I POSTED MY FIRST CHAPTER TO "SECOND-HAND HEARTS" UNDER THE "DEAR FRANKIE" CATEGORY. I hope those of you who frequent my stories will enjoy it. It won't be a really long fic, but it will be worth it.

Thanks again, to Mlle.Fox for the use of her wonderful character, Allie. You make me look good, my friend!

No portion of this storyline, or the use of my original characters, is to be used in any way without my written permission, or that of Mlle.Fox, in reference to Allie. Thank you.

Enjoy.

CHAPTER 28

The next morning dawned early for Erik, he had always been a man who didn't take the luxury of sleep seriously, but things seemed to be changing…now that his heart had settled down. He slept better and seemed to require sleep to function, something that had never happened to him before.

He knew that Karlie would be up in an hour or so, and he wanted to take her to breakfast and go for a walk before they left to pick up Allie. Erik took a sponge bath, and was sure to wash his hair. Karlie seemed particularly fond of his raven tresses, so he kept them soft and loose to entice her delicate hands to frolic in its thickness.

Erik smirked at his reflection in the mirror. He looked years younger than he could ever remember looking, and oddly enough, he felt younger too. In all the years before, Erik had never dreamed he could be this content. He was in love, genuinely in love, for the first time in his life.

He had loved Christine, but in a storybook way; putting her on a pedestal and demanding her affections. But Karlie…he loved her in the real world way, he could think of nothing he would rather do than have babies with her, and grow old with her, and watch their grandchildren grow into adulthood.

He did a little bit of writing on his new opera and left his room when he heard Karlie moving about in the room next door. He stood before her door and knocked, waiting for her to respond.

She answered the door and took his breath away. She was still in her nightgown, but her hair was in disarray, curling and twisting in directions she would have normally not allowed it to go. He didn't think he had ever seen her look more beautiful.

"Hello, my Dove." Erik began, in his deep, seductive baritone. "I have come to whisk you away for breakfast."

Karlie put her hands on her hips and cast him a wayward look, "Do I look like I am ready to go to breakfast?"

Erik looked her up and down thoroughly, loving what he saw, his hungry eyes burned into her, "You can grace my breakfast table anytime looking just as you do right now."

Karlie had not idea what to say to that. She went into his warm, secure, sheltering arms and looked deep into his emerald eyes. Suddenly, she knew this was the perfect time, the time she had been waiting for.

She reached up and removed the mask from his marred side, and then held his face in her hands. She gently pulled him toward her, never breaking eyes contact. She tenderly kissed both cheeks, both eyes, and the tip of his nose. Then, she took his lips with her mouth, claiming him as her own.

She manipulated his tongue with her own, hearing the moan that erupted from Erik's throat. She firmly sucked his tongue, causing Erik to go weak kneed. His hands roamed her back and settled on the curve of her derriere, pushing her fabulously pliable body into his hardness, causing her to moan into his mouth.

Karlie was completely lost in the moment, as she started to pull Erik's shirt from the confines of his pants; but Erik gained control of the moment and pulled out of the kiss. They were both breathless and passion was raging through them, unhindered and untamed.

Karlie looked at him, begging her body to calm down; but all she could think about, was ridding him of his clothes and having her way with his gorgeous body.

She smiled, and allowed the truth of her feelings to show in her eyes, hoping he would see her sincerity.

"I love you, Erik." She said, without even blinking an eye. "I love you with every beat of my heart…I can't imagine living one more day without you by my side." Tears were flowing freely, "I want to have your babies suckling at my breast…I want to live in that beautiful home with you, and grow old with you."

Erik couldn't say a word, his eyes and ears were completely occupied with Karlie, "I didn't want to love you…love has not been kind to me…every man I have loved has left me disappointed and discouraged." She reached up again and caressed his cheek, "But now I see that they had to leave so that you could come into my life…my soul mate."

Erik pulled her to him and wept as he held her…how long had he waited to hear someone say what she had just said to him…how long? He now knew his life had been leading up to this moment…this woman.

He lifted her chin up to look deep into her eyes, "I love you too, Karlie." He moved to lean his forehead against hers, "More than I ever thought I could love anyone…and I never thought anyone would love me in return."

They spent the next few minutes just enjoying the realization of the depth of their feelings for each other. Karlie dressed and fixed her hair, and they went to breakfast. Her thoughts were full of Erik, and how Allie was going to react to their newfound love.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

Waiting at the train station was nerve wracking for both of them, for different reasons. Erik was anxious because he wanted to win Allie over and assure that she approved of him and Karlie.

Karlie was anxious because she was eager to share this wonderful feeling she was experiencing with her best friend. She knew that Allie would be thrilled for her, but Karlie wanted to see and hear her reaction.

The train was slowing to a stop in front of the depot and Karlie was certain she saw Allie in the window of the third car. When the train came to a complete stop, her thoughts were confirmed as she caught Allie's eye.

They waved vigorously at each other and grinned from ear to ear…everyone would think they hadn't seen each other in months; well, it had been about five months…but that was a relatively short amount of time, compared to what it had been in the past.

Karlie lost sight of Allie as she retrieved her luggage and headed for the door. Erik stood beside her, having just gotten there. He had had to step away to use the facilities, so Allie still had no idea he was there.

Allie stepped down off the train and made eye contact with Karlie; and then, she laid eyes on Erik, standing possessively close to Karlie with his hand in the small of her back.

It was a good long moment before Erik realized that the twin Cheshire cat grins spreading on their faces were leading up to...

"KAAR-LIE!" squealed the redhead bouncing off the train and rushing toward her friend, who also squealed,

"ALLIE!" They embraced and laughed, to which the corner of Erik's mouth responded by lifting up into a smile. Any woman who made Karlie this happy was definitely worth keeping around. Then all their attention was caught by three elder businessmen in black suits calling,

"Miss Allie! Miss Allie!" Allie turned and smiled coquettishly and waved at the men before turning back to the face of her amused and disbelieving friend.

"What? Can't a girl make friends on an insanely long trip?" she replied with an innocent batting of her eyes.

Trying to contain her mirth, Karlie said, "Will you ever change?"

Stepping around Karlie, Allie winked and said, "Only when I stop havin' fun Suga!"

Her eyes raked Erik's form; not even trying to hide her admiration, she announced, "Now, this delectable specimen of a man must be the Infamous Erik Clairvaux! How do? I'm Alexandra Waterford!"

Erik had to think for a moment before taking her outstretched hand to his lips; and he thought Karlie was mind-boggling!

Erik suddenly felt like he had lost all control of the situation, he would have no peace with these two in the same room; but he also knew that he had been devoid of any and all female companionship for so long, that he was looking forward to just observing these two in action.

He placed the kiss upon Allie's hand, and greeted her with a beguiling smile.

"The pleasure is all mine, Ms. Waterford." Erik relied, in his deep, melodious voice. "Anyone who can make Karlie laugh like I have heard her laugh in your presence, brings joy to me."

Allie fanned herself and said with a flirtatious grin dancing upon her lips, "Lord have mercy if there ain't anythang I love more than hearin' a foreign accent!"

Erik grinned and excused himself. He picked up Allie's luggage, and headed for the doors, never hearing Allie whisper to Karlie, "Sweet Jesus the man looks good comin' and goin!"

"Allie! Control yourself before I am forced to hurt you!" Karlie threatened, a playful, warning smile on her face.

"Oh Hon relax. You know I've got enough men trailin' my skirts, why would I steal another woman's? Ain't like there's not enough men to go 'round." Allie replied as Karlie just shook her head in amusement.

Allie and Karlie followed Erik toward the exit, barely aware of anything around them...they chatted the whole way.

Erik had bought a new carriage in the hustle of the previous days. He motioned for the driver to come forward, placed the luggage in the storage compartment behind the main hull of the carriage, and helped Karlie and Allie into the carriage.

Karlie and Allie both smiled at him as they both sat together, across from what was supposed to be Erik's seat; but Erik sat down in the front with the driver, wanting to give Karlie and Allie some time to chat.

Once the carriage started moving, Karlie could contain her enthusiasm no longer.

Her dark eyes lit up as she spoke, "Allie, you'll never believe what has happened in the past week!"

Nodding toward the figure up beside the driver, Allie told Karlie, "It had better have somethin' to do with that Frenchman up there or I will tan your hide into doin' somethin'!"

"Oh I've done plenty of somethin' already!" Karlie grinned, imitating Allie's accent.

Karlie went on to explain to Allie about the last few, very passionate, days between her and Erik in hushed whispers and stifled giggles. A slow steady grin spread on Allie's face.

She narrowed her eyes in pride and Karlie knew how Allie was about to respond. "You little harlot!" Came the chiding accusation.

Karlie burst out laughing, causing Erik to turn from his seat trying to figure out what had caused that delightful sound.

"You tramp! You painted woman! You...little floozy!" Allie teasingly scolded, her pride in Karlie showing in her eyes.

Karlie was shushing Allie with her finger to her lips, but the smile reaching from ear-to-ear gave her away.

Allie continued with her comical berating, "You..." she stammered, "I can't think of any other names 'cause I'm so shocked at you throwin' yourself at the poor boy like that!"

Allie feigned complete shock with her hand to her heart, "Havin' him grab your scrawny little behind like that!" She squinted her eyes and whispered, "You shameless hussy!"

Karlie just lifted her eyebrows and grinned, accepting all the names, she had just been called, with pride. They had a few more minutes of giggles and whispers, and then Karlie's voice took on a serious note.

"I told him a loved him, Allie…and he said he loved me." Her eyes dropped to her folded hands, and then she grasped her friends hands tightly, "I have never felt this way about anyone…" an ember burned in her eyes as she lifted them back to Allie, "…his kisses leave me breathless and yearning for more. All I can think about is having his babies and waking up next to him every day for the rest of my life."

Allie reached up and cupped Karlie's cheek in her hand. Her smile was sincere and loving, "Then go for it, Hon. Don't let anythin' stop ya…life is to short to let this kind of love pass ya by." She lifted Karlie's chin and looked down her nose at her, giving her a stern, motherly stare.

Karlie nodded and wiped her tears, "Thank you for listening to me…I love you, Allie…you're my best friend." Karlie pulled Allie to her for a hug.

Pulling back and wiping away a tear that betrayed her soft heart, Allie stated, "Well darlin' I tell you what...I have a proposition for ya." Allie looked unusually serious, "I'll help Erik lean towards poppin' the question and get you two workin' on those babies," Allie leaned in to Karlie and whispered, "'cause Lord knows I want to be a Godmother and spoil 'em rotten," She pulled back out, "if you help me with...a little situation I'm dealin' with at the moment."

Intrigued, Karlie sat back and asked, "Oh? Since when does Allie Waterford need help?"

"I'm serious Karlie! I haven't had a moments peace since the oh-so-annoying-full-of-hisself-thinks-he's-God's-gift-to-women Beauregard Jackson came into my life!" said Allie with a roll of her eyes.

Karlie's mouth dropped, "You're…having problems with a man!" Karlie exclaimed, "Heavens! I must hear this!"

"Forgit it! I shouldn't have mentioned it! I'm still going to help you snag Erik just outta the goodness of my heart, but I ain't tellin' you a thang about...you know who!" Allie said folding her arms over her chest and looking out the window with wounded pride, both mock and a touch of real.

Karlie laughed, "Oh, don't worry, I'll figure it out on my own soon enough!"

"Jee--ez--a-bel!" Allie drawled out making Karlie laugh more.

To be continued…