Just then a noise from downstairs caught Fran's attention. It was the kids barging in from school, quickly followed by Maxwell. "Fran?" he called from the bottom of the stairs.

Fran stuck her head out the bedroom door, and yelled, "I'll be down in a minute!" She turned back around. "Thank -" she started to say. But there was no one there.

"Hmm, where did she go? Was this all my imagination?," Fran questioned as she walked over to the box to replace the diary. As she looked down she saw a rose lying on the floor where Sara just stood.

As Fran bent down to pick it up she heard a whisper say, "Be happy, Fran."

"Fran?" Maxwell called again, this time more urgently. After taking one last look around the room, Fran headed downstairs with the rose. Max smiled when he saw her and kissed her. Max took the rose from her hand. "Where did you get this?"

Fran looked over at the kids who were listening attentively. "Uh, I'll tell you in the kitchen," she said. Somehow she didn't think she should say something like this in front of anyone other than Max.

Maxwell was clearly confused, but he followed her into the kitchen anyway. When they arrived, Fran took a deep breath, and said, "I was trying to see if my clothes would fit in your closet today, and I came across this box,"

Max cut her off. "Full of Sara's things," he finished for her. "When she passed away, there were certain things of hers I just couldn't bear to have lying around the house anymore. It was just too painful. Rather than get rid of them, I quickly put them in a box in my closet. I had always intended to decide what to do with them at some point."

Fran nodded. "Well, I kind of looked through it a little. I had forgotten how cute the kids were when they were babies!" She looked down at the floor and added, "I read Sara's diary, too."

Max could tell that Fran was afraid he was angry with her for looking at these things. All he could do was smile. "Oh, Fran, I wish you could've known her. Every day, I'm more certain she would've adored you."

Fran smiled. "I'd be willing to bet on that. See, you're going to think I'm nuts, but I saw her! She talked to me, Max!" He looked at her skeptically. "It's true!" Fran said. "I was having some doubts after seeing what your life with her was like, but she made me feel better."

"Is that where you got the rose?" Max asked.

Fran nodded. "It was sitting on the floor when she left. I think she wanted me to give it to you."

Max looked down at the rose in his hand. "You know, pink roses were always her favorite flowers."

"Yes, I remember you used to bring mom pink roses all the time dad," said Maggie as she walked into the kitchen followed by the other two Sheffield children. They had been listening at the door the whole time, as they were curious what Fran and their father were up to.

"And how do you three know what we were talking about?" questioned Max.

"We have been listening to you two the whole time at the door," Brighton said.

"And who taught you to listen in on people's private conversation?" inquired Max to his three children.

All three kids and Fran said, "Niles," in unison.

"Sir, I always tell them to use the intercom first. It's safer, less likely chance of getting caught," Niles's voice said over the intercom.

"Niles, please give us a moment. We're having a family discussion," Max said.

"Well, all right, Sir, but I always thought I was part of the family," the butler replied, somewhat miffed.

Fran waited till she heard the intercom turn off before speaking. She turned to the children. "Are you guys sure you're OK with me marrying your father?"

"Of course we are, Fran. We love you, and we know you're going to make a great mom," Grace replied.

"Good, because I love you three so much. But I don't want you to ever forget your mother," Fran said.

"Neither do I," Max agreed. "You know, you children are very lucky. Not everyone has two mothers."

"Who would have thought I would have three great kids while I was still in my 20's," Fran said just as Niles was coming down the kitchen stairs.

"If you're still in your 20's, then this accent is fake," retorted Niles. As everyone laughed,

Fran knew from that moment on everything was going to be all right. In a few weeks, she was going to be Mrs. Sheffield and she couldn't be happier.

The End

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