Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed! I've gotten the outline for this fic fairly worked out, and I PLAN on having a mystery in here.. just might take a while to get to.

I forgot earlier to mention this..

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters mentioned who you will find in any of the books. (Nancy & company, Frank & company, Mick, etc…)

Again, thanks, and I really hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1

"Nancy!"

Nancy Drew sat in the middle of her bedroom floor, in her dad's house, packing yet another box. Once wall was lined with boxes she had already packed, mostly clothes, books, and random items. At the moment, she was surrounded by pictures, some in frames, and some sitting in stacks.

Nancy smiled when she heard her name. "Up here, Hannah!"

Hannah Gruen, longtime housekeeper, friend, and closest thing to a mother Nancy had, walked into the bedroom. "Nancy, I just wanted to let you know I'm back." She set a bag down on Nancy's desk. "I picked up the extra packing tape and other items you asked for."

"Thank you so much, Hannah. I hope you and Joanna had a good time." Joanna Harper was one of Hannah's closest friends, and they met once a week for dinner and a movie, or play.

Hannah nodded. "We did. The play was wonderfully done. It was almost hard to remember this one was put on by high school kids." She turned to leave, then paused and glanced over her shoulder. "I'll be downstairs if you need me. I've almost finished that quilt I promised you."

Nancy grinned eagerly. "I can't wait to see it! I really appreciate all the help you've given me. I never realized how hard planning a wedding could be!"

Hannah chuckled as she headed back towards the stairs. "Just remember that when you have a daughter planning her wedding!"

Hannah Gruen had come to live with the Drews when Nancy was very young, nearly right after Nancy's mother had died. But Hannah had become like a mother to Nancy, and Nancy loved her right back.

"Right. Wedding. Hard." Nancy laughed. "But to feel like a princess and to be married… it's all worth it!"

There were three months left until the wedding, but she couldn't wait. She smiled as she thought about her fiancé. Tall, handsome, intelligent, fun, caring, and above all, he shared many of her same passions.

Nancy picked up a stack of pictures, staring at the faces on the top photo that stared back at her. Bess, George, and herself while in Greece. That had been taken the summer they traveled all over Europe together. That was the same summer that she had met Mick Devlin, an Australian who had accompanied them.

Nancy glanced at the second picture, and felt a flutter in her stomach. That photograph had been taken during one of their many trips to the beach in Switzerland. But this one showed herself and Mick, sitting close to each other in the sand as they poured over tour books, trying to decide what to do next. Nancy remembered that moment vividly, just as she remembered most of the times she spent with Mick.

She had thought she was over her school-girl crush on Mick Devlin, but she couldn't deny that she still harbored feelings towards him. At the time, she had been dating Ned Nickerson, but Mick nearly made her forget about him completely that summer. Even at this moment, so close to her own wedding, she couldn't bring herself to completely let go of those awful-wonderful feelings she felt towards Mick.

"Why am I thinking of him at a time like this?" Nancy admonished herself. "Enough of this packing, I need a break."

But just as she stood up and stretched, her cell phone rang. She plucked it off the floor where she had been sitting. Without even glancing at the caller ID, she answered, "Hello?"

"Hey, you!" a deep, masculine voice answered, sending warm chills through her.

"Frank! You have perfect timing, I was just needed a break from packing." Nancy sat down on the edge of her bed and leaned back.

Frank laughed. "Well, then maybe you need a longer break. How about a visit from your favorite detective?"

"Frank Hardy, you know perfectly well that Sherlock Holmes is pure fiction," she teased. "Oh, you must mean that young detective guy, the one who somewhat resembles Mr. Holmes. What's his name? Something-Hardy?"

"You're just lucky I'm not there right now to make you pay for that little comment," he growled good-naturedly. Nancy didn't miss the laughter in his voice.

"I'm sorry, you know I can't resist teasing you. And I do miss you, a lot. When are you coming?" Nancy asked, glancing at the mess she had made in her bedroom.

"Soon, hopefully tomorrow if I can get the last project wrapped up." Frank sighed.

"That bad, huh?" Frank worked for the Bayport Technology Research Center, and more often than not, he had to work on a program that refused to cooperate. And on the side, he still helped his dad with his cases.

Frank shrugged, then laughed at himself. "Well, not bad, just not great. Every time I compile the program to run it, it shoots out error after error. And unfortunately, there is so much code, that it's really hard to narrow down the original error. They just play off of each other. Probably something stupid, like missing a semi-colon."

Nancy shook her head. "Frank, you are losing me."

"Sorry, Nan. I guess I should ask how you're doing at work?" Nancy had taken a job with the local River Heights newspaper, doing investigative reporting, much to Brenda Carlton's dismay.

"Not bad, I finished a few stories earlier in the week, and at the moment there's nothing new. Or big, rather. There are a few little things that Mr. Carlton wants his precious daughter to have." Nancy laughed. "Her pride has taken a hard hitting with me there, and she's trying to regain her father's approval."

Frank grinned. Brenda Carlton was notorious for snooping in on Nancy's stories. Back during high school and college, Brenda had nearly ruined many of Nancy's cases due to less-than-tactful snooping.

"Just don't completely offend the Carltons. Not if you value your reputation." Frank turned back to his computer. "I hate to do this, Nan, but I need to get back to this program if I'm going to have some time off."

"Well don't work too hard! Just call me when you get ready to leave so I'll know when to expect you. And just so you know, Dad is out of town again, but Hannah is here. She's been such a dear, helping me pack and helping with the wedding plans."

Frank smiled to himself, once again thankful that God had brought Hannah Gruen and the Drews together. He knew it was times like that that Nancy really missed her mother. "I'll see you soon. Love ya."

They hung up and Nancy couldn't help but feel her own smile widen in anticipation. It had taken them long enough to start dating in the first place. And now their long distance relationship was quickly getting tiresome. Both were ready to be married and start their new lives together.

"I'd better let Hannah know we're going to have company," Nancy said to herself, heading towards the stairs. "Hannah!"

NDHB

Frank stared at the phone in his hand, wondering how on earth he and Nancy had finally gotten their relationship right. Even after his breakup with Callie Shaw, and her breakup with Ned Nickerson, it had taken them a full year to admit any feelings to each other. It had taken a lot of pushing and prodding, particularly on Joe's part, to get them to that point.

Before he could dwell further on his recently-found fortune, there was a knock on his office door and Joe came running in, not waiting for an answer. "Frank!" Joe screeched to a halt when he saw the dopey look on Frank's face as continued to stare at the receiver he held.

"Ah, that must have been that Drew-girl on the phone again," Joe teased and punched his brother lightly on the arm. "Only she can give my brother, Mr. Down-to-Earth, such a goofy look." Joe took a seat on one of the chairs in the room.

Frank chuckled and rested the phone back in its cradle. "Yes, that was Nancy. And before you go all crazy and start teasing me more, I'm going to River Heights this weekend, so I won't be around to keep you out of trouble."

Joe feigned shock. "Me? Trouble? Surely you jest!"

Frank just shook his head. "Yeah, yeah, I know. You are the model citizen." Frank leaned back in his desk chair, once again ignoring the growing list of errors on his computer. "But anyway, what's so important that you couldn't wait for me to get home?"

Joe smiled and shrugged. "Remember that high-school coaching job I interviewed for earlier this year in Chicago?"

Frank nodded. "The position that would also require you to teach another subject?"

"Well, Mr. Wills called this morning, and I'd been on the phone with him nearly an hour or so. Turns out, they are going to start offering a new elective for students. It's a self-defense class, and they want me to teach it. That way, I can also coach."

Frank's eyes widened. "You mean..." he trailed off.

Joe nodded eagerly. "Starting in the fall, I'll be assistant football coach and teaching self-defense in Chicago!" He paused. "Well, actually, starting this summer. You know, football recruiting, camp, all that stuff."

Frank jumped up and hugged his brother, thumping him on the back. "Congrats, Joe!" He wiped an imaginary tear from his eye. "I'm really proud of you!"

Joe laughed. "What can I say? The old Hardy charm still works. I actually had suggested the class back during my first interview, and I wasn't sure if they were going to take me seriously."

Frank reached over and ruffled Joe's blond locks. "Are you sure you're ready for high-school kids? I mean, remember how you and Chet and Biff always got into trouble?"

"Aw, it'll be fine. I've been helping out with the football summer camps out here for Bayport High throughout college. And you know me." Joe flexed his biceps. "I've already seen, or done, anything that those kids might think of trying on me."

Frank shook his head. "So this means you'll be moving to Chicago pretty soon, right?"

Frank noticed the long pause as Joe shifted his weight. "Well," Joe hesitated. "I'm flying out Sunday. Monday morning I have an appointment to go over paperwork, policies, all the boring stuff. Tuesday, I'll be meeting with the coaches, athletic director, and a few of the players. I'll be there for a week."

Joe smiled, but it was forced. "Frank, I'll be honest. I'm a bit nervous. I'll be moving out there early in the summer, just a few months away. Things are starting to happen really fast."

Frank nodded solemnly. "But this is what you wanted, right? You still have a few days to back out." Frank suddenly smiled and winked at Joe. "And since when has the great Joe Hardy been afraid of a challenge?"

He knew coaching football was one of Joe's dreams. Having played all during high school and college, Joe had done exceedingly well. However, Mr. Wills had told Joe that if he wanted to coach at the high school level, he'd have to teach a second subject, since football, unlike English and Math, wasn't a full-year "class." Being the average student he was, Joe had reluctantly admitted that he probably was no longer a candidate for the position. A blow to Joe's ego.

Joe squared his shoulders. "Joe Hardy is not afraid of a challenge, because he has always had backup." He looked pointedly at Frank. "But now that you and Nan are getting married," Joe paused, not sure if he trusted himself to tell Frank exactly how he felt. He decided he didn't.

He forced a laugh. "You two are going to make a great team."

"The three of us will always make a great team," Frank replied seriously, his eyes searching Joe's face.

Desperately wanting to lighten the mood, Joe winked back at Frank. "That all depends. Once you guys are married, that's a team I don't want any part of, if you catch my drift."

He saw Frank blush, obviously understanding Joe's comment. "Get out of here!" Frank prodded his brother. "Don't you have some packing to do?"

Joe stopped in his tracks. "Oh… that reminds me. Frank, I need your help." He turned back towards Frank and gave him a pathetic look. "I don't have a clue what you are supposed to wear for signing papers and then for meeting football coaches!"

Frank laughed. "Challenge Number One. Joe's wardrobe."

Alright, there ya go, official Chapter 1. Please review, comments, suggestions, and critiques are ALWAYS welcome. I wrote this, edited it, re-edited, and re-re-edited about a thousand times. Thanks so much!