A/N: This fanfic was inspired by two lines from the episode "Fran's Gotta Have It." This fanfic goes from before Fran entered the Sheffield's house and ends a little after Niles has his heart attack. Warning, the time line goes from past to present...so that's all I have to say so far. Enjoy.
Fran Fine, wearing a pair of dark jeans and a black and white yin and yang shirt, walked into the kitchen. She saw C.C. Babcock open the white door and come into the kitchen from the living room. The blonde woman mindlessly stroked the brown feathers of Niles's feather duster. "Oh Miss Babcock," Fran said sympathetically to the woman acting like a lost puppy. "Would you like a cup of coffee?" the brunette woman asked handing C.C. a green mug while smiling sweetly.
"That's not coffee, that's gravy!" C.C. said after taking a sip from the green mug. "Oh thank you, Nanny Fine. I miss him so much." The blonde woman adorned in a yellow suit and beret holding the feather duster to her chest. She sat down as Nanny Fine elaborated her original plan to make a high baller in a dribble cup, except it was too messy and the kids were out for the day.
"I know everyone thought Niles and I hated each other," C.C. confided in the brunette rubbing her shoulder, "But that's the only way I can have a relationship. When you get to know me, I'm not a well woman."
Fran patted the woman's arm softly, "I know, I know," she said.
"And look, you're being so sweet," C.C. continued, "I really should find a way to repay you, but I won't. That's just not who I am." Fran looked down at the woman before slipping into a chair beside her. The brunette was aware that Niles's heart attack was more emotional traumatizing for C.C. than anyone else in the household. Instead of working constantly, she kept a watchful eye on Niles during visiting hours. Fran couldn't help feeling pity for the woman stroking Niles's featherduster.
"Ummm...Miss Babcock, can I ask you a personal question?" Fran asked nervously. She didn't know how biding their friendship was. In light of current events, C.C. was more open about her emotions, but Fran didn't know if she would answer personal questions involving the producer and the butler.
C.C. looked at the brunette then back at the feather duster in her hands. "I guess," she responded as she mindlessly stroked the brown feathers as she wished the aroma of Niles's cooking would fill the kitchen.
"Do you like Niles?" Fran asked. C.C. bit her lip to keep a gigantic smile from forming on her face and shuffled her feet on the black and white tile floor. "Aww, Miss Babcock," Fran happily responded,
"I know everyone thinks I like Maxwell," C.C. explained taking a deep breath as she wondered what barb Niles would throw if he was in the room. "but...oh why am I telling you this?" She looked at the confused woman with huge hair as the need to explain her facade filled her bones. She nervously crossed her legs as the debate, of whether to tell Fran, distracted the woman.
"Miss Babcock," Fran said inquisitively, "What's going on?" She got out of her chair and walked over to the island. She pulled two green coffee cups out of the dishwasher before filling them with fresh coffee. She walked over to the kitchen table and placed on the table and handed the other to C.C. Babcock.
She grasped the empty cup before taking a sip of the warm brown liquid inside of it. She knew Nanny Fine was genuinely sweet and a good person. Even Niles trusted the brunette, who wore skin-tight clothing, with his secrets unless it involved celebrites. "Alright," the blonde woman growled, "If you tell anyone, including that blonde bobblehead friend of yours, you will rue the day you ever opened your mouth."
"Is that a threat, Miss Babcock?"
"No, it's a promise?"
Fran replied, "Okay, I won't tell anyone. I will take this secret to my grave."
C.C. took a deep breath and pensively looked at the feather duster. "Okay, no one knows about this except Niles and me." Her blue eyes glistened as she desperately searched for the correct words. "It all began twenty years ago when I arrived at the Sheffield doorstep for a job interview."