Hello! So sorry for the complications with the last upload. I know it's been slow so far but I promise the story starts picking up! Hopefully I will update soon.

Later that night, as he thought back to that moment, Joe was more than impressed by Nancy. After a split second of shock, she was able to smoothly mask the pain that flashed in her eyes and school her face into calm passivity. Stepping over the broken glass as if it wasn't even there, she smiled at the couple in front of her. And if she noticed Callie tightening her grip on Frank as she stepped closer, Nancy showed no indication of it.

Joe felt frozen in place as he watched her smile at Callie, completely ignoring Frank and his guilty expression.

"Congratulations," she said gracefully, "I wish you both the best."

She turned abruptly back to Joe. "Would you be able to give me a ride home? My car is still at the shop. I need to finish drawing up the contracts for the Delmonico case tonight."

Joe blinked several times before he answered, feeling like he was still reeling from whatever the hell the last ten minutes had been.

"Uh, yeah, no problem Nance." He had barely finished speaking before Nancy replied.

"I'll grab my purse. I can meet you at your car." She strode away through the throng of people, her posture straight and tense.

Joe gave his brother and the girl hanging off his arm one last look up and down. Frank opened his mouth to speak, but Joe held up his hand.

"I'm gonna go. I'll see you at work tomorrow Frank." He turned and headed toward the exit brusquely, not wanting Nancy to be alone outside in the parking lot.

When he got to his car, Nancy was there waiting. Joe approached cautiously, not wanting to intrude if she needed a moment to compose herself. She was staring off into nothing, standing stock still except for her hands, which were wringing the strap of her purse. Her jaw was clenched and her eyes flashed as she spun around at the sound of Joe approaching. Joe pulled out his keys and unlocked the door, and they both got in the car. Neither one of them said a word as Joe started the ignition and began to back out of the parking spot.

For the first time in his life since he had known Nancy, he had no idea what to say to her. He suddenly felt very awkward in the silence. What does one say, exactly, to their brother's ex-girlfriend who just found out she had been dumped because said brother's other ex was knocked up? He coughed uncomfortably as he pulled out onto the road.

"So...I take it you didn't know?"

Nancy remained silent, staring out the passenger window. Joe waited, knowing she was trying to collect her thoughts. He had known Nancy for a long time, and he knew that when it came to uncomfortable situations she preferred to address them straight on and upfront. After a minute, she took a deep breath.

"I had my suspicions. He wouldn't give me a reason, only that it was really complicated and that he didn't have a choice in the matter. That was really the only reason I could think of that made sense" Nancy said, her voice even and void of emotion.

"I still say it's bullshit. How could it possibly be Frank's? She barely even looked pregnant, there's no way the timeline adds up. I just don't understand how Frank can be so stupid to go along with it." Joe tried but failed to keep the irritation for his brother out of his voice. Nancy sighed and looked down at her hands.

"Do you remember the last time Callie came back to town? A month or so after the breakup?"

Joe snorted. "You mean, do I remember when she came slithering back into Frank's life and tried to manipulate him into moving to New York with her? And how she tried to break up our business? And screamed at me for no reason about how selfish I was for wanting my brother to actually think about his actions? Yeah. I remember."

Nancy looked out the window again and said softly, "Frank didn't tell you the whole story. The night before she left, they...well, you know…"

Joe whipped his head to the side and gawked at her. "They what?!"

"Eyes on the road, Joe" Nancy snapped, gesturing to the stop light that had turned red in front of them. "Obviously I don't have any details, but that was one of the reasons he was so hesitant about us entering into a relationship. He was feeling so guilty about that night and how he had a moment of weakness. We talked through it and he assured me that it was a moment of weakness in the middle of the mess of their breakup. He said even though he regretted it, he did feel like he gained some closure and knew with certainty he wanted her out of his life. Clearly that didn't go as planned." Nancy rolled her eyes.

The rest of the ride to Nancy's apartment was spent in silence, as they both processed the events of the night. Joe was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't even notice the flashing lights of several squad cars until he had already turned into the parking lot.

"What in the world?" Nancy frowned, peering out the window. She barely had time to step out of the care before a very angry, sweaty man who Joe faintly recognized as her landlord barreled towards her.

"Nancy Drew!" he snarled, "This is the last straw! I want you out!"