Joe Hardy, son of famous detective Fenton Hardy, and half of the Hardy Brother dynamic duo, let his mouth drop open at his brother's abrupt announcement. The news hit him like a punch in the gut.
"You finally asked who to do what?!"
Frank looked bemusedly back at Joe, eyebrows quirking upwards with good-natured humor.
"I said," Frank repeated with exaggerated pronunciation, "I finally worked up the courage to ask Nancy to go with me to the Bayport Officer's Banquet."
Joe gaped, his eyes widening larger, if that was possible.
"To the what?"
This time Frank laughed outright as he replied. "You know, the party Dad's hosting in honor of the capture of Finch and his men. Golly, I didn't think you'd be surprised, seeing as how you've been insistently teasing me about Nancy since I broke up with Callie and constantly urging me to ask Nancy out!"
"Yeah, but-but…you never- I mean you didn't—I never thought you'd actually ask her!"
Frank's look of amusement faded, as he noticed the look of absolute shock and disbelief on his younger brother's face. Frowning, Frank snapped defensively, in response to Joe's doubtful expression.
"Oh come on Joe, I might be shy, but I know a good thing when I see it. It wasn't that hard to ask her out. Anyhow," Frank continued more calmly, "the reason I told you this was because I was wondering if you wanted to join us. Unless, of course, you already invited someone?" The last sentence came out as a question, and Joe shook his head.
"Um-yeah, I mean, no, I don't have a date and yes, I'll come. Dad's expecting us to and it is held in our honor, so I kinda have to go, dateless or not." Joe muttered distractedly.
"Well, remember, the banquet is this evening at 7:00 so make sure you're ready for it. I'll be leaving to pick up Nancy at 7:45 and you can ride along if you like." Frank offered.
"Oh, yeah that'd be good I guess."
Smiling, Frank nodded his and prepared to stride out of his brother's room.
"OK, well I've got to get to work on some paperwork from an old case. I'll see you when I pick you up. Oh, and Joe?"
Joe looked up into his brother's grinning face.
"Yes?"
"Thanks for the advice. Sometimes we need a shove to really notice a good thing in front of us."
With a wink, Frank slipped through Joe's door and shut it quietly behind him. As he listened to his brother's footsteps recede down the hallway, Joe could hear Frank whistling a cheerful tune. Heaving himself up from his still unmade bed, Joe wondered to his window overlooking their garage just in time to see Frank leap into his mustang and drive off, looking more carefree than he had in a long time. Stunned at this remarkable change in his brother, Joe wondered what had happened to cause this attitude adjustment. Oh yeah, he thought sourly, he's got a date, and with Nancy no less. At this strangely bitter thought Joe shook his head and glanced around the room for his jacket, deciding to take a walk to clear his suddenly troubled mind.
Slamming the door behind him, Joe started out the Hardy home at a brisk pace and began walking quickly down the sidewalk, no particular destination in mind. Soon, the brisk autumn wind, mixed with the faint smell of the fallen leaves, began to ease Joe's frown. He gazed at the suburban houses lining their street, warm, welcoming lights glowing through their windows. He had always loved this neighborhood he'd grown up in. The Hardy family had lived their almost all their lives, and the first time Joe moved out was when he left for college four years ago. Keeping up his brisk pace, Joe soon was passing the park where he and Frank had loved to play as kids. When they were kids, Frank had always insisted that Joe stay off the monkey bars, maintaining it was too dangerous for the 5-year old Joe. However, Joe took this as a challenge and began continually frightening his older brother with his crazy antics on the bars.
Smiling at the memory, Joe took in a deep breath, feeling his mind clear of the confusing muddle it had been thrown into. It had been a while since he had had time to relax like this, Joe realized. But then, he thought almost with a sigh, the Hardy boys rarely had time to relax. Being part of the dynamic detective duo wasn't easy, especially as Frank and Joe Hardy began to rapidly become more and more involved with more public, and famous, cases, such as the one they had just solved with the help of Nancy Drew. The detective duo had found the Finch case to be much more difficult and complicated than they had first perceived it, and Nancy was a necessary addition to the detective team.
Being part of the detective scene for almost all their life, the Hardy boys had quickly learned of the moderately famous girl detective. When they had eventually met her face to face, both brother's had been very impressed with what they found. Nancy was not only adept at working alone when dealing with cases; she also managed to solve cases that would have taken both Joe and Frank's skills combined.
Contemplating the girl detective, Joe smiled to himself, his walk unconsciously slowing as he reminisced. Nancy was more than just an extra-ordinary detective, as Joe and Frank came to realize the more time they spent time with her. She was funny, intelligent, and easy going and the brothers found she enjoyed as much success in being a good person to hang out with, as she did being a detective.
When they had first met Nancy, both brothers had been drawn to the charismatic girl. In classic Joe form, Joe had immediately begun turning on his charm, but to his chagrin, Nancy, with an amused smile, had told him she was trying to solve a case, not get a date. Joe had been, quiet frankly, humiliated and peeved with her quick nip in the bud of his flirtations advances. However, Nancy had been quick to show that although she was not interested in being his next romantic pursuit, she was happy to be a friend. As time passed and the brother's worked more with Nancy, Joe had found that friends with Nancy was not a bad idea at all. She fit seamlessly with the famous detective brother team.
Chuckling ruefully, Joe had to admit this wasn't always easy. He had always been the passionate one, more driven by gut-instinct and emotions than caution while Frank was the serious, studious, more wary brother. Serious and smart, but easy-going and compassionate, Nancy was the perfect mix of the best qualities of the two brothers.
If she was so wonderful, Joe wondered, why was he having such a hard time picturing his brother dating her? His frown reappeared, as he remembered his brother's earlier announcement of his invitation to Nancy. Who his brother dated never had troubled Joe before. In fact, Joe had always encouraged his brother to follow his example and get "out there" in the dating world. Sighing, Joe felt his earlier confusion return as he began to trudge slowly home. Why is this such a big deal to me? Joe pondered. I mean, it's not like I haven't been encouraging him to ask her out since he and Callie broke up this summer. Besides, I know Nancy will like it.
Over the past two years, the more time the Hardy boys had spent with Nancy, the more convinced Joe-and the public- had become that there was a connection between the older Hardy boy and the young girl detective. Both were strong, intellectual individuals, and Nancy and Frank seemed like an obvious match. Because of this, rumors began to spread about their involvement with each other. Frank had always good naturedly brushed off the rumors, and he and Nancy had a good time laughing at the publicity their supposed relationship received. Nonetheless, Joe had enjoyed teasing his brother about the enjoyable young lady. However, Joe had never seriously believed that either held real romantic interest in each other. All that changed one day, when after a particularly stressful night working on a case, the three young detectives went out for a quiet evening at a local pizza parlor to take a break. Vividly, Joe could still recall the small details of that night.
Flashback
It was nearing Christmas time, and in the city where they were working, snow had already begun to fall, dusting the pavement and pedestrians on the sidewalk. Laughing over a joke Joe had made, the three young adults bustled into the small diner and were shown to a small booth in the pack. Frank and Joe squeezed into one side of the booth, Nancy giggling at their playful shoving; Joe complaining Frank took up the whole booth while Frank told Joe that he really should lay off on Nancy's chocolate chip cookies next time she made them. After quieting down, the detectives ordered their meal, and Frank slipped out of the booth.
"Bathroom break," he sheepishly explained.
"Well, a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do," Joe said teasingly as Frank left Nancy and Joe in the booth. While Frank was gone, Joe and Nancy fell easily into their playful banter, Joe flirting incorrigibly and Nancy rebutting his remarks with her usual witty retorts. Ever since that fateful day when Nancy had cut Joe down to size, they had fallen into this pattern of harmless, flirtatious banter. That night, Joe thought Nancy had become noticeably more quiet and pensive after Frank left the booth. Curious, Joe asked what her problem was.
"Why so sad Nancy? Wait, let me guess," Joe declared, tapping his chin in pretend concentration.
"It wouldn't have anything to do with a member of the male species, would it?"
Normally, Nancy would have snorted in disbelief and rolled her eyes at such a question. However, to Joe's surprise, Nancy blushed and looked down.
"Wait, it does?! Hah, Joe Hardy figures it out again! Now who's the lucky guy, hmm? Come on, you can trust me, I bet I can even give you advice on how to catch him!" Joe asked pleadingly.
Wryly, Nancy chuckled at Joe's exaggerated puppy dog eyes complete with eyelashes fluttering innocently.
"I'm not trying to catch anyone. Besides, somehow I don't think you can help this time."
Joe humphed, feeling slightly offended.
"You don't believe the great Joe Hardy can give good advice on how to win your man's heart?"
"Oh I don't doubt it." Nancy quietly replied, surprising Joe with her sudden seriousness.
"Well then, what's the problem in telling me? Come on, I promise I won't tell Frank."
Uncomfortably, Nancy shifted in her seat and opened her mouth to reply, when she suddenly appeared to spot something over Joe's shoulder. Turning around, Joe saw Frank returning from the direction of the bathrooms and heading their direction.
Realization washed over him.
"Oh my gosh, it's Frank, isn't it? I mean, I never really believe in the rumors they have on TV and stuff, but the public seems to have gotten it right this time." Joe whispered quietly to Nancy, leaning closer to her in order to keep the approaching Frank from hearing. Blushing a brilliant pink, Nancy abruptly leaned away from Joe and snapped,
"Look, I'd rather not talk about this ok?"
At Joe's hurt look, Nancy continued more gently.
"It's not that I don't trust you, Joe. I just rather drop this, ok?"
Smiling in relief, Joe reached across the booth and patted Nancy's hand.
"Of course, that's ok. Sorry, I didn't mean to pry. And hey, I think you and Frank would make a good pair, so don't sweat it Nancy." Joe replied, hoping to relieve Nancy of her obvious distress over her romantic interest. This didn't seem to console Nancy however, and she coldly removed her hand from under Joe's.
"Thanks Joe, that really helps." she bit out, probably more harshly than she intended to.
"Whoa, sorry for trying to make you feel better!" Joe exclaimed, feeling more than a little angry with her sudden mood swing. The normally easy going Nancy seemed to have disappeared again. At that moment, Frank chose to make his untimely appearance. Noticing the tense look on Joe's face, and the distressed expression on Nancy's, Frank awkwardly asked,
"Um, am I interrupting something?"
"No!" Nancy and Joe exclaimed in unison. Startled, they both glared at each other, turned away and glared back at Frank.
"Ok, ok, sorry. Hey look guys, here's the pizza!" Frank cheerfully tried to sway the arguing couple's attention away from the argument and onto more pleasant discussions, but the rest of the evening was tense with Joe making terse comments while Nancy looked miserable.
Later, they returned to the mysterious mansion where they were working on the case. Alone in his magnificent bedroom, Joe tossed and turned, trying to find solace in sleep. Eventually he sat up, sighing in frustration, and, throwing on a robe, walked toward the library where he intended to find something to read hoping it would settle his restlessness. As he walked through the library doors, he was startled to find Nancy in the room.
"Can't sleep either, eh?" Joe asked dryly.
Startled, Nancy jumped, then glared at Joe.
"Don't scare me like that!"
"Sor-ry, I thought you would've heard me come in," Joe replied peevishly.
Nancy's look of irritation faded from her face and she sighed.
"I know, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have snapped. I was surprised, that's all."
Embarrassed at his angry retort, Joe sheepishly replied,
"Aww, it's alright. I don't particularly like unwelcome surprises either."
Nancy gave a half-smile, and looked up at Joe from her perch on a red, velvet loveseat. An awkward silence followed, until finally Joe couldn't stand it any longer.
"Listen Nancy—" Joe began.
At the same time Nancy began to say, "Hey Joe, about—"
They paused, then together, "You first."
Joe and Nancy burst out laughing, and the tension slowly eked out of the room. Finally, when their laughter subsided, Joe joined Nancy on the love seat and began again.
"Look Nancy, I just wanted to apologize about tonight. I shouldn't have pushed you to find out who you liked. There," Joe grinned, "maybe now I can get some sleep."
Smiling, Nancy replied,
"No, I'm the one who's sorry. I really shouldn't have snapped at you. I know you were just trying to help."
"Well I didn't do that hot a job helping, eh?" Joe remarked dryly.
"It's not your fault," Nancy replied, "it's just that the situation is…complicated."
"Well," Joe grinned, "I won't ask you why you and Frank getting together is complicated. You don't need anymore questions from me. We don't want to risk another fight breaking out!"
Nancy gave a wistful smile at this, and looked down at her hands in her lap.
"So, um, are we good" Joe hesitantly asked, after a pause.
"Of course we are! It takes more than a little tiff to break us up" Nancy declared more playfully.
Relieved, Joe smiled and patted Nancy's hand seated on her lap.
"Well if it's any comfort, I hope this thing with you and Frank works out. If he can't see the great thing that's in front of him, he's dumber than I thought."
For some reason Joe couldn't decipher, Nancy laughed hysterically at this. Confused, Joe chuckled half-heartedly with her.
"Thanks Joe, I needed that." Nancy smiled softly as her laughter died down.
"No problem, anytime." Joe grinned in reply, as he pushed himself off the loveseat.
"Well, we'd better go and head to bed. That case isn't going anywhere, so we'll have to be up and at 'em tomorrow." Joe stated, stretching his arms over his head and yawning.
"You go on ahead, I think I'll go to bed in a minute or two." Nancy replied casually.
"Are you sure? You need some company?" Joe sleepily asked, letting loose another huge yawn.
Giggling slightly at Joe's tired offer, Nancy shook her head.
"Nah, I'll be fine. I just need some time to think, that's all. Besides, I think you'll fall asleep standing if you stay here any longer."
"Well you better not start working on the case when I leave. I know you and Frank; you can never let a mystery lie for long. But you've got to get some sleep." Joe said, shaking his finger reprimandingly at Nancy, totally serious despite his faux parental tone.
"Yes DAD," Nancy grinned.
"Hah, I wish. Maybe then you'd follow my orders." Joe grinned. "Well, good-night Nancy."
"Goodnight Joe," Nancy softly replied.
Smiling, Joe turned to look at Nancy one last time as he headed out the library door. Her knees were drawn up to her chin, an old fashioned plaid rope draped around her, blond hair gleaming like spun gold in the light of the fire still crackling in the fireplace. She looked so small, he realized, sitting there all alone in the love seat. He had never really noticed how tiny she was, probably because of her strong, easy-going attitude she always seemed to mantain, Joe realized. Seeing her now, tired, contemplative, defenses down, a sudden feeling of protectiveness encompassed Joe as he stood in the library doorway. Spotting Joe still standing there, Nancy looked up from her book, and gave him a sleepy, puzzled smile. Unable to resist the impulse, Joe strode over to Nancy and uncharacteristically infolded her in a hug. Startled, Nancy dropped her book, and sat stiffly as Joe hugged her. Joe had always been one who easily showed physical affection, but it usually displayed itself in rough housing with his brother, and kisses (on the cheek ;) with girls. Hugs were almost a foreign concept for Joe. However, as he leaned over Nancy and hugged her gently, he felt warm and content and wondered why he didn't hug more often. She was so soft and warm, smelling of her strawberry shampoo and vanilla perfume, and the feeling of affection and protectiveness swelled in his chest. His brother really was stupid if he couldn't see how great Nancy was. As the thought flitted through his mind, Joe suddenly realized with embarrassment he had been hugging Nancy for quite sometime. Awkwardly, Joe quickly let go of Nancy, sheepishly smiled.
"Sorry, you just, um, looked like you needed a hug."
Nancy, having recovered from her initial surprise, merely smiled, gazed down at her hands, replying so softly Joe almost didn't hear her.
"Thanks Joe. I did."
Smiling broadly, Joe strode out of the library and returned to his bedroom. Lying down contentedly in his bed, Joe thought over his conversation with Nancy. Apologizing had been a great idea, he decided, and their conversation lit a little night light in him that sat glowing next to his heart.
End Flashback
Returning to the present, Joe smiled at his reminisces of that night, almost a year ago. It was then that Joe was convinced that Nancy's heart lay at Frank Hardy's feet. Joe had felt sorry for Nancy, as Frank was still together with Callie at the time, although admittedly, their relationship was strained. Therefore, he had spent as much time possible with Nancy, to keep her from feeling left out when they hung out with Frank and Callie. They'd had fun, but Nancy always got that wistful look on her face when she saw Frank and Callie together when she and Joe were together. When Frank and Callie's break up finally occurred, Joe began to point Frank in Nancy's direction, telling Frank to get the hint: Nancy was totally into him! Frank had at first, scoffed at the idea, saying that Joe was the one who needed to get a clue. Completely puzzled by this remark, Joe continued to pressure Frank, pointing out Nancy's amazing attributes. Finally, one day Frank had had enough.
He and Joe had been watching a movie, and halfway through it Joe brought up Nancy again. Frank was still depressed over Callie and his break-up, and Joe's urging had become too much. As Joe yet again began blabbering on and on about how Frank and Nancy belonged together Frank snapped.
"If you like her so much, why don't you date her?" Frank exploded.
For once, Joe was speechless. Then, flustered, he began sputtering and blustering loudly. Smiling slyly, with growing enthusiasim Frank continued,
"You can't say you don't think she's a perfect girl, because that's all you've been saying to me this whole week. So, how 'bout it? You always hang out with her, more than I ever have. Why don't you stop pushing her on me, and start dating her yourself?"
Finally finding his composure, Joe quickly explained.
"Yes, she's a great kid, but you and her fit. She and I are complete opposites. Besides, I don't like her. We're just like brother and sister."
Rolling his eyes, Frank sighed,
"Sure yeah, keep telling yourself that."
Annoyed now, Joe finally burst out,
"I am not into her at all! Never have been, never will be. Besides, she's into you!"
Frank looked doubtful at this, and started to say something, but then abruptly shut his mouth. A strange light came into his eyes, and turning to Joe, he replied,
"Well we'll see."
Satisfied, Joe turned back to the movie, ignoring the strange roll his stomach made.
That had been about a week ago, and it appeared Frank finally decided to do something about what Joe had told him. Which was exactly what Joe had wanted. Did want. Whatever. Growling in frustration at his confused thoughts and pushing the memories from his mind, Joe unlocked the door to the Hardy house and strode inside to prepare for the banquet, trying to ignore the strange heaves his stomach had begun to make.