‘Just a dream,’ he reminded himself. ‘Frank is fine.’

With a sigh, Joe realized he wouldn’t be getting anymore sleep this morning. He disentangled himself from Vanessa, being careful not to wake her, and climbed out of bed. Walking to the window, Joe pulled back the curtain a little and saw it had started to snow during the night. The irony was not lost on him as he remembered standing at a hotel window exactly one year ago to the day and watching the snow fall over Central Park. It had been Vanessa’s twenty-third birthday. The day she had agreed to become his wife. She had told Joe it was the best birthday of her life, thanks to him. He wondered if today would be the worst birthday of her life, thanks to him…

As Vanessa began to awaken, she realized that she was alone in the bed. Opening her eyes, she looked around the bedroom, her gaze coming to rest on Joe. He was standing at the glass doors to the balcony, staring out at the city. Lifting her head slightly, Vanessa smiled. Large white snowflakes were falling elegantly from the sky, bringing back vivid memories of her last birthday.

The feelings of shock, momentary disbelief and utter happiness at Joe’s proposal were just as strong this morning as they had been one year ago. Vanessa watched as the snowflakes fell around Joe’s silhouette against the glass. While summer was her favorite season, Vanessa also loved the winter months. Each snowfall brought with it a beautiful blanket of white as if it were covering up mistakes of the past and offering a new beginning.

Getting out of bed, Vanessa realized Joe was oblivious to her movements, lost in thoughts she could only guess at, although she had a very good idea what they were. While the events of the previous evening still felt like they had been some surreal dream, she had heard Joe tossing and turning most of the night as he apparently relived the horrifying experience over and over again in his dreams.

Absently sipping from the water glass on the nightstand, she observed him a moment longer before deciding it would be best if she rescued Joe from whatever world he had stumbled into.

Walking up behind him, Vanessa slipped her arms around Joe’s waist, pressing herself against him. Turning her head slightly, she rested her cheek against his back, smiling as she felt the tension draining from his body. She snuggled closer as Joe took her hands in his own and pulled her arms tighter around him, like a security blanket.

"Weren’t we supposed to be married by now?" Joe asked sadly, revealing the exact reason for his melancholy mood.

When Joe popped the question a year earlier and Vanessa finally replied with an enthusiastic yes, they had quickly agreed that by the same time the following year, they wanted to be married. But then came the New Year and with it Chris Taylor and memories of Joshua Tilghman.

From that point on their streak of bad luck seemed to gain momentum with each passing month, finally landing them back in Chicago to finish out their year of emotional turmoil in the worst possible way – with Joe reliving the most painful twenty-four hours of his life.

‘We should be on our honeymoon right now,’ Joe thought heartsick. ‘Instead she got to spend over a week listening to every detail of…’

Joe squeezed his eyes shut, feeling sick to his stomach, wondering if he’d ever be able to remember what Keith Rashman had done to him without feeling queasy. As he felt Vanessa gently turn him around to face her and hold him tightly once more, Joe realized he’d begun to shake.

"Some catch I turned out to be, huh?" Joe cracked, his voice catching in his throat.

"You are a catch, Joe Hardy, and don’t you ever forget it!" Vanessa said fiercely. "There are hundreds of women in Bayport who would trade places with me in a heartbeat."

"We should be on some tropical island right now, not here." Joe continued, his eyes burning with hot tears. "And you shouldn’t have had to listen to…everything… It’s not fair, Van."

Vanessa pulled back slightly and looked at Joe. Reaching up she brushed away a lone tear that had barely spilled over. While her heart was breaking, she was also thankful that over the years Joe had come to realize he could let out all his fears with her and show his true feelings, knowing she would always keep his darkest secrets just between them.

"You’re right, it’s not fair. It’s not fair what you had to go through, that you almost died," Vanessa agreed, her eyes flashing murderously at the man who made Joe suffer. "It’s not fair that you have to relive it again and again." As quickly as it came, the look was gone.

"But, for all intents and purposes, the trial is over. And so is this year – almost. Once it is, we can put it behind us and start over. Pretend this year never happened," she finished, kissing him softly. "By this time next year, we’ll be an old married couple… two whole months!"

Joe smiled amazed at how effortlessly she could pull him out of the dark thoughts he sometimes stumbled into. Pulling her close, he tried to focus on her optimistic outlook and positive words. Still, he knew in the back of his mind that some of the scars they had collected this year – both physical and emotional – were permanent.

"Okay, time for your present," Joe said, abruptly releasing her and walking to the closet. He pulled out his suitcase and rummaged around in one of the pockets, emerging with a small box wrapped in gold paper topped with a white bow.

"Present?" Vanessa sounded shocked.

"Well, yeah. Aren’t you supposed to give someone a present on their birthday?" Joe retorted somewhat puzzled.

"Uh, yeah, but… I mean with everything else going on… I just thought…" Vanessa stammered.

"That I’d forget your birthday? Not a chance, Babe," Joe smiled offering his gift to Vanessa.

"Thank you," Vanessa kissed him on the cheek, accepting the small box and tearing into it with enthusiasm.

Joe watched happily, loving how excited Vanessa got whenever he gave her a present. She always made a big deal out of it regardless of whether it was expensive jewelry, her favorite cookies, or some gag gift he picked up on the spur of the moment. As far as Vanessa was concerned, a gift from Joe was always cause for celebration.

Joe held his breath as she pulled the item from its velvet bed. The gold bracelet studded with diamond hearts and one small charm – a key – sparkled as Vanessa held it up in awe.

Overwhelmed that Joe even remembered her birthday, let alone thought to buy her a gift and bring it along, there was a long silence as Vanessa fought to get control of her emotions.

"It’s the key to my heart," Joe blurted out, immediately flushing with embarrassment.

‘The key to my heart?! Geez, Hardy how cheesy can you get?!’

He watched nervously as Vanessa stared at the bracelet apparently unable to speak. "Uh, if you don’t like it we can always return it and get something else…" Joe mumbled, misinterpreting her silence.

"Don’t like it?!" Vanessa whispered still mesmerized by the obviously expensive piece of jewelry. "Joe, it’s beautiful! I love it! Will you put it on me?" she begged extending her arm.

Joe willingly obliged, basking in the happy glow on Vanessa’s face. "When we get home I’m gonna throw you the wildest birthday bash Bayport has ever seen," Joe promised. Pulling her close, he sealed it with a kiss.

*****

"Here’s one more," Callie said handing yet another pink balloon to her husband, who was standing on a chair in the middle of the dining room. "Hurry up!" she encouraged him with a glance over her shoulder. "They might come out any minute!"

Frank finished attaching the last of the balloons to the ceiling and jumped off the chair to survey his handiwork. The dining room was awash in pink balloons, white streamers and a large banner that read "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, VANESSA!" The coffee table, which had been dragged in from the living room, was piled high with presents.

"What do you think?" he asked critically. "More streamers, maybe?"

"No, it’s perfect just as it is," Laura Hardy responded coming in from the kitchen with Fenton right behind her.

"You two did a great job," Fenton smiled approvingly.

As the four stood looking at the fruits of their labor, Fenton’s cell phone chirped.

"Who could it be at this time of morning?" Laura asked annoyed, not wanting Vanessa’s surprise party to be spoiled. The look of annoyance turned to one of concern as she saw her husband frown at the number displayed on the phone.

"Fenton Hardy," he answered. "Really? Okay, what time? Right, we’ll be there. Thank you. Goodbye." He turned to Laura, Callie and Frank a mixture of relief and wariness in his eyes. "The jury reached a verdict last night. We have to be at the courthouse by ten."

Before anyone could comment, a door was heard opening down the hall.

"Get ready! They’re coming!" Frank whispered excitedly.

Seconds later Joe and Vanessa, arms wrapped around each other, emerged from the hallway.

"SURPRISE!"

Laura, Fenton, Frank and Callie stood beaming as Joe and Vanessa stared back at them in complete shock. They gaped at the decorations, presents and table set with breakfast fit for a princess in open-mouthed amazement. Joe recovered first and nudged Vanessa further into the room. Snapping out of her daze, she turned and looked at him.

"Did you know about this?" she asked, still glancing around astounded.

"Uh-uh," Joe replied. "I’m just as surprised as you are."

"Happy birthday, honey," Laura held her arms out to the younger girl. "I wish your Mom could be here. But she’s going to call later."

Vanessa immediately stepped into the warm embrace of the woman she’d come to love as a second mother. "Thank you so much," she whispered her voice shaking as she was once again overcome with emotion.

"No thanks necessary," Laura replied patting her back comfortingly.

Joe smiled at his mother mouthing a ‘Thank you’ as he approached Callie.

"C’mere," he said hoarsely, pulling her into a bear hug. "I know this was all your idea," he whispered in her ear. "Thanks, sis."

"You’re welcome," she replied patting his back, winking at Frank over his shoulder.

Joe held onto his sister-in-law a moment longer, thinking how far they had come over the years. Releasing her, he eyed the table full of food.

"Okay, enough with the mush," Joe pronounced. "Let’s eat!"

A chorus of laughter and agreement echoed through the room as the group moved towards the table. Immediately Callie noticed the sparkling diamond bracelet dangling from Vanessa’s wrist.

"Wow!" she exclaimed wide-eyed.

"Isn’t it gorgeous," Vanessa extended her arm so Callie could get a better look at her gift. As Callie oohed and aahed over it, Vanessa crooked a finger motioning Joe close to her.

"What?" he asked puzzled.

Leaning towards him, Vanessa pressed her lips to his letting them linger there for a long moment before pulling away. "Nothing," she replied with a smile and a provocative twinkle in her eye causing Joe to blush.

"Isn’t that a beautiful bracelet, Frank," Callie asked her husband, raising her eyebrows suggestively as she held her own unadorned wrist aloft.

"Very beautiful," Frank agreed. "Maybe Joe will buy you one just like it for Christmas," he deadpanned, laughing as Joe’s eyes almost popped out of his head. Frank had spent the past four months accompanying Joe to the jewelry store each week so he could make payments on the pricey piece of jewelry.

Fenton waited until everyone was settled and the laughing had died down and then cleared his throat.

"I hate to put a damper on your party, Vanessa, but Handling called a few minutes ago. The jury has reached a verdict," he announced. Seeing the dejected look on the faces of Joe and Vanessa he continued quickly. "We have plenty of time for a nice birthday breakfast but I’m afraid we’ll have to save the presents for later. Then again, that just means we’ll have two things to celebrate when we get back," he finished letting them all know he fully expected Keith Rashman to be found guilty on all counts.

As plates of food were passed around, Laura disappeared into the kitchen returning a moment later carrying a Belgian waffle smothered in strawberries and whipped cream, a single candle sticking out of it.

"Happy birthday, sweetie," she said placing it on the table in front of Vanessa.

Vanessa sat looking at everyone seated around the table, touched and overwhelmed by all the attention. She had barely even remembered today was her birthday and was certain that, with the exception of Joe, no one else would even give it a second thought. There were too many other things that were more important; her birthday could wait until they got home.

"Now don’t forget to make a wish," Laura smiled as she lit the candle.