Frank Hardy sipped his coffee as he stared out the window of his New York City apartment. Lacy white snowflakes were falling softly against the backdrop of the city lights. They were beginning to blanket the street and cars below, giving everything in sight a much softer appearance. For just a moment, he was able to escape the reality of his work and just relax in the beauty that was coming with winter's last gasp. He had been working around the clock lately for the Computer Investigation and Technology Unit - tracking down cybercrimes - and needed a break. Even if it was only a few minutes of solitude to watch the falling snow.

The telephone rang, breaking Frank from his reverie. Sighing, he set his coffee cup down and crossed the living room to his phone. "Hello," he said. "Frank Hardy here, what can I do for you?"

"Happy Birthday, Bro!" came the cheerful voice through the line. Frank flinched, sighed again, and spoke.

"Hey Joe, thanks. Nice to hear from you. How's life treating you in California?"

"Man, it's awesome out here. Sun, surf, girls. Lots of girls. Did I mention all the girls?"

"Yeah," Frank said dryly. "I think you've mentioned that part a few times."

"Well, you can't beat these California women. I mean they are hot! You should be out here, you know. Having fun, celebrating with me!"

"Some of us have work to do, Joe. And you and I both know you are not out there chasing girls. Bess Marvin wouldn't allow that." Frank grinned at the thought of what Bess would do to Joe for trying to date someone else while he was dating her.

"Bess doesn't care," Joe responded. "I mean, we've went out a few times, but it's not like we're going steady or anything. She likes to play the field as well as I do." He laughed. "It wouldn't be good for her career to stick to one guy just yet."

"How is she, anyway? Last time I saw her was when you brought her back to Bayport with you for Chet's birthday. That was over a year ago." Frank walked over to the couch and sat down. "Is that acting thing working out?"

"That acting thing? Man, where have you been lately?" Joe asked incredulously. "She's been on that new TV show, LA Life, for most of this season. The fans love her! It looks like her contract's going to be renewed for at least another year."

"Hey, that's great!" Frank said. He glanced over at a framed snapshot sitting on his coffee table. He picked it up and looked at it as Joe rattled on, telling him about the current photo shoot he'd been working on in Hollywood, the sights he'd been seeing. Suddenly Frank found himself lost in time, remembering when the photo had been taking.

There were 6 people in the photo, and at the time they'd all been blissfully happy, completely unaware of the changes life would throw at them in just a few years. He had one arm slung over Joe's shoulder. Joe's other arm was around Bess Marvin's waist. Kneeling in front of them were their friends, George Fayne, Ned Nickerson, and Nancy Drew. Nancy's blue eyes sparkled as she gazed out at the camera, Ned's arm around her shoulders. The photo had been taken during a party aboard a boat - the Isabella Queen. They'd just wrapped up a case involving a rash of robberies on Padre Island in Texas. Everyone was having such a good time in that photo...

"Hey, you still with me?" Joe's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Uh, yeah, I'm still here," Frank said. "You were telling me about this model you met. Ashlyn." Frank shook his head. He still couldn't understand how Joe managed to go from getting a degree in criminal justice to doing fashion photo shoots in Los Angeles. He could only hope this was some phase Joe was going through.

"Ashlee," Joe corrected. "And you're doing it again, aren't you?"

"Doing what?" Frank replied innocently.

"You've either got that ring out, or one of her photos."

"No I don't," Frank said, quickly setting the frame back down.

"Yes you do. I know you too well, big brother. Instead of being out, celebrating your twenty-sixth birthday, you're staying in, moping over HER."

"No, I am not! I'm staying in, catching up on some paperwork. You know how law enforcement is. Every case we open showers us in mountains of paperwork. And the newest case I've been assigned is killing me. We've got some jerk running an adoption scan online and so far, he's managed to stay 2 steps ahead of me on everything I've done to track him."

"Um hmm." Joe said. "She's dead, Frank. She's not coming back. I know you loved her very much, but it's been five years. Time to move on with your life. Go out, get a girlfriend, enjoy living. Nancy would have wanted that."

"Yes, I know that Joe. For your information, little bro, I have a girlfriend. And maybe one day, I might want to take our relationship to the next level. But for now, I'm just too busy. It's not easy being one of the younger detectives on the unit. I feel like I have to work twice as hard just to prove that I'm as good as the rest of them."

"You are as good as the rest of them. You're a Hardy. Doesn't matter how young you are. That's just an excuse not to go out and date. You're afraid of falling in love again - afraid you might get hurt."

"I am not. I'm also not in the mood for another one of these lectures, especially on my birthday."

"Yeah," Joe said, "I know. I never wanted to hear it either, after Iola died. But I needed to hear it. And you were there to push me along, make me live my life again. I only wish you would have let me return the favor to you."

"I AM living my life again, Joe. And it's not my fault you're living in California now. That was your decision. You could've stayed in Bayport and we could've opened that detective agency we'd always talked about..."

"Frank," Joe said. "You're heart just wasn't in it at the time. Maybe one day, but for now..." his voice trailed off. "Anyway, let's not get into this now. I just wanted to wish my big brother a happy birthday. Get out of that apartment tonight, Frank. Go out, have a few drinks, get that girl of yours, and take her dancing. Have some fun tonight."

"Sure, Joe," Frank said. "Maybe I will. "

"Okay," Joe said. "Catch you later then?"

"Yeah," Frank said. "Later. Love you, Joe."

"Love you too big bro." Frank heard the sound of the phone clicking on the other end. He placed his phone back on it's base and walked into the bedroom. Opening the top drawer, he fished a black velvet ring box out from under his socks. Flipping up the lid, he stared at the heart shaped diamond nestled in the red satin. "Get a girl, go dancing. He makes it sound so easy." Carefully Frank slid the box back under the socks and shut the drawer.