"So what do you want to do tonight?" Frank asked Callie, putting his arms around her and pulling her up close.

"Be here, with you," Callie said, smiling.

"But what if you get cold or hungry?" Frank wondered.

"Alright; be with you in a warm place where there’s food." Callie said giggling.

"Like in a restaurant?"

"Or just back home."

"You know I love you, Cal.’" Frank pulled her close.

"I know you do. Frank. And I love you, too."

"So when are you going to marry me, then?"

"When you ask me… or get me pregnant, what ever comes first," she said, with a big grin on her face.

"I would prefer marriage first! Then kids, two of them." Frank said.

"Boy and a girl?" Callie asked.

"Or boy and boy, or girl and girl- doesn’t matter a thing to me."

Frank and Callie walked around the country side continuing their conversation of the future. Frank started imagining him and Callie living in a small house in Bayport and their two children playing around in the backyard with a watering hose on a bright summer day. His parents would come around and they would all barbecue and then sit outside till late, talking.

A sad grin came on his face as he realized that Joe wasn’t in his picture. Had he given up on his brother ever coming back home. It had only been three months and he had already cut him out if his dreams.

"Frank, what’s wrong?" Callie asked, looking up on Frank.

"Nothing really. I was just thinking."

"About Joe?" Callie asked.

"Yes, and you and me and our kids, and whether or not Joe would be there to meet them or if he would still be missing." Frank confessed.

Callie wanted nothing more than to comfort Frank but she knew from experience that nothing she had to say would make Frank feel any better about Joe. She had been enjoying the past three months and she felt guilty about that. She and Frank had been spending much more time together and she had Joe to thank for that. She felt really bad about this.

"Come on handsome- it’s your birthday. Let’s not let Joe spoil it, ok?" Callie said "Let’s go back home so you won’t be late for you dinner date with Biff and Tony."

"Can’t we stay just a little bit longer?" Frank begged Callie. The weather was so nice. He just wanted to hold Callie close for as long as he could. She agreed and they lay down in the grass.

***

When Frank got back home he only had time for a short shower before he was picked up by Tony and Biff.

Callie on the other hand, had promised to go and meet Vanessa at a local coffee house after her date with Frank.

Vanessa hadn’t been doing too well lately devastated by the fact that her boyfriend hadn’t bothered giving her a call. As much as she was worried about him, she was also mad. If she could only get her hands on him she would kick him so hard…

As Callie arrived at the coffee -house she could see Vanessa sitting at a small booth in the corner, looking down at her coffee cup like it hold all the answers.

"Hi Van," Callie said.

"Hi Callie. How was your date with Frank?" Vanessa’s face looked worried.

"It was great! I dropped him off just in time for the dinner with the boys, which reminds me, we have to get back to the Hardy house soon or we won’t have enough time to decorate before the boys will be back."

"In just a moment. I was hoping to get a chance to ask for your opinion on something."

"Sure Van, what’s going on?" Callie took a seat across the table from Vanessa.

"Well I’m not sure how to bring this subject up," Vanessa said, feeling a bit nervous.

"Just say it! You are my best friend and you couldn’t say anything to me that I wouldn’t understand. Is this about Joe?"

"Yes and no- mostly about me and me dating other boys." Vanessa said and Callie’s face dropped a little bit.

"You’re dating?" Callie almost screamed.

"No! Not yet at least. Do you know who Simon Anderson from school is?"

"Sure. He’s in Frank’s class. Did he ask you out?"

"Yes, last Friday. I told him NO right away but then it made me think. Why should I hang around Bayport waiting for Joe to come back? He might be back home tomorrow or in 50 years. I don’t know. It’s not like he’s bothered to call me or anything. Simon’s offer just made me think and a part of me really wants to take his offer. Oh, Cal, what should I do?" Vanessa asked. Callie took her hands in hers.

"Vanessa." Callie said. "You are one of my best friends, but you can’t put me in this situation. If I tell you to go out with him and Frank finds out, he will think I betrayed his brother."

"I’m sorry, Cal. I didn’t mean to get you in the middle of this. I’m just so confused. Don’t get me wrong. I love Joe and all, but right now I hate him."

"I understand. At least I think I do." Callie said."Just do what you think is right. If you want to date Simon do that. Just don’t do it to get even with Joe. You will only end up regretting it."

Vanessa promised to think long and hard about what Callie had just said before doing anything.

With that, the girls left the coffee -house and headed over to the Hardys to plan Frank’s surprise party.

***

The party was a big hit. The music was great. The food was fantastic and the company even better. Frank’s parents had left for the evening, giving the young people privacy. Frank seemed to be having a great time even with Joe not being there. At least he pretented to.

"Come on Frank! You have to make a wish before blowing out the candles," Biff said, giving his friend a slap on the back.

"Yes, he’s right honey." Callie backed up Biff. "It’s the rules."

"Ok- ok. Just give me some space. I have to think."

Frank took his time thinking before taking in deep breath and blew out the candles, all at the same time. He got a big clap.

Then it was time for the presents. Callie had bought Frank a new bag for school. It was made out of leather and she had even gotten his name inscribed on it. Biff, Vanessa and Tony had gotten him CD-writer for his computer. Frank was very pleased.

It was close to one in the evening when last guest finally left. Frank was getting awfully tired and as soon as he closed the door he headed for his room and fell asleep.

***

Back in New York, Joe was walking around the streets like he did most days and evenings before returning home to his "closet" to get some sleep.

It was a warm night and the streets of New York were drowning in people as usual. Hookers and drug dealers on every corner made Joe nervous so he walked past them as fast as he could, keeping his head low in order not to make eye contact.

Before Joe knew it, he found himself in a dark alley alone. Not knowing how he got there or even how he would get back to the street Joe desperately rushed his speed, making sure to look around himself in case someone wanted to jump him. He had seen too many movies of people being killed in this situation to be comfortable.

All of a sudden he heard a woman’s cry for help.

Being the good guy that Joe was, he felt that he could not turn his back on this. Running towards the cry, Joe ran straight into a trap.

A man jumped him from behind grabbing a hold of his jacket and shaking him heavily. Joe tried to break himself free, but the man pulled out a army knife and pointed it at him.

"Give me your money, NOW!" the man told him, while holding the knife close to him.

"Easy," Joe said going for his money, and giving them to him.

"Is that it?!" the man screamed angrily.

"Yes, I’m sorry, but that’s all I have." Joe was so scared he could hardly move. This wasn’t the first time he’d been in a life- threatening situation, but this was the first time he didn’t have Frank to back him up.

"He’s lying, Earl" the woman said. "Search him!"

Earl went through Joe’s pockets but didn’t find anything.

"Where is it? You must have more than this. Give it to me or you’ll be sorry!"

Joe was about to say something when he felt this awful pain go through his body, waking with every single nerve in his body as the man the girl called "Earl" pushed the knife into Joe’s stomach.

"But…" Joe said weakly, barley any sound coming out.

", Shit." Earl screamed out. "Come on, Ella. Let’s get out of here before the cops come!" And, with that, they both fled, leaving Joe lying on the street.

Joe tried to move and get back to his feet, but with no luck. Finally, the sweet feeling of numbness came over him and he lost consciousness.