You can not take back love!

Oh Maxwell/Oh Fran

Fran is incredibly nervous. It's a big challenge for her to see the Sheffields again after all this time. Sure, they had often spoken to each other on the phone and they had exchanged a lot of letters, but facing them again was a completely different story.

One last time, she checks her hair and makeup. Nigel steps into the hotel suite.
"Hey, Baby! I can't make it to the dinner with Max and the kids. There's a new Soul band playing tonight. I really want to meet them to invite them for a gig."
"But Nigel, we've firmly agreed with Maxwell and the kids. It's really not okay to cancel the dinner at the last minute. After all this is your family."
"You can go and have dinner with them. They should be fine with it. They mainly want to see you. So what am I supposed to do there? You know I need good bands to keep the club running." Fran sighs and tries to hide her disappointment.

Five months ago, she followed Nigel onto the ship, but  they agreed not to marry immediately. So for now they are engaged and Fran has lived with him in Paris ever since. Actually, everything goes splendid. She and Nigel get on really well and they do a lot together.
Nigel is full of life, impulsive and comes up with the craziest ideas. Fran likes that and her affection for him has grown with each passing day. She enjoys her life by his side without all the nanny obligations. Instead, she lives with Carpe Diem and lots of action. In addition, Paris is a breathtaking city where there is so much to experience and discover. Alone, the fashion and shopping opportunities and Nigel is always more than generous.

Only sometimes Nigel turned out to be a truly selfish person. Especially lately, he often canceled a date if another matter was more important to him. Fran got more and more the nagging feeling that their relationship mostly was following Nigel's rules.

When she sat alone in their apartment, it happened that Fran thoughts were with Maxwell and the children. She misses them immensely. In the beginning, the children were very disappointed and upset and refused any contact. But after Maxwell and Niles had spoken to them and Fran had explained her motives in a long letter, the three made an approach towards her and since they have been in regular contact.

Nonetheless, Fran feels a queasy feeling in her stomach at the idea of seeing Maxwell and the children again.
*Oh, Maxwell*
How often had she thought of him. Despite her feelings for Nigel, she couldn't forget him. She missed him. His calm, balanced and warm manner! The comfort he gave her! His soft voice!
But Fran is still certain he would never have confessed his love to her and she didn't want to wait until she looked like Grandma Yetta. However, in her thoughts, she often longed for  him and fantasized about how their life would have been if he hadn't taken back 'the thing'.

Maxwell Sheffield stands in front of the mirror in his bedroom, dressed in his best suit. He considers which tie to wear. He picks one that Fran had given him.
*Oh god, Fran*
He dreams of her. What will it be like to face her again? He still can’t deal with it that he had lost her forever.

When he came home that evening, Fran was gone. He read her letter and he felt his heart shattered into a thousand pieces. But it has been his own fault. And now the love of his life would soon marry his brother and she would become his sister-in-law. Arghh! He hates this idea. Fran belongs with him and his children. But Maxwell is a gentleman, he could never go after his own brother's wife.

"Dad, are you ready? We have to go!"
Gracie pokes her head into his room.
"Yes, honey, I'm coming."
The two of them go downstairs, Brighton and Maggie are waiting for them already. The family gets into the limo and is on their way to the 'Rainbow Room'. It's very quiet during the ride. Everyone is captured by their own thoughts. They are all looking forward to seeing Fran again.

In the reception room of the restaurant, Gracie discovers her former nanny.
"Fran!" She shouts out joyfully and runs into her arms. "Gracie! Angel! Oyy, have you grown."
Brighton and Maggie come up too and give Fran a big hug. Then Fran looks up to glance at Maxwell Sheffield. He looks so handsome and she recognizes the tie. He holds out his hand to her.

"Good evening, Miss Fine!"
He stares at her. She looks very sexy in that dress. He notices that her hair isn't as big as usual. It falls in soft curls over her shoulder and is hold from her face with a ribbon.
"Good evening, Mr. Sheffield!"
Fran is a little bit irritated by his formal behavior. She surpresses her desire to embrace him. Maxwell tries to remain calm, whereby his heart is racing.
"Where's Nigel? Is he coming later?"
"He sends you all his regards. He couldn't make it. An important business meeting."
Maxwell has a hard time hiding his joy. Secretly, he is relieved and happy to spend the evening alone with Fran and his children, as if they were one big happy family.