.

"They're better than we imagined." Nancy answered softly.

George chuckled while Bess gleamed."Do tell." She teased throwing Nancy a mischievous smile.

Nancy shook her head."I don't think so." Nancy smiled slyly at her.

They all chuckled. "So, really Nan how is it going?" Bess repeated clearly more serious this time.

Nancy looked down at her drink as she considered how to answer the question. She was serious more serious than she'd been about any relationship. Frank was who she wanted to be with forever. She knew it was only several months, but she knew. She wondered to herself if Frank felt the same.

Out loud she was more careful." We're doing really well. It's still early and I don't want to rush it."

Bess frowned. That was not what she had hoped to hear from her best friend." You two sure looked serious to me." She challenged Nancy. Bess wanted an honest answer not the safe answer.

She knew the break-up with Ned had been rough. Nancy had closed up after that. It was good to see her friend back, and there was no way she was going to allow Nancy to ruin this.

"Come on Nan." Bess said exasperated with her friend. "You two have known each other forever. He's head over heels. You can tell just by looking. He practically drools when you walk in the room." Bess added teasing her friend to get a reaction.

She got one as Nancy and George both batted her on the head. At the same time. "Hey! That hurts." Bess complained.

"No less than you deserved." George retorted.

Nancy knew what Bess was really asking. Is Frank the one? She was pretty sure he was, but she'd learned not to put words in a guy's mouth. Especially after her experience with Ned and their break up. What she thought would be forever changed as they changed. The main difference seemed to be Frank wanted to meet her halfway, where Ned had gotten tired of bending for her. She was afraid that would happen with Frank as their schedules got more demanding. She prayed she was wrong.

"Bess, leave her alone." George could see was not an issue Nancy was comfortable discussing.

Bess saw Nancy's face."Sorry Nan I'll..."

Nancy shook her head. "It's OK. I don't want to get ahead of myself. It's going well really well. It's kind of hard with the distance and his schedule. This summer will be good we'll finally be in the same place at the same time."

Bess smiled." There's next year too. You'll both be in the same place."

Nancy nodded smiling." Yeah, but it will be crazy. Still even if we end up crashing in the same place or studying in the same place it's better than being halfway across the country."

She sighed and took a sip of her wine. She looked directly at Bess and George. " Yeah, I think it's pretty serious. Maybe someday when life is a little calmer." Nancy said wistfully.

Though she agreed with her father's logic that it made sense to wait until after law school, she really didn't want to wait. They'd only been dating for months she knew, but they had known each other forever. The feelings had always been there. Just they were finally free to act, and well she wanted to act. She knew it was silly. Frank wasn't going anywhere, but part of her wished he'd simply lay claim on her officially. Knowing Frank it would probably well thought through, and he would pick the most logical time for both of them.

Both Bess and George laughed. Partly because her worries were so silly. All you had to do was look at Frank for five seconds to know he was hopelessly in love. Also they knew that her wait was going to be far shorter than she realized at the moment.

Bess decided to have some fun at Nancy's expense. "You never know maybe he'll be spontaneous for once." She grinned at Nancy. Then she shook her head as if disbelieving her own statement." "OK, that was a silly thing to say."

Bess was about to continue when George elbowed her in the ribs."Leave her alone already." George demanded. "Stop torturing her will you."

George turned to Nancy. "Trust me you have nothing to worry about. He's not going anywhere." George assured her.

"Besides if he needs a push just call me. Joe and I will handle it." Bess added smiling.

Nancy just laughed. Her friends always knew how to make her feel better. "If he gets out of line I'll call you." Nancy promised.

George turned the conversation towards other things. She didn't want to give Bess a chance to accidentally give away Frank's secret before he was ready to ask her. They talked about her upcoming interview for her summer position. She had aced the phone interview and the rehab center was very excited to talk with her. She would he working with all the newest and latest and greatest equipment. She was very excited.

Time passed quickly and before they realized it was 2AM. Nancy gave a big yawn. She had had a few glasses of wine was getting sleepy. "I think I'm done." She said getting out of the hot tub. She grabbed a large towel and wrapped it around her. The girls agreed and followed Nancy's example.

Nancy went upstairs and quietly entered the room. She looked on the bed. Frank was still fast asleep on the bed as she had left him earlier. She studied him for a moment. He was gorgeous she thought as she silently changed and climbed into bed next to him. Nancy snuggled and burrowed into Frank. Other than a soft sigh Frank remained sound asleep. Nancy debated whether she should wake him or not. In the morning she thought. He was exhausted. She would wake him in the morning she thought with a grin as she fell asleep in his arms.