So. This is the last chapter.
A HUGE GIGANTIC thank you to all who read! The reviews were also amazing frequent and encouraging! This has been another good experience!
So after some thought and weighing of options and convincing reviews, I will announce some exciting news.
There will be a third story to this series!
I will still be taking a break, for about 2 weeks most likely. I will add a chapter to this story when the sequel is going to go up. (It doesn't have a name yet) So Author Follow me or just follow this story to make sure you get the update if you are interested in reading the next one!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Disclaimer: I don't own Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys
"Alright, are you ready?" Helen asked eagerly, exchanging a smile with Laura.
"Ready," Nancy grinned, shifting Lizzy on her hip.
"Let's see it," Joe rubbed his hands together, and bent down to pick Ivan up.
"Alright, here we go. Grand tour," Fenton announced, opening the door.
"It's beautiful!" Vanessa exclaimed. Quickly Laura and Helen led the group through the house. It had large and spacious rooms with big windows. The upstairs was equipped with a kitchenette and basically a separate living place, with two bedrooms.
"Penny and I will be up here," Helen explained.
"Has the house been approved?" Frank asked, giving Nick a piggy back ride.
"An official came yesterday. It passed with flying colors. Everything else has been completed, all the papers, the training session. All I need to do is wait for it to go through the state. We're almost there," Helen beamed.
"How's Penny doing?" Vanessa asked gently.
"She's doing alright. She asks me every time I visit when she gets to go home with me. She's starting to eat more when I'm not there, which is good."
Nancy watched Helen's eyes shine as she spoke about Penny. The young woman's demeanor was light and excited. Helen was already talking to Sophie about adopting Penny. And she had confided in her about a certain Benjamin Leo.
Nancy tried to remember the tired, broken, and burdened woman she had first met all those years ago with difficulty. They had both come a long way.
Helen pulled up to the large colorful building, and quickly spotted a small figure waiting by the door with Sophie. She jumped out of the car, a huge smile spreading across her face.
"Helen!" Penny flew across the sidewalk towards her, blond hair streaming behind her.
"Penny!" Helen twirled the small girl around in a hug.
"I'm so excited!" Penny gasped, her arms wrapped around Helen's waist. Although still small and thin, Penny was radiating a healthy aura. Her bruises and cuts had all faded, and her face no long held the sharp pinched look it once did.
"Are you ready to go home?" Helen asked.
"Yes! Our very own home," Penny said excitedly, swinging Helen's hand.
Helen paused to look back and wave to Sophie. As a foster parent, she knows that she will be in contact fairly often with Sophie, as well as Penny's father's lawyers. She was up for the challenge.
"Laura and Fenton will be there," Helen reminded Penny, helping her buckle in. Laura and Fenton had come to visit Penny with Helen, and although Penny obviously wasn't quite comfortable with Fenton being there, it didn't seem to be a huge problem either.
"But we have our own little house upstairs. Just ours," Penny said excitedly. Helen had brought pictures of the house, which Penny knew by memory.
"Yes. It'll be just ours. For our little family."
"Our family," Penny repeated.
Both felt a rush of happiness at those two words.
"Nick, can you get the door? It should be Frank," Nancy asked loudly over Lizzy's crying. It was one of those chaotic days where toys were all over the floor, dirty laundry was overflowing in hampers, and dishes were scattered all over the house.
"I got it, Mom!" Nick yelled, scurrying towards the door.
Zoe began crying as well as she tripped over a toy and fell hard. Her blue eyes filled with tears, and she stretched her arms out to Nancy.
"Come here sweetie," Nancy said gently, rubbing her back. "You're okay. You're fine. Why don't you go see who's at the door?"
Crying child number one appeased, Nancy thought with satisfaction as she watched Zoe scamper towards the door. She focused on Lizzy, who was still wailing with considerable force.
She could hear Frank's deep voice and rich laughter at the door.
"Somebody's sad today?"
She started and looked up. Frank was standing in the doorway, holding Zoe, a small smile on his handsome face.
"She won't stop crying. I think she's worn out."
"Aww, Lizzy, don't cry," Frank put Zoe down and reached out to take Lizzy. "I'll take a turn with her, why don't you get a drink? You look exhausted."
Nancy handed Lizzy to him, and looked at Frank gratefully.
"I'll make her a bottle and see if that settles her down."
"Can we have a snack?" Nick asked, following her to the kitchen, Zoe trailing behind.
"Nick, Zoe, come help me with Lizzy," Frank called from the children's room.
Nick and Zoe took off at a run, making Nancy smile. She felt like if she had one more thing to do, she was going to go insane. Frank could handle the kids for a moment. She quickly put together sippy cup of hot milk, and sat down on the couch as it whirred in the microwave…
"Nancy?"
Nancy opened her eyes to find Frank's face in front of her.
"Crap. How long was I asleep?" Nancy asked, blinking.
"About an hour."
"Shoot. Where are the kids?"
"Lizzy is asleep, Zoe and Nick are doing a puzzle in their room."
"I'm still dreaming."
"Nope," Frank smiled, sitting down on the couch beside her.
"Did you put Lizzy in…"
"She's in her bed. I put up the safety railings so she won't roll out."
"Please marry me right now."
"Maybe we should wait until our wedding. After all, we've put all that planning into it."
"Plus you're parents might be upset," Nancy mused.
"Bess would have a fit."
"The invitations are already out."
"Joe would tease us to no end," Frank added. "He still hasn't shut up about my proposal to you." He leaned towards Nancy, and she kissed him gently.
"Are you off work for the day?"
"Yep. I have to go in early tomorrow. But I'm free all evening."
"Are you staying for dinner?"
"I wouldn't miss it."
"I think we're having hot dogs. I'm having one of those days," Nancy groaned. Being a single mom was by no means easy. Especially on a Saturday when the kids were home all day.
"Hot dogs sound excellent."
"Chief Morgan offered me a part time job in the detective field," Nancy said suddenly.
"He told me," Frank said seriously.
"I would be your assistant."
"If you take the job, we'll do it as equals," Frank said firmly. "You would be my partner."
"I have to think about it. What it would mean for the kids and our family. I was so sure that being a lawyer was the right path, but now I don't know."
"That's fine. I will support you whatever you decide."
Nancy looked into Frank's rich brown eyes and felt a jolt of love. Her family would never be perfect; it was stitched together and there were old wounds to deal with. But they would keep fighting past old demons and present challenges together. And that was what mattered.
I would love to hear any last thoughts, so please leave a review! :)
Thank you!