Disclaimer: I do not own the Hardy Boys or any of the book characters.

Thank you! To Wendylouwho10 as usual for reading for flow and content. Typos are mine and I find them all the time!

Rating/Setting: Rating is T. Started as kinda blue spine with a touch of Casefiles but is now completely AU. Frank is 20 and Joe is 19.

Author's Note: Super short chapter. Sorry for that. But the story demanded a break where it did. :) BUT if I'll post a bonus chapter when I get 10 reviews whether for this chapter or a combination of this chapter and last chapter. :) I don't usually do that kind of thing but I thought it might get a few extra reviews. LOL Whether I get 10 or not, another chapter will be out Wednesday. :-)

And while it is short, it is one of my favorite chapters. :)

Chapter Two

The next evening…

Laura Hardy laughed cheerfully as she picked up her dish and moved to the sink. "I know. Who would have thought your Aunt Gertrude would want to go zip lining? And to think she made it all the way through the course and then fell down the steps leaving." Laura shook her head as she scraped some crumbs from her plate into the trash before placing the plate in the sink.

"But she's okay?" Frank asked.

"Oh, she's fine. It was just a sprain. She said to tell you boys hello." Laura moved from the sink to make room for Joe who had brought his plate over.

"Just put everything in the sink, I'll take care of it later," she said with the wave of her hand. "I've missed you boys too much to stay in here. Yesterday was such a busy day and I've hardly seen you today so I want to know as much as you can tell me and then tell me what you're up to next." She turned and leaned her hips against the counter and looked at her husband. "In fact, I'm sure you're father will be more than willing to help me with the dishes later."

"Depends on if I get a reward," Fenton said with a laugh and a wink in his wife's direction.

Frank pushed back his chair loudly and quickly. "I think that's our cue to move on into the living room."

Laughter followed as the remaining dishes were placed in the sink. Laura took a moment to run some hot water and squirt some dish soap so the lasagna could start soaking off the dark blue and white flower printed dishes.

They had just seated themselves when Joe cleared his throat. "Um, there's something I'd like to talk about first."

Laura seated herself beside Fenton on the couch and patted his leg as she leaned into his side. "Whatever you want to talk about is fine with me," she said with a smile.

Now that the moment was here, Joe was feeling nervous and wiped sweaty palms on his pants. He cut a nervous glance to his brother who gave him an encouraging nod. "I'm thinking of proposing to Vanessa and would like to get Grandma and Grandpa Blakeley's rings cleaned."

Joe watched as his mother blinked several times and then glanced to his father as she straightened up a little. "Why, that's… wonderful," she said as she smiled.

Joe sighed and looked to his father who had a similar smile on his face. It was one that didn't quite reach the eyes. "She's a wonderful girl, Joe."

Laura turned to Frank. "You already knew?"

"Joe told me yesterday on the train on the way back to Bayport."

"Yeah, your response is just as underwhelming as his was. No-" he said when his mother went to speak. "Let me just go ahead and say this. I'm not in a funk. I'm not doing it rashly." His gaze locked with his mother's. "I love her and I know she loves me no matter how messed up I am."

"Joe we never said-" Fenton began only to be cut off again by Joe.

"I know you didn't, but it doesn't mean you're not thinking it. And before you can go there. I know we're young but it's not like we're eloping and getting married. It'll take some time. I know that mom was twenty and you were twenty-two when you got married and you're doing just fine," he said with a smile.

Laura stood up and Joe rose to meet her as she walked over to him. She took his hands and said, "I guess I didn't realize you had grown up so much. I love Vanessa and she's perfect for you." She drew a deep breath and said, "I have the rings upstairs in my jewelry box. Do you want them tonight?"

Joe shook his head. "Tomorrow is fine. I won't be proposing right away."

"Any idea when you will?" Frank asked curiously.

"No. I'll wait and see about the rings. They might need some work. Then I'll just wait for the right time." He turned back to his mother and hugged her. "You'll always be my first love," he whispered remembering back to his childhood and wanting to marry her. He had been quite upset to learn he couldn't because she was already married.

"And you'll always be my baby," she whispered back as she returned his hug.

When they broke apart, Joe followed her back to the couch and sat beside her sandwiching her between himself and his father. This time she leaned in to him as they talked about what had happened and what the remaining summer plans were.

.**********.

Later that night, Laura walked into her bedroom and over to her jewelry box. It was a dark mahogany with her initials inlaid in the top: LHB. Her fingers traced over the letters and then went to the front to pull out a drawer. Carefully she withdrew a small red velvet bag. She held it in her hands for a moment and then took it over to the bed. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she drew one leg up underneath her making her position more comfortable. She sat there for a minute as she remembered playing with her mother's fingers during church and the thrill she got anytime her mother let her try on her engagement ring. She smiled softly at the memories as she loosened the ribbons holding the bag closed. Taking care, she shook the three rings out. Her father and mother's wedding rings were simple white gold circles. She laid them to the side and held her mother's engagement ring in front of her. The beautiful brilliant cut diamond in the center drew your attention immediately but it was the sapphires set on either side that made the ring memorable.

"One last time," she whispered as she slipped the ring on her finger.