Fenton clapped as his two boys walked down the stairs after an afternoon of napping and resting, nicely dressed for their date in less than fifteen minutes. Laura looked over the boys choice of clothing and nodded.

Frank wore tan slacks, without a wrinkle or crease in them. His royal navy button-up fit snugly, and the sleeves were down, right up until his wrists. The nicest watch he had-the only one that wasn't covered in dirt or broken-was strapped to his left wrist. A light blue tie stood out from the darker blue, which matched his chocolate brown eyes and slightly wavy hair surprisingly well.

Joe stood next to him, with a light grey button-up tight against his chest, the sleeves unbuttoned and rolled up to his elbows, exposing his forearms. Most of the bruises and cuts on his arms were healing, and it was uncomfortable to have fabric over them. He had dark grey, almost black pants, slightly creased. His pants were held up by thick suspenders the same color as his pants, and the whole outfit was pulled together with a black bow tie. His normally wild blond hair was actually combed down and styled nicely.

Laura chuckled as she looked over her youngest. "I like the bow tie, Joe."

"Yeah, I do too," Fenton added, agreeing with his wife.

Frank threw his hands up in the air and blew air out of his mouth, surprised. "Really? Both of you?"

Joe laughed, sticking his tongue out at his brother. "Ha! Told you they would like it. I'm keeping it."

"Whatever," Frank gave up, exasperated. Joe smiled at his little triumph, and turned to the clock on the wall.

"The girls should be here in about ten minutes. Frank, can you drive?" Joe asked, and Frank nodded.

Fenton looked to Joe, now noticing that his arm wasn't in the sling, it was resting across his body by his own choice. He had left it up his room, thrown on the floor beside his bed.

"No sling, Joe?"

Joe nodded and shrugged his uninsured shoulder. "Yeah. My shoulders not bothering me right now, and the sling is uncomfortable. I'll survive for a night." Fenton frowned but let it slide. It would be better for his shoulder with the sling, it would heal faster and better, but one date night wouldn't kill him.

The Hardy boys moved over to the couch, dropping into the soft fabric and relaxing the last couple minutes before the girlfriends showed up. Joe kicked his legs up and laid them across Frank's laying long way on the corner style couch. Joe kept his arm across his chest, propped up on a pillow, his shoulder actually hurting more than he let on. He took more medicine when he woke up, but the ache in his shoulder hadn't gone away. With his arm being up on the pillow it felt a lot better, and he sighed.

Frank felt like he had shut his eyes for two minutes when a knock on the door woke him up immediately. Laura walked over, wiping her wet hands on the towel hanging off her shoulder and opening the door to reveal Vanessa and Callie standing on the dimly lit porch, dressed to the nines.

Vanessa stepped in lace up black high heels, only about an inch and a half tall, still slightly shorter than Joe. She had on a light dress, thin straps holding the black and white spotted dress close, and her ash-blonde hair was pulled back, half up and half down. The high-low dress end floated behind her as she walked, light and airy. An nearly invisible belt hugged her waist, pulling the dress around her stomach.

Callie walked in behind her, a black tank top with lace near her neck, and a mint green high skirt pulled up close, showing long, well toned legs with little heeled brown boots. Her long, gorgeous blonde hair was down, covering her shoulders in light curls.

Frank and Joe did all they could to keep their mouths from dropping, but seeing their stunning girlfriends there was no way. Laura cooed over the girls and they chatted for a quick moments, about the dresses and how much it was and it looks darling.

After the girls finished, they turned to the boys, who were still having trouble forming words.

"Are you guys ready, or are we going to have the find the surprise ourselves?" Callie joked, placing her hands on her hips.

Frank shook his head and flashed a smile, snapping out of his daze. "Of course. This way, m'ladies," he said in a exaggerated voice, bowing deeply and swinging his arm towards the door. Joe got out too and copied Franks movement, over-exaggerating everything. The girls giggled and walked out the door, whispering to each other about what the surprise could possibly be.

Frank and Joe waved to their parents, and shut the door behind them. When they got to Frank's car, an older black van that had been cleaned up from previous adventures. Frank opened the passenger door for Callie and helped her in, and Joe did the same for Vanessa in the back. After letting her in, Joe slid the door shut and walked around the van to his side, opening the door and sitting himself, careful not to move his arm around to much. As soon as he buckled himself in, he laid his arm across his lap, keeping it at still as possible. Frank ran around and hopped into the driver's seat, jamming in the keys and starting the ignition. Soon they were off, driving down the highway towards their first destination.

"So, is this the big secret?" Callie asked, turning to look at Frank.

He smiled and Vanessa leaned forward to listen in as well. "No," Frank shook his head, "we're going to Indigo's to eat. The next part is the surprise."

Vanessa clapped her hands excitedly, happy with the choice. Indigo's was an Italian restaurant, a fancy one too. All the couples in small Bayport would go to Indigo's for a fancy night out, and it had delicious food.

Small talk resumed as they finished the drive into the restaurant, already mobbed by the early dinner crowd. Frank parked in the only parking spot available, squishing the van in between two little smart cars. It was a tight fit, but it worked. The boys helped the girls out of the car, and walked to the entrance.

Callie slide her hand in Frank's elbow and held onto it as they walked, and Vanessa grabbed Joe's uninjured hand and wove her fingers in with his, swinging it gently. They were greeted by the maître d' at the entrance and Frank took over.

"Reservation for Hardy?" Frank asked, and the man looked at his screen, scrolling through the list of names.

"Ah, here is it. Party of four?" They nodded and the maître d' picked up a menu and waved his hand to the group. "Follow me."

The Hardy's and the girlfriends weaves in between the crowded tables, following behind the man who moved effortless through the tables. When they reach theirs, a small booth near the back, he turned around and placed the menus down on the table.

"Your waitress will be here in a moment to help you," he said, and with the quick bow of his head, he disappeared into the crowd.

Frank and Callie took one side, while Joe and Vanessa slid into the other side. Almost as soon as they opened their menus, a bouncy redhead stood at the head of the table, voice bubbly.

"Hi, y'all, welcome to Indigo's. My name is Scarlett, can I start you off with anything to drink and some appetizers?" Her southern accent stood out from the Italian accent the rest of the building gave off, but it was funny.

"Yeah, uh, can I have a Coke?" Joe said, and turned to Vanessa.

"Cherry Sprite for me please."

"And Ginger Ale for the two of us, please," Callie said for her and Frank, their favorite drink.

"Alrighty," Scarlett said, writing it down on her duct table covered pad. "Any appetizers?" Everyone looked at each other, the silent questions bouncing between eyes.

"No, we're alright, thank you," Joe answered and Scarlett took her leave.

They took to looking at the menu, picking out the item that they wanted. Once each of them found what they wanted, Scarlett came back around to their table with their drink, and she took their order. They talked some more, and the restaurant slowly started to clear out, leaving some more space for them.

Not long after, Scarlett brought four plates of steaming hot food, and set them down in front of each of the young adults, who thanked her. The dig in greedily, talking and telling stories in between bites.

Soon the plates were cleared and stomachs were full, after a quick dessert plate for each of the couples, the Hardy's paid for the meal and walked their dates out of the restaurant. Hopping back in the van, it was time for the surprise.

"Where are we going?" Vanessa asked Joe, who just smiled.

"I can't tell you, that would take all the fun out of it."

Frank pulled up on Shore Road and Joe jumped out of the van and let Vanessa out the other side. Joe waved to Frank, who waved back then pulled off the side of the road and continued on down.

"What are we doing here?" Vanessa asked, looking out on the beach as the sun started to approach the horizon, faint colors starting to streak the sky. Joe walked to the edge of the road, and slid out of his shoes and socks, leaving them on the grass before the sand. Vanessa was confused, but took her heels off as well. Joe grabbed her hand and they walked down towards the beach, hand in hand, the cool breeze blowing across their faces and Vanessa's dress.

Low tide was coming in, and Joe dropped into the sand, and stretched out, the water barely touching his bare feet. Vanessa followed suit and sat in the sand, her light dress skirting the ground.

"You remember this place?" Joe said, looking out across the waves as the light danced across them.

Vanessa tilted her head and leaned against Joe's chest, his left arm holding his body up. "Yeah. Was this… where you asked me out? After you helped me and my mom out?" Vanessa asked with a smile on her face.

Joe smiled back and looked down at her. "Yep. It took me so long to actually go up and ask, I was freaking out right before I did it," he chuckled at the memory. "I had a whole speech planned out, but as soon as I saw you, I forgot all of it."

"Really?" Vanessa laughed out loud.

"Yeah, I was terrified."

The couple sighed and turned back to the water, where the sun had now started to set. Deep purples and blues came out with the stars. Below it faded into bright reds and yellows, mixing with oranges.

After the stretch of silence, Vanessa leaned up and stared at Joe. "I was terrified."

Joe sighed and looked back down at her, while also glancing at his injured arm.

"I know, Van. But it's ok. It's alright, I'm here now." Vanessa smiled.

Joe leaned down and kissed Vanessa lightly, as soon as the sunset below the horizon.

"I'm not going anywhere."


After Frank dropped Joe and Vanessa off, he drove down a little bit farther, pulling into the parking lot of the Bayport library.

"What are we doing here?" Callie asked, looking out across the empty parking lot and into the sky, watching the sun, faint colors starting to streak the sky. Frank walked to the edge of the road, and sat down on the curb. Callie was confused, but took her boots off as well. Frank wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close to him.

"You remember this place?" Frank asked, looking out across the road as the street lights flickered before them.

Callie leaned into him and nodded. "Yeah, this was where you asked me out." Callie said with a smile on her face.

Frank smiled back and looked down at her. "Yep. I made notecards and everything, trying to remember what I was going to say."

"Really?" Callie laughed out loud.

"Yeah, I was scared."

The couple sighed and turned back to the road and sky, where the sun had now started to set. Deep purples and blues came out with the stars. Below it faded into bright reds and yellows, mixing with oranges.

After the stretch of silence, Callie leaned up and stared at Frank. "I was scared."

Frank sighed and looked back down at her, rubbing her shoulder lightly.

"I know, Cal. But it's ok. It's alright, I'm here now." Callie smiled.

Frank leaned down and kissed Callie lightly, as soon as the sunset below the horizon.

"I'm right here."