Alternative story from thr episode 1x05 "Here Comes the Brood". Gracie ran away but not in the limo. Now she is lost in Queens. Maxwell and Fran are worried to death and start a search to bring their baby home.

Gracie is gone!

Gracie looked around, she was extremely frightened. She had no idea where she was. Everything seemed so strange and unknown. How would she ever find her way back home? Together with Fran and her siblings, the way to Frans old home in Queens seemed always so easy. But now all alone she was totally lost.

Gracie had run away. She wanted to see Fran, who was at her parent's home today. Gracie was depressed and frustrated. First this stupid trip to the zoo and then CC's mean hurting outburst. Just because they don't like her, she has no right to insult Fran.

Gracie had made up the plan to rush to her beloved nanny immediately. Secretly she had sneaked out through the kitchen's back door and ran off.

Since they had visited Frans mother sometimes, she knew whish bus to take. But now she was wandering around Queens and didn't know where to go next. Tears ran down her face.

Nobody in the Sheffield mansion had yet noticed Gracie's escape. After the dump excursion, Maggie and Brighton retreated to their rooms. CC sat in the living room, completely exhausted. How could spending some time with three children be such an ordeal? Not only were they all nagging at the same time, Brighton wanted to see the reptile house, Gracie wanted to visit the petting zoo and Maggie had to go to the bathroom every five minutes. But the worst point was, every sentence from the children began or ended with the word 'Fran'."

Then the front door opened and Maxwell, relieved of all toothache, stepped into the living room.

"Hello CC, hi Niles! Where are the children?"

CC growled, here she was about to collapse and his first concern were his brat.

"They are all upstairs. They were all quite exhausted after the excursion. We have experienced so much and we had so much fun." CC purred in her sweetest tone and gave him a hyperbolic happy smile.

"Splendid", he went towards the stairs and shouted, "Maggie Brighton Gracie, come down we're having an ice cream party!" He turned to his butler.

"Niles, bring mugs, spoons and all toppings available." Then he went to the cocktail table and placed several ice cream boxes there that he had brought with him.

Brighton and Maggie hurried down.

"Wow cool, so much ice cream!" Maxwell grinned at his children.

"The dentist advised, ice cream may be good for cooling my ache, so I thought we'd have a cozy afternoon together."

Maggie and Brighton immediately grabbed their favorite flavors and made themselves huge sundaes with whipped cream, chocolate sauce and sprinkles. "Where's Gracie?" asked Maxwell, when he didn't see his little girl.

"Nofff cluefff" uttered Brighton with his mouth full. "She must have heard you." added Maggie.

"I'm going to have a look", Maxwell climbed up the stairs.

But Grace wasn't in her room or anywhere else. He searched the entire upper floor, went into all the rooms, peeked into all the hiding spots, where she occasionally hid. He hurried down the stairs

"She's gone! I've been looking for her everywhere." "That's impossible", remarked CC and Niles replied: "She was still here earlier."

Now everyone looked and ran around the mansion, but no Grace. Eventually they all gathered again in the living room. Maxwell picked up the phone.

"I'm calling the police."

"Isn't that a little exaggerated Maxwell."

"CC, my six year old daughter has disappeared. We have to do something."

Due to Maxwell's violent respond CC blushed and stuttered.

"We're going to look for her. She can't be very far yet, maybe she's in the park or at the candy store."

"Gracie doesn't run away, just to buy some candies and why didn't anyone notice her going. Niles? CC?"

"Sir, I really have enough duties around the house .."

"I think she's with Fran" Brighton blurted out suddenly.

"I think so too" Maggie agreed with her brother. "Where else should she go."

"But she doesn't even know the way, or does she?" "Well, we've been with Fran to her mother's house a few times. Gracie certainly knows which bus we rode with."

"All right", Maxwell took matters in his hands.

"I'm driving to Miss Fine now and if Gracie is not there, further on to the police. Niles and CC, you will search around the surrounding area and also call her schoolmates and Maggie, Brighton you stay here if she comes back.

Fran had no idea about the drama going on at the Park Avenue. She was preparing herself for the wedding. Silvia was sitting on the couch in her gown, eating chicken.

"Maaa, don't fill yourself up now."

"Why? I have to eat or should I risk to faint and who knows how stingy they are with the portions at the reception."

Suddenly the doorbell rang. Fran opened the door. "Mr. Sheffield, what are you doing here?"

He hastily stormed into the apartment.

"Please tell me, Gracie is here with you!"

"Gracie? No, why should she be here? The kids are at the zoo with CC."

Panic rose in Fran. Her little Gracie had apparently disappeared.

"Yes, they were at the zoo but then I returned home and Gracie was gone. Brighton and Maggie meant she certainly wants to come to you."

"Oh my God! My poor little Gracie! We have to find her!"

"I'm going to the police now"

Maxwell was about to leave the apartment when Fran held him back.

"That wouldn't do any good, you just sit around there and they will ask you to fill out some forms. If she took the bus the she probably got lost around here in Queens somewhere. We should try to find her on our own... give me 5 minutes."

Fran hurried to her former room, got out of her dress, threw herself into the next clothes that came into her hands and rushed back to the living room.

"Would you like a canapé?"

"Maaaaaa! Gracie is missing and you're only thinking about food?"

She pushed Mr. Sheffield out of the apartment,

"Maa you stay here for the case Gracie shows up."

"But the wedding and the menu .. "

But Fran glared at her and Silvia fell silent. She was worried about the little girl too, but the beautiful ceremony.

Fran and Maxwell ran down the road to the bus stop, calling everywhere for Gracie. Fran showed several passengers a picture but no one could help them. At the bus station, Fran questioned all the drivers and one of them was certain he had seen Gracie on the bus. He remembered her because he actually had the thought the girl didn't fit into this area. So now they knew for sure, Gracie was really here in Queens.

Fran asked the shopkeepers, and one fruit seller remembered, he was giving Gracie an apple because she had looked so sad. She indicated the direction Grace had disappeared to. Maxwell called home from a phone booth and told them what they found out by now. Fran directed him.

"We have to go this way."

Maxwell's worries grew bigger and bigger.

"I just don't get it. Grace has never run away. Why does she suddenly come up with the idea to ride alone with the bus just to be with you?!"

"I don't know either. I certainly didn't encourage her to do it."

"If you hadn't always taking the bus with the kids! It is obvious that Gracie is imitating you!"

"Are you blaming me?"

Fran stopped and stared at her boss in horror. She was deeply hurt and angry. Maxwell hardly dared to look at her, slightly embarrassed he continued.

"No, but before you were there, I didn't have to walk around Queens in the dark to find one of my children."

"You are sooo mean and unfair"

Her tears swelled up and she punched him vigorously with her fists.

"For your information Mistaa! You are not the only one who worries about Gracie! I am scared to death! My little angel, my baby!"

It was over with Fran's composure. She began to cry and sob.

"I'm sorry Miss Fine!" Maxwell took her in his arms.

"I shouldn't have said that. It's just the fear, you understand?! Calm down, we'll find Gracie! Most definitely!"

They hugged each other briefly and each was searching for comfort and support from the other.

Meanwhile, Grace found the playground they had visited with Fran once. She was tired, hungry, and freezing. She climbed onto the jungle gym, crouched down and cried.

"Fran! Fran! I'm here ... Fran, help meee ... I want to go home! Fraaaaan!"

Over and over again she called her name, even if she knew it was useless anyway. Fran must have been at the wedding long ago and had certainly no idea where she was.

In the meantime Fran had recovered and she and Maxwell continued their search. Maxwell looked at her desperately.

"Please think carefully. Where could Grace have run to?"

Fran took a closer look around the area and thought feverishly. Then she had an enlightenment.

"Yeah, there is a playground not far away. I was there once with all three of them. Come on!"

As fast as her high-heels allowed her, she ran towards the playground.

In the meantime it was completely dark. Gracie was still crouched on the jungle gym, crying. Suddenly she felt as if someone had called her name. But that couldn't be, could it be? She climbed down and tried to hear where the calls were coming from. There again, this time more clearly. Gracie ran in the direction she thought she heard the calls from. There again! This time she had definitely recognized Fran's voice and there was also a male voice to be heard. Probably her father. Gracie ran to a street lamp, stood in the light and shouted as loudly as she could,

"Fraaaan! Daaaaaadddddyyyy! I'm here! I'm here!."

Fran and Maxwell were almost at the playground. They kept calling for Gracie until they suddenly heard a girl's voice.

"That's Gracie!" Maxwell exclaimed excitedly and relieved at the same time.

"Wait Gracie we're coming."

Gracie continued to stand under the lantern until she saw Fran and her daddy running towards her. She couldn't believe her fortune.

"Fraaaan!"

She shouted loudly and ran straight towards her. Fran knelt on the floor and Grace ran straight into her arms. "Fran, finally! I've called for you so many times. I was hoping soo badly, you would find me."

"Gracie, Angel my god we finally found you! We were terribly worried."

Fran held Grace tight in her arms and didn't want to let her go. Maxwell also knelt next to his daughter. "Honey, thank God you're alright. We were so worried!"

"Daddy!"

Grace threw herself into his arms. Maxwell picked her up.

"You might come up with some silly ideas. Well now we're going home immediately."

Maxwell carried his daughter. They went to the next phone booth. Maxwell handed Gracie to Fran, who held her tightly in her arms. He called the chauffeur first and ordered the limousine to the place. Then he called home to share the good news and finally he also called Fran's mother. Everyone was relieved.

Then the limo came and they all climbed in. Gracie sat on Fran's lap. Maxwell spoke to his daughter in a serious tone.

"Sweetheart, don't ever run away again. Okay?! You have no idea what could have happened to you. How did you come up with it in the first place?"

Gracie shrugged her shoulders.

"I'm sorry, Daddy, I just wanted to see Fran and I thought..with the bus... it would be easy."

"Ooooyyyy, Angel, your father is absolutely right, you must nevaaa run away on your own again!"

"But I missed you and ..." Fran pressed Gracie very close.

"Aaaawwwwwhhhh sweetie, that's soooo cute, but still that's far too dangerous! I could neva forgive myself when something would have happen to you. You nearly gave me a heart attack. I love you so much." Gracie snuggled herself even closer to Fran.

"I love you too!"

Fran looked Grace right in the eye and pointed with one finger to her heart.

"Promised? Nevaa evaa again?"

"Promised! Never ever again!"

Fran and Gracie hugged each other. Maxwell had observed the whole scene with tears in his eyes and now smiled at them in admiration. Once again he came to realize, Fran Fine was the best nanny in the wole wide world.

End

As a child I found it really hard to believe that Gracie ran away with a limo. So I came up with a story, where Gracie runs away with the bus and gets lost. I hope you will enjoy it and I appreciate any kind of feedback!