Written by: MRM
"Uh it was just a dream," Maxwell Sheffield exhaled as he jerked awake from a horrible nightmare. He breathed deeply as he felt the beat of his wife's heart where she lay next to him, the weight her head on his shoulder and the softness of her brown curls splayed across his chest. He wiped the sweat from his brow and swiped the tears from his face as he tightened his hold around her waist and laced his fingers through her hand that was resting on his stomach. She shifted and whispered his name softly. He stilled his movements waiting as her breathing evened out again. Kissing the top of her head he relaxed against the pillows and listened as the nearby church's bell rang out.
"Six o'clock," Max whispered. "I have some time yet," and he closed his eyes.
Fran Sheffield kept her breathing even as she listened for the signs that her husband had fallen back to sleep. She knew he had a nightmare again counting in her head that it was the third one this week. He didn't need to tell her what it was about. It was always the same thing—something happening to her, him losing her much like Sara and he was alone again. These dreams only came when he was feeling guilty. He'd been incredibly busy with work and unable to make time for her and the kids. This was his mind's way of telling him to remember his priorities.
"When is he going to stop working himself to death?" Fran whispered to herself as she wrapped her body around his as if protecting him from his demons. He sighed, her name soft upon his lips, his fingers stroking soft circles on her back and soon Fran was asleep as well.
One hour later Max shifted to curl around his wife's sleeping form and found only her pillow. He lifted his head and smiled hearing her unmistakable voice blending with those of their twins from the room next to theirs. His cell ringing pulled him from enjoying the sound.
"Maxwell, are you not up yet?" C.C.'s shrill tone cut into his blissful attitude. "We have that meeting with the Townsends this morning and we need to leave in an hour. You know the traffic at this time!"
"Don't worry C.C. I'll be there," Max assured her through gritted teeth feeling tension creeping into his forehead, neck and shoulders. Closing the phone he wearily climbed out of bed and headed toward the shower.
"Mommy, will Daddy be at breakfast today?" Jonah asked with hopeful eyes as his mother helped him put on his socks and shoes.
"I'm not sure sweetie, why don't you go ask him," Fran replied dreading the disappointment she figured her youngest son was going to be feeling shortly. Fran knew Max had a meeting this morning but was unsure when and knowing that the cell call he just received was probably from C.C. he was going to be heading out soon. She watched her curly headed, olive green-eyed little one race from the room.
"Come here Evie, let's do something with that hair," Fran scooped up her youngest daughter and pulled her into her lap.
"Daddy," Jonah called out tentatively stepping into the bathroom area. He saw his dad standing with a towel around his waist, hair dripping, lathering up his face. "Morning Daddy."
Max's heart melted at the sound of his youngest son's voice. He turned to capture the adoring gaze from eyes that looked very much like his.
"Good morning Son, how are you this morning?" Max asked lifting him to sit on the counter.
"Good," the youngest Sheffield male exclaimed. "Can I shave with you?" he pleaded with his eyes.
"It's 'May I' and yes you may," Max gently corrected the young boy while covering his face with shaving cream before handing Jonah his "razor" which was a Fisher Price toy Fran found. Max loved these moments with his son and he knew from the glee on his son's face that he'd been neglecting to have them as often as they both liked. Max looked over at his son making careful strokes through the shaving cream like Max had showed him and a proud smile filled Max's face.
"That's it Son, slow and smooth strokes. No need to rush a shave, you'll only cut yourself," Max praised him and Jonah's face lit up with his father's words.
"So Daddy what are your plans for the day?" Jonah asked in the grown up way he'd heard his parents speak. Max, taken back at first by the manner of the question, answered him while Fran listened hidden a bit from the doorway, her heart warming at their simple but beautiful conversation. She wiped a tear that escaped over her lashes and headed to the closet to select Max's clothes for the day. This job used to be Niles' but Fran always ended up making changes so their faithful friend and former butler relinquished the job soon after she and Max were married.
Once she finished pulling the ensemble together, she peeked to see if her "men" were still occupied. Hearing their discussion of which cologne to put on and knowing that it would only be a matter of minutes before Max stepped in, she grabbed a piece of paper from the heart shaped notepad on her makeup table and jotted a quick note to Max reminding him of their plans for tonight adding that she loved him dearly. She heard Jonah's voice coming toward the closet; she slipped the note in her husband's suit jacket and moved out to greet them.
"Daddy has a very important breakfast meeting this morning Mommy so he won't be eating with us," Jonah informed his mother and Fran saw a flash of disappoint cross her son's face before it brightened with one of his sweet smiles as he moved closer to his mother and added, "But we shaved and I'm wearing your favorite cologne."
"Hmmm Aramis," Fran commented as she encircled the young boy in her arms. "How did you know that is my favorite?" she asked kissing the youngster's cheek.
"Daddy told me," Jonah replied with eyes of adoration fixed on his father. Max looked down and patted the boy on his shoulder.
"That's right Son," Max smirked. "We know how to please the ladies," he added as he looked into his wife's sad brown eyes and stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. He knew she was worried about him and he wished he could change his day to assure her that he was aware his priorities were getting out of whack. He pulled her to him and whispered softly, his breath warm on her ear.
"I'll see you tonight," he said and added, "I can't wait for our date." Fran pulled back surprise evident on her face. "I didn't forget," he stated when he saw her face and she smiled brightly shaking her head in amazement before capturing his lips with hers. Jonah's giggling reminded them they weren't alone.
"What are you laughing at?" Max grabbed the boy and tickled his sides until Jonah begged him to stop. Eve ran into the closet to see what was up with her brother and squealed with delight as her father scooped her up and planted a kiss on her cheek.
"Miss Eve, how are you this morning my darling?" Max inquired as he breathed in her sweet, four-year-old scent.
"Oh Daddy, you're silly, I'm not a miss, I'm a princess," Eve giggled wrapping her arms around his neck placing a sloppy wet kiss on his cheek.
"Well then Princess Eve, how are you this morning?" Max asked dramatically returning her hug.
"I'm quite well, thank you," Eve responded with an exaggerated English accent causing Fran and Max to shake their heads and chuckle. "I'm about to have my morning tea would you care to join me?" she asked with a twinkle in her chocolate brown eyes so much like her mother's.
"I'm sorry Sweetheart, Daddy has to go to an important meeting," Max replied sadly wishing with all his heart he could sit and have a tea party with his youngest daughter. Something so simple that brought such great joy to the little girl's face each time he made the time to do so.
"It's okay Daddy," Eve stated, placing a small hand on each side of his face looking at him intently. "I love you anyway," she added before kissing his cheek once again. Max responded by embracing her tightly unable to speak over the lump in his throat.
"Alright everybody, down to breakfast so we can allow Daddy to get ready for his day," Fran stated as she gathered her two young ones, gave Max one last kiss and headed out of the closet toward the hallway. "Come say goodbye before you leave Sweetie," Fran called out before she was out of his hearing range. Max assured her he would and listened to the threesome's chatter until their voices faded.
After Max left and she dropped the twins at the preschool, Fran headed to one of her favorite boutiques on Rodeo Drive. Although she was going to be paying retail, something she did a bit more often since marrying Max, she knew the shop had just the perfect ensemble for this evening. Then she was meeting Gracie at the spa for a girl's day and some extra beautifying before her evening with Max. Fran decided to give him a call to see how his day was going.
Max's smiled as he hung up the phone, fingered the note he found in his suit coat earlier and then glanced at the framed fall leaf on his desk. Placing the note back in his pocket he lifted his finger to trace the leaf while vivid memories of the day they found the flaming orange foliage flooded his mind.
He and his then fiancé, Fran, decided to forgo the limo and walk to lunch through the park. When they came upon a pile of leaves Fran picked up a handful and threw them at him causing a major leaf fight. This one was the last one stuck in her beautiful ebony curls after they kissed among the leaves. Fran preserved it and framed it that day. At first Max thought the idea was ridiculous but now it caused a warm feeling to sink to his very core and a goofy grin to fill his face.
"Ah, well back to work old boy," Max mumbled to himself as he picked up the resume in front of him and perused the young actor's information.
Later as the twins played in their rooms, Fran took a moment to herself in the sitting room. A wistful look marked her face as she fingered the teardrop diamond hanging around her neck. A rush of the memory of why she wore it filled her mind and she rode the wave of it with a soft smile on her face.
The storm of that day was of epic proportions. Fran remembered she ran into Max's office, grabbing his hand and pulling him from his work to the window to show him how huge the raindrops were. He pulled her into an embrace; resting his head on hers as they listened to the drops pelt the window and ground. They softly counted the seconds between the lightening streaks and its accompanying thunder.
When the heavy patter and shifted to a light tapping they moved up to their room and made love to its cadence. Later that week Max surprised her with the necklace saying it was a raindrop diamond. Fran recalled the love that filled his eyes and her own heart swelled with the knowledge of it.
"Mommy, I can't find Teddy," Eve yelled down the stairs, breaking Fran from her reverie. She let the diamond drop, wiped the tears from her face and shouted that she was coming to her youngest daughter as she made her way toward the stairs.
"Okay what are you two taking with you to Nana's?" Fran asked the twins as they packed for a night with the Fine's. Fran was so thankful that her parents decided to move to California instead of Boca not long after Fran and Max moved west. On nights like tonight when they needed someone to watch the children, Fran was extremely grateful.
"Well Teddy of course and a few books," Eve responded. "Grandpa loves to read this one to me," Eve showed the familiar, well worn children's story book of Cinderella to her mother. "And Tyler gave me a tin of cookies for the tea party we're going to have."
"Oh Nana's going to have a tea party with you?" Fran asked raising an eyebrow quizzically.
"She said as long as I brought the cookies," Eve nodded tucking the tin in her pink backpack.
"I'm sure she did," Fran muttered under her breath.
"I'm taking these cars, Woody and Green Eggs and Ham," Jonah stated as he loaded the items he listed into his backpack.
"Okay Sam I am," Fran laughed using her fingers to smooth the shorter hair around his ear. "Should we pick out a movie or two?" she asked looking toward the shelves along the wall of the twins' room.
"No Mommy, Nana said she's going to pick up some at the video store," Eve told her mother in a matter of fact tone.
"Oh yeah," Fran stepped over to Eve wrapping one of the girl's raven curls around her finger. "I forgot she said she was going to do that."
"It's okay Mommy, I remembered for you," Eve smiled looking up at her mother with earnest eyes.
"Yes you did my Angel and what would I do without you?" Fran asked sitting on the bed and pulling the little girl into her lap hugging her tightly. Eve wrapped her arms around her mother's neck and played with the curls that rested there.
"I love you Momma," Eve whispered in her mother's ear as she rested her head on Fran's shoulder.
"I love you too Sweetie," Fran whispered back and the two females held each other for a moment. Max watched the exchange from the door his heart expanding from the love and joy he felt for his family.
"Daddy," Jonah exclaimed jumping up and down outing Max from where he stood in the hallway.
"Daddy," Eve echoed her brother kissing her mother's cheek before sliding from her lap and skipping to where Max was bending down to scoop up Jonah. Reaching around with his other arm, he grabbed his daughter as well. He stood and hugged them to him. A bright smile slid across Fran's face seeing that Max made it home earlier than she expected. She stood, crossed the room, placed a hand on Max's chest and reached up to place a light kiss on his lips.
"You're early," she commented smiling.
"Didn't want to miss saying goodbye to these two before they headed to Nana's," Max explained smiling at the members of his family. "Shouldn't she be here?" Max asked.
"Hello," Sylvia Fine's voice carried down the hallway.
"We're in the twins' room, Ma," Fran yelled and the twins laughed as Max buried his head in their bellies to cover his ears.
"Hello Darlings," Fran's mother kissed them all. "We need to hurry; your father's waiting in the car." Fran flashed her mother a doubtful face knowing Sylvia usually kept Morty waiting for hours at times depending on the circumstances. "Dinner's in the car," Sylvia explained. All the Sheffield's faces bore a look of understanding and Max lowered the children to the floor and they grabbed their backpacks.
"Not too early tomorrow, okay Ma?" Fran implored her mother before kissing her cheek. "And not too much sugar," Fran added giving the two Sheffield children and her mother a stern look.
"Yes Momma," the twins nodded solemnly.
"Whatever you say dear," Sylvia retorted with a wry grin as she herded the youngsters toward the stairs. "Say Evie did Tyler give ya the cookies?" Fran heard Sylvia ask her as the threesome headed for the stairs barely hearing Eve's response. Suddenly she felt the warmth of her husband's body wrapping around hers from behind.
"Alone at last," Max hoarsely whispered in her ear causing a building fire in her core. "I see you haven't showered yet. Wanna do it together?" he asked turning her toward him, wagging his eyebrows, his face bearing a lovesick grin, his fingers lightly stroking the back of her neck and shoulders. Fran's entire body quaked with desire. He saw that her eyes were dark with desire as she kissed his lips lightly, grabbed his tie and pulled him toward their bathroom.
"I'm taking this as a yes then," Max quipped huskily watching her graceful lean legs and taut bottom in black leggings and felt his groin tighten against his Brooks Brothers pants.
"Yup and I think you're excited about that," she smiled seductively lowering her gaze.
"Yup," Max copied her vernacular and her smile as he reached in to turn on the shower heads. While waiting for the shower to warm, they started to undress each other taking the time to touch and taste the newly naked skin. Max reached in testing the water, then in one fluid motion scooped up his petite wife and carried her into the shower all the while softly enjoying the sweet taste of her lips.
"Ah Sweetheart, what time is our reservation," Max asked sleepily glancing at the clock from the bed where they moved after the shower.
"Don't worry about it Sweetie, the place we're going is very flexible," a fully satiated Fran responded from where she lay with her head on his chest. She heard and felt Max's chuckle in his chest and she looked up at him quizzically.
"As flexible as you were minutes ago?" he queried with a lazy smile.
"Ah, so glad those Yoga classes were worthwhile," Fran responded with a yawn.
"Do we have time for a nap?" Max asked finding her yawn contagious.
"Hmm, mm," was Fran's muffled reply finding herself being lulled to sleep by Max's fingers as they rhythmically stroked her scalp. Max listened to his wife's even breathing and was soon asleep as well.
Max traveled through the layers of sleep to wakefulness enjoying the feeling of Fran's fingers softly stroking his face.
"Max," Fran sang out softly. "Max, honey, wake up." Max eyes fluttered awake as he took in the amazing sight before him—Fran draped in an ivory silk, body hugging, spaghetti strap night gown with a sweetheart neckline that revealed a bit of décolletage. A lace robe covered her shoulders and followed the line of the gown down to her perfect manicured toes. A lazy smile slid across his face.
"You look breathtaking," he whispered not wanting to break the quiet of the room. "Is that what you're wearing to our date?" Max inquired reaching out to tuck a loose curl behind her ear feeling her shiver as his finger grazed the shell of her ear. Fran nodded smiling wryly.
"Where exactly is this date going to take place?" Max asked returning her smile and raising an eyebrow.
"Put on the pajamas I left for you in the bathroom and meet me on the terrace," Fran instructed him as she rose from the bed pulling him with her. "We're having a quiet night at home, just us," Fran explained, pushing him towards the bathroom while she headed to see if the staff had everything ready.
Minutes later he stepped onto the terrace pausing to take in the view. The table was set with his favorite foods, the terrace was alight with twinkling lights and the flicker of candle light, jazz played softly in the background and Fran was standing off to the side watching his reaction.
"You like?" Fran asked tentatively nibbling on her bottom lip.
"Beautiful," he announced looking at her with a smile that caused his eyes to crinkle in the corners.
"Thank you," Fran responded blushing slightly stepping over to where he was standing.
"I was talking about the food," Max joked pulling her into his arms.
"Max that's not nice," Fran slapped him on the chest and pouted.
"I'm sorry Darling. I don't mean to tease," Max purred in her ears. "This is amazing! So much better than going out," Max stated emphatically which brought a bright smile to his love's face. "Were you worried I wouldn't think so?" he inquired concerned.
"Yes," Fran nodded and he pulled her into his arms. "I wanted our night to be about us, and not in the fancy schmancy way we sometimes do."
"Sometimes we are all about the fancy and the schmancy," Max agreed laying his head on hers where it rested on his chest.
"But it's the simple things that matter and that's what I was hoping you'd see with this dinner," Fran explained pulling back a bit searching deeply in his olive green eyes to see if he got what she was saying. "You know like shaving with your son, having a tea party with your daughter or…" she added before he cut her off with, "A leaf fight in Central Park or taking the time to watch a thunderstorm in the middle of the day?" Max asked reaching out to touch the "raindrop" diamond that rested on her luminescent skin. Fran nodded unable to speak over the lump in her throat. "Ah Darling I know things have gotten out of hand again," he stated chagrined.
"Yes, you've had three nightmares this week alone," Fran told him as she turned and started to pace. "I worry about you when you get like this Maxwell. It's not good for your health mentally or physically," she added stopping to turn and give him a stern look. She paused her tirade, halted by the face that greeted her. "What's with that smile?" she asked noticing he was smiling smugly at her with his arms crossed at his chest.
"I guess I know something you don't," Max lowered his chin and laughed softly.
"Well, are you going to tell me?" Fran crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her toe on the tiled terrace floor. Max crossed the short distance between them, pulled her arms from her chest and laced his fingers through hers.
"I have you Darling," Max kissed her nose, pulled her hands around his waist, released his hold and wrapped his arms around her holding her tightly to him. "Whenever I get crazy with work, you remind me of what is important, you bring me back to reality—you, the children and our friends. But it's you who are my touchstone, you who help me remember those precious moments and with you I want to make many, many more," he pulled back to find her chocolate brown eyes were pooled with tears. "I love you Fran," Max stated simply.
"I love you Sweetie," she responded hoarsely. They kissed swaying to the music, holding each other