Usual Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. No harm intended.

This is just a small twist on how things could have gone in a different world. This is the first part of three stories which I hope you enjoy.

Starting to Find Love

by

Carmen Laura
(carmen_laura11@hotmail.com)

Fran had been walking through the park for what had seemed like hours. Ever since she had divorced Danny and started her new life, she had always found peace while she walked through it. She was a professional clothes designer and worked for her cousin Toddy, she had her own apartment and made a good living, but there was something missing in her life. She really didn’t know what it was but... there was something that she knew was waiting somewhere for her.

Just at the same time at the Sheffield household every one ran arround, worried faces came and went. Grace Sheffield, the youngest of the family had ran away once again and they had searched the usual places with no luck. Ever since her mother had died, she would run away whenever their father said he had to travel for bussiness, and today was no different.

Fran sat down and cassually spied a small girl, around ten sitting next to her. She had tears in her eyes and seemed to be alone.

"Hi angel, are you here alone?"

"Yes, so what?"

"Well.. aren’t you a bit young to be at the park on your own?"

"I’m mature for my age, besides... that’s none of your bussiness?"

"You’re right... my name is Fran... Fran Fine..."

"So?...."

"I’m here alone too and I could do with a mature person to talk to..."

"I’m Grace Sheffield..."

"Please to meet you Gracie..." she extended her hand to the little girl and she shook it firmly as if to show who was in charge... god, this girl needed help!

"So... what do you need to talk about? You must be desperate to turn to a stranger..."

"Well I just got divorced a year ago and although I don’t normally talk to strangers about it, you seem to very mature... I’m sure you’ll be a good listener..."

"What’s wrong with getting divorced? If you chose to divorce the man, you must have had your reasons... shouldn’t you be happy to have your life back?"

"Geez... you are mature for your age..." She looked at the little girl and smiled at her reaction... "You see... now that I’m free again I also feel lonely and scared at times..."

"I feel lonely too... and scared..."

"Really?"

"My mum died eight years ago and when daddy has to travel for bussiness well... I’m scared that he’ll die too... I always run away when he tells us he’s got to travel... hopping he’ll miss the plane and stay home..."

"And you ran away today?"

"Yes..."

"Well honey... I understand your fears but... how do you think your father feels when you leave and he can’t tell if you’re safe?"

"Scared?" the girl looked at the stranger sitting next to her.

"Yes... I know it hurts when you loose a parent... I lost mine two years ago... and I know how hard it is but... I think you should feel happy because you have your father to look after you and just to hide when your scared doesn’t really help... besides you should try and understand that he would not travel... knowing how much it scares you... if he really didn’t have to..."

"You’re right... I think I should go back home..."

"Would you like me to walk you back... it has become rather dark..."

"Would you mind?"

"No... come on..."

They walked through the streets in silent. Fran thought about what the little girl had said and Grace had her own mind occupied with what she had learned from this woman. As they reached the house a girl ran towards them.

"Grace!"

"Hi Maggie..."

"Where have you been... we’ve been worried sick!"

"I’m sorry... I promise never to run away again... oh! By the way... this is Fran Fine, she has been a great help to me... she’s made me see how wrong I am to think I can fight fate and how I must look at the bright side of life."

"Hi, I’m Margaret, Grace’s older sister... thank you so much for getting her back home."

"It was my pleasure... well Grace... thank you for listening to my problems...."

"Please don’t leave I’ll like you to meet my brother and my father and Niles..."

"No really... I don’t think it would be apropiate...."

"Oh please Miss fine... I’m sure my father will want to thank you personally... besides... you are the first person to get Grace to open up to her fears...."

"I don’t know...." just then the door opened and the most handsome man Fran had ever encountered came running to hug Grace.

"Oh Grace... we’ve been so worried!"

"I’m sorry dad..."

"Dad? This is Fran Fine... She found Grace and brought her home so she would not walk back alone..."

"Miss Fine... thank you... I’d like to repay you in some way..."

"No need for that... she helped me too... she’s a great listener..." she smiled at the small girl.

"Could she stay for dinner?"

"Oh no thank you Gracie but... I really think I should go back home..."

"Please do stay... Consider it a gesture of gratitude..." What was he doing? Was he actually inviting this stranger to spend time with his family? In his house? There was something captivating in this woman...

"O.k." What was she doing? Why was she accepting to have dinner with this stranger and his family? Something beyond her was drawing her to spend time with them and she couldn’t tell what it was.

Fran entered the house and was introduced to Niles, the butler, and to a young boy who introduced himself as Brighton.

"Please Miss Fine have a sit... Niles get her something to drink... if you’ll excuse me I’d like to have a talk with Grace... Margaret make sure she feels at home..." with that the man left the room followed by Grace.

Short after they were back and they all headed to have dinner. During dinner they had small talks and got to know each other. The children were amazed by the way she could open up to them so soon and Maxwell could only think of thanking her. When he had spoken to Grace earlier she had told him about her fears and for the first time she had spoken about her mother. This woman had a special gift.

Once dinner was over the children excused themselves and went to bed. Fran tried to leave but Maxwell asked her to come into his office for just a minute and she accepted. Why? She wasn’t sure. She just did.

"Miss Fine I..."

"Please.. It’s Fran..."

"Ok... Fran I... I really want to thank you...."

"Really... there’s no need...."

"Yes there is... when ever I’ve asked my daughter about the reasons that induce her to run away... well… she just shuts down. Tonight was different.. she told me what her fears were, she spoke about her mother, she actually opened up to me and I have a feeling it all has to do with something you told her."

"Honestly... all I did was give her a new perspective to her fears... I happen to know a bit of what she’s going through... my parents died two years ago and although I guess it’s even worst to experience such a thing when your Gracie’s age... I guess she understood that it’s just as hard no matter how old you are..."

"I’m sorry to hear about your parents..."

"It was a car accident... some drunkard collided into their car..." Fran sighed heavily. Why was she telling this man about this? "Well... I really must go... I have a long day at work tomorrow..."

"Sure... please allow me to drive you back..."

"I’ll take a cab... I’ll be fine..."

"Please... I’ll feel better if I know your home and safe..."

"Ok..."

-------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------------- ---------------

A week had gone by since the Sheffields had met Fran but that had been a first and a last. Fran had kept herself busy with work and Maxwell had just opened his last play and was taking some time off to spend the Christmas hollidays with his family.

That Friday morning Fran took some time to go and visit her parents’ grave. There she sat on the cold grass and used the peace of the place to think. She had lot to think about. Her life, her job, her unexisting friends... suddenly and out of nowhere the image of the Sheffield family as she had dinner with them popped into her mind. She had had so much fun... she smiled at the memory.

Just at the same time, Maxwell Sheffield leaned over to deposit a dozen red roses on his wife’s grave. He missed her dearly but ever since he had met Fran Fine his mind was always wondering about her, where was she? What was she doing?.... He stood up and looked at the stone infront of him.

"Sara.... I’ll always love you but I guess meeting her has changed something in me.... I guess it’s time to move on... I don’t know if I’ll ever see her again but I’m hoping you’ll help me... you always have..."

He walked slowly towards his car. Just as he did, he saw a young lady stand up and somehow he could tell it was her. He walked towards the lady and smiled as he realized he had been right. It was her.

"Fran?"

"Hi, how have you been...?"

"Fine... just came to visit Sara..."

"I just wanted to visit my parents..."

"Yeah..." An akward silence filled the air.... "I.... I know you probably have plans but... would you care to have a cup of cofee with me?"

"Uhm.. sure, I don’t actually have plans for the day...." She smiled and could see him sigh.

At the cafeteria they both shared their life experiences, they told each other things and thoughts they had never shared with any one else. It was as if they had known each other for ages. Maxwell felt free to talk to her, she just had the power to loosen him up, he found himself being anything but reserve which, for Maxwell Sheffied, was something new. Fran on the other hand couldn’t believe the way she was opening up to him... she found herself telling the man things she would never tell any one. Just as they were laughing at an anecdote Max had told about the kids, his cell phone rang.

"Yes? Hi Grace is everything ok?" He listened and mouthed a sorry towards Fran who simply nodded... "I see... well I was on my way home and I ran into Fran... remember her?.................. Yes.... we are having a cup of coffee and then I’ll go straight home, ok sweetheart? What? Ok... I’ll ask her... Ok baby... I love you..." he hung the phone and looked at Fran, "Gracie would like me to invite you over to spend Christmas day with us... she said something about not wanting you to feel lonely and scared... makes any sense to you?" Fran chuckled before she answered...

"You see, the first time I met Gracie I told her that since my divorce I some times felt ‘lonely and scared’... It was true but I was only trying to get her to talk to me about why was she alone in the park..."

"I see... well she insisted I ask you and to be honest I think I would really like that... I mean I have no idea if you’ve got plans or anything but..."

"I don’t have plans but... spend christmas with you? I don’t know..."

"Please do... you could stay in the guest room and wake up to open the presents with the children... aparently Grace asked her brother and sister if they were ok with it and agreed..."

"I.... Why are you all being so nice with me? I mean... you hardly know me!"

"Oh but we know enough... Christmas is the time to help out friends and... I already consider you a friend of mine..."

"Ok... but there will be one condition..."

"Speak"

"You’re giving Niles the day off... I’ll cook dinner and breakfast!"

"Deal!" Maxwell smiled at her and they continued to chat.

------------------ ----------------- ---------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- ------

Christmas eve arrived like magic. The morning of the 24^th, Fran had arrived at the mansion in time for brekfast and had started preparing everything for the evening. The children were happily helping her and Maxwell could only stare and wonder. She was perfect, the children adored her, he felt at ease when they were together and she had even been thoughtfull enough as to secretly bring some presents for his family. Of course he had also bought her a little something... after all he would not allow this lovely woman to wake up on Christmas day and to have nothing!

"Dad! Look I’ve made these myself!" Maxwell was brought back from his thoughts by his youngest.

"Oh sweetheart it looks delicious... Fran? Are you sure the kids aren’t being too much bother... I mean they could sit down to watch some tv..."

"Oh no! They are all great helpers!" She smiled at him and he left them to finish off dinner.

Dinner was served just on time, they all gathered arround the table and ate the wonderfull meal they had all prepared. They laughed, joked and even spoke of the last Christmas with their gone beloved. It was almost as if they had become a family. Fran was overjoyed to be there and greatfull to have found such a good friend in Maxwell, however, she had started to notice him in another manner... lately she found herself considering what it would be like to date him... be a real part of the family... Maxwell on the other hand could not wait to see her face the morning after, the kids had all got her home made presents and he had his own little gift for her. He couldn’t tell why, but had an urge to make this woman happy... he had even thought about asking her out and had a good mind to do so for new years eve.

When dinner was over they all went to bed. The children were excited about opening their presents on the morning, Fran was happy to have had the oportunity to meet this wonderfull family and Max only wished she would like her presents.

The morning after the kids woke up early, Fran had been up for an hour already when the children and their father walked down. She had been making breakfast and had everything finished when the family descended the back stairs.

"Good morning everyone, here you have… a cup of hot chocolate for each and some home made cookies…"

"Fran you shouldn’t have gone through all the trouble!"

"Oh Max just look at them… they are happy! Let’s take this into the living room… I saw a whole lot of presents pilled up under the tree, you know?"

The children all cheered and ran towards the living room…just as she was about to follow them Max grabbed her arm and softly gave her a sweet peck on the lips.

"Thank you..." he whispered. She simply smiled and led him towards the children.

They spent the morning opening presents and joking around. Fran had loved the home made presents and Maxwell’s gift: a pair of pearl earrings and a matching necklace. The children soon left to their respective rooms to enjoy their gifts and Max and Fran found them selves taking care of the wrappers left on the floor.

"I… thank you so much for your present Max…"

"No need to be thankful… you’ve done so much for my family…"

"Well I guess your family is easy to fall in love with…"

"Fran… I… god I’ve lost practice at this kind of things…"

"What is it?"

"Would you like to have dinner with me… the two of us alone…?"

"Like a date you mean…."

"Yes… I was thinking… well the children are spending New Year’s Eve with Sara’s parents and well… we could spend it together… that is, of course, if you don’t have other plans…"

"I don’t actually… and I’d love to spend it with you…" she gave him shy smile. She could recall the feeling of his lips on hers earlier on.

"Great! Then I’ll pick you up at nine and we can have dinner at the plaza hotel."

"I have a better idea, why don’t we have dinner at my place? I’ll cook; we’ll watch the ball drop on TV…. What do you say?"

"I say it’s a great plan…" slowly he leaned closer to her, their lips were only inches apart, he looked into her eyes as if asking permission, she could feel him hesitate and moved her self closer softly kissing him. As she slowly parted he grabbed her head pulling her into a more demanding kiss. She felt her lips being parted with his tongue and opened them starting the most sensual kiss she could remember ever sharing.

Slowly the parted and rested their foreheads together. They both smiled and knew they had just begun something unique.

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