Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to any of the characters of 'The Nanny.'
A/N Pretty much my all time favorite TV couple. I know it's a long time coming, but I really wanted to finally get the story out on paper. Well, I guess it's not really paper, but you understand…
Am I Dreaming?
Chapter 1
The Friday started at the Sheffield Mansion as most Fridays have lately, Niles serving breakfast to the family at the dining room table. Fran flies in wearing her fuzzy bathrobe and greets the family.
"Good morning, family!" Fran smiles at the kids and takes her seat.
"Good morning, Miss Fine. You seem in highs spirits this morning." Max Sheffield tried desperately not to sound too happy.
"Well, Val and I have a big party to hit tonight." Fran answered. "It should be loaded with eligible men."
Max frowned slightly behind his coffee cup. "I thought I gave Niles the evening off tonight?"
"You did, Sir." Niles answered.
Max looked from Niles to Fran and back. "They who'll be here with the children?"
"You mean besides their father?" Fran tossed out.
"Oh…right." Max nearly choked out.
"Relax, Mister Sheffield, all the kids have sleep-overs tonight. You really think I'd leave them alone with their father? What kind of nanny do you think I am?" Fran honked out her 'I'm kidding' laugh and Niles barely contained his grin.
"Hello hello!" CC chimed as she joined the family in the dining room. "Did I just hear that the house will be empty tonight?"
"Free for haunting, Grizella." Niles quipped as he 'dropped' her breakfast plate into its place in front of CC.
"Stow it Mr. Butterworth." CC sniped back.
Niles went back to the buffet and started clearing breakfast.
"Come on, kids. Better get out of the cross fire before you're late for school." Fran stood and ushered the children out.
"Max, we have a lot of work to get done on this show. It may be a good night to get it accomplished with the children and help out of the way." CC barely having started her breakfast watched as Niles took her plate. "Hey!"
"Sorry? I thought you were finished." Niles only turned for a moment before taking her plate into the kitchen.
Max stood. "I think you're right, CC. We can get a lot of work finished tonight. But we should probably get started first."
Sighing, CC stood and followed Max to the office.
LATER THAT NIGHT…
Max steps through the office door. "Sorry, CC. That took much…" He stops when he sees CC has fallen asleep on the sofa, waiting for him, again. Max sighs. "I can't leave her here." Max starts to call for Niles, not wanting to wake CC he steps out into the hall and closes the office door. "Niles!"
He gets no answer and tries again. "Niles!" Just then the front door opens and Niles comes in wearing jeans and a brown leather bomber jacket over his knit sweater. Max heads to the front door. "Niles, old man, how was your evening?"
"Quite peaceful, Sir." Niles answered as he hung up his jacket.
"Niles, old man. Could you join me in the office for a minute?" Max asked cautiously.
"Of course, Sir." Niles answered and followed as usual.
They get to the office and Max points to the sleeping CC. "We were working late and I got called away again. Could you take her up to one of the guest rooms, please?"
"Of course, Sir." Niles sighs. He bands down and easily lifts the sleeping CC who immediately wraps her arms around his neck.
Max leans in and whispers, "Don't worry CC, we'll get you all tucked in."
Niles rolls his eyes and starts out the door. "I like how we'll get her tucked in as long as I hoist her up the stairs."
"What?" Max turned and asked.
Whispering, Niles said. "Nothing, Sir."
Niles opens the door of the large guest room and easily manages to pull down the comforter of the bed before he gently lays CC down with a deep sigh.
CC stirred a little and whispered, "I love the way you smell."
Niles smiles a little, removes her shoes and pulls up the blankets. He turns to leave and then stops. He thinks to himself, "I'll have said it even if she doesn't hear it." He leans in, kisses her lightly on the forehead and whispers "I love you, CC."
CC stirs a bit and whispers, "Oh, Max…"
Niles is crestfallen and turns to leave.
CC sighs. "I'm in love with Niles."
Niles whips around to see if she's awake and could possibly have heard his declaration. He watches her for a few moments and a small smile crosses his face as he turns again and leaves the room practically running into Fran. "Miss Fine, excuse me."
"Niles? What are you doin' in the guest room?" Fran asked.
Niles just gave her 'the look' that says… 'the cow went out to pasture on the office sofa and I had to schlep her up here again.'
"Again?" Fran said? Niles nodded. Fran shook her head. "'Night, Niles." Fran continued to her room.
"Good night, Miss Fine." Niles looked back at the guest room door once more and left the hall.
The next morning well after breakfast, CC joins Max in the office. "Sorry I'm late, Maxwell. I wanted to go home, shower and change."
"It's no trouble, CC," Max started. "But as much work as we have to get this new show together, it may be better if you just brought a few things here and stayed in the guest room."
Niles got to the office door just in time to hear CC say… "You want me to move in here?"
"Dear God, Sir. Are you trying to kill me?" Niles set the tea tray down on the desk and started to pour.
"I thought you trolls had magical powers and couldn't be killed." CC nearly sang.
"It would just be until the show opens, Niles. I'm sure you and CC can manage to be under the same roof a for few short weeks." Max didn't even look up from his work.
CC smiled not sure if it was because of Max's invitation or Niles' discomfort with it. "I'll go home right now and pack a bag." CC stood and left the office.
Fran caught the nearly giddy CC at the front door. "What's got you so happy?"
CC slipped her arms into her coat. "Max just invited me to stay in the guest room until our new show opens." CC laughed to herself. "I guess he finally got tired of carrying me up the stairs.
Fran laughed out loud.
CC looked confused. "What?"
"Niles probably begged him to ask you to stay here. He's the one who's been carting you upstairs to the guest room." Fran turned and started towards the den.
CC followed. "Niles has been carrying me upstairs these last few nights? I could've sworn it was Maxwell."
"Are you kiddin'?" Fran sat on the sofa. "When has Mister Sheffield ever done anything he could have Niles do for him?"
CC just looked at Fran. "I've got to go, Nanny Fine. Some of us have real work to do." CC leaves.
Niles enters and sees Fran laughing on the sofa. "What's got you all in a tizzy?" He asks her smiling.
"Ms. Babcock thought Mister Sheffield carried her up those stairs these last few nights. Can you believe it?" Fran stood up.
Niles looked a little worried. "So? What did you tell her?"
Fran looked confused. "I asked her when Mister Sheffield did anything that he could have you do for him?"
Niles looked even more worried. "What did she say?"
Fran looked at Niles like he'd grown another head. "Niles, are you alright? You look a little pale."
Niles snapped out of it. "I'm fine, Miss Fine. I just wanted to…gather ammunition for a later battle with the Man Beast." Niles left a very confused Fran standing in the den.
"Brits!" Fran exclaimed and threw her hands in the air.
"Hello, hello!" CC sang out as she entered the office with Chester tucked under her arm.
Niles was dusting the office and turned. "Great, I have the dog here, now, too?"
Fran who was sitting on the corner of Max's desk frowned at her friend. "Niles, Chester isn't any trouble."
Niles raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't talking about Chester."
"Eat a dust mop, Merry Maid." CC spit at him. "Max, we have a lot of paperwork to get through if you could dismiss the domestics."
"CC," Max frowned at her 'term'. "Miss Fine, Niles, could you excuse us, please."
Fran stood and straightened her mini skirt which didn't go unnoticed by Max, and left with Niles on her heels.
CC didn't miss the opportunity to bark out an order. "Hey, Benson, my suitcase is by the steps. Take it up to my room."
Fran and Niles continued into the den. "Niles, why do you let her call you names like that?"
Niles smiled unseen behind Fran. "Oh, I get my shots in here and there, Miss Fine."
Fran grinned as she sat on the sofa. "I know, but the last few days you seem to be a little off your game."
Niles stopped in his tracks and thought to himself, "I hope CC hasn't noticed. I'll have to be more careful." Then he continued to the stairs to get CC's bag. "I'm just formulating a bigger plan, Miss Fine." Niles grabbed the bag and started up the stairs.
"Well, that's alright then…" Fran started and realized she didn't know what he meant. "Niles!" Fran leaped up from the sofa and started off after Niles.
THAT NIGHT
It was very late, again and CC was finally getting up to her room. She opened the door only to see Chester zip out and take off down the hall. "Chester!" CC called quietly through gritted teeth. "Stupid dog. Chester!" CC took off after the little fur ball who seemed on a mission.
CC finally caught a glimpse of Chester as he pushed open one of the bedroom doors and she slowly approached the door. She whispered, "Chester! Get out here!" CC opened the door slowly and entered the room as quietly as she could. She stopped short when she saw Chester lying in bed with none other than Niles. "Stupid dog." CC whispered. "Chester, sweetie, come to Mommy. Come on Chester, come on!" CC realizing that Chester had no intention of leaving the warm spot he'd created tucked tightly into Nile's chest she decided she'd have to go get him herself.
CC crept up slowly to the side of the bed behind Niles. She carefully leaned over the grab Chester and as she did the dog leapt off the bed causing CC to nearly fall on top of Niles. CC breathed a sigh of relief when she managed to right herself only to have Chester plop back down in his original spot in front of Niles. CC looked closely to make sure Niles was sleeping soundly and thought to herself, "Look how handsome he is lying there so peacefully." CC shook the thought from her head and leaned over to get Chester again. This time Niles grabbed her arm and pulled her onto the bed in front of him and he spooned in behind her. CC lay there silently with a very shocked look on her face praying that he was still asleep.
Niles stirred lightly and hummed into her hair. "Mmmmmm You smell so good." CC's eyes grew to the size of saucers and she felt a strange sensation in her stomach. "Probably nausea," she thought. She waits until she hears the steady breathing of sleep before she slips out of his strong, warm arms. She stands up and starts for the door. "I love you, CC."
CC stops dead in her tracks and turns thinking he must be awake and poking fun at her. She stands and waits for the punch line. When it doesn't come she grins a little and slips out of the room completely forgetting about Chester.
Chester jumps back up on Niles' bed and Niles wraps his arm around the dog. "Good dog, Chester. Good dog."