Ok, so this was mainly a filler chapter, a lot shorter than my last one, and I'm not terribly satisfied with it. However, school is pressing so I don't have as much time as I usually do and I decided to go ahead a post this chapter. I hope you all will enjoy this anyway :) Thanks so much to all my wonderful reviewers! I must say, I was quite happy by the amount I received :)

Lady Emily: Yes, finally the detective has seen his true feelings! I figured it was time for Joe to come to terms with his feelings by now :) Hah, well don't worry, Frank and Nancy's conversation will come to light eventually. Glad to hear you're still reading this fic! Hope you enjoy the update, and thanks so much for the review. I always love readin' them.

Chefz: Wow, thanks so much for your compliments! I'm glad you're reading this story, despite liking the more classic Frank/Nancy :) I hope you continue to enjoy this fic. Keep up the reviews :D

Chromde: Hey, glad to see you're still a'reading this story :) Heh, so you think Frank's setting up Joe and Nancy, eh? Well you'll just have to see! Thanks for the review, and for giving me your thoughts on the story!

Elya: Heh, yeah poor Joe was kinda clueless for a while, eh? But the epiphany had to come eventually :) Thanks for another review! Hope this update doesn't disappoint.

Anonymous: First let me just say that I love the name..very original ;) Lol, jk. Thanks for the encouraging review! I'm glad you like it. So you're a Joe/Nancy shipper, eh? Well, hope you continue to like this fic, and yes, I am planning on continuing this fic 'til the bitter end :)

KennaC: Hey, thanks for the review! I'm glad you're liking this story so far. Yeah, Frank and Nancy are pretty similar. But they can work, I believe. Then again, so can Joe and Nan. So I hope you keep reading this fic, and reviewing!

Ok, here's the update! Enjoy, or at least, read! :)

"In 1999, Bill Watts sold the property to Blunt..."

Blunt, who's Blunt again? Blue eyes blinking furiously, Joe Hardy struggled with deliberate intensity to steady his focus of the page lying in front of him. In classic Sunday tradition, the Hardy boys were checking up on future case possibilities, responding to their weekly numerous calls and emails. Frank was out, checking up on a case in a nearby town and would be away all day. So Joe was left alone to the stack of files awaiting the detective's perusal.

Coffee mug in one hand, and case file in the other, Joe sat on the sofa in the living room, reviewing a case he had selected from the large pile their father suggested they check on. The bright morning sun played across the pages in his hand, and the lingering smell of Frank's waffles hung in the air. A bright, red Cardinal chirped merrily as it perched on the birdfeeder hanging by the living room window, and Joe could here the faint puttering of an old Harley rolling past the house. Despite the morning rush to church by the numerous families residing there, Bayport city was still fairly quiet at this hour and a lazy calm stretched across the city like a warm blanket. It was one of the things Joe had always loved about this small hometown of his. It was so unlike the city bustle in the other places they worked, where mornings were heralded by the sounds of noisy honks and wailing sirens.

Today however, the peaceful atmosphere served only to unsettle Joe as he leaned back and stretched in his seat. Groaning, Joe blurrily rubbed his eyes, and heaved himself off the coach, grabbing up his coffee mug for a refill. Hopefully that would help him wake up. As he fixed his cup, Joe glanced up at their kitchen clock. 11:40 a.m. Guiltily, Joe hurriedly strode back to the case files he was supposed to be looking over. The large stack Frank had left with him was sadly un-depleted, whereas the pile of those Joe had gone through was nearly non-existent. Great. He had started working at 9:00 a.m. Well, hey, Joe thought defensively, at least I'm half-way done with this file. Then I'll have gone through…he glanced again down at the scattered "gone through" pile. Um...five…I hope…Joe gulped. Frank would not be happy if he came back this afternoon to find Joe hadn't finished looking through those case files. With renewed energy, Joe leaned forward on the couch and bent over the open pages strewn across gleaming surface of their mahogany coffee table. Head resting in the palms of his hands, elbows against his knees, Joe frowned as he scanned pages.

"Okay, let's see here. Where was I? Ah yes, Blunt buying farm from…what was his name?" Quickly flipping back the pages, Joe trailed down the page with his finger, muttering out loud in that habit that always intensely annoyed Frank.

"Aha! Blunt bought the property from Bill Watts! Now we're headed somewhere," Joe grinned, talking out loud as he took a triumphant gulp of his coffee.

"Now if only I could remember who Blunt was, and why this property was important…" Joe frowned. "…and pretty much everything I just read went one ear and out the other…or would that be one eye and out the other?" Joe shook his head in disgust, and threw down the type-written pages with an impatient toss, watching them slid off the table and onto the floor with annoyance. Aww, who am I kidding? I don't remember half of what I've read. Joe thought dismally, as he listlessly ruffled through the files in front of him. He'd been like this the whole morning. Tired, easily distracted, lazy, take your pick. And as much as he tried to ignore the question of why, the answer was definitely blaring continually through his head like a fog horn who's button was jammed.

"Nancy."

Joe half-smiled, half groaned as thoughts of sparkling blue eyes and gleaming blonde hair came once again to his mind. As if she had ever left his mind since last night, Joe couldn't help adding internally. Ever since his realization Nancy was all Joe could think about. Although, all she's probably thinking about is Frank. The thought was cold water on the cheerful spark that had been lit by his memories of Nancy. Frank. Joe's grip on his coffee mug tightened painfully.

Frank had been annoyingly chipper this morning—well, even more so than usual. After tossing and turning half the night, Joe had been rudely awakened by the clattering sound of bowls and pans at the horribly early hour of 8:30 a.m. Tumbling downstairs, hair rumbled, eyes foggy, Joe had walked into the kitchen and found Frank whistling merrily and finishing up a large stack of pancakes drenched in maple syrup. Making pancakes was a habit Frank had when he was feeling especially good, and judging by the two large plates full of steaming cakes, and the sizzling sound of bacon frying on the stove top, Frank was full of it this morning. To Joe's relief, Frank had cheerfully announced that he was heading out to work on some case and he was leaving the rest of the pancakes and bacon for Joe, who nodded enthusiastically. Not a morning person anyway, Joe knew that this morning he wouldn't have been able to listen to Frank chirping perkily for long. His brother was waaaay too happy today.

"And of course, we know what made him so happy." Joe mumbled, as he stretched out across the couch, temporarily pausing his feeble attempts to read the files. The memory of Frank and Nancy, heads bent in intense conversation, eyes sparkling with emotion, rose in Joe's mind once again with frustrating clarity despite Joe's attempts to squelch the memory. Heaving a huge sigh, the young detective rolled over onto his stomach, grabbing a sofa pillow and placing it underneath his chest. What's that they say, peeping Tom's never see anything good? Nah, that's not it… but it applies quite well here, and if it's not it should be. Joe shook his head. Why'd Frank have to ask Nancy out in the first place?Joe's thoughts made the full circle back to the girl detective, who happened, unfortunately, to be his brother's current love interest.

Letting out a sigh, Joe closed his eyes, ignoring the case files he was supposed to review. He couldn't focus on work, so he might as well go ahead and sort through the whirling thoughts triggered by last night's revelation. Maybe once he had organized his still confused thoughts and feelings, he could finally settle down and get some work done, Joe reasoned. Inwardly, he knew he was only trying to justify his actions to Frank's voice in his head, reminding him the importance of the case reviews. Frank's parting words as he left rang in Joe's head again. "Remember Joe, since I'll be out 'til about 6:00 p.m., you'll need to look through all the cases by yourself."

But I can't think about work, when all I can think about is your girlfriend! Joe growled, then gave his head a savage shake. Who cares about Frank anyway? This is whole thing is his fault! If he hadn't asked Nancy out… A prick of his conscious caused Joe to hesitate in his blame game. Ok, ok, so maybe it wasn't Frank's fault. Joe mused, then sighed. It didn't really matter though. Even if Frank hadn't realized the good thing in front of him and Joe had, Nancy's heart had always lain at the older Hardy's feet. And besides, Joe hadn't shown any sign of interest in Nancy until Frank had made his move on the girl detective. Who knows? Maybe Frank asking Nan out was the shove I needed to get me to see how I really felt? The phrase sounded vaguely familiar, and Joe puzzled over that for a moment. Oh yeah, that's what Frank said he needed after he told me about asking Nancy out to the Banquet.

As thoughts of that disturbing night came to mind, Joe hastily pushing the depressing thoughts aside. Right now he didn't need any more Frank/Nancy memories running through his head. What he needed to do was to sort out his feelings for Nancy. A frown creased Joe's forehead as he fixed him mind on the task before him.

How had the feelings started? And how could he have been so blind to his own heart? Hotshot detective can't figure out his own feelings. Joe couldn't help thinking wryly, as he put his hands behind his head, and stretched his jean-clad legs over the soft leather armrest of the plush couch. When he had first met Nancy he had been attracted to her, that much Joe had always readily admitted to. After all, it was hard to forget his rather bold flirtatious remarks to the girl detective at their first meeting, and Joe's subsequent snubbing. However, after Nancy's abrupt snub in the bud of his advances, Joe had immediately backed off on the romantic front. The result of this had been a lively friendship instead of a romantic relationship, and Joe had assumed whatever budding feelings for the young detective had ceased along with his notions of romance with Nancy.

However, Joe thought suddenly with a frown, he must've just pushed back the attraction for Nancy to the far recesses of his mind. So far away, in fact, that it had taken Nancy becoming his brother's girlfriend to shake the dust off his feelings and pull them off of the shelf. Joe punched irritably at the cushion resting in his lap. You are a dumb, idiotic blonde, he growled inwardly, with self-directed irritation. Ah well, there wasn't much he could do about that.

His thoughts continued to flow, and Joe caught at one, any one. He never liked to dwell long on past mistakes…especially when he was the one who made them. The next question was this: he had been attracted to plenty of girls before, without his attraction ever reaching the threshold of love. When had he actually fallen, completely, for Nancy? Joe pondered, as he heaved himself off the blue leather of the couch, and began collecting the files scattered around the room.

As he thought back on the memories he had of the young girl detective, a slight smile came to Joe's lips. Stacking the files and placing them back on the shelves of the bookcases lining the living room, Joe reminisced over his conversations with Nancy.

Their first "non-date date." The time he had found out that Nancy didn't know how to bowl properly, and spent the whole weekend teaching her. During the Clifford case, how he had gotten a horrible flue/cold and how Nancy had played his personal nurse, spending the whole night beside his bed during his bout of dangerously high fevers. The night the two detectives stayed home and made home-made pizza together at Joe's suggestion to save money. The attempt ended in a flour fight, pizza sauce drenching their clothes, and Joe ordering take out from Mr. Pizza.

Even as he smiled softly at the memories, try as he might, Joe couldn't seem to pin-point the exact moment he had fallen, and that bothered him. He had always known the exact moment he had fallen for the one other love of his life. Why not with Nancy? Suddenly, Nancy's voice trailed through his mind. "I cannot fix on the hour, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun."

Flashback

It was in early February, and the three detectives had left the comfort of Bayport city and traveled to the large city of New York City to stay and solve a case. They were staying in a mysterious old mansion, which was, in Joe's words, terribly clichéd, but nonetheless, very amusing. One day, Joe, being tired of poking at the old paneled walls of the mansion, went searching for Nancy, and finally came upon her intently poring over a book in the massive library of the mansion. The deep frown of concentration on Nancy's face as she read amused Joe greatly, and he noted with similar amusement her teeth nibbling away at her thumbnail. It had been a long time since he had seen the girl detective so involved in something besides the case, so Joe couldn't help the small, pleased smile that slid across his face. It was good to see Nan relaxing, he decided. Then a wicked gleam came to mind, and a mischievous grin replaced the fond smile. It wasn't often he could catch Nancy unaware, and he couldn't resist this opportunity to tease her. Clearing his throat loudly, Joe announced his presence and barely managed to choke back a shout of laughter as he watched Nancy guiltily jump up from her lounging position on the large, winged chair she was seated in.

"Finding some valuable information?" Joe asked casually, hands in his dress pants pockets, smirking slightly, as he sauntered over to the red-faced girl in front of him.

"Oh-uh, yeah, um, nothing much. Gotta, you know, keep looking." Nancy stuttered slightly, while quickly standing up. Her blonde hair flew around her in her haste, and Nancy ran an anxious hand down her wrinkled shirt, as she attempted to look dignified despite her rumbled state.

"Ah-ah-ah, not so fast!" Joe quickly snatched the book from Nancy's hand as she tried to surreptitiously replace on the massive book shelf behind her. Startled, Nancy released it with a yelp, and tried unsuccessfully to snatch it back from Joe's capable hands. However, Joe used his height to his advantage and squinted at the title as he held it high above Nancy's groping hands.

"Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen. Oh yes, sounds like a very helpful book for research on our case." Joe pronounced solemnly, turning his serious gaze on the furiously blushing Nancy.

"Give me that!" Nancy grabbed the novel from Joe's hands, and hugged it protectively to her chest, glaring at Joe. Unable to hold it back any long, Joe laughed at the defensive look in Nancy's eyes, and he grinned down at the young lady, white teeth flashing.

"Now what could possibly be in that book that has you forgetting our investigation?" Joe asked, smirking still, but genuinely curious. Nancy sighed.

"Well, it's a classic novel of wit, romance, and discovering true love, written by one of the most critically acclaimed authors of all time." Nancy answered primly, with a definite tilt of her chin.

"Ah-huh." Joe looked unconvinced, and apparently Nancy took this as a challenge.

"Just listen to this, Joe, and see if you aren't impressed!" Nancy quickly flipped through the pages, while Joe groaned in mock agony.

"Please, not-not chick fluff! Give me some Tom Clancy any day!"

"Jane Austen is classic. Every guy who wants to really impress a girl has to read Pride and Prejudice. She is the ultimate source of the essence of good romance." Nancy retorted, head bent over the book as she searched through the yellowed pages. Joe chuckled, and shook his head in disbelief. Girls, they were all the same, die-hards for romance.

"Ah-ha! Here it is. 'I cannot fix on the hour, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun'. Isn't that just…just beautiful? She describes it perfectly." Nancy quoted, dreamily staring off into the distance while Joe smiled at her worshipful expression. He hadn't known his friend was such a romantic at heart.

"Uh…yeah sure. Now what is she talking about?" Joe asked, scratching his head in exaggerated puzzlement, partly in real confusion and partly to see what Nancy's reaction would be. Nancy jerked out of her dream world and laid wide eyes on Joe.

"Isn't it obvious? She's talking about when she fell in love!"

Joe nodded his head thoughtfully, deciding to humor the girl detective, as he rocked back and forth on his heels in the plush, red carpet below his socked feet.

"Oh I see, so what she's saying is…she doesn't know when she fell in love because happened so gradually?"

"Exactly!" Nancy beamed at Joe. "There's hope for you yet, Joe Hardy" The two detectives shared a smile for a moment, Joe's intense blue eyes twinkling into Nancy's own pair of soft blues, before Joe gave another smirk and broke the moment.

"And I suppose that's how you feel too, eh?" Joe asked, motioning to the book.

Nancy's eyes widened for a moment, a stunned expression on her face.

"What??"

Joe frowned, motioning again to the book.

"You know, how Jane Austen describes love. That's what you feel, right?"

"Oh-oh, right, sorry, I was confused for a second." Nancy's surprised expression faded, and she nodded.

"Hmm, someone's still got her head in the book. So I will leave you to your…ahem…research."

Shaking his head in pretend exasperation, Joe prepared to walk out of the room, leaving Nancy to her book once again. However, as he began to shut the heavy, oak door behind him, Joe turned around to face Nancy, who was back on her chair, book in hand, woolen shawl wrapped around her shoulders.

"Hey Nan? You never answered the question." Joe said, amusement coloring his voice as he poked his head back into the library.

"Hmm?" Nancy looked confused, then comprehension dawned, and she blushed—quite prettily, as Joe recalled in the present.

"Yes, yes, that is how I feel, Joe." Nancy said quietly, a small wistful smile playing across her lips.

End Flashback

Joe ruefully shook his head. Little did he know that day, so long ago, that one day he'd know exactly what Jane Austen was talking about. That phrase described what Joe felt down to a T. He didn't know the exact moment he had fallen for Nancy. By the time he had realized it, he was already head over heels for the girl.

Now the question is, how come I was so blind for so long? Joe thought, as he sipped up the last dregs of his cappuccino, and got up from his uncomfortable slouched position on the carpet. He had never been shy of admitting he liked a girl before, and his emotions weren't exactly kept hidden, as his friends could testify to. Although, he realized that others, like Biff, Chet, and probably Amy, had seen his true feelings, he couldn't help wondering why it was so hard for himself to figure out his feelings himself.

Thinking on the strange phenomena, Joe strode into the kitchen and grabbed a jar of peanut butter from the cupboard built into their kitchen wall. Swinging open the refrigerator door, Joe rummaged in the chilled shelves for a jar of pickles and a bag of sour cream and cheddar cheese Ruffles. Quickly grabbing a paring knife from a drawer, Joe sliced the sour dill pickle, and selected a few slices of his famous, "Joe Hardy" walnut bread from the yellow bread basket on the counter. Slathering thick swabs of peanut butter, Joe laid on the slices of pickles and a layer of Swiss cheese, before topping his sandwich with another piece of bread. To complete his lunch, Joe grabbed the left-over bag of Ruffles and a glass of skim milk.

As he sat, munching on his—in Frank's words—totally disgusting sandwich, Joe went back to his former ponderings. Swiping a couple of chips from the bag beside him, Joe wolfed down a couple, as he turned thoughts rapidly over in his mind, mulling over the possible reasons for his inability to see what Nancy truly meant to him. Was it because he couldn't imagine really loving someone after Iola? Joe pondered, as he gulped down his milk and crammed the last of his sandwich into his mouth. A frown creased his brow, and Joe shook his head impatiently. No, no. Like he had told Nancy, he knew Iola wasn't the only girl out there for him. And it wasn't the fear of losing Nancy in the same way he lost Iola that kept him from realizing the truth either, Joe decided. After all, Nancy would always be in the midst of trouble, with or without Joe Hardy in her life, Joe thought wryly, an unconscious grin slipping its way onto his lips. Heaving a sigh, Joe picked up his plate and pushed it into the dishwasher, and put away his lunch. Still feeling vaguely dissatisfied, Joe reached into the refrigerator and grabbed a cold can of Dr. Pepper, popping the tab and taking a gulp. Thoughtfully, he looked down at the maroon can in his hands, remembering how Nancy had told him that she noticed he always drank that whenever he was confused, and/or stressed about something. Teasingly, she had stated that "Dr. Pepper is your 'comfort food'. Even Mr. Brawn has a weak spot." Thinking back on it now, Joe smiled ruefully. Nancy had been right, as usual. She really was the best friend he'd ever had.

Suddenly, the light bulb flicked on in Joe's mind. Of course, that was it! She was the best friend he had ever had, as far as girls went. It all made sense now. Joe paced the kitchen floor, his thoughts falling into place like puzzle pieces.

His unawareness of his feelings for Nancy had been because of the close friendship he had shared with her! Unconsciously, he had placed Nancy into the "friend's only" box, and stopped seeing her in any other light. The reason for this was probably because all of Joe's previous relationships started immediately in a romantic light, and he had never actually been simply friends first with a girl he dated. Therefore, when Nancy came along and they became friends, Joe subconsciously refused to think of her in any sort of romantic sense, the thought of dating a friend was a foreign concept. In other words, his blinders had been blinders of friendship. Had he really been unaware of his feelings, or had he known inwardly, and just been in denial? Joe nodded to himself. Later, unconsciously not wanting to lose their close friendship, Joe had vehemently denied his feelings, until the recent events with Frank had sparked them to action. Joe smiled triumphantly, pumping a fist in the air. Mystery solved! Then, reality hit home and Joe groaned and set his soda down on the counter with a thud. He was still totally screwed. Knowing why he had refused to accept his feelings for Nancy didn't change a thing. Frank and Nancy were still happy together—belonged together, Joe thought bitterly. Nothing could change that. Now, the only one question remained. What would he do now? No, no, he already knew the answer to that question. There was nothing he could do. It was too late for him; the ship had sailed off with only room for Frank and Nancy on board.

Joe sighed—a recent habit he seemed to be forming—and headed out for the front door, slipping on his jean jacket and grabbing his car keys from the hook by the front door. He needed to get out and think. Maybe he would go and talk to Biff and Chet, meet them at Murphy's or something. He could use a Dr. Pepper float right about now. And maybe his friends would have some advice. Heaven's knows he needed talk to someone about his feelings. Normally he wouldn't gone straight to Nancy or Frank, but obviously both were out of the question in this situation, Joe thought dryly, as he strode out into the crisp, cool air. Time to go give some old friends a visit—and a surprising announcement.

ok, so how was that? Loved it, hated it? Suggestions? I am open to all :) Remember, reviews motivate :D