Whoo, this one was actually so fun to write, I'm enjoying it, even though this is coming to a close really soon. School is going pretty well, it's kind of kicking my butt, but it's pretty good. Kind of fun. Anyway, I finished writing this chapter and decided to share it. Finally. There will probably be two, maybe three more chapters after this, but this time its close to ending. Now...

REVIEWS!

Highflyer: I know! There will be more happy chapters from now on, that's for sure!

Candylou: Heres for hoping!

Rawesomecat: Thanks! :)

ErinJordan: I hope so too, they have the worst of luck... ;)

rebeccareneesharplake: Thanks so much! It's going pretty well so far...

Now, the moment you've all be waiting for... actually probably not. Whatever. Next chapter, here you go!


The ride home was, thankfully, uneventful. Laura had driven the big family car down to the hospital, piling all of the Hardy men into the big seats. Callie and Vanessa had driven together in Callie's car, so they hopped in there and rode behind the Hardy Van.

Laura as cautious as she drove, making extra sure that she didn't hit any potholes or a rough stretch of road, to make the ride as smooth as possible. Frank looked out the window, scanning the area for any trucks or stray cars barreling towards them, even though he knew Antonio and his men were in jail or dead, he couldn't help feel nervous.

Frank glanced over to Joe in the seat next to him, his head against the glass and eyes mostly closed. It looked like he was asleep, or about to be and Frank envied him. But at the same time, he didn't. Joe had been through so much in a short period of time, the exhaustion had finally caught up with him. Frank guessed as soon as they got home, he would be in the same state.

Luckily, the drive from the hospital to the Hardy home was not far, and they reached it in a reasonable time. Laura helped Fenton get out of the car, and Callie helped Frank, handed him his crutches when he got out. Vanessa carefully opened the door, catching Joe so he wouldn't fall out, and whispered in his ear softly until he woke up. He mumbled sleepily and allowed her to lead him out of the car and up the front porch, into the familiar house. Laura and the girls helped their boys up the stair steps without much trouble, and led all of them to their beds. So good rest and taking the medicine were the doctors orders, without any room for messing around.

As soon as their heads hit the pillow, the Hardy Boys and their father were out like a light, dead to the world.


Frank grumbled under his breath and turned in his bed, groaning when he hit his leg the wrong way against the bed. Suddenly, he woke up with a start, shooting up in his bed. He searched around the room frantically, looking for something he couldn't find. With a grunt he slid out of his bed, limping down the hall to the door leading to another bedroom and flung it open.

Frank sighed with relief when he saw his little bro still sleeping peacefully in his own bed. His nightmares had given him other outcomes, ones where Joe didn't make it out alive. As soon as Frank saw him with his own two eyes, he felt a lot better. Joe was here, he was safe. Frank shut his eyes and shut the door to Joe's room, letting him get back to sleep. Frank rubbed his eyes and face, trying to wipe off the tiredness off his face, not giving any decent results.

Frank stumbled down the stairs, using the railing attached to the wall to help him down. When he reached the bottom he limped into the living room and dropped to the couch, next to his girlfriend. Callie smiled and kissed him lightly on the cheek.

"Morning, sleepy head," Callie whispered and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face into the side of his neck. She laid there, hands grasping his shirt tightly pressed against his chest. They stayed there, Frank running his hand up and down her back, just soaking up each other's presence.

Laura was moving around in the kitchen, the smell of eggs cooking on the pan slowly floating through the whole house. While Frank and Callie were on the couch, Vanessa sat on the other end, playing on her phone.

"When did you guys get here?" Frank asked, his voice muffled from Callie's hair.

"This afternoon. You guys have been out for a long time," Vanessa explained, still looking at her phone. She was scrolling through something, lips pressed tightly together. She paused, before looking up to ask the question she had been wanting too. "Is Joe awake? Is he… alright?"

Frank smiled at her softly, but shook his head. "No, he's still sleeping. But he's alright. Or he will be." Vanessa didn't smile or anything, but nodded her head. Frank took that as an answer and buried his face back into Callie's hair. Everyone sat in silence, three of the kids on the couch, Laura by the stove and Fenton sitting at the kitchen table, nursing a small cup of coffee.

Thumping from the upstairs floor caught everyone's attention and they stared at the stairs, watching Joe stumble down the stairs, his arm pressed up against a crumpled t-shirt and shorts, fair hair tousled and sticking up everywhere. He looked up once he reached the bottom and saw everyone staring at him.

A tired smile filled his face. "Howdy," he greeted, his voice low and gravelly. Vanessa's eyes immediately lit up and a genuine smile crossed her face as she dropped her phone on the couch and stood up to hug her boyfriend. She pressed against his chest, taking a deep breath of the familiar Joe smell as he good arm snaked around her waist and pulled her closer. Being a good couple inches taller than his girlfriend, his chin rested on top of her head. He shut his eyes, savoring the familiarness of everything around him. His girlfriend in his arms, Frank nearby, his parents not to far either, breakfast cooking in the kitchen, everything. It was home.

"How are you feeling, Joe?" Laura called over her shoulder as she pushed the eggs around in the pan.

Hand in hand Joe walked with Vanessa to the kitchen table and pulled out chairs for them to sit in. He groaned as he slowly dropped into the chair, keeping his arm as still as possible. There wasn't a cast on his arm, and he didn't want to grab his sling just yet, so he just held his arm in his hands and lap. It throbbed, but the medication he had taken the night before and when he woke up were doing a pretty good job.

"Pretty good, tired. How long was I out?" Fenton chuckled when Joe asked and he watched his youngest carefully.

"Both you and Frank slept for about twelve hours. Possibly more, we stopped counting after that." They all chuckled and Frank and Callie joined everyone else at the family kitchen table. Laura finished up cooking the eggs, and the final batch of toast popped out of the toaster, and she made plates for everyone, bringing them to the table. The food smelled delicious, but everyone waited until all the food was out and Laura was sitting with them, before they bowed their heads and Fenton started to pray.

"Dear heavenly father, thank you so much for this day and bringing our boys home safe and sound, and keeping us on our way here. Thank you for this meal and the food and family around us. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen."

Chorused voices saying Amen wrapped up the prayer, and everyone dug into the food. Frank groaned as soon as he took the first bite, the food being the best thing he had tasted in a couple of days. Actually some of the only food he had in a couple of days. It was heaven on earth.

The Hardy's and friends ate in silence, just in each others presence while sometimes someone would look up and around at everyone together, smiling.

After everyone finished up, they washed off their plates and dropped them in the dishwasher. Fenton kissed Laura on the cheek, his appreciation for making the food for all of them, and took his turn to wash the pans. Laura smiled, cheeks tinted pink, just like every time. It was like falling in love with him all over again. Her boys were home, all of them safe and sound, so she got to work cleaning the rest of the kitchen with a smile on her face.

Frank and Joe took their girlfriends and sat back down on the couch, sighing with relief.

"So…" Callie started, intertwining her fingers with Frank's his lap.

"What are we going to do now?" Frank finished for her.

Joe looked down at Vanessa with his regular cocky smile. "I did promise you that trip to Hawaii, didn't I?" Frank was a relief to see that look come back up on Joe's face. He was almost afraid Joe was never going to look that way again. He was still a little paranoid, Frank could see it. Slight jumps and twitches during breakfast, the way he kept looking over his shoulder and in the corners. That would pass in time, he just needed to know he was safe.

Vanessa gave a gorgeous smile in return. "Yes, you did. Next week. Just us," she joked, but Frank cleared his throat and interrupted her.

"Uh, if Joe is going to Hawaii with anybody, it's me," he said, and stuck his tongue out at Vanessa. Joe rolled his eyes and nodded.

"But of course, how could I forget you, Frank?" Joe replied sarcastically. "We'll squeeze you in an extra large suitcase. That should work." They all laughed, holding their stomachs to try and hold some of it in without success.

After the laughter had finally started to die down, everyone took a deep breath, sighing. "But seriously, yes, we do have some plans for tonight. A double date." Frank said, draping his arm around Callie's shoulders. Callie squeezed Frank's hand excitingly and Vanessa leaned back to give Joe a quick peck on the cheek.

"Where at?" Callie asked, but Frank shook his head and put a finger to his lips.

"Shh, it's a surprise. Just be here at six, we'll take it from there," Frank answered, and Vanessa looked up at Joe slightly concerned.

"Are you going to be ok? I mean, you've been through so much already, don't you want to wait a little while before…" Joe silenced her with a kiss on the lips, not quick, but not too long either. He looked down into her beautiful face with his own bruised one.

"I know, I want to do it. We've waited long enough," Vanessa smiled. "Besides, it was my idea anyway," Joe joked, shooting a look at Frank. "Just be here at six."

Vanessa nodded. "Will do, Detective."