this is an AU. I've had this version of the story in my head for a long time, and I wanted to see if people would enjoy reading it as much as I've enjoyed imagining it. I hope you enjoy this new take on *The Nanny*!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from The Nanny they belong to their rightful owners. I'm just borrowing them for fun, so please don't sue me!
In this alternate universe, the four adult characters will be different from how they are portrayed in the show, especially Niles and C.C. We will also be exploring Fran Fine and C.C.'s friendship.
# Chapter 1 Pilot
As Fran knocked on the mansion door, it suddenly swung open before she could knock again.
"Bloody hell, why are they so reckless?" muttered a blue-eyed, dirty-blond man who looked to be in his forties.
He stopped when he noticed Fran standing in front of him.
"Well, hello. If you'll excuse me..."
Before Fran could say anything, the man hurried past her.
Ignoring him, Fran reached up to knock once more. This time, she was greeted by a butler who looked remarkably like Michael Jeter.
"Hello, I'm Fran Fine..."
"Yes, we are expecting you," the butler replied, welcoming her inside before she could finish.
"You have?" Fran asked, confused.
As she stepped inside the mansion, she looked around in awe.
*Really fancy,* she thought.
"You're here for the nanny position?" the butler asked.
"I could be," Fran replied, still admiring the house.
"May I present your résumé to Mr. Sheffield?"
Fran immediately panicked. He actually thought she was applying for the nanny position.
"A... résumé? You know what? Why don't you go get this Mr. Sheffield, and I'll present my résumé myself."
"As you wish."
The elderly butler left to fetch his employer.
The moment he was gone, Fran quickly grabbed a piece of paper and her lipstick to write a résumé. As she scribbled it down, a young boy suddenly threw himself dramatically onto the floor as though he had been stabbed.
Fran ignored him.
"Do you have a pen?... Oh, forget it."
The boy continued his performance, trying to scare her.
After finishing her so-called résumé, Mr. Sheffield came to greet her.
Fran looked up and was immediately smitten.
Dark-haired, tall, and unmistakably British.
"Hello. I'm Maxwell Sheffield," he said, gesturing toward the boy lying on the floor. "And that's my son the late Brighton Sheffield."
Fran recognized both his name and his face.
"I saw you in New York Magazine!"
Then she smiled.
"Hi, I'm Fran Fine."
"Well, do come in."
He led her into the living room to read her lipstick-written résumé. As they discussed the nanny position, the front door opened again.
A tall blonde woman entered with a little brunette girl happily eating an ice cream beside her.
"Okay, Gracie, we're home. Are you feeling better?" C.C. asked.
Gracie nodded happily.
C.C. noticed Brighton standing near the stairs, looking disappointed. There was a red stain across his shirt.
"Losing your touch, kid? What happened?" she asked with concern.
"Dad's talking to the new nanny, and I hate her!" Brighton replied angrily.
C.C. glanced toward the living room and spotted a woman sitting opposite Maxwell.
*That must be the nanny,* she thought skeptically.
She entered the room.
"Oh, Miss Fine, I'd like you to meet Gracie Sheffield, my youngest, and C.C. Babcock, my business partner."
Fran looked at the blonde woman.
*Oh... she must be with him,* she thought sadly.
There went her chance with Mr. Sheffield.
"Hi, I'm Fran Fine," she said with a smile, shaking C.C.'s hand.
Only then did she notice the wedding ring on C.C.'s finger.
*Oh... she's already married.*
Hope immediately returned.
"Well, nice to meet you, Miss Fine," C.C. said politely. "I must say, you look rather different from the other nannies they sent."
She eyed Fran suspiciously. Whoever this woman was, she would soon be responsible for looking after her godchildren.
"Oh! Well... I'm new," Fran replied confidently.
"Sure."
C.C. wasn't convinced.
As the interview continued, another girl arrived home from school.
She was older than Gracie, shy, and timid.
Curious, she quietly joined the group.
"This is my oldest daughter, Maggie Sheffield," Maxwell introduced.
Fran immediately walked over to her.
"Oh, honey, you're absolutely gorgeous!"
Maggie looked surprised by the unexpected compliment but couldn't help blushing before quietly excusing herself.
Maxwell noticed Gracie happily eating her ice cream in the corner.
"So, sweetheart, how was therapy? Any new breakthroughs?"
"Dr. Doren and I did some regression," Gracie answered cheerfully. "She took me back through my childhood."
C.C. smiled and gently patted her on the head.
Fran blinked.
"That must've been a quick trip."
Gracie looked at her.
"Oh, you have no idea how complicated I am."
Fran simply smiled, pretending she understood.
"Therapy, huh?"
"It was a lot easier than talking to us directly," Brighton muttered, glaring at his father.
"All right, that's enough. Brighton, go to your room," Maxwell said disappointedly.
Brighton stood up and took Gracie's hand.
"Come on, Gracie. Let's leave Father alone to hire someone else to take care of his problem children."
His voice was filled with bitterness.
The room fell silent.
C.C. expected the nanny to walk away. Most of the women who came for the position gave up the moment they met the children especially Brighton.
Maxwell expected the same thing.
"I'm sorry you had to see that," he said, already preparing to escort Fran to the door.
But to both their surprise, Fran looked completely unfazed.
She simply smiled.
"So... when do I start?"
Maxwell and C.C. stared at her.
"You still want the job after all that?" Maxwell asked.
"Oh, please. I come from Flushing. There's nothing those kids can throw at me that I haven't seen before."
C.C. couldn't help finding the new nanny rather intriguing.
She wasn't sure why, but she had a feeling things were about to change in this household.
"Maxwell, why not give her a chance?" she suggested.
Maxwell was surprised.
C.C. had never been particularly fond of any of the previous nannies.
"All right," he sighed. "You're hired... but only on a trial basis."
"Oh, thank you, Mr. Sheffield! And thank you, Ms. Babcock!"
Fran bounced excitedly toward them, attempting to hug them both.
"Well then, welcome, Miss Fine," C.C. said with a satisfied smile. "Maxwell, I'll be at the office."
She wasn't ready to completely trust the new nanny not yet. She still intended to protect her godchildren above all else. With that, she headed for the office, leaving Maxwell alone with Fran.
"Oh, Mr. Sheffield, you won't regret hiring me!" Fran declared confidently.
"Somehow... I'm rather sure I will," Maxwell replied as he awkwardly tried to free himself from her hug.
"Miss Fine, you'll start tomorrow morning. Edward will show you to your room."
The butler was already waiting at the staircase, ready to escort Fran upstairs.
######## Author's Note ##########
You might be wondering why Niles wasn't mentioned in the pilot chapter. Don't worry our beloved Niles will make his first appearance in the next chapter! (soon)
I also wanted C.C. to have a much closer relationship with the children than she does in the show. In this AU, she has no romantic feelings for Maxwell. Instead, she'll be a caring aunt and godmother who is very protective of the kids.
