The Visit

A Round Robin

Part Ten

by

Brit and KathyB
(brit_cass@hotmail.com) and (kathyb@lcfanfic.com)

Niles hummed happily as he worked in CC's kitchen, assembling ingredients for an omelet breakfast for the two of them. Last night had been one of the best evenings of his life, and the realization that he would be seeing her again in just a little while made his heart sing.

True to his word, they'd spent the evening on the couch -- not in the bedroom -- and Niles couldn't help but be thrilled at the way the evening turned out. They'd started out trying to watch a movie, but it had gone ignored in favor of conversation, something he never would have guessed he and CC would have been able to maintain. They'd talked for hours, covering everything from their childhoods to the way CC had put her show's actress in her place, to the kinds of jobs Niles might be interested in pursuing. To his surprise, CC had made several suggestions about careers that might be a good fit for him. It had been both empowering and humbling to realize how much insight she had into his personality, and how much faith she had in his talents.

Of course, it hadn't been all talk, Niles remembered with a grin ... there had been more than one occasion when the urge to kiss had become too strong, and they'd given in to their baser instincts, making out on the couch until he'd felt the need to put on the brakes. Then they'd cuddle and talk some more ... only to find their mouths pressed together once again.

Niles sighed happily. Despite the many years they'd known each other, despite all the events they'd attended together, he knew he would always consider this their "first date" -- and that it would go down as the best one he'd ever had.

"Hello, hello."

Niles turned at the sound of her voice. "Good morning," he replied, his eyes bright. She looked a little nervous, as if she wasn't sure what kind of response she would get from him, and it made him want to take her into his arms to reassure her. With his hands busy, however, he had to settle for an affectionate grin. "Breakfast will be ready in a little while. How'd you sleep?"

CC returned his smile almost shyly, and tucked her hair behind her ear. "Fine ... good. And you?"

"Great," he answered, pouring the eggs into a hot pan on the stove. He let his voice drop suggestively. "For some reason, I had the most amazing dreams."

She blushed a little at his obvious flirting, then turned to greet her dog as he stood in the corner of the kitchen. "Good morning, Chester. I see Niles got you your breakfast first."

The little Pom looked up at her briefly, gracing her with a welcoming wag of his tail, then turned his attention back to his food dish.

"He's hungry this morning," Niles explained as he flipped the omelet. "We got up early and went for a long walk. I bought some fresh flowers for the table ... the ones you had were starting to wilt."

CC walked back into the dining room to see. "Oh, they're beautiful!"

He smiled as he carried their steaming coffee mugs to the table. "Well, they had to be or they'd pale in comparison to you."

She cocked her head as she turned that one over in her mind. "Did you just compliment me?"

"If you have to ask, apparently I didn't do it right."

"I guess I'm just not used to hearing them from you," she said carefully.

He gave her a wicked smile. "How about, 'Chester, stop hogging Miss Babcock's kibble and come to the table for your breakfast?"

"Now that I would have understood," CC laughed.

Niles chuckled with her as he returned to the kitchen to place the now-cooked omelet onto their plates. Taking a plate in each hand, he moved to the table once again. "Come on, Chester," he said affectionately, giving CC a soft kiss on the cheek as he passed her. "Come to the table for your breakfast."

CC narrowed her eyes and smiled deviously as she slid into her seat. Picking up a copy of the New York Times that was resting on the table, she studied an ad that he'd circled. "'Single white female seeks irritating and crass old servant. Must be out of shape, have receding hair line, and be willing to do windows.' Sounds like you've found your calling, Niles."

Niles self-consciously ran his hand through his hair as he took his seat, his mouth turned down into a pronounced pout. "I told you, I don't do windows," he replied sullenly.

CC chuckled, then leaned across the table, crooking her finger to invite him closer. When Niles closed the distance, she pressed a soft kiss to his cheek, and winked. Smiling, they both sat back and began to eat.

"So anything promising?" she asked, motioning back to the paper.

Niles shrugged amicably. "A few looked interesting. As we talked about last night, I'm not sure if I should try to get in with a catering company or look into the restaurant business. They each have their pros and cons."

"Maybe you should take over the catering we've been using at the theater," CC said, rolling her eyes. "The company we hired has been really inconsistent lately. Not that everything about this show hasn't been an uphill battle."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, it just seems like one problem after another. The director called in sick yesterday so I had to run rehearsals myself, and the choreographer is an absolute moron. Add in a starlet who thinks way too much of herself and Maxwell's complete distraction lately and it's all just been a mess."

"I thought you said you'd put him in his place?"

"Maxwell? Well, yes ... and that felt really good. But who knows what's going through his mind right now." She snorted derisively. "Maybe he thinks he's going to need a new nanny. What with all his talk of things changing in his life."

Niles' head shot up. "What are you talking about?"

She took a sip of juice. "I don't know ... I had a hell of a headache, and he kept babbling on before he sent me home. Something about things needing to change so he could focus on the show and how he was ready to give you and Nanny Fine your freedom."

Niles gasped, appalled. "He's going to fire her, too??"

CC shrugged. "Well, he sacked you ... maybe she's next."

Eyes flashing, Niles jumped up from the table, throwing his napkin down angrily. "Damn it, CC! Has he lost his bloody mind?!"

"Well, don't yell at me! I'm just telling you what he said."

"Yeah, well, apparently someone still needs to knock some sense into him. Breaking that poor girl's heart like that ... I won't stand for it!" He took her by the hand and pulled her up, ignoring her look of shock.

"Excuse me! I wasn't done eating yet!"

"Some things are more important than food, Babcock. Come on; we're going to the house!"

*****

<Ding Dong>

Fran set the iced tea on the coffee table as the doorbell rang, making her heart race a little. She was so excited to see her Aunt Rose and although she still wasn't looking forward to correcting the little misunderstanding regarding her marital status, she still loved spending time with her. Trotting into the foyer to get the door, she called out, "I'll get it!" before she realized that no one else was home anyway.

Rolling her eyes at her forgetful behavior, she opened the door to reveal her long anticipated guests. Standing opposite her was her favorite great-aunt. Fran had always been told that she was the mirror image of her Aunt Rose, and although she didn't see it, she hoped it was true. For her eighty-six years, Aunt Rose was a stunning beauty; her long, still dark, wavy hair pulled loosely into a bun and her relatively smooth skin wrinkling into a dazzling smile.

"Aunt Rose!"

Rose glided gracefully into Fran's open arms and wrapped her up in a bear-hug. "Frannie, my girl, how are you?"

They embraced for a moment, swaying back and forth a moment in shared love. She released her and stepped back to let her and her mother enter the room. "Aunt Rose, you're looking fabulous. How was your flight?" Taking their coats, she hung them in the closet while Aunt Rose took a look around the living room.

"It was alright, except for the food. Never eat shrimp from a plastic container. Wow, look at these digs. Nice chatchkas."

Fran smiled at her Aunt Rose's reference to the expensive brick-a-brack, remembering her similar observation from years before. She invited her aunt and mother to follow her into the living room. "So, Aunt Rose, how was the Canasta tournament? Did your team win?"

"Naw, Florence and Mary folded under pressure and we lost to the Boca Beauties on the last hand."

As Fran led them to the sofa, Sylvia gave Rose a discreet nudge to the shoulder and tipped her head toward Fran, eyebrows raised in question. Rose nodded and waived her off, sitting on the sofa and looking up at Fran expectantly. "So, Frannie, where is your husband and those adorable kids of yours?"

Fran's smile slipped slightly. Knowing that she had to come clean about her marital status and actually doing it were something else altogether.

"Eh, well, unfortunately you won't get to meet the kids this trip, since they're away at golf-camp this week. Can I get you something to drink?"

Not waiting for their answers, she poured them each a glass of ice tea to stall for time. She'd worked it over in her mind a thousand different ways, to try formulating an acceptable answer, but no matter how she phrased it, she had to fess up to a lie. She figured that the direct approach would be the quickest and least painful, so she took a deep breath and dove in.

"Aunt Rose, I owe you a big apology. I wrote some things to you that weren't entirely accurate."

"Fran," Sylvia warned.

Fran held her hand out towards her mother, halting her words of admonishment. "Eighty-six it, Ma. I'm doin' this my way."

Seeing that she wasn't about to drop it, Fran glanced down at the end table, finding the perfect distraction. She picked up a tray of chocolates from the table and raised it to just under her mother's nose. "Truffle, Ma?"

Whatever Sylvia had been about to say died on her lips as she took in the delightful aroma, and sat down on the couch, engrossed with the Godiva truffle selection. Smiling in victory, Fran sat down on the coffee table in front of her Aunt, her smile slipping in uncertainty. She leaned over to take Aunt Rose's hands in her own and they gave each other an affectionate squeeze. "As I was saying, Aunt Rose, I have a confession to make. First of all, they're not my kids. I don't have any children of my own. The children I wrote to you about are Mr. Sheffield's children."

Aunt Rose chuckled and patted Fran's hands affectionately. "I know Frannie. I could read between the lines. Besides, how could you have a seventeen year-old daughter? You're too young! You would have only been twelve when she was born."

Fran chuckled uneasily and released a nervous breath. Well, that was the easy part - here goes everything. "There's more. I haven't been married all these years. In fact, I'm not married..."

"... to a very considerate man, arriving late to meet his wife's favorite aunt for the first time."

Fran stared up at the door in surprise while Sylvia and Aunt Rose craned their necks around to see who had come in. Mr. Sheffield shed his overcoat, tossed it onto a hook in the closet and closed the door. He strode quickly to Fran's side and leaning down, he placed a quick peck on her cheek.

"Sorry I'm late, darling. Won't you introduce us?"

Fran released Aunt Rose's hands in shock and stared at Mr. Sheffield with her mouth hanging open. What was he doing? She'd already told him that she was coming clean with her Aunt, and here he was pretending that they were married. What was he up to?

When she didn't say anything, Max raised a perfunctory eyebrow and cleared his throat. He leaned down to take Aunt Rose's hand between both of his own, smiling charmingly. "Aunt Rose, I've heard so much about you. I'm Maxwell Sheffield, Fran's husband."

Fran reached over to wrap both her hands around Mr. Sheffield's upper arm. "Mr. Sheffield, why are you..."

"...so late? I had an urgent errand to run this morning, so I slipped out while you were getting ready. Sorry for not telling you where I was going."

Getting a little agitated, Fran glared at Maxwell and continued with her explanation to her Aunt. "As I was saying, Aunt Rose, I didn't marry three years ago as I had claimed ..."

Maxwell wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and smiled, his face practically glowing. "That was my fault, of course. I was such a mess emotionally when my first wife died, but Fran arrived and helped us all through it. It just took me a while to commit to her."

"Aunt Rose, that's not true. We didn't..."

"...tell anyone about the marriage because of my business and the publicity."

Fran was becoming increasingly annoyed at Maxwell's attempts to scuttle her truth session.

Maxwell wrapped his arms tighter around her waist and pulled Fran upright. Leaning around her to address the two women still sitting on the couch, their mouths hanging open at the exchange going on between them, he asked, "Would you ladies please excuse us for a moment, I need to speak to Fran in private."

Fran resisted, struggling against his grip, hopping sideways a little as Maxwell pulled her into the piano alcove. Neither of them noticed the sidelong glance Sylvia gave to Aunt Rose and the mischievous glint in Rose's own eye.

"Mr. Sheffield, what are you doing?"

"Please, Miss Fine, I want to help you. You do so many thoughtful and kind things for my family and I want to return the favor."

"Mr. Sheffield, that is very generous of you, but I've already made up my mind. My deception interfered with your friendship with Niles. No amount of money is worth that. I'm done trying to be something I'm not."

Maxwell glanced over her shoulder to wave and smile at Aunt Rose and Sylvia, indicating that they'd be right back, he pulled her a little further toward the hallway. "I don't want you to lose your inheritance because I've been a nuisance. I promise to apologize to Niles and to ask him back, but in the meantime, let me pretend to be your husband."

"I can't do this with you. I would be too..." She cut herself off, closing her mouth against saying the words out loud.

While she struggled to answer him, he dug his hand into his coat pocket and extracted a jewelry box. He opened it and showed her the rings inside. Shocked, her refusal died on her lips at the sight of the wedding set he had in his hand. He smiled confidently. "See, I even brought the requisite props."

Fran felt tears pricking her eyes and forced them back. She did not want to cry about her disillusionment again in front of him or her family. She knew he didn't mean to be cruel and that he really was trying to be helpful, but it would be too painful to pretend something that could never be. His acting the part of husband would remind her of what *could* be between them, and that would make staying too hard. Unable to respond verbally, she shook her head, still resolute to do this her way.

Maxwell began to be visibly agitated, his eyebrow lifting in annoyance and his jaw clenching a couple of times, before his voice came out lower and a bit harder. "Miss Fine, I know you would do anything for us. Why won't you let me help you?"

Fran took in a deep breath, getting angry herself now. Why did she have to spell it out for him? Why couldn't he just take no for an answer? "I already told you. I'm done trying to be something I'm not. I'm not going to pretend being married to you."

Her stubbornness was really starting to irritate him and he dropped his voice another level, his words coming out in a harsh whisper. "I don't understand what the big deal is; it's only for the weekend. Why are you resisting this so much?"

His tone raised her dander and she thrust her hands to her hips, leaning in towards him while her voice rose slightly. "And I don't understand why you are pushing so hard. It wasn't a good idea from the start. Let. It. Go."

Max rolled his eyes at her command. Why didn't she want to accept his help? Frustrated, he didn't even try to hold back his next comment. "This is so typical of a woman; you ask for help and when I try to give it, you don't want it."

Fran's eyebrows raised at his generalization and her blood began to boil. What is it with his assumption that she wanted his help in this way? "Ha!" she exclaimed, poking him in the chest with her index finger. "I never asked for *your* help. Besides, you would know if that shoe fits, Mr. I-don't-need-anyone's-help Sheffield."

He leaned toward her now, almost coming nose to nose with her, his voice rising again. "And that shoe wouldn't happen to be your size-seven Valentinos, would it? Stop being so obstinate."

"I'll stop when you do. Quit acting like a shmegegi."

At this point they started talking over one another, both voices raising to the point of shouting, each trying to convince the other of their respective reasoning.

"Well, if you would just stop talking..."

"Why can't you see that ..."

"...for two seconds and listen to me,..."

"...it would be too painful to pretend..."

"...you would understand that...."

"...there's love between us after ‘the thing'... "

"...it's because I love you, dammit!"

Maxwell's last statement rang throughout the room, stopping Fran's response as her mouth dropped open in surprise. They stood there staring at each other, their breathing ragged and skin flushed from their argument while they both tried to process what had just happened.

Eventually, Aunt Rose broke the spell. Turning to Sylvia who sat watching intensely at the couple, she smacked Sylvia's arm. "I thought you said they weren't married?"

Max glanced sheepishly at the ladies sitting on the couch before looking back at Fran. She still hadn't moved or said anything, her mouth trembling slightly, her eyes filling with tears. His eyebrows pinched together in concern. What did the tears mean? Was she crying because of "the thing", or was she happy to hear him say the words? Not wanting her to think he was about to take it back again, he stepped closer to her and took her face in his hands, wiping an escaped tear off her cheek with his thumb.

"I love you, Fran, and I'm ready to tell anyone that cares to hear it. I don't want you to give up your dreams for me, I'd rather be the one to make all of your dreams come true."

Fran reached up to grasp his wrists and pull his hands away from her face. The momentary anguish that bloomed in his chest was replaced by a joy when she leapt at him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, her feet leaving the floor as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. Now he couldn't stop the tears that appeared in his eyes as she whispered her response into his ear.

"I love you too, Max. I love you so much."

They gripped each other tightly for several long moments, relishing the open acknowledgement of their love. By the time Maxwell relaxed his grip around her back and allowed her body to slide down until her feet touched the floor, she had threaded her fingers through his hair at the back of his head and released a contented sigh as she massaged his neck lightly. She felt him tighten his grip again, pulling her against him as he buried his face in her hair.

"Fran…mmm…"

The whispered endearment trailed into a pleased hum as he dipped his head down and began kissing lightly, trailing his lips across her ear and down her neck. Fran's breath caught in her throat and found that all of a sudden her mouth was extraordinarily dry. How had it gotten so hot in here? Her eyes flicked over to the living room, where her aunt and mother still sat staring at them, and she wished he would wait until they were somewhere more private.

As Max worked his way back up to nip softly at her jaw, her breath quickened and her pulse started pounding loudly in her own ears. His hands slid down her back to pull her closer and she had to bite back a moan of pleasure. She couldn't lose control with her Aunt Rose visiting!

"Um, Max?"

"Yes, darling?"

She paused, losing the ability for intelligent thought as he gently nuzzled a sensitive spot on her neck. God, he was good at that! No, wait, she needed to slow this down.

"We, um, have an audience. Wha…what happened to my conservative boss?"

"I told him to sod off."

With that, he pulled back just enough to capture Fran's lips with his own, his loving and gentle caress turning to a burning, sensuous exchange. When he finally pulled apart, they were both breathing heavily.

He reached up to stroke her cheek with his fingertips while he tried to regain his composure. "Fran," he whispered huskily, "do you think we could ditch your aunt and mother for a while?"

She giggled and resisted the urge to kiss him again, releasing her grip around his neck. Fran brought her hand around to wipe the lipstick smear off of his lips and raised an eyebrow at him. "Maxwell Sheffield, I love you, but your timing really stinks. Come on, I'll introduce you to my Aunt Rose."

She led him back into the main part of the living room, but before she could make her introductions, the front door came flying open with a bang, causing her to jump.

"OK, we're having this out once and for all!" Niles growled angrily from the doorway, pointing an accusing finger towards Max. "You can fire me as many times as you want, but I'm not leaving until you agree to treat this woman with the respect she deserves from you!"

Fran's jaw fell open. As bitter as the fight between the two men had been two nights before, she had never seen the butler so furious. "Niles, what are you doing here?" she asked. Then her eyebrows lifted as she saw a tall blonde enter behind him. "Oh, hi, Miss Babcock."

Niles continued on as if she hadn't spoken, and he stalked over to glare at Max. "I left the other night because I thought it might wake you up to what you have, but I see now that nothing is going to get through that thick skull of yours. How dare you plan to fire Miss Fine?!"

Fran watched as Max's face clouded up, and she knew she had to do something, fast. Jumping in between them, she pushed Niles backwards, putting some room between the two men. "Niles, honey, I'm not sure what you think you're doing here, but believe me, it's not necessary."

"Miss Fine, how can you say that? After everything he's done to you?"

She glanced back at Max and attempted a reassuring smile. "A lot has happened since we talked yesterday, Niles. Everything is OK now. Really."

"But you have tears in your eyes!" Niles exclaimed, looking completely confused. "How can you defend him when he keeps making you cry?"

Fran just laughed. "Niles, he didn't fire me. He told me he loves me!"

Niles' jaw dropped and he began to sputter helplessly as he looked at Max. "But ... But ... I thought you were going to tell her you didn't want her working here anymore, that you wanted to 'give her her freedom'?"

Max threw his hands up in the air. "I'd decided I was going to give her the freedom to grow in our new relationship! How the bloody hell did that get turned into me planning to fire her?"

After another millisecond of confusion, they all turned as one to look at CC, who was standing there looking very sheepish. "Whoops."

Niles turned back to look at Fran. "So he really told you he loved you? For real?"

She nodded and squealed excitedly. "And he didn't even take it back!"

Niles squirmed as he faced Max. "Well, then, I guess I owe you an apology ..."

Max shook his head and gave a half-smile. "No ... it's me who needs to apologize. I've been acting like a self-centered, spoiled brat for far too long now, and I'm ashamed of the way I've been behaving. Everything you said the other night was true, Niles, and I had no right to attack you for pointing it out. You had Miss Fine's and my best interests at heart, and I should have thanked you for being such a good friend, not thrown you out." He swallowed, sincerely contrite. "Please accept my apology, for everything."

For once in his life, Niles was nearly speechless. "I ... I don't know what to say."

"Say you'll come back," Max continued. "I'll do whatever it takes ... give you a raise, reduce your hours. Whatever you want, I'll find a way to make it happen. Just please, come back to work for me."

Niles' eyes showed his emotion. "Mr. Sheffield ... Max ... although a raise would be nice, it was never the issue. All I wanted ... all I ever wanted ... was your respect. I wanted you to treat me the way you used to, back when I was your friend, not just your employee."

Max cleared his throat, growing emotional himself. "I want that, too, Niles. As much as I don't want to lose your assistance around the house, I really don't want to lose your friendship." He stuck out his hand. "So ... friends?"

Niles smiled, accepting his handshake before pulling Max into a hug. "Friends."

Fran clasped her hands to her chest and gave a happy sigh, tears of joy trickling down her cheeks from the display before her. "Oh, this is just like a Hallmark commercial!"

The two men pulled back and laughed, both looking a little self-conscious now that the moment was over.

"So, Niles," Max said, standing up a little straighter and putting his arm around Fran's shoulders. "You'll come back then? To be my ... to be *our* butler again?"

Niles hesitated, then turned to look at CC, who'd been watching the whole scene from near the door. "I don't know yet ... would you give me a moment? Um, Miss Babcock? May I see you over here?" He walked closer to the staircase and motioned her to follow him.

She did, trying to ignore the curious looks everyone else in the room was now giving them, and allowed him to take her hands in his.

"CC," he began softly. "We need to talk about this."

"What's to talk about?" she whispered back. "I've never seen Maxwell grovel like that before, not even with me -- you just got everything you wanted!"

"Not everything," he clarified gently. "I'm delighted to get my old job back, but I won't take it, not if it means losing my chance with you."

She furrowed her brow. "I don't understand."

Niles looked at her imploringly. "I know you don't want to date a butler ... that you think it's beneath you. So I'm willing to change careers if that's what it takes to keep you interested."

CC stared at him, stunned. "You'd be willing to give up your job ... for me?"

"To give us a chance, yes. I mean it, CC. Just say the word, and I'll turn it down."

After a moment's hesitation, she looked at him, her eyes full of apology. "Niles ... you're a butler; it's what you do best. Take the job."

Niles swallowed hard, feeling like he'd been kicked in the stomach. "I- I guess it was foolish to think you could ever really develop feelings for me, no matter what my job title is. I'm sorry, Miss Babcock; I won't bother you again." He dropped her hands, trying to turn away.

CC rolled her eyes and roughly pulled him back. "Niles, you buffoon; you didn't let me finish! What I was going to say was that-- that-- Aw, hell." And with that, she crushed her mouth to his, leaving no doubt as to her intentions.

When they finally pulled apart, CC cradled his face in her hands as she looked into his eyes. "Niles, your job has nothing to do with how I feel about you; it's how happy your job makes you that counts. The man I got to know yesterday and this morning ... the one who was so happy and relaxed ... that's the Niles I want to spend more time with. So if you can still be that man with me while being a butler ... then I think you should take the job."

Niles stared at her, stunned, then broke into a huge grin. "I think it's safe to say you'll be seeing a lot more of that Niles in the future."

CC beamed back, then her expression turned more seductive as she traced a fingertip down his shirt front. "How much more?"

He let out a low growl. "Why don't we go back to your place and find out?"

She turned coy, teasing him. "I don't know ... will you still respect me if we do?"

He brought her mouth back to his and kissed her, long and slow. "Let's discuss the answer to that in private," he whispered when he finally let her go.

CC slumped against him, hardly able to stand under her own power. "OK," she whimpered.

Niles wrapped a possessive arm around her back and turned towards Max and Fran with a grin. "Mr. Sheffield, I accept. I am, however, taking the weekend off. If you need me, I'll be at CC's, but ..." He gave them a pointed look. "You'd better not need me."

And with that, Niles and CC hurried out the front door, eager to be alone.

Fran and Max stared at the door in amazement, hardly able to believe what they'd just witnessed. "Miss Fine ... did you see what I just saw?"

"Yeah!" she exclaimed. "And I don't think we'll need to pay the heating bill around here this winter, given the sparks those two were putting out!" Then she laughed. "I'm glad he took your advice to heart, Mr. Sheffield."

Max grinned and pulled her into a hug. "And I'm glad I took his. Now, I believe you have some family to introduce me to, hmm?"

"Oh!" Fran turned back to her mother and aunt, who were watching everything from the sofa.

*****

Fran's attention wandered to Maxwell several times during her conversation with her Aunt Rose. She was still in shock over what had happened between them, and also felt a little afraid that he would take it back again. However, he arrested her fears by simply reaching over and taking her hand, threading their fingers together and giving a little squeeze. Her heart warmed at the action. No, this time he wouldn't take it back; he loved her.

"Frannie," Aunt Rose said, pulling her gaze back from Maxwell. "I want to talk to you about your inheritance requirements."

Fran's happiness at hearing those words from Maxwell flew away as she remembered her fib to her aunt. She reached over to take Rose's hand and squeezed it affectionately. "Aunt Rose, I lied about being married," she admitted.

Rose smiled affectionately at Fran. "I know, Fran, and that's alright with me. I always regretted not waiting a while before getting married, but that's just not how it was done back then. You should take your time and be sure it's what you want."

At her Aunt's words of advice, Fran's gaze shifted to Maxwell and he looked up from his conversation with Sylvia to wink when he caught her eye. A warm sense of peace flooded through her and the anxiety she normally felt about getting married melted away. Aunt Rose's visit had set in motion a chain of events that had almost ruined everything, but then turned around better than she could have imagined.

She looked back at her Aunt Rose and smiled at the mischievous twinkle in her eye. She still couldn't believe this lovely lady was responsible for so many wonderful changes; she and Max were together, Niles' and Max's friendship was stronger than ever, and Niles and Miss Babcock had a budding romance. She shuddered a bit at that last thought, but was grateful that even without a ring on her finger, everything had worked out in the end.

"Look, Aunt Rose, I'm not married yet, but I've found my man and that's good enough for me," she affirmed.

Rose looked meaningfully at Maxwell before turning back to Fran. "I can see that, honey, and I'm happy for you. But, now that you've found him, do you think you can hurry him along a little? If your mother calls and whines one more time about more grandchildren, I'm gonna change my phone number!"

Back to Fan Fiction

Back to The Really Unofficial Nanny Home Page