A/N: Big thanks to everyone who read and reviewed the last chapter (and didn't mind that I went on a crazy rant :) ), angry penguin, NDHB, Red Hardy (your comments made me smile! THANK YOU!!), ndhbfan, Chromde, frankette, ukfan101, bhar (don't worry, my rant wasn't because of anything you've ever said, I always love to receive your reviews :). ), Polaris'05, beatleschicksteph (thank you for your review, I love the fact that the characters I write are so real for you! For an author, that is the greatest compliment), MissMe113, whitetigers, Jabba1 (believe me, Frank and Nancy can be a little too cutesy for me too…it's enough to make me want to write a big fight scene for them or something…but not in this story :) ) and NanCoop. I just want all of you to know that nothing any of you have ever said led me to that twisted rant…you guys are the greatest! (so sorry if I missed thanking anyone!)

Now, I know this chapter is WAY late (by like, seven days) but I've been so busy the last week helping my sister get ready to go to college for the first time ever (eek!). I dropped her off on Sunday and so now things are starting to settle down. FINALLY! So, I apologize and here it is! Enjoy!

Four Times Too Many

Chapter Twelve

"I'll drop you off at home later if that's what you really want but for right now, you're coming home with me," Nancy said as she pulled out of the parking lot of the courtroom.

Maggie nodded and decided not to argue anymore, "his bail. Is that a typical amount?"

Nancy gripped the steering wheel harder than she needed to and Maggie noticed her white knuckles. She felt her stomach drop as that one gesture answered her fears, "it's typical and it's attainable. He's going to make bail, isn't he?"

"The chances of that are very high," Nancy said through clenched teeth. She glanced at Maggie quickly before continuing, "But you have to remember, you have a restraining order on him. He can't get anywhere near you, legally."

"Legally," Maggie murmured and leaned her head back against the headrest. She sighed and looked out the window, at the beautiful fall trees as they passed by, "Biff Hooper was there."

Nancy had been surprise by that too, "I saw that."

"I wonder why," Maggie murmured and thought back to the man she had met in the café with the kind eyes and concerned face. "I met him and his father at the café...the day that, well…the other day. He was nice, so was his dad."

"I've only met Biff's dad a handful of times, but he has a soothing way about him that puts you instantly at ease," Nancy smiled.

"That's true," Maggie nodded. "How long?"

"How long what?" Nancy asked.

"How long until he gets out?" Maggie clarified.

"It depends on how long it takes him to secure the bail," Nancy shrugged and turned onto her street.

"Will they tell me? Will I know when he posts the bail?" Maggie's voice started to rise in panic as she thought of the idea of being alone in her house and John coming home, straight from spending two nights in jail…because of her. She shuddered thinking of his rage.

"You'll know, I'll make sure of it," Nancy promised and pulled into the driveway.

Walking into the house Maggie looked around, "where's Frank?"

"He had to go back to work," Nancy replied, "he still has a few more hours left."

Maggie nodded, "what about you? You've been spending a lot of time with me lately, don't you have to work?" She started to feel guilty about pulling Nancy away from her job, "I'm sorry, you don't have to feel like you need to spend every day with me, I know you need to work and I'll be going back to work tomorrow…"

Nancy held up a hand to interrupt Maggie's nervous chatter, "I worked most of the day yesterday and today happens to be my day off." Nancy smiled kindly, "don't worry about it."

"Okay," Maggie nodded but couldn't help but continue to feel guilty, "but I'm sure it's not your ideal way to spend your day off, in a courtroom."

Nancy laughed, "The longer you know me the more you'll start to realize that spending the day in court isn't exactly abnormal for me." Nancy shrugged out of her jacket and grabbed the one Maggie had just taken off. She put them in the hall closet and then turned to Maggie, "so, what should two otherwise unattached girls do with the rest of their day off?"

Maggie clenched her hands together nervously, "I was thinking…well, hoping…that maybe we could talk? It's been so long since I've had someone to talk to and maybe…maybe it would help distract me from thinking about…all this." Her request had her flushing in embarrassment, "if you'd rather we can do something you want to do…"

"I'll start the coffee," Nancy said in response and smiled as she led the way to the kitchen.


Frank's phone rang just as he was pulling into his driveway. He groaned as he threw his car into park and reached across the seat for his cell, it felt like it had been ringing nonstop all day. "Hello," he said a little too aggressively.

"Frank," Con Riley's voice greeted him.

"Con, what's up?" Frank asked and reached for the door handle. He quickly stepped out of his car and locked the door.

"Well, first of all you should tell that partner of mine to answer her cell phone every once and awhile, and second…when are you guys going to get a land line?" Con complained.

"Soon," Frank couldn't fight back the grin, "as soon as we think about it."

"Whatever," Con grumbled, "I'm calling with news about John Hendrickson."

Frank's hand tightened on his phone as he paused on his front doorstep, "what about him?"

"It's as we predicted, he's getting out," Con replied.

Frank swore viciously under his breath, "when?" he growled.

"In a few hours, bail is being posted and their processing him," Frank could hear the frustration in Con's voice. Frank swore again and quickly unlocked the front door and stepped inside, "she has a restraining order," Con said trying to sound soothing.

"And what is that except a piece of damn paper?" Frank asked and threw his keys on the hall table. "How is a piece of paper going stop an idiot like John Hendrickson?"

"It's the system, Frank," Con said and sighed deeply, "We have to trust that it will work."

Frank swore again, "no we don't." He stalked back into the kitchen and stopped when he saw Nancy and Maggie sitting at the kitchen table, a pot of coffee between them. "I have to go," he said to Con.

"Alright, call if you need anything," Con said.

"Thanks," Frank closed his phone and stood staring at the two women for a moment.

"Frank? What is it?" Nancy asked and stood up to walk over and stand in front of him.

"Where's your cell phone?" he asked instead of answering.

"I…" Nancy looked around and then frowned, "I must have left it in the car."

"Con was trying to call you," Frank looked down at Nancy and watched as her eyes widened in realization. "Exactly."

"Damnit," Nancy murmured and Frank laid a hand on her shoulder.

"It's okay, we'll work this out," Frank whispered.

Maggie had watched the entire exchange with concern mounting at every word. She stood up slowly and cleared her throat, "will you guys please tell me what's going on?"

Nancy closed her eyes for a moment before turning to face Maggie. She walked over to take her hand gently in hers, "John is getting out on bail."

Maggie's face drained completely of color and she seemed to melt back into her previously vacated seat. Nancy could feel her hand trembling in hers as Maggie's breathing started coming out in short erratic breaths. "When?" she finally managed to whisper.

Nancy looked to Frank for the answer, "tonight," he replied and stayed standing where he was. He checked his natural instinct to protect and comfort, not knowing how either of those things would be received by Maggie.

He watched helplessly as his words sent new spasms of terror through her body, "I'll have to check into a hotel," she whispered. She was already making plans, deciding which hotel would be the safest, imagining herself shoving the dresser in front of the door or putting a chair under the handle. Did she have time to go home and grab anything? No, better to not risk it.

She thought of her carefully hoarded money in the bathroom, recently fattened up from her waitressing tips and nearly groaned. All those years of hiding away money would be wasted; she'd have to start from scratch. In her mind she was already thinking of flight and had no intentions of staying in Bayport for longer than a night.

"Maggie?" Nancy whispered gently, not wanting to frighten her any further. She crouched down so that her eyes were level with hers. "Maggie?" she tried again when she didn't get a response. When Maggie finally looked at her Nancy continued, "You don't have to stay in a hotel, you can stay here with Frank and me." Because Maggie had started to shake her head Nancy squeezed her hand and continued, "Stay here. Frank and his friend have this place wired with all the newest and best security. Its borderline paranoid, how much security Frank's put on this place," Nancy shot a quick smile at Frank who continued to stand just inside the doorway to the kitchen. "Please, Maggie."

All she could do was nod her head, "good," Nancy said and stood up, "now let's got back to your house and grab your things."

"What?" Maggie's head whipped up, "what? No! We can't do that! What if John comes…"

"Maggie, he won't. Even if he did he won't try anything," Nancy tried to sound soothing. Maggie didn't quite believe her, thinking of all the times John had come home from taking her to the hospital after he had gotten too rough with her. How angry he had been because the people at the hospital had asked questions. If he had been that mad then, she could only imagine his anger over what she had done this time.

"I'm going with you," Frank spoke up for the first time in minutes. Nancy glanced at him and nodded, "should I call Joe?"

Nancy thought about it for a minute and shook her head, "no, he has enough to deal with at the moment, with the trial and everything."

Frank hesitated and then nodded in agreement, "you're right."

"We'll just go, get your things and get out as quickly as possible," Nancy said and stood up from her crouched position. "And when we get back Frank can show you just how to set and unset all of the alarms in this place. We'll make popcorn and make a party out of it."

Maggie couldn't believe it, but she laughed.


Nearly at the same time that Frank had received his phone call, Joe's phone rang. He was in the process of unlocking his front door as he answered, "hello?"

"Joe?" Fenton's voice sounded tinny and distant.

"Dad!" Joe cried and closed his door behind him, "it's good to hear from you!"

"You too, son," Fenton replied, "I'm sorry I've been out of communication the last few days."

"Top secret mission?" Joe asked.

"Aren't they all?" Fenton replied and made Joe laugh. Fenton cleared his throat, "listen Joe, I can't talk long but I wanted to call and talk to you about this trial."

Vanessa wandered out from the back bedroom and smiled when she saw that Joe was home. She leaned up and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Joe smiled at her distractedly and turned his attention back to his father, "what about it, Dad?"

"I've tried everything Joe," Fenton said with regret in his voice, "I can't get Vanessa out of testifying at your trial. It's ridiculous, completely absurd and I tried to use that argument but everyone I talked to told me that that's exactly the reason why they can't get her out of it. They don't seem to think its important one way or the other."

Joe closed his eyes and squeezed the bridge of his nose between his fingers, "is there nothing else we can do?"

"I'm afraid not Joe," Fenton said with regret in his voice, "Vanessa has to testify."

Joe took a deep breath, "well, thanks for trying dad."

"I know this is hard on you Joe, but try to focus on taking care of yourself for awhile. I know that's like asking the sun not to shine, but I still thought I'd ask," Fenton sighed, "I have to go. I'll be home in a few days, tell your brother I said hi."

"What about mom?" Joe asked.

"What about her?" Fenton asked.

"Shouldn't I tell her hi?" Joe sat down on the couch beside Vanessa.

"No, I talk to her everyday. I just got off the phone with her," Fenton replied.

"What?" Joe's voice was clearly surprised, "you talk to mom every day and I've been trying to call you for days? What happened to the top secret mission?"

"Joe, she's my wife. You aren't. Besides, I didn't have anything to tell you until tonight," there was a rustling sound and Fenton said quickly, "I have to go, see you in a few days."

Joe hung up the phone and then stared at it in his hands, "huh."

"What?" Vanessa asked.

"My dad talks to my mom every day," Joe replied.

"Of course he does, they're married," Vanessa laughed.

"Yeah but, he even calls her when he's away on cases and stuff. Every day," Joe stressed the last two words.

"Again Joe, they're married," Vanessa smiled.

"Still, he doesn't call me every day," Joe grumbled.

"You'd hate it if he did," Vanessa pointed out, "you'd think he was checking up on you."

Joe thought about that for a moment, "You're right."

"Of course," Vanessa smiled, "so, what did your dad have to say?"

Joe's eyes immediately grew dark and his hands fisted in his lap, "you have to testify."

Vanessa nodded her head, "good, I don't know how but I'm going to help bury that bastard."

The look on Vanessa's face and the conviction in her voice surprised a laugh out of Joe, "you know something?"

Vanessa smiled, "what?"

"You really are the woman for me," Joe leaned over and kissed her deeply.

When he pulled away Vanessa was smiling, "I didn't think you were the type of man to state the obvious."

Joe laughed and kissed her again.


"In and out," Maggie murmured and rubbed her damp palms on the legs of her jeans. "In and out," she repeated as Nancy pulled up in front of her house.

"Exactly," Nancy shot a smile at Maggie before all three of them climbed out of the car. Maggie forced herself to keep the relaxed pace of Nancy and Frank when every instinct in her wanted to run, wanted to hurry. To move as quickly as possible so they could leave before John showed up.

"I'll wait here," Frank murmured when they entered the house. He took a seat on the couch where he could keep a careful watch out the big front window and where he could easily cut off anyone who came through the front door.

In the bedroom Maggie reached for her suitcase and opened one of the top drawers of the dresser. "Can I help you with something?" Nancy asked.

"Oh, um…" Maggie wasn't used to someone offering to help her, "If you wouldn't mind pulling some of my clothes out of the closet."

"Sure," Nancy said and pulled open the closet doors. She knew she shouldn't have been but she was surprised to find that the majority of the closet was dominated by men's clothes. In Nancy's opinion the closet boasted an unhealthy amount of flannel in varying colors. "No one should wear that much flannel," she muttered under her breath and shoved the hangers aside to get to Maggie's clothes.

She began pulling shirts off their hangers and folding them neatly into the suitcase. Her hand paused when she reached for the next shirt in line, it was a beautiful silk blouse in an ivory cream color, "this is beautiful," Nancy commented as she pulled it off the hanger and began to fold it up.

"Leave that one," Maggie said from behind her and Nancy turned with a question in her eyes. Maggie swallowed noticeably, "I don't like that blouse. Leave it here."

"Okay," Nancy nodded and placed the shirt back on the hanger and in the closet.

Sensing Nancy's curiosity Maggie hastened to downplay her strong aversion to the shirt, "it's just not flattering on me."

Nancy just nodded and thought that there was more to it than that, there must have been a good reason as to why she didn't want that shirt. It was obviously expensive and one of the only nice things in her wardrobe. Nancy let it slide however and started pulling her pants off their hangers.

"I'll just run to the bathroom and get my things out of there," Maggie whispered and dashed out of the room. Nancy looked at the solitary shirt of Maggie's left hanging in the closet and stepped forward to inspect it further. It was neatly pressed and clean and Nancy ran a hand down the row of buttons. Her hand paused when she realized that two of the buttons had been ripped off and a third hung sadly from a single string.

"What's the story behind this?" Nancy murmured under her breath and jerked back quickly when Maggie came rushing into the room carrying a bag of toiletries.

"I'm ready," Maggie said breathlessly.

"Alright, do you need anything else?" Nancy asked.

Maggie's eyes darted to the bureau and back, "one more thing." She pulled open the top drawer and slipped out an old leather box. Lifting the lid Nancy saw the contents, "these were my grandmother's," Maggie whispered and pulled out the heavy intricately designed silver mirror. Also inside were a silver brush and an empty slot where a comb might have rested.

"They're beautiful," Nancy smiled.

"My grandmother gave them to me," Maggie set the mirror back into its place gently. "The set used to have a comb but…it broke."

"Well," Nancy said laying a comforting hand on Maggie's shoulder, "let's get it loaded up. Is there anything else?"

"No," Maggie placed the box and the toiletries in her suitcase and zipped it closed, "nothing else in this house belongs to me."

Nancy nodded and led the way out into the living room where Frank was busy inspecting the lock on the front door. He didn't want to voice his opinions on the flimsy lock but he would be calling the landlord, who owed him and his father a favor, about beefing up the security for his tenants.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Yep," Nancy replied and smiled at him when he reached for the heavy suitcase.

"Then lets blow this joint, I want popcorn," Frank said and headed for the door.

Maggie couldn't help but smile and feel a small tug of longing, of jealousy that she was instantly ashamed of. Nancy and Frank were so perfectly suited for one another. She could imagine Nancy saying something exactly like that and she craved that sort of connection with someone, that understanding. It was obvious that Nancy and Frank's personalities matched perfectly in all the right places.

She was deep in thought as she headed out of the house and locked the front door behind her. She was so deep in thought that when she turned and walked straight into the unmoving backs of Nancy and Frank she was surprised to find them still standing on her small front porch, "What?" she began to ask but Nancy reached her hand back to grab hers and silenced her.

Looking around Nancy and Frank Maggie felt her pulse quicken. Standing at the sidewalk beside a police cruiser was John and he was grinning evilly at her. "Hello wife," John called out his tone leering.

"Don't talk to him," Nancy muttered and moved to put Maggie between herself and Frank as they walked toward her car. Nancy glanced over at Frank as she helped Maggie into the back seat and saw that his jaw was clenched in fury. "Frank," Nancy murmured and walked over to place a calming hand on his, "it's alright."

"No it isn't," Frank growled, "not it isn't. It's bad enough he tormented that poor woman for so many years," Frank shot an angry look at John who continued to stand smirking on the sidewalk. "But he hurt you, too."

"And he's paying for it, believe me," Nancy tugged on Frank's arm trying to get him to leave.

"You gonna bang my wife just like Biff Hooper?" John called at Frank, "I can tell you from experience she aint worth the effort."

Nancy couldn't stop him, as much as she prided herself for being able to hold her own in a fight there would have been no way for her to have the strength to keep Frank from flying across the sidewalk to stand in front of John. Nancy watched as Frank was careful not to touch John.

"Easy Frank," the officer who had dropped John off stepped up to stand next to the two angry men. Rage seemed to vibrate off each of them in waves.

"Back off," Frank ordered and his tone was threatening, his eyes never leaving John's face. The officer nodded slightly but only backed up a small step. "You listen to me you arrogant, worthless bastard," Frank's voice vibrated with fury, "Biff Hooper never touched your wife."

John cut him off, "oh, but you plan to?"

Frank let out a harsh laugh, "you're an idiot. I don't have time to waste my breath talking to a worthless excuse for a human being like you but before I go, know this." John was silent and crossed his arms across his chest, mocking, "For what you did to Maggie, I will bury you." the words sent chills down Nancy's spine, "but for what you did to Nancy, I will annihilate you. Do you understand?" Not waiting for an answer Frank stormed away from the bewildered looking John and yanked over the driver's side door, "I'll drive."

Nancy stood on the sidewalk for a full five seconds before she could move her frozen legs and climb into the car. She was shocked into silence as Frank pulled the car out onto the road smoothly.

"What was that about?" Maggie asked her voice shaking with fright.

"Nothing, I was just telling John how it was going to be," Frank replied and his gentle tone was in stark contrast to the raw fury Nancy had witnessed out on the sidewalk.

Nancy remained silent the entire way home, replaying the scene in her mind over and over again. She was still quiet as they walked into the house and showed Maggie to the guest bedroom. She and Frank walked to their bedroom to give Maggie a chance to settle in.

"What is it?" Frank asked as they stepped into the bedroom.

"I…don't have words," Nancy finally managed.

"Okay," Frank replied and walked over to look out the window down at the street below.

"Frank…" Nancy walked over and stood beside him, staring down at the same empty road. "I've told you before how sexy it is when you do your nerdy thing on the computer. You know how much I love you when you act noble and sure footed: when you help those who can't help themselves. God," Nancy ran a hand through her hair and found that it trembled, "I don't know how to say this."

"Say what?" Frank asked still looking out at the road.

"That, what you just did there in front of Maggie's house," Nancy shook her head. "Frank, look at me please."

Frank turned slowly to face her and she grabbed both of his hands in hers, "watching you stick up for Maggie and then me…and the way you did it, so passionately. Then, the way you were able to calm yourself down enough for Maggie's sake. I thought to myself, never before have I loved a man this much. Never before have I loved you so much. It was so overwhelming I thought I might burst from it."

"Nancy," Frank whispered and laid his forehead against hers, "that's how I feel every day."

"I know," Nancy replied. "I know," she repeated. She took a deep breath, "I can't believe I'm doing this…"

"What?" Frank's eyes narrowed in concern.

"Frank, you have no one else to blame for this but yourself. If you hadn't done what you did today I wouldn't be doing this," Nancy shook her head and took another deep breath.

"Nancy, you're scaring me. If you hadn't of just told me you loved me I'd think you're breaking up with me," Frank tried to smile but ended up wincing nervously. Was that what she was trying to do?

Nancy dropped one of his hands so she could lay hers on his cheek, "I'm trying to do the exact opposite, actually."

"The exact opposite?" Frank asked confused, "but we're already dating."

"I know" Nancy murmured and watched the confusion war in Frank's eyes, "I can just see the wheels turning in there Frank." She pulled him to the bed and he sat down beside her, "Frank, today I witnessed the man that I love do something incredible and all I could think about was how much I love you and want you in my life."

"And I want you in mine," Frank replied feeling slightly relieved.

"Good," Nancy smiled, "because will you marry me?"

Frank's face froze in the same bewildered expression he had been wearing before she asked her hesitant question. He stared at her, in shock, for awhile before he could speak, "I…"

"I guess I should have been on one knee when I asked you but," Nancy shrugged, "I was already being untraditional by asking you myself, so why not break down all the stereotypes?" Nancy waited while Frank remained silent. Nancy felt her happiness start to crumble, "of course, I guess I should have waited for you…I suppose you wanted to do this in your own time…"

Frank silenced her with his lips and pulled her against his chest, wrapped his arms around her. When they finally broke apart Nancy's cheeks were flushed, "yes." Frank said happily and kissed her again passionately, "yes, yes, yes."

"Yes?" Nancy asked.

"A thousand times yes," Frank nodded and then stood up quickly, "I almost forgot!"

"What?" Nancy asked she was feeling giddy with happiness.

"I have a ring," Frank replied and darted into the closet.

"You what?" Nancy asked, now it was her turn to be floored.

"I have a ring," Frank repeated and then dashed back out into the bedroom. He knelt down in front of Nancy.

"You mean you were planning to…" Nancy couldn't finish.

"My mom gave this to me the night we had the surprise barbecue for this house," Frank said and showed Nancy the box he held in his hands. "She told me to give it to you when I asked you to marry me."

Nancy's eyes glistened with barely controlled tears, "really?"

"Yes," Frank replied and opened the box.

"Oh, Frank it's beautiful," Nancy breathed as a tear finally escaped. She looked at the ring and shock registered on her face, "I recognize this…is this…I mean, it can't be…"

"It is," Frank confirmed and slipped the ring on Nancy's finger, "it's the ring my mother has worn since my father proposed to her twenty-six years ago. She wanted you to have it."

"I can't believe you're making me cry," Nancy said and the tears began to flow freely, "I can't believe this."

"I can," Frank smiled, "I've waited for this moment for a long time."

"Stop that!" Nancy said sniffling, "stop making me cry even more!"

Frank laughed and pulled her down for a kiss, "I promise to spend the rest of my life trying not to make you cry."

"Oh!" Nancy blubbered as a fresh wave of tears fell.

"I always pictured this moment in a more romantic setting, with candles or something," Frank murmured as he looked around the room lit up by the daylight.

"This is perfect," Nancy laid her hand on Frank's, "it's exactly right."

"Yes," Frank agreed, "it's exactly right."