The usual disclaimers
are in effect here.
I would never imagine stealing these characters and
situations for my own profit..
by
Anakin
(anakin_skywallkr@hotmail.com)
The door opened, revealing Miss Fine and Mr. Sheffield kissing deeply and feverishly. He slammed the door behind him throwing the keys on the carpet, then looked her in the eyes and lifted her in his arms to carry her to the bed.
Fran couldn't believed it was finally happening. Once on the bed, she closed her eyes and called, her arms extended in an inviting gesture.
"Oh Mr. Sheffield! Mr. Sheffield!... Mr. Sheffield?"
Was he having second thoughts? Why was he not lying on the bed next to her? She opened her eyes and saw him next to the couch.
He turned to her smiling. He cautiously folded his jacket and lay it on the couch, then he started taking his shirt off.
She called him with her arms. He took his cufflinks off, dropped them on the table, and came to sit on the bed next to her. The first three studs of his shirt were undone, and she could see his chest. That sent a thrill all over her body. He passed one arm on the other side of her and looked deeply in her eyes.
"Miss Fine I..."
"Shhh..." She interrupted him. She had put one hand behind his neck and pulled his head gently towards hers. She kissed him slightly on the lips.
He looked at her once again, and saw all the love she had for him clearly written in her eyes. He kissed her thoroughly, trying to put in his kiss all the unspoken fears and apologies he wanted to tell her about. Her response gave him the assurance he needed: that she really understood, and that she had been his all this while, despite her occasional boyfriends, despite the pain he would cause her sometimes, and despite the gap some people, like his own mother, had been trying to draw between them. So he finally surrendered and let himself slide on this slope he had had so much trouble avoiding lately. Soon, they were both naked underneath the sheets, indulging in their feelings for each other, sharing the same path at last, and from two distant and different souls, making one with a single goal.
Their games seemed to be never ending. They spent the entire night enclosed in their cocoon of love, pleasing each other repeatedly with the deepest of commitments...
Dawn found them clasped in a tight embrace, sleeping with relaxed faces.
Maxwell was the first to wake up. He blinked several times, repressed a yawn, and studied the features of Fran's face without moving. She hadn't had time to take her make up off of course, but it must have been waterproof because she looked as beautiful as ever, with a new peaceful expression written on her face.
He smiled contentedly, and gently blew on her face to push a small lock of dark hair away. She grimaced slightly, and opened her eyes.
Was it a dream?... The face of the man she loved so deeply that it was almost frightening sometimes, was only inches from hers, smiling to her.
He gave her a slight kiss.
No, it was definitely not a dream.
"Maxwell?" She asked almost shyly.
"Fran?" he answered smiling.
"Oh my God, it's true!"
"Shall I sing Georgie Girl?" he said with a crooked smile.
"My ears itch...!"
They both burst out laughing. A free and crystalline laugh, like teenagers'. He rolled on his back, taking her in his arms.
"Oh Fran I love you!"
"I love you Max..."
They kissed. Fran lay on top of him and they remained like this for a while. She reveling in the mixed scent of his bare skin, he gently stroking her hair, hugging her, not wanting to let her go.
A sad look passed over his face. He sighed.
"Fran?"
"What?" she said, her head still buried in the hollow between his neck and his shoulder.
"Fran... As much as I love being with you here, we must go back to New York..."
"So?"
"We can't tell them..."
She raised on her elbows with a deeply hurt look.
"You're taking THIS back too?!... Well I..."
"NO!" He cut her.
She calmed down a little.
"No, I'm not taking it back. I love you Fran, I thought I could never love another woman beside Sarah, but I DO love you, and I won't take it back. I just need some time to announce it to the rest of the family."
"Why, do you think they'd be shocked we 'did it' before being married?" she asked mockingly, but before his hesitant face she asked: "You intended to marry me, right?"
"Fran I..."
She suddenly left her position and sat on the edge on the bed, her back facing him.
"I'm not that kind of girl Mr. Sheffield. I am not someone you can play with one night and throw away the next day..."
He reached to touch her shoulder and forced her to lie down next to him, and to look at him.
"Will you just calm down and hear what I have to say my beautiful but fiery Queen of hearts?"
She calmed down a little.
"It's just that I want to be able to do it 'properly'. I'm going to marry you Fran Fine, I can't go on in my life without you as Mrs. Sheffield, but you've got to give me a little time."
"How much time do you want?"
"Four months."
"Four months?!... You mean four months before the wedding?"
"Four months before we tell them I love you..."
"What?!"
"... But I promise the wedding will be held shortly afterwards!" He added.
She sat up straight, not wanting to look at him.
"I, I... I don't know if I can wait that long Maxwell..."
"Darling..." He pulled her back in his arms, she didn't resist. "I need these four months. I need to be sure the kids will be as happy as I wish, I need to think some things over, I need to make peace with myself on this Fran." He said, showing her his wedding band. "I'm just asking you for some time." He murmured, touching her forehead with his.
She sighed. "You're having second thoughts?"
"No!" He said vehemently. "What can I do to make you understand, I simply need time!" He hit the sheets with his clenched fist.
She sighed deeply.
"I understand Maxwell... I'll give you those four months, but I warn you: I won't wait a single day more. If I do not have an engagement ring on this finger the day our 'agreement' finishes, I'm out of your life, and you'll never see me again."
She got up and headed for the bathroom. He pushed the sheets back and followed her. She almost shut the bathroom door but he blocked it and entered. She had her back to him. He put his hands on her shoulders and stroked them lightly.
"Fran I love you." He kissed the back of her neck, she turned to face him and found shelter in his arms.
"Max, I don't want to suffer again... Four years are enough already..."
"Fran I only need time to sort things out, I won't make you suffer I promise... In the meantime..."
He lifted her chin with one finger and smiled at her. "... We can always have 'secret encounters'!..."
She smiled too.
"... It's not very serious Mr. Sheffield..." she said.
"So what?... We don't have to rehearse a Shakespearean tragedy because I've asked for some time!"
With that he swung her in his arms and entered the shower...
In the plane to New York, they shared their last but precious moments alone together, then they were back to their busy reality. She with the kids, he with his productions.
Four months he had said... Like a prisoner, she checked the days on her day-planner. The first two weeks, Max was buried into work, and they seemed not to have a single minute one for the other. Brighton was having romantic problems with one of the girls his school, Gracie had troubles choosing what kind of things she would do for the summer vacation, and Maggie had just been dumped by her latest boyfriend, and was inconsolable. The only available and listening person for their problems in the house was Fran.
At last, Max's new show opened. As usual, the whole family went to the premiere, Niles and C.C. getting at each other's throats much more than usual, and Fran enjoying Max's arm around her waist from time to time. On the way back in the Limo, neither the tired kids, Niles, nor C.C. noticed Max held Fran's hand tightly. They dropped C.C. at her penthouse, and went back home. Niles and the kids quickly climbed the stairs to their room, while Fran and Max went to the kitchen for a night cap.
They stopped walking almost at the same time. Max was behind Fran, his bow tie hanging loose around his neck. She turned to face him and snuggled up in his arms. He buried his head in her hair, and they remained like this for some time.
"I've missed you terribly Max."
"Me too... Knowing that you were so close and so far at the same time... It was torture..."
"Oh Max..."
Suddenly, he lifted her head, and kissed her thoroughly. The fever increased and his strokes became more demanding, he lifted her in his arms and carried her to the kitchen table. They were both breathing heavily, before they knew it, they were indulging in their passion, both aware of the danger of their situation, would Niles or one of the kids decide to come down to the kitchen. Their embrace was feverish and intense, and soon they were both trying to repress their moans.
Niles heard strange noises in the kitchen. Silently, he descended the back stairs and what he saw of his boss and his Nanny left little doubt about what they were doing. He smiled: "At last!", then he went back to his room silently.
Max collapsed on top of her and hugged her as if his own life depended on that hug. "Fran I love you so much!" He murmured in her hear.
"I love you..."
He lifted her from the table and ascended the back stairs to carry her to his room...
5.00 a.m.
Fran woke up suddenly. Max had one arm laying on her shoulder. She studied his relaxed face, smiled, and as discreetly as possible, left his bed. He moaned and turned. She stopped moving but his regular breathing indicated he was still sleeping. She gathered her clothes and went back to her room. She went to her bathroom to take a light shower. She stepped into the shower cubicle, chose a mild temperature and turned the faucet on, letting the water run down her back, giving her a sensation of freshness, and clearing her mind. Yes she had agreed to let Max come to term with his thoughts and feelings, but as he had himself pointed out, waiting four months was a sheer torture to both of them. She had made her own calculations: why four months?... Sarah's death anniversary was in four months, and he probably wanted to wait till then before announcing to the world he loved her. He had convinced her he really loved her (and had just proved her so!), and that was what helped her hanging on to his promise, but it was the most difficult thing she had ever done. She craved for his touch, his tenderness, she was desperate to shout she loved him from the roof tops. She didn't know how much time she'd spent in the shower, but when she stepped out, she felt freshened and an inexplicable sense of joy washed over her body. She put a robe on and went downstairs.
Niles was already preparing breakfast.
"Hi Niles"
"Hi Miss Fine!... Did you sleep well?"
"Yes!... It seems all that excitement yesterday evening took its toll of me, and I slept like a baby!"
"I bet you did!" he muttered under his breath with a slight smile.
"Is Mr. Sheffield up already?"
"Yes, he's just come into the dining room..."
"Oh Niles by the way, I could eat an elephant this morning..."
"Well, after such a good night, I understand!"
"What?... What do you mean?"
"Well... huh... that you slept well... After a good night's sleep, one's appetite is generally higher than usual..." he answered a little embarrassed.
She didn't notice his trouble though "Oh yes!... Well, anyway, I'll have cereals, pancakes, Belgian waffles, and whatever you have planned to give the rest of the family!"
He chuckled.
"All right Miss Fine!"
She smiled to him and headed for the dining room. Max was already reading the papers. No-one else was in sight, it was too tempting. She gave him a good-morning kiss he had trouble to resist...
"Fran!" He muttered "What if Niles or one of the kids came in here?!"
"Well, nobody came, so relax Mr. Sheffield..." She winked, and he smiled back taking her hand and kissing the top of it.
"Hopefully now that the show's on track, we'll have more of these 'encounters' Miss Fine...!" He said winking.
Brighton barged in, and his siblings did so a few minutes afterwards. Niles came in with the dishes and breakfast went on as usual...
Despite what he had hoped for, Max got quickly buried in his work again. An unexpected opportunity had presented itself when Max found a terrific play among those he was reading. C.C. went chasing potential backers, and Max was frantic on the phone trying to buy the rights of the play. All in all, they spent another three weeks without being able to see each other, both missing each other's touch and closeness.
For several days already, Fran had lost her appetite. She felt dizzy most of the day, but wasn't paying much attention since she thought she wasn't eating enough. But despite her efforts, sometimes, the very idea of eating was repulsive She couldn't sleep either, and was sometimes very irritable.
She came out of the bathroom, and must have been looking paler than usual for Niles himself seemed worried.
"What is it Miss Fine?... You don't look good!"
"Oh Niles... thank you, I'm okay..."
"No you're not Miss Fine... Listen, as a friend, I should advise you to go to the doctor's at once..."
"No, don't worry, I'm okay Niles..." her attempt as a smile was more of a grimace than anything else, she excused herself and went back to the bathroom. When she came out, Niles was waiting for her with her coat and her purse.
"I won't discuss it any further with you Miss Fine, I'm taking you to the doctor's, and I won't take 'no' for an answer!" with that, he dragged her to the town car, and drove her to his usual physician.
While Fran was putting her clothes back on, Niles went to discuss with the doctor.
"So Niles, tell me... How long has she really been like this?"
"Oh I don't really know, but I'd say 15 days to 3 weeks..."
"Well... then I have good news for you old man!... You're going to be a father!"
"What?!... You mean... she's pregnant?!"
"Yes.... Congratulations!"
"Why thank you, but I'm not the father..."
"Oohh... Ahem... Sorry old man... I didn't mean to..."
"No, no, you don't understand, she's my best friend, but there's nothing between me and her on that level... But I know the father..."he muttered, half for himself "... And believe me he's going to hear about it!"
Fran entered the room. Her face was a mess, Niles felt the urge to put a comforting arm around her shoulders. He paid the doctor discreetly and walked her to the car.
The five first minutes of the ride were silent. Then she burst out sobbing.
"Oh Niles, what am I going to do?!"
"Leave it to me... Fran... " He said, putting a comforting arm around her shoulders... "Mr. Sheffield is the father, right?..."
"Oh Niles, who else could it be?!... I feared it was that when I started throwing up every morning... Niles, he asked me for four months, and I agreed, what am I going to do now?"
"Don't be desperate Fran, I'll talk to him... Now listen, when we reach the house, I want you to go to your room and relax. No further stress is needed for today. I'll talk to him."
She calmed down a little, the rest of the ride was silent.
Niles barged in Max's office, making both him and C.C. jump.
"May I have a word with you Sir?"
"Niles, I'll have a word with you when I have time and when you come into this room properly!"
"Sir, I demand to talk to you RIGHT NOW!"
Max stood up, he was about to retort harshly, but when he saw the look on his butler's face he suddenly calmed down and sat down.
"C.C., would you leave us a minute please?"
"Maxwell!!!... We have tons of things to do!!!..."
"I know C.C., but this is important, would you please leave us a minute..."
C.C. mumbled something under her breath, took some papers, and exited the room. Niles closed the door behind her and locked it.
"Have you seen Miss Fine recently?"
"Well of course, she's my Nanny!... I see her everyday!"
"Sir, do I look stupid?"
"What?!"
"Do I look stupid?"
"What are you talking about?!"
"Sir, if I were you, I'd go to the closest Jeweler's, buy the most beautiful engagement ring, and go propose to this wonderful woman up there, and I'd do it right now!"
Max leaned on the back of his armchair.
"So you know?"
"Well I heard strange noises in the kitchen the other day, and I saw you... I didn't need any explanation..."
Max sighed. "Niles, it's a bit more complicated than you think..."
"I can think VERY complicated Sir..."
"I love her, but I want to say good bye to Sarah first. I want to be sure my love for Sarah won't get in the way, you understand?"
"Oh I do understand more than you can imagine Sir, but the cards have slightly changed... Now three people are involved in this..."
"What do you mean three people?"
"We have a surprise guest..."
"Fran is seeing somebody else?" he asked, suddenly worried, with a painful expression on his face.
"How can you imagine such a thing!... She loves you more than life herself!...She's pregnant you twit!... Haven't you noticed that she's been very tired and sick lately?... Haven't you noticed the look on her face?... Go upstairs and marry her right now!"
Maxwell felt his ears burn... Did he hear well...? "You... You... Fran's pregnant?..."
"Yes!... We're just back from the doctor's. She's upstairs, and there's only ONE thing that you can do. If you don't, I'll quit. I can't stand seeing you wasting her life and yours at the same time anymore. She's the best thing that ever happened to this house in a long time, and you know it. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some things to do."
He unlocked the door and went to the kitchen.
Max remained motionless for a while. Then he took his glasses off, stood up, and exited the house: there was something he had to do...
Fran didn't know how long she remained lying on her bed in the dark, trying to figure out what she was going to do. She heard a soft knock on the door.
"Come in..."
Max came in.
"Fran?" He asked softly. He went to sit on the edge of the bed.
She said nothing, but let him take her left hand.
"Fran why didn't you tell me? ..." He asked gently.
"I was afraid you'd fire me..."
"Why?!... Dear God Fran, why?..." He pulled her in a tight embrace. "Why would I fire you?... You're the sunshine of my life!... If something happened to you or the baby, I would be forever mourning, I love you Fran, and I want that baby..."
"You don't want to marry me..."
"I only asked you for some time Fran... but life and its unexpected ways made me realize that once again, I was trying to earn some time..." He looked her in the eyes and took a small square box in his pocket. "Fran Fine, you would make me the happiest man in the world if you would accept to marry me..."
Suddenly, her heart was overwhelmed by a wave of intense happiness, trembling, she let him take her left hand. He slipped a diamond ring at her finger and kissed her tenderly. She melted at his kiss and like a little girl, sought shelter in his arms. They remained hugging for a few minutes, gently swaying. Then he looked her in the eyes:
"I think we should celebrate..."
"The Rainbow room?..."
"I'll ask Niles to make some reservations for tonight... In the meantime... I was thinking of another kind of celebration..."
She smiled against his chest... "I have no idea what you're talking about..."
"Are you sure?... Use your imagination!... And if you still have trouble knowing what I'm talking about, I'll show you..." he said, unbuttoning her blouse.
"Oh Mr. Sheffield!!!"
The End
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