The Mystery of the Missing Pint (A Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys FanFiction)

Chapter Eight: Anything

"I'd like you to meet the Hardys," Carson lifted his daughter up, setting her on his hip. She hid her face in his shoulder, but only for a moment.

"My name is Nancy and I'm seven," She smiled brightly, "It's very nice to meet you."

"It's very nice to meet you, Nancy," the woman beamed, "I'm Laura Hardy and this is my husband Fenton. He works with your father sometimes."

"She's adorable, Carson," Fenton smiled, "Just as you've always painted her."

"You talk about me at work?" Nancy turned to her father, hands on her hips, eyes squinting.

"Wha- I...I..." he stammered, feigning guilt.

"Now, won't you get into trouble if you're causing distractions and not doing your job? You should know better than that, Daddy," Nancy scolded. The adults in the room could only laugh in surprise.

"But you're all I can think about. You're my entire world," Carson kissed her head as soon as he could manage to breathe again.

"Well," Nancy said, "then I suppose it's alright...if you put it that way."

"Ahehhehhem," Elizabeth cleared her throat, "That's what you're supposed to tell me."

"Ooh, you're in trouble now," Nancy shook her head, "You made Mommy mad. That's a no-no." She wagged her finger at her father.

Carson was speechless as the room burst into giggles again.

"It looks like you've dug a pit for yourself, Carson," Fenton laughed.

"I suppose so," he chuckled in return, setting Nancy down.

"Laura, it's so good to see you," Elizabeth embraced Mrs. Hardy.

"Oh, you as well, Elizabeth, you as well," Laura returned the embrace.

"You're looking as good as ever," Fenton hugged Elizabeth.

"Thank you, Fenton. I trust you're doing well?" Elizabeth asked.

"Fine, thank you," he turned to the boys at his feet. "These are my sons. This is Frank, and this," he looked behind Laura to the still hiding blonde, "is my youngest, Joe."

"Hello boys, I'm Nancy's mother. Nancy is having a sleepover, and those are all her friends. I'm sure you will both have lots of fun with them. Would you like to go downstairs and play?" Mrs. Drew crouched down to meet their eyes.

Joe peered around his mother's skirt. When he saw all the other children, he quickly shook his head and hid behind his mother again.

Frank looked to Nancy's mother, "He's really shy of strangers."

"I see that," she looked thoughtful, "What can we do to change that?"

Nancy cautiously walked over to Joe, "My name is Nancy. I'm seven. Would you like to play with me?" He looked at her and shook his head. She tried again, "You can pick out the game that we play. We can play annnyyything that you want to."

He glanced at her, "Anything?"

She smiled and took his hand, "Anything."