I've always been a bit of a Titanic nut, even before I saw the James Cameron film. So, I decided I'd try to combine my love of the Olympic-class liners with my love for Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. The concept is not terribly original, but I have put a lot of research into this piece.

This short story is set before In the Frame and Shatter. Nancy and her friends have are college-age, and Nancy and Frank are still dating Callie and Ned.

If you like the story, please leave me a review! I hope to do lots of little fun one-shots and short stories, and I'm really happy to take requests/suggestions.

Please note that I do not own the rights to the ND/HB books.

CHAPTER ONE:

Nancy Drew glanced up at the towering ship before her. She had to crane her neck to see the four funnels, which seemed to graze the sky. The sight was at once awe-inspiring and daunting. Feeling gooseflesh rise on her arms, Nancy drew her coat closer to her body and adjusted her thick woolen scarf. She told herself it was just the wind.

After all, she'd been on large cruises before. In fact, just the summer before, she had been on the Symphony of the Seas, the largest liner in the world. But somehow, it didn't seem to compare to the shadow cast by the Duchesse, the vision of French billionaire Alexandre Desmarais

There was something so striking about the vessel, she thought as she again took in the ship before her. And it wasn't the impressive, towering 175ft bow or the well-dressed stewards greeting guests at each gangway. It was the resemblance the Duchesse had to the infamous and ill-fated RMS Titanic.

Nancy wasn't a superstitious person, but it seemed to be tempting fate, to launch a ship that on the day the Titanic commenced her maiden voyage. It was no accident. Monsieur Desmarais was a Titanic fanatic. He'd joined forced with Cunard to create an "elegant, classy liner" to rival the greats. He hoped to capitalize on the nostalgia people felt for the Olympic-class liners, but also to pay tribute to the world's most famous ship.

The maiden voyage would travel from Southampton to New York City, tracing the route of the Titanic and countless other cruise ships. It would also stop 370 miles southeast of Newfoundland, at the site of the Titanic wreck. There, a memorial ceremony would be held, while passengers laid a wreath for the victims of the sinking.

"Nancy, there you are!" a voice called out.

Nancy turned slowly to see her best friends Bess Marvin and George Fayne hurrying towards her. The cousins were as different as two blood relatives could be: Bess a curvy blonde with dimples and flashing white teeth getting lost in the shadow of lanky, athletic George with her short-cropped brown hair and wicked tanned skin.

"Oh no," Bess said, stopping short. "Nancy has that look in her eye. The sleuth-y one."

"What "sleuth-y" look?" Nancy protested. "I was just admiring the ship."

"Yeah, and all the mysteries it probably holds," George quipped. "I don't mind. I'd rather solve a case than laze around and drink cocktails all day."

"Speak for yourself. I'm going to find a hunk and work on my tan. No mysteries for me. See this?" Bess motioned to the air around herself and her mound of luggage. "This is a mystery free zone. If you two so much as sniff out the tiniest clue you have to keep it to yourselves."

"Sure." Nancy knew Bess would always protest, but her loyal friend was at hand to help if she ever needed it. And besides, Bess really did love gossip and intrigue, so it wouldn't be hard to rope her into a case. Not that that was going to happen, anyway. Nancy's dad had been asked by Desmarais to sail on the maiden voyage, to keep an eye on things, as attorney and friend. But Carson Drew had business to attend, so he'd sent Nancy and her friends instead, as a graduation present. Nancy had just finished her degree and was due to start at the FBI training academy in Quantico in Spring, so she was looking forward to the relaxation and rest the trip would provide.

She'd sprung for an extra two tickets for her other friends, Frank and Joe Hardy, who had been on a vacation in the United Kingdom, at the same time. Where they were at that particular moment, Nancy didn't know. She glanced at her elegant gold wristwatch; an heirloom left to her by her late mother.

"It's about time-"

"-Someone exciting turned up. Well, lucky your prayers have been answered!" A handsome blonde man in his early twenties bustled up to the group.

Nancy would know that broad jaw and ruffled hair anywhere. Joe Hardy hadn't changed a bit in the last few years. He was still far too handsome for his own good, and he clearly knew it. Beside him, his tall, slender brother was just as handsome but more subdued about his demeanor. With dark hair and eyes, Frank Hardy preferred to observe than run his mouth.

Nancy felt her stomach summersault as she took the brothers in, her eyes lingering on the older Hardy behind his overzealous brother. "Frank, Joe. You're cutting it close."

"We got… caught up," Frank said softly, giving her a crooked smile. "Dad sent us on an errand, and it ended in us getting a crook arrested, but-"

"Boring as ever, Frank. You missed the bit where I tackled him and-"

"-if we cover your heroics in all their over-exaggerated glory, we'll miss the cruise," Frank interrupted his brother. "So, why don't we do that once we're on board and I have a strong drink in hand, huh?"

Nancy shared a secret smile with him, as the five walked toward the gangway. She'd always adored the Hardy's, but Frank had a special place in her affection. The two had discovered they shared something, long before the dangerous cases and globetrotting adventures. It was like they spoke the same language, in a distant country. Like they were on the same wavelength. They have a fond friendship that often felt like it was something more.

"Did Joe really tackle a suspect? Or was it you?" she teased, falling into step with Frank's purposeful stride. She kept up easily with her long legs.

"Yeah. But then he almost got clocked in the face. I knocked the guy out."

"Always the silent hero."

"I don't know about that. I just didn't want to hear him complain about his bruises all vacation." Frank studied Nancy's face. "Speaking of which, we've talked about him far too much already. How was college? I'm sorry I missed your graduation, I was-"

"Busy at law school. I know, Frank. Is it going well?"

His face brightened as he filled her in on experience at Columbia. It made her sad and happy in tandem, to see him get excited about something that wasn't their one true love: sleuthing. But Frank was made for great things. He'd go far with whatever he set his mind on. And law was perfect for him. It was dignified, intellectual, a sober fight for justice.

She was distracted by the ship that unfolded before her eyes, and they crossed the gangway. Unlike Titanic, the Duchesse had no class assigned cabins. The entire ship was decked out in the filigree and grandeur of an early twentieth-century cruise ship, with chandeliers and complex wood paneling. She recognized iconic stained-glass windows and larger than life statues from films and photographs.

"This is SO romantic," Bess gushed.

"It's pretty cool," George agreed. "I like that they put so much attention into the details."

"Forget that," Joe said. "Look at that staircase. It's massive! Can I slide down the banister?"

"Yeah. Sure. But you won't forget the fine." Frank shook his head at his brother. "Anyway, we should find our cabins. Do you all want to meet up in ten minutes?"

"We're both on C deck," Nancy said. "Let's meet there."

The others agreed, and Nancy and Bess and George wandered in the direction of their cabins. The three were to share a room, which they had to themselves. Like all ship cabins, the room was small but comfortably appointed. It had heavy oak furniture and an adjoining bathroom. Everything looked to original, made as true to Titanic as possible with all the modern amenities modern passengers expected.

Nancy admired the guilted maroon bedding, running her fingers over the intricate designs. As she brushed her hands over the thick, down pillows, her fingertips encountered a small envelope. She opened it and read the small note on embossed ship stationary, contained within:

Nancy Drew and Guests,

Welcome to the RMS Duchesse. I hope you'll join me once we leave port. A steward will direct you to my cabin if you inform them that you have an appointment with me.

Respectfully,

Monsieur Desmarais

Nancy showed her friends the note and tuned out their excited whispers about the millionaire who had invited them on board. As she wandered to her porthole window and glanced out at the crowd of passengers, press, and onlookers, she felt a churning in her gut. And it had nothing to do with the surging waves, rocking beneath the ship.

It had everything to do with the fact that she was on a ship that was to trace the ill-fated voyage of Titanic. It had been made to be the most romantic, exciting voyage she'd encounter in her life. And she was to share it with Frank Hardy, a man she wasn't sure she could resist. She'd thought she could. After all, she had Ned Nickerson back home, and he had Callie Shaw. But his warm, dancing eyes and took her in like a fool.

"Are you coming?" Bess called, already at the door, vying to get up on deck and wave, like she was Leonardo DiCaprio in the blockbuster film.

Nancy looked up and smiled. "Yeah. Yeah, I am."