Thank you so much for coming on this crazy ride with me! This is the final chapter but I might be able to release the first chapter of the sequel tomorrow. I won't keep you waiting, as long as I don't get distracted by Unsolved Mysteries!

Don't forget to review, and sneak in any requests for one-shots and other stories, before it's all locked in!

3

Joe

Joe saw Collig calling him, but he ignored the call. He lay on his back on the couch, staring at the ceiling. Then, his phone buzzed again, and he saw his Dad had left him a text message.

Fenton Hardy got it. He'd written, "catch some z's and call me when you're ready. Just shoot me a message to say you're alive."

Joe responded with a thumbs up. Then, he rolled over and grabbed the remote. He'd pick up the phone tomorrow, but tonight he just needed to chill out. As a cheesy action film lit up the screen, Joe felt a smile creep across his face. They'd solved another case and tomorrow would be a new day. He almost felt excited about what it would bring.

Nancy

Nancy went with Ned to a small 24-hour diner. It was the kind of non-descript building that was tucked away. If you were walking fast enough, you'd probably pass it. But Ned said he'd seen it on his walk to the FBI HQ. He reckoned the food smelled good.

Nancy didn't have an appetite. She should, she realized. It had been hours since she'd eaten. But she was too tired to eat. Even as they sat in a booth and she rested her chin on her palm she felt her eyes trying to close.

"Ned, I don't want to be rude…" she said.

"I know. You've had a big day. I won't keep you long," he promised. "I just… two guys in suits came to the apartment and told me to stand down. I don't know anything." He picked up a paper and showed her the front page. "Two men arrested at the art fair," he read. "That's it. Don't you think you could just bring me up to speed, help me out here?"

Nancy did. She told him as simply and swiftly as she could, what had transpired since their last meeting. A server brought over coffee then returned for refills. Ned ordered an omelet and ate in silence as Nancy spoke. She wanted him to interject, but he ate quietly, hazel eyes never leaving her face. She had to look away, so she stared into her empty mug.

"So that's it? Ted and Vinnie wanted money, so Ted roped Vinnie into his warped revenge plot?" Ned asked when she fell silent. He dabbed at his mouth with a serviette.

Nancy nodded. "It seems like it. Vinnie was in debt too. Ted convinced him that if he helped out, he'd get a cut of the art insurance. Then it changed to include Callie's life insurance. He didn't care about how he got the money."

"That's so cold." Ned whistled.

"Yeah. I can't believe Ted hated Callie so much. I don't know how she'll move on with her life after this. But she will. She's always been tough."

"I don't know her that well but… well, she was with Frank Hardy for years. Any girl has to be tough to deal with everything… I don't… I mean that in a good way, Nan. The cases and all that. It's crazy stuff. I've come to admire it. You guys. You. I admire you, Nancy."

"Ned…"

Ned ignored her, picking up the paper again. "Anyway, look. I got my first article. You know I'm more interested in football, but ice hockey's an okay start. I got front row tickets and everything. Have a read. See, this page." He opened the paper for her and pointed to his article.

Nancy read quickly through the article. It was short, light, well-written. Ned's knowledge and enthusiasm came shone throughout the piece and really elevated it. She thought it was good and she said so.

"If you really don't want to move, I could see about-"

"Ned." Nancy pushed his paper aside and grasped his hands in hers. "No. You're clearly meant to be here in New York, and I've got my life in Virginia. I'm not going to go over this with you again." As she looked into his narrow, clean face she felt something spark in her memory. One of the missing pieces fell into place. She withdrew her hand.

"Besides, you were there that morning. You were following me, and you saw Ted throw that brick. You saw him trying to hurt me and you ran away."

Ned paled. "How did you-"

"Ted said he saw a guy and the description matched. You wanted to ask me, didn't you? But you lost your nerve and when you saw Ted throw the brick you knew you wouldn't be able to explain your presence. So, you left."

"I made sure you were okay! I waited-"

"But you left. You put your needs above mine. Frank would never do that. Even when we weren't a couple, he puts my needs above his own. In turn, I put his needs above all else. I hope you find someone you'll make sacrifices for, Ned. You're a good guy. And you're where you're meant to be. That's just not with me."

And she left him then. He sat at the table with his paper, face wan.

Frank

"You should get some sleep," Frank's colleague said, catching his eye as he looked up from his phone. She shook her head. "We can go over this tomorrow. How does that sound?"

Amazing, Frank thought. Callie had just texted him, and he felt like all the loose ends were being tied together. He tossed his coffee cup in the trash and stood, straightening his shirt. Instead, he said, "I'll be here early."

They all said their goodnights and he stepped outside. The street lamps were on, making pools of light in the darkness. He was just pulling his coat over his broad shoulders when he saw a familiar, striking redhead walking towards him.

She'd changed into a black trench and tight dark jeans. She was a spy, through and through.

"I saw Ned," she said as a greeting.

He didn't speak. He still didn't know what to say to the mention of her ex. The fact that Ned was the ex and he was the boyfriend was still a new concept and he hadn't worn this thing in enough to know where he stood. Besides, he knew she had something on her mind.

She told him all about the conversation, and he listened in silence.

"Anyway, I'd rather move on, okay? It was a tough conversation, but it had to be had. Speaking of which…"

He read her mind. "It's okay. I talked to Callie. She's alright. She's going to stay with her mom in Bayport until the baby is born. She'll be okay. She's tough. And it sounds like the right thing for her right now. Until she works it all out."

Nancy smiled. "I'm glad. Truly."

"And I talked to my boss. Obviously, I have to stay for this case, but when it's over… well, I can go anywhere. There are heaps of jobs in Richmond… I wouldn't be wasted. I could come to you. We could give this a shot. Really have a go."

Nancy's eyes darkened as she looked up at him. "Is that what you want?"

"I think so."

"No. No, Frank. You need to know. I'm not doing this again, putting one foot in and hoping it'll all work out. I am crazy about you, Frank. But I can't do that, because I can see how it will end. We'll lose each other. And I don't know much, but I do know that's not what I want."

"So, what're you saying?"

"I'm saying we wait. We see where this goes. But we do it slowly. Is that what you want?"

It wasn't. Frank wanted to wake up with her every morning. He wanted to walk with her to work and meet for coffee at lunch. He wanted to enjoy weekend walks with her and vacations to their respective families. He wanted to be with her. But he realized that wasn't enough, and his dreams weren't realistic. Not right now.

Of course, Nancy was right. They needed to feel their way through the dark. They needed to work out who they were, without the mysteries and the danger.

"If it's with you I'll take it. But we'll need to see each other as much as possible. I'm talking about romantic vacations. Lots of lazy lie-ins. I'm going to pamper you as no one has ever pampered you before, Drew. Roses. Champagne. You'll be missing me every time we're apart."

"I can't wait to miss you. But you know I don't need the romancing. You're enough, Frank."

He wasn't sure he felt like enough. He wondered if she was another Callie, stepping out of his life. Should he be holding the door open? Or should he be begging her to stay? He felt like he should be holding her close and keeping her there.

But Nancy wasn't a bird to keep in a cage.

She was looking up at him still, trying to read his face.

He bent to kiss her. And she caught his shirt as she had in the hotel room, and it made him hot all over. He would have thrust her up against that wall and taken her there and then, but he'd meant what he said about her deserving the best. She had never asked for romance, but he'd give it to her.

Nancy Drew wanted to try to be with him. There was no way in hell he'd waste it.

Nancy

Nancy slept well and woke to the smell of breakfast.

Joe had made waffles. He also had his bags packed and standing by the door.

"I'm dreaming. Joe never gets up earlier than me," Frank said rubbing his eyes as he looked into the kitchen. He gave a crooked smile and picked up a plate, loaded it with berries.

"Ha… ha… I talked to dad," Joe explained. "I think I'm going home for a bit. He's got a case he wants some help with and well… I think I've imposed on you long enough. It'll be good to solve cases like this, old-school. You know, being a PI will be perfect for now. What do you think?"

"I think it sounds perfect," Nancy told him.

Frank agreed.

"Besides… I feel like Callie and I got off on the wrong foot. She'll be in Bayport. And she'll be on her own. I think… I could help out. You know, not with baby stuff… but I owe her."

"Because you shoved her in a restroom?" Frank asked, shoveling waffle into his mouth.

"Yeah. It wasn't my best moment."

Nancy's attention wandered as the two bickered. Her phone was flashing. It was O'Sullivan calling from Quantico. She stood up and smiled at the brothers. "Sorry, I have to take this," she said. I think I have another case."

The End