Just a little note about the setting. The stories are set pre Files/ Mystery but sometime in 2010s so it's AU. Also for future chapters I'm going to assume the good Nedcy stuff in the files happened but the bad ones didn't. Honestly I hated all the relationship drama.
The first time she'd hugged him had been on her 2nd case since they'd met.
It had seemed to have been a small case, just tracking down George's 10 year old neighbor's stolen cycle.
But it had been his idea that had led them to discover that the theft had been a part of a chain of robberies taking place in various parts of the city.
Just earlier that morning they'd discovered their final evidence and turned it over to the police. And now the culprits were already behind bars.
They had been walking back from Pizza Palace, to the parking area where they'd left their own bicycles. Ironically, the case had involved the four of them doing most of their investigations on their cycles as none of them were old enough to drive yet. Pizza Palace had served as the perfect haunt for them to discuss the case. Just around the corner from George's house, it was smack in the middle from Ned's, Nancy's and Bess's houses. And they had decided to celebrate the culmination of their case with a pizza party there.
Bess and George had already gone ahead to the far end of the parking lot and were now arguing loudly over their plans for the rest of the weekend as they unchained their cycles.
"C'mon Bess. I haven't played tennis in ages."
"Gosh George. I've probably cycled a 100 miles in the last week. Can we please just spend the weekend doing something non sporty?"
Ned chuckled, "You know sometimes I find it strange that they are first cousins."
When Nancy did not reply he looked at her and saw that she had a far off look in her eyes.
"Penny for your thoughts, Nan."
She didn't say anything, just lightly touched his arm and when he'd fully turned towards her, she closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around his waist.
He was taken aback for a second and then he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, her head tucked below his chin and he could feel her smile at his chest, he could smell her flowery shampoo. God, she smelled so great.
And then just as soon, it was over and she had unwrapped herself from him.
"Woah Drew, what was that for?" He could feel his voice had become husky again but he couldn't help it.
"For being an amazing detective. And an even better friend. Thank you so much Ned. I mean it. This is the second case I would never have been able to solve without you." Her eyes shone as they looked up at him.
"Hey, what are friends for?"
And just then they had heard George's voice ringing out ahead of them.
"Hey Nancy, Ned. Could you hurry up and talk some sense into Bess, please?"
It was soon followed by Bess's shout. "Well it's not me, it's George who needs talking to."
And Nancy and Ned both chuckled at each other as they hurried to join their friend.
The first time he'd visited her house had been on a cool day in early November.
Midway through October Nancy had caught the flu from her father and had been forced to stay at home till she recovered and was no longer contagious. Nobody had been allowed to visit her, not even Bess and George. They'd talked on the phone a few times and she had sounded miserable that she'd missed even Halloween.
But Bess had been more upset. They'd decided a long time back that they'd dress up as the Powerpuff girls.
"This is unfair." She'd whined almost every time he'd seen her in the week leading up to Halloween. "We didn't even have to try and dress up you know. It's like it was made for us. I'm blonde, George's dark haired and Nan's a redhead. And we'd already checked out the costumes."
He smiled as he hurried to the cafeteria. Nancy was back in school today. He'd wanted to catch her before class but his mom's car had broken down on the way to school. He'd reached late and missed her in the process. He quickly grabbed his lunch and looked around to find that Nancy was just about to sit with George on the far side.
"How's the sick detective?" He tousled her hair with his free hand before slipping into the seat next to her.
"Much better than I've been in the last couple of weeks. It was sooo boringgg. I missed you guys."
"We missed you too, Nan." Ned looked at her intently. There were still dark circles under her eyes and she might have lost a pound or two but he was glad to note that that the colour was back in her cheeks and she was grinning from ear to ear.
"No kidding." George said, nodding emphatically. "Even Bess started looking for mysteries. Life's more fun when you're around Nan."
"Speaking of Bess, is she still mad about Halloween?" Nancy asked.
"You bet. I'd say she'll be okay only if you apologize to her for catching the flu." George laughed. "Anyway, she's helping Mrs Fitzgerald put up the flyers for the drama club and she asked me to grab her lunch for her. You guys catch up, I'll be right back."
Once George had left, Ned turned towards Nancy and asked, "How were classes Nan?"
"Everything was fine..." She trailed off and then pouted "except Chemistry. So much has been covered when I was away and I didn't get anything, Ned. It was like he was speaking a different language. I honestly don't know how I'm going to do today's homework and prepare for tomorrow's quiz. I tried to catch him after class to ask him whether he could help me out with the missed work but he'd had an urgent call and left in a hurry."
Ned smiled internally. Most of Nancy's time was spent solving mysteries but she was still an A grade student. He found it adorable when she stressed out about normal things, like studies.
"I could come over to your place and help you with your homework, if you'd like. Chemistry's one of my stronger subjects." He suggested.
"C'mon Ned, don't be so modest. Everything's your strong subject. You're always top of your class. But you sure it won't be a problem?"
"Of course not. I'm anyway hanging out at Matt's place after school. I guess he lives just two blocks down. Does 5 sound alright?"
"Yeah perfect. Thanks Ned." She smiled up at him and handed him the piece of paper she'd scribbled her address into. "Call me if you have trouble finding it."
He didn't have trouble finding it. Her house was large and built quite in the style of his own house, just before the turn of the century. "Drews" the front gate had announced. He rang the bell. Nancy opened it just a moment later.
She was wearing jeans and a light green oversized sweater and her hair was in a loose messy bun. There was flour on the tip of her nose. She's always so awfully cute.
"Hey Ned! Come on in."
Her house was gorgeously decorated yet it was homely, he noted as she led him to the den. And it smelled like heaven.
"Mmm. What's that wonderful smell?"
"That'd be my Hannah's world famous chocolate cake." Nancy laughed.
He knew about Hannah. She'd been the Drew's housekeeper and Nancy's surrogate mother ever since her own mother had died.
Just then a plump middle aged lady wearing an apron came into the room. Nancy introduced them.
"Oh Ned dear, I'm so glad you're here. Nancy's talked so much about you." Hannah said, her kind eyes twinkling. "Now tell me dear would you like to have some chocolate cake? Nancy and Carson have been too sick to eat for the last few days and I haven't had anyone to feed."
"Oh Hannah I thought you'd never ask."
Hannah laughed and hurried out of the room. To the kitchen, he secretly hoped.
"Hey Ned, why don't you make yourselves comfortable? I'll just go grab my books."
He was about to sit down on the sofa when he noticed the pictures on the wall. From a distance it had looked like they were of Nancy. But as he looked closer, he realised the woman was older. She had the same red blonde hair as Nancy's but it was longer and her eyes though blue were a different shade than Nancy's. In many of the pictures, she had been cradling a child who he had no doubt was Nancy. His eyes had just shifted over to a wedding picture when noticed someone's presence beside him.
"That's my mom. She died in an accident when I was three."
"I'm so sorry."
When she nodded, he continued, "You look just like her."
"That's what I've heard." She said with a sad smile and led him to the sofa.
They had been pouring over chemical equations for an hour when Carson Drew came in.
"Nancy, honey, have you seen the green folder I left..."
He stopped abruptly when he spotted them.
"Dad, I think it's on the table there on the desk. Also, meet Ned! He's helping me with my Chemistry homework."
"Ned, son, it's so nice to finally meet you. Nancy's really fond of you." Mr Drew was tall and handsome, with brown hair and eyes the same colour as Nancy's. Ned could imagine him, strong and powerful in the courtroom but now all he could see was kindness in his eyes.
"Yes sir. Nan's one of my best friends too." He said shaking Carson's hand in a warm handshake. But Mr Drew was looking at him quizzically, his head slightly cocked to one side.
"Tell me son, you won't happen to be related to James Nickerson, would you?"
"He's my father, Sir." Ned replied, confused at the huge smile that lit up his face.
"You look exactly like James did back in high school. He and I went to school together. Even played baseball in the same team. I knew he had a son named Ned but I couldn't have ever guessed my daughter was friends with the same one. I heard he was back in town but I've been so awfully busy I haven't had the chance to drop in yet. You all settling down fine?" Carson explained.
"Yes Sir. It's just been two months but it feels like we'd never left."
"That's great. I have to rush again but do give my regards to James and Edith. Bye Nancy. Study hard, kids." And with that he left.
Later after they'd finished studying, Ned looked over at Nancy.
"You know Nan, I've read so much about your dad and his cases I was really prepared to be scared. But he seems nice."
"Oh you should see him when he means business, in court. But at home he's a mushball. Much like me." She gave him a sideways wink.
"But Nan, you're always a mushball." He winked back and then tickled her.
A fierce five minute tickling match later, she'd pinned his arms on either side of his head and was half kneeling over him.
"I win. Now you know I mean business." She said panting a little.
Ned could have easily flipped their positions but all he could think of was how her face was inches from his and her hair had come undone and she looked just so awfully pretty. He never knew losing could be so much fun.
The first time he'd seen her cry had been on a cold, gloomy day in late March.
Bess and George had invited some of their friends for skating. He'd noticed that Nancy had been unusually quiet but when he'd asked whether she'd like a ride home, she had smiled and said yes.
He had known from the beginning that he had a crush on her. But ge knew now that it was more. It had taken him months to figure out his feelings for her. After all, she was one of his best friends. But now he didn't have an ounce of doubt left.
Ned drove slowly. He'd turned sixteen just a couple of weeks back and the car had been a present from his parents. Although he'd cleared his driving test in the first attempt, he was still getting the hang of it.
Nancy had relapsed back into silence as soon as she'd entered the car.
Maybe she's not feeling well. He thought.
Deciding not to pursue lest she become more upset, he turned to say goodbye once they'd reached her house. But she spoke before he could say anything.
"Would you like to stay for a while, Ned? We could watch a movie or something."
"Okay."
He was surprised to note that neither Hannah nor Mr Drew were at home. They'd started watching a comedy but Nancy hadn't even smiled once.
Midway through, Ned couldn't take it anymore. He switched off the television.
"Nan what's the matter? I haven't heard you say three sentences."
He'd moved to touch her chin and turn her face towards him but he was taken aback by the amount of hurt he could see in her eyes.
And then the first tear drop fell.
He handed her his handkerchief with his free hand but she made no attempt to use it so he wiped of the tear with the ball of his thumb.
"My mother died today. Eleven years ago."
He hadn't had anything to say that could justify that amount of pain so he just squeezed her hand.
"Tell me about her."
The saddest little smile flitted across her face for just a second.
"My parents met on the first day of Law school. Dad says he was blown away when she rushed into class, late because she was out looking for her friend's lost cat. But it was almost a year before she agreed to go on a date with him. And then they were together. Dad wanted to get married right after they'd finished school but she wasn't ready. She wanted to start her career, independently. They joined the same firm, though. They got married over 3 years later and she became Katherine Drew. By then, Dad had already started his own firm and she joined him. You know, she's the second Drew from 'Drew and Drew'. Mom was an amazing lawyer. I've read her cases, Ned. Dad has saved every single file in his study. But, something came over her when I was born. She wanted to spend more time with me. Dad says she hated to leave me behind when she had to leave town for work. Hannah who joined us when I was three, took good care of me but Mom still wanted to be there herself. She decided to quit her job once I turned four. She was killed in a hit and run accident 3 weeks before she could."
The tears were falling hard now.
"I was there with her that evening. Eyewitnesses said she pushed me off but she died on the spot. I don't remember any of it, Ned. I don't remember being in the hospital. I don't remember the funeral. But I remember the before, her singing me to sleep, tucking me into bed, dropping me off for playdates in George's or Bess's house. And I remember the after. Dad hugging me when I woke crying for her, Hannah trying her best to make me pancakes that tasted just like the ones she used to make for me every Sunday. And I'm grateful for that. Dad has been the best father I could've asked for, always there for me. But not today. I knew Mom for about 4 years but he knew her for over ten. I've lost count of the times I've found him reading Mom's letters or staring at her wedding dress. No, today he's going to work so much, he won't get time to think. And Hannah would have been here if her sister hadn't fractured her knee. And Bess and George, they always find some way to keep me company today. They did so again despite the fact that they're leaving for their cousin's wedding right after."
"I'm thankful for them. But I miss her so much it's unfair. I've had dreams you know, her looking down at me and telling me everything is fine just like she used to when I had nightmares. But sometimes it's not her, but it's me looking down. It hurts to remember her, Ned and it hurts to forget. You know, she never got the chance to drop me off at school on my first day. She wasn't here when I was sick, she wasn't here when I won my first tennis championships, when I solved my first case, when I met you." Her tear filled eyes looked right into his.
"I'm not alone, I know that. But I feel so lonely sometimes."
And then he'd pulled her into his arms and let her cry into his shoulder. He spoke only when she stopped.
"Nancy, I'm not going to tell you it's okay because it is not. You mom would be so so proud of the person you've grown up to be. Maybe it'll get better. Maybe it'll stay the same. But however it is, we're here for you. Your father, Hannah, George, Bess, the dozens of people you've always helped. Me.
And I swear we'll never let you feel alone, never let you feel any absence. Not today, not ever. I promise. We love you, Nan. Now, why don't you go wash up before Santa comes looking for Rudolph?" He gently flicked her bright red nose with the tip of his finger.
And when a slow tentative smile crinkled the corners of her mouth and finally reached her eyes, he mentally swore on his life that'd he'd always keep his promise.
So that's the second chapter. I'm already halfway through the third and I have enough ideas for at least ten ;) Hope you liked it! Please review!
