The Nanny is owned and copyrighted by Fran Drescher, CBS, Sony Pictures, Sweetheart Productions, and many others. I hold no claim whatsoever on these characters. I'm just thankful that they exist. On a personal note, I want to thank Kate Moore for her help with this story. Thanks a million, Kate!!

[Author's Note: This story takes place in an alternate reality in which Fran became the nanny years before Sara's death.]

Knowing Sara

by

Mary M
(mmosholder@webtv.net)

Sara and Maxwell Sheffield had a problem. Their two oldest children were resenting all the time their mother was spending with their newborn sister. Maggie, the oldest, was eight and withdrew into herself because she felt neglected. Brighton, age five, acted up in order to get attention. The answer was simple: they needed a nanny. A nanny would take care of the older children, while Sara spent time taking care of the baby, Gracie. (Gracie was a sickly baby and required extra care) After three months of searching, the perfect woman just fell into their lap; or rather, a nerfball did.

"Heads up!" Sara heard as a nerfball came hurling towards her. "Oy, I'm so sorry. You hurt?"

"No, I'm fine. I barely felt it."

"Well, I'm sorry. If I told them once, I told them a hundred times, "Don't throw at me like I'm Willie Mays, 'cause I'm not!", the dark-haired woman said to both Sara and the two little girls she was with.

"Are these your daughters?", asked Sara.

"These two ? Nah! These are my nieces, Carrie and Becky. Carrie, tell the nice lady you're sorry."

"Why, it's not my fault you didn't catch it."

"Tell her!", the woman scolded the child.

"I'm sorry."

"That's alright." Sara said.

"Mom, I'm bored.", complained Brighton for about the tenth time.

"Here honey", said the dark haired woman giving him the ball. "Play with the girls" (off the girls' stare) "What ? You're too good to play with boys? If you want the ball back: go play."

"Go on, sweetheart", said Sara, seeing Brighton's concern, "I'll be right here watching you. Thank you so much, Miss...?"

"Fine. Fran Fine."

Sara spent the next two hours talking to Fran. She learned about Fran's family and how unhappy she was working at Danny's Bridal Boutique. She was impressed with how well Fran handled the kids. Fran, a complete stranger, actually got Maggie to talk to her! After two hours, Sara knew that she'd found her nanny. Maxwell took more convincing.

"Max, she's perfect." Sara explained, "I know she's a little rough around the edges, but she has a good heart. And the children adore her."

"But she has no professional experience. Maybe we should look for someone more appropriate."

"And wait another three months?! Max, the children need someone now. "

"But Fran Fine?! Good God, you've just met the woman."

"I know. But listen, she is great with the kids, she's funny and she's no push over. This is exactly the kind of woman we need. How about we try it on a trial basis? If she doesn't work out after two weeks, we'll find someone else."

"All right. But be prepared...."

"She'll be great. Trust me."

Sara was right. Fran was great. She helped Maggie overcome her shyness and kept Brighton in line. She was like a second mother to them, but she never let them forget that Sara was the boss. Sara and Fran became best friends. Sara was solid and grounded and gave Fran good advice on dating.

Fran comes in kitchen, slamming door, "God, I hate Danny Imperialli."

"Why? What happened now?", Sara asked.

"Oh, Danny and I had a fight that began with where to eat and ended with his 'I can't get married now' excuse. Why do I stay with him?"

"I don't know. If you ask me, you can do a lot better. I mean the guy is just using you. It's been years and your relationship is the same as it was before."

"I know. But, I've known Danny since high school. We're compatible. Like you and Mr. Sheffield."

"Compatible? Fran, you two argue all the time. Besides, Maxwell and I have a relationship based on equals. Does Danny see you as an equal? Does he value your opinions? When you disagree, do you compromise?"

"Yeah. (Off Sara's look) All right, no. He wasn't raised like that. I mean he's just doing what he knows."

"Well, then maybe it's time for you to know someone else. Fran, you are so much better than him. You're smart, funny, and you have more style than anyone I know. Fran, the guy is not going to change. And you changing for him is ludicrous. Unless you want a man to tell you what to do."

"No! I'm a bright, independent woman! I can make my own decisions."

"Well, then you either have to make him respect that or cut your losses, and dump him."

Sara, in turn, got to live vicariously though Fran. She loved hearing Fran tell stories about her family and friends back in Flushing and Fran loved Sara's stories about all the places she has been to and all the famous people she's met. Sara always defended Fran to Maxwell when he was angry; and Fran never let Maxwell take Sara for granted.

"What's the matter with you?", Fran scolded Maxwell, "Forgetting your wife's anniversary like that?"

"Not that it is any of your business, Miss Fine. But I was preoccupied."

"Preoccupied? That's your excuse? That woman gives you the best years of her life, and you're too preoccupied to remember one day outta the whole year?!"

"Miss Fine..."

"Don't 'Miss Fine' me. I don't care what play you're putting on, that's no excuse for ignoring your wife."

"Look, I have already apologized to her. What more do you want from me?"

"A romantic gesture, now and then, wouldn't hurt."

"A romantic gesture?"

"Yeah! Wine her, dine her, tell her ya love her."

"Sara already knows I love her, Miss Fine. I tell her that all the time."

"Yeah, in private. You need to, I don't know, shout it from the rooftops. Make her feel like she's the most important thing in your life. Stop taking her for granted and make a gesture."

Fran and Sara shared each other's world. Sara learned about Fran's world of middle class Queens and Fran learned about the world of upper class Manhattan. Their upbringings were completely different; yet these two women shared many qualities. They were both smart, funny, kind, and generous. They both loved being around people, that's why class never mattered to either of them. Through each other, both got to be part of a world that, otherwise, they would know nothing about. The bond between the women grew and in three years they became each other's greatest defender, confidant, and friend.

Then the unimaginable happened. Sara was in a car accident. Maxwell and Fran rushed to the hospital. They were shocked to see Sara lying there. She looked so weak and fragile, which is something they both knew she was not.

"Sara, I'm here. So is Miss Fine.", said Maxwell when he and Fran entered the room.

"Hi, honey.", said Fran.

"Sweetheart. You are going to be all right. You're... " Maxwell couldn't go on. The sight of his wife laying there helpless was too much for him.

Fran put her hand on his and continued talking. "Sara, honey, the kids miss you. You'd've been so proud of Maggie today. She got 1st place in the school spelling bee. That's one smart kid you have there. Oy, and you'll never guess what I heard from the Bickerstaff's nanny..."

Fran talked to Sara all night. She told her every bit of gossip she knew. She talked as if Sara would answer. "Show no weakness." She told Maxwell. "Don't make her think she's gonna die. Give her a reason to live".

But ultimately, Sara did die. Her last words were "Take care of each other." Sara's death was a blow to everyone. Fran became more protective of the children. She wasn't about to let Sara's death destroy the family. She owed Sara that much. She made sure the children faced the reality of their mother's death and dealt with it. Brighton ran to Fran immediately, as he always did. Gracie let Fran comfort her, but it was clear she missed her mother. Maggie was hit the hardest. Maggie wouldn't talk to Fran for weeks after Sara's death. She barely left her room. Finally Fran had enough and confronted her.

"Margaret Eloise Sheffield! Open this door this instant!"

Maggie opened the door. "You don't need to yell."

"Well, maybe if you opened the door, I wouldn't have to.," Fran told the child. "Honey, I know you miss your mommy. We all do. But you can talk to me about it. Remember all those long talks we used to have? All those great tea parties? We used to talk about everything."

"I miss Mommy ", Maggie's voice was almost inaudible..

"I know, angel."

"It's my fault. My fault she's dead."

"What? Aw, honey...."

"I was jealous. I was mad because you spent more time with me than she did, I wished that you were my mom."

"Aw, honey.." said Fran, holding Maggie to her, "Listen to me. Your mom's death had nothing to do with you. Your mom loved you so much."

Fran and Maggie talked for a long time. Fran made sure that the children never forgot their mother. She kept Sara's memory alive through videos, pictures, and stories. She became a surrogate mother to the children, especially Gracie. Gracie was so young, and Fran knew she probably wouldn't remember much of her mother. Her relationship with the children, though always strong, became stronger.

Her relationship with Maxwell also changed. They talked more. When Sara was alive, Maxwell spent most of his time with her. When she died, he was tempted to hide away in his office, but Fran wouldn't let him. She knew Sara wouldn't want him to be some kind of hermit, cut off from his children, so she made him face life. She would come into his office every day, sit on his desk and tell him all about her day and she would get him to talk about his.

In time, they became each other's confidants. Every dream Maxwell ever told Sara, he now told Fran; and Fran told him all her dreams. They both shared their memories of Sara. Somehow, sharing each other's pain made that pain easier to bear.

Years went by. The children grew older and made new friends. Fran went on dates; she even ended up dating Danny again for a while until he dumped her. She tried to get Maxwell interested in dating, but he just wasn't interested. It took Fran 5 years to convince Maxwell to take off his wedding ring, and even then, his heart was still with Sara. After a few years, Fran and Maxwell fell in love. It wasn't easy. At first they both denied their feelings; after all they were friends for almost 10 years. How could they be anything else? Fran was the first to admit her feelings, but those feelings made her feel incredibly guilty. It was as if she was disgracing Sara by falling in love.

"What do ya mean disgracing her?", asked Fran's mother when Fran told her about her feelings. "What's so disgraceful about love?"

"Ma, she was my best friend. I feel like I'm stealing her husband."

"Did you have feelings for him before she died?"

"No!! How could you ask that?!"

"Then what's the problem? Ten years ago you didn't give him a second look because he was married. But he's not anymore. He's a guy who just happened to be married to your deceased friend. He's available now. Why shouldn't you be interested in him?"

"I don't know. Wouldn't it cheapen our friendship? I mean she's dead and I go pounce on her husband."

"Sweetheart, She's been dead over 5 years. Trust me; there's no pouncing going on. My point is that he's a great guy. If he was never married there'd be no problem, right?"

"I guess not, though I'd doubt he'd ever visit Queens if was single."

"Well, guess what? He's single! Listen, you've tried to set him up with other women, right? So what's wrong setting him up with yourself?"

With her mother's help, Fran was able to admit her feelings; it took a few years to convince Maxwell though.

"I do care for you, Miss Fine. But, it just feels wrong. It is as if I'm betraying Sara somehow. I loved her so much and it hurt so much when she died. Well, you were there, you know. The fact is, I don't think I would have gotten past it if it weren't for you."

"Then what's the problem? Do you think you're the only one who loved Sara? Let me tell you something, mister. She was my best friend. She was like a sister to me. And if I thought loving you was wrong, I would stop, because I loved her!"

"I know that Miss Fine. And the truth is, Sara loved you too. You were probably the best friend she ever had."

"I was?"

"Yes.. Of course you were."

"So if she loved both you, and she loved me- Why is it so wrong for us to love each other? I mean, Sara wanted us to take care of each other. She would have wanted us to be happy."

Finally, Fran decided that Maxwell would never admit his love for her. She considered leaving a few times. "If it weren't for the children," she thought, "I've been with them so long, it would kill them if I left."

But Maxwell kept her at arm's length and it became too painful to stay.

"Miss Fine," cried Maxwell, "Don't go. Please."

"Why not? I'm tired of staying here loving you and knowing that you're never gonna love me back!"

"But I've already told you I love you."

"Yeah, and took it back. You can't even call me by my first name. It's like you're purposely shutting me out. I'm sorry, I can't live like this."

Fran started for the door when she heard: "Fran, don't go! Please, Mi--Fran, I need you. I--I love you."

Fran and Maxwell married 9 years after Sara died. The children were very happy for them. After all, their mother had been gone for so long, and both Fran and Maxwell deserved some happiness. After all, Fran was a second mother to them when Sara was alive, and a surrogate mother after she died. So why shouldn't she become their stepmother? Fran and Maxwell went on to have 2 children, a boy and a girl. The girl was named Sara, for the woman whose love and kindness was so strong that it not only saved one family, but help create another.

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