I ALMOST FORGOT TO LEAVE AN AUTHOR'S NOTE!

That would have been horrible. I mean, seriously, it would have ruined the entire chapter. So, you all narrowly escaped certain doom because I remembered at the last minute.

Thanks to the wonderful reviewers, as well as all you reading!

Disclaimer: I do not own Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys

Oh yes, I forgot to put this in the first time around... There will be more to this story! It's not over yet! :D There's just too much goodness that would be missed if we stopped now :)

Frank watched as Nancy picked Nick up, hugging him tightly. Even as Vanessa and his parents appeared, she didn't put him down. Nick had his arms around her neck, looking sleepily happy, and talking continuously.

Penny stirred in his arms, and Frank glanced down at her. Her blonde hair was starting to fall out of the two braids it had been in. He shifted her slightly, frowning. She was far too small for her age, and her form felt small and fragile in his arms.

They would probably be meeting with a social worker the next day, but had managed to bring Penny home. Frank was glad for that, and he felt a growing protectiveness to the small girl as he watched her sleep in his arms.

His gaze switched back to Nancy, and he saw that her arms holding Nick were shaking slightly. He knew she was in pain, but not showing it.
"Come on, Nan and Helen are exhausted. Let's go to bed," Frank said. Immediately everybody agreed. Frank followed Nancy up the stairs, and waited outside the bedroom as she put Nick back to bed.

"Let me take her," Nancy said softly, reaching out to take Penny. "All the bedrooms are full..."

"How about the sofa downstairs?" Frank whispered. Nancy paused to consider, then nodded. Quickly Frank grabbed some sheets and blankets and they headed downstairs. Frank set up the bed quickly, and Nancy gently tucked the girl in. She barely stirred.

"She must be exhausted," Nancy said softly, moving into the kitchen. Frank flicked on the light and noticed that she was trembling slightly. His gaze drifted to the bruises and split lip.

"Are you okay?" he asked quietly, wrapping his arms around her. She sighed and leaned back against him.

"I am now."

"When I found you in the closet..." Frank trailed off, the horrible image flashing in his mind. He shuddered. "I thought you were dead."

Nancy turned to look at him, her fingers brushing against his cheek.

"I was scared too," she admitted softly. "I made a mistake and taunted Johnny. He separated me from Penny, and I didn't know if he would hurt her. But I was also scared I wouldn't make it home. And then when you got there, and I was running down the stairs with Penny and I heard the gunshot..."

Frank didn't say anything but pulled her closer.

"Frank, I want to be with you. My kids are ready and I'm ready," Nancy said quietly.

Frank felt a rush of excitement flood through him. He slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out the small black velvet box. Nancy's eyes widened.

And, standing in a semi dark kitchen, totally exhausted and bruised, his clothing torn, Frank slowly got down on one knee. Nancy's blue eyes were shining.

"I'm ready too. I know it hasn't been as long as most people date, but I'm certain that there is no woman in this world I would rather spend the rest of my life with."

"Nancy Drew, will you be my wife?" Frank opened the box, revealing a simple elegant diamond ring.

"This ring has been tossed in the bushes, rained upon, carried through a car crash and a hospital. It has gone through a two missing people, detective work, and dangerous combat. But it's still with me, and so is my love for you."

"Frank, I love you, and I would be honored to be your wife," Nancy whispered, touching the ring. "And I think my children are ready to have a real father." Frank slowly slid the ring onto Nancy's slender ring finger.

Then Nancy kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck. He pulled her closer, deepening the kiss, both unaware of anything but each other.

Nancy blinked her eyes sleepily. She was on the other couch, with Penny across the living room from her. Frank was conked out beside her, and it was more than a little squished on the couch. Still, Nancy didn't mind one bit. She and Frank had fallen asleep almost immediately after sitting down on the couch, although neither had intended to sleep there all night.

A warm flush brushed her cheeks as she looked down at the ring on her finger.

She was most definitely entering a new stage of her life. But Nancy felt no doubts or hesitation. Frank was the man she truly wanted to share her life with. For a moment she just lay still, feeling warm and happy.

Finally Nancy got up and was aware of the quiet sounds from the kitchen. As she entered it, she saw that Vanessa was cooking and her children were sitting at the table with Ivan. They all squealed when they saw her, and soon she was buried beneath four small children.

"It was a stretch to convince them not to wake you up the moment they got up," Vanessa smiled. "Joe's still asleep."

"Laura and Fenton?" Nancy picked up Lizzy and guided Nick and Zoe back to their seats. "Helen?"

"Helen is still asleep and Laura and Fenton went out for a long walk. I think they want to give us all some space." Vanessa's grey eyes twinkled. "I see that you and Frank fell asleep on the couch."

"We meant to just sit down and talk, but fell asleep almost as soon as we sat," Nancy said, flushing.

"Nancy? Nancy?" Penny's voice came from the living room, slightly frantic. Quickly Nancy hurried into the room. Penny was sitting up in her makeshift bed, her brown eyes huge with alarm and fear.

"Good morning sweetie," Nancy said gently. "We're at my friend's house. Are you hungry? Do you want some breakfast?"

"Will you come with me?" Penny asked tremulously.

"Of course! Here, I want you to meet my children," Nancy took her hand and walked into the kitchen. "Nick and Zoe, this is Penny. She's going to be with us for a little while."

"Hello!" Nick said cheerfully, getting up. "How old are you?" he asked.

"I'm seven" Penny said shyly, clinging to Nancy's hand.

"I'm seven too!" Nick said excitedly. "I just turned seven last month! Are you in second grade?"

"I don't go to school," Penny flushed.

"That's okay," Nick said instantly. "I can show you mine."

Hesitantly, looking back at Nancy, Penny went and sat down by Nick. At first she was very tense, but gradually she began smiling and talking to Nick. Zoe, who was instantly fascinated with the older girl, began doing every possible silly thing in an effort to impress her. Nancy smiled and slipped out of the room.

"Hey." Frank was standing up, folding blankets from the couch. His dark eyes shone with happiness as he saw her.

"Good morning," Nancy smiled. "Are you going to come with us to the social worker meeting?"

"Of course," Frank nodded. "Why?"

"I… I need to talk to you. About the possibilities," Nancy said quietly.

"About Penny?" Frank asked slowly. Nancy nodded, looking troubled. "You've become attached to her," Frank said quietly.

"She's going to go into foster care most likely. We have the resources to take in another child, especially after we… we get married. We could do this for her, but…" Nancy bit her lip.

"But four children is a lot. It's a big time commitment, and we both wouldn't be able to work full time," Frank finished.

"I'm definitely not going over four," Nancy said. "And if…" She glanced at Frank. He immediately realized what she was thinking.

"Nancy, it doesn't matter to me that I'm not related to your children by blood. When we get married, and even now, they are my children. I don't need any biological ones," Frank said firmly, taking her hand. Nancy's blue eyes flickered to him, full of surprise.

"You…you're sure?" she asked.

"When I proposed to you, I didn't think that you would even want any more than three. I'm sure. Your children will be mine," Frank said softly. "As for Penny… she would be a large commitment. She's going to have major trust issues, especially with men…"

"She doesn't know how to read, she's never been to school," Nancy agreed. "She comes from a majorly messed up situation. But that only makes me want to keep her more. I know how to handle some of the abuse stuff, and we already have a family counselor. When I think about her possibly going into a horrible foster home…"

"I know," Frank agreed, his dark eyes troubled. "But who's going to stay home? This will be a major commitment. This will have to be a mutual decision, but I have a feeling it will impact you more... I want you to be happy, Nancy."

"Would you be open to keeping Penny with us?"

"Absolutely. But I want to make sure that this is the right choice for the whole family," Frank nodded. My family, he thought with a rush. Excitement coursed through him. Nick, Zoe, and Lizzy, he was going to get to be their father! He would have children, a wife... Frank couldn't stop the huge smile which spread across his face.

"What?" Nancy asked bemusedly.

"I'm excited for our family, to build up stronger relationships with the children," Frank admitted. Nancy laughed.

"Me too."

"How about we talk to the whole family? We might not be in the right place to take Penny, but I'm sure that we could find a safe home for her among our friends and family," Frank suggested. "And we don't need to out rule the possibility of us taking her, we should just just examine all the options."

"Good idea, and we'll need to talk to the social worker first anyways. We don't even know if Penny could come with us," Nancy decided.

"Should we tell the family that we're engaged?" Frank asked, his pace quickening as Nancy stepped closer.

"Let's wait until we're all together at dinner. But let's tell the kids right before dinner. I want to tell them first."

"I can live with that," Frank said, leaning down and kissing her.

What do you think?