Tangled Web Of Love

by

Aimee and Hillary
(aimeed@earthlink.net) and (Jiggleboxx@aol.com)

Fran Sheffield knocked lightly and stepped into Niles' room. "Hi, I just came to see if you wanted any help redecorating your room."

Niles jumped. With a quick sweep of his arm, he knocked a few items into his top dresser drawer and slammed it shut. "Oh, no thanks, just doing a little spring cleaning."

He watched in horror as Fran went to sink her pregnant body onto a fragile-looking Louis XIV chair. To his utter relief, the chair held.

"I can't believe all the gorgeous stuff you found in the attic," Fran chattered happily. "That dresser you found will be perfect for the twins' nursery."

Niles smiled as he sat down on the bed by his friend. "That dresser may not be quite the thing for children, Mrs. Sheffield. It's an absolutely priceless Chippendale."

"Chippendales?" Fran asked in shock. "Why didn't ya tell me before I made Max and Brighton carry it down? Where are the pictures of the men?"

Niles chuckled. "Not Chippendales, Miss Fi -- I mean, Mrs. Sheffield. Chippendale. As in Thomas Chippendale, the famous eighteenth century furniture manufacturer."

Fran breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank god. Having to raise children around all these musical theater people is dangerous enough. I don't need any furniture with naughty pictures in their bedroom. Meanwhile," she added suspiciously, "what did you want with it?" Boy, either he's pretty liberal with Miss Babcock or there are a few things I don't know about him!

Niles groaned. "I am just using a few of the pieces in storage to brighten the place up. Surely you of all people can understand the urge to redecorate."

"Yeah," Fran said casually. "I was just wondering what was going on. You know, if there was anything you wanted to tell me. You know, any major events in your life you've neglected to mention."

Niles looked innocent. "No, nothing! Excuse me a moment, I just realized I left my new floral-scented hangers and potpourri dish downstairs."

Fran laughed and waved to him as he left. Then, moving pretty fast for a pregnant whale, she whipped open the drawer she'd seen Niles tossing stuff into when she came in.

"Aww," she said softly, her eyes misting over sentimentally. A silver tray sat in the top drawer. On it were a silver-backed brush, comb, and mirror set and an assortment of sample-sized perfumes and cosmetics. In one corner, there was a strand of perfectly matched pearls, some hairpins, and a couple of foil packets --

Fran blushed and her hand flew to her mouth. She quickly shut the drawer. Of course, she'd known for several days that his relationship with Miss Babcock was heating up considerably, but now she was getting a picture! And she still hadn't gotten rid of the last picture she'd gotten, when she and Max walked in on the two of them asleep in each other's arms.

Something lacy was sticking out from under the neatly made bed. Fran pulled out a pale pink satin slip trimmed in cream lace. "Oy," she said in surprise. "Proper Miss Babcock. Who'd have thought?" Fran draped the luxurious garment across the chair and rose to go.

Just then Niles returned. "Mr. Sheffield is waiting for you in the car."

"Oh!" Fran's hand flew to her mouth. "I forgot! I promised him I'd go sign some papers for the twins' trust funds."

"Have a nice time." Niles began setting up little potpourri dishes on the bedside tables. He piled scented satin hangers on the bed, and last but not least, piled ice cream toppings in his new mini-fridge.

Fran shook her head. "Oy," she muttered under her breath. "More ice cream toppings. The things he does for C.C."

"What?" Niles' head snapped up.

"Uh," Fran began to babble. "And we'll do some shopping. We'll get new things for me. Bye, Niles!"

Niles chuckled and shook his head. He put the satin slip on a hanger, too distracted to notice it hadn't been there ten minutes before. He carried the hangers into the closet and began to arrange them in the space he'd emptied.

"Hello, hello," came a seductive voice from behind him. CC slid her arms around his neck and tipped her chin up to be kissed. She'd evidently been hiding behind the closet door waiting for him.

Niles wrapped his arms around her. "And what are you doing here in the middle of a work day?" he asked, mock-sternly. Oh, lord, she was wearing Chanel #5 and that sexy black Dolce & Gabbana suit he just loved. Slowly, he drew off the scarf she'd flung about her throat and drew it down her body, finally dropping it to the floor.

"Well," she murmured with a smile. "I figured since we're not ready to come out of the closet, we'd just do it in here."

Hey, who was he to argue with the lady? At least for the next half an hour or so . . .

"I think it's so cute the way they think they're keeping such a big secret," Fran commented as she sat on her husband's desk. "Can you believe she expected us to believe she was going to Wal-Mart with him because they were having a sale on stockings?"

Max shook his head. "I suppose it is romantic in a way, star-crossed lovers and all that. A little surreal, though."

"And noisy," Fran commented as a loud thump came from upstairs and a few pieces of plaster fell in her hair.

Max chuckled. "Still, I wonder what their families will say."

"Hers will have kittens. Oy, that mother of hers! From what I've heard, BB won't even be able to remember CC's name, but she'll remember to disinherit her!" Fran shook her head. "His, I'm not worried about."

Max grimaced. "That's because you've never met them."

Fran shrugged and waved her hand. "What family wouldn't love to have their son date a beautiful Shiksa goddess with cash coming out of her tuchus?"

As it so happened, it was Fran who answered the phone later that night.

"May I speak to Niles, please?" inquired a low, British-accented male voice.

"Ah, just one moment." Fran put her hand over the receiver and listened. A loud crash came from the butler's pantry. "He's gettin' busy -- I mean, a little busy right now. Can I have him call you back?"

"Please tell him his father would like to speak to him. I'm at the LaGuardia Marriott. Thank you." The phone went dead in her hand.

"Well!" Fran exclaimed, staring at the phone. "Pretty rude for a butler." She shrugged. "Must run in the family." She smiled as she thought of her unconventional friend.

CC leaned back against the island as Niles fed her a chocolate covered strawberry. "Delicious," she murmured.

She fed him one. "They are very good," he admitted blandly. "Sweet and firm."

CC laughed wickedly. "Oh, you were talking about the strawberries?"

"No," he replied provocatively. Suddenly Fran burst through the swinging door. "Shrew!"

"Waterboy."

Niles grabbed a bottle of water and squirted it at her. She shrieked. "Just seeing if you'd melt," he said. "What'd they do, waterproof you last time you were at the groomers?"

"What do I look like, one of your relatives?"

"Not in the least, we don't have half the body hair."

"But I'll bet hunches and crossed eyes are a prominent feature!" she shot back.

"Hey, hey, hey!" yelled Fran. "Do I need to give you a time out?"

"That's what God said to his family just before he sent the big meteor that crashed into earth and killed them all," muttered CC.

"No fair! It was my turn!" complained Niles.

CC put her tongue out at him.

"Excuse me, children," Fran interjected. "But Niles, your father just called. He's at the LaGuardia Marriott and would like to speak to you."

Niles said a very bad word.

"I'm supposed to meet him for breakfast in a couple of hours," Niles told CC miserably as he held her in bed early the next morning.

CC, who had a few evil relatives herself, could sympathize. She curled up next to him and breathed in his natural, masculine scent. He'd abandoned the Paco Raban in favor of some Safari she'd bought him, and the faint, spicy fragrance never failed to get a pleasant reaction out of her.

"How bad can it be?" she asked. "What are they going to do, leave the family feather duster to a cousin?"

Niles sighed. "We've barely spoken in over twenty years, ever since I came to New York with Mr. Sheffield. We had a huge argument right before I left, and we've never totally made it up. Since then, they've come into a bit of money, but because of the argument, I've let them know where they can stick it and they've let me know I wouldn't be getting any even if I'd accept it from them."

"What was the fight about?" she asked, fascinated.

Niles looked edgy. "Come on, you can tell me," she encouraged, propping herself up on her elbow.

"I didn't want to be a butler. I wanted to try being an actor, or maybe going to law school. For the first time, someone in our family would have really done something with their lives. I had the education. After all, the Sheffields sent me to Eton to look after Maxwell, and I did well enough to get a scholarship to Oxford."

CC smiled. "Wow, I'm dating an Oxford man. So what happened?"

"I was accepted to law school. I figured I'd go for the solid job right away, and then I could always attempt the stage later if I wanted to, when I was more financially secure. But it was very competitive, and I didn't get all the scholarships I needed. My parents had saved up quite the nest egg, and I asked them to invest it in me. I didn't expect them to do it for nothing, I promised them a more than acceptable interest rate. They refused, but offered to help me talk the Sheffields into loaning me the money. I gave them the legal power to handle the transactions for me, and unknown to me, they signed a contract with Elizabeth Sheffield for enough money for my education in return for my being a sort of indentured servant until I'd paid off all the money. I couldn't do law school and work full time as a butler at the same time at the schedule she set me, it just wasn't possible. And if I couldn't go to school, I had no chance of ever paying her back."

CC sat straight up. "Elizabeth cheated you!" she said indignantly, although the businesswoman in her could see what a clever contract it was.

Niles' formidable control was becoming shaky as he related his story. CC gently traced her hand over his chest in a soothing circular motion. He pulled her head down to his shoulder and began to stroke her silky hair. "So I didn't accept the money. I asked my parents why they'd signed such a stupid contract in the first place, especially without consulting me. They couldn't even explain, except that they thought it was just silly, me wanting to be anything but what I was raised to be. They did it to force me to get some experience as a servant so that when I failed, as they were so sure I would, I'd have that to fall back on."

CC found that even her hardened heart was touched by his story. "You couldn't get the money anywhere else?"

"In England in the early seventies, student loans pretty much didn't exist. So I had to shelve the idea of continuing my education for a while. Then, Mr. Sheffield started producing. He asked me to come and work for him. Since the only other job offer I'd had was from his mother, I did it, hoping to figure something out later. But then he moved to America, and I came with him. He married the first Mrs. Sheffield, and she needed so much guidance as a young wife in how to run the household. Then the children came along, and I took care of them. Then Sarah died, and I knew I wasn't leaving, not with my oldest friend a wreck and his children all alone. The years just somehow passed without my realizing it, not until a certain hideous old witch made me realize I wanted to be something more if I was ever to be worthy of her."

CC swallowed hard and tried to be flippant. "Niles, you've got 'more' than any two average men," she joked.

Niles laughed and wrapped his arms around her more tightly. "I've certainly got enough of a woman for any two men," he agreed. "Not that I'm giving you that option."

CC smiled. "So why is your dad here?"

Niles suddenly looked away. "It's not important. He can't change anything. I'm not a boy anymore."

"Ain't that the truth," she said snidely. "Now spill it, Soft Scrub."

"Very well, wench, rumors have reached my family about our liaison through the domestic grapevine. He's a little peeved, I'm not quite sure why, but he only agreed not to tell the Sheffields if I'd agree to discuss it with him."

CC sighed. "It had to come out sooner or later, although I was hoping for a little longer than five days. Maybe we should just tell Maxwell and Fran, just to make sure your dad can't con you into any more bogus contracts."

A guilty little voice reminded her, If you'd just marry him, no one could ever control him again. He could go to school, on the stage, whatever he wanted.

But CC's better instincts had been dormant so long because of the loveless life she'd led that she instantly thought, Exactly! I won't let him use me. If he really loves me, then he loves me no matter what. Five days isn't long enough to know for sure.

Then, Niles eased her onto her back and slowly began to kiss his way down her throat, and for a time, both surrendered all their problems and didn't think at all.

"This Babcock woman," Niles' father told him, "has a reputation as a heartless shrew. She's a witch."

"I've told her so many times," Niles agreed, "but she does enjoy those coven meetings of hers so much."

Daniel Niles rolled his eyes. "You realize that Stuart Babcock will ruin you when he finds out that a butler is courting his daughter."

"What can he do? I've little money for him to take. Mr. Sheffield would never fire me. The only thing he might be able to take is CC, and she's a grown woman. Neither I nor her father can make her decisions for her."

Daniel sighed. "You haven't changed a bit, always so sure you can take on the world. For god's sake, Niles, I know being a servant isn't a glamorous life. I was one for years before I came into a bit of cash. But seducing this Babcock woman is not the way to get out."

Niles sucked in his breath sharply. "So that's why you're here. You really think that I'm low enough to seduce a lonely woman for her money. Please, father, I'm not you. You tried that on the Duchess of Whatever it Was forty years ago and it just got you kicked out of the butler's association. But for your information, my feelings for CC are perfectly sincere.

"Whatever. Look, Niles, we've been arguing for decades, and you're my only son. I'm old. I don't want to die your enemy. But you keep getting yourself into these reckless situations."

"Reckless? Thousands of men all over the world have started poor and become successful. It was you who took that away from me, not me who failed. Now I've finally won the woman of my dreams after years of loving her in silence, and you've come here dredging up pathetic excuses why I'll never be able to keep her. Why can I not expect to be loved like anyone else? I'm not a leper, for god's sake, or an idiot."

"That's a matter of opinion. Tell me, why aren't the two of you engaged?"

Niles' face turned a dull red, and his father knew he'd scored a point. "Because she won't marry you, that's why! She knows damn well that a woman of her breeding and wealth doesn't marry a servant. At least she's realistic enough to know that."

Niles glared. "I love her, and I will love her forever whether she chooses to marry me or not. Look, I don't know why you decided to schlep your old ass across the ocean to rub it in my face that I'm still a servant and you won the goddamn lottery, but I don't want a dime from you. I have my own family over here, and if this is the kind of father you're determined to be, always telling me what I'm not capable of doing, then CC and the Sheffields are the only family I need."

Niles grabbed his coat out of the closet and slammed the door on his way out. Of all the nerve, for that aging decrepit bastard to accuse him of using CC for her money.

Still, his father had a point. People were bound to think that was exactly what he was doing. He had to find some way of proving to CC, and the world, that he loved her, wild, wonderful hellion that she was.

Behind him, Daniel Niles sank into a chair. He'd heard all about CC Babcock from the servants' grapevine. It hadn't seemed possible that the haughty Babcock heiress could ever love a servant. It seemed even more impossible for any self-respecting servant to fall in love with her. Yet when Niles spoke of her, it was with all the passion and dedication of young love, though Niles himself wasn't what you'd call young. Could it possibly be that Niles was sincere? And if so, was Miss Babcock?

Daniel was still skeptical. But that was because Niles was right. Daniel would have done exactly what he accused Niles of doing.

Despite the fact that his morning meeting with his father lasted less than half an hour, Niles stayed out all day. He took a taxi to Fifth Avenue and wandered up and down, people-watching. He lunched at a hot dog cart, because he was too depressed to bother with anything more appetizing, he who was used to his own gourmet cooking. Then he wandered through shops until it was nearly dinner.

He spent almost an hour at Cartier looking at jewelry. He had CC's engagement band all picked out. It was a starburst pattern of diamonds and sapphires with a braided 24-kt gold band. She'd want diamonds because it was a classic symbol of marriage, but the starburst and the braided band made it more elegant and distinctive than the run-of-the-mill engagement ring. There were also matching wedding bands for the couple. The entire set was nearly fifteen thousand, well over half of what he had put away, but he'd never expect her to accept less.

He'd also looked at Tiffany's but as far as engagement rings went, Niles was savvy enough to know that Tiffany's was for new money and Cartier was jeweler to royalty. Tiffany's was fine for most jewelry, but for engagement rings, it was Cartier all the way.

"CC, for god's sake, what is the matter? You've done nothing but mope and moan all day."

CC looked up at Maxwell, then out at the darkening sky beyond the terrace. She was starting to get worried. Niles had that big meeting with his father at eight this morning, and had said he was coming straight home after that. But it was now almost dinner.

Fran hurried in. "Niles isn't back yet. I hope he's having a nice time with his father."

"Fat bloody chance," muttered Maxwell.

"Well anyway, honey, I'm ordering from Fung Lum's for dinner. Any requests?"

"Just not the egg foo yung, please. Last time I had it, it moved."

Fran laughed. "Miss Babcock, would you like to stay?"

"Yes, thank you, Nanny Fine. I can help you chew out that miserable servant when he finally gets his lazy butt back here."

"Okay, whaddaya want to eat?"

"I'll take the orange chicken."

"Okay." Fran hurried out.

An hour later, dinner was over and CC had run out of excuses to stay. "I'd better get going," she said reluctantly. "Thanks for dinner."

"You know you're welcome to stay any time, CC. How are you planning on getting home?" Max asked.

CC shrugged. "It's a gorgeous night. I think I'll walk."

"Through Central Park? Are you sure that's wise?" Max asked in consternation.

"I'll be fine, Maxwell."

He frowned. "If you're sure." He followed her to the closet and helped her on with her coat.

CC stepped out into the gorgeous Manhattan night. "Good night, Maxwell."

"Good night, CC."

Not five minutes after CC left, Niles finally hurried in. "I'm sorry to be so late. I'll get dinner on the table in no time."

Max waved his hand. "There's leftover Chinese in the fridge for you. Try the orange chicken. Miss Babcock barely ate a bite of it."

"Is she still lurking about someplace? I could call an exterminator."

Max chuckled. "No need. She left a couple of minutes ago. Although, I'm rather concerned. She insisted on walking home."

"Walking?" Niles was alarmed. "Through Central Park?" He shrugged. "Well, I'm sure the muggers can take care of themselves."

"I'm sure you're right. Well, Fran and I are going to retire early." Max winked. "See you tomorrow, old man."

"See you tomorrow, sir."

As soon as Max's back was turned, Niles had his coat back on and was running out the door to catch up with CC and see her safely home. Of course, if he got invited in, that wouldn't be a bad thing either.

Niles gunned the Porsche down the street. He thanked God it was so late so he could go over 65....70...ok 96mph. While he was driving all he could think about was what his father said earlier and if his father was right. His mind raced and his stomach turned. He didn't know which way was up anymore. The one thing that kept playing through his mind is...Why does would she love somebody like me?. He knew he loved CC with all of his heart and soul. He loved her for all the reasons nobody could see. Her smart wit, her charm, her determination...and oooo that body....well how could you resist. When Niles arrived at Central Park he couldn't see anything. He parked the car, and started to look around for any sign of a person. He could recognize her a mile away. When he got to the middle of the park he though that she had gotten farther than that considered going to her apartment when all of the sudden...AHHHHHHHHHH. He knew it was CC. He ran as fast as he could to where the sound came from. As soon as he got there he saw the sight of a blue van speeding off into the distance. Niles jumped in the Porsche and followed the van making sure they didn't notice. He dodged everything in his sight and his determination was endless to make sure that CC would be OK. The van stopped in front of an old run down building on the other side of town. Niles kept the car at a distance to make sure nobody saw he was there. He turned the headlights off and watched from a distance as a helpless CC was pulled off the van then pushed inside the building with 4 very large men. It took all of Niles' strength and will power not to get out and kill all of them right then and there. As soon as they were out of sight Niles whipped out the cellphone and dialed the police. Considering he knew CC would like a big show and to prove his massive love for her, he called everybody he could think of. After that Niles crept up to the building and peered through a window. It was blurry but he could certainly hear and see what was going on. CC was tied in a chair and there was two men the back on a room, a man at a table and one in front of CC talking to her. He also noticed that they gagged her so she couldn't speak (how many times he wished he could do that to her).

"Well CC Babcock I will certainly get a lot of money for your safe return... or maybe nobody will notice your gone. I mean you do have a reputation for being a cold hearted person that only cares about yourself. I have watched you from a far for many years. You always have yourself so poised and contained. You seem to be able to handle anything....well what about right now. I guess you aren't as strong as you would like to think. I must admit that your personality goes along with your status in the community. But I fail to see how you can be happy with that. I mean you have money you have power and that's about it. We all know you don't' have a very good social life expect for the clients you scream at all day. You pined away for a man that didn't know you existed and is married with a person completely opposite of you. Don't you ever question why you are here"

As the man kept talk all CC could think about is "this man knows so much about me...and everything he seems to be saying is true. Why would Niles love me? I am worth nothing. I have no personality, no feelings towards anything but him, even he doesn't know that. I have spent my life in my own little world, trying to control everything in sight, but all the while building myself into a pit of despair. I know I love Niles. I know I love him for the person he is. He knows his place in the world and he is happy with what he is. I have tried to bring him down many times but nothing seems to faze the man.

All the while the man was talking, silent tears ran over CC's face.

Now, Ms. Babcock you must be wondering the reason why you are here, although I am sure you can figure it out. You are rich, famous and worth a lot of money. Fill in the blanks. Now I will grant you a favor, I will ungag you if you promise not to talk.

Yeah right, Niles though to himself silently. Niles wasn't too worried considering he didn't see and weapons and they weren't hurting her, but he swore to himself if they did he would turn into the incredible hulk.

Now, do you promise me you won't say a word. No screaming yelling hollering or anything like that. CC nodded in agreement. The man walked over to CC and removed the gag from her mouth.

CC looked at the man in disgust. "I was listening to your whole little speech you were making earlier. You seem to know a lot about me. But you also failed to mention one thing....my power that I hold in the community. When my dog was stolen I got the man back very well as you recall. NOBODY messes with CC Babcock and when they do I repay them with Interest...if you get what I am saying. The man started laughing.

"Miss Babcock even when you are in a life or death situation, you keep your wits about you. You don't' seem to care that I have the POWER over you at this very minute. Considering the position you are in I would suggest to you that you keep your remarks to yourself before you get yourself in more trouble than you need."

Niles laughed as he recalled her saying the same thing to him.

The man walked over to CC looked into her eyes for a few seconds. Took his hand and smacked her right across this face "I TOLD YOU TO KEEP QUIET".!

At that very minute the door burst open and Niles ran in all this might. He brought his stun gun and took out the three other men in the room. The one that smacked CC he wanted to deal with himself. The man pulled a gun out on Niles and he stopped dead in in tracks.

"Niles, I beg of you please...I....I....I love you. I don't want you hurt." CC said as tears streamed down her face with the imprint on the man hand on it.

The man turned around to look at CC. "You love him?" CC Babcock is not capable of real love.

"You don't' know the real CC Babcock," Niles said.

After he said that the Niles ran up the man and tried to wrestle the gun out of this hand. Niles remembered the stun gun in his pocked grabbed it and used it on the man. As he shocked him the gun went off and shot Niles in the thigh. They both went down at the same time.

"NILLLLLES, OH DEAR GOD PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME PLEASE BE OK"

CC struggled, as though it would do any good. To her utter horror, Niles lay bleeding on the floor and the stunned men were beginning to awaken. When they came to their senses, Niles was a dead man!

"Niles, I know it must hurt horribly, but you have to try to get over here and untie me! I can hold the gun on them while we wait for the police!" She stared in horror as Niles tried to shift position so he could drag himself to her, and failed with a groan. A fresh jet of blood spurted from his leg.

"Nice thought, Babcock!" he snapped.

CC looked around in panic and found that one of the guards behind Niles had begun to drag himself to his feet. "Niles, behind you!"

Niles grabbed for the gun of his fallen opponent and aimed. Through a dark haze of pain, he fired and the man went down. Niles clutched the gun reflexively in fingers that were rapidly losing their strength.

CC kept talking to him to try to keep him awake. "Niles, it'll be all right. The police will come soon. Then the ambulance, they'll have you patched up in no time! Hey, at least he got the left leg and not the one in the middle, right? Niles? Niles!

"Leg . . . in . . . middle . . . good one," he mumbled. "Funny funny funny."

"Niles, I hear sirens outside! They've come for us, darling! It'll all be over soon, I swear."

"That's what I'm afraid of," he grimaced, trying to staunch the flow of blood.

Maxwell and Fran arrived first, followed closely by the fathers of both CC and Niles, whom he'd called on his way. By the time he'd briefed them on the situation, the police had arrived. As the ambulance pulled up and a SWAT team prepared to storm the building, they heard a hysterical shriek.

"Help us! Hurry the hell up and get in here! He's shot!"

Stuart Babcock grinned at Max. "That's my baby," he said dryly.

Daniel Niles' face was red with rage. "You mean the baby girl who got my boy shot?" he retorted. "I told the lad, nothing good would come of his seeing her."

"What?" Stu roared. "Her mother'll kill her!"

"News to you?" demanded Daniel. "Yes, it seems your precious baby girl is quite the little fireball. She's really leading him around by the -- "

"Nose," Maxwell hastily interjected.

"Not the body part I was thinking of," replied Niles' not-so-proud father.

Stuart turned red and Fran hastily stepped in between. "Hey, hey, ya think we could save the smackdown for after we rescue Baby and The Lad?"

As soon as the police untied her hands, CC launched herself in Niles' direction. Unfortunately, she forgot her ankles were still tied and promptly fell flat on her face.

Max, Fran, Stuart, and Daniel broke through just in time to see a policewoman help CC to her feet as Niles was being placed on a rolling stretcher.

"CC!" shouted Stuart, but CC didn't hear him. She flung herself on the stretcher, sobbing. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," she whispered through her tears.

Niles' trembling hand touched her face. "I love you," he whispered.

She clutched his hand. "I love you, too, my darling, my Niles."

"What they said about you. . . " he whispered.

"Shh, you mustn't try to talk now. Save your strength."

"But I have to tell . . . " A wave of dizziness overcame him and he slipped into unconsciousness for a moment. Then, he fought his way to the surface again. "Not true, CC . . . none of it. Love . . . you . . . so . . . much . . . " Niles lost the battle for consciousness and fell into the waiting darkness. The paramedics bore him swiftly away, dragging CC away from him and shoving her into the arms of Maxwell. "No," she screamed. "Let me go with him. Let me go, Maxwell, please . . . " She broke down sobbing in his arms and sank to the floor.

Suddenly a familiar smell enveloped her. The scent of Jickey cologne and cigar smoke, the way the library at home always smelled when she was a little girl. Then, strong arms enfolded her, and CC found her face buried in her father's shirtfront.

"There, now, kitten," Stuart said soothingly. "He'll be just fine, I promise. I've called my physician, and he's called a friend of his who's the best surgeon in the city. They're both on their way to Manhattan General right now to patch him up for you. Only stop crying and talk to the police for a little bit. Then we'll go home and rest, and by the time you can see him tomorrow morning, he'll be well out of danger." Stu kept on talking, mindless rambling about how brave she was, how pretty, how if she wanted her Niles she would have him.

"Call the doctors," she mumbled after a while. "Tell them he has a heart condition. He had a heart attack two years ago."

"Very well," Stuart soothed. "Here, go see Frannie now. She'll sit with you while you talk to the police. I'll keep calling for reports on Niles."

An hour later the report came in. Niles had lost a lot of blood, but they were able to stabilize and he stood an excellent chance of full recovery. He would go into surgery to remove the bullet before morning. Special care had been taken in view of his heart condition, and CC's forethought in pointing it out might have saved his life.

It was three o'clock in the morning before the police finally gave CC the okay to go home. She'd told her story at least four times and was made to promise to come to the station and tell it again the next day. She'd intended to fight and carry on until they took her straight to the hospital to wait for Niles to awaken, but her exhaustion was so great that she had just enough strength left to be driven to her father's house and carried to bed in her old nursery, where her old porcelain dolls watched her sleep.

She awoke once, early in the morning, and her father was sitting by her bed with a tray of tea. CC nibbled a biscuit and drank the tea her father pressed into her hand. Then, just as she was trying to struggle out of bed, her father smiled and told her to rest some more.

"The tea," she mumbled drowsily.

"It's just a little herbal remedy to help you sleep, and when you wake up, I shall have a surprise for you."

"Niles," she protested. "Want Niles."

When CC awoke, feeling clearheaded and refreshed, it was early afternoon. She couldn't find a robe, and someone, presumably a maid, had evidently dressed her in a nightgown while she slept and taken her clothes away. CC did not like this state of affairs at all. And what her father was doing with a woman's nightgown in his house, she did not know!

She hopped out of bed in her nightgown to find her father and protest this high-handed treatment.

"Where are my clothes? It's time to go and see Niles," she demanded, stomping into the dining room.

"Just like when she was a child," Stuart smiled. "Always so determined."

Daniel Niles surveyed her over the remains of his lunch. "My Niles was always headstrong, too. They'll make quite a pair."

CC stood with her arms folded and her feet planted apart. "Niles, now!" she said dangerously.

"Go up to the guest room in the east wing, CC. We had some things of yours brought in this morning and placed in there. Then you can come back down and have some lunch."

CC took a deep breath. "Call the car," she demanded. "When I'm finished getting dressed, I'm going. And I'll get something on the way, I don't trust you not to drug my tea again." She turned and stormed out, her long white gown swirling about her legs.

Daniel looked at Stuart in disbelief. "No wonder you sent her to boarding school!"

Stuart merely smiled. "I'm glad the events of last night haven't affected her nerves. She was always a little high-strung."

CC dashed up the main staircase two at a time, then turned aside to climb the spiral stair that would take her to the guest room that was one floor above her nursery. It was the only guest room in that wing and hadn't been used in years. It was usually reserved for the children's visitors, and the "children" were all old enough to run for president.

She burst into the room only to find Max and Nanny Fine in there bent over the bed. "What are you . . . " Then both of them turned aside and she saw, propped up against the headboard, was a grinning Niles.

"Hiya, baby," he said cheerfully.

"Niles!" she shrieked, and flew at him. In half a second, she was tucked up against him, cradling his good leg between both of hers, arms wrapped around his neck. He pulled the covers over both of them and wrapped his strong arms securely around her. He planted a loud, smacking kiss on the top of her head and held her tight.

"Well," Fran said with a grin. "Guess it's time for us to go, honey." She nudged Max.

"Get well quick, old man," Max said with a grin. "Looks like you'll be getting all the right medicine here, eh, CC?"

"I'll take good care of him," purred CC.

"Fortunately," giggled Fran, "the doctor ordered lots of bed rest!"

CC laughed in delight. "And if he hadn't, I would have!" she retorted with a grin.

Niles, still exhausted from having surgery only twelve hours before, fell asleep as soon as the Sheffields left. But CC didn't mind. Happy to have her Niles here, she curled up against him and fell asleep again herself.

Stuart Babcock and Daniel Niles crept to the door of the guestroom. It was a little awkward, seeing their children snuggled up together, when each could remember a time that the children shared their beds only with dolls and stuffed animals. Or, in CC's case, with her nanny when she was too afraid to sleep alone.

Stuart sighed. "I can't find it in my heart to be angry," he admitted reluctantly. "She seems so happy. Your boy Niles is in for it now, Daniel. After this, she'll never let him out of her sight again as long as he lives."

Daniel nodded, just as reluctant as Stu to acknowledge the liaison, but finding that his hard old heart had a crack in it after all. "I've seen that look on his face before," confessed Daniel. "When he looks like that, there's no denying him. Your fair daughter may have finally met her match."

"Still and all," Stuart said reflectively. "If he lays a hand on her in my house, I'll start shooting off his body parts."

"Kissed you last," CC said triumphantly, brushing her lips with his.

"Kissed you best," he murmured, deepening the kiss.

"Ohhh, no you don't. I'll kiss you better than that," she announced, and wrapped her arms around him.

When she'd fulfilled her intention, he retorted with a pleased look, "Fine, but when I'm all better, I'll get you back."

"How?" she challenged, straddling him carefully.

Niles smiled up at her, a naughty, crooked grin that made her feel breathless. "What was the question?" he asked lazily, drawing little circles up the back of her thigh with his finger.

CC moaned and shuddered. "How," she mumbled, then forgot. "Oh, damn. The question was . . . oh, right . . . how are you going to get me back for kissing you best?"

Niles' arm went up behind his head. He craned his neck, fiddled about under the pillow, then pulled out a small black box. "By marrying you, if you'll have me."

CC's breath caught. "Oh, Niles, how enchanting. It's utterly lovely." It was, indeed, a unique and lovely piece. A cluster of tiny diamonds sprinkled with sapphires was gathered into a starburst pattern. The metal felt cool against her skin, and she felt a sense of profound rightness as the small but valuable token of love was slipped onto her wedding finger, that finger which, in ancient and sacred tradition, had never borne even the tiniest ornament, because there had been no ornament given in love. CC stroked his dear, beloved, handsome face with the hand that finally bore his ring.

CC marched into the library some time later to face their fathers alone. Planting her feet apart and her fists on her hips, she announced with bravado, "I'm going to marry him, and that's that."

Stuart waved his cigar negligently in the air. "Very well, kitten, do as you like."

Daniel covertly watched him and tried to copy the carelessly sophisticated gesture, but ended up looking like he was conducting a symphony with a smoking baton. "Yes, by all means, do whatever will make you happy."

"Why you -- " CC sputtered with rage, then abruptly realized she'd gotten her way. "Oh. Well. Okay. If that's the way you're going to be. Great. I'll go tell Niles." She turned and sped out.

CC traced the thin, white scar that still showed on Niles' leg a year later. "I'm telling you, it's sexy. It gives you a dashing, romantic air." She bent and kissed it.

"Really?" Niles craned his neck trying to look, but found his own small scar uninteresting compared to the naked wife in the way. "Now come on, woman, stop taking inventory of my imperfections and come let me love you."

"But there are so many imperfections," she teased.

"But there's so much of you to love," he bantered back.

"I know, as your father reminded me last time he was here. I swear, I gain two friggin' pounds from the eclairs he taught you to make . . . "

"What about your dad? He never stops asking me if I have a real job yet."

"Daddy adores you. He thought it was very clever of you to say, 'No, your daughter wants me to be a full-time gigolo.'"

"CC, sweetie, your dad hates me."

"He does not. Now your dad, on the other hand . . . "

Niles bristled. "The old buzzard fawned on you like a schoolboy last time he was here."

CC laughed and waved her hands in surrender. "Let's just let the grumpy old men take care of themselves. One grumpy old man is all I can handle."

"But you can handle him all you want to," panned Niles.

"And I will," she purred. "Oh, I will."

Back to Fan Fiction

Back to The Really Unofficial Nanny Home Page