Author's Note:

My dear friend Menley suggested I post this today, Valentine's Day... And since I had hoped to have it done for Christmas, I guess it was long past time to finish it and publish.

This is an "Eloise at Christmastime" and "A Very Merry Daughter of the Bride" crossover. This is a three part story. Very short, for me. It takes place a few days after both movies end, which would make it shortly after Christmas. (it is not the 1950's in this fic). Enjoy and Please review!

Rating: T

Disclaimer: I do not own the above mentioned movies or their characters and do not profit from this work of fiction.

LOVE, LATE IN LIFE

Part 1

"Oh my word!", Nanny said as she and Wilkes made their way up the walk of Wilkes' brother Jack's home, "This place is like a manson!"

"Yes. Jack has done very well in business", Wilkes replied, taking Nanny's hand.

She looked down at her hand in his. He had never held her hand before.

"The walk is a bit, er, icy", Wilkes stated, seeing her eye their linked fingers. The walk was not icy at all however, and Nanny smiled knowing he had merely wanted to hold her hand.

The front door opened as they walked up the large front steps.

"Merry Christmas!", Jack exclaimed, embracing first his brother and then Nanny.

"Aoww, it is good, good, good to see you Jack", Nanny said, with a smile.

"I don't suppose my brother here has made an honest woman of you yet Nanny?"

"Jack, please...", Wilkes said, turning red.

"I know, I know... Just friends. That is what you told me when I visited last Spring and again last Summer... But I just can't believe that! I have seen the way you two look at one another and..."

"Actually, er, Nan and I have... Well, just recently, began dating", Wilkes said, sheepishly.

Jack raised his eyebrows in reply, "I see... Well, good for you! It's about time! Now, we had set up two bedrooms for you, but if you would prefer to share a..."

"Two is brilliant! Just brilliant. Thank you", Wilkes said quickly.

"If you say so... Was the trip alright? How are you both feeling? Tired, hungry?"

"We're fine, fine, fine. The drive was very comfortable, and we stopped for lunch for sure, sure, sure", Nanny assured him.

"How about you? How are you old chap? A married man now, well, again", Wilkes asked, slapping his brother on the back.

"I'm wonderful! ...and you are about to find out why! I'm telling you... I have used the word love before, but I never knew the meaning before Rosie. Come in and meet her! It's cold out here"

"Of course, of course... I, er, do apologize for not making it to the wedding", Wilkes said, following Jack and Nanny into the house.

"That is alright. It was short notice"

"Indeed it was", Wilkes replied, just as Rose entered the foyer.

"Oh, you're here!", Rose said, "Jack had not said... Oh! Oh my word! You're twins!"

"Yes... I did tell you that didn't I?", Jack asked.

"No, no. I am sure I would have remembered that... My goodness! Your identical!", Rose said in her deep voice, which Jack found most sultry.

"Yes, most identical twins are", Jack said sarcastically.

Rose swatted his arm playfully, "How are we going to tell you two apart?"

"He has a mustache", Jack pointed out, "So just look to our lips if in doubt... Of course normally when you look to my lips it is because you wish for a kiss... And so it may cause some confusion there. I hope you don't mind receiving more kisses then usual", Jack said playfully, wrapping his arms around his wife.

"As if that were possible", Rose replied, kissing him.

Nanny and Wilkes both raised their eyebrows as Jack and Rose kissed quite passionately right in front of them. Nanny looked away when she realized Jack's hand was resting on his wife's bottom.

"They seem quite, er, affectionate", Wilkes whispered, having caught Nanny's eye.

Nanny nodded in reply, smiling just a bit. She found their open display of affection quite sweet actually, but it also made her a bit uncomfortable.

"Sorry!", Rose said breathlessly, when they finally broke apart.

"Newlyweds", Jack reasoned, resting his hand on her hip, "Now, what were we talking about?"

"How to tell, tell, tell you two apart... The mustache", Nanny pointed out.

"Yes", Rose replied, giving her husband a mischievous look.

"I have an English accent as well...", Wilkes pointed out quickly, before Jack and Rose could have at it again, "We were raised separately you see. Jack by our mother and myself by our father, on different continents"

"It's like that movie... The Parent Trap", Nanny pointed out.

"Yes, yes it is!", Rose replied, "I love those Disney movies from the 60's. Bed knobs and Broomsticks, The Parent Trap, Mary Poppins..."

"Aoww yes, me too. For sure, sure, sure. I am Nanny by the way", Nanny said, offering Rose her hand.

"So good to meet you! And you too Wilkes, of course. Let me take your things. Why don't you settle in the living room and get comfortable. I made some drinks. I'll bring them right in"

"Thank you. That's very kind", Wilkes replied, as Rose took Nanny and Wilkes coats. Jack took their luggage upstairs and Nanny and Wilkes made their way into the living room.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"You were married after only 'aving known one another for two, two, two weeks?", Nanny asked, as they all chatted over dinner.

"Wilkes didn't tell you that?", Jack asked, "That's right. I only had to know my Rosie for a day to know I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her"

"Aoww... 'ow sweet", Nanny replied, telling herself not to be saddened by the fact that it had taken Wilkes close to a year to even ask her to have a proper dinner date.

"How about you two?", Rose asked, "Jack says you have just started dating?"

"Yes. Well... Officially. We have been... Companions for most of this year, however our first real, er, you know... date was the day after Christmas", Wilkes explained.

"Just a few days ago then", Rose said to Nanny.

"Yes, Nanny said, blushing, "My employer is home for a couple of weeks and so I 'ave been given my vacation time. We 'ave gone out twice, on... dates, in the last few days"

" Then, of course, I was coming here for a week and things were going so well between us... In addition to her having vacation time and so Nanny accompanied me", Wilkes explained.

"I see. How nice. Well, good luck to you both. May I ask what transpired, that made you finally have a proper date?", Rose replied.

"Things changed for us on Christmas Eve", Wilkes explained, "After Nanny kissed me"

Nanny flushed, at the mention of this.

"Oh!", Wilkes said, realizing he had embarrassed her, "Just on the cheek"

"That's it ?", Jack asked.

"Well... We were in public, but I did see her to her suite that night and we, er, you know, kissed again. On the lips"

It was true that Wilkes had kissed her twice on the lips this week. Once after each of their two dates. They had been nice, although not very passionate kisses. Nanny could not help but fell like they were capable, if not so timid, of so much more.

"Are you sure you don't want to share a room tonight?", Jack asked.

"Jack!", Rose scolded, "Not everyone moves as fast as we did"

"No, but they are the other extreme. They've been crazy about each other for months and months... And it took them that long to have a simple kiss!"

"That is their choice!", Rose replied.

Jack exhaled, looking to Wilkes and Nanny, "She is right. I'm sorry. I just don't understand it, but it is none of my business"

"Well, it is not as if I had not wanted to date Nanny. You know. Properly. Before now. The time was just all wrong it seemed. She is a live-in nanny you see and while we were able to arrange to watch television together or have a cup of tea, well that was about all"

"That's too bad Nanny. Are you close to retirement?", Rose asked.

"Aoww... Well...", Nanny began.

"Nanny is very fond of Eloise, the child she cares for. I don't believe she would want to leave her", Wilkes explained, patting Nanny's hand.

"I see", Rose said smiling, but feeling a little sad for the other couple.

"That's not exactly the case, case, case actually", Nanny replied, taking a sip of her wine.

"How so?", Wilkes asked, surprised.

"I adore Eloise for sure, sure, sure... But to tell you the truth I feel I am getting a bit old to be chasing after a child that age"

"You're not old! You look great!", Rose said, waving her hand.

"Aoww... Thank you, I do look better out of my uniform", Nanny said, looking down at her black dress.

Wilkes looked at her as well. Yes. She was always beautiful, but that uniform held her back. He drew his attention away from Nanny's lovely curves and back to the conversation at hand, which he was quite interested in.

"Are you saying you WOULD like to retire?", Wilkes asked.

"Of course I would! I adore Eloise, as I said, and I would always be a part of her life for sure, sure, sure... But..."

"This is wonderful!", Wilkes said, dropping his fork and taking Nanny's hand, "I did not realize that you planned to retire soon Nanny. How wonderful! Think of all the time we will be able to spend together"

Nanny smiled at him in reply, "That is sweet love, and yes, I would love, love, love that Willie, but I 'ave to work right now"

"Why?", Wilkes asked, innocently.

"Well, I do 'ave bills Wilkes... And if I left my job I would 'ave to pay rent somewhere as well"

"Oh, of course! Excuse my blunder", Wilkes replied, a bit embarrassed.

"It's fine, fine, fine love", she said with a smile. It was not his fault. He had always been wealthy. It would not come naturally to him to think of such things.

"However...", Wilkes said, laying down his fork, as everyone looked on, "It would not be an issue... If... If you lived with me"

"LIVED with you?", Nanny asked. Shocked.

"Yes. I do have a guest room. Until things progress to the point where... Well, you know, if we get to the point where we may like to, er, share a room"

Nanny flushed. She would love to share a room with him, a bed with him, a life with him... But what would people say? She knew unmarried people lived together these days, but she was old fashioned.

"What would people say?", Nanny asked quietly, placing her own fork down.

"Listen, we're going to get dessert ready in the kitchen", Jack said, standing.

"Yes", Rose added, standing as well, "We will let you two have a chat and we'll be back in a little bit"

The other couple cleared the dining room, leaving Nanny and Wilkes.

"We certainly cleared the room", Wilkes said with a little laugh.

"Yes", Nanny replied, blushing and looking down at her hands.

They were both silent for a while, before Wilkes picked up her hands with his and nudged her chin up to look at him.

"I don't care what people think", he said, kissing her hand.

"Oh... Well, I...", she said, feeling her heart flutter out of control, "Wilkes, I appreciate your wanting to take care of me for sure, sure, sure... But that is not a good enough reason for us to live together"

"Perhaps not, but it is not the only reason of course. I care very much for you Nanny. You must know that"

"I do Love", she replied with a smile, lifting a hand to stroke his cheek.

"I want our relationship to develop. I want it to grow... Very much so!"

"Oh! Wilkes, so do I!"

"I don't see how it can, however, in your present situation"

"It is difficult", Nanny admitted.

"If you retired and lived with me we could begin to really get to know one another"

"Yes. That is true... But"

"Not to mention that I hate seeing you so tired at the end of each day. It takes to much energy to keep up with that child. I know you are capable. I certainly could not do it, but I believe you would be so much better off retired and seeing her casually"

"Of course I agree. 'owever..."

"You are not ready for such a step. I understand. It is early"

"Well... I am not sure. Can I think, think, think about it?"

"Of course you can! Certainly. You should!"

"Alright. I will then. For sure, sure, sure"

TO BE CONT...