A/N - This is the first story in a AU Hardy Boys universe I write called "The Sweet William AU"; in this series of stories the Hardys adopted Joe when Joe was five years old. There is also mention of a twin brother, however William is not actually introduced until a later story called "Sweet William."

Anyways, I hope you enjoy my little romp in a non-canon Hardy world. The rest of the details are the same, ie, Fenton is still a detective, etc.

The boys are young in this story – Joe has just been adopted, Frank is six.

Let me know what you think. If you enjoy this story, I will post "Sweet William" afterwards.

I don't own them and make no money from them and this series of stories are unbeta'd and apologize if this story is not as polished as some of my more recent ones.

The First Noel

Francis Hardy frowned as he looked up at the darkening grey Christmas sky.

"There's going to be snow," he commented to his wife when Agnes Hardy came out of the old house to stand on the porch next to him. They gazed out over the snow-laden front yard and winding driveway that led to the main road. A young golden retriever frolicked in the snow a couple of yards away as bright Christmas lights twinkled behind them, casting the early evening in a postcard-worthy view.

"Looks like it might already be snowing in the city," Agnes commented quietly as she stepped closer to her husband, her words hanging in the cold air as puffs of whisper-white. Her pale blue eyes gazed towards the south; towards Bayport.

The retired ex-cop put an arm around his wife and pulled her a bit closer. "I hope Fenton drives carefully!" Agnes added, shivering against her husband's larger frame and thinking of their son.

"He will," Francis assured her and then turned them both around to go back inside the warm house. He glanced over his shoulder once again at the forbidding sky. "Especially with Laura and the boys in the car." He gave a short whistle and the dog beat a path towards the porch, up the stairs and into the house before them, his snout still crusted in snow and his tail wagging happily in perpetual motion.

"Boys," Agnes said as they stepped into the living room and then continued on into the kitchen where a freshly brewed pot of coffee called out to them. "I can't get used to that. Boys," she repeated, her eyes capturing the gaze of her husband's darker brown ones. "I really hope Fenton and Laura know what they've gotten themselves into. I mean it's one thing to have a child and raise it from infancy, but quite another to adopt—"

"I wasn't aware you had anything against adoption," Francis said mildly as he sat down at the table and took the cup of coffee his wife offered. His tone belied his surprise at hearing his wife make that comment. He reached down to scratch behind the large dog's ears when the animal laid his head on the man's knee and looked up at him.

"I don't," Agnes rushed to assure him, "I'm just cautious." She sat down across from her dark-haired husband and sighed, "I suppose I'll feel better about all this once I've had a chance to actually meet the child. Frankie is certainly excited enough over him…" Her six-year-old grandson had done nothing except rave about his new little brother each time the senior Hardys called Bayport.

"Well," Francis reminded her, "we could have gone to see him before now."

"No, no, I still think we did the right thing," the woman defended, tucking a strand of graying dark hair behind her ear, "giving the child a little while to settle in before overwhelming him with extended family." Although anxious to meet their new grandson, Francis and Agnes decided to wait until Fenton and his family made their annual Christmas trek to visit them, to meet the little boy.

Although originally Bayport residents, the older Hardys had moved two hours away and into an old farmhouse on a small parcel of farmland after Francis retired from the force. As his retirement project, the spry retiree devoted his time to renovating the old house, and keeping out of his wife's hair…well, mostly.

"I'm still a bit anxious though," she admitted, "and nervous." Her blue eyes fixed on her mug of coffee. She sighed. "Probably most for Frankie."

"I'm sure it will be just fine," Francis tried to assure her. "We just have to have a little faith in Fenton and Laura." He reached across and squeezed his wife's hand. She looked up. "You know they would not have opened their home to this boy if they thought there would be any problem for Frankie…or for the child." He released her hand and leaned back heavily in his chair. "I can't help but be proud of their choice actually – adopting instead of trying to have another child again—"

"Well, they did have Laura's health to think about," Agnes admitted, thinking of her daughter-in-law. Laura's pregnancy with Frank had not been an easy one and then, when she did get pregnant again two years later, the baby girl had been still-born. Her voice softened and she sighed, "Physical and mental."

A sad sense of helplessness crept into the kitchen, broken only when the dog started to bark and raced towards the front door.

Francis stood at the unmistakable sound of a car nearing the house. He leaned over the table and placed a soft kiss on his wife's forehead. "It'll be just fine," he promised and then hurried to meet his new grandson.

------

Five-year-old Joe Doe sat in the backseat of the car and tried not to throw up. Beside him, his new brother Frank was peering excitedly out the window at the passing scenery, but try as he might, Joe could not get excited about this at all.

His new family – the Hardy family – were taking him on their yearly Christmas Eve pilgrimage to Frank's grandparents' house, where they would spend a week visiting before returning back to their own house on the corner of Elm and High streets in Bayport…and Joe didn't really want to go.

In fact, it was more than not wanting to go…it was sheer terror. A fear so intense, he had not been able to eat much all day and what little he had forced down to placate an increasingly concerned Fenton and Laura – his new daddy and mommy – was bubbling around in his stomach with an uncertainty about staying there.

Joe had never met Fenton's parents or older sister, who was also supposed to be there, and he was afraid to. So far he counted himself lucky as his adopted family seemed to be everything the little boy had prayed for with desperate fervency; but he was terrified that his luck would run out when he met the extended family and he trembled lightly at the thought of possible hostility, regardless of subtlety.

Although only five, the child was hypersensitive to animosity – the lessons of subtle aggression having been branded into his soul in the form of a vicious twin brother. A brother that he was working hard to forget, upon the advice of the social worker who taken great care to place Joe with this family. The Hardys knew nothing of William Doe and it was better that way….

------

"Did I tell you that Poppy has a big dog named Sam?" dark-haired Frank Hardy asked out of the blue as he turned towards the pale-faced blond boy.

"Sam?" Joe repeated, his young face crinkled in confusion, "isn't that the name of—" he paused, still uncomfortable with calling Fenton 'Dad'. Although he had never known his real father, the younger boy just felt a bit awkward over it; as did he with Laura being 'Mom' – though that was more understandable as he had known his real mother….To their credit, Fenton and Laura seemed to understand and didn't pressure him on either account.

"Yeah. Uncle Sam is Daddy's partner," the six-year-old proudly boasted. "So we have an uncle Sam and a dog Sam."

"That's confusing," Joe admitted with a frown, "How can they tell who anyone's talking about if they just say 'Sam'?"

Frank shrugged and grinned, "I dunno but it ain't no problem since Uncle Sam never comes to Poppy's anyway."

------

"Isn't a problem," Laura corrected from the front passenger seat as she shook her head at her son's grammar.

"Isn't a problem" Frank enunciated loudly from the back seat.

Stifling a sigh, the pretty blond woman looked at her husband, who was trying to hide his grin, and asked, "Are we there yet?"

"As a matter of fact," the young detective chuckled, "we are." And on that note, he pulled the car into the opening of a long driveway and carefully drove over the snow-slick gravel road towards the two-story farmhouse.

Joe felt his stomach drop, as his heart pounded painfully in his chest. They were here. It was time to meet the rest of the family.

------

"He looks just like her," Agnes Hardy whispered as she watched the little blond boy slowly climb out of the back of Fenton's car and then stand rather uncertainly beside Laura as Frank threw himself at his grandfather, his excitement making him airborne. Blond hair, blue-eyed, the younger boy did bear a striking resemblance to his adopted mother.

Of course they had seen pictures already but the photos had not done the child justice, as the most vibrant blue eyes she had ever seen briefly flickered over her with vivid apprehension.

'Poor thing is terrified,' Agnes realized in shock, as she stood on the porch and watched her husband put their grandson down and then tousle his silky dark hair, as the dog jumped around barking with excitement at the visitors. She knew without hearing what was being said, that Francis was tormenting the child, and smiled knowingly when she heard a loud indignant outcry of "POPPY!" come from the boy even as he laughed and shook his head over whatever claim his grandfather had just made. And then they all turned towards the new child pressed against Laura's side, and Agnes moved off the porch and across the few feet of snow to be there for the formal introduction.

------

Fenton smiled fondly at his older son as Frank 'dealt' with the family patriarch even as he glanced at his mother, pleased to see that she'd come outside to meet them. Although Fenton knew his mother loved him, Laura and little Frank deeply, Agnes was much more reserved in display than her husband and seldom showed open affection, preferring tender moments in private. It was not unusual for her to wait inside the house. But she hadn't this time….She had come outside, and then as things settled down and Francis's gaze moved beyond his grandson, Fenton felt a thrill when his mother moved off the porch towards them – obviously to meet his new son.

Frank moved to stand next to his new brother, his face beaming with excitement, as Laura stood quietly behind them…Fenton's angel since the day they had first met. They were the world to him, and now with what Joe brought to their family, the man's heart purred with contentment – there was nothing else he desired in the world….

Placing one hand lightly on the little boy's shoulder, the detective wasn't surprised to feel the body trembling beneath his touch. He knew the child was scared, even if Joe hadn't said a word.

Clearing his throat, and giving the shoulder a gentle squeeze, Fenton said, his voice inflicted with pride, "Mom. Dad. I want you to meet the newest member of our family—" He glanced down at the top of the golden blond head. "This is our Joey."

Slowly Joe forced himself to meet the elder Hardys' gazes as his heart pounded wildly in his chest, and he felt like he was going to pass out. Frank reached out to grasp his hand and he clung to it, his anxiety eased slightly by the unexpected protective gesture.

"Well, hello there," Frank's grandfather – Poppy – said as he crouched down eye level to Joe. He looked a lot like Fenton, only older, a bit broader and pudgier around the middle. But it gave the child a startling insight into what his adopted father was going to look like in the years to come. The silver in the man's dark hair gave him a distinguished air even as his dark brown eyes twinkled warmly with good humor. "I've been hearing so much about you from Frankie, I feel like I already know you."

Joe found himself smiling shyly at the man as Frank blushed and mumbled, "Awww Poppy…"

"Aw Poppy, nothing!" the older man snorted, the smile on his face belying any chastisement intended, "you've done nothing except brag to me, and your grandmother, about your new baby brother—" it was Joe's turn to blush, "and all I've got to say is that I expected him to be taller!"

Joe couldn't help but laugh, immediately warming to the man. He'd never had a grandfather before but if he had, he'd have wanted him to be just like this one.

Clearing his throat, Francis stuck out his hand and said very formally, "Young man, let me introduce myself—" His gaze softened, as did his voice. "I'm your new Poppy."

Joe's bottom lip started to quiver as he blinked back unexpected tears. Taking a shuddering breath, he tentatively took the man's hand and shook it – his touch feather-light but heartfelt. "I – I never had a Poppy before," he said quietly.

"Well you do now," Francis assured him, his own eyes suspiciously bright. Then releasing the little hand, he winked and stood up – the child's blue eyes following him – and nodded to his son. "You did good, Fenton." And then he turned his attention to Laura.

------

Agnes watched the exchange, oblivious to the cold. Her heart quivered and she smiled ever so slightly. Francis was right. It would be just fine.

------

"So where's Gertie?" Fenton asked as he sat on the edge of the couch in his parent's fireplace-dominated living room and watched the two boys looking at the ornaments on the festively decorated tree. Laura sat beside him, her fingers laced through his, a look of utter peace and contentment on her face, while Francis fiddled with the fire, complaining that it just wasn't burning right.

"Your sister can't get here until tomorrow morning," Agnes said as she came into the room carrying a tray laden down with coffee for the adults, and hot chocolate for the boys. She stopped at giving them any cookies, although her pantry was overflowing with the efforts of her almost-month-long baking extravaganza, but she refused to see them hyped up on sugar on Christmas Eve. There was enough excitement in the air without adding a sugar rush in. "She was running behind and I told her that I didn't want her driving down here in the dark, so she's leaving early to be here in time for the presents."

"Well that's the main thing—" Francis said gruffly, finally leaving the fire alone and sitting down heavily in a comfortable arm chair, "isn't it, boys?" He addressed the children who nodded as they sat down on the floor and took the small mugs of hot chocolate Agnes offered them.

"Manners," Laura hinted mildly and was rewarded by two very quick 'thank you's'. She smiled and shook her head as she looked at her mother-in-law, "We do try."

"Children are children," Agnes commented as she took the now empty tray back into the kitchen and then stared out the window at the dark night. She saw it was starting to snow and sighed, relieved that her daughter was not going to be driving tonight. Turning around, she went back into the living room to rejoin her family.

------

The golden retriever, stretched out on the floor, thumped his tail heavily when Joe bent down to give him a rub. He was feeling much better now about things, although he still had one more person to meet – Gertrude. He really liked the old man but was still a bit nervous around the old woman. She seemed pleasant enough but the child just wasn't sure yet. Frank's Nanny was much harder to read than their Poppy.

"Did Frankie tell you he named Sam?" Francis asked as he watched the little boy running his fingers through the almost amber silky fur. Joe liked dogs but this was the most he had ever been around one before.

"No," the child admitted as Frank sat next to him on a big braided circular mat. They had taken up positions in front of the tree and looked up expectantly at the retired cop.

"We got Sam when Frankie was about two," the man explained, "and he was so excited to see the puppy, but all he could say was 'Sam Sam' as he chased the poor pup all around the house…so we called the dog Sam."

"Wow," Joe was genuinely impressed. He'd never named anything in his whole entire life.

"Thank goodness the child was a slow talker," Francis continued, grinning at Frank's aghast expression, "or who knows what poor Sam's name might have been."

"Poppy!" the dark-haired boy leapt from the mat and into his grandfather's lap. "You take that back!"

"Take what back?" Francis teased, "You? Sure – just tell me where you came from."

"I think two little boys need to get ready for bed," Laura said, smiling as she rose from the couch. If she didn't stop this now, he'd have the boys all riled up and they would never get to sleep this night.

"Awwww Mom," Frank immediately complained from his grandfather's lap. "Do we have to? I wanted to stay up again this year to see Santa! I was soooo close last year!" He turned to the younger boy. "Poppy lets me stay up every year to wait for Santa—" he scowled, "but I keep falling asleep. But last year I was sooo close! Wasn't I, Poppy?"

"So close," the old man agreed and then winked at Laura and his son before turning an earnest eye onto the children. "Well, maybe if you go upstairs, put your pajamas on, brush your teeth and wash your face—" he looked around conspiratorially and then lowered his voice to a loud whisper, "I'll work on your Mom and Dad and see if I can't get them to change their minds about you staying up. Frankie was soooo close last year…I think this year he might just make it."

The boys' eyes went wide as they nodded quickly. Frank scurried off Francis' lap and grabbed Joe's arm, almost hauling the boy to his feet in his haste to get upstairs.

"C'mon Joey! You heard Poppy!" he hissed loudly, "We're going to get to see Santa!"

Fenton rolled his eyes even as he felt his wife squeeze his hand. His father knew how to work a crowd….

"Well, what do you say?" Francis asked after the kids had vanished upstairs, "Can they stay up?"

"One of these years," Fenton warned him, "this won't work. Eventually they will be able to stay awake all night."

"I know," admitted his father, "but not this year."

Fenton shook his head – his father was right of course…not this year.

------

Ten minutes later, two freshly scrubbed and changed little boys excitedly planted themselves on the couch, ensconced in a warm flannel blanket and waited….

------

Outside the farmhouse, at the end of the winding driveway, a man sat in his car and watched. The engine was kept running to keep him from getting cold. As he saw the last of the lights turned down, he put the vehicle in gear in and drove away.

He'd give them Christmas. After all, he wasn't completely heartless…and then afterwards, he'd have a nice little chat with Fenton Hardy – father to father….

tbc