AN: Here it is, the first chapter of the Round Robin. The next chapter will be by StarryPreaches!
Disclaimer: We do not own it!
Round Robin Chapter 1
It was possibly the worst idea in the world. She was trapped into a two week long vacation with the people that she lived to avoid. There was the big haired nanny who wouldn't mind her own business and couldn't keep her mouth shut, the Big One who was boy crazed over yet another teenage boy, the Boy who was probably scheming up ways to torture his sisters, the Little One who was no doubt ready to psychoanalyze everyone, Maxwell who was too clueless to even register what was going on behind his back and lastly the pesky butler who was more than likely going to make her life a living hell.
Maxwell insisted that she come along on this trip with them despite her protests saying that there was plenty of room for everyone and that she would have time to herself. This however was not something that she believed. She could practically picture how the two weeks was going to go. First the little one would get sick on the way to the lake house, then in the mix of things the other two children would be bickering while Nanny Fine would go on and on about Barbra. During this time Maxwell would enjoy the scenery, Niles would be driving and she would be stuck crammed somewhere between the children trying not to pull her hair out in the process.
But before all of this fun could begin, she was stuck at the mansion for one last night. She was informed that she should be packed and ready when she arrived at work this morning so that she could just stay the night. Then tomorrow instead of having to drive to her penthouse bright and early and taking time out of their trip, she would already be at the mansion and they could go straight to their destination.
It was nearing six o'clock pm and this is the last place that she would want to be on a Friday evening. She would much rather prefer to be spending a lazy evening at home preparing for two a week long vacation at a spa resort. But instead she was stuck staring at the guest room walls listening to the Sheffield's taking turns pestering Niles about very miniscule details about the trip.
She almost felt bad for Rochester who could be heard stomping around the house while she could smell dinner roasting in the oven. The one good thing about the trip was that she knew he would enjoy it even less than she would. He couldn't even call it a vacation because he would be doing his typical butler duties while trying to make sure that no one forgot anything along the way.
Footsteps could be heard batting against the floors of the hallway as someone was always rushing past the door for one reason or another but the voices always stopped as whoever walked by crossed in front of the guest room door- a courtesy she was grateful for as she relaxed on the bed with her eyes closed. It's not like she was going to be able to completely relax anytime soon, dinner wasn't finished and if the past hour or so told her anything it was that this behavior was not going to let up anytime soon.
Surprisingly all goes still. The footsteps have stopped and the noises have quieted down. Finally, she thinks. Not really caring why the halls are suddenly silent, she takes the opportunity to let her hands unclench and relax her aching shoulders. She might have been lying on the semi-comfortable bed for an hour but she had definitely not been relaxed. It was enough so now that she begin to feel herself drift off into a place that she didn't mind being in.
And then she feels it hears the consistent knocking on the door that sends her flying up in the bed. With her hand spread across her chest as she felt her heart race, she sees the door opening and Niles entering without her permission.
"Geez, Niles are you trying to scare me to death?" she asked as she tried to take deep breaths to calm herself.
"If only it would actually kill you," he replied with that unmistakable twinkle in his eyes.
"What is it that you woke me up for Betty Crocker?"
"I was sent to inform you that dinner has been served. I tried to tell them that you were resting comfortably in your make shift coffin and that if you really wanted dinner you would just find someone to suck their blood but Mr. Sheffield didn't appreciate the comment."
"Yeah well, I wouldn't have a problem with someone pushing this coffin out into the middle of the lake so I don't have to deal with anyone for the next two weeks."
"You finally admit to being a vampire then?"
"Of course not but if tonight is any indication of the misery which is yet to come, I would be up for anything to get away from them and the trip hasn't even started yet."
"Well at least you aren't at everyone's beck and call."
"Oh the joys of being a servant," she said jokingly knowing that he didn't take it to heart when they were merely joking like this.
" Yes, packing then unpacking followed by repacking just to make sure that one certain shirt is there because they absolutely cannot go without it," he expressed sarcastically.
"Shouldn't you be used to all of this nonsense? And wasn't it your idea to go on vacation anyways?"
"Vacation, yes. Family trip, no."
"Sucks for you then doesn't it, Butler Boy?"
"Don't forget you are going too, Babs. Who do you think convinced Mr. Sheffield to ask you to join us? It definitely wasn't Miss Fine."
"You? You didn't!"
"No… Not me," he said mischievously with his eyes sparkling like they always did when he pulled one over on her.
"I can't believe that you would do this to me. I will make this trip a living hell for you just so you know. Although I could just sit back and watch everyone else do just that."
They began to make their way to the dining room where they would eventually be faced with the noisy Sheffield family and the big haired nanny.
"Don't worry, Babs, I have a few tricks up my sleeve. Don't you worry at all."