AN: Thanks for your continued support, anastacia and Goalihta-Leigh! It means a lot to me. So here's the first part of the day after at the Sheffields'. I hope you'll like it.
Breaking the Threshold
Chapter 4
by moun-chan
(for Disclaimer see Chapter 1)
CC finally distracted herself from the beautiful woman in front of her only to have a look at the clock, but when she realized what it showed, she almost choked on her coffee -quarter to nine! She should have been at the office an hour ago!
"Fran.. we're late!"
They both stood up and tried to get ready quickly, when Fran suddenly realized that she had no idea how CC got to work- she didn't have a car, did she?
"CC? Erm, how are we supposed to get there?"
"I usually have a driver, but it's Saturday, so I'm gonna call us a cab. Which means we'll have to arrive there together."
"What's so wrong about that?"
CC had already grabbed the phone and was now searching for her purse. "They're not stupid, we're both late, you've been gone all night..." She stopped, apparently the call was answered. After quickly ordering a cab and impressing on the urgency, she turned to Fran again. "You don't get it, do you?"
"No, I don't understand the problem, hon."
"They'll figure it out, and I don't want that to happen."
"You do not want them to know we're in love? What does that mean, you wanna act as if nothing happened?"
"Sweetheart, I just don't want to rush anything; we're not together even one day. It might all go wrong if we act too hurried."
"They might make a fuss, okay, but what has this got to do with us?"
"Honey, it would make the circumstances much more difficult. Just imagine they don't accept our relationship, they could be 'fussing' around us all day at work, and it might ruin the happiness and at one point we might even give up." CC gave her a questioning look. "You get my point? Let's start slowly. We can still tell them later."
"Fine. Babe?"
"Yes?" CC smiled. She'd never been called babe like this, and it set off a whole swarm of butterflies in her stomach.
"You wanna go out with me tonight?"
"Sure! You know, I'm not very likely to have any plans," CC joked.
Fran smiled. "Great!"
"Oh, we better go downstairs, the cab should be here any minute."
CC had spent almost the whole ride in the cab silently looking out the window, and was only interrupted in her thoughts by the sudden question of her lover.
"CC.. what are we gonna do now about the arriving problem?"
She turned her head. "I don't know. Maybe one of us should just stay in the cab for a few minutes more .. that'll be enough to turn exactly into approximately."
"I'll do that, then I can work on my make-up. I didn't have much time this morning.." Fran winked.
CC felt a strange, cold sensation rush through her at that comment. They were in public, how could she be so careless?
Arriving at the Sheffields' mansion, CC left the cab parked a few houses away first. Fran watched her walk to the door, the blond hair sparkling in the faint sunlight, her legs carrying her gracefully over the pavement. She was gorgeous. How come she had taken so long to notice? CC rang the doorbell now, and as she entered, Fran turned her attention to her make up.
Niles opened the door, surprised to see Ms Babcock standing there, smiling.
"Morning, Niles," she said.
Before he could utter a word, she had already walked past him in the direction of the office.
Maxwell was sitting behind his desk as CC entered their office. He looked at her, putting his pair of glasses on the desk, as she greeted him as if nothing was wrong.
"Hello, hello!"
"CC! Why are you so late?"
She smiled mischievously as she thought of possible excuses, but she just said, "Never mind, won't happen again. How's the business? Any news about Mrs Bacall yet?"
About ten minutes later, Fran left the cab as well. She was greeted by Niles and Mr Sheffield, who was just passing through the living room.
"Good morning everyone!"
"Good morning. Miss Fine, where are you coming from?" The he looked at her dress, and his facial expression changed. "Wait a second, we thought you were just sleeping-"
"Oh, don't worry, I'll go change my clothes upstairs, then I'm ready for the kids. Aren't you supposed to be working, too?" Fran smiled, and with that she went up the stairs to her room.
Maxwell shook his head and joined CC in the office again, but Niles, who had watched the scene, was thinking.
-
Fran entered her room and was glad to finally be alone for a moment. She knew she was a chatterbox, that's just why she needed some time alone now. CC was right, it might be risky to act too soon, and Fran did not want to risk their beautiful, new relationship in any way. She sat down in front of her make-up table and stroke through her hair. It might look good to CC that way, but she liked it better curly and full.
While changing and then working on her hairdo, she kept thinking about her lover. Last night had been extraordinary indeed; she felt like a whole new person. This would be hard to hide, Fran supposed.
It was almost lunchtime when she left her room again. She had to check how the kids were doing, and if she had missed anything. And of course she was hoping to see CC. Smiling to herself, she stepped down the stairs and through the living room.
"Fran! Oh, Fran, there you are, I've been looking for you!"
She turned her head to see Maggie hurrying towards her.
"Fran, I need your advice! You see, there is this this cute guy in my maths class, Mike, and he is so cool – I need some new clothes to impress him! And how can I gain his attention?"
She gestured Maggie to sit down on the couch, and followed her.
After having received some good advice, Maggie left for her room and Fran finally entered the office.
"Knock-knock!"
Her eyes took in the sight of CC sitting on the couch, reading in a magazine, before anything else. She caught herself smiling as her lover rose her head to smile at her as well.
Maxwell looked up now, too, and he thought the two women were acting somewhat differently today. Didn't this glance last just a bit too long?
Just then Niles popped in. "Lunch is ready."
Fran had almost left the room, when she noticed CC wasn't following, but grabbing her purse. She turned around and checked that Maxwell and Niles were out of hearing range, then she stepped towards CC.
"What are you doing there? Aren't you gonna have lunch with us?"
"No, honey, I won't. I'm having an appointment with Mrs Bacall, I need to convince her to take part in our new play."
"Damn it, when will you be back?"
"It's going to take at least an hour or two. Don't worry, I'll pop in again this afternoon," CC said and gently placed a hand on Fran's cheek. "I love you."
"I love you, too," Fran replied and softly kissed her.
AN: Hey everyone (else ;]), if you've already got so far, please tell me what you think! It would make me a very happy girl! -not to mention that it makes me motivated ;D
Thanks for reading so far! Please excuse the long delay of chapter five. I'm working on it!! :D
I've also done a real Fran/CC music video, which you can find here: .com/4559558 I hope you like it! :)