Disclaimer: I still don't own any part of The Nanny…but I'm still hopeful!

A/N: I just love whipping out a one shot. We'll see if it stays a one shot. It didn't...it's 19 chapters... I'll give you one a day til we're finished...that should give me enough time to whip out a few more fictions. LOL

The Reunion, The Visit, and The Grand Charade

Chapter 2

Niles breezed into the hotel that was listed on CC's itinerary and made his way to the front desk. "Excuse me," Niles asked the clerk. "Could you please ring CC Babcock's room?"

"Certainly, Sir, just a minute." The clerk rang the room and waited. "I'm sorry, Sir. There's no answer, would you like to leave a message?"

"No, I think I know where to look. Could I just leave this bag back here please? Her name is on the tag." Niles handed the bag to the man. "Thank you."

Niles made his way to the banquet room listed on the sign as 'Study Abroad Reunion Welcome Dinner'. "Not very original, are they?" Niles asked no one. He got to the sign in table and waited until there was someone free to assist him.

"Yes, Sir, may I sign you in?" The lovely woman asked him.

"Actually, I'm looking for someone. CC Babcock?" Niles asked and dropped his impish grin.

The woman looked as though she'd seen the Queen herself. "Oh my! You're here! Ceec will be thrilled. She was so upset before." The woman leapt up from her chair make a quick excuse to the other woman at the table and grabbed the very shocked Niles by the arm. "I'm Rebecca Reed Carrington. Ceec and I were in the program together. She'll be so surprised!"

Niles let the woman lead him through the throng of people. There was a rather large number considering it was a study abroad reunion. "I didn't realize it was such a large class of students."

"Oh, they only have these reunions every five years or so. So it's multiple years worth of students. That can be a rather large number. We've got 177 attending this time around." Rebecca announced. "There she is. Ceec!" Rebecca called practically dragging Niles by the arm. "Look who showed up after all!"

CC looked at Rebecca strangely. "What?" Then CC noticed she was pulling Niles behind her. "Ohhh…." CC smiled softly. "Rebecca this is Niles."

"I know…he's even more charming and handsome than you said." Rebecca smiled at her friend.

"And how romantic that he flew all this way to surprise you? My James would never do that. For all his looks and money, James, God love him…is just a big jock. Not like your Niles here." Rebecca nearly glowed. "Well…?"

CC and Niles just stood and looked at each other. CC looked at Rebecca. "Well what, Becky?"

"CC Babcock, this man just flew half way across the globe, ok a quarter of the way across the globe to surprise you and you aren't going to kiss him?" Becky asked and waited.

Niles couldn't help but raise that telltale eyebrow as the boyish smirk crossed his face. He just stood there and waited.

"Well, I suppose an explanation is in order." CC started. "Becky…Niles is…well he…" Their eyes locked and CC couldn't help but get a little lost in the deep blue sparkle that seemed even more prominent as he waited for her to handle the situation. "He does this sort of thing for me all the time, so I'm not really surprised." CC smiled in a very different way. "Hello, Darling, how was your flight?" CC reached for him and he took her in his arms willingly.

"It was dreadfully boring without you, Love." Niles offered. "Now why don't you introduce me to all your old friends?"

CC looked at him and wondered why he was going along and what it would cost her, but for now. She'd enjoy showing him off. "Well, you've met Becky. We were nearly attached at the hip for our year of study here. We roomed together. Then there are the rest of the girls…" CC led Niles around the room and introduced him to each of her old school friends. When Niles had met everyone of importance CC pulled him out onto the dance floor where they could more safely talk.

"So, I seem to be the hit of the party." Niles waggled his eyebrows.

CC laughed lightly. "It's really rather funny, Niles." CC started. "You're not at all like the man I described. I said he was tall, smart, witty, handsome and you know…a man."

"Weren't they shocked then when I showed up?" Niles laughed at his own expense.

CC rested her head on his shoulder for a moment. "I don't know why you're doing this for me, Niles. But it's really the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me before." CC smirked. "You've been charming and warm and gracious and attentive; so very unlike yourself actually." They laughed together.

"Funny, Babs, I was going to say the same thing. I've never seen you so vibrant and feminine. It's a little disconcerting." Niles led her around the dance floor and neither noticed the man approaching them.

"Babsy Babcock? So you finally decided to grace us with your presence, huh?" The tall, dark and rather suave man blustered. "May I cut in?"

"I don't think so, Mark. Niles has flown all the way here from the states just to have this dance with me. I couldn't bear to disappoint him." CC turned her gaze quickly away from the man.

He stood firm. "Aw come on, CC…it's just one dance. Are you still that pissed off about what happened you can't even dance with me?"

"Mark, I moved on long ago...I wish you would too." CC never looked away from Niles.

Mark grabbed CC's arm firmly but not enough to hurt. "All I asked for is a dance."

"Excuse me, Mark is it?" Niles started. "We'd like to have this dance without interruption, if you don't mind. CC said no. My understanding is that usually means go away."

"Yeah, old man, I imagine you hear it a lot." Mark snapped. He was a good three inches taller than Niles and looked about ten years younger.

"CC, Love, maybe we should go to the room and come back down after they've taken out the garbage." Niles started to lead CC out of the banquet room.

"No one turns their back on Mark Reynolds." Mark grabbed Niles' shoulder and turned him just in time to punch him square in the jaw taking Niles to the floor.

"Oh my God, Niles!" CC dropped to the floor to check on him. "Mark so help me if I so much as smell you in my vicinity, I'll have you arrested."

"Not a problem, Ceec." CC looked up to see Becky and James standing there. "Sometimes it's good to marry a cop." James grabbed Mark and led him out of the hall and Becky grabbed some ice for Niles' face.

"Can you stand up, Niles?" CC asked softly. "Take it easy, Mark has always had a temper, but I didn't think he'd go that far over a dance." CC cringed at the bruise developing on Niles firm jaw line.

Niles reached up and touched the sore spot. "Well that was dreadfully embarrassing." CC held the ice pack gently to his face.

"I think it was the second most wonderful thing anyone has ever done for me." CC smiled weakly. "Come out here and we'll sit down for a minute." CC led Niles out of the banquet room and they sat on a small sofa.

"How is getting my face bruised the second most wonderful thing anyone has ever done for you?" Niles asked as he took over holding the ice to his face.

CC sighed heavily. "I dated Mark when we were here studying. It didn't take me long to see he wasn't an easy going guy. Not to mention he was more interested in 'notches for his belt' than a relationship. So, when I was less than forthcoming…" CC paused.

"I swear if you say he forced you I'll kill him myself…I'll use a gun, but I'll do it." Niles groaned at the pain in his face as he clenched his jaw in anger.

CC laughed lightly. "No, he didn't force me, he just moved on. Then I started dating another guy. Mark thought that Philip and I...well he beat him up pretty good. I was…" CC didn't know how to explain.

"You were the one that got away?" Niles finished for her.

CC shook her head. "I was the only one who said no. He's handsome, comes from a good family, he's well educated…and he can be quite charming. I just wasn't going to…give it away, and I didn't love him."

"So, how is his taking a shot at me wonderful?" Niles still didn't quite see it. "You were willing to protect me from him. No one has ever done that. Not just from Mark, but from anyone or anything. You are a very special man, Niles Brightmore."

Niles eyes shot up and met hers. "How do you…I've never told…only Max knows my last name." CC winked at him. "I have your bag too, Niles." Niles eyes grew very big as he thought to himself, "What did I have in that bag…think man…think…oh crap."