Rating: R

Promises in the Dark

by

IvanaBgood
(sandwench@yahoo.com)

Niles finally understood the morning he walked into the library. Finally admitted to himself how much in love he was with her. And realized the futility of it all. All because of the shaft of light that beamed its way through the French doors and fell upon CC’s head like a heavenly spotlight on an angel. Some might say, Lucifer’s angel, because of her temperament and sharp tongue.

If CC had looked up at that moment, she would have seen Niles standing there dumbfounded, his heart in his eyes as the sunlight shone on her beautiful blond hair like a golden halo. Her eyes, instead, were studiously concentrating on the papers she held upon her lap.

His heels quickly swiveled his body away from the sight that he would be able to recall years later with exact clarity. The poignancy of the moment would always be remembered as he walked into the kitchen to make a very important call. With a white business card in hand, Niles punched in the correct numbers.

A month later, Niles was on his way towards a new lease on life as he quickly wiped the kitchen counter, threw the sponge in the sink, and rushed upstairs. His footsteps were light and his mood buoyant as he prepared for a date.

"The Love Boat... da da da da da da da da daaa. Set a course for adventure your mind on a new roooo-mance..."

Niles shaved and then set out his clothes on his bed as the water warmed up in the shower.

An hour later he posed in front of his floor length mirror and winked at himself. "Not bad!" The alarm on his watch chimed and with a quick glance at it, grabbed his black leather jacket, stepped out into the hallway and heard a long wolf whistle.

"Wow, Niles!" Fran walked over to him and whistled again. "You look hot!" Then she gasped and looked hurt, "You went shopping without me!"

"Your cousin decided that I needed a makeover. She tossed out my cardigans and most of my trousers. Then we went to the Chatterbox."

Fran reached out and touched his hair. "You’ve had it shaped and highlighted. And your skin looks amazing!"

He put his hands up, "And this strange Asian lady gave me a manicure. She wanted to paint the ten wonders of the world on my nails, but of course I wouldn’t let her."

"Aren’t there only seven?"

"That’s what I tried to tell her, but she counted Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Anthony Hopkins as marvels of the universe."

Fran laughed and elbowed his arm, "I’m with her! So I take it you’re on your way to pick up my cuz?"

"Actually, she’s on her way here. She loves ringing the doorbell."

"See, I knew it would be a hit," Fran smiled as she followed Niles downstairs. "Can you believe Mr. Sheffield wants me to replace the new doorbell?"

"Mr. Sheffield wants it replaced, Miss Fine," Maxwell joined in and stood by the couch, "because one could only hear Hava Nagila so many times ringing through the house."

"Well, I could change it. How does La Cucaracha sound?"

"Muy terrible." His eyes appraised his butler, "Niles, there’s something different about you."

"I heard from a good source that I’m hot, sir."

"Sizzlean sizzling, Niles," Fran flirted, "did my cuz have something to do with the new figure as well?"

"No, that was all my doing, Miss Fine. "I’ve stopped taste-testing and have taken up jogging."

"On my treadmill," Maxwell couldn’t help but add.

"After I dusted it," Niles teased back and was awarded with a small smile from his employer.

"Yes, well, I’ve been too busy to exercise lately," Maxwell adjusted his pants.

"It’s okay, Mr. Sheffield, you still look great," Fran patted his stomach. "Oh, oh."

The millionaire’s eyebrows rose. "What?"

"I think these washboard abs need to call the Maytag repair guy, stat. You’re getting a little pooch there, Mr. Sheffield and I don’t mean canine."

"I beg your pardon," the classically handsome Broadway producer pulled his shirt up and exposed his stomach." I haven’t gained a pound in over ten years."

"Ah, look at that!"

Maxwell scrunched his neck down to look, "I don’t see anything."

"Bellybutton lint!" Fran called out and used her long red lacquered fingernail to dig it out. "See!"

"Miss Fine – do you mind?!"

"Not at all," she held it out to him.

"Well, I don’t want it. Niles?"

Dryly, "I’ll pass, sir. My bellybutton lint will only get jealous."

"No, I meant to ask if you were going on a date?"

"Indeed I am sir." He whistled, tugged on each of his ear lobes and made an hourglass gesture with his hands.

"Aww... I’m so happy that you and my cousin Lisa are getting along Niles."

CC stepped out of the office and watched Fran, Niles and Maxwell talking. She noticed right away that he had cut his hair and added highlights. Her eyes took in the very well fitted black slacks, to the black ribbed shirt and the jacket that he carried casually hooked on his finger over his shoulder. Again she felt that traitorous stirring of emotions, the yearning for this man. She missed him. For the past month, he busied himself with his work and didn’t hang around the office like he use to. Also, the wisecracks had stopped. He was nicer towards her and she was still trying to decide if that was a good thing.

Maxwell interrupted her musing and called her over. "Ah, CC, all done with the phone calls?"

Niles watched her stride over, looking very neat and trim in her expensively tailored outfit. His eyes eagerly appraised her features. He had the routine down pat, quick perusal and then turning away before getting caught.

"Not quite. I’ll finish the rest of them tomorrow." Her eyes rolled all of a sudden as the mansion was turned into another Jewish festival. "You have got to do something about that doorbell, Maxwell, before Billy Joel comes over tomorrow."

"Ooo! Billy Joel is coming here?!" Fran’s eyes danced. "The doorbell also plays Uptown Girl."

CC wasn’t listening. Instead, she watched Niles greet his date with a kiss on the lips. She began to feel ill.

Fran skipped over and gave her cousin a hug while Niles walked away. He had forgotten the car keys on the piano.

"Isn’t she a sight to behold," Maxwell said to Niles as they both admired Fran’s cousin looking very sexy in a body hugging sparkling blue dress.

"Yes, and I’ll be holding her tonight."

The two men chuckled.

CC winced and decided she had heard enough. Niles noticed her discomfort.

"Is there something wrong, Miss Babcock?"

She quickly looked up. "I went somewhere else for lunch and I don’t think my stomach is used to haute couture cuisine anymore after eating your slop all these years."

"Le Big Mac and le fries?" he teased and CC couldn’t help but smile. Any crack from him was welcomed, no matter how lame.

"Ready to book, Snokums?" Lisa hooked her arm around his waist and kissed him again.

CC blanched.

Niles noticed how ill CC looked and grew concerned. "Are you sure you’re okay Miss Babcock?"

"I’m fine," she bit out and left before she had to watch anymore.

After a brief silence from the slamming of the front door, Fran smiled at her cousin. "Lisa, I was telling Niles how happy I am that you two are getting along so fabulously."

The beautiful brunette who stood an inch taller than the nanny, dimpled at the compliment. "That’s because we have a lot in common!"

"You do?"

"Yes. Niles likes jazz and I have this trumpet shaped birthmark."

"Birthmark," Fran looked puzzled. "I don’t remember seeing that on you."

"Believe me, Miss Fine, it’s there," Niles winked devilishly.

Lisa continued, "And Niles wants to visit Greece one of these days and you know what a big fan I am of John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John!" She began to hum You’re the One that I Want, to Niles who chuckled and gave her another quick kiss on the lips as he led her towards the door.

"It’s a match made in heaven," Fran said and waved goodbye as they left.

"One week?" Maxwell asked.

"Oh yeah," Fran agreed. "My cousin is sweet, but I don’t think she’ll hold Niles’ attention for much longer."

"Maybe her good heart is enough for Niles."

"Mr. Sheffield, we both know my cousin’s attributes are bigger than her heart. C cup big."

"C? I hadn’t noticed."

"Not much you didn’t!" Fran smacked him lightly on his shoulder.

"Did you notice something different going on between Niles and CC?"

Together they walked to the kitchen and in tandem began to gather things to snack on without consulting one another.

"What do you mean?" The microwave beeped as Fran pushed on the buttons.

"They’re getting along," Maxwell explained as he put exactly one scoop of vanilla ice cream in two glasses.

Fran poured root beer in with the ice cream. "It’s part of his therapy." She took two long spoons from Maxwell and put them in each glass before carrying both glasses to the breakfast table.

"Therapy?" Maxwell opened the microwave just as it beeped and took out the bag of popcorn. Carefully he opened it and pulled his face away as steam rose out.

"Yeah. A month ago, Niles had an epiphany and made an appointment with Dr. Bort. The doctor believes Niles will be much happier if he stops bickering with Miss Babcock." She nudged the green bowl closer as Maxwell poured the popcorn in.

Maxwell looked around, "Are we out of cheese?"

"Ooo! I forgot!" She ran to the refrigerator and took out two kinds. "Parmesan or Sharp Cheddar?"

Maxwell thought about it for a moment then, "Both?"

"Good answer!" Fran grinned and handed him the grater. "So Niles is really making an effort if you noticed and he’s taken up a couple new hobbies since he gave up torturing Miss Babcock a month ago."

Cheese quickly fell on top of the popcorn as Maxwell grated. Fran snuck pieces of cheese out and ate them.

"I saw that," he sing-songed.

Fran giggled.

Soon they sat down to their repast. Amongst the chewing and sipping, Maxwell’s thoughts began to congeal faster than the cheese on the popcorn.

"CC has been off on her game lately. She’s letting people walk all over her. It’s as if she’s lost her will to argue."

"I wonder why."

"Do you think it has anything to do with Niles? Those two have bickered since the day they set their eyes upon one another and I thought they would be like that till the end of time."

"Why would Miss Babcock miss having Niles lock her outside in the rain or pointing out how much she looks like a man?"

Maxwell shrugged. "I’m probably wrong then." He looked around, "We forgot the marshmallows."

"Mr. Sheffield you are such a gourmet!"

~ * ~ * ~

Lisa paused in her conversation. "Snokums, is anything wrong?"

Niles looked up and smiled, "No, nothing at all."

"You’ve been picking up your glass, but you never drink out of it. Does it taste funny?"

"No, it’s fine." He went to take a sip of his wine, but instead he placed it back down.

"There – you did it again."

"I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’m worried about Miss Babcock."

"Again with the Miss Babcock! Niles, you’re always talking about her. I’m beginning to think you’re in love with her!"

"Don’t be silly. I’m only concerned as I would if Miss Fine or Mr. Sheffield took ill."

"Okay," Lisa said appeased. She didn’t want to fight with Niles because that would intrude with her other plans for him. She threw Niles her sexiest smile, "Why don’t we go back to my place now?"

For the first time since they’d been dating, Niles just wasn’t interested. He tried to not hurt her feelings. "I’ve afraid I’ve got to get up very early tomorrow."

"Are you sure?" Lisa leaned over, her low-cut dress showed off her best features.

Niles glanced, "You have a spot right there. It looks like pasta sauce."

Lisa let out a sound of pure annoyance. This had never happened to her before!

A few minutes later, Niles was driving her home. He knew he had been fooling himself for the past weeks and couldn’t do it anymore. He tried to put it as delicately as possible and grudgingly Lisa accepted his proposal of friendship. They arrived at her home and she invited him inside, saying that she wasn’t ready for the night to end. They spent the next two hours talking and getting to know one another better. Although they didn’t have much in common, Lisa loved having a man to talk to who actually listened to her. She loved how Niles brought out her emotions and made her believe in herself. He made her feel special, not just a body.

Niles glanced at the clock on her wall in surprise and rose from the couch. "I best be off, Lisa."

"Okay, but come over again soon?" She asked with a tinge of hope.

‘She’s so sweet, I wish it could have worked out,’ Niles thought. "I would love to," he smiled, hugged her goodbye and gave her a friendly kiss on the lips.

Later, driving back to the mansion, Niles never saw the Lamborghini veering around the corner. He just felt instant pain and then blackness.

~ * ~ * ~

The phone rang and rang inside the mansion. Maxwell grunted in his sleep and rolled over, waiting for Niles to pick it up. When the phone stilled he relaxed and was just entering dream mode when the phone rang again. He reached for the second pillow and covered his head with it. The ringing was incessant. God, why wasn’t Niles answering it?! He knows I have an important meeting in the morning. Just as he was about to buzz Niles on the intercom, the phone quieted and with a sigh of relief he fell back to sleep.

In a penthouse across town, CC woke up with a start and looked around her room. Bleary-eyed she glanced at the clock on her nightstand. 3:37 a.m.! She picked up the phone after the fifth ring and grumbled loudly on the phone, "Somebody better be dead!"

The next few words had CC wide awake. Ten minutes later she was in a cab, a long coat covered her pajamas and she tapped her sneakered feet spasmodically on the floor, her emotions in a panic. When she arrived at the hospital, the nurse at the desk directed her to the doctor and he explained everything.

"Are you family?" The bespectacled physician asked kindly.

"You called me, remember?" CC grouched, not in the mood for silly questions. "I’m CC Babcock and I was told that Niles was in a very bad accident."

"Yes, you were listed as one of his emergency contacts." His grandfatherly countenance and compassionate nature helped calm her down. "It was a drunk driver that crashed into him." He led her to Niles’ hospital room. It was a large room with many other patients inside.

CC gasped. Niles’ head was bandaged. His face was a big purple bruise and full of cuts and scrapes.

The doctor looked at the patient’s chart. "His left arm broke in two places. Fluid was seeping into his brain and so we operated to help ease that problem.

"Oh my God, Niles!" CC rushed over, tears in her eyes. She looked up at the doctor. "But he’ll be fine right? Tell me he’ll be fine!"

"He’s in a coma, Miss Babcock," the doctor informed her as gently as possible.

"But he’ll wake up?" She turned to look at Niles, "He has to wake up!"

"We’ll do all we can, Miss Babcock," he assured her. "I’m sorry, I have other patients to attend to."

CC nodded and reached for Niles’ hand. She felt like she couldn’t breathe. Her crying came out in gasps, her thoughts full of Niles and the possibility of his death.

No, no, no, no, no! No!

"Niles, don’t you leave me, goddamnit! Don’t you leave me!" She rubbed his fingers between hers. CC bowed her head and cried, deep heaving gasps, her body trembling with such strong emotion.

Nurse Claire, the attending nurse for that floor, watched and was deeply touched. ‘They must have been married for a long time.’ She walked in to make sure the machines were operating correctly. "Why don’t you get some rest, ma’am? There’s nothing you can do for your husband right now."

CC looked at her through her tears. Husband? "We’re not married," she answered softly as she gripped Niles’ hand tighter, bringing it to her heart, needing to feel him closer.

That brought the nurse up short. "I’m sorry. I just assumed... why don’t you go home? I promise to call you if there is any change."

CC shook her head. "I’m staying right here."

"Is there anyone you wish to also contact?"

The nurse watched the distraught woman nod.

"Maxwell and Nanny Fine need to be called and... and Niles’ family. But they live in Europe."

"Would you like me to make the phone calls?"

CC nodded, not ready to leave Niles’ side. She poked through her purse and wrote the number down. "I don’t have the phone numbers for his family, but Maxwell will know it."

Nurse Claire looked at the number scribbled on the piece of paper. "I think we tried this number, but no one picked up."

"Keep trying," CC said tiredly, "they’re home."

An hour later, Maxwell, Fran and the children came rushing in.

"Oh my god!" Fran gasped, her hand to her mouth. Tears sprung to her face.

Maxwell turned white at the sight of his friend lying so still, hooked up to machines. Wordlessly he looked at CC and she ran into his arms, wrapping her arms tightly around him.

The children turned to one another and Fran tried to embrace them all. "Shhh... it’ll be okay. It’s Niles. He’s a fighter. Shhh..."

Maxwell consulted with the doctor and was told exactly what was told to CC.

"I’m sorry," Nurse Claire stepped into the room, "but we can only have two visitors at a time in here."

"I’ll take the children to get hot cocoa," Fran told Maxwell and CC.

Maxwell stood next to Niles and felt extreme dread. "What am I going to do without you, old man?"

"Don’t say that!" CC looked up wildly, her tone upset. "He can hear you. He’ll be fine."

Maxwell watched her take Niles’ hand in hers and she rubbed his good arm with her other hand.

"He’ll be fine," she said again with determination.

"I better call his family. I’ll be right back. Will you be okay, CC?"

She nodded, not taking her eyes off of Niles.

Hours passed and Maxwell, Fran and the children went home to rest before taking the children to school. Except for bathroom breaks, CC stayed next to Niles. Nurse Clair brought her breakfast and CC ate automatically. Just as she sipped her coffee, Lisa rushed in.

"Oh!" Immediately she stepped up to Niles and kissed his lips surprising Nurse Claire who looked quickly at CC and then gulped. She wouldn’t want to be this buxom brunette.

"As soon as Fran told me, I came right over," Lisa said. "It must have happened right after he left my place around two this morning."

CC closed her eyes in pain, not wanting to imagine what they were doing that night.

"How is he?" Lisa asked.

"Not well," Nurse Claire said.

"But he’ll be better," CC added and reached for Niles hand only to stop. Lisa was here now. Lisa should be holding his hand not her.

"My poor Snokums," Lisa murmured as she swept his bangs aside. Then she noticed that his head was partially shaved. Immediately her hand went to her mouth as she stared at the stitches and the hardened blood. "Poor, poor Snokums. I wish I could stay, but I can’t afford to be late for work again. You’ll keep me updated, won’t you?" Lisa implored.

When CC didn’t answer, Nurse Claire nodded. "Of course."

As soon as Lisa left, CC once again reached for Niles’ hand and rubbed his fingers in between hers. Nurse Claire left her to her vigil.

Later, CC arranged to have Niles put in a private room. She disliked seeing other patients’ visitors coming and going while she tried to talk to Niles.

That night, Niles’ mother arrived.

CC was at the back of the room, near the covered window, as Niles’ mum walked in.

The elderly woman had graying brown hair wrapped under a kerchief. She walked with a slight limp, but CC could tell she was a strong woman.

Her weak eyes were all on her son. "Come home, I told you over and over again. Come home and away from this city. So many years employed with Maxwell Sheffield and now my poor boy is at death’s door."

"Don’t say that!" CC stepped forward.

Niles’ mum looked at her. "CC Babcock." She stated, not questioned.

CC was taken aback. "Yes."

Niles’ mother looked CC up and down.

CC was still in her pale green pajamas and long tan jacket. Uncomfortably, she looked at herself and nearly groaned out loud. Pajamas, a trench coat and sneakers, I must look a sight. CC brushed her hair down with her fingers.

Niles’ mother noted the expensive cut and material of her outfit. It may be nightwear, but it was classy and chic. Designer coat and designer shoes. Posh haircut. So this is the CC that my Niles has written about for so many years.

"I’m here now, you may go."

The blond head shook adamantly. "No. I’ll stay as well."

"I wish to be alone with my son and you need to get dressed. Freshen up."

CC sighed. The old lady was right. She nodded, "I’ll be back soon."

The old rheumy eyes watched CC leave and then sat down on the chair. She pulled out knitting from her big roomy brown bag. "I like her Niles. You must come back for her."

As good as her word, CC returned and in comfortable silence she sat with Niles and his mother.

"You must talk to him. Encourage him." Niles’ mother finally said, as her knitting needles clicked rapidly.

At first, CC was very uncomfortable being so open in front of another human being, but the sight of Niles lying there and not teasing her, brought a lump to her throat.

"Niles do you remember when you took me to that Awards Banquet? You picked me up in Maxwell’s Porche and I never told you how handsome I thought you looked in that tuxedo. You were so attentive at the party. You acted like I was your world and I wanted to tell you how good it made me feel, but I knew it was all an act. I was paying you to be my escort and you were doing your job so I pretended that you were my boyfriend that night. We made so many people envious. I loved that you called me CC.

Niles’ mother smiled as she listened to CC describe that evening...

"So Niles, what do you do?" Richard Cable asked haughtily.

"I’m employed as Maxwell Sheffield’s gentleman in waiting."

CC winced.

Richard’s wife, Patricia chortled. "You’re a butler?!" She turned to CC, "I can’t believe you brought a butler with you to this affair!"

Her tone angered CC and she bristled at the way they were putting Niles down. "Niles is a good man and Maxwell has depended upon him for many years. And Niles’ family has worked for royalty. The Queen of England, the Duke of-"

Niles uncurled CC’s fingers and took her hand in his. "It’s quite alright, CC," he kissed her fingers and looked deeply into her eyes with such loving devotion.

Patricia saw the way CC reacted and reached for her husband’s hand, but he pulled away as soon as he felt her touch.

"So how does a butler and a beautiful socialite become an item?" Richard asked, giving CC a long, meaningful look. He was handsome and he knew it. And CC looked incredibly sexy and classy in the gown that clung to her wonderful curves.

"I chased her all these years, I’m afraid," Niles confessed. "She came to work for Mr. Sheffield and I was speechless when she stepped into the foyer."

"Since when have you not been able to talk?" CC chuckled. "I believe your first words to me were, ‘We’re not accepting any maids right now. Please use the servant’s entrance in the back when you inquire next time.’"

Patricia gasped at the audacity.

Niles’ eyes crinkled in remembrance. "Ah, yes, but I had to say something, didn’t I? You walked in wearing a navy blue skirt ensemble that emphasized those leggy limbs of yours and I almost came unglued."

CC looked at him in surprise. "You remembered what I wore the first day we met?!"

"I remember everything about you, darling," Niles kissed her softly on her lips.

The women at the table sighed with longing when they witnessed this exchange.

CC was breathless. "What else do you remember?" She couldn’t help asking.

A slow smile stretched his supple lips, as his eyes caressed her face. "I remember that your favorite color is red because you saw the play Auntie Mame when you were ten and the lead actress wore a red beret that you fell in love with. And ever since then you’ve amassed a collection of berets of every imaginable color.

CC gasped; astonished that he knew that about her. "How did you know that?"

I overheard a conversation you had with Mrs. Sheffield when you and Mr. Sheffield produced Auntie Mame." He reached over and tenderly placed a loose blond tendril behind her ear. "I know that you enjoyed watching Lost in Space when you were a child and that you cannot pass a slice of strawberry cheesecake even if the devil himself were after you."

CC smiled at that last remark because it was so true.

The orchestra began playing a song that Niles recognized and he immediately stood. "Dance with me, my love?"

Richard Cable huffed, "Is this your song?" He asked snidely.

"Every song is our song," Niles replied, "because I will take any opportunity that I can to take my precious CC into my arms."

CC rose as if in a dream and found herself in Niles’ arms while he expertly led her around the dance floor. The touch of his fingers against hers was a contact point for the release of pulsing, high-voltage electricity. She had never felt this way before, never experienced this smothery sensation in her throat. Was he feeling the same thing? Was that the cause of the smoky shadows in his eyes?

This was plain insanity.

As if he could read her mind, his eyes suddenly sparkled mischievously as he pulled her closer, knowing that if she struggled it would have ruined the picture of perfect love to all the people who were watching them avidly.

Everyone stepped back and watched them effortlessly float around the room. As the music played on and the romantic lyrics spoke out to him, Niles gazed at her rapturously as they ballroom danced. They complimented each other perfectly. Her gossamer skin against his more tanned features flattered their differences rather than distracted.

The song ended before they were ready for it to, but nonetheless, Niles escorted CC back to their table.

"Smooth moves there Niles," Richard grudgingly complimented.

Patricia stood up and addressed her husband. "Richard, I would like to dance right now."

Without taking his eyes away from CC, he turned his wife down. "Not now." Then he glanced at CC’s date, "Niles here is the expert, why don’t you trip the light fantastic with him."

Niles quickly looked at CC and she shrugged. She wanted to say no, but the smile that Niles threw her way dazzled her to acquiesce.

Niles stood up. "It would be my pleasure, Mrs. Cable."

Patricia looked at him then at the way her husband was openly flirting with CC and laid her hand atop Niles’.

CC watched Niles lead Patricia to the floor and with Niles’ skilled flair, soon the couple was garnering attention from the other party attendees. Patricia was eating up all the interest. This is what she wanted. This is what she deserved. Not to be usurped by CC Babcock who worked instead of acted like a proper dilettante. In her mind she excused Niles’ profession as being noble because of his family’s history with royalty. She began to throw him come hither looks.

CC almost rushed to the floor when she noticed Patricia playing with the back of Niles’ hair, gently touching his neck. But the song ended and Niles promptly led Patricia back to their table. As soon as he helped her with her chair, he walked over to CC, and pressed a quick kiss to her lips.

"Missed me?"

CC loved this flirtatious, debonair side of her old adversary. "Very much so," she answered and then because she had been wanting to all night, she hooked her hand to the back of his head and drew his face to hers. They shared a long, deeply searching kiss. And when she finally pulled away, Niles was so aroused that he wanted to pull her back.

"You two are making a spectacle of yourselves," Patricia hissed, jealous anger filled her every pore.

CC looked around at the smiles. "No one seems to mind."

"That’s because you’re so beautiful, CC," Richard smiled and then looked over at Niles to see his reaction to his blatant smooth talk to his date.

But Niles just agreed. "Yes, CC is very beautiful, but she is more than that. She is spirited eloquence."

CC’s heart thumped rapidly at his words. This was how she had wanted her college reunion to turn out. To appear with Maxwell Sheffield and cause everyone to envy them. Only here at the awards show with Niles it was actually coming true and yet it tore at her heart to know that it was all play-acting.

"You’re quite the flatterer, Niles," Patricia said disdainfully, then looked at her husband. "Richard lives to compliment me, don’t you honey?"

Her husband nodded vaguely.

"I’m not a flatterer, Mrs. Cable," Niles refuted. "They can’t be trusted."

"What do you mean?"

"Flatterers are people who say things to your face that they would not say behind your back. Every word I say about CC is true and I will most definitely repeat everything I’ve said tonight about her when she’s not around," Niles looked at CC, truly captivated.

CC’s eyes looked down in unaccustomed bashfulness, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw Niles’ strong, tanned fingers grasp the stem of his drink and raised the glass of champagne to toast her, then brought the bubbling liquid to his smiling lips. Her heart thudded. Never, never had she been so aware of a man. Everything about him impinged on her senses, the aroma of his shaving lotion, the rustle of his tuxedo jacket as he moved, the masculine timbre of his voice. A kind of kinetic charge surrounded him, making the air fairly crackle. She felt drawn to him, wanting to touch him.

"The rest of that night was more of the same," CC continued with her story as she sat in the hospital room. "You were the dream date Niles and you continued it on to the time we arrived back at the mansion. I was so surprised when you ripped the check I gave you. Then like everything I touch..." CC sighed, "I ruined it, didn’t I?"

Niles’ mother looked up from the blanket she was knitting. "You didn’t trust in my son’s love for you."

"No, I didn’t. Over night I convinced myself that he didn’t mean any of it and so I pretended that we didn’t have a connection that night. Niles accepted my decision and I’ve regretted it ever since, but I don’t know how to fix things." She looked at Niles and wanted to cry, but no she had to be strong. She needed to be hopeful and keep his spirits up.

"You should rest," Niles mother said.

CC shook her head, "I’m fine."

For three and a half weeks, CC stayed at her vigil, not wanting to leave Niles for long. The staff came to know her really well and Maxwell was starting to appreciate all the work that CC did for him. She had done it so well and for so long that he found he took a lot for granted. He walked in Niles’ hospital room to find her reading to Niles.

"...with her breasts heaving with want, her eyes beckoned to him. In the deep darkness of the cemetery, they became one. Souled and unsouled together. "

"What the devil are you reading to him, CC?"

Her cheeks reddened when she noticed him in the room. "Buffy the Vampire Layer."

His jaw dropped.

Flustered, she closed the paperback novel. "The doctor said that reading to him would help."

"Why not War and Peace?"

"I’m trying to wake him up Maxwell not keep him asleep."

"I see. Well, I’m in need of your help with a contract CC. Something in it needs clarifying."

CC stepped out into the hallway with him where the lighting was much better.

Niles found himself in a world full of soothing colors. It was peaceful and comforting, but something was missing. He had grown accustomed to a sound that was mellifluous to his ears and it was absent. He struggled in his sleep wanting to search for it and became bothered and then aggravated at not hearing it.

Twenty minutes later they walked back in.

"... it’s a small codicil," CC explained.

"Quite," Maxwell nodded and then his eyes landed on his oldest and dearest friend. He began to tear up again at the sight of his tired and beaten body. "It’s hard to see him like this."

CC blinked a tear away. "I know. I keep expecting him to sit up and smirk at me. I wish this was just another joke of his."

"If that driver of that Lamborghini were here right now I’d throw the book at him."

"I’m going to throw more than a book at his drunken ass, Maxwell," her voice bitter and angry.

"What’s particularly galling is that the bastard walked away from the wreckage with nary a scratch," Maxwell retorted and then his face took on a look of hopelessness. "It’s been weeks, CC. Don’t you think he should have woken up by now?"

CC pulled the blanket closer to Niles’ chest. "The prognosis is still good. This is normal considering what happened." Her nervous fingers adjusted the blinds in the room. At first she overcompensated and ended up tweaking it back and forth until Maxwell softly touched her outstretched arm.

"Perhaps you should go home and rest, CC."

She shook her head tiredly.

"You’re exhausted. Go on, I’ll sit here with Niles and Miss Fine will be by soon."

Her eyes gazed upon Niles’ face. "But what if he wakes up and I’m not here."

"I promise I’ll call you. Now go on. The limo is downstairs - use it." He directed firmly. He smiled when she nodded slightly. He had been trying to talk her into resting more comfortably at home since it happened.

She gathered her belongings and stepped towards the door. Her eyes swept to Niles again. "You’ll call?"

"I promise." He watched the door close behind her and then he turned his eyes to the sleeping form. "She loves you, old man. All these years and I didn’t see it and I don’t think you did either." He sat down and placed his briefcase on his lap. In the quietness of the room he worked as Niles slept.

Unbeknownst to Maxwell, Niles was internally struggling. He should have been happy. It was so calm and soothing where he was and yet something was missing. Something so special and so very important. Where did it go? He had heard it for a moment. And felt like a gossamer of lightness enveloped him in its love, but it left as quickly as it came. He looked around and then began to run, but his searching was futile. He had to find it.

Maxwell tapped his pen on the paperwork as he read it carefully. He cursed quietly to himself when the pen slipped from his fingers and bounced upon the tile floor. As he bent to pick it up, he saw something that he was sure he had imagined. But no, there it was again! Niles’ fingers twitched!

Eagerly, "Niles! Niles! Wake up! You must wake up, Niles!" He yelled out excitedly over his shoulder, "Nurse! Nurse!"

Soon the sound of Nurse Claire’s crepe soled shoes was heard entering the room. "Stop yelling, this is a hospital! Now, is there something wrong?"

Maxwell’s face was filled with excitement and he was almost bouncing, "Look!"

Niles fingers twitched again.

Her eyes lit up. "Thank goodness! I’ll go get the doctor!"

Maxwell wanted to call Fran and CC, but his cell phone wouldn’t work properly within the hospital walls. And he didn’t want to leave the room.

~ * ~ * ~

CC rubbed her eyes tiredly, her heart heavy with sadness. Images of Niles danced across her mind and a small smile crossed her face as she remembered the twinkle in his eyes after he gave her a good zinger. The endearing crookedness of his smile when she zinged him back. Oh, how she missed him.

So much time wasted because I was so afraid.

She rarely prayed. In fact, religion barely played a part in her life growing up, but now with the thought of Niles never waking up, of losing him forever, CC closed her eyes and prayed. Never mind that she thought she didn’t deserve it.

Please. I promise I will not be afraid of my heart anymore. Give me back Niles and I’ll tell him how I feel. It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t feel the same at least he’ll be in my life.

Maybe it was all those romance novels that she secretly read in bed at night or her love of happy endings in movies and plays, but she half expected her phone to ring and Maxwell telling her the good news. She even pulled her cell phone out of her purse willing it to ring. When a few seconds passed, then minutes, she shook her head at herself.

CC, you ass. Life isn’t violins and kittens. It’s heartache. It’s pain and disappointment. It’s about the people who mean the most to you letting you down time and time again.

Then her phone rang.

"Babcock," she said tersely.

"CC," Maxwell yelled, "CC, he’s awake! Niles is awake!"

Her eyebrows knitted in confusion. Was she passed out from exhaustion in the back of the limo and dreaming?

When he didn’t hear anything, Maxwell yelled louder. "CC! CC, are you there?! Niles is awake – you have to come back here!"

Her voice sounded soft even to her ears. "Maxwell?"

Surprised at the faintness of her voice and the strong vulnerability behind it, Maxwell cupped the phone closer to his lips and spoke slower. "CC, please come back to the hospital. Niles is awake. His fingers began to move, then his eyes began to twitch and at this moment he’s fully cognizant of his surroundings. I still need to call Miss Fine and his family with the good news." Maxwell felt the tears rolling down his face. "He’s awake, CC, he’s awake!"

Her other hand rose to her heart and her eyes closed in pure happiness. "He’s awake."

A huge grin filled his face. "Get your arse back over here, CC!" His grin grew when he heard her laugh.

"I’m on my way, Maxwell!"

~ * ~ * ~

CC didn’t have to look at the signs inside the hospital. She knew exactly where to go and just as she turned the corner to the room she heard it. His chuckle. That’s better than violins and kittens any day she thought and slowly pushed the door open and as soon as she saw him there sitting up and laughing at something Maxwell had just said she ran inside and wrapped her arms around him.

"Niles! Oh my God, I can’t believe it!"

With bewilderment in his face, Niles looked down at the blond hair resting below his chin. To say that he was shocked was an understatement.

His one good arm held her to him. Well, this is different, he thought.

"Oh, Niles," CC murmured softly and his heart clenched at the sound. "You’re back."

She lifted her face to look at him. Her fingers lightly traced his cheek.

He slowly turned to Maxwell. "Am I dead?"

A quiet laugh escaped Maxwell’s mouth and he shook his head at his dearest friend. "No, my friend, you’re very much alive. You gave us quite a scare."

CC shook a finger at him. "Don’t ever do that to me again, you imbecile!"

Niles laughed. "Okay, now things are back to normal."

The door opened and CC turned to see Lisa standing there, her mouth covered in shock. CC stood up and took a few steps away towards the wall.

Niles’ arm fell at the movement and he found himself missing her immediately. Then he followed her eyes to the doorway and smiled at Lisa.

"Hello sweetheart," he greeted, falling into the familiar endearment.

"Snokums!" Lisa ran to him and circled her arms around his neck and cried. "I missed you so much! When Fran called me with the news I almost broke a nail coming here."

CC tore her eyes away when Lisa kissed Niles on the lips. Her fingers clenched tightly to her side, not noticing the look of sadness in Maxwell’s eyes as he felt sorry for her. Moments later, Fran, Niles’ mother and the children walked in.

Niles smiled warmly in their direction.

His mother walked slowly over and looked tenderly upon her son’s face. "Ah, my son, you came back just as I knew you would."

CC nodded, "I told you he would be okay. He’s a stubborn old coot."

Niles chuckled.

The children enthusiastically greeted Niles and gave him quick, heartfelt hugs and then moved away to give Fran room as she walked over to the other side of the bed, next to her cousin, and kissed Niles on his cheek. "Welcome back, Niles!" She embraced him long and hard.

His eyes crinkled at the way she smiled through her tears, "Thank you, Miss Fine. It’s good to be back. Mr. Sheffield informed me that I’ve been in a coma for almost a month now. Frankly, it’s very difficult to take in that I’ve lost three and a half weeks from my life."

Nurse Claire stepped briskly in and tsk’d at the roomful of people. She had heard the last part of what Niles had to say and as she flitted around the room, "Your body needed that time to recover and you still need your rest."

"And Miss Babcock, you can finally get a good night’s sleep," Fran remarked. "She’s been here the entire time, Niles."

Niles looked at CC in surprise. Her face reddened in embarrassment.

Maxwell nodded. "We couldn’t budge her, old man. She wanted to make sure you received the best of care."

"She nagged us all," Nurse Claire berated, but sent a quick smile CC’s way.

"I would have been here more, Snokums," Lisa put in, "but... well... you know how it is." Her voice faltered and almost in a whisper, "It was too hard for me to see you like that."

"It’s quite alright, sweetheart," Niles took her hand in his and squeezed it comfortingly.

CC had to leave. Now. "I-I’ve got to go. Lots of work to catch up on."

Niles frowned and looked over to her. "What? No, don’t go."

CC looked at him, but couldn’t meet his eyes. "I have to."

"CC."

Her eyes quickly darted to his. Her heart beat rapidly and she almost gasped hearing her first name fall sweetly from his lips. He hadn’t called her that since the awards banquet.

"I don’t want you to go," the lines on his forehead wrinkled and he smiled at her, urging her to stay.

God that voice. What is it about English accents? Especially Niles’ English accent? Then she watched as Lisa reached over and brushed a few strands of hair from his eyes and CC’s face fell.

"Goodbye," she muttered and left.

"Your lunch will be here soon," Nurse Claire said, as she finished writing things down for the doctor to read later.

"I’m not hungry." In a blink of an eye, his good mood disappeared.

"You need to eat," Fran said.

"Not right now," he grumbled and closed his eyes.

"There are too many people in this room." Nurse Claire instructed. "All but two of you must leave."

Niles’ mother took her knitting out signally without argument that she was staying.

"Snokums?" Lisa asked Niles hesitantly.

He sighed and opened his eyes. "Thank you for coming Lisa."

She nodded and kissed him, but he only lay there accepting the kiss without returning it.

"Come on children, let’s let Niles catch up on his rest, shall we?" Maxwell rounded up his kids.

"I’ll see you at home," Fran told them as they stepped out of the room. Then she pulled up a chair and held Niles’ hand in hers.

"Miss Fine, I’m rather tired," he said tonelessly.

"But Niles, I don’t think you should be alone right now."

"I appreciate your concern, but really, I’m fine. I would like to be alone." He softly replied, not looking at anyone.

His mother nodded, "We will go," she placed her knitting back in the bag. "You rest." She stood up to leave.

"Are you sure, Niles?" Fran couldn’t help but ask.

"I’ll be fine," he answered tiredly. "Thank you for coming."

Before Fran could say good-bye he closed his eyes dismissively. Nurse Claire followed the two women out to check in on her other patients.

"I don’t understand," Fran said as they walked down the hospital hallway. "He was so happy just a moment ago."

"They will work things out," Nurse Claire replied.

Fran shook her head. "I don’t think Lisa is the one for Niles."

"She isn’t."

Niles’ mother nodded in agreement.

~ * ~ * ~

Two hours later, Nurse Claire peeked into Niles’ room and watched as he tried to get out of bed.

"What do you think you’re doing?" She immediately stepped in. "Get back in bed right now!"

"I want to sleep in my own bed."

"Your body is still recovering from massive trauma. Now do I have to strap you into your bed?"

"Of course not!" Niles sniffed temperamentally. "I’m just bloody tired of lying around all day!"

Nurse Claire was not one to be messed with. "Get in bed." She meant business.

Muttering something under his breath, Niles slipped back under the sheets and stared morosely at the television set. He hated hospitals with their stark impersonal rooms and clingy aroma of bleach.

After making sure Niles was comfortable and only getting an abrupt nod for her trouble, Nurse Claire left the room and picked up the phone.

Bleary-eyed, CC picked up the phone. "Babcock."

"Hello Miss Babcock, this is Nurse Claire. We need you to come back to the hospital."

She bolted straight up in her bed. "Why?! Is Niles okay?!"

"Yes, yes, he’s fine, if a bit belligerent."

"What do you mean?"

"He’s been a handful all day. Will you be back soon?"

CC stepped into her slippers and walked to her bathroom. "I’ll take a quick shower and I’ll be there as soon as I can."

"Thank you," Nurse Claire said with relief.

An hour and a half later, CC found herself back at the hospital. Just before she pushed the door open to Niles’ room, Nurse Claire called out to her and gestured her towards the nurses’ station.

"Thank you for coming over so quickly."

CC nodded her head in welcome. "You’re not holding back any information from me are you? Niles is recovering well, isn’t he?"

"So far, yes, but he tried to go home awhile ago and I need to press upon you how important it is for him to rest and take it easy."

"Of course. Didn’t Lisa tell him how ridiculous he was being?"

Nurse Claire frowned, "He kicked everyone out of the room."

"He kicked them all out? Even his mother?" CC asked perplexed.

Nurse Claire nodded. "He became very defensive and didn’t want anyone around. Strangely enough, it happened soon after you left."

"I suppose he was tired."

Nurse Claire rolled her eyes. Well, she wasn’t a busybody. If the blonde woman didn’t notice how much she meant to the patient, she wasn’t about to point it out to her.

Slowly CC opened the door and watched Niles sleep. Quietly she slipped in and sat down next to him. The hushed thud of her purse as it slid and fell from her lap to the floor alerted Niles to her presence and he opened his eyes. Contents from her purse dropped out and she began to scoop them back in. He looked at her in surprise and briefly a smile lit his face.

"Hello, hello," CC smiled.

In an instant his smile becomes an angry frown. "What are you doing here?"

"What am I-" That did it. CC stood up and with her hands on her hips, she let him have it. "I was asleep at home, exhausted because this chair has put a permanent bump in my back, but I wanted to make sure you were well and you have the gall to sit there and act like an immature jerk! You jackass! I hope it’s the pain killers that are making you like this or you better thank your lucky stars that you’re sick. I have half a mind to take that pillow and cover your troll face!"

"That’s more of your mind than you usually use."

CC threw him an angry glare. "One of these days, butler boy..." She watched his scowl grow. "You’re acting like an ass. What’s wrong?"

He grumbled, "Nothing. I’m quite surprised that you came back, you left quickly enough." He turned to face the wall. "You hate being around me." He knew he sounded like a petulant child, but he couldn’t help it.

CC walked over until she stood in front of him. "What the hell are you talking about?! I’ve been with you for almost a month! If I hated being around you, why would I stick around that long, tell me that?"

Niles shrugged.

"You are impossible, you know that?" CC straightened his blanket and tucked him in.

He looked at her in surprise. Usually, he was the one who took care of others, not the other way around and certainly not by CC Babcock. His bad mood quickly dissipated and a feeling of contentment filled his soul. The sensation felt remarkably familiar, but he couldn’t place it. His love of gazing at her was still intact. "Why did you leave?"

She sat back down. "I thought that you would want to spend time with your family... and Lisa."

"Lisa?" Niles’ eyebrows rose in puzzlement then he smiled with hope.

At the same time they both began to speak.

"Niles-"

"Miss Babcock-"

"Excuse me," Niles replied, not meaning to interrupt her.

"I have something important to say to you," CC put in and Niles nodded for her to continue, "but first, why are you calling me Miss Babcock again?"

"I didn’t want to be forward."

"Damn it, Niles!"

"What?"

"What’s my name?"

"Don’t you know? I thought I was the one with the head injury?"

She glared ferociously at him.

Niles smirked. "Fine. Your name is CC Bab-" He was startled to feel her finger on his lips. Then she removed it.

"What’s my name?" She asked again.

"Boobcock."

"Niiiiles!" She tried to remain angry, but his wide grin and twinkling eyes made the corner of her lips turn upwards. "Okay, I have something to say and I need to say this because I made a promise to the Big Guy upstairs."

Niles’ frowned, not understanding, but remained silent.

"We didn’t know if you were going to make it Niles," CC stood up and wanted to hold his hand like she did for the past few weeks, but instead picked up a part of the blanket and twisted it in agitation. "I still held out hope, but the further that limousine took me away from you, my hope began to waver. I was so afraid I was going to lose you." Her voice tapered down to a trembling whisper.

Niles’ heart began to flutter at the strong emotion he heard in her words. Then he became sidetracked every time she impatiently pushed her hair back from her face because each time she did, it would release a soft fragrance that swirled about him like a cloud, making him light-headed and dizzy with its delicate scent. His mind wandered and he couldn’t stop sultry, forbidding images from filling his brain.

He remembered what it felt like to touch her exquisite skin and he dreamt about how it would feel to run his lips along the curves of her neck and pull her lower lip between his own teeth. What would it be like to hold her and feel that lush body beneath his? He dreamt about pulling her into his embrace and lose himself in the heady fragrance of flowers and sunshine from her long, silky hair.

"So many years wasted, Niles." Then she took a deep breath, gathered her courage and gazed at his very blue eyes. "I love you. I have for a long time now." She waited for him to respond and when he didn’t she flushed with embarrassment. "Niles?"

It took him a minute to realize that she had stopped talking and was looking at him with wide, expectant eyes. He could only imagine what a picture he made lying there with a blank expression, dazed and lost in thought. She already thought he was a jerk, now she was going to think him an idiot. Especially since he didn’t have a clue as to what she’d been talking about.

"I’m-I’m sorry," he stammered, feeling embarrassed and confused.

CC took a quick step back as if she was physically punched. Her heart definitely felt like it just took a beating. "It’s okay. I was foolish to believe that you may feel the same way."

Niles shook his head. "The same way?" He tried desperately to piece together the gist of what she was talking about.

CC gritted her teeth. I’m not going to cry in front of him she repeatedly thought, but her eyes glazed with unchecked sadness and anger that it tore at Niles’ heart.

"Did I hurt your feelings again? I didn’t mean to I swear." Niles leaned back onto his pillow and sighed angrily at himself. "My therapist told me that I needed to stop acting like a child in grade school when I’m around you. I tried for so long to stop hurling insults at you. I’ve wanted to show you how much I care about you and here you are talking to me and all I could think was to..." his voice trailed off. "Never mind, it doesn’t matter." He turned and looked deeply into her eyes, pressing for her understanding. "I didn’t hear what you said to me. I’m very sorry. I... this is going to sound immature, but I was in this heady place of image and sensation."

"I don’t understand," CC responded, baffled.

A flush of red filled his cheeks as he confessed. "Whenever I’m around you, I get lost in your beauty. Although, I’m interested in more than your splendor, a man would have to be stupid not to notice your face or your figure." His embarrassment had officially reached the highest level possible, but he continued. "But it’s more than that. I love that you’re a woman working in a traditionally male-dominated field and doing quite well at it. You’re aware of all the ins and outs of the theatre business and I’m sure Mr. Sheffield would be quite lost if he were to ever lose you. What I’m trying to say is," He licked his lips and quickly muttered, "Iloveyou.... now what were you saying to me before I began thinking like a randy teenager?"

CC looked at him, at a loss for words. Then with shock in her eyes, "You love me?"

He nodded, "Yes. Life is short. So very short. After everyone left I was alone with my thoughts and I realized how much time I wasted not facing my feelings towards you. I’m older than you. I can understand that you don’t feel the same way. I’m a butler with no future and nothing to offer you..." his voice trailed away as he looked at her sadly. "I arrived at the conclusion that although we cannot be lovers, might we become friends?"

A great weight felt like it was lifted from her heart. The hopeful look upon his face was so endearing and yet, they weren’t the type to exchange hearts and flowers. They were more the type to exchange livers and ragweed. So she reverted to her old ways with a twist.

Niles’ heart pummeled at the sight of her nose scrunching as if she smelled something foul.

"Friends?" she remarked mockingly. "Niles, tell me something."

He sighed, "What?"

"What’s my favorite breakfast?"

He was taken aback, but he answered quite easily, "You like your eggs sunny-side down, over medium and sourdough bread, lightly toasted with strawberry jelly. When it’s the twenty-eighth day of the month there better be crisp bacon on that plate or there will be hell to pay."

CC smiled. "Do I cross my legs right over left or left over right?"

"Right over left. You have a fondness for the Eagles song, Desperado, you love white parmesan cheese, which comes in that green bottle, sprinkled on your popcorn and you think David Hasselhoff is a terrible actor with a good body and a ridiculous last name. Is there a reason for these inane questions?"

CC replied, "You, on the other hand, love Belgian waffles for breakfast, the syrup must be heated and you love Darjeeling tea." At Niles’ bafflement, she continued. "You love to listen to Elvis Presley, the Beatles and you even rock out to The Who. Your favorite song is Behind Blue Eyes sung by Pete Townsend. You also have a twisted fascination with toothbrushes. You collect them and buy a new one almost once a month. Blue ones, red ones, hard bristle to soft, with flexible and smooth grips."

Niles’ face was red. He did have a strange absorption for toothbrushes. All these years living in New York, he realized that Americans make and purchase so many different kinds of toothbrushes. He still remembered the day his American dentist gave him a purple one, medium bristle with a small rubber tip at the end of the handle to massage his gums. The day came when he had to replace it and he found himself at a long aisle of a drugstore with an amazing array of toothbrushes. It was such a difficult decision.

His forehead creased in puzzlement, "How did you know all that?"

CC smiled at him. "Should friends know all that about each other Niles? Perhaps we’re more than that."

He didn’t know what to say. "Perhaps," he finally replied.

"Perhaps we could be best friends?"

His eyes widened at that, at a loss for words.

"Perhaps we could be best friends with fringe benefits?" CC softly touched his face and directed it to hers.

His eyes closed as he felt her breath softly on his cheek and she heard him moan with need when their lips finally touched in a whispery kiss. She pulled back and watched to see if he would protest, but he pressed closer and she eagerly obliged.

"CC," he murmured in a voice made harsh with need and emotion. Her mouth found his, sinking hard and deep, then he thrust her lips apart.

It took all CC could to remember to breathe. This was no sweet kiss, no gentle exploration of seek and discover. It was a total capture. She felt breathless and dazed and all she could do was hang on for dear life.

"I love you Niles. I’ve loved you for so long."

Niles pulled her towards him and then touched her face reverently, "Oh CC. How I’ve dreamt of hearing those words come from your lips."

Niles felt the spark in his stomach burst into flames. Need exploded into an inferno. His world became this hospital room, the nondescript walls and the beautiful woman kissing him. He pulled her closer, wanting to feel more of her. Her taste invaded him, moving through his system like heat through a desert. He couldn’t get enough, couldn’t be close enough, couldn’t taste enough.

"CC," he growled, tearing his mouth away and burying his face in the juncture of her neck and shoulder. "CC."

He breathed in the scent of her, planting soft wet kisses on her skin, in her hair and along her jaw. "Oh God, I know this isn’t the time nor place, but oh how I want you."

CC looked at him, a giddy smile upon her face. The way he gazed at her made her feel like she was the most beautiful woman in the world. "I can’t believe you love me."

"I adore you," he kissed her again.

"Mmm..." she closed her eyes as he trailed kisses down her neck as she angled it, wanting more. Then she took a deep breath and stepped away. A chuckle tore from her lips as he whimpered like a puppy. "If you keep that up, Nurse Claire will eject me from this room. If you were healthier, I’d be straddling you by now."

A smile lit his face. "Try me."

CC laughed. "Niles, you just woke from a coma, you have a broken arm, you’re bruised all over and they had to operate on your head. You need to rest."

Niles’ hand immediately went to the shaved portion of his head. "I must look ghastly."

"You are the sexiest sick guy in this room." CC kissed him again. She couldn’t help herself.

He muttered as she pulled away. "I’m also the only sick man in the room... come here."

CC felt a jolt of sensation race through her body at the evocative order. "I can’t believe this is happening."

"But it is happening," he murmured, moving his good hand slowly and deliberately down from her arm to her side and rested it upon her hip. "CC, I want you. I’ve wanted you from the first moment I saw you." He brushed his lips softly against hers. "Tell me that it’s okay. Tell me that you want me too."

CC moaned under the onslaught of his kisses, feeling the heat from his body flowing into hers.

"Tell me, CC," he whispered, his hand moving over the thin fabric of her dress, pressing her close. "Let me hear you say the words."

CC felt dizzy and light-headed, like she was being catapulted forward at a speed faster than sound, faster than light. "Oh, yes," she murmured in a voice that sounded foreign to her own ears. "Yes, Niles, I want you."

His mouth found hers again and then made a path to her neck, wanting to pay homage to her beauty.

CC clung to him, helpless against the onslaught of emotions that assailed her. Nothing had prepared her for this – not life, not experience, not even her wildest dreams. The devastating need, the overwhelming desire she felt streaming from every pore rendered her all but helpless. It was like nothing she’d ever known. It seemed to rise up from some hidden place inside of her, a treasure trove of sensation where body joined spirit, heart joined mind.

She wasn’t an innocent; she’d known the touch of a man. Many men. She had enjoyed a healthy sex life, but no one had ever made her feel like this from a few kisses. Already they had gone far beyond a simple kiss. They’d flown past all those preliminary steps, cutting right to the chase. Niles was making love to her.

And she would have gloried in his lovemaking, not being able to refuse him anything, except she knew he was still a sick man. And CC was a changed person. Since the accident, she no longer thought of herself first. No this man who stole her heart years ago was at the top of the list now.

"Niles, she groaned, feeling his mouth outside her dress, on her breast. "Niles, we can’t. We shouldn’t."

Niles heard her voice, but couldn’t seem to make himself understand her words. For the moment he was wholly a carnal creature, capable only of feeling and responding.

"L-listen to me, Niles, please," CC stammered, placing her hands on his shoulders. "Nurse Claire can walk in any second. Now is not the time."

His mind began to work. The sound of the stern nurse’s name finally penetrated the thick haze of passion and reached that thin thread of sanity he still held.

"Right," he whispered, letting her body slide slowly away.

"You’re still a very sick man Niles," CC murmured, straightening her dress and running a shaky hand through her hair.

"Right," he said again, closing his eyes and pulling in a deep breath. His body shuddered and he struggled for control. He glanced over at the closed door and around the featureless room. How could he have forgotten? How could all sane, all rational thought have left him so completely?

He looked up at CC, felt her hand tremble under his. This woman – the woman he wanted for his own. Kissing her, touching her had made him forget everything else. Pulling her close again, he let his mouth drift to hers once more. "Soon CC," he murmured against her lips. "Very soon, I will be taking you to bed." He brushed a kiss against her lips. "When this is all over, as soon as the doctor gives me the okay, it will be just you and me." He kissed her, an achingly, gentle kiss that was fraught with longing and promise. He was in control now, but desire nipped at the edges of his sanity. "Allow me to love you as you should be loved... long," he whispered, brushing another feather kiss along her lips, "and slow."

CC breathed out a long sigh, captivated by this gentle seduction as much as she’d been by the onslaught of emotion. "But Niles...," she groaned, pushing him back, finally remembering the big roadblock to her happiness. "What about Lisa?"

"What about Lisa?" he mused, catching her with his one good hand and pulling her slowly back to his chest. He kissed her jaw, her neck, her ear. "You’re thinking too much."

"Mmm," she sighed, closing her eyes to the surge of awareness and desire teeming through her system. For a moment she allowed her mind to wander, picturing in her head what it would be like to have Niles make love to her.

Maybe he was right, maybe she did think too much. She could hardly remember a time when she wasn’t concerned about something, when there wasn’t a crushing responsibility on her shoulders: the business, the job, the deadline, the actors, the investors, Maxwell. The critics. On and on and on. And underneath it all there was always Niles. Her hopes and dreams that she wove around the man with the voice that could melt and anger her with one word. And the pain in her heart knowing that she wasn’t his. That he wasn’t hers. He was Lisa’s. Big-chested-little brained-stupid-Snokums-nicknaming-Lisa.

"No," she said firmly, with what small shred of sanity she had left. She played second fiddle before with other men and even dated married men, but Niles was different. She could not and would not share him. She pulled free of his hold and took a few unsteady steps away.

Just then the door opened and CC felt like scratching the smile off of the brunette’s smiling face.

"Snokums – you’re awake! Are you feeling better?" Lisa kissed Niles a warm hello.

"I-uh..." then he watched CC grab her purse and stride out of the room. "CC – wait!"

Niles dropped his head upon his pillow. "Blast!" She must think that Lisa and I are still together. Of course she would, I never told her otherwise. "I’m such an idiot!"

Lisa watched in confusion as he slammed his fist upon the mattress. Then she watched him pick up the phone only to slam that down as well.

"What’s wrong?" Lisa warily asked.

"I’m use to speed dial. I have no idea what CC’s cell phone number is or even her home number."

Lisa rubbed his arm and talked to him soothingly. "Niles, you need to relax. Your heart rate must be jumping around like crazy and that can’t be good for you." She looked at him anxiously.

Niles smiled at her. She’s such a sweet girl. He tried to calm down. "Thank you, darling. I will indeed take it easier.

Lisa visited for an hour. She watched him eat dinner as she regaled him with stories of her days at work as a secretary for a successful temp agency. As always, Niles enjoyed spending time with her. The woman was without guile and unselfish to the core. Besides he wanted to give CC time to calm down. He knew what it was like to be at the receiving end of her temper.

Nurse Claire stepped in and began checking on him, attentive as always. Soon the pain killers began to take effect and Lisa kissed him goodbye. He wanted to protest. He couldn’t sleep yet, he had to fix things with CC. That was his last thought as his eyes drooped and finally closed.

~ * ~ * ~

For the next week Fran tried her best to entertain Niles and get him out of the blue funk he was in. CC wouldn’t come back to visit and she wouldn’t return his calls. Fran watched Niles pout and tapped her eyebrow pencil against her lower lip as she studied his glowering face, his eyes closed grimly. As she came to a decision, she dropped the pencil back inside her make-up bag and then pulled out tweezers.

"Yeow!" Niles suddenly sat up and bumped heads with Fran.

"Ow! Niles, what did you do that for?!" She rubbed her forehead and looked at him through scrunched eyes.

"I was about to ask you the same thing," he gruffly responded as he tried to rub the hurt away from his injured face.

"Your eyebrows need to be shaped. This is the season for eye definition."

Niles head snapped up and he looked around. "Where’s CC?"

"I said season. Me thinks someone is stuck on the third letter of the alphabet."

"Am not."

"Why don’t you just call her and tell her how you feel?"

His jaw knotted with tension. "She won’t return my messages."

"That’s because she thinks you’re still being couply with my cuz."

"Did she say that?"

"Yes. Did you tell her that you loved her?"

"Yes."

Fran’s jaw dropped. Then she angled her head to the side, thinking. "Before or after Lisa came into the room?"

"Before."

"Ah-hah! That’s it then. She doesn’t believe you. It would be even worse if you were trying to get to third base, but look at you. You’re recovering from a car acci..." Fran noticed Niles looking guilty. "You didn’t?!"

"It just happened," he said in a small voice.

Fran stood up with her hands on her hips, "Well no wonder she’s so upset with you."

Niles grimaced. "How angry is she?"

"She ran over your blender, cut up your aprons and baked your oven mitts."

"That’s not so bad."

"Oh, and she torched all your clothes."

"What?!" He sat up in surprise.

"Mr. Sheffield was supposed to tell you, but he chickened out."

"Are you saying that I have nothing to wear?"

"I saved a sock."

Niles fell back onto his bed. "What good is one sock going to do?"

"Well... it’ll keep something of yours nice and snug." She watched Niles roll his eyes in reply. "By the way, Niles...?" Something had been on Fran’s mind all morning and she couldn’t keep it in any longer.

"Hmm?"

"I told my cousin about the fire and the saved sock this morning... Lisa let it slip that you could be nicknamed Tripod."

His eyebrows met in the middle. "What?"

"You know..."

He shook his head.

Fran tried again. "I asked Mr. Sheffield if you had any nicknames and after a lot of pushing and prodding from me he finally admitted that in college, you were called Oar."

The blush reached his hairline within seconds. "Yes... well..."

"And don’t try to tell me that you were in the rowing team because Mr. Sheffield said you weren’t. That was my first question."

Niles rubbed the back of his neck. "Am I to come to the conclusion that you’re wondering if I’m..."

"Hiding Paul Bunyan Jr. in your pants? Yes." Fran grinned at the look of shock and mortification on his face. "Never mind, your speechlessness speaks volumes. Wow, Niles, I can’t believe you never told me that about yourself."

"Ah yes, I’m a bit surprised myself. I daresay the size of my tallywhacker is something that can be slipped in between servings."

At the sight of Fran’s eyebrow arching, Niles dropped his chin to his chest. "Bad phrasing."

Fran chuckled, "I’ll say." She patted her friend’s arm. "Sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you, but I just don’t see how you hid it from me."

"Unlike Mr. Sheffield, I lock the door before I shower."

"Pity."

His eyes quickly swerved to hers and at her wink, he laughed. "This is the most preposterous conversation I have ever had! And I can’t believe that Lisa would even mention it."

"Are you kidding me? She was gloating about Zipper the Ripper." Fran sighed. "My ex-boyfriend Danny should have been called Johnny Come Early." Fran loved hearing Niles’ chuckle. For a week now he had been acting like someone who not only had his parade rained upon, but the marching bands sank and Santa Claus was adrift at sea.

A companionable silence filled the room for about twenty seconds. Which was long in Fran’s book.

"So... you and Miss Babcock, eh?"

Niles sighed. "I don’t know. I do know that I would like there to be a me and Miss Babcock."

"Why?" At his look. "I don’t want to put down your choice in women, Niles, but why Miss Babcock. She seems cold. She’s not nicknamed Icewoman Cometh for nothing."

"But see that’s where you’re wrong. You don’t know her."

Fran reached over and took Niles’ face in her hands. "What did she do to you?" She saw the deep sadness in his eyes. "Oh my god, you are in love with her! You need to call her!"

"She won’t talk to me and I can’t go to her."

"Leave it to me Niles. I’ll fix everything." Fran grabbed her purse and was soon out the door.

Niles watched her leave. "Oy, this can’t be good."

~ * ~ * ~

The curtains were tightly closed. Any light was considered an enemy as CC hunkered deeper in her bed; her thick down comforter sheltered her inside from the torment of the outside world. She peered out, bleary-eyed, as the constant knocking from her front door brought her out of her hiding. Instantly deciding to ignore the racket; she turned over and covered her head with her pillow. Minutes later, the covers were snatched off and CC stared out morosely as Fran glared back in annoyance.

"You didn’t answer your door!"

"Nanny Fine, when people don’t answer the door, that can only mean one thing," CC grumbled.

"No toilet paper?"

"What?" CC held her hand up, "Never mind and don’t explain. I do not want to know. Now – get out!"

Fran watched her grabbed the covers and hide back inside.

"Oh no, you don’t. Mr. Sheffield and Niles are sick with worry about you! You haven’t been answering your phones or the door. Luckily, you left the key to your place for emergencies with Mr. Sheffield. He would be here, by the way, but he’s up to his armpits with the work that you abandoned. And poor Niles-"

"Niles is fine." CC groused.

"You’re always so unhappy and mad. C’mon Miss Babcock, I really want to help. And by the look of your place, you need it."

Tiny empty liquor bottles were strewn around the floor and on the bed.

"Who have you been drinking with – Munchkins and Lilliputians?"

With a long drawn out moan of defeat, CC sat up. The small empty bottles on her bed rolled down and fell. "I finished what I had in my liquor cabinet and then remembered the bottles I got from the airlines. I take so many damn trips that they make sure I’m kept busy." Suddenly she squinted at the unexpected sunlight flooding her room.

Fran pulled both parts of the curtains to each side of the window. "It’s time to come back to the living, Miss Babcock. It’s a beautiful day outside and you’re in here hiding." She watched CC pull the covers back over her head. "Don’t you want to come and visit Niles? You’re all he’s been thinking about."

"He only thinks about me when your cousin isn’t around to distract him," the blond mumbled.

"Enough belly aching! C’mon get up." Fran took a tight grip on CC’s right hand and pulled.

"Leave me alone!"

"No!" Fran pulled harder and managed to slide CC across the bed, but the blond held on to the blankets tightly and soon they were tightly wrapped around her.

Using the memory of Niles’ sad and gloomy face as extra strength, Fran went around the bed and pushed CC hard until she rolled off the bed.

"Ooph! Nanny Fine – leave me alone!"

"Do I need to roll you into the shower or should I hunt for your cleaning woman’s bucket and dump cold water on you?"

"You wouldn’t dare!"

Fran grinned, "Try me."

CC sputtered angrily as she untangled herself from her blankets. Admitting defeat, she grabbed a set of clean clothes and made her way to her bathroom to take a quick shower. Half an hour later, she was ready. She swiftly brushed her hair into some semblance of order and then tossed the hairbrush upon her dresser.

"Okay, I’m all set."

Fran eyed her frumpy outfit. The white blouse with the ruffled collar worn with a matching navy blue blazer and slacks. "You’ve got to be kidding! You expect to compete against my cousin in that?!" Her look of horror quickly changed to sadness at the heartrending picture of CC trying to stand there with poise while her eyes looked like two deep pools of despair. Carefully, Fran took CC’s arm and led her gently to a chair.

CC despondently watched as Fran walked inside her immense closet.

Clothes were being tossed. First a brown and green vest. Then two long dark skirts. Another item of CC’s wardrobe flew out of the closet and landed by her bed. In between these feats that would have rivaled an Olympic shot-putter, Fran made exclamations of shock, incredulity and bafflement. A few minutes later, the brunette stumbled out, holding items of clothing.

"Miss Babcock, I don’t know what to think," Fran tiredly brushed her hair back with her hand. "I saw gorgeous gowns in there amid clothes that are so dark and dreary they only belong in funeral parlors." She laid the chosen clothes atop the bed.

CC’s eyebrows knitted as Fran stood her up then she was shocked into action as her jacket was abruptly pulled off, then her blouse.

"Okay, now give me those pants," Fran ordered. "You’ve got a wonderful body, but you insist on wearing clothes that aren’t flattering at all." When CC didn’t move, Fran bent over to unzip her pants when CC jumped back out of reach.

"I can take off my own pants!" Her fingers nimbly unzipped and then her thumbs reached inside the corners of her pants and slid them off. "I don’t know why I’m doing this. I must be drunk to allow you to order me around!"

"You’re not drunk. You know I’m right. This stuff I picked out for you is just what your body needs to stun Niles."

CC peered at her bed. "Where on Earth did you find those?"

"Surprisingly enough, in your closet! I remember you wore the jeans during a ballgame that Mr. Sheffield dragged us all to." She watched CC dress and grinned as the proper CC who wore staid blouses and pants turned into a voluptuous stunner.

"Look at yourself now!"

CC walked over to her full length mirror and stared in amazement. The V-neck red blouse accentuated her chest without looking too obvious. It was classy and sultry. Its sheer sleeves added another notch of siren sexiness. The denim jeans drew attention to her full hips and shapely bottom. It tapered down snugly, appreciatively over her legs. She was no longer a moneyed sophisticate, but a chic blond bombshell that appealed to the wine as well as the beer.

The next hour was spent on hair and make-up. The results were staggering.

"Is that really me?!" CC stared at her reflection in amazement.

Fran styled her shoulder length locks so that it fell at an angle across her face giving her a more come hither look.

"It sure is!" Fran stood back and held her scissors up. "Now, this look is for playtime. I kept the length so that you can still put it in a bun for a more official appearance and you can also brush it back for a less severe look. But for now, you look fantastic!"

CC pursed her lips. "How did you make my lips look so full without Botox?"

Fran shuddered at the idea of a needle poking into her own lips. "There are lots of make-up secrets that I can tell you, Miss Babcock. First I moisturized your lips to fill in the creases. That way you don’t get that chapped-lip look. Then I used a lipstick that matched the redness of your blouse. It’s not a deep shade of red because it’s still daytime. Night time colors during the day can make a woman look slutty. Then I topped it off with lip gloss to make your lips look kissable." Fran grinned at CC’s reflection through the mirror. "You look so hot I’m almost tempted to kiss you!"

CC pulled away, "Don’t get any funny ideas, Nanny Fine!"

Fran rolled her eyes, "I said almost. I’m very hetero!" Then her eyes lit up. "Ooo - I forgot the most important part!" She turned CC to face her then carefully she placed a tissue against CC’s lips and lightly dusted it with face powder.

"What was that for? Isn’t that stuff suppose to go on my face?"

"Your lips are on your face. Anyway, it’s another cosmetic tip. The powder prevents your lipstick from smudging." She nudged the blond to look at the mirror. "In the words of Billy Crystal impersonating Fernando Lamas – you look mah-ve-lous!"

CC smiled flirtatiously at her reflection. "I do, don’t I?" Then as a thought popped up in her mind, she frowned and looked at Fran through the mirror. "Why are you doing all this for me?"

"Because I care, Miss Babcock. I know we’re not the best of friends. Sometimes we’re not even friends. In fact, you can really be a pain in the tuchus. But there are moments, far and fewer between..."

CC rolled her eyes and Fran continued.

"...when you can be fun to talk to. Now c’mon! Now that you’re all prettified, the next thing to do to get rid of the gloomies is..."

"Ice cream! Lots of it!" CC smiled. The first real smile she had since Lisa walked into Niles’ hospital room.

~ * ~ * ~

Thirty minutes later, with traffic noises buzzing in the background, Fran and CC walked lazily down the sidewalk, each concentrating on their double scoops of ice cream cones from Baskin Robins 31 Flavors.

"What did you get?" CC asked as she lapped at a stray drip that almost reached her fingers.

"Chocolate chip cookie dough and Rocky Road. You?" Fran closed her eyes in ecstasy. This was heaven. She loved helping people especially when ice cream was involved.

"Caramel swirl and cherry vanilla."

"Mmm! Lick?"

CC frowned, "No way."

"Why not?"

"Germs," CC retorted succinctly, as she pulled her ice cream out of reach.

Fran pouted. "I’m not coughing. No runny nose. And I’m phlegm-free."

CC grimaced. "Are you trying to make me lose my appetite?"

"Pleeeease?"

Grey-blue eyes rolled as Fran gave CC her best lost puppy dog look. "Okay. Just stop whining." She held out her cone and watched Fran give the first scoop a tentative lick.

"Mmm, the caramel is so creamy." She then tried the bottom scoop. "Not bad. Mine’s better. Here try."

CC was about to refuse, but instead shrugged her shoulders. A look of happiness filled her face. She nodded. "Yours is good, but I still like mine better."

Companionably they walked and tried to keep up with their ice cream against the warm rays of the sun. A few minutes later, Fran’s eyes lit up.

"Look!" Fran pointed at a little building away from the usual tourist gift stores. It had a blue and white blinking neon hand on the door front. The sign read, ‘Madame Tessa – Palm Reader.’ "I always wanted to do that!" Fran grabbed CC’s hand.

"I’m not going in there!" CC protested, but she let herself be dragged towards it. "You can’t really believe in that stuff!"

"C’mon! It’ll be fun!"

CC groaned and Fran’s eyes lit up delightedly in excitement. Fran quickly finished her cone up and waited with edginess as CC carefully bit all around the top edge of her cone. Then she stuck her tongue in to scoop out a bit of the cherry vanilla.

"Miss Babcock!" Fran said in annoyance which only made CC grin evilly.

"I’m almost done."

"Now what are you doing?" Fran asked impatiently.

"Biting the bottom tip of the cone, of course, so I can suck the rest of the ice cream down. That’s the best part of eating from an ice cream cone. I’m surprised you didn’t know that."

"I knew it, but there’s a time and place for sucking!" Fran shifted her weight from one foot to another as CC slowly finished her ice cream

"Okay, I’m done." CC rubbed her hands together and then placed her hands on Fran’s back, nudging her to open the door.

"Finally! And don’t think I don’t know that you just wiped your sticky hands on my shirt!"

The jangle from a string of silver bells announced their entrance inside the dimly lit room.

"It’s dark in here," Fran whispered then she straightened up when she saw a figure walk into the room from the back. The person clapped and a small lamp on a sturdy wooden table brightened. "Cool, the Clapper! Do you have the Flowbee? It’s really cool! You can cut your hair with it and it has this suction so there’s no loose hair...on the floor..."

The woman who stepped into the room looked deeply into Fran’s eyes. She instantly felt the hair on the back of her neck rise. "Hi, I’m... um... I’m Fran Fine and this is CC Babcock.... but then you probably all ready know that."

"Please sit," the woman’s voice was quiet, but strong.

They both suddenly noticed two dark purple seats with caned backs facing the table.

As CC sat down she gave the woman a cursory look over. She wasn’t reading up on the Palm Reader’s Handbook. Everyone knew that her eyebrows were suppose to be crazily drawn on where real ones were shaved off and that her earrings were suppose to be the size of hula hoops. And where were her long flowing clothes and gold and silver bangle bracelets? The woman who sat opposite from them on a deeply cushioned purple armchair wore a matching bright yellow buttoned up shirt and shorts with a big colorful green and red hibiscus flower design and comfortable yellow sandals. She could easily have passed for any one of the hundreds of tourists in New York City buying four T-shirts for ten dollars.

"Why are you here?" the woman asked.

CC crossed her arms and rested them on the small white table. "Aren’t you supposed to know that without me saying?"

"I didn’t say that I didn’t know why you are. I wanted to know if you knew why you are here."

She’s trying to trip me up. "Oh really?" CC’s reply dripped with sarcasm. She leaned back with her arms still crossed. Then her eyebrows knitted in puzzlement when the fortune teller stared back without a word. "Do I pay you by the word or by the silence?" CC watched her blink rapidly.

"I’m sorry. I was just reading your thoughts."

Her unexpected remark made CC uncomfortable and she squirmed slightly in her seat. That is, it would have made her feel uncomfortable if she actually believed. With even more mockery in her tone, "Would you care to share what my thoughts are with the class?"

"You are a very unhappy person."

Next to her, CC noticed Fran bobbing her head like one of those annoying dog statues in taxis with springs as necks.

"I told you so." She ignored CC’s glare and gestured at her surly friend with her thumb to the lady. "I told her that. She didn’t believe me."

The lady smiled at Fran, she immediately liked her happy-go-lucky disposition.

CC huffed, "I am not unhappy. I’m rich and successful. And I’m sort of famous. What more could I want? Nothing. Unhappy!" CC snorted, "Absolutely not."

"Are you done having a running conversation with yourself?" Fran asked. "Let the lady speak. Madame Tessa, please continue."

"Actually my name is Mona. The sign came with the store."

This woman is completely bizarre. CC scrutinized her. She was peculiar because she operated a profession that couldn’t be taken seriously, but she looked like a school teacher who had on new clothes that she especially saved for a vacation. Straight, shapeless, dark black hair pulled back in a ponytail, with strands of hair escaping the band. Slightly plump especially in the hips. She looked to be in her mid-sixties.

"I just celebrated my fiftieth birthday," Mona hmph’d. "Added weight tends to age people and some men like hippy women!"

Fran looked on in complete bafflement. Not understanding why Mona just mentioned that.

CC’s jaw fell so fast it could have created a breeze in the room. How did she know what I was thinking?

"Anyway," Mona continued, concerning CC’s remarks before on the reasons why she wasn’t unhappy, "Money means nothing in the true lives of men. By men, I mean people in general, mind you."

CC loathed it when people didn’t elevate money to its proper place in life. "Right," she retorted lazily, "Try telling that to the people who have to scrounge through dumpsters for aluminum cans so that they don’t go hungry."

"And successful," Mona went on as if she wasn’t interrupted; "it means nothing. You could be President of a country and be a failure in life."

CC thought that one over and nodded. "What do you think comprises a successful life?"

"The giving and receiving of love."

"I have friends. Maxwell and... Nanny Fine. I have family. They love me and I love them. And there are men out there who would love to date me."

"But that is not real love is it? For you there is more." As CC opened her mouth, "Let me explain. Many women can be happy with almost anyone. They don’t ask for much. They want a nice man, someone who will support them. Someone who is good to them. They choose him based on compatibility, ethnicity, money, education, religion, things like that."

After that Mona just sat there not saying another word.

‘Okay,’ CC thought impatiently, ‘you told me the prologue, but where’s the story?’ She searched her mind for what she was supposed to say because she got the feeling that Mona was waiting for her to speak.

Oh!

The proverbial light bulb just went on in CC’s head. Most of the time her brain worked like lightening and other rare times it just sat there.

"What do I want?"

Mona grinned at the blond.

CC actually found herself liking the woman’s authoritative smile. It made her feel as though she were back in grade school and received not only a gold star on her paper, but a big happy face as well.

"You," Mona said with twinkling eyes, "want everything. You want a Grand Passion. A Great Romance. You want the stars, the moon and all nine planets. You want a man who is smart yet strong. A man who is handsome, talented and..." She paused and looked hard into CC’s eyes, "You want a man who can love. Love with all his being just the way you’d love him in return."

CC collapsed back against her chair and stared at Mona. "Yes, I want it all," she quietly admitted.

Fran watched CC’s reaction in surprise. She had never seen the unruffled blond looked like she was so full of emotion that she could hardly speak. That was rarer than Haley’s Comet.

"You should settle for less." Mona clicked her tongue.

CC smirked. "Okay, I’ll settle for half. Do you have any good-looking cousins? I’m attracted to brunettes and blonds, but I detest bald men."

Mona didn’t even crack a smile. "No, no one else will do for you. You’ve already met him, but..." Mona’s eyes lost their spark and her shoulders rounded in sadness. "You’re too proud. He’s too proud. You both are afraid. For so many lifetimes you have been thrown together, but it never works out."

"You talk as if you know him."

"I do not, but you do." Mona looked deeply into CC’s eyes in that reading-thoughts way. "Who do you love?"

Niles’ smiling face popped into CC’s mind.

Mona nodded. "You will remain rich, successful and become famous. But you will also remain alone. Your problem is in your past lives."

Reincarnation. Crazier and crazier. Oh, now I get it! CC chuckled and turned to Fran. "Nanny Fine, did you set this whole thing up? You almost had me there!" CC laughed. "Did you and Niles cook this up between yourselves?"

Fran shook her head adamantly. "This isn’t a practical joke, Miss Babcock. Seriously."

CC scowled, "Swear that if you are lying even a smidgen to me, you will have the worse case of hammer-toe in your life."

Fran dramatically raised her hand up, "I so swear," she intoned in a no-nonsense manner.

CC almost chuckled. She couldn’t help it. Fran was so serious that God help her, it was endearing! All right maybe there was something more to this crazy lady than meets the eye. So she’s a mind reader that doesn’t mean she can also see my past and future. She switched her attention back to Mona. "In any of these past lives was I... was I ever an astronaut?"

A smile twitched upon Mona’s lips. "No CC, despite your childhood love for The Thunderbirds, you were never an astronaut."

Now her legs felt like jelly. It was a good thing she was all ready seated. She never told anyone outside her brother Nigel how much she wanted to be a Thunderbird.

"Thunderbirds?" Fran asked.

CC rubbed her hands on her knees as she calmed her nerves. "It was a program featuring marionettes that flew amazing spaceships and went around saving the world from evil. I was completely crazy about the show when I was eight and never missed an episode. I would interrupt whatever I was doing and run to the television." Her smile grew as she reminisced. "I remember begging for a Thunderbird outfit, but my mother said that it wasn’t appropriate for girls. But then one day my father surprised me with a box and inside-"

"Was the Thunderbird costume?" Fran interrupted rapturously, picturing the sweet scene in her mind of a young CC jumping for joy.

"No," CC sighed forlornly, still not over the incident. "My father couldn’t find one anywhere. Inside was a Captain Scarlet uniform. Kind of like the Thunderbirds, but not."

"Oh," Fran understood. "It’s like when I wanted to be a career woman for Halloween and everyone kept thinking I was Mary Richards from ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ when I was actually Ann Marie from ‘That Girl.’ Both modern single women, but Marlo Thomas’ hair was so much cooler and she looked great in go-go boots!"

CC looked at her. "Yes..." She turned to Mona, "Did you understand any of that?"

Mona chuckled, "Yes, I did. It’s like craving Ding-Dongs and ending up with Ho-Hos."

"Exactly!" Fran nodded and stared at the woman admirably.

CC was dazed as she remembered how Mona knew what she was thinking and had even answered her thoughts. And she knew about her love of the Thunderbirds. She stared at Mona for a few seconds, "You are for real."

"I’m so glad we’re finally on the same page of the book, Miss Babcock."

She nodded. Finally someone who knew her better than she knew herself. For CC knew what was missing beneath the surface of her life.

She had a fantastic career. She knew without feeling an ounce of conceit that she looked better than average after hiring a trainer at the gym and having the best plastic surgeon money could buy. She was everything that the media says she should be to be happy because she could validate herself with the best of them. She was confident and she didn’t have to look for a man to take care of her.

So what was wrong? Why wasn’t she happy?

When she was younger, fresh out of college, she remembered staying with her aunt and uncle for the summer. Her father’s sister wasn’t well-liked by his ex-wife, but he insisted that CC and his favorite sister should bond. So off she was whisked to her aunt’s small house with only four bathrooms and four bedrooms. CC remembered how alien they both seem to be. They had no children and she felt that their marriage was corny. It was boring. CC wanted excitement and romance. She loved gorgeous men with accents. Preferably a British one. When CC’s coltish figure grew more voluptuous. When she became blond and replaced her eyeglasses with contacts, she received a lot of attention. And the one thing she discovered was that she loved shagging and sometimes felt like the female James Bond of the theatre industry.

But now she recalled a scene in the kitchen of her relatives’ home. Her aunt handed her uncle a plate with a large slab of chocolate cake upon it and a scoop of ice cream on the side. Her uncle protested and said that he was getting as big as a house. And her aunt said wantonly, "A mansion." Then they giggled together and her uncle ate his cake and ice cream.

Back then the whole scene was appalling. Part of it was the fact that her aunt and uncle had been married for years, her uncle wasn’t in shape anymore and yet they still could giggle like teenagers in love. It made her ill.

Now the scene didn’t make her so sick. Remembering it almost made her weep. Where was that man in her life who loved her for herself and not because she was rich? A special man to be with every night, to share a meal and the days events? Where are the children yelling, "Mom, I need a better cell phone plan!" and "Mom, guess what?! I stole Ryan away from Ashley!"

All in all, CC knew she was lucky. Together with Maxwell, they made a name for themselves in the theatre biz which was more satisfying than she could have imagined. She had a good life. She had proven to herself and to the world that despite being an heiress, she earned her own money; she managed the money and was utterly independent. Unlike her poor sister DD who still relied on her parents and her husband so that she could live the life she was born accustomed to. But success or no success, it all came down to the same thing. She was over forty years old and alone. Somewhere along the way she had messed up. Reincarnation – was there really something to that?

She clasped her hands in front and leaned in towards Mona. "You’ve mentioned that I was never an astronaut. What were my past lives? Was I ever Annie Oakley or Joan of Arc...?"

"Or Charo," Fran put in.

CC glanced at her, "She’s still alive, Nanny Fine."

"Oh... Chita Rivera?"

"Alive." CC turned her attention back to Mona. "Was I something... well... different from what I am now?"

"You see..." Mona proceeded to explain the rules of past lives.

A few minutes later, CC blinked in incredulity. "Rules? You’ve got to be kidding! It was hard enough just now to reconcile myself to the idea of there actually being past lives, now there are rules?"

Mona explained about one’s make up, personality traits as it were. Those don’t change. What you are now is what you’ve always been. At least in terms of character.

If in this life you were quiet and shy then that’s how you’ve always been. Mousy accountants were not flamboyant dance hall girls in a past life, no matter how many movies or books or charlatans have tried to make others believe that. Also, the talents a person has in this life may have been developed in another life.

"I could never get the hang of juggling," Fran mentioned.

"Looks like you were never a clown then despite your funny hair."

Fran made a face at CC and CC couldn’t help but smile.

Mona went on to mention that countries that a person has always wanted to visit may be places where she had a happy life. Your style of dress, the furniture you like, pretty much your taste in everything is influenced by your past lives. Tastes, sounds and smells are very strong senses and they remained with you throughout time.

"For instance," Mona said, "there are certain smells that make you ill. People’s bad breath, I believe."

CC’s eyes widened. ‘The woman certainly knew her stuff. She was right and I have never told anyone that in my entire life but whenever I was confined with a person with very bad breath I always became quite ill.’

"And there is an animal you like," Mona commented. "Dogs. You love dogs."

CC nodded, "Doesn’t everybody?"

Fran replied. "You might love dogs, but they don’t love you."

"I beg your pardon, but Chester adores me."

"More like, he abhors you." At CC’s look, Fran blushed, "I think I’m channeling Niles."

"Dogs have played an important part in CC’s lives. Are you ready to see?"

"Hmm? See what?" CC asked, confused.

"Your past." From beneath the table, on a shelf, Mona pushed a small plate filled with crumbs away and pulled out a crystal ball. "Stare inside and all will be revealed."

Again, the movies had gotten it wrong. There wasn’t any organ music building up in the background and when CC looked into the orb, no smoky haze. Instead the picture was sharper than her wide screen TV back home. She peered into it and instantly she was captivated and transported back into time.

~ * ~ * ~

CC’s eyes immediately took in the scene and she realized what she was witnessing by the uniforms of the many men who took aim at one another. Somehow, she could hear the screams of agony, the reports of gunfire, and beneath it all she could distinguish the voices and thoughts of a younger version of Niles and of Maxwell.

"Load at will - load!"

This was followed by the ringing of rammers in the barrels and the clicking of gun-locks.

A year ago, when Civil War was declared, Niles failed utterly to grasp the meaning of biting cartridges. Before a cartridge to him was essentially a brass shell with the fulminate enclosed in its base. The only thing it required was to be taken from his belt and placed in the chamber of his rifle. Now, he learned that they go in clips of five.

Niles was no stranger to guns and yet he found that in his twenty-two years on Earth, he had no need to be too familiar with them. Now the quick jar upon the ear, the dry metallic snapping running along the line of men was as common place as his dry parched throat or his blistered feet. He knew, as did each man near him that the next sound heard would be the command - "Fire!"

Niles wasn’t a scholar like his older brother Thomas and he wasn’t like his younger brother Maxwell who loved hunting pheasants. He was a man of simple pleasures – wine, women and song.

Now instead of kissing a beautiful woman as they listened to Rachmaninoff, his lips were caked with powder-grime from biting the twist of cartridges. His hands were blackened and smeared from handling the rammer. Sweat streamed down and had to be cleared from his eyes in order to see the sights of the rifle and the grime was transferred from hands to face.

"Go behind that rock – now!" Niles pushed the slighter soldier next to him down hard and used his body to cover the younger man’s.

From somewhere in front another faint report of gunshots and in mid-air above a round cloud of smoke jumped into view; snowy white against the blue sky. Another remote, jarring growl followed by a fluttering sound too familiar to their ears and grew louder each moment and then a spurt of dirt was projected into the air not far from the rock that they occupied.

"Stay down, Maxwell!" Niles harshly yelled as Maxwell tried to wiggle out from beneath him. When he knew in his gut that it was safe, he allowed the younger man to move.

Maxwell scowled. "Stop protecting me, Niles! I know how to fight!"

"You are sixteen years old!"

"I’m a better shot than you are!"

Niles’s blue eyes darkened with anger. "You shouldn’t be here. You would be dead twice over if it weren’t for me. And watch your tongue. You are speaking to a superior."

Maxwell hooded his eyes, but his mouth was set in a grim line. "In the field, we live merely from day to day, sir. And did you not say whenever Father was angry at you for dallying with another unsuitable bride-to-be, that the brave do not live long, but the cautious do not live at all?"

"That was not said as a means to act foolhardy in the field of battle."

"I tire of all the drilling. We finally have the enemy in our sights and you wish me to run tail."

"If there is one thing I’ve learned, dear brother, is that the men who show an eagerness for the fray rarely survive their first battle. However, the men who have gained in steadiness and have acquired self -possession under fire live to fight another. That is what I wish for you."

Maxwell’s face softened and he nodded in acquiesce.

Niles flattened their bodies once again on the hard packed Earth when another cannon ball whistled by.

The line of soldiers soon lost all semblance of regular formation. The companies became merely groups of men, loading and firing and taking advantage of any accident of ground-natural depression, tree, rock, or even a pile of fence rails that will give protection.

"One finds that the foe does not propose that this argument shall be all on one side and is rising to a point of information." Niles urged his brother to turn further away towards the scope of trees.

"What do you mean?" Maxwell struggled to keep up, his muscles taxed from the forty pound weight of his pack and the prospective peril for his life and the life of his brother.

"They are searching and soon their aim will be true."

No sooner were these words out of Niles’s mouth when a shell plowed the crest of the elevation in front and as it passed over they again ducked.

Maxwell glanced back that way and witnessed its effect in their ranks. The body of a stalwart young fellow suddenly disappeared and on the ground where he had stood was a confused mass of quivering limbs which soon lay still. In that moment, he almost regretted his rash decision to join the war. When he was home, he eagerly read the scant letters that his family received from his brother Niles. His eyes shone with excitement as he traveled to the company where his brother was in charge. He dreamt of taking down the enemy single handedly and making his family proud.

He soon discovered that soldering was a weary life. When not in battle, which was three quarters of the time, the average soldier's day began at five in the morning, awakened by reveille. After the first sergeant took the roll call, the men ate breakfast then prepared for their first of as many as five drill sessions during the day. Here the men would learn how to shoot their weapons and perform various maneuvers. Drill sessions lasted approximately two hours each and for most men, were exceptional exercises in tedium.

Maxwell grumbled to himself the first day as he tried to word a letter to his parents in his head. "The first thing in the morning we drill. Then drill, then drill again. Then drill, drill, a little more drill. Then drill, and lastly drill."

In the few intervals between drill, soldiers cleaned the camp, built roads, dug trenches for latrines, and gathered wood for cooking and heating. Finding clean water was a constant goal because the lack of potable water was a problem that led to widespread disease.

He remembered how Niles chewed thoughtfully on salt pork and then grinned as he watched his little brother’s face when he turned over the hardtack in his hand. The flour and water biscuit was infested with maggots and weevils.

"I miss oranges," Niles sighed as he sipped his coffee.

"When do you think we’ll oust the Confederates?"

Niles shrugged. "I thought I’d be home three months after I left and now here you are. What were Mother and Father thinking?"

"They didn’t know. I convinced Uncle that I had their permission and left before I could be stopped." Next thing Maxwell knew he was on the ground, a ringing in his ears from the cuffing that his brother gave him.

"Do you realize how worried Mother must be?"

"The moment she learns that I’m in your company, she’ll be fine."

"In the meantime she will age with strong concern for her little princess."

"Don’t call me that!"

"Do you still spend excessive hours combing your hair, Princess?" Niles grinned and walked away. The alarm and distress he felt when he found out what his younger brother had done angered him, but he could admit to himself how good it felt to have family so close.

"Make away!" Niles yelled, cutting through Maxwell’s quick reflection of his first days in the army.

As one, they ran with other soldiers in their regiment. The blighting breath of war passed over the dense and tangled woodlands and the signs of strife, deadly and determined, were manifested everywhere. The forest trees were pitted and scored and backed and gnawed by the galling fire of musketry. The underbrush, withered and reddened, lay at all angles as the bullets had cut it down, as if some one had gone over the ground with a machete and given each little bush or sapling a stroke. In all directions, one came upon the groundworks hastily thrown up of earth, logs, and branches - anything that might serve to stop a bullet. They had failed to stop a good many, but in the end, when silence reigned, the two brothers stood together.

"I should have advanced," Niles gritted out and looked around severely. The dead outnumbered the living.

"I continuously tell you not to worry of me. I am a better shot than you."

"That was back before the war began, little brother. If my aim hadn’t improved from the times we hunted back home, I would not be speaking to you right now."

"Still," Maxwell insisted, "you must not allow your thoughts of me to hinder your duty."

"I promised our mother that I would keep you safe and I will." He looked down and soon realized that the adrenaline he had felt covered up a more burning feeling on his side.

"... Damn." Dizzily, he reached out.

Maxwell staggered suddenly as his brother leaned on him heavily. "Is something the matter?"

"I should have promised her that I would keep myself safe as well."

Maxwell looked down and saw how quickly his brother’s shirt grew dark with blood. "Niles! Oh no!" He gently laid his brother down on the ground and turned quickly at the movement next to him. It was another soldier. Private Harvey Lyons.

"What is wrong?"

"My brother has been injured," Maxwell looked around anxiously for help.

"Put your hand here," Harvey directed and opened a haversack. "You need to put pressure on his wound. He is losing a lot of blood."

"What are you doing?" He watched as Harvey pulled out a beautiful walnut case that opened to reveal sleek bright medical equipment. He sucked in his breath. "Where did you get that?"

"My father was a surgeon. I snuck this out before I left home."

"Am I safe to assume that you are skilled?"

"The outcome will depend on the destruction. When a bullet strikes human tissue," Harvey said clearly and concisely, "it creates a very ragged wound and it can splinter once inside."

Maxwell watched anxiously as Harvey carefully and proficiently took out the Minie ball, which was the standard bullet of the war.

"The bullet didn’t break apart. Now take your canteen and wash the wound out. This is very important because any dirt and germs can cause infection." Harvey ignored the moaning and groaning of the patient. "It was but a small bullet wound."

"When lead enters your body, we shall see how lackadaisical you can be about it," grumped Niles. He remembered the day Private Lyons joined his company and was surprised that Harvey Lyons was still around. Lyons was a loner. His fair of face, slender figure and simmering anger made the Private an instant target.

"Harvey saved your life," Maxwell pointed out.

"Possibly," Niles gritted his teeth as he stood up with his brother’s help. "But as Lyons pointed out, it was a small wound."

"Take notice of your clothes. Does that sight have the look of something small?" Maxwell rolled his eyes as he watched his brother nonchalantly shrug and then hiss in pain from the movement.

Harvey cleaned the tools used and carefully put them away.

"Why did you not impart the information concerning your medical training?" Niles asked as he was helped to walk between the two men.

"I am trained in many things," Harvey answered in an evasive tone.

"Such as?"

"Such as whittling."

Maxwell and Niles watched as the Private walked away and cut down a sapling. It was quickly whittled into a handy crutch before being handed to the superior officer.

Niles continued on towards their camp, a crutch in one hand with Maxwell supporting his weaker side. He eyed Lyon’s figure speculatively.

The survivors slowly filled the camp. As the days passed they rested. Some to recover from their wounds while others needed to recharge. They all waited for their next orders and filled their time and played any game they could devise, including baseball, cards, and boxing matches. One competition involved racing lice or cockroaches across a strip of canvas.

Harvey looked on distastefully.

"What I wouldn’t give for a stiff pint," Maxwell sighed while Harvey nodded in agreement.

They found themselves close companions after the battle and also found it safer in numbers since they were the smallest of all the men and the closest in age.

"It is most unfortunate that Army regulations prohibit the purchase of alcohol by enlisted men."

"Do you always follow the rules?" Harvey’s eyebrow rose.

"May I remind you that soldiers who violate the rule are punished and my brother will sooner have me flogged for besmirching the family name."

"I have been giving much thought to ways around that."

"Pray tell."

"It’s pay day, we can purchase it."

"Yes, but how do we get it past the camp guards?"

Harvey looked around and then grinned with delight at the sight of a pile of melons recently dispatched by the supply train.

An hour later, they walked as normally as possible with their contraband and entered their tent and proceeded to get drunk.

With the intuition of a big brother, Niles checked on his younger sibling that night and found him heavily inebriated. He shook Maxwell. "Who supplied you with the liquor?"

Maxwell wouldn’t answer instead he reached over and poked at Niles’s lips with his finger. "Your lips are soooooo big. Did you know that your lips were big?" He turned his head to his drinking partner who lay nearby. "Hey Lyons, did you know that underneath this bushy beard of my brother’s he has a chin?"

"Chin?" Harvey’s eyes scrunched in puzzlement. Then a hiccup escaped. "’scuse me."

Niles fanned the air. "Now where did you two acquire the alcohol?"

"Waterman," Maxwell slurred.

"Waterman?" Niles asked. "What rank is he?"

"Melon rank!" Lyons answered.

Maxwell laughed so hard, he farted.

"Brilliant," Niles made a disgusted face as he fanned the air yet again. Then he turned to the less smellier one. "All right Lyons. Who gave you and my brother alcohol?"

"I’ll tell you... <hiccup>... if you can answer any one of these three questions correc... <hiccup>... correc... <hiccup>... right."

"May I remind you that I am your superior officer?" Niles watched Harvey nod and then hiccup. Niles blew out a sound of crossness. "Very well, what are the questions?"

"What do you call a man with no arms and no legs on a wall?"

"Pardon?"

"What do you call a man <hiccup> with no arms and no legs <hiccup> on a wall?

"Dead?"

"No, he’s alive." Lyons looked at him, bleary eyed. "Was that your answer?"

"Yes, it bloody well was! What kind of question was that?!"

"Mine," Lyons answered stubbornly.

"Fine. What do you call a man with no arms and no legs on a wall?"

"Art."

"That’s sick!"

Lyons nodded. "Short for Arthur. Gallows humor. Would you like the second question?"

"Yes. Continue." Niles was determined to answer this one.

"What do you call a man with no arms and no legs sitting in front of a door?"

Niles tried to think of an answer, but couldn’t come up with one. "What?"

"Matt."

Maxwell laughed, "Matt! Hehehehehe!"

Niles looked at his inebriated brother. "You’re giggling."

"One last question," Harvey said. "Ready?"

Niles sighed. "Yes."

"All right." Harvey waggled a finger. "You can’t miss this one. What do you call a man with no arms and no legs playing baseball?"

"These questions are ridiculous!" Niles huffed. "They are impossible to answer!"

"No they’re not!"

"Yes, they are!"

"No, they’re not!"

Niles closed his eyes and counted to ten. This soldier exasperated him beyond belief. "Fine! Tell me – what do you call a man with no arms and no legs playing baseball?"

"Dick."

Maxwell laughed so hard again that Niles covered his nose for the inevitable. He stepped outside for a fresh breath of air then stepped back in.

"I will ask this only once and brother or no brother, you will tell me or you will be in extreme trouble." Before Maxwell could answer, Niles watched Lyons crawl to the middle of the ground and suck on a long straw that he hadn’t noticed sticking out. Niles pulled away grasses and sticks and uncovered a hollowed-out watermelon. He sniffed the contents. "There’s whiskey in here."

Maxwell and Lyons stood up and saluted. "Sergeant Watermelon, sir!" Then they giggled and collapsed upon their woolen blankets on the ground, where they slept each night.

While his brother soon began to snore, Niles roughly pulled Lyons up by the arm. "I demand an explanation! You have put my brother and yourself at risk! Give me one good reason for not reporting you." He looked angrily into Lyons’ grey-blue eyes and suddenly felt his irritation diminish. A frozen silence soon grew into a raging energy as they continued to stare at one another.

What madness is this? Niles thought to himself as he gazed at the other man. I feel the same protectiveness of him as I do of Maxwell and yet not quite an identical feeling. It’s almost as if I find Lyons... appealing.

Harvey fell backwards as Niles pushed him away in surprise. Being of a slighter figure, Harvey sat down hard and looked up at Niles angrily only to gasp when Niles kneeled down right in front.

Niles grasped Lyons’ arms forcefully and then his right hand captured the small effeminate chin.

"It’s not possible!" Niles hissed as he turned the younger soldier’s face from one side to the other. "There are many young men who join up. It is not unusual for them to have a more feminine voice and no facial hair." He spoke as if he were talking only to himself. "Stand up."

Harvey eyed him cautiously and did as directed. Overcome with fright, the alcohol daze vanished

"You have such flawless skin." Niles rubbed his temple and sighed. "How could I have missed this?" He then stepped towards Lyons menacingly. "What is your name?"

"Private Harvey Lyons."

"If you lie to me again there will be repercussions. Now, again, I shall ask. What is your name?"

"Private Har-"

Niles’s lips heatedly covered the other soldier’s, immediately causing a chain reaction of immense proportions.

Unable to think of anything else, the soldier who had spent months trying to fit in embraced her womanhood and concentrated on Niles’s gorgeous mouth. His kisses were like living velvet, the most amazing texture she’d ever felt. They had a gentle wildness to them that sent a wave of heat flaring from her breasts to her belly. She shivered and moaned to feel his response harden against her stomach.

Niles at once stepped away, grabbed her arm, and in the cover of darkness pulled her towards his personal tent. After closing the flap of the tent securely, he had her sit on his cot. "Who are you?"

Her chin fell to her chest. "CC Bramson.",

"And what are you doing here, CC Bramson, disguised as a young man?"

She heard the slight chuckle in his question and stubbornly she raised her chin and looked directly at him. "I come from an affluent family and am the youngest of three children; I have an older brother and sister. My father, who was a doctor, taught me many things that most young girls do not learn because my brother wasn’t interested. I wanted to make my father proud of me so I learned to hunt and live on the land. Then..." her voice broke, "my father died and my mother remarried. My mother’s choice in her new husband was a bad one. He did not like me to help with the family’s financial paperwork, something which I’ve always been in charge of!" She scowled at the remembrance. "He didn’t like anything about me so I left and nearly starved to death. Honorable jobs for women are scarce. Eventually, I found that if I donned trousers and pretended to be a man, I was paid more."

"Go on."

CC sighed, "I quickly found work as a boatman on a coal barge making four dollars. But one day, soldiers from this regiment, New York state volunteers, persuaded me to enlist. The money was hard to resist. The $152 bonus is more than a year’s wages even if I were male and they needed to fill their quota of volunteers."

"And no one noticed? Soldiers live in close quarters and yet you remain undetected?"

CC shrugged. "No one questioned my modesty as I tended to my hygiene because many others preferred to do it out of sight from others. And men are a strange lot."

"How so?" Niles’s eyes twinkled with laughter. He thought it was quite the story to find a woman among them all these months.

"The standard attire for women are long dresses. Usually, those impractical hoop skirts that can be quite the drudge. So..." CC continued, "I cut my hair to above my shoulders. Also, people tend to assume that when one wears pants, you must be a man." She finished proudly.

"I must admit that I feel a fool for not realizing." His eyes gazed at her face and then they dipped down to take in all her charms.

CC mumbled under her breath.

"Pardon?" Niles asked.

"It is of no consequence."

"Let me be the judge of that."

"I only said, ‘typical’. Your eyes canvassed me as if I were yours for the taking."

"And aren’t you?"

CC folded her arms across her chest. "No."

"I believe your kiss said otherwise."

She turned her head away and they just as quickly turned to face him. "Has anyone ever told you that you are the most maddening, insufferable man?"

His lips quirked up and opened to reveal a most attractive smile. "I must admit that you are the only one to give me the compliment." He lightly touched her cheek with his fingers. "I thought I was going daft all these weeks as I found myself more and more attracted towards you."

"Could that be the reason why I was punished time and time again with guard duty?"

Niles nodded, but before CC could make a harsh reply, she was stunned by his next admission.

"I wanted to be able to stare upon your visage. I sat here upon my cot and through that tiny opening in the flap I could look at you to my hearts content."

The look of desire in his eyes, the sheer want, it made a pleasant tingling in her stomach. She could not hide anymore the desire that she felt all this time for the man before her. It had been so long since she had been held.

"I was married once," she confessed.

"What happened to him?"

"He died of fever. We did not have any children."

"Was that admission suppose to deter me from my objective?" He kissed her lightly upon her lips.

Her eyes closed at the momentary contact. "I only wanted you to know all of the facts. Your brother has not mentioned if you are honor bound to anyone."

Another feather light kiss upon her lips.

"No," he whispered against her cheek, "I have never felt the desire to do so." Until now, his thoughts declared.

Something changed after that. Each gesture charged with new meaning. It left CC with a growing sensation in her body, a rhythm of interest building within her. Niles was certainly behaving differently, watching her more intensely as she stood and stretched, his eyes held hers. She knew what he wanted and she wanted the same.

He took his uniform off and stood there in his warm woolen underwear. The tightness of the material drew her eyes to the sight of his muscled arms and firm legs on display. He was doing nothing to hide the impressive sight of his body or his desire for her. CC felt a flush of shock as he unbuttoned his top and slipped his arms from the sleeves, slow enough for CC to get a good view of his wide chest. She stared openly at his chest, fascinated by it. When she saw his wide grin, she snapped out of her hypnotized state.

"I do not know what thoughts are pervading your mind, but I am a soldier. I have learned fighting skills and I will stop you." She watched him carefully, her hands held up in fists.

Good," he murmured, circling around to the left.

CC was fascinated. His movements were almost hypnotic; his eyes never left hers as his body moved silently in the tent. She was so involved by him, aiming punches and kicks that she reacted a moment too late when he caught a punch in one hand. Niles pushed her back, and used his superior weight to bear her to the ground.

For a moment, CC lay beneath him, panting heavily and enjoying- there was no other word for it- enjoying the feeling of his body against hers, his weight crushing her in all the right places. He opened his mouth to say something.

"I could have thrown you over my shoulder," she said, reaching up to stop him from speaking. Her fingers rested over his mouth, and she could feel his damp breath on them, and the warm, soft feel of his lips. Niles smiled against her fingers.

"I was waiting for you to try," he said in a low voice, and CC could feel the vibration of his words rumbling through his body and into hers. He wasn't letting her up, she realized dizzily. He was lying, his left hand engulfing her fist, his right hand bracing himself above her, watching her with a thoughtful look on his face.

His blue eyes held her effortlessly, suggestively, and CC decided that she really liked it.

"I’ve confessed to being strongly attracted to you, but you have yet to come forth with just such an admission," he said, allowing a plaintive note to enter his voice as he pushed his lips forward into a pout.

A pout that CC found she could not resist. Her eyes were dragged irresistibly to his mouth. "Possibly I am not in the same thrall as you are."

"What a shame," he murmured, his voice sounding incredibly sexy. CC wondered headily if the trembling she felt in her body were from those three little words he had just spoken or the coldness of the night. She stared up at him, unable to look away if her life depended on it, his presence exerting more power over her than she could have imagined.

A moment later, he crossed easily over the line again, reaching out to slide his left hand beneath her hair. Pulling her closer, he lowered his head to kiss her without any hesitation, as he picked her up and placed her atop his cot.

CC froze in shock for a second; unable to believe the warm mouth moving over hers belonged to the man who she reported to all this time. A moment later, she reached up and pulled his head closer. He snaked his other arm around her waist and pulled her close. CC pressed against him, unable to concentrate on anything else as he teased her with his mouth, taking one of her lips between his, sucking gently, nipping her with his tongue, and then covering her mouth completely with his. She opened her lips brazenly and he entered immediately, pushing her further open, exploring boldly.

CC felt her body weaken. His tongue was doing the most incredible things to her mouth, thrusting and caressing, finding sensitive corners she never knew she had, and sending shivers around her body to build up in a heat in her groin. His arm tightened around her waist, entwining their bodies so CC could feel his heart beating heavily beneath her hand. She rubbed her palm over the beat, and felt his tongue push harder against hers in reply. Rapidly losing control of herself, CC wrapped one arm around his neck, trying to pull him even closer. He responded by rubbing her back, then moving his hand lower to cover her backside, giving it a firm, erotic squeeze.

CC gave a moan of surprise against his mouth, and kissed him harder, one hand suddenly fighting to undo the rest of his garment. Finally, he broke the kiss, moving immediately to kiss her jaw and neck, even biting her breasts gently through her shirt. CC concentrated as much as she could on him, finally undoing more buttons and pushing it below his waist. She ran her hands over his chest and kissed him until somehow he pulled her bodily up and settled her on his hips, the added contact making them both groan.

CC then stood up, alarming Niles until she smiled at him. He leaned back and watched her undress. First her uniform, then the white woolen underwear. Fascinated, he watched, as she unbound her breasts from the wrap she used to hide her feminine charms.

Niles gestured for her to come closer before she could show all of herself to him for the first time and soon he was making her shiver as his fingers slipped over her bare skin. He kissed her mouth again, harder, biting her lip.

CC pressed closer to him, part of her still finding it hard to believe that Niles was touching her so intimately and erotically, taking control of her body so confidently. They untangled themselves enough to pull the binding off between them. CC shuddered at his touch and uttered the first words spoken since his pout.

"Oh God, Niles."

He helped lay her upon his cot.

"Niles…" she whispered, reaching up to kiss him hungrily. He kissed her back just as eagerly. She could hardly breathe, pulling his mouth as close to her as she could manage. After a moment she remembered that he was still wearing his woolen underwear. With his help, they pushed the garment all the way off and to the ground.

She felt his hands slide slowly down her sides, leaving sweeps of flushed skin in their wake, and shuddered in anticipation of what was coming. Then they finally became one.

She pulled his mouth harder against hers and kissed him, pushing her tongue into his mouth. CC soon lost control and let her head fall back with a moan. His mouth moved to her neck, kissing tenderly. CC reveled in the ecstasy he was building up within her, the skill and passion Niles was revealing. As her lungs pulled air inside her desperately, Niles moved his hand to stroke her breasts and her stomach, his mouth caressing the skin of her shoulder, her neck and her chest. She shuddered in ecstasy.

His pleasure lasted much longer than CC expected, and almost brought tears of joy to her eyes as he overwhelmed her again and then finally he joined her in the ultimate peak. For minutes afterwards, all they could do was cling together, breath heaving in and out of their bodies, rocking slightly.

Eventually Niles lifted his head and slowly began to pull away from her with his hands on her hips. She protested against the loss of contact, but he silenced her with a deep kiss, letting her legs drop to the cot. CC wound her arms around him, still relishing in the feel of his body against hers, and kissed him as deeply as her shortness of breath would allow.

She wasn't sure how long the kiss lasted, but just as she thought they were winding down, he would thrust his tongue into her mouth with renewed passion, causing her to lose herself in him again.

They were interrupted at the sound of scratching outside of the tent. For a moment, CC couldn't work out what the noise meant. They pulled far enough away to look at each other as the sound continued.

Niles walked towards it and shifted the flap aside. There stood his anxious brother and behind him, the entire camp, wide awake. "The commander wants to see you and Private Lyons straight away."

Niles nodded and turned away. CC stared at him in fright.

"We best get dressed." He watched her reach for the wrap to bind her breasts. "No, I think your secret is out or it better be for my reputation."

CC nodded and slipped into her underwear and quickly donned her uniform. Soon they were both dressed and determinedly walked out without venturing a look from all sides, but they were aware of the sudden gasps and awareness between the troops.

Their commanding officer sat before a table and they snapped to attention and saluted. The older man, saluted back, brushed his beard between his fingers, and took in the situation.

"Captain, what is the meaning of all the gossip that has been brewing this night and the noises that were heard coming from your tent?"

"Sir," Niles looked straight ahead and answered, "it came upon my attention that Private Harvey Lyons is a female. I took her to my tent to question her further."

"Aye, she was tortured most venomously," a soldier sniggered causing a trigger of guffaws from others.

"Private Lyons," the commanding officer’s bushy eyebrows rose in speculation, "what do you say to these charges of fraud?"

CC swallowed and took a deep breath before answering. "I am a woman, but I have fought as well as any man here."

"You do understand that what you have done is highly unorthodox and a grievous attempt against the law?"

"Yes sir. I only wanted to earn wages and to support the North."

He nodded. "I fear I must incarcerate you-"

"Begging your pardon sir," Niles interrupted. "If I may say something in her defense?"

The more decorated officer’s silver hair rose slightly in the breeze as he nodded to the captain. "Proceed."

"Private Lyons is a highly efficient medic who has saved my life."

"Sir, if I may?" Maxwell stepped forward.

"Ah yes, you two are brothers." The highest officer glanced from Niles to Maxwell to CC and then back to Maxwell. "And what is on your mind, Private?"

"I would like to point out that because of Private Lyons skill, we would lose fewer men if she were around."

CC’s eyes shone with excitement while Niles’s eyes clouded with distress and soon spoke up.

"Be that as it may, sir, don’t you think that having a woman here at camp would be most distracting?"

CC glared at him.

"There are a few women known to work the battlegrounds, giving a great need when required." The officer answered. "Clara Barton for instance has gone in while the battle raged, saving numerous lives, and giving care to many men who would have died alone."

Niles nodded, "Yes, a most amazing individual indeed, but I seem to recall that another hard-working woman, Dorothea Dix, who organized the nursing corps for this war decreed that nurses should be over thirty years of age and plain looking."

Maxwell bit the inside of his cheek as he watched Lyons fume beside his brother.

"Do you believe it would be considered less ill-mannerly for angels of mercy to appear gray-haired and unsightly?" The commanding officer grinned all around and continued, "I must say that I for one would welcome a comely young maiden nurse, possessing grace and good looks, to attend to me and I believe my men deserve the best."

A grand cheer filled the camp while Niles gritted his teeth in fury.

"Welcome to the 153^rd Regiment, Miss...?"

"CC Bramson, sir."

"Welcome Miss Bramson."

"Welcome Miss Bramson!" The many men cheered and ogled at the first woman they’ve seen in months and for some a year.

"And would it be incorrect of me to presume that the Captain and yourself will soon be betrothed?"

CC began to deny when Niles stepped in.

"No sir, you are correct in your assumption."

CC poked him hard on his back causing him to jump forward slightly.

"My hearty congratulations!"

Niles shook hands with his commanding officer and was not unaware of the disappointment in the many soldiers’ faces at the announcement.

Maxwell’s brow furled in puzzlement. "But what about-"

Niles threw him an angry glance and then set his attention back to the man who sat before himself and CC. "Sir, may we be excused?"

"Yes, except that I trust you will give your tent to Miss Bramson while you share a tent with the Private here?"

Niles’s jaw dropped.

"We cannot have an unwed couple share quarters now, can we?"

"No sir."

"And I believe a night on the ground is punishment enough for awakening the entire camp and not expediently sharing the information you discovered with your commanding officer."

"Yes sir. Thank you sir. Good night sir."

"Good night."

The rest of the camp chuckled to themselves and each other as they returned to their tents. Tonight will fill up many weeks of boredom with gossip and innuendo.

"Niles?" CC questioned.

"We will talk more about it tomorrow."

She glared angrily at him and wanted to throttle him, but found the ability to walk away only to turn back towards the brothers to tell Niles she would never marry such a repulsive man as he. The two brothers, unaware that they had an audience, spoke to each other.

"Niles, how can you be wedded to Harvey-"

"CC."

"Right, CC. That will take time to say with ease." Maxwell shook his head. "In any case, how can you be wedded to CC when you are promised to Suzanne back home?"

"Who is Suzanne?!"

Niles and Maxwell whipped about only to stare at an infuriated CC.

"You told me you were not honor bound to anyone! Impostor!"

"Shh..." Niles covered her mouth, "caution your voice, there are others around."

"I have no concern for idle ears. You lied to me."

"I did not lie. I have never proposed to Suzanne and have no plans to do so."

"Oh." CC looked down, mortified at the jealousy she felt.

Niles reached over and tenderly tipped up her chin with his forefinger. Maxwell watched in fascination. He had never seen such happiness glow from within his brother’s eyes as they looked upon CC’s.

Niles’s eyebrow rose a little and CC’s lips twitched in answer. Her head cocked to the side, asking for forgiveness for her unsubstantiated ire, and his teeth gleamed back in response.

"I promise now beneath the moonlight, that you and I will always have one another. Although times are perilous, believe me when I say that our souls will always find each other. This I promise you." He kissed her, gently, but soon passion took over and recklessly he pulled her closer. "Good night," he finally whispered.

"Good night," she whispered back.

"Night Harvey," Maxwell called out. "I mean CC." He shook his head again. "I don’t think I will ever get use to that."

"Please do so. I do not want to think of being betrothed to a Harvey."

"You do realize that your soon-to-be bride snores, do you not?"

Niles rolled his eyes.

"And she has this tiny strawberry-shaped birthmark on her-" Maxwell tried to talk around his covered mouth as Niles wrestled him into their tent.

"Do not malign my woman."

"I won’t if you promise not to call me Princess ever again," Maxwell grinned.

"Fine. Now where is this birthmark?"

"On the inside of her wrist. Unlike you, I’m not a dandy and have not been gawking at my fellow soldier."

Laughter floated from the small tent as Niles lightly cuffed his brother.

~ * ~ * ~

That night, unable to sleep, Niles took parchment in hand and carefully dipped his quill into the inkwell by the light of the lantern and wrote a letter before finally falling asleep, contentedly.

A few hours later, another battle rose forth and Niles angrily ordered CC to stay behind.

"My duty is to this army!" She argued back.

"Your duty is to me and to remain safe until I return."

"I am following another man’s orders, Niles."

"Do not be so stubborn!"

"I? I am not the stubborn one!"

"You will stay here as I command, CC, or..."

"Or what?"

"Or we will not be wed."

"Niles," Maxwell grabbed his arm, "don’t say that." He looked at CC’s ashen face which soon purpled in fury.

"I do not wish to be wed to such a difficult, detestable man!"

"And that is why I did not declare my love last night to you. Women cannot be trusted," Niles retorted back as angrily.

"You do not know what love is!"

"I do!"

"And so do I!"

"By the powers vested as your little brother, I now declare you both in love."

"Maxwell!" The irate couple yelled in unison, before turning back to one another with hidden smiles.

"Stay, please," Niles intoned, kissed her with all his love and devotion and strode rapidly away.

Maxwell quickly waved at her and followed his brother as CC watched until she could not see them anymore.

The fighting swiftly brought in her first patients and tirelessly she worked saving lives and giving comfort. As she drank a ladleful of water to quench her thirst, she spotted Maxwell being carried over another soldier’s shoulder. His body hung limply, but he groaned with intense pain as he was dropped upon a blanket on the ground. CC closed her eyes at the sight of the bloody stump where his right arm had been.

"You’ll be fine, Maxwell. I’ll take care of you," she soothed.

"CC," he gasped and then coughed up blood. "Niles..."

Her eyes widened in fear. "No..."

Maxwell’s eyes teared beneath his closed lids as CC silently cried to herself while she saved the life of her lover’s brother. When the fighting ceased, CC trudged the battlefield for Niles’s body. When the sight of it met her eyes, she wept and wept until she could not anymore. At least she was able to see him one more time and bestow upon his lifeless lips a kiss of goodbye.

When she returned to Niles’s tent she found an envelope waxed shut. Carefully she opened it and read the letter inside.

My very dear CC:

I fear that now that I’ve found true happiness, my days here on Earth are in peril. I’m overcome with a strong desire to write lines that are only for your eyes in the chance that I shall not be able to express my feelings for you in person.

I feel quite strongly for the cause that we are fighting. Although I was born in England, here is where my home is and in your arms is where I want to dwell. American civilization has given us our freedom and there has been much blood and suffering given so that we can remain independent. My possible death will not be in vain.

My love, the temperature has risen to an uncomfortable coldness, and I am surrounded by my many steadfast men who are sleeping what may be their last night in this world. I know that I too should rest, but my mind is full of thoughts of you and the memories of our times together. Although they were brief, I feel most thankful that I was given them at all. It is difficult for me to give up all hope for a future with you, when God willing, we might have lived and loved together and watched our children grow. I pray with all that I am that I return to you unharmed, but if not, please always remember how much you mean to me. As the night darkens, I promise you this, my dear CC will never wane and if I am struck down in battle, my last breath will whisper your name.

Forever yours,

Niles

~ * ~ * ~

In the crystal ball, CC watched her past self collapse in tears. The scene shifted to Niles on the ground amongst many men in battle. He was so still. With shaky hands, CC reached towards him when the vision disappeared.

"I can’t believe you showed me that," CC whispered, as a tear rolled down her cheek. "Why would you show me that?"

"You’ve been questioning a relationship with Niles. I only wanted you to realize that your lives are intertwined. Don’t fight the love you have for him, CC. Trust it." Mona replied.

"Are you okay, Miss Babcock?" Fran asked with deep concern as more tears began to fall.

CC sniffled. "Yes... it was very difficult to see Niles dead."

"Dead?" Fran turned and glared at the woman who sat across from them. "What’s the big idea? You’re suppose to help her not hurt her!"

"I’m sorry, but sometimes I have to be cruel to be kind."

CC began to ask a question when something in the crystal ball caught her attention. Once again, she traveled back to another time, to another place. Thoughts of the people inside were as clear to her as if they spoke them.

~ * ~ * ~

The light spray of the salty sea on his dark blond hair caused him to turn his face aside. As his steps took him across the passenger ship’s deck, he ignored the whispers of the gossipy older women who were no doubt aghast at his naked head, but he abhorred hats and could not get use to the feeling of one sitting atop his hair for long.

A woman in the distance pleading loudly for help caught his attention.

"Oh please, please stop him! Valiant you come back here right now!"

Niles’ blue eyes immediately widened in appraisal at the blond woman who ran towards him. When he heard a growl and felt a tug on his pant leg, he looked down and quickly scooped up the little Scottish terrier. He watched with an earsplitting grin as the woman tried to hold her large hat upon her head, step around the seated patrons and also slow her unladylike rush at the sight of him.

"Is this yours?"

With a hand to her throat, she tried to catch her breath. "Yes."

"I was talking to the dog."

At her scowl, he laughed and continued to speak to the canine. "What reason could you have to run away from such a gorgeous creature?"

Her cheeks reddened from the compliment. "I fear my hold was loose. Thank you for capturing him so expediently."

Niles held onto the dog longer, chuckling at the licks it was bestowing upon him.

She couldn’t help but smile at the charming scene. Most men were turned off by Valiant, but this man not only didn’t mind the dog licking his face, but enjoyed it.

"And what is your name?" Niles scratched the dog behind its ear and the dog wiggled with joy.

"His name is Valiant."

"That time I was talking to you."

She nearly gasped outloud at the magnetic smile he directed at her. His eyes were full of guile and they looked upon her with frank appraisal. Couple that with his English accent and she almost swooned. Then she noticed that he knew exactly his effect on her and desperately she squelched her desires. In a frosty tone, "My thanks sir for saving my pet, but we haven’t been properly introduced." She held her hands out and grasped her dog as it tried to squirm away, turned and left with as much dignity as she could muster.

His eyes followed her until he couldn’t see her anymore. This could be promising. He smiled as he made his way below deck, not noticing the admiring glances from the woman he passed.

Later that evening, he found himself looking around for the blond woman with eyes full of fiery indignation. They were but strangers and yet he felt an immediate bond with her as soon as their eyes met. She intrigued him to no end and he tried to place the reason. She was attractive, there was no doubt about that, but he had plenty associations with women who could be deemed more beautiful. Like the woman right now who stood before him talking. He had no clue what she was saying and he knew many men in the room envied him for her attention. She was a rich socialite, redhead with an amazing figure. With her high heels on she was able to look straight into his eyes and he always found statuesque women more appealing.

As if a puppeteer had pulled a string, he looked up, and there was that intriguing woman heading down the grand staircase. Her yellow locks were pulled back and pinned up, allowing his eyes to gaze upon that lovely neck.

"Niles?"

He immediately turned back to the woman he was with. Taking her gloved hand in his he quickly apologized. "Forgive me, Pricilla, for my inattention."

Pricilla sighed as he kissed the back of her hand. Niles was the catch of the year and she planned to be the one walking down the aisle to him. Her father insisted that she marry and of all her suitors, Niles was the cream of the crop. Not only was he a successful businessman, so successful that he owned two homes in two different continents, but he was so handsome that many women lost their ability of speech when he was around. Forgotten was the fact that his family roots began in the scullery section of a millionaire’s household. Niles was a hard worker and intuitive. He purchased a lot of land in Texas and soon became a millionaire himself. Some of the rich looked down upon his ‘new money’ status, but most of the single women looked down at how well his pants fit, sparing it many furtive glances.

"The string quartet will soon signal dinner." She hinted, wanting to claim him as her seatmate.

His eyes crinkled sexily, "Yes, I believe they will. I have someone that I need to meet right now, perhaps we can share a dance later?"

The combination of those eyes and that smile caused her to lose her ability to speak. Dumbly she nodded and watched him walk away. Her face soon became pinched with anger as she watched him approach that ghastly woman who had almost trampled her and her mother as they took a walk on the upper deck just that morning.

Pricilla sniffed contemptuously as ever pore filled will jealousy at the sight of Niles looking very enamored of the very odd woman whom she heard worked despite her class. No proper woman would walk unaccompanied. Not only was she unescorted earlier, but she had been running like a child after a mongrel. And her maid informed her that the woman was constantly humming to herself and was actually heard singing in her room like a common barmaid.

Pricilla’s attention was soon interrupted when Bradley Whitford approached her. The tall, broad shoulder man with the dark hair was more attentive to her needs than Niles. Although Bradley was handsome and pleasant, he didn’t possess the cleverness and dynamic influence that attracted people to Niles.

The glorious extravagance from the stunning chandelier above to the impressive staircase caused CC to pause in her step as she took in the amazing room filled with the most rich and powerful. Instantly she wished for an escort. Her mother would have vehemently chastised her for her lack of decorum. With her silver gown in one hand to prevent her from tripping, she almost rushed back up only to be stopped by that voice.

"Please tell me that you are not planning on leaving. I have only just convinced myself that you were not a dream."

CC looked down a few steps and saw the infuriating man from this morning. She admired the fit of his double breasted black jacket. He did cut a very dashing figure, but the look upon his face was that of a shark smiling at an inattentive swimmer. As if her body took over her mind, her footsteps took her closer to him until she was a step above.

"Do you normally speak with such a honeyed tongue?"

Niles grinned, "Only when the subject behooves me to."

"And do these subjects mind being coated with such sweetness?"

His pants tightened at the enticing way she looked at him. There was such depth in those blue-grey eyes. They could look most innocent like this morning and now they were rich with impishness. He found himself unusually at a loss for words.

"CC, there you are!" A petite woman in very high heels pushed her way through the loitering couples and took CC’s hand gregariously in hers. "You are sitting with me! Otherwise, I’ll end up sitting next to any one of these dreary people," she whispered so loudly that her cupped hand to CC’s ear was a wasted action.

"Fran, I was wondering where you were. I would gladly share your table."

At a chuckle near her ear, the brunette turned to the man standing next to her. "Niles, we meet again!"

He bent and took her hand in his and bestowed a kiss upon it, causing her to blush. "Miss Fone, how fortunate I am to be in your presence once again. Would you kindly introduce this lovely lady to me?"

A big smile filled the beautiful woman’s face. "Why of course! Niles it is my greatest pleasure to introduce the infamous CC Babbish. CC this is Niles, an astute businessman if ever saw one."

"Miss Babbish," Niles smiled looking at her from beneath his lashes as he kissed her hand, "a grand pleasure indeed."

Concerto music began playing and Niles crooked both his arms out to the women. "Ladies, shall we dine?"

"I would love to," Fran happily answered inserting her arm through his while CC hesitantly placed her hand on his arm.

He took her hand and threaded it through his arm. "Hold on tight, I wouldn’t want to lose you," he winked. As they walked towards their seats, he whispered, "Infamous? Have you robbed banks in your past Miss Babbish?"

A smile touched her lips. "I’m sure Fran meant to say famous. I’m in theatre."

"Ah."

"What does that mean?"

"Does it need to mean anything?"

"Was it a good ah or a bad ah?"

"I believe this ah was full of variations, Miss Babbish."

At the sound of her laughter, his grin grew. He felt quite proud of himself and was very much enchanted by the woman with the impish smiles, the quick intelligence and cleverness. Something he knew about himself was that he always fell for a woman who never let him get away with anything. And she was an actress. The theatre was in his blood as well. His grandmother loved performing and passed on the passion to her favorite grandson, but unfortunately life and the need to support himself prevented him from pursuing that vocation.

He carefully pulled out a chair for Fran and then for CC. Just as he was about to take the chair in between a tall man with dark hair suavely slipped into the seat and thanked him.

Niles’s eyebrows knitted in annoyance. The chair to CC’s right was taken so he immediately rounded the table and claimed ownership of the chair across from her.

The man turned and smiled attractively to his seatmate. "Miss Fone, I have been hoping that we would once again run into one another."

"Hello," Fran grinned before gazing down bashfully before looking up again to enjoy his admiration. Fran introduced the man who stole Niles’s seat. "CC Babbish, Niles this is Maxwell Shurfield, we met when the ship left England. CC, Maxwell is in the theatre business. Maxwell, CC is quite an accomplished actress."

Niles watched in annoyance as CC and Maxwell engaged in animated conversation about their shared interest. In the corner of her eye, CC noticed Niles’ ire and something in her wanted to exasperate him even more. With a quick turn of her head towards her friend Fran, they exchanged a conspiratorial wink. CC leaned over and looked at Maxwell with deep interest, pretending not to notice as his eyes dipped towards her chest.

Maxwell blushed, but CC understood and smiled openly at him, which caused his blush to deepen. The entire exchange was not loss on Niles and a scowl filled his face.

"Very nice to meet you, Mr. Shurfield," CC enthused, but then looked particularly at him when his mouth began to move, but only a squeak came out.

"Hello. Forgive me... I’m... I’m quite overwhelmed to be in your company, Miss Babbish. I am not usually like this. In truth, it is a rare occurrence for me to be overwhelmed. But I’ve seen you in many plays and your thespian skills are amazing. I’m a big fan!"

"What a lovely sentiment," Niles couldn’t help muttering, causing CC to flick her eyes at him in annoyance.

Fran laughed. This was going to be one very entertaining evening indeed.

~ * ~ * ~

Later, Maxwell felt a tap on his shoulder, turned and before he knew it, he lost his dancing partner to Niles. He bowed his head slightly as if to say touché and could not help but grin as the couple spun away. Throughout dinner he could tell that Niles was an amiable fellow with his teasing ways and mischievous smile. He easily won over the ladies at the table as well as the men, including the stern skipper of the ship himself.

"That was most rude," CC said as she threw an apologetic smile towards Maxwell.

Niles grinned at her with amusement. "Yes, so very rude." He leaned down quickly and whispered, "Naughty Niles."

The touch of his breath upon her ear made her draw an involuntary gasp, but before she could reply they were stopped in their steps by a handsome man and his dance partner. The woman eyed Niles as if he was the tastiest morsel on the dessert cart. She introduced herself to CC. Her eyes skimmed CC’s features disinterestedly.

"Hello, I’m Pricilla Barnes and this is Bradley Whitford."

Niles nodded at her escort. "May I present Miss CC Babbish and I’m Niles." The men shook hands.

"Miss Babbish," Bradley greeted and smiled appreciatively causing a frown on Niles’s face.

Pricilla turned her green eyes towards the man with whom she had watched with veiled attentiveness throughout dinner. "Niles," she purred, "have you forgotten that dance you promised me?"

"It has been on my mind all evening," Niles quipped back and Pricilla beamed delightedly, not catching his sarcastic tone. "But I have dreamt of dancing with Miss Babbish since I was but a twinkle in my father’s eyes. Please excuse us."

He turned them away and took CC’s hand back into his as they continued their dance. He felt her back tense beneath his right hand and looked down at her puzzled face. "Is there something wrong?"

"I’m not sure whether to be flattered or annoyed with you right now. You are an extraordinary mixture of charm and rudeness."

His chuckle caused her to grin. "Ah, Miss Babbish you are a delight. I love how you speak your mind." His fingers caressed her back, but stopped as he felt her begin to pull away.

"Is there something crawling upon my back?"

"I had thought perhaps that you had an itch and only wanted to give you my assistance."

"I have been quite proficient in taking care of any skin ailments I’ve had and will continue to do so."

"My apologies, Miss Babbish, sometimes my hands have a mind of their own."

His eyes looked upon her with such appealing devilment that her aggravation once again dissipated. She sighed, "Who are you?"

Their eyes once again connected and they both felt an astonishing, but not unpleasant shock coarse through their bodies.

He cleared his throat as he tried to get his bearings. His voice tumbled into her ear with tender sensuality. "I fear that I’m your knight in shining armor."

"Fear?"

"No woman has ever overtaken my senses like you have Miss Babbish and I must confess that it is most disconcerting."

"And what if I say that I don’t need rescuing by a knight in shining armor or an astute business man with more charisma than he knows what to do with?"

"I would say Miss Babbish," he spun her around the floor, his hands caressing her back once again, "that you are terribly wrong."

~ * ~ * ~

The next morning the ship docked at Queensland, Ireland. Miss Fran Fone and Miss CC Babbish were just stepping off the plank onto the dock when they heard someone calling out to them.

Fran’s steps faltered, but CC determinedly continued to walk and in fact picked up her pace.

"CC! Wait! Miss Fone, please detain her! CC!"

"I believe that Niles is calling you, dear." Fran stopped to open her parasol in her attempt to give him time to catch up with them.

"I don’t want to talk with that insufferable man, Fran. Hurry, before he reaches us."

"I’m trying, but there is something wrong with the catch. It won’t open properly."

CC watched her friend fiddle with the contraption as she nervously watched Niles running towards them. "Oh Fran, here let me see it." She took the parasol and her friend’s arm. "Come away, he is almost upon us."

"The sun is very bright this morning." Fran took a few steps and stopped. "I don’t want to freckle."

A groan of exasperation slipped through CC’s lips as she stopped to open the device. Just as it popped open, the tip of it poked Niles on the stomach.

"Oophh!"

CC brought down the parasol, her eyes widened in surprise and mortification as Niles fell back clutching his abdomen, tripped over Valiant’s leash then dropped down into an aggrieved heap.

"I’m so sorry!" CC stepped over to him as Fran laughed heartily at the sight. The brunette knew that his ego was hurt more than anything.

Valiant pranced around, barking one moment and licking his face the next.

"Blast it woman!" He pushed the parasol aside as CC accidentally stabbed him in his private area in her haste to help him up.

"I was only trying to assist you!"

"If you continue to do so my line of descendants would end with me!"

"Don’t raise your voice at me, sir; it was you who came rampaging at us like a crazed bull!"

"My voice is not raised!" Niles looked around at the surrounding spectators. "My voice is not raised," he repeated in a milder tone. He carefully stepped around the leash that threatened to trip him up again. "If you had only stopped when you first heard me, this matter could have been prevented."

She watched him dust himself off. "I didn’t hear you," her chin raised stubbornly as he eyed her with disbelief.

"If that were true, why did your steps quicken in haste?"

"We were most eager to visit Queensland." She placed her hand on her hip. "I don’t have to explain myself to you, sir."

"Why are you calling me that?"

"I always call men with whom I do not know, sir. I was brought up to respect my elders. I could change it if you like to something more fitting like Mr. Bagpipe."

He stood warily by as she clutched the parasol angrily. "Bagpipe?"

"Yes, because you are full of hot air!"

Jovial laughter and applause soon followed and the three turned to see Maxwell Shurfield next to them watching the scene with much glee. "This is much better than going to see a play. Please continue!" He grinned as Niles stood there almost gnashing his teeth.

"Mr. Shurfield, what a pleasant surprise!" CC greeted him, pointedly ignoring Niles. "Would you like to join Fran and myself?"

"I would be most happy too," he stepped towards the women and began walking with them.

Niles stood there, seething with anger, as he watched them leave.

Noticing CC twisting her neck slightly, Fran spoke quietly, a very hard thing for her to do. "Don’t turn, he’s not following us." She saw her friend look down in disappointment. "Isn’t that what you wanted?"

"Yes," CC replied forlornly, shushing her dog as he barked and pulled back on the leash.

"Oh, there is the beautiful Pricilla Barnes and her mother," Fran watched behind them candidly. "It is fine," she patted CC’s hand, "Niles has company now, he will not bother you again."

"Good." She looked back and watched Niles talking to that beautiful redhead from last night. Lilting laughter filtered through the air as she touched Niles’s arm with familiarity.

Maxwell cocked his head, listening. He turned this way then that. "What is that sound? Do you hear it Fran? It’s like a grinding."

CC stopped gritting her teeth and turned away.

"Hmm... it went away." Maxwell shrugged, "Well, ladies, shall we explore this beautiful land?"

Valiant felt the hold loosen and with a hearty tug, a bark of joy, he ran away.

"Oh no, not again! Valiant – come back here!"

CC covered her face in mortification as she watched her dog run back to Niles, scaring the silly women with him.

Pricilla screamed, "It’s that awful beast! Get away, you!"

Her mother hid behind her daughter, while Pricilla tried to hide behind Niles. He knelt down and laughed as Valiant jumped right into his arms, licking his face. CC looked on enviously and for the first time wished she was her dog.

"See now, that’s what you should be doing," Fran pointed out to CC.

"Fran!"

"I call them as I see them, CC. You are absolutely enamored of the man and he is completely besotted with you."

"She’s right, Miss Babbish," Maxwell put in. "Don’t let a little lovers’ spat sever contact between you."

"Lovers? We’ve only met yesterday. And please call me, CC."

Maxwell’s eyes widened in surprise, "But the looks... the intense emotions in the room when you two are together?"

"What do you mean?"

"CC dear," Fran shook her head, "you cannot stand there and deny the attraction between you and Niles. He could not take his eyes away from you the moment you stepped onto the grand staircase last night. I saw it all."

"I had thought you were betrothed and only asked you to dance to further exasperate him. For some reason, I find myself highly amused when he’s aggravated." Maxwell put in. Then he saw Niles coming their way. "Take note." He bent down to one knee and placed CC’s shoe upon it. "CC, you seem to have a smudge. Allow me." He pulled out his handkerchief.

Niles glared as he watched Maxwell take liberties with CC. He handed Valiant back to her and pulled her away from Maxwell. "What do you think you are doing?"

Maxwell brushed his trousers. "I was only helping CC-"

"That’s Miss Babbish to you," Niles shot back, his arm encircled CC’s waist territorially.

At first CC thought to pull away, but she enjoyed the warmth and the strength of his touch. And she liked Niles’ jealousy. Her thoughts strayed so much in that moment of closeness that she found herself lost when she tuned in to the conversation.

"And furthermore," Niles said tersely, "you will not sit near her or dance with her again."

She pulled away at that. "I beg your pardon, but you have no right to order anyone about. You are nothing to me."

Niles stepped towards her, "Nothing?" He asked, hurt and anger clouding his eyes.

Fran took the wiggling dog from her friend’s arms and walked away with Maxwell. Not too far away. She was polite enough to give them their space, but she wasn’t one to turn away from such titillation.

Niles turned on his heel only to stop when CC whispered his name with apologetic misery.

"Niles. Don’t go. Please."

He looked at her with much adoration. The moment he held out his arms, she rushed into them, squeezing her arms around his body as she thrilled at being squeezed right back.

"I’m sorry, CC," he murmured as he kissed her on side of her head. "Please don’t be furious with me anymore, I can’t bear it."

"I can’t either. I couldn’t sleep last night after we quarreled."

"I as well. I walked the breadth of this ship five times over." At her look of skepticism, he chuckled. "It felt like I did."

CC laced her fingers through his, holding on tightly. "I'm sorry. You just get me so angry."

"It was a silly argument and I am most mortified that I resorted to name calling."

"I believe I started that," CC slowly admitted. "By calling you a scullery maid."

"And I rebounded with no talent thespian."

CC’s eyes clouded in annoyance, "Yes, you did! You’ve never seen me so how could you know if I’m talentless or not?"

"My dear, you sing and dance, how difficult could that be?"

"Much harder than polishing silver... then stealing it!" She turned her back to him.

"Are you insinuating that I became rich from thievery?" Niles glared at her stiff back. Her very stiff, but sexy backside. Just as CC began to slur his good name once again, Niles wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin upon her shoulder, "Are we arguing again, darling? If so, might we adjourn somewhere more private so that I may accost you as well?"

"You are insufferable," CC turned and kissed his cheek. Her hands covered his.

"Call me names all you want, sweet CC, but never tell me that I mean nothing to you." Niles let out a long sigh, his eyes were bright and CC's eyes misted in response. "You mean so much to me, I really … I can't imagine anything worse." Niles ran his hand through his hair and sent CC a rueful grin. "I apologize. I didn't mean to get quite so dramatic." He gave CC's hand a squeeze, their fingers still joined.

CC had to swallow past the lump in her throat. "Niles, you are everything to me. The feelings that you bring out in me frighten me to no end, but in the short time we’ve been together, I can’t imagine my future without you."

"I feel the exact same way." He blew out a breath nervously. "At sunrise it felt like the heavens were telling me that my intuition was correct."

"About what?"

"Come here." Niles led her away from the many people who were eavesdropping on their conversation and brought her closer to the rocks that lined the ocean’s edge. "CC do you believe in destiny? In two souls who are predestined to become partners for all time?"

"Niles, you’re acting strangely."

"I’m acting like a dandy, CC." He blew a breath of aggravation. "This isn’t like me. I don’t normally watch the sun rise. I don’t usually speak like a daft gypsy woman and I never lose sleep over a woman." He touched her cheek tenderly, "But I do believe in my Great-grandmother and once long ago, she told that I would meet the woman fated to be my bride and I would know her as soon as I saw her and that she would know me."

"You have a Great-grandmother? Wait... bride?"

"Had a Great-grandmother. She passed away when I was thirteen. She use to go on and on about past and future lives." He looked at CC, "Before she passed away, she gave me this."

CC watched as Niles took something from the breast pocket of his black frock coat. Using his thumb, he flipped open the small box. She gasped in surprise at the sight of the beautiful diamond nestled between two rubies.

"The diamond represents prosperity and generosity versus miserliness. Love versus distrust. And the rubies represent confidence, hope and fidelity."

"Niles, what are you trying to say?" CC’s jaw dropped as she watched him go down on one knee. "What are you doing?"

"CC, I know this is crazy, I’m not a man who acts on whims. But there is something in me, in my gut, telling me, urging me to announce my love for you. I realize we met only yesterday, but I have never been so happy in my life as when you are with me. And I want you with me always. Be my wife?" He took her hand and placed the ring on her finger. "You love me," he stated without question.

"Yes," she whispered with so much emotion, "I love you."

"I know, I just said that." he winked up at her.

CC laughed as the tears rolled down her cheeks. "How did I fall in love with such a vexatious man?"

As Niles rose and cupped her cheek, she leaned against it, looking at him with deep adoration. And despite their public surroundings they embraced one another and kissed.

From a few feet away, Fran sighed. "How romantic."

"And fast," Maxwell watched CC’s hands settle over Niles’s face bringing him closer.

Fran touched her heart, "It’s so beautiful."

"And so fast." Maxwell watched Niles kiss the tip of CC’s nose, making her laugh in delight. "Two days? Two days and they have all of that?"

"Sometimes two souls are blessed to find one another. The trick is recognizing how truly special such an event is and taking advantage of it." Fran held Valiant to her chest and smiled at Maxwell as he patted the dog.

"Maybe they aren’t the only two destined souls to find each other on the ship," Maxwell said quietly.

Fran’s mouth opened in surprise as his soft spoken words touched her ears. Then she watched him walk away.

"A moment! You cannot say something so stirring as that and leave."

Maxwell chuckled and reached out his hand for Fran to join him. As soon as she was close enough, he softly kissed her upon her lips.

~ * ~ * ~

The days sped by quickly and CC and Niles took advantage of every minute by spending them together. At dinner on the fifth day of the trip, CC ran into an old friend, Randall Jenson and his lovely wife Erin. She introduced Niles to them who quickly won over Erin and formed an odd friendship with Randy because of their lack of commonalities and also in spite of them.

"Shall we adjourn to the sitting room for cigars and brandy, gentlemen?" Randall stood up after dinner.

Maxwell took an immediate liking to Randall and accepted his invitation as did all the men, except one.

"I believe," Niles replied taking CC’s hand in his and helping her up, "I shall stroll around with my lady love."

Some of the men wondered at his foolishness. There was a time and place for everything, but business should always prevail and yet Niles continued to place his fiancée before it all. Other men laughed at the sight of Niles so love-struck. The women on the other hand were not so happy. Many of them had spent plenty of time scheming to capture the great Niles and an actress ended up sweeping him away in little over a day.

The couple spent the rest of the night walking and talking. As CC laughed at a silly joke that Niles made, she saw that when he laughed it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

As her hand reached out to cup his cheek, he sighed and leaned into the touch.

"Is something the matter, Niles?"

"No darling."

"Niles, you’re not being truthful with me."

When Niles saw the look of hurt in her eyes, his shoulders sagged. "I haven’t been truthful with you CC."

Concern filled her every movement as she sat down with him on one of the wooden benches. Then anxiety took over and her thoughts tumbled over from one terrible idea to an even worse one.

"You are betrothed to another?" She whispered her face white with fear and anger.

"No, I am not!" He grabbed her arm as she began to rise. "CC, what I have to tell you is worse than that."

"Worse?" Her eyebrows furrowed and then she gasped, "You are married to someone else!"

Niles shook his head. "Don’t be ridiculous, of course I’m not married!" He took a deep breath, "I have made many bad investments and I’m overextended in credit."

CC sighed with relief. "Is that all?"

"Is that all? Woman, do you realize what I am trying to say to you? I may not be able to take care of you in the custom you are use to. Take heed. I’m a hard worker and I have a strong belief in myself. I learn from my mistakes. In a few years, I’ll be back on top." He finished adamantly.

"Niles, it is fine. Don’t worry. I’ve inherited millions from my father. I’m well off."

His forehead creased, "What does that have to do with me? With us?"

"Darling, once we get married, you won’t be destitute. My money will be your money."

Niles stood up. "I will not be a cuckold."

CC followed him up. "You won’t. That is what marriage is about. We share with one another."

"A man should provide for his wife. I will not let it be known that I am less than a man. I am not marrying you for your money. I did not know that you were rich beyond belief when I proposed."

She placed her hand in his. "I know that. That is how I realized that you loved me for myself"

Niles shook his head. "We cannot wed."

"What? Niles, what are you saying?"

He took her in his arms. "Wait for me. It was foolish of me to propose to you when my life is in shambles right now. Wait for me, dear CC, and when I regain my riches we can be husband and wife."

"Niles I told you that you don’t have to do that."

"And I told you that I cannot and will not allow a woman to retain me." He answered tersely.

"You are being ridiculous!"

"I have my pride!"

They turned away from one another, arms crossed, both unwilling to compromise. Niles turned when he heard her run away and watched her until she turned the corner from his sight. He looked down where she had stood. With eyes misted with the deepest pain he ever felt, he knelt and picked up the ring he had given her.

~ * ~ * ~

Minutes later, Randall, his wife Erin, Maxwell and Fran came upon Niles. His body was rigid with anger as he looked out into the blackened frigid sky. His hands shoved into his pockets for warmth.

"Niles?" Fran looked around. "Where’s CC?"

"Don’t tell me you had another fight," Maxwell teased.

Niles ignored them. He wasn’t in the mood for conversation.

"Niles?" Randall clapped him on the shoulder and looked around the ship. "Is everything all right? Where has CC gone to?" He wondered in concern for his old friend.

"You’ll catch your death of cold," Fran clucked as she led the somber man inside.

Maxwell followed everyone in. "What happened?" He waited for an answer, but Niles grimly sat down and ignored the question.

Randall signaled for drinks and the waiter quickly poured glasses of warm cognac all around. Silence reigned in as everyone waited for someone else to lead the conversation. They all jumped in their seats as Fran’s fist slammed onto the table.

"Enough of this silliness! You better explain to us what has happened Niles or I will take this Swiss army knife that my Papa gave to me when I was a child and carve you a new mouth."

Erin covered her mouth lest a giggle escaped.

"The wedding is off," Niles quietly said.

Maxwell gasped in surprise then his shock turned into anger. "You do not know what you lost, Niles. Where’s CC – I know of someone who will appreciate her..." The rest of his sentence died at the ferocious glare thrown at him.

"I appreciate her," he stonily retorted.

They watched the angry man walk a few feet away, nursing the drink in his hand.

"Not more than an hour ago, you and CC were making everyone at the table ill with the lovestruck eyes and the cooing at one another," Randall pointed out.

"I do not coo."

Fran rolled her eyes. "What happened Niles? Whatever it is, it can’t be that bad."

Niles sighed. "I have lost most of my money. By the time we dock, Shurfield’s maid will be richer than I."

"I don’t understand the problem?" Erin asked. "CC’s father left her the millions he made. She is the only one left in her family. When you marry, you will-"

"No, I will not," Niles bit out angrily. "I will not allow a woman to take care of me."

"CC is rich?" Maxwell asked in shock. "Millions? Has she ever invested in plays?"

"What are you talking about Niles?" Fran gulped down the rest of her drink and then licked her lips with gusto. "That’s the crazy law. It doesn’t matter who had the money first, when a wife marries all her possessions transfer to her husband."

"And then what?" Niles gruffly retorted. "Spend the rest of my life having people pointing at me. Everywhere the knowledge of my failure to contain my fortune will be on everyone’s lips."

"Everyone who?" Maxwell asked. "You might be on everyone’s tongue the first day, but after that someone will come along and you and your problems will be forgotten."

"People will know," Niles went on. "They will think less of me. I will be thought of as a cuckold!"

"Men!" Fran exclaimed to Erin who nodded in agreement. "You men have it all. All the rights are given to you and still you want more. You have a woman who loves you for you and still you break her heart."

Erin stood up.

"Where are you going, honey?" Randall asked.

"I am worried for CC. I wish to check on her and console her."

Fran glared at Niles, "I’ll join you."

The thought of CC crying with pain because of Niles made Maxwell get angrier and angrier. He tipped his dark head back and swallowed down his drink like he saw Fran do. Seconds later Randall was slapping Maxwell’s back as he spasmodically coughed as the liquor burned his throat.

Niles finished his drink and then gulped down Erin’s untouched cognac as well.

Now that the women were gone, Randall commiserated with Niles. He understood what the British man was talking about. A man’s reputation in the business world meant everything and while Niles will still be rich because of CC, he will lose respect.

Maxwell grudgingly understood, but he was still upset at Niles for hurting CC.

The hours slipped by as the men tried to come up with a reasonable solution. Then the ship suddenly turned making them fall abruptly to their knees. A loud keening noise as if the ship scraped against something large was heard. All three ran outside and watched in amazement as shards of ice fell upon the deck. There before them was the biggest glacier they’ve ever seen in close proximity.

Soon it was bedlam. Startled people, still groggy from sleep, began to join them on the deck. Niles’s heart thundered. He saw the commotion and the fear in the eyes of the men who worked on the ship as they yelled instructions to each other.

CC! He needed to find her.

Niles turned to his friends. "Come on – we have to get the women!

"It will only scare them to see this," Randall pointed out.

Niles shook his head. "No, this is bad. Look around – do you see the fear in their faces?" He pointed to the men in uniform. "The ship ran into an iceberg."

Randall and Maxwell’s eyes grew with understanding and they ran after Niles. They shoved past people and ran down stairs, twisting and turning down hallways until they came upon CC’s room where they hoped all the women were at.

"He loves you CC," Erin said consolingly just before they were jarred suddenly.

Art fell from the walls and the women looked around alarmed.

"What was that?" CC fell back onto her bed.

Fran stuck her head out into the hallway then came back in and shrugged. "Engine trouble?"

"Are you sure?" Erin asked worriedly.

"No, but no one seems to be panicking," Fran said then turned back to CC. "I agree with Erin, Niles loves you."

"No he doesn’t," CC shook her head. "He’s using my money as an excuse not to marry me. He changed his mind and doesn’t want anything to do with me."

Fran shook her head. "I’ve known Niles for almost five years now. He made his money the hard way, he earned it. My Papa was lucky and got into oil otherwise I would most likely be a dressmaker right now, like my mother was before my family got rich." She walked over to the gild-framed mirror and preened. "Niles’ pride is as strong as yours. You’ve turned down many men who’ve asked for your hand in marriage and accepted a proposal from Niles after knowing him for less than two days. It must be fate."

"Or foolishness," CC angrily replied.

"So that’s it, then?" Fran turned to face her. "You love him and then you don’t? You’ve always been very good at turning your emotions on and off, CC. You hide behind your anger and pride."

"And your whip-like words," Erin added quietly.

"Yes, that too," Fran nodded. "I’ve heard men say that they’re attracted to the bouquet, but are pricked too many times by the thorns." She sat on the bed next to CC. "You’ve lashed out at Niles and he enjoys it. He taunts you right back and you revel in it. Quite frankly, if you two don’t reconsider, you’ll both end up alone. Many women are attracted to Niles, that’s true enough."

CC scowled.

"But they bore him. You put that fire in his eyes."

All three women jumped in surprise when the door opened angrily. Niles strode in and grabbed CC’s wrist and told the rest of the women to follow him.

"Unhand me!" CC growled.

"Everyone has to get out," Niles retorted while Maxwell and Randall ran in and grabbed Fran and Erin’s hands.

CC set her heels stubbornly down. "Niles, I said unhand me now!" Suddenly Niles was in her face.

"The ship ran into an iceberg. Did you not feel it lurch?"

"But the Titanic is suppose to be unsinkable," Fran said nervously, grasping Maxwell’s hand tightly.

"Let us hope so," Niles answered tightly as he took a firmer grip upon CC’s wrist.

The three couples rushed down the hallway.

"There’s the lift!" Maxwell called out.

Hastily they ran inside and anxiously waited until they got to the top. They charged around people, dodging sleepy people who complained of being woken up and taken out of their warm beds. Finally they reached the deck and saw a couple of men laughing and kicking a piece of ice back and forth.

Fran, Erin and CC practically rolled their eyes together.

"You dragged us up here and I don’t see anyone panicking," CC scowled.

"Is that right? Then look over there," Niles gestured over her shoulder.

CC turned around and saw the Captain barking out orders. She saw uniformed men gesticulating anxiously towards the part of the ship that got hit hard.

"This is bad isn’t it?" Fran clutched Maxwell hand.

Maxwell looked wildly around, his face ashen, and nodded. Then he pointed, "They want people to get in the lifeboats!"

Just as he said that they were all handed lifevests. Niles grabbed CC’s out of her hands, helped her slip her arms inside and buckled her in before doing the same with his.

"Come on!" He brushed pass the many people who refused to get inside the boats. Many of them protested about the frigid temperature outside and how dark it was for such an exercise.

One of the ship’s men was shouting out orders. "Women first! We need the women to get in the boat!"

The three couples turned to each other.

"Go on, go inside Erin."

"But Randall..."

"Go," he kissed his wife lovingly. "Everything will be fine."

She nodded and stepped inside.

"Maxwell?"

"Go with Erin, Fran. Just to be safe."

"Come with me," she urged.

"The next one," he smiled bravely at her. "This one is for the women."

"I don’t know..." She turned when she felt someone grab her arm.

"We need you to sit down, ma’am."

Fran nodded nervously and embraced Maxwell. They shared a delicious kiss fraught with desire, love and breath-catching turbulence.

"Get inside CC," Niles said carefully, looking around as he watched more boats being readied.

"No."

"This is no time for you to be stubborn."

"Niles there are plenty of boats. I’ll wait until we can go together."

She watched him close his eyes for a moment and when he opened them she saw his deep love for her etched in his eyes. He wiped a tear on her face that she didn’t realize was there. His fingers gently caressed her cheek.

"Niles, please. I can’t go without you."

His eyes softened as he took in her beauty. "What did I do so right in this world that I was bestowed with the most precious woman I have ever laid my eyes upon? In this darkest of nights, I vow that one day we will reunite. That I promise."

Their eyes closed as they shared the tenderest of kisses. Then before CC could stop him, he had pushed her into the capable arms of the man in charge of the lifeboat. She fell down next to Fran and Erin as the boat was carefully lowered to the ocean below.

There were no words spoken. Many sat restlessly as the small boat swung dangerously as they were lowered foot by foot. The women held onto to each other against the biting wind, crying and unsure. CC couldn’t take her eyes off of Niles as his face became smaller and smaller. She watched as he blew her a kiss as she stoically sat there, angry at him for letting her go.

When their women were safe, the men looked at each other for guidance.

"We need to find another boat!" Maxwell exclaimed as Randall nodded.

"Valiant!" Niles suddenly cried out.

"Niles, no!" Maxwell yelled and tried to restrain his friend, but Niles pulled away.

"I’ll be all right. Find safe passage!" Niles called over his shoulder as he ran.

"Where is he going?" Randall watched worriedly as Niles disappeared.

Maxwell slammed his fist down on the railing. "He’s going to fetch CC’s dog."

"Her dog?! Now? That’s foolhardy!"

Maxwell rubbed his face, "He loves her," was his only explanation. "Come on – let us find safe passage as Niles directed. He’s very capable and will be along shortly."

The minutes ticked by and many of the passengers began to realize the urgency of their situation. Lifeboats after lifeboat were lowered as expediently as possible. When one of the uniformed men gestured to Maxwell and Randall to board, they strode forward only to falter in their footsteps. They noticed that the richer passengers were being allowed to escape, male or female, it didn’t matter. They both looked at one another and without a word exchanged they came to an agreement. They walked over towards a family, crying, as they huddled together.

The man in uniform shook his head at them as Maxwell held two little girls, their coats dirty and frayed. Behind him was Randall, who had the little girls’ mother in front of him as she clutched a swaddled baby to her bosom.

"Those passengers are not allowed in right now, sir."

Maxwell gritted his teeth, "Step aside."

Just as the man in charge began to protest, Randall stood to his full height and glowered at him as well. Resigned the man took the two dazed little girls and helped them in the boat. Next he helped their mother clamber in, carefully holding her youngest.

"This boat is full! Lower it down!"

The mother looked at them, unabashed gratefulness shone on her face, "Bless you."

With tight smiles, they swallowed the bitter truth of their fate and nodded back in welcome.

"Maxwell! Randall! Why are you still here?" Niles inquired breathlessly as he held a yapping dog. Before they could answer, he saw the boat and handed the dog to one of the little girls. "Please take special care of him!"

Maxwell saw that Niles had wrapped his white handkerchief around the dog’s collar as a way to attract attention. The ship lurched suddenly and many people lost their footing. The small lifeboat swung pendulously, the many people inside screamed and held on as best as they could.

In another lifeboat yards away, CC peered anxiously in the darkness for Niles. She heard Fran scream as they watched the ship rock and sway as if fighting the devil himself when it suddenly pitched forward. Moments later the night became pitch black as the lights on the ship snuffed out. Lanterns were held up by each man in charge of the lifeboats as they looked about at the tragedy before them. Erin, Fran and CC wrapped their arms around each other as they did what they could only do, remain in the boat and wait. Wait for help and keep vigilant hope that their men were safe and sound in another boat.

Hours later, they walked around the ship that saved them from a watery death. Erin and Fran looked anxiously around. Fran would tearfully call out Maxwell’s name then Erin would do the same with Randall’s. CC plodded behind them, her eyes downcast. She had heard how many lifeboats were available to the passengers of the Titanic and saw the many bodies floating in the frigid ocean before they themselves were rescued. She knew that Niles would never save himself as long as there was room for someone else in the lifeboat. And she knew that her friends were in denial right now because Randall and Maxwell were as courageous and selfless as Niles. Wrapped in blankets, the women walked around, as their hope died with every unknown face they passed.

CC stopped as she felt a pull on her blanket. She grumbled and figured she caught it on something so she tugged, only to have the blanket jerked back. Her eyes searched for the reason and fell upon her knees at the sight of her dog. He began to bark and jump around her.

"Valiant! I thought I lose you! Oh, Valiant!"

Fran and Erin watched the dog jump into her arms. A small smile lit their faces at the joy in their friend’s face.

"What’s that white thing?" Fran asked.

CC looked and tried to untie it from her dog’s collar. "It’s a handkerchief." Her eyes notice Niles’ initials sewn into the corner. "It’s Niles’ handkerchief!" CC’s voice broke as she finally untangled it. As she did, she felt something hard wrapped inside and quickly opened it up. "Oh!" CC began to sob spasmodically.

In alarm, Fran and Erin ran to her. In CC’s hand was a diamond and ruby engagement ring. Tears escaped both women’s faces when they realized what it was and together they embraced each other, knowing that they only had each other now.

The picture in the crystal ball became hazy, the figures inside became fainter and fainter, until it disappeared altogether.

CC sat back, exhausted, tears in her eyes. At least this time she was saved the sight of seeing Niles’ still body, but the thought of him being forever lost to her had her crying quietly. Her hushed sobs filled the stillness of the room.

Fran rubbed her back consolingly. She then leaned over and looked into the crystal ball. "What did you see, Miss Babcock?"

"The vision is not for you to observe," Mona explained and looked Fran deeply in the eyes. "You have found the one for you. Stay true to your heart and do not let a woman with very big blond hair sway your decision."

Fran nodded with understanding, but she really wanted to see into the crystal ball and her eyes squinted tightly in the dire hope that that would work. Her eyebrows rose suddenly, and she pointed eagerly, "Wait! Ooo – what’s that, it looks like a big purple moon!"

Mona leaned over and peered at what Fran was pointing at. "Oh that?" She pulled a tissue from her pocket, licked a corner of it and wiped the speck away. "I was eating a peanut butter and grape jelly sandwich earlier. My bad."

They both turned at the sound of a chair scraping loudly on the floor. CC was halfway to the door.

Fran grabbed her purse. "Wait for me, Miss Babcock!"

Mona looked down and saw five one hundred dollar bills on the table. She glanced towards CC and the beautiful socialite smiled in gratitude before opening the door and leaving, with Fran at her heels.

~ * ~ * ~

The cab pulled away before Fran could close the door. She began to protest, but saw the wild look in CC’s eye and the large bill she waved at the cab driver.

"What’s the rush?"

CC spared her fellow passenger a glance. "Do you really need to ask? You saw what I saw."

"Miss Babcock, I saw you leaning towards that crystal ball with this captivated look upon your face. You know, kind of how I get when Loehmann’s is about to open their doors for their big sale?"

CC ignored Fran as her fingers gripped tightly upon her seat. "Is that as fast as you can go?!" she berated the driver.

As soon as she said that they took a deep turn and the women crashed into one another.

"Ow!" Fran pouted as she rubbed her forehead. "That’s the second time today! I need to wear a crash helmet around you and Niles." Suddenly she grimaced as she felt fingernails dig into her arm.

"What about Niles? Is he hurt?!"

"No, he’s fine. We bumped heads this morning. Now what were you saying about that crystal ball? I didn’t see anything in there and I stared as hard as you were." She watched CC suddenly deflate and lean back in the seat. For a few seconds, the blond stared out at nothing, a haunted look upon her face as she struggled through her emotions.

"It showed that Niles and I had a past and how our lives were interwoven with one another," she swallowed in anguish. "Each time our love for one another was interrupted by events that we could not control. I saw him lying there on the ground, Miss Fine, all life snuffed from my Niles." Her voice became quieter, "You never realize how much you love someone until you see that person die. I could feel each sensation pass through my past life counterpart. The utter misery and despair that takes over, the numbness, and the anger. I wanted to scream at the world, at God, and even Niles. I wanted to yell at him for leaving me behind." Tears fell at an alarming pace down her face as she shook with the remembered sight of her Niles lost to her forever. She vaguely heard Fran trying to console her.

"Shh, Miss Babcock, that was in the past. Niles is fine. He’s at the hospital waiting for you." She watched as the blond pulled out a tissue and began to dab at her face.

"You’re right, Nanny Fine, I’m being silly."

"I wouldn’t call it that, Miss Babcock. You learned a lesson that many of us rarely learn. So many of us put off things to do because we’re afraid of the consequences. Hundreds of what-if’s run through our mind. Like, I’m attracted to him, but what if I’m reading the signals wrong. I want him to like me, but what if he only thinks of me as a nanny to his children? What if he laughs at me, if I suggest that we go out for coffee? So we put it off to someday. And soon months pass and we haven’t made someday a reality because we’re scared. We instead dream a life with him in our heads. We imagine holding hands and talking about something that isn’t really funny, but we laugh anyway because we’re so happy to be together." Fran played with the strap of her purse as she looked down and continued to talk, "We dream this life and make do. We settle for what we think we deserve and we make excuses for that decision."

CC nodded in agreement, a small smile lit her features. "I saw Maxwell in both of my past lives, Nanny Fine." CC smiled as Fran’s eyes grew. "In the first one, he was Niles’ younger brother."

"They do seem like siblings," Fran nodded. "Niles takes care of Mr. Sheffield and watches over him. They bait one another like brothers," she grinned.

"They sure do!" CC agreed. "In the second life I saw Maxwell was there as a friend and... so were you."

Fran’s jaw dropped, her finger pointed at her own chest. "Me?! You saw me and we were friends?" She watched CC nod in amusement. "What else happened?"

A cloud flashed through CC’s eyes, but she closed them and when they were open only a shadow of sadness could be seen.

"Even then you and Maxwell shared a strong attraction for one another. He saved your life."

Fran flattened her palm upon her chest. "He saved my life?"

CC nodded.

"What happened?" Fran asked and wanted to take the question back as CC’s lips trembled. She watched the usually detached business woman tremble with emotion as she relived what she saw in that crystal ball.

CC took a deep breath and in a heartbreaking whisper replied succinctly, "Titanic."

The dark brown eyes of the nanny widened in remembrance of the movie she saw recently. She remembered crying as Leonardo Di Caprio’s character died and was lost in the icy depths. She reached out for CC’s hand and squeezed it. A moment was shared between the women and Fran passed a tissue to CC while taking one for herself. They both blew their noses and wiped their eyes and collectively smiled sadly at one another when they were suddenly thrown back in their seats at the abrupt stop.

Dusk had soon became night during the drive and the women dashed inside the hospital while the cab driver whistled happily, pocketing the fifty dollar bill as he drove away.

Nurse Claire looked up at the noisy stampede of heels coming towards her. She smiled at the sight of CC and noticed the determined look upon her face. Go get him! She thought encouragingly.

Niles saw the door swoosh open in a rush and then there she was and the moment his eyes fell upon hers, he felt better. He felt whole.

Lisa turned quickly when she heard the door slam against the wall. Her heart beat quickly sped up at the sight of CC Babcock. She followed CC’s gaze to Niles and watched painfully as Niles gazed worshipfully back.

Why did I even try? She wondered to herself. She felt the sexual tension between them back at the mansion numerous times, but had hoped that she could win Niles eventually. When he only wanted to be friends, she thought it only as a setback, but here was the full brunt of truth smothering her in the face.

Niles and CC. CC and Niles. Throughout the passages of time, they were brought together constantly and even death could not stop their love for each other.

Lisa stood up and walked quietly towards her cousin, who hugged her consolingly. Fran watched over her cousin’s shoulders as CC ran towards Niles. Then carefully she steered themselves out of the room to give the couple their privacy.

Just looking at Niles took CC’s breath away.

As soon as he saw her, his face lit up with a glow that instantly warmed her. How feminine it made her feel to be looked at that way.

Her legs felt dizzy as she took each step towards him. She knew the visions shown in the crystal ball were the past, but to see Niles right there in front of her, smiling that quirky grin that she knew so well, it was overwhelming. Her footsteps faltered as soon as she was a foot away. An almost suffocating tightness filled her chest. She was scared to reach out and find that maybe she was still looking through the crystal ball or perhaps dreaming. Before she could reach out and convince herself, his hand grabbed hers, pulling her closer. Her eyes closed at the warm, loving contact. She knew that touch.

His hand then caressed her cheek. With her eyes still closed, Niles spoke before she took flight again.

"CC... my love, you’re my life. Lisa is a friend. Only a friend. I’m sorry that I made you think otherwise," he released her fingers and brushed his softly against her skin. "You’re the one that’s a part of me, don’t you know that? It can’t be any other way. I am bound to you forever. And I wouldn’t change that. I’ve tried calling you and you never returned any of my messages." His jaw tightened, "Where have you been all week?"

CC noticed the edge in Niles’ voice and the knotting of his jaw. He’s jealous! She thought with a surge of delight. All this time she was filled with this burning resentment towards Lisa and now the power shifted. The realization that she had the power to make him jealous gave her a base of self-assurance that she lost around Niles ever since he’d been dating the floozy. Making the most of the situation, she answered, "Today I spent time with past loves."

She stole a glance at Niles to measure the effect of her words and saw to her amusement and glee, the knotting of his jaw again.

His shoulders sagged with relief at her wink as she bestowed him with the brightest smile he ever saw lit upon her face. Her hand then reached for his injured arm and intertwined her fingers with his. He closed his firmly around hers and clutched her possessively to him with his other hand.

"You really and truly want me?" she whispered.

"Do you really need to ask?" he answered, his voice became deep and intense causing a little thrill to pass through her.

"Then why," she took her hand away and rested it upon her hip as she glared at him, "were you kissing Lisa and calling her all sorts of endearments?!"

Niles chuckled at her anger. God, he loved this woman’s spirit. "I was a fool."

CC nodded, "Go on."

"I should have told you sooner CC. That night of the accident, I broke up with Lisa." At her surprised look, "How could I stay with her when I had someone else on my mind? It’s not just because you’re so beautiful CC. You also have this inner fire, a strength and independence that I admire. When I first set my eyes upon you I felt like I was kicked by a horse or run over by a train."

She looked straight into his eyes and he into hers, their gazes reaching deep into one another with a silent communication far more eloquent then words. She stepped closer and her breath left her in a whoosh as he harshly pulled her to him as his hand bent her head to his. She was only dimly aware of the many people walking outside in the hallway and the intercom that urgently buzzed in with code words and doctors needed stat. Her senses became a whirlpool spinning around.

Her arms encircled his neck then his lips were on hers, gently at first, questioningly, then receiving her answer, more fervently, with increasing hunger that she tried to fulfill. Her breath became a sob in her throat. Her body arched as his arm slipped down and drew her closer.

"CC," he whispered thickly against her closed eyelids, "I meant what I said that day, a week ago. You are even more desirable than I remembered and I realized something during your absence."

"What’s that?" she whispered.

"I dreamt of you when I was in my coma. Your voice called to me and when I couldn’t hear it anymore it drew me out."

"Really?" she asked in astonishment.

"Yes," he nodded, "and I also wanted to find out what happened at the end of this book." He reached around her at the table and picked up the Buffy the Vampire Layer book that dropped from her purse from an earlier visit and grinned as she blushed.

Before she could reply, his lips sought hers again and she met his kiss with an equal eagerness. The kiss became more passionate and demanding and CC had to pull back to catch her breath. His kisses rained down her throat as her head fell backward. She heard him as if from a distance whispering her name, "CC... CC..."

Her body pressed closer, eager for the feel of his strength. Memories of what she had seen of a past Niles dying drew a sob from her throat and she clung harder to him wanting to make sure he was real and not leaving her.

Niles immediately heard her cry and pulled away guiltily. "I’m sorry. I can’t control myself around you. So many years of wanting you to be mine..." his voice trailed away at the sight of the tear that rolled down her cheek. His hold loosened, "Did I hurt you?"

"No," CC grabbed his hand and held it to her body, "don’t let go. Never let go. I’ve lost you twice Niles and I can’t do it again."

He raised an eyebrow, looking baffled. "I don’t understand."

CC gave a watery chuckle. "I’ll have to explain it to you someday, but you know I have to say all this exposing of one’s feelings is highly overrated." Her body tingled as his amazingly blue eyes looked deeply into hers, reaching deeply into her heart.

In that nondescript room with its stark white ceiling, CC melted against him as Niles’ lips touched hers in a kiss that would forever be frozen in time. Their lives would go on, but that breathless instant of joy would somehow continue in a dimension all its own as eternal as the twinkling stars in the velvet sky and the moonlight that bathed them with silver. Both of them promising their everlasting love for each other and only each other.

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