Max and Fran returned to the party. "So, what's the verdict?" Sylvia asked immediately.
"Fran and I decided -- Well, I decided, anyway -- that we should take some time to get to know one another before we take a step as big as marriage," Max explained.
Sylvia smiled. "I understand. Listen, if you're worried about having me for a mother-in-law, let me put your mind at ease. I won't be coming over all the time and eating you out of house and home, because that's what Morty's mother did when we were first married, and boy, was that annoying! So you can rest assured, I will not get in your way!"
"I'll believe that when I see it!" Niles muttered. When he noticed several of Fran's relatives glaring at him, he covered quickly by adding, "Oh, I'm sorry, did I say that out loud?"
Max couldn't help chuckling at his butler's response. He also had to admit he'd thought the same thing. "No, Sylvia," Max said once he had regained his composure, "It's not that at all. I'm sure you'd be a wonderful addition to our family."
"What is it then?" Sylvia asked, giving him a look that made it clear, whatever his excuse was for not marrying her daughter right now, it had better be good.
"Well...uh...I have to think about my children," Max stammered. The truth was, he was scared to death of commitment, but he knew that would never be an acceptable excuse to either Fran or Sylvia!
Maggie spoke up. "Don't worry about us, Dad. We love Fran, and we think you should marry her, too." Brighton and Grace nodded enthusiastically to show that they agreed.
"Thank you very much, Margaret," Maxwell replied, slightly annoyed that his children had chosen this particular moment to voice their opinion.
"Well, I, for one, think you're making the right decision, Maxwell," C.C. announced.
"Why thank you, C.C. I'm glad someone here understands my thinking in this matter," Max said gratefully.
"Absolutely," C.C. said. "It's always best to wait awhile before marrying someone...especially if they're outside your social class. You never know what a person's true intentions are."
"Absolutely," C.C. said. "It's always best to wait awhile before marrying someone...especially if they're outside your social class. You never know what a person's true intentions are."
Seeing that Fran was ready to tell C.C. off, Max tried to diffuse the situation before it could escalate. "Now, Fran, I'm sure C.C. didn't mean it like that."
"All I'm saying is, look at her family, and then look at yours," C.C. said. "You have to admit that you and Nanny Fine come from totally different backgrounds."
"That may be true," Max countered. "But that is no reason for you to imply that Fran is some kind of...gold-digger!"
"Those are your words, Maxwell, not mine." C.C. stated calmly.
Before Maxwell got the chance to retort back, Fran stepped in saying, "Whoa, Whoa, Whoa…if I was a gold-digger I would have married Theodore Timmons last year, but I didn't because I didn't LOVE him."
"Yeah, my daughter is not a gold- WAIT a minute…YOU could have been married a YEAR AGO," Sylvia yelled as she smacked Fran on the arm.
"Ma!" Fran said, then looked back over at C.C. "I love Maxwell for Maxwell. Richer or poorer it doesn't matta to me," explained Fran as she linked her arm with Maxwell's. "Even if we had to move to Flushing, which I hope we never have to do, I would still want to be with Maxwell."
"Oh, sure the fact that Theodore Timmons had one foot in the grave had nothing to do with it," quipped C.C.
"Was he saving your place in line?" grinned Niles.
Trying to bring focus back to the argument, Maxwell sternly stated, "C.C. there is no question as to Fran's motives in our relationship. Fran is not after my money."
"Oh, Maxwell are you that blind?" C.C. huffed. "Or are we just thinking with our "little producer" again?"
"Now, C.C. that is enough. I will not have you talk about Fran like that. You know nothing about our relationship," snapped Maxwell.
"Anyone can see that it is just a cheap tryst with an employee. Don't make any mistakes you'll regret, Maxwell. Think of what the theater business will say…you marrying the help," replied C.C.
AN: Thanks for all the reviews. We are coming to thr home stretch...only a few chapters left!