The Kibbutz

What really happened on that Kibbutz R 

by  

Mary Ann 

 

Maxwell Sheffield, his children Margaret, Brighton and Gracie and their nanny Fran Fine are on a Continental Airlines flight to Israel. They are taking a two-week Christmas/Hanukkah holiday to live on a kibbutz outside of Tel Aviv. Fran had convinced Mr. Sheffield that it would be an outstanding educational experience for the children. The kids are having a ball in the back of the plane with no supervision. They don't resent that their father and nanny are in first class. Max and Fran are in the last row of the first class cabin. Fran is feeling a little guilty that she and her boss are traveling in such luxury while her charges are stuck in coach. 

"Oh, don't worry Miss Fine. The children are thrilled to not be under our noses for the next ten hours." He pats her hand to reassure her. Max orders a round of cocktails from the stewardess. They had just feasted on a wonderful filet mignon dinner that Continental served the Business First passengers. Fran had two desserts which Max enjoyed watching her eat. Lately he was thinking that just about everything she did was absolutely adorable. For the past few years he as been very attracted to her but his subconscious has always pushed those thoughts out of his mind. He didn't believe that a man could love more than one woman in a lifetime. His one woman he has convinced himself, had been is late wife Sara. 

Recently though, he is realizing that the thoughts he secretly harbors towards his nanny are far beyond friendship and affection. His mind has been revisiting the times they have kissed. Of course, they were all quite innocent, well, except for the time a few weeks ago when he had asked her to marry him to get his mother angry. Fran had discovered his ruse and had kissed him passionately on her mother's couch to get back at him. That time actually terrified him. But he had kissed her a couple months ago when she was in a shop-o-holic trance and had been stunned at his reaction to that kiss. He had loved it. Of course that kiss also terrified him and he was glad she had fainted and had no memory of it. 

Max looks at Fran and swallows. She's so lovely, how have I been able to keep my hands off of her all this time? "Um, Miss Fine. What would you like to drink? We have a long way to go and a few drinks will help you fall asleep." He says motioning the stewardess again. He has already emptied his second cocktail and knows that he will need a few more if he is going to fall asleep. Especially since he will be sleeping in the seat next to her. Fortunately in first class, the seats go all the way back and the complimentary drinks flow freely. 

After about an hour of imbibing, Max and Fran are pleasantly tipsy. "So Miss Fine. You told me your lost your, um...hat on that kibbutz when you were a teenager." Fran had told him that she lost her virginity but the kids were in the room so she said she lost her hat. He had finally figured out what she meant. Maxwell is getting aroused just thinking about it. He is obviously now emboldened by the alcohol or he never would have the gall to ask such a personal question. "Tell me about it," he says arching his eyebrows. He smiles at her wickedly. 

"Mr. Sheffield!" She says pretending to be more shocked that she actually feels. She takes a sip of her cocktail. Max waits for her story with anticipation. "Well," Fran starts slowly. I can't believe he cares about this. Fran thinks. The alcohol has pretty much taken hold of both of them. "Well, uh, I was a pretty naive teenager and Yelsi was an experienced older guy. I was homesick and miserable and totally bored. He completely seduced me. I really had no chance. He was very handsome and virile, and I was very innocent." She looks at Max with big brown eyes a little shyly. 

The thought of her as an innocent teenager is having a drastic effect on him. I would like to have been the one to be her first. Huh? Were did that come from? He is stunned by his thoughts.  

Yelsi wasn't really Fran's first. Over the last two decades she has pushed an incredible encounter in 1978 out of her consciousness. She had been so hurt by a one-night-stand when she had fallen in love at first sight with a handsome young millionaire. He had taken her virginity. They had spent hours talking in his hotel suite before they made beautiful love. She had been so wounded after he declared his love and then deserted her that she had subconscious drove it mercifully out of her mind. (Editor's note: please refer to fan fic '1978' May '03). 

"Did you ever hear from this Yelsi chap again after you left Israel?" he asks taking another sip of his scotch. He is surprisingly a little jealous at the thought of her with another man.  

Actually we did correspond for several months but naturally lost touch." Fran says sleepily. The alcohol was taking over and she drifted off to sleep facing him. 

Max smiles at her affectionately. He brushes a stray lock of hair off her face with his fingers. He lifts her blanket up around her shoulders and gives their glasses to the stewardess. He lies back and lets the alcohol finish its job. He falls into a deep sleep. 

 

The plane lands at Tel Aviv Airport. The limo he has ordered was waiting to take them to their destination. The Sheffield clan arrives at the Kibbutz. "Welcome." The pretty receptionist greets them. We are ready for you Mr. Sheffield." She smiles at the children. "You are in the youth bunkers at the south end of the property. Mr. and Mrs. Sheffield you are in the cabin at the east end. Here are your documents and keys," she says handing Max an envelope. Max and Fran look surprised that she address her as his wife but say nothing. 

Max signs them in and they head for their respective domiciles. Max opens the door to their stone cabin. He is surprised that it is a one-room dwelling. There is a small kitchen, sitting area and a single queen size bed. Fran's eyes fly open at that. "Um, Mr. Sheffield, where is the other bedroom?" she asks a little nervously.  

"I don't know. There must be a mistake. I'll go back to find out," he says walking out the door. 

"Oh, sir. When the arrangements were made they only asked for one adult cabin," the receptionist says looking at the computer.  

Who made the bloody arrangements? Oh, no! Niles. Max is outraged as he figures out his butler's deception. He is so fired when I get home. Max is frustrated that he can't even call him to chastise him. Niles has gone to San Juan for the Christmas holiday. "Yes, well, I'm afraid I'm going to need another cabin."  

"Oh, I'm sorry sir. It's the Hanukkah holidays. We are bursting at the seams. There is even a waiting list. You have the last cabin," she says apologetically.  

Max thanks her and heads back to his cabin, and Miss Fine. "Blast! We've come seven thousand miles." He mutters. He realizes that he is stranded in the Mideast in a one-room dwelling with his children's nanny. Now what do I do? He thinks running his hands nervously through his thick hair. His stomach is doing flip-flops at the thought of telling Miss Fine the news. 

Fran is unpacking her suitcase as Max returns. "Hi Mr. Sheffield. I figured I'd stay here," she says explaining why she was putting her clothes away. "How far away will you be? I hope not too far," she says brightly putting her undies in the dresser drawer. Max stares at her skimpy lingerie and suddenly doesn't all together hate this ridiculous situation quite as much. 

"Mr. Sheffield?" she says snapping him out of his pleasant reverie. "Where's your cabin?" she asks again closing the drawer. 

"What...Oh, um... I'm not going to be far at all," he says nervously. His eyes unconsciously drift to the bed. 

"Oh good!" she exclaims. "Are you next door?" She walks over to him. "I'm glad you're going to be so close to me. It's kind of primitive here. We can rely on each other," she says sweetly taking his hand.  

He looks at her and bites his lower lip with his upper teeth. "Um, Miss Fine. I'm afraid that there are no other cabins left. I am going to be a little closer than you may want." Max looks at the bed again and swallows. He looks at her and turns pink. 

"What do you mean Mr. Sheffield? Oh!" She gasps suddenly grasping the situation. Oh no...Niles! she thinks. He made all the travel arrangements. "Oh, Mr. Sheffield! It's her turn to look at the lone bed in the room. There isn't even a couch. She would have been willing to sleep on a sofa if one was provided. No such luck.  

"Um, Mr. Sheffield. What are we going to do?" She glances over to that pesky bed again. OY! This isn't really happening! I can't sleep in the same bed with Mr. Sheffield for two weeks! Fran thinks getting embarrassed. She has a thought. "Mr. Sheffield can't you bribe them or something? There has to be another bed on this Kibbutz." She is starting to panic a little.  

While she has always thought her boss was extremely attractive, there has never been anything between them. Fran has been his children's nanny for just over three years and has intentionally not let herself have a crush on Max. He is rich, powerful, gorgeous and in her mind completely unattainable. Over the years, she had put up a protective shield. She didn't have a plethora of self-esteem when it came to men. She constantly picked dates that weren't nearly worthy of her. Maxwell Sheffield, she inherently convinced herself wasn't even in the realm of her existence. She couldn't over the last three years allow herself to think of him as anything but her employer. Lately, though he was creeping into her thoughts and even dreams. Fran is well aware that she is developing a crush on him. And, unless she is imagining it, he is showing signs of feelings for her. 

Max on the other hand harbored no such prejudices. He had been abnormally attracted to Miss Fine since the very second he had met her. Maxwell Sheffield didn't have an elitist bone in his body. He has absolutely no sense of class deferential as most people in his station of life possessed. To him, people were people. He had, over the last few years without completely realizing it, lost his heart to Fran Fine. He had repressed his amorous feelings towards her for years. He is British, after all, and she is his employee. He felt a certain responsibility towards her. Those walls that he had unconsciously constructed over the last few years were lately slowly crumbling. Even he wasn't really aware of it yet. 

Max snaps back to reality. He is aware that his current situation is not to be taken lightly. While the queen-size bed is fairly large, it doesn't have a solid wall running down the middle of it. He is going to have to share it with the beautiful woman that he is now quite aware he has lusted, and to be completely honest with himself, loved over the last three years. This thought has him terrified. But he must admit, he is not all together displeased. 

"No Miss Fine. There is absolutely nothing. They don't even have a cot." He glances at the bed again. It keeps getting smaller and smaller every time he looks at it.  

"Oh, Mr. Sheffield. This is so embarrassing! We can't sleep in the same bed! It doesn't seem right." She looks innocently at him. God he's so gorgeous! All of a sudden Fran is realizing that maybe this is not such a bad thing. In fact, she can't believe she was so dismayed at first. Wow! Sleeping in the same bad with Mr. Sheffield. Her heart starts to beat faster at the thought and she can feel some really nice feelings in her lower region. She's suddenly looking forward to going to bed. Naturally she couldn't let him know her change of heart.  

"What are we going to do Mr. Sheffield?" she says guilelessly. "I guess I could sleep on the floor if we can get a sleeping bag or something." She looks at a space on the floor. Fran puts her finger on her cheek and pretends to mull it over. 

"Nobody's sleeping on the blasted floor Miss Fine. I won't hear of it." Max takes her hand. "Don't be worried Miss Fine. We're both adults. I mean, we sleep in the same house every night, that bed is big enough that we won't be on top of each other...er, um, I mean..." His cheeks brighten again. "Well there's plenty of room." I am going to bloody murder Niles, he thinks furious that his butler has put him in this embarrassing situation.  

Fran looks trustingly at him. "If you say so Mr. Sheffield." She casts her eyes demurely down. 

Max takes in her big brown eyes. Her _expression takes his breath away. He can feel his heart start to pound. Suddenly he is thinking that he is looking forward to going to bed. I might just give Niles a raise. "Yes, well..." He clears his throat. "Yes. I'm going to unpack." He gives her hand a comforting pat. I can control myself. I'm not some hormonally charged teenager after all. Max smiles at her and goes to his luggage. 

"Oh, let me do that Mr. Sheffield. I'll put your stuff away," Fran says brightly. She is suddenly thrilled how this vacation is starting. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

 

Niles has been at the San Juan Dorado Beach Hotel for two days. In that time he has befriended and charmed most of the single women at the pool. He can't believe what a great time he is having. Niles has always been somewhat frugal and never spent his own money on vacations. Most of his holidays were spent with the Sheffield family. This is the first time away from them and he is having a ball. The single women outnumber the men three to one. He has danced the last two nights away and tonight is no different.  

The disco at the hotel is jumping and he is in the middle of the dance floor, tropical drink in one hand and Sheila in the other. It is 70's night. The song changes from More Than a Woman to The Hustle and everyone is suddenly dancing with everyone else. As Niles twirls Sheila out of his arms, a tall blonde takes her place. Niles is lost in the music. He opens his eyes and is stunned and slightly horrified when he sees his new dance partner.  

"You!" he cries. "Oh no! What are you doing here?" they cry in unison. 

C.C. grabs his hand and angrily leads him to the bar. "You said you were going to St. Bart's! I can't believe you'd open your wallet to stay at the most exclusive hotel in the Caribbean!" C.C. says angrily. She motions the bartender and orders two margaritas. C.C. is surprised but actually secretly thrilled that her nemesis is here. She looks at his tropical shirt and white trousers. She is to her chagrin, getting turned on by him in such unfamiliar attire. What the hell is the matter with me? She thinks quite confused at her feelings. 

Niles is also noticing the sarong that C.C. is wearing. He has never seen her in such revealing attire and can't help but look at her appreciatively. Truth be told, even though he was the life of the party here the last two days, he was happy to see a familiar face. Especially this particular beautiful familiar face. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

 

Max and Fran are exhausted. The jet lag has kicked in. After the communal dinner in the main dining hall they retire to their cabin. Max was a little apprehensive but Fran can barely keep her eyes open. She isn't even thinking of the fact that she would be sharing a bed with her boss tonight. 

Fran goes into the bathroom and emerges in her white teddy. Max's eyes go wide at the sight of her in the skimpy lingerie. She sees his _expression. "Um, I didn't know I would be sharing a room. I only packed this," she says apologetically. She quickly gets into bed and pulls up the covers over her. "I'm so tired Mr. Sheffield. I'll borrow some pajamas from Maggie tomorrow." She yawns and practically falls asleep as soon as her head hits the pillow. 

Max stares at her as she sleeps. She looks like an angel, he thinks seeing her brown hair cascading on the pillow. Stop it Maxwell. Don't go there. You have to sleep with her tonight. He warns himself. He puts on his pajamas and gets into bed careful no to disturb her. He lies back on the pillow wanting to take her in his arms. After several minutes of restlessness, mercifully the jet lag kicks in and he falls into a dreamless sleep. 

 

After several hours of deep sleep Max awakens as he feels a warm body snuggling up to him. Fran is sleeping but her face is next to his and her leg is draped over his lower body. In her sleep she is rubbing her cheek to his. Suddenly she kisses him lightly on the mouth. Max groans at this unexpected assault. Without thinking he turns her on her back and kisses her passionately. He gets on top of her and presses himself into her. Fran wakes up with a start. She had been dreaming of this very thing, and now she is quite aware that it is happening.  

"Mr. Sheffield," she gasps. Oh my god does this feel good. She thinks happily. She kisses him back with a passion to match his. She wraps her legs around his hips and softly thrusts herself up in to his hardness. The feeling of it against her almost makes her climax right then. "Mr. Sheffield," she moans softly. Oh god. Is this really happening? 

At her exclamation, Max comes to his senses. We can't do this! I can't take advantage of her like this! His brain screams at him. His British repression has suddenly kicked in. He gets off of her. "I'm so sorry Miss Fine. I don't know what came over me. He sits up and moves as far away from her as possible. "Do forgive me. I must have been dreaming." He lies back down and turns his back to her. He is quite humiliated by his reprehensible actions. 

At his obvious rejection of her, Fran turns her back to his. Oh no. I made a complete fool of myself! She is so embarrassed that soft tears come to her eyes as she wonders how she will ever be able to face him tomorrow. Somehow she manages to fall back asleep. 

 

Fran wakes up with a start. She looks next to her and sees Max is still deeply asleep. She gets out of bed and silently changes. She is grateful to be able to leave before he wakes up. The memory of last night is fresh in her mind. She sneaks out of the dwelling to join the kids for breakfast. 

"Thank you God for getting me out of there before he woke up," she whispers thankfully looking heavenwards. "I'm just going to pretend that nothing happened. He'll think I was sleeping and I won't have to be so embarrassed about it for the next two weeks," she decides. Her plan starts to make her feel better.  

Max wakes up. "Miss Fine!" he cries out. He is surprised and disturbed that she isn't next to him. Last night rushes to his mind and he is now horrified at how he pushed her away. I have to talk to her. I can't believe I just turned my back on her like that. I didn't know what to do and just I panicked. He realizes nervously as he prepares for the day. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

 

"Niles you haven't danced with me all evening!" Heather pouts. The twenty-year old blonde with perky breasts has approached him at the bar. Heather is holding a Strawberry Daiquiri in one hand and twirling a lock of her blonde hair in the other. C.C. gives her a dirty look and she hastily retreats. 

"What did you do that for? You're scaring away potential lovers from me witch," Niles says giving her a dour look. There is twinkle in his eye though. He can't believe how happy he is that she's here. He is realizing that C.C. is the only woman that makes him truly happy. 

"Oh, please," C.C. says giving him a withering look. "What was she...twelve? Like you could keep up with her Rochester." She takes a big sip of her drink and sets it down. "Come on." She takes him by the hand and leads him to the dance floor. The song has changed to Don't Throw It All Away, which was 1978's biggest selling ballad by Andy Gibb.  

"Where are you taking me Broomhilda?" Niles says angrily, but he lets her lead him willingly. Even though he is acting annoyed, he is actually thrilled that he is going to slow dance with her. He decides it's about time he takes the lead. He gathers her forcefully in his arms and looks straight into her eyes, pulling her close to his body. 

C.C. gasps softly at the obvious passion she sees in those blue eyes. Her heart skips in beat as he pulls her into him. The alcohol has lowered their inhibitions considerably and they were both feeling quite aroused swaying rhythmically to the music. Niles is holding her close to him and C.C. is hanging on tightly. Both their hearts are pounding into each other. The music ends and I Will Survive begins. They silently agree to go back to the bar. C.C. suddenly really needs a drink. She is loath to admit that she is really turned on, and by a servant no less! 

"Miss Babcock, um..." Niles begins. "He desperately wants to go to bed with her but has no idea how to go about it. All he has thought about the last hour is how to get her into his bed. 

Fortunately for him, C.C. has been having the same thoughts. She can finally stand it no longer. "Niles. You must come see the gorgeous suite I am in!" she says innocently. "The views are breathtaking and we can have drinks up there. It's getting too loud in here for me anyway," she yells over the music. 

Niles is relieved. He really had no idea how he was going to get her to his room. At least I have a shot at her now. He is beyond grateful that it was her idea. He didn't handle rejection very well. Niles helps her off the bar stool and they leave the disco hand in hand. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

 

Max rushes out the door of his cabin. He has to find Miss Fine and apologize for his caddish behavior last night. "Why the hell did you push her away you moron? You are a bloody coward," he mutters desperately shaking his head. She obviously wanted you. He remembers her wrapping her legs around him last night and starts to get a little hard. Oh well, I have two weeks to make it up to her, and that's exactly what I intend to do...if she'll have me. 

He spots her talking to a tall dark and to his distress very handsome man in kaki shorts, shirt and hat. They are very animated and his heart skips a beat as she gives him a big hug. Suddenly a horrifying thought comes to his mind. Oh no...It can't be, he thinks starting to panic. He is realizing that she could only be so familiar with one person in Israel. Max approaches the obviously ecstatic couple apprehensively. 

"Mr. Sheffield!" She is very excited. "You are not going to believe this! This is my old um...friend Yelsi! He's still here after all these years! Isn't that astounding!" she cries looking happily at him. Fran has completely forgotten to be embarrassed with Mr. Sheffield. Finding Yelsi has pretty much vanquished last night's memory of their encounter. 

"Oh yes, it's astonishing," Max says miserably shaking Yelsi's hand. He looks glumly as Yelsi has his arm around Fran. She is looking up at him adoringly, which causes Max's heart to sink. He is now really regretting pushing her away last night. She on the other hand seems to have forgotten all about it and only has eyes for this blasted Israeli. This should relieve Maxwell but it actually terrifies him. The one intimate moment they have shared has been seemingly wiped away by this chance reunion.  

"Um, Miss Fine. I'd like to talk to you when you have a moment," Max says unconsciously rubbing his hands together little nervously. 

"Sure Mr. Sheffield." she says not really hearing him. Fran walks away from him arm in arm with Yelsi, Maxwell's request already forgotten. 

Max can only stare at their retreat with a horrified _expression. "Oh god," he whispers suddenly realizing their history. "She's actually had sex with that bloke. She'll have no qualms about making love to him again," he mutters dejectedly. "I have really blown it. I wish Niles were here. I really need his advice. I wonder what he's doing now." 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

C.C. opens the door of the Presidential suite. Living with Maxwell Sheffield all his life, Niles is quite used to the finest things in life. But even he gasps at the opulence of the room. The floor to ceiling windows offer a spectacular view of the Caribbean Sea, which The Dorado Beach Hotel has lit with powerful spotlights. The room is really three rooms. A huge living room and dining room with the bedrooms just off of it. The master bathroom has a sunken marble Jacuzzi. It takes a lot to impress Niles, but this suite certainly captivates him. 

C.C. it delighted by his _expression. "I told you it was fabulous." She says happily walking over to the wet bar. She takes the bottle of Three Olives Vodka and mixes the martinis.  

Niles sits on the overstuffed sofa overlooking the wrap around windows. He is suddenly getting very nervous at being alone with this unattainable woman in such a seductive situation. C.C. walks over to him and hands him the cocktail. She sits down next to him and crosses her long legs. Niles looks at her luscious legs and is surprised that he is becoming very aroused. He takes a sip of his martini and sets the glass on the coffee table with slightly trembling hands. He turns to face her. The look he gives her causes C.C. to shudder involuntarily. She sets her own drink down without tasting it. Niles suddenly takes her in his arms and kisses her with an urgency that, to her chagrin, causes C.C. to moan. 

She melts in his arms. They both now realize that his night will change both their lives forever. All at once Niles lifts her into his arms and carries her into the bedroom. He gently deposits her on the huge bed. He gets on top of her and looks deeply into her eyes. "Your spell has hit its target...Endora," he says huskily. "So tell me, are you a good witch or a bad witch?" He kisses her tenderly. His heart is pounding madly. 

C.C. just looks up at him. She is embarrassed to be trembling slightly as she feels his now obvious erection pressed against her. "Kiss me again and I'll let you decide...Mr. French," she murmurs batting her eyes. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Fran gets back to the stone cabin after midnight. She has spent the entire day with Yelsi. Max had no opportunity to apologize to her about last night. He has been beside himself all evening at the thought of her and her first lover together again. Max is already in bed, but of course he hasn't been able to sleep. He pretends to be asleep as he hears her quietly changing for bed. She carefully climbs into bed with him careful not to disturb him. 

"You're late," he says sitting up and turning the lamp on. The angry look in his eyes startles her. 

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I wake you up Mr. Sheffield?" Why does he look so mad? He's not my boyfriend. He's the one who turned his back on me last night, She thinks confused. 

Fran had earlier in the day borrowed pajamas from Maggie. Max looks at her in them and swears under his breath. She looks even more desirable now than in that blasted negligee. "What have you been doing?" he asks not even trying to be subtle. He has been crazy with jealousy the last several hours. The fact that she has slept with this bloke before, unlike the dates she had while working for him. Yelsi has known her intimately. That fact alone makes Max almost nauseous with envy. 

Fran sits up to face him. "Yelsi and I were reminiscing about my time here in the 70's." She stifles a yawn. "He was the only good thing here for me then." Suddenly she remembers her confession to Max about how she lost her virginity and turns pink with embarrassment.  

Maxwell notices her _expression and starts to get very uneasy. Why is she blushing? Did she...? I'll die if she made love to that bloke tonight. He thinks unhappily. " So, you were just reminiscing all this time?" he asks a little more forcefully then had had intended. 

Fran looks at him surprised. "Of course. What else?" She is little perturbed. He doesn't have the right to even ask me that. Not after how he humiliated me last night. "Yelsi lost his wife last year. He's a widower too Mr. Sheffield." She says.  

Just great, he's unattached. Max thinks glumly. 

"Oh! I forgot! I have good news for you!" Fran says suddenly. "I won't have to share this bed with you after tonight! Yelsi's daughter, who is visiting from Cleveland, is leaving for home tomorrow. He has invited me to stay in her room for the rest of our vacation." She smiles at him. "You won't be burdened with me anymore," she says happily. 

She couldn't have horrified Max more if she kicked him in the stomach. In fact, it felt exactly like she did just that. His eyes go wide and his mouth drops open. He is quite aware that his heart is pound madly at her odious news. His brain starts to panic at the thought of her in that Israeli's home for two weeks...alone...together! This can't be happening! He thinks wildly. Now what do I do? 

Um, Miss Fine. Do you think that's appropriate? I mean, what do we really know of this chap? I just don't think I can allow it." He finishes lamely. He knows he has no right to dictate what she does in her private life. 

Fran's eyebrows shoot up in shock at his last statement. "You can't allow it? What has this to do with you? We certainly have no personal commitment to each other. What do you care where I sleep, Mr. Sheffield? I thought you would be happy not to have to share a bed with me," she says incredulously. "I think me sleeping in the same bed with my boss for two weeks is way more inappropriate than me sleeping in a guest bedroom of an old friend." She looks him directly in the eyes. She is grateful that last night's near liaison hasn't come up. She is still determined to pretend it never happened. 

Max has no answer to her logic. He knows that she is absolutely correct. Anything short of taking her in his arms and declaring his love for her defeats any argument he can come up with. That's exactly what he wants to do but to his distress, he just can't muster up the courage to do it. Defeated he slowly reaches over to the lamp on the nightstand and turns it off. He lies down and turns away from her. "Good night, Miss Fine," he mumbles. 

Fran is a little surprised at this sudden turn of events. She lies back on her pillow and turns her back to him. "Good night Mr. Sheffield," she says softly. She's all of a sudden very disappointed that he has surrendered. She lies awake for a while sorting through her now very conflicted feelings. She is surprised that there are tears welling up in her eyes. She now realizes that she wanted Mr. Sheffield to force her to stay him with him for the duration. I'm a complete idiot to even think he would want me like that. He was probably just in the middle of a dream when he attacked me last night. He probably wasn't even aware that it was me he was kissing until he woke up, she thinks sadly. Oh, well. Still exhausted from the time change she soon falls to sleep. 

Max is depressed beyond belief. He can't believe how horrible he feels. He now has absolutely no doubt how much he loves this woman. The thought of her playing house with her former lover has paralyzed him. He is also trying to dredge up a memory. This memory has lately been keeping him up at night. For some reason, he is thinking that he has been in bed with Miss Fine before, not counting the time she was drunk and got in with him.  

Last night's near lovemaking triggered a long forgotten memory. For the life of him he can't imagine when he could have been intimate with her. Suddenly a twenty-year old memory shoots into his brain. Maxwell sits straight up in bad and looks disbelieving at his sleeping nanny. It can't be! He runs his trembling hand through his thick hair. Oh my god! It is...Fran! It's her! he thinks his body shaking uncontrollably. He now knows that she is the beautiful young woman he met at Studio 54 two decades ago. He had been the one to take her virginity...not Yelsi. I can't believe she has forgotten that incredible night! He is in shock. No, it can't be her...it would be a bloody miracle. Life doesn't work that way. He convinces himself lying back on the pillow. After several minutes of wrestling with the memory, exhaustion takes hold and he falls asleep.  

Max wakes up to the pleasant feeling of a warm cheek rubbing against his face. He is suddenly aware that in her sleep, Miss Fine is once again half on top of him. She is snuggling her body against his and murmuring his name. HIS name! Max's heart starts pounding madly and he realizes that he is being given a second chance...or is he? He turns her on her back and kisses her mouth tenderly. "Miss Fine wake up," he whispers. He has no intention of taking advantage of her unless she is fully conscious. 

Fran slowly opens her eyes and blinks rapidly. "Mr. Sheffield?" He kisses her before she can say anything else. Fran can't believe this. Is this a dream? she thinks groggily. Max kisses down her throat causing her to arch it to meet his lips. "Oh, Mr. Sheffield, we shouldn't be doing this," she moans. 

"I know. We should stop," he murmurs unbuttoning her pajama tops. His hand reaches in and finds her breast. He can feel the nipple harden immediately at his touch. He becomes hard at feeling her breast for the first time. 

"Yes, we really should stop." She says softly, her breathing now becoming heavier. She instinctively lets her hips rise up to meet the delightful hardness that is pressing into her. Max groans at this.  

His tongue finds her other breast and flicks it lightly. "You're right, we'll stop." His voice husky with passion. His hand travels lightly down her body to her pajama bottoms. He lets his hand cup the outside between her legs and rubs gently. She rises to meet his hand crying out softly in pleasure. He kisses her then his eyes at half-mast looks into his eyes. "We shouldn't be doing this," he whispers kissing her more forcefully. He lets his tongue discover her mouth. Maxwell's hand slides inside her pajama bottoms and lightly massages her. Fran gasps and holds him tightly. "Do you like this darling?" he whispers kissing her ears and neck. 

"Yes." Was all she was able to say. She can feel herself clenching his fingers uncontrollably and knows that she's going to lose control. "Stop, please Max...stop." She begs holding on to him for dear life. 

"Relax baby...let it happen. I want you to." He whispers in her ear seductively, holding her tightly with one arm. He looks deeply into her eyes and presses into her more forcefully. He refuses to break their gaze as they connect. Fran has no chance. She suddenly cries out his name and rises up wildly to meet him. Max is delighted by the sublime _expression on her face as she throws her head back on the pillow. Slowly she comes back to her senses and looks at him in awe. "Do you still want to stop?" he says tenderly. 

Fran can say nothing. She just shakes her head. Max kisses her and gets on top of her. Without ceremony he thrusts himself into her. He knows he pleased her and has no qualms about taking her immediately. He couldn't have waited another second anyway. He was ready to burst. She is slippery wet and the feeling of him sliding into her causes them to cry out together. He presses himself into her with abandon. He has satisfied her, now it is his turn. Max pushes himself in one last time and finally gives in. He yells out her name and collapses on top of her, spent.  

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Niles rolls over and takes C.C. into his arms. He kisses the top of her head as his breathing is becoming more normal. He still can't believe what has just transpired between them. He would never have thought her so passionate, so uninhibited. He sighs reliving the unbelievable lovemaking he has just experienced. C.C. is dozing in his arms. He looks down affectionately and kisses her again causing her to stir. She looks up at him wondering what he is thinking. 

"So Samantha, did you enjoy that?" he asks tenderly. Niles heart starts pounding fearfully waiting for her answer. He is pretty sure she enjoyed it as much as he did. 

"What do you think?" She says smiling up at him. It doesn't escape C.C. that for the first time ever; Niles is referring to her by the name of a good witch. Hell. She thinks. Next he'll be calling me Glinda the good witch of the north form the Wizard of Oz. C.C. snuggles happily into his muscular chest. I guess I made a good impression, she thinks quite satisfied. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Max turned over pulling Fran on top of him. He didn't want to crush her beneath his weight. He barely had strength to do even that. Max's breathing is slowly coming under control. He gathered her into his arms and cuddled her to him. 

"Um, Mr. Sheffield. I guess I probably don't have to sleep in Yelsi's cabin for the rest of the vacation. She looked up at him for conformation. 

"Miss Fine, you are not leaving my sight for the next two weeks." He hugged her and whispered. "Fran." 

She rubed her cheek to his. "Max." 

A feeling of déja vu suddenly hit him. He can't shake that pesky memory that keeps creeping back into his brain. "Fran, did you ever go to that disco Studio 54 back in the '70's?" he asked reluctantly looking down at her face. 

"What in the world made you think of that? I haven't thought of Studio 54 in almost twenty years! I was only there a couple times. Did you go there?" She asks still confused by his question. All of a sudden a long buried memory floods her mind. Her mind goes back to a teenage Fran climbing through the window of her best friend Val and weeping in her arms. A young Englishman had taken her innocence and had just disappeared. I almost forgot about that over the years. She thought baffled that she remembers that night all of a sudden.  

Max turned on the light and held Fran at arms length studying her face closely. "Fran." He looked into her eyes and is astounded that twenty years have been returned to him. He wanted to cry. 

Fran looked at him. She is now seeing him as though they have just met. Her eyes go wide. "It can't be." She whispered. "No! No! It can't be! YOU! Oh my god! It was you!" she cried tears coming to her eyes. Fran suddenly remembers that night twenty years ago clearly. It is 1978 all over again. "How could you have done that to me? How could you have just left like that?" she said moving away from him and pulling the covers up to her neck. She was in a state of shock. 

Max took her back into his arms. "I didn't desert you darling. "It was an emergency. This is freaking unbelievable. He thougt as the initial shock is wearing off. "My brother Nigel was injured and I had to take the next plane back to England. I didn't even have your last name. I tried to find you for months!" What are the bloody odds of this happening? 

Fran calmed down at his explanation. "Maxwell why didn't we recognize each other when we met a few years ago?" She is shivering in his embrace. "This can't be real. I must be dreaming," she said willing herself to wake up. She doesn't because she is already awake. 

"It's no dream darling," Max hugged her protectively. "It was you and I that night so long ago. We must have subconsciously pushed it out of our minds over the years. I know how painful it was for me not being able to find you." He says shaking his head. I can only imagine how you felt after I...I..." He buries his face in her hair. He remembers how guilty he felt about taking her virginity. He would have never made love to her if he had known. Having to leave so abruptly and then not being able to find her had almost driven him bloody mad. 

"I haven't thought about that night in almost twenty years. It almost killed me at the time," she said looking up at him tears glistening in her brown eyes. "After a few years I didn't even remember your name. I guess the brain goes into a protective mode when you are incredibly hurt." She buries her face in his chest. "I can't believe how the memories just flooded back tonight so crystal clear. I now remember everything like it was yesterday." She says incredulously. Fran shudders involuntarily at the memory of knocking on his suite door the next night. She can off a sudden picture the older woman answering it having no idea why a nineteen-year old girl in a disco dress was knocking. Fran recalls how devastated she had been that Max had deserted her. Fran shudders again. "Max this can't be happening," she whispered looking up at him. 

"I know, I know! It's Ripley's!" He shook his head again. "I never believed in fate, but we were obviously meant to be together."  

"Max, it's for the best it happened this way," Fran says suddenly realized the truth. "We wouldn't have Maggie, Brighton and Gracie if we had found each other permanently two decades ago. We had a twenty-year hiatus, but look at the results of our separation." She hugged him. 

Max is now realizing how incredible this woman is. "You're right. I...we wouldn't have my beautiful children if fate hadn't played this cruel trick on us so many years ago," he exclaimed hugging her tightly to him.  

They lay in each other's arms, sorting out their feelings and memories. Neither could believe the astounding history they have shared. Max turned her around and snuggled his front to her back. He nuzzled the back of her neck realizing that this is a moment nobody could have ever experienced before. He also can't believe that his erection has returned...in spades. He had to have her again.  

Fran turned her head and looked at him enticingly as she could feel his hardness against her bottom. He whispered her name softly as he slid in easily. Fran gasped in bliss. She was ridiculously wet and slippery from their previous encounter. They moaned each other's names. She was deliciously aware that her inner walls were milking his orgasm right out of him. So was he. The feeling of her climax gripping at his hard length was all it took. Max softly cried out her name and pressed himself in deeply as he released. 

The spasms Fran felt inside her convulsing uncontrollably. The feeling took over her mind and body. She could feel the heat and waves of ecstasy surge through her. She also felt him release into her. Fran let herself melt into the sheets as the orgasm disappiated. She murmured his name softly. She couldn't believe that the prim and proper Mister Sheffield would have sex so unconventially! He was a constant surprise. 

Certainly she had never experienced love making like this. As she lay spent on the bed, his body covering hers she started to remember the memory of her incredible climax. This caused her to involuntarily squeeze him again. He hadn't pulled out yet and was stunned that the feeling really turned him on so soon. As Max felt her again gripping him he couldn't believe that he was getting hard. Nor could she. He let out a soft, guttural moan as he pressed himself more deeply into her. 

Max's forty-something body was now completely out of control. His manhood had a mind of it's own. A mind Maxwell Sheffield would never have believed was possible. His third erection was as hard and insistent as his first had been. What kind of woman was this? She had thoroughly bewitched him, not that he was complaining. 

He let himself press into her deeply, again feeling her involuntarily griping him tightly. As he released again, he couldn't believe that he is going to experience his third climax in less than an hour. Finally, spent he rolled her over and buried his face into her neck. 

"Mr. Sheff...Max, can't we just stay here another week?" Fran whispered contentedly. She snuggled up to him never feeling so sated and satisfied in her life. It was like she died and went to heaven...in Israel. She never wanted to leave. 

Max hugged her to him wishing he could grant her request. He never wanted to leave this bed. "Unfortunately darling, we have to go back to the states. I have to fly to blasted Pittsburgh to catch a revival of My Fair Lady starring some bloody sitcom or soap opera star...Charles something or other. He is getting rave reviews as Henry Higgins and my scout told me I should sign him to do the revival on Broadway." Max said a little disgusted that this was probably a wild goose chase. Like a TV star could do Broadway successfully. 

"Oh, well can I come with you?" she asked a little shyly. 

"I wouldn't have it any other way. You will probably be the only pleasant thing about going to Pittsburgh. Now, enough talking." he murmured kissing her neck. 

"Oh, Mr. Sheffield!" 

 

The End