Disclaimer: Don't own anything. Write for pleasure and to share with my sisters in arms.

I was a huge fan of The Nanny, and specially of Niles and CC. Many times I was frustrated by the lack of a proper development of their relationship. That's why, when the show ended, I began reading fan fiction.

Now I'm starting a series inspired on some of the clichés we, readers of fanfiction about Niles and CC, love.

This story is the first one: my take of the Hannukah Story as a turning point.

Hannukah: the turning point

By AllTheSnakes

Chapter 1: Encounter at the Kitchen

To say that CC was relieved was the statement of the century – she was absolutely-madly-insanely-relieved to be rescued. Those hours inside a car with a guilty man and a smart-ass girl were the closest she ever had been from hell.

Oh, God! Niles would have something to say about it!, she grinned to herself, walking to the back door of the mansion. They had just arrived, in the police car, and she decided to stay behind, faking some trouble with something in her luggage, and let Maxwell and the little girl go running to the front door, to probably be hugged by everyone. Well, all that joy and happiness were a bit disconcerting to her, and she decided it would be best not to be there right now.

She would never admit it, but the kitchen was probably the place in the house she felt more secure. When she was there in the car, rounded by tons of snow, all she wanted was to be at the kitchen, provoking Niles, receiving a cup of tea and exchanging knowing glances while exchanging witty remarks.

That was really home…

That was where she wanted to be right now, to have the opportunity to breath and calm herself...

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Niles could barely control his shaking hands. He felt a strange pain in his chest, and he knew exactly the reason: fear. He had played the brave guy to support the family, specially Fran, but the moment he was able to escape, he made his way to the kitchen, to be alone and think of that witch that maybe he would never see again.

Just the thought of it made him shiver again, and he decided to sit at the table. He could cry right now, but he decided it was not appropriated. Well, you could cry watching Spanish soaps, but you should never cry when everybody is waiting for your braveness. It would not be appropriated to a… well… gentleman…

But what if she never comes back?, he thought, closing his eyes and covering his face with his hands. How could he stand loosing her? When Sarah died, he saw how Maxwell was, and he was unable to help, because he understood exactly that feeling of wanting and not really having. At least, that was what he could imagine, having such strong feelings by the terrible-amazing socialite, and never being able to tell her about it.

Now, it would be Fran and himself, loosing people they… well… care so much about… And there would be no consolation… Nothing could erase the feeling of the lost chances, the missing presence of someone you… well… care so much about…

Niles got up and went to the fridge. Maybe he should do something to occupy his mind and stop thinking of not hearing her sultry laugh again, not exchanging barbs and not having her pestering around till one of them could say something wonderful and they depart with grins on their faces…

He didn't know when she had became so important to him; what he knew is that the idea of loosing her was making him mad. Even if he refused to admit how he really felt for her – because thinking of the adequated word would be too painful, specially right now – he knew there would be no reason for waking up each morning.

He looked around and didn't see anything he could really have the heart to do. Niles sighed and then… he heard the door opening.

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When CC opened the door, she noticed the kitchen had just a very dim light. Better this way; maybe she could be alone and recollect herself a bit. Niles would probably be at the front door, talking to Maxwell and the little one about their adventure, and maybe, well, just maybe, asking where she was…

But she entered and saw him.

He was standing there, and when his eyes laid on her, she felt like she was… a gift? Yes, a really very welcomed gift.

He gave a step closer, never taking his eyes off of her. He was deadly serious, and yet there was something in his way of moving closer that was… inebriated and inebriating… Like he was not really believing she was there, like she could be an alucination and he should not touch her, or he would loose her again. She could imagine this, because it was exactly how she felt – as she was not really home, but still in the car, because things were never perfect to her, and all she had wanted was to enter the house and have a moment just with him, and that was happening.

The pull was too strong. He gave another step, she moved her head to the side, in an instintive tender movement. His eyes filled with tears the moment he believed.

Niles finally reached her. He closed the door behind her and placed his hands on her arms.

'I almost can't believe you are here', he murmured, slowly, as if they had all the time in the world just for themselves, and he didn't care to show how overwhelming the moment was being.

'Maybe I'm not, Butler Boy. Maybe I managed to finally making you mad', she made an effort to answer, through her tight throat.

With that he gave her a smile… suddenly the tears fell… and then he was grinning as she had never had seen him doing before. Even she was trying to suppress a smile like the ones she tried to hide when he says something really good.

'Oh, miss Babcock… I… My God!', and he hugged her, tightly.

She never saw that coming, but she found that she really liked that.

The moment was precious, and she could feel his heart beating like a drum. He was really happy to see her; he really must have been worried about her. Maybe he was thinking all the horrible things she was thinking while she was in the car. She felt like he could understand her more than anyone else – more than Maxwell and the girl. Even if they were with her in the car, they could never share with her what she was sharing with Niles, right now.

And, to her huge surprise, the feeling that washed over her was of belonging.

CC caressed his back, trying to reassure him of her presence. In fact, it was good just to caress him, but any excuse was a good excuse, after all. The feeling of being held with such affection was so rare to her that she wanted to enjoy it.

She had no hurry in letting go, but he gave a step back and took her hands in a very concerned manner. 'Tell me', he said with a warm look, 'Is everyone all right?'

'Yes, Maxwell and the girl must be with the family at the living room'.

'And you? Are you really ok?'

'Yes, there was no harm. I don't know how that thing could go working for so many hours, but the fact is that it was, and that's why we could get out of there perfectly fine'.

'Fran talked about the miracle of Hannukah'.

'Ah, that story. I think I can get used to some Jewish religion, now and then, if it is always so useful like this'.

'That's my Babcock back!', Niles grinned. 'Do you want to go there?', he indicated the living room with his head, keeping their hands joined.

She took a second to answer; well, he had just said 'my Babcock', and it sounded so warm she could not really concentrate. But the façade must be kept.

'Oh, no. I don't like all the yells and cries of joy, you know. I'm not exactly that kind of person. I prefered to come here to… you know, have a little peace'.

'Oh', he make the puppy face.

'Aew, stop it!', she laughed when, after had been hit by her, he looked at her with an exagerated silly dog look – one of pure joy and… happiness for her simple presence. 'Well… I suppose it was good to meet you here. I was just thinking how many things you must have in stock for me'.

'Uhn?'. He was confused.

She looked at their joined hands. 'You can joke, Niles. I am alive, I am here, there's no more danger. Say the mean things we are supposed to say to each other when it involves snow and ice and me…'

'I can't say anything mean right now, Babs. I'm still… you know…'

'… a bit affected?'

'Yes, you can say that'.

He gave her one of those shy smiles she liked so much. CC decided that, for once, she could be easy on him, and tried to show him some affection – in their fashion. 'Well, what could I expect? When I need to feel at home, the only time I really need a good remark, you are not there for me…'

He could say she was joking, but suddenly he felt insecure, 'You mean this?'

'What?'

'You really mean that… my jokes… are not offensive? Well, they are offensive, but not hurtful? I mean… You know that it is just my way of saying I consider you special… That's why I can't say anything really mean to you right now… Even now when you say that would be right… I can't because… I am still shaken… by the idea of loosing you…'

Her eyes were very large. He noticed he was frightening her. And he didn't want to scare her, make her give a step back, end the moment and take off her hand.

'Ok, it is better I stop this nonsense. The truth is that, every time I tried to thought of something good, I remembered that you, being in the ice, would be in your natural element, and all the jokes about it are getting old… Just like you… You see? No good at all!'.

He smiled at her smile. She squeezed his hands and murmured, 'Thank you'.

'You know you are always welcomed, miss Babcock. Even if I don't say it'.

'You are going there again!', it was her time to make the puppy face. 'Get out of the sappy mode!'

'Oh, I'm sorry. Hey, you are kind of cute when you do that face…'

'Oh, let me just guess – you're surprised that a dog with my breeding could be so sweet'.

'I will let you have it this way'.

They laughed together. She could see how tense he was, just trying to get his composure again. She could hug him again, if she wasn't so insecure about his reaction.

'Maybe we should…', she started.

'Oh, yes, I guess you want to be with the others, now'.

'Ãhn… Yes, you're right. It's time to stop all that sweety thing in the main room…'

'Oh, you're really back!'

Both knew they should let go of the hands in order to… walk through the kitchen's door properly, as the socialite and the butler. But… who would take the lead?

'Oh, CC, here you are!', Maxwell entered the kitchen, and soon the lights were all on and there were a lot of people welcoming her. Nobody seemed to have noticed anything strange between her and Niles, and she noticed that Niles had given a step away, after letting her hand go; it was like he was giving her space to be assaulted by the sweetness of the family. That last reassuring squeeze told her to be strong, and she would never let him down.

She saw Niles shaking hands with Maxwell and receiving a good hug from the little girl, and she was happy for him.