Hey here's chapter 9 sorry . . .it took so long . Thanks for all of the reviews! Hope you enjoy . . .

Chapter 9

Nancy stood very still, not sure if she was hearing right. Was he really asking her for a second chance after what he did? She almost wanted to laugh; I mean he had to be kidding her.

"I have given you a second chance Ned, but I've also given you a third and a fourth and a fifth. I'm tired of having new hope for you everyday that just gets crushed. I loved you Ned, I honestly did. But you're not the Ned Nickerson I knew and loved. You have changed and now I can't honestly say I love you anymore. I'm Nancy Drew, famous woman detective, and I have to come home and be scared of my own husband. Do you know what that feels like? No, I won't let you hurt me anymore, and I won't let you hurt our baby. You need to get help with your drinking problem and your anger. I'm sorry but I want a divorce."

Nancy said all of this very quickly and quietly. She had a distant cold, hard look in her eyes and her face had gone very pale. Frank was scared she might faint and let go of her hand to stand behind her. He was so proud of her for being so strong and doing what was right for herself for once. She was always worried about other people and she had to be the most selfless person he had ever met in his life. But this time she did what she needed to do for her and it was the right choice.

Ned had been staring at Nancy through her whole speech. The happy look on his face caused by the news of their baby quickly was erased as she spoke. When she was finished he got up and slowly began to walk towards her. Frank stood in front of Nancy and gave Ned a warning glare. Ned pushed Frank out of the way and bent down so he could whisper "no" rather loudly in Nancy's ear. Frank and Nancy stood stunned as Ned proceeded towards the stairs to go to his room. Frank looked at Nancy and he hated how she got even paler. Gosh he really hated Ned Nickerson. For Ned's sake he hoped they never met alone in a dark alley. He pulled Nancy to him and hugged her and she began to cry on his shoulder. They stood like that for five minutes until Nancy pulled away. She began to walk towards the stairs when Frank stopped her.

"What are you doing?" Frank asked with a worried look on his face.

"I'm going to talk to Ned, this isn't over." Nancy said with a look that dared Frank to stop her.

" Nancy he's dangerous and he's drunk. I don't want him to hurt you or the baby. If you go up there I'm going with you."

Nancy looked up into Frank's eyes and thought to herself how handsome he was. He was so sweet and he was genuinely concerned for her. Even so she still told him no. Him being up there would just make things worse. She needed to talk to Ned by herself. Frank nodded reluctantly and hugged her one last time before she went up the stairs. He stood defeated and nervously listened for any unwanted sounds.

Nancy walked up the stairs and down the hall to her room. She stood outside the door remembering the last awful time she stood at this same door. She took a deep breath and pushed the door open. She didn't see Ned but she heard water running in their bathroom. She walked slowly towards the bathroom and stopped at the door. Ned stood there brushing his teeth like nothing had ever happened. He looked up and met her gaze in the mirror. Then he just finished brushing his teeth and walked out of the bathroom lightly pushing her out the way so that he could get to the bed. Nancy couldn't believe how big of a jerk this guy was. Tears rolled down her face as she went to go stand by the bed.

"Ned please. If you really loved me you'd set me free. I can't live with you anymore. I don't want to be married to you anymore. Who you've become disgusts me –"

"It disgusts me too!" Ned shouted interrupting and startling Nancy. "I didn't want to be this person. I've always hated people who drank all the time and hurt the people they loved and now I've become one. But I can't stop . . . I've tried and I can't. I'm so sorry Nance. I've hurt you, and you are the single most important thing in the world to me. You are my heart and if you leave me I will die."

Ned's face now matched Nancy's tear stained one. She had no idea what to do. What would happen if she let her guard down and he hurt her again? He sounded so sincere though, he truly sounded ashamed for what he did. Nancy stepped closer to the bed and then kneeled down beside it. She picked up Ned's hand and began to stroke it gently.

"Ned I'm sorry but I can't be in this relationship anymore. If I stay then I'll be sacrificing myself for you. I can't do that, I promised I would never compromise who I am for a guy no matter how important he was to me. I have loved you for eight years Ned but maybe we just weren't met to be. We've only been married five years and our marriage has already fallen apart. I need you to give me a divorce. I need you to love me enough to want me to be happy. I need this Ned." After finishing this Nancy gave Ned a kiss on his lips and smoothed his hair back. She looked straight into his eyes and waited for him to respond. Ned met her gaze and began to cry harder. He realized she was right, he had to do this for her and for his baby. They deserved a better life that the one he would give them. He took in a shaky breath and then nodded his head. He kissed her hand and then let it go.

Nancy couldn't believe it, he had said yes. He was going to give her a divorce. She was happy and sad at the same time. She did love her husband; he was her first love and always would be special to her. But he was right; she and her baby did deserve better and she knew just where to find it. She got up and kissed his cheek. He began sobbing heart-rending sobs that made her cry silent tears. She walked out of the room and closed the door never looking behind her. It was finally over. She began to walk down the stairs and attempted to smile when she saw Frank standing there waiting. She fell into his outstretched arms and held on for dear life. She cried into his shoulder and allowed him to carry her from her home and out to the waiting car.

Life could only get better.

She was driving last Friday on her way to Cincinnati
On a snow white Christmas Eve
Going home to see her Mama and her Daddy with the baby in the backseat
Fifty miles to go and she was running low on faith and gasoline
It been a long hard year
She had a lot on her mind and she didn't pay attention
She was going way to fast
Before she knew it she was spinning on a thin black sheet of glass
She saw both their lives flash before her eyes
She didn't even have time to cry
She was sooo scared
She threw her hands up in the air

Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can't do this all on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I'm on
Jesus take the wheel

It was still getting colder when she made it to the shoulder
And the car came to a stop
She cried when she saw that baby in the backseat sleeping like a rock
And for the first time in a long time
She bowed her head to pray
She said I'm sorry for the way
I've been living my life
I know I've got to change
So from now on tonight

Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can't do this all my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I'm on

Oh, Jesus take the wheel

THE END!

Yesssss I'm done! I needed to end the story with Ned realizing he was wrong because he's such a good guy in the stories and even though I never liked his character I couldn't deny that. Uhh yea so the characters don't belong to me . . . and the song is by Carrie Underwood. Thanks for reading!