This series takes off from the Phoenix Fire Series! Again these characters don't belong to me! My thanks To Cheryl for editing this fic.

Knight’s Away

by

Ceniana
(Ceniana@gmail.com)

"Are you ready for this Captain?" The man stood up slapping the blonde headed officer on the back. "Just two more patrols, and then six wonderful months stateside!"

Lucas Butler ran a hand in his short hair, letting out a sigh. "My wife and mother will be happy to see me away from training missions for once." He breathed in the sandy air, letting out a huge sigh. "Let’s get this over with!" Lucas climbed up into his black hawk helicopter and put on his helmet. He looked over towards his friend Dalton smiling. "Looking forward to seeing your wife?"

"Yeah… We’ll be back in the big apple before you know it. Maybe Rach can fix us dinner again!" Dalton winked going over his flight check list. "Jane just loved Rach."

Lucas let out a sigh looking at the small pictures he had hidden away. His wife holding their small daughter, and then of his parents and his three small sisters. "Going home soon… Life can’t get any better."

weeks earlier<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

C.C. let out a groan, shifting in and throwing an arm around his thick chest. She opened up her eyes to find Niles sound asleep as her hand teased his bare chest. She allowed her hands to drift lower letting out a playful purr.

"Woman, haven’t you had enough?" Niles let out in a roar and reached out for his wife, forcing her back down on the bed. "Your little hellions will be up any moment."

"I locked them up in their dungeon." C.C. giggled as Niles started to tease her neck. "I just found my night gown an hour ago, bell boy."

Niles glanced at his alarm clock. "It’s three in the morning?" He groaned thinking it was much later. "What’s wrong?" He took her hands, now keeping her from teasing him.

"Wrong? Nothing’s wrong." C.C. lowered her eyes in her demanding way. "Expect my husband won’t give in." She wiggled her body against his.

Niles let out a gasp and eyed his wife once more. "Nice try, woman!" He reached out spanking the side of her rear. "Now talk! Did you have another nightmare?"

C.C. put her head down to listen to his heart beat. "Yes."

"C.C." Niles let out a huge sigh. "He knows how to take care of himself. Lucas has always been a smart lad." Niles brushed a hand tenderly across her cheek. "You have been having the same nightmare the past three weeks." Niles let out a tender sigh. "Besides our playtime… how much sleep have you gotten?"

"Not much." C.C. crawled out of bed, heading towards the shower.

"Woman, get back here!" Niles groaned as C.C. displayed a slow smile. "I’m not done with you yet!"

"You can join me in the shower." C.C. closed the door and Niles felt his body shiver. He closed his eyes once more gazing at the clock, willing to stop moving. "Bloody hell." He quickly stood up walking towards the bathroom.

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C.C. walked into her office with a loud groan and shut the door. She had three scripts to look over for the three shows she produced with Maxwell, and of course one play. "Come in and die." She hissed hearing a knock at her office door.

"Well I see you’re in a mood." Maxwell Sheffield stuck his head in. "Shall I come back later?"

"No…" She rolled her eyes, waving him in. "What is it now Maxwell?"

"Nothing more than the normal." Maxwell handed a few things over and C.C. let out another groan. "Are you feeling alright?"

"Nothing that sleep can’t cure." C.C. rubbed her eyes and glanced up at the photographs on her desk. The three little smiling girls with the Sheffield twins. Niles liked to call the group of five the ‘mob squad’ but alone with their daughters he nicked named them hellcats. Her head tilted towards Lucas, Rachael and their little girl Lucy.

"C.C.?" Maxwell reached out touching his friend. "Why don’t you take off the rest of the day?"

"I do plan on leaving early later." C.C. shifted in her chair and signed a few papers, handing them back to Maxwell. "Niles wants to know if we can go ahead and work on the house." Niles and C.C. had been living in the guest house since they all moved to Hollywood. They now just found the time to work on separating the girls from their single room nursery.

"Are you sure you want to?" Maxwell let out a laugh. "I know Fran and I have an easier time dealing with Eve and Jonah when they are in the same room." Maxwell raised up his hand. "Bloody hell, I know we have to do it sooner or later."

"I would do it sooner rather than later." C.C. tapped her chin. "Did you give the guard D.D.’s name?"

"Yes..." Maxwell stood up and turned back around. "Did she just now get out of that marriage your mother had her in?"

C.C. let out a snicker. "I can’t keep track of D.D. anymore." C.C. had just lately put in an effort to get closer to her elder sister. Lucas had been begging her with each letter to contact his, Aunt Dee.

"I thought you two weren’t talking."

"Lucas…" C.C. glanced up. "He has a habit of trying to save the world."

"He does remind me of Niles in that regard." Maxwell winked walking outside of C.C.’s office.

"What?" C.C. picked up the ringing phone letting out a sharp snarl.

"Is everything alright, Miss Babcock?" Nick paced up and down in his condo. He had received Gram’s old place in her will. "Maybe I should call back later?"

"No…" C.C. leaned back in her chair. "It’s okay."

"I thought you might want to hear from someone." Nick placed the phone down by the little girl’s ear. "Say hello to your grandmother."

"Hi.. Gram…" Lucy’s voice was so soft. She was four years old and people could swear she was the spitting image of C.C. at the same age.

"Hello baby…" C.C. could feel her armor melting. "How are you?"

"Fine…" Lucy mumbled quietly not used to the workings of a telephone yet.

"How are they really doing?" C.C. snickered as she heard Nick come back on the line. "How are you doing?"

"I could be better if your father would stay out of my way." Nick snickered but then let out a large grumble. "Rachael is doing alright, but she still walks to work every day. I follow her like a hawk though" Nick closed his eyes picturing the blind pregnant girl walking with her violin case and Seeing Eye dog. "Can you talk to her?"

"I think the only people she listens to are Lucas, and Robert." C.C. rubbed her temples trying to force the image of everything that could happen to her daughter in-law of out her mind. "I’ll have Niles call her."

"Thank you." Nick juggled the phone. "How are your hellcats?"

"Right now driving their father crazy … I .. Hope.."

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

"Shhhh the cowboy will come get us." Morgan flashed her blue eyes towards her twin sisters. She then tilted her head towards the Sheffield twins, reaching out and touching Jonah’s noise. "You take point!"

"I don’t want to!" Jonah made a face, and looked up over the couch cushions. "The cowboys can still be out there."

"ME!" Claudia jumped up as her twin sister Casey followed. Morgan let out a girlish groan eyeing Jonah with disapproval.

"They always go together." Morgan hid following Eve around the corner.

"You always go with Eve!" Jonah shook his head. "Girls…"

Claudia let out a play yelp as she felt the large hands of her father come out of no where. Niles was wearing a cowboy hat and a huge silly grin on his face. "I got you!" He laughed as Casey started jumping on.

"Daddie! Daddie!" Casey started tickling Niles in turn. Morgan lifted up her head from her hiding space with Eve.

"DOG PILE!" Morgan called out and soon Niles had all five small children attacking him.

"Oy!" Fran walked into her living room seeing it was turned into an ‘Indian Village’. "Silly Indians!" Fran waved them all off Niles who was struggling to breath under the children’s assault. "Let him up Eve!"

"Awww, but mama says he’s earned punishment." Morgan displayed the Babcock grin and Niles whimpered.

"Only from your mother." Niles held his sides smiling towards Fran. "Sorry Mrs. Sheffield, but the children wanted to play Cowboys and Indians."

"Next time wait until I come home so you’re not the only ‘Cowboy’." Fran giggled and picked up a couch cushion.

"Let’s go swing!" Morgan waved her hand as the other children followed.

"Not much longer before school starts for those three." Fran pointed towards her twins and Morgan . "Niles, are you okay?" She reached out helping her best friend to a seat.

"Not as young as I used to be. I remember doing this with Miss Maggie, Gracie and Master Brighton."

"Now all three are in college, and one is about to be a mother." Fran let out a hiss. "Oy… How did C.C. take being called Grammy?"

"Let’s not talk about that." Niles flashed a smile watching the group outside.

"Here." Fran handed over his and C.C.’s mail. "What? Something wrong?" She noticed Niles’s look.

"She’s gotten another letter from ‘him’." Niles growled eyeing the letter.

"Who?" Fran looked over and smile. "Come on Niles." She hit him playfully. "They been writing one another since before y’all where married."

"Yes." Niles groaned putting the letter in his pocket and looking at the other mail.

"Have you even asked her what happened between them?" Fran rolled her eyes. "It’s a simple question." Fran put a hand on her hip, eyeing the butler. "Niles? NILES!" She poked him and Niles blinked back awake.

"I’m sorry, Mrs. Sheffield." Niles looked at his mail again.

"What are you looking for?"

"It’s been two weeks since we received a letter from Lucas." Niles’ shoulder dropped for just a moment. "I was hoping that he would have sent something by now."

"C.C. still having problems sleeping?"

"Yes." Niles put the rest of the mail in his other pocket.

"He’ll write soon, but have you called Rachael to see if she’s heard from him lately?" Fran placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I’ll do that tonight… I know C.C. would feel better hearing from him. "Niles looked down at his watch. "I better fix lunch! Is Mister Sheffield still stopping by today?"

"Yes and he’s promised to force C.C. to join us." Fran winked as Niles mouthed ‘bless you’

Niles wandered into his huge kitchen letting out a sigh and pulled out Mac’s letter, eyeing it. It was bugging him that this man had such an impact on C.C. and Lucas for so many years. "I shouldn’t open it." Niles started to boil the kettle for tea and placed the letter back in his pocket. Niles felt his heart twist as he was dying to know. He blinked as the telephone rang out. He could barely spit out his greetings before he heard the soft female voice on the phone.

"Don’t you dare, bell boy." C.C. let out a snarl.

"What?" Niles blinked, wondering how C.C. knew he held Mac’s letter. "I didn’t do anything."

"Yet…" C.C. let out her husky chuckle and started to drum her fingers on the desk. "I know Mac’s letter arrived today."

"Alright, it did." Niles let out a grumble.

"Did Lucas send anything?" C.C. felt her heart flutter with hope.

"Not yet, love." Niles closed his eyes. "He will soon."

"Yeah... Listen, Maxwell wants to take the rest of the day off." C.C. shifted in her seat, letting out a snarl. "So I’ll be home for lunch today."

"Will you now?" Niles let out a purring noise. "You know, Mrs. Sheffield owes me a favor. I could put you to ‘bed’ soon after lunch."

C.C. let out another laugh shaking her head. "You know I won’t be sleeping."

"Not if I can help it. I can ware you out woman!" Niles nuzzled the phone closing his eyes. "I better get started on lunch, or you’ll never come home to me."

"Love you." C.C. hung up the phone. She leaned back in her chair, doing her best to push the images of something wrong away.

‘Mother’s have a way of knowing something is wrong. They can ‘feel’ it.’ C.C. let out a groan trying to push her grandmother’s words out of her mind.

"He’ll be alright." C.C. sat up and blinked. She hadn’t heard the door open. "D.D…"

"Talking to yourself again, baby sister?" D.D. sat down smiling. "Did you forget I was stopping by today?"

"I tried." C.C. snickered putting away her paper work. "So how are you, Dee?"

"Better." D.D. walked around smiling. "Come on baby sister… haven’t I paid enough for my sins?"

"Let me think about that….. No..." C.C. smirked tilting her head backwards. "I’ll let it go since I promised Lucas."

"How is daddy’s new golden boy doing? He hasn’t sent me a letter in a month." D.D. noticed C.C.’s frowning face. "When was the last time he sent you anything?"

"Two weeks." C.C. clicked her tongue rolling her eyes. "How long are you going to be in town? Where is Jas?"

"Enrolling in school for next year. I‘ve taken up residence."

"God… No…" C.C. hissed letting her teeth show slightly. "Didn’t we agree that too many Babcock’s in the same town is a ‘bad’ thing?"

"I know, trouble soon follows." D.D. reached into her purse pulling out an envelope. "I have one for Maxwell and Fran as well."

C.C. glanced up at the clock then back towards her sister. "Why are you throwing this party again?"

"Come and see... It’s a surprise." D.D. winked and turned to walk out of the room.

"Mother’s not coming is she?"

"Now C.C., would I do that to you?" D.D.’s eyes seem to glow with mischief as she left the room. C.C. groaned looking at the invite again.

"Why am I going to regret this?" She opened it up shaking her head.

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Maxwell walked inside the house grabbing Eve in one hand and Jonah in the other. C.C. managed to weave past them and glanced at Fran. "Let me guess, they are all in the kitchen?"

"Yup."

C.C. walked into the large kitchen to find all three little girls watching their father. Niles smiled towards Casey who was giggling madly.

"Then you take this piece of bread and you cut along the crust!" Niles flicked his knife decrusting the peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

"Smilie Face!" Claudia called out, and Niles reached over pinching her cheek.

"Just for you."

"Care to put a smile on my face, bell boy?" C.C. purred as they all turned around noticing C.C. for the first time.

"Mommy!" The girls all called out, holding onto her legs. C.C. blushed looking back up towards Niles’ boyish grin.

"Now girls, go find your place at the table." Niles waved them off as all three quickly made their escape. Niles backed C.C. against the counter top, holding onto her waist. "Woman…"

"Bell boy." C.C. felt hear body shiver.

"What spells have you been casting today?" Niles leaned down teasing her neck with his lips. "Did you think of me?"

"Every time I walked by a feather duster, or broom closet." C.C. giggled as Niles started to work on her buttons. "Niles… Niles…."

"What?" Niles let out a moan and lifted his head.

"Lunch? The children?" C.C. managed to wiggle out of his arms. "Now where’s my letter?" She reached out pulling some mail of out one pocket and reached in and pulled out Mac’s letter.

"Awww." Niles put on his best pouting face eyeing his wife. "Are you ever going to let me read his letters?"

"Sure…. " C.C. smiled playfully. "If you ‘earn’ it."

Niles smiled, yet again dragging her closer to him. "How can I ‘earn’ it o my mistress?"

"I’ll think of something." C.C. purred as Niles’s lips went lower past her neck. "NILES!"

"What?"

"Children... Lunch?" C.C. giggled as Niles stood up.

"Yes… Right…" Niles returned to his duty fixing up the children’s trays, then the buffet for the adults. He turned his head and heard C.C. tearing open the letter.

C.C. Babcock Butler had few friends left in this world. Maxwell Sheffield was indeed one of them, and at times even Nanny Fine had gone out of her way to be ‘friendly’ to her. Mac Forest was more than just a friend. He had understood her heart ache over Niles’ rejection, and her own frozen heart that formed after Sarah’s death. Her eyes glanced over the page and C.C. let out a soft hiss.

"What is it?" Niles looked back towards his grumbling wife.

"Years ago... Mac was blamed for getting a girl pregnant." C.C. turned the page quickly. "He did something rather stupid…"

"What?" Niles was curious now of the man that C.C. and Lucas thought so highly of.

"He told her parents it was true." C.C. chewed on her lower lip. "He married this girl and, I think, fell in love with her."

"What happened?"

"Cancer." C.C. put down the letter for just a moment. "Justin is seven." C.C. handed Niles a picture.

"I’m sorry for him then, but why are you grumping now?"

"He’s gotten married again." C.C.’s eyes crossed looking at the letter. "He’s threatening to ‘walk’ back into my life again."

"Over my dead body." Niles grumbled under his breath.

"What was that Niles?" C.C. blinked looking up from the letter.

"Lunch is ready… Now come on! Mrs. Sheffield has promised to watch the twins and Morgan this afternoon." Niles picked up a huge tray, pushing open the door to the calls of happy children.

‘I have no choice. Lindsay’s parents are pushing this issue. If they had any idea that I wasn’t really Justin’s father... I could loose another child, and that’s a path I never want to take again. So… I met a fine woman, and we made a deal. I know what you’re thinking, Babcock. I can already hear you groaning. You’ll like this lady, and in fact you might have a lot in common with her.’

C.C. felt her fingers ache wanting to go to her small desk at home and write Lucas. She let out a huge sigh playing with her food rather than eating it.

The children all mumbled and giggled as Gracie Sheffield joined them, tickling their cheeks and playing silly little games. Gracie, out of all of Sarah’s and Maxwell’s children, reminded C.C. of Sarah the most. She had only lately started using the girl’s real named instead of calling her ‘small one.’ C.C. glanced up and then back down looking at the letter.

We are birds of a feather. You at last have your Niles, and yet every time I open my heart it seems to burn. I know what I used to tell you. I am a lizard, but right now my soul needs something more. So the deal was made, and yet I find myself… torn again by love.

C.C. shook her head putting the letter away. It had been four years since her last meeting with Mac. She had traveled down to Sydney to see a play, and told him of her latest insults with Niles. "Penny for your thoughts?" Niles leaned over looking at untouched food. "Come on Caca.. You’ll need your strength." His whisper sent chills down her spine.

"I don’t need any strength to deal with you." C.C. smirked, her eyes seem to flash.

"Come on!" Fran moved the five young children up. "We’re going to the zoo!"

Niles winked towards Fran. "You always did love to live dangerously." Niles pulled on Fran’s shoulder. "I owe you one."

"Oy! Just make sure she gets some sleep at some point." Fran shook her head. "She’s looking like a ghost."

Niles grumbled and stood by Maxwell. "Anything else, sir?"

"No… that will do it, old man." Maxwell stood up taking a huge gulp of his tea. "Off to the zoo."

Niles watched his employer pick up Jonah in his arms, letting out a lion like roar. Niles turned around to find C.C. with her head bowed. "Caca."

C.C. blinked back awake feeling his strong arms holding her tight. "NILES? Are you insane? You shouldn’t be lifting anything!"

"That’s not what you said last night." Niles purred in her ear, and opened the front door of their small home. "Now you better spend the rest of the day in bed like a good girl." He walked the long hallway and, with a swift kick, the door opened up. He lowered her onto the bed, brushing away her long blonde locks. "Have I told you… I love your hair long?"

"Since our honeymoon night." C.C. let out a sigh as Niles lay down next to her. "It’s not going to work, bell boy."

"Even Mrs. Sheffield says you look pale. Sleep at least a little while, love." Niles held her gently in his arms. "The twins and Morgan will be out all day."

"What did you have to give Fran for this favor?" C.C. let out a groan.

"Just for us to do this same in a few weeks for them." Niles lifted up her hand, tracing the faint scar on her palm. "You know, I don’t remember this scar from London."

"I got it after London." C.C. shifted her head so she might listen to his beating heart. "Did I tell you? D.D. is having a party." C.C. managed to reach into her pocket pulling out the invitation.

"Mrmmmm." Niles felt his heart pound. "Is this a good thing? Or a bad thing?" He knew C.C. and D.D. had a rocky relationship in the past. C.C. blamed D.D. for her loosing Niles! D.D. had, much to her credit, accepted the blame but teased her sister about the twin’s birth.

‘Niles will have one foot in the grave when they go to college, and you baby sister will be in some nursing home.’ D.D.’s voice rang out in his ears as he recalled the heated exchanged. C.C. had admitted to teasing D.D. about her son Samuel, and how D.D. to this day refused to tell who fathered the lad. C.C. had teased D.D. about her own age limits.

"I haven’t decided yet." C.C. let out a groan closing her eyes again.

"Do you really want to go?" Niles looked at the invite again. Its golden lettering was a signal of something important. "We don’t have to."

C.C. opened up her left eye, letting out a groan. "We’ll go… and you know why?"

"To cause trouble?" Niles responded, tickling her chin.

"Mmm…. Yeah." C.C. shifted tossing her long hair to the side. "If you are looking at my gray hair’s again bell boy... I’ll lash you!"

Niles let out a playful snicker as he had noticed quite a few on her head. He soon was happy to hear that her breathing had indeed changed, signaling that was now asleep.

*Ring! Ring! Ring!* Niles reached out quickly for the phone before C.C. could awaken. "Hello…." Niles whispered quietly.

"Well, well, well..." Mac’s voice was thick and had a teasing tone to it. "It’s a Butler!"

"Mister Forest." Niles’s voice was thick with annoyance for this man. "Can I help you?"

"Where is your wife?"

"Sleeping… Why? What do you want from her?" Niles grumbled under his breath.

"Nothing… I’ll be seeing her soon enough. I do have a question for you! Have you heard from Lucas in the past few weeks? " Mac’s voice was full of the same worry that had flooded Niles’ and C.C.’s hearts of late.

"No." Niles carefully moved out from under C.C., walking out of their bedroom. "He did tell us that some of his missions leave him little time to write."

"It’s not like the boy still." Mac let out a deep sigh. "He hasn’t even written Rachael in two weeks."

Niles made a mental note to call his daughter in-law soon as possible. She would be out late playing. "No it isn’t like him."

"Let me know, and tell Babcock … I’ll see her soon."

Niles hung up the phone feeling his hands ball into fists. "Bloody hell." He looked at the time and grumbled. His fingers started pounding on the numbers.

"Hello?" The soft female voice answered with her British accent. Rachael had been the only child of Anna’s sister. Robert and Anna took her in once her mother died from a rare cancer.

"Rachael! How are you?"

"Fine! I was just about to drop Lucy off at Nick and Tish’s. I have to play in two hours, and the director can be such a pill!"

"Shall I sick, C.C. on him?" Niles let out a soft laugh hearing her giggle. "Have you heard from our knight yet?"

Rachael remained quiet for a long period of time. "It has been a while, but he told me this could happen. He’ll write or call one of us when he’s able."

"I know he will. I just wish he would do so soon. C.C. seems to be haunted by him being away on the other side of the world." Niles felt guilty telling the girl this. "It’s strange, but those two have this odd connection."

"Well, for the longest time they had only each other. Course they had Gram, Nick and Tish, but at the end of the day… Lucas was the reason C.C. went on, and C.C. was the reason Lucas went on." Rachael had come to understand that tie. She was not jealous of the connection between mother and son.

"I know." Niles felt regret slip into his heart once more.

"We are all worried, and Lucy has taken up sleeping in bed next to me. She is the reason I don’t spend my days crying. Lucas will contact us soon enough, but C.C. should be worried about three little girls who need her attention. I know that is what Lucas would tell her."

*’She might be blind, but she can see things most people can’t!* Niles could hear Lucas’s love sick words echo in his mind.

"Niles?" Rachael could hear him breathing.

"I was just thinking! How is the small one?" Niles quickly recalled his growing grandchild. "Are you still annoying Nick?"

"I walked all over London, and I don’t understand why he has to be my babysitter." Rachael let out a hiss.

"Nick is a man who needs to look after someone." Niles could understand the feeling. He had the chance to break his habit of keeping Maxwell’s household once he married C.C., but couldn’t walk away.

"He is supposed to be running a company with Stuart."

"He can’t change who he is any more than Lucas." Niles let out a chuckle feeling slightly better. "Are you going to tell C.C…."

"No!" Rachael called out before he could finish the question. "You’ll find out if it’s a boy or girl when the baby is born."

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C.C. blinked awake looking at the ceiling. She found herself alone in the bed and grumbled.

"Awww.." Niles opened up the door carrying a rather large silver tray. "I was hoping you would sleep for another hour."

C.C. rubbed her eyes and let out a husky cackle eyeing the tray Niles had brought. "Are you up for a little fun, bell boy? Are you trying to give me a hint?" C.C. waved her hand toward the fresh strawberries and cream.

"I was hoping!" Niles placed the tray on his bedside table and sat down. "Have I told you lately you’re too sexy to be a grandmother?"

"You’re too sexy to be a walking corpse." C.C. reached up touching his cheek. "How much time do we have?"

"All night." Niles wiggled his eye brows. "Mrs. Sheffield called and Eve wants a sleep over."

"O GOD! That means we have to return the favor?" C.C. let out a groan thinking about the five children.

"Now, now…" Niles reached over dipping a strawberry in the whip cream and then placing it on her lips. "The children will have to be back in school soon enough. I have my wife before me." Niles lowered his eyes looking at her shirt. "She’s over dressed!"

C.C. let out a giggle of delight as Niles crawled on top of her giving her curves a playful squeeze. "They don’t allow grandmother’s to have such a perfect body! It would be illegal.

C.C. arched up her back as Niles started to release her from the button up shirt. "Niles… O GOD!" She groaned as Niles teased the arching tip of her curve as he released her from her shirt and undergarments.

"Are you going to tell me about, Mister Forest?" Niles licked again causing C.C. to wiggle madly from his teasing.

"NO!" C.C. felt her face grow flush. "I hate it when you… Ooooo!" C.C. moaned out again as Niles playfully worked his way downward exposing her soft silky skin. "Niles!" She pulled on his hair, but Niles waved her hand away as he started to unzip her skirt.

He knew she wouldn’t sleep well tonight unless he wore her completely out. The only problem is that method would normally drive them both to the breaking point. Niles’ head dropped even lower. "Tell me..." He let out as the air filled with sexual tension.

C.C. arched her back up once more, pulling at his hair as Niles removed the last strap of silk from her body.

Niles decided it was past time to be ruthless with her. As she reached out once more for his head, he grabbed her exploring hand, holding them both away while she wiggled with desire.

C.C. closed her eyes letting the room echo with another loud moan as Niles continued with his ‘treatment’. She hated to feel powerless before him. C.C. arched up again hoping Niles would get the ’hint’ and move but it made his lips work even faster! "Please! Please don’t!"

Niles let out a dark chuckle and kept up with pace as he felt C.C.’s legs now tightly around his body. His hands now released her trapped one, and he felt her now pushing his head against her. She was no longer fighting him, but encouraging his actions.

C.C. felt her own soul poured out as she struggled for breath. She rode out the wave of pleasure, and felt Niles slowly make his way back up her body. "Niles…." She reached out pulling at his shirt.

"Have you been a good witch? Or a bad witch?" Niles purred as his shirt was pulled off him.

"I’m always bad." C.C. narrowed her eyes reaching out for him. She watched as Niles’ eyes darken with lust for her. "I found something poking my leg."

"Where do you think it goes?" Niles leaned in close to her as his fingers teased her sides. He once more pulled her legs around his waist. "Wait I think I know where!"

"I’ll make you scream first." C.C. closed her eyes and arched up as Niles moved.

"Is that right? Care to test that theory… Gram…" Niles smirked as C.C. glared at him.

"Now you’re going to pay for that." C.C. held onto his rear hard as they both gave into their desire.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Mac let out a loud groan eyeing the blonde headed woman walking in with the two boys. "What have you been doing to me woman?" He noticed her dress.

"Nothing." D.D. flashed a playful smile.

"She took us to a game, Da!" Justin smiled and playfully reached out grabbing the baseball hat from Samuel Babcock’s head.

"HEY!" Samuel was the youngest child of D.D. Babcock. He had been born from one of her affairs while in her loveless marriage to the ’French count’ her mother had forced her into when she was pregnant with her first child, Jasmine. The two boys were only months apart and started to chase one another up stairs.

"What’s the matter Mac?" D.D. smirked, her hair was put up in a long pony tail. "Did you want to come? I know Jas did but she had class."

Mac rolled his eyes trying to hold his temper. "Why are you having a party?" He couldn’t take his eyes from the baseball jersey she was wearing. He had seen C.C. look casual before, but never a ‘Babcock’ look like she was born on the wrong side of the tracks.

"That’s what WE are supposed to do." D.D. rolled her eyes.

"I hadn’t even told your sister... I was in town yet! Diane!" Mac growled and noticed the look on D.D.’s face when he called her by her first name.

"So? She knows I’m in town." D.D. let out a chuckle and walked towards the waiting butler. "No dinner for me tonight! A girl has to watch her figure." She twisted around displaying herself one last time, and walked up the starts towards the bedrooms.

Lawrence shook his head looking towards Mac. "Mister Forest… I still don’t understand…why….?"

Mac shook his head rubbing his gray beard. "Bets within bets… within bets…When you deal with anyone named ‘Babcock’ life is never simple!" Mac let out a chuckle shaking his head again. He walked up the stairs towards his room and let out a grumble trying to get the image of her in that jersey out of his mind.

<><><><><><><><><><>

Niles let out a rather loud yawn while holding his naked wife against his bare body. "How are you feeling now, Babcock?" He moved her sweaty hair from her face. "Babcock?"

C.C. let out a soft happy sigh opening her eyes. "Niles? I think you killed me!"

"What a way to go." Niles nuzzled her neck as C.C. closed her eyes once more. Niles reached over for his watch still holding her gently with his other hand. He remembered this was the normal time his family would call him, and reached over to slip the phone off the hook.

"What are you doing?" C.C. mumbled softly, shifting again. "They are going to think I’m keeping you."

"You are… now sleep, or do you want another go?" Niles moved his hand down her body to prove his point.

"No…" C.C. reached out grabbing it. "I’ll sleep." She mumbled and gave into her body’s demands for once.

Niles glanced up at the ceiling feeling his heart grow heavy just thinking about Lucas. He had sided with Lucas’s decision to join the military against everyone else in the family, but if he came to any harm now. "Bloody hell..." Niles let out a mumble closing his own eyes.

Niles woke up early that morning to cross the short pathway to the main house. He had left C.C. in the bed still sound asleep. He was shocked to find the children already up and eating. "Mrs. Sheffield, you didn’t have to order out!"

"That’s your job?" Fran let out a giggle playfully pushing on his arm.

"Daddie!" Claudia and Casey ran up, each holding onto Niles’ legs. Niles tilted his head to find Morgan pouting next to a chatting Eve. Niles scooped up each of the twins giving them a morning kiss and tilted his head towards his best friend.

Fran followed his eyes. "She snuck into the living room last night while Maxwell was watching news." Fran let out a sigh. "She saw it and started crying for Lucas."

Niles let out a groan recalling how C.C. would stay glued to the TV for hours on end during Lucas’s first deployment. "I’ll talk to her." Niles walked over leaning down towards his eldest daughter. "Want to help me get something ready for lunch?" Morgan jumped out of her chair taking Niles’ hand and followed him into the kitchen.

He placed the little girl on the corner so he could face her eye level, and flashed a bright smile. "Daddie…" Morgan rubbed her eyes. "Bubba going to be okay?"

"Your mother tells me Babcock’s bend but never break." Niles played with her chin.

"Butler!" Morgan’s eyes flashed with annoyance that reminded him of C.C.

"I know you’re a Butler, but you’re also a Babcock." Niles handed her a carrot and the little girl managed a playful smile before breaking it in half. "See, that’s my girl!"

"Can I do it! Only me!" Morgan’s eyes brightened with hope.

"Do you want to fix lunch today? Your mother would think I’m trying to turn you into a little servant." Niles couldn’t hide his growing smile. "So we will keep this between us." He waved his hand around. "Shall we enlist the help of your sisters?"

"Yah!" Morgan reached out kissing her father’s cheek. Niles’s face blushed with pleasure. C.C. and Lucas might have a strong tie, but he could already feel his growing bond with Morgan.

C.C. walked in the back down wearing her causal clothing and carrying D.D.’s invites. "Morning Nanny Fine… Maxwell." She sat down at the table feeling strangely refreshed for the first time in days. "I have a gift for you!"

"O! Let me see!" Fran reached for the invitation, and let out a happy giggle. "Wait, isn’t this the sista that?"

C.C. rolled her eyes. "Nanny Fine, I have only ONE sister... And yes…. She is..." C.C. let out a groan sitting down and reaching for the coffee pot.

Maxwell rubbed his chin and glanced toward C.C. "Are you going?"

"I don’t ‘want’ too." C.C. rubbed her temples.

"It might be fun!" Fran jumped up and glanced around. "What am I going to wear?!" She headed upstairs quickly as C.C. groaned.

"What’s wrong?" Maxwell stood up pouring C.C. another cup of coffee.

"Nothing… I just haven’t gotten past what a wreck she made out of her life and mine." C.C. reached out for a danish. "If she had learned to control herself… my life wouldn’t had become a living hell."

"Now C.C." Maxwell narrowed his eyes. "I think you and Niles both had a hand in your own mistakes."

"I know…" C.C. lowered her voice. "But…. Still…"

"Give her a chance. Did karma end up... As Fran would say… ‘Biting her in the ass?’" Maxwell made a face at the rather ‘rude’ remark but let left C.C. in a fit of giggles.

"Yes… but…."

"Ahhh! I thought I heard a sexy grandma!" Niles walked over and kissed his wife softly. "Why didn’t you stay in bed?"

"No rest for the wicked?" C.C. purred and nibbled at his ear lobe before releasing him.

"Anyway…" C.C. shook her head. "It says we can bring the children." She flashed D.D.’s invite over towards a grumbling Niles. "So you better tell Nanny Fine nothing ‘to’ formal."

Maxwell stood up and nodded. "So, if we can bring the children then no fire works or trouble tonight?" He smiled winking towards C.C.

"Yeah….. Right..." C.C. groaned eating another bite.

"What’s wrong?" Niles leaned over his wife playing with her long hair as the three small girls came smiling out of the kitchen.

"Mama!" Claudia ran up and then climbed on her mother’s lap. Casey saw what her twin was doing and joined Claudia.

"Babies." Morgan snarled kissing C.C.’s cheek.

"Now Morgan… try to be nice." C.C. smirked as the little girl put on her pouting face. "You used to do this all the time!"

"Hard to with dem in yer lap." Morgan mumbled reaching out for her father’s arms and Niles picked her up. "Princess!"

"Yes your highness?" Niles teased her noise and Morgan burst out into another fit of giggles.

"Niles…" C.C. let out a groan as Casey hugged her neck. "Don’t encourage her!"

"Yes my, queen." Niles wiggled his eyebrows and C.C. couldn’t suppress her own laughter. "Your mother’s right." Niles glared at Morgan. "Remember, out side this house your nothing but a common…"

"Niles!" C.C. groaned. "Would you just stop it all together?"

"We’ll have this talk later." Niles whispered in Morgan’s ear as the little girl giggled once more at her parents. "Are you three up for a party with, Aunt D.D.?"

"Sam? Jas?" Morgan’s eyes lit up thinking about her elder cousins.

"I’m sure she’ll take them out of cold storage long enough for you to see them." C.C. played with Casey’s pony tails as Claudia hummed a baby tune to herself.

"Mama play nice with sissy!" Morgan recalled C.C.’s commandment while playing with the twins. She then turned towards Niles who couldn’t hide the coy smile growing across his face. "Eve! Can I?"

"Yes you may!" Niles set the girl down and C.C. let out a groan. "What’s wrong?"

"Why does that girl have to remember everything I tell her?"

"She’s at that age." Niles pulled up a chair and offered his arms to Casey who accepted. "Just wait until these two start in on us."

"In?" Claudia looked up into her mother’s eyes.

"Don’t worry baby." C.C. nuzzled the little girl.

"How bad can this party be?" Niles watched as C.C. turned pale. "She’s your sister after all."

"She’s a ‘Babcock’, and that signals trouble."

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

"Diane!" Mac let out a groan coming down from his room. If he had known some of the guidelines of this deal he might have never agreed to it. The different rooms, and her making plans for them and the boys was starting to drive him crazy. "DIANE???!??" He grumbled pulling his long gray hair back in a pony tail.

"What’s wrong, Mac?" Jasmine looked up from her text books at the table where she was studying.

"You better put up all that stuff for tonight young lady." Mac waved at the mountain of college books. "Your cousins, aunt and uncle will be here soon enough." He glanced over at this butler putting out trays of food.

Jas stood up with a soft smile on her face. "Relax… She’s not going to cause you trouble, but I would be worried about Aunt C.C. when you tell her the TRUTH!" She let out a giggle as Mac’s face twisted in pain.

"I’m trying not to think about that." Mac turned around smiling at a young couple with a small boy. They had tons of food outdoors by the pool side. D.D. had hired people to keep grilling and a clown to entertain small children. Mac knew a few of these people as business contacts.

"What’s wrong da?" Justin Forest walked up smiling. "D.D. did great!"

"Yeah, great…." Mac started to grumble, his eyes narrowed towards D.D. talking to one of the new Hollywood stars. The man was all muscle and, of course, five years younger. "Just wait until the ‘Butler’ clan gets here." He mumbled, wondering if Lucas’s had been right in telling him he should have just come out and told his mother months ago. "Where is Sam?"

"I’ll get him." He quickly moved as he noticed Lawrence answering the door. Mac quickly moved towards his office remembering a contract he wanted someone to look over at the party.

"Mrs. Butler! Mister Butler!" Lawrence smiled and leaned down to kiss a giggling Morgan’s hand, pretending to do the same for the twin girls. "Are the Sheffield’s coming?"

"They are on their way, but of course Mrs. Sheffield had to change outfits once she found out about the guest list." Niles smirked as C.C. rolled her eyes.

"Where’s my sister?" C.C. knew only one thing. If D.D. was going to ‘spring’ something on her … the sooner the better.

"C.C." Niles narrowed his eyes as the three little girls eyed the clown.

"Mama, can we?" Morgan jumped up and down pointing towards the clown doing balloon animals.

"Keep an eye on your sisters." C.C. watched as Morgan took Claudia’s and Casey’s hands, wandering over to sit by the clown. "Stop looking at me that way!" C.C. glanced back as Niles narrowed his eyes to focus on the lower body.

"I don’t know… I rather like this look for you." His hand started to tickle her showing backside.

"Something is wrong here!" C.C. glanced back towards Lawrence. She couldn’t place the servant at first, but Mac’s face started flickering in her mind.

"Do you know him?" Niles glanced back at the blushing butler. "I hope not!"

"I’ve only banged one ‘Butler’." C.C. let out a husky purr. "Something about the man reminds me of…" C.C. felt her lip starting to twitch trying to put it together. C.C. felt strong arms pick her up letting out a bearish growl!

Niles eyed the man swinging his wife around with a snarl. He looked like an overgrown bear pretending to be a ‘human’ rather than any kind of a gentleman.

"Mac!" C.C. busted into a fit of giggles as the man let out his roar hugging her tightly. "What are you doing here?" He at last put her down on the ground beside her husband.

"Handling my wife from the look of it." Niles let out a mumble.

Mac tilted his head towards a grumbling Niles. "So this is the man." He offered his hand and Niles glanced at it before slowly engaging in a firm, and strong handshake.

C.C. glanced at Mac, then at Niles. "You can let go of each other’s hands now."

"So Mister Forest." Niles finally let go. "My WIFE asked you a question. What are you doing here?"

"I’m back in the ‘game’. I have a few clients, and one of them is even working on one of your three shows." Mac folded his arms eyeing C.C. "So be prepared for…"

"Was someone about to say trouble?" D.D. stepped forward to stand by Mac. "Niles! You look wonderful!" She reached over to kiss her brother in-law’s cheek.

"Have you two met my wife yet?" Mac’s voice was deep and playful.

Niles could see C.C.’s lower lip starting to tremble at this declaration. Niles glanced from D.D. back towards Mac with a coy smile. He couldn’t believe that D.D. Babcock had jumped from one marriage right into another. "Why?" Niles decided to ask the question that was rattling around in C.C.’s mind.

"Thank you!" C.C. threw up her hands releasing the breath she had been holding in. "Why in the hell…?" C.C. started pointing towards her elder sister but stopped as her nephew came out of hiding.

Sam glanced towards his grumbling aunt and back to his mother. "Mom?" His eyes filled with worry as D.D. knelt down.

"It’s okay… Just a ‘Babcock’ thing."

"That’s one way of putting it." Niles snickered eyeing Mac. "I have been wondering... Did you sleep with my wife?"

"Niles!" C.C. hissed turning red.

"Well…." Mac couldn’t hide his silly grin as Niles walked up to face the man.

D.D. glanced from her son back to the adults. "Run along now… The adults are going to do something stupid in a few minutes."

"Answer the question." Niles hissed as C.C. pulled on his arm.

"Niles, would you let that drop for JUST a moment please." C.C. was soon standing to the side next to her elder sister. She glared at D.D. for just a moment. "We aren’t done with the questions on why you married him."

"I’m sure." D.D. glanced back watching her new husband and the butler stand face to face. "So did you sleep with him?" D.D. whispered in her sister’s ear.

C.C. rolled her eyes, annoyed at the ‘contest’ going on before her. "Great two idiots with a heart condition trying to best one another. Are we going to stand here and watch the ‘best’ gimp win?" C.C. blinked noticing her sister had left her side and was trying to pull Mac back from Niles.

"Just answer the question!" Niles felt his hands ball into fists. C.C. couldn’t help but notice how cute he looked when he was jealous.

"Well, we did ’share’ a bed one time." Mac felt Niles fist fly towards his face as the sentence left his mouth.

"OY! We get burgers, hot dogs, and a show!" Fran Sheffield had arrived just in time to see the Butler and Aussie land in the middle of the living room floor.

"NILES!" Maxwell reached out as several other guests worked to pull the pair apart. It didn’t stop the men from throwing a few punches at one another before being disconnected. Mac had an angry red mark below his felt eye. "Bloody hell!"

"UGH! Butler!" Mac roared, but let out a huge laugh. "When I was chasing your WIFE you were about to marry another woman!"

Niles didn’t care anymore, he wanted to reach out and choke the man.

"Niles!" C.C.’s face softened as she managed to turn him around. "I didn’t ’sleep’ with him."

Niles allowed C.C. and Maxwell to move him away from a grumbling Mac. "I…I..."

"Am an idiot?" C.C. finished his sentence displaying a coy smile.

"For a bloody butler you know how to throw a punch!" Mac let out a belly laugh as Lawrence handed him an ice pack. Mac glanced towards D.D. noting her worry.

"I suppose…" Niles found his tongue twisting into knots trying to find the write words to apologize with.

"Two things ‘Butler’" Mac held up his hand having his fingers around. "First, I wanted to, but the woman would have KILLED me! Second, at the time I had my only chance you were engaged to your little maid."

Niles let C.C. guide him away from Mac and D.D. "What did happen between you and him then, C.C.?" Niles whispered quietly, trying to hide his hurt feeling over having Katherine mentioned.

"Not the time nor the place, Bell boy…" C.C. sat him down in one of the yard chairs as Lawrence handed her an ice pack for Niles’ bloody lip. "Why are they married?" She turned towards the smirking butler.

"I can’t say, but your son and Miss Jasmine know a lot of what is going on." He winked walking away from the grumbling couple.

C.C. rolled her eyes kneeling down. "You know you’re rather cute when you’re jealous." Her hand removed the one holding the ice bag on his lip.

"Then what happened between the two of you?" Niles put on his best pouting face.

"In a time when I needed someone Mac was there." C.C. touched his lip, and held the ice bag back in place. "I don’t question your relationship with Nanny Fine."

"You did too!" Niles blinked but C.C. let out a husky laugh. "What?"

"I didn’t come out and ask Nanny Fine if she had ‘slept’ with you!"

D.D. let out a groan helping Mac towards his room. "I have him Lawrence, go see to our guests." She placed Mac on the bed, but soon let out a yelp as Mac had her on her back.

"You were worried about me." Mac held D.D. down on his bed enjoying the feel of her lush curves against him.

"Don’t mistake pity for caring." D.D. wiggled and let out a snarl. "Are you sure that it isn’t my baby sister you want in here?"

"You are starting to fall in love with me!" Mac leaned closer blowing on her silky skin. "Admit it!"

"Not a chance in hell! Are you going to tell me about this odd connection between you and C.C.?" D.D. glared up at a laughing Mac.

"Are you?" Niles glanced as C.C. held onto his hand.

"Niles, they weren’t exactly the best moments of my life." C.C. eyed the table serving drinks and let out a groan. "You really want to know?" She glanced back towards a nodding Niles.

"We had been drinking most of the day." C.C. lowered her eyes glancing towards the small spots on the floor. "I had done the math, and figured out it was your wedding day."

"Oh." Niles made a face recalling the mess he had made of his own life back then.

"I found myself back in my room. ALONE." C.C. rolled her eyes holding her head up. "Trying my best not to fall apart in front of the world, so I was sobbing in my room alone. Mac overhead."

Niles reached out feeling guilt pound at his heart again. "And?"

"He held me the rest of the night." C.C. lowered her head. "Lucas came in and had to see me like that." She closed her eyes recalling her month at Mac’s ranch.

*"Mommy! You’ll never be alone, we can take an oath! A blood oath like they do in all the tales!" Lucas had pulled out a pocket knife Gram had bought him. "We will always look after one another!"

Niles narrowed his eyes towards the small scar. "That explains your mark then."

"We are friends Niles, and sometimes I feel closer to Mac than my own brother. I know what D.D.’s life has been like over the past decade, and I don’t want him hurt."

"Are you sure…?" Niles glanced at her like a lost puppy.

"NILES!" C.C. glared, hitting him softly on the shoulder.

Mac let out a laugh still holding his wife down on the bed. "Why do you want to know?" His hand reached out touching her jaw. "I would rather talk about other subjects."

"Get off me." D.D. hissed and managed to wiggle out from under him.

Mac let out a groan watching D.D. quickly leave his room. "I’m in hell, and married to a ‘Babcock’." He placed the ice pack back on his eye.

"Aunt C.C.!" Jasmine walked up towards Niles and C.C. "Is it true? Did Uncle Niles really take a swing at Mac?"

"Yeah... In all his idiotic glory." C.C. let out a chuckle as Niles groaned.

"Mister Forest should learn to wipe that smirk off his face." Niles felt his lip throb in pain.

"What the hell is going on, Jas?" C.C. felt her heart race. "Nick and Gram spent years trying to get your mother out of one marriage."

"Decades." Jas sat down next to her aunt and looked at Niles. "Can I see your eye?"

"Already playing doctor?" Niles let out a chuckle, but groaned soon after feeling his body throb in pain.

Jasmine frowned looking at him. "Can I really talk to you two and have it not get back to Mac or mother?"

"Yes." C.C. narrowed her eyes. "Do you want to talk here or later?"

"Later." She glanced down towards her grumbling uncle. "You don’t have anything to fear from Mac."

"He admitted he ‘Wanted’ my wife."

"Isn’t your uncle’s face cute when it twists like that?" C.C. pinched Niles’s cheek causing him to groan.

"Just trust me." Jas narrowed her eyes and Niles nodded slowly. "I’ll tell you and auntie all about it when I bring the boys by tomorrow to play with the girls."

C.C. let out a soft groan watching Jasmine walk away. "I still don’t like any of this."

Niles reached out pulling his wife down on his chair. "Caca…"

"Niles" She let out a purring noise.

"Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwie!" Morgan walked up giggling at her parents. "Aunt Fran told me to say…." Morgan looked up, forgetting the words at first. "Get a room?"

"Nanny Fine and her wonderful ideas!" C.C. leaned close, nuzzling his neck.

"Caca." Niles grumbled reaching out. "We have small children to worry about!" Niles tilted his head towards a mumbling Morgan.

"So they get an education." C.C. let out a giggle, kissing his neck.

"Mommie!" Morgan poked the couple putting on her best pouting face.

"She’s your child." C.C. grumbled jumping off her husband. "Yes baby?"

"Can we go play with Justin and Sam?" Morgan had now been joined by her two sisters. C.C. felt the heat of all three sets of blue eyes staring at her. "Can we?"

"Can?" The twins chimed in at the same time jumping up and down.

"Watch your sisters." C.C. narrowed her eyes at Morgan who nodded and ran off to join the two elder boys. "Now... Where were we?" She found herself once more snuggling on Niles’ neck. "Yes! How cute you look when you’re fighting about me!"

"Well someone has an ego." Niles snickered and arched up as C.C.’s lips teased his ear. "We are in public woman!"

"Like that’s stopped us before!"

"Your sister has fifty rooms in this huge household." Niles pushed her off. "You think the twins and Morgan can mind their manners for a while?"

C.C. stood back on her feet glancing at the boys trying to teach the small children how to play kick ball. She watched as Sam was showing his little cousins how to kick. "Sam has a handle on things."

"Come on then woman!" Niles purred pulling her to her feet and chasing her inside the home.

C.C. soon found herself cornered in one of the many rooms. Niles was teasing her neck. Then a noise rang out from the next room.

"You’re just trying to push my buttons, Mac." D.D. let out a long, slow hiss. "You think doing …." C.C. blinked hearing her sister’s voice and Niles lifted up from his assault.

"Am I now? You think I’m going to stop…. I want to win our little agreement, and not just because of the money." Mac’s voice went low and very deep."

"You’ll just have to mark it up to yet another Babcock you won’t bed!" D.D. let out a yelp and C.C. shifted as she and Niles got closer to the wall to listen.

"You want me."

"We have guests, and I have no time to play with you again today... MAC!"

Niles eyed C.C. as they both heard the door slam in the other room. "What is it with you bloody, Babcocks?!"

C.C. let out a sigh tapping the wall. "I…" She never got the chance to finish her sentence as Niles pulled her into a heated kiss. She felt the roughness of his bruised lip and it turned her on even more.

"Come on woman! I want to bed a Babcock." Niles let out a soft laugh pushing her against the wall.

"Lock?" C.C. tilted her head as Niles’s lips started to travel down her neck.

"Already engaged!" Niles had quickly undone her top, his hands touching her silky skin.

C.C. stopped him for just a moment remembering something. "Niles… This is how the ‘twins’ came into being." She quickly recalled her lack of protection.

Niles let out a groan looking towards the ceiling and then back down at his wife. "Damn it woman! Your eggs aren’t dried up yet?" He felt C.C.’s hand pinch his rear, but he was unable to stop nature as their lips and mouths locked.

"Never….mind…" C.C. giggled and reached for his hardness that was starting to make itself known.

Niles laughed pulling the shirt from her body. Her bra soon followed. "We don’t have much time." Niles groaned as his lips traveled towards a nipple.

C.C. shifted as she arched towards his wandering tongue. "Niles…." She shivered as Niles stood up to kiss her. C.C. reached out undoing his belt then reaching for his zipper.

Niles quickly had C.C.’s skirt off her, followed by her underwear, and with a forceful thrust gave them what they both wanted. C.C. wrapped her long legs around his waist casing Niles to bare the weight for the both of them as he pinned her even tighter against the wall.

Niles closed his eyes trying to focus his attention on the waves of pleasure hitting his body as C.C.’s hands teased his chest. They hadn’t been this ‘reckless’ in quite some time, since their outing at the Home Depot before Morgan’s birth. Then again, Lucas always groaned every time he heard Morgan’s middle name ’Marty’. Everyone was growing aware that the ’Butler’ children received their middle names from the places they were conceived.

C.C. did her best not to scream out as she started to shiver against him. She reached out sucking on Niles’ neck as she felt Niles brush and stroke even harder against her.

Niles could no longer hold back the tide. He could never get enough of her body even now as his soul poured into hers. "God…" He mumbled closing his eyes.

Morgan Butler let out a groan towards her elder cousin. "You are not!"

"Am to!" Sam winked as he waved the twins onward. "You want in the club or not?"

"Bubba really started this club?" Morgan’s eyes went wide thinking about Lucas. "When?"

"I don’t know." Sam’s waved towards his step-brother. "Justin, is Jas coming?"

"Ya!" Justin ran up. "She says your Gram’s deal is still on."

Sam’s eyes brightened as he rubbed his hands together. The seven year old had a hint of mischief in his eyes. He glanced towards the twins as Claudia and Casey both looked a little lost in the tree house.

"What? Who?" Morgan felt lost.

Jasmine walked up the small ladder and let out a groan. "I’m too old for this." She mumbled sitting herself on the floor.

"Twins are too babyish for secrets!" Sam’s eyes went towards the three year olds.

"Am not!" Casey mumbled putting on her best pouting face.

Jas smiled pulling Casey into her lap. "We are all in charge of making sure Casey and Claudia keep our secret."

"What?" Morgan’s eyes went wide. Her mother and father would never tell her anything that sounded remotely important like this. "What secret?!"

"We have had many secrets in this clubhouse." Jasmine touched the old wood. She showed Morgan where Lucas, Stuart Jr. and herself had carved their names. She didn’t tell the young girl it was a pact at keeping Lucas’s secret about him being C.C.’s son. "I took it from Gram’s estate back east, but this time you’re going to help us with……"

"Help me with this!" C.C. snarled as Niles helped C.C. with her shirt.

"I would prefer to…."

"I know... I know..." C.C. giggled helping Niles button his shirt back up. "This better not be a room someone uses." C.C. tilted her head.

"It’s not." Niles flashed a smile. "I do find it interesting that Mister Forest’s room is at one end of this household, and your sister’s is at the other end."

C.C. let out a grumble just thinking about the mess. "Next time Niles…."

"Yes?" Niles reached out touching her cheek.

"Let’s find a place where we don’t have to ‘rush’ things." C.C. leaned close chewing on his lip.

"OUCH! Woman! Be careful, your boyfriend’s wedding ring left one hell of a mark." Niles rubbed at his open wound.

"Poor baby." C.C. purred reaching out and wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Come on it’s been." Niles looked at his watch. "An hour already. We better find our daughters."

Morgan’s eyes went wide and she started to giggle. "You’re kidding?"

"Nope." Jasmine smiled at the little girl. "Claudia and Casey are too young, but you aren’t. Do you understand what’s going on?"

Morgan nodded slowly as her little sister reached up to pull her hair. "Stop it! Casey!"

Sam was whistling quietly, handing out the small pieces of candy to his cousins. "We better get back, sissy!" He tilted his head outside the small window. "The party is breaking up."

"Daddy always causes parties to end early." Justin let out a laugh.

"Jas…" Morgan reached out touching her elder cousin’s shoulder. "You think bubba is going to be okay?"

"Tate’s going to be fine." Jas reached out touching her face. "He won’t quit until he sees you again."

"So… we start plan?"

"We start plan tomorrow."

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

"Where did you run off to?" D.D. let out a laugh watching as C.C. blushed.

"Care to tell me why you married Mac?" C.C. crossed her arms. "I have yet to hear any reason. Do you love the man?"

"Well…" D.D. turned her head from the gaze of her sister.

"So no…"

"Chastity would you please stop. You have other things to think about besides the mess I can make out of my life." D.D. rolled her eyes.

"Mac is an old friend, and he’s been hurt before." C.C. lowered her voice. "If you hurt him…"

"You aren’t worried about me?" D.D. tilted her head. "What about my feelings?"

"SO?" C.C. groaned and felt D.D. reach out.

"I’ve paid for my mistakes, C.C." D.D. lowered her eyes. "I didn’t mean to hurt either you, Niles or Lucas."

"You did." C.C. glanced down at her sister’s hand. "You better remove your hand, Diane."

D.D. let go letting out a huge sigh. "I’m sorry."

"You will be one day." C.C. moved away from her sister to find the cousins all walking together. She reached down picking up Casey in her arms.

"Tree!" The little girl pointed towards the only large tree on the property.

"You didn’t take them all up to that old rusty house?" C.C. glared at her niece who laughed.

"Would I be so reckless?" Jas winked glancing back towards her mother. "Please Aunt C.C. would you at least try to…"

C.C. glared at the young woman. "A subject for another time." She wasn’t going to forgive her sister for all the wasted years she caused.

"Tomorrow then?" Jas watched as C.C. kept on walking.

"Maybe you are being a little harsh on your sister?" Niles whispered and received a harsh glare. "She didn’t cause all of my mistakes."

"She didn’t t help them either." C.C. grumbled holding a sleeping Casey now.

"What did she do?" Morgan glanced up at both her parents.

"Ask me in about twenty years." C.C. let out another sigh as Niles left to get their car. "Did you enjoy yourself, Maxwell?" She tilted her head towards her business partner. "Seems like your ‘wife’ got plenty of pictures."

"Oy! I didn’t have enough memory in our camera to get it all!" Fran’s face fell. "I had to start getting group shots." Fran ran ahead holding out the car keys leaving Maxwell and C.C. alone with their children.

"How much trouble do you think Mac is going to be?" Maxwell rubbed his head thinking about dealing with Mac Forest, who was always a pain.

"No more than normal." C.C. shook her head.

"You have to handle him." Maxwell let out a hiss. "He’s now your family after all."

"Gee thanks for reminding me of that ‘fact’, Maxwell."

"She’ll have to handle who?" Niles walked up taking Morgan’s hand. "I’m the only one who can ‘handle’ her." Niles winked towards a laughing C.C.

"Mac." Maxwell watched as Fran came up to the curb with their car.

"Oh." Niles let out a whimper, eyeing his wife.

"Would you stop giving me that look?!" C.C. rolled her eyes handing over Casey and then helping him with Claudia.

"Do I have to rough him up again?" Niles snickered.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

C.C. felt her heart starting to pound as her hand reached inside the mailbox. She had come home for lunch early beating Nanny Fine to the mail, hoping against hope that a letter might be side. C.C. closed her eyes tightly letting out a soft prayer and reached inside further. Her hands wrapped around envelopes and one package. She pulled out slowly and let out a cry as the package displayed Lucas’s stylized handwriting.

"NILES!" C.C. quickly ran inside tossing aside the other mail and tearing open a small tape. "NILES!"

"What is it? Did you make a mess again?" Niles walked in with one twin hanging off one leg, and the other holding onto his arm.

"NILES!" C.C. rolled her eyes displaying the already open package.

"What? What did he send?" Niles let out a yelp of joy and C.C. showed off the tape. "We should still have a VCR in the girls’ room."

"Morgan’s running around with Eve." C.C. blinked as Niles flew out the door leaving the giggling twins behind to hug her feet. "Want to see bubba?" She glanced toward the smiling girls.

"Bubba!" They both called out at once heading towards the back room

C.C. reached the room, starting the television as Morgan came running inside. "Bubba! Bubba!" C.C. nodded towards the laughing girl as Niles joined the three little girls on Morgan’s bed. C.C. pushed play and felt Niles pull her down on his lap.

Lucas’s face came on the screen wearing his desert color uniform. ’Hello Mom! Hello Dad! Hello Hellcats!’ Lucas waved towards the camera and ran his hand in his bald head. The little girls responded to Lucas’s hellcat call by growling back at the television.

"He looks so thin." C.C. mumbled as Niles held her even tighter.

‘At times this place is really beautiful, but I can’t wait to see you all. I got my orders, and by the time you get this tape I should be a few weeks away from my final mission before going home to Rach’s arms.’ Lucas seemed to glow talking about his wife. ’Rach’s last letter says she’s talking even more, but are the twins putting sentences together yet?"

"We are!" Claudia called out and the three little girls started to giggle.

‘Remember what I told you Morgan! Watch after Mom and Dad. If things start getting hazy or if they are snaring too much… what are you to do?’

"Kick them!" Morgan yelled out and blushed as her mother gave her an odd look.

‘Maybe you five can take time out and come to New York after I get home? I love each of you, and in a few days my letter should be on its way.’ Lucas gave a grin and flashed his new rank. ’This is Capitan Butler! I’ll see you five soon!’

C.C. let out a sigh holding onto Niles’s hand. She knew if a letter was on its way Lucas had things he wanted to say that the young girls shouldn’t hear.

"Bubba looks good! Are we gonna see Lucy then?" Morgan looked at her misty eyed parents.

Niles turned his head hearing the telephone. "I’ll get it." He stood up with C.C. in his arms, and she reached out to wipe his tear stained face.

"Hello there!" Rachael’s voice was full of good cheer. "Did you get it?"

"We did!" Niles let out a happy sigh. "He looks good, but C.C. thinks he’s to thin."

"Lucy says he was making silly faces the whole time." Rachael let out a laugh. "She’s walking around singing silly songs at this moment…. Something about Knight and Hellcats!"

Niles let out a laugh handing C.C. the phone. "Hello?" C.C. grumbled quietly watching Niles laugh.

"Hello C.C." Rachael reached out grabbing the giggling Lucy. "We got a tape today!"

"So did we." C.C. let out a happy sigh feeling at peace for the first time in three weeks.

"Lucas made up a song to sing to Lucy... Want Lucy to sing it?" Rachael didn’t wait for an answer handing her small child the phone.

"Hallo Gram!" The little girl let out a giggle. "Knight and Hellcats! Knight far from home! Knight and Hellcats! Never are alone! Hellcats roar! Knight clashes! Claws are hard as lashes!" The little girl started repeating the words of her silly father singing softly in her childlike voice.

C.C. let out a soft giggle. "Give the phone back to your mommy." She waited as Rachael came back. "Lucas was always making up songs as a little boy."

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

C.C. wasn’t looking forward to this visit. She had always loved Jas as a little girl, but the woman had developed Gram’s skills at moving the ‘Babcock’ chess pieces around the board. "Okay… What’s going on?" C.C. narrowed her eyes looking out the window, watching the boys yet again play with the girls.

"Did you get a tape from Gram when she died?" Jas looked towards her blushing Aunt and then uncle.

"The woman did have a habit of leaving bread crumbs around." Niles grumbled shaking his head. "She knew where to stick the knife."

"And twist it." C.C. let out a husky laugh. "Did she leave you one?" C.C. had to admit she was mildly curious.

"Yes, and I want your help." Jas reached into her school backpack, looking past her medical textbooks. "I know how you feel about mother… but I want you think past her." Jas put the tape in her aunt’s hands. "That is a copy."

"Shall we?" Niles led them both into the back room. C.C. sat down on Morgan’s bed letting out a sigh as Niles pushed play.

Niles watched as the time stamp glared at him. "March 3rd?"

"Daddy’s car wreck." Jasmine’s eyes reflected a deep pain of a father she never got the chance to know.

C.C. narrowed her eyes standing up to freeze the tape.

"What is it C.C.?" Niles watched, unable to really make out anything. "All I see is a couple engaged in a heavy make out session. Which should give you ideas for later." Niles wiggled his eyebrows trying to get a response. He quickly turned around watching the time click by as the man pulled the woman inside the room. "I could be wrong but that woman reminds me of…"

"My mother?" Jas’s watched her aunt.

C.C. turned walking out of the room. Niles followed and Jas reached for the tape taking it out of the player. "Where is my box, Niles?" C.C. glanced quickly under her bed.

"What box?" Niles watched his wife grow flush looking in shoe boxes until she found a large plastic container.

She had kept everything that anyone had written to her. Letters that Sarah had carefully penned to her while she traveled. Gram’s postcards… Other things tossed around the bed, some in stacks, some loose. "Where is it… where is it...?" C.C. grumbled coming up on a stack of letters.

Niles noticed the penmanship and let out a growl. "You keep his letters? Woman, and you don’t EXPECT me to get jealous?"

She handed one part of the stack over to Jas, and the other to Niles. "Look… for a March letter…. Around…." C.C. felt her heart pound. "Eight years ago…"

"Now your understanding." Jas sat down as the three started to read.

"Maybe it was April." C.C. mumbled looking at a letter and putting it aside.

"What am I looking for?" Niles noticed the date and had the strange urge to keep on reading, but put it aside.

"Mac married a girl… out of guilt." C.C. looked up from her letter. "He married Justin’s mother because he had fell into bed with someone else on the day his daughter had died."

"I found it." Jas put the other letters aside and started reading out loud.

Dear Babcock,

Jas stopped for a moment looking up. "The letter was taped back together!" Jas let out a laugh as C.C. groaned.

"I never had the chance to meet Lindsay but Mac was an idiot. He always had a sense of duty."

"He gave it to our son." Niles grumbled and hushed up as Jas started to read again.

I would love for you to come, but I know this is the height of the Broadway season. I can’t help but think about the woman that I did pass an evening with. Her fuzzy image and broken heart has haunted me. How do you get over when someone touches your soul? I guess that is why you’re still hung up on that ‘Butler’. I will tell you this C.C., if I got the chance again I would never let her go.

"April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December." C.C. counted the months again and her jaw dropped.

"Sam is Mac’s son?" Niles turned towards the nodding young woman. "Who else knows about this?"

"I need your help… Lucas, and I worked long and hard to trick... Mother and Mac into this marriage." Jas knelt at her aunt’s feet.

"Does Sam know?" C.C. felt her eyes water. "Does D.D.?"

"Mother doesn’t remember to this day. Please Aunt C.C., can you put aside the pain of the past to help me help them?" Jas glanced from C.C. back to Niles. "Gram called this her unfinished work."

C.C. felt her heart pound thinking about that smiling boy. Sam’s deep laugh and his tender touch with the twins. "I need to think."

"Auntie…" Jas glanced at C.C. pacing around.

Niles grumbled eyeing his wife. "What would you have us do?" He glanced at the young woman.

"Help me… if there is anyone who has been in their shoes before it’s you two!" Jasmine turned her head towards C.C. again.

"I’m not Gram…" C.C. stopped in her tracks looking up at the ceiling. "I’m not Gram."

"I’m not asking you to be Gram." Jas stood up taking her aunt’s hands. "I’m asking you to be a Babcock and help me finish this. We all agreed you two are the best at these kinds of games."

"We ‘all’?" Niles glanced at a blushing Jas.

"The group…." Jas covered her mouth for just a moment. "Of cousins…"

"Oh... God, you don’t get together to cast spells every month do you?" Niles let out a laugh as C.C. groaned.

"Do you have a freaking hotline when mother makes her yearly journey to visit?" C.C. let out a snicker and felt her jaw twist looking into Jasmine’s eyes. "Dear god…"

"We haven’t given Morgan her phone yet." Jasmine winked.

C.C. let out another groan and then did a double take. "Sam’s heart… is…"

"He’s fine Auntie. When Lucas and I started to put the pieces together I managed to take him to a doctor." Jas blushed noticing C.C.’s glare. "What’s wrong?"

"SO many things are wrong with this picture. The fact that my sister always DID copy me." C.C. looked towards a laughing Niles. "What?"

"One difference!" Niles lifted up his finger. "She has NO idea."

"We could have some fun with this."

"Auntie." Jasmine let out a groan of disapproval. "Never mind... "Jasmine raised her hands noticing C.C.’s smirk. "I’ll leave you alone for a while to think about all this."

C.C. let out a groan as the girl closed the door. "What?" She eyed a still laughing Niles. "Why do you think this is funny?"

Niles blinked as C.C. pushed him playfully against the door holding him tightly against her body. "Because…" He mumbled as C.C. teased his neck. "Damn it woman! Why is it every time you’re annoyed by something… You want to jump my bones???"

"Would you prefer I jump on Mac’s bones?" C.C. let out a yelp as Niles playfully tossed her on Morgan’s bed.

Niles pushed her against the bed, his lips teasing her. "You better simmer down your hormones woman, and think about your family." Niles did his best to stand up but C.C. had a death grip on him. "Chastity…."

"Alright… Alright." She released him letting out a groan. "I’ll behave, but maybe Mac will want to… EEEEEEEEEEEEEP!"

Niles picked her up in his arms walking out of the room. He quickly kicked open their bedroom door, placing her on the bed. "Do you want a spanking woman?"

"Is that a promise?" C.C. let out a soft noise as Niles felt his hand roaming her curves.

"You can’t avoid your sister forever…" Niles felt his hand tease her breast now. His fingers encouraging her nipple to harden.

"All those wasted years." C.C shivered as Niles unbuttoned her shirt. "D.D.’s actions did real damage."

"C.C…. It wasn’t her…" Niles narrowed his eyes. "The blame has and always will lie with me."

"No…." C.C. arched upward at his tender touch.

"Woman... We aren’t going to have this argument again." Niles groaned his lips brushing against hers.

C.C. gave into his gentle touch as her own hands started to work on his clothing. She didn’t want to think about that time in London. The time when Niles had pushed her away because of D.D.’s mistake. "Niles…" She shivered as Niles now had all of her clothes on the floor.

Niles could no longer help himself as he closed his eyes and joined with her. She would often turn to his strong arms when dealing with her problems. When Lucas was sent away they made love for hours on end… It was more than an escape for C.C… Niles knew that this strong headed woman needed a release. "C.C…" He let out a moan as he felt her legs wrap around him.

C.C. felt the waves hit her and arched up again. She loved the feel of his arms down her bare back as she arched upward. They didn’t have much time with the children all playing outside with Jas watching them. Niles picked up his pace.

Niles pulled her tighter against his body. He wanted nothing more than to keep this up all day, but he was supposed to be working. Niles closed his eyes as another wave hit his body and C.C. grabbed hold of his rear. "Woman…" He let out a growl.

"Man…" C.C. hissed back and then felt the liquid fire of Niles’ soul pouring out into her.

Niles shivered, closing his eyes, holding her still for just a moment. His lips lightly brushed against her cheeks. "She’s not to blame… it doesn’t matter anymore, love… we are together now."

C.C. let out a sigh as Niles moved to the side. She felt his hand tickle her belly lightly. "I’m not… gram…"

"No one is telling you to be." Niles kissed her cheek. "Your niece has lost her partner in crime, and is asking for your help."

C.C. quickly rolled off the bed picking up her clothes and tossing Niles his. "D.D. and I haven’t gotten along since… since..."

"Before your mother sent you three to separate boarding schools?" Niles watched her dress wishing he could have another go at her, but sighed pulling on his own underwear.

"D.D. was sent to Europe…." C.C. let out another grumble trying to fix her shirt. "Noel was sent somewhere in Canada. At least I was sent somewhere close to Gram." C.C. shook her head thinking. "She …she…"

Niles watched as C.C.’s mind started to turn. "What?"

"She always enjoyed being a ‘black sheep.’" C.C. let out a groan, at last understanding why Lucas had grown to love D.D. "Alright… Alright…. God... I’m going to regret this, but we will see if Mac is at least in love with her."

"Come on woman… It could be fun!" Niles reached for his shoes and offered C.C. his hand. "I have to get back to work, and you need a word with your niece."

C.C. walked outside to find all the children playing on the huge swing set that Maxwell and Niles had built for the young ones in the household. She watched as Jasmine joined her little cousin crawling around the bridges and inside small tubes.

"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!" Casey ran up into her arms. C.C. brushed the blonde locks out of the little girl’s face. She walked up towards Jas who was being attacked by Eve and Morgan with feathers.

"Okay! Let her up…." C.C. smirked as the girls back off from a red face Jasmine. "SAMMMMMMMMM…" C.C. turned around to see a smiling Sam and Justin Forest glancing at her.

"Auntie?" Sam jumped down off the castle form followed by his step brother.

C.C. put Casey down for just a moment and knelt before the boy. She glanced at his features like she would any child trying to read something of ‘Mac’ in him. She turned her head towards Justin Forest, Mac’s adopted son, and nodded. "Okay... Watch your cousins and the Sheffield’s." She winked as Jasmine stood up.

Jasmine waited watching C.C. let out a huge groan. "What’s wrong?"

"I can’t believe … I’m going to say this, but how can I help you?"

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

"So I said yes." C.C. groaned watching Niles’s face. "Would you stop looking at me that way?"

"Well…. "Niles shook his head. "For the first time I have this strange feeling your at last ready to put what happened in England behind us."

"I’m not ‘forgetting’ it." C.C. grumbled looking down at her dinner. "Just because I told Jas we would help doesn’t mean that D.D. doesn’t have a lot to answer for."

"From what you have told me about her past, C.C…." Niles let out a sigh placing a giggling Claudia next to Casey. "She has paid the price twenty times over." Niles watched as Morgan gave her father a small smile. "As have I…"

C.C. closed her eyes letting out a sigh. "I’m not sure how to …. Push them together…"

"Daddy?" Morgan gazed up towards her father. "What’s a ‘basterd’?"

C.C. and Niles both choked on their food. "Who the bloody hell taught you that?" Niles glared at his oldest daughter.

"Well, what is it?" Morgan narrowed her eyes. "Granny Babcock used it when seeing Lucas, and Sam said she used it for Jas and him."

"Sounds like mother." C.C. blushed looking down at her plate. "Ask your father."

"Geeze, push this off on me."

"Tell, tell!" The twins giggled not really understanding but quickly noticing their parent’s blushing faces.

"It’s something that isn’t very nice." Niles shook his head. "I don’t want you repeating it Morgan…. EVER…."

"Then she is a stuck up daemon, hell spawn witch?" Morgan blinked as Niles let out a laugh.

"You can say that."

"I would have said something much ‘dirtier’." C.C. let out a playful purr. "When did Sam hear this Morgan?"

"Granny Babcock is in town, he said…" Morgan watched as C.C. spit out her food.

"I think… I just lost my appetite." C.C. stood up.

"I don’t recall Jas telling us your mother was in town?" Niles glanced as C.C. reached for the kitchen phone. "Your niece would have told us."

"Not if she didn’t know." C.C. tapped at the phone letting out a sigh. "She’s after Mac no doubt."

"Good, then it has nothing to do with us." Niles let out the breath he had been holding in, causing C.C. let out a husky laugh. "What? She’s not here to cause trouble for us."

"She still hates you…" C.C. narrowed her eyes in deep thought. "I don’t think that woman likes anyone."

"Hello?" Mac’s voice was always cheerful as he answered his office phone.

"I thought you would be chasing your new bride, Mac…." C.C. clicked her tongue and Niles shivered tickling her chin.

"AH!" Mac closed his eyes putting the contracts away. "What is wrong?"

"Nothing… Just wanting to know if you have seen my mother." C.C. shifted as Niles kept on teasing her. "NILES!" She waved towards the giggling children.

"Tell Butler he can only molest you after you get off the phone." Mac tossed his papers inside his desk.

Niles walked back over to the girls making a pouting face.

"Have you seen HER!" C.C. was getting annoyed.

"No….I don’t think Diane has either." Mac rubbed at his ear.

"Diane…" C.C. snickered at her sister’s first name. "Well Sam has seen her at least."

"The boys only started school yesterday…" Mac eyed his calendar. "Why is she so interested in Sam?"

"I could list a hundred reasons…. Does mother know of your marriage yet?"

"Not yet… Your sister was going to send her a mothers day card." Mac let out a chuckle as C.C. groaned.

"Tell sister dear that she’s in town and lurking." C.C. let out a hiss.

"Why don’t you? She’s at her workshop for another three hours, and it’s not far from there." Mac listened for a moment waiting for C.C. to say something and gave her the address.

C.C. rolled her eyes taking down the address. She quickly hung up the phone after a moment, eyeing a pouting Niles. "Can you watch the girls?"

"Don’t I always?" Niles smirked, but Casey quickly jumped up watching her mother.

C.C. glanced down at the quiet twin and smiled. "Alright, you can come."

"Will you miss me?" Niles held the two close and Casey let out a soft giggle kissing her father’s noise. "Will you miss me?"

"No…" C.C. let out a yelp as Niles held her even tighter. "Niles…"

"You will miss me?" Niles felt his body tighten as his blue eyes gazed into hers. "I need to hear you say it." His voice was teasing as Casey let out another quiet giggle at her parents.

"I’ll miss you." She kissed his lips softly and let out a sigh.

"Morgan! Claudia! To the fort!" Niles waved his hand towards the playroom. The two girls ran after their father as Casey put her head on C.C.’s shoulder.

"Let’s go see what your grandmother is up too."

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

D.D. had taken a great deal of pride in building up a small business. She had received training from several jewelers and gem cutters. She had even developed a talent at glassblowing. Little Casey’s eyes went wide watching the bright red glass in one of the fires. "Hot!" she pointed towards the workshop.

"Yeah…" C.C. snickered watching her sister who was never known to wear anything but designer clothes, but was wearing something most Babcock’s wouldn’t be caught dead in. She was standing in D.D.’s office watching the workers being helped by D.D. The dark thick glass provided some protection.

"Well baby sister…" D.D. walked in taking off her protective helmet. "Casey!" She smiled tickling the little girl’s chin.

"Your show floor is impressive." C.C. sat down and placed Casey on the other chair. She watched as the girl curled up to take a nap. "I saw a few a-list actors shopping." C.C.’s eyes glanced over noticing a small framed picture. "I thought you didn’t have a picture of him?" She spied the picture of a young D.D. being held by Paul Jacques. He was wearing his driver uniform, and D.D. was sitting on his car holding his neck.

"Mac found it…" D.D. tilted her head, her face full of conflict. "He had a copy for both Jas and I." D.D.’s mind drifted for a moment, and she glanced back up towards C.C. "What’s wrong?"

"Do you know mother’s in town?"

D.D. stood up quickly her whole body shivered. "How? Did you see her?"

"I didn’t, but your son did." C.C. sat down and watched as D.D.’s mouth twisted in pain. "What is she up to now?"

"I think she’s after her grandchildren." C.C. let out a hiss looking down at Casey. "I think she wants to control them… or handle them the way that…"

"She thinks Gram used to?" D.D. rolled her eyes and turned around pouring something into a glass, and offering it to C.C.

C.C. took a sip of the water, and made a face. "You have nothing stronger?"

"Nope..." D.D. glanced up at the ceiling. "What do you want to do about it?"

"What?"

"Mother? Do you want to plan something for her or are we going to wing it?" D.D. took a huge sip of water.

"Do you remember that one Christmas… Gram got us all water guns?" C.C. wiggled her eyebrows towards her giggling elder sister.

"I remember being sent to the French boarding school after the holidays because of that." D.D. stopped her giggles for a moment.

"Think Sam and Justin could show the girls how to use them?" C.C.’s eyes seemed to glow with mischief.

"I think that could be arranged." D.D. lifted her glass and C.C. lifted her own in private agreement.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

"BUTLER!" Mac put his hand on Niles’ back. "You look good for a man who is supposed to be serving out here." Mac teased pointing towards the other three waiters.

Niles rolled his eyes at his smiling brother in-law. "I want to know if you could settle a bet between C.C. and I… How is it you and D.D. … well have you…?"

"Have we what?" Mac twisted his face noticing Niles’s growing smile.

"I have heard that you have been forced to share the same room since yesterday… have you… enjoyed the pleasures of your wife yet?" Niles was rather enjoying the pained look on Mac’s face. "NO?"

"Erm…" Mac glanced around and noticed his grumbling adoptive son shifting in his tux. "I have to go…"

"That’s what I thought." Niles let out a laugh as C.C. walked up. "There is the best looking woman in the room…. Care to tell me why we and our daughters are in our Sunday best? Why are they so happy to be in their Sunday best?" Niles was shocked when Morgan was more than willing to put on her best dress to see B.B. Babcock.

"Now, if I tell you it might ruin the surprise." C.C. handed over the wine glass to her husband. She glanced over at her sister, and her new husband. "Get any information?"

"He wants her…. And she wants him…" Niles watched D.D. and Mac. "They just need a small push to help them."

"I wish Jas would tell us…" C.C. stopped as B.B. Babcock walked up towards her daughter. "Mother…"

"Well darling it is always wonderful to see you….. " B.B. then tilted her head towards Niles, and glared. "Niles, at least you could take this from me." B.B. hissed placing her empty wine glass in Niles’ hand.

Niles let out a hiss putting the wine glass down as B.B. walked away. "At least she called me by my name."

"Why are you and your sister smiling?" Mac leaned in close to his wife.

"Maybe it’s because I’m going to win our bet?" D.D. teased as Mac then let out a deep breath blowing it on her bare neck.

"I know were you have to sleep tonight, woman!" Mac let out a soft growl.

"I know, and isn’t it bugging you." D.D. moved close against him and Mac had the urge to reach out and pull her closer.

Casey was holding onto Jasmine’s right leg and Claudia Jasmine’s left. The two little girls giggled looking up at their elder cousin. "That’s disgraceful, Jasmine!" B.B. hissed at Jas. "Those two should be upstairs!"

"Why? I like them down here." Jasmine smiled as the girls giggled again.

"You, S.J. and that… thing always had free range with Lucy, but not with me." B.B. eyed Jasmine’s smiling face.

"That thing has a name… you remember… Lucas?" Jasmine glanced up whispering to her grandmother. "I would mind your tongue about him grandmother."

"Why? Goodness knows if Lucy had her way she would have hid you away from me as well. The woman had no taste when it came to my children. If Lucy had any sense she would have kept them away from one another." She flicked her hand towards a giggling Niles and C.C.

"What about mother and Mac?" Jasmine leaned down waving the twins off, and the two little girls ran upstairs followed by Justin, Morgan and Sam.

B.B. narrowed her eyes towards the blushing couple she watched as Mac and D.D. kept on teasing one another. "That isn’t a marriage…. "

"Well, not yet anyway…" Jasmine mumbled under her glass and heard a strange whistle. "Pardon me... Duty calls!"

B.B. watched as Jasmine followed the children upstairs. "Diane I find it awful that girl has to keep up with the boys while going to med school."

"Why?" D.D. leaned away from a laughing Mac.

"Course you, overgrown Australian ape, would have to laugh."

"Wait… APE?" Mac stood up straight as Niles started to chuckle. "Laugh it up you British fuzz ball."

Niles’s smile went to a frown, eyeing Mac.

"Mother... Why don’t you knock it off and tell us why you’re here." C.C. put her hands on her hips and placed herself between Mac and Niles.

B.B. glanced towards D.D. then back at Niles and C.C. "My family is a mess, and you dare ask me why I’m here?"

"Here we go…. "D.D. let out a hiss towards a laughing Mac.

"What are you talking about old woman? Your daughter is married... Both of your daughters…" Mac stepped forward. "Now if you want to talk about Noel… Well... I have a few things to say about that man…" Mac’s voice was deep and had a teasing tone, but B.B. glared at him.

"D.D. what were you thinking marrying this man? You gave up the chance to give your children a proper father."

D.D. let out a laugh shaking her head. "Yeah... Right… some man."

"What about you…" Her eyes fixed on C.C. "You married…. A servant?"

"So he serves food to Maxwell and his family? That’s better than him serving his body parts to half of Europe, but... Hey mother, that was your job…" C.C. let the remark fly from her mouth, and felt the slap hit across her face. A second later she saw the clear wet stream from a water gun hit her mother’s face.

"Charge!" Justin Forest waved his super soaker around as the children all came pouring downstairs running after their annoyed grandmother.

"Witch, witch yer a witch!" Sam and Morgan called out a chant they had been practicing earlier that day. The children managed to herd their grandmother upstairs and the group could hear a bedroom door slam to their delight.

C.C. held her cheek feeling dizzy. "Are you alright?" Niles reached out touching the red mark.

"Yeah…" C.C. lifted up the cold glass to her cheek and watched as Lawrence reached out for Niles’ arm.

"I think we should have the children do that everywhere!" Mac let out another roar as Justin came down stairs to report.

"Subject has locked herself in her room, Da!" Justin gave a salute to his approving father, and step mother.

Niles let out a chuckle taking the phone from the butler’s hand. He was sure Maxwell had forgotten something. "Hello?" He felt his skin turned cold hearing silence. "Hello?"

"Niles?" Nick Morgan’s voice was full of worry and tension.

"Nick, is everything alright?" Niles already knew the answer. "Is Rach alright? Is Lucy? What about the baby?" Niles felt his heart pound in his chest.

"It’s Lucas… "Nick’s voice had a dark tone. "He’s missing…"

Niles closed his eyes feeling his heart pound. "What … What else…"

"He was on patrol with two other choppers, and… well…" Nick let out a sigh. "Lucas’s hit the water, but the other two were not so lucky and ended up in the hands of some ruthless people."

Niles let out a sigh recalling Lucas’s letters on the men he served with. "Do they… "

"They are searching for him, but they don’t seem hopeful." Nick couldn’t avoid giving Niles all the news he had received. "The best thing we can do now is pray."

Niles tilted his head glancing towards the living room. "I…How did… How…" Niles couldn’t focus. "Rach?"

"We have her for now… Tell her, Niles…" Nick felt his own lip starting to tremble. "He’ll be back soon enough though…"

Niles nodded. "Give Rach and Lucy our love… and Nick, you might try to talk them into coming here… to stay for a while."

"Alright." Nick hung up the phone feeling the weight of the world crashing around his shoulders.

Niles glanced towards the door feeling his heart yet again. He closed his eyes trying to force some color back into his face. C.C. was laughing at Mac’s silly face as he made a comment about something Justin and Sam did earlier today with the twins. D.D. leaned against a table, and Niles reached up to turn C.C. gently around.

"Niles?" C.C. turned around and felt his arms come crushing around her body.

"The knight is away…" Niles mumbled recalling Lucas’s joking tone before leaving for another tour. "He’s missing C.C." He held her tight and felt C.C.’s body stiffen.

Mac shifted, his teasing tone now lost. "What?"

C.C. felt her whole body shake as she fought the urge to fall apart. "Missing, but not dead?"

"Missing…." Niles kept her close and eyed his sister and brother in-law.

Six souls watched the two couples glancing at one another. Jasmine had this strange feeling she should have pulled the children away, but she felt her own heart pound as Mac repeated Niles’ words.

Morgan glanced at her little sisters letting out a hiss. "We will help mommy now! Remember what bubba said..."

"Knight’s away… Hellcats play!" The twins mumbled together in a soft tone.

"That’s roar silly!" Morgan closed her eyes. "ROAR!"

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