Confused Yet:
Part 4: Is Dinner Ready, Yet?
 

At the mansion, Maxwell asked Niles to come to the office, so they could discuss his job. C.C. took a cue from Niles and asked Fran if she wanted some ice cream. 'Like asking a hungry tiger, if it wants a zebra,' she thought with delight. The kids wouldn't be home for another four hours, so Fran agreed sneaking a wink at Max as she pushed rudely past him into the kitchen.

As Max shut the office door, behind Niles, he blustered, "If ever her lack of breeding showed...", he tried to appear to have lost his ability to speak. Niles followed his employer to the desk.

"Sir, what is going on with you two?" Niles asked acting so concerned.

"Oh, you see, old man... I just... and she thinks... never mind...", Max just needed the charade to last until dinner, so setting up a scenario was only a last resort,

"Let's talk about something else".

"All right", Niles decided not to pursue such a touchy topic, until he knew if he was going to be there to worry about it.

"I have given it some thought and I don't think you should be working in your condition..."

"But sir I'm---"

"Relax, I'm not putting you out to pasture, I'm giving you some medical leave, so you can get back on your feet. The children, F... Miss Fine, and myself will be taking care of things, just like when you were in the hospital, except we will be waiting on you, as well", Max conveniently avoided Niles eyes by looking out on the trellis, knowing that his ears had probably instantly stopped working at 'F... Miss Fine'. Meanwhile, Niles smiled a clever smirk, for now he had a little tidbit of the story and the time to go hunting.

"Thank you, sir. I will be in my room, then", Niles turned to leave.

"I'll see you at dinner, old man.... oh, wait...", Max stared at the street busy with people rushing to and from work. 'I have been one of them too long, but at least I've have taken one positive step. Maybe... maybe another wouldn't hurt'.

Niles had walked to the doors of the trellis to see what Max was looking at out there.

"Huh... you know, I remember the last time you called me by my first name... it was my wedding day and I was terrified.  You remember what you said?" Max asked not turning his head.

"Yeah, I told you, 'Max, you can go get married, or go back and live with your mother on the estate".

"Then, you told me if I didn't get married, you were going to knock me senseless, because you had already lined up a date for the reception and she was a 10", Max chuckled thinking of that day and then felt that stinging pain, that he had become very used to over the last eight years.

"I always wondered why you stopped calling me Max".

"Well, I guess, at first it was because you were so busy, company in and out... everyone wanting a piece of Mr. Up & Coming, then I thought it would look more professional, which you certainly need to be, to call you, sir. Besides, my father had always called your father, sir, so I thought it was correct for a servant to call his boss that. Then, when I watched you lose Sarah... well you became so distant even from the children some, I just assumed you wanted everything completely professional".

"I didn't want to be reminded of her, or anything we had shared... I suppose that included the children... Miss Fine certainly changed all that didn't she? Anything, but professional, that girl", Max commented remembering he had a hawk next to him, "Anyway your heart attack got me thinking... you are only six years older than I am, so I have decided on a few changes, one of which being that I would appreciate being called by my first name. After all, C.C. since about ten years ago, when she became my partner has called me Maxwell, I see no reason why you... or Miss Fine shouldn't", Max moved to his desk and sat down.

"Well, all right, si.. Max", Niles thought how odd it was for Max to be thinking of such an unimportant thing, when the thing he should be thinking about was his problem with Miss Fine, but decided to write it off to stress and morbid thoughts stirred up by another near death and left.

In the kitchen, C.C. and Fran, the most unlikely duo, were discussing what else, but Max's latest photo shot, scheduled for Thursday, and whether C.C. had a chance of getting in the background or not.

"I'm telling you at the last second you slide into the backdrop and pose. How do you think I got into that Worst Dressed shot in People Magazine?" Fran was doing her best to keep the conversation on anything, but that sweet smile of Max's, because as it was she felt like blurting out her most recent triumph of dating. C.C. listened as best she could, trying to look interested and hoping for some tidbit. 'This is harder than pretending to listen to a backer's boring my vision of the theater pipe dream'.

"Well, I don't know why I even bother, anymore. Like Maxwell even cares about me, but look who I'm talking to, you really smacked him today", C.C. looked carefully at Fran. Fran felt the pressure and almost laughed, but decided to play it cool.

"Sometimes, he is so infuriating. I have just had it with him and his ego", Fran fumed for other than the obvious reason.

"Oh, tell me about it".

"I know isn't he completely---", Fran started.

"No, I mean tell me about it. What happened?" C.C. tried to look as sympathetic as possible.

"I don't really want to talk about it, now. Maybe after dinner, we can dish. You know Ma's coming over, what do you say we watch "The Way We Were" and complain about men", Fran was having trouble containing her giggles, but was pretty sure C.C. was fooled. However, C.C. acquired an odd look of questioning Fran's idea.

"And we'll get some rum and get smashed", Fran finished, much to C.C.'s approval.

Suddenly, Maxwell comes storming through the door, startling both girls.

"Miss Fine you have done some idiotic things before, but this.... this is too much.." Max advanced towards the table, but Fran stood up and cut him off.

"Oh you mean like wanting to sleep with you?" Fran darted him with cold stares, while C.C. gaped at this fight she was a little too close to, yet again.

"No, more like me ever caring about what you think", Max glared back at Fran, ignoring C.C.'s reenactment of the sinking of the Titanic, which consisted of not being able to get out of the chair fast enough for her liking and sliding behind the counter for a safer seat.

"You know, that is it, I have had it", Fran jammed open the kitchen door and rushed down the hall. Niles appeared from the living room and stood flabbergasted in the doorway.

"Oh don't leave now, cupcake, I haven't finished with you yet", Max grabbed Fran by the arm, flung her into the office, and whipped the door shut.

"And I was so sure it would only take five seconds", Fran screamed towards the door and plugged the peep hole with the key, locking it and preventing Niles' spying eyes from seeing anything.

"Like all your relationships", Max yelled as he unplugged the intercom. Checking the trellis for any problems, he turned to Fran with a sly look on his face.

"At least I have them", Fran mirrored his expression as she leaned flat against the door.

"And I rather thought it was the other way around", Max bellowed and threw a shot glass against the wall about five feet from the right side of the door. Fran screamed with an excited look on her face and kicked the door, but only once because she then sat down on the couch and rubbed her toe in pain.

"Are they out there?" Fran asked with an ounce of regret in her voice. Max walked over to the couch, sat down, and slid her shoe off.

"After that performance, are you kidding?" Max laughed and began massaging her foot, "They will be puzzling over that for hours".

"I wonder if they even noticed you never said what I had done", Fran giggled and relaxed into a more comfortable position to enjoy the foot massage.

"I'm sorry... I couldn't wait to see you", Max admitted and gave her a guilty glance.

"Hey, it was mutual", Fran replied and kissed him a moment. Max slid his hands around her and kissed her lips.

"Now, what?" Fran smiled, obviously thinking about the undisturbed time alone they suddenly had acquired.

"We sneak out the trellis and go for a walk. We have to discuss tonight". Max stood up, knowing immediately that he had disappointed her.

"Or we could listen in on Niles and C.C. for once." Max, glad to see a smile on her face again, checked the trellis, just to be sure.

"Let's do both", Fran whispered and the two slid out the door and around the house. They found the service door that lead into the back of the kitchen and hide under the windows to listen.

Niles is sitting at the table with C.C., tasting the tea she had just made him. He spits it out.

"How is it possible? You've been chasing after the man for years and you can't even made a decent cup of tea? You never had a chance". Niles got up to show her how to proportion the sugar with the cream, but decided better of it and did it himself.

"Well, if this storm doesn't last, I could always marry you and then I wouldn't have to worry about it", C.C. said half joking and oddly found herself half flirting.

"No thanks, Mortica, I don't feel like letting you work your voodoo on me again. Last time you put me in the hospital", Niles laughed, not even realizing he had just compared her to a very beautiful horror figure.

"For the millionth time... today, I did not induce your heart attack. The doctor confirmed it was the simple fact you ate one too many Ding-Dongs, Stay-Puffed-Marshmallow-Man", C.C. defended herself and leaned against the counter opposite him.

"That's good coming from the Homecoming Queen of Betty Ford. Now about this Maxwell/Ms. Fine thing what did you dig up?" Niles sat down behind the counter and C.C. pored herself some coffee.

"Since when do you call Maxwell, Maxwell?" C.C. inquired, moving to stand against the refrigerator.

"Since Mr. Sheffield decided to make a few changes in his life", Niles said proclaiming a small victory.

"Really, Benson", C.C. faked a transparent interest and moved to the sink to refill the coffee pot.

"Yes, he also said everyone has to help clean and take care of the mansion, while I'm recovering... So, would you mind?" Niles pointed to the plants lining the open windows.

"Oh, for heavens' sake". C.C. grabbed the sink hose and stretched it within a foot of the windows. Fran and Max were listening carefully just under the windows, when C.C. turned on the hose. She sprayed the plants, but ended up hitting the open windows by turning it on too strong.

"Well, actually the doctors are hopeful", Niles spoke matter-of-factly.

"What was that?" C.C. asked, when a strange yelp came from the backyard.

"Probably a friend of yours come to see if you want to share a bone", Niles spoke assuming it was a dog.

"Anyway, Dough Boy, I tried to get Clueless to tell me what was going on, but she just rambled on about something, then Maxwell walked in, and well you saw them", C.C. put away the hose and sat down next to Niles.

"I didn't get much further with The Man Who Knew Too Little. However, he did almost call Miss Fine, Fran. I wonder if they got any closer, than at the hospital that first time", Niles laughed. C.C. tried to hold her composure a moment, but couldn't and burst out laughing. Then, thinking of that scene in the hospital she had walked into, sighed.

"If that's possible", C.C. muttered. Niles gave her a 'stop sulking' look.

"Hey, did you see what was going on behind that curtain? No!" C.C. stated. Niles played wounded, then smiled.

"Well, I guess our best bet is to wait until dinner and see if anything erupts", Niles decided. C.C. gave him a disappointed look. 'If I team with the best, I expect to get the best'.

"What's left to erupt?" C.C. smirked, but Niles could tell she was depressed.

"Oh, come on let's go to the living room and watch "Bringing Up Baby" on AMC". (Author's Note: "Bringing Up Baby" is a great black and white comedy staring Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant. I suggest it to any Max/Fran fans).

Niles stood and offered his arm to C.C., who took it and they walked down the hall. Both were dumbstruck by the display coming out of the office. There, stood Max soaked, in the doorway and Fran stood near the desk, drying off with Max's newly removed jacket.

Niles and C.C. were just about to ask what had lead to this strange scene, when Max silenced them.

"Not a word... not a single, insignificant, meaningless word!" And he was through the living room and up the stairs.

Niles and C.C. watched him and then turned to Fran. Wearing his jacket as a cape, she proudly walked out of the office.

"You heard the man. Keep move'n. Nothing more to see here." She disappeared into the kitchen and up to her room.
 

Confused Yet:
Part 5: Just Desserts Anyone?
 

At 6:00 P.M.., Max stood in the dining room setting up his servicing trays, while Maggie and Gracie set the table. Brighton enters, followed by Niles, who sits down at the table. C.C. comes in with a cell phone in her hand, talking about a problem with lighting and how the set designer should be handling it, what were they paying him for anyway? The girls finish and go into the kitchen.

"Dad, where did you get the great looking chicken from?" Brighton asked, peering at the chicken cacciatori. Max looked up in annoyance. 'I spent three hours in that kitchen making a very special meal with plenty of vegetables for Niles, and not too much fat for the girls and my own son thinks its a take-out... Deal with it... Relax... Relax... Blood Pressure... Remember Your Blood Pressure'. The girls entered with Fran, Sylvia, and Morty. Everyone sits and Fran helps Maxwell serve.

"Actually, Brighton, your old man wore the chef's hat this evening", Max said quite happy with his work.

"Yeah, right, dad, you don't even know how to make a bed, right", Maggie joked.

"Well, thank you for that vote of confidence Margaret, but its true---" Max started.

"That's right, I saw him cooking with my own eyes", Fran remarked and held the tray, while Max put chicken on the plates. Niles tried his food and was astonished, not only with Miss Fine, who had just paid Maxwell a compliment, but with the fact, that the food was good!

"Maxwell, when did you learn how to cook, especially like this?" Niles inquired.

"Let's just say, when you were learning to cook with your mother, I wasn't just there to be the resident taste tester", Max said with just a hint of amusement.

"Really? Well, you know I wondered why it tasted like mine", Niles watched Fran slide into her chair, while Max pushed it in for her.

"So, you learned to cook with Niles, Dad". Gracie questioned.

"I did an immense amount of nothing during my 6th, 7th, and 8th grade summers, while Niles was studying to be a butler, so when I was bored I would help him out", Max explained.

"And still you couldn't carry a tray of drinks to save your life", Niles chuckled.

"One slip and you write me off", Max complained.

"Well---", Niles began, but Fran cut him off,

"Oh, knock off you two, honestly, these days I'm refereeing you more than the kids".

"You should talk of fighting", C.C. remarked and found that the food was quite tasty.

"Can we, please change the subject", Max tried desperately to control the situation. Besides, Fran was playing with his pant leg with her toes and he didn't want to get distracted by her long enough to let the conversation go there.

"Fine.... ok... If you insist...." came from various sides of the table and the rest of dinner, seemed to go well.

Dessert was a rather nice pineapple upside-down cake and now Max has suggested a toast. They raise their glasses and Max stands up.

"We are fortunate for many things tonight, but I think we are most fortunate for the continuing recovery of our friend, Niles. Thank you for reminding us how precious life is, old man."

"Chin-chin", Niles toasts and glasses hit glasses.

"Also, tonight I am very thankful to be making a very special announcement", Max gives Fran a secret smile. Fran stood and let him wrap his arm around her waist.

"I'm sure by now everyone is aware of my off and on relationship with Fran , so after several complications---". Max starts looking deep into Fran's eyes.

"Wouldn't commit", Sylvia comments under her breath. Fran gives her mother a death glare and turns back to Max.

"As I was saying, Fran and I, after some serious consideration, have decided to try dating. Now, I know this is likely to affect----", Max stopped speaking realizing that no one was listening, but instead talking all at once.

"Does this mean you're getting married?" Maggie asked.

"Uh, Dad, C.C. fainted", Brighton said, staring at C.C.'s motionless body, now on the floor near her chair.

"If you do get married, can I be your flower girl?" Gracie wanted to know.

"You should treat her well, my Franny is a jewel", Morty declared to Maxwell, who was a little too overwhelmed to respond.

"Maxwell, you're going to give me another heart attack", Niles laughed at the realization of what a schmuck he had been.

"When did this happen?" Sylvia relaxed in her seat.

"Don't say that. I couldn't handle it", Fran said thinking of Niles first attack.

"Wait, what was all that this morning and this afternoon?" Niles asked.

"What started this?" Maggie wondered out loud.

"What happened this morning?" Brighton asked Niles.

"Ok, ok, relax we will answer all your questions, soon, but now, shall we toast and sit down. Brighton help C.C. up, please". Max and Fran kissed and clinked their glasses, then sat down as ready as they would ever be to answer all those questions.
 

Confused Yet:
Part 6: What... Oh.

After a wonderful evening, Max was finishing some work for his morning meeting, when Fran came into the office.

"Well, the kids are in bed, Niles is asleep, thanks to his medication, C.C.'s drinking finally caught up with her and she is in the guest room out cold, for the second time tonight, and my parents have forgiven you for everything that they ever blamed you for, but I wouldn't count on that lasting, if you don't propose soon, they'll be back to having Grandma Yetta put curses on you, like I used to... uh... tell them not to", Fran explained and looked a little guiltily at him. Max got out of his desk chair and walked over to her.

"Really, well, I'm not too worried. We can talk about it, later", Max calmed her nerves. Then he kissed her sweetly, but didn't quite expect Fran's heated response.

"I'm done with those notes, so what would you like to do, now?" Max asked examining her neck with his lips.

"I don't know I was kind of thinking of something... you know something I have been waiting for a long time", Fran hinted and then ran her hands through his hair. 'Thick, black, and irresistible', she thought.

"Fran not tonight, let's just enjoy the evening", Max complained but continued kissing her.

"But I really want to... It will be fun", she spoke softly and slid her hands down to his neck. He returned with a passionate kiss.

"I'll be tired in the morning, if we do", Max said between kisses.

"It will only take a half-hour, I promise", Fran pleaded.

"Well, if you really want to..." Max consented and kissed her shoulder. Fran smiled contentedly at him and they walked on air hand in hand towards the living room.

Max walks to the edge and looks over the top of The Empire State Building.

"Relax, just close your eyes and go", Fran shouted to him. It had been a long day and she was in no mood to hear anything negative.

"Ok", Max lifts a megaphone to his lips, conveniently leaving it on low and hoping for traffic which was oddly not heavy this New York City night.

"I, Maxwell Sheffield, love Fran Fine". He relaxed, 'I said it, I said it from the roof tops and I said it when she asked me, I can do this... yeah we'll be all right'. Fran took the megaphone, turned it up to high with slight annoyance, and lifted her head high.

"I, Fran Fine, love Maxwell Sheffield". Fran smiled with the thoughts of having Niles home, having Max announce to her family, and his, that they were together and now having him admit his feelings from the top of The Empire State Building for all of New York City to hear.

They kissed passionately, not minding the cool night, which changed their breath to clouds of white air, and walked to the elevator arm in arm, hoping it was a good start to whatever this was they had between them.
 

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