A/N: Happy new year, everyone! I apologize for the delay in writing this chapter -- as joyful as the holidays were, they also included a long separation from my computer and many busy days spent with my family. But life is back to normal now, thankfully. And speaking of thanks -- much, much thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter, and to my wonderful beta, msnancydrew. Happy reading!

Disclaimer: Well, I put these amazing characters on my Christmas wish list, but Santa must have misplaced my list. So, they still belong to the people and publishing company who own them. Oh well, there's always next year!

----------------------------

Nancy stared at the clock on the nightstand desolately. It was 2:30 in the morning, and she was no closer to falling asleep than she had been when she crawled into bed nearly an hour ago. Although her conversation with Laura had helped, the events of the day were still running around in circles in her head. It was hard to believe that she had begun the day worrying about being late to class. Now, she had so much more to worry about.

Sighing, she slipped the covers off and got up. Maybe a glass of milk might help, she thought. Walking quietly, not wanting to wake anyone up, she made her way down the stairs. Moonlight filtering through the windows illuminated her path as she headed towards the kitchen. Once inside, she flipped on the lights. And screamed.

Nancy attempted to stifle the scream, instead gasping, "Frank! You scared me half to death!"

"Likewise, Nan." Although he had managed to remain outwardly calm, his heart was racing. They stared at each other in silence, shock slowly turning into awkwardness. Finally, Frank sighed and ran his hand through his brown hair, sending it into further disarray.

"Look, Nan…"

"Frank, I…"

They both stopped and looked at each other. Frank gestured for her to go ahead. Nancy struggled to find words for a moment, then shrugged helplessly.

"I couldn't sleep."

Frank laughed, though there was no humor in the sound. "Join the club." Dark circles had formed under his eyes, and his hair was tousled from repeatedly running his hands through it. He was sitting on a barstool at the kitchen island, and his broad shoulders were slumped forward with exhaustion. An urge to comfort, to soothe, surged in Nancy. Fighting it back, she walked to a cabinet instead and reached for a glass. She kept her back to Frank as she spoke.

"I thought milk might help me sleep. Do you want some?"

"Nancy, I'm sorry."

She spun around, milk forgotten, at the abrupt change in conversation. For a moment, she was tempted to feign ignorance, to pretend she didn't know what he was talking about. Then she gave herself a mental shake. She didn't walk away from her problems, or her responsibilities. Or friendships that were important to her. She stepped forward to face Frank on the other side of the island and laid her hand atop his on the counter. She met his gaze steadily.

"I'm the one who should be apologizing, Frank."

"No, Nan. I froze you out earlier. I shouldn't have reacted the way that I did. It's none of my business…"

She cut him off. "I should have told you about Ned a long time ago." She sighed. "I just didn't know how."

"You're not obligated to keep me updated on your love life, Nancy. After all, we're only…"

The look in Nancy's eyes was eloquent as Frank paused, at a loss for words.

"There never really was a word to describe our relationship, was there, Frank," she asked softly.

Frank looked up and met her eyes.

"No, there wasn't," he replied quietly.

Nancy held her breath at the intense look in Frank's eyes. His gaze dropped to her mouth, and as if pulled forward by an invisible force, she slowly leaned towards him. As she neared, she felt his breath brush her lips lightly.

Just then, the grandfather clock in the living room chimed to announce the hour.

Frank and Nancy both pulled back, the whisper of breath on Nancy's lips now just a memory. She pressed her fingers there instead, then let out a quiet sigh.

"Why can't we ever get our timing right?"

Frank lifted her hand and pressed his lips to the fingers that had touched her mouth just seconds before.

"We will, Nan. Once this case is over and we have our fathers back safe and sound, you and I are going to talk. I'm not letting you out of my life again. Not without a fight."

"I'm not going anywhere, Frank," she said quietly.

His eyes darkened, and Nancy felt herself blush at the look that entered his eyes. Desire. It shivered along her nerve endings. "Except to bed," she finished quickly.

Frank laughed huskily. "I would call you out on that, except that we really do have to be up in three hours."

Nancy groaned playfully. "Don't remind me." She gave his hand a final squeeze. "Good night, Frank."

"Good night, Nan."

As she walked out of the kitchen, Frank called out, "Hey, Nan?"

She turned. "Yes?"

"What about your milk?"

"I don't think I'm going to have any trouble sleeping now." With a small smile, she left the kitchen and headed upstairs to bed.

----------------------------

At 6 a.m. the next morning, the three detectives stood in the living room of the Hardy home. They could hear Laura in the kitchen, tidying up the remnants of the breakfast that she had cooked for them. She had shooed them out after the meal, insisting that they get their things ready to leave while she cleaned up. In reality, she had just needed a moment to herself before she had to bid her sons goodbye. What did she say to them? Bring your father home, no matter what it takes? What if what it took was one of their lives? Or both? How could she ever face that?

Laura squared her shoulders resolutely and shook the thoughts away. Her sons and her husband would make it home safe. They always did. And she prayed they always would. She headed into the living room, just in time to see Joe yawn loudly.

"Don't worry, Joe. I'm sure you'll manage to catch up on your sleep on the plane. You always did have a knack for falling asleep anywhere."

The three detectives turned at the sound of her teasing voice, and Joe grinned at her. But he saw the worry in her eyes, and he tried to chase it away with humor.

"I'm a growing boy, Mom. I need my beauty sleep."

Everyone laughed, and Laura's face lightened. "That's why I packed you some snacks. Just be sure to share some with Frank and Nancy." She handed him the brown paper bag that she was carrying. Joe took it, then wrapped his arms around her and dropped a quick kiss on the top of her head.

"I love you, Mom."

The teasing note had left his voice, and Laura felt tears gather in her eyes. She cleared her throat and pulled away quickly. "You three should be getting on your way. You don't want to be late to the airport."

Ignoring her words for the moment, Frank stepped forward to give her a hug of his own. Wanting to see her smile again, he said, "You know better than to give Joe food and ask him to share. What were you thinking?"

She gave a watery laugh and squeezed him tightly. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Have faith in us, Mom."

"Always," she whispered back.

Tears threatened again as he stepped away. Nancy moved towards her and grasped Laura's hands tightly in hers. "We're going to bring them home, Laura."

Nancy's grip was firm and her eyes steady. Laura drew strength from her unwavering gaze, and she nodded. "I know you will." She gave another teary laugh. "Look at me. I should be the one reassuring you."

"You did. Last night. Now it's our turn."

Nancy leaned forward and kissed her cheek, then released her hands. "We should get going."

Laura nodded silently as the three detectives lifted the duffel bags that they had packed. Nancy had traded in her backpack for a borrowed bag from the Hardys that morning so that she could fit the clothes that Laura had loaned her. The four of them headed for the front door, and Laura stood in the open doorway as the detectives loaded their bags into the trunk and got in the rental car. Nancy and Joe waved as Frank reversed the car out of the driveway. Laura lifted her hand in farewell and whispered, "Please be careful."

----------------------------

Nearly four hours later, the three detectives descended the steps of the little plane onto the tarmac of River Heights' small domestic airport. The flight had been relatively smooth, and true to his mother's words, Joe had fallen asleep before take-off. Frank and Nancy had dozed intermittently, but when they were awake, they had been relatively quiet. Neither had mentioned their conversation from the night before, silently abiding to their agreement to wait to talk until after they had gotten their fathers back.

Now, the three adults made their way to the lone car agency booth at the airport. They were given a new black Ford Explorer, the sun glinting off its shiny surface in the agency's parking lot. After they had tossed their duffel bags into the back, Frank offered the keys to Nancy.

"Do you want to drive, Nan? We're in your hometown now."

She shook her head. "You go ahead. I'll navigate."

Frank gave her a questioning look, but went ahead and climbed into the driver's seat while Joe got in the back. After a moment, Nancy climbed into the passenger's seat. She didn't mind driving, enjoyed it, in fact. But her palms had become sweaty as she had begun to focus on their destination.

Frank followed the signs to exit the airport, and with Nancy's instruction, turned onto the appropriate highway. Silence followed in the vehicle for several minutes afterwards as he navigated the winding road. Even Joe was unusually quiet. Sparing a second to glance over at Nancy, Frank saw that her jaw was taut and her hands were clenched tightly in her lap. He took his right hand off the steering wheel to wrap it around one of hers. He didn't say anything, and after a moment, Nancy unclenched her fist to entwine her fingers with his.

----------------------------

Twenty-five minutes later, they arrived at River Heights' old cemetery. A newer one had been created on the other side of town, a necessary addition as the town's population had grown. But Nancy's mother had been buried here, with the earlier generations of her family. Nancy stood now next to their car, gazing through the ornate gateway at the expanse of green and the rows of tombstones beyond. Frank and Joe came up silently next to her.

"It's been a while since I've been here. Amazing how the world can change, but cemeteries always seem to stay the same."

Joe squeezed her arm in silent support while Frank moved in front of her to gently cup her chin in his hand.

"Ready to go in?" he asked quietly.

She met his eyes, and the unspoken fear that she had been fighting back since the day before surfaced.

"Frank, what if…what if they've desecrated her grave in any way? I don't know if I could handle that."

He gave her a sympathetic look, but his voice was firm. "You won't know that until you go in, Nan."

She sighed, then straightened her shoulders. "You're right. Let's go."

She led the way through the gate, Frank and Joe trailing a few steps behind. She made her way through the gravesites, finally coming to a stop next to a gray granite headstone that simply read,

Elizabeth Lily Drew

1955-1989

Beloved Wife and Mother

May She Rest in Peace

Frank breathed a quiet sigh of relief as he saw that Nancy's fears were not realized. The gravesite was intact, the vibrant flowers surrounding it untouched. Over the grave itself lay a single blood-red rose. Frank frowned as Nancy bent to pick it up, noticing for the first time the slip of white paper wrapped around its stem. Joe saw the note at the same time and moved to step forward. Frank laid a restraining hand on his arm and whispered, "Give her a minute."

Nancy unfurled the note from the rose with fingers that trembled slightly. Her face blanched as she read the words silently, and her knees threatened to give out from under her. Frank released his hold on Joe and quickly stepped forward himself. He put a gentle hand under her elbow to support her.

"Nan, what is it? What does it say?"

She lifted her eyes from the note to meet his, silent horror darkening them. She glanced at Joe as well, then turned back to the paper in her hand to read the words aloud.

A mother taken from Nancy Drew

And now, alas, her poor father too

Brothers and sisters can bring such joys

Frank has Joe, together the Hardy boys

But who does Nancy have?

"'Frank has Joe', 'brothers and sisters'," Joe muttered. He looked at Frank and Nancy. "We would be the brothers in that equation, which leaves the sisters. But you're an only child…" His voice trailed off as realization and horror dawned simultaneously. Frank looked down at Nancy as his grip on her elbow tightened.

"Bess and George."

----------------------------

A/N: I know, a cliffhanger -- everyone loves those, right? sound of crickets chirping Ah well, at least they're fun to write. And I know I don't have to say this, because you guys are such awesome reviewers, but…please let me know what you thought of this chapter!