Insert claim that I don't own these characters here. Thank You.
P.S. - I don't own the copy write to Eeyore either, it's just my favorite character.

The Beginnings of a Storm

by

Eeyore
(majorwingnut@yahoo.com)

Fran had faced Mr. Sheffield and had left with dignity intact, but now what was she suppose to do? Should she go to her mother’s? She decided against going there because that would probably be the first place Mr. Sheffield would look and also her mother would coax her to forgive Maxwell and return back to the Sheffield residence. She came to the realization that technically that Mr. Sheffield did fire her for her so called forgetfulness. With nothing better to do she went to the mall to walk around a bit, seeing if that would clear her mind. At least she could shop her blues away.

After watching his children’s nanny walk out the door like she was walking out of his life forever, Maxwell decided to forget about work and get drunk enough to forget his worries. He knew that drinking wasn’t the best course of action, but then was letting a beautiful woman who is more a mother figure than a nanny to his beloved children runaway in an April rainstorm the greatest idea either? He walked into his office, slammed the door shut, opened the liquor cabinet and started an afternoon drinking binge.

Meanwhile, both Niles and C.C. had heard what had just transpired. Niles didn’t know how to react. He knew that Miss Fine wouldn’t have let a message that important slip nor did his employer really wanted to fire her. Niles had to figure out a way to get these two back together as soon as possible. If it wasn’t soon, the house would once again become cold and quiet, just like it was prior to Nanny Fine’s arrival.

"So, Niles," C.C. began, "Do you think it’s safe to go in there?"

"You’re the Ice Queen; you go and calm him down!"

"Me? You’re the servant," C.C. started walking towards the door. "Tell Maxwell that I’ll see him when he’s ready to do some work" and with that she left Niles to deal with Mr. Sheffield.

Niles knew he had to get to the bottom of this. Knock some sense into someone, mainly Mr. Sheffield, but Miss Fine could use some too. Niles knocked on his boss’ door.

"Go away!" Mr. Sheffield cried.

Ignoring this request Niles entered. Niles was shocked. He had seen Mr. Sheffield drunk before, but nothing like this. Not even when Sarah passed away, did he act like this. When Niles walked in the office, contracts and scripts were scattered everywhere. His sports jacket was thrown over the couch with the smell of bourbon on it. The prim and proper Maxwell Sheffield was looking like a total wreck. His dress shirt tails were sticking out, his tie was so loose that Niles wonder why it hadn’t slipped off his neck and for some strange reason Mr. Sheffield had undone is belt and unbutton his pants.

Screaming at Niles, "I told you go away! Not to come in."

"Yes, I know what you said, but my job is to serve you and right now you need some help."

Having taken a more than a few shots of bourbon and now was taking shots of whiskey like it was water, Mr. Sheffield could barley make out the words that Niles said.

"Could you speak slower," Mr. Sheffield said, slurring his words, "I can’t understand a word you said."

Niles didn’t really know what to say or even do for this man. He knew that he was in love, but until this moment didn’t understand how much. Niles wanted to tell him that it was his own fault, but knew that it wouldn’t help the situation at this moment.

"Mr. Sheffield, you have had enough to drink. Let’s get some water into you and then it’s time for bed."

"Bed?" Mr. Sheffield inquired.

"Yes, bed," Niles instructed him.

While Niles took Mr. Sheffield up to his room for some much needed rest, Miss Fine wandered around the neighborhood until she got on a bus and headed for the mall. Granted, shopping wasn’t the idealistic way to solve problems, but for now it would have to do. Normally, Miss Fine would chat to anyone who would listen, whether it was about her current love crisis or the weather, but today she could barely focus on the route she was taking. Trying to keep her attention on the bus route, making sure she got off at the mall. It seemed that everyone but her was in a good mood. No one really cared that the sun wasn’t out or that the weatherman had predicted serve storms and for once he may be right. Fortunately for Fran, someone had said the word mall and she realized that this was the stop. She recognized that the clouds and the sky were getting darker by the minute so it was probably a good idea to stay at the mall until the storm passed.

"C.C.," Niles announced to her in the kitchen, "Mr. Sheffield will not need your services today, or for a matter of fact, probably tomorrow either."

"So, how drunk his he?" She had to ask.

"He was so drunk that he went right to sleep when his head hit the pillow. Why do you care anyways?"

"I just do." C.C. paused for a moment and then continued, "I have realized that Max loves me, but only as a friend. Yes, it sucks and it was hard to get over, but I have realized that Max loves Nanny Fine and there’s nothing I can do about it. You can’t change a person’s feelings easily."

Niles was shocked at C.C.’s response. He didn’t know how to reply to C.C.’s comments. "Ah….," he tried to speak.

"What? Are you shocked that I have finally seen the light?"

All Niles could do was nod his head yes.

"Now if only those two would see that it’s their fate to be together, we could be all one happy family," C.C. said and paused to put her jacket on. "Tell Maxwell that I’ll work on the costumes and see what I can arrange. I’m sure, just like everything else, it has been a misunderstanding." C.C. walked towards the front door and disappeared into the pouring rain.

Still reeling from her confession, all Niles could do was watch her leave. A few moments later he realized that he should have offered her a ride home. After all it was raining and the skies did look vicious, but she probably wouldn’t have accepted the ride anyways.

Miss Fine was window shopping from store to store when an announcement came over the P.A. "Attention all customers: Please be advised that there is a warning for potential dangerous weather. It could be anything from a thunderstorm to hail and/or a tornado. Please be advised that if the emergency sirens do go off we must request everyone to go into our evacuation shelters." It wasn’t a moment later that the sirens went off. Miss Fine couldn’t believe it – stuck in a mall and can’t even go shopping.

Niles heard them too. It sent a chill down his spine because he didn’t know where Ms. Babcock was. He knew he should have driven her home, but then Mr. Sheffield would be in danger. At least with Ms. Babcock he hoped that she had enough sense to go into some type of shelter. Silently praying for Ms. Babcock safety, Mr. Sheffield came down from the staircase in the living room.

"Niles, what is that bloody racket?"

"That, Mr. Sheffield, is the emergency sirens. We need to get to the basement immediately!"

The doorbell rang. Niles could hear pounding on the front door. He sent Mr. Sheffield to the basement while he answered the door.

Through the marbled glass he could see Ms. Babcock and Chester. He rushed to the door to let them in.

"Oh, thank goodness you had enough sense to come back. I was worried."

"I’m just glad I got back in time. The skies look horrible."

"Come on, we got to get to the basement."

The lights started to flicker as Niles, Ms. Babcock, with Chester in tow ran towards the basement. As Ms. Babcock ran down the stairs, Niles grabbed the flashlight and a radio and then slammed the door shut as the power went out and the wind started howling.

"Oh," everyone at the mall groaned as the power went out. A child was in tears, some people were in panic mode and then there was Miss Fine, trying to keep the situation light. They could hear the speed of the wind picking up, praying that this will all end soon.

Someone in the mall shelter had a portable radio and Niles and turn on his in time to hear the weather reporter say: "Folks living in and around New York City take cover immediately. There’s a tornado heading your way and should be in the area in less than five minutes."

Maxwell heard this and became worried. Where did Miss Fine go? Was she safe? He wanted to get out of here and go and look for her, but he knew he couldn’t. For one, he had a bloody headache and two; he would only accomplish one thing: getting him killed. He did the only thing he could do: Prayer to God and to Sarah to keep her and his children safe.

Granted she was mad at him, but still to wish death to a person wasn’t in her nature. She sent a prayer to keep every loved one, including Niles, the children, Chester, Chester’s owner and Mr. Sheffield from any harm from the storm.

Suddenly, the radio died and the violent storm became closer and closer.

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