Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine, they belong to Sweethearts Productions… yadda yadda yadda! Enjoy!
by
Amber
(Kaileybabe@hotmail.com)
"Hello, Darling!" Max called as he practically flew down the staircase, and right into his wife's arms. Surprised, she hugged him back. "Sweetheart," she said, "are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm fine, Sara," he smiled.
Sara grinned to herself. She loved his smile. Everything lit up when he smiled. She sighed. Life couldn't get any better than this…
"Darling?" he inquired, breaking into her thoughts. She shook herself out of her reverie, and looked deep into his eyes. He leaned in to kiss her…
"Dad!!!"
He cursed silently. "Yes, Margaret?"
"Brighton locked himself in the bathroom again!"
Sara smiled, kissed Max quickly on the lips, and made her way upstairs. Max stood there for a moment, watching her. He smiled dreamily. He was so lucky to have her. He could remember it almost as if it were yesterday….
"C.C.!!! How the bloody hell can I get these papers done if you insist on 'organizing them,' as you call it!"
"Maxwell, calm down before you hurt yourself," C.C. replied calmly. "Leave them there; I'll take care of them later."
"That's what you always say!" he fumed. A knock on the door interrupted. "WHAT??!!" He bellowed. The door opened, slowly, and an angelic face timidly looked in. "I'm looking for a Maxwell Sheffield?"
Max calmed down. "Yes, I'm Maxwell Sheffield. What can I do for you?"
She closed the door softly and composed herself. "My name is Sara Livingston, and I'm inquiring after the available actress position."
His eyes never left hers as he motioned to a nearby chair. "Have a seat, please, Miss…"
"Call me Sara, please," she corrected politely as she sat.
"Sara," he smiled as he said it.
To put it nicely, she was, well, horrible. Max sat in his chair, his hands massaging his temples slowly. That's what he always did when he was frustrated with something. He switched on the microphone form the sound booth. "Thank you, Sara. We'll call you soon." He grimaced as he switched it off.
That phone call started a string of dinner dates. Maxwell sat entranced as she talked. "…And so then I went to Yale to major in medicine, but I decided that I wanted to act," she finished. He sat silent. "Maxwell?" she inquired.
He shook himself. "Sorry, I was just…" he blushed, realizing that he had almost shared his thoughts aloud, thoughts of her and him, together. Naah, that's impossible, he thought to himself.
Present time…
'I guess nothing's impossible,' he smiled inwardly.
"Honey," Sara's voice called down the stairs, "I almost forgot. Mother asked me to attend a charity ball with her tonight, and I have to leave."
"All right," Max replied as he handed her the keys to the Porsche. "Drive safe."
"Don't worry about me," she replied, as she opened the door.
He watched her. "Sara?" he said. She turned around and looked at him.
"I love you," he said simply.
She smiled. "I know."
12:38
Max looked around, blinking. Where was he? Somewhere outside, like in a park. Suddenly, he heard a voice call. "Max," it whispered. It was Sara. He ran toward her voice. "Sara?" he called.
"Max," the voice said again.
"Sara, I love you!" he cried.
No answer. "Sara, did you hear me?" he cried. "I love you!"
"I know," came the answer. "I know, Max. Don't worry!"
"Sara?" he called. Silence, and then, a groan. "Sara, what's wrong?"
"I'm hurting Max," she replied. "Please help me!"
"I'm coming!" he yelled. "I'm coming!"
Max awoke with a start, damp with sweat. Sara was hurt. What had happened? Wait, it was only a dream, he soothed himself. The phone suddenly rang, making him jump. He answered it with trembling fingers. "Hello?"
"Maxwell," C.C. said. "I'm sorry to call so late, but one of the backers cancelled our meeting at 9:00. Can you reschedule at 11:00?
"Yes, I'm sure I can, C.C." he mumbled into the receiver. "Good night."
"Good night."
No sooner had he dropped the phone into its cradle that it rang again. "C.C.?"
"Maxwell Sheffield?"
"Yes?" he replied uncertainly.
"Mr. Sheffield, you need to come to the hospital right away."
Max bit his lip. "What happened?"
"It's your wife, sir. She's…been in a car accident."
"How bad is it?" he asked, fearing the worst.
"Well…" the voice hesitated. "Sir, do you have family close by?"
"Yes."
"Well, it would be a good idea to call them. Mr. Sheffield, I don't think she'll make it through the night."
The phone dropped from his hand, banging on the bed stand and crashing to the floor, clattering on the wooden polish. Max jumped to his feet. "NILES!!!!!"
At the hospital…
"Where is she?" Max screamed at the night nurse as he burst into the lobby. "Where is she?"
She looked up, surprised. "Who, sir?"
"My wife, Sara Sheffield."
"She's in the Intensive Care Unit, now, Mr. Sheffield. It's not a good idea for you to see her…"
"She's my bloody wife, and I want to see her. NOW!" he roared.
She hesitated, then motioned to an orderly. "Please show Mr. Sheffield to his wife's room."
She was lying still on the hospital bed, her hands stiff and straight by her sides. Niles and the children waited out in the waiting room while he went in. He almost couldn't bear to see her like this. Cuts and abrasions covered her body. Her arms and face were blotchy-red in spots, from inner bleeding. Machines were surrounding her, and needles were stuck into her arms. Her eyes were closed. "Sara?" he whispered. She opened her eyes slowly, and struggled to keep them open. "Max," she whispered, so softly that he almost didn't hear her. He moved to her side and grasped her hand. She turned her head. "Max, I'm hurting. Please help me."
"Sara, I'm here. Don't worry."
"Oh, Max. I'm scared. I'm scared that I'm going to die. I don't want to leave you or the children. Oh Max…" she drifted off.
"Sara, don't worry. You will be fine. You'll live and you'll survive. I promise."
"Max…"
"Sara, I love you!"
"I know, Max. I know…" she breathed as her eyes closed softly.
"Sara?" he cried. "SARA!!!"
No answer. The only sound was the heart monitor, beeping constantly, one straight line running across the screen. She was gone. The love of his life. What would he do without her?
Hot tears streamed down his face as he embraced her one last time. He began to cry aloud when he felt her limp, unresponsive body. Niles entered the room, and gently led his boss away from her body.
Several weeks passed. Max still felt numb. She was gone. He couldn't believe it, and wouldn't. Her funeral had gone by in a blur. That was the only time he had been out of the house. He had locked himself day after day in his office, refusing to eat or to take calls. The only thing he could do is stare. Stare at the pictures of her. Feel his heart ache, he missed her so. Life was now incomplete. He had nothing…
Margaret sat upstairs in her room, tears streaming down her face. A piece of her had disappeared along with her mother. She felt as if the love was gone from her life. She hadn't seen her father since her mother died. It seemed as if he didn't care that his children were grieving, too. Well, at least two of them. Little Grace was only two, and hadn't really understood what had happened. Brighton didn't know how to react, so he did the only thing he could think of: nothing.
Niles was at a loss. This family was going to fall apart if he didn't do something. Picking up Gracie, he called the children softly, and took them for a walk.
Years passed. Margaret was now fourteen, Brighton was almost twelve, and Gracie was six. Maxwell had resumed life in the outside world, but the mansion remained lifeless. No laughter, no love filled its walls anymore. Niles stood in the kitchen. He was helpless. Margaret had fallen into deeper silence, and had become a shy young girl, wearing drab colors and moping around. Brighton, deprived of affection from his father, began to play tricks and fake suicide to get attention. Little Gracie had now been in therapy for almost four years.
Niles jumped when the doorbell rang. He opened it and stifled his surprise when he saw a dark brunette in a fur suit and skirt standing with a pink suitcase. "Hello," she began. "I'm Fran Fine. How would your wife like a free makeover with 'Shades of the Orient' cosmetic products?"
"Shall I get the head of the house?" he inquired.
"Oh, sure," she replied in her nasal voice.
He went into the office, where he found Max filling out some papers. "Someone to see you, sir. Something about a makeover."
"Oh, all right, Niles," he replied. "By the way, is there a chance that you can watch the children tonight for the backer's party?"
"I'm sorry, sir, but you asked me to serve, remember?"
"Oh, yes. What am I going to do?"
"Maybe a nanny, sir?"
"All right, give the agency a call for me."
"I'm sorry, sir, but they won't send anyone."
"What? Why not?"
"Well, sir, ever since Master Brighton faked his 11th suicide, they won't send any more nannies over."
"Bloody hell," Max cursed under his breath as he walked to the front door. "I'm Maxwell Sheffield, what can I do for you?"
"Hello, I'm Fran Fine," Fran started again. "How would your--"
"No, I'm sorry, I'm not interested," he replied briskly.
Her face fell for a moment, then she smiled. "Okay, then, have a nice day!" She turned to go.
"Um, wait! Miss Fine, is it? Can I ask you a question?"
She turned to look at him. "Sure, shoot."
He looked puzzled. "I'm sorry, but I don't carry a gun with me."
She laughed her usual laugh. He had to resist the urge to cover his ears. "That means go ahead."
"Oh. Well, do you by any chance have any qualifications as a nanny?"
"Well, not really, but I love kids!"
"Are you in need of a job?"
"Hey," she said, "anything's better than this." She pointed to her suitcase.
"All right," he replied. "You're hired, but on a trial basis."
"Oh, thank you, Mr. Sheffield!" she cried, hugging him. "You won't regret this!"
"Somehow I rather think I will," he muttered under his breath."
"What?"
"Oh, nothing," he said. "Miss Fine, your first assignment will be to get my children ready for a backer's party tonight."
"Oh, great, I love parties!!!" she said.
Wow. These were some kids. First things first, Fran thought. Margaret. Oy, that was too formal. How about Maggie? Fran took Maggie shopping and bought her a stunning black and teal dress. Perfect! Brighton was a little more difficult. "I hate her!" he had said to his sisters. Fran took him aside, and talked to him a little, treating him more like an adult than a child, and asked him to give her a chance. He agreed, and they were off to a start. Gracie easily took to Fran like a mother. She needed someone to love her.
7:00. Time for the party to start. Maggie looked gorgeous. Brighton looked handsome as well, although he wasn't thrilled about dressing up. Grace looked like a little princess, and loved the attention that she got from Fran. Fran put on a stunning red gown, and took them all downstairs.
Maxwell looked up from his chat with one of his backers. There was Sara, coming down the stairs in a beautiful gown, like always. No, wait, that was…Margaret? She looked so much like her mother. He couldn't take his eyes off her. Until Fran followed. His eyes took her in as his heart started to beat faster. She was beautiful. Her figure was perfect, her hair soft and cascading over her shoulders and the slit on her gown just up high enough to tease. He forgot at that moment that they were not invited to the party, but then he remembered. He decided that just this once, it was okay.
Over that next five years, Fran did just what Niles thought would never be done. She brought joy and laughter back to the Sheffield mansion. The children all grew more and more strong. They were all more open about everything. Even Maxwell was more lighthearted. Fran was a breath of fresh air that was much needed. And somehow, throughout those times, Maxwell had fallen in love with his nanny. Maybe it was her smile, how it lit up the room and made him feel light-headed whenever he was around her. Maybe it was her personality, how she could always make him feel better. Maybe it was her mischievous nature, how she always managed to land herself in the most ridiculous predicaments, and he always got her out of them. Maybe it was her voice…no! Not that! He smiled to himself. He loved her like he never thought he could love another woman. Not after Sara. He would never forget Sara, but Fran found a place in his heart, too.
They were married in a beautiful church in a beautiful ceremony. Max thought that life couldn't be better. Fran was totally at peace with life, and very happy with the man she loved. And now, twins and a new life in California! Life couldn't get any better than this…
Fran walked into the kitchen to find Max sitting at the table, a smile resting on his lips. "Whatcha thinking about, sweetheart?" she asked, giving him a quick kiss.
"Nothing much," he replied. "Just thinking about how you came into my life."
"You're pretty awesome, ya know that, Maxwell Sheffield?" she teased.
"Fran," he said. "I love you."
She smiled. "I know."
The End
Back to Fan FictionBack to The Really Unofficial Nanny Home Page