NOTES: Okay, everyone, here it is, my sequel to A New Beginning. In true Nancy Drew fashion, I decided to take this one on location. I lived in England for several years so it isn't totally out there for me to write about. :)

Second Chances

Chapter 1

"THIS. IS. INCREDIBLE!" Bess Marvin squealed as they stepped out of their taxi onto the street in front of their hotel.

"She's not exaggerating for once," her cousin, George, agreed. "This is awesome."

Nancy Drew smiled at her friends' excitement. "It is pretty great," she admitted. Bess Marvin and George Fayne were her closest friends and she was thrilled to be sharing this experience with them.

Nancy worked for Hardy & Sons Investigative Services in Bayport, New York. She had recently stumbled across a case with ties in England. So after a little time convincing her boss, Fenton Hardy, that she really must follow up in person, here she was standing in front of the Park Plaza taking in breathtaking views of Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and the London Eye. Having not seen her best friends in months, she had offered for them to join her on what was sure to be an incredible adventure.

After checking in and making their way up to their room, Bess gasped as she took in the amazing view from their twelfth floor suite. "When do Frank and Joe arrive?" she asked breathlessly her blue eyes sparkling as she took in their surroundings. Frank and Joe Hardy were brothers and the "Sons" in Hardy & Sons. They had all been friends since childhood and she was eager to catch up.

"Oh, yes," George agreed as she stretched out on one of the beds. Her strong, athletic build and dark hair was in direct contrast with her blonde, more curvaceous cousin. "When does lover boy arrive?" she teased. "We haven't seen you two together yet," her dark eyes raised playfully as her face broke out in a knowing grin.

"Frank," Nancy said matter-of-factly, "will be arriving tomorrow afternoon. Joe and Vanessa will be with him, of course." She had gone back to her childhood home of River Heights to catch a flight with Bess and George while the others were leaving from New York. She and Frank had been dating for a few months now and Vanessa Bender was Joe's new fiancé.

"Ah, the girl who tamed Joe Hardy," Bess laughed. "This I have to see."

"It's true," Nancy smiled thinking of the happy couple. "They are really good together and Vanessa's great. I think you'll like her."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm sure she's wonderful," Bess replied a wicked grin spreading across her face, "but I want to hear about you and Frank. Spill. Now."

Nancy could feel the heat spreading across her cheeks. "I don't know what to say," she stammered. "Frank's great."

"We know he's great, Nancy," Bess said rolling her eyes. "We've known him since we were kids. But seriously, we've barely talked to you in months! MONTHS! One minute it's, 'Oh, by the way, I broke up with Ned,' then it's, 'Oh, I'm going to stay in Bayport for a while,' then it's 'Oh, guess what, I'm dating Frank' and then it's all, 'I think we'll live together.' Who are you and what did you do with Nancy Drew?"

"It's not like that," Nancy said quickly. "Okay, maybe a little like that, but, not," she sighed defeated.

"All I can say is it is about time," George smirked. Nancy and Frank had danced around each other for years, always coming up with some insanely sensible reason not to be together. It was a relief to their friends to know they were no longer pretending.

"Seriously," Bess agreed. "So, really, spill. What's it like to kiss tall, dark, and handsome Frank Hardy?" she asked dreamily.

"Pretty amazing," Nancy admitted shyly her face turning a deep shade of pink that clashed against her strawberry blonde hair.

"I knew it!" Bess squealed. "Nancy Hardy…. I like it," she said grinning mischievously.

"Bess!" Nancy said sharply, "we are not even thinking of anything like marriage yet. We have only been dating a few months."

Her friend snorted in response as she and George shared a knowing look. "We'll see!" she sang out as Nancy threw a pillow at her head in response.

The next day the three friends were just returning to the hotel lobby after a morning of sightseeing and to the tomboyish George's chagrin, shopping, when they heard a familiar voice. "Check in. We would like to check in," the voice said slowly careful to properly annunciate each word.

"I know that voice," Nancy grinned rushing around the corner towards the hotel's front desk. Sure enough, it was Frank, Joe, and Vanessa, their backs to her as they attempted to get the key to their room.

"Joe, this is England. They speak English," a slightly exasperated Frank interrupted his brother. "I'm sorry," he said apologetically to the woman at the desk. "Frank and Joe Hardy. We have a couple of rooms booked."

"I knew that," Joe muttered sheepishly to Vanessa as the clerk handed them their room keys. Turning to head towards the elevators he noticed the others for the first time.

"Hey, it's Nancy!" Joe exclaimed as Frank's head shot up in anticipation. "And Bess and George! Hi guys!" he said waving as they made their way over to where they were waiting.

After greetings and introductions were taken care of the group made plans to head to their rooms to freshen up before dinner. "I think all of our rooms are on the same hall," Nancy offered, "but we can always meet in the lobby if that's easiest."

"That sounds good," Joe agreed. "After all, I definitely don't want to interrupt yours and Frank's happy reunion or anything," he added with a shudder.

Bess giggled at the embarrassed, albeit very guilty, looks on Frank and Nancy's faces as the group filed out of the elevator and down the hall to their respective rooms.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" Joe teased before Vanessa pushed him into their room with an apologetic glance to the others.

"Finally!" Frank sighed as he collapsed on the bed in the room he and Nancy would share.

"Long flight?" Nancy asked clearly amused as her boyfriend struggled to keep his eyes open. She watched him for a moment, slight stubble beginning to show on his face and his dark hair tousled about after a long day of travel. He's so handsome, she thought smiling appreciatively as she studied his long, muscular legs stretched out across the bed.

"Indeed," he said as his eyes fluttered open and he smiled up at her. Forcing himself into a sitting position, he reached over and pulled her down on the bed beside him. "I missed you," he said softly pulling her in for a gentle kiss.

"I missed you, too," she murmured as she leaned closer. Nancy knew it was crazy how much she had missed Frank. She had just seen him a few days ago. In fact, up until a few months ago they hardly saw each other at all. Her pulse quickened as the kiss grew deeper and she began to lose herself in him before coming to her senses and reluctantly pulling away.

"We can't," she argued futilely as Frank's lips touched the spot just behind her ear that he knew would make her melt. "Seriously…must…stop!" she gasped forcing herself to pull out of his embrace.

"We have a little time," Frank said grinning suggestively at her as he began to come closer once again. "Joe can wait."

"Oh no, you don't!" Nancy jumped just out of his reach. "We have to get ready and meet the others. It's not just Joe, you know. Do you really want to keep Bess waiting?" she teased.

"Yes!" Frank retorted but stood up and obediently made his way to the bathroom.

An hour later the group was seated at a restaurant just down from their hotel waiting for their food to arrive. "So, Nan, we are all here, will you please tell us more about this case you are working on now?" George begged her curiosity getting the better of her.

"I guess so," Nancy replied smiling mischievously. She had been purposely keeping the others in the dark until they were all together and she knew it was killing George, not to mention Frank and Joe.

"Out with it, Drew!" Joe demanded before stuffing another piece of bread in his mouth.

"Well, do you remember Pauline?" she asked turning to Bess and George. "My Mom's friend that visited last summer?" she prompted.

"Yes," they agreed both nodding in response. "Well, as you may remember, she is English-"

"She's the one that owns all the horses, right?" Bess interjected.

"She doesn't own them, well, a couple, but she works with them, yes," Nancy agreed.

"You should hear her talk about it," George said to the others excitedly. "It's these champion racehorses. Some of them are worth A LOT of money. She trains them. It's awesome!"

Nancy laughed at the enthusiasm of her sports-loving friend. "Well, you're in luck, George," she said smiling. "The case involves the horses."

Her friend frowned in response. "Why are we in London then?" she asked her brows furrowed in confusion. "I didn't think Pauline lived in London."

"She doesn't," Nancy explained. "She works in Newmarket, but the closest airport was Heathrow, so I thought it would be nice to spend a couple of days in London first before heading that way. We have traveled this far, after all."

"So we've come all the way across the ocean to take care of some horses? Where do I sign up?" Joe asked dryly.

"Not just any horses, Joe," George quipped. "Champion racehorses."

"Why don't we let Nancy explain?" Frank urged eager to find out the real reason they were all sitting in a restaurant in the middle of London.

"Pauline Clarke was one of my mother's oldest friends. They grew up together before Pauline moved back to England. After my Mom died, Pauline kept in touch. Phone calls, letters…but she has wanted me to visit her for years and I have never made the trip. However, in her last call she was explaining to me about some difficulties they have been having down at the track."

"What kind of difficulties?" Frank asked curiously.

"Maybe I'd better let her explain it," Nancy said coyly. "I don't even know all the details myself."

The others at the table groaned. "You cannot be serious!" Joe whined. "You can't tease us like that and then leave us hanging."

Nancy just smiled. "We'll head that way the day after tomorrow."

Please review! :) And as always, thank you for reading.