The second chance! (The Nanny)

Time to say goodbye!

Fran was sitting in a cab, heading back to the Sheffield mansion. She had just visited her mother and told her about Danny's proposal. Her mother had gotten totally ecstatic at the idea of Fran finally getting married. But slight doubts were nagging at Fran.
She loves Danny, he has always been the love of her life and it had been an overwhelming experience, when he had begged her for forgiveness earlier and in addition had proposed to her.
The butterflies in her belly were all back. And yet...on the other side, she felt a deep sadness inside her at the prospect of leaving her life with the Sheffields behind. She loves these children soo much and she would hurt them tremendously if she moves out.

Before the cab drove to Park Avenue, it stopped at Danny's bridal shop. Fran got out. Danny already had saw her through the window and held the door open for her.
"Hi baby I missed you."
He kissed her wild and Fran's knees got weak. Fran smiled at him.
" About your question earlier..."
But  before she could continue Danny shushed her with his fingers covering her lips.
"Wait!"
He pulled out a jewelry box, knelt down in front of Fran and asked her.
"Will you marry me?"
Fran couldn't do anything else but nodded.
He slipped the engagement ring on her finger.

Fran stared at it. The ring was nothing special, rather small and simple but it was a ring. Danny and Fran sat down and Danny immediately started babbling about he envisioned their future. Fran should move back in with him as soon as possible and also she should work at the bridal store again. After the wedding he gushed they would have many children. Fran felt a little bit overwhelmed and finally addressed a topic that was very important to her.
"Danny I can't quit immediately. I must give Mr. Sheffield some time to find a new nanny or another solution. And I want to take my time to say goodbye to the children without a rush."
Danny grumbled. Fran's idea didn’t sound right for him, but he agreed when Fran promised him, they would see each other every night and she would talk to Mr. Sheffield today.

On the way home she thought about the best way to tell the news to the family. She dreaded this moment. When she arrived, Niles informed her the children were not home yet. Mr. Sheffield was alone in his office.
"I'd rather get it done quickly."
She knocked and entered the office.

"Good evening Mr. Sheffield, may I speak to you for a moment, it's important!"
Mr. Sheffield looked up from his documents.
"Ohh Miss Fine! You knocked and asked without starting to talk right away? Do I need to be concerned about you?" Fran grinned and shook her head.
"What I want to say is...... well, it's like that...the thing is..."    
"Miss Fine!" he said impatiently.
"I would appreciate it if you just come straight to the point."                       
"I'm going to get married!"
Mr. Sheffield stared at her. He didn't know how to react. A thousand thoughts crossed his minds.
“His children...they would be devastated...How should he manage everyday life without Miss Fine...But actually he should be happy for her.” Finally, he found his countenance again and asked Fran who was the chosen one is.

"Danny! I know what you're going to say...his affair with Heather...and he kicked me out...but does not everyone deserve a second chance?"
Mr. Sheffield secretly knew the answer in this particular case but he bit his tonge.
"Well, of course we want you to be happy. Even though the kids, Niles and I will miss you very much." Fran blushed.
"I will miss you too, but I could still see the children regularly."
"We'll find a way” Mr. Sheffield agreed with her.
"It will be the best to inform the kids tonight, it won't get any easier if we wait any longer."

Fran turned pale she was afraid of this moment. Relieved that Mr. Sheffield had actually taken the news quite well, but still with a lump in her throat she left the office and went to the kitchen.
She desperately needed something sweet now. Niles was busy preparing dinner, he had tears in his eyes. He had overheard the entire conversation through the intercom.
"Oh, come on Niles. It's not that bad. You will visit me in Queens and I'll show you how to have fun."

After dinner, the dreaded moment was there. Mr. Sheffield asked the children to stay for a moment. Fran cleared her throat.
"I don't know how to start. You have to know; I love you all incredibly and that will never change."
The children immediatly suspected something was wrong.
"It's like....Danny and I...we reconciled and we're getting married soon."
Fran hardly dared to look at the children. Brighton was the first to jump up.
"You are leaving us?! You are letting us down???"
"No, of course not! I will no longer live here, but we can see each other regularly and if you need me, I will be there for you."

"Blah blah blah..." Brighton interrupted her. "It's easy for you to say that now. But at some point, you will show up less and less until you are completely gone and forget about us. It's better if you get rid of us right away! I never want to see you again!"
Furious, he ran away.
Gracie just sat there and cried her heart out. Fran wanted to hug her, but Grace pushed her away. She felt betrayed and abandoned. Since she had little memory of her mother, Fran had become a mother figure to her. Gracie also jumped off the table.
"Leave me alone! I don't love you anymore, not one little bit."
With these words, she also ran out.
Maggie also stood up now, tears in her eyes.
"You certainly want to hear now that I understand you, that I will be reasonable and happy for you, but I can't do that!"
And without another word she also left the room.

Fran was sitting there in shock; tears ran down her face. She had expected that the children would take it hard, but these violent reactions hit her right in her heart. Mr. Sheffield tried to calm her down.
"Don't take the statements too seriously. Of course the children are hurt now, but they love you very much. They will accept it with the time."
Fran tried to composure herself again and wiped away her tears.

She went upstairs. First she listened at Maggie's door, she heard a sobbing.
"Maggie?"
She knocked tentatively on the door, something was smashed at the door with full force.
"Go away!"                   
Fran walked to Brighton's door. She could hear the sounds of his PlayStation, as well as his yelling and grumbling. She didn't even dare to knock.
Gracie's door was the only one not locked. Curled up she lay in bed, her face buried into the teddy bear, which Fran had recently fixed for her. Fran sat down next to her.
"Gracie! Angel!...."
Gracie got up from the bed and shouted desperately. "Never call me Angel again and you can have this! I don't want him anymore."
She threw the teddy bear through the open door into the hallway. Fran realized, it had no purpose to talk with her any longer and retreated to her room.

That night she found no sleep. To see her children in such a rage, even if they were not her own, broke her heart.
During the remaining days until her departure, the mood remained droopy. The children calmed down after their father talked to them and tried to explain to them, Fran has every right to live her own life and build up her own family. But this would never change her love for them. He also promised his children to spent more time with them. Finally the children apologized to Fran for their harsh words and Fran did everything to make it easier for them.

She set fixed appointments with each of them when they would see each other. Mr. Sheffield looked forward to the farewell with concern. The children didn't want a new nanny and he was constantly pondering how to manage everything. In addition, he already missed the cheerfulness and the laughter that had filled the house after Fran's arrival.
Niles also shuffled around discouraged and wasn't even in the mood to tease Miss Babcock.
CC was the only one, who seemed happy about Fran's departure. Never ever again any more stormy visits in the office with her high heels and short skirts. Never ever to hear that voice again.