Now what happens next?... I thought of something... Of course, all the characters remain Fran Drescher's property and the copyrights blablabla...

I hope you'll like the story... Once again, forgive my mistakes in English ('not my mother language!) and please, if you disagree with my vision... Don't sue me!... I'll give you a good French recipe instead...!

Our Wedding

by

Delph
(dolfins@worldnet.fr)

Maxwell Sheffield's heart was bouncing.

He was in his beautiful black tails (that fitted him perfectly) waiting for this marvelous lady in her wedding dress to put in an appearance. Brighton and Gracie had already passed before him, as Niles and ever lasting bachelor C.C.... everybody was ready to welcome the bride, and there she came: Margaret Sheffield.

He offered her his elbow with a broad smile, and they started ascending the alley. Everybody was watching them, father and daughter, she was truly radiant, and he was proud to marry her to this young and brilliant future physician she had been dating for two years now. At first, he thought, he had been furious, then cautious, not wanting to accept the fact that Maggie was 23. Then he had come to being jealous: who this young man thought he was, trying to steal his baby from him?! Then he had eventually come to like him. He had discovered they shared the same passion for Shakespeare and the theater, that he was really serious, he had even allowed him to stay overnight in his house several times (... but not in Maggie's room Dear God!). Fran liked him, his other children liked him, and of course, Maggie seemed deeply in love with him, and so did the lad...

They had reached the altar. Maxwell gave his daughter to her future husband, and went to sit next to his wife.

As the priest was speaking the traditional words, he recalled his own wedding, 7 years ago... 7 years ago!... Boy!... It hadn't seem so long to him!... He felt a tiny hand taking his and looked down to see his son: Thomas Alexander Sheffield. This wonderful dark haired 4 years old boy was his wife's present after 3 years of marriage... He had been afraid at first, but now that he had overcome the most difficult moments (he thought of Fran's pregnancy with a smile: how pest had she been in her last months!), he enjoyed seeing him growing old. He felt a pang in his chest as he realized he had not seen Gracie growing old because of his grief at the time, and now she too was a beautiful young woman. Then he thought of Sarah: how proud must she be, seeing her elder daughter so happy and so beautiful from wherever she were... How would it have been if Fran hadn't stormed their lives?... Fran... This wonderful wife of mine... He looked at her: she was obviously rejoicing at the event too... He took her hand. She looked at him and smiled. He smiled back with a wink meaning "Remember?" and her smile as an answer told him "Yes!".

Both young people vowed eternal love one to the other, and then it was set: Maggie was off the Sheffield's mansion now... She was Patrick Hampton's wife now...

The party was not as crowded as for the previous Sheffield wedding for Patrick and Maggie had only wanted their close relatives and friends to be there. The newlyweds had planned a trip to Hawaii as their honeymoon. After that, they would settle at Patrick's home, next to the university both attended in different departments.

As the party was going on, Maxwell sneaked next to his wife.

"'Having fun Honey?"

"Well... Actually, yes but... 'Dunno... Kinda feel... a bit sad..."

"Ah...! Tell me about it!..."

"It's our first kid to be married! God I haven't seen time passing by so fast!... I can still remember my shy little Maggie in her cotton dress when I first saw her!..."

"Yes... And it is you who've made a woman out of this shy young girl... I must thank you Fran... You gave her the right education... just like Sarah would have..."

"I don't know if I must take that as a compliment or as something else...!"

"It was a compliment Fran... Sarah's past... Beautiful memories, but past... You are my present... And I love you..."

He gave her a peck on the lips.

"I love you too Max..."

"Now tell me... What did you do with baby Tom?"

"Well Gracie was tired and she told me she would take over baby sit... He was pretty excited but his elder brother and sister took good care of him... It's nice to know you can rely on them when you need it..."

"Thanks to you again my love... Oh.. Changing the subject... I was thinking..."

"Hmm?"

"We've spent little time together lately... I mean you and I alone without any children or butler or assistant around... I was wondering if you would like to have some little privacy for a while... with me..."

"Max, you know I'd love to!... But what about Tommy?... And Gracie?... And Brighton?"

"Gracie and Brighton are old enough to take care of themselves as long as Niles is there to run the house, and we could hire a Nanny for Tommy?..."

"Huh!... A Nanny?!... No way you ever get a new nanny in your life Maxwell Sheffield... I know what happens to your nannies!"

He laughed.

"Seriously Fran..."

"Well... And what about Ma?"

"Fran..." He said with an annoyed look... "Don't you think he's already greedy enough!... It's not that I don't trust Ma, Fran, but..."

"Okay, okay...'Just trying... And where would you like to take me?"

"I thought of something but I'd like to keep it a secret..."

He made one of these loving faces Fran had such trouble resisting.

"Alright sweetheart... let's hire a Nanny..."

And then it was set.

Maxwell dialed the number of the Nanny Agency... The same he used to be dialing over and over 12 years ago, he thought, but the line was busy so he hanged up. Then his phone began to ring.

"Sheffield's productions?"

"Maxwell..."

He suddenly felt as cold as ice.

"Mother?..."

"Maxwell, I'll be staying in New York for a while, and though I'm not sure you deserve it, I have decided to pay you a visit, I want to see my grand children, and Margaret's husband."

"Oh!... Ahem... yes, of course mother... When do you plan to arrive? I could send the Limo pick you up at the airport and drive you to wherever you want..."

"I'm already in New York Maxwell..."

"Oh!"

"May I come see you this afternoon?"

"Oh... Well... Of course mother... I'll make arrangements in my schedule, C.C. can handle the ongoing things for me, but I doubt you can see Maggie then... She's on her honeymoon you see and..."

"Never mind, I'll be staying long enough... I can see her when she returns... How is C.C.?"

"What?... Oh, she's fine...!... Still efficient... A very good partner indeed..."

"And how is Niles and... this nanny of yours...?"

"Mother!... She's not my nanny anymore and you know it!... She's been my wife for 7 years now, and I love her with all my heart!... She cheered this house and gave us back the taste for life, and I'll be forever thankful to her for that!"

"Thankful doesn't mean in love Maxwell..."

"Oh mother stop this!... I love Fran, and she loves me!... We are a whole family again!... By the way... You don't even know our son!... So... Please mother... Let's bury the hatchet for a while would you?... Tom never met his other grand mother, and I'd like him to..."

"All right Maxwell... I will come by three..."

"We'll be waiting for you mother..."

He hanged up and rubbed his temples. Fran came in with a cup of coffee.

"Everything's fine Honey?"

"Oh sweetheart!"

He rushed to hug her. She was a bit surprised at his reaction and nearly dropped the cup.

"Hey!... Something wrong?"

"I needed to do this..." he hugged her more.

"Max?... Are you alright?"

"Yes honey... Mother just called..."

"Oy!"

"She will be here this afternoon..."

"OY!"

"She told me she was in New York for a while, and she wanted to see me and the children while she was there..."

"What's happening to her?.... I mean... We've been married seven years and she's never sent any word nor showed any sign of will to see us, and all of a sudden..."

"I know... Maybe she has remorse?"

"Well... then I'd better get Tommy ready to see his grand mother..."

"I'll go with you... It'll be easier..."

The boy was gently playing with his toys in his room. Fran and Max came in and kneeled next to him.

"Oh Daddy!... Look what I built!" He said, showing a strange Lego construction.

"It looks great!... What is it?"

"It's the space ship of Commander Zoom!"

"Oh?... And who's Commander Zoom?..."

"Daddy!... I already told you he was on a secret mission, and he didn't want to be out in the open! I can't tell you!"

"Oh, sorry son... You know your Daddy's a damn old chap and he looses his memory sometimes..."

"Yup!..."

"Your father and I have something to tell you Tommy... Granny's coming to see us today..."

"But... Granny's coming to see us everyday and you're never telling me she's coming!"

"Not this granny Tommy... Your other Granny... My mother..."

"Oh?... You have a mother too Daddy?"

"Of course sweetheart!... We all do!..."

"But why did I never see her?"

"She lives in England... On the other side of the wide ocean... And she cannot come to see us as often as your other Grand Ma'..."

"Oh?... Do you think she'll bring a present for me?"

Maxwell chuckled.

"I don't know Tommy... She doesn't come here for this..."

The little boy scowled. Fran took him in her arms.

"Honey, if you are the cutest and the nicest boy I've ever known with your Granny, I'll buy you anything you want, okay?"

"Like the big dog I saw the other day?" He said with eagerness in his voice.

"A dog?!... What dog?!..." Maxwell said, suddenly worried about a dog rampaging all over his house...

"A cuddly toy... Nothing to worry about sweetie... Alright then... The big dog..."

"Oh thank you Mommy!" He threw his small arms around his mother's neck.

"Tommy... You've got to be really nice and polite, and not asking too many questions okay?" Said Max. "Your other granny's much different from Granny Sylvia."

"How much different Daddy?"

"Well... At first..."

"She won't give you sweets and cakes..." Fran said pulling a face.

"... Yes... Then she's called Elizabeth... And... She's very calm, and very distinguished..."

"Hey wait a minute honey... Are you saying Ma's not distinguished?!"

"Of course not Honey... But you've got to admit that... Well... Ma's not exactly living on the same kind of standards my mother's living on..."

"You've got a point..."

"So Daddy...?... I know how to be sweet you know!"

He hugged him tickling him a little, which made the boy laugh.

"Yes young mister Sheffield!... But you know you can be a little pest too when you want!"

As he tickled his son again, the latter burst out laughing with a crystalline sound that made all of them laugh in the end.

Fran went to the kitchen to have a talk with her old friend.

"Ah Niles... I'm worried..."

"Because of Mrs. Sheffield's visit I suppose...?..."

"Well you know that last time we saw each other it was not exactly love at first sight..."

"Oh come on, it's different today!... You're her son's wife...!"

"Niles it won't do and you know it... Just because I'm Maxwell Sheffield's wife doesn't change anything in her eyes!... I sense this is going to be a real big mess!"

"Nah..." He hugged her... "You'll do fine Fran, I know you will...!... And maybe this could be a good opportunity for both of you to sign a peace treaty..."

"Well I guess she should first sign it with her son..."

"How's Tommy boy?

"Well, curious to know her, as usual with something or someone new in his world... He's such a curious child... I wonder who he took that from... Maxwell's quite an introvert and..."

She caught Niles' eyes.

"... Me?... Well... 'guess you're probably right... But not in the same way I do though... Tom doesn't get himself in such messes I'm used to...!... He probably took from both after all!... How do you think I should behave?... I wouldn't want to embarrass Max or to get things even worse between he and his mother ..."

"Just be as you are Fran... I'm sure you'll do fine."

She smiled.

"What would I do without you my dear old friend?... Oh... By the way... Where's that old sparring partner of yours?"

"Oh she went to the theater to audition some actors for Mr. Sheffield's new show... I don't know what's wrong with her these days... She seems more depressed than usual..."

"Don't you send her again to the hospital Niles!" She teased him.

"No... Actually, I don't think it's because of me... The old witch seems... Well... you won't believe me... In love...!"

"Don't you think it's post Maggie's wedding depression?"

"No... She's not really depressed... She's often lost in her thoughts, and she would answer sweetly to my taunt... When I come to think of it, I really do suspect she's in love...!"

"I trust you to find the lucky boy!"

"Deal!"

Lunch was quiet. Even Tommy didn't play his usual tricks with food. Brighton and Gracie were due to arrive in the afternoon after their classes, and C.C. was still at the theater.

Max went back to his study while Fran was putting Tom to bed to take a small nap, but he couldn't really work.

Towards 3.00, the door bell rang.

Niles went to open the door, and Elizabeth Sheffield came in. She seemed quite puzzled. Max went to kiss his mother welcome, while Fran was standing a bit apart in a shy attitude. Elizabeth went to salute her coldly.

"I suppose I should say hello to you..."

"... And I should say welcome Mrs. Sheffield..."

"Would you like something to drink Ma'am?" Asked Niles trying to break the ice a bit.

"A cup of tea would do Niles, thank you..."

They sat down in an icy atmosphere. Fran coughed.

"Ahem... If you'll excuse me, I'm going to see if the last Sheffield heir has woken up."

She went up the stairs.

Elizabeth looked on Maxwell stiffly.

"How dares she call her son a Sheffield heir this tramp!"

Maxwell stood up in anger.

"Because he IS a Sheffield heir Mother!... If you came here to declare war, then you'd better leave and never set foot again in this house!"

At this time, Tom rushed down the stairs with an eager look, Fran trying to catch up with him.

"Granny!"

There was a most surprised silence. Fran had frozen, as Maxwell and his mother while the little boy rushed to embrace his grand mother. He threw his arms around her legs, and they all stood motionless for a while.

Then suddenly, a miracle occurred. Elizabeth bent down and took the child in her arms.

"So... What's your name young man?"

"Tommy Grand Ma'"

"Thomas Alexander Sheffield..." Max replied.

She still was observing her grand son with the highest interest.

"And how old are you Thomas Alexander Sheffield?"

"4!"

She looked at the black curled hair, the shape of his face, the dark eager eyes,...

"My God!... You look exactly like your father at your age!"

The atmosphere was suddenly lighter. Fran finished going down the stairs, and Maxwell sat down as his mother. Fran went to sit next to him on the couch while Tom was crawling to get on his grand mother's knees. Niles brought the tea and winked at Fran when he saw the picture. She felt a bit more relaxed. Something had happened actually.

"Why did you never come to see me Grand Ma'?"

"Tommy!"

"It's all right Maxwell... I don't blame him for being curious... Because I live quite far from here. When you are older, you can come and visit me in England..."

"To see Daddy's room?"

She laughed a little.

"Your father's room is not exactly the place a little boy would have some fun"...

"He never had fun when he was a kid?" He looked anxiously at his father.

"Yes he did... but we had a special room where all our children would play..."

"Oh!... I play in my room!... 'wanna see it?"

"Tommy dear... in a moment... Your grand mother and us have many things to talk about before..." Fran said.

"But then?"

"We'll see darling... Your Grand mother maybe a little tired..."

"But I want to show her my room!"

"Tommy!... Remember your promise...!"

He scowled.

"Okay... But I want to stay here!"

"Tommy, we will speak adult matters..."

"Oh please Daddy!... I promise I will keep quiet!"

"Let him Maxwell... I won't see him very often..."

"Alright then... But if you turn into a nuisance...!" Max threatened him.

"I won't Daddy!... I promise!... Can I bring a toy?"

"You may if you don't make any noise."

"Thank you Mommy!..."

He rushed up the stairs as fast as his small legs could carry him.

"It's like seeing you 40 years ago Maxwell...!... He's really adorable... And... She turned to Fran... I must admit I am surprised to see how well educated he is..."

"Why thank you Madam... I take that as a compliment..."

"Mother, you forget Fran has educated our other children either, and that they are all very well educated..."

Brighton came in at that moment, apparently mad with something or someone.

"Son of a bitch!" He froze. "Oh!... Sorry... I didn't know we had visitors... Oh Grand Mother!" He blushed... "Sorry... I... I was mad at... Oh I'm so sorry Madam!

"Is that what you call well educated Maxwell?... Good afternoon Brighton"... She said coldly.

He hung up his coat and came to bend before his grand mother.

"I'm sorry Madam, it's just that I nearly got crushed by a mad cab driver and..."

"You needn't justify Brighton..."

Tom came down the stairs shyly with a toy in one hand.

"Did you meet our baby brother Tommy Grand Mother?" He said to change the subject.

"I did yes... And I was just marveling how well educated he was... COMPARED TO HIS BROTHER!..."

Brighton blushed and kept silent, bending his head. There was an uneasy silence again, then:

"Why did he call you Madam Grand Ma'?"

"... Because it used to be the way my grand children called me..."

"Oh?... I can't call you Grand Ma' then?"

"It's all right Thomas... Tom... you can call me Grand Ma' if you like..."

"Well... Would you stay with us for dinner mother?"

"Actually Maxwell I might have to stay in New York a little longer than I first thought... My purse was stolen, and I cannot go back as long as my papers are not returned to me or I get the duplicates... It will take a month at least ... I was wondering if I could stay here instead of the hotel..."

Maxwell stiffened a little.

"Well... Mother..."

"... I'll call a truce between your wife and I..."

"Maxwell... It's fine with me... You're enduring my mother's daily visits, I can endure your mother staying a month..."

Maxwell didn't know really how to take this last remark. He was still hesitating when Tom exclaimed:

"Granny is going to stay here!!! Oh please Daddy!!! Say yes!!!"

"You promise there will be no fight between you two?" He asked his wife and his mother.

"I dare think we both know how to behave Maxwell..." Elizabeth said.

"Well then I'll ask Niles to do the guest room's bed..."

"I'll bring my luggage tomorrow... I must leave now ... I have got some business to do... Brighton, I hope I never hear you again say those horrible words... I wished I had seen Grace, but I really can't wait any longer... See you tomorrow."

Niles gave her her coat and helped her put it on, then she was off.

Maxwell relaxed.

"Phew!... But now the hardest is to come!"

"Daddy, I'm sorry if I embarrassed you..." Brighton started.

"You young man, how many times did I tell you not to come in the front door yelling as if we were at the market place?!"

"I'm sorry..."

"Yeah, you ought to be!..."

"Now come on honey... everything was fine in the end." Fran came to massage her husband's shoulders. "Brighton, would you mind taking Tom upstairs?... I've got to talk to your father..."

"Sure Fran... Come on little terror!"

Tom rushed into his brother's arms and they both went upstairs.

"Sweetie... I've got an idea..."

"I'm expecting the worse..."

"Oh come on!" She slapped his arm playfully. "I don't ALWAYS have bad ideas!... It's about the new nanny..."

"Oh! I totally forgot!"

"I know... why not taking advantage of the situation?... My parents are on their annual trip to Boca, so Ma won't be running in any time... we could use your mother as the nanny for Tom... She seemed to like him..."

"Yeah... She seemed to like him, but she only saw him 20 minutes!... Mother was never patient with her children, and we were far much calmer than Tommy!"

"Oh come on...! Any kid is lively and turning into a pest from time to time!"

"You forget we were brought up in England..."

"Oh!... Seriously Honey... She won't be alone with him... There'll be Niles and Brighton and Gracie... She said she might have to stay a month... if we can plan it well, we could do it during their vacation so they would be more available to release Niles and your mother from their watching duty..."

"I'm not sure we can impose that on Brighton and Gracie..."

"Let's ask them."

Later that night, they were all having dinner.

"Brighton, Gracie... You know your Sheffield Grand Mother is going to stay with us for a while, and... We would like to go on a trip together alone... So we figured that you might help your grand mother and Niles keeping Tommy while we're gone... What do you think?"

"Well Dad... This is..." Brighton said uneasily.

"Actually Dad, I love Tommy... he's my baby brother, but..." Gracie started.

"Hey you selfish spoiled children!... Your parents have not been a day alone for five years!" Niles interrupted.

"Niles..." Max started.

"Okay Dad..." Brighton said finally. "I guess we could handle this... I'll soon have 2 weeks vacation and if Gracie helps me, it should be alright..."

"Thank you Brighton..."

"... considering Grand Mother accepts being alone with us and Tommy...!"

"Yup!... that's the toughest part..." Fran said.

The same evening, in their room. Fran came out of the bathroom. She was wearing a dark blue silk night gown. Max was sitting on the edge of the bed, wearing his pajamas trousers. He was holding the top in his hands. She climbed on the bed and came behind him. She started massaging his shoulders to relax him. He startled, taken off his thoughts.

"Feeling alright?"

"Huh?... Oh yes... I was just thinking... "

She wrapped his shoulders up with her arms.

"Don't worry sweetheart... I have a feeling our little Tommy might be working a miracle on your mother..."

She started kissing the skin of his back tenderly. He shivered. Suddenly, he realized how gorgeous and desirable she was in this night gown. He turned and gave her one of his most passionate kisses. She untied the lace hanging his pajamas trousers and he pulled up her night gown, then slowly, he laid her on the bedspread...

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