A Whole Different World

by

Aimee
(aimeed@earthlink.net)

CC Babcock lay unable to sleep in her queen-size bed. Beside her, her husband's breathing was quiet and even. He looked so angelic as a ray of moonlight fell over his face. She brushed a lock of hair from his forehead

Despite the New York City noise outside her penthouse apartment, CC felt oddly as though they were on a deserted island made of satin and moonlight. She'd never known such peace. For a second, her happiness was so great it became sadness and she squeezed her eyes shut against the tears that threatened.

Her body still ached from their fevered lovemaking. He'd been so forceful, so demanding, and yet so generous with his caresses. He'd acted as though he could lavish love on her, because there was an endless supply of it. She had responded as she never had before, because a secret part of her still feared it would be taken away.

What a strange paradox. He, who'd been a servant all his life, had a bottomless cornucopia of love to draw upon, and she, who had never been denied anything but love, clutched possessively at this new treasure that she feared someone would take away. She felt she had to protect what was hers, or someone else would take it and she'd be bereft, worse off than if she had never had it.

And two days ago, they're been arguing like always. Then Fran made a snide remark about Sylvia's newest diet, beginning a new round of their favorite bet. Grace, little Gracie, had defeated them both and insisted on their marriage as her prize.

Niles mumbled something in his sleep. He was wearing a little frown that made her laugh. Then, she noticed he was all over goose bumps. She drew the white satin quilt over his bare chest and tucked him in. She then turned over and snuggled her bottom against him, pulling his arm around her so that he was embracing her from behind.

The door whispered open, and a tiny jingling alerted her to the identity of the intruder. CC patted the bed. "Here, Chester," she whispered. The little Pomeranian hopped up on the bed and curled up against her. CC held him, as Niles held her, and just daydreamed about what married life would be like until she finally fell asleep.

Niles stumbled from bed, wrapping his robe around him as he went. He found CC already showered and fully dressed in a peach silk top and ivory skirt, pacing impatiently.

"What time is it?" he asked.

"Eight o'clock, but you don't have to be anywhere. I called Maxwell and told him I was having a lavish breakfast sent over so you wouldn't have to get up and go cook for them. Never was a man so relieved; he'd been just about to call and let us know Fran could cook for them this morning!"

Niles chuckled. "Speaking of breakfast, how about I make some for us?"

"Too late," she answered, her blue eyes sparkling at him. "You don't think I'd buy the Sheffields breakfast and nothing for us, do you?"

Nile's jaw dropped as she pointed to the glass-topped table. There was a salver of eggs, one of sausage, a tray of pastries, fruit, yogurt, coffee, orange juice, and cinnamon rolls, all on silver serving dishes. The juice glasses were Waterford crystal, and the plates were thin bone china edged in twenty-four karat gold.

"Welcome to the good life," she told him, bouncing up and down on her toes in her eagerness. "I figured this ought to be enough breakfast for the whole next week!"

Niles hoped he wasn't going to have to be the one to point out that food spoiled and most of it wasn't going to last a week. Her pleasure at her surprise was so endearing.

They were both feasting royally when the front door banged open. A plump Hispanic woman burst in. Niles rose.

CC remained sitting, saying casually, "Oh, hello, Angelica."

Angelica motioned to Niles, then to her. "You married her?" she demanded.

"I told you yesterday, we eloped," CC said impatiently. She supposed she shouldn't wonder at her maid's shock. The few time Niles had been here in the past, her maid had witnessed blistering arguments and very little else. CC grinned. This marriage business had at least a week's worth of entertainment value left in it just due to the shock value alone.

Angelica shook her head and lumbered off to the kitchen.

CC turned to Niles, who was chuckling quietly. "I have to go in for a few hours today," she said, "And you probably should too. But Maxwell said we could both leave at two."

"And spend the rest of the day here in bed?" he asked hopefully.

CC grinned. "We can if you like," she said. "I for one like very much. My other thought, however, was that we save the nonstop schtupping for later and look at a house. One of my friends is selling his, and if we went to see it today, I could close tomorrow, and we could buy some new furniture this week so we could move in as soon as we return from our first honeymoon."

Niles frowned.

"One little house," she coaxed. "Then we come back here for the rest of the day."

Niles couldn't resist her. "All right, my angel, but you know we're still going to have to get you a collar and a nice long chain so you can't wander off."

He was expecting to get punched for that, but instead, CC sucked lasciviously on a slice of mango and answered, "A collar and leash, huh? Where does one go for that sort of thing?"

The Sheffields were waiting with gifts when they arrived. Maxwell presented Niles with a handsome brocade dressing gown. Niles put it on and even served lunch in it, he loved it so much.

Fran presented CC with a stunning, full-length white lace peignoir. "I know it's a little late for the first night," she said, "But you could save it for the honeymoon."

"Actually, we're thinking of buying this gorgeous old house a couple of streets over," CC confided. "I may just save it for our first night there."

Grace's gift was next. No one but Niles and CC understood when her gift turned out to be a box of doughnuts. But the three laughed.

Maggie and Brighton had picked out some CDs. Some were Niles' favorite classic rock songs, and they'd found a Burt Bacharach CD that CC didn't already have.

Niles drew his wife aside. "You didn't tell me the house was nearby," he accused. "Now they'll be bugging me day and night."

CC had seen this coming, and had her defense planned. "I thought it would be nice so we could sneak home in the middle of the day sometimes," she said wickedly.

"Buy the house." CC jumped when his hand slid down to her bottom.

Niles stood in the vast, cavernous entryway of the mansion and commented dubiously, "It looks like a set from Sunset Boulevard."

"I was thinking Dark Shadows."

"Hey -- did you watch that show?"

"Not in the original, but I got into the reruns during college."

"Yeah, right. I still watch it on the sci-fi channel sometimes. So, big dilemma. Barnabas or Quentin?"

"Hel-lo!" she said. "Barnabas, all the way! Not the handsomest man in the world, but soooooooo domineering! And that accent! Yum! What about you -- Angelique, Victoria, Josette, who?"

"Angelique. My God, that blonde hair, those huge blue eyes, the body, the attitude! Whooooeeeee!" CC liked his answer.

CC started up the massive grand staircase, holding Niles' hand. "Joe already left for England," she said, and it took him a second to realize she was no longer talking about TV. "When the realtor sent the key over with the messenger, she said to look around and she'd be in her office tomorrow if we had any questions."

Niles looked at the beautiful stained-glass windows making rainbows on the landing. He imagined generations of his and CC's children trying to catch the ever-shifting patterns in tiny fingers.

"There are ten bedrooms," she said. "Six have their own baths. The master suite at the end of the hall has a sunken jacuzzi tub." They poked their heads into each of the nine bedrooms lining the halls. They tested water pressure in the main bath and checked for evidence of electrical malfunctions or water damage anywhere in the house. There was none.

Finally, they walked into the main suite. Niles was enthralled. There were separate bedrooms for husband and wife as was traditional of large houses of the late eighteenth century, but the extra bedroom had been transformed into an opulent study/den lined with bookcases and an entertainment center.

The bathroom was almost as big as the Sheffield kitchen. The Jacuzzi tub was more than big enough for two, as was the shower. There were two complete vanities.

"What would you think if we knocked out the wall by the tub and put in a huge window?" she suggested. "I checked, and since it faces the back of the house, no one would be able to see in."

"Sounds great. Let's take a look at the bedroom."

"Typical."

In the bedroom they stopped dead. "What the hell is there a stage in the bedroom for?" he demanded.

CC giggled. "If it were a stage, it wouldn't have a mattress on it," she pointed out. The gorgeous old bed was built into the wall, and it was a work of art. It was bigger than king-size, and probably had to have sheets custom-made. Heavy blue velvet draperies covered the sides and top, and the square posts were carved with cavorting nymphs and satyrs. CC examined one of the scenes and actually blushed.

CC made a running leap and flung herself on the bed, laughing. Niles jumped beside her. "Nice resilient mattress," he remarked, taking her into his arms and kissing her breathless.

"Let's find out," she replied.

"Damn, I wish I had that collar and leash right about now."

As CC locked the front door about an hour later, Niles told her, "I'm sold. I never even dreamed I could have anything like that."

"Isn't it beautiful?" she asked breathlessly.

"Yes, and the house is terrific too."

CC hugged him. "How long do you need to think about it?"

"I'll sign on the dotted line whenever you want, on one condition. I get to get some walls knocked out downstairs. The place needs more windows."

"Okay, but I get velvet draperies so we can do the gloomy Dark Shadows look once in a while, too."

"Deal."

CC touched his face. "I know you didn't marry me for my money," she said softly, and Niles was touched by her trust. "But darling, wait until I show you all the things you can do now that you never could before. I'm going to show you a whole different world."

CC's whole different world had exhausted Niles within three days, but it was the happiest kind of exhausted he'd ever experienced. CC dragged him into endless stores and antique shops looking for just the right furniture. She spent carelessly, never asking a price.

"How about neoclassical for the downstairs?" she suggested. "It's very elegant and in keeping with the architecture, and it will go well with the bright, sunny look you want."

Niles agreed cheerfully. "Okay, but let's make the library really, really overbearing, with velvet and horsehair everywhere and desks so big we could have an orgy on them."

CC agreed. "How about the master suite? I think subtle elegance."

"Baronial splendor," he said. "Turkish harem."

She winked. "But there's only one wife," she said, locating some red velvet cushions embroidered in gold, blue, and green. She held one up, and he nodded enthusiastically.

CC invited Fran Sheffield shopping with them one day. Not that she ever listened to the woman's opinions. There would be no tie-dyed bedrooms in her house, thank you! However, Fran was Niles' best friend, and CC had to get used to having her around.

"Oy," Fran said to Maxwell. "That woman just about ran the heels off my shoes. I've been to every antique shop in this city. She's so picky. Nothing but the best."

"And what does Niles think about this?"

"He claims he's just indulging her, but he's as spoiled and self-indulgent as she is. He just wants to buy beds." Fran's grin belied her grouchy words.

Max chuckled. "Well I say, good for both of them. Niles has the right idea." And he drew his lovely wife into his arms.

Sunday morning, Niles and CC could sleep late because it was the day before they flew to Aruba, and neither had to work.

Nevertheless, they were awake with the birds. They didn't actually get out of bed until noon.

After they showered and dressed, CC said, "Ready, Mr. Clean? Angelica will get the breakfast dishes. We've got shopping to do."

"More?" he groaned. "Oh, no!"

CC clapped a hand over her mouth. "Oh, no, I spoiled the surprise!" she complained. "Bad CC! This is different shopping."

"Not the kind where you buy things?"

"Not the kind where you buy furniture. We're going clothes shopping for our honeymoon."

Niles perked up noticeably. "I could use a couple of new ties."

Four hours later, CC had raised the stock for Brooks Brothers and several other stores by at least six percent. Niles had pants, shirts, ties, socks, t-shirts, jackets, suits, sunglasses, cufflinks, cologne, and even a new tuxedo from Armani. At first he'd protested, his voice dripping with insincerity when he realized that he himself was the object of the shopping trip.

"Shut up, you love it," she told him. He dipped her low, kissed her, and set her back on his feet.

CC arranged to have his purchases delivered to her apartment. She and Niles strolled along Fifth Avenue. She was wearing a peach silk dress that swirled around her legs, and a wide hat. He was wearing a white oxford-style shirt with the cuffs rolled back, Dockers, and Ray-Bans. She wanted to jump up and down for joy every time she looked at him.

"Baronial luxury suits me?" he inquired, striking a pretentiously casual pose.

"As well as it's always suited me," she answered, drawing her arm through his. He bent over to kiss the nape of her neck, making her giggle as her hat was knocked off. "Niles, are you happy?"

"Yes. However, I do feel that there's one thing I'm not getting enough of. Can you guess what it is?"

"Let me try." She thought carefully. "Gosh, you'll look cute scrubbing the toilet in Ray-bans."

He laughed. "Got it in one! You know, the only problem with this marriage is that it's only legal in Hawaii."

"Yeah, because I married a woman!"

"No, that would make it perfectly legal."

"Gold-digger!" she cried in delight, realizing she had a new taunt.

"Nympho," he said. "And I can prove it."

"Social Climber."

"Submissive."

"Sewer rat."

"Transsexual."

"Niles, let's go home."

"There's a hotel across the street."

"I just love the way you think, darling."

"Dirty minds think alike, my love."

Marriage was a much smoother ride than Niles expected. Other than the occasional bout of insults just for kicks, CC was remarkably easy to get along with when she was happy. And he was more than happy to indulge her slightest whim -- until she suddenly turned on him their first day in Aruba.

They'd just checked into the hotel, dropped their bags, and headed out to explore. As they sauntered down the street, CC enthused about the hotel. It was gorgeous, the restaurant looked great, the décor was spectacular, and so on. Niles smiled indulgently at her, loving her apparent joy. He never saw the faint anxiety in her eyes when she knew he wasn't looking, so the aftermath took him completely by surprise.

He was just ambling down the street at her side enjoying the scenery, when a tall, tanned woman came strolling down the street. She smiled at Niles, and he smiled back briefly. He took in her bikini at a glance, and a wicked grin appeared on his face as he wondered what it would take to get CC into a bikini.

Before he could ask, she promptly burst into tears. "I hate you, you pig!" she sobbed. She swung her purse at his head as hard as she could, and when his arm blocked it, she turned on her heel and fled back to the hotel.

Niles followed his noisily sobbing wife back through the streets and into the hotel. "You're never touching me again, you revolting toad," she shrieked into the silence of the sedate lobby.

"What did I do?" he howled.

"Not what! Who!" she retorted. "Because if you haven't already, you will soon. I know you will. I should just divorce you. I shouldn't even gie you the satisfaction of getting mad."

The word divorce hit Niles like a gale force wind. "Will you just bloody tell me what I did?" he implored.

In front of their door, CC stood with arms folded and foot tapping while he fumbled with the lock. As he mockingly opened the door and held it for her, she sobbed, "I saw you looking at that woman. Why do men like girls like that?"

"Like what?"

"Walking down the street in nothing but a bikini, like the slut she probably is. Smiling at other women's husbands. And my husband smiling back! I saw how you looked at her!"

"For Christ's sake, I wasn't looking at her, I was looking at her bikini!" Niles bellowed in outrage. "Oh, crap. I suppose you're going to take that the wrong way, too."

CC fled out to the balcony.

"Yup, you are," he sighed.

When he got there, CC already had one leg thrown over the balcony railing. Niles cried out in terror and flung his arms around her waist. CC wrapped her legs tenaciously around the railing, struggling to free herself, but to no avail. Having balance on his side, he forcibly dragged her off of the balcony. "I shoulda known you'd been sunny side up too long," he groaned. "You had to turn out scrambled sooner or later."

CC beat his chest helplessly with weak fists, then sank sobbing into a chair. "You looked at her," she whimpered. "You were flirting with her, I saw you. On our honeymoon!"

Niles reached for her, and she snapped her teeth at him. "You silly, foolish thing," he sighed. "I was looking at her because I was wondering how her bikini would look on you."

CC peered doubtfully at him. "Really?"

"Really."

"I'm too fat for a bikini."

"Nonsense, your breasts would look gorgeous in a bikini. So would the rest of you for that matter."

"She was looking at you."

"What if she was? Maybe she's just nice and smiles at everybody. Or maybe she was flirting with me, but I'm here with you, aren't I?"

"Yeah. I guess so."

Niles scooped her up and sat down on the bed, cradling her in his arms. "Here with you is where I want to be. Right here, with my lovely wife."

"You say that now, but what about when you get bored? What about when we've gotten used to each other and I'm not a novelty anymore?"

"You aren't a novelty to begin with, you're CC Babcock, whom I've known and loved forever."

He didn't even realize what he'd said until she beamed up at him. "Loved?"

"Yes, you beautiful pain in the ass, loved. Satisfied?"

"No," she purred. "But I'm hoping to get satisfied."

"By who?" he grinned playfully.

"By the silly, annoying butler I've loved just as long as he's loved me."

"I love you, CC."

"I love you, too. Do you like your new world?"

"Yes -- and let me assure you, it's a one-woman world and always will be."

Sighing happily, CC sank down into his embrace as he lay back on the bed. Suddenly she whacked him on the shoulder.

"What was that for?" he grumbled.

"That was for calling me scrambled, and the next time you do it, your eggs are gonna be fried, mister."

Niles grinned. "I suppose this would be a bad time to ask you to cluck for me?"

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