A/N: I've written a few fanfics, but this is the first time I'm actually publishing one, so I'd love some good honest reviews. It's set somewhere after Season 3, although I kind of pull different inspirations from different places of the entire series. I'm not sure how long it's going to be yet, we'll see as different story lines come to me I guess. Hope you enjoy it, and I really would love the reviews. Thanks :)

Chapter 1: Deals and Delusions

"Miss Fine!" She heard the voice, and grabbed her TV Guide and headed up the stairs. "Hold it, RIGHT there young lady!" Mr. Sheffield popped his head into the living room from the hall.

Thinking quickly, she turned on her heels and swaggered towards him. "You know, Mr. Sheffield, everyone says my voice carries around this house, and meanwhile I just heard yours from half way up the stairs."

"Yes, well, there's a slight difference between yours and mine," he began.

"Oh, you mean besides the fact that yours has that thick, debonair, British tone to it?" She thought she'd pucker up as much as she could, preparing for what she was about to get yelled at for.

"Oh no, there's no point in trying to sweet talk me, it won't-"

"Wait, did you say young lady?" she smiled, interrupting him. "You know, when you compliment me in that sexy British accent of yours, I just don't know if I could say no to anything you ask." she winked and smiled that bright, elusive grin they both knew so well.

"Uh..anything?" his smile got a little bigger before he came back to Earth. "Miss Fine!" he cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses. "I believe you owe me an explanation, after yesterday's shenanigans."

"Yesterday? Uh.., yesterday...You know, I sometimes wonder what would've happened if Lennon and McCartney had never split." she pretended not to know what he was talking about. She looked at her boss of almost four years, and was about to turn on the water works as a plan B when he spoke again.

"Well, let's see, shall we," he began. "First, you told one of my investors to go spend her money elsewhere,"

"Hey," she threw her hands on her hips. "I only told her about the blow out sale at Loehmann's, how was I to know a big fancy shmancy business woman like her would shop there?"

"Yes, and then there was the missing food from the bake sale at Grace's school," He continued.

Again, she interjected. "What, like I knew my mother was gonna be at a brunch a few blocks from the school? You know she has a bloodhound's nose." Fran said defensively.

"And that brings us to the grand finale, the very reason I am here, and Andrew bloody Lloyd Webber is closing a deal to produce what the theatre society is calling 'the next theatre smash' right now."

"Oh, Mr. Sheffield, you're such a negative Ned," He cast Fran a quizzical look as she continued. "The deal is closing in Paris, and there are a lot of restaurants to choose from, so he's probably taking a long time to decide what to get for lunch. So, he probably hasn't signed anything yet." She smiled, still trying to change the subject. "You know, Mr. Sheffield, I think that if you're going to bring my mother into this, you might as well say something nice. No harm can be done by complimenting someone." She was really just stalling, hoping she'd figure out a way to get out of being in trouble. "Meanwhile, if it wasn't for the Atlantic, I bet Ma could tell us what he's having for lunch!"

"Okay," he put down the mail he'd picked up to browse as soon as she started talking about her mother. "Enough is enough, Miss Fine. Spit it out, I want it all, and we're not moving from this spot until you give it to me!"

Niles was coming downstairs just as Mr. Sheffield finished his sentence. "Oh, where's Miss Babcock when you need her." he said, stopping as soon as his feet hit the ground floor. He looked up at his boss and his best friend, who were looking back at him. "Sir, I think I need to go to the hospital. I'm delirious, saying such nonsensical things, tossing words around like that."

Mr. Sheffield cast his faithful butler a look, saying he knew was being facetious. "Go ahead old man." He patted Niles on the back, playing along a little.

"Thank you sir," Niles headed to the closet to get his coat as the phone rang.

Mr. Sheffield answered it, giving Fran the opportunity to lean over to Niles. "Meanwhile, would it kill him to really mean what he says to me about giving it to him right here and now?"

They both laughed as Fran helped him with his coat. "So where ya really going?" she asked.

"Oh, I'm just running to the market. Papa needs a new pair of scouring pads." He opened the door. "I'll bring you back some of those little squares from that bakery around the corner you like so much. Would you like the chocolate ones, or the vanilla cream?"

Fran looked him up and down. "Niles, how long have you known me?"

Niles sighed. "Oh, now see, there I go, having those delusions again."

They both smiled and said "Both!" He waved goodbye and headed out as they both laughed.

Fran turned back just to see her boss hanging up the phone. "So who was that?" She thought she'd try again to change the subject of the conversation.

"Oh, it wasn't anyone important." He started, calmly before raising his voice, eventually crescendoing to a yell. "Just my playwright's lawyer, letting me know that the deal is closed, it's official!" He continued to scour at her as he had before the phone rang.

"Oh, now Mr. Sheffield, maybe it's too early to see, but this could be a good thing, in the long run, couldn't it?" She was slowly backing towards the stairs.

"In the long run, eh Miss Fine? That's an interesting choice of words, since we're talking about a play, which I will not be producing, that is guaranteed to have a LONG RUN on Broadway!" He was inching closer and closer just as the doorbell rang.