Disclaimer: "The Nanny" and all characters are owned by Fran Drescher, Sony Pictures, Tri-Star Columbia Pictures, High School Sweethearts, Sternim and Fraiser, Inc., etc.... This is for fun only, no infringements are meant.

To all Nanny Fans: This story follows the last five; so here it is! I hope every enjoy Part 6. A little more detail of Fran and her pregnancy, which I wish was shown more on Season 6. Please let me know what you think of it. Welcome to my world!

How Hard Could It Be?

by

Caryn
(drescher_fine@yahoo.com)

Fran Sheffield lays in the livingroom, lounging around, enjoying the peace and quiet of the day. In one hand is a cup of yogurt and the other one is resting on her very protruding abdomen. She’s watching "Days of Our Lives", although its not as good as it used to be. Ever since Shane Donovan left Salem, it hasn’t been the same.

Fran laughs as she thinks of the similarities between her husband and Shane. Although, it’s funny, Max told her that the guy who played Shane once read for him and that he didn’t care for his phony British accent. Fran still doesn’t understand why every time she sees that guy, she thinks of Max. Oh, well?

Fran rubs her belly, and smiles. Her body has sure changed in the last few weeks. She’s nearly past her second trimester now, making her a little more than six months along in her pregnancy. Now if Fran wants to get up from sitting or lying down, she needs help or at least a little push.

Sometimes though, she gets this surge of energy, and she feels like she could do anything. Today is not one of those days. She just wants Max to come home and massage her aching back and hold her.

"Ow! Okay, would you two lay off. I get the point that you’re crowded in here. Don’t take it out on Mommy." Fran smiles again, talking to her babies.

She thinks of that word "babies". That had been the shock of their lives. When Fran had gotten the news that she was having twins, she was in shock. She couldn’t wait to tell Max the wonderful news, and she was right about his reaction too. Exactly the same as hers.

The twins have turned out to be one of the best things to happen in their family’s lives. Max had said that their love was so strong, that they couldn’t just make one. It seems that Fran decided to be an overachiever.

Lately these two have been very active. In fact last night, when Fran and Max were lying in each other’s arms, bodies facing each other, Fran snuggled her stomach against Max’s and one of the babies kick so hard, Max felt it. Both Fran and Max had awaken, gazing at each other and laughing about the whole thing, until Max had rubbed her belly, soothing both the kids as well as Fran.

Fran sighs, thinking of how big she already is. She can only imagine how much bigger she’s going to be in twelve weeks. That’s all she has left. Dr. Reynolds told her she probably wouldn’t make it through the whole term. Twins come when they feel like it and there would be no stopping them. When they’re ready, everyone else better be too.

Something catches the corner of Fran’s eye. She can swear that she just saw something behind the couch. She looks back but she decides not to get up, because that would take too much effort. She doesn’t see anything, so she returns her attention back to the TV.

Two teddy bears jump up from behind the couch and sit on the top of it. Dancing and waving to get Fran’s attention. Fran starts laughing, as she sees two very plushy teddies staring at her. One is mint green and the other is ivory.

Fran laughs even harder, thinking she knows who’s behind the teddy masquerade.

Two more bears pop their heads up in the middle of the couch. This time, the teddies are pink and blue. Then at the end of the couch, a purple bear and a light brown one join the fun.

"Okay, why are there six teddy bears dancing around me?" Fran asks trying to stifle her laugh.

The bears disappear all at once, but as you hear Maggie, Brighton and Grace’s voices, they all pop up one at a time.

"Because, we bought them for the twins."

The kids finally raise from behind the couch, still laughing.

"Do you like?" Gracie asks her mom with bright eyes.

"Yeah, I believe I have the most wonderful bunch of kids. I’m so glad you three are happy about our family extending."

"Why wouldn’t we be happy?" Maggie asks, wondering why Fran is so uncertain about how they feel.

"Well,...." Fran begins, but Brighton cuts her off.

"Listen, we’re all a family now. We wouldn’t change it for the world. Mom, don’t you know by now that without you, we wouldn’t be who we are. You, Dad, Maggie, Gracie, the twins," Brighton points to Fran’s stomach, "and myself, we are a complete family."

"I agree with B! You and Dad having them, only makes us that more luckier." Maggie joins in, but stops as she looks at Brighton, "Ugh, did I just admit I agreed with the troll?"

They all laugh but Brighton fakes a hurt look. The kids put all the teddy bears around Fran’s stomach. She looks down at herself and her big tummy, which looks rather larger with a lot of stuffed animals sitting there.

They sit on the floor in front of Fran discussing how their day has gone so far. Being the weekend, they did most of their errands, giving Fran some time to relax and not have to worry about them so much.

Max walks in the front door, and sees Fran laying on the couch, but he doesn’t see the kids on the floor. He smiles, thinking of sneaking up behind Fran and giving her one helluva kiss.

Fran hears Max walking up behind her, but pretends not to see him. As he leans to kiss her, she places a teddy bear in her spot and Max kisses it instead of her. The kids roll in laughter watching their father open his eyes in surprise and shock.

"What the bloody...." Max stops as he sees the children sitting in the floor. "What’s going on?"

"What Sweetie, didn’t ya like your furry kiss?" Fran couldn’t help herself.

Max walks around the couch and sits down next to Fran. "Where did all these come from?"

"The kids bought them for the twins. Isn’t it sweet?"

"Yes, that was very thoughtful. These two are going to spoiled." Max strokes Fran’s hair as he turns towards her, "Just like their mother."

Fran pouts as she snuggles up to him. Max places his one arm around her while positioning his other hand on her belly.

"They’re active again today, aren’t they?"

"Tell me about it. They haven’t quit moving, kicking or fighting all day. I thought maybe their Daddy can get them to calm down." Fran smiles innocently at him as Max leans over kissing her lightly.

"Darling, I can’t believe how big your belly is getting. It seemed to really pop out the last couple of weeks." He lazily strokes her stomach as she cuddles up closer to him.

"Max, you don’t have to remind me. I feel like a whale as it is. I can’t see my feet anymore."

"Darling, you’re not a whale." Max knows he better soothe her now, otherwise, he’ll never hear the end of it. He made that mistake before, he won’t do it again. "Fran, you really are beautiful and I wouldn’t have you any other way."

"So, you do want me to be barefoot and pregnant?" Fran slaps his arm as Max sits there not saying a word, "Max?"

"Huh? Oh, sorry. I was just thinking of you barefoo.......never mind." Max awkwardly smiles while changing the subject, "Fran, would you just stop it. I never said that. Would you just stop putting words in my mouth."

The kids look at their parents and roll their eyes. They know their father is in the middle of a conversation, he’s not going to win. You can’t go up against a very tired, hormone active, pregnant woman over thirty and think you’re going to win.

Max leans over and kisses Fran passionately to reiterate his feelings for her. He finds her just as desirable pregnant as he did when they first met. The kids look on, loving the fact that they are so open with their relationship. They like knowing their parents are in love.

Fran jumps as one of the soon-to-be Sheffield’s are trying to tell them, they want some attention too. Max smiles sweetly at Fran, and begins their nightly talk to their babies. The whole family joins in as they start the newest tradition.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Monday has arrived and Fran is ready for her doctor’s appointment. Max took the morning off to take Fran. He hasn’t missed an appointment since the time, she found out they were having twins. He promised himself, as well as Fran, he would never miss another appointment. This is too important to him.

Max helps Fran lean back on the exam bed, waiting for Dr. Reynolds. A huge smile spreads across his face as he thinks of his wife having their babies. Max has never been so excited before. It’s a different experience with Fran, than it was with Sarah.

Dr. Reynolds walks into the room, breaking Max’s thoughts.

"Hello, Fran. Hello, Max. How are we today?"

Fran looks up and laughs, "We’re doing fine. They have nothing to complain about, and you know me, I’m not a complainer, but Doctor, how big am I gonna get?"

"Frannie, let me ease your mind. Let’s do some comparing." [beat] "The blimp. Well, twins like to make that look like a child’s balloon. Honey, you’re giving birth to, two British Jews." Dr. Reynolds pats Fran’s arm, "Now, doesn’t that make you feel much better?"

Fran leans over to Max and whispers, "I wanna new doctor."

"Darling, she was only kidding." Max stares at Dr. Reynolds who isn’t laughing, "You were joking, right?"

"Ah, yeah. Of course I was. Well, Fran, everything looks great. We’ll make your next appointment for two weeks instead of three. You’re getting closer to the end, so we need to see more of you."

"How much more of me can you see?" Fran mumbles to herself as Dr. Reynolds leaves the room.

Max helps Fran off the table and dressed again. Max just gazes at her, she’s so beautiful, getting more so with each day. He has never seen a woman glow as much as Fran.

"Darling, do you know what? I do believe that marriage and motherhood, sure does agree with you. Have I told you lately, how truly happy I am with you?"

"No, I don’t think I’ve heard that one in awhile. You can keep telling me that again and again." Fran kisses Max, who returns it with a little more passion. "You do realize that what we are doing and getting into here, is why I look the way I do."

"Yes, I just can’t help myself when I’m around my beautiful wife."

"I’d have to admit something too. I can’t seem to keep my hands off my sexy husband."

Max grabs her hand, "Let’s get out of here. I have something in mind that involves you, me and a lot of chocolate!" She smiles up at him and kisses him again. They hold each other tightly for a moment.

"Max, I love you."

"And Fran, I love you." Max puts his arm around her, guiding her out of the room and placing a protective hand on her belly.

As they exit the Doctor’s office, a blonde haired woman walks up behind them.

"Maxwell? Fran?" She questions as Fran and Max turn around.

"Meredith, how are you? Its been a long time." Max smiles looking at the woman.

Meredith Blain, an old friend of Max and his Nanny’s. Fran had discovered Meredith one day and talked Max into letting her audition for "The Widower". Max consequently hired her as the star, which turned out for the best for both of them. Upon finishing up with the play, Meredith became very successful and has since moved on to big screen hits.

"How are you, and the you-know-who, doing?" Fran, her usual yenta self asks, fully turning towards the tall slender woman.

‘I’m good, but, the you-know, is over. Not that I’m upset, just more missing the fun then him. I’m in town for a few months, but I’m back to London after that. But hey, the joys of being famous, right?"

Fran looks at Max, "And Honey, why is it that Meredith is famous?"

"Fran, we’re not going over this again, are we?" He looks at Meredith, "Stupid me. I thought that marrying her, would shut her up."

"Well, it seems that you have found at least one way to do that!" Meredith points to Fran’s growing tummy, "I see congratulations are in order for you both, huh? When’s the big date?"

"Well, these two will be making their acting debuts in about twelve weeks, June 14^th." Fran smiles proudly as she sneaks in the news of twins.

"Did you say two?"

"Yes, Fran here seems to be an overachiever in everything she does! We’re having twins."

"That’s wonderful. I know you’ll love being a mom, Fran. I had my little boy, seven months ago."

"Oh, Mere, you had a baby too?" Fran inquires, looking at Meredith with disbelief in her eyes.

"His name is Colin. He’s right over there." She waves her hands towards a woman in her fifties holding a squirmy little boy. "That’s my nanny, Helena. She’s very good, but I suppose not as good as yours was, right Max?" Meredith winks at Fran as they all laugh again.

"Mere, can I hold him?"

"Sure, Fran. He’d probably love that." Meredith waves for Helena to come on over with Colin.

Helena walks over and hands him to Fran. Fran accepts the baby, holding him gently. Max leans over her shoulder, brushing her hair out of the way. He watches intently at the whole scene, and how natural Fran is with Colin.

"Awe, Meredith, he’s so precious." Fran coos back and forth with the tiny tot in her arms.

"Yes, he’s a good boy. He’s pretty laid back for a baby."

As Fran and Max are playing with him, Meredith’s cell phone rings. She answers it, walking away for a little privacy. Fran and Max can hear Meredith yelling into the phone and wonder if everything is okay.

Meredith hangs up and strolls back to where Fran and Max are standing, "Anything wrong, Meredith?" Fran asks not taking her eyes off the baby.

"Well, actually there is. Would you do me a huge favor?"

"Sure, anything."

"How would you two like a chance to practice your Mommy and Daddy skills?. Can you watch Colin for the day, maybe the night, but no longer than that. I need to take Helena to the INS. Her court date has been switched to this afternoon. I have to appear with her. It’s a big mess, nothing you have to get involved with. Do you mind? Fran, I just don’t trust anyone else, with him. Could you? I mean, do you feel up to it?"

Fran looks at Max, wondering what to do, this is something they both have to agree to.

"Meredith, we can watch him for you. Is there anything we need to know about him?" Max responds while Fran smiles at her husband.

"No, he’s perfectly fine just being held or laid down on the floor. Are you sure this is okay?"

"Yes!" Fran nods her head as Helena gives them the huge diaper bag to Max.

"I’ll call you tonight. Thank you so much!" And with that, Meredith and Helena depart, leaving Fran and Max standing there with a baby and no clue as to how much trouble they’ve agreed to.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Max and Fran enter the house holding the baby and laughing at Colin’s facial expression, talking bout how nice it will be when their’s finally enter the world. Niles walks through the livingroom, but stops dead in his tracks as he looks at Fran and Max, with a baby in Fran’s arms.

"I thought it was only a doctor’s appointment and why is there only one?" Niles says with a major confused look on his face.

"Niles, what are you babbling about?" Max asks him, shaking his head at his butler, "After Fran’s appointment, we bumped into an old friend of ours, and she needed someone to watch her son."

"Yeah, Niles, look at the little man. Isn’t he cute?" Fran starts cooing, but stops rather quickly as the ‘sweet little boy’ decides to start screaming his head off. "Boy, does he have lungs."

"Yeah, okay. Gotta go, see ya." Niles takes off out of the room as fast as he can. No way is he getting suckered into watching that kid.

"Max, are you staying home or going back to work?" Fran sweetly asks as he brushes a lock of her hair out of the baby’s reach.

"Fran, I’ll stay home, besides, I’d rather be here to watch you. This will be good practice as well as a little fun. He doesn’t look to hard to handle."

"Honey, its been eleven years since you took care of a baby, ya know that right? Are you sure you’re gonna remember how to do this?" Fran laughs at Max’s expression of overacted pouting.

"Fran, do I remember? Yes, Sweetheart, I do, and to tell you the truth, I can not wait to hold our beautiful babies in my arms." Max gazes at Fran, and how easily she holds Colin.

As he’s watching her, he realizes how right everything is, how right it all feels with Fran. He can’t explain it, she looks absolutely perfect with a baby in her arms and at this very moment, he just fell in love with Fran all over again.

But unfortunately, this wonderful scene doesn’t last long. Little Colin has other plans for his replacement care givers. Colin spits up all over Fran. It’s a good thing she had her face turned towards Max, otherwise, she would have gotten it.

"Oy! There goes this outfit." Fran holds Colin out at arms length, the little boy just smiles at her, "Max, hold him so I can change."

"Darling, I would love to but....."

"Oh no you don’t. Maxwell, you’re not getting out of this. If he was our baby, would you say that?"

"Of course not. It’s just I was hoping to get Niles to look after him. What do you say if I come up and help you change?" Max winks at her, trying to get out of watching this child, but also to have a chance of being alone with Fran.

Fran smiles broadly at her husband as she thinks about his proposition. She already knows her answer is yes and just as she’s about to answer, Niles walks back into the room, answering for her.

"I’m not taking care of a child that doesn’t belong to either one of you. Niles is off duty in that department, until those two are born. Besides, you two need to do this, remember when the twins come, it’s not practice anymore, it’s the real thing."

He starts walking out of the livingroom, tossing over his shoulder, "They’ll need their Mommy and Daddy, all the time. So, get used to not being alone." A little quieter and more to himself, Niles adds, "Welcome to my world."

Max looks back at Fran with sad eyes, and shrugs, "I guess I’ll wait for you. Don’t be too long."

Fran laughs at Max again, as she walks towards the stairs. She does waddle a little now, but not too much, or at least not yet.

As Fran leaves Colin’s sight, he starts to cry as loud as he can. Max looks at his watch, 12:30 p.m. "Are we hungry, little one?"

He heads to the kitchen and opens the refrigerator to see if they have anything to feed a seven month old. Nothing. He thinks for a moment and heads back out into the livingroom, grabs the diaper bag and the car seat.

Back in the kitchen, Max puts the car seat on the table and places Colin in it. He looks through the bag, finding quite a few jars of baby food.

The more appealing choices are peas, squash, or fruit. Max chooses the squash first. It looks the least harming to a child. He then proceeds to feed Colin.

~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, Fran’s on her way down the back stairs to get a snack before she goes back to take care of Colin. Her own babies are hungry and when they want food, they sure do let Mommy know. Fran’s learned to give them what they want, she doesn’t get a choice in this.

As she descends the last few steps, she hears Max grumbling about something. By his tone of voice, she knows he’s not too happy. Max’s back in turned to Fran, so she walks to where her husband is sitting to see what’s wrong.

The view she sees is so funny, she can’t stop herself from laughing. However, if she keeps laughing as hard as she is now, her bladder is going to explode, especially now that two babies are pressing up against it.

Here’s Max, sitting down with mushed peas and squash although out his hair and face, even his shirt has food on it. He doesn’t say a word, he waits until Fran has her fun at his expense.

Fran doesn’t stop laughing. Max decides to get even by introducing her into the game. So, he picks up a spoon full of peas and squash and flings it at her, hitting her hair. Fran’s laughter stops suddenly as she glares at Max.

"You so did not just do that!"

"Oh, yes I did."

"Honey, Sweetie, are you sure you want to admit it?" Fran asks him, not believing he actually did that and more importantly it was something spontaneous

"Why Fran, are you going to punish me?" Max asks in his seductive voice.

"Max, I would love to give you what you deserve, but I have this thing about men and green hair. I just don’t do it." She starts laughing once again.

Max gets up and grabs her, positioning himself behind her while wrapping his arms around her waist, or what was once her waist, resting his hands on her belly.

"You are so funny, Francine Sheffield!"

"Well, my husband thinks so. Meanwhile, I don’t know how funny he would think it was, if he caught you in here with me."

"Then I guess we better not get caught." Max laughs as they both tease each other.

"If he only knew how madly and deeply in love I am with you." Fran leans back against Max’s chest as he starts nibbling her ear lobes, making his way to her neck.

Just then a certain baby that is still in the room, throws more food and hits both Max and Fran in the face.

"Boy, does he have some aim." Fran reaches up and wipes Max’s face off with her hand and licks her fingers, "Ugh! No wonder he’s throwing it at us, its gross." Max laughs at Fran’s expression as he reaches up and wipes the food off her face as well.

"Well, that makes two outfits and now yours. See, what Niles gets for not helping us out in the beginning." Fran starts to take her shirt off that is drenched with food, as well as helping Max off with his.

"Max, tell me our kids won’t be like this. Please, tell me." Fran begs Max and he simply smiles at her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Later, Max grabs the diaper bag and digs into it. Five minutes later, finally pulling an actual diaper out of it.

"Now, Darling, this is how to put a diaper on...."

Fran rolls her eyes at Max.

"Max, I think I now how to do this. Sweetie, I practically raised Nay’s kids, remember, I told you that in my interview over five years ago."

"Yes, well your interview wasn’t exactly what I was looking at." Max admits and Fran lightly slaps his arm.

"So, then what exactly were you looking at?"

"Your beautiful face and your luscious body!" Max smiles smugly thinking he just outsmarted his wife with his answers, although it was the truth.

While they were talking, Max had fixed the diaper on Colin, successfully, well at least that’s what he thought. Max lifts Colin up and Fran starts laughing. The poor baby has a backwards diaper on, and as easy as it was to put on, just as easily it falls off.

Max sighs and hands the baby over to Fran, so she can finish up business and he can just walk away, especially after he bragged about knowing everything this is to parenting. Fran grabs his shirt and yanks him back into the room.

"Oh, no ya don’t. You’re staying right here to learn from the Nanny how to put a diaper on. Now, Honey, watch carefully." Fran tries so hard not to laugh as she speaks, but giggles escape out uncontrollably.

Max glares at her, but soon a smiles spreads across his face. He takes one side of the diaper and she takes the other side, as they fasten the diaper together.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fran becomes very tired, so Max suggests the three of them take a nap, her, Colin and himself. Fran obliges all to quickly as she grabs Max’s other hand and schelps him up the stairs.

As they enter their room, they rearrange the bed, so that Colin is safely between the two of them. Fran lies down and Max hands her Colin. He lies down next to them. Fran’s on her side, staring at Max. He takes his hand and lays it across her body. He always has to be touching her, so he can fall asleep.

Soon both Fran and Max are asleep, but little Colin has plans of his own. He quietly crawls around the bed. He doesn’t want to go to sleep, he’s not tired.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Brighton walks into his room and turns the computer on. Sitting down at his desk, he decides he wants something to drink. He raises and wanders down the hall past his parents room. Glancing into their room, Brighton sees a very awake little boy in the middle of his sleeping parents.

"So, who are we?" B asks quietly knowing all too well who it is, "So, we must be the little one, Mom and Dad are practicing on. You poor boy!"

Colin looks at Brighton and smiles, thinking he just fought his friend and accomplice . Brighton looks back at him, and smiles too. He never thought he’d have a brother, but now that Fran is expecting one, Brighton can’t wait until he comes. But for the time being, he won’t mind playing with a temporary stand-in.

"So, big boy, whatcha want to do?" Brighton asks as he starts down the hallway back to his room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fran is the first to awaken and looks over to where Colin should be. She looks around and finds no baby. She slowly gets out of bed, trying to get her swollen belly up, which doesn’t like to cooperate with her. She finally stands and walks around the bed to look for Colin.

She doesn’t find him, so she looks in the bathroom and in her and Max’s closets. But no baby. She walks back to bed and wakes Max up.

"Honey, I think we lost something. Max, get up!"

"What are you rambling about?" Max asks, but knew at the very moment he said that, that he’s in so much trouble. Never take an attitude up with Fran, especially a very pregnant, irritated, and exhausted Fran.

"Maxwell, don’t you start with me. I think we lost Colin. Sweetie, he’s not in the room."

"Fran, he has to be here somewhere. Let’s go look down the hall."

As the reach the hallway, they encounter Maggie and Grace just coming home from school.

"Have you two seen a little boy, say about, oh, seven months old, wearing a navy blue corduroy jumper?" Fran asks innocently.

"Oh don’t tell me, my own parents misplaced a baby already?" Gracie has to make it very dramatic.

"No, we were just askin’. That’s all. Nothing to see here! Move one, move on!" Fran pushes Max down the hall, in search of the lost child.

"Fran, stop pushing me, would you."

"Well, if you wouldn’t have fallen asleep, none of this would have happened."

"Why? Why me? I do believe that vein in my forehead is starting to throb again."

"Max, stop being so over-dramatic." She smiles sweetly at him, and he takes her hand as they start to look everywhere possible.

They look all over, any open doors to rooms, they check. Soon, they have searched the entire second floor of the townhouse, and to no avail, still no Colin.

Max sighs, "Well, he couldn’t go downstairs by himself. He has to be here somewhere."

"Max, did ya look under the beds?"

"Yes, Fran."

"Behind the furniture?"

"Yes, Fran."

"Max, we can’t lose him. What kind of parents does this make us?" Seeing Fran visibly upset, Max places a comforting arm around her.

"Fran, we’ll find him."

"Did we search the kid’s rooms?"

"We didn’t check Maggie’s or Brighton’s."

Fran and Max look at each other and start towards the two rooms. As they enter Maggie’s room to look around, Brighton leaves his room with Colin. It’s a beautiful day out, so he decides to take him for a walk.

Brighton heads down the stairs and grabs Colin’s coat on the way out, bundling him up as they exit.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, back upstairs, Fran and Max are desperate to find Colin before Meredith comes to pick him up and finds that she doesn’t have a baby to pick up.

Max yells for the children, "Margaret, Brighton, Grace!"

"What Dad?" Grace comes running up to him and Fran.

"What’s going on?" Maggie asks almost at the same time, Grace did.

"Where’s your brother?" Max asks them looking around.

"I believe he left about five minutes ago." Grace states the facts to her parents, meanwhile, to Maggie she whispers, "He’s the smart one."

"Okay, guys. Here’s the problem. We lost Colin and we can’t find him. We need your help to look in every closet, hamper or anything else a baby can crawl into."

"You did lose him!" Maggie and Gracie start laughing, but stop quickly as Fran’s face returns a stern glare at them.

"Now! Just go look!"

They all take off in different directions to look for the little "lost" boy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Brighton’s enjoying the evening with Colin, thinking how much he’s going to enjoy having a little brother of his own. He looks at his watch, its been about twenty minutes, he should really get going home. His parents are probably up wondering where Colin is.

As Brighton’s walking back to the townhouse, the Sheffield family receives a visitor. Meredith knocks on the door, looking forward to seeing her son.

Niles walks to the front door and sees its Meredith and yells at the top of his lungs, "Mr. and Mrs. Sheffield, I suggest you hurry up, Mommy is here!"

He opens the door, "Good evening, Miss Meredith. How are you this evening." Niles says in his calm, normal butler tone.

"Hi, is Fran and Max here? I can’t wait to see my little sweet boy."

"Oh, Mr. and Mrs. Sheffield are around here somewhere. They’re getting him ready to see you. I’ll go find them. Please have a seat."

Niles leaves the livingroom as Meredith takes a seat. He heads up the stairs in search of Fran and Max. He sees them all with very worried looks on their faces, and now he has to add to the fire.

"Um, Sir. Miss Meredith is downstairs."

"Oh, bloody hell! Well, I guess its time to face the music." Max gets up, taking Fran’s hand and guides her down the stairs.

"Max, can we lie to her?"

"I was thinking the same thing." Max glances at Fran, making her smile.

They slowly descend the stairs, not wanting to admit to their huge mistake of babysitting a close friend’s child and then losing him in the process.

They walk up to Meredith and sit down, trying to think of the right words, if they were right words for this.

"Meredith, you’re here already! We weren’t expecting you so soon." Fran starts off, trying to postpone the inevitable.

"Oh, you two had fun, didn’t you? That’s wonderful! Was he a good boy?"

"Yes, he was so good, it was like he wasn’t here." Fran kicks Max at his statement.

"Meredith, the truth is...."

Just then Brighton walks in the front door with Colin. Fran, Max, Niles and Meredith all turn towards the door. From the look on his parents faces Brighton gathers, that they thought Colin was missing.

"Meredith, you’re here. Colin was a little fussy, so I told Dad and Mom, I’d take him for a walk. Sorry, I hope I didn’t hold you up by not being here when you arrived."

"No, Brighton. That’s fine, he loves walks." Taking Colin from Brighton, Meredith talks to her son, "So, big boy, did you have fun with the Sheffield’s?"

Colin coos and laughs at her, giving the sign he had fun.

"Thanks a lot. I really appreciate all your help today. I have to go, but I’ll call you all later." With that, Meredith grabs her and Colin’s bags and leaves.

Fran and Max turn towards Brighton, who is trying to sneak out of the livingroom.

"Oh, B, c’mere." Fran says to her son, looking very upset.

"I don’t think I want to." Brighton honestly answers her, kind of afraid to go near his pregnant mother.

"Brighton, come over here and sit." Max pats the couch next to him.

"Okay. I take it you two are not happy with me."

"Brighton, where have you been and how long have you been gone?"

"Just like twenty minutes."

"Well, we’ve been looking for Colin for the last two hours. If you left only twenty minutes ago, then where were you during all of our searching efforts?" Max asks him, not understanding what happened.

"I don’t know. I came home from school and went into my room. I was about to get a drink and I heard a little baby babbling at me. I picked him." He takes a breath and then goes on.

"I saw you both were asleep, so I figured playing and keeping him occupied would be the least I could do for the two of you. I wanted to let you sleep. I know how tired you both have been." He smiles hoping they really knew he meant that, "So, after a little while, we both became restless and I thought that a walk would do him well, and the rest you know."

Fran looks at Max and back to Brighton. She opens her mouth to say something, but she closes it back. Then as if she reorganized her thoughts, Fran starts to speak.

"B, that was very sweet of you. I can’t be mad at you, just next time let us know. We thought for sure we lost him or something."

"Well, I figured that I mind as well, brush up on my brotherly skills, I mean, i have a brother coming. Seeing Colin, made me realize just how excited I am to have my own brother." He gets up starting to walk away, but turning back he adds, "Not that another sister is a bad concept, I think I’ll kind of like having another one too. But don’t you ever tell Maggie and Gracie I said that. I’ll deny it!"

"Okay, B. Your secret is safe with us."

"Dad?" Brighton softy asks.

"Yes, Brighton."

"Thanks for marrying Fran." And with that Brighton walks up the stairs to his room.

Fran and Max sit there stunned by their son and what he just said.

"We raised one smart boy, didn’t we?" Fran teases her husband.

"Yes, we did. I’m glad I married you too." He smiles at her and continues, "We’ve raised a wonderful family and I know these two will be no exception, judging from who their mother is." Max points to Fran’s tummy and kisses her lightly on the cheek.

He stands and helps Fran up to her feet, "That was close with Colin though, could you imagine what she would have done, if we told her, we lost her son?"

"Fran, I shudder to think about it. Besides, I knew all along we didn’t lose him."

Fran slugs Max lightly in his side as they walk up the stairs to retire to their bedroom after a long exhausting day.

"Yeah, okay Honey!" They both laugh as they think of the last ten hours.

Max sits on the bed and Fran joins him, leaning against his chest.

"Max, do you remember the first time I wanted to become a Mommy?"

"Let’s see, the time you wanted to be artificially inseminated or the time you nanny-napped a baby on the subway?" He laughs remembering the entire conversation a couple of years ago.

"Very funny! I wouldn’t laugh too hard, Sweetie you may trip over your own ego. If I remember correctly, you were positive I wanted your ‘input’ and be the Daddy. Boy, were you way off."

"Honestly, Fran, can you tell me, you didn’t want me to be?"

"Like I told you before, if you wanted to have a baby with me, you would have to do it the old fashion way."

She smiles at him as Max chuckles again, absently playing with her hair. Fran lays her hand in his and starts playing with his fingers.

"Max, do you remember why I decided not to go through with it?"

"Because you had no one to share the experience of having a baby with, but now...."

"But now, I have you. The man I can share everything with, my life and all of my love. Everything I’ve ever wanted is under this roof." Max kisses the top of Fran’s head.

"Who would have thought a year ago, that I would be married to the most wonderful man, with three kids and two more on the way? I always hoped and prayed it would happen." Fran stops getting quiet all of a sudden.

"It seems to me, that Fate listened to all those prayers, yours and mine. I realized a long time ago, that you were my one true love and that being my best friend, wasn’t enough."

"Too bad, you didn’t tell me that five years ago." Fran smiles, but continues lightly, "We had some chase between us going, didn’t we? I mean, whenever I went out with another man, you were soo jealous, and I have to admit, that seeing you with another woman, I could have killed them."

"That’s my girl!" Max relaxes on the bed still holding Fran in his arms. "Well, this has been quite the day, hasn’t it?"

"Yeah, you can say that again. After all said and done, I think we did a damn good job. Just think, Honey, we’ll have two at a time to deal with." Fran laughs nervously, "We can do this, right?"

"Yes, Darling. Of course, we can do this. Fran, we already raised three children, we’ve already had the practice of a lifetime with them. We should be perfect with these two. We’re just starting at a different point. We get to start together at the very beginning of their lives."

"I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’m so glad to have you in my life."

"And I’m so glad to have you in mine. Part of life is learning new things with the one you love. And Fran, I love you."

"I love you. Now show me just how much!" Fran turns on her side and kisses Max passionately.

Max kisses her back, intensifying the kiss as they snuggle up against each other, getting their bodies closer and closer. He holds her gently as they slowly show the love and commitment they have for one another.

The moon and stars smile down on the two lovers, blessing them into their future.

Thanks to two very important people. First to Steffi, for her great ideas and input. The second to Jenn, who makes proofreading fun for herself but tortures the author for life! LOL!

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