Because of You

by

IvanaBgood
(IvanaBgood@aol.com)

Maxwell: "Niles, I’m going to need you to drop off a script to Tony Bennett for me around 9 tonight."

Niles: "Oh sir, I have the night off, remember?"

Max: "That’s right, I completely forgot."

CC: "So another big Poker night and losing your shirt to a bunch of washouts?

Niles: "At least someone wants to see me with my shirt off! It’s almost dinner time, why are you still here?"

CC: "I have a lot of work to do and Maxwell invited me to stay for dinner."

Niles: "If I throw a stick, will you leave?"

Max: "Niles!!"

Niles: "Sorry sir, sarcasm is just one of the many services I offer."

Max: "Well, why don’t you start working for a change?"

Niles: Mumbling as he walks away, "I pretend to work, you pretend to pay me."

Maxwell: Shakes his head and walks back to the office.

Fran: "Niles will have his hands full tonight."

CC: "Why, did he finally get his inflatable doll back from the "U Pop ‘Em - We Patch ‘Em," Company?!" Laughing.

Fran: "No, he’s going to his cooking class tonight."

CC: Sarcastically replies, "Yeah, that sounds like a lot of fun, not! Is it roll-your-own-pizza-dough day?"

Fran: "Nope, he’s going to be making tiramisu, you know what that is don’t you?"

CC: "A dessert, so what?"

Fran: "Not just a dessert, it’s an aphrodisiac."

CC: "So?"

Fran: "So there are 8 people in that class. 6 of them are lonely women desperate for a man, Niles, and a guy who looks like Marlon Brando - in his later years!"

CC: Looking worried, her attention drawn to Niles as he makes his way to the hall closet.

Niles: Enters the room looking lean and trim in casual denims and a turquoise polo shirt, he puts on his suede leather jacket.

Fran: "Wow, Niles, you look hot! That shirt really brings out the color of your eyes. And the jacket gives you a macho, devil-may-care presence. Who-ha!"

Niles: Chuckling, "Thank you Miss Fine."

Fran: "Have fun! Don’t eat too much tiramisu or you’ll end up in someone’s bed…..uhhh Niles, can you bring some home for Mr. Sheffield?"

Niles: "Oh, Miss Fine! That whole thing about it being an aphrodisiac is totally bogus!"

Fran: "I don’t think so….remember my cousin Luisa?"

Niles: Grimaces, "The one who I mistook for your cousin Harold?"

Fran: "Yep, that’s the one. Well, she served tiramisu at her New Year’s Eve party."

Niles: "So?"

Fran: "So…by the time the clock struck midnight, she was having some serious fun with a guy whose mouth still had tiramisu crumbs all over it.

Niles: "Oh Miss Fine, it was probably just a fluke…I hope."

Max: Re-entering the room, "Niles, I thought you had a cooking class tonight?"

Niles: "Just leaving, sir."

Max: "Can you deliver the script afterwards for me?"

Niles: "Very well, sir." Takes the script.

Max: "Thanks old man, I appreciate it."

Niles: Waves bye.

CC: Watches him leave and angrily thinks to herself, ‘This day was a total waste of make-up. That man never gives me a second glance!’ She looks down in frustration, missing Niles glance at her as he was closing the door.

Niles: Entering his cooking class, he hangs up his jacket when he realizes that the happy chatter quieted down all of a sudden. Looking up he notices a roomful of women staring at him. For some reason he felt like prey at the end of a sighted rifle.

Monica: "Need a bodyguard?"

Niles: Turns around and sees an attractive brunette with an engaging smile.
Grins, "I think so."

Monica: "Don’t worry, I’ve got your back," she laughs. "Hi, I’m Monica!"

Niles: "Niles. Nice to meet you!" Shakes her hand.

Instructor: "Okay everyone, put on your aprons and let’s have some fun."

Niles: Picks up an apron off the counter and hands it to Monica. Then ties his own rather quickly.

Monica: Fumbles with her apron strings purposely.

Niles: Notices her problem. "Here, let me help you with that," and ties it gently around her small waist.

Monica: Smiles, "Thank you," happy that her ruse worked.

They proceed to spend the next 2 hours, mixing, baking and making small talk.

Monica: "So…Niles, what do you do?"

Niles: "I’m a butler."

Monica: "Really? A butler?! Who needs a butler in this day and age?"

Niles: "Maxwell Sheffield."

Monica: "The Broadway producer?"

Niles: "The very same."

Monica: "Wow, how exciting!"

Niles: "Not really. How about you, what do you do?"

Monica: "I’m a chef at St. Regis."

Niles: "Wow, how exciting!"

Monica: "Not really." And they look at each other and laugh.

Niles: "What are you doing here, slumming?"

Monica: "You should talk! I know an artist in action when I see one!"

Together they proceed to make the best looking and most delicious dessert in the class. Afterwards as they are cleaning up…..

Monica: "Niles, would you like to join me for a cup of coffee. I know this great place with the best java in all of New York!" Eager to get to know this intriguing and good-looking man more.

Niles: "I would love to Monica, but unfortunately I have to run an errand for Mr. Sheffield after class."

Monica: "What do you have to do, drop off a script to Tom Jones?" she jokes.

Niles: "No, Tony Bennett."

Monica: "No way!"

Niles: "Way!" He laughs at her wide-eyed expression. "Would you like to accompany me there and then we can go get coffee afterwards?"

Monica: "Uh-Yeah!" ecstatic at her good fortune.

They found they had a lot in common and the ride in the cab seemed a short one. Monica practically swoons when she meets Tony Bennett and was overjoyed in getting an autograph picture for her big brother who was a huge fan.

Entering ‘Central Perk’, Niles smiles at the name of the coffeehouse, amused at the play on words.

Monica: "My brother is going to freak when he sees this! Hey guys, I’d like you to meet Niles. Niles this is Phoebe, Rachel, that’s Joey over there, Chandler, and this is my brother Ross.

Niles: Shakes hands with everyone. "Hi, a pleasure to meet you."

Rachel: Pulls Monica aside. "I thought you went to cooking class?"

Monica: "That’s where I met him. Cute, huh!"

Rachel: "Oh man, I have GOT to take up cooking! Why do you always end up meeting such great guys! His accent and his voice is soooo sexy!"

Monica: "I know!!" They both giggle. "You don’t think he’s too old for me?"

Rachel: "Not even…well, yeah, now that you mention it, he is. Want me to take over?"

Monica: Cracks up, "Yeah, right! I don’t think so!"

Chandler: "Niles, huh….what happened, major typo on your birth certificate?" he snickers.

Niles: Looks at him incredulously, "YOU"RE making fun of MY name? Where did your parents get your name from, a chandelier box, the low-wattage brand?"

Everybody laughs, enjoying seeing Chandler getting cut down for once.

Chandler: "Oh yeah, well…what do you do Niles?"

Niles: "I’m a butler."

Chandler: "Great job…could that BE anymore boring?!"

Monica: "He works for Maxwell Sheffield. Niles, tell him who was over at the mansion yesterday."

Niles: "Elizabeth Hurley and Cameron Diaz."

Joey and Ross: Their mouths drop.

Chandler: "Oh really?" Looking very envious. "I’d like to trade my job for what’s behind mansion door #2."

They all laugh and Niles and Chandler exchange smiles.

Monica: "Hey Ross, guess who I met tonight?"

Ross: "Uhhh…Niles?" smiling at his corny joke.

 Monica: "No!…well, yeah, but someone else too….Tony Bennett!!"

Ross: "Get out!"

Monica: "Seriously! Look!" And hands over the picture that she had been hiding behind her back.

Ross: "Oh my god! He signed this, WOW!" Gives Monica a hug.

Monica: "It’s all because of Niles," she says giving him a sweet smile.

Niles proceeds to enjoy himself and relaxes with the group, talking, laughing, and noshing. Later he walks Monica home and gives her a good-night kiss on her cheek.

Monica: Closes the door with a dreamy look on her face.

Rachel: "He’s a great guy Mon, I’m so jealous!"

Finally getting home and aware of the late hour, Niles quietly closes the door behind him. Careful not to disturb anyone, he makes his way to the kitchen for a glass of water. Turning on the light he discovers CC who was sitting in the dark.

Niles: "Miss Babcock, you almost gave me a heart attack! What are you doing here? Did you lock yourself out of the cemetery again?"

CC: "Shut up Niles! Maxwell thought it would be better for me to stay the night rather than try to hail a cab at this hour. Kind of late, don’t you think? I thought you were making dessert tonight, not a 10 course meal!"

Niles: "Not that it’s any of your business, but I met this great lady in class and we had a cup of coffee afterwards."

CC: Looks down, not wanting him to see the hurt in her eyes. "Oh."

Niles: "Why does that bother you?" Hoping that it would.

CC: "Why would it bother me? I don’t care who you spend your worthless time with." She stares at Niles for a long time, trying to fight her attraction for him.

Niles: "What?"

CC: "Uh…nothing. Just trying to imagine you with a personality."

Niles: "Touche`," he smiles. "Well, I’m off to bed."

CC: Watches him go. ‘Wretched man! Why did I wait up for him?’ CC sighs, pushing her chair in, missing Niles glancing at her before he reached the top of the stairs.

The next day…..

CC: "Hello, hello." Enters the dining room.

Fran: "Good morning Miss Babcock!"

Max: "Sleep well, CC?"

Niles: Stops serving and looks at her thinking to himself, ‘She sure does look great first thing in the morning,’ but says outloud, "Whatever kind of look you were going for, you missed."

CC: "Do they ever shut up on your planet?!"

Niles: "Oh, Miss Babcock, you got a phone call."

CC: "Who was it?"

Niles: "ET, he said to phone home, ALF misses you."

CC: "Oh why don’t you…."

Max: "Enough! You two in the same room this early in the morning is something I don’t need! Come on everyone, let’s eat out."

The children get up quickly, surprised, but happy. Their Dad never wanted to eat breakfast out before. This should be fun.

Fran: "Okay, let me change real quick and then after we eat we can go to Tiffany’s and you can whisper my favorite words to me."

Max: "What?.., will you marry me?"

Fran: "Alright…my second favorite words - ‘I’ll buy it for you’," she elbows him.

Max: Shakes his head and urges her to hurry and get dressed.

The children follow their Dad and Fran out of the room.

Niles: "Now see what you did? You frightened everyone away. If only you would use your powers for good, instead of evil."

CC: "Put a cork in it already, old man! And give me my breakfast."

Niles: "All I have is Eggs Florentine. You’ll have to get your taste for eye of newt somewhere else." Spoons some eggs on her plate.

CC: "Come on and join me Niles, you give me the creeps standing there all the time," she pats the chair next to her.

Niles: Eyebrow raised, looks surreptitiously for a tack on the chair, finding none, sits down.

Both of them eating quietly, enjoying each other’s company, but not willing to admit it.

~ Ding - Dong ~

Niles: Gets up to answer the door.

CC: Curious, follows.

Niles: Opens the door. "Monica! What a pleasant surprise, come in!"

Monica: "Hi Niles, sorry to just drop in on you, but I wanted to ask you something before I chicken out…," notices CC…smiles, "Hi!"

Niles: "Oh, Monica this is CC Babcock, Mr. Sheffield’s business partner."

CC: "Hello," she greets disdainfully, realizing that this young tart was the one whom Niles had coffee with last night.

Monica: Wondering why this woman was being so unfriendly, turns her attention back to Niles. "I wanted to ask if you would like to go out with me this Sunday?"

Niles: "This Sunday? Isn’t that Valentine’s Day?"

Monica: "Yes," she replies nervously.

Niles: "Umm…well, I’ll have to get back with you on that Monica. I’m not sure if I’ll be working that day."

Monica: "Oh," sadly. "Well, okay," she brightens up almost immediately, her perky spirit bouncing back quickly, realizing there is still a chance he could go. "Let me know!" And gives Niles a kiss on the cheek before leaving.

CC: "You know very well that Maxwell would have given you the day off, Niles. And you have lipstick on your cheek!" Glares at the smudge on his face.

Niles: "Yes, but I couldn’t come up with a better excuse. She’s a sweet girl, I didn’t want to hurt her feelings just now. I’ll let her down gently later." Takes his handkerchief out and wipes the lipstick off. Then walks back to the kitchen to clean up.

CC: Smiles happily.

That Sunday…..

~ Ding - Dong ~

Niles: Opens the door to a delivery boy and signs the slip.

Fran: "Ooo, a dozen long stemmed red roses! Is it for me?" takes them from Niles.

Niles: "No, it’s for Miss Babcock."

Fran: "Niles, you dog!"

Niles: Shakes his head and places his finger on his lips.

Fran: Screeches, "Miss Babcock!"

CC: "What is it Nanny Fine?" Walking out of the office. "You’re caterwauling almost shattered Maxwell’s Tony."

Fran: Sing songs, "These roses were just delivered to you."

CC: "For Me?" Practically skipping to Fran to get the flowers. Reads the card. "Wow, a secret admirer sent me long stemmed red roses!"

Niles: "I don’t blame him."

CC: "For sending me flowers?"

Niles: "No, for wanting to remain anonymous. He’s probably an escapee from some mental ward."

CC: Glares at him. "I’m going to put these in water," she smiles as she breathes in the sweet smell.

As soon as CC was out of hearing distance….

Fran: Hits Niles on the arm. "Niles that was so sweet! Why didn’t you tell me you were going to romance Miss Babcock?"

Niles: "Shhh…I need your help with something else," and whispers instructions to Fran.

A few minutes later, Fran saunters into the office.

Fran: "Don’t mind me. I just want to listen to my horoscope on KLOV," she turns on the radio and adjusts the knob, tuning it to the radio station.

CC: "Nanny Fine, can’t you listen somewhere else? We’re working on something very important here and I don’t want to listen to all that mumbo-jumbo-it’s-all-in-the-stars trash."

Fran: "It’ll be just a minute and then ~ poof ~ I’ll be outta your hair."

Niles walks in with the tea.

"This is KLOV, 105.2 on your radio dial. We play love songs for all those people out there with romance in their hearts."

CC: "Nanny Fine!"

Fran: "Hush, after this she reads the horoscope and I don’t want to miss it."

"Happy Valentines Day to all our listeners! We have a song dedication on this very romantic holiday. The man wants to remain mysterious, but he wanted me to dedicate this song to a very lucky lady out there who he says makes his heart leap up when he beholds her fake silky locks of spun gold. Miss CC Babcock, this song is dedicated to you."

CC: "WHAT?! QUICK, TURN IT UP, NANNY FINE!"

The melodic voice of Tony Bennett comes on singing "Rags to Riches":

CC: Listens intently, a longing hope in her eyes as she listens to the words that her secret admirer was conveying to her. She notices Niles’ hands shaking as he pours the tea and smiles.

The song ends.

Fran: "Wow, Miss Babcock, that was a beautiful song. Do you have any idea who your secret admirer is?"

Niles: Gives Fran a sidelong glare.

CC: "Well, it could be one of my neighbors. 6’, dark brown hair with a trace of grey, a dimple on his chin. He asked me out once when we were in the elevator together, but I turned him down.

Niles looks at her, jealousy in his eyes, turning away quickly before it could be detected, but CC noticed.

Fran: "Why would you turn him down? Forget that, what’s his apartment number?"

Max: "Miss Fine!"

Fran: "What? Okay, how come you turned him down Miss Babcock, did he have big ears or something?

CC: "No…."

Fran: "Oh, then he has a small……," wiggles her pinky and winks at CC.

CC: "No…NO…how would I know! Besides size doesn’t matter…oh who am I kidding, of course it does!"

CC and Fran laugh and give each other a high-five.

Maxwell and Niles exchange looks and then glance down at their trousers.

Forgetting some important papers at home, CC leaves in great spirits to fetch them, thinking about all that transpired that day. The roses, the song dedication, Niles getting nervous, which is so unlike him. "Hmmm…I wonder if he is my secret admirer. No, it can’t be him, he’s always so obnoxious to me, but then…I could tell he got upset when I mentioned my neighbor. I wonder what he would do if he thinks I have a date tonight?"

Early that evening…

~ Ding - Dong ~

Niles answers the door.

CC: "Hello, hello!"

Niles: "How many times do I have to flush before you go away?" he pans as he helps her off with her coat. His smile freezes as he sees CC’s bareback encased in a very slinky strapless black dress. The material hugging her body very intimately, he gulps. "That’s some dress Miss Babcock," he leans close, inhaling her sweet perfume. His breath fans her hair and cheek.

CC: She felt as well as heard his words. She wanted so much to move her cheek the short distance to his, and feel his skin upon hers. It was only an inch away, but it may as well have been a mile. CC didn’t dare look at him, fearing he would sense her need. His close proximity made her heart flutter in nervous apprehension.

Niles: Hung up her coat and then turned to touch her bare shoulder lightly.

CC: Jumps a little in surprise, not expecting Niles’ touch.

Niles: Looking at her nape, he feels an overwhelming need to kiss the back of her neck.

CC: Shivers and gasps as she feels the fine hairs on the back of her neck begin to prickle, that slightly unnerving sensation traveled down her bare back at the touch of Niles’ lips on her neck.

Niles: Splaying his fingers around her waist, he turns her around to face him. Admiring her exquisite beauty, he bends down and kisses her. The kiss long and urgent. "Your mouth tastes like chocolate," he whispers.

CC: "I got the box of candy you sent me."

Niles: "That *I* sent you?"

CC: "Yes," waiting for him to deny it.

Niles: Sidestepping the implication, his voice gets very husky, "Why are you dressed like this?"

CC: "I have a date."

Niles: Frowns. "Yes, with me." And he takes her hand possessively in his, leading her out to the terrace.

CC: "Where is everybody?"

Niles: "Out for a family dinner and an evening of miniature golf,"  he opens the French double doors.

CC: Steps in, "Oh Niles!" She stares in wonder at the intimate setting in front of her. A small table covered with a tablecloth made of delicate spun lace, champagne chilling, candles twinkling. "It’s so romantic," she turns and smiles at him, "I didn’t think you had it in you."

Niles: "Well, I am half French." Flipping a switch on Brighton’s boom box, the dulcet timbre of Tony Bennett’s voice envelops the atmosphere, adding to the romantic ambiance. "Come here."

CC: Allows herself to be taken in his arms and they dance slowly around, their eyes only on each other. "Niles, what are you doing?"

Niles: "Don’t you know what today is? It’s Dance-With-Your-Favorite -Chicken Day." He chuckles.

CC: Smiling, "Oh and here I thought it was Dine-With-A-Swine Night."

Niles: Head falls back laughing. "You never let me get away with anything do you?!"

CC: "Me? You’re the one who’s always pulling the pranks."

Niles: "Makes life more interesting, don’t you think?"

CC: "Sometimes, but I could have done without hailing a cab with shoe polish on my face!"

Niles: Chuckling at the memory. "Sorry about that. It was too hard to resist. You laying there looking like Sleeping Beauty, waiting for Mr. Sheffield to bring Miss Fine home. I had to make you look like the devil incarnate or submit to temptation and kiss you."

CC: "I guess I came away lucky then," she grins.

Niles: "Oh, you think so, do you?," his eyes glinting dangerously, and pulls her in closer for a dip.

CC: Taking a deep breath, her head tips back, the green of her eyes almost hidden by the heavy fringe of her lashes. Her lips were parted and looked so soft, so inviting.

Niles felt dazed. Like everything had just taken on some unreal quality that made rationality an unwanted intruder. There was no mistaking what she wanted. And at that moment, it was all he wanted too. Her eyes closed as his lips lowered to hers. Their hearts pounding in unison. She was kissing him back, inviting him into the sweet warmth of her mouth. It was a long heartfelt kiss that ended too soon.

Niles: Shaking away the passion that threatened to overpower him, he found his voice and brought them back to reality, "Happy Valentines Day, Miss Babcock."

CC: Smiling, "Happy Valentines Day, Niles, you romantic fool you."

Niles: "What do you mean?"

CC: "The roses, the song dedication, the candy, everything!"

Niles: "Are you sure I did all that?" his eyebrow going up.

CC: "Well, if you didn’t I just kissed the wrong man," she teases.

Niles: Still not admitting to anything, he laughs and spins her around the terrace once more. The sweet tune of Tony Bennett’s voice crooning, "Because of You," filling the night air, singing what Niles could not get himself to say to CC.

*Disclaimer: The characters in The Nanny are the property of Fran Drescher and Peter Marc Jacobson.
The characters of  "Friends" are the property of I have no clue and I don't feel like researching it, but you know who you are so please don't sue. "Rags to Riches" and "Because of You" lyrics are the property of Tony Bennett, Columbia Records, and CBS Inc. and anybody else that I may have missed listing. No infringement rights were meant to be stepped on.

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