CC's Secret

by

Daphne
(spongeblob@excite.com)

In his room, Niles’ face was red as he folded his clothes. He was confused, disappointed and angry at the recent turn of events. To think he had given CC the final benefit of the doubt, only to be humiliated by her and that stupid recorder she used on him.

Niles muttered, "For a moment, JUST for a moment, I thought she could be at least A ’LIL BIT nice. Well as much as I love the Sheffields, I must leave this place."

Just then he heard a soft knock on the door. Without even turning around, he said rather audibly, just enough for the person outside to hear,"Sorry Fran, I’m in no mood to talk right now."

There was a few seconds of silence before a voice came, "Niles, it’s me."

Niles recognised the voice but still didn’t turn around, even when CC entered the room. The fact that he had forgotten to lock his door didn’t even bother Niles. He was too busy packing his suitcase.

"I’m sorry Niles.."

Niles looked up from his suitcase, took a deep breath and turned around.What he saw almost shocked him. CC’s face was so forlorn, red, and there were still tears slowly dripping across her cheeks. Seemed like she had been crying. But Niles wouldn’t budge. He asked sternly, "WHAT is it now, Babcock? Another one of your tricks?"

"No Niles, I’m serious...I realised my mistake. I’m genuinely sorry. Please forgive me."

Without warning, Niles grabbed CC’s wrist, directing her to the door and saying, "FINE, I forgive you, now GET OUT!"

Though Niles’ voice wasn’t loud (he didn’t want to wake the others up), it was enough to startle CC. Especially when he grabbed her wrist. In fact he grabbed it a bit too hard and CC could feel a bit of the strain. But CC was adamant. She came this far; she wasn’t going to give up. For a brief moment there was a ‘tussle’ at the door. Niles was trying to close his door whilst CC was pushing the door from the other side from being closed. But Niles finally won and the door shut hard on CC’s face. CC felt a pain on her forehead. Her heart sank. Devastated, exhausted and feeling defeated, she turned around and walked away from Niles’ room.

Inside, part of Niles’ mind was wondering if he’d gone too much as to have slammed the door onto CC. But Niles thought,"No, enough is enough. She never needs pity."

After packing his suitcase, Niles changed into his sleeping attire, tried to sleep, but couldn’t. He felt thirsty but realised he has ran out of plain water and even beer in his room.

"Darn," he complained as he went out to head for the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Niles got an uncomfortable surprise. CC was at the table, her head burried in her arms on the table and Niles could hear her sobbing. Though Niles didn’t want to let his guard down, he found himself slowly walking towards CC. But before he could say or do anything, CC, as if instinctively, slowly looked up and turned her head towards him. Their eyes met.

"Niles...please believe me, I love you..."

Her words were barely a whisper but Niles had heard the word ‘love’. But still he didn’t say anything, though by now he had pulled out a chair to sit beside CC. But there was no expression on his face that would comfort CC. CC started feeling a bit awkward but gathered up her courage again. Besides, at least she had managed to make him sit near her. All she needed now was for him to hear her out. She wiped her tears and began speaking again, this time looking slightly down at the table instead of Niles.

"You may not believe this but I love you too. I was just too scared and confused to admit or express it. Plus with what has been going on between us, there was no telling how your reaction would be."

There was silence still. CC couldn’t believe Niles was yet to say a word, but she thought, what the heck, he had won anyway.

"I thought I love Maxwell. Slowly I realised I only cared for him. You know how the late Sara, Maxwell and me are very good friends. I was devastated when Sara died, and felt it was my responsibility to care for Maxwell and his kids. Then I realised what I love about him was working with him. I don’t know when, I don’t know how, but all I know is that I started falling in love with you."

Niles started to fidget, but he couldn’t find the right words. Eventually he said, "But all along, even until the day I proposed to you for the first time, you were clearly still going after him!"

CC sighed. "I don’t know how to explain it Niles...I guess it’s simply cos I don’t know what else to do. I love you, but Babcocks don’t mix with the help, let alone marry them. Plus, with your zingers and sarcasms...oh, you know how you treat me all the while...I have feelings, you know? You hurt me. It was bad enough knowing I’ll probably NEVER be able to marry the man I love, it was worse not being able to tell him I love him, and it was WORST having to tolerate all those mean words coming from him."

Niles’ heart skipped a beat. Never before had he heard such a ‘confession’ coming from CC. The woman whom he loves, whom he thought was going to be forever ‘cold’ towards him, turns out to be someone who had been secretly loving him too, perhaps even as much as he loves her. Then he suddenly realised he had thought of the word ‘loves’ instead of the past tense, ‘loved’. Which means, he STILL LOVES this woman who was now just a breath away from his face.

"Oh Miss Babcock.."Niles said as he brushed her hair gently, "Please forgive me...I’ve been selfish..."

Niles ran his hand down CC’s hair, then her face. CC held his hand and kissed it. Then Niles noticed the slight bruise on her forehead. "Oh...,"Niles was about to get up to get ice but CC gently pulled him back and assured, "It’s ok, it’s actually fine now...hmm and my wrist is ok too.."

Niles put his arms around CC and hugged her warmly. CC rested her head against his chest and though he had his robe on, she could vaguely hear his heartbeat.

"Oh Miss Babcock..," Niles voiced out hoarsely as he pressed his nose and lips against the top of CC’s head, kissing it and relishing the scent of her hair. While doing this Niles closed his eyes.

"And all this while, you tolerated my zingers.."

"I figured it was the only way I could have a conversation with you," explained CC a bit candidly as she looked up again at Niles’ face,"It didn’t feel that way initially, but after I fell in love with you, everyday I just wanted to see you more and more..."

"?? Is that why...you’re often here even when you’re not supposed to be working? Like, on Saturday afternoons?"

CC blushed and merely nodded her answer. But then she quite suddenly sat up as if she realised she forgot to say something. She bit her lips and there was a frown on her forehead.

"What’s wrong Miss Babcock?"CC felt Niles’ arm tighten around her.

"Actually I’m not finished yet Niles.."

Niles cupped her face with his hand for her to face him again.

"Tell me."

"Apart from not being able to marry you because of our different status, I was also scared of hurting you. I mean, you know I’ve been in relationships with men before. You know how those relationships ended. Well partly because those guys were jerks...partly because.."

"Partly because you knew I’m the one you love," Niles interrupted CC and planted a deep kiss on her lips, a kiss which CC responded to just as deeply. But she pulled away earlier than he would settle for.

"Niles, you know how I was brought up. And Lord knows you know how bad I am at this ‘love’ thing. I don’t want to marry you only to hurt and divorce you. And..sigh..there’s another thing.."

"What is it?" There was an urgency in Niles’ voice.

"Recently..well, not long before you made your final proposal, I discovered I was...pregnant.."

Niles’ jaw dropped.

"I know..and you know you’re not the only man I slept with. But I know the baby is yours. But I also know there’s every possibility, no matter how small, of your rejecting this baby or even denying that it’s yours. I thought long and hard of abortion. Though the doctor assured me the pregnancy is fine despite my age, I can’t imagine raising the child without you. Hell, I can’t even start imagining me as a mother! On the other hand part of me badly wants something to remind me of you. But by the time I finally decided to abort the baby, my pregnancy is already at a stage deemed risky to terminate. And then you proposed. I totally snapped, Niles. Even if I broke my stupid Babcock rule of not marrying the help, I knew accepting your proposal would feel different now that I’m pregnant. I don’t want you to feel obliged to marry me."

Overwhelmed by her own words, CC started to sob again, this time burrying her head on Niles chest again. Niles too was overwhelmed. CC was carrying his child! Their child!

"Miss Babcock.. Miss Bab.....CC.."Niles called out softly and soothingly. CC looked up.

Wiping her tears with his hand, he assured her, "With or without baby, I’ll always love you. And now that we have a baby, I’ll love you both even more. I know it’s mine CC. The baby is ours. I know it’s ours."

Niles gave CC a big smile. CC remembered how she often heard Fran’s comment about what a sweet, charming smile Niles has. CC ran her fingers seductively across Niles’ lips.

"Is it too late," asked CC, "for me to say ‘yes’?"

Niles’ face lit up, brigther than ever before.

"Yes, CC? You’re saying yes, you’ll marry me????"

CC re-enforced her reply with a passionate kiss. Her tongue met with Niles’ tongue and they roamed each other like they never did before. After what felt like an eternity, they pulled away from each other to catch their heavy breaths. Niles stood up and pulled CC up gently, leading her towards the stairs.

"Come, the ring is upstairs. And tonight I’m not letting you go home. I believe there’s a spare outfit of yours which you’ve left here the other time. I’ve had it washed. There’ll be no resignations. Tomorrow we’ll turn up at work as per normal and will tell the Sheffields of our engagement. Afterwhich I’ll ask Mr. Sheffield for some time-off . I’ll bring you to England to meet my parents."

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