This one goes out to Malu and KathyB! Again The characters don't belong to me.

The Long Summer

Part one of three

by

Ceniana
(Ceniana@gmail.com)

First class was always the way to go on long airline trips. The long, soft cover make her feel all flushed with joy thinking about a pair of soft hands rubbing her legs and holding her tight. Sara blushed thinking about Maxwell in her present state was always rather dangerous. They had been married less than a year and had been traveling back and forth from London to New York… He was at last heading to Broadway with a play. She was also going to meet some of the characters in his life. Niles the butler and his childhood friend came to mind… his mother also hovered in the background, causing her stomach to twist into knots.

C.C. felt her stomach turning over while sitting in the plane. Sara reached out her hand towards her young friend. "Are you worried about Oxford?" Sara smiled kindly towards a frowning C.C.

"You heard mother…" C.C. shivered remembering her mother’s first approving glance at her. She was always fighting for her parent’s attention. Noel was always the smartest, and D.D. was the pretty gem, but C.C. was always fighting for any scraps she could get. This chance to study in London for the summer came as a surprise, and at first B.B. wasn’t going to allow her seventeen year old daughter to attend. "Thank you for telling mommy you would watch out for me."

Sara smiled but shifted touching her stomach. "Well, Maxwell had to close down his London home and offices." Sara smiled, reaching up to touch C.C.’s hair. "I don‘t understand why your mother thinks you‘ll do something foolish."

C.C. rolled her eyes trying to recall the countless number of times her mother had called her foolish. This last time came when C.C. told of her desire to attend college at Bryn Mawr. "I’m not mother’s golden child that’s for damn sure."

"You could stay with Maxwell and I rather than Oxford." Sara felt a rush of guilt over take her. She knew B.B. Babcock had kept C.C. on a short leash but feared what the summer of ‘freedom’ might do.

"I’m not made of clay, Sara… If I didn’t know better, I could swear you were my mother." C.C. let out a husky giggling and touched Sara’s pregnant belly. "Well, I guess in six months you will be."

"Max has promised me we will be back in New York before the baby is born." Sari gushed letting out a playful sigh.

C.C. leaned back in her first class seat feeling her heart pound. "Sara…"

"Yes C.C.?" Sara could hear the dread in her young friend’s voice. "What’s wrong?"

"I just would rather not be ‘C.C. Babcock’ for at least one summer." C.C. turned her head, and Sara could see the mischief in her eyes. "I think ‘Claire Morgan’ will do." C.C. giggled seeing Sara’s face twist in pain.

"So you are going to use your Grandmother’s maiden name… C.C. I don’t know if…"

"Sara…" C.C. groaned, letting out a soft sigh. "For once, will you just live a little? This is the first time I get my chance away from B.B." C.C. rolled her eyes, letting out a huge sigh. "I would rather walk in different shoes."

"C.C….. It’s lying." Sara felt her heart pound.

"It’s a half truth… what could go wrong?" C.C. pulled on the cover, smiling. "My middle name is Claire. "

"It’s still a ‘lie’. Are you going to use this cover while at Oxford?"

"Grandmother already arranged it because of other issues." C.C. sighed and Sara more rolled her eyes at her younger friend. "It’s just they don’t’ want anyone to know I’m in England studying."

"Yeah right… What did your grandmother say about using that name with friends?" Sara snickered as she hugged the small airline pillow. "Grandmother doesn’t like the Babcock games."

"She’s not the only one." Sara mumbled under her breath but then tilted her head thinking. "You know, maybe this chance away from your parents…"

"What?" C.C. blinked looking at Sara’s eyes.

"Your grandmother once told me that a stack of half truths can have someone believe one lie." Sara had always admired C.C.’s paternal grandmother. "You have to be honest and open with people, C.C."

"For once, I want a chance to see something more than what my mother has planed for me. I want a chance to live life under my own terms." C.C. looked at the magazine, letting out a sigh.

"How many half truths are you willing to tell someone in order to hide the fact you’re an heiress?"

"I just want this one chance." C.C. found her eyes full of tears, and Sara let out a groan. "Please Sara…"

"I’m going to regret this, aren’t I? Maxwell will never go along with this."

"Well… I’ll be in classes all day, and you’ll be the only one checking up on me, so?" C.C. purred touching her friend’s hand. "Say yes."

"Yes." Sara mumbled, shaking her head.

"I’m going to rather enjoy the next three months without mother telling me I’m a disappointment… hearing about Noel’s grades… or about D.D.’s beauty." C.C. felt a peace wash over her face.

"Yeah…" Sara opened up the magazine burying her face inside.

"Come on let me have some fun Sara." C.C. pulled the magazine away from her friend. "You only live once."

"That’s the reason someone needs to be truthful with people… Never mind. I keep on forgetting your mother’s motto… Never tell a person more than they need to know." Sara snickered, shaking her head.

"Just play along with me." C.C. leaned back in her chair, wishing Sara would have allowed her just one drink.

"No… I will not order you one." Sara hissed, reading her friend’s mind.

"Chicken." C.C. smirked letting out a long sigh.

"Why don’t you try and sleep, C.C." Sara took C.C.’s thin blanket, pulling it over her, tucking her in more like a protective mother.

"Yes, Mommy…" C.C. let out a husky chuckle as Sara rolled her eyes.

"You are going to be a handful aren’t you?" Sara groaned, closing her eyes. "I already have one ‘child’ on the way."

"Sara, lighten up and let me enjoy my one summer of freedom." C.C. pulled out her piece of paper, wondering what she should write her grandmother. She let out a long sigh, turning her head towards the outside window, watching the clouds rush by. C.C. felt her heart beat heavy knowing every second took her away from all the games, lies, expectations. "Freedom." C.C. mumbled the word, feeling her pulse race. It was better than any liquor she had stolen from her father’s desk.

Sara let out a long sigh remembering B.B.’s dirty look towards C.C.’s carefree spirit. Sara groaned trying to put the image out of her mind and allowed her mind to remember Grandmother Babcock’s words. *"She needs time to learn, and to test her own wings."* Sara let out a sigh, praying quietly to herself. *"Please… let her not end up like B.B."*

"Are you listening to me?" C.C. pushed once more on her friend, grumbling. "I have a full day tomorrow, so if you want to rush off to Maxwell’s arms….. I can take care of myself."

"You’ve been doing that all your life… can’t I practice my mothering skills on you?" Sara winked and let out a laugh.

"You’ll be getting enough practice in just a handful of months." C.C. hissed, wishing her coke had a little rum in it.

"C.C., I’m seriously worried about your choices." Sara rolled her eyes. "Is this just another game to you? You get to spend the next few months pretending to be someone else…. And this doesn’t worry you?"

"Life is a game." C.C. let out a laugh.

"Alright…. Play your games." Sara sighed, giving in. "I don’t want to see anyone get hurt, and believe it or not, that includes you."

"I’m as hard as steel." C.C. repeated her mother’s words.

"You say it, but I wonder if you really mean that….Claire." Sara rolled her eyes, trying to settle back down.

"Again, lighten up." C.C. giggled, and Sara couldn’t help but smile.

"I will try and have some faith in you, C.C."

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

Maxwell was smiling, putting on his best causal clothes. "Now, Niles?" He turned as his old friend walked inside the room. "Do you really wish to take a few classes at Oxford this year, old man?"

"Sir… I know you’ll be busy this summer with your plays and transferring the household from London to New York… It’s never too late to learn new tricks." Niles felt his heart race.

"Feeling a little restless, old man?" Maxwell frowned, noticing Niles nod slowly.

"Pardon me for saying this, sir, but a man needs a change in his life every once in a while." Niles smiled, watching Maxwell’s face nod with understanding.

"You’ll still come to New York with Sara and me, old man?" Maxwell watched Niles for a moment, wondering if he was going to loose him.

"Why would I miss such an adventure?" Niles winked and noticed Maxwell’s relieved face. "So should we expect Mrs. Sheffield’s friend to be staying with us while she’s here?"

"Sara wanted her to, old man." Maxwell grumbled, picking up the folder, wondering what the next set of figures would bring. "She comes from a fairly wealthy family."

"Yeah. Who doesn’t come from one of ‘those’ families?" Niles rolled his eyes and walked out of the room. He had been saving enough money for the past few months for this chance at freedom from the every day. Maxwell had offered to pay for his courses. Niles walked into his room looking at the textbooks with pride.

*Ring! Ring! Ring!*

"Hello?" Niles picked up the receiver, letting out a sigh.

"Niles!" Edward Butler’s voice was heavy and clear. "You still intend to go tomorrow?"

Niles let out a soft groan. "Yes, Father."

"Niles, it is not appropriate for a man in your position."

"Father, I have already paid for my courses, and Mister Sheffield has already given his permission."

"You should let go of such childish dreams, Niles, and isn’t it time you settled down with someone?"

"You are sounding like mother." Niles let out a groan, pulling off his jacket.

"Your mother is right, Son… I would start thinking about your future and letting go of childish dreams." Edward let out a long sigh. "We are both worried about you."

"I’ll be fine, Dad… Listen, I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow…. I will see you and Mother Sunday." Niles let out a groan as he hung up the phone. He wanted so much more from his life than to walk in his father’s footsteps. His dreams about becoming a banister had been pushed aside to make his parents happy. "Maybe I am chasing dreams." Niles sighed, putting his watch on the books.

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

C.C. let out a sigh, looking at the small college room. It wasn’t much, but to her it was everything. "You could stay with Max and me." Sara let out another worried groan.

"To me, this is perfect." C.C. put down her bags, looking at Sara. "I’ll be alright here."

"Mrs. Sheffield, Mister Sheffield is expecting you within the hour." The driver had brought up the last of C.C.’s bags. "I was ordered not to be late with such a ..."

"Are you sure, Claire?" Sara took her hand smiling. "You could join Maxwell and me for dinner, at least."

"I want to go exploring. I have a fairly interesting class tomorrow that starts out in the Tate." C.C. felt her stomach bubble with joy. "I’ll be fine!"

"I’m going to check up on you from time to time… I promised your mother that I would watch after you like a hawk."

"Well… you can’t top her growling snarl, and don’t try, Sara… It’s not you." C.C. winked, and Sara let out a laugh. "I’m a Babcock, darling….we are made of steel." C.C. pulled out a few of her clothes and placed the text books on the desk.

"Steel can melt you know."

"So my grandmother tells me." C.C. groaned, shaking her head. She gave Sara a rather large push out of the door laughing. "I promise, at least for tonight, I am going to sleep in and enjoy some quiet time."

"You … enjoy quiet time? Yeah, like I’m going to believe that." Sara snickered, handing her a piece of paper. "That has Max’s office phone and the house phone…. If you need anything day or night."

"Yes, Mommy." C.C. giggled, waving her hand. "Tell Maxwell I said hi!"

C.C. turned around, looking at the small room again. It had one small TV, and the bed wasn’t a queen size. C.C. let out a sigh, pulling out a few more of her clothes. She had carried a radio along and some other items. C.C. grumbled, pulling out a picture of her family, looking at it, her parents standing stern behind the three children. Noel was tall and had rippling muscles. D.D. was smiling brightly like a star, and then herself in the background fading. C.C. pulled out the frame, and tossed it in the closet. She stopped, grabbing her grandmother’s picture and placed it on her desk. "Well… Well, one reminder of home can’t hurt." C.C. pulled out the small brown bear, smiling. It had been her only birthday gift one year from her Grandmother, and since then, she went everywhere with it. C.C. blinked hearing the telephone ring.

"Hello, my dear, did you get in alright?"

"Grandma?" C.C. let out a cry of joy. "How did you get this number and so fast!?"

"It’s amazing what an old woman can do." The woman let out a playful husky laugh that made C.C. break out into a fit of giggles. "Did you mind Sara on the way over?"

"Yes, but I’m not staying with them. Was that your idea Grandmother?" C.C. couldn’t help but snicker.

"No, but it’s good for you to test those wings of yours, but be careful my dear."

"I’ve heard all this from Sara." C.C. let out a soft grumble. "I’ll make sure I only damage half of London while I’m here."

"Silly girl, I’m not worried about London…" The woman let out another laugh. "I’m worried about my morning star."

C.C. felt her cheeks grow flush, thinking about the nick name her grandmother had given her since a little girl. "Gran… I promise… I’ll come back in one piece."

"Well… I’ll be heading there next month, young lady. Make sure to paint the town red for me at least once before I get there."

"Alright Gran… Is it late there?"

"Late enough, and now, my little star, enjoy your stay… write often!"

C.C. smiled, hanging up the phone and looking at the ceiling. "Freedom…" She wrapped herself in her arms, enjoying a rather quiet night.

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

Niles was already ten minutes late racing across town to meet the next class. He let out a long sigh, walking towards the Tate Museum. The note was clear, but Niles already felt like some silly school boy. Niles tilted his head, and entered a small room. He sat down quickly next to a blonde headed woman. *No… she’s nothing but a girl.* "What did I miss?" Niles leaned in whispering softly.

C.C. felt her heart stop, turning her head. "Not much if you call his earlier childhood ‘important.’" C.C. rolled her eyes playfully and watched the man’s eyes light up with mischief.

"So, we are somewhere around the hundred years war then?" Niles smirked and watched the young woman fight a fit of giggles.

"Close… War of 1812." She winked, smiling at him. "Claire Morgan."

"Niles Butler, and you’re from the States?" Niles took her hand, kissing it softly as the professor went on with his earlier works.

"State of denial, State of grace…." C.C. smiled as Niles let out a soft laugh. They both quieted down to listen to the lecture. Niles felt strange looking from the teacher back towards the young woman. Her long blonde locks were pushed back into a long braid, and the deep blue eyes matched his own.

"Now, look at the person beside you… They are going to be your partner for the next few months during this course. Get to know them, ladies and gentlemen; your grade will depend on them." The elder man waved his hand at the tables.

Niles turned smiling at her. "Well, Miss Claire, my honor is in your hands."

"I would rather be in your hands, Mister Butler. It looks like they can handle anything." Claire let out a playful laugh, watching his face turn red.

"You are a dangerous woman, Miss Claire." Niles narrowed his eyes, smiling.

"Just Claire, and danger is my middle name." C.C. rather liked this charming man. The class soon stood up as the man was introducing them to the museum.

"Your job here with your partner… is to go over one piece in the museum and unlock everything about it…. That paper will be your only grade." The elder man waved his hand around the museum. "The paper must be in detail with all forms of art criticism. You mustn’t forget your own personal view, but remember that view can be…. Wrong. If your paper is wrong… then your grade will be… let’s just say… wrong?" The man let out a deep chuckle. "Everything you can come up with…. For your paper will need to be one hundred pages. My lectures will help guide your paper, and once the term is over, you will turn it in."

Niles felt his insides groan and looked towards his young partner. "We will need to depend on one another, it seems."

*"Babcocks depend on no one."* C.C. forced her mother’s words aside. She was no Babcock here in England. "I don’t bite….. Well, not much anyway."

"Well now, as long as we keep you well fed …I should be safe." Niles smirked as the professor released them. Niles grumbled, looking at piece after piece, not liking any of the modern artwork. "They all look like …Claire?" Niles turned around to find the young woman studying a piece of black stone.

C.C. wanted to reach out and touch the curves of the black statue. She pictured the flames once she was able to make out the wing in the middle of the blackness. "Can you see it, Niles?"

Niles at first was unsure what his young partner was looking at, but his eyes followed hers, seeing the bird’s wing. The faint hint of a fallen bird. "What is it?" Niles stood behind her mesmerized.

"Phoenix, but I can’t tell if it’s being born….or dying." C.C. stood for a moment and then walked around the huge statue, running off another group.

Niles let out a long sigh. "That is the question isn’t it?"

"I wonder why the artist used black." C.C. let out a huge sigh, shaking her head.

"Claire?" Niles grumbled, looking at his watch. "Do you wish to do the paper over this statue?"

"Yes, please." C.C. felt her heart jump. Something about phoenixes always held a special place in her heart. "You think it is a symbol of darkness, the use of black stone?"

"You darkness, that I come from, I love you more than all the fires that fence in the world, for the fire makes a circle of light for everyone, and no one outside learns of you." Niles felt his heart beating remembering the lines he had read only a few nights ago.

"But the darkness pulls in everything; shapes and fires, animals and myself, how easily it gathers them!… powers and people…. And it is possible a great energy is moving near me…. I have faith in nights…" C.C. smiled as she met the man’s eyes. Her grandmother had an odd love for the poet Rilke.

"Maybe the artist wanted to make his or her own version of a phoenix." Niles let out another long sigh as the elder man signaled the end of the session. "I have another class in two hours… would you like a cup of coffee, Claire?"

"Why Mister Butler….. Thank you, but…" C.C. let out a long sigh. "Well, why the hell not."

Niles laughed, taking her hand. The both sat down in the museum’s small café. "You read poetry?"

"My Grandmother is a fan of the poet. She’s always telling me pearls of wisdom." C.C. snickered but then laughed. "Her father would always read something poetic while shoveling out the stables."

Niles smirked, remembering his own mother filling his head with knowledge. She would go room to room, cleaning the Sheffield household, telling him the tales of Homer, Shakespeare, or a number of wise men. "My mother would often continue my schooling outside of the classroom. She would always remind me that life lessons are not always found in a text book."

"Your mother and my grandmother should meet one day." C.C. let out a husky laugh. "No doubt they could keep one another entertained."

"No doubt." Niles let out a laugh and then a rather long sigh. "Duty calls, Miss Morgan." Niles stood up, taking her hand. "Now if you need help with anything while you are in my fair country…"

"I’ll know who to turn to." C.C. winked, watching Niles walk off. She soon tilted her head as a black headed man took Niles’s place. She then flashed back to her mother’s dinner party a few months ago. "Hello, Lord Charles." C.C. felt her mouth twist in pain.

"Well my dear… I didn’t know you were in London! Why didn’t your mother call and tell me?" He was everything a woman would want from a man. He was from royal stock, rich, but completely jerkish. "I would love to show you the city!"

"The way you show my mother the city?" C.C. snickered, standing up and gathering her text book. "No thanks, Lordship."

"Now, my dear, there is no reason for you to be rude to me." Charles made a face, and C.C. let out a hiss. "I’m just your mother’s friend, nothing more."

C.C. shivered, recalling her last night before leaving. C.C. let out a groan, remembering her father’s screams, and her mother throwing an expensive vase towards her father’s head. "Yeah, right, and I’m a exotic dancer."

"You could be, my dear." He reached out taking her arm, and C.C. let out a huge hiss.

"You touch me again, and I’ll make sure my mother is disappointed next time you have a friendly ‘run in’ with her." C.C. smirked watching him release her. "Good day, Lord Charles."

C.C let out a sigh, getting on the bus back towards school. She let out a soft giggle, wondering what her mother would say about her use of ‘public’ transportation. C.C. looked at her watch, wondering if she was going to make her lunch with Maxwell and Sara. "She’ll kill me if I’m late."

Sara had chosen a café near the school to meet with C.C. She let out a long sigh as Maxwell gave her a look. "She’s a grown woman, Darling."

"So you say, Max." Sara took a sip of water, shaking her head. "Her mother keeps her on such a short leash… I’m just worried."

"Now Sara, what trouble could she possibly find here. You were the one that told me this was a stuffy old place." Maxwell smirked, and Sara let out a playful giggle.

"Max?" Sara reached up touching his chin.

"Yes, Darling?" Maxwell closed his eyes enjoying his wife’s touch.

"We ran into one another in London." Sara let out a giggle as C.C. placed her textbooks on the table.

"Sorry, I’m rather late." C.C. sighed, looking at Sara, and Maxwell’s looks. "We could do this another time?" C.C. couldn’t help herself letting out a husky laugh at their playful nature.

"I’m sorry C.C." Maxwell blushed, looking towards Sara’s young friend. "I was wondering, C.C., if you wouldn’t mind… helping out in the afternoons you are free?" Maxwell had used C.C. before during an off Broadway production in New York.

"Afraid of going over budget, Maxwell?" C.C. let out an evil laugh, and Sara gave her a look. "No… I am not acting like B.B. Now, stop it."

"You sure sound like a Babcock, and not a ‘Morgan’" Sara rolled her eyes. "I told Maxwell about your ‘little’ game."

"I should have taken an ad out in the Times then." C.C. snickered as the waiter took her order.

"I see the sense in it as long as no one get’s hurt." Maxwell narrowed his eyes at C.C. and she once more let out a groan.

"No one is going to get hurt." C.C. mumbled, drinking her ice tea.

"How was your first class?" Sara reached over, taking a book out of C.C.’s stack.

"It was rather entertaining." C.C. kept on staring at the ice tea, thinking about the statue and her new partner. "I have a few classes later today, and of course, they’ll pile up the work."

"So, will you have free time for a job then?" Maxwell narrowed his eyes at the young woman.

"Yes Maxwell…" C.C. groaned thinking about school work and then real work piled up on top of that. "I’ll make time to make sure your plays don’t go over budget while I’m here."

"He has some really cute looking actors in his play." Sara pushed on C.C.’s arm, but the girl shook her head.

"I’m here for one thing, and that’s to learn."

"What about the fun you were going to have this summer?" Sara tilted her head, wondering if C.C. was up to something.

"Ooo, no doubt I’ll have ‘Fun’" C.C. winked, and Sara let out a groan, looking at Maxwell.

"She’ll be an official adult, Sara, in only a few weeks." Maxwell smirked, looking at his young wife.

"Yeah, but don’t tell my mother that back home." C.C. let out a hiss. "No doubt my run in today with Lord Charles was her doing."

"Lord Charles?" Maxwell and Sara both turned towards C.C. with questions on their faces.

"Someone my… Never mind." C.C. felt her cheeks start to flush. "Let me order." C.C. let out a long sigh, waving towards the waiter.

"You’re taking math courses?" Sara let out a groan, closing the text book. "I don’t know how you do it."

"I’m dragging your wife back to college next year, Maxwell, after that kid is born." C.C. winked towards a smiling Maxwell.

"If Sara wants to." Maxwell kissed Sara’s hand, and C.C. let out a soft sigh.

"Okay, let’s eat. I have a long day ahead of me."

"C.C., I promised your grandmother I would see you every day." Sara narrowed her eyes at C.C.

"So we will all have a lunch date every day." C.C. snickered. "So I don’t have to be locked up somewhere doing research."

"This coming from a girl that was stealing her father’s liquor bottles at age twelve." Sara let out a soft giggle and noticed C.C. let out a groan. "What’s wrong?"

"Yeah… well… my problems and what I left behind can wait." C.C. didn’t want to bring up the subject about her parents… at least, not yet. "Let’s just say, I left a mess back home."

"Can’t be any worse than mine, C.C." Maxwell gave her a cheerful smile.

"Maybe that, and then some." C.C. smiled as the waiter delivered the lunch.

C.C. sat and fought back yawns during her history of European culture class and rather enjoyed her finance classes. She was shocked to discover the same blonde haired, blue eyed man that was in her earlier class in her ethics class. "Well Niles, are you following me?"

"Now Claire, If I was going to follow you … I doubt they would allow me near Saint Peter’s heavenly gates." Niles winked as she sat down next to him. "How has it been so far?"

"Full and tiresome." C.C. let out a long sigh, putting down all her school books. "What does a gentleman like you need ethics for?"

"You never know when it might come in handy." Niles winked as the woman walked into the room. Niles tilted his head, watching the woman scan the room. "This one is going to be trouble." Niles hissed under his breath.

"I like trouble." C.C. let out a giggle that sounded oddly like Sara’s. "Trouble means life is never dull."

"I have a feeling you’re a handful back home." Niles winked as the woman instructed the class to start reading along with her. Niles found his eyes drifting back towards his female friend. She had to be at least nineteen or maybe twenty. *She’s younger than Mrs. Sheffield at least.* Niles pushed all thoughts out of his head, trying to remain focused on the page.

C.C. grumbled, looking at a section on ethics, feeling that she should send the page to her mother back home. Her stomach jumped and twisted on the lunch she had inhaled. "I’m trying to decide if this class was such a good idea." C.C. mumbled to her classmate.

"Did you get enough ethics lessons at home?" Niles tilted his head, and C.C. fought back a laugh.

"Not exactly." C.C. tried her best to control her lower lip. "One man’s ethics is another man’s sin." C.C. wasn’t sure where she had heard that one. *Grandmother?* she snickered to herself, trying to recall.

"I suppose you are right in a way, but ..." Niles wasn’t sure of a good comeback to her statement, and narrowed his eyes at the young woman. "Miss Morgan, I don’t think anyone has ever had me at a loss of words before."

"What’s wrong? Never even kissed a girl?" C.C. let out a playful laugh.

"That goes far beyond a loss of words my, dear." Niles winked at the playful young woman.

"Maybe, but it’s one way to make a clever man weak at the knees." C.C. looked towards the instructor trying to focus on the class rather than Niles for a moment.

"There are many ways to make a clever lady feel weak and speechless, as well." Niles snickered as he joined her move, trying to work on something other than his young friend.

C.C. wanted to roll her eyes several times at the instructor. *Grandmother could teach this course.* She held back several snickers about the difference of truth and lie. *They should have to grow up a Babcock, and deal with the blurring of that line.* She then leaned down to tap at her pad, writing down a few notes and blinked.

"You will have a test over pages one through one hundred-fifty come tomorrow." The elder woman raised her cane at the class. "First rule you’ll learn here is work ethic! Second you’ll learn is nothing that will ever come easy for any of you… I don’t care who your parents are!"

C.C. let out a groan turning towards a pale Niles. "What’s wrong?"

"That’s a lot of reading." Niles grumbled wondering how he was going to keep up with all his household duties, readying the house to move, and school work. "I ... I work."

"You just have to manage your time, that’s all." C.C. flashed a quiet smile. "TV is a big no-no from now on, school boy."

"I suppose this isn’t like college back in America? " Niles smiled, leading her outside. "We just seem to pile on the work here."

"Working is in my blood." C.C gave him a soft smile. *Working or overworking to escape one’s spouse.* C.C. grumbled and took his hand. "I’ll see you tomorrow, Niles, and remember, manage your time!"

C.C. found herself back in the small room going over her homework assignments with a soft grumble. She was free in another country but still had to surpass her siblings. Neither Noel nor D.D. got this chance… She got this chance. Her heart raced looking at the small framed picture as she finished the last of her assignments. "Well Gram, I’ll write that letter tomorrow." She crawled towards the small bed, setting the alarm for her second day.

Niles looked at the clock, shaking his head. He had finished all his work and school work. "It’s one in the morning." He grumbled, rubbing his eyes. He would have to get up early tomorrow to make it. The art class with the charming Morgan girl. "Woman" Niles grumbled to himself, looking at his hands.

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

"Two hundred is my bet." C.C. snickered in a soft whisper.

Niles let out a soft chuckle. "He won’t make it to eighty." Niles crossed his arms, watching her growing tally marks. They had listened to the Art instructor for nearly an hour now, and each of them kept a running count of how many times he had said the word ‘and’.

"He’s up to seventy now." C.C. snickered, looking back at Niles’s broad grin. Sara had to cancel their normal lunch date today, so C.C. let out a long hum. "Okay, if you win, I’ll buy you lunch."

"If you win?" Niles leaned over looking at the count.

"You buy me lunch. It’s only fair." C.C. had the strange urge to run up before the professor and beg him to hurry up.

"Lunch sounds fair." Niles smirked as C.C. quickly added new marks. "No cheating missy! I’m watching you."

*"If a Babcock can’t win… They cheat!" C.C. heard Noel’s laughing voice during a chess match.* "My honor as a Morgan… I won’t cheat." C.C. felt her stomach twist at her own words.

Niles narrowed his eyes playful and looked at his watch. "Well, I’ll trust your honor, Claire." Niles winked, and C.C. burst out in a fit of quiet giggles.

"Alright class…. I’ll leave the next thirty minutes for you to join your partners and work out more details of your end term assignment."

"And the total is?" Niles smirked looking at the grumbling C.C.

"Alright, no fair."

"Yes, but when is life ever fair?" Niles stood up, gathering his school books. "Shall we leave to find a restaurant?"

"Yeah, Yeah." C.C. stood up and followed him outside into the wet London day. "Is the weather here always this muggy?"

"There are some bright spots during the day." Niles winked as they both waited for the bus. "I need to find a tutor to help with a few of my courses."

"What’s wrong?" C.C. narrowed her eyes looking over her new friend. "Anything I can help you with?"

"Unless you are a wiz with numbers, Miss Morgan." Niles smirked paying their way onto the bus.

"Niles, how many times do I have to tell you… it’s Claire." C.C. giggled watching his face turn bright red.

"Sorry it’s just that old habits die hard." Niles sat down next to her.

"I can help you with any math course! I am… hate to brag, a wiz with numbers." C.C. wiggled her eyebrows playfully at Niles. "Anything you need help with, I would be glad to help you."

Niles let out a playful grumble. "From what you told me today you are taking an extra full course load. Can you handle taking me on?"

"Taking you on, twisting you around, and spinning you around in circles." C.C. couldn’t help her teasing nature with this man. She turned her head, watching him blush again. "Lighten up, Big Ben! We have to work on how we are going to handle this paper anyway, and that means seeing one another outside of class time."

"I am sure the ethics teacher would have something to say about me being around someone so young." Niles let out a laugh. "I know your right, Claire."

"Come on us ‘young’ folks don’t bite that much… unless…" C.C. couldn’t help her devilish smile turning towards him.

"Claire, do you ever behave?" Niles felt his heart pound but let out a groan.

"I am an adult, you know." C.C. leaned against the metal bench frame, and Niles took her hand leading her towards the waiting bus door.

"I know." Niles shook his head as they both stepped outside, looking at the group of restaurants. "Come on, it’s time you had some bangers and mash. Niles watched C.C.’s face twist in pain. "It will be good, on my honor as a Butler." Niles winked as he took her hand once more.

C.C. smiled sitting down in the small restaurant. "I like this place. It’s quiet. A nice place to study."

"Tried the library, did we?" Niles smirked, handing over a soda.

"I forget, I’m one of the few women attending this term." C.C. let out a sigh, watching Niles. "What’s your story, Butler?"

"My story?" Niles shifted about wondering how much he should tell her. "I’m going to school part time to finish what my father terms ‘A pointless degree.’" Niles smiled softly, watching her face.

"No degree is ever pointless." C.C. leaned back smiling. "Expand your mind, is what my grandmother always says."

"You always quote your grandmother." Niles leaned in, taking one of her chips off her plate. "Did she raise you?"

C.C. did her best to withhold a laugh. Then her mind twisted around that fact. Her countless number of nannies, and she would always end up pushed aside for her elder siblings often found her alone at her grandmother’s . "Yes." C.C. smiled able to let go of another half truth.

"What about your parents?" Niles tried his best to picture his own grandparents in his mind, but the picture soon faded.

"Let’s just say they are hardly in the picture much." C.C. let out a snicker while taking another sip of soda. She wished softly that it was something stronger than just soda.

Niles smiled looking at her long blonde hair, and he reached over brushing one of her golden locks out of her face. "Your grandmother did a wonderful job raising such a talented young woman."

C.C. felt her stomach turn and blush. "Thank you, but we better get started on the business at hand." She pulled out her art book handing him a sheet of paper. "Take notes, would you?"

"Bossy…" Niles winked at her blushing face. "Alright Miss…. I mean Claire, shall we begin working?"

C.C. felt her heart race while in her other classes trying to stay on task. Something about his smile make her knees go weak. She quickly pulled out a piece of paper, wondering if she should just attempt her letter to Gram.

Dear Grandmother… Gram,

I’m still in one piece, and you were right, London is, too. I haven’t seen much outside a few restaurants and Oxford. I’m sorry for this short letter, but how do you know what love is like? I often fear ending up like my mother…. Cold and heartless, willing to use any man… but when I see someone… he’s charming and witty… but everything in my mind tells me I shouldn’t think about him… It’s not right for me to think of him… He has shown nothing but a friendly manner with me, so don’t start sending Uncle Lionel and Uncle James over here. So Gram! Tell me what is love like.

Love you,

C.C.

C.C. looked up to see the next assignment written on the large chalk boards. Who was she kidding with all the school work she was piling up? What time did she have for love? "I better get my head out of the clouds."

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

"Listen, old man, we are going to need the extra help anyway." Maxwell let out a groan, watching Niles’s face twist in pain. "This will allow you more time for study, and I know you haven’t slacked off on your other duties."

"Then why hire a maid?" Niles grumbled looking from Maxwell to Sara. "I can handle the move to New York. I already have half the house prepared."

"Niles, the house in New York will be larger, and this will give Katherine time to get use to us." Sara smiled, placing a hand on his arm. "Maxwell says you never take a day off, anyway. Please allow her to aid you during the move."

"Alright, Alright!" Niles grumbled softly, rubbing his temples. He couldn’t drive away the dreams of Claire Morgan last night, and now this was happening. "I won’t like it, though."

Sara let out a soft sigh, watching him close the door. "He’s taking on too much." She looked down at a smirking Maxwell.

"What he needs is to get out and live a little. Yesterday, I heard him on the phone with his father once again about starting a family. They won’t let him forget for a moment that his brother already has two children." Maxwell grumbled, looking at the sandwiches left for them. "I honestly told him to take this weekend off to study, and he looked at me like I just set his pants on fire."

"Maybe I should talk to him? You know, C.C. has been almost on lockdown in Oxford, and frankly Max, I’m worried about her."

Maxwell let out a groan, recalling his late nights studying for exams. "Well, maybe we should both go easy on them, then. I think it wouldn’t hurt C.C. once to come around the house. She manages to stop by the theater once a day to yell at my director about his budget." Maxwell took a pen, tapping it lightly on the desk.

"It’s her birthday next week." Sara groaned, thinking about how C.C. begged her to drop the subject. "All she wants to do is go shopping for the baby."

"You know, of all the pictures I have seen with the Babcock children….. Not once do I recall seeing one that showed C.C. off at a birthday party." Maxwell raised an eyebrow, looking at his wife. "Is there a reason behind that?"

"Max, was there a reason that your nursery was on the other side of the 100 room Sheffield Mansion?" Sara let out a sigh, shaking her head.

"Point taken." Maxwell pulled Sara down onto his lap smiling. "At least I have you, my darling."

"Max…" Sara leaned in snuggling his neck.

Niles felt rather annoyed, thinking about the sounds coming from Maxwell’s office. He closed his eyes trying to block out the picture, but another one invaded his thoughts. "Claire…" Niles groaned softly shaking his head.

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

"No Gram, I have a lot of work to get done." C.C. let out a sigh, holding the telephone. "This can’t wait because they’ll just pile it on Monday, too."

"You should be out, girl, painting the town… You only live once, my dear." The elder woman’s voice had the same husky laugh that had been passed down to C.C.

"Yeah, but I think mother is doing enough living for all of us. Are you going to tell me what’s going on?" C.C. had received a strange letter from her father today. It was the normal ‘Babcock’ form letter down by a secretary, but this time it had a few lines from Stuart himself. "It’s not like Daddy to write me something personally."

"Well, from what I know, he’s no longer living in the house with your mother." The elder woman’s voice broke softly. "Which is a good thing."

"That works sooooo well for you and Grandfather…" C.C. rolled her eyes, thinking about her Grandfather Babcock living in Maine and her Grandmother living in New York.

"I want something better for you, C.C. … try to learn from your parents mistakes and my own."

C.C. could now envision the woman waving her aged index finger at her… an ocean away. "I’m sure to make my own mistakes… look at D.D. and Noel." C.C. snickered thinking about her siblings up and coming weddings to ‘picked’ people. "Did I tell you I ran into Lord Charles?"

"That is your mother’s doing, no doubt."

"No doubt… He’s just looking for cover next time mother’s in town, and I’m here." C.C. let out a sigh looking at her mother’s letter which she had yet to open. "Gram…" C.C. felt the emotion pour from her soul.

"Yes ,Chastity?"

"Can a person…. Change who they are? I mean really change? Like a phoenix can they find rebirth in another form?" C.C. let out a long sigh, already knowing the answer.

"No one can escape who they are, child, but we can walk in another’s shoes at least for a while."

"Love you Gram, and I’ll call you in a few days." C.C. let out a sigh, hanging up the phone and looking at the two letters. C.C. had little doubt the same secretary had written both letters and let out a grumble. The difference between the pair was her father’s attempt to reach out to her personally.

C.C. picked up the paper but noticed the time, letting out a grumble and rushed to collect her personal items. She tilted her head towards the soft knock at her door. She smiled and opened it for Niles. "I almost forgot about your lesson!"

"Forgot?" Niles felt the urge to tease her but passed on it. He gave her a glance over noticing her extra large t-shirt and shorts. Her hair, normally either pulled up into a bun or braid, was now down across her back. "I know, at least, I could never forget about yo-… the lesson…" Niles grumbled as C.C. sat him down, handing him a few books.

"Well, well… let’s get going…" She grabbed a bag and put on some plain sandals.

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

"Niles, are you paying attention to me?" C.C. was getting rather annoyed going over this for the third time. "Is everything alright?" She tilted her head, watching his face blush.

"I’m sorry, Claire." Niles shifted, looking over at the textbook again. "My mind is just having problems focusing tonight."

"Well…. You need to focus." C.C. let out a laugh, reaching over and pinching his leg.

"Claire!" Niles jumped looking towards her. "You didn’t need to do that!"

"Well since you won’t tell me what’s wrong and since your mind isn’t on this…" C.C. reached over closing his textbook. "How about you and I play a game of pool?"

Niles stood up walking over to the pool table in the corner, taking his textbooks. "You know how to play?"

"No, but I think someone could teach me." C.C. handed him a pool stick smiling.

"I don’t think you can handle it, Miss Morgan." Niles let out a playful laugh, and C.C. groaned.

"I can handle anything you throw my way."

"I’ll have to remember that." Niles felt his whole body shiver. "Now if facts and figures could be like pool..."

"It can, and is, if you think about it." C.C. smirked, noticing all the colored balls. "Shall we exchange lessons?"

"Alright, I’ll teach you the fine art of pool if you teach me how to handle my math courses." Niles snickered, taking her hand. "I must warn you… I’m quite a shark."

"Well that would explain your teeth." C.C. purred as Niles let out a soft groan. "Sorry you walked into that one."

"I did, indeed." Niles snickered, trying to point out a few aspects of the game.

C.C. felt her heart pound as he showed her how to properly shoot pool. She again wondered if this light headed feeling was either lust or love. She narrowed her eyes, watching him bend over the table.

Niles grumbled as soon as she was mastering the game. "Is their anything you don’t do well?"

"Well..." C.C. felt her cheeks blush with pleasure. Her mind started to race analyzing anything she hadn’t mastered yet.

"Okay, I’ll rule out analyzing." Niles snickered, looking at her face twist.

"HEY… I was just trying to recall if the..."

"You were analyzing everything in your past…" Niles smirked, crossing his arms. "Do you ever just live for the moment?"

"We aren’t studying right now." C.C. snickered. "This is as wild as I get, Niles."

"Mores the pity." Niles snickered, taking his turn.

"HEY, are you picking on me?" C.C. waved the pool stick towards a laughing Niles. "I can get wild when I want to."

"Let me guess… you skip class every ‘once’ in a while." Niles rolled his eyes, and let out a groan. "Just to study."

"Maybe." C.C. bit her lower lip, turning to take a shot.

"I knew it." Niles let out a playful laugh, watching her twist. "You must learn to live a little, Miss Morgan."

"Niles, if you call me Miss Morgan one more time, I’m going to beat you with this stick!" C.C. let out a long hiss, waving it at him.

"Promise if you do, you’ll respect me in the morning." Niles let out another large laugh, watching her groan. "I’m sorry… Your face just looks so cute twisted that way."

"Well, at least we know you are a man, and that you think I’m cute."

"We better focus on the game." Niles let out a playful groan.

*I am rather enjoying this new game.* C.C. found her eyes running up and down his well muscled form while he bent to take another shot.

Niles let out a long sigh when the game was over, sitting down for his lesson. He was shocked on the neat little short cuts Claire had invented herself to handle any math problem. By the end of the night, his homework was finished. "NILES!" He quickly lifted up his head seeing his elder brother Robert. "What are we doing here so late, and what a lovely creature!" Robert leaned down, kissing C.C.’s hand.

"Claire Morgan…. This is my elder brother, Robert." Niles narrowed his eyes, and Robert let out a soft chuckle.

"Father told me you went back to school."

"Yes, but of course he doesn’t agree with my decision." Niles let out a hiss as Robert joined them.

"Dad thinks we should never dream outside the family business." Robert waved his hand towards the barkeep.

"Parents have a funny way of guiding their children into the wrong direction." C.C. felt her own teeth starting to grind.

"Parents and stubborn souls have that habit my dear." Robert winked, and C.C. nodded slowly.

"Gram tells me mankind would be a better place if more people would listen to their heart rather than head." C.C. smirked, taking another sip of her soda.

"Wise woman." Robert nodded slowly.

"Shouldn’t you get back to your wife?" Niles was feeling rather annoyed by Robert. His father’s golden boy had always done what the family expected.

"I was just stopping in for a pint…. I didn’t mean to ruin your lesson."

"Nope, it’s okay. We are done." C.C. stood up, gathering her books. "I have to get going anyway. I have to prepare myself for French class."

"Claire, don’t run off!" Niles stood up, letting out a sigh.

"Nawww. It’s okay. Give me a call later on, and we will meet up again to work on the paper." C.C. winked towards Robert.

"She’s awfully young for you, Niles." Robert smirked, taking another sip.

"We are partners, and she was helping me out with a few of my other classes." Niles felt his face turn red.

"If I wasn’t married… She could help me out as well." Robert winked, and Niles let out another loud groan.

"I’m a gentleman, Robert…" Niles rolled his eyes. " She’s … She’s…"

"Beautiful?" Robert hid his smirk by taking another drink.

"Robert." Niles narrowed his eyes.

"Well she is indeed beautiful, or did you not notice it?" Robert let out a soft laugh.

"Believe me, Robert, I noticed." Niles felt his insides groan at the thought of Claire in his arms. "It’s not proper for me to even..."

"So? Dad says it’s not proper for you to be going to school, but you are doing it anyway." Robert shook his head. "Dad has done improper behavior before marrying mother."

"Let’s not talk about his affair with the Duchess, again." Niles let out a groan. "Even he is ashamed of that event."

"We are all young and foolish once in our lives."

"If we are lucky, Robert… no I’m not going to make the same mistakes father did." Niles took another long sip of his drink. "I am not going to look beyond me for a woman."

"Come on if you don’t at least try to reach for a star… you’ll never know what heaven is like." Robert winked as Niles started to blush. "Ah Ha! So do have growing feelings for Miss Morgan?"

"More than a little."

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Robert tapped on the table.

"It’s just not right… something about all this feels wrong." Niles hid his blushing face by taking another drink.

"You are only human Niles."

"I am just wondering… I know nothing about this girl, but… my heart won’t quit pounding in my chest… I dream about her." Niles let out a groan, looking at his brother’s face. "No… I can’t take a chance."

"If you don’t at least try… you’ll be kicking yourself."

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

C.C. let out a long sigh, tossing the book aside. She closed her eyes again, feeling his arms around her showing her the correct way to shoot pool. She, of course, had played before, and it was a cheap way to get him closer to her. "What’s going on with me?" She picked up the teddy bear looking into its eyes. "Am I losing my mind?"

*"You’ve spent a lifetime caged by your mother’s idea of whom, and what you should be. Use this summer to spread your wings, child."* C.C. let out a groan hearing her grandmother’s words in her ears and shifted as the telephone rang.

"Hello?"

"C.C., I want you to tell me what you think your doing!" B.B. Babcock’s voice was full of outrage.

"I’m trying to study… what, Mother, want to come to England and ground me?" C.C. let out a hiss, closing the book.

"I want you to apologize to Lord Charles at once!" B.B. let out her trade mark hiss at her youngest child. "You shouldn’t treat a family friend that way."

"Father says he’s nothing but an uptight, stuck up, pain in the arse." C.C. closed her eyes. "Mother, I’m not going to tell him anything."

"You will…"

C.C. hung up the phone and quickly left it off the hook. She was rather enjoying her new sense of freedom. C.C. turned off the lights, her mind racing.

"You shouldn’t be having these dreams, Claire." The dream Niles purred in her ear. His hand ran over bare flesh as C.C. let out a soft groan.

"No I shouldn’t, but it’s so much fun to dream." C.C. purred kissing his neck softly.

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

Niles let out a groan waking up, the alarm ringing in his ears. He did his normal Sunday routine. "Mrs. Sheffield, how are you feeling this morning?" Niles smiled as Sara came downstairs.

"Wonderful! Perfect… I’m going shopping today with C.C if Maxwell wonders, because you know, he always forgets."

"Are we ever going to meet your young friend?" Niles tilted his head, handing her a Danish.

"Soon, I hope to pin her down for at least one of your wonderful dinners, Niles." Sara winked and grabbed her purse. "Let Maxwell know I’ll be back in a few hours… are you going to be around for dinner? Or working on homework tonight Niles?"

"Homework." Niles let out a groan recalling he had a dinner study session with Claire. "If my mind can focus on it."

Sara let out a playful laugh, and Niles groaned. "Hello Katherine." Niles smiled as the new maid was carrying a few more boxes. "Do you need help with that today?"

"No thanks, Niles…" Katherine smiled walking into the other room. Niles felt his heart pound.

"I’m being foolish." Niles grumbled textbook in hand walking up the stairs.

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

Sara smiled, watching C.C. buy the small little baby outfit. "You know … one day I’ll be buying baby clothes for your children."

"If I’m lucky." C.C. let out a sigh and smiled. "Sara, how does it feel to be … well, in love?"

"Did you meet someone?" Sara did a double take, looking at her young friend. "Am I going to meet him?"

"Sara." C.C. let out a groan. "I don’t know…. He’s a little older than me."

"How old?" Sara narrowed her eyes in a protective glare.

"Doesn’t matter." C.C. mumbled, and Sara pulled on her arm.

"Does he know how old you are?"

"Sara, we haven’t done anything… and I will be turning 18 soon enough." C.C. let out a hiss, shaking her head. "You know, the legal age…"

"Just make sure you don’t do anything foolish… and try not to use any of the Babcock tricks on him… and be honest."

"Anything else, Mother?" C.C. folded her arms, looking at Sara playfully.

"I’m going to MEET him" Sara tapped her foot.

"When ‘we’ are an item… I’ll let you meet him, Sara." C.C. rolled her eyes. "We aren’t an item yet."

"So he has some common sense." Sara let out her soft giggle, looking at C.C.’s face. "If you care for him, C.C., did you at least tell him the truth?"

"The truth about what?" C.C. groaned and shook her head. "No I haven’t told him about C.C. Babcock yet."

"Should I call your grandmother?"

"Why?"

"Because I am starting to wonder about you studying under the name ‘Claire Morgan’ was such a good idea." Sara let out a long sigh.

"You worry too much." C.C. pulled on her arm, dragging her into the next shop.

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

"Claire, are you listening to me?" Niles let out a long sigh, waving the cards around. "We can interview the artist this weekend!" Niles shook his head and waved his hand in front of her face.

"O… I’m sorry, Niles." C.C. blinked moving his hand out of her face. "This weekend? Did he agree?"

"He’s invited us to his estate in the country!" Niles jumped up and down, remembering the channels he went through to get him to agree. "I have a friend that works for him."

"This weekend?" C.C. tapped her fingers, letting out a soft grumble. Her birthday was this weekend, and she had promised her Grandmother she would at least do something fun. *"Well… I’m going away with Niles… that’s kinda fun."*

"Do you have something planned for this weekend?" Niles felt his heart beating fast just the thought of getting her alone outside of school and studying made him feel weak. "If you have something planed we could try and..."

"No, this weekend will work." C.C. stood up, looking around at the statue. "You know, at times, I feel like this phoenix trapped in flames of darkness."

"Darkness?" Niles sat down. "How can someone like you relate to darkness?"

"Darkness comes in many shapes and forms." C.C. shivered, thinking about her lonely childhood.

"It’s just unsettling to me, because you have the brightest smile." Niles smiled, reaching up to touch her chin.

C.C. felt her eyes close at his touch, recalling her many dreams. "Niles…." She blushed as the professor came up from behind.

"Ahh! I hear you have talked with the artist, Mister Butler!" The elder man smiled at his students. "That’s good… that’s good… It will go far to help your grade on my paper… more than your silly little bets in my class."

C.C. felt her face turn red, and she looked towards Niles. "How did you know?"

"My dear… students have been making silly little bets in my class since the first year." The man smirked at them, walking over towards another group.

"I guess my burst of laughter didn’t help matters much last lecture." Niles smirked, recalling her light tickling touch. His body burned that day with her soft small hand tickling his knee.

"Yeah you didn’t help matters much." C.C. let out a playful hiss.

"I didn’t?" Niles narrowed his eyes. "Woman! Don’t you ever take responsibility for anything?" He tapped his foot, playfully eyeing her.

"Well… care to test what I’ll take responsibility for?" C.C. purred playfully as Niles sat down.

"This weekend then… shall I pick you up?" Niles felt his stomach twist thinking about her.

"Alright"

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

C.C. let out a huge sigh as the phone rang once more. She had hung up on her mother twice today and wasn’t looking forward to a third. "Hello?"

"Kitten!" Stuart Babcock’s voice, for once, sounded almost joyful. "I hope you are going to do something worth while this weekend for your birthday!"

"I’m not sure if it’s worth while yet, but I’ll let you know, Daddy." C.C. put a few clothes aside along with her note pad.

"I guess your grandmother told you that your mother and I are separating." Stuart mumbled softly.

*"Frankly I’m shocked that you didn’t just have someone from your office make up an letter."* C.C. let out a long sigh. "Yes Daddy, she told me."

"I’m sorry, kitten… I just couldn’t take it anymore." Stuart’s voice broke over the phone. "Your grandmother and I will be coming next month to see you."

*"Ahhh so grandmother is forcing you to care now."* C.C. looked at a few shirts and tossed the red one in her bag. "That will be fine, Daddy, and I can’t wait to see you."

"You really want to see me?" Stuart’s voice sounded shocked.

"Daddy, what has Mother been telling you?" C.C. rolled her eyes. "Course I want to see you and it would be nice if we could have some kind of a relationship."

"Your mother … well, has been trying to call you." Stuart let out a grumble.

"Yeah, and she can forget about her demands. Daddy, I’m not saying sorry to that stuck up pain in the arse." C.C. zipped up her bag and looked at her school books once more, wondering if she should bring her home work.

"C.C., when the end happens… He could be your new step-father." Stuart hissed and let out a soft grumble over the phone.

"Yeah… like that will happen." C.C. heard the soft knock at her door.

"What was that, Kitten?"

"Listen Daddy I have to go! I’ll talk to you in a few days."

"Alright, Kitten…"

C.C. opened the door to find Niles wearing causal clothes. His polo style deep green shirt hugged his body. "Well ... Well Miss Morgan did I hear your correctly? You were on the phone with your father?" Niles felt his mind racing. He was under the impression Claire had been raised by her grandmother.

"Do I need to call him back for you?" C.C. playful picked up the phone, handing it to Niles. "Want to ask his permission?"

"I think you’re a big girl now." Niles winked.

"Then let’s go, Butler Boy. You aren’t getting any younger."

Niles let out a sigh as she fell asleep in her seat. They had been driving for only an hour in heavy traffic, but the toll of late nights studying took hold of C.C. She was asleep next to him in the car. He couldn’t push his feelings aside when it came to her. He wanted to burry them deep within his soul, but every time he turned his head… He felt the pounding of his heart. "This is going to be a long weekend." Niles groaned as C.C. turned to snuggle him while sleeping.

C.C. blinked her eyes awake noticing she was leaning against him. "Sorry there, Niles." C.C. blushed as Niles let out a soft tender chuckle. "I was dreaming."

"About?" Niles made a turn while holding up a piece of paper in his hand.

"Ermm… Crickets…" C.C. raced and grabbed the first thing that came to her mind. "How they always make noises at night."

"Is that all?" Niles let out a grumble, quickly making another turn, and C.C. tumbled into his lap.

"HEY! Try and watch the road, will ya? Why you English drive on the wrong side of the road is beyond me." C.C. let out a hiss, moving back towards her own side.

"It’s called seat belts, my dear Miss Morgan. I suggest you look into them." Niles winked, making his last and final turn.

C.C. looked towards the large country cottage, smiling. It was at least ten bedrooms. Not bad for an ‘artist’. "Your friend works with …with…"

"Claire, we are doing a paper on the ‘Shadow Phoenix’ and you still have no idea of the artist’s name?" Niles rolled his eyes towards her. "I thought you were a smarter woman than that, Morgan."

"I know his name, Butler boy… It’s just, you try and take a full course load, and them some." C.C. poked her index finger into Niles’s chest. "My mind is so full of information."

"Mason Gordon." Niles smirked, crossing his arms looking at her.

"Niles! Niles, old boy!" The elder man walked out of the house hold, waving his hand. He looked to be in his fifties. Niles walked up shaking hands with the house keeper. "Lance this is Claire Morgan…. Lance Butler." Niles smiled as C.C. took his hand.

"You can’t be related to this clown." C.C. smiled as Lance let out a loud laugh.

"Afraid so… we are cousins, my dear lady!" He reached down kissing her hand softly. "Now, Master Mason is expecting you two for dinner… that will give you some time to get settled." He picked up their bags, walking them inside. "He’s in his studio working on another ‘creation.’" Lance rolled his eyes for a moment. "You know artists when they got that bug about them."

"Bug?" Niles tilted his head.

"He means, I think… that Mister Gordon’s muse is alive and active." C.C. followed Lance as he pointed out a rather large room.

"Ya got yer own private bath here, good lady, and a lock to keep the devils outside, and you in!" Lance winked towards a blushing Niles.

"I would say Niles is a rather low grade demon at the moment." C.C. smirked as she pushed them outside.

"Boy! I bet that one is a handful!" Lance waved Niles down the hall smiling. "Is this the one Robert says you have a crush on?"

Niles let out an inward groan. The servant grapevine of friends, family and semi-friends had already started. "Please, Lance, I get enough from Robert about her. She’s far too young for me, and I…"

"Chicken, are we?"

"I am not chicken… I am a gentleman! I know my place in this world." Niles shook his head, putting down his bag. "Something about Claire Morgan screams upper class."

"That should stop you because?" Lance titled his head smiling. "Didn’t stop yer father from jumping that Duchess when he got the chance!"

"Again Lance, you are being foolish." Niles opened up the bag, pulling out a clean shirt and his note pad.

"Foolish am I? Well Niles, at least I know what love is!" Lance smirked, walking towards the door. "Ya know what the man says … it’s better to have lost and loved than never loved at all."

Niles pulled off his shirt, throwing it towards his elder cousin. The man let out a huge chuckle, and closed the door.

C.C. went back towards the sitting room to find Lance now talking with an even elder man. He had the most stunning green eyes, and it reminded her of a cat’s eyes. "Hello, Mister Gordon!" She held out her hand, and he, of course, took it, kissing it softly.

"It is a pleasure to meet you at last, Miss Morgan." His accent was thick with Scottish flavor. "I was so pleased to hear from your professor about your paper."

"My professor? I thought Niles arranged this interview sir?" C.C. blinked, and the man nodded.

"He did indeed, but it is always a pleasure to meet …" He looked around carefully noticing Lance had left the room. "A Babcock from New York!"

C.C. let out a groan. Of course, all her teachers knew of her real name. "Please don’t tell anyone that."

"A woman of mystery! Of course, but only if you call me Gordon." He led her towards a chair as Niles came into the room.

"Course he’s running late." C.C. hissed playfully towards Niles.

"I can’t believe we are doing this interview at all this weekend… See what tomorrow is for you, Miss Morgan." Gordon smiled as Lance brought in tea and cookies.

"Tomorrow?" Niles blinked, looking from a shrugging Lance back towards Gordon Mason, and then towards a blushing Claire. "What is tomorrow?"

"You didn’t tell your friend here? That will never do! Mister Lance, please make sure we have the best of everything tomorrow, and these two will spend the afternoon in my workshop!"

"Claire?" Niles tilted his head. "What is going on tomorrow?"

"Well, sir, it’s the lady’s birthday!" Gordon took a sip of tea as Niles blinked with surprise.

"Claire, you should have said something…"

"It’s alright Niles… I never celebrate my birthday anyway." C.C.’s mind replayed all the lonely birthdays as a child. Her parents leaving that chore for her nannies to perform.

"Well this year, my dear… You are our guest, and this year, you will celebrate it! We will make this a working birthday for you that neither of you shall forget!"

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

C.C. let out a small groan looking at Niles. "He wants us to work tonight? I thought we were going to have fun this weekend because of my birthday!"

"That isn’t until tomorrow." Niles smirked as C.C. was looking over her apron. "You have no idea how to put that on?" Niles walked over placing the apron up and then down her neck. He was rather enjoying the feel of his arms around her.

C.C. backed away blushing and let out a husky laugh. "Take a picture. It will last longer." C.C. tossed her hair walking out of the room.

Niles let out a groan, feeling his whole body react. "You know she’s right." Lance let out a soft laugh as Niles jumped up a few feet. "The way you been looking towards Miss Morgan, one would think you’re in love."

"It isn’t right." Niles let out a mumble and a long sigh. "I had this discussion with Robert a few days ago, cousin."

"Scared to take a chance?" Lance wiggled his eyebrows playfully towards Niles.

"I’m not scared." Niles felt his pride taking a hit. "She’s so much younger than me."

"And you’re an old man?" Lance let out a long laugh, shaking his head. "Gordon is expecting you in the workshop, and no doubt, you’ll be their all night."

"All night?" Niles blinked as his cousin handed him a few cases of soda.

"He’s an artist…. When the muse is upon them… they work strange hours."

Niles walked inside the rather barn like building and stood next to a shocked Claire. His eyes followed hers and he became equally impressed. The metal wiring looked to form some type of bird. "Is it another phoenix?"

"That would depend on your point of view." Gordon smiled and reached over closing C.C.’s open jaw. "I made it to look like a reborn phoenix, but of course some ‘bank’ in France already purchased it. They prefer a hawk…. Well anything to pay the bills at times."

"Do you always work with phoenixes?" Niles let out a sigh as he was handed a rather large bucket.

"In life, we are all reborn like phoenixes… we all face many choices in life that change our stars." Gordon smiled. "You wanted to learn something about the process, Niles…. So follow me…"

They were both led towards a small corner of the building where a few small black rocks waited for them. "What are we doing?" C.C. picked up the black marble that was no bigger than her fist.

"My helpers are going to take you through the steps of turning those small pieces into something wonderful!" Gordon waved his hands around. "You’ll have only twenty four hours!"

"Great." Niles let out a groan and noticed the two men walking up.

C.C. smiled, taking the pencil and paper, starting her design for the rock. "Stop that sour look."

"I’m not good with the visual field of art." Niles let out a groan, making small little drawings.

"Well, what are you good at? Care to show me?" C.C. playful drew a line on the floor with her foot.

Niles let out a deep sigh, looking into her blue eyes. "Alright…… "

C.C. felt her heart pound as Niles kept on staring into her eyes. She felt the hairs stand up on the back of her neck as Niles’s deep voice started to sing the sweet Irish melody.

"The Morn was fair the skies were clear.

No breath came o’er the sea

When Mary left her highland home

And wandered forth with me

Though flowers deck’d the mountain side

And fragrance filled the viale.

By far the sweetest flower there

Was the Rose of Allendale

Was the Rose of Allendale

Rose of Allendale

By far the sweetest flower there

Was the Rose of Allendale

Where ‘er I wandered, east or west,

Tho’ fate began to lower

She whispered hopes of happiness

And tales of distant shores

My life would be a wilderness

Unblest by fortune’s gale

Had fate not linked my lot to hers

The Rose of Allendale."

The whole work shop ended up with men clapping. The loud whistles rang out; the loudest came from Gordon. "YOU TWO BETTER GET TO WORK!" Gordon let out a laugh.

"He’s right. If we want to celebrate your birthday tomorrow, we better get to work." Niles reached up, touching her cheek.

C.C. felt her hands using the huge file to work on the small stone and bend it to her will. She felt her hands that had never known hard work before become battered and bruised from the file. She let out a groan, looking up towards Niles who was also struggling. C.C. stopped to see the small, simple dove. "Now, that isn’t half bad!" Gordon walked up behind C.C., picking up the dove.

"Do your hands always hurt?" C.C. groaned, and Gordon let out a laugh.

"How is it coming, Niles?" Gordon walked over and Niles let out a groan having made just a simple spear.

"I can’t bloody hell do it!" Niles groaned, rubbing his raw hands.

"It takes time to master any skill, young man." Gordon winked as C.C. looked down at her hands and the small little dove.

"I have renewed respect for you." C.C. smiled, and Gordon gave her a wink.

"Now come…. Lance has been cooking up a storm outside, and we always have a small gathering after every work day."

Niles let out a long sigh, sitting next to C.C…Gordon’s workers had made a small campfire a few hundred yards outside his workshop. He heard her soft whimpers of pain. "Here," taking her hands in his, rubbing them softly.

C.C. was shocked to feel that his hands were already rough. The man before her was a scholar, or so she thought. Her whole body shivered as he softly rubbed the pain away. "You have wonderful hands."

Niles smiled as the other workers were treated to an American style cookout. No one noticed them at the moment as he leaned forward. "What would you like for your birthday, Claire?"

"A little of this… some of that." She was moving closer to him, and felt her heart beat quicken. "Maybe a soft spark."

Niles smiled and looked at his watch. They had been working up to midnight. He smiled. "Just a soft spark?"

C.C. felt his lips brush against hers with just a hint of promise, but then her whole body pushed into his. Niles’s hunger matched her own as he held her tightly against him. Only the realization of the crowd kept it from going any farther.

Gordon frowned as his shop keepers made the couple blush. "What kind of man is your cousin, Lance?"

"He’s a good man, and she seems like a good woman… I like the match."

"Like phoenixes, some things are not what they seem. " Gordon let out a sigh, picking up a hamburger. "Let us hope things work out for them."

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

Niles shifted in bed, opening his eyes slowly. He felt the strange throb in his hands from overuse. He let out a long sigh getting up out of bed. The smell of her perfume filled his nose. "Did you have some wild dreams last night, cousin?" Lance was standing at the doorway carrying a small silver tray.

"I don’t know what got into us." Niles groaned, looking at the sores forming on his hand.

"I know what got into ya, Niles." The man laughed, handing over the small cup of hot tea. "You’re falling hard for this woman."

"A woman I know little about." Niles groaned, thinking about Claire. "She doesn’t like to talk about her family, but I have often heard her quoting her grandmother." Niles rubbed his chin slowly.

"Then, may I suggest, you ask the woman out for a date?" Lance let out a soft laugh at Niles’s red face. "They still ask ladies out on dates in town? Don’t they?"

"Bloody hell!" Niles rolled his eyes, pulling on a t-shirt.

"Well if you’re into that sort of thing, cousin, leave me out of it." Lance winked picking up the tray.

C.C. felt her fingers throb. She had never endured that kind of stress on her hands. *"Babcocks do not engage in such manual labor."* B.B. Babcock’s voice was ringing in her ears. C.C. quickly hopped up, putting on a simple t-shirt and jeans as she heard a soft knock at the door.

"Come in!"

"Ahhh! Good you are up. How are your hands this morning, Claire?" Lance winked, putting down his tray and looking at her puffy hands. "Ahh, you could use an ice pack, no doubt." Lance handed her the hot cup of tea.

"Lance… do you know?" C.C. lowered her head, feeling the guilt rise in her soul.

"I know that are you a lovely young woman…. Who I suspect is like most in this world, trying to find themselves." Lance smiled, picking up his tray again. "I will get you that ice pack, but my master will be expecting you downstairs in a few moments."

C.C. smiled, walking down to meet with Niles and Gordon. "Well, look who is up at last! And before noon." Niles purred, happy to see her.

"You need more beauty sleep than I do, Butler Boy…" C.C. winked.

"My dear, you hardly need another hour." Gordon laughed, watching C.C. blush. "I was just telling young Niles here about my desire to take you both horse back riding since this your birthday."

C.C. blinked, watching Gordon’s face. He did know something about the Babcock’s, then and their love of horses. "That sounds perfect."

"How do you know this person, Gordon?" Niles blinked still shocked.

"An artist knows many types of people, and it’s always wise to have many friends." Gordon winked once. "Palfrey’s are a breed that has been growing rare in Europe."

"Pal….Pal… Palfrey’s?" C.C.’s mind went over the different types of horses. "They were replaced by trotting horses many hundreds of years ago."

"Ahhh, refreshing to find a woman that knows something about horse flesh." Gordon winked. "My friend is expecting us for a ride, and we will be spending the next few hours enjoying her estate."

Niles blinked as Gordon ushered them both into his waiting car. He was expecting the artist to know someone of modest means, but his breath stopped when he saw the estate. "This is the Barron Lockehand’s estate!" Niles turned, looking at C.C.

"In this country, my dear," Gordon lowered his voice, knowing Niles could hear him, "I’m a rebel mixing with all classes…. I married out of my class… I have friends out of my class…It is something an artist must learn to do. We are a rare breed, and not all of us survive in this world unscarred."

C.C. felt a strange shiver up her spine. *"Babcocks and servants do not mix"* C.C. felt her mother’s words and a strange pull at her soul.

"You are indeed a rare man, Gordon." Niles winked as his hand reached for hers.

C.C. felt her heart race, wondering if she should tell the truth to Niles or not. Her heart torn by the promise made to protect her ‘safety’ and her better judgment of her heart. She soon found another hand opening the car door and reaching for her.

"Welcome, welcome my friend!" The elder man looked to be in his late seventies. The Baron reached up, taking Gordon’s hand. "Ahhh! I see you brought the young man and what a charming lady!" The baron quickly reached for C.C.’s hand, kissing it softly.

"Thank you … your lordship." C.C. blushed looking at the man’s eyes.

"Silly girl! Ya can call me Locke!" He reached down, kissing her hand once more. "Welcome to my little home! Let’s go out and have some fun."

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

C.C. tilted her head as she reached out to touch the horse’s nose. She had always loved horses as a child, but let out a soft gasp as the horse nuzzled her neck. "He likes you." Niles came up from behind her touching the horse’s nose.

"He has wonderful taste." C.C. smiled, walking over to saddle the horse. "You know something about horse flesh, Niles?"

"I know a few things." Niles walked over towards his mount and laughed. "It seems like Gordon and his lordship will be leaving us alone for this ride."

"You think you can handle me?"

"Is that a challenge?" Niles hissed as the stable hands opened up the door.

"You gutsy enough?" C.C. kicked the horse once running. Niles watched her take off in full gallop. Her normally braided hair was free, and Niles followed behind her watching her long mane being brushed by the breeze. It was indeed a good day to be alive as he felt a strange fire enter his heart.

C.C. had always found freedom on the back of a horse. She didn’t have to explain herself to a horse. She felt her soul take flight and used to pretend that the horses at her Grandmother‘s were unicorns or the Pegasus of legend. She saw the fence and allowed the horse to move.

Niles blinked watching how skillful Claire handled the horse. He had to use the simple training he had received. Claire seemed to put on the breaks. "You can handle a horse."

"Claire, I…" Niles felt his heart race as he pulled up next to her. His hand reached over to touch her soft cheek, his hand traveling down to wrap around her blonde locks.

C.C. leaned forwards to take his lips. She felt the rough pull of his hands on her body. "We are growing bold aren’t we?" She laughed as they pulled apart.

"I feel my control slipping away when I’m with you." Niles closed his eyes as she let out a girlish laugh. "Have dinner with me when we return?"

"Dinner? Now Mister Butler, won’t we have homework to do?"

"You can learn a lot over one dinner." Niles smirked. "We do have a paper to work on."

"If we have dinner… I doubt we will be doing homework." C.C. let out a laugh, shaking her head. "You’re a dangerous man, Niles Butler."

"I’m still a gentleman, and I want to learn everything I can about you, Claire."

C.C. felt panic take hold of her heart, thinking about all the half answers she had given people during class. Niles had been her friend and her secret crush for the past few weeks. She wasn’t sure what Niles would think about her background. "Okay…" Her voice was faint.

"Just okay?" Niles smirked, wondering if she was feeling his hand roam her cheek. "You seemed to be lost in a dream…. Is everything alright?"

"I never expected to feel this way." C.C. felt tears form in her eyes.

"What way is that, Claire?" Niles once more wrapped his hands around her blonde locks.

"I …I …" C.C. found words failing her as Niles pressed in for another earth shattering kiss. She had never heard the words from her parents. Only her grandmother would say the word ‘love’.

"It will all come in time, Claire… Let’s enjoy these quiet moments."

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

B.B. let out a quick hiss looking at Stuart. "Did you finally get what you want, Stuart?" She handed the large stack of papers in her hand over to Stuart’s smirking face.

"I should have done this a long time ago… if not for me, but for our children." Stuart let out a sigh, shaking his head at his wife. "Care to tell me anything else, B.B. before I hand this to you?" Stuart narrowed his eyes. He had undergone an hour’s worth of her growling, and how none of the children where ‘his.’ Stuart rolled his eyes, watching his wife, now ex-wife, walk away.

"This was long over due." Gram walked up beside her son. "That woman has done real damage not only to you, but to your children as well."

"I know, Mother." Stuart let out a grumble, shaking his head. He had to pay a fortune to get out of his marriage. He did not want to drag C.C., D.D. nor Noel into court to speak out about the many affairs B.B. had during their marriage. "I’m not without sin."

"We all have sins, my dear boy, but if we can see our past mistakes… we can learn from them, and that is something your former wife never understood." Gram poked her son once with her cane.

"Shall I pick you up, Mother, tomorrow morning?" Stuart was looking forward to his journey to see C.C. "I would like to see Chastity as soon as possible."

"Well, don’t be in too much of a rush. You and B.B. have had that girl on a tight leash. It’s good for her wings to spread out once in a while. How will she ever grow into an adult if you keep that eagle eye on her?"

"We haven’t been that strict with her." Stuart made a face. "Besides I think D.D. and Noel had…"

"D.D. and Noel nothing… you let those two get away with murder! Let me rephrase that… your nannies let D.D. and Noel get away with murder."

Stuart grumbled, running his hand in his blonde graying hair. "Mother…. I’ll try to deal with my children."

"You better do more than just try, boy! They are all adults now… what did you get C.C. for her birthday this year?" The elder woman smiled at the driver who opened the limo door.

"Well, I…."

Gram shook her head slowly. "Your secretary got the gift and sent it no doubt… Your mission before we leave! Find another gift. YOU pick it out!"

"I’ll see you tomorrow." Stuart let out a long sigh, watching his mother’s limo pull away.

"That boy…" Gram let out a sigh, shaking her head. "All of his children are a mess."

"C.C seems stable." Nick smiled back at his aged employer.

"You know, a lot of things seem stable, but she’s not made of steel on the inside…." Gram shook her head. "All three of them have trust issues, and it’s going to go back to haunt them."

"It’s not your fault, Mrs. Babcock." Nick frowned, moving the large limo around and down the road.

"Isn’t it?" She let out a long sigh. "My marriage with Gregory isn’t golden and never was." Gram mumbled, recalling her last yearly visit to her aged husband. "I endured his affairs."

"It was a different time…" Nick shook his head. "You moved on."

"Nick, I have a lesson for you… if you aren’t ready to see your own sins, then you can’t point out the sins of others… I am fully aware of how I messed up my son, and that in turn affected his children… My only hope is the damage isn’t deep… and that trust can be restored."

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

C.C. felt the push of his body on hers and let out a playful groan. "You know … you told me you had to work tomorrow."

"Trying to back out on dinner already?" Niles felt like he was drunk on her perfume, touching her neck softly.

"Never, but if you have to cancel…."

"Woman, you aren’t escaping me that easily." Niles pushed her against her door capturing her mouth. He had barely been able to keep his hands off her since they had journeyed back from their weekend. His hands roamed up and down, and he felt her shiver.

"You better stop, or you won’t make it home." C.C. purred but felt her heart race with passion and guilt.

Niles groaned, releasing her. "You make it hard, Claire, to leave your side."

"I could make things even ‘harder’." She let out a playful giggle, and her hands teased his body. Her face then twisted with a sigh. "You are right… Monday… why does Monday have to come so soon?"

"Just think of it as a start of another week… together." Niles winked, kissing her hand softly. "Dream of me, Miss Morgan."

"Niles…." C.C. felt her body shiver with guilt…

"Yes?" Niles shifted, looking at her sad face. "Is something wrong, Claire?"

"I just want to make these moments last forever." C.C. pulled him in tight burying her guilty face in his shoulder.

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

C.C. let out a sigh, opening the packages. She smiled at her grandmother’s simple package of sweet goodies and the small note. C.C. shook her head noticing the small cards from her missing siblings. She gasped at the rather large diamond necklace her father sent. "What is he thinking?" C.C. put the necklace in her desk, mumbling. She had class in an hour. She picked up her books, almost floating out the door.

"Miss Babcock." Lord Charles smiled meeting her in the hall way.

C.C. let out a loud hiss. "A little louder your lordship… I don’t think the school heard you yet." She pulled on the elder man’s arm. "What do you want?"

"Is that a way to treat a gentleman, C.C.?" Charles smirked, trying to grab her hand to offer a kiss, but C.C. jerked it back.

"If I see a gentleman, believe me I would know how to treat them, your lordship." C.C. rolled her eyes. "Now, what the hell do you want?"

"I come to bring your mother’s birthday gift." He held out a small box, and C.C. took it from his hand. He manage to steal his kiss smirking.

"You are five minutes away from loosing your three best friends." C.C. hissed pulling away and took off down the hall.

"Mrmmm I wonder if your mother would be interested you never showed up here this weekend, C.C." Charles rubbed his chin, mumbling to himself walking down the hall after her.

C.C. let out a long sigh walking towards the bus stop. She couldn’t stop thinking about him. She pulled out a sheet of paper to start her letter. "What do I say? What do I tell her?" C.C. mumbled to herself. "I’m in love, but he has no idea about my trust fund… my real name….my family." C.C. let out a sigh, crumbling up the paper. "She’ll be here in a few days anyway."

………………….

"Are you alright, deary?" The elder woman behind her leaned forward.

"Yeah I’m Peachy!" C.C. hissed in her best Babcock tone. "I’m in… in…" C.C. blinked, shaking her head. She couldn’t even say the word.

"Well, my dear, maybe I can help."

"Someone I care for has no idea about me." C.C. grumbled, looking at the woman. "I feel like … like."

"You can’t be yourself, my dear?" The woman let out a sigh.

"I’m an odd person…" C.C. mumbled to herself. "Why am I even talking to you?"

"Maybe I’m not even here, missy!" The woman let out in a teasing voice.

"What else is new in my life?" C.C. mumbled as the bus made its stop, and the elder woman got off. Soon the bus made its stop near the Tate museum. C.C. smiled to see Niles waiting for her.

Niles felt his heart pound looking at her small form. "Claire…" Niles smiled holding up a small package.

"Niles! My birthday has passed!" C.C. took the small gift, opening it up quickly.

"I wish I could give you more." Niles touched her chin as she finished opening it. She took out the silver Saint Christopher medal on a simple silver chain.

"It’s…. wonderful." C.C. held it up and noticed something on the backside. She saw three sets of initials.

"It has been past down in my family. It first belonged to my Great Grandmother, and now it’s yours." Niles lifted up the chain putting it up and over her head. "It will help keep you safe on life’s journey."

"Niles, I can’t accept this." C.C. lifted it up looking at the back of it once more.

"You will…" Niles gave her a look that made Claire smile. "Now let’s get to class...the sooner we finish this day… the sooner I can get you alone for dinner." Niles winked, taking her hand and walking towards the museum.

Niles found his mind racing. He wondered how much Claire knew about his own life. She was someone from outside this world. That much he had gathered, but would she accept him as a butler? The son of a butler and maid?

"Niles…. You keep up that tapping, and I’m going to make you eat that pen." She reached over, playfully taking his hand. "You need to take notes, silly Butler boy… or you’ll miss something for the paper."

"I’m sorry, Claire." Niles let out a groan, lifting up his head, looking at the elder professor. He had a full day ahead of him but couldn’t find his focus anywhere but her soft, small figure.

C.C. pulled out the small box her mother had sent via Lord Charles once Niles had at last started taking notes. She mumbled, shaking her head wondering what the dragon woman had sent. It, no doubt, was like her father’s gift: something expensive and meant to show her station in life. C.C. found her hands reaching up towards her new necklace, trusting in the simple silver.

"Claire???" Are you alright?" Niles poked her playfully.

"Yes…" C.C. mumbled tilting her head. "Just thinking about things."

"Things?" Niles moved in closer finding his hand on her knee. "Can I help you with these ‘things’?

C.C. closed her eyes, tilting her head towards the lecture. "You can’t behave for a moment, can you?" She felt her whole body shiver as his hand went up and down her leg in a teasing manner.

"Do you realize a simple touch can drive a person crazy… that the memory of it can linger for years?" Niles leaned forward whispering in her ear.

C.C. found her leg shaking as his hand kept up the teasing. "You are playing with fire." C.C. growled, watching the black board the professor was using.

"Well… Gordon told me that fire can come in many different forms." Niles pinched her leg, softly making her jump up.

C.C. felt a growing heat enter her soul. Her legs felt numb from his teasing hand. "Niles…. We are in class…" C.C. hissed, tilting her head. "Later…. Play time is for later."

"Is that a promise, Morgan?" Niles let out a laugh, watching her nod weakly. He let out a groan, turning once more to his notes. "I have this growing desire… it’s like the flood gates have been opened."

"Close them for a bit." C.C. let out a husky laugh, writing down more notes.

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

"You going to talk to me?" Sara tapped her foot waiting for C.C. response. "You been on cloud nine all lunch! What happened during this weekend?"

"Everything." C.C. tossed her freshly cut hair. "You still haven’t said anything."

"I’m still trying to get over my shock." Sara reached up, touching her friend’s shoulder length hair. She had it cut were it would barely touched her shoulder. "Next thing I know you’ll be cutting it even shorter."

"I did think about cutting it chin length, but Daddy is coming with Gram in a few days."

"Are they going to meet him?" Sara poked C.C. playfully.

"No…" C.C. hissed.

"Am I going to meet him?" Sara giggled, watching C.C.’s face. "Come on, C.C.!"

"I’ll think about it." C.C. picked up her coffee, smirking. "How are you feeling?"

"Maxwell wants to send me back home to my parents…" Sara, let out a sigh. "I don’t think I can keep my promise to your grandmother."

"Gram will understand." C.C put on her best smile. "I don’t want you to go."

"I don’t want to leave either, but Maxwell feels like when the plays start to wrap up, he might let the director take over, and follow me… leaving Niles and Katherine to close up the house."

*Did she say Niles?* C.C. blinked, looking at her old friend. "Yeah… Well."

"C.C. Are you alright?" Sara noticed the color starting to drain from her face. "You look ill."

*"There is often a strict social order among the classes in England my dear. For some of the elders the mixing of classes simply isn’t done."* C.C. closed her eyes hearing Gram’s voice in her ears.

*It might be a different Niles.* C.C. fought her own panic. She had guessed he worked on someone’s household staff. She had heard from Sara about Maxwell’s butler having grown up with him and them acting more like brothers than servant and employer. "I’m alright it’s just been a long day."

"So you are coming over to the house and bringing him along! You haven’t even told me a name yet!" Sara jumped up in her hair, placing one hand on her swelling tummy. "I have to meet him before Maxwell sends me back home!"

"Yeah… maybe…." C.C. let out a sigh. "Well, Maxwell! I have to go!" C.C. jumped up quickly, looking for an exit. "I have a lot of things to do." She placed a folder Maxwell’s hand. "Your budgets!"

Maxwell blinked, looking at Sara. "Is she alright?"

"I think so…" Sara tilted her head, watching C.C.’s escape.

C.C. let out a long sigh, walking up towards her small little room. She had spent all of her ethics class teasing Niles with her soft tender looks and a simple licking of her lips. She let out a giggling laughter recalling his red face as her hand pinched his inner thigh. The knock at her door was loud and heavy. "YES?" C.C. grumbled annoyed.

"You better answer this door, you tease." Niles roared back.

"Ooo, but Mister Butler… I think I’m safer if I keep my door closed and locked." C.C. let out a purr and leaned against the wooden door. "Don’t you have to work?"

"I took the easy route and did a quick job of it." Niles let out a sigh. "Are you going to keep me out here, Miss Morgan?"

"What do I get if I let you in my small little kingdom?" C.C. played with the lock, quickly unlocking it and locking it back, teasing him the way she had earlier.

Niles let out a groan, hearing the clicks. "I’ll make it worth your while, woman."

"You called me heartless during Ethics class today." C.C. locked it once more and couldn’t stop her huge smile, hearing his soft whimper.

"I’m sorry…" Niles grumbled, leaning his forehead against the door. "Open it? Please?"

"You’re sorry and?" C.C. tapped on the door.

"…and you aren’t heartless." Niles groaned and felt the door give away. His hands reached out pulling her soft form to his hard muscled chest. His lips pulled on hers, and he shivered.

"I have to get dressed for our dinner." C.C. purred as Niles’s hands traveled up and down her back. "Remember we were going to have that long talk?"

"I know… our paper." Niles found his hands now roaming under her shirt, touching her bare back.

"You just love playing with fire, don’t you?" C.C. shivered as she felt Niles play with the catch of her bra. "Niles……You know…"

Niles let out a groan releasing her. "I know … our talk and our dinner."

C.C. smirked, picking a dress out of her closet. "Now stay here and no peeking." C.C. smirked, winking towards Niles who was now resting on her bed.

Niles ran his hand up and down her bed sheet. Like any college student, she had made her bed, but of course, it was still a mess. The soft dark green sheets were made of silk, and Niles closed his eyes trying to picture what it might be like to feel his bare skin in these sheets and on her….

"Niles, could you zip me up?" She walked out of her small bathroom wearing the sky blue summer dress.

Niles reached to pull her zipper up. Slowly his whole body longing to pull her down onto those soft silk sheets. "Are we ready to go?"

C.C. smirked, noticing the high pitched tone of his voice. "Problems, Niles?"

"You’re a bloody tease!" Niles groaned, holding open the door.

"Who says I’m teasing?" C.C. tossed her hair back, and Niles let out a soft laugh. He had to admit, his shock over her cutting it had faded. She had skipped a class in order to treat herself to something special, and Niles felt it did indeed make her look somewhat older.

"One day woman..." Niles grumbled taking her hand and walking down stairs.

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

C.C. let out a laugh as Niles lifted up the strawberry to her lips. "You are trying to spoil me."

"But, of course." Niles smiled, kissing her lips softly. "Where was I?"

"You were five years old and following your father around in a uniform." C.C. let out a giggle trying to picture it. She had fought to keep her emotions in check once she realized this was Maxwell’s butler.

"Yes… holding my little silver tray." Niles smirked, watching her face. "Does it bother you?"

"Does what bother me?" C.C. reached up, wiping some cream off his face.

"My work, you silly woman." Niles found his hand resting on her chin, looking into her deep blue eyes. "That I am a ‘Butler’?"

"As long as I get served as well… who cares?" C.C. closed her eyes, enjoying his tender touch. She could hear her mother’s scream now about getting involved with a ‘servant’, but you only live once.

"You still haven’t told me anything about yourself, Claire." Niles released his hand, looking at her face.

"Your life has soooo many more chapters than mine." C.C. then found her hands resting on his knee teasing him.

"It’s full of pitfalls and missed chances." Niles let out a sigh. *She’s not telling me something, and on purpose I suspect.* "Claire, is something wrong?"

*Oooo let me think..* C.C. pinched his inner thigh, and Niles jumped. "My mind is just on other things." Niles pulled her in closer, nibbling on her neck. "You know Niles, it’s a good thing you got us this private little corner."

"Yes… a very good thing." Niles felt his hands reaching for her zipper. He lightly teased pulling it down, causing her to shiver. "It’s a good thing we are in public woman."

"What would happen if we weren’t in ‘public’?" C.C. purred as Niles pulled her body towards him. She felt how his whole body was so tight with desire, and her own seemed to burn from within.

"You have such thick walls, Claire Morgan…. I would love a chance for you to let me in." Niles was mumbling softly in her ear as his hands danced along her back teasingly.

"Thick walls keep you safe." C.C. now found her hands undoing a few of his shirt’s buttons. She felt the heat coming off his body and lightly touched his bare skin, watching his skin harden with desire. She found her own body cry out for something more.

"What can I do to earn your trust?" Niles narrowed his eyes, pulling back from the series of passionate kisses.

"My grandmother is coming in a few days….So is my father… Try not to embarrass me when we go out to dinner." C.C. chewed on her bottom lip, knowing she was taking a huge risk.

Niles felt his heart leap for joy. She was still protecting something about herself, but she was willing to let him in. "No singing to them….?" Niles couldn’t stop the huge smile breaking out across his face.

"I don’t know, you have a rather sexy voice." C.C. managed to make it back to her own seat after Niles had pulled her onto his lap.

"We should be working on our paper tonight." Niles felt his guilt flood his body. "I know you have a full course load, Claire. I just thought you could use the night off."

"I’m weeks ahead of the game." C.C. smiled as the waiter delivered their meal. "Didn’t you say you had tomorrow morning off?"

"For school… yes…" Niles narrowed his eyes.

"You only have our Art class tomorrow." C.C. purred softly as the waiter soon made a fast exit.

"Yes…" Niles felt his whole body shiver. "What are you getting at?"

C.C. found her cheeks blush scarlet red. "We could work on the paper tonight… in my room."

Niles felt his whole body jump with desire and narrowed his eyes looking at his… his… rather young girl friend. "You want me to stay?"

"Well, you won’t earn my trust until we put it to the test, and besides… people have all night work groups all the time in college."

Niles let out a large sigh, taking her hand once more. "Alright, if you can trust me with your ‘honor’."

"Well butler boy….it’s time for your first test, and we will see if you can ‘handle’ it." C.C. leaned forward kissing his lips softly.

Niles leaned forward pushing her soft form against the wooden door. "You know how you have haunted my dreams?" his hand now fighting to be gentle touching every part of her form.

"Was I any good?" C.C. let out a nervous laugh as she turned to unlock her door.

Niles felt like his whole body was one huge burning flame as she opened the door. His lips attached to hers, the smell of her perfume feeling his nose. Niles felt his shirt rising up as her soft hands started to leave light claw marks on his chest. "Trying to make sure I’ll remember this moment?" He took her hand kissing it, and then she lifted off his shirt, up and over his head.

C.C. let out a gasp, touching his muscled chest, running her hands up and down. She could feel her heart pound against her ribcage as he reached for her zipper. "You know… one day we might get burned from all this heat."

"It will be more than worth the risk, then." Niles smirked as he pushed her dress’s straps off her shoulders. Niles released her only for a moment as her dress took a tumble towards the floor. There she was with her soft ivory skin glowing in the soft lamp light. "God…" She was wearing a light blue matching bra and panties, and Niles felt his guilt rise. "Maybe we shouldn’t..."

C.C. pressed against him grabbing for his rear pushing his groin into her body. She held them there as she shivered from some unforeseen breeze brushed across her neck… no not a breeze, his lips leaving a soft trail. "Don’t… stop… please…"

Niles felt her tug at his belt, and he now couldn’t hold back a groan. His waves of guilt were now ending, and the waves of passion were now taking over his body. He had dreamed of this day since first meeting her but never thought it would lead to this moment. "So soft..." He mumbled, now pushing her back slowly and carefully onto the bed. He allowed his pants to fall down towards the ground as he stepped out of them. His hands now traveled to her chest nuzzling her softly.

C.C. closed her eyes, feeling the tender touches coming from him. She had always thought making love would be something quick and frantic, but Niles was determined to take his time, teasing her with every kiss and look. Every touch was starting new fires in her soul, and now she understood why Gordon enjoyed sculpting phoenixes so much. She tried to fight the large moan that came from her mouth as Niles found a soft spot on her neck that always drove her insane with desire. "Niles…"

Niles felt her body jerk against him and arch up as he kept up the soft sucking on her neck. He wanted to release from his long nights of dreaming… He wanted to feel his body joining with hers, but something inside him told him to be careful. He was aware that a small bird could be frightened away by any sudden noise. His hands were now traveling down as he could no longer hide his desire. "I don’t think … I can stop…"

"Don’t… dear God... Don’t" The fire entering her heart was now a roaring flame as she was freed from the last of her clothing. What she knew of love had been at the feet of her many nannies and grandmother. This… had to be love… Her body ached as she reached out to pull down his boxers wanting him to enjoy the freedom of his naked body on hers.

Niles felt his body shiver as she helped him out of his last bit of clothing. He knew now that this was the point of no return as his body sealed with hers. He took her lips, trying to contain his joy.

C.C. couldn’t stop her moan, feeling the push and pull as the heat grew. She could die at that moment feeling the flames burn away the small timid child she had been. The soft and gentle push on her body caused ripples and waves to engulf her. She could barely remember her name as Niles made her body completely wrap around his.

Niles ran his lips down, softly pulling back on her shortened hair. Her neck arched up at the soft pull, and Niles could feel the chain of his medal around her neck. He smiled thinking about how his mother told him whoever he gave it to…that their travels would lead them back to him. He then leaned forwards still moving gently against her body, nuzzling her ear. "God… I love you."

C.C. felt tears blur her eyes. The words she had often dreamed of but had rarely heard from anyone but her grandmother. She reached up kissing his lips. Her heart begged her to return the gesture, but something inside held her back. She might not be the same C.C. Babcock, but something was determined to guard her heart.

Niles could see her blur of tears and kissed them softly away. He would hear those words from her lips one day. He would remove every scar from her heart until she said it. His back arched, feeling his body tense from the passionate assaults. He could tell from her heavy breathing she wasn’t far behind.

C.C. closed her eyes trying to burn the moment into her brain. She felt the waves hit her as her whole body shivered over and over again. Then he had joined her in that perfect wave of heat. The flame was eating away at them both. She let out a moan as Niles joined her soft cry.

Niles, soon spent, rolled onto his back taking her with him, his eyes looking into hers searching for his answers. "Tears?" He reached up touching her drying cheeks. "Are you alright?" Niles frowned, worried that he had done some harm to her.

"Just hold me." C.C. placed her head down on his chest, wanting to let out a wail of joy and sorrow, thinking about their problems to come.

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

Niles shifted in the bed, reaching out for the soft small body but finding nothing. He opened his eyes slowly, wondering if the event had been nothing but another dream… another wish. He lifted his head up to see her studying at her desk, and she was dressed in his shirt. "Claire, isn’t it two in the morning!" Niles always had a sense of time. He turned his head to confirm.

"I couldn’t sleep, but it looked like you needed your rest, old man." She playfully wiggled her eyebrows at him turning to face the bed. She had a few of her papers out in an attempt to try and study.

"Old man? Come back over here at once, young lady… It’s past your bed time." Niles reached up, managing to tug on the oversized shirt.

"Sending me to bed?" C.C. felt his strong arms around her, and let out a soft moan. "You better be careful, Niles."

"Why?" Niles nibbled on her neck while removing the shirt, pushing it off her shoulders. "The view is sooo…. So…..heavenly why would I have to be ‘careful?’" His hands raced up and down her body as she let out another moan of desire.

"You can have too much of a good thing." C.C. pulled the covers over herself, and Niles jerked them back down playfully.

"Don’t hide all this… not from me." Niles nuzzled and teased her body once more, pulling her onto his lap.

"There is so much…. We have to talk about…" C.C. found her heart racing thinking about her parents, her grandmother… her life… what would he say? What would he think?

"Don’t over analyze this…" Niles smiled, brushing her cheeks softly. "I love you."

C.C. felt her heart pound. There were those words again. Words she had heard only a hand full of times, tossed around. "Niles…. I …"

"It will come in time." His strong arms wrapped around her as he lay on this back, enjoying the feel of her naked body against his. "You’re a highly intelligent woman, but this scares you." He placed a hand softly on her heart, feeling the heavy beat.

"Old habits…" C.C. frowned, holding his hand against her chest, closing her eyes as he leaned forward to kiss her cheek and then trailed up towards her ear.

"We can make new ones together." Niles smiled as she pulled on his body, wrapping herself around him. He could no longer think of anything but his growing desire.

*"Not everyone will be your mother child… You must learn to let out of your fears."* C.C. could hear the shrink’s voice in her brain as Niles made her body ache for him a new. *"You need to believe in a love that asks for nothing."* She reached up, opening herself up for Niles and letting out a cry once they became one.

Niles could feel her ache and wanted to give her anything she desired. He could always sense sadness about her, even from their first meeting, but now it was a wall. His whole body was just begging for release, but his heart wanted answers to her haunted eyes. "I love.. You…. So much." He would say the words over and over… until she did believe him.

C.C. let out a gasp finding her whole body numb from the pleasure. Her hands clawing into his backside trying to match him, but he soon took control over her. Niles knew every point of her body to make her jump and giggle with desire as her lips now sucked on his. She now understood the point of Gordon’s statue. A hint… or a promise of light, while being pulled into darkness. "Niles…" C.C. groaned as his lips now found other places.

"So beautiful," Niles muttered kissing from rib to rib marking each place his own. He smiled, feeling her aggressively pull on his body wanting more of what he had to offer. "So sweet."

C.C. found herself for the third time tonight lost in the rhythm of his body. She was nothing more than an animal as she let out a primal moan he was quick to capture in his lips.

Niles lost all track of time as he felt the force of their bodies give way once more. The force of their pleasure once again blew him away, and he released her rosy red lips with an evil smile. "A man could get use to having you in his bed."

"I think we are in ‘my’ bed." C.C. let out a laugh, feeling another wave of guilt thinking about Sara and Maxwell.

"Indeed, we are." Niles let out a laugh. "Good thing too… I don’t think my employers would have enjoyed the noises coming from my room tonight." Niles let out another laugh.

"Who knows they might have ‘learned’ something about you." C.C. snuggled his chest, letting out a soft sigh. *"Sara might have ‘learned’ something about me as well… enough to either make her happy with joy, or…crazy."*

"Possible." Niles closed his eyes, and this time, he noticed she was ready this time for sleep, as well.

"What shall we do tomorrow morning since we are skipping class?" C.C. let out a giggle as his hand pinched her rear.

"I think we can come up with a ‘few’ ideas." Niles winked. "Sleep. You’ll need your strength."

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

C.C. let out a playful yell, looking at the plane landing. She had spent the past three days in Niles’s arms but had to tear herself away from his arms in order to meet them. "Gram! Daddy!" She rushed up, hugging her father’s neck.

Stuart felt his face grow flush, shocked by the burst of emotion from his youngest child. "Kitten." He smiled, looking down at her face. "I would call you my baby, but you’re a grown woman now!"

"Your hair, my dear!" Gram reached C.C.’s shortened hair, playing with it. "I love it!" She flashed a smile.

"You do look wonderful kitten, and there is a glow about you." Stuart took C.C.’s arm, smiling.

"I feel… different." C.C. blushed, watching her Grandmother’s cold stare. "Daddy… how are things?"

"Work keeps me busy, and I have something for you, kitten." Stuart pulled out a small box handing it over. "I thought…"

C.C. looked from the small box back to her grandmother, and then towards her waiting father. "Daddy, you already sent me a birthday gift."

Stuart blushed, looking at his daughter. "This is something extra."

C.C. opened it up to see the simple gold band. "Oh…. Daddy!" C.C. smiled, looking at the inside of the band. The small engrave image of a phoenix was hidden on the inside of the band. "Why is it hidden?"

"You have this strange habit … kitten, of hiding away parts of your soul." Stuart frowned shaking his head. "I hope … I’m not to blame."

Gram let out a soft grumble, shaking her head. "Come on you two… let’s get going!" Gram waved her cane towards the waiting limo.

"She’s still such a handful." C.C. laughed, watching her father’s face twist in pain. "Daddy… are you alright?"

Stuart closed his eyes, shaking his head. "Some of the things your mother said kitten, but… shook me that’s all."

"Daddy…" C.C. let out a long sigh, shaking her head. "We both need to learn to take things she says with a grain of salt."

"Grain of salt… right…" Stuart mumbled, shaking his head. "C.C. there are things we need to talk about."

"Daddy we can talk over lunch." C.C. smiled as the driver held open the door.

Stuart frowned, shaking his head following his daughter. He titled his head towards his frowning mother who was shaking her head in a quiet response. The quiet looks passed between them. "I want to hear what you’ve been doing, young lady! Don’t tell me nothing but studying!"

C.C. blushed, recalling the heat of Niles’s body. "I have been studying many things." C.C. let out a giggle, watching her grandmother’s face.

"Studying…" The elder woman mumbled, shaking her aged head.

Stuart let out a sigh. "C.C. you need to get out more and spend time with people your own age. Have you at least spent time with Sara here?"

"Daddy… Sara’s been busy with the baby on board." C.C. snickered, shaking her head. "She just waddles around most of the time."

"Basically, you have lost your drinking partner." Gram teased, watching C.C. cough madly.

"I always wondered who was taking liquor out of my cabinet." Stuart shook his head and narrowed his eyes. "C.C. … I’m honestly worried about you, kitten…"

"Babcocks never break under pressure! I can handle anything that happens, Daddy." C.C. winked, reaching for the mini bar.

Stuart reached up, waving her hand away. "We have to talk, and now."

"I can’t believe you would trust that woman…" Gram rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "Stuart for once in your life, let it go and let the child be."

"What?" C.C. looked from Stuart to Gram. "What did mother do this time?"

"Said some hateful things during their divorce hearing." Gram rolled her eyes at Stuart. "Listen to me, for once in your life, boy…. Let it go. "

"Aren’t you the one…..?" Stuart hissed as Gram put her hand over his mouth.

"I know my own words, boy! The truth is a powerful tool, yes… but a lie told over and over can do damage." Gram looked towards a lost C.C. "Lesson for you, girl! When someone tells a lie, or over hears a lie… it can do real damage!" She waved her hand towards C.C.

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

Niles felt his chest tighten as he packed another box. "Niles, is everything alright, old man? That is the third time you have looked at the clock." Maxwell placed more books next him.

"Nothing, sir, I’m just worried about someone." Niles grumbled, recalling her worried look last night.

"Care to talk about it, old boy?" Maxwell tilted his head. "I always bend your ear when I need to."

"Sir, I’m not sure how to put this." Niles let out a long sigh. "Have you ever been around someone who was a mystery?"

"Some people love a good mystery, Niles." Maxwell smirked and let out a long sigh, watching Niles roll his eyes. "Go on old boy."

"She is bright, naïve, sexy, but her eyes reflect sadness behind all of those outer layers." Niles put away a few more books. "I feel like she’s not telling me something."

"Why not sit her down for a long serious talk." Maxwell tilted his head and watched Niles let out an inward groan.

"If we could keep our hands off one another." Niles turned red, watching Maxwell let out a deep laugh. "I have no idea what’s wrong with me, sir. I can’t keep myself under control."

"I think they call that love, Niles." Sara walked down, waddling her way with a small suit case.

"Darling, I could have gotten that!" Maxwell took the small bag from her, frowning. "The doctor told you to take things easy."

"I’ve been in bed all day Maxwell." Sara let out a groan as Maxwell wrapped his arms around her. "I need to go out today and meet up with C.C."

"Her father and grandmother are in town today?" Maxwell narrowed his eyes. "I’m not sure I want you involved in any of the ‘Babcock’ drama."

"I still think these Babcocks are a myth." Niles now flashed a playful smile towards Sara. "Do they fly brooms and engage in witch craft?"

"The way they have handled their children..." Maxwell let out a long sigh as Sarah gave him a look. "I know, my parents aren’t ones to talk."

"Well it’s more than just neglect… They are like pieces on a chess board to Stuart and B.B." Sarah shook her head, rubbing her swelling tummy. "B.B. will say one thing, and Stuart will feel the ‘need’ to tell the children….or tell B.B… Not having the good sense to keep his mouth shut."

"Is he foolish?" Niles tilted his head.

"No… He just plays into B.B.’s hands." Sarah let out a sigh. "Gram would always tell others how important the truth is, but sometimes people can take a lie for a truth."

"Like the time they told C.C. that her favorite nanny was fired for not ‘loving’ her." Maxwell titled his head. "Wasn’t it B.B. that told her that?"

"I hate that woman." Sarah mumbled, shaking her head. "All of her children are a mess because of her… Stuart is no help either."

"Darling…" Maxwell tapped at his watch, and Sarah jumped up.

"I have to go… going to be late." Sarah kissed Maxwell’s cheek, smiling. "Niles! Take the evening off. I have the feel for take out tonight!"

"Don’t mind if I do!" Niles let out a playful purr, thinking about Claire.

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

C.C. let out a groan, listening to her father’s new claims. "Mother says a lot of things, Daddy… don’t believe everything you hear."

"Stuart should have kept his mouth shut." Gram let out a hiss, looking at her watch. "Sarah’s running late! I hope everything is alright!"

"She’s not due for another three months, and that reminds me…. Maxwell’s sending her back to New York next week." C.C. braced herself as both her father and Grandmother gave her sharp looks.

"Well… It was to be expected." Stuart let out a sigh, looking at his daughter. "I’m sorry C.C. … I felt you had the right to know what your mother was saying."

"Did you tell D.D. and Noel this yet?" C.C. felt her heart beating fast and quickly built up her wall. *Cold as ice, and strong as steel… no one will bend you to their will.*

Gram frowned, watching C.C.’s eyes grow strangely cold. "Again Stuart… should have kept his mouth shut. I know who your are, Chastity, and so does your father." Gram hit his son’s foot with her cane.

"OUCH! Course I do! It’s better to have the children prepared for if her lies come across the ocean." Stuart leaned down to rub his leg.

"D.D. and Noel both still destroying Paris?" C.C. flashed her smile.

"I sent them there so they would stay away from your mother." Gram let out a long sigh. "Course your sister has picked up a few of your mother’s habits."

"Translation: She’s looking for love in all the wrong places?" C.C. found her cheeks blush thinking about Niles,\ and wondering what they would say if … "What is she doing?"

"Noel’s trying to keep her away from some… some womanizer." Stuart let out a long sigh. "Someone who is connected to your mother, of course."

"Course what better way to stick it to mommy dear than sleeping with one of her former lovers." C.C. let out a playful snicker. "Who?"

"Who what?" Stuart was growing annoyed by the conversation.

"Who does D.D. have her claws in now?" C.C. let out a sigh. "Tell me all the dirty family secrets before Sarah shows up!" She pulled at Gram’s shoulder playfully. "Come on or we won’t have dinner with my new ‘friend’."

"Lord Charles." Stuart let out a sigh, and C.C. coughed up the tea she was drinking, making a face.

"Is D.D. smoking something?" C.C. couldn’t help it. She knew Niles was older than her, but Lord Charles was only a year younger than their own father.

"C.C.!" Gram let out a groan. "I asked the same question."

"I might miss dinner, kitten… I’m sorry, but your sister is getting out of control." Stuart watched C.C.’s face fall with disappointment. "I promise to make it up to you and your friend."

"That’s alright. I think he’ll have enough problems dodging Gram, here." C.C. winked towards her grandmother.

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

"You don’t know anything about this girl." Edward, let out a sigh, shaking his head. "Niles, you need to find a woman your own age and station."

"Dad, this isn’t like the time of you with the duchess." Niles let out a long hiss. "I know Claire feels something for me."

"Your father is just worried, Niles." Marie let out a sigh, walking into the room. "He has Robert now settled. He is losing you soon to America."

"It’s just an ocean away, and Maxwell needs looking after." Niles let out a groan, noticing his parents looks. "Well the man does need help. Look at him!"

"Elizabeth Sheffield used to joke about you and Maxwell together made up one hell of a person." Marie let out a sigh. "You need your own life, Niles." She reached out, touching his cheek. "Your own family. This Claire came over from the States… so she comes from.."

"Money?" Niles let out an inward groan. "Mother… I am in love with her."

"Only after one month?" Marie noticed her son now backing off. "Do you trust her, Niles?"

"I have to get going… I’m meeting her and her grandmother for dinner tonight." Niles let out a sigh, looking at his mother. "I dream of her… Mother… I now understand the story from ancient Greece, and how men and women search out their missing halves."

"We just don’t want to see you hurt." Marie let out a sigh. "She is something different… you have said this yourself."

"She is beyond different." Niles felt his whole body ache. "I can have long talks with her about any subject, and…."

"Niles… just be careful… you know there is a reason the classes here in Britain have remained separate for hundreds of years."

"Mother…. No matter where life takes me… It will always lead me back to ‘her’. You were able to look past the class system to treat Maxwell like your own son." Niles narrowed his eyes thinking about Claire. "If I can get beyond the walls she throws up."

"Walls?" Marie tilted her head.

"I’ll have to bring her by, Mother. She’s beyond wonderful, but she puts up a strong thick wall around people… or at least around me." Niles felt his hands twist the rag he was holding. "Maybe you can see something I can’t."

"I will be happy to cook her a meal." Marie smiled.

"I’m just wondering what more can I do ... To break down that wall she has." Niles let out another long sigh and looked at his watch. "I better get going."

"Maybe we could invite them both over tomorrow?" Marie chewed on her lower lip, thinking. "It would ease your father’s mind, and maybe,.."

"Yours as well?" Niles let out a soft laugh. "Alright… if it’s alright with you, I will ask them." Niles winked, looking at the full length mirror. "How do I look?"

"You look fine…" Marie smiled, watching Niles leave. "You have to give him a chance, Edward, to make is own mistakes."

Edward let out a sigh coming from the back room. He, of course, was listening in. "The girl is beyond him, and it will lead to nothing but heart ache."

"You just felt used by the Duchess." Marie narrowed her eyes towards her husband. "This girl might not be the ‘Duchess.’"

"Don’t you realize, Marie, that the rich only care for one thing, and that’s how to use another person."

"Is that true of Maxwell?" Marie smirked watching her husband’s face drop.

"Maxwell, is a different creature, Marie." Edward let out a soft grumble. "Now we are entertaining these… these… people tomorrow."

"A good chance to size them up! Edward… lighten up, and for once, have faith in your son. He clearly loves this girl."

"He is going beyond himself… He is a butler… nothing more and nothing less. Why do you have to fill the boys’ heads with such silly dreams." Edward let out a sigh, walking out of the living room.

"Because one of us needs to give them a chance to grow." Marie let out a long hiss, shaking her head.

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

C.C. had changed three different times. She felt a rush of guilt thinking about what Gram said earlier in the day. *"You are in love with this man.. And haven’t told him?…. You better tell him soon!"* She had poured out her heart after her father left the restaurant…and before Sara appeared. The soft knock at the door pulled C.C. out of her thoughts.

Niles stood in the doorway dressed in his best casual clothes. "Did you make a deal with the devil, Morgan?"

C.C. put her hands on her hips. She was wearing a tight summer dress that showed off her womanly curves. "Niles…" She let out a groan and a playful hiss.

"Because no one can be this beautiful." Niles picked her up in his arms, kissing her soundly.

C.C. felt her body ache as his hands went down her curves. The slight touch of his hand on her breast drove her wild with desire. "We have to be……."

"Good?" Niles let out a groan, wanting to reach for her zipper. "God…" He moaned as she tempted and teased him.

"We need another day off… to spend in bed... And this time a full day." C.C. shivered hearing the clock starting to chime.

"You think you’ll be able to walk, woman, after a full day?" Niles purred, finally releasing her from his arms. He smiled as she reached up, wiping away her lip stick.

"The question is ... Will you be able to walk after a full day." C.C. winked letting out a husky laugh. "We better get going… Gram hates it when people are late."

"I could make being late… worth your while." Niles leaned over once more nibbling at her neck.

"I have no doubt you could, Butler boy." C.C. let out a husky laugh, pulling at his hand. "Come on. It’s time to face the elder dragon lady."

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

C.C. didn’t know if she wanted to die laughing or crying. "Gram!" She smiled looking at her aged Grandmother’s appearance. She wasn’t wearing the normal stylish outfit, but in stead she was wearing very causal clothes and blue jeans!

"Well, hello hello!" The elder woman held out her hand, smiling.

Niles let out a nervous laugh. This wasn’t what he was expecting. He was expecting a rather uptight, and stuck up rich lady… this was a rather refreshing change. "Hello, I’m Niles Butler." He reached out, kissing her hand gently.

"Lucy Morgan." She winked towards a blushing C.C.

C.C. felt her mind race. Gram was still playing along with the ‘Morgan’ persona. *"Well at least she used to be Lucy Morgan at one time."* C.C. let out snicker.

"It is an honor and pleasure to meet you." Niles flashed his best smile.

Gram narrowed her eyes looking at Niles. "A pleasure… shall we enjoy a good meal! And of course, some wine!" She let out a husky laugh that reminded Niles of Claire’s.

C.C. felt her face blush. "Gram… we have school tomorrow."

"Course you do. All the more reason to have a little wine, don’t ya think?" She smiled as they reached the table.

"Sorry." C.C. let out a sigh and Niles took her hand in his.

"Don’t be… you might be sorry tomorrow night, though." Niles let out a sigh, shaking his head.

"Well… what do you have planned tomorrow then, Niles, that you should be sorry?" Gram smirked as Niles felt his jaw twist. "I’m sorry Niles… I might be an old woman, but I still have perfect hearing." She flashed a playful smile as she watched the pair sit.

"Gram... I…" C.C. felt herself retreating back into her tight shell.

"She’s rather shy at times." Gram felt her heart melt watching her retreat.

Niles felt his heart racing and his eyes drift from Claire back towards Lucy. "Not that I have ever noticed." Niles reached under the table to give her a soft pat on her knee.

"I’m not going to bite him, dear!… well not much anyway." Gram let out a soft laugh that made C.C.’s blood run cold.

"I’m sorry, Gram, it’s just I’m rather…. Well, we are sort of…and… you see." C.C. recalled her father’s look about D.D.’s latest ‘friend’.

"So you studied at Windsor Castle?" Gram smiled, leaving Niles in shock.

"How the devil did you know that?" Niles mumbled softly, looking at the elder woman’s face.

"You should know it’s the connections you make in life that are real important. I have a friend that works in the palace. You might know her, Niles. Her name is Janet Grady!"

"She’s one of the cooks." Niles rubbed his chin.

C.C. found Gram’s stare cold, but she got the hidden message. *Tell him everything soon before someone else tells him.* "Gram knows all sorts of characters."

"I bet you have some wonderful stories then… Speaking of which, my mother would love to have you over for dinner tomorrow night." Niles blushed, noticing Claire’s frightened look.

"Great .. WONDERFUL!" Gram lifted up her cane. "I would love to meet your parents!"

Niles blushed at the elder woman. She had to be in her late or early seventies. Her small form had a force of life behind it. "They are looking forward to meeting both of you." Niles felt Claire’s hand tighten around his looking for strength.

"It will be alright, dear." Gram winked at C.C. "They are just like any other people you’ll meet, and besides, you might learn something."

Niles leaned in close, listening to stories of Gram’s travels. He felt his heart race listening to a story of Claire tagging along with her on an African safari. "She was three feet in from of the baby elephant."

C.C. rolled her eyes. "How many times and how many people do you have to tell that story to Gram?"

"It’s not every day a six year old manages to walk up towards an elephant, my dear, and live to tell the tale!" Gram put her hand down on the table, and a waiter came by with more wine. "My girl has guts!"

"She has much more than just guts." Niles looked towards her with a soft, reassuring smile.

"You know… Niles…." Gram handed him a piece of French bread the waiter just gave them. "Sometimes the hardest person will have a soft center."

C.C. let out a groan. "I’m not that ‘hard,’ Gram."

"Don’t worry, Gram… I never give up on someone I care about…" Niles felt his cheeks flush as Gram shook her head slowly.

"If you never give up Niles… then you are a rare man, indeed…" Gram leaned back in her chair, and Niles stood up.

"I’ll be right back." He smiled, kissing Claire’s hand.

Gram narrowed her eyes at her youngest granddaughter. "You feel this way about him, and haven’t told him the truth?"

"Gram…" C.C. let out a groan. "What am I going to tell him?"

"I don’t know… I have this crazy idea… THE FULL Truth!" Gram shook her head. "Every time I see you, D.D. or Noel, I want to spank your parents…. You have no faith in people, my dear."

"With good reason." C.C. narrowed her eyes.

"No…. You can’t always blame your parent’s for your own mistrust… If you love him… You need to tell him, and you need to accept he’ll be hurt for the next few days once you tell him the truth."

"I’m …" C.C. blinked as Niles walked back with a man playing a violin softly.

Gram couldn’t help her growing smile, looking from Niles back towards her granddaughter. "Well, Mister Butler… You are quite a man, aren’t ya?"

"Just wait until you meet my parents." Niles winked, pulling Claire into his arms.

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

Niles let out a primal groan, pushing her against the door. "Going to invite me in?" He moved his hands under her shirt, teasing her with little mercy. "You know you want to invite me in."

"Niles…" C.C. found her back arching up against him. She then turned around to open her door.

Niles slammed the door and quickly stripped her of the tight fitting dress. "Too many clothes…" He groaned, kissing a trail down her neck.

C.C. couldn’t think clearly. All she wanted was the sweet release from this torture. She pulled at his shirt as Niles leaned her against the door. He reached over to engage her lock. "We should… talk… about... Something..." She felt the cool night air touch her skin.

.

"Talking is fairly overrated." He picked her up in his arms. "I haven’t touched you in hours." Niles flashed a playful grin.

C.C. bucked upwards, feeling his hand play with her soft skin. He was driving thoughts of their talk from her mind. "We have… homework?"

"You’re ahead, remember?" Niles purred, tossing the soft silky fabric of her underwear across the room. "I prefer to brush up on my biology."

C.C.’s whole body ached as Niles soon had her moaning out with desire. His lips bring pleasure to even more areas than their first time. She felt her body begging for anything he had to teach her. "Niles…" Her fingernails clawed down his back leaving light red marks down is back.

Niles let out a primal groan as she matched his desire. He had never been with a woman who would try to match him. He felt himself reaching new heights as her body wrapped tighter around his. "My god…" Niles groaned as he left his mark on her chest.

C.C. felt her whole body ache for release, but Niles was teasing her. "Please…" She let out a soft whimper.

Niles hissed quietly, wanting to make the moment last, but her soft whimpers were pushing him towards the edge. "Can’t ….stop…"

C.C. arched her back upwards against his chest shivering. "I …I…" Her heart swelled up, demanding she give in and say the words. "love…you.."

Niles felt blindsided and the release of all his fears. He had been afraid this was just a summer’s fling for her, but she had at last said the words! He closed his eyes as they both let out a soft moan after the release. He slowly opened his eyes, looking into her deep dark blue pools. He reached to touch her cheek. "I love you too."

"We have… to talk Niles." C.C. frowned, wondering how he would take the news about her. "A real honest talk."

Niles reached up, brushing away her sweat covered locks. "Alright, my love, but I have this feeling we could use a shower first."

"I don’t know. The shower I have here is sort of small." C.C. giggled as Niles stood up, and carried her in his arms.

"The smaller the better." Niles let out a groan.

C.C. felt her heart race during the shower, and beat even faster as Niles stood their listening to her story. She had told him everything about herself… the trust fund… the fact her father preferred his children to travel under a false name. She waited watching his face twist…

"Sarah… Mrs. Sheffield’s …C.C.?" Niles felt his face grow rather pale. He now realized how young she really was. He always suspected he was around nineteen or twenty, but…. She had JUST turned eighteen.

"Niles, I never meant for...any of this to happen." C.C. blushed, trying to recall Gram’s words about him being a little hurt over the truth.

Niles let out a long sigh. He could hear his father’s comment now about history repeating itself. Was he really making the same mistake? He reached up, touching her soft cheek. "Do you really love me?…C.C.?"

"Yes…" She felt her eyes water with tears of dread and worry. "Let me show you how much."

Niles closed his eyes delighting in the soft kiss from her lips. He pushed away his fears and doubts for just a moment. He then deepened the kiss pulling her body towards him and pushing off her robe. "I love… you too…. Babcock." Niles purred, but he felt something remain in the back of his soul… was it doubt? Or was it mistrust?

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

C.C. let out a sigh, digging the small picture out of the back of her closet. "Here they are!" She let out a grumble as Niles took her hand dragging her back to bed.

"You looked so cute!" Niles took the picture out of her hands, holding her tightly against his body. "Why the look?"

C.C. let out a soft groan, recalling the huge fight she had witnessed between her father and mother just hours before the photo. "Let’s just say Mother had to have her way…. Again." C.C. let out a long sigh tossing the photo back on the floor.

"Why haven’t you come over to the house yet?" Niles ran his hands along her bare back. "Mrs. Sheffield, has been worried about you."

"Sarah is more of a second mother to me than friend." C.C. let out a long sigh. "She and Gram have been the two most important people in my life.. Until now." Her small hand rested on his cheek. "Are you upset with me?"

"Claire… I can understand why your father wanted you to use another name, but…." Niles felt his heart flood with desire and love. "I have heard of the ‘Babcock’ name before."

C.C. let out a soft groan, thinking about in what ‘terms’ he had heard the Babcock name. "Niles, most of the stories you have heard about my family are true."

Niles let out a playful groan, thinking about the stories. "We will cross that bridge when we must.. Cla… C.C." Niles tilted his head, lifting up her chin. "What does C.C. stand for?"

"I’m not telling." C.C. flashed a playful smile as her hands found the right place to tease him.

"Why do I have a feeling… I’m going to regret getting involved with you?" Niles let out a playful groan.

"Well, at least you won’t regret it tonight." C.C. kissed him deeply, feeling his body arch upward wanting her to do more.

Niles let out a hungry groan as C.C.’s head went under the covers. His whole body jumped with renewed pleasure.

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

Lucy Morgan Babcock let out a long sigh walking back in the hotel room. "Well, now it seems like C.C. has found herself a diamond in the rough."

Nick reached his employer smiling. "She was always your favorite grandchild."

"She reminds me of something…. I think, Stuart was missing." Gram sat down, letting out a long sigh. "Tell me B.B. is going to stay away from her children, at least, this year."

"She is with her newest lover, but we both know she’ll be involved with her children soon enough." Nick let out a long sigh, handing over the small crystal glass. "Do you want me to find some way to protect them?"

"I’m tired Nicholas." Gram let out a long sigh. "I hope this Niles Butler is the man I think he is."

"Would you like me to find out?" Nick stood by the elder woman, smiling. "I have many contacts and…"

"I’m having dinner with the ‘Butlers’ tomorrow." She looked inside the glass. "My only wish is to see them happy. I failed their father… I will not fail my grandchildren."

"You can’t be everywhere, Mrs. Babcock." Nick smiled as he watched her sad smile.

"It is my fault Stuart is the way he is… One generation shows the traits of the one before… Remember that when watching your children." She waved her cane towards the man. "C.C. is by far my best chance to see someone… anyone truly happy."

"You can’t protect her from everything." Nick frowned, shaking his head. "Things will happen that are beyond even your control, Mrs. Babcock."

"I know… but it would help if she could grow away from her mother’s influence."

"You can’t keep B.B. Babcock out of their lives forever." Nick narrowed his eyes, and shook his head slowly. "She, after all, is their mother."

"My only hope is to out live my anchor back home." Gram let out an evil laugh. "Then we will see who will win."

Nick let out a long sigh knowing Lucy Morgan Babcock was referring to her aged husband back home. They only saw one another once a year now, if they could help it. It had been a marriage forced on Lucy… If the Morgan name had the money… then the Babcock name had the prestige. It was an odd sort of war, and both refused to end their marriage. "Why don’t you…"

"How many times do I have to tell you… No, Nicholas." She let out a long hiss. "In the long run … I will win this war…"

"You wonder why Stuart Babcock is so messed up?" Nick mumbled to himself grabbing a few items.

"What was that?"

"Nothing Mrs.….I’m coming… Shall I prepare you another drink?"

"Yes! What are you waiting for? And draw me a hot bath, please!" Gram stood up, letting out a soft laugh. "I have to look my best for dinner tomorrow… one day, I have this strange feeling… these people will be family."

"Yes Miss."

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

Niles let out a groan, listening to the professor. Today was going to be packed full of things to do, and all he really wanted was to drag her back towards her small little room.

"You keep looking at that watch! Time is not going to fly any faster." C.C. snickered, chewing on the end of her pencil.

"Just worried about how my parents are going to react." Niles let out a groan, trying to take notes again.

"Your parents shouldn’t be a problem." C.C. winked, but Niles let out a groan.

"You have no idea, Babcock." Niles hissed softly.

"A little louder … I don’t think the rest of the class heard you!" C.C. pushed on his shoulder playfully. Niles let out a sigh, grabbing her hand and pulling her onto his lap.

"Forgive me?" Niles smiled, touching her cheek. He was happy, for today they sat in the far back where no one could see or hear them.

"Niles…" C.C. let out a whimper, feeling his teasing hands touch her skin.

"If we had time today… I would drag you into some dark corner or… closet to have my wicked way with you." Niles released her letting out a husky laugh.

"This isn’t a time to tease. We have to start making progress on this paper." C.C. let out a groan, feeling his hand on her leg again.

"I would rather make progress on you." Niles smiled and pinched her thigh.

"Niles… Now is not the time!" C.C. laughed, watching his face fall. "If you are a good boy… maybe later before we have to pick up Gram we could... Spend an hour or two in my room."

Niles let out a groan. "I can’t… I have to show up at the house to work on packing! Some of the movers are coming later today."

C.C. frowned, remembering she was suppose to see Sarah today. "I guess you are right… neither of us have time today… maybe later tonight?"

Niles shivered because this time he felt her small hand on his leg. "Why not right now?"

"We need to be in here, you remember… Paper… Class?" C.C. found her mind racing. "You know, our grade!"

Niles let out another playful groan. "Then why are you… teasing me, woman!"

"Just repaying the favor!" C.C.’s eyes flashed with desire. "Just think you can pay me back tonight."

"You don’t fight fair." Niles whimpered.

"Like you do?" C.C. let out a long sigh. "I have to meet Sarah today… We haven’t talked about what we are going to tell them yet."

"Tell who?" Niles reached over, touching her cheek.

"Maxwell and Sara!" C.C. rolled her eyes, letting out a long sigh. "We can’t keep this from them!"

"Well, we don’t have to tell them anything yet." Niles smirked, running his hand down her cheek and brushing her hair behind her ear. "We will have enough problems with my family tonight."

"What … problems." C.C. let out a groan. "Niles…?"

"My father has… issues…" Niles let out a groan.

"So should I be prepared for trouble?" C.C. felt her insides jump thinking about dealing with a family fight.

"No…" Niles grumbled, rubbing his temples now. "He’ll be well behaved… The question is will your grandmother mind her manners?"

"Gram is fairly forward, but she’ll hold her tongue unless someone says something first." C.C. shook her head. "Alright, so we don’t tell Maxwell and Sara about us for now…. How long are we going to put it off?"

"Until we are safely in New York?" Niles smirked, picking up her hand and holding it tight. "They have enough to worry about…"

"Alright… point taken." C.C. let out a sigh as the professor waved his hand once more towards the black board. "I’m going to have some wild dreams about this place… thanks." C.C. snickered thinking about Niles’s soft hands on her skin.

"Well it will be something to keep you going until later tonight." Niles wiggled his eyebrows and C.C. let out a burst of rather loud giggles.

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

Niles let out a loud groan walking into his parents’ house. "I’m going to pick her up in less than an hour, and you are going to fight with me over the fact she’s got a trust fund?"

"Niles, you know my feelings on this." Edward let out a loud grumble and tilted his head towards Robert. "At least he sees my point."

"Let’s see, Dad.. The girl makes him happy and is fairly pleasant to look at." Robert let out a laugh as Niles groaned once more. "So she’s rich?"

"Give the girl and her grandmother a chance, Edward." Marie let out a long sigh, walking in with a rather large stack of trays. "You are judging her even before she walks in the room."

"I know of these Babcocks…. You heard the rumors yourself,f Niles… From Sara Sheffield." Edward grumbled, looking at his youngest son. "Why can’t you find someone from your own class?"

"There are times I’m thankful I’m adopted." Robert snickered, whispering in Niles’s ear. "They put less pressure on me."

"That’s because you married the ‘correct’ woman." Niles let out a deep sigh.

"It’s rude to whisper, boys." Marie narrowed her eyes. "Is Anna coming tonight with the girls?"

"Lauren’s still sick, and of course, Mary’s no better." Robert, snickered, getting up. "I would LOVE to be here to witness the fireworks, but my lovely wife will need help."

Niles let out a long sigh. "Give her my love."

"Not all of it! You have to save some for the heiress." Robert let out a husky laugh as Edward tossed a couch pillow towards his elder son.

"Edward." Marie narrowed her eyes shaking her head. "You can’t let your past mistakes cloud everything."

"Shall I repeat some of the rumors I hear about her parents, Niles?" Edward glared towards a grumbling Niles.

"That he’s a womanizer and she’s a harlot?" Niles had heard these rumors before. "Dad, not everyone is like their parents."

"Niles, you better get going." Marie reached him, smiling. "We will see you in a bit."

Niles looked towards his mother and then back at his grumbling father. His eyes begged for his mother to do something, and she responded with a small smile. "I’ll be back."

Marie turned around moments later looking at her husband as Niles shut the door. "He loves her."

"He’s rather foolish." Edward shook his head. "He is a butler, and all these rather foolish dreams have gone to his head."

"He’s right, Edward… not everyone is like their parents. He just wants a chance to see what else is out there, and Maxwell is giving him plenty of room."

"I just see my mistakes, Marie… all over again." Edward let out a long sigh, looking at his hands. "I thought the Duchess loved me."

"Well. That was different, and hey! You have me now." Marie came up to hold him tightly.

"This girl is going to be the image of her parents, but she’s coming here with her grandmother… Alright, love… I’ll give it a chance, but the moment I feel something is wrong, Niles is going to hear about it."

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

C.C. let out a sigh, pacing up and down. "They are going to hate me."

"My dear… stop worrying… You always did worry too much." Gram poked C.C. playfully with her cane.

"The classes here don’t mix, and Niles’s parents are… are… I can hear Mother now." C.C. let out a loud groan, sitting down next to her grandmother. "Daddy’s going to have a fit, too."

"Your father just wants you happy and healthy… but let me worry about B.B." Gram let out a loud hiss. "I’m not too old that this old dragon can’t take on the younger one for a few rounds."

"What about you?" C.C. sat down, looking into her Grandmother’s eyes. "What do you honestly think about this?"

"I think… that you should go were your heart leads you." Gram reached up, touching C.C.’s cheek.

"It could lead me to …" C.C. let out a groan, wondering.

"My dear… The only thing I want out of my life now… is to out live yer grandfather, and to see you, D.D., and Noel happy."

"Happy…" C.C. felt her heart jump at the word. "I think, for the first time in my life … I really understand what that means."

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

Niles let out a sigh, watching Lucy Babcock charm his parents. He had no idea that C.C.’s grandmother used to work in a factory as a child. Niles found out the Babcock’s had the name but little money after the American stock market crashed, but the Morgan’s had the money to help rebuild the Babcock Empire. Niles let out a happy sigh, walking up behind C.C, holding her tight. "Your grandmother is always full of surprises."

"Niles…" C.C. let out a groan as Niles kissed her ear softly. "You better stop that… not here…"

Niles felt his whole body shiver at the idea. "Mother!" He lifted his head up towards the three talking elders. "I’m going to show C.C. around."

"That will be fine dear." Marie flashed a quick smile as Niles took C.C.’s hand.

"Your grandfather worked as a miner?" Edward still couldn’t believe that Lucy Babcock had come from working class origins.

Niles playfully showed C.C. every room and leaned her against the door of his childhood room. "We lived only a few minutes away from James Sheffield, and this room was always an escape for me." Niles’s hand was running up and down her blouse teasing her. Niles turned out the lights so the hint of the fake stars on the ceiling glowed.

"Your parents… and my grandmother are in the other room." C.C. let out a groan as Niles managed to free her from the blouse.

"My parents will analyze and talk to her for hours." Niles groaned kissing a pathway down her neck and nuzzling her belly button.

C.C. felt her whole body shiver. "We... Shouldn’t…" Her mind was calling out for reason, but her hands already ran under his shirt.

"You know how long it’s been since I’ve last touched you?" Niles let out a groan, coming up to taste her lips.

"We’ll make noise…" C.C. now pushed Niles’s shirt off his shoulders, unable to stop herself. "Your parents already think I’m some kind of a …"

Niles made a quick move to quiet her doubt. "I love you…." He groaned as he lifted her up in his arms and placed her on the bed.

"This room better look the same when we are done." C.C. let out a groan, reaching for his belt. Her whole body shivered as Niles pressed her against him.

"How did I ever live without you…?" Niles found his hands pulling at her legs and wrapping them around him.

Lucy let out a long sigh, looking at the Butlers. "To answer your first question… Yes, most of the rumors you have heard about my son and his so called wife are true." Gram felt her whole body ache with pain. "My hope is my grandchildren have a better time of it."

"I’m sorry.. Mrs. Babc… I mean Lucy, for sounding rude, but we are just worried about Niles." Marie had this strange feeling she was warming up to the woman.

"Niles is a good man and has a good head on his shoulders…" Gram let out a long sigh.

"He’s rather blinded by your granddaughter’s beauty." Edward let out a grumble, running his hand in his hair.

"You are worried they will have nothing in common, but they are both witty, charming, and smart… I think they find things to talk about." Gram let out a soft laugh as another thought crossed her mind.

"Niles is a butler… That is what he does. Will your granddaughter be able to accept that if the relationship goes any further?" Edward let out a hiss towards Gram.

"C.C. can handle most things that come her way, don’t you worry." Gram let out a long sigh. "There is only one thing my girl can’t handle."

"What is that?" Marie shivered.

"The lack of faith in her." Gram narrowed her eyes. "Give her a chance, please."

C.C. had to fight back the urge to moan and cry out in pleasure at Niles’s sweet torture. Her hands running up and down his back trying to feel the moment as her legs tightened around his waist.

Niles shivered trying to keep his mind under control. He realized they didn’t have much time, but he wanted to hear it. That soft moan reaching his ears, but then her wiggles and turning made him fight back several yells of pleasure. "So sexy…. So…." He was searching for words, but everything was failing him expect the need to feel pleasure.

"Lack of faith? I don’t understand." Marie frowned, looking at her husband and then towards Lucy.

"Without faith and trust…. We are nothing." She smiled looking at the Butlers. "There might come a time when that fact is put to the test."

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

C.C. let out a groan, walking back inside her room. "They ‘hate’ me." She fell onto the bed. "They love Gram but hate me!"

"No, they loved you." Niles let out a long sigh. "They just come from a different world."

"A different world? Niles, last time I check we are all on one world, the planet ‘Earth’." C.C. let out a snicker, trying to reach for her book.

Niles reached for her hand, kissing it softly. "You know what I mean, woman." He narrowed his eyes. "I’m sorry."

"Sorry about nearly getting caught?" C.C. let out a giggle as Niles nuzzled her neck. "Again?"

"I can never get enough of you." Niles let out a husky chuckle as C.C. dropped the book. He lightly had her on her back. "I’m drawn to you."

"Niles… you remember homework?" C.C. let out a soft groan.

"I’m studying biology right now." Niles let out an evil laugh, but C.C. pressed him upward.

"Homework .. Come on… I know you have a test tomorrow in ONE of your classes." C.C. let out a long hiss as Niles put on his best pouting face. "Why am I being the only responsible one here?"

"Well, they did train you that way back in the stone age… to be responsible that is." Niles winked and let out a long sigh. "Alright… Alright… I’ll study..." He slowly moved off her, letting his hand roam around as he retreated. "You are going to owe me one, woman."

"I think, I owe you several." C.C. rolled her eyes, trying to find her fallen book.

"I hate these classes." Niles sat at her desk, grumbling. "Why do they force you to take them?" He shook his head opening the book.

"Lighten up, Niles… after this you’ll have that degree! What degree is it?"

"Law." Niles let out a long sigh, shaking his head. "Why do I even bother... My father was going on and on about the family tradition of being ‘Butlers.’" Niles rolled his eyes, trying to read.

"Gram says all things change… I doubt our children will walk in your path Niles." C.C. winked settling in on her bed.

Niles blushed at her words. *"She said ‘our’ children."*

"Something wrong Niles?" C.C. looked up noticing he was barely moving. "Did I say something wrong?"

"Nothing." Niles let out a long happy sigh, trying is best to read his text book.

C.C. couldn’t think clearly following the long drawn out pages. Her mind went racing back towards her smiling grandmother. She could get use to the feeling of a real family before long. "Keep dreaming." She mumbled putting a pen in her mouth.

Niles found his eyes aching after a few hours. He turned to find C.C.’s bed empty. He walked into the small bathroom to hear the running of the shower. "Well, I have earned a ‘break.’" He let out a laugh as he started to pull of his shirt.

C.C. felt the hot steam hit her body. She missed her large garden bathtub she often used at Gram’s or… at her ‘home.’ She jumped as the large hands pulled her backside into his lean front. "Niles!"

"I have been a gentleman." He leaned down nuzzling her neck. "I have done my studying, and now … I’ll study my biology!" He pushed her gently against the wall as his whole body shivered.

C.C. let out a large moan as Niles pinned her. "You are going to pay for this one day, Butler." She hissed, kissing his lips deeply.

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

"I wish you didn’t have to go." C.C. frowned, holding her grandmother’s arm. "It seems like you just got here, and Daddy was barely here." C.C. let out a mumble, knowing her father had already headed back to New York.

"This world was made for young people, my dear, and I have to get back to my ivory tower before the knights come!" Gram winked towards C.C. and a smirking Niles. "I think, I’m leaving you in the best hands possible."

C.C. let out a sigh, watching Gram walk towards Nick. "It feels odd."

"What does?" Niles tilted his head, looking at C.C.

"Every time I see her… I feel like it might be the last time, but every time she surprises me."

"I think you are like her." Niles smirked as C.C. wrapped her arm around his waist. "Strong as iron, but with the right kind of softness." His hand ran under the back of her shirt making her jump.

"Niles!" C.C. rolled her eyes, looking at her watch. "We have to get going… we have Ethics in an hour."

"I would rather explore other issues in ‘ethics’." Niles narrowed his eyes, opening the car door for her to climb in.

"Come on, dirty, old man.. I’m not going to let you fail this course and miss out on getting that degree." She smirked, touching his cheek tenderly.

"It would be sooo worth it." Niles pulled her against his body, kissing her soundly. "I don’t want this summer to ever end."

"Niles, do you remember what Gordon told us?" C.C. let out a husky laugh, enjoying his touch. "For every ending, you must remember, there is a new beginning."

"I remember." Niles let out a sigh, releasing her from his embrace, and allowing her to crawl in the passenger side seat. *I also remember what else he said…’You might not like the new beginning, but at least there will be… a new beginning.’* Niles let out a long sigh.

C.C. found her mind racing during class and couldn’t remain focused on the professor. She felt her whole body shiver once more as a cough escaped her throat. "I’m fine." She let out a hiss towards Niles, who raised his eyebrow.

Niles felt a lump of guilt rise up from his heart. He had been keeping her up rather late at night and wondered how much sleep was she getting. "C.C., perhaps I should remain at the home tonight?"

"Why?" C.C. blinked, letting out another light cough. "I’m fine. Just a little over worked from someone."

"Well… even a horse needs a long rest after being ridden hard." Niles winked as C.C. let out a husky laugh that quickly turned into a light coughing fit. Niles frowned, reaching up touching her forehead. He remembered C.C.’s grandmother saying something about her feeling a little warm. "I’m staying home tonight and studying."

"You are actually going to work today? Maxwell might die from shock." C.C. smirked, returning to her notes.

Niles let out a groan remembering his rather late hours. He spent most the nights in her arms, the mornings in school and the rest of his time packing with Katherine. "Maybe just this one night C.C."

"I need my big Butler teddy bear to keep me warm at night." C.C. put on her best pouting face, but Niles let out a groan.

"Neither of us can behave around one another…in private anyway." Niles blushed recalling how many times in public he wanted to drag her off into some private corner.

"Niles…" C.C. touched his leg, and Niles narrowed his eyes.

"I mean it, C.C… You look awful." Niles let out a whimper that sounded like a wounded puppy. "You need at least one good night’s sleep."

"I’ll be good!" C.C. pinched his inner thigh, and Niles fought back a groan.

"You’ll be good, but I didn’t say anything about me." Niles flashed with desire. "I want you in one piece, missy."

"Well, I don’t want to sleep alone." C.C. let out a long sigh.

"C.C. … It’s just one night. What could happen? You might feel better tomorrow."

"I’ll feel better, but you want to ruin all my fun?" C.C. smirked, pinching him again. "I am going to make you pay for this, Niles." She winked, letting out a long sigh.

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

Niles let out another loud groan. "More?" He narrowed his eyes at Maxwell, who placed the books down.

"I’m sorry, old man." Maxwell frowned. "If you need to study, you could take a break." He reached out, touching Niles’s shoulder.

"No… I’m fine, sir." Niles let out a groan, grabbing for another box. "Mrs. Sheffield leaves when, sir?"

"In three days." Maxwell let out a groan. "Are you sure you and Katherine will be able to finish the house without me?"

"It’s not like he’s been much help hovering over Mrs. Sheffield, anyway." Katherine leaned over to whisper in Niles’s ear.

Niles let out a soft chuckle, and Maxwell tilted his head. "We can finish, sir." Niles let out a long sigh as Maxwell left the room.

"Something wrong, Niles?" Katherine lifted up her head from packing the dishes.

"Nothing… I just have someone who is not feeling well…. My….my…" Niles blushed thinking about C.C. "My girlfriend."

"You are awfully cute when you blush." Katherine let out a laugh, and Niles found his face turning even redder. "You know, you could bring her by the house tomorrow… They are expecting Miss Babcock that night, aren’t they?"

Niles let out a long sigh. "Katherine… I have to tell someone."

"What?" Katherine did a double take watching Niles’s face. "Is something wrong?"

"I’m .. I’m…" Niles let out a sigh. "Dating her…"

"Dating who?"

"Miss Babcock." Niles waited as Katherine let out a playful laugh.

"No really….. Really???" Katherine blinked, watching Niles’s face. "Isn’t she… didn’t she… Niles…" Katherine’s face twisted in pain. "Have you heard the stories about that family?"

"I have heard them. In fact, my father had made sure I hear every dirty little detail of B.B. and Stuart Babcock’s mess of a marriage." Niles let out a grumble looking at Katherine’s brown eyes. "We aren’t telling them yet." He tilted his head towards the other room.

"Why not? I’m sure they would both be happy."

"Katherine, I had no idea how young C.C. was when I ran into her. Mrs. Sheffield will read me the riot act if she knew how…." Niles blushed again, thinking about how far the relationship had gone.

"Niles, I would just be careful. I remember that old saying, ‘an apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.’" Katherine reached up, tenderly touching his cheek. "I would hate to see you get hurt."

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

C.C. felt her whole body shiver under the covers. She couldn’t think clearly, hearing the telephone ring. "Hello?" She let out in a weak whimper.

"C.C.?" Niles’s voice was soft. "Are you feeling alright?"

"I would feel better if my butler boy would come over." C.C. made her best whimper noise as Niles let out a soft chuckle. "Please, Niles… I’m finding it hard to sleep without you."

Niles felt his heart beat heavy in his chest. "Give me another hour, and I’ll be by. Have you eaten?" Niles knew it was a rather silly question; she was always painfully thin.

"No… too weak to move." C.C. let out a hacking cough over the phone. "I’ll get something later."

"No, don’t move… I’ll bring you something." Niles let out a sigh knowing his brother’s deli would be open another hour. "I love you… Rest and put that book down." Niles hissed, hearing C.C. toss a book across the room.

"How in the hell did you know?"

"Because I know you." Niles let out a deep purr in his voice. "I’ll be over there in a bit. Try and rest."

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

Niles walked inside, pushing Robert away from putting up the closed sign. "Shutting down early tonight?" Niles looked at his watch. "I still have twenty more minutes!"

"The girls are still sick." Robert made a face. "What do you need, brother dear?"

"Cup of chicken noodle soup." Niles watched as his brother went towards the large kettles. "C.C. now has the ‘bug.’"

"I’m sorry. No doubt the girls left traces of it around Mother and Dad’s house." Robert let out a long sigh. "Believe me… I wish Anna was here helping me tonight."

"Robert…" Niles lowered his eyes, thinking.

"Uh oh… They got to you didn’t they?" Robert placed the soup down and handed Niles a cup of coffee.

"She’s so…. young, and… rich." Niles had been hearing Edward Butler’s words over and over in his head.

"She loves you." Robert smiled. "Niles, there is a difference between her and that duchess dad lusted after."

"And that is?" Niles took a sip of coffee.

"Love… If you allow your fears to overwhelm you then…." Robert let out a loud sigh. "Niles… I can just tell by the way she looked at you in the pub, and the way your eyes light up now. You’ll regret doubting your love and hers in the end."

"I .. It would just… well…"

"It would just be easier if she didn’t have that trust fund? Niles, she is who she is, and I doubt you would want to change that."

"No… do you have some orange juice I can bring her as well?" Niles looked as his brother placed the container of soup in the bag.

"Sure, and Niles… remember if we are lucky…we get one shot at true love."

Niles smirked looking into his eyes. "Anna been reading poetry again?"

"Maybe… I’ll send her your best!" Robert smirked, watching Niles walk out the door.

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

C.C. let out a soft groan, getting up to answer her door. She smiled, looking at his face. "What kept you?" She pulled him into a hug, and Niles groaned.

"My brother cornered me." He laughed. "I so wasn’t going to come by tonight, but I remembered how you never eat." He put down the paper sack pushing her back towards the bed.

"Now, Niles…" C.C. lowered her eyes playfully. "I thought you wanted me to be good?"

"I do. Lie down…" He smirked, handing her the soup and pulling out a small orange juice. "I’m not staying the night."

"Afraid?" C.C. purred, using the spoon.

"Of you? Never…" He let out a laugh watching her face. "You’ll need your strength soon enough. We have a paper to finish!"

"We have something else to finish, as well." C.C. let out a purr, but it quickly turned into a hacking cough.

"You really aren’t up for this tonight." Niles smirked as C.C. leaned back on her pillow, taking another spoonful.

"I guess not, but Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiilessss…" She let out a whine. "I really can’t sleep without you here!"

"I’m staying here until you fall asleep." Niles reached up, touching her cheek. "You still have a small fever."

"Want to know how to cure me of it?" C.C. let out a giggle, and Niles rolled his eyes. "Alright! I’ll behave."

"Good." Niles watched as C.C. handed him the empty bowl.

"See, I even finished it." She grumbled as Niles pulled the covers over her. "Now come on!" She tugged at his body. "I need your arms around me."

Niles groaned, wrapping himself around C.C. He intertwined his fingers to keep from exploring the curves of her body. "Rest." He kissed her forehead smiling.

"Don’t I get a real kiss?"

"C.C." Niles growled as C.C. let out a long sigh.

"Alright! But you are going to pay for this Butler boy."

"I have no doubt I will." Niles smirked as C.C. settled in. He let out a long sigh watching her sleep in his arms. He wanted to move, but she seemed so peaceful. His hand touched her forehead feeling the softness of her skin.

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

C.C. let out a groan as the telephone started to ring. She opened her eyes slowly noticing Niles was gone and the harsh glare of the morning sun lighting the room. "Hello… this better be good." C.C. let out a sharp hissed as her throat caused her to break out in a small coughing fit.

"Sis? Are you alright?" Noel’s voice was sharp but full of worry.

"Noel, How are things in Paris?" C.C. groaned already knowing the answer. "D.D. has gone missing no doubt."

"She took off a few days again after dad’s visit." Noel let out a soft grumble. "Course it didn’t help that mother showed up."

"Mother’s in Europe?" C.C. felt her chest tighten thinking about B.B. Babcock coming to London. "Are you calling to warn me?"

"Either one of them could be in England sis… I’m sorry." Noel let out a sigh. "What’s wrong? You sound awful."

"It’s just a cold." C.C. let out a grumble getting out of bed. "Thanks for the warning… How is Heather? Courtney?" C.C. found her mind racing past a dozen girls her brother had dated lately. "Dammit Noel who are you dating this week?"

"Someone Mom introduced me to." Noel let out a groan as C.C. gasped.

"Noel…."

"I know what you are thinking, Sis… She’s far from the normal high class woman that mom normally would introduce me to."

"Yeah tell me that after your divorce." C.C. grumbled, finding some clothes.

"What was that sis?"

"Nothing! Hey listen Noel, I have to get going. Thanks for the warning." C.C. reached for a shoe as Noel grumbled.

"Mother’s in rare form these days, Sis… I think either she or D.D. will show up on your door step in the next few days."

"Yeah… maybe if I’m lucky, this cold will kill me first." C.C. let out a snicker.

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

Niles frowned seeing her. "I was hoping you would forget about today." He grumbled as C.C. let out a laugh.

"Get used to disappointment, lover." C.C. winked, putting down her books. "I’m not going to let a little cold stop me."

"C.C." Niles let out a long sigh, touching her forehead. "You still have a small fever… You shouldn’t see Sara today."

"She’s leaving soon." C.C. put on her best pouting face. "We were going to tell them tonight!"

Niles let out a groan, nodding. "It will have to wait until we head back to New York." He released her hand. "We should take you to a doctor after class."

"I would rather play doctor." C.C. snickered, reaching for his leg but groaned as a coughing attack took hold.

"That’s it, I’m taking you today." Niles narrowed his eyes, looking at C.C.

"I hate … HATE doctors." C.C. let out a groan as she opened her book.

"If you don’t get well… How can you enjoy my sweet torture of your sexy body?" Niles wiggled his eyebrows and C.C. flashed him a weak smile. "I want you well and in top form."

"Alright… I just …" C.C. found her mind flashing back to odd visits to a shrink’s office at the age of eight and other visits where nannies grumbled about having to drag her to the doctor.

"I’m taking you." Niles found his mind racing as he wondered who would do him a favor at the last moment. "Don’t worry he’ll be gentle." He settled on an old family friend.

"Alright meet me after class."

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

Niles grumbled, walking back and forth, waiting for her in the small hallway. He had called his father’s friend feeling odd, but the man had suggested a house call. Doctor Peter Wellington winked, walking up the long stairway. "Well, well Niles!" He reached him taking his hand.

"Thanks for coming, sir." Niles smiled. "She’s inside and rather fearful of doctors."

"Well… I’m hardly in my office now am I?" He winked, opening the door slowly.

C.C. was lying on the bed, trying to keep the whole world from spinning. She had barely noticed the elder man’s entrance. "Hello?"

"Hello, Miss Babcock." He smiled, taking the chair Niles offered him. "Now let’s see what we can do to get you well." He eyed Niles, who let out a grumble. "If you don’t mind, Niles?"

Niles let out a sigh walking outside. He found his mind racing as the time went by. He leaned against the wall wondering about what Maxwell and Sara might have said tonight. He was sure C.C. had already called Sara. Niles jumped up as Peter walked back out. "Is she alright?"

"She’ll be fine in a few days." He flashed a smile. "Is this the one, Niles?"

"I think so." Niles couldn’t help his growing smile. "How can you tell?"

"The way she talks about you." Peter let out a chuckle as Niles’s face reddened. "I wouldn’t let her go Niles." He raised an index finger, pointing it at Niles.

"I won’t." Niles winked as he was handed a few small sheets of paper.

"Have these filled out, and she has my number." Peter smiled, walking down stairs as Niles opened the door up.

"I’m going to live." C.C. smirked, tilting her head. "Doctor Wellington wants me to spend tomorrow in bed."

"Does he now?" Niles smirked, sitting down next to her.

"Care to join me?" C.C. let out a sigh as another cough took hold.

"Later!" He smiled touching her cheek. "I will be back later tonight, and yes… I’ll bring you something to eat."

"We need to work on our paper, Niles." C.C. let out a groan as he forced her to lay back.

"Soon as you are well… Maybe we will take the weekend off… and…" Niles teased her neck lightly with his touch. "Let’s just get you well first."

"Alright, Butler boy…" C.C. let out a groan as Niles kissed her forehead. "I’ll sleep."

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

C.C. found the next few days pass in a haze. She let out a long sigh shaking her head as she woke up, finally feeling like herself. She looked at the stack of books on her desk and smiled. Niles had also left one dozen white roses. "Niles…" She purred as she looked at her homework, and the flowers.

"It’s about time you woke up." Niles opened the door slowly, smiling.

"I missed Sara’s departure, didn’t I?" C.C. noticed the daisies in her room and let out a sad sigh.

"You did indeed, but they left you in my care!" He wiggled his eyebrows and C.C. burst out in a fit of giggles.

"So you are getting paid to…"

"To hover over you for the next few days." Niles pulled her into his arms. He reached up, feeling her forehead. "Yes, I think you are well enough."

"For?" C.C. let out a giggle. "Did I fall behind much with school?" She let out a groan as Niles was exploring her body. "You think… I’m up for that?" She narrowed her eyes laughing.

"Do you realize how hard it’s been not touching you?" Niles smiled as he trailed kisses down her neck. He found his whole body shivering with desire.

"I think… I have an idea." C.C. let out a laugh as Niles lowered her back down on the bed. "I’ve been in the bed for days." She let out a groan as Niles ran his hand under her silk pajamas.

"You’ve been sleeping… " Niles purred, kissing her stomach.

"I want to get out and see the sun." C.C. felt her own body betray her as Niles sucked gently on her skin.

"I want to see something else." Niles let out a playful chuckle as C.C. groaned.

"You aren’t fighting fair!" C.C. pulled at Niles, but he refused to let go.

"This coming from a Babcock?" Niles lifted up, taking her lips. "You still need more rest anyway… before this weekend."

"I don’t think this is… resting." C.C. let out a groan as Niles kept on teasing her.

"It isn’t?" Niles lifted up, kissing her lips softly. "Mrs. Sheffield wanted me to make sure you got plenty of rest."

"I don’t…think this is what she had in mind, Niles." C.C. groaned as she felt her top being pushed from her body.

Niles lifted his head up, smirking. "Well you ARE in bed, and you ARE on your back?" Niles laughed as C.C. wiggled against him.

"Well since we are in bed…" C.C. started to unbutton his shirt now, willing to play along with his game.

Niles let out a groan, feeling her soft thin body explore his. He couldn’t help the feeling that he needed all of her. "C.C." He groaned as they both fought the urge to rush. She was under his skin and a part of his soul now.

C.C. found her body awakening now. After days of illness she had missed his touch. She pictured a storm, and they were apart of the turmoil. She ached for his touch and his rain of kisses down her body. "Niles…" She shifted, wrapping her legs around him.

Niles felt his heart swell, letting out a loud moan as he felt himself become one with her. He couldn’t help the strange feeling C.C. always left him with. He was whole, but wanted even more from her with every touch. He just wanted more; she was like some odd drug for him.

C.C. shivered, letting out a husky laugh looking into his blue eyes. She could tell he was analyzing the wave of feelings, but she reached over to pinch his rear.

"I wish….." Niles hissed nibbling her lower lip.

"What Niles?" C.C. tilted her head.

"I wish this summer would never end." He reached for her cheek, touching it tenderly. "I could die a happy man right now."

"If I’m dreaming… I hope I never wake." C.C. smiled, touching his chin, and placed soft kisses along his jaw line.

"If I’m dreaming let me never wake." Niles smiled letting out a happy sigh.

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

"Sara, darling." Maxwell kissed her hand. "I wish you wouldn’t worry about her. Niles will take good care of her while she’s ill." Maxwell frowned, taking Sara’s hand, leading her outside the limo. "Come see your new home!"

Sara found her heart pounding and a smile crossing her face. "O Maxwell!" She let out a soft giggle, holding her pregnant belly.

Maxwell felt his heart swell in pride. "It has an office inside… I can work out of the house, darling, and it has plenty of rooms."

Sara blushed as Maxwell showed off the New York house.

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

Niles let out a long sigh, watching C.C. work on homework. "Your teachers have given you extra time C.C. how about we ..."

"Just give me an hour Niles then I’m all yours."

"Is that a promise?" Niles tickled her neck with his lips.

C.C. let out a groan as the phone started to ring. "Hold that thought." She pushed Niles aside. "This is C.C. What do you need?"

"Well, well, hello little sister!" D.D.’s voice was full of mischief . "How are you doing, all locked away in school?"

"D.D…. how are you doing." C.C. gave Niles a look of disappointment, and Niles let out a soft groan.

"I’m in town, sister dear, and I was wondering when we might have a meeting! The Babcock sisters painting the town red!"

"Maybe in a few days after the weekend, D.D. I have a lot of homework." C.C. groaned hearing D.D.’s laughter. "Well I do! You remember work?"

"That is why I’m not cut out for college… never was despite what Daddy and Mommy dears try to do." D.D. snickered and mumbled. "You will see me soon, right? Let me give you the number."

C.C. let out a long sigh, hanging up the phone. "What’s wrong?" Niles watched C.C.’s face twist in pain.

"Trouble…." She groaned, looking at Niles. "How fast can we get out of town this weekend?"

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

C.C. let out a playful giggle as Niles held her tightly in his arms. "When I said out of town, I didn’t expect some out of the way cabin!"

"This is Robert’s cabin." Niles let out a happy sigh as C.C. wiggled in his arms.

"Are you going to let me down?" C.C. hissed, and Niles shook his head slowly.

"You need a few more days off your feet." Niles walked towards the back room, and C.C. let out a small gasp noticing the room was full of red roses.

"Niles." C.C. felt her heart skip a beat. "You didn’t have to do…"

"Yes I did." Niles smiled, laying her down on the bed. "I wanted to show you how much I love you," his hands touching her cheek tenderly. "C.C., I … You know, you mean everything to me."

"You mean everything to me, as well." C.C. found tears forming in her eyes as she pulled his lips towards hers. She felt her whole body shivering as an aching desire over took her.

"Don’t we have homework to do?" Niles smiled, trying to push away.

"As you would say, Niles… I’m studying biology even as we speak." She pulled Niles’s shirt off his body, letting out a soft sigh. "Love me…"

"With all my heart." Niles smiled and let out a soft sigh holding her tightly.

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

D.D. Babcock let out a loud groan, finding no one answering C.C.’s door. "Wonderful. She’s gone." D.D. smiled, turning around looking at Noel’s face. "You still think this is a bad idea?"

"Sis… She’s studying at one of the greatest colleges in the ..."

"Yeah right studying... I doubt she’s studying on the weekend, Noel…"

" Why did you agree to Lord Charles’ invite?"

"He might be our dear old step daddy soon." D.D. let out a playful hiss.

"Not if you keep on sleeping with him… I know you D.D. you want to stick it to mother any chance you get."

"Mother has done her best to ruin our lives… I just want to repay the favor."

"This quest of vengeance, little sister, is going to cost someone." Noel let out a sigh and waved D.D. onward. "Come on… I’ll buy you dinner, and we’ll figure out how to tell Dad we both have left Paris."

"Come on, Daddy will love the fact we are watching baby sister." D.D. smiled as the limo pulled up.

"Yeah. Daddy will love it. I wonder what Gram will think when I tell her tonight." Noel sighed, rolling his eyes.

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

C.C. shivered, feeling the soft rose petals touch her bare skin. "You are twisted, Butler boy." She giggled as she inhaled the rose’s scent.

"I think you rather enjoy how twisted I can be." Niles let out a husky laugh as C.C. turned in his arms.

"We should really think about finishing our paper this weekend, Niles." She frowned but placed a trail of kisses along his chest.

"What’s the hurry, Babcock?" Niles pinched her rear as C.C. let out a loud groan. "Do you want to get rid of me quickly?"

"I am never getting rid of you." C.C. let out a sigh.

"Then what is the hurry?" Niles felt doubt enter his heart, recalling his father’s words of how the rich treats members of the ‘working’ class.

"If you would listen in class, you big British goof ball… You would have heard the professor’s offer." C.C. giggled as Niles rolled over on his back.

"We could skip what’s left the summer season if we turned in our paper this weekend."

"That’s not much of an offer… I bet you have that offer in all your classes." Niles narrowed his eyes, and C.C. let out a playful laugh.

"How did you guess?"

"Because men go weak looking at you." Niles let out a sigh. "Alright, C.C., I would love our mornings free."

"Already getting ideas what to do?" C.C. snickered as Niles kissed her softly. "It would be nice to sleep in after those long nights."

"I like the way you think, Babcock!"

………………………………....................

Niles let out a groan as C.C. walked towards him in his best button shirt. "What do you think you’re doing Babcock?"

"Did you say you had a test Monday?" C.C. strattled his lap, facing him. "We are going to study."

Niles let out a soft groan, holding her tight. "If this is studying…" He reached for a button, but C.C. playfully slapped his hands away.

"For every right answer you give me… you get to unbutton a button." C.C. purred, nibbling his neck.

"And for every wrong answer?" Niles groaned as C.C. slapped away his hands again.

"I button back up." C.C. let out a snicker as Niles groaned.

"Babcock, you aren’t fighting fair." Niles let out a groan, dropping his book.

"Just think, Niles, no one is around for miles." C.C. teased him by wiggling on his lap. "You could make me scream with desire… if you manage to get the shirt off."

Niles groaned, looking into her deep blue eyes. "What would I do without you, C.C.?"

"You would be a mean, old man…" C.C. picked up Niles’s text book, smiling. "Question one…"

Niles let out a long sigh, running his hands down her bare back. He was unsure about all these mix feeling in his heart. He would always be someone from the lower class, but C.C. had accepted him…. Hadn’t she? Niles groaned, shifting out from the bed. He roamed the cabin, picking up the stuff they had knocked over. He rushed as the telephone rang.

"Hello?"

"Well, hello little brother! Having a good time?" Robert’s voice sounded fairly chipper.

"Yes." Niles let out a groan.

"Did you think more about what we talked about?" Robert let out a long breath and noticed Niles wasn’t responding. "Niles?"

"Marriage…" Niles felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. "Robert, I’m not sure that is a good idea yet."

"You two can’t keep your hands off one another." Robert let out a groan. "Your eyes light up…. Niles… Don’t let her escape!"

"Don’t push us, Robert." Niles let out a soft snicker.

"I’m not pushing… I am fairly worried."

"I love her, Robert, and I have no doubt she loves me… Why are you worrying?" Niles pulled up a stool, sitting on it.

"I have no doubt you love one another very much… I’m just worried about other factors, little brother." Robert let out a rather loud grumble.

"What has Dad been doing?"

"Nothing you can’t push away with a few wedding vows." Robert let out a chuckle already knowing Niles’ answer.

"Robert, don’t start."

"I’m not starting anything… I just think with the vows of marriage, you and her are…"

"Things will happen, Robert, and nothing will change what’s to come."

"I would sure feel a lot better if you had some ‘guaranties’" Robert grumbled, letting out a long sigh.

"Well, I better go. I have a wonderful woman in bed." Niles let out an evil chuckle, hanging up the phone.

"Let’s hope everything ends up alright." Robert let out a sigh, holding one of his little girls. "Let’s hope your uncle is a smart man."

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

"Fate… Do you think a phoenix knows its fate when it’s born from the ashes?" C.C. let out a sigh looking at the typewriter.

"To die in flames and to be reborn?" Niles let out a long sigh. "What’s wrong, Babcock?" Niles reached her bare feet smiling. His hand reached her feet, rubbing them slowly. "I think there are worse fates."

"You know what Gordon’s art is all about, don’t you? Transformation! It’s a soul transforming itself." C.C. let out a long sigh, tapping at the typewriter.

"I don’t think a soul can survive such pain." Niles let out a sigh, shaking his head.

"Do you have a lack of faith, Niles?" C.C. tilted her head, smiling at him.

"It has nothing to do with faith, C.C." Niles smiled, shaking his head. "It has everything to do with pain."

"You think that the flames burn so brightly, and so hot that…. "

"I think a phoenix wants to forget its former life and try again with a fresh start." Niles smirked, kissing her bare feet. "A phoenix can never go back to what it once was, so it embraces pain."

"Do you want to go back?" C.C. narrowed her eyes. "Do you want to forget everything?"

"Everything? Every moment I have had this summer?" Niles reached up touching her chin. "I can never in my life…. Forget these moments…"

"I love you…" C.C. smiled closing her eyes.

Niles pulled her out of the chair. He pulled her close to his body. "I love you… so very much." He nuzzled her hair, smiling, but C.C. let out a husky laugh.

"If we keep this up, Niles, we will never get this paper done." Her hand ran down his bare chest.

"You keep that up, and it won’t matter." Niles growled, looking into her eyes. "Alright, alright…. We do have a paper to finish!" Niles groaned as C.C. hopped out of his lap.

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

D.D. tossed her blonde hair around, displaying the new color to her elder brother. "What do you think?"

"D.D." Noel let out a groan, looking at his sister.

"I rather like the color." She turned around, playfully displaying her new dye job. "I think it makes me look more like Daddy then Mommy."

Noel let out another groan, rolling his eyes. "Why is it you always have to play games? Are you doing this to annoy C.C.?"

"Annoy baby sister? Why would I want to do that?" D.D. laughed loud. "Come on Noel… I’m just having fun with Chastity."

"D.D. you have bad luck when it comes to teasing anyone." Noel pulled on his sister’s hand. "Please don’t do anything foolish!"

"What harm can I do?" D.D. rolled her eyes, walking out of the room.

"Why do I have this strange feeling those are famous last words?" Noel mumbled, opening up the history book once more.

"Have you tried calling baby sister?" D.D. called out again.

"She’s not answering, and I know mother’s due here any moment." Noel mumbled softly to himself. "For once C.C. took my advice and got out of town."

"What was that, Noel?" D.D. came out growling.

"Nothing." Noel let out a long sigh, shaking his head.

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

C.C. let out a groan, looking at the rather large bathtub. "Yes, Niles?" She giggled as Niles, tapped at the door.

"Are you going to keep me locked out, woman?" Niles groaned and whimpered at the locked door.

"Well Butler boy… I’m too lazy to reach the door." C.C. giggled, climbing into the rather large bath tub.

Niles groaned wiggling the door knob again. "What do I get if I manage to make it inside?"

"I’ll be all wet." C.C. purred and let out a husky laugh hearing Niles’s faint groan.

"You’re teasing me woman!" Niles wiggled the door knob once more.

"I know what they say… You shouldn’t tease the animals." C.C. giggled, splashing around in the tub. "Can you hear that, Niles?"

Niles let out a groan looking at the door. He wondered what Robert might say if he found the door damaged during his next outing here. He heard another playful splash of water and left to search for a screwdriver. "I’ll be back for you!"

"I’ll be here!" C.C. let out a long sigh, leaning back in the bathtub. She hadn’t had a night long hot bath all summer in the small room she had rented. Just feeling the hot water surround her was relaxing.

Niles let out a groan, coming back with the screwdriver. "Just you wait, you wicked witch!"

"Wicked, am I?" C.C. purred, closing her eyes. "I’ll have to remember that if you manage…" She blinked, turning over to see the knob moving. "NILES!" She let out a delightful giggle as Niles broke in.

"Get ready to suffer!" He groaned, seeing her in the tub.

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

"Servant." C.C. hissed, holding his arm. They were walking towards class in a fit of giggles over their rather interesting weekend.

"Witch!" Niles purred quietly, kissing her forehead. "What are we going to do after we turn this in?"

"I have a few ideas." C.C. purred, turning around in his arms.

"It can’t top you helping me study this weekend… and I still have that test today, C.C." Niles nibbled her nose playfully.

"Are you going to tell your brother about the bathroom door?" C.C. giggled softly as Niles let out a groan.

"How to explain that one to him..." Niles tapped his chin. "My girlfriend was naked in the tub taunting me?"

"You better give him the G-rated version." C.C. let out a husky laugh.

"Knowing Robert, he’ll want the R-rated one." Niles smirked as C.C. led him inside the door. "There it is!" Niles smiled at the phoenix statue. "I wonder when Gordon will give it a proper name."

"When will you get a proper job?" C.C. purred, pulling on his hand again.

"I love my job, and when it means I get to take care of you, all the better." He groaned, looking around and pinning her playfully to a wall.

"I can’t stop wanting you." Niles leaned in, whispering in her ear.

"If you don’t stop, at least for now, we will never get this paper turned in…" C.C. let out a husky laugh, arching her back up into him. "It might be worth .. giving up the grade for a wild time."

"Soon." He released her from the wall.

C.C. let out a long sigh as the both had to sit through one last class. Their hands racing up and down, touching and teasing. She watched as Niles’s eyes darkened as her hand went up and down his thigh. "What’s wrong?" She giggled as Niles let out a groan.

"Babcock." He turned her chair around, growling.

"Yes?" C.C. let out a nervous giggle looking into his eyes.

"We turned in our paper correct?" Niles groaned as his eyes traveled up and down her body.

"Yes." She looked around at the students starting to leave.

"Then move it." Niles pulled on her arms, making her stand up. Niles found his mind turning, looking around every corner for a private area. "Bloody Hell!" He groaned noticing the closet locked.

Niles pushed his way into the small gift shop. "Do you have a lunch break?" Niles looked at the small woman running the shop.

"Please…" C.C. rolled her eyes, pulling out her father’s first birthday gift, the necklace.

"Are .. Is that real?" The elder woman’s eyes lit up in shock.

"Want it? Then leave for an hour." C.C. groaned as Niles was pulling her tight again his hard muscled front.

The woman didn’t have to think twice, picking up the diamond necklace, and locking the door. C.C. turned around, finding her blouse already coming apart.

"Tease!" Niles groaned, putting her up on the counter as C.C. let out a long laugh.

"You love every…" C.C. blinked, feeling Niles’s soft gentle touches. She leaned down, kissing his lower lip with almost a madding craving. She tried to move from the counter, but Niles kept her still.

"No…" Niles groaned as C.C. pulled his own shirt up and over his head. "Since we only have an hour…don’t move." Niles groaned, kissing her, pushing and pulling at her body.

C.C. felt her whole body light up in a flame of desire. She reached down, pulling on his pants, and Niles let out a low groan. She knew he would love to tease and pleasure other areas, but with her pinching of his body. She was already in trouble.

Niles felt his body betray his wishes. He wanted to slow down the moment, but he had been pushed into this by her teasing. With one push they were one and Niles let out a groan kissing, sucking… devouring her neck.

C.C. shivered as her body tightened around his. She wanted to feel the moment and the flames of passion now burning her body with every touch.

"Claire…" Niles felt his whole body shiver and heard the counter crack. With both of his hands, he picked her up, wrapping her legs around his body.

C.C. groaned, feeling his desire pour into her. His soul was now joining with hers, and she could barely keep herself from screaming out.

"You are a handful." Niles groaned as they both came down from their passionate high.

"You have no idea, Butler boy." She let out a laugh, feeling his chest, smiling. "I love you… never forget that."

C.C. let out a laugh as the elder woman walked back in her shop. "Did you expect it to be ruined?" C.C. smirked, handing her another few hundred pounds. "Your counter did crack under pressure!"

The woman stopped as Niles let out a laugh, walking away with C.C. in his arms. She went up to the counter noticing the rather large crack. "What kind…of pressure?" She grumbled, shaking her head.

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

"I wish I could take this test for you." C.C. rumbled, touching his hand. "I hate leaving you even for a moment."

"I hope you keep that in mind for tonight, Babcock." Niles let out a purr, touching her lips. "I intend to make up for our parting." Niles teased her neck, and C.C. looked around.

"You make me feel like… I fell into a ring of fire." C.C. giggled as Niles let out a low groan.

"It burns, burns, burns.. The ring of fire." Niles kept on nibbling her neck, singing softly.

"Niles, I have to go. So do you." C.C. smirked, pushing him away with a sigh.

"So. Where?" Niles smirked, looking at C.C.

"Where what?"

"Are you going crazy, woman?!" Niles reached and pinched her.

"Keeping track of me, are we, Niles?" C.C. snickered, wiggling out of his arms. "I’m an adult!"

"You are so much more than that, woman." Niles purred and let out a long sigh. "I know. I have to get going."

"Just think of what tonight will bring." C.C. laughed, touching his pouting face tenderly. She felt a strange pull tugging at her heart.

"Is something wrong, C.C.?" Niles closed his eyes, enjoying her soft cresses.

"Just a strange feeling… like something is telling me not to leave your side today … not for a moment." C.C. frowned as Niles opened his eyes.

"That’s a bad sign isn’t it? A Babcock afraid of the unknown?" Niles let out a playful snicker as C.C. pulled back. "I’ll be fine! I’ll see you tonight."

"Remember, later tonight… I have something to attend to." C.C. let out a long sigh, knowing she couldn’t avoid her family forever.

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

Noel let out a long sigh seeing C.C. at the door. "Thank god…" He opened it up quickly, hugging C.C. tightly. "Happy you took my advice and got out of town for a bit." They both looked up, hearing the crashing noise of something breakable being thrown.

"You’re a mess Debra Diane!" B.B.’s loud hiss came across loud and clear three floors down. "HE’S YOUR FATHER’S AGE!"

C.C. let out a groan, looking into her brother’s eyes. "She knows about D.D.’s affair with Lord Charles."

"Yup…" Noel let out a groan as D.D. came running down stairs.

"She’s freaking lost it!" D.D. waved her hand towards her siblings. "Where have you been, baby sister, dear?" She quickly hugged C.C., smiling.

"Hiding." C.C. smirked, hearing B.B. make her way down stairs. "You better run, Dee, while you have the chance." D.D. winked, opening the front door, making her escape.

Noel signaled C.C. to follow, but B.B.’s voice rang out loud and clear. "Claudia! Where have you been?!"

C.C. let out a groan, looking towards her old brother. "At least she gets your name right."

"Barely." Noel whispered as they both turned around slowly.

"Where have you been all this time?" B.B. was a beautiful woman still in her prime. She had her first child, Noel, at a very early age.

"You remember… I came here to study, Mother." C.C. let out a snicker, looking at the woman.

"It was a weekend, my dear! Not even, Nicholas studies during the weekend." B.B. narrowed her eyes towards Noel, who let out a painful sigh. "You will have dinner with us! We came all this way to see you."

"No mother. You came all this way to make trouble!" C.C. turned around hissing, pulling on Noel’s arm.

"Don’t you two walk away from me!" B.B. rumbled, waving her hand towards C.C. and Noel. "What disrespectful children I raised!"

"Yeah… right… you raised." C.C. let out a hiss, opening the front door, dragging her brother outside. "I thought Gram was going to keep her away from Europe while we were all here."

"You know mother… when D.D. started to make trouble, she runs in, trying to save the day." Noel let out a long sigh.

"No… she runs in trying to save her good name." C.C. rolled her eyes, sitting down on the steps. "What is D.D. doing with that uptight Brit anyway?"

"What are you doing with yours?" Noel smirked, watching C.C. blush. "Come on, Sis. I’m not stupid… What’s going on?"

"Love…" C.C. felt her blushing cheeks. "Noel, I have never been so happy and so fearful it will all blow apart."

"Mother and D.D. do have a strange habit of leaving a rather large pathway of destruction everywhere they go." Noel took his sister’s hand. "I’ll do my best to help you in anyway way I can."

"We both know something is wrong with D.D. or she wouldn’t be acting out like this… We both know, and Daddy doesn’t seem to care." C.C. felt her lower lip tremble.

"Mother neither… I’ll get to the bottom of it, sis." Noel winked.

"You were always more a father than my brother." C.C. leaned on his shoulder, smiling.

"Maybe that’s the problem with the three of us." Noel let out a soft sigh. "I didn’t do a good job raising us right."

"We survived a rather interesting childhood."

"I want you both to do more than just ‘survive,’ sis… I want you to open your heart to something greater than … than…" Noel waved his hand at the rent house.

"Than the Babcock name and money?"

"Maybe you have learned a trick or two." Noel did a double take, smiling. "I can’t wait until we get back to New York so I can get to know the new and improved Chastity Claire."

"Nate!" B.B. yelled out again, and both Babcock siblings let out a long sigh.

"I’ll call Gram tomorrow and get rid of her… Then I’ll talk to her about D.D." Noel stood up, touching her cheek. "Shall we escape somewhere fun?"

C.C. looked at her watch. Niles would be hours yet. "Right behind you, brother dear!" C.C. smiled as he let out a laugh.

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

Edward Butler let out a rather large groan picking up more items off the floor. "I don’t understand these people" He mumbled shaking his head. "Why they can’t pick up a simple piece of paper?"

He let out a long sigh as Marie smirked, watching her husband. "Now, Edward." She let out a sigh, shaking her head. "We agreed to clean this house for the extra money this year." They both had been enjoying early retirement, but took odd cleaning jobs to purchase gifts, and other things.

"I know, my dear, but… This man is awful." Edward’s face twisted thinking about Lord Charles. "He is everything I hate about the upper class."

"You judge people too harshly, my dear." Marie touched his cheek tenderly. "Lucy Babcock and C.C. seemed like good people."

"’Seemed’ is the key word." Edward grumbled, waving his hand. "We better hurry… or we will never finish."

"I’ll be working up stairs, my dear." Marie winked walking around.

Edward let out a long sigh picking up a few items. He lifted his head, hearing the soft laughter of a young woman in the dinning room. The deep voice of Lord Charles could be heard laughing louder. Edward’s face twisted hearing the sound of a crash. "Idiot." He groaned now knowing what they where doing in the dinning area. The soft moans filling the air.

"Babcock…" Charles’s voice grumbled as the woman let out another sharp quick moan.

Edward froze in horror… Did he say Babcock?

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

Niles let out a groan. He had just gotten home and turned around to see his father in the doorway. "What is it, Dad? I have a few more boxes to pack today, and then…"

"Son you must come with me quick!" Edward pulled on Niles’s arm. "I won’t take no for an answer."

Niles looked at his watch, letting out another groan. He was supposed to meet C.C. in an hour. "Can this wait?"

"No!" Edward hissed, giving his son a final push out the door.

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

C.C. smirked, looking at her laughing brother. "You sure about this girl, Noel?" C.C. hadn’t seen Noel happy in a long time. In fact, she couldn’t recall when this smile was ever on his face.

"Are you sure about this boy?" Noel sipped his ice tea laughing. He watched C.C.’s face blush. "Wow. You are indeed in love! I thought you would turn out an ice queen like mother."

C.C. coughed up a piece of salad smirking. "No one is like mother."

"Thank God." They both grumbled together.

"So are you going to tell me about him? Or keep me guessing for a while longer?" Noel winked as C.C. let out a groan.

"Noel…. No one should see more than one Babcock at a time."

"How are you going to sneak him past mother, then?" Noel winked as C.C. let out another groan of pain. "Uh Oh… what is it?"

"Well, she might have a problem with something…" C.C. started to recall how her mother behaved around servants. "It’s kinda…."

"This should be good." Noel folded his arms, waiting for C.C. to find the correct words. "Well, sis? He isn’t some mob boss?"

"No. That’s D.D.’s area." C.C. snickered, shaking her head. "He’s… a butler." She mumbled, and Noel did a double take.

"Come again?" He smirked, lifting up his sister’s chin.

"He’s a butler."

"How old is he?" Noel let out a hiss, and C.C. groaned.

"Does it really matter?"

"Oh... boy…" Noel rolled his eyes. "C.C... you know you’re a young woman and men of a certain age…"

"Here we go..." C.C. groaned, rolling her eyes.

"What?" Noel did a double take. "You’re awfully grumpy!"

"You’re in ‘father’ mode again." C.C. let out a long hiss. "Gram didn’t seem to have a problem with him."

"C.C., you need to be careful, that’s all." Noel let out a long sigh. "Once you get home, your trust fund is all yours to do with as you please… but."

"I don’t really care about the money, Noel." C.C. smiled, her hands reaching for the Saint Christopher medal Niles had given her. "I just … well… love him."

"Men tend to do foolish things, C.C… I want you to remember that."

"This coming from the expert?" C.C. reached over, pinching her brother’s arm. "Now since you DO have control of your trust fund! The bill is all yours!"

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

Niles couldn’t believe what he had just seen. The toss of blonde hair, and the moaning. "Niles?" Edward had walked Niles back to the Sheffield home. His son hadn’t spoken since they both looked into the stain glass window.

Niles closed his eyes, sitting down on the floor. "Go…"

"I’m not leaving you with that woman." Edward reached out for his son’s arm. "Come home, lad… let us help you."

"Go." Niles put all his rage behind that word looking into his father’s eyes. He didn’t want to hurt anyone.

Edward walked out, slowly shutting the door. He felt his whole body shiver, and looked up noticing the cool wind had been replaced by a storm. "Bloody bitch." He mumbled, thinking about C.C. Babcock.

He stood up, walking into the empty kitchen, grabbing a glass that had been left for his use. Niles let out a long sigh pulling out the vodka. He poured a good helping, taking a long hard gulp. He felt the weight of the glass and still heard the lovers’ moans in his ears. In an instant, the glass shattered in his hands as his own tears started to fall.

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

C.C. let out a playful laugh walking inside the empty Sheffield home. She turned her head noticing Niles. "Niles?" His eyes were dark, and his face had a snarl. "Niles?" She walked up slowly, noticing the bandage on his hand.

"What do you need, Miss Babcock?" Niles hissed, taking another gulp of his drink. "I’m packing here."

Miss Babcock? C.C. felt her mind racing, wondering about his cold tone. "Niles, what’s wrong?" She knelt beside him, trying to flash a playful smile. "Did the naughty servant pass his exam today?"

Niles gave her a push, and C.C. felt her heart tremble. "Miss Babcock, my duty to you is at an end."

"Duty?" C.C. felt her lower lip tremble looking in his eyes.

"Don’t you have some street corner to stand on?" Niles hissed, standing up.

C.C. felt the ice run in her veins, pulling on his arm. "Are you going to tell me what’s going on?"

"Don’t try to deny it, C.C... I saw! Now get out of my way, Babcock." Niles walked out past her and out the door.

C.C. turned on her heels as Niles hailed a cab. "Stop following me, Babcock, or you’ll regret it."

Niles wanted to drown his memories… the memories of her, the memories of this whole summer romance. He soon felt his cab pull up to his favorite pub, his brother’s deli just a few doors down. Niles stood a moment, wondering if he should go to Robert but walked inside the pub instead.

C.C. felt her whole body tremble. What the hell had happened? She closed her eyes seeing him once more in pain. "God. What’s going on here? Please… Help me." She stepped out knowing where he was.

Robert blinked, answering the phone. "He’s doing what?" Robert let out a long sigh. "Anna! I’ll be back in a moment."

"What’s wrong, dear?" She came out looking at Robert’s worried face.

"Niles is next door determined to climb in a bottle until, and I quote ‘the memory of this summer is burned out of his brain!’" Robert let out a sigh. He walked out of the door and down to see C.C. standing on the sidewalk. "Claire?"

C.C. felt frozen her heart pounding in her ears as she turned to face Robert. She was pale and dizzy. "I… I … have no idea… what’s going on Robert."

"We will find out together." He took her arm, leading her inside.

Niles couldn’t even hold up his head as Robert placed a strong hand on his shoulder. "Why did you bring ‘her’?"

"Why not?" Robert turned his brother around. "Niles, what’s going on here?"

"This summer... Never happened….I am… a butler." He narrowed his eyes at C.C. "I will never again speak of any of these events... Never again…" He let out a loud hiss towards C.C. "You can tell that to your vampire friend if she doesn’t understand."

"Niles?" Robert took the bottle from him. "That’s no way to talk to Claire."

Niles rolled his eyes. "Lies… You did nothing but lie to me from the first moment." Niles stood up, facing C.C., who was shivering now. "Who are you today? Claire Morgan? C.C. Babcock?"

"Niles… I…" C.C. now looked like a frightened young girl.

"I want my medal back. This never happened… I am a ‘servant’" He reached her neck finding it bare.

Robert pulled Niles away from C.C. Niles turned around, quickly decking his brother to the ground. "NILES!" His father walked in to find his elder son on his back and rubbing his bloody lip.

"I’m fine, Dad…" Robert grumbled as Edward helped him up.

Edward turned to C.C. letting out a long hiss. "Haven’t you caused enough trouble?"

C.C. felt like a trapped animal. She slowly backed out of the room, feeling her heart pound.

"THIS SUMMER NEVER HAPPENED, BABCOCK!" Niles roared in her ears as she left the pub.

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

"I saw it!" Edward pointed his finger towards Robert. "You didn’t."

"What did you see Dad? You heard someone calling out ‘Babcock.’ and you had to rush and tell Niles." Robert let out a long hiss. "I have to wonder what damage you have done."

"I have done? Marie, do you hear how your son is talking to me? His brother is passed out in the other room, and this one wants to protect some uptight, upper class…"

"Watch it, Dad." Robert narrowed his eyes as Anna cared for his swelling lip.

"She’s just a girl, Edward." Marie frowned.

"That’s a reason to break your son’s heart?" Edward frowned, dragging Marie from the room as Robert let out a groan.

"Do you think she really would do such a thing?" Anna touched her husband’s cheek.

"No…" Robert let out a long sigh. "I saw her face, Anna… Crushed… millions of small pieces… God, we have to find her!" Robert stood up, letting out a loud groan.

"I’ll contact a few people, Robert. Sit down." Anna pushed him back down in the chair. "I’ll make sure she’s safe." Anna walked out of the room, and Robert let out a long sigh.

"Safe isn’t what I’m worried about." Robert’s mind raced back to C.C.’s eyes and the crushed look.

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

Days followed, and Niles started to realize something far too late. He went to her room to find it empty. They had been planning a get away since both of them finished classes… she wasn’t supposed to leave England for at least another two weeks. He turned, running into a blonde man. "Pardon?" He groaned.

"I’m sorry… Have you seen C.C.?" Noel smiled sadly. "We are leaving today and…." Noel turned seeing the room empty.

"Who wants to know?" Niles felt his fist tighten.

Noel tilted his head, looking Niles over. "You’re the Sheffield butler, aren’t you?"

"Yes." Niles was in no mood for small talk.

"I’m Noel Babcock." Noel held out his hand, and Niles felt his face relaxing. "I haven’t seen my sister in a few days." He turned, looking at the room. "I guess she must be heading home early?" His eyes drifted back towards Niles, who frowned.

"I don’t know…"

"Well send my regards to Maxwell and Sara when you see them." Noel winked, walking back Niles.

His eyes drifted around the empty room. "You made a mistake. Do you even realize that, little brother? Do you really want to forget this long summer of yours?" Robert’s words this morning reached his heart, but now Niles found it shivering, the guilt taking its toll. He felt guilty at assuming the worst and not letting her speak, but his father … and he saw something… didn’t they?

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

Lance Butler let out a long sigh. "No... No, Niles." He held the phone tightly, finding his heart aching. "No… alright." He placed the phone back on the cradle, letting out a deep sigh. He turned around to face Gordon. "Sir?"

"He was asking about her, wasn’t he…"

Lance let out a long sigh. "Yes, sir… "

Gordon let out a sigh, looking out towards the hooded figure, banging at the heated steel bar. "I’m sorry Lance…"

"What the bloody hell happened?" Lance shook his head walking away.

Gordon frowned shaking his head. "The flames…"

C.C. felt her heart beat, pounding the metal. No Babcock would be here doing this. Her mind pounded out the image of Niles hitting his brother… pounded out the image of his drunken oath: "THIS SUMMER NEVER HAPPENED!"

Gordon walked up, placing the cup of water next to her while holding the mask over his face. "Come here for a moment" He pulled at her arm while C.C. took the water.

"What, Gordon?" C.C. let out a snicker, pulling back her arm.

Gordon did a double take looking into her pale, cold, blue eyes. "Don’t you behave that way… not around me, young lady."

"I don’t want to talk about…"

Gordon let out a long sigh. "Have you cried at all?"

C.C. let out a hiss. "He’s just a servant…"

"He has been looking for you."

C.C. rolled her eyes, and Gordon thought he saw something. He picked up a steel bar. "You know the funny thing about steel? Sooner or later… it will break if..."

"Babcock’s bend and never break." C.C. hissed. "If you want, I can leave?"

"No." Gordon frowned, walking away towards Lance. "Find me Lucy Babcock’s phone number, will you?"

"Yes, sir…. And, sir… You think she’ll be alright?"

"This summer never happened…." Gordon mumbled, recalling what Lance had found out. "Have you ever seen steel break before, Lance?"

"No sir…" Lance frowned, looking at his employer.

"Pray that you never do, Lance… for right now, you are seeing her forge a heart of steel, no doubt, but someday…. Like a phoenix, it will have to give into the flames yet again."

"Servants and Babcock’s should never mix!" C.C. let those words ring out in her ears while pounding away. She wasn’t making anything useful, just wanted to beat the hell out of something… anything to keep from falling apart.

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

Niles got off the plane, smiling at Katherine. He couldn’t help but feel the strange empty place that settled in his heart, the place that once C.C.’s love lived, where the memories hovered. "Niles! Katherine!" Maxwell walked up, holding out his hand.

"Sir." Niles smirked, seeing his old friend.

"Glad to have you back, old man.. Glad to see you both! You should see Maggie!" Maxwell beamed with pride.

"No doubt you have a lovely daughter, Mister Sheffield." Katherine smiled watching, her friend come back to life a bit. Niles had been so distant the last few days in England, and now he seemed…..

"Well, old man, I thought we were going to lose you after you finished your degree."

"No, Mister Sheffield … things are as they should be." Niles let out a sigh, following Maxwell.

The glass was more of a thick wall between them. That wall had become so … so very cold over the years. Niles felt his heart beating in his chest, looking at her in the straight jacket. "Doctor?" He tilted his head towards Bort who smiled.

"It’s alright, Niles… Her family is here now." She placed a tender hand on Niles’s shoulder, joining his side. "You don’t have to worry about her."

Niles let out a long sigh, shaking his head slowly. He turned around, hearing the aged woman walk inside. It had been a long time since he last had seen Lucy Morgan Babcock. Niles had expected the woman had been long dead for quite some time. "Hello, Gram."

Gram flashed a sad smile, leaning on the young man who held her arm. "Thank you for calling me, Niles….ooo that‘s right! You called my son first!" She reached up, touching his arm. She let out a soft laugh.

Niles frowned recalling all the ‘Babcock’ members he had tried to call when C.C. started to tune out the world. "I tried reaching Mrs. and Mister Babcock but…"

"Busy, no doubt." The young man reflected Niles’s smirk, and Niles lifted his face to look into the young man’s eyes.

"Niles Butler." He reached out, offering his hand. "I don’t believe we have had the pleasure."

The young man looked down at Niles’s hand, and Gram quickly elbowed him. "Lucas." He took it shaking it firmly.

Niles looked over at the young man frowning. He judged that the young man could be no older than Miss Maggie. "A pleasure… I’m sure." He shook his hand as the young man let out a deep chuckle.

"I want to see her." Lucas tilted his head towards Bort.

"She was speaking about her Grandmother earlier." Niles narrowed his eyes at Lucas.

"Doctor?" Lucas turned his head towards Bort, letting a sad smile show. "Please?"

"She’s heavily sedated, Lucas… I don’t.. think it’s…" Bort tapped her chin, and noticed the look Gram was giving her. "Alright."

Lucas smiled, opening the door and walking in the padded room. Niles narrowed his eyes and then looked towards C.C.’s grandmother. "Who… who is that young man?"

Gram raised her cane smirking. "A spark!"

Niles groaned, shaking his head. Lucy ‘Gram’ Babcock would never give him a straight answer, but he felt his heart beating fast. He noticed how the young man was treating C.C. The young man seemed to be begging her. Niles narrowed his eyes, looking at the teenager’s long blonde hair. He let out a groan wondering if he was Noel’s son.

"Tell me…" Lucas lowered his voice at C.C. who was in a trance. "Please… Tell me."

"Shadows….. Phoenixes…. Broken." She turned her head towards the young man with tears in her eyes. "Help… please…..please, Noel… Grandmamma?"

Lucas had never seen her break down. He had never seen her weak. Not once. He reached up touching her cheek.

Niles groaned, walking away. Niles was bothered by the tender event he had just seen. He would come here when she was alone again and needed him the most.

Gram shook her head, watching Niles leave. "What do you think Bort?"

"He still loves her." Bort let out a sigh, looking back at Gram. "There is little we can do about it, Lucy."

"’We’…being the word, Bort." Gram pointed her cane towards Lucas. "For every journey… there is a long road back and rebirth." Gram winked, feeling hope rise up in her heart. "He came here… He still cares… she still cares… So... Hope remains…and… so does Lucas…."

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