Writtw by: Gabrielle (gmrde@yahoo.de)
Happy Mother's Day, Ma" Fran Fine cheerfully said as she gave her mother a big hug and a peck on the cheek.
"Thanks, Frannie" her mother replied, beaming happily at the voucher for a 'dinner for two' at Sardi's.
"I hope you and Pa will have a good time."
"Who said I was gonna take your father?" Sylvia Fine asked her daughter in honest astonishment.
"Ma! It's for two" Fran chastised her.
"Yeah, so what?"
Fran made a face and playfully slapped her mother's arm lightly. Sylvia sat down at the Sheffields' kitchen table while Fran laid the table for their tea. When she poured the cups, her mother had already taken a bite from her piece of cake.
"So how are you gonna spend the day?" she inquired.
"Oh, Mr Sheffield has planned everything for the afternoon, as usual. This afternoon, we'll be off to a busy day. First we're going to a fair, afterwards there's a family dinner, a show and then we're heading home for games and some...
"Is he still trying to keep the children busy so that they won't think about their mother too much? Sylvia interrupted Fran, munching on her piece of cake.
"No, after what happened three years ago at the Country Club, he realized it was wrong to try to keep them from facing what had happened. As a matter of fact, since then, they have been talking a lot more about Sarah in this house and he really tries to make them not forget their mum - or remember her, as in Gracie's case. He really has turned into a wonderful father."
"So what's all the fuss about with the big program then?" Fran's mother inquired, waving her fork around in the air.
"I guess it's more to keep himself busy" Fran answered with a glance of distant sadness. "He always gets melancholic around this time of the year. I think he still misses her a lot. Oh, that's so romantic."
"Yeah, but that won't do you any good, will it?" her mother said accusingly. "I still can't see a ring on your finger, young lady. And it's not as if you had too many good offers, so you'd better get moving, honey."
"Ma!" Fran slapped her again. "He's my boss. I'm the nanny. And that's it."
Sylvia gave her a look, which told her "yeah, sure."
Fran knew that it was a lie. There was more to it than that. She knew that Mr Sheffield had feelings for her and she was well aware of the fact that his mere presence in the same room made butterflies fly around in her stomach. But of course he would never seriously consider to start a relationship with the nanny, would he? Maxwell Sheffield was way out of her league. He was handsome, successful and well-bread - completely different from her. She would never fit into his world and they both knew it. So he might have had feelings for her, but she knew she wasn't the classy woman to come up to the expectations society would have of a successful Broadway producer's wife. In addition to this, he was deeply scared of going into another relationship after what he had experienced with Sarah. He had confessed his concerns about that point to her about a year ago. And yet, she knew for sure that she and Maxwell Sheffield did have an undeniable chemistry and there had been moments he had trouble keeping away from her. Fran had been feeling confused about his mixed messages but had come to the conclusion that she and Mr Sheffield most likely weren't meant to be. And yet - there still was this strong attraction between them - an attraction going beyond the physical - at least for her. And still - even though they had become rather close throughout these years together, even though there had been times when they had shared more intimate moments and even though they had shared a few stolen but nonetheless remarkable kisses, she still didn't know where she stood, concerning their personal relationship, no matter how much she wanted him to be with her. Him having told her he loved her, only to take it back afterwards, wasn't helping either, but merely confusing and frustrating.
They had shared joy and sorrow, happiness and fear and they had been there for each other for the last four years - just like a real family should. And yet - was she family? Formerly she would have said 'yes' but these days she wasn't so sure any more. Didn't a family need some form of legal, official commitment? Fran felt a feeling of uneasiness grow in the pit of her stomach. Soon the children would be too old for a nanny and she didn't dare to think about what that would mean to her future in the Sheffield household - and to her future at all.
"Fraaaaan!" Sylvia's voice brought her back to the kitchen. "Got some more whipped cream?"
"What?" Fran snapped out of her trance.
"Whipped cream?" her mother repeated, gesturing with her finger towards a new piece of cake before her.
"Oh. Sure, Ma."
Fran went over to the fridge to get the container.
"You know, Frannie, there's this nice new cantor in the synagogue. He's single. Maybe you should meet him, he's ..."
"Ma!" Fran interrupted her rambling. "Don't you try and set me up for one of your disastrous dates again. I'm still getting the shudders when I think of Pauli's 'wonderful' nephew and besides this Mr Sheff..." she stopped in mid-sentence as Maxwell entered the kitchen holding an empty mug.
"Ah, hello Sylvia. Miss Fine" he greeted the two Fine women, smiling at them as he walked over to the isle to get a refill from the coffee machine.
"I haven't seen you in a while, Sylvia" he addressed Fran's mother. "What have you been up to lately?"
"Oh, Morty and me got this marvellous low-budget-culinary guide through New York for our wedding anniversary and we've been trying out all the 'get-yourself-stuffed-for-less-than-10--places' and believe me, some of them really don't deserve the name at all."
Maxwell raised his eyebrows at her explanation and then lifted his chin to nod slowly, giving her a warm smile at the same time.
"Well, I understand you'll have more fun today then, won't you?" he said, nodding towards the vouchers on the table. Miss Fine had asked him for an advance to be able to come up for the classy dinner for her parents and he had been willing to even give her the cheque as a bonus for the marvellous job she had done with his children. He smiled inwardly as he imagined Sylvia and Morty munching their way through Sardi's noble ambience, thanking God at the same time he wasn't a waiter there.
"Yeah, it's one of the best Mother's Day presents I've ever gotten" she smiled rolling her eyes and licking her lips delightfully at the prospect of another opportunity for eating more exquisite food than normally.
"What about you?" she asked Maxwell when she snapped back out of her culinary fantasy.
"Well, as your daughter might have already told you, we've got a busy schedule for today..."
Then he turned to Fran, looking at his watch. "We'll be leaving in an hour, Miss Fine, so you'd better start getting ready."
She smiled instead of an answer.
"I've got a couple of calls to make, so I'll meet you in" he stopped to look at his watch again "56 minutes" he continued with a cheerful smile and turned towards the swinging door.
"Oh, and 'Happy Mother's Day', Sylvia. Enjoy yourself" he added before he went towards the swinging door in order to leave the kitchen.
"Thanks, I'll do my best" Sylvia grinned at her daughter's disappearing boss.
Later that night Fran found herself still awake. She didn't know what exactly was keeping her from falling asleep for they surely had had and exhausting day. She looked at the alarm-clock on her bedside table. It was 3:07 a.m. and she realized that she wouldn't be able to sleep at least for a while, so she got out of bed and put on one of her 'funny robes' as Mr Sheffield called them. She was wondering whether he had been able to find sleep this night and the very same moment she asked herself why she had been wondering about it at all? Well, on the outside he seemed to have had a great day with his family but when she had watched him with his kids he hadn't seemed to be with them a 100%. Fran had seen him try out almost every attraction, but later she had been able to tell he had been having trouble concentrating on the ongoing activities at the family dinner. While they had been watching a movie, his mind had seemed to have gone off to some distant place as well. She had felt like asking him, but somehow she had sensed that it was not her place to intrude on his private thoughts. But she decided to keep an eye on him and at least to distract the children from him by giving them a great time.
When they had arrived back home the kids had been having a blast during their family games and Fran was sure they hadn't noticed the odd and distant look their father's face would show from time to time, for he had been doing a great job concealing it from them. He hadn't been able to fool her though. She had been living with them for four years now and she knew Maxwell Sheffield well enough, that this time he felt different than the years before at that particular time and she was still wondering what the reason for his behaviour might be.
She sighed and decided to go down to the kitchen to get herself a 'nosh', in order to keep her mind off not being able to sleep on the one hand and her employer on the other hand for a while.
But as she was descending the back stairs, her thoughts drifted back to him again. He always seemed somewhat absent on Mother's Day but this year it seemed to cost him more effort to keep up the good spirits. Fran frowned as she reached the kitchen, switching on only the little light above the stove. As she walked to the fridge to take out a bottle of Perrier and some assorted sliced cold meat, she wondered whether it might be different this year because it would have been his and Sarah's twentieth wedding anniversary next month?
This wasn't the first time she had been thinking about Maxwell Sheffield and his relationship to his late wife. Every time she thought about it, she realized that he still was very vulnerable when the topic came to the former Mrs Sheffield. She remembered their first Mother's Day together and smiled at the memory of him and Gracie sitting on their little one's bed. She felt like crying all over when she had been watching father and daughter dealing with their loss. Later she thought that this might have been the first time for him to talk about Sarah after she had been gone. That particular Mother's Day had been a great improvement in the Sheffield household, concerning everyone's attitude towards suffering and letting out one's emotions. Up to that point, everyone had been dealing with his or her pain individually.
In the evening, when they had been watching the tape of Sarah, which Mr Sheffield had brought shyly and awkwardly to the living room, she had felt overwhelmed by the depth of this family's pain and she had felt honoured to be allowed to share it with them. She hadn't even needed to look at him to know how much it had cost him to share the tape and thus his pain with anyone else, so she simply had reassured him that everything would be all right some day and that it was OK to be vulnerable by putting her hand on his forearm, caressing it lightly with her thumb, thus trying to give him the comfort she had been capable of and which he had needed. That night they had felt very close as a family and even though neither one had mentioned anything about it later, they mutually had known that there was no denying that the bond between them had been getting stronger ever since.
Fran sighed again, then she opened the bottle of Perrier and poured herself a glass. She took a sip and as she looked at the 'nosh' she had prepared, she didn't find herself hungry any more and put it into the fridge in order to save it for later.
As she went to switch off the little light above the stove in order to get back to bed, she heard a muffled sound coming from the direction of the living room. She frowned and thought about waking Niles and Mr Sheffield, but then thought the better of it and went to investigate herself. Most probably it was just some twig slapping against a window somewhere or the wind.
As she silently and carefully approached the living room she found it illuminated only by the pale light of the TV screen and the small flames of a silently crackling fire in the fireplace. When her eyes had got used to the semi-darkness, she could recognize her employer sitting on the couch, obviously watching the old videos of his late wife. His elbows were propped on his knees and his face was buried in his hands. From the shaking of his body Fran could tell that he had been crying and from the half-empty bottle of cognac on the table she could tell that he had been drinking as well. She felt a deep warmth in her as a wave of sympathy for this man ran through her body and her first impulse was to go over to him, take him in her arms and hold him, trying to give him all the comfort she could. She started to move towards him. But then she decided it was not her place to intrude on this very private moment and she silently turned to leave him alone.
"Don't go" he said in a hoarse voice, turning his head barely visible towards her, while he moved his hands from his face to his forehead running his fingers partly through his already tousled hair.
She reluctantly went to sit beside him on the couch.
His elbows still on his knees, Maxwell was looking into the crackling flames in the fireplace while he was twisting his wedding band absently with his right hand. They were sitting beside each other in silence for a while and Fran waited for him to say something. But he just kept staring into the fire, obviously not able to put his thoughts and emotions into words. He looked down at his wedding band glistening in the soft light, inhaled heavily and opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something but then again he couldn't get it out. He exhaled and frowned and at the same time his eyes went teary again. Fran put her left hand carefully on his back and started to rub it gently while she rested her other hand on her own thigh.
"I know" she said.
He looked at her for the first time since he had asked her to stay. His eyes were reddened and somewhat swollen from crying. When he looked at her beautiful features, he was overwhelmed by the sympathetic and caring expression on her face.
"You still miss her a lot, don't you?" she asked tenderly, smiling a gentle and at the same time sad smile at him.
He averted his gaze and took her petite hand from her thigh between his own two, rubbing the back of it with his thumb. He looked at their hands and simply nodded as he tried to fight down the dwelling tears again, choking his response.
"Normally it's all right" he began in a low voice "but sometimes it's just so..." he trailed off, trying to find the right words to express his feelings "...it's...". Fran could almost feel his pain as she watched the display of emotions on his face. Then he finally lost the fight against the tears.
"Oh God, I just loved her so much" he managed to choke out before he started sobbing.
Fran simply pulled him into her embrace and against her chest, starting to rock him gently. Maxwell slowly returned the embrace, tightening it with every passing second as he clung to her as if she was a life-buoy in an ocean and he a shipwrecked sailor, hanging on for dear life. Nobody except Sarah had ever seen him in such a desolate state before, but he didn't care. Perhaps he was a little too drunk to care, perhaps it was because it felt right to give in to his pain.
It felt so good to be held by her, it felt good to be this close to her, it felt good to let go off his defences for once and it felt good to know that she was the one who could ease his pain by just being her and being there. He felt like pulling her closer to his body so that she would never let go of him and he wanted to drown in the shelter of the comfort her embrace was giving him.
Fran caressed his fresh-smelling hair and his back as she kept rocking him, silently cooing him as if he was a little child. She just wanted to comfort him while he let it all out, all the years of hidden pain and hurt, all the times he had locked up his emotions behind his male British reserve and the constant fight with his emotions and his conscience. She continued holding and caressing him until he would calm down and his sobs would change into more regular breathing. Then she gently pushed him back a little to look at him again. He only let go reluctantly and then wiped his eyes with his palms, taking out a handkerchief from his pocket to blow his nose. When he was done, he put the handkerchief away and took a deep breath, looking at her again almost shyly and a little embarrassed.
"Better?" she inquired softly.
"Yes." He nodded. "Yes. Thank you."
Fran smiled affectionately at him, again rubbing his back as he turned to look at the fireplace again, but this time his look was not as distant and blurred as it had been before. Perhaps the crying had rid him off the intoxicating effect of the alcohol. Then he began speaking.
"You know...when Sarah left me - left us, I didn't know what to do any more. I felt so lost and so devastated that I thought I couldn't go on with life. I felt lonely, angry and sad at the same time and I had trouble keeping up even the daily routine. I felt like I had lost everything..." again he trailed off, hanging down his head.
Fran brushed back his hair at which he turned his head to face her again. She smiled.
"Yes, but you had a wonderful relationship with her and you had the experience of sharing something very rare like true love and you even can look at the very outcome of this love every day. You just need to look at these marvellous kids of yours. I mean, look at Maggie's face, look at B's smile or listen to Gracie's laugh and, you'll see what a great thing you achieved together and you'll realize that she might have gone, but somehow she'll always be there."
He looked briefly at her and then sighed.
"I guess you're right, Miss Fine. But sometimes that's exactly what makes me think about how much I miss her sometimes. She won't be there at Brighton's confirmation, she'll never see into what a beautiful young lady Margaret has developed and she won't be able to share Gracie's brightness. And at these moments I sometimes feel like I'm all alone again and that I've lost anything worth living for" he sighed.
"Oh, come on" she replied enthusiastically. "You know that's nonsense. You're not alone at all and you've achieved quite a lot, if you ask me. You've made three wonderful kids with the love of your life, you and CC run an extraordinary successful business, Niles is a better and truer friend to you than anyone could imagine and, hey, on top of all..." she smiled brightly at him, as he looked up to face her again "...you've got me" she finished, nudging him a little with her elbow in her characteristic manner.
Maxwell didn't return her smile but stared seriously and deeply into her beautiful brown eyes. Fran's smile faded as she saw the serious and strangely vulnerable expression on his face, which she had never seen before on his familiar handsome features. She immediately thought she might have been a little too cheerful for his serious mood or that she might have said something wrong or overstepped an invisible line. But before she had the chance to apologize, he lowered his eyes shyly and she heard his voice reaching her ears barely audible.
"This night..." he paused, then he looked up at her again, slowly drawing in a long breath "...right now...if you asked me to make love to you..." he paused again to look firmly into her eyes and then continued "...I wouldn't say 'no'."
Fran felt her heartbeat increase as a wave of many different emotions went through her entire body. She didn't know whether to feel surprised, honoured, flattered or shocked. As she looked into his eyes she could see that in this very moment he really meant it. She was overwhelmed by the intimacy of the moment and at the vulnerable and desperate look in his eyes.
There he was, Maxwell Sheffield, the man of her dreams, revealed to her completely, offering what she had been dreaming of for so long, offering to finally take the last step in their relationship. She only could think of how much she had wanted him to say these words but when she saw the look in his eyes, she knew she would never be able to make use of his present situation. At this very thought she felt an enormously awesome feeling grow inside her, which left her in mild shock at the realisation that she truly loved the man in front of her. She felt a heat wave run through her entire being as she realised all of a sudden that she hadn't been aware of that until this very moment. She had always known that she and him had had feelings for each other and a very strong attraction, but she had never experienced anything like she did right now and she was overwhelmed and even afraid, as she didn't know how to cope with the intensity of these emotions. She had thought she was in love with him before, but now she really felt it, which left her almost breathless.
Fran held his look for a long while and she felt like he must have been able to read all her thoughts just by looking at her. By his interrogative look she could tell he wanted and needed her, but she couldn't be sure of his reasons, especially not tonight when he felt hurt, was intoxicated, confused and so extremely vulnerable. She knew for sure he had been serious about his proposal but at the same time she knew that his vulnerability and longing might have overruled his better knowledge and judgement and she wouldn't bind him to her by making use of his moment of weakness. Fran wanted him to want the same when he was back to his ordinary self and she was surprised as she realized, that within the last four years she really had come a long way.
"This night..." she started as she lifted her hand to touch his grey streak, brushing it gently from his forehead to its usual place "...I couldn't ask" she finished with a soft sigh, giving him a weak smile.
Maxwell caught her hand as she wanted to pull it back and placed it on his cheek as he caught her look. For a few moments they were having a silent conversation, looking for all the answers to their mutual questions in each others eyes and as if there was a silent understanding between them Maxwell turned his head lightly to kiss the inside of her palm very slowly.
As he closed his eyes to experience the feeling more intensely, Fran thought he had never looked more handsome to her than in this particular moment. His face showed a look of distant pain and regret and between his eyelids, a single tear was glistening as a reminder of the intimate moment they had shared a few minutes ago.
Fran leaned forward to kiss his forehead and folded him into a soft embrace, which Maxwell returned. They remained like this for a long while, just holding each other and taking comfort from the other one's proximity. After a few minutes Fran realized that Maxwell's breathing had become regular and when she softly addressed him she found he had fallen asleep. She remained with him for a while longer, thinking about what just had happened, before she gently draw away, thus making him lie back on the couch. He mumbled something, but stayed asleep. Fran put a rug over him before she switched off the flickering TV screen. Then she turned to take one more look at him. She sighed and silently went up to her room in order to get at least a little sleep.
The next morning she was a little nervous about what Mr Sheffield's reaction to last night's event might be - now that he was sober and had made it through the night. She sighed. Well, she would find out soon but decided not to worry too much about it. After all they were both grown-up people. Before she entered the dining room she took a deep breath and then went in to join the rest of the family who had already started to enjoy their breakfast.
"Good morning, everyone" she greeted them cheerfully as any morning.
"Morning Fran", "Good morning Miss Fine" the kids, Niles and Mr Sheffield replied.
She briefly looked into Maxwell's eyes to find any hint of his thoughts about last night, but he didn't show any sign of uneasiness or concern, so she went over to have Niles fill her plate with her favourite French waffles. She smiled her thanks to him and went to take her place between Grace and Mr Sheffield. Everybody seemed to be in a good mood after the great day they had spent together the day before and once again Fran had to think of how wonderfully everyone in this family had developed. She smiled a tiny smile and continued talking with the kids about their plans for the day. Every once in a while she looked at Mr Sheffield but the way he smiled at his children and her, obviously enjoying his time with them, reassured her that everything was all right.
Maxwell looked at his watch.
"Children I guess it's about time for you to go to school now."
"Ooops, you're right, dad. Too bad. Time really flies when you're having a good time, doesn't it?" Maggie said.
"Yeah, what do you say, we skip school today and do something together" Brighton hopefully inquired but at his father's look he added "or maybe we'd better get going right now. Bye Dad, bye, Fran" he quickly said, joining his sisters on their way out of the dining room.
"Bye kids" Fran called after them but they were already gone.
"Well, I think I'd be getting ready for the day myself" she said, but as she was about to stand up in order to put her cleared plate on the by-stand, Maxwell put his warm hand on hers, making her stop getting up.
"Please, wait, Miss Fine" he said gently. "I need to talk to you" he gestured towards her chair. "Please sit" and she responded to his request by lowering herself on the chair again. She felt a little uneasy and nervous as she realized that he hadn't been too intoxicated to have forgotten what had happened the night before.
"Mr Sheffield, there's no..." she started, but he shushed her gently, not letting go off her hand but bringing it up to his lips to kiss her fingers tenderly. Then he brought their hands down to let them rest on his thigh, caressing the back of hers slightly. He looked into her eyes and started to speak.
"Miss Fine, I just wanted to thank you again for last night."
"Oh, Mr Sheffield, there's no need to do that. Everyone needs someone to lean on and a shoulder to cry on every once in a while. It's nothing compared to the hundreds of times when you were there for me and my silly little problems. I guess we're not even 'even'" she smiled at him.
"That's not what I'm talking about, Miss Fine" he answered and all of a sudden her heartbeat increased and she started to feel nervous again. She had thought that there might have been a way to avoid having to talk to him about it. She knew that he normally couldn't handle anything intimate between them too well, so she rather wanted them not to go too deep into this. But before she could come up with something to save them from this awkward situation he continued.
"I mean, it is what I'm talking about, but there's more than that."
He looked at her seriously and a tad awkwardly and she somehow could tell that what he was about to say would cost him some effort but he would not let it slip. Then he cleared his throat and continued.
"I want you to know that I really do appreciate you not making use of last night and that you ..." he cleared his throat "...well... refused to sleep with me regarding the given circumstances. I know what it cost you." He took a small breath. "Thank you."
He paused and Fran was too flabbergasted at his honesty to say anything, so she just smiled almost apologetically and lowered her eyes.
"Fran" he paused for a moment and her heart leapt at his use of her first name "I guess we both know that we've got very strong and deep feelings for each other... and I won't even dare to deny that I really do want you, you have to know that" he said, shaking his head slightly, overwhelmed by his emotions. He lowered his head to look at their entwined fingers.
"Last night only showed one more time how important you are to me and how much I need you in my life, Fran" he went on in a low but firm voice.
Fran almost couldn't believe her ears at what Mister Sheffield was telling her and she found herself speechless, since the emotions she was feeling in this very moment choked her throat, so she just stared at him, trying to calm down and fight down the rising happiness inside her, as his words were sinking in. Their time together had taught her not to jump to conclusions and not to believe in her happiness too quickly. So she waited for him to go on with an open, encouraging look on her face.
He snorted a little, smiling a tad awkwardly and sheepishly.
"You know I've been not the most forward, concerning our relationship, but if we were to go any further, it would mean taking a very serious step." He got serious again. "I want to be honest with you. I am scared. Not of commitment, but I..." he sighed "...I just don't want anything to go wrong between us, just because we're not entirely ready. That's why I want us not to rush anything and take things slowly." He paused a moment and caught her eyes again. "What we've got is far too precious to me and I couldn't stand losing it ... I couldn't stand losing you" he finished giving her a hopeful, worried look as if he was looking for her understanding.
"Neither could I" Fran admitted and Maxwell's face showed a display of relief.
They smiled at each other like two people who shared a secret that no one else knew about.
Fran was the first to speak.
"So where do we go from here?" she wanted to know.
He took her other hand, too, and held her two with his, smiling warmly at her, happy she was in for his way of approaching their relationship.
"Well, speaking of 'going'. I'm free tonight. So what do you say if the two of us went out for some dinner and a show. Like on a date? What do you say?"
"Oh" Fran's face showed a sheepishly disappointed expression. "I'm sorry but actually I'm already spoken for for tonight" she smiled apologetically.
Maxwell's face fell as he couldn't hide his disappointment "Oh. I didn't know you were seeing someone" he said and Fran could feel he was about to pull back his hands but she wouldn't let go off them.
"Val and I were going to have a 'girls' only' night tonight. But I guess given the circumstances, she wouldn't mind if we postponed our 'date'" she quickly reassured him flashing him a bright smile and giving his hands a small squeeze.
He immediately calmed down. "Sorry" he said in a low voice, but by the sparkle in her eyes and the way she smiled at him, he knew that he wouldn't have to worry about her going out with someone else than him. Hopefully never again. He felt a warm calmness spread inside him and at the same time he felt deliriously happy like a teenager in love for the first time.
"So tonight it is, then" he said cheerfully smiling at her.
"Yes, tonight it is" she returned giggling a little. "I've just gotta call Val."
They both stood up and as they were about to leave the dining room in order to pick up on their daily routine, she all of a sudden stopped dead in her tracks, turned around and snapped her fingers, almost making Maxwell walk into her as he was following her as he was still holding one of her hands.
"There's something we forgot" she said.
Maxwell looked at her puzzled. "What?"
"This" she said and gently pulled him in by one of his lapels for a sweet kiss.
Maxwell folded her in his arms and returned the kiss sensuously. When they parted, they looked at each other and Fran said "That was just for the road." Then she gave him soft peck, winked at him and made her exit through the door, leaving him smiling and shaking his head in disbelief at her unique spontaneity.
It was shortly after eleven p.m. when Niles walked towards the staircase leading upstairs from the living room in order to go to bed. He took a last look to check whether he had forgotten to pick up any things the children might have forgotten downstairs this afternoon but he couldn't find anything. Then he switched off the lights and started to ascend the stairs, when his attention was drawn to the front door being opened. He stepped back and switched the lights back on, as his employer and Miss Fine, both chuckling and obviously in a very good mood, entered the mansion. He smiled at the picture of his two best friends finally having started to take the right steps in their relationship.
Mr Sheffield and Miss Fine had been dating for three months now and they both were beaming with happiness whenever they were together, and even when Niles was alone with either of them he could tell that he was looking at someone very much in love and very happy. Both seemed radiant with the development of their relationship throughout the last couple of months. Actually Niles had started to wonder when they would take the next step and finally get engaged. But perhaps it was better not to rush anything. It had taken him too long and too much effort than to see his favourite couple mess up. 'Well, all good things come to those who wait' he thought to himself, then he stepped down the last two steps and greeted the still chuckling couple.
"Good evening Miss Fine, Sir" he nodded, giving them a small smile as he took Fran's coat from Maxwell in order to hang it up in the closet.
"Hi Niles" Fran returned and Maxwell handed Niles his own coat, which he had just slid off.
"Good evening, old man. Thank you. Still up so late?" he inquired.
"Yes, sir, there was a nice movie on TV and since the children are all out or at friends' for the night, I thought I might as well enjoy my time here - for once" he responded.
Maxwell gave him a look. "Well, in this case I sincerely hope that you really have made good use of my cigars and my cognac as well."
Niles gave him a sulking and overdone insulted look. "Sir! I would never do anything like that."
"Well, then you had better do so, old friend." He grinned and put his arm around Fran's shoulders, giving her a warm smile. "Have one for me, too" he said to a bewildered Niles, then he turned towards Fran again, who flashed him a radiant smile. He bent down and gently rubbed his nose against hers affectionately.
Niles couldn't help but wonder once more how free they were feeling with their feelings for each other now. He shook his head and then decided to make good use of his employer's good mood and accept his offer.
"Well, I think in that case I'd better turn in for the night and leave you two alone. Miss Fine, Sir, good night" he said but the two were almost oblivious of his presence, lost in the other ones eyes.
"Oh, yes, good night, old boy" Maxwell snapped out of his trance and excused him while he sent his dear friend a sheepish smile.
"Night, Niles. Sweet dreams to you" Fran added, stepping out of Maxwell's embrace to give her best friend a kiss on the cheek.
Niles frowned a little in astonishment. "You two really must have had a great night."
"Yeah" Fran answered, entwining her hand with Maxwell's. "It was just perfect" she looked at Maxwell lovingly and they exchanged a small peck.
The Sheffield butler smiled warmly at his friends. "Well, ...good night then" he said again.
"Good night, Niles" Fran and Max said in unison as they watched their friend walk up the stairs, shaking his head slightly. What they couldn't see was the happy grin on his face.
When Niles had disappeared, Maxwell addressed Fran, inviting her with his outstretched arm. "Care for a nightcap?"
"Sure" she answered as he guided her towards the couch by gently putting his hand at the small of her back. "I'll get the drinks, you light the fire."
A few minutes later they were sitting on the couch snuggled up to each other. Maxwell had laid his feet on the coffee-table and his right arm draped around Fran's shoulder. His head rested on hers as she had laid it in the crook between his shoulder and neck. They both felt very comfortable sitting there in silence enjoying each other's closeness. Maxwell enjoyed feeling her breathing steadily and to feel her heartbeat against his chest. He slightly kissed her hair and then closed his eyes, giving a content sigh. He smiled a happy smile as Fran reacted to his gesture by gently caressing his pectorals with her right palm, while her left hand was rested on his thigh.
Fran sighed, too, at which Maxwell opened his eyes again. He moved his position a little in order to look at her. Without having to say anything they shared a tender kiss, after which they smiled and snuggled up again.
"You know" Maxwell started chuckling a little as he reached for her left hand, slipping his fingers through hers "I can't believe he hasn't realized it" he finished, playing with the classy diamond ring he had slipped on her finger a few hours ago after they had enjoyed a wonderful dinner.
"Yeah, me neither" Fran answered, playing with his fingers. "I can't wait to see his face when he finds out" she chuckled and Maxwell liked the feeling against his body. He caressed he bare arm with the fingertips of his right hand, which made her shiver a little.
"I suppose he will regard it as some dishonouring of his yenta-skills" he said, raising his eyebrows at the picture of an upset Niles.
Fran sighed. "You know, he's such a doll. He really deserves some reward. Without him it would have taken us far longer to finally get together."
"Do you think we should have taken that hurdle earlier?" he inquired, facing her from the side.
She moved her head a little to look at the slightly astonished expression on his face.
"At first I did, but come to think of it now, I guess you were just right to make us take things slowly." She paused and then went on. "You know, before we decided to start dating, I thought there was no use in being slow or cautious, for I was sure I wanted all this but..." she obviously was looking for the words to express her thoughts "...I think you weren't the only one who needed some more time..." she admitted, smiling slightly sheepishly.
He looked at her and Fran was astonished at the display on his face. It showed understanding and pride and suddenly she even felt better than she had before.
"I know, Darling" he said. "I'm glad you see it that way." He reached up to gently run a finger along her cheek and jawbone. "Actually I haven't been this happy and content in a long while, Fran, thanks to you."
"Neither have I" she answered taking his warm, masculine hand to kiss its palm gently. "In fact I have never felt like this before, Max."
"Have you got any idea of how much I love you?" he sighed and slightly shook his head in disbelief at the strength of his emotions.
"Hopefully as much as I love you, Honey" she replied and then they brought their lips together for a fragile kiss. Neither of them needed a strong kiss to feel the other one's love.
When they parted, she smiled almost shyly at him and cast down her eyes. They remained in silence for a while and then she spoke, sheepishly playing with her engagement ring.
"Maxwell,...you know...this night...right now...if you asked me to make love to you tonight...I wouldn't say 'no'" then she looked straight and a bit seductively into his eyes and Maxwell's felt his heart skip a beat. He stood up and held out his hand to her, having trouble keeping his fingers from trembling with excitement.
"Care to join me upstairs, Miss Fine?" he said in a slightly trembling voice.
Fran smiled at him, taking his offered hand, thus letting him help her get up from the couch.
"I'd love to, Mr Sheffield" she answered and they ascended the stairs hand in hand without any hurry.
Maxwell stirred awake and he drowsily lifted his head. He smiled as he saw Fran next to him in the darkened bedroom, lying on her belly, her head turned towards him. Her left hand was rested on the sheets between their pillows and the diamond was sparkling brightly even in the pale light. The blanket had come down to her cute behind and her skin was shining alluringly in the moonlight, which came in through the partly opened shades. Her wild dark curls were spread over her bare back and over the pillow and he couldn't help but smile at the memory how he had let his hands entwine with them when they had made love only a few hours ago.
He laid on his side, propping up on his elbow in order to watch her sleep. 'Oh, God she is so beautiful. She's the most beautiful woman I've ever known since Sarah - inside and outside.'
He reached out to pull the blanket up a little as he realized her smooth skin had gone goose-pimply due to the cool air coming in through the slightly ajar window. He took a few of her tendrils between his fingers and leaned in to inhale her fresh and wonderful scent, closing his eyes at the memory of their first love-making.
He sighed with content. She had been so passionate and enthusiastic, completely intoxicating and he had made love to her just the same. It had been completely consuming in every aspect for both of them. And he had loved the power they had had over each other. He had fantasized about them doing that for so long, but he had found reality was way better that just fantasizing, even though he had been a tad scared whether he would be able to live up to her expectations and give her anything she desired, since he had wanted it to be perfect for her, just like what she deserved, but soon his worries had been forgotten as they had been discovering that they literally had been made for each other. They had instinctively known what to do, where to touch or to kiss in order to lead the other one to pure consummation. He had loved every single second of it. The way she had given herself to him completely, the way he had abandoned to her, the connection they had had - a connection he was still feeling in this very moment - a connection having been burnt to his memory and to his soul.
Making love to her had been more than finally showing her how much and how deeply he cared about her - it had been not only a relief but a revelation to him and her, for they had finally entwined their souls to a point where they finally had become one. When they had shared this enormous experience of literally possessing each other to the utmost intimacy, Maxwell had felt a part of him sink into her and he knew that it would remind within her for the rest of their lives. Just as he had felt a part of her sink into him. He could feel that being separated from her would mean a constant hunger and longing of his soul to be with its missing part again. Just like it had been with Sarah.
He turned a little and reached out for Sarah's photograph on his by-stand before he leaned back against the headboard, looking at the smiling image of his first love. He sighed and then whispered.
"You know I will always love you, Sarah. Nothing can ever change that." He gently caressed the ever smiling image of his first soul mate with his thumb. He smiled gently at the picture. "I hope you'll be happy for Fran and me. She completes our lives and makes me and the children very happy...I really love her a great deal. I'm sure you'll understand."
He softly let his fingertips run along her beautiful features again and simply said "Good bye, Darling."
A gentle breeze came in through the window as he put the picture back in its place and lay on his back, his hands entwined behind his head, lost in thought. After he had been staring at the ceiling for a while, he realized Fran move and he turned his head towards her. She stirred and lifted her head a little. After having realized where she was and how she had got there, she drowsily rested her head on the pillow again, smiling happily but exhausted, closing her eyes for a moment, sighing contently. Then she tiredly opened them again.
"Hi" she said sleepily.
"Hi" Maxwell returned, brushing away one of her tendrils affectionately. "Everything all right?"
"Mmmmmm..." she just mumbled, already close to sleep again. "...'s cold..." she added and moved over to snuggle up to Maxwell, who folded her into his arms, pulling the blanket over her shoulders.
"...thanks..." she mumbled against his neck touching it slightly in a weak kiss "...love you..."
"Love you, too." Maxwell smiled and kissed her forehead, before he closed his eyes, feeling wonderfully content and sleepy with the second love of his life in his arms.
"I do" Maxwell said in a firm but gentle voice, sincerely looking at his bride whose beautiful dark eyes were sparkling with plain love and happiness. Then he took the smaller of the two wedding bands, which were placed neatly on a little navy pillow, now offered to him by his best man and friend Niles, whose blue eyes were shining almost as brightly as the bride's. He turned towards Fran and slid the golden band on the fourth finger of her left hand, keeping a hold of it.
"With this ring, I thee wed" he proclaimed to her and the rest of the world, so that anyone would know this woman was his forever.
"Francine Joy Fine, do you take this man, Maxwell Beverly Sheffield, as your beloved husband, for better for worse, in sickness and in health? Do you promise to love him, cherish him and be truthful to him for the rest of your life until death shall you part?" the rabbi repeated the modified version of the question, the priest had asked Maxwell a few moments ago, for the radiant bride.
"I do" she answered, flashing her fiancé a bright smile as she took the other wedding band from Niles to slip it on his finger, as well keeping a hold of his hands.
"With this ring I thee wed" she finished the ritual of exchanging vows and she felt like her heart would burst with joy. Finally her dream had come true.
The two clerical men exchanged a short look and then spoke in unison.
"By the power, bestowed to us by our offices, we declare you 'husband' and 'wife'. You may kiss the bride."
Maxwell broke the glass with his foot before he pulled his new wife in by her waist for a deeply heartfelt kiss, to which she responded with the same warmth, both almost oblivious of their audience, who burst with applause.
When they parted, they exchanged a loving look and turned to walk down the aisle.
As they were passing by familiar smiling faces, Maxwell was wondering where their path together would lead them, but he felt absolutely sure that no matter where it might be, they would be able to cope with anything ahead, as long as they were together.
He squeezed his wife's hand gently and when he took a look at her and by seeing the expression in her gaze, he could tell she was as sure about their future as he was and he felt a wave of entire calm- and happiness wash over him. He knew they both were completely at ease with anything about their lives. 'Yes, waiting surely had paid off' he thought, smiling to himself