This is a continuation from Quoth the Raven. If you haven't read it yet, you may want to so you know what has lead up to this story. Thanks for reading and review are very much appreciated! Oh and I don't own nuttin!

As The Raven Flies

"Oh come on Niles! Tell me where we are going!" C.C. whined as they whizzed down the highway in the Sheffields limo.

"You'll know once we get on the plane. Just be patient." Niles grinned devilishly.

C.C. sat back and tried to relax as she reflected on that mornings events. She had received a phone call from Niles telling her to pack her things. She and he were taking a trip. It took Maxwells urgings that the business would be fine and that everything had been taken care of before C.C. anxiously packed her bags and waited for Niles arrival.

They arrived at the airport, got their luggage arranged and prepared to board. C.C. still hadn't clue where they were going until a voice announce, "Final boarding call for Flight 382 to Cheynne, Wyoming." C.C. gasped then threw her arms around Niles.

"We are going to see Raven! Ahhhhh" C.C. screamed happily. Niles laughed and returned her hug.

"I take it you like your surprise then?"

"Best surprise EVER!" C.C. said.

Their flight was uneventful. Time was passed with cuddling and more sharing about C.C. past with Raven at the boarding school and after. When the plane landed C.C. could barely contain her excitement.

"I can't wait to see her! I can't wait to see her!" C.C. exclaimed jumping up and down like a school girl as they exited the plane.

"But it's only been a few months since she was out to visit you." Niles teased as his eyes sparkled at her excitement.

"Come on! Come on! Let's go find her!" C.C. said as she tugged at Niles hand impatiently.

"Ok, ok. Wait! Is that her? Oh no wait....I was wrong." he laughed as she pulled him along.

"There she is!" C.C. dropped Niles hand and made a beeline for her red headed best friend. Raven saw C.C. and took off in her directions. The girls flew into each others arms laughing and talking at the same time. Niles caught up to them just as them seperated.

"Niles!" shouted the flaming haired vixen before she tackled him with a big hug. "Looks like you have been taking very good care of C.C. I have never seen her look so radiant." she said before releasing him.

"Well, I do try Miss Raven, but she doesn't make it easy." he replied with a sarcastic twist of his mouth.

"Raven, Niles just Raven. None of that Miss stuff. Makes me feel old and stuffy." Right at that moment a barrel chested dark haired man approached them. He glanced briefly at Niles and C.C. but it was obvious that his eye were for Raven only.

"I have their luggage in the car, Raven. So we are ready to roll when you are."

Raven turned and flashed a large white smile at the man. C.C. noted a light blush spread across her friend's cheeks and slight increase in her breathing. "Well thank you so much Sam. I just don' t know what I would do without you."

"I am sure you would survive." the man replied with a grin and a wink.

"Well, maybe but I would rather not test that theory. C.C. and Niles I would like to introduce you to the foreman of my ranch and my right hand, Sam. Sam, this is C.C. and Niles.

Sam, Niles and C.C. shook hands and exchange pleasantries before heading out to the car. C.C. and Niles exclaimed over the beauty of the Wyoming countryside as they travel to Raven's ranch. As they pulled in the long driveway Raven directed their attention to a sign with a cast iron symbol on it. The symbol had a c that was inside another c. There was an r in the middle of the c's.

"What does that mean?" asked C.C.

Raven grinned largely her tawny eyes flashing "It's the name of my ranch. Double C R."

"Wow, that's....that's....wait a minute. Double C R?" C.C. asked.

"Yup, that's right C.C. My ranch is named after our friendship. Which must explain why it is so successful. Well, that and Sam here. There were quite a few times that he helped me out when I had no clue what I was doing. If not for him I would have had to go back home to mother admitting defeat which would have just about killed me."

"Now Raven, I think you would have done fine on your own." said Sam as he drove them up the drive. "You are damn smart and would have learned from your mistakes very quickly."

The car pulled to a stop and they got out. Niles and Sam grabbed the bags while C.C. and Raven walked ahead of them arm and arm trying to catch up in the short walk from the car to the house.