Thanks for returning to read my story! Here's the next chapter!

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Cairo hadn't seemed to change a lot since Nancy had last been there. It still held an atmosphere of mystique. There was a mixture of modern with ancient. Large hotels lined the Nile River while age-old bazaars lined alleys and streets. Merchants called out to passing tourists holding up jewelry, dates and figs and even pottery.

Nancy stood outside of her hotel room on the balcony looking out over the ancient city. She was glad to be out of the airport and to have a moment of alone time. Ever since their little "chat" by the elevators, Frank had been a little stand-offish. Joe was as outgoing and charming as always but the older Hardy seemed bothered. Nancy couldn't decide if she had said something wrong or if his personality had just changed that much.

At the knock on her door, Nancy walked back into the room. She, Eddie, Cody and the Hardys were meeting up to finalize their plans on the raid of the warehouse. Their teams were already briefed and ready to go.

Nancy found it strange that Saffron had allowed them to close in around him but then again, their teams were very good at not being noticed until the bad guys were already caught.

Nancy opened the door and was surprised to find only Joe standing in the hallway. She automatically looked up and down the hall, expecting to see Frank but he was nowhere in sight.

"What's the matter Drew? Not happy to see me?" Joe asked, cracking a grin. Nancy blushed.

"Of course I am Joe. Come on in. Where's Frank?" Nancy asked, moving aside so Joe could enter the room. He looked around and noticed her room was exactly like his and Frank's. There were two twin beds with authentic-looking Egyptian décor, a dresser with a mirror and a circular table in the corner. The restroom was to the left just inside the door. Two double doors opened to the balcony and there was a connecting door to the next room. Cody and Eddie were in that room.

"Frank said he had to run an errand as soon as we got up to the room. He said he'd meet me here," Joe said, sitting on the edge of one of the beds. Nancy headed towards the table that had all her folders and sat in the chair.

"Hey Joe, remember how I told you Frank and I kissed last time we were here?" Nancy said, managing to keep her voice light and carefree even though she was nervous inside. Joe just nodded. "Would you mind keeping that just between us? I don't want it to seem like I've been pining away for your brother for years."

"Have you?"

Nancy just smiled and threw a pen playfully at Joe.

"Joe, I'm serious. Don't say anything about it."

"Okay," Joe said, picking up the pen from where it had landed on the floor. "Are you going to start dating Frank after this mission?"

Nancy's mouth dropped open and Joe laughed.

"I like to be in the know," Joe said. Nancy just shook her head and stood up. She walked over to the connecting door and knocked. A grumble came from the other side and the lock clicked to allow the door to open. The room was dark and Nancy poked her head in.

"Come on fellas, time to chitchat."

"F..ve ….ore….in..utes." Came a slurred voice from one of the beds. At that moment Cody stepped out of the bathroom with a toothbrush in his mouth. His hair was all disheveled and he was shirtless. He took the toothbrush out of his mouth.

"The newbie over there is jet-lagged. I told him to make sure he slept on the flight over but did he listen? We'll be over in a few minutes," Cody said, replacing the toothbrush and disappearing into the bathroom.

"Alright, I'll leave the door unlocked," Nancy said and flicked on the light as she went back into her room, smiling as she heard Eddie curse at the bright light.

When she turned back to Joe, she noticed a thoughtful look on his face.

"What's up Joe?"

He glanced up at her then at the open door. Nancy took the hint and shut it before sitting next to him on the bed.

"Something about that Eddie guy bugs me." Joe started. Nancy laughed.

"Eddie bugs a lot of people. I'm surprised he's even here. Usually he annoys the hell out of Cody."

"Cody's a whole different can-of-worms I don't want to get into at the moment but about Eddie. He seems honest on the outside but there's something dark about him. I'm getting the feeling he's dangerous."

"Eddie Kirkpatrick? Dangerous? I highly doubt Eddie is dangerous. His father was amazing at his job, bringing down all types of terrorist military intelligence groups but Eddie missed out on the successful gene. I think he's in the DIA because Daddy wanted him to follow in his footsteps," Nancy said, looking at the connecting door.

"I still think we should be careful around him," Joe muttered.

"Look Joe, he's DIA. I'm sure he's fine. Cody is a good judge of character. I mean, I'm his partner right? Who's better at what they do than me?" Nancy said, nudging Joe, trying to get him to lighten up.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. We all know you're the Amazing Drew," Joe said, cracking a smile. Before Nancy could reply there was another knock on her door. She got up and peered through the hole. Frank was standing on the other side. Nancy's pulse jumped but she was calm when she opened the door.

"Hi Frank. Thanks for deciding to join us. Joe was about to go pummel Eddie," Nancy said, smiling.

Frank raised an eyebrow and looked past her at his brother. Joe held up his hands in innocence.

"I was going to do nothing of the sort!" He protested. Nancy stuck her tongue out at him and he rolled his eyes. "Yeah, mature Drew."

"As much as I hate to break up this little pow-wow, I need to talk to Nancy," Frank said, "Alone."

"Where am I supposed to go? The next room? There are already enough guys in there, I think I'm fine right here." Joe said, crossing his arms and remaining on the bed. Frank was about to say something else when Nancy put a hand on his arm.

"We can talk out on the balcony," She said, leading him outside. Frank looked over at Joe, who winked back. Frank rolled his eyes.

He followed Nancy out onto the balcony and closed the door behind him. He knew Joe would try to eavesdrop. Nancy was facing away from him, looking out over the city.

She's so beautiful. So strong. Be careful, Hardy. Frank thought to himself. He took a deep breath and walked up to her.

"Hey Nan." He said, leaning against railing. Nancy looked over at him and smiled. He felt himself melt a little inside. She'd always had that affect on him.

"Hi Frank."

"Tomorrow night is the big showdown. I wish you'd reconsider going in with us into the warehouse." Frank said, watching her closely. Nancy sighed and turned back to the view.

"I have to go Frank. I have to be there when we take him down," She said, her grip tightening on the railing.

"I know," Frank said. Just go for it Hardy. "I have a question for you." Nancy turned back and looked at him with interest.

"Sure, go ahead."

"How's Ned?"

Nancy's hand slipped on the railing and she stumbled to catch herself.

Definitely not the question I was expecting! Nancy thought as she stood up straight again. She could feel her cheeks burning as she looked at Frank again. He hadn't moved. He was still leaning against the railing, his hands clasped together and he looked relaxed.

"Last time I heard, Ned was married to a girl from Emerson and they're raising two little girls. That was before I moved to DC. We haven't seen much of each other except if we run into each other in River Heights, which is not often at all."

Frank felt his heart kick its beat up a step. Could it be this easy?

"How's Callie?"

It was Frank's turn to be surprised but then he smiled. Nancy was quick.

"Callie is dating a guy she met while at school in California," He said. Nancy's eyes widened, even though Joe had already told her Frank was single. It was weird to hear Frank say it out loud. Frank shrugged. "It was for the best – she didn't understand why I willingly put myself in danger every day and she couldn't handle not knowing where I was. So our relationship ended."

"It's not every day," Nancy said quietly, thinking about how close Frank and Callie's conversation sounded just like her and Ned's conversation all those years ago. Frank looked at her closely.

"Ned said the same thing, didn't he?" He asked slowly. Nancy sighed and nodded.

"Almost those exact words. Then the ultimatum – him or my career."

Frank's mouth dropped open. He and Ned had always been wary of each other whenever they'd been near each other but he never imagined Ned would do that to Nancy.

"That was wrong of him. I'm sorry Nancy," Frank said, taking her hand.

"Like you said – it was for the best. Besides, that was a long time ago," Nancy smiled reassuringly. She blushed again when she realized Frank was still holding her hand. He squeezed it then let go.

"I have something for you," Frank said, stepping back and picking up the bag he had dropped right outside the door. He picked it up and handed it to Nancy. She looked at him questioningly but he just smiled.

Nancy opened the bag and gasped in delight. She pulled out a little Cleopatra doll. It was an exact replica of the doll Frank had bought her when they were on the case in Cairo as teenagers. The last one had been decapitated as a threat.

"Oh, Frank…" Nancy said, running her hand over the doll's features.

"Since the last one was…destroyed…I felt it was right to replace her now that we are back in Egypt again," Frank said. He put his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him. "Nancy, there have been only two times that I have been scared out of my mind. The first was lying in that cold tomb at Luxor with my hands and ankles tied, thinking I would never see you again or tell you how I really felt. The second was hearing Joe say you were on that yacht, seeing you unconscious in the water and then pacing in the hospital waiting for you to wake up."

"Frank, you got me out of that coffin and you revived me on the dingy in the ocean. I have you to thank for saving my life over and over." Nancy said, placing a hand on his cheek. Frank leaned into her touch and sighed.

"I let you walk away once because I didn't want to hurt Callie." Frank said, pulling back a little ways to look down into her shining blue eyes. "Nancy, Callie and Ned can't be used as an excuse anymore."

Nancy's heart was pounding. She couldn't believe it. She was standing on another balcony alone with Frank in Egypt. All she wanted was for him to tell her he wanted her and to kiss her.

"Nancy, what I'm trying to say is…I want to be with you. I want to be the one you call at any hour of the day. I can't tell you I'll always be there because I won't be, but I want you to know I'd be coming home to you. I want to know you'll be waiting to hear from me as well. Our jobs are dangerous and take us far away but I'm willing to try if you are."

Nancy smiled as she watched him. His dark eyes were wide and clear and so very deep. She knew if she looked long enough, she'd lose herself in them.

"Frank, I also can't promise I'll always be there but I can promise to try. You mean a lot to me too, you always have. You've always understood me so well and what I did and why I did it. Ned never could. Just like I'm sure Callie never could. I've missed you," Nancy said throwing her arms around his neck.

"Is that a yes?" Frank asked, holding her tightly to him. Nancy smiled.

"You never asked me a question, Hardy."

"Nancy, would you be the girlfriend of a guy who is willing to do anything to protect his country and family. A guy who never thinks twice about going all out to get the bad guy. A guy who has an annoying little brother who follows him everywhere?"

Nancy laughed when they heard a muffled "hey!" from inside the hotel room.

"I thought you'd never ask."

Frank grinned and lifted Nancy off her feet to swirl her around in a circle. He set her down and cupped her face in his hands. Their heart beats were racing as Frank leaned closer and tenderly placed his lips on Nancy's.

Nancy felt like she was going to burst with happiness. Warmth flooded her body as Frank held her close. His lips were soft and warm and she pulled him closer.

Finally.

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F/N fluff I know but I'm a shameless F/N fan. Hope you enjoyed it!