Disclaimer: I don't own anything associated with The Nanny. Yet.

A/N I just wanted to do something really out there and different. I'm taking a lot of circumstances and just lumping them together in…High School…Let me know what you think!

High School Drama

Chapter 6

The Monday after the dance the 'fabfour' was together again at 'the spot' in Central Park when the boys told the girls their not so wonderful news.

"We just found out ourselves, Chas," Niles pouted. "I don't want to go, but I don't have a choice."

Chastity was desperately trying not to cry. Here it was just two days after the most amazing night of her life and he was saying good-bye. "I don't understand, how can they do that?"

Max was busy trying to console Fran as well. "I'm sorry I'll miss the holiday, Frannie, but how can I tell them I'd rather stay here?"

"You just tell 'em!" Fran barked sadly holding her tears in as best she could. "That's what I'd do!"

Max grabbed her into his arms. "Fran, they're my parents, they want me home for Christmas, I can't tell them no anymore than you could tell your mother you were missing Hanukkah."

"Wait, wait, wait…" Fran interrupted him. "It's just for Christmas break?" Max frowned then nodded. "You're comin' back…after the holiday?" Max grinned and nodded again. Fran grabbed him and kissed him.

"Chas…" Niles walked slowly holding her hand. "I just have to go. They're my parents, and I love them. They want me home for Christmas…you have to understand that."

Chastity stopped dead in her tracks. "Just for Christmas?"

"Just for Christmas." Niles smiled.

Chastity looked up at him. "You promise you'll come back?"

"I promise." Niles kissed her. "You thought I'd just leave you just like that?" Chastity nodded with tears starting down her cheeks. "Chas…I'll be back before New Year's Eve. It's just for the holiday. I thought you understood that."

Chastity buried her head in his shoulder and sobbed. "I'm sorry, Niles. I should've known you wouldn't go without telling me sooner. But…"

"I know, Chas, I know. I don't want to think about it either." Niles lifted her chin to look in her eyes. "We've got the rest of today, Max and I don't leave until tomorrow and we'll be back the 27th. I hate missing Christmas, but they're my parents."

Chastity kissed him again. "I understand, just as long as you're coming back."

"I promise. Would you like your present now, or after we get back?" Niles flashed his lopsided grin.

"Now!" Chastity playfully grabbed the lapel of his letterman jacket.

Niles reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the little box. "This is only part, but the other things can wait until Max and I get back from England."

"Oh, Niles…" Chastity could feel her eyes filling again. "It's absolutely beautiful!" Chas opened the box to find a sterling silver heart shaped locket. It has a 'C' engraved on the front and 'N&C' engraved on the back. When she opened it a small gasp escaped her lips. It held a baby picture of her on one side and what she presumed to be a baby picture of Niles in the other side. "I love it, Niles. I'll wear it always." Chas handed the locket to Niles and turned so he could help her put it on. He did and dropped a kiss on her neck to boot.

Niles turned her in his arms and kissed her deeply. "I love you, Chastity Claire Babcock, don't ever forget it."

"Fran, would you like your gift now?" Max asked her as they walked back to the car.

Fran stopped in her tracks. "Max, how long have you known me, you need to ask?" Max laughed and pulled the box out of his pocket.

"I hope you like it; I'll save the other part for when Niles and I get back." Max offered.

Fran opened the box to find two letter 'F' earrings made of five tiny diamonds each. "Oh, Max, you know me so well. I love 'em!" She grabbed him and kissed him softly. "You even remembered to get the clip on kind!"

"You have fatty lobes." Max grinned and kissed her again.

Chastity and Fran didn't want the night to end. Their last date with the boys until after Christmas would be dinner at the diner and a movie then maybe they would 'watch the boats' on the Hudson. There was very little actual boat watching going on, but that's what they called it.

When they stopped off briefly at each of the girls houses they grabbed their gifts for the boys. Chastity bought Niles a very handsome deep blue sweater, it matched his eyes when he…well, when he was in a really, really good mood. She also got him a new watch band for his watch; he'd been complaining his was pinching him a little. He loved both gifts and promised her that he'd wear the sweater on Christmas day so she could imagine him in it.

Fran bought Max a new belt, which he said he really needed and a dark green sweater much like the one Chas got for Niles. After all, they did all their shopping together, it was very likely that they'd find something they both liked. Max promised to wear his sweater on Christmas as well, knowing it would please Fran.

The girls were sleeping over at Fran's that night and her mother was pretty diligent about waiting up and checking curfew. So the boys had Chas and Fran outside of Fran's building fifteen minutes early. They walked the girls to the door of the building deciding it was best if they didn't go all the way upstairs or they'd never be able to leave.

"Max…" Fran started. "I'll miss you so much. Have a great holiday with your folks."

Max kissed her softly. "I'll miss you, too, Frannie. I love you."

"I love you, too, Maxy. Be safe." Fran hugged him.

"Don't cry Chas, I'll be back before you know it." Niles held her close. "I'll miss you."

Chas sniffed. "I'll miss you, too. I love you, Niles. Please come back to me."

"I promise. You're stuck with me, Chas. I love you." Niles kissed her warmly.

The girls watched them walk slowly back to the car and waved as they finally drove off. Then they turned and went sadly into the building. "Well, Chas, looks like it's just the two of us for a while."

"Hey, we managed before, right?" Chastity asked as much for herself as Fran.

Fran nodded. "Yeah…we managed."

Max and Niles flew back to England to spend Christmas with their families. The boys felt strange going home and being away from the girls, but their families wanted to see them and the boys thought it would be a good time to tell their parents of a few decisions they'd made.

"Maman, I know you'll miss me, but there is no better school and Max will be there as well, so I'll be…fulfilling my obligation." Niles comforted his mother.

Niles father was usually the more sensitive of his parents. "Niles, you have to understand that we couldn't be happier that you've been accepted to Julliard. It makes up both very proud. But it's going to take some getting used to. When will we get to see you?"

"Dad, I'll come home every year for…well, I'll have to wait and see what the performance schedules are. But I promise at least once a year." Niles again tried to comfort his mother.

"This is about that girl, isn't it?" Niles' mother finally asked him. "You're choosing her over us."

"Maman…don't be ridiculous. You are my parents and I love you, but yes…I do love Chastity. I won't deny it, she had a great deal to do with my decision. But, since Max has also selected to attend Julliard, I wouldn't have a choice anyway, would I?" Niles stood firm in his convictions.

"No, I suppose you're right, Niles. I'm sure everything will work out." Niles mother was a little less than convincing.

"Mother, you'll have to trust my decision." Max was facing the same trouble that Niles was dealing with. "I'm going to study at Julliard. But, Niles will be there, so I won't be alone."

Max's father was stoic at his most mushy. "Well, Son, if you've made this decision and as long as Niles will be there with you, I see no problem in you're staying in America and going to school there."

"Thank you Father. But you know full well, Niles wouldn't have had much choice in the matter." Max could rarely count on his father's approval for anything. And he was still very angry at 'the arrangement'. "Niles will be there as per your agreement. We've already found an apartment, our lease starts July 1st. So we'll only be home for two weeks after graduation."

Max's mother wasn't happy. "Maxwell, how much of this has to do with Julliard and how much has to do with that girl you've been seeing?"

"Mother, there is no better school for my interest than Julliard. Not to mention being near the theatre district of New York. But I refuse to lie, I love Fran. It's that simple." Max never flinched when speaking to his parents.

The holiday moved pretty quickly considering the 'fabfour' were separated by the Atlantic Ocean for a very good portion of it. The girls wanted to meet the boys at the airport when their flight arrived from England. So, they called their host family, the Sullivan's, and asked if it would be alright to surprise them. The Sullivan's, were more than happy to let the girls fight traffic to and from LaGuardia to meet the boys plane. This would be quite a surprise to the boys who fully expected to have to wait until the following morning to see the girls they missed so much.

Their plane arrived and the girls stayed back so the boys wouldn't see them, at least not right away. "Chas, we have to wait so we can really surprise…" Fran started, but as soon as Max stepped foot out of the door and moved to the side Fran practically leapt into his arms from across the waiting area.

When Niles finally came out of the door a few minutes later, Chastity was waiting and smiled. "Hey, you." She barely whispered. "I was worried for a minute when you weren't with Max."

"No need, Love. I never break a promise." Niles pulled her in and kissed her softly. "Come on, we'd better go get the luggage, I'm not sure Max even knows what the bags look like."

The 'fabfour' were finally back together. Niles and Max told the girls it was their turn for a surprise. They had planned something very special for New Year's Eve if the girls could 'get away'. Fran and Chastity figured they could pull the 'I'm spending the night at…house' and there'd be no problem. The boys never really had much to explain. They'd just say they were staying over at a friend's house and the Sullivan's figured 'ok'. The Sullivan's were lovely people, older with no kids of their own. But they decided early on that Max and Niles were good honest English boys, what mischief could they possibly get into?

Max had arranged for the same two rooms at the Hotel Pennsylvania that the girls had for them after the Winter Formal. The boys still had a Christmas gift to give the girls. They planned a fancy dinner in the restaurant at the hotel first then they would escort them upstairs. It would only be the second time for the couples, and they boys wanted it to be equally as special and important as the first.

"Ok, Max. You've got me up here, now what's this big surprise?" Fran stood with her hands on her hips giving Max her newly acquired 'Fine Evil Eye.'

"Niles…I don't think I can stand it any longer, you've got to tell me what this big surprise is? Chastity put on her best pouty face for him.

Max sighed and pulled out the scroll he'd carefully rolled and tied with red ribbon. "Ok, just promise me you won't freak out. We're in a hotel after all."

Niles took out the pale blue envelope that he'd carefully written her name on. "Alright, Love. Just remember, we've got the whole night ahead of us, don't go too crazy."

Fran carefully untied the ribbon and unfurled the scroll and read it to herself as Max stood back and watched for her reaction.

Chastity took her time opening the envelope, removed and unfolded the letter and scanned it in silence as Niles waited quietly for her response.

Both of the hotel room doors flew open and Fran and Chastity nearly killed each other as they almost collided in the middle of the hall between the rooms and yelled together, "He's staying here, he's staying here!" Then just as quickly they turned and ran back into the waiting arms of their boyfriends and the doors closed again.

The next morning the 'fabfour' met for brunch in the hotel restaurant. "Do you want to go up all together or should someone stay and save the table?" Fran asked her friends.

"I'll sit here and watch the table; you can go up first Chas." Niles took a seat.

"You go ahead with Chas, Max. I want to sit with Niles for a minute." Fran took a seat next to her friend.

Chastity looked at Fran, who just winked at her. "Go ahead; what can I possibly do to him in ten minutes." Fran kidded her.

"I wonder what that's about," Max said to Chastity as they headed up to the buffet.

Niles just looked at Fran. He knew her well enough to know that she had something on her mind and he'd just have to wait for it. Fran didn't disappoint either. "Ok, Niles. So, tell me what did your parents say about you and Max choosing to go to Julliard instead of Oxford?"

"Well, my parents were thrilled about Julliard, but they weren't happy about us staying here in the US." Niles sipped at his water.

Fran looked at him. "What else did your folks say?"

"They wanted to know if it was about Julliard or Chastity. They thought I was choosing her over them." Niles sipped at his water again.

Fran put her arm around the chair. "What did you tell them?"

"The truth." Niles paused for only a moment. "I told them that Julliard was the best school for me. I told them that Max would be there. But I also told them that I loved Chastity and I wouldn't deny she had a great deal to do with my decision."

"So, Max…" Chastity nudged him. "What did you tell your parents about staying here in America for school?"

Max grinned. "I told them the truth. I said that Julliard is the best school for my interests and that Niles would be staying here with me. And I told them that I loved Fran and I wanted to stay close to her."

"Wow, Max!" Chastity seemed shocked. "I'm impressed. How did that go over?"

Max laughed. "They hated it. But they realized that I wasn't giving in."

"That's it? Really?" Chastity was quite impressed with Max's tale.

Max looked a little embarrassed. "Well…my father decided that as long as Niles would be with me, he was fine with the decision."

Chastity smiled and looked back at the table where Niles sat with Fran. "I guess your parents think as highly of him as I do."

"You could say that, I guess." Max and Chastity headed back to the table.

Fran checked out their plates. "Oooohh. Everything looks so good! Let's go, Niles. It's our turn." Niles stood and kissed Chas lightly on the cheek before heading off behind Fran.

Max smirked. "It seems Niles thinks pretty highly of you too."

The 'fabfour' started the spring semester looking forward to the upcoming musical. This year, Mr. Cannon and Mr. Eastman selected 'South Pacific'. Without expecting too much they all had parts they hoped they would get. When the auditions were complete and the cast list was finally posted, things couldn't have worked out better for them. Chastity was cast as Nellie Forbush, not much of a surprise to anyone. Niles was selected for the dashing French plantation owner Emile de Becque. Max was given the role of Lt. Joe Cable and Fran…she would be the Tonkinese girl, Liat, who Joe Cable falls in love with.

"I guess eight years of dance lessons finally paid off, huh, Fran?" Chastity asked her.

Fran lightly smacked her friends arm. "I'm just glad that no one else will be foolin' around with my Max."

"Yeah…I think I would've died if Niles wasn't cast as Emile. I don't know if I'd be able to do all those love scenes with someone else."

Fran frowned. "Chas…you've done lots of those kind of scenes…"

"That was before I had Niles." Chastity blushed a little bit. "I always kind of enjoyed them. But I don't ever want to kiss another boy now."

Fran winked at Chastity. "Well, you know what they say…once you've have the best just forget the rest."

"How would you know Niles is the best…you've never kissed him." Chastity chided her.

Fran shook her head. "Nope, I haven't, but I've known you long enough to know when you've met the one…you're there."

"Yeah…" Chastity sighed. "Great isn't it?" Fran and Chastity hugged. "Let's go find the boys and tell them about the list."

Fran looked at her. "Where are they, anyway?" Fran asked. "I thought they were going to meet us here after Shop."

"We're right here…" Niles called as they came up the hall. "Geez, even boys have to use the restroom sometimes." He grabbed Chastity's books in one hand and her hand with the other.

Fran scoffed. "Huh! We're going to gym, Niles. You couldn't hold it?"

Max shook his head. "Did you look at the cast list?" The girls nodded together.

"Well, I'm Liat." Fran told them and winked at Chastity. "And Chas is Nellie."

Then Chastity decided to have a little fun with them. "Max is Emile and Niles you were cast as Joe Cable."

Max and Niles looked at each other… "What?" The girls burst into laughter.

"Oy…we're kiddin'." Fran shook her head at them. "You'd think you'd know us by now."

"You will be my Emile, Niles." Chastity kissed him lightly. "I can't wait to hear you sing to me."

Max smiled at Fran. "Are you going to dance for me, Frannie?" Fran winked at him.

"Oh, Honey…you know it." Fran grabbed his hand. "Now, come on…we'd better get to gym."

The rehearsals started and moved along well for the 'fabfour' and for the rest of the cast as well. There were many weekends and evenings spent together both at the school when rehearsing and elsewhere when they weren't. They boys showed Fran and Chas where the apartment they'd be renting for college was and the girls told Max and Niles that they were both accepted to NYU; Chastity for a double major in theatre and business management and Fran for dance. Everything was working out very nicely for them. At least until that ugly little secret came out rather unexpectedly.