In this Maxoline story, a British Caroline is hired as a nanny to a wealthy family and meets their estranged teenage daughter, Max. It will take place over a number of years as Max will be very reluctant to accepting Caroline as an authority figure or even a friend. But maybe just maybe Caroline can find a way to reach her.

"Thank you for meeting with us", the husband and wife shook Caroline's hand. She was afraid she was going to be late getting to the diner since she was still getting used to the city and didn't own a car.

"I'm terribly sorry, I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long for me. "

"No, no, not at all", assured the wife, .

"You've only been here 2 weeks? ", Mister Black asked.

"20 days now."

"Your resume is quite impressive, Caroline."

"Thank you. I've kept busy."

"So why, New York?", Mister Black asked .

"Why not?", she laughed.

presented a folder to her. Pictures inside of their children, 4 of them ages 12-17. "That's Michael, Judy, our youngest. Anthony and Margaret."

Caroline looked through the family photos from years taken together during Christmas. They seemed like an ordinary family. 4 kids that didn't seem like too high maintenance but then she came across a couple pictures with a 5th. One photo taken at a picnic at the park showed a girl dressed all in black off to the side away from the family.

saw the look on Caroline and knew she had to explain, "That's Max."

"Oh."

"We don't have that many pictures of her."

"I see...", Caroline felt a little uncomfortable, "When did it happen?"

The couple weren't sure what she was talking about, "Did what happen?", asked Mister Black.

"Oh, I'm sorry, is she still with us?"

They laughed, Caroline felt stupid but joined them, "She's still alive", said Mrs. Black.

"At least we think she is", he joked.

"She isn't really into being a part of the family activities", added.

"Oh…that's too bad. But I'm sure I could twist her arm."

"I wouldn't bother, Caroline, she's not really an easy girl to reach", Mrs. Black laughed.

Caroline was still very curious about this girl, the one picture she saw of her at the park intrigued her, "We shall see."

Caroline was to meet them at the Black house on Monday morning, school was starting in a couple weeks and they really needed to get the kids ready. Mr. and would be working late so Caroline was responsible for following their strict rules and schedule. Caroline was at first startled by the amount of work with hardly any breaks in between but realized that once she met with each of the children then maybe she could get some bit of a break especially with the older ones.

Nobody that knew Caroline would ever think one day she would be looking after children, she didn't seem nearly as mature or sophisticated in her teenage years. She didn't expect much trouble. Her friends back in England would joke and tell her not to sleep with anybody. Caroline laughed at that, the oldest Michael had just turned 17. Even is she were to have the urge to have an affair everyone was too young and far too old.

She had her cell phone charged, her white blouse and black skirt ironed, hair done and she was out the door with her purse, ready to be there on time. The cab was waiting and when she told him the address he gave her a look in the rearview mirror, like he had gone there several times. He knew from the way she was dressed that she was the new girl the family hired. They stopped in front of a beautiful looking townhouse, Caroline nearly gasped. "Good luck", the cabbie exclaimed after she paid.

She nervously walked up the steps, high heels clicking. Mister Black must have seen her cab because he opened the door for her, "Caroline, come in and meet everyone!"

Four out of the five children were lined up in the living room almost as if they were there for Caroline to inspect; she knew Max had to be up in her bedroom, she knew her type. Each of them introduced themselves and seemed rather polite. "I like your accent", said Judy.

"Thank you", Caroline replied.

"I hope you'll be here long." Caroline wasn't sure what she meant at first but assured her she would be.

Mister Black and Mrs. Black felt comfortable enough leaving them with her. Caroline needed to get started with laundry but she still wanted to see Max. "Max never comes out of her room", said Margaret, 15, "You probably won't see her until dinner."

"Right, well, I guess I will get started then", Caroline said, going over the schedule she memorized in her head all night before. She needed to take Judy to soccer practise in another 2 hours and drive Anthony to the pool on the way along with dry cleaning using Mrs. Black's SUV.

When she was 16 she never would ever think she's be paid to do someone else's laundry but seeing how much the job paid she wasn't close to complaining. Looking at the piles that looked like they collected before she came could have fit in a storage closet, this would take forever just to separate. There was a lot of black, most likely Max's, it didn't look like she used any other colour but a few here and there. She came across some bras that were the biggest she'd ever seen, one had to be Mrs. Black's, a size of 32 DD. "Holy shit!", she cried. She had to laugh at the ridiculousness of its size, she didn't even notice 's breasts at the diner.

The rest of the day was hectic, she spilled scalding hot coffee on her lap when she dropped Judy off at soccer practise because another big SUV decided to cut in front of her. Anthony was late for his swimming lessons because of a traffic jam and realized how far she would be behind on her to do list. She drove all the way back to the house and ended up driving back because she forgot about the dry cleaning. After she dropped off the dry cleaning she came home to mud in the kitchen, tracking from a dog she didn't even realize was part of the family.

When she had maybe five minutes she decided to check on Max while she had vegetables boiling in a pot. It wasn't hard to figure out which door led to her room, a large Stop sign on the door along with some Danger and No Crossing signs which Caroline thought was very cliche. She knocked on the door and heard some murmuring but couldn't make out what was said. She opened the door, lights off except for the blueish light coming from a laptop. Max was sitting up in her bed, "Hello, Max."

"Yeah…Hello", she said sardonically.

"How, are you? I'm Caroline and…"

"Yeah, you're our newest family addition", she said not taking her eyes off the screen.

Caroline wasn't sure why she wanted to be so difficult, sure she was an authority figure but she still felt like she was still technically a young person that even Max would be able to talk to. Max did take the time to look over Caroline's outfit, faded coffee stain and all, "Are you with one of those British Nanny shows?"

Caroline chuckled, "My no, I'm nothing like those women."

"Where did you get your training? How do I know you're not some crook casing the place?"

"Max, I assure you that I am not that at all. Now dinner will be ready soon and I hope to see you downstairs."

"Yeah, sure thing, Mary Poppins", she went back to doing whatever she was on her computer, Caroline expected something illegal.

Caroline thought of a comeback, "Enjoy your underworld, Wednesday Addams!", she smiled and closed the door.

Max rolled her eyes and sighed, "Your days are numbered here, blondie."

Thankfully everything seemed to go well, she set the table and everyone came down, even Max. Their parents wouldn't be joining them but they would be there before they go to bed. "Nice of you to join us, Max!" Max didn't make eye contact with anyone, "She sat down and began to eat before everyone else, "What does everyone think?"

Everyone but Max said they loved it, she was trying to figure out what she was eating, picking and staring at what supposed to be a well cooked roast. She didn't ask to be excused, "Yeah, fantastic", she left her barely eaten food and stomped upstairs.

Judy was concerned but not about Max, she was looking around the table, "Where's Anthony?"

Caroline completely forgot to pick him up after practise, some day this turned out to be. She left in a hurry, she wanted to be at the Black's home before they suspected anything. Anthony seemed forgiving enough saying every nanny forgot him on their first day given all the chores his parents insisted on. They just made it home and Mister and Mrs. Black and came in several minutes later.

"Thank you for everything today, Caroline", Mister Black was pleased by how spotless the kitchen was.

Mrs. Black looked a little shocked seeing the dog, this great dane lying on the floor, "Where did that come from?"

Caroline had never felt more embarrassed, she had let a strange dog into the house and knew she would really have to make it up to them tomorrow.

Thank you for reading. Rating will change to an M. More next week!