Frank waited silently. He got up grabbed the saki from the table. He
poured both of them a glass. He handed her a glass and sat down again.

She took the glass from him and took a sip. "Thanks."

"So, what do you want know?" She asked again and waited on him.

He took a sip of saki. "I find it hard to believe you went so long
without dating again. At least someone once." He stated.

He wasn't really sure he wanted to know, but he wondered why. He was
unsure whether it was due to Ned or him or something else entirely. He
suspected she wasn't available even though technically she was single.

Nancy sighed. " You sure don't waste any time do you?" Nancy drew her
legs up and hugged her arms around them drawing into herself for a
minute.

He positioned himself next to her and wrapped his arms around her.

" Nan, only if you want to tell me. Would you rather ask me the same?"
He offered instead.

She shook her head no. That was the coward's way out. She had no doubt
Frank would offer if she asked.

" After Ned I didn't really want to for a while. We'd had it by the
end of Junior year, though really we were over at least a year before.
It's hard to let go sometimes."

He hugged her as he heard the sadness in her voice . He knew with
Callie it had been sad . He cared for her always would, but they were going in
different directions. Life moved on sometimes even when you didn't
want it to. But he was here now, with Nancy, so in the end maybe it
was a good thing.

" I think I know what you mean." He said.

"Ned wanted to go to med school. Junior year I decided I was going to
law school. I'd majored in Journalism and Criminal Science." She
explained.

"Did you apply?" Frank asked suddenly curious. Really it shouldn't
surprise him. Her father was Carson Drew after all.

Nancy turned and nodded yes. "I've been accepted to three schools. I
have one more interview. I'll know by Easter where I'm going."

Frank nodded. She was smart. How they'd make it work with his
schedule, and soon to be hers he was unsure. They'd figure it out,
they always did he knew.

Nancy saw something flash across Frank's face. Much the same look as
when Ned had asked her when she'd find time for him, once he realized
she was serious. He expected her to follow him to med school and work
while he studied. He'd never asked what she wanted she realized now.
That had really been the final straw for both of them.

Nancy suddenly felt defensive and scared. It was one of the reasons
she and Ned didn't work out. She thought Frank would understand. This
was important to her.

"What's wrong with law school?" she asked annoyed at Frank.

Frank was completely lost now. "Huh?" He muttered confused.

Nancy really looked at him. Maybe she has misread him."This is
important to me."

"OK..." Frank agreed as he tried to figure what exactly they were
talking about here. It clearly wasn't about her going to law school.
She'd already been accepted to three. He sighed confused. " Nan,
what's wrong?" He asked.

She looked at him. He really didn't know. " Your look..." Suddenly she
felt silly. She had to remember this was Frank not Ned. "Sorry old
baggage. My fault really. You reminded me of Ned for a second." She
explained.

He gazed at her baffled.

She continued. "Ned didn't think I should go to law school right away."

Frank really was mystified. " Why not?" He asked. " Did he think you
wouldn't get in?" Obviously that was not the case.

Nancy shook her head. " He wanted me to follow him, rather than go to
law school.

"Did he want you to go to law school near him?" Frank asked confused

"He wanted me to work. He felt with mysteries when we were younger,
college away from each other, and now med and law school we wouldn't
find time for each other."

Frank nodded he had wondered the same thing, but they would just
figure it out. " Are you worried we might have the same problem?" He
asked gently squeezing her.

"No, I'm worried YOU might have a problem with it." Nancy answered
bluntly.

Nancy could see understanding dawning in his eyes. He hugged her to
him . "I don't have a problem with it." He assured her softly." We'll
figure it out. We always do." He took a deep breath. "I'm not Ned,
Nan. If you want to know what I'm thinking just ask. If something
worries you I want to know."

She looked at him slightly surprised. " I'm sorry. Just after we broke
up, well it was bad." She stared into the fire and Frank just held
her. " I didn't want to go through that again. So until now I just
kept a distance. I dated a bit. I just never let it get serious."

Frank turned her so she was facing him. He kissed her sweetly. This
was not like the heated kisses of before. This was a comforting,
gentle kiss. This kiss offered his support and love. Nancy could feel
the difference. He drew his hand down her face as he ended the kiss.
The gesture was incredibly intimate and Nancy turned and kissed his
hand.

"Thank you." She said softly.

"For what?"

"Understanding, being you and not getting upset with my silliness I
guess."

Frank laughed softly. "If this is our major issue, we'll be fine." He
assured her.

She laughed and Frank smiled. He loved her laughter. It always made
him smile.

She looked at him with a devilish grin She needed a break from the
emotional intensity. She knew eventually she wanted to know about
Callie. Just not at this second.

" I want to find out what's in the boxes." She informed him.

He got the hint. No more heavy stuff right now.

"You got it." He rose and put both boxes on the bed.