Wowee! Thanx for all the reviews! Sorry for the longggggg wait, but you see, I'm in high school, and I got finals this month, and I just finished them so here's the chapter you've been waiting for! Thanx for trying with the constructive criticism, and keep them coming! And as some of you asked, I was trying to think what kind of flash backs you people would want so here yah go. If you have anything in mind you want from the story, feel free to ask. I'll see what I can do.

-Lgbabyblu


"Here, put this on your shoulder." Fenton said giving Joe a warm towel that he just dipped in the water he was heating up.

"Thanks." Joe said sincerely, putting the towel on his shoulder.

He winced a little bit as the warmth of the towel spread over the bruise, but then it felt a little better.

Joe sat on a log, staring blankly at the fire blazing in front of him. He felt a little paranoid after his fall, and every snap, crackle or rustle he heard made his heart race a little faster and his nerves a little shot. Anyone would think he would be used to this by now, seeing that he was always targeted one way or another, but it never gets easy when your life gets threatened. He didn't know how he was to feel. He felt angry at the person who cut his ropes, because this was supposed to be some bonding time they were supposed to have. He felt like yelling at the person who did this to him, and yet he felt a little scared. He was then brought out of his thoughts when he felt someone nudge his left arm.

"Earth to Joe." Frank said with a slight chuckle. "Penny for your thoughts?"

The youngest Hardy just shrugged, and then winced as he aggravated his right shoulder bruise. He gave out a soft sigh.

"I don't know. It just seems like our trip is ruined." Joe said with a scowl.

"Well I'll make it up to you when we get home." Fenton said, sitting on Joe's right side. "What do you say? We'll have Martha's famous ice cream sundae? Well, once we get out of here first thing tomorrow morning. It's a little to late and dark right now."

"Yeah, but I wished for once we could go somewhere and be left alone."

Fenton felt his spirits dropped. He had taken a career where there were a lot of sacrifices, but he never thought that his family would be in danger. His whole family was suffering from what he enjoyed to do. Maybe, just maybe he should quit before it gets worse. It was selfish for him to keep doing something he loved over his loved ones. He still remembered the simpler times when he was just an amateur detective in Bayport. He hadn't had any cases to do for a while so he got to stay home. Frank was already in preschool and was with Laura for the day for "Take your kid to work Day." Joey had been home alone with Aunt Gertrude as usual, but he had decided to spend sometime with his youngest son that day.

Flashback

"Where we goin' daddy?" 3 year old Joe asked with anticipation.

He was a little jealous that Frank got to spend the day with Mommy, but when his Daddy told him the surprise trip they were going to, he was jumping for joy. They were now driving down the street, and he was strapped in his car seat playing with his toy race car, quietly making brrrroming sounds.

"Look out the window Joey and you'd see." Fenton said, as he looked at the rear view mirror.

He saw Joey's face light up when he realized where they were going.

"The beach! Are we going to build sand castles?" Joe asked as his dad parked the car and was getting him out of his car seat.

"Take my hand baby. Don't want you to get hit by a car." Fenton said with a chuckle, seeing his youngest son hold onto his shirt tail but was jumping up and down.

Fenton went to the trunk of his car, pulling out the duffel bag full of beach necessities that he had packed the night before. After he put the shoulder strap of the bag over her shoulder, he picked his son up into his arms, because he really didn't want Joey to accidentally get run over. Laura would slaughter him and kick him out of the house. Although there weren't many people there, there were still cars driving around looking for a shady spot to park in. Before he closed the trunk of the car, he took out the ice crest and held it in his left hand while holding Joey in his right.

"Ready to go?" Fenton asked, looking over the shades he just put on.

"Absalutily." Joey said, taking his daddy's sunglasses off his daddy's head and putting it on himself. "Now I'm Daddy! The mister-ous Vestagator!" He said.

Fenton laughed, walking across the parking lot to the sidewalk that led to the beach.

"It's mysTERIous INvestigator sweetheart." Fenton laughed, seeing Joey give him a queer look.

"Tats Zackly what I said." Joey answered back.

Fenton was about to correct his son again, but instead just shut his mouth. Today was supposed to be about him and his son with a lot of fun in-between, not a grammar lesson. Besides, Joey was only 3 years old. He had a lot more time to learn later anyways. He put Joey down on the ground when he saw it was safe enough to do so.

"Race yah to the beach!" Joey yelled out, taking a head start before Fenton even had time to reply.

Fenton knew he could easily out run his son even with all the baggage he was carrying, but he purposely feigned being tired and outrun.

"I gots here first!" Joey laughed, jumping up and down on the spot he marked as theirs.

"Phew, I guess I'm starting to get old. Beat by a 3 year old." Fenton said, pretend falling on the ground in exasperation.

Joey patted his dad's knee with a pitying looking on his face.

"It's kay Daddy. I'mma gonna let you win next time and let you run first." Joey said as his dad grabbed him; swing him into the air while lying on his back.

Joe started laughing as his daddy's fingers were tickling his sides while he was holding him up in the air.

"You are a silly boy aren't you?" Fenton said, placing Joey on his stomach. "But you're my silly boy, forever and forever." He said, pushing himself up to a sitting position, but Joey was still on his lap.

Joey looked at Fenton for a little while and hugged hi dad around his waist, even though his arms didn't go all the way around.

"What was that for?" Fenton asked as his son looked up at his with his cheek on his chest.

"Tats just a hug because I love you." He replied simply.

Fenton swore he wasn't crying, but his eyes did get a little misty.

"I love you too baby." Fenton said, as they sat there for a while in each other's comfort until Joe looked up at his dad again.

"Daddy."

"Yeah Baby?"

"Can we go play now?"

End Flashback

Fenton watched as his sons slept. He had volunteered to take the first watched, first because he was their father and second because those were his boys and they were tired. He couldn't stop thinking about those days when everything was a little simpler. Everything only went downhill when he actually got a foot into the detective business. Why hadn't he quit and taken an office job. He'd miss so much of his son's lives, and now he's risking the lives of the ones he love.

Fenton was so deep in their thoughts he didn't see or hear the foot steps that came from behind him. When he finally saw the looming shadow that spread over him from the fire that illuminated the figure behind him, it was too late. He felt something slam into the back of his head, and everything grew black and hazy. He couldn't even get a word out to his two sons who were the real targets of the shadow.


Sorry for the long wait. Hopefully you people review! Because reviews make me happy and happy means I actually update! Hopefully I'll get something up soon. As for people who like reading stuff about when Hardy family is younger and starting out, I'm actually writing a story that is connected to this one that elaborates 3 year old young and his dad on their trip to the beach. It's a short one and it will be called "Daddy and Me." If you like the idea, I'll continue and finish that one, but if you think it sucks, lol, tell me so I don't wasn't my time! Thanks! More action less flashbacks next time, I promise. Just that so many people wanted the flashbacks. Thanks for reading!

-Lgbabyblu