Ttrmo77: Thank you, I hope you enjoy this one, I had lots of fun writing it.

Phantomsmelody1970: You don't have to wait much longer.

Katdancer: I know! My DAD was crying during Music of the night, not big time, but he admitted there were tears in his eyes! I was crying my eyes out in the movie theatre and dad thought that something was wrong!

Phantom Serenity: Thank you. I agree, that is my favorite movie of his...but I still try to imagine Jimmy Stewart in his place! Tina's got a few quips in this chapter!


Chapter twelve

Erik's heart was pounding in his chest. He walked around and opened the car door…as Tina's long leg's slid out in their open toed red sandals.

He frowned, "I thought you were wearing a skirt."

"I was." She said, smoothing her shirt down around her white shorts. "By why wear a skirt to a beach when you've got shorts on?"

Erik shifted uneasily as he eyed her appearance. "Uhh, Tina."

"What?" she asked rolling her skirt into a tight ball and stuffing it in her purse. "You're parent's don't like Ann Margaret outfits?"

"Tina, if you're trying to make an impression. You're going to do just that."

"Well," she said spinning around. "What do you think?"

Erik eyed her in her red shirt, red heels, Audrey Hepburn sunglasses, huge floppy white hat, and white 1960 style hot short shorts. He took her arm, "well perfect for the beach. Did you bring your sun lotion?"

She shook her head, "never use the stuff." She inhaled. "A lovely home Erik. The roses and the sea; it's a lovely combination."

"Tina, it's nice on the outside, but inside it's another story."

She nodded, "I agree."

They walked up the brick walkway with her heels clacking. As he opened the door she said, "fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night."

He laughed, "you're fast on the quotes today aren't you?"

"Elementary my dear Watson."

"Erik's here!"

Erik groaned and whispered, "Carlotta."

"I'm ready." She said.

"Erik!"

"That's mother."

"What's he doing here?"

"That's father."

"So, what do they know about you?"

"Nothing. Except that we broke up for a week and got back together almost in an hour."

She removed her sunglasses and glanced around the house. "Very lovely."

He nudged her into another room, "here, this is my music room." He glanced around at the familiar room with its dark walls and red carpet. A black piano in one corner, a white piano in the other.

"Interesting. Do you play lighter melodies on the white piano and darker one's on the black?"

"Pretty much." He said.

Tina hopped on the black piano, "play it Sam, play as time goes by."

He laughed, "as you know, you wish is my command, but I don't know that song."

She laughed, "that's ok. How about 'again' as sung by Hadley fraiser?"

"Ok, I know that one." He leaned forward. "Just so you know, my parent's don't like my playing."

She rolled her eyes, "you're playing for me at the moment, not them. So, play it Erik, play it for me."

Erik obliged.

Halfway through the song Carlotta barged in the room, "Erik, darling!"

Tina sat up and shot her a glare that made Carlotta freeze. Her face turned purple as she took in the sight of the red head lounging across his piano, Rita Hayworth style. She stared at Tina as she leaned back onto the piano, propping herself up on one elbow.

Tina's eyes sparkled as she listened to the piano music and she nodded approvingly when he ended the song.

"Beautiful Erik." She sat up and nodded to Carlotta. "Aren't you going to introduce us?"

He made a face. "Sure. Tina, this is Carlotta."

"Your aunt?" she asked innocently.

Carlotta choked and Erik fought back a laugh. "No, she's a friend of the family."

"Oh, forgive me." Tina said stepping forward to shake her hand. "I am so sorry."

Erik stepped forward, wrapping an arm around her waist. "And this is Tina."

"Tina who?"

"Tina's my girlfriend." He said.

Tina didn't blink or react. But Carlotta did.


Tina smiled inwardly as Carlotta's mouth fell open. Then she laughed, "you're kidding! You and this….bimbo!"

"ahhh," Tina said seriously. "Last time someone said that about me. I ate their liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti."

Carlotta took a step back and glanced at Erik who was openly laughing. "You think this is funny! She's mad!"

"I'm so sorry." She said. "I've been on a classic line binge today."

"Tina, my parents."

She looked up and blinked. Mr. and Mrs. Levine were hard-faced individuals. Both dressed uptight, prim and proper. This is going to be harder than I thought.

"Mom, dad, this is Tina." Erik said.

"His girlfriend," Carlotta said sarcastically.

Their parent's eyes popped open, his mother laughed. "Funny Erik. There is no way a woman this attractive would fall in love with you."

Tina stared in shock. "Excuse me," she said, blood rising to her cheeks. "I happen to care about your son very much."

"His money." His father said. "You mean."

Tina rolled her eyes, "I have enough money of my own and I don't care a twit about his money! Erik is a very handsome man and a beautiful soul. And excuse me for saying so, but you're being quite rude to your houseguest."

"You my dear, have a forward tongue."

"I am what I am." She said. "I may be forward, but I am bluntly honest."

Erik cleared his throat, "shall we take a walk?"

"Sure Erik." Carlotta said, running her finger down Erik's chest. "Just like old times remember?"

Erik looked at Tina with a pleading look. She knew what was up; Carlotta was interested in Erik's money and was trying to make it look like they were in a relationship. Except, that was one of the oldest games in the book, a 1940's game, and she was an expert on that game.

"It used to be such fun." Carlotta purred, as her fingers slid below his chest down towards his belt line. And Tina lost her last amount of restraint.

"Carlotta," Tina said in a firm tone. "If you want to keep that arm, you better get it off my man right now."

Carlotta blanched and stammered. "How dare you!"

"I don't know who you are or what you are. But I know what you're acting like and that ain't pretty!"

"What!"

"You're no lady. A lady would keep her fingers to herself and not on a man who's dating another. Not to mention, to do such actions when his girlfriends is standing right there. You are no lady."

Carlotta stared at her in shock. Tina glanced at Erik's and he was staring at her in shock. Carlotta's hand was still frozen on his waist. "What we've got here is failure to communicate. Get your hand off Erik now and keep it off before I rip your arm out of your socket and beat your head in with it!"

"Ohhh!" she shrieked, letting go of Erik. "How could you bring a girl like her home?"

"Because…. I'm crazy about her."

"I have a good mind to tell you all about us!" Carlotta shrieked.

Tina looped her arm through Erik's, "he told me." she said glaring at her. "Everything." The look on Carlotta's face was priceless. She turned to Erik. "Now, about that beach? I believe it would be a good idea for everyone to cool off, especially me."

"Sure." He stammered. "Follow me."

The moment they were outside, she kicked off her shoes in front of the door.

"I-I can't believe you did that." Erik said.

Tina blushed and shoved her hair out her face, "I can't believe I said it either. I made a terrible impression."

"Believe me Tina," he said taking her hand. "That house is so Victorian century, you're like a clean breeze sweeping out the cobwebs."

"Uh, would you care to say 'beating' would be a much more proper word that 'sweeping'? Sweeping implies gentle, that I am not."

Erik laughed and they walked down the brick steps towards the beach. "You're a diamond Tina. There are many sides to you."

"Indeed. Now Erik, mind if I what is exactly Carlotta has on her mind?"

He shifted uncomfortably, "Well, let's say…. mother and father view it as a marriage of necessity. If I marry her, our father's companies with merge together. The one problem is I can't stand her."

She snorted, "I figured as much."

"You, believe me?"

She frowned at him, "of course I do. I kinda had that plot figured out the moment she walked in the room. It's one of the oldest games in the world."

Erik's arms went around her waist and he spun her around. She let out a shriek, "Erik!"

Erik set her down and buried hi face in her neck, "I can't believe it. How could I have even thought of breaking up with you?"

"Temporary insanity." She said fiddling with her mp3 speakers that were hooked onto her belt loop.

Erik laughed, "Can't you do anywhere without music?"

She shook her head, "no. I've got just the song for this moment."

"Songs for a moment?"

She nodded, "yes. That way, whenever you hear the song, you'll remember this moment forever."

"I find that hard to believe."

She rolled her eyes, "I lay you ten to one, whenever you here Michael ball sing 'from here to eternity' you're going to remember this." After turning her music up high and locking her mp3 player she took off towards the ocean. "Catch me if you can!"

"I'll catch you!" he shouted behind her.

She tossed her head, sending her red hair flying.

I am yours without a doubt, without a doubt you're mine. Erik tackled her and they rolled in the sand. We have optimistic love in pessimistic times. She squealed and removed his mask. Erik howled in protest and she gripped the mask tight and held it.

"Come on!" she said. "You don't need to wear it. We're the only one's here!"

"Are you sure?" he said. "I don't disgust you?"

She leaned close, "believe me, disgust is the last thing I'm feeling." Erik's gaze flickered to her lips and that old temptation to let him kiss her, followed her again. So kiss me, say goodbye to me. She managed to find the strength to push free, "Michael ball, stay out of this!" Erik howled and he took her hand and the raced into the water up to their ankles. Be sure you don't cry for me. I'll see you at the end, when our roads meet again

Erik ignored her squeals about how cold the ocean was. From here to eternity. You'll be with me; you'll be with me. From here to eternity.

"Tina!" Erik shouted. "Run!" she spun around to see a huge wave coming right at her! She screamed and barely beat the wave back to the shore. Erik caught her around the waist and spun her around. You'll be with me; you'll be with me.

You are my blood; I am your blood. Tina caught her legs around his waist, and spoke above the waves. "Back to the shore!" he nodded and waded back to the shore. You're my staunchest friend. We've had our quarrels and our squabbles and fall in love again. Erik set her on the sand and she exhaled as he nestled closer, brushing sand off her face. So I must leave you here tonight. Follow me when the time is right. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and the water lapped at their feet as they watched the birds fly overhead and Michael ball's voice filled the salty sea air. Time is not my friend. Till we meet again.

"Erik! Tina!" Carlotta screeched. "Lunch is served."

Erik groaned, "I was getting comfortable."

She pouted, "me too." She stood up and brushed the sand off herself. "But lunch calls."

"Don't be surprised if it's something peculiar."

"What could they whip on such short notice?"

"Don't ask."


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