A/N So this chapter is more or less wrapping up the case. There will be one more chapter, which is going to be an epilogue of sorts. I hope you guys enjoy and I do intend to have the final chapter posted before Thanksgiving.

Chapter Twenty-five

Nancy's POV

The next few days was a flurry of activity around Chicago. All of us involved were once again required to give our statements of what happened in the warehouse as well as all of the evidence we had gathered on the case so far.

Once the FBI had both Turner and Caius behind bars, it wasn't long before both of them had cracked and was not only spilling the beans on how they carried out the drug embezzlement, but also naming all of the people that was part of the process.

Volturi Pharmaceuticals really took a hit in the public sector when all of this came out in a breaking news report Monday morning. There were several television crews, both local and national, that were filming everything they could from the raid that took place there. The federal agents came in and rounded up everyone that had already been named in the case. Once those people were all rounded up, they ended up arresting even more employees that had helped with the crime. Most of the people that were arrested during this second round were people that were so far down the totem pole that Caius and Turner never even knew about them. I was amazed that they managed to keep this as tight-lipped as they had with the number of people involved in the whole thing.

I watched report after report as the embezzlement scheme was brought to public knowledge and multiple people gave statements on the status of how many people were being indicted for being a part of the ring.

A couple of days after all of this happened, Aro dropped by the Cullen's house. He was very cordial and greeted all of us warmly. I could tell that he was saddened that Caius would stoop to such a level when Aro had held such faith in the man. Regardless of the fact that a family member would be disloyal to a business that he started from the ground up, Aro seemed to be trying to look for the sun shining down on a stormy day. He knew better than I did how much of a beating his company was going to take from all of the negative media attention thrown at it, but I believe that he was truly planning to stand by and pull his company back up from the mud into the limelight once again.

I'm not quite sure what Frank and I have been doing the past few days. Ever since we got out of the warehouse mostly unscathed, I knew that we probably needed to have a give heart-to-heart with one another. Unfortunately, I don't think either of us really have been up to it. I, for one, have been dreading this conversation for a while now because I just don't know what will happen between us now that this case is over.

It's twilight and I'm relaxing on the porch swing as I gently glide back and forth at a steady rhythm. Tomorrow Frank and Joe will be leaving to travel back to Bayport, and I'm supposed to drive back to River Heights. I know that Frank cares deeply for me, but I honestly can't imagine how a long distance relationship will work between the two of us.

Even though I've come to terms with my break-up with Ned, I don't want that to happen to Frank and I. I'm scared to move forward into something that I can't be sure will last. That's why I'm probably doing the cowardly thing by sitting out here on the swing while everyone is inside talking to one another and enjoying their time together before we separate. I haven't even taken the time to pack my bags because I don't want to leave this place. Being here reminds me of what Frank and I share together.

In my mind, I find leaving to be equivalent to leaving us behind. I know that it's probably an irrational thought on my behalf, but it doesn't keep it from existing.

"Hey," Frank's voice called out softly interrupting my jumbled thoughts.

"Hey," I said as I gave him a small smile.

Frank came over and sat down beside me on the swing. "I wondered where you had wondered off to while everyone was inside."

"I wasn't really in the celebrating mood," I told him as I looked down at my feet.

"How come?" Frank asked. "We've solved the case and everyone is safe and sound. You should be celebrating another job well done."

"I guess it's more the fact that since the case is closed, everything is going to return to normal again," I replied still not looking at him.

I felt his gaze on me as he weighed the words that had just come out of my mouth. I knew how intelligent Frank was and wouldn't doubt that he might understand what I was really worried about.

Frank grabbed my hand and held it in his. "Nan, my feelings for you aren't going to change just because the case is over."

When I didn't look over at him, Frank used his fingertips to turn my face so that I was finally meeting his gaze. "I love you and want to be with you. I would actually love for you to move to Bayport and work with Joe and I at our detective agency. I know that might be an unreasonable thing to ask because you have your own life and wouldn't want to just pick up and move. I guess I just need you to realize that the option is always available," he finished.

I think I just sat there staring at him for what seemed like several minutes before I could even comprehend everything that he was telling me. I've been so used to parting our ways at the end of a case that I never considered an option that could lead me to be where Frank was.

"Look, I'm not asking you to leave everything behind right now so that we can be together," Frank continued. "I just wanted to put that out there. We've both had really stable relationships with people that didn't last. I know that you're probably scared of the future because I'll admit that this scares me a little. The thing is that I'm willing to jump in and give us a chance. I won't force you into anything, but I'm hoping you'll put aside your fears and jump in with me."

I couldn't help but appreciate the honesty of Frank's words to me. I really was scared of our relationship because of what I went through with Ned. Ned and I had something that I thought would last forever. I realize now that some of the problems that cropped up were probably indicators of future instability, but at the time those things didn't mean anything to me. On the other hand, Frank and I have always had an attraction to each other, even while we were dating other people. There have been so many times that we shared intimate moments with one another, but wouldn't do anything about it because of being ties to other people and not wanting to hurt them.

Thinking on things now, I'm pretty sure that Frank and I could have been happy with one another long before now. Granted, we still have a bit of a logistics problem since I live in River Heights and he's in Bayport, but Frank's offering me the opportunity to move up there with him and work in their detective agency. I have to admit that it would be far easier for me to pick up where I am since I don't have a business to run or even a job for that matter.

"Okay," I said almost surprising myself.

"Okay?" Frank asked incredulously.

I nodded my head before trying to explain myself to him. "Before this case came up, I was pretty much lost. I couldn't even say for sure whether I wanted to continue detective work in the future. I only took the case in the first place because I felt bad for a girl being missing knowing how a lot of those people end up being found. I didn't want to see that happen to Edward, who was clearly in love with Bella, so I took the case."

"Getting back to sleuthing helped me realize that it's what I want to do with my life," I continued. "I don't need to listen to the people who have discouraged me from something that I love to do. It would be wrong of me to listen to what others think and follow their lead instead of listening to my heart."

I looked up at Frank with eyes that were beginning to collect moisture. "I'm going to be brave and follow my heart and it's leading me to you."

The words had barely left my mouth before Frank's lips had descended upon mine. Out of all of the kisses that we've shared over the years, this one was definitely the most passionate. We were both left breathless when we finally broke away from each other.

"I love you," Frank said as he leaned his forehead against mine.

"I love you, too," I replied back.

We stood up from the swing and linked our hands together as we walked back inside the house where everyone else was hanging out celebrating. I finally had a smile on my face and felt like celebrating the end of a case. I knew that my life was far from being perfectly in order, but I somehow felt like I might be taking a step in the right direction.

The evening seemed to go on forever. All of us ended up settling down in the living room and watching a movie together. It was nearing midnight before anyone made the move to actually go to bed. I knew that I would be exhausted the next day, but it was nice being around everyone on our final night together.

I woke up early the next morning and began the task of packing all of my stuff into my suitcase. I probably should have done it last night, but by the time I got up to bed, all I could really think about was sleep. I was pretty much asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

I was a little sad at the fact that I was parting from Frank, but it was necessary for the time being. I still needed to get home and inform my dad about my decision to move to Bayport. I wasn't really sure what his response might be, so I was crossing my fingers and hoping for the best. I knew he respected Frank, so that would work to my advantage. The only problem I could see was that since I was his only child, he might not like the idea of me moving away.

I was trying to formulate a plan on how to broach the topic with him as I folded my clothes and placed them neatly in the suitcase.

I heard a knock on the door before it opened to reveal a smiling Frank. "Good morning," he said.

"Good morning," I responded back. "Have you finished packing?"

"Just finished," Frank told me. "Of course, I don't really try to fold everything as neatly as you do. I tend to just toss it in and hope the suitcase will close."

I shook my head at him. "I bet Joe does the same."

"He's even worse," Frank admitted. "I think he balls his clothes up first."

I finished putting the last of my clothing in the suitcase before grabbing my toiletry bag and placing it neatly on top. I then zipped everything up and was ready to place it in the trunk of my car.

"Want me to take this down for you?" Frank asked.

"I'll walk with you," I told him as he picked up the suitcase.

We descended the stairs together. At the bottom of the stairs, I could smell something heavenly coming from the direction of the kitchen. My mouth immediately began watering. Frank and I continued out the front door to where my car was parked and put the suitcase inside the trunk. After closing the trunk, we walked back inside together and headed for the kitchen.

Everyone was gathered around in the kitchen where Esme had prepared a huge breakfast for all of us. It was spread out along the counter in a buffet style and people had already piled various items on their plates as they stood around chatting happily with each other.

Frank and I grabbed two plates and scooped a little bit of everything on them. Esme poured each of us a glass of juice and we greedily ate our food. I milled around chatting a little with everyone who was gathered in the kitchen. I was pretty sure that a lot of us would end up keeping in touch with each other even after all of this was done.

It wasn't long before the morning hours were waning away and Frank and Joe were due to leave to catch their flight back to Bayport. I needed to get on the road so that I could be back in River Heights before dinner and prepare for a long conversation with my dad.

We said our goodbyes and gave hugs to everyone before heading out. I was met at my car by Frank. I watched as Joe walked over to their rental and sat down in the driver's seat waiting on Frank.

"I'm going to miss you," Frank said.

"I'm going to miss you, too," I replied. "I need to talk to my dad tonight about moving to Bayport. I'll let you know how it goes."

"I'm sure he'll be sad to let you go but understand why you want to move," Frank reassured.

"I hope you're right," I said.

"Don't worry," Frank told me. "Everything will work out in the end."

Frank leaned down to give me a lingering goodbye kiss before giving a cheerful wave on the way to the car. I smiled and waved back before getting into my own car and beginning the drive back to River Heights.