They stepped out of the town car and onto a gated drive surrounded by bright patches of green and a large stucco mansion with towering palm trees. Instead of walking towards the door of the large house, CC and Niles walked around to the small gate on the side. A grey stone path led them through a gardened area with a small koi pond and to an expansive back yard. The private pool sparkled in the new summer morning. They walked on towards small bungalow nestled towards the back of the property. CC admired the dark cherry wood trimming around the windows and the four square pillars supporting the large front porch. Although the house was not nearly as hefty as the mansion behind them, it seemed more ideal than CC could have ever imagined. Shaded by tall palms and oaks, it was just far enough from the Sheffields' that now perhaps she would finally have some privacy with her Butler Boy.

The bungalow was already furnished with two stuffed, deep red sofas and a collection of dark wood drawers, chests, and entertainment center. CC had allowed Niles to pick most of the furniture, and she was glad for it; the interior reflected his warm personality. Walking around to the back of the cottage a small breakfast table, which sat six people, came into view. The windows looked out the back of the property over the side of a large hill in Malibu. In the far distance, the ocean could be seen gleaming across the horizon. This was a complete change of scenery from her past 36… or was it 37 years? Setting down Chester, CC watched him scamper towards the kitchen where Niles was pouring a dish of his small kibble and water. The kitchen had a fair amount of stainless steal appliances, which CC knew she wouldn't use much. Niles had made it perfectly clear that under no circumstances would she be cooking for their new little family. They had argued in the limo on the way to the airport about her disastrous cooking lessons years before, which coincidentally led to Maxwell's hospital stay for appendicitis. CC smiled remembering the look on Max and Nanny Fine's faces when the argument ended in a passionate kiss rather than their normal heated banter and anger. Yes, things had changed for the better, and for once in her life she was looking forward to what life had to offer- she had something- someone- to live for.

Niles walked up the dark wooden steps to the second floor of their new house. Light streamed from the bedrooms and into the hardwood floors in the long hallway. Two rooms were to the left, and the master bedroom was to the right. The first bedroom was smaller and would most likely serve as their in-home office. The second bedroom on the left was slightly larger and had a picture window that allowed light to fill the room. Niles had had the room painted to a creamy yellow in hopes that CC would find the color suiting for either a girl or a boy. He smiled warmly thinking about the life growing inside his wife at the moment. He had long ago decided that a family was not in the cards for him, and he couldn't be happier that fate had changed her mind. There was a distinct change in CC that he had seen the day after they'd decided to give a relationship a try, the day after their big fight. Niles tried to shake the painful memories from his head, and instead focus on the good ones. It had all turned out okay and that was all that mattered.

Niles walked down the back staircase to the kitchen to retrieve water. He had been brewing in his room for the past two hours, thinking about the selfish woman he had so unwillingly given his heart to ten years before on the front door steps of the Sheffield mansion.

He sat at the small breakfast table in the dark of the kitchen and was quickly lost in his own head again. He hardly noticed when there was a soft click at the back door. There was no time for him to be frightened at a possible intruder when he saw the light halo her blonde shoulder length hair- and who could mistake those wide shoulders? CC crept into the house and quietly locked the backdoor behind her with her key. She started to creep across the room when Niles spoke in almost a loud tone, "What are you doing here?"

CC jumped two feet in the air letting out a mousy scream. "Niles! What the hell are you doing down here?"

He rolled his eyes, unseen by CC in the dark of the kitchen, "Well, you stupid woman, I do live here. I think I have more of a right to know why you are creeping into the house at midnight. Surely you've given up on Maxwell by now- you're pathetic."

CC stopped, and in the darkness Niles saw she had risen to her full height and placed her fists on her hips, "Niles, you're such an ass. If you must know, I'm turning in my resignation," She held up an envelope, "and would rather not do it in the light of day."

"Shocker!" Niles hissed, taking another large gulp of his water.

CC shook her head in anger, "Niles, you are a wretched, wretched man. What did you think I would see in you?"

This hit a nerve in Niles, and he found himself rising from the chair grabbing her wrist in an instant and pushing her against the kitchen island, "Babcock, haven't you tortured me enough today? For God's sake, have a heart woman."

CC would have been outraged at this servant laying a hand on her, except that she was too distracted by his nearness and the feel of his warm breath on her face. They both froze in the darkness at their close proximity, neither angry anymore, and neither willing to move. CC wasn't sure who made the first move, but she didn't care, because the feel of his lips against hers was better than she had remembered. He pushed her more firmly against the island counter and her body responded by arching into his.

"CC", he said in almost a plead resting his forehead.

"Yes?" She replied breathless.

"I swear to God, when I'm with you I'm who I want to be. Please say you'll stay." He looked into her eyes, dark and gleaming.

She answered with a kiss and not much more was said between the two before Niles led her quietly up to his room. They had made love all into the night and woken up early to make love again. They'd be inseparable since.

Niles was brought back to the present day by CC calling his name from the bottom of the stairs, "Niles? Are you upstairs?"

"Yes, darling. Come on up." Niles entered the hallway to see her looking around their new home.

CC walked into the yellow room and froze. He watched her look around- was she hating the color? He saw her bring one hand to her lips and the other to rest gently on the back of her hip.

"CC, what do you think of the color?" He peered around her shoulder to read her reaction for himself. He was shocked to see what looked like a fine mist spread over her eyes, "CC?"

"Niles, I…" she had trouble keeping her cool. What the hell was happening to her? She was turning into a warm human being. "This room is perfect."

He walked behind her and thread his hands under her arms to rest on her hips, resting his chin lightly on her shoulder, "I thought the color would suit either gender. It also seemed like a color you'd enjoy."

She turned her head to place a soft kiss on his lips and he deepened it. She responded by turning to put her arms around his neck. He was caught off guard when she froze in his arms. "CC?"

Before he could utter another word, she shot out of his arms and covered her mouth.

Damn morning sickness.