Fran and Max hurried in the front door and shut it behind them. They stopped to listen to see if anyone may have shown up yet, but all was quiet. Niles had already moved a couple of chairs into the living room to create enough places for everyone to sit, but at the moment they were empty. They looked at each other, set down the bags, and then Max helped Fran with her coat. He hung it in the closet, then took off his own and hung it up as Fran picked up the bag of odds and ends. "Oh! I almost forgot!" Max reached into his coat pocket and took out the paper bag of CDs from the cafe. "Can't forget these!" He waggled them at Fran.

"Oh yeah! Here, you can put them in here," she opened her bag and he set them inside, then picked up the two heavy bags of books and they slowly walked up the stairs to the bedroom.

They entered the bedroom and Max quietly shut the door behind them. They set the bags on the bed, and Fran put down her purse. Max reached for her hand and pulled her gently towards him, then they wrapped their arms around each other. Max leaned his head down to rest against her forehead.

"I'm okay, baby," she whispered. "How about you?"

"Okay enough, I guess." They both took deep breaths and just let themselves have a quiet moment alone, together. "So, when we go downstairs, we need to bring the gifts, and those papers? Was there anything else?"

"No, not yet. We'll save these other things for just a little longer."

"Alright," he whispered back. He rubbed her back and she moved her arms into his blazer. "Are you cold?"

"Maybe just a little. But this is good."

"You sure? I can turn on the fireplace…"

"No, that's okay, thank you," she pulled him to her and rested her head against his chest. He enveloped her with his arms and rested his cheek on the top of her head. Her hair still smelled of vanilla. He kissed the top of her head. He loved her so much.

"Do you need anything? Before they show up? Are you hungry?"

"No, not now. Thinking too much to be hungry."

"Okay. I'll make sure there's something for you to drink before you start. We can get you more water or whatever you want."

"Okay." She continued to hug him under his blazer, to run her hands up and down his back. He stroked her hair, moving it back from her shoulders. She took a deep breath and exhaled hard, then leaned back to look at him. "I think I need to toughen up just a bit, before we do this. I don't want to be a blubbering mess."

"Do you need anything from me?"

"I don't know." She thought to herself a moment. "Do you have any paper? Maybe I should write down what I want to say so I don't babble or skip any important stuff." Max understood. She needed to keep busy, to prepare. Stewing and waiting wasn't going to help her much. He kissed her forehead.

"Yes," he walked over to a drawer and pulled it open. There was a yellow legal pad inside and he pulled it out, and found a pen on top and got that for her as well. He led her back to the bench at the end of the bed and sat her down. He handed the pad and pen to her, then picked up the bags from the bed and went to put them in the closet. He closed the closet door and went to his bedside table, opened the drawer, and took out Fran's medical papers. He unintentionally glanced over the bloodwork results on the top page and felt that same sudden drop in his gut. He set the papers on the end of the bed near Fran. "Darling, do you want me to retrieve the jewelry as well? Or do you-"

"Yes, that would be helpful," she reached for his hand and looked up at him, then kissed his hand. "I put the bag in my bottom left dresser drawer."

Max squeezed her hand. "I'll be right back," he whispered.

She watched him walk through the door, then looked back down at the pad of paper and began to try to write what she would say to everyone.

Max entered her former bedroom and turned on the light. He walked slowly over to the dresser. There was a framed photo sitting on top of the dresser and Max picked it up. It was of all of them, himself and Fran and the children, from their last vacation to the islands. He had his arm around her and she had her hands on Grace's shoulders, Brighton stood next to Fran, and Maggie on Max's side. Fran's head leaned against him. He remembered that trip fondly. He had lots of his own pictures from their time there. It made him happy that she had that photo there, where she would have seen it every day. He pulled the drawer open and pulled out the bag of jewelry Fran would be giving to everyone, then closed the drawer. He picked up the framed photo and took it with him, then left her old room, shutting the light off and closing the door behind him.

Fran was writing as fast as she could when Max came back into the room. He set the bag down on the floor near her, then sat down on the bench beside her. She finished what she was writing and looked over at him. He was holding a familiar photo frame in his hands and he gazed at her with such a soft look in his eyes. She looked towards the frame again and Max turned it around so she could see the photo. Immediately she smiled, and reached for it. Max put an arm around her shoulders and kissed her cheek.

"That's your family, Fran. Our family." She couldn't hold back the tears now. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. He let her cry into his neck. It seemed to be what she needed. Too much tension building up, and this was the only way to release it. If she got it out now, it was less likely to kick in later, when she needed to be strong. It was like when she needed to talk to Max and couldn't figure out how to. Max was there for her, let her cry, and would let her talk when she was ready to. He was helping her again. He seemed to know just what she needed and when. He was wonderful. She kissed his cheek again and again, then put the picture down and reached for his face. She held his face in her hands and kissed him on the lips.

"Max, do you have any idea how wonderful you are?" Her voice cracked as she said it. "You really are the best!" She kissed him again, harder this time, then hugged him around his neck again. He had tears in his eyes too. He had one arm wrapped around her waist and the other lovingly clutching the back of her head. He kissed her cheekbone near her ear, then kissed her jaw, then the middle of her cheek, and leaned back just enough so they could look into each other's eyes.

"I love you, Fran," he almost squeaked. He wiped a tear from running down her cheek.

"I love you, Max. And you know I love those kids like they were my own. I'd do anything for all of you." They kissed again. They sat in the quiet, hugging each other, until they could both get enough deep breaths to settle down.

"I bet I'm a mess," Max said, a little self consciously.

"You're gorgeous. I'm the one that must be a mess." Fran wiped the tears from her cheeks and Max got up to grab the box of tissues. They both grabbed one. Fran checked her watch. "If they aren't here already, they've got to be here any minute now." Max checked the time as well.

"Yes. Do you want me to go downstairs and help Niles get things ready? I can come back up to get you when they are here and everything's all set up."

"Oh gosh, this all feels so weird. But I know it will feel better when it's over."

"It really will. Then we can work on what comes next, alright? It won't take so long to tell them, then you'll have lots of hugs, I'm sure." Fran smiled.

"Yeah."

"Every single person in that room is someone who loves you very much. Just remember that. They would all do anything for you, too." Max kissed the back of her hand.

Fran took a deep breath. She stood up. "I'm gonna go fix myself, okay? Can you go down and see what's going on down there? If they're here yet?"

"Absolutely. But let me get a cold washcloth on my eyes real quick." He took Fran's hand and she grabbed her purse and they headed for the bathroom. Fran took off her headband and combed her hair as Max wiped his face with the wet washcloth. He dried his face and then looked in the mirror. "Am I okay?"

"Yes, baby. Here, grab a comb real quick and you'll look like nothing ever happened." He smiled and took the comb and combed his hair.

A deep breath and a phew and Max headed downstairs. Fran opened her purse and fixed her eye makeup and touched up her powder and lipstick, then put her headband back on. Her eyes were still a bit red but she would have to deal with that. She tucked everything back into her purse, then headed into the bedroom and sat back down with the legal pad to see what else she needed to remember to say.

Max came down the back stairwell into the kitchen to find Niles putting away dishes from the dishwasher.

"Oh, sir! Brighton's just come in, I told him not to go upstairs and to just leave his things by the steps. And the driver just called and said they are about five minutes away."

"Where is Brighton?"

"He's helping sort some things out in the living room, in case we need more space, and so we can set drinks in there for whoever wants one."

"Oh yes, thank you. That's a good idea." Max looked around the kitchen, nervously.

"Is there anything else you can think of?" Niles asked.

"No, if there's anything else that comes up, we'll figure it out then. Um, Niles? Is Morty coming, too?"

"I'm afraid not, sir. Don't take any offense to it, it's just how he is."

"Yes, I suppose I wasn't really expecting him to. But still." Niles nodded understandingly. Just then, Brighton rushed into the kitchen and stopped when he saw his father.

"Hi, dad. Um…" Brighton looked at him awkwardly.

"Hello, Brighton. Did you have a good weekend?"

"Uh, yeah, I guess. Mostly played video games. Ate too much pizza." Max laughed lightly.

"Yes, I suppose that would be a good weekend. So, is everything out there, uh, ready?"

"Yes, I put coasters all around to set glasses on. And there's room to put down a tray on the table. Is there anything else you need done?"

"No, thank you for doing that. Ah, when the others get here, can you help- um, can you help make sure they stay downstairs? The girls can put their things by the stairs too, I suppose. We can get everyone sorted and then I'll go up and get Fran. Let her know everything's ready. I think maybe if you children and Val sit on the couch if there's room for all of you, and maybe Sylvia in the far side chair. If the couch is too crowded, maybe Grace can squeeze in with Sylvia or something? Or, I don't know. Niles, will you be alright in the wood chair?"

"Absolutely, sir. Not a problem. Are you certain you want me there?"

"Yes, Niles. You're part of the family, too. All this affects you too." Niles smiled slightly. "Um," Max continued, "Fran and I will sit in the other side chair. If anyone's uncomfortable, we'll figure it out. Niles, is the driver dropping them at the front?"

"I believe so," Niles said, closing the dishwasher and drying his hands.

"Brighton, would you be able to watch out front for them? And let them know to stay downstairs. Try to get them sitting fairly quickly so we can get to it. I don't want to prolong this any more than is absolutely necessary."

"Yeah, I'll go watch for them," Brighton turned around and went back through the door to the dining room, then out to the front door to monitor for their arrival.

"Do you need a Tums, sir?" Niles asked. Max chuckled.

"Yes, please!" Niles reached in a drawer and handed Max a roll of Tums, then Max took one out and popped it in his mouth. Niles set down a tray and started to fill it with drinking glasses.

"I was thinking to just serve water for now, is that all right? I mean, I can fill these with ice and serve those bottles of tea we have, but wasn't sure we had enough for everyone, if everyone wanted one."

"That's all right, Niles. Fran and I just want water for now. Start with water, then if Val and Sylvia stay for dinner, we can sort out drinks then."

"Alright. We can see about all that later. I'll handle it, don't worry." They were quiet for a moment, then heard a flutter of activity at the front door. They looked at each other.

"Okay, I'll go get Fran." Max grabbed his stomach and took a deep breath. He picked up the roll of Tums and put them in his pocket. Niles picked up the tray of glasses and headed through the door as Max rushed back up the back stairs.

Max knocked lightly on the partially open bedroom door and went inside, shutting the door behind him. Fran looked up at him, and seeing his nervous expression, she put the notepad down. She gave him a smile and stood up, reaching for his hands. He took her hands and wrapped her arms around his waist, then they kissed lightly on the lips. He let go of her hands and wrapped his arms around her.

"Well, they're all here. Um, except that-" he cut himself off.

"Daddy didn't come, did he?" Max shook his head. "Well, that's okay. I kind of expected that. I just hope he doesn't have regrets not coming. But Ma can fill him in."

"Are you ready? I mean, do you need more time to write things out?"

"No, I probably took too much time with that. I mean, I guess I just needed some way to get started, you know? I think everything else will come out after that. I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be." She looked back at the notepad and the medical papers. "Can you take the bag down? I'll take the papers, you know, so they don't read any of it before I tell them."

"Absolutely." They both took a step towards the bench, then Fran remembered something.

"Wait a sec- I better go to the bathroom now in case this takes a while." Max chuckled.

"Go ahead, we don't have to rush. One step at a time." Fran squeezed his hand and then headed for the bathroom. He watched her go in and shut the door, then he made a sudden dash back to his chest of drawers and pulled open the top drawer, took out a box, put it in his jacket pocket, and then closed the drawer and stepped back to the bench to pick up the bag of jewelry they would be giving out as gifts. He peeked through it to make sure everything was there.

Fran came out of the bathroom, walking slowly and stoically towards him. She picked up the notepad and tore off the papers she had written on, then put them on top of the medical papers and rolled all of it up into a tube which she clenched in her hands. Max reached for her hand.

"Ready?" He asked.

"Ready."

Max kissed her firmly. "I love you, Fran."

"I love you, too, Max." She wiped a small smear of lipstick off of his lip with her thumb. "Do I look okay?"

"You look beautiful, darling." He smiled at her. Then they walked towards the door, opened it, turned off the light, and slowly headed for the back staircase to the kitchen.