I am undoubtedly in love with the CC/Niles relationship! I hope you guys like this, this is my first The Nanny Fic! Please review and let me know if it's worth updating!
Prologue:
Fran convinces the entire family to take a summer road trip, and Niles and CC are forced along with them. Set in season 4. Niles/CC.
The entire crew stood at the door of the Sheffield mansion, Niles anxiously twiddling his thumbs and constantly glancing out the sheer panes which gave way to the street.
He knew. He knew everything that went on, for one - and this in particular, he was definitely not supposed to be aware of. He would let Mr. Sheffield think he was a genius at these games, and play up the insults for CC, all the while acting like he wasn't aware of these circumstances. Ms. Babcock was coming on the road-trip with them - she was going, he was going, and neither of them were supposed to know. But he did.
Niles smirked to himself. He'd been rehearsing his favorite insults over and over in his head, not that he would ever admit it. In fact, he'd dressed up a little with tan slacks and a blue sweater, light in texture so he wouldn't boil under the summer sun.
Fran had convinced the entire crew to come on this ridiculous road trip near the end of the school year, and Max had inevitably given in to her every request. Though CC was Maxwell's idea, Niles would never admit how grateful he was for it. He'd never quite figured out what it was - attraction, yes, he was fully aware. He loved the little things, the way she styled her hair, the way she looked at him with those gorgeous eyes, the way she walked as if she was in charge of the world. But that was all he knew.
In reality, CC was a child starved of affection, and though she wasn't aware, receiving insults was a form of attention. She craved it, desired it. Sometimes she cried herself to sleep at night because Max had looked at Fran the way he used to look at Sara - the way she needed him to look at her. And recently, it was becoming too often.
Niles knew this. He brainstormed some of his better insults and saved them for her rainy days when Max, Fran, and the kids all went out for the movies and left her back to work. Mr. Sheffield would lead Fran out through the door, his hand on her lower back, and CC would sit there and pretend it wasn't tearing her apart inside.
The butler usually leaned against a wall and watched her work from across the room, desperately wishing she'd demand more coffee, and he'd let his hand linger on hers as she took the cup. He'd see her try to fight back the tears, and restrain himself everyday from striking up conversations about his biggest questions about her. Most revolved around her family, her interests, her love life.
CC on the other hand, never realized why she was always asking for another cup of coffee - she knew he snuck caffeine in there somehow. In turn, it'd keep her up at night, thinking about all the ways she could've invited Niles out for a drink or struck up a conversation. She wondered if he'd ever know the way she was attracted to him, how she hid the blush when he caught her staring at him. She craved the way he ran his eyes over her every morning as if in disgust. Somehow she wished there was something more to prove for it.
Each of them knew their feelings, but lived in their own versions of reality. CC where she loved Maxwell, and Niles where he simply assumed she was above him in every way socially and therefore unattainable. Neither of them were able to step out of their bubble, simply trying to impress one another subtly with attractive appearances and witty remarks.
Hell, Niles didn't know why, but he was wearing that sweater, even though it was too warm for summer. In fact, all he knew was that her favorite color was blue. It complimented both his eyes and hers. Therefore, he made a special attempt to wear it.
"Niles," Maxwell called for the third time, hauling a large suitcase down the flight of stairs.
"Sorry, yes sir?" Niles snapped out of his haze. Only a single car had driven down the road in the last half an hour, but it was a minivan, and not quite Ms. Babcock's taste. Besides, she didn't own a car.
"Uh uh!" Fran burst into the room from the door near the office. "He is not sir to you for the next month!" She called to him with a grin.
"That's right! Niles is coming as a friend," Grace recited from the couch as if the statement had been drilled into her head for the past few weeks.
Brighton nudged her and Maggie told them to cut it out.
Maxwell looked displeased - not because Niles wasn't working, but because he knew what this meant. He and Fran. . .alone for a month. Well, not technically alone. He'd been so afraid that he made sure not only the children were coming, but Niles as well. Heck, he threw in CC for good measure. He was ignorant as to the fact of her loneliness, and what this meant to her. Max had no idea what seeing him court Nanny Fine would do to her heart, either.
Max, being selfish in secret, failed to tell neither CC nor Niles that the other was attending. They'd be swinging by CC's penthouse in the next hour or so, loading her into the limo and taking off before Niles or her could reject and back out. They were taking the limo with the tinted windows - that way neither of them could signal for help.
As of now, he couldn't figure out why Niles kept watching the window…as if he was expecting someone?
Suddenly it clicked, but not entirely. Like the switch was halfway stalling between on and off and the light was a dim simmering color that only halfway illuminated the room. Niles must know about Ms. Babcock… he probably assumed she'd be catching a Taxi. Yet, why did he look disappointed every time a car came into view then kept driving?
He couldn't actually want her on this trip, could he? But he hated her, she hated him. They hated each other? He was so bloody bad at these romantic antics, it was pointless. He shot Niles a questioning look and went back to Miss Fine's comment.
"Oh, uh, yes old man. You're coming as a good friend," he let him know, unfolding a map in front of him.
Fran hurried over, not really caring what was on the map but wanting to place her hands on his arm.
Max smiled in return under his breath, something that didn't go unnoticed by Niles. Nothing went unnoticed by Niles. Up until this little predicament, at least.
Nothing bothered Niles more than not knowing something, except maybe having a piece of false information. He spoke up, searching for an answer about Ms. Babcock. "So what's the plan?" He signaled to the map, seeing if Mr. Sheffield would give him any road names or numbers at to where they'd be stopping.
Fran exchanged a knowing glance with Maxwell. Obviously, Niles thought. Obviously he had told her.
"We've been over this, Niles," Max suddenly looked exasperated. Niles hadn't realized how much information he'd been trying to leech in the past month, but the undeclared couple at the map did. They'd both been confused as to his questions over CC, but thought it was best to leave it alone at first. Now they didn't know what was going on, or what to say back for that matter.
"Sir," Niles nearly begged.
Fran shot him a look, and Niles fought back with his eyes.
"Mr. Sheffield, it's not a surprise. The kids know which states we're heading to. I just like specifics, that's all," he pulled that out of thin air, knowing that all locations were supposed to be a surprise.
"No we don't," Maggie walked up, fed up with her siblings, and joined the conversation innocently.
Niles glared at her, attempting to change the conversation in slight so that the child couldn't participate. "Are we heading north or south, because I think the traffic would be worse -"
"It doesn't matter when we get there Niles ol' man. It's the time we can spend together as a family."
Fran and him exchanged a loving glance, intertwining fingers. Niles wanted to vomit. He and Maggie caught each others' eye with the same expression on their faces.
"Alright kids. Grab your bags and pile them in the limo, we're heading off!" Max diverted the conversation successfully as they all headed down to the curb.
The limo driver Roger assisted them in one by one, started a movie in the small screen, and then revved up the engine for the long travels that awaited a very complicated family.
Please review with suggestions, predictions, anticipation, criticism, etcetera! This was just getting the story out there and I have many tricks up my sleeve. Hope you enjoyed!