this story simply popped up in my head and i had to write it (in my work-time, but shhh) enjoy it!

Gotcha

by

Jafry
(Jafry D@aol.com)

It is a Sunday evening. Brighton is sitting on the couch in the living-room and is flipping through the TV channels. The loud voices of Ms Fine and Mr. Sheffield can be heard through the whole mansion.

Niles enters the front door and his hands are packed with overloaded shopping bags. He stops in his tracks as he hears the loud argument. He spots Brighton on the couch and asks what's going on.

"Dad has discovered my faux-pas from yesterday and Fran tried to explain. Dad overreacted and Fran conters as always."

"With 'the thing' ?" Niles asks though he knows the answer.

"Yes, of course!" Brighton looks at him, as if that's one constant of the universe.

"Where are your sisters?"

"They're sitting on the terrace. You know, enjoy the spectacle as near as possible."

"What kind of manners." Niles mumbles and disappears to join them.

Brighton yells after him:

"Yeah, I wonder where they learned that from?!"

The shouting is getting louder. Next second Niles enters the living-room the same way he left, Mr. Sheffield and Ms Fine hot on his tracks. Around the corner Maggie and Gracie are sneaking into the room. Mr. Sheffield hands are wild gesturing and his temples are pulsating in his forehead. Ms Fine on the other side is checking her make-up in pure coolness. Every time she brings up the thing to him she's on the winning side.

"Why do you do this to me, hm?" He asks her quietly, "I apologized for the thing and continue to do so every time you bring it up." He whines, his hands massages his temple.

"As it should be!" She assures him. "You have to suffer for the thing" she teases him and obviously enjoys it.

Meanwhile Ms Babcock has entered the living-room. She watches the strange scene than to no one in particular:

"What happened?"

Maxwell answers her question as he reacts excitedly on Ms fine's last comment.

"The thing, the thing, the thing"

Ms Babcock analyzes Maxwell's comment:

"Never mind, I got the picture!"

"I suffered enough!" Max shouts at Fran.

Ms Fine faces Max and points her finger at him.

"Enough? Never, mister!"

"Yes indeed, Ms Fine. I have suffered enough ... what am I saying? I suffer every day."

The merciless though incredulous look of Ms Fine drives him crazy and he states with a raised index finger:

"Indeed, I suffer! Every time I see you, I hear you, smell your perfume, even when you're gone, then I regret that I took back 'the thing'. I regret the wasted time, every second I deny my feelings for you. When you are sitting on my desk or standing in front of me, when you're watching TV or simply eat or drink something I want to hold you, embrace you, feel you as near as possible. I want to kiss you, want to wake-up in the morning besides you, want to prove and give you all my love..." His face has turned bright red, "Damn, I suffer like no one in the entire world!"

After he ends his explosion that has turned out in an outright clear expression of love for Fran, there is complete silence. Everyone looks at Maxwell, keen of every reaction that will follow. He is standing in front of Ms Fine, still upset and looks in her smiling face. Seconds pass as the words sinks in his mind and he realizes what he just said.

Miss Fine steps close and whispers in his ear:

"Gotcha!" and gives him a peck on the lips.

Max turns and faces the rest of his family still stunned. He stutters something. Fran takes his hand.

"Come on, tiger. Let's take a walk!" She leads him to the front door. On the way she closes Ms Babcock's open mouth and high-fives an overwhelmed happy Niles.

Max is still a bit paralyzed as Niles hands him his coat.

Before Brighton closes the door behind them he pats his dad on his shoulder.

"Congratulations! By the way: ... too much information, Dad!"

Max already outside wants to reprimand his son but Fran shushes him as Brighton closes the door with a smile. Maggie, Grace, Niles and Ms Babcock are looking at each other still in disbelief.

"At least" Maggie comments and hugs her sister delightfully.

"I think, we have something to celebrate, haven't we?!"

Ms Babcock agrees in her normal sarcastic tone, ""Yeah, sure. Get me a drink!"

"What a shocker!" he smirks.

Niles and Ms Babcock disappear in the kitchen.

"B, are you comin?" Gracie asks her brother, who is still watching through the front door.

"In a minute."

"What you doin?"

"Reading lips."

Maggie gives Grace a puzzled look, then turns to Brighton:

"You are able to read lips?"

"Only three words."

"So what are they?" His siblings encourage him.

"I love you" he whispered.

In excitement his sisters sneak up behind him and spy through the window. There, they watch their father and Fran embrace and gently kissing each other. As the kisses become more passionate and the hands began roaming Maggie slaps a hand over Gracie's eyes.

"Hey" she protests.

"Believe me, Grace. To recite Brighton, too much information!"

The three of them turn and follow Niles and Ms Babcock arm in arm to the kitchen.

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