(Author's Note: A Plot Bunny literally just popped into my head just this minute. I leave it up to you, my faithful readers, as to whether it is worth pursuing or not. I believe this would fit into early Season 5. At least 5 reviews requested. Oh, aren't I evil?) ;)

Prologue:

Fran Fine stood at the top of the front staircase in the Sheffield home, checking her hair and makeup in the mirror to make sure everything was in place before descending. Ever since Mr. Sheffield had taken back "The Thing", even though she tried to put it behind her, this annoying little voice (which was very nasal in tone, she had to note) kept reminding her of it. She knew he cared about her, but his fears after losing his first wife, Sarah, prevented him from risking his heart to love again. She sighed, knowing no matter how hard she wished, he would never return her feelings if he couldn't get past his fears.

The doorbell rang, and Niles scooted across the foyer floor to answer the door. When he opened it to reveal C.C. Babcock, his face fell. "What's wrong, Feather Duster?" C.C. asked as she took off her gloves and set them and her bag on the foyer table. "Oh, nothing, I just thought it might be someone important at the door and it was just you." He closed the door and began heading back to the kitchen. Fran smiled down at them, their banter as much a part of her day as the antics of the Sheffield children.

Maxwell Sheffield, successful Broadway producer, emerged from the hallway under the staircase and entered the foyer, "C.C. darling, where have you been? You were late and I was getting worried." Fran sighed, and wondered to herself "Why couldn't he call me Darling and worry about me if I was late? No, if I was late, I'd get a scolding. And he still calls me Miss Fine after all this time, while he calls Niles and C.C. by their first names." She sighed again and turned to start walking down the stairs as she thought, "Sometimes I wish I was more like Miss Babcock."

"Good morn..." was as far as she got in her greeting as one of the heels of her impossibly high heels snapped off, and she lost her balance on the stairs. As Maxwell and C.C. watched in horror, Fran fell hard against the wall, and then somersaulted down the stairs, landing in a sprawl at the foot of the stairs. A large gash above her left eye began to bleed, and Maxwell rushed forward, pulling his handkerchief out to apply pressure to the wound. "NILES! Call 9-1-1, there's been an accident!" Niles emerged from the kitchen long enough to see what was wrong and then grabbed the cordless phone and made the call. C.C. just stood there not knowing what to do until the children started entering the foyer, wanting to see what the yelling was about. She stepped back into the living room and barked, "Maggie! Brighton! Grace! Come over here and stay out of the way when the paramedics arrive." The three children automatically went to stand by her; Grace being the only one to register that Miss Babcock had remembered their names.

While it only took a matter of minutes for help to arrive, to those standing in the foyer, it seemed like an eternity. The only movement was Maxwell's right hand, slowly brushing Fran's hair out of her face, stroking her cheek, and mumbling, "Miss Fine... wake up... please don't leave us... Fran."

Two Hours Later:

Maxwell paced back and forth in the waiting room at the emergency room. He had rode with Fran in the ambulance, while Niles said he would call Sylvia to let her know what was going on, and stay with Miss Babcock with the children. The scene reminded him far too much of the night he lost Sarah, pacing and waiting for the doctor to come and tell him that his sweet angel was no more. He stopped in his tracks and grew pale at the thought of hearing that same news about Miss Fine. He couldn't imagine his life without her in it, from those fuzzy colorful bathrobes she wore down to breakfast, to the so-short skirts she managed to squeeze into, to the ongoing flirting they had engaged in. He rubbed a hand down his face, flashing back to the airplane from Paris when he blurted out he loved her, and then had to take it back when they returned. He felt like such a heel for saying that, and then taking it back. But deep down, if he'd admit it, he felt like more of a heel for taking it back.

A doctor entered the waiting area and said, "Is someone here with Fran Fine?" Maxwell turned and strode up to the doctor, "Yes, I'm her employer, Maxwell Sheffield. How is she, Doctor?" The doctor frowned, "I really shouldn't discuss her condition with anyone but family..." Maxwell paled, thinking it must be very grave news. Seeing his reaction, the doctor continued, "But if you are all that is here at the moment, you'll have to do. Miss Fine has suffered a fairly severe concussion and a broken ankle. We have set the ankle and put it in a cast, but she'll have to stay off of her feet for quite awhile. She should be coming around soon, if you'd like to sit with her, we've moved her into a private room." Maxwell nodded, and followed the doctor down the hallway to a room.

Entering slowly, he looked shocked at Fran's condition. Her hair had lost all of its artificial height, her make-up had been washed away, and she looked pale even against the white sheets of the hospital bed. An I.V. was hooked up to her right wrist and her left leg was suspended in a sling, her ankle wrapped up in a plaster cast. Maxwell pulled a chair over and sat down on the right side of the bed, taking a hold of her hand, and squeezing lightly. "Miss Fine, please wake up, please.. Fran..."

Fran's head began to move on the pillow, turning side to side and a low groan came from her lips. Her hand tightened on his for a moment as her eyes blinked open and she groggily looked at Maxwell. He beamed a smile at her, "You're awake! Thank God you're awake! You gave me such a fright!" Fran smiled faintly, and spoke softly in a low-pitched, cultured voice with perfect elocution, "Oh Maxwell, I'm terribly sorry. You should know by now that it takes more than a little fall to knock C.C. Babcock down."

To Be Continued... if you wish it...