The Nanny is copyrighted. No infringements are implied. I am just borrowing the wonderful characters for a while and than put them back where they belong.
Sara, thanks a lot for beta-reading this story and making comments.
To all fan fiction writers: please continue writing. Your work is great and will be red to many of us.
Barb, thank you for allowing me to post this story. I really love your site!
by
Mara
(jonaheve@hotmail.com)
In the dining room of the Sheffield / Butler Mansion.
"Mummy, I want to go to mummy." A three year old Eve is crying from her infant chair.
"Eve come on, eat your dinner and then we will go watch Sesame Street together" Max is holding some potatoes in front of the nose of his daughter.
"Look at Jonah, he is already finished". At that same moment Jonah is also starting to sob. "Mummy.., mummy.. "
Brighton takes his little brother from the infant chair. "Come on Jonah. Mummy is only away for three days. "Till than we men are overruling the girls and we have to take advantage of that. We will put you pyjamas on and we will watch Bert and Ernie"
Next to Eve sits Emily, the two year old daughter of Niles and CC. She refuses to eat anything.
"Come Emily eat". Niles tries to feed his daughter. Emily shakes her head.
"Come, you are a Butler. We butlers should give the good example". Emily takes some small bites and then refuses again.
Grace who is watching the whole view looks angry at Max.
"Dad and Niles, to be honest, they have never been away for a couple of days. Just once when Fran wanted to spent her holidays alone. Mainly due to dad’s lack of commitment. I miss them. I really don’t know how you two could agree with this".
"Gracie! Fran and CC only wanted to go shopping for a couple of days in London. They needed it. Probably it is the mood swings, I don’t know. We tried to change their minds. But pregnant women and mood swings hard to stop, I guess"
"Besides the fact is that is only three days and what is three days in a life time" adds Niles.
Grace replies. "You are both probably right. But it feels strange. No other women to talk too. Luckily Sylvia hasn’t gone to Boca yet. Anyway I am going to e-mail Maggie and say hi"
Meanwhile Eve and Emily have stopped sobbing. With their little fists they are slamming with on the table. "Ernie, Ernie, Big Bird, Big Bird".
"Let put those two in the bad tub, shall we". Max caries his daughter and Emily upstairs.
Niles starts cleaning the tables.
After a couple of hours the kids are finally a sleep and two exhausted men are talking in the living room. Upstairs Grace and Brighton are doing their homework.
"God, I need a Brandy or make it a Jack Walker". Niles looks at the picture of the whole family next on the table next to the couch. He toasts to the picture.
"To you dear" then he looks at Max.
"I assume you want one too?"
Max nods. "It surprises me. Fran is only one day away and the whole house is a mess. The kids aren’t behaving like they used to and they cry for no reason all day. Thank God everything is doing well at the theatre and we are sold out for months. Otherwise I wouldn’t survive at all. I thought a moody wife was worse. It will be strange tonight. I never slept alone in a bed since we were married. Even when I thought I would. Do you remember the time when Fran and you were following us to Beverly Hills?
"Yes I remember it well" Niles chuckles.
"Due to mood swings of Fran and that women who predicted I was in bed with a leggy blond"
"But you were!"
"Yes, but with my best friend! Strangely enough that man listened also to my wife and I still don’t know how to think about that"
"I was desperate to loose CC. Can’t you blame it to me."
"I don’t blame you anything. When you left out, wow, did we have a night" Max remembers.
"Yes, I remember it well. I am pretty sure that during that night, Emily was conceived" replies Niles. A dreamy looks on his face.
Grace is walking downstairs. "Brighton!" She shouts looking upstairs.
"Brighton come on! We are going to watch a movie together! That means you too. Fran gave me this tape, just to remember her, and knowing that she will be walking in those streets".
"Max, are you sure she didn’t inherited any Fine genes?" Niles looks at Max.
Grace gives the tape to Max.
"Nothing Hill? We have been there. Just me and Fran walking hand in hand…"
"Yes and than you let her decorate the kitchen instead of making a commitment, and I was thinking my dad was smart at that time." Grace teases her dad. "I am so glad you finally married her and glad that Niles married the Ice Queen"
"Me too, dear. Are we sure we are gonna watch this?" He ignores his daughters’ first sentence. He has heard that too many times.
"Grace is lady of the house now, let’s do it" Brighton agrees with his sister.
They all take some popcorn and juices and watch the movie.
Somewhere almost at the end of the film there is the song heard. "Ain’t no sunshine when she is gone, ain’t no sunshine when she is away. Ain’t no sunshine when she is gone…"
Max feels empty. Tonight he has to try to fall asleep, but how could he. No dark curls on the pillow next to him. He only will smell her perfume on the pillow. He can’t put his hand on her belly feeling a new Sheffield growing in his wife’s tummy. Not that nasal laugh around the house. No Fran, sitting on his lap or desk. Not even screaming: "Fran!!" when she has done something wrong. It is weird.
Niles sitting next to him has the same thoughts only a little bit different. No funny insults for three whole days. No "butle me bell boy". No passionate kiss in the morning. No, "hello, hello", coming from the hall. He can’t even tease some one that she can’t have a Jack Walker due to her pregnancy.
Grace and Brighton are silently watching the end of the film. "Great film Grace. Good night all" Brighton leaves the room.
"Goodnight Niles, Dad" Gracie kisses both men and is off.
"Goodnight sweetheart"
"Sleep well Gracie"
"Do you want another night cap, Niles? I am sure I need one"
"Yes, Sir, I mean Max. That is ok. I don’t know how I will be able to sleep tonight"
"Well to be honest Niles me neither. The problem is I can’t get drunk, due to Jonah and Eve, otherwise…."
"Same with me Max, I don’t know how we could agree with it".
"To the coming three days Niles". They toast.
During the first night Niles and Max aren’t able to get some sleep. Crying toddlers during all night dreaming about monsters keeps them awake. When Max finally walks to his bed to try get some sleep after a long hot shower, he finds Jonah and Eve sleeping on the left side of his bed. ‘Probably we all miss Fran more than we all expected; well it is only two more days to go. He looks at his watch 4.00 in the middle of the night. Sleeping is something he can’t. This is the last time she is away. No Fran around the house is killing him.
At seven o’clock in the morning Max is making some tea in the kitchen. Niles is walking downstairs.
"You couldn’t sleep either?"
"No, I miss her terribly. Emily refused to go to sleep, but finally I managed to put her in bed. Then I dusted the living room, vacuumed it and mopped it. The first floor has never been so clean. The library will be my project for tonight. Even a hot shower didn’t work"
"Same with me Niles. I have been reading scripts all night and worked out some new contracts".
"But let’s have breakfast with the kids shall we?"
So they do.
Meanwhile… at the other side of the ocean in England.
Fran and CC are shopping and having a great time.
"Fran do you know how much money we spent?"
"I have no idea. I assume Max will get a coronary when he will see the credit card bills. Never mind; I think he misses me terrible and he is glad that I am home" Fran smiles.
"Same with butlerboy. I hope he is able to dust."
"They never have spent time alone with the kids them, do you realise that?" Fran looks at CC. They both burst out laughing.
"Can you imagine how they manage that?" CC giggles. "Did you tell Max that we are going to visit Cats?"
"Of course not. Then I am sure he wouldn’t allow me to go shopping"
"I always wondered what kind of show it is and now are able to take to change. Shall we drop the bags at the hotel; get a delicious afternoon tea at Harrods and then to the theatre?" CC looks at Fran and giggles again.
"Max will kill me Fran. Seeing Cats!"
"It feels like I am cheating my hubby. Anyway, when he finds out…I’ll just blame it on my hormones"
Later that evening CC and Fran are talking in their room.
"I have never been so surprised. Max was completely right. It isn’t a kind of show we could produce. Our style is different"
"I agree with that. Probably we should call New York"
"No, we don’t. You know, fellow was kicking me this afternoon for the first time" CC rubs her tummy.
"Just one day of shopping and sightseeing and then we will go home. Next trip will be with them"
"Yes but let’s forget. We will offer them and the kids a Christmas of their life times"
"But I need to call Max, I miss his voice. Ya know what the worst part this city is? All the guys here also have that adorable accent"
" Yes, I saw some men who walk like the way Niles does. I am wondered all the time: Are they also a professional butler?" CC laughs.
In New York a desperate Max and Niles have put the infants to bed again. Again the kids didn’t want to sleep. Luckily the kids were tired after the kindergarten so that worked a little bit.
Max and Niles are working in the middle of the night; they can’t sleep. So why shouldn’t they use to time in a better way? The phone rings.
"Sheffield / butler residence".
" Max, is that you? How are you?" Fran’s nasal voice is on the line.
"Hi sweetheart. We are doing we just fine. We just played together and have fun together" Max is answers his wife.
"Maxwell Sheffield, you didn’t go to the club do you?"
"Of course not my darling. I promised to take care of the children"
"Why are you picking the telephone up in the middle of the night?"
"Well darling when CC is out, somebody has do the work" Then suddenly he blurts out. "Miss me yet? Fran, I can’t sleep without you. It is terrible sleeping alone"
"Miss you too honey. Just one night to go and than I will be back in your arms. Love you. Can I get Niles on the phone? CC wants to talk to him"
"Fran I love you too. Niles, your wife is on the line". Niles, who was all the time anxious to talk to his wife, is standing next to Max.
"Hey, baby. Miss me yet? Did you already scare any salesmen dear?"
"Butlerboy, I am behaving myself. I am in good company"
"Yes, that is once thing I am sure about. Did Fran bring them to tears after you scared them?"
"Well, that is for us just to know and for you a question. Niles, it is great here. Next time we will go all together. How is Emily, does she miss me?"
"Yes dear. Just like me she is missing you and to be honest I am not able to sleep either. Max and I are working day and night"
"Hate you".
"Hate you more"
"Let me talk to Max now"
Fran is rolling with her eyes. She never gets used to the way the Butlers are talking to each other.
Meanwhile Max is whispering in Niles ear. "Tell her that everything is ok. Next week we are going to do auditions for our new play"
"My dear, Max is very busy right now. Everything is ok and be prepared for next week, auditions will be held".
"Well, ok and Niles… I love you"
"Love you dear and by the way, I ironed all your underwear".
"Bye".
Another sleepless night for the men. Today they are ready. Fran and CC are coming home. The children are happy, tired and so are the men. Early in the morning Max is calling Sylvia.
"Good morning Sylvia. How are you?"
"Well, I am fine. We just booked our flight for Boca. Thanks Max for giving the condo you once bought for Fran to us"
"Well I am glad we did. Thank you for allowing me to marry your daughter"
"Well son, Morty and I are glad she married you. But why are you calling? Do you need somebody to baby sit?"
"Yes, Sylvia, could you? Fran and CC are coming home this afternoon. We want to surprise Fran and CC with a long and romantic evening"
"I assume that Niles made a delicious meal for us and the kids, and then I’ll agree"
"That will be arranged. Thanks a lot, I owe you one!"
A couple of hours later at the airport.
Two very happy men are waiting for the arrivals. Sylvia and Morty are waiting with the infants at the airport playground. Grace and Brighton are playing with them.
Max and Niles are waiting for CC and Fran. As soon as Max sees a glimpse of his wife he starts running. Taking her in his arms he twirls her around.
"Oh, Fran, oh Fran" he stammers. Then he kisses her passionately.
A broad smile appears on the face of Fran.
"Well I guess somebody missed me!"
"Oh Fran" He smells her hair and than put a hand on her tummy. "Oh darling If you knew, how I missed you." He kisses and touches her again making sure she is real. After a few minutes they both come up for air.
"Where are my babies, you didn’t forget them don’t you?"
"Of course not my love. They are waiting for us at the playground" He takes her hand while he is putting her hand around her waist pulling her as close as he could. He kisses her brow tenderly.
At the same time Niles is desperate to walk slowly to his wife.
"I loathe you"
"I hate you" Then Niles hugs her tight. He is looking in his wife’s blue eyes.
"Oh Claire, I love you. How are you? How is the baby?"
"Mr. The Butler we both are fine and I love you too". They kiss calmly and briefly. Then he takes her the playground.
At the playground the kids are in the merry go round. As soon as they see CC and Fran, they try to get out of it. "Mummy!!!" Jonah is waives his hand to his mum.
Emily runs to her mummy and Fran hugs the twins tight. The kids are talking about their days and asking their mummies how it was in that strange country.
Meanwhile Max and Niles have put their luggage to the car.
Later that evening the couples made up their time…
A couple of months later are the Sheffield’s and Butler’s celebrating Christmas.
Due to the shopping at Harrods, they all have a wonderful time.
A couple of days later the New Year started. Fran and CC both gave birth. Max Brighton Sheffield JR. and Claire Sara entered the world.
The End
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