Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize. I do own a box of Kroger Corn Flakes and a large bag of timothy hay.

Epilogue

Several days later found Nancy, Frank, and Joe sitting in a small café in an airport terminal waiting for their flight to go back home.

"See, Frank? We've got over an hour to burn before our flight even boards. There was no need to wake me up at that heinous hour."

Nancy smirked. "Heinous?"

Frank rolled his eyes at his little brother in response. "If you had your way, you'd be waking up about now and probably missing your flight. You should be thanking me for not being all by yourself on a later flight."

Joe eyed Frank and Nancy who, while not touching, were sitting much closer than they had before the past few days. "I'm not sure that would have been a mistake."

"I'm sure you'll survive," Frank said drily. "Anyway, I want to hear how the case wrapped up. Nan?"

"Well, most of this you already know since you were the ones who figured out a lot of it." She shifted in her seat. The hard airport chairs were uncomfortable. And secretly, she was just as tired of waiting as Joe was, though she would never give him the satisfaction of agreeing with him out loud. "Marek would decide on a place, date and time for a bombing. That was pretty much the extent of his actual involvement, though we are treating him as the ringleader. He then would have Tom Marsh commission a bracelet in the code that you cracked, Frank."

She smiled at him and he blushed faintly in return. "You cracked it just as much as I did."

Joe stared at them for a second, then turned to the side and made gagging noises. Nancy grinned and smacked his arm. "Oh, stop it. Do you want me to finish the story?"

"Only if the two of you can manage it without undressing each other with your eyes."

Frank's face reddened even more. "Joe!"

He raised his hands in surrender and turned to Nancy. "Okay, I'm done. Please continue."

She shot Joe one last look. "The bracelets were entered into the show, where the thieves would steal them. Your dear old friend Gabrielle acted as a beacon for them."

Joe glowered at the name. "Yeah, friend."

"Her M necklace told each thief that she was on his side, and she pointed out the bracelet to be stolen to him. He then delivered it to the group that set up the bomb."

"What about Musafia? How involved was he?" Frank had been wondering about the older man since he realized he was part of it. What motivation could a man with a successful business have to risk it all for terrorism?

"He wasn't supposed to be part of it, originally. In the early planning stages he discovered that his daughter was up to something. They bribed him to stay silent with the stolen jewels. Also, he got insurance money for having something stolen."

"Just like Carlson said!" Frank exclaimed. That's what had been nagging at him. He felt like an eternal itch in his brain finally got scratched. "He mentioned that insurance money might be enough to motivate someone to be involved in such a scheme, but he didn't really believe it himself. I kept meaning to look into it, but then everything happened so fast."

"Yeah, Musafia was more than forthcoming with all of this information once he was put in a holding cell. The old man just couldn't handle it."

Joe shook his head. "What a sad, sad man. When will they learn? Until you feel ready to embrace jail, don't do illegal things."

Nancy chuckled. "I wouldn't hold your breath waiting."

There was still one piece that didn't fit in Frank's mind. "And Pinkston and Charlotte? What was their role?"

She fidgeted at the question. Technically, she had promised not to tell. But they were all leaving the country without any reason to speak with anyone about it, she rationalized. "They weren't involved with Marek, but they were involved… with each other."

"What?" Joe asked, surprised.

Frank actually didn't feel too shocked by the news. It made sense, now that the answers were laid out in front of him. "I told you that they were probably hiding something, even if it didn't relate to the case."

"Well, you were right. They don't want it getting out. Charlotte seemed very concerned with her reputation, which is a big shocker." Nancy sighed. "At least I don't have to deal with her nitpicking at me anymore."

"Oh, you were just about to get fired anyway and you know it."

This time she kicked the younger Hardy under the table. "Hey! I know no such thing."

Joe leaned down and rubbed his shin. "You're abusive. Frank, watch out for this one."

Smiling at Nancy, Frank said. "Don't worry, I intend to."

All thoughts of Joe's teasing left her mind as she lost herself in the affection she found on Frank's face.

"And with that, I'm out of here. Meet you at the gate." Joe chucked his empty paper cup into the garbage and walked away, clicking through his iPod as he went.

Frank watched his brother leave, then stood up. "We should probably start making our way over there, too. After all my nagging it'd be embarrassing if I was the one who missed the flight."

Nancy laughed and threw their own garbage away. "You're right, that would be embarrassing."

Frank held out his hand to her. "Shall we?"

She took it, finding comfort in the strong warmth. As they walked, she couldn't help but notice how he favored his left side.

"How much pain are you in, really?"

Frank couldn't tell her that the constant ache in his arm was driving him a little crazy, and the bandage was annoyingly bulky under his long-sleeve shirt. He didn't want her to worry about him, and he rarely saw much use in complaining anyway. "It's not too bad. They gave me pills to take."

Nancy knew for a fact that he hadn't taken any pills since at least early that morning. Scrutinizing his face, she suspected that he was in a lot more pain that he was willing to admit. She understood that he needed things to be normal to take his mind off of it, so she allowed him that and didn't push it. "Okay. Just let me know if you need anything. I don't mind."

His lips turned up into a smile. He wouldn't necessarily mind allowing Nancy Drew to play nursemaid to him, even if it meant admitting he was hurting. Maybe once they were settled on the plane…

"So you and Joe are heading home to Bayport?" Nancy's voice interrupted his thoughts. He was surprised to hear that she sounded a little sad. The average person wouldn't have noticed, but he knew her.

"Yeah, we'll leave you at JFK to catch your connecting flight to D.C. and Dad will pick us up there." He hesitated, then added, "If you don't have to go immediately back home you're welcome to stay with us for a few days."

Taken aback by his bold offer, Nancy didn't answer right away. It had been a long time since she'd been to visit the Hardy family. A small ache settled in her chest at the chance to see Fenton and Laura again. At one time in her life they had almost been second parents to her.

Frank misunderstood her hesitation. "But hey, it's no big deal. I understand that you're busy. You probably have a mountain of paperwork to fill out after this trip."

"Frank, I'd love to," she answered quickly. "There's nothing that I can't do over a secure internet connection, and I'm sure you can manage one of those."

He grinned at her. "I'll see what I can do. Are you sure?"

"No second guessing, not anymore. I know what I want this time, and that's to spend as much time with you as possible."

Looking at her seriously, he replied, "It might not be that much, at least for the next several months. Not saying I like it, but that's the reality of our lives. I'm not going to hold you back from your life."

She smiled reassuringly. "I know. The good news is that D.C. is closer to Bayport than Chicago. We'll make it work; I'm not worried about us." She noticed his skeptical look. "Well, I'm trying really hard not to be worried."

They stopped walking as they arrived at the gate and he wrapped his good arm around her. Leaning down, he murmured into her ear, "You have absolutely no reason to be worried. I finally got you, Nancy Drew, and I'm not about to let you get away. And you can't get rid of me either."

Nancy shivered involuntarily at the sensation of his breath brushing her ear. Turning into his embrace, she hugged him tightly. Moving her lips across the tan skin of his jaw, she whispered, "Is that a promise?"

Turning his head to brush her mouth with his, he spoke against her lips, "Definitely." He pressed his mouth harder in a searing kiss, burning away any lingering worries. Right as his tongue started brushing her lips, they were interrupted by a throat clearing loudly behind them.

"We're boarding now. Though I'm sure you wouldn't be so irresponsible as to miss your flight, right big brother?"

Frank pulled away from Nancy's arms reluctantly, clearing his own throat. "Sure, Joe."

Joe got on the plane while Frank and Nancy collected themselves and their things. The three of them had managed to reserve three spots together on a single row. Making their way down the aisle, Frank and Nancy stopped short when they reached number 17. Joe was sitting in the middle seat, smirking up at them.

"Joe, what are you doing?" Frank asked.

"I am being a good passenger and sitting in my assigned seat, 17B. Check your tickets."

Frank studied his and frowned. "17A."

"17C," Nancy echoed.

Joe was enjoying this immensely. "Ah, there is some justice in this world."

Frank chucked his bag at him, "Just move over already."

"I suppose I could break the rules just this once – which I hate doing, as you are well aware – but only if I get the window."

Nancy couldn't help but laugh at his antics. The flight certainly wouldn't be dull. She settled into the aisle seat next to Frank. He took her hand again, stroking her palm with his thumb. No, definitely not dull.

Just then, the flight attendant spoke over the intercom. "Welcome to flight 522 with nonstop service to New York. Sit back and enjoy the ride; it's the beginning of a beautiful day."

Turning to look at Frank, Nancy couldn't even begin to hold in the wide smile that bloomed across her face. Frank's expression mirrored hers, and she knew he was thinking the same thing. It really was a beautiful beginning.

THE END. (For now.)

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Posting this is incredibly bittersweet. On one hand, It's so nice to have taken my first attempt at a story all the way to completion. On the other, I'm not entirely ready to let it go yet. I am still completely surprised and delighted by all the support I've received throughout this process. Each and every review has meant so much to me, and to those who have taken time to give me specific remarks I am doubly grateful.

I've been toying with the idea of writing a series of oneshots so I can keep playing with the characters. A new chapter story probably won't happen until next summer when I'd have time to write it. What do you think? Do you want more from my little Hardy/Drew world? Also, any requests for oneshot themes? I'm always open to ideas!

Again, thank you, truly, to all of you who have stuck with me and taken time to read!

Amy