Disclaimer: I do not own Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys or any of the related characters. I just like to take them out to play. I make no money from this.

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Epilogue: Slow & Steady

Nancy looked over at her husband and smiled. "How are you doing, honey?"

"I am doing absolutely fantastic since we left Bayport and that whole Fawn fiasco behind us," Frank said.

"Me, too!" she agreed enthusiastically. "So, you never told me – where are we staying?"

"I got us a lakeside cabin at The Cedar Point Atrium resort," Frank said with a grin, "including a Jacuzzi with a view."

"That sounds heavenly."

"They do a nightly campfire down at the beach, if we're feeling sociable. There's live entertainment every weekend. Or we can go canoeing or kayaking out on Lake George. We can even do some exploring in Adirondack Park. Whatever you want."

Nancy was kind of afraid to ask her next question. "What about Joe and Vanessa?"

"Joe couldn't decide which setting Van would like better – a cabin, or a cottage, or the main lodge. He ended up waiting so long to make his reservations that he didn't have much choice left." Frank snickered. "Anyway, they ended up in a Jacuzzi suite at the main lodge. It's nice, and a bit more convenient to the activities and such, but I think ours will be more private."

Nancy's face broke out in a big smile. "So we have our cabin all to ourselves?"

Frank took her hand and pressed it to his lips. "All to ourselves, sweetheart. Did you think I'd have our honeymoon any other way?"

"Honestly, I wasn't sure," she said with a sheepish smile. "I'm kind of glad we decided to drive separately, too. This way we can go in different directions if we decide or pile in a car together."

"Exactly," he said. "Joe and I talked about it and decided it would be nice to go to the same resort, so we could do things together if we wanted. But we didn't want to be on top of each other."

Nancy smiled. "Especially on our honeymoon."

The smile faded from Frank's face and his glance was uncertain. "Does it bother you, Nan?"

Startled, Nancy turned a quizzical gaze on him. "Does what bother me?"

Frank's hands tightened on the steering wheel. "Does it bother you that Joe's always there… that he and I are so close?"

"No, Frank, it does not bother me. In fact, I wouldn't have it any other way. Joe's like a little brother to me, too. I love him and I love Van. I'm just feeling a bit selfish about you since we're on our honeymoon." She rubbed his shoulder and then slipped her fingers through his hair. "Really, I'm fine with the shared wedding and honeymoon. In fact, the wedding couldn't have been more perfect. And the shared honeymoon resort is ok, too. I just don't want to… share the Jacuzzi, if you know what I mean."

Frank visibly relaxed and chuckled. "I know exactly what you mean."

nhnhnhnhnhnh

Joe leaned back and pressed the accelerator a little harder, enjoying the feel of the wind whipping through the window. It was a gorgeous day, and he was sitting next to a gorgeous woman who was finally, officially, and irrevocably his wife. Life was good.

"Joe, you've lost Frank and Nancy," Van chided.

"Don't worry, babe – Grandpa knows the way," Joe said. "We'll be checked in, settled, and lounging on the beach by the time he pulls in the drive."

Vanessa's laugh was a sound that never failed to put a smile on Joe's face.

"So we're staying at the lodge and Frank and Nan are in one of the cabins, right?" she asked.

"Yeah," Joe grimaced. When he had finally decided to try and get something lakeside, all the options were full. Fortunately, he had managed to reserve a very nice suite on the upper floor of the lodge with a veranda that offered a great view of the lake. "We might not be lakeside, like them, but we have access to room service and the pool."

Van smiled and patted his arm. "It sounds absolutely lovely, Joe. In fact, I think we are going to have the perfect honeymoon."

She pulled out the resort folder they had received and opened an area map that was included. "There are a lot of things to do. Adirondack Park is huge."

"Over six million acres," Joe said, having studied the information in the resort package several times. "This resort we're staying at is on the north side of Lake George, and has great access to the rest of the park."

"I just love the Adirondacks," Van said. "It's so beautiful and peaceful. Cal said she and Sam had the most romantic anniversary there. I just can't wait."

"Hey, babe, is Cranberry Lake on that map?"

"Um…" Van was quiet for a moment and then jabbed at the map, "there it is. Why?"

"Oh, uh, nothing," Joe said, suddenly realizing he'd followed up Van's comment about a romantic getaway with a question related to a mystery. She would not be happy if he got them mired in something on their honeymoon, would she? His brow furrowed. Damn, he hadn't thought about that.

"What's wrong, Joe?"

"Oh, nothing, babe. Just an old… friend lives up there."

"Well, it looks close on this map, but I think it's deceiving." Vanessa measured the scale and marked off the distance. "Geez, it's over two hours to Cranberry Lake from where we're staying. Were you planning on trying to look up this friend while we're on our honeymoon?"

The look Vanessa leveled him with forced Joe to reconsider his response. "Actually, the guy's more of a friend of Frank's… and Nan's. Maybe we can let them go, and we'll just hang back."

Van's face relaxed into a satisfied smile. "That would be ok, I suppose. I don't really feel like spending a whole bunch of time in the car this week. This five hour drive to get there is enough."

"Five hours? Who said it was going to take five hours?"

"Frank did."

"Grandpa," Joe muttered.

nhnhnhnhnhnh

Van gasped as they entered their suite. Hurrying across the room, she threw open the French doors that led to the veranda and drank in the incredible view of Lake George. The scent of pine wafted on the breeze which was cool and invigorating.

She sighed in contentment, and then gave a little squeal of delight when she caught sight of the Jacuzzi out of the corner of her eye.

Poking her head into the room she called, "Joe, you have to see this. You can enjoy the view from the hot tub!"

Joe shoved some folding money into the bellhop's hand and came to join her as the man exited the room. He met her at the railing, wrapping his arms around her waist and nuzzling her neck. She leaned into him and sighed.

"Oh, Joe, isn't this just beautiful?"

She could hear the grin in his voice. "Yes, you are, babe."

Turning, she wrapped her arms around his neck and met his lips in a long, deep and satisfying kiss. Then she slipped out of his embrace and headed for the room.

"I'm getting into my swimsuit so I can give that hot tub a try," she said.

Joe followed, his roguish grin sending a pleasant shiver up her spine.

"Who needs a swimsuit?"

nhnhnhnhnhnh

Frank dropped their suitcase in the closet and then went in search of his wife. He found her on the lakeside deck, leaning on the rough-hewn wood of the railing, staring across Lake George.

The view was amazing. Their cabin was ensconced in a stand of mature evergreens that offered seclusion from the surrounding resort but they were only a couple hundred feet from the water's edge. There were several dirt paths, the main one leading down to a private dock that stretched out of a tiny cove into the open water of the lake.

The sun was hanging low in the sky, and the dappled light danced across Nancy's hair. He moved behind her silently and wrapped her in his arms.

"What do you think, sweetheart?"

She turned and smiled up at him.

"It's perfect."

The feel of her slim body pressed against his felt at once familiar and exciting as they wrapped together, savoring the solitude of the moment. It was the first time in months that Frank could remember truly relaxing and reveling in the presence of the woman he loved.

His stomach picked that moment to issue a loud, insistent rumble. Nancy pulled back slightly, giggling. "Sounds like we should go find something to eat."

"I'm fine." He dipped his head for another kiss, and was startled by another rumble, but this time it wasn't his stomach.

"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm hungry," she said. "Should we try to find Joe and Vanessa, or enjoy a romantic dinner on our own?"

"We'll find Joe and Van in the morning," Frank said. "The Boathouse isn't far from our cabin, and has dining right on the lake. What do you think?"

"Sounds good to me," she said, moving into the cabin. "The sooner we eat, the sooner we can come back here and start our honeymoon, officially."

Frank grinned as he followed her. "That sounds like a promise."

Inside, Nancy flopped the suitcase onto the bed and opened it. "I think I'm going to change out of these rumpled traveling clothes."

He had stopped just inside the bedroom and watched as she lifted a large envelope off the top of the clothes.

"Frank, what's this?" she held it up for him to see.

"It's for you… from Joe. He was going to wait until the end of the week to give it to you, but I thought you might want it earlier, rather than later."

"What is it?" Nancy asked as she sat on the edge of the bed.

Frank pushed the suitcase back and sat down next to her. "Open it and find out."

Flipping the envelope over, Nancy pulled out the flap, which had just been tucked in rather than sealed. Inside, she found a file with a business card paper-clipped to the front.

"It's Dan's business card," she said curiously, and then flipped it over. "Who is Sean Flannery?"

"He's the Ithaca detective that investigated your uncle's kidnapping."

Frank smiled at the spark of excitement that entered her beautiful, blue eyes. "Really?"

"What do you think about taking a road trip up to Cranberry Lake sometime this week?" he asked.

Nancy threw her arms around him. "Thank you so much, Frank!"

He accepted the embrace happily, but said, "Don't thank me, thank Joe. He said he couldn't afford anything like a house for you, but he figured you'd appreciate this as a wedding gift just as much."

"He can be a real sweetie when he wants to be," she said. "So can you. You're sure you don't mind doing this when we're supposed to be on our honeymoon? I mean, this has waited thirty some years, another week or so isn't going to make much difference."

"Sweetheart, it wouldn't be our honeymoon if we didn't have a mystery to sink our teeth into. Besides, finding your uncle is going to take quite a bit of time. The sooner we start, the sooner you'll get to meet him."

"A honeymoon and a mystery with my amazing husband." Her smile was soft and affectionate as she lifted a hand to stroke his cheek. "How did I get so lucky?"

"I ask myself that at least a dozen times a day," he said.

She giggled, and then stood and pulled him to his feet. "Come on, let's go. I'm starving."

"I thought you wanted to change."

She looked down at her shorts and tank top. "Do you think I should?"

He shook his head. "You look beautiful just like you are."

Lacing his fingers into Nancy's, Frank led her outside, where the lengthening rays of the sun's fading light afforded intermittent illumination of the shaded path they walked. As the sun dipped below the horizon, they were both amused by the fact that, unlike their wedding night, neither of them had thought to bring a penlight.

It wasn't far, but they ended up picking their way, particularly in the shadowy places, where roots and uneven ground caused them to periodically stumble. But each time, they caught one another, laughing as they righted themselves and continued on their way.

Frank smiled as it occurred to him that it was an apt analogy of the life that he and Nancy would spend together.

THE END

A/N: Thank you to my reviewers throughout this story. I hope you enjoyed the ride. I certainly LOVED seeing your reactions as I was posting – I cannot overstate just how much those notes mean to me!

Sooo, a huge 'THANKS' to my reviewers: CTI-Jenn (you all should check out her story posting right now, too!), Smithy, Quieen Elizabeth Rose I (I don't know yet, see below…), Angelvie S, Polgara218, Mrs. Frank Hardy, Karmadevi (LOVE the reaction – exactly what I was going for ;), Gabriella91, angry penguin, and Jabba1. You guys have continuously made me smile over the last few weeks :D

FYI: I have started the sequel, but do not yet have even a working title. It is set during the honeymoon and the primary mystery plot will center around a pickpocket who ends up being a young girl. The overall plot is still a bit nebulous in my head which might be why I'm having trouble with the title…

Any suggestions? Feel free to chime in!