Disclaimer: Not mine.

Frank's eyes teared up as he got behind the wheel of his rental car and drove away, not caring where he was going; only wanting to get away. Wanting to get away from their house- Joe and Nancy's.

Joe and Nancy. The two people he had missed the most. The thought of their marriage made him sick: physically sick to his stomach. Joe and Nancy Hardy.

He was driving without even knowing where he was going, so he was surprised when he ended up at the River Heights mall. He had always liked this mall. It was different from any other mall he'd ever been in, because there was a huge courtyard in the back, right next to the lake. The irony of the situation wasn't lost on him; he and Nancy came here all the time. Had used to, anyway.

Frank parked the car and walked into the mall, heading for the courtyard. Blinded by his tears, he slammed right into a girl coming the other way, knocking her to the ground. He pulled himself together quickly, wiping his eyes with one hand and offering her the other. The girl didn't take it. She just stared. Then she laughed and picked herself up, shaking her head. "I'm sorry. It's just that you look like someone I used to-"

"George?" Frank asked disbelievingly.

Her eyes widened. "Frank Hardy?"

The two old friends hugged each other right in the middle of the mall. "Oh my God!" George cried. "This is incredible! Where have you been!"

Frank smiled tiredly. "It's a long story." He studied his friend subconsciously. With her slim figure and dark hair and eyes, George Fayne was even prettier than he remembered.

George peered into his bloodshot eyes. "I hope you don't mind me saying so, but you don't look so great."

Frank shook his head and attempted a smile. "I don't feel so great." With a hint of resentment in his voice, he added, "I just came from Joe and Nancy's place."

"Oh." George said. "OH." She repeated as the understanding hit her. "You gonna be okay?"

"I don't know." Frank answered honestly.

"Want some company?"

Frank didn't know about that either, but something made him nod. They made their way into the courtyard and sat down, and Frank explained everything that had happened to him, starting with the kidnapping, for the second time that day. George listened sympathetically, and Frank found himself pouring out the story of his fight with Nancy and Joe. When he was done telling her how badly he'd taken the news of their marriage, he put his head in his hands, unable to look her in the face. "It hurts." he confessed. "Like they forgot about me."

George put her hands on his shoulders and rubbed them gently. "Frank." she said slowly. "If there's one thing they never did, it was forget you. For months...years... Joe and Nancy worked day and night to find you. That was one of the things that brought them together. You..." George's eyes were misting over too. "Your dea- disappearence didn't hit anyone as hard as it hit those two. They kept looking after everyone else had lost hope... But they had to move on. This must be so much harder for you than I can even imagine, but if there's anyone whose happiness you shouldn't begrudge, Frank, it's them."

Her words hit Frank like a rock. He hadn't thought about it like that. He had been thinking about himself and not the two people he loved most in the world. Of course he hadn't meant the things he'd said to them earlier, when he'd accused Nancy and Joe of going behind his back and forgetting about him. He knew them well enough to know they would never do that.

"I understand." he said finally. "I just don't know if... well, if I can move on."

George smiled at him. "Nobody's asking you to to do it in one day. You have all the time you need to adjust to this."

Frank nodded reflectively. Then, grinning up at her, he asked, "So what else has changed around here? Any more weddings I should know about?"

George gladly filled him in, relieved that the tense atmosphere had faded. Soon, though, she glanced at her watch.

"Somewhere to be?" Frank questioned good-naturedly.

George flushed. "Nancy's actually. She invited Bess and Steven and I over for dinner in about an hour. ...Although, if you're up for it, I'm sure she wouldn't mind if I brought a date." she teased.

Frank laughed. "As much fun as that sounds, I don't think I'm ready to go back there. I... I don't want to say something stupid and make things between us even worse."

"Gotcha." George replied. "But seriously, Frank, I think it would take a whole lot more than some name-calling to keep those two mad at you for long."

Frank nodded. "I'll talk to them tomorrow. Tonight I'm going to drive around and look for a place to stay."

George looked surprised. "You don't have a hotel?" The last she remembered, Frank was the logical one who took care of that sort of thing ahead of time.

"I planned to stay with Joe, but that didn't really work out too well..."

"Oh, right." George looked embarrassed. "Hey, you can stay at my place." she offered spontaneously. "I have lots of room. I used to share my apartment with Bess but she moved in with Steven when they got engaged."

"I don't want to intrude..." Frank began.

"Don't be ridiculous." George said. "I think we could both use some company." She blushed at the way that had come out. "I mean... oh, never mind."

Frank grinned. "In that case, I'd love to."

She took out her cell phone and dialed Nancy. "Hey, Nan? I can't make it tonight." She listened to Nancy talk on the other end. "Yeah... Are you okay?... Okay... I'll call you tomorrow... Bye." George hung up the phone. Nancy was upset, she was sure of it. She had tried to hide it, but you weren't friends for as long as George and Nancy had been without being able to pick up on this sort of thing.

"Did she sound okay?" Frank asked anxiously.

George made a quick decision to be honest with him. "She wouldn't say this, but I think she's worried about you. She really cares about you, Frank. And Joe will be worried too. Maybe you should give them a call. Just to say you're okay."

Frank considered carefully. "I don't want to have to do this in front of Bess and her fiance..."

George realized he still wasn't ready to face them. "Do you want me to call?" she offered.

Frank nodded gratefully. "Thanks, George."

George flipped open her cell phone. "Hey, Nancy, it's me again..."

A/N: Whew, am I tired. I don't have the concentration to close with a witty insight or one-liner tonight. It's just too late for that. Well, I hope you liked this chapter.Please review! Questions, comments, criticism... all welcomed!