Well, hello, it's me and I felt like writing a story. Idea for this came when I watched the pilot again and just noticed that C.C. somehow seems like a fairly new addition to the family there and just how much of the villain C.C. is in the first season.

So this'll take place just before the beginning of season 1, just after Sara's death. Niles' first impression of C.C. isn't a very good one, but later on in a different location he'll get the opportunity to take a second glance. ;)

This is also a work in progress, because I feel like posting each chapter again as I finish it (I already have the first chapter written)...so if you don't like reading that then just wait until everything has been posted. Otherwise, I'd love some reviews. ;)

At Second Glance

Prologue:

The cries of the children were ringing in his ears long after he had left the city behind. Far too long. He closed his eyes and gave the bridge of his nose a gentle squeeze and for a moment tried to simply listen to the sound of the rain. The drops were falling soft and steady, hitting the crunchy leaves outside in an even rhythm. His body felt tired and heavy but sleep hadn't been easy to come by in the past few weeks. Not since Sara had passed away. His blue eyes flew open again and focused on a spot on the wall. His breathing quickened momentarily until he allowed a deep sigh to slip past his lips.

"It isn't your responsibility anymore." he told himself quietly. But that only served to make himself feel more guilty.

He knew that it was the coward's way out. To leave the family he'd been assigned to, to leave his best friend behind when he had just lost the most important person in his life. It was cowardly but Niles couldn't help himself. He had started to die alongside them. Maxwell had become entirely consumed by his grief and the children were withering like plants deprived of the sun in front of his eyes.

Then Sara's parents had come for a visit to care for their grandchildren and to give the grieving father some time alone and Niles had sensed his chance. He knew that he'd probably feel guilty for the rest of his life, but for once he had needed to think of only himself. And so he had filled a bag with just some vital things and left New York behind. He'd taken Maxwell's car, knowing that it was not very likely that the man would even notice and driven across the country; anywhere and everywhere.

He'd spent a lot of times in bars, trying to forget. He'd loved many women, felt them, ravished them, tasted the salt on their skin and drunk in their moans and sighs in an effort to feel alive again, to drown out everything else. But now he'd come to the realisation that running away wouldn't solve his problem.

The woman to his left stirred softly in her sleep and finally opened her eyes slowly. "Why aren't you asleep?" she mumbled.

"Just been thinking," he replied with a sigh.

"You're going to go back, aren't you?"

He slowly turned his head to look at her. "Yes, I think I am."

"I'll be in New York soon, I'll give you a call." she said, a lazy smile spreading across her face.

A week later he found himself in front of the white mansion again that he'd come to call his home. Before the accident, of course. Reluctantly he shouldered his bag and walked to the door, trying to prepare himself for the gloom that was sure to greet him. Instead, however, when he opened the door he found himself confronted with the image of his friend being kissed by a tall blonde, that made him wonder just how long he'd been away. As if hearing his silent question Maxwell turned, a surprised look on his face.

"You're back!" and then, following his glance he added "Meet C.C. Babcock, my new business partner."