Thanks for the kind reviews Ferris and Jesus Freak 87! I'm so pleased to know that people are still interested in this fic. I know I've been re-inspired to finish it so thanks for all the encouragement! I'd love to read other Niles/Fran pairing fics- if anyone out there is thinking of writing, has written, or knows of one, let me know.

Enjoy the next chapter. It's a bit of sad one.

Fran opened the front door timidly and poked her head in.

"Haallo?" She asked her nasal voice coming out.

She walked into the foyer. The house seemed empty so far.

She passed through the dining room. No one there either.

She entered the kitchen. Empty.

Great, she hoped Mr. Sheffield was here at least. Probably in his office.

Workaholic.

That was another thing that would have been difficult to contend with. He was constantly absorbed in his work and the newest play he was trying to produce. It would have been rough to compete with that if they had ended up together.

She reached his office door and knocked quietly.

"Come in." She heard the familiar British voice answer.

"Oh Fran, how lovely to see you," Mr. Sheffield looked up from his work with a pleased expression.

"Hi…um, Maxwell."

Mr. Sheffield sensed something was wrong. Miss Fine should have sauntered over to him and already be perched sexily on his desk by now. Yet at the moment she was barely beyond the doorway looking as if she had some great burden on her mind.

Mr. Sheffield stood up slowly, "What's the matter?"

"Please Mr. Sheffield, you might want to sit for this," Fran motioned to his chair.

He looked at her puzzled but obeyed her request.

"Maxwell, Mr. Sheffield, I have to be honest with you. This can't work between us."

Mr. Sheffield opened his mouth in protest.

"Please let me finish. For years I've wanted us to be together but I was oblivious to some very important truths. I don't think we would have ever gotten together if I hadn't been the one pushing it for so long. We would have gone on for years and years stuck in the same positions as employer and employee. I've come to understand you wouldn't ever have made your move to make it more than that.

I'm sorry Mr. Sheffield but I need more than that. Not someone who it feels like I dragged kicking and screaming into this relationship but someone who was willing to go the extra mile for me."

"But Fran, that's just not true," Mr. Sheffield argued.

"Could you honestly tell me you would have deepened our relationship without my pushing? All on your own?"

"Well…that's not the point. The point is we are together now."

Fran sighed, "Actually that's the whole point right there. You are just fine with the cards falling into place but you never really wanted to put forth that effort to make them fall. And I think I deserve more than that."

Mr. Sheffield looked down sadly knowing she did have a point.

"And let's face it. The children are grown and no longer need a nanny."

Mr. Sheffield nodded in agreement.

" I've just been puttering around this house. I've stayed here too long and I have to move on now. This time for real," she said firmly.

"Move on into Niles' arms?"

Fran paused. She looked into Maxwell's deep dark eyes, "Yes if he'll still have me," she whispered.

He exhaled, "Well if that's where your true feelings lie then I shouldn't stand in your way."

Fran smiled at him. "Thank you, that means a lot, Mr. Sheffield."

He broke her eye contact feeling emotions welling up inside of him.

Fran looked away from him as well as tears began forming in her eyes.

This was so hard. There had been so many memories between them. But this time it really was time to move on.

"Niles is in Vegas by the way. He's staying at the Bellagio." Mr. Sheffield said suddenly.

Fran's head jerked in his direction. "Thanks for that. I'll just go pack up my things and say my goodbyes to the children."

Mr. Sheffield met her eyes once more, "Miss Fine?"

"Yes?" Fran replied hesitantly.

He looked unsure of what to say at first.

"Take care of yourself."

"You do the same, Mr. Sheffield." Fran quickly left his office as the tears started rolling down her smooth cheeks.

Mr. Sheffield stared blankly down at his desk full of paper contracts. Already he could feel the emptiness of her departure filling up the room.