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: Well here is the long awaited continuation to "The Whimsical Love of Fran and Max". This is story 8 of the saga, and as always it's based on our favorite characters. I have put in a lot of things I wish was shown on Season 6 as well as the finale. Again welcome to my world! :) Let me know what you think of it.

Labor of Love

The continuation of "The Whimsical Love of Fran and Max"

by

Caryn
(drescher_fine@yahoo.com)

Supervising Coordinator ~ Steffi

Previously on "The Nanny".........

~~~~~~

"Ooyyyy!! I still have nine days before their due date! Why is this happening now?" Fran screams loudly as Max tries comforting her.

"Fran its going to happen sooner or later!"

"Later would be good! Ooww!!"

"Fran my Darling, I wish I could ease the pain for you." Max tries to reassure her, but Fran doesn’t take comfort well.

"Max, now you say that! Sure, nine months ago you never thought about that! OWWWW!!!!" Fran squeezes Max’s hand. "Now stop trying to change the subject!" Fran tries to reposition herself but it is so difficult with a huge belly in the back of a limo.

She is lying against Max’s side with her knees up while holding Max’s hand that is draping over her shoulder. Her other hand is now squeezing his leg. For Fran every position seems to be uncomfortable, especially at thirty-eight and half weeks pregnant with twins,

"Fran, I’m not changing the subject. Okay, what about Joshua Elliot?"

"No!" Fran shouts as her contraction ends.

"Why? You picked that name for that little baby you napped at the subway." Fran quickly turns her head to glare at Max. "I didn’t mean ‘napped’ I meant the baby that you were left holding." Max smiles at Fran trying to soothe over his sentence.

"Max, that was then and now I don’t like it. Besides, since when do you want your father’s name anywhere near our baby boy? How about Jeremy Matthew?"

"No way Fran. It reminds me of Jeremy Irons and after that reunion..."

"What? Because he was more popular than you?"

"Yes. So that name is out, and speaking of names....Andrew is sooooo out!" Max shivers just thinking about his arch nemesis’ name.

"Oww! If these two don’t stop shoving and pushing in here trying to get out, than you can guarantee you will neva touch me again, Maxwell Sheffield!!" Fran shouts, rubbing her belly trying to calm the pain. Fran’s voice soon goes back into it’s sweet tone as if it never left, "What about Bradley Michael?"

Max thinks about if for a moment, "No Fran! I don’t think so. Those are two of your ex-boyfriends’ names. Good try."

"Damn!" Fran snaps her fingers.

"Charles Alexander?" Max questions Fran at his latest attempt to pick a name.

"I don’t know. It’s sounds a little stuffy and so uptight."

"British, babe." Max corrects her. "Fran we’re never going to agree on this. There has to be a name that will fit them and that we both like."

"Schlomo and Shloma!"

"Oy! What am I going to do with you?"

"Maxwell, it’s looks like you’ve done plenty already!" Fran grabs Max’s hand it places it on her ever protruding stomach.

It seems just the touch of Max’s hand on Fran’s belly calms her contractions and the pain itself is ceasing.

"Let’s try girl’s names, okay? Think we can find something to agree on?" Max suggests as he tries a new approach with his wife.

"Fine, but no way is Elizabeth going to be in our daughter’s name, got it! I know she’s your mother, Honey, but I have to draw the line somewhere. And this is it." Fran pokes Max in his side.

"Agreed. How about Jennifer Rose?" Max tries to choose a name for his baby girl.

"Well.....Jennifer is too common and after "Titanic", Rose is out. Sorry but it was just so overdone. Max, what about Lacey Marie?"

"Isn’t that the name of Brighton’s first crush?"

"Oohh...yeah. I guess we won’t be using that name."

"What about Stephanie Michelle?"

"Hmmm...Stephanie Michelle Sheffield. Sweetie, I’d like her to know how to spell it before she’s eighteen. Too many letters."

Max rolls his eyes at Fran. There is no way to win with her hormones guiding her mind. Fran squeezes Max’s leg. She can tell he is laughing at her, or so she thinks.

"Another contraction already? Oh God!" Max starts to panic and yells at Niles, "Niles get us there now! She’s not making me deliver my own babies."

Niles just shakes his head as he weaves in and out of traffic to the hospital emergency room, who are already waiting for the Sheffield’s arrival.

"Honey, it’s not another contraction. I just wanted to see if you could still feel your leg." Fran laughs at how panicky Max can get. "Sorry but I couldn’t help it." She is still laughing and looks down at her stomach. Every time she laughs her whole stomach moves. She watches Max move his hand up and down on her belly and smiles.

"Max, I love you so much." Fran simply states as she turns to look at him. A small tear escapes her eye as Max reaches up and wipes it away with his finger.

"And I love you Fran, more than anything. Are you okay?"

"Yeah as long as you don’t leave my side. I need you. I can’t do this without you."

"Darling I will not leave your side, I will be right here no matter what. And Fran, I need you too." He tilts his head in order to kiss her. Their kiss is short-lived as a

new contraction hits Fran.

"Oohhh!" Fran groans as the pain goes through her back and into her stomach but stops soon thereafter. "Okay kidos I know you want out, but take it easy on Mommy. Only one at a time so hurry up already and figure it out." Fran tells her babies and then looks up at Max.

"Darling, I wish I knew how to ease the pain. But all I can do is sit here and tell you that together we can do this."

"We? I don’t think ‘we’ are doing anything. I think it’s ME...."

"Excuse me, Mr. and Mrs. Sheffield but we’re at the ER. You can continue your fight in the delivery room." Niles smiles broadly at his close and dear friends as they embark on a new part of life together.

"It’s about time. NOW get me in there so I can have that damn epideral!" Fran shouts as Max hurriedly slides out of the limo to help scoot Fran out.

Dr. Reynolds is already there outside the emergency room doors waiting for her patient, well soon to be patients. Max helps Fran into the awaiting wheelchair as they enter the hospital and up to the maternal floor. Max holds Fran’s hand all the way into the birthing room not letting go once.

"Okay Fran. Are you ready for this?" Dr. Reynolds quickly asks Fran.

"Oy!" Fran looks at Max with pleading eyes.

"Alrighty then. I take that as a yes. Okay, Frannie I need you to change into this gown. I know its not going to be easy but your devoting husband can help you, right Max? I’ll be right back." Dr. Reynolds hands a hospital gown to Max and exits the room.

"Fran Darling, are you ready to stand?" Max asks Fran as he gently helps her out of the wheelchair.

"Sure why not. I’m about ready to explode here but whatever." She smiles crookedly at Max as he helps her out of the wheelchair.

Fran leans against the bed as Max entirely undresses her. He lets his hand rest on her belly for a moment gently caressing her smooth firm skin. He finally wraps the gown around her body and helps her onto the bed.

Lying down is much better for Fran than sitting up. She eases her knees up trying to get into a semi-comfortable position. Max grabs Fran’s hand once again in his own and strokes her cheek with the other. They stare at one other not saying a word, they already know what the other is thinking.

Dr. Reynolds comes in once again with a nurse in tow, "Okay dokay, I see we are already up in the bed. First order of business. Fran, how are the contractions?" The nurse hooks up the IV as Dr. Reynolds assesses her patient.

"They’re quite painful, thank you." Fran looks at Max, rolling her eyes and whispers to him, "What? She thinks this is a picnic?"

"How long since the last one?"

"Oh," Fran looks at Max and shrugs her shoulders.

"Okay, Daddy how long ago was it?"

"About fifteen minutes ago and so far she hasn’t had another one." Max beams proudly. He couldn’t believe he could remember all that.

"Alright, well I need to examine you. Max, you will need to go to admitting and register Fran in." Dr. Reynolds directs Max.

"NO! He is not leaving my side. I’m HERE, I’m giving BIRTH. There, I’m REGISTERED!!" Fran yells at her doctor and squeezes Max’s hand to let him know she needs him. He turns and looks at her with a slight smile on his face.

"That’s my girl." Max plants a kiss on her forehead and turns towards Dr. Reynolds, "Sorry but my wife has spoken. I’m not leaving her for any reason."

Dr. Reynolds smiles at them, seeing their love that is evident in their eyes.

"Okay Mommy. Let’s take a look at what these babies have been up to and see how much you have dilated. We’ll go from there."

Fran nods her head and looks up at Max. He stands there trying to comfort her. A few minutes later, Dr. Reynolds is finished and walks around the bed to Fran and Max. Fran just watches as they do what they have to and then looks up at Max who is cradling her in his arms.

"Okly dokly, just as I expected. Fran you’re not in labor. At least not yet."

"Wha? What do you mean I’m not in labor?"

"You are having what’s called Braxton Hicks. They are commonly called false labor or warm up contractions. Mommies over thirty-five usually get them." Dr. Reynolds explains to her and Max.

Fran snaps her head up when she had heard the term ‘over thirty-five’ and then up to Max.

"Oy don’t you dare tell me these are warm up pains. If that’s the case, how the hell am I gonna handle the real deal." Fran whines to both the Doctor and Max. "And for the record I’m twenty-nine."

Max smiles at Fran, how she can still find humor in every situation still amazes him.

"Fran, did you have any excitement or stress today?" Dr. Reynolds asks Fran.

Knowing Fran will lie, Max answers the doctor instead.

"Does getting kicked out of Lamaze class, going shopping for four hours and having her wonderful husband decorate the babies’ room for her as a surprise," Max takes a quick breath, "count as excitement?" Max sneaks in all of Fran’s latest activities from the day.

"Gesh Max, are you gonna tell her we made love this morning too?" Fran asks Max under her breath.

"Well then, that’s why you’re having these contractions today, Fran. You have been a tiny bit too overactive. I suggest for the rest of your pregnancy that you stop doing so much or you may just deliver in your bedroom and I’m not so sure your hubby would be so thrilled about."

Fran hesitantly nods her head and mischievously looks up at Max, who just rolls his eyes at her.

"We would like to keep you here a couple of hours and watch to see if anything else happens. We’ll do a quick ultrasound since you’re here to make sure things are in order before we let you go home." Dr. Reynolds informs Fran and Max as she leaves to get the machine set up.

"Oh Honey." Fran unhappy sighs as she scoots herself into a new position not letting go of Max’s arm that is around her.

"I can’t believe this is happening."

"You can’t believe it? What about me? I was finally accepting the fact that these two wanted out! And now I find out they don’t. These damn Braxton whatevers!"

"So that explains why these contractions suddenly started and now seems to be stopping." Max finally understands what has been happening.

Dr. Reynolds comes back in with the ultrasound equipment, "Okay Fran, you’ve had this before. Remember the gel is slightly cold."

The doctor lifts Fran’s gown up over her stomach. She places the gel all over it as she turns on the special monitor where Fran and Max can watch the babies.

"Hey little girl, arch your back." Fran whispers to her daughter.

Dr. Reynolds starts moving the scanner over Fran’s stomach as a picture comes to life.

"Say hello to your babies, Mommy and Daddy."

As the picture gets clearer, the twins images are perfectly seen. Their little girl has her hands by her hips and their little boy has one hand up by his temple. (Not even born yet and they already act like their parents.) They are fully developed so as Max and Fran watch, they can see every finger, every toe, every little last detail of their beautiful babies, right down to their eyelashes.

"Oh my God. Look how big they are now. That’s our babies." Fran says in a quiet awed voice.

Max’s smile gets even bigger as he watches, mesmerized by his unborn children. The twins are still moving but not as active as they once were. They no longer have the room to move. Fran lets a tear fall from her eye as she stares at them and grabs Max’s hand in her own. He looks down at her and realizes his love for her has grown stronger than he could ever imagine.

"It looks like your little girl has already made her move down towards the birth canal and your little boy is almost turned completely like his sister." Dr. Reynolds informs them. "That means it is almost time. Technically Fran, you are dilated to one. Since you are three days shy of thirty-nine weeks, that is a good start. I’d say sometime late this week or early next your babies will make their entrance but not today."

"It looks like our daughter wants out first." Max remarks as he kisses Fran’s forehead.

The more they watch, the more Fran and Max swear their babies are smiling or waving. Of course its their imagination running wild, but then almost like the twins want to show off, their baby boy looks like he puts his little arm over on his sister.

"Did he just...." Fran shakes her head, not continuing, just in case it is just her.

"Yeah he did!" Max confirms.

"Okay Mommy and Daddy any words before we go?"

Fran looks at Max and smiles.

"We love you!" Fran sweetly coos to her babies.

"We’ll see you soon!" Max adds in.

Dr. Reynolds shuts off the monitor and wipes off the remainder of the gel on Fran’s stomach. She places the gown back down and Fran immediately places both hands on her belly, rubbing it up and down, smiling from ear to ear.

"So now we’ll monitor your and the twins’ heart rate for a little while and then if everything is still at a standstill, we’ll let you go home." Dr. Reynolds tells them as she walks out of the room.

"So now it’s back to the waiting game again. I’m happy but I’m not." Fran says a little depressed but yet relived she hasn’t gone into total labor.

She’s ready but maybe a little more time will ease her mind about the whole thing, but now that she’s seen them again, she just wants to hold them in her arms..

"They are so amazing, just like you." Max kisses Fran lightly, "It’s the beginning of the end. You’re body is preparing you for the most wonderful experience–the miracle of birth." Max reminisces the birth of Margaret, Brighton and Grace.

"Max, I love how you can describe it like that, but Honey it still HURTS! Its easy for you, you’re not pushing two full term babies out of you!"

"Easy for me? Huh! Fran, you do not take pain easily. I know you–you’ll make me suffer too! After experiencing this little episode with you now, I know I’m in for it. Max matches wits with his wife as his places his left hand on her belly and gently rubs it. "But Baby I love you and I don’t care. You are my world and my life as are these two."

Fran smiles and Max continues, "Okay you stay here and I’ll go find the rest of the family to tell them to go home."

"Oh....okay....where the hell else am I gonna go?" She motions towards her ever protruding belly.

Max shakes his head and starts to walk out but Fran calls him back.

"Max, wait!"

"What’s wrong Fran?" Max gets a worried look in his eyes as he walks back to her bed.

"Nothing, but don’t leave yet, please!" Fran pleads with Max as she gives him one of her innocent looks.

She pats the spot next to her on the bed. Since they are in one of the new state-of-the-art birthing rooms, the bed she’s in is quite big. She wants him to lay down with her.

"Max, will you hold me for a little while?"

"Of course I will." He moves the ultrasound equipment over and slowly climbs into the bed to lie down next to her.

Fran instinctively cuddles up with him. Max strokes her hair as Fran lays her arm on his chest and the other on her belly. She lets her knees fall onto Max’s legs as she finds comfort in his arms.

"Max, I’m scared." Fran admits in a very timid voice.

"I know you are, but Sweetheart it will be okay."

"Promise?"

"Yes, I promise, and I’m not going anywhere. My home is right here beside you!" Max brings Fran’s face to his own and kisses her thoroughly.

"So what about the name Pierce for our baby boy?" Fran laughs as Max looks at her.

"Over my dead body, now that I know my wife drools over him." They both laugh as they hold on tight to one another.

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

Three hours after finding out they have to wait a while longer for their babies, Fran and Max enter the townhouse. Its past midnight and they are beyond exhausted.

"Darling?" Max asks Fran as he takes her purse from her. She’s been quiet all the way home. "Fran are you okay?"

"Yeah, I was just thinking how much I’m craving ice cream?" Fran’s tired face cracks a smile as she looks directly at Max’s face.

"The last time you said that, you practically ate a whole gallon!" Max winks at her and slides his arm around her waist or what was once her waist. "Do you need anything before we head up?"

"No just you. I wanna fall asleep in your arms."

"That can be arranged." Max smiles as he guides her up to the stairs. "I love you Mrs. Sheffield."

Fran’s face suddenly lights up. She still gets those butterfly feeling inside her when she hears herself being called ‘Mrs. Sheffield’ and even more amazed that Max married her.

"And I love you Mr. Sheffield."

They’re in front of their bedroom door as they simply state that well known fact that once was so hard for them both to admit.

Just then doors down the hallway slowly open up as three children come traipsing out towards their parents.

"Hey I was looking forward to meeting my new siblings. I see they are stubborn like our parents and don’t want to come out." Brighton tries lightening the mood up as he jokes with his parents.

"Brighton, don’t joke with your mother like that. She tired, worn out and very pregnant."

"Thanks a lot, Honey. You sure can make a girl feel good." Fran shakes her head at her husband as she places her arm around Brighton. "B, I love you." Fran pauses for a moment, "Oh let me put this in a way you will understand....ya know that trust fund you have?"

"Yeah?" Brighton soon comprehends on what Fran is getting at, "Oh, wait a minute, you can’t touch that, can you?"

"Oh yeah I can!" Fran smiles brightly at him. She laughs and heads back over to lean on Max.

"Shut up Brighton! Can’t you ever go without joking?" Gracie starts off but before she can continue Maggie starts in.

"Yeah, Brighton. Its bad enough Fran feels bloated and fat, and she can’t do anything without help. Then today she was sure that the twins wanted to make their debut, but didn’t. Gesh, Brighton can’t you see the desperation? And Mom doesn’t need your smart mouth to remind her."

"Like you just did?" Brighton sarcastically informs Maggie.

Maggie looks over at Fran and shyly smiles as she realizes what she did.

Max is in the background so glad he isn’t the one making those comments. Normally it would have been him with his foot in his mouth but for once he didn’t do it. He can’t help but to chuckle, that is until Fran elbows him.

She turns to face him and Max looks in her eyes, seeing her plea. He knows its time to take her to bed.

"Okay guys, we love to chat with you longer but if your father doesn’t get me into that room soon, I am gonna fall over. We love you."

"Goodnight children." Max adds in his sentiment to his children.

"Goodnight Mom, Goodnight Dad. We love you too" Gracie and Maggie chime in together as Fran and Max start for their door.

"Hey Mom?" Brighton calls after Fran and Max.

"What is it B?"

"You really do amaze me. Here you are almost nine months pregnant and yet you still have time for everyone in this family. No one has ever done that." He walks over to her and kisses her on the cheek, "I had fun today even though I shouldn’t have taken you shopping. I love you." With that Brighton walks back to his room and shuts the door, leaving the entire Sheffield family speechless and in awe.

Fran and Max are finally alone at last. Fran sits on the bed and takes her dress off. She arches her back looking down at her belly.

"Can you believe how big I am? Honey, I can’t even see the floor." Fran looks up at Max who is gazing at her, just thinking of how beautiful she is and can’t remember his wife looking more gorgeous in his life.

Max thinks about Fran’s statement. She is right, she is really big. He has never seen a woman get so ‘pregnant’. It isn’t so much weight, he just has never seen a woman’s stomach stretch as far out as Fran’s.

"Fran you are so beautiful!" Max sweetly expresses his feelings to her.

She smiles at Max, he can usually find the one way to cheer her up and tonight is no exception. Fran’s belly begins to slightly move up and down. She giggles as she watches it and Max comes over to sit by her.

"One of your children has the hiccups again. They have been taking turns this past month."

"It was so amazing and overwhelming to get the chance to watch them as they are still cradled in your tummy once more."

"I know it sounds funny, but I think I’ll miss having them inside of me when I deliver."

"Darling of course you will, you have been carrying them for almost nine months, they are a part of you."

"A part of us." Fran kisses Max gently on the lips as he strokes her back.

She tries pushing herself off the bed but can’t, so Max helps her. She stands sideways in the looking mirror and stares at her own image. She literally looks like she swallowed a huge beach ball. She knew the babies had dropped this last week but until she saw them today and as she looks in the mirror, she never realized just how much.

"Max, I knew they changed positions the last couple of days, I could feel it. They were quite active up until yesterday. They have calmed down a lot."

"Fran, what are you thinking?" Max asks her as he comes up behind her and wraps his arms around her letting his hands rest on top of her belly.

"How much I’d like to make love to my husband right now. How much I’d like to show him, the love I have for him" Fran answers as she leans against Max, "But I know we probably shouldn’t but I’d settle for a little cuddling."

"You got yourself a deal!" Max guides her over to the bed after they finish undressing and helps her lie down. He takes a few minutes to massage her sore back and then takes his place next to her, wrapping his arms around her. Fran positions herself as close as her stomach would allow to Max.

"You know we have to fight over names again, don’t ya?" Fran smiles tenderly at him.

"Well, I think when the time is right, we’ll figure it out." He kisses her on her nose.

"Sweetie, I could have stared at them all night." Fran’s face lights up so bright as she thinks of seeing her babies once again.

"I could have too."

Suddenly silence fills the air as both parents are thinking back to the ultrasound. Then Fran breaks the quietness.

"Max, I’m still a little scared of the birth but then I just think of holding our babies in my arms and it seems the fears disappear."

"Our babies." Max lets the sentence hang in the air as Fran closes her eyes and sleep soon overtakes her.

Max just lies there staring at her features and couldn’t believe that this woman who he is so in love with, is soon going to give birth to their babies. He smiles as the memory of finding out they were having twins and knowing that their love produced them. He hugs Fran tighter to himself letting sleep wash over himself.

~~~~~~~~

Fran wakes up with a start as a contraction shoots through her entire body. She knows that something new is happening to her since this pain is twice as worse as the others were and they seem to be lasting longer. Suddenly she gets this new feeling to ‘push’.

"Max!" Fran yells but Max doesn’t move, "MAXWELL!" She screams his name this time.

Max immediately sits up and stares at Fran, "Fran, what’s wrong?"

"AAaaaawwwww!! Honey I don’t know what’s wrong. The contractions started up again but they are worse."

"What do you mean worse?"

"I mean WORSE!" She grabs Max’s hand and squeezes it and this time Max feels it. "Max I feel like I have to push. What does that mean? Oooowww!"

"I don’t know!" Max starts freaking out.

"What do you mean you don’t know? Max I’m hurting here, is that all you can say? Oh God, my back hurts worse then yesterday." Fran presses down on her stomach not knowing how to handle this pain and not to mention she’s not sure what is happening.

"Fran, can you stand?"

"What do ya think?"

"C’mere, we’ll walk it off."

"Ooyyy!" Fran starts breathing in and out trying to do anything to stop this contraction.

"Its probably just another warm-up contraction. Dr. Reynolds said that this might happen." He tries reasoning.

"Yeah well she also told us that I wouldn’t go into labor until next week! What the hell do you call this?!? I think she’s insane!!"

"Darling next time we have a child, we’ll go to a new doctor."

"NEXT TIME?!!?! OY!! You did not just say that!!" Fran squeezes Max’s hand, turning it blue.

"Yeah next time!" He smiles at her and then continues, "But this time, Baby, I think its gonna be sooner than we think." Max states excitedly as he tries to helps Fran out of the bed and onto her feet.

Just as Fran starts to stand, something happens. Fran can’t see it but she feels it.

"Oh my God!!!!" Fran points down towards her legs.

"It happened didn’t it?"

"Yeah! Max, my water just broke!" She grabs her belly again as the contractions seem to be getting even stronger. "Make that a lot sooner than we think! Oooowww!!!"

Fran screams louder this time, "MAX!! I’m NOT ready! Aaaawwww!!"

"Fran I don’t think our babies care if you’re ready or not, they are." He helps Fran back on the bed, "I’m going to go get the children to help."

"Fine, but you get your tuchaus back in here when you find them! You’re not getting out of this!"

Max takes off in search of Margaret, Brighton and Grace. He opens all the doors only to find out the rooms are all empty. As he runs down into the kitchen he can hear Fran screaming in their bedroom. He picks up his pace, stopping suddenly when he realizes that its already 10:00 am. He remembers the kids all had errands today and probably took the town car and the Porsche.

"Good that leaves us with the limo." Max states out loud but a note on the table catches his eye.

"Or maybe it doesn’t leave us the limo." He races back up to Fran who is lying on the bed trying to do her Lamaze.

Fran’s face is pale from the pain and her hair is starting to plaster on her sweaty forehead.

"AAAAWWWW!!" Fran screams as she holds her stomach. "Max, make it stop!"

He looks at Fran and his heart hurts to see her in so much pain and this is just the beginning.

"Fran, we have to call an ambulance or take the Aston Martin"

"I can’t fit into the Aston Martin! I’m too BIG! Wait, where’s the rest of the cars?"

"The children and Niles have them." He picks up the phone to call 911, since there is no other way to get Fran out of here.

Max explains to the operator that Fran is in labor and needs assistance.

"What do you mean an hour. Hello, my wife is going to give birth to twins here!! I don’t bloody care what else is happening. Get an ambulance here now!!" He slams the phone down.

"Ooowww!!" Fran yells in the middle of her breathing. "Max I don’t care how you do it, just get me to the damn hospital NOW! Oh my God, I feel like I have to push!"

"Okay Fran, wrap your arms around my neck. I’m going to pull you up. Ready?"

"Oh Honey, I can’t do this. It hurts too much to stand." Fran cries softly, she really never thought it would be like this.

"Frannie my Love, you can....no we can do this together." Max bends down and picks Fran up in his arms. It wouldn’t be the first time during her pregnancy he’s carried her.

Fran slowly smiles up at Max as he looks at his very pregnant wife in his arms and can’t help to smile too. Carrying Fran is easier than it looks, since she hasn’t really gained much weight with the pregnancy. She is still quite light, the only thing is her belly has really stretched out making her proportions unbalanced.

Max is perfectly cradling her body in his arms as they head towards the door and the main stairs. He looks down at her and sees the pain she is fighting. Her face is wet with sweat as her hair is tangled around her. She has no makeup on and her nightgown is soaked from her water breaking. But as Max stares at her, he realizes he has never seen her more beautiful as she looks right at this moment.

Fran has found a very content position in her husband’s arms. It seems Max’s touch, no matter how small, can ease any pain she’s ever known.

Max gently lays Fran on the couch as he goes to bring the car around. As he enters the townhouse once again, he runs upstairs to grab Fran’s bag she’ll need for the hospital. He runs back down and out to the car. He places the car in drive and speeds off in the direction of the hospital.

Max is having a hard time concentrating on everything around him. Fran going into labor has made him panic since he knows this time it’s the real thing. He stretches his hand over to grab Fran’s in his own, but realizes that he did something really bad! He has forgotten Fran at home.

"Oh my God!" Is all he can utter as he does a U-turn right in the middle of Park Avenue, rushing to his wife, who he is sure is going to literally kill him.

~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile Fran is panting and breathing on the couch trying to remind herself how to do Lamaze and wondering where the hell Max is.

"Max?" She softly asks as she continues to rub her belly. "Max!"

Nothing but silence.

"MAXWELL SHEFFIELD!!!!" Fran yells at the top of her lungs. "Oooyyy!! Oh God!!!!! MAX!!! Aaaaaawwwwwww!!!" Fran yells as another contraction hits her body, straight through her back and into her stomach.

~~~~~~~~~~

Max is pulling up in front of the house hoping to God that Fran didn’t notice he left her there. As he heads up towards the house, he can hear Fran screaming in pain! Oy, he is in so much trouble, worse yet how could he forget his own wife?.

Max opens the door and runs to Fran.

"Darling I’m right here."

"Oh God!! Do you know how much I hate you at this moment? Did someone forget something-–like ME!!" Fran grabs his hand and squeezes with all her might as the contraction hits its highest point. "AAAAAWWWWWW!!!"

"Fran I’m so sorry!" He slowly states as he helps her to her feet.

"You’re sorry? You left without me! I’m the one in labor or did you forget already?" She squeezes his hand again, making a point, "How did you think you were gonna bring our babies in this world without your WIFE?!!!!" Fran screams in the middle of the contraction. "Oh God, make this contraction stop! Oooowww!!"

He holds Fran’s body against his so she doesn’t have to do much on her own. He can feel her belly harden up as the contraction goes through her. They slowly make it to the porch but as Fran looks up, there goes the Aston Martin driving away.

"Honey, did you leave the car running? In New York City?" Fran asks her husband in a sweet but irritated voice.

"Yes." Is all he can answer.

"Oy!" Fran starts breathing in and out again trying to calm herself down. She looks down at her stomach and talks to her babies, "First he FORGETS US and then LOSES the CAR!" Fran accentuates the words so Max can hear her.

"Fran, stop! I’m trying here!"

"The only thing you have to do is get me there and time these damn contractions! So don’t tell me to stop! I’m the one who is gonna push TWO babies out of me and going through pain I have never felt before!! Ooohhh!!" Fran glares at Max.

Fran resumes her conversation to her babies, "I want you to know your father is not a bright man, but love him anyway."

Max rolls his eyes as he gently sits her down in her nightgown on the steps of the townhouse and goes to hail a cab. He can barely think now, he is so frazzled and everything he does to get Fran to the hospital is failing.

Fran places one of her hands under her rock hard tummy and the other on her back. She rocks herself back and forth trying to soothe her babies and to keep herself from killing Max.

Max comes running back to Fran and picks her up in his arms once again. Slowly he lies her in his lap as he scoots into the cab. Fran looks up and he sees all her fears that she has, but deep down he knows that everything will be okay.

"Manhattan Medical Center, now! My wife is in labor!"

"Oh not another one! I just delivered a baby yesterday." The cab driver informs them.

"No way!! He is not delivering our babies! MAX, tell him to speed!" Fran hits Max in the arm.

Max smiles at Fran. He knew his wife could be the biggest drama queen ever. But Fran sensed his humor and hit him again.

"What was that for?"

"For your libido. If I wouldn’t love it soo much, I wouldn’t be in this pain!" She tries not to laugh, but a small giggle comes out.

"I love you Fran." He kisses her softly on her sweaty forehead as he brushes back the hair that is stuck there. "The contraction stopped again didn’t it?"

"Yeah for now. But I have a feeling it won’t be long and it will be back again." Fran pants as she tries to get comfortable.

"The last five have been about eight minutes apart and lasting for about fifteen minutes a piece. I think its getting close...."

"Ya think?" Fran turns her head and rub her nose against Max’s. They smile and Fran looks down at her belly and talks once more to her babies, "I hope you get my brains, looks and humor."

"And my voice!!" Max adds in as her rubs her tummy.

"Max!" Fran whines as she looks at him and smacks his shoulder, "You told me my voice was sexy!"

"Darling, you’re voice is sexy."

"Are you patronizing me?"

"Nooooo, Baby!" Max murmurs in her hair, "I just learned very early in our relationship the only way to keep you quiet was to keep kissing you!"

"No, I just made you think it was the only way to keep me quiet!" She laughs at him as he tightens his hold on her.

The cabbie jumps into their conversation, "Okay I have for you both–What’s the one thing you find the sexiest on your spouse?"

"His body!"

"Her entire body!"

Fran and Max both laugh as they state the same answer in unison and then realizing what they admitted in front of a cab driver.

"The things you can get me to do, Mrs. Sheffield." Max nuzzles his head against hers.

"The things I am amazed you CAN do, Mr. Sheffield." Fran makes Max blush but another contraction interrupts their laughter.

"Ooohhhh!! Not another one so soon!! Oh God!"

"Breathe Fran, breathe!"

"Don’t tell me what to do! Oooowwww!!" Fran screams making the cab itself shake. "Tell this damn cabbie to move it, NOW!"

As if he already knew the woman in his back seat was going to start screaming, the cab driver pulls into Manhattan Medical Place. Max looks out the window and sees the building. Somehow it looks different but he shrugs, maybe it’s a different entrance.

"Okay Darling, we’re here. Hold on to me and I’ll pull you out." Max grabs her around the waist to gently ease her out of the back of the cab. He successfully removes Fran from the cab and tries to get money out of his wallet for the driver.

"Hey Mister, don’t worry about it. Just take car of your wife!" He smiles as he drives off.

Max smiles as he picks Fran up and walks into the building, hurrying as fast as he can. He sees a nurse’s station and carrying Fran with him, he heads towards it.

The nurse looks up, "Sign in here, a doctor will be right with you."

"What? My wife is about to deliver our twins, I need a doctor now!" Max looks at the nurse incredibly, "In fact, Dr. Reynolds is suppose to be here."

"But we don’t deliv...." The nurse begins.

"AAAAAWWWWW!!!" Fran yells at the top of her lungs.

"But we can if it will shut her up." The nurse cringes at Fran’s unique tone. Fran snaps her head towards her, "Okay, here put her in this wheelchair and I’ll go get Dr. Reynolds. You can go into that room right there and lay her down." The nurse takes off.

Max places Fran in the wheelchair and pushes her into room the nurse pointed to. The room is quite big with an exam bed in the middle. Of course not as homey as the maternal suite but right now neither of them cares. He lifts Fran up once again and gently lies her down on the bed.

As they are settling into the room, a strange looking male doctor comes in with a straight jacket in his hands, "Hello, I’m Doctor Reynolds. Who gets this?"

"What? What is going on?"

"You asked for me and I’m here."

"No, Dr. Reynolds is a woman. She’s my wife’s Obstetrician. Hello? My wife is in labor!"

"Aaaaawwwww!!! I am gonna kill you Max!!" Fran is only centimeters from Max’s face.

"Oh...well we don’t deliver babies."

"What?" Max still doesn’t understand. "Isn’t this Manhattan Medical?"

"Yes, we are Manhattan Medical Place, oh...I bet you want Center, don’t you?"

"Max, I gonna KILL him! Oooowwww!!"

"Although since she’s hostile we can lock her up. We are a psycho ward!" The doctor laughs but stops as Fran reaches out and grabs him by the shirt.

"DO NOT joke with a woman over the age of 30 in LABOR!!!"

"Can you get us an ambulance? You do have access to those right?" Max asks quickly as Fran’s contractions is lasting longer than the previous ones has, telling him that it won’t be long.

"Sure, where you want to go?" The doctor asks them.

"TO THE RIGHT MEDICAL CENTER!!!" Fran screams making everyone in a hundred mile radius understand. She is trying to concentrate on her breathing and to control the contraction that is slowly winning over her.

"Aaawww! I bet you’re just wishing you waited at home for the DAMN ambulance to begin with, aren’t you MAX!" Fran yells at her husband, glaring at him.

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