Going Home

Chapter 1

I haven't written an Eloise Fic in over 5 years! I guess it was time. Nanny Wilkes have always been one of my favorite fictional couples and, to be clear, this story is about them, not really Eloise herself. This first chapter mostly sets the scene.

I don't own any of these characters.

You know the drill. They belong to the Kay Thompson estate and/or Disney, and no copyright infringement is intended.

Written for my pals Anna Sue

Enjoy!

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

~1~

1960

Nanny sat on her blue bedspread, in her ornate room, in their Plaza suite. She was lost in her thoughts, staring straight ahead of her, at the little golden pattern on her wallpaper. She'd woken that morning thinking it'd just be another day like any other, but then the news came.

The day had come. Nanny had to admit that she knew it eventually would. Still, when it the news arrived today, it was a bit of a shock. Eloise would, upon her 8th birthday next month, be heading off to boarding school in Europe. Now, Nanny loved Eloise as if she were her own grandchild, but their parting wasn't the only reason for Nanny's state of sorrow.

No, she would not only be losing her little love, and mostly companion, Eloise, but also her home. She'd be losing The Plaza. She'd be losing New York. She'd be losing all the friends she had here. She'd be saying goodbye to not only Eloise, but also to her mother, Kay, whom she had also raised. Not to mention all of her friends, her favorite museums, her favorite shops. Lastly, and certainly not least, she'd be losing Sir Wilkes, the man she loved (though she'd never admitted that to another living soul, for Lords sake!).

She had planned, of course, for her retirement. In fact she'd been looking forward to it for years. Things had, however, changed rather drastically in the last few years. A decade ago, when she was a spinster in her late 50s, she'd made a deal with a cousin. Cousin Mildred, whom was also on her own, and it appeared always would be, had offered Nanny a place with her. Mildred had inherited a little cottage in Yorkshire, and Nanny found the thought of returning home to England comforting. She'd grown up in London, but her neighborhood was long gone, a victim of the blitz. Still, the little country cottage would be home. Or at least she'd thought it would, when she made these plans years ago.

It was true, of course, that things changed, and Nanny was a firm believer that you must change with them. She could adjust to leaving New York, though she had lived most her life there. She'd miss all her favorite places, but she'd adjust. She'd miss The Plaza, of that there was no question. It was, as she'd once told Eloise, the most wonderful place to live in all the world. Still, the quiet of the country would be nice, and she'd always have her memories of The Plaza. Eloise's mother, Kay, had generously promised to fly Nanny out twice a year for visits, and so Nanny knew she'd have opportunities to see her friends in the future. She'd miss Eloise terribly, just as she'd missed Kay terribly when they had first parted. That was, of course, the nature of being a nanny however. Children grew up.

Wilkes, however, was another story. How could she walk away from him? Their courtship has been a slow burn, it was true. To Nanny, though, it was the most lovely mix of companionship and an innocent degree of intimacy. She couldn't imagine not seeing him every day! Their relationship had slowly changed as the years had passed.

He'd moved in to a Plaza suite four years ago. A dapper gentleman in his early 60s, whom Nanny has noticed right away. Over the course of that first year Nanny went from noticing her neighbor, to daydreaming about him. She'd hide behind doors and watch him walk down the hall in his three piece suit and bowler hat, her heart pounding in her chest all the while. He had seemed, to her, the most handsome and refined of gentleman.

A year into his residing at The Plaza, Eloise had arranged for them to have tea in The Palm court. That tea, which they unfortunately had to share with the socialite Mrs. Daniels, had changed their relationship. Nanny had spoken from her heart, and Wilkes had listened. That night, at the Debutante Ball, they had danced all night, and Wilkes had asked her if he may use her given name. She'd happily consented, and from then on he'd called her Anne.

After that Spring evening at the Ball, they'd spent much time together. For the remainder of 58', they took walks in Central Park, watched TV over glasses of wine in her suite, and had regular afternoon teas in The Palm Court. It was very nice, but very proper. Until Christmas time, when the quest for the perfect Christmas gift had propelled Nanny to kiss him, in the lobby full of people. It had only been on his cheek of course, but she'd had a look of passion in her eyes and a force in her delivery, which had both shocked and pleased him. The remainder of that Christmas Eve was spent with Wilkes' hand resting on her lower back, whenever he knew nobody was looking.

A week later, on New Years Eve, as they prepared to celebrate 1959, again they found themselves surrounded by friends from The Plaza. This time in the Versailles Room, attending The Plaza's New Years bash. Right before the clock struck midnight, Wilkes took Nanny's hand and led her to an empty corner, where he'd gently held her face in his hands and kissed her properly as the crowd around them cheered, "Happy New Year!".

She revisited that kiss quite often in her dreams. The look in his eyes as he moved in, a look of determination mixed with desire. To say nothing of the fact that once it was over, he pulled her close and held her tightly to him for at least two minutes afterward. When he finally did let go, it was to give her a bashful smile and to say "I do hope that was alright". In reply she had grumbled an, "Oh, knickers!", under her breath before going in for another kiss.

They courted all through 1959, and early 1960 to the present. Nothing scandalous, mind you. They'd become accustomed to dinner dates twice a month, where Nanny would put on a proper dress and her black t-strap heels (which she'd bought specifically for such occasions, seeing as how her granny shoes wouldn't do). They'd eat somewhere nice, and then go back to Sir Wilkes' suite where he'd put on classical records, and they'd drink brandy.

They'd sit on his sofa and look at old photos, or, on occasion, one of the many volumes of history books which Wilkes kept on his bookshelves. Until they finally permitted themselves to sit and wrap themselves up in one another's arms and kiss. No groping, no suggestions of going to the bedroom, just kissing. They'd struggled briefly, in those first few dates, to get it just right. By their second month of dinner dates however, Nanny knew exactly how to place both her lips around his top lip until they locked in to the perfect position. His mouth was always warm, moist, tender, sweet and Nanny always wondered how she'd ever get up and leave, but she always did, eventually, always knowing that she'd be back there with him again in a short time.

In between their dinner dates, they spent time together as companions. He ate dinner with her and Eloise most nights. They walked in the park together every Sunday morning. They visited museums from time to time, and occasionally, when Kay was in town, they'd escape to a Broadway show. Wilkes sat on several boards and historical societies in the city. He had business meetings daily. Each morning on his way out, he'd tap on her door. She'd open smiling, as he peered around her to check for Eloise, before pecking her on the mouth and wishing her a pleasant day.

It was all over now. She'd never particularly given much thought as to where their relationship would go from where it was now. She just knew that it was the most wonderful and unexpected of gifts. She knew they'd never wed. It wasn't possible. He was a knight after all, and she was in service. Courting and companionship didn't raise too many eyebrows, but she could just imagine what Wilkes' family and colleagues would have to say if he ever suggested wedding the likes of her. She knew they'd never be simply lovers. Wilkes was too much a gentleman to ever take a woman to bed that wasn't his wife, and even if he hadn't been, her mother had taught her to be a lady. She had just assumed that they'd have more time. Perhaps their future would be clearer, if they had a bit more time to figure it out, but time it seemed, was up.

Nanny snapped out of her trance as she tuned in to the sound of knocking coming from the double doors of their suite. Eloise had left an hour ago with her mother to go shopping for her new school wardrobe. It'd been an emotional day, but life must go on. Nanny stood and stretched out her stiff back before making her way to the door.

"I'm come, come, coming", she called. Trying not to be annoyed.

She opened it with what must have been the last ounce of energy left in her for the day.

"Good afternoon Anne", Wilkes said with a chipper smile, before peering around her and smiling to see they were alone.

She allowed him to kiss her briefly, but when he pulled away and saw the sorrow on her face, his face fell as well.

"Annie?", he asked, as his eyebrows furrowed in concern.

"Come in Love", she said, as she turned her back to him and walked across the room. She couldn't look at him, "We 'ave to talk"

To Be Continued...