The Long Road Back

(Part Two of the Phoenix Fire Series)

by

Ceniana
(Ceniana@gmail.com)

"They have been looking at that stone for the past twenty minutes." The guard let out a sigh, looking at his watch. "I don’t know about you, but I have to get home."

"Listen, they are paying us one hundred dollars a piece for just twenty minutes longer… Give them a moment." The gray headed man shook his head, looking over at the odd pair. The young man was wearing a black leather jacket, long, blonde hair pulled back into a pony tail. He was holding the hand of an elder woman who had to be nearing her nineties.

"It all started here." He reached out, wanting to touch the black flames. "Gram, I …I …Ugh… I‘m not sure about this."

"Now Lucas…" The elder woman reached out her hand. "We didn’t come all this way to stop this journey now. You wanted to get to the heart of what she said while at the hospital…. This, my boy is it!" She raised her cane, pointing towards the black stone statue. "The Shadow Phoenix."

"I am unsure how this is going to help heal a broken heart." Lucas sat down for a moment, eyeing the black statue.

"Your past holds all, child."

"Fires die, and in the end, all that is left is nothing but ashes ." Lucas nodded, getting back up, taking her arm. "She would kill us both if she knew we were here."

"She pretends to be a viper, but in that heart of iron, is the girl I once knew, the girl that wrote the paper on that statue."

*"Shadows….. Phoenixes…. Broken."* Lucas closed his eyes, hearing her mumble softly while in the hospital.

"I don’t even know why I’m here, Gram." Lucas let out a sigh, walking her out the door. He ran his hand in his long thick blond hair. Lucas looked like a rock star with his rough appearance, and now, growing beard… He was still young, not even an adult. But his face held the promise of the handsome man yet to come. "I’m running after shadows of once was. I know the past can hold the key to the future, but…"

"But nothing, boy… did you forget all that I taught you… Look with more than just your eyes at something."

Lucas let out a long sigh, shaking his head. He narrowed his eyes at the waiting limo and his bike. "You better go to the hotel, Gram."

"Going to seek trouble, are we? Now remember, behave, young man." She tickled his chin, stepping inside the limo.

"With my background?" Lucas smirked, watching her leave. "You remember who I am?"

"Do you, young man?" Gram smirked, shaking her head. "Alright… Nick!" She tilted her head towards her driver. "We will leave Lucas on his own for a while."

Lucas sat on the steps, looking up at the Tate. Closing his eyes, his mind raced back.

‘What are you looking at, Butler spawn?" C.C. purred messing up the young man’s hair. "You know, I have to drop you off here."

Lucas pulled out a cigarette wondering. He had ‘borrowed’ the pack from Nick but tossed it out letting out a long sigh. "Well at least I know now why my middle name is Tate."

"You know, that stuff can kill you." A soft, female hand handed back the tossed pack of cigarettes.

Lucas did a double take, looking up into her eyes. She was tall…leggy… and soon he found himself seeing double. "I’ve died and went to heaven."

"Hello." She winked, closing his opened jaw. "So you’re the man that paid off the guards to keep the gallery open?"

"I suppose I am… Lucas…" He held out his hand, reaching for hers.

"Lauren. If we are late, Grandpa is going to kill us." Lucas noticed her double pulling on the young woman’s arm.

"Lauren Butler… don’t you have a last name, Mister Lucas?" She tilted her head backwards. "My other half is Mary."

Mary blushed, looking at the young man’s devilish smile. "Maybe he doesn’t have one?"

*Not the correct one anyway.* Lucas let out a long sigh. "Now, I never give that out to just anyone, ladies." He winked as both girls laughed.

"You’re American?" Mary narrowed her eyes. "What part?"

"New York." Lucas followed the two women, smiling. "I would offer you young ladies a ride, but my bike hardly fits three." He winked.

"Well, while you are in town." Lauren handed him a business card. "Visit my father’s deli for some real food!"

Lucas narrowed his eyes, smirking at the card. "Have no fear, angels… I intend on seeing you again."

The women walked off. "Does he remind you of someone?" Mary whispered in her sister’s ear.

"Yeah… Brad Pitt but much younger." She let out a laugh, looking at Mary’s face. "Lighten up, Mary."

Lucas started his bike but quickly stopped it, letting out a long sigh, and pulled out his phone. "Roger, Roger, come in cloud nine?" he answered his cell phone with a grumble.

"Cut it out, Lucas." C.C. grumbled and let out a hiss at a theater worker. "What are you doing?"

"Now… You know…" Lucas looked at his watch. "Having actors’ souls for breakfast upsets your stomach." He then over heard C.C. letting out a yell towards an ‘idiot’ director.

"Sorry…" C.C. let out a long sigh. "It’s been a rather long day."

"Your day has just started." Lucas let out a snicker. "I’m keeping a good eye on her during this trip."

"I have no idea why she wanted to attend this conference. It all sounds fishy to me. Is Gram up to something, Lucas?" C.C. rubbed her eyes, wondering what could be going on in England.

"When is she not up to something?" Lucas let out a chuckle.

"She’s allowing you to ride a motorcycle… isn’t she?" C.C. snarled and yelled out again.

"How the heck did you know?" Lucas blushed, looking down.

"Lucas… I told you how I feel about those things… Ugh! I could kill Chandler for introducing them to you."

"I’ll be on my best behavior… I swear." Lucas let out a long sigh. "The last thing you need to do is worry about me."

"You can say that again… Have to go." C.C. blinked as Niles’s smirking face stood before her. She quickly shut off her cell phone, snarling his direction.

"What do you want, servant?"

"On the phone with your pimp?" Niles smirked, holding his hands behind his back. His eyes glanced over her business suit, and he let out a long sigh. "Does he want to up your rates?"

"Listen, dust buster, unless you have some purpose in being here, get out of my way." C.C. tried her best to make her way past Niles but stumbled over his well placed foot.

Niles grabbed her, keeping her from falling. His arms ached as he held the body he once knew so well in his embrace. "Drinking fairly early, are we? Doesn’t your doctor have rules about that ... after your…. episode?"

C.C. felt that old pounding in her heart and pushed it away. "Get your hands off me." She stood up noticing Niles had dropped the files he had been holding behind his back. She leaned over picking up the papers.

Niles let out a long sigh. He found his courage now, daring to ask the question that had been haunting him for months. "C.C…. The young man at the hospital? Who was he?"

C.C. froze trying to fight back the cries of her heart. She turned around, letting out a hiss that came from her inner pain. "He is what he is."

Niles groaned watching C.C. leave. He… he was starting to feel for her again and couldn’t help it. "You’ll regret it for the rest of your life if you marry Katherine." Robert’s words filled Niles’s ears. The brother he had spent years distant from… His father refused to talk to him since his ended relationship with Katherine. Niles felt his heart regretting half of his life.

"Bloody hell." Niles let out a loud groan walking towards the door as C.C.’s screams at the crew now filled his ears.

………………………………...........................................

Lucas groaned, walking back inside his room. He blinked as someone turned on the lights. "What are you doing here, Lucas?" Chandler Evans turned on a light, smirking at the young man.

"Chandler, what are you doing here?"

"You first…" Chandler smirked and waved his index finger towards him.

"You know me… Ghost hunting." Lucas let out a snicker. "How in the hell did you know we were here?"

"Stay out of this, Lucas… " Chandler narrowed his eyes. "C.C. hasn’t been out of the hospital for that long, and you shouldn’t go digging around looking for trouble."

"This coming from a man who broke up with her via a letter?" Lucas smirked, grabbing a soda from the fridge and pouring it in the glass.

"You always have to remind me of that, don’t you?" Chandler groaned, standing up.

"Let me think…. Yeah…" Lucas snickered. "Lucas. This is Chandler. Chandler this is Lucas!" Lucas moved his hands around in a mocking gesture. "Ooo, look at Chandler run! You still haven’t told me why you broke up with her."

"It’s in the letter." Chandler narrowed his eyes. "Back to the subject at hand."

"We haven’t left the old one, man. Why…" He hissed.

"Why what?"

"Why did you use a letter to break up with her? Why are you even friends with her still and why are you trying to be some father figure to me now?"

"You really don’t want to know this, Lucas." Chandler’s face twisted in pain.

"Yeah, I do." Lucas took another long sip.

"She called out Niles’s name while we were making love." Chandler smirked as Lucas ended up spitting out the soda across the room.

Lucas blushed red, looking into Chandler’s straight face. "You’re right... I didn’t want to know, but… interesting, though."

"Lucas… Stay out of it."

"Chandler… one part of me wants to, but another part wants answers to what the hell happened, and why things ended up the way they did."

Chandler let out a long sigh, standing up. "You’re turning out to be a good man, Lucas, but you’re so much like her… you have a dark side… Just make sure she doesn’t get hurt further… or anyone else for that matter."

"Remember who you’re talking to? It’s me! I fly under the radar! Revenge is best served undetected, anyway." Lucas winked, watching Chandler smirk.

"Lucas, who are you going after? Your relatives? Your grandparents? What purpose will vengeance serve? I’ll be in town a few days… if you need anything… You have my cell."

"Yeah." Lucas let out a chuckle, watching Chandler leave.

"Is he gone?" Gram grumbled opening the door that adjoined the two rooms.

"Yeah he’s gone. How did he know we were here?" Lucas narrowed his eyes at Gram. "You told him… why?"

"We need all the allies we can get, boy!" The aged woman raised her cane towards Lucas. "I’m not as young as I used to be, and if anyone knew I was half way across the world..."

Lucas snickered, recalling the attempts made this past year for Stuart to be granted guardian ship of Gram. The first attempt is when he found out a ‘Lucas Morgan’ had a trust fund larger than his ‘own’ grandchildren. *What he doesn’t know… can’t hurt him yet.* "I don’t need allies. I need the full truth, and even she couldn’t give me that."

"C.C. doesn’t know." Gram let out a long sigh.

"Care to give me more to go on?" Lucas tilted his head, smirking.

"If I had more, I would. Use that brain of yours, kiddo!" She let out a laugh. "You want to be a detective then… This is your first case."

"Yea. Some case." Lucas smirked, looking at her. "I need more to go on than the Tate Museum."

"I’m not betraying her trust, Luke." Gram frowned, looking at the young man. "The Tate is a start, is it not?"

"Not much of one….We… No, I only have one week to figure all this out." Lucas grumbled as Gram let out a chuckle.

"You’ll find a way…Goodnight, Tate." Gram moved slowly back into her room, and Lucas let out a sigh.

……………………………….................................................................

C.C. grumbled, looking down at the newest script. "Miss Babcock, I need to talk with you." Fran’s nasal voice echoed out in her ears.

"O good lord, give me strength." C.C. rolled her eyes, trying to block out the woman’s words. I’m sorry, Nanny Fine, unlike ‘some’ people, I have to work for a living."

Fran rolled her eyes as C.C. stormed out of the room while looking over a few contracts. "Oy vey! That woman…"

Niles walked in with broom and dustpan in hand. "What woman?"

"THE woman." Fran rolled her eyes. "It’s bad enough she ‘hovers’ over Max." Fran picked up Brighton’s book bag.

Niles let out long sigh. C.C. had spent all last week having him dye his hair, and do other rather foolish things when he spoke out of turn about Fran being pregnant. "She is in rare form now a days."

"It was strange though…" Fran blinked, running her hand along her tummy. "Have you noticed something about her, Niles?"

"Besides the fact she’s lacking her broom?" Niles snickered, shaking his head.

Fran smirked, looking at her old friend.

"What?"

"What’s going on with you lately?" Fran narrowed her eyes, looking at him.

"Nothing more than normal." His heart started to beat heavy in his chest. "Just a few regrets I’ll never get over."

………………………………..........................................................

Lucas let out a soft groan shaking his head. "Clam as still waters." He closed his eyes trying to focus on the statue, the black flames and the hint of just a phoenix.

"Back again? All the security guards are talking about you." Mary smirked as Lucas opened his eyes. "What are you looking at?"

"The past." Lucas let out a long sigh, smiling.

"So, Mister Lucas, have you visited my father’s deli yet?" Mary walked around the tall young man.

"Not yet…" Lucas smiled.

Lucas let out a long sigh, following the girl. "I’m still wondering if you have a last name… My sister and I are taking bets."

"Hmm… Betting doesn’t sound like a good idea, Miss Butler."

"You should come by. I think my cousin would love to meet you." Mary winked, and Lucas let out a groan.

"We just met, are you trying to fix me up?" Lucas narrowed his eyes at the blushing girl.

"My cousin Rachael has this sense…. She said we would run into someone that would change all our lives… a ghost from the past." Mary narrowed her eyes looking at Lucas. "You remind me of someone."

"I have that effect on people." Lucas let out a long sigh. "Your cousin?"

"Her mother was my mom’s sister… she past away a few years ago… both my aunt and mother were diagnosed with cancer within six months of one another." Mary let out a long sigh. She had no idea why she was opening up to this young man. "My dad said we are all under a curse."

"Curses have power only if you believe in them." Lucas let out a sigh.

"Come to the deli…" Mary winked, shaking her head.

Lucas let out a long sigh, watching her walk away. He quickly pulled out his cell phone, looking at the card she gave him the day before. "Nick?"

"Mister Lucas, how can I help you?" Nicholas let out a long sigh, waiting his orders. "Miss Lucy should be ready in an hour for your meeting. Have you learned anything new?"

"I want you to find out anything about a Mary and Lauren Butler… anything you can tell me about their family… about a Haven Deli… and I need it soon, Nick."

"Very well, sir…Miss Lucy says she’s going to miss lunch. She has an errand to run… You will be on your own until dinner."

"Alright, Nick, I’ll be awaiting your call." Lucas groaned, shutting his cell.

Gram winked towards Nick who nodded at his employer. "Well, you heard the boy, get a move on." She turned back to the elder gentleman who smiled. "It’s been too long, Gordon."

"When dead rises from the grave, dear Lucy, and the ashes now smolder as the spark grows. I long to see what will happen next in this little tale, but my body is old." Gordon winked, showing of his broken smile. He had lost a few of his teeth since last that met, but he still was handsome for a man beyond his years.

………………………………...................................................

C.C. let out a long sigh, trying to dial his number again. She let out a loud grumble, and then dialed Bort’s.

"Hello, hello!"

"I’m running late, Bort…" C.C. groaned walking towards her car. "I’ll be upstairs in a few moments."

Bort hung up the phone and let out a sad sigh. It had been months since her patient and, dare she say, friend had come out of her trance. C.C. had shown signs of progress to a point, but something been causing her real heartache, and that was at the heart of her true mental break down. She raised her head smiling as C.C. walked in the door. "Good Afternoon, Chastity."

"What’s good about it?" C.C. sat down on the couch.

"In another mood are we? You miss him?"

C.C. grumbled, taking one of the cookies from a small plate. "Lucas, yes…"

"Not Lucas…" Bort smirked, watching as C.C. let out a groan. "C.C…..listen to me… not everything will end…"

"Poorly?" C.C. snickered. "Let’s review shall we? Nanny Fine has married Maxwell… Sara is dead…I have no life."

"You cut people off because your afraid… we went over that during or last session, C.C."

"I’m not afraid of anything." C.C. snapped back.

"Then let’s review why you didn’t face Niles when he cut you off." Bort tapped her notepad waiting for C.C. to answer.

"The summer didn’t happen… The summer didn’t happen." C.C. looked up towards the ceiling. "It is best to let my heart harden."

"You tried that once…." Bort let out a long sigh. "Until you come to terms with your past, you’ll never make peace, C.C…. The summer did happen."

"He told me other wise."

"C.C…" Bort let out a long sigh, shaking her head.

………………………………...............................................

Lucas let out a long sigh, pulling into the parking lot. He turned off the motorcycle, looking at the deli. It had once looked nice, no doubt. Now the area seemed run down and broken. He pulled out his cell phone. "Roger, Roger!"

"It’s Nick." Nick let out a laugh. Lucas had been greeting people like that since he was five years old, playing with several space toys. "What are you doing?"

"Haven looks a little broken." Lucas let out a long sigh. "Tell me something useful. Tell me fate is aiding me?"

"Mary and Lauren Butler… Parents are Robert and Anna Butler… Robert Butler was a son of the Sheffield cook until his mother, the only guardian, passed away from a car accident. He was soon adopted by Edward and Marie Butler…They have one another child…."

"Niles ..." Lucas leaned up. "Get the rest of the other information together and leave it in my room, Nick… Tell Gram I’ll meet you both for dinner." Lucas closed the phone, hearing something.

"So the ghosts from summer past have come to haunt the present?" She had the brightest green eyes and long dark hair. Lucas placed her age around his own.

Lucas tilted his head, feeling his jaw drop. "You are… Rachel?" He looked down, noticing the cane and dog displaying a medical cross.

"I knew you would come… you’re the angel in my dreams." Rachel held out her hand, and Lucas stood their in disbelief.

Lucas tilted his head, taking her hand kissing it softly. "Lucas…"

"I know. My cousin’s told me." Her smile could light up a room. "Want to come in? We love company."

Lucas followed her inside the deli, hearing sounds. "You’ll pay by next month, Butler, or I’ll have the pleasure of taking down place." The elder man walked past him. "Out of my way, degenerate."

Lucas narrowed his eyes, watching the so called Lord Charles walk past. "That is Lord Charles. He ended up buying the whole block a few years back." Rachel frowned, sitting down.

"Rachel? What are you doing?" Robert walked up a few moments later limping. "You and Jager shouldn’t be out alone!"

"This young man was my escort, Uncle." Rachael smiled as Robert met Lucas’s eyes.

Robert narrowed his eyes at the young man. "Robert Butler." He held out his hand, and Lucas took it.

"Lucas…"

"In this day and age, young man, we give both our names." He narrowed his eyes, looking Lucas over. Something about this young man…

"Maybe in the stone age." Lucas winked, and Robert let out a huge laugh.

"You have a good soul lad! What can I get you?"

"Anything is fine." Lucas smiled as Robert left him alone with Rachael. "Care to tell me about your dreams?"

"You are after something? Searching for the ashes of the past."

"In life, we are all searching." Lucas smiled as Robert came back with two cans of soda, chicken noodle soup and some sandwiches.

"I’ll be back in a moment. Rachael will you be alright?"

"Is Aunt Anna okay?"

"She’ll be fine. Enjoy your lunch." Robert walked away, and Lucas let out a sigh, looking at all the pictures hanging up on the wall. He narrowed his eyes on one photo. The young dark haired woman holding onto…

"That’s Niles… Robert’s brother… "

"If you…" Lucas wasn’t sure how to put this.

"Just because I can’t see doesn’t mean I can’t listen, Lucas." Rachael let out a playful giggle.

Lucas found his cheeks blushing looking at the girl. "You had dreams about me?"

"You tell me your last name." Rachael flashed a playful smirk.

"Tell me yours?" Lucas leaned back, looking at her.

"Adams… your turn."

Lucas let out a grumble, looking around. "You really don’t want to know this, do you?" He drummed his hand on the table. "My name is… Well..."

"Let me guess. You have spent years keeping it quiet… A man of mystery?" She smirked and took a piece of sandwich, offering it to Jager.

"You can say that." Lucas smirked, taking a sip of soda. "Do you know who is in the picture with this ‘Niles’?"

"Her name is Katherine. She married someone a few blocks over. He owns a few restaurants in the area… She was supposed to marry…"

"Niles." Lucas rubbed his chin, letting out a long sigh.

"Yes… You’re a quick study." Rachael smirked.

"More than you know… Would you like to go for a ride on my bike?" Lucas felt his heart pound as Rachael let out a loud laugh.

"My uncle will kill you."

"Yes, but it would be one hell of a way to go!" Lucas smirked as he noticed the girl’s face light up with excitement.

……Years earlier…..…………………………..................................................

"Sara… I…." C.C. blushed as Sara knelt down next to the little boy. She touched his cheek tenderly, and he let out a playful laugh.

………………………………............................................

C.C. let out a groan hitting her alarm clock. Her whole body ached from her outings with investors the night before. She always had dreams of either Sara…or … him… She reached for her cell phone, grumbling. "Hello Nick… How are things?"

"Things are going fine, Miss Babcock…. Your grandmother is wearing me out."

"Grandmama has a habit of doing that, if I recall." C.C. let out a long sigh. "Is Lucas staying out of trouble?"

"Depends on what you mean by trouble, Miss Babcock." Nick let out a soft laugh, hearing C.C. groan. "Well he is his mother’s son."

"I would say he’s more his father’s." C.C. felt her heart beat heavy thinking of Niles. She couldn’t avoid it much longer; she feared to own up to the past.

"Maybe he is, Miss Babcock, but that’s not for me to say."

"Loyal to the end, aren’t you, Nick?" C.C. let out a sigh, thinking about Gram’s driver.

"Indeed." He shut off his cell phone and glanced at his watch.

C.C. groaned, trying to fight her pounding heart. She closed her eyes, trying to force thoughts of him from her brain. They had hovered there since after Maxwell’s wedding. "You still have such a light touch, Niles."

C.C. groaned, feeling her heart pound while standing up. She heard her cell ring with that one particular ring… "Hello, Hello!"

"Roger, roger, Mother." Lucas let out a snicker. "How are you feeling this morning?"

"Depends. What have you done?" C.C. reached for a few items.

"Nothing more than normal…. Come on, Mother. Have some faith in me!" Lucas let out a long sigh. "You haven’t been able to yell at small children lately?" Lucas let out a playful purr.

"God… Lucas, will you stop for just a moment?" C.C. let out a sigh. "I’m worried about Gram. You know she shouldn’t be traveling."

"Well we shouldn’t do a lot of things in life… don’t worry about Gram. She can take on the world."

"Just make sure she comes back in one piece… Daddy is already going crazy trying to figure out who you are… why she’s gone…"

Lucas rolled his eyes, looking at a giggling Rachael. "Don’t worry about it. I’ll talk to you soon… be safe."

"Yeah. Yeah we both know!"

"Safe will get you no where." Lucas smirked closing his cell phone.

………………………………........................................

Rachael smirked, flashing Lucas a bright smile. "So? Who was that your girlfriend?"

"I don’t have one." Lucas snickered. "We better get you back." He had just parked his cycle, letting out a loud laugh.

Rachael’s dog came bolting out of the deli and ran up next to her, his tongue licking her fingers, and whimpering. "He hates it when I leave him behind."

"Well, next time we won’t leave him." Lucas smirked. His head tilted, watching as Robert come thundering outside. "Here we go."

"Rachael, I was worried sick!" Robert let out a long sigh coming up to the young couple. "Where did you go?"

"For a ride uncle." She displayed a sly smile, and Robert let out a groan, looking at Lucas. "Thank you, Lucas… I haven’t been out like that in ages… Please come by again tomorrow, and we will talk about that last name again."

Robert crossed his arms as Rachael left them alone on the street. "Listen, young man, Rachael is a special young woman." Robert let out a long sigh. "Please what ever your intentions are..."

Lucas found the man studying him. "On my honor… I will not do anything to her."

Robert let out a sigh, placing his hand on Lucas’s shoulder. "Thank you."

"You trust me?" Lucas tilted his head. "Care to tell me why?"

"Something in your eyes, boy… I can’t place it." Robert smiled and turned to walk back inside.

"Roger, roger." Lucas let out a long sigh. "What is it, Nick?"

"I got your message, and the former Sheffield maid does indeed live a few blocks from your location… and… she has a son."

Lucas found his heart pounding… could fate strike twice? "Well?"

"Don’t worry lad… He’s two..."

Lucas let out a long sigh. "Give me the address…"

"Lad… What ever happened, it can’t be her fault." Nick let out a long sigh.

"Address, Nick."

………………………………...............

C.C. sat down on Bort’s couch again. "I’m sick and tired of going over this again and again."

"You have told me everything about your life, Chastity, but you stop at that summer…. What is it you regret?"

"I’m a Babcock… we never regret."

"That doesn’t work, C.C., and you know it. You felt destroyed when Maxwell pushed you away… You felt like Fran Fine was taking Sara’s rightful place."

C.C. frowned, getting up. "Listen, Bort, I don’t want to do this today."

"Why do you think… you and Niles passed an evening together after Maxwell’s wedding?"

C.C. closed her eyes, recalling his strong hands around her bare waist and his lips racking across her neck. C.C. felt her whole body shiver with want to feel that kind of passion again. "I was drunk… he was drunk."

"Was he?" Bort narrowed her eyes. "Were you? I thought a Babcock could hold any amount of liquor."

"Will you get off the subject of Niles for a moment, Bort?" C.C. grumbled, annoyed at the doctor.

"He was there when you had your breakdown… He was there that summer you refuse to talk about... He is Lucas’s…."

"Bort…" C.C. narrowed her eyes.

"C.C., if you ever want to become a ‘whole’ person again… you’ll take my advice and face up to the past."

C.C. closed her eyes again. "This SUMMER NEVER happened!" She saw his cold eyes and the rage.

"Need I remind you the state you were in when you thought he was going to marry Katherine?" Bort tapped her notepad. "It was the first time you came under my care after..."

"Alright already… Ugh… I have to get going." C.C. stood up, eyeing Bort. "I’ll come back tomorrow, and you can give me more lectures."

Bort let out a long sigh, shaking her head. She walked over to her desk, dialing Doctor Miller’s phone number. They have been comparing notes on Niles and C.C. since Niles entered therapy. "Hello… Doctor Miller?"

"Let me guess, Mrs. Babcock still refuses to talk about it… Strangely enough, so does Niles." Miller let out a soft snicker.

………………………………...............................................

Lucas rubbed his temples, looking at the folder. "Geeze… He’s in a mess." He handed Gram another paper.

"I still stand by my statement, young man." Gram lowered her glasses, glaring at Lucas. "If you want to blame someone for your parents not being together… Robert Butler isn’t the reason."

"Lord Charles seems to enjoy attacking ex-servants." Lucas handed the rest of the papers to Gram.

"No luck at Katherine’s?"

"No…" Lucas let out a sigh. "Maybe… if I help them… They’ll help me understand what happened between them… Gram… I need access to my trust fund."

"Depends on what you are going to do with it, young man."

"You told me Robert Butler is an honorable man, but you never told me why…. I’m going to trust your judgment… and save him." Lucas stood up, letting out a long sigh.

"You know, C.C. will see your trust fund’s activity." Gram narrowed her eyes. "She’ll know where we are…. Not to mention… It will send up flags to Stuart and B.B."

Lucas let out a long sigh. "I have spent my whole life flying below the radar… Maybe it’s time we turn on the lights."

"I’m not sure your mother or father is ready for it."

"Well… I have been making adult decisions since I was eight, Gram." Lucas winked. "You said my journey was a new beginning… it’s long past time for that to happen."

"I agree…." Nick nodded with a huge smile across his face.

……………………………….........................................

"What is that, Nanny Fine, slim fast?" C.C. walked in, looking at Fran’s face.

"It’s swim fast!" Fran giggled, walking out of the room. C.C. turned smirking.

"It’s sad to see her to go to such great lengths to have a baby…. You know I thought about getting an operation, but what if I married a wealthy man who wanted me to produce an heir." C.C. smirked, tilting her head towards a grumbling Niles.

"Just go ahead and have the vasectomy!" Niles snickered as C.C. reached for one of Nanny Fine’s cookies.

"Nanny Fine doesn’t know how to cook! She knows great take out!" C.C. pulled out another cookie as Niles walked up next to her, taking one.

"Not bad…." His heart started to beat heavy. "Not bad at all." He narrowed his eyes looking her over once more.

C.C. felt like she had just taken a shot of bourbon. "Niles, is that a new apron?" Her eyes drifted down the length of his body, and she giggled hearing him purr playfully.

"That’s not the only thing that’s new." Niles teased, leaning in close to her ear.

C.C. shivered feeling the heat of his body. Her eyes drifted up and down once more. "So baby, what else is new?" *My god, did I say that?*

"If you come to my room….. I’ll show you." Niles reached for her hand, kissing the fingers carefully. *What has gotten into me?* Niles felt out of control; his whole body craved her.

C.C.’s hand touched his cheek, finding the lines of age on his face. "I’m tempted, baby." C.C. felt as drunk as she did the night after Maxwell’s and Nanny Fine’s wedding. Her whole body wanted to feel his bare one.

"C.C…" His voice was so soft as it brushed up against her ear. He held her close, not caring who came in the kitchen at that moment. In his mind, he felt the ashes of his old love start to spark and heat up in a renewed flame. "I’m a fool, dumpling."

C.C. couldn’t find her train of thought. She hated him… hated him for pushing her away in that one moment… hated him for not explaining himself… hated him for his lack of trust. "Niles…" Her body was now betraying her yet again as her own lips brushed against his neck.

Niles felt his heart beating heavy. He couldn’t deny her for much longer. His hand now racing up and down her curves, touching a body he once knew so well. They both stopped, hearing her cell phone. "Don’t answer it…" He said huskily in her ear.

C.C. felt her heart pound, her body arching against his. "I can’t… not answering…" She groaned as Niles took her hand from her suit pocket.

"No…" Niles hissed, pulling on her arm and dragging her into the empty dinning room.

"Hi, Niles…Hi… Miss Babcock?" Maggie stood still, noticing the flustered faces.

"I… I… will see you later." C.C. walked away, almost stumbling.

"Niles?" Maggie turned her head, looking at the butler.

Niles let out a groan, eyeing Maxwell’s eldest child. "Can I get you something, Miss?"

………………………………...............................................................

Lucas frowned, hanging up his cell phone. "She’s not answering, and I’m going with what little information you are able to give me, Gram."

Nick frowned, looking closer at the file. "This is interesting."

"What is it, Nick?" Gram narrowed her aged eyes.

"Seems like Lord Charles has been running off his shop owners for three blocks, now." He displayed the paperwork. "You see that there? The crime report?"

"Ahhh, you have a good eye."

"I looked over those same papers and didn’t see anything." Lucas frowned, taking the paper.

"Well… You have to have a trained eye….. I think he’s using..." Nick stopped, looking at the young man’s face. "What is it, Master Lucas?"

"How do you know this?" Lucas’s jaw was still twisting.

"I didn’t always work for Mrs. Babcock." Nick smirked as Gram let out a laugh. "They called the Babcocks sharks."

"Well B.B. always did have affairs with the best people" Gram rolled her eyes. "Alright, boy… You have access to it."

With that Lucas hopped up smirking. "I’ll get onto it now, Nick…"

"It’s late, young man… No…" Nick grumbled as Lucas walked out the door. "He’s wilder than his mother."

"If only…" Gram let out a long sigh. "Nick… Find D.D. and Noel… get them to England now, please."

"Isn’t this breaking your word to C.C. to …"

"Stay out of it?" Gram smirked, looking at Nick. "I have seen her… Noel… and D.D. so broken over the years… D.D. should have married her racecar driver while she had the chance… instead… he died in some race two weeks before she gives birth.. And what does B.B. do… force her into a loveless marriage….Noel into three…" Gram let out a long sigh. "It’s past time I do something other than just keep my word."

"It’s not your fault."

"When good people do nothing… Then they are indeed at fault." Lucy let out a long sigh shaking her head. "Find them… tell them… to come now. Or their children will get their trust funds."

"That’s going to attract B.B. and your son."

"Good… the more and merrier!" Lucy ‘Gram’ Babcock let out an evil chuckle, looking at her employee.

……………………….

Lucas walked down the hospital halls, letting out a small groan. He hated these cold white places. "I want to see who ever is up this hour that has anything to do with billings."

"Young man, do you know what hour it…" The woman’s face stopped as Lucas started flashing three hundred pound bills. "He’ll hate to be awakened."

Lucas flashed two more. "Tell him … a …" Lucas groaned thinking about this for a moment. "Tell him a Babcock wants to speak with him." He didn’t have long to wait as only ten minutes later, a balding man was standing before him in an over coat and what looked like PJs.

"Mister Babcock?" He frowned, looking at the young man.

"Lucas, please…Shall we go to your office?" Lucas waved him on as he put two hundred pounds in the man’s coat pocket.

Moments later, Lucas detailed what he required. "What you require can be done… Mister Lucas…" He handed over the bill and expected the young man to blink… or at least jump at the cost. "Course, you do realize this cost does include his niece’s hospital bill that has yet to be paid."

Lucas looked over the bill grumbling. His mind raced towards the thought of Rachael Adams. "All of it… every cent now…. And if they need anything in the future, too." Lucas handed over another paper.

"Mister Butler will ask questions! We have … Mrs. Butler is still in the hospital even as we speak…. Right now!"

"Tell Mister Butler… an avenging angel came by… L.B." Lucas winked, walking out the door. Lucas let out a long sigh, questioning another woman who reminded him of the hour… course another hundred pound bill got him into ICU… There he saw them. Robert Butler was in a chair, and his head on her bed. The woman looked ghostly white.

"You shouldn’t be here, young man." The doctor placed his hand on Lucas’s shoulder.

"Tell me something, and then I’ll go." Lucas turned around. "Will she make it?"

"Anna Butler has been a fighter… I’m frankly more worried about the stress her husband is in with his problems, and his father…." The doctor rolled his eyes, walking away.

"Edward….Butler…" Lucas let out a groan. "Thank you, doctor… I’ll be going now…"

Lucas grumbled, walking out into the cool air, his cell ringing quietly. "Roger, roger!"

"Hey sweetie…" C.C. felt light headed. "How is my number one little boy?"

Lucas felt his face twist in pain. "Have you been taking double the Prozac today? Or did you run over a huge group of Japanese tourists?"

"Come on, Lucas…. I’m not always…"

Lucas let out a long sigh. "Mom…Is something wrong? Do you need for us to come home?"

C.C. smiled, hearing his tender voice always gave her chills… always reminded her of Niles… back when… "I just missed you."

Lucas made a mental note to call Bort. "Miss you too…"

"I have one question… I got the strangest call an hour ago… Baby…Why are you and Gram in England?" C.C. could feel her anger rising, but something else was clouding her judgment.

Lucas made a face… "That didn’t take long…" Lucas grumbled to himself quietly. "Just playing angels to someone."

"I told Grandmama…and now I’m telling you… stay out of it, Lucas."

"Depends on what ‘it’ we are talking about… sorry, Mom… you’re breaking up." Lucas let out a sigh, hanging up the phone. He had one other person to deal with tonight.

……………………………….............................................

C.C. felt her heart race with fear and dread. She didn’t want to relive that summer. She didn’t want to think about how a piece of her died under his cold stare. "Grrr!" She growled, trying to call him back.

"Here they are, Miss Babcock!" Gracie skipped inside the living room, handing her a few cookies. "I don’t know what you and Niles see in them."

C.C. took a bite letting out a long sigh, handing Gracie a few dollars. "Thanks… ermmm."

"It’s Grace…" Gracie smirked, walking out of the room.

"Yeah, what ever." She sipped on her tea, feeling light headed once more. C.C. let out a long sigh closing her eyes.

"Miss, are you okay?" The flight attendant touched her arm carefully. "You look awfully pale." The woman handed over a small, hot cloth and C.C. let out a sigh. She wanted to cry out… she wanted to scream… her whole body was in ruin… The summer didn’t happen…

C.C. blinked herself out of the memory, trying to contain the shivers crawling up her spine. She picked up her tea cup, walking into the kitchen, smiling at Niles. "Heya, Baby!" She let out in her deep husky voice.

Niles felt his heart pound, narrowing his eyes. "Hey, dumpling." He reached inside the box she was carrying.

"Mmmm, you smell good. What is that?" C.C. tossed her hair back as the Sheffield children’s jaws dropped.

"Lemon bowl fresh… You’re wearing those extra wide shoulder pads today." Niles found his hand brushing her shoulder lightly.

"I’m not wearing any." C.C. let out a purr as Niles placed a piece of cookie inside her mouth.

Maggie stood up, titling her head towards Brighton. "Should we worry about this?" She looked back at Niles and C.C., still looking into one another’s eyes.

Niles felt his whole body shiver with the strange desire as he wiped at the counter top and then playfully hit her hand. He lifted it up in his own and shivered as she turned the sponge around to the rough side.

C.C. couldn’t help it as Niles’s playful mood had her mind rocketing back towards the past. Those playful nights in her small room… the cabin where she would tease and test him… Niles took a hard swallow as their lips ….

"NILEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!" Maxwell’s call filled the house, and Niles let out a whimpering groan.

"WHAT!" Niles grumbled, pulling away from her lightly.

Maxwell tilted his head, looking at his butler for a moment. "Quick, throw this thing away!"

C.C. rolled her eyes, tuning out Maxwell and Niles for a moment. "Yeah, yeah, yeah… Maxwell, while I have you here, we have some…" C.C. blinked feeling his hand crawl her upper leg. "Stop it…" C.C. giggled, looking back into his eyes.

Niles felt his heart pound. That sparkle in her eyes…. had been the same during…Niles closed his eyes once walking away.

"Hunnnnnnnnny!" Fran’s nasal voice filled the room.

Niles smirked, leading C.C. out of the room. "What spell have you placed on me, witch?" He pulled her into his arms.

C.C. shivered, trying to keep her thoughts under control. He didn’t really want this… She didn’t want this… "I .. Could ask the same thing." She shivered as Niles kissed from her ear down her jaw line, and then her neck.

"Come… come to my room…" Niles couldn’t believe the words came out of his mouth! This was the woman who betrayed him! This was his sworn foe! "Please…"

C.C. let out a groan as Niles backed her against the living room wall. "No…" Her whole body cried out in despair, wanting to feel his touch on her bare skin.

"Fine…" Niles groaned, guiding her towards an open closet. He watched as C.C. fell back, gasping. "This will do…" He picked her back up and engaged her in a heated kiss.

C.C. groaned, feeling Niles peal off her suit jacket. His hand now pulling on her shirt…reaching… teasing her belly. "Niles…" She arched up in his arms trying to fight her own reactions.

Niles was loosing all control with every touch. He could no longer fight his desire. It didn’t matter what had happened during that summer… He had to have her. He had to keep her… He blinked feeling the full force of her hands on his bare chest. "C.C.?"

C.C. felt her heart pounding in her ears… the drums of war beating in time. "This… never… happened." C.C. stumbled reaching for her dropped jacket and buttoned her shirt.

……………………………….................................................................

Lucas let out a loud groan, holding his arm. "It hurts!" The pony brushed the young boy’s hair on the ground. They reached, him and a soft hand touched his cheek.

………………………………...............................................................

Lucas let out a groan, turning around in bed. The phone had been ringing for the past twenty minutes. "Roger… roger…"

"Well, young man… you wanted trouble. Trouble is on its way." Chandler’s voice was breaking up because of static.

"You know… you could call me at …" Lucas groaned reaching for a clock.

"B.B. is in England… It seems she’s apart of Lord Charles land deal." Chandler snickered. "Watch your back, young man."

"I brought the Babcock suit of armor just in case, Chandler…. Hey, Chandler." Lucas sat up rubbing his eyes.

"Yes, Tate?" Chandler blinked, hearing the softness in his voice.

"Thank you…"

"Watch your back, kid…" Chandler hung up his phone, letting out a long sigh.

"Yeah, my back." Lucas stood up, pulling on his t-shirt. "NICK!"

"Sir?" Nick walked inside Lucas’s room on cue. "Do you need something, Luke?"

"Did those transactions go through yet?" Lucas narrowed his eyes as Nick nodded. "Good. You better tell Gram; she should brace for battle."

"B.B. crawl out of her darkest dungeon?" Nick smirked as Lucas rolled his eyes.

"What is the deal with Stuart and B.B., anyway? Does she …"

"B.B. is a rather controlling woman…. Cold… heartless…." Nick rubbed his chin, and Lucas let out a laugh. "Sir?"

"Words I have heard before, Nick…. when people talk about my own mother." Lucas snickered, reaching for a soda.

"No, my dear boy… there is a major difference between B.B. and C.C." Nick smirked as the boy reached for the tray of muffins he had left earlier.

"So?"

"So what, sir?" Nick laughed as Lucas let out a grumble.

"Tell me, man!"

"Your mother has a heart… as broken as it may be." Nick let out a long sigh.

"Nick… you know…. You didn’t promise mother…" Lucas narrowed his eyes, looking at his mentor. "You could tell me all you know about… that summer."

"Do we have to have the lesson about honor again, Lucas?" Nick smirked as Lucas let out a groan.

"You aren’t going to make my life simple?" Lucas hissed, rubbing his eyes.

"Lucas, if a journey was simple… then we wouldn’t enjoy the ride… Here is your address, sir." He handed over the small sheet a paper, and Lucas felt his stomach tighten in fear and excitement.

"Edward and Marie Butler." He mumbled, holding the paper tightly in his hands.

………………………………........................................................

"C.C., do you have my name on speed dial?" Bort grumbled, walking inside her office. She tilted her head towards a flustered C.C. "What’s wrong, Chastity?" Bort narrowed her eyes as C.C. was mumbling quietly.

"He’s messing with my head again…. He wants me… but he doesn’t…He wanted me that summer but denied it ever happened… Bort, what am I going to do?" C.C. looked up at her old friend, fighting tears. Babcocks didn’t cry… no… she didn’t cry…

Bort sat down, frowning. "Tell me what happened when Niles pushed you away… What did you do? Where did you go?"

C.C. felt her mind racing. She wanted to run back into his arms and give up… give into what ever was pulling and pushing this desire. "Go?"

……………………………….......................................................

"THE SUMMER NEVER HAPPENED!" Niles roaring voice pushed her out the door. She felt the thundering in her ears.

……………………………….............................................................

Bort let out a long sigh. "When is the last time you did cry, C.C.?"

C.C. felt her lower lip quiver again. "I don’t, Bort…."

"Sara’s funeral?" Bort narrowed her eyes. "C.C.?"

C.C. felt her heart pound in guilt. "Not even then… I wasted all my tears that day when he pushed me away." C.C. narrowed her eyes, allowing ice to flow in her veins. "The summer didn’t happen. He said so himself."

"Lucas did happen, C.C." Bort let out a long sigh. "You ran away."

"I didn’t run away." C.C. hissed, doing a double take.

"You think every time fate is going to take things from you… Your father turned away from you once his marriage started to sour. Your Grandfather Babcock pushed you away… Your mother fired your favorite nanny… your sister fell apart, and Sara died…"

"Enough!" C.C. stood up, feeling her stomach twist. "I don’t need you to list all this!"

"Do you remember what you told Niles before your breakdown, C.C.?" Bort narrowed her eyes looking at a flustered C.C. "Do you remember what you said to him?"

"No, but I’m sure he told you." C.C. hissed, feeling her old hate return.

"C.C…" Bort let out a long sigh.

"I hate him. I hate him with all my soul." C.C. hissed, shaking her head. "He denied me… and didn’t give me a reason."

"Did you even ask?" Bort tapped her notepad, and C.C. felt her blood run cold again. "C.C., did you ask him? Or did you run away rather than face it…"

………………………………..........................................

"Hello there?" Marie Butler was fairly aged but still had the flash of beauty that could charm any man. "Can I help you, young man?"

"Yes… Marie Butler?" Lucas tilted his head, smiling. "I’m Lucas." He took her hand, kissing it softly. "I’m hoping you can help me, lovely lady."

"Help you, young man?" She narrowed her eyes, blushing.

"I’m a junior butler in training here in England… I am doing a report on a Niles Butler…" He watched as Marie’s face dropped. "I take it Mister Butler isn’t around?" Lucas looked around and managed to get a glance of the house. It was still in good shape but could be better.

"My son hasn’t been back to England since leaving for America, sir." Marie’s lower lip trembled. "We went to visit him once… but…"

"I’m sorry, good lady, forgive me." Lucas bowed and noticed Marie narrow her eyes.

"Pardon me… it’s not a good day, Mister Lucas… My daughter in law is coming home from the hospital." Marie closed the door, and Lucas found himself rubbing his jaw.

He pulled out another small piece of paper, grumbling. He was only a few blocks from Katherine’s home. He started up the motorcycle, grumbling to himself. He rode onward, finding her at a local play ground with her small son. He smiled, watching them for a moment. Katherine’s eyes met his, and she walked up to him. "Can I help you, young man?"

Lucas had gone over his plan over and over again… but now… "I need your help, Miss Katherine…" His voice broke with emotion. He reached inside his wallet, pulling out a small picture.

Katherine stood for a moment, her eyes wide with surprise and shock. C.C. Babcock was a person she had pushed far from her mind these many years. "Who…are you?" She lifted her head up from C.C. Babcock holding a small blonde headed boy, and Lucas took off his sunglasses.

"Lucas…" He reached for her hand, kissing it. "We have a lot to talk about, and I fear you might be the only one to give me honest answers….. And I need them… please, dear lady."

Lucas found his head spinning as Katherine gathered up her little boy and led the young man inside her small house. "Can I get you some tea, Mister Lucas?"

"Tea’s fine… and it’s just Lucas." Lucas found his eyes drifting around the small room.

"You’ll forgive me, Lucas… My husband won’t be home for a few more hours." Katherine sat down the tray, smiling. She had just put her small son to bed. "What…. What is it I can help you with?" Her voice shaking as if she already knew the question Lucas was going to ask.

"Can you tell me why you didn’t marry Niles Butler?" Lucas felt his heart pounding. The noise was ringing in his ears.

Katherine looked up into the young man’s blue eyes. "Are you his son?"

"Yes…."

"When was your mother going to tell everyone about you?" Katherine narrowed her eyes.

"I didn’t …. Hey…" Lucas stood up.

"I’m sorry…" Katherine reached up, pulling Lucas back down. "It has been a long while since I have even thought about C.C. Babcock…. And the name doesn’t well."

Katherine blushed, and Lucas let out a long deep sigh. He was fully aware of his mother’s ability to push all the ‘wrong’ buttons. "Tell me, please… I need to know."

"Robert Butler…." Katherine let out a long sigh. "He opened up my eyes to something."

"To what?" Lucas sipped at his tea, feeling his heart race.

"The fact that Niles found himself unwilling… no… unable to leave C.C. Babcock." Katherine let out a hiss. "Two days before our wedding, I found us both jobs back in England, paying double what Maxwell Sheffield was offering to keep us both on." Katherine let out a long sigh. "Niles wouldn’t leave….. Robert was the one that got us the job offer… and told me…. to test Niles…"

Lucas felt his jaw tighten. "Is that why Robert Butler hasn’t spoken much to Niles…nor…"

"That is why the Butler family is fairly dysfunctional right now." Katherine let out a long sigh. "When are you going to tell them?"

"Tell them what?" Lucas narrowed his eyes.

"Tell them that C.C. kept you from them?" Katherine snickered. "After her affair with Lord Charles they might doubt…"

Lucas tilted his head, looking at Katherine. "What ‘affair,’ good lady, are you talking about?"

"Niles broke off his relationship with your so called mother… because Edward and Niles saw them doing the tango on Lord Charles’s dinning room table." Katherine eyes narrowed. Lucas found the hate Katherine still held for his mother.

Lucas felt his mind racing. He recalled the family history Gram had told him…. D.D., Noel, and B.B. had all been in the city during that summer….. Gram talked about how D.D. loved to stick it to B.B….. It was D.D. having the affair with Lord Charles… NOT C.C. "How did they know it was my mother?"

Katherine blinked, noticing the young man’s growing grin on his face. "Not everyone has the last name ‘Babcock’. Now are you going to tell the Butlers who you are, young man? They have a right to know!"

"I promise, dear lady… They’ll know." Lucas felt his heart race. *They’ll know as soon as I stick it to Edward Butler, but I’m still lacking the whole story…*

………………………………........................................................

"Gram!" C.C. let out a long sigh, walking up and down the sidewalk. "Thank God, I finally got you… Lucas turned off his cell."

"Smart boy." Gram grumbled, shaking her head.

"What was that?" C.C. turned yet again, waving her rolled up newspaper around.

"Never mind… Chastity, my dear. The young man is alright; he can take care of himself… You must allow him to test his own wings."

"I tested mine… look where it got me." C.C. hissed, waving the paper near a little boy’s head. "Out of the way, you stupid little brat!"

"I’ll call you back when you are feeling less B.B.ish." Gram snickered, closing the cell phone.

"UGH! Answer me, you!" C.C. jumped up and down stopping as Niles stood before her with a smug look. "What are you looking at, servant?"

"You know, if you jump high enough maybe your pimp will call you back." Niles smirked as C.C. let out a groan. She followed him inside the house, letting out a long sigh. "You know, I have no idea why these past couple of days I have found you so attractive."

"DITTO!" Niles leaned forward, and with a quick shove, he put the groceries inside the subzero. He didn’t have time for her insults… not today… He had to make it to Doctor Miller’s and end these countless appointments.

"Niles!" Fran smiled, meeting him in the living room. "Going to your appointment?"

"I don’t see the point… I’m fine!" Niles let out a grumble. "He keeps on asking the same questions over and over again." Niles didn’t want to think about that summer…. It was haunting his dreams more and more…" I don’t think it’s working."

"Oy… Niles, then quit!" Fran rolled her eyes. "If it’s not working for you then it’s not working."

"You only stopped because you married Mister Sheffield." Niles pointed towards Fran’s wedding ring.

"Oy… See, my problem was solved! You don’t always need therapy!" Fran winked, opening the door for Niles, who grumbled walking back outside.

………………………………..........................................

"That’s what I know, Nick!" Lucas let out a long sigh. He had pulled up near the deli. "I’m not sure what to do next."

"Yes, you do…. Tell them before she does." Nick let out a laugh. "Katherine will….She’s not a Babcock, Luke, she will not play the same games."

"I’m going… I’m going…" Lucas felt his courage failing. "Robert Butler is a good man."

"He is… You want answers, and he will have the rest of your puzzle." Nick let out a long sigh, hanging up his cell phone.

Lucas grumbled, stopping his bike. He tilted his head, hearing noises. The alley was dark, and he could smell the night air.

"Next time you’ll pay the protection money!" The man’s voice was rough sounding. Another slap and punch filled the air as Lucas felt his blood run cold.

"Please…" The voice was an elder man trying his best to stand back up as three men started to beat on him again.

"Stay out of this, boy…" One of the attackers lifted up his head to see Lucas standing there.

"Now, now. That would depend… if you plan on releasing him." Lucas felt his stomach muscles tighten as the three huge men started to laugh.

"It’s a Yank and a smart ass one, too." The man laughed as they dropped their victim.

"The strongest man doesn’t always win in a fight… Remember it’s speed of hand… speed of mind." Lucas could hear Nick’s words in his mind as a man took a swing at him. Another thrown punch and Lucas jumped up moving around.

"William!" The call of Robert Butler filled the night as Lucas stopped for only a moment receiving two punches to his chest and face. The men all became entangled as Robert showed off his might and the fact he was still a bear of a man. The three attackers ran off into the night as Robert let out a laugh. "Will? …. Lucas?" Robert tilted his head towards the youth still on the ground.

"I’m alright…" The old bartender let out a groan, standing up. "Bloody hell, Robert." He stood up as both of them walked over to Lucas, who was still lying on his back.

"You are going to have quite a shiner, young man." Robert helped Lucas up. "It’s a little late for you to be calling on my niece."

"Thanks for the save, Robert… We will talk tomorrow." William limped towards his bar as Robert narrowed his eyes.

"I didn’t come to see her but to see you." Lucas groaned.

"See me? Come on inside. Let’s get something for that eye." Robert laughed as Lucas grumbled.

Lucas, moments later, found himself inside the closed deli. Lucas felt his whole body ache as he stumbled inside. The man who had hit him used brass knuckles. Soon he was surrounded by darkness.

"Stay still." Her soft hands on his chest were more than he could bear as Lucas reached for Rachael’s hand. "You might have a few cracked ribs."

"Might?" Lucas groaned, reaching for his phone but noticed that his keys and wallet were both missing. "I’m in trouble…"

Robert let out a long sigh, looking at the photo yet again. He recalled his shock earlier today when Anna had been sent home to have found the bill not only paid in full, but overpaid…. Then he was shocked again to find out this mortgage on both his home and business paid for. He looked at his wife tenderly, her cancer had taken its toll on her body, but her eyes still sparkled with life. "Lucas Babcock… Lucas Morgan…" He looked over both drivers licenses with a frown.

"Tell me what you are thinking, Robert." Anna reached out touching his shoulder. "You can’t keep him alone with Rachael all night…"

"I want some answers… That’s what I want." Robert grumbled as Lucas’s cell phone rang.

"Hello?"

……………………………….....................................................

C.C. blinked looking at the phone. "Hello?" She was answered by dead silence on the other side, and soon, the call ended. "That kid…" She had only a few days before they would head off to meet the President.

"Having problems again, Miss Babcock? Do you need this?" Niles lifted up a broom, letting out a snicker.

"Why don’t you go back and have that rather large head of yours examined by Miller more. Maybe he can work on reducing it‘s size."

"Has Bort fixed your problems yet, Caca?" Niles couldn’t help but snicker back.

"Butt out, bell boy." C.C. hissed, picking up her cell.

"Mister Sheffield would like me to remind you about ..." Niles grumbled handing over a small folder.

"The plane tickets." C.C. let out a hiss, picking up Chester. "Remind Maxwell to put a muzzle on Nanny Fine." C.C. turned around, but Niles shook his head.

"She’s not the one that needs the muzzle." Niles shook his head.

………………………………............................................................

Lucas felt his head spin again, sitting up slowly. The soft licking of Jager caused him to groan. "What time is it?"

"Stay still, lad." Robert placed his hand on his shoulder. "You need a few moments."

"Mister Butler?" Lucas sat up, pushing him aside.

"You might as well call me Uncle Robert." Robert held up Lucas’s wallet, holding out the picture of C.C. holding him as a young boy. "We have a lot to talk about, young man, and your great grandmother is on her way."

"Wonderful… how bad does my face look?" Lucas reached for his wallet and cell phone. "I have to be back in New York in less than a week."

"You’ll have a good and honest prize to show your mother… Lad….Why didn’t… what is…." Robert had a hundred questions, and wanted all the answers at once.

………………………………..................................................................

C.C. let out a small groan, looking at her cell. "What do you need, Mommy?"

"Do you realize what your grandmother and that ‘Morgan’ boy are up to? They are trying to ruin me!" B.B. hissed, walking into her five star hotel room. "Do you know where they are staying?"

C.C. let out a soft groan. *If you are upset over that Morgan boy now… just wait until you see his birth certificate.* "Mother… I don’t control Gram… and I sure don’t control Lucas." C.C. let out a grumble.

"Fine… I’ll handle them myself."

"Mother! What do you … What are you?" C.C. felt her heart beat heavy in panic, and for a moment, thoughts of her not going to Aspen crossed her mind. "You better not hurt either one of them."

"Where is your loyalty, Christine!"

"I mean it, Mother… you mess with them… You’ll.."

"Now my dear, I would hate to see you back in that hospital." B.B. let out a husky laugh, and C.C. felt shivers crawl up her spine.

"You know, Mother… If you just happened to end up with a fork in your eye… I could plead insanity…" C.C. hissed, hanging up the phone. Gram and Lucas were due back before she would make it back from Aspen… They had all planned to spend Thanksgiving together. C.C. dialed the number quickly. "Nick? Hello, Hello! Would you mind telling me… WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON??"

……………………………….........................................................

Nick let out a long sigh, walking up and down Robert Butler’s living room floor. "They are fine… Yes… Keeping out of trouble." Nick let out a soft grumble at the lie. "Yes, we will…. No, Lucas has his cell phone off. He’s meeting with someone from Oxford today…. I don’t know, Miss Babcock." Nick let out a long sigh as Robert handed him a cup of coffee. "No… I will have him call you soon… and Gram…Thank you, miss. You, too." Nick rolled his eyes, turning off his cell.

"I didn’t see her last trip….Has she really changed that much?" Robert frowned as Nick’s face twisted in pain.

"A broken heart can reshape any soul." Nick let out a long sigh. "Lucas is ready to kill his grandfather." Nick, Gram, Anna, Mary, Lauren, Robert and Lucas had all stayed up to the early morning, trading information.

"He’s a good young man." Robert let out a sigh. "He didn’t have to come save me."

"You didn’t have to stop your brother from getting married…. Why did you?" Nick tilted his head. "It has damaged your relationship with your parents… your brother no longer speaks to you… why did you step forward?"

"I remembered the twinkle in his eyes when he talked about C.C…. Claire… He was a different man, but with Katherine, it seemed he was marrying her out of duty." Robert frowned, looking into his coffee cup. "A marriage should always have that spar of magic, and when I found out she became Maxwell’s business partner…. I knew they couldn’t stay away from one another."

Nick nodded. "I agree."

"I had no idea about, Lucas." Robert looked up stairs where Lucas was sleeping. "If I only knew… maybe..."

Nick let out a long sigh. "C.C. hid the first three months of her pregnancy well… I don’t think, at first, she really wanted Lucas." Nick felt his face tighten and twist in pain. "It was when we told her about my own father."

Robert blinked looking at Nick. "Your own father?"

"Lucy Morgan Babcock was a twin sir…. My father was Lucas Morgan." Nick winked as Robert’s face twisted in shock.

"Why…why are you a ..."

"Servant?…Lucas Morgan didn’t marry my mother… he died weeks before they were to wed. My family is well cared for, thanks to Lucy… I was Lucy’s first charity case…. The Babcocks didn‘t even realize who I was… Neglect became my ally." Nick smirked as Robert rubbed his chin.

"C.C. was able to keep Lucas from the rest of her family as well…. Shocking."

"Not all. Lucas has told his cousins, Jasmine and S.J." Nick let out a long sigh. "Noel’s son and D.D.’s daughter… He had no choice."

"Why is that?"

"Jasmine has… or had a huge crush on Lucas." Nick smirked as Robert let out a loud laugh.

Lucas grumbled, walking in the living room. "This is a picture I was never expecting to see."

"He does have his father’s smile." Robert couldn’t stop his huge grin. "Well, lad, how does it feel this morning?"

"Awful!" Lucas grumbled, shaking his head. "Is he coming over today?"

"Dad and I are in a little truce since Anna’s illness." Robert handed Lucas a soda. "This, no doubt, will shake that to its core."

"It’s about time things are shaken up… Are you staying with us today, Gram?" Lucas turned his head as Gram had made her way inside the living room.

"I’m an old woman…." Gram winked, looking at Lucas, Robert, then Nick. "I have another battle to fight."

"Another battle?" Robert lifted his head up. He was hoping for Lucy Babcock’s support today. "What could be more important than this?"

"Ahhhh, Babcocks are on the warpath!" Lucas let out a chuckle as Gram winked towards her eldest great grand child.

"My son is in town… B.B. is here… D.D. and Noel will soon be here… all searching for me." Lucy rubbed her hands together. "I love a good battle… It has been far too long since…"

"Since you cast your last spell and hex?" Lucas snickered as Gram leaned over, kissing his forehead.

"You are truly your father’s son." Gram waved her hand towards Nick. "Come, Nick. We got a few demons to slay… and no, Lucas I haven’t forgotten…I will stick to the plan."

"You been planning this for a while?" Robert tilted his head.

"One doesn’t go into a pit of vipers without a good plan!" Lucas smirked as Rachael entered the room with Jager. He turned around to look at the smiling girl. "Good morning, dear lady." Lucas kissed her hand, and Rachael let out a soft giggle.

"Enough, you two…" Anna laughed; she was looking less pale this morning.

"Love, you shouldn’t be out of bed!" Robert walked quickly towards his wife as Lucy and Nick both headed out the door.

"And miss the fireworks? Not a chance!" Anna sat down in a big lazy boy chair.

………………………………....................................................

"You have me on stand by?" Niles held out his ticket, and C.C. let out a big sigh. "Come on, woman, how can you be so cold?!"

"Alright here!" C.C. tossed a first class ticket his way. "Happy?" C.C. had paid the ticket agent an extra two hundred dollars for that stand by ticket.

"Mister and Mrs. Sheffield are taking me along for a vacation, Caca… so not tricks!" Niles waved his hand towards C.C. "I don’t want you to do anything to spoil my…"

"Niles, I promise." C.C. fluttered her long eyelashes. She put down Chester, who whimpered softly. "I know… We will see him soon." She whispered softly to the dog that licked at her fingers.

Niles tilted his head walking away. *Him?*

"Watch it, Niles!" Brighton blinked as the butler walked right into him. "Is everything alright?"

"Why, yes." Niles felt his heart racing again.

"You sure?" Brighton frowned, looking at his dazed face. "You seem a little upset?" He tilted his head, wondering if he should inform Fran and his father.

"No… I’m perfectly fine, Master Brighton." Niles put on his best fake smile as he walked upstairs. "I might be a little jealous." Niles grumbled as he felt his feet grow heavy. Then he stood dead in his tracks remembering something. "Naww, it couldn’t be."

………………………………...........................................................

Lucas felt his mind race. He had been preparing for this moment. Now that it was here, he reached inside his pocket, holding that small little item tightly. It was his ace… his last card he would play. "Hello, Dad!" Robert Butler’s voice was heavy as he let Marie and Edward Butler inside.

*"I promise, Mommy, one day, I’ll slay all your dragons!" Lucas lifted up his toy sword towards a blushing C.C. "No one will ever harm you again!"*

"How are you feeling, Anna?" Marie reached Anna’s side, smiling. "You shouldn’t be out of bed, my dear."

"I feel like we all have been asleep for ages." Anna smiled, placing her hand over Marie’s. "It’s time we all wake up from our foolishness."

"What the devil do you mean, dear?" Edward grumbled as the room was filled with the sound of clapping.

"Hello…" Lucas felt his courage rise, looking at their stunned faces.

"Who are you?" Edward’s face twisted, and he stood up. "Robert, if you have pulled some kind of trick!"

Robert smirked as Lucas waved his hand. "Nothing up my sleeve…except the truth… "

"Edward, this young man came to our house asking about Niles." Marie stood up, looking into Lucas’s face. "What do you want, young man?"

Lucas felt his lower lip tremble as years of longing came to the forefront. "I want to know why my parents have spent over seventeen years longing for one another… I want help in undoing the damage one action caused…. I want…I dream…" Lucas lifted that silver medal out of his pocket holding it in front of Marie’s eyes.

Marie felt her heart stop as the medal spun around in the sunlight, displaying the three sets of initials. "It…"

"You told Niles once, ‘As long as this medal exists, those who have their initials on the back will always find one another.’" Lucas put it in her hands, smiling.

"You… You still haven’t answered the question!" Edward grumbled as Lucas turned towards his grandfather.

"I’m Lucas Tate Morgan Babcock… At your service… I only lack the name Butler because fate took control…. No… more like your pride did, Edward." Lucas walked past a stunned Marie towards Edward. "What did you see that day? "

"I saw a blonde headed woman and Lord Charles calling out in desire…. Naked on the kitchen table! He cried out ‘Babcock!’" Edward felt his hands form into fists. "For all I know, you’re the bastard of Lord Charles… Niles would never…"

"I hate to hear the details of my sex life." No one had noticed Robert let in D.D. Babcock. "I’m sorry I’m late, little black sheep." D.D. winked towards Lucas. "You and I soooo need to talk."

Lucas felt the room lighten as he made a bahhhing noise. "Always a pleasure, Miss Babcock." He winked as Edward turned around to face the newcomer. Lucas’s heart swelled with pride, and he knew… Gram had done the first part of her job.

"Who… who are you?"

"D.D. Babcock, and from what Gram tells me… You thought I was C.C.!" D.D. placed her hands on her hips. "To think I was Baby Sister."

Edward felt his lower lip tremble. "I….I… Your hair is light brown…"

"I dyed it… I loved... or used to love, teasing Chastity." D.D. walked around Edward like a cat teasing her prey. "I never expected it to have been used against her…or cost her so much." D.D.’s face softened, looking at Lucas. "If I had any idea who you were..."

Lucas felt Rachael at his side and couldn’t help a growing smile, looking at his aunt. "It’s alright." Lucas started to recall the countless hours of teasing D.D. Babcock had subjected him to.

"She… she… kept you from us!" Edward was still searching for something to hold onto.

"No…" Robert stood up. "We all pushed her away, and it’s past time we all started to help undo the damage."

………………………………....................................................

C.C. let out a long sigh. She was off to see the President, but she couldn’t feel colder inside. C.C. looked down at Chester’s carrier under the seat in front of her. The orange fuzzy ball was all curled up. "You know, if you reach inside you could get one of his treats." Niles smirked, looking over towards C.C.

"Can you try, for once, to be something less than a mean, miserable, old man?" C.C. tilted her head as Niles let out a deep chuckle.

"If you can tell me why you look so pale…. I thought you loved to fly." Niles watched as C.C.’s hand started to shake. "Miss Babcock, are you alright?" he reached for her soft small hand, taking it in his own."

C.C. closed her eyes, feeling her whole body shiver. "I just… had a bad time on a plane once…" C.C.’s mind raced back to that plane ride, leaving London… "I….I…"

Niles frowned, wondering if she was breaking again. "Shall I get you something to drink?"

"No….I bend… but never break." C.C. closed her eyes, mumbling softly.

Niles felt his heart break quietly. *You did once…* His hand remained locked with hers in an tender effort of support.

………………………………........................................................

Lucas let out a deep sigh looking out towards the sky. "You came through…for me… for her…" He heard D.D. Babcock’s quiet footsteps. Lucas turned his head, smiling at his aunt.

"Well, us black sheep have to stick together." D.D. smiled, lifting up his chin. "You do look a lot like Noel… All of us should have guessed…. Mommy and Daddy are having a hard time with this…"

"They better kept their mouths shut… until I talk with Bort." Lucas let out a long sigh. "I have put a wheel in motion, and I’m not sure when it’s going to stop."

"You know the end result though… and that’s a good thing." D.D. winked, patting Lucas’s hand.

"I wanted revenge, but I learned… that isn’t as important as seeing them happy."

"I do have a strange question. How in the hell did C.C. keep this from Maxwell and Sara all these years?"

Lucas let out a laugh. "Sara found out…. It took her years to get Mother to open up about a summer that never happened."

"What else can I do?" D.D. frowned, looking at Lucas.

"You really want to help? Why didn’t you come when Mother had her breakdown? Why didn’t Noel? Mother used to talk about how close you three once were."

"Things happen, and people change." D.D. let out a long sigh.

"Family doesn’t….That is a different subject…" Lucas let out a long sigh.

"Are you ready for what’s to come?" D.D. narrowed her eyes at the young man. "Jasmine speaks highly of you, but… my, well, your grandmother is a handful when she’s pushed."

"I bite back…." Lucas clicked his teeth playfully, and D.D. let out a laugh. "Will you be able to come to New York when I need you again, Auntie?" Lucas added in a playful tone.

"I will when you need me…" D.D. smirked, looking back toward Rachael who had just joined them outside. "Now… excuse me…"

Lucas turned. His face brightened, seeing the dark headed girl. "Is this the same soul I first ran into?" Rachel reached his side, and Lucas let out a loud laugh.

"I feel like the first problem has been settled, but the road is only halfway traveled." Lucas reached for her cheek with his fingers. "I … I…"

"You talk too much, Babcock." Rachael pulled him into a tender kiss.

Robert let out a long sigh, looking at his wife. "You know I should lock her up now." He let out a laugh and turned as D.D. was once again talking with Edward and Marie Butler.

……………………………….....................................................

C.C. felt her whole body shiver in pain. She had taken quite a spill on the ice, which ended up in hours of pain. "Why did you put me in this foolish cast?" She let out a hiss towards the young doctor and was given even more pain medication.

Niles had just come from the Sheffield’s room in a vain hope he wouldn’t have to take care of her this trip. He reached out a hand, placing it tenderly on her forehead. He blinked as her cell phone rang. He reached for it. "Miss Babcock’s answering service?"

Lucas’s jaw tightened. He had felt a strange pain only hours ago. "Where is she?" He tried to force an even tone in his voice.

Niles blinked and looked at C.C.’s cell phone again. This was the young man he had met at the hospital, no doubt about it. "She is resting, sir… Can I take a message?"

"You can give her the cell phone… I know something is wrong." Lucas started to pace up and down the small room.

"Now, young sir… We do not treat our elders in such a manner." Niles couldn’t help his protective snarl. "Miss Babcock is in no condition to talk right now."

"Tell me…" Lucas felt his chest tighten. "Tell me what’s wrong with her."

Niles blinked looking down at Miss Babcock. "Who are you to her?"

"Now, now… You don’t want this battle done over the phone. I don’t think either of us is ready for that…. Now… What’s wrong with her?"

"She has a few broken bones." Niles let out a long sigh, giving in.

"A few?"

"Two…" Niles grumbled, looking down into her pale face. "We will be back in New York in a few days." Niles blinked as he heard the call end. He sat down next to her, pulling up a chair. He had panicked seeing her fall and unable to get back up.

"Niles…. Can you get me more of Robert’s soup?" C.C. mumbled softly as her eyes struggled to open.

Niles felt his heart pound, reaching down. "Soon… I promise, Claire."

"Niles…" C.C. blinked, fighting to open her eyes up. "Stay with me tonight…Please? Just this once?"

Niles let out a sigh, touching her good arm. "Course I will…" Niles’s mind raced back towards hours earlier. He had been grumbling to Mister Sheffield about hiring someone else to care for her. "Bloody hell." Niles mumbled but then he caught the hint of that silver chain around her neck once more. He couldn’t help but reach for the chain, pulling at it gently.

C.C. reached up, touching his hand. "Watch it, Bell Boy." She let out a hiss that was quickly followed by a groan.

"Come on Miss Babcock, it’s show and tell time." Niles reached for the chain once more, and C.C. grasped his hand with her good one.

"No…" C.C. pushed his hand away, and Niles let out a playful whimper.

"You have to sleep sometime, Babcock." Niles teased her lips with his fingers.

C.C. let out a whimper as Niles sat up once more, and she closed her eyes. She had this strange feeling she knew what Niles was searching for, but he would find something even more surprising around her neck. "You are playing with fire … Bell Boy."

"It burns, burns, burns…" Niles smirked as C.C. let out a soft giggle.

"Niles…" She closed her eyes, feeling Niles brush his lips against hers.

"The best thing about this… You can’t escape, my wicked witch." Niles deepened the kiss playfully but pulled back up, smiling.

……………………………….................................................

Lucas frowned, looking at his watch. "What does Robert say? Bloody Hell!" He looked at his watch again, pacing up and down. "Where the hell is Gram?"

"Your great grandmother is a big girl." Rachael smiled as she placed a tender hand on Jager. "She can take care of herself and handle B.B. and Stuart Babcock."

Lucas closed his eyes, hearing the rather large banging at the door. He tilted his head, looking past the fence, seeing the two limos. "Here we go…" Lucas let out a groan, looking at the blind girl. "If we run now… we can just make it."

"What’s going on?"

"Shhhh be very, very… quiet…." Lucas went up, teasing her ear. "The Babcocks… are here…"

………………………………..................................................

"Where is the boy?" B.B. hissed out as Robert’s jaw hit the floor. "Where is he?" Stuart followed close behind as D.D. let out an evil husky laugh.

"She’s taking this better than I thought." D.D. let out a long sigh, looking at Noel.

"My god… I didn’t invite all of you in?" Robert hissed out looking at the gathering of Babcocks. "What do you want from him?"

"Lawrence!" B.B. called out as Noel let out a groan, looking at D.D.

"Well he’s already a part of the family… she can’t remember his name already." Noel smirked as D.D. let out a laugh.

"I’m sorry… she has a habit of getting what she wants… and right now Mommy and Daddy want to kill Gram and attack Lucas." D.D. let out a sigh, looking at Stuart and B.B. outside in the back yard.

"Here they come: the shocked parents…." Lucas let out a chuckle as Stuart hissed.

"You … you… at least should have told us, young man." Stuart narrowed his eyes as Lucas snickered.

"When?" Lucas was now resting on a tree limb, holding Rachael steady.

"When what?" Stuart felt his fist twist in anger.

"When was I supposed to tell you? Before or after our first meeting when you asked Gram if she had ‘lost’ her mind… or…. When you started questioning Nick about Gram taking in charity cases?"

"Don’t talk to him that way." B.B. grumbled. "Come down this moment, young man… I can’t wait to have a few words with your mother about this."

Lucas rolled his eyes. "If you say anything… I’ll make sure that information I’ve gathered goes to the right people…."

B.B.’s jaw tightened. "We had a right…."

"A right to what? Let’s review shall we? The moment you found out that, D.D…. your eldest daughter was having a child out of wedlock… you and Gram raced to her side… You got there first forcing her to marry a business client.…. You managed to get Gram… an elderly woman locked up in jail for three days…" Lucas let out a loud hiss. "You wanted my mother to trust you both with the fact that I existed?"

"I never did..." Stuart started in his face full or rage.

"You never did anything but stand aside and wait…." Lucas felt his heart racing…" You waited to end your worthless marriage until after your children were adults without even thinking about what damage this … this…" Lucas pointed towards B.B. "Viper caused them."

"Now just a moment young man…." Edward Butler now stepped forward.

"I swear if anyone tells them… if you four mess this up for them… You’ll have me to answer too… and unlike Mommy… I was raised with some teeth… Stay out of my way, and stay out of their way… what ever problems they have… they’ll work it out… without all of you." Lucas hissed as Gram let out a laugh. "Gram! Where have you been?"

"I don’t move as fast as I used to… Now… go on…I’ll clean up here." Gram winked as Lucas took Rachael’s hand. "Nick is waiting."

"Don’t keep her out too late, lad." Robert did a playful hiss and then reached over, messing up his hair. "Take him for a hair cut, Rach, while yer at it."

Gram turned her attention towards the four. "You heard the young man…. C.C. is not in a state to deal with you all…

………………………………..............................................

Niles let out a long sigh, looking at his hands. "Oy, Niles, you look worse than I feel." Fran sat back down beside him, sniffling. "What’s a matter? Don’t you want to talk about it?"

"I don’t think I can." Niles felt his throat tighten up thinking about that summer again. "I don’t think anyone can help me or stop these feelings."

"Have you taken that…"

"Mrs. Sheffield…" Niles let out a soft groan shaking his head. "This has nothing to do with any physical ailment… My soul has been rather torn for many years now."

"Niles..." Fran felt her heart break. "Is there anything I can do to help you?"

"Thank you, but no… I doubt even you can help heal this damage." Niles stood up, letting out a long sigh. "I have to go scratch more parts of Miss Babcock even she is loathed to touch." Niles did a playful shiver but left the room a torn man. His dreams had been haunted by that summer again… and the way she acted during his heart attack. He walked in the doorway, seeing the younger doctor set her in a better cast.

"Take a picture, dust buster. It will last longer." C.C. shifted uneasily in bed.

"You know, Miss Babcock, we are going home tomorrow… will someone be there to pick you up?"

"I’ll live, Niles…" C.C. closed her eyes once more and mumbled.

"I want you to do more than just live, Miss Babcock." Niles reached for a fallen cover, picking it up and placing it over her.

"Touch it and die, Niles." C.C. hissed, managing a smirk.

Niles had been reaching for her silver chain. His mind still wanting to know what was at the end. His heart was hoping it was a certain lost item from ‘their’ shared past. "That’s alright… I know where you sleep."

C.C. sighed as her cell phone went off again. "Hello, hello?"

"Are you alright?" Lucas’s voice was full of worry.

"Where are you?"

"Packing." Lucas let out a long sigh. "Don’t worry, we will be at the airport before you, and waiting… now answer the question… are you okay?"

"I’m fine. "

"Liar…" Lucas felt his voice tender. "Mother… you remember my promise?"

"You were eight when you made that promise, young man." C.C. couldn’t help but let out a painful giggle. "You promised to slay all my demons."

"Shall I head to Aspen now and melt the snow and ice away for hurting my mommy?" Lucas put on his best childish voice. "I’ll do it!"

"You don’t really want me to answer that." Lucas let out a chuckle as he let out a yawn. "I’ll see you soon."

………………………………........................................

"You just told us… I hate to see you go, lad." Robert placed his hand on Lucas’s shoulder, smiling. "I owe you…so much."

"You’re a good man, Uncle Robert." Lucas winked, taking his hand. "If you keep them under control… everything should turn out alright."

Lucas stood before Edward and Marie Butler. "Please… I’m begging you… stay out of this for now." Lucas’s eyes pleading.

Marie reached up, touching his cheek. "Only if you promise to call us." She reached out, pulling the small silver medal from her pocket. "This belongs to you." She lifted it up, placing it on the young man’s neck.

"Thank you… dear lady." Lucas flashed as smiled then stood before Edward Butler with a soft snarl.

"I…I…." Edward had felt all his anger drain from his soul, looking into his grandson’s eyes. "I’m… sorry… "

"When the time is right… You owe that to someone else." Lucas reached out, taking his hand.

He tilted his head towards smirking Rachael, Lauren, and Mary. "I trust you ladies enjoyed my gifts?" He smirked as the three girls were still trying to figure out the cell phones.

"You are just doing this to keep tabs on us." Lauren smirked as Lucas pulled her into a hug.

"Well, someone’s got to." Lucas snickered as Mary soon hugged him.

Lucas stood before the blind girl. "Now, you better keep your promise to me." He whispered softly as Robert let out a groan. "Call me every chance you get… and..."

"Don’t worry Tate..." She blushed. "The story is only half over… when you need me… I’ll come." She reached out, touching his cheek.

Lucas looked up as the adults all started to eye the young couple. "Geeze! Can ya just give us a moment?"

"You better hurry up, boy!" Gram yelled out playfully.

Lucas placed a tender kiss on Rachael’s lips. "She’s still way too young for you, boy!" Robert barked out playfully as Anna punched his ribs.

"I’ll give you a call tomorrow." He kissed each of her hands.

Robert’s family watched as the limo pulled away. He was smiling playfully, holding the folders that Lucy Babcock had handed him. "What is it, love?" Anna looked up at her husband.

"Not only did I gain a nephew… I have a stranglehold on Lord Charles." Robert waved the folders around. "And…and…"

"The chances of your family reuniting again are growing." Anna smirked.

Lucas let out a long sigh and turned to face a smirking Gram. "What?" He blinked, looking around.

"Your eye is still black and blue." Gram reached up, touching his face.

"I doubt with Mom’s broken bones, she’ll notice it." Lucas smirked, pulling out his cell phone. "We should make it back home in time to pick up Mother."

"Nick?" Gram called out, and Nick lowered the glass.

"Yes?"

"Did ya call Tish?" Gram leaned forward. "Your kids are going to be at Thanksgiving?"

"Sam and Mel will both be there." Nick let out a soft laugh.

"Good… we are adding D.D. and Jas to the list." Gram leaned back, looking at Lucas. "Course her new love, too."

"Did you notice what I noticed?" Lucas played with his shoe. "You better help her get rid of that husband soon."

"Don’t worry… I’ll handle B.B.’s puppet." Gram smirked as Lucas let out a laugh. "What are you going to do next now that you know the truth?" Gram narrowed her eyes, looking at the young man.

"I want to talk to Bort." Lucas looked out of the window.

"You aren’t sure, are you?" Gram reached out, touching his knee. "You have a good heart, Lucas… You’ll do the right thing."

"You know what’s annoying, Gram… Years ago… someone else made the decision for them… now… here I am.." Lucas let out a snicker. "Am I any better than Edward Butler?"

"You are. You’ll do the right thing." Gram sat back, closing her eyes.

"Are you alright?" Lucas sat up. He had never seen her look so…so… old before. "Can I get you anything, Gram?"

"I’m not as young as I used to be, Lucas… Slaying dragons takes a lot of energy for this old woman." Gram winked, opening her eyes.

"Bah! You’ll outlive us all."

"I outlived my useless husband!" Gram let out an evil laugh. "That’s all that mattered to me."

………………………………...............................................................

Niles looked over into her eyes. "Can I get you something for the pain, Miss Babcock?" The plane was shaking, and C.C. let out another soft whimper. "C.C… you don’t have to..."

C.C. reached for his hand with her good one and managed a playful smile as she dug her fingernails in his hand. "Suffer, like me!"

Niles whimpered, and C.C. let out a soft groan. "Miss Babcock!" Niles pulled back his hand looking at the marks in his palm.

"Sorry, Niles." C.C. let out a snicker as the plane made its final landing. "I couldn’t help myself… just forget about it… it never happened." C.C. closed her eyes, praying that Lucas and Gram were indeed waiting for her.

"Miss Babcock, are you sure you won’t come over for Thanksgiving?" Fran Fine Sheffield’s nasal voice filled her ears.

"No, Nanny Fine… I have… other plans." C.C. smiled as Nick walked forward.

"Miss Babcock?" He looked her over, frowning. "What the devil happened?" His eyes met Niles’s, who blushed.

"She took a spill on some ice." Niles blushed as Maxwell touched his arm.

"We will be waiting at the car, old man." Maxwell smiled as he walked off.

Niles smirked as Nick took C.C.’s three bags. "You sure it wasn’t some sort of stunt?" Nick teased as Niles felt his face turn bright red.

"I would do nothing to hurt her in such a way, sir…" Niles hissed, feeling his blood boil. "I…I..." Niles felt his tongue twist as C.C. did a double take.

"I’m… ready to go Nick." C.C. blushed, looking at Niles. "Tell the others Happy Thanksgiving, Niles."

Niles let out a long sigh, watching her slowly walk away. His mind raced back to that silver chain around her neck. Could that silver chain have his missing medal? "Please god… Does she still love me?" He mumbled in quiet prayer.

Lucas smirked as C.C. gasped, looking at his face. "You look worse, Mother." Lucas let out laugh as C.C. moved slowly inside the limo.

"So… How was your trip?" She turned her head towards Gram who smirked. "Gram, are you alright?"

"I’m fine, Chastity!" Gram opened up her eyes. "I’m a woman who is older than…"

"Than time itself." Lucas smirked, handing C.C. a glass.

"Can’t I get something a little harder?" She tilted her head towards Lucas. "Never mind." She let out a long sigh, noticing the young man’s harsh look.

"D.D. and her daughter will be joining us this year, my dear." Gram opened up her eyes as C.C. let out a long sigh.

C.C. felt her heart grow heavy. Gram narrowed her eyes, looking into her face. "I’m fine, Gram."

"No…" Gram leaned back, looking towards Lucas’s worried face. "I don’t think so, C.C."

……………………………….......................................................

Niles let out a groan, stuffing the turkey. "What is it, Miss Grace?" Niles turned his head to find her eyeing him. "I’m fine!"

"You don’t look fine… Do you want to talk about it, Niles?" Grace took the butler’s hand, walking him over towards the kitchen table. "Come on. Talk to me."

"It’s a rather long story, Miss Grace, and I’m not even sure anymore of all the elements." Niles had gone over, once again, the details of his summer romance with C.C. "I don’t know where to start without giving away too many details."

"Tell me the short version then?" Grace narrowed her eyes as Niles let out a rather loud sigh.

"I loved a woman… who I believed had an affair while we were seeing one another." Niles wondered how to make this a more G-rated for young Grace.

"You believed? Or did you know?" Gracie narrowed her eyes.

"Believed…" Niles felt his lip twist.

"Did you come out and talk to her about it?" Gracie narrowed her eyes as Niles shook his head. "Well, Niles… what would Doctor Miller say?"

"I haven’t talked to Doctor Miller about that summer yet…"

"Why not?" Gracie leaned back, folding her arms.

"I have been saying for years the summer didn’t happen." Niles lowered his eyes. "But it did."

"Well the only way you are going to get any information is to talk about it, Niles!" Gracie hopped up out of the chair. "I better not keep you. Sylvia and Morty will be coming over today."

Niles let out a long sigh. "Thank you for the talk, Miss Grace."

"Anytime, and remember, it’s always wise to hear the other side before you start believing strange things."

"I think it’s already too late for that." Niles looked down at the turkey, putting it in the oven.

……………………………….......................................................

C.C. smirked, watching the group in the football huddle. "It’s colder than hell out there, but they still have to play?" She tilted her head towards a laughing D.D.

"Jas always did love the cold." D.D. glanced towards her daughter while they played football. "Fredrik looks lost out there." D.D. smirked, looking at her lover.

"I still love his accent." C.C. giggled leaning on D.D. "You did good this time."

"Gram..." Both women laughed.

"What would we do without her?" C.C. let out a long sigh and heard the nervous cough of Nick. The women turned to face Nicholas, smiling. "Hello, you old ghost."

Nick looked around carefully. "Tish is with Gram… and I would like to talk to you two ladies alone for a moment."

Tish was Nick’s wife, a small framed woman who once served as Lucas’s nanny. C.C. looked into Nick’s eyes. "What’s wrong, Nick?"

He smiled, looking at his two adult friends and three small grandchildren playing with Jas and Lucas. "The world was made for the young." The sadness in his voice made C.C.’s heart stop.

"Nick?" D.D. reached his shoulder, and Nick lowered his head.

"Nick, is something wrong with Gram?" C.C. narrowed her eyes, and Nick nodded slowly. "Tell us?"

They both watched as Nick twisted a small piece of cloth in his hand. "We should enjoy Lucy while we can." He smiled, looking into their faces.

D.D. tilted her head towards a frowning C.C. "What does he mean by that?" They both watched as Nick walked outside.

C.C. felt the cold wind touch the windows. "No one lives forever….not even Gram."

……………………………….................................................

"Oy! I have so much to be thankful for this holiday! I’m pregnant, married!" Fran let out a nasal laugh. "Eating for two!"

"I’m just thankful it’s in that order." Sylvia smirked towards a giggling Grace and Maggie.

"You know, Sylvia, if you stop eating now… You can say the same!" Niles winked as Sylvia let out a pretend laugh. Niles walked inside the kitchen, taking some of the plates away.

"What’s wrong with Niles?" Sylvia tilted her head towards her daughter. "I have never seen him so grumpy before!"

"Oy… Miss Babcock fell on the ice and broke two bones." Fran lifted up her hand. "He ended up taking care of her the entire trip!"

"I don’t know … I saw him smiling at one point." Brighton lifted up his head as everyone glared his direction. "I did!"

"He must have done something to Miss Babcock then." Fran smirked, looking at Brighton. "I think…"

"I think something else is going on with Niles." Gracie flashed a playful smile as Niles returned, carrying the pie.

"What?" Niles looked at the family, and Maxwell stood up pulling out a chair for him to sit in.

"Come on, old man… sit down for pie, at least … It’s Thanksgiving, after all."

"If you excuse me, sir…" Niles handed out the plates as Maxwell tilted his head towards a grumbling Fran.

"Oy Vey… There is going to be trouble down the road."

………………………………........................................................

Lucas smirked, walking inside Bort’s office. "Okay, doc! Shrink me!" He tossed his body on the couch as Bort let out a laugh.

"How was your holiday, Lucas?" Bort smirked at the smiling young man.

"It is really the best time of the year!" Lucas let out a long sigh. "I have all the answers and no idea what to do with it, doc." Lucas turned his head towards Bort, letting out a loud sigh.

"So what happened in England?" Bort sat down, grabbing a pen and paper.

Lucas went over every important detail, leaving Bort speechless. He ended up turning over, looking into the elder woman’s eyes. "Tell me what to do… I have no idea how this will effect them."

Bort let out a long sigh. "What do you want to do, Lucas?"

"I want to tell them the truth… You realize, this explains why mother didn’t tell him about me… Why he pushed her away…" Lucas sat up his face couldn’t hide his joy. "All those long years of…"

Bort tilted her head. "Long years of?"

"This could bring up old wounds, too." Lucas frowned, rubbing his chin. "Doesn’t the truth set you free? I mean… he has spent years thinking that she betrayed him, and she has spent years wondering what was going on."

"Years of pain and suffering that could be easily erased?" Bort tilted her head as Lucas let out a groan.

"You aren’t going to give me any helpful advice, are you Bort?" Lucas snickered, letting out a long sigh. "I need advice! Please!"

"What does Lucy say?"

"Gram tells me to go with my gut feeling." Lucas let out a snicker. "I’m not sure what that is yet… I don’t really know him that well…" Lucas let out a long sigh. "Bort, please…"

"Lucas, there are no easy answers here… You remember why your mother was put in the hospital."

"The feeling of rejection." Lucas let out a groan. "I can’t keep this to myself, Bort… I have to tell her.. I have to tell them."

"You have to… I agree." Bort let out a long sigh. "I just wish C.C. would talk about that summer first."

"Would it be better if she did?" Lucas felt his heart pound.

"It would be a good start." Bort let out a long sigh. "I need to think on this, Lucas."

"Ughh!" Lucas rolled his eyes. "Think all you want, Bort, but sooner or later…"

"What aren’t you telling me?" Bort narrowed her eyes, looking at the young man.

"B.B. knows." Lucas closed his eyes.

"Lucas…" Bort let out a huge growl. "Did you think that was wise? It’s like handing a child the candy store."

"She doesn’t know all of it… She is aware that… I am Niles’s son… and they had a big break up, but she’s lacking all the major details."

"O boy." Bort let out a long sigh. "Tell me how you feel about all this, Lucas."

"Me?" Lucas blinked.

"You spent your whole childhood longing for a father, Lucas." Bort leaned over, looking at the young man. "Are you willing to put that dream on hold if you have to?"

"I know the truth, Bort!" Lucas jumped up and down like a little boy. "They don’t have to suffer these doubts anymore! They don’t have to wait! They don’t have to..."

Bort smirked looking at Lucas. "Off the record… You want my advice?"

Lucas smirked, eyeing the doctor. "Isn’t that why I came here in the first place, doctor?!"

"Wait…and listen…" Bort narrowed her eyes.

"Wait and listen for what?" Lucas felt his jaw tighten. "Is that your advice???" Lucas tossed up his hands grumbling. "How much longer should I wait? You think Edward Butler, my grandfather, waited to tell Niles about my mother’s so called affair… nooo, he.. ran off and..." Lucas stopped, letting out a long sigh. "I see your point."

"I hope you do." Bort smirked as Lucas’s face fell.

"I can’t keep this from them forever."

"With luck, Lucas… It won’t be much longer, now… I promise, just give me time with your mother, and if all else fails… I always have …" Bort winked pointing at Lucas. "You and the truth."

"I’m telling her, ready or not, after the New Year, Bort… Nothing… I repeat, nothing will stop me from getting them back together… They belong together." Lucas picked up his jacket, grumbling.

………………………………...............................................

Lucas let out a long sigh, answering his cell. "Roger, roger! What can I do for you?" He purred as Rachael let out a playful laugh. "You should be sleeping, naughty girl."

"I couldn’t sleep… What did your mother’s doctor say?" Rachel let out a long sigh as Lucas grumbled.

" To wait…" Lucas clicked his teeth together. "I don’t want to wait… I want to rush into the Sheffield house and tell him that he was wrong."

"Why don’t you?" Rachael shifted in her bed, snuggling up to Jager.

"I can face a hell storm of Babcocks and Butlers but…." Lucas lowered his head getting on his bike. "I don’t think I can take…."

"Rejection?" Rachael felt her heart breaking. "Lucas…. "

"He didn’t even realize what he was giving up by saying the summer never happened." Lucas felt his heart pound. "I’m scared he will hold true to that… that he doesn’t."

"Lucas, what does your heart tell you?" Rachael’s voice was soft and tender.

Lucas closed his eyes, recalling Niles’s face at the hospital. Niles’s look was one of grief and fear. "He does… He must."

"Faith… Have faith, Lucas." Rachael let out a soft yawn. "I’m sorry."

"No I am. It’s what, midnight?" Lucas let out a long sigh. "Sleep, Rach… I’ll call you soon."

"Take care, Lucas." Rachael shut off the cell phone, sighing.

Lucas mumbled quietly to himself, looking out at the parking lot. "What now… Dammit." He shifted on his bike, mumbling. He was hoping that Bort would give him a green light, but instead, he was lost yet again.

………………………………..........................................

"I think heading to Boston is a good idea, C.C. What do you think?" Maxwell tilted his head towards his business partner. "C.C., are you alright?" Maxwell took off his glasses, looking at her.

"Just a little sore, Maxwell…" C.C. groaned, lifting up the tea cup. "I swear I should sue that doctor in Aspen. He treated me rather rough, and it wasn‘t that badly broken." She was already in a new smaller brace for her arm.

"You mean you didn’t enjoy that rolled up newspaper he used on your nose when you nearly bit him?" Niles smirked, taking her tea cup away.

"Yeah, I wonder who gave him that ‘idea.’" C.C. gave Niles a glare as he walked out of the room.

"C.C., is going to Boston going to be a problem?" Maxwell let out a long sigh as C.C. shook her head. "This is our best chance to…"

"I know, Maxwell." C.C. grumbled, standing up. "When is the Boston trip?" She blinked as Maxwell let out a long sigh.

"Not for another few weeks… C.C., were you listening to a word I was saying earlier?"

"I’m sorry, Maxwell… I just have other things on my mind today."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Maxwell frowned, looking into her eyes.

"Not really." C.C. stood up looking at her watch. "I have a meeting with someone, Maxwell… I’ll call you later on today."

Fran blinked as C.C. walked out of the room. "I can’t believe, oy, I’m asking this … Is she alright?"

"I don’t know really… It seems like her and Niles have both been less in a fighting mood as of late." Maxwell tapped his pen on the table. "It’s funny really…"

"What is?" Fran came over and was pulled into Maxwell’s arms.

"Sara felt like something was wrong with them before… she passed away." Maxwell frowned as Fran raised up his chin.

"Oy… what did she say?"

"She told me there was something more going on with them … than meets the eye." Maxwell let out a sigh, kissing her neck. "Maybe it’s nothing, darling."

………………………………..................................................

C.C. grumbled, walking into Bort’s office. "Hello C.C., how are you today?" Bort smirked, watching her pace up and down. "What’s wrong?"

"I don’t know… I’m C.C. Babcock, and no one screws with me." C.C. tried her best to put the ice queen, the bitch of Broadway back into her voice but failed. "I have lost the touch… I have…"

"C.C., you are still recovering from a major break down… Give yourself time." Bort watched as C.C. kept pacing.

"I want to talk about it…" C.C. let out a long sigh, turning around to face Bort. "I want to talk about that summer in England." She closed her eyes so not to see Bort’s smiling face and slowly opened them.

"What changed your mind?" Bort kept her face blank as C.C. sat down on the couch.

"Lucas…." C.C. let out a long sigh. "I …I ran from Niles… I didn’t want to deal with his anger… I was … was… a coward."

"C.C., you were barely eighteen years old." Bort reached for her hand in a tender display of comfort. "It wasn’t your fault."

"I ran away… I loved him… and I ran away." C.C. let out a long sigh.

………………………………...........................................

Miller let out a sigh, looking at Niles. "You know, Niles, if her necklace is bugging you…Why not ask her about it? That seems to be one of the major problems in your relationship with Miss Babcock… you hide your real feelings."

"What am I suppose to say to the woman? Hey, is that my medal I gave you? Do you still have it? If you have it, why didn’t you tell me?" Niles rubbed his temples. "It’s driving me insane…. That’s it… I now know how Babcock feels."

"Have you tried calling your parents again? Your brother?" Miller narrowed his eyes as Niles let out a sigh.

"No…" Niles narrowed his eyes.

"Niles… in order to make real progress you must learn to open up more. You must avoid hiding behind insults and mental jabs at Miss Babcock, for starters."

"Well, what do I have to do? " Niles sat up, looking at the doctor. "I have hit the woman over the head for goodness sakes! I .. I .. Still…"

"Love her?" Miller smirked, watching Niles’s face twist. "Pardon me for saying this, Niles, but to steal a phrase from you… Well DUH!"

"You aren’t supporting my hurt, doctor." Niles grumbled.

"You didn’t come here for support, Niles… You came here to get past your own depression and in the process, your own past." Doctor Miller let out a long sigh. "A good, honest, LONG talk with Miss Babcock is long over due."

"I wouldn’t know were to begin with C.C."

"How about… Miss Babcock, we are long over due for a talk about our summer romance?" Miller smirked as Niles let out another groan.

………………………………..........................................................

"Why are you cooking dinner, anyway?" C.C. stood over Lucas, reaching into the wok, grabbing a baby carrot. "We could go out tonight…" Lucas waved her away grumbling.

"Can a son do something nice for his mother?" Lucas let out a loud hiss. "Would you leave me alone for a moment, woman!"

"I could help you!" C.C. giggled as Lucas let out a loud groan.

"Yeah, but neither one of us wants food poisoning." Lucas laughed, watching C.C.’s pouting face. "I’m sorry, but it’s true."

"Great. Thanks…" C.C. blinked, hearing the knocking at the door.

"Expecting someone?" Lucas looked at C.C.’s panicked face, smirking. "Go answer the door, Mother."

Niles let out a long sigh as C.C. opened the door. "Hello, dust buster, what do you want?" She placed her hands on her hips. She was wearing nothing more than a NY Giants jersey and blue jeans.

"Miss Babcock?" Niles blinked, looking at her. It has been a long while since he had seen C.C. Babcock in such causal clothing. "I… I need to talk to you."

"Who ever that is, invite them in for supper!" Lucas called out loudly. "I have plenty…." Lucas stood in the living room, looking at the opened door.

Niles blinked, looking at the young man with a Oxford t-shirt and blue jeans. "Who… is this Miss Babcock, again? Lucas?" Niles quickly recalled the young man’s name from the hospital. His mind raced with thoughts of who he might be.

*Well this is interesting.* Lucas’s couldn’t wipe the smirk off his face. "You remember Mister Niles… Lucas!" Lucas held out his hand, waiting for Niles to take it.

"Lucas, what?" Niles looked down at the offered hand.

"Niles!" C.C. blushed, looking into his face.

"You tell me yours, and I’ll tell you mine." Lucas smirked as Niles took his hand. "See, was that so hard?"

"Butler…" Niles hissed, holding the young man’s hand firmly in his own. *Who is this young man? A play toy of Miss Babcock’s?*

"Let’s go with Morgan." Lucas felt his gut twist. *Well, for now anyway, that’s what I’ll go with… dammit…*

Niles felt his face soften. "Morgan?" He quickly recalled C.C.’s grandmother’s maiden name. "I’m sorry I thought…"

Lucas pulled on Niles’s arm, bringing his ear close so he could whisper. "Not everything is what it seems… remember that before you start judging a book by its cover." He smirked, looking towards a pale C.C. "Now… Mister Butler, will you join us?"

Niles smirked, letting out a long sigh. "Join us, Niles." C.C.’s eyes darted from Niles back to Lucas.

Niles sat down at the table, feeling odd for the first time in a long time, having someone else serve him. "Going to Oxford?" Niles pointed at Lucas’s shirt.

"I was doing some research there on campus… I found some interesting things in England." Lucas sat a plate before him.

"Who’s the girl?" C.C. tried her best to tease Lucas who smirked.

"I have no idea what you’re talking about…" Lucas winked as he placed a few more items down.

"Babcock didn’t cook this, did she?" Niles smirked as C.C. let out a loud groan.

"We would all be making a trip down town if she did." Lucas let out a playful snarl as C.C. picked up the rolled New York Times, hitting him with it playfully.

"The boy knows your cooking!"

"I think all doctors down town know her food poison-- I mean cooking." Lucas winked towards a grumbling C.C.

"This coming from a boy who was riding is bike down the stairs at age five." C.C. hissed looking at Lucas. "What’s worse, he had Gram following him."

"Nothing like an elder, high class society lady riding a ten speed down three flights of stairs!" Lucas let out playful laugh.

"Yeah… Nick had to take them both to the hospital." C.C. snickered as Lucas sat down.

"Yeah, but you loved yelling at the ER staff." Lucas smirked and watched Niles look at the plate before him. "She didn’t even help me cook it… I promise!"

Niles took a fork full, smiling. "How did you learn to cook like this?"

"He could even teach you a trick or two…" C.C. smirked while taking another bite from her plate.

Niles nodded as Lucas smiled with pride. "I learned a thing or two when I went to Japan with Gram."

"I didn’t expect you to have company tonight, Miss Babcock." Niles tilted his head towards C.C. who blushed. "I wanted to talk to you alone." Lucas had picked up the empty plates.

"Lucas, we will be in the sitting room!" C.C. called out as Niles followed her deeper into her apartment. Niles had realized he had never seen beyond the first cold white looking room. She led him inside a room with a large screen TV and some sort of game system. "What do you want, dust buster?" C.C. had once more put on her armor ready for battle.

"C.C…. Can we drop the war tone, if only for an hour?" Niles moved in close to her, smiling. "I have a few questions to ask you."

"Niles… I’m not in any mood to …" She felt her heart stop as he stood only inches from her body. "What?" She blinked, looking into his eyes.

"Why did you sleep with him?" Niles breathed in her perfume. "Why did you sleep with Lord Charles?"

C.C. blinked, looking into his eyes. "What are you talking about?" His body so near to her own.

"Why did you…" Niles touched her cheek. "Tell me, please…"

C.C. closed her eyes for only a moment, feeling his soft touch on her cheek. She fought to regain control. "I never slept with Lord Charles." She let out a hiss, feeling her heart starting to melt under his blue eyes.

"C.C., please tell me…"

"I didn’t!" C.C. reached out with her mind for that armor once more.

Niles felt a flash of anger cross his face but pushed it back. "I saw you…"

C.C. pushed against him. "I didn’t!" She let out a long, slow hiss. Niles saw her cover herself once more under the armor of the ‘Bitch of Broadway’. "Get out of here, servant."

Niles’s face twisted in pain. What was that look in her eyes? Hurt? "C.C., I’m…I’m… I have to know!"

"You have to know what? Lord Charles was nothing more than a mean pain in the ass that my mother used to stick it to my father. I would never sleep with him…. I don’t care what you ‘saw’." C.C. hissed, opening up the door.

Lucas stood still in the kitchen hearing his mother’s roar. The battle soon entered the living room.

"My father showed me that display on the dinning room table!" Niles felt his cheeks flush with anger.

"Stuff it, servant." C.C. quickly remembered Lucas.

Lucas closed his eyes trying to think of what he should do. Should he let them work this issue out? Should he act? Lucas let out a soft groan, looking up towards the heavens.

"I’m not going to stuff it, C.C…. I want answers."

"Remember, Niles, that summer didn’t happen." C.C. snarled back and quickly covered her mouth.

Lucas pulled out a coin, tossing it up in the air and making his choice.

"C.C….. It did happen." Niles felt his face crumble.

"Shall I send you two to separate corners?" Lucas let out a long sigh, walking into the living room. "I’ll even ring the bell if you need me to."

"Stay out of this, Lucas." C.C. let out a hiss.

"No…" Lucas smirked and went to the door leaning against it. "Mister Butler… Do you believe everything you see?"

"Yes…" Niles’s hands balled into fists, and Lucas let out a long sigh.

"No…" Lucas stood in front of Niles smirking. "Not everything is as clear cut, Mister Butler…. Did you get a good, clear look at her that day?"

Niles frowned, his anger lessening. "I…I…"

Lucas let out a long sigh, hearing the phone ring. C.C. had to have an exit from the room, escaping for just a moment to answer the phone. "Not everything is what it seems, Mister Butler… I would remember that."

"Lucas…. We have to go." C.C. came out her face white as paper. "I’m sorry Niles we will have to continue this later."

Niles looked towards C.C. frowning. That look was something he had seen before when… when Sara had died. "Is everything alright?" Niles and Lucas said at once in unison.

"Gram’s had a heart attack." C.C. felt her heart stiffen with fear.

……………………………….............................................................

Lucas let out a long sigh, pacing back and forth in the hospital. They had reached Nick and Tish only an hour ago. He looked at his mentor’s face, frowning. "She’s a tough old lady, Nick… She’ll be alright."

"Lucas…. Sometimes things go out of our control." Nick narrowed his eyes at the young man. "Fate can be a cruel master sometimes."

"Yeah, fate." Lucas turned his head towards C.C. and Tish, both making phone calls. "They were this close, Nick." Lucas raised his hands up making a gesture. "They were this close to admitting everything."

"They’ll find their way back." Nick placed his hand on Lucas’s shoulder. "Lucy still has that hope."

"Yeah, but I never thought the road back would be this long and dangerous." Lucas let out a long sigh, wishing Niles would have stayed. "She pushed him away, yet again."

"Give it time, lad… The first steps have been taken… The spark is already turning into a small flame I think." Nick winked as Lucas let out a soft laugh.

"God, I hope so Nick….I worry about her… I worry about him, and I don’t even know him.."

"Change that." Nick smirked, watching Lucas shift. "You are a small young man, Lucas, you can find a way."

"It would make things easier in the end." Lucas let out a long sigh as another doctor came out. "God… Please… don’t let her die."

Nick’s eyes glanced over towards his wife and C.C. "From your lips to god’s ears."

………………………………......................................................

"Niles, I just love this time of year!" Fran placed a few more lights on the tree. "Niles? Niles? Are you listening?"

"I’m sorry, Mrs. Sheffield." Niles’s mind went back to her face, and he let out a long sigh. "I’m just not feeling myself."

"Do you need to go lay down?" Fran reached him in record time. "Is it your heart? It’s your heart, isn’t it?!"

Niles grumbled as he let out a long sigh. "No… I’m fine."

"You been all humbug since Miss Babcock took a few days off." Fran leaned back, looking at her old friend. "What’d she do, Niles, leave that powder in your underwear drawer again?"

"No… no… She wishes…" Niles let out a soft snicker. "Mrs. Sheffield, have you ever had a problem …" Niles wasn’t sure quite how to put this without giving it away. "Speaking your mind to someone?"

"Me? Pleaaaaaaaase!" Fran let out a nasal laugh but then stopped. "There was that one time with that rabbi… but that’s a whole different story…Does this involve a woman?" Fran did a double take, looking at her friend.

"Noooooo… I don’t think it’s a woman." Niles smirked playfully, walking away from Fran for a moment. "It’s rather hard for me to talk about, Mrs. Sheffield… Someone I cared for did something…and now denies doing it."

"Well, maybe that ‘someone’ really didn’t do it, then? Have you thought of that one?" Fran smirked as Niles let out a groan. "You haven’t?"

"No…" Niles let out a sigh, looking at his hands.

"So, are you going to tell me….." Fran blinked as Maxwell entered the room. "Hello, Sweetie!" She ran towards Max, giving him a soft kiss on the cheek. "How is your day?"

"Has anyone heard from C.C. yet?" Maxwell had to pull double duty with C.C. gone. He was attending the theater and investors egos at the same time. "I’m getting bloody tired!"

"Miss Babcock’s grandmother is now out of ICU, sir." Niles smirked. "I’m sure Miss Babcock is feeling long over due for a good scream at an actor."

"How old is this woman?" Fran smirked looking at Maxwell and Niles.

"Older than Yetta, darling… I think she was ‘old’ when Sara first met Lucy Babcock." Maxwell let out a sad sigh. "I’ll have to give C.C. a call later tonight… I have a few questions to ask her about these contracts."

"Why don’t you write the questions down, sir, and I’ll deliver them to the hospital?" Niles smirked as Maxwell pointed towards him.

"Good thinking, old man." Maxwell smirked, walking back towards his office.

"She won’t be up…" Niles smirked towards a laughing Fran. "The sun is still out shining."

"Niles… Behave." Fran smirked, waving her finger towards him. "She’s no doubt worried sick…Oy, did I say something nice about Miss Babcock?"

"Well, it is the season!" Niles smirked as Fran shook her head.

………………………………......................................................

"Ugh… I have to go to Boston, Lucas." She eyed the frowning young man. "I can’t put this off."

"Yeah, you could." Lucas crossed his arms, letting out a long sigh. "Come on, Mother." He lowered his voice to a whisper. "The doctors are worried."

"So…so am I…." C.C. felt her hand shake, and Lucas took it. "I have to go. This thing is important."

"Don’t you put on that C.C. Babcock armor with me…" Lucas snarled as C.C. turned her head sharply. "I know the whole truth… you do have a tender spot!"

"God lord… Lucas, I am still your mother." C.C. turned towards the waiting room.

"Alright… B.B." He let out a long hiss as C.C. stood still for a moment.

"What did you call me?"

"Mother…" Lucas shook his head. "You have to ask yourself…. Does this ice wall you put up around people do you any good?" Lucas folded his arms. "It’s not too late… He’s still in the land of the living."

"Stay out of this, Lucas." C.C. snarled.

"She’s been telling men to stay out of it for years." Niles walked up on them, smirking. "That’s the reason her bed is fairly cold at the moment."

"God, Niles… I’m in no mood." C.C. looked up towards the ceiling, and Lucas found his chance to escape.

"When are you ever in the mood now a days, Caca?" Niles smirked, taking her hand. "C.C…." His voice broke with tender emotion. "How is she doing?"

C.C. felt her whole body shiver at his tender touch. "She’s an old woman, Niles." Her lower lip trembled at her own words. "They want to hold her here."

"Until when?" Niles led her over to a quiet corner, looking into her deep blue eyes.

"Niles… is there a reason you’re here?" C.C. pulled back her hands, not trusting herself.

Niles frowned, holding up a few files. "Mister Sheffield needed you to review a few things. "

"Mister Butler?" Lucas walked up slowly. "Gram would like to speak to you!" He smiled as C.C. felt her jaw drop.

"She would?" Niles felt his heart race, jumping up on his feet.

Lucas walked with Niles down the long hallway towards ICU. The sounds of soft buzzing could be heard from other rooms. "Nurses said no longer than fifteen minutes at a time." He smirked leading him inside.

Lucy Morgan Babcock had been given a private room, which was not the normal thing to do with this ICU. Niles looked around noticing it was some sort of closet they had emptied out. "Come here… Thank you, Tate."

Niles tilted his head back to see Lucas gone. "Mrs. Babcock?" He walked up towards her bedside, taking her hand.

"Now listen, you…" Gram reached over, hitting him once hard.

"HEY!" Niles jumped in shock.

"My bark is as bad as my bite… that’s for being such an ass!" Gram let out a husky chuckle laying back down. "Now listen…"

"Mrs. Babcock, I shouldn’t be here…"

"Would you listen just a moment? Geeze…." Gram rolled her eyes, looking at the heart monitor race. "I’m going to give you the best advice I can without breaking my word to C.C."

Niles blinked looking into her eyes. "Gram… what did ..."

"Now listen!" Gram waved her finger at Niles. "Sara didn’t stop trying to break down that wall of hers… It took her nearly six years but she got the truth before her accident… You can do it … and in record time… if you just tell C.C. how you STILL feel."

"I…." Niles blinked as the sick woman hit him again. "You know that really HURTS!" Niles rubbed his hand grumbling.

"NO matter what happens… Niles… never stop fighting!" Gram narrowed her eyes as Niles let out another soft whimper.

Lucas smirked as Niles walked outside the makeshift room. "What?" He groaned, rubbing the growing bruise on his hand.

"Need some ice, Mister Butler?" Lucas snickered, handing over an ice pack.

"How did you know she was… How???" Niles did a double take, following the young man back towards the waiting room.

"She’s been hitting people all day… A Babcock always fights to the last unless they have been wounded in some way." Lucas turned holding open the door. "You should know that better than anyone, sir."

"I…I do..." Niles smirked, holding the ice bag tighter. "You’re an interesting young man, Mister Morgan… or is it Tate?" Niles quickly recalled the name Gram used for him.

"Morgan, Tate…Lucas…Babcock" Lucas mumbled that last name under his breath quietly. He smirked at Niles. "I have sooo many names… except the one I want." He winked as Niles walked back out into the waiting room.

Niles blinked, turning around for just a moment to see he had left. "What did he say?" Niles shook his head to see C.C. curled up in a corner of the waiting room. She was asleep, and Niles let out a sad sigh, reaching over on a cart full of blankets.

C.C. felt those strong, warm hands touch her cheek tenderly and cocoon her inside the blanket. She let out a happy sigh, pulling at the hand. "Don’t go, Niles…" She muttered in her sleep.

Niles blushed, looking down at the sleeping form. She was dreaming about him? "Sleep." He knelt, touching her face once more. "You’ll miss class if you don’t sleep, Claire." He tried to put some teasing in his voice, wondering if she was dreaming about ‘that’ summer.

"She’s like a little angel, isn’t she?" Lucas stood directly behind Niles causing him to quietly jump up.

"What the..." Niles was quickly quieted by Lucas placing hand over his mouth and pulling him back slowly.

"Shhh, she hasn’t slept much." Lucas smirked, leaning on a wall, studying Niles.

"Pardon me for asking this of you, Mister Morgan, but how are you related to C.C.?" The question had been bugging Niles since his first meeting with the young man while she was in the hospital.

"Why are you asking, Mister Butler?" Lucas smirked.

"It’s an honest question."

"True… and Gram always taught me to tell the truth." Lucas tilted his head.

"Then what are you?" Niles snarled at the smirking young man.

Lucas fought his urge to scream out. "I am what I am…I’m starting to sound like the old Popeye cartoons." Lucas let out a loud laugh.

"You do." Niles winked, shaking his head. "Well, young man, would you let me know if she needs anything? Either one of them?" Niles pointed towards the sleeping C.C.

"I can think of only one thing, Mister Butler." Lucas smirked as Niles let out a soft whisper.

"What is that?"

"You." Lucas stood up straight as Niles narrowed his eyes.

"You are blunt, Mister Morgan." Niles muttered before walking off.

Lucas felt his hands tighten. "Not enough… Ugh!" He let out a soft grumble, walking towards the ICU once more. "Gram?" He opened the door as the old woman flashed him a playful smile.

"Boy!" Gram held her heart playfully. Lucas’s face twisted in pain and worry. "I’m not dead yet. What’s wrong?"

"I can’t do this anymore… I can’t …. Just let things be…"

"Then don’t…" Gram tilted her head towards the young man. "Follow your gut, boy!"

"I’m…..scared…" Lucas felt his heart pound. "For the first time in my life…"

"Remember, fear cuts deeper than any sword… You must be fearless… The truth is your shield.. If you want to tell him, then march on." Gram let out a long sigh. "What did Bort say again?"

Lucas let out a long sigh shaking his head. "I shouldn’t be bothering you with this."

"My last lesson…. We are who we protect…." Gram rubbed her temples as Lucas frowned.

"Gram?" He touched her wrinkled old hand. "Are you getting out of here soon? Are you going to be alright?"

………………………………...........................................................

"Hello Niles! Can you believe tomorrow is the first night?" Fran jumped up and down as Niles let out a sigh. "What’s wrong?"

"Something’s bugging me… I … Well, there is this young man, and.."

"Oy, Niles…" Fran’s jaw dropped, and Niles let out a groan.

"NO! Mrs. Sheffield… Something about this young man… He’s not telling me something, and … it’s bugging me." Niles rubbed his chin, putting up his coat.

"Why not run a background check on him?" Fran shrugged her shoulders, and Niles froze.

"I suppose…" Niles felt his jaw tighten. "I could call Mister Harper." Niles had often called Maxwell Sheffield’s private investigator for Maxwell. "He is awfully expensive."

"I’ll cover ya." Fran winked as Niles blushed.

"I couldn’t do that, Mrs. Sheffield."

"Well, I was wondering what to get ya, anyway… This will be my gift to you. I‘ll let Maxwell know we are doing some spy work for ya! " Fran hit him playfully in the chest as Niles broke out into a playful grin.

"Thank you, Mrs. Sheffield." Niles smirked, recalling Lucas’s playful grin.

Niles quickly ran into the kitchen, picking up the phone. "Hello, Mister Harper? I have a name for you!"

It took Niles about ten minutes to answer what little he knew about Lucas. "Yes… I under stand… Thank you, sir… Yes…."

"Hello, old boy… Fran tells me we are doing some ‘spy’ work for your present this year?" Maxwell raised his eyebrow looking at Niles. "Is everything alright, Niles?"

"Just … wondering about something sir…" Niles smirked. "Miss Babcock seems to be doing better, sir."

"Good. Any idea when she’ll make an appearance?" Maxwell looked at the calendar. "She BETTER…tomorrow."

"You know her, sir… bad pennies have a habit of turning up."

………………………………....................................................

Nick let out a long sigh, hanging up his cell phone and looking towards his worried wife. "Tish…" He pulled on her arm, leading her away from a group of doctors.

"Is everything alright, Nick?"

"Everything is fine. We should have Lucy back at the penthouse in a few days in time for a proper holiday…. D.D. is on her way, so is Noel."

"What’s wrong, then?" Tish narrowed her eyes, and Nick let out a long sigh.

"I have a few friends down in city archives. Someone is looking into Lucas’s back ground…" Nick rubbed his chin.

"What are you going to do?" Tish blinked, looking up into Nick’s face.

"Everyone knows… expect one person…. I have no right to stop this…" Nick let out a grumble. "No… Tish… it is past time that things just take their course."

……………………………….............................................................

"Hello, hello…" C.C. walked in Maxwell’s office, smiling. "What’s that look for, Maxwell?"

"Thank god. I was thinking you weren’t coming to Boston." He noticed her small over night bag. "How is your grandmother doing?"

"She’s harder than ice…" C.C. smirked as Niles walked inside with a tray.

"Most Babcock women come that way sir… They freeze a man’s blood." Niles snickered, walking back out of the room.

Maxwell rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "What is going on with you two?" He started to drum his fingers on the desk eyeing his business partner. "NILES!"

"Really, Maxwell….you should put a bell on him." C.C. eyed Niles walking back inside the room.

"What about your leash? Shall I retrieve it?" Niles let out a hiss, and Maxwell leaned back in his seat.

"Stay right there, old man." Maxwell stood up and moved past them. Niles and C.C. stood beside one another looking at Maxwell. "Now look up." He let out a playful chuckle, closing the door.

C.C. felt her face turn flush noticing the mistletoe. "Childish… tick… hey, where did he go?"

Niles let out a grumble looking into C.C.’s eyes. "He caught us."

"This is…" C.C. blinked and let out a gasp as Niles crushed her lips with his own. She felt her whole body react to the passionate kiss, his arm crushing her body to his. C.C. for once, didn’t want to think about anything other than going up stairs.

"Was that good for you, Caca?" Niles teased as they both let go.

"Is my mental health some kind of game to you?" C.C. blinked, feeling her knees wobble.

"Rack them up let’s play again." Niles winked, picking up the tray and walking out of the room.

Fran blinked as Maxwell informed her of the trip to Boston. "Sweetie!" Fran let out a soft nasal whine looking into his eyes.

"Darling, I’ll be back tomorrow. We can celebrate then!" Maxwell let out a soft groan.

Niles blinked looking at C.C.’s over bag. "We… we have always spent the holidays … all of them bitter together!" He let out a playful whine now as C.C. displayed a sly smirk.

"I’ll turn up on Christmas Eve like I always do, Niles." C.C. rolled her eyes. She waved her hand toward the bag of presents she had brought in. "Here, chore boy… would you put all those out?"

"Ready to go, Daddy!" Gracie walked downstairs, bag in hand.

"She’s going?" Fran and C.C. both said at once.

"There’s a school near Boston that Gracie wants to look at." Maxwell let out a groan, looking at C.C. and Fran. "It’s only for one night. We will all be back in the morning."

Fran blinked as the three left the house. "Can you believe that?" She shook her head and turned to see Niles whimpering at the door. "Niles?" She blinked as he came walking back towards her pouting.

"I…I didn’t expect her to be leaving…" Niles let out a sad sigh and picked up the bag C.C. had left.

Fran let out a sigh, pulling out the presents and placing them under the tree. "Oy, this doesn’t look like C.C.’s writing." Fran pulled out the white envelope. "Niles Butler?" Fran blinked as Niles grabbed the envelope out of her hands. "HEY!"

"Niles… The Butler." He smirked trying to cover up his last name. He blinked; it wasn’t in C.C.’s writing.

"Aren’t you going to open it?"

"Do you think I should?" Niles blinked, feeling the envelope.

"Well, did you think they should be leaving tonight?" Fran hissed as Niles tore open the envelope. She jumped up and down waiting. "Well, what is it?"

Niles felt his heart pound, pulling out the long silver chain. The small medal hanging at the end made his soul sing. "It… It…"

"Niles?" Fran reached up feeling his forehead. "Oy… she really got to you with this one." Reaching in, she pulled out the small note. "’Not everything is what it seems.’" She blinked, looking back at the note and Niles’s shocked face.

"It’s real…" Niles reached up touching it. "It’s really here."

"Niles?" Fran reached out, touching his shoulder. "Oy, you want to talk about it?"

"No…" Niles walked up the long steps towards his room, letting out a sad sigh. In one hand was his Saint Christopher medal, and the other, the small note.

Niles’s mind raced back towards that day. He had reached for the medal around her neck. He found it missing. He touched the three sets of initials tenderly. "Long as this medal is around… the couples will always find their way back to one another."

*"I didn’t sleep with Lord Charles." * C.C. let out a long hiss as her words echoed in his ears. Niles was unsure of the passing of time as he reviewed every moment during that lost summer. He felt his body shiver, recalling his hands touching her and the freedom they shared together.

"O MY GOD!" Fran’s screech pulled Niles out of his day dream.

………………………………............................................................

C.C. let out a grumble, trying to wrap her coat tighter around her arms. "What are you looking at? You…. You…"

"Miss Babcock, it’s Grace!" Gracie rolled her eyes. "I see the way you two look at one another."

"Maxwell… would you tell that… child to stop it." C.C. let out a loud hiss, hitting her own cell phone.

"Now, C.C." Maxwell frowned, shaking his head. "Do you have a signal out here?"

"No…" C.C. felt her heart pound, thinking about Lucas, Gram, Nick and …. "Niles…" C.C. mumbled under her breath, reaching up and pulling on the silver chain. She closed her eyes, letting out a loud grumble. "What are you looking at?"

"You do miss him." Grace moved over, smirking.

C.C. wanted to hiss at the child, but something about her. "You know, with that twinkle in your eye… You look like Sara."

"Thank you, Miss Babcock." Grace smirked, leaning in closer. "I know he … he cares for you."

C.C. felt her heart race but pushed back her feelings yet again. She remembered the long nights after Niles had pushed her away. The long plane ride back from England and finding out she was pregnant. "He doesn’t care…." She felt her heart pound.

"You want to talk about it, Miss Babcock?" Gracie smiled, holding out a candy bar.

"I’m going to see if I can flag someone down." Maxwell smirked, getting out of the car.

"It’s better if I don’t talk about it." C.C. had been fighting the flood gates of emotions since Gram had her heart attack, and now with this kid, her eyes started to tear up yet again.

"You can’t keep quiet forever."

"It’s hard to explain, and Maxwell is coming back soon." C.C. let out a long sigh. "I never thought I would say this… Gr… Gr.."

"Grace." She smirked, looking at C.C.

"Thank you." C.C. let out a long sigh as Maxwell climbed back inside the small car. "Maxwell, we might as well wait until help arrives."

Maxwell shivered climbing back inside the car. C.C. closed her eyes, holding onto the small locket that hung on the silver chain. "Lucas…. Niles…" C.C. muttered as Grace narrowed her eyes.

"What was that, C.C.?" Maxwell titled his head as C.C. snapped out of her dazed look.

"Nothing, Maxwell…I’m fine."

……………………………….........................................................

"Mister Morgan?" Niles wasn’t sure, but he had a feeling Lucas might be at C.C.’s. "How is Mrs. Babcock doing today?"

"Gram is a tough old bird, but she likes her condo downstairs a lot better than any hospital… what’s wrong?" Lucas could hear the worry and dread in his voice. "You sound awful."

Niles explained to him the phone call Fran had received, and Lucas let out a long sigh. "That’s all we know… I have been on the phone with the troopers but no sign of them yet."

"They’ll find her." Lucas’s voice was quiet. "I know it."

"I hope so." Niles felt his whole body shiver. "I just got off the phone telling the police to find a woman I have a very difficult relationship with." Niles let out a chuckle, hearing Lucas’s long laugh.

"You have no idea, Mister Butler… just how difficult." Lucas smirked, waving a hand towards Nick who entered the condo. "Will you let me know if you hear anything?"

"I will." Niles let out a long sigh.

"What’s wrong?" Nick walked forward as Lucas turned towards Nick.

"Mom, Maxwell Sheffield, and Grace Sheffield are missing… Something about how Mrs. Sheffield heard what sounded like a car accident." Lucas felt his heart race, reaching for his luck and finding it missing.

"I’ll make a few calls." Nick took the phone, and Lucas nodded.

"Should we tell Gram?"

"Lucy is enjoying a quiet sleep… Let’s tell her this only if we need to." Nick smirked as Lucas reached for his cell phone.

"Rach? What time is it there?" Lucas was shocked seeing her number flash.

"Doesn’t matter, something told me you might need a friendly call." Her British accent was thicker than normal. "What’s wrong, Luke? Is everything alright?"

"Scared… worried….Rach I don’t know what to do about so many things, and now…" Lucas repeated the words Niles had told him earlier. His mind tried to picture C.C. curled up in a car trying to keep warm.

"How is Lucy?"

"Not….good…" Lucas felt his heart pounding and his mind racing towards an awful truth. "What if…"

"You aren’t going to loose her, Luke." Rachael’s voice was soft and tender.

Lucas closed his eyes. "What about Gram?"

"It’s out of your hands, Lucas, but … your mother will be coming home." Rachael found herself wishing she wasn’t an ocean away. "I wish …"

"I know… I’m a Babcock, though, Rach… I’ll handle things."

"You’re more than a Babcock… I think Uncle Robert would want me to remind you of that." Rachael giggled as Lucas let out a loud groan.

"Thank you for reminding me, Miss Adams."

"My pleasure… Call me when you hear something Luke."

Lucas put away his cell phone and looked towards his mentor. Nick hung up the phone, letting out a long sigh. "They are doing all they can, Tate." He reached over, touching the young man’s shoulder.

"Nick….about my father…" Lucas felt his heart pound. "What do you think I should do about that problem?"

"You see him as a problem?" Nick raised an eyebrow smirking.

"No… Well..." Lucas let out a long sigh.

"Lucas, you have asked everyone except the one person you need talk to…"

"That would be?" Lucas grumbled.

"Your mother, when she comes home." Nick smirked as Lucas let out a rather loud groan. "You can do it… you’re nearly an adult in the ‘legal’ sense."

"I just hope mom comes back home in one piece, and then I’ll worry about my ‘Butler’ problem." Lucas let out a long sigh, looking outside the window.

………………………………...............................................................

Niles let out a long sigh, looking outside the window. "She wouldn’t come here first, anyway." He started tapping on the glass as Fran walked up behind him. "She would… Ooo, I’m sorry Mrs. Sheffield."

"Niles… You know … You could leave here if you’re needed somewhere else?" Fran tilted her head as Niles let out a long, deep grumble. "Take a chance, Niles!" Fran pushed on him lightly towards the closet and handed him his coat.

"Mrs. Sheffield, you don’t understand…..I…I…" Niles felt his cheeks blushing.

"Niles…I’ll give the limo driver a call. Just wait outside, and he’ll take ya over to Miss Babcock’s to wait."

"I should be here!" Niles put his foot down, and Fran rolled her eyes.

"Oy… While your mind is already across town thinking about if Miss Babcock is going to show up at her place or here first? Come on Niles. We both know she’ll go over there."

Niles frowned, looking back towards Yetta and Sylvia on the couch. "Alright, but if you need me to return…"

"Go!" Fran pushed him out the door, letting out a long sigh.

"What’s got into him lately?" Sylvia turned towards her daughter. "He’s been pouting since Miss Babcock turned up missing!"

"He’s got a crush, Ma." Fran rolled her eyes. "Maybe more than that." Fran mumbled under her breath, recalling that night Maxwell and her found C.C. and Niles in a lip lock.

Niles let out a long sigh, hopping into the passenger seat of the limo. "Hello Kevin, thank you." Niles nodded towards the smiling driver.

"They still haven’t found them yet?" Kevin frowned as Niles shook his head.

"No." Niles leaned on the door and blinked. "Kevin, you were Miss Babcock’s driver for years… I was wondering something… have you had any run ins with a Lucas?"

"Cute kid." Kevin smirked looking at Niles’s face. "You know the code, Niles."

"Kevin…. For me?" Niles tilted his head. "Do you know the connection between C.C. Babcock and Lucas Morgan?"

"Morgan. Right…." Kevin smirked. "I’ll give you a hint, Niles… Master Lucas’s name isn’t Lucas Morgan."

Niles let out a sigh and leaned against the door as Kevin remained quiet for the remaining two blocks. He smiled, hopping out of the car and rushed up to the penthouse condo. "Sir?" Niles smiled as Lucas opened the door.

"Well, Mister Butler… Come on in." He opened the door wide. "You just missed Nick. He went back downstairs to check on Gram."

Niles looked over the room again. The clean white room gave a hint of C.C.’s icy nature. "Have you heard anything?"

"Not yet…" Lucas smirked, his eyes noticing the medal now around Niles’s neck.

"What?" Niles blinked, looking down.

"Patron saint of travelers." Lucas reached out, touching it. "Maybe he’s looking after her now."

"One would hope, but Babcock has only nine lives… I fear she has used up a few over the years." Niles smirked as Lucas let out a playful laugh.

"Why not tell her how you feel, Mister Butler?" Lucas narrowed his eyes.

"Why don’t you get a hair cut?" Niles smirked, noticing Lucas’s long hair was pulled back into a pony tail.

"No, my hair is a matter of appearance." Lucas tilted his head. "You still love her."

Niles let out a soft gasp. "What do you mean ‘still’?" He was shocked that C.C. would have told anyone about that ‘summer’. "What do you know, young man?"

"You tell me what you know… and I’ll tell you what I know." Lucas couldn’t help his teasing mood. He quickly glanced up at the wall, looking at the clock. "Please …. " Lucas mumbled quietly.

Lucas and Niles both froze as the door knob jiggled as C.C. came inside, limping quietly in the room. "Thank god!" Lucas came up to her, wrapping his bear like arms around her neck.

"What did you do?" Niles narrowed his eyes towards her limp.

"I fell on the blasted ice, AGAIN." C.C. snarled, rubbing her arm.

Niles picked her up in his strong arms. "Which way to her room, Mister Lucas?" Niles tilted his head as Lucas pointed down the hall.

"Are… Are you crazy?" C.C. felt her whole body shiver as Niles managed to open the door with no hands.

"You need to be off that leg!" He placed her down on the bed, smiling but felt his whole body shiver as she held onto him. "Now Miss Babcock… A man might get the wrong idea."

"Why are you here, Niles?" C.C. held him close, looking into his blue eyes.

"I wanted to see if an ice queen could really freeze." His hand brushed her cheek softly. "I…I…" His lips brushed across her face as C.C. tunneled into his hair in a heated kiss.

C.C. felt the old fire hit her body as she arched her back up into his. She blinked as his lips trailed down her neck. "Niles…" She pushed him back, looking into his eyes. "Let’s…. not renew old habits… Servant!" She let out a deep husky purr.

"Trollop." Niles moved closer, unable to stop himself.

"Bell… Boy…" His lips came even closer as she mumbled softly.

Niles pulled on her body, unable to stop his fiery emotions a moment longer. C.C. froze as the silver medal hanging from his neck. She pulled away, letting out a deep gasp. "How…. "

"You didn’t send me this?" Niles smirked as C.C. managed to retreat clear across the room.

C.C.’s mind started to race. "Get out, servant…" Niles could see fear in her eyes. "You have had your last free ride."

"Gladly…" Niles stormed out feeling, flustered and at a loss.

"LUCAS…" C.C. roared, limping back in the room. C.C. let out a long hiss as Lucas was laughing in the living room. "You have two minutes to tell me why Niles has your medal around his neck."

Lucas smirked, watching her fume. "You know Mister Butler walked out of here with his hair a mess."

"Lucas….are you crazy?" C.C. felt her heart pound.

"Pot calling kettle?" Lucas smirked as C.C. let out a loud hiss. "Mother, I’m way too old for you to send me … to my room."

C.C. felt her heart pound. "Lucas…. He told me that summer never happened."

"Just like that kiss in your bedroom just now didn’t happen?" Lucas let out an evil chuckle as C.C. groaned. "I’m not five years old anymore… I know what the signs are, and…. messy hair… your lip stick all over his mouth… tsk, tsk, Mother."

"Stay out of it, Lucas." C.C. felt the old wound opening up again. "Stop… stop being… such… such… a… YENTA!"

Lucas smirked as C.C. limped back inside her bedroom. "I so love a good game… don’t you?" Lucas looked down at Chester who let out a playful bark. "I knew you would. Ready for another step?" He reached down, petting Chester’s head.

"Hello?" Gordon blinked, answering the phone.

"I’m sorry for the hour… but …. Anytime you are ready, Gordon!" Lucas’s voice was almost joyful.

……………………………….............................................................

Niles let out a loud groan, rolling over in bed, his dreams haunting him yet again. "Blasted woman!" Niles let out a long sigh, sitting up. He felt the cold medal touch his skin. "If she didn’t give me this back… then who did?" He blinked as his private line rang. "Hello?"

"Hello, Niles." Robert’s voice was soft.

"Robert?" Niles blinked, recalling the last time he had spoken to Robert. It was a token call of support when he found out Anna was sick. "Is everything alright?"

"Robert… I…" Niles didn’t know were to begin… his feelings for C.C. or the young man who bothered him. "I have a problem."

Robert let out a long sigh as Niles spilled out his problems. Niles felt his old doubts about C.C.’s affair with Lord Charles rise to the surface. His run-ins with Lucas at the hospital, and his other doubts. "What do you want to do, Niles?" Robert’s voice was soft.

"I want to forget about these past years and hold her in my arms again. I want to take away every harsh word I said." Niles let out a long sigh. "I have all the doubts in the world."

"Face it…." Robert felt his heart beat heavy in his chest. "Face your problems head on."

"It’s hard to corner any Babcock." Niles let out a long hiss.

"Niles… You pushed her away….now… you have to fight back."

Niles let out a long sigh, opening a drawer, pulling out a picture. "I pushed her away… now I have to fight back."

"You have no idea what you did to her… You have no idea what those four words did to her… what forces you set into motion. Remember, for every action there is a reaction."

"That’s true in nature and in men." Niles let out a laugh. "God… I have missed you, Robert."

"I have always been here for you, little brother… waiting." Robert felt his heart leap for joy.

"It might be easier to corner the lad."

Robert let out a long sigh. *Nothing is easy about Lucas.* "It might be… do what you think is right… let your heart guide you."

……………………………….........................................................

"Bah Humbug." C.C. let out a long sigh, opening Lucas’s door. "Wake up, you!" She let out a soft evil cackle as Lucas felt silly string hit is bed.

"HEY!" Lucas jumped up, looking around. "That was funny when I was seven. But I’m a grown man…" He blinked as C.C. let out another burst of laughter. "What’s so funny?"

"You’ll never be a ‘grown’ man to me, kiddo." C.C. smirked, walking towards the door. "Get dressed. Gram and Nick are expecting us."

Lucas jumped up, grumbling. "In a few hours, you’ll sneak away to the Sheffields’, like you always do." He shook his head, pulling on a cap and jersey.

C.C. let out a loud hiss. "You know I’m expected."

"Mother…. It’s going to be a New Year soon…. Can we start things off on the right foot and be open and honest?"

"About what?" C.C. tilted her head, tossing a few packages Lucas’s way.

"I want to tell him the truth." Lucas felt the whole room shaking as C.C.’s eyes drifted down towards the floor. "I want to face what ever his reaction is going to be…. I have no doubt he will not deny that summer any longer."

"Lucas…. Change the subject. I don’t want to deal with this now." C.C. rolled her eyes, looking towards her son.

"When… when are we going to deal with it? You can’t keep me in hidden corners forever, Mother! Are you ashamed of me?"

"What?" C.C. blinked, her jaw dropping.

"Answer the question." Lucas felt his heart starting to pound. "I’m the son of a servant who tossed me aside…. Are you ashamed of me?"

"No… Why would you ever think that?" C.C. touched his check. "After Sara’s death, you have been the one bright spot in my life."

"Mother….. You, Gram and Nick hid me away to keep me out of the ’Babcock’ games… but I know the real reason you hid me away."

"Why?" C.C. let out a long sigh.

"The same reason you had that break down outside of Maxwell Sheffield’s door when he picked his future wife inside instead of you… The same reason you turned away from him in England without much of a fight… Mother… Please I can’t live in the shadows anymore." Lucas felt his lower lip starting to tremble.

"When I told you everything, Tate… I said it was your choice…" C.C. pulled him into her arms. "I’m just scared on what he’s going to say… or… if he’ll even believe you."

"He’ll believe…." Lucas smiled. "Gram always says when you reach a dead end street all you need to do is turn around."

"Yeah…. Right…" C.C. let out a long sigh. "Get the rest of it together… we have to get moving." C.C. felt her knees grow weak at the fear of Lucas being rejected by Niles.

"Mother?" Lucas tilted his head. "Are you?"

"Alright… bend, but never break, remember?" C.C. took his hand. "Gram’s waiting get a move on, kiddo."

………………………………....................................................

Niles shook his head, mumbling to himself about this New Year’s Eve party Fran was throwing. "Oy, what’s the look for?" Fran walked up behind her old friend, grabbing one of the cookies.

"Mrs. Sheffield, you think Mister Sheffield would notice if I disappeared tonight for a few hours?" Niles was forming a plan in his head.

"Maybe. Why?" Fran blinked, looking at her old friend. "You going to entangle with cousin Sophie in the cellar or something?"

Niles let out a husky chuckle at that. "No… something far worse… Thank you for allowing me to send that invite."

"Oy, yer welcome, but I got a question for you… who is Lucas Morgan?" Fran blinked as Niles let out a groan.

"That is the question." Niles narrowed his eyes, looking at his cooking. "If I had an answer for you, Mrs. Sheffield… I would…"

"Still no word from the P.I.s?" Fran shook her head as Niles let out a grumble.

"No…" Niles let out a sigh. "Robert said to just face up to it." At that moment, Maxwell walked inside the kitchen, staring at Niles.

"You… You talked with Robert?" Maxwell was in shock, knowing the brothers hardly spoke since Niles’s failed engagement with Katherine.

"Yes, sir." Niles smirked, watching Maxwell’s face twist in shock.

"Is everything alright with Anna?" Maxwell pulled out a cup and poured his own coffee.

"Robert says she’s doing much better." Niles let out a long sigh. "I needed his advice on something…. Or someone."

Maxwell’s face twisted again, and he eyed Fran. "Well, old man. Will things be ready for tonight?"

"Yes, sir, the servers will all be here … so I better get a move on." Niles smirked, recalling how he had changed the time on C.C.’s invite so she would arrive an hour later than Lucas.

……………………………….........................................................

Lucas walked inside the Sheffield kitchen, shaking his head. "Hello?" He reread the invite.

Fran walked into the kitchen on time and did a double take, looking at the young man. "Well, hello there!"

Lucas bowed his head. "Hello….I was…" He blinked as the black haired woman put a few boxes in his arms.

"Be a doll, take those down stairs to the wine cellar before ya get in your uniform." Fran smirked, pushing on the young man’s back as Lucas headed downstairs. Fran took another look before shutting the door behind him. "Oy…"

Lucas turned quickly and put the boxes down, trying to open the door. The handle looked new but seemed to be jammed somehow. "I wouldn’t try that, young man." Niles’s voice filled the wine cellar, and Lucas let out a loud laugh.

"You planned this." Lucas smirked, shaking his head at Niles. "Okay, Mister Butler… you have my attention… what can I do for you?"

"Who are you?" Niles narrowed his eyes, feeling his hands starting to ball into fists. "Don’t tell me Lucas Morgan… I heard an hour ago that…"

"Lucas Morgan died when he was eighteen and quite some time ago." Lucas started to dig in his back pocket. "What else did you find out?" He tilted his head as Niles blushed.

"Nothing…"

"Nothing? I’m rather disappointed in you." Lucas waved his index finger towards Niles. "My name is really Lucas."

"Lucas…..What?" Niles was getting rather annoyed at this young man.

"You should really sit down, Mister Butler. Such news isn’t good for a man with a history of…"

"Just SPIT IT OUT!" Niles growled, and a moment later Lucas let out another soft husky laugh that sounded like… C.C.’s.

"Babcock." Lucas smirked, watching Niles do a double take.

"So you’re Noel’s son?"

"Wrong answer! Thanks for playing." Lucas shook his head. "I’m not D.D.’s son either… nor am I some love child of Stuart Babcock’s."

"Who…who…" Niles sank to the floor as Lucas let out a sigh.

"I’m the ghost of summer’s best forgotten." Lucas joined him on the floor. "Since you have cornered me, Mister Butler… or should I say.. Niles, it’s time for you to answer some of my questions, and in turn… I will answer some of yours." He winked as Niles let out a small groan.

It took him long, painful moments before Niles started to feel his heart beat in his chest again. "Is C.C. your mother?"

"Yes… although at times, she would be ashamed to admit it!" Lucas’s voice had a light playful tone. "We have a rather odd relationship, but that’s a long story."

"Who is your fath….er…" Niles felt his teeth chatter as Lucas let out another laugh.

"Well, if I had a cigar I would be handing you one right now, Niles." He winked and reached for the medal hanging around his neck. "Sorry about the mark I put in it." He pointed out a small scratch on the front. "Happened when I was playing hockey."

"You sent it!" Niles looked down at his medal and then back up at the young man. "How… How do I know your telling the truth?"

"If you need me to take a blood test to prove I’m your son then… I will." Lucas narrowed his eyes looking at Niles.

"Bloody hell… I can’t wrap my head around any of this." Niles rubbed his hands in his hair. "If you ARE who you say you are… why wouldn’t she tell me?"

"Four words Niles… The Summer didn’t happen." Lucas let out a long sigh.

"You could be Lord Charles’ son for all I know." Niles let out a hiss.

"Only if a miracle happened." Lucas let out a snicker. "Mother didn’t sleep with Lord Charles, but Aunt D.D. did."

"D.D.?" Niles tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

"It would be best if another explained." Lucas pulled something else out of his wallet. "I’ve been searching for the right time to tell at least one of you, but since now I’ve outted my self..."

Niles looked at the sheet of paper and recognized his father’s writing. "You… you talked with my father?" He blinked. looking back up at Lucas.

"I needed answers…. I needed to know what happened!" Lucas couldn’t help but let out a small snarl. "I wanted to know every detail. Because…. I …"

Niles frowned. looking down at the letter. "I…I…"

"I’m telling you the truth, Niles." Lucas let out a long sigh. "It will take time to sink in."

Niles felt his head throb in pain, looking at his father’s letter again. It had all be some cruel cosmic joke played on him and C.C. Niles closed his eyes once more trying to picture her face and let out a soft whimper.

Lucas tilted his head, watching Niles twist and turn with doubt and dread. "Niles?" He finally had to end the hour long silence between them. "Please listen to me… I know you still care, and she still cares for you."

"How… how was she able to keep you away from the world all these years?"

"Neglect became our ally." Lucas smirked, tilting his head. "Only one person ever found out about me until now."

"Who?" Niles narrowed his eyes.

"Sara Sheffield." Lucas leaned back again a few boxes letting out a long sigh.

"Mrs. Sheffield?" Niles rubbed his head again. "She would have told me!"

"Remember, you and Mother didn’t tell the Sheffields about that summer romance." Lucas shook his head slowly. "Aunt Sara was shocked to find me in the condo."

"What … what did she do?"

"She kept visiting us." Lucas looked in his wallet once more. "She wanted to bring her children, but mother was so over protective of me." He pulled out a photo of a smiling C.C. and Sara playing with a young Lucas. "I think one day, Sara started asking questions at last about my ‘father’." Lucas narrowed his eyes at Niles, who was staring at the photo. "You can keep it."

"Thank you." Niles blushed. "I’m still not sure if I believe this… but go on."

"One day Aunt Sara stopped coming over… I heard a huge fight a few days before and Mother crying…. Then next thing I knew…. I was shipped off to Gram’s for a few days, because..."

"Mrs. Sheffield had passed away." Niles lowered his head, wondering what Sara had found out from C.C.

"Mother still won’t talk about the fight. She cuts me off every time I ask about her disagreement with Sara."

"How did she keep you hidden away for so long? You still haven’t answered my question, young man." Niles narrowed his eyes as Lucas nodded.

"Well that was a tag team effort… I, in truth, was raised by a group of people." Lucas smirked. "Nick, Gram, Tish and Mother all had a hand in keeping me away from any media… and keeping me away from the ‘Babcock’ life."

"They all kept you away from me, as well." Niles felt anger enter his heart.

"Don’t…"

"Don’t what?" Niles looked back up into Lucas’s smirking face.

"Do not blame the actions of an eighteen year old woman… she was pushed away and frightened…. Do not blame any of them… If she had shown up on your doorstep a few years ago with me in tow… could you? Would you have believed her?"

Niles felt his lower lip trembling as Lucas found a knife in a box. He reached up, cutting his pony tail.

"Here… test it…" Lucas smirked, looking into Niles’s eyes. "You can’t beat good, old DNA." He winked as the door opened up.

"I…" Niles looked up as Lucas made his quick exit as Fran walked down stairs.

"Oy… Niles, you look awful! What did he do to you? Is it your heart?" She reached her old friend as Niles stood up slowly.

"I’m not sure, Mrs. Sheffield… It will take some time to digest all of this." Niles placed the young man’s pony tail and his father’s letter in his pocket.

"Well, let’s get ya back upstairs! Maxwell is having a fit looking for you."

……………………………….........................................

C.C. let out a long sigh, smiling at Chandler. "Well, I didn’t think you would accept."

"Now, we both agreed to behave." Chandler winked as Maxwell walked up, handing him a glass. "Maxwell! Nice to see you, again." Chandler reached out, taking Maxwell’s hand. "Congratulations on the baby!"

"Thank you." Maxwell blushed and made his way towards Fran and a pale Niles.

"Wonder what’s wrong with Niles." Chandler held onto a wavering C.C. "Are you alright?"

"Worried…" C.C.’s mind started to flash back when Niles collapsed in her arms. "He must be ill… or slacking off on the job."

"Why don’t you two just come out and tell one another how you feel?" Chandler narrowed his eyes, looking into her soft face.

"Why don’t I just throw myself in the road and allow a few cars to run me down?" C.C. took a glass of wine off one of the waiter’s tray and gulped half of it down. "Stay out of it, Chandler."

"C.C….. " Chandler reached out, touching her cheek. "I just want to see you happy."

"So you broke up with me via a letter?"

"Do you really want to revisit old wounds, C.C.?" Chandler narrowed his eyes, taking her towards the back of the room. "You know it was a little bit more than just your pressure."

"I make one mistake…" C.C. snickered, taking a rather large gulp of the wine.

"It was a rather large mistake, calling out his name while making love to me!" Chandler tried his best to put a teasing tone in his voice. "Even now, your eyes are scanning the room. You want to know if he’s alright."

"I have to go…" C.C. put down the glass, heading towards the stairs.

"To see him, no doubt." Chandler let out a playful grumble, shaking his head.

………………………………................................................................

"Niles? Are you alright, old man?" Maxwell helped him inside the small room and placed him on the bed. "You look bloody awful."

"Thank you, sir." Niles let out a long sigh. "I think… I’m coming down with something, that’s all."

"Do you want us to call a doctor?" Fran felt his forehead.

"No… No." Niles waved them both off. "I’ll be fine."

"You do feel rather warm." Fran turned her eyes towards Maxwell.

"That means you shouldn’t be around me." Niles waved them both off and closed the door. He wanted to embrace sleep as the weight came crashing down on his heart. "Dear God! What did I do…?" He let out a quiet sob, trying to embrace the feeling of longing for her that had destroyed his other relationships in the past. He loved C.C. and hated her…

"Niles? Are you going to get off your ass sometime this week?" C.C. knocked at his door, and Niles did his best to gather back his strength.

He opened the door, looking into those beautiful blue eyes. "You would know something about sitting on your ass, Miss Babcock, or lying on your back." He let out a snicker trying to gather up his strength once more.

"Niles…" C.C. force tenderness in her voice. "Are you alright?"

"No… I’m not alright." His whole body ached as C.C. leaned against the doorway. "Can we drop our little act for one moment?"

"Drop what act, Niles?" C.C. crossed her arms as Niles shut his door behind her, backing C.C. up against it. "What are you doing?" She felt her body shiver as Niles kept her trapped.

"How many wasted years…" Niles mumbled, reaching out touching her cheek. "How many nights have I wanted to drag you up here." His hands found that small tender spot on her back, and he kissed her lips.

C.C. felt drunk with desire. The mixture of wine and desire made her head spin. "I….I…can’t do this again." She pushed him away, her face blushing.

Niles felt like shouting out about Lucas… telling her everything that happened just an hour ago. "Miss Babcock?" He blinked as C.C. made good her escape. Niles let out a long sigh, pulling out the picture once more.

……………………………….............................

"Gram!" Lucas walked inside the condo, laughing. "I did it, Gram!" He called out again, stopping at Nick’s stone face. "Nick….. What’s wrong…?" He blinked, looking at the man’s teary eyes.

"I… I’ve been trying to call you and C.C. for the past hour." Nick’s lower lip started to tremble. "I…I..."

Tish walked out, drying her own tears. "O… Lucas…"

"Where’s Gram?" Lucas felt his heart beat heavy in his chest.

"I’m… sorry, Tate." Nick’s large hand reached the young man’s shoulders, pulling him into a bear hug. "I’m so sorry."

……………………………….........................

C.C. moved quickly outside, eyeing Chandler. "You know, you’re the last person I need right now." She let out a groan but blinked. "What?"

"We need to get going." Chandler waved a hand towards his limo.

"Chandler, I’m not going anywhere with… What’s wrong? Did Lucas do something stupid?"

"No…" Chandler felt his face redden. "Chastity, we have to go."

C.C. felt ice enter her veins. "What’s going on, Chandler?" She entered the limo feeling her face drain of color. Chandler never called her by her first name. She felt the tender pull of his hand.

"Lucas called…." He let out a long sigh as the limo door closed. "C.C… It’s Lucy."

"What about Gram?" C.C. let out a long whimper as Chandler took her in his arms. "Chandler?" She pushed him away, her eyes full of rage. "You better tell me what the hell is going on."

"She’s gone, C.C." Chandler frowned as C.C. let out a whimper. "Let it go… Please…"

C.C. let out something between a snarl and a whimper. She had always had two sides to her soul. The Babcock side told her not to give into grief, but the side that Lucy Babcock had fostered over the years finally gave in as C.C. let out a painful cry. For years, her whole world had been Gram’s words of wisdom but now a light had gone out in her heart… much as it did when Sara died.

"Let it go… C.C." Chandler held her tight in his arms as C.C. wished it was another holding her tight and offering her comfort.

……………………………….............................................

Nick let out a long sigh, looking at his wife. "Did you tell the children to stay away?" He smirked as Tish nodded her head slowly. "Stuart wanted this… Lucy would have killed him for having any kind of funeral and burying her next to, John Babcock."

"He’s her son." Tish touched her husband’s arm.

"He better be more than that… Lucy once told me that wills bring out the worst in the Babcock clan." Nick let out a groan as Lucas walked in the living room. "Tate." He smiled noticing the young man’s short haircut and the fact he was now clean shaven.

"Take a picture. It will last longer, Nick." Lucas let out a snarl, taking the soda Tish offered.

"Your mother about ready?" Nick narrowed his eyes

"She’s trying to find her best suit of armor now." Lucas let out a half hearted laugh. "What’s in her will anyway that has you so worried?"

"You know Lucy’s temper." Nick let out a long sigh.

"Not really… I know her loving nature… so what’s she going to do?" Lucas smirked as Nick rolled his eyes. "It should be interesting anyway!"

"Your mother isn’t taking this well." Tish whispered, putting her hand on Lucas’s shoulder.

"No… she’s not." Lucas felt his gut twist. "She needs …. him…"

C.C. let out a long sigh, pulling out a small picture of Niles holding her tight. Her eyes drifted towards the picture of C.C. as a little girl being held by Gram. The small note had been placed in her bedroom days before.

Chastity,

C.C. closed her eyes holding the note close to her heart. "Mom? Are you ready to go?" Lucas leaned inside the doorway, smiling.

"I’m ready! Let’s go face hellfire and brimstone together." C.C. stood up and watched Lucas gasp. "What?"

"Did you just admit to being a witch?" Lucas couldn’t help his playful laughter now.

"Don’t start with me." She shook her head as Lucas smirked.

"Well no matter what happens, Mother… you’ll always have me." Lucas took her arm, smiling. "Soon you’ll have more than just me… if I can help it." He mumbled softly under his breath, leading her out of the dark room.

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