"The Nanny" and all its characters aren't mine but I hope no one minds me borrowing them for a while. This story mostly takes place during the evening after the end of "The Pilot". What were Fran's thoughts as she returned to the Sheffield mansion?

Who Would Have Guessed!

by

Debbie
(nute@scoastnet.com.au)

"Ma, pack my things, he wants me back!"

Oh my god, did I say that? The words are some I'm sure my mother wanted to hear! And, even now, I know they are going to be important for me, too. He wants me back!

So, here I am now, back working for the most gorgeous man I have ever met. What am I? His nanny! Well, not 'his' nanny. Me, Fran Fine, voted Hillcrest High's 'most likely to succeed at…' Well, never mind what I was supposed to succeed at! I'm going to have my work cut out for me here, though. These three kids – what messes they are. Not a happy, well adjusted one among them. Margaret, Brighton and Grace! What kind of a name is Brighton, anyway? Sounds like a beach. You know, I don't know exactly why, but I do know they need me. Heck, I've only known them for like two days and already they've found a place in my heart. And that butler, Niles. I just know that he's going to become one of my best friends, too!

But back to the Sheffields. First of all, Margaret. What's with all this formal name stuff, anyway? Maggie! That's what she'll be to me. Maggie – an as-yet undiscovered beauty with zilch in the confidence stakes. A blonde, shikseh goddess! Oy! When I was her age I would have given up chocolate to look like her. Well, maybe not chocolate! On the other hand, maybe if I had given up chocolates I might have looked like her! Nah, blonde isn't my color anyway!

What am I going to do to help her – me, a great shlub from Flushing? Granted, I have great taste in clothes and almost overwhelming confidence. I'm also modest! But, heck, I just – and I do mean just, as in 'just barely' – graduated from high school and have spent the last three years of my life hanging around a bridal shop waiting to marry someone who makes me look like a candidate for Mensa. And yeah, even I know what Mensa is! What can 'I' do to help Maggie?

Well, first all I've got to do something about those clothes she wears! Yuk! Beige! No, actually, I guess first I've got to earn her trust. I can't lie to her about anything. Well, maybe some little 'fibs' here and there. You know, like the ones you tell your mother when she asks how she looks in her new dress and you say "Nice, Ma" rather than "You look like a trussed turkey". Those kind of fibs.

Where was I? Ah yes, Maggie. She's beautiful. A gorgeous head of blonde hair, tall and slender, with a smooth, clear complexion and a cultured voice – not this cursed nasal twang I got stuck with. Clothes hang on her just right – she's a perfect size 5. I can still picture exactly how she looked coming down those stairs at the backers' party. Gosh, was that only yesterday? Did I have to hold my tongue more than once at that party or what! And believe it or not, I really didn't have any idea how much she resembled her mother. There aren't any pictures of Mrs. Sheffield sitting around on tables or anything. I guess I should have expected it, though. After all, she and Brighton don't look much like Mr. Sheffield. Now, Grace, on the other hand, is her father all over – in female form.

Back to Maggie again. Her father seems to be afraid to let her grow up but she's 14 and is ready to blossom – all she needs is faith and confidence in herself. I guess that's where I'll come in. Maybe if I show her I have faith in her she can start to develop it in herself. I've had a good start. After all, for all her pain-in-the-tuchas nagging, Ma always made me feel special. I might try some of Ma's ideas – well, maybe not all of them. I don't know if guilt works on goyim and I do know that food doesn't conquer all problems – well, it does help with some of them! Anyway, Ma always made me feel beautiful and loved.

I guess that's it – I'll just love her. I'm halfway there already. Maggie's almost too old to have a nanny but she certainly could use an older-sister-type who loves her and who she can confide in – like she might have done with her mother if she was still around.

I wonder how her mother died? Mr. Sheffield never said and it seems like any discussion of Mrs. Sheffield is forbidden. I guess I could ask Niles but, at this stage, it's not important.

So, problem number one solved – Maggie! Just love her - unconditionally and unreservedly!

Now Brighton. First of all, I've got to get rid of that name quickly! Who would name their kid Brighton? I'll call him 'B' – just plain B.

What can I say about B? A devil incarnate? A jokester? The middle child? The 'son and heir'? An angry young man? All of the above? What sort of expectations does his father have of him? What sort of expectations does he have of himself? Where will I fit in?

B – who meets me with a bloodied knife in his chest. Who checks out mannequins for correct anatomy. I've never had dealings with young boys – well, not since I was a young girl anyway!

B is going to be a hunk one day. Even at 10 it's obvious. He's got gorgeous blue eyes and the same blond hair as Maggie – his mother's hair.

His mother. How did he feel about his mother? They say sons and mothers have special relationships. Obviously some of the nannies he's had since Mrs. Sheffield died must have tried to fill that role but they've failed miserably. What did Niles say? The previous nanny left because B faked a suicide with 'catsup' blood running out of his ears? Well, I guess if Julie Andrews can handle frogs in her bed I can handle a bit of fake blood! After all, I'm from Flushing. What can he do that I haven't seen the same or done worse myself already?

So, what will I do with B? What would his mother have done? You know, except for the fact that he's a boy, he's young and he's rich, he's a lot like me! Yes, me! Oy! I remember in school doing all sorts of dumb things to get attention. I certainly wasn't getting any attention because of my brains! On the other hand, I had lots of attention at home – and not all of it good! Me and Nadine never had to do dumb things to get Ma's attention. Well, we still did them but we didn't have to. Ma loved us anyway. Maybe that's it. Just love him anyway – no matter what sort of stupid stunts he pulls.

Don't get me wrong. I don't think B's stupid. In fact, I think he's just angry and bitter. He's mad at the world and uses practical jokes and suicide stunts to express this anger. However, I also think he's clever and he's going to show us all just how clever – eventually. At the moment, though, he's using his brains to get attention. Maybe from his father? After all, the British don't seem to have the market cornered in showing affection – at least this one doesn't! I read somewhere (and yes, I can read!) that the rich ones all send their kids away to school. At least Mr. Sheffield hasn't done that – yet!

Back to B – I guess I'll just have to love him – unconditionally. I'll have to try to show him that, no matter what, and even though I might be really disappointed with him, I'll still love him.

Just like with Maggie – love!

But will love be enough for Gracie? Six years old and already in therapy for almost four years – the same amount of time her mother has been gone. Is this therapy because of some serious problem or because she misses her mother? She was only two when her mother died and was probably too young to even know what she was going to have to cope with. Does she even remember her mother? What other traumas has she had in her young life that require a shrink to help? Does her father ever talk to her – about anything? What about Maggie and B? After all, she is their sister.

Brighton makes sarcastic comments about Grace. Does he really intend to be mean or is it his way of showing concern and the sarcasm hides his own fears?

Maggie almost ignores her. Nadine and I never ignored each other. We fought, screamed, pulled hair and stole each other's things but we never ignored each other. After all – we were sisters!

Thinking about it, I guess Mrs. Sheffield did leave Grace at an important age. A two year old certainly needs a parent pretty much full time. It's when they first start going out into the world. I remember watching Nadine's kids while she was tied up in that silly court case. Her two year old girl was a full-time job!

I'm going off-track again – Gracie! When Mrs. Sheffield died at least Maggie and B were old enough to understand that their mother was never coming back but Gracie probably just noticed that her mother wasn't there any more. And from the sound of it, neither was her father! Did anyone try to talk to her?

Gracie's clever – almost too smart. She's perceptive and intuitive. She's also scared. What other major changes is she going to have in her young life? She knows things aren't quite right and she knows that no one is willing or able to talk to her about things – especially her mother.

Maybe this Dr. Bort is taking that role? Maybe she's trying to fill some of the gap left by Mrs. Sheffield's death but how can a doctor do that? How can someone you pay a zillion dollars an hour (or thereabouts) really replace a mother's love?

There's that word again – love. I guess I'll just have to love Gracie too – and keep a ready supply of TicTacs! They're certainly cheaper than a shrink! Besides, I'm already three-quarters of the way there with her already. How can you not love her! She'll be my baby. She's not much more than that as it is!

So, I guess this is how it's all going to be.

Maggie – love her. Be her big sister – someone she can confide in, share dreams, clothes and make-up with (but teach her how to use it first!). Teach her about boys! Be someone she can trust and love in return.

Brighton – love him. Give him an outlet for his anger. Laugh with him. Reprimand him for his stupidities. Show him that, no matter what, he will be loved.

Gracie – love her. Hug her, talk to her, listen to her and don't send a bill! Take her shopping! Help her grow up in a safe and secure environment. Don't laugh at her fears but recognize them for what they are.

Try, in a small way, to fill in the gaps left in their lives when their mother left them all too soon – before they all got to learn all you can from a mother's wisdom and love.

The kids – that was easy – or at least I hope so! Love. Does it conquer all? Will it?

Now, the rest of the 'family'. Niles and Mr. Sheffield. Oh, and that other 'woman' who hangs around like a bad smell – the business partner, C.C. Babcock.

What kind of name is C.C.? Maybe her mother hung around too many Spanish guys and said 'yes, yes' once too often and named the result after that!

This C.C.'s not a good influence on this household. It's obvious that she's got the hots for Mr. Sheffield but, gosh, can you imagine a worse scenario? That cold-hearted society woman as a step-mother to those kids? Why, I bet she doesn't even know their names. She'll have them schlepped off to boarding school before you could say 'Loehmanns'. Nope, I think getting her out of the kids' and Mr. Sheffield's lives will be needed here.

Meanwhile, I wonder what's up with her and the butler? Ma always used to say that if you don't like someone then you should ignore them and that boys who tease girls only do it 'cause they like them and are too stupid to know how to tell them otherwise. All Niles does is insult this Ms. Babcock and call her names. Are grown men just like young boys? Do they also cover up stronger feelings? Is he holding back because she so obviously makes it clear that she wants Mr. Sheffield? Ah, I guess only time will tell. Meanwhile, I think I'll be a bit wary of her and not trust her too easily! I might play with her mind a bit, too – that should be fun!

Niles. It was obvious to me even after only a few hours that Niles is the one holding the Sheffields together. I wonder how he fits in with them? Is he mishpucha? You know, I think we'll become great friends. I've never had a 'boy' friend before. No, I mean a friend who is a 'male'. Of course I've had boyfriends – even that snake Danny Imperiali was a boyfriend, of sorts!

Back to Niles. What a sense of humor – a dry wit. He makes all these quiet comments that are just so right at the time. He had me laughing from the very beginning. "This ought to be good" he said about my plans to present my resume to Mr. Sheffield. How did he know after only 15 seconds?

I get the feeling that Niles is totally dedicated to the Sheffields. The kids all treat him with respect but are friendly and relaxed around him – probably more than with their dad. I know he cooks and cleans for them. Has he tried to fill some of the roles of their mother? Gee, what a job for a man to take on. I can't imagine Daddy trying to raise Nadine and me by himself. We would have been living on cans of beans, popcorn and ESPN! Anyway, it appears Niles hasn't had much help – from that C.C. woman or the previous nannies. Maybe not even from Mr. Sheffield?

I think I'll just love Niles. Oops! There's that word again! He'll be like the big brother I've always wanted. I hope we can laugh together and unwind together at the end of the day. I hope he'll be my 'confidante'. I don't think those piercing blue eyes of his miss much and, in these early days, I'm going to need all the help I can get. He's going to have to tell me what I'm doing wrong! I hope he'll love me, too.

Mr. Sheffield…. Mr. Sheffield. Why do I feel like a teenager in the throes of my first crush whenever I look at him? I get all goose-bumpy and my heart beats faster. Granted he's a hunk – better than Sean Connery, Harrison Ford and Pierce Brosnan – but he's so aloof. Except when he's yelling at me with that "Miss Fine!"– quite a bit in the past two days – he's like… like… well, it's like he's frozen. I also suspect he's rather wary of me. I'm sure I'm like no one he's ever met before! Maybe he's shy?

There's that word again – love! Could I love Maxwell Sheffield? You bet I could! I think Ma loves him already! But not me at this stage, though – certainly not! But, what's not to love? I've already said he's handsome and being rich doesn't really matter but it's just as easy to love a rich man as it is to love a poor one. I think underneath all that sterness there might be a caring, sharing, lovable man – someone really nice. On top of that, he also has three great kids and a butler! I repeat – what's not to love! But, I don't think he's ready to love again. And even an almost 30, desperate shlub like me knows that it's too soon after Danny – it would be on the rebound for me… or would it?

Fran Fine and Maxwell Sheffield???? Well, I can dream, can't I? Let's take care of these kids first. After all, he wants me back as his 'Nanny' – me, a flashy girl from Flushing going to be the nanny of a rich, Broadway producer. Who would have guessed?

"Who would have guessed?" Fran was sitting on the floor surrounded by boxes but she smiled as she read those last words out loud. She hadn't noticed Max had come into the room where, while unpacking, she had found her old diary and started reading and had lost all track of time.

"What's the smile for, my darling? And what are you doing up here so late?" Max came up to Fran and sat down on the floor next to her.

Fran looked up at Max and gave him her bright, flashy smile and a quick kiss. "Hi, sweetie. I was unpacking a bit and found my old diaries. You know, the last time I wrote in one was the night I came back to your house after the first time you fired me. I was just re-reading my thoughts at that time and I guess the hours just got away from me."

"And what sort of things did you write about that night, my sweet?"

"I promise I'll let you read it sometime – soon. At this moment let's just say I wrote a lot about love."

"Love, huh. It's a good word for you. Love is what you're all about, Fran. It's what you brought us all. The children, all five of them, blossom with your love. Even Niles and C.C. found each other because of your faith in love. And me? You are the love of my life and will remain so for the rest of time."

Fran just smiled and gave Max another kiss. She loved this man so much! He slowly helped her to her feet and led her from the spare room of their new home in California and into their bedroom. At the last minute Fran picked up the diary. Maybe she'd let Max read it later tonight… much later! At the moment, both of them had other plans for expressing their love!

Back to Fan Fiction

Back to The Really Unofficial Nanny Home Page