"Heart Shaped Box" by Heather (HLOUGH@aol.com) Fran was awakened by a deafening alarm clock on her dresser. She thought, and then jumped up in excitement. Today is the day that Max, her, and the kids go to Uncle Jack's condo for the weekend (He was out of town, and he said anytime she wanted to come). She quickly jumped out of the bed and got ready, throwing on her clothes and a little splash of blush. She immediately went to Max's room, to wake him up. She had never gotten to wake him up before, so she had to think of a special way to do it. "Maybe I should kiss him to wake him up." She thought to herself. After wrestling with her feelings, she finally decided to go through with it. She opened the door to such a tiny wedge, that she could hardly see through it. She opened it more and more, increasing in speed until the door was wide open. She walked in to find Max sleeping like a baby, and looking like one too (Oh is he cute!). She tip-toed over to him, so as not to make a sound, leaned over, and pressed her lips to his. His eyes opened in, what seemed like, slow motion. "Good morning sleepy head." "That was probably the best good morning I have had in years!" "Well I am glad you liked it. If you liked it that much it can be arranged to have those more often." "Oh, well than put me down for one every morning!" "Really, that much?" "Yeah, their not back ordered are they?" "Nope. Now get dressed, I want to get an early start up to Boca." "Yes Ma'am." Fran stuck her tongue out at him, and walked out of Maxwell's room more satisfied than she's been in a while. Now off to wake up the kids. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It took the kids a long time to get ready, so they really didn't leave the mansion until 2:00 p.m. In the limo: Fran: Why did we leave so late? Maggie: Because Brighton was too busy making himself look his age. Brighton: Oh look who's talking, oh Queen of Max Factor. Fran: Come on you guys, you should be old enough not to fight like this. Brighton: Fran, how long have you been our Nanny? Fran: (Playfully) Oh shut up! Maxwell: Are we there yet? Driver: We are getting there Mr. Sheffield, about another 20 minutes. Maxwell: Wonderful......Miss Fine, how many bedrooms does this condo have? Fran: Two. Maxwell: Well than, how are we going to arrange this? Fran: Maggie and Gracie sleep in one bed, and Brighton sleeps in the other. Maxwell: What about us? Fran: (Whispering) Did I mention an upstairs nook, with sound proof walls, and a queen sized bed. Maxwell: That's nice, but Miss Fine where will you sleep? Fran: Out in the cold with the dogs, thanks. (Oy is he clueless or what?!) Driver: Here we go! We have arrived! (Thank God!) I will help you with your bags. Fran: Thank you very much. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- It took them a while to get settled in, by the time they were done it was about 10:00. The kids were all asleep in their beds, Max was in the kitchen drinking some Coke, and Fran was down dipping her feet in the pool thinking about this Max relationship thing. ' What am I going to do, to get him to love me?' she thought. 'Even with Valentines Day coming up, he hasn't made one pass at me.' Maxwell was still up in the kitchen, thinking about how good his life is, when he looked out of the window and saw Miss Fine dipping her feet into the pool. He decided to go down. Fran had finished talking to herself, and was just enjoying the silence. Until, Maxwell came down. Max: Miss Fine? This scared Fran so much that she slipped into the pool, and was soaking wet! She did a bob, and came up. Fran: Yes? Max: Oh, I am sorry, did I startle you? (Fighting back laughter) Fran: Slightly, yes. Max: (Holding out his hand) Here, let me help you out. Fran: (Thinking to herself: Oy is he naive, well I might as well teach him a lesson.) OK, thanks. Fran grabbed Max's hand, and pulled down causing him to fall in the pool. Max came up. Fran: Oh, I am sorry did I scare you? (Mimicking) Max puts his hands on her shoulders, and makes it look like he is about to kiss her. Just when she comes near him, he dunks her. Fran pops up. Fran: Oh you are going to pay for that. Max: Am I? Before she could answer, Max gets out of the pool. Fran is thinking to herself how sexy he is, and what a great body he has. But no sooner than she thinks this, Max does a canon ball in the pool. Fran: Jerk! Max: Oh that hurts. Fran gets out of the water, and Max can't help think the same thing about Fran . This time Fran doesn't do a canon ball, she decides instead to go upstairs and get some fresh clothes on. Max: Miss Fine, will you help me out? Fran: Sure. Fran gives Max her hand, and Max pulls her down into the water again. Both are laughing hysterically, until they look each other in the eyes. Their laughs die down, and they move in closer and closer, and then they finally kiss. So passionately, Fran realized that Max had swallowed some of that chlorine! Fran is the one to pull away. Fran: Why are you doing this to me? Max's kisses trail onto her shoulders, and he is mumbling between kisses. Max: Do what? Fran pushes him off. Max: What? Fran: How do I know that you are not going to take this back tomorrow, and say that you weren't thinking? Max: I won't. He starts kissing her again. Fran: How do I know that you won't? Max: I really mean it, I am ready to commit. I swear. Fran: Are you sure? Max: Yes. Positive. Now I believe you mentioned earlier something about a nook upstairs with soundproof walls. Fran: (Thinking: He really does mean it!) I might have said something of that nature. Max: Well, I was thinking of getting out of these wet clothes. Fran: All right. Max: Would you care to come with me? Fran: I thought that you would never ask!! Max: I just did. Fran: Let's go! Max and Fran go together to the condo, not realizing how tired they really are, and almost simultaneously fall asleep. ****************************** Max was the first one to wake up... Not even noticing Fran, he walked over to the kitchen. He discovered he still had his clothes on from last night. He thought to himself, 'Why on earth did I sleep in my clothes?' He poured himself a quick cup of orange juice, and went back into the living room. There, he noticed Miss Fine, and his memory was up to speed (the pool, the kissing....). Just thinking about it made him smile. He went over to Fran and gave her a tender kiss on the lips to wake her up. She awoke...... Max: Well good morning sleepyhead. Fran: Good morning yourself. Max: Did you sleep well? Fran: You have no idea!! Did you? Max: YOU have no idea. Fran: Where are the kids? Max: They are in their rooms. Fran: Oh. Max: I was thinking about letting them go to that club that they have been whining about. This way you and I can have some time. Fran: That sounds wonderful! I better go and get ready to go. Max: Ok, I will be back in a few hours, I have to go run a few stops. Fran: I'll be ready when you come back. Max: All right. I'll see ya. He walks over to Fran and gives her a tender, passionate kiss. Fran: Ok. As soon as Max is out of the house, he has one thing on his mind, what to get Miss Fine for Valentines Day. Should he get her clothes? No she already had so many, besides what kind of gift is that? As he was thinking this, he walked right by a man with Tiffany and Co. bag in his hand........BINGO!!! Max almost ran to the jewelry store, as soon as he reached it he slowed down.......took a deep breath.......and walked in. Salesman: Can I help you sir? Max: Yes, please. Salesman: What are you looking for? Max: Well, I wanted to get a very special woman something nice for Valentines Day. Salesman: Well we have this. Max: That's perfect. May I see it? The salesman dug into the clear polished glass cabinet, and pulled out a diamond and sapphire tennis bracelet. Max held it up, and examined it. Max: How much? Salesman: Do you really want to know? Max: Yes.... Salesman: 200 grand. It is a Cartier and it's about a 24 kt.'er. Max: (Sighing a little) I'll take it. Salesman: (with a glowing face) Would you like something engraved in it? Max: That would be lovely. How long will it take you? Salesman: About 15 minutes. Just tell me where and what. Max picks up the bracelet, and flips it. He notices a little band of gold holding the stones together. Max: Right there. Salesman: Good spot. What do you want the message to say? Max: (thinking for a moment or two) To my beautiful Miss Fine, I love you. Happy Valentines Day, Love Always, Maxwell. Salesman: Ok, I think we can do that. I don't mean to pry, but may I ask you something? Max: Sure. Salesman: Why are spending so much money on a woman that you don't even call by her first name? Max: That's an excellent point! Can you change in to Fran. Salesman: Righty-oh. Have it done in 15 minutes. Max: All right. After the salesman was done, Max went out of the jewelry store and walked back to the condo. He walked in the door, and left the velvet heart shaped box on the kitchen counter. As he put it down, he found a note. It read: " I am up stairs-------Love, Miss Fine" He walked up the stairs to find Fran in bed. Fran: (in a seductive voice) Happy Valentines Day. Max: Same to you... Fran: Whatcha got there? Max: I bought something for you. Fran: You did? Max: It is Valentines Day, is it not? Fran: It is. Max sits on the bed, and notices that Fran was going to give him HIS Valentines Day present soon (though not in object form). He kisses her on the cheek. Max: Here you go. He hands her the box, and smiles with excitement. Fran opens it..... Fran: Oh my God!! Max: Do you like it? Fran: It's the most beautiful thing that I have ever seen. Max: NO, I have seen prettier (glaring at her). Fran: What did I ever do to get such a wonderful man? Max: It must have been REALLY good. Fran nudges Max a little, and attempts to put it on. Max: No, wait... first turn it around, and see the next surprise under there. Fran turns the bracelet around, and reads the inscription. Tears fill up her eyes. Max: See this way, I can never take it back. Fran: (sobbing) I love it.... Max puts it on her, and kisses her so tenderly on the lips, that Fran doesn't know which set of lips were hers and which were his. Now it was time to give Maxwell his present........a present that she did not need wrapping paper for. Fran: OK, are you ready for yours? Max: I think that I am. Fran: Here it goes... The End.